German Chancellor Merz promotes cooperation during China enterprise visits Xinhua) 08:15, February 27, 2026 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) communicates with Ola Kaellenius (L), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, and Cao Xudong, CEO of Chinese tech firm Momenta, after experiencing an urban and highway pilot driver-assist system, co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) HANGZHOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a test ride in Beijing on Thursday morning, experiencing the intelligent assisted driving system during his official visit to China. "This is amazing. I think it's one of the future technologies for mobility," Merz said after the experience, commending the close cooperation between German manufacturers and Chinese technology. Mercedes-Benz has established a comprehensive local footprint and cooperation network spanning its entire industrial chain in China, the company said in a press release on Thursday. Its Chinese R&D team is playing an increasingly crucial role within Mercedes-Benz's global R&D network, the statement notes. Merz's official visit to China took place on Feb. 25 and 26. Visiting companies from both countries and promoting practical cooperation were key items on his Thursday agenda. Merz arrived in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Thursday noon. At Unitree Robotics, he watched humanoid robots performing different tasks and was impressed by their agile movements. Merz's visit reflects Germany's strong interest in China's technological innovation, said Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Unitree, who noted the vast potential of the German market and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in the robotics sector. Merz also visited Siemens High Voltage Circuit Breaker Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, where he learned about the development of German-funded enterprises in China. Executives from approximately 30 leading German companies in sectors such as automotives, chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, machinery and the circular economy accompanied Merz on his visit. More than ten commercial agreements were reached, sending a clear signal of deepening pragmatic cooperation. As his trip concluded, Merz said he was leaving China with deep impressions of the country, and noted that Germany and China enjoy good cooperation and also face challenges that they need to address together. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) China to continue supporting all efforts for peace on Ukraine crisis: spokesperson Xinhua) 16:09, February 27, 2026 BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to play a constructive role for peace in its own way and support all efforts for peace, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday in response to a related query regarding the Ukraine crisis. "Peace talks cannot be accomplished at one stroke, but with dialogue there is hope for peace," Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 27 February 2026 16:30 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Qatar Airways has extended temporary flight cancellations to and from Iran until June 30, 2026, according to a trade advisory notice issued by the airline, AzerNEWS reports. The notice said Qatar Airways will continue operating limited daily flights between Doha and Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport during the period. Under the schedule outlined in the advisory, one daily flight will operate in each direction between the two cities from March 1 through June 30. All other Qatar Airways flights to and from Iran remain canceled, the notice said. Countries including Canada, China, and additionally the US envoy to Israel have urged their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible. After the last round of talks between the US and Iran last year, officials from both sides hailed what they called progress in the negotiations at that time. But weeks later, Israel launched an all-out assault against Iran, and the US joined in, bombing Irans nuclear facilities. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to meet again days before the bombs started falling. We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform hours before Israel launched its attack. So, despite assurances from US and Iranian officials that they prefer a deal and reports that the ongoing talks have been positive, renewed conflict cannot be ruled out. The US is continuing to amass fighter jets and aircraft carriers in the region in what has been described as the largest military buildup since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Israel and the US have shown willingness to attack during negotiations if not use the talks as a ploy to catch Iran by surprise. 27 February 2026 22:26 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Meta Platforms Inc. has reportedly reached an agreement to lease artificial intelligence (AI) chips from Google LLC, according to information, citing a source familiar with the negotiations, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media. The chips, known as tensor processing units (TPUs), are specialized hardware designed to handle advanced computing tasks, including training and running sophisticated AI models. The reported multi-year agreement is said to be worth several billion dollars, highlighting the growing investment by tech giants in AI infrastructure. This move comes as Meta continues to rely heavily on Nvidia Corp., the current leader in graphics processing units (GPUs) widely used for AI workloads. By incorporating Googles TPUs, Meta aims to diversify its computing resources and accelerate the development of its next-generation AI systems, which include language models, image generators, and other advanced tools for both consumer and enterprise applications. Industry analysts suggest that this deal reflects a broader trend in which tech companies are increasingly seeking specialized hardware beyond traditional GPUs to gain a competitive edge in AI. Some experts also note that partnerships like this could spur more collaboration between major tech firms, potentially leading to new innovations in AI efficiency, speed, and scalability. Interestingly, this collaboration may also influence the emerging AI chip market, as companies like Meta explore alternatives to Nvidia-dominated infrastructure, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for high-performance computing in the coming years. 27 February 2026 23:50 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Germanys decision to develop its next-generation fighter aircraft with France rather than the United Kingdom has been described as a strategic error by former Airbus chief executive Tom Enders. As reported by AzerNEWS, Enders openly criticized the Paris-Berlin cooperation under the Future Combat Air System (SCAF/FCAS) program, Europes flagship next-generation combat aircraft initiative. He characterized the choice as politically driven and strategically flawed, suggesting that Germany would have been better off partnering with the United Kingdom or Swedens defense company Saab instead. In an article published by the German media outlet Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Enders, who served as CEO of Airbus from 2005 to 2019 argued that the 2017 decision, taken in the aftermath of Brexit, was motivated more by political considerations than by military necessity. While noting that Germany is technically capable of developing a fighter jet independently, Enders stressed that pursuing such a path would be impractical and economically inefficient. His remarks come at a time of growing industrial and political tensions surrounding the SCAF program, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressing open doubts about the projects direction. Oregon Coast Authorities Monitor Sea Lion with Rubber Band Around Its Neck Published 02/26/26 at 3:05 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Newport, Oregon) - [UPDATED: MATERIAL PROBABLY FROM A CRABBING TRAP]. Oregon State Universitys Marine Mammal Stranding Network is standing by after receiving reports of a distressed sea lion on the central Oregon coast. (Courtesy MMSN tipster) A male California sea lion resting on a dock in Newport appears to have a large rubber band around his neck. He is active, and the entanglement is considered a chronic but not immediately life-threatening injury. NOAA Stranding Network partners are aware of the situation, coordinating with each another, and monitoring his condition. Thank you to everyone who has reported the entangled sea lion in Newport to the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Stranding Network - thats exactly the right thing to do, the agency said. Responders note that disentangling sea lions is difficult and risky for both the animal and the people involved. Adult male California sea lions are large, energetic animals that gather closely to rest. While this makes them easy to observe, it also makes it extremely challenging to isolate a single animal for treatment. Approaching them often causes the entire group to flee into the water. There have been some successful interventions in the past, and NOAA Stranding Network partners are in active contact with each other evaluating options, the agency said. We appreciate your understanding while our network partners work to determine the best path forward for this animal. Jim Rice is with the MMSN and based in Newport, and deals with responding to whales, sea lions and other mammals. He said the rubber band is of the type that comes from a crabbing trap. It seems likely to me that the animal reached its head into a crab trap and inadvertently became entangled in the material, he told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Full version of photo at top How the public can help: Report entangled or distressed marine mammals to the NOAA West Coast Region Stranding Hotline at 1-866-767-6114 or online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/report. Reduce marine debris in your community at https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/your-region/pacific-northwest. The photo of the animal was submitted through a stranding report. The National Marine Fisheries Service told Oregon Coast Beach Connection they have definite guidelines regarding interactions. They remind the public not to approach seals or sea lions on land. Pinnipeds are highly sensitive to disturbance from people and vessels, and even minor activity nearby can cause them to flee. Such disturbance can constitute a violation, so officials urge caution whenever these animals are present. Guidelines advise people not to intentionally approach seals or sea lions on land any closer than 100 yards. Certain behaviors may indicate disturbance and could put observers at risk of a violation. These include multiple animals raising their heads, some moving toward the water, others entering the water, or increased vocalizing by sea lions. Violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) can happen if someone is repeatedly engaged in purposefully rushing at the creatures or causing them to react in the ways mentioned. A boater in Netarts Bay was busted by authorities for doing just that in the mid 2000s. A california sea lion on the north coast - Seaside Aquarium In areas like Newports Yaquina Bay, close proximity is sometimes unavoidable because sea lions rest on docks directly below walkways. Thus, they luckily remain out of reach but officials say they should not be approached. California sea lions are not listed as endangered, but Steller sea lions along the Oregon coast are. The Steller, or northern, sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the largest member of the Otariidae family, which includes all sea lions and fur seals. In 2024, wildlife experts had to euthanize another sea lion with a shark bite that was causing it great pain. Sea Lion on Oregon Coast Dock Humanely Euthanized After Shark Takes Piece Out of It - It had been lanquishing in pain on a Newport dock for awhile Hotels in Newport - Where to eat - Newport Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) 5 Astounding Balcony Views on Oregon Coast Exceptional views and finds around Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Newport. Cannon Beach hotel reviews, Manzanita hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotels, Newport hotel reviews. Tolovana Inn, Shearwater Inn, Inn at Nye Beach, Keystone Vacation Rentals The Lil' Cannon Beach Cottage That Could: Whimsical Yet Historic Rental on N.... A little vaction rental called Lil Bird Cottage is antique-like but vibrant, bold. Lodging reviews, hotels, Cannon Beach lodging N. Oregon Coast Beauty on the Beach: Seashore Inn's Latest Revelations, Specials How to actually write its name, recent changes to the Seaside hotel. Seaside hotel reviews, Seaside lodging news Early September and Oregon Coast's Second Summer: Rentals That Are Still Open... Still a couple vacation rentals with availability but getting thin. Cannon Beach hotel reviews, hotel availability More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Horsing Around with History: Oregon Coast Event Looks at Horse 'n Buggies Published 02/24/26 at 8:55 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Seaside, Oregon) Every month, a new chapter in Oregon coast history gets churned up and brought to light. This month, Seaside Museum will host its next History & Hops program on Thursday, February 26, featuring a look how we all got around in the U.S. during the last century. This months presentation, titled A Driven History: The Story of Horse-Drawn Transportation in America, features Jerry Bowman, curator of the Northwest Carriage Museum. Bowman is widely known for his lively and informative talks on the history, restoration, and conservation of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles. Over more than twenty years, he has restored more than forty carriages, buggies, sleighs, wagons, and numerous period artifacts, earning a national reputation for his expertise and engaging storytelling. It happens at 6 p.m. at Seaside Brewing Co., part of the museum's monthly series of local and regional Oregon coast history talks held from September through May. The event is free and open to the public. Bowman During the program, Bowman will discuss the evolution of horse-drawn vehicles in the United States and share behind-the-scenes stories from the museums collection. Photos and videos will highlight the craftsmanship and character of the vehicles, along with the colorful histories of the people who once used them. The Northwest Carriage Museum, located in Raymond, Washington, houses one of the largest and finest collections of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles in North America. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features sixty-five restored vehicles and thousands of related artifacts. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating and enjoy the menu at Seaside Brewing Co. The History & Hops series is supported by the Seaside Museum, the Seaside Public Library, and Seaside Brewing Co. Seaside in the early 1900s The Seaside Museum & Historical Society, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and culture of Seaside and the surrounding region. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Emily Halverson at 503-738-7065 or seasidemuseum@gmail.com, or visit seasideoregonmuseum.com. Hotels in Seaside - Where to eat - Seaside Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Yachats' Adobe Resort: Legacy Oregon Coast Biz, Once a Motel, Shifts Again wi... Started in the 1950s, now a big name gets bigger. Yachats lodging reviews Oregon Coast Spots With Wicked Cool Sights - and Rooms to View Them Incredible views with serious pampering at Yachats, Lincoln City, Seaside. Hotel reviews, lodging Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - 363 Miles of Rentals Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals, vacation rental reviews, hotel reviews, vacation rental news A Soaring View Just Opened This Week at North Oregon Coast's Neskowin Right on the ocean, it's been drawing attention lately. Availability. Pacific City Hotel reviews More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted A series of postcards has recently hit mailboxes from a dark money PAC dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into District 79 against incumbent conservative legislator Keith Kidwell. They urge voters to :Kick Out" Kidwell who they call a "Sell Out". What they leave very murky is what this is about and who they accuse Kidwell of "selling out". The whole kerfluffle revolves around language inserted by RINO Jimmy Dixon into the proposed farm bill that would have prevented North Carolina citizens from suing a big out of state chemical company for selling a product containing a known cancer causing chemical. This was tried in Congress and many states, but supporters of the chemical company only passed such a bill in two states. This language would have "sold out" North Carolinians who got cancer from this chemical company's product. Ironically, they could have still sued local famers who used the chemical but not the big out of state chemical company that produced it. In the NC House, the Republican caucus overwhelmingly rejected protecting this chemical company from injured NC citizens. Kidwell was directed to take action in committee to strip this provision from the farm bill, and GOP members backed him up to do so. Dixon recruited Armstrong to challenge Kidwell. Armstrong has made it clear on very little of where he stands but has said he supports protecting this chemical company. Thus, it is Armstrong, not Kidwell, who would be "selling out" actual North Carolina citizens. Who is Kidwell accused of selling out? That out of state chemical company? The dark money PAC goes on to accuse Kidwell of being in league with the trial lawyers, presumably on the theory that anyone suing the chemical company would need a lawyer to do so. But the reality is shown in campaign reports which reveal that Kidwell has never received a dime in contributions from the trial lawyers' PAC. His reports also show that he is hardly a contribution favorite of individual trial lawyers, either. This claim is totally bogus. If one is going to bat for local citizens, they would want any local people who get cancer from a chemical company knowingly putting out a product containing cancer causing substances to have recourse against that company to cover their medical bills and other losses. Kidwell was standing up for local people in helping block this sellout to the chemical company, while Armstrong supports the sellout to that company. If Dixon and Armstrong, and, yes, liberal RINO Steve Troxler, had their way, an employee or neighbor of a farmer who got cancer from this chemical, they could sue the farmer who applied it but not the chemical company which made it. That is a total sellout of local people. But the conflict of interest problem for Armstrong gets even worse. Armstrong's seed business grows genetically modified seeds for Monsanto, the very same chemical company that would be protected from lawsuits by the legislation that Armstrong supports. Kidwell did not "sell out" local people. He stood up for them and their rights. It is Armstrong whose position would sell local people out, in favor of an out of state company that he himself has deep business ties to. And the dark money group behind the postcards? Nobody knows where their money comes from, but given their obsession with this issue, common sense says it is likely they are being funded at least in part by this very same out of state chemical company. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. 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. LANESBOROUGH When a patron walks into the visitor center at Mount Greylock State Reservation, they will find a new Native American library celebrating underrepresented voices in Massachusetts telling historical and contemporary stories. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation recently installed libraries featuring Native American authors and stories in nine state parks across the commonwealth. That includes a set of books in Mount Greylock's visitor center. The collection features more than 20 titles that cover both historical and contemporary Native American stories. It is one of the first actions of the First Peoples First Stewards Partnership, which is tasked with creating better representation of Native Americans in the parks with more programs to come, said Leah Hopkins, the first Indigenous peoples partnership coordinator for DCR. "This library program came out of the need for there to be more Indigenous and accurate Indigenous representation across DCR parks and visitor center facilities," Hopkins said. For Hopkins, getting the library of Native American authors started meant more than continuing to spread more accurate Native American representation. "I come from the Native community myself, so it was really important to just have an initiative where people could have that those interactions almost immediately," she said. "You can read a children's book within five minutes and you have just a touch of an experience and a conversation" This is builds on the trend of better representation especially during childhood Hopkins, who is a citizen of the Narragansett Indian Tribe, herself saw between her parents' generation and her own. The libraries sit in the visitor centers because the DCR oversees more than 400,000 acres of land different Native American communities previously stewarded, Hopkins said. "Whatever we can do to facilitate that connection back to these homelands for the native community is really my charge." This effort helps reflect the history of Native American stewardship, Hopkins said. "We've been here for over 13,000 years, and we're going to continue to be here well beyond the next 13,000 years." The library is just one part the initiative to better recognize the impact, history and culture of Native Americans by the DCR, as the department started with the installation of Hopkins as a coordinator between the parks and tribal governments and Native American communities. "I work with colleagues all across this huge agency to ensure that Indigenous voice is present in many of the different areas that we work," Hopkins said. Right now the library features more than 20 books, but Hopkins is looking for more titles to add to the collection. "For Native people, I think one of the most critical things that we can contribute to society is our voice and our experience," Hopkins said. "We're a part of that land, that land is part of us." Followers of Jesus know that He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He casts out the darkness of sin, death, and hopelessness. As He said, I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark (John 12:46, NLT). Not only is Jesus the Light of the World, but He is also the Way (John 14:6). Everyone is lost in the darkness of the world and their sins. Jesus is the only way that leads to restoration with the Father. Those who do not place faith in Jesus remain in the dark, lost in sin. Let us pray that as Muslims celebrate Ramadan and admire lantern decorations, they will place faith in the Light of the World. He is the only path to salvation and the only light that can cast out the darkness. Ask the Lord Jesus to open the eyes and hearts of Muslims to the truth of who He is and what He has done. Pray for eternal and joyous light to enter their lives through a personal relationship with Christ. Muslims complete the period of fasting and reciting the Quran because they want to please Allah. They also give to the poor and do acts of charity (known as zakat). For Muslims, these deeds are necessary for spiritual cleansing and strengthening their faith. As much as seeking devotion to God and helping others is good, there is no number of charitable deeds we can do to make ourselves clean or to gain salvation. According to the Bible, the good we do cannot outweigh the bad, for we are all sinners who go astray (Romans 3:10-12, 23). Nothing we do can save us from the inner uncleanness of sin. We must be washed and made new. We cannot earn salvation through doing good deeds, but we can place faith in the deeds of another. Scripture tells us that the basis of our salvation is what Jesus did on the cross by dying for our sins and being resurrected on the third day (Romans 10:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Those who place faith in Him receive the washing of renewal and rebirth by the Holy Spirit (see Titus 3:4-8). Believers have a new life in which they will want to do good, not out of obligation, but because of their love for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10). This year, as we take our requests to the Lord regarding our Muslim friends, let us pray that they become discontent with trying to earn salvation and favor from God. Pray that Muslims will see that they could never fast or give enough to cleanse themselves from sin. Ask the Lord to use that stirring of discontent to lead them to Himself so they accept the gift of salvation that He freely offers. Then, they will learn of the joy of serving Jesus and doing good for others from a place of love. If you want more ideas for praying for Muslims during Ramadan, consider using a prayer guide. There are many available online, including those offered by Christian ministries and organizations, such as Frontiers Taste and See prayer guide. Within these prayer guides, you will find specific prayer points for each day of Ramadan. Another way to get involved and pray for Muslims during this time is to commit yourself to praying for a nearby mosque in your city. Doing so can help your prayers be more specific as you think of individuals in your town who need to hear the good news of Jesus. Finally, be willing to reach out to a Muslim and befriend them. Praying for Muslims during Ramadan can open our hearts to these individuals. We start to see them as human beings created in the image of God, possessing worth and value. Stereotypes fall away, and we develop a desire to share the good news of Christ with these people who need Him. As you pray, let God work in your heart and see if there are opportunities for you to get involved in befriending and talking to the Muslims who might already live and work in your city or neighborhood. Ramadan is a significant month of fasting, praying, and giving that Muslims observe around the world. Christians should not ignore this time when Muslims are seeking closeness to God. We can pray for them to encounter the true God of the Bible and that they would hear the gospel. As the church, we can come together and pray that numerous Muslims around the world would place faith in Jesus and experience the freedom and joy of knowing Him. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ozbalci Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site Cultivate, where she writes with her sister. God is a storyteller. The first words of the Bible say, In the beginning Fairy tales would say, Once upon a time The Bible understands what it is: a massive arc, from Creation to the Fall to Salvation to New Heaven and Earth. Gods a storyteller, and hes telling us a story. Scripture invites us into this story. The Western church has struggled with this. In the noble pursuit to have right doctrine, as the Bible encourages us to do, we often over-intellectualized Christianity to the detriment of the inspiring epic narrative we were born to participate in. Frodo takes the evil ring to Mt. Doom. Luke Skywalker does the impossible and destroys the Death Star. Epic stories make tons of money because they remind our hearts weve been called to such a journey. Coming back to the ultimate God-story transforms the stories of individuals, families, local churches, cities, nations, and all humanity. Telling great stories, therefore, point us to the gospel story. Tragically, our celebration of St. Patrick in March often misses the great lessons he has to teach us in Christ. St. Patrick evangelized and converted an entire nation. And one of his tools to do so was being a storyteller. Related article: How Do We Find Elements of the Gospel in Movies? How Did Jesus and the New Testament Use Story? The four Gospels themselves function as missionary documents, written to teach people about Jesus. And each Gospel reveals Christ through narratives about where Jesus came from, who he his, what he taught, how he lived, suffered, died, and rose again. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John dont primarily present abstract theology (although John does this more than the others), they invite readers to the right person and his story so they can encounter Christ. These apostles understood the role narrative structure served in fulfilling the Great Commission. They learned to tell the stories as the Old Testament did, combining truth with historical experience. Jesus didnt only teach through stories, but he never taught without one. He constantly used parables to communicate the reality of the Kingdom in everyday images like fields, seeds, weddings, workers, and more. Through storytelling, Jesus made eternal truth accessible to ordinary people. Jesus revealed how complex, simple, and deep parables could uniquely teach and connect us to the eternal. The apostles repeat these stories. The New Testament continues the pattern in the book of Acts. What does fulfilling mission look like? Luke tells us the stories of a great movement in Acts, showing us mission through God reshaping broken people to become Spirit-led and empowered missionaries. We see a persecutor who becomes a preacher, a businesswoman whose heart opens to the gospel, a jailer and his household finding salvation, and more. The gospel spreads through public testimonies, personal encounters, and miracles, all by the power of the Spirit. Even the sermons in Acts take the form of retelling Gods saving story, from Israels history to the cross and resurrection. In Acts, Pauls salvation story is told three times because Paul himself keeps repeating it. Why? Because his individual story reflects Gods epic story and points us to the Fathers will. Finally, Revelation tells us we overcome by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony our God story flows from the washing of the blood and empowers us to overcome unto glory (Revelation 12:11). How Did St. Patrick Use Storytelling? Fifth century Ireland already treasured spoken poetry, heroic sagas, and symbolic art. Bards and storytellers preserved history, a national identity, and moral teaching through stories rather than intellectual texts. Patrick didnt fight against this. Biblically, he worked within it. Instead of presenting Christianity as a foreign set of rules, Patrick told the story of God. He communicated the Christian message as a grand story of creation, fall, rescue, and redemption, one greater than Irelands epic tales in meaning and hope. Because he knew their culture and language, Patrick spoke in patterns the Irish could comprehend. This allowed the gospel to spread through Ireland like wildfire. We also tell stories through visual arts, a picture speaking a thousand words, as it were. Patrick used the visual and symbolic culture of Ireland to communicate spiritual reality. Irish culture valued symbols, signs, and complex meaning. Patrick adapted this by explaining Christianity through images from nature and daily life. Through this, he presented God as the living and active Lord who steps into human history and individual lives for transformation. Like Paul did (and we should) Patrick told his own story as part of his mission. In his autobiography, the Confessio, he recounts how Irish raiders captured and enslaved him, his years of slavery, his new faith, his escape from slavery, and his call to return to the very people who once oppressed him. He presents himself as a broken, rescued man whom God sent back with mercy and the blood of Jesus instead of vengeance. By honoring Irelands artistic culture and biblical example, Patrick showed us how mission works best when we tell Gods epic redemptive story and recount our own transformation narrative as part of it. How Did St. Patrick Leave a Legacy of Irish Storytelling and Missions? After Patrick, Irish and Celtic leaders became missionaries and carried the same story-based approach into Europe. They made mission personal, symbolic, poetic, and rooted in lived experience. Celtic missionaries formed communities that became storytelling centers. From Iona Abbey and Lindisfarne Priory, monks trained people to retell the gospel through narratives, poems, and preaching Scripture. They taught new believers to understand Gods work as part of one great unfolding story. Their mission was about story, not a new building. As Patrick did in Ireland, the Celtic missionaries did in the lands they reached out to. They adapted local cultures through story. When Columbanus planted monasteries across France and northern Italy, he taught around biblical stories addressing fear, shame, and forgiveness. These themes mattered to warrior societies. Instead of attacking their cultural identities, he re-framed the ideas to build warriors of love for the Kingdom. Irish missionaries recounted the lives of Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles as dramas about courage, failure, repentance, and redemption, getting people to relate their own stories within those men and women. Then they would invite the audience to shift their own stories into Gods. And like Paul and Patrick, Celtic missionaries shared their own testimonies. Monks shared accounts of calling, hardship, sacrifice, danger, and Gods rescue. Their miraculous God-stories reflected the epic redemptive narrative and revealed how anyone can join Jesus path. Along with the spoken narratives, art and symbolism undergirded the story-based approach. Celtic Christianity has a striking visual component. They illuminated manuscripts, carved crosses, and sang prayers. These methods were central to many people who were still illiterate and reliant upon oral communication. With this, the Irish re-evangelized Europe after the Fall of Rome. How Did Christian Missions Use Storytelling from St. Patrick to the 20th Century? The Roman Catholic church came back into Europe and reestablished their dominance, even taking over works planted by these Irish missionaries. However, the mission still advanced in part through sharing the story of Gods saving work, despite not being the same level as the Celtic model. When Boniface preached among Germanic tribes in the 8th century, he narrated the biblical story of creation, sin, and Christ in ways that challenged the fear of local gods. He invited his audience into a new story. Other priests and bishops used plays and commissioned art and music to help explain and spread the Good News. For the modern missionary age, story remained central as the printing press changed methodology. William Carey used Bible translations, biographies, and missionary letters to tell the story of Gods work in India to gain support from churches in Britain. The missionary movement grew because believers could picture real people in real places experiencing struggle and transformation. Hudson Taylor inspired people by publicly telling stories of his dependence on God, his cultural adaptation, and Gods miraculous provision in inland China. His writings communicated mission not as heroic success but a very real, lived journey with God, trusting him alone. By the 20th century, the church started using mass media to tell stories. Radio, magazines, films, and music allowed the gospel to express biblical and missional narrative more than ever. As one major example, the Jesus Film Project has spread the story of Christ by dramatizing the New Testament Gospels, translated into thousands of languages. Mission teams would connect the public screenings to local Christian testimonies, helping people hear the Scripture and their neighbors transformation. From Irish monks to modern media, Christian mission has depended upon storytelling first with the story of Jesus, then using personal transformative stories to show how Gods redemptive narrative changes everything. And it still does. How Does Modern Missions Make Use of Storytelling? Moving into the 2000s, modern missions continue the long pattern of spreading the gospel through story. Missions doesnt depend only upon physical travel. It moves in a myriad of different ways. Wycliffe Bible Translators support oral Bible storytelling, audio Scripture, and other dramatized media for cultures that learn through listening rather than reading. Platforms like the YouVersion Bible App distribute Bible stories through reading plans, and their kids app does an amazing job recounting Bible stories through animation. The advent of social media has become another mission field. Short form posts or videos on various platforms help missionaries and believers to share conversations, stories, testimonies, prayer requests, and other moments of transformation with a global reach. Story has become more immediate and interactive. Podcasts and livestreams have also revolutionized mission storytelling. Mission teams host conversations about faith, doubt, suffering, persecution, miracles, and hope. They invite listeners to listen to journeys and conversations rather than a one-way presentation. Old and new believers get encouraged and discipled through these organic narratives. Recently, The Chosen has become a famous example of applying excellent storytelling to help people relate to the struggles and fears of the people who actually interacted with Jesus. Instead of rushing to the famous moments, it builds relational scenes to reveal grace and truth through conversation, humor, and tension. By showing the journey of the disciples through Christs three-year ministry, The Chosen invites us to recognize the reality of those characters and to recognize ourselves in the story. The Chosen helps lower barriers, builds curiosity, opens meaningful conversations, and leads people back to the Bible as the authoritative word of God. In an increasingly skeptical world, story becomes the most effective gospel tool. Rather than beginning with arguments (which begins a conversation as enemies), evangelists begin like the Bible teaches us: with stories about the person of Jesus and our own transformative experience. These testimonies make friends, build trust, and become great entry points for those who would believe. Photo credit: Getty Images/RoterPanther Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight. The SBB train station in Lausanne. (Illustration photo) sda The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has brought charges against a former SBB employee and four other persons. As the authorities announced on Friday, they are alleged to have defrauded SBB of over five million francs. Keystone-SDA SDA No time? blue News summarizes for you The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has charged a 54-year-old former SBB employee with commercial fraud amounting to millions. He is alleged to have submitted fictitious or overpriced invoices for years and collected around 4.4 million francs. Four other people have been charged with aiding and abetting, all of whom are presumed innocent. Show more The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland filed an indictment against a 54-year-old former SBB employee on February 24, 2026. As they announced on Friday, the former project and department manager is alleged to have systematically damaged the railroad company over a period of years. According to the indictment, the accused developed a system together with co-participants as early as 2007 to falsify orders for materials or overcharge for them. The invoices were issued via specially founded companies so that the main accused did not appear directly. In most cases, the invoiced goods were not even delivered. Nested cash flows According to the Office of the Attorney General, the SBB payments initially flowed into the company accounts of co-defendants. After deduction of a "criminal's salary", the amounts were forwarded to the main accused via other companies and accounts. In some cases, he is also alleged to have forged signatures and manipulated documents in order to conceal increases in assets. A fourth co-defendant is said to have created additional fictitious invoices in order to check the plausibility of the accounts. Here too, the money was transferred back to the main accused after deduction of a commission. Damage in the millions Between 2007 and 2024, SBB is said to have incurred losses of almost CHF 8.7 million. However, some of the alleged offenses are time-barred, which is why the criminally relevant amount is reduced to around five million francs. The main defendant is accused of having personally enriched himself by around 4.4 million francs. Among other things, he is charged with commercial fraud, misconduct in public office, aggravated money laundering and multiple counts of forgery. Four other people are facing charges of aiding and abetting fraud, misconduct in public office and, in some cases, aggravated money laundering. According to the indictment, their alleged profit shares range from around CHF 14,750 to over CHF 400,000. With the filing of the indictment, the Federal Criminal Court now has jurisdiction. The presumption of innocence applies to all defendants until a final verdict is reached. A man has been charged with the murder of an English tourist who died two months after being injured in the Temple Bar area of Dublin last year. Darragh O'Brien, 22, of Beechfield Heights, Clonee, Dublin 15, was initially charged with assault causing harm to Anthony Herron related to the attack in the early hours of August 21st, 2025, at Temple Bar Square. Herron, a Londoner in his 40s, was married with one child and about to become a father for the second time, and had just left a local pub when the incident occurred. O'Brien was granted conditional bail two days later and appeared again at Dublin District Court on Friday, when the case was upgraded to a murder charge. Garda Colin Coyne Delaney said the accused made "no reply" when charged. Advertisement The garda informed Judge Gerard Jones that the Director of Public Prosecutions authorised the withdrawal of the assault charge and that the sole count of murder was to proceed on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. O'Brien could not apply for bail on Friday, given the nature of the charge, which requires an application to be brought before the High Court. Dressed in a blue tracksuit, O'Brien stood during the brief hearing and spoke only to consult with his solicitor, Holly Laher. Laher asked that her client, who has yet to enter a plea, be remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. Legal aid was granted. Prosecutors must complete a book of evidence and serve it on him before a return-for-trial order is granted. At his first hearing, the court was told that O'Brien was "couch surfing" with friends around that time. Ireland Clare man avoids jail for 6k fake ID plot to bring Moroccan woman to Ireland Read more It was claimed O'Brien kicked the tourist in the head during the attack following an alleged verbal altercation. Herron was initially taken to St James's Hospital on the night of the assault but was then transferred to Beaumont Hospital to undergo emergency specialist surgery. He was later repatriated to the UK, where he passed away in October. At the original bail hearing, the court was told that O'Brien has no previous criminal history and "understands the seriousness of this offence". The accused was held in custody with consent to bail, subject to the condition of obtaining an address. He was required to sign on daily and to "stay out of the Dublin 2 area". He was further told not to renew his passport or any travel document. A new headquarters for Dublin City Council is expected to cost more than 670 million. The local authority plans to move to the old DIT site on Kevin Street, with the deal expected to go through within weeks. Dublin City Council currently operates from Wood Quay beside the River Liffey, but plans to move to Kevin Street, taking over the former DIT campus. It is currently a derelict site and includes a partially built office block. It is expected to cost 90 million. According to The Irish Times, another 581 million will be spent creating office space for 4,000 council staff and building 299 apartments. More than 530 apartments will replace the Wood Quay base, with the move expected to happen within the next three years. A 38-year-old man has been arrested after the statue of Winston Churchill in Westminster was defaced with graffiti branding the former British prime minister a Zionist war criminal. The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage on Friday morning. Other phrases, including Stop the Genocide and Free Palestine, were sprayed in red paint on the bronze sculpture in Parliament Square, central London. The statue of Winston Churchill stands in Parliament Square (Lucy North/PA) Further graffiti read Never again is Now and Globalise the Intifada. A Met Police spokesperson said: Shortly after 4am on Friday February 27 a man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. The first officers were on the scene within two minutes. The man who is 38 was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. He remains in custody. Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border attacks overnight in a dramatic escalation of tensions that led Pakistans defence minister to say that the two countries are in a state of open war. Afghanistan launched an attack on Pakistan late Thursday, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early on Friday, saying it targeted military installations. Tensions have been high for months. Border clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistans Taliban government of harbouring militant groups that stage attacks against it and also of allying with its arch-rival India. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the intense fighting in October, but several rounds of peace talks in Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement. Advertisement The two sides have occasionally traded fire since then. Qatar once again appears to be mediating. Smoke rises after an explosion at a border post in Afghanistan (Saifullah Zahir/AP) Its minister of state, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, spoke on Friday with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan in an effort to de-escalate tensions, Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X. Afghanistans attacks against Pakistani military targets was meant as a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan, Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said. Pakistan has never sought to resolve problems through dialogue, he said. After the Afghan strikes, Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif posted on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Mr Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India a reference to recently improving ties between India and Afghanistan, including offers of enhanced bilateral trade. Afghan Taliban soldiers gather on the Afghan side of a border crossing with Pakistan (Wahidullah Kakar/AP) Pakistan and neighbouring India, both nuclear armed powers, have periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Mr Asif also accused Afghanistan of exporting terrorism, an allegation Pakistan frequently levies at its neighbour as militant violence in the country surges. Advertisement Specifically, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, as well as outlawed Baloch separatist groups. Pakistan accuses the TTP, which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistans Taliban, of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge. Pakistans internal conflict is a purely domestic issue and is not a new one, Mr Mujahid said Friday, noting the TTP had been active for nearly two decades. Pakistan has also frequently accused neighbouring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. An Afghan Taliban soldier gives instructions to drivers on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan (Wahidullah Kakar/AP) Afghanistan said its attack Thursday was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Pakistans army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani air and ground operations killed at least 274 members of Afghan forces and affiliated militants and wounded more than 400, while 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 others were wounded. One Pakistani soldier was missing in action. Mr Mujahid rejected the claims of the high number of Afghan casualties as false. He said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed with the bodies of 23 of them taken to Afghanistan. Taliban fighters look up while manning an armed vehicle at the border with Pakistan (Saifullah Zahir/AP) He also said many Pakistani soldiers were captured. Thirteen Afghan soldiers had been killed, he said, and another 22 wounded, while 13 civilians were also wounded. Advertisement Later on Friday, the Afghan government said that 19 civilians were killed and 26 others injured when Pakistan struck the provinces of Khost and Paktika in south-eastern Afghanistan. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat accused Pakistan of having deliberately targeted the residences of ordinary civilians and said most of the dead and wounded were women and children. The Afghan government had reported earlier that a religious school in Paktika province was bombed without providing details of casualties. The claims of either side could not be independently verified. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks to journalists in Kandahar, Afghanistan (Sibghatullah/AP) Pakistans air force carried out airstrikes Friday night targeting military installations in Afghanistans Laghman province, two senior Pakistani security officials said. They said an arms depot and two key military installations were destroyed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media on the record. Pakistans information minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistans anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the north-western cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera on Friday. He said they appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan. Afghan Taliban soldiers look toward the Pakistani side on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan in Torkham, Afghanistan (Wahidullah Kakar/AP) Turkeys foreign minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. Advertisement In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides. On Friday, Mr Mujahid said Afghanistan had always emphasised a peaceful solution, and we still want to resolve the problem through dialogue. In a statement, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres urged both sides to try to resolve their differences through diplomacy, and to protect civilians. Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency Ria Novosti. Mr Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putins special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to Ria Novosti. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue. Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. In 2025, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. The European Union will provisionally apply a contentious free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur to ensure the bloc secures first-mover advantage, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. The European Commission concluded its largest -ever trade pact in terms of tariff reductions with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay after 25 years of negotiations. The EU executive has said it will remove some 4 billion of duties on EU exports. Germany and other supporters such as Spain say the deal is essential to offset business lost due to U.S. tariffs and to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. Opponents led by France - the EU's largest agricultural producer - say the deal will sharply increase imports of cheap beef, sugar and poultry, undercutting domestic farmers who have staged repeated protests. The Green Party has won its first-ever parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton, dealing a bitter blow to Keir Starmer. Labours defeat, trailing in third behind Zack Polanskis Greens and Nigel Farages Reform UK in the previously rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency, will pile pressure on the British Prime Minister. Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumber, emerged victorious for the Greens, with 14,980 votes and a majority of 4,402 votes. Reform UKs candidate Matt Goodwin got 10,578 votes, with Labours Angeliki Stogia trailing on 9,364, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election, when the turnout was similarly high. Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653. In an emotional victory speech, Spencer said people were being bled dry and were sick of our hard work making other people rich. Advertisement Taking aim at her election rivals, she said: I wont accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. The 34-year-old, who becomes the Green Partys fifth MP, also apologised to customers who had made appointments for plumbing jobs, joking: I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because Im heading to Parliament. Celebrating the swing of 27.5 per cent from Labour to Greens, Polanski said: If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs. Hannah Spencer giving her victory speech (Peter Byrne/PA) Reforms Goodwin said: I think the progressives were told how to vote, and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency. And many people in this country will look at Gorton and Denton and be appalled by what they see. He also said Reform had embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats. Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley lamented the clearly disappointing result, saying: By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different. She added that the politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform would not tackle the cost-of-living crisis, create opportunities for young people or invest in public services. Statement: We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged. We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get. I will continue the fight. I will always fight for you. I will stand at the next general election. Matt. pic.twitter.com/2jLMNv0ap6 Matt Goodwin (@GoodwinMJ) February 27, 2026 The Greens victory will undermine Labours claim to be the only option for anti-Reform voters in the May local elections, deepening the electoral challenge for the governing party. Labours deputy leader Lucy Powell earlier admitted the Greens had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Reform out of Gorton and Denton. Advertisement She insisted there is no leadership contest and that Sir Keir is resolute in his job as leader of the Labour Party, as our Prime Minister. But the outcome will likely renew speculation about Keir Starmer's position, which has come under pressure from the Peter Mandelson scandal, a slew of departures from No 10 and Labours plummeting popularity. Starmer's decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, from running will also come under the spotlight. Labour Party candidate Angeliki Stogia was joined by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell during a polling day campaign event (Peter Byrne/PA) The contest was triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne standing down for health reasons. Reform leader Mr Farage claimed cheating had led to his candidates defeat. Concerns have been raised about people forcing family members to vote in a certain way in the contest. Election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed concerningly high levels of family voting an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting. Farage posted on X: This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party. A spokesman for the Conservative Party, which came a distant fourth, said: Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labours safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader. Former president Bill Clinton told members of Congress that he did nothing wrong in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of his abuse. Mr Clinton faced hours of questions from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago on Friday. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong, the former Democratic president said in an opening statement he shared on social media at the outset of the deposition. Hillary Clinton had no ties with Jeffrey Epstein (Yuki Iwamura/AP) The closed-door deposition ended after more than six hours of questioning from lawmakers who said he answered every question posed to him. The deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marked the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. Advertisement It came a day after Mr Clintons wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing. Yet lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from high-powered posts for maintaining connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Men and women for that matter of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of heinous crimes and they havent been held accountable and they have not even had to answer questions, said Republican James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, before the deposition began. Hillary Clinton told lawmakers on Thursday that she had no knowledge of how Epstein had sexually abused underage girls and had no recollection of even meeting him. I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax Robert Garcia But Bill Clinton was expected to answer questions on a well-documented relationship with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, even if it was from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that she expected her husband to testify that he had no knowledge of Epsteins sexual abuse at the time they knew each other. Republicans were relishing the opportunity to scrutinise the former Democratic president under oath. No ones accusing anyone of any wrongdoing but I think the American people have a lot of questions, Mr Comer said. Advertisement Republicans have wanted to question Bill Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epsteins 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year when several photos of the former president surfaced in the Department of Justices first release of case files on Epstein and Maxwell, a British socialite who was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 but maintains she is innocent. Bill Clinton was photographed on a plane seated alongside a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell in a pool with another person whose face was redacted. Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clintons presidency, and the pair later made several international trips together for their humanitarian work. Mr Comer claimed the committee has collected evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epsteins plane 27 times. Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Bill Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to President Donald Trump (Luis M Alvarez/AP) In the lead-up to the deposition, Bill Clinton insisted he had limited knowledge about Epstein and was unaware of any sexual abuse he committed. I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epsteins criminal activities came to light, Hillary Clinton said at the conclusion of her deposition on Thursday. Advertisement Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Bill Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to President Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax, said Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, on Friday. Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Mr Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Mr Lutnick was a long-time neighbour of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epsteins home that disturbed Mr Lutnick and his wife. The public release of case files showed that Mr Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epsteins home, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island. He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee, Mr Garcia said. Keir Starmer has vowed to keep on fighting despite Labours humiliating defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The British prime minister faces intense pressure to shift his party to the left or resign after Labour came third behind Zack Polanskis Greens and Nigel Farages Reform UK in the previously rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency. But speaking to reporters, he acknowledged it was a disappointing result and that voters were frustrated, but insisted he would carry on. Asked if he had considered resigning, Starmer said: I came into politics late in life to fight for change for those people who need it. I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as Ive got breath in my body. Starmer also pledged to fight against extremes in politics on both the left and the right that threatened to tear our country apart. Advertisement Thursdays by-election saw Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumber, emerged victorious for the Greens with 14,980 votes a majority of 4,402. Labour MPs, unions and campaign groups have demanded a change of course from Starmer ahead of crucial elections in May, with warnings his days in No 10 could be numbered unless the partys fortunes improve. Former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the result should be a wake-up call for the party, calling for her colleagues to be braver and rededicate themselves to a Labour agenda that puts people first. A Russian drone carried out an unauthorised flight off southern Sweden earlier this week while a French aircraft carrier was docked in the port of Malmo, the Swedish military said. The armed forces said in a statement on Friday that a Swedish naval vessel detected a drone taking off from a Russian signals intelligence ship in the Oresund strait, which separates Sweden from Denmark. The military said that systems on board the Swedish ship, the HMS Rapp, took countermeasures to disrupt the drone. It said the Russian ship, the Zhigulevsk, had entered Swedish territorial waters and the Rapp approached it to monitor its transit through the strait. French aircraft carrier The Charles de Gaulle (Joeal Calupitan/AP) The French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is in the southern Swedish city of Malmo this week as part of regular Nato exercise activities. Malmo is located on the Oresund, opposite Denmarks capital, Copenhagen. Advertisement French military spokesman Guillaume Vernet told The Associated Press earlier that the drone was detected on Wednesday and handled by Swedish forces integrated into a security system around the carrier. He said on Friday that the drone was more than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Charles de Gaulle. This system showed it is robust, and this event had no impact on the activity of the aircraft carrier battle group, Mr Vernet said. Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson wrote in a social media post: The incident constitutes a breach of Swedens access regulations and a violation of Swedish airspace. It is, of course, serious and irresponsible. Mr Jonson had said on Thursday evening that the drone appeared to be Russian. If indeed... there is a potential Russian origin for this incident, it would be a ridiculous provocation French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said during a visit to the French ship earlier Friday that it is serious and maybe not surprising, as Russia dislikes Western exercises and the West dislikes Moscows actions. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who also visited the Charles de Gaulle, emphasised that the security of the aircraft carrier was not threatened. If indeed there is a potential Russian origin for this incident, it would be a ridiculous provocation, he said. He said that he had no information of his own on the source of the drone. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not know about the incident. Asked by reporters about Swedish officials linking the drone to the Russian ship, Mr Peskov said that its quite absurd to claim that the drone was Russian just because a Russian ship was nearby. Advertisement Western officials say Russia is masterminding a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe. An Associated Press database has documented well over 100 incidents. Not all of them are public and it can sometimes take officials months to establish a link to Moscow. While officials say the campaign waged since Russia launched an all-out war against Ukraine in 2022 aims to deprive Kyiv of support, they believe Moscow is also trying to identify Europes weak spots and divert law enforcement resources. US President Donald Trump said he is not happy with the latest talks over Irans nuclear programme but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East. He spoke a day after US envoys held another inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. As American forces gather in the region, Mr Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal on its nuclear programme, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. Were not exactly happy with the way theyre negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons US President Donald Trump on Iran Im not happy with the fact that theyre not willing to give us what we have to have, Mr Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. Im not thrilled with that. Well see what happens. Were talking later. Advertisement Were not exactly happy with the way theyre negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons. Mr Trump was asked about the risks of the US getting involved in a drawn-out conflict if it strikes Iran. I guess you could say theres always a risk, Mr Trump replied. You know, when theres war, theres a risk of anything, both good and bad. A worshipper chants slogan as he holds an Iranian flag with a cleric after the conclusion of the Friday prayers ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) Later on Friday as he visited Texas, Mr Trump sounded more pessimistic, telling reporters that Iranian negotiators: Dont want to quite go far enough. Its too bad. He reiterated that he did not want to see Iran be allowed to enrich any amount of uranium and said the oil-rich nation should not need to enrich uranium for an energy programme. When asked by a reporter how close he was to making a decision on whether to launch a military strike, he said: Id rather not tell you. US secretary of state Marco Rubio plans to make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said. The US embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signalling that US military action might be imminent. Advertisement The announcement of Mr Rubios visit, and Mr Trumps latest remarks, could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike. US secretary of state Marco Rubio plans to make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said (Jonathan Ernst/AP) The State Department said Mr Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trumps 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza. It offered no other details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long urged tougher US action against Iran, and has warned that Israel will respond to any Iranian attack. Before his trip, Mr Rubio declared Iran to be a state sponsor of wrongful detention and said the State Department may invalidate US passports for travel to Iran. He said the move was because of the countrys continued arrests and imprisonment of innocent Americans and citizens of other countries for use as political leverage. The move does not automatically carry any penalties, but Mr Rubio said that if Iran does not stop, he could make it illegal to use a US passport for travel to or from Iran. The US delegation arrives at the Oman ambassadors residency where indirect nuclear talks between the US and Iran are taking place in Geneva (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) That restriction currently only applies to North Korea. A confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog meanwhile confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed during the 12-day war launched by Israel last June. Advertisement As a result, it said it could not confirm Irans claims that it stopped uranium enrichment after the US and Israeli strikes. The report was circulated to member countries and seen by The Associated Press. The announcement of Mr Rubios visit came just hours after the US embassy in Jerusalem implemented authorised departure status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense. In an email, US ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to focus on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington. US President Donald Trump gestures from the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews (Luis M Alvarez/AP) Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY, Mr Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for authorised departure. While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be, he added. The email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the US mission who was not authorised to share details. On a town-hall meeting on Friday after the email was sent, Mr Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying. Iran and the United States on Thursday walked away from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without a deal. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week. People gather at a lookout to look for the possible arrival of the US Navys aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Haifa, northern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side, without offering specifics. Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear programme. Advertisement Omans foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, met on Friday with US vice president JD Vance to discuss the negotiations. I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days, Mr al-Busaidi posted on X. Peace is within our reach. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, meanwhile met with Christopher Yeaw, a US arms control official. Mr Grossi posted on X that the two men had a timely exchange on current non-proliferation issues, including in Iran and other areas of common interest. The UN chief urged Iran and the US to focus on the diplomatic track. Were seeing both positive messages coming out of the diplomatic tracks, which were continuing to encourage, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Were also seeing very worrying military movements throughout the region, which is extremely concerning as well. Advertisement Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Cash piles up as Auric smashes WA gold production targets Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS James Pearson February 27, 2026 12:07pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A While many gold juniors have struggled to quickly capitalise on the soaring gold price, Auric Mining has taken a far more direct route dig it up, process it, and count the ounces. That strategy is paying off in spades at the companys Munda gold project near Widgiemooltha in Western Australia, where the latest gold pours from its second mining campaign have delivered results well ahead of expectations. Dore bars poured at the Lakewood Mill from Auric Minings second toll-treatment campaign at the Munda starter pit near Widgiemooltha, WA. Across three toll runs in campaign two so far this year, Auric has produced 4,819 ounces of gold, with a final outturn and gold-in-circuit still to be tallied. When added to the 2,718 ounces recovered during campaign one in late 2025, total production to date from the starter pit at Munda now stands at a very healthy 7,537 ounces, comfortably ahead of the 6,100-ounce target set for the starter pit. Advertisement The markets response has been swift and decisive, with Auric shares blasting almost 25 per cent higher to 34 cents on solid early turnover today. After initial gold sales from campaign two, Auric still holds 3,272 ounces of gold and 315 ounces of silver in its metal account at ABC Refinery, giving management flexibility over when to sell into what remains a strong gold price environment Add it all together and the numbers start to look impressive for a company of Aurics size. The company is now sitting on a whopping $34 million in cash, bullion and listed investments, providing plenty of financial firepower to fund the next phase of growth without the usual small-cap funding stress. Over the course of its second campaign, Auric processed 68,500 dry metric tonnes slightly more than planned with performance improving as the campaign progressed. What impressed most, however, were the ore grade and recovery, which, after processing at Black Cat Syndicates Lakewood mill, have consistently beaten targets. Management says the results have strengthened confidence the main pit Aurics bigger prize - will mirror the starter pit over its mine life once it comes online. Advertisement Auric Mining managing director Mark English said: Gold grade and recoveries continued to improve over the duration of this second campaign, and with further outturns and Gold In Circuit (GIC) calculations still to come, it augurs well for exceptional results from our Munda Starter Pit. Non-executive chairman Steve Morris added that the company has focused from day one on acquiring proven, infrastructure-adjacent gold assets capable of fast-tracked production. Success at Jeffreys Find unlocked the move into production at Munda, a project long seen as high quality and now validated by well-above-budgetresults. A key takeaway from the starter pit outcomes is that they have provided real-world data on mining conditions, metallurgy, and recoveries that will feed directly into planning for the much larger Munda main pit. With more than 125,000 tonnes processed across two campaigns since October last year, Auric now has a solid operational dataset to work from. Once reconciliation of the mining and processing data is complete, the company plans to roll straight into detailed scoping and design work for the main pit. With gold already flowing, cash piling up and confidence building in the Main pit at Munda Auric is fast shifting from a starter-pit success story into a credible growth producer. Advertisement As scoping work on the Munda main pit moves into focus, the company now has the ounces, the data and the balance sheet to turn a strong start into a much bigger gold opportunity. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Bulls N' Bears Shares Sharemarket Advertisement CultureArt & designArt Two mine shafts stood in the way of a gallery extension. It took 15,000 cubic metres of grout to sort out Linda Morris February 27, 2026 11:00am 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 Above two deep coal mine shafts stands the most significant transformation of the NSW regional art landscape in more than a decade. After a four-year closure, Newcastle Art Gallery officially reopens this Saturday, its $48 million expansion more than doubling its footprint to house a world-class $145 million collection previously hidden from view. The new wing, designed by Clare Design with Smith & Tzannes and Arup, is as much an engineering feat as a cultural one. To stabilise the Swiss cheese of 19th-century mine workings beneath the site, engineers pumped 15,000 cubic metres of grout roughly six Olympic-sized swimming pools of concrete through 100 specialised boreholes. Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton. The gallery is reopening on Saturday after four years and a $48 million expansion. Peter Stoop This voluminous slurry of cement and fly ash was essential to prevent subsidence. And the year-long process also served as an archaeological dig, uncovering artefacts from old workers cottages and a cordial factory. Advertisement Weve got mine shafts right under our city, a myriad of subterranean pathways says director Lauretta Morton. We had the big tanks out the back; trucks and pumps going on behind the scaffold, and people were seeing nothing being built and, yet, it was all happening underground. Gallery director Lauretta Morton in the new wing. Peter Stoop Two earlier expansion plans failed amid funding shortfalls and political squabbles. One former lord mayor described the gallery plans as a waste of time. Success was finally achieved through a coalition of support: $25 million from the City of Newcastle, $13 million from the Gallery Foundation, and $10 million in grants. I used to stalk previous arts ministers, Morton says. I used to find out where they were going to be and Id drive down the highway and turn up, and ask, when is the money going to come [north of] the Hawkesbury. The new extension increases the number of gallery spaces from five to 13. The additional 1600 square metres of exhibition space makes Newcastle the largest public gallery in NSW outside Sydney. Advertisement The former courtyard has been converted into a glass-walled atrium featuring a floating staircase a suspended, white geometric structure designed to bridge the original 1977 brutalist building and the airy extension. First Nations culture takes centre stage in the atrium with Megan Copes monumental installation, Kinyingarra Guwinyanba (Off Country). More than 100 bores were drilled to fill disused mine shafts lying under the gallery. Peter Stoop Nick Mitzevich, a former director now leading the National Gallery of Australia, recalls the gallery had one of the best regional collections in the country, but nowhere to show it off. It was literally bursting at the seams, he says. The gallery footprint far exceeded visitor numbers, and it was always congested. Its now a facility of great scale and amenity with a standalone bookshop, and restaurant and fulfils the full gamut of research, schools and exhibition programs. Says Morton: This is the first time our collection, anywhere in the gallery, has been on permanent display because before now we didnt have the space, and we had to constantly do a 12-week cycle of exhibitions. Advertisement Just in this gallery space, weve got some Australian hits. Williams, Boyd, Gascoigne, Hinder, Olsen, Blackman, Smart, Gleeson, and Tucker, Morton says. We have the most significant collection outside the state and national galleries, including the largest collection of avant-garde Sodeisha ceramics outside of Japan. Related Article Australia From ancient to modern: Australias 17 best places for culture Local legends also feature prominently. William Dobell grew up two streets away, and Margaret Olley was once a landlord to the nearby terraces on Church Street; a new gallery space has been named in her honour. The reopening is anchored by a significant gift from philanthropists Simon and Catriona Mordant. Their donation of 25 contemporary works thought to be valued at about $1 million includes pieces by Janet Laurence, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, and Novacastrian artist Jamie North. It is the largest number of artworks the philanthropists have ever gifted a single institution. Mordant says Newcastle and its energetic director were worthy recipients of artworks drawn from the couples massive collection built over 40 years. We believe art should be seen and enjoyed by the widest possible audience. Advertisement The Mordant gifts join John Olsens The Sea Sun of 5 Bells, the only one of his ceiling paintings on permanent display in an Australian gallery. Also out from storage is Brett Whiteleys Wynne Prize winner, Summer at Carcoar, a departure from Whiteleys signature aquamarine blue canvases of Sydney. The gallery owns three of four known works by the convict painter Joseph Lycett, hung between Abdul-Rahman Abdullahs carved draped white covered work, a commentary on the lie of Lycetts peaceful pastoral scenes. Upcoming highlights include the first major Australian survey of Angela Tiatia in September, followed by a solo exhibition by painter Anh Do in November, featuring his celebrity portraits and new landscapes. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. The Voice of Hind Rajab uses the real voice of a Palestinian girl who could not be saved. Some call it exploitative, but its director is unapologetic. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A There was no disputing the fact that The Voice of Hind Rajab was the buzz film at last years Venice Film Festival, earning a record-breaking 23-minute standing ovation after the final titles rolled. Kaouther Ben Hanias hard-hitting film is set in the Red Crescents cramped centre of operations in Gaza, where the emergency services workers are on the line for hours with a five-year-old girl trapped in a car shot to pieces by Israeli forces. She tells them that she is surrounded by the bodies of her uncle, aunt and four cousins. She begs to be rescued. One of their ambulances is only eight minutes away, but it will never be allowed to reach her. When the film finished its premiere screening, there were rows of people in evening dress in the Palazzo, crying. They stood and clapped. Surely, journalists said afterwards, a film that made this kind of impact would have to win the Golden Lion, the top prize at Venice. When Alexander Paynes jury chose Jim Jarmuschs wry film about adult families, Father Mother Sister Brother a trio of stories that alights on us gently as gossamer, by contrast with Hind Rajabs bazooka the decision was met with broad disbelief. Ben Hanias film made do with second prize, a Silver Lion. Was this a political decision? Director Kaouther Ben Hania with a mural of Hind Rajab. Sportsfile via Getty Images Ben Hania, a Tunisian filmmaker based in France, certainly made her film with a political purpose. Hind Rajab died in that wrecked car in January 2024. Her phone call to the Red Crescent had been recorded. The story was so heartbreaking. It touched me in my soul, says Ben Hania. When I heard the voice of Hind Rajab for the first time on the internet I felt sorrow, but also helplessness. I did this movie because of this. Because of thinking what can I do? Im not a politician, Im not an activist, Im a filmmaker. I can do a movie. The dazed plaintive voice we hear crackling over the line in the film is the voice of the real Hind Rajab. Ben Hania considered using a child actor to repeat Hinds words but, she says, dismissed the idea after 50 seconds. Instead, she approached the girls mother. Advertisement I knew from the beginning that I couldnt do anything without her blessing. For a mother it is perhaps the most horrible thing to lose a child, but her mother is one of the most courageous and most resilient persons. For her, it was very important that her daughter should have justice. Which she hasnt. Wesam Hamada, the mother of Hind Rajab, holds a drawing of her daughter by the artist Mar Gregorio, during a memorial and protest in Barcelona marking the second anniversary of her daughters killing by Israeli forces in Gaza. AP The Red Crescent workers are played by Palestinian actors. Motaz Malhees plays Omar, the explosive first responder at the emergency centre who works out her location but soon starts to crack as he searches for words to comfort a five-year-old. The call is taken over by motherly Rana (Saja Kilani) as their boss Mahdi (Amer Hlehel) plunges into the web of protocols required to get an ambulance through bombed streets patrolled by tanks. He has to call his counterparts in the Red Cross; they have to liaise with a unit in Israels Ministry of Defence; an order not to blow up the ambulance in transit has to be issued to individual soldiers in the street. All of them. Thats difficult, but every scraping pulley and lever in this process is very likely to fail. For ordinary people living their life, when a child calls asking for help, needing an ambulance, all over the world you send it immediately, says Ben Hania. But people dont know the reality of occupation. What does occupation mean? It means that there are Kafkaesque rules to make the lives of the colonised impossible. From the outset, we know that the ambulance will not be allowed to get there, but Ben Hania creates a heat of suspense in the aid workers drab office as they desperately make calls, trying to get their rescue workers safe passage. Their desperation is so palpable that we find ourselves holding out hope that history will somehow be rewritten and the owner of that little voice will go home. Advertisement When I started doing this movie I started immediately by contacting the Red Crescent, talking to the real people about what happened that day, says Ben Hania. And they talked to me honestly about what they were feeling. I stayed very close to what they told me because for me, honouring their work also in an impossible situation was very important. And then when I cast the actors, every actor talked to the real person to portray them. The Voice of Hind Rajab re-enacts the frantic efforts of Red Crescent workers to save the five-year-old. Madman Films Honouring doesnt mean indulging anybody. The emergency workers blame each other, lose their tempers and divert their fear into pitched ideological battles about whether they should be negotiating with the Israelis at all: pointless arguments that ring terribly true. Related Article Cinema Charli xcx buries Brat and Elvis is reborn: have music films entered a new era? During rehearsal, Kilani said in an online interview, the actors worked from script but without Hinds recorded voice. On the day filming started, they were fitted with earpieces and heard her for the first time. Their collective response was electric. Sometimes they forgot they were acting and spoke as themselves. All my actors are Palestinian, so already they are bringing their life, their experience and their share of tragedies, says Ben Hania. For them and for me, it was beyond acting. I didnt need to direct them; they were immersed in the moment. For me, this authenticity was very important. It wasnt about please dont cry now; here, I need a tear. For me, that would be horrific, I couldnt ask them this, you know. And for me, I was really very lucky to have those actors. Not all responses to The Voice of Hind Rajab were entirely positive. Critics worried at the ethics of mingling the real girls voice with a drama pumped with adrenalin and couched in a language familiar from conventional thrillers. In Variety, Guy Lodge called the film a blunt instrument and questioned Ben Hanias layering of tearjerker tactics over material that hardly requires extra emotional amplification. Advertisement Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A A few years after Emma OHalloran decided to have a crack at writing an opera, she became the first Irish composer to be nominated for a Grammy. Her double-bill, Mary Motorhead and Trade among five contenders for the 2026 award is nothing like the opera Australia knows. And its about to land in Melbourne. Emma OHalloran is probably going to be a major composer of this half-century, says Linda Thompson, founding director of the Australian Contemporary Opera Company, which is mounting the two works at the Malthouse next month. Thats not just PR guff: the president of Ireland wrote to OHalloran following her Grammy win, and The Los Angeles Times declared: No Irish opera has entered the standard repertory. But that is about to change. The standard repertory in Australia is generally stuck in the past, concentrated on works created centuries ago; companies of all sizes risk alienating subscribers if they stray too far from the well-trodden path. Mary Motorhead and Trade fearlessly stride into uncharted territory; their Irish conductor, Elaine Kelly, suggests they might not even be considered opera at all. Kelly earned her second Grammy nomination for the double-bill, and is in Melbourne this month to lead the local production. We are very much leaning into the fact that its theatre first, she says. Its theatre with a bit of voice. If opera scares people, its not opera. Its theatre with all the other elements that are involved. Trade is set in the seedy hotel room where a closeted man engages a young sex worker. The most striking departure from classical convention is in the stories OHalloran has chosen to tell. The first work takes us into the prison cell of a woman (Australian mezzo soprano Emily Edmonds) jailed for introducing her husbands head to the pointy end of a carving knife. The second follows the burgeoning relationship of a closeted man (baritone Christopher Hillier) and the young sex worker hes invited to a seedy hotel room. None of it sounds very Verdi. Advertisement Emma didnt want to write operas about kings and queens, and thats the appeal, that combination of ordinary and extraordinary that opera can do, says Thompson. The starting points for both works were plays of the same name by OHallorans uncle, Irish actor and playwright Mark OHalloran. His niece says she was inspired to adapt these short, dark works partly because they gave her the chance to explore psychological complexity in a way thats rare in opera. Composer Emma OHalloran: I havent been imprisoned for a violent crime. Um, yet. Getty Images I havent been imprisoned for a violent crime. Um, yet, she says. But I think these characters all have feelings that we have felt and can relate to, like hope or disappointment, things that you wished would happen and might not have worked out the way you wanted them to. Regarding Mary Motorhead, she recalls a quote by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each mans life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. Thats what its about, creating a container for the audience to go, OK, I can understand why shes in jail now. I might not agree with what she did or how she did it, but I can feel where shes coming from. Hallorans score also veers far from the familiar. There are guitars and saxophones and synths and pop samples, with a 10-piece band accompanied by prerecorded electronics. It elevates the piece even more, says Kelly. The live instruments on their own are already fantastic and they help tell the story. But just that little punch of electronics, it just makes it pop. Then theres the singing. Both works are very much rooted in inner-city Dublin, says their conductor, and the voices that carry them are as well. In opera, we dont ever really use our own accents. Advertisement Related Article Interview This Grammy-nominated band has released 60 albums, and never had a record label In English, in particular, we use accents that are more operatic and neutralised. So we really punched in the Dublin accent here, and that was really intriguing to people ... Were very much in Ireland, and these pieces are so deeply cultural. Where classical opera tends to be big on the grand gestures, OHalloran is more fascinated by the possibility of interiority and nuanced emotion as expressed through music. Previous operas are a little bit more action-based, and theres a conflict and then this happens and then that. Im just not really interested in that. I really want to get to know the inner worlds of the characters, she says. Music, after all, is one of the most powerful methods we have of exploring our most private sides. As a kid, I dont think I had a great ability to articulate how I was feeling, to be able to use words to put a shape on things, says OHalloran. I definitely gravitated towards music because it was a non-verbal thing. I was a sensitive little kid and had big feelings, and music was my way to capture the complicated nature of feeling and being alive. Kelly trained as a violinist before turning to conducting, and says that music also has a recognisable emotional pull for her. Ive always loved orchestra music, but I never loved playing violin on my own. It was always best when I was part of a team, when I was playing chamber music or orchestra music. The teamwork has clearly paid off. Kelly has so far conducted the work across Ireland as well as in New York and Los Angeles. Of course there was also that trip down the Grammys red carpet alongside the likes of Beyonce and Chappell Roan. There were 88 albums in the running for best opera recording this year, and to make it to the top five was a nice boost, Kelly says. It means that youre doing the right thing, and what youre doing is connecting with other people. Advertisement Collection Heres your March dining hit list, Melbourne (featuring this free bread thats good enough to pay for) Find the glossy brioche at The Lodge, a fine dining restaurant from New Zealand menswear label Rodd & Gunn. Also this month: our guide to one of Melbournes best suburban dining hubs, and discover a Middle Eastern restaurant in a pub, plus a secret bar inside a pub inside an old train station. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Every cafe, bakery, bar, pub and restaurant featured in The Age Good Food Guide in Central Victoria. See all stories . Found under the chimney at The Mill precinct, poke your head into this coffee roastery for a look at the atmospheric Austrian-inspired design, and stay for the decadent Viennese cakes. A shot of schnapps in your coffee is just short of compulsory. Traditional Austrian dishes might include bigos stew; cheese kransky with kaiser rolls baked locally by Sprout; or pork goulash with mini potato dumplings. Want to visit this venue? Save it in the Good Food app. Advertisement NationalNSWHospitals Disturbing: Mould found in hospital after deadly fungus cluster Angus Thomson and Michael Ruffles February 27, 2026 1:23pm 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 Confidential testing triggered by a deadly cluster of fungal infections on a Sydney transplant ward found widespread mould and water damage on at least four floors of the hospital, as new documents reveal mould growing in at least five other major health facilities across the state. Two people died and another four became seriously ill in a cluster of fungal infections among patients at the Royal Prince Alfred transplant unit in Camperdown between October and December, the Herald revealed on Thursday. A preliminary assessment found invasive fungal infection was a causative factor in the deaths of the two patients. Mould found inside Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on January 19, after two transplant patients died in a fungal infection cluster. McCaskill Parry Consulting The hospital said it was investigating the possibility that the cluster could be caused by Aspergillus mould disturbed by construction on the facilitys $940 million redevelopment. Advertisement But the findings of environmental testing, completed last month and made public through a parliamentary call for papers, found extensive mould on four floors of the hospital that was unlikely to be related to the construction site. Mould found in a plant room at RPA. McCaskill Parry Consulting The survey found high mould spore concentrations in the hospitals auditorium, ambulance drop-off area and early pregnancy assessment service. The type of mould discovered inside the hospital, Aspergillus/Penicillium, was associated with water damage caused by heavy rain, the report said. Photos attached to the report show visible mould growing inside plant rooms on levels four and 10 of the hospital. The survey also found mould in ceiling vents in the post-natal and staff areas. Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell described the pictures as disturbing. Advertisement The staff, patients and families of those who lost their lives deserve transparency, Mitchell said. Health Minister Ryan Park on Friday said there was no cover-up when asked why the government did not inform the public of the cluster for two months. We were telling hundreds of people cleaners, orderlies, clinical staff, nursing staff, outpatients, patients, he said. Park said NSW Health had to strike a balance between informing the people most affected, versus not unnecessarily causing concern in the community about people going to one of the countrys largest and most preeminent hospitals. Parliamentary documents requested by Mitchells office revealed further mould issues at Cumberland, Wyong, Ryde and John Hunter hospitals. Advertisement Park said many of NSWs 4000 hospital buildings were ageing, and recent heavy rain had contributed to mould issues across the state. Related Article Health Two deaths linked to fungus cluster at Sydney hospital When its identified, we try and get that removed as quickly and as effectively as possible, he said. Sydney Local Health District chief executive Deb Willcox said the $940 million redevelopment would address many of the ventilation and water damage issues that had led to mould growth at RPA. This will happen from time to time in ageing buildings, she said. Advertisement It is unfortunate, but Im very confident from the air sampling and the work that weve done that the hospital is absolutely safe. What is Aspergillus mould? Aspergillus is a family of moulds found almost everywhere. It makes a huge number of spores. It lives in soil, it lives in decaying vegetation. Its ubiquitous, said Professor Dee Carter, a fungal infections expert at the University of Sydney. If you sampled just the air in front of you right now, you no doubt find that there were some spores there. Advertisement Aspergillus fumigatus derived from the Latin word for smoke is the particular strain most commonly associated with fungal infections in humans, Carter said. If you turn over a pile of compost, you might see what looks like a puff of smoke, and its actually a whole bunch of spores being released, she said. How are fungal infections contracted? Aspergillus can only enter the body when it is inhaled into the lungs. It is hydrophobic, meaning it tends to repel water, enabling it to penetrate deep into the lungs, Carter said. Advertisement Why is it so dangerous? For most people, these spores are harmless. The immune system is effective at clearing out the fungus before it can cause problems. But for transplant patients, who are on a number of immune-suppressing drugs to prevent the body from rejecting a new organ, these spores can cause serious problems. If you dont have a good immune system, thats when it can lodge in the lungs, and then it can start to grow and cause trouble, Carter said. These filaments can penetrate cells and blood vessels, reaching deep into the lungs. Advertisement Its a really terrible, horrible disease, and pretty hard to treat once it gets started, Carter said. Mortality rates even with the best available antifungal treatments can still be as high as 80 per cent. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. Dr Melanie Jansen meets parents on the worst day of their lives. She believes reading and writing poetry can help doctors and family members cope with the unthinkable and the health sector is starting to agree. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Dr Melanie Jansen clearly remembers the first incident in a hospital that inspired her to write a poem. She was a junior medical student at the University of Newcastle assisting in the emergency department at John Hunter Hospital. An elderly man with Parkinsons disease had had an acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage and it was suspected he had breathed blood from his stomach into his lungs. Jansen was tasked with taking a blood sample from the mans wrist. She got the needle in on the second try, and then racked her brains to analyse the results from the ABG (arterial blood gas) machine. What happened next made it into the poem. The blood pressure cuff inflates with a sound that reminds me of a tyre being let down. As I watch, a tear slides down the old mans cheek In the midst of all the urgent activity, all I can see is an old man crying. I just remember feeling really sad about that man, and also seeing how little I knew, and how far I had to go before I could do this job, Jansen recalls. Many years later Jansen is both a pediatric ICU specialist and an award-winning poet, one who is about to have her first verse collection published under the title All That Could Be Lost. Advertisement The childrens intensive care unit is no place for the fragile soul. While the mortality rate in Australia is blessedly low, at under 3 per cent, in a busy hospital that equates to losing on average one child a week. We live in the pointy end of life and death, Jansen says. The question everyone always wants to know is: how can she stand it? Writing those stories down, and my feelings around them, is definitely a way of processing, Jansen says. Morgan Roberts I really liked the idea of when you do something for a child you get so many years out of it, she says. And you can change the whole course of their life if things go right early. I like that you get to have some relationship ... to look after their whole family, and to make that really awful time of their life just a bit easier. Were speaking in Fables Bar & Cafe inside the Princess Theatre in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Jansen gets coffee here daily, and often settles into her seat to write. Its a sanctuary from her work at the Queensland Childrens Hospital and her duties as the mother of a four-year-old. Meeting Jansen here brings to mind her devastating poem Re-entry, in which she makes idle chit-chat with a friend over coffee while trying not to think about a baby who has died after being assaulted by its father. Advertisement A poem titled Breaking Bad News recounts her reporting a teenagers death to six of his closest relatives. Jansen recognises the look of disorientation on their faces: Is the floor level? The chairs stick, the doorhandles dont make sense. In the books opening salvo, Some Days the Air is Soft, which won a prize in the Hunter Writers Centres Grieve competition in 2022, Jansen writes: My mirror showed me three grey hairs today, gifts from other peoples children. Elsewhere she urges herself to prepare to marinate in tragedy. Learn to hold it its only for a moment for those whose once-in-a-lifetime tragedy it is. The risk of the serious doctor writing poetry is that you imagine youre having a holiday when you write, like theres something soft about it, and theres nothing soft about it. Dr Mark Tredinnick, poet and literary academic I cant read the book without crying. Its harrowing, says poet and literary academic Dr Mark Tredinnick OAM, who mentored Jansen through the Australian Writer Mentoring program. Jansen impressed him by showing she was willing to take poetry as seriously as surgery; to bring the scalpel to the page. The risk of the serious doctor writing poetry is that you imagine youre having a holiday when you write poetry, like theres something soft about it, and theres nothing soft about it. Advertisement He showed Jansens work to other poets. Among those who concurred on its quality was Steve Meyrick, Tredinnicks colleague at 5 Islands Press, who encouraged Jansen to submit poems that deal with other personal topics love poems, nature poems, poems about the end of her marriage all of which appear in the book. Her work is not just a solipsistic exercise in expressing herself, Tredinnick affirms. Melanie has managed to transfigure personal experience into human experience. Jansen grew up without medical ambitions. Her family lived on a semi-rural property in Logan, and she diplomatically describes her schooling as colourful. The scar on my finger is from surgery I had to have after being attacked by one of the [female] students. I cant even remember what for. She hastens to add that she did not have a disadvantaged, terrible, Trent Dalton-esque upbringing her childhood was lovely, just different to what the typical Australian doctor might have experienced. She saved money working in hospitality after leaving school, then went backpacking in Europe. On a bus between Nice and Barcelona she got chatting to a girl her age from Melbourne, who mentioned she was planning to study medicine. Advertisement I remember thinking: Oh. You seem pretty much like me, maybe I could do that. Once the idea of medicine took hold, it began to feel like a calling. She had another love, however. While studying for her medical degree at the University of Newcastle, Jansen took a year off to focus on music. She took classes in jazz piano and singing, wrote songs and rehearsed diligently with her band. Jansen was a musician before she became a doctor and poet. Morgan Roberts Everybody was like: Do you want to leave medicine if this gets really successful? And I was like: No! I really liked being a doctor, and I realised how stressful being a musician is. She hasnt given up entirely, playing sporadically in a combo made up of cardiology specialists from around the world that gets together to gig during conferences most recently in Washington DC. Jansen has always had a strong sense that the dichotomy of art versus science is bunk. While completing her paediatric training, she also enrolled in a masters in philosophy. As a Churchill Fellow she visited the Fondazione Lanza in Padua, where she asked bioethicist Professor Renzo Pegoraro about the value of the humanities in medicine. Advertisement 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. A Brisbane childcare centre has been fined almost $15,000 after a three-year-old who left the grounds was collected by a passer-by, despite the centre being told 20 minutes earlier the child was outside unsupervised. The child slipped out of the Only About Children Morningside daycare centre unnoticed on June 23, 2023, and was noticed by a member of the public minutes later. Only About Children Morningside. Google Maps The person contacted the centre, which conducted a headcount to confirm the three-year-old had left. A second call 20 minutes later from a passer-by confirmed the child had been picked up. Advertisement NationalQueenslandSmall business Layla gifted Hailey Bieber her diamond cleaning stick. Then she quit her job Brittney Deguara February 28, 2026 9:00am 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 Within days of meeting Hailey Bieber unexpectedly at a Sydney restaurant, Layla Morris quit her job. The Gold Coast businesswoman seized an unlikely opportunity, one she says she manifested just 20 minutes earlier while buying Biebers rhode products. Egged on by her husband, she gifted the American model and makeup entrepreneur one of her homemade diamond-cleaning pens. Five months ago, Layla Morris launched Dr Diamond. She just quit her job to focus on the brand full-time. [My husband] said to me, you asked the universe 20 minutes ago to get Dr Diamond in her hands and shes right here you have to give it to her. Advertisement So as Bieber walked past on her way out of Neptunes Grotto restaurant, Morris complimented her beauty line and whipped out her Dr Diamond product as a gift. She put it in her handbag she said thank you so much, Im so excited to use it. The encounter wasnt caught on camera, but Morris reaction was. A video showing her excitement and explaining what had happened has been viewed more than 6.2 million times. That split-second decision to share her reaction translated into tangible results. Within an hour of the video going live on February 13, sales were going crazy. In just over a week, they had increased by 3000 per cent. Advertisement I used to be able to take all of the orders in my handbag to the post office every day; now were taking a big sack of orders to Australia Post. So it has changed the business completely, she told this masthead. Dr Diamond, which was launched in July 2025, is now projected to hit $900,000 in sales by the end of the year. Dr Diamond is an Australian-made instant diamond cleaning pen. For Morris, who founded the brand with her husband and fulfils orders with family and friends out of a spare room, the plan was always to quit her job. She just didnt expect it to happen so suddenly. When this masthead spoke with her, she had handed in her resignation the day before. The viral video and sales boost drove the Gold Coast-based business to expand shipping to international markets. It was initially a test to understand the appetite, but the couple quickly realised the demand was there even without Bieber posting about the product herself. Advertisement Thats also now shifted our strategy to wanting to expand globally a lot quicker than expected, Morris said. Not a chemist by trade, the idea behind Dr Diamond came from Morris own $25,000 engagement ring, which jewellers advised her to wash with dish soap and a toothbrush. Layla Morris and her family hand-fill the pens and ship them from her spare bedroom on the Gold Coast. The couple then started learning about the ideal ingredients for cleaning diamond products. They had a natural formula made at a local manufacturing facility, and now, each pen is hand-filled and shipped from the Gold Coast. Everything is done here: we fill all the pens here, the formula here, packaging, and ship it all from my spare bedroom, Morris said. Advertisement Dr Diamond has no staff yet. The first official employee will likely be Morris mum, who frantically went to pack orders the night of the Bieber encounter. As for the brand itself, Morris envisages significant growth expanding into retailers and becoming a go-to product offered by jewellers. Related Article Melbourne Fashion Festival The Australian fashion brand loved by it girls, ignored by the front row We want it to be an accessible product, as it should be in your jewellery stores, and definitely online, so anyone can access it at any time, she said. [We want to be] owning that space and making jewellery care part of peoples weekly routine now so normalising cleaning your jewellery more than once a year. Morris and her husband are the brands sole investors, and plan to keep it that way for now. They also want production to remain on the Gold Coast. Advertisement I love the idea of having full control and making sure that we can make it an incredible space where we can move fast, she said. But if Bieber were to come knocking as an investor, she would definitely answer. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Woman arrested for alleged manslaughter of son Police have released vision of a woman being arrested for the alleged manslaughter of her son on the Gold Coast. Advertisement PoliticsFederalNegative gearing Chalmers not negative about the prospect of negative gearing Paul Sakkal and Millie Muroi Updated February 27, 2026 1:35pm ,first published February 27, 2026 8:52am 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 Investors could be hit with a restriction on the number of homes they can negatively gear as Labor plots a political campaign on homeownership for younger Australians. The government has been buoyed by the mostly positive reaction from economists and business leaders to news earlier this month that it was thinking about reining the 50 per cent discount on taxing the value uplift of assets. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will face questions about modelling caps for negative gearing. AAPIMAGE Two government sources, not authorised to speak publicly about the upcoming May budget, confirmed negative gearing was also being looked at, among other options. One said the capital gains move was viewed inside the government as more likely to be put forward than the negative gearing change, but both were being explored by the Treasury. Before the last election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his ministers consistently ruled out touching negative gearing and the CGT. Advertisement Asked about the proposal on Friday, first reported in The Australian, Chalmers did not deny it was being modelled, avoiding the rule-in, rule-out game that has stifled previous examinations of tricky tax changes. Related Article Housing crisis The zombie debate about negative gearing is back. Whats at stake? We know that there is a sense of intergenerational unfairness in the tax system and in the housing market as well, he said. Its not unusual for the Treasury to be canvassing a whole range of issues, a whole range of policies to inform discussions and deliberations of the cabinet as we get closer and closer to the governments fifth budget in May. Im not prepared to go into the detail of that, no decisions have been taken. We havent changed our tax policy. Allowing a public discussion on the policies to make property investing less attractive suggests a new-found appetite from Labor to tackle the politically fraught issue of tilting the property market in favour of first homebuyers. Advertisement Labor was scarred by its election loss in 2019 when Bill Shorten proposed abolishing tax breaks for investors, triggering an attack campaign from the Coalition, and Tim Wilson now shadow treasurer on a suite of tax tweaks that included negative gearing, capital gains tax, and dividend imputation reform, otherwise known as the franking credits scare. Chalmers has also faced growing calls from economists and Labor branches to go harder on economic reform to make the housing market fairer while reining in public spending and lowering personal income taxes. This masthead previously reported that Chalmers was exploring the CGT change as part of a broader tax package that might include a bigger income tax cut. Liberal leader Angus Taylor has come out quickly against any tax changes for property investing. Labor may be less worried about an opposition campaign given the fragile state of the newly reformed Coalition and its current supersized majority in the House. They are banking on an electorate younger and more sharply aware of the inequities of the property market since Shortens reform attempts began a decade ago. The Coalitions Angus Taylor and Jane Hume have already rejected any change to negative gearing, saying landlords will only raise rents. Sitthixay Ditthavong Opposition frontbencher James Paterson said Albanese will lie to voters if the government proceeded with the tax changes. They were particularly strong on ruling out negative gearing changes, Paterson said on Sky News, arguing Labor was running out of money and resorting to tax hikes. Advertisement This would be a major breach of faith with the Australian people. The combination of negative gearing and the capital gains discount, implemented by the Howard government, has been blamed for fuelling a two-decade spike in house prices that has outstripped wages. The critical shortage of new homes and high rates of migration are also key factors, economists say, but Australia has a unique addiction to property investment by OECD standards. A refresher on negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount Negative gearing: When an investor purchases a property with a loan, and the rent they get from it is less than the costs (including interest, rates and maintenance) of owning it. When this happens, the investor can subtract the net loss from their other income, reducing their taxable income. Capital gains tax discount: Capital gains on assets (this can include things like shares, as well as housing) are taxed like other forms of income when you sell them, but with a 50 per cent discount if theyve been held for at least 12 months. Former Liberal MP Keith Wolahan argued this week that the Liberal Party should support changes that make it easier for people to buy homes. Advertisement Rather than abolishing negative gearing, its operation should be refocused toward new supply. The Liberal Party should lead with this: cap negative gearing for established dwellings at one property per investor, while allowing the deduction for up to five newly constructed homes, Wolahan wrote in an article this week on website Inflection Point. The case for rebalancing is clear. In 2025, 82 per cent of loans to investors were for established dwellings. Negative gearing allows an investor to deduct any losses from running a property (such as interest, rates and maintenance) from their annual income, reducing how much tax they pay. The capital gains tax discount allows investors to sell a property and only pay tax on 50 per cent of the profit if they have owned it for at least one year. The family home is currently exempt from capital gains tax. Advertisement Australian Tax Office figures show in the 2021-22 period, 1.3 million people were positively or neutrally geared (meaning they generated more or equal rental income, compared with their costs), while 950,000 were negatively geared. Costings requested by the Greens from the Parliamentary Budget Office in 2024 showed that during the 2024-25 period the revenue foregone from negative gearing was estimated to be about $6.9 billion, while capital gains discounts on residential properties were estimated to cost $5.4 billion. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement TechnologyJobs The week AI came for Australian jobs David Swan Updated February 27, 2026 2:51pm ,first published 10:01am 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 It was 1am when Natalie MacDonalds phone lit up. The emails subject line told her everything she needed to know before shed read a word of it. After she had spent seven years at LinkedIn, building its audience across Australia, mentoring colleagues and flying to India for a conference on women in tech just weeks earlier, her role was being eliminated. The reason: a company-wide restructure driven by investment in artificial intelligence. Natalie MacDonald resists the narrative of robots stealing jobs. MacDonald, 36, and a mother-of-two, had returned from parental leave just six weeks prior. Her baby had been hospitalised with a serious infection the week before she went back to work. Now she was sitting on the floor of her childrens bedroom at 3am, messaging former colleagues around the world, trying to grasp the scale of what was happening. I woke my partner up and just said: Im losing my job in the morning, she tells this masthead. Advertisement MacDonalds story would be devastating enough on its own. But this week it became something more: the human face of what is rapidly emerging as a tipping point for AI-driven job losses across corporate Australia. Within just a few days, a cascade of announcements from some of the countrys biggest companies has made it impossible to treat AI displacement as a theoretical problem, a future risk to be managed with training programs and reassuring talking points. WiseTech Global chief executive Zubin Appoo didnt try to dodge questions about whether AI was to blame for his companys job cuts. Sitthixay Ditthavong This week made clear that it is here now and its accelerating. A week like no other Advertisement The dominoes fell fast. On Tuesday, WiseTech Global, one of Australias most valuable technology companies, announced it would slash 2000 jobs, nearly a third of its workforce, across product development and customer service. Chief executive Zubin Appoo didnt try to dodge questions about whether AI was to blame. He pointed to the launch of Anthropics Claude Opus 4.5 in late 2025, and subsequently OpenAIs latest models, as a tipping point that had fundamentally changed what the technology will do for software companies. Investors loved it. WiseTech shares surged nearly 11 per cent on the news, and J.P. Morgan estimated the cuts could deliver up to $150 million in savings. The analyst notes title: Cutting a leaner path to FY28. Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive Matt Comyn. Alex Ellinghausen The same day, the Commonwealth Bank confirmed 300 job cuts, timed alongside the launch of a $90 million Future Workforce Program designed to retrain staff for roles the bank believes will survive the AI era: financial crime, digital risk and data engineering. CBA chief executive Matt Comyn has been preparing for this moment since an embarrassing episode last year, when the bank blamed 45 contact centre redundancies on AI before walking the claim back weeks later. This time, the messaging was more sophisticated: cuts paired with investment, and displacement paired with redeployment. We recognise theres a lot of uncertainty around AI and were trying to replace that with transparency and opportunity, Comyn told the ABCs 7.30 program on Wednesday. Advertisement Related Article Opinion AI WiseTechs AI jobs sledgehammer a sign of things to come? Elizabeth Knight Business columnist There are many things that humans can do that currently the technology cant do. But it can do some things remarkably well. And its the pace of change that I thinks really important. Then, on Friday morning (Australian time), Jack Dorseys fintech company Block, the parent company of Square and Afterpay, told shareholders it was becoming a smaller, faster, intelligence-native company and that it was axing nearly half its global workforce. Some 4000 jobs are to go. Australian employees of Block are not immune from the cuts, though the company did not say how many local staff would lose their jobs. Dorsey said a significantly smaller team using AI tools could already do more and do it better. He said that within the next year, the majority of companies would reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes. And the Communications Workers Union this week accused Telstra of offshoring by stealth, saying that its plans to shift technology development and AI delivery capabilities to foreign contractors would put local skills and the personal data of millions of Australians at risk. US-based Block, led by Jack Dorsey, is the latest technology company to announce mass lay-offs, citing AI. Bloomberg Advertisement The Australian cuts did not happen in a vacuum. The same week, a viral research note from US firm Citrini Research shook global markets with what it called a scenario, not a prediction a doomsday timeline in which AI agents gut software companies, trigger mass white-collar unemployment, and set off cascading defaults in private credit and mortgages. The scenario ends in mid-2028 with unemployment above 10 per cent and protesters camped outside OpenAIs offices. Related Article Updated AI AI job losses hit Australia hard as software giant WiseTech axes 2000 jobs Speculative as it was, markets flinched. The S&P 500 dropped more than 1 per cent on Monday. Companies named in the report Uber, Mastercard, American Express, DoorDash lost between 4 and 6 per cent. A Federal Reserve governor felt compelled to push back publicly, saying AI would not rapidly displace workers. Still, the fact that a Substack post could rattle the worlds biggest sharemarket tells you something about where investor psychology sits right now. Globally, AI is tearing through workplaces. Amazon has confirmed 16,000 corporate cuts. Dow Chemical is slashing 4500 roles as it automates with AI. Autodesk is shedding 1000 jobs to redirect spending to its cloud and AI platform. HP expects to eliminate up to 6000 positions by 2028. Advertisement The fear is real New data from Randstads Workmonitor survey found that one in three Australian workers now believes their job will disappear due to AI within five years. The same proportion says their job prospects have worsened compared with a year ago. Millennials and Gen X are the most worried, and almost half of all workers surveyed believe AI adoption will primarily benefit companies rather than employees. Perhaps most telling is the training gap. Less than half of Australian workers say theyve received training on the AI tools reshaping their roles. But 56 per cent of employers say their workforce has been adequately trained, a disconnect that Randstads Amelia OCarrigan says could produce an AI skills cliff. Photo: Matt Golding Employers are moving quickly to adopt AI, but many workers havent been given the training to keep up, OCarrigan says. Without proper training, AI doesnt boost productivity, it erodes confidence. Advertisement UNSW professor Toby Walsh used a National Press Club address this week to say Australia is sleepwalking into an AI future without the investment, regulation, or independent expert advice that every comparable nation considers essential. He pointed to a global survey of 180 million job postings that found advertisements for graphic designers had fallen by 33 per cent in 2025 compared to the prior year. Photographers dropped 28 per cent. Writers and copy editors fell by the same margin. I refuse to accept an AI revolution that enriches founders in Silicon Valley by impoverishing Australian artists, writers and musicians, Walsh told the audience. Toby Walsh speaking at the National Press Club this week. AAPIMAGE Work futurist and former Atlassian executive Dominic Price offered a more measured take. AI is pouring accelerant on [workplace disruption], because in the short-term, business leaders see AI purely as productivity and cost out, he says. In the medium term, AI should lead us to new business opportunities and the chance to redeploy people to grow new products and services. The other side of the equation Advertisement MacDonald, for her part, resists the narrative of robots stealing jobs. She used her redundancy payout to launch a consultancy helping other professionals particularly mothers and caregivers to navigate career disruption. She now has a portfolio career spanning brand consulting, hosting and media work. My story is very much not grumpy, the robot stole my job, she says. Its more a pause and a pivot. And she refuses to be pessimistic about whats coming. I think were going to hit an inflection point, she says. Some organisations will realise theyve cut too far, that theres a ceiling on how far AI can get you. AI can take an average idea to good, but thats about as far as it goes. Related Article AI This voiceover actor was dumped from his contract. His voice was cloned Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright offers a different kind of optimism, saying the physical infrastructure underpinning AI data centres, energy systems, fibre networks could create enormous demand for skilled Australian workers. Data centres are near population centres, he says, providing varied work from cabling to off-grid generation, making them ideal training grounds for the next generation of electrical workers the nation desperately needs. Advertisement This isnt like the mining boom, Wright says. Data centres and energy transition are happening everywhere at the same time. If we want this done, we have to skill up and do it ourselves. What comes next? The question corporate Australia now faces is not whether AI will reshape workforces that debate is already settled. Its how the transition will be managed, and who bears the cost. CBAs approach pairing cuts with a $90 million retraining investment may become the template. But not every company will have CBAs resources or inclination. WiseTechs cuts were announced to market cheers, as were Blocks. But for the thousands of workers caught in between sitting on bedroom floors at 3am, refreshing their email, wondering what comes next the macro narrative offers cold comfort. A Financial Services Union survey found about three in four CBA employees are worried about their job security. Half have considered leaving. Advertisement Two things can be true at once, MacDonald says. You can miss the lifestyle you had and not love what happened to you, while also loving the autonomy of the path youre now on. A fast-growing chunk of corporate Australia could be about to find out for themselves what that path looks like. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement WorldAsiaThe Taliban Pakistan says its in open war with Afghanistan. Whats behind the latest fighting? Lucy Craymer , Saad Sayeed and Asif Shahzad February 27, 2026 6:02pm 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 Islamabad: Pakistan carried out air strikes on Afghanistans major cities overnight, officials in Islamabad and Kabul said on Friday, escalating months of border clashes between the Islamic neighbours. The air and ground strikes, which hit Taliban military posts, headquarters and ammunition depots in multiple sectors along the border, came after Afghanistan launched an attack on Pakistani border forces, the officials said. Both sides reported heavy losses in the fighting, which Pakistans defence minister said amounted to an open war. Local residents and civil defence workers look on as a bulldozer clears the rubble of a house hit by a cross-border Pakistani army strike in the Behsud district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on February 22. AP Tensions have heated up since Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan last weekend. Advertisement Border clashes between the two countries had killed dozens of soldiers in October until negotiations facilitated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia ceased the hostilities and a fragile ceasefire was put in place. Related Article Afghanistan Firefights erupt between Pakistani and Afghan forces along border Why are the neighbours at odds? Pakistan welcomed the return to power of the Taliban in 2021. Then-prime minister Imran Khan said Afghans had broken the shackles of slavery. But Islamabad soon found that the Taliban were not as co-operative as it had hoped. Advertisement Islamabad says that the leadership of militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and many of its fighters are based in Afghanistan, and that armed insurgents seeking independence for the south-western Pakistani province of Balochistan also use Afghanistan as a safe haven. Militancy has increased every year since 2022. Attacks by the TTP and Baloch insurgents have increased, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a global monitoring organisation. Kabul, for its part, has repeatedly denied allowing militants to use Afghan territory to launch attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban says Pakistan harbours fighters from its enemy, Islamic State, a charge Islamabad denies. Advertisement Islamabad says the ceasefire did not hold long due to continued militant attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan, and there have been repeated clashes and border closures since then that have disrupted trade and movement along the rugged frontier. What sparked the latest clashes? The day before last weekends strikes, Pakistani security sources said they had irrefutable evidence that militants in Afghanistan were behind a recent wave of attacks and suicide bombings that had targeted Pakistani military and police. The sources listed seven planned or successful attacks by militants since late 2024 that they said were connected to Afghanistan. One attack last week that killed 11 security personnel and two civilians in Bajaur district was undertaken by an Afghan national, according to Pakistani security sources. This attack was claimed by the TTP. Advertisement Who are the Pakistani Taliban? The TTP was formed in 2007 by several militant outfits active in north-west Pakistan. It is commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP has attacked markets, mosques, airports, military bases, police stations and it has also gained territory, mostly along the border with Afghanistan, but also deep inside Pakistan, including the Swat Valley. The group was behind the 2012 attack on then schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who received the Nobel Peace Prize two years later. Relatives and soldiers carry the coffin of an army officer killed in a suicide bombing in the border district of Bannu on February 22. AP The TTP also fought alongside the Afghan Taliban against US-led forces in Afghanistan and hosted Afghan fighters in Pakistan. Pakistan has launched military operations against the TTP on its own soil with limited success, although an offensive that ended in 2016 drastically reduced attacks until a few years ago. Advertisement What happens next? Pakistan is likely to intensify its military campaign, analysts say, while Kabuls retaliation could come in the way of raids on border posts and more cross-border guerrilla attacks to target security forces. On paper, there is a wide mismatch between the military capabilities of the two sides. At 172,000, the Taliban has less than a third of Pakistans personnel. The Taliban does possess at least six aircraft and 23 helicopters, but their condition is unknown and the Taliban has no fighter jets or an effective air force. Pakistans armed forces include more than 600,000 active personnel; they have more than 6000 armoured fighting vehicles and more than 400 combat aircraft, according to 2025 data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The country is also nuclear armed. Advertisement Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: The Taliban Pakistan Afghanistan Islam Malala Advertisement Analysis WorldEuropeUK politics How a firebrand plumber triumphed for the Greens and infuriated the UK right David Crowe February 28, 2026 2:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A London: A simple message about the cost of living has shown why Hannah Spencer, a plumber who left school at 16, triumphed for the Greens at a byelection that has rocked British politics. Spencer, 34, spoke for struggling families in a victory speech that tapped into the deep frustration that Britain is broken, but she did it with an appeal from the left rather than a lunge to the right. Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer gives her victory speech. Getty Images I didnt grow up wanting to be a politician, she said. Im a plumber, and two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified as a plasterer because even in chaos, even under pressure, I get things done. I am no different to every single person here in this constituency: I work hard, that is what we do, except things have changed a lot over the last few decades. Advertisement Because working hard used to get you something. It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere. But now, working hard, what does that get you? Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you the people who work hard cant put food on the table, cant get their kids school uniforms, cant put their heating on, cant live off the pension they worked hard to save for, cant even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever, because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, were working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry. And I dont think its extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. Hannah Spencer (right) visits Green Party volunteers at a polling booth. Getty Images That is how she trounced the Labour government, led by the bland and embattled Keir Starmer, and infuriated the right-wing Reform UK party, led by the talkative but untested Nigel Farage. Advertisement Reform UK were so angry at being beaten that Farage blamed dirty tactics for the defeat. The argument centres on claims of family voting in which husbands tell wives how to vote an illegal but often unprovable practice. This argument took off in the hours after the polls closed, especially among conservatives who linked family voting to ethnic communities. This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating, said Farage. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage earlier this week. Getty Images In fact, the result simply showed that Farage is yet to convince enough voters to swing hard enough to the right to put him in power. Reform UK has strong showings in the national opinion polls, but it could not win a local campaign when it counted. The territory at this byelection was a disadvantaged part of Greater Manchester where 57 per cent of the population is white and 27 per cent is Asian, with 9 per cent black. The electorate, Gorton and Denton, is the face of a changing Britain. Advertisement The community is 39 per cent Christian and 28 per cent Muslim, according to the Office of National Statistics. By ONS standards, a daunting 61.5 per cent are considered deprived in some way, such as income or housing. Spencer campaigned on the need to fix basic services, lift wages, act on social problems with the drug trade and invest in the National Health Service their iconic precursor to Medicare. She also walked through communities each day with a big smile, bright clothes and her four greyhounds. She was an antidote to the anodyne political class: she dismissed the posh boys who go from Oxford and Cambridge into parliament in Westminster. Hannah Spencer on the campaign trail with her rescued greyhounds. Getty Images When right-wing critics challenged her working-class credentials, she shot back in an interview with The New Statesman: Ive been a plumber for nearly 20 years. What do they want, to see a toilet Ive fixed? Advertisement The Greens knew voters were aware of their stance on climate and Gaza, so they campaigned on the cost of living. In an area with conservative social views, Spencer made sure voters knew she did not want to legalise drugs. Were really clear that we want to regulate drugs, she said in The Manchester Evening News. This drug law thats been in place for 60 years isnt working. People can already buy Class A drugs on the street. Children can already access these things. Were saying we want to make it harder for people to access it, and we want to remove the criminal networks that have their greasy mitts in our communities. New Green Party MP Hannah Spencer stops to order lunch at Sues takeaway in Manchester. Getty Images Labour was the biggest loser in Gorton and Denton, an area it has held for decades. It got only 25.4 per cent of vote on Thursday, down from 50.8 per cent at the general election in 2024, which was down from the previous election. Advertisement The Greens leapt ahead to gain 40.7 per cent, compared to 13.2 per cent less than two years ago. The disaffection with the government is palpable. Reform increased its support, but not enough. It gained 28.7 per cent: more than Labour, but well behind the Greens. The British media has gone into convulsions over the result. The swing against the government is dramatic as happens in byelections in the UK, just as it does in Australia. Conservatives declare that Starmer is doomed, but he was already seen as a dead man walking by many observers. His big chance to save his leadership comes at the elections in Scotland and Wales in early May, which will be a much bigger test of Labours support. There is no way to extrapolate these results to the country as a whole. Only 47.6 per cent of voters turned out to cast a ballot. Advertisement A big problem for Farage was that his candidate, Matt Goodwin, was a cardboard cut-out from Reform central: busy attacking the woke agenda, active on X and always available for right-wing television channels. But he did not come from the Manchester area he was raised by a single mother in Hertfordshire and lacked a personal story that voters could relate to. He was a professor of politics at Kent University before shifting to conservative TV and then Reform. Related Article Trump's White House Losing control: Trump makes UK prime minister the target over island fiasco Labour struggled even when it chose a local councillor, Angeliki Stogia, as its candidate. Stogia talked about standing up for ordinary workers, but she did not cut through. Everyone knew she was only chosen because Starmer and his allies blocked the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, from running. So the Labour campaign had a permanent weakness. It highlighted the fear in the Starmer camp about Burnham, a potential leadership challenger, returning to parliament and standing up to the prime minister. Voters, of course, usually want an MP who will stand up to a prime minister. With Hannah Spencers victory, it looks like they just chose one. 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 AmericaWorld politics A stolen boat, a deadly gunfight and a supposed plot against Cuba Frances Robles and Patricia Mazzei February 27, 2026 2:19pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Key West: The men arrived in Cuban waters aboard a speedboat that apparently had been stolen the night before in the Florida Keys. The Cuban government said 10 Cubans had left from the United States on a Florida-registered vessel armed with assault rifles, handguns, improvised explosive devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms. Their goal when they arrived on Wednesday (Cuban time) was, the government said, to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes. They opened fire on the Cuban coast guard, the government claimed. Four of the men died and six more were wounded in the gunfight. Cuban coast guard ships docked at Havana Bay. AP A day later, few details have emerged about the deadly shoot-out, raising questions about who the men were and how and why they sailed to Cubas shores. Were they freelance militants with a poorly laid out plan? Part of a carefully set trap by the Cuban government at a time of increased tensions with the United States? Advertisement The episode was the latest in a decades-long, often bellicose history between Cubas government and militant exiles determined to take it down. For years, Cuban exiles have tried to infiltrate Cuba; planted bombs in Havana; and even plotted to assassinate Fidel Castro. Related Article Updated World politics Cuba shoots four people dead on US-based speedboat One of the survivors was initially erroneously reported to be Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, a 31-year-old activist who fled Cuba in 2017 and was home in Miami this week, fielding calls from reporters. The inclusion of Azcorras name among the list of the detained raised questions about what the Cuban government knew about the plot. Having his name, even though he was not on the boat, suggested that government agents could have known about the operation in advance, experts said. In 1996, after the Cuban government shot down two planes belonging to the exile organisation Brothers to the Rescue, it quickly emerged that a Cuban intelligence agent had infiltrated the organisation and knew about the planned attack. Advertisement Supposedly, I am jailed, detained and injured, Azcorra said in an interview on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted a statement admitting the error. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel took to social media to reaffirm Cubas sovereignty. Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist and mercenary aggression that seeks to affect its sovereignty and national stability, he said. Azcorra described himself as an activist determined to topple the 67-year-old communist government by methods that went beyond picket signs and slogans, but he said he could not discuss it further without first getting a lawyer. He would not say whether he knew the men, but he acknowledged that the Cuban government must have had his name because it expected him to be on board the doomed vessel. Azcorra said the inclusion of his name was not a mistake. Advertisement They know exactly who I am, he said. They either confused me with someone else, or they thought I was going to be there. Cuban authorities identified the other survivors aboard the Florida-registered speedboat as Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Leordan Cruz Gomez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Roberto Alvarez Avila and Christian Acosta Guevara. Another man, Duniel Hernandez Santos, arrived in Cuba in advance of the confrontation, the government said. Loading Four more men died. They have been identified as Pavel Alling Pena, Michel Ortega Casanova, Hector Cruz Correa and Ledian Padron Guevara. At least two of the men, including one who died, were US citizens. One was on a fiance visa, and the others were believed to be legal permanent residents, according to a US official. Advertisement They are brave men, Azcorra said. Public records indicate that most of the men appear to have lived in Florida, though Acosta is identified as residing in Texas. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel took to social media to reaffirm Cubas sovereignty. AP US court records show some of the men had committed minor traffic or vehicle-related offences. Cuban officials have said several of the men had criminal histories, but they did not release documentation to support those claims. One of the men who died, Ortega, was a truck driver who had lived in the United States for a long time, according to his brother-in-law. Advertisement A 7.3 metre boat they travelled on was reported stolen on Wednesday out of Big Pine Key, in the Lower Florida Keys, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. On Thursday, sheriffs deputies and agents from the Department of Homeland Security were at the property where the boat owner kept the vessel. The owner told the police he first noticed the boat missing on Wednesday morning, and saw a white Chevy truck belonging to one of his employees, a tile worker, parked at the property, according to the police report. He assumed his employee had taken the boat without permission. The owner went back later in the day after news reports emerged with the boats registration number. He then went to the police. Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades. Getty Images The Monroe County Sheriffs Office identified the owner of the truck as Hector Cruz Correa, 42, and named him a suspect in the theft of the boat. Cuban authorities later named Cruz Correa, who has two children in Cuba, as one of the men who died. Galindo, 58, a delivery van driver, was among those injured, according to the Cuban government. According to his wife, Ana Segui, he left his home in Miami around noon on Sunday and never returned. Advertisement He told me he was going to work, she said. When he did not come back, she tried calling but his phone seemed to be turned off. Then, on Wednesday, she heard the Cuban government name her husband as one of the men on the boat who had been captured. Related Article Analysis Venezuela crisis Five scenarios for a post-Maduro Venezuela and what they could signal to the wider region Galindo, who is from Camaguey, left Cuba in 2016 after being imprisoned on the island for eight years, she said. He never went back. Standing on the front stoop of their modest home in Miami, Segui looked exhausted and distraught. She said she could not know if the Cuban governments account was true and she was waiting to learn more. No US authorities had come to see her, she said. Advertisement I dont know how this came about, she said, adding that Galindo did not own weapons and nor did he have an interest in them. Guns, what guns? she said. Her husband had at least twice been a guest on a radio program called Voices that Inspire on the US-financed Radio Marti. Galindo was introduced as a former political prisoner who had served time with a well-known activist, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, known as Antunez, who interviewed him on the show. Galindo told Garcia that only clandestine activities would work to topple the government. Cubas Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, says the US has shown a willingness to help Cuba clarify the matter. AP Sanchez Gonzalez, another person the Cuban government said had been detained, has been accused in the past of inciting violence in Cuba from Florida, according to news reports at the time. In 2022, Cuban authorities said a detainee in Cuba had purportedly confessed to his crimes, saying Sanchez reached out to him on social media and put him up to it, according to a news report. Both Sanchez and Cruz Gomez were wanted in Cuba, and their names had been provided to US authorities in 2023 and 2025, yet they enjoyed impunity, Fernandez de Cossio said. Advertisement Marcell Felipe, a prominent leader in the Cuban exile community in Miami, said the boat gunfight reminded him of prior episodes in which the Cuban government accused Miami exiles of plotting terrorism on the island. Related Article Courts Former US ambassador, a double agent for Cuba, jailed for 15 years What I do know is that its not the first time that the Cuban regime does an operation orchestrated by Cuban intelligence, Felipe said. These operations are never done exclusively by agents of the regime. They are done by agents of the regime who recruit willing participants and send them to their deaths, he said. Wednesdays episode came amid an extraordinarily tense moment between the two nations. The Trump administration has cut off fuel imports to Cuba, with the aim of crippling the government. Advertisement The country is going through its worst economic crisis in decades. The United States had shown a willingness to help Cuba clarify the matter, Fernandez de Cossio said on Thursday. An investigation is under way to clarify the facts with the utmost rigour, he said. Cuba has a duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. 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 AmericaEpstein fallout Hillary Clinton had no idea about Epsteins crimes, doesnt recall meeting him Stephen Groves February 27, 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 Washington: Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has told House members she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins or Ghislaine Maxwells crimes, at the start of two days of depositions that will also include former president Bill Clinton. I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr Epstein, Hillary Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on social media on Thursday (US time). Hillary Clinton at event in Germany earlier this month. Getty Images The closed-door depositions in the Clintons hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet north of New York City, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House oversight committee. It will be the first time that a former president has been forced to testify before Congress. Yet the demand for a reckoning over Epsteins abuse of underage girls has become a near-unstoppable force on Capitol Hill and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement The Clintons, too, agreed to testify after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the oversight panel and its chairman, congressman James Comer, threatened criminal contempt of Congress charges against them. We have a very clear record that weve been willing to talk about, Hillary Clinton said in an interview with the BBC earlier this month. She added that her husband had flown with Epstein for charitable trips and that she did not recall meeting Epstein but had interacted with Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend and confidant, at conferences hosted by the Clinton Foundation. View post on X Maxwell, a British socialite, also attended the 2010 wedding of their daughter, Chelsea Clinton. We are more than happy to say what we know, which is very limited and totally unrelated to their behaviour or their crimes, and we want to do it in public, Hillary Clinton said. Advertisement The former secretary of state told reporters after the deposition that she was confident her husband knew nothing about Epsteins crimes. She added that the closed-door interview also touched on topics ranging from UFOs to the so-called PizzaGate conspiracy theory that took hold during the 2016 presidential campaign. It got quite unusual at the end. Loading At the conclusion of the hearing, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace said Clinton had answered every question posed to her. Bill Clinton, who is set to face questioning on Friday (US time), has emerged as a top target for Republicans amid the political struggle over who receives the most scrutiny for their ties to Epstein. Advertisement Several photos of the former president were included in the first tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in January, including a number of him with women whose faces were redacted. Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. Comer has also pointed to Hillary Clintons work as secretary of state to address sex trafficking as another reason to insist on her deposition. Former US president Bill Clinton pictured with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in a photo provided by the Department of Justice. The New York Times The committees investigation has sought to understand why the Department of Justice under previous presidential administrations did not seek further charges against Epstein following a 2008 arrangement in which he pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl but avoided federal charges. Hillary Clinton accused Comer of running a one-sided investigation that has failed to hold Trump and other Republican officials to account. Advertisement This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, she said. Conspiracy theories, especially on the right, have swirled for years around the Clintons and their connections to Epstein and Maxwell, who argues she was wrongfully convicted. Republicans have long wanted to press the Clintons for answers. Clinton and Maxwell in a photograph provided by the US Justice Department. The New York Times I mean if youre the wife of Bill Clinton, arent you going to have some questions about your husbands activities? said congressman Scott Perry, a member of the House oversight committee. We only go where the facts take us. We didnt put the president and the secretary in this position. They put themselves in it. Advertisement Comer has pledged lengthy days of questioning for both Clintons. Related Article Epstein fallout Epstein files missing records about woman who made claim against Trump We have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein, he told reporters outside the convention centre where the depositions were being held. How did he accumulate so much wealth? How was he able to surround himself with some of the most powerful men in the world? Comer described the deposition as a bipartisan effort and said that it was very possible the committee would question Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was Epsteins neighbour and had several interactions with him. Advertisement Under questioning from Democrats earlier this month, Lutnick acknowledged that he had met with Epstein twice after the late financiers 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child, reversing his previous claim that he had cut ties with him after 2005. Democrats, now being led by a new generation of politicians, have prioritised transparency around Epstein over defending the former leaders of their party. Lets get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors. Congressman Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel. Several Democratic lawmakers joined with Republicans on the oversight panel to advance the contempt of Congress charges against the Clintons last month. Several said they had no relationship with the Clintons and owed no loyalty to them. Garcia said both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed survivors in not getting more information out to the public. Advertisement Garcia also called on Trump to testify in the investigation. He argued that Bill Clintons appearance set a precedent that should apply to Trump as well. Related Article Epstein fallout Just doesnt look good for him: Why Trump and those in his orbit are untouchable Lets get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors, Garcia said. He also said he wanted to ask about Epsteins possible ties to foreign governments. Democrats are also coming off an effort this week to confront Trump about his administrations handling of the Epstein files by taking women who survived Epsteins abuse as their guests to Trumps State of the Union address. Advertisement Even senior Democrats, such as former speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, said it was appropriate for the committee to interview anyone, including the former president, who was connected to Epstein. We want to hear from everyone, Pelosi said, adding that she did not see why Hillary Clinton was being interviewed and that it was important to believe survivors. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said his caucus in the coming days would also review unredacted versions of the Epstein case files at a Department of Justice office. Schumer, who demanded that the department release all of the files and preserve all materials, said they will pull on every thread until they reveal this massive cover-up. AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaDonald Trump Trump says of Iran: Sometimes you have to use force Steve Holland and Andrea Shalal February 28, 2026 8:12am 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 President Donald Trump has expressed disappointment with US negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program and warned that sometimes you have to use force, amid a massive military presence in the region that could presage strikes on the Islamic Republic. I am not happy with the negotiation, Trump said. I say no enrichment. Trump arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday US time. AP Trump has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Iran in the weeks since an Iranian crackdown on protesters, attempting to force the countrys rulers to give up their nuclear program and other activities Washington sees as destabilising. After the latest round of talks on Thursday in Geneva ended with no deal, Trumps patience appeared to be wearing thin, although he said he had not made a final decision on the use of force. Advertisement They cannot have nuclear weapons. And were not thrilled with the way theyre negotiating. Well see how it all works out, Trump told reporters as he left the White House on a trip to Texas. Related Article Updated Middle East tensions No chance US will be in drawn-out war in Middle East: Vance Iran denies it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and wants any accord to include the lifting of US sanctions against it. Trump spoke a day after negotiations between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Iranian officials in Geneva ended without a deal, though Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who was a mediator, said the talks made significant progress. Further talks are due to take place on Monday in Vienna. Advertisement A major US military force, including two aircraft carrier groups, is in the Middle East waiting on Trumps order. American refuelling tankers and F-22 fighter aircraft have also flown into the region. While the timing of any final decision by Trump is unclear, the State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 1 and 2. The US joined Israels bombing campaign against Iran in June, striking major nuclear facilities. A confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog, meanwhile, confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to the sites, and as a result, it said it could not confirm Irans claims that it stopped uranium enrichment. Asked about the potential for use of force, Trump said the United States has the greatest military in the world. Id love not to use it, but sometimes you have to, he said. When asked by a reporter how close he was to deciding on whether to launch a strike, Trump replied: Id rather not tell you. Advertisement More talks due Trump said more discussions on Iran would take place later in the day. He did not specify with whom, but Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the two countries, sent its foreign minister to Washington on Friday for discussions with US Vice President JD Vance, according to a source familiar with the matter. Top US defence officials were at the White House on Thursday for talks. We want no nuclear weapons by Iran, and theyre not saying those golden words, Trump said. That appeared to refer to Washingtons insistence that Tehran commit to not developing nuclear weapons, something the US president made explicit in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. Related Article Analysis World politics The Putin whisperer who is really running Iran Advertisement There is internal recognition that taking on Iran would be more difficult than the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and there was also internal pessimism about whether negotiations would bear fruit, the source said. Nobody is super optimistic about the negotiations, the source said. Meanwhile, countries including the US, UK, Australia and China have evacuated embassy staff in the Middle East and issued travel advisories amid concerns about a regional conflict. The US on Friday told non-emergency staff at its embassy in Jerusalem that theyre allowed to leave Israel, with the country being vulnerable to Iranian retaliation if it participates in a US attack. Washington issued a similar evacuation order for its diplomatic mission in Beirut on Monday. The UK, China, India and others have also advised citizens or diplomats to leave some parts of the Middle East. Advertisement Poland, Finland, Sweden and Singapore have also advised citizens to leave the region, while the UK also said it was temporarily withdrawing diplomatic staff from Iran. Reuters, 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. 1. On January 29, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Taiwan and met with TSMC founder Morris Chang. Their meeting, which included a dinner in Taipei, was highly publicized and significant, bringing together the leaders of the worlds leading AI computing and semiconductor manufacturing companies. Nvidias market capitalization at the time reached close to $5 trillion, while TSMC maintained its status as the premier producer of the worlds most advanced semiconductors, being the first to mass-produce 2-nanometer chips.[para. 1][para. 2] 2. The relationship between Huang and Chang dates back more than 20 years, originating from a critical moment in 1997 when Nvidia was close to bankruptcy. After a pivotal phone call from Chang, Nvidia and TSMC began an exclusive manufacturing partnership that proved decisive for Nvidias survival and subsequent growth. Huang has repeatedly acknowledged that Nvidia would not exist today without TSMC.[para. 3] 3. Morris Chang, born in 1931, is a central figure in the semiconductor industry. His early life was shaped by displacement during wartime China, moving across cities to escape conflict. As a teenager, he left for the U.S., where he became a citizen and started his technology career after three decades in the American tech sector. In 1985, at age 54, Chang moved to Taiwan and after analyzing industry trends and talent, founded TSMC, eventually making it irreplaceable in the global economy.[para. 4] 4. According to his autobiography, Changs early academic ambitions were more artistic than technical, with a passion for writing and classical music. Practical concerns during his youth ultimately redirected him into commercial and engineering studies. In 1948, amidst the Chinese Civil War, he moved to the U.S. for education.[para. 5][para. 6] 5. At age 18, Chang entered Harvard University as its only Chinese freshman (of 1,100), majoring in engineering but also immersing himself in Western culture. He later transferred to MIT, earning a bachelors and masters degree in engineering, before entering the workforce after failing his doctoral exams. He then began his career in semiconductors.[para. 7][para. 8] 6. Chang started at Sylvania Electric Products in 1955, learning semiconductor basics during the industrys earliest days. Despite technical successes, Sylvanias semiconductor division was unprofitable, and Chang soon moved to Texas Instruments (TI), where he rose through the ranks to become a group vice president, responsible for global semiconductor operations. However, strategic shifts in TIs direction led to professional setbacks for Chang, resulting in his resignation in 1983 after a brief tenure at General Instrument and eventually accepting an offer to move to Taiwan.[para. 9][para. 10][para. 11] 7. As ITRI president in 1985, Chang proposed the creation of a dedicated foundry business model, leading to the foundation of TSMC. Despite skepticism and difficulties finding investors during a semiconductor slump, Chang secured backing primarily from the Taiwan government (48.3%) and Philips (27.6%), registering TSMC in 1987 with $145 million in capital.[para. 12][para. 13][para. 14] 8. In TSMCs early years, Chang targeted Western markets and won a breakthrough order from Intel in 1988, which certified TSMCs capabilities and attracted further contracts from industry giants. TSMC went public in Taiwan (1994), New York (1997), and achieved $1.1 billion in revenue by 1995, but top talent still preferred vertically integrated manufacturers.[para. 15][para. 16][para. 17] 9. To tip the balance, Chang pushed for technology leadership in 1997, ramping R&D spending. TSMCs breakthrough with 28-nanometer technology secured its entry into the smartphone market, while resolving quality issues and compensating Nvidia preserved that essential partnership. A risky bet on 20-nanometer technology won Apples trust despite initial contract losses to Samsung.[para. 18][para. 19][para. 20][para. 21] 10. TSMCs aggressive investment allowed it to leapfrog Intel at 7nm, and it continues pushing with anticipated 1.4nm chips by 2027. In Q2 2025, TSMC controlled 70.2% of the global foundry market per TrendForce, with ongoing expansion into the U.S., China, Japan, and Germany, cementing its geopolitical centrality.[para. 22] AI generated, for reference only If theres a sign that things still arent well over at China-run Geely Motor Philippines, just look at their marketing and IT departments. ... High Court Reporters Jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke is seeking permission from the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court judgment handed down almost three years ago banning him from Wilsons Hospital School. In May 2023, Justice Alexander Owens ruled that the Co Westmeath school had validly suspended Burke from his teaching position, and subsequently ordered that he be restrained from attending at the school premises. The school suspended and later dismissed Burke over his conduct towards the then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022. The confrontation arose in circumstances where the principal had earlier requested teachers to address a student by a new name, and with the pronouns they and them. Mr Burke, an evangelical Christian, has maintained that this request went against his religious beliefs. Burke has repeatedly breached the court order to stay away from the school and is currently incarcerated at Mountjoy Prison over this contempt of court. He has spent over 600 days in separate spells in jail. He has repeatedly claimed he has been jailed over his religious beliefs and views on transgender issues, a claim rejected by several High Court judges. On Friday, Mr Burke, appearing before Judge Niamh Hyland via video-link, asked for an expedited hearing date for his application for an extension of time to appeal Mr Justice Owen's judgment and related orders. Litigants can appeal a High Court decision within 28 days of the order being perfected, or formalised. In certain circumstances, the Court of Appeal can grant permission to a litigant to appeal a decision outside that timeframe. Mr Burke said his bid for an appeal arose in circumstances where the Department of Education, in a statement issued to The Irish Times in January, said there was no legal obligation on schools to use a pupils preferred name or pronouns. He claimed this statement justified his position since the commencement of his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School, and was of fundamental importance to the proceedings. He said he could not understand why he had to remain in prison in light of the statement. He submitted that his imprisonment on foot of the court order should weigh heavily towards the granting of an expedited hearing, noting that a successful appeal would necessitate his immediate release. Rosemary Mallon, barrister for Wilsons Hospital Schools board of management, said her client was happy to defer to the court in relation to Mr Burkes application for an expedited hearing. Ms Justice Hyland said she would grant Enoch Burke an expedited hearing of his bid for an extension of time, setting a date in April. She did this despite reservations, noting that he is in jail because of his failure to abide by a court order that was not appealed when it was made three years ago. Burke also asked the judge for a stay on the school appointing a new disciplinary panel (Dap) to consider the appeal of his dismissal from his teaching job. He submitted that if his appeal is successful, the courts finding will be that the schools disciplinary process was wrong from the beginning. Enoch Burke has brought separate lawsuits against two previous panels convened to hear his appeal. His most recent action was struck out last week, in circumstances where two panel members resigned following legal advice last month, and acceptance by the third member she could not be part of a reconvened panel. Counsel for the school opposed this application, stating that Mr Burke was effectively seeking an injunction against the Dap process. She submitted that if he wanted to injunct the process, that was a matter for the High Court. With Burke's appeal pending since January 2023, the parties are in limbo, Ms Mallon said, and submitted that it was appropriate and reasonable for the Dap process to proceed as soon as possible. The judge rejected Burkes request for a stay. She said that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to make such an order, as his appeal will only formally be before the court if and until an extension of time to appeal is granted. Burke said he was astonished at the courts ruling. Sonya McLean A former school caretaker has been told he will spend another two years in custody for the regular sexual abuse of a teenage boy at a school in the 1990s. Bernard Browne (67) is currently serving a nine-year jail term for a similar offence after he pleaded guilty in 2021 to nine counts of indecently assaulting three boys on dates between 1983 and 1990. The nine counts were samples charges from an indictment of 44 charges. Browne of Brighton Road, Foxrock, Dublin, was before Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain on Friday, after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two sample counts, one of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against another boy in the Dublin school on dates between January 1990 and February 1991. The court previously heard that all of the sexual abuse followed a similar pattern of Browne using the promise of small amounts of cash to entice the boys into situations where he would sexually molest them. He would ejaculate while rubbing himself against them and convinced some of the children that he was only doing this to collect his sperm and donate it to childless couples. Detective Garda Philip Cunningham told Patrick Jackson BL, prosecuting, that the victim contacted gardai in December 2022 regarding Browne. He said he had been sexually assaulted by the school caretaker as a child. He said as a child in secondary school Browne used to give him a lift on his motorbike into school. He also began to work in the school yard and was paid 20 or 50 pence for his cleaning work. He described Browne as a friend and said he often had tea and biscuits with him after the work. Browne then approached him and asked him did he want to earn extra money by donating sperm to a sperm bank. He told the child it was harmless and that all he had to do was lie on the floor. The victim told gardai he trusted Browne. He said on the first occasion he arrived at Brownes flat he was told to lie on his side and Browne got on top of him and dry humped him. Both Browne and the child remained fully clothed throughout. Browne said he would collect the sperm and put it in a little bag. He told the teenager he would sell it to the sperm bank and he gave the boy money for his role. Browne told him not to tell anyone as they would not understand what it was about. He told gardai that this happened approximately seven times in total when Browne would dry hump the child until he ejaculated. There was one occasion when Browne also kissed the child. Victim impact statement There was also an incident in Brownes caretaker room when the victim said another boy was present. He felt safe because of the fact that the other child was there but Browne began kissing him and performed oral sex on him. He was in shock. A victim impact statement was prepared for the case and handed into court but not read out. Browne has nine previous convictions including a ten year term with the final year suspended by Judge Elma Sheahan in February 2021. Det Gda Cunningham agreed with Bernard Condon SC, defending, that Browne had a stroke while serving time in prison but has been deemed as fit to plead and to instruct his legal team. Counsel said Browne had difficulties in primary school. He said he was a social outcast and that the man cannot read or write. Imposing sentence on Friday, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain noted the breach of trust, the element of grooming and the age gap between Browne and the boy. She said Browne also has previous convictions for similar offending and set a global headline sentence of six years. Health issues The judge noted that Browne is already serving a sentence, and having considered the guilty plea and his health issues, she reduced the sentence to two years, taking into account the principles of totality and proportionality. Judge Ni Chulachain directed that this two-year sentence should run consecutively to the sentence Browne is already serving. The judge said that this offending had a profound impact on the victim, noting the immense harm caused to him by Browne. She thanked the injured party for his victim impact statement, saying it had been enormously helpful in giving me an insight into the effects of Browne's offending on him. The judge said the court wished to assure the injured party that his voice had been heard. She asked Det Gda Cunningham to convey to the injured party the court's hope that he feels he has retaken control of the narrative and that is of benefit to him in his healing. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. A 22-YEAR-old man pleaded guilty last week to the theft of DJ equipment and mobile phones when he was arraigned before Carlow Circuit Court. Brian Okolo pleaded guilty to the theft of DJ decks, two phones and a guitar from an address at Mill Lane, Carlow on 11 October 2024. He also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property at his home address of 10 Sheehy Skeffington Meadows, Tallaght, Dublin on the same date. Judge Mary Morrissey ordered a victim impact statement and adjourned sentencing until the next sitting of Carlow Circuit Court in May, remanding Mr Okolo on continuing bail until then. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Cemex held its 2026 Analyst Day today, where senior management provided an update on the companys transformation, capital allocation priorities and medium-term financial targets. Management reviewed progress under Project Cutting Edge, including ongoing structural cost initiatives, as well as the initial results and identified opportunities arising from business performance reviews. Under its Sprint framework, in 2026 and 2027 Cemex expects sales and EBITDA to grow annually by approximately five per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. This performance is expected to be driven largely by self-help measures and conservative assumptions underpinning organic growth. The Free Cash Flow from Operations to EBITDA conversion rate is expected to reach 47 per cent by 2027, close to the companys target of 50 per cent. Delivering on its commitment to boost shareholder returns, a cash dividend of US$180 million is being proposed for Cemexs upcoming Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting, approximately 40 per cent larger than the prior years dividend. In addition, the company has announced its intention, subject to applicable legal formalities, to repurchase up to US$500 million in shares over the next three years. As of today, Cemex has repurchased shares equivalent to approximately US$100m. We are undergoing a profound transformation with the objective of achieving best-in-class operational excellence and shareholder returns. This transformation is supported by a disciplined capital allocation framework, said Jaime Muguiro, Chief Executive Officer of Cemex. Our focus for bolt-on M&A remains primarily in the US in highly synergetic businesses such as aggregates and mortars. Consistent with Cemexs growth strategy, the company also announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Omega Products International, a leading stucco manufacturer in the western United States that generates approximately US$23 million in EBITDA per year and offers significant synergies with Cemexs US business. The George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cleveland State Community College will host an Emerging Innovators Competition on March 3. The event is open to the public and sponsored by the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator and the Small Business Development Center. Five students will compete in the fifth annual Emerging Student Innovators Pitch Competition at 12 p.m. First and second place winners will be awarded $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, and the third-place winner will be awarded $500. Seven new businesses will compete in the fourth annual Emerging Community Innovators Pitch Competition at 5 p.m. First place will receive $7,500; second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $1,500. Pitch finalists are: Access to Success Learning Company - Owner Monica Crandell Stone Blended and Branded - Owners Adrienna Varlack, Tess Varlack, Noelle Allgood, and Glynis Allgood Math IQ - Owner Jeremy Higdon Roam Wild LLC - Owner Nichole Vild Rocky Pops, LLC - Owners Dee Lancaster and Tammy Lowry Take Root Studio - Owners Bryson Killian and Canaan Bowling Trailhead Counseling and Consulting PLLC - Owner Kristi Rice Judges for the Emerging Community Innovator Pitch Competition are Dr. Corey Campbell, Cleveland State Vice President for Policy and Strategy, Jim Fairweather, owner of Fairweather Financial in Monroe County, and Margaret Schenck, founder of United Knitting in Cleveland and an advisory board member of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Sandra Godsey, Cleveland State Dean of Business and Health Professions, said, We are excited to provide this opportunity to the community, as well as the faculty, staff and students of Cleveland State. We want to be a resource for the small businesses of our five-county service area which is the goal of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The pitch competitions are free and open to the public. For more information, visit mycs.cc/entr, call (423) 478-6224 or email entrepreneurship@clevelandstatecc.edu. On March 2, Girls Preparatory School will welcome five distinguished alumnae back to campus for our annual Womens History Month panel, a schoolwide event that brings together students, faculty, and staff for conversation, reflection, and inspiration. Now in its third year, the panel has become a meaningful tradition at GPS, highlighting the diverse paths our graduates pursue and the lasting impact of their school experience. The discussion will be moderated by Lauren Lawrence Swanson 09, director of Student Life, and will feature alumnae spanning multiple decades and professions. This years panelists include: Anne Campeau Burley 05 Director of Polypropylene Technical Strategy at INVISTA, Ms. Burley is a senior technical and business leader with more than 15 years of experience driving innovation in polymer science, product development, and global strategy. Her career spans research and development, manufacturing, product management, sales, and general management. She holds five patents and earned degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology, Purdue University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. A passionate advocate for mentorship and STEM education, she is committed to advancing opportunities for women in technical and leadership careers. Alexis Crutchfield 13 A Chattanooga-based attorney, Ms. Crutchfield earned her undergraduate degree from Samford University and her law degree from Howard University School of Law. She serves as a Staff Attorney with Legal Aid of East Tennessee, advocating for vulnerable individuals, including survivors of domestic violence and tenants facing eviction. Her work has been recognized by the Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, which named her Volunteer of the Year. Norinne Millner 84 A Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor with Merrill Private Wealth Management, Ms. Millner brings nearly 30 years of experience serving individuals and families with significant wealth. She works closely with founders, executives, entertainers, and other wealth creatorsoften women in leadershipto help navigate complex financial, estate, philanthropic, and legacy goals. She also gives back through leadership roles with CHRIS 180 and the Georgia Council on Economic Education. Dori Thornton Waller 99 A native Chattanoogan,Ms. Waller began her career after graduating from the University of Tennessee. She later joined the White House, becoming the youngest Deputy Social Secretary in recent history. In 2009, she founded The Social Office, producing high-end social and corporate events throughout the Southeast. She now lives in Chattanooga with her family while continuing to work with clients across the region. Talene Yacoubian 89 Dr. Yacoubian is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she also holds an endowed professorship in neurology. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and completed her M.D./Ph.D. at Duke University School of Medicine. Her training includes residency at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital and fellowship work with Harvard Medical School. Her research on Parkinsons disease has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and leading Parkinsons foundations. Together, these alumnae represent a wide range of industriesfrom science and medicine to law, finance, and the artsoffering students a powerful reminder of the many ways GPS graduates lead, serve, and shape the world. Tennessee American Water announced Thursday its 2025 summary of investments for system improvements, totaling more than $42 million in water system upgrades throughout its service area across Tennessee.Delivering safe, clean and reliable water service requires consistent, proactive investment in our systems, said Grant Evitts, president of Tennessee American Water. These investments are focused on strengthening reliability, modernizing aging infrastructure and minimizing service disruptions for our customers.By continuing to invest in our systems today, we are helping deliver resilient, high-quality service for the communities we serve well into the future.Annual investments support critical upgrades throughout the companys service districts, including treatment plants, tanks, pump stations, pipelines and metering equipment.2025 investment highlights include: Lookout Valley River CrossingTennessee American Water installed 7,200 feet of 16-inch water main extending from the City of Chattanoogas Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus across the Tennessee River to Browns Ferry Road. This new river crossing will provide customers in St. Elmo, Lookout Valley and the Black Creek areas with an additional feed, increasing system resiliency, reliability and redundancy. Whitwell Water Treatment Plant Storage ExpansionTwo new storage tanks at the Whitwell Water Treatment Plant replaced aging infrastructure and added 785,000 gallons of capacity - boosting overall storage by more than 50 percent. The upgrades strengthen operational reliability to meet demand during peak usage and emergency conditions. Citico Water Treatment Plant Switchgear ReplacementThe Citico Water Treatment Plant is undergoing a major electrical reliability upgrade via the replacement of an aging switchgear, motor control center and other critical electrical components at the Citico Pump Station. The project enhances resiliency with improved power management, enhances safety during operations and maintenance and adds capability for utilizing generator power during power outages."Tennessee American Water continues to make long-term investments in the communities it serves, modernizing aging infrastructure to strengthen service for residents," officials said. "These proactive capital investments play a critical role in sustaining system reliability and helping to ensure high-quality water service." China calls on Pakistan, Afghanistan to reach ceasefire Xinhua) 16:10, February 27, 2026 BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and calls on both sides to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing after clashes broke out along Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Thursday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As part of the I-75 Interchange Improvements at Hamilton Place, Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will implement a long-term traffic shift on I-75 South to accommodate ongoing construction of the new exit ramp from I-75 South to Shallowford Road. For approximately eight months, I-75 South will be reduced from four to three lanes between Exit 7 (Bonny Oaks Drive) and Exit 5 (Shallowford Road). The right lane will be closed for the duration of this phase of work. The lane reduction will begin on the I-75 South bridge over Bonny Oaks Drive. As part of this shift, drivers traveling west on Bonny Oaks Drive and turning left onto I-75 South will have only one available lane on the entrance ramp. The inside left-turn lane from Bonny Oaks Drive to I-75 South will be closed. This traffic pattern is necessary to facilitate concrete paving operations for the new Shallowford Road exit ramp currently under construction. The contractor will begin setting up the traffic shift on Wednesday evening, March 4. The full lane closure and new traffic pattern will be in place by the morning of Thursday, March 5. Drivers should expect delays, especially during peak travel times, and are encouraged to plan ahead and use caution when traveling through the work zone. This work is weather-dependent. Drivers are advised to plan ahead, expect delays, and use caution while traveling through the work zone. Tennessees Move Over Law requires drivers to move over for highway workers and emergency vehicles. Violation of this law can result in up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Witnesses said Thursday that Samuel Askins managed to slip out of his GPS ankle bracelet just before going on a shooting rampage at three homes that finally ended in murder. Elizabeth Hammond, who oversees the county's pre-trial services, said there was a message received at her office at 9:28 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2023, that the device had been tampered with. Just after that, Samuel Askins and three juveniles took off on a mission to pay back a rival gang member after someone fired into the Askin home and hit Sheena Askin in the leg, prosecutors said. Samuel and Caleb Askins are standing trial for the first-degree murder of 48-year-old Warren "Kojack" Crutcher, who was described as an "innocent victim" who was out on his porch checking his phone when he was shot in the chest. Ms. Hammond said it is very difficult to get the device off, but possible. She said it gave the tampering alert as it was being removed. The witness said she later found pry marks on the device. Prosecutors said Caleb Askins stayed behind at home that night with another youth, but kept moving his brother's GPS device periodically to make it appear he was home as well. Caleb Askins allowed police to inspect his phone, and it showed him constantly texting with those making hits on Webb Road, Noah Reid Road and, finally, Maryland Drive in North Chattanooga. A number of witnesses earlier told of bullets suddenly whizzing through their homes and of a number of close calls, some involving young children. All those fired on said they had some relation to "Little Chris" Woods, who was identified as a member of the Gangster Disciples and a foe of Samuel Askins, who had allegedly been romantically rebuffed by a female relative of Woods. Mark Hamilton, a cell phone and electronics whiz now working for the DA Office, said the phone of Samuel Askins that night pinged on cell towers along the route from Webb Road to Noah Reid Road to Maryland Drive. City Officer Bo Allison said he went by the murder scene that night, then was dispatched on a suspicious vehicle at Hidden Acres on Hixson Pike. He found a black Audi, which was listed as stolen. A witness told of several individuals hurrying away from the vehicle. Prosecutors said the group drove to Hidden Acres and switched cars, then later switched back to the Nissan Altima belonging to Sheena Askins. Officer Allison said, "I peeked in and saw shell casings throughout the vehicle." County Deputy James Bolen told of stopping the Nissan Altima driven by Samuel Askins on Gunbarrel Road at 2:45 the next morning - three hours after the murder. Several juveniles were inside. The stop was for a window tint violation. The deputy said Askins refused to come out of the vehicle, then suddenly took off. He did not get far as the vehicle got stuck in a drainage ditch at the emergency entrance of Erlanger East. Askins and several juveniles ran, but were soon caught except for one. A TBI gun expert said tests showed that one 9mm pistol was used at all three sites. Only one gun was recovered. Lt. Josh May, a gang specialist, said the Askins were part of a gang called EBK (Every Body a Killa). He said it was "surprising" when Samuel Askins took to Facebook Live to challenge the long-established Gangster Disciples. He added, "It was kind of shocking to be honest. It was nothing I had seen." He said the Gangster Disciples "is one of the most violent gangs in the city." Lt. May commented on Samuel Askins in the Facebook Live saying his group had 10 and none had been killed yet. The witness said, "It was literally a scoreboard of human lives." Abu Swafford is a veteran, a business owner, a community volunteer, a computer network manager and an alumnus of Cleveland State Community College. After graduating from Cleveland High School in 1995, he enlisted in the United States Navy a decision that shaped his discipline, career and commitment to service. I knew early on in high school that college may not be the right fit for me, Mr. Swafford said. The military offered that training and discipline that I probably needed at the time. Serving in the Navy for six years, Mr. Swafford spent a year at the Pentagon after bootcamp before he got the order to join the USS The Sullivans. He was a plank owner and member of the crew when the ship was commissioned in 1997. This was the second ship named in honor of the five Mr. Sullivan brothers who perished during World War II and inspired the movie Saving Private Ryan. Mr. Swafford was drawn to computers and took classes while serving in the Navy. Once he returned home, Mr. Swafford found a job at Cleveland Utilities as a customer service representative. When a computer analyst position opened, he moved into that role with the requirement that he obtain more training and education. Using the Montgomery GI Bill for funding, Mr. Swafford enrolled at Cleveland State and took classes on weekends and nights while working full-time and raising a family. He earned an associate degree in computer science along with industry certificates then transferred to Tennessee State University where he earned a bachelors degree in computer science. Mr. Swafford worked at Cleveland Utilities for 20 years including eight years as the Bradley County 911 network administrator. He worked his way up to network engineer before making the difficult decision to transition to Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union in 2019 where he now serves as the Information Technology manager. Cleveland State helped me tremendously, Mr. Swafford said. It put me on the path to where I am today. Its been a great life and a good career choice. I love the flexibility and schedule that Cleveland State provides for anyone who wants to go back to school especially adults who are looking to grow their career by continuing their education. Beyond his professional career, Mr. Swafford and his cousin own Ocoee Cigar Lounge, a thriving niche business in downtown Cleveland. He also serves on the executive board of MainStreet Cleveland and was past president of 100 Black Men of Bradley County. Mr. Swafford said that he hopes to teach at the college level one day. I want to teach the next generation some of the things that Ive learned along the way. I strongly believe in reaching back and helping the next generation of professionals; thats where my heart is now. County Trustee Bill Hullander and Assessor Marty Haynes told members of the County Commission they learned recently that the city has been forgiving county taxes in affordable housing PILOTs - without letting the county know. The city has recently approved several new apartment projects with some units set aside for low income individuals and with both city and county property taxes waived, it was stated. Trustee Hullander said, "I deal with people who are struggling to pay $340 in taxes. They ask if I can give them any relief, but I don't have that authority." He said recently a property owner who had received a tax bill informed him they did not owe the county anything, but that it had been forgiven by the city on both city and county taxes. Trustee Hullander said, "Given some of the people we work with, that was hard for me to take." Assessor Haynes said he was also unaware of the situation and had sent out tax bills that did not reflect the city forgiveness. He said it was learned that the city does have authority under state law to forgive county taxes. Assessor Haynes said, "All I ask is for our city partners to let us know when this is happening because we're in the dark. Now we are only finding out from the taxpayer." County Mayor Weston Wamp said of the ability of one government to forgive taxes for another, "I still don't think that's right. I prefer a collaborative approach." He said he understands that the city has five affordable housing PILOTs underway now and it involves the forgiveness of some $250,000 in county taxes. County Mayor Wamp said, "That's a lot of money for us to deal with in a relatively short amount of time." The County Commission is to vote next week on "A Resolution requiring adherance to the long-standing agreement between the City and the County requiring approval of the Hamilton County Mayor and Hamilton County Commission prior to the negotiation of any Payment-in-Lieu-of-Tax (PILOT) agreements that affect County ad valorem tax revenues." Photo credit: Unsplash/ Solen Feyissa A new nationwide study suggests that a significant portion of American Christians now consider spiritual counsel generated by artificial intelligence to be on par with guidance from clergy. The findings come from research conducted by the Barna Group as part of its State of the Church project in collaboration with Gloo. In polling 1,514 U.S. adults in November 2025, researchers discovered that 30% of respondents either somewhat or strongly agree that spiritual advice from AI is as trustworthy as advice from a pastor. The percentage rises notably among younger generations, reaching 39% for Generation Z and 40% for millennials. Among practicing Christians specifically, 34% said they somewhat or strongly believe AI-generated spiritual counsel is just as reliable as pastoral advice. By comparison, 29% of non-practicing Christians and 27% of non-Christians expressed similar confidence in AI guidance. The study also revealed that four out of 10 Christians report using AI tools to assist with prayer, Bible study and personal spiritual development. A separate December survey of 442 Protestant pastors indicated that more than 41% incorporate AI into their Bible study or sermon preparation process. Roughly one-third of practicing Christians said they would welcome instruction from their pastors on how to approach emerging technologies. However, only 12% of pastors reported feeling at ease teaching about AI. Though the majority of practicing Christians remain the most cautious about embracing AI as a spiritual tool, their views are shifting and remain largely uninformed by their pastor, Daniel Copeland, Barnas vice president of research, said in a statement on the research. Theres a real opportunity here for pastors to disciple their congregants on how to use this technology in a beneficial way. Additional data from the December 2025 State of AI in the Church Survey Report, compiled by AiForChurchLeaders.com and Exponential AI NEXT, shows that nearly two-thirds of surveyed church leaders who prepare sermons are integrating AI into their writing process. That report, based on responses from 594 pastors and ministry staff members, identified ChatGPT and Grammarly as the most frequently used tools. Barnas broader February 2025 survey of 2,025 U.S. adults also examined engagement with Christian media. Nearly 61% reported interacting with Christian media content in some capacity, and 51% said they do so on a weekly basis. Public perception of Christian media appears mixed. While two-thirds of U.S. adults describe it as valuable and trustworthy, 45% of frequent consumers labeled the content divisive, and 40% said it makes Christians look bad. Attendees embrace and weep during the Festival Esperanza CDMX (Festival of Hope Mexico City), hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in February, 2024. | Photo credit: BGEA website The cartel boss killed in Jalisco state on Sunday had overseen a campaign of intimidation that forced more than 100 churches to shut their doors amid threats and extortion. During a military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, authorities wounded Ruben Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. He later died while being transported for treatment. The sweeping operation left 30 cartel members dead, led to 70 arrests across seven states and claimed the lives of at least 25 Mexican service members. Operating in 40 countries, including the United States, the CJNG has expanded its criminal reach beyond cocaine and fentanyl trafficking into industries such as avocados and oil. Regarded as Mexicos most dangerous cartel, the group has imposed rent fees on businesses and seized control of agricultural enterprises, while also pressuring church leaders through threats and extortion. Following the strike against its leadership, cartel operatives retaliated by erecting 252 road blockades Sunday across Jalisco, Michoacan, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and 16 additional states. Vehicles were set ablaze, and gas stations and other businesses were attacked, according to Mexicos security cabinet. By Monday, officials reported that the blockades had been cleared, though schools and public transportation in several regions remained suspended. Evangelical pastors have previously reported being coerced into paying protection money to the CNGJ. Many clergy members decline to file complaints, fearing violent reprisals against themselves or their families. In addition to in-person intimidation, the cartel has orchestrated widespread phone extortion schemes. Church leaders have attempted to counter the harassment by reporting suspicious numbers or switching their mobile phones. Some congregations ultimately chose to close after enduring persistent threats. In 2024, more than 100 Evangelical churches in Chiapas state ceased operations due to violence and instability linked to organized crime. Facing ongoing harassment, pastors and congregants opted to halt services. Data from the Multidimensional Catholic Center indicates that up to 80% of killings of religious leaders in Mexico remain unsolved. Between 2019 and 2026, 13 priests were murdered nationwide. Mexico is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous countries for religious practice because of organized crime and entrenched violence. Meanwhile, Evangelical Christians have also faced hostility in some rural communities from residents adhering to Roman Catholicism, indigenous beliefs or a blend of both traditions. In Chanal, Chiapas, members of the Agua Viva Evangelical church said they were ambushed on the night of Jan. 31. During a recent press conference, they reported that three women and two men were wounded in the attack, including the pastor, who remained in critical condition due to the severity of his injuries. Home News Professor declines appointment at University of Notre Dame after backlash from bishop A researcher who has advocated for abortion rights and publicly criticized the pro-life movement has declined a leadership appointment at the University of Notre Dame, following extensive backlash to the news of her promotion, including criticism from a Roman Catholic bishop. Keough School of Global Affairs Dean Mary Gallagher informed the campus community via email on Thursday that Susan Ostermann has decided not to move forward" with her appointment as the new director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the Indiana-based university. I am grateful for her willingness to serve and for the thoughtfulness with which she approached this decision, wrote Gallagher, as quoted by The Observer. Ostermann, who will remain on the faculty at the Keough School as the associate professor of global affairs, said in a statement included in the email that she believed the focus on my appointment risks overshadowing the vital work the Institute performs, which it should be allowed to pursue without undue distraction. At the same time, it has become clear that there is work to do at Notre Dame to build a community where a variety of voices can flourish. Both academic inquiry and the full realization of human dignity demand this of us, said Ostermann, as quoted by The Observer. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the university to build a campus community where all can speak openly on the issues that matter to them most, and to continuing collaborations with colleagues at the Liu Institute and beyond. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, whose territory includes Notre Dame and who had been critical of Ostermanns appointment, celebrated the news. I am very grateful to all the members of the Notre Dame community and beyond who, out of love for Notre Dame, expressed their opposition to the appointment, stated Rhoades, as quoted by OSV News. This is not an issue about academic freedom or scholarly engagement the appointment of persons to leadership positions at a Catholic university is an act of institutional witness, a mission-governance issue. In January, the Keough School announced Ostermanns appointment as director of the Liu Institute, which was scheduled to take effect on July 1. Susan is an exceptional scholar and a deeply engaged teacher whose work reflects the Keough Schools commitment to rigorous, interdisciplinary research with real-world impact, said Gallagher at the time. Her long-standing engagement with Asia, combined with her collaborative leadership style, makes her an outstanding choice to lead the Liu Institute into its next chapter. The appointment soon garnered controversy due to Ostermanns history of attacking the pro-life movement in opinion columns, and her work with the pro-choice NGO Population Council. Many students and alumni, as well as multiple bishops, protested her appointment, believing that her advocacy for abortion put her at odds with the fundamental Catholic identity of Notre Dame. Bishop Robert Barron, founder of the popular Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, was among those calling for Ostermanns appointment to be rescinded, noting that it was not simply a matter of being identified as pro-choice. [Ostermann] is a sharp critic of the pro-life position and those who advocate it, tweeted Barron. She has gone so far as to characterize the anti-abortion stance as rooted in white supremacy and racism, and she has insinuated that the Catholic commitment to integral human development implies the support of abortion rights. I speak as someone with strong connections to and deep affection for the University of Notre Dame. I believe that going ahead with this appointment is repugnant to the identity and mission of that great center of Catholic learning. Home News Business and faith leaders warn Republicans may lose Latino vote gained in 2024 election In a coordinated effort to address the volatility of the Hispanic electorate, the Committee of 100 convened a press conference on Thursday in Washington, D.C., to present a comprehensive investigation into the state of the Latino vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The coalition of business and faith leaders warned that aggressive immigration policies and economic dissatisfaction are eroding the historic support Republicans achieved in 2024, simultaneously launching a national campaign to mobilize influencers in key states. Enrique Sanchez, state director of ABIC Action, noted that although President Donald Trump received a historic proportion of Latino support in the 2024 election, the situation has changed dramatically. "Our data shows that after President Trump received the largest share of the Latino vote ... aggressive mass deportation policies and economic dissatisfaction have turned that support into a challenge," Sanchez explained. For his part, Massey Villarreal, co-chair of the Committee of 100, underlined his stance as a Republican looking for practical solutions. "Any party that ignores our needs will pay the price at the ballot box," he said. "President Trump and Congress must prioritize immigration reform, not excessive ones." The group's research reveals that control of Congress in 2026 hangs in the balance that Latino voters hold tightly. According to the data, a shift of just 10% to 15% in the support of this electorate a figure consistent with trends seen in recent elections could radically transform the electoral landscape in more than two dozen strategic districts. Not only does this change seriously jeopardize Republican-held seats, but it also bolsters vulnerable Democrats and neutralizes the advantages some states sought to gain through redistricting. The report details critical projections in key states where the Latino Population of Voting Age with Citizenship (CVAP) is determinant. In Texas, for example, districts designed to favor Republicans could return to Democratic hands if the current discontent continues; Monica De La Cruz's 15th district would go from an R+22 lead to a precarious R+0.3 with a 15% change in the Hispanic vote. Similarly, in Florida, traditionally strong districts like Maria Elvira Salazar's (R+6) could swing drastically toward a D+14.5, evidencing that Latino support is volatile and based more on personal performance than on unshakable partisan loyalty. The crisis in churches and the family economy During the press conference, one of the most powerful testimonies came from the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, who warned about the spiritual and social impact of current policies. "The Latin Christian church is suffering in such a way in a forceful way. ... A pastor of a well-known church said, 'I'm going to have to close my church,'" Rodriguez said, noting that 70% of Latino Evangelicals who supported Trump for his values are now facing a "moment of desperation." In January, Pastor Victor Martinez of the New Generation Church in Minneapolis detailed the impact the ICE raids were having on his community, specifically on church attendance. After stressing that "pastors are preparing for the possibility of losing their buildings" because church attendance has dropped by 80%, Martinez said his church "is probably considering closing right now, because it's very traumatic for me as a pastor to have to worry about the people in our church." From an economic perspective, Ana Valdez of the Latino Donor Collaborative emphasized that 73% of the Latino workforce is critical to the country's growth. "This is a very economic conversation," he said, highlighting the role of Latinos in entrepreneurship and home buying. Regional impacts and calls for legislative action Leaders from specific sectors shared alarming data about local economies. Mario Guerrero of the South Texas Builders Association said that banks in South Texas have had "70% losses on construction loans." "The Mexican vote is won with respect," he said. Liliam Lopez of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said he feels "disappointed." "As a Republican, logically Cuban-American, I feel very disappointed," he said. "This is inhumane and affects our economy." Monica Villalobos of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce stated: "Without work permits and protections for long-term workers, the nation's economy cannot move forward." "If there is a change of 10 to 15 points among Latino voters ... the Republican Party could lose more than two dozen competitive districts," Sam Sanchez of Third Coast Hospitality warned. Ramiro Cavazos of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce stressed that there has been a "tremendous effect on a lot of companies ... because of the abuses, the way they are deporting innocent people." The new national campaign will seek to promote commonsense solutions, including work permits for long-term immigrants and support for bills such as the Dignity Act, the DREAM Act, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The coalition's next mobilizations will take place in Dallas and Pasadena, Texas, during March, followed by Phoenix in June. The Committee of 100 is a coalition of prominent Mexican-American and Latino business leaders from across the U.S. dedicated to advancing practical solutions on immigration. The coalition pushes for policies that ensure secure borders, respect for immigration laws, and protections for key groups such as Dreamers, mixed-status families, and essential workers who contribute to sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and health. This article was originally published at CP Espanol. Home News Cities Church member sues protesters who stormed worship service, cites fear and distress A woman from a Minnesota church whose Sunday service was disrupted by a protest last month has filed a lawsuit against the protesters, who also face federal charges, including former CNN anchor Dom Lemon. Ann Doucette, a member of Cities Church of St. Paul, where the protest against a pastor who also serves as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent took place on Jan. 18, filed a complaint on Monday in U.S. District Court for Minnesota. Defendants named in the lawsuit include Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort and several others who entered Cities Church as part of the protest and have been federally charged. The complaint accuses the protesters of civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, aiding and abetting, trespassing and interference with religious exercise. For Mrs. Doucette, the church was the one place she felt safe from the divisions of the world, the filing reads, according to the Minneapolis Times, adding that Doucette now suffers from insomnia and anxiety. That sense of security was shattered when defendants transformed a solemn service into a chaotic scene of intimidation. The complaint states that protesters called the congregants Nazis and told children their parents would "burn in hell." A similar allegation was found in a Jan. 20 federal affidavit. Activist Trahern Crews, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, told NBC News that he denied the allegations in the complaint with empathy and compassion. The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the protesters with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which has a provision protecting houses of worship from physical intimidation. The official indictment, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, claimed that the protesters performed a coordinated take-over style attack on the church, engaging in acts of oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction. Protesters reportedly interrupted the sermon with loud declarations, including chants such as ICE Out! and Stand up, fight back!, as well as yells and whistles. Fort and Lemon have argued that they were only doing their job as journalists by covering the protest. But prosecutors contend that they met with protest leaders for a pre-op briefing at a shopping center led by defendants Nekima Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, which included instruction on how the operation would be conducted once they arrived at the Church. In a guest essay published in The New York Times earlier this month, Fort defended her actions, claiming that she was exercising her right as a journalist to cover an event. Fort believes the indictment against her is part of a pattern of intimidating the press, physically harming reporters who are covering protests and, now, taking legal action against members of the media. Charges against journalists for doing their jobs must be dropped, she wrote. Physical harm and intimidation against reporters must carry consequences. If we as a nation fail to defend that principle now, clearly and without compromise, we may soon find that there is nothing left to defend. A legal analyst who supports Doucette's case maintains that coverage from someone with a platform like Lemon worked to "incentivize the protesters' actions. There is a line between reporting the news and participating in the creation of a hostile environment, a legal analyst familiar with the case told the Minneapolis Times. The plaintiffs argument is that the presence of high-profile cameras encouraged the protesters to be more aggressive, further violating the sanctity of the worship service. Home News Pastor Justin Edwards denies close relationship with Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, says he was 'contract laborer' Justin D. Edwards, senior pastor of Holy Cross Baptist Church South in Chicago, Illinois, has denied having a close personal unpaid relationship with televangelist Elijah Bernard Jordan, better known as Archbishop E. Bernard Jordan, and insists he was a contract laborer for the New York City minister. Edwards statement made in a recent interview with The Christian Post comes as Jordan, a married father of five, filed a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $80 million, naming Edwards, media personality Larry Reid, several YouTubers, and others for allegedly using illicit telephone recordings to make defamatory comments accusing him of abuse and questioning his sexuality. The alleged close personal relationship between Jordan, who is the founder of Zoe Ministries in Manhattan, and Edwards, who was installed as pastor of Holy Cross Baptist Church South some three years ago, is presented as a key driver of the events that led up to the illicit telephone recordings made on Nov. 4, 2025, that are at the center of the lawsuit. When asked about the specific quote from the lawsuit and the nature of his relationship with the televangelist, Edwards insisted to CP that he was hired to serve as Jordans chief adjutant in Chicago, and he was paid for that service. I understand that he is playing a verbal game to cover himself," Edwards told CP. "Thats what I understand. In terms of compensation, everything was an exchange. I was a contract laborer. Im not a member of Zoe Ministries. Ive never been a member of Zoe Ministries, so any exchange between he and I was per compensation." Jordan's lawsuit claimed that he and Edwards had "a close personal relationship" that did not involve "coercion, compensation, or any exchange of value." "When it became apparent that Edwards motivations were financial and inconsistent with Plaintiffs values and boundaries, Plaintiff ceased communication, reads the lawsuit, which was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey last Friday by a Manhattan federal judge for lack of jurisdiction. At no time did Plaintiff compensate Edwards for intimacy or engage in prostitution, solicitation, or any form of transactional sexual conduct. Any financial assistance Plaintiff provided was charitable and pastoral in nature. Edwards gained access to Plaintiff through positions of trust and proximity created by Plaintiffs ministerial role." The filing claims Jordan provided limited financial assistance to Edwards and his spouse, including covering a vehicle payment when they lacked reliable transportation necessary for ministry work. Jordan also retained and paid for legal counsel for Edwards son when he became involved in a legal matter. These actions were undertaken philanthropically and as an extension of pastoral care. After Edwards revealed his true intentions, Plaintiff discontinued and terminated all such assistance, the lawsuit states. When asked what exactly Jordan paid for, he replied, Time, talent, availability, my building. I pastor a church in Chicago he served as a co-facilitator in administration. There were a number of different things. So yes, there was an exchange financially on both ends. My church paid him to do multiple things in terms of teaching, preaching, instruction. So yes, it was compensation, he said. He insists he was not paid for any sexual favor. Now if youre referring to if there was any exchange for compensation sexually, no, there was never any exchange, request or demand financially for any sexual exchange, the married father said. I dont know where that came from. I dont know why he even included this in the conversation. I have never said that or suggested that. While stating that Jordan made some financial contributions to his church for ministry purposes, Edwards maintains that Jordan was not a benefactor of his family. He did not financially support myself, my family, or my church. He made charitable contributions to my church. In reference to your post in The Christian Post about a car, etc. He never purchased me a car. However, because he is in Chicago, he asked me to be his chief adjutant and his chief adjutant needed to be driving a certain vehicle while in transport of him, he said. Zoe ministry agreed to pay the car note based upon the years he was supposed to be in Chicago. As it relates to my relationship with Bishop Jordan, Bishop Jordan and I were colleagues in the ministry. He was not my mentor. I never claimed him to be my pastor none of those things. I was a contract laborer at best. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett ordered that Jordans lawsuit be transferred last Friday because the alleged defamatory comments were not made against the televangelist in New York. The recordings of the telephone conversations at issue in the lawsuit were made while Jordan was allegedly in New Jersey. In addition to Edwards and Reid, who operates the "Larry Reid Live" show based in Georgia, Jordans lawsuit lists as defendants Texas pastor Calvin Blake, Sr.; Davyon Augustus, who runs a YouTube channel called "Consciouz TV" in South Carolina; Marcellus McMillian, who runs the "Mad Church Disease" YouTube channel in California; Tyesse Jackson, who operates the YouTube channel The Tyesse Report in Georgia; James Singletary, a show guest; Kendall Peacock; Chamaco Bryant; and 10 John and Jane Does who are yet to be identified. Jordan accuses Reid, Edwards and Blake of violating the Federal Wiretap Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. He also accuses Reid, Edwards, and the YouTubers of defamation per se. The lawsuit further alleges civil conspiracy charges against Reid, Edwards and Blake, along with an intentional infliction of emotional distress charge against all defendants for pushing a narrative that questioned his sexuality, accused him of sexual abuse, grooming and targeting young boys. Jordan alleges that on Nov. 4, 2025, Edwards initiated multiple telephone calls from Illinois with him while he was in New Jersey. At approximately 3:58 p.m. that day, the lawsuit claims Edwards called Jordan and had a conversation lasting approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes. During the call, Edwards allegedly sent Jordan a photograph of himself with Reid and stated that a story was allegedly being prepared about him and denied any involvement. Jordan alleges that the call quickly became confrontational and hostile, and he told Edwards he was ending their relationship due to Edwards conduct and inappropriate language. At approximately 9:55 p.m. that day, Edwards initiated a call to Jordan, which lasted approximately 18 seconds. Around 9:56 p.m., Edwards made another call to Jordan that lasted approximately 45 minutes. Jordan alleges that this is the call that was secretly recorded. During the 9:56 PM call, Defendant Edwards merged Defendant Reid into the call without disclosing Reids presence and without obtaining Plaintiffs consent. For the entirety of the call, Plaintiff was unaware that Reid was present or recording the conversation, the lawsuit states. Defendant Reid has since admitted that he was located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that he was merged into the call by Defendant Edwards without Plaintiffs knowledge or consent, and that he recorded the conversation without Plaintiffs knowledge or consent. Reid admitted that he recorded Plaintiffs conversation with Edwards, it adds. The lawsuit then cites a statement Reid allegedly made in a public broadcast on Oct. 15, 2025, before the Nov. 4 call. Theres someone else that has came to me by night. They were not coming to me to be messing. But because they were lied to, they thought they could come to me about their truth. And the truth of my former mentor. I recorded every conversation and told them. I recorded that every conversation, Reid states. Jordan said Reid made even more explicit admissions about the recordings in his private members only broadcasts. It's on audio. It's on the audio. Mm-hmm, Reid notes. I can tell my truth about what I was told by Justin. I can tell, I can tell that and he can tell another story or edit story, but the audio verifies what I'm saying. The plaintiff accuses Edwards and Reid of coordinating the Nov. 4 call and "subsequent recording in advance with the intent of capturing Plaintiffs private communications for later use, dissemination, leverage, and monetization." "They recorded Plaintiffs private conversations and disseminated them with the intent to construct and promote a false narrative concerning Plaintiffs sexual orientation, alleged criminal conduct, and financial improprieties," the lawsuit states. Home News Pastor Nathan Peternel to step away from pulpit for restoration after AOG review Lead pastor of the multicampus Life Church in Pendleton, Indiana, Nathan Peternel, is set to step away from his pulpit Sunday to begin a period of restoration for violating the Assemblies of God bylaws concerning moral transgression involving pornography. Peternels temporary exit from his pulpit comes just over a week after his 24-year-old son, Jonathan Peternel, was sentenced to four years in prison and another two years on probation after pleading guilty to child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material charges. During the investigation of his sons case, investigators with the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said they found more than 50 photos and videos on Jonathan Peternel's phone showing his parents nude or engaged in sex acts. Nathan Peternel, who co-hosts the podcast "Jesus, Sex and Politics" with Indianas Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, apologized and told his congregation two months ago that the private, intimate videos and photos of him and his wife were hacked by his son. Following a review by denominational leaders, Peternel revealed in an email to congregants that he will embark on a period of restoration starting on Sunday, and would address congregants' questions during the church's annual meeting that same day. Life Church did not respond to a request for comment on their lead pastors restoration process when contacted by The Christian Post on Friday. In the email to the congregation obtained by 24 Sight News, Peternel said, in part: After a careful and thorough review, the District Executive Presbytery concluded that certain personal behaviors related to my use and retention of private digital content involving my spouse fell short of the standards expected of a credentialed minister and were determined to be unbecoming of ministerial leadership. The Indiana pastor did not say how long the period of restoration would last, but said he will be fully invested in the process. In the short term, I will focus fully on this season of restoration. In the long term, the plan is for me to remain the Lead Pastor of Life Church as I walk through and complete the restorative process, he said. Chrissy and I are approaching this season with humility and expectancy. When this restorative process is complete, I look forward to returning with renewed vision and a refreshed heart to continue leading Life Church forward as we pursue our mission and the vision of reaching beyond what we currently see. A press statement from the Fishers Police Department last October said an investigation into Jonathan Peternel began after authorities received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The CyberTip was submitted by the messaging app Snapchat and showed five files of suspected child sex abuse material involving prepubescent children. A search warrant was subsequently issued for Jonathan Peternel's Snapchat account, where investigators said they found more child sex abuse material. They also found evidence suggesting that the younger Peternel was sharing the material with other users. Detectives reported finding more than 200 files of child sex abuse material during a search of the Peternel residence in Pendleton. "Some of this included sadomasochistic child abuse, children that appeared to be drugged or intoxicated while being abused, violent child molestation, and photorealistic AI-generated photos of nude pregnant toddlers," investigators said. Jonathan Peternel was charged with one count of child exploitation, a Level 4 felony; two counts of possession of child sex abuse material, Level 5 felonies; and one count of possession of child sex abuse material, a Level 6 felony. Home News Robert Jeffress accepts NRB honor with call to faithfulness, warning: None of us is immune to moral failure NASHVILLE, Tenn. Ahead of accepting one of the highest honors in Christian broadcasting, Robert Jeffress reflected on the weight of integrity in ministry and the sobering reality that no leader is immune from failure. Im very honored and feel very undeserving to receive the reward, the 70-year-old pastor, speaker and bestselling author told The Christian Post ahead of receiving the 2026 NRB William Ward Ayer Award for Distinguished Service at the National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention. Its a sober reminder none of us is immune to moral failure. The award, presented during the annual gathering of the National Religious Broadcasters at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, recognizes excellence and integrity in Christian communications. Named for NRBs first president, the honor has previously gone to broadcasters, including Pat Robertson, Luis Palau and Erwin Lutzer. Jeffress, senior pastor of the 16,000-member First Baptist Dallas and Bible teacher on the media ministry Pathway to Victory, said he sees the recognition as a call to faithfulness. We all know there are many ministers and ministries that have fallen into sin and really given enemies of the Lord a reason to blaspheme the name of Christ, he said. We need to be alert, as the Scripture says, on guard. Our adversary, the devil, roars about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Pathway to Victory, launched in 1996 after a layman in Jeffress former Texas church offered to underwrite its first year of television airtime, now airs on more than 1,100 radio stations and 10,000 television outlets in seven languages. But according to Jeffress, the ministrys beginnings were modest. We were all ready for hundreds of phone calls to come in, he recalled of the ministrys first broadcast. We had one call that night. Today, he said, tens of thousands contact the ministry monthly. The growth, he stressed, is a testament to the enduring appeal of Scripture and its infallibility despite changing cultural tides. People really dont care anymore about what denominations believe. They want to know, What does the Bible say? he said. Its not Thus saith Robert. Its Thus saith the Lord. Quoting 1 Corinthians 4:7, he said, What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you act as if you did not receive it? Any good in his life, he added, is the result of what God or others with Gods power have done for me. Jeffress credited his parents for instilling in him a love of the Bible and his wife, whom he met in seventh grade, for steady support. Reflecting on legacy, he invoked the 18th-century hymn writer John Newton: Some things Im forgetting, but two things Ill always remember are Im a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior. The pastors emphasis on integrity comes amid broader turbulence in American evangelicalism. Scandals involving high-profile church leaders have fueled skepticism, particularly among younger Christians, as studies show a long-term decline in church attendance. While acknowledging failures of church leadership, Jeffress urged believers not to abandon congregational life. The Bible says Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, he said. If you ever find a perfect church, dont join it. You won't find that till you get to Heaven, but you can find a Bible-based church. There are plenty of biblically based churches with sincere men and women in leadership. Find that church, and if it's not perfect, work to make it better, but don't give up on the church. Jeffress own congregation endured a trial 18 months ago when a four-alarm fire severely damaged the churchs historic sanctuary, a red-brick structure dating to 1890 that had hosted four U.S. presidents and generations of worshipers. Jeffress was baptized there at age 6 and ordained at 21. It holds a lot of memories, he said at the time. We thank God nobody was hurt. The church is not brick and mortar, its people. Rebuilding efforts are underway, supported by donors nationwide, including a multimillion-dollar gift from Hobby Lobby founder David Green. The blaze, Jeffress said, reinforced the fact that the Church will endure despite trials: One day everything in this world is going to be burned up. But those who know Christ as Savior will endure forever, he said. At NRB, Jeffress also addressed criticism that has trailed his outspoken engagement in public life. He has long contended that America was founded as a Christian nation, though he rejects the notion that the country belongs exclusively to Christians. America was founded as a Christian nation. There's no way you can argue that against that from history. But the idea that America should be for Christians only is a concept that I certainly don't believe. And I don't believe our founders believed that, either, he said. Any nation that references God will be blessed by God, Jeffress added, citing Psalm 33:12. Any nation that rejects God will be rejected by God. Still, he cautioned pastors against conflating political opinion with biblical mandate. Theres no biblical position on taxation, he said, calling such debates secondary issues. On matters like the sanctity of life and religious liberty, however, he described them as biblical principles, not political positions. Jeffress belief in the necessity of cultural engagement and spiritual mission also shapes his forthcoming book, Divine Invasions: Experience God's Miracles in Your Life Today, which explores whether God still performs miracles today. Raised attending both a Baptist church and an Assembly of God congregation, Jeffress said he never accepted the theological view that miracles ceased with the completion of Scripture. I dont buy the line that God has quit doing miracles, he said. The book examines not only accounts of healing but also how believers should respond when the miracle I want doesnt come. Jeffress shared a personal story of losing feeling in his arm at age 16 during a mission trip abroad. He said sensation returned suddenly, at the same hour his mother and pastor were praying for him back home. It was a powerful reminder that God does answer prayer occasionally to show Himself strong, he said. Yet he tempers expectations. Our ultimate miracle is yet to come, he said, referencing the resurrection described in 1 Corinthians 15. In a sin-infected world, he added, healing is not always immediate or permanent. As American church affiliation declines, Jeffress said he doesn't foresee a sweeping national revival. If there were a great revival going on, you would see people flocking to church, not exiting from the church, he said. I think there are pockets of it here and there ... but that shouldn't discourage us, because the truth is, the light of the Gospel shines brightest in the darkness. "If there were a great revival going on, you would see people flocking to church, not exiting from the church. If there were a great revival going on, you would see basic positions of Christianity being held on to, rather than let go of. If you saw a great revival, you would see a great increase in sexual morality and so forth. Legislative victories, he added, cannot substitute for spiritual transformation: I'm not reneging on what I've said in the past, Jeffress said. I think as Christians, we should vote our biblical convictions, but we need to understand that the short-term trajectory of this nation is downward away from God, but that gives us even greater opportunity to share the Gospel well. We will never change America until we change the hearts of Americans. And thats something no legislation can do. For now, Jeffress says his mission remains unchanged: to pierce the darkness with the light of Gods Word. I dont think Ive arrived yet, he said. Im grateful to God for choosing me in spite of me. Home News Teen charged for causing $300K in damage at Virginia megachurch A teenager has been charged with inflicting approximately $300,000 in damages to a large nondenominational worship center in Virginia. The Prince William Police Department announced on Tuesday that an unnamed 16-year-old male juvenile was arrested last month in connection with an extensive vandalism spree. The teenager was charged with destruction of property and unlawful entry. A court date is still pending, while authorities are looking into other possible suspects in the vandalism. According to Prince William police, a building belonging to Impact Church of Woodbridge saw extensive vandalism sometime between Dec. 21, 2025, and Jan. 2. During that timeframe, according to police, more than 200 windows were broken or in some way damaged, as well as multiple doors and many areas of the building were spraypainted. Total damage done to the building was estimated to be over $300,000, stated authorities. During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify a suspect and obtain juvenile petitions. Following the investigation the accused, identified as a 16-year-old male juvenile of Lorton, was charged. The investigation continues into the identities of other suspects involved in the incident. The church, formerly known as Harvest Life Changers Church, is a nondenominational congregation launched in 1995 that meets at another site off Telegraph Road. The congregation outgrew its current facility, and a larger space was needed for ministry, prompting the construction of a 204,000-square-foot worship center, according to the ministry's website. The vandalized structure has been under construction for several years, with work stalling in 2020 due to financial issues, the Prince William Times reports. Bishop Lyle Dukes, who leads Impact Church along with his wife, Deborah, said in 2022 that he hoped to have the building open soon, even if gradually, as construction continues. We are a community church, and while its been a challenge, this is something we are trying to do to help the community, said Dukes was quoted as saying. The whole downstairs area along the Route 1 side of the building will just be for the community. We will have food, clothing and a whole wing for the youth. According to a report from the Family Research Council that was released last year, over 400 acts of hostility were recorded against churches in the United States in 2024. The FRC report documented 415 hostile acts in 43 states, affecting 383 congregations, based on data collected from open-source documents, media reports and official records. "Although the motivations for many of these incidents remain unknown, the rise in crimes against churches is taking place in a context in which fewer Americans are attending religious services or identifying with a specific faith," the report explained. Home News US warns embassy staff who want to leave Israel to hurry after latest US-Iran talks end without results US military buildup continues with more jets, more war ships sent to the region The United States warned embassy staff wishing to leave Israel to do so today (on Friday), as tensionsare ramping up again toward the weekend following the latest round of talks between the U.S. and the Iranian regime in Geneva ended without concrete results late on Thursday. After evacuating most of its staff from Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday, the American Embassy in Jerusalem told its staff to leave quickly if they wished to do so. Citing an email sent by Ambassador Mike Huckabee to his staff on Friday, The New York Times reported that personnel were urged to depart Israel for any destination outside the country. There is no need to panic, Huckabee wrote, but for those desiring to leave, its important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later. He noted that there might not be more outbound flights in the coming days, another strong indication that the U.S. could be anticipating an escalation with the Islamic Republic. Those wishing to leave should do so TODAY, Huckabee wrote, adding his instructions will likely result in high demand for airline seats today. The U.S. has continued deploying military assets to the region, according to open-source information and American officials. Two dozen fighter jets, including additional F-22 Raptors, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in recent days to join numerous squadrons already positioned in bases in Israel, Jordan and other countries. In addition, another destroyer, the USS John Finn, joined the 11 warships already operating in the northern Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, an official told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), while the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was expected to reach the northern coast of Israel on Friday. Huckabees instructions followed the end of the latest round of talks between the U.S. and Iran on Thursday. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented several demands, including the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan and the handover of all remaining enriched uranium to the U.S., officials told the WSJ. The U.S. reportedly also demanded that a potential deal would be open-ended, meaning that, unlike the JCPOA nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, nuclear limitations would be permanent. Iranian state media and sources cited by the WSJ said that the regime has rejected those conditions. A new proposal presented by Iran was reportedly meant to counter U.S. excuses regarding the nuclear program while laying out key elements of a potential agreement, Iranian media stated. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the proposal could lead to results if the U.S. separates nuclear and non-nuclear issues. Nevertheless, Omans foreign minister, who has been mediating the talks, expressed optimism on Thursday. Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi described the talks as having made significant progress and added that discussions would continue in Vienna, Austria, next week. The Jerusalem Post quoted a source saying the talks managed to clarify several issues, describing them as positive, and that a lower-level meeting is planned for next week. During his State of the Union address on Wednesday, Trump stressed that he prefers a diplomatic solution, but noted, We havent heard those secret words, We will never have a nuclear weapon. He also argued that, in addition to its nuclear ambitions, the regime is the worlds largest sponsor of terrorism and has killed more than 30,000 protesters during the recent wave of demonstrations. Trump was briefed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief, Admiral Brad Cooper, on potential military options in Iran after the end of the talks on Thursday, the JPost reported, citing sources. ABC News added that General Raizin Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also present. Foreign Minister Al-Busaidi is scheduled to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials in Washington on Friday, in an effort to stave off war with Iran, MS NOW reported on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Vance said in an interview published by The Washington Post on Thursday that there was no chance U.S. strikes against Iran would lead to a prolonged war in the region. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force Two, Vance said he didn't know what Trump would ultimately decide while noting that military strikes to ensure Iran isn't going to get a nuclear weapon, or a diplomatic resolution, are among the possibilities. The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight there is no chance that will happen, Vance stressed. This article was originally published at All Israel News Home News Acts 29 Vice President, Vintage Church Pastor Tyler Jones terminated after confessing affair Tyler Jones, vice president of church planting at the Acts 29 Network, who also served as the longtime pastor of Vintage Church in North Carolina, has been removed from both positions after confessing to a years-long inappropriate relationship with a woman. Neither Vintage Church, which was planted by Jones in 2002, nor Acts 29 immediately responded to a request for comment on Jones removal on Friday. Acts 29 told The Roys Report, however, that Jones was removed due to the disclosure of personal behavior that does not align with our standards of integrity and biblical conduct. We hold our leaders to clear expectations of character and accountability, church officials said in a statement to TRR. The network did not provide many details about Jones disclosure but stated that his disqualifying behavior occurred prior to his employment in 2003. According to the report, Vintage Church leaders also told the congregation earlier this week that the extramarital relationship with a woman started after Jones planted the church in 2002. Jones and his wife, Kimberly, moved to the Raleigh area in 1997 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to Resurgence. He worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at North Carolina State for five years before starting Vintage Church in the fall of 2002. At a conference on building more faithful and effective churches in 2013, Jones contended that pastors are responsible for setting the environment of the church, and when they behave in ways that overlook the power of God in the lives of church members, they are effectively limiting the scope of discipleship. "You're going to have to be humble men and women as you lead. If you are a teacher, it's not your word that persuades people. It's the spirit of God that transforms people," he said. "If God can use you to teach, He can use anybody to teach. He warned that when pastors remove the focus of their ministry from God to their own talents, they move into the realm of idolatry, which is not God's desire for His Church. "You're just a funnel of God's grace," said Jones. "If you're a rock star talent, you've just become a golden calf." He noted that the solution to ensure that congregations are empowered for ministry is for pastors to remain in submission to the Word of God, guard the content of their hearts carefully and apply God's Word with diligence. The church is at great risk today, he added at the time, because "most of us are incompetent or imbeciles when it comes to applying the Gospel to our own hearts." "If we really want to deal with the heart, all it takes is five minutes of silence and an ounce of honesty," he asserted. "Discipleship is living out the Gospel. God's primary will for you is to know Him and love Him. Home Opinion A So. Baptist leader converts to Catholicism: My response A few weeks ago, I was shocked to hear that one of my best former students and a trusted colleague, Dr. Jerry Johnson, had announced his conversion to Roman Catholicism. Jerry was raised in a Southern Baptist home and had been discipled and catechized in the faith. I had the privilege of teaching Jerry at Criswell College after he had surrendered to a call to full-time Gospel ministry. Jerry was an excellent student and a gifted preacher. After graduating with high honors in his B.A. program, Jerry enrolled in the Conservative Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colorado, where he earned his M.Div. degree, once again with high honors. He then continued his studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he earned his Ph.D. in Christian Ethics. Throughout his academic sojourn, Jerry was actively involved in the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention, a grassroots movement to correct a liberal theological drift in the denomination. In addition to ministering in a pastoral role in churches, Dr. Johnson served in denominational leadership roles. As a relatively young man, Dr. Johnson served as dean of Boyce College (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), president of Criswell College, and vice president for academic development at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as president of the National Religious Broadcasters from 2013 to 2019. Clearly, for Dr. Jerry Johnson to convert from Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic was, and is, big news! For a one-time leader of the conservative resurgence to pledge allegiance and faith to Rome was, and is, even bigger news. I was immediately inundated with phone calls and emails expressing shock, hurt, bewilderment and some anger. As a Southern Baptist since childhood, a Baptist minister since the age of 16, and someone like Jerry, who was led to the Lord, discipled in the faith, called to preach, and trained for ministry in a Southern Baptist context, I was both shocked and surprised. Personally, as a sola fide, sola Scriptura Southern Baptist, I could never, even on pain of imprisonment or death, do what Dr. Johnson has done. However, I still love Jerry as a brother in Christ and still consider him a friend in the Lord. I pray for Jerry, and I would seek to help him if he were in need. I will continue to pray for him, including that he will recant his recent views and return to the faith of his youth and young adulthood. However, as a Baptist Christian, I believe that all true faith is voluntary and non-coerced. So I would desire for Jerry to return to the Baptist fold only if and when they become once again, his true convictions. As a Baptist, I believe the only true faith is a voluntary and consensual faith, not one that is coerced. As the great Roger Williams put it in the 17th century New England in The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution, for any man to interfere coercively with another mans relationship with his God is soul rape. One of the main reasons that religion has flourished to the extent it has in the United States is that it is a voluntary and free affirmation. It is estimated that between 15% and 20% of Americans have changed their religious affiliation within their lifetimes. Why? Because they are free to do so without fear of persecution. If people practice faith in America, it is because they choose to do so, not because they are coerced. Sunday morning is the most voluntary time slot in American life! So I defend to the death Dr. Johnsons right to make the decision he has made, and I defend to the death my right to vigorously disagree with his choice and to pray for his return to the faith we once so joyously held in common. In 2002, Iain Duncan Smith, then leader of the Conservative Party, visited the Easterhouse estate one of Glasgows most deprived areas where he saw the power of community work. Two years later, Duncan Smith, who said he had frequently encountered significant social breakdown and dysfunctionality across the country, set up the think tank Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). In his words, the CSJ would work to improve the quality of life of the worst off in Britain by developing new, innovative poverty-fighting solutions to the social challenges facing Britain, working closely with voluntary sector groups, charities and community entrepreneurs. In 2021, the think tank established the CSJ Foundation to work with small frontline voluntary organisations, bring their work to the attention of Westminster policymakers and provide a platform for philanthropists to support them. Recently registered as a charity, the foundation also supports other foundations to operate efficiently by providing their back office infrastructure. Directing money to smaller charities Nathan Gamester, managing director of the CSJ Foundation, says community-based organisations deserve more recognition for solving many social problems. Often, these smaller frontline organisations have a lot of the solutions, he says. There are small organisations that are successfully getting people off the streets from sleeping rough and into accommodation or work. From a policy perspective, we feel theres a lot to be learned from that. If somethings working at a local level, could it, for example, be scaled up to work at a national level, and therefore have real relevance with the national policy conversation? Gamester and others at the CSJ Foundation originally thought that its work on philanthropy would be a side hustle. However, they found that it has taken off over the past four years. On its website, the foundation reported that it has helped direct nearly 25m to grassroots charities, and Gamester predicts that it could direct between 10m and 12m this year. He describes the foundations network of organisations it supports, called the CSJ Alliance, as its eyes and ears across the UK, with their insights feeding into CSJs policy work. Small charities are crying out for funding. Its difficult at the moment to access funding, particularly private philanthropy, and so the charities love the opportunity to connect with donors. On the other hand, the philanthropists love it because they often have a pot of money, family foundation or something like that. Many of the people we work with have made their money in London in business, but come from Gateshead, Oldham, Newcastle, wherever, and want to give back to smaller organisations near where they grew up or lived. Funding imbalance in the sector Gamester says that the CSJ Foundation is filling a gap and doing something different to other organisations. While community foundations tend to act as place-based funders, the CSJ Foundation distributes London money out into the regions, he says. About 90% of our philanthropic giving is directed outside of London. When you look at the statistics around philanthropic giving, you realise that thats the opposite of what normally happens. London receives by far more philanthropic giving than any other region. In its Underfunded and Overlooked report , published in May 2024, the CSJ Foundation analysed Charity Commission data to conclude that 85% of all charitable income in England and Wales goes to the 4% largest registered charities. Gamester says this means that the smaller charities are left to fight over a very slim slice of the pie. Despite that, its smaller charities that are often doing some of the most vital work in communities. We very purposely and unapologetically focus our firepower [on supporting] smaller charities. Often, smaller charities dont have fundraisers, teams to fill out long application forms for grantmaking organisations and so on. If were able to find the best and fund them, then were helping, in our small way, address that funding imbalance that exists within the sector. Philanthropic tools lacking Gamester says that there is a lack of infrastructure for wealthy people who wish to donate to smaller organisations. There isnt, for example, a centralised, publicly available mapping database or tool where you can say: Im interested in Hackney, Gateshead or Norwich. What charitable organisations are available there? Tools are lacking; there should be more. In our Supercharging Philanthropy report , we made some recommendations, for example, for the Charity Commission. The commission sits on all of this data, but its not being used to maximum effect. He says there is an opportunity for the CSJ Foundation to find and help these individuals who wish to donate more funding to organisations and causes that need it. We know, for example, that in the coming 10-15 years, therell be a huge transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. The boomer generation, who have done very well, set up family foundations and all the rest of it, will be passing that wealth onto their children. That presents a big opportunity. We already work with a lot of family foundations that are either going through or planning for that process. All of a sudden, you might have not only a big transfer of wealth and an increase in available philanthropic funding, but also a new cohort of givers. Thats a huge opportunity to tap into, and were looking forward to engaging with that. We dont champion philanthropy well in the UK Gamester says more should be done in the UK to boost philanthropic giving. CSJs Supercharging Philanthropy report, published in March 2025, warns that without clear leadership from government about the power, purpose and potential of philanthropy, charitable giving is in danger of tailing off. It suggests the government commit to 3.27bn of match funding to galvanise philanthropists to bring public spend and private investment together to turn the tide on achieving social projects that serve the five national missions. Explaining the reason for this proposal, Gamester says if a philanthropist wanted to give 1m and knew that it would then become 2m, it might entice them to give more. All the research shows that match funding has a bigger multiplier effect than just a one-to-one match. It can be a win-win. The government can fund some of its own priorities and initiatives, and it doesnt have to be new projects. For example, he says there are philanthropists who would be willing to fund support for ex-prisoners trying to get back into work and to prevent reoffending. Coming together in a match-fund project for something like that should be a no-brainer. Yet, UK governments, for the most part, havent managed to do that. Gamester says there should be a national philanthropy champion who would not necessarily be a government minister and regional versions of the role, with specific targets. These champions, he says, could work with government to encourage other philanthropists and lift the profile of philanthropy publicly. One of the things we dont do well in this country is champion philanthropy. Were a little bit nervous and reluctant to talk about philanthropy because thats talking about wealth, and we dont like that. We need to bang the drum for the little guys Looking ahead, Gamester says his organisation has a responsibility to be diligent with the funding it directs. Every penny that goes into the charities we support is a penny not going to another charity, so we feel the responsibility of making sure we do that due diligence well. He says there is more the CSJ Foundation can do to get small charities voices heard nationally. You talk to any of the charities we work with, and what you find is that theyre, in many ways, the backbone of their local community. Theyre the ones providing help to single mums, scooping up families and kids who are falling outside of school and all that sort of thing. We want to make sure that were raising their profile and supporting them. When the government or media want to talk to the sector, they tend to approach big charities that have relations and press departments, says Gamester, and the CSJ Foundation tries to address this. We see it as our real challenge to make sure were banging the drum for the little guys as much as we can. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The Charity Commission has closed a compliance case into World Vision UK after allegations were made about a toxic and hostile workplace culture at the international development charity last year. The regulator said that it decided to close its compliance case this month, having been assured that the charity has taken steps to address these concerns, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place. It has issued the charitys trustees with regulatory advice and guidance and may take further action if it is not followed. A World Vision spokesperson told Civil Society: The Charity Commission has closed the regulatory compliance case opened in relation to World Vision UK. The charity operates by the highest standards set by the Charity Commission and its processes are devoted to meeting those high standards across all of its operations. Restructure The regulator opened a compliance case in October after a group of people claiming to be current and former staff claimed that reports raised internally of racism, sexism and homophobia at the charity had been ignored, silenced or inadequately handled by senior leadership. This came after the Christian charity announced a restructure in August last year , which placed around 90 of its 200 staff members at risk of redundancy. The complainants alleged that at least eight senior staff members had left the charity in the preceding months after either being forced to step down or feeling uncomfortable under the current leadership. They reported that non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) were also routinely used to silence staff leaving after negative experiences. At the time, World Vision said that the allegations were false and that it believed that the complaint had come from a small number of former employees. A spokesperson said: Our talented and dedicated staff are hugely important to us. We provide various mechanisms for dealing with staff complaints and if these are upheld, we act immediately to put things right and take action following our policies which are robust and fair. The international development sector has faced a number of challenges which led to a significant restructuring of our operations. This led to many job losses, as we shaped our organisation to face the future. We recognise such challenges, which have involved job losses through redundancy, are painful for us all as many valued employees have had to leave the organisation. World Vision did not confirm how many redundancies were made, when asked by Civil Society. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, When a commercial truck is involved in a serious accident, claims professionals face a complex investigation with multiple parties, extensive regulations and potentially massive exposure. As an attorney who has handled hundreds of these cases from the plaintiffs side, I can share what we look forand what claims professionals should know about the evidence landscape. Understanding what to look forand what red flags indicate elevated riskcan make the difference between an efficient resolution and a nuclear verdict. With trucking and automotive sectors seeing 15 substantial verdicts totaling more than $4.1 billion in 2024 alone, the stakes of every investigation have never been higher. The Unique Evidence Landscape Commercial vehicle accidents generate evidence that passenger car crashes do not. Understanding these sources is essential for accurate claim evaluation. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations (FMCSA) Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report, 4,807 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2023an 11% decline from 5,417 fatalities in 2022. While overall crash numbers are improving (total crashes involving large trucks fell 7%, from 168,816 to 156,553), the litigation environment is moving in the opposite direction. Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data Since the 2017 Electronic Logging Device mandate, most commercial drivers must use electronic logs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has identified driver fatigue as a factor in roughly 13% of large truck crashes. ELD data can reveal hours of service compliance, driving patterns, and potential fatigue factors. Red flags to look for: Hours of service violations in the days leading up to the crash Patterns of driving during high-fatigue windows (2-4 a.m.) Last-minute log edits or unassigned driving time Discrepancies between ELD data and other records Driver Qualification Files Federal regulations require carriers to maintain extensive documentation on each driver. Gaps in these files often indicate negligent hiring or supervision. FMCSA data shows that driver-related factors are the critical reason in roughly 87% of large truck crashes, underscoring why driver qualification scrutiny is essential. Key documents to review: Application and employment history verification Motor vehicle record (MVR) from the past three years Medical examiners certificate Road test certification or equivalent Annual MVR review documentation Vehicle Maintenance Records Commercial vehicles require systematic inspection and maintenance. The Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) documents pre-trip and post-trip inspections. According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliances (CVSA) International Roadcheck data, roughly 20% of commercial vehicles inspected are placed out of service annually for safety violationswith brake-related issues consistently topping the list. Warning signs: Incomplete or missing DVIRs Pattern of deferred repairs Inspection defects related to the accident (brake issues, tire condition, lighting) Gaps in preventive maintenance schedules Common Carrier Violations That Indicate Negligence Certain violations create significant exposure because they directly connect to accident causation and suggest systemic safety failures. Hiring Failures Under 49 CFR 391.23, carriers must investigate a drivers safety history before hiring. FMCSAs Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) gives carriers access to a drivers five-year crash history and three-year inspection history from the agencys Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Failing to utilize PSP records, overlooking serious MVR violations, or hiring drivers with disqualifying conditions creates substantial negligent hiring exposure. Training Deficiencies While regulations establish minimum qualifications, many carriers provide inadequate trainingparticularly for new drivers or those transitioning to unfamiliar equipment. FMCSAs 2022 Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule established new minimum standards, but compliance gaps remain common. Look for: Minimal orientation programs No documented behind-the-wheel training Absence of remedial training after prior incidents Supervision Gaps Carriers are responsible for monitoring driver performance. FMCSAs Safety Measurement System (SMS) tracks carrier safety data across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs), including Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance and Crash Indicator. When a carriers SMS scores show persistent safety concerns that went unaddressed, or when prior accidents and near misses produced no corrective action, the carriers supervision failures become central to liability. Working with Accident Reconstruction Complex commercial vehicle crashes often require expert reconstruction. Effective claims handling means knowing when reconstruction is necessary and what questions to ask. NHTSAs Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data shows that multi-vehicle crashes involving large trucks are disproportionately fatal74% of fatalities in large truck crashes are occupants of the other vehicle. This asymmetry means reconstruction is especially critical for establishing causation and apportioning liability. Consider reconstruction when: Liability is disputed Speed or following distance is at issue Equipment failure may have contributed Multiple vehicles are involved with conflicting accounts Reconstruction experts can analyze: Event data recorder (EDR) information Scene evidence (skid marks, debris patterns, point of impact) Vehicle damage patterns Driver sight lines and reaction time Red Flags for Elevated Exposure Certain case characteristics signal potential for adverse outcomes. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has documented that nuclear verdicts of $10 million or more in commercial vehicle cases are rising sharply, driven by sophisticated plaintiff strategies and shifting juror demographics. Watch for: Prior similar incidents involving the same driver or carrier Safety violations in the drivers file that went unaddressed Corporate policies that prioritize productivity over safety Destruction or spoliation of evidence Attempts to minimize documentation Carrier SMS scores in the alert range across multiple BASICs When these factors are present, early reserve evaluation should account for potential punitive damages exposure in applicable jurisdictions. Commercial truck accident claims require familiarity with unique evidence sources and regulatory frameworks. Adjusters who understand what to look forand what red flags indicatecan evaluate exposure accurately and avoid the surprises that lead to adverse outcomes. The key is recognizing that these are not just accident cases. They are windows into carrier safety culture. What the evidence reveals about hiring, training, supervision, and maintenance often matters more than what happened at the scene. Bruning is an attorney at Bruning Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri. The views expressed are educational and do not constitute legal advice. Stellantis NV is considering tapping electric-vehicle technology from its Chinese partner Leapmotor to help lower costs across its mass-market European brands such as Fiat, Opel and Peugeot, according to people familiar with the plans. The manufacturer is weighing an expansion of the scope of its joint venture with Leapmotor to access the Chinese companys more advanced battery and EV powertrain technology, the people said, declining to be named discussing internal deliberations. Stellantis in Europe currently sells Leapmotor models like the C10 SUV through its network of dealerships. Related: Gas-Guzzler Revival Risks Dead-End Future for US Automakers Talks are at an early stage and any agreement would need to clear hurdles on concerns around data protection when using technology from China, the people said. The partners also need to address regulation in the U.S. that, from 2027, bans the import or sale of connected vehicles with technologies linked to China or Russia. Still, theyre aiming to seal a deal within the year, the people said. It would be the first time for a major Western automaker to rely on a Chinese companys vehicle underpinnings and software to bolster models in Europe. Stellantis shares rose 5.4% as of 5:03 p.m. in Milan amid optimism around the companys North American business. The stock is still down more than a quarter this year. Stellantis said its venture with Leapmotor sets out to combine strengths of both partners, with regular discussions about potential ways to expand cooperation. In a presentation on Thursday, the company said 2025 was a year of strategic implementation for the partnership, setting the stage for deeper integration. Both companies have a technical partnership that will help us in getting to higher level of competitiveness especially with electric cars and it is very important for Europe, Stellantis Chief Executive Officer Antonio Filosa said during a call with analysts on Thursday. It will improve our collaboration also on new tech development. Leapmotor representatives werent immediately able to comment. Stellantis Shares Sink on EV Missteps The pact would help Stellantis save on development spending and provide a shortcut to better competition with Chinas BYD Co. and MG in Europe, as well as local rivals including Volkswagen AG and Renault SA. Looking ahead, the central question is whether Leapmotors expertise will be integrated to strengthen existing Stellantis brands or whether it will gradually displace them, said Adrien Brasey, an analyst at Alphavalue. The manufacturer is scaling down its EV strategy, and earlier this month announced writedowns and charges of 22.2 billion ($26.1 billion), part of a broader push to stem a decline in market share and profits. The automaker also has been resizing or terminating some battery joint ventures. As part of the reset, Stellantis is resurrecting the powerful Hemi V8 engine for its Ram truck brand. In Europe, the company is putting diesel engines back into models such as the Opel Astra and Peugeot 308 and has been introducing a hybrid version of its Fiat 500. While a deeper cooperation with Zhejiang Leapmotor Technologies Inc. has been on the cards for a while, the company is now focusing on using more of the partners technology, the people said. Stellantis isnt alone in trying to benefit from Chinese expertise. VW is making EVs on Xpeng Inc.s platform, while its Audi brand is using partner SAICs technology though those models arent for sale outside China. Renaults new electric Twingo is relying on the French manufacturers R&D operations in China for design and technology. Manufacturers are racing to match Chinas development speed and cost cuts, with manufacturers there often bringing new vehicles to market twice as fast. Locally, buyers are deserting Western brands such as VW while attractive models like BYDs Seal crossover are successfully targeting buyers in Europe. Stellantis venture with Leapmotor dates back to 2023, set up under then-CEO Carlos Tavares, whose cost-cutting push eventually hurt model quality. At the time, the deal included Stellantis taking a 20% stake in Leapmotor for $1.1 billion which was diluted last year to around 15% and setting up a JV dubbed Leapmotor International. Since then, Leapmotor, part of a new crop of nimble Chinese vehicle makers that also includes Xiaomi Corp., has started offering three models across Stellantis European distribution network, placed alongside Citroen C3s and Fiat 500s. After starting some initial assembly in Poland, the company plans to make vehicles this year at Stellantis Zaragoza site in Spain. A more extensive pact with Leapmotor would come as Stellantis is regrouping from market share losses in the US and Europe. Filosa, who took over in June, is set to reveal next strategic moves at a capital markets day in May. The company is reaping some early payback from last years pledge to invest some $13 billion in the U.S., its biggest profit pool led by the Jeep, Ram and Dodge brands. For Europe, next steps are less clear, with factories struggling from overcapacity and tough competition crimping returns. Top photo: A Leapmotor electric vehicle at the Turin Motor Show in September. Bloomberg. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. A federal judge this week granted Marsh its request to prohibit a group of employees who left for Howden US from using its confidential information, soliciting other former employees, and trying to acquire current and prospective Marsh clients. An opinion and order out of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York concluded that Marsh has demonstrated that it is likely to succeed on the merits of at least some of its claims of breach of contract. Last November, Marsh USA filed a lawsuit against seven former employeesAlfred Gronovius, Andrea Amodeo, Carlos Serio, Giovanni Perez, Janette Wilcox, Nathan Collins, and Richard Lennerthand alleged a coordinated scheme to leave the broker, and steal trade secrets, confidential information, and clients. All senior employees in Marshs Florida zone, the group left for Howden US, the new U.S. retail broking business of Howden. Related: Marsh Sues More Former Employees Over Scheme to Open Howden US Prior to this suit, Marsh filed a suit against Michael Parrish, who was named Howden US CEO, as well as Giselle Lugones, Robert Lynn, and Julie Layton. In that case, the court last September granted Marsh a preliminary injunction. Marsh provided proof that Lugones created a playbook to recruit Marsh employees, according to the most recent court documents. In her Feb. 24 ruling, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon said Marsh met its burden for an injunction, with the exception of prohibiting the group from servicing clients that had already moved from Marsh to Howden. The judge noted Marsh asked to have its property returned to it, but had not presented any evidence the defendants had any Marsh property. Nevertheless, Rochen said Marsh has shown that it will suffer irreparable harm absent its requested injunctive relief, and has shown that it is at risk of suffering irreparable harm from the solicitation of its employees and the solicitation and servicing of its clients. Marsh presented evidence that Serio and Gronovius solicited clients after leaving the broker, and that Marsh clients and employees continue to move to Howden, the court ruled. The court said Gronovius, Amodeo, Serio, Wilcox, and Collins are prohibited for 1 year from their Marsh resignation from soliciting Marsh employees or contacting Marsh employees with whom they obtained confidential information over the last two years. Gronovius, Serio, and Perez are prohibited from soliciting or servicing Marsh clients for one year, and they are prohibited from clients from which they obtained confidential information over the last two years. All defendants cannot use or disseminate any Marsh confidential information, and must return all such information within 21 days. Howden declined to comment on the order. When smoke rapidly engulfed his home in Oregon, retired firefighter Fred Cuozzo rushed away in his pickup truck and nearly died from swerving around flames. All but one structure on his rural 16-acre lot was destroyed by the 2020 fire. Five and a half years later, Cuozzo, 80, is still waiting for more than $6 million that was awarded by a jury that determined Berkshire Hathaway Inc. utility PacifiCorps equipment caused the fire. Cuozzos award is a tiny part of billions of dollars in damage claims that followed Oregons so-called Labor Day fires, which burned thousands of properties and rank among the states biggest and most destructive. Related: Berkshires PacifiCorp Paying $575M to Settle Claims for Oregon and California Wildfires You know who owns PacifiCorp: Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Cuozzo said in an interview. We know how much money he has its not going to break them by any means. PacifiCorp has embarked on an all-out effort to curb the firms wildfire liabilities both present and future. The company, which bills itself as the largest electric grid operator in the western US, has been lobbying across multiple states for laws that would effectively cap payouts to fire victims. Its also keen to pass on fire-related losses to its customers. In court, meanwhile, PacifiCorp is appealing jury verdicts for Cuozzo and scores of others. The breadth of the companys campaign underscores the massive threat wildfires have become for PacifiCorp and utilities across the American west. In fact, utility-ignited wildfires have become one of the thorniest issues facing Buffetts successor Greg Abel as he begins his reign as Berkshires top boss. The company already has reached settlements totaling about $2.2 billion and Berkshire estimates PacifiCorp faces about $55 billion in claims related to western US wildfires. PacifiCorp, whose credit rating fell last year to just one rung above junk territory at S&P Global Ratings, has warned investors of potentially more trouble ahead. Berkshire declined to comment. From California to Texas, utilities are struggling to manage mounting fire risk in a warming climate. They are spending more than ever before on lawsuits and settlements, as well as on preventative measures, such as undergrounding lines. To protect their finances, theyre seeking to offload the increased cost of doing business on electric ratepayers, wildfire victims, insurers and states with some success. Related: Buffett Utility Reaches Oregon Wildfire Deal With Nearly 1,500 Victims And theyre just getting started. Across the American west, utilities have devised something of a playbook, secured some key legislative wins, and are now moving to compel sweeping policy changes in state capitols. Buffett acknowledged in his February 2024 annual letter to Berkshire shareholders that he made a costly mistake in failing to anticipate the escalating financial and regulatory risks of wildfires. He even warned that the liabilities could threaten the survival of utilities in some states, saying bankruptcy was a possibility. Though Berkshire can sustain financial surprises, we will not knowingly throw good money after bad, he wrote at the time. We shouldnt be in the business of taking your money, investors money, and tackling things that we dont have a solution for, Buffett said at the conglomerates annual meeting the following year. Fear of God Just three years ago, a jury found PacifiCorp grossly negligent for failing to turn off power lines amid dangerous wildfire conditions. It was a landmark decision. Indeed, never before had a utility accused of causing a large fire taken the risk of defending itself in front of a jury instead of settling ahead of trial. To date, juries have socked PacifiCorp with more than $1 billion in damages for about 145 fire victims and at the rate the awards have been piling up, the total tab could be almost 10 times as large for about 1,400 remaining victims, swallowing almost all the companys $11 billion shareholder equity. The lions share of the awards have been for so-called non-economic damages, with victims winning, on average, more than $5 million a head to compensate them for pain and suffering, or emotional distress. (Berkshires market value is about $1.08 trillion.) That is what put the fear of God in all the states across the west and what led the utilities to start pushing for more protections, said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University. PacifiCorp is appealing the 2023 court verdict, arguing that individual fire victims in separate blazes and varying circumstances should not have been allowed to join together in a class action case that exponentially raised the companys legal exposure. A three-judge panel that heard arguments this month appeared to be on the fence about upholding the historic verdict and may take months to issue a decision. Related: Utilities Extreme Plan to Stop Wildfires: Shut Off the Power Meanwhile, the company has embraced what Abel has called legislative and regulatory reform across the PacifiCorp states. Working with legislators, the utility has pushed for limits on wildfire liability and for the creation of state funds to support wildfire victims. Utility lobbying bonanzas arent new. Berkshire is following a script crafted by publicly traded, investor-owned power companies in California, the first state to navigate the fallout from large-scale, utility-sparked wildfires. After a series of devastating blazes in 2017 and 2018, California passed a law that required utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans, set rules on how they recover wildfire costs from customers and allocated funding for fire prevention work, among other measures. The states utility regulator created a wildfire safety division, and hired staff to examine what utilities were doing by way of prevention, from trimming overgrown trees near transmission lines to establishing power shutoff protocols. Californias legislative overhaul advanced even further after Oakland-based PG&E Corp. was found responsible for the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in state history, and was driven into bankruptcy the following year while facing more than $30 billion in liabilities. That episode spurred the passage of a landmark bill establishing a $21 billion wildfire fund to help stabilize utilities finances and limit shareholder losses. Underwritten by ratepayers and shareholders, the fund acts like insurance: After a fire, a utility covers the first $1 billion in liabilities and then can draw from the fund; as long as the company is found to have operated prudently, it doesnt have to pay reimbursement. In Oregon, PacifiCorps legislative foray last year did not go well for it. One bill backed by the company would have created a wildfire safety certification process; another would have established an emergency fund for victims who agree not to sue whichever utility they believe is responsible for a fire. Critics led by trial attorneys assailed the proposals, saying theyd be used as a get-out-of-jail-free card for utilities. Both bills died without even getting a full floor vote in the state capitol. Dreadful Timing In hindsight, a state lawmaker who co-authored the measures, Pam Marsh, said emotions were still too raw following the devastation of the 2020 fires and the companys pitched court battle. Our timing was dreadful, Marsh said, adding that anger at PacifiCorps local unit was simply more than we could combat in the legislative process. But in other states, PacifiCorp made headway, as have other investor-owned utilities. In 2025 alone, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming all enacted laws that provided some form of liability protection for investor-owned utilities. The measures include setting a cap on how much wildfire victims can recover, establishing a recovery fund that utilities can draw from to pay damages and giving utilities legal protection if they follow an approved safety plan. Outside of Oregon, theyve been highly effective in the states in which they operate in getting changes made, said Stanfords Wara. States that had not yet suffered the devastation of a massive utility-sparked wildfire turned out to be more receptive to utility-backed bills. You build momentum that can even help in those states where the environment may not be as forgiving, said Denni Ritter, vice president of state government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, or APCIA, which often opposes utility-sponsored bills as they tend to shift wildfire costs off utilities and onto insurers and homeowners. Abel has called one state the gold standard for utility-protecting legislation: Utah. The state passed laws that cap damages for wildfire victims, created a wildfire fund and provided liability shields for utilities that submit an approved fire plan. Shamelessly Focused Fire-victim advocates are wary of PacifiCorps agenda. We actually think its wise for states to adopt regulatory changes to respond to the risk of catastrophic wildfires, said Eli Wade-Scott, global managing partner at Edelson PC, whose law firm represents Oregon plaintiffs suing PacifiCorp. But PacifiCorp is shamelessly focused on immunizing itself. Lee Ann Alexander, a vice president for policy at APCIA, said she expects the utility legislative push to continue, both in statehouses where bills have previously failed and in new states. Well see everything again on the table, she said. I dont think the utilities are giving up by any means. California, the trend setter, is a case in point. The state boosted its utility wildfire fund by $18 billion after local utilities voiced concerns that one of the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025 could strain the fund. And theres more on the California utilities wish list. Theyre also advocating for a permanent wildfire fund and for replacing litigation altogether with a streamlined compensation model. In Oregon, Marsh said shes hopeful utility-sponsored legislation will be revisited in the next regular legislative session in 2027. It is very likely that we will have fires in the future, she said. Just by the nature of their very high-risk infrastructure, fires start. So how do we all bear the risk of that and the responsibilities for that? A Mistake Buffetts push in the utilities business, starting with the acquisition of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. in 1999, was emblematic of his investing philosophy: seek out companies in regulated businesses with high barriers to entry and which deliver stable returns. But in recent years, the growing headache at PacifiCorp, which Berkshire bought in 2005, illustrates the complication of running a utility in a warming climate. We made a mistake by not carving it up into the seven states that we were buying, Buffett said at the firms annual meeting last May. Theres a lot of states that so far have been very good, decent to operate in and there are some now that are rat poison. Berkshires newly-minted chief executive officer knows this problem all too well. Abel, 63, rose through the ranks at Berkshires utility business, a unit he ended up overseeing until last year. In past shareholder meetings, he has explained how growing wildfire risk has forced the company to make operational changes, including the policy adopted by PacifiCorp to shut off electricity in areas near an active fire to avoid contributing to it. Like his boss, Abel lamented that PacifiCorp has been cast as a villain, in particular after a report by the Oregon Department of Forestry didnt find evidence that the firm was to blame for one of the Labor Day fires. We just cant be responsible for everything that happens in a state, he said last year. The protracted litigation already has battered PacifiCorps finances as well as Berkshires returns. Even after pausing dividends to Berkshire to retain some cash, PacifiCorps balance sheet is facing increasing stress. Its funds from operations to debt ratio, a key measure of financial strength closely watched by ratings firms, dropped by almost half from 2022 to 12.1% at the end of September. The Street hasnt paid enough attention to this, said Cathy Seifert, an analyst who covers Berkshire Hathaway at CFRA Research. Still, they obviously have the resources if they need to bolster things, she said. For her, the companys current messaging is mostly strategic. You dont want to show your deep pockets everyone knows you have them. James Balfour, a senior portfolio manager at LOM Financial, which holds a PacifiCorp bond, also believes a bankruptcy is unlikely. There is at least a financial backer that could come in to support if fully required, he said. Too Narrow This much is clear: As climate change has made wildfires more frequent and destructive across the American west, the issue of who pays for their costs has come to a head. For Stanfords Wara, the question of whether its fair for electric utilities to bear those costs on their own is too narrow a lens. The right lens is how society is going to afford it, Wara said. If utility shareholders are asked to shoulder too much of the burden in wildfire-related liabilities, that would limit utilities ability to attract investment and increase borrowing costs, making electricity rates higher for everyone. But if utilities limit how much homeowners and their insurers can sue them for, that could raise insurance rates for homeowners. In either case, people are going to pay. In the meantime, Oregon wildfire victims like Cuozzo are left in limbo as PacifiCorp refuses to surrender in court. As an octogenarian, he doesnt see himself restoring his home to what it was before the wildfire destroyed it. Im a pretty strong guy. I went through Vietnam, was shot at and all that, said Cuozzo. Still, he is haunted by the 2020 fire. If I start thinking about it, I still get emotional. Top photo: Burnt vehicles sit parked in front of a warehouse destroyed by wildfires in Gates, Oregon, U.S., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. Wildfires have burned nearly 5 million acres, killed at least 27 people, and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate up and down the West Coast. Bloomberg. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Jazz FM Awards 2026 nominees set the jazz world ablaze with a powerhouse lineup that blends timeless legends and boundary-breaking innovators. Samara Joy emerges as a frontrunner in International Jazz Act, joined by Ezra Collective jazz trailblazers who continue their meteoric rise after Mercury Prize triumphs and global festival dominance. Mavis Staples brings her soul-steeped blues legacy, while Raye crosses genre lines from pop stardom into Soul Act contention. The ceremony makes its eagerly anticipated return to London's iconic KOKO venue on Thursday, April 16, fortified by partnerships with PPL and PRS for Music. This event captures jazz's explosive momentwhere traditional harmonies fuse with electronic pulses, hip-hop rhythms, and world music flavors, influencing charts from London to New York. Public voting returns for Album of the Year and UK Jazz Act, giving fans direct power over crowning moments amid a slate that spans over a dozen categories. Top Nominees Across Key Categories Samara Joy anchors International Jazz Act of the Year with bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Nate Smith, all pushing global jazz boundaries. Ezra Collective jazz ensemble grabs The Innovation Award alongside Emma-Jean Thackray's bold experiments and Theon Cross's tuba mastery. Blues Act of the Year: Mavis Staples Alice Armstrong Gary Clark Jr. Soul Act of the Year: Raye Omar Young Gun Silver Fox Public vote categories add excitement: Album of the Year: Ambrose Akinmusire - "honey from a winter stone" Cecile McLorin Salvant - "Oh Snap" Emma-Jean Thackray - "Weirdo" Fergus McCreadie - "The Sheiling" Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell - "We Insist 2025!" Tyreek McDole - "Open Up Your Senses" UK Jazz Act of the Year: Emma Rawicz Kokoroko Tom Skinner RadioToday breaks down the full nominee buzz. Ceremony Legacy and KOKO Return Since launching in 2013, the Jazz FM Awards have bridged legends like Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett, and George Benson with contemporary forces such as Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Jacob Collier, and Robert Glasper. The KOKO venue revival on April 16 promises an electric night, complete with special awards revealed in the weeks ahead. More category contenders: Breakthrough Act: Donovan Haffner Earth-o-Naut Poppy Daniels Instrumentalist of the Year: Joe Webb Laura Jurd Shabaka Vocalist of the Year: Brigitte Beraha Marvin Muoneke Yazmin Lacey Jazz FM content director Nick Pitts hails the lineup as a true mirror of jazz's thriving moment. Standout Collaborations and Innovations Collaboration Award celebrates: Balimaya Project meets Discos Pacifico All-Stars - "Calima" Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest - "Somni" The Jazz Social and EFG London Jazz Festival These picks underscore jazz's collaborative heartbeat. Music Week unpacks the entire category rundown. Jazz FM Awards 2026 Voting and Must-See Moments Public voting launches any moment for Album and UK Jazz Act showdownsmonitor Jazz FM's site and social channels for official links and deadlines. The April 16 KOKO extravaganza promises unforgettable sets from Samara Joy nominees, explosive Ezra Collective jazz showcases, and cross-genre fireworks that affirm jazz's role as music's most vital force. Expect red carpet glamour, surprise duets, and conversations that preview the genre's next chapter, drawing thousands live and online. This isn't just awards seasonit's jazz claiming its place at culture's forefront, with every vote and performance fueling the momentum. This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Friday. I spent last night watching a love triangle play out in the Broadway musical "Chess." So, it's only fitting that we bring you the latest updates on Netflix and Paramount Skydance 's battle for Warner Bros. Discovery in this morning's edition. Stock futures are sliding before the bell. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are coming off a down day. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day: 1. Plot twist An aerial view of the Paramount logo displayed on the water tower at Paramount Studios on December 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Entertainment giant Paramount, now renamed Paramount Skydance, is attempting a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery worth $108.4 billion. Mario Tama | Getty Images Netflix walked away from its deal to buy some of Warner Bros. Discovery's assets yesterday after WBD's board said it viewed Paramount's updated takeover offer as superior. It's the latest twist in the monthslong acquisition saga that's gripped Hollywood. Here's what to know: WBD said Thursday that Paramount's new all-cash bid of $31 per share would top its current agreement with Netflix. It gave the streaming giant four days to adjust its proposal. Shortly after, Netflix's co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said that matching Paramount's offer made the deal "no longer financially attractive." While Netflix was only interested in acquiring WBD's studio and streaming assets, Paramount wants the entire business. WBD's other brands include CNN, TBS and TNT. Notably, Sarandos was at the White House shortly before the company announced they were throwing in the towel. A White House official told CNBC that Sarandos was not meeting with President Donald Trump himself. Shares of Netflix and Paramount both jumped nearly 8% in extended trading. On the other hand, WBD's stock slid nearly 2%. 2. Tech's troubles Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty Images 3. Chip off the old Block Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. and Square Inc., speaks during the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, U.S., on Friday, June 4, 2021. Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images Block is laying off more than 4,000 employees, roughly half of its staff, the fintech company announced yesterday. Finance Chief Amrita Ahuja said the cuts would position the company "for our next phase of long term growth." Wall Street cheered the move: Shares of the Cash App parent surged 20% in extended trading. CEO Jack Dorsey wrote in a letter to shareholders that he expected more businesses to make similar staffing changes as "intelligence tools" boost efficiency. Earlier on Thursday, eBay said it was axing about 800 roles, or 6% of its staff. As CNBC's Annie Palmer noted, eBay's cull comes as the online marketplace has made major investments in AI. Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today. 4. Playing defense Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive officer of Anthropic, at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Prakash Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images Anthropic isn't backing down from its position about AI in defense. CEO Dario Amodei said yesterday that the AI startup "cannot in good conscience" allow the Defense Department to use its models in all lawful use cases without limitations, as the Pentagon wants. Anthropic has pushed for promises from the DOD that its models will not be used for fully autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans restrictions the Pentagon won't agree to. Negations are ongoing, Anthropic said yesterday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had set today as the deadline for Anthropic to agree to his department's demands, threatening to label the firm a "supply chain risk" or to invoke the Defense Production Act if it doesn't. 5. Women's world Somethingway | E+ | Getty Images Wealth among women is expected to boom over the coming decades. Women will see their cumulative investible assets in the U.S. nearly double between 2023 and 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. They're are also poised to benefit from the more than $100 trillion in wealth expected to be passed down to heirs through 2048 what's being dubbed the "Great Wealth Transfer." "We're about to see this massive change in terms of who is going to control wealth," Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower Advisors, told CNBC's Michelle Fox. The Daily Dividend watch now Anthropic is heading into Friday in a no-win situation. The artificial intelligence startup has until 5:01 p.m. ET to decide whether it will agree to allow the Department of Defense to use its models in all lawful use cases without limitation. If it doesn't, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to label the company a "supply chain risk" or force it to comply by invoking the Defense Production Act. Anthropic signed a $200 million contract with the DoD in July, and was the first AI lab to integrate its models into mission workflows on classified networks. The company has been negotiating the terms of its agreement with the agency, and has asked for assurance that its technology won't be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance of Americans. "In a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values," Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who co-founded the company in 2021, wrote in a statement on Thursday. "Some uses are also simply outside the bounds of what today's technology can safely and reliably do." The DoD has refused to budge, and negotiations have devolved into a stalemate that's turned into the most high-profile test to date of Anthropic's stated values. The company has spent years carefully crafting its reputation as the champion of safe and responsible AI deployment, positioning itself in contrast to OpenAI, where Amodei worked before leaving to start Anthropic. watch now But Anthropic is simultaneously facing intense pressure to justify its massive $380 billion valuation, supported by large institutional and strategic investors, while it races to stay on the cutting edge of model development and fend off competition from OpenAI and other rivals including Google and Elon Musk's xAI. All three of those companies' models are used by the Defense Department. Caving to the DoD's demands could damage Anthropic's reputation and alienate employees and customers. But if Anthropic refuses to agree to give the military unfettered access to its models, it could lose out on meaningful revenue in the short term and be shut out of potential future opportunities with other companies that do business with the government. "There are no winners in this," Lauren Kahn, a senior research analyst at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, told CNBC in an interview. "It leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth." Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, said Thursday that the DoD has "no interest" in using AI for fully autonomous weapons or to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, which he noted is illegal. He said the agency wants Anthropic to agree to allow its models to be used for "all lawful purposes." "This is a simple, common-sense request that will prevent Anthropic from jeopardizing critical military operations and potentially putting our warfighters at risk," Parnell wrote in a post on X on Thursday. "We will not let ANY company dictate the terms regarding how we make operational decisions." In a separate post on Thursday, Emil Michael, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and a former Uber executive, wrote that Amodei is a "liar and has a God-complex." He accused Amodei of wanting "nothing more than to try to personally control the U.S. Military." Hegseth set Anthropic's Friday deadline during a meeting with Amodei earlier this week, and warned that punishment for not agreeing could be severe. He said Anthropic could be labeled a "supply chain risk," a designation that's typically reserved for companies from countries viewed as adversaries. The label would force DoD vendors and contractors to certify that they don't use Anthropic's models. Amodei said his company won't be intimidated. "These threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request," he wrote in his Thursday statement. 'The juice isn't worth the squeeze' The escalating conflict is one that other AI labs, industry experts and government contractors have been watching closely. Kahn warned that the government could push away tech companies with promising products if they conclude "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." "I'm really, truly, honestly worried that private companies will say, 'It's not worth our time to work with the defense sector moving forward,'" Kahn said, adding that the people "who will be really suffering are the war fighters." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC on Friday that he doesn't "personally think the Pentagon should be threatening DPA against these companies." He said he thinks it is important for companies to choose to work with the department as long as it is going to comply with legal protections and the "few red lines" that the field shares with Anthropic. "For all the differences I have with Anthropic, I mostly trust them as a company, and I think they really do care about safety, and I've been happy that they've been supporting our war fighters," Altman said in an interview. "I'm not sure where this is going to go." Several employees from Anthropic and elsewhere in the industry have taken to social media in recent days to express their support for the company. Josh McGrath, a technical staffer at OpenAI, wrote in a post on X on Tuesday that he's "at a loss for words about what's happening." More than 330 employees from Google and OpenAI have also signed an open letter titled "We Will Not Be Divided" that aims to create a "shared understanding and solidarity in the face of this pressure" from the department, according to its website. "We hope our leaders will put aside their differences and stand together to continue to refuse the Department of War's current demands for permission to use our models for domestic mass surveillance and autonomously killing people without human oversight," the letter says. United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a visit to Sierra Space in Louisville, Colorado on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Aaron Ontiveroz | Denver Post | Getty Images For Anthropic, it's just the latest conflict with the Trump administration. David Sacks, the venture capitalist serving as the White House AI and crypto czar, previously accused Anthropic of supporting "woke AI" because of its stance on regulation, and of "running a sophisticated regulatory capture strategy based on fear-mongering," after a company executive wrote an essay in October titled "Technological Optimism and Appropriate Fear." Amodei has also largely avoided rubbing elbows with President Donald Trump, in contrast to other industry executives, including Altman, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Amodei notably didn't attend Trump's inauguration last year. In January, Hegseth published a memo titled "Accelerating America's Military AI Dominance." In it, he wrote that the DoD must not employ AI models that "incorporate ideological 'tuning,'" and said the department "must also utilize models free from usage policy constraints that may limit lawful military applications." While Amodei has held firm on his company's commitment to safe use of its models, he said Thursday that Anthropic's "strong preference" is to continue to work with the DoD and to support U.S. national security. "Should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions," Amodei wrote. CNBC's Kate Rooney contributed to this report WATCH: Anthropic rejects Pentagon's 'final offer' in AI safeguard fight Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. and Square Inc., speaks during the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, on Friday, June 4, 2021. Block CEO Jack Dorsey's move to cut nearly half the company's workforce is shining a spotlight on a growing question for corporate America: whether advances in artificial intelligence will ultimately mean fewer workers. In an earnings call Thursday, Dorsey said Block will cut about 4,000 jobs. Dorsey framed the move as more than a cost-cutting exercise, instead describing a shift in how companies operate as artificial intelligence becomes more central to business decisions. He also suggested other companies will follow suit. "I don't think we're early to this realization. I think most companies are late," he said. "Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes. I'd rather get there honestly and on our own terms than be forced into it reactively." Economists, however, question whether such moves signal a broader shift in the labor market or simply reflect company-specific adjustments. "This is a function of lax judgment during a period of rapid expansion and the retrenchment that follows," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. "It should be understood within the unique context of that firm, and it does not signal risk to the broader U.S. labor market." Doubts about jobs The layoffs come amid broader questions about the employment picture. Though job cuts have remained low and the unemployment rate is a relatively healthy 4.3%, openings have contracted sharply and hiring in 2025 largely flatlined, with average payroll growth of just 15,000. Still, the tech-related picture looks relatively healthy. The information sector, one proxy for the tech industry, saw its unemployment rate fall to 5% in January, down 0.7 percentage point from a year ago. Job openings have declined in the sector, but demand for some roles remains firm: Postings in software development are up 12% from a year ago, according to Indeed. Most economists remain sanguine on the labor market, even in the current "low-hire, low-fire" environment. Claudia Sahm, chief economist at New Century Advisors, said Friday on CNBC that while it is "healthy" to discuss AI's potential impact, it is important not to overinterpret individual company decisions. "I would not extrapolate from Block to the whole U.S. economy," Sahm said. "It's important to understand that these AI tools the direction you go with them really depends on the leadership. Automation, mass layoffs is not necessarily the only path forward." AI's broad impact A widely-discussed speech earlier this week by Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller also underscored the challenges and opportunities AI presents. While discussing the Fed's internal use of the technology, Waller said AI is more likely to enhance productivity than eliminate jobs outright. "When ATMs were first introduced, they didn't eliminate bank tellers. Instead, they changed how banking worked," he said. "The real impact wasn't automation alone it was how institutions reorganized around technology. AI is similar. The biggest gains won't come from simply adding AI to existing processes. They'll come from rethinking workflows, roles and systems." But even if layoffs are not yet widespread and Dorsey's warnings are not necessarily a broad harbinger companies are beginning to rethink how they allocate resources. Tech jobs account for only about 5% to 7% of the total labor force, but AI technology itself is spreading far beyond the sector. "Some jobs are apt to be disrupted by AI" as companies reconsider the balance between labor and technology, said Laura Ullrich, director of economic research for North America at Indeed Hiring Lab. "Companies are really shifting their investments toward capital spending and away from labor," Ullrich added. "They're investing in AI with the hope that it can replace jobs." In a week where the News Gods have given us a cornucopia of stories, it's a fool's game to pick out the biggest one. Was it Trump's extraordinary State of The Union? The phenomenal Nvidia results that failed to answer questions over whether the enormous hyperscaler splurge will result in significant profits further down the line? The rising tensions between Iran and the U.S.? Let me play the fool for a moment, because I think the news from a medium-sized tech payments company might have longer term tremors and be a warning of societal upheaval far greater than other stories of the week. Block, a $33 billion company, surged in extended trading on Thursday after cofounder and CEO Jack Dorsey, best known for cofounding Twitter, told the market he is laying off nearly half his workforce. He wrote to shareholders that 4,000 of the 10,000 were "being asked to leave or entering into consultation" to leave. Again: That is nearly half his workforce! Block CFO Amrita Ahuja said the job cuts would position the company "for our next phase of long term growth." "We are choosing to shift how we operate at a time when our business is accelerating and we see an opportunity to move faster with smaller, highly talented teams using AI to automate more work," Ahuja wrote. Job cuts happen all the time, but what Dorsey had to say should be a wake-up call for everyone. "Today the commercial sector is the primary driver of frontier capability. Private capital, global competition, and commercial data scale are advancing AI at a pace that traditional government R&D structures cannot easily replicate. The Department of War is no longer defining the edge of what is technically possible in artificial intelligence it is adapting to it," he said. "For most of the postWorld War II era, the U.S. government defined the frontier of advanced technology," said Rear Admiral Lorin Selby, former chief of naval research and current general partner at Mare Liberum, an investment firm that specializes in maritime technology and infrastructure. "It set the requirements, funded the foundational research, and industry executed against government-driven specifications. From nuclear propulsion to stealth to GPS, the state was the primary engine of discovery, and industry was the integrator and manufacturer." What it does do, though, is mark a shift a departure from decades of defense innovation during which governments themselves controlled the technology as it was created. "There are no winners in this," Lauren Kahn, a senior research analyst at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, told CNBC in a recent interview about the standoff between the Pentagon and Anthropic. "It leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth." The urgency is reflected in internal Pentagon planning as well. A January 9 memorandum outlining the military's artificial intelligence strategy calls for the U.S. to become an "AI-first" fighting force and to accelerate integration of leading commercial AI models across warfighting, intelligence, and enterprise operations. In July, the Defense Department awarded contracts worth up to $200 million each to four companies Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk's xAI to prototype frontier AI capabilities tied to U.S. national security priorities. The awards signal how aggressively the Pentagon is moving to bring cutting-edge commercial AI into defense work. The standoff highlighted the emerging reality that private firms developing frontier AI may seek to set their own limits on how the technology is deployed, even in national security contexts. "It is the Department's prerogative to select contractors most aligned with their vision," Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote in a statement on Thursday. "But given the substantial value that Anthropic's technology provides to our armed forces, we hope they reconsider." It was a severe though not unexpected response that came amid a wider "blacklisting" of Anthropic in government systems announced by President Trump. In the broader context, the battle between military and industry over AI is just getting started. The Pentagon is colliding with the private companies that control AI in a way that has not been tested in the post-World War II era. On Thursday, Anthropic refused Hegseth's demand to loosen certain safeguards of its models for military use, including mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, because it violates company policies, though the Pentagon said the technology must be available to support "all lawful uses." Hegseth directed the Pentagon to designate Anthropic a "supply-chain risk to national security," which he said means no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic Anthropic said in its own statement Hegseth has no statutory authority to mandate such a policy outside military work, and it planned to challenge the designation in court. The Department of Defense's clash with Anthropic over the integration of artificial intelligence into military operations, and who sets the limits on usage, reached a peak this week with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth giving the AI company until 5:01 p.m. ET Friday to cede to the government's demands. Anthropic didn't budge, and shortly after 5pm, Hegseth made the break official in a post on X , declaring that "Anthropic's stance is fundamentally incompatible with American principles" and as a result its relationship with the United States Armed Forces and the federal government permanently altered. That concentration is precisely why governments seek partnerships, but according to Selby, the dependency is also primarily driven by speed. "The innovation cycle in venture-backed firms moves in months. Traditional acquisition cycles move in years. Without commercial AI providers, the government would be slower, less adaptive, and far more expensive," he said. "Strong public-private partnerships are what gives America its edge," Scheidler said. "You will not find a more dynamic and innovative talent pool than that of the American entrepreneurial community. The idea of trying to replicate that level of innovation within government itself is difficult." Public-private partnerships have long supported U.S. defense innovation, from World War II industrial mobilization to modern aerospace and cybersecurity programs. But artificial intelligence is different because the most advanced capabilities are increasingly concentrated in commercial firms rather than government labs. "We shouldn't be in a place where private companies feel that they have leverage over the U.S. government or Western allies because of the technological capability they are providing," said Joe Scheidler, a former associate director and special advisor at the White House and co-founder and CEO of AI start-up Helios. "Technologists should build and do that responsibly, but governments should be the entities making the decisions." This reversal in the balance of power over technology carries both opportunity and risk. When critical national security tools are developed by private companies, "the main change is that the government no longer fully controls the development of its most advanced technological tools," said Betsy Cooper, director of the Aspen Policy Academy and former advising attorney for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Commercial AI systems are typically built first for broad markets rather than military missions, which can create gaps between how companies design their technology and how governments want to deploy it, Cooper said. That misalignment can become more pronounced when corporate policies, reputational concerns, or global customer pressures conflict with government objectives, a dynamic now visible in the Anthropic dispute. "Companies may not want to risk negative reaction from their customer base if their product is used for highly controversial reasons for instance, to create autonomous lethal weapons or commit preemptive killings before crimes are committed," Cooper said. Government has longer-term leverage Despite the shift toward commercial technology, defense leaders are unlikely to relinquish control over mission critical systems. "The first thing to understand is that from what I have seen to date, the DoD is not going to give up final control," said Brad Harrison, founder of Scout Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing at the intersection of national security and critical technology Innovation. "The government still wants to understand everything that goes into it and all the dependencies and risks." Harrison, who is a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and West Point graduate, said AI could eventually influence decisions such as how to intercept incoming threats, so "the government is going to be extremely cautious with how they let AI interact with those data layers," he said. "Nobody wants to be the person responsible for Skynet," he said, referring to a fictional AI from the "Terminator" universe that caused a nuclear war. Governments also retain powerful tools to influence companies, including procurement decisions, export controls, and regulatory authority. "The government has a lot of leverage," Harrison said. "If you don't want to work with them, they have a lot of ways to make that a very difficult decision," he added. But leverage flows in both directions, at least for now, according to Selby. "In the short term, companies with scarce AI talent and proprietary models may hold significant influence. In the long term, sovereign governments retain regulatory authority, contracting power, funding scale, and if necessary, legal compulsion," he said. The most important question, in Selby's view, is "whether we build a durable public-private compact that treats AI as foundational national security infrastructure rather than just another vendor relationship." Risks in new military-Silicon Valley industrial complex Experts say the issue is ultimately less about whether companies or governments hold permanent leverage and more about how the relationship evolves as AI becomes central to national power. "If we build alignment and resilience into the public-private relationship, AI can strengthen national security while preserving innovation," Selby said. "If we fail to do so, we risk a future in which capability is abundant but alignment is brittle," he added. There are many new forms of risk in the emerging military-Silicon Valley industrial complex. For example, reliance on externally developed AI could introduce vulnerabilities if systems fail unexpectedly or become unavailable, particularly if military units grow accustomed to them during operations. "Over-reliance could prove deadly," said Shanka Jayasinha, founder of Onto AI, a company that develops AI tools for military, healthcare, financial organizations, and enterprise solutions, describing scenarios where special operations units depend on AI-enhanced mission-coordination tools during deployments. If those systems fail after prolonged use, "many lives would be in danger," he said. Vendor lock-in is another concern. As AI platforms become embedded in workflows, replacing them may become difficult. "With the current speed of progress in AI, it is tough to unseat any incumbent," Jayasinha said. Harrison, however, says one risk the Pentagon won't expose itself to is being captive to a single company. "The U.S. government is not going to be dependent on any one Silicon Valley company," he said "They will very methodically test systems, control the data layer, and move step by step." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has had a contentious relationship with Anthropic and Amodei, issued a statement to his employees on Thursday offering some peer-level support for the AI rival's "red lines" that are at the heart of the Pentagon conflict. On Friday night, Altman announced OpenAI had signed its own deal with the Pentagon which included key safety protocols, and said there was "deep respect" from government about implementing the principles. It was not immediately clear why the DoD agreed to accommodate OpenAI and not Anthropic. The Pentagon issued its own very clear statement on the importance of Anthropic or any single company in a post on X from Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael on Thursday night: "It's a shame that @DarioAmodei is a liar and has a God-complex. He wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is ok putting our nation's safety at risk. The @DeptofWar will ALWAYS adhere to the law but not bend to whims of any one for-profit tech company." Anthropic had said before the decision became official on Friday afternoon that should the government "offboard" Anthropic, "we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions." Late on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump ordered every U.S. government agency to "immediately cease" using technology from Anthropic. "The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The Trump administration said that there will be a period of six months for Anthropic technology to be phased out of critical military usage specifically. One approach likely to receive even greater focus in the future is building what some technologies call "sovereign AI architectures" systems designed to allow governments to maintain independence from vendors while still benefiting from commercial innovation. "We talk a lot internally about this notion of sovereign intelligence and vendor independence," Scheidler said, contending that the U.S. ecosystem remains broad enough to prevent over-reliance on any single provider. "There are new ideas emerging on a daily basis, and we don't have to rely on one vendor to do that," he said. Powerful Democrats were quick to attack the Trump administration moves against Anthropic, with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, saying in a statement on Friday afternoon that Trump's directive, "combined with inflammatory rhetoric attacking that company, raises serious concerns about whether national security decisions are being driven by careful analysis or political considerations." President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's efforts "pose an enormous risk to U.S. defense readiness and the willingness of the U.S. private sector and academia to work with the IC and DoD, consistent with their own values and legal ethics," he stated. Warner also alleged the moves against Anthropic could be a "pretext to steer contracts to a preferred vendor" whose safety and reliability record recently has been questioned within the government, likely a reference to a Wall Street Journal report from Friday about Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence tools. At the present moment, Harrison says a lot has changed from the period during the past decade when Big Tech was highly sensitive to uses of its tech within the military, such as the 2018 furor at Google over Project Maven. With an anticipated $1.5 trillion defense budget and other companies in the AI space getting in on massive contracts while showing less resistance, such as Palantir on a U.S. Navy deal worth nearly $500 million, Harrison says hardball from the Pentagon is going to be the stance. Harrison said he doesn't 100% agree with this approach, describing it as "unhealthy" for the relationship between business and government, but added that the message has been broadcast: "'Hey, you're going to do it my way, and if you don't do it my way, you're out,'" he said. CNBC's Ashley Capoot contributed to this report. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in a departure lounge before returning to Washington following meetings with Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, leaders at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Feb. 25, 2026. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel early next week to discuss Iran and other regional issues, the State Department said Friday. The announcement of Rubio's visit comes amid growing concern that the United States will launch attacks on Iran. MS Now reported Friday that Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi will meet Friday with Vice President JD Vance and other American officials in Washington for "previously unreported talks in an effort to stave off war with Iran." Al-Busaidi has been acting as a mediator of talks between the U.S. and Iran to defuse tensions over American demands that the Islamic republic curb its nuclear program. My top 10 things to watch Friday, Feb. 27 1. Dell Technologies reported a true blowout quarter thanks to the AI buildout, sending the stock up 12% this morning. Here's another company making money from AI. It sees AI server revenue doubling to roughly $50 billion in its new fiscal year. Dell used price hikes to offset soaring memory costs and boosted its buyback by $10 billion, too. 2. CoreWeave is spending a fortune on building data centers because it has to. Shares are down big this morning. But almost all of its new 2026 capacity is already allocated, so no wonder its full-year capex guide of $30 billion to $35 billion was well above the Street at $26.9 billion. Pricing for older generations of Nvidia chips remains strong. That should quiet depreciation worries. 3. Jack Dorsey's Block is cutting 40% of its workforce, saying "intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company." The Cash App and Afterpay parent's revenues were flat in 2025. Is this another PayPal? Too many fintechs. Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to buy from hold, citing its expanding addressable market. 4. Bank of America reinstated coverage of longtime Club name Costco with a buy rating. I'll be talking Costco and the rest of the Club portfolio at noon ET today during our February Monthly Meeting. My focus: Who are the real AI winners? You can join the Club here . 5. Cybersecurity provider Zscaler delivered a beat and raise, but it's not enough. Analysts take up their estimates, and it's still not enough. Shares are down 11% premarket. Are we back in Monday's world where there's no way you will pay almost 40 times earnings for anything related to software? 6. Gutsy call: Citi downgraded beloved Dollar Tree to hold from buy. Analysts say the risk/reward profile for the retailer is now more balanced after shares have roughly doubled since April 2025. This stock and peers like Dollar General or Five Below are not supposed to be downgraded in a K-shaped economy. 7. Club name Honeywell was upgraded to buy from hold at Wolfe Research. This stock has been hot since the fall, and analysts see even more upside ahead of Honey's upcoming aerospace spinoff. Wolfe argued that Honeywell has already done the "heavy lift" of its portfolio separation. Big call for us. 8. Barclays hiked J.M. Smucker's price target to $125 from $105 after pressure from activist investor Elliott led to the appointment of two new directors to its board. Wells Fargo went to $135 from $120. Analysts said Smucker's fundamentals are still mixed but tighter oversight from Elliott should help the share price. Is Smucker the next Hershey? They really turned it around there. 9. Jefferies cut its price target on Club name CrowdStrike to $500 from $600, but still maintained a buy rating on shares. This is the revenge of the price-to-earnings multiple again. Analysts still expect a beat on fourth-quarter annual recurring revenue growth when the cybersecurity company reports next week. 10. FanDuel parent Flutter missed the quarter and, even worse, issued weak 2026 guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Deteriorating trends. It's difficult to own a gambling stock right now. Customers with big losses have left. Executives said prediction markets aren't cannibalizing its business. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Altman's internal letter on Thursday was meant to show that OpenAI shares Anthropic's boundaries. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the memo. Anthropic has until 5:01 p.m. ET on Friday to decide whether it will agree to give the Pentagon permission to use its artificial intelligence models in all lawful use cases without limitation. The startup wants assurance that its technology won't be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance of Americans, but the DOD hasn't budged . "We have long believed that AI should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, and that humans should remain in the loop for high-stakes automated decisions," Altman wrote in a memo that was viewed by CNBC. "These are our main red lines." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staffers late Thursday that he would like the company "try to help de-escalate things" between rival Anthropic and the Department of Defense. Before the Altman memo, OpenAI employees had begun to speak out in support of Anthropic on social media. Some 70 current staffers have signed an open letter titled, "We Will Not Be Divided," which aims to create a "shared understanding and solidarity in the face of this pressure" from the department, according to its website. "For all the differences I have with Anthropic, I mostly trust them as a company, and I think they really do care about safety, and I've been happy that they've been supporting our war fighters," Altman told CNBC in an interview Friday. "I'm not sure where this is going to go." OpenAI was awarded a $200 million contract by the DOD last year, which allowed the agency to begin using the startup's models in nonclassified use cases. Anthropic was the first AI lab to integrate its models into mission workflows on classified networks. Altman said he will see if OpenAI can strike a deal with the DOD to deploy its models in classified environments in a way that "fits with our principles." He said the company would build technical safeguards and deploy personnel to "ensure things are working correctly." "We would ask for the contract to cover any use except those which are unlawful or unsuited to cloud deployments, such as domestic surveillance and autonomous offensive weapons," Altman wrote. Altman said that OpenAI has had meetings about the topic in recent days, and that the company hasn't yet arrived at a decision on what to do. He said more meetings will take place with OpenAI's safety teams on Friday. "This is a case where it's important to me that we do the right thing, not the easy thing that looks strong but is disingenuous," Altman wrote. "But I realize it may not "look good" for us in the short term, and that there is a lot of nuance and context." CNBC's Kate Rooney contributed to this report. WATCH: OpenAI closes $110 billion funding round with backing from Amazon, Nvidia, Softbank Drones are the fastest-growing, multibillion-dollar investment opportunity in the hot space of "physical" artificial intellgence, according to Oppenheimer. The global defense market has seen booming growth over the past year driven by rising geopolitical conflicts and military investment, with the House of Representatives in December authorizing the Defense Department to spend $900.6 billion fiscal 2026. The key driver of this growth in defense is drones, a technology that is rapidly advancing warfare and could have ripple effects on other commercial technologies down the line. Oppenheimer forecasts the total addressable market for drones specifically drone hardware, services, AI, and associated software to grow from $45 billion to $400 billion globally, with half of this spend for lower skies, sea and land and the remaining for upper skies, including satellites. Analysts at the firm believe that this market in the future will be rebuilt around unmanned drones, robots and autonomous systems that function remotely or autonomously with AI or another kind of pre-programmed technology. The adoption of drones will prompt a "paradigm shift" in how institutions function given that the technology will be the first large-scale deployment of physical AI and could be applied to self-driving transportation and other commercial uses, they wrote in a note Thursday. "AI is driving an infrastructure and soon a manufacturing boom as well as dozens of Physical AI use cases (Waymo), with drones the fastest-growing," the note said. "Whoever wins the drone swarm arms race will win the war. This requires new mobile edge compute/network/blockchain technology, a natural evolution from the internet and cloud which will be commercialized." Oppenheimer said that the global military spend on defense is around $3 trillion a 50% increase over the last five years. They added that will likely double in the next decade. How to play it A newer "lower-skies" category within the global defense market which includes tech such as counter-drone defenses is growing twice as fast as the entire market. Ondas is the way to play this trend, according to analyst Timothy Horan. Horan named Ondas his top drone platform stock, saying the company is "positioned to dominate the lower-skies market integrated with ground robots, where there will only be a few platform companies with high ROI." ONDS 1Y mountain Ondas stock performance over the past year. Ondas, up 7.1% this year, has an autonomous drone business in AI-enabled aerial security and infrastructure monitoring, which has become of increasing interest among governments prioritizing low-altitude operations. The company on Dec. 3 said it was selected as the prime contractor on behalf of a major governmental entity for a program that will create a next-generation autonomous drone system "designed for continuous border protection in both fixed and mobile configurations." Ondas remains well-favored among analysts covering the name. Of the eight covering the stock, three rate it a strong buy and five have a buy rating, per LSEG. The consensus price target suggests 75.9% upside. Horan's other picks include satellite companies BlackSky Technology and Iridium Communications , which he said are complementary to the drone observability market, referring to the ability to detect, monitor and manage drones in real time. Iridium shares are outperforming the broader market with its 29% gain this year. Iridium provides secure satellite connectivity between drones with operators, which is a critical function as unmanned systems increasingly operate beyond visual line of sight. BlackSky, which provides real-time satellite -imagery to provide drone observability, has seen shares gain 6.6% year to date. Taliban security personnel stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Nangarhar province on Feb. 27, 2026. Pakistan bombed Taliban government forces in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, the first time it has directly targeted its former allies, and described the situation as "open war", raising tensions in a volatile, nuclear-armed region. The Pakistani strikes hit the capital Kabul and the city of Kandahar, where Taliban leaders are based. It was the first time Islamabad has attacked the Taliban rather than militants allegedly backed by them, a stark rupture in ties between the Islamic neighbours. Security sources in Pakistan said the strikes involved air-to-ground missile attacks on Taliban military offices and posts in Kabul, Kandahar as well as Paktia province. There were ground clashes in multiple sectors along the border between the Islamic nations. The Taliban said it launched what it described as retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military installations. Both sides reported heavy losses, issuing sharply differing figures that Reuters could not independently verify. "Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan)," Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Friday. The strikes threaten to unleash a protracted conflict along the 2,600-km (1,615-mile) frontier with relations between Kabul and Islamabad shattered by a long-running dispute over Pakistan's accusation that Afghanistan harbours militants carrying out attacks across the border. The Taliban have denied the charge and said Pakistan's security is an internal problem. Pakistan is nuclear-armed and its military capabilities are vastly superior to Afghanistan. However, the Taliban are adept at guerrilla warfare, hardened by decades of fighting with U.S.-led forces, before returning to power in 2021. Russia, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were trying to mediate, diplomats and news reports said. Iran, which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan, has also offered to help, according to its foreign ministry. The offer came as Tehran holds crucial talks with Washington on resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi (not seen), visits Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Russian-controlled Energodar, on March 29, 2023. Russia and Ukraine agreed to a local ceasefire to allow for repairs of the backup power lines to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, according to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, said in a short statement Friday that a truce had taken effect in southern Ukraine to enable the restoration of the 330-kilovolt supply line to Europe's largest nuclear power plant. "Demining activities are ongoing to ensure safe access for the repair teams," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on social media. The local ceasefire, which the IAEA said it had helped to secure, comes shortly after the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have controlled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant since the first few weeks of the invasion. Situated in the southeast of the country, the plant is Ukraine's largest and houses six of its 15 operational nuclear power reactors. It has recently been reliant on external power to sustain all essential nuclear safety functions. Both sides have accused each other of raising the risk of a catastrophic accident by staging attacks near to the plant. Russian nuclear power company Rosatom said Friday that IAEA specialists located at the power plant were monitoring repairs to the disconnected power line, according to state news outlet RIA Novosti. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry had not responded to CNBC's request for comment as this article went live. U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to the media as he departs on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Feb. 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump's comment to reporters outside the White House came after he expressed frustration at Iran's refusal to comply with American demands to curb its nuclear program. "We'll see what happens," he said. "We're talking later today. We'll have some additional talks today." But Trump also said, "We haven't made a final decision" on whether to attack Iran. President Donald Trump on Friday said that "I'd love not to use" the U.S. military to attack Iran , "but sometimes you have to." "We're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating," Trump said. "They cannot have nuclear weapons." "I'm not happy that they're not willing to give us what we have to have," Trump said, referring to that condition. Asked by a reporter if there could be a long, drawn-out conflict in the Middle East if the United States attacks Iran, Trump said, "I guess you could say there's always a risk." "It'd be wonderful if they negotiate, really, in good conscience, good faith," he said. "They are not getting there so far." Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, met in Washington, D.C., with Vice President JD Vance and other American officials in a bid to avoid war. A statement issued by Oman's government after the meeting put a positive spin on those talks that was not reflected in Trump's blunt comments. "The meeting examined the indirect US-Iran negotiations sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman, alongside the diplomatic endeavours seeking to culminate in a just and enduring agreement concerning the nuclear file and to guarantee the peaceful character of Iran's nuclear energy program," Oman's government said. "I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days," al-Busaidi said in a post on X. "Peace is within our reach." During an interview with MS NOW, when asked if there was a chance of the United States attacking Iran overnight, al-Busaidi said, "I can't answer that question, because I don't know." "I think President Trump is sincerely passionate for a deal," al-Busaidi said. "He wants to have a deal. He wants to have a diplomatic solution, and this is what we are trying to do." But Trump, in a speech later Friday afternoon in Corpus Christi, Texas, said of Iran, "We have a very big decision." "We have a country that's been 47 years blowing people's legs off, arms off," Trump said. They've been knocking out ships, killing people, lots of people, not only Americans, lots of people." Trump said he wanted to "make a deal that's meaningful." "I'd rather do it the peaceful way," Trump said, while calling Iran's government "very difficult people, dangerous people, very difficult people." The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem earlier Friday authorized non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their family members to leave Israel "due to safety risks." Also Friday, the massive American aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, arrived off Israel's coast. Also on Friday, the State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to discuss Iran and other regional issues. Sewell, who is also a member of the House Administration Committee that has jurisdiction over federal elections, said options include litigating, legislating and mobilizing. But with a minority in both chambers, Democrats are somewhat limited in the run-up to the pivotal 2026 midterm elections that will decide control of the House. "This is a five alarm fire," Rep. Terri Sewell , D-Ala., said at a Congressional Black Caucus press conference at the retreat's close on Friday. "We are going to fight back, and we are going to use every tool in the toolkit." The lawmakers convened at their annual policy retreat , where they set their agenda for the year and hone campaign messaging. They met in northern Virginia this week following Trump's escalating calls for voter-ID requirements at the polls and his desire to require presenting documents to register to vote, both changes that would likely disenfranchise voters across the U.S. A pending Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act also looms large, and Trump has said he is considering ways of imposing the changes he wants even if Congress does not pass legislation. House Democrats this week laid out their plans to counter President Donald Trump 's rhetoric about "nationalizing" this year's elections ahead of the 2026 midterms. "The vast majority of Americans support President Trump's commonsense election integrity agenda, Democrat politicians should too," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in an emailed statement. Trump in recent months has again become laser-focused on elections, rehashing some of his old, unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential contest being "rigged" and noncitizens voting. It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and instances are rare. The FBI in January seized ballots in Fulton County, Ga., a precinct that Trump lost to Joe Biden. The president has recently called to "nationalize" elections. He has pushed for the Senate to pass a controversial bill, dubbed the SAVE America Act, that would require proof of citizenship to register and photo identification to cast a ballot. "President Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of elections, and that includes totally accurate and up-to-date voter rolls free of errors and unlawfully registered non-citizen voters," Jackson said in her statement. "[The] President has also urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting, prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting, and end the practice of ballot harvesting to ensure the safety and security of our elections." Trump threatened earlier this month to unilaterally impose voter ID restrictions ahead of November's elections. MS NOW reported Thursday that he has instructed White House lawyers to review the feasibility of such an order. And the Washington Post reported that a group of pro-Trump activist is circulating a draft executive order to effectuate that goal that is premised on Chinese interference in the 2020 election. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., said these attempts have "shaky" legal footing. "I'm deeply skeptical of any evidence that they suddenly have six years later," Morelle said in an interview at the retreat. Morelle, in his capacity as the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, is leading House Democrats' response to the Trump administration's elections priorities. He's also preparing for the potential fallout from a challenge to a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that, if upheld, could eliminate some majority-minority Democratic-held districts. The Supreme Court is expected to release its decision on that case sometime between now and June. That Democratic effort includes war-gaming different potential election scenarios, working on litigation and crafting messaging, Morelle said. Sewell, meanwhile, said the CBC has held several all-day sessions on the topic of voting rights to help hone its response. "One of the things I think we really need to focus on, especially in the wake of the seizure of the ballots in Fulton County, is there's got to be a strong legal basis that we lay out now that's in objection to what they're doing on that front," Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said at the CBC press conference. Democrats also articulated fears that Trump could deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and National Guard members to polling places as a means of voter suppression in November. "Every year we do a grassroots piece where you have people, poll watchers and the like. But it's got to be supercharged, on steroids this time around," Ivey said. "We've seen this movie before. It's been a long time since it was this overt, but I think we have to have people who are trained and ready to be in all of these polling places." Green Party candidate and winner Hannah Spencer speaks after the vote count on February 27, 2026 in Manchester, England. Ryan Jenkinson | Getty Images News | Getty Images British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered another blow to his leadership on Friday, after the left-wing Green Party won a special election in a seat the governing Labour party has dominated for decades. The result in Gorton and Denton, in Greater Manchester, is likely to intensify speculation about Starmer's position, who has come under pressure from the appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador despite his association with Jeffrey Epstein, and a series of departures from Downing Street. Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer received 14,980 votes, or 40.7% of the vote, notching the party's first-ever by-election victory. The right-wing Reform UK party finished second with 10,578 votes on 28.7%, while Labour came third with 9,364 votes on 25.4%. British government bond yields, known as gilts, were marginally lower on the news, erasing earlier gains. The 10-year gilt yield stood at 4.267% on Friday morning, while the 30-year gilt yield was last seen at 5.069%. Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber and plasterer, becomes the fifth sitting Green lawmaker in Britain's 650-seat House of Commons. watch now "Instead of working for a nice life, we're working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry and I don't think it is extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life," she said in her victory speech. Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat with almost 51% of the vote at the national general election in July 2024, when Starmer swept to power and ousted the Conservative Party after 14 years in office. In an interview with broadcasters, Starmer described the result as "very disappointing" and said he understood that voters were "frustrated" and "impatient for change." The change in fortunes for the ruling party appears to suggest that voters could be willing to look beyond the main parties of Labour and the Conservatives, or Tories, to more alternative parties such as the Greens and Reform UK in the wider local elections in May. watch now John Curtice, a prominent political scientist and professor of politics at the U.K.'s University of Strathclyde, said the result shows the two main parties are being challenged. "We are getting an unprecedented challenge by Reform, as it were from the right, stroke the more socially conservative end of Britain, challenging the Conservative party. And now, the Greens apparently now serious competitors with Labour for voters on the left and those of a more social liberal disposition," Curtice told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday. "Historically, in Britain, we've said elections are won and lost on the center ground. That's not what is happening at the moment," he added. "The Green Party will be absolutely cock-a-hoop," Damian Lyons Lowe, CEO of London-based polling company Survation, told CNBC's "Europe Early Edition" on Friday. watch now Iranian negotiating delegation departs for the site of the talks with U.S., in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2026. The latest round of U.S.-Iran talks did not lead to a breakthrough, with both sides agreeing to extend negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, describing the discussions as the "most intense so far." "Further progress has been made in our diplomatic engagement with the United States," said Araghchi, adding that both sides planned to engage in a more "detailed" manner on critical issues including termination of U.S. sanctions on Iran and "nuclear-related steps." The two sides made "significant progress" in the high-stakes talks in Geneva, Switzerland, and agreed to meet next week to discuss technical details in Vienna, according to Oman's foreign minister Badr Al Busaidi, the mediator of the talks. Al-Busaidi is headed to Washington to meet with Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. officials on Friday, according to MS Now. Vance has previously downplayed the possibility of the U.S. entering into a years-long war with Iran despite intensifying military rhetoric from Tehran and Washington. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wants to make a "deal" more than the U.S. while Tehran's refusal to commit to not developing nuclear weapons remains a key sticking point holding up the agreement. In his State of the Union address earlier this week, Trump said that "They [Iran] want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon." Tensions continued to run high as the U.S. has amassed a large military force in the Middle East with Trump last week warning that "bad things" would happen if Iran does not agree to a deal over the future of its nuclear program. The third round of talks this week were led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, while Araghchi headed the Iranian delegation. Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street. Deutsche Bank reiterates CoreWeave as buy Deutsche lowered its price target on the stock to $125 per share from $140 but said it's sticking with the stock following earnings. " CoreWeave reported 4Q results that were a bit of a mixed bag and we suspect unfortunately probably adds to confusion around what remains a very dynamic near-term financial model as the business rapidly scales." TD Cowen upgrades Southwest Airlines to buy from hold TD Cowen said it sees robust airline demand. "We upgrade LUV to Buy with $66 target as 2026 airline demand strengthens against disciplined supply." Rosenblatt initiates Palantir as buy Rosenblatt said the stock is "uniquely positioned." "We are initiating coverage of Palantir with a Buy rating and $150 price target. We think this market-disrupting, uniquely positioned AI software leader has a sustainable growth trajectory, good margin leverage, and an attractive entry point after a 33% decline from its high in October." UBS upgrades Palantir to buy from neutral UBS said investors should buy the dip. "At 50x our 2027 FCF estimates, Palantir shares are now very attractive given our estimate for 70% revs growth in 2026 and stable mid-50% margins. We're hosting an investor call on Fri Feb 27th at 10:30am ET to recap our views." Read more. Bank of America reiterates Dell as buy Bank of America raised its price target on Dell to $155 per share from $135 following earnings. "Our Buy rating is based on broad product portfolio, upside from AI, growth faster than the market, continuing share gains, and opportunity to grow margins over the next several years on higher mix of storage and mix shift to premium configurations in PCs and servers, which offset risks including a slow global economy, and high financial leverage." Morgan Stanley upgrades Block to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley upgraded the payment company following earnings. "Upgrading XYZ to OW ($93 PT) as XYZ's faster growth and an expanded TAM already appearing after product enhancement/ expansion, while AI opportunity should deliver increased profitability." Morgan Stanley downgrades Duolingo to equal weight from overweight The firm admitted it was wrong about the stock following earnings. "We believed DUOL would drive simultaneous monetization gains and user growth. We were wrong. To improve user trends, company is materially increasing spend & decreasing monetization." William Blair upgrades Biodesix to outperform from neutral William Blair said the molecular diagnostics company is firing on all cylinders. "We are upgrading shares of Biodesix to Outperform following its fourth-quarter update, which included results in line with its January preannouncement, 2026 revenue guidance that was 3% ahead of expectations, and the disclosure that the company has significantly improved its balance sheet." Mizuho upgrades Aon, Brown & Brown and Arthur J. Gallagher to outperform from neutral Mizuho said the broker's sell-off is overdone. "We also recognize that with investors having been concerned over slowing organic growth before 2/9, a near-term fundamental catalyst (as opposed to valuation) may be difficult to find. Still, we upgrade AJG, AON and BRO shares to Outperform, with respective PTs of $260 (+18% return), $397 (+21%) and $85 (+21%), and downgrade MRSH shares to Neutral, with $199 PT (+10%)." Wolfe reiterates Netflix as outperform Wolfe raised its price target on Netflix to $110 per share from $95. "Backing out of Warner's auction gives Netflix $2.8B of cash, way less debt, share buybacks, higher ROIC & simpler operations. Investors will eagerly back the growth strategy they know & adore. PT to $110 via comp-based 28x '27 EPS of $3.91, up from $3.80 on share count." Read more. Citi downgrades Dollar Tree to neutral from buy Citi downgraded the stock ahead of earnings next week. "We downgrade DLTR from Buy to Neutral. We continue to believe it's showing signs of success in its multi-price strategy. However, the stock has doubled off its low after US administration's April-2025 major tariff announcement, to within 3% of our TP, driving our view that risk/reward is now balanced." Bernstein upgrades Newmont Mining to outperform from market perform Bernstein said it's bullish on the metals company as gold prices rise. "We upgrade Newmont to Outperform ($157/sh) given our revised EBITDA 26% up to $21.9bln on our bullish view of gold." Barclays initiates Jazz Pharmaceuticals as overweight Barclays said it sees an "upside opportunity" for the biopharma company. "We initiate coverage o f JAZZ at Overweight with a $224 price target, implying ~19% upside potential from current levels." Daiwa reiterates Nvidia as outperform Daiwa said it's sticking with Nvidia following earnings. "We have seen many big rallies and then pauses since the start of this in May 2023. The difficult issue now is not completely on Nvidia's results, which were expected to be good and were good, but the future. Being that investors are concerned about growth beyond 2026, especially with this year being so strong." Rothschild & Co Redburn upgrades Live Nation to buy from neutral The firm raised its price target on Live Nation to $193 per share from $166 said shares are compelling at current levels. "With the Department of Justice's (DOJ) breakup argument losing its teeth and a settlement seemingly on the horizon, we feel more comfortable reverting to a pre-lawsuit valuation multiple." Wells Fargo upgrades Sun Communities to overweight from equal weight Wells said the real estate investment trust has "investment firepower." " SUI has a lower multiple but more catalysts: 1) stronger '26 & '27 growth, 2) guidance upside from ~$550m of investment firepower, 3) new CEO focused on better operations & 4) WFS ests above guide midpt." Wolfe upgrades Honeywell to outperform from peer perform Wolfe said it now sees a "smoother journey" for the stock. "We return to an OP rating after an extended period at PP, now tha t HON has gone through the heavy lift of its portfolio separation work. Our new YE26 target price of $293 represents 22% upside potential and puts risk/reward firmly in the upper quartile of our coverage." Bank of America upgrades Teladoc to buy from neutral Bank of America said it sees attractive margins and valuation. "We have a Buy rating on shares of TDOC. We believe TDOC's transition in the BetterHelp business toward insurance can drive sustainable margin expansion." Bank of America upgrades Celsius Holdings to buy from underperform The firm said it sees a slew of positive catalysts ahead for the beverage company. "Our Buy rating reflects our view that both Alani Nu and Core Celsius are sustaining strong consumption trends, which should support upward sales revisions and drive CELH shares higher." Barclays upgrades FIGS to overweight from equal weight Barclays said in its upgrade of the stock that the "growth thesis" is back. "We are upgrading FIGS to OW on: 1) material acceleration in sales across geographies; 2) a positive sales-to-inventory inflection; 3) refreshed products via new fabrics and extensions while driving the core of the business; and 4) a reinvestment flywheel driving global top-line growth." Northland upgrades NuScale Power to outperform from market perform Northland said buy the weakness on shares of the nuclear stock. "We are upgrading NuScale to Outperform. The stock is down ~26% over the last year, significantly underperforming 6 nuclear peers (BWXT, CCJ, LEU, MIR, NNE, OKLO) that are up 86%." In this article NFLX WBD PSKY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT The Paramount logo is displayed above an entrance to Paramount Studios on Feb. 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images A day after Paramount Skydance emerged as the winner to take over fellow media giant Warner Bros. Discovery , questions are mounting about the companies' regulatory path forward. The WBD board said on Thursday that Paramount's revised $31-per-share offer was superior to an existing bid from Netflix , prompting the streamer to announce that it was walking away from the deal entirely and clearing the way for Paramount. Paramount's raised offer up from $30 per share was the latest in a series of moves it made after it launched a hostile bid late last year to buy WBD. It had initially lost out on a bidding war to Netflix, which offered $27.75 per share. Paramount's latest bid also included a $7 billion breakup fee if the deal doesn't win regulatory approval. And according to a Friday filing, it has already paid the $2.8 billion breakup fee that WBD owed to Netflix if the deal fell through. But media industry experts said it's looking more likely that the Paramount deal will get through government scrutiny than it did when Netflix was in the picture. watch now Netflix vs. Paramount Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said Thursday that it was "no longer financially attractive" to match Paramount's raised offer. Though Netflix executives had said they were "highly confident" that their deal would win approval, the merger would have brought together two top streaming services Netflix and Paramount+ and could have potentially raised prices for consumers and decreased competition. In early December, Trump said the Netflix-WBD deal "could be a problem" because of the increased market share Netflix would gain, saying he would be involved. He walked back those comments earlier this month, saying the deal would be at the sole discretion of the Department of Justice. And while the size of a combined Netflix and WBD entity was one of the companies' largest antitrust obstacles, that issue could still be raised for Paramount. Both Paramount and WBD have sprawling portfolios of TV networks, in addition to Paramount+ hitting 78.9 million subscribers, according to its most recent earnings report, and HBO Max counting 131.6 million subscribers through the end of 2025. Paramount executives argued one of the pros of their offer was that a deal with the media company would garner less government scrutiny. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison's father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is known to have close relations with President Donald Trump. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is backing the Paramount deal, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Still, Paramount's proposed deal had come under criticism for potentially being funded by the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Qatar. The company has previously said that those entities have agreed to forgo all governance rights, including board representation. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, warned on Thursday night that the merger was "not a done deal" and that the California Department of Justice, which has an open investigation into the deal, will be vigorous in its review. And Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a statement that the Paramount and WBD merger is "an antitrust disaster threatening higher prices and fewer choices for American families." A potential for fewer concerns Analysts from Raymond James said they believe the Paramount-WBD deal could pose far less of a risk for regulatory approval than a Netflix tie-up. In a Friday note, the analysts said the regulatory path forward for Paramount is "meaningfully easier" than Netflix's, though it would not be a "cakewalk." "Of course, there are new challenges with this deal around news, cable networks, international linear networks, etc., but we still feel the WBD/PSKY deal is more palatable all-in," the analysts wrote. "And, particularly following the reaction to the WBD/NFLX agreement, we believe PSKY's political standing with the current U.S. administration is much stronger than Netflix's." The analysts noted that questions remain about how the competitive market for the companies will be defined by the DOJ, and they speculated that Netflix likely decided not to match Paramount's superior offer because of what was "likely to be a brutal regulatory review." A Friday note by Morningstar analysts echoed those thoughts. The analysts said the move was right for both Netflix and Paramount because they believed Netflix was unnecessarily overpaying for WBD's streaming and studios. Notably, Paramount aimed to buy the entirety of WBD, including its pay-TV networks, such as CNN, TBS and TNT, while Netflix only wanted the company's studio and streaming assets. "This is the best outcome for Warner shareholders, in our view, as we've felt that, with a higher likelihood of prompt regulatory approval and uncertainty surrounding the value and risk of the network business they would have retained, the best offer would have been $30 in cash," the analysts wrote. The analysts added that they don't expect Paramount to face any regulatory issues during the approval process. The India-Nepal border will remain closed from midnight of March 2 to midnight of 5 in view of the general elections scheduled in Nepal on March 5, officials said on Friday.Sudhir Sharma, in-charge of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Rupaidiha, Bahraich, told PTI that Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an official communication dated February 26 regarding the closure.According to the letter, all border outposts along the entire stretch of Banke district adjoining India will remain closed from 12 am on the intervening night of March 2 and 3 till 12 am on March 5 to ensure that the election process is conducted in a free, fair, fearless and credible environment.Sharma said that import and export of goods through the ICP would remain suspended during the period, but movement of essential medicines and other critical commodities will not be stopped.Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat of the 42nd Battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal said instructions have been issued to enforce restricted movement at the border from the night of March 2 till the night of polling on March 5, following a communication from the Nepal administration.He said additional vigilance is already being maintained at the border, and people are being allowed to cross only after thorough checking and verification of identity documents. Citizens of both the countries have been advised to avoid crossing the border during the restricted period unless absolutely necessary.Udawat added that a large number of Nepali voters reside in India for employment and business purposes. Such voters, as well as seriously ill patients and essential goods may be allowed across the border under the supervision of security forces. The OpenAI Conundrum Competition Lack Of Clarity On China 'Big Short' Makes A Big Disclosure Analysts Remain Bullish Nvidia Corp., the leader in AI chip supply and the most valued company in the world, reported yet another quarter that surpassed expectations, not just on the revenue and the Earnings Per Share (EPS) front, but also on the guidance for the upcoming quarter.A blowout quarter though is not enough for Wall Street anymore. It needs clarity on multiple issues concerning the company.Wall Street had made a big deal of Nvidia's announcement of investing $100 billion in ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Today, it sees it at a major overhang on the Jensen Huang-led enterprise.This, despite multiple clarifications by both Huang and Nvidia that the deal is not cast in stone. In its earnings statement, Nvidia once again clarified that the company is "finalizing an investment and partnership agreement" with OpenAI, but there is no assurance that the transaction will be completed or that the company will enter into any such agreement.A major reason behind Nvidia's stratospheric surge over the last three years has been its "first mover advantage", but that appears to be fading slowly, but surely.Hyperscalers, or big tech firms like Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft, have cumulatively announced capex plans worth nearly $700 billion for the year ahead but Nvidia is no longer the only one vying for a piece of the pie. These companies now comprise of 50% of Nvidia's Data Center revenue, which in turn contributes to over 90% of the overall company topline.And these companies are looking at avenues beyond Nvidia as well. Meta this week announced a partnership and an investment in Nvidia's closest rival AMD, just a week after announcing a similar partnership with the former. Rising competition and fears of a slowdown in capex by these hyperscalers also keeps the street worried.China was a major market for Nvidia, but the curbs put in place, first by the Biden and then by the Trump Administration has put a brake on the sales in the world's second-largest economy.Nvidia has not accounted for any sale from China in its forecast issued for the ongoing quarter. The Trump Administration has granted Nvidia a small license to ship H200 processors to China, but Nvidia is still uncertain whether a similar approval will come from Beijing.The same processors, when the enter the US, are subject to a 25% tariff.Hardika Singh of Fundstrat Global Advisors believes that Nvidia surpassing estimates on earnings and guidance is nothing novel as it rarely misses them, but concerns about its narrowing moat and how will it tackle the AI disruption is something that the company did not shed enough light on. There are also concerns about whether it can maintain its 75% gross margins going forward, according to Matt Maley of Miller Tabak.Michael "the big short" Burry, who made a name for himself by shorting the housing market right before the global financial crisis two decades earlier, wrote in a blog post about Nvidia and its financials.Burry, who has earlier disclosed personal short positions in Nvidia, highlighted that Nvidia's Form 10-K shows purchase obligations to be $95.2 billion, which is a jump of nearly 6x compared to the previous year's figure of $16.1 billion."This is because TSMC demanded longer term contracts and cash as it had to build out custom semiconductor fabrication and packaging capacity for NVDAs new technology. That has not been the normal course of business until recently," Burry wrote.Nvidia has also said these obligations will only grow and become a greater position of supply. Its inventory also went up by 8% on a sequential basis.Nvidia is covered by 66 analysts, of which 61 have a "buy" rating and a consensus estimate of price targets implies an upside potential of 37% from current levels.Shares of Nvidia ended 5.5% lower on Thursday, marking its biggest single-day drop since April last year. A former rapper who ran Kathmandu as a mayor. The young leader of Nepal's oldest political party. And a communist veteran politician hoping to return to power after being ousted in youth-led protests in which dozens were killed last year.They are the three leading contenders as Nepal heads into a crucial nationwide election, the first since the protests led to the fall of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli's government in September.Whoever prevails will become Nepal's 16th prime minister in less than two decades, underscoring the recurring political instability that has marked the Himalayan nation since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.The protests in Nepal last year revealed the extent of young people's frustration with corruption and a lack of opportunity in the country, where around a fifth of young people are unemployed, but where the children of the political elite seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages.After public outrage led to the resignation of the government, millions of Nepalese voters are now gearing up to elect members of the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament. The next prime minister will be chosen after securing a majority in the house.Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, is seen as front-runner after emerging as a popular figure during the campaign. He was elected mayor of the capital, Kathmandu, in 2022 and later left the post to become the National Independent Party's candidate for prime minister.The 35-year-old Shah trained as a structural engineer and later gained modest fame as a rap artist, using his music to take on social issues and politics.Dressed in his signature black attire and sunglasses, Shah has been touring the country. Supporters often line up to greet him and show support for him and his party.Shah won the Kathmandu mayor's race as an independent, riding a wave of public anger toward traditional political parties. He drew praise for clearing illegal vendors, tackling the city's chronic garbage problem and pushing road expansions, but also faced criticism for ordering the demolition of homes and properties without adequate planning or notice.Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda," he told his supporters in western Nepal last week.Another contender is Gagan Thapa, the newly installed leader of the Nepali Congress, the country's oldest major political party, a liberal democratic party with close ties to India.Long seen as a popular face within the Nepali Congress, Thapa, 49, had been held back by the party's senior leadership until earlier this year, when he mounted a rebellion and secured his election as party chief.The Nepali Congress has remained a popular party, but was part of the last coalition government that was forced out by a youth revolt in September.The youth-led protests were triggered by a social media ban before snowballing into a popular revolt against the government. Dozens were killed and hundreds injured when protesters attacked government buildings and police opened fire on them.Thapa says his first priority would be to rid Nepal of corruption within five years and make the government fully accountable to the public.The other contender for the post is Khadga Prasad Oli, the controversial but strong communist leader who led the coalition government that was forced out of power last year. He is blamed by many for the deaths in the violent protests that ousted him.Despite criticism of his handling last year's protests, Oli still commands support within the Communist Party and among many of its supporters.Oli has consistently argued that steady policies and politics are essential for Nepal, warning that the economy needs stability to develop.Nepal is located between Asian giants India and China, and both countries have shown keen interest in having influence in their smaller neighbour. Thapa's party is traditionally closer to India while Oli's communist groups are seen as more friendly to China. 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. 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Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to Euro exchange rate (GBP/EUR) is trading at 1.14162 (-0.13%), slipping further below the 1.1500 resistance area after the Greens secured victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, dealing a symbolic blow to the Labour government.Although UK financial conditions remain supportive, with the FTSE 100 at record highs and 10-year gilt yields near 14-month lows, political uncertainty is preventing Sterling from capitalising on favourable market sentiment.The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate again failed to sustain momentum above 1.1485 earlier in the week and has since retreated toward the 1.14 handle following confirmation of Labours defeat.Markets had partially priced in a setback, but the scale of the loss has revived questions over Prime Minister Starmers authority and the stability of the government heading into Mays local elections.Credit Agricole had noted ahead of the vote that bookmakers already favoured the Greens, suggesting some downside risk was embedded in Sterling pricing. However, MUFG had warned that a defeat for Labour has the potential to trigger at least a temporary sell-off for the pound, a dynamic now visible in early trading.Short-term volatility is likely to persist as investors reassess political risk premia.While politics dominate the near-term narrative, Bank of England expectations remain crucial for the broader trajectory.HSBC commented; The key consideration for the GBP will be whether the BoE signals openness to further rate cuts during the remainder of 2026.Citi FX continues to expect a more aggressive easing cycle, forecasting three further rate cuts and a terminal rate of 3%, below current market pricing.If markets move to price a faster pace of easing, yield differentials would increasingly favour the Euro, potentially pushing GBP/EUR toward the 1.1360 area and beyond.Despite the political shock, underlying financial conditions remain benign. The FTSE 100 has extended gains to fresh record highs and gilt yields have drifted lower, indicating no immediate stress in UK assets.That stability may limit the scope for an aggressive Sterling sell-off unless political instability intensifies.For now, GBP/EUR remains capped below 1.1500, with political developments and evolving Bank of England guidance set to determine whether the recent retreat deepens or stabilises. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Euro Forecasts Modified: Friday, 27 February 2026 13:46 BST Ben Hughes STORY LINK Pound Sterling Slides Against Euro, Dollar on Labour By-Election Defeat Save on Your GBP/EUR Transfer Get better rates and lower fees on your next international money transfer. Compare TorFX with top UK banks in seconds and see how much you could save. Compare the Best GBP/EUR Rates Pound Under Pressure Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The pound remained under pressure this week, with EUR/GBP climbing to 0.875.Political uncertainty intensified after Labour fell to third place in a key by-election.Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing renewed scrutiny, with speculation growing that the party may seek new leadership ahead of Mays local elections.Global markets have been volatile more broadly.US equities were shaken by Nvidia earnings midweek, with the stock closing nearly 5% lower despite strong results, reinforcing a more cautious tone around AI and technology names.Oil also spiked higher on Thursday after US-Iran talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough.While negotiators described significant progress, the United States insisted on the permanent dismantlement of Irans enrichment infrastructure at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz.Iran rejected the zero-enrichment demand, arguing for a monitored civilian programme instead.The geopolitical risk premium remains embedded in energy markets as the Pentagon maintains a substantial naval and aerial presence in the region.For now, the decision to move talks to a technical level in Vienna next week has eased immediate fears, although markets still see a meaningful risk of escalation in March if negotiations fail.Sterling has struggled in recent weeks, weighed down by softer economic data and rising expectations of a March rate cut from the Bank of England.Cooling wage growth and rising unemployment have already shifted the policy debate toward easing.Now, political risk has added another layer of uncertainty.The Green Party secured a historic victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, overturning a 13,000-vote Labour majority.Hannah Spencer won the seat with 40.6% of the vote, pushing Labour into third place behind Reform UK.The result is a significant blow to Starmer, particularly in a constituency Labour had held for nearly a century.Labours vote share collapsed to 25.4%, a sharp drop from over 50% less than two years ago.Internal tensions have intensified, with criticism directed at party leadership over candidate selection decisions and broader strategic positioning.With the Greens now holding five seats in Westminster and Reform UK continuing to erode support from the right, Labour faces pressure from both flanks.This dual challenge complicates the path toward Mays local elections and raises questions about leadership stability.Currency markets are sensitive to such uncertainty.The pound slid further against the euro following the result, reinforcing the view that UK political risk is becoming a more prominent factor in sterling pricing.If speculation over leadership change grows in the coming weeks, volatility in the pound could increase further, particularly against a relatively stable euro backdrop. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Sterling Forecasts 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. What a frightening new world Britain just woke up to. Because this is how democracies unravel. Long after the Green Party's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election has been forgotten, the campaign and the precedent it set will continue to disfigure our politics. We are Balkanising our country, moving beyond citizenship as our primary political identifier and instead relating to one another as members of antagonistic tribes whose territories happen to overlap. The Green Party's behaviour in the run-up to yesterday's by-election should place that party beyond the parameters of democratic decency. Divisive, sectarian and ready to stoke Muslim grievances against Israel and India, the former eco-activists have dropped any pretence of appealing to voters as British citizens. At one point, their candidate, Hannah Spencer, told her Reform opponent, Matt Goodwin, that the Manchester Arena bomb had happened 'because people like you are dividing people'. Not that the Greens started it. Jeevun Sandher, a Labour MP of Sikh heritage, complained about the 'dog-whistle' of a Green by-election video in Urdu that featured a picture of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shaking hands with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, a deeply unpopular figure in Islamic communities. It had evidently slipped Sandher's mind that, five years earlier, at a by-election in Yorkshire, Labour did precisely the same thing, running a picture of Boris Johnson with Modi, next to the caption, 'Don't risk a Tory MP who is not on your side'. Hannah Spencer celebrates her historic win with Green Party leader Zack Polanski this morning Your browser does not support iframes. Does this really need spelling out? No democracy can flourish if its people lack common identity and shared allegiance. There have been multi-national regimes down the years the Habsburgs, the Ottomans, the Soviets but they survived only for as long as they remained autocratic. The moment their peoples were given the right to choose, they fractured into their component ethnicities. What is happening here is vastly more toxic. We have moved from being a cohesive nation, in which almost everyone accepted certain norms equality before the courts, parliamentary democracy, religious pluralism, free speech to one in which we ourselves are teaching groups of our own citizens to be separate and resentful. We might have handled immigration differently, with more manageable numbers. But our real error was to turn our backs on British patriotism. During the 20th century, most settlers arrived in Britain in positive spirits. People don't abandon their family and language to go to places they despise. But we taught their children that Britain was rapacious, reprehensible and racist. No wonder some of them turned against the country of their birth. Labour has long encouraged such a narrative among ethnic minority communities for partisan gain, and can hardly complain when others, notably the Greens and the Gaza independents, take it further. The Greens campaigned largely on two issues: lifting immigration controls and hostility to Israel. Why those issues? Because they unite what is left of the Greens' previous base, who regard the whole notion of discriminating between citizens and non-citizens as somehow racist, with its new, Muslim voters. 'We've tried to appeal to people from all kinds of backgrounds,' said the Greens' deputy leader, Mothin Ali, when asked about the Urdu video. 'That's about inclusivity.' An odd word to use for campaigning in a language 19 out of 20 British citizens don't understand. Not that the Greens started it. Jeevun Sandher, a Labour MP of Sikh heritage, complained about the 'dog-whistle' of a Green campaign video (pictured) in Urdu - but it evidently slipped his mind that, five years earlier, at another by-election, Labour did precisely the same thing Ali came to national attention when he marked his victory in the 2024 local elections in Leeds by shouting, 'We will raise the voice of Gaza! We will raise the voice of Palestine! Allahu Akbar!' On the day of the October 7 abomination, he recorded a clip in which he argued 'Palestinians have the right to resist occupying forces' and that everyone should 'support the right of indigenous people to fight back'. Does he realise, as a second-generation Brit, how dangerous it is to encourage 'indigenous people to fight back'? The backlash risks not being a return to civic liberalism and a renewed emphasis on individual rights. It could also be collectivist and self-pitying, but directed the other way around. Why are Leftists playing this game? Do Greens think that their new voters will buy into the rest of their policies? Do they imagine that Manchester Muslims are clamouring for puberty blockers, 'gender-affirming care' and the legalisation of all drugs? Of course not. This is a simple numbers game. The reason the Greens have lost interest in the environment is not just that they would find it hard to outflank Ed Miliband; it is that it doesn't pull in as many votes as campaigning for immigration and against Israel. What the French call 'Islamo-gauchisme' Islamo-leftism is, by its nature, negative. All that unites the eco-loons with the Islamists is a dislike of the West in general and Israel in particular. Every such alliance has resulted in the first lot, the white Lefties, being swallowed up by the second. Is there an alternative? Yes. Respectable parties should appeal to British Muslims as precisely that: British. They should recognise that a lot of Green and Labour voters here support conservative parties in their countries of origin, where their sense of victimhood has not been encouraged. They should emphasise the values that encouraged millions of British Muslims to volunteer in the two wars. The best way to defeat a bad idea is with a better idea. And if there is a better idea out there than an open society based on property rights and personal liberty, I have yet to hear it. Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is President of the Institute for Free Trade. The order, when it came, was short and to the point: Stop! These items are banned. The Taliban official who barked the words, flanked by a gunman, was referring to the contraceptives that my cousin, a midwife, was due to distribute at the rural clinic it had taken her two hours to reach by flatback truck on Afghanistans pitted muddy roads. No matter the desperation of the women and girls she was meant to be helping some as young as 14 and whose anguished cries for help she had to ignore: this was a Taliban order, and if she tried to contravene it then she and her colleagues would be banned from the village altogether. My cousin was brave enough to ask why, and was told Afghan women must stand firm in the face of a Western conspiracy to control the Muslim population. Its why, for more than two years now, chemists in my country have reported contraceptive supplies like birth-control pills and condoms arriving first late, then in smaller quantities and then not at all. Those that had them in stock have been instructed to remove them from their shelves and, in many regions, particularly the rural north, healthcare workers are now banned from distributing them on pain of draconian punishment. Whatever the Talibans proclaimed motivation, my cousin certainly knows the devastating consequences. Unwanted pregnancies can be fraught with problems in remote rural communities, where it is not uncommon for women to suffer terribly in childbirth, or even lose their lives. There are plenty of others who have endured so many pregnancies already that they are physically and emotionally shattered. A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul 'My cousin was told Afghan women must stand firm in the face of a "Western conspiracy" to control the Muslim population' As another freezing winter drags on, plunging many areas into a humanitarian crisis of food and fuel deprivation, carrying a baby and bringing another mouth to feed into the world is the last thing many women want. But none of this matters to the monsters who wish to subjugate Afghanistans women in every way they can and who have, since they came to power in August 2021, taken away every single one of our basic human rights and freedoms. As I wrote in these pages of this newspaper almost two years ago, within three years of them sweeping into power, we had been banned from schools, offices, public baths, parks, and gyms even from walking outside the confines of our home without a male escort and without being fully veiled. Already, life felt like prison, and I thought then, as I shared my story, that things could not get worse. They have. Far worse. For in the time since, the Talibans rule has become ever more repressive to women. Just last week, the Taliban published a new penal code which effectively puts women on a par with slaves, with clauses stating that either slave masters or husbands can physically punish their wives and children so long as it doesnt cause broken bones or open wounds. Not content with restricting our movements, our dress, and our actions we can no longer sing, even in private they are now controlling our bodies too. In some provinces, women can no longer be treated by male doctors. Nor can they study medicine, which in time means there will be no female doctors left. What will happen to us then? Day by day, moment by moment, they come for us in every way they can. In September 2025, under the guise of preventing immoralities, the Taliban introduced targeted internet restrictions throughout the country, shutting down fibre-optic, broadband, and, in some cases, mobile data services, in doing so destroying the last hope of many women and girls who, banned from school after the age of 12, were using online learning in a desperate bid to continue their studies. Five months on, connectivity remains sporadic, depriving women not only of access to education, but to each other, as they cannot even use the WhatsApp groups via which they share their despair. It is why I am speaking out again, when the world seems to have turned its back on us. That is the sentiment shared by all my sisters in suffering, young and old, who see no future and who feel abandoned by the liberal women of the West who remain silent in the face of our suffering. Even as I write this, I struggle to convey the horror of our lives today. But how to truly share the desperation and the dangers we face day in day out? There is no shortage of stories, and not those of strangers but people we know. Friends. Family. In a community north of Kabul, my friend Fatima was beaten by the religious police for walking in the market unaccompanied by her mahram (male guardian) without a full face covering and with the backs of her hands exposed. A mother of four, she had taken the risk as she had to buy provisions for her children and her husband who is more than 20 years older but had previously been kind was not home. She paid for it with a brutal beating. Her husband, too, was punished for allowing her to leave home. His revenge for his wifes daring was to take another wife, reducing Fatima to the role of housekeeper and, as she tearfully told me over WhatsApp, the role of sexual slave when he chooses. The Taliban published a new penal code which effectively puts women on a par with slaves, stating either slave masters or husbands can physically punish their wives and children Internet connectivity remains sporadic, depriving women not only of access to education, but to each other I can only look on in despair as I see the bleak messages from my once bubbly friend, who worked at a beauty salon, took pride in her fashionable clothes, and loved visiting cafes with her husband, but who now tells me she dares only leave home twice a week, always accompanied by a chaperone. When she does, fear sits on her shoulders. And there are hundreds thousands of Fatimas, young women whose dreams have been crushed. Today, 78 per cent of young Afghan women are not in education, employment or training, me among them. I used to work in a government job, but in 2023 the Taliban banned women from working in public offices, leaving my family and me reliant on the modest income of my brother. When he marries, as he inevitably will, we face even greater poverty. We are a few among millions living with empty cupboards and empty stomachs. Our family knows of another in which the four daughters were the breadwinners in their family of six. Two lost their jobs years ago, leaving the family reliant on the meagre wages of the two who work in public hospitals. Now this is under threat. If the Taliban take away this last source of income, we will starve, their mother told me. Is it any wonder that even the kindest fathers and brothers have now bowed to the system, marrying off their daughters and sisters to men they would once have turned away from the door to lessen the burden or to ensure their families safety: marriage to a Taliban official means not just financial support but security. Already, ten per cent of girls are married by the age of 15, a number UN agencies have said will spiral if Taliban restrictions on girls education and womens rights continues, as will teen childbirth, which by the end of this year is projected to have increased by 45 per cent since 2021. Maternal mortality is projected to increase by 50 per cent. Behind those horrifying statistics lie countless terrible stories of individual human heartbreak, like the Afghan woman said to have recently advertised to sell her three year-old daughter on Facebook. Thankfully, it did not come to pass: the family were contacted by a kindly elder who offered to help, promising a monthly payment to keep the infant with her mum. A happy ending of sorts. Weddings, once an occasion for shared joy, are now all too often bleak and desperate affairs, populated by tearful, sometimes barely pubescent brides not yet 16 and female guests who struggle to conceal their fear and sadness. Their despair is shared by women of all ages, but particularly the young. One female doctor I know told me that while there are no official statistics, she knows that many more are taking their own lives having barely reached adulthood: with nothing but survival itself to live for, they see no point in going on. Why would they feel differently when they are silenced in public, restricted in travel, forced to cover their bodies from head to toe, have lost the chance of education after the age of 12 and often face abusive marriages they did not choose? she asked. I know of at least one girl who has taken this devastating decision, a friend of the family who last year was found hanging from a rafter in an outbuilding in her village at the age of just 18 rather than facing marriage to a Taliban official 25 years older. Or so it was said: others said she was murdered by way of punishment, as her family had opposed the union too. There are terrible stories of individual human heartbreak, like the Afghan woman said to have recently advertised to sell her three year-old daughter on Facebook One source said Afghan women are punished 'even for the decisions of family members they have no influence over' For those whose families were suspected of collaboration with the West, meanwhile, there is permanent peril. In the dark days in which we now live, merely belonging to the same family as someone who once worked with the British or American forces merits arrest, punishment and even death. Last year the Taliban executed the family of an Afghan man who had worked for the West and now lives in Germany, leaving behind his father, wife and young children who he hoped could join him later. He would never see them again: they were murdered, reportedly beheaded including his two young daughters. In the past month, I have heard of three attacks on women linked to Afghans who worked for Britain. And two months ago, the wife of an Afghan who worked with the Coalition was brutally gang-raped. With such grotesque warnings in place, it is little wonder that a woman I know whose brother spent five years on the front line working as an interpreter is now on the run with her three young children. Her sibling had hoped his sister and her family could join him in Britain, where he has been given sanctuary, but the application was turned down, leaving his sister and her husband at the mercy of the Taliban and their informers. Feeling the net closing in, they took the decision to flee their home under cover of darkness, with their children and little more than the clothes on her back. They live in terror of being discovered. Afghan women are punished in every way, even for the decisions of family members they have no influence over, she told me. Despite all this, women have continued to find ways to resist. I know of a woman called Yalda, who runs a secret school in the basement of her husbands carpet shop. Her classroom consists of little more than an old table, illuminated by two naked bulbs, but it is enough for the dozen 14-17 year-olds who visit each week thirsty for the knowledge that Yalda, a university-trained language teacher, can impart. Every day brings with it the risk of discovery and punishment. Only recently, one of her pupils made the mistake of asking a friend if she would like to attend school, only for her to ask her father, who in turn immediately reported it to the Taliban. Yalda was terrified, although word got back to her in time for her to erase all traces of her illicit classroom. There are many women like me who will not give in and allow our lives and spirits to be crushed, she told me. I look at these girls, and it gives me hope. They face a bleak, bad future but education is hope and that is why the Taliban want to crush it. I will do this for as long as I am able. The girls, too, are at risk: while they take different routes to school so as not to attract attention, carry no books and if they are stopped claim they are looking for work in a nearby carpet factory, the presence of the morality police is a lurking menace. Yalda and her friends do what they can to manage it: if there is known danger, the girls are sent emojis on their phones a pencil with a thumbs down means go home. Yet the sporadic internet connection that blights their online learning means this cannot always be relied on. We have to accept there is a risk, especially as the Taliban has become more rigid, more intense, more confident, Yalda says. Sadly, their act of defiance comes wrapped in the thinnest of armour, for however hard they fight, a life of imprisonment awaits. Perhaps worse, as one friend, confined by a forced marriage to a man she abhors, recently told me: there may be no physical bars holding her in, but her sentence is indefinite. If I was in prison I would know when my sentence would end, she said. My sentence as a housewife in a forced marriage is for life. Even by Keir Starmers standards, the Chagos debacle has become an icon of incompetence. There is a fascinating whodunnit to be written about the imbroglio. Given that the British surrender of the islands is a policy nobody wanted outside of a few ultra-Left wing Islingtonian lawyers and also one that never appeared in any partys manifesto why was it ever considered? Who was behind it? Who stood to gain? It has a cast out of Yes Minister: a spineless and woke Whitehall establishment; human rights lawyers cheerfully doing the bidding of our adversaries for fat fees; and at the heart of it, a vacillating and weak Prime Minister. As I write, we dont even know whether the deal is on or off. On Wednesday, the nepo-baby Labour minister Hamish Falconer (son of Tony Blairs ex-flatmate, windbag lawyer Charlie) arose in Parliament to say that Labours agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was now on hold while the Government paused for discussions with our American counterparts. This humiliating course had been sparked when Donald Trump did an about turn on his earlier support for the deal or, as the President put it, the PMs act of GREAT STUPIDITY. No sooner had Falconer sat down, however, than Downing Street and the Foreign Office reversed the ministers statement and insisted the deal was still on. So who knows? Its the usual Starmerite chaos. The Chagos Islands became British territory in 1814 after the defeat of Napoleon But I return to my main question: why has Starmer been so willing, for so long, to expend so much of his minuscule political capital on this wildly unpopular and, to most voters, arcane and incomprehensible sell-out? This is a Government that has U-turned at least 14 times in just 18 months, yet the Chagos Surrender has been one of the few policies at least until this week it had been pushing with a single-mindedness lacking in almost every other area. Most Daily Mail readers will be familiar with the details but in brief: The Mauritians gave up any claim to the islands in the 1960s. They have no natural or historic connection to the atolls, which lie as far from Mauritius as London does from St Petersburg. However, in 2019, an international court featuring judges from such human rights havens as China, Russia and Somalia issued a non-binding judgment that Britains decolonisation of Mauritius would remain incomplete until it had handed over the islands. Instead of dismissing this bizarre and biased ruling out of hand, Britain incomprehensibly agreed to give the Chagos to Mauritius. Most of the Governments subsequent claims as to why the deal is necessary have been shown to be laughably false. The most comprehensive recent justification came from Ben Judah, an ex-adviser to David Lammy. Judah argued in a Sunday paper that the 2019 judgment had placed Britain in a kind of legal jeopardy. Echoing the established Whitehall view, Judah suggested that without a new negotiated settlement, Britain would risk incurring fresh binding judgments that could ultimately see us stripped of the territory anyway. He added that a deal securing our right to remain on the islands, at a cost to the British taxpayer of many billions (funding lavish tax cuts for Mauritians), would be less bad than losing everything through the international courts. 'Keir Starmer, it has been said, is oddly without principles for a man who reached the top of politics' Defence Minister John Healey said much the same thing in May 2025, telling MPs: Without this deal, within weeks, we could face losing legal rulings and within just a few years the base would become inoperable. But the fact is non-binding judgments are just that so the claim is nonsense. The Foreign Office position, faithfully repeated by Judah and Healey, mixes a typical establishment timidity with an exaggerated fear of non-binding rulings and inevitable lashings of post-colonial guilt. Another supposed risk circulated in some quarters that China or another power might use the 2019 judgment as a pretext to invade this slice of British territory hosting a US airbase is more delusional still. Doing so would probably spark World War Three. It seems there are two main reasons that Starmer has continued with his wretched scheme: the grey but dangerous characters egging him on to do so; and his peculiarly pusillanimous approach towards our enemies. As for the first: Starmers own National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, has described the Chagos as very tiny islands where no one actually goes. Words fail me. Security adviser? The man talks like a depressed travel agent. But what of the role of lawyer Philippe Sands? This bosom friend of Sir Keir has represented Mauritius in its struggle with Britain over Chagos and has attended summits on the islands at which the Mauritian flag was illegally hoisted on British soil. Did Sands raise the Chagos issue with Starmer before he became Prime Minister, or even before he became Labour leader? It seems possible. And what about the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, another questionable individual (and yet another close friend of Sir Keir) who has long made an excellent living sticking up for Britains enemies through the courts on human rights grounds, from Shamima Begum to Islamist terrorists and Gerry Adams. Did Hermer, too, press Starmer to pursue this folly? Starmer, it has been said, is oddly without principles for a man who reached the top of politics. A recent article about him contained the revealing anecdote that a senior aide, asked what the PMs values were, replied: Dont worry, hell go along with whatever I put on his desk. The second devastatingly simple theory for Starmers ongoing pursuit of the deal was outlined by the Chagos campaigner and Tory peer Ross Kempsell. As he put it in a polite but firm rebuttal to Ben Judah: Starmer is desperate to appease China. We can guess China wants Britain out of the Indian Ocean and will weaken the US wherever it can. It is far from outlandish to suggest that the PM might have hoped the deal would help secure an economic treaty with Beijing. If so, the Chagos sell-out makes Frances sale of Louisiana for a cut-price $15million in 1803 look like a masterstroke of diplomacy. So where do we go from here? After Trump went cold on the deal, Starmers scheme has been further undermined by the dramatic arrival on February 16 of several Chagossians on one of the atolls, accompanied by Adam Holloway, former MP and old-school adventurer. After 50 years in exile, largely in Britain, the Chagossians have landed to reclaim their right to live there and ensure the territory cannot be given to Mauritius. For this, they have been issued with expulsion orders and threatened with jail by the British Government the same Government that cannot stop tens of thousands of men illegally invading our homeland but now threatens to expel indigenous people from their own home. Misley Mandarin, the Chagossian leader, said: We have paid British taxes. We have lived in British towns. If the Government of Sir Keir Starmer tries to deport us against our will, it will be committing a fresh crime against humanity. Such language should be enough to chill the blood of self-styled human rights defenders such as Sir Keir. If nothing else, it should make him finally see sense. His 15th U-turn would at least be the right one. Keep the Chagos and end this farce. Dr Bob Seely is author of The New Total War Four days ago, Keir Starmer arrived in Gorton and Denton and delivered the following impassioned statement: I want to bring communities together in unity and hope,' he proclaimed. Well, this morning the Prime Minister has his wish. He has indeed brought Britain together. We are a united nation at last. Black, white. Rich, poor. Young, old. Man, woman. North, South. Everywhere you look, the view is the same. People hate with a loathing so visceral I have seen nothing like it in my 30-plus years working in and writing about British politics Sir Keir. And they want him gone from office. Yesterdays by-election result did not simply represent a defeat for Labour. It was an evisceration. A rending of the bond between the party and people so brutal and uncompromising it defies rational analysis. This was not simply a safe seat, nor even a fortress. It was Labours Fort Knox. The last time the party lost in Gorton was a century ago. Since its inception as a distinct constituency in the early eighties, Denton has only ever returned a Labour MP. And now it has been plundered. For weeks, Starmers acolytes told us this was, a two-horse race, between Labour and Reform. But in a two-horse race the Prime Minister couldnt even manage to come second. They have collapsed to third, more than a thousand votes behind Reform, and a staggering 5,000 votes behind the Greens. This morning, stunned Labour MPs are trying to come to terms with their loss. But the first thing they have to realise is that the seat was not lost, but sacrificed. In a desperate and futile attempt to save Starmers own political skin. Winning candidate Hannah Spencer and Labour's Angeliki Stogia, who came third a staggering 5,000 votes behind the Greens Zack Polanski and Hannah Spencer celebrate. Yesterdays vote was not a endorsement of the New Greens hard-left menu. It was a cry for help from voters, writes Dan Hodges Never has a Prime Minister been so personally responsible for placing his own ambition before that of his party and his country. First, there was the decision to block Andy Burnham. We will never know if Manchesters mayor could have saved this seat. But Keir Starmer didnt even bother to find out. Terrified the self-styled King of the North would march south to steal his crown, he defenestrated him. With the result that if Burnham is the King of the North, then Starmer is now Richard the Third. His blocking of him is the political version of the vanishing of the two princes in the Tower. And like Richard, Starmer will now have to live with his infamy. Then there was the strategy Starmer employed to try to retain the seat. Ever since his party conference last year, Sir Keir has been telling his party and the nation at large that he was the man to stop Reform. He would, he vowed bombastically, stand tall against their division. And what did he do over the past month? Spent every waking hour talking Reform and its ill-appointed candidate, Matt Goodwin up. And claiming no, not claiming, but flat-out lying that the contest was a straight fight between Labour and Nigel Farages insurgents. And what did his duplicity gain him? The spectacle of both Reform and the Greens storming past as he was consigned to the humiliation and oblivion of third place. But there is a final reason why this defeat rests squarely on Starmers puny political shoulders. I spent yesterday standing outside Gorton and Dentons rainswept polling stations. And I heard the same message again and again. Starmer spent weeks talking Reform's candidate Matt Goodwin, pictured arriving at the vote count, up and insisting it was a straight fight between Labour and Farage's party The Gorton and Denton seat was not lost, but sacrificed. In a desperate and futile attempt to save Starmers own political skin, writes Dan Hodges From Chris the IT man. From Hussan the delivery driver. From Nadine the teacher. He promised change but he hasnt delivered it. Nothings different. We were promised things would be different under him. Nothing changes. I wrote last weekend, following a week in this gritty Northern constituency, that Keir Starmers worst nightmare was coming true. Both Labours political flanks were collapsing simultaneously with disillusioned voters on the Left defecting to the Greens, and disillusioned voters on the Right of the party defecting to Reform. In one sense thats what happened. But it goes much deeper than that. The antipathy towards Keir Starmer transcends the traditional political divide. No-one from your woke, effete, bleeding heart metropolitan liberal, through to your testosterone fuelled, white-van driving, small-boat despising Red Wall dweller likes, admires, understands, empathises with, supports or embraces the Prime Minister. As one despairing minister said to me yesterday, I dont know what it is. And it isnt really fair, because I personally like him. But everyone completely despises Keir. In the days ahead there will rightly be a focus on some of the disturbing sub-currents emerging from this election. One will obviously be the stunning breakthrough of the Greens, a party that has seemingly cast aside its fluffy environmentalism in favour of a darker, sharper-edged, political sectarianism. But let us be clear. Gorton and Denton is primarily a traditional, blue collar, Northern working class seat. And yesterdays vote was not a endorsement of the New Greens hard-left menu of drug liberalisation, trans rights and Islamic fundamentalism. It was a cry for help from voters who believe rightly Labour has turned its back on them. There will also be calls for an investigation into the so-called family voting - where a voter is accompanied by another person into polling booths with the concern that they could be influencing their vote which a group of electoral observers claim to have seen in a number of polling stations. And again, its important this issue is taken seriously. But I can only report what I saw with my own eyes at polling stations across the constituency. I spoke to dozens of Muslim voters. And it was clear to me that they were not defecting from Labour because they were being coerced. They were doing do because they feel betrayed by Keir Starmer. And in that they are far from alone. There is a tendency within Westminster to overstate the significance of parliamentary by-elections. But there is no way of overstating the significance of what happened last night. The voters of Gorton and Denton did not just make a statement yesterday. Instead, they spoke for a nation. Ill let Mahmood, a supermarket worker I spoke to, have the last word. Its Starmer. He said hed be different, but he hasnt been. Ive always voted Labour. But he has to go now. Britain has spoken. Now the Prime Minister must listen. Back in the spring of 2014, transgender actor Laverne Cox then starring in the Netflix hit 'Orange is the New Black' appeared on the cover of Time Magazine accompanied by the headline 'The Transgender Tipping Point.' Arriving months after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, Time declared that the struggle for transgender equality then being waged by celebrity-activists like Cox was the 'Civil Rights battle of our time.' More than a decade on, America is now reaching a new 'transgender tipping point' led by activists such as myself who are battling to reverse the damage done all those years ago. Across culture, science and politics, the progressive-led movement that saw minors like myself endure horrific 'gender-affirming' surgeries often without our parents' consent is being reset. As President Trump declared in his history-making State of the Union address on Tuesday, 'who would believe that we're even talking about [this]? We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately.' The Trump speech came in the wake of a series of events that have propelled the transgender movement to this new tipping point. In early February, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) became the first major medical association in the US to recommend that operating physicians delay breast, genital and facial surgeries, as part of pediatric cross-sex treatments, until patients are at least 19 years old. That move came just days after a New York jury awarded 22-year-old Fox Varian two million dollars after she sued her medical providers for pushing to have a double mastectomy when she was 16 years old. This was the first-ever trans-related malpractice case of its kind, but it will certainly not be the last. Four years ago, when I was then 17, I began speaking out about the process of destransitioning back to a young woman after I transitioned to a man years prior. But I didn't just want my body back, I wanted to spare other young people from the horrors I had endured at the hands of reckless physicians and psychologists. The backlash was intense and immediate. I was told by frigid doctors and livid activists that my voice was an insignificant minority, and that by raising my concerns and speaking up about my maltreatment I was infringing upon the 'rights' of others. More than a decade on, America is now reaching a new 'transgender tipping point' led by activists such as myself (Pictured: Cole on Capitol Hill in 2022) Four years ago, when I was then 17, I began speaking out about the process of destransitioning back to a young woman after I transitioned to a man years prior (Pictured: Cole after her 'transition' to male) Even though I had transitioned medically as a child and once was a legitimate member of the trans community, I was dismissed by medical, legislative, and public authorities because I no longer adhered to their ideological dogma. Today, as the tide finally turns as the trans-rights movement reaches a much needed corrective I feel vindicated. But it's taken far too long to get here. If the medical profession hadn't placed ideology over truth in the first place, I never would have been put on menopause-inducing drugs or critical doses of testosterone at 13 and undergone surgery to remove my breasts as a high school sophomore. It took four years, but I ultimately chose to embrace my God-given sex before my 17th birthday, having become incredibly sickly and filled with regret after these procedures. Immediately, my voice was smothered by the same community that once treated me like a hero for becoming the poster child for so-called 'gender affirming' care. The louder I spoke, the worse the treatment from my former 'friends' and 'allies' within the transgender community became. What began with alienation and humiliation devolved into threats to my family and folks on social media encouraging me to kill myself. I was barely out of my teens. I am hardly alone in enduring this abuse. For years, detransitioners, their parents and our support networks who have been blowing the whistle on pediatric cross-sex treatments have faced virulent and often violent harassment. But now it finally appears to have been worth it. Thanks to the Varian case and activism by detransitioners like myself, the ASPS recommendations have been adopted by other leading medical groups who finally understand that the benefits of these pediatric procedures may not outweigh any potential risks. Of course they don't. And what's more, I believe, they're irreversibly destructive. Chloe Cole's lawsuit against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals is scheduled for April 5, 2027 Back in the spring of 2014, transgender actor Laverne Cox then starring in the Netflix hit ' Orange is the New Black' appeared on the cover of Time Magazine accompanied by the headline ' The Transgender Tipping Point' 'This is a vulnerable, adolescent population,' said Scot Bradley Glasberg, past president of ASPS, who did not vote on the new guidance but has been involved in discussions about the group's stance. 'We are mindful that some of these surgeries are irreversible.' It's only logical that if cosmetic surgeries like breast implants are inappropriate for children, so should be other irreversible treatments that actively interfere with development into adulthood. After all, so-called gender transition does not just begin with surgery. Puberty blockers and wrong-sex hormones start distraught adolescents down the slippery slope to irreversible transformations. In fact, the ASPS recommendations also cites 'substantial uncertainty' about the long-term benefits and harms of hormones and puberty blockers which are routinely prescribed. Hopefully, the movement of medical associations will influence American culture, because these surgeries on children are still happening in the US, with their decisions left up to doctors, patients and their families. But no child should be permitted to make such a life-altering decision. And no parents should have the power to make it for them. What is needed next is more legal precedent to make this new transgender tipping point permanent. I applaud the Varian ruling. But it is not enough. Two million dollars does not account for all the trauma that she endured. I too have a lawsuit pending and set to go to trial. I hope that my case will also ensure that every detransitioner can find justice. Breaking the habit of a lifetime, I decided to read some of the online comments about a column I wrote last week. A column in which I said that, given Andrew had plunged the royals into an existential crisis, Prince William, as future King, should step into the breach and stop leaving all the heavy lifting to his father King Charles. I said William appeared to be a most reluctant King-in-waiting, that he and Kate conducted too few royal appearances and it was time for him to man up and tackle the unprecedented threat to the Monarchy. All of this I truly believe as a monarchist who is desperate to see the institution survive. And of course I expressed the utmost compassion for Kate and William in their battle against her cancer, as well as understanding over his decision to take time out from royal duties while she recovered. It was a column that provoked a good deal of reaction from readers, many of whom considered my criticism of the Waleses unreasonable. One recurring theme of that criticism was how unfair it was of me to ask William to do more when Kate has been so ill. What did I know about cancer, readers asked, or, more pertinently, about a loved one suffering from it. How would you feel in his shoes? one person demanded in anger. Well, as it happens, I do know a lot about it. Because I have walked in Williams shoes. I lay down beside my beautiful big brother, holding his hand on the night in the 1990s when I lost him to cancer, and heard his final words: I love you, Mandy. See ya. He used the same See ya phrase to my parents and his children, giving us all a glimmer of hope that we would meet again after the unbearable sadness and loss we suffered. Amanda Platell recently wrote that William appeared to be a most reluctant King in waiting, that he and Kate conducted too few royal appearances and it was time for him to man up It provoked a good deal of reaction from readers. And one recurring theme of that criticism was how unfair it was to ask William to do more when Kate has been so ill I remember with horrible clarity the moment I received a phone call from my dad in Australia at my London office. He never called me there except in an emergency. He said: Come home, Mandy. Michael has cancer, hes dying. My big burly brother, who had always protected me, even to the extent of chasing away unsuitable boyfriends down the street with a loaded shotgun, was a shadow of his former self, wearing a mask and linked up to an oxygen tank. He was so thin I hardly recognised him as he sat in his living room barely able to speak or even breathe. I will never forget the sickening thud after he attempted to go alone to the upstairs loo and fell back down the stairs. Nor how I would kneel as an adult in my 30s in my childhood bedroom at night praying for Jesus to save him. Nor how the only sound in our small bungalow came from my parents bedroom where my mother was quietly sobbing and my father trying to comfort her. That and the occasional click of her rosary beads as she, a devout Catholic, prayed for a recovery that would never come. He had incurable mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. As a boy he had cut bricks with an asbestos blade. He earned good money doing 10-hour shifts at just 17, and would arrive home covered in deadly grey asbestos dust. It can be as long as 40 years before mesothelioma shows itself. It finally got him as he was about to turn 41 younger than Kate was when she was diagnosed at 42. Before the terrible back pain started - that was the first symptom - Michael had been more contented than Id ever known him, happily married in a lovely home with two young children. He was a pharmacist, and thought the pain was down to standing for hours in the pharmacy he owned. When he learned the truth, the doctors told him and his young wife that he had six months to live at best. He lasted four. I have walked in Williams shoes. I lay down beside my beautiful big brother, holding his hand on the night in 1990s when I lost him to cancer, writes Amanda Platell. Pictured with Michael I spent most of that time with him in Perth as his strength waned. I will always cherish our last Christmas Day together, when he and his wife arrived at the family home, his legs wreathed in white surgical bandages. He was gasping for air, bravely saying he wanted to prove to me he wasnt a goner yet. He died two days later. The cries of his young son as I cradled him the morning after Michael died will never leave me. As only a child could, he was pleading: Why didnt Dad tell me he needed a new lung, I could have got a weekend job and saved up for one. I remember thinking at Michaels funeral which was stacked to the gunwales with hundreds of his friends that a sister should never have to bury her big brother. Thinking how he would have hated that fact it was a scorching 40C he never liked hot weather. My only consolation was that in the depths of his deep, cold grave it would be cooler. There was no saving Michael, the slither of asbestos in his lungs from when he worked in the brickyards decades earlier did its work and taught me more than I ever wanted to know about the insidious nature of mesothelioma. Yet the truth is, I was already no stranger to cancer. A few years before Michaels diagnosis, I found myself sitting in a cramped room with a consultant telling me my cervical cancer had spread and I needed a complete hysterectomy. So in my mid-thirties, I learned there was no chance of conceiving the children I had longed for. Worse, in those days I was deemed too old to adopt. I think the reason I am telling you the story of my brothers death is I would like to suggest we should all perhaps pause and think before we criticise. We are all quick to judgment and, as a columnist, I have rained criticism on those I felt deserved it. In some cases I have regretted doing so, and said so in print. With social media the temptation to impetuously cast down those you disagree with can be instantaneous and hard to resist. So, to all you keyboard warriors out there, I just want to ask you to pause before you start typing. I do understand the pain and trauma caused by cancer. I have pictures of Michael and me together by my bedside and on the desk where I write, in fact just about everywhere. I have shed a million tears over Michaels death and expect I will shed a million more. The grief over his passing will be with me for the rest of my life. Designer declutter Actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow attending the CMA Awards in 2010. She is now having a garage sale of her designer outfits How curious that Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a fortune of around 148 million, is having a garage sale of her designer outfits, auctioning them to the highest bidder, with price reserves of up to 5,000. Perhaps she, like many women in their fifties, has ruefully accepted she cant fit into them any more. Yes, its all for charity, but why cant she do what the rest of us would when having a wardrobe clear-out and tearfully hand them over to Oxfam? Bafta host Alan Cumming ended the night saying: Its been a celebration of diversity, equality and inclusion. I saw all the movies up for gongs, including One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sinners with Michael B Jordan one of whom should have won Best Actor. Instead it went to Robert Aramayo in I Swear, a movie about Tourettes. I swear that if ever a woke award went to an actor on account of diversity rather than talent, this was it. Ex-Prince Andrew has been banned from horse riding by aides following his arrest. An act of malice by the Palace which decided its a bad look if hes snapped on horseback? Or a requirement from the RSPCA which will surely think it cruel for any creature to support his lardy a***? Can it be true that Andrews staff at his temporary home have been told they must still call him Sir? Heaven help them if they forget the names of his 72 teddy bears. Fergie was reported holed up in the 13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Switzerland, now shes rumoured to be at Ballyliffin Lodge in Ireland, where rooms can be 144 a night. If I were planning to stay at either, Id want assurances her room had been exorcised before moving in. Lily Collins attending the premiere of Emily In Paris season five in France. She is playing Audrey Hepburn in a new biopic... but will she be able to do the icon justice? The adorable Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins says shes thrilled and honoured to be playing Audrey Hepburn in a new biopic of the iconic star. Emily is wafer-thin like Audrey but Im afraid there the similarities end as no one can capture the beauty and pathos of Hepburn. Not so much Breakfast at Tiffanys in Lilys case, but Brunch at Starbucks. BBC still on repeat Surely the news theyre bringing back Doctor Foster, which first appeared more than a decade ago, is another sign the BBC has completely run out of ideas. Please, not Suranne Jones and her one anguished expression again! Weve already had the return of The Night Manager, first shown in 2016, and Line of Duty is coming back, first seen in 2012. Theyre even dredging up The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, 41 years on. The angsty teen would be a bed-ridden pensioner by now. Pictures of Stephen Hawking flanked by two barely-clad women described as his long-term carers, are believed to have been taken on Epsteins island. I found them confusing since I met Hawking once in a London restaurant and he did indeed have two long-term carers with him two big burly blokes who were required to lift him from his wheelchair! The Soham murderer Ian Huntley was viciously attacked by a fellow inmate at Frankland Prison with a metal spike, leaving him in a pool of blood fighting for his life. Was I the only one who hoped the ambulance driver who sped him to hospital would go easy on the accelerator pedal? A pair addicted to making money Harry and Meghan visiting the QuestScope Youth Center at the Za'atari refugee camp in northern Jordan The Sussexes wrote sticky notes to addicts in recovery on their quasi royal visit to Jordan. Harrys said: Its OK to not be OK, while Meghans echoed his compassion: Congratulations on your dedication to your care. The fatuous gestures left us wondering what these no-longer-working royals know about addiction other than to the millions they make from the royal name and trashing the Royal Family. Westminster Wars The Gorton and Denton by-election proved a disappointing night for Reform, which came second to the Green Party; and disastrous for Keir Starmer after Labour was pushed into third place in one of their safest seats. It was also a catastrophe for Kemi Badenoch. Given the Tories won only 706 votes and lost their deposit, it is surely time for Kemi to step aside. Lindsay Hoyle, the pet-loving Speaker, is embroiled in the Mandelson saga after tipping off police that Mandy might flee to the British Virgin Islands, something Hoyle discovered while on a jaunt to the luxury destination. Hes dubbed long haul Hoyle having spent 320,000 of our cash on foreign freebies. One question: who cares for his parrot, tortoise, dogs and kitten while hes away? Tracey Emins new exhibition A Second Life at Tate Modern has reduced some critics to tears. It includes what looks like a blood-spattered painting of a woman in a white dress entitled I followed you to the end. Jolly good but who wants a picture that looks like the final scene of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Microsoft boss Bill Gates said the two Russian beauties he had affairs with were not hookers trafficked by Epstein. He claimed one was a nuclear physicist, the other a talented bridge player. No doubt both were Mensa members, Bill, but youve now got the dummy hand. Robbie Williams, the former boyband singer, will mark Ozzy Osbournes posthumous Lifetime Achievement gong at the Brit Awards by performing a special arrangement of the rockers track No More Tears. Oh, dear. I think Ozzy would rather be loving devils instead. The heart, brain, liver, lungs and many more organs are essential to the body's survival and living a long, healthy life. But experts believe an unlikely muscle you most likely only think about on leg day could be the key to understanding longevity: the calf muscle. Located on the back of the lower leg and reaching from just below the knee to above the heel, the calf muscle supports mobility and stability, helping to point the toes and propel the body in walking and running. Recent research has even shown that not using this muscle may increase the risk of heart issues like blood clots. When the heart pumps, it sends oxygen-rich blood to every part of the body, including the legs. However, sending blood up the body back to the heart takes more effort than a single pump, therefore it needs a boost. Moving the calves compresses deep veins, which sends blood back up against gravity toward the heart. This is crucial for preventing blood clots and keeping the heart from becoming strained. Additionally, the size of the calves serves more than for just aesthetic purposes. Having a more muscular calf is seen is a strong indicator of physical performance and means of preventing muscle decline, also known as sarcopenia. Affecting 10 to 16 percent of the elderly worldwide, sarcopenia has been associated with a significantly higher risk of death, with some studies estimating over 300 percent added risk. The calf muscle acts as the body's 'second heart' and prevents blood clots, while the size of it may be able to predict lifespan, experts believe (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. The key to caring for the second heart is similar to that of caring for your actual heart - movement. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, along with muscle-strengthening workouts at least twice per week. Running, walking, jumping rope and doing seated or standing calf raises can help strengthen the calves and promote regular movement. While moving the calf muscle causes one-way valves inside the leg veins to open and push blood up to the heart, relaxing it closes that valve and prevents the heart from getting that blood. Sitting or standing still for long periods of time then causes pressure to build up in those veins, damaging valves over time and causing blood to pool in the legs. That sluggish blood allows blood cells to stick together, forming clots in the deep veins, leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Striking up to 900,000 Americans every year, DVT can result in blood clots in the veins breaking loose and traveling through the bloodstream to the lungs, blocking blood flow. Blood clots in the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism, can lead to permanent organ damage, and about one in three of people with an undiagnosed and untreated pulmonary embolism die. The CDC estimates 100,000 to 200,000 Americans die of a pulmonary embolism each year. As for the size of the calf muscle, a recent study of 63,000 adults found that for each 1cm (0.4 inches) increase in calf circumference, the risk of death was reduced by five percent. Join the debate Should we rethink how we measure fitness and health by focusing more on leg strength and calf size? Running, walking and standing or sitting calf raises can promote movement and strengthening of the calf muscles (stock image) In another study, led by researchers at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Italy, scientists discovered that calf circumference was directly linked to strength elsewhere in the body. They evaluated the relationship between calf circumference and frailty, physical performance, muscle strength, and functional status in people 80 and older. The team found physical performance and muscle strength 'significantly improved' as the calf circumference increased. They also measured the frailty of participants by grading them based on their walking speed, strength, weight, energy levels and levels of exhaustion. When the frailty grades were matched with calf circumference, they found the 'frailty index score was significantly lower among subjects with higher calf circumference.' The experts concluded that their findings support the notion that calf circumference can be an indicator of muscle mass, and potentially strength and overall fitness. In addition to exercise to strengthen the calf muscle, compression socks can help prevent circulation issues in the legs linked to DVT and pulmonary embolism. Hit by daily episodes of dizziness, fatigue and nausea, Tracey Condron initially thought she had caught some sort of virus. Id gone from feeling full of energy to a complete wreck, says Tracey, 44, a mother of three aged 21 to 29. And soon after these symptoms began, she noticed other changes to her health. I also started getting brain fog a lot of the time, both at home and at work, says Tracey, who at the time was a Special Educational Needs Assistant in a primary school. Then I began noticing random overpowering smells sweet, floral scents that no one else could smell. Her baffled colleagues kept telling her there was no smell. They thought Id lost the plot, says Tracey, from Rainham, Essex. In fact, Traceys symptoms were due to her being slowly poisoned by carbon monoxide gas leaking from a faulty boiler in her bedroom and were it not for the quick actions of her neighbours, she could easily have died as a result. Because alone at home one January evening last year, four months after her symptoms began, things suddenly took a dramatic turn for the worse. Tracey Condron was hit by daily episodes of dizziness, fatigue and nausea but thought it was from some sort of virus Traceys symptoms were due to her being slowly poisoned by carbon monoxide gas leaking from a faulty boiler in her bedroom Tracey remembers nothing beyond sitting on the sofa that evening she cant even recall getting into bed. Its only because her neighbours showed her footage from their video doorbell that she knows she staggered up their drive at around six the next morning. I was so weak I looked like I was going to collapse, says Tracey. I could barely knock. Luckily, they heard me and opened the door to find me looking like death. Her neighbours took her inside and called 999. I started vomiting in their living room and was struggling to breathe, says Tracey. Then apparently I went stiff as a board and started convulsing. By the time the ambulance arrived, Tracey was foaming at the mouth. She suffered two cardiac arrests (meaning her heart suddenly stopped beating) and had to be resuscitated twice. In hospital, doctors were initially at a loss as to the cause of her sudden collapse. She was put into an induced coma to try to prevent the seizures she was having - fearing she might not make it, her family was called into the intensive care unit. It was during discussions with her children, who mentioned that Tracey slept next to the boiler, that doctors at Queens Hospital, Romford, began to suspect carbon monoxide poisoning - and tests proved their hunch right. Each year, over 100 people in the UK die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning - while many others, like Tracey, survive and can be left with life-changing health problems. The reason the gas, which is invisible and odourless, is so deadly is that it binds far more tightly to haemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) than oxygen does, meaning it takes its place and so reduces oxygen delivery to the brain and other organs, explains Dr Faye Begeti, a neurology specialist at Oxford University Hospitals. The brain is especially vulnerable as it normally receives around a quarter of the hearts blood flow to meet its high oxygen needs without adequate oxygen the tell-tale symptoms of poisoning, such as fatigue, brain fog and nausea begin. (The phantom smells Tracey noticed might have been a sign of mini-seizures in the area of the brain that processes smells, but is not characteristic of carbon monoxide poisoning.) Chronic low-level exposure can be particularly harmful, as symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness and cognitive fog can easily be mistaken for stress, viral illness or infection, adds Dr Begeti. Neurology specialist Dr Faye Begeti explains that the gas is dangerous because carbon monoxide reduces oxygen delivery to the brain and other organs As levels of the gas build up in the home, it can cause severe acute carbon monoxide poisoning and seizures due to profound hypoxia (lack of oxygen reaching the brain). There can be long-term consequences, too. Dr Begeti warns of delayed encephalopathy a form of brain injury that can emerge days or weeks later caused by ongoing inflammation in brain tissue and damage to the brains white matter (the wiring that allows different parts of the brain to communicate). People may experience cognitive decline, personality change, gait problems, seizures or psychiatric symptoms long after the exposure has ended, she says. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when there is insufficient oxygen when the fuel, typically gas, is burned by flame, or when fumes that should be safely vented outside leak back into the home due to faulty, blocked or poorly maintained heating systems. According to the charity CO-Gas Safety, faulty heating and cooking appliances are most often implicated in leaks - but generators, boats and petrol-powered strimmers can all emit the gas. But because the symptoms of poisoning often mimic viral illnesses GPs may not suspect carbon monoxide, says Stephanie Trotter, president and director of CO-Gas Safety. Also blood tests which measure carbon monoxide in the bloodstream and, less commonly, breath tests, often give false negatives because the gas leaves the body very quickly. Sadly, just because CO leaves the body quickly, it does not mean the person exposed will completely recover. Many go on to suffer lasting damage to the brain and nervous system, she adds. If someone was exposed to a high level, or exposed for a long time, it can trigger ongoing damage in the body. This means a person might seem fine at first, then feel much worse hours, days, or even weeks later. As Dr Begeti explains, carbon monoxide has a half-life in the body of about four or five hours, meaning roughly 75 per cent would be cleared in eight to ten hours. She adds: In situations where someone is being exposed repeatedly, the gas may not be fully cleared before the next exposure begins, hence chronically building up. December is the deadliest month for carbon monoxide deaths because people tend to spend more time indoors and theres an increased use of heating along with less ventilation due to windows being closed. But there is a year-round risk with barbecues or camping stoves used in tents, caravans or enclosed spaces, posing a serious risk in the summer too, according to CO-Gas Safety. Tracey now warns people on social media about the dangers of faulty boilers and the importance of having carbon monoxide alarms Research by University College London and Liverpool John Moores University in 2012 suggested that more than three million people in the UK are regularly exposed to carbon monoxide levels of 50 parts per million or higher which, while below the levels that cause immediate collapse, can still be dangerous over time. Less than 2 per cent of carbon monoxide in the air can kill or maim in between one and three minutes some survivors tell me their injuries are so bad they wish theyd died, says Stephanie Trotter. After her symptoms began, Tracey had gone to her GP who gave her repeated blood tests to check whether she might be anaemic, for example, but each came back clear. All the time the levels of carbon monoxide gas in her home were building. By the time she got to hospital the lack of oxygen to her brain was so acute she was having one seizure after another and had a fractured spine and hip as a result. She spent five days in a coma, during which she continued to have seizures meaning doctors had to delay fitting a back brace to limit the movement of her spine and help it heal. Tracey was discharged two weeks later, a changed woman. I could barely walk, she recalls. I had to stay with my older daughter, who lives nearby, for a few weeks because I couldnt manage on my own. Everything became difficult, lifting, dressing, shopping, even playing with my grandchildren [then aged four, two and seven months]. Despite now taking takes anti-epileptic drugs, over a year on Tracey still suffers from regular seizures, some requiring urgent hospital treatment. The last serious set of seizures was in September last year, she says. I dont recall it, but my daughter was on the phone and said I wasnt making sense. I had multiple seizures and woke up a day later not knowing what had happened. The fractures in her spine and hip healed, but have left her with daily pain. And despite taking painkillers, her mobility is now so poor she has had to give up work and depends on others for everyday tasks such as making meals, cleaning the house and food shopping. The damage to her heart caused by the lack of oxygen has now healed, but Tracey has panic attacks and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of her ordeal. She is undergoing talking therapy. Life is not easy and I hate not being able to play with my four grandchildren [now five, three, 17 months and five months] - but Im so grateful to still be here and to have survived it, says Tracey. Her gas supplier later confirmed her boiler was faulty; and a carbon monoxide detector installed by her landlord was also found to be not working. It was wired in and showed a green light, so it looked like it was working, she says. There were never any safety checks in the five years Ive been here - if there had, I wouldnt have suffered prolonged poisoning that nearly killed me. Tracey is so scared it will happen again that she now has carbon monoxide detectors in every room and warns people on social media about the dangers of faulty boilers and the importance of having alarms. I sleep with the windows and doors open when my grandson stays over, she says. He had actually stayed in my room on many weekends before I was hospitalised but thankfully, Id always kept my bedroom door open when he was there. I dread to think what could have happened to him if I hadnt. Tracey has an important message for others: If I could tell people one thing, its to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm that meets the official EN 50291 safety standard. It could save your life. Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce (Wildfire 18.99, 400pp) Witch Trial is available now from the Mail Bookshop Matthew Phillips, an Edinburgh heart transplant surgeon with family problems, finds himself on the jury in the sensational trial of two teenage schoolgirls accused of murdering classmate Christian Shaw, 18. It is a trial that horrifies the nation and awakens the age-old fear of witches. The jury hears of Tarot card readings and Ouija boards, of animal sacrifices, curses and coven meetings in a shed on the edge of an allotment. But then their fierce defence begins and terrifies Matthew, as he doubts his sanity. A star of the latest season of The Traitors, Tyce, a former criminal barrister, delivers a story that is all too believable are the girls monsters? Just dont read it at night. Can YOU work out who the Traitors are? Spies and Other Gods by James Wolff (Baskerville 20, 272pp) Spies and Other Gods is available now from the Mail Bookshop Six months from retirement, and with his brain increasingly unreliable, the head of British Intelligence, Sir William Rentoul, finds himself confronted by a crisis. Someone from within his nest of spies has made an anonymous complaint to Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee about a highly sensitive case involving an Iranian assassin and a string of dead bodies across Europe. Aphra McQueen, apparently just a lowly researcher, arrives to investigate but is not what she seems. So begins this delicious spy story written by a former British intelligence officer. It displays not only a wry wit and insider knowledge, but also a disdain for the spying establishment reminiscent of the great Len Deighton. Adrift by Will Dean (Hodder & Stoughton 22, 400pp) Adrift is available now Peggy Jenkins and her 14-year-old son Sammy are living a nightmare. They are trapped on a narrowboat moored on a remote canal in the Midlands, where Peggys domineering husband Drew, a writer, subjects them to a rule of terror. They cannot make a sound after 9pm as he has to have absolute silence to concentrate on his new book. On top of that, Sammy is ridiculed at school for his ginger hair and desperately thin arms the other boys call him Noodles. Peggy is only waiting for Sammy to get to 18 before she whisks him away, but can they survive? This is a portrait of menace and wickedness that is both painful and hypnotising. Brawler by Lauren Groff (Hutchinson Heinemann 18.99, 288pp) Brawler is available now from the Mail Bookshop Groffs latest collection crisscrosses America from the 1950s to the present day in nine stories about troubled mothers, damaged daughters, ruined siblings and marriages that look like theyre heading for the rocks. The opening story, The Wind, is an emotional gut-punch as a woman attempts to escape her violent cop husband. The moving Brawler sees diver Sara ready to fight the world as she copes with her neurotic, ill mother, while the slow poison of privilege infects the lives of alcoholic, unpredictable Chip and his protective sister in the compelling Whats The Time, Mr. Wolf? An Arrow In Flight by Mary Lavin (Vintage Classics 18.99, 416pp) An Arrow In Flight is available now from the Mail Bookshop Dublin and rural Meath are the setting for most of Lavins excellent short stories and its against the backdrop of city streets and rural fields that her nervy, emotionally contrary characters do their best to find a sense of equilibrium. Sympathetic, but unsentimental, she fearlessly delves into the hearts of widows, and the quiet upheavals of their lives, charting their wayward thoughts and vagaries of feelings, as seen in Happiness and In The Middle Of The Fields, or complex family dynamics in A Cup Of Tea as a returning student is caught in the mire of her parents relationship. Banshee, Edited by Ailbhe Malone (John Murray 22, 320pp) Banshee is available now from the Mail Bookshop Bold, beautiful and bleak, these powerful reimaginings of ancient Irish myths and old folktales put women at the centre of stories that focused on male protagonists. Ten writers, including Megan Nolan, Jess Kidd and Salma El-Wardany, take these mysterious legends of goddesses, imprisoned princesses and mermaids and transform them into stories with contemporary resonance. Naoise Dolans The Swan reimagines The Children Of Lir with actors as birds starring in a neverending performance. Jane Caseys The Changeling is a clever take on a toxic relationship and the revenge that a woman takes on her abusive partner. And the wonderful Wendy Erskine conjures up a hexed family on a rundown housing estate, marred by terrible ill fortune, in a reimagining of The Labour Pains Of The Ulaid. A father and daughter suffered a case of mistaken identity after being caught up in a human trafficking investigation. Jonathan Puddle and daughter Emmi visited a cafe in Guelph in Ontario, Canada, on February 18, where they got their caffeine fix - and triggered a manhunt. Puddle told CTV News that nothing unusual happened at the coffee shop, recalling sitting down and chatting about 'nonsense.' But, not long after their visit, an image of the pair from a security camera was shared online after concerned patrons suspected Emmi of being a victim of human trafficking. Puddle said after leaving the coffee shop, a young couple knocked on their car window, asking if the two were related. 'I said, "Yeah, this is my daughter,"' the confused father said. The man, Logan, said he was trying to get a good look at Emmi while they were in the cafe to see if she was in danger. However, Emmi's response didn't ease Logan's concern. Jonathan Puddle and daughter Emmi visited a cafe in Guelph in Ontario, Canada, on February 18, where they got their caffeine fix - and triggered a manhunt 'She didn't really help much because she just kind of clammed up and didn't really say anything to [Logan],' Puddle said. 'I had no idea what they were talking about. I didn't hear a single thing,' Emmi added. Logan explained he was concerned by the conversation he heard between the father and daughter, saying it sounded as though they didn't know each other. This led him to believe Emmi was potentially a victim of human trafficking. And so, when speaking with the pair didn't alleviate his worries, he decided to go to the police. 'I decided to call it in just to be safe than sorry, because I know it's a serious issue,' Logan said. According to Statistics Canada, Guelph had the highest reported rate of human trafficking per capita across Canada in 2024. Scott Tracey, media relations coordinator with the Guelph Police Service, told CTV News that 'any municipality along the [Highway] 401 corridor is going to see an increased level of human trafficking, just because of the proximity to the highway and to other major urban centers.' Puddle told CTV News that nothing unusual happened at the coffee shop, recalling sitting down and chatting about 'nonsense' In a post shared to Facebook, Puddle (pictured) said he met Logan later and praised the 'quality of some of today's young people' Police praised Logan's decision to contact them when his intuition told him something seemed wrong. 'We did begin an investigation in an attempt to locate and identify those parties,' Tracey said. In a post shared to Facebook, Puddle said he met Logan later and praised the 'quality of some of today's young people.' 'I love this new generation,' he wrote in the post shared online on Thursday. 'They're advocacy-minded in a deeply integrous way,' he continued. The father also said he spoke with the Guelph Police about what to do if you suspect someone of being in a situation that may involve human trafficking. 'I asked them to clarify for me what they would consider best practices if you notice something seems off,' he said. 'In general, they said that approaching a stranger wasn't something they'd recommend, but absolutely collecting information (photo, license plate, location, time, etc.) and contacting police as soon as possible.' 'All of that requires people to first just notice what's around them, and not be blind or ignorant to the realities of crime and exploitation in our own neighborhoods.' He concluded the post: 'See something, say something.' Kristen Stewart has been furiously mocked over her bizarre claim that people should stop eating burgers to protect illegal immigrants. The actress, 35, spoke out about the ongoing deportations across America during an event celebrating Architectural Digest's latest issue in West Hollywood on Tuesday. But when she urged people to boycott burgers to protest the crackdown on illegal immigrants, it left many people scratching their heads. Her claim came after AD asked the Twilight alum: 'What would break your heart if it disappeared from Los Angeles?' 'Immigrants. I can't stand the idea of the dismantling of the culture that had a hand in making me who I am, which is so meaningless in the face of people's lives being completely unearthed and destroyed,' she replied. 'This is not who we are. Where I'm from, I don't identify with that right now.' Stewart went on to say that she was 'dying every day' thinking of ways she could help, before listing some ideas. 'Do we make movies about this? Do we throw all of our money at it? Do we stop buying burgers in the daytime? What do we do about this?' she continued. Kristen Stewart has been furiously mocked over her bizarre claim that people should stop eating burgers to protect illegal immigrants 'I can't fathom that it's happening until it doesn't happen. Los Angeles doesn't exist without all of us.' A clip of the interview was shared on X (formerly Twitter) afterwards where it went viral, raking in more than one million views. And it sparked immense backlash for the star, as many wondered what buying burgers had to do with stopping ICE. 'What in the hell does not buying burgers during the day even mean?' one user asked. 'So her big plan is skip In-N-Out at lunch? Bold strategy. Meanwhile the rest of us are just trying to afford rent in the city immigrants actually keep running,' someone else sarcastically wrote. 'Looks like she solved America's problems! Just don't buy burgers and everything will be fine,' added another. 'What? Does she mean like hamburgers? Like, what does burgers have to do with illegal immigration?!' wondered a different user. 'Please walk me through the logic of how buying burgers in the day time relates to immigration,' read a fifth tweet. She urged people to boycott burgers while discussing the ongoing deportations across America during an event celebrating Architectural Digest's latest issue on Tuesday It sparked immense backlash for the star, as many wondered what buying burgers had to do with stopping ICE A sixth said: 'One of the dumbest ideas for protest I've ever heard. "We need to stop deportation of illegal aliens! So, let's not hit up McDonald's until after dark. SUCK IT, ICE!"' 'The protest against illegal immigration enforcement is... Not buying burgers during the day? No tariff pressure. No legislative push. No voter registration drive. No legal fund,' chimed in someone else. 'Just: skip lunch. Hollywood activism has truly reached its final form.' 'I don't eat meat, but because of her stupid statement, I might go buy a hamburger for lunch tomorrow,' announced another user. Stewart showed off her amazing figure as she flashed her abs in a daring bra at the event. She looked incredible in the haltered white satin bralette which she teamed with a pair of matching smart trousers. Styling her brunette tresses loose, Stewart simply accessorized with a silver chain necklace and later added a white leather bomber jacket over her ensemble. It comes after Stewart revealed she feels 'haunted' by Princess Diana, and the mere thought of the late royal leaves her in tears 'at any moment.' The actress portrayed the late Princess of Wales - who died in a car accident in Paris in 1997, aged 36 - in 2021 psychological drama film Spencer. Stewart said: 'Do we make movies about this? Do we throw all of our money at it? Do we stop buying burgers in the daytime? What do we do about this?' (stock image) It comes after Stewart revealed she feels 'haunted' by Princess Diana. The actress portrayed the late Princess of Wales in 2021 psychological drama film Spencer But she recently admitted that whenever she thinks about Diana she becomes emotional and that she cannot drive around London or Paris without thoughts of the late Princess invading her mind. Speaking about being 'haunted' by Diana, she told the Daily Telegraph: 'I still am. I can't drive round this city, and Paris for that matter, without thinking about her. All the love that poured out of this woman I can cry about her at any moment.' The star said she thought Spencer director Pablo Larrain was 'insane' for casting her as the British royal, and she pleaded with the filmmaker to cast someone else - but he refused. She added: 'I told Pablo he was insane and he should probably hire someone else, but he refused to accept that. There were some massive distinctions between her and me. 'It was the statuesque thing. It was the eye color - I have green eyes; she has very famously blue eyes that match her ring. So I was like, "Should we make the engagement ring green, then?" '[They] were pulling me under and Pablo was like, "You really must detach from those things this is about spirit."' Hillary Clinton has shocked onlookers with her very youthful visage during her appearance at the Jeffrey Epstein deposition. The former Secretary of State was deposed at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near the Clintons' home in Westchester County, New York, on Thursday. The 77-year-old, whose husband Bill Clinton testified on Friday, distracted observers with her taut complexion as she spoke to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Her refreshed look did not go unnoticed by eagle-eyed social media viewers who rushed to share their thoughts. 'Nothing better than a good facelift,' one speculated. 'Hate her but her surgeon ate,' added someone else. 'Watch out Kris Jenner,' joked another, referring to Kris Jenner's now-famous face transformation. Clinton has never addressed the cosmetic surgery speculation. The Daily Mail has reached out for comment. Hillary Clinton has shocked onlookers with her very youthful visage during her appearance at the Jeffrey Epstein deposition. Clinton pictured in 2023 (left) and on Thursday (right) In her opening statement on Thursday, Clinton refuted claims she had any knowledge of Epstein's or Ghislaine Maxwell's crime. 'I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,' Clinton said in a statement she shared on social media. The former secretary of state said she has 'no information on Epstein's criminal activities and never recalls meetings,' then accused lawmakers of covering up for Trump's relationship with Epstein, where he faces 'heinous' accusations from survivors. 'You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump's actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,' Hillary said. 'If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein's trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,' she added. It's not the first time Clinton's glowing skin has sparked rumors of a facelift. In May 2025, the former First Lady stepped out for dinner in New York City looking taut faced and wrinkle free. The refreshed look came following speculation that she went under the knife before beginning her campaign for the 2016 presidency. In her opening statement on Thursday, Clinton refuted claims she had any knowledge of Epstein's or Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes. Clinton pictured in 2016 Journalist Edward Klein wrote in his book, titled Unlikeable: The Problem with Hillary, that Bill had 'wanted her to get a facelift' before her campaign. Klein alleged that Clinton had her 'cheeks lifted and her wrinkles and lines Botoxed' and had 'work done' on her eyes, neck and forehead. Klein wrote that Bill told her that 'she couldn't do anything about the calendar, but she could do something about the lines and sagging skin on her face.' She is said to have set up a 'mini-operating room' in their Chappaqua, New York, home as she had no intention of going to a clinic. According to the Mayo Clinic, a facelift can generally be expected to last 10 years. Had he lived, Sheree Blacks son Cameron would be turning 18 this year. Of course she wonders what her wide-eyed smiley baby would look like today, entering adulthood, but she refuses to indulge that curiosity. There are these AI age-progression apps, but Ive never wanted to go there, she explains. What if they showed him looking like his father? Sheree, whos 36, likes to believe Cameron is still with her, in the form of a guardian angel. But that thought is both a comfort and a source of deep pain. I truly believe he is looking after me, she says. But they say that babies grow in the spirit world, so this would mean he also knows that his daddy murdered him. What must that be like for him? Sherees torment is unfathomable and ongoing. To lose your only child is devastating, but the circumstances here were horrific. Cameron was just 14 weeks old when he was killed by his dad Sherees former partner Ryan Leslie in 2008. In 2011, Leslie, who was then 26, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and grievous bodily harm, with the judge at Belfast Crown Court calling him a dishonest and deeply manipulative individual. Cameron had suffered brain damage due to blunt force trauma to the head, but also 14 fractured ribs, bilateral retinal haemorrhages and extensive bruising. Sheree tells me she is haunted by the fact she still does not know exactly what Ryan did to her son to cause such catastrophic injuries. And yes, she wants to know, so that I can move on. In court they said the injuries were so severe they were comparable to Cameron being in a car crash at 70mph, she says. Sheree Black's former partner killed their 14-week-old son, Cameron. Cameron suffered brain damage due to 'blunt force trauma, 14 fractured ribs and bilateral retinal haemorrhages Sheree had Cameron on May 30, 2008 and was instantly besotted. By August of that year, she had split up with Leslie and moved in with her mum I believe he threw him against the sofa it was a cheap one and you could feel the wood through the sponge. But Ill probably never know. If there was any comfort to be clung to in this desperate situation, it was that justice had been served. While Sheree knew that a life sentence rarely means life, she was reassured that Leslie would be behind bars for a minimum of 17 years before his release would even be discussed. She had been led to believe he was likely to serve closer to 21 years, given his lack of remorse or admission of guilt. Imagine her horror then when, a year ago, she received a letter informing her that Leslie was being considered for early release, having spent just 14 years in prison. When she publicly objected, starting a petition to keep Leslie in prison for the full duration, she was floored to receive an off the record phone call from a probation official, telling her that Leslie had made some sort of admission of guilt in 2017 a factor that could be significant when it comes to deciding if he met the criteria for parole. I couldnt believe what I was being told in a WhatsApp call too, which I think was inappropriate. I was told that Ryan had actually confessed, to a point. The woman from the probation service said I think its genuine. I asked why I was only discovering this now and said I wanted to know the details. What exactly had he confessed to? Had he said I, Ryan Leslie, killed my son? She said no, not exactly, but also that it was only a verbal confession and Ryan was refusing to allow me to have details of it, in case I shared them on social media. The woman said which you can understand. Sheree pauses, still reeling, still furious: No, I cannot understand. The fact is that I dont believe he is sorry. I believe that, whatever hes said, its been the bare minimum to allow them to tick their boxes and let him out. He even had the gall to tell the probation people if Sheree wants to know anything she can write to me. The judge said specifically that Ryan was a manipulator who didnt care about Cameron but was just using him to get to me. And they want me to write to this man? Sherees situation has highlighted a worrying gap in victim information rights. There is no statutory right for people in her position to be told about confessions particularly if they are not directly linked to parole decisions. I couldnt believe that, as it stands, I dont have the right to be told any information he may have shared about the murder of my son. There were only two occasions Leslie had sole care of his son, on the first he broke 14 of the baby's ribs and on the second Cameron was admitted to hospital with 'non-accidental' head injuries Sheree is now campaigning for a change in the law in Northern Ireland (where parole issues are devolved), but says the principle applies across the rest of the UK. At the moment the perpetrators have more rights than the families. Sheree was only 19 little more than a child herself when she had to turn her babys life support machine off. I had to end my sons life. I held him and felt the life go out of him, she says. That shapes you. How could it not? On one level, she has done a remarkable job of rebuilding her life. She left Northern Ireland soon after the trial, unable to cope with the pitying looks, eventually moving to Ibiza around 2018 and starting a skincare business, Mia Piel. She has also recently ventured into the classroom to teach English a breakthrough of sorts. I always loved children but Ill never forget the looks of people around me the first time I held a baby after Cameron died. Thats hard to deal with. Sherees awful story began in 2006 when, aged 16, she met Leslie, who was then 23, moving into his flat in the town of Newtownabbey. It was a volatile relationship from the off. Her pregnancy the following year did not improve things. At his trial, it was claimed there were at least seven occasions on which Leslie attacked Sheree, dragging her by the hair and kicking and punching her. She never considered going to the police. I was young and naive, she says today. Now I see I was being coerced and groomed. By a monster. Cameron was born on May 30, 2008. He may not have been planned, but his mother was instantly besotted. I knew from the off that I wanted to keep him and that I could look after him, she says. My mum says she still remembers me just looking at his beautiful wee face and saying Wow. Hes mine. Yet even in the first weeks of their tiny babys life, Sheree remembers Leslie being verbally abusive to him. By mid August of that year, the pair had split up, Sheree taking Cameron to live with her mum. But when Leslie asked to have Cameron overnight, she agreed. Its the decision that will torment me for the rest of my life. He was his dad, she explains. My parents had split up when I was young, but Id always had a good relationship with both of them. I didnt think he would touch his own son. It wasnt on my radar. There were only two occasions on which Leslie had sole care of his child. On the first forensic evidence would later prove he broke 14 of the babys ribs, handing Cameron back to Sheree on August 30, with the explanation he was crying and crying. Puzzled about why her normally cheerful baby seemed in pain, Sheree gave him Calpol because I thought he had colic. She knows now that Cameron was only returned to her after his initial bruising had faded. There is no statutory right for people in Sheree's position to be told about confessions, and she is now campaigning for a change in the law in Northern Ireland Although brain-dead when he was admitted to hospital, Cameron survived for three days, leaving his 19-year-old mother to make the decision to turn of his life support Then on Tuesday, September 2, Leslie took Cameron again. And the next time I saw my baby, was in the hospital on the Thursday, when they were doing brain scans, says Sheree, who had received a call from Leslie saying she needed to get to the hospital. Ill never forget. We were in a room and the head of neurology was saying to me that they didnt think his injuries were accidental. He kept saying non-accidental. I was saying I dont know what you mean. He had to spell it out: We think someone did this to Cameron. She was still in a daze as police and social services moved in, but remembers Leslie trying to grab her hand, pretending we were still together. She pulled away from him prompting separate interviews. He came up with a cock-and-bull story about how Cameron had hit his head on a plastic bath and hed tried to do CPR, but he didnt mention this until hours afterwards. It was all demolished in court. Leslie was arrested. It was left to Sheree, numb, to sit with their child. Although brain-dead when he was admitted to hospital, 14-week-old Cameron survived for three days, hooked up to a life support machine. It was so difficult to even touch him because of the amount of wires, but towards the end they let me climb on the bed with him. There was nothing the doctors could do, but the decision about when to turn off life support was hers. I remember thinking that since he came into the world on a Saturday, he should leave it on a Saturday. My mum and dad were in the room, but even when the switch had gone off it took him 20 minutes to die. His heart was still that strong. Afterwards, her mum thanked the doctors and nurses who had cared for Cameron and said that she imagined they saw this sort of thing all the time. But Sheree recalls the medics were in tears and replied no, we really do not. I think as I got older, I realised how his death affected so many people, she says. There were police officers who couldnt interview Ryan because they had kids of their own. It wasnt just another case for them. How does a person rebuild their life after something like this? The victims of violent crime often say they have their own life sentence, and Sherees experience reflects that. Ive always found it hard when people ask if I have children. Saying I had a child but he died leads to them asking how and to land them with his daddy killed him is too much. But equally I never wanted to deny that Cameron had existed. By 2019, Sheree was settling into life in Ibiza, but her life went into freefall after she became pregnant and her then-partner made it clear that fatherhood wasnt on his agenda. I had a termination, she admits, quietly. I was always against abortion and could never understand how anyone could do that. But I knew that when I had another baby I wanted to do it with a man by my side. I wanted a stable home for a child. But there was all this guilt. I was so messed up, so angry inside. Cameron had died and I wanted to be a mum, yet Id terminated a pregnancy. I was snapping at people at work, lashing out. I suppose when you carry trauma, you can only do it for so long. It was only then, she believes, that she even started to deal with that trauma. By 2024 she was making good progress in coming to terms with what had happened. By then, shed met an Italian man called Marco, and finally felt secure in a relationship secure enough to talk openly about Cameron. Hes taken all my baggage on board, and it was Marco who encouraged me to think about teaching. He knows how much I love children. That letter about Leslies parole plunged her back into darkness, however. It sparked a return trip to Northern Ireland the place of so many ghosts to launch her petition. Back home, she struggled to sleep. The last year has been horrific. In some ways, it sent me backwards, she says. At times it has felt like Im losing Cameron all over again. I started to dream about Ryan, which Id never done before. Ive had nightmares about him chasing me. The timescale for Leslies release is still uncertain. His parole has not been approved, but I dont know whether he will be out in a few weeks, months. I will be told, but its hard living with this uncertainty. She has written a victim impact statement setting out why she does not feel that Leslie deserves any sort of early freedom. I cant believe Ive even had to sum up the effect of all this on my life, she says. Where do you begin? Sheree adds that during Leslies trial some people were saying to me dont you just want him dead, but that would have been too easy. I wanted him to serve his time, and to think of Camerons wee face every night when he went to sleep. It never occurred to me that I might have to face him out, back on the streets, before Cameron would even be 18.' The birth of a new baby is memorable for all parents, but one newborn's delivery at an upstate New York hospital will be unforgettable for all involved. Cayuga Medical Center Birthplace in northwest Ithaca had a record-breaking day in January, when they delivered the largest newborn in its history. Parents Terrica and Shawn welcomed their son, Shawn Jr, on January 30, weighing a whopping 13 pounds and making him the largest baby ever born at the hospital. 'We knew he'd be bigger, but we didn't expect this,' the mom-of-four said in a statement. The mom, who also has two sons and a daughter, said the baby is already wearing three- to six-month diapers and clothes rather than newborn sizes. She said: 'It feels like I skipped straight to having a three-month-old.' Just hours later, parents Chloe and Victor welcomed a baby on the opposite end of the spectrum, with baby Margot weighing in at a tiny four pounds. Mom Chloe said the experience with the hospital was 'really charming.' Parents Terrica and Shawn welcomed their son on January 30, weighing 13 pounds. The medical center also welcomed Margot, weighing a tiny four pounds '[It was] such a good reminder that babies come in all shapes and sizes,' the doting mom said. 'I'm feeling great and so thankful for the care we received from the doctors, nurses, and midwives.' 'Their shared birthday was a sweet reminder that babies truly come in all shapes and sizes, and Cayuga Medical Center's team is prepared to care for every unique birth story with skill and compassion,' the hospital wrote in a post shared on Facebook. On average, a newborn weighs between seven and seven and a half pounds. Last year in July, doctors helped Tennessee mom Shelby Martin deliver her 13-pound son. Speaking to People about the birth, Martin said that she had dreamed of having a vaginal delivery and that immediate skin-to-skin contact right after birth was hugely important to her. But, because of the baby's enormous size, doctors informed her that it was much wiser to have a cesarean section. 'There was a real risk he could get stuck during delivery. That changed everything,' she explained. The 13-pound infant is the largest baby ever born at the hospital, with Cayuga Medical Center Birthplace saying, 'it's a sweet reminder that babies truly come in all shapes and sizes' 'I knew the safest choice was a C-section, and thankfully, I had an amazing OBGYN and care team at TriStar Centennial who I trusted completely.' The mom, who already had three children before welcoming Cassian, was told during her pregnancy that her fourth would be on the larger side. 'We had a heads-up that he was going to be big, but I would have never guessed almost 13 pounds,' she said. 'Looking back on bump pictures, I probably should have known,' she reflected. In a separate interview, Martin admitted that she 'didn't think she would survive' her pregnancy as he was 'essentially popping my hip joint out of socket.' Luckily, the baby was delivered safely. Thanks to social media, we can access our past lives in one simple scroll. Flicking back through the years, I can see myself in New York, front row at Victoria Beckhams fashion show opposite the Beckham clan David, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and a three-year-old Harper sitting next to Anna Wintour. Scroll further and I spot selfies with Sex and the Citys Sarah Jessica Parker at New Yorks hip Cafe Clover and model Kendall Jenner backstage at Alexander Wangs show. Theres a candid shot with Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, another of me wearing a Stella McCartney mini on a chilly looking red carpet in Paris. You see, from the Noughties through to 2020, I worked as a fashion editor and celebrity interviewer, spending my weeks criss-crossing the globe in business class, living The Devil Wears Prada fantasy . . . or nightmare depending on your viewpoint. Life was all Louboutin heels and fashion shoots, luxury suites in Tokyo and terrifying voicemails from my editor. It was everything Id ever dreamt of. Fast forward to a rainy February afternoon in 2026 and here I am at Southall Community College in an area in west London rich in cultural diversity but with the lowest average income of the capital. As a 42-year-old mother-of-two Im bent over a return corner, perfecting my perps a perpend or cross joint or in laymans terms, cleaning up the mortar between the bricks of a wall Ive just built. My inch-long manicure is protected by a pair of yellow Marigolds, which clash with the neon of my high vis, and Ive swapped my Louboutins for steel-capped boots. I could not be less front-row ready. So how and why did I make this unlikely pivot? From the Noughties through to 2020, I worked as a fashion editor and celebrity interviewer, spending my weeks criss-crossing the globe in business class As a 42-year-old mother-of-two, Im cleaning up the mortar between the bricks of a wall Ive just built As a teenager growing up in Londons southeast suburbs, I had ambitions to live a big, glamourous life. My parents had been raised in council houses in Kent, leaving school at 16 to work in admin jobs. In the mid-Eighties they split up. Things werent always easy but my mum made me believe I could be whatever I wanted, no matter what my background. And very quickly I decided that was to be the editor of Vogue magazine. After gaining scholarships and grants to attend a private school, I got my MA (Hons) at Edinburgh University and went on to complete a masters degree at the London College of Fashion. For the next 15 years, I climbed the ladder in the world of magazines at Sunday Times Style, Glamour and, finally, became senior fashion editor at Grazia. In my early 30s, I left magazines to work as a freelance writer and started collaborating with brands on social media, becoming an early crossover influencer. Over the years, Ive worked on hundreds of partnerships with some of Britains top High Street names, including M&S, Liberty, Hobbs and Jigsaw, and created my own fashion collection with Dutch designer brand Baukjen. Scroll forward one husband and two children and life became much more domestic. The turning point came when I decided to decorate the home we were renting from top to bottom (painting, building cabinets, wallpapering, tiling and a whole lot of repairs). During my childhood, Id learnt skills from my grandparents, so I was handy with a drill. But over the next five years of renting, home improvement was all I thought of day and night. Then last year we bought one of those rentals a tired and battered Victorian home in west London and I found myself dreaming, not of the glamour of the catwalks, but of project-managing the repair and renovation of our home. When I first told my husband I had applied for a year-long, full-time course in construction he laughed out loud not because he didnt think I could do it, but because it sounded so unlikely. I climbed the ladder in the world of magazines at Sunday Times Style, Glamour and, finally, became senior fashion editor at Grazia (pictured with model Cara Delevingne) Ive worked on hundreds of partnerships with some of Britains top High Street names and created my own fashion collection with Dutch designer brand Baukjen (pictured with actress and businesswoman Jessica Alba) But hes used to seeing me up a ladder wielding power tools and knows Im a dog with a bone when I set my mind to something, so he immediately got behind me. Some friends, especially in the fashion industry, said my pivot sounded like their personal hell. Its so amazing youre doing this but it would be my nightmare! While I get it theres no denying its a very different pace to fashion I think theyd be surprised at how creative it is. If you like stitching or knitting, youd love electrical work. If you like pattern cutting, youd probably like carpentry. Either way, everyone has been encouraging, while telling me Im bonkers. At first, I was worried I was going to fall flat on my face. I had no idea what building work entailed and very little clue if Id even like it. On the first day at college last September, I was overwhelmed with nerves. Sitting in a classroom with more than 100 lads aged 16-18, several of whom were trying to vape secretly, was a new experience. But over the months, Ive got to know them and the jitters have subsided, especially as most of my three days at college each week are spent doing practical lessons, although theres also plenty of health and safety paperwork. If someone had told me ten years ago that Id be spending my early 40s learning to lay bricks, Id have spat out my champagne. However, contrary to any logic, Im now more than halfway through my Construction Multi-Skills Diploma. Over the past six months, Ive learnt to bend copper piping for plumbing, connected radial and ring circuits in electrics, mastered several joins in woodwork, gained rudimentary hard wall plastering skills, perfected my cutting-in painting techniques and become the most prolific apprentice brickie on the yard. And Ive taken to it like a fish to water. I still get to drop off and pick up the kids every day, but there are lots of double shifts to make it work. After my boys go to bed, I open the laptop and start writing. As a freelance journalist and columnist, I write a successful Substack newsletter every week, as well as being a ghostwriter with 14 books under my belt. This means working until around midnight most evenings to fit it all in. If someone had told me ten years ago that Id be spending my early 40s learning to lay bricks, Id have spat out my champagne Construction jobs can be well paid, offer a lot of space for growth and independence as well as the chance to travel the world with your skills Sure, I work long hours, but Im very proud to have stripped, restored and repainted my front door by myself. Right now Im building a bin store from scratch with my carpentry and that will save me hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds. Im passionate that more women should join the construction force. These jobs can be well paid, offer a lot of space for growth and independence as well as the chance to travel the world with your skills. My biggest takeaway is that the trades arent what theyre perceived to be. They arent jobs that only men can do. Lots of them arent messy. In fact, many of them are indoor professions that dont require you to carry huge weight and they can be artistic, meditative and tangible. There is nothing like looking at a brick wall youve crafted, its such a high. Every bricklayer has their own way of laying and you can see their flair in the finish of the work. When the chimneys at Hampton Court Palace were recently rebuilt, each of the shafts were restored by individual bricklayers including brick conservator Emma Simpson because of the quirks in the way each person builds. It always has been an art. Scores of people have asked me why I would want to do work like this when, as a middle-class professional, I dont have to. This I believe reflects class prejudice. But the world has changed. Brickies might traditionally be seen as working class, but their salary, which can be upwards of 100,000 a year if they run their own business, is well above the average earnings of an office-based employee. And as AI muscles its way into every industry, construction is looking increasingly attractive. While technology will doubtless impact the business, for now the skilled trades are considered one of the best long-term bets against AI-automation. Does that mean Im going to stop writing? No. But I can see a time when the bots kill off my wordsmithery, so Id love to explore opportunities in construction. I also believe theres plenty of space for a female-led design and build company, especially as more and more women live alone. One of my friends is currently renovating and her builder will only speak to her husband, even though shes the one funding the work. Another tells me of builders who disappear for days without any communication. With my soft skills, Id do things differently. But perhaps the greatest aspect of this new venture is the lesson Im giving my children. I want my boys to know their mum can do everything, including building their home. I want to teach them to wire lights in, change taps and to know the value of these jobs. That, in my opinion, will set them up for the future. And Im not sure there is a better riposte to the manosphere than having a mum who gained two degrees, wrote bestselling books and learnt to lay bricks all the while wearing 5in Louboutin stilettos. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more One thing about Meghan Markle that nobody can argue with: the woman knows how to dress. Defined by clean, tailored silhouettes, soft neutrals and elevated basics, it's the type of wardrobe that oozes quiet luxury and sophistication exactly as you'd expect from a duchess. Unsurprisingly, she's not really what we'd call a bargain hunter. Markle's favourite brands include Givenchy, Dior and Celine, where everyday staples will set you back four figures, let alone outerwear. It means we're used to seeing the Duchess wear a fantastic outfit, hunting down its source, and sadly realising unless a lottery win is in our future, we're never going to be able to afford it. We expected much the same when we saw a snap of Markle on her recent trip to Jordan with Prince Harry, wearing a beautiful high-neck, button-up jacket. With contrast stitching and statement buttons, we initially assumed it was a Toteme buy only to discover (after a whole lot of Google lens searching) the coat was from high-street hero Zara. Markle's wool-blend coat is from Zara's premium ZW Collection, and is on the pricier end of the brand's offerings at 109. But for a high-quality wool-blend and Duchess approved design, we still reckon that's a stellar deal. What's more, shoppers seem to agree. The jacket is quickly selling out, so nab one in your size quickly or keep checking the below link for restocks. Not lucky enough to pick up the exact style? Keep scrolling for a few other high-street options that channel Markle's chic style. After all, a high-neck jacket is one of the easiest ways to pull together a transitional outfit. It's practically an essential buy. Please note Meghan Markle has no commercial affiliation with or endorsement of the products mentioned. Elon Musk's transgender daughter slipped into a silky gown as she took to the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week. Vivian Wilson, 21, who has been estranged from the Tesla founder since 2020, wore a white Gucci one-sleeved dress that boasted a high neck and side split. The look, designed by the Italian fashion house's new artistic director, Demna, was finished with a pair of glittering pointed-toe heels and a sparkly silver clutch bag. Wilson wore her long blonde tresses straight with one side swept behind her shoulder. She posed up a storm as she made her way down the runway, crossing paths with fashion royalty such as Kate Moss and Emily Ratajkowski. Just moments after her appearance, Wilson celebrated the achievement on social media. 'I just walked for Gucci lmfao,' she wrote on her Instagram story in text that overlaid a makeup-free selfie. But it is not the first time that Wilson has been in the style spotlight. Elon Musk's transgender daughter Vivian Wilson slipped into a silky gown as she took to the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week The 21-year-old, who has been estranged from the Tesla founder since 2020, wore a white Gucci one-sleeved dress that boasted a high neck and side split She appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue in March last year and, two months later, officially made her modeling debut while collaborating with the brand Wildfang. That same month in May, she additionally modeled pieces for the underwear brand Tomboyx. 'I was terrified,' Wilson said of the latter shoot during an interview with Vanity Fair. 'Before this, I was very much the person who didn't show any skin, ever, at all. 'Even in my day-to-day, like going to the beach with friends, I would not wear a swimsuit.' The star added, 'So it was very, very nerve-racking, but I wanted to do [the shoot] because I wanted to have more confidence in my own body. 'I do feel confident in my own body, but I wanted to prove that confidence to myself, if that makes any sense.' In September last year, Wilson made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, strutting for CHRISHABANA's Spring 2026 show. When it comes to being more in the spotlight, Wilson admitted to The Cut last year, 'I'm not very good at being famous. It's a skill. Wilson appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue last year in March, and two months later, she officially made her modeling debut while collaborating with the brand Wildfang Wilson briefly opened up about the relationship she has with the tech mogul while talking to Teen Vogue 'I fought so hard for so long to be viewed as a regular person. There was a moment literally right before I became famous where no one knew who I was. It was amazing.' The star added, 'Everyone treated me as a regular person. I kind of miss that. But I also like being famous.' Wilson is the eldest daughter of Musk and his ex-wife, Justine. At the age of 16, she came out as trans and two years later filed to have Musk dropped from her last name amid her estrangement with her father. Wilson briefly opened up about the relationship she has with the tech mogul while talking to Teen Vogue. 'I don't give a f*** about him. I really don't. It's annoying that people associate me with him. I just don't have any room to care anymore.' Wilson is active on social media and currently boasts one million Instagram followers. She often posts insights into her modeling career and takes fans along to events she has attended. The Botanist has become a firm favourite across the UK ever since its launch in 2012, with middle-class families rushing to try the famous hanging kebabs and groups of glamorous ladies making it their monthly spot for colourful cocktails. However, does the nature-themed pub-restaurant chain still hold the same charm? Apparently not. Customers have recently complained online of 'overpriced terrible meals' and 'poor service', with staff unable to control the 'overcrowded chaos'. Others have complained about a lack of atmosphere, claiming the eateries, found in the likes of Birmingham, Liverpool and Cardiff, are now filled with younger clientele who have 'no conversation'. 'Full of people who think they are faces,' one reviewer previously wrote on Tripadvisor about the Newcastle upon Tyne location. More recently, several customers noted a problem of overcrowding, claiming wait times for meals were 'disappointing' and that staff at several of the eateries were unable to deal with the crowds at bars. Plenty of diners looking for a social media-worthy snap have used the picturesque decor of the restaurants and the appealing-looking food as props for their photoshoots. A theme across some reviews appeared to suggest that the chain sticks to 'style over substance', with one person writing about the Birmingham location: 'The decor is lovely... but unfortunately the meal overall was very disappointing.' 'Arrived at 8. Left at 8.20 having been totally ignored. Asked the waitress who seated us if we could have some water to start and we didnt see her again. Appreciate you were busy but thats poor service,' wrote another unimpressed diner. Plenty of diners looking for a social media-worthy snap have used the picturesque decor of The Botanists and the appealing-looking food as props for their photoshoots Prices at the bar range from 7.95 for a small plate to 17.95 for a hanging kebab or 19.95 for the brand's ultimate chicken burger. Its pan-fried salmon, teamed with herby mash and roasted cherry tomatoes, costs 22.95. There's also a sharing kebab for 41.95. Puddings include a 9.95 Millionaires Cookie Dough and an edible chocolate plant pot for 12.95. One person, who visited the Birmingham bar last month, said: 'After visiting The Botanist on many occasions, what a disappointing visit. 'Staff were miserable, dressed scruffy and not friendly. They stood talking so we had to go to the bar to get drinks. Nobody checked everything was OK. 'Wed just finished our main course and they brought us the bill, we weren't asked if we wanted a pudding, I guess they wanted us to leave! 'Id put on the booking it was my sons birthday, there was no mention of any of our requests. There was six of us, meals were average but expensive, we thought itd be a nice treat - how wrong we were. I wish wed spent our 220 elsewhere.' A fourth diner, reviewing the bar in Bath, said: 'AWFUL- if you have a meal booked, cancel it! I have never had a more disappointing evening out. A glamorous woman poses up a storm outside of The Botanist bar before sharing the snap on Instagram A woman dressed in a chic two-piece ensemble stands outside the front entrance to one of The Botanist restaurants One of The Botanist bars located in Liverpool, pictured 'Our table was booked for 7.30pm. We were not seated until 8.30pm. Our main courses arrived at 10.30pm! The turkey and pigs in blankets were not cooked all the way through. The vegetables were cold.' 'Gimmicky... need to get the basics right,' another diner warned, while someone else wrote: 'I attended a hen night but found it to be very overcrowded, hot and noisy. It would suit younger people very much.' Others suggested more staff were needed, explaining: 'We've been stood at the bar in a big queue for 30 mins' before labelling the bar 'overpriced'. 'Me and my friends visited for some drinks and the service was absolutely terrible,' another The Botanist diner said. They continued: 'This was a Wednesday and although the seating area was busy, there was no one at the bar. We waited 25 mins for a bottle of wine and 3 cocktails. '... We are all from hospitality ourselves so we understand it can be hard when its busy but we expected at least an apology.' Meanwhile, one diner in Cheltenham said their local eatery looks beautiful inside with 'fabulous' decor. However, they branded the food 'terrible'. Another customer showcases her glamorous outfit while at one of The Botanist restaurants A diner is pictured enjoying her meal while at one of The Botanist bars in the UK They claimed: 'Our starters came and we had to send one of them back as it was cold, the chicken was so dry. 'The mains werent much better, service miserable, most staff on their phones, not attentive and didnt deserve the service charge that was put on our bill. We wont be going back in the future. What a waste of money.' In Newcastle, one The Botanist diner claimed: 'There were no seats, the whole area was overcrowded, this needs to be addressed with a level of control on admitting guests. 'At those prices you don't want to be standing, holding a wine bucket and trying to hold a glass of wine in a busy area.' However, it wasn't all negative reviews for The Botanist, with one diner in Birmingham writing: 'Another great meal at the Botanist, we both had the chicken hanging kebab. It was exceptional. 'The chicken was cooked to perfection and there was plenty of it, the sweet chilli sauce was beautiful. 'I had the chips with it and vegetables all cooked to perfection. We had good service and there is a good vibe. Well done to the chef and the staff.' Similarly, one customer in Newcastle said: 'Dont let bad reviews put you off! After reading recent reviews I thought Id made a bad choice dining here. A theme across some reviews appeared to suggest that the chain sticks to 'style over substance', with one person writing about the Birmingham location: 'The decor is lovely... but unfortunately the meal overall was very disappointing' However, it wasn't all negative reviews for The Botanist, with one diner in Birmingham writing: 'Another great meal at the Botanist, we both had the chicken hanging kebab. It was exceptional' 'But it was superb, I was solo dining and didnt feel uneasy one bit. The food was to a very good standard. And I took advantage of the happy hour they do on a Monday night. '...If I visit Newcastle again I wouldnt hesitate in coming back!' And it wasn't only some diners in Birmingham and Newcastle that appeared impressed. A Worcester customer wrote: 'In any bar or restaurant the first and most important element of success is good staff. 'Personally I love this place because the staff are so good, hard working and lovely fun people.' The Botanist in Chester, meanwhile, was dubbed a 'fantastic atmosphere with warm earthy spaces adorned with plants'. The review continued: 'Their signature kebabs come with dipping sauce of your choices. Lamb, chicken, and steak kebabs were all flavorful and well prepared. Solid service and kid friendly. Suitable for intimate or party sized gatherings.' Overall, The Botanists on Tripadvisor were rated either three to four out of five stars. A spokesperson at The Botanist told the Daily Mail: 'Delivering a welcoming experience with great food, drinks and live music is always our top priority. 'Our restaurants and bars operate in line with industry standards, particularly during busy trading periods when higher footfall is expected across the high street. 'Whilst we endeavour to get it right every time, there are occasions where we fall short of guest expectations. 'In these instances, we follow up with customers to ensure their feedback is taken on board and we can continue to improve. 'The vast majority of our reviews reflect the positive service and atmosphere our teams work hard to provide every day. 'We remain committed to maintaining consistent standards across all our sites and continuously review feedback to ensure we meet our guests expectations.' A man who returned from the Royal Marines to renovate his late grandparents' house into his 'forever home' with his wife and children almost blew a substantial part of their budget before the refurbishment barely began. The former soldier returned to Ratcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, to start a new life as a fireman with his salesperson wife and children after inheriting the Victorian Cottage, which his grandparents purchased in the 1970s and modified to true seventies style. Now, Joe and Nicola feature in tonight's episode of George Clarke's Building Home, airing at 8pm, to show how they put their stamp on the family home. Joe's grandparents originally purchased the home as a fixer-upper, and he and his wife followed in their footsteps by reviving the home once again with a budget of 200,000 and a deadline of four months. It's a hefty task, but with the help of family, including Joe's bricklayer father, and Nicola's love of interior design, the couple remained optimistic that their hands-on approach would fit the timeframe while keeping costs down. The couple originally planned to remove the random collection of extensions completed by Joe's grandfather to make space for an open-plan kitchen and dining area, as well as a living room, utility, downstairs loo, and upstairs bedroom with an en-suite. However, Joe and Nicola had only just finished the first step of removing 270 tonnes of the previous extension when their architect got back to them and said they were already at 60,000 in the budget due to the square footage. They were forced to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to make the renovations work while sticking to the original budget, despite the building work already having started. Joe renovated his grandparents' former home with his wife Nicola in the latest epsiode of George Clarke's Building Home The former soldier inherited the family house in Ratcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, from his grandparents Nicola said: 'Originally, the plan was to have a double-storey extension with a single storey on the kitchen. 'However, to ensure we keep to our budget, we aren't doing the single storey piece. It's a compromise that we've had to make, but we still get the house that we want.' But losing the single-storey extension had a knock-on effect on more than just the kitchen. 'To maximise space for the dining room and kitchen area, it means we've had to put the toilet under the stairs,' Joe said. After some reworking, Joe and Nicola managed to get their renovations back on track, though it came at a higher-than-expected cost. The couple ended up spending 25,000 over budget due to the unexpected costs of materials. Nicola, however, put in the hours to complete the decoration of all the rooms, while Joe's father completed the extension and worked through the weekend to ensure his son and daughter-in-law got their dream home when desired. Eventually, the couple replaced the ramshackle of ad hoc rooms on the back of the house with a stunning extension, spanning a spacious open-plan kitchen, a stunning bedroom and an en-suite with high ceilings. Joe's grandfather had added various extensions to the back of the house since purchasing it in the 1970s The Nottinghamshire-based couple tore down the original extensions to make way for their new double-story addition Joe and Nicola were set on extending the kitchen to make it the heart of the home for their family After the renovations were completed, the couple were left with their dream kitchen fit with an island And despite spending more than expected, the couple got their dream home just one month after originally hoped for. Host George Clarke said: 'Restoring an old home is hard, building a modern home is hard, combining the two and doing it all in five months without putting a foot wrong is nothing short of a miracle.' Nicola said: 'It's like a dream, I keep having to pinch myself. I can't wait to spend time in every single room, because there isn't a room that I don't love.' It comes after teenage sweethearts who returned to their hometown North Wales following high-flying careers in London and Manchester have spent more than a million to refurbish a dilapidated 18th century farmhouse into a stunning, modern 'forever home'. Barrister Tina and school administrator Steve poured their hearts and souls into a bespoke property on the island of Anglesey - which overlooks the coast where they had their first date, in a cafe, as youngsters. The couple and their daughter Lucy featured in last week's episode of George Clarke's Building Home, airing at 8pm. They took viewers through the painstaking transformation of the ruins into a sprawling two-storey build with strikingly decorated bedroom suites, a custom-made staircase and a glazed glass extension which was made into a sitting room, offering sprawling views of the surrounding Irish Sea. The initial project was meant to take 12-15 months and budgeted at 800,000 - but in the end took two years and seven months, with the final figure very much 'north' of the planned finances, which Tina admitted is 'scary to say out loud'. She and Steve, supported by a team helmed by local builder Jamie, battled pouring rains and battering winds to get the property off the ground, conscious they needed to work around the area's at times unforgiving climate. 'It's important to have someone who's local and understood the constraints of the site,' Tina explained. 'And understood just how windy and exposed it is.' And the weather wasn't the only challenge - as a mistake with the size of the steel beams at the very beginning set the couple back too. George Clarke's Building Home aired on Channel 4 on Thursday at 9pm Stephen Colbert refused to pull any punches Thursday night as he spoke about the State of the Union and compared Kristi Noem to a cosmetically-enhanced camel. The Late Show host - whose program will end in May - used his monologue to mock President Trump's SOTU Nielsen ratings - which showed an 11 percent decrease in viewers from last year. 'Donald Trump is really dragging down broadcast television,' Colbert said. 'I mean, if I were CBS, I'd cancel him.' The quip earned raucous applause and cheers from Colbert's audience - who have stood by the comedian as he remains under fire from his own network. 'But you know, linear television is doomed and everyone's ratings are going down right?' the host continued, making a shrewd reference to CBS and Paramount's statement that his show was canceled due to declining late night revenues. 'I'm sorry, what's that? Our ratings were up seven percent,' Colbert then announced, prompting those in the crowd to start chanting his name. 'You know what I think's going on?' the comedian continued. 'People may not like watching Trump, but they do like watching me not like watching Trump.' From there, Colbert segued into jokes about how a camel beauty contest in Oman was struck by a Botox cheating scandal - and made a dig at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Stephen Colbert began the monologue of The Late Show on Thursday by bringing up the Nielsen ratings for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address The ratings showed Trump's address received 11 percent fewer viewers than last year He pulled up excerpts from a news article about the scandal, which said the camels were enhanced with hyaluronic acid injections, dermal fillers, silicone and Botox. 'That is a lot of procedures for one camel,' Colbert quipped. 'What would that even look like?' he then asked, as a picture of Noem flashed on screen. 'OK yes,' the late night host then said, as his audience started laughing and applauding. 'She looks good,' he continued. 'That is a beautiful camel, that is a beautiful camel.' But the fiery monologue on Thursday was just Colbert's latest dig at the Trump administration following the news that his show would be canceled after 10 seasons. Some have said the decision was politically-motivated to appease Trump, who praised the network's decision to let go of Colbert. 'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,' Trump posted to his Truth Social page. 'His talent was even less than his ratings.' Colbert also hit out at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, comparing her to a camel with beauty enhancements Those critics have noted that The Late Show's cancelation came as the Federal Communications Commission was deciding whether to approve the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media. But others said the decision to cancel the show was just business as usual, arguing that Colbert's left-leaning politics alienated a significant chunk of potential audience members. CNN staffers are scared for the future now that Paramounts Trump-friendly CEO is set to seize control of the network's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. 'Panic' reverberated across the network's newsroom Thursday after Netflix said its pursuit of Warner was 'no longer financially attractive,' according to Status. A $31-per-share offer from Paramount CEO David Ellison that amounted to $111billion was not countered. Ellisons intentions for the channel remain unclear. Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, are friendly with the Trump administration, which approved the pair's acquisition of Paramount last year. Trump advisors took a victory lap Thursday at Netflix retracting their bid for Warner's studio and streaming outfit, one source told Status. Netflix only wanted to buy Warner's streaming and movie studio. Paramount is the parent company of CBS News, where staffers are also reportedly panicked - specifically at the prospect of CBS and CNN coming under the same roof. 'F**k, f**k, f**k,' one CBS producer told Status, resorting to curses when questioned about the increasingly likely future. 'Well, f**k,' another staffer similarly said. The move would mean cuts on both sides, another CBS source agreed. The idea of coming under control of Ellison's pick to lead CBS News, right-leaning Bari Weiss, also has staffers at CNN particularly scared, sources told Status. CNN staffers were left 'panicked' after Netflix's bid for it parent company, Warner Bros Discover, fell apart on Thursday, paving the way for Paramount to take over. Pictured, CNN stars Dana Bash and Jake Tapper and Univision's Illia Calderon at the 2020 Democratic debate The idea of coming under control of Trump-friendly Paramount boss David Ellison and his GOP donor father, Larry Ellison, is part of what has staffers anxious, sources told Status. The elder Ellison helped finance the $8billion merger that saw his son take over Paramount last year 'The panic at CNN right now is off the charts,' one insider said Thursday night. A CNN staffer said the company has lost any credit as 'stewards of a news brand over the last few months' because of changes made at CBS News under Weiss. Weiss, 41, was appointed by Ellison himself in October, with the expectation of being a disruptor. She is a critic of legacy news. The billionaire father of the Paramount owner, meanwhile - 81-year-old Larry - floated the idea of firing some of CNN's top talent if his son was able to acquire the news network's parent company back in November, sources told the Guardian at the time. The Oracle founder singled out anchors like Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar because they are not liked by Donald Trump, sources said back then. The elder Ellison - a well-known GOP donor - also reportedly pondered a programming change that would put longtime CBS News flagship program 60 Minutes on CNN. At the time, his son, a 43-year-old former Hollywood producer, had just entered an unknown bid for the entire WBD portfolio, CNN included. Netflix then entered its $27.75-a-share bid, which was abandoned on Thursday, following months of bids from Paramount. Pictured, the Newsroom at CNN World Headquarters in Georgia. Paramount's looming takeover likely means cuts within CNN and its own asset CBS News The younger Ellison is seen sitting ringside at UFC 314 with President Trump and members of his team in April. Insiders told Status the current state of CBS News shows the executive has been compromised by the conservative Pictured, Donald Trump and Oracle founder Ellison at the White House in January. Ellison does not hold a specified role at Paramount, which is run by his son David, but is in contact with the White House Larry and David were the only bidders who wanted to buy WBD in its entirety. CNN, as a channel, has shed nearly two-thirds of its primetime viewers since 2016. A Netflix acquisition would have seen CNN spun off alongside Warner's other waning cable assets into an entirely new company, much like MS NOW's separation under Versant last year. The network was previously controlled by NBCUniversal. 'A Paramount WBD merger is a disaster for the people who work at both companies, and if Bari Weiss takes control of CNN, it will be the end of the global network Ted Turner founded,' one frightened CNN producer told the Guardian Thursday. Trump said back in December of Warner: 'I dont think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN - which is a very dishonest group of people - I dont think that should be allowed to continue. 'I think CNN should be sold along with everything.' Tenants in Brighton saw the sharpest increase in rental costs last year, data for This is Money shows. Rental costs for tenants in the trendy seaside city jumped 15 per cent from 2,255 a month at the start of last year to to 2,602 by the end, the analysis shows. Across Britain, the south coast of England saw the steepest rise in rental costs for tenants last year. According to an analysis by Lomond, a network of lettings and sales agents, rents across the South East rose by an average of 10.5 per cent to 1,774 per month in 2025. While Brighton saw the largest annual increase in average rental costs, other coastal hotspots showed signs of remaining popular with tenants. In Southampton, Portsmouth and Worthing, demand for rental properties continued to outstrip supply last year, Lomond said. Rising rents: Brighton saw the sharpest increase in rental costs last year, data seen by This is Money shows The findings suggested Brighton remained popular with tenants due to its 'vibrant, city-like atmosphere' by the beach. Lomond added: 'The affectionately known "London-by-the-Sea" continues to welcome high volumes of commuters to its rented accommodation, with the trend of hybrid working here to stay'. Beyond the south coast of England, London saw average rents rise 1.5 per cent to a hefty 2,395 per month in 2025. On average across Britain, average rental costs increased by 4.9 per cent to 1,602 per month last year. Average rents in London were around 49 per cent higher than the national average. Both inner-city and suburban rental markets remained 'stable' last year, the findings added. In the Midlands, rents for tenants grew by 5 per cent to 1,168 per months year-on-year on average, while in the north west of England average rents jumped 4 per cent to 1,243 a month. Within the North West, furnished homes in city centres proved the most popular with tenants, Lomond said. Across Scotland, average rents fell 1 per cent annually. However, Scotland saw a 38 per cent increase in new landlord instructions in the period, according to the research. In Scotland, many tenants were also drawn to 'move-in-ready' homes. According to the analysis, buy-to-let mortgage activity fell sharply from 2023 to 2024, but steadied throughout 2025 with BTL mortgages comprising around 8 per cent to 9 per cent of all new mortgages. Lomond said: 'This stabilisation suggests landlords remain engaged and active, but acting with a degree of caution and pragmatism as they adjust to economic conditions and policy changes'. In demand: Demand for rental properties among tenants in locations like Southampton is outstripping supply, Lomond said Elliott Trodd, managing director of Lomonds south coast region, told This is Money: 'Brightons 15 per cent rental increase in just 12 months is a direct result of sustained demand colliding with restricted supply. 'We are seeing fewer landlords reinvesting in the market and continued inward migration, which keeps upward pressure on prices. 'For tenants, that means significantly higher monthly costs and much tougher competition for quality homes. 'For landlords who have remained in the private rental sector, this environment offers strong rental yields and dependable demand, making it an opportune moment for those considering reinvestment or portfolio expansion.' Ed Phillips, group chief executive of Lomond, added: 'The UKs rental sector showed real resilience in the final quarter of 2025. With the market framework now in place, the challenge shifts from anticipation to execution in both lettings and sales. 'While regional trends vary, demand remains strong, and landlords continue to invest strategically. With buy-to-let lending stabilising and rents rising at a manageable pace, the market enters 2026 on solid footing.' According to findings published by SpareRoom this week, flatshare tenants priced out of rental hotspots in cities are increasingly turning to suburban commuter towns further away. Esher, a Surrey commuter town around 30 minutes away by train from London Waterloo station, saw one of the sharpest rises in demand from flatshare tenants in the past year, SpareRoom said. Annually, there has been a 32 per cent increase in demand for flatshare rental properties in Esher. Amid high demand, there are 11.2 people searching per room available to rent in Esher, according to the research. The Scottish town of Kilmarnock, around 40 minutes away from Glasgow, saw the biggest yearly spike in flatshare rental demand, FlatShare added. The Renters Rights' Bill officially became law after receiving Royal Assent in October 2025. The sweeping set of reforms mean landlords will no longer be able to carry out so-called 'no-fault' evictions and so cannot get rid of tenants without good reason. But the law gives renters the right to end tenancies with two months' notice and enables them to better challenge poor conditions and unreasonable rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction. A major shake-up means fixed-term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies will be abolished and replaced with rolling periodic tenancies, meaning renters will no longer be tied into long contracts. The boss of Saxo UK has said he will bring the fight to Hargreaves Lansdown as it positions itself as the natural home for savvy investors. The retail investor platform was originally designed for individual traders and now services institutional investors. It has since launched a new simplified platform to capture a new portion of the market. Now its UK boss Andrew Bresler tells This Is Money that he thinks it has what it takes to challenge Hargreaves Lansdown - one of the country's most popular platforms - after a fee shake-up that has seen unhappy customers leave in their droves. Saxo's bid for DIY investors While Saxo was an early pioneer of online trading for institutional clients, it failed to make as much of a splash in the retail market like its peers AJ Bell and Hargreaves. The pandemic changed everything, bringing new, fresher players to the market. Freetrade, Trading212 and eToro all soared in popularity as younger investors looked for cheaper options to cash in on market volatility. 'The barriers to entry now, beyond licensing requirements, are really really low,' says Bresler, who's worked in the industry for over two decades. 'You can take [something] to market in a short amount of time and have the full gambit of capital markets available to you.' Saxo UK boss says he can take customers from Hargreaves Lansdown after its fee shake-up He added: 'Adoption has largely been demand-driven rather than supply. Even though the industry has evolved, I still think it is seeing a rapidly changing demand side [and] that's a growth trajectory that will continue.' Saxo finally moved into the space eighteen months ago with the launch of a simplified, cheaper version of its trader platform. Its fees start at 0.08 per cent commission from stock and ETF trading, and 0.2 per cent for government and corporate bonds. 'We can take customers off Hargreaves' Even with more prospective investors, competition is harder than ever, says Bresler. 'I can't think of a market outside of the US where the competition dynamic is as fierce as in the UK. 'Competing for end clients is an incredibly difficult challenge for me and any of my counterparts at any of the other brokers.' But legacy players are starting to lose their shine. Hargreaves Lansdown, a pioneer in retail investment, has angered a small portion of its customers by charging more in fees. If we're good enough for some of the institutional players, then we're equally as good to our direct customers Bresler says it's 'a symptom of a bigger, underlying problem with the perception of clients at Hargreaves, which hasn't materially invested in either the price nor platform in a period of time.' He adds: 'We know Hargreaves has a decent amount of churn within their client books. 'They have north of two million clients, and they're churning around 10 per cent of those, that's a significant portion of people looking for a new home.' But Saxo is up against the more established AJ Bell and Interactive Investor, which have already reported an influx of ex-Hargreaves customers joining their platforms. Has Saxo had the same? Bresler admits there's 'not been a flood' and admits they might be some way off. 'Our legacy has been a lot more about the professional traders, those who understand financial markets we've tried to evolve that message and I think we still have a bit more to do within the UK in terms of telling a story.' What may work in Saxo's favour is that its typical customers are more similar to Hargreaves - financially savvy and affluent. Saxo's pitch is that it can give investors access to more stocks and other asset classes, including options and FX, which should maximise returns for investors. 'If we're good enough for some of the institutional players, then we're equally as good to our direct customers. 'The product suite we offer allows you to maximise your returns at a much lower price point than Hargreaves.' One of its major plans in the coming months is to 'reward' investors for consolidating their wealth with Saxo. Bresler argues that competitors make it more expensive to hold Isas, Sipps and general investment accounts with one broker. 'Our desire is to make it more cost-effective to consolidate with us because you can stay with Saxo for life.' If you don't own your tech you'll lose out Bresler faces stiff competition from more established platforms and plucky upstarts like Trading212, which has a broader appeal among younger investors. While Saxo eyes affluent 40-somethings and hopes they'll stick with the platform, 212 can capture them even earlier. It means Saxo faces an uphill struggle, but Bresler believes it will ultimately come down to how each platform uses its technology. 'There's a potential amount of risk in terms of what AI is bringing to the market,' says Bresler. 'The winners and losers will be defined by the quality of the technology they've built.' The platforms that 'work off the back of someone else's tech, rather than developing their own, as Saxo has, could soon be moved out of the market. He adds: 'The speed at which we're changing is so rapid. If you're unable to keep pace with that speed, you can become obsolete quite quickly.' The Government has increased the amount electric car owners can get off a home charger to 500 in a bit to 'make EV ownership more affordable' - but many people are ineligible for the discount. Previously, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant was capped at 350. But a 150 boost announced this week, Labour hopes, will drive more installations. However, the scheme is only open to people who live in rented properties, own flats, run businesses or occupy houses without driveways. It means those living in detached, semi-detached, or terraced houses with off-street parking - representing between 80 and 95 per cent of existing UK electric car owners - receive no Government support. Not since the Conservative Government discontinued the EV Homecharge Scheme in March 2022 have motorists with off-street parking been eligible for grants towards device installations. The Department for Transport has confirmed the higher rate for the scheme will be available from 1 April and will last for 12 months. However, this is the curtain call for homecharger grants, with the Government pulling funding at the end of March 2027. The Government has increase its Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant to 500 but it is not available to people in detached, semi-detached or terrace houses The DfT says the new 500 grant will 'typically cover nearly half the cost of having an EV charger installed'. The 40 per cent increase in the chargepoint grant amount will 'help thousands more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work'. This could, according to ministers, enable EV owners to charge for as little as 2p per mile - the equivalent of London to Birmingham for 3.50. Ninety per cent of electric vehicle charging is done at home, as this is the easiest and cheapest way to charge. As well as flat owners, landlords, renters and businesses, schools will be eligible for grants of up to 2,000 per socket, building on 3,700 sockets already installed. The grant increase is the latest in a string of action from the government to tackle two of the biggest barriers to driving electric upfront costs and worries about finding somewhere to charge. Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said: 'Were taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone not just those with driveways.' 'Combined with our Electric Car Grant, were backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.' 90% of electric vehicle charging is done at home, as this is the easiest and cheapest way to charge The DfT says that the updates will also simplify the current charge point support schemes available by reducing eight grant types down to five, 'streamlining the system so people can navigate and select schemes and discounts more easily'. The Electric Car Grant (ECG) offers EV buyers up to 3,750 off an eligible new electric car. Models such as the Puma Gen-E, Nissan Leaf and Renault 5 e-Tech qualify for the top, most sustainable Band 1 discount of 3,750. Models such as Volkswagen ID.3, Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric all qualify for the lower, Band 2, 1,500 discount. The boss of Rolls-Royce has warned that Labour must act quickly to support a new jet engines programme after the Mail revealed they could be built abroad. The FTSE 100 giant is believed to be seeking up to 200million in state backing for its multibillion-pound plan to re-enter the 1.6 trillion short-haul aircraft engine market. Pressed on how soon the Government must act, boss Tufan Erginbilgic told the Mail: The sooner the better because business is a fast-moving thing. The warning came as Rolls reported a surge in profits and the launch of a share buyback programme worth up to 9billion over three years, sending the stock to a new record high. In December, the Mail revealed it was weighing up whether to develop its narrow-body engine programme in Germany or the US if the UK fails to deliver the subsidies it is asking for. Insiders said there were plenty of options to develop the engines outside the UK, with the Derby company having been courted by Washington and Berlin. Jobs: Rolls-Royce chief exec Tufan Erginbilgic, pictured, is reportedly seeking 200m in state backing to help develop the next generation of jet engines for short haul aircraft With the project likely to create 40,000 jobs at Rolls and in the supply chain, that would represent a blow to growth hopes. Yesterday, Erginbilgic declined to comment directly when asked if a lack of support would result in an overseas launch. But he told the Mail: What I would say is: governments normally should support what is best for the country and in this case it happens to be that Rolls-Royces programme will create the biggest economic growth for the UK. The chief executive noted that the development of narrow-body engines was at the heart of the Governments industrial strategy. Going abroad would be a body blow to Britain, echoing other setbacks, such as AstraZeneca scrapping a 450million vaccine plant on Merseyside. Erginbilgic said the support being sought to back the research and development costs was just a fraction of the billions of pounds Rolls will spend. It is natural that government will look to support that, he added. Not supporting it would be a strange thing to do. Erginbilgic said rivals were receiving two, three times the support that we actually get, adding that: We are in a competitive world you need to think about that. He said: This is actually very good for the UK in terms of job creation and economic growth and the country needs it. Dubbed Turbo for his ferocious work ethic, Erginbilgic has led a stunning turnaround at Rolls since he took over three years ago driving an astronomical 15-fold rise in its shares. Yesterday, the stock rose by 3.2 per cent, or 42.5p, to 1352.5p as it reported a 40 per cent jump in profit to 3.5billion, with more growth to come. Its aeroplane engines business is benefiting from an increase in airline flights, and it is being boosted by higher military spending. Rolls power systems operation is boosted by burgeoning demand from data centres powering the growth of artificial intelligence. Erginbilgic said: We believe our growth potential is unmatched as we have more optionality for further growth than many other companies. Young people living with their parents are less likely to work, Labour's jobs tsar warned yesterday as figures showed nearly a million are languishing outside the education system or workplace. Alan Milburn, who is leading a government review into youth unemployment, said the higher proportion staying at the 'house of mum and dad' was partly to blame. It came as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 were classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the last quarter of 2025. That was up from 946,000 in the previous three months, stoking fears of a 'lost generation'. It follows figures last week showing youth unemployment is at a record high of 16.1 per cent. The wider unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent is the highest in five years. Labour's raid on employer national insurance and increases in the minimum wage for the under-21s has widely been blamed for the crisis with even the Bank of England's chief economist saying this week that the policies are taking a grim toll on the young. On Thursday, Mr Milburn was asked whether he thought living with parents made it less likely for young people to try to find work. 'It strikes me as yes, and I think we, everybody, talks about the Bank of Mum and Dad as well, isn't it? Sometimes even when kids leave they boomerang around back,' he told Times Radio. 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) The former Labour Cabinet minister said that parents and grandparents were becoming worried that those in their 20s 'maybe are not going to do as well as we've done'. He said it was 'the first time that's really happened in a century and that is about the fear of not being able to get a decent job, the fear of not being able to own your own home, all of those things, what social media is doing, the AI revolution to come'. Mr Milburn's comments conjure the image of older generations fretting anxiously as their grown-up children slouch in front of daytime TV or play on games consoles, resigning themselves to the prospect of a life on benefits. And he admitted that policies such as the hike on employer NI which makes it costlier to hire part-time or low paid staff could be making the problem worse. 'We've got to look at these factors,' he said, 'Every time an employer takes on a young person it's always a risk because they're unproven.' Yesterday's NEETs figures extend the dismal decline in the jobs market under Labour. The figure has not fallen below 900,00 since Labour came to power. It has not been above a million since 2013. Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith said: 'It is astonishingly complacent of Labour not to care as the number of people not in education or employment heads for one million. A lost generation we can ill afford.' And Reform UK's education and skills spokeswoman Suella Braverman said the figures were a 'damning indictment' of policies that for years have pushed teenagers towards universities that land them with 'crippling debt' rather than vocational training, apprenticeships and skilled trades. Critics say Labour is now pricing young people out of work. It has sharply increased the minimum wage for 18-20 year olds, which will rise to 10.85 per hour from April. The rate for the rest of the adult workforce will rise to 12.71. The government has pledged to bring the rates into line to create a single adult rate though reports suggest it could delay the move amid fears about the impact on youth unemployment. The Resolution Foundation, Labour's favourite think-tank said that, with Britain 'perilously close' to NEETs hitting a million for the first time in 13 years, the government should 'pause further alignment of youth minimum wage rates until youth unemployment is falling'. Hugh Osmond, the former Pizza Express boss, said: 'The employment numbers are now the biggest concern in the UK, or should be.' Labour's NI raid and minimum wage policy were 'both big contributors to this problem', he said. New figures today from market research firm GfK revealed that the dismal jobs picture is taking its toll as consumer confident slumps. 'With fewer entry-level opportunities available, those on lower incomes are already feeling the strain, and this trend risks undermining the typically more optimistic outlook held by younger age groups,' said Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK. Not much, one might think, connects three very different British companies Rolls-Royce, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and WPP all of which have just reported annual results. Rolls, under the transformative leadership of Tufan Erginbilgic, has demonstrated anything is possible. It has gone from being at existential risk in the pandemic to an engineer firing on all cylinders. The prospects are remarkable and there has been a dazzling share price performance which has taken it from also-ran to the top five in the FTSE 100, with a market value of 116billion. The remarkable rise shows that with the right management anything is possible. The recovery in the aerospace market and flying hours is at the core of what the company does. But Rolls is also a world leader in the turbines and engines which drive a whole range of technologies such as AI data centres, nuclear subs, the Typhoon fighter jet and small modular reactors. Powering ahead: Under the transformative leadership of chief exec Tufan Erginbilgic Rolls-Royce has gone from being at existential risk to an engineer firing on all cylinders Erginbilgic embraced transformation and focused on strengthening margins. Consequently, the Rolls turnaround is not only about aero engines and the prospective move into narrow-bodied jets. The global drive into artificial intelligence and the cloud is propelling Rolls forward. Moreover, the group is so confident about the future that, along with the latest uplift in sales, earnings, and cash-flow forecasts, there is an epoch-making 9billion share buyback pledge over the next three years. It is the embrace of AI which links Rolls to the LSEG and WPP. Activist investor Elliott is smart at spotting under-valuations and has wrapped its tentacles around LSEG. The shares have had a torrid time and been damaged by bulletins from Anthropic claiming an AI game-changer. This has unsettled big data companies. LSEG chief executive David Schwimmer insists that it was unlikely, verging on impossible that his groups data could be replaced or replicated by AI. Schwimmer has signed partnership deals with both Anthropic and OpenAI on data access, but the proprietary information remains with the UK markets group. It, too, is seeking to get investors including Elliott back on-side, with a 3billion share buyback, which is a vote of confidence in the future. The arrival of Cindy Rose at sinking WPP is all about jumping ahead of rivals by embracing tech. There are two key aspects to the groups strategic review. It is ending the internal competitive structure inside the ad agency by bringing its creative teams together under one roof. More fascinating is the effort to leap ahead of rivals like Publicis through WPP Open, which embraces AI with the aim of bringing an integrated data, creative and production approach to commercials. Investors are being asked to be very patient, with 2026 likely to be a troubling year. Nevertheless, the sight of chairman Philip Jansen and Rose backing a better future by buying equity must be a plus. Top executives at LSEG and WPP may find it tough to drive the kind of internal revolution seen at Rolls-Royce. But it is paramount that exemplars of Britains strength in engineering, finance and creativity are supported by investors and government in the greater national interest. Davos descent The elitism of the organisers of the World Economic Forum in Davos is legion. The inflated prices which business executives and financiers pay to be at the top table are legendary. A hierarchical and mercurial badging system bars some delegates and media figures from key events. Moreover, the inability of delegates to spot a crisis, even when in the middle of one, is part of its history. How shameful it is to discover that the key figures are less than scrupulous in their behaviour. The president and chief executive, Borge Brende, yesterday resigned after disclosure of emails showing a warm connection to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Founder Klaus Schwab stepped back last year after whistleblower allegations of financial and ethical misconduct. Back to earth for the leaders who scaled the summit! The boss of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has quit the organisation over his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Borge Brende has stepped down as president and chief executive after more than eight years in the role, just a day after Larry Summers, a regular at the WEF in Davos and US Treasury Secretary under Bill Clinton, resigned from Harvard University over his ties to Epstein. The WEF launched an inquiry after Brende acknowledged that he had dined with Epstein on three occasions in 2018 and 2019. Recently published documents also showed texts and emails between the two men. Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, claims that he was unaware of Epsteins crimes when they met and communicated. In a statement he said: I believe now is the right moment for the forum to continue its important work without distractions. Netflix has walked away from a blockbuster bidding war for Warner Bros - setting the scene for Paramount to triumph with an 82bn takeover. The streaming giant, which is behind hits including Stranger Things and Emily in Paris, said its plan to buy Warners studios and streaming assets had been a nice to have at the right price, not a must have at any price. It is the latest plot twist in a battle between two of Hollywoods biggest studios for the maker of beloved films including Casablanca, Harry Potter and Barbie. Netflix said it would not match Paramounts latest bid, which Warners board has now declared to be the superior offer. Warner had previously rejected eight offers from Paramount to buy the entire company and it had appeared that Netflix was in prime position to succeed with its own offer for around 60m for part of the business. But Netflix said its deal is no longer financially attractive and it would not contend with Paramounts latest offer of $31 per share - the equivalent to 82billion. Netflix - which is behind hit series including Emily in Paris - has backed down from the bidding war for Warner Bros Warner chief executive David Zaslav said in a statement: Once our board votes to adopt the Paramount merger agreement, it will create tremendous value for our shareholders. We are excited about the potential of a combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery and can't wait to get started working together telling the stories that move the world. This paves the way for one of the biggest takeovers in Hollywood under the steer of Paramount boss and Donald Trump ally David Ellison. Backed by his father, Larry Ellison, the Oracle technology billionaire who is among the richest men in the world, David has already created a Hollywood powerhouse by merging Skydance and Paramount in a 22bn deal in 2024. Paramounts bid for Warner covers the whole business - meaning the Ellisons could control some of the biggest US news companies, including CBS News and CNN, as well as the HBO cable network. But it means a win for Old Hollywood as opposed to a Netflix victory, which would see the streaming giant build on its unassailable position in the streaming world. Ben Barringer, head of technology research at Quilter Cheviot, said: Ultimately, this outcome probably doesnt shake the media industry out as much as if Netflix had been successful here. Yes, it creates a new mega streamer in whatever Paramount-Warner Bros becomes, but Netflix has eyes on other competitors. YouTube remains the biggest threat to Netflixs dominance, and with this saga now over, it can focus on keeping its place at the top of the streaming tree. I recently turned 40 and have been with the same employer since I left university. I've built up a 175,000 pension pot. I'm in the unique position of being mortgage free in a big enough house to be comfortable for my family - and I'm looking to drop down to part-time work and enjoy a bit more work-life balance. I also have a sizeable pot of savings and investments to fall back on. I've crunched the numbers on my private pension and want to know whether I'm barking up the wrong tree. Using a saving and investing calculator, assuming 5 per cent growth per annum and factoring in the 0.4 per cent annual fee the pension firm takes, I work out that if all goes well, that should be worth 550,000 by the time I'm 65. Am I missing something? Having the safety net of knowing I'll have a half-a-million pension pot aged 65 will give me that final jolt of confidence to change career direction. Ready to take a new direction? How do you safeguard your pension and your work life balance in your new career Tanya Jefferies, of This is Money, replies: You are in a good position to afford a career change but it's understandable you want to be sure of what you are doing, and not damage your prospects of a comfortable retirement. Abandoning pension saving altogether is a pretty drastic step, so it would be sensible to stick with it even if you can't afford to save nearly as much as you used to do. It's not just about forfeiting compound growth on whatever you manage to contribute from here onward. You would also be giving up free money in the form of tax relief from the Government, and future contributions from any employer even if you only work for them part-time. All employers, no matter how small and modest they might be, are required to contribute into staff pensions as long as someone is 22 or over, their earnings are above 10,000, and they are willing to put in the minimum amount under auto-enrolment. Many employers are more generous than the following basic deal, but the absolute minimum you need to stump up yourself is 4 per cent of your qualifying earnings between 6,240 and 50,270 of salary, then your employer puts in a further 3 per cent and tax relief from the Government is 1 per cent. Opt out of the pension scheme and all this is lost. You should also ensure you continue making National Insurance contributions so you're on course for a full state pension, which requires paying for 35 qualifying years. The state pension, which is guaranteed until you die unlike the income from an invested pension fund, will be worth around 12,500 a year after the annual increase in April. You can check your current NI record here and your state pension forecast here. We asked an experienced independent financial adviser to take a closer look at your options. Adrian Murphy: While it might be tempting to take your foot off the gas on your pension, the better option may be to keep putting in what you can Adrian Murphy, chief executive of Murphy Wealth, replies: You must have made a lot of great decisions to have put yourself in this financial position. Being mortgage-free in the right size of house for your family, having investments and savings to fall back on, and already having a decent-sized pension pot, all by the age of 40, is an enviable place to be. All things being equal, you're absolutely right that 175,000 in your pension pot should grow to around 550,000 by the time you reach 65, based on the assumptions you describe. While that probably sounds like more than enough for a comfortable retirement, there are a few important caveats to consider. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, returns are never guaranteed. We don't know what the future will hold and you could find that, as you approach retirement, the market goes into a downturn and your pension depending on the approach you have taken with it loses value right as you're about to begin drawing on it. A 20 per cent market drawdown, of which there have been a few in recent years, could be the equivalent of more than 100,000 off the value of your pot at exactly the wrong time. Alternatively, if your pension is de-risked ahead of your planned retirement date moving into lower risk assets like bonds and cash a 5 per cent return is highly unlikely. In fact, if you are in cash for the years immediately leading up to retirement, you could find the returns are closer to nothing, right when a few percentage points could be worth tens of thousands of pounds in returns. Check with your provider if you are in what's known as a lifestyling strategy to find out whether this is the case. It's also worth remembering that while 550,000 sounds like a lot today, in 25 years' time it's unlikely to have anywhere near the same purchasing power. What was 550,000 in 2001 is now the equivalent of just over 1 million and, if history repeats itself, you could find that your pot is worth about half what you would expect in real terms. That's also a very important point to consider for your pension pot's longevity. If you plan to retire at 65, you could feasibly need your pension to last 20 years or longer. If we say it's two decades, that's roughly an annual income of 30,000, by which point that is more likely to be the equivalent of 15,000 in today's money. And with the state pension age rising to 67 from 2028 and likely higher thereafter you may not be able to rely on that providing a boost in the first few years, further eroding your pot. Your investments and savings provide a good buffer, but relying on those to subsidise income from age 40 is risky without a lifetime cash flow model - an exercise it would be good to run through with a professional adviser. And, while it might be tempting to take your foot off the gas on your pension, the better option may be to keep putting in what you can even if it's a lower amount from going part-time or taking a lower-pressure job. Even small contributions can make a big difference over time, and you'll benefit from employers' contributions and the tax relief provided by the government. None of that should necessarily prevent you from switching careers, if that's what you want to do. You're in a great financial position and the tail shouldn't wag the dog in this instance. But, deciding to stop all contributions to your pension pot may be a step too far and end up leaving you short in retirement, even if on paper the numbers look like they make a lot of sense at the moment. Did you change career in your 40s? Get in touch: editor@thisismoney.co.uk Sourcing business suppliers from overseas comes with several challenges that dont exist when working with UK-based companies. Namely, the hurdles you need to jump in order to make international payments. One of the main challenges is finding the best and quickest way to pay. Your supplier needs to receive the money in good time, and you need to keep fees down. You also have to navigate fluctuations in currency between the time you order and when you actually make the payment. There are language and cultural barriers to overcome, because business etiquette abroad is often very different to conducting business in the UK. Whats more, you must meet more rigorous paperwork requirements, with your record keeping needing to be organised and watertight. If you can overcome these challenges, you should be able to reap the rewards of venturing overseas, from cost savings to a larger pool of potential suppliers to work with. Here are our tips on sourcing a supplier, including what to watch out for and a payment solution you can use to simplify payments. Sourcing suppliers from overseas can bring cost savings, but beware of the challenges Why source an overseas supplier? The main benefits of sourcing an overseas supplier are the potential cost savings and the wider pool of companies to work with. With UK manufacturing businesses squeezed by rising operational costs over the past few years, from increased wages and employment tax to higher energy bills, overseas suppliers may be able to offer a more competitive price. Depending on your business and the overseas market you end up working with, you may also get access to more specialised knowledge, technology, or manufacturing capabilities than whats available in the UK. While its possible to drive down unit costs, you need to be careful that international administration, communication and payments dont make it a false economy and eat into your bottom line. But if you tackle the challenges head-on, working with overseas suppliers can make your business more competitive. What methods can you use to research overseas suppliers? You must research the potential suppliers thoroughly. This includes requesting detailed quotations from shortlisted suppliers, clearly stating prices, warranties, plus the terms involved with sales and payments. Youll want to receive samples from a supplier, testing its ability to work to your specifications and timescales. Ideally, its good to visit the supplier to get first-hand experience of its production processes and its output. Otherwise, get as much information about the supplier as you can, including: checking in with UK businesses that the supplier already works with speaking with importers that know and have experience in the market researching the suppliers standing within relevant UK trade associations and member organisations Its also important to research the countries youre considering dealing with generally not only the various rules and regulations, but the level of development and how easy youll find it to communicate with potential partners. Consider these three questions when thinking about which countries to trade with: How well do you know the country? If youve visited a country before, speak its language in some capacity, or you have professional contacts in a particular area, it makes it easier to research and ultimately do business there. Within this question, factor in practical knowledge and research about the country rules and regulations, its distance from the UK, the time it will take for goods to arrive, and how easy it will be for you to visit when necessary. How much trade does the country already do with the UK? A high volume of existing trade can signal that other businesses have made successful relationships with suppliers in the target country. How much will it cost to trade with the country? The unit cost of goods and materials is fundamental when choosing which specific supplier to work with, but be sure to research surrounding costs as well, for example: Shipping and insurance costs: Check the different shipping methods land, sea and air plus costs nested within shipping, such as freight charges, terminal handling fees, and insurance. Check the different shipping methods land, sea and air plus costs nested within shipping, such as freight charges, terminal handling fees, and insurance. Customs duties: Research the rules of origin that apply to your potential goods or materials, because you may be able to claim tariff preference under a trade agreement. What about paying overseas suppliers? Payment agreements with overseas suppliers can include: Advance payments: The supplier ships the goods when it receives your payment. Simple, but theres little recourse when things go wrong. Letters of credit: Your bank will pay your supplier only once it receives the right export documents. Theres extra paperwork involved and it potentially makes the transaction more expensive, but it can reduce the risks involved for both the supplier and your business. Documentary collection: Export documents go from your suppliers bank to your bank after goods are shipped, along with payment instructions. Its cheaper for you than letters of credit, but riskier for the supplier. Open account trading: The supplier requests payment to be made by a set deadline after its shipped the goods to you directly. WorldFirst: A solution for paying overseas suppliers For higher-value and higher-risk transactions, letters of credit and documentary collections may still be used, because it requires traditional banks to verify documents before releasing funds or goods. But for other payment agreements, you should seek the simplest option possible for paying suppliers, such as a multi-currency business account that lets you hold, receive and transfer funds in foreign currencies, all from the same account. The high fees involved in worldwide transactions can eat into your profits, so its a good idea to find an account that keeps them low. Make note of the foreign exchange (FX) fee and interbank rate (which changes every few seconds) when comparing costs. Another risk of working with overseas suppliers is currency fluctuations. Profits can sometimes be eroded due to shifts in the value of currencies involved in the transaction by the time you come to pay. WorldFirsts World Account provides a multi-currency account that gives you local account details for over 20 major currencies (including USD, CNH, EUR) and lets you hold and manage over 100 currencies. It also has a range of FX tools to help control currency risk. WorldFirsts FX tools allow you to lock in favourable exchange rates for up to two years with forward contracts, or automate currency conversions so that trades only execute at your target values. The FX fees are competitive, and for 2026 every new WorldFirst customer can access an exclusive rate of 0.3 per cent plus interbank rate. If youre sending over $5,000, there are no payment fees either. Payments are easy with World Card, a virtual debit card (powered by Mastercard). Linked directly to your World Account balance, you can make FX fee-free payments in 15 major currencies, and pay in over 150. And for UK customers, you can earn up to 1.2 per cent unlimited cashback for every eligible business purchase, which is paid monthly. The UK is no stranger to importing goods from China and WorldFirst holds particular expertise in this area. From holding and managing CNH to being the official payment partner to 1688.com (giving free and instant transfers to the millions of suppliers on the site), WorldFirst has direct connections with China and Hong Kongs major banks. This means that payments from UK businesses to Chinese suppliers can arrive as fast as the same-day. Plus, over 150,000 Chinese suppliers also use WorldFirst, which makes payments to their World Accounts instant and free. There are also no fees to open or set up the account, and no monthly or annual maintenance fees either. Every feature is included including dedicated account managers, and human support in over 30 countries. WorldFirst was founded in London in 2004, and in 2019 they became part of Ant International making them part of one of the worlds most powerful fintech companies. There are hundreds of offline events every year hosted by their offices around the world, and a huge ecosystem of partners that WorldFirst customers can have access to, including compliance, tax, marketing, and logistics providers. WorldFirst can help your business find the most frictionless international payment methods possible when paying your overseas suppliers setting up your business for success in the global market. > Find out more about WorldFirst and open an account She was the rebellious teen daughter of one of The Real Housewives of Orange County's most talked-about families. Now 33, Alexa Curtin roams the dangerous streets of Lancaster, California, looking for ways to fund her fentanyl addiction. 'The drug use started right after high school, and I started drinking heavily,' she told the Daily Mail last week. 'It snowballed and got worse when I started using pills. And then the pills switched over to the hard drugs.' After footage of an unrecognizable Curtin went viral earlier this month, the Daily Mail tracked her down to a notorious, run-down motel rife with drugs and prostitution to hear her tragic plea. It brings her urgent need for help into horrifyingly sharp focus. She looked ghostly pale and sodden, having slept in the cold and rain for days working to fund her habit. She was missing several teeth and two fingers were amputated - a shocking sign of what the streets have done to her. Curtin said the 15 years since her family appeared on the Bravo reality show have been 'beyond horrific.' 'I'm here and I'm alive, but I don't want to be,' Curtin told the Daily Mail. 'I'm not trying to get no one's attention. I am f*****g being tortured. This is a cry for help.' Alexa Curtin, the youngest daughter of Real Housewives of Orange County star Lynne Curtin, used to be a star but now spends her days roaming the streets for drugs Alexa and her mom pictured together Curtin and her mother, Lynne, were once blockbuster television. Rebellious and defiant, Curtin was often sneaking out, drinking alcohol and missing curfew. Lynne drew criticism from fellow cast members over her apparently lax parenting style and spending. Some viewers saw a simple teen drama, but there were flickers of deeper emotional strain. In one scene, a 16-year-old Curtin cried as she revealed she was struggling with depression. In another traumatizing moment, the teenager and her sister were served eviction papers at her family's multimillion-dollar home while her parents were away - the humiliation captured on camera. It later emerged that Lynne and Frank had been served multiple eviction notices and that the lavish life they portrayed in the show was largely smoke and mirrors. 'I don't really talk about it, and I don't even try to think about [the Real Housewives show],' Curtin told the Daily Mail. 'I just feel like the show kind of portrayed me and my family in a really bad way. It was just it being played out in the public forum like that was really hard for me, like really difficult because all my friends in school were watching it and they really weren't too nice to me. 'I just like felt really isolated and I think that's what made me turn to the drugs. I was really young at the time at such a young age that's like a vital time to portray someone in the wrong way, especially a minor.' Curtin appeared on the show between the ages of 15 and 17, alongside her father Frank and older sister Raquel. She says the stress of filming and the public scrutiny fueled her heavy drinking. Meanwhile, Lynne and Frank Curtin's marriage began to unravel soon after the family's eviction. They eventually separated. After footage of an unrecognizable Curtin went viral earlier this month, the Daily Mail tracked her down to a notorious motel rife with drugs and prostitution She looked ghostly pale and sodden, having slept in the cold and rain for days working to fund her habit. She was pictured walking with an unknown masked man Lynne Curtin (second from left) was a star on Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County from 2008 to 2010 Curtin and her older sister Raquel's wild partying was heavily featured on the early seasons of the show, when they were both still teenagers The Daily Mail has contacted both parents for comment. Lynne now lives in San Diego and runs a jewelry line. Raquel, 36, works as an OnlyFans model and frequently promotes her mother's designs. According to Curtin, her father is still in the construction business. After leaving home, she briefly worked as a porn star under the alias Jayden Taylors before spiraling further into addiction. Now, she says, fentanyl is the only thing that dulls the pain. Earlier this month, Curtin was seen at the Lancaster motel and disappeared into a corner hallway with other users, smoked drugs for 20 minutes and re-emerged with bloodshot eyes. The drug of choice is fentanyl for many of the customers who came in and out of several rooms at the squalid motel as they tried to 'score' an ounce of the deadly drug for $65. Curtin stormed out moments later and rushed into a waiting luxury vehicle that sped off without warning. On a cold, rainy afternoon last week, the Daily Mail caught back up with a disheveled Curtin again as she stepped off a bus on Avenue J. Shivering and wet, she walked a quarter mile through the downpour to the motel to get her fix of fentanyl. By nightfall, the drugs had taken hold and Curtin grew agitated while speaking about her parents, her life on the streets and her missing fingers. At one point during her interview with the Daily Mail, Curtin claimed her face was 'shifting' and that she was both God and an alien At one point she raised her arms and began cursing about her family 'Why can't we love our flaws because if you're going to have flaws, you might as well like them, right? I have a lot of them,' she said, glancing at her right hand with a faint smirk. She claims she lost her fingers in a car accident. When asked if she had ever tried to hurt herself, Curtin turned away and sobbed quietly. Asked if she had a message for her parents, she replied with six heartbreaking words: 'I don't even have parents anymore.' Curtin told the Daily Mail the last time she spoke with her mother was in 2019 during an argument over her car. She launched into a furious, curse-filled tirade, still visibly angry as she recalled it. At one point during our interview, Curtin claimed her face was 'shifting' and that she was both God and an alien. She flailed her arms and yelled directly into the camera while addressing her father. In a bizarre turn, she lifted her shirt and exposed her bare breasts. 'F*** you, Frank Curtin, you b****! I hate you,' she said. She then fell asleep in her chair, her hair still wet after taking a shower earlier. In 2017, Curtin was awarded $2.1 million after she claimed an Orange County Sheriff's deputy allegedly forced her to give him oral sex and then raped her in April 2014 following a traffic stop. She declined to say what became of the settlement. The deputy denied the allegations. Court records show she spent four days in jail in August 2018 after pleading guilty to vandalism, petty theft and driving under the influence of a drug. The Lancaster motel is a cesspit for criminal activity, with drug addicts scoring and using 24/7 On June 3, 2025 she was sentenced to six days in Orange County jail in connection with an August 2022 arrest for possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, according to court records. About eight months ago, Curtin said she boarded a Metrolink train in Orange County and rode it to the final stop - Lancaster, roughly 100 miles north. She has remained there since. Over the course of a few days, the Daily Mail watched Curtin and dozens of motel customers pile in and out of rooms where drugs are allegedly sold. Curtin and other homeless men and women took shelter inside the motel's hallways because of the recent downpour. Many said they couldn't afford the $95 per night fee for a room, so they parked their belongings wherever they could find space at the motel property. 'You would be surprised who comes out here,' one of Curtin's friends told the Daily Mail. 'There are teachers who come here looking for [cocaine].' Another friend said: 'The cops come out here three or four times a day and we scatter, run into the rooms. It's like that every day. It never stops.' Jade (left), Mando (right) and their dog, Terminator, sought refuge from the rain last week and arranged their belongings in the motel hallway Tired and cold, people huddled together in another area of the Lancaster motel where Alexa Curtin is known to frequent Curtin spends her days walking or taking buses between thrift stores, sometimes selling clothes on the street. Other days, she frequents one of the buildings known to locals as the 'crack house.' Without any contact from her family, Curtin has become close to fellow addicts. Most nights, when she is not seeking out 'dates', she lingers at a motel frequented by other addicts, who know her as 'Lexi.' She claims that about a month ago she was handcuffed to a bed and raped for hours by a man who threatened to kill her. The drugs, she said, are the only way she can forget it. 'I've destroyed my life, I've destroyed my future, and I don't really care because I'm just going to keep doing the devil dance,' she said. It was supposed to be the happiest day of Christina Haskins' life - until her mother took out her phone and made herself the center of attention. Haskins, 34, married her fiance Dylan in Lufkin, Texas, on Saturday in front of hundreds of family and friends, including her mother Connie Borel, 55. But unlike the other guests who were thrilled to see Haskins marry the love of her life, Borel was so upset she vowed never to speak to her daughter again. She stormed out of the wedding reception before 9pm and sent Haskins a text telling her why. 'You have a dead a** sister and nobody knows. I am never talking to you again,' the text read. Borel was furious to discover Dylan's mother didn't know Haskins' sister Sabrina died four years earlier. Her tirade didn't stop with one text, as she drunkenly vented her frustration on Threads after she got home. 'I went to my daughter's big beautiful wedding,' she began, innocently enough. 'I found out the groom's mother had no clue I had a dead daughter. I will NEVER talk to that beautiful bride again. Never. Christina Haskins, 34, married her fiance Dylan in Lufkin, Texas, on Saturday in front of hundreds of family and friends Haskins holds a sparkler at her wedding reception, blissfully happy despite her mother's fury Unlike the other guests who were thrilled to see Haskins marry the love of her life, her mother Connie Borel, 55, was so upset she vowed never to speak to her daughter again 'When I walk in any room ever, I am FIRST a mother of a dead daughter. No matter what the f**k.' Sabrina, who was Borel's daughter by her second husband, died in March 2022 of a drug overdose aged just 21. Haskins also lost her stepsister on her father's side, Lizzie Wallace, in 2014 to cancer. That bereavement was referenced in the reply she sent to her mother's text about having a 'dead a**' sister, in which Haskins simply wrote: 'Actually, I have two.' Haskins, the business director of an orthodontics practice, claimed in replies to her mother's post that Sabrina was always Borel's favorite daughter. She claimed Borel even told her that the 'wrong daughter died' and she wished Haskins had died and Sabrina lived instead. 'Hey, never delete this. Reading people tell you how insane you act is incredibly therapeutic for me, mother,' Haskins wrote, sharing Borel's post to her own profile. However, Borel deleted her entire Threads account on Monday afternoon after she was pilloried by hundreds of strangers online. Other posts that disappeared when Borel deleted her account included a stream of angry and incoherent missives leading up to her shocking declaration. Borel's text to her daughter after storming out of the wedding reception Borel was furious to discover Dylan's mother didn't know Haskins' sister Sabrina died four years earlier, and vented her frustration on Threads Sabrina, who was Borel's daughter by her second husband, died in March 2022 of a drug overdose aged just 21 The first was: 'I am so done with this c**t s**t. So. Done,' followed by, 'so f**king done. Omg', and 'f**k that'. Relations between mother and daughter appeared to have been strained well before the wedding, as revealed by Haskins and her bridesmaid Dorothy Young. 'Boy, oh boy. I have awaited this moment for YEARS, and with the hopes our lovely bride NEVER speaks to you again - it's time,' Young wrote to the mother of the bride. 'As a bridesmaid, Chriss had a perfect day. It was beautiful in every way, despite your vile and malicious attempts to destroy every good thing in her life,' Young continued. 'You didn't win last night. Allow me to make something very f**king clear, you may have been the incubator to bring us Sabrina and Chriss but you were never a mother. Your living daughter was a mother to Sabrina AND you.' Haskins alluded to the long history by replying to a commenter who asked about Borel's past animosity with 'how much time do you have?' and joking that it would fill a 15-part documentary series. 'This is not the first episode of her publicly shaming me on the internet. It's just the first time anyone's paid attention,' she added. 'I'm the oldest. My siblings watched it all for years.' Sabrina (far right) with Haskins (second from right), their mother, brother Corbin (far left), and Haskins' young son from her first marriage Haskins and Dylan exchange vows at the wedding in a video covertly filmed by her son Haskins, the business director of an orthodontics practice, explained that Sabrina was always Borel's favorite daughter Dylan also stuck up for his newlywed, even installing Threads on his phone to join the fray. 'Imagine being such insufferable person to not allow your living daughter enjoy her best day. Narcissistic self centered ass,' he wrote. 'Yes, I downloaded the app to say this. Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Despite her mother's favoritism, Haskins and Sabrina were very close growing up, and the surviving sister mourned her with a photo montage every year. 'We're a whole decade apart, but she's still my favorite person. Although it is annoying that she gets to be completely perfect,' she wrote a few months before Sabrina's death. On the day of Sabrina's death she wrote 'our world got a little darker'. 'While Sabrina was growing up she probably felt like I was the worst person on earth. I wasn't the cool chill big sister, I was the overbearing wanna be mom big sister,' Haskins wrote. 'That's what happens when you're nine years apart. She turned 21 in December and finally unblocked me from her Snapchat stories, so I've gotten to see all the fun stuff she's been doing these last few months. 'Sabrina was fun. She was kind, and she was big hearted.' Haskins with her father Ricky - Connie's ex-husband and Wallace's stepfather - whom she described as 'a saint' Despite her mother's favoritism, Haskins and Sabrina were very close growing up, and the surviving sister mourned her with a photo montage every year On an anniversary of her death she wrote: 'Today I am once again torn between being so sad that we can't celebrate this day with her, and so thankful that we were blessed to have her even for such a short time.' 'Every once in a while Ill think of something I want to text her, and then about half a second later I remember. Forever missing the best person I ever got the chance to know,' another post read. Borel experienced other tragedies too. Her mother died of an overdose in 2008, and her father disappeared in 1986, before Haskins was even born. Jackie 'Bucky' Letney left Texas to work on an oil pipeline in Alaska with the intention of moving his family up there when he was settled. He failed to show up for an outstanding warrant in May 1986 and crossed into Canada that November but was never seen again. The last communication anyone knew about was a phone call with his brother Mickey Letney in February 1987. Then silence. The Daily Mail contacted both Haskins and Borel for further comment. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the party has reported cases of 'family voting' in the Gorton and Denton by-election to the police and Electoral Commission. It comes after election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed 'concerningly high levels' of family voting an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting. Reform finished second in yesterdays by-election behind the Green Party. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP said: 'Reform has today reported the many cases of family voting to the electoral commission and the police. 'What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas.' Meanwhile Keir Starmer has defended the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing as Labour's candidate in the disastrous Gorton and Denton by-election. Greens leader Zack Polanski admitted he 'punched the air' when he learned the Greater Manchester mayor would not be on the ballot paper. The Greens' Hannah Spencer won the vote after securing 14,980 ballots, more than 4,000 ahead of her nearest challenger Reform's Matt Goodwin. This live page has closed but for a full recap of the by-election result see below The former Duchess of York demanded to travel first class after asking Jeffrey Epstein to pay for her and her daughters' flights to visit him after he was freed from jail, new emails reveal. Messages show the convicted sex offender's staff were instructed to ignore Sarah Ferguson's repeated calls and emails requesting that her already luxurious business class seat be upgraded. The emails uncovered by the Daily Mail suggest the ex-duchess had her office contact Epstein asking him to 'graciously' fund the trip within hours of his release from prison for child sex abuse. Ms Ferguson, who was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time, even pushed for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to be bumped up from economy to club class for the July 2009 visit. It comes as new unearthed messages suggest she asked Epstein to assist with a screening of her film Young Victoria by either letting her use his New York home or by giving her $20,000 for a venue. The disgraced financier was released under house arrest to his waterfront mansion in Palm Beach on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months for soliciting a child for prostitution. That same day, Ms Ferguson's staff appeared to have called Epstein's house manager Lesley Groff suggesting he pay for her trip to Florida. In one email headed 'The Duchess of York', Ms Groff wrote to Epstein: 'Amanda from the Duchess' office just called. She said that you graciously offered to pay for the Duchess to come and visit you. The emails uncovered by the Daily Mail suggest Sarah Ferguson (pictured, in New York, in an image which appears in the Epstein Files) had her office contact Jeffrey Epstein asking him to 'graciously' fund the trip within hours of his release from prison for child sex abuse A series of emails show staff scrambling to meet the ex-duchess's requests for the July 2009 visit. Pictured: Email to Epstein from his house manager Lesley Groff about the flight arrangements The disgraced financier was released under house arrest to his waterfront mansion in Palm Beach on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months for soliciting a child for prostitution. Pictured: Email regarding Ms Ferguson's BA flight to New York to see Epstein days after his release 'Amanda would like to speak to (redacted) about flights.' The executive assistant is believed to have been referring to Amanda Lewis, then the former duchess's assistant. The following morning, Ms Groff updated Epstein again: 'Amanda said the princesses would like to accompany the Duchess and she is wondering if you might be willing to pay for them as well...' After Epstein obliged with a simple 'ok', Ms Groff set about organising the trip with Ms Ferguson requesting a three-day break in New York and flights that came with 'crazy high price tags'. Epstein instructed his staff to book Ms Ferguson on business while Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice, aged 19 and 21 at the time, should travel via economy or premium economy. A series of emails show staff scrambling to meet Ms Ferguson's requests, including securing the most expensive flight option via British Airways for which she provided her BA frequent flyer number. At one point Ms Groff asked Epstein if she could check 'if they are flexible', noting that what she was demanding - including first class tickets for herself and business for the princesses - would cost more than $30,000 'There are no other tickets accept for First Class on the flight home she is requesting...' she added. When Ms Ferguson's office said no other timings would work the assistant confirmed the BA flights, as per Epstein's original instructions on business and economy, which cost $14,080.10. But just hours before their return flight from New York to London, Ms Groff informed Epstein that the then duchess was demanding to be upgraded from Business class. On July 30, 2009, she wrote: 'The following is from Amanda the Duchess' assistant...would you like me to see if we can change the seats? I recall the plane being rather booked up! 'The Duchess has asked that she be in First and the girls in Club on the flight back from NYC to LHR apparently Jeffrey said that this would be ok please can you let me know if you can change this.' Within minutes, Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting his sex trafficking trial in 2019, replied saying 'i said nothing,, do not respond'. Ms Ferguson, who was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time, even pushed Epstein (pictured, in an image appearing in the Epstein Files) to bump Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie up from economy to club class Ms Groff, who noted that attempts were being made to contact her on the phone, agreed not to respond. The files reveal that Ms Ferguson and the princesses had stayed with American businessman Philip Levine at his Miami mansion before taking his car and driver to visit Epstein on July 27. Messages from Ms Ferguson confirm her daughters would be joining and asked Epstein if he was putting on lunch. He replied it would be 'vegetable lasagna' or 'anything else you would like' made by a chef flown in from Paris. The lunch is believed to have been used by Ms Ferguson to seek advice and assistance regarding her well chronicled money woes. The following week, Ms Ferguson sent Epstein a gushing email about business proposals that had emerged since their meeting. 'After your lunch it seems the energy has lifted', she said. 'I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls. Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.' Emails show Ms Ferguson hoped the new ventures might pull her out of her financial crisis and help her become 'the quintessentially British Martha Stewart and I can be'. She later appears to have enlisted the help of Hollywood publicist Peggy Seigel, a close friend of Epstein, to promote her Young Victoria film in the US. In late 2009, Ms Seigel contacted Epstein saying said she is planning a screening for the movie and Ms Ferguson had asked for him to either host or fund it. 'She wants to know if you will come up and have it in your house....And she and I want to know if you can't come- can we have $20,000 to do the night,' she wrote. She added that Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later jailed for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein, was approached to host the night. Epstein instructed his staff to book the former duchess (centre, with her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, back) on business while Eugenie (right), and Beatrice (left), aged 19 and 21 at the time, should travel via economy or premium economy When Epstein refused to provide his home for the evening, Maxwell was said to have stepped in before the event was cancelled due to diary clashes. Other emails show how Ms Ferguson forwarded Epstein details of her hopes to appear on American TV. One indicates she had discussions with TV producer Mark Burnett to find a place for her on The Celebrity Apprentice and developing her own series called 'Duchess for a Day'. Sarah Ferguson was approached for comment. Bondi massacre hero Ahmed al-Ahmed has invested his new-found millions in gold bullion just moments after he was given expert advice in Sydney's financial heartland. Lunchtime workers gave him a rock star welcome as he walked through the CBD with his arm in a black sling, making him instantly recognisable to the strangers calling out and waving to him. Mr al-Ahmed, 44, is still undergoing treatment on his arm and shoulder after heroically disarming Islamic terrorist Sajid Akram, 50, before allegedly being shot by Akram's son Naveed, 24, on December 14. After video of his bravery went viral around the world, well-wishers flooded a GoFundMe appeal in his name to donate more than $2.65million to him. On Thursday, he travelled into Sydney city centre for some top-level financial advice on how best to invest his fortune as he tries to return to normal life since becoming world-famous. Arriving for a 12.30pm appointment, he took the lift to the upper floor offices occupied by lawyers and financial advisers in the skyscraper at 25 Martin Place. The tobacco shop owner, who has met world leaders, visited the US and been interviewed by international media in the wake of his heroism, spent more than two hours inside. He emerged around 2.40pm and immediately made a beeline for the nearby ABC Bullion gold dealer, which recently had queues down the street as gold prices soared. Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed was given the VIP treatment at ABC Bullion where he was able to skip the usual queue and was ushered upstairs to private rooms where he bought gold bars Ahmed al-Ahmed, escorted by an ABC Bullion security man, left the global gold trading premises after about 30 minutes in its upstairs rooms holding a bag of gold bars Ahmed emerged from ABC Bullion clutching a bag of cast gold bars, which appeared to be three 1kg bars, valued up to $750,000, although he declined to confirm the amount Mr al-Ahmed was given the VIP treatment by bullion bosses, skipping the line of prospective gold buyers, and ushered upstairs to the gold trader's private rooms. He exited just over half an hour later at 3.21pm with a white-shirted security guard holding up an umbrella in the teeming afternoon rain to accompany Ahmed. He appeared to have three 1kg gold bars inside a white gift bag, gripped in his hand. He confirmed it was gold to the Daily Mail, but declined to reveal the exact amount. ABC Bullion sells 1kg gold bars - 11.5cm long by 5.1cm wide, about the size of an old Nokia mobile phone - for $246,119.20 each. Three would be valued around $750,000. Dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, he seemed relaxed while holding his bag of treasure and paused to chat with strangers before heading into the ANZ Bank HQ. Mr al-Ahmed was again escorted upstairs into the private executive area where he met with a female bank employee while resting his bag of gold on a desk. After signing paperwork, Mr al-Ahmed left the bank where he was again greeted on the street by well-wishers who recognised him. He told the Daily Mail that he was spending his GoFundMe millions on his family and on therapy and possible future surgery on his left shoulder. Ahmed al-Ahmed descends the rainbow stairs after visiting 25 Martin Place for a two-hour appointment in the building's upper floors occupied by lawyers and financial advisers Mr al-Ahmed was greeted like a rock star wherever he went on Thursday in Sydney's Martin Place in his now-familiar black arm sling, with well-wishers stopping him to chat The Bondi hero took his gold bars to the ANZ Bank in Martin Place where he met with a female employee and signed paperwork while the gold rested on a desk He told the Daily Mail: 'It's my money - I can't work at the moment.' Although recent international media reports said he had sold his Sutherland tobacco shop, the business is currently still registered in his name with ASIC. He said that doctors had inserted metal plates in his shoulder joint, but he was still having problems with his left hand. As part of his physiotherapy treatment, he is using a foam ball to improve the mobility and gripping power of his fingers, he told the Daily Mail. But almost three months after being shot, he still has to take painkillers and suffers from interrupted sleep. Mr al-Ahmed revealed surgeons have suggested they may have to graft a nerve from his leg to his shoulder in coming months, if his arm recovery stalls. The father of two daughters, aged three and six, lives in Western Sydney with his parents, who were visiting from Syria when the massacre occurred. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during the Islamic State-inspired attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. The iconic images of Ahmed al-Ahmed's bear-hug crash-tackle takedown of December 14 massacre shooter Sajid Akram (above) flashed around the world making him the 'Bondi hero' while he was still recovering from surgery Ahmed al-Ahmed told the Daily Mail that since being shot after his takedown of shooter Sajid Akram he is facing possible future nerve graft surgery Ahmed al-Ahmed in post-surgery recovery at St George Hospital after being shot in the shoulder was personally delivered a huge GoFundMe cheque Naveed Akram was also shot by police but survived, and now faces 59 charges, including 15 of murder for the deaths of 11 men, four women and a child. The victims ranged in age from 10-year-old Matilda to 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, and most had connections to the Chabad Russian Jewish synagogue. Mr al-Ahmed was shot five times in the shoulder and was taken to St George Hospital, where he was still recovering from surgery when video footage of his bear-hug crash- tackle takedown of the gunman flashed around the world. Several appeals in the name of Mr al-Ahmed or just 'Bondi hero' have subsequently popped up on the GoFundMe site but have only raised between $0 and $210. The genuine GoFundMe, which to date has raised $2,657,744, states: 'In a moment of chaos and danger, Ahmed al-Ahmed stepped forward without hesitation. 'His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety ... (and) prevented the loss of countless more lives.' Jewish leaders in Australia and New York have since personally thanked Mr al-Ahmed, who is Muslim. An entire county in Nebraska was left without any law enforcement officers after the entire sheriff's department resigned this week. Boyd County Sheriff Clarence 'Chuck' Wrede, 75, resigned Tuesday after serving in the sheriff's office for 11 years. Just one day later, the three part-time deputies who have been responding to calls in the rural community along the border with South Dakota also tendered their resignations, News Channel Nebraska reports. Wrede explained to the network that the part-time deputies were his friends who were filling in from other counties to help him out after the last of his full-time deputies left for better pay and benefits elsewhere. 'The county board up here, every time I ask for higher wages and benefits [they say], "Oh no, we can't do that,"' Wrede claimed to the Norfolk Daily News on Tuesday. 'It's been quite frustrating. So I quit today after court.' The now-former sheriff also said he knew the rest of his team, including the secretary, would resign once he stepped down. When he then tendered his resignation, Wrede said 'the only comment I got was from the county attorney wanting to know who I had in mind to take over for me. And I said "nobody."' Boyd County Sheriff Clarence 'Chuck' Wrede, 75, resigned Tuesday after serving in the sheriff's office for 11 years The Boyd County Sheriff's Department (pictured) was then left without any staff, as the three part-time deputies and the secretary also tendered their resignations Two Boyd County supervisors later thanked Wrede for his service, he noted. He has worked for the sheriff's office since 2010 and won his first of three elections to be the county sheriff in 2014. But over the last two years, Wrede saw his four deputy sheriffs leave. 'They've kind of fluttered out because they believed they were worth more money,' he said, describing how he had made several requests to the county Board of Supervisors in recent years to approve pay raises. His last request was for deputy sheriff's pay to increase from $24 an hour to $28 an hour, which he said would have gotten the department within about $1 of hourly pay for law enforcement officers in neighboring counties. The supervisors wound up approving an increase to $25 per hour, but that still was not enough for the deputies, two of whom soon left to go work law enforcement in other municipalities for significant pay raises. The lack of benefits for Wrede County deputies was also an issue, Wrede said, explaining that the county gave deputies just $400 a month for health insurance needs, but that would barely cover anything after taxes. Wrede said he has been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the past few months Wrede's final straw apparently came when former Chief Deputy Cheyenne Doyle resigned in December to take a job with a central Nebraska police department, where she is paid $6 an hour more, has full health insurance and received a $5,000 sign-on bonus. Reflecting on her decision to leave, Doyle told News Channel Nebraska she loved working for the people of Boyd County but not for the people running the county board. Without any deputies left to help him, Wrede said he has been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the past few months. He eventually got some help by hiring three law enforcement officers - one from Omaha and two from the city of O'Neill, both of which are outside Boyd County - to help him out on a part-time basis because he said it would be impossible for him to sufficiently respond to every call in the county and investigate every crime. The 75 year old has also been dealing with a broken back, a bad shoulder and a new hip after being assaulted in January 2024 while responding to a criminal mischief call in Butte. 'I'm not a young person,' Wrede admitted. 'And I just kind of got tired of all of it.' He eventually got some help by hiring three law enforcement officers - one from Omaha and two from the city of O'Neill, both of which are outside Boyd County - to help him out on a part-time basis The former sheriff, whose law enforcement career began in 1976, said he is disappointed by how his tenure as sheriff ended, but he doesn't blame any of his former deputies for leaving. 'I don't blame any of them for trying to help themselves out,' he said. 'This [pay and benefits] has been brought up several times to the board and it doesn't go anywhere.' Supervisor David Derickson, a former Boyd County sheriff himself, though, told the Norfolk Daily News that the county's inability to pay its deputies higher wages comes down to a lack of funding. 'We'd all like to pay more, we're just trying to find out how we can make it work without pulling from the taxpayers' pockets,' he said. The supervisor added that he routinely visited Wrede, so he knew that the sheriff was desperate to get full-time help. For that reason, Derickson said he was not totally surprised that Wrede resigned, but said it still caught him off guard. 'I kind of understand what he went through, yet we're still dealing with a funding issue.' Without any dedicated law enforcement officers in the county, a spokesman for the Nebraska State Patrol said troopers would be adding extra patrols in the area and answering calls for service 'as Boyd County officials work through the situation.' Supervisors then called an emergency meeting for Friday, when they are expected to appoint a new sheriff. The political capital available for winning the Gorton and Denton by-election is immense. And so, therefore, is the pressure. So it may come as no surprise that the three parties in the running to win when the result is announced in the early hours should resort to some electoral chicanery. Reform, Labour and the Greens have all faced accusations of fighting dirty in the Manchester suburbs. Issues include creating fictional organisation, misrepresenting the views of a local granny and creating videos that were branded 'dog-whistle racism'. Labour won Gorton and Denton in 2024 with more than half the vote but polling suggests the party's candidate Angeliki Stogia faces a tight three-way contest with Reform UK's Matt Goodwin and the Greens' Hannah Spencer. Victory would buy Sir Keir some breathing space after a period in which his leadership of Labour has been questioned. But defeat is likely to pile the pressure back on, with some suggesting a third-placed finish in a previously safe part of Greater Manchester could spell the end for the Prime Minister. Labour was accused of inventing a fictitious tactical voting firm to convince leftwing voters to choose them over the Greens to keep Reform from winning Reform narrowly avoided a fine over a leaflet purporting to be from a 'concerned neighbour' which did not mention that it was being send on behalf of the party The Greens were accused of 'whipping up hatred' over Gaza and the UK's links with India in parts of the constituency with a large Muslim population Labour Labour was accused of inventing a fictitious tactical voting firm to convince Left-wing voters to choose them over the Greens to keep Reform from winning. Zack Polanski's party said that leaflets purporting to be from 'Tactical Choice' recommending that voters back Labour were 'desperate' - because Tactical Choice dos not appear to exist. But at the same time, according to the Huffington Post, two real tactical voting organisations, Tactical.Vote and StopTheTories.Vote have already recommended voters back the Greens. The offending leaflet says: 'The Tactical Choice says Vote Labour. Based on a new prediction made in the last 24 hours we are recommending voting Labour.' A Green source said: 'They've had to make this up because every actual tactical voting organisation has endorsed the Green Party as the best hope to keep Reform out in this election.' Labour did not try to deny that it had made up the group, but a campaign spokesman said: 'The Greens have been pumping out fake news and deploying dirty tactics for weeks. We'll take no lectures from them.' The Greens also complained about a campaign vehicle which urged voters to 'do not vote for the Greens' and warned of 'Green madness'. It reportedly claimed the Greens want to 'let our daughters be used for legal prostitution'. The Greens were said to have reported Labour to police over alleged electoral law breaches. It comes after the Daily Mail showed how the Greens back legalising prostitution and freeing up access to sexually explicit pornography. The flyer (pictured) was put through voters' doors in the Greater Manchester constituency on Wednesday evening, before they head to the polls today The leaflet (pictured) purports to be from a firm called 'Tactical Choice', encouraging tactical voting. Text on the flyer says this strategic choice would be Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia The Greens For its part, Labour has accused the Greens of 'whipping up hatred' over Gaza in parts of the constituency with a large Muslim population. The party even put out a campaign video in Urdu which featured images of Sir Keir shaking hands with Indian PM Narendra Modi. Labour MP Dr Jeevun Sandher said the video 'doesn't feel relevant to Gorton and Denton', adding: 'I can hear the dog whistle.' The Greens have also been accused of misquoting a leading academic in their campaign material. The party put out a campaign video in Urdu which featured images of Sir Keir shaking hands with Indian PM Narendra Modi The Greens have also been accused of misquoting a leading academic in their campaign material Late in the campaign the Greens faced further criticism over a leaflet designed to get their vote out Early in the campaign a leaflet quoted Manchester University professor Rob Ford, as saying: 'The route to victory for the Greens looks more straightforward. A Green victory over Reform, with Labour third, is perhaps the most dangerous result of all for the current [Labour] leadership.' However, he said his quote was ''misleading out of context'. After they repeated the error he made an official complaint to the returning officer. Late in the campaign the Greens faced further criticism over a leaflet designed to get their vote out. A leaflet breathlessly said that there were just '600 votes in it' between them and Reform and 'no one else can win it', when most polls have it as a close three-way fight. Additionally a poll on the leaflet was dramatically out of proportion, making Labour seem further behind than they actually are. Reform Reform's Mat Goodwin narrowly avoided a fine over a leaflet purporting to be from a 'concerned neighbour' which did not mention that it was being send on behalf of the party. The missive that went to 81,000 homes landed him in the High Court with his lawyer begging a judge not to fine him 5,000. Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, election material must include the name and address of those promoted by the document, the promoter, and the printer. At a hearing last week, lawyers for the candidate and his election agent, Adam Rawlinson, told the High Court that some of Mr Goodwin's election leaflets failed to include a 'statutory imprint' saying who it was from, which constituted 'inadvertent illegal practice'. At a subsequent hearing yesterday they asked the court to rule that they do not have to face a fine of up to 5,000 for what their barrister described as an 'honest administrative error' caused by the company which printed the leaflets. Reform's Mat Goodwin narrowly avoided a fine over a leaflet purporting to be from a 'concerned neighbour' which did not mention that it was being send on behalf of the party. In a ruling, Mr Justice Butcher said he was 'satisfied' that the pair should not be sanctioned for the rule breach and had taken 'appropriate steps to put it right'. Adam Richardson, for Mr Goodwin and Mr Rawlinson, told the court in London that the draft versions of the leaflet sent between Mr Goodwin's team and the printers, Hardings Print Solutions, all included the imprint and were checked 'in the usual way multiple times'. He continued that 'for reasons known only to themselves, Hardings decided to put on a different font at the last minute'. He said: 'Had (Mr Goodwin and Mr Rawlinson) known that was going to take place, they would have prevented it.' The woman who was jailed and threatened with stoning for wearing a T-shirt saying 'Allah is a lesbian' now faces having her arm amputated as her health continues to deteriorate in Moroccan prison. Ibtissame 'Betty' Lachgar, a feminist activist, was jailed last September and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a Facebook post in which she wore the garment, on the grounds that it was 'offensive to Islam'. The 50-year-old campaigner is a bone cancer survivor with a prothesis between her left shoulder and elbow, and has sustained a fractured elbow during her time so far in Sale prison, located on the outskirts of Rabat. Lachgar's family and lawyers are calling for her urgent release after learning of a severe deterioration in her health, with doctors warning that without urgent specialist treatment, she will need to have her arm amputated. The psychologist's lawyers have argued that her conviction contradicts Moroccos 2011 Constitution and the countrys obligations under United Nation treaties, protecting freedom of expression. She has spent the past six months sleeping on the floor with no mattress, in a cold cell with a broken window, according to Avaaz, a US-based nonprofit organisation which launched a petition calling for Lachgar's immediate release. One of her lawyers, Ghizlane Mamouni, said: 'The decline in Ibtissame Lachgar's health is alarming. Her prosthesis has completely dislodged and shes only being treated with paracetamol for that and the fractured elbow she has sustained during her detention, despite urgently requiring complex surgery.' Lachgar wore the T-shirt for a 2022 Facebook post as an act of solidarity with two LGBTQ+ activists in Iran, who were sentenced to death that same year after being accused of promoting homosexuality, promoting Christianity and communicating with media opposed to the Islamic Republic. Ibtissame 'Betty' Lachgar, a feminist activist, was jailed last September and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a social media post in which she wore the garment Lachgar's family and lawyers are calling for her urgent release after learning of a severe deterioration in her health, with doctors warning that without urgent specialist treatment, she will need to have her arm amputated Her sister, Siham Lachgar, said: 'My sisters health is seriously at risk. This is extremely worrying for her and for our family. She needs very specialist care in France, and without it the consequences could be catastrophic. 'This punishment isnt about her actions, but about what she stands for. It shows that, even today, you can be jailed simply for thinking differently. 'Every day she remains behind bars is another injustice to her, and another nail in the coffin of freedom.' In February, the United Nations established a working group, to examine Lachgar's case. 'Following a womans posting of a photo on her social media account, which depicts her wearing a shirt with phrases offensive to the divine, along with a caption insulting Islam, the public prosecutor ordered an investigation,' the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Rabat Court of First Instance announced last September. It came after Lachgar re-posted the image of her wearing the T-shirt on X, on July 31, alongside the caption: 'In Morocco I walk around in t-shirts with messages against religions ... You guys are exhausting us with your religious nonsense, your accusations. 'Yes, Islam, like any religious ideology, is FASCIST. PHALLOCRATIC AND MISOGYNISTIC.' Immediately, the T-shirt sparked outrage online, as well as debate, with some accounts showing support for the outspoken feminist. Writing on X, Lachgar said she had been subjected to days of 'cyber bullying, thousands of threats of rape, death, calls for lynching and stoning'. '99% come from men. Proud of their misogynistic violence based on a religious frame of reference,' she wrote. The activist re-posted some of the religious backlash she had been receiving, including one comment on X by the account @moufarrid, which said: 'Our country is in danger; this woman named Ibtissem Lachgar is currently free. She was born in Rabat and currently lives in Morocco. She is a feminist activist, anti-royalist, pro-secularism, and openly Islamophobic. 'Her freedom is an insult to all Moroccans. She alone is an insult to all the martyrs, our ancestors who proudly fought in the path of Allah to make this country what it is today. 'The authorities have still not apprehended her, and this is unacceptable. We must not let such an act go unpunished. There is nothing more sacred to Moroccans than Allah, than Islam. This womans place is behind bars.' Lachgar's post sparked outrage online, with many calling for her to be punished by the authorities Lachgar a co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties in Morocco is widely known in the country as an advocate for womens and LGBTQ+ rights. For the first five months of her sentence, she was held in solitary confinement, which has taken a severe toll on her mental and physical health, according to Avaaz. Avaaz - which is part of the Free Betty coalition including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other organisations - launched a petition calling for Lachgar release which has already amassed almost 400,000 signatures. It is the largest petition targeting the Moroccan authorities in the past decade, according to the US nonprofit. Lawyer Mamouni said: 'By keeping Betty in solitary confinement, she is being treated like a violent criminal, when her only "crime" is having worn, on European soil, a T-shirt bearing a slogan in support of two Iranian women sentenced to death. 'In this, she is the victim of a double injustice - an illegal conviction under the Constitution and international agreements, and detention conditions that, given her disability, are inhumane and degrading.' Moroccos 2011 constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and in 1979, the country ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), committing - under Articles 18 and 19 - to uphold freedom of thought, conscience and expression, according to Avaaz. Lachgars other lawyer, Chirinne Ardakani, said: 'For six months, in blatant violation of international law, Betty has been arbitrarily detained, subjected to inhumane and degrading conditions of detention and deprived of medical care, solely for expressing her freedom of expression and opinion. 'Betty is being repressed as much for who she is - a woman, independent and committed to womens and LGBTQIA+ rights - as for her beliefs.' Amnesty International has previously claimed prisoners in Sale, where Lachgar is detained, have suffered physical abuse and torture at the hands of guards. In 2007, Moroccan editor Driss Ksikes and journalist Sanaa al-Aji were handed three-year suspended sentences and ordered to pay fines of $8,000 (5,900) each after an article they wrote about religious jokes. The journalists were accused of 'defaming Islam and damaging morality' and were banned from working for the magazine Nichane for two months In 2013, Lachgar was one of the organisers of a public 'kiss-in' in Rabat in support of three teenagers who were arrested for posting a photo of themselves kissing on Facebook. A boy and girl, aged 15 and 14, alongside their 15-year-old male friend, were charged with 'violating public decency' and held in a juvenile centre after posting the photo outside their school in the northern town of Nador, local media reported. At the demonstration protesting against conservatism in Moroccan society, the activists locked lips outside the parliament building in the capital city. In 2012, as part of her pro-choice advocacy, Lachgar invited the Women on Waves' abortion boat to anchor in Morocco as a symbolic protest against anti-abortion laws. The boat, purportedly offering medical abortions as well as advice, was manned by a Dutch campaign group who advocate for reproductive rights for women in countries where abortion is not legal. The boat started its journey from the Netherlands and was scheduled to dock at the port of Smir before it was blocked by authorities. Melanie Motta, global campaigner at Avaaz, said: 'Hundreds of thousands of people from 40 different countries are calling for Bettys release. These are huge numbers, which shows the strength of feeling from an international community of individuals committed to freedom of expression. The world stands with Betty. 'Wearing a t-shirt is not a crime, and no-one should be jailed for supporting human rights. We call on King Mohammed to free Betty now.' This is the moment four suspected gang members accused of stealing more than 300,000 worth of phones are arrested in an early morning raid. The group would allegedly befriend drunk or unsuspecting members of the public as they came out of pubs before snatching their phones. After swiping the devices, the gang would use them to pay for expensive tech like mobile phones as well as steal thousands in cryptocurrency, police said. A warrant was executed in the early hours of Thursday, and three men aged 21, 19 and 18, from north London, were arrested along with a 31-year-old man from north-west London, police said. The four men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to commit fraud between September 2024 and December 2025. All four men remain in custody, the force said on Thursday afternoon. Detective Inspector Kev Hughes, from City of London Police, said: 'These arrests demonstrate our determination to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups who think they can profit from stealing people's phones and accessing their bank accounts. 'Phone snatching is not a victimless crime. In a matter of minutes, offenders can steal not only a device but someone's money, personal data and sense of security. A warrant was executed in the early hours of Thursday, and three men aged 21, 19 and 18, from north London , were arrested along with a 31-year-old man from north-west London, police said City of London Police officers during a raid at a property in London used by a suspected member of a phone snatching gang The group would allegedly befriend drunk or unsuspecting members of the public as they came out of pubs before snatching their phones 'We have already reduced phone snatching by 40 per cent compared to last year, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal - from proactive patrols to complex financial investigations - to drive that figure down even further. 'We would urge people to turn on advanced anti-theft features on their phones, hide financial apps behind biometrics and always shield your PIN in public.' City of London Police is offering a service to mark phones so they can be identified and have a better chance of being returned to the victim if they are stolen. Earlier this month, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called on the telecoms and tech industry to make it harder for stolen phones to be reused. He also called on the courts to stop bailing repeat offenders, which he said was 'undermining the hard work officers are doing to keep communities safe'. In its 'largest ever crackdown' on phone thefts in London, the Met announced earlier this week it has slashed the number of cases by 10,000 in the past year. The force said on Tuesday that in the last four weeks alone officers have made 248 arrests related to phone theft and seized around 770 stolen devices as part of 'intensified activity' across the capital to identify and arrest suspects. Offences in London have fallen from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year, representing a 12.3 per cent decline in cases. Drones, e-bikes and live facial recognition have been used to catch offenders. The London borough with the most phones stolen in 2024 was Westminster, with 34,039. Camden came second with 10,907, followed by Southwark with 7,316. Your browser does not support iframes. There were 116,656 reported mobile thefts in 2024 the highest number on record and more than 50 per cent higher than the total in 2017 of just over 77,000. Last year's total was equivalent to 13 phones being stolen every hour and it was 1,300 incidents higher than in the previous 12 months. Despite the number of thefts, only 169 suspects were charged in the year, and seven were let off with a caution. The figures, obtained from the Met under freedom of information laws by campaign group Crush Crime, also showed a further 8,588 handset thefts in January this year. Some 61,000 of victims were female and just under 48,000 were male, with the rest not recorded. From 2017 to 2024 the total number of mobile phones reported stolen was almost 684,000 and they were estimated to have a value of 365million. The number of phone thefts climbed to 91,000 in 2019 but dipped during lockdowns. It then went on to exceed the pre-Covid total in 2023, with just over 115,000 thefts. A council has spent more than 3million on an unusable HGV depot with a floor not strong enough to hold the vehicles despite warning of a funding black hole. Conwy County Borough Council took on a contract for building the warehouse in the village of Mochdre, in north Wales, in 2016 to store its 157 bin lorries and gritters. But the enormous structure has never been used as the local authority later discovered the floor was too weak to support the heavy goods vehicles. By then, the council was already locked into a 35-year lease on the building, until 2031, when the agreement could be broken. In the meantime, taxpayers are stuck footing the 240,000-a-year-rent bill. And new figures, obtained by Freedom of Information (FOI) request, have shown with five years still to go, the cost of this white elephant has already skyrocketed. At least 3.2million has been poured into the project so far, including an eye-watering 700,000 on consulting fees alone, according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service. On top of the 703,735 for 'specialist consultants', the local authority has spent 2,233,330 on rent, 290,574 on legal costs, and 273,379 on maintenance. Conwy County Borough Council took on a contract for building the warehouse (pictured) in 2016 to store its 157 bin lorries and gritters The council has also forked out 155,263 on utilities and some 216,437 on mysteriously described 'other' costs. It insisted the building has also brought in 629,031 in income. Regardless, it means the useless depot has come at a staggering price of at least 3,243,687 so far with the actual total likely to be higher. Council officers refused to answer other cost-related queries submitted as part of the FOI request, arguing the sums were too expensive and time-consuming to calculate. Unanswered questions include the price of storing the council's HGVs elsewhere. This extravagant spending comes despite the council's own admission earlier this month it faces a several million pound shortfall in its 2026-27 budget. The estimated black hole is 5.632million, according to Councillor Chris Cater, Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning. He said: 'Consequently, a significant contribution will be needed from an increase in Council Tax.' This emptiness in the council's coffers may come as a surprise to residents, who have suffered three consecutive years of ten per cent council tax hikes to foot growing local bills. And local officials have warned this is set to become four, with further cuts to public services also expected as the council tightens its belt. But the local authority blamed a nationwide crisis in local government funding for the financial pressure, rather than its own budgetary decisions. 'It is evident that local government across the UK is subject to significant pressure, and there have been a number of councils who have issued a Local Government and Finance Act 1988 section 114 notice, which essentially declares the council 'bankrupt', a report put before its finance committee stated. 'Whilst a number of the high-profile cases have had poor financial management at their heart, it is increasingly evident that other well-run councils are now facing significant issues as a result of the lack of funding being directed to local government. This is a risk that Conwy also faces.' The full council is set to meet on March 5 to finalise and agree the budget and council tax rates for this year. Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said the HGV depot was an 'absolute waste of money' in such tight times, calling the situation a 'shambles'. It is a particular blow, the Conservative Senedd member said, ahead of council tax hikes which she claimed have, in recent years, been 'the highest in Wales'. But the enormous structure, in the village of Mochdre (pictured, file photo), north Wales, has never been used as the local authority later discovered the floor was too weak to support the heavy goods vehicles Phil Ashe, a Conservative councillor in nearby Colwyn Bay, similarly dubbed the excessive spending 'scandalous', especially amid cuts to public services. 'On top of that, they clearly did not need this unit, as they managed to store the vehicles elsewhere. Why did they sign up for this in the first place?,' he said. 'What else are they wasting? They are not transparent whatsoever. They need to be held to account over it.' Conwy council leader Julie Fallon said earlier this month she shared local concerns but that ongoing legal proceedings limited what could be publicly discussed. The independent representative also noted court processes were outside the local authority's control. The depot is built on land previously occupied by three business park units at Mochdre Commerce Park. It was initially leased from Conygar Investment Company PLC but the landlord is now R.R Sea Strand Limited, who the council is in an ongoing legal dispute with. A spokesperson for Conwy County Borough Council said: 'The Council is not able to comment on a matter that is the subject of ongoing litigation.' In a previous statement, in 2021, a spokesperson for the local authority said the lease 'had not been subject to the same governance process' as other major contracts. They added at the time the council was continuing to negotiate with the site owner about the agreement. Rachel Reeves should be sacked as Chancellor if the Treasury continues to delay publishing its multibillion-pound investment plan for Britain's defence, the boss of Britain's largest union has said. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, blasted both Ms Reeves and Keir Starmer for dithering over producing Labour's plan to revitalise Britain's armed forces. Warning that Labour was putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk, the union boss said: 'If Rachel Reeves can't grasp that concept and doesn't care where things are made then she should go.' 'Actually, you have to have a vision for Britain. 'You can't just be in government, you can't just say today's a new day.' The Unite boss also called on Sir Keir to 'do what he said he would do' and increase annual spending on the military to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027. The Prime Minister last year pledged to meet a new Nato target to spend five per cent of the UK's GDP on national security by 2035. But ministers are now reportedly considering accelerating key milestones to hit three percent by 2029. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, blasted both Ms Reeves and Keir Starmer for dithering over producing Labour's plan to revitalise Britain's armed forces Warning that Labour was putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk, Unite boss Sharon Graham said: 'If Rachel Reeves can't grasp that concept and doesn't care where things are made then she should go' This comes as Sir Keir's own armed forces minister said this week Britain has less than three years to prepare for war but is by no means ready. 'When it comes to deterring Russia, we have three to five years before we have to fight a significant confrontation with a major state, a geographically constrained conflict in some shape or form,' former marine Al Carns told The Times. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said the intervention from Ms Graham who has called for an end to Unite's 'obsession with the Labour Party' exposes 'the gaping chasm on Labour's defence spending rhetoric'. He added: 'Labour supporting Unions are now calling for the chancellor to resign if she doesn't properly fund defence - this is chaos. 'Our defence industry and armed forces are despairing at the lack of direction - the MOD need to urgently get a grip and finally publish their long overdue Defence Investment Plan (DIP).' Labour was due to publish its 'DIP' last Autumn, which will set out how the government funds its transformation of the armed forces, but Treasury penny-pinching has caused repeated delays. And it emerged this week that government spending on the military is set to account for a smaller share of GDP in 2027-28 than estimated last year, in a blow to Sir Keir's efforts to meet his Nato targets. Speaking to The Guardian, Ms Graham said on Wednesday: 'Labour is supposed to be in for workers in the working class. 'I'm seeing very little evidence of that.' She also pointed to a lack of regard for workers across Labour's Whitehall operation, and urged ministers to 'back British industry' by signing off on future defence contracts. But a spokesperson from ADS, a trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, security and space industries, told the Daily Mail: 'Neither industry or military planners can do their jobs appropriately without the certainty provided by the financial backing of the DIP. 'Announcements and intentions are all very well, but without the follow through businesses of all shapes and sizes are actively suffering with the in-year slowdown in spending. 'Good intentions and good will to all are appreciated - but further delays in action are frustrating at best, and disruptive to business at worst.' The 'DIP' had been expected to be published in the autumn, and then just before Christmas, but has been delayed to March or April. It is intended to set out funding for 67 billion of commitments from last summer's strategic defence review. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan, which will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed, while investing in and growing the UK economy. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was unwittingly cultivated by Russian spymasters who exploited his long-standing jealousy and hatred of his brother the King - according to a top secret US intelligence report. The former prince was targeted without his knowledge by the Kremlin through his close association with Jeffrey Epstein as a way to penetrate the British establishment, it's claimed. Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested last week by police officers at his home on the Sandringham estate amid suggestions he may have leaked market-sensitive information gained through his trade envoy role. Now the Mail has seen a highly classified US report being used by the US security services that lays bare how Andrew was regarded as a 'useful idiot' and the Royal family's 'weak link' by Russian agents from both hostile states. It's said that Russian spies were able to exploit Andrew's view that he would make a better king than his older brother Charles together with his motivation for 'financial, sexual and personal reward.' The secret document was produced by an unnamed US security agency and is headed 'Political Corruption: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor' with the sub heading Designated Russian Union and it's dated January 15th of this year. A source said: 'It says that Russian intelligence developed networks using figures such as Jeffrey Epstein for access to political and business leaders and to control any possible domestic law enforcement actions. 'It states that 'Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (AMW) was cultivated by Russian intelligence in order to have a figure close to the British Royal Family.' Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor crouched over an unidentified woman in an image released in the files linked to Jeffrey Epstein The former prince was targeted without his knowledge by the Kremlin through his close association with Jeffrey Epstein as a way to penetrate the British establishment, it's claimed. Pictured: Andrew (left) and Epstein (right) The report would be further embarrassment for Andrew if its headline findings were corroborated by any subsequent official investigation. But regardless of whether that happens, it remains mortifying on a personal level because of what it claims about Andrew's feelings for his brother the King, on whose discretion he is now wholly dependent for a home and an income. The report states baldly 'AMW has a long-standing hatred of his brother Charles, who he sees as weak. 'AMW detested the attention and adulation Charles received as the future king, feeling he was best suited for the role and superior, in general, to the then Prince of Wales,' it says. On the question of why he may have been targeted by Russian spies, our source said: 'This would facilitate them conducting both intelligence and corruption operations within both the UK and the EU and the wider world. 'Using AMW as a front provided legitimacy to corruption operations worldwide. 'AMW was not blackmailed or otherwise coerced into this role - rather he was a willing participant in these schemes due to financial, sexual and personal reward. 'Russian intelligence used AMW's sexual proclivities to establish a relationship rapport in order to exploit this mental condition for further gain.' The revelations came after MPs tore former Prince Andrew's reputation to shreds in the Commons and were promised that the Government would make available the official papers relating to his appointment as a UK trade envoy in 2001 - but not until the present criminal inquiry is over. Andrew Lownie, author of the former Duke of York's biography Entitled and one of his fiercest critics, said: 'It is now clear that US intelligence agencies believe Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was used by both Russian and Chinese spies to further their influence.' Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested last week by police officers at his home on the Sandringham estate amid suggestions he may have leaked market sensitive information gained through his trade envoy role. Pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk On the question of how they had managed this without the royal becoming aware, he added: 'They will seek out the weakness and exploit it, and in Andrew's case, he's been their useful idiot. 'This is how spies work they find the vulnerabilities and work on them just as they did with the Cambridge spies and their homosexuality. 'And it's not just Russian intelligence, it's Chinese intelligence which has also penetrated the establishment, and our soft underbelly has been the Royal Family - specifically Andrew - because there's absolutely no oversight or transparency there.' And Mr Lownie said he believes that there is 'a lot more coming down the track for the King and the Royal Family' because of the potential issues of national security being examined. He added: 'I think what's outrageous is that these stories have been running around for years Sarah Ferguson selling access to Andrew, unexplained large sums of money etc and no-one, whether the Palace, the Government or the police have shown the remotest interest in looking into them until they were exposed in the Epstein files'. Mr Lownie has previously written on Mail+ that King Charles has been warned 'for decades' that the Royals' name was being abused by Andrew's 'dodgy' business associations. And the biggest threat was posed by Russia, thanks to Andrew's frequent forays to former Soviet states such as Kazakhstan, said Mr Lownie, who added: 'Putin could finish Andrew any time he likes with photos, tales and evidence he no doubt has on Andrew in Russia.' Andrew's former home in Sunninghill Park, Berks, was bought by Kazakh billionaire Timur Kulibayev for 15million in 2007, a sum which was 3million over the asking price. Kulibayev is the son-in-law of Kazakhstan's then-president and was one of the most influential officials in the central Asian country's oil and gas industry. Money laundering expert Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Finance and Security, told the BBC that the deal had 'blatant red flags' which should have prompted detailed checks to ensure it was not 'helping to launder the proceeds of corruption'. The former prince told the Daily Telegraph in 2009, after criticism of the deal: 'It's not my business, the second the price is paid. If that is the offer, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and suggest they have overpaid me.' Andrew had reportedly been introduced to Kulibayev by Kazakh businesswoman and socialite Goga Ashkenazi, who has two children from an affair with the oligarch. Sunninghill House, on the edge of Windsor Great Park near to Ascot, which was sold by Prince Andrew in 2007 She later described the prince as a close friend, but now says she has not had any dealings with him for about 15 years. Andrew and Ashkenazi were photographed in June 2007 attending Ladies Day at Ascot with the Queen. In the same month, contracts were exchanged for the purchase of Sunninghill. On one official visit to Russia, Andrew was said to be 'angling to be given a Faberge egg', former risk management executive Tim Reilly told Mr Lownie. He recalled: 'Even they were stunned by his undisguised avarice.' As the Mail on Sunday revealed this week, a whistleblower told the Palace he had secret financial links to controversial millionaire financier David Rowland whom Andew, on numerous occasions, alerted to business opportunities arising from his work as trade envoy. According to Mr Lownie: 'Those high up in the Establishment have known about Andrew's alleged misdemeanours for decades.' And he said it's likely that the millions of new documents released by the US Department of Justice contain even more material which could tarnish the Royal 'brand' because of Andrew's friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. As police officers sift through evidence seized during searches in Norfolk and Windsor following Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Mr Lownie recalled the catalogue of scandals that have swirled around him during his days as 'AirMiles Andy'. He pointed to emails which have emerged suggesting that during his decade as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2001 and 2011, 'Andrew alerted his associates to useful, inside information from which they might have been able to profit.' Mr Lownie added: 'It is said that he provided his banker friends David Rowland and his son Jonathan with a secret Treasury document that might have helped them purchase a failing Icelandic bank, for example. 'In the same year, Andrew is believed to have supplied commercially sensitive information to Epstein amid the 45billion Government rescue of the Royal Bank of Scotland. 'The released documents also suggest he passed on information about Aston Martin, including claims of internal tensions amid a slump in sales and that he disclosed details of confidential briefings he'd received while on trade visits to south-east Asia and Libya.' But the most damaging information on the former Prince Andrew could well come from the murky depths of the former Soviet states such as Kazakhstan where he frequently travelled. Mr Lownie says he is in no doubt that Epstein was a Soviet 'asset' and Ghislaine Maxwell's Czech-born father Robert was known to have extensive links behind the former Iron Curtain. Mr Lownie says he is in no doubt that Epstein was a Soviet 'asset' and Ghislaine Maxwell's Czech-born father Robert was known to have extensive links behind the former Iron Curtain. Pictured: Ghislane Maxwell in 2016 As he wrote this week: 'In my book, I revealed that Andrew had taken a 3.85million commission for helping a Greek water company secure contracts in Kazakhstan; how he helped to fast-track a banking licence in the Middle East for David Rowland's Banque Havilland; and how he helped shoe-horn Rowland's son Jonathan into meetings on a visit to China in 2010.' 'Yet the Palace, police and Establishment as a whole continued to look the other way, as they have done from the outset. It is now the best part of two decades since the facts about the King's younger brother were first laid before the public and with startling clarity. Yet officialdom did nothing. 'Why was there neither a police investigation nor a royal inquiry when, in 2010, Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, was filmed by the News of the World selling access to Prince Andrew? 'Why was there no investigation when it was revealed Andrew had been paid 3million over the asking price for his first marital home, Sunninghill, even though the source of that money was from Kazakhstan, an oil-rich dictatorship, and the possibility of money laundering (with or without his knowledge) was very real? 'Why did nothing happen in 2022 when, in an unrelated fraud case, the High Court revealed Andrew's family had received over 1million from a Turkish millionaire for which they could not account: 750,000 to Andrew, 245,000 to Sarah and 10,000 to Princess Eugenie? 'Why were no questions asked when it emerged in 2019 that Pitch@Palace, a charity hosted in Buckingham Palace bringing entrepreneurs and investors together, had a clause giving Andrew a 2 per cent cut of any investment? Why was Sarah allowed to spend 30 years monetising her royal status for personal commercial gain? 'The fact is, the royals have known about Andrew's activities for years. Not only did they turn a blind eye, I believe they abetted it as did some of the most powerful influences in British society. I suspect that diplomats, civil servants, policeman and former members of staff knew their careers would be curtailed if they tried to speak truth to power.' Earlier this month he Mail also revealed a growing belief in UK intelligence circles that Epstein himself may have been initially set up by the KGB to run what they called 'the world's largest honeytrap operation'. By procuring women for his network of associates, which grew to included some of the world's most powerful men, he was providing the greatest ever trove of so-called Kompromoat (potentially damaging material used to 'turn' targets into their spies). Intelligence sources said this would explain how Epstein appeared to enjoy an ultra-wealthy lifestyle out of kilter with his career as a financier, although there is no documentary evidence linking Putin and his spies directly to Epstein's illicit activities. But the sources also claim that while US security services 'monitored' Epstein's Russian connections for years, their UK equivalents were hesitant to do this due to Epstein's connection to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Transgender residents in Kansas have had their driver's licenses invalidated following a new state law that requires IDs to reflect a person's sex assigned at birth. About 1,700 transgender drivers received letters from the Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles (KDOR) stating their licenses would become invalid on Thursday under SB 244. The bill also prevents transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity, voids updated birth certificates, and allows anyone who encounters them in restrooms to sue for $1,000. 'Please note that the Legislature did not include a grace period for updating credentials,' read letters mailed by the KDOR, according to the Kansas City Star. 'That means that once the law is officially enacted, your current credentials will be invalid immediately, and you may be subject to additional penalties if you are operating a vehicle without a valid credential.' The law was fast-tracked through 'gut and go,' a process in which the text of one bill can be replaced with new provisions, bypassing committee review and speeding up voting, according to the Guardian. The bill was vetoed by Democratic governor Laura Kelly, who argued that SB 244 was 'poorly drafted legislation'. However, she was overridden by the Republican supermajority in the legislature last week. About 1,700 transgender drivers received letters from the Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles (KDOR) stating their licenses would become invalid on Thursday under SB 244 (Stock Image) Transgender drivers were directed to surrender their IDs if they did not match their birth given sex Transgender rights activists gather outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2026, as justices heard cases on bans affecting transgender athletes 'It's all happening very quickly, and my heart is broken for anyone who this is directly impacting,' activist Jae Moyer told the Star. A member of the Johnson County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition expressed concern that the bill was introduced rapidly and that it creates challenges for affected individuals. Additionally, Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney with the LGBTQ and HIV Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, told Reuters that the bill 'puts transgender people in danger any time they interact with law enforcement or apply for a job or for housing or public benefits.' Seldin added that transgender Kansans change the sex on their IDs to live as themselves and stay safe. Kansas residents were permitted to change their gender on driver's licenses and birth certificates until 2023, until they were blocked during a lawsuit by Republican state attorney general Kris Kobach, according to the outlet. A protester holds a sign outside the Kansas Statehouse on March 31, 2023, during a rally for transgender rights marking Transgender Day of Visibility In 2025, transgender residents were once again granted permission to make sex changes. Another Republican, State Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, commented on the new bill, claiming President Trump's 2024 election triumph shows voters are looking to return to 'common sense.' 'When I go home, people believe there are just two sexes, male and female,' Blasi said. 'It's basic biology I learned in high school.' Anyone whose Kansas license does not reflect their birth-given sex is directed to surrender their credentials to the Kansas Division of Vehicles, reads the letter, which The Star obtained. 'Upon surrendering the credential, you will be issued a new credential reflecting the gender identification consistent with statutory requirements,' it continues. Transgender drivers will receive no funding to help replace the IDs, which usually cost $30. However, a KDOR spokesperson said the agency is charging only $8 to reissue valid licenses, according to the Star. A canned martini was discovered inside a little girl's lunchbox, prompting police to issue a playful reminder to parents to keep booze out of kids' bags. Officials shared a photo on social media of a packed pink tote, stuffed with Doritos snacks and a Cutwater lemon-flavored drink with 11 percent alcohol content. 'Before you send them babies off to school CHECK. THE. LUNCHBOX,' read the post by the South Fulton Police Department. 'Because why are we getting reports of juice boxes sitting next to Cutwater margaritas??' But police kept a light-hearted tone, noting that the child was packed a 'parent had a long night' starter kit instead of a child-friendly meal. Luckily, it appears that officials discovered the can before it could be opened, and as they asked parents to, 'TIGHTEN UP TWIN!' The authorities noted the importance of slowing down in the morning so their children do not go to school with beverages that require an ID. Additionally, officials suggested a short checklist for guardians, including homework and lunch, but not intoxicating drinks. Officials discovered a Cutwater Lemon Drop Martini with 11 percent alcohol content stuffed into a packed pink lunch box with Doritos snacks 'If it says 11 percent ABV it does NOT belong next to a PB&J,' wrote authorities. 'Check the lunchbox before the Fulton County Schools Police resource officers gotta do inventory at recess.' Many online took a moment to chuckle at the incident and jokingly speculated about how the booze got into the lunch bag. 'They saw that lemon and thought it was lemonade,' a user wrote while adding several laughing emojis. 'Dang that baby packed his own lunch and thought that was a can of juice twin,' another added. 'Bruh! That was about to be a very eventful day for that youngin! Yall are hilarious, a third wrote. The police department later clarified that the incident did not take place in the City of South Fulton or in Fulton County Schools. 'Were sharing this because media outlets have started contacting local schools asking where it happened, and we dont want any confusion in our community,' the department wrote. 'The real takeaway here is awareness. Across the country, theres growing concern about alcoholic drinks being packaged to look like non-alcoholic ones and even being placed near them in stores, which can lead to honest mix-ups.' Join the debate Should parents face consequences if their child brings alcohol to school by mistake? In a playful statement, the South Fulton Police Department reminded parents to slow down and makes sure to pack juice instead of adult beverages for their children In 2020, a student was caught bringing her pet cat to class and hiding the feline in her desk. Footage showed the Munchkin cat, a breed known for its short legs, quietly lying inside the desk and looking around, seemingly trying to hide from the lecturer. Ms Wen, the pet owner, told the Daily Mail that she had to bring her cat to the classroom after the clingy cat would not let her leave home without him. Megyn Kelly revealed a 'creepy' decades-old photo of Bill Clinton 'looking down the chest' of her young friends as Hillary began her deposition over alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Kelly dropped the photo during an interview with Tucker Carlson, while the ex-First Lady took questions from members of Congress at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, near the Clintons' home in Westchester County, New York. The former Fox News anchor claimed the photo showed two of her friends, Meg Florence and Abby Rittman, at The Bombay Club in Washington in 1999, when Bill Clinton was still president and shortly after his impeachment. 'Yes, he is looking down the chest of my friend, Meg Florence, and that's my other friend in the foreground, Abby Rittman. He's basically got his hand on her side boob,' Kelly said. The SiriusXM host added that the president was there with Hillary and daughter Chelsea. Clinton 'went over to their table, they were there with a bunch of guys too, introduced himself before you know it, he wanted pictures.' Kelly said that both of her friends were around 20 years old and 'were just graduating college.' She called it 'evidence' that Clinton 'wasn't shamed at all' over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, which ended with the Senate failing to convict him in February of 1999. Megyn Kelly revealed a 'creepy' decades old photo from 1999 of Bill Clinton 'looking down the chest' of her young friends as Hillary began her deposition over ties to Jeffrey Epstein It came as the former First Lady testified to the Republican Oversight Committee over ties to Jeffrey Epstein 'I'm not saying this is a crime. I'm just saying not chastised at all as a result of Lewinsky,' Kelly said. Clinton issued a blistering attack on Republican lawmakers after she was grilled about Pizza-gate and UFOs during her Jeffrey Epstein deposition. 'I don't know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes,' Hillary said after her testimony on Thursday. 'It then got, at the end, quite unusual because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizza-gate, one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet.' Pizza-gate is a debunked conspiracy theory that claimed a pedophilia ring involving high-ranking Democratic Party officials was operating out of the basement of a Washington, DC pizza parlor. Chaos erupted inside Hillary's deposition earlier Thursday after a Republican lawmaker took a photograph of her during the private session. Representative Lauren Boebert snapped a picture of Hillary and her attorneys as she addressed lawmakers about her relationship with Epstein, then purportedly leaked it to MAGA influencer Benny Johnson. Hillary's lawyers asked that the proceedings be halted after the photograph began circulating on social media. It is strictly prohibited for lawmakers or witnesses to take pictures inside a closed-door congressional testimony. The closed-door session was filmed, though any footage will be reviewed by Hillary's lawyers before release. The deposition resumed within an hour. Hillary later asked James Comer, the top Republican overseeing the deposition, if the press could be allowed in the hearing after Boeberts shocking leak. Comer reportedly replied, 'No.' A Clinton spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'It's against chamber rules that were read at the top of the meeting. So the hearing has been paused briefly while they figure out where the photo came from and why, possibly, members of Congress are violating House rules.' Join the debate What's your take on the new photo of Bill Clinton? Kelly dropped the photo during an interview with Tucker Carlson She claimed the photo was of two of her friends, Meg Florence and Abby Rittman, at The Bombay Club in Washington in 1999, when Bill Clinton was still president and shortly after his impeachment Prior to the chaos, Hillary blasted Republicans for targeting her while failing to investigate Donald Trump in a fiery opening statement where she provided no defense for her husband. The former secretary of state said she has 'no information on Epstein's criminal activities and never recalls meetings', then accused lawmakers of covering up for Trump's relationship with Epstein, where he faces 'heinous' accusations from survivors. 'You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trumps actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,' Hillary said. 'If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epsteins trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,' she added. Trump's name appears more than 38,000 times in the millions of Epstein documents released by the Department of Justice in January. Hillary said: 'If the majority were serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done. What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?' Despite her denials of any Epstein relationship, Hillary received a $20,000 donation from the disgraced pedophile in 1999 when she was fundraising for the DNC. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse. Kelly called it 'evidence' that Clinton 'wasn't shamed at all' over the Monica Lewinsky (pictured) scandal, which ended with the Senate failing to convict him in February of 1999 Hillary is testifying in front of House lawmakers on the Oversight Committee about her relationship with the pedophile Hillary previously admitted to meeting Maxwell on several occasions. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking - the only Epstein co-conspirator who has been jailed. Meanwhile, Clinton is expected to face a grilling on Friday as the first former president compelled to testify in a congressional investigation. His relationship with Epstein was extensive following the end of his presidency. Flight logs for Epstein's private jet indicate that the former president traveled on it for trips to the Virgin Islands, Portugal, Siberia, Japan, and China. Clinton claims these trips were only ever related to his charitable work. Photographs have also emerged from the Epstein files showing Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted. Another photo shows him swimming with Maxwell and an unidentified woman. Epstein famously kept an oil painting of Clinton in a blue dress and red heels at his Manhattan mansion. The Clintons initially resisted House Republicans' subpoena to testify about Epstein but agreed to the deposition after being threatened with contempt charges. The committee said it will release the deposition videos and transcripts after the lawyers for the Clintons have reviewed the content. A prominent Ohio pediatrician has been fired after being busted with more than 100 photos of child pornography, court records reveal. Bryan Shanley Sack, 43, of Michigan, was charged Saturday with multiple child sex offenses and immediately fired from his role as a pediatric urologist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Toledo, according to court filings obtained by WTOL 11 News. The arrest followed an investigation that, according to court records, found he had possessed or accessed more than 100 images of child sexual abuse material. Sack was arraigned Saturday in Ann Arbor and hit with multiple charges: aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, possession of child sexually abusive material and use of a computer to commit a crime. He was granted a $75,000 bond and posted it the same day, securing his release. Outrage quickly erupted across social media, highlighted by one mans Facebook post claiming he had taken his child, Shan, to Nationwide Hospital and crossed paths with Sack. 'When I think of the thousands of children and babies this monster had access to over his career, it makes me unbelievably angry,' Ohio father Noah Griffin wrote. 'I will not allow strangers to be alone with my children - especially babies - ever again,' he added. 'There are monsters among us. Stay vigilant parents.' Bryan Shanley Sack (pictured), 43, a pediatric urologist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, was fired after allegedly being busted with more than 100 photos of child pornography Sack was hit with multiple charges: aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, possession of child sexually abusive material and use of a computer to commit a crime (pictured: hospital) The hospital, which employed Sack for the past 18 months, issued a statement expressing that it was 'deeply shocked and concerned' about the situation, according to the outlet. 'Upon learning of the charge, Dr Sack was immediately terminated and no longer has access to our patients, facilities or medical records,' the statement read. 'At this time, our understanding from law enforcement is that the charges are not related to his clinical work including Nationwide Childrens - Toledo,' it added. 'We are committed to the safety, support and privacy of all children and will continue to monitor this situation closely.' The probe into Sack was sparked by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), culminating in a search warrant issued for the doctors home. Digital evidence seized by investigators led to the discovery of child pornography, according to court filings obtained by WTOL. He now faces three counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, punishable by up to 10 years, and one count of possession of child sexually abusive material, carrying up to four years. The court also hit him with two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, punishable by up to 15 years, alongside related offenses with potential 10-20 year sentences, as reported by the outlet. Detective Sgt. Kenneth Weismiller (pictured) with Michigan State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce emphasized that Sacks charges arent linked to his hospital work Ohio father Noah Griffin (pictured with family) wrote on Facebook that when he brought his child to Nationwide Childrens Hospital, doctors enforced a 'policy' keeping parents out of the procedure room 'The case is ongoing,' Detective Sgt. Kenneth Weismiller with Michigan State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce told Fox 2 News. Weismiller emphasized that Sacks charges arent linked to his hospital work. 'We don't have any information that this case is connected to his occupation,' he said. In a lengthy Facebook post, Griffin wrote that although authorities said Sacks alleged crimes werent related to his patients, his rage as a father is still boiling over. 'I remember seeing Dr Sack in the hallway as we walked to our room. It was their policy that we could not be present for the procedure,' the father said, adding that his child was taken into a separate room for several minutes while the work was done. 'As far as we know, he was not involved, but we will never know what did or did not happen that day,' he added. 'I do know this: it will never happen again.' He claimed he pushed back on the policy, but the staff stood 'firm' barring him and his wife from the room entirely. 'I let it go because it was a long drive for a quick procedure, and I didnt want to find a different place to have it done,' Griffin wrote. Court filings revealed that Sack stood silent during his arraignment in the 15th District Court, while his retained attorney, Parisa Sadrnia (pictured), entered a plea of not guilty for him 'From now on, if your policy is to separate us from our child, my policy is to find somewhere without that policy,' he added. 'Im aware of the reasons for some of the policies that separate children from their parents in hospital and medical settings, but frankly, I do not care.' Griffin promised that, unless a sterile field is necessary, his children 'will never be alone with a practitioner again.' Court filings revealed that Sack stood silent during his arraignment in the 15th District Court, while his retained attorney, Parisa Sadrnia, entered a plea of not guilty for him, according to WTOL. Public records show that Sack earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and had been practicing medicine for 11 to 20 years. Sack, whose career included teaching at University of Michigan School of Medicine, also held a 2024 post as clinical associate professor of urology. He faces his next court appearance at a probable cause conference on March 5 at 9am in Ann Arbor. If the case moves forward, it could end up in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The Daily Mail has approached Nationwide Children's Hospital, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Sack's counsel, Parisa Sadrnia, for comment. Grace Tame has blasted Anthony Albanese's apology for calling her 'difficult', labelling the prime minister a 'total coward' in a spray on social media. Albanese insists he meant to say the former Australian of the Year has had a difficult life, and praised her work advocating for victims of child sexual abuse. 'If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise,' he told reporters on Thursday. 'Grace Tame, you certainly can't describe in one word. 'She has had a difficult life, and that was what I was referring to.' Ms Tame took to social media to condemn Albanese's comments and his subsequent apology. 'Dude's quoting Scott (Morrison) now!!! "She's had a difficult life"... Spare me the condescension, old man,' she wrote in a comment on Instagram. 'A badge of honour anyway. A confession that I've ruffled him.' Grace Tame has called the prime minister a total coward and an old man over his comments In a separate comment, Ms Tame said the apology was 'a patronising cop out from a total coward'. The stoush started on Wednesday, when Albanese was asked to describe Ms Tame in one word while speaking at a conference in Melbourne. 'Difficult,' he said. The prime minister also described Donald Trump as 'president', Pauline Hanson as 'divisive' and One Nation voters as 'frustrated', but declined to describe Barnaby Joyce in a single word. Ms Tame has previously had a good relationship with Albanese, but regularly criticised his predecessor Scott Morrison, particularly over his handling of the rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, which became public in 2021. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Albanese's comments were unfortunate and it was appropriate that he'd apologised. Tame has previously had a good relationship with Albanese, but regularly criticised his predecessor Scott Morrison, particularly over his handling of the rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, which became public in 2021. 'Let's be honest, it's because of difficult women that we've had some of the most significant changes throughout history,' she told reporters in Canberra. 'Rather than denigrating women for being difficult, we should be celebrating them.' A longtime local TV producer has been fired from the network just months after federal agents dramatically detained her in the middle of an Illinois suburb. Deborah Brockman, who spent 15 years at WGN-TV, was seen in a viral video being taken to the ground and handcuffed by mask-wearing US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood in October. She was taken into custody for assaulting a federal agent, only to be released hours later without being charged. Inside sources revealed that Brockman was one of three creative services staffers abruptly axed in a brutal Wednesday bloodbath at WGN-TV, according to the Chicago Tribune. The sudden purge also claimed a recently hired art director, while three other creative services staffers were shipped off to a new regional hub in Nashville, Tennessee. The chaos all began in 2019, when Nexstar Media swallowed up WGN-TV in a $4.1 billion Tribune Media deal, creating America's largest local TV empire and putting the station's TV, radio and cable properties under the Dallas company's control. In August, Nexstar struck another deal, agreeing to buy rival TV station owner Tegna for a staggering $6.8 billion, according to the outlet. To get the deal greenlit, the pending megamerger needs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to waive the 39 percent national TV audience cap - a rule meant to keep a single company from controlling too much of the nation's TV news. Deborah Brockman (pictured), who spent 15 years at WGN-TV as a producer, was fired just months after federal agents dramatically detained her in the middle of a Chicago suburb Brockman was seen in a viral video on the ground and handcuffed by mask-wearing CBP officers in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in October (pictured) Inside sources told Chicago Tribune that Brockman was one of three creative services staffers abruptly axed in a brutal Wednesday bloodbath at WGN-TV (pictured) Nexstar chief Perry Sook, however, revealed that the Tegna deal is still set to wrap by the end of the second quarter. During an earnings call on Thursday, Sook said the Tegna deal represents a 'pivotal and critical opportunity' to create a framework for local TV broadcasters to better compete with big tech and major media companies. 'The rationale for the Nexstar-Tegna combination is becoming increasingly clear. Consolidation is accelerating across the broader media industry,' he told the outlet. The deal, which will touch 80 percent of US homes, got a high-profile nod from President Trump this month on Truth Social. 'We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks,' Trump wrote. 'Letting Good Deals get done like Nexstar - Tegna will help knock out the Fake News because there will be more competition, and at a higher and more sophisticated level,' he added. As Nexstar consolidates operations, Monday saw cuts to on-air positions at KTLA and other stations nationwide, along with reductions among creative services employees. But the so-called new 'framework' at the expanding Nexstar network has already cost nearly two dozen WGN staffers their jobs, with the heaviest losses at 'Chicago's Very Own,' WGN-TV. The chaos all began in 2019, when Nexstar Media (CEO Perry Sook pictured) swallowed up WGN-TV in a $4.1 billion Tribune Media deal, creating America's largest local TV empire Nexstar's pending megamerger with rival TV station owner Tegna got a high-profile nod from Trump on Truth Social: 'We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks' The new 'framework' at the expanding Nexstar network has already cost nearly two dozen WGN staffers their jobs, including Meteorologist Mike Janssen (pictured), whose contract wasn't renewed Wednesday's firings marked the station's second wave of layoffs, following Monday's ouster of eight veteran reporters and anchors in a massive newsroom overhaul. Those cut included Sean Lewis, Ray Cortopassi, Bronagh Tumulty, Judy Wang, Julian Crews, Paul Lisnek, Chris Boden and Dean Richards. Meteorologist Mike Janssen's run at the station came to an end last week after the network opted not to renew his contract, according to the Chicago Tribune. Six newswriters and three technical directors lost their jobs last month, after four floor directors were cut in October, sources told the outlet. Brockman, a WGN creative services producer since 2011, was just the latest to fall in the newsroom bloodbath. She became a national sensation in October after shocking footage showed federal immigration agents yanking her to the ground, cuffing her and throwing her into a van on her way to work. The CBP agents were conducting immigration enforcement operations in the area when Brockman allegedly threw something at their vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Officers went all out to arrest Brockman, even smashing a driver's SUV when it refused to get out of the way. An anonymous witness told WGN-TV that the agents appeared to be executing an ICE raid and were searching for a man on a property near where Brockman was arrested in October Jaw-dropping footage from resident Josh Thomas showed Brockman face down on Foster Avenue, with her blue jeans pulled down and backside exposed Brockman allegedly threw something at their vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Jaw-dropping footage from resident Josh Thomas showed Brockman face down on Foster Avenue, with her blue jeans pulled down and backside exposed. 'Ms. Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed and her pants were pulled down exposing her bare buttocks,' one of Brockman's attorneys, Brad Thomson of the Peoples Law Office, told Block Club Chicago. 'No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world,' he added. Witnesses erupted at the scene, screaming 'fascists' and swearing at the agents as they hauled Brockman away. Thomas approached Brockman, who appeared frightened, and asked her name. With her glasses crooked and slipping from her face, she replied frantically, 'Debbie Brockman, I work for WGN. Let them know!' As the silver CBP vehicle drove off with the producer, it came to an abrupt stop after a few feet when a black SUV partially blocked its path. A fed-up agent jumped out and yelled at the driver to move, but the SUV didn't budge. The officer slammed the car door, barreled through the too-narrow gap and smashed the SUV's rear bumper in a screeching collision. 'This is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers,' DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said of the incident. Officers went all out to arrest Brockman, even smashing a driver's SUV when it refused to get out of the way (pictured) Her arrest came in the thick of Chicago turmoil, as President Donald Trump 's administration unleashed its so-called 'Operation Midway Blitz' on the city One of Brockman's attorneys, Brad Thomson (pictured) of the Peoples Law Office, said: 'No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world' McLaughlin also noted in her statement that Brockman is a US citizen. But Brockmans lawyers and witnesses on the scene slammed McLaughlins account as false, insisting the official version doesnt match what really happened. 'Ms. Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work,' her lawyers said, according to the outlet. 'Ms. Brockman feared for her life multiple times throughout this terrifying experience,' they added. An anonymous witness told WGN-TV that the agents appeared to be executing an ICE raid and were searching for a man on a property near where Brockman was arrested. They claimed that officers also detained that individual. Her arrest came in the thick of Chicago turmoil, as President Donald Trump's administration unleashed its so-called 'Operation Midway Blitz' on the city. DHS vowed to target migrants with criminal pasts who were attracted to Illinois' sanctuary protections. Brockman was detained for seven hours before being released. A few days later, she retained a Chicago attorney, who said in a news release they intended to 'pursue all legal avenues available' to hold the federal agents accountable. The Daily Mail has approached Nexstar and Brockman's lawyer for comment. Keir Starmer will cede full control of Gibraltar's borders and hand the EU sweeping powers under a new deal for the future of 'The Rock'. Spain will have the power to block UK travellers from entering the British territory and reject residency permits under a new post-Brexit treaty with Brussels. Eurosceptic MPs and veterans slammed the deal on Thursday night as yet another 'humiliating surrender' by Labour as they raised fears it will see British sovereignty eroded. Under the deal, Spanish border guards, who have been accused of being overenthusiastic with crossing checks in the past, will be based in Gibraltar for the first time and will have the power to block British travellers if they deem them to pose a risk to security or international relations. The treaty adds that all immigration checks will take place at Gibraltar's airport which is run by the Ministry of Defence and hosts an RAF base and port rather than at the land border. The treaty will also grant the EU new powers over the British territory's tax system, putting an end to the current VAT-free regime. Gibraltar will enter into a 'bespoke' customs union with Brussels that will see the 'majority' of goods entering the British territory 'cleared' by EU officials in Spain. The draft treaty, which was published yesterday but still needs to be ratified by Parliament and signed, has been celebrated by Madrid and welcomed by the Gibraltar government. Gibraltar's land border with Spain (pictured, file photo) will become fluid, without passports checks, under the new terms At Gibraltar Airport (pictured, file photo), Spanish border guards will be able to block British citizens from entering the territory, if they deem them a risk Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on Thursday) has been accused of ceding sovereignty of another British territory UK ministers have insisted that the agreement does not affect sovereignty and that nothing signed 'shall constitute the basis for any assertion or denial of sovereignty' over The Rock. However, shadow foreign office minister Wendy Morton warned MPs that sovereignty is 'not simply about words, it is about how arrangements operate in practice'. And Reform UK last night branded the deal 'yet another humiliating surrender of British territory'. The 1,018-page treaty will, in effect, make Gibraltar part of the EU's free-travel zone, although ministers yesterday insisted the British territory is 'not joining Schengen'. The draft treaty outlines arrangements for a 'fluid border' that will allow people and goods to travel freely across the land border with Spain, which will see the huge barbed wire fence separating the two come down. The deal will mean no routine passport checks at the Spain-Gibraltar border for the 15,000 people who cross it every day. But checks will apply to those arriving by air in a 'dual' border model similar to French police operating at St Pancras station. Spanish guards would be able to 'make arrests and take other coercive measures', the treaty says. Gibraltar, which was ceded by Spain to the British crown in 1713, will also have to align with EU single market rules and be under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Defence chiefs want 2.5billion for expenses that include compensation for the data breach that left thousands of Afghans at risk of Taliban reprisals. The shock figure was buried in a Treasury report that admitted officials withheld details from the National Audit Office. While the huge 'Non-Budget Expenditure' sum includes other legal challenges, it confirms the cost of covering the entirely preventable data leak. The Central Government Supply Estimates document states the 2,564,517,000 figure is needed to 'reflect a prior year adjustment' and to 'address concerns over the completeness if compensation and costs' are to be settled. Those claims include 'compensation and resettlement costs relating to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy [ARAP] and the Afghan Response Route'. The document stated the adjustment was necessary to take into account new information. It said the MoD 'did not allow for the impact of this adjustment in either its Main or Supplementary Estimates'. The note concludes that parliamentary authority is sought to provide for the excess expenditure 'by an Excess Vote'. A spokesperson from Defence Secretary John Healey's department said the Afghan Resettlement Programme is expected to cost 'between 5.5billion to 6billion' on Thursday night For months, thousands of Afghans were secretly flown to this country and housed on UK military bases. The operation followed the worst data breach in British history, when thousands of Afghans who supported the UK campaign had their identities leaked. In February 2022, an unnamed official accidentally emailed details of 18,714 Afghan nationals, who applied to be relocated to the UK, to an address outside a secure network. The MoD discovered the leak only in August the following year. On Thursday night, it said: 'We've fully laid out the estimated costs of the schemes under the Afghan Resettlement Programme, which are expected to be between 5.5billion to 6billion. 'Within those figures, it's estimated that costs Afghan Response Route, which relates to the data breach, may be up to 850million.' Pakistan's defence minister has declared 'open war' on Afghanistan, as his country's military launched a volley of airstrikes in response to a Taliban attack on the border. Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, was rocked by multiple explosions in the early hours of Friday, with dramatic footage broadcast by Pakistani news apparently showing major, targeted blasts. Unconfirmed footage posted to social media claimed to show enormous fireballs erupting into the sky over Afghanistan, with official confirmation that at least three provinces had been hit. Two senior Pakistani security officials said the airstrikes targeted 'Afghan military facilities' in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, allegedly destroying two brigade bases. Relations between the neighbours have spiraled since deadly fighting in October killed more than 70 people, and Pakistan's Defence, Minister Khawaja Asif, claimed to have now been left with no choice. 'Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war,' he said early on Friday, while suggesting the Taliban had become 'a proxy for India'. In a series of firebrand posts on X, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, said: 'The people of Pakistan and the armed forces are always ready to protect the country's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The armed forces of Pakistan are performing their duties with national zeal. 'No compromise will be made on the defense of our dear homeland, and a crushing response will be given to every aggression.' Unconfirmed footage appears to show large explosions on the Afghanistan skyline Afghan Taliban fighters patrol near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Thursday, which saw large scale cross-border fighting Pakistani news channels broadcasted footage of major explosions in Afghanistan As the dust settled from the strikes, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said: 'The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.' He said there had been no reported casualties. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians and 'to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy,' a UN spokesperson said. Friday morning's bombardment came in response to a Taliban armed raid along the border on Thursday, in which Pakistan said two of its soldiers were killed while responding to 'unprovoked fire'. Afghanistan said the skirmish was, in turn, retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes in border areas on Sunday. Both sides claimed to have inflicted significant losses, with Afghanistan's Defence Ministry reporting to have taken 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases, killed as many as 55 soldiers, and also captured a number of troops. It put its own casualties at eight killed and another 11 wounded. Pakistan refuted that any border posts had been seized or soldiers captured, reporting three casualties on top of the two deaths, per Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, the prime minister's spokesman, claimed that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded, with 27 Afghani posts destroyed and nine fighters captured. No detail about the location of these casualties was given. The Taliban, which controls the whole of Afghanistan since Western troops pulled out in 2020, said it had launched the 'large-scale' operation in response to strikes last weekend. 'In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line,' Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X on Thursday night. Officials from Pakistan said the earlier strikes had targeted alleged militant camps and hideouts. Fighting also broke out in a separate part of the border on Thursday, with both sides reporting exchanges of fire in the Torkham region. Afghan authorities have been evacuating a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing after several refugees were wounded, local officials said. On the Pakistani side, police said residents were also evacuating to safer areas, while some Afghan refugees who had been waiting to cross back into Afghanistan were also moved to secure locations. Tensions and violence have been growing over the shared 1,622-mile border, known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognized. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire between the two countries has largely held to this point, though the two sides have occasionally traded blows across the border. Several rounds of peace talks in November failed to reach a formal agreement. It has been moved to Melbourne Museum The whale fossil was one of the biggest fossils found in Australia A 20-million-year-old whale fossil has been excavated from a Victorian beach after it was discovered by a family late last year. The one-tonne fossil was found at Ocean Grove Beach on Bellarine Peninsula in December when Queensland holidaymaker Kristina Davidson noticed bones protruding from the sand and contacted Museums Victoria. Ms Davidson said the remarkable discovery happened purely by chance. 'I pretty much stumbled over it... we spent some time trying to dig it up and look at it and took some photos,' she told Nine News on Thursday. 'There's the spine, there's rib bones, it's just kind of all there. It's just mind-blowing.' Around 20 staff from Museums Victoria and Barwon Coast used heavy machinery to carefully excavate the fossil, completing the operation yesterday. The find is believed to be one of the largest ever discovered in Australia. The fossil was transported to Melbourne Museum, where scientists are now studying the ancient remains. A familys beach stroll in December 2025 led to one of Australias most significant fossil finds The family discovered a 20-million-year-old whale skeleton while walking on Ocean Grove Beach on Victorias Bellarine Peninsula Paleontologist Dr Erich Fitzgerald said the fossil was one of the more significant discoveries he had encountered, particularly as many of the bones appear to remain connected Join the debate What do you think this ancient whale discovery tells us about how little we really know our planets past? Museums Victoria senior paleontologist Dr Erich Fitzgerald said he received an email about a fossil buried beneath half a metre of sand just before Christmas. 'I was actually about to go on leave for Christmas ... a member of the public sent an inquiry to the museum's public enquiry line. '[They said:] "We think we've found something on the beach at Ocean Grove". 'I went down on the 19th of December to scout about, have a bit of a look. Lo and behold, yep, they found something alright.' Dr Fitzgerald described the whale fossil as one of the more significant discoveries he had encountered, particularly as many of the bones appear to remain connected. 'Every fossil we find has its own unique significance ... it's rare to find a skeleton where there are many of the bones connected together,' he said. He said a small exposed tooth offers an important clue about the whale's origins. 'There's one little tooth that we can see exposed on the side of this block, and that tooth suggests that this is from a really quite primitive group of toothed echo-locating whales.' Dr Fitzgerald said fossils from this period, roughly 21 to 23 million years ago, are extremely rare worldwide and could help scientists better understand a key stage in whale evolution. 'It's a critical episode where the Earth's climate and oceans were changing really dramatically,' he said. 'This fossil from Ocean Grove doesn't just have local, state, national significance, it has the real chance to shed light on the global picture of whale evolution through what you might consider the missing years of whale history.' The home where two Queensland police officers were ambushed and lost their lives has been listed for sale. Constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, were among six people killed in the horror shooting at the remote Wieambilla property 300km west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022. Conspiracy theorists Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train gunned down the officers after the pair attended the property on behalf of NSW Police to conduct a welfare check. Good Samaritan neighbour Alan Dare was also shot dead after he attended the property to investigate the commotion before the Train trio were killed by police during the hours-long siege. Aidan Train, the son of Nathaniel and Stacey Train, who is now the executor of his mother's estate, listed the two-bedroom Wains Road property for sale on several real estate sites this week. It followed recent negotiations to sell the property to the Queensland Police Union, which had previously considered demolishing the structure to build a new retreat or training centre. Mr Train, whose mother later married her husband's brother Gareth, listed the property as a 43ha block with 'dwelling and history'. 'Property is in a dilapidated condition. Price is for property as is,' the listing states. The remote Wieambilla property where six people lost their lives has been listed for sale Photos showing the rundown state inside have been taken down from the online ad 'Price is for property as is,' the listing states. Pictured is the kitchen 'Open to offers. Being sold as part of executor responsibilities for a deceased estate. Hoping for a quick sale to someone who will be respectful of the property, considering its history.' Offers from $190,000 will be considered. The online ad originally featured never-before-seen photos inside the property but have been taken down to avoid causing further distress to the victims' families. The photos showed various rooms in dilapidated conditions and appeared to be untouched since the deadly massacre. Several showed clothing and belongings strewn over the floor, including a copy of 'Shooter' magazine. The loungeroom showed piles of VCRs on a coffee table and in the kitchen, the sink filled with dirty dishes and clothes were piled up in bedrooms. The enclosed verandah showed what appeared to be a possible trap door. Mr Train hopes for a quick sale after ongoing negotiations with the QPU stalled and had not heard anything since October. The lounge room showed VCRs stacked and shooting magazines strewn on the floor Aidan Train, the executor of his mother's estate, listed the two-bedroom Wains Road property for sale this week The enclosed verandah showed what appeared to be a possible trap door Offers from $190,000 will be considered for the 43 hectare property 'It's time for the property to be sold. It's part of my responsibilities as the executive of the estate. And it's been long enough and something needs to happen with that property,' Mr Train told The Guardian. He had initially wanted to include a condolence message on the listing but was left off to avoid causing further distress to the victims' families. Mr Train hasn't ruled out reaching an agreement with the QPU, which was shocked to learn that the property had been publicly listed. 'It is surprising to learn that Mr Train has placed the property on the open market, as the QPU has been negotiating in good faith,' president Shane Prior told Daily Mail in a statement. 'The QPU is currently undertaking appropriate due diligence in considering the option to purchase the Wains Rd property. 'This includes fiduciary considerations relating to expenditure of member funds for both the purchase and the ongoing property maintenance.' The home previously belonged to Gareth and Stacey Train, who paid $95,000 for the property in 2015. The current $190,000 price tag sits around the median value of house sales in the area. Gareth Train (pictured with wife Stacey) ambushed and killed the two constables at a remote property at Wieambilla west of Brisbane, on December 12, 2022 Gareth's brother and Stacey's ex-husband, Nathanial Train (pictured), helped the couple fatally shoot their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon after the two constables had been slain Queensland Police Union had been in negotiations to purchase the Wieambilla property (pictured after the December 2022 siege) The ad also states that the property comes with a composting toilet with no grid connection or water mains. 'Water supplied via rainwater tank system, this has no pump currently and is not functional,' it stated. Council rates cost $504.47 every six months. State Coroner Terry Ryan handed down the findings of his inquest in November, more than a year after wrapping up the hearings. He ruled that the deadly ambush was not an act of religious terrorism and that the Trains acted 'defensively within their delusional framework to defend themselves and their property from what they regarded was an evil advance on them'. A drink driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene of a crash that injured a teenage girl and a man on a busy inner-city road. Police say the pedestrians were hit by an out-of-control Audi SUV on Chapel Street in Windsor, in Melbourne's inner southeast, about 10pm on Thursday. Officers allege the car was travelling at speed before the crash, which ended when it slammed into a brick wall about 50 metres from the scene. The car was significantly damaged after crashing into the wall near a tram stop and pedestrian crossing. The driver allegedly tried to run from the wreck before he was detained by witnesses, police say. An 18-year-old girl and 63-year-old man were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The 33-year-old driver, who returned a positive preliminary breath test for alcohol, was taken to hospital as a precaution. Police arrested and interviewed the driver in relation to several alleged offences, including driving in a dangerous manner and reckless conduct endangering serious injury. Two pedestrians have been hit by an out-of-control car on a busy inner-city street. (HANDOUT/VICTORIA POLICE) Police allege a 33-year-old driver was drunk when he allegedly crashed into two pedestrians He has been released and is expected to be charged on summons. The daughter of Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton came to her father's defense after his primary opponent accused him of being a 'crooked home wrecker.' Paxton, the state's attorney general, is attempting to oust John Cornyn, the four-term incumbent senator. Cornyn released a commercial about the cheating allegations in an attempt to boost his primary hopes. The ad claims that 'crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife' and is 'wrecking another home, sleeping around with a married mother of seven.' The Daily Mail exclusively revealed in September that Paxton, 63 was accused of using taxpayer dollars to bankroll secret trips with his mistress, aforementioned mother of seven Tracy Duhon. When asked back then about Duhon being his mistress, Paxton - whose wife filed for divorce on 'biblical grounds' last year - did not address the claim but attacked the Daily Mail and vowed to take on the 'deranged radical Left' with Trump. Now, Paxton's daughter Mattie Hayworth has written an op-ed for The Texas Scorecard saying 'the attacks bear no resemblance to the man they claim to describe.' Hayworth accused Cornyn of being 'unable to compete on record, on results, or on values, resorts to attacking my father's character and personal life.' She doesn't directly confirm or deny the allegations but says that her father 'is not perfect; none of us are. But he is a man of deep faith, genuine love for his family, and an unrelenting commitment to doing right by the people of Texas.' The daughter of Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton (pictured) came to her father's defense after his primary opponent accused him of being a 'crooked home wrecker' Paxton, the state's attorney general, is attempting to oust John Cornyn (pictured), the four-term incumbent senator 'His opponents can dispute a lot of things, but they cannot dispute that. So instead, they stoop to ugly attacks on the man,' she said of Cornyn. Hayworth praised her father for consistently showing up for her, leading her to her Christian faith and being a model for her own husband, as well as an 'invested' grandfather to her four children. 'When I look at this race, I see a clear choice. On one side, a man with an impeccable conservative record and a lifetime of showing up for Texas and his family. On the other, a candidate whose only path to victory runs through attacking not only my dad but our family directly, because the record comparison isn't close,' Hayworth wrote. Cornyn's campaign ad - which pits the race as between a 'Texas workhorse' and 'the wife cheater and fraud' doesn't just take on Paxton's alleged philandering, it accuses him of using his office to get rich. They also claim Paxton boosted 'left-wing organizations' with Texans' tax dollars. 'Now think of the Paxton dirty deeds we don't know about ... yet,' it warns. Paxton responded again by not addressing the accusations but said what Paxton had done was underhanded. 'Unlike John Cornyn, who's become a desperate shell of a man clinging to power, my campaign is not about attacking someone else's family. It's about protecting America,' he said in a statement. With her then-husband Troy Duhon standing between them, Paxton's mistress Tracy Duhon and AG Paxton posed for a photo at the Kentucky Derby in May 2024 Paxton's daughter Mattie Hayworth (pictured center right) has written an op-ed for The Texas Scorecard saying 'the attacks bear no resemblance to the man they claim to describe' In September, the Cornyn camp fired off a Texas Public Information Act request to Paxton's office, seeking records of his travel and activities with lover Tracy Duhon dating back to March 2024, the Daily Mail has learned. 'Taxpayers deserve to know,' if Paxton is using his office and taxpayer resources to conduct and conceal an affair, Cornyn campaign senior advisor Matt Mackowiak told Daily Mail Thursday. The request was submitted Wednesday under the Texas Public Information Act to Paxton's office, which is responsible for fielding public records requests. It cites a Daily Mail article from September 12 that said Paxton has been 'traveling across the country and even overseas' to meet up with Duhon, a 57-year-old Christian influencer. 'As this travel was 'essential to keeping the entanglement secret' from Paxton's wife, it falls under the category of personal travel,' the official application argues. 'If Paxton has used official resources to pay for any of these trips, or if the getaways conflicted with responsibilities to the State of Texas, Texans deserve to know.' Current Revolt, a Texas political website, said it received a tip in May that Paxton was seen at the Drover Hotel pool wearing a bathing suit while having questionable interactions with a woman who wasnt his wife. He was known to use the name Kyle during frequent visits to the hotel, the outlet reported. Hayworth accused Cornyn of being 'unable to compete on record, on results, or on values, resorts to attacking my father's character and personal life' Senator John Cornyn is leading the charge in his battle with Attorney General Ken Paxton, pushing for proof that he used taxpayer dollars to bankroll his trips with his mistress That report came shortly after Daily Mail's bombshell expose revealing how 62-year-old Paxton was carrying on an affair with Duhon, hidden from both their spouses. In a follow-up Tuesday, the Mail revealed how the scandal has upended Duhon's life though she still lives in her ex-husband Troy's lavish lakeside mansion on Lake Pontchartrain, just outside New Orleans, even after their recent divorce. The pair has etched out a co-parenting agreement after she left the car dealership mogul last year, with it only being finalized last month. Multiple sources confirmed Duhon, a mother of seven who is also an author, is the reason the politician's marriage crumbled earlier this summer. Texas State Senator Angela Paxton announced in July that after 38 years she wanted a divorce in a stinging tweet, citing 'biblical grounds'. It is not the first time Paxton has been rocked by scandal, having been caught cheating on Angela in 2023 with former state senate aide Laura Olsen. He was impeached by the state house, accused of misusing his office and taking bribes while trying to get a job for his lover. He denied the allegations and was acquitted of in the state senate. Angela stood by him through that first scandal. Paxton's wife, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, appears to have hit her breaking point with her scandal-ridden husband as she announced their separation on X after nearly 40 years Laura Olson, Paxton's former mistress left the Texas Capitol in September 2023 after sitting through testimony about their affair But the latest incident with Duhon was the last straw and could threaten Paxton's latest bid to become a US senator. The romance between Duhon and Paxton started after the pair met at the Kentucky Derby last year, multiple sources revealed to the Daily Mail. They stayed under the same roof at the home of a mutual friend who hosted them for the event, an insider shared. Since May 2024, the lovers have had multiple rendezvous on trips across the country and even overseas, according to insiders. The getaways were essential to keeping the entanglement secret as both were married at the time, the sources said. On social media, Duhon bragged about her 27-year marriage to the wealthy owner of 39 car dealerships. A New Orleans native, Duhon keeps an active social media presence, discussing the power of prayer and advising others on how to navigate death and other difficult times of their lives. On her website, Duhon shares she lost two babies who died the day they were born in separate pregnancies. Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in July citing 'biblical grounds' In an emotional post to X, Angela, 62, announced the end of their 38-year marriage Her faith and grief counseling are the subject of her book, When Hope is All You Have. 'Paxton is enamored with her face. He's enamored with her story of overcoming adversity she's lost two children. He's enamored with her faith,' one source explained. The source claims Paxton has a 'sincere' affection for her and believes she could be the second major relationship in his life. Despite their best efforts to keep their relationship under wraps, Paxton's wife learned her husband was cheating again earlier this year, another source said. Even though the Paxtons had not lived together since the summer of 2024, learning about Duhon made the arrangement between Angela and Paxton untenable, sources explained. The Duhon's finalized their divorce last month, a source confirmed to the Daily Mail. In an epic tweet, Angela Paxton announced the end of her 38-year marriage earlier this summer. 'Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,' she announced to the world on X on July 10. Duhon, a Christian influencer and mother of seven, finalized her split from car dealership mogul Troy just last month, having reached a co-parenting agreement after walking out on the marriage last year Paxton, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, is in a battle to attempt to unseat Cornyn, who's considered a more establishment Republican Trump, who has referred to Cornyn as a 'RINO' in the past, has not made up his mind on who to endorse between the Senator, Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt '...in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage.' A public official in her own right, Angela represents the Dallas suburb of McKinney in the Texas Senate. She accused Ken of 'adultery' in court filings according to KUT News, however their divorce records have now been sealed. Ken Paxton, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, has hitched his wagon to the MAGA movement, becoming one of the fiercest defenders of the President. Last year, he decided to try to unseat four-term Senator Cornyn, considered a more establishment Republican. Now, both office holders are desperately trying to convince conservative voters they are the purest incarnation of the GOP. Both Paxton and Cornyn are appealing to conservatives who rank Christianity and family values as top priorities. Prior to news of the Paxton divorce, the MAGA Attorney General was ahead by as many as 16 points with conservative voters in the state. Polling in the weeks after Angela announced the divorce shows Cornyn and Paxton in a dead heat. Donald Trump, who has referred to Cornyn as a 'RINO' in the past, has not made up his mind on who to endorse between the Senator, Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt. 'I just haven't made a decision on that race yet. It's got a ways to go,' Trump said earlier this month. 'They've all supported me. They're all good, and you're supposed to pick one. So we'll see what happens. But I support all three involved.' A nature photographer has captutred adorable images of a sea otter and her pup cuddling as they float. The sweet snaps, which were taken by Suzi Eszterhas, show the mother sea otter lifting her pup onto her belly in Monterey Bay, California, in an attempt to keep her baby dry. According to Eszerthas, the mother had just 'fiercely' fought off a male who was looking to mate with her and she had then grabbed her pup in her arms to swim away. The photographer managed to capture the images from a boat with a telephoto lens. The marine animals live across approximately 600 miles of California's coastline and they play a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of marshy banks and preserving biodiversity. By the 1920s, sea otters were nearly wiped out by centuries of industrial-scale hunting for their fur pelts, decimating a global population that once stretched from Alaska to California, as well as into Russia and Japan. A mother sea otter cuddles her newborn pup to protect it The pictures of the three-day-old pup with its mother were taken by Suzi Eszterhas in the harbour of Monterey Bay, California Recent hunting bans and habitat restoration efforts have helped southern sea otters recover some of their former range. There are currently around 3,000 southern sea otters located in the California region. Amanda Knox has sparked outrage by launching a podcast series which will examine Lucy Letby's murder convictions and question how people 'look for scapegoats instead of the truth'. Knox, 38, from Seattle, was convicted of murdering British student Meredith Kercher, 21, at their shared home in Perugia, Italy, in November 2007 before her conviction was overturned and she was released from prison in 2011. Knox and her boyfriend at the time Raffaele Sollecito were convicted in their first trial of killing Kercher but were ultimately exonerated by Italys highest court in 2015. The American, now a global campaigner for the wrongly convicted, announced the launch of her podcast series 'Doubt: The Case of Lucy Letby' on Wednesday. She said she has been working on the series for two years which would take an 'unflinching look at a case that stunned the United Kingdom and the world', adding she felt 'recognition' with Letby. Knox said: 'When I saw how Letby was being cast as evil by the British press, I felt that uncomfortable shock of recognition. The trial, conviction, and unprecedented sentencing ignited a national firestorm. 'Headlines branded Letby a monster. Public anger was swift and fierce. The story seemed to resolve into certainty. But I know personally how fragile that kind of certainty can be. 'And how factors beyond the evidence can distort our thinking and incentivize people to look for scapegoats instead of the truth. Amanda Knox, pictured in 2019, has sparked outrage by launching a podcast series which will examine Lucy Letby's murder convictions Letby is currently serving 15 whole life sentences for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of seven others between 2015 and 2016 'Doubt examines a difficult and essential question: is this case truly as clear-cut as public consensus suggests? Or are there unresolved issues that merit deeper examination?' She said the podcast is about 'this crazy case of a young nurse who has been accused of being Great Britain's most prolific serial killer of children'. Knox continued: 'And it is a wild case that has taken over the public imagination and has even reached our attention in the US. 'I really recommend listening to this. I kind of got pulled into this case because of how the character of Lucy Letby was appearing in the British tabloids. 'And I was amazed to discover what kind of evidence was being presented in court and how the narrative of guilt really formed in the public imagination.' Letby is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of seven others between 2015 and 2016. Knox's decision to start a podcast has caused fury, with some accusing her of 'profiting from misery' yet again. One person wrote: 'Knox cashing in again. When will she ever stop?' Another said: 'I can't believe people are making money out of this. Wonder what you would have done about Beverley Allitt if there had been social media at that time. It doesn't bear thinking about.' Knox, who produced Disney series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, was criticised by Kerchers sister when the show aired in August. She said: 'Meredith will always be remembered for her own fight for life, and yet in her absence, her love and personality continue to shine. Join the debate Should public figures question high-profile convictions, or does it risk undermining victims justice? British student Meredith Kercher 21, was killed at her shared home in Perugia, Italy , in November 2007 Knox, pictured in 2008, and her boyfriend at the time Raffaele Sollecito were convicted in their first trial of killing Kercher but were ultimately exonerated by Italys highest court in 2015 'Our family has been through so much and it is difficult to understand how this serves any purpose.' The Kercher family lawyer Francesco Maresca has previously accused Knox of repeatedly profiting from her murder. He said: 'On the one hand, Amanda says the trial created so much suffering for her but then she tries to have it all the fame and the money. 'She continues to make money from it. This time she has no qualms about doing it in Perugia, one of the least appropriate places to return to 17 years since Merediths death. 'Knox is only interested in the profits she continues to make from an affair on which she should be silent.' The American also released a book 'Free', shared her experiences in a memoir, and has been the focus of a Netflix documentary and another film. At the time of Kercher's murder, Knox blamed a boss at a local bar she worked at, Patrick Lumumba, who had a solid alibi, increasing police suspicions. After an investigation and trial, Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time was convicted for the crime in 2009. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison for faking a break-in, defamation, sexual violence, and murder. Rudy Hermann Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was eventually convicted of murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. Guede was freed in 2021, after serving most of his 16-year sentence. Knox returned to the US in 2011 after being freed and has established herself as a global campaigner for the wrongly convicted. An aspiring YouTube star who was caught on camera pelting snow and ice at New York City police officers was charged with only a minor offense during a court appearance on Thursday. Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was taken into custody on Thursday morning for allegedly assaulting NYPD officers on Monday afternoon in Manhattan's Washington Square Park. He was originally charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of governmental administration and disorderly conduct for the incident that left two police officers in the hospital, according to the New York Post. But at a hearing on Thursday evening, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to pursue the assault on a police officer charge. The other two charges were also downgraded to misdemeanor obstruction of governmental administration and second-degree harassment. Footage from the snowball fight quickly spread showed a crowd pounding freezing snow and ice at officers following the historic blizzard that rocked the East Coast. The group was seen shouting and pelting cops with snowballs as they made their way down snow and ice-covered walkways. Some of the agitators hurled profanities, shouting expletives like 'f*** you, b***h' as police tried to push through the crowd. Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, saw the criminal charges against him greatly reduced after he appeared in court on Thursday He was arrested earlier in the day for allegedly hurling snow and ice at NYPD officers on Monday afternoon Two officers had to be taken to an emergency room after being struck in the face, head and neck, the NYPD later announced. One such officer, who was only identified in court as 'PO Johnson' suffered redness, tenderness and pain to the left side of his face near his eye, but Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Victoria Notaro said it was difficult to prove 'that the injury was obtained directly from the defendant.' She noted that she and other prosecutors reviewed the available evidence, including videos posted to social media and the officers' body cameras, before making their decision to downgrade the charges. Coulibaly did not address the court during the arraignment on Thursday, as his attorney George Vomvolakis accused the NYPD of taking their hatred for Mayor Zohran Mamdani out on the wannabe influencer. He seemed to lean into the narrative Mamdani painted in the aftermath of the fight, which he said was 'kids doing snowballs,' as Vomvolakis repeatedly claimed his client is 22 years old - though he is actually 27, the Post reports. The lawyer also tried at the hearing to reframe the case as a 'glorified summons,' claiming Coulibaly 'had no idea what the intent was' when he allegedly threw the snowball at officers. Judge Michelle Weber, though, ruled that the YouTuber's involvement 'showed a complete lack of judgment.' Still, she granted Coulibaly supervised release. Judge Michelle Weber said Coulibaly's actions 'showed a complete lack of judgment' but granted him supervised release NYPD cops were thrashed with freezing snow and ice at Washington Square Park. Two of them were left in the hospital with injuries Mayor Mamdani has earlier said he disagreed with the police department charging Coulibaly. 'As the mayor has said, police officers deserve to be treated with respect. The videos he saw showed a snowball fight that got out of hand,' the mayor's spokesperson, Dora Pekec, told the Daily Mail. 'He does not believe this situation rises to the level of criminal charges.' The mayor, though, called for 'respect' for officers following the incident and as he faced flack for his remark that it was just 'kids' throwing snowballs, Mamdani emphasized on Tuesday that city workers have been essential in keeping New Yorkers safe during this record-breaking winter and deserve respect for their efforts. 'They have been keeping New Yorkers safe. And they have also been at the heart of our efforts of digging New Yorkers' cars out of these kinds of conditions and ensuring that our ambulances, our MTA buses, can keep functioning,' the mayor said. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has downplayed the incident, saying it was 'kids doing snowballs' and told the Daily Mail he disagreed with the police department lodging criminal charges against Coulibaly But while Mamdani has downplayed the ordeal, others have demanded a criminal investigation, with PBA President Patrick Hendry saying the mayor's response was a 'complete failure of leadership.' 'This was not just a "snowball fight." This was an assault - by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks - that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries,' Hendry told Fox 5 News . 'By ignoring their injuries and dismissing the incident, the mayor has sent a disgraceful message to every police officer who serves this city,' he added. Hendry also warned that the mayors reaction could send a dangerous message to anyone thinking about targeting a police officer in the future. 'Unacceptable and outrageous - this is the environment that NYC police officers are up against. Our police officers are being treated for their injuries, but the case CANNOT end there,' the union, NYC Police Benevolent Association (PBA) wrote. 'All of our city leaders must speak up to condemn this despicable attack,' they added. Jessica Tisch, the NYPD Police Commissioner, called the agitators' behavior 'disgraceful' and 'criminal.' 'The NYPD is aware of certain videos taken earlier today in Washington Square Park showing individuals attacking cops,' Tisch said right after. 'I want to be very clear: The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter.' The NYPD initially released two images of potential suspects but has not announced any further arrests. Meanwhile, Coulibaly is due back in court on April 9 to face charges related to the snowball incident. He is also due in court on March 15 to face unrelated charges of attempted robbery in the transit system, which appear to have been the result of a prank Coulibaly was filming in the subway in which he pretended that strangers owed him money. Commonwealth Bank has uncovered what could be the largest fraud ever committed against an Australian bank after an internal investigation into its home loan portfolio - prompting the bank to refer the matter to police. The review was prompted by the so-called Penthouse Syndicate scandal, which allegedly saw NAB defrauded of about $150 million through property purchases. Police are investigating NAB employees accused of facilitating home and business loans as part of an alleged money-laundering scheme. The Penthouse Syndicate is accused of building a Sydney property empire worth tens of millions of dollars using corrupt solicitors, real estate agents and mortgage brokers. In response, CBA began scrutinising its own lending practices, and uncovered about $1 billion worth of home loans that were allegedly approved using fraudulent documents. Some of those documents are suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence. Mortgage fraud often originates in broker and referral channels, where third parties gather documents and submit applications on behalf of borrowers. In some cases, dishonest brokers or applicants allegedly inflate incomes, falsify employment details, or alter payslips and tax returns to make borrowers appear more creditworthy than they are. CBA chief executive Matt Comyn said businesses and employees had to prepare for a future where AI played a greater role Criminals are using AI to obtain home loans fraudulently against the Commonwealth Bank Because banks process thousands of applications each month and rely heavily on electronically submitted documents, falsified paperwork can slip through if verification systems fail to detect inconsistencies. Once approved, loans provide access to funds that may otherwise have been denied. In more serious cases, criminal groups can use shell companies or fabricated financial records to obtain legitimate mortgages, then use repayments to 'clean' illicit funds. The property may later be sold, allowing money derived from criminal activity to re-enter the financial system appearing legitimate. Penny Dunn, a forensics and financial crime partner at PwC, told The Australian Financial Review that artificial intelligence is making document forgery increasingly sophisticated. 'It's very difficult for the human eye to see,' Ms Dunn said. A CBA spokesperson said: 'This is an industry-wide challenge, with fraud being attempted through mortgage broking and referral channels.' While AI is helping criminals commit fraud against financial institutions, it's also being used by banks to rake in more profits. Just this week, CBA laid off hundreds of workers in Australia and launched a hiring spree in India after recording a $5billion profit. CBA discovered that $1billion in home loans was gained fraudulently with the help of AI CBA laid off hundreds of workers in Australia this week after recording a $5billion profit The Finance Sector Union said it will affect teams across retail, business and institutional banking, and human resources, with the majority of roles impacted in technology. Union national secretary Julia Angrisano said cutting 300 workers was 'totally unacceptable'. 'For years we have seen CBA continue to axe hundreds upon hundreds of jobs while raking in billions in profits,' she said. 'We've heard countless stories of CBA workers being tossed onto the redundancy pile and having to fend for themselves at the whim of the bank. 'These are the very workers who helped generate CBA's massive profits. The least the bank can do is retrain and reskill workers, and provide opportunities for them to remain at CBA.' The bank increased its India-based workforce by 21 per cent to 6,788 in the year to June 2025, a 138 per cent increase since 2022. CBA chief executive Matt Comyn told news.com.au that society had to prepare for a future where AI played a greater role. 'Australia has to get really good at adopting this technology and whatever follows it,' he said. 'This is a topic we have been thinking about for some time.' Research from the CBA showed Aussies have been overestimating their ability to spot AI scams. The research found that 89 per cent of Australians believed they could spot a deepfake, but when put to the test, only 42 per cent spotted the difference between a real person and a fake AI image, the study revealed. The housekeeper who worked for Utah grief author Kouri Richins has testified that she supplied her with the drugs the prosecution says the mom-of-three used to murder her husband. Richins, 35, was arrested in connection with the death of her husband Eric, 39, in May 2023 and finally went to trial in Park City, Utah, on Monday. Eric was found dead in his bed in Kamas in March 2022. A subsequent autopsy found he had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system when he died and, say cops, it was administered by Richins who allegedly laced a Moscow Mule cocktail with the substance. On Thursday, cleaner Carmen Lauber, 53, appeared on the stand and claimed she was asked to supply Richins with drugs four times, before providing the mom-of-three with pills twice in January and February 2022. Lauber is the prosecution's star witness and testified that she procured drugs for Richins from a dealer called Robert Crozier, doing the exchange at a gas station in Draper, Utah. One transaction was for $600 and the other for $1,000. Lauber said she was asked by Richins to purchase pills for back pain. Although she didn't know exactly what was required, she assumed that meant prescription pain pills in this case OxyContin - and duly supplied them. In previous testimony, she claimed she was given the go ahead to buy fentanyl when the grief author allegedly asked her for a second pill purchase, specifying 'that Michael Jackson stuff' a claim she reiterated in court on Thursday. Prosecutors allege Richins killed her husband Eric Richins, 39, (both pictured) with fentanyl-laced pills dissolved in a cocktail in 2022 Richins, 35, is currently being held at the Summit County Jail as her high-profile murder trial in Park City, Utah unfolds. Her housekeeper Carmen Lauber, 53, was allegedly asked by Richins to source the fentynl for the murder Pushed by defense attorney Wendy Lewis, Lauber admitted she did not know what the 'Michael Jackson stuff' asked for by Richins meant and had to google it - discovering it was a powerful painkiller called propofol. Lewis said Lauber had repeatedly changed her story and admitted to having a learning disability that meant her memory was poor. In an explosive twist, Lauber claimed she confronted Richins following Eric's death but was told that the pills weren't for him and that he died of a brain aneurysm. Dressed casually in a beige t-shirt topped with a plaid shirt and her long black hair pulled back, Lauber became defensive on the stand during a cross examination from Lewis who got her to admit she herself was taking drugs including meth and heroin throughout her interactions with the former house flipper. Richins herself, dressed in a navy blouse and a brick red blazer, offered her former employee several hard stares as her testimony continued. Lewis also pursued Lauber on her own legal woes she was jailed on two charges of possession with intent to supply in 2021 and implied that the housekeeper had agreed to testify against Richins to avoid further criminal action against her and immunity in the case. Lauber, who has since moved to live with her fiance in Las Vegas, Nevada, was facing a potentially lengthy prison term had she been convicted of distributing and possessing drugs that caused Eric's death. According to the defense, she was interviewed seven times by cops and admitted to taking meth and heroin but denied knowing anything about fentanyl. That, claimed Lewis, was a lie noting that Lauber's own daughter had almost died from overdosing from the drug. Faced with the prospect of further prison time over Eric's death, Lauber allegedly told cops during an interview 'that would f***ing kill me'. Later, Lewis played explosive footage of Lauber's first interview with cops about Richins in which they threatened to add to her prison sentence unless she helped them with their case. In the footage, cops are heard saying: 'we need you to give us the details that lead to Kouri Richins' conviction for murder'. Responding in court, Lauber said: 'I chose to proceed with telling the truth.' Much of the prosecution case hinges on their theory that Richins deliberately obtained fentanyl to poison Eric with. That strategy was almost struck a fatal blow in October when Crozier the dealer who supplied the drugs to Lauber claimed in a sworn statement he never sold her fentanyl but OxyContin instead on both occasions. But the prosecution pointed to an interview Crozier did while locked up in the Davis County Jail in May 2023 in which he claimed that the pills were laced with fentanyl and both Lauber and Richins knew about it. The defense, meanwhile, says there is no evidence that Richins poisoned her husband's drink and says he could have purchased the drugs that killed him himself during a vacation in Mexico two weeks before he died. Crozier is among the witnesses expected to testify during the trial which is scheduled to run for five weeks. So far, the court has heard from multiple forensic experts, as well as cops who attended the scene of Eric's death and his father, sister and brother-in-law. Floundering Keir Starmer insisted he will 'fight on' today after being humiliated by the Greens in a disastrous by-election. Angela Rayner is among those demanding 'change' as critics insisted Sir Keir is personally culpable for the 'worst possible' result in Gorton & Denton. But the PM tried to front up the anger this morning, playing down the meltdown as a 'disappointing' setback for a Government in 'mid-term'. He also shrugged off condemnation for blocking Andy Burnham from being the Labour candidate, and dodged directly addressing whether he had considered quitting. The Greens had never won a Parliamentary by-election - or a seat in the North - but Hannah Spencer romped home with a 4,400 majority. Despite flooding the area with ministers and 1,000 activists, Labour did not even have the consolation of second place, with its candidate trailing in behind Reform's Matt Goodwin. Nigel Farage complained of 'cheating' and Muslim 'sectarianism' after reports of so-called 'family voting' from independent observers - an illegal practice where people are escorted to polling booths. Allies insisted he will survive at least until local elections in May, because rebels 'don't have anyone' in a position to challenge. But there are already furious recriminations going on, after the premier blocked popular Manchester mayor Mr Burnham from being the candidate amid fears he would be a leadership rival in the Commons. Asked on a visit in London if he had contemplated resigning, the PM said: 'It's a very disappointing result. 'Incumbent governments quite often get results like that mid-term, but I do understand that voters are frustrated. They're impatient for change.' 'And I came into politics late in life, as it happens, to fight for change for those people who need it, the people who need an NHS that works for them, to be able to get a doctor's appointment when they need it, to get the money they need in their pockets to pay their bills and to have a decent and better life. 'And I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as I've got breath in my body. 'I will also fight against the extremes in politics on the Right and the Left parties who want to tear our country apart.' The result demonstrates that Zack Polanski's 'eco-populist' Greens are capable of shattering Labour's fragile coalition of voters, despite peddling a host of extreme policies including legalising hard drugs, scrapping the nuclear deterrent, and leaving the Nato military alliance. The apparent success of Ms Spencer's focus on Gaza, with a significant Muslim vote in Gorton & Denton, will spread panic among Sir Keir's MPs. Among other developments on a breathtaking day of political drama: Kemi Badenoch said Labour created the 'monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes' and it had come back to bite them; Mr Polanski denied playing on 'racism' among Muslim voters by using pictures during the campaign of Sir Keir with India's Hindu PM Narendra Modi; Reform has notified the police after independent observers raised concerns about the highest levels of 'family voting' they had seen for a decade; In a new threat to Sir Keir, Jeremy Corbyn said Your Party would work 'constructively with the Greens'; Political scientists Professor Rob Ford said Labour was being crushed between the Left and the Right, telling Sky News: 'The number of Labour MPs who will now be worried about their prospects of re-election has just gone up very substantially.' The Tories lost their deposit after effectively sitting out the by-election contest; Hannah Spencer, the victorious Green by-election candidate, takes a selfie with party leader Zack Polanski Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Allies insisted Keir Starmer (pictured in London today) will survive at least until local elections in May, because rebels 'don't have anyone' in a position to challenge Angela Rayner called for 'change' as critics insisted Sir Keir is personally culpable for the 'worst possible' result in Gorton & Denton Angela Rayner branded the result a 'wake up call' as she demanded a new 'Labour agenda' In a message to Labour MPs, some of whom face a challenge from the Greens in their own seats, Sir Keir acknowledged the result 'hurts' but he sought to play down its wider impact, insisting Mr Polanski's party would not be able to mount a similar campaign on a national scale. 'The Greens may have won here, but they simply do not have the resources, the activist base or the local knowledge to replicate this victory across the country,' he said. 'We've seen that before. We've seen it with the Lib Dems, who have often won mid-term by-elections against both the Conservatives and Labour, but never been able to come close to winning nationally. We've seen it with George Galloway, who won two mid-term by-elections but held neither of those seats in a general election.' Sir Keir is being branded a 'lame duck leader' and 'toast' by opponents, having barely survived a Labour coup attempt a fortnight ago. But both Labour loyalists and rebels pointed to the absence of plausible rivals, with Mr Burnham not an MP, Ms Rayner still to resolve her tax wrangles with HMRC, and Wes Streeting seen as damaged by his links to Lord Mandelson. Ms Rayner - seen by many as the favourite to replace Sir Keir - stopped short of urging him to go immediately. But she said the party must be 'braver'. 'This result must be a wake up call. It's time to really listen - and to reflect. Voters want the change that we promised - and they voted for,' she said. Ms Rayner said: 'If we want to unrig the system, if we want to make the change we were sent into Government to make, we have to be braver. 'A Labour agenda that puts people first. That's what all of us across our movement need to rededicate ourselves to this morning.' As the backlash gathered pace this morning, backbencher Karl Turner said it was the 'worst result we could have expected', insisting Mr Burnham would have won and calling for a more 'socialist' Labour. Brian Leishman said Sir Keir should 'do the right thing... and go'. Fellow MP Richard Burgon said the 'blame for defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique' and demanded a wealth tax, while Rachael Maskell told the Daily Mail the PM must show he can 'turn it round' by U-turning on jury trials. Unions also upped the ante by telling Sir Keir to 'stop listening to your rich mates'. Mr Leishman said: 'The blame lies with Starmer & the people that surround him. Blocking Burnham was wrong & he did it for his own benefit. 'The political idea that we should try & out-Reform Reform is wrong & been rejected. Time he did the right thing for the country & the Labour Party, and go.' Kate Osborne, another MP on the Left of the party, said 'Starmer personally leading the intervention at the NEC officers meeting to block Burnham was not only obviously a huge error but also showed just how weak he is'. Condemning Labour's 'negative' campaigning in the contest, she added: 'Ultimately it is his Labour's policies and campaigning that lost us this seat, from his policies on pensions, winter fuel, welfare cuts to immigration - nationally we are not getting it right and we are letting the country down.' London MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said: 'Being pushed to third in Gorton & Denton, one of our safest seats, is an indictment of the government's current approach. Unless we get back to core Labour values, we are heading for disaster.' Mr Burgon said: 'Blame for Labour's defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. 'They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham. 'If Labour is to be the 'Stop Reform' party, then the leadership must stop treating progressive voters with contempt - and start appealing to them. 'That means a return to real Labour values - through policies like a Wealth Tax, public ownership of energy and water, and an ethical foreign policy that are all popular with the public.' York MP Ms Maskell said 'the PM has to show he can turn this around before May', when the Government faces crucial local elections. 'The first test will be with jury trials which has to be dropped from the Courts and Tribunals Bill. He needs to work with his backbenchers to listen to what we are saying in the interests of our communities,' she said. Mr Turner told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Well it's catastrophic, isn't it? I mean, that's the truth. It couldn't be any worse. 'Having the Greens in Manchester is the worst result we could have expected or we wanted, frankly. 'But you know, the reality is, Burnham was blocked. He shouldn't have been, in my view.' Mr Turner said unpopular policy is the reason Labour came third and lost their majority in the Greater Manchester constituency. 'This is the stuff on Gaza and Palestine and a build-up of policy which is unpopular,' the Kingston upon Hull East MP said. 'And frankly the fact that Andy Burnham was blocked, who was the candidate who gave us our best chance, that's why we are where we.' Former frontbencher Jon Trickett told Times Radio Sir Keir had to 'look in the mirror and make a decision about his own personal future'. Another Labour MP said ruling out Mr Burnham was compounded by not proposing a Muslim candidate. 'They didn't allow a single Muslim on the shortlist, blocking three applicants,' they said. 'Labour have a huge deal to do to win back the Muslim vote and this has brought that home today.' A loyal Labour MP told the Daily Mail: 'He will be able to hold on because this emboldens the soft Left of party but they don't have a candidate ready to run.' Another usually strong supporter of Sir Keir said: 'It goes to show what happens when you spend a year abandoning progressive values.' Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'If Labour needed any further wake up calls - this is clearly one. Labour need to now ditch the gimmicks and get back to being Labour - not new, not one that plays games, but real Labour... 'Stop listening your rich mates and start listening to everyday people.' The humiliation will be especially personal as Sir Keir made a campaign visit to the seat on Monday - although he was carefully kept away from ordinary voters. As the party staged a massive get-out-the-vote drive yesterday the premier was giving a speech in Newcastle, where schoolchildren were pictured struggling to stay awake. Sir Keir's premiership was already reeling from the Peter Mandelson scandal, with Labour MPs increasingly mutinous over their party's dire poll ratings. Labour won Gorton and Denton at the 2024 general election with more than half the vote. Although it was a new seat, the party has held that area of Greater Manchester since 1931. However, less than two years on, the Greens overturned Labour's majority of more than 13,000 votes to give themselves a fifth MP in the House of Commons. Ms Spencer will become only the sixth-ever Green MP. She is thought to be the first woman plumber to enter Parliament. Mr Polanski said: 'If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said it had been a 'difficult and disappointing night' for Labour but people should not 'over-interpret' the result. She said it was 'offensive' for the Unite leader to jibe about ministers having 'rich mates'. 'We shouldn't over interpret this result, and just because we had the result that we did last night, doesn't mean to say that the party can't recover from this,' Ms Alexander told Times Radio. Ms Spencer secured 14,980 votes to win the seat with a 4,402-vote majority ahead of Reform candidate Mr Goodwin (10,578 votes), and Labour's Ms Stogia (9,364 votes). In her victory speech, Ms Spencer apologised to customers who have booked her in for plumbing jobs. 'Now to my customers, I'm sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament!' she joked. 'And when I get there, I will make space for everyone doing jobs like mine. We will finally get a seat at the table.' She added that 'life has changed' for local communities. 'Instead of working for a nice life, we're working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry,' she said. 'And I don't think it's extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. And I don't think that if you're not able to work that you should still have a nice life. I think that absolutely everybody should get a nice life.' But Reform leader Mr Farage claimed the Gorton and Denton by-election was 'a victory for sectarian voting and cheating'. He added in a post on X: 'Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.' It came amid a furious row over allegations of 'high levels' of 'family voting' in the Greater Manchester contest. Mr Goodwin said Reform had 'embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats', adding: 'I think if we can do this here, we can do this pretty much anywhere.' He continued: 'I think what you've seen is the emergence of a dangerous sectarianism in British politics. I think the Greens are riding a very dangerous wave. 'I'm very concerned about the direction of the country. And I think many people are going to be watching this by-election, and they're going to be feeling the same thing that I am, which is deep concern about where Britain is heading. 'I think the progressives were told how to vote, and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency. 'And many people in this country will look at Gorton and Denton and be appalled by what they see.' Polling guru Sir John Curtice said 'nervousness' on Labour benches will be fuelled, and it was more evidence the dominance of the main parties was fading. He told BBC Breakfast: 'There are two big messages that come out of this. The first, of course, the most immediate, is that the nervousness that already existed inside the Labor Party about Keir Starmer's ability to turn around his party's electoral fortunes, that nervousness is now going to be heightened.' Referring to the local elections in May, he continued: 'Not that there will be any move against the Prime Minister before May the 7th, but his chances of surviving after May the 7th if the results are bad, have, I think, been diminished. 'The second major key point is that this result raises further questions about the future of what was once a dominance of British politics by Conservative and Labour. 'We have now had two by-elections this Parliament one by Reform, one by the Greens and we are seeing increasingly evidence that voters are willing to vote for parties other than the conventional, traditional parties of British politics.' The Greens pitched themselves during the by-election campaign as the only option for anti-Reform UK voters. In the early hours of Friday, before the official result was announced, a deflated Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell admitted the Greens had 'managed to win the argument that they were best placed' to beat Mr Farage's party. 'I wanted Angeliki Stogia to be my colleague in Parliament,' Ms Powell told Sky News. 'But I think what is really clear is that there is a big majority in this constituency that hasn't voted for Reform. 'And on the day the Greens have managed to win that argument that they were best placed to do that. 'But I'm not sure whether that would totally translate in a general election.' Backbencher Richard Burgon said the 'blame for defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique' As well as pitching themselves as the best anti-Reform option in the by-election, the Greens also attempted to appeal to the significant Muslim vote in Gorton and Denton by hammering Sir Keir and Labour over Gaza. The seat is sharply divided in ethnicity, religion and deprivation - which made the outcome incredibly difficult to predict. Responding to her party's defeat, Labour chairwoman Anna Turley said: 'This result is clearly disappointing. 'By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different. 'We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform. 'We will continue to deliver a programme for Government that tackles the cost of living crisis families are facing, creates opportunities for young people and invests in our public services. 'The politics of anger and easy answers offered by the Greens and Reform won't deliver this. 'We will move forwards with a relentless focus on delivering the renewal communities across Britain want to see.' A Conservative spokesman said: 'Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. 'In losing one of Labour's safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the Gorton and Denton by-election was 'a victory for sectarian voting and cheating' A glum-looking Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell is pictured watching on as votes are counted in the Gorton and Denton by-election Prior to the result being announced in the early hours of Friday, a furious row broke out over claims of 'high levels' of illegal 'family voting'. Democracy Volunteers, who sent accredited observers across Gorton and Denton on Thursday, expressed fears about major breaches of electoral law. Family voting is where a voter is accompanied by another person into or near polling booths with the intention of influencing their vote. Tougher legislation, known as the Ballot Secrecy Act, was introduced in 2023 in a bid to clamp down on the practice. It made it more clearly an offence for someone to accompany a voter to a polling booth or position themselves nearby with the intention of influencing a voter. In a statement issued as polls closed on Thursday night, Democracy Volunteers said they had seen 'the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK'. But Manchester City Council insisted 'no such issues have been reported'. Labour chair Anna Turley said the reports of family voting were 'extremely worrying and concerning'. Mr Farage said it 'raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas'. Mr Polanski told BBC Newsnight: 'I think it's important that there's full transparency about the democratic process. 'And if the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps then yes I'd support that.' Reform UK's by-election candidate Matthew Goodwin is also pictured arriving at the result declaration A final photocall for Ms Stogia on Thursday saw her join forces with Ms Powell and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. In pouring rain in Gorton as the campaign counted down to its final hours, the three stepped onto a campaign bus along with activists for a final round of door-knocking. Mr Burnham said he was not 'sorry' he was not the by-election candidate himself, with his bid to contest the seat for Labour dramatically blocked by Sir Keir last month. 'No, we've got a brilliant candidate, and she hasn't put a foot wrong,' he said. 'She's been out every day. She's done us proud.' The Greater Manchester mayor is widely seen as a potential leadership challenger to Sir Keir should he return to Westminster as an MP. Mr Farage visited Gorton and Denton on Wednesday night, speaking to voters alongside Reform candidate Mr Goodwin. Ahead of polls opening at 7am on Thursday, Mr Farage said: 'Our message on election day is clear. 'The Prime Minister is panicking and knows he has broken his promises to the British people. Vote Reform to ditch Starmer.' The PM made a token visit to the constituency on Monday but was humiliatingly kept away from ordinary voters amid dire poll ratings. The premier barely survived a leadership coup a fortnight ago, with the Cabinet only rallying round at the last moment. In his final message to voters, Sir Keir sought to woo wavering Labour voters by painting the contest as a straight fight between his party and Reform. He said: 'The choice at today's by-election could not be more stark. Unity or division. 'Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. 'Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back. 'Reform's Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren't white can't be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. 'Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing.' Your browser does not support iframes. The contest in Manchester had been beset by allegations of dirty tricks, with parties repeatedly referring each other's candidates to the police. In the latest twist, the Greens accused Labour of handing out leaflets from an 'entirely fictitious' tactical voting organisation urging voters to back Sir Keir's party. The leaflets from 'Tactical Choice' carried a supposed poll that put Labour and Reform neck-and-neck when 'not including polling funded by Green Party donors'. They added: 'Based on a new prediction published in the last 24 hours we are recommending voting Labour.' A Green Party spokesman said: 'In a final throw of desperation, Labour have made up an entirely fictitious organisation called 'Tactical Choice' referencing them on their final leaflet. 'They've had to make this up because every actual tactical voting organisation has endorsed the Green Party as the best hope to keep Reform out in this election.' For its part, Labour accused the Greens of 'whipping up hatred' over Gaza in parts of the constituency with a large Muslim population. The party even put out a campaign video in Urdu which featured images of David Lammy shaking hands with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Ms Powell said the Green campaign had been 'characterised by misinformation, with dodgy bar charts'. However, Labour put out a leaflet of its own with a bar chart showing it neck-and-neck with Reform but omitting the Greens in the lead. Barnaby Joyce says ISIS brides who are begging to return to Australia need to be viewed as accomplices to their husbands, who committed 'some of the most horrendous acts in modern history'. The high-profile One Nation recruit and MP for New England said it's 'irrelevant' that the 11 Australian adults seeking to return home from a Syrian refugee camp are women and mothers. One of those women is Kirsty Rosse-Emile, whose father said she was 'lying' about being duped into supporting IS and that she shouldn't be allowed back into Australia. The Daily Mail previously revealed Rosse-Emile - who has appeared on national television pleading with the government to 'come and get me' - told her former housemate she wanted to 'make bombs' instead of going to school. It's understood federal police have launched an investigation as a result of the Daily Mail's report about these comments. Asked whether the Department of Home Affairs would consider extraordinary measures against Rosse-Emile, potentially excluding her from returning, a spokesperson refused to comment, citing 'privacy considerations'. However, Joyce told the Daily Mail it doesn't matter that the ISIS brides are women and mothers because their husbands have committed 'horrendous' crimes against innocent people. He said anyone with knowledge of crimes before or after they're committed, aiding or abetting criminals, or being involved in criminal organisations is an accomplice. Barnaby Joyce (pictured with his wife, Vikki Campion) says ISIS brides begging to return to Australia need to be viewed as accomplices to their husbands Kirsty Rosse-Emile is pictured, left, on a bus with other ISIS brides in a failed attempt to flee Syria last week 'This has to be the prism that these actions are seen through,' he said. 'The fact that it's a woman, the fact that they're a mother - that is irrelevant to the fact that their husband could or probably wouldve been part of some of the most horrendous acts in modern history against defenceless people.' A number of the women have claimed they were tricked by their husbands into entering Syria, or had no choice but to follow their male family members into the war zone. Joyce said his sympathies lie with the Yazidi refugees who were raped, trafficked, and tortured after being captured by IS, before some were resettled in his electorate. 'If anybody has ever got a query about the sympathies that they might now be feeling I can take them to Armidale and I can talk to some of these Yazidi refugees,' he said. 'Then they can ask themselves a question about how much sympathy they feel for the people who are a party to this.' The Albanese government said the ISIS brides, who have been issued with Australian passports, are free to come home by their own means - but will not assist them. One of the women is the subject of a temporary exclusion order on national security grounds, which could ban her from entering Australia for two years, but the identity of that woman remains unclear. Kirsty Rosse-Emile (pictured) married a future IS fighter when she was 14 years old Pictured: Rosse-Emile, crying while telling the ABC she was tricked into going to Syria Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam told the Daily Mail, 'you can't choose to join a death cult in Syria and then expect to come back to Australia just because you have buyer's remorse'. 'Our message to Labor is clear: shut the door,' he said. 'The Government must assure Australians that they will not allow this individual, and the rest of the ISIS brides cohort, to make it to our shores.' He said Australians don't want ISIS families as neighbours. Referring to Rosse-Emile, he said: 'Not least this individual who apparently wants to make bombs and went over to Syria to support an Islamist Caliphate hell-bent on destroying western civilisation.' Rosse-Emile previously claimed she was tricked 12 years ago into entering the war zone with her Islamic State fighter husband Nabil Kadmiry, who she married when she was just 14 years old. Speaking with the ABC last year, she refused to explain how she ended up in Syria because it 'could create problems for me'. However, her former housemate Sara* told the Daily Mail on Monday that Rosse-Emile, who was known by her Islamic name Asma, knew exactly what she was doing when she flew to Syria to pledge allegiance to IS. Pictured: Tents at Al-Roj Camp on February 16, where the Australian ISIS brides live with their children In 2010, when Rosse-Emile was about 17, she stayed in a self-contained unit attached to Sara's place, on the outskirts of Melbourne, when a mutual friend asked if she wanted to return to school. 'Asma turned around and said "I don't want to go to school, I want to go and make bombs",' Sara recalled. Sara said it didn't matter if Rosse-Emile truly intended to live a quiet life in Australia; it would be difficult for her to shed her extremist beliefs. Her husband, Nabil Kadmiry, was captured during IS's territorial defeat in 2019 and is believed to be languishing in a Kurdish prison. Other Australians fighting to return home include Nesrine Zahab and her aunt Aminah Zahab and cousin Sumaya Zahab, along with Kawsar Abbas and her daughters Zeinab and Zahra Ahmed, Janai Safar, Hodan Abby, Kawsar Kanj and Hyam Raad. Read also: Sydney man nearly drowns after becoming trapped A massive pothole that opened up after a pipe broke in the centre of Sydney swallowed a Coles delivery truck. Ten businesses were left without water at the College Street and Prince Albert Road intersection in the city's CBD on Friday due to the hole. Students from St Mary's Cathedral College, which was also affected by the plumbing issue, were sent home. Earlier in the day, the pothole was large enough to trap a Coles delivery truck. Fortunately, tow trucks managed to remove the vehicle; although the tyres were damaged, the driver was able to exit safely. The city had experienced heavy rainfall, including a 100mm downpour over three hours from Thursday night into Friday, causing flooding and prompting 42 rescues. On Friday afternoon, a Sydney Water spokesperson told the Daily Mail they were currently responding to the incident, which was believed to have been caused by a burst water pipe. 'Sydney Water crews are on site excavating and have isolated the main with a rezone in place so that repairs can commence,' they said. A pothole opened up in Sydney's CBD on Friday, forcing a nearby school to close The pothole was believed to have been caused by a burst water pipe during heavy rain 'Prince Albert Road is currently closed with diversions in place in order for this critical work to be carried out safely. 'Sydney Water thanks the community for its patience and apologises for the inconvenience.' Although conditions started to ease by the afternoon, NSW SES told the Daily Mail the severity of the weather had come as a surprise. 'The storm came hard and fast and was quite unexpected for us,' they said. 'In the past 24 hours, we've had over 650 jobs, with 44 being for flood rescues [and] with the busiest areas being Strathfield, Greenacre and Fairfield. 'We have 57 jobs outstanding at the moment across the Sydney area.' Most requests involved flood rescues, inundated properties, leaking roofs and fallen trees. Thousands of commuters were also stranded on major arterial roads, including Anzac Bridge, and parts of Parramatta Road were closed. The weather also prompted an urgent shark warning from NSW SharkSmart, after recent attacks following severe rainfall. 'Increased shark activity is likely,' they said on social media. 'Murky waters after heavy rain can make conditions ideal for ambush predators. This may increase your chance of encountering a shark. 'Heavy rain can also flush nutrients, fish and bull sharks out of rivers and estuaries, and may result in more bull shark activity along our beaches.' Sussan Ley's resignation from Parliament doesn't just end a career, it triggers a retirement perk most Australians can only dream about. It's the kind of old-school Canberra entitlement so generous it was shut off to new MPs two decades ago because it was considered indefensible. The problem is it still exists for those who got in early enough, protected by a cut-off date that slammed the door behind them. Ley entered the House of Representatives in 2001. That means she qualifies for the generous defined benefit arrangements closed to new members from 2004 onwards, to the tune of around $220,000 every year. When Albo retires, he'll get the same benefits because he entered Parliament back in 1996. Only his payout will be much higher. Anyone elected after 2004 is on something much closer to what everyone else receives, albeit at the still-generous public service contribution rate of 15.4 per cent. That includes the new opposition leader, Angus Taylor. The old scheme rewards staying in Parliament long enough to maximise the perk. Climbing the ministerial ladder helps too. Achieving anything in the roles held is neither here nor there. The rate increases with years of service and tops out at 75 per cent of an MP's salary once they reach 18 years in Parliament. Ley's 25 years takes her well past that, and her time in the ministry, as well as serving as deputy opposition leader and opposition leader, helps inflate the package even further. Sussan Ley's resignation from Parliament doesn't just end a career, it triggers a retirement perk most Australians can only dream about. The way the parliamentary pension is calculated is designed to sound technical so that people tune out. It's calculated off the parliamentary allowance used for super purposes, not the headline base salary. Right now that is $189,300, 75 per cent of which is $141,975 a year, indexed, for life. Ley gets all of that, but she also receives top-ups for her time on various frontbenches as well as periods in party leadership roles. She has been serving on frontbenches since John Howard's final term as prime minister, which ended in 2007. A retirement income of about $142,000 a year for a long-serving MP who never became a minister, indexed for life, is generous enough. But in the defined-benefit world of old Parliament, that is merely the starting point. What comes next pushes the benefit into the truly eye-watering category. The additional pension for ministerial or office holders accrues at 6.25 per cent of salary for each year the position is held. The combined additional pensions cannot exceed 75 per cent of the salary for the highest-paying office the recipient held. So in Albo's case, he'll be hoping to retire on about 75 per cent of his $600,000 Prime Minister's salary. For Ley, the generosity doesn't go quite that far. She'll walk away with a pension for life of around $220,000 every year. The formula doesn't ask whether those years in office produced reform, revealed competence, or created any legacy the electorate might want to reward. It asks only whether the title was held, and for how long. Survive and rise, and the cheques will keep coming for life. When Albo retires, he'll get the same benefits because he entered Parliament back in 1996. Only his payout will be much higher In Ley's case, she has been eligible for her pension since turning 55, meaning she receives it immediately upon leaving Parliament. She didn't have to reach retirement age to access it, like the rest of us do with our far less generous superannuation savings. Oh, and retired politicians can keep working without it affecting their parliamentary pensions, again unlike the rest of us and our super. Many do, working as consultants and lobbyists trading off their connections. What a system. The tax treatment adds another layer of disconnect. From age 60, retired politicians qualify for a 10 per cent tax offset on the portion of the annual pension below the defined benefit income cap. It's not entirely tax-free, but it's a concession the rest of us certainly don't get. Meanwhile, the government has been increasing super taxes on everyday Australians while claiming it can't do the same for generous parliamentary pension recipients. Go figure. When politicians say they should live under the same rules as everyone else, this is the moment the slogan collapses under the weight of its own hypocrisy. But wait, the lurks and perks don't end there. A retiring politician is entitled to convert up to 50 per cent of their parliamentary pension into a lump sum. The lump sum is calculated by multiplying the annual amount by ten. So if Ley is receiving $220,000 a year for life, she can choose to take $1.1 million right now up front and still receive $110,000 annually for life. Not bad. That's not just a generous retirement handout. It's a choose-your-own-adventure version of generosity. This is not superannuation as most Australians understand it. It's a taxpayer-funded entitlement that rewards longevity rather than legacy. It remains a cost to taxpayers because Parliament once wrote rules for itself that later became too embarrassing for the next generation of MPs to defend on television. But guess what? Those who don't receive benefits like the ones Ley is about to enjoy still complain about missing out, lamenting that they arrived too late. A man has been engulfed in flames in front of patients and staff at Cairns Hospitals emergency department in Far North Queensland. A woman who witnessed the incident unfold in the emergency department just after 2am on Thursday said she was shaken by the horrific incident. Kelsey Meyers and her husband were awaiting treatment when she saw a man come into the unit and then pour a large amount of hand sanitiser over himself. 'It honestly feels like a movie,' Ms Meyers told the Cairns Post. 'Im so grateful there were nurses there to help him. A male nurse grabbed the bottle and said, "Come on, mate, we dont need to do that".' Ms Meyers described the scene as 'absolutely horrific'. 'The smell, the screams, I will never forget it. It was bloodcurdling,' she said. 'My partner tried to shield me, but even in the reflection of a window, I could see it.' A man has been engulfed in flames in front of patients and staff at Cairns Hospitals emergency department in Far North Queensland (above) Several people were moved to a back area of the emergency department and confined to a small room, she said. 'We were trying to get away from the smoke and the smell,' she added. 'Its stuck in my nostrils. 'My partner was telling the nurse to close the door because the smell was making us sick, we just wanted to get out. 'One of [the nurses] who put the fire out was burnt all over his hands and all over his arms.' Ms Meyers said she was still very shaken. 'Every time I close my eyes, I see that gentleman,' she said. Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokesman Leena Singh confirmed a staff member was injured during the incident and employees had been 'offered assistance and counselling support'. 'As per established protocols, at the time of the incident, our staff quickly and calmly decanted a relatively small number of people from the main ED waiting room into a secure, safe alternative area within the department,' Ms Singh said. 'This was done both to remove everyone from any physical risk and, importantly, to shield them from having to witness a potentially traumatic scene.' Ms Singh said a full incident review was conducted. 'To ensure we continue to learn and strengthen our already robust emergency response protocols,' she said. Ms Singh could not provide further details due to patient confidentiality and the 'active clinical situation'. 'We ask for understanding that we are unable to provide any further personal details at this time,' she said. Tens of thousands of Aussies are already against it A new Trump Tower might be coming to the Gold Coast Tens of thousands of Australians have lashed out at a proposal by the family-run business of Donald Trump to build a hotel on the Gold Coast. More than 90,000 people have signed a petition for the city council to oppose a Trump-branded tower at 3 Trickett Street in Surfers Paradise. The $1.5billion deal was made between Australian developer Altus Property Group and the Trump Organization, which is run by the president's sons Donald Jr and Eric. On Monday, both sides confirmed they had signed on for a proposed 91-storey, six-star hotel due to be 335m high - which is taller than any skyscraper in the country. But some residents have said they are 'deeply uncomfortable' with the idea. 'Allowing a Trump-branded development on the Gold Coast would send the wrong message about who we are as a community and what we are willing to endorse,' a petition on Change.org read. 'Beyond issues of over-development, environmental impact, and pressure on local infrastructure, many residents are deeply uncomfortable with the Trump brand and what it represents. 'The Gold Coast should reflect the people who live here not controversial political brands that divide communities.' Gold Coast residents have criticised a plan to build a Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise More than 90,000 people had signed a petition urging the Gold Coast City Council to block the project as of Friday evening The proposed 91-storey skyscraper would be the first 'Trump Tower' in Australia One person commented on the petition: 'Get lost Trump, we don't want you here.' Another said: 'Were Aussie, not Americans. Theres no reason why we should have a building dedicated to [someone] running a different country on the other side of the world.' The Daily Mail has contacted Altus Property Group, the Trump Organization, Gold Coast City Council and Queensland Government for comment on the petition. The developer's agreement with the Trump Organization is a commercial arrangement, making the proposal for 3 Trickett Street far from a certainty. The Gold Coast City Council confirmed earlier this week that a development application had yet to be received. This form still needs to be lodged with the local authority for final approval before the project can break ground. Acting Gold Coast mayor Mark Hammell issued a statement supporting the project. Pictured, executive vice president of the Trump Organization Eric Trump (right) and Altus chief executive David Young (left) sign the deal A render of the tower that is said to include a private beach 'We welcome investment in the city, it shows confidence in our city and ultimately creates jobs,' he said this week. 'A formal development application will be required, and we look forward to considering the application once it is received.' Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who attended a meeting with the Trump Organization in the US on February 13, has also supported the proposal. 'It's going to be the first Trump Tower in Australia it's all about quality,' he told radio station Triple M. 'Putting the Trump brand on it, it will take it [to the] next level, and all the Americans will know where the Gold Coast is.' Altus Property Group said the tower would replicate the Trump template used in current developments in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 'It will feature a 285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo, anchoring the 91-storey development,' a statement on the project reads. 'The project will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalising the central Surfers Paradise precinct.' It is understood that, if the city council approves the plans, construction could begin in August. Attorneys close to Donald Trump are urging the President to declare a national emergency that would allow him to take sweeping powers over the crucial midterm elections. The President has railed against 'rigged elections' and still refuses to concede the 2020 race to Joe Biden while pushing the SAVE Act to force citizens to show ID at the polls, against the wishes of Congressional Democrats. Peter Ticktin, who has known Trump since they attended New York Military Academy together and represented him in court, is part of a group of pro-Trump lawyers in communication with the White House over the election plan. He and his allies argue in a 17-page draft of a presidential executive order that supposed Chinese interference in the 2020 presidential election allows Trump to declare such an emergency. 'There is now clear and compelling evidence from court cases and forensic analysis that these threats have not been mitigated but instead have intensified,' the draft reads. 'This constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.' However, no such evidence exists and a 2021 review by multiple intelligence agencies claimed China considered interfering in the election, but did not go through with it. The proposed order would go even further than the SAVE Act without having to go through Congress. Trump would effectively mandate voter ID nationwide, ban vote by mail and mandate ballots counted by hand. Attorneys who support Donald Trump are lobbying the President to declare a national emergency to allow him to take sweeping powers over the midterm elections The President has long railed against 'rigged elections' since his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020 and has pushed the SAVE Act to force citizens to show ID to vote, against the wishes of Congressional Democrats Ticktin told The Washington Post that he understands Congress and the states traditionally have legal authority over elections. 'But here we have a situation where the President is aware that there are foreign interests that are interfering in our election processes,' he claimed. 'That causes a national emergency where the President has to be able to deal with it.' In his opinion, mail-in ballots and voting machines have been the conduit for foreign meddling. Ticktin also represents Tina Peters, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in a 2021 security breach in the elections office she was supposed to oversee. Trump has reviewed the document himself, ABC News reported, while Ticktin said he has had 'certain coordination' with the White House. 'President Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of elections, and that includes totally accurate and up-to-date voter rolls free of errors and unlawfully registered non-citizen voters,' White House spokesman Abigail Jackson said. 'The President has urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting, prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting, and end the practice of ballot harvesting.' Peter Ticktin (center), who has known Trump since they attended New York Military Academy together and represented him in court, is part of a group of pro-Trump lawyers in communication with the White House over the election plan Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and a ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that there was no reason for any of this. 'We've been raising the alarm for weeks about Trump's attacks on our elections now we're getting details about how they might be planning to do it,' Warner said. 'Let's be clear: there's no national emergency. This is a plot to interfere with the will of voters.' Ticktin and his allies believe that their words will find their way into an executive order issued soon. The President wrote on Truth Social February 13 that he would be 'presenting' an executive order 'shortly.' Trump allies and the president himself have stressed the importance of holding the House of Representatives through 2027. Speaker Mike Johnson said a Democrat majority in either chamber of Congress 'would be the end of the Trump presidency in a real effect,' while Trump has warned followers he'll be impeached again. The president hammered home the importance of the SAVE Act during his record-long State of the Union address on Tuesday. Senate intelligence committee vice-chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat, said that there is no reason for any of this He called it important to 'stop illegal aliens and others, who are unpermitted persons, from voting in our sacred American elections' and insisted 'the cheating is rampant.' Trump also said that there is 'overwhelming' agreement between Republicans and Democrats on the policy. 'Congress should unite and enact this common-sense, country-saving legislation right now and it should be before anything else happens.' He said that the reason Democrats in Congress are against the law is simple: 'They want to cheat. They have cheated. And their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat and we're going to stop it.' However, the bill appeared to have stalled yesterday in the Senate despite the President's pleas. Trump's push for the legislation, backed by House conservatives and his most loyal supporters ahead of the midterm elections, has put new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune as he tries to navigate an effort from inside and outside Congress to bypass normal Senate procedure. Thune has said he supports the legislation and that his GOP conference is still discussing how to pass it. Senate Republicans 'aren't unified on an approach,' Thune said on Wednesday after Trump's speech. Ticktin (right) and his allies believe that their words will find their way into an executive order issued soon The President hammered home the importance of the SAVE Act during his record long State of the Union address Tuesday In an effort to get around Democratic opposition, Trump and others have pushed a so-called 'talking filibuster,' which would bring the Senate back to the days of the movie Mr Smith Goes to Washington, when senators talked indefinitely to block legislation. These days, the Senate mostly skips the speeches and votes to end debate, which takes 60 votes in the Senate, where Republicans have a 53-47 majority. Republicans wouldn't have to change the rules to force a talkathon. They could simply keep the Senate open and make Democrats deliver speeches for days or weeks to delay taking up the legislation. But Thune would still need enough support from his caucus to move forward with that approach, and he said this week that 'we aren't there yet.' Even if Republicans managed to break the first filibuster, Democrats could then offer an unlimited number of amendments on anything they wish, forcing Republicans to take hard votes in an election year and potentially adding some of their own priorities to the legislation if they have some bipartisan support. Each amendment would also bring a new round of speeches. The tension has put the affable, well-liked Thune in a tough spot with Trump and many of his voters who argue that the legislation is necessary for a GOP victory in the midterm elections. As Thune has discussed the possibility with his conference in recent weeks, some Republicans have expressed worry that the process could lead to rules changes that could lead the Senate to 'go nuclear' and eventually vote to erode the legislative filibuster. Trump's push for the bill, backed by House conservatives and his most loyal supporters ahead of the midterm elections, has put new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (center) Trump said that the reason Democrats in Congress are against the law is simple: 'They want to cheat. They have cheated. And their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat and we're going to stop it.' Most Senate Republicans have said they do not want to lower the 60-vote threshold for ending debate on legislation, even though it has been lowered for presidential and judicial nominations. 'I agree with the SAVE Act,' Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said after Trump's speech. 'But I'm not going to nuke the filibuster.' Other Republicans could also block the process. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she opposes the SAVE Act, and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the former GOP majority leader, has opposed similar legislation in the past. The House approved it earlier this month on a mostly party-line vote, 218-213. Trump has already made clear that he will blame Democrats, and potentially Thune, if they lose their majorities in Congress in November even though Republicans won control of Congress and the White House in 2024 without the bill's requirements. A tradie and her father managed to stop the incident Girl cried for help during an alleged carjacking A Queensland tradie saved a little girl after an alleged carjacker attempted to steal the vehicle she was sitting in, forcing a primary school to lock down. Police rushed to Antill Street in Brisbane's inner northern suburb of Wilston around 3.30pm on Thursday after receiving reports of an attempted car theft. It is understood a man in a black hoodie jumped into the car, which the eight-year-old's father had left running while he dropped something inside his home. When officers reached the scene, the alleged carjacker had been chased away by the father and a local tradesman, Wayne Mepham, who heard the child's cries. 'I heard a young girl calling out: "I'm in danger! I'm in danger!"' Mr Mepham told 7News' Sunrise on Friday. 'So I just dropped everything and ran after them... It was quite traumatic. 'They were pretty shaken up. The young girl was pretty frightened. I just wanted to make sure that they were ok.' Mr Mepham said he and the father chased the alleged carjacker into a nearby convenience store, but lost sight of him. Brisbane tradie Wayne Mepham ran to help a girl who was in the back of a car during an alleged attempted carjacking on Thursday afternoon He said she was very brave and did the right thing by calling out for help while the incident unfolded on Antill Street in Brisbane's inner northern suburb of Wilston Mr Mepham expressed his admiration for the young girl. 'She was very brave and said the right things at the right time to try and raise the alarm,' he said. 'Hats off to the people who have taught that young lady to raise that alarm when she felt like she was in trouble. It allowed us to act relatively quickly to at least scare him off.' Police said officers conducted patrols but were unable to locate the man. No injuries were reported, and investigations are ongoing. A school nearby, St Columba's Primary School, went into lockdown after the incident, 7News reported. A letter was sent to parents by the principal shortly after, explaining what had happened and issuing a broad safety warning. 'The child did not go to St Columbas. A couple of fathers chased the perpetrator through the 7/11 car park and down Days Road,' they wrote. 'Once we were made aware of the situation, I put the school into lockdown, called the police, and called Wilston State School. 'This is a good reminder not to leave children in your car with the engine running when popping into the front office to drop something off or pick something up. 'Things can happen very quickly, and as a school, we are a little vulnerable given our location on a busy road.' Anyone with information about the man's whereabouts has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A quarter of rough sleepers in England are not from Britain, according to new think tank figures. The number of people sleeping rough has risen above its previous peak of 4,751 in 2017, figures released by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) on Thursday. Twenty-four percent of rough sleepers were not from the UK, the think tank's analysis found, while nearly one in two of those in London were from elsewhere. Since 2021, the number of non-UK nationals sleeping rough has increased by 92 per cent, according to the report titled Rough Sleeping Tracker. Meanwhile, the number of people from outside of the European Union experiencing homelessness nearly quadrupled over the last four years. The CSJ's report said the government's failings in dealing with the immigration crisis were placing increasing pressure on homelessness services. And while net migration has fallen since 2024 from a previous peak of 944,000 in the year ending March 2023 to 728,000 the following year due to more stringent restrictions on immigration visas. However, the number of individuals arriving on small boats as well as asylum seeker applications has continued to increase, with the figure standing at 104,764 in 2024, the highest number since it was first recorded in 2001. A quarter of rough sleepers in England are not from Britain, according to new think tank figures from the Centre for Social Justice Your browser does not support iframes. It comes after the number of people being granted asylum by the Home Office rose by more than a third last year. Official figures showed nearly 55,000 migrants were handed refugee status or another type of permission to stay in Britain in the year to December. And while it saw a rise of 35 per cent on the previous year, it was 14 per cent below the peak seen in 2023. The rise in rough sleeping has been lambasted by politicians as a 'national disgrace', as the CSJ have encouraged the government to double the capacity for its Housing First Scheme in a bid to help resolve the issue. The think tank has urged the government to provide 5,600 places on its scheme, which hopes to provide rough sleepers with before and after care as well as a permanent home. The CSJ also hopes ministers will usher in a 'Dutch-style' return arrangements for those who are not from the UK and are sleeping rough. In the Netherlands, the government funds a short-term accommodation programme which supports homeless people who are from the EU. Six of the countries municipalities are being funded so they can work with specific charities that help people back into employment, accommodation, and return them to their native country. Your browser does not support iframes. It also wants to see the government make good on a new target for 'the voluntary return' of migrants from outside of the EU sleeping rough in Britain. Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, told The Times: 'The levels of rough sleeping revealed today are a national disgrace and undermine any ambition this government might have to end rough sleeping for good. 'The CSJ's analysis shows a system trapped in crisis and a state unable to keep pace with the pressures it faces. 'The public expect that those with no right to be in the UK, or those who would be better supported by returning home, are not left to languish across our town and city centres.' The government was funnelling a record 3.6billion into tackling homelessness, and had promised another 50million before the CSJ report The money is set to be divided between a long-term rough sleeping innovation programme and councils as well as voluntary groups on the front lines. Lord Bird, the founder of the Big Issue, described the government's failure to tackle the matter as 'deeply concerning' Alison McGovern, the homelessness minister, said: 'We have to get our kids out of B&B accommodation, and it is good that today we see progress against this target. 'There are simply too many people facing life on the streets or in temporary accommodation. While today's statistics show progress in some areas, it is clearly not good enough.' A burka ban has been introduced in two towns in Costa del Sol, Spain. Women wearing burkas will no longer be allowed to enter municipal buildings in the towns of Rincon de la Victoria and Alhaurin el Grande. The proposal was put forward by right-wing party VOX, with politicians insisting the ban was for security reasons as well as 'guaranteeing women's dignity and security.' Rincon de la Victoria VOX councillor Carlos Chinchilla applauded the ban, and said the 'the textile dungeon of the burka and niqab will not be permitted in municipal buildings despite the opposition of the left, which embraces a false tolerance that destroys our identity and, incidentally, allows the most patriarchal symbol there is.' His comments came after left-wing parties strongly opposed the ban, leading to the failure of the proposal in the capital of the province, Malaga city. In Rincon de la Victoria, the ban passed with support from centre-right political party PP, led by mayor Francisco Salado. Deputy mayor Josefa Carnero defended her party's support, describing the burka as a symbol of 'female invisibility' Meanwhile, in Alhaurin el Grande, it passed after several political groups abstained, despite the town being under control of the centre-left party PSOE. The burka ban was put forward by right-wing party VOX, with politicians insisting the ban was for security reasons as well as 'guaranteeing women's dignity and security' (file picture) VOX councillor Yolanda Gomez of Malaga City Council lashed out at left-wing politicians, claiming they 'have demonstrated they have no interest in protecting women from cultures that degrade them.' However, critics of the ban, which has been widely reported on in Spanish media, say it restricts the personal freedom of Muslim women. The passing of the proposal in these two towns comes after neighbouring city Murcia also voted to pass a ban on garments that cover the face in municipal buildings. The motion passed with the support of the PP, with VOX councillor Fernando Sanchez Parra saying the garments were incompatible with women's freedom. He added that his party did not want women to be 'locked in a fabric prison.' The burqa is a full-body garment that covers a woman from head to foot, including a mesh screen over the eyes. France was the first European country to introduce a blanket ban on wearing burqas in public in 2011. The list has expanded significantly since, with more than 20 states around the world implementing some form of ban on the burqa and other full-face coverings in public, including Austria, Tunisia, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Switzerland. The European Court of Human Rights has consistently upheld these bans, including in 2017, when it upheld Belgium's bar on burqas and full-face veils, ruling that states may restrict such garments to protect 'living together' in society. Regions of Italy already impose restrictions, such as the northern one of Lombardy, which imposed a ban on entering public buildings and hospitals with covered faces in late 2015. In Rincon de la Victoria (pictured), the ban passed with support from centre-right party PP In Alhaurin el Grande (pictured), the burka ban passed after several political groups abstained Portugal's parliament approved in October of last year a bill to ban face veils used for 'gender or religious motives' in most public spaces that was proposed by the hard-right Chega party and effectively targets burqas and niqabs worn by Muslim women. Under the bill, proposed fines for wearing face veils in public would range between 200 euros and 4,000 euros. Forcing someone to wear one would be punishable with prison terms of up to three years. Face veils would still be allowed in airplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship. Only a small minority of Muslim women in Europe cover their faces. However, full-face coverings such as niqabs and burqas have become a polarising issue across Europe, with some arguing that they symbolise gender discrimination or can represent a security threat and should be outlawed. An ominous warning of the threat of a Third World War has come from Poland's respected foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski. It is now necessary to be prepared for a war 'of the scale that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers saw', he told the Sejm, the Polish parliament. Pointing to the jeopardy posed by dictator Vladimir Putin, he warned of the prospect of conflicts on the scale of WW1 and WW2. Sikorski made clear that Poland - which shares a border with Russia as well as Ukraine - will be on the frontline of any new Russian aggression. A former British citizen, Sikorsky stressed that awareness of the danger can either paralyse or mobilise. Poland cannot afford to be 'paralysed' or reassured that this is 'not its war', he told MPs. 'Putin doesn't want peace, only surrender' he said. 'If Ukraine were to be defeated, the threat from Russia would not only not decrease, but on the contrary, increase.' Russian aggression against NATO's eastern flank countries would prove very costly for these states, while Western intelligence had warned that he said. Drone incursions, railway track sabotage and disinformation campaigns have been launched already by Russia, warned the Oxford-educated foreign minister. Pictured: New recruits of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attend their first military training near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine February 22, 2026 Pictured: A recruit practices military drills at a training ground in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 A tragic Polish girl Amelia Gzhesko, seven, was burned alive hugging her mother Oksana as a result of a Russian Kh-101 missile hitting a residential high-rise in Ternopil, Ukraine, in November, he reminded MPs. Russia's sinister Doomsday Radio - linked to its nuclear forces - blurted out the codeword LIQUIDATOR among three others in the past 24 hours. Other mysterious codes were MAINOSTYAG and COVARNY. The bizarre Cold War relic - a radio station on air for half a century and nicknamed The Buzzer - cackles into action at moments of high tension between East and West. NATO air defences were put on alert overnight in allied state Romania as a Russian drone came close to its airspace during a barrage of strikes on Ukrainian ports on the River Danube, in Odesa region. This came in a week when NATO fighters have been twice scrambled due to the threat of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine - once in Poland, once in Romania. Dnipropetrovsk region in Ukraine was under sustained Russian artillery and drone attack overnight, and four people, including a teenager, were injured in a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia. Putin's forces blitzed a hotel in border city Sumy. Ukraine's Armed Forces attacked an oil depot in Russian-held Luhansk region. Volodymyr Zelensky's army also attacked an energy facility in Russian city Belgorod, plunging thousands into darkness. Blessed with brains as well as beauty, the young Natalie Hicks-Lobbecke was always destined to be something of a show-stopper and duly stimulated admiration in several red-blooded bachelors, Prince William among them. But today Natalie as elegant at 47 as ever may have cause to regret her talent for attracting attention. As I disclosed last month, she and her husband, baronet Sir Edward Milbank, 52, face a revolt thanks to the welcome theyve given to plans which would see 20 wind turbines, each more than 650ft, bolted onto unblemished moorland on the North Yorkshire and County Durham border much of it on Sir Edwards 7,000-acre Barningham Estate. Locals, already simmering at the prospect of what one of them labels an act of criminal desecration, are now, Im told, at boiling point. That, I can reveal, is because of the emergence of a 2015 article in which Natalie spoke about her massive objection to a proposal for... a single 120ft wind turbine on a smallholding. The impact it would have would be entirely inappropriate given the village conservation areas, warned Natalie (pictured above in front of Barningham Park). The aesthetic impact in the area would be huge. There are buildings from the 1600s nearby and people walk nearby. Summarising the proposal as heartbreaking, Natalie said that planning notices hadnt gone up in Barningham village so not enough people know about it I think its a matter of great urgency that they do. Somebody is trying to block the view for everyone, she added. Its unfathomable that it has got this far. Barningham Parish Council agreed, objecting to the proposal and describing the turbine as an alien and intrusive form of development which would detract from the beauty of the landscape. The plans were duly thrown out. It is, perhaps, not entirely unsurprising that locals find Natalies new found enthusiasm for 20 turbines all more than four times the height of the single turbine she objected to difficult to swallow. Lady Natalie Milbank pictured in Barningham Park estate in County Durham Among a young Natalie's admirers included Prince William of Wales (Pictured during a visit to the Hafan Yr Avon in Newtown, Wales) Its complete hypocrisy, alleges one, pointing out that Norwegian company Fred Olsen, which intends to install the turbines, will pay landowners lavishly for the privilege. Its obvious money is the only thing that really matters to the Milbanks. Natalie and Sir Edward declined to comment. Why Minnie is envious of today's women Minnie Driver has long championed the #MeToo movement, but she admits she envies the improved working conditions younger actresses now enjoy. The Good Will Hunting star, 56, attended the premiere of her Fox TV biblical drama, The Faithful: Women Of The Bible, with her co-stars, including Natacha Karam, 31 (pictured with Minnie) at the National Gallery in London. Reflecting on her younger counterparts, she says: There are days where Im like: Wow, I wish it was like this when I was 25. She adds: I feel properly proud of the sh** we went through to see these young women flourishing and feeling stronger and not afraid. DJ's family Tourette stress JO WHILEY has revealed her sister Frances has developed Tourette syndrome, just days after the condition caused controversy at the Baftas. The BBC Radio 2 presenter, 60, says Frances (far left with Jo), 58, who has the rare genetic disorder Cri du Chat syndrome and lives in a care home, has started showing tics associated with the neurological condition. My sister has developed a kind of Tourettes, says Jo. She doesnt swear, although she has said the odd thing, but she started snorting, and it was so alien to what we were used to with Frances. When it first happens in public, youre like: Oh, God, thats embarrassing. You think: Should I be apologising? And you realise that she cant help herself. OSCAR winner Olivia Colman appears to have been challenging to work with for Hollywood star Maggie Gyllenhaal, who directed her in 2021 film The Lost Daughter, which also starred Jessie Buckley. I felt when I started working with Jessie on that film, we were speaking the same language, Maggie says at the BFI IMAX in Londons Waterloo. When I tried talking to Olivia Colman the same way I had with Jessie, she was like: What the f*** are you talking about? Maggie adds: Then I had to learn how to talk to Olivia, which was great, but it took time. Victoria Beckham may have mixed feelings if she watches the Olivier Awards in April. For Betty Laine, the principal of her performing arts school, is to receive an Industry Recognition prize. Victoria revealed in her memoirs that Laine told her mid-rehearsal: Youre so fat I am going to have to fly you in. Im going to have to get you in on a crane because youre such a roly poly. In her recent Netflix documentary, the Spice Girls star, 51, revealed she had suffered an eating disorder since school. It became a global phenomenon after going viral on TikTok, but Dubai chocolate has failed to tickle the tastebuds of The Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain. Dubai chocolate is not that tasty, declares the mild-mannered television star, 41. The expensive chocolate bar is filled with chopped filo pastry and a pistachio-tahini cream. Nadiya says: Its so overdone, to the point where pistachios look unappealing. She adds: Ive even seen a body scrub in Dubai chocolate flavour, which is too much. Simon Lewis, former communications chief to the late Queen and Gordon Brown, is stepping down from his Radio 4 series analysing PR crises, When It Hits The Fan. Our major concern when we started this in 2023 was whether we would have enough crises to cover week in and week out, he said. Weve done three a week for 100 episodes. You dont have to look too far to find a person, company, government or celebrity facing the fan. Fittingly, Lewis bowed out with a discussion of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelsons latest travails. A disgraced teacher struck off from a 35,000-a-year boarding school for having a sexual encounter with a boy has been pictured at a Barbie-themed school event. Beverley Dunnage, 52, was head of Year 8 at the private girls' school St George's in Ascot when she 'incited' the boy to engage in sexual activity in May 2024. The incident was recorded by a witness who reported it to police. Dunnage was jailed for three years and nine months in December 2024 and banned from the profession for life. Now, a new photo has emerged of the Boarding Housemistress wearing a light pink jacket, silver sequin top and heart-shaped sunglasses at a school event. Ms Dunnage, started teaching at the prestigious Berkshire boarding in January 2023, but was arrested and sacked in July 2024. She admitted at Taunton Crown Court to two counts of sexual activity with a child. The Teaching Regulation Agency found the allegations raised against the teacher to be proved, and as such, Ms Dunnage was in breach of several teaching standards, including 'having regard for the need to safeguard pupils' well-being'. Carlo Lygo, who chaired the hearing, noted that although 'the offence occurred outside of a school setting' her actions were 'relevant to teaching, working with children and/or working in an education setting'. 'Ms Dunnage had engaged in sexual activity with a [REDACTED]-year old boy,' he said. Beverley Dunnage, 52, (pictured) was struck off from teaching for life after having sexual activity with a boy after they drunk alcohol together The Head of Year 8 teacher was arrested and sacked from the 35,000-a-year boarding school before she was charged with two counts of sexual activity with a child The Boarding Housemistress for Upper Sixth at St George's School in Ascot, Berkshire (pictured) was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment at Taunton Crown Court last year 'The panel took the view that this was a serious offence involving a child leading to a term of imprisonment.' Emails noting Ms Dunnage's previous 'impeccable' character were also taken into account, as well as the restrictions on her ability to provide evidence due to her imprisonment. The teacher's evidence, read by the panel, also said she committed the offences following an argument which had left her distraught and not thinking clearly. The 52-year-old had also been undergoing counselling, according to an email she sent to the presenting officer on August 11, 2025. She also admitted to the panel that she was convicted at Taunton Crown Court for two counts of sexual activity with a child. Banning her for life, Stuart Blomfield, for the education secretary, underlined: 'In light of the panel's findings against Ms Dunnage, which involved engaging in sexual activity with a child [REDACTED], there was a strong public interest consideration in the protection of pupils and other members of the public. Her actions raised obvious and significant public and child protection concerns. 'Ms Dunnage's conduct found proven significantly outweighed any public interest in retaining her as a teacher. 'The panel considered that the adverse public interest considerations above outweighed any interest in retaining Ms Dunnage in the profession, since her behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher, and she sought to exploit her position of trust. 'There was evidence that Ms Dunnage's actions were deliberate even though she had consumed alcohol at the time.' The panel had also considered Ms Dunnage's handwritten note and a letter in which she accepted that she would 'never be able to teach again'. Another factor in the ban was 'the severity of Ms Dunnage's conduct and the impact that this continued to have on the victim'. A St George's Ascot spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Ms Dunnage no longer works at the school and we have no comment other than to note that the matter has no connection to the school or its pupils.' This is the moment a pro-Palestine activist is filmed defacing Sir Winston Churchill's statue outside the Houses of Parliament in the early hours of Friday morning. The monument was defaced shortly after 4am with slogans including 'Zionist war criminal', 'Stop the Genocide', 'Never again is Now' and 'Globalise the Intifada'. The Dutch phrase 'groetjes uit den haag', which translates to 'Greetings from the Hague', was also spray-painted on. The Metropolitan Police said officers were at the scene of the graffiti 'within two minutes'. A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in custody. Downing Street have condemned the incident as completely abhorrent and said Churchill 'was a great Briton'. A No10 spokesman said: 'It's obviously a disgrace. It's completely abhorrent. 'Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account. Pictured: The moment a pro-Palestine protestor jumped up onto Sir Winston Churchill's statue and graffitied it The incident occurred at 4am on Friday morning, police said Churchill's statue, located only metres from the Houses of Parliament, was vandalised overnight 'We're glad the police have made an arrest.' A Dutch pro-Palestine activist has claimed responsibility for the incident. Olax Outis said in a statement online that he came to the UK to 'deface a statue of one of history's most well-known war criminals, Winston Churchill'. He claims to be part of Free the Filton 24 NL (Netherlands), an affiliate pro-Palestine group of Free the Filton 24, which formed after activists were remanded in prison for allegedly breaking into the Filton, Bristol site of defence company Elbit Systems and vandalising its equipment. Outis said: 'I've defaced a monumental statue honouring a murder-horny bigoted w***er, to draw attention to the horrible human rights violations happening in a country that's run by colonisers who refuse to listen to their people, who waste tax payers' money to repress the population, who, according to the United Nations, are in violation of the Genocide convention.' He added: 'He [Churchill] was the Keir Starmer of his time. Covering his statue in red paint is as close as one can get to doing the same to the politicians currently harming the people of the UK.' The activist claimed the Netherlands has been 'complicit in the Palestinian genocide for decades', saying the country is 'the largest investor in Israeli colonialism in the world'. Westminster heritage wardens were pictured covering the graffiti with tape and plastic bin bags on Friday morning. The area has been cordoned off and was being cleaned. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'Absolutely disgraceful - Churchill is the greatest champion of freedom in our history. 'A truly great man who stood up to, and defeated, the most evil war criminal of them all.' Matt Vickers, deputy chair of the Conservative Party, told GB News in reaction to the incident: 'It's disgusting and vile. Whoever is doing this needs to be held to account. Dutch pro-Palestine activist Olax Outis (pictured) has claimed responsibility for the incident Westminster heritage wardens begin covering the graffiti with tape and plastic bin bags In 2020, Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter activists defaced the statue with claims Churchill was a 'racist' Matt Vickers, deputy chair of the Conservative Party, said the vandals need to be 'held to account' over the incident 'When we were in office we brought forward legislation to help tackle this. 'This is an attack on democracy, this is an attack on this country, its culture and its history.' Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice described the incident as 'appalling desecration', linking it to the Green Party's by-election win in Gorton and Denton on Friday. Addressing Green leader Zack Polanski, he said: 'Do you condemn this criminality by your pro Gaza mob?' Al Carns, Labour's Armed Forces minister, also hit out at the incident, saying Churchill was a 'great man' who provided freedom to Britain. 'The very reason that you have the right to protest is because this great man stood up against tyranny and Nazism,' he said. 'His leadership provided you the freedom and the security to object and to stand up for what you believe in. 'To disgrace his legacy is a prime example of utter stupidity and a lack of understanding as to what this great nation is all about.' The Met Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage The slogans 'Stop the genocide' and 'Globalise the intifada' were spray-painted on the statue - along with a red triangle, which is allegedly a Hamas symbol One critic said that 'an attack on this statue is an attack on the heart of Britain' Labour MP David Taylor added: 'Churchill led our fight against the Nazis and their vile antisemitism, but the irony seems to be lost on these sick people. 'The fact that they used the red triangle of Hamas signals that they are not just idiots but they are morally repugnant. 'I am led to believe the perpetrator is a Dutch national and if he is visiting here as a tourist he should be deported and never allowed back into the country.' The Campaign Against Antisemitism has claimed the red triangle graffitied on the statue is a Hamas symbol used to denote 'targets for violence' by activists. A spokesperson for the group said: 'The red triangle is a symbol used by Hamas over the past several years to delineate targets for violence and by activists worldwide to show solidarity with the terrorist group and support for its methods and objectives. 'This vandalism underscores how vile and unpatriotic these extremists are. They don't just hate Jews: they hate Britain.' A Met Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Shortly after 04:00hrs on Friday, 27 February a man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. 'The first officers were on the scene within two minutes. The man who is 38 was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. 'He remains in custody.' The slogan 'Free Palestine' was graffitied on the monument The area was cordoned off on Friday morning to clean the statue The bronze monument has stood outside the Houses of Parliament since 1973. It has been vandalised several times in the past, including during protests. The 12ft-tall statue was scrawled with graffiti accusing Sir Winston of being a 'racist' in June 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US. Later that year, in October, an Extinction Rebellion activist was ordered to pay more than 1,500 after defacing the statue by painting 'racist' on its plinth during a climate protest. The monument is one of 12 statues on or around Parliament Square, most of well-known statesmen such as Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. The Government last year announced new laws making it a criminal offence for protesters to climb on the statue of Britain's war-time leader. And in December both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced anyone chanting the controversial slogan 'Globalise the intifada' would face arrest. The decision by the two police forces came in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, and the terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2. Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, said: 'Years of growing sectarianism within British society and politics goes hand in hand with the chilling normalisation of extremist slogans and imagery. 'The hateful expressions of support for violent terrorism which have so disgracefully been graffitied on Churchills statue are not only an insult to the values this country holds dear but his legacy of defeating the fascistic hate that these so-called "activists" now espouse themselves. 'It is vital that police forces do not turn a blind eye to the deliberate terrorist signal conveyed by images like the red triangle in this context.' Churchill biographer Lord Andrew Roberts told the Daily Mail: 'This was a very dark act of antisemitism, not just vandalism. 'Churchill was indeed a proud Zionist who supported the creation of Israel, a tiny slip of land where Jews could be safe after thousands of years of murderous persecution.' According to author Michael Makovsky, Zionism was 'central to the core of his [Churchill's] being'. The former prime minister reportedly 'became enamored of the romantic notion of Jewish restoration to their ancient homeland', saying in 1908: 'I am in full sympathy with the historical traditional aspirations of the Jews... 'The restoration to them of a centre of true racial and political integrity would be a tremendous event in the history of the world.' And in 1921 Churchill was charged with implementing the Balfour Declaration - a letter supporting the 'the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people' - as colonial secretary. Only a few months later he said: 'Wherever the footprints of the Jew in Palestine are found you have prosperity, progress and scientific methods of cultivation, and where there was a wilderness you now find vineyards.' Kim Jong Un and his heir-apparent daughter were pictured in matching outfits as they chatted and sang along with performers at a military parade. The North Korean leader and Ju Ae both wore black leather jackets at an event marking the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in Kim Il-sung Square, Pyongyang. Ju Ae, believed to be between 12 and 14, stood beside her father as he waved to crowds, in the latest sign of her rising public profile. Earlier this month, South Korean intelligence officials said her increasingly prominent appearances suggest she has effectively been anointed as his likely successor. During the congress, Kim said North Korea could 'get along' with Washington if it recognised Pyongyang's nuclear status, state media reported. But he ruled out reconciliation with 'deceptive' neighbour South Korea and warned his nuclear-armed state could 'completely destroy' the South if its security were threatened. Washington and Seoul have mounted a renewed push for high-level talks, eyeing a potential summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump later this year. Kim, who has largely ignored such overtures for months, used the rare party gathering to stake out his position while outlining policy goals for the next five years. dIn recent years he has sharpened his rhetoric toward Seoul and rejected inter-Korean diplomacy. Kim Jong Un and his heir-apparent daughter were pictured in matching outfits as they sang along with performers at a military parade The North Korean leader and Ju Ae both wore black leather jackets at an event marking the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in Kim Il-sung Square, Pyongyang North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (4-R) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (3-R) watching a flight display during a military parade to celebrate the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang Experts say the language is unlikely to signal imminent conflict but reflects a broader effort to assert a more forceful regional role backed by his nuclear arsenal and ties with Moscow and Beijing. The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim also called for developing new weapons systems to bolster his nuclear-armed military, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that could be launched from underwater and an expanded arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, such as artillery and short-range missiles, targeting South Korea. The Workers' Party congress, which ended its seven-day run on Wednesday in Pyongyang, is North Korea's most significant political event and a carefully choreographed spectacle glorifying Kim's leadership before thousands of delegates. Kim capped the meetings with a nighttime military parade in the capital, sharing center stage with his increasingly prominent daughter Kim Ju Ae. Wearing matching leather coats, the two chatted constantly, pointing at parade formations and singing along with performers. The girl watched as her father and senior military officials saluted fighter jets flying over the brightly illuminated Kim Il Sung Square, named after Kim Jong Un's state-founding grandfather. State media reports and visuals indicated that the parade omitted Kim's largest weapons, including ICBMs potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, fueling speculation that he was seeking to avoid antagonizing Washington ahead of possible dialogue. At the congress, Kim said the accelerated development of his nuclear and missile program in recent years 'permanently cemented' the country's status as a nuclear weapons state, and called for the United States to discard what he perceives as 'hostile' policies toward the North if it wants to resume long-stalled dialogue. South Korea's Unification Ministry said it was regrettable that the North continues to define inter-Korean relations as hostile and that Seoul will 'patiently' pursue efforts to stabilize peace. Kim has issued increasingly hard-line views toward South Korea since 2024, when he discarded the North's long-standing goal of a peaceful reunification between the war-divided Koreas and declared the South as a permanent enemy. Analysts expected Kim to 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. Kim has recently been prioritizing Russia in his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for aid and military technology. But it would make sense to keep his options open as the war in Ukraine could wind down, potentially making North Korea less valuable to Moscow, experts say. Kim told the congress his government was maintaining the 'toughest stance' against Washington, but added there was 'no reason we cannot get along' with the Americans if they withdrew their supposedly 'hostile policy' toward the North. North Korea often uses the term to describe U.S.-led pressure and sanctions over Kim's nuclear ambitions. Kim's government in recent months has repeatedly called for Washington to abandon its demands for the North's denuclearization as a precondition for reviving talks. The prospects of U.S.-North Korea relations 'depends entirely on the U.S. attitude,' Kim said. 'Whether it's peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make.' North Korea has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul's calls to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its nuclear program, which derailed in 2019 following the collapse of Kim's second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term. Analysts say Kim's vilification of South Korea reflects his view that Seoul, which helped set up his first meetings with Trump, is no longer a useful intermediary with Washington but an obstacle to his effort to establish a more assertive regional footing. He has also shown a sensitivity to South Korean soft power, pushing aggressive domestic campaigns to block the influence of South Korean culture and language among his population as he looks to tighten his family's authoritarian grip. At the congress, Kim derided liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's calls for engagement as a deception, accusing successive governments in Seoul of seeking Pyongyang's collapse. He said there is 'absolutely nothing to discuss' with an enemy state and that North Korea would 'permanently exclude' the South from the notion of a shared nation. 'As long as the Republic of Korea cannot escape its geopolitical condition of sharing a border with us, the only way it can live safely is to abandon all ties with us and refrain from provoking us,' he said, disdainfully referring to South Korea's formal name. North Korea in recent years has developed or tested many of the weapons Kim called for at the previous congress in 2021, including solid-fuel ICBMs, tactical nuclear systems and purported hypersonic weapons. The country launched its first military satellite in 2023 and has recently claimed progress in building a nuclear-propelled submarine. At this month's congress, Kim set new goals to advance his nuclear forces in the next five years while calling for faster production of nuclear warheads and a broader range of delivery systems. He called for ICBMs that could be fired from underwater platforms, indicating potential plans to fit those weapons on the nuclear-propelled submarine being built. He called for developing artificial intelligence-equipped attack drones, stronger electronic warfare capabilities to disable enemy command centers, more advanced reconnaissance satellites and unspecified weapons to strike enemy satellites. He also said the military will increase the deployment of nuclear-capable artillery systems against South Korea each year while speeding up efforts to 'fortify' the border. Murdered James Bulger's mother is heartbroken after his grave was desecrated by vandals. Denise Fergus said cherubs either side of the two-year old's headstone had their heads smashed off following the sickening attack on her son's final resting place. James was lured away from his mother at a shopping centre in Liverpool by two 10-year-old boys - Jon Venables and and his accomplice Robert Thompson - who tortured and killed him in February 1993. Sharing a photograph showing the damage on social media, devastated Denise wrote: 'Today I felt my heart break once again. We got a message from a lady walking her dog at the cemetery where James's resting place is. 'She sadly told us his headstone and surround had been vandalised. We rushed down there to find the cherubs each side of his headstone had been smashed to pieces. 'I need to find whoever done this to my son's resting place. I try to help as many families as I can with either justice campaigns or helping families through the charity I set up in his memory and some horrid b*****d has done this... to a baby's grave! Really??' The vandal struck some time between late morning and mid-afternoon yesterday at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool. Writing on Facebook, Denise added: 'If anyone has any information please send it via the charity page James Bulger Memorial Trust or contact Merseyside Police and let them know if you have seen or heard something. James Bulger's grave (pictured) in Liverpool was desecrated by vandals some time between late morning and mid-afternoon on Thursday James's mother Denise Fergus (pictured) said cherubs on either side of his headstone had their heads smashed off following the attack James (pictured) was lured away from his mother at a shopping centre in Liverpool by Jon Venables and and his accomplice Robert Thompson - who tortured and killed him in February 1993 'We think this happened between 10am and 3.30pm today. 'Could you please share this post to make sure the person or persons involved are caught and prosecuted. 'I'm devastated someone could be so cruel and hurtful to My James.' James had been with his mother at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside when he was led away by Thompson and Venables, the moment captured in chilling CCTV footage. His mutilated body was found two days later on a railway line two and a half miles away in Walton, Liverpool. Thompson and Venables were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history. They were sentenced to indefinite detention at secure units and remained in custody until a Parole Board decision in June 2001 recommended their release on a life licence at the age of 18. Both were given new identities and moved to secret locations under a 'witness protection'-like programme. Venables was later jailed in 2010 for possessing child pornography images on his computer. He was released on parole in 2013 but recalled to prison in November 2017 for again possessing child pornography images on his computer. His 2023 appeals for parole were rejected. A former BBC boss has revealed most reporters there are opposed to Reform UK and that she overruled editorial policy to get more primetime airtime for Nigel Farage. Deborah Turness, who quit as BBC News CEO last November after a Panorama scandal over a Donald Trump speech edit, has opened up about attitudes at the corporation. She told a US conference that most BBC journalists were not aligned with what she called Mr Farage's 'extreme conservative movement'. Ms Turness also described pushing for him to be granted more opportunities to appear on air, including on the weekly political flagship show Question Time in the lead up to the 2024 general election. She resigned along with BBC director-general Tim Davie last November amid a row over the doctoring of a President Trump speech for a Panorama episode. The decisions came after an internal dossier also exposed a string of incidents demonstrating serious apparent bias in the corporation's reporting. The concerns regarded clips spliced together from sections of Mr Trump's speech on January 6 2021, to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to 'fight like hell'. The documentary called Trump: A Second Chance? was broadcast by the BBC the week before the 2024 US election. Deborah Turness, who quit as the BBC's News CEO last November after a Panorama controversy over a Donald Trump speech edit, says most reporters would not vote for Reform She told a US media conference of over-riding editorial policy to ensure more airtime for Reform leader Nigel Farage, seen here appearing on the BBC's Question Time in May 2024 Ms Turness has now addressed concerns about BBC impartiality, while appearing as a guest at a media conference in the US. She told attendees: 'Do I think that the BBC newsrooms would, in percentage terms, vote the same way as the nation right now in the UK in terms of the Reform party, which is quite an extreme conservative movement, very anti-immigration, really gathering steam? No, I don't.' Ms Turness, who became BBC News CEO in 2022 having previously been ITV News editor and NBC News president, added: 'What that means is you have to work even harder to maintain that impartiality.' She was talking at a conference called Restoring Trust In Media, organised by US news outlet Semafor and held in Washington DC. She described making personal efforts to get more airtime for Mr Farage and his party which has been leading in recent opinion polls though finished second to the Green Party in Thursday's Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester. Ms Turness said: 'I personally overruled internal editorial policy to give Nigel Farage primetime exposure in the last election. 'I felt he ought to be on Question Time, which is the big debate platform, and to get a big Panorama interview. 'Because even though the math didn't say that he earned it in terms of the way things have always been done, I said, "Look at the polling. We will be out of step with the British public". Tim Davie (pictured in November 2025) resigned over the Panorama controversy involving a misleading Donald Trump edit 'The BBC is paid for by all of the people. Its an obligatory licence fee. You do sometimes have to intervene to slightly course-correct.' Mr Farage has been a panellist on BBC1's Question Time 38 times since 2000, putting him sixth on the all-time list - behind Kenneth Clarke, Shirley Williams, Sir Menzies Campbell, Harriet Harman and Charles Kennedy. BBC director of nations Rhodri Talfan Davies, 54, was last month confirmed in the role of interim dirctor-general leading the beleaguered corporation. Mr Davies, whose role also sees him sit on the BBC's executive committee, was to join the BBC board from February 1 as an executive director. He is due to hold that position until taking over as interim director-general on April 3. It was revealed last month that the BBC would fight to have Mr Trump's $10billion lawsuit over the Panorama programme thrown out. The US president filed the lawsuit in a Florida court, accusing the BBC of defamation and violating trade practices, and seeking $5billion on each count. In the clip at the centre of the row, Mr Trump appeared to encourage 2021's Capitol riots by saying: 'We're going to walk down to the Capitol and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.' But in reality, that message was formed from two clips around 54 minutes apart that had been spliced together and aired a week before the 2024 presidential election. The BBC previously apologised to Mr Trump and withdrew the report, but refused to pay any compensation - prompting the lawsuit. In a statement by Mr Davie to staff following his resignation from the role he took on in 2020, he said: 'Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. 'While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision. 'Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility.' Mr Trump described Mr Davie as 'very dishonest' and praised his departure. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US President wrote: 'The top people in the BBC, including Tim Davie, the Boss, are all quitting/fired, because they were caught 'doctoring' my very good (perfect!) speech of January 6th. 'These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!' He also shared a Daily Mail column from Boris Johnson, where the former Prime Minister vowed to withhold his licence fee over the impartiality issue. The White House had previously accused the BBC of '100 per cent fake news'. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'This purposefully dishonestly, selectively edited clip by the BBC is further evidence that they are total, 100 per cent fake news that should no longer be worth the time on the television screens of the great people of the United Kingdom. Ms Leavitt posted a two-word response to Mr Davie's resignation alongside two screenshots of news articles, one stating 'Trump goes to war with 'fake news' BBC', the other announcing his resignation. She wrote 'shot' above the first article, adding 'chaser' above the second indicating the White House's pleasure in how 'the war' they started panned out. Ms Turness said at the time thatr the 'buck stops with me' and admitted the controversy had 'caused damage' to the BBC, but she denied claims that the BBC was institutionally biased. 'The ongoing controversy around the Panorama on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC an institution that I love,' she said. 'The buck stops with me. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.' Mr Trump was said to be 'absolutely enraged' by the Panorama scandal, telling his friend Nigel Farage: 'I thought this was a state broadcaster'. Mr Farage said of the President: 'To say that he was angry would be an understatement. 'It's just the latest of a long list of political biases that we see running throughout the BBC. 'I've watched it for decades, whether it was their coverage of the European Union, their coverage of immigration, their coverage of climate change, their swallowing - hook, line and sinker - Hamas propaganda coming out of Gaza, and the woke agenda runs through not just news, but every cultural programme as well. 'And so you have to conclude that the BBC has been not just run, but staffed by the wrong people for way, way too long'. The Daily Mail has approached the BBC today for comment. A 500-year-old oak tree that was cut down by a Toby Carvery had nothing wrong with it, a report has found. The popular chain restaurant prompted a furious backlash in April 2025 after it felled the ancient oak in Enfield, north London. At the time Mitchell and Butlers, who own Toby Carvery, initially claimed contractors chopped down the tree after acting on the advice of experts who assessed it as dying and a risk to the public. But Enfield Council, which leases the land to Mitchells & Butlers, later said it found the oak was healthy and posed no risk during a Deember 2024 inspection. Now a Forestry Commission report has confirmed that the tree showed no signs of major tree diseases and noted the trunk was largely intact, aside from cavity which showed evidence of wildlife living there. Backlash against the incident has continued, with the local council starting eviction proceedings against the restaurant's owners for 'serious breaches of their lease'. The tree had grown on the edge of Whitewebbs Park for over 500 years and had stood the test of time through the gunpowder plot, the industrial revolution and two world wars. The ancient oak tree in Enfield, north London, which had stood in the area for 500 years before it was chopped down in April last year The oak tree after it was felled. A report released by the Forestry Commission has confirmed that the tree no signs of major tree diseases and noted the trunk was largely intact, aside from cavity which showed evidence of wildlife living there Dr Ed Pyne, senior conservation adviser at the Woodland Trust, said while the tree was 'very much alive' it has a 'less than one per cent' chance of surviving. Russell Miller, a campaigner for Guardians of Whitewebbs - a local community campaign group in Enfield formed to protect Whitewebbs Park - went as far to claim the oak tree was 'worth 1,000 Sycamore Gaps'. The Sycamore Gap was a famous 120-year-old tree in Northumberland that was illegally felled in 2023. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Miller said: 'If you were to compare ecologically Sycamore Gap with this tree, this tree is worth 1,000 Sycamore Gaps, more than that. 'The Sycamore Gap was a relatively young tree, which isn't in any way to undermine the significance of the loss to the people who valued that tree. 'All I'm trying to do is help people understand is the scale of this destruction.' And Mr Miller previously estimated the oak tree was worth 1million. Mr Miller and the campaign group have called on the Metropolitan Police to launch a criminal investigation into the felling. The entrance to Toby Carvery in Enfield. At the time Mitchell and Butlers, who own Toby Carvery, initially claimed contractors chopped down the tree after acting on the advice of experts who assessed it as dying and a risk to the public Enfield Council said it had reported a case of criminal damage to the Met Police at the time of the felling, however it is understood the force has deemed it a civil matter. Councillor Tim Leaver, Deputy Leader of Enfield Council previously said the felling of the 'irreplaceable' tree was a 'reckless act' which 'shocked and angered our entire community'. He added: 'The destruction of the ancient Whitewebbs Oak was a reckless act which caused huge damage to the tree and cut its expected lifespan. It shocked and angered our entire community. 'This centuries-old tree, sometimes known as the Guy Fawkes Oak, was an irreplaceable part of Enfield's natural heritage and was felled without the Council's knowledge or consent, in clear breach of the lease governing the site. 'Enfield Council has served a formal Section 146 notice on Mitchells & Butlers, the company responsible for the Toby Carvery at Whitewebbs Park. They have failed to engage meaningfully with the Council or to make reparations. We have therefore started forfeiture proceedings for serious breaches of their lease. 'We ask that Mitchells & Butlers issues a public apology and provide financial reparations for the irreversible damage they have caused as well as compensate the Council for the significant costs incurred. 'The people of Enfield deserve accountability. This case is about upholding our duty to protect our environment and our shared heritage. 'We will do everything within our power to ensure justice for the Whitewebbs Oak and seek to make it clear that such reckless disregard for our borough will never be tolerated.' The Forestry Commision panel reviewing the case concluded that issuing an advisory letter to Mitchells & Butlers was the most suitable response as it said no offence had been committed under the Forestry Act. A spokesperson for Toby Carvery, said: 'We are unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.' The Daily Mail have approached the Metropolitan Police for a comment. The ex wife of the ASOS founder who mysteriously plunged to his death in Thailand has launched a custody battle for their two children. Quentin Griffiths, 58, who was born in London and co-founded the online retail giant, is said to have fallen from the 17th floor of his condominium in Pattaya, a seaside city south of Bangkok, on February 9. Emergency services found the millionaire's body on the ground below his balcony and his death is being treated as a suicide by police. Griffiths was on his own, with his room locked from the inside, and there was no evidence of a break-in at the time of his death, police said. A post-mortem examination did not reveal any evidence of foul play. Now, his ex-wife Ploy Kringsinthanakun, 43, is fighting to regain custody of their two children, aged 12 and 11, after they were handed over to their paternal relatives following Griffiths death. Her lawyers have said that Kringsinthanakun and Griffiths shared court-ordered joint custody of the children, and that this is in direct contravention of the order. 'Our client is profoundly concerned about the safety, emotional well-being, and stability of her children during this extremely difficult time,' they said. Ploy Kringsinthanakun is fighting to regain custody of her two children after they were handed to their parental relatives following the death of their father Quentin Griffiths and ex-wife Ploy Kringsinthanakun shared two children together 'She is the childrens legal custodial parent and is seeking their immediate and safe return in accordance with the standing court order.' In a statement released by her counsel, Kringsinthanakun said: 'My children have already suffered the devastating loss of their father. At a time when they most need the comfort, love, and stability of their mother, I have been prevented from being with them. 'I am pleading with those who currently have my children please do the right thing and return them to me immediately so we can begin to heal as a family.' Griffith's death came amid an alleged ongoing dispute with his ex-wife, who accused him of fraudulently selling land and shares worth 500,000 belonging to a company they operated together. Last January, Griffiths was reportedly arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and questioned by detectives after Kringsinthanakun alleged he had forged documents to sell the land and shares in the business without her knowledge. Griffiths denied the allegations and was released after questioning. The investigation was continuing at the time of his death, according to reports. But Kringsinthanakun has said she played no role in his death, which occurred just days before their next scheduled court appearance. Kringsinthanakun said she and her ex-husband had not been in contact for four years and eight months after she discovered he had been unfaithful. She said she found out about his death from his lawyer, and in a state of shock, checked local Pattaya news but found nothing. Speaking about the death, a source close to the family said: 'It's a real mystery. The phrase 'suspicious circumstances' has been used but we just don't know yet.' Griffiths girlfriend at the time of the tragedy, Jom Thipanongsri, said she was shocked at his death. Speaking to The Sun, the 26-year-old said: 'I just can't believe he would do something like that. 'No one close to him ever thought he would take his own life, because no one saw any warning signs at all. 'And personally I never saw him taking antidepressants or any other medication.' She said she is heartbroken, in complete shock and has cried every day since his death. Griffiths (pictured) helped launch Asos in 2000 and remained there until 2005 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. The father-of-three moved to Thailand around 2007. 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.' OpenAI is offering mega salaries in a bid to attract new recruits to its London research hub. The ChatGPT developer has unveiled plans to make the capital its largest research hub outside of the US amid a trillion-dollar AI arms race between major tech firms. The firm, whose European headquarters are in Dublin, has vowed to significantly expand the size of its London site, where 30 researchers currently work. OpenAI said it wanted to grow the centre due to the city's 'strong culture of cross-disciplinary collaboration' as well as its 'unique concentration of world-class talent' in machine learning and the sciences. Mark Chen, the company's chief research officer, said the tech firm would be offering salaries that were 'very competitive' in line with pay packets of rivals such as Google and DeepMind. 'AI talent is very valuable, and we need to be competitive everywhere,' he told The Times, while describing the developer as a 'bottom-up lab' which offers employees 'company-level bets' in comparison to Google, which is 'slightly more top-down'. Work in the AI space is extremely lucrative, with the average OpenAI employee earning $1.5million (1.1million) in stock-based compensation. OpenAI can offer its employees equity as a private company, which in turn could increase in value if the firm were to do well and go public. Many staff have become very wealthy as they have been able to sell their shares in the firm in the private market. It comes amid a hiring battle in the US as engineers are being offered life-changing wages, with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg allegedly offering researchers as much as $1 billion to be a part of Meta's AI unit. An AI research scientist, at a mid-tier level, at Google DeepMind can earn a salary of up to 115,000 with a 330,000 package as well as 185,000 in equity and 28,000 in bonuses, according to AI Paygrades. Meanwhile, Google, Amazon and AI are funnelling billions into their AI tech in a bid to bag the title of world's most advanced AI. OpenAI has shared plans to make London its largest research hub outside of the US (Pictured: Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO on February 29, 2026) Open AI said it wanted to grow the centre due to the city's 'strong culture of cross discplinary collaboartion' as well as its 'unique concentration of world-class talent' (stock image) And despite the billions needed to spend on data centres as well as the drain on natural resources, last year's earnings reports indicated tech firms were ploughing on. In 2025 alone, Google planned to spend $85billion (63billion) on constructing its AI infrastructure, $10billion (7.4billion) more than initially expected, according to The Guardian, with the figure only anticipated to rise this year. Amazon set out to spend the 'vast majority' of its $100billion (74billion) budget on developing its AI capabilities that same year - a $20billion (14.8billion) increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg also said his firm was planning to spend 'hundreds of billions' on building huge data centres in his native US, which he hoped would be operating this year. That year, Meta executives planned to spend $65billion (48.2billion), but this was later predicted to be between $64billion (47.5billion) and $72billion (53.4billion). Meanwhile, OpenAI's Mark Chen, boiled down what he feels is a 'step change' in AI to the success of AI agents, software programs which can operate independently. 'It really does feel like we've reached a level where, you know, we can rely on them and use them in the real world workforce,' he said, 'I think we've really gone from a researcher coming up with an idea, implementing and executing it, to one where it's more of a handoff.' And while he confessed AI has received a 'more negative' perception in recent times, he believes it will soon be used in other industries to do 'analyst-style work'. He maintained that while there is a fear of the 'undefined' when it comes to AI software, it has its 'positive uses'. A 55-year-old suspect has been charged after a man with an axe walked into a mosque in Manchester during Ramadan. Darren Connor is accused of possessing an offensive weapon and class B drugs after reports of a man armed with an axe entering Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers on Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police said. The force said a white British man was charged and is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court. A second man, in his 20s, who was arrested in connection with the incident, will face no further action, the force added. Greater Manchester Police previously said there was no intelligence to suggest the incident posed a wider threat to the community and officers were not looking for any more suspects. Counter-terror officers were involved in investigating the incident, after security staff at the mosque spotted a man holding a suspicious bag during a congregation and challenged him. Hundreds of worshippers were in the building at the time, it was reported. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in response to the incident: 'I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night. A suspect has been charged after a man 'armed with an axe' walked into Manchester Central Mosque (pictured) on Tuesday 'I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection. 'My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response.' Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: 'We continue to take this incident seriously. 'We know this has been a concerning time for many of our communities, and we remain committed to acting on any concerns reported to us. You can do this by contacting us on 101 or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website. 'Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.' Patrols in the area have been stepped up in response to the incident, police said. The mosque's chair Hammad Khan said: 'We were all praying inside and some of the volunteers and security were outside the mosque. Hammad Khan, chairman of the mosque, said worshippers had been 'very, very fortunate' 'The volunteers spotted a white male coming in with a high-vis jacket and a big bag that seemed like something was sticking out of it, which we later found was a big axe. 'We are very, very fortunate the volunteers spotted the bag and the handle, not knowing it contained an axe.' Coronation Street and Mrs Brown's Boys star Frank Grimes has left 125,000 to his beloved wife after he died at 78 years of age. The much-loved actor, who was also a Tony Award nominee, passed away on August 1, last year, surrounded by his family following a short illness. His death was announced by the Irish Cultural Centre in London, which described him as 'one of Ireland's greatest actors' in a heartfelt statement. Born in Cabra in 1947, the youngest of seven children, he found early fame in the play Borstal Boy in Dublin, before it transferred to London and Paris. The show was such a success it headed to Broadway, where Grimes received a Tony nomination and the Most Promising Actor Award by the New York critics. Later in his career, he played Kym Marsh's onscreen father, Barry Connor, for seven years on ITV's famed cobbled streets before leaving in 2015. The grandfather-of-seven and television favourite also featured in Casualty, The Bill, Doctors and even took to the stage playing a role in Shakespeare's Hamlet. His estate, which had a gross value of 387,326, was left to his second wife Ginnette, with the inheritance amounting to 127,521 after deductions. Coronation Street and Mrs Brown's Boys star Frank Grimes left 125,000 to his wife Ginette (pictured as Barry Connor in Coronation Street 2008) The beloved actor and Tony Award nominee passed away on August 1, last year, surrounded by his family (Pictured with onscreen daughter Kym Marsh on Corrie) The actor married his first wife actress Michele Lohan, with whom he shared two sons David and Andrew, in 1968. David sadly died in 2011. Following their divorce, he went on to wed Ginnette Clarke in 1984, with whom he later had a daughter, Tilly. Both of his children, Andrew and Tilly, were named as executors. The grant of probate reads: 'Francis Patrick Grimes, of Barnes, died on 1 August, 2025. 'The last will and testament was proved and registered before the High Court of Justice. 'The application has stated that the gross value of the estate amounts to 387,326, and the net value amounts to 127,521.' His will, written in 2016, states: 'I direct that all my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses be paid as soon as is convenient after my death. 'I leave my estate to my wife Ginnette Grimes.' At the time of his death, a spokesperson for The Irish Cultural Centre said he was 'so warm hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes. 'It's with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the ICC has to regretfully inform you that the great Irish actor FRANK GRIMES suddenly sadly passed away in the early hours of Friday morning, August 1st, after a very short illness, surrounded by his wife and family'. 'Frank was undoubtedly one of Ireland's greatest actors, he was a dearly loved friend of the ICC's and over the past three decades, he trod the ICC's stage on so many occasions. Anyone who saw Frank perform his riveting self-penned production "the he and the she of itA Portrait of James Joyce", will know what a thrilling, powerful, unforgettable performance it was!!' 'Frank performed this superb tribute to his hero James Joyce, on whom he was an expert, three times at the ICC, and each time, every night, he received standing ovations! Frank was a spell-binding actor who had the most beautiful, mesmerising voice and he often appeared on the radio show Bright Side Of The Road''. They continued: 'Frank Grimes was born in Dublin, he trained at the Abbey Theatre and was a member of the Abbey Players. He scored an early success as Brendan Behan in Borstal Boy at the Abbey in Dublin, Paris and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor and was voted Most Promising Actor by the New York critics. 'Frank worked extensively in the theatre in London; at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court and in Londons West End. His many Film and TV credits included A Bridge Too Far, Tulips of Harlem, The Outsider;' 'He played Father OConner in Strumpet City, for which he won the Jacobs Award, Kavanagh QC, Blind Justice, for which he was awarded the Silver Nymph for best actor; He appeared in Mrs Browns Boys and played Barry in Coronation Street.' They went on: 'He wrote several plays, including The Fishing Trip and Wake n See, which had a play reading at the ICC. He premiered his hit one-man show on James Joyce, the he and the she of it here at the ICC, after which it was produced in Dublin, London and Paris. 'Frank was so warm-hearted, full of Dublin wit and charm in abundance, and he had a beautiful sparkle in his eyes. We know that Ireland has lost one of its truly great actors, the vintage of which is so rare and may never ever be matched again. Pictured Framl Grimes in The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991. He also starred in Coronation Street, Mrs Borwn's Boys as well as countless other shows Before adding: 'We are so sad to have to say goodbye to Frank, but we are also so blessed to have known him, to have worked with him and seen him perform. We send our sincere condolences to his wife Ginnette,' 'His daughter Tilly, his son Andrew, his 7 grandchildren and to all his extended family. We also send our condolences to all of Frank's friends and loved ones - May Frank sleep easy now and Rest In Peace' At the time of his death, a spokesperson for The Irish Cultural Centre said: 'Frank was undoubtedly one of Ireland's greatest actors. 'He was a dearly loved friend of the ICC's and over the past three decades, he trod the ICC's stage on so many occasions. ' They accompanied the statement with a clip of Frank reciting a string poems which he filmed during the Covid lockdown. Meanwhile, the Abbey Theatre Dublin, where he rose to fame in Borstal Boy said they were 'saddened to learn of [Frank's] passing' 'A versatile actor and former Abbey Company player, Frank performed in various productions on both the Abbey and Peaock stages from 1965 to 1972, including plays by Sean OCasey, Lady Gregory, Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Kilroy, J.M. Synge, Willliam Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw and Tom MacIntyre.' A prolific gang of violent robbers who stole almost 150,000 worth of goods in a four-month rampage of attacks on luxury stores is facing jail. The men rammed a luxury clothes store with a car, smashed into a jewellers with a sledgehammer and broke into a fine art shop during seven raids across London last year. One member of the crew, Lee McCready, 46, took part in one of the robberies while on license for a murder committed in 2005. The dock at Kingston Crown Court was packed as McCready was joined by Christopher Gibbs, 43, Matthew Windrass, 50, George OHare, 42, Anthony Munday, 40, Paul Hughes, 42, and 37-year-old David Rigelsford all previously convicted of burglary charges. Detectives from Scotland Yard's flying squad linked the gang members after analysing hours of CCTV, establishing that the same cars were used by different members of the crew in various robberies. The spree began on May 8, when Gibbs, OHare and a third man rammed a blue Ford Fiesta into the entrance of luxury clothing store Fendi in Kensington. The trio of thugs made off in a Mercedes getaway car with 8,350 of designer goods. During the early hours of June 30, Hughes and Gibbs broke into the Unico cafe in St Johns Wood, northwest London, and snatched 1,107 in cash as well as the stores safe. McCready and Windrass used a sledgehammer to smash into a jewellers on Edgware Road in west London during a nine-minute daylight raid at 4.15pm. The men stole more than 60,000 worth of watches and jewellery in the shocking raid The following day, McCready and Windrass used a sledgehammer to smash into a jewellers on Edgware Road in west London during a nine-minute daylight raid at 4.15pm. CCTV footage showed the shocking moment the balaclava-clad robbers bludgeoned the reinforced glass of the store before reaching inside to snatch valuables they then stuffed into black bags. Munday, of Hyde Park, was the getaway driver and the trio fled in a silver Jaguar with a haul of at least 59,930. McCready was freed on a lifetime licence in 2017 after being jailed for life for being part of a gang who stamped, kicked and stabbed Ricky Fisher to death 21 years ago. At 3.20am on July 13 Rigelsford and another suspect parked a white SUV outside a store in Kensington, kicked their way inside and took 11,000 worth of goods. Eight days later, Rigelsford and Gibbs used a sledgehammer to smash into a watch store in Westminster at 3.30am, destroying cabinets inside before leaving empty-handed. Bungling Gibbs gave away his identity by using a Lime bike to travel to the shop booked via his bank account. Christopher Gibbs, of Bayswater, was convicted of four counts of burglary on Sloane Street, St John's Wood High Street, Duke Street and Marylebone High Street and one of attempted burglary on Marylebone High Street George OHare, of Wormholt, was convicted of one count of burglary on Sloane Street, possession of Class A drugs and breach of a serious crime prevention order. Rigelsford, of Kilburn, was convicted of three counts of burglary on Kensington Church Street, Duke Street and Mayfair, two thefts of a motor vehicle and one theft from a motor vehicle. The following Sunday, the gang stole 66,500 worth of goods from Clarendon Fine Art in Marylebone, central London, at 3.04am. Gibbs and another man used a paving block taken from a white Peugeot to smash through the front door, before snatching the artwork and fleeing towards Oxford Street. On August 5, Gibbs targeted beauty supply store NK Apothecary in Marylebone, launching a brick at the window but failing to break inside. Rigelsford also burgled the May Fair Hotel on March 31, stealing 12,000 worth of bags and valuables from a couple who had left their room. On May 22 he stole a convertible Mini Cooper which was then used as a getaway vehicle in a burglary at the luxury Phillips Auction House in Mayfair, when 610,500 worth of items were taken. Paul Hughes, of Church Street, was convicted of two counts of burglary on Sloane Street and St John's Wood High Street. Matthew Windrass, of Ascot, Berkshire, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgeware Road. Anthony Munday, of Hyde Park, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgeware Road. Lee McCready, of Grand Junction Place, Uxbridge, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgware Road - committed while he was on license over a 2005 murder Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, from the Metropolitan Polices Flying Squad, said: We realise these attacks on luxury stores have had a significant impact on business owners and the communities around them. Our detectives worked quickly, establishing common patterns between the attacks to link them to one criminal network. Forensic analysis and fast-paced CCTV enquiries were then able to identify the suspects. This is a clear message to anyone who thinks they can carry out smash-and-grab raids in London - we will identify you, we will track you down and we will bring you to justice. Sentencing has been adjourned to March 17. The US embassy in Jerusalem announced on Friday it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel 'due to safety risks.' The announcement follows repeated threats from President Donald Trump to strike Iran, and with the United States conducting its biggest military build-up in the region in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of northern Israel on Friday as part of the build-up. 'On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of US government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks,' the embassy said on its website. 'Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,' it added. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee sent an email to embassy staff on Friday morning saying that those wishing to leave 'should do do TODAY', the New York Times reports. 'Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country,' he was quoted as writing. Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran last year, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with fresh military action if it does not cut a deal with the United States. Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran last year, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with fresh military action if it does not cut a deal with the United States The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on February 26, 2026 Iran said Friday that in order to reach a deal, the US will have to drop its 'excessive demands', tempering the optimism expressed after ongoing Oman-mediated talks seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war. It comes after diplomatic negotiations between American and Iranian officials collapsed on Thursday in Geneva amid disputes over the Islamic regime's nuclear program. The latest round of talks ended without a deal as both sides remained divided over key issues, including ending uranium enrichment, and dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities, according to The Wall Street Journal. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the American delegation as the President makes one last push for a diplomatic solution to avoid military conflict with Iran. Trump on February 19 gave Iran 15 days to reach a deal, and while Iran has insisted the discussions focus solely on its nuclear programme, the US wants Tehran's missile programme and its support for militant groups curtailed. Now, Washington has approved the deployment of an experimental U.S. military drone unit capable of self-detonation, known as Task Force Scorpion, according to Bloomberg. The deadly drone unit is a part of Trump's massive military build-up in the Middle East - the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Kamikaze drone unit was successful tested in the Arabian Gulf in December and reportedly cost approximately $35,000 per drone. The drones would likely be used to target Iranian nuclear facilities, road networks, and missile launch sites. 'We established the squadron last year to rapidly equip our warfighters with new combat drone capabilities that continue to evolve,' said US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins. The Kamikaze drone unit was successful tested in the Arabian Gulf in December and reportedly cost approximately $35,000 per drone The drones, which are produced in Arizona, are designed for one-way attacks, reconnaissance operations and maritime strikes. Trump's new aerial weapons have 'an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously.' The new advanced drones stand ready as Trump promises to strike Iran if diplomatic talks fail. The US has also sent advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Israel on standby for deployment. Meanwhile, Washington currently has more than a dozen warships in the Middle East: one aircraft carrier - the USS Abraham Lincoln - nine destroyers and three other combat ships. It is rare for there to be two US aircraft carriers, which carry dozens of warplanes and are crewed by thousands of sailors, in the region. Trump said in his State of the Union address that he wants to strike a deal with the Ayatollah guaranteeing Tehran will never develop a nuclear bomb, but warned he is prepared for war if diplomacy fails. 'We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: "We will never have a nuclear weapon."' 'My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,' Trump added as lawmakers applauded. 'But one thing is certain I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror to which they are by far to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen.' A Romeo prisoner who had a fling with a prison nurse and phone sex with a guard escaped custody with the help of a female getaway driver, a court heard. Gang member Harri Pullen, 27, had been in a relationship with jail nurse Elyse Hibbs, 27 and had phone sex with prison officer Ruth Shmylo, 26, over a four-year-period during his time in HMP Parc in Bridgend. He was caught dealing drugs on an e-bike just months later on April 2 of last year, just months after being freed from prison. After his arrest, he was taken to The Grange Hospital handcuffed, where he ran through the car park before driven away in a getaway car driven by Sian Bates. Pullen had called his mother during his hospital appointment and told guards he needed the toilet before making his bid to flee, a court was told. Getaway driver, Bates, 42, then pulled up in her Mercedes B150 towards the hospital before opening the passenger door so he could get in. After fleeing the scene in her car, fugitive Pullen was at large for nearly a week before he was traced to a remote farmhouse and taken into custody again. David Maunder, mitigating, said the 42-year-old was 'vulnerable' at the time due to her addiction to class A drugs. Bates of Bettws, Newport, admitted to assisting an offender and was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence. She was also ordered to carry out a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Harri Pullen, 27, of no fixed abode, had a fling with a prison nurse and phone sex with a guard before escaping custody Pullen had an 'inappropriate relationship' with prison nurse Elyse Hibbs, 27, while an inmate at HMP Parc Pullen also had phone sex with prison guard Ruth Shmylo, 26 - she was sacked from her role but was cleared of any criminality Judge Vanessa Francis told Bates assisting somebody to escape police custody 'is the most serious act because in doing so you are preventing justice being done'. Former prison nurse Elyse Hibbs, 27, was previously jailed for her inappropriate relationship with Pullen during his prison stint. Ruth Shmylo, 26, was sacked from her job as a prison officer over her alleged romance with Pullen after he called her for phone sex from his cell. However, she was later cleared of criminality during a trial. Pullen had been free for just a matter of months when he was injured while resisting officers who caught him dealing drugs on an e-bike, Newport Crown Court heard. The 27-year-old had been taken into custody after plain-clothed cops saw two men acting suspiciously riding an e-bike through Newport city centre. Alex Granville, prosecuting, told a previous hearing Pullen was found with five wraps of crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone and 90 inside a black bum bag. 'The defendant was conveyed to custody but after complaining of head pain he was transported by police for medical care,' he said. Mr Granville said that while at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Gwent, four women family members tried to visit Pullen but were told they were 'unable to stay.' Pullen was injured while resisting arrest, before escaping from police while still in handcuffs after making a run for it at The Grange Hospital 'Having been taken out to the van he asked to use the toilet so was taken back inside,' he added. 'Upon having used the toilet and exiting the building the defendant ran off from officers. 'They proceeded to run after the defendant. He ran through the car park and ambulance park, down the ramp and towards the exit of the hospital. 'After about 20 seconds of running the officers were about 20 meters behind the defendant who was still in handcuffs in a front position. 'At this point a vehicle appeared to reverse up the ramp from the exit of the hospital, the passenger door was opened and the defendant got in and it left at high speed.' When Pullen was eventually discovered at a farm he tried to flee again - this time driving off in a Mercedes but police followed the car to a cul-de-sac, the court was told. Pullen tried to escape on foot but was 'red-dotted' with a taser and 'eventually complied' when a police dog joined the hunt. Julia Cox, defending, said Pullen was 'immature' and suffered from 'hypochondria' believing that he has had a brain tumour for approximately four years. She added: 'This was not anything that was pre-planned. It was more opportunistic than that.' 'It was upon his family's attendance at the hospital he in his words 'lost his head'.' Pullen pleaded guilty to 11 charges including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody. Last year, he appeared via videolink from Cardiff Prison and played with his hair and speaking with prison officers throughout the hearing. Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Pullen, of no fixed abode, to a total of six years behind bars in May 2025. 'Police saw you on an electric bike with another in the centre of Newport on March 26,' Mr Williams told him. 'You were riding the bike and in possession of crack cocaine, some five wraps, as well as a quantity of cash and two phones, one of which was a burner phone. 'In custody you complained of head pain so you were taken to Grange Hospital where when you were walking to the police van having left hospital you made off. 'You got into what's best described as a getaway car and spent seven days at large. 'You were ultimately arrested on the 2nd April but not before you involved yourself in a police chase of sorts.' At the end of the hearing, the 27-year-old said: 'Thank you and I apologise.' During Shmylo's trial in December 2023 the court heard Pullen had been moved to HMP Manchester - also known as Strangeways. He had added the prison guard to his approved calls list, but their conversations were recorded by officials. The calls, played to the court, included Pullen repeatedly telling Shmylo, 'I love you.' She was sacked from her job after other complaints involving 'flirtatious' behaviour with inmates and wearing 'skin-tight trousers' to work. But the court heard she had previously made corruption reports of her own against other staff who were colluding with inmates to tamper with prisoners' food. Claire Wilks, defending, said Shmylo should have been treated as a whistleblower but was instead 'hung out to dry' by bosses at the controversial HMP Parc and called 'a grass' by her colleagues and assaulted. Ms Wilks said it was no surprise that, given her previous treatment at the jail, she wouldn't report phone calls with Pullen as she feared the consequences. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that after being arrested, Shmylo admitted she had phone sex with Pullen. Mr Cobbe said: 'She conceded during the course of her interview that she had had phone sex with the inmate. Pulled spent a week at large and was eventually discovered hiding in a countryside farmhouse outside Newport, south Wales Bodycam footage shows the moment Pullen sped past officers in the Mercedes after being tracked to a farmhouse, and was arrested once more after being threatened with a Taser and police dog 'She explained this was principally the inmate saying things to her, noting that 'I was listening for the best part of it'. 'That means she was actively engaging in phone sex with the inmate - or some of it.' Shmylo told the jury she cried when Pullen tried to initiate phone sex. Ms Wilks asked her: 'Did you have any sexual arousal from the phone calls?' Shmylo answered: 'No. The first time when I came to be aware Harri was masturbating I asked him to stop. I repeatedly asked him to stop and I cried. 'It made him really angry and his exact words were: 'You're making out like I'm kind of nonce. 'It was like I had insulted him because I was crying and I was repeatedly saying: 'I'm not doing this I'm not doing this.' Shmylo, of Treforest, Pontypridd was cleared of one charge of misconduct in a public office. Nurse Hibbs claimed she was 'pressurised' into flirting with Pullen - but a judge sent her to prison for six months. After being released Hibbs was taken to disciplinary hearing by the Nursing Midwifery Council to decide if she was fit to carry on her career. The hearing found that her 'fitness to practise' was impaired by her conviction, and she was handed a 12-month suspension order. Qualified health worker Hibbs met the prisoner while giving him medical treatment in prison, and he later contacted her on Instagram. Mr Cobbe said: 'The calls between them were flirtatious. They talk about the prison, staff within the prison, he tells her that he loves her and she tells him he doesn't know her to love her. 'He tells her that he loves her and she tells him that she loves him too. The calls included references to the defendant's existing partner and the inmate continuously suggested he would replace him and be in a relationship with her.' Cardiff Crown Court heard the two swapped messages on Instagram by contacting each other through an account held by the inmate's friend. Hibbs quit her post at HMP Parc in July 2021 and was arrested a week later. She later admitted exchanging messages with Pullen. She told police she was scared to end the contact after he had previously threatened her. Mr Cobbe said: 'She explained that she and the inmate were never in a sexual relationship of any kind at all. 'She accepted she should have reported the matter, but that she got in too deep and couldn't get out.' Hibbs, of Newbridge, Gwent, admitted misconduct in a public office. Adam Sharp, defending Hibbs, said the prisoner was known within the system to be a 'particularly manipulative individual'. He said: 'She was young, impressionable, inexperienced and vulnerable to the malign influence of the inmate who sought to exploit her.' Mr Sharp said Hibbs had 'dedicated a significant part of her adult life' to nursing but her conviction meant she would be banned from the profession. Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, told Hibbs: 'You knew what you were doing was wrong, you had training but nevertheless you went ahead and formed what was clearly an emotional relationship with this prisoner. 'Although you were young you held a position of responsibility as a nurse and as a member of prison staff. You failed to report initial contact despite advice from a colleague and training you had had. 'You engaged in flirtatious relationship initially, you failed to report the on-going contact and you failed to report that this inmate had upon him and in custody an unlawful device.' Dorset Council's decision to ban a popular lollipop lady from working at a crossing outside a school has been labelled 'ridiculous' by parents. Lauren Cannon has supervised the children crossing the road at Lytchett Matravers Primary School in Dorset for four years. But her presence outside the school has now been branded 'unsafe' by the council, who say a lollipop patrol is no longer required after a zebra crossing was installed on the 30mph road in 2025. This is despite Lytchett Matravers Parish Council offering to fund Ms Cannon's 7,000 annual salary to keep her position. They fear that without her, the road might be used as a 'dangerous rat-run'. County hall officials have turned down this suggestion, arguing Ms Cannon's presence may 'confuse' drivers. Parents of children attending Lytchett Matravers Primary School have called the decision 'disgusting' and 'shocking,' saying cars often ignore the speed limit and people waiting at the zebra crossing. Mother Charlotte Wingfield is among those contesting the ruling. Her seven-year-old daughter, Brooklyn-Mai, is visually impaired and says Ms Cannon is essential to helping her child cross safely. Miss Wingfield said: 'Lauren isn't just our lollipop lady, she's a pillar of the community. We value her so much and she is vital outside the school. Dorset Council's decision to ban lollipop lady Lauren Cannon (pictured) in favour of a zebra crossing has been labelled 'ridiculous' by parents Charlotte Wingfield's (right) seven-year-old daughter Brooklyn-Mai (left) is visually impaired and said the Lauren is vital for helping her cross the road safely 'Drivers are so dangerous there. They shoot past the school, probably unaware that there is a school there. 'The zebra crossing is ignored. 'Brooklyn-Mai's vision is very low so she's sometimes unable to tell if a car has actually stopped at the crossing or not. 'I think it's really disgusting that Dorset Council have done this and I'm worried for my daughter. She will find it very difficult if Lauren goes. 'There's other visually-impaired children at the school and the council know that because their vision support service visits the school so they see how dangerous this road is.' Parent Zoe Rawlings, whose child is in the school's reception year, said the decision is 'honestly shocking.' She said: 'It's a dangerous road. It's got lines and a zebra crossing but people still fly through there. 'They go so fast and don't even seem to see people waiting to cross, but they are more likely to stop for the lollipop lady in hi-viz coat. That's why I am fighting this, it's a ridiculous idea. The new zebra crossing (pictured) outside Lytchett Matravers Primary School 'Whoever has made that decision must not know the road, it's honestly shocking. 'If they get rid of Lauren there will be an accident. A child was knocked over just past the school last year, removing one of the most effective safety measures will put children and parents at greater risk.' The road supervisor is so popular in the area that when she faced a 700 bill for damage to her car, locals rallied round to set up a crowdfunder to help her pay it. Lytchett Matravers Parish Council said they are engaging with Dorset Council about the 'disappointing' decision in the hope a way forward can be achieved. A spokesman said: 'Dorset Council states that this is considered unsafe, as it may cause confusion between the authority of the SCP (School Crossing Patrol) and the legal regulations of the crossing. 'The parish council is very disappointed with this decision. We had already committed to funding the SCP for an additional year to continue supporting the safety of children on their journey to and from school. 'Unfortunately, due to this new policy, it means that school crossing patrols are no longer allowed on zebra crossings, so even if we wanted to employ her directly, a lollipop lady is not allowed here any longer.' A Dorset Council spokesman said: 'Dorset Council has updated its School Crossing Patrol (SCP) policy to improve safety and to reflect recent investment in new permanent pedestrian crossing facilities at a small number of its 28 active patrol locations. 'We have invested in new permanent crossings that are designed not only to support school communities but also to provide safer places for the wider public to cross throughout the day. 'To ensure the safest possible arrangements, we are reviewing these sites and working closely with stakeholders to support a safe transition from the current patrols to the new permanent crossings. 'SCPs will continue at sites without formal crossings where they meet our policy guidance. 'Our priority is to help children and families travel safely. Updating the policy ensures that crossing arrangements remain clear, consistent and supportive for everyone who uses our roads.' A man was allegedly randomly attacked by teenagers while at Bondi Beach in Sydney late at night. NSW Police rushed to the corner of Gould Street and Glasgow Avenue, just off the popular tourist spot, after receiving calls about 9.15pm on Friday. Officers found a 54-year-old man with a stab wound to his upper body. Police were told the man had an altercation with two unknown boys, before he was allegedly stabbed with a machete. He was treated at the scene before paramedics rushed him to St Vincent's Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Photographs from the scene show members of the public helping the man as he sat on the ground before paramedics arrived. One stranger could be seen apply pressure to the man's back, while a woman had helped bandage and apply a tourniquet to his arm. Two boys, aged 15 and 17, were arrested at Beach Road, before being taken to Surry Hills Police Station where police are continuing their inquiries. A man, possibly in his 50s, was allegedly stabbed at Glasgow Avenue in Bondi Beach on Friday He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to hospital A 13-year-old boy accused of trying to kill two pupils in a school stabbing he filmed told police it 'felt like a dream' after he was arrested, a court heard. The suspect, who cannot be identified because of his age, allegedly stabbed one pupil in the neck with a kitchen knife in front of a class of children at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north London. The victim sustained three stab wounds, a spinal fracture and injuries to the neck and hands that required surgery. The defendant, a former Kingsbury High pupil, allegedly stabbed a second child in the playground and sprayed ant repellent in the face of a third, during the incident at around 12.40pm on February 10. Less than a minute passed between the first and second alleged knife attacks on the boys, aged 12 and 13. The suspect appeared at the Old Bailey this morning via video link from a youth detention centre, fiddling with his hair and biting his thumb throughout the 20-minute hearing. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder and unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious thing to a third child. He has also been charged with possession of a knife on school premises without good reason or lawful authority. A police van on the grounds of Kingsbury High School after the alleged attack He was not asked to enter pleas today. Briefly outlining the case, prosecutor Ben Lloyd told the court the suspect entered the school having allegedly bought a can of insect spray beforehand. Mr Lloyd said: 'He positioned a mobile phone in the pocket of his blazer to record what he did.' The boy is then alleged to have sprayed a child in the face before entering a classroom and stabbing another in the neck. The incident happened in front of other children and a teacher, the court heard. The suspect is then said to have knifed another boy in the neck in the playground before fleeing the scene. He was detained by police three hours later, with a previous court case being told he was found crying near a mosque. Mr Lloyd said: 'He did admit that the incident felt like a dream.' The boy, wearing a black jumper, spoke to confirm his identity to the court and responded that he understood procedings when addressed directly by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. He was further remanded in custody ahead of a plea hearing, set down for the end of July. A provisional trial date was listed for November this year, lasting up to three weeks. A parent previously claimed the suspect got onto the premises by 'climbing over a wall'. It is understood the school had security staff on the main gate, which was often locked for the majority of the day. The conditions of two alleged stab victims are not thought to be life-threatening. A retired couple who successfully sued developers over a 17-storey office tower that plunged their home into darkness now face a staggering 3.7million legal bill despite winning their case. Stephen and Jennifer Powell complained that the Arbor tower, part of the 2billion Bankside Yards development, 'substantially' reduced the natural light getting into their sixth-floor apartment in the designer block Bankside Lofts next door on London's South Bank. Bankside Yards is eventually set to consist of eight towers, including 'mega-structures' 50 storeys high, with Arbor being the first building completed in September 2021. But the project ran into trouble when the Powells and their seventh-floor neighbour Kevin Cooper sued, seeking an injunction to protect their rights of light and threatening the tower, which cost nearly 35million to build, with potentially being torn down. Mr Justice Fancourt, ruling on the case at the High Court, said that the couple's flat was 'substantially affected' by their light being cut off and ordered the co-developer of the site, Ludgate House Ltd, to pay the Powells 500,000 in damages, plus 350,000 to Mr Cooper. But the householders are now facing a bid to make them pay the massive 3.7million legal costs of the case due to the judge having rejected their bid for an injunction requiring the tower to be demolished. During the trial of the case, the court heard that the Powells have lived in their sixth floor flat in the iconic yellow ochre Bankside Lofts building on the south bank of the river for over 20 years, having moved in 2002, whilst property finance professional Mr Cooper bought his seventh-floor flat in 2021. Their barrister Tim Calland told Mr Justice Fancourt: 'The Bankside Yards development will consist of eight towers, the tallest of which stretches to 50 storeys in height. The marketing material for Arbor describes it as a mega-structure and boasts of exceptional natural light. Stephen and Jennifer Powell said the Arbor tower, part of the 2billion Bankside Yards development, (pictured bottom) reduced natural light into their own building (pictured top) Stephen (right) and Jennifer Powell (left), living in the Bankside Lofts block on London's South Bank, took legal action over the neighbouring Bankside Yards development 'The claimants maintain that this will have been achieved - wrongfully - at the expense of their light. 'Light is not an unnecessary 'add on' to a dwelling. Light does not just give pleasure, but provides the very benefits of health, wellbeing and productivity which the defendants are using to advertise the development. 'That is the reason the claimants have brought their claims.' Mr Justice Fancourt went on to award damages to the Powells and Mr Cooper, saying that parts of the two flats had been left with levels of light 'insufficient for the ordinary use and enjoyment of those rooms.' But he refused the neighbours an injunction requiring Arbor to be altered or torn down, saying that over 200million would be wasted in demolishing and rebuilding the tower, with massive associated 'environmental damage'. That decision means that the Powells and Mr Cooper ought to now pay the massive costs of the case, John Mcghee KC, for the developer argued in a fresh hearing this week. He told the judge: 'The claimants should be ordered to pay the defendant's costs of the claims because it was the overall successful party, having successfully resisted the claimants' claim for injunctive relief. 'These claims were not about monetary compensation, but rather about whether the claimants could obtain an order requiring the defendant to modify its development so that the claimants would retain their light. 'The claimants did not achieve what was the 'the purpose of their claims', which was to obtain injunctive relief. Those claims were dismissed. 'So far as the defendant was concerned too, the possibility of injunctive relief was its real concern in these proceedings. If injunctive relief was granted, the defendant would have been required to demolish part of Arbor at a cost of 15-20 million and incur a further 225 million in rebuilding. 'It is true that the claimants obtained an order for damages and interest amounting to 397,484.64, in the case of Mr Cooper, and 567,835.21, in the case of the Powells. But those sums, particularly as to damages, were entirely aligned with the sums offered by the defendant and only a small fraction of the sum of 3.37 million sought by Mr Cooper and 3 million sought by the Powells. 'These monetary claims were ridiculously over-inflated, amounting to more than three times the value of their respective flats. The couple living in their own South Bank designer block now face a bid to make them pay the massive 3.7million legal costs of the case 'In real life, the defendant is the winner in this litigation in that it can maintain and continue with its development unhampered by the claimants' claims. 'The claimants are in reality the losers, having failed to achieve what was their stated sole purpose of bringing these claims in the first place. 'For these reasons, the court is invited to determine that the defendant was the successful party and accordingly that the claimants should pay the defendant's costs.' The barrister added that the householders should pay 75% of the developer's costs if the judge found against his plea for them to foot the whole bill. Tim Calland, for the neighbours, however disagreed, telling the judge: 'Undoubtedly, the claimants are the successful party in the litigation: the court awarded them substantial sums in damages which, in the case of the Powells, exceeded the largest sum ever before awarded in a reported rights-of-light case and, in the case of Mr Cooper, matched it. 'The defendant may feel relief that an injunction was not ordered, but that does not make it the successful party. Its defence of the claim failed. 'Before this litigation, the defendant was only willing to offer the claimants book-value settlements. They had to make these claims, which have been exceptionally hard-fought and expensive, and to see them through to trial to establish and vindicate their rights. 'On any view, they have succeeded: in accordance with the general rule, the claimants should be awarded their costs.' The developers are also arguing that Mr Cooper failed to beat an offer they made to settle his claim before trial, but his lawyers are arguing that the offer was invalid in relation to cost consequences, as it included matters that went beyond those being fought over in the litigation. In refusing the injunction to demolish the tower in his judgment last year, the judge had said: 'The claimants say that an injunction is the right remedy to grant because the defendant has deliberately proceeded with its development in the face of the claimants' rights, knowing that there was probably an infringement, and taking the chance that it would be able to buy off the claimants and all those in an equivalent position. 'The claimants are people who say that they have a particular and strong attraction to the benefits of natural light directly from the sky, and are unwilling to see that light taken away from them as a fait accompli. 'The position was, I am sure, exacerbated by...advertising the new development as having 'exceptional levels of natural light' that promote productivity and wellbeing, which Mr Cooper pointed out amounted to the developer helping itself to his light and offering a modest payment while intending to sell it to others for a high price.' But he added: 'There are strong arguments, in modern times, why over 200 million of development costs should not be wasted. There would also be substantial harm done by a further, complex demolition contract and considerable environmental damage as a result. 'Apart from the financial interest of the developer, to which an order for demolition could be said to be oppressive in comparison with the degree of harm done to the claimants, there is a significant public interest that needs to be taken into account.' The ruling on costs will now be given at a later date. Prosecutors have failed to overturn the acquittal of a man who burned a copy of the Koran outside Londons Turkish embassy. Hamit Coskun was initially convicted last June of religiously aggravated public order after holding a flaming copy of the Islamic text aloft and shouting f*** Islam on February 13, 2025. The 51-year-old successfully appealed against the conviction, which was overturned by Mr Justice Bennathan at Southwark Crown Court last October. And the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) High Court appeal against this decision has been dismissed by Lord Justice Warby and Ms Justice Obi. We are not persuaded that the court left any material factor out of account or relied on any immaterial factor, the judges said in their ruling. Following the decision, Mr Coskun said: In England, I hoped that I would be free to speak about the damage of sectarian politics and Islamism. I am relieved that after a year, the courts have ruled that I am free to do so. Hamit Coskun, pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice, had his conviction overturned by Mr Justice Bennathan at Southwark Crown Court last October When he held the flaming Koran aloft outside the Turkish embassy last February, a man emerged from a nearby building and slashed at him with a large knife During Mr Coskuns demonstration in Knightsbridge, central London, a man emerged from a nearby building and slashed at him with a large knife, later telling police he was protecting his religion. The attacker, Moussa Kadri, was given a suspended prison sentence in September. Mr Coskun thanked the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union for their support during the case. National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans called for a serious review of why Mr Coskun was originally charged and why the CPS took the case to the High Court. The High Court has rightly rejected this wrongheaded attempt to introduce a blasphemy law by the back door, he said. However offensive some may have found the Koran-burning protest, it was lawful. Criminal law protects people from harm, not from being offended. This judgment makes clear that it is not the state's job to police religious sensibilities. A hostile - even violent - reaction to speech cannot be allowed to determine whether that speech is criminal. Mr Coskun (centre) with supporters at the Royal Courts Of Justice. He was supported by the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union General secretary of the Free Speech Union called for director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson to resign following the ruling. This appeal should never have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, just as Hamit should never have been prosecuted. We have not had blasphemy laws in this country for 18 years and, for that reason, this prosecution was bound to fail. The CPS will be carefully reviewing the High Court decision, a spokesman said. There is no law to prosecute people for blasphemy and burning a religious text on its own is not a criminal act - our case was always that Hamit Coskun's words, choice of location and burning of the Koran amounted to disorderly behaviour, and that at the time he demonstrated hostility towards a religious group, they added. Lawyers for the CPS told a hearing in February that the judge was wrong to find that Mr Coskun's behaviour was not disorderly and, if it was, was unlikely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. David Perry KC said in written submissions that Mr Coskun's prosecution was not an attempt to introduce an offence of blasphemy and was not an impermissible encroachment on his right to free speech. In written submissions on behalf of Mr Coskun, Tim Owen KC said that the CPS's appeal was unarguable and merely seeks to rehash arguments that had already failed. And in their 14-page ruling, Lord Justice Warby and Ms Justice Obi said the CPS's submissions are essentially no more than counter-arguments offering a different perspective, or a different approach to the facts and circumstances of the case. Mr Coskun was fined 240 after his conviction, with District Judge John McGarva stating that he had a deep-seated hatred of Islam and its followers. But overturning his conviction, Mr Justice Bennathan ruled that the right to freedom of expression must include the right to express views that offend, shock or disturb, and that the criminal law is not a mechanism that seeks to avoid people being upset, even grievously upset. A father arrested over his young son's death following a horror crash says he 'needs to talk to his mum' after being charged with manslaughter. Samuel Ian Paterson, 24, made the plea as he faced court on Friday, four months after his three-year-old son Caden died at a police station from head injuries. Paterson and the boy's mother, Aneshia Daisy Case, 23, have both been charged with manslaughter and drug trafficking following Caden's death. Their son was critically injured after the family's white Mazda veered off the road and crashed in bushland north of the Gold Coast on October 25. A witness saw the car swerve off the road and rushed the mother and Caden to Beenleigh Police Station. Officers at the station attempted CPR but the boy could not be saved, police said. Paterson fled the accident scene and was later found at a nearby address with a one-year-old boy who was uninjured in the crash. After months of investigation, both parents were charged with manslaughter and appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. Samuel Ian Paterson (pictured) faced court on Friday, four months after his three-year-old son Caden died at a police station from head injuries Caden was critically injured after the family's white Mazda veered off the road and crashed in bushland north of the Gold Coast on October 25 Paterson and Caden's mother, Aneshia Daisy Case, 23, have both been charged with manslaughter and drug trafficking Paterson has been in custody since the accident after facing separate charges. Appearing via video link on the new manslaughter and drug trafficking charges, Paterson appeared unsure when asked whether he would need legal aid, and the case was adjourned until 30 March. 'I need to talk to my mum,' he told the court. 'I was going to probably pay for a lawyer.' The manslaughter charge against Case was mentioned separately in the Brisbane court on Friday. Case - who is also charged with unlicensed driving - did not appear for the brief mention. Her matter was remanded until Monday, and she was ordered to appear in court. Police will allege Case was behind the wheel at the time of the accident, but have refused to comment on the cause of the fatal crash. A witness saw the car swerve off the road and rushed the mother and Caden to Beenleigh Police Station Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis said the investigation was 'extremely complex' Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis said the investigation was 'extremely complex' and involved a forensic reconstruction of the crash and analysis of physical evidence and CCTV footage. 'Determining who was driving at the time of impact required an extensive amount of investigative work,' he said on Friday. 'Extensive forensic and mechanical investigations, analysis of physical evidence, extensive analysis of CCTV, digital and additional intelligence enquiries.' Police earlier alleged the mother and children had travelled from the Gold Coast to collect the father from a Beenleigh address before the crash. The father was separately charged with domestic violence offences in October, when his emotional family claimed he would never harm his children. 'We are sick of the f***ing lies,' the boy's grandfather yelled at the media after the father's appearance at Southport Magistrates Court in October. 'He loves his kids ... he was trying to protect them. He would never hurt them.' Family members were not in court as the manslaughter charges were mentioned on Friday. CCTV footage has revealed the moment a train crashed into a van after a reckless delivery driver pulled on to a level crossing and opened its gates by hand. William Backhouse managed to escape unharmed after the Northern Rail train ploughed into the front of his van at 49mph at Braystones station in Cumbria. The 30-year-old had arrived at the road crossing at the rail station but failed to spot the approaching locomotive. Video shows the train then smashing into the Ford Transit leaving the front left of the van destroyed and the bonnet crumpled. Debris from the van can also be seen covering the tracks and the surrounding road and the line was shut for several hours. Somehow nobody was injured in the crash on September 13 last year, when Backhouse was delivering parcels in the area. He was later charged with driving a motor vehicle dangerously and endangering the safety of a person conveyed by the railway. He has now been found guilty of both charges but spared jail - instead sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months, at Ipswich Magistrates' Court. William Backhouse managed to escape unharmed after the Northern Rail train ploughed into the front of his van at 49mph at Braystones station in Cumbria Video shows the train smashing into the Ford Transit leaving the front left of the van destroyed and the bonnet crumpled Backhouse, formerly of Carlisle in Cumbria but now living in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was banned from driving for a year. He was also told he must pass an extended test before being able to drive again. And he was ordered to comply with a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and pay 1,500 in compensation. A plea hearing last month at Workington Magistrates' Court heard Backhouse had opened the level crossing gates by hand without ringing the signaller to seek permission to cross. The train was carrying 10 passengers at the time and the driver managed to hit the emergency brakes. Police Constable Stewart Simpson, of British Transport Police, said after the case: 'Backhouse's careless actions and wanton disregard for safety put his own life and the lives of everyone on the train at risk. 'The safety procedures are there for a reason, and we will continue to take action against those who try to beat the system or wilfully misuse level crossings. 'There is never an excuse for ignoring the safety protocols in place at a level crossing.' He urged witnesses of similar offences to text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40, adding this would help 'safeguard commuters and take action against negligent drivers'. Clare Waller, Network Rail route director for the north west, said: 'Safety on the railway is our highest priority and this kind of reckless behaviour is not only dangerous but can cause significant disruption to passengers. 'This particular incident has cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds and everyone involved was lucky to escape injury. 'We will continue to work with our partners to manage level crossings as safely as possible.' The murder trial of a Utah mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband with a cocktail was thrown into turmoil after a spectator was spotted sketching members of the jury. The disruption unfolded during the trial of Kouri Richins, 35, who allegedly murdered her spouse Eric, 39, and later penned a children's book about coping with grief. Judge Richard Mrazik said a juror alerted staff at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City to the spectator's illicit behavior by slipping a note to a bailiff. 'Judge, are there members of the audience in the courtroom sketching members of the jury?' the note said. 'Is that allowed without consent? It's distracting and concerning, please advise.' Court staff confirmed that the person was identifying the sketches by juror number. Mrazik said the person, who has not been identified, was removed from the courtroom and would not be allowed back in. 'We cannot have anyone doing anything to identify the jurors in any way,' he added. The judge said the sketchbook had been confiscated and that the drawings depicting the jurors had been removed from the book. Judge Richard Mrazik said that an audience member in court during Kouri Richins' trial was kicked out after sketching members of the jury Richins, 35, allegedly killed her husband Eric, 39, in Park City, Utah, in 2022 by lacing a Moscow Mule cocktail with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl Jurors were told of the situation by a bailiff so they would 'not have to speculate' about whether the surreptitious sketching had continued. Audience members are not allowed to sketch jurors because of concerns about jury safety and fears they could be threatened or pressured. This is especially the case in high-profile trials such as Richinss. Richins has pleaded not guilty to killing her husband in March 2022 by lacing a Moscow Mule cocktail with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl. She has been charged with aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, two counts of fraudulent insurance claims and forgery. Richins was $4.5 million in debt and incorrectly thought that she would inherit her husband Eric's more than $4 million estate if he died, prosecutors claimed. 'The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,' Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told the court. 'More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence and success.' The member of the audience was not identified by the judge, who said that the person 'will not be allowed back' into the Summit County Courthouse Prosecutors said that Richins opened multiple life insurances for her husband Eric without him knowing in the years before his death Richins signed a prenuptial agreement before marrying businessman Eric in 2013, which states she could claim some of his assets, such as his 50 percent stake in a masonry business, if he died before her. However, the agreement said she would not get anything in the event of a divorce. In the years before allegedly killing her husband, Richins opened multiple life insurance policies on him without his knowledge. The benefits from those totaled about $2 million, according to prosecutors. Richins carried on with her life after her husband's death, taking trips to Spain and Mexico. Notably, she released a children's book in March 2023 about grief titled Are You With Me? The book, which turned Richins into a local celebrity, was about a father who watched over his young son after passing away. Richins said that she penned the book to help her three sons understand their father's death. Richins was allegedly $4.5million in debt and believed that she would inherit Eric's estate, valued at more than $4million, if he died She penned a note to the Summit County Sheriff's Department the following month, complaining that the ongoing investigation was affecting her life. In May, Richins was arrested and charged with her husband Eric's murder, which she has repeatedly denied. Prosecutors have also presented messages in court between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, who they claim she was having an affair with. The texts referenced getting millions in a divorce and subsequently marrying Grossman. Richins's Internet search history was also shown to jurors in court. She had looked up 'Can cops force you to do a lie detector test?' and 'luxury prisons for the rich America', according to prosecutors. Richins was also accused of attempting to poison her husband on Valentine's Day with a fentanyl-laced sandwich that caused him to black out. The mom-of-three is charged with aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, two counts of fraudulent insurance claims and forgery Last Thursday, Richins's attorneys reiterated their client's innocence and insisted that she is a 'mother who wants to go home to her children.' 'We are confident this jury will make that possible,' the statement from her attorneys read. 'Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: The opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution's narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest. 'Now the state must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth. 'We welcome the courtroom, where evidence is bound by rules, not sensational coverage.' Richins's trial is set to continue at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City until March 26. If convicted, she could face life in prison. The Daily Mail has reached out to the court for comment. A New York City family has been left baffled after catching their neighbor deliberately shoveling snow onto their SUV. Queens resident Paula Macias said she caught her next-door neighbor piling snow onto her car multiple times during last weekend's blizzard. The SUV owner even recorded the man's actions on Sunday. He later admitted to KSN that he was deliberately throwing the snow while shoveling another neighbor's driveway. 'We keep clearing the driveway, and you keep throwing snow on our car,' Macias shouted at the unidentified neighbor. The car was almost completely covered in about a foot of snow, the video showed. Macias claimed the man told her to 'shut the f*** up' when she and her husband asked him nicely to stop. He eventually did before returning Monday morning to do the exact same thing, according to neighbors, including one person who filmed the bizarre behavior. It took Macias, her husband and their three children two hours to finally unearth the red Nissan Rogue. Paula Macias caught her neighbor or camera piling snow onto her car while he cleared another neighbor's driveway The unidentified neighbor was seen by witnesses doing the same thing on multiple occasions Macias said it took her entire family two hours to free their car of the snowfall Macias claimed she found scratches on her car once she was able to shift the snow. She even called the police hoping they would address the issue, but they took no action at the time. Macias said she planned to file a criminal complaint and get protection from her neighbor. 'I think that's vandalism, I feel it's harassment at this point,' she told PIX11. 'Because it was purposefully done to my car. Out of hate.' The New York Police Department told the Daily Mail that an official complaint has yet to be filed. The neighbor, however, has chalked up his actions to a 'petty dispute' and doesn't see that he has done anything worthy of a criminal case. New York City endured its first blizzard in almost a decade this week as mountains of snow blanketed the city. According to CBS, almost 20 inches of snow fell, leaving many New Yorkers with snow-covered vehicles. Macias even claimed that the man scratched her red SUV after his shoveling escapades New York city saw its first blizzard in nearly a decade over the weekend, with many vehicles covered in up to 19 inches of snow Macias said this isn't the first time her family has had a run-in with this particular neighbor. He has reportedly complained to the family about their Belgian shepherd, whose bark has bothered him since last summer. Macias said the neighbor has repeatedly harassed the family as a result. The video she posted of her neighbor's shady behavior attracted almost 2,000 comments and more than 4,000 likes. 'Hes hated my family and my dog from the minute he came across us and has been super foul and disrespectful to my whole family,' she said. 'Ive lived here for over 16 years and have never had problems with anyone.' The Daily Mail contacted Macias and the building's management for comment. The Cuban government has revealed the identities of ten men it says opened fire from a speedboat in a botched bid to overthrow its government. The alleged coup unfolded on Wednesday in the waters off the Caribbean island when the Cuban Coast Guard killed four and injured six others in a shootout. Those killed were named as Pavel Alling Pena, Michel Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara and Hector Duani Cruz Correa, Cuban officials said. The six injured who were detained by Cuban authorities after the incident were Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, and Roberto Alvarez Avila. The Cuban Ministry of the Interior accused the men, who all lived in the US, of hatching an elaborate 'terrorism' plot to overthrow the government with weapons and explosives. Two of the men, Sanchez Gonzalez and Cruz Gomez, are wanted by Cuban police 'based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission' of terrorism. The US government has denied any involvement in the incident and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration would carry out its own investigation - insisting it is 'not going to base our conclusions on what [the Cubans] told us.' Few details have emerged over how the men allegedly believed they would overthrow the Cuban government, with officials claiming they opened fire on the Coast Guard first before the shootout turned deadly. From left: Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, an unidentified man, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Consuegra said he had been misidentified by Cuban police Ledian Padron Guevara, one of the four men killed in the shootout on Wednesday. Cuban authorities claimed the group 'invaded' the island in an elaborate coup attempt beforehand The Cuban Coast Guard killed four in a Florida-registered speedboat on Wednesday after the vessel crossed into the nation's waters and opened fire, officials said (stock image) Cruz Correa was named as a suspect in the theft of the Florida-registered speedboat involved in the plot, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The boat was owned by a man in Big Pine Key, who reported it missing around 9.30am on Wednesday morning. He later discovered the registration matched the vessel reported to be involved in the shootout. The boat's owner said Cruz Correa had done tile construction work for him and did not have permission to take the vessel. The speedboat was filled with assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosives, bulletproof vests and camouflage when it was seized, according to the Cuban authorities. Social media accounts belonging to several of the men show them posing with weapons and taking pictures together. Casanova was the first individual to be identified on Thursday, as his brother Michel said he had developed an 'obsessive and diabolical' quest for Cuba's freedom. Michel Ortega Casanova, one of the men killed in the incident, had developed an 'obsessive and diabolical' quest for Cuba's freedom, his brother said The US government has denied any involvement in the incident, which killed Guevara Roberto Alvarez Avila, one of the men detained. Cuban authorities accused the group of being 'terrorists' who believed they would overthrow the regime from their speedboat He said Casanova was a US citizen who had lived in Florida for 20 years but was consumed by the idea of liberating his homeland from its communist regime. 'Only us Cubans who have lived over there understand,' Misael Ortega Casanova told the Associated Press. He added that 'no one knew' of his brother's plans that eventually led to his death and described their mother as 'devastated.' 'They became so obsessed that they didn't think about the consequences nor their own lives,' Misael said. Florida resident Roberto Azcorra Consuegra was also named as a suspect by Cuban authorities before he came forward to say he had been misidentified. Consuegra told NBC6 that he was surprised to see his name among the alleged revolutionaries, insisting he was in South Florida and was not involved. Your browser does not support iframes. One of the men detained, Conrado Galindo Sariol, was identified as a former political prisoner who had long called for regime change in Cuba and was tortured by the regime in prison Pavel Alling Pena, one of the men killed in the shootout Conrado Galindo Sariol was identified as a former political prisoner who had long called for regime change in Cuba and was tortured by the regime in prison, NBC6 reported. Galindo told Marti Noticias last year that he was fighting to 'achieve the freedom that is needed' in Cuba and said protests at the time were 'not a spark thats going to be extinguished.' 'The regimes leaders are crisscrossing Cuba, trying to mitigate whats coming very soon because they know theyre out of power, that they cant do anything about it, and theyre looking for ways to prevent the protests from growing in other parts of the country,' Galindo said. Galindo's daughter said his family 'didn't know anything' about his plans and that his wife last saw him on Sunday and believed he was working. A Connecticut minister was arrested after several of her dogs died while suffering from chemical burns and neurological issues. Trinity Episcopal Church Pastor Lisa Levy, 48, was charged with five counts of animal cruelty after officials in Hamden said they noted a concerning pattern. Her arrest on February 20 came after five dogs sustained medical issues, with two succumbing to their injuries in the last year. The animals - Chanco, Zuba, Yelenda, Wanda and Steve - all suffered from problems, according to her arrest affidavit obtained by the New Haven Register. Officials said the pups' symptoms included 'burned flesh/skin lesions, neurological symptoms, cough, vomiting, seizures, fractures, collapsing, not able to walk.' Zuba, Steve and Wanda died from their injuries in just the last year. Levy came to the authorities' attention after she brought Chanco to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine with 'horrendous burns' seemingly caused by a chemical, per the affidavit. She adopted the animal with her boyfriend, Issak Cuenco, just six weeks prior, per NBC CT. Trinity Episcopal Church Pastor Lisa Levy, 48, was charged with five counts of animal cruelty after several of her dogs sustained chemical burns before their deaths Lisa Levy pictured with Steve. The dog reportedly died from sever injuries while in Levy's care Levy reportedly told veterinarians that Chanco had entered the bathtub after it was cleaned with bleach. But Cuenco told them the tub was cleared out before he bathed Chanco. Police obtained video of Chanco hiding behind furniture and collapsing with patches of fur and even skin missing. A veterinarian contacted North Haven Animal Control to find that they already had allegations against Levy. No charges have been filed against her boyfriend. When police interviewed Levy, she told them her boyfriend was home with her dogs any time they suffered any issues. But he told police: 'Every few months there had been bad news with an animal,' per the affidavit. 'Certain dogs will be perfectly fine, then have issues. Accidents started happening, she would tell him that they fell down the stairs.' Levy's dog Zuba was reportedly adopted last July and died in September after Levy claimed the animal had a seizure. Levy pictured with another dog. Police traced her connection with ailing dogs and cats back more than a decade According to an arrest affidavit, Levy housed 13 animals in the last three and a half years According to the report, Zuba had patches of fur missing and red sores at the time. Yelenda was adopted last June and returned to the rescue the same month with wounds and neurological issues, officials said. Steve died in January, but was taken to the vet multiple times for limping, cough and lesions, per the affidavit. Wanda was adopted in February 2025 and quickly suffered an injured tail and lost her ability to walk, according to police. She died in May. In the past three and a half years, Levy reportedly housed 13 animals. Four died, five were euthanized and at least three went missing, per WTNH. Police said they traced Levy's connection with ill dogs and cats all the way back to 2011. Some of them had the same symptoms as her most recent pets, including seizures and skin lesions. Levy owned 13 animals in the past three and a half years. Five of them died under her care Levy's church placed her on administrative leave amid her arrest. She was released on a $15,000 bond Levy served as a Community Care Minister at Trinity Episcopal in New Haven. Fellow pastoral staff members released a statement on Thursday after her charges came to light. 'As we gather more information, we are placing Lisa on administrative leave,' it read in part. 'We are keeping Lisa in our prayers and all those impacted by this situation. This is a tragic situation, and we grieve it. 'As people of faith, we know that what God has made is sacred. As people whose lives are enriched by the companionship of animals, we know they must be treated with care, respect, and dignity.' Levy was released from jail on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on March 6. The Daily Mail contacted Levy, Trinity Episcopal Church, Hamden Police and Animal Control for comment. The first British-Asian winner of the best fish and chips takeaway award has said he is proud to fly the St George's flag. Aman and Gavin Dhesi, who run The Scrap Box in York, scooped Takeaway of the Year at the The National Fish & Chip Awards, considered the 'Oscars' of the industry. They said the honour was 'one every chippy dreams of'. The brothers, who followed in their father's footsteps in running a chippy, said they are believed to be the first ever non-white winners of this category. Aman, 36, a British-born Punjabi Sikh, told the Daily Mail he is 'proud' to win because 'we're showing that the fact of Britain is complex, and so is fish and chips'. He said: 'There's so much complexity about this country. I think people just need to look a bit more at its history, how we got here and the complexities that really make Britain what it is. 'I want to fly the St George's flag for that complexity. That's what makes Britain what it is.' For Aman, the national dish represents what he loves about 'modern-day Britain'. Two brothers, Aman and Gavin Dhesi, who run The Scrap Box in York, scooped The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026 Takeaway of the Year at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London The Scrap Box in York was transformed from an old public toilet after a six month renovation 'Even though it's a British dish, what makes it up is global. It's the product of migration, trade, empire, working-class graft, and reinvention. I think that really represents modern-day Britain and we're proud of that,' he said. Fish and chips is long considered England's national dish but its roots are not as British as you might think. Chips date back to the 17th Century to either Belgium or France, while fried fish was introduced into Britain by Jewish refugees from Portugal and Spain around the same time. It is widely believed one of the first fish and chip shops by a Jewish immigrant, Joseph Malin, in east London around 1860. Aman said most of his fish now comes from Norway. 'I think it's a working-class dish and working-class Britain is made up of so many people,' he continued. 'You've got white working-class families up and down the country that have carried the tradition of fish and chips for so long but then you've had a lot of immigrants that have come and moved into this industry. 'You had Italians and the Scottish who transformed the trade. Then you had the Chinese and Indian immigrants. My grandad came over in the 60s.' 'Winning this award is a testament to our parents and all the hard work they put in and will hopefully inspire more people to enter the awards next year.' Aman, 36, and Gavin, 33, won the 38th iteration of the UK's official fish and chip competition The brothers opened The Scrap Box 10 years ago after converting a public toilet block over six months into a takeaway. 'My dad had a chippy around 20 years ago and he still helps out now. He's here every morning at six prepping the fish. 'My mum keeps everyone in check. All the staff and us are a bit scared of her and we like that. Me and my brother are a bit too fun sometimes, so we need someone a bit professional who's done it over the years too.' Aman said that while he was encouraged and took the 'traditional' route of school and university, studying politics, he felt that he wanted to return and serve his home community. 'It's been a success from day one, so I've not even actually had a thought to change career yet. I still might one day but it looks like fish and chips have taken over my life now.' A haddock and chips at the Scrap Box costs 10.95 while a cod and chips costs 11.95. They also serve chippy classics such as mushy peas, curry sauce and a homemade tartare sauce. They use traditional beef dripping to fry their fish and chips, compared to the modern, and cheaper, vegetable oil used in other chippies. The awards, which started in 1988, were held on Wednesday night at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London. A husband started a 'tsunami' of domestic abuse which allegedly drove his wife to suicide after she asked his mother to move out their home, a court has heard. Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who took her own life aged 34 in November 2017. The trial has heard how Ms Baird died of hanging at her home in Swindon and left a note which said: 'To my family, I am so sorry but I just couldn't take it any more.' Trybus, 43, also faces charges at Winchester Crown Court of controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of rape. He allegedly controlled his wife by using and threatening violence towards her, sexually assaulting her, threatening to reveal private information to her family, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting access to finance and isolating her from her family. And the court heard today that Trybus's campaign of abuse began when Ms Baird asked his mother to move out of their house, leaving him 'furious'. Trybus did not forgive Ms Baird and he subjected her to an ongoing spate of assaults before her death, the jury was told. His mother lived with the couple between August and October 2015 at their home in Swindon. Christopher Trybus, pictured outside Winchester Crown Court on Friday with his new wife Bea The court previously heard her presence caused friction between the pair and 'made matters more difficult at home'. Prosecutor Tom Little told the court today: 'Chris was furious and hadn't forgiven her. This is when the assaults started.' A Swindon Women's Aid (SWA) worker today told the court that 'things escalated into physical violence' following Ms Baird's attempt to have her husband's mother leave the house. She told the worker in October 2016 that she was worried Trybus would lose his job if she reported him over the abuse, which included 'put[ting] a rope around her neck and strangl[ing] her'. Mr Little added: 'She said she wanted to make him angry enough to kill her.' The next month, she discussed the possibility of going to a refuge and told the SWA worker that she contemplates ending her life 'when she sees no way out'. After going to hospital for an injury, Ms Baird told the worker that her husband knew she was there somehow. 'How does he know I'm here? I will never get away from him, this is why I haven't come to the refuge, he will never leave me alone,' she told the worker. Ms Baird also said she believed Trybus had tracked her with a running app she had used and had beaten her with a stick used to open the loft door. In January 2017, she told the SWA worker about an incident involving her husband putting a rope around her neck causing her to pass out. Defending Trybus, Katy Thorne KC told the court on Wednesday that said Trybus denied sexual assaults against Ms Baird and the injury presented by Ms Baird to her neck was caused by a 'collar' worn during sex and an audio recording from her phone was of a 'kinky bondage type sex' that was consensual. The SWA worker also told the court that Ms Baird told her she believed Trybus thought he had killed her after a 'particularly violent attack' and fled the house. She was strangled until she was unconscious and he was not in the house by the time she regained consciousness, it was heard. In January 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker she believed Trybus knew 'lots of dangerous people in South Africa' and he suggested he arranged for her cousin's husband to be driven off the road and assaulted in January 2017. Speaking about her family, she said: 'She would rather die than cause them harm.' In May 2017, she told Trybus she was going to the shops and instead went to a refuge where she shared her worries about 'what happens next'. Tarryn Baird, pictured, died of hanging at her Swindon home in November 2017 aged 34 She left the refuge after receiving a call from Trybus. In June 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker she had been attacked about two weeks beforehand. 'Tarryn says she thinks he left because he thought he killed her,' Mr Little said. 'It was a particularly violent attack - strangled until unconscious, he was gone when she came around. 'She thinks he's tracking her as he seems to know when she's been to the gym.' This included when she had been in a panic and had gone to the gym at 3am one night. In September 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker that 'she can't believe she's still alive', and said Trybus had drowned her and beaten her with a metal bar. Mr Little previously told the court Ms Baird's GP noticed her physical injuries on multiple occasions between January 2016 and July 2016. But Ms Thorne told the jury on Wednesday that he denies the allegations and said Ms Baird presented a 'facade' to health professionals because of her own mental health issues and was 'addicted to the attention' she got from making allegations. She said: 'This without question is a tragic case, a young woman has died and she took her own life and nothing you decide in this courtroom can alter the grief and loss of those who loved her.' Ms Thorne added: 'The defence position is Christopher Trybus was never abusive to his wife, he didn't beat her, he didn't break her, he didn't coerce her, control her and he didn't cause her death. 'On the contrary, he loved her and cherished her deeply and his case is that without anyone's knowledge, Tarryn Baird was making demonstrably false allegations to health professionals. 'There are injuries but the defence case is that on a number of occasions Tarryn Baird made allegations of violence which were demonstrably false, for example, by reporting injuries to health professionals when Christopher Trybus was not even in the country. 'The defence case is that one obvious example of that on November 16, he says that he was out of the country, having left on 8th November and not returned until 23rd November. 'And yet during that period, Tarryn Baird made more than one set of allegations of domestic violence and took photographs of injuries, each of which she said was caused by him.' Ms Thorne told the jury they should question the 'reliability' of Ms Baird's claims and said: 'You will hear that Tarryn Baird had mental health problems which were longstanding and the defence case is that she was desperately seeking help and feeling she wasn't receiving it and she may have become addicted to the attention that her allegations brought. 'The defence case is that the reason why she never made the allegations to the police or went to a refuge was because the allegations weren't true and she didn't want that fact to be exposed.' Ms Thorne said Trybus denied sexual assaults against Ms Baird and added: 'Theirs was a healthy, consensual marital sex life enjoyed by both of them. Trybus and wife Bea pictured outside Winchester Crown Court on February 25, 2026 'It included some practices which may not be familiar or comfortable to everyone, including bondage and rough sex. 'What goes on in other people's bedrooms can be surprising, the defence case is that it was consensual.' Ms Thorne continued: 'The allegations of Tarryn Baird being trapped and controlled, the defence says are untrue and the defence will suggest that they will turn out to be just false. 'You will need to consider her claims that she was being financially controlled or kept away from family and friends bears scrutiny, his case is the absolute opposite is true.' She added: 'Health professionals were being told a false story and her boredom and troubled mind was leading her to make allegations to seek care and attention.' Ms Thorne said that the jury would need to consider if Ms Baird's suicide was a 'cry for help that went tragically wrong'. She added that Trybus's actions were not a cause of Ms Baird's suicide and said: 'The defence case is that there are other matters such as her mental health difficulties and withdrawal of services from her which led her to take her own life.' Trybus, who is a software consultant and developer, denies the charges and the trial continues. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support A man is said to have been arrested after he allegedly drove past Nancy Guthrie's home '100 times' while staring at an image of the missing woman on his phone. The unidentified stranger was stopped by law enforcement after reporters spotted him driving 'very slowly' past the property in Tucson, Arizona, late Thursday night, according to NewsNation. Correspondent Brian Entin said the man drove his blue SUV up to the memorial outside the 84-year-old's home and 'just kept stopping,' passing between '50 and 100 times.' A media photographer who approached the individual reportedly noticed he had a photo of Today host Savannah Guthrie's missing mother on his phone. Officers with the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) then stopped him outside the home and questioned him for about 20 minutes, according to Entin, who said he believed police were 'trying to get a translator' to communicate with the driver. The man was handcuffed on a DUI charge after he failed a sobriety test, Entin alleged in a follow-up video. 'It is weird. There's some just like creepy people that come by,' the journalist said. The Daily Mail contacted the PCSD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for comment on the mysterious man as the search for Nancy nears its fourth week. An unidentified man was nabbed by police after he was allegedly caught circling Nancy Guthrie's home '50 to 100 times,' while staring at an image of the 84-year-old on his phone Nancy, Savannah Guthrie's mother, was last seen by her family on January 31. She was reported missing the following morning and has not been seen or heard from since The search for Nancy, who disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, is nearing its fourth week, as authorities have followed a few leads to no avail Nancy was last seen on January 31, after attending a dinner and game night at her eldest daughter Annie's home. She was reported missing the following morning, after she failed to show up for a church service. Authorities have been on the case ever since but the few leads they have received have led nowhere, as Nancy's whereabouts still remain unknown. Her Today show host daughter and her siblings have made several pleas online to their beloved mother's captor, begging them to come forward and tell them where she is. On Tuesday, Savannah shared her most emotional plea yet as she teared up on camera and acknowledged for the first time that her mother might not be alive. She also announced that the family is now offering a $1 million reward for her kidnapped mother. 'We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,' she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. 'We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves,' Savannah said through tears. The journalist added that if Nancy has died, they will 'accept it' but the family still needs closure. NewsNation reporter Brian Entin said he saw the man driving around her home and that he 'just kept stopping' at the memorial 'But we need to know where she is. We need her to come home. For that reason, we are offering a family reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads us to her recovery,' Savannah said. She pleaded directly with Nancy's kidnapper and anyone with information about her whereabouts, saying: 'If you've been waiting and you haven't been sure, let this be your sign to please come forward. 'Tell what you know and help us bring our beloved mom home so that we can either celebrate a glorious, miraculous homecoming or celebrate the beautiful, brave, noble and courageous life that she has lived. Please be the light in the dark.' The Guthrie family, acknowledging that there are millions of families in their exact situation, has also donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Savannah revealed. The FBI recently announced that the agency would be scaling back its now nearly month-long search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix, sources with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News. Some agents will also stay behind in Tucson, they said. The move does not indicate investigators are giving up in the search, the sources claimed. Agents were seen outside the residence on Wednesday, combing through portions of the home and lawn that had already been searched. Agents were seen outside the residence on Wednesday, combing through portions of the home and lawn that had already been searched The flurry of activity was related to an FBI effort to turn the home back over to the Guthrie family, officials told NBC News. Sources told ABC News on Thursday there was no more work to be done at the home, hence the relocation. Phoenix has the largest FBI headquarters in the state. Investigators are under the impression that Nancy was taken against her will after drops of Nancy's blood were found on her porch. Footage recovered from the elderly woman's Nest doorbell camera showed an unidentified suspect in a ski mask in front of her door early on February 1, before Nancy's pacemaker suddenly stopped transmitting data to her iPhone and Apple watch. PCSD deputies are still searching Tucson with help from an unspecified number of feds. Agents in Phoenix, meanwhile, will work the case from there, sources said. Bill Clinton will make history on Friday as the first ever former president compelled to testify before Congress against his will. The 79-year-old is being hauled before lawmakers over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after being threatened with contempt charges. Clinton's deposition is scheduled for 11am at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York, where Hillary yesterday faced a grilling. While Hillary told lawmakers she never met Epstein and only Ghislaine Maxwell on a few occasions, Bill has to answer to far more damning evidence. Photos released by Congress and the Department of Justice over the last few months show the former president on a private jet with his arm around a young woman, swimming with Maxwell and relaxing in a hot tub with another unidentified woman. Clinton and Epstein were associated from the early 1990s and into the early 2000s. He says he flew on Epstein's private plane during Clinton Foundation trips before the financier was charged with any sex crimes but denies wrongdoing and says he cut ties years before Epstein's 2006 arrest for soliciting prostitution from a minor. No evidence has emerged implicating either Bill or Hillary Clinton in criminal conduct related to Epstein. Bill Clinton with his arm around a young woman on a private jet in a photo from the Epstein files Former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub and a woman whose face has been redacted are seen in another image from the files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell grin with Clinton during a VIP tour of the White House in 1993 Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse President Clinton and wife Hillary share a tender moment during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington, July 17, 1996 Hillary said Thursday that she expected her husband to testify that he had no knowledge of Epstein's sexual abuse at the time they knew each other. Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, predicted Thursday that the ex-president's deposition will take 'even longer'. 'The Clintons haven't answered very many, if any, questions about their knowledge or involvement with Epstein and Maxwell,' he added. 'No one's accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing,' he added. Presidents vs. Congress Sitting presidents No sitting president has ever been successfully forced by a congressional subpoena to provide live testimony. DOJ argues sitting presidents have 'absolute testimonial immunity' to stop Congress from using subpoenas to interfere with the President. When Richard Nixon was subpoenaed by Congress over Watergate in 1974, he was a sitting president. He was forced to turn over documents because of a criminal trial, but he never gave live testimony to Congress. Former presidents The legal protection is weaker but still intensely debated. The Supreme Court ruled in Nixon v GSA that ex-presidents retain some 'executive privilege' over their past communications, but they do not have the same immunity as a sitting president. Refused: Harry Truman (1953) Truman was subpoenaed as a former president by the House Un-American Activities Committee over claims he appointed a Russian spy to the IMF despite FBI warnings. He refused to show up, claiming that if Congress could grill ex-presidents, it would ruin the independence of the office. Congress did not enforce the subpoena. Refused: Donald Trump (2022) Trump was subpoenaed as an ex-president by the January 6 Committee. He sued to block it. The committee eventually withdrew the subpoena. Refused: John Quincy Adams (1846) Quincy Adams was subpoenaed by the House over the misuse of Secret Service funds by Secretary of State Daniel Webster. He refused to testify in person but gave written submissions. Complied: John Tyler (1846) Tyler was subpoenaed in the same case as Quincy Adams. He testified before two separate committees. Why this matters for the Clintons The Clintons argue that since Trump was allowed to ignore a subpoena in 2022, the same rules apply to them. In their letter, they accused Comer of trying to 'punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends.' Advertisement Republicans have wanted to question Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epstein's 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year, when the new DOJ photos revealed new depths to the well-publicized Epstein relationship. Epstein visited the Clinton White House at least 17 times between 1993 and 1995 and the pair later made international trips together for their humanitarian work. In the lead-up to the deposition, Clinton has insisted he had limited knowledge about Epstein and was unaware of any sexual abuse he committed. In a declaration to lawmakers last month, Clinton admitted flying on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 while he was traveling internationally for the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said Epstein 'offered a plane that was big enough to accommodate me, my staff and my US Secret Service detail, in support of visiting the Foundation's philanthropic work.' The former president said he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, where many of the pedophile's accusers say they were trafficked for abuse. Maxwell said in an interview with the Justice Department last year that Clinton was never there. 'I do not recall speaking to Mr. Epstein for more than a decade prior to his 2019 arrest' Clinton's declaration said. Hillary said after her deposition: 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light.' Comer has pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence as his only co-conspirator ever convicted. Democrats argue that it sets a precedent that should also apply to Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. Only four ex-presidents - Trump, Harry Truman, John Tyler and John Quincy Adams - and one sitting president, Richard Nixon, have been formally subpoenaed by Congress to testify. Trump, Truman, Nixon, and Quincy Adams all refused to comply, while Tyler agreed to appear. The Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether a president can be compelled to give testimony to Congress, though the DOJ has historically argued that presidents have 'testimonial immunity' to protect the separation of powers. 'We're demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats,' Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said Thursday. Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick was a longtime neighbor of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epstein's home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife. The public release of case files showed that Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epstein's home, and in 2012, his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island. A new photo emerged last night that appeared to have been deleted by the Justice Department, showing Lutnick on Epstein's private island. Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Clinton and an unidentified man in a photo from the Epstein files Clinton and the pedophile financer were photographed together multiple times in the release An oil painting of Clinton dressed as a woman that Epstein kept at his home The apparent removal of the photo sparked renewed calls for Lutnick to testify and deepening concerns over the alleged cover-up by the Trump administration. 'He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee,' Garcia said of Lutnick. Comer on Thursday said that it was 'very possible' that Lutnick would be called to testify. The father of a suspected school shooter broke down in tears as he watched video of his son stalking the hallways before the violence began. Colin Gray, 54, is currently on trial for allegedly enabling his son, Colt Gray, 14, to carry out the shooting which killed four people. Gray purchased the AR-15-style rifle that authorities say was used during the September 4, 2024 massacre at Apalachee High School for his son. Colt, who is awaiting trial, allegedly opened fire inside the school, killing two students: Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, and two teachers: Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Nine others were left injured. On Thursday, Gray covered his eyes and cried as he watched surveillance footage of his son walking the halls of the school while concealing the large gun behind a white poster board and backpack. The clip showed the teenager entering the school with the gun as students and staff walked right beside him. He was seen making his way down the hallway before entering a classroom and fidgeting around in his seat and looking down at his cellphone. Colt then walked into a bathroom with his backpack, where he texted his mother, Marcee Gray, 'I'm sorry mom.' Gray then called the school about her son. Colin Gray, the father of the alleged Georgia school shooter Colt Gray, became emotional as he watched a video of his son in the hallways of his school before four people were killed Colt was seen wearing yellow gloves as he concealed an AR-15-style rifle with a large poster board and a backpack on September 4, 2024 Resource officers went into the restroom and escorted another student out who had a similar name to Colt, leaving the teen free to allegedly carry out the shooting, according to Sheriff Jud Smith. Afterward, Colt, wearing a white T-shirt, khaki pants and yellow gloves, appeared to limp as he continued to carry the bag with the gun inside. Another camera angle showed Colt looking through the door window of a classroom, holding the rifle. His father is facing 29 charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of cruelty to children and five counts of reckless conduct. If convicted of all his charges, Gray could be sentenced to a maximum of 180 years in prison. Colt will be tried as an adult and is facing 55 charges including four counts of felony murder. Gray took the stand on Friday after prosecutors rested their case on Thursday afternoon. He told the court he gifted Colt the rifle for Christmas in 2023, hoping that it would bring them closer together through hunting and trips to the gun range. Prosecutors said that the father's decision came despite warning signs about Colt's behavior and mental health. Two students: Mason Schermerhorn (top left), 14, and Christian Angulo (top right), 14, and two teachers: Richard Aspinwall (bottom right), 39, and Cristina Irimie (bottom left), 53, died that day The footage showed Colt, who had just started attending Apalachee High School, walking into the school with the concealed firearm alongside other students 'I could have done better,' he confessed on the stand. When questioned by his attorney, Brian Hobbs, if he noticed any 'red flags' from his son that made him believe he would be capable of the violent act, Gray took a moment before stating: 'No. I struggle with it every day.' 'He's a good kid. He wasn't perfect, and nor was I. But to do something that heinous, I don't know of anybody that can ever see that kind of evil,' he added. 'Like the Colt I knew and the relationship I had, there's this whole other side of Colt I didn't know existed.' More than a year before the shooting, police had interviewed Colt and Gray about a threat to carry out a school shooting that had been made on a Discord account created with an email associated with the teenager. The father told investigators that his son had access to firearms in the home, as he was teaching Colt about gun safety and how to hunt, but his access to them was not 'unfettered.' He said that if his son did make the threat, he would be 'mad as hell' and that 'all the guns will go away.' Ultimately, investigators closed the case after being unable to substantiate that Colt was connected to the Discord account and they did not find grounds to seek the needed court order to confiscate the family's guns, according to police reports. He was also seen fidgeting in his seat and texting on his phone inside a classroom before he walked to the bathroom with the gun Colt's trial date has not yet been set, but he will be tried as an adult and is facing 55 charges, including four counts of felony murder. He is seen in court on December 9, 2025 The prosecutor said that despite Colt's disturbing behavior, which made his parents believe he needed to be institutionalized, they never got the teenager the help he needed and allowed him to keep the rifle. Colt's family frequently moved and by seventh grade, the teen had been enrolled in seven different schools in just four years. He had been enrolled at Apalachee High School for just five days by the time of the shooting. Suzanne Harris, a computer science teacher at the high school, testified that she had noticed the concealed weapon sticking out of Colt's backpack. She said that she assumed it was a school project but thought it was odd as he had only been attending for a few days, so she asked him about it. 'I asked him what his project was about, and he didnt really have much to say about the project, but he did tell me that he would show it to me later if I wanted to see it,' the teacher said in court. Harris also said that she noticed Colt was struggling to carry the backpack and that he seemed nervous when she asked if he needed help. His trial date has not yet been scheduled, but he is due to appear in court for a hearing on March 18. Mohamed Al-Fayed had young women medically examined like 'meat', subjected to 'thorough breast exams' and intimate tests before being allowed to work close to him, victims allege. The former Harrods owner's Swedish assistant, Kristina Svensson, told police he would leave her waiting alone for hours before arriving and attempting to assault her, laughing during the attacks. Another woman said she was ordered to undergo invasive medical checks, including pelvic and HIV tests, with the results handed directly to the department store and her personal life detailed in a report her lawyers say was used to 'arm the rapist'. Al-Fayed traded on the glamour of owning Harrods, the Paris Ritz and luxury yachts, but he was at the centre of a dark web of alleged abuse, say French lawyers for women who liken him to US sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. French authorities began investigating the late Egyptian businessman and his brother Salah last year amid allegations of a vast system of sex trafficking and abuse on French soil. 'Every time I met Mohamed Al-Fayed, he tried to assault me,' Svensson told French police of her two years working at the Ritz. Her testimony is all too familiar. The alleged crimes of Mohamed Al-Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, first came to light in a BBC investigation in September 2024. In it, several young women who worked at his upmarket London department store Harrods accused him of rape and sexual assault. Mohamed Al-Fayed (pictured) had young women medically examined like 'meat', subjected to 'thorough breast exams' and intimate tests before being allowed to work close to him, according to alleged victims 'Every time I met Mohamed Al-Fayed, he tried to assault me,' his former personal assistant Kristina Svensson (pictured) told French police of her two years working at the Ritz British police told reporters that 154 victims have so far come forward to say the former owner of Premier League club Fulham abused them. His brother Salah, who died in 2010, is also accused. But frustrated by London Metropolitan Police's investigation of the alleged crimes, which span more than 35 years, some victims have turned to France in the hope of finding justice. 'In England they're ignoring the trafficking... They just want to make it about Al-Fayed and Harrods,' said Rachael Louw, a former Al-Fayed employee, speaking for the first time about her ordeal. The French investigation, however, is handled by 'a unit specialised in human trafficking,' she said. It is 'a relief that our cases are actually being recognised as trafficking'. Louw was 23 when her bosses sent her to Salah Fayed's yacht on the French Riviera. Now after 31 years she was able to testify about what happened there to French investigators on February 10. Louw said she was first 'spotted' by Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1993 while working as a sales assistant at Harrods. Shortly after, she was placed on a management training scheme, which required her to submit to a medical exam by a Harley Street doctor before being employed by the chairman's office in the summer of 1994. The medical appointment went far beyond a standard checkup, with a pelvic exam and 'thorough breast exam', smear and HIV tests. And the results were not kept confidential. The report was handed over to Harrods, and described Louw's personal life: her parents' separation when she was young, her father living in the United States and the death of her mother and grandmother. The doctor also noted that she took a birth control pill, had a boyfriend and was in 'excellent' health. The doctor 'sent confidential information to arm the rapist', said French lawyer Eva Joly, who is representing Louw and another former Al-Fayed assistant. 'These young women were like meat, and they wanted to know if they were fit to consume,' said Caroline Joly, another member of the legal team. Several encounters were arranged between Louw and Salah Fayed at his home in London's glitzy Park Lane, where Louw said she was drugged with 'a crack cocaine mix'. Louw was then offered a job as an assistant to Salah in France and she was sent there by private jet. She said she refused further drugs, 'and because he didn't push anymore, I thought it was okay'. 'I had no reason not to trust this man... this was my first job from university.' Staff confiscated her passport as she flew from London's Luton airport to his yacht. And once she arrived, 'nothing' resembled the job she signed up for. 'I thought I was supposed to be filing paperwork, making arrangements, organising office work,' she said. Instead 'there was no office, no normal working hours, no time off. I was expected to just be with him', she said. Louw recalled appearing alongside Salah Fayed at dinners attended by elderly, wealthy men with 'young girls and lots of touching'. When she managed to call her boyfriend, who worked at Harrods, he was fired. One night, Louw woke up to find Salah in her bed, claiming he was lonely, she said. 'I went ramrod straight and the rest of the night I was awake just lying there petrified,' she said, fearing any movement would be an invitation for him to touch her. 'I didn't know what he would do to me... I didn't feel safe.' She saw other young women in the Fayeds' orbit. On a trip to Saint Tropez she encountered a red-headed 'young girl', possibly younger than herself, sunbathing on Mohamed Al-Fayed's yacht that was moored just off his villa. 'Mohamed starts rubbing lotion all over this girl, she's wearing a bathing suit and then he started to kiss her,' Louw told reporters. 'I don't remember anything else' of that day, she said, 'so I don't know if there were drugs, I can't say for sure whether I was drugged that afternoon,' she added. What jolted her to escape was the prospect of being trapped alone with Salah after he bought a speedboat with only one bedroom, telling her 'that he would take me to sail around the Italian coast'. 'I knew that if I went on that boat nothing good would happen,' she said. Panicked, she booked the first Air France flight out and worked up the courage to ask for her passport back, which she received although it was clear Salah 'was very angry'. Home again, 'I had blocked out' the details of what happened, she said. 'I didn't want to remember.' For decades she feared she was bound by a confidentiality agreement she had signed at her interview, but seeing other victims speak out against Al-Fayed in 2024, she reconsidered. 'How can I be silent? There has to be a cost to what the perpetrators did. Because if they go unpunished, it emboldens the next man. 'If we women do not speak up we become complicit in our own oppression... powerful men will never change a system that benefits them.' Despite the deaths of the brothers, the women hope investigators can still track down who enabled the trafficking network. 'There is no such thing as a small piece of information. Every element is useful for the investigation,' Al-Fayed assistant Svensson said, calling on victims and witnesses to speak to police. The Swedish woman arrived in France in 1993 and was placed by a temp agency at the Ritz in 1998, then owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed, as his assistant. Svensson, aged 30 at the time, was to help him manage his affairs after the death of his son Dodi with Princess Diana in a Paris car crash, perceived as a prestigious assignment. During her interview with the Ritz management, the questions posed were 'focused' on her appearance and her personal background, she said, even pointing out that she was the 'spitting image' of Al-Fayed's wife. The Ritz then sent her to Harrods in London for an interview with Al-Fayed himself, and organised accommodation for her at a luxury residence he owned. 'I had brought my CV. He wasn't interested in that. He only asked me personal questions.' What followed was a regular pattern of meetings with Al-Fayed. Svensson said she was left in a room alone for hours with no instruction, until he eventually arrived and she would endure sexual assault and attempted rape during which 'he'd laugh'. 'I hoped that in time he would see that I wasn't interested in him and that he would take me seriously,' Svensson told police. 'I was a foreigner, with no family or network in the country, no knowledge of French labour law, and no one to lean on financially if I quit.' In retrospect, Svensson compares herself to a closely watched 'luxury product' which Al-Fayed wanted to possess - 'a doll on a shelf'. Al-Fayed was born Mohamed Fayed in Alexandria, but later changed his surname to the grander Al-Fayed, while his brother kept the original family name. At the Ritz, she recalls that staff warned her that there were 'microphones and cameras in every corner'. And at a villa in Saint Tropez, she said a housekeeper suggested that she block her bedroom door at night. The Ritz Paris told reporters in a statement that it was 'deeply saddened by the testimonies and the allegations of abuse' and that it is 'ready to fully cooperate with the judicial authorities. Our teams do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour, which would be a serious breach of our code of conduct. 'We want to express our deepest respect to the women who spoke out,' it added. Harrods said it 'continues to support the bravery of all women in coming forward. Their claims point to the breadth of abuse by Mohamed Fayed and again raise serious allegations against his brother, Salah Fayed. The picture that has emerged suggests that this pattern of abusive behaviour took place wherever they operated.' They said more than 180 survivors had already received counselling support through its independent advocate. The store also urged survivors to claim compensation through the Harrods Redress Scheme. London's Metropolitan police said its 'investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al-Fayed's offending continues' and urged victims to come forward. 'The way the Met works has moved on immeasurably, and our teams have transformed the way we investigate rape and sexual offences.' Lawyers for the two women say their testimony helps sketch the outlines of a 'powerful system' of trafficking which resembles the one established during the same period by Epstein. 'As with Epstein, with the Al-Fayeds there is a frenzied consumption of young women and an organised system to procure them,' said lawyer Eva Joly, a former judge and European parliament member. 'The pattern is the same: selecting vulnerable young women, transport, accommodation, isolation and money, which is used to intimidate or corrupt,' she said. And as with the Epstein case, while the statute of limitations may have expired, an investigation into the Al-Fayeds can still establish the facts and identify any victims whose cases could be still prosecuted. 'We are only at the beginning of piecing the puzzle together in France,' Joly insisted. President Donald Trump warned this week that Iran is manufacturing weapons that could soon strike US soil, though his pitch for what should come next has left many with more questions than answers. Tehran is 'working on missiles that will soon reach' the US, Trump said during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. He also vowed to prevent Iran, the 'number one sponsor of terrorism,' from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump has openly flirted with regime change too, telling reporters recently that the ousting of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'would be the best thing that could happen.' But US intelligence reports have not yet concluded that Iran is capable of crafting a weapon capable of reaching the homeland. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessed last year that Iran could need until 2035 to create a 'militarily viable' intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) - the kind that travels thousands of miles, including, for a time, through space before the warhead plummets towards its target. 'Iran has space launch vehicles it could use to develop a militarily-viable ICBM by 2035 should Tehran decide to pursue the capability,' the DIA report states. Two aircraft carrier strike groups - representing around 15,000 soldiers, over a dozen ships, hundreds of planes and likely some submarines - are being used by Trump to get Iran to capitulate to his denuclearization demands. In addition, many thousands of troops and scores of military assets are on bases throughout the region, though there are some reports of evacuations. Trump has said that regime change in Iran 'would be the best thing that could happen' The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on February 26, 2026. The carrier strike group is made up of 7,500 to 8,000 soldiers An Iranian man has a photograph of the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei stitched to his uniform while leaving after the Friday prayer ceremony at the Mosallah mosque in Tehran, Iran, 27 February 2026 The stalemate has recently shown some signs of traction with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, with chief Iran negotiator Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman's foreign minister. Additional meetings are scheduled for Friday. 'The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight there is no chance that will happen,' Vice President JD Vance, who is a part of the negotiations with Iran, told the Washington Post. Still, the administration's aggressive military posture and brazen tone - Trump advisor Dan Scavino ominously posted a video of B2 stealth bombers readying on the runway to Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' around midnight on Thursday - signal a predetermined choice. Trump has ordered one of the largest US military buildups in decades right on Iran's doorstep as the two countries are in active negotiation about Tehran's nuclear program. What comes next has Congress on edge. And these days, whether by choice or design, Congress is all but powerless to stop the president from striking. 'Trump is preparing to attack Iran and draft America into an Iraq War 2.0. What does he think he will achieve, and at what cost? So far, we have no idea,' Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton, who served four tours in Iraq, wrote this week. 'And if Trump starts another war, and Congress wont stop him, then its time for the American people to hold both accountable. Its remarkable how many who voted for the Iraq War are still there,' the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement. The Senate narrowly passed a war powers resolution in January after the president successfully ordered the capture of ex-dictator Nicolas Maduro. However, the bill is stalled in the House as it faces bipartisan opposition. Lawmakers have historically ceded some wartime power to the president in the case of short, targeted campaigns or strikes, allowing the commander-in-chief to circumvent an official declaration of war. 'We dont need to be doing it. We took out their nuclear capability, and we dont need a long and protracted war in the Middle East,' Trump-foil Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said Tuesday. 'This is not America First.' An unclassified report from the Defense Intelligence Agency detailing the different ways the US homeland could be targeted by adversaries Air Force military aircrafts are seen parked on the tarmac of the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on February 25, 2026 Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23 This week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe as well as other top Trump administration officials briefed a select few members of Congress on the situation in Iran. The Islamic Republic's satellite launching vehicles may be able to eventually support advanced weapons, like nuclear payloads. Donald Trump's immigration crackdown is fracturing his own party, with Republican governors openly defying the White House over detention expansion as political fallout from the carnage in Minneapolis threatens to cost him at the midterms. Kristi Noem was rebuffed this week when she tried to build a new illegal migrant camp in New Hampshire by the state's Republican Governor, Kelly Ayotte. Merrimack residents were outraged when it emerged that the Homeland Security Secretary planned to use their town to expand Trump's mass deportation effort. Ayotte, a moderate Republican governing a blue state, informed Noem that she would not assist in the construction of the facility, according to Politico. Noem faced further pushback in Mississippi when the state's senior GOP senator, Roger Wicker, successfully derailed her plans for a proposed site earlier in February. 'It's a huge problem,' a Trump administration official told Politico. 'The mismanagement of Minneapolis lost us the narrative, and the dominos are falling as a result.' The rift between the Trump administration and state Republicans comes amid mounting political backlash against the Minneapolis crackdown, where two Americans were shot dead by immigration agents. An ICE spokesman attempted to downplay Noem's failure to build new immigration detention facilities by claiming the secretary had a 'great discussion' with Ayotte last week. The representative added that Noem plans to 'carry out the largest deportation effort in American history' and 'keep Americans safe.' Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem participates in Iowa's Roast and Ride in Des Moines, Iowa, in October The rift between the Trump administration and state Republicans comes amid mounting political fallout from the Minneapolis crackdown Noem and other top White House officials denounced Americans fatally shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis Some in the GOP are wary that voters could punish them at the polls if they appear too closely aligned with the White House on immigration Republican hesitation to back Trump's mass deportation agenda also comes as the midterm elections approach. Republicans hold a slim majority in both the House and the Senate, with recent polling suggesting Democrats are poised to flip one or both chambers. If the GOP suffers heavy losses in November, Trump would enter the final two years of his term as a lame-duck president. Some in the GOP are wary that voters could punish them at the polls if they appear too closely aligned with the White House on immigration. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, were killed by Border Patrol and ICE agents in January. Noem and other top White House officials, including Stephen Miller, labeled the dead Americans 'domestic terrorists.' The President, however, was displeased with the wave of negative press the White House faced following Pretti's death. Trump then tapped Noem's chief rival, border czar Tom Homan, to take control of the Minneapolis crackdown. Join the debate Do you support Trump's expansion of ICE detention facilities? Ayotte, a moderate Republican governing a blue state, informed Noem that she would not assist in the construction of a immigration detention facility Noem holds an assault rifle in an unorthodox fashion during a photo op with ICE agents last year After brokering a deal with local and state leaders, Homan initiated a drawdown of immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities earlier this month. Trump returned to the White House claiming a clear electoral mandate from voters after campaigning heavily on a promise of mass deportations. Noem is facing mounting scrutiny after she accused her own DHS employees of installing software on her phone and laptop to spy on her. The DHS chief on Thursday was interviewed by conservative podcaster Patrick Bet-David, claiming: '[Elon Musk] helped me identify that some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me, to record our meetings.' Noem did not provide any evidence to substantiate her claims. President Joe Biden was confronted over the death of children in Gaza on a flight Friday as he traveled to Columbia, South Carolina for a rare political event. A brunette woman stopped by Biden's seat in first class, telling him 'thanks for taking the time to talk with me.' 'Children in Gaza are dying every day,' she told the former President. 'We need to stop ...,' she said, as a Biden aide interrupted the exchange. The 83-year-old Democrat gave a wide-eyed expression to the woman. 'I know that,' he answered. 'I know that ...,' he continued before cutting himself off and looking straight ahead, as the woman was beckoned away. The video was captured by the AP's Meg Kinnard, who was also traveling on Biden's flight. Others were more excited to see the former President, as he posed for selfies outside the gate and greeted passengers on the plane and at both airports. The Gaza war was a major sticking point among Democrats during the 2024 race - with the then President stuck between a major protest movement among young people, who tended to vote Democratic, and Biden administration's historic support for Israel. Former President Joe Biden (left) talks with his seatmate (right) on a flight to Columbia, South Carolina on Friday departing from onald Reagan Washington National Airport. Biden was briefly confronted by another passenger over the war in Gaza The South Carolina Democratic Party has President Joe Biden headlining an event Friday night at 7 p.m. in Columbia, South Carolina. Biden flew commercial to Columbia Friday morning when he was confronted over the war in Gaza That division contributed to the loss of eventual Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden at the top of the ticket in July 2024. Polling conducted by the Institute for Middle East Understanding's Policy Project in January 2025 showed that 29 percent of the voters who had cast a ballot for Biden in 2020 went elsewhere in 2024 because 'ending Israel's violence in Gaza' was their top issue. The Gaza issue was the top issue polled for the reason why voters drifted away from the Democratic pick, the survey showed. Now, out of power, Biden is picking lesser battles. He was traveling to Columbia on Friday in what appeared to be a push to keep South Carolina as the Democrats' first-in-the-nation primary during the 2028 presidential cycle. The former President is headlining a 7 p.m. reception, billed to celebrate his primary win in the Palmetto State six years ago. Besides South Carolina, 11 other states are vying for the honor as the Democratic National Committee looks to mix up the early stages of the next presidential race. The DNC kicked off the process in October explaining that the goal was to get the 'strongest possible Democratic nominee for president through a fair, rigorous, and efficient process,' according to DNC Chair Ken Martin. South Carolina, as well as Biden's home state of Delaware, next door neighbor North Carolina - in a bid being pushed by Biden's former Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates - Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia all submitted bids. President Joe Biden poses for a selfie as a swarm of onlookers stand around him at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Friday morning in Washington, DC. Biden was on a flight to Columbia, South Carolina Former President Joe Biden takes a selfie with a passenger Friday morning as he awaited his flight to Columbia, South Carolina at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Biden is lobbying to keep South Carolina the first state to hold a Democratic primary in 2028 Former President Joe Biden takes another selfie with a passenger at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before traveling to Columbia, South Carolina to celebrate the anniversary of his 2020 primary win in the Palmetto state As did Iowa and New Hampshire, states that have traditionally held the first caucus and then primary. With the help of Biden's lobbying, South Carolina was chosen to host the first Democratic primary in 2024 over Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden's dominant performance in the first southern primary - thanks to a key endorsement from Representative Jim Clyburn, then the highest-ranking black Democrat in Congress - put him on the glide path to clinch the Democratic nomination in 2020. The push to elevate South Carolina in 2024 was intended to wave off any Biden challengers, as the President was facing negative polling regarding his advanced age. Only Representative Dean Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson ended up entering the 2024 Democratic race. Many Democrats now believe the party's fate would have been better had Biden dropped out of the race sooner or allowed for primary challengers, as Harris lost all seven swing states to President Donald Trump. In her victory speech, plumber turned new Green Party MP Hannah Spencer apologised to customers who booked her. The Gorton and Denton by-election winner joked: Now to my customers, I'm sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament. In an emotional victory speech pitched at her core inner-city vote, the 34-year-old said people are being bled dry and are sick of our hard work making other people rich. But before the by-election, the 34-year-old faced accusations of hypocrisy after it emerged she co-owned homes worth over 1m, offered tips to others on making the most of property deals and enjoyed jetting off on foreign holidays despite her partys criticism of flying. Trips documented on her social media include Amsterdam in 2018, jaunts to Valencia and Barcelona in 2016 and a trans-Atlantic trip in 2014 to New York and San Francisco. The same year, she also travelled to Hungary. While representing an environmentally-conscious party, her Instagram also showed her posing next to what appeared to be a petrol car emblazoned with campaign slogans. In another post, she mocked Brexit. Denton and Gorton contains some of Manchesters most deprived neighbourhoods with incomes 25pc below the national average. But Land Registry documents show Ms Spencer co-owns two houses in the citys most affluent postcodes with former partner Dr Stephen Holman, a biochemist. Hannah Spencer celebrates with Green Party supporters after her by-election victory Ms Spencer and Dr Holman were living in a smart, 280,000 terraced home in affluent Sale, but splurged 750,000 on another property five miles away in Altrincham 18 months ago, which is still a building site. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has vowed to abolish private landlords, tax the rich and bring in rent controls. In Mumsnet posts, however, Ms Spencer offered tips on making the most of property transactions. After her mother helped her buy her first home at 24, she has owned several properties - including a 736,000 second home apparently bought in August 2024. Join the debate Is Hannah Spencer a hypocrite? New MP Hannah Spencer with Green Party leader Zack Polanski In her posts, Ms Spencer - now the Green Party's fifth MP - advised others how to squeeze more cash out of people. In one case, where her buyers knew they were paying too much, she threatened them with selling to another buyer until they 'found' the money. She even referred to those who hike offers in increments as 'stingy and more likely to haggle'. Ms Spencer also admitted discriminating against those who need to borrow more to meet her asking price. 'The banks are getting warier by the day', she said, adding she 'wouldn't accept an offer from anyone' needing to borrow more 'unless I absolutely had to'. And she endorses second homes 'as an investment', also against Green policy. Ms Spencer previously talked down part of her new constituency - where she used to live - highlighting its plethora of money laundering takeaways, a busy main road and declaring Im so glad I moved. In a 2021 post on Mumsnet, she said of the Levenshulme district of south Manchester: I've bought and sold there (don't live there anymore) and I would be really, really careful about how much you spend as it certainly is a LOT of hype. 'It has been 'up and coming' for at least five years but barely anything has changed. In fact, a lot of the good stuff has sadly actually gone. While she praised the community spirit, the plumber claimed it was hugely blighted by a mile long row of (supposedly) money laundering takeaways which mean independent businesses can't get a look in and is centred around one of the busiest roads in Manchester which makes walking around not great. She added: I'm so glad I moved, you can get so much more for your money elsewhere. Ms Spencer, who rescues greyhounds and currently has four of the dogs as pets, recently expanded her skills, passing an intensive plastering course with distinction having spent Thursday nights practising on the course even during the campaign. Her previous foray into politics was coming fifth in the last Greater Manchester mayoral elections and also finishing fifth in the Warrington North seat at the 2024 general election. One constituent, Paul Hall, 43, an airport worker, said: 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. A Green Party spokesperson said: 'Hannah Spencer is a real life, working class, human being. That is why she is proving so popular. 'The Green Party doesn't believe people should be deprived of transport or holidays. Ms Spencer has split from her partner but remains on the paperwork for the houses. 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. Schools are finishing early with police lined up outside the gates amid a 'School Wars' TikTok trend encouraging armed brawls with rival pupils told to arm themselves with scissors. Parents and carers across London were on Friday told to make sure their children head straight home at the end of the school day and avoid large groups of people with police braced for violent interactions. Posters inspired by notorious LA street gangs the Bloods and the Crips featuring men in red and blue balaclavas and listing which schools fall under which 'side' have been circulating on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram all week. Hackney, Islington, Redbridge and Croydon are among the boroughs included in the 'Red vs Blue' fights, with 26 schools in total listed and split into teams, but parents from other parts of the capital have also reported similar posts. And as the school week came to a close, parents received letters from concerned officials telling them to watch their children and warning of an increased police presence. One email from Charter North Dulwich titled 'Social Media Post - Red vs Blue' said it aimed to 'reassure' recipients as the trend continues to build. It added: 'We may notice an increased police presence locally after school as a precaution. 'Charter North Dulwich is not mentioned in the posts; however, to help keep everyone safe, please remind your child to go straight home at the end of the school day and avoid loitering or gathering in large groups. Southwark schools are in close contact.' A TikTok post advertising the 'School Wars' TikTok trend. Schools are finishing early today with police lined up outside the gates Students are asked to have someone 'record' their attacks and for the footage to be sent to the organiser so they can be posted online and given extra 'points' The email then thanked parents and pupils for raising the issue which has seen the Charter School included in social media posts pitting it in a 'south London war' for years eight to 11. 'We will be speaking to all students to address this with them in the morning,' it said. 'Can you please speak with students to ensure that they should not participate in any activity, they should go straight home after school and ensure that they are with friends and family when going home. 'We will be staggering the exit from school tomorrow slightly to ensure that individual year groups can move away quickly (this will be communicated tomorrow) and ensure that there is a significant visible staff present around after school.' A separate note sent to parents by the Metropolitan Police regarding the TikTok trend's impact on that part of the capital as a dispersal order was issued for the whole of the Royal Borough of Greenwich from 11.30am until 10pm. It read: 'We are aware that several posts have been circulating on social media in recent days, and we understand that this may have caused concern among families.' The force added that it would be monitoring online activity, working with social media organisations to disable accounts encouraging violence, and would remain in contact with schools across 'several boroughs'. It continued: 'Police officers will continue to maintain a strong and visible presence around schools in some areas proactively to respond promptly and firmly to any reports of violence or disorder to help ensure the safety of all young people. 'Commanders across East boroughs urge people of the serious consequences of becoming involved in situations of this nature. 'Any involvement in violence or carrying weapons can lead to arrest, criminal charges or even imprisonment, with long term impacts on future opportunities. 'We ask that you speak with children about staying safe, making responsible choices, and reporting anything that concerns them to a trusted adult.' With police on high alert, parents at a primary school in Wandsworth were warned of an increased police presence in the area, particularly at the popular Southside shopping centre and King George's Park. Commander Neerav Patel of the Met Police said: 'We're aware of social media posts circulating and are in close contact with schools across several London boroughs to offer reassurance. 'Officers will maintain a strong, visible presence around schools, and will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder. 'We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have worked with platforms to request a dozen social media accounts to be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged. 'I would like to remind young people of the serious consequences of getting involved in matters like this. An arrest, charge and conviction for violence and carrying weapons could mean imprisonment with a significant long-term impact on future opportunities.' Many of the original posts have been deleted, so it is unclear exactly how many boroughs and schools have been called to fight at a number of gatherings this month. Another post laying out the 'rules' of the school wars tells children to 'jump' anyone they see from the 'opposite' side, specifying they must 'be violent'. They are encouraged to use stationary from their pencil cases, such as compasses, scissors and rulers, as weapons with some posters even depicting kitchen knives and fireworks. Students are also asked to have someone 'record' their attacks and for the footage to be sent to the original organiser so they can be posted online and given extra 'points'. The scoring system awards 20 points to children who punch an 'opp', 10 points for chasing them, 15 points for 'staining' them - slang for stabbing - and 10 bonus points for 'recording any of the above'. Since the posts began circulating online last week, parents have received emails about the worrying calls to battle from their children's headteachers who reassured them they had informed the authorities and police would be patrolling the areas. Other posts laying out the 'rules' of the school wars tells children to 'jump' anyone they see from the 'opposite' side, specifying they must 'be violent' They are encouraged to use stationary from their pencil cases, such as compasses, scissors and rulers, as weapons with some posters even depicting kitchen knives and fireworks Since the posts began circulating online last week, parents have received emails about the worrying calls to battle from their children's headteachers who reassured them they had informed the authorities and police would be patrolling the areas Parents also took to Facebook to warn others about the posts on their local community groups. Underneath one post about the Redbridge school wars, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting commented: 'Council and Police aware. 'I've also raised this at highest levels in government. 'Hope parents are clear with their children that we'll come down on this sort of behaviour like a ton of bricks.' Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, said: 'This is terrifying. Social media is driving violence in our schools. How have we got to the point where children are having to leave school early for their own safety. Enough is enough we must get on and ban social media for under 16s.' TikTok reportedly removed the posts on their platform for breaching their community guidelines after the Met alerted them, according to the Islington Tribune. A meeting was held in Croydon last week regarding the school wars planned in the area with police, the council and the Safer Neighbourhoods Chair in attendance. The dates for the Croydon fight gatherings are next Friday, February 27, followed by further meets on March 2, 4, 5 and 6. A statement issued after the meeting said: 'We want to reassure the community that headteachers across the borough and the council are fully aware of the situation. 'The Met Police, alongside community partners, have reviewed all available information and agreed a co-ordinated response.' This will include an increased police presence on February 27, the Legacy Youth Zone being open for children and teenagers, and community representatives 'present in key locations'. Local shopping centres the Whitgift and Centrale will also provide 'designated safe spaces'. There is nothing to suggest that the original posts were made by any child from any school that had been named. Taxpayers funded the alleged affair between a US Congressman and his staffer, as she was paid 26% more during the time she was sleeping with and working for the elected official. Records from the US House of Representatives shows Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales paid his then regional director Regina Aviles thousands in additional pay in 2024, while Gonzales was allegedly pursing her romantically, reported the Uvalde Leader News. Daily Mail first broke the news of the affair in October, just weeks after Aviles died in September after dousing herself in gasoline and setting herself on fire in her home in Uvalde, Texas- about two hours outside San Antonio. At the time, he did not deny the affair, but in November, Gonzales said it wasn't true. Additionally, in the last week, text messages between Gonzales and Aviles have surfaced appearing to show the Republican official asking his subordinate for sexy photos, about her favorite sexual positions and if she liked 'a**l.' The married mother-of-one started working for Gonzales in 2021. Her starting salary was $47,500, however, that was increased to $68,000 in 2024, according to the local newspaper. The same year, she was paid a $3,200 bonus. In 2022, Aviles' salary was $47,500 with an additional bonus of $4,000. Aviles started working for Gonzales in November 2021. He was elected to Congress that year Your browser does not support iframes. The next year, her base pay increased to $54,000, however, she did not receive a bonus. In 2024, her base pay jumped to $68,000 plus a $3,200. Another $1,678 was paid to her, however it's unclear for what. Aviles' total pay that year totaled $72,878. The paper also reported no one else who worked for married congressman and held similar roles made as much as Aviles did. Gonzales's office did not immediately respond to Daily Mail's request for comment regarding the pay. The three-times elected official is currently asking voters to send him back to Congress for a fourth term, however, Gonzales faces a tough primary against three other candidates. One of those candidates, Brandon Herrera, nearly beat Gonzales in the GOP primary two years ago. Gonzales squeaked in a victory by less than 400 votes. Herrera, a gun enthusiast with a huge YouTube following, accused Gonzales of funding his alleged affair with tax payer money. 'Its now coming out that not only did Tony Gonzales abuse his position to sexually prey on a married employee, wreck a home to the point of her suicide, lie about it to voters and press, refuse to deny once evidence came out, but now were finding it was taxpayer funded,' Herrera tweeted. Tony Gonzales and Regina Aviles with Elon Musk in Texas in September 2023. Their alleged affair began the year before, it is claimed US Representative Tony Gonzales, a father of six who presented himself as a family man, had two trysts in a cabin with a married aide before her suicide, a friend alleged Brandon Herrera, is running against Tony Gonzales in the Republican primary for the 23rd Congressional district in Texas, where Gonzales is the incumbent Aviles referenced her alleged affair with her then-boss Gonzales in a text message to a friend who shared the conversation with the Daily Mail. In a gray text bubble, Aviles was allegedly comforting a friend over problems at work. She allegedly typed, 'I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine.' A defiant Gonzales has refused to step down amid the growing scandal over his alleged romance with Aviles. 'I will not resign. I work every day for the people of Texas. And there will be an opportunity for all the details and facts that come out. What youve seen is not all the facts,' the married father-of-six told reporters earlier this week. Meanwhile, a growing number of GOP members of Congress are calling on him to step aside. Representatives Chip Roy (TX), Lauren Boebert (Colorado) and Nancy Mace (SC) are just some who have publicly called for Gonzales to resign. Mace has gone so far as to introduce a resolution calling on the House Ethics Committee to publicly release all investigations into members of Congress accused of sexual harassment or of a sexual relationship with a member of their staff, which is against House rules. Gonzales has been under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct into whether he violated House Rule 23, which bans members of Congress from sleeping with their staffers. On this campaign website, Gonzales presents himself as a family man, complete with photos of his wife and children, despite the alleged affair. Early voting for the Republican primary in Texas began on February 17. For help and support contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988 Britain said on Friday it had temporarily evacuated its embassy staff from Iran citing the security situation in the region. Britain's foreign office said its ability to assist British nationals was now extremely limited, with the embassy operating remotely and no in-person consular support available even in emergencies. The announcement follows repeated threats from President Donald Trump to strike Iran, and with the United States conducting its biggest military build-up in the region in decades. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was 'supporting the political process' between Washington and Tehran. The US embassy in Jerusalem also announced on Friday it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel 'due to safety risks.' 'On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of US government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks,' the embassy said on its website. 'Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,' it added. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee sent an email to embassy staff on Friday morning saying that those wishing to leave 'should do do TODAY', the New York Times reports. 'Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country,' he was quoted as writing. The announcement follows repeated threats from President Donald Trump to strike Iran Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran last year, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with fresh military action if it does not cut a deal with the United States. Iran said Friday that in order to reach a deal, the US will have to drop its 'excessive demands', tempering the optimism expressed after ongoing Oman-mediated talks seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war. It comes after diplomatic negotiations between American and Iranian officials collapsed on Thursday in Geneva amid disputes over the Islamic regime's nuclear program. The latest round of talks ended without a deal as both sides remained divided over key issues, including ending uranium enrichment, and dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities, according to The Wall Street Journal. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the American delegation as the President makes one last push for a diplomatic solution to avoid military conflict with Iran. Trump on February 19 gave Iran 15 days to reach a deal, and while Iran has insisted the discussions focus solely on its nuclear programme, the US wants Tehran's missile programme and its support for militant groups curtailed. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of northern Israel on Friday as part of the build-up. Washington has also approved the deployment of an experimental US military drone unit capable of self-detonation, known as Task Force Scorpion, according to Bloomberg. The deadly drone unit is a part of Trump's massive military build-up in the Middle East - the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Kamikaze drone unit was successful tested in the Arabian Gulf in December and reportedly cost approximately $35,000 per drone. The drones would likely be used to target Iranian nuclear facilities, road networks, and missile launch sites. 'We established the squadron last year to rapidly equip our warfighters with new combat drone capabilities that continue to evolve,' said US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of northern Israel on Friday as part of the build-up The Kamikaze drone unit was successful tested in the Arabian Gulf in December and reportedly cost approximately $35,000 per drone The drones, which are produced in Arizona, are designed for one-way attacks, reconnaissance operations and maritime strikes. Trump's new aerial weapons have 'an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously.' The new advanced drones stand ready as Trump promises to strike Iran if diplomatic talks fail. The US has also sent advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Israel on standby for deployment. Meanwhile, Washington currently has more than a dozen warships in the Middle East: one aircraft carrier - the USS Abraham Lincoln - nine destroyers and three other combat ships. It is rare for there to be two US aircraft carriers, which carry dozens of warplanes and are crewed by thousands of sailors, in the region. Trump said in his State of the Union address that he wants to strike a deal with the Ayatollah guaranteeing Tehran will never develop a nuclear bomb, but warned he is prepared for war if diplomacy fails. 'We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: "We will never have a nuclear weapon."' 'My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,' Trump added as lawmakers applauded. 'But one thing is certain I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror to which they are by far to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen.' A one-year-old Louisiana boy who died after he fell out of a moving pickup truck was not properly secured, police said. Nicholas Aguilar bounced out of the back of the red 2014 Dodge Ram truck at around 11.20am on February 20 after the vehicle's door swung open during a sharp turn. He was sent sprawling onto the concrete ground at the Murphy USA gas station in Baton Rouge before he was run over by the truck's back tire, authorities said. Aguilar was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The baby was not secured in a car seat in the rear passenger's side of the vehicle, police confirmed. Dramatic footage captured emergency personnel rushing to the baby after the accident while his mother, Eliza Aguilar, talked to the police. No arrests have been made, the Baton Rouge Police Department told the Daily Mail. It remains unclear who was driving the vehicle and if criminal charges will be filed against them. The investigation remains ongoing. Nicholas Aguilar, one, died on February 20 after he fell out of a pickup truck and was run over by its rear tire Paramedics and cops are seen rushing to his aid after he fell out of the truck Police confirmed Aguilar (pictured with his mom) was not properly restrained in the rear passenger's seat Aguilar's heartbroken family members have gone on to share photos of him online following his sudden death. His aunt, Tianna Aguilar, created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his mom. 'Our family is heartbroken, and we are trying to support her in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time,' Tianna said of her sister. 'The sudden loss has left us all in shock, and we want to give her baby a proper funeral and burial to honor his memory and say our goodbyes with love and dignity,' she added. The donations will go toward the funeral and burial costs for the baby's service, Tianna said. As of Friday, $710 had been raised for the family. Just hours after the tragic incident, Tianna took to Facebook requesting prayers for her family. A cop is seen kneeling down next to one of the truck's rear tires after the tragedy Footage captured his mother, Eliza Aguilar, talking to police at the scene In an update on Wednesday, she thanked everyone who has donated and shared the GoFundMe page. She also noted that the family's church, Lanie Baptist Church, has been assisting the family during this trying time. Aguilar's mother shared a picture of her alongside Aguilar and his older brother in September 2025. She captioned the loving image: 'It's a forever thing' with a heart emoji. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission told WBRZ 2 that state law requires that young children be properly restrained in a motor vehicle. 'All children have to be in a car seat until they're big enough or old enough to get out of one, and that starts from when you take them home from the hospital,' Lambert told the outlet. 'Their bodies haven't developed, and they need more protection, and the only thing that can really provide that accurately is a child safety seat,' he continued. Janette Fennell, the founder of Kids and Car Safety, echoed Lambert, adding that Aguilar wouldn't have fallen out if he were in a car seat. Aguilar's heartbroken family members have gone on to share photos online of Aguilar following his sudden death 'If that child was in a car seat, correctly restrained, there's no way they could fall out,' she said, adding that parents should also invest in inside door child locks for their cars. In Louisiana, the first offense for not properly securing a child in a car results in a $100 fine. The second offense costs $250 to $500 and third is $500, plus potential court costs. When improperly securing a child in a car results in death, those responsible can face serious criminal charges, including negligent homicide or manslaughter. Those charges carry significant time in prison and hefty fines. He infamously declared of White House intern Monica Lewinsky: I did not have sexual relations with that woman. That turned out to be a shamefaced lie. So why, skeptics now ask, should anyone take Bill Clinton at his word when he claims he has no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins sordid web of child sex crimes? Republicans are putting that denial to the test Friday as Clinton appears before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-doors grilling on his long-running association with the warped financier. Lawmakers wont be short of questions for the 42nd President of the United States - whose ties to Epstein stretch back decades. He flew on the dead perverts private jet, hosted him at the White House and was namedropped 1,604 times in the trove of Epstein files released last month by the Justice Department. According to the predators longtime accuser Virginia Giuffre, Clinton was even spotted reveling in the company of two lovely girls on Epsteins creepy Caribbean island. The 79-year-old has flatly denied the accusation - just as he insists their relationship amounted to nothing more than occasional contact rooted in shared philanthropic interests. Former President Bill Clinton has been linked to the pervert financier for decades and was photographed with him numerous times Epstein was also seen cozying up to the former president in the tranche of photos and documents released earlier this month Megyn Kelly revealed a 'creepy' 1999 photo of Bill Clinton allegedly 'looking down the chest' of two of her her young friends as Hillary began her deposition over ties to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday Democrats have been desperate to focus instead on President Donald Trumps once-chummy friendship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges. But its Clinton who faces a day of reckoning as he becomes the first former President ever compelled to testify before Congress against his will. Here, the Daily Mail previews the unsettling questions about his relationship with Epstein that Clinton will be dreading. FOLLOW THE TRAIL Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have come under massive pressure to publish an alleged 'client list' supposedly lurking deep within the Epstein Files. But the names of many alleged associates including one William Jefferson Clinton had already been found buried in paperwork in a 2015 defamation case filed by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein's right-hand woman Ghislaine Maxwell. According to Giuffre's lawyers, Clinton was a 'key person in the lives' of the billionaire pervert and his jailed madam, the trio enjoying a 'close relationship'. In a 2016 deposition, Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg testified that Epstein told her 'Clinton likes them young,' referring to girls. In one especially incendiary filing, a 2016 deposition from another victim, Johanna Sjoberg, she recalled Epstein telling her that 'Clinton likes them young', referring to girls. When asked about the two men's alleged friendship, Sjoberg added: 'I knew he had dealings with Bill Clinton.' Elsewhere in the since-settled suit Giuffre claimed that Clinton once intervened to stop a magazine expose about Epstein. Maxwell's lawyers asked her about a 2011 email exchange she had with a reporter friend in which they discussed the merits of selling her now-infamous photo with Prince Andrew to Vanity Fair. Giuffre had written: 'It does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex trafficking articles about his good friend JE.' Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has insisted the incident 'categorically did not happen'. PERVERTS' PARADISE Giuffre, one of Epstein's most persistent and brave accusers, died by suicide on April 25 this year at her home in Australia. But she left behind further tantalizing clues in her unpublished memoir 'The Billionaire's Playboy Club.' Giuffre's book claimed that Ghislaine Maxwell spotted her working at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in mid-2000 and groomed her for a job as Epstein's travelling masseuse. She claimed she was 15 at the time but later revised this to 17 in a deposition. In her memoir, Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre recalls a 'big dinner party' on Epstein's private Little St. James island where, she says, the guest of honor was 'the one and only Bill Clinton' Despite Giuffre's claims, Clinton has denied any knowledge of Epstein's 'terrible crimes' and says he never visited his island Giuffre also recalled attending a 'big dinner party' on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, Little St James widely known as Pedo Island. The guest of honor was, according to Giuffre, 'the one and only Bill Clinton'. 'Sitting across the table from us was Bill with two lovely girls who were visiting from New York,' Giuffre wrote in her memoir, an unsealed exhibit in her defamation case. 'Bill's wife, Hillary's absence from the night made it easy for his apparent provocative cheeky side to come out,' Giuffre continued. 'Teasing the girls on either side of him with playful pokes and brassy comments, there was no modesty between any of them. We all finished our meals and scattered in our own different directions. 'Strolling into the darkness with two beautiful girls around either arm, Bill seemed content to retire for the evening.' Clinton has denied any knowledge of Epstein's 'terrible crimes' and says he never visited his island. The extent of Clinton's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell came under intense scrutiny when a photo surfaced showing Ghislaine attending Chelsea Clinton's 2010 wedding. Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that Maxwell had attended as a 'plus one' of an invited guest FREQUENT LIAR Epstein went from university dropout to mercurial money manager, acquiring all the trappings of a billionaire playboy and majestic homes in New York, New Mexico, and Palm Beach, Florida. He bagged influential friends along the way, many of whom were listed in his 'little black book' of contacts where he noted down 20 numbers and addresses for Clinton. Despite repeatedly distancing himself from the child predator and his crimes, Clinton was allegedly close enough to be a frequent flyer on Epstein's plane, nicknamed the Lolita Express. Flight logs suggest that Clinton flew on the Boeing 727 on 26 occasions, traveling to an array of exotic locations including Brunei, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the Azores, Africa, Belgium and China. The Daily Mail previously published never-before-seen images of the former Leader of the Free World receiving a neck and shoulder massage from Epstein victim Chauntae Davies during a stopover in 2002. Davies, then a 22-year-old massage therapist who claimed she was recruited into Epstein's circle by Maxwell before being raped and abused, insisted that Clinton was 'charming and sweet' on a humanitarian trip to Africa that also included Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker. Clinton's camp insisted he took a 'total of four trips' from 2002 to 2003 on Epstein's aircraft, which last flew in 2016 and is slowly corroding at an airfield in Brunswick, Georgia. Staffers and Secret Service agents were present each time, they said. One of the Daily Mail's more disturbing ClintonEpstein images show Clinton receiving a neck and shoulder massage from Epstein victim Chauntae Davies during a 2002 stopover Flights logs show that Clinton flew on the Boeing 727 tri-jet on 26 occasions, traveling to an array of exotic locations including Brunei, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Africa. Clinton's team insists he took 'a total of four trips' on Epstein's aircraft between 2002 and 2003, which last flew in 2016 and is now abanoned at an airfield in Georgia In his memoir, Citizen: My Life After The White House, Clinton wrote: 'Even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein's plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. 'I wish I had never met him.' CROSSDRESSER-IN-CHIEF They say a picture speaks 1,000 words. But anyone who stumbled across Epstein's life-size portrait of a crossdressing Clinton would likely have been left speechless. The bizarro artwork depicts the former Commander in Chief lounging on a chair in the Oval Office in blood red heels and a figure-hugging blue dress. The outfit was said to resemble the semen-stained garment that Monica Lewinsky famously handed over to the Starr Investigation to test for Clinton's DNA. It was also strikingly similar to one worn by wife Hillary at a 2009 gala dinner for Kennedy Center Honorees. The painting was called 'Parsing Bill' and was created in 2012 by Australian-American artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid. In 2019, Daily Mail revealed Epstein had a bizarre portrait depicting the former Commander in Chief lounging on a chair in the Oval Office in blood red heels and a figure-hugging blue dress The painting which hung in the hallway of Epstein's Manhattan townhouse was called 'Parsing Bill' and was created in 2012 by Australian-American artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid. It showed Bill wearing a dress strikingly similar to one worn by Hillary Clinton at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors In October 2012, the picture was seen hanging in Epstein's $56 million New York townhouse, though it's unclear whether he owned the original or a print It's not clear whether Epstein owned the original or a print, but the image was spotted hanging inside the pedophile's $56 million New York townhouse in October of that year. Quite why Epstein would have such a lurid likeness of the former president in his home has been open to much speculation. 'It was absolutely Bill Clinton. It was shocking it was definitely a painting of him,' a source said to the Daily Mail when we revealed the portrait's existence in 2019. WEST WINGMAN Bill Clinton has owned up to six meetings with Epstein dating back to 2002. These include the four flights on his plane, an Epstein visit to the ex-president's Harlem office and a brief appearance at the pedophile's New York home. However, as the Daily Mail has previously revealed, Epstein enjoyed extraordinary access to the White House throughout the Clinton administration, a decade earlier. The deep-pocketed predator stopped by the West Wing just a month after Clinton's inauguration in January 1993. It was the first of 17 visits in three years, according to visitor logs, and he was accompanied by eight different women. These included Maxwell, who at the time of the first visit was 32, and Celina Midelfart a 21-year-old Norwegian heiress who once dated Donald Trump and another former Trump girlfriend Eva Andersson-Dubin. Epstein visited the White House on 14 separate days and stopped by twice in one day on three occasions during Bill Clinton's first term Epstein's first visit took place a month after Clinton's inauguration in 1993. He stopped by again months later on September 29, 1993 with Maxwell for a reception organized by the White House Historical Association after he donated $10,000 Records show the late pedophile brought girlfriends, Celina Midelfart (left) and Eva Andersson-Dubin to the White House Footage obtained by Daily Mail also revealed Epstein had photos of his visits to the White House displayed at his Palm Beach home. They could be seen in video taken by police officers when they raided the house in 2005 Epstein and Maxwell returned on September 29, 1993 to attend a reception organized by the White House Historical Association after he donated $10,000 to help renovate the building. It was one of the earliest instances of Epstein using philanthropy to gain access to powerful men, a tactic he deployed extensively to negate his 2008 conviction in Florida for having sex with underage girls. Photos from the event show Epstein and Clinton shaking hands with both men smiling broadly. The bulk of Epstein's visits came in 1994 when he went on a dozen occasions, meeting a variety of aides including Mark Middleton, a special assistant to the President. What I am about to say may shock you so if necessary, steady your nerves now. Have another cup of tea, or something stronger. Sit down in a comfortable chair of a kind that is not easy to fall off. There is a case for saying that the Andrew formerly known as Prince aka Mountbatten-Windsor has not only done his country a service but is the best thing to have happened to the Royal Family for years. You all right there? Everything OK? Let me explain. I first met him years ago (see my memoir Unleashed, still selling strongly) when I was Mayor of London. I have to admit that I was a bit grumpy to be told that I had been summoned to meet Prince Andrew. But my brilliant Private Secretary, Roisha Hughes, was adamant. You have got to go, she told me. The Prince was then the governments official trade envoy. So, we did. We went off to tea at Buckingham Palace, and it was all a bit bizarre. The Duke of York had a series of ideas, perhaps gleaned from some of his international contacts, about how we could make London even more attractive to the worlds billionaire investors. Bear in mind that this was back in the good old days, before Starmers Pol Pot war on wealth creators. London at the time had more billionaires than any other city in the world. But the Duke thought that we could do better. Look at Battersea Power Station, he said. I first met Andrew years ago when I was Mayor of London, writes Boris Johnson In a way I feel a bit sorry for Andrew, writes Boris It was an eyesore, a ruin. It was blocking development of a huge and potentially lucrative site at Vauxhall. Why dont we just knock it down, he said. As it happens, I had brought with me the late Sir Simon Milton, my wonderful deputy mayor. Simon tried to explain that the former power station was an architectural masterpiece. It was listed Grade 1, part of our cultural heritage. We were sure we could develop the site, but without destruction. Andrew was unconvinced. Itll never happen, he said. Well, what about this building, said Simon, waving his hand at the vast but gloomy room. It was an amazing site, a truly prime development opportunity. Why dont we knock down Buckingham Palace, asked my deputy? Andrew glared but rallied. Another thing, he said: a lot of his friends, potentially very significant investors, were complaining about Heathrow. There were terrible queues at immigration. Not enough of them were allowed to use the VIP suite. He had heard about my proposal for a much bigger and more efficient airport in the Thames estuary. He knew that one of the objections was the presence in the waters of a sunken World War II munitions boat called the SS Richard Montgomery. He had a brilliant solution. Why not make a huge steel net and wrap it round the wreck so that if it exploded the shock waves would not damage the airport? Right-oh, we said, pretending to take a note. One other thing, Andrew added: a lot of his friends were utterly fed up with the traffic. It was damaging Londons reputation. Suppose you wanted to leave town on a Friday afternoon, he said: well you could be delayed for hours. What about rephasing the traffic lights so as to give more time on green for everyone heading off for the weekend? I tried to persuade him that actually we did something of the kind (called Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique, or Scoot, since you ask), but that there were limits to what you could do, what with the cross-traffic and so on. I could tell that our answers hadnt really satisfied him, and that he had visions of billionaires being waved through Heathrow and through a series of green and deferential traffic lights to look hungrily at building sites being cleared of pesky heritage buildings. As we left, I am told I made some salty and unworthy remarks. But in a way I felt a bit sorry for him. He was the second son in a system that insisted on male primogeniture. The result was that he didnt have a role. But now, he does. Did you see the relief, the exuberance, with which the crowds greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales this week? Is it possible that Andrews ghastly pratfalls have actually intensified their enthusiasm? Like taking off a pair of ill-fitting ski boots, or suddenly basking in the sunshine after a sodden and miserable British winter, the pleasure is all in the contrast. Did you see the relief, the exuberance, with which the crowds greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales this week...? Is it possible that Andrews ghastly pratfalls have actually intensified their enthusiasm? asks Boris We look up from reading about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein and Mandelson, and all the horrific things that seem to have happened on that Caribbean island, and we have such a creepy sense of a conspiracy involving money and power and sexual dissolution that we feel we have been fire-hosed with slurry. And then we look at the other members of the Royal Family, and think how relatively decent and public-spirited they seem. How fine and how regal the King appears, what with his rather good watercolours and his interest in architecture and the environment by comparison and this is the key point with his brother. The second long and indeed the last conversation I had with Andrew took place when I was PM, and I was for some reason deputed to tell him that he could not attend some big public ceremony, for fear of embarrassing his mother and the whole institution of the monarchy. This time I had to go to Windsor to break the bad news. He was not thrilled. I tried to cheer him up. Look, I said, he needed to be a bit humble. He had to understand how people felt about things, ever since that disastrous interview on Newsnight. He needed to build back his reputation. Why not open a pub in the country, and run it with his ex-wife Fergie? She seemed to have the right sort of breezy personality. You could call it the Duke of York, I suggested. He looked at me sharply, as though I was pulling his leg. But I wasnt, really. Andrews tragedy is that he could never find anything useful or practical to do and so gave in to the appalling temptations that came his way. He will now face a long time of trial, in which things will get worse before they get better. But has he advanced the republican cause? Not an inch. Think of all the potential Presidents of Britain. Actually, I am struggling, but lets suppose it was a shoot-out between Jeremy Clarkson and Sandi Toksvig and some has-been centrist politician. You only have to frame it like that to see how ghastly and polarised it would all become just like everything else these days. The mere thought of it makes us shudder and appreciate what we have a romantic cultural asset of incomparable global reach, a person whose genes actually embody UK history, who gives continual service but steadfastly refuses to get involved in political questions. Its precisely because he makes us shudder, and think of the alternative, that Andrew has done the monarchy a favour. He has made them more intelligible to us, too, because every family has a black sheep or two. By the sheer scale of his disgrace, he has paradoxically intensified the dignity of the crown. A wife allegedly driven to suicide by her 'abusive husband' was given a 'total beating' after she 'switched off tracking devices' he was using to monitor her, a court has heard. Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who took her own life aged 34 in November 2017. The trial has heard how Ms Baird died of hanging at her home in Swindon and left a note which said: 'To my family, I am so sorry but I just couldn't take it any more.' Trybus, 43, also faces charges at Winchester Crown Court of controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of rape. He allegedly controlled his wife by using and threatening violence towards her, sexually assaulting her, threatening to reveal private information to her family, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting access to finance and isolating her from her family. The court today heard from an employee of Swindon Women's Aid (SWA), who cannot be named for legal reasons, who said he had regular contact with Ms Baird, who reported multiple incidents of violence as well as controlling behaviour against her by Trybus. She said that on June 28, 2017, she had written in her case notes that Ms Baird had told her that Trybus had come home after she had switched off the CCTV and then assaulted her. The court heard the notes said Ms Baird had said that when she had 'switched off tracking devices, Chris came home and gave her a total beating'. Christopher Trybus, pictured outside Winchester Crown Court on Friday with his new wife Bea She added that Ms Baird had previously told her that she believed Trybus 'used bugging devices in the house because she felt he was always one step ahead of her'. The court heard that Trybus's campaign of abuse began when Ms Baird asked his mother to move out of their house, leaving him 'furious'. Trybus did not forgive Ms Baird and he subjected her to an ongoing spate of assaults before her death, the jury was told. His mother lived with the couple between August and October 2015 at their home in Swindon. The court previously heard her presence caused friction between the pair and 'made matters more difficult at home'. Prosecutor Tom Little told the court today: 'Chris was furious and hadn't forgiven her. This is when the assaults started.' The SWA employee also told the court said that on July 11, 2017, she had received a text message from Ms Baird saying 'hel', which she said Ms Baird confirmed in a call the following day had meant to say 'help'. She said that Ms Baird had told her that 'Chris had attacked her again and that is why she sought support'. The SWA employee said Ms Baird told her that she also admitted to hospital in the same month after taking an overdose. She added that Ms Baird also told her that her family 'do not know about the domestic violence, they think she is a lunatic'. In September, the violence had 'escalated' and Ms Baird said 'she can't believe she is still alive', the employee added. The SWA worker also told the court that 'things escalated into physical violence' following Ms Baird's attempt to have her husband's mother leave the house. She told the worker in October 2016 that she was worried Trybus would lose his job if she reported him over the abuse, which included 'put[ting] a rope around her neck and strangl[ing] her'. Mr Little added: 'She said she wanted to make him angry enough to kill her.' The next month, she discussed the possibility of going to a refuge and told the SWA worker that she contemplated ending her life 'when she sees no way out'. After going to hospital for an injury, Ms Baird told the worker that her husband knew she was there somehow. 'How does he know I'm here? I will never get away from him, this is why I haven't come to the refuge, he will never leave me alone,' she told the worker. Ms Baird also said she believed Trybus had tracked her with a running app she had used and had beaten her with a stick used to open the loft door. In January 2017, she told the SWA worker about an incident involving her husband putting a rope around her neck causing her to pass out. Defending Trybus, Katy Thorne KC told the court on Wednesday that said Trybus denied sexual assaults against Ms Baird and the injury presented by Ms Baird to her neck was caused by a 'collar' worn during sex and an audio recording from her phone was of a 'kinky bondage type sex' that was consensual. The SWA worker also told the court that Ms Baird told her she believed Trybus thought he had killed her after a 'particularly violent attack' and fled the house. She was strangled until she was unconscious and he was not in the house by the time she regained consciousness, it was heard. In January 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker she believed Trybus knew 'lots of dangerous people in South Africa' and he suggested he arranged for her cousin's husband to be driven off the road and assaulted in January 2017. Speaking about her family, she said: 'She would rather die than cause them harm.' In May 2017, she told Trybus she was going to the shops and instead went to a refuge where she shared her worries about 'what happens next'. Tarryn Baird, pictured, died of hanging at her Swindon home in November 2017 aged 34 She left the refuge after receiving a call from Trybus. In June 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker she had been attacked about two weeks beforehand. 'Tarryn says she thinks he left because he thought he killed her,' Mr Little said. 'It was a particularly violent attack - strangled until unconscious, he was gone when she came around. 'She thinks he's tracking her as he seems to know when she's been to the gym.' This included when she had been in a panic and had gone to the gym at 3am one night. In September 2017, Ms Baird told the SWA worker that 'she can't believe she's still alive', and said Trybus had drowned her and beaten her with a metal bar. Mr Little previously told the court Ms Baird's GP noticed her physical injuries on multiple occasions between January 2016 and July 2016. But Ms Thorne told the jury on Wednesday that he denies the allegations and said Ms Baird presented a 'facade' to health professionals because of her own mental health issues and was 'addicted to the attention' she got from making allegations. She said: 'This without question is a tragic case, a young woman has died and she took her own life and nothing you decide in this courtroom can alter the grief and loss of those who loved her.' Ms Thorne added: 'The defence position is Christopher Trybus was never abusive to his wife, he didn't beat her, he didn't break her, he didn't coerce her, control her and he didn't cause her death. 'On the contrary, he loved her and cherished her deeply and his case is that without anyone's knowledge, Tarryn Baird was making demonstrably false allegations to health professionals. 'There are injuries but the defence case is that on a number of occasions Tarryn Baird made allegations of violence which were demonstrably false, for example, by reporting injuries to health professionals when Christopher Trybus was not even in the country. 'The defence case is that one obvious example of that on November 16, he says that he was out of the country, having left on 8th November and not returned until 23rd November. 'And yet during that period, Tarryn Baird made more than one set of allegations of domestic violence and took photographs of injuries, each of which she said was caused by him.' Ms Thorne told the jury they should question the 'reliability' of Ms Baird's claims and said: 'You will hear that Tarryn Baird had mental health problems which were longstanding and the defence case is that she was desperately seeking help and feeling she wasn't receiving it and she may have become addicted to the attention that her allegations brought. 'The defence case is that the reason why she never made the allegations to the police or went to a refuge was because the allegations weren't true and she didn't want that fact to be exposed.' Ms Thorne said Trybus denied sexual assaults against Ms Baird and added: 'Theirs was a healthy, consensual marital sex life enjoyed by both of them. Trybus and wife Bea pictured outside Winchester Crown Court on February 25, 2026 'It included some practices which may not be familiar or comfortable to everyone, including bondage and rough sex. 'What goes on in other people's bedrooms can be surprising, the defence case is that it was consensual.' Ms Thorne continued: 'The allegations of Tarryn Baird being trapped and controlled, the defence says are untrue and the defence will suggest that they will turn out to be just false. 'You will need to consider her claims that she was being financially controlled or kept away from family and friends bears scrutiny, his case is the absolute opposite is true.' She added: 'Health professionals were being told a false story and her boredom and troubled mind was leading her to make allegations to seek care and attention.' Ms Thorne said that the jury would need to consider if Ms Baird's suicide was a 'cry for help that went tragically wrong'. She added that Trybus's actions were not a cause of Ms Baird's suicide and said: 'The defence case is that there are other matters such as her mental health difficulties and withdrawal of services from her which led her to take her own life.' Trybus, who is a software consultant and developer, denies the charges and the trial continues. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support Democrats have pledged to grill Bill Clinton with 'hard questions' about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein but launched renewed attacks on Donald Trump. Clinton, 79, is being deposed on Friday at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York, where Hillary yesterday faced a grilling. Republican and Democratic lawmakers spoke to reporters before the hearing got underway, with both sides lobbing grenades at each other. Democrats were adamant that while Clinton had questions to answer, Trump should be in the hot seat after he was named extensively in the Epstein files. Democratic Virginia Representative James Walkinshaw said: 'Anybody who had a significant relationship with Jeffrey Epstein should explain what if anything and when they knew about the crimes that were being committed.' 'We're committed to asking tough questions about that today,' he added. Walkinshaw and other Democratic lawmakers also demanded Republicans force Trump to testify under oath about his relationship to Epstein. Trump is facing mounting scrutiny to testify after multiple outlets reported that the Justice Department withheld dozens of FBI interview documents containing sexual assault allegations against him. Republican Oversight Chairman James Comer vowed to investigate Bill over his relationship with Epstein after the former first lady declined to answer questions about her husbands ties to the financier. 'There were at least a dozen times when she said, "You'll have to ask my husband that. I can't answer that,"' Comer said. Comer said he would ask him about Epstein's 17 visits to the White House while Clinton was in office, as well as the former president 27 trips on the pedophile's private jet. Clinton is the first ever former president compelled to testify before Congress against his will. The 79-year-old finally agreed to testify after being threatened with contempt charges. Bill Clinton with his arm around a young woman on a private jet in a photo from the Epstein files Former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub and a woman whose face has been redacted are seen in another image from the files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell grin with Clinton during a VIP tour of the White House in 1993 Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse President Clinton and wife Hillary share a tender moment during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington, July 17, 1996 While Hillary told lawmakers she never met Epstein and only Ghislaine Maxwell on a few occasions, Bill has to answer to far more damning evidence. Photos released by Congress and the Department of Justice over the last few months show the former president on a private jet with his arm around a young woman, swimming with Maxwell and relaxing in a hot tub with another unidentified woman . Clinton and Epstein were associated from the early 1990s and into the early 2000s. He says he flew on Epstein's private plane during Clinton Foundation trips before the financier was charged with any sex crimes but denies wrongdoing and says he cut ties years before Epstein's 2006 arrest for soliciting prostitution from a minor. No evidence has emerged implicating either Bill or Hillary Clinton in criminal conduct related to Epstein . Hillary said Thursday that she expected her husband to testify that he had no knowledge of Epstein's sexual abuse at the time they knew each other. Presidents vs. Congress Sitting presidents No sitting president has ever been successfully forced by a congressional subpoena to provide live testimony. DOJ argues sitting presidents have 'absolute testimonial immunity' to stop Congress from using subpoenas to interfere with the President. When Richard Nixon was subpoenaed by Congress over Watergate in 1974, he was a sitting president. He was forced to turn over documents because of a criminal trial, but he never gave live testimony to Congress. Former presidents The legal protection is weaker but still intensely debated. The Supreme Court ruled in Nixon v GSA that ex-presidents retain some 'executive privilege' over their past communications, but they do not have the same immunity as a sitting president. Refused: Harry Truman (1953) Truman was subpoenaed as a former president by the House Un-American Activities Committee over claims he appointed a Russian spy to the IMF despite FBI warnings. He refused to show up, claiming that if Congress could grill ex-presidents, it would ruin the independence of the office. Congress did not enforce the subpoena. Refused: Donald Trump (2022) Trump was subpoenaed as an ex-president by the January 6 Committee. He sued to block it. The committee eventually withdrew the subpoena. Refused: John Quincy Adams (1846) Quincy Adams was subpoenaed by the House over the misuse of Secret Service funds by Secretary of State Daniel Webster. He refused to testify in person but gave written submissions. Complied: John Tyler (1846) Tyler was subpoenaed in the same case as Quincy Adams. He testified before two separate committees. Why this matters for the Clintons The Clintons argue that since Trump was allowed to ignore a subpoena in 2022, the same rules apply to them. In their letter, they accused Comer of trying to 'punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends.' Advertisement Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, predicted Thursday that the ex-president's deposition will take 'even longer'. 'The Clintons haven't answered very many, if any, questions about their knowledge or involvement with Epstein and Maxwell,' he added. 'No one's accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing,' he added. Republicans have wanted to question Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epstein's 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year, when the new DOJ photos revealed new depths to the well-publicized Epstein relationship. Epstein visited the Clinton White House at least 17 times between 1993 and 1995 and the pair later made international trips together for their humanitarian work. In the lead-up to the deposition, Clinton has insisted he had limited knowledge about Epstein and was unaware of any sexual abuse he committed. In a declaration to lawmakers last month, Clinton admitted flying on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 while he was traveling internationally for the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said Epstein 'offered a plane that was big enough to accommodate me, my staff and my US Secret Service detail, in support of visiting the Foundation's philanthropic work.' The former president said he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, where many of the pedophile's accusers say they were trafficked for abuse. Maxwell said in an interview with the Justice Department last year that Clinton was never there. 'I do not recall speaking to Mr. Epstein for more than a decade prior to his 2019 arrest' Clinton's declaration said. Hillary said after her deposition: 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light.' Comer has pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence as his only co-conspirator ever convicted. Democrats argue that it sets a precedent that should also apply to Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. Only four ex-presidents - Trump, Harry Truman, John Tyler and John Quincy Adams - and one sitting president, Richard Nixon, have been formally subpoenaed by Congress to testify. Trump, Truman, Nixon, and Quincy Adams all refused to comply, while Tyler agreed to appear. The Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether a president can be compelled to give testimony to Congress, though the DOJ has historically argued that presidents have 'testimonial immunity' to protect the separation of powers. 'We're demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats,' Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said Thursday. Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick was a longtime neighbor of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epstein's home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife. The public release of case files showed that Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epstein's home, and in 2012, his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island. A new photo emerged last night that appeared to have been deleted by the Justice Department, showing Lutnick on Epstein's private island. Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Clinton and an unidentified man in a photo from the Epstein files Clinton and the pedophile financer were photographed together multiple times in the release An oil painting of Clinton dressed as a woman that Epstein kept at his home The apparent removal of the photo sparked renewed calls for Lutnick to testify and deepening concerns over the alleged cover-up by the Trump administration. 'He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee,' Garcia said of Lutnick. Comer on Thursday said that it was 'very possible' that Lutnick would be called to testify. I first came face to face with Ian Huntley inside the very school where he was employed as caretaker, a position that gave him quiet authority and access, but hid the monster within. Behind Huntleys composed exterior was a calculating, cold-blooded predator. Ten-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, pupils at nearby St Andrews Primary, had been missing for more than a week by the time I met him, and a vast and increasingly frantic police search was underway to find them. Their bright red Manchester United tops so heartbreakingly recognisable would become symbols of the unfolding tragedy in Soham. It was August 2002, and the small Cambridgeshire town of Soham was swarming with journalists and police amid one of the most intensive search operations ever seen in Britain. Helicopters buzzed overhead and search teams, whod already spent days scouring the windswept fens, mingled with the friendly townsfolk. Everyone was clinging to the hope the girls would turn up safe and well. The local school had become the hub of the policing operation the place from which the investigating team and distraught families broadcast their gut-wrenching appeals for information. How could any of us have known the person holding the vital information was there among us? At the time, I was a producer with Sky News. I got to work and made it my business to find the last-known person to see the girls alive. When I asked for directions to Huntleys house, I was surprised to find it lay right next to the school. My first encounter with the caretaker was in the school hallway as I looked for the press briefing area. Or, rather, he encountered me, blocking my path: What are you doing in here and what do you want? he demanded, clearly showing that this was his domain and he was in command. I explained I was a journalist and he gave his gruff consent to enter. Ian Huntley, then caretaker at Soham Village College, had a mask of composure but beneath that, writes Ed Fraser, was 'a calculating, cold-blooded predator' Best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, pictured in their Manchester United shirts, which Huntley attempted to burn in order to destroy incriminating evidence Little did I know that Id been looking into the unflinching eyes of a murderer. I had no idea that the girls shirts would be found just a few feet away in the school boiler room, where Huntley had tried to burn them in an attempt to destroy evidence. The shirts would later become a key part of the case against him. I left Huntley and headed to the house next door. When I rang the doorbell, Huntleys girlfriend Maxine Carr appeared and stated that shed been employed as the girls teaching assistant. She expressed her shock and sadness about the missing children crocodile tears it would turn out. I asked whether her partner, Huntley, might be interviewed and she immediately agreed: Anything to help the girls, she said. We made arrangements to return a few hours later. When we came back, we found Maxine Carr transformed. As I would later testify at the Old Bailey, Carr was wearing fresh new clothes, bright make-up and lipstick and agonisingly was holding a handmade card the missing girls had given her at the end of term. It became obvious we would have to interview Carr, which had clearly been her intention, and started talking and were immediately drawn to her description of Holly and Jessica in the past tense: They were just lovely girls, she said. It was startling. Could have been a slip of the tongue? Was it worth telling the police? When, not long afterwards, our presenter and correspondent Jeremy Thompson spoke to Huntley himself, the interview became a matter of significant public record. Huntley was strangely aloof, imperious and clinical in his answers. When Ed Fraser interviewed Maxine Carr who, oddly, spoke about the missing girls in the past tense she was holding a handmade card they had given her at the end of term Positioned outside the caretakers house, Jeremy began by recounting the information we had on the missing girls: How do we know they were here at 6:15pm? Well, we have an eyewitness, Ian Huntley. Ian, youre the school caretaker, the girls Jessica and Holly would know you, and they saw you on the front doorstep. What went on? Huntley replied as follows: I dont know the girls. I stood on the front doorstep grooming my dog down. Shed run away and come back a bit of a mess. They just came across and asked how Miss Carr was, and she used to teach them at St Andrews. And I just said she werent very good as she hadnt got the job. [Carr had failed in a recent application for a full-time teaching assistant role]. And they just said, Please tell her that were very sorry, and off they walked in the direction of the library over there. Jeremy told Huntley on air that he was probably one of the last people to see them alive. It seems that way, came the reply. The very next day, amid growing suspicion based partly on the way they behaved in interviews such as ours Huntley and Carr were arrested for questioning and released on bail. That night we decided to phone Maxine Carrs mobile. Jeremy tried to speak to her but the controlling Huntley took the phone and insisting they were doing just fine. In a revealing interview, Huntley admitted talking with the girls on the front doorstep of his house (pictured), which was just round the corner from their school In court Huntley showed 'no indication of remorse or understanding of the devastation he had caused', says Ed Fraser Teaching assistant Carr was found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice for helping cover up her boyfriend Huntleys crimes The following morning, August 17, they were rearrested and this time charged. The bodies of the two girls were found that day. Theyd been discovered by a dog walker in Fenland, in a stream near a large American airbase a secluded area which, as it would later turn out, was known to Huntley. For those of us involved, news of the discovery was a moment we will never forget. The next time I saw the accused couple was in Number One Court in the Old Bailey, where I would testify on oath about the striking discrepancies in the accounts of Huntley and Carr as they sought to evade justice. Ed Fraser testified against Huntley and Carr in the Old Bailey Huntley sat impassionate in the dock, the embodiment of evil. He stared at me with no indication of remorse, or understanding of the devastation he had caused. His partner in crime, Carr, was more animated and seemed to follow the proceedings in detail. She watched carefully as I gave my evidence in the tiny courtroom, seeming to present herself as a wronged and innocent party. But she would be found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice for helping cover Huntleys crimes. Huntley has never explained his actions an additional cruelty for the girls families and I refuse to feel any pity for him. He showed not an ounce of human emotion, which left me in no doubt about my own verdict: that Huntley is a dangerous psychopath who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars. A Republican who may have a terminal diagnosis has been asked to hold onto his congressional seat to help the GOP cling to control on Capitol Hill. Representative Neal Dunn of Florida may have a terminal illness, Speaker Mike Johnson told a group of GOP donors at a retreat in Florida on Friday, Punchbowl News first reported. Dunn, 73, has said he will not run for reelection. He also has ruled out resigning before his term ends in early 2027. 'I have no comment on personal issues such as Dr Dunn's health. He has been working as usual,' a spokesman for Dunn told the Daily Mail. 'As a dedicated public servant, he will remain in Congress to represent his constituents through the end of this term,' his representative said earlier this week. But the announcement from Johnson that Dunn has a terminal illness underscores just how far the GOP is willing to go to maintain control of the House. With the current 218-214 split, losing just two seats could mean forfeiting the GOP majority and deadlocking on party-line votes. Democrats could tie up the Republican agenda for the remainder of the year if Dunn retires early and if liberals get an unexpected special election win this year. Congressman Neal Dunn, 73, may have a terminal diagnosis, it was reported on Friday The Republican representative, of Florida, has already said he will not run for reelection Dunn's potential early retirement could throw a wrench in Speaker Mike Johnson's control over the House of Representatives and tie up legislation pushed by President Trump. Dunn says he will not go early Dunn seemingly will be spending his time with his colleagues on Capitol Hill, defending the Republican majority from falling to Democrats, despite the potential diagnosis. However, a special election for ex-congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's former seat, set for March, should add another Republican to the House, given how conservative the district is. A likely runoff could delay the newest member's swearing in until April. Johnson is already facing difficulties passing any legislation without getting the entire GOP conference on board with his priorities. This has led to some of the longest votes in US history, forcing Johnson to keep votes open for hours until he gets everyone to back his agenda. Dunn's health has been in question for some time. This month, he has been spotted wearing a face mask on Capitol Hill, setting off speculation about his health. 'Don't I look good?' Dunn told reporters when asked about his health. Governor Ron DeSantis's wife, Casey DeSantis, may be keen on running in Dunn's district, Florida Politics reported. Bill Clinton has issued a blistering statement claiming that he 'did nothing wrong' with Jeffrey Epstein as he slammed Republicans for forcing Hillary to testify. 'I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,' Clinton told lawmakers at a historic closed-door deposition on Friday near his home in Chappaqua, New York. The former president fumed at Republicans for dragging his wife to testify after Hillary on Thursday repeatedly told lawmakers she never met Epstein. 'Before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing,' Clinton said. 'She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right.' Clinton signaled that his answers regarding Epstein would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall.' 'You'll often hear me say that I don't recall. That might be unsatisfying. But I'm not going to say something I'm not sure of,' he continued. 'This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess. This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn't help you for me to play detective 24 years later.' Lawmakers are grilling Clinton after evidence from the Epstein files revealed new depths of his friendship with the pedophile. Photos released by Congress and the Department of Justice over the last few months show the former president on a private jet with his arm around a young woman, swimming with Maxwell and relaxing in a hot tub with another unidentified woman. Former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub and a woman whose face has been redacted are seen in another image from the files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Bill Clinton and an unidentified woman on a private jet in the latest release of the Epstein files. The former president said he only ever traveled with the pedophile for charity work Clinton has issued a blistering statement claiming that he 'did nothing wrong' with Jeffrey Epstein as he slammed Republicans for forcing Hillary to testify Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse During his opening statement on Friday, the former president opened up about growing up in a family plagued with domestic abuse. 'As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doingI would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals,' Clinton said. Clinton's stepfather, Roger Clinton, was an alcoholic who was physically abusive to Clinton's mother, Virginia Kelley. The former president has previously recalled intervening to defend his mother against his stepfather's abuse. Epstein visited the Clinton White House at least 17 times between 1993 and 1995 and flew at least 27 times on the pedophile's private jet. 'But even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that ever gave me pause. We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,' Clinton added. 'And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.' Clinton is the first ever former president compelled to testify before Congress against his will. The 79-year-old finally agreed to testify after being threatened with contempt charges. The deposition is being held in private, but it is recorded by cameras and the testimony is expected to be released after it is viewed by the Clintons' legal team. Republicans have sought to question Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epstein's 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year, when the new DOJ photos revealed the president's relationship with Epstein ran deeper than previously reported. Join the debate Should former presidents be held fully accountable for the company they keep, no matter how powerful their friends are? President Clinton and wife Hillary share a tender moment during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington, July 17, 1996 The painting of Clinton dressed as a woman that Epstein kept at his home Former president Bill Clinton (right) and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (left) arrive at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 20, 2017 Clinton's motorcade arrives for the deposition in Chappaqua on Friday. The President was not pictured outside the hearing building Epstein and Maxwell speaking with then-President Bill Clinton at an event that took place in 1993 for donors to the White House Historical Association In a declaration to lawmakers last month, Clinton admitted flying on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 while he was traveling internationally for the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said Epstein 'offered a plane that was big enough to accommodate me, my staff and my US Secret Service detail, in support of visiting the Foundation's philanthropic work.' The former president said he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, where many of the pedophile's accusers say they were trafficked for abuse. Maxwell said in an interview with the Justice Department last year that Clinton was never there. 'I do not recall speaking to Mr Epstein for more than a decade prior to his 2019 arrest' Clinton's declaration said. Hillary said after her deposition: 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light.' James Comer has pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence as his only co-conspirator ever convicted. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., speaks outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton was testifying before US House lawmakers as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday Hillary Clinton's Epstein testimony was halted after a photo was leaked to a MAGA influencer on Thursday Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press Protesters demonstrate near the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center ahead of former US President Bill Clinton's closed-door deposition United States Representative Lauren Boebert, a 39-year-old grandmother, arrives with her grandson at the entrance to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton is set to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein Clinton signaled that his answers regarding Epstein would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall' Boebert braves the snowy weather in leopard-print heels and a skirt as she tows her grandson along for Clinton's Epstein hearing in Chappaqua on Friday Democrats argue that it sets a precedent that should also apply to Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. Only four ex-presidents - Trump, Harry Truman, John Tyler and John Quincy Adams - and one sitting president, Richard Nixon, had been formally subpoenaed by Congress to testify. Trump, Truman, Nixon and Quincy Adams all refused to comply, while Tyler agreed to appear. The Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether a president can be compelled to give testimony to Congress, though the DOJ has historically argued that presidents have 'testimonial immunity' to protect the separation of powers. 'We're demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats,' Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said Thursday. Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. A mother murdered her two children and then herself inside their home in an upscale gated community where Mick Jagger once lived, investigators believe. The 44-year-old killed her 14-year-old son first, then her 11-year-old girl, before taking her own life at the mansion in The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch, just outside Sarasota in Florida, on Thursday night, police said. Manatee County Sheriff's Office declined to identify the victims or offer further details on how the mother killed her children. The Lake Club is filled with multimillion-dollar mansions - one of which Jagger bought in 2020 and sold for $3.25 million in 2023. Police were called to the mansion by the woman's husband who said he hadn't heard from his family while in South America for business. Cops did a welfare check about 8.30pm and caught a glimpse of the bloodbath through one of the mansion's windows. A mother murdered her two children and then herself inside their home in a gated community of The Lake Club (clubhouse pictured) in Lakewood Ranch, just outside Sarasota in Florida The Lake Club is filled with multimillion-dollar mansions - one of which rockstar Mick Jagger owned with his fiancee Melanie Hamrick (pictured together) in 2020 to 2023 The family moved in from Missouri about three years ago and there was no history of police calls to the house. Investigators said the mother 'knew what she was doing' and the evidence showed the murder-suicide was planned. Forensics were at the house investigating and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death. Police refused to reveal how the trio were killed but said it was a 'violent scene'. 'This is a horrible thing for the deputies to have to witness. Even worse, for the father and the husband who was on his way back from South America,' they said. 'He flew in this morning and had to be notified of what happened here. It's an incredible emotional day for him. It's not a good scene at all.' The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch said it had no information to add. The perfectly painted claws are out as two of Irelands most powerful beauty titans prepare for a showdown releasing very similar products in the same week. Suzanne Jackson, the SOSU Cosmetics founder who built an empire from scratch, will take to shelves alongside Pippa OConnor Ormond, the model turnedmogul, whose POCO line has become one of Irelands most popular beauty brands. The duo are making the most of the extremely lucrative world of Kbeauty, both releasing skintransforming ranges inspired by the South Korean glass skin phenomenon on the very same week. For the uninitiated, Kbeauty (Korean beauty) is a relatively new skincare phenomenon to reach Western shores. It has its origins in the East, where oriental women are famed for their translucent, youthfullooking complexions. It has now garnered a global reputation as being the gold standard for skincare, focusing on hydration, gentle exfoliation and that elusive litfromwithin glow. Now, Suzanne and Pippa are bringing those Seoulinspired secrets to Ireland. So as the two influencers battle for the top spot, who really has the winning formula? Famed for her getupandgo, Suzanne Jackson was first out of the Kbeauty trap with the launch of her SosuK range, which is loftily billed as a comprehensive collection that promises to reset the complexion. The SoSu Skin Renew range Not to be outdone, Pippa has countered with Poco Skin, a curated selection of essentials designed for the woman on the go In keeping with the stockintrade that has propelled Suzanne to multimillionaire status her latest accounts show she has banked a conservative 10 million she has gone allin on the ritualistic element of Kbeauty. Her range features a standout Double Cleansing Duo, deemed the holy grail of Korean skincare. Sources close to the SOSU camp say Suzanne spent two years perfecting the textures, focusing on fermented ingredients and snail mucin alternatives. Her Glow Serum has already sent social media into a frenzy, with fans claiming it provides an instant filter effect. Suzannes approach is maximalist: more steps, more glow and more glamour. Pippa, true to her more paredback personal brand, has opted for a lessismore philosophy. Her POCO Skin line focuses on multitasking heroes. The star of Pippas Kbeauty show is the HydraCloud Moisturiser, which uses advanced Korean technology to lock in moisture for 24 hours. Poco Beauty's Dream Glow range Pippa O'Connor Ormond's POCO Skin line focuses on multitasking heroes While Suzanne focuses on the process, Pippa focuses on the result for the busy mumofthree. Its chic, streamlined and housed in the kind of quiet luxury packaging that looks expensive on any vanity. Of course, in a costofliving crisis, the battle is often won at the checkout. Suzanne has remained loyal to her affordable luxury roots. With price points typically ranging from 15 to 35, she is firmly targeting the GenZ and Millennial market who want highperformance skincare without the designer price tag. Pippa, however, is positioning POCO Skin slightly higher in the market. With some products nudging the 45 mark, she is courting the investment shopper, the woman who previously plucked for toptier creams like La Mer or Charlotte Tilbury but now wants something more affordable and also to support Irish brands. When it comes to cultivating loyal customers, a faithful community translates to cold, hard cash. Such is the nature of the social media sphere, people are no longer purchasing a product, they are buying into a person and, by extension, a virtual circle of friends. By shelling out for an eponymous influencer brand, consumers are coopted into feeling theyre part of a clique. It is not uncommon for normal people to immediately share pictures of their recent purchases or screenshots of their online shopping baskets, to feel like they are part of the particular influencers inner circle. Its the Mean Girls effect in reverse, where buyin gets you into an elite clique. If there is competition between the influencers, the clamber of clout among their followers is beyond fierce. The influencers themselves are acutely aware of the power they hold over their fans. It is not uncommon in fact it is de rigueur to see influencers respond with energetic gusto to flattering comments or prying enquiries from their starryeyed base when new products drop. Engagement rates between influencer and the influenced skyrocket in efforts to bring them further into the fold and not see them stray to rival brands. Its a failsafe marketing strategy that has served both Suzanne and Pippa enormously well. The pair are all too aware that the Irish beauty market is crowded, and theres always a new pretty social media whipper snapper waiting to step in. So it is testament to their respective tenacity that they have maintained their high ranking. Suzanne, with her 300,000 followers, has the SoSueMe army behind her. Her marketing is highoctane, featuring glossy shoots in Dubai and highenergy TikTok tutorials. She is the every girl who made it big, and her followers are more than ready to buy into her boss b**ch lifestyle. Pippa, meanwhile, occupies a different space. She is the epitome of aspirational elegance. Her 400,000 followers tune in for her interior design tips and family life as much as her makeup. When Pippa says a cream works, her devotees (the Pippettes) clear the shelves within minutes. As the two moguls now go headtohead, the industry is watching closely. Can the market sustain two major Kbeauty launches from two of the countrys biggest stars? If you want the full, tenstep Korean experience with all the bells and whistles, Suzannes SosuK is your winner. Its fun, trendy and delivers that highshine glass skin look that is dominating Instagram. However, if you are looking for a sophisticated set and forget routine that fits into a hectic lifestyle, Pippas POCO Skin might just have the edge. It feels like the grownup option for those who want the benefits of Korean technology without the complicated steps. One thing is for sure the great skincare divide has begun. In salons and coffee shops across the country, the debate is raging. In the world of Irish beauty, there can usually only be one queen. But as Kbeauty takes over the world, there might just be enough room on the throne for two. To help you decide which moguls formula belongs on your vanity, here is the technical breakdown of the ingredients and where these beauty powerhouses are produced. PIPPA OCONNOR: POCO Skin Pippa O'Connor Ormond of POCO. If you are looking for a sophisticated set and forget routine that fits into a hectic lifestyle, Pippas POCO Skin might just have the edge Where its manufactured: Pippas products are made in Italy. Known for highend luxury cosmetics and clean beauty standards, Italian labs are where many of the worlds top designer brands (like Charlotte Tilbury or Chanel) produce their formulas. 3Oethyl ascorbic acid: This is a highly stable, nonirritating derivative of vitamin C used in her Universal Glow Serum to brighten skin without the stings often associated with pure Lascorbic acid. Ceramides: Her Skin Flood line is packed with ceramides to repair the skin barrier, essential for the Irish climate, which can be harsh on sensitive skin. Marshmallow root and liquorice root: These are used as natural brightening agents to reduce hyperpigmentation and redness. Squalane: A plantderived emollient that mimics the skin's natural oils, used to provide a litfromwithin finish that isnt greasy. SUZANNE JACKSON: SOSUK Suzanne Jackson of SoSu. If you want the full, tenstep Korean experience with all the bells and whistles, Suzannes SosuK is your winner Where its manufactured: Suzannes skincare line (below) is made in South Korea. By manufacturing in the home of Kbeauty, she utilises the specific fermentation technologies and lab expertise that South Korean manufacturers are worldfamous for. Fermented ingredients: Many SOSUK products utilise fermentation (like galactomyces), which breaks down molecular structures so nutrients can penetrate the skin more deeply. Snail mucin alternatives: To achieve that glass skin slip without using animalderived ingredients, she uses botanical alternatives that mimic the repairing properties of snail secretion. Niacinamide and adenosine: These are the workhorses of her range, targeting pore size and fine lines respectively. Hyaluronic acid multicomplex: Most of the range features multiple weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate both the surface and the deeper layers of the dermis. THE VERDICT If you want the authentic, labcertified South Korean experience, Suzanne is your goto. If you prefer the Italian luxury finish and scientific clean beauty approach, Pippa wins the day. Federal prosecutors plan to drop two charges against the Alexander brothers in their ongoing federal sex-trafficking trial, a court heard Friday. The three brothers - twins Oren and Alon, 38, and Tal Alexander, 39 - are currently on trial in Manhattan, accused of drugging, raping and trafficking dozens of women in an alleged campaign of violence that lasted more than a decade. The prosecution has been arguing its case to the jury for the last month and is expected to rest on Monday. In a conference before Judge Valerie E. Caproni on Friday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Smyser requested dismissal of two of the sex-trafficking counts against the three siblings. 'We dont plan to proceed to the jury with counts six and seven,' Smyser said, according to the New York Times. Tal Alexander, 39, and twins Oren and Alon, 38, are each facing numerous federal sex trafficking charges Both counts relate to a charge of sex trafficking against all three brothers in June 2009 and carry a minimum sentence of 15 years. The prosecution moved to drop the charges after the defense submitted alibi affidavits in response to claims made by two separate alleged victims, labeled in court records as 'Victim 4' and 'Victim 5.' The dismissal needs to be approved by Judge Caproni. If approved, the brothers would still face 10 counts, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. The three siblings have pleaded not guilty to all counts and insist any sexual encounters were consensual. Jason Goldman, an attorney representing the brothers in related civil litigation, told the Daily Mail the development is an example of the justice system functioning as intended. 'The defense filed sworn alibi affidavits addressing those counts,' said Goldman. 'In turn, prosecutors routinely drop charges when evidentiary, factual, or legal issues lead them to conclude that they cannot meet their burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt. 'That is precisely how the justice system is supposed to work.' The two alleged victims accused the brothers of transporting them across state lines in June 2009 and forcing them to engage in sex. The two women were expected to testify at the trial but had not appeared by Friday. Court filings and prior public remarks made by the government and Caproni suggested a pattern of intimidation against at least one of the women. Tal Alexander (front, blue shorts) and identical twins Oren and Alon (back row) are facing federal sex trafficking charges in Manhattan court; they have pleaded not guilty During a court hearing on Friday, the prosecution motioned to dismiss two charges against them In a January filing, prosecutors claimed that a private investigator working for the defense posed as an insurance agent and approached neighbors surrounding Victim 4's home and asked questions about her children. The prosecution accused the defense of crossing 'ethical lines'. 'These boundary-crossing investigative efforts that implicate victim family members and safety may very well result in the unavailability of governments witnesses a fact that defense counsel is undoubtedly aware,' the filing read. Caproni chastised the defense on the opening day of the trial over the claims, warning: 'This better not repeat.' In requesting to drop the charges, Smyser told the judge on Friday: 'We are in this position because of what happened...with regard to the defense investigators.' Goldman dismissed Smyser's claims, accusing the prosecution of attempting to 'drum up sensational, albeit unfounded speculation.' If convicted of the remaining 10 counts, the Alexander brothers still face the possibility of life in prison. Tal Alexander is pictured with actor Zac Efron at an NBA finals party at Efron's apartment in 2012. During the trial, a woman accused Alon of raping her after the same party Oren and Tal Alexander were once two of the country's most prolific real estate brokers, smashing multi-million-dollar sales records and securing deals for the rich and powerful, with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West among their clients. Their brother Alon was an attorney and served as Vice President of their family's successful Miami-based private security firm, Kent Security. The high-flying siblings were all fixtures on the New York and Miami party circuits. However, their worlds of excess came crashing down in June 2024, when two women filed lawsuits in New York, accusing Oren and Alon of sexual assault. Dozens more lawsuits followed, including numerous accusing Tal of sexual assault. A federal investigation was launched. The brothers were then arrested in pre-dawn raids in December 2024 and have remained in custody since. Testimony will resume on Monday. The trial is expected to last until mid-March. Six French citizens who were lured into people smuggling by adverts on Snapchat offering lucrative payments have been jailed today for a total of eight years and 10 months. The group reached out to people smugglers in France who put adverts out on Snapchat 'fishing' for people who would make trips to the UK with immigrants hidden in cars in exchange for cash. The three men and three women pretended to be tourists but were caught in a convoy of cars bringing three Vietnamese nationals into the UK who were crudely hidden in the footwells of their cars. A woman, a man, and a 16-year-old were found 'crushed' under the seats, 'hidden' by luggage, coats, and other items. Some needed hospital treatment. A court heard the gang arrived in Poole, Dorset, by ferry on the night of 4 August last year, having boarded at Cherbourg. Each of their three cars had a man in the driver's seat and a woman in the front passenger seat. They claimed to be visiting London, but sniffer dogs detected something suspicious in the back of the cars during a routine security search. In the rear footwell of each car was a single Vietnamese national hiding under luggage and clothing. A man, a woman, and a 16-year-old girl required hospital treatment for crushing injuries and dehydration. A judge was told they received a 'financial gain' of 1,000 (878) each. Six French citizens who were lured into people smuggling by adverts on Snapchat offering lucrative payments have been jailed today. Pictured: Mr Rayhan Diamane, 21, who was sentenced to 18 months for bringing illegal immigrants into Britain Pictured: Mr Imrane Trabelsi, 21. He was sentenced to 18 months. The group comprised of three French men and three French women who are aged from 19 to 26 Image shows a migrant hdiding between luggage after being smuggled Today, after the six were jailed at Winchester Crown Court after admitting assisting unlawful immigration at a hearing last year, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issued a photograph of one of those trafficked attempting to hide in the rear footwell of a car. Mouhammad Toure, 26, Sarah Guedj, 23, Rayhan Diamane, Mariam Erraji and Imrane Trabelsi, all 21, were jailed for 18 months. Sohane Dahamni, 19, received a 16-month sentence. Sentencing the six defendants, Judge Angela Morris described smuggling as a 'lucrative and dangerous' enterprise, and said that the male Vietnamese migrant told police officers he had paid 9000 to reach the UK. The CPS said that during their police interviews, the defendants largely refused to comment but some denied knowing there was a third person in the back of their vehicle. It will be decided after they have served their sentence whether or not they will be deported back to France. The court heard care worker Erraji and telecoms worker Toure are a married couple, and just a week before they were arrested by police, they came to the UK and drove from Poole to West London. They made a stop in a cul-de-sac for 12 minutes at 2am in the morning, which Judge Alisson Morris described as a 'dry run' for the smuggling that occurred two weeks later. Sarah Guedj, 23, was sentenced to 18 months. She and her peers reached out to people smugglers in France who put adverts out on Snapchat 'fishing' for people who would make trips to the UK with immigrants hidden in cars in exchange for cash Pictured: Mariam Erraji, 21. She was sentenced to 18 months. In a three-car convoy, the six posed as couples who were visiting Britain as tourists and entered via the car ferry at Poole Harbour, Dorset Mouhammad Toure, 26, was sentenced to 18 months On August 4, the smugglers, Diamane and Erraji took a Peugeot, Trabelsi and Dahamni took a Renault Laguna, and Toure and Guedj took a Volkswagen to Cherbourg harbour. The male smugglers were driving the vehicles, whilst the females were in the passenger seats. They then boarded the ferry to Poole and transported the Vietnamese nationals to the UK. On arrival, the police found the three Vietnamese nationals crammed in the back of the cars. One man had to be taken to the hospital for dehydration and given an IV drip because he was so dehydrated. Prosecuting, Giles Bedloe said: 'The 16-year-old said she was picked up in what she called the Jungle, meaning the port. She was hidden in the car for five or six hours. 'She said she found it very hard, very difficult to breathe in such an awkward position. She said she was given water but not food. She said she thought she was going to die.' It was heard that the way the smugglers heard about the job to take the immigrants to the UK was over Snapchat. Mr Bedloe said: 'There was a liaison between the individuals over social media to arrange these trips. It seems that Snapchat was the vehicle by which these opportunities are advertised.' Aleksander Lloyd, mitigating for Rayhan Diamane, said: 'He is a young person who is easily targeted. No doubt there was a Snapchat message that was sent, fishing for those to do what was wanted, and he finds himself here. 'I wouldn't seek to say they were exploited, but they are targeted because they are vulnerable to financial gain.' Diamane, who was 20 at the time of the offence, was taking a college course that was similar to taking a B-tech in France, and he had two part-time jobs around his course. Mr Lloyd said that Diamane thought that if he got caught, he would spend 24 hours in a police station and he would be sent back home. He said that Diamane had been 'reckless' and had demonstrated 'immaturity' in his decision to take part in this offence. Judge Angela Morris said he had underestimated the consequences of his actions, saying: 'Those who traffic people are taken very seriously in this country.' She said: 'In the case of Guedj and Toure, you had entered the UK via the same route a week earlier on August 29, in what some might describe as rather questionable circumstances. 'I sentence all of you on the basis that your primary motive was financial. It was organised for all three of these Vietnamese migrants to be placed in the vehicles. Ms Sohane Dahamni, 19, was sentenced to 16 months 'But it does require a level of participation to secrete a person in a vehicle in a manner where they remain undetected, and they must remain undetected for many hours. 'At least one of those migrants required medical assistance when they were found. 'This venture was to exploit the plight of desperate people for money.' Rebecca Lee, mitigating for Guedj, who was 21 at the time of the offence, said that her actions had been 'thoughtless and selfish'. She had been volunteering as a foreign languages teacher in Paris and was studying at university before the offence. Dahamni, 19, was the youngest of the smugglers, and she wrote a letter of 'remorse' about her actions to the judge. Judge Morris said when sentencing Erraji: 'Like the others you became involved in the same social media Snapchat and the consequences of your actions have not been lost on you entirely.' Karen Fairley, a Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS Wessex, said: 'This wasn't a sophisticated attempt at people smuggling but it is typical of the desperate lengths that migrants and those who profit from them will go to. 'What is unusual is how young all six are and the impact a criminal record will have on their lives when they return to France. 'Immigration crime is not worth the devastation it causes the law breakers or their families.' An Afghan migrant has been jailed for 10 years for the rape of a 'vulnerable intoxicated' woman. Musafar Hotak, 25, was convicted after a trial at Southampton Crown Court of the rape and sexual assault of the woman in the early hours of July 12, 2022. The court heard that the victim had left the Cafe Parfait bar in Southampton when she was asked to leave by the bouncers for being drunk. As she attempted to contact her girlfriend, the defendant, who was 22 at the time, started to follow her before a voicemail sent on the victim's phone heard her telling him to stop. The court was told that the next thing the complainant remembered was waking up in Hotak's home with him lying on top of her and sexually assaulting her, then raping her. She repeatedly told him to stop, but she felt unable to prevent him because he was using 'a lot of force', the court heard. After she escaped, she contacted the police and an intimate swab taken from her was matched to the defendant's DNA. Reading her personal impact statement to the court, the victim said she lived in 'constant fear', and the attack had 'left scars in every part of my life' which had led her to self-harm and an attempt to take her own life. Musafar Hotak, 25, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the rape of a 'vulnerable intoxicated' woman She said: 'What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible. I didn't just feel violated, I felt erased. 'Since that day, I have lived in fear, shame, silence and unbearable pain that I can't fully describe. 'I was left feeling broken and empty and terrified of the world around me.' Judge Gary Lucie sentenced Hotak to a 10-year prison term with a four-year extended period on licence, imposed an indefinite restraining order on him not to contact the victim, and placed him on the sex offenders' register. He told Hotak, who was assisted by a Pashtu interpreter: 'The Home Office will consider whether to deport you.' He added: 'You took advantage of the victim who was very drunk. It is obvious your offending has had a severe psychological impact on her, which will probably remain with her for the rest of her life. 'I want to pay tribute to her for her bravery in coming forward and going through what must have been a very difficult time for her.' Elizabeth Medland, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was a terrifying and traumatic attack on a young woman who was only trying to get home safely after a night out with friends. 'Musafar Hotak exploited her, ignored her protests, and violated her when she was unable to protect herself. 'My thoughts are with the victim in this case, whose powerful witness testimony was instrumental in securing a conviction.' A Home Office spokesman said: 'All foreign national offenders who receive a prison sentence of over 12 months are automatically referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from returning to the UK. 'We will not tolerate foreign criminals committing crimes in the UK, and that is why we are scaling up their deportations.' Bill Clinton has allegedly defended Donald Trump during his deposition over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, claimed during a break in Clinton's testimony Friday that the former president had absolved Trump. 'Trump has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved,' Clinton told lawmakers, according to Comer. But this characterization was immediately challenged by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia who claimed that 'what Comer said is not an accurate description.' He added that Clinton's testimony brought up 'some very important new questions about comments President Trump has actually made in the past.' Trump rebuked his Republican allies for dragging Clinton to testify, telling reporters outside the White House: 'I like him.' 'I don't like seeing him deposed, but they certainly went after me,' Trump added as Clinton became the first former president ever compelled to testify before Congress against his will. Clinton issued a blistering statement insisting 'I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,' as he was grilled by the House Oversight Committee over Epstein and the Justice Department's handling of the case. Donald Trump, accompanied by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, walks towards the media as he departs on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday Donald Trump is joined by press secretary Karoline Leavitt as he speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before heading to Texas on Friday Former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub and a woman whose face has been redacted are seen in another image from the files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Trump speaks to the members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One en route to Corpus Christi, Texas Democratic lawmakers said outside the hearing in Chappaqua, New York, that 'we're talking to the wrong president today,' amid mounting calls for Trump to testify. Trump and Clinton have come under intense pressure to answer questions about their relationships with the pedophile financier after they were each named tens of thousands of times in the new Epstein files released by the DOJ. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also being urged to testify after the files revealed he had visited Epstein's island after claiming he cut off all ties to the pedophile. Trump told reporters Friday that Lutnick 'is a very innocent guy.' Trump, who was a Clinton donor, backed his predecessor earlier this month after Bill and Hillary finally agreed to testify under the threat of contempt charges. 'It bothers me that somebody is going after Bill Clinton,' Trump said. 'See, I like Bill Clinton. I still like Bill Clinton. I liked his behavior toward me. I thought he got me. He understood me.' Clinton fumed at Republicans for dragging his wife to testify after Hillary on Thursday repeatedly told lawmakers she never met Epstein. 'Before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing,' Clinton said. 'She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right.' Clinton signaled his answers would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall.' 'You'll often hear me say that I don't recall. That might be unsatisfying. But I'm not going to say something I'm not sure of,' he continued. 'This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess. This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn't help you for me to play detective 24 years later.' Lawmakers are grilling Clinton after evidence from the Epstein files revealed new depths of his friendship with the pedophile. Photos released by Congress and the Department of Justice over the last few months show the former president on a private jet with his arm around a young woman, swimming with Maxwell and relaxing in a hot tub with another unidentified woman. Join the debate What do YOU think about this? Bill Clinton and an unidentified woman on a private jet in the latest release of the Epstein files. The former president said he only ever traveled with the pedophile for charity work Clinton has issued a blistering statement claiming that he 'did nothing wrong' with Jeffrey Epstein as he slammed Republicans for forcing Hillary to testify Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse In his opening statement, Clinton spoke of growing up in a family plagued with domestic abuse. 'As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doingI would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals,' Clinton said. Clinton's stepfather, Roger Clinton, was an alcoholic who was physically abusive to Clinton's mother, Virginia Kelley. The former president has previously recalled intervening to defend his mother against his stepfather's abuse. Epstein visited the Clinton White House at least 17 times between 1993 and 1995 and flew at least 27 times on the pedophile's private jet. 'But even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that ever gave me pause. We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,' Clinton added. 'And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.' The deposition is being held in private, but it is recorded by cameras and the testimony is expected to be released after it is viewed by the Clintons' legal team. Republicans have sought to question Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epstein's 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached fever pitch late last year when the new DOJ photos revealed his relationship with Epstein ran deeper than previously known. President Clinton and wife Hillary share a tender moment during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington, July 17, 1996 The painting of Clinton dressed as a woman that Epstein kept at his home Former president Bill Clinton (right) and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (left) arrive at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 20, 2017 Clinton's motorcade arrives for the deposition in Chappaqua on Friday. The President was not pictured outside the hearing building Epstein and Maxwell speaking with then-President Bill Clinton at an event that took place in 1993 for donors to the White House Historical Association In a declaration to lawmakers last month, Clinton admitted flying on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 while he was traveling internationally for the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said Epstein 'offered a plane that was big enough to accommodate me, my staff and my US Secret Service detail, in support of visiting the Foundation's philanthropic work.' The former president said he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, where many of the pedophile's accusers say they were trafficked for abuse. Maxwell said in an interview with the Justice Department last year that Clinton was never there. 'I do not recall speaking to Mr Epstein for more than a decade prior to his 2019 arrest,' Clinton's declaration said. Hillary said after her deposition: 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light.' Comer has pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence as his only co-conspirator ever convicted. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna speaks outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton was testifying before US House lawmakers as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday Hillary Clinton's Epstein testimony was halted after a photo was leaked to a MAGA influencer on Thursday Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press Protesters demonstrate near the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center ahead of former US President Bill Clinton's closed-door deposition United States Representative Lauren Boebert, a 39-year-old grandmother, arrives with her grandson at the entrance to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton is set to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein Clinton signaled that his answers regarding Epstein would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall' Boebert braves the snowy weather in leopard-print heels and a skirt as she tows her grandson along for Clinton's Epstein hearing in Chappaqua on Friday Democrats argue the Clinton deposition sets a precedent that should apply equally to Trump, who had his own documented relationship with Epstein. Only four ex-presidents - Trump, Harry Truman, John Tyler and John Quincy Adams - and one sitting president, Richard Nixon, had been formally subpoenaed by Congress to testify. Trump, Truman, Nixon, and Quincy Adams all refused to comply, while Tyler agreed to appear. The Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether a president can be compelled to testify before Congress, though the DOJ has historically argued presidents enjoy 'testimonial immunity' to protect the separation of powers. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said: 'We're demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats.' Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. A wealthy Napa Valley wine mogul has admitted to using knockoff grapes to produce his upscale wines in a multimillion-dollar scheme. Jeffry Hill, the owner of the closed vineyard Hill Wine Company, pleaded guilty to an elaborate mislabeling ploy that prosecutors say sold upwards of $2.5 million of misrepresented wine. Prosecutors found that Hill's winery fraudulently claimed its grapes were being grown in its sun-soaked Napa Valley vineyards, when in fact he was swapping them out for cheap substitutes and 'bulk grape juice.' Hill was first indicted in 2016 and his case meandered through the courts for almost a decade before he admitted to the scheme and was sentenced to three years' probation last January. The winemaker finally apologized for the plot this week, blaming alcoholism for his crimes as he said he allowed his 'ego and drinking to dictate my priorities.' 'I thought I was in control. I lost sight of my values. I ignored responsibilities,' he wrote in a letter to the court. 'In that blind pursuit, I destroyed not just my own future but caused real harm to people who trusted me.' Hill said he got sober in 2014, the year after his crimes ended, and that he has since worked 'tirelessly' to make amends. In 2015, Hill also spent four months in jail for a separate scheme to steal grapes from a competitor in 2012, reports Mercury News. Jeffry Hill, a Napa Valley wine mogul, has admitted to using budget grapes to produce his upscale wines in a multimillion-dollar scheme. He avoided jail time and was handed three years' probation Hill, the owner of closed vineyard Hill Wine Company, admitted to fraudulently claiming his wines were made with grapes from his Napa Valley vineyard (pictured), while he actually produced them with mixes of cheap knockoff grapes At his peak, Hill's wines sold for upwards of $100 per bottle, and his vineyard along Napa's Silverado Trail placed him among the industry's elite. His commercial clients included some of the biggest wine brands in the world. His own Hill Wine Company bottles were used on planes shuttling US athletes to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014, the New York Times reported. But his business was quietly landing him in huge debt that led him to come up with the deceptive scheme. Hill pulled off the gambit by altering shipping labels, fabricating paperwork, and either giving growers false information or ordering them to deny he was buying from them, according to his indictment. Prosecutors cited federal regulations that mandate that wines made in Napa Valley are only able to brand themselves as being from 'American Viticultural Areas' (AVAs), where grapes have particular growing characteristics, if 85 percent of the product is from the area. Hill promoted his wines as being from the AVA region in Napa Valley, allowing him to increase his prices exponentially compared to cheaper options. At the same time, he actually 'grew or purchased grapes, pre-fermented grape juice or wine grown outside of the Napa Valley then sold bulk grape juice, bulk wine, or bottled wine made from these non-Napa Valley grapes', his indictment said. Join the debate How should the wine industry rebuild trust after scandals like this shake consumer confidence? Hill, who was first indicted in 2016, finally apologized for his fraud this week, blaming alcoholism for 'allowing my ego and drinking to dictate my priorities' Hill's wines sold for over $100-per-bottle, but prosecutors found that he lied about them being made with luxury grapes from Napa Valley and swapped them out for cheap substitutes In 2015, Hill also spent four months in jail for a separate scheme to steal grapes from a competitor in 2012 Hill was charged with four counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud and faced up to 20 years in federal prison for the mislabeling hustle. His guilty plea allowed him to avoid jail time and instead receive just three years' probation. Prosecutors had requested an 18-month prison sentence. The vineyard owner will also face a financial penalty of at least $500,000 in restitution; however, the final amount has not yet been determined. Hill's case dragged on for almost a decade following his arrest. The Mercury News reported it is unclear why Hill's case remained in limbo for so long as 85 of his 177 hearings and document filings in his federal case are under seal. Hill said in his apology letter to the court that in the years since he was caught, he has rededicated himself to making up for his crimes, including volunteering to build playgrounds for children. Hill also said he has helped a family of war refugees flee Ukraine and traveled to the Middle East to help farmers. He told the judge he 'fears repeating harm.' He was also forced to file for bankruptcy and, at the time of his arrest, he owed more than $8 million to creditors, the New York Times reported in 2015. It has already been named as the most expensive city in Europe for mini-breaks. But now Edinburgh is trying to entice wealthy whisky connoisseurs with a bespoke luxury three-night stay costing an eye-watering 60,000. The experience at the five-star Balmoral Hotel comes with a bottle of a rare whisky, an exclusive night at a castle venue, and other treats. Owned by Rocco Forte Hotels, the hotel is located in a landmark building at number 1 Princes Street which dates back to 1902. Its celebrity guests have included Kylie Minogue, J-Lo, Beyonce and author JK Rowling, who spent six months there writing the final chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Those wealthy guests who sign up for the holiday will be given an 81-year-old bottle of Glen Grant single malt from their Speyside distillery. Distilled in 1945 at the close of wartime Britain, it is described as one of the oldest and rarest Scotch whiskies in existence. Ross Barr, manager of SCOTCH Whisky Bar at the Balmoral Hotel, which has launched the 60,000 whisky experience The famous five-star Edinburgh hotel dates back to 1902 The pricey package also includes a behind-the-scenes visit to the headquarters of whisky firm Gordon & MacPhail for a private tour and tasting. This is followed by an exclusive-use, overnight stay at Rothes Glen castle in Aberlour, Banffshire, complete with private dining and chauffeured travel through Speyside. The experience continues with a private visit to the Johnstons of Elgin mill, offering insight into Scotlands textile heritage, before returning to Edinburgh for two nights in The Balmorals Scone & Crombie Suite. A-list celebrities including Beyonce and JK Rowling have stayed at the Balmoral Hotel Guests will enjoy a fine-dining meal at the hotels 4 AA Rosette restaurant, a personal wine tasting hosted by the Head Sommelier in the Number One wine cellar, and a whisky tasting. The journey concludes with a choice of signature moments at The Balmoral, such as a bespoke session with the hotels poet in residence or Scent Butler, or your very own bagpipe lesson. The exclusive package has been described as one for the worlds most discerning whisky collectors. Ross Barr, manager of SCOTCH Whisky Bar at The Balmoral, said: Anchored by the acquisition of one of the worlds rarest whiskies, it grants unparalleled access to cultural heritage, master custodians and exceptional hospitality across Scotland; culminating in a refined legacy-defining journey we are proud to represent. Last year, a Post Office Travel Money report ranked the capital as the most expensive city break destination in Western Europe with a two-night stay, meals and sightseeing costing 600. The surge in Scots travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures such as hair transplants and breast implants has sparked a warning from the countrys health watchdog. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) urged people to avoid heading overseas in a bid to skip NHS queues or save on going private amid potentially catastrophic consequences from botched operations. Jetting off to countries such as Turkey, Brazil and Thailand for gruelling plastic surgery such as facelifts and tummy tucks can see patients needing emergency treatment when they get home. Surgery abroad carries risks including higher rates of infection and post-operative complications, as well as going under the knife in settings with lower standards than in Britain, HIS warned. Its chief inspector of regulation, Laura Boyce, yesterday warned: Our advice to the public is to avoid engaging in health tourism as evidence consistently shows increased risks of complications when medical procedures are undertaken in countries and settings with variable clinical standards and limited post-operative follow-up. Her stark words came amid an ever growing push by foreign hospitals to get Scots to sign up for treatments abroad. Information days are held to persuade people to travel for procedures including weight loss surgery and dental work. Foreign clinics may offer cheaper rates than are found in the United Kingdom, five-star hotel stays, and even VIP packages which include air fare and transfers as part of the fee. There has been a rise in Scots travelling aboard for gruelling plastic surgery Carol Keenan collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest after following surgery in Turkey Slick social media videos promote the surgery as a holiday abroad rather than a serious medical intervention which needs to be carefully considered. HIS, the regulator for private healthcare clinics north of the Border, said there were a raft of risks for those travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures. It is estimated around 1,000 Scots a year seek help for botched cosmetic operations. Carol Keenan, 54, had a tummy tuck, a Brazilian butt lift and an abdominal repair procedure to make her stomach more defined. But following her surgery in Turkey, as she travelled to a local hospital to receive a fit-to-fly-home letter, she collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Ms Keenan, a grandmother from Glenrothes, Fife, died on April 20, 2022. She had saved 7,000 for the surgery, less than half of the cost in the UK, and had initially only booked two operations but was offered the abdominal repair on the day of the procedures for free. Her family later said they knew her death was due to the surgeries because the autopsy stated that if she had not had them shed still be here. Ms Boyce said: Clinics registered and regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland can be found on our website and patients can use this information to support their decision making in finding a quality assured service. Anas Sarwar suffered a fresh poll blow as Scottish Labour fell to fourth place in the race for Holyrood. The Scottish Opinion Monitor found Labour had sunk from 16 to 14 per cent since October on the regional list, while the Greens had jumped from 13 to a record 16 per cent. The list system gave Labour 20 of its 22 MSPs at the last Holyrood election. The change means Labour now trails the SNP, Reform and the Greens on the vital measure. Scottish Labours vote share has more than halved since the 2024 general election. Labour remained in third place on the constituency vote on the new poll despite falling from 16 to 14 per cent, while the Greens edged up from 10 to 11. Pollster Mark Difflley said the numbers indicated Labour would come fourth in seats. He forecast the SNP would win 57 seats - eight short of John Swinneys majority target - Reform 22, the Greens 16, Labour 15, the Liberal Democrats 10 and the Tories nine. One downbeat Labour MSP admitted: Its clear that Keir Starmer is a drag on the ticket. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and his wife Furheen on stage at Friday's party conference Labour now trails the SNP , Reform and the Greens A Labour MP summed up the partys position as a s***show. The SNP remained unchanged since October at 34 per cent on the constituency vote and down from 30 to 28 per cent on the list. Reform UK were down from 19 to 18 on the former, and down from 20 to 19 on the latter. The YouGov survey for Edinburgh Universitys Scottish Election Study polled 1,517 Scottish adults between February 11 and 18. It found more than two-thirds of those who voted Labour at the 2024 general election had drifted away, with only 32 per cent planning to back the party again in May. While 23 per cent were undecided, 14 per cent had switched to Reform UK and 13 per cent to the SNP. Just 23 per cent of respondents said the SNP Government was doing a good job, down from 40 per cent in December 2021, while 46 per cent said they were doing a bad job. But the UK Labour Government was rated far worse, with only 8 per cent saying it had done a good job, against 67 per cent saying a bad one. Most voters decided opposed independence by 54 to 46 per cent. Fraser McMillan, lecturer in Scottish Electoral Politics at the University of Edinburgh, said Reform were now clearly in pole position to become the official opposition after polling day. Ailsa Henderson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, said: The SNP is faring well for three reasons: they are buoyed by support from pro-indy voters, the pro-indy Scottish Greens have opted not to stand candidates in seats where they might have challenged the SNP, and increased competition on the pro-union side. The poll was released on the same day as Scottish Labour held its special election conference in Paisley. Asked by the media about it, Mr Sarwar said: If I believed every pollster, we wouldnt have won the Rutherglen byelection in 2023, we wouldnt have won the general election in 2024, we wouldnt have won the Hamilton byelection in 2025. Weve proven them all wrong before, and Im telling you, were going to prove them all wrong again in ten weeks time by making sure we win the election in Scotland. Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said Labour collapse and a Green win in the Gorton & Denton byelection south of the Border wasnt a fluke or an accident, it was a sign of whats coming for Labour this May. A desperate Anas Sarwar has begged angry voters to hold their nose and back Labour at Holyrood despite another disaster for Keir Starmer. The Scottish Labour leader admitted there was a deep unpopularity with the UK Labour government but claimed there was no automatic read across to Mays election. He said: I get peoples frustration. I get peoples anger. But this is our best chance, perhaps our only chance, to end SNP rule. So, whether you do it with enthusiasm, whether you do it with anger, or if you do it by holding your nose, lets come together and back the only party that can get rid of this incompetent SNP government. The Scottish Tories branded him desperate. Mr Sarwar made the comments in his address to an election conference in Paisley just hours after Labours humiliating loss in the previously safe Westminster seat of Gorton and Denton. In a shock win, plumber Hannah Spencer took the seat for the far-Left Greens, while Reform UK came second and Labour trailed in a distant third. Sir Keir Starmer blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing as Labours candidate in case his return to Westminster triggered a leadership election. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and his wife Furheen acknowledge the audience at the party's Spring conference Last month Mr Sarwar called for Sir Keir to resign after too many mistakes in office. Mr Sarwar conspicuously failed to mention the Prime Minister by name in his speech and tried furiously to put more distance between himself and UK Labour. He said the Holyrood election was not about protest or someone else but about who runs Scotland. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: This is yet another desperate attempt from Anas Sarwar to distance himself from Keir Starmer despite backing him to the hilt to be Prime Minister 18 months ago. His latest position is completely incoherent. Having finally realised Starmer is a dud he needs to own his call for him to quit rather than suddenly pretend he isnt having an impact on Scottish Labours chances at Mays election. Anas Sarwar is simply too weak to take on this failing SNP government. He has even reached the point where hes pleading with Scots to hold their nose to vote for them, hoping they havent noticed the chaos engulfing his party. Speaking to the media after his speech, Mr Sarwar doubled down on his criticism of the UK Government, while insisting he could become First Minister regardless of voter anger. He said: Theres a deep unpopularity with the UK Labour government, but theres a clear majority in Scotland that want the SNP out of office. What Im saying is that the only people that can remove the SNP from office are me and Scottish Labour. Asked why Labour lost in Gorton & Denton, he said: Right across the country, there is anger, frustration and a volatility amongst the electorate. But he said recent parliamentary byelections, with wins for Reform, Plaid Cymru, the Greens and Scottish Labour, showed politics was different in different parts of the country. Mr Sarwar inisisted: We have demonstrated that we can win against the odds in Scotland, and I honestly believe that we can win in ten weeks time. He said the best thing the UK Government could do to help him was sit at their desk, doing the work and changing lives for people in Scotland and right across the UK. Asked if he would quit as leader if he lost on May 7, he said: I dont do hypotheticals. He also told the BBC: We need to be careful not to have an automatic read across to whats happening in Scotland. Because, of course, in Scotland, the establishment for the last 20 years has been the SNP, and I think that would be a very different framing for an election in 10 weeks time here. Earlier, addressing around 400 activists at Paisley Town Hall, Mr Sarwar vowed a Scottish Labour government would build 125,000 extra homes to address the housing emergency across the next five-year parliament. The plan would involve reform of the planning law to speed up applications, with central government doing more of the admin but councils still making decisions.. A dedicated housing investment bank would be carved out of the 2 billion Scottish National Investment Bank, which usually invests in technology and green projects, to help housing associations and private developers get new homes off the ground. SNP depute Westminster Leader Pete Wishart said the byelection had been a resounding rejection of Keir Starmers Labour Party that will be repeated in Scotland come May 7th. He said: A Labour Party now defined by their broken promises will be fully deserving of the historic defeat Scottish voters are waiting to give them. The man who was allegedly caught driving past Nancy Guthrie's home '100 times' was arrested on DUI charges, authorities revealed. Antonio De Jesus Pena-Campos, 34, was nabbed by officers with the Pima County Sheriff's Department on Thursday evening after reporters spotted him driving a blue Chevy SUV 'very slowly' near her Tucson home, police said. After officers arrived at the scene, they conducted a sobriety test on Pena-Campos that he failed. He was then handcuffed and placed into a sheriff's cruiser. His arrest is not related to the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, authorities stated. Footage obtained by Fox News showed deputies shining a flashlight into the car before Pena-Campos exited the vehicle and was seen talking to officers near a large white tent. He was then seen trying to walk in a straight line during his sobriety test and following a small flashlight with his eyes. Before police confirmed Pena-Campos's arrest and identity, NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin reported that the driver 'just kept stopping' outside the property, passing between '50 and 100 times.' A media photographer who approached the individual reportedly also noticed he had a photo of Nancy on his phone. Antonio De Jesus Pena-Campos, 34, was arrested late Thursday evening outside of Nancy Guthrie's house on DUI charges Nancy, 84, has been missing for nearly four weeks. Savannah Guthrie's mom was last seen on January 31 after dinner and a game night at her eldest daughter's home A deputy with the Pima County Sheriff's Department is seen shining a flashlight inside the blue Chevy SUV Pena-Campos was driving 'It is weird. There's some just like creepy people that come by,' Entin said. The bizarre incident comes as the search for Nancy nears its fourth week. The mother of three was last seen on January 31, after being dropped off by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, following a dinner and game night at her eldest daughter Annie's home. She was reported missing the following morning after she didn't show up for a church service. Footage recovered from her Nest doorbell camera showed an unidentified suspect in a ski mask in front of her door early on February 1, before Nancy's pacemaker suddenly stopped transmitting data to her iPhone and Apple Watch. Authorities, including the sheriff's office and the FBI, have been on the case ever since, but the few leads they have received have led nowhere, as Nancy's whereabouts still remain unknown. Savannah, Annie and their brother Camron have shared several emotional videos online pleading for their mother's captor to come forward and bring her home. On Tuesday, Savannah acknowledged for the first time that Nancy might not be alive. Pena-Campos is seen during his sobriety test, trying to walk in a straight line 'We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,' she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. 'We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves,' Savannah said through tears. She posted a series of videos on Friday explaining how tipsters can collect the new $1 million reward her family is offering for information leading to the safe return of her mother. The 54-year-old reposted her original plea from Tuesday and shared a Today Show report explaining how to submit anonymous tips to the FBI, overseen by co-anchors Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin. 'Please - be the one that brings her home,' Guthrie wrote in a caption. 'Tips can be anonymous, reward can be paid in cash, as explained here.' The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently announced that the agency would be scaling back its almost month-long search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix, sources with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News. Savannah posted a series of videos on Friday explaining how tipsters can collect the new $1 million reward her family is offering for information leading to the safe return of her mother Some agents will also stay behind in Tucson, they said. Agents in Phoenix, meanwhile, will work the case from there. The move does not indicate investigators are giving up on the search, the sources claimed. Agents were seen outside the residence on Wednesday, combing through portions of the home and lawn that had already been searched. The flurry of activity was related to an FBI effort to turn the home back over to the Guthrie family, officials told NBC News. The heartbroken family of a mother who was found dead in her home have told how they will never get over losing her. Naomi MacIvor has been described as a bright spirit who will be missed after her suspected murder in Dornoch, Sutherland, at the weekend. Emergency services were called to Morrison Court in the town on Saturday afternoon, where she was found dead. Earlier this week Daniel Sutherland, 34, appeared in court after being charged in connection with Ms MacIvors murder. Tributes for the 46-year-old have flooded in online, where friends told of their devastation at the her death. Her family, in a statement issued through Police Scotland, told how they would never get over the loss. They said: Naomi was a loving mother, auntie, daughter and grand-daughter. She was a friend to everyone. We will never get over losing her. She was taken far too early for such a bright spirit. Naomi MacIvor was described as a 'bright spirt' in a tribute released by her family through police Police and forensics teams in Dornich, Sutherland, were Ms MacIvor died We shall miss her for forever and love her eternally. Heartfelt tributes have been paid to her online, with social media inundated with messages of condolence. She was described as a lovely friend and a beautiful angel. One friend said: Missing you my wee pal. So many tears for you. Go and have a good gallop on Sam on the beach. Heartbroken. Another told they were broken to have found out the news, while another told they adored the woman who was such a lovely friend. Sutherland appeared before Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday where he was charged with murder. The 34-year-old, of the Highland capital, made no plea when he appeared in private and was remanded in custody. He will make his next court appearance within eight days. Police were last night urged to investigate clear evidence of voter fraud in the Manchester by-election. Amid warnings that Britain is sleepwalking into sectarian politics, plumber Hannah Spencer cruised to victory for the Greens in the previously safe Labour seat of Gorton and Denton. Labour was pushed into third place, a humiliating result for Keir Starmer which triggered fresh calls for him to resign. But Ms Spencers historic win was immediately mired in allegations of sectarianism after the Greens targeted the constituencys large Muslim population with messages about the war in Gaza. Election observers reported record levels of so-called family voting an illegal practice often involving a man entering the polling booth with his wife to tell her how to vote. Soon after the polls closed, the independent group Democracy Observers issued a rare report to warn that as many as one in eight votes cast may have been affected by the practice, which is a criminal offence and carries a prison sentence. Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK party trailed the Greens by 4,402 votes, said Ms Spencers triumph was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Reform urged Greater Manchester Police to investigate 32 separate incidents of alleged family voting. The police said they were in the process of reviewing this report. Prime Minister Keir Starmer cuts a disconsolate figure as meets local party members in London following the Green Party's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election Green Party candidate and winner Hannah Spencer (right) and Green Party leader Zack Polanski (left) celebrate at an election rally with supporters at The Niamos Radical Arts Centre on February 26, 2026 in Manchester, England Mr Farage also called on the Electoral Commission to investigate. What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas, he said. If this is what was happening at polling stations just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes. Kemi Badenoch said Labour had created the monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes at previous elections, adding: That monster came back to bite them. The Tory leader said the rise of sectarian politics was starting to unravel the culture of tolerance that makes Britain great. She accused the Greens of running a nasty, sectarian campaign while simultaneously wanting to legalise crack cocaine. Greens leader Zack Polanski denied fuelling sectarianism. But Sir Keir warned that the Greens extreme policies, such as legalising all drugs and pulling out of Nato, were a threat to Britain. He said Mr Polanski had shown his true colours by accepting an endorsement from veteran Left-wing rabble rouser George Galloway. In a letter to Labour MPs, the PM said: Their willingness to welcome Galloways divisive, sectarian politics is a sign that the Greens are not the harmless environmentalists they pretend to be, and their position on legalising all drugs shows how unstable this electoral coalition is. It cannot survive a general election campaign. On another disastrous day for the Prime Minister: Angela Rayner led calls for Sir Keir to shift Labour further Left to take on the Greens, saying the party had to be braver; The PM insisted he would not resign despite the very disappointing result, saying he would fight on for as long as Ive got breath in my body; The statue of Sir Winston Churchill was vandalised by a pro-Palestine activist; Mr Polanski said the Gorton result suggested his hard-Left party could win a tidal wave of MPs from Labour at the next election; Left-wing MPs called for Sir Keir to quit before further damage is done at the local elections in May; Mrs Badenoch said the PM was in office but not in power... a hostage at the mercy of a divided Labour Party that cannot decide who to replace him with. Democracy Volunteers said so-called family voting was seen at two-thirds of the polling stations visited by observers on Thursday and was involved in 12 per cent of the votes cast during its attendance. If the same level occurred across the constituency, it could have involved 4,400 votes, roughly equal to Ms Spencers majority. Dr John Ault, director of the group, said the concerningly high levels of family voting were the highest ever seen in a decade of monitoring elections in the UK. The group also reported voters taking photos of their ballot paper in breach of the law. Ms Spencers historic win was immediately mired in allegations of sectarianism after the Greens targeted the constituencys large Muslim population with messages about the war in Gaza In one case an individual was allowed to vote despite being marked as having already cast a ballot. Manchester City Council said no issues had been reported and it was extremely disappointing that Democracy Volunteers waited until after the polls closed to make the claims, to which the group retorted it was international standard not to issue a comment until voting had finished. Yesterday some residents of the Gorton constituency admitted they were aware of family voting, but said they had not personally witnessed any irregularities. Irfan Zaib, 50, said: I have heard that in some of the families, the father is an influence in how they vote. Tayyab Hussain, 33, added: Probably it does happen in some parts of the community, but I dont believe its common. The Gorton and Denton contest was one of the ugliest for years, with all sides alleging sharp practices by their opponents and the Greens accused of whipping up hatred among the large community of Muslim voters who make up around a third of the local electorate. Ms Spencer issued leaflets and campaign videos in Urdu, accusing Reform candidate Matthew Goodwin of being someone who would fuel the flames of Islamophobia. Activists in the constituency were filmed flying Palestinian and Pakistani flags. A Green Party spokesman said claims the party cheated its way to victory were an attempt to undermine the democratic result. Bill Clinton has denied having sex with a woman he was photographed with in a hot tub during his closed-door Jeffrey Epstein deposition. Clinton, who famously said 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman' amid the 1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal, revived his trademark defense on Friday. Lawmakers pressed Clinton during the deposition on the nature of his relationship with the unidentified woman, who appears alongside him in the compromising hot tub image from the Epstein files. Clinton, 79, denied having sex with the unidentified woman and said he did not know who she was, sources said. Hillary told reporters earlier this month the photo was taken during a 'philanthropic and charitable' trip. Clinton is being deposed by the House Oversight Committee over his relationship with the pedophile at a performing arts center near his home in Chappaqua, New York, after Hillary testified Thursday. He is the first former president to be compelled by Congress to testify against his will after the Clintons were threatened with contempt charges. Clintons presidency was engulfed in scandal over his 18-month affair with a White House intern. He denied having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky in 1995, but later admitted in 1998 to an 'improper physical relationship.' The scandal led to his impeachment by a Republican-led House, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Hillary has stood by his side throughout decades of alleged sexual misconduct. Former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub and a woman whose face has been redacted are seen in another image from the files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Bill Clinton and an unidentified woman on a private jet in the latest release of the Epstein files. The former president said he only ever traveled with the pedophile for charity work Clinton and Maxwell swimming with an unidentified woman in a photo from the Epstein files Donald Trump, accompanied by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, walks towards the media as he departs on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday Republican Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, claimed during an earlier break in Clinton's testimony that he had had absolved Trump. 'Trump has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved,' Clinton told lawmakers, according to Comer. But this characterization was immediately challenged by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia who claimed that 'what Comer said is not an accurate description.' He added that Clinton's testimony brought up 'some very important new questions about comments President Trump has actually made in the past.' The deposition is being held in private, but it is recorded by cameras and the testimony is expected to be released after it is viewed by the Clintons' legal team. Trump rebuked his Republican allies for dragging Clinton to testify, telling reporters outside the White House: 'I like him.' 'I don't like seeing him deposed, but they certainly went after me,' Trump added as Clinton became the first former president ever compelled to testify before Congress against his will. Clinton issued a blistering opening statement insisting 'I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,' as the deposition got underway. Democratic lawmakers said outside the hearing in Chappaqua, New York, that 'we're talking to the wrong president today,' amid mounting calls for Trump to testify. Trump and Clinton have come under intense pressure to answer questions about their relationships with the pedophile financier after they were each named tens of thousands of times in the new Epstein files released by the DOJ. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also being urged to testify after the files revealed he had visited Epstein's island after claiming he cut off all ties to the pedophile. Trump told reporters Friday that Lutnick 'is a very innocent guy.' Clinton fumed at Republicans for dragging his wife to testify after Hillary on Thursday repeatedly told lawmakers she never met Epstein. 'Before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing,' Clinton said. 'She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right.' Clinton signaled his answers would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall.' 'You'll often hear me say that I don't recall. That might be unsatisfying. But I'm not going to say something I'm not sure of,' he continued. 'This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess. This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn't help you for me to play detective 24 years later.' Lawmakers are grilling Clinton after evidence from the Epstein files revealed new depths of his friendship with the pedophile. Photos released by Congress and the Department of Justice over the last few months show the former president on a private jet with his arm around a young woman and swimming with Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. Join the debate Should former presidents be held accountable for their associations with figures like Epstein, or is this just political theater? Clinton has issued a blistering statement claiming that he 'did nothing wrong' with Jeffrey Epstein as he slammed Republicans for forcing Hillary to testify Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's infamous madam, attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, years after Epstein had been convicted of sexual abuse In his opening statement, Clinton spoke of growing up in a family plagued with domestic abuse. 'As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doingI would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals,' Clinton said. Clinton's stepfather, Roger Clinton, was an alcoholic who was physically abusive to Clinton's mother, Virginia Kelley. The former president has previously recalled intervening to defend his mother against his stepfather's abuse. Epstein visited the Clinton White House at least 17 times between 1993 and 1995 and flew at least 27 times on the pedophile's private jet. 'But even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that ever gave me pause. We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,' Clinton added. 'And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.' Republicans have sought to question Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epstein's 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached fever pitch late last year when the new DOJ photos revealed his relationship with Epstein ran deeper than previously known. President Clinton and wife Hillary share a tender moment during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington, July 17, 1996 The painting of Clinton dressed as a woman that Epstein kept at his home Former president Bill Clinton (R) and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrive at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017 Clinton's motorcade arrives for the deposition in Chappaqua on Friday. The President was not pictured outside the hearing building Epstein and Maxwell speaking with then-President Bill Clinton at an event that took place in 1993 for donors to the White House Historical Association In a declaration to lawmakers last month, Clinton admitted flying on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 while he was traveling internationally for the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said Epstein 'offered a plane that was big enough to accommodate me, my staff and my US Secret Service detail, in support of visiting the Foundation's philanthropic work.' The former president said he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, where many of the pedophile's accusers say they were trafficked for abuse. Maxwell said in an interview with the Justice Department last year that Clinton was never there. 'I do not recall speaking to Mr. Epstein for more than a decade prior to his 2019 arrest' Clinton's declaration said. Hillary said after her deposition: 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light.' Comer has pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence as his only co-conspirator ever convicted. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., speaks outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton was testifying before U.S. House lawmakers as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Friday Hillary Clinton's Epstein testimony was halted after a photo was leaked to a MAGA influencer on Thursday Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press Protesters demonstrate near the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center ahead of former U.S. President Bill Clinton's closed-door deposition United States Representative Lauren Boebert, a 39-year-old grandmother, arrives with her grandson at the entrance to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center where former President Bill Clinton is set to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein Clinton signaled that his answers regarding Epstein would echo a phrase synonymous with his scandal-filled presidency: 'I don't recall' Boebert braves the snowy weather in leopard-print heels and a skirt as she tows her grandson along for Clinton's Epstein hearing in Chappaqua on Friday Democrats argue the Clinton deposition sets a precedent that should apply equally to Trump, who had his own documented relationship with Epstein. Only four ex-presidents - Trump, Harry Truman, John Tyler and John Quincy Adams - and one sitting president, Richard Nixon, have been formally subpoenaed by Congress to testify. Trump, Truman, Nixon, and Quincy Adams all refused to comply, while Tyler agreed to appear. The Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether a president can be compelled to testify before Congress, though the DOJ has historically argued presidents enjoy 'testimonial immunity' to protect the separation of powers. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said: 'We're demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats.' Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. More than half of Americans are scared by the prospect of a war with Iran and only 1 in 3 back the use of force as the Trump administration inches closer to military action against the Islamic Republic. As President Donald Trump appears to be nearing military action against Tehran, just 32 percent of Americans back the use of force - with 37 percent outright opposed, according to a new exclusive JL Partners/Daily Mail poll. Trump voters were more heavily in favor, with 58 percent supporting a strike, compared to Democratic voters, with only 15 percent signaling that it would be a good idea. What truly ignites the polling data, however, are the reasons Americans believe are driving possible attacks. While 43 percent believe the primary driver would be destroying Iran's nuclear facilities, a remarkable 35 percent think Trump's eye is on Iran's vast oil reserves - a motive that ranks above stabilizing the Middle East, which 28 percent believe, and saving the Iranian people, which 22 percent think. The findings lay bare a deeply uneasy nation, with 54 percent saying the prospect of war frightens them - rising to 62 percent among women. And in a chilling verdict on the human cost, more Americans believe the United States itself would be left worse off by an attack than better off. Thirty-three percent answered that they believed the US would be worse off, with 25 percent believing the country would be better off and 24 percent saying a strike would make no difference. The US Navy has released photos showing the US military buildup in the Arabian Sea as President Donald Trump edges closer to a strike on Iran. New polling shows that only one in three registered voters support military action Your browser does not support iframes. The numbers were closer when voters were asked if Iran would be better off if the US got militarily involved, with 28 percent answering worse off and 26 percent answering better off. Trump had previously called out the Islamic regime for the mass killings of protesters, telling members of the opposition movement that 'help is on the way.' More people also believed the world would be worse off after a US strike - with 30 percent expressing this view, compared to 23 percent who said the world would be in a better place. For all three of those questions, Trump's voters were an exception - with a near majority believing a US strike would leave the US, Iran and the world in a better spot. When Trump hit three Iranian nuclear sites in June, he did so with a targeted strike. There is little appetite for a full-scale military deployment, the poll found. Just 35 percent believed the Army should be involved. Numbers were similar when voters were asked about the Navy - 29 percent - and the Marines - 33 percent. Join the debate What do you think would really drive the US to attack Iran: security concerns or oil interests? President Donald Trump, pictured Friday arriving in Corpus Christi, Texas, could get hurt politically over an Iran strike, the new survey shows He told reporters on the South Lawn before departing for Texas on Friday that 'we haven't made a final decision' on whether to strike Iran The Air Force got slightly higher approval, with 40 percent saying they should be involved. Additionally, only one in four parents with military-aged sons would support the President going to war in Iran, with 54 percent opposed. Trump-voting parents were split, with 40 percent saying they supported going to war in Iran and 38 percent opposed. If the President were to seek regime change, 61 percent of voters said they'd like to see Iran hold democratic elections. Another 18 percent said they'd like to see the US run Iran. Just 4 percent said they'd want to see Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, lead the country uncontested. The President would likely pay a political price too - with more voters saying a war in Iran would worsen their view of Trump than improve it. The poll found that 34 percent said they'd think less of Trump, while just 17 percent would like the President more. The biggest swath of Trump voters - 40 percent - answered that it would make no difference, while 35 percent said it would improve their view of the President, with just 12 percent saying they'd like him less. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Friday, Trump said 'I'd love not to use' the military to attack Iran, 'but sometimes you have to,' while also stating 'we haven't made a final decision' on whether to strike. Labour MPs turned on Keir Starmer on Friday over his decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Manchester by-election. The Prime Minister was left in no doubt at the anger at seeing his gamble backfire after voters deserted Labour for the Greens and Reform in Gorton and Denton. While the Greater Manchester mayor was keeping his powder dry on Friday, Labour MPs queued up to say that he would have won the seat. The Green Party leader Zack Polanski also revealed that he 'punched the air' when he learned that Mr Burnham had been blocked by Sir Keir and his allies on Labour's National Executive Committee. Polls suggested the self-appointed 'King of the North' would have won the campaign and that Sir Keir's decision had come up repeatedly in focus groups. Following the result, Labour MPs rounded on the PM over the decision to nominate Angeliki Stogia after claims the party could not afford a mayoral run-off along with May's local elections. Karl Turner, MP for Kingston upon Hull East, said he had 'begged' Sir Keir not to block the mayor, even if a seat in Parliament would have allowed him a platform to launch a leadership challenge, but the PM 'didn't listen to a word'. He added: 'Andy Burnham would have won that by-election without a shadow of a doubt.' Labour MPs turned on Keir Starmer on Friday following the party's loss in the Gorton and Denton by-election Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from standing as Labour's by-election candidate by the party's National Executive Committee Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman said that Sir Keir 'made a selfish mistake in blocking Andy Burnham from standing and it's yet another example of him and his advisers making bad judgment calls'. Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said: 'Blame for Labour's defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham.' Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, said the 'blame for Labour's defeat in Gorton and Denton sits with Keir Starmer and those running our party,' adding that blocking Mr Burnham 'was not only obviously a huge error but also showed just how weak [Starmer] is'. A Labour peer added: 'Andy would've won. Not everyone's a fan but most people think you should stand your best candidate. They sleepwalked their way into this car crash and Keir gambled by blocking Burnham. He'll pay the price for that.' Mr Polanski said yesterday he was overjoyed when he learned Mr Burnham had not been selected, adding: 'When Andy Burnham wasn't selected I punched the air.' Reform UK chairman David Bull said Labour had 'made a very bad mistake' in blocking the mayor, telling the Labour Party: 'If you had fielded Andy Burnham, you would have won. Full stop.' Following the result, Sir Keir was asked if he had been wrong to block Mr Burnham and replied that Labour had fielded an 'excellent candidate'. Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski are eyeing up hundreds of seats in May's local elections as they look to capitalise on voters decisively rejecting Keir Starmer at the polls. In the most perilous moment yet of his premiership, Labour's defeat at the Gorton and Denton by-election shows the party has entered an 'electoral Valley of Death' where it is squeezed for votes from Left and Right, critics said. The local elections could prove 'apocalyptic' for Labour, it was warned. It follows the Green Party's Hannah Spencer storming to victory in the Greater Manchester constituency leaving Labour wallowing in third place behind Reform UK in what had long been one of the party's safest seats. Mr Polanski said his Green Party had achieved a historic result in a seat that had been 127th on its target list. He said it showed voters wanted 'an alternative to this failing government' and to 'reject the divisive policies of Reform'. He added: 'There are now no no-go areas for the Green Party. We will do it again at the local elections in May.' Mr Polanski also predicted a 'tidal wave' of Green MPs elected at the next general election after Ms Spencer took 40.7 per cent of the vote in Gorton and Denton, with a swing of 27.5 per cent. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X: 'Roll on the elections on May 7. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party' Sir Keir yesterday vowed to 'keep fighting' and said Labour had fielded an 'excellent candidate' when asked whether he had been wrong to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in Denton and Gordon New MP Hannah Spencer and Green Party leader Zack Polanski attend a press conference on February 27, 2026 in Manchester He said: 'When I was elected leader of the Greens I said we were here to replace Labour and I meant it. 'This used to be one of Labour's safest seats. In this by-election almost half of their 2024 voters abandoned them and many switched to voting Green, meaning they finished third. 'The Green Party saw a record-breaking swing in our direction and more than tripled our vote.' Meanwhile, Reform's second-placed Matthew Goodwin said he had 'embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats'. Looking ahead to the local elections, he said: 'I think if we can do this here, we can do this pretty much anywhere.' His party's leader Mr Farage later posted on X: 'Roll on the elections on May 7. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party.' The fallout comes as polling from research firm More in Common revealed that Labour has only lost more votes in by-elections three times since 2000. Voters rejecting Labour in Gorton and Denton shows the party under Sir Keir has 'fallen into the electoral Valley of Death' as it stands 'rejected in the centre, rejected on the right and now rejected on the left', University of Manchester professor of political science Rob Ford said. Speaking to Sky News, he said the May elections 'may become apocalyptic' if the Greens continue to make hay in the wake of their seismic victory in south Manchester. 'So many Labour seats in Green-friendly territory are up, including all seats in inner London and many metropolitans.' Mr Ford added that Labour 'risk being wiped out by Reform in the 'red wall' type metros' of Barnsley, Calderdale, Wakefield and Sunderland, for instance, and by the Greens in the emerging 'green wall' more diverse, student and graduate-heavy Labour areas where Reform are no threat. The Greens are confident of winning the party's first ever directly elected mayor in Hackney in May, and are also hoping for a 'historic breakthrough' at the Senedd elections in Wales. Sir Keir yesterday vowed to 'keep fighting' and said Labour had fielded an 'excellent candidate' when asked whether he had been wrong to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing. But Labour MPs are looking to the local elections with dread. Its Southport MP, Patrick Hurley, told the Daily Mail: 'I fully expect that the local elections coming up will be very, very, very difficult for us and we may well lose very hard working and good councillors'. Another Labour MP told us that May's elections will be 'a bit of a turkey shoot' where they expect their party to 'lose seats to all kinds of different parties in all kinds of different places'. They said: 'It will be Reform gaining from us in post-industrial places, the Greens gaining from us in inner-city areas, Independents will gain in some places. 'The Tories might even make a little comeback in others. It's going to be a bit of a turkey shoot where everyone's trying to grab some seats off Labour.' He was at one time described as 'London's best - and busiest - lover' and inspired the philandering Rupert Campbell-Black in Jilly Cooper's Rivals. Now at the age of 86, however, Andrew Parker-Bowles has slipped into a new and rather more edifying role as a right-hand man to the royals. On Tuesday afternoon, Queen Camillas ex-husband represented Princess Anne at Tuesday's memorial service for Field Marshal Lord Guthrie at the Guards' Chapel in London after stepping in for the Princess Royal on several previous occasions. The pair are old friends and Andrew even temporarily ditched Camilla to embark on a fling with Anne when she was 19 - a scenario gratuitously immortalised in season three of The Crown where the pair enjoy a post-sex Bloody Mary. In real life, they got together after a chance meeting at Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother's home at Windsor, when Andrew was adjutant in the newly formed Blues and Royals regiment, a former ADC to the Governor-General in new Zealand. Despite his reputation as a practiced seducer, and the age gap, the attraction between the Princess and the soldier was intense. Indeed, many believe it was revenge that fuelled Camilla's determined attempts to seduce Prince Charles: if Andrew was going to have the Queen's daughter as his lover, she would have Her Majesty's son. She had no trouble attracting Charles, but was said to be truly in love with Andrew - whose Catholic faith meant he was never husband material for Anne. The relationship fizzled out when he was posted to Germany and he reunited with Camilla. In July, 1973, they were married at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, Central London. Despite their divorce 22 years later, Queen Camilla has maintained a strong and close friendship with Andrew - and he even had a special invitation on the guest list to the Coronation in May 2022. At the age of 86, Andrew Parker-Bowles (pictured middle) has slipped into a new and rather more edifying role as a right-hand man to the royals. He is 'joined at the hip' with his ex-wife, Queen Camilla, and a loyal friend to his sister-in-law Princess Anne Princess Anne and Andrew Parker-Bowles (both pictured in 1971) are old friends and Andrew even temporarily ditched Camilla to embark on a fling with Anne when she was 19 Camilla was famously Charless mistress during her marriage to Andrew, while the latter is described by friends as having been very naughty with women throughout. But it seems any differences have been put aside as the pair are 'joined at the hip', as one insider has previously put it - claiming they are constantly in touch and make a great team. The author Tina Brown has claimed it was Andrew, rather than Charles, who was the love of Camillas life. Whatever the truth, the man Brown describes as a walking pink gin is said to remain one of her chief confidantes. They are joined at the hip, according to a friend. He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. Hes right in there. He was always, and still is, Camillas co-conspirator. The Marchioness of Lansdowne, one of Camillas Queens Companions, has said: Everybody loves Andrew. Hes a real charmer but hes always terribly misbehaving. She said of his enduring bond with Camilla: Andrew will ring her up and tell her when shes got something wrong and shell ring him up and say when hes misbehaving. 'Through adversity theyve kept a really good family ethic. It helps with their children and grandchildren. Known as The Brigadier in reference to his former career as an army officer who served with the Blues and Royals and was awarded a Queens Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe, Andrew has moved in royal circles for decades. Anne and Andrew's relationship fizzled out when he was posted to Germany and he reunited with Camilla. In July, 1973, they were married at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, Central London (pictured on their wedding day) Many believe it was revenge that fuelled Camilla's determined attempts to seduce Prince Charles: if Andrew was going to have the Queen's daughter as his lover, she would have Her Majesty's son. Pictured: Camilla and Charles in 1975 Tina Brown has claimed it was Andrew who was the love of Camillas life. Whatever the truth, the man Brown describes as a walking pink gin is said to remain one of her chief confidantes. Pictured: Anne, Camilla, Charles and Andrew at Royal Ascot in 2024 As a 13-year-old, he served as a page to Lord Simonds, then the Lord High Chancellor, at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. My mother was a good friend of the Duke of Norfolk, he recalled. The Lord Chancellor had no children so Bernard Norfolk suggested me to Lord Simonds. I have to say that he was the nicest man alive and gave me a very nice set of cufflinks. He described a sword fight during the dress rehearsal, saying: All the pages had these little swords. If a group of bored small boys all have swords, you know whats going to happen. He also played polo on the same team as Charles when both men were young and rode in the Grand National in 1969, coming 11th. He first met Camilla in the late 1960s and they dated on and off for several years before marrying in 1973. According to Andrews cousin John Bowes Lyon, the couple were pressured into making the commitment when both their fathers published an engagement notice for them in The Times. His hand publicly forced, Andrew proposed to his girlfriend of nearly seven years, wrote the author Sarah Bedell Smith. Camilla was very much in love with [Andrew], Bowes Lyon told Smith. Her parents were very keen that Andrew should marry her. The Queen Mother, Princess Anne and Princess Margaret all attended their wedding, and the reception took place in St Jamess Palace. As a commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, Andrew accompanied the newly married Charles and Diana on horseback following their wedding in 1981 but the marriage was not a faithful one on either side. According to royal author Penny Junor, Andrew was 'never be short of opportunities to be unfaithful' when spending his weekdays in London, where his regiment was based. The Daily Mail's Richard Kay wrote in 2017: 'All too often, the women were indeed friends of his wife, and showed scant loyalty to her by succumbing to his charms.' But the royal expert claimed that 'Andrews affairs were just a fact of life and not something Camilla often spoke about', noting how there 'was never a tense atmosphere in the couples home'. Tina Brown later claimed that Camilla only resumed her affair with Charles because she was angry at her husbands infidelities. Andrew and Camilla divorced in 1995, saying in a statement that throughout our marriage we have always tended to follow rather different interests, but in recent years we have led completely separate lives. The following year, he married his long-term mistress Rosemary Pitman. They were together until Rosemary passed away in 2010 of cancer, aged 69. At the time of her death it was reported that Camilla was deeply saddened by the news. Andrew was a guest at Charles and Camillas wedding in April 2005, attending their service of blessing at St Georges Chapel, Windsor. The Princess of Wales was typically elegant as she posed for selfies and accepted daffodils and cuddles from Welsh fans yesterday - but there was one request she had to politely turn down. Kate, 44, joined Prince William, 43, for a visit to Powys, Wales, ahead of St David's Day as crowds of well-wishers braved the rain to meet them. The mother-of-three was dubbed the 'children's princess' after videos of Kate playing rock, paper, scissors with young fans were shared online, and a seven-year-old girl took off her own handmade necklace and tied it around the royal's neck. But Kate had to decline one fan's request because of strict royal protocol. A video showed a person asking the princess for an autograph but she replied: 'I can't sign it, I'm so sorry.' Instead, she offered him a handshake and a hug before moving down the line to greet others. Like her fellow royals, Kate is bound by strict protocol not to give out her signature because of the risk of forgery. Additionally, a royal signature can fetch a significant amount of money when sold online, so the family is keen to avoid fakes circulating. The only time a royal has made an exception was when the King whipped out his royal Parker Pen and scribbled 'Charles 2010' on a scrap of paper for the victims of devastating flooding in Cornwall. The Princess of Wales was typically elegant as she posed for selfies and accepted daffodils and cuddles from Welsh fans yesterday - but there was one request she had to politely turn down A video showed a person asking the princess for an autograph but she replied: 'I can't sign it, I'm so sorry' Among them were Tony and Meg Hendy - whose home in St Blazey had been deluged with water and mud. As he said farewell to the couple, he asked them if there was anything he could do to help, and Meg replied by cheekily asking for an autograph. She asked him: 'Can I be really cheeky, please, sir, and can I have your autograph for my young son Tom? I'm not sure if you do autographs, but it would make his day.' Charles then stunned his protection squad by asking one of them to find a piece of paper for him to sign. The Prince then wrote 'CHARLES 2010' and even apologised for the 'shaky writing' because he 'never writes standing up'. Of course, the royals often sign their names in guest books when on official duties. Before her marriage, Kate would sign her name Catherine Middleton, but now sticks to writing her first name only. It comes after royal fans declared the Prince and Princess's trip to Powys a huge success after an impromptu walkabout that won the hearts of well-wishers. William and Kate strayed from their planned itinerary seven times, as they accepted daffodils and posed for innumerable selfies on Thursday. A sweet clip showed Kate, whose outfit was plum perfection, playing rock, paper, scissors with young fans outside an Indian takeaway restaurant close to the community centre. The princess feigned disappointment when her rock was beaten by paper as her challenger celebrated his win. 'Theyre the kind of moments children will tell their friends about for years - proudly, excitedly - and carry with them for a lifetime,' one X user wrote while sharing photos of Kate being embraced by a girl during a separate walkabout in Newtown. But hugs weren't the only thing being offered to the Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday. In one of the most heartwarming moments, a seven-year-old girl, Leman Wetti, gave Kate her own handmade necklace as the future Queen excitedly asked: 'What do you think? Does it look okay?' As they greeted members of the public, a little girl wrapped her arms around the Princess as photos showed her burying her face inside Kate's coat in a sweet moment The Waleses accepted an assortment of different gifts, including an iron hook from a 21-year-old metalsmith, a box of chocolates, and laminated drawings of themselves - but could not carry a whole leg of lamb back. In one of the most heartwarming moments of the trip, a seven-year-old girl excitedly tied a handmade necklace around Kate's neck as Leman Wetti said: 'I did it because I wanted to be kind.' The Princess of Wales demonstrated her thrifty approach to dressing by re-wearing an Alexander McQueen coat today as she joined Prince William at a Welsh community event ahead of St David's Day. Kate, 44, teamed the stylish burgundy number with her merlot Gianvito Rossi leather boots, both of which she wore in 2024 during the Qatar state visit, as well as her matching ME+EM pussy bow blouse and her 570 CO pleated midi skirt. Adding a touch of glitz to her colour coordinating ensemble, the mother-of-three sported her 1,600 Kiki McDonough Citrine Cushion Drop earrings. She finished the look with a daffodils pin on one of the lapels of her coat, honouring Wales' primary symbol which is worn on St Davids Day, the annual celebration that commemorates the patron saint of the nation. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors dogs are now being walked by staff after their owner has become a recluse. The canine pack, which includes the fallen princes own Norfolk terriers as well as the two famous corgis he adopted from the Queen on her death, used to be given regular outings by their owner when he lived in Windsor. But since he was evicted from Royal Lodge at the Kings insistence and moved to a farmhouse on the margins of the Sandringham estate, their disgraced owner has given up taking them out himself and relied on his staff instead. The dogs were seen this week being walked along a path, beside horse paddocks, by a man who is believed to be a member of Andrews security team. The mixed group of terriers and corgis are now thought to be taken on twice daily jaunts in this way while Andrew, 66, stays behind indoors, alone and out of sight. After the late Queen died in 2022, her two corgis, Muick and Sandy, were adopted by Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who then lived with him, despite them already having five Norfolk terriers of their own. Fergie was particularly proud of taking the two famous dogs on and would regularly share social media updates and pictures of the pair, whom she described as national treasures. But Ferguson has not accompanied her ex to Norfolk; instead, she has gone into hiding at a series of secret locations abroad - so the former Duke is now their sole carer just at the point when his own life is imploding. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors dogs are now being walked by staff after their owner has become a recluse The canine pack, which includes the fallen princes own Norfolk terriers as well as the two famous corgis he adopted from the Queen on her death, used to be given regular outings by their owner when he lived in Windsor The late Queen's beloved corgis - Muick and Sandy - on the day of her funeral on September 19, 2022 Andrews being confined indoors may also be semi-enforced: reports have suggested that Royal aides have banned Andrew from indulging his favourite outdoor pursuit, horse riding, anywhere on the 20,000-acre estate over fears that this would be a bad look. The former prince has been seen many times walking his dogs in the past, particularly when he used to visit his late mother at Balmoral. He also demonstrated his affection for his pets by using a photograph of the backside of one of his terriers as a humorous Christmas card in 2019. But he appears to be letting his staff walk them instead at Sandringham, as he is so fearful of being photographed while out and about on the estate. Instead, he seems to be spending his days inside his temporary new home at Wood Farm with most of the curtains closed and little to look forward to other than his weekly Waitrose food delivery. Buckingham Palace released a statement last October confirming that the late Queens dogs would remain with the family following news that Andrew was being ordered out of Royal Lodge at Windsor due to a series of scandals, including his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It was not clarified at the time whether it would be Andrew, Sarah, or their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who would continue to give the corgis a home. But it now appears to be the case that they are living full-time with Andrew, keeping him company in his exile in Sandringham following his dramatic forced move from his palatial 30-room mansion. The corgis were first seen being walked by one of Andrews staff in a paddock beside Wood Farm, soon after he arrived at the property under the cover of darkness more than three weeks ago. But they have not been walked at the spot since then, and now appear to be being exercised at a far less visible location on a track, passing between another set of paddocks on the other side of Wood Farm and an area of woodland. Disgraced former prince Andrew has given up taking them out himself and relied on his staff instead since he was evicted from Royal Lodge. He is seen here petting one of the royal corgis on the day of the Queen's state funeral Andrew is thought to have left Wood Farm twice since his arrival, with his first excursion being a trip out to inspect nearby Marsh Farm, which is undergoing renovation and is earmarked to be his permanent home. He accessed the property by getting staff to drive him down a private track through the estate, so he did not have to go out on a public road. The only other time he went out was when Thames Valley Police swooped on Wood Farm early last Thursday and arrested him on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office before taking him for questioning 40 miles away at the Police Investigation Centre in Aylsham. His arrest followed suggestions in the latest drop of Epstein documents that he may have given confidential information to the late paedophile financier while he was acting as the UKs trade envoy. Andrew was released under investigation around 11 hours after his arrest and driven back to Sandringham by two of his guards in his personal Range Rover. King Charles finally kicked his brother out of Royal Lodge just hours after he was bizarrely seen smiling and waving at the public amid continued outrage over his links to Epstein. Andrew was seen cheerily greeting members of the public as he rode his horse near Royal Lodge on January 31 and was then seen waving while at the wheel of his Range Rover two days later. Insiders suggested the photographs may have been the 'final straw' in what has been a turbulent few months for the shamed former royal. They have claimed that being seen out in public with a smile on his face was not 'appropriate behaviour' amid growing revelations about his years of communication with Epstein, and accusations about his own sex life. There has been no sign of Andrews favourite horse at Sandringham since his arrival on the estate, suggesting it is still in Windsor, where he was often seen riding it. The Sun reported today that Andrew had been instructed by his aides not to go out riding at Sandringham A source told the newspaper: Since his arrest last week, he has been ordered not to go horse riding. It's considered a bad look. They don't 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? Andrew's ex-wife Fergie was particularly proud of taking the two famous dogs on and would regularly share social media updates and pictures of the pair, whom she described as national treasures MPs yesterday backed a motion from the Liberal Democrats calling for the release of documents on Andrew's appointment as a UK trade envoy in 2001. Trade minister Chris Bryant condemned the former prince's 'self-aggrandisement', saying he was constantly engaged in a 'self-enriching hustle'. Ministers signalled they would not stand in the way of the move to shed light on a role that led to the royal being dubbed 'Air Miles Andy' due to frequent taxpayer-funded trips abroad. As a result, the measure was 'nodded through' the chamber yesterday afternoon. However, the government insists some documents will have to be held back due to the continuing police investigation. The ferocity of the language from Sir Chris is highly unusual, as MPs have traditionally been discouraged from discussing the monarchy in the Commons chamber. However, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle declared Andrew fair game as he was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles last year after emails emerged that cast doubts over previous claims about when he cut ties with Epstein. Taking advantage of the ruling, Sir Chris reminded the House that he had called for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to be sacked as trade envoy more than a decade ago. He described him as 'a man on a constant self-aggrandising, self-enriching hustle'. 'A rude, arrogant and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest which he said he served, and his own private interest,' he added. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to convicted sex offender Epstein, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. Lord Peter Mandelson was also arrested and later bailed on suspicion of the same offence. On Tuesday, Lord Mandelson's lawyers said in a statement that the 72-year-old had been arrested on Monday over a 'baseless' claim he was planning to leave the country. His law firm Mishcon de Reya said: 'Peter Mandelson was arrested yesterday despite an agreement with the police that he would attend an interview next month on a voluntary basis. 'The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad. 'There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion. 'We have asked the MPS for the evidence relied upon to justify the arrest. 'Peter Mandelson's overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has done throughout this process, and to clear his name.' The former Labour minister has been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. As part of the so-called Epstein files, emails from 2009 appear to show Lord Mandelson pass on an assessment by Gordon Brown's adviser of potential policy measures including an 'asset sales plan'. He also appeared to discuss a tax on bankers' bonuses and confirm an imminent bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010. The emails appeared to be sent to Epstein after he became a convicted sex offender. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment beyond their statement issued just after 2am on Tuesday, which read: 'A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.' The force said later he has been bailed to the end of May. The kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson has locals so terrified that home security businesses have seen a sudden surge in requests for panic room installations. Kevin Hand, who specializes in break-in-resistant 'safe rooms' at Sportsman Steel Safes in Arizona, said homeowners have been calling him daily with rush orders to install thick steel doors and secret hiding rooms after the chilling disappearance of the 84-year-old in the early hours of February 1. Prior to the kidnapping, Hand said many homeowners were satisfied with simple solutions like Ring and Nest cameras to feel safe - something Nancy herself had installed at her home. Now, locals fear the devices may not be enough to deter intruders, and are scared that they too could be ripped from their beds in the dead of night. 'There has been a huge spike in calls and business since the Guthrie case,' Hand told the Daily Mail, describing how the fear rippling through Tucson is only intensifying the longer Nancy is missing. His company has built heavy-duty vault doors and reinforced safe rooms for wealthy clients in Texas and California for decades, but now, he says, more middle class families in Arizona are seeing them as a necessary investment. Consultations are booking out weeks in advance. Families who once considered extreme security measures 'over the top' are now asking the same urgent question. 'It's got people thinking "What would we do if someone broke in tonight?"' Hand said. 'People don't want this to happen to them or their families, and they're realizing maybe it can.' Ordinary bookshelves are turned into fortified panic rooms and flimsy interior doors are replaced with 800-pound slabs of steel and concrete where people can hide during an emergency The kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie's mom Nancy Guthrie in Tucson has locals so terrified, one area home-security business has seen a sudden surge in requests for panic rooms The security firm boss said homeowners are now scrambling to structurally fortify their properties. Hand transforms ordinary closets into fortified panic rooms and replaces flimsy interior doors with 800-pound slabs of steel and concrete owners can hide in during an emergency. His firm is so reputable, it also manufactures vault doors and protective products for top-secret government clients. 'We build vaults for almost every government agency,' he said. 'We've never had a vault door ever broken into, drilled open, pried open or lost to a fire, not one.' That track record is encouraging Guthrie's nervous neighbors, many of whom thought they were living in safe, upmarket neighborhoods, to invest in home security. Hand said locals are retrofitting rooms in their homes with ultra-reinforced doors which can weigh anywhere from 800 to 1,000 pounds. A full-length bathroom mirror hides a panic room built by one Arizona-based builder that has seen an uptick in calls following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie Most locals never even thought it would come to this but as the search continues for Savannah Guthrie's mom Nancy, panic rooms have become a real purchase The rooms are, this one behind a wooden unit, built as thick as bank vaults and they have high quality bullet proof doors Ordinary looking everyday furniture leads to secret panic rooms, where families can hide during a home invasion Kevin Hand, who specializes in break-in-resistant 'safe rooms' at his company Sportsman Steel Safes in Arizona , said area homeowners have been calling him daily with rush orders to install thick steel doors and secret hiding rooms 'We make them look just like a regular door. It just looks ordinary, someone wouldn't know it's a panic room from the outside,' he said. But behind that unassuming exterior lies layers of steel, concrete cores, fireboard and anti-pry reinforcement designed to keep intruders out and prevent gunshots getting through. 'When you're using multiple layers of steel, that gives it an excellent ballistic rating,' Hand said. On the outside, a digital keypad unlocks and swings open the door in seconds. Inside, there's an internal release that retracts 'typically 18 bolts' into thick steel framing. Hand said these measures make it 'impossible' for intruders to get in. Security experts know home invaders rely on speed, and estimate that most intruders spend only minutes inside a property before fleeing. 'These people that break into houses to rob you are only going to spend about seven to eight minutes at the most,' Hand said. 'And that narrow window is precisely what panic rooms are designed for. 'If you put one of these 800, 900-pound doors on a walk-in closet, someone is not going to be able to break through this door. And the amount of time it would take to abduct you, it gives you plenty of time to make a phone call - and the panic rooms have reception.' In many homes, the bedrooms are located upstairs, which offers an additional layer of natural defense. Nancy Guthrie's Tucson home could have had high end security systems like a panic room If a homeowner puts one of the 800, 900-pound doors on a walk-in closet, someone is not going be able to break through the door 'Typically, the family is on the second story,' Hand said, explaining that a popular request is for a reinforced walk-in bedroom closet. 'It gives you plenty of time to make a phone call to the police and for the police to get there.' Intruders rarely attempt to break down the walls due to the speed at which they need to get in and out, the security expert said, but homeowners may still wish to reinforce their walls for maximum security. Installing a security door alone dramatically increases the odds of survival in a home invasion situation, Hand explained, adding that it's no longer just wealthy homeowners who are making inquiries. 'If you're a relatively high-profile person, there's simple precautions you can take to make your home kidnap-proof, and now everyone is wanting the same,' he said. The rooms also serve a dual purpose, giving people somewhere to store and protect valuables such as firearms, jewelry and luxury handbags, while also providing refuge during civil unrest, armed break-ins or other emergencies. Installing doors and secret rooms dramatically shifts survival odds in your favor, said experts In these rooms, homeowners can store and protect valuables such as firearms, jewelry and luxury handbags, while providing refuge during civil unrest, armed break-ins or other emergencies Neighbors visit Nancy Guthrie's home as the search for her goes on. Many are now inquiring about panic rooms for their homes While recent headlines have focused on Guthrie, the mother of millionaire Today show host Savannah Guthrie, panic room builder Steve Humble said the demand for improved home security is no longer limited to the rich and famous. 'You used to see these only in the movies. People thought they were just for the ultra-wealthy, but now they are geared toward the middle class,' Humble, who owns Creative Home Engineering in Arizona, told Daily Mail. 'With crime generally worse and the Guthrie story ongoing, people want a safe place to go in a home invasion.' While high-end security and custom designs can run upwards of $25,000, Humble's rates start at $1,000 for a secret door. Mid-range installations with additional reinforcement panels run between $7,500 and $8,500 or more. 'It's a small price to pay to save your family's life during an armed attack,' he said. Custom-built door and secret room builds typically take about 90 days from measurement to final installation. In custom cases they can take about a year. A well hidden secret door and a panic room can run upwards of $25,000 with high-end security and custom designs Mid-range installations with additional reinforcement panels run between $7,500 and $8,500, like the one seen here on the right In one home, a fireplace twists open to reveal a panic room, which local Tucson families have been inquiring about The search continues for Savannah Guthrie's mom, who disappeared from her Tucson home in the early hours of February 1 Hand confirmed that customers have used the rooms during real-life crises more than the general public knows. 'People use these in panic situations, a lot more than you think,' he said. 'It's usually kept very private when stuff goes on.' The security expert said that when the Guthrie family news broke, he wondered why someone with such a public-facing profile wouldn't have taken high-end security measures. Meanwhile, as Tucson residents continue to process the mysterious kidnapping, many are asking Hand unimaginable 'what if' scenarios. His advice is to reinforce doors, install steel cores and create hidden safe spaces. A panic room may never be needed, he added, but in an area now on edge with a ruthless abductor on the loose, the idea of an 800-pound barrier disguised as a regular closet door is likely to put minds at ease. While aliens in science fiction hop between planets on vast spaceships, scientists say reallife extraterrestrials might take a far less glamorous means of transport. When an asteroid slams into a planet's surface, it catapults a spray of rocky debris with so much force that pieces can land on distant worlds. Scientists already know that rocks from Mars have travelled all the way to Earth after an asteroid strike. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University believe that microscopic organisms could have hitched a lift. According to a new study, certain hardy bacteria can survive the immense pressures of an asteroid impact and the harsh conditions of the journey through space. Tucked safely inside the ejected debris, bacteria from Mars could have made it all the way to Earth and potentially even started life on our planet. Lead author Dr Lily Zhao told the Daily Mail: 'We found that life is more likely to survive an asteroid impact, so it's definitely still a real possibility that life on Earth could have come from Mars. 'Maybe we're Martians!' Scientists have found that microbes can survive the extreme forces of an asteroid impact, suggesting that alien life could be catapulted from planet to planet on rocks The idea that life could have spread through the solar system or even the universe on rocks is known as the lithopanspermia hypothesis. Senior author Professor K.T Ramesh told the Daily Mail: 'It's an idea that's more than a century old, but we've discounted it for years because the conditions that the life would have to survive were so extreme.' The seeds of life not only need to withstand freezing cold and intense radiation on their journey through space, but also withstand the enormous forces of an asteroid impact. Asteroids large enough to eject debris into orbit release energy on the scale of nuclear weapons, and scientists didn't think anything could survive this. Previous studies into whether bacteria might handle these forces have consistently proved inconclusive, casting further doubt on the lithopanspermia hypothesis. However, as the researchers point out, these studies made the mistake of focusing on the kinds of life that are found on Earth. Instead, the researchers looked at a type of bacteria that is much closer to the kinds of life that could be found on Mars. They selected Deinococcus radiodurans, a desert bacterium found in the high deserts of Chile, notorious for its ability to survive the most inhospitable, spacelike conditions. To simulate the forces of an asteroid impact, samples of tough bacteria were loaded between two metal plates and shot with a projectile moving at 300 miles per hour (482 km/h) The impact (pictured) created pressures 24 times greater than those found in the Mariana Trench, but the bacteria sill survived 60 per cent of the time 'The surface of Mars is very cold, very dry, and exposed to much more radiation than the surface of the Earth,' says Professor Ramesh. 'Deinococcus radiodurans is able to handle high radiation, extreme cold, and desiccation, and so it is a good model for what a potential Martian bacterium might be like.' The scientists then put these bacteria through a series of tests designed to simulate an asteroid impact. The bacteria were sandwiched between two metal plates and shot with a heavy projectile moving at 300 miles per hour (482 km/h), producing pressures between one and three gigapascals. For comparison, the pressure at the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean, is just one tenth of a gigapascal. Despite these incredible forces, the bacteria proved remarkably difficult to kill. At 1.4 gigapascals of pressure, 100 per cent of the bacteria survived with no signs of damage whatsoever. Likewise, 60 per cent of the bacteria survived at 2.4 gigapascals with only some signs of ruptured membranes and internal damage. Chunks of Martian rock blasted by impacts do land on Earth, such as this enormous piece that went on auction last year. Scientists say that bacteria could have hitched a lift through space on a similar asteroid In fact, the steel structure holding the plates together fell apart long before the scientists could kill all the bacteria. Asteroid impacts produce a range of pressures, with some reaching up to five gigapascals, but this shows that tough bacteria could survive the initial impact. That means the lithopanspermia theory is a lot more plausible than scientists had previously thought. That has big consequences for how we think about the origins of life in the solar system, and where we look for life elsewhere. Professor Ramesh says: 'The existence of life on one planet now means that life could have moved to other planets or moons over the aeons. 'For example, Martian life if it ever existed could potentially have found its way to the Martian moon Phobos, where it could survive buried beneath the surface.' Disturbing videos of a breeding ground for one of the world's deadliest viruses may reveal how a future pandemic could leap from animals to humans. For the first time, cameras in Africa captured a 'dynamic network' of wildlife interacting with thousands of infected bats believed to be carrying the Marburg virus, which is a rare but extremely dangerous disease that belongs to the same family as Ebola. The new videos revealed at least 14 different types of animals, including leopards, hyenas, monkeys, birds and rats, actively hunting herds of Egyptian fruit bats, a common carrier of Marburg, as they flew out of the entrance to 'Python Cave.' Over five months, researchers monitored the cave, documenting 261 instances of animals interacting directly with infected bats or entering the cave, as well as at least 400 visits by tourists, students, and local workers. They said these recordings, including some showing predators walking off with dead bats in their mouths, provide potential proof of how the virus 'spills over', causing Marburg to mutate from bats to animals and then possibly to people. Marburg causes a severe illness which leads to symptoms including a high fever, severe headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea and internal bleeding. The virus has killed up to 88 percent of those infected during prior outbreaks and makes people's eyes, gums and other parts of the body bleed. That mortality rate is even higher than Ebola, which kills roughly half of those infected. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or animals, or through contaminated surfaces, which is where the cave in Uganda came into play, revealing the potential 'ground zero' for a dangerous new outbreak. An African leopard seen with its bat prey emerging from Python Cave in Uganda A LHoests monkey holding a bat in its left hand at the mouth of Python Cave in Uganda There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the virus yet, but supportive care like fluids and pain relief can help patients survive. Researcher Bosco Atukwatse and his team from the Kyambura Lion Project in Uganda were initially tracking leopards in Queen Elizabeth National Park when they came across a cave where infected bats were being hunted and eaten by local wildlife. From February to June 2025, cameras caught various animals walking up to the mouth of the cave, attacking the fleeing bats, scavenging their remains and eating bat droppings, according to the study published on the preprint server bioRxiv. Most of the people who were seen at the cave did not wear masks, gloves or other protective gear, and they were in proximity to the bats - seriously increasing the risk of infection. 'These observations constitute the first ecological confirmation of a dynamic, multispecies exposure network at a known Marburg virus site, and may represent a Rosetta Stone for interpreting the real-time mechanics of zoonotic spillover,' researchers said. In simpler terms, the team warned that easy-to-reach caves create a hotspot where bats, wild animals, and people all mix closely, making it easier for deadly viruses like Marburg to spread. The team added that the videos could explain why outbreaks happen and help prevent a future epidemic by teaching people to use safety gear and limit their contact with wildlife. Bats have been known carriers of serious viruses like Marburg, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, and rabies without getting sick themselves, acting as natural hosts that allow these germs to survive and potentially spread. Marburg virus is a rare disease that belongs to the same family as Ebola, but kills significantly more patients infected with it Your browser does not support iframes. The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have documented direct disease transmissions to humans after people entered bat caves. These animals have also been found to carry many varieties of coronaviruses, and some have passed to humans, leading to major outbreaks. It has been alleged and heavily debated whether bats played any role in transmitting the coronavirus that mutated into Covid-19 and triggered a global pandemic killing millions. The researchers added that the videos capturing certain animals, such as monkeys, casually entering the bat cave to collect bats were alarming, as these primates are closely related to humans, turning local monkeys into a 'jumping off point' for the virus as it moves to people. Orin Cornille, a field coordinator at the Kyambura Lion Project, told The Telegraph: 'What surprised me is we were seeing blue monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, going in there and snatching bats. From a virological standpoint, I think thats the crazy part.' 'The leopard is really cool, and all the genet cats and the civets and all the different avian species are really cool to watch. But I think from a virus point of view, its probably the monkeys which are the scariest thing.' One of the most common symptoms is bleeding from the eyes and on the skin (file image) Past Marburg outbreaks have involved primates. The first reported Marburg cases in 1967 were diagnosed in Germany when people handled infected African green monkeys imported from Uganda. A total of 31 people became ill and seven died. Some studies have also found Marburg antibodies in wild vervet monkeys and baboons in East Africa, showing they can get exposed or infected in nature. In areas like Uganda's national parks and forests, monkeys frequently raid crops, approach villages, or are hunted for food. This close overlap with people, the researchers warned, raises the spillover risk. If infected monkeys carry the virus after touching bats, it could spread to humans far more readily than if it stayed with distant predators like leopards or birds of prey seen in the cave videos. However, the team cautioned that there was no evidence of any spillover event during the 2025 study that could start a new Marburg outbreak. They added that it is possible local wildlife have been exploring these caves for thousands of years and coming into contact with disease-carrying bats without triggering a widespread or potentially global epidemic. Tim Cook has dropped a major hint that Apple will release a series of brand new products next week. The tech giant is hosting three 'Special Experiences' for media on Wednesday, taking place in Shanghai, London, and New York. While Apple has remained tightlipped about what's in store, its CEO has given us a tantalising taste of what's to come. Taking to X, Mr Cook posted a sixsecond video of a hand swiping across a grey surface, before pinching and pulling to create the Apple logo. 'A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning!' he captioned the video, along with the #AppleLaunch hashtag. The clip has sparked speculation that Apple could be hosting a series of launches throughout the week, including a touchscreen MacBook Pro. 'MacBook touch!' one fan replied to the Apple CEO. Another joked: 'That 6-second clip just gave me more dopamine than my entire feed today.' A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/PQ9gM2Gl2r Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 26, 2026 Tim Cook has dropped a major hint that Apple will release a series of brand new products next week Bloomberg's Apple expert, Mark Gurman, claims that one of the new devices will be a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen. 'The new MacBook Pro looks similar to the current model, including a full keyboard and large trackpad,' he explained, citing 'people familiar with the matter.' 'Still, the Mac will gain a refreshed, dynamic user interface that can shift between being optimized for touch or point-and-click input.' Mr Gurman claims that if users touch a button or control, the interface will bring up a new type of menu surrouding their finger. This may be what Mr Tim Cook is alluding to in his video, where he pinches and pulls the Apple logo. 'The goal is to give users the controls that make the most sense based on whether theyre touching or clicking,' Mr Gurman added. Beyond the MacBook Pro, Apple is rumoured to be launching several other gadgets. This includes a new entry-level iPad, the iPhone 17, and a low-cost MacBook aimed at students. The tech giant is hosting three 'Special Experiences' for media on Wednesday, taking place in Shanghai, London, and New York Beyond the MacBook Pro, Apple is rumoured to be launching several other gadgets. This includes a new entry-level iPad, the iPhone 17, and a low-cost MacBook aimed at students According to Mr Gurman, this MacBook will be 'well under $1,000', with a small display that measures just under 13inches. Despite the lower price point, the MacBook will be made from aluminium, not plastic, he adds. 'Like all Macs, this machine codenamed J700 will feature an aluminum chassis,' Mr Gurman explained. 'To stick with this premium material, Apple developed a new manufacturing process that allows the shells to be forged more quickly. 'The technique is designed to be both faster and more costeffective than the one used with Apple's current laptops.' Mr Gurman predicts Apple will opt for bright colours, to suit its target audience of students. 'Over the past year, Apple has tested options such as light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver and dark gray though it's unlikely all of these will ship,' he said. 'The technique is designed to be both faster and more costeffective than the one used with Apple's current laptops.' As mentioned in his tweet, Mr Gurman predicts Apple will opt for bright colours, to suit its target audience of students. 'Over the past year, Apple has tested options such as light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver and dark gray though it's unlikely all of these will ship,' he said. Thankfully, there's not long to wait to find out if the rumours are true. The Daily Mail will be keeping you updated with all the announcements as they happen next week, and will be at the 'Special Experience' on Wednesday - watch this space! NASA has scrubbed its plans to land on the moon in 2027 amid a series of struggles to launch the Artemis II spacecraft this month. Space agency administrator Jared Isaacman revealed on Friday that Artemis III, which had been scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface next year, will now only circle the moon - pushing a potential landing mission to 2028 at the earliest. Meanwhile, its predecessor, Artemis II, initially scheduled to take off on February 8, continues to experience fueling issues that have pushed back its ten-day trek to orbit the moon to April. The scheduling shakeup comes as NASA critics and conspiracy theorists claim the space agency has been delaying the much-anticipated moon missions to hide the presence of ancient structures previously found on the moon's dark side. The US government has maintained that no definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life has ever been found, and the presence of an unknown civilization on the moon has not been proven. However, multiple authors, scientists and UFO researchers have claimed without evidence that NASA has concealed astronaut reports of buildings located on the side of the moon facing away from Earth, which could be tens of thousands of years old. Officially, Isaacman said the reason for the cancelled moon landing was to help NASA standardize the equipment and systems used in these launches so the agency could conduct more missions more quickly in the future. Once Artemis II completes its mission this year, Isaacman revealed that Artemis III will now conduct a similar flight in 2027, and the newly added Artemis IV mission will have the honor of landing on the moon approximately ten months later, in 2028. Conspiracy theorists have claimed that ancient buildings and inscriptions were previously spotted by astronauts orbiting the moon in the 1960s and 70s (stock image) NASA has pushed back the launch of the Artemis II moon mission to April In a video released by Isaacman, the space agency chief said: 'NASA must standardize its approach, increase flight rate safely, and execute on the Presidents national space policy.' 'With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives,' he continued. 'Standardizing vehicle configuration, increasing flight rate and progressing through objectives in a logical, phased approach, is how we achieved the near-impossible in 1969 and it is how we will do it again.' The newly appointed administrator added that the NASA team believed there were too many development and production risks at the moment to make a moon landing and safe return in 2027 possible. With that in mind, Isaacman said the agency was going back 'to the wisdom of the folks that designed Apollo.' 'The entire sequence of Artemis flights needs to represent a step-by-step build-up of capability, with each step bringing us closer to our ability to perform the landing missions.' However, a wide variety of skeptics have alleged that the string of delays is either proof that the original moon missions 50 years ago were fabricated or that astronauts surveying the lunar surface found an advanced city there. One military whistleblower, US Air Force Sergeant Karl Wolfe, claimed that he had seen pre-Apollo lunar orbiter photos of a city on the dark side of the moon while at a government facility in 1965. Join the debate Do you think NASA is hiding something on the moon, or are these delays just technical setbacks? NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed on Friday that the Artemis III mission will no longer land on the lunar surface in 2027, as it had been previously planned NASA has not conducted a manned moon mission since 1972. The next ones could potentially be televised This allegation of Wolf was later echoed by former CIA psychics and respected astronauts who have also claimed there is something on the lunar surface that NASA officials have been keeping hidden since moon missions ended in 1972. In the 1970s and 1980s, the CIA conducted experiments with individuals who claimed they could perceive information about distant objects, events, or people, a process known as 'remote viewing.' One of the most famed remote viewers, Ingo Swann, wrote that he allegedly saw towers, buildings and human-like aliens working at a secret complex on the dark side of the moon during one of his psychic episodes in 1975. Last year, author and geologist Gregg Braden told podcast host Joe Rogan that evidence of this ancient city was kept from the public by the US and Russia during the Cold War. According to the scientist, who has previously written about the possibility of life on the moon, astronauts landing on the moon in 2028 will discover archeological structures covered in languages that humans will be able to recognize. 'The evidence suggests they're from us, from a time in our past, a cycle of civilization where we did great and beautiful things by working together until we destroyed one another through war, and that we're repeating that cycle,' Braden claimed. Braden has previously stated in books like Deep Truth and Gaia TVs Missing Links that humans on the moon came from a long-lost Earth civilization 50,000 years ago, which developed space-faring technology before destroying itself in an ancient war. NASA moved the Artemis II rocket to the launch pad on January 17. The space agency now plans to standardize the equipment used in the project to facilitate more frequent launches 'NASA's been "Going back to the moon this year!!" since 1988 (about 40 years!), and yet we haven't. Ask yourself why,' one skeptic posted on social media Friday. The Trump Administration has continued to stand by its goal of returning a US presence to the moon - this time permanently. Former NASA administrator Sean Duffy declared in September that the White House intended to 'land and establish a long-term presence of life on the moon led by America.' Duffy continued by saying that what astronauts learn from the Artemis missions will help in future efforts to 'put American boots on Mars.' Isaacman noted that a second moon landing, Artemis V, could take place later on in 2028 if the first mission to the lunar surface is successful. A strange triangular formation in the Nevada desert is fueling speculation that it may be the work of a long-lost ancient civilization. Spotted on Google Earth, the structure is located in Battle Mountain, surrounded by sharp, jagged mountain ranges with deep valleys and ridges. The structure is a large, sharply defined triangle clearly visible from above, with each side nearly straight, creating an almost perfect equilateral shape. The center of the triangle is empty, though faint linear markings hint at past human activity. An image of the formation and its coordinates, 40.35322, -117.34707, has flooded social media, where users suggested it could be 'a lost man-made pyramid' and are sure it is 'very ancient.' Others have proclaimed the triangle as a 'universal Intergalactic warning sign.' While the discovery has sparked wild theories, other social media users have shared a more realistic take, saying the structure is nothing more than remnants of an old airfield. The formation closely matches the outline of the Buffalo Valley Intermediate Field, an emergency triangular airfield built in the 1930s to 1940s along early aviation routes. Spotted on Google Earth, the structure is located in Battle Mountain, surrounded by sharp, jagged mountain ranges with deep valleys and ridges While the discovery has sparked wild theories, other social media users have shared a more realistic take, saying the structure is nothing more than remnants of an old airfield In Nevada and other Western US deserts, triangular airfields were common in the 1930s and 1940s, serving early aviation needs such as mail routes and emergency landings. These airfields were intentionally designed in a triangular pattern so pilots could land into the wind from multiple directions. Experts say that while such sites may look unusual from above, triangular airfields were once widespread across the American West, particularly in remote desert regions where emergency landing options were critical for early pilots. Many were unpaved and have since been reclaimed by the desert, leaving only faint impressions visible in satellite imagery. The unusual shapes have fueled speculation about mysterious or ancient structures. Some enthusiasts compare them to other enigmatic desert formations worldwide, sparking debates about lost civilizations, secret government projects and even extraterrestrial activity. Last year, Google Earth users spotted another mysterious triangular structure in Nevada, this one located within the highly classified confines of Area 51. After a shot of the tower was posted to Reddit, one user said 'it's where the aliens test their various white powders.' Someone else posted: 'Obviously alien technology. It pops out when the Earth is done.' Last year, Google Earth users spotted another mysterious triangular structure in Nevada, this one located within the highly classified confines of Area 51 On Google Maps, the unusual structure can be located using '37.24624 N, 115.82334 W' as coordinates. It is adjacent to a vast network of buildings, cars and runways that form the highly classified region, officially called Homey Airport or Groom Lake. The tower has what looks like a long, looping dirt pile going around it in the shape of a noose and an imposing shadow from the Nevada sunshine leading one Facebooker to call it a 'very accurate sundial'. Google Maps does not name the structure. However, there appears to be a rational explanation for the tower. The tower is used for radar cross-section (RCS) testing, where aircraft or mock-ups are mounted to measure how detectable they are to radar. One Facebook user explained: 'Its shadow and elevated position match the known appearance of this type of pylon structure used for mounting full-scale aircraft models or prototypes.' Variously described as 150 feet and 190 feet in height, it was reportedly constructed 20 years ago but was only acknowledged by the US government in 2013. Largely due to the US government's secrecy surrounding its military efforts, the site will likely continue to inspire such far-fetched theories. A US Air Force spy jet was spotted soaring over several states home to America's land-based nuclear missile force on Friday. The Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint is a high-tech aircraft designed to support 'theater and national level consumers with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities.' Flight tracking data showed the jet departing Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, at about 9.44am, before heading north through the Dakotas. The plane first traveled into South Dakota, passing through central and eastern regions that once hosted Minuteman II silos under Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City. It then moved into North Dakota near Minot, home to one of the densest concentrations of active missile silos in the nation. The 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base oversees roughly 150 Minuteman III silos scattered across rural north-central North Dakota, with some extending southeast toward Bismarck. The US currently maintains about 400 silo-based Minuteman III missiles across North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, forming the land-based leg of the nation's nuclear deterrent. While officials have not confirmed the reason for Friday's mission, it comes as President Donald Trump said he is 'not happy' with nuclear talks with Iran but will wait to see what happens in additional rounds of negotiations. Flight tracking data showed the jet departing Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, at about 9.44am, before heading north through the Dakotas 'I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We're talking later,' Trump told reporters as he left the White House today. 'We're not exactly happy with the way they're negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons.' Tensions between the US and Iran remain high after the latest nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday failed to produce a breakthrough, with American forces continuing to gather in the region. Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal to constrain its nuclear program, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. FlightRadar24 first showed the Rivet Joint leaving Offutt Air Force Base, where the aircraft is primarily housed under the control of the 55th Wing and 45th Reconnaissance Squadron. During Friday's mission, the jet made four loops, circling above historic Minuteman II missile sites. A Minuteman II missile was an upgraded US intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with enhanced range, speed, and targeting, featuring an advanced guidance system and a powerful warhead. The Rivet Joint seats more than 30 personnel, including the cockpit crew, electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators, and in-flight maintenance technicians. The US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft is designed to detect, identify and geolocate electronic signals, providing near real-time on-scene intelligence data (stock image) It is designed to 'detect, identify, and geolocate signals,' providing immediate intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination capabilities. Last year, the Rivet Joint was spotted on a mysterious mission over the Gulf of California in Mexico - a region known as a cartel stronghold. Tracking data captured the US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft taking off from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska on February 5, flying southwest to California. The Rivet Joint then headed south along the western coast of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, moved north into the Gulf of California, and returned to base on Tuesday. The aircraft appeared to stay in international airspace while operating near Mexico. It did not reach the end of the Gulf that is blocked by Mexico's territorial sea. However, the area falls under the influence of the Sinaloa Cartel, a large and notorious drug trafficking organization. US-Mexico relations have remained strained due to continued drug smuggling and illegal immigration into the US. Amanda Bynes showed off her weight loss as she stepped out in Los Angeles, on Wednesday ahead of her 40th birthday. The actress displayed her figure in a low-cut black bra top that exposed her small midsection. She was later seen with her boyfriend Zachary Khan as they enjoyed a trip. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Amanda Bynes showed off her weight loss as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday Bynes has lost an impressive 30lb after using Ozempic. She rose to fame in the early 2000s for her comedic role on the WB sitcom What I Like About You and several teen-oriented movies, including Hairspray, Big Fat Liar and Easy A. Her look: The actress showed off her figure in a black bra top Back then: Amanda is pictured in 2002 aged 16 The actress's world started to fall apart in 2012 when she was first arrested in West Hollywood for driving under the influence (DUI). She was taken into custody after her BMW sideswiped a police car. In December, Bynes said she shed 28lb after using Ozempic. She shared a photo of herself on her Instagram Stories in late December and captioned it with: 'I usually don't like paparazzi pictures bc I was 180lb but now I've lost 28lb on ozempic! I'm down to 152lb. I know I still look big but this photo is really inspiring to me! [sic]' In June 2025, the former child star, who quit showbiz over a decade ago due to numerous personal problems, including an addiction to the ADHD prescription medication Adderall, revealed in a video that she turned to the weight-loss drug in a bid to reach her ideal weight of 130lb. She explained on Instagram: 'I'm going on Ozempic. So excited. 'I'm 173 now so I hope to get down to like 130, which would be awesome so I look better in paparazzi pictures. I will post about my Ozempic journey of course.' Inking: She flashed an array of tattoos while heading to her car Company: Bynes was later seen arm-in-arm with her boyfriend Zachary Khan Out and about: The couple enjoyed a walk in the sunshine Struggle: She quit showbiz over a decade ago due to numerous personal problems Moving on: The pair were never far from each other Previously: Amanda (right) with Hilary Duff over 20 years ago In March 2024, Bynes shared on Instagram that she piled on more than 20lb after she had depression. The Love Wrecked star said: 'I'm doing a lot better now and have learned to do opposite action when I don't feel like working out or eating clean. I weigh 162lb. right now and want to get back to 110lb.' Kendall Jenner enjoyed a cozy evening with Nicholas Galitzine on Thursday as they made the most of Milan Fashion Week. The model, 29, was seen chatting with the actor, 31, as they attended the Emporio Armani show before returning to the brand's Power Of You party, where they posed for snaps. For the runway presentation, she looked stylish in a little black dress which she paired with heels. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Cozy: Kendall Jenner was seen chatting with Nicholas Galitzine on Thursday as they party hopped during Milan Fashion Week (pictured at the Emporio Armani show) Chic: The pair were also seen at the Armani Power Of You party, where they posed for snaps Beautiful: Kendall stunned as she posed next to the handsome British actor Super cheeky: Kendall posed in a pair of hotpants as she was named a 'Superstar' in a new Adidas campaign The star later changed into a shimmering silver gown that showed off her incredible figure. Kendall looked in good spirits at the party as she wrapped her arm around Nicholas's waist and beamed for the camera. Nicholas, who is set to take on the role of He-Man in Masters Of The Universe, was also seen in two outfits. Chilling out: Elsewhere, Kendall relaxed in a luxurious hotel bed wearing a white Adidas tube top Star power: The supermodel joins a cast of icons, lead by Samuel L Jackson Sleek look: The model wore her hair slicked back into a tight pony The first was a beige co-ord. The second was an edgier all-black look which he paired with a leather jacket. The outing comes as Kendall was named a 'Superstar' in the new Adidas campaign while she posed in a sexy hotpants. The model joined a cast of icons, lead by Samuel L Jackson, in the new campaign which centers around a search for Adidas's 'superstars' which include Olivia Dean, Lammie yamal, Baby Keem and James Harden. In other snaps Kendall relaxed on a luxurious hotel bed dressed in a white tube top and a red shell jacket. The star posted a selection of the snaps to Instagram with the caption: 'My superstars @adidasoriginals #adidassuperstar.' Classic style: Kendall was snappe dwearing a pair of Superstar II trainers in Cloud White When it comes to summer holidays, few things are better than post-breakfast swim in crystal-clear waters. But while the setting may look idyllic from any beachside paradise, sea conditions can make or break the experience. A new study has revealed the best swimming spots in Europe for summer 2026. Mediterranean coastlines in particular perform well and offer excellent annual swimming conditions. Italy leads the list, with the number one spot a hidden gem that's often ignored. Greece dominates the rankings with six destinations in the top 15. Other countries that feature include Spain, France and Croatia. Here are Europe's top destinations with the best annual conditions for sea swimming... 1. Sperlonga, Italy Taking the top spot is little heard-of Italian destination Sperlonga To help travellers pick destinations with some of the best swimming conditions, CV Villas analysed data from some of the world's best-loved coastal destinations. Sperlonga in Italy took the crown, a coastal gem in the province of Latina, Italy, about halfway between Rome and Naples. And it's a budget-friendly hidden gem, with Ryanair flights starting from just 39 to Rome, one of the nearest airports. 2. Cefalu, Italy Cefalu on the island of Sicily, Italy is popular among swimmers Cefalu in Sicily comes in second place, a historic seaside town popular among locals. Cefalu's old town is beautiful, a perfect European spot filled with great restaurants, shops and historical sights. The main sandy beach (Spiaggia di Cefalu) is in the town centre, but in the surrounding areas there are plenty of quieter options. 3. Costa Adeje, Spain Beach of Fanabe at Adeje Coast, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain Costa Adeje, an upmarket resort town on the southern coast, takes spot number three. Located in popular destination Tenerife, it's no surprise the beaches are great - and, notably, family-friendly. Another perk is the weather - there is sunshine 320 days a year here. 4. Villefranche-sur-Mer, France Villefranche-Sur-Mer is located near to Nice on the French Riviera Villefranche-sur-Mer in France comes next in fourth place. Away from the crowds and tourists of Nice, this seaside resort town is popular among French people, with many chic restaurants and excellent swimming spots. It also has a walkable old town, filled with boutiques and hotels. 5. Elounda, Greece Elounda in Greece has incredible views and swimmable waters Upmarket resort town Elounda comes in fifth place in the ranking. It's hailed for its authentic charm, amazing swimming spots and excellent snorkelling, with one review on Tripadvisor saying: 'It's really beautiful and feels quite remote.' Another added: 'Fantastic location with lots going on while you can find quiet beaches and some fabulous views within long or short walking distances. Great for exploring or take the footpaths if your not good with hiking.' =6. Makarska, Croatia Punta Rata beach in Brela, Makarska Riviera, Croatia has bright blue waters In sixth place is Makarska, Croatia, a popular port town known for its pebble beaches. The main appeal here is the swimming, with crystal-clear waters, horseshoe-shaped bay features, white pebbled beaches and a buzzing promenade. It's becoming more and more popular, and images of the region make it easy to understand why. =6. Barcelona, Spain Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona in Spain is popular among locals and tourists In joint sixth place is Barcelona in Catalonia, a vibrant beach city with plenty to do. A perk of swimming in Barcelona is how accessible beaches are, stretching from the city centre - such as Barceloneta. Barcelona, in Spain, was also recently ranked as the most photographed destination in Europe with a whopping 77,112,126 Instagram posts in total - and the beach is especially photogenic. =7. Gaios, Greece Gaios, the main city of Paxos Island, also joins the swim hotspot list Gaios in Greece - the main port on Paxos - comes in seventh place. It's a beautiful harbour, with excellent water conditions for swimming, as well as a waterfront with a vibrant ambience. It's also very popular with people visiting on a day trip from nearby islands. =7. Chania, Greece Chania in Greece comes in join seventh place for swimming spots In joint seventh place in the ranking is Chania, another Greek destination. Chania is home to one of the widely recognised best beaches in the world, Elafonissi Beach - described as 'the Maldives of Europe'. It's easy to get to, as Brits can fly to Chania Airport in Crete from just 44 with Ryanair. 8. Pylos, Greece The town of Pylos, Navarino Coast, Peloponnese, Greece is picturesque Number eight? Pylos in Greece, also known as Navarino. Some have described the town as 'stepping into a postcard', and with its combination of a beautiful town and ocean views, it's easy to understand why. Aside from swimming, there's plenty to do here, including a visit to the New Castle of Pylos, for a bit of history and culture. 9. Kos, Greece Agios Theologos beach on Kos island in Greece, a fab swim spot Stylish Kos is famed for its sandy beaches and buzzing nightlife - and it also ranks ninth for swimming. For any history buffs out there, it's also the home of Hippocrates, father of medicine, and the island has many archaeological sites to explore. It's great for nature-lovers, too, with bike rides and walks to explore. 10. Skiathos, Greece The old harbor and town of Skiathos island, Sporades, Greece Rounding out the top 10 is Skiathos in Greece, known for having more than 60 sandy beaches to try out. The most famous beach is Koukounaries Beach, lined by pine trees - although, naturally, it can get very busy during the summer months. It won't take you long on the island to find a great restaurant or cocktail bar, either. Europes top 15 destinations with the best annual conditions for sea swimming 1. Sperlonga, Italy 2. Cefalu, Italy 3. Costa Adeje, Spain 4. Villefranche-sur-Mer, France 5. Elounda, Greece =6. Makarska, Croatia =6. Barcelona, Spain =7. Gaios, Greece =7. Chania, Greece 8. Pylos, Greece 9. Kos, Greece 10. Skiathos, Greece 11. Corsica Island, France 12. Dubrovnik, Croatia 13. Antibes, France 14. Capri, Italy 15. Split, Croatia Source: CV Villas Advertisement Hannah Marshall, marketing manager at CV Villas, said: 'We've seen an increasing number of travellers prioritising beachside villas where they can make swimming in the sea a central part of their holiday experience, rather than something they do secondary to swimming in a pool. 'Calm, consistently warm waters with just the right amount of wind, clear skies, and a safe UV index level allow travellers to make the most of their time exploring the beautiful blue spaces coastal destinations have to offer.' Which? has revealed the best airlines flying in and out of the UK - and the ones that tourists should swerve. In research conducted over the last 12 months, the consumer champion asked more than 5,500 travellers about their journeys by plane. The study considered multiple factors, including value for money, cabin environment (including cleanliness), food and drink, seat comfort, customer service, boarding, booking process, seat pitch, last-minute cancellations, flights on time and last-minute cancellations. Which? then crunched the data to reveal how passengers rated the overall experience to determine the best and worst carriers for customer satisfaction in the UK. And it's likely to make uncomfortable reading for some airline bosses. Cut-price Irish carrier Ryanair proved to be the worst-performing short-haul airline overall, with a customer score of just 55 per cent. The budget flyer, whose CEO is Michael O'Leary, got just a two-star rating for its booking process, boarding, customer service and cabin environment and just one star for seat comfort. Despite being known for its cheap fares, Ryanair also bagged just three stars on value for money, with one customer commenting: 'It is billed as a budget airline but they make money from extras which far outweigh price savings on other flight companies.' Budget airline Ryanair ranked the worst for short haul flights and received an overall customer score of 55 per cent - but the carrier remained bullish, saying: 'Neither we nor our 208m passengers pay any attention to these made-up manufactured surveys or their fake result' Your browser does not support iframes. And the experience inside the plane? Another less-than-impressed passenger said: 'The plane is dirty and the seats are awful.' Hungarian carrier Wizz Air followed as the second-worst, with a customer score of 55 per cent. The airline collected two stars for its booking process, boarding, customer service, seat comfort and food and drink. Like Ryanair, the carrier scored three stars on value for money. A comment from one Wizz Air customer claimed the airline was 'consistently terrible and overpriced,' while others felt the customer service was poor and said communication around delays was insufficient. Low-cost Spanish carrier Vueling Airlines followed as the third-worst performer for short-haul flights. With a 63 per cent customer score, the airline achieved three stars on value for money and two stars for the other factors. Another low-cost giant, easyJet, scored 67 per cent, receiving two stars for boarding, customer service, seat comfort and cabin environment. It managed to take away three stars in the value for money category and was sixth from bottom overall. As for long-haul journeys, another Irish carrier, Aer Lingus, fared badly, scoring just 65 per cent overall. Join the debate Are budget airlines ruining the quality of travel or just offering cheap options you can't resist? In the long haul airlines category, Aer Lingus didn't fare well, ranking as the worst performer and scoring 65 per cent The Dublin-based airline received three stars for all categories except for cabin environment and seat comfort, which were rated a two respectively. United Airlines and American Airlines, both based in the US, followed scoring 68 and 69 per cent respectively. Some of the top performers include Jet2, which placed first for short-haul with an impressive 76 per cent score, followed by Lufthansa and Norwegian. Other strong carriers for short-haul flights include British Airways, KLM, TUI, Aer Lingus and Air France. In the long-haul category, Singapore Airlines took the crown with the highest rating overall - 81 per cent. The airline scored five stars for customer service and cabin environment, and was the only one to do so. Emirates closely followed with 81 per cent, then Virgin Atlantic scoring 79 per cent - both of which are Which? Recommended Providers, like Jet2. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said of the research: 'It's outrageous to see Ryanair and Wizz Air openly scoff at the poor experiences of their own customers. 'They love to blow their own trumpet about the number of passengers who fly with them, but on many routes, there is simply no other choice. 'Many other passengers fly with them because of the enticingly low headline fares. But ridiculously expensive charges for baggage and other add-ons mean they are no longer guaranteed to be the cheapest option. 'We've repeatedly found that airlines that include baggage and seat allocation in their fares can actually work out cheaper overall. Fly with anyone else, if you can.' Singapore Airlines claimed the top spot when it came to long haul carriers, with the highest rating overall - 81 per cent Your browser does not support iframes. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: 'Neither we nor our 208m passengers pay any attention to these made-up manufactured surveys or their fake results. 'Every passenger booking a flight has a choice and last year 208m consumers chose Ryanair, while nobody reads or pays any attention to Which? fake surveys.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Wizz Air said: 'Once again, Which's survey relies on a tiny sample size. It surveyed 259 people, which is only 0.002 per cent of the 12 million passengers carried on our UK flights in 2025. 'No credible organisation can claim that such a sample is representative. Our strong passenger numbers - which rise every year - clearly show that travellers value Wizz's low prices and industry-leading operational performance. 'We're continuing to deliver against the commitments outlined in our 12billion Customer First Compass initiative. From October 2024 to December 2025, customer satisfaction rose by eight percentage points. 'At the same time, our flight completion rate in the UK was 99.7 per cent - consistently among the best in the industry - while our on-time performance increased by 14 per cent year-on-year. 'This year, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers on board Europe's youngest and most modern fleet, taking advantage of our low prices on our biggest ever summer leisure network to many new destinations in Spain, Greece, and France.' A spokesperson for easyJet commented: '50 million customers in the UK will choose to fly with easyJet this year for our choice of destinations, great value fares and friendly service from our fantastic crew. 'We allow customers to pay for only what they want and no more which enables us to keep fares low for everyone. With around 40 per cent of our customers choosing to travel with just the fare and our customer satisfaction scores at a 10-year high, its clear that customers continue to value this choice and our service. 'Given this survey is not weighted, it simply isn't representative when comparing with airlines who carry far fewer passengers.' The Daily Mail approached Vueling Airlines, Aer Lingus, American Airlines and United for comment. While most cities spread outwards, Historic Jeddah grew upwards, even as far back as the 7th Century. One of Saudi's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Historic Jeddah reached for the clouds and constructed unique buildings with unique materials from the sea. But this is no quiet museum city, it is a thriving ecosystem where ancient traditions and modern life come together among red coral-walled alleys. Wander among them and admire the ingenious historic architecture and the warmth of today's multicultural population. The city itself flourished from the 16th to the 20th Century, but particularly following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, when merchants began to build intricately decorated houses. Because the city was confined within defensive walls, space was a premium. This led to the creation of tall tower houses that could reach five to seven stories high. One of Saudi's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Historic Jeddah reached for the clouds and constructed unique buildings with unique materials from the sea Local architecture Unlike most historic cities built of stone or brick, the tower houses of Historic Jeddah were constructed using Red Sea coral limestone, harvested from the reefs. This porous coral stone acts as a natural air conditioner, keeping the interiors cool, even in blistering heat. And over centuries, the coral has been 'cured' by the salt air, making the structures incredibly resilient. Look out for other unique features of the tower houses, such as the carved teak rawashin, ornate wooden bay windows with intricate lattice-work. The artisan woodwork serves a triple function, aiding ventilation by allowing sea breezes to permeate the house while maintaining total privacy for the residents inside. Typically, the ground floor was for trade; the middle floors for living and guests; and the top floors (the coolest) were for the family, often featuring roof terraces for sleeping under the stars. These imposing towers had multiple functions, too. The ground floor was for trade and commerce, while guests were welcomed to the middle floors, with their elegant decorations, while the cooler top floors were reserved as private sanctuaries. Historic Jeddah is a place that deserves to be explored on foot. It makes up about a third of the original walled city and has carefully preserved its historic buildings A port of infinite ideas Historic Jeddah didn't just receive pilgrims and goods traded across the Indian Ocean, it was also a centre for the exchange of ideas, cultures and languages, which can still be seen in the distinctive architecture today. From the 7th Century, Historic Jeddah became a key Indian Ocean port and was known as the 'Gate to Makkah.' Pilgrims coming by sea to visit Makkah (known in the West as Mecca) landed at this ancient port, staying overnight before going on to the Holy City. Trade ships brought spices and incense over the Indian Ocean, and merchants built their homes. The result: Historic Jeddah is a cultural hotspot where ancient traditions mix with historic architecture on the shores of the Red Sea. Muslims from across Asia, Africa and the Middle East gathered in the city to complete the Hajj pilgrimage, exchanging languages and learning from each other. A walk through time Historic Jeddah is a place that deserves to be explored on foot. It makes up about a third of the original walled city and has carefully preserved its historic buildings. But it is more than simply an open-air museum. This still remains a thriving part of the city of Jeddah and one of the elements that make up its UNESCO status is the authenticity of this historic district, where urban life continues, little-changed. Wander between the gates of the historic walled-in city in a maze of narrow streets and alleys, with the Roshan houses towering vertiginously on either side. Bab Jadid, the Old Jeddah Gate, is set in the old city walls, a convenient starting point to the historical part of the city. Unlike most historic cities built of stone or brick, the tower houses of Historic Jeddah were constructed using Red Sea coral limestone, harvested from the reefs The Nassif House Museum offers an overview of the region's vast history. Located in a characteristic historic building itself, you are quite literally setting foot in the past. Explore the present as well: the markets and souks of historic Jeddah are thriving, bustling with a whole variety of different languages. Explore Souk al-Alawi, one of the largest in the Kingdom, and wind your way through a collection of basketware and pottery, perfumes and nuts, leather goods, and antique furniture. Don't forget to sample the dates and spices and stop for Saudi coffee. Diyab Cafe is the original and traditional stop for aromatic coffee. Almond coffee is their famous blend, served with an authentically warm Saudi welcome, an authentic part of the local heritage. Go on for lunch at one of Historic Jeddah's many charming restaurants, serving classic regional dishes like Kabsa, alongside freshly caught seafood from the port. Head upwards to the rooftops for some establishments, offering fresh breezes with an unbeatable view alongside their delicacies. The Nassif House Museum offers an overview of the region's vast history Experiences and events Be sure that you look at an events calendar before you go. Through all four seasons, there is a programme of cultural festivities, exhibitions, and traditional performances, from dancing to art festivals. The Red Sea International Film Festival in December showcases the region's film culture and talent, and the old city bursts into life in January/February during Balad Beast, a large music festival. In the spring, Balad al-Fann art festival sees art installations, music, and performances celebrating Jeddah's heritage. Or in Ramadan, as the sun goes down, Historic Jeddah comes alive with the faithful joyfully breaking their fasts as local restaurants offer special menus and culinary experiences. A living, breathing city Nowhere else in the region does the past burst so clearly into life in a vibrant modern city that continues to delight to this day. Historic Jeddah holds all the keys to history in its contemporary hand. Wander the streets and alleyways as you sink into the past; sip a coffee the latest along a direct line of aromatic tradition in a multicultural haven. Exchange ideas and goods with local people and learn about their culture. It's a destination that perfectly blends culture with city exploration, history with festivity, and archaeology with contemporary art. Find out more and plan your trip to Historic Jeddah https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/explore/projects/jeddah-historic-district OR Ministry of Culture Heritage Commission https://heritage.moc.gov.sa/en Two thousand years ago, in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, the Nabataean civilisation thrived along the ancient incense trade route. The air was thick with the scent of frankincense and the sound of bustling caravans. And this culture was one of remarkable sophistication. At the centre of it all sat Hegra, a majestic rose-hued city beside a life-giving oasis. A place of remarkable ingenuity, cultural exchange, and enduring beauty. Today, this landscape still holds the treasures of this long-lost civilisation. A visceral connection to a long-lost world. Hegra became Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 and remains an essential stop for visitors on any journey through the Kingdom, and pairs seamlessly with the wider wonders of AlUla, where history, nature, and culture harmonise. Al-Hijr, Hegra is a gateway into the past, immersing visitors in the dramatic, windswept monuments of a living landscape Mysteries of the past Rising above the gentle curve of golden dunes, a striking sandstone monolith emerges, its facade carved into the rock as a grand funerary monument. The Tomb of Hayyan bin Kuza is perhaps the most photographed landmark in this ancient city, yet Hegra is home to more than 100 tombs, many accompanied by inscriptions and rock art. These magnificent carvings date to the first century CE, though human settlement in the region stretches back far further. Civilisations rose and fell around the life-giving oasis long before the Nabataeans left their mark. Rocks bear the inscriptions of travellers, the laws of the Nabataeans, and the foundations of the very alphabet used in modern Arabic. Known also as Al-Hijr, Hegra is a gateway into the past, immersing visitors in the dramatic, windswept monuments of a living landscape. The colours shift with the passing hours, from the soft amber of dawn to the bright intensity of midday, and finally the deep rose-red of dusk. The sandstone itself seems to transform with the light, revealing the marks of multiple languages etched by time and travellers. This historic crossroads is where the incense routes once converged. Its abundant archaeological landscape continuously reveals new insights into Nabataean culture and its a testament to the vibrant cultural exchanges that flourished along these ancient caravan routes, profoundly shaping the regional architecture, language, and religious beliefs of the time. The sandstone itself seems to transform with the light, revealing the marks of multiple languages etched by time and travellers Who were the Nabataeans? Although much of their world has faded with time, Hegra provides a rare, vivid glimpse into Nabataean life. Their alphabet laid the foundations for modern Arabic, and their imposing monoliths served as tombs, offering insight into their religious beliefs and wide-ranging influence. Carvings and artefacts reveal connections stretching as far as Egypt and Greece, while inscriptions record the identities and stories of those buried here. At Jabal Ithlib, pathways carved through the rock bear depictions of deities, and the entire chamber hollowed from stone contains benches, suggesting ceremonial or communal use. One of the most atmospheric sandstone outcrops, Jabal alBanat, features 29 tombs commissioned by and for women. Inscriptions reveal their legal and social status, while burial studies reveal the use of tree resins and garlands of dates placed around the necks of the deceased. The cultivation of date palms continues in the region today, tracing a clear path down the centuries to the present day. Beyond the tombs, evidence of sophisticated engineering abounds, wells, channels, and carved reservoirs designed to capture precious rainwater. The site remained a refreshment stop for trade caravans even well after its abandonment following annexation by the Roman Empire. Qasr al-Farid the largest tomb in Hegra Hegra provides a rare, vivid glimpse into Nabataean life Beyond the Ancient City Beyond Hegra's 52-acre cityscape lies a region with many ancient narratives. Dadan, several centuries older, is home to the famed Lion Tombs and was once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms. A short journey away, Jabal Ikmah stands as an 'open-air library', its cliffs covered in petroglyphs and inscriptions in Aramaic, Dadanitic, Thamudic, Minaic, and Nabataean scripts a breathtaking archive of human expression. In 2023, Jabal Ikmah was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register as the largest open-air library and as a living testament to AlUla's ancient heritage. Travelling through this timeless landscape, visitors may explore by guided tour, led by a knowledgeable rawi (storyteller). Whether aboard a vintage Land Rover or on the back of an Arabian horse, each journey deepens the connection to a region where history, heritage, and landscape blend into an unforgettable experience. Dadan is home to the famed Lion Tombs and was once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms Explore AlUla Your base camp for Hegra and the other archaeological spots is the oasis city of AlUla. The labyrinthine Old Town is an extraordinary crossroads of civilisations, lined with mudbrick buildings around the oasis and overlooked by the 10th-century fort on the hilltop. Explore AlJadidah Art District, home to artists and artisans, where you can pick up a unique, handmade souvenir from AlUla or venture a little further outside to Elephant Rock, a 170-ft-high formation, shaped into the form of a pachyderm through centuries of natural erosion. Any trip to Saudi Arabia must include AlUla and its surrounding wonders, formed by nature and humanity working in harmony. The tombs of Hegra are the best way to get up close to ancient history, and understand at a visceral level how the past has shaped the present. Find out more at Ministry of Culture Heritage Commission https://heritage.moc.gov.sa/en Riyadh is never a quiet city. But in early December, music poured from every corner of this city of nearly 8 million people. There was music in the metro stations, in studios, warehouses and cafes. There were huge concerts with the likes of Cardi B, Calvin Harris and Pitbull. There were performances of traditional music from all corners of this vast land. And when people weren't playing music, they were talking about it how we interact with it, where it's going next and, especially, the exciting future of music in Saudi Arabia itself. Welcome to Riyadh Music Week, an event created by The Music Commission to support the Kingdom's music ecosystem through education, innovation, and international collaboration. Riyadh is never a quiet city. But in early December, music poured from every corner of this city of nearly 8 million people It's one of a series of high-profile musical happenings which are bringing a new wave of visitors to Saudi and offering a platform to its growing legion of aspiring artists. Take Hegra Candlelit Classics, one of the most enchanting musical experiences you'll see anywhere. In this year's programme, performers included Japanese composer, pianist, and rock drummer YOSHIKI, the Lebanese trumpet virtuoso Ibrahim Maalouf and, performer and Grammy-winner Jon Batiste. The juxtaposition is deliberately paradoxical: classical Western instrumentation in dialogue with pre-Islamic architecture, intimate candlelight ceremonies where camel caravans once gathered. In the northern highlands, where mountain villages cling to steep valleys, the Ardah dance pulses with different energy entirely. This isn't a performance for touriststhough visitors are increasingly welcome - but a living tradition that predates the kingdom itself Drummers establish the heartbeat first: a steady, insistent rhythm. Then come the dancers, men moving in synchronized lines, curved swords catching the light as they rise and fall in unison. The Ardah dance Traditional Saudi dance at Rijal Almaa Their voices join the percussion, chanting poetry that speaks of tribal unity, valour and belonging. The swords never clash. Instead, they move as one organism, individual blades merging into a single, mesmerizing wave. The Ardah is frequently performed for visiting dignitaries and they are often invited to join in. King Charles, then Prince of Wales, did so enthusiastically, donning full traditional garb in 2014. President Trump appeared a little more tentative when he was surrounded by Ardah performers in 2017. One of the best places to see Ardah performed is at one of many cultural festivals, which are held in different regions throughout the year. One of the biggest is the National Festival for Heritage and Culture in Al Janadriyah, which is held for two weeks in late winter or early spring outside Riyadh. Another journey takes us back to AlUla. For two nights, the canyon becomes a place of light, sound and happiness as the Azimuth festival brings together international stars, regional icons and local talent. From sunrise, the revellers dance beneath the stars. One of the best places to see Ardah performed is at one of many cultural festivals, which are held in different regions throughout the year Back at Riyadh Music Week, Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Music Commission, celebrated 'our invitation to the world to experience the vibrant pulse of Saudi Arabia's music landscape. 'This platform is where global and local voices meet, from artists and producers to educators and policymakers. It embodies the spirit of cultural exchange and shared creativity that defines today's global music scene.' Find out more about Saudi culture at Ministry of Culture Music Commission https://music.moc.gov.sa/en Major airports in Spain are set to install new separate border control areas for those living outside the EU including Brits in the wake of chaos following the implementation of new European travel rules. Malaga airport, one of the busiest in the country, has revealed its 1.5 billion (1.3 billion) expansion plan, which will include a new zone for Brits. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport will undergo updates to its building and facilities, including the creation of a single area with access to a non-Schengen boarding area. Between 2027 and 2031, improvements will be made to the hub. One of the key features is a larger security zone, with a large, separate area for non-Schengen passengers - just for those from the UK and other third-country travellers. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport will implement new separate border control sections Since Brexit, this group includes British passport holders - meaning the process of getting through the airport could be made far easier, The Express reported. Other airports in the Balearics will implement similar strategies, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. Investment funding has been provided for similar updates to airports in Menorca, Ibiza and Palma. To fund the developments, Spanish airport operator AENA has announced a 13 billion (11.4 billion) investment plan for its airports. The goal, according to AENA, is to provide airports with the capacity to handle increased traffic in the future and to ensure the highest standards of safety, maintenance and quality for passengers and airlines. It comes after the start of the new European entry/exit system, commonly called the EES, an automated digital border system for non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, entering the Schengen Area, which includes most of the EU, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Travellers are now required to register biometric details, including fingerprints and photographs. The rollout began in October 2025 but airports and ports have a more flexible timeline to implement the system fully. The new system has already been causing significant delays for air passengers. Indeed, earlier this week airports and airlines urged the EU to review the rollout of the EES, warning it could trigger long queues over the Easter holidays. Industry bodies, including the International Air Transport Association, ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe, said the phased introduction of the EES since October is already causing 'significant delays'. Long queues have been reported at many airports in the Schengen area, alongside technical issues such as crashing gates, as seen in Gran Canaria. Other major hubs, such as Lisbon, have seen lengthy waits for passengers. Brits have been warned to prepare for queues of up to four hours in European airports over the coming summer months. Whether it's seeking out pistachio-fuelled chocolate in Dubai, hunting for the best pizza in Italy or attempting to track down the best bakery in Paris, food-inspired travel is on the rise - and is clearly here to stay. The world's best foodie hotspots have now been revealed - and the top destination is home to both high-end and affordable eats. The vibrant metropolis of Tokyo took the top spot. From traditional sushi to sizzling street eats such as yakitori (skewered chicken), there is an exceptional variety of both authentic Japanese and global cuisines in the capital. As well as hype for its viral eats on social media - such as ramen, 7/11 convenience store goods and matcha-flavoured sweet treats - Tokyo is also a gourmet hotspot. It boasts around 160 Michelin-starred and 124 top-rated restaurants. In Japan, food is a significant part of the culture - drawing in locals and tourists alike Car rental experts SIXT's study revealed the best food cities around the globe, so you can start planning your food-fuelled holidays of 2026. The study analysed tourist search interest, highly rated food attractions, the world's 50 best restaurants, Michelin stars, and total food attractions to reveal the cities around the world topping the list of the ultimate foodie destinations. In second place in the study was Paris, known for its artisan bakeries and historic bistros. Although you might think of world-class patisseries and charming cafes, the French capital has much more to offer when it comes to food, and is now the best food destination in Europe - and second in the world. With a high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants (131), Paris has something for discerning tastes. Osaka in Japan took the third spot, often dubbed 'Japan's kitchen' and home to dishes such as octopus balls and savoury pancakes. Join the debate Which city deserves the title of worlds top foodie destination? Top 10 world foodie destinations of 2026 1. Tokyo, Japan 2. Paris, France 3. Osaka, Japan 4. Porto, Portugal 5. London, UK 6. Seoul, South Korea 7. New York City, US 8. Bangkok, Thailand 9. Lisbon, Portugal 10. Singapore, Singapore Source: SIXT Advertisement Portugal had two cities ranked among the top ten best food destinations in the world: Porto, in fourth place, and Lisbon, in ninth. Porto is a popular city break thanks to its famous wine scene, and it is now gaining further recognition for its diverse and high-quality food offering, with more than 83 food attractions and 32 Michelin-rated restaurants. Lisbon is also great for seafood lovers and those seeking authentic local dishes. The city also has a rapidly growing premium dining scene, home to an impressive 75 food attractions with reviews of more than nine out of ten, the second-highest in the top ten. A Coronation Street star has returned to the cobbles as a brand new character - more than four decades on from a steamy affair storyline. Back in 1983, her previous character became romantically involved with a long-standing Weatherfield resident. Eileen O'Brien portrayed Majorie Proctor, who had an affair with Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson), who was married to Rita (Barbara Knox). The fling occurred shortly before Len's death - and it left Rita heartbroken in the process. Decades later, Eileen is back in the ITV soap - but as a new character named Joan Ripley. She featured last night (February 26) alongside show regular George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) at the undertakers. A former Coronation Street star returned to the soap after more than four decades - in a brand new role Actress Eileen O'Brien previously stepped into Weatherfield in a steamy affair storyline - and is no stranger to soaps in general During their discussion, George is left in a panicked state when pensioner Joan passes out. It comes after he already faced allegations of scamming another elderly woman in a bid to name him in her will. Eileen is no stranger to the soap world, having played Gladys Charlton in Brookside from 1996 to 1997. She also portrayed Edie Smith - mother of Mary Smith - in EastEnders from 1987 to 1988, as well as appearing in two roles in Emmerdale in 2007 and 2013. It comes as another former Coronation Street star is reprising his role on the ITV soap, two years after last being seen on-screen. Actor Jamie Cho, who appeared on the cobbles as Rich Pemberton, a solicitor with Fabian Croft, filmed his last scenes in May 2024 as part of an exit storyline for Sair Khan's Alya Nazir. Jamie's character Rich had employed Alya as an apprentice at the solicitors firm, with the character then leaving for a job in Ireland while actress Sair was off the ITV soap on maternity leave. Alya later returned to the cobbles in November 2024, and while Jamie was last seen on screen in 2024, he is now set to re-appear as the smooth-talking lawyer. An insider told The Sun of his planned 'short stint' return to the series: 'Rich is back on the cobbles and wants something from Alya. 'The last time he was here it led to her leaving her life behind and moving abroad for work so whatever hes got planned might not be good news for Alya and boyfriend Adam.' It comes as Jamie made his debut in Netflix hit Bridgerton, which returned for the second half of its hotly anticipated fourth season yesterday. He joined the cast as character Lord Stotter in the period drama, who is seen cosying up to Yerin Ha's Sophie Baek's step-sister Rosamund Li, played by Michelle Mao. Elsewhere, Catherine Tyldesley returned to the cobbles in October 2025, reprising her role as Eva Price. Upon her comeback, Eva became the new landlady of The Rovers Return, running the pub along with new partner Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) and their blended family. The 42-year-old actress also portrays main character Kate Woods in Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder. She is now reportedly due to fly to Malta this spring to shoot her departure from the latter show. A source told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: 'Cath spoke to her bosses at Corrie about taking some time off to film her Good Ship exit and they agreed. 'When she agreed to return to the soap there was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not she would be able to go back, but fortunately it's all working out.' Love Island: All Stars favourite Konnor Ewudzi has revealed what really happens after the winner is announced and the ITV cameras stop rolling - and it's not what fans think. Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies were announced as the winners of the third season of the spin-off on Monday evening. Millie Court and Zac Woodworth placed second, followed by Leanne Amaning and Scott van-der-Sluis in third place. Lucinda Strafford and Sean Stone and placed fourth, while Whitney Adebayo and Yamen Sanders came fifth. The Islanders who took part in the series ran on stage to congratulate the pair, and while many think that the celebrations would continue into the night, it apparently didn't. Konnor, who originally shot to fame on series 11 of Love Island and took part in this year's All Stars, explained that a huge bash didn't follow on from their big win. Love Island: All Stars favourite Konnor Ewudzi has revealed what really happens after the winner is announced and ITV cameras stop rolling - and it's not the big party fans think Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies were announced as the winners of the third season of the spin-off on Monday evening Konnor explained: 'The vibe after, its really short and sharp and quick. So as soon as the winners are announced, next thing you know, you kind of get ushered out. 'After youve come in and gave everyone a cuddle, youre separated, and then you go back to your separate village. 'So you dont really get the time to celebrate, thats all.' He added to The Sun: 'I didnt really know what to expect, but Id asked other islanders that had been to finals before, and yeah, theres no party or anything. 'So I think when everyone comes back to the UK, thats when you can have that celebration.' Konnor missed out on a place in the final after he was dumped from the villa on day 20. During his stint on the show, he coupled up with a number of girls to try and find a connection. During his stint on the show, he coupled up with a number of girls to try and find a connection - but found love with Imani (pictured) He originally paired with Millie Court, followed by Whitney Adebayo and lastly, Imani Wheeler. Just two days after coupling up with each other, Konnor and Imani were dumped from the villa after receiving the fewest votes. The two are keen to give things a go after meeting on the ITV2 show. Imani is from Sacramento, California, while Konnor is from Cornwall in the UK. They are determined to make it work, despite the distance. The pair reunited for the final and he shared a snap of them together on his Instagram. He wrote: 'How incredible did Imani look at the final?! We loved being able to see each other again irl and arent giving up on our connection.' It comes after Love Island: All Stars fans are convinced that one of the couples have already 'soft launched' their break up just days after leaving the ITV villa. Just days after the final, some viewers think that one couple who were together in the South African villa have gone their separate ways. Ronan Keating's son Jack and American bombshell Sher Suarez got together during their stint on the show. But a Snapchat post shared by Jack has got people wondering if they are still an item. A fan asked Jack in a recent Q&A: 'Would you ever go to the villa again?' Jack appeared to throw shade at his relationship that grew in the villa as he replied: 'Done with dating shows, that ain't real.' A thriller series described as 'exceptional' and featuring a Squid Games star has soared up the Netflix charts - as viewers admit they have been left 'hooked.' Eight-part mystery The Art Of Sarah has proved popular among the streamer's audience since its release earlier this month. The South Korean show follows an ambitious woman named Sarah Kim, who is determined to live a life of luxury - but her entire identity is based around lies. A body believed to be Sarah's is discovered in a Seoul sewer, prompting Detective Park Mu-Gyeong to investigate. He subsequently uncovers discrepancies in her background, as well as evidence suggesting she has lived under multiple identities. As this continues, Sarah's carefully constructed life begins to fall apart, and the ramifications of her long-term deceit come to light. Since hitting the streaming service, the drama has reached number four on Netflix's coveted global Top 10 most-watched chart. New South Korean thriller series The Art of Sarah stars leading actress Shin Hye Sun in the role of Sarah Kim Furthermore, has proved popular among the streamer's audience - writing online to share theiu praise Taking to IMDb, one reviewer wrote: 'Shin Hye Sun really is a great actress. The plot was really interesting. 'The story was really well portrayed but as you go through each episode it makes sense why she did what she did. Overall satisfied with the ending. 'Highly recommended. The story runs with Sarah Kim and how she was forced to do what she did.' Another commented: 'Excellent and intelligent suspense, with a plot that keeps you engaged and intrigued from beginning to end. 'Shin Hye-sun is once again spectacular in the role of Sarah Kim, proving one more time how extremely talented and flawless she is as an actress. 'Lee Jun-hyuk is also wonderful in the role of Detective Park Mugyeong.' A third said: 'The Art of Sarah feels less like a Kdrama and more like a carefully layered canvas. 'Every episode adds color, texture, and emotional depth until you're completely immersed in its world. 'It's thoughtful, intense, and beautifully paced, allowing the characters to breathe and evolve naturally. I didn't just watch it, I felt it.' It comes as a Netflix crime thriller from the acclaimed creator of Derry Girls has rocketed up the streaming service's charts. One impressed viewer enthused: 'Every episode adds color, texture, and emotional depth until you're completely immersed in its world' Praised as 'sublime', How To Get To Heaven From Belfast' has been described as the perfect example of a 'sharp, dark comedy' as three best pals go on a road trip to find out what really happened to their 'dead' friend. The show's Netflix synopsis reads: 'When their old friend dies, three best pals embark on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey in this crime series created by Lisa McGee ("Derry Girls"). The streaming service added: 'Sometimes all you need to crack a mystery is some deadly craic.' Following its release on February 12, the eight-part series has rocketed to the fourth place on the UK Netflix chart. The show has also performed well critically, with a score of 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb and an even more impressive rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer wrote: 'Lisa McGee deserves an Emmy for #howtogettoheavenfrombelfast' Another added: 'As a huge fan of Derry Girls I really enjoyed #HowToGetToHeavenFromBelfast. I was really excited to see "Erin" and I especially loved the homage to Derry Girls in the last episode. Thank you [Lisa McGee]. Keep em coming.'; While a third said: 'Watched the first 2 episodes of #HowToGetToHeavenFromBelfast. Seems Lisa McGee has nailed it again! The sort of sharp dark comedy/black comedy I love!' A soap legend has reportedly quit Hollyoaks after six months on-screen - with bosses now working on an 'explosive' exit story for the villainous character. John Middleton joined the soap's cast last year, playing previously incarcerated criminal Fraser 'Froggy' Black Sr. It was a huge contrast to his best-known role, kindly vicar Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale, whom he played for 22 years. According to The Sun, actor John, 72, has opted to leave the role of Froggy after just six months. A source told the publication: 'Bosses believed they were onto a winner by signing up John to play a cockney villain because the character was so different to his loveable role on Emmerdale. 'But John has now decided to bow out. He told them of his decision to quit and bosses have been left to come up with an explosive exit for him. Hollyoaks star John Middleton has reportedly quit his role as Froggy Black - just six months after making his on-screen debut John, 72, previously played Emmerdale's kindly vicar Ashley Thomas for 22 years (pictured in 2011 with on-screen wife Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy) 'They are still deciding whether to kill him off or whether to leave the door open for a possible return in the future.' Upon arriving in the village, Froggy reconnected with his granddaughters Grace Black and her killer sister Clare Devine. Drama soon ensued, with Clare fatally shooting Grace in an altercation between them and Grace's son Rex (Jonny Labey). Froggy remained with Rex as well as his police detective son Sully (Harry French), although he kicked out the latter upon him being exposed as a racist. During his time on Emmerdale, John's character Ashley married three times: first to Bernice Blackstock and later Laurel Potts on two occasions. Ashley's children, Gabby (Rosie Bentham) and Arthur (Alfie Clarke), each from a respective marriage, remain in the soap as regulars. In the beloved vicar's final storyline, Ashley tackled a heart-wrenching battle with degenerative vascular dementia, which ended with his death. Heartbreaking scenes saw Ashley regain consciousness for his final moments, able to utter his wife's name 'Laurel' for the first time in months. Speaking to The Mirror at the time of his Emmerdale departure, John said: ''People are stopping me in the streets saying thank you for doing this, and that is in many ways the best award. 'Particularly when you are talking to people who have got direct contact with this disease, who have lost loved ones to it, or who are caring for people with it, or people who have the disease. 'They say thank you for portraying it so accurately, so that makes me immensely proud.' Earlier this month, it was reported John's Hollyoaks co-star and on-screen son Harry French had quit his role as Sully. He joined the cast for the 30th anniversary in late 2025 as corrupt police officer and rapist Connor "Sully" Sullivan. The actor has reportedly already filmed his final scenes which are said to be 'explosive'. Of his departure, a source told The Sun: 'Sullys a truly evil villain and there will be explosive consequences as he pays for what hes done. 'Harry knew going into the show that there would be an end to Sully but hes loved his time there and is looking forward to doing new things'. Harry's exit came after reports Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson) and Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen) have also stepped down from the show. Daily Mail contacted Hollyoaks for comment. Lorraine Kelly was forced to abruptly halt her live show on Friday after accidentally sharing the 'wrong information' with viewers. The Scottish presenter, 66, had confidently told viewers that Culture Club icon Boy George could be appearing at this year's Eurovision Song Contest representing Italy with an Italian vocalist. However, during her fashion section with style guru Mark Heye, she suddenly stopped their assessment of his top high street picks to reveal that she had made a mistake. Putting a finger on her earpiece, Lorraine said: 'Mark I've just had breaking news. Boy George is not Italy. It's not us either, it's San Marino. 'You have to get these things right, it's really important.' Lorraine then went on to make light of the UK's typically poor performances in the contest, adding: 'I'm almost glad that he's not doing the UK because we never win anyway.' Lorraine Kelly was forced to abruptly halt her live show on Friday after accidentally sharing the 'wrong information' with viewers The Scottish presenter, 66, had confidently told viewers that Culture Club icon Boy George could be appearing at this year's Eurovision Song Contest representing Italy with an Italian vocalist The host then quickly turned the subject back to the topic at hand, high street bargains, admitting: 'I know and it's all very embarrassing, anywho let's get back to this.' To put her remark into context, the UK last won Eurovision way back in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves's song Love Shine a Light. Boy George will reportedly be singing a song called Superstar with Senhit, who previously appeared at Eurovision in 2021. Earning 22nd place for San Marino, a landlocked country surrounded entirely by Italy, it's hoped that Boy George's big-name status could help her to perform better in the competition. A source told Daily Star: 'San Marino's team are thrilled they have managed to get Boy George to put himself forward. It's quite the coup. 'Getting such a big name to represent them would be an incredible moment. It would be such a big moment for San Marino.' This year's Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in May, is being hosted in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Lorraine's slip-up comes after it was recently revealed that her long-running show will be cancelled for a week next month. Putting a finger on her earpiece, Lorraine said: 'Mark I've just had breaking news . Boy George is not Italy. It's not us either, it's San Marino. You have to get these things right, it's really important' Both Lorraine and Loose Women have been removed from the ITV schedule to make way for the ever-popular horse racing event, the Cheltenham Festival, which kicks off on March 10. The changes will be implemented from Monday, March 9, with Good Morning Britain having its running time extended until 10am. It will be followed by This Morning, which airs from 10am, before coverage of the prestigious race begins at 12:30pm. News of the schedule change follows a number of brutal cost-cutting cuts at ITV that resulted in over 200 members of staff being made redundant. The changes were the result of lower viewer numbers and a general shift towards television consumption via streaming services online. Lorraine typically airs on ITV on weekdays from 9:30am. Glamorous missing boyfriend thriller, starring Sam Claflin and Kaley Cuoco Year: 2026 Certificate: 18 Watch now on Prime Video Glamorous locations, two good-looking stars and a puzzling mystery when the man (Sam Claflin) goes missing and the woman (Kaley Cuoco) can't figure out what happened. Right from the start, you feel like there's plenty they don't know about each other, although one imagines that's part of the bargain in a long-distance 'relationship' in which the two people in question only meet up once in a while in fancy European hotels. Funnily enough, Tom (Claflin) goes missing right after the moment when Alice (Cuoco) proposes a more permanent relationship situation. What are the odds? Luckily Alice is an archaeologist and well versed in digging into other people's lives, so she sets off on a daring journey to figure out what's going on. Did Tom really work in refugee aid? The locations make for nice scenery for us while she follows the clues, and it's a refreshing change that the missing person is a man for once. (Four episodes) Australian reality star Conor Maysey has weighed in on the BAFTAs controversy surrounding Tourette's campaigner John Davidson. John, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, was heard yelling the N-word while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first prize of the night at London's Royal Festival Hall. The incident sparked vigorous debate online, with many, including Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, claiming John's involuntary outburst was intentional. Conor, 31, who was diagnosed with Tourette's in his early 20s, and is the National Education Officer for the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, said he was surprised at the level of backlash. 'I am a bit surprised because I think that people like John and myself have put so much effort into advocacy that you kind of expect people to understand by now,' he said. 'Although because of how tense the situation is with racism in America right now, I can also understand why there is such sensitivity.' Australian reality star Conor Maysey (pictured) has weighed in on the BAFTAs controversy surrounding Tourette's campaigner John Davidson Davidson (pictured) was heard yelling the N-word at London's Royal Festival Hall. His life story inspired the film I Swear While recognising the sensitivity of the situation, Conor said that John's unfortunate tics displayed on the night were evidence that he was, in fact, not racist. 'Tourette's is so much about saying obscene things the things that you see as a taboo,' he said. 'John having racism tics is actually more showing that he has a problem with racism. That's a big taboo for him.' Conor added that this is something he knows only too well. 'For me, it's a lot of homophobia and transphobia because I have gay and trans siblings and friends,' he said. 'It's a big taboo for me, so those are the tics that will come out.' Conor, who appeared in the 2025 season of Big Brother Australia, added that the backlash John has received online serves as a stark example of what many people living with Tourette's go through every day. 'It really is just a great example of what most people with Tourette's experience in their day-to-day life,' he said. Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were subject to the expletive as they presented the first prize of the night at London's Royal Festive Hall on Sunday The incident sparked vigorous debate online, with many, including Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, claiming John's involuntary outburst was intentional 'When I go to the supermarket and I'm saying obscene things, I'm encountering that level of reactionary: "Can you stop saying those things?' or: "Shut up." It's just how people with Tourette's experience their lives. 'The number of times I've told people: "I'm really sorry, I have Tourette's, I can't control it," and they go: "Yeah, likely story, mate."' Conor added that his decision to enter the Big Brother house in 2025 was predicated largely on raising awareness about his condition. 'I wanted to give people a better idea of what it meant to have Tourette's,' he said. 'There's a whole lot of sensationalism around it, you know, when you're kind of cutting and editing things you can make Tourette's seem a lot more intense than it is. 'Whereas, for most people, it has these moments of intensity, but for the most part, it's like, pretty, pretty normal throughout your day. Conor continued: 'You're just making small noises here and there, and then you kind of have these moments of swearing and saying obscene things during stressful moments throughout the day.' Conor said that he felt John had dealt with the online negativity well something he too had to navigate after his Big Brother appearance. The film I Swear stars Robert Aramayo as John Davidson Aramayo won best actor on Sunday for his performance in the film 'I think that, despite all the difficult comments, John is dealing with the backlash really well. I think that as a person with Tourette's, you grow a thick skin,' he said. 'After I got out of the Big Brother house I was shown quite a few ripe comments about my Tourette's as well. 'It's, like, well, I'm right there talking about my experience, and yet, people can still not take away the right information, so you can't win every battle.' Conor said that he hoped that the incident would serve as a teachable moment about what people living with Tourette's deal with, urging empathy instead of online hostility. 'I always come into it with a mind like: "You're never going to change someone's mind." All you can do is educate them so that they can change their own mind,' he said. 'We're not trying to make people feel bad for not understanding I know people with Tourette's who don't understand their Tourette's. 'What we're asking for is a little bit of grace and a little bit of empathy.' Following the slur, Michael and Delroy did not react on stage, however host Alan Cumming later said 'we apologise if it has caused offence' On Sunday, following the slur, Michael and Delroy did not react on stage, however host Alan Cumming later said 'we apologise if it has caused offence' and John made the decision to leave the ceremony halfway after several incendiary outbursts. John has suffered from a severe form of Tourette's since the age of 12, with the condition characterised by involuntary movements or sounds known as tics. One of his biggest symptoms is coprolalia, which makes him involuntarily say socially inappropriate words or phrases, including when he famously shouted 'f*** the Queen' at Elizabeth II when he was awarded his MBE in 2019. Despite there being a two-hour time delay on the BBC's coverage, his BAFTAs slur was aired to millions tuning in on BBC One and could still be heard on iPlayer on Monday morning. The BBC initially apologised for 'any offence caused' but has now admitted the slur should have been 'edited out prior to broadcast'. The awards ceremony has disappeared from iPlayer while the BBC removes the N-word outburst. John's outburst has divided opinion, with Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx fuming on social media. 'Out of all the words you could've said Tourette's makes you say that. Nah he meant that s**t. Unacceptable,' he wrote. Patrick Dempsey became visibly emotional while discussing his late friend and Grey's Anatomy co-star Eric Dane. The 60-year-old star opened up about the 'very hard mourning period he's been experiencing in a new interview with News Talk FM, agreeing with the journalist's words that losing a loved one is 'awful, stark and life-altering.' Dempsey noted that he was 'very young' just 17 years old - when his father William died, and his mother Amanda also passed away in March 2014 from ovarian cancer. 'Now several friends in the last year, Ive lost,' the actor said. But Dane's death on February 19 at age 53 from ALS, a degenerative and incurable motor neuron disease that causes individuals to slowly lose their ability to speak, eat, walk and breathe independently, has struck deep. 'Eric was so beloved, and I think he would really be so happy to know - and I know a lot of people reached out to him before his passing to keep track - that he was so beloved and is deeply missed,' said Dempsey, who was supported by his wife Jillian and daughter Talula at the BAFTA Netflix party three days after Dane's death. Patrick Dempsey (pictured on January 29) became visibly moved while discussing his late friend and Grey's Anatomy co-star Eric Dane in a new interview The actor said the mourning period he's been experiencing has been 'very hard (Dane and Dempsey were pictured in January 2007) Dane played Dr Mark Sloan - aka McSteamy - on Grey's Anatomy from season two to season nine. Dempsey portrayed Dr Derek Shepherd otherwise known as McDreamy for 11 seasons from the show's first episode to when his character was killed off in 2015. McSteamy and McDreamy were close friends and shared a brotherly bond despite their initial conflict. That onscreen relationship evolved and transferred to real life as Dane and Dempsey's friendship lasted over two decades. On February 20, one day after Dane's passing, Dempsey appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. 'I just woke up this morning and I was very sad to read the news,' Dempsey said. 'It's hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children.' Dane shared daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, with actress Rebecca Gayheart. The couple were separated but called off their divorce in March 2025 one month before the actor went public with his devastating diagnosis. Dempsey spoke about his friend's final days while on the program. The star previously praised Dane's 'great sense of humor,' saying, 'we got along instantly' Dane played Dr Mark Sloan - aka McSteamy - while Dempsey portrayed Dr Derek Shepherd otherwise known as McDreamy - on the medical drama (pictured in January 2007) McSteamy and McDreamy shared a brotherly bond despite their initial conflict and that onscreen relationship transferred to real life as the stars' friendship lasted over two decades Dempsey (pictured on February 22) said of Dane, 'He was so beloved and is deeply missed' 'I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago,' Dempsey recalled. 'Some friends of ours went in to see him and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak. 'He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly. 'He was the funniest man - he was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it,' Dempsey said of his friend. 'He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with, we got along instantly,' Dempsey added. 'First scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on looking amazing, making you feel completely out of shape and insignificant.' Ousted Marvel star Jonathan Majors is making his return to film with a conservative movie co-produced by right-wing influencer Ben Shapiro. The actor - who was convicted of assault for an attack on his girlfriend - has been in South Carolina shooting the action film for the production companies Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend, Deadline reports. Not much is known about the movie, as both production companies are keeping the title, plot and other cast members under wraps. But the film is supposedly similar to the '80s and '90s films 'Red Dawn' and 'Toy Soldiers,' both of which are about a group of teenage boys who have to band together to defeat invading enemies. Kyle Rankin, who previously produced Run Hide Fight for The Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend, is directing the film from his own screenplay. Shapiro, meanwhile, is producing the film for The Daily Wire, and Dallas Sonnier is producing for Bonfire Legend. Other producers include Travis Mills, Lillian Campbell and Sydney Aucreman. 'You're not going to BELIEVE what we're doing,' Shapiro shared to X following the news of Majors' return. But others were taken aback by news of the former A-lister's return. One X user wrote: 'Jonathan Majors was supposed to be the next big star of Hollywood and now he's doing "Ben Shapiro" and "The Daily Wire" movies.' Ousted Marvel star Jonathan Majors (pictured in 2024) is making his return to film with a new conservative action movie The project is being co-produced by Ben Shapiro for The Daily Wire Shapiro teased the project on social media on Thursday 'This man went from [three] blockbusters in one year to making a movie with BEN SHAPIRO,' another added, while a third commented about his career trajectory. 'In 2020, Jonathan Majors was starring in a Spike Lee film, had an HBO series and was set to be the focal point of the next phase of MCU movies,' the X user wrote. 'This is a generational bag-fumbling that will be talked about for years.' Majors had made a name for himself starring in 'Creed III' and HBO's 'Lovecraft Country.' He was then primed to be the next big MCU villain as Kang the Conqueror after his brief introduction in the TV series 'Loki' and in 2023's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.' However, after he was arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in March 2023, and later found guilty of 3rd degree reckless assault and harassment, Marvel dropped him. The studio then announced at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2024, that Robert Downey Jr. would play Doctor Doom, making him the villain for the next two Avengers movies. It also revealed that the film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty - would be changed, confirming at SDCC that it would now be called Avengers: Doomsday. Days after the announcement, Majors told TMZ he was 'heartbroken' by the new direction Marvel was heading in. Majors had been primed to be the next big MCU villain as Kang the Conqueror after his brief introduction in the TV series 'Loki' and in 2023's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Majors was then asked whether he thought it was 'unfair' that he was not 'given the same opportunities' as Downey Jr and Ezra Miller, who starred as the Flash in DC films, given that he was only convicted of misdemeanor assault. 'I think it's fair that Mr. Downey has been greeted with patience and curiosity and love and that Mr. Miller has gotten the same treatment, and that they're being allowed to work their art,' Majors replied at the time. 'I didn't really get that, so, you know.' Downey Jr. was arrested in 1996 for DUI, when officers found heroin, crack, cocaine and a .357 Magnum in his car. He was sentenced to three years in prison for skipping his probation, serving one year of his three-year sentence before his release. After several years of struggling with addiction, he ultimately got clean, and has been for many years, before his comeback that started with 2008's Iron Man. He was ultimately pardoned in 2015 by then-California governor Jerry Brown, which restored his voting rights and allowed him to serve on a jury. Miller has also had a slew of legal issues over the past few years, including a 2022 felony burglary charge stemming from the theft of several bottles of alcohol. Marvel announced at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2024 that Robert Downey Jr. would play Doctor Doom, making him the villain for the next two Avengers movies Meanwhile, Majors was found guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge and one harassment violation. His ex-girlfriend Jabbari said Majors hit her head with his open hand, twisted her arm behind her back and squeezed her middle finger until it fractured during a chaotic struggle in the back of an SUV. She also testified that he had been controlling and manipulative during their relationship. She accused him of having angry outbursts at home in which he would break household items by throwing them at the walls. Jabbari also claimed that Majors tried to control who she was allowed to spend time with socially. Majors was ultimately ordered to complete a yearlong counseling program but avoided jail time. In sentencing Majors, Judge Michael Gaffey noted both sides in the case agreed the charges didn't warrant jail time and that Majors had no prior criminal record. In November 2025, Majors and Jabbari also settled a civil lawsuit she filed against him, as both agreed to dismiss the litigation. Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good tied the knot last year, but will not be celebrating their one-year anniversary together as Majors shoots his new film in South Carolina The one-time Emmy-nominated actor has since tied the knot with actress Meagan Good, who told TMZ earlier this week that they would not be celebrating their first anniversary together because Majors was filming a project. 'It's a blessing,' she said of his return to film. 'It's been a journey, you know, arguable, I mean he's one of the best talents I've ever seen. 'It's beautiful to see him getting back to doing what he loves and what God's gifted him with, so I'm just thanking God.' Majors is also set to star in a supernatural revenge thriller entitled Merciless for Martin Villeneuve, the younger brother of Dune director Denis Villeneuve. The Daily Mail has reached out to Majors' agents, as well as The Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend for comment. Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard during the ceremony on Saturday, February 28. The frontman of Black Sabbath, who passed away in July last year, will be celebrated for his inimitable impact and influence on music worldwide. The awards will be closed out by an all-star rock tribute performance which will be led by Robbie Williams, who was asked to be a part of the show personally by Ozzy's wife Sharon as a long-standing fan of the music, and friend of the Osbourne family. Curated by Sharon herself, it will feature a special arrangement of No More Tears - the title track from Ozzys multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name. The segment will boast a phenomenal line up of British and international musical talent, featuring musicians that played as part of Ozzys band over the years. Robbie will be joined on stage by Ozzy's lead guitarist Zakk Wylde as well as Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo and Tommy Clufetos. Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard during the ceremony on Saturday, February 28 The awards will be closed out by an all-star rock tribute performance which will be led by Robbie Williams, who was asked to be a part of the show personally by Ozzy's wife Sharon As well as being one of the most influential music figureheads and rock icons of all time, Ozzy hosted The BRIT Awards in 2008 along with his family Sharon, Kelly and Jack. Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: 'Ozzy Osbourne has been a mighty force in modern music. Possessing an unmistakable voice and unique presence, he reshaped the sound and spirit of rock, inspiring generations of artists who followed. 'This Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a remarkable legacy built on originality and enduring influence, that continues to connect with fans worldwide.' Ozzy passed away aged 76 at his Buckinghamshire home on July 22 after suffering an 'acute myocardial infarction' and 'out of hospital cardiac arrest'. It came just three weeks after performing a farewell show with his Black Sabbath bandmates at Birmingham's Villa Park. He was laid to rest on the grounds of his own mansion in Buckinghamshire during a private funeral attended by his family and a host of rock royalty. His widow Sharon and their children were joined by stars including Marilyn Manson and Ozzy's lead guitarist Zakk Wylde during the event at the family's 250-acre estate near Gerrards Cross. The concert - three weeks before his death - saw him reunite with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time since 2005. Curated by Sharon herself, it will feature a special arrangement of No More Tears - the title track from Ozzys multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name More than 42,000 fans packed into the venue for the Back To The Beginning show, during which he told the crowd in his final speech: 'You've no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Leading the charge for this year's BRIT nominations are Lola Young and Olivia with five nods each, closely followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who has been recognised in three categories. Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, in 2022, the Award show has faced heavy backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. However, this year has seen a major turnaround, with 70 per cent of nominations being female or non-binary. Lily made her major comeback in October 2025 when she released her first project in seven years, her revenge album West End Girl. The 2026 event will be the first of three years under the stewardship of Sony Music UK, who spearheaded the move to Manchester. Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said: 'This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. 'Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. 'Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can't wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.' Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: 'For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.' Spencer Pratt knows how to hustle in the realm of reality television and social media and now he's taking his talent all the way to the Los Angeles mayoral race. The former star of The Hills was seen jostling for signatures on LA's Ventura Boulevard on Wednesday and made sure to include his wife Heidi Montag on his shirt, that is. Pratt, 42, sported a black T-shirt imprinted with an eye-catching photo of his wife striking a beauty queen pose in a sparkly tiara. He managed to grab a few interested persons to the table and spoke with some of them, gesturing with his arms and plastering a big friendly smile on his face. Pratt also took to his X account to share a video of himself in the parking lot and trying to be charming to passers-by on foot and in cars, saying he needed signatures and 'LA addresses' to get on the ballot and win the election on June 2. 'We're still here, 18065 Ventura Boulevard, pull up, come give a signature,' pleaded Pratt, whose sister Stephanie Pratt called his mayoral run 'a vote for stupidity.' Spencer Pratt wore a T-shirt imprinted with a photo of his wife Heidi Montag as he tried to coax passers-by to give their signatures so he can get on the ballot for the LA mayoral race The former star of The Hills managed to grab a few interested persons to the table and spoke with some of them while plastering a big friendly smile on his face Pratt stopped mid-sentence to coax a motorist to pull over and add his moniker to the list, but was unsuccessful. The TV personality announced his run for the LA mayor's office on January 7 during a They Let Us Burn! Protest in Pacific Palisades near the remains of Pratt and Montag's home in which they hoped to raise their two sons, Gunner, eight, and Ryker, three. It marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating wildfires that killed at least 31 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. 'On Jan. 7, 2025, Heidi and I lost our home. We lost every material possession we own. My parents lost their home too and, with it, decades of memories lost inside those walls,' Pratt told the crowd, adding that it was the 'worst day of my life,' per Fox News. He said he grew up in the upscale neighborhood 'thinking that my two boys would grow up here just like I did with that same hometown feeling. Then, right before my eyes, that future that I envisioned burned to the ground.' Pratt has voiced his outrage at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom. He vented that the most 'heartbreaking' part of the ordeal was the 'realization that all of this was preventable.' Pratt accused the state of letting 'brush grow wild' for decades and neglecting wildfire maintenance and creating a 'hostile environment' with insurance companies regarding wildfire recovery. Join the debate Should celebrities use personal tragedy to launch political campaigns, or does it undermine real issues? Pratt knows how to hustle in the realm of reality television and social media and attempted to charm people with his presence The star also posted a video to his X account to let followers know 'we're still here, pull up, come give a signature' Pratt has vented outrage at LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, saying the most 'heartbreaking' part of the ordeal was the 'realization that all of this was preventable' The couple's Pacific Palisades home was one of the casualities of the January 7 wildfires Pratt called January 7, 2025 the 'worst day of my life' but it inspired him to run for LA mayor (pictured with Montag in May 2025) Montag has said they are unable to afford reconstructing their home and were now 'kind of displaced' (pictured with sons Gunner, eight, and Ryker, three in May 2025) Montag recently told the news website Gold Derby that they were unable to afford reconstructing their residence and were now 'kind of displaced.' 'Unfortunately for rebuilding, we just don't have the finances. We barely could pay the mortgage on that house,' Montag said. 'We spent our whole careers to put a down payment on it. So we're unfortunately in a place where we aren't looking to rebuild and we're not really sure where to go. We're kind of displaced at the moment. 'A lot of the community is in the same position, and that's just unfortunate. People don't realize that a lot of people can't rebuild. A lot of families bought their houses 40 or 50 years ago when it was a much cheaper part of LA,' she maintained. The Testament Of Ann Lee (15, 137 mins) Rating: Verdict: Won't shake you up EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (12A, 90mins) Rating: Verdict: Will shake you up The last film co-written by Mona Fastvold and her husband Brady Corbet was The Brutalist (2024), the bum-numbing epic about a Hungarian Jew who survived the Holocaust to become a celebrated architect in post-war America. Now the couple have teamed up again to bring us The Testament Of Ann Lee, another earnestly intense drama, this time set in the 18th century but also about religion, prejudice, feminism and architecture. Fair play to the Corbet-Fastvolds; they've found a heck of a niche. Corbet directed The Brutalist but now it's Fastvold's turn, and with cinematographer William Rexer she has made a film that is, at times, truly breathtaking to look at. Outside the paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, the 1700s never looked so picturesque. In the title role, Amanda Seyfried gives a tremendously impressive and fiercely committed performance, maintaining a credible north-of-England accent throughout. Ann Lee was the Lancastrian leader of the Shaker movement, originally known as the 'Shaking Quakers' after the way they jerked and twitched in ecstatic celebration of the divine, and later, a trifle more long-windedly, as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming. The Testament of Ann Lee follows the Lancastrian leader of the 'Shaking Quakers', until she is carted off for witchcraft The film tracks Ann and her cohort of faithful followers who believe her to be the embodiment of that second coming from the dark satanic mills of Manchester to a settlement on the Hudson River, singing and shaking as they go, undaunted even by the mid-Atlantic swell. The songs are adapted from actual Shaker spirituals, though I wonder whether Ann and her brethren were quite as tuneful and gloriously choreographed as they are here, in a kind of Stephen Sondheim interpretation of their fervour. Still, if nothing else, this picture should leave you with a greatly enhanced knowledge of the Shakers, and of Ann in particular, who made sexual abstinence a keystone of her religion... not unreasonably influenced, we are led to believe, both by the tragedy of losing four babies before they were a year old and by her husband Abraham's fondness for oral sex and sado-masochism. 'No one can reach God while wallowing in the lust of the flesh,' she opined. If he'd been 50 per cent less lusty, maybe she'd have thought differently? Abraham is played by Christopher Abbott and Ann's loyal brother William by Lewis Pullman, with Thomasin McKenzie as her devoted disciple Mary, who also acts as the narrator. It's all extremely well-acted and, as I say, gorgeous on the eye. It's also fascinating to see how the minimalist precepts of Shaker architecture and furniture developed. But despite some liveliness towards the end when Ann is carted off and accused of witchcraft, I found it dramatically rather dreary. 'She yearned to find purpose amidst the dullness of her lot,' says Mary of the young Ann, while she's still stuck in Manchester, and I'm afraid I felt much the same at Monday's press screening. There was nothing dull about the twitcher and shaker celebrated in EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. Baz Luhrmann's documentary is a compelling companion piece to his terrific 2022 biopic Elvis; indeed its origins lie in the research he did for that drama. Baz Luhrmann's documentary is a compelling companion piece to his terrific 2022 biopic Elvis In the Warner Brothers archives, kept in salt mines in Kansas, of all places, he and his team found 65 boxes of unseen concert footage dating from the early 1970s, Elvis's so-called Vegas years. They have now been restored, synched with the missing sound, and the result is a thrilling reminder of what an extraordinary performer late-period Elvis still was. The monumental kitsch of those Vegas shows sometimes feeds a tendency to disparage him as a rhinestone-suited shadow of his former self, but he really was as good as ever. It's not just his irresistible charisma but also his sheer musicality that will leave not only die-hard fans all shook up. EPiC is more than a concert film. Luhrmann also unearthed an unheard audiotape of Elvis talking about his career, so he adds that to the mix, and we follow him both on stage and off, with Cary Grant and Sammy Davis Jr among those seen paying homage after a show. 'You started to rev up and you never stopped,' marvels Davis, no slouch himself in the stagecraft department. But it's mainly about the music. A wondrous performance of Suspicious Minds ends with a drum solo that Elvis positively inhabits, quivering like a religious fundamentalist possessed by the glory of the Lord. Ann Lee, I fancy, would have approved. Both films are in cinemas now. A longer review of EPiC ran last Saturday. Also showing... Molly Russell was the 14-year-old English girl who took her own life in 2017, driven to despair by a barrage of toxic online material about self-hatred. Molly Vs The Machines (15, 91 mins, four stars) is a powerful and timely documentary about the corrosive and sometimes fatal influence of social-media platforms set up by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who refuse to be accountable and in some cases rage against efforts to regulate them, sneering at it as censorship. Step forward, Mark Zuckerberg. The understated but resolute hero of Marc Silver's film is Molly's father, Ian, who continues to campaign against those who think it's just fine to feed this poison to children. He often feels he's fighting a losing battle. But the more people who watch this thunderously important documentary, the more chance he has of winning it. B.V. In cinemas on Sunday and on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday, March 5. An actress who starred in a beloved 1980s cult classic and an acclaimed 1990s TV medical drama was spotted this week in Los Angeles. She was already a Tony-nominated stage star before landing her Hollywood breakthrough in a 1986 fantasy adventure with a cast that included Sean Connery. Then during the following decade, she spent four years playing a nurse on a hospital show from the creator of Ally McBeal, Boston Legal and Big Little Lies. In more recent years she has acted alongside Al Pacino in a movie he directed and featured on shows ranging from Grey's Anatomy and House to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and How to Get Away with Murder. She cut a stylish figure when she surfaced this week in a flowing plaid top and grey jeans accessorized with shades, a jaunty slouched-brim hat and a deep blue scarf. Can you guess who she is? An actress who starred in a beloved 1980s cult classic and an acclaimed 1990s TV medical drama surfaced this week in Los Angeles She was already a Tony-nominated stage actress before landing her Hollywood breakthrough in a 1986 fantasy adventure with a cast that included Sean Connery She is none other than Roxanne Hart, known to fans as Brenda Wyatt in the original Highlander and Nurse Camille Shutt on Chicago Hope. Born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1952, she caught the theater bug in college through a class in the Greek classics and soon embarked on a stage career. By the age of 30 she had earned a Tony nomination for her turn in Peter Nichols' adultery drama Passion Play, amid a cast that included Frank Langella. Three years later, in 1986, she landed her first lead role in film with Highlander, an action fantasy starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. Lambert led the cast of the picture as Connor MacLeod, a 16th century Scottish warrior who discovers he is immortal unless his head is severed. He gets initiated into the secret world of immortals by the virtuoso swordsman Juan Sanchez-Villalobos Ramirez, memorably portrayed by Connery. Hart meanwhile played Brenda, a forensic scientist in 1980s New York City whose investigation into a local beheading spree leads her to Connor, by now living in disguise as a normal antique dealer. Brenda's persistent digging into the case results in her discovering Connor's true identity, and a romantic relationship flowers between them. Join the debate Did YOU guess who it was? She is none other than Roxanne Hart, known to fans as Brenda Wyatt in the original Highlander, for which she is pictured in a 1985 publicity still with leading man Christopher Lambert (from left) Hart is pictured with Adam Arkin, Mandy Patinkin, Hector Elizondo and E.G. Marshall on a 1994 publicity still for the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope She cut a stylish figure when she surfaced this week in a flowing plaid top and grey jeans accessorized with shades, a jaunty slouched-brim hat and a deep blue scarf On the personal front, she has been married since 1984 to actor Philip Casnoff of the Civil War miniseries North and South, and they have two children When she first read the screenplay, she 'thought it was the most grotesquely violent script I had read,' she recalled with a laugh in an interview years later. She added however that 'Brenda was one of the strongest, most independent characters I had been presented with playing. She was quite bright.' Highlander bombed at first but emerged as a camp classic, spawning a film and TV franchise and now an upcoming reboot with Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe. From 1994 until 1998, Hart featured as a charity hospital nurse in David E. Kelley's hit drama series Chicago Hope, which starred such names as Mandy Patinkin, Adam Arkin, Hector Elizondo, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Peter Berg and Barbara Hershey. Her other TV work has included guest shots on a string of high-profile series like Law & Order; Walker, Texas Ranger; ER; Oz; Bones; The Closer; Criminal Minds; Private Practice; The Blacklist and The Young and the Restless. In 2013 she acted with Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain in the docudrama Wilde Salome, directed by Pacino and inspired by Oscar Wilde's play about the execution of John the Baptist, with Hart playing the princess Herodias. On the personal front, she has been married since 1984 to actor Philip Casnoff of the Civil War miniseries North and South, and they have two children. Maya Jama and Vick Hope looked incredible in bold look as the GQ and Christian Louboutin party at at The Twenty Two in London on Thursday. The Love Island host, 31, stunned in a quirky look, teaming a lilac shirt with a huge statement bow with a black leather jacket and a calf-length, black leather skirt. Adding inches to her statuesque frame, she slipped into a pair of towering white stilettos for the event celebrating music and style. Meanwhile, Vick, 36, commanded attention in a figure-hugging, ruffled red dress, which featured a plunging neckline. She completed her ensemble with a pair of black pointed heels and toted her belongings around in a purple leather clutch. Maya Jama, 31, and Vick Hope, 36, put on an elegant display as they attended the GQ and Christian Louboutin party on Thursday Meanwhile, Vick commanded attention in a figure-hugging, ruffled red dress, which featured a plunging neckline Earlier in the day, Maya was seen dancing around in a towel as she sang in the bathroom after returning to the UK following her time in South Africa presenting Love Island. The host of the ITV2 reality show was make-up free in the candid sleep as she larked about for the camera, listening to Jah Cure's Love Is. Maya waved her arm in the air and sang along to the track, as she celebrated being home again after spending the beginning of the year in Cape Town. The TV presenter grabbed her towel as it slipped down while she was busy getting her groove on around the room, before jumping in the shower. As she lifted her arm, Maya showed off a tattoo which is in the shape of three countries where she derives her heritage. The star is of Scottish and Swedish ancestry on her mother's side and Somalian descent on her father's side, with all three countries drawn side-by-side. Maya hosted the Love Island: All Stars final on Monday night, where Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies finished in first place. Following the finale, the stars of the show were spotted boarding flights home to the UK, but endured a five-hour delay before take off. Join the debate What do you think Maya Jamas bold fashion choices say about celebrity influence on style today? Jaden Smith was also spotted at the party held at The Twenty Two in London Designer Christian Louboutin dressed to impress for his brand's big night out Mabel arrived on the arm of her music executive husband Preye Crooks following their July 2025 wedding Maya visited Shane Cooper for a facial ahead of the BRIT Awards on Saturday It was reported that the Cape Town airport experienced a power cut after a fire, causing passengers to wait hours to take off. On the same flight, Maya was joined by the Love Island All Stars contestants after the voting results were revealed after the epic final. The pair were up against Millie Court and Zac Woodworth, Leanne Amaning and Scott van-der-Sluis, Lucinda Strafford and Sean Stone and Whitney and Yamen Sanders. Now Love Island have since shared by how much Ciaran and Samie won by on their Instagram page. Loved-up pair Ciaran and Samie got 35.22 per cent of the vote, followed by Millie and Zac who got 23.38 per cent. Leanne and Scott received 19.41 per cent, while Lucinda and Sean got 12.77 per cent of it, and lastly, Whitney and Yamen ended up with 9.27 per cent. And while many were over the moon with the results, it left some sharing a theory that it was down to the producers. On Saturday night she'll be performing to a star-studded crowd at Manchester's Co-op Arena for the 2026 BRIT Awards. And Olivia Dean looked full of confidence as she performed a warm up gig in the city on Thursday, taking to the stage at Albert Hall. The British chart sensation looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder green satin gown, showing off her legs with the thigh-high split as she moved around the stage. Olivia is just one of a string of British and international talent set to entertain Manchester for the hugely anticipated BRITs on Saturday. But she could also be up on the podium as she leads the nominations with a whopping five chances at a gong. Earlier this week Raye was announced as the final act to perform. On Saturday night she'll be performing to a star-studded crowd at Manchester's Co-op Arena for the 2026 BRIT Awards and Olivia wowed at a warm up gig in the city on Thursday Olivia looked full of confidence as she performed at Albert Hall in the city In 2024, Raye made BRITs history for the most nominations in a single year, before breaking the record for the most wins in a single night. She scooped the gongs for Songwriter of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year with Mastercard and R&B Act. Raye joins Harry Styles, Olivia and Wolf Alice on the performing lineup. Also set to take to the stage are EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices of HUNTR/X, Alex Warren, Mark Ronson, ROSALIA and SOMBR. Leading the charge for this year's nominations are Lola Young and Olivia with five nods each, closely followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who has been recognised in three categories. Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, in 2022, the Award show has faced heavy backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. However, this year has seen a major turnaround, with 70 per cent of nominations being female or non-binary. The 2026 event will be the first of three years under the stewardship of Sony Music UK, who spearheaded the move to Manchester. The British chart sensation looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder green satin gown, showing off her legs with the thigh-high split as she moved around the stage Olivia is just one of a string of British and international talent set to entertain Manchester for the hugely anticipated BRITs on Saturday She could also be up on the podium as she leads the nominations with a whopping five chances at a gong Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said: 'This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. 'Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. 'Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can't wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.' Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: 'For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.' Kendall Jenner stunned in a 700 silver Reine dress as she attended the Power Of You international party during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday. The model, 30, who will hit the catwalk over the next few days, looked elated as she stepped out in the deco sequin gown. She paired her glitzy, figure-hugging garment with a pair of elegant, metallic heels and diamond earrings. Seemingly excited for the glitzy evening, she took to her Instagram to share a candid snap of her posing in a lift. The influencer also shared a stunning clip to her 284 million followers of her posing up a storm ahead of the event. Kendall was seen flicking her brunette locks behind her back as she flaunted an array of modelling poses. Kendall Jenner stunned in a 700 silver Reine dress as she attended the Power Of You international party during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday The model, who will hit the catwalk over the next few days, looked elated as she stepped out in the deco sequin gown Kendall has been keeping busy during Milan Fashion Week, as earlier in the day, she looked as chic as ever as she took her seat on the front row at the Armani show. The brunette beauty wore an elegant black midi dress and flashed a smile. Milan Fashion Week Womens Fall/Winter 2026-2027 runs from Tuesday to next Monday. This season features over 54 runway shows. Kendall has been a permanent fixture on the runway in Milan over the past few years. She has walked for major houses including Prada, Fendi and Versace, as well as closing the Dolce and Gabbana show. The model's arrival in Milan comes after she recently revealed she has a secret list of 'beautiful, normal' baby names for when she eventually becomes a mother. Join the debate Do YOU like Kendall's silver dress? Seemingly excited for the glitzy evening, Kendall took to her Instagram to share a candid snap of her posing in a lift The influencer also shared a stunning clip to her 284 million followers of her posing up a storm ahead of the event She hopes to become a mum in the future and she has already picked out a number of options that won't start with a 'K' like her and her siblings' monikers. While appearing on the In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele podcast, she was asked if the options she's picked are 'insane' or 'nepo baby names'. She answered: '[I'm] so over that ... I think that it's kind of ridiculous. The whole name situation. 'I definitely have my list. It's not crazy. I actually love my baby list baby name list. [I love] like a good, normal name. Like a beautiful normal name,' she noted. When asked if the names start with the letter 'K' like her sisters Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Kylie, she replied: 'No, babe. Absolutely not.' She also insisted some unusual names can be good, adding: 'Joaquin Phoenix is an incredible name. It's a unique name, but it's not, like, "Doorbell." There's so many good names. Brad Pitt is an incredible name.' Nadiya Hussain has revealed she can't listen to the theme tune to The Great British Bake Off as it can trigger an anxiety attack, over a decade after she won the show. Despite kickstarting her career when she was crowned champion in 2015, the baker, 41, confessed that hearing the song reminds her of the 'stress' she felt while competing in the famous tent. Nadiya recently hit out at BBC bosses over their decision to axe her following a decade of working with her on cooking shows, claiming that her religion as a Muslim was a factor in the move. Since then, the star has revealed that while she was still publishing cookbooks she has also started a new career as a teaching assistant, but has since been forced to leave her drop on health grounds. In a new interview, Nadiya shared that she's suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since she was a child, after enduring vile bullying while she was at school. The star also brushed off the idea that she went on a 'journey' during her time on Bake Off. Nadiya Hussain has revealed she can't listen to the theme tune to The Great British Bake Off as it can trigger an anxiety attack, over a decade after she won the show She told The i newspaper: 'I didn't realise I was on a journey at the time, I had no idea what was happening.' While she described her time on the show as a 'beautiful rite of passage,' she added: 'Watching it back stresses me out because I remember the anxiety I was feeling. I still can't listen to the theme tun from Bake Off. No I can't.' It comes after insiders exclusively shared with Daily Mail that the decision to axe Nadiya from the BBC came because her star had 'waned', her recipes became 'tired' and she became 'increasingly hard to work with', 11 years after her Bake Off win. The former Great British Bake Off star claimed this week her religion as a Muslim was a factor in the Beeb's decision not to renew any of her shows after over a decade. Nadiya previously told a podcast she still has 'no idea' why she was quietly dropped by the BBC in June after ten years on our screens - after failing to receive a 'definitive reason' by bosses. But in a new interview, Nadiya is now adamant her Muslim heritage was to blame, claiming that she is a victim of racism in the 'broken' TV industry and that her faith has 'made people uncomfortable'. She said: 'Suddenly I wasn't the same Nadiya that I was before, because before I was writing cookbooks that were for everybody, and now I wrote this book that didn't feel inclusive.' But BBC sources insist Nadiya's claim her religion was a major factor in her being dropped 'couldn't be more wide of the mark', insisting the 41-year-old enjoyed a 'long and fruitful' stint with the broadcaster which came to a 'natural end'. The insider said: 'Nadiya had a decent spell with the Beeb, not many chefs can say they've had a decade's worth of shows on various BBC channels. 'But the BBC is constantly trying to evolve and bring in new talent regarding their food programming, so it's simply the right time to focus on new personalities.' Despite kickstarting her career when she was crowned champion in 2015, the baker confessed that hearing the song reminds her of the 'stress' she felt while competing in the famous tent On Nadiya's claims her Muslim heritage was a factor behind her axing, the insider added: 'That couldn't be more wide of the mark. 'Look at all the series she's made previously with the Beeb: The Chronicles Of Nadiya? Nadiya's Asian Odyssey? She can't say they haven't embraced her roots.' Meanwhile, a separate showbiz source told the Daily Mail there's a belief Nadiya's star has waned in recent years and she's not 'really kicked on' since winning Bake Off in 2015. They also claim her recipes didn't excite viewers, amid rumours she became harder to work with. The source said: 'Nadiya was a major star when she won Bake Off and big things were predicted. 'She landed shows on BBC, book deals and other endorsements, so she did well. 'But she's not really kicked onto the next level and it's been over ten years since she won Bake Off, there's new faces on the scene and she's in a battle with them now. 'Their recipes will naturally seem more exciting than Nadiya's, which feel tired in comparison. 'And given she's become increasingly harder to work with since her early days, now she become more famous, you can see why the BBC pulled the plug.' The source added: 'It sounds all rather bitter linking her BBC axing to her religion.' Following her axing and outspoken comments regarding 'whiteness' on TV, it appears Nadiya's ties with the broadcaster may have been cut for good, despite the BBC's claim the Milton Keynes-based chef 'remains a much-valued part of the BBC family' in the statement confirming no more shows are being planned with her. After being dropped by the Beeb, Nadiya took on a job in a local primary school in a shock career switch. But just weeks after starting the position she had to quit and made the heartbreaking revelation on her Instagram in an emotional post. Wiping away tears, she said: 'Hi guys, giving you a life update that you didn't ask for but you are going to get anyway. 'So, as you guys know when the BBC cancelled my show, I was kind of at a crossroads, I wasn't sure where I was going, what I wanted to do. 'I had loads of options, I toyed with lots of options, open a business I could do a pop-up restaurant or kitchen, none of which appealed to me at the time. 'I'm still obviously publishing books, cookbooks which I will always love but I kind of reluctantly, you know I was scared, really scared to apply for jobs.' Revealing how she was drawn to working in a school she continued: 'I've always wanted to work with children in younger years as a teaching assistant and I applied for a few jobs, which in itself was difficult for lots or reasons. 'I applied and got a job as a TA [teaching assistant] at a primary school and I've got to say, apart from raising my own children, it was one of the best jobs I've ever done. 'I loved every second of waking up in the morning with a spring in my step for these beautiful children. I just loved every second of doing that job. 'But unfortunately doing a job like that as somebody with a weakened immune system it just played havoc with my health.' It is not known if Nadiya was paid for her TA post but an advert for her position in the January addition of the school newsletter revealed pay for the job was 20,000. David Guetta has secretly welcomed his fourth child - and second - with girlfriend Jessica Ledon. The 58-year-old French DJ - who already shares a son named Cyan with Ledon - took to his main Instagram page on Thursday to make the surprise announcement to fans while also unveiling the newborn's name. The Titanium hitmaker is also father to son Tim Elvis, 22, and daughter, Angie, 18, whom he shares with ex-wife Cathy. The caption of the joint post, which was additionally uploaded to Ledon's page, read: 'Welcome to the world Skyler The most beautiful secret we've ever kept.' A few snaps in the Instagram carousel showed Ledon, 34, before she welcomed the little one to the world. The couple - who were first romantically linked in 2015 - gave a look at their intimate baby shower which appeared to have had a teddy bear theme. David Guetta, 58, has secretly welcomed his fourth child - and second - with girlfriend Jessica Ledon, 34; the couple seen in 2025 in Las Vegas The French DJ - who already shares a son named Cyan with Ledon - took to his main Instagram page on Thursday to make the surprise announcement to fans while also unveiling the newborn's name Ledon could be seen flashing a cheerful smile as she leaned in close to Guetta who gently cradled her growing baby bump. The pair stood next to a cake that was covered in sugary white and pastel blue frosting. A blue bow embellishment was added on top in more frosting while mini teddy bear decorations were added on the front. A floral arrangement was set up nearby while a large blue sign that had 'Baby Guetta' printed in white lettering hung above them. Another image was taken as Guetta and Ledon stood next to a table inside a kitchen as their son Cyan, nearly two, stood on top of a chair. The record producer could be seen holding their newborn in his arm while his other draped around Ledon. Cyan was captured embracing his role as a big brother as he peeked over a crib as Skyler took a nap. Guetta also took a quick selfie video as their newborn rested on his chest. 'This little angel is sleeping on my chest,' he said, before putting his finger to his lips and quietly added, 'Shhh.' Join the debate What do you think about becoming a parent later in lifedoes age really matter for raising young kids? The caption of the joint post, which was additionally uploaded to Ledon's page, read: 'Welcome to the world Skyler The most beautiful secret we've ever kept' Cyan was captured embracing his role as a big brother as he peeked over a crib as Skyler took a nap Guetta also took a quick selfie video as their newborn rested on his chest Other images showed the little one sleeping in adorable onesies while additional snaps were taken at a maternity shoot. Ledon could be seen showcasing her baby bump while joined by both Guetta and their first child Cyan. Social media users and celebrities jumped to the comment section of the latest post to offer their congratulations. Jennifer Lopez wrote, 'Awwww congratulations,' followed by three white heart emojis while Ivanka Trump typed, 'So happy for you both!!!! Congratulations David and Jessica!' Tiesto added, 'Congrats my brother,' and Cascada shared, 'Oh my Congratulations to you and all the happiness in the world.' Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren added, 'Congrats man,' while Guetta's son Tim Elvis also celebrated the new addition to the family by adding a GIF from the series Peaky Blinders. Guetta and Ledon were first romantically linked over a decade earlier in 2015 and the pair reportedly split years later in 2022. However in 2023, they reconciled and welcomed their first child together in March 2024. Social media users and celebrities jumped to the comment section of the latest post to offer their congratulations at the special news Guetta and Ledon were first romantically linked over a decade earlier in 2015 and years later in 2022, the pair reportedly split; seen in 2022 in Las Vegas At the time, the lovebirds also uploaded a joint Instagram post to share a heartwarming photo of the pair with their son Cyan. And in the caption, Guetta and Ledon penned to their followers: 'Love is in the air Welcome Cyan.' During a past interview with Billboard in 2019, the record producer opened up about what his kids think about him being in the music industry. 'At first they kind of hated it, because people would ask me for pictures and autographs,' he said before humorously adding, 'They saw it as people trying to steal their dad. 'Now they're teenagers and they're happy about it in ways, but in the beginning they didn't like it at all. They would ask me, "Can you just be a normal dad and stay at home?"' Guetta explained that had been one of the reasons why he moved away from France 'because it became a problem for my kids.' But now that his two eldest children are older, he expressed that his son Tim Elvis is 'super proud' of his famous dad. The Titanium hitmaker is also father to son Tim Elvis, 22, and daughter, Angie, 18, whom he shares with ex-wife Cathy And when it comes to performing as a DJ, he recently told Rolling Stone last month that, 'DJing is about reacting to the crowd, feeding off their energy. I don't see myself as a star - I'm partying with everyone else'; seen in 2025 in France Amid his successful career, the star has sold over 10 million albums while also garnering over 30 billion streams on Spotify. Earlier this month, Guetta celebrated his tracks Memories and Sexy B**** each surpassing 1.3 billion streams on Spotify. And when it comes to performing as a DJ, he recently told Rolling Stone last month that, 'DJing is about reacting to the crowd, feeding off their energy. I don't see myself as a star - I'm partying with everyone else. 'A DJ improvises and has to read the venue, unlike a band stuck to a setlist, and that constant energy exchange - that's the secret to a great night.' Kevin Kreider and Devon Diep, the stars of Bling Empire, have called it quits after their longtime, on-and-off relationship. The couple, who have been romantically linked for approximately 15 years, had just gotten engaged five months earlier before they called it quits. Kreider, 42, and Diep announced their separation in a joint statement obtained by People on Thursday. The pair said it was 'not an easy decision,' but they ultimately decided to 'move forward on separate paths' and maintain a relationship as just friends. The statement, which appeared to be penned by Kreider, read: 'After much thought and reflection, Devon and I have decided to end our engagement and move forward on separate paths. 'This was not an easy decision. We care deeply for one another and will always support each other. We are grateful for the time we shared, but at this point in our lives we believe we are better suited as friends.' Kevin Kreider and Devon Diep called off their engagement in a joint announcement on Thursday; seen in November 2024 The statement concluded: 'We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this next chapter.' Kreider previously popped the question to Diep during a romantic couple's trip in Rome in late September last year. At the time, the couple announced their engagement in a since-deleted, joint Instagram post of them enjoying their Italian getaway. In the caption of the post, Kreider wrote a lengthy, sweet message about their 'commitment towards each other' and how their relationship has only grown 'stronger because of the tests and trials.' 'The most powerful question is "Will you marry me?" 3.7 years after our second chance at love, we realize it's not just about love, it's about commitment towards each other and choosing to say yes, even when the highs aren't as high, and we have no idea how low the lows can be,' Kreider wrote. 'But when we hit rock bottom, we grew closer to each other and closer to our faith,' he continued. 'We rose out of the chaos and noise, distractions that were pulling us apart to a unity that is stronger because of the tests and trials.' He added: 'We're happy to announce that we are officially engaged and we did it in style and it was beyond our wildest dreams. The pair had been engaged for just five months and in a longtime, on-and-off relationship for over a decade; seen in December 2015 The couple said it was 'not an easy decision,' but they ultimately decided to 'move forward on separate paths'; seen in January 2023 'I can't wait to marry you,' he concluded alongside a red heart emoji. The pair were previously linked over a decade ago and had called it quits. While Kreider was one of the main cast members of Netflix's hit series Bling Empire, he confessed he still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend from years earlier. After learning about this, Kreider's co-star Christine Chiu decided to play cupid and initiated their reconciliation. Diep later joined the show after the exes reunited and started dating again, with their romance playing out as one of the storylines on the show. Bling Empire is a reality series following the opulent lives of wealthy Asian American socialites in Los Angeles. In their breakup statement, the couple said they continue to 'care deeply for one another and will always support each other'; seen in 2023 Bling Empire ran for three seasons before Netflix decided against renewing for a fourth season The hit show has been airing for three seasons, debuting in 2021, but Netflix later decided not to go forward with a fourth season. The streaming service made the announcement in April 2023 and also canceled the spinoff series, Bling Empire: New York after just one season. This comes after Kreider shed light on how he was paid less than a UPS employee despite the grueling filming schedule for the reality show in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com. He also lamented about not being able to purchase a property and having to choose between renting a 'nicer one-bedroom [apartment] and not have a car' or 'downgrading' to a 'studio.' Denise Richards has been ordered to pay her ex Aaron Phypers thousands in temporary spousal support as their contentious divorce battle continues to rage on. The 55-year-old Wild Things actress had married Phypers in 2018 until the estranged couple each filed for divorce last year. At the time, he requested that the Hollywood star pay him spousal support while she also asked for spousal support in return from her ex. Last week, Phypers once again requested that Richards immediately pay him temporary spousal support due to his alleged financial strain and pending criminal case after his arrest for alleged domestic abuse in October 2025. A judge has now ruled that the actress must pay Phypers $5,000 monthly amid their divorce battle, per documents obtained by Daily Mail. She will pay the sum on the 5th of each month beginning in March and will do so until otherwise ordered by the court. Denise Richards, 55, has been ordered to pay her ex Aaron Phypers thousands in temporary spousal support as their contentious divorce battle continues to rage on; seen on Thursday in Los Angeles A judge has now ruled that the actress must pay Phypers $5,000 monthly amid their divorce battle, per documents obtained by Daily Mail; former couple seen in May 2025 Along with the temporary spousal support, Richards has also been ordered to pay an additional $30,000. The cost will cover her ex's $25,000 in attorney fees as well as $5,000 to cover a forensic accountant. The total $30,000 sum will be paid to Phypers through installments of $10,000 monthly beginning in March and ending in May. 'It's not much,' a source close to Phypers told the Daily Mail exclusively in response to the $5,000-a-month ruling before highlighting the $200,000-a-month Richards allegedly makes from OnlyFans. Meanwhile, Phypers' rep added in an exclusive statement: 'The truth is simply Aaron Phyper's defense.' The rep also cited Abraham Lincoln's quote, which reads, 'Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.' Phypers' attorney Michael Finley told the Daily Mail: 'Mr. Phypers is grateful for the fairness and quality of the judges in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.' Daily Mail has also reached out to reps for Richards, but did not immediately hear back. He first requested spousal support in his divorce filing in July 2025. A few months later in September, Richards submitted a response to his divorce filing where she then requested spousal support from her estranged husband, per People, and also asked that he not be able to be awarded spousal support. Earlier last week, Phypers asked that the actress immediately pay him spousal support in filed legal paperwork. In court documents obtained by Page Six, Phypers claimed he needed her financial support because he does not have 'stable income' after his 'business operations and infrastructure' were 'disrupted in late 2024.' He also insisted that he has a right to temporary spousal support as he needs to maintain a 'status quo' of 'financial fairness during litigation.' Along with the temporary spousal support, Richards has also been ordered to pay an additional $30,000; seen on Thursday in Los Angeles The total $30,000 sum will be paid to Phypers through installments of $10,000 monthly beginning in March and ending in May; seen in November 2025 in Las Vegas Earlier last week, Phypers asked that the actress immediately pay him spousal support in filed legal paperwork; seen in 2023 in L.A. Per the outlet, he also claimed his pending criminal and domestic violence case should not hinder him from getting spousal support. He claimed the court is obligated to order his estranged wife to pay temporary spousal support in spite of his ongoing criminal case and restraining order as 'there has been no criminal conviction' yet.' However on Thursday, Richards had a smile on her face outside court in Los Angeles as their divorce battle continues. She made a dramatic appearance at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in an all-black outfit featuring a skintight, long-sleeved top paired with a leather midi skirt and matching, peep-toe pumps. Richards, who carried a studded leather clutch and wore oversize, cat-eye sunglasses over her eyes, was joined by her attorney and a buff bodyguard for the hearing. The star looked to be in high spirits despite Phypers' continued demands for spousal support amid his domestic violence charges, which he has pled not guilty to. In contrast, Richards's estranged husband had a seemingly solemn expression on his face as he made his arrival to the courthouse shortly after her. Phypers wore a light blue dress shirt with the top two buttons unfastened and layered the button-down with a zip-up jacket and a tweed coat. Per the outlet, he also claimed his pending criminal and domestic violence case should not hinder him from getting spousal support; Phypers seen in January 2025 in L.A. She made a dramatic appearance at Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Thursday in an all-black outfit featuring a skintight, long-sleeved top paired with a leather midi skirt and matching, peep-toe pumps He completed his court outfit with dark jeans and chunky, patent leather oxfords. Richards was married to Phypers for nearly seven years before he filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' in July 2025. The estranged couple do not share any children together, though Phypers intended to legally adopt Richards' youngest daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, in 2019. Richards previously adopted Eloise in 2011. In court documents amid the divorce battle, Richards claimed that Phypers signed adoption papers in 2019 but he alleged Richards 'failed to file' them. Richards is also mother to two daughters - Sami Sheen, 21, and 20-year-old Lola Sheen - both of whom she shares with actor Charlie Sheen. The actress was married to the Two and a Half Men star, 60, for four years, tying the knot in 2002, calling it quits in 2005 and finalizing their legal separation the following year. The estranged couple do not share any children together, though Phypers intended to legally adopt Richards' youngest daughter, Eloise Joni Richards, in 2019; seen in 2023 in L.A. The actress was married to the Two and a Half Men star, 60, for four years, tying the knot in 2002, calling it quits in 2005 and finalizing their legal separation the following year; the pair seen in 2025 in L.A. Richards and Phypers have been embroiled in a messy, public split since their 2025 divorce filing. In October, per documents obtained by TMZ, Phypers was charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse as well as two additional felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. His total bail was set at $200,000. Last December, Phypers and his parents were evicted from the mansion he once shared with Richards. His parents launched a since-deleted GoFundMe asking for support for their son after the court ruled in favor of the landlord, granting the property owner possession of the home following allegations of unpaid rent totaling over $84,000. Phypers also previously claimed he was entitled to half of the money Richards made on OnlyFans while she accused him of domestic abuse - allegations he has since denied. Richards accused her ex of physical assault and filed for a restraining order against him on the grounds of domestic violence. 'But when you cross a line and bring my youngest daughter into trying to get money from strangers, it's outrageous - that is wrong,' Richards said During a recent appearance on Tori Spelling's Misspelling podcast, Richards addressed the since-deleted GoFundMe as well as references to her daughter Eloise that had been made in the fundraiser. 'Say whatever you want about me, which they have - I'll deal with that after the divorce,' the actress expressed. 'But when you cross a line and bring my youngest daughter into trying to get money from strangers, it's outrageous - that is wrong.' The star further added, 'To go to this level, to bring my daughter into it - it's more a personal thing. It is shocking, but whatever.' Eric Dane was honored by Grey's Anatomy at the end of Thursday night's episode following his death at 53. Dane died on February 19 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At the end of the February 26 episode, there was a montage of Dane's most memorable scenes as Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy. Snow Patrol's 2006 song Chasing Cars played throughout the clips and a final shot of Dane read: 'In loving memory of Eric Dane 1972-2026.' Dane joined the Grey's Anatomy cast in 2006, and the day he died coincidentally marked the 20th anniversary of his debut on the series. McSteamy was initially intended to appear in just one episode, but the show was rewritten to include him as a regular cast member. Eric Dane was honored by Grey's Anatomy at the end of Thursday night's episode following his death at 53 At the end of the February 26 episode, there was a montage of Dane's most memorable scenes as Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy Snow Patrol's 2006 song Chasing Cars played throughout the clips and a finally shot of Dane read: 'In loving memory of Eric Dane 1972-2026' In 2024 Dane admitted on the Armchair Expert podcast that his drug use while filming Grey's Anatomy meant 'things started going sideways for me,' and his character was killed off by producer Shonda Rhimes in 2012. 'I wasn't the same guy they had hired, so I understood when I was let go,' he said. He noted, 'And [executive producer] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great. She protected us fiercely. 'She protected us publicly. She protected us privately. But I was probably fired. It wasn't ceremoniously like, 'You're fired,' it was just like, 'You're not coming back.'' Rhimes released a statement in the wake of Dane's death, which read: 'Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey's Anatomy families. 'He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world.' She continued: 'We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.' Later in his career Dane starred as Cal Jacobs, the troubled father to Jacob Elordi's character Nate, in Euphoria. And he guest starred as a firefighter enduring ALS in an episode of the NBC's medical drama Brilliant Minds last November. The actor married actress Rebecca Gayheart, 54, in October 2004. Dane joined the Grey's Anatomy cast in 2006, and the day he died coincidentally marked the 20th anniversary of his debut on the series McSteamy was initially intended to appear in just one episode, but the show was rewritten to include him as a regular cast member They separated in September 2017, and shockingly called off their divorce in March 2025 one month before Dane publicly announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. They shared daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. Gayheart wrote in a December 2025 essay published by The Cut that her love for Dane was no longer romantic, but 'familial.' And despite their romance being done, Dane spoke highly of his wife in his touching Netflix special, Famous Last Words: Eric Dane. In his two-episode final interview, he declared about Gayheart: 'I will have never, by the time anyone sees this, fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca.' Haunting new details have emerged surrounding the suicide of Martin Short's 42-year-old daughter Katherine Hartley Short. She was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in the Hollywood Hills on Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed. Now law enforcement insiders have claimed she had not 'been heard from in 24 hours' before a friend of hers called the police. The authorities had to make their way past a locked door in order to discover her body, as well as a 'note' and a gun near her, according to TMZ. Foul play was ruled out by homicide detectives who responded to the scene of Katherine's death, the law enforcement sources said. The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Short and the LAPD for comment. Haunting new details have emerged surrounding the suicide of Martin Short's 42-year-old daughter Katherine Hartley Short; father and daughter are pictured in 2008 Katherine, who held a masters degree from the University of Southern California, was a licensed clinical social worker and worked with a mental health charity. Friends spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail after Katherine's suicide to lay bare the heartbreaking struggles she endured in private. She was last seen publicly with her father while celebrating her 40th birthday in 2023 at the Grand Master Recorders in Hollywood, accompanied by group including Catherine O'Hara, Bo Welch, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. Short adopted Katherine and his sons Oliver, 39, and Henry, 36, with his late wife Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 aged 58 after a battle with ovarian cancer. Friends have been seen visiting Short, 75, at his Los Angeles home as his loved ones rally around him in the wake of the shocking tragedy. Steven Spielberg, Kurt Russell and Eugene Levy all paid their respects, as did The Late Show with David Letterman bandleader Paul Schaffer. Insiders told the Daily Mail that Steve Martin and Meryl Streep - Short's co-stars on Only Murders in the Building - are also among the intimates supporting him now. A source described Short as 'inconsolable' over Katherine's death, saying: 'This is as much of a horror to Martin and his sons, her brothers, as humanly possible.' Short adopted Katherine and his sons Oliver, 39, and Henry, 36, with his late wife Nancy Dolman; the comedy icon is pictured with Katherine and Oliver in 2006 Dolman, who died in 2010 aged 58 after a battle with ovarian cancer, is pictured in 1989 with Short and their two older children Oliver and Katherine The insider, who is close to the family, told the Daily Mail: 'For someone who brings so much joy to so many, who is always trying to lift others up and make them laugh, this loss has completely shattered him. He is gutted, and as you would expect, his closest friends are surrounding him with love and support.' Katherine's autopsy has been completed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office and her body is ready to be released, the Daily Mail confirmed. Representatives for Short's family confirmed the news of Katherine's death in a statement provided to the Daily Mail this Tuesday. 'It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time,' they said. 'Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world,' the statement added. He-Man creator Roger Sweet has been forced to launch a GoFundMe amid his heartbreaking dementia battle. The 90-year-old toy designer is also behind the Masters of the Universe toy line, with a live-action motion picture based on the Mattel media franchise set to be released later this year on June 5. His wife Marlene set up the page where she announced his dementia diagnosis which has 'continued to progress.' She also asked for help to cover costs for the memory care facility he has moved to. 'Roger is now nearly 91 years old and sadly has dementia,' she wrote. 'His illness has continued to progress, and I have done all I can to take care of his needs at home.' She explained that her husband recently went on a walk and returned home disoriented and had bruises on one of his sides. After a trip to the emergency room, Sweet was admitted into the ICU for two brain bleeds. Due to his dementia battle and being at a high risk for falls, doctors recommended he go to a memory care facility to be 'monitored and safe.' He-Man creator Roger Sweet, 90, has been forced to launch a GoFundMe amid his heartbreaking dementia battle The toy designer is also behind the Masters of the Universe toy line, with a live-action motion picture based on the Mattel media franchise set to be released later this year on June 5 Sweet recently made his move into a facility to receive full-time care. 'He has only been there a few days and his mental decline is sadly continuing. It is devastating to see this happening,' Marlene wrote. His wife - who has been married to Sweet for almost 40 years - then noted that monthly costs amount to over $10,000 monthly 'for a patient in his condition' and is not covered through Medicare. 'So I am reaching out to all the HE-MAN fans for help with these bills. Any donation will be greatly appreciated and will ease the burden of this new expense,' she added. In her message on the GoFundMe, she talked about Sweet's impact on the toy industry during his career, such as being 'a toy designer at Mattel for over 15 years.' 'Roger designed and named the original He-Man character, and worked for years with other designers to create all the other characters and playsets that enthralled kids for so many years - and still do today!' Before his health battle, Sweet had the chance to meet a number of fans at events and conventions over the years. 'I was able to accompany him to several, and it was fun to see him interacting with HE-MAN fans.' 'Roger is now nearly 91 years old and sadly has dementia,' she wrote. 'His illness has continued to progress, and I have done all I can to take care of his needs at home' In her message on the GoFundMe, she talked about Sweet's impact on the toy industry during his career, such as being 'a toy designer at Mattel for over 15 years' Donations on the page have currently reached over $80,000 - with the initial goal being $50,000 Donations on the page have currently reached over $80,000 - with the initial goal being $50,000. Sweet created He-Man as well as the Masters of the Universe toy line in 1982. An animated series titled He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe began airing in 1983 through 1985. The movie He-Man And She-Ra: The Secret Of The Sword was released in 1985 and resulted in a spinoff animated show called She-Ra: Princess Of Power. Most recently, Sweet's He-Man and Masters of the Universe toy line have been adapted once again into an upcoming superhero film titled Masters Of The Universe. The movie - which was directed by Travis Knight - is set to hit theaters later this year on June 5. Sweet created He-Man as well as the Masters of the Universe toy line in 1982 An animated series titled He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe began airing in 1983 through 1985 The cast includes Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin and Kristen Wiig. The premise of the movie is: 'A young man on Earth discovers a fabulous secret legacy as the prince of an alien planet, and must recover a magic sword and return home to protect his kingdom,' per IMDB. Amazon MGM Studios dropped the first teaser trailer of the project last month in January. Galitzine talked to People late last year in December about preparing for his role as He-Man, including his body transformation. The cast includes Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin and Kristen Wiig; Galitzine seen on Thursday in Milan Dolph Lundgren also previously took on the role of He-Man in the 1987 film Masters Of The Universe which had also starred Courteney Cox, Frank Langella and James Tolkan; Lundgren seen above 'It's the hardest thing I've ever done; it was a daily challenge,' he admitted. 'But there is something incredibly empowering about committing to something so heavily.' The Red, White & Royal Blue actor added, 'I've never had a challenge like that before, which really every single day you have to wake up and you can see the peak of the mountain vaguely, but especially when you're bulking. 'I think it would be insincere for me to say that it was easy.' Dolph Lundgren also previously took on the role of He-Man in the 1987 film Masters Of The Universe which had also starred Courteney Cox, Frank Langella and James Tolkan. James Buckley has spoken out about The Inbetweeners return after the show's creators revealed they are working on new material. The actor, 38, played foul-mouthed fantasist Jay Cartwright in the Noughties series alongside Joe Thomas as awkward teen Simon Cooper; Blake Harrison as dopey Neil Sutherland and Simon Bird as geeky Will McKenzie. Yet while there have been talks of bringing the quartet back together for a new project, James insisted he hasn't been approached to revive his character. He did, however, claim that The Inbetweeners' crass style of comedy is what's needed in this day and age. James explained: 'I think the temperature at the moment is that people would like an Inbetweeners. It would release some sort of pressure... Just make sure we keep all that silly, disgusting humour. Thats what I assume people would want. 'I think we are coming back to having a laugh again. It was cool for a while to take everything very seriously and to take things the wrong way when you just know they are not intended to be taken that way, but you do it anyway because you might get some attention.' James Buckley has spoken out about The Inbetweeners return after the show's creators revealed they are working on new material (pictured in 2025) The actor, 38, played foul-mouthed fantasist Jay Cartwright in the series alongside (L-R) Joe Thomas as Simon Cooper; Simon Bird as Will McKenzie and Blake Harrison as Neil Sutherland He added to The Sun: 'I think we have decided thats not cool any more. If you were going to say, "I am going to bring a mate to the pub. Youre going to love him he gets offended by everything," they would be, "Id rather not, to be honest."' Back in October, The Inbetweeners' creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that plans are underway to bring back the iconic characters for a fresh chapter, after signing a deal with production giant Banijay UK. 'It's incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends),' they said in a statement. It is thought the project could involve a new TV run, a film, or even a stage adaptation, with talks already underway about how to reboot the cult favourite. Banijay's chief executive, Patrick Holland, told The Sun he was 'delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners with them'. He added: 'They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audiences old and new.' The company said the deal 'unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms including film, tv and stage'. Joe revealed previously that the cast were eager to return. He said the group had stayed close friends and would 'jump at the chance' to work together again. Speaking to a podcast he said: 'We're all still around. We're all still in each other's lives. We all still like each other. 'And if it was something that came up, I think we would want to do it.' Also tipped to return is Emily Atack, who played fan-favourite Charlotte Hinchcliffe. If the deal goes ahead, the reboot would mark the first time in more than a decade that the full cast have reunited on screen. Kendall Jenner enjoyed a cosy evening with Nicholas Galitzine on Thursday as they made the most of Milan Fashion Week. The supermodel, 29, was seen deep in conversation with the British actor, 31, as they attended the Emporio Armani show before later reuniting at the Armani Power Of You party, where they posed for snaps. For the runway presentation, Kendall looked stylish in a little black dress that she paired with barely-there heels. She later changed into a shimmering silver sequinned gown that clung to her incredible figure. Kendall looked in good spirits at the party as she wrapped her arm around Nicholas' waist and beamed for the camera. Nicholas has been making a name for himself in Hollywood and is preparing to take on the role of He-Man in upcoming superhero film, Masters of the Universe. Kendall Jenner enjoyed a cosy evening with British heartthrob Nicholas Galitzine on Thursday as they party hopped during Milan Fashion Week (pictured at the Emporio Armani show) After the runway presentation, the pair went and got changed into different looks before reuniting at the Armani Power Of You party, where they posed for snaps The London-born actor, who is said to be descended from Russian nobility, garnered a legion of fans after starring in Red, White & Royal Blue, the LGBTQ+ rom-com that secured fans' affections around the world despite being branded 'bland' by critics. He left viewers hot under the collar once again in Sky's Mary & George; which told the outrageous true story of a 17th century Countess Mary Villiers (played by Julianne Moore), who moulded her son (Nicholas) to seduce King James I. Through outrageous scheming, the mother and son rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King's most trusted advisors. Continuing his success, Nicholas starred opposite A-lister Anne Hathaway in Amazon Prime's romantic drama The Idea of You. Despite simmering success, Nicholas undoubtedly got his big break when he was cast as Prince Robert in Amazon's live action adaptation of Cinderella opposite Camila Cabello who assumed the role of the Princess. Nicholas has thrived in his royal roles perhaps due to his own impressive family lineage. Internet sleuths have pieced together the star's heritage to reveal that he is descended from the House of Golitsyn - one of the largest princely-families under Tsar-ruled Russia. It is thought that his own ancestors were forced to flee to the UK amid the political and social unrest of the Russian Revolution which raged between 1917 and 1923. Kendall can no doubt appreciate what it means to come from a well-known household. However, she recently revealed she has no plans to start a family of her own just yet, because she is 'still too busy' to have any children. The brunette beauty - who previously dated music star Bad Bunny - told Vogue France magazine: 'I want to have some, but not right away. I want to make sure I can dedicate a lot of time to them, and for now, I'm still too busy.' Kendall's siblings - Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner - have all had children already. But the model is keen to 'continue having a good time'. For the runway presentation, Kendall looked stylish in a little black dress that she paired with barely-there heels She later changed into a shimmering silver sequinned gown that clung to her incredible figure. Kendall looked in good spirits at the party as she wrapped her arm around Nicholas' waist Speaking about her goals for 2026, Kendall shared: 'The most important thing will be to stay true to myself and continue having a good time. It might sound like a cliche, but it's very important to me.' Kendall admits that she was 'too stressed' during her 20s, but she now feels more confident and stable than ever. She said: 'I think most women, most people, understand this: when you're in your 20s, you don't always know exactly who you are or what you want, so things can quickly become difficult or stressful. 'It was the same for me: when I was 20, I was too stressed and spent all my time running around. Now that I'm 30, I want to focus on myself.' Meanwhile, Kendall recently denied ever having had plastic surgery. The model rubbished suggestions that she's undergone a 'full facial reconstruction'. During an appearance on the In Your Dreams podcast, Kendall shared: 'I'm not going to sit here and convince anyone that I haven't had work. There's a whole world on the internet that thinks I've had full facial reconstruction. 'I'm just here to tell you the truth, which is the fact that I've never had any plastic surgery on my face. Nothing. I've never had any work done.' After she was accused of 'lying' by host Owen Thiele, Kendall replied: 'I swear to God. Uh, no. I've done two rounds of baby Botox in my forehead. That's it. Only thing I've ever injected.' Tina O'Brien displayed her gorgeous figure as she and son Beau enjoyed a recent sun-soaked half term getaway. The Coronation Street actress, 42, took to Instagram with snaps from their trip as they soaked by the pool and made the most of the gorgeous weather. Tina, who shares the 11-year-old with ex husband Adam Crofts, looked incredible in a stylish black and white bikini which showcased her toned abs. She later modelled another tiny two piece for a sweet selfie with Beau, before slipping into a chic lace dress as the pair were joined by pals for dinner. Tina, who has played Sarah Platt in the ITV soap on and off since 1999, captioned the post: 'Half term fun'. Fans and famous friend were quick to rush to the comments, with nepo baby daughter Scarlett, 17, who Tina shares with former co-star Ryan Thomas, said: 'I helped organise this post xxx gorgeous mother' Tina O'Brien, 42, displayed her gorgeous figure as she and son Beau, 11, enjoyed a sun-soaked half term getaway Tina O'Brien displays her gorgeous figure in a stylish bikinis as she enjoys sun-soaked half term getaway with son Beau, 11 Her getaway comes after she split from millionaire interior designer Adam Fadle, 38, in November 2025. The former couple went public with their romance last summer when they attended her Corrie co-star Jack P Shepherd's wedding in July. However, insiders told Daily Mail that she ended the romance after admitting it 'wasn't going anywhere' and that she didn't want to invest energy in something 'that was never going to last'. Friends claimed her blunt assessment left Adam 'stunned', as he believed the relationship had real potential and relished the time they spent together. Tina was firm about the split, removing all photos of the couple from her Instagram, including snaps from a romantic September holiday to Greece, making it clear the whirlwind fling had ended. The relationship came just months after the collapse of her seven-year marriage to ex-husband Adam Crofts, with the pair reportedly parting ways over Christmas 2024. She later modelled another tiny two piece for a sweet selfie with Beau, before slipping into a chic lace dress as the pair were joined by pals for dinner Tina, who has played Sarah Platt in the ITV soap on and off since 1999, captioned the post: 'Half term fun' Fans and famous friend were quick to rush to the comments, including nepo baby daughter Scarlett, 17, who Tina shares with former co-star Ryan Thomas It comes after Tina's former onscreen daughter Lucy Fallon has revealed she had to rush her baby daughter to hospital with a 'dramatic illness'. The soap, 30, is mother to Sonny, three, and 13-month-old Nancy with her fiance Ryan Ledson. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday evening, Lucy told her followers she would be quiet on social media in the coming days. Sharing a photo of Nancy, she wrote: 'Radio silence this week from me as Nancy was admitted to hospital on Monday. She loves a dramatic illness this chick!' Lucy, who played Sarah Platt's daughter Bethany in the ITV soap, did not give any furhter details of her daughter's illness. The actress recently revealed she spent five weeks as an inpatient in a psychiatric hospital after suffering a catastrophic mental health crisis that left her feeling she had hit 'absolute rock bottom'. Gwyneth Paltrow enjoyed a tipple on Thursday after travelling to Colorado for a new VIP pop-up launch, hosted by Californian wine brand Meiomi Pinot Noir. The Oscar-winning actress looked appropriately stylish in a sweeping white frock coat and matching skirt as she rubbed shoulders with fellow guests at Vail's Express Lift Bar. Paltrow, 53, was on hand to celebrate Meiomi as the brand hosted the latest in a series of exclusive, curated, Club Noir pop-up events, designed to showcase their wines in 'an elevated apres ski setting.' The actress recently suffered backlash after campaigning for a non-invasive cancer treatment called histotripsy - with disappointed fans slamming her for advising treatment when she is not a medical professional. Paltrow spoke with Mike Blue, the CEO of HistoSonics - a non-invasive, sonic beam therapy platform, on her Goop podcast, where she opened up about her father's battle with cancer and the toll that radiation had on his body. Paltrow's father, Bruce Paltrow, died in October 2002, at the age of 58 from complications of pneumonia and a recurrence of oral and throat cancer. Gwyneth Paltrow enjoyed a tipple on Thursday after travelling to Colorado for a new VIP pop-up launch, hosted by Californian wine brand Meiomi Pinot Noir 'I lived through the side effects of radiation with my dad's throat cancer, and it was just awful,' the Goop founder said in a snippet of the conversation shared to Instagram. Paltrow described her father's treatment as extreme and invasive, admitting there were days when her family wondered if it was worth it. 'The whole inside of his throat was burned from the radiation. He couldn't swallow - I mean, it was barbaric,' she told Blue. Blue, who does not appear to have experience working in medicine himself based on his LinkedIn profile, responded saying: 'I really believe there will be a day when we look back and say, "we did those types of surgeries, I can't believe we used radiation in that location, it's just so extreme,"' he said. He continued, 'I fully believe we can eliminate a lot of that.' Histotripsy is a non-invasive, radiation-free, and non-thermal ablation technology. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023 for destroying liver tumors using high-frequency, targeted ultrasound waves. According to the University of Texas Cancer Center, histotripsy is being tested for tumors in other organs in clinical trials, but is not currently approved for the treatment of tumors outside the liver. Radiotherapy (radiation therapy), often administered alongside chemotherapy and surgery, is one of the most powerful treatments for treating cancer, as per the Cleveland Clinic. Appalled followers took to the comments section to share their thoughts. Many worried the actress's comments would discourage people from getting radiation therapy for cancer when they need it. 'Chemotherapy and radiation saved my life 14 years ago. I would do it all over again if I had to,' one user shared. 'Modern medicine is amazing and I hope the U.S. can get the funding for cancer research back that was taken away.' 'I've received radiation, yes it burnt, but 23 years ago totally worth it, trust your doctors,' urged someone else. The Oscar-winning actress looked appropriately stylish in a sweeping white frock coat and matching skirt as she rubbed shoulders with fellow guests at Vail's Express Lift Bar (L-R) Greg Umlas, Stacy Weisgerber, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Kurtz, John Sutton and Charlotte Beriker attend the Meiomi Club Noir VIP Event on Thursday afternoon Paltrow was on hand to celebrate Meiomi as the brand hosted the latest in a series of exclusive, curated, Club Noir pop-up events, designed to showcase their wines in 'an apres ski setting' (L-R) Julie Sarinana, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tezza Barton pose for a photo during their appearance at the Express Lift Bar The actress recently suffered backlash after campaigning for a non-invasive cancer treatment - with disappointed fans slamming her for advising treatment when she is not a professional Despite the controversy, she appeared to in high spirits during her latest appearance in Colorado on Thursday 'Please don't, the misinformation from untrialed treatments kills,' someone else wrote. They continued: 'Hopefully one day this treatment will be available after clinical trials, promoting it now without clinical trials is doing people a disservice.' 'Putting out this clip is incredibly dangerous,' agreed another. 'Many aggressive cancers can't be treated holistically or with alternative therapies [and] for many people this is currently their only hope of staying alive.' They continued: 'Creating more mistrust of doctors in a climate where (in the US) cancer funding is already being cut, is endangering people who are already having to make the hardest decisions at the most frightening time in their lives.' 'Until there are other advances, don't scare people away from the treatments available now. It is misleading,' agreed another. The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for further comment. Bella Thorne put on a loved-up display with fiance Mark Emms at ELLE pre Actors Awards bash, formerly known as Screen Actors Guild Awards, at Castillo del Lago in LA on Thursday evening. The actress, 28, who has been engaged to the businessman, 45, since May 2023, stunned as she went braless beneath a black lace dress. Bella's slinky number hugged every inch of her sensational figure with sheer panels teasing a glimpse of her ample assets. She slipped her feet into strappy heels and opted for wet look hair along with dramatic pink eye-make-up. Meanwhile Mark, who is CEO of Emms Productions and Eastern Road Films, cut a stylish figure in a classic black suit. This year's ceremony will take place Sunday 1 March with Kristen Bell returning as host for a third time. Bella Thorne put on a loved-up display with fiance Mark Emms at ELLE pre SAG Actors Awards bash, formerly known as Screen Actors Guild Awards , at Castillo del Lago in LA on Thursday The actress, 28, who has been engaged to the businessman, 45, since May 2023, stunned as she went braless beneath a black lace dress Earlier this month, The Screen Actors Guild Awards announced the nominations for the 2026 show. One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro landed the most nominations with a record-setting six. In the 31 years of the Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, no movie has received more than five nominations. The nominations for that movie were for acting ensemble, stunt ensemble, actor (DiCaprio), actress (Chase Infiniti), and supporting actress (Teyana Taylor) as well as two for supporting actor (Penn and Del Toro). Usually, to win best picture at the Oscars, a movie needs a SAG ensemble nomination. The nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture besides One Battle After Another went to Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and Sinners. Bella's slinky number hugged every inch of her sensational figure with sheer panels teasing a glimpse of her ample assets Meanwhile Mark, who is CEO of Emms Productions and Eastern Road Films, cut a stylish figure in a classic black suit She slipped her feet into strappy heels and opted for wet look hair along with dramatic pink eye-make-up She accessorised with kooky earrings and statement rings Bella posed for a snap alongside stunning italian actress Beatrice Granno (R) Beatrice was the epitome of chic in a houndstooth co-ord (L-R) Klelia Andriolatou and Paige DeSorbo were both dressed to impress as they hit the red carpet Mirela Ilieva was the epitome of chic in a tailored white suit Lizzy Greene looked sensational in a Grecian inspired gown Lexi Jayde caught the eye in a form-fitting backless gown (L-R) Haley Kalil and Ash Santos put on a very animated display Meraida Beda set pulses racing in her semi-sheer gown Julia Butters was suited and booted for the VIp event Michael Evans cut a casual figure on the star-studded red crapet Duncan Joseph looked smart in a shirt and tie Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a Leading Role went to Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infinity and Emma Stone. Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Leading Role went to Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B Jordan and Jesse Plemons. Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Supporting Role included Del Toro, Penn, Canton, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) and Paul Mescal (Hamnet). Jean Smart, Hacks, Ariana Grande, Adam Brody, Noah Wylie, Ted Danson, The White Lotus, Keri Russell, Seth Rogen, The Studio, Martin Short and Only Murders In The Building also received nods in other categories. The 32nd annual nominations were announced by Abbott Elementary star Janelle James and Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie on Netflix's YouTube Channel after an introduction by SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin. The Actor Awards ceremony will take place on March 1 in Los Angeles and stream live on Netflix. Harrison Ford will receive the 2026 SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award. Amanda Holden showed off her figure in a blue bikini while holding a can of Coca Cola Light as she launched an 'optimistic' bid for a brand deal. The TV personality, 55, took to Instagram on Friday to share stunning snaps from a recent trip to a sunny destination. Amanda displayed her toned abs as she posed in a bright blue triangle two-piece featuring silver chain straps and low-rise briefs. But the snaps appeared to have an ulterior motive as she proudly centred a can of Coca Cola Light and hinted at her hopes of being sponsored by the global brand in the future. 'No I haven't been paid. Yes, I'm open to it. Plot twist: the can is the real thirst trap!' she captioned the snaps. Sharing the snap on her Instagram Story, Amanda wrote: 'Unpaid, but optimistic [laughing face emoji].' Amanda Holden showed off her figure in a blue bikini while holding a can of Coca Cola Light as she launched an 'optimistic' bid for a brand deal on Instagram on Friday Amanda recently revealed why she ultimately turned down the chance to front Strictly Come Dancing alongside her close friend Alan Carr. The Britain's Got Talent judge told the Daily Mail she hopes BBC bosses will replace current presenters Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 54, with an unknown or rising TV star - and insists the role should remain in female hands following the duo's hugely successful tenure. Amanda, who also presents Heart Breakfast, admitted she feels 'bored' by the rumoured shortlist of names reportedly in the frame, including Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond. She and Alan were said to be the broadcaster's first choice following the success of their BBC travel series, most recently Amanda & Alan's Greek Job. But Amanda has now explained why the glittering primetime role simply isn't for her. 'You see, I am already part of a big show, and I'll happily carry on watching Strictly from the comfort of my lounge, but it takes up too many weekends, I've got to remember that I have children and a husband', she said. 'But I just hope that they still have two females doing it, that's my big thing. They need somebody super funny, and somebody that you wouldn't expect.' Amanda said she believes the coveted role should not only go to an emerging talent, but to someone who has 'put the work in' and truly earned the opportunity to front such a big Saturday night show. She added: 'It's a really amazing job to sort of break two people that we might know but don't know that well and push them up into the spotlight. Join the debate Are YOU a fan of Amanda Holden? But the snaps appeared to have an ulterior motive as she proudly centred a can of Coca Cola Light and hinted at her hopes of being sponsored by the global brand in the future 'No I haven't been paid. Yes, I'm open to it. Plot twist: the can is the real thirst trap!' she captioned the snaps 'There are so many people and women in our industry without getting too political who have put all the work in, all the hours in, who deserve a bloody break, so often when I see lots of names attached to it, I think, boring, boring, boring, they're all brilliant people but you go, "oh come on, think outside the box". 'It's a really wonderful moment to put two strong women in a role on a Saturday night.' If it were her decision, Amanda said she would place two funny women at the helm of Strictly, adding: 'I wonder about Katherine Ryan, I think she's a good comedian, or Daisy May Cooper would be cool - they're definitely established.' Amanda also suggested Alex Jones could be the perfect fit, particularly as she feels the presenter is not seen often enough on screen. She continued: 'I quite like the idea of Alex Jones as well. She does The One Show and is a very good anchor and has a dry sense of humour and I think she's often - I don't see her enough, she's not been overlooked but you don't see enough of her on TV, she would be a really good choice. 'And bring on the glamour because you have to think about the outfits as well. I love Zoe Ball in that sort of anchor role and then I think somebody should take a chance on a comedian, go and search Edinburgh Festival, make it be a prize!' Amanda returns to the Britain's Got Talent panel for her 18th year, having been part of the original lineup when the show first launched in 2007. Her unwavering commitment to the role means she will not be joining Claudia Winkleman on the next series of Celebrity Traitors, despite rumours, due to filming clashes. She revealed: 'All I'll say is, they ask you not to say if you have been asked, but I'm going to say I can't do it because it means I would miss three nights on Britain's Got Talent and I can't miss three Saturday nights. 'I'm very flattered but I won't be on the roundtable unless they change the schedule. I also don't fancy staying at a hotel in Inverness Airport!' Every year, the star, who turned 55 last week, sparks headlines with her glamorous and often revealing outfits during the Britain's Got Talent live shows. Amanda says she won't be holding back this year, with viewers set to see even more from her wardrobe. She said: 'Obviously, I know what I wore for the auditions because they're all done and dusted, but I'm yet to decide what I'm wearing for the live shows. 'But of course, there will be side boob, and leg, and anything else that I can get out, bring it on! My stylist is laughing his head off now.' The Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor was given a first opportunity to meet billionaire Umar Kamani in person on Thursday evening after the businessman offered to fund a dream trip to Mecca for him and his family. Noor, a devout Muslim, had previously told BBC viewers of his plans to to take immediate family members on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Masjid al-Haram should he win the show's 95,750 prize pot. But after failing to catch Traitors Rachel Duffy and Stephen Libby, who went on to win the show and split the money, the Middlesbrough based internal auditor's dream of visiting Mecca with his loved ones appeared to be in tatters - until big-hearted Kamani stepped in. The affluent CEO of online fashion brands PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo has offered to finance Noor and his family out of his own pocket, meaning the TV personality will now realize his dream of visiting the Sacred Mosque - considered to be the most significant mosque in Islam. Noor, 22, was able to thank the businessman personally while attending the Kamani Living Evening at Mayfair's Dorchester Hotel on Thursday night. 'It was important to me that this wasnt just a social media moment,' Kamani, 37, told the Daily Mail. 'The visas are being sorted, the costs are covered, and his whole family will go. The Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor, (left) was given a first opportunity to meet Umar Kamani in person on Thursday after the businessman offered to fund his dream family trip to Mecca 'Meeting Faraaz in person just confirmed hes exactly the kind of person you want to help.' An ecstatic Noor added: 'Meeting Umar was surreal. He didnt have to do any of this. The fact that hes covering everything for my whole family, I dont have the words for it. My parents have waited their whole lives for this.' During his appearance on The Traitors, Noor told his fellow contestants that he would use the prize money to take his family on a pilgrimage to Mecca. He said: 'For me, being Muslim, Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam. Completing that pilgrimage in Saudi, going to Mecca. 'If I was to win the money, I'd love to be able to treat the family and all of us go as one.' But suffering disappointment in the final, he was stunned after Kamani reached out on social media with an offer to fund the trip himself. Speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party in January, Noor said he couldn't stop crying after receiving the news. He recalled: 'I came back and I was talking to my mum and I was like, I just can't to Umar, I'm so grateful, Alhamdulillah, I was literally crying my eyes out honestly. I couldn't believe it.' Despite falling at the last hurdle of the BBC show, Noor insisted that his dream of taking his family on the pilgrimage was still alive. He told the BBC: 'Inshallah, one day I'll be able to hopefully take them to Hajj or even complete Umrah. I'm looking forward to that.' The CEO of online fashion brands PrettyLittleThing has offered to finance Noor out of his own pocket, meaning the TV personality will now realize his dream of visiting the Sacred Mosque Noor was able to thank the businessman personally while attending the Kamani Living Evening at Mayfair's Dorchester Hotel on Thursday night (L-R) Umar Kamani, Eliza Spencer, Amelia Spencer, and Nada Kamani pose for a photo during Thursday's event at the Dorchester Noor also revealed the 'key' decision that ended up costing him the 95,750 prize after he changed his mind regarding his suspicions of traitor Duffy. She and Libbey scooped up 47,875 each on the hit BBC series after they went head-to-head with Noor, Jade Scott, James Baker, and Jack Butler in the final. When asked by Sky News what key decision led to him missing out on the prize money, he said it was something Duffy had said to him shortly before his loss. He said: 'I think for me it was Chest of Chance with James and Rachel. When Rachel said to me after the round table that 'I just want to stand up there and rub it in all your faces that I'm a Faithful that I'm faithful', that is exactly how I felt. 'And me being a Faithful I really resonated that and that sort of tipped me so I was toying between, do I protect myself and vote Rachel or do I know I am right with Stephen and stick with Stephen. 'It was really 50/50 and my mind was made up when I stood there.' Maura Higgins turned heads as she arrived at the Blumarine show during Milan Fashion Week on Friday. The Irish TV personality, 35, commanded attention as she flashed her underboob in a red semi-sheer dress. The daring ensemble featured a high neckline, long sleeves, a diamante rose applique on the bust, a sheer bodice, a thigh-high slit, and a long train. Showcasing her incredible figure, Maura added inches to her frame with clear heels and styled her brunette tresses in wet-look mermaid waves. The beauty struck a series of sultry poses for the camera whilst taking her seat in the front row. Joining her on the front row was Betty Bachz, who looked incredible in a black dress featuring semi-sheer panels and a long, flowing train. Maura Higgins turned heads in a red semi-sheer dress as she arrived at the Blumarine show during Milan Fashion Week on Friday The Irish TV personality, 35, commanded attention as she flashed her underboob in the daring number Maura's appearance at the fashion show comes after she was left furious as she was betrayed at the final hurdle on the US Traitors by her co-star, Rob Rauch, 27. The reality TV contestant was seen branding him an 'absolute a***hole' and hit out that he will 'never have a girlfriend' again as he revealed he'd been playing her the whole series, taking home the winnings for himself as a Traitor. Maura made it all the way to the final of the American spin-off of the BBC series as a Faithful, alongside her fellow Love Island star, Rob. The duo became so close during their time on the show, which is presented by Alan Cumming, that fans were convinced there was romance sparking between the pair. But this week, it all came crashing down when Rob revealed himself as a Traitor at the final roundtable and claimed the entire prize money, leaving Faithful Maura in shock. Maura went silent in total shock as Rob revealed his identity, despite the pair having agreed to split the $220,800 (163,831). 'No, you're joking?' Maura finally said, before Rob continued: 'This whole game Ive been a Traitor.' Maura then fumed: 'Oh my god. Im so stupid. I was so fooled by you. You absolute a***hoe. You pinky promised! Youre a piece of work.' The striking ensemble featured a high neckline, long sleeves, a diamante rose applique on the bust, a sheer bodice, a thigh-high slit, and a long train Showcasing her incredible figure, Maura added inches to her frame with clear heels and styled her brunette tresses in wet-look mermaid waves 'I was so convinced youve embarrassed me,' Maura continued, and as Rob tried to speak, she spoke over him: 'Don't speak, please stop talking. 'Youre never going to have a girlfriend after this, youre such a good liar!' Maura later calmed down, and when she spoke to the cameras after the big reveal moment, admitted that she would have 'done the same' in order to win. She explained: 'I wouldve done the same, I think Im just in shock I actually thought I was winning!' In January, Maura addressed romance rumours with her co-star on The Traitors US - after fans spotted 'chemistry' between them. Fans have picked up on apparent chemistry between Maura and fellow player Rob, and admitted they were hoping they would get together. While appearing on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live, the Irish star broke her silence on this speculation as she was quizzed about their relationship. It saw Andy ask her: 'The internet wants you and Rob to get together, and?' To which Maura responded: 'I saw, there's a lot of videos on TikTok at the moment.' Continuing, Andy followed up with: 'And what do you think?' Maura coyly replied: 'I mean, youll have to watch the show to see if that happened.' The beauty struck a series of sultry poses for the camera whilst taking her seat in the front row Joining her on the front row was Betty Bachz, who looked incredible in a black dress featuring semi-sheer panels and a long, flowing train Maura's appearance at the fashion show comes after she was left furious as she was betrayed at the final hurdle on the US Traitors by her co-star, Rob Rauch, 27 (seen) The pair knew each other through Love Island US, where Rob appeared as a contestant in 2023 and 2024. It comes after Maura reportedly landed a six-figure deal with Victoria's Secret. The former Love Island star has been busy breaking into the American market in recent months and is now working on a collaboration with the lingerie brand. A source told The Sun: 'Maura's work ethic is second to none. She's been grafting around the clock and it's certainly paying off. 'Her Victoria's Secret deal is six figures but bosses know the return will be worth it.' The Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Maura Higgins for comment. Along with her fellow series five contestant Molly-Mae Hague, Maura has gone on to become one of the most successful Love Islanders in the show's history. She signed with Creative Arts Agency in LA last year to manage her career in the US. Months after her successful Love Island stint, Maura appeared on Dancing On Ice at the beginning of 2020, Cooking With The Stars in 2022, and I'm A Celeb in 2024. Along with her success at home, she has also branched out across the pond thanks to a hosting gig on Love Island USA: Aftersun. The star also attended the Golden Globe Awards with Hollywood A-listers in January. She also similarly impressed American viewers during her unapologetic appearance on Celebrity Traitors US, aiding her star to rise like never before. Britain's Got Talent series 19 made a triumphant return to television screens on Saturday. And now head judge Simon Cowell, 66, has revealed viewers will be able to get closer to the action than ever before, as he opened up about what fans can expect from the new series. Discussing his plans to lift the lid on the ITV favourite, he said: 'Fans can expect lots of surprises. We've tried to make it different this year. He continued: 'The intention is to open up as much of the background of the show as possible so that the viewer can see everything, what goes on behind the scenes, what it's like to be a contestant, what it's like to work on the show. 'So it's almost like we've opened up a lot more to let people see how the show's made. Were letting people behind the Wizard of Ozs curtain, you could say.' When asked whether fans will see a more personal side to the judging panel, he added: 'A bit, yeah! You can expect to see things youve never seen from us. Britain's Got Talent series 19 launched on Saturday, and head judge Simon Cowell, 66, has now revealed viewers will be able to get closer to the action than ever before as he opened up on the latest series Asked whether fans will see a more personal side to the judging panel, he said: 'A bit, yeah! You can expect to see things youve never seen from us,' (judge Amanda Holden pictured) 'But I think it's more aimed at the contestants, the crew, the people who work on the show, because it is an army, and I think people are interested at home, personally, about things like how we set up an act between auditions, the stuff that we see in the theatre. 'I think it's important to kind of show all of that, have it a bit rough around the edges. We always say were a circus coming to town, well now youre going to see all the chaos it takes to bring it alive.' It comes as the Britain's Got Talent judges gave their verdict on Stacey Solomon after her debut on the panel of the ITV talent competition. The former X Factor contestant, who rose to fame in 2009, will appear alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and YouTube star KSI for an upcoming episode. Simon will go missing from the panel for one episode, as Amanda, 55, takes on the role of head judge on the ITV series. And it will see Stacey, 36, who is the host of Sort Your Life Out, a Loose Women panellist and star of her own reality series Stacey & Joe, take a seat on the panel. Luckily for Stacey, the show's judges and hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly alike admitted they were thrilled to have her on board, gushing over her as 'warm, funny and down to earth'. Asked what it was like to have Stacey join the series, co-star Alesha, 47, said: 'Stacey was adorable. Shes so sweet, very natural, and I liked the way she spoke to contestants because she's always coming from a good place. 'Shes a good person, and she cares. If there was something she didnt like or didnt get, she would say, but shed do it in that Stacey charm that she has. 'She knows how it feels to be on stage and audition, so she had that empathy for them. I thought she did a great job!' While host Ant, 50, chimed in: 'Stacey knows exactly what it's like to stand on this stage, audition and be judged for a show like this. It comes as the Britain's Got Talent judges gave their verdict on Stacey Solomon after her debut on the panel of the ITV talent competition (L-R Anthony McPartlin, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell, KSI and Declan Donnelly) The former X Factor contestant, who rose to fame in 2009, will appear alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and YouTube star KSI for an upcoming episode (pictured 2025) 'It was nice for her to sit there in the judge's chair and put herself in the shoes of every auditionee who walked on stage. She had a lot of empathy with them.' And Dec, 50, agreed: 'She was a really handy addition to the judges panel. She was quite insightful in some of her critiques, so she did a really good job.' Amanda added: 'She's so lovely and I think we've got quite a similar style of judging. She's warm, shes super funny, she has a great understanding of what it's like to be on the other side, because she obviously auditioned for The X Factor. 'Even though she's smashing it in the real world now, she's very down to earth and doesn't have an ego, so I think that worked really nicely for the day that she was pulled in. We're all fans of her.' It wasn't all good for Amanda, however, who admitted she HATED standing in for Simon in his absence, adding: 'I must admit I hated sitting in that seat! 'I've been on the show the longest, so I understand why I probably need to sit in that seat, but when I was there, I felt very outcast on the end. 'It's okay if your team are sat to the left of you, Simon's got dozens of staff and family watching from the side and communicating with him. 'Mine all decided to eat my snacks and sit in the dressing room, paying no attention to the show or me whatsoever! 'Simon said to me, "You must have loved it. Did you feel powerful?" I said I hated it because I had to keep leaning in to be part of the conversation. 'I never want to sit in that seat again! I'm juicy in the middle, its such a good spot.' Britain's Got Talent returns Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Victoria Beckham returned to Portofino for a sexy campaign, decades after her and husband David's secret romantic trip there, before going public with their relationship. The designer, 51, visited with the sun-soaked Italian location with footballer, 50, back in 1997 and said the getaway sealed their 'unforgettable romance'. To relaunch her fragrance Portofino '97, inspired by the now married couple's loved-up trip, Victoria wore a plunging satin dress and showed off her legs, as well as displaying a huge diamond ring. Speaking about the trip she previously told Vogue: 'Up until that point, wed really kept our relationship under wraps and only gone on secret rendezvous in very unglamorous locations,' 'I remember it so clearly: how blue the sky was, how the crisp white sheets smelled. It felt like nobody else existed but me and him.' The couple went on to marry in 1999 shortly after welcoming son Brooklyn, 26, they are also parents to Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and daughter Harper, 14. Victoria Beckham returned to Portofino for a sexy campaign, decades after her and husband David's secret romantic trip there, before going public with their relationship The designer, 51, visited with the sun-soaked Italian location with footballer, 50, back in 1997 (pictured) and said the getaway sealed their 'unforgettable romance' The fragrance, which costs up to 245, Victoria posed for pictures with a backdrop of the crystal clear blue waters and medieval architecture of the Amalfi Coast. Victoria looked sensational in one snap, shared on Instagram on Friday, in which she wore a figure-hugging black satin panelled gown, featuring a plunging neckline and a high-leg split. In another snap, Victoria opted for the Posy Gown In Ivory (1,290) from her designer brand as lounged on a gold metal and green velvet chair and showed off a diamond ring so large it took up the whole width of her finger. Victoria's final look for the campaign saw her relaxing on a bed of baroque-style cushions while wearing a black dress adorned with feathers. Promoting the fragrance, the snaps were captioned: 'THE RUSH OF SOMETHING REAL 'In 1997, a quiet trip to Portofino became a memory that never faded and the start of a forever love. Our most-loved fragrance, Portofino 97, evokes the unforgettable romance.' Victoria said of the campaign: 'I remember the light. I remember how the hotel smelled and how exciting that time was. 'I remember it all like it was yesterday.' Earlier this month, Victoria scored another win as the sales of her makeup brand boomed and fans continue to side with her after her son Brooklyn's bombshell statement. T o promote her fragrance Portofino '97, inspired by the now married couple's loved-up trip, Victoria wore a plunging satin dress and showed off her legs Speaking about the trip she previously said: 'Up until that point, wed really kept our relationship under wraps and only gone on secret rendezvous in very unglamorous locations,' Victoria looked sensational in one snap, shared on Instagram on Friday , in which she wore a figure-hugging black satin panelled gown, featuring a plunging neckline and a high-leg split Promoting the fragrance, the snaps were captioned: 'THE RUSH OF SOMETHING REAL. In 1997, a quiet trip to Portofino became a memory that never faded' In the past few weeks the fashion designer's 104 foundation has flown off the shelves with most of its 19 colourways currently unavailable. It launched back in September however now has waitlist for fans who are hoping to grab a bottle. She also sells one of her much lauded 32 Satin Kajal eyeliners every 30 seconds. The foundation boasts a light, serum-like consistency, creating a natural, glowing finish and breathable feel. It also includes Augustinus Bader's Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8), which stimulates skin cell renewal and promises a nourishing glow with consistent use. Its popularity has been boosted by the former Spice Girl also offering tutorials on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram and friends of the star say that she too uses it everyday. A source told The Sun: 'Personally it may well have been one of the worst months of Victorias life but professionally, these past four weeks have been truly astonishing. 'Not only did fans get her to number one, TikTok then went into overdrive reviewing her foundation. It got rave reviews, with makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts waxing lyrical. 'Having already sold well in the build-up to Christmas, in the wake of Brooklyns bombshell statement, it has had a second surge online.' The Daily Mail has contacted Victoria Beckham's representative for comment. The designer has increased her revenues by a staggering 26 per cent compared to the year before with a turnover of 112.7 million, with a pre tax profit of 2.2 million, after spending years in the red. She launched her own beauty brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty, in 2019. The Spice Girls star has since come out with lipsticks, mascara, concealer and more. Elsewhere, Victoria bagged her first ever solo number one after a huge social media campaign pushed her to the top of the chart. Days after her eldest son Brooklyn posted his scathing six-page statement an extraordinary social media campaign gave one of her solo songs a huge chart boost. Victoria's 2001 single Not Such An Innocent Girl, a track which showcased Posh Spice's raunchy dance moves, has shot to number one on the iTunes chart in the UK and Ireland. The chart positions have been driven by a social media campaign which is determined to 'fix the national tragedy' that 'Victoria is the only Spice Girl without a solo #1.' 'Nothing says "British Culture" like collectively deciding to send Posh to the top of the charts because her son roasted her on Insta. Imagine both their faces,' reads a viral post on Instagram which has been shared by the likes of Katherine Ryan and Luisa Zissman. Victoria was the last of the Spice Girls to go solo but despite huge promo blitzes in the early Noughties she failed to match the solo success of her bandmates. Not Such An Innocent Girl served as her official debut solo single but despite an unprecedented media campaign, she was beaten to the top spot by Kylie Minogue's monster hit Can't Get You Out Of My Head. Kate Moss, Demi Moore and Emily Ratajkowski were among the stars who turned out for the Gucci show on Friday during Milan Fashion Week. Supermodel Kate, 52, ensured all eyes would be on her as she hit the runway in a backless dress which plunged so low that it flashed her thong. Kate, who went braless in the garment, gave onlookers a glimpse of her incredible figure as she sauntered up and down the catwalk. Gucci's branded thong has become a cult fashion item and has been worn by the likes of Hailey Bieber and Kim Kardashian. It first appeared in the runway as part of Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 1997 collection for Gucci and is actually part of a bikini set. Also turning heads at the show was Demi, 63, debuted a wavy bob hairstyle that accentuated her chiseled cheekbones. Supermodel Kate Moss, 52, looked incredible in a backless dress which featured a cheeky thong detail as she stormed the runway at the Gucci show in Milan on Friday Showing off a chic new look, Demi, 63, debuted a wavy bob hairstyle that accentuated her chiseled cheekbones Emily Ratajkowski hit the runway in a skintight glittering silver dress that showed off her tanned and toned pins The mother-of-three opted for all black at the fashion show, pairing a fitted jacket with flared skintight trousers and heels. As has become tradition, Demi was joined by her micro Chihuahua Pilaf, who she cradled as she posed for snaps at the show. Demi and her pet pooch settled into the FROW as they watched the models go by, including Emily, who dazzled in an eye-catching ensemble. The Gone Girl star, 34, looked incredible in a skintight glittering silver dress that showed off her tanned and toned pins and ample cleavage. Kate has been looking incredible of late after favouring wellness over partying. Nowadays, Kate has regular juice fasts, and favours the week-long juice-only programme at wellness LifeCo resort in Turkey she's visited every year for the past decade. Kate is the proud owner of wellness business Cosmoss which sells a range of own-brand teas, skincare products and a book of 150 'positive messages'. She has a 4,000 Cadillac Pilates reformer machine at home, and a personal trainer, Hortense Suleyman. A magazine source said: 'The brand is late on the bandwagon candles, serums and perfume are all quite middle-aged. 'But she's been having lots of meetings with people and Cosmoss is stocked in Harrods. I know she has great hopes for it.' Join the debate Whose outfit do YOU like best? Kate, who went braless in the garment, gave onlookers a glimpse of her incredible figure as she sauntered up and down the catwalk Kate's backless dress also teased a look at her lower back tattoo Kate's cheekbones were accentuated with artfully applied bronze Gucci's branded thong has become a cult fashion item and has been worn by the likes of Hailey Bieber (pictured in 2025) and Kim Kardashian Showing off a chic new look, Demi, 63, debuted a wavy bob hairstyle that accentuated her chiseled cheekbones (pictured, right earlier this month) As has become tradition, Demi was joined by her micro Chihuahua Pilaf, who she cradled as she posed for snaps at the show (pictured with Donatella Versace) Emily's hourglass curves were on full display in the eye-catching garment Heavy makeup was displayed on the runway, with Amelia Hamlin donning a very dramatic smokey eyeshadow look with heavy bronzer Vittoria Ceretti proved wearing all black doesn't have to be boring as she strutted down the runway in a pair of leather trousers teamed with a fitted top Karlie Kloss put on a leggy display in a mini skirt with the Gucci logo emblazoned, while Mariacarla Boscono flashed her long legs in a black dress with a very high cut out Gabbriette stormed the runway in a sheer black gown that flashed her lingerie Elsa Hosk rocked an athleisure look as she paired tracksuit bottoms with pointed heels Bobby Brazier went barefoot on the runway as he walked down in a glittering co-ord Over the years, Kate has given an insight into how she stays looking so good, revealing her tips and tricks for maintaining her youthful look. She told Net-A-Porter: 'I stay hydrated on the flight and try to eat only light foods. I find adapting to the new time zone as soon as I arrive is helpful, so I try to stay up until my usual bedtime. 'I've recently undergone red-light LED therapy and use the Talika Time Control + device. It's great, as it's small and easy to travel with, and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin. I have rose quartz and jade gua sha tools that I use, too.' Other beauty tips favoured by Kate include dunking her face in iced water and depuffing her eyes with cucumber slices. Speaking previously about how she tackles a 'bad face day', she said: 'My old go-to trick is to plunge my face into a bowl of iced water and cucumber slices it instantly tightens and gets rid of any puffiness. 'I then use Cosmoss Golden Nectar facial-oil drops with my gua sha. Together, they give your skin that extra glow and are great at detoxifying and lymphatic drainage.' Another tip Kate claims she follows is staying out of the sun, after previously being warned by her friend and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury. She told Grazia: 'Charlotte Tilbury told me not to go out in the sun, but it's because she's a redhead, so she knows. I kind of ignored her, but now I'm taking no risks!' Kate also revealed she keeps her body refreshed by doing three week-long juice cleanses throughout the year. She said: 'I juice. At least three times a year, for a week, I do a juice cleanse. I like it. I feel amazing. And then I have so much energy! Everyone else is like, "Pleaseshhhh" Oh my god, I have so much energy, start bouncing off walls!' Romeo Beckham was among the stars in attendance and opted for an all-white ensemble Georgina Rodriguez sported a fitted bodysuit with printed tights and a fur coat Paris Hilton and sister Nicky opted for bold and colourful dresses as they attended the show Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu looked stylish in a lace-trimmed black dress with an embroidered coat while Eva Herzigova was a vision in a pleated satin skirt Kim Petras left little to the imagination in a tiny sheer bralet that barely contained her assets and showcased her toned stomach Laura Harrier was a vision in a white bralet paired with a maxi skirt and tailored blazer while Ivy Getty looked incredible in a sassy sequinned silver dress Yunggoth, Fimiguerrero and Moses Sumney looked in good spirits at the show Fashion blogger Bryanboy and model Fai Khadra opted for all-black ensembles Tish Weinstock ensured she wouldn't catch a chill in a furry blue coat Demi also has bags of energy and is constantly on the go. She recently made an appearance at the WWD Style Awards, the latest in many red carpet outings. While at the event she spoke about how her style has changed over the years. She said: 'I think when we're younger, it's a combination of also finding ourselves, and so there's a lot of trial and error. 'And even today, the reality is we can do our best to approach it the same every time, but we're not gonna always hit it out of the park. 'It's also knowing to not put too much stakes on what the outside response is when I walk out the door.' Along with her sense of style, Demi is also known for her long jet-black hair which she has said she has no plans to ever cut. 'There's a real freedom in letting your hair simply be itself and allowing it to tell your story,' the Oscar nominated actress said in a press release for Kerastase, which she has become a Global Brand Ambassador for. 'That, to me, is what beauty is all about being authentic and embracing who you are. 'As I've gotten older, I've become more thoughtful about how I care for it,' she told People. Demi also said the long locks 'feels most like me.' Demi is 'gentle' with her hair, she told the site, and makes sure it is properly hydrated: 'The goal is strength and shine without overworking it.' That means letting it alone when she is off set: 'When I am not working, I keep styling minimal and heat low. 'And, with long hair, conditioning is essential. Weekly, I treat it with Chronologiste Masque Intense.' TLCs Amy Slaton has proven shes not just transforming her figure - now shes taking her look to a whole new level. The 1000-lb Sisters star, who rose to fame alongside her sister Tammy Slaton on the long-running series chronicling their weight-loss journey, recently went under the knife but this time it had nothing to do with pounds. A new clip obtained by TMZ on Friday shows Amy undergoing surgery to finally correct her lazy eye, a condition shes battled since birth. Back in 2015, she revealed on YouTube that she has ocular toxoplasmosis - a rare eye infection caused by a parasite - which left her legally blind in one eye. The clip also reveals that doctors had to operate on both eyes, while her husband, Brian Lovvorn, anxiously waited nearby, telling the camera his biggest fear was Slaton not waking up from anesthesia. Fans wont have to wait long to see the results on TV, either - the full episode airs March 3, and Slaton has already been teasing her dramatic new look on social media. A new clip obtained by TMZ on Friday shows Amy Slaton undergoing surgery to finally correct her lazy eye, a condition shes battled since birth Back in 2015, she revealed on YouTube that she has ocular toxoplasmosis - a rare eye infection caused by a parasite - which left her legally blind in one eye The clip also reveals that doctors had to operate on both eyes, while her husband, Brian Lovvorn, anxiously waited nearby, telling the camera his biggest fear was Slaton not waking up from anesthesia In an Instagram post on Friday, she flaunted a chic outfit she wore for an event signing the day before. While the ensemble was certainly impressive, it wasnt just her striking weight loss that stole the show - her lazy eye surgery results were on full display, too. Slaton beamed at the camera, flashing her megawatt smile, looking happier than ever. She also gave fans a peek at her new look in a recent TikTok, delivering a hilarious plea for more South Park episodes while showing off her fresh face. The surgery comes just months after she tied the knot with Lovvorn in a spooky Halloween-night celebration. The couple said 'I do' at the historic Talbott Tavern, a centuries-old inn rumored to be haunted - an eerily perfect setting for the pair, who got engaged months earlier in the padded room of a haunted house in Henderson, Kentucky. Slaton's sisters Tammy and Misty were on hand to witness the proposal, and in photos shared to Instagram, Tammy posed next to her sister in a stunning white gown, her remarkable weight loss fully visible. Since late 2022, Tammy has shed 500 pounds following bariatric surgery and subsequent skin removal procedures. In a Friday Instagram post, she showed off a chic outfit - and her lazy eye surgery results stole the spotlight along with her weight loss Slaton beamed at the camera in another recent Instagram post, flashing her megawatt smile, looking happier than ever She also gave fans a peek at her new look in a recent TikTok In the TikTok, Slaton delivered a hilarious plea for more South Park episodes while showing off her fresh face For the big day, Slaton dyed her hair a 'special color' at Lovvorn's request and styled it in a Victorian-inspired updo, per People. Her gown dazzled with floral and vine beading details, adding a romantic, ethereal touch. The couple exchanged traditional vows in a ceremony officiated by their friend Billy who also officiated Tammys late husband Caleb Willinghams wedding in 2022. 'Getting married means that Im no longer because Ive discovered my soulmate, Brian, is my happy place!' Slaton told People. 'Once you get to know him, youll find him to be the sweetest, most caring person youll ever have the pleasure of knowing! Not only did he capture my heart, but he also won over my boys and not many men out there will accept a single mom with two energetic boys!; Slaton shares two sons - Gage Deon, 4, and Glenn Allen, 3 - with ex-husband Michael Halterman. Meanwhile, Tammy has been incredibly candid about her journey - much of which has been documented on 1000-Lb. Sisters - and back in April 2025, she proudly revealed she was down 500 pounds. When I was at my heaviest, I was 700-plus pounds, she shared on the TLC series. Right now, Im weighing in at 238. The surgery comes just months after she tied the knot with Lovvorn in a spooky Halloween-night celebration Meanwhile, Tammy has been incredibly candid about her journey and back in April, she proudly revealed she was down 500 pounds' Since late 2022, Tammy has shed 500 pounds following bariatric surgery, later completing skin removal procedures Tammy even compared her progress to that of her sister Amy, who had lost 176 pounds at the time. Everyone is telling me I look smaller than Amy, she said. Thats kind of hard to believe. I cant believe I did that. After hitting her milestone, Tammy revealed in June that she finally underwent skin removal surgery earlier this year. I was just overwhelmed with excitement, she told People, recalling the moment she was approved. I worked really hard for this, and now its here. Im pretty sure it was noticeable on my face how immediately shocked and then overwhelmed with joy I was. Tammy spent 14 months at Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio, where she lost more than 400 pounds through treatment and bariatric surgery. It was also where she met her late husband, Caleb Willingham. Nicknamed Double K, Caleb appeared alongside Tammy on the show as they fought to overcome their chronic obesity. Tammy (L) is seen with sister Amy (R) pre-surgery on the TLC show Tammy shared this photo of her slimmed down figure in August 2023 The two tied the knot in a small, intimate ceremony with around 30 guests, officiated by their home care nurse. Tragically, just months after their wedding, Caleb died at age 40. His cause of death was never made public. Tammy spoke about the heartbreaking moment she found out, revealing that a friend of Calebs first messaged her saying things werent looking good and then delivered the devastating news just 20 minutes later. I was sitting in the fetal position, she recalled to People. I got a text message from his friend up there and the text said, "Caleb's not doing good. They're in there working on him. Twenty minutes later, he texted me back and said he was gone.In a previous season of 1000-Lb. Sisters, Tammy also admitted their relationship had changed in his final months, saying they felt like roommates before his passing. Hollywood movie icon Chevy Chase made a rare appearance in Florida on Thursday evening. The 82-year-old star was at the 40th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival to attend a screening of his new film, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not at Savor Cinema. The actor, who is best known for the National Lampoon's Vacation films and the classic comedy Caddyshack, arrived on the red carpet in a wheelchair as an assistant pushed him. Once inside, however, he was seen standing up on his own with no problem. The comedic genius was also pictured seated in a chair next to his wife of 44 years, Jayni Chase. At one point, the lovebirds kissed on the lips. Chevy Chase was in a wheelchair as he arrived at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival to attend a screening of his new film, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, on Thursday Once inside, however, he was seen standing up on his own with no problem The SNL vet wore a gray blazer over a pink untucked button-down shirt, dark blue jeans and beige lace-free sneakers. Chase added a cap over his silver locks. In December 2023, Chase's manager insisted to Daily Mail that the star is in 'amazing' health and only uses a wheelchair when he has to travel often. In 2021, during the pandemic, Chase spent five weeks in hospital after suffering near-fatal heart failure. Speaking in the documentary, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, his daughter Caley Chase explained: 'He has basically come back from the dead. He had heart failure.' His wife Jayni added: 'Something was wrong, and he couldn't explain to me what was wrong. So, we go to the ER. His heart stops. 'During those years he was drinking, he got cardiomyopathy; when the heart muscles get weaker, and they can't pump as much blood out with each beat.' Chase's friend, Peter Aaron, revealed his loved ones were told to 'prepare for the worst' as he battled heart failure, which can be caused by cardiomyopathy. Anthony Michael Hall, Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and Dana Barron in a scene from the film Vacation in 1983 His beloved film, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation He said: 'They decided to put him into a coma for maybe eight days. That's pretty rough on the body.' Caley said: 'The doctor had warned us: "We might not get him back. We don't know how present he'll be. Prepare yourselves for the worst." He woke up, all he could do was use his voice.' But Caley knew her comedian dad was on the mend when he started cracking jokes with a nurse who came in to rearrange some medical equipment. Caley explained: 'She said, "I'm going to have to put this in here." And he said, "That's what she said."' Posing with his arm around his wife of 44 years, Jayni Chase He sweetly held her head as he went in for a kiss with his spouse Far left is 43-year-old actress Cydney Chase, who held hands with her father However, it was not an easy recovery. Peter revealed the star had some 'cognitive disability' and it took a while for him to 'reorient himself' after the coma. He went on: 'I feel like his memory gaps come from that incident.' Chase agreed, adding: 'According to the doctors, my memory would be shot from it. That's what's happened here. 'Heart failure is what it is. I'm fine now. It's just that it affects your memory, the doctors have told me that. So, I have to be reminded of things.' Meanwhile, his director, Marina Zenovich, has said that Chase was the rudest celebrity she has ever interviewed. The I'm Chevy Chase, and You're Not director admitted she was initially worried about how to approach the actor about his reputation for being difficult and abrasive but it was easy after he was immediately rude to her. When Zenovich told him, 'I'm just trying to figure you out,' he replied: 'It's not going to be easy for you. You're not bright enough.' Chase with his director Marina Zenovich, left, who has called him 'rude.' He held up his LIfetime Achievement Award at the 40th annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival She told Variety: 'I'd never done an interview where someone was so rude to me. But I was so worried going into that first interview with him about how I was going to say to him, like, "Everyone thinks you're an a*****e." I thought if I did, he would throw me out of his house. So the minute he said that to me, I had a way in.' Chase has had on-set disputes with SNL's Terry Sweeney and the entire cast of the NBC comedy Community. She said: 'I wanted to figure out who was the real person behind the conflicted, guarded and somewhat fragile man we see on camera. What was behind the surface of his slightly intimidating superstar bravado? 'Was there any self-awareness there? Having interviewed Chevy at length, I have to say that yes, it's all there and a whole lot of pain and heartache too.' Sweeney, who made history as Saturday Night Live's first out gay cast member, fell out with Chase after he proposed Sweeney appear in an SNL sketch mocking the AIDS epidemic. The incident is revisited in the documentary and Sweeney told The Hollywood Reporter: '[He is just] making himself look more like the ass he is!!! It all reflects rightly horribly on him. Boohoo poor screwed up kid so THAT's why he's so rotten!!!!!!!' Bobby Brazier ditched his bubbly smile for a smoldering look as he walked the runway during Gucci's Milan Fashion Week show on Friday. The former EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing star, 22, showed off his model features as he strutted on the star-studded catwalk. Bobby joined the likes of Kate Moss, Karlie Kloss, Emily Ratajkowski and Vittoria Ceretti hitting the runway. He was also among some of the most iconic stars including age-defying Demi Moore and Hailey Bieber. Bobby went barefoot and pouted while displaying his torso in a skintight glitzy two-piece. He first made his runway debut at the Dolce & Gabbana Milan Fashion Week show in February 2020 when he was just 16 years old. The son of the late Jade Goody and presenter Jeff Brazier fast became the toast of the fashion world, having also attended London Fashion Week that same year. Bobby Brazier, 22, ditched his bubbly smile for a smoldering look as he walked the runway during Gucci's Milan Fashion Week show on Friday During an Instagram Q&A session, the then-teenager said it was a chance encounter with a model scout which kickstarted his journey into couture. One fan asked: 'How'd you get into modelling?' Bobby replied: 'Jokes story, I was in trouble at school and had to go in for a meeting. 'So before I go, I go Costa for a little prep talk with my dad and then when we leave @cesarpin is chasing me down the street asking me if I'm a model.' Cesar Perin is a model scout who signed Bobby up to talent agency Unsigned Group. He previously told the Daily Mail: 'Modelling has been great fun, I'm loving it: you get a chance to do something exciting.' Last year, Bobby spent the summer immersing himself in the Hare Krishna religion after leaving EastEnders. He also turned to the faith after a period of strained relations with his father Jeff and brother Freddy. Reflecting on his spiritual journey so far, Bobby admitted that while it has been 'amazing' to discover more about Hare Krishna, he hasn't quit the showbiz world entirely, and hopes to return to acting in the future. Last year, Bobby spent the summer immersing himself in the Hare Krishna religion after leaving EastEnders The Daily Mail previously revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation after relations became strained between him, his brother Freddy and their father Jeff (pictured) He shared a glimpse at his spiritual journey and new life in India, captioning the post: 'Watching these videos back and still after all I've experienced so far in the world, I'm thinking surely it doesn't get any better than this surely?! @indradyumnaswami has been chanting for over 50 years and says that it just gets better. 'This is the pleasure that the soul is running after. To chant and dance in the association of devotees like @sacinandanaswamiofficial who have such a deep, loving devotion toward the Lord, who is non-different from his name, is an experience that the material world just doesn't offer. 'I have no real devotion but by the mercy of the holy name and those great souls who do, I get to experience a little taste of their love of God and pray that this impression won't leave me. Man it's so amazing. 'Don't worry back on the telly soon if anyone gives me a job.' Paris Jackson sent fans into a frenzy on Friday after sharing a rare glimpse of herself with her mom Debbie Rowe. Born in 1998 to Michael Jackson and Rowe, the King of Pops dermatologists nurse, Paris entered the world amid eyebrow-raising attention due to the unusual nature of her parents' marriage. The couple also welcomed Prince Michael Jackson I in 1997 before divorcing in 1999, while Michaels youngest, Prince Michael 'Bigi' Jackson II (formerly Blanket), arrived in 2002 via a private surrogate. Michael Jacksons sudden death in 2009 left 11-year-old Paris and her siblings to navigate fame without their father. On Friday, Paris, 27, took to Instagram to give fans a rare peek at her bond with Rowe, 67, posting two cozy snaps - a moment that comes amid her ongoing legal battle with the executors of her late fathers estate. In the photos, the pair look completely at ease, sharing warm smiles, while Paris let the moment speak for itself with a one-word caption: 'Lately.' Paris Jackson sent fans into a frenzy on Friday after sharing a rare glimpse of herself with her mom Debbie Rowe In the photos, the pair look completely at ease, sharing warm smiles, while Paris let the moment speak for itself with a one-word caption: 'Lately' Pariss relationship with her mom hasnt followed a typical Hollywood family script. After her parents brief marriage ended in 1999, Rowe gave up full custody of her children, leaving Paris and her older brother Prince in the care of their father. Rowe essentially stepped out of the picture entirely until Paris was a teenager, which is why the American Horror Stories star has said she didnt even really know she had a mom growing up. 'When I was really, really young, my mom didnt exist in my world,' she told Rolling Stone, recalling that she only started asking questions once she realized 'a man cant birth a child.' After Michaels death in 2009, when Paris was just 11, she and her brothers went to live with their grandmother Katherine Jackson. Because Rowe had relinquished her parental rights, there was no overnight reunion - Paris would reconnect with her mom only later as a teen. And Paris has been frank that their bond grew slowly rather than like a conventional motherdaughter relationship. 'Its cool having her as a friend,' she said on Red Table Talk, describing their vibe as 'very chill' and noting they share interests like a love of country and folk music and even similar looks. Paris has insisted that despite the early distance, she never felt unloved - she simply had a different support network. Born in 1998 to Michael Jackson and Rowe, the King of Pops dermatologists nurse, Paris entered the world amid eyebrow-raising attention due to the unusual nature of her parents' marriage; (Rowe and Michael Jackson in 1996) The couple also welcomed Prince Michael Jackson I in 1997 before divorcing in 1999, while Michaels youngest, Prince Michael 'Bigi' Jackson II (formerly Blanket), arrived in 2002 via a private surrogate; (pictured 1997) Besides her grandmother, aunts like Janet Jackson and nannies were significant figures in her life, and Paris credits them with holding her up after her fathers sudden death. She also grew very close to her brothers Prince, now 29, and Prince Michael Bigi Jackson II, now 24. The reconciliation with Rowe has had its emotional moments. In 2016, when Debbie was diagnosed with cancer, Paris stood by her side through treatment - a turning point in their evolving relationship. Paris shared a touching message on social media at the time, writing, 'Im a fighter because shes a fighter. Love you mom.' The former model has also been very candid about the complex feelings that come with being Michael Jacksons daughter. In past interviews, shes talked openly about how her father shaped her identity. She reflected on how Michaels influence still shapes her life, telling NME, 'I think hell always influence everything I do in some way, whether its subconscious or intentional.' Paris has been frank that her bond with Rowe grew slowly rather than like a conventional motherdaughter relationship She added, 'We were lucky enough to be raised with solid morals hed be like, 'Oh, you want to go to Toys R Us and get five toys? Great - you need to read five books."' Paris has shared that her father exposed her to the wider world in ways that few children experience: 'We saw everything: we saw third-world countries. We saw every part of the spectrum, she recalled to NME. And she has not shied away from the heartbreak of losing him, admitting to Hello!, 'They always say, Time heals, but it really doesnt. You just get used to it. I live life with the mentality of, OK, I lost the only thing that has ever been important to me. (hellomagazine.com In that same interview, Paris recalled how her father encouraged her to embrace her identity and take pride in her heritage: 'He would look me in the eyes and hed point his finger at me and be like, "Youre black. Be proud of your roots."' The rare photo with Rowe comes amid a new twist in Pariss ongoing legal battle with the executors of her fathers estate. John McClain and John Branca, who manage Michael Jacksons estate, claim they are owed roughly $115,000 in fees tied to disputes with Paris. Court filings, obtained by the Daily Mail, break down the expenses, including $93,924.63 for an anti-SLAPP motion and $1,238.39 in legal costs related to a motion Paris filed in July 2025 questioning the executors management of the estate. A spokesperson for Paris told the Daily Mail, 'For months, Paris Jackson has worked to address what appear to be troubling discrepancies and financial irregularities in the administration of her fathers estate. After Michaels death in 2009, when Paris was just 11, she and her brothers went to live with their grandmother Katherine Jackson; (Prince Jackson, Paris and Bigi Jackson aka Blanket Jackson attend "MJ: The Musical" at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 27, 2024) 'Its no surprise the executors and their lawyers are using every tool at their disposal to take even more money from the Jackson family and use it to line their own pockets. 'Paris remains undeterred and will continue fighting for transparency, accountability and fairness for her family.' Paris has stressed that the co-executors should focus on serving the beneficiaries best interests and preserving her fathers legacy. Her filing notes that the estate held $464 million in cash that she claims was not properly invested, and that ten law firms were paid more than $4.5 million in 2021 - more than any individual beneficiary that year. Between 2009 and 2021, Paris says the executors were paid a total of $148 million, fueling her push for greater oversight. Fridays Instagram photos, however, show a Paris who is thriving: leaning on her mother, embracing her past, and proud of the family that shaped her. Next Gen NYC star Gia Giudice has revealed how her father, Joe Giudice, is doing since he was deported from the United States six years ago - and Bravo fans will be relieved to hear that he's doing 'great.' Gia, 25, recently stopped by the Daily Mail's New York City studio for an exclusive chat, where she spilled all the tea on her family, the upcoming season of Next Gen, and the new restaurant she's opening in New Jersey. Of course, that included a crucial update on her beloved father, who was deported to Italy after he was released from prison for fraud. 'Dad's great, he's great,' Gia told the Daily Mail of Joe, who has since relocated to The Bahamas to be closer to the family. 'Doing construction out in the Bahamas, so he's killing it out there. I'm so happy for him,' she said. 'Obviously, we wish every day that one day he's allowed back, but for the time being, we just stay positive,' Gia, who also won this past season of Special Forces, shared. Next Gen NYC star Gia Giudice has revealed how her father, Joe Giudice, is doing since he was deported from the United States six years ago Gia, along with her three sisters - Gabriella, 21, Milania, 20, and Audriana, 16 - make the time to go visit their dad a few times a year 'As long as he's doing good and he's happy, that's all that matters.' Gia, along with her three sisters - Gabriella, 21, Milania, 20, and Audriana, 16 - make the time to go visit their dad a few times a year. He and ex-wife Teresa finalized their divorce in 2020, and she has since remarried to Luis Ruelas. 'Everyone has found their happiness,' Gia told the Daily Mail of their family. 'His kids are good, we're good. My mom is remarried and super happy, and he's happy. So that's all that matters,' she said. And despite their divorce, Gia said that her parents still maintain an amazing relationship. 'They will always be there for each other,' the Casual Chaos with Gia podcast host explained. 'I think that is what was a really beautiful thing about my parents and their whole divorce process, it was never ugly,' she said. And despite their divorce, Gia said that her parents still maintain an amazing relationship, as she's seen here with mom Teresa 'They always kept it civil for us and they still do to this day.' In July, she shared an emotional video to her Instagram page in an effort to appeal to President Donald Trump to pardon her father. It came just a few months after Chrisley Knows Best stars Julie and Todd Chrisley were pardoned from federal prison by the President. 'You know, I think the biggest thing that we can do right now is just bring awareness to it,' Gia said of her dad's ongoing case. 'Everybody's case is different,' she continued. 'We don't believe that we are more of a priority than anybody else.' 'So, if it happens, it happens. It's in God's hands. And we just pray every day.' The Giudice family seems to be in a good place right now with their extended relatives, too. Her mom, Teresa, recently made amends with her brother Joe Gorga, after a longstanding feud. 'I think we really all just let the past go and we realized what's important,' Gia said about the reconciliation. This year, viewers will get to see more of Gia's journey as she is set to star on the second season of Bravo's Next Gen NYC, which saw 5.4 million total viewers across platforms within 35 days of its premiere last summer. Join the debate Should the US reconsider allowing Joe Giudice to return for the sake of his familys unity? This season will also see the process of her opening up a new Italian-fusion restaurant, Il Vero, in Westwood, New Jersey 'I feel like the relationships and the dynamic between the group has grown so much,' Gia said of the upcoming season, as she's seen here with Ariana Biermann It also stars other Bravolebrity children, like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Brooks Marks and Real Housewives of Atlanta's Ariana Biermann. 'I feel like the relationships and the dynamic between the group has grown so much,' Gia said of the upcoming season. 'We really are all friends,' she continued. 'So season one, I think it was a little different because we really didn't know each other that well,' Gia said. 'We were all getting to know each other but now season two, we all feel comfortable and we definitely dove right in.' This season will also see the process of her opening up a new Italian-fusion restaurant, Il Vero, in Westwood, New Jersey. 'It's going to be like the favorite picks of what we love and what we know everyone will love,' Gia said. 'But obviously there's going to be specials from Teresa's cookbooks, and the decor in the restaurant is amazing,' she added. Il Vero is projected to open this Spring. Lisa Rinna has opened up about her daughter Delilah Belle Hamlin's battle with a serious autoimmune disorder. In her new book You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It, Rinna, 62, revealed that Hamlin, 27, battled PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) for almost a decade. Hamlin was diagnosed with the condition, which is triggered by an immune malfunction and causes a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder, at age 11. According to Rinna, Hamlin started to have 'expansive panic attacks' and would 'scream, yell, and pound on the windows of our house, trying to get out'. Things got so bad that Hamlin soon was unable to ride the school bus, use elevators, or fly, and refused to go to school unless her father, Harry Hamlin, sat outside of her classroom for hours at a time. 'I would drive her in the car, like how new moms drive babies around, to self soothe,' Rinna wrote. Lisa Rinna has opened up about her daughter Delilah Belle Hamlin's battle with a serious autotime disorder Hamlin battled PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) throughout her teen years after being diagnosed at age 11 'At night, the panic would creep in, almost like the sundowning patterns dementia patients exhibit,' she continued. 'I would sit with her and pull her away from the windows as she was screaming and pounding on them to try to get out.' Rinna added, 'It was almost like she was possessed by the devil.' The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star described it as 'the worst time' in her family's life. Hamlin's health woes continued, with the then-teenager also getting diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis, better known as 'mono', which left her bedridden for an entire month. 'She was as sick as you've ever seen anybody. We felt we'd lost our child,' Rinna reflected. Throughout the years, Rinna and husband Harry sent Hamlin to 'every doctor imaginable', including therapists, medical specialists and more. 'Delilah was melting down and everything in our lives revolved around taking care of her,' Rinna said, before admitting that as a result, their younger daughter, Amelia Gray, 'felt a bit left out'. Hamlin started to have 'expansive panic attacks' and would 'scream, yell, and pound on the windows' of her house to try and escape Rinna admits that her youngest daughter Amelia (left) felt 'left out' as a child because Delilah's health woes became the family's focus 'Nobody meant to neglect Amelia, and I don't think we did, but our focus was on Delilah,' Rinna said. As a result, Amelia would often stay with her housekeeper and nanny in Inglewood while her parents were dealing with Delilah's issues. Hamlin's health woes continued into her early 20s, with the model spending time in rehab on two separate occasions in 2018. She is now sober after receiving treatment, which she says also helped with her anxiety and depression. Hamlin opened up about her battle with PANDAS in an emotional Instagram post back in 2023. 'I've been struggling with autoimmune/chronic illness issues that I've been silently battling and overcoming. It's definitely been tough mentally alongside physically,' she wrote on Instagram at the time. The Hamlin sisters are now working as professional models, but Delilah also has a side hustle as a budding singer The sisters are pictured on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills during their teenage years Her younger sister Amelia has also had her own share of struggles, with the supermodel, 24, battling an eating disorder as a teenager. Despite her hardships, Amelia has gone on to become one of the most successful models in the industry. She's booked multiple Vogue magazine covers and has fronted fashion campaigns for brands like Valentino and Givenchy. Her big sister also works as a model, but is focusing more on her burgeoning music career these days. Hamlin also starred alongside mom Rinna in the Lifetime TV movie Mommy Meanest. Meanwhile, Rinna is currently on the promotional trail for her new book, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It. The soap legend is dishing all the dirt in the tell-all tome, including who she believes is Hollywood's 'biggest bully' and what she really thinks of her old RHOBH co-stars. Rinna is also fresh off her appearance on the most recent season of Peacock's The Traitors. During the promotional rounds for her book, the Days of Our Lives diva found time to link up with her Traitors co-star Rob Rausch, who ended up winning the show. In a bid for attention, Rinna even dressed up in Rausch's signature blue denim overalls as she strutted her stuff on a New York City sidewalk alongside the Love Island hunk. She later changed into a number of different looks, including an oversized brown men's suit and an equestrian-inspired designer ensemble. Rinna linked up with her Traitors co-star Rob Rausch in New York City on Friday In a bid for attention, Rinna even dressed up in Rausch's signature blue denim overalls She later changed into a number of different looks, including an oversized brown men's suit and an equestrian-inspired designer ensemble Rinna is currently on an exhaustive press tour to promote her new memoir Rinna recently claimed she was roofied during The Traitors premiere party last month at the West Hollywood nightclub The Abbey. The actress alleged during an interview with Fox 5 New York that she had fentanyl and 'high levels of amphetamines' in her system. 'I had fentanyl in my system. Yes. I'm not kidding. I had fentanyl, high levels of amphetamines and other things, but I can't talk a lot about it because we're still dealing with it. It was leaked and my team is dealing with it now.' When asked if she could identify who she believed was the responsible for the drugging, she replied: 'I can't say, but it was at the Abbey in West Hollywood.' 'Luckily my husband was there and was able to get me out of there quickly,' she said. Liev Schreiber praised his teenaged daughter in a new Instagram post. On Thursday, the 58-year-old Hollywood actor shared several images of 17-year-old Kai - born Samuel Kai Schreiber - whom he shares with ex-partner Naomi Watts. The Ray Donovan veteran called his child a 'stunner' as she was seen in three avant-garde photos that the actor did not credit. The hyper glamorous shoot was by famed photographer Nick Knight for the December 2025 issue of V magazine. It is not known why it took the actor three months to comment on the shoot. Kai was 16-years-old when the daring photos were taken. 'Stunner. Brava Kai,' he captioned the post as Alyssa Milano hit the like button. Liev Schreiber praised his teenaged daughter in a new Instagram post. Seen in 2025 On Thursday, the 58-year-old Hollywood actor shared several images of 17-year-old Kai - born Samuel Kai Schreiber - whom he shares with ex-partner Naomi Watts. Seen in 2025 Schreiber has been very supportive of Kai as the teenager pursues a high-fashion modeling career. In March 2025, he stood up for his daughter on TMZ live after her runway debut for Valentino during Paris Fashion Week. He said that he does not have 'any thoughts' for haters who say his little girl is a nepo baby. Schreiber added that he is a proud father as he admires that she has gone after her modeling dreams with gusto. 'I'm going to put it to you like this: What if you were a professional actor, and your child decided they wanted to do something in this world?' Schreiber asked. 'Do they have a choice of what you did?' The actor also shared that Kai should be able to do what she wants to do. 'That's her life. She does what she wants with her life, and I'm super proud of her,' he said. 'I thought she did an amazing job in the show.' The star also shares son Sasha, 18, with Watts, whom he dated from 2005 to 2016. Watts and Schreiber with Kai and Alexander in 2015 in Hollywood From left, Sasha, Liev, Kai and Taylor in 2024 in New York City The Ray Donovan veteran called his child a 'stunner' as she was seen in three avant-garde photos that the actor did not credit. Kai and Watts in 2025 The hyper glamorous shoot was by famed photographer Nick Knight for the December 2025 issue of V magazine. It is not known why it took the actor three months to comment on the shoot. Kai was 16-years-old when the daring photos were taken. See in 2025 Schreiber welcomed his third child, and first with his wife, Taylor Neisen, a daughter named Hazel in August 2023. Kai told Interview magazine in June that she has wanted to model ever since she was a young child. 'I want to be a supermodel. Period,' the model said to the outlet. 'I've been practicing my walks in the kitchen for years; my mom can show you all the videos I forced her to film.' And then Kai brought up her gender. 'Struggling with gender identity from a young age most likely had something to do with it,' she added. 'I always wanted to grow up and be a beautiful, glamorous, influential woman, like Marilyn.' Daisy Edgar-Jones looked effortlessly chic in a blue trench coat as she arrived in Milan for fashion week on Friday. The Normal People actress, 27, looked incredible as she paired her coat over a white T-shirt and navy jeans. The brunette beauty added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of black leather, heeled boots. She completed her ensemble with a blue jumper hanging over her shoulders and toted around her belongings in a white handbag. Meanwhile, Claire Foy, 41, cut a casual figure in blue denim jeans, a black T-shirt and a pair of black leather boots. To accessorise her outfit, the actress finished her look with a chic black Bottega Veneta bag. Daisy Edgar-Jones, 27, looked effortlessly chic in a blue trench coat as she arrived in Milan for fashion week Meanwhile, Claire Foy, 41, cut a casual figure in blue denim jeans, a black T-shirt and a pair of black leather boots The Normal People actress, 27, looked incredible as she paired her coat over a white T-shirt and navy jeans Daisy's outing comes after she made a rare appearance with her photographer boyfriend Ben Seed as they attended a Krug & Max Richter event in London earlier this month. The star and her partner enjoyed a music tasting at London's Roundhouse. Daisy looked incredible in a white semi-sheer blouse, which she wore with a black knee-length pencil skirt. The couple are relatively private and generally keeps their romance under wraps, rarely speaking about one another in interviews. However, Ben is no stranger to a high-profile relationship, having previously dated The Queen's Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy. He split up with Anya ahead of her beating Daisy to the best actress at the Golden Globes in 2021. Meanwhile, Daisy split from her ex-boyfriend Tom Varey in late 2020 after two years of dating. Daisy is said to be on 'cloud nine' with Ben, who also goes by the artist name Pip. A source previously told The Sun: 'Daisy and Pip got together earlier this year and have become inseparable. 'They have both had some free time this summer and love hanging out in Broadway Market in East London, just going to bars and spending time together. 'Theres a real spark there and they are excited about finding each other. Theyve already met one anothers friends and she is on cloud nine.' While Daisy is now enjoying a romance with Ben, Anya has moved on and is loved-up with her husband Malcolm McRae. Fans were left doing a serious double take when Jim Carrey hit the red carpet at the 51st Cesar Awards - and not everyone was talking about the honor he received. The Hollywood funnyman, 64, cut a sleek figure in a sharp all-black suit at Thursday nights glitzy ceremony in Paris, held at the legendary L'Olympia. Carrey was presented with an Honorary Cesar celebrating his decades-long career, a milestone moment he dedicated to his late father in an emotional speech that quickly made the rounds online. 'I wanted to recognize my dad. I mean, my dad was the type of person that if you met him for five minutes, you felt like you knew him for 50 years,' he said in a viral clip captured after the event. But while the tribute tugged at heartstrings, viewers seemed more fixated on something else entirely. Within minutes, social media lit up with speculation about his noticeably different appearance, with some fans bluntly suggesting hed gone under the knife. Fans were left doing a serious double take when Jim Carrey hit the red carpet at the 51st Cesar Awards - and not everyone was talking about the honor he received The Hollywood funnyman, 64, cut a sleek figure in a sharp all-black suit at Thursday nights glitzy ceremony in Paris, held at the legendary L'Olympia; (pictured with Lea Drucker) 'Must have had a lot of work done to his face. Looks very different,' one wrote. Another fan chimed in: Man, he looks different! Hasnt been in the public eye for a while. Some werent shy with comparisons, with one asking, Is he turning into Bill Maher? He looks different. A few went for the jugular, referencing Kris Jenners recent facelift at 70: Ooh, fire that plastic surgeon and call Kris Jenners, one wrote. Im no conspiracy theorist, but thats not Jim Carrey, commented another. Yet another weighed in: Surgery effects are starting to show. One even questioned, 'Is he wearing a mask? Look at his neck' However, most fans were quick to applaud the tribute, celebrating the fact that Carrey was being recognized for his incredible body of work and beloved films, including The Mask, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment from Carrey's representatives. Join the debate Would YOU like to see Jim Carey make a comeback? While the tribute tugged at heartstrings, viewers seemed more fixated on Carrey's appearance Within minutes, social media lit up with speculation about his noticeably different appearance, with some fans bluntly suggesting hed gone under the knife The Hollywood star was joined on the red carpet by his daughter Jane, 38, her teenage son Jackson, and his partner Min Ah (pictured), who Carrey referred to in a heartfelt speech delivered entirely in French Carreys presence on the 51st Cesar Awards red carpet itself was already notable - after a fouryear hiatus from major film roles, he resurfaced in 2020 as the mischiefmaking Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog; (Carrey in November 2025) In April 2022, while promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Carrey shocked reporters by admitting he was probably stepping away from acting; (Carrey in December 2024) Carrey and Renee Zellweger at the Mann Chinese Theatre in 1999 Carrey didnt just turn heads for his appearance at the Cesar Awards - he also showered praise on the special people in his life. The Hollywood star was joined on the red carpet by his daughter Jane, 38, her teenage son Jackson, and his partner Min Ah, who Carrey referred to in a heartfelt speech delivered entirely in French. Thank you to my wonderful family, my daughter Jane, and my grandson Jackson. I love you now and forever. Thank you to my sublime companion, Min Ah, he said. I love you, Min Ah.' Exactly when Carrey and Min Ah got together remains a mystery. During the ceremony, director Michel Gondry reflected on their work together on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in an emotional speech. When Carrey finally stepped up to speak, the The Mask star said, About three hundred years ago, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Marc Francois Carrey, left Saint-Malo in France for Canada. Tonight, with this magnificent honour, this square has come full circle. Perhaps this is what my family was looking for. Carreys presence on the 51st Cesar Awards red carpet itself was already notable - after a fouryear hiatus from major film roles, he resurfaced in 2020 as the mischiefmaking Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog. But even then, whispers of retirement followed him. In April 2022, while promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Carrey shocked reporters by admitting he was probably stepping away from acting. Well, Im retiring. Yeah, probably. Im being fairly serious, he said at the time, adding that unless the angels bring some sort of script thats written in gold ink, he was ready to embrace a quieter life. I really like my quiet life and I really love putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life, he continued. A few critics went for the jugular, referencing Kris Jenners recent facelift at 70: Ooh, fire that plastic surgeon and call Kris Jenners' I feel like - and I feel like this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists - I have enough. Ive done enough. I am enough. Despite that frank talk of hanging up his acting hat, Carrey couldnt stay away from the role that has become a latecareer trademark. He returned as Dr. Robotnik for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 last year, candidly admitting that part of his reason for coming back was practical. I needed the money, he joked in an interview. Carrey is set to reprise his role as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic 4, scheduled for release in 2027 The official cause of death has been released for Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper Lil Jon. According to an autopsy report issued by the Fulton County Medical Examiner, Smith died from drowning in the setting of psilocybin use, with authorities ruling the manner of death an accident. The report, obtained by the Daily Mail on Friday, states that toxicology testing detected psilocybin - the psychoactive compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms - in his system. Smiths body was recovered on February 6 from a retention pond near the familys home in Milton, Georgia, days after he had been reported missing under what police described as 'unusual circumstances.' The autopsy further detailed that he had been submerged in water for a period of time, with examiners noting physical signs consistent with prolonged immersion, including pronounced wrinkling of his hands. The aspiring musician, who performed under the name DJ Young Slade, had been missing for three days before the discovery was made. The official cause of death has been released for Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper Lil Jon; (pictured 2018) According to an autopsy report issued by the Fulton County Medical Examiner, Smith died from drowning in the setting of psilocybin use, with authorities ruling the manner of death an accident The heartbreaking update comes as Lil Jon, 55 - whose real name is Jonathan Smith - recently paid tribute to his son, writing that life will 'never be the same' without him. Sharing a string of photos of his son, Lil Jon wrote: 'On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, We laid my only son to rest. 'In this holy month, I'm asking for extra du'a for him and for our family. Please pray that Allah grants him Jannah and grants us sabr, mercy, and strength. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. 'I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.' The Damn I Love Miami hitmaker went on to express his thanks to those who had 'reached out with condolences, love, and prayers.' Just hours after the tragic discovery, Lil Jon posted a heartbreaking slideshow set to Mariah Carey and Boyz II Mens One Sweet Day, sharing intimate throwback photos of him with Nathan during his childhood. In the throwback images, the hip-hop star could be seen dozing beside his young son. Another photo captured Lil Jon cradling Nathan as an infant, with the childs mother, Nicole, smiling brightly beside them. The report, obtained by the Daily Mail on Friday, states that toxicology testing detected psilocybin in his system Psilocybin, found in Nathan Smith's system, is the psychoactive compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms 'This hurts so bad. I LOVE YOU SON,' the rapper wrote alongside the emotional tribute. Lil Jon and Nicole welcomed Nathan in 1998 and later married in Puerto Rico in 2004. After nearly two decades together, the pair announced in 2022 that they had separated amicably. The music producer moved on in 2024, beginning a relationship with Jamila Sozahdah. The couple later welcomed a daughter, Nahara, that same year. Ben Affleck pulled off an unusual move while driving his car on Thursday. The 53-year-old actor pulled a cigarette out of its box with his mouth while driving his black sedan in Los Angeles. Later he was seen puffing on the Marlboro Menthol cigarette with the window down as he wore a dark blue suit. Affleck successfully quit his smoking habit in 2005 with the help of hypnotherapy, which his good friend and producing partner Matt Damon suggested he try. He was driven to be healthier for his children with then-wife Jennifer Garner. Garner recently addressed what it is like being a single parent as she noted that often Affleck is like both a 'dad and mom' to their three children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. Ben Affleck pulled off an unusual move while driving his car on Thursday The 53-year-old actor pulled a cigarette out of its box with his mouth while driving his black sedan in Los Angeles In 2008, during a visit on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Affleck admitted smoking a pack a day was 'part of who I was. 'I finally decided to quit smoking when I was gonna have a child. 'That was the thing that sort of put it over the top for me.' Describing the process of hypnosis, he said, 'You sit in, like, a Barcalounger and he (hypnotist) sips water and just talks to you for an hour, and explains how nicotine is poison. 'All of a sudden, you thought, "This is asinine that I've been doing this to myself for all these years."' He added, 'My last cigarette was on November 10, 2005... I feel a huge difference in my health now that I don't smoke. 'I feel like I'm in better shape than I was five years ago.' But The Accountant star picked up the habit again in 2016. Since his divorce from second wife Jennifer Lopez in 2025, a stressful time for him no doubt, Affleck has been spotted lighting up on multiple occasions. Later he was seen puffing on the Marlboro Menthol cigarette with the window down as he wore a dark blue suit Meanwhile, Garner has opened up about the challenges she's faced while co-parenting her children with Affleck. They split after a decade of marriage in 2015. The former couple have been focusing on raising their family together despite the divorce. Garner, 53, has revealed they have both learned how to be 'both parents' for the children. Garner recently addressed what it is like being a single parent as she noted that often Affleck is like both a 'dad and mom' to their three children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. Seen in London on February 20 Affleck started smoking again in 2016 and he's been spotted lighting up on a more frequent basis since his high-profile divorce from second wife Jennifer Lopez in 2025 (pictured with Lopez in January 2024) During an appearance on Bustles One Nightstand podcast, Jennifer explained: 'When your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad, and he becomes dad and mom. 'You kind of cant help it, right? Because you dont have the benefit of both sides, the yin and yang being in the same house, so you have to have a bit of both in the way you parent. 'Theres a little bit of loss in that, but theres also something gained in that ... You also just learn, its made me let go and not focus so much on the bringing up.' Prue Leith has said she finds it 'quite comforting she doesn't have long left and thinks about death a lot' in a new interview on Friday. The former Great British Bake Off host, 86, who announced she would be stepping down from the Channel 4 competition last month, shared her thoughts on retirement. Prue said that she has 'always loved to work' and although she has since signed up to front a new travelogue after leaving the show, she hopes to spend more time 'enjoying the rest of her life.' Speaking in a new interview, she said: 'I think about death a lot. I look ahead and see death. Funnily enough I think its something that old people do. 'Its a vast old age and Im quite astonished to be there. People think of old age as such a tragedy. But, honestly, for a lot of people its just like the rest of life.' Prue added that she believes AI or war 'will see us off' but is quite happy to 'let them carry on' as she won't be here to see it. Prue Leith has said she finds it 'quite comforting she doesn't have long left and thinks about death a lot' in a new interview on Friday (pictured on Thursday) She told The Mirror: 'Its quite comforting - I won't have to worry about that. I dont have long left. Ten years if Im lucky. I need to use them well.' It has already been revealed where Prue, will be heading next - after jetting off to her native South Africa to film a brand new travelogue. The TV chef announced she was waving goodbye to Bake Off last month, spurred on by 'a desire to work less and play more' in her career. She will be joined by a very familiar face to the Bake Off brand on the new venture, former show host Sandi Toksvig, who left the programme in 2020 after three years. An insider revealed to The Sun: 'The two women cemented their friendship during the years on Bake Off. 'Although Sandi left the tent six years ago, theyve remained close pals and long talked about doing more telly work together. 'Prues departure from Bake Off gave her more free time to explore other work she had to keep on the back burner.' QI presenter Sandi, who hosted Bake Off with Noel Fielding from 2017, handed over the reins to Matt Lucas, who left the show in 2022, replaced by Alison Hammond. The former Great British Bake Off host, 86, who announced she would be stepping down from the Channel 4 competition last month, shared her thoughts on retirement (pictured with co-star Paul Hollywood) Since leaving the series, Prue hasn't wasted any time - as it's thought the new travel series has already finished filming, and will air later this year on Channel 4. It's likely to hit screens around the same time as the upcoming 17th series of The Great British Bake Off in August, with Nigella Lawson stepping in to judge alongside Paul Hollywood after Prue's departure. Nigella, 66, was confirmed to be taking her place, and will join co-judge Paul when the new series begins filming in April ahead of airing later this year. Last week, Prue explained why she decided to step down from the Channel 4 show, admitting she had been debating it for a while, but decided to pull the trigger because she wants the chance to work more in the winter months and 'play in the summer'. Speaking to 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.' The former Duchess of York demanded to travel first class after asking Jeffrey Epstein to pay for her and her daughters' flights to visit him after he was freed from jail, new emails reveal. Messages show the convicted offender's staff were instructed to ignore Sarah Ferguson's repeated calls and emails requesting that her already luxurious business class seat be upgraded. The emails uncovered by the Daily Mail suggest the ex-duchess had her office contact Epstein asking him to 'graciously' fund the trip within hours of his release from prison for child abuse. Ms Ferguson, who was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time, even pushed for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to be bumped up from economy to club class for the July 2009 visit. It comes as new unearthed messages suggest she asked Epstein to assist with a screening of her film Young Victoria by either letting her use his New York home or by giving her $20,000 for a venue. Business class vs. economy The disgraced financier was released under house arrest to his waterfront mansion in Palm Beach on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months for soliciting a child for prostitution. That same day, Ms Ferguson's staff appeared to have called Epstein's house manager Lesley Groff suggesting he pay for her trip to Florida. In one email headed 'The Duchess of York', Ms Groff wrote to Epstein: 'Amanda from the Duchess' office just called. She said that you graciously offered to pay for the Duchess to come and visit you. 'Amanda would like to speak to (redacted) about flights.' The executive assistant is believed to have been referring to Amanda Lewis, then the former duchess's assistant. The following morning, Ms Groff updated Epstein again: 'Amanda said the princesses would like to accompany the Duchess and she is wondering if you might be willing to pay for them as well...' After Epstein obliged with a simple 'ok', Ms Groff set about organising the trip with Ms Ferguson requesting a three-day break in New York and flights that came with 'crazy high price tags'. The 'First class' demand Epstein instructed his staff to book Ms Ferguson on business while Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice, aged 19 and 21 at the time, should travel via economy or premium economy. A series of emails show staff scrambling to meet Ms Ferguson's requests, including securing the most expensive flight option via British Airways for which she provided her BA frequent flyer number. At one point Ms Groff asked Epstein if she could check 'if they are flexible', noting that what she was demanding - including first class tickets for herself and business for the princesses - would cost more than $30,000 'There are no other tickets accept for First Class on the flight home she is requesting...' she added. When Ms Ferguson's office said no other timings would work the assistant confirmed the BA flights, as per Epstein's original instructions on business and economy, which cost $14,080.10. But just hours before their return flight from New York to London, Ms Groff informed Epstein that the then duchess was demanding to be upgraded from Business class. Philip Levines mansion On July 30, 2009, she wrote: 'The following is from Amanda the Duchess' assistant...would you like me to see if we can change the seats? I recall the plane being rather booked up! 'The Duchess has asked that she be in First and the girls in Club on the flight back from NYC to LHR apparently Jeffrey said that this would be ok please can you let me know if you can change this.' Within minutes, Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting his trafficking trial in 2019, replied saying 'i said nothing,, do not respond'. Ms Groff, who noted that attempts were being made to contact her on the phone, agreed not to respond. The files reveal that Ms Ferguson and the princesses had stayed with American businessman Philip Levine at his Miami mansion before taking his car and driver to visit Epstein on July 27. I am at your service Messages from Ms Ferguson confirm her daughters would be joining and asked Epstein if was putting on lunch. He replied it would be 'vegetable lasagna' or anything else you would like' made by a chef flown in from Paris. The lunch is believed to have been used by Ms Ferguson to seek advice and assistance regarding her well chronicled money woes. The following week, Ms Ferguson sent Epstein a gushing email about business proposals that had emerged since their meeting saying 'After your lunch it seems the energy has lifted', she said. 'I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls. Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.' Emails show Ms Ferguson hoped the new ventures might pull her out of her financial crisis and help her become 'the quintessentially British Martha Stewart and I can be'. The $20,000 screening She later appears to have enlisted the help of Hollywood publicist Peggy Seigel, a close friend of Epstein, to promote her Young Victoria film in the US. In late 2009, Ms Seigel contacted Epstein saying said she is planning a screening for the movie and Ms Ferguson had asked for him to either host or fund it. 'She wants to know if you will come up and have it in your house....And she and I want to know if you can't come- can we have $20,000 to do the night,' she wrote. She added that Maxwell, who was later jailed for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein, was approached to host the night. When Epstein refused to provide his home for the evening, Maxwell was said to have stepped in before the event was cancelled due to diary clashes. Other emails show how Ms Ferguson forwarding Epstein details of her hopes to appear on American TV. One indicates she had discussions with TV producer Mark Burnett to find a place for her on The Celebrity Apprentice and developing her own series called 'Duchess for a Day'. Sarah Ferguson was approached for comment. Share your thoughts with us in the comments He infamously declared of White House intern Monica Lewinsky: I did not have sexual relations with that woman. That turned out to be a shamefaced lie. So why, skeptics now ask, should anyone take Bill Clinton at his word when he claims he has no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins sordid web of child sexual crimes? Republicans are putting that denial to the test Friday as Clinton appears before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-doors grilling on his long-running association with the warped financier. Lawmakers wont be short of questions for the 42nd President of the United States - whose ties to Epstein stretch back decades. He flew on the dead perverts private jet, hosted him at the White House and was namedropped 1,604 times in the trove of Epstein files released last month by the Justice Department. According to the predators longtime accuser Virginia Giuffre, Clinton was even spotted reveling in the company of two lovely girls on Epsteins creepy Caribbean island. The 79-year-old has flatly denied the accusation - just as he insists their relationship amounted to nothing more than occasional contact rooted in shared philanthropic interests. Democrats have been desperate to focus instead on President Donald Trumps once-chummy friendship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while facing sexual-trafficking charges. But its Clinton who faces a day of reckoning as he becomes the first former President ever compelled to testify before Congress against his will. Here, the Daily Mail previews the unsettling questions about his relationship with Epstein that Clinton will be dreading. FOLLOW THE TRAIL Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have come under massive pressure to publish an alleged 'client list' supposedly lurking deep within the Epstein Files. But the names of many alleged associates including one William Jefferson Clinton had already been found buried in paperwork in a 2015 defamation case filed by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein's right-hand woman Ghislaine Maxwell. According to Giuffre's lawyers, Clinton was a 'key person in the lives' of the billionaire pervert and his jailed madam, the trio enjoying a 'close relationship'. In one especially incendiary filing, a 2016 deposition from another victim, Johanna Sjoberg, she recalled Epstein telling her that 'Clinton likes them young', referring to girls. When asked about the two men's alleged friendship, Sjoberg added: 'I knew he had dealings with Bill Clinton.' Elsewhere in the since-settled suit Giuffre claimed that Clinton once intervened to stop a magazine expose about Epstein. Maxwell's lawyers asked her about a 2011 email exchange she had with a reporter friend in which they discussed the merits of selling her now-infamous photo with Prince Andrew to Vanity Fair. Giuffre had written: 'It does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sexual trafficking articles about his good friend JE.' Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has insisted the incident 'categorically did not happen'. PARADISE Giuffre, one of Epstein's most persistent and brave accusers, died by self-harm on April 25 this year at her home in Australia. But she left behind further tantalizing clues in her unpublished memoir 'The Billionaire's Playboy Club.' Giuffre's book claimed that Ghislaine Maxwell spotted her working at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in mid-2000 and groomed her for a job as Epstein's travelling masseuse. She claimed she was 15 at the time but later revised this to 17 in a deposition. Giuffre also recalled attending a 'big dinner party' on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, Little St James widely known as sexual offender Island. The guest of honor was, according to Giuffre, 'the one and only Bill Clinton'. 'Sitting across the table from us was Bill with two lovely girls who were visiting from New York,' Giuffre wrote in her memoir, an unsealed exhibit in her defamation case. 'Bill's wife, Hillary's absence from the night made it easy for his apparent provocative cheeky side to come out,' Giuffre continued. 'Teasing the girls on either side of him with playful pokes and brassy comments, there was no modesty between any of them. We all finished our meals and scattered in our own different directions. 'Strolling into the darkness with two beautiful girls around either arm, Bill seemed content to retire for the evening.' Clinton has denied any knowledge of Epstein's 'terrible crimes' and says he never visited his island. FREQUENT LIAR Epstein went from university dropout to mercurial money manager, acquiring all the trappings of a billionaire playboy and majestic homes in New York, New Mexico, and Palm Beach, Florida. He bagged influential friends along the way, many of whom were listed in his 'little black book' of contacts where he noted down 20 numbers and addresses for Clinton. Despite repeatedly distancing himself from the child predator and his crimes, Clinton was allegedly close enough to be a frequent flyer on Epstein's plane, nicknamed the Lolita Express. Flight logs suggest that Clinton flew on the Boeing 727 on 26 occasions, traveling to an array of exotic locations including Brunei, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the Azores, Africa, Belgium and China. The Daily Mail previously published never-before-seen images of the former Leader of the Free World receiving a neck and shoulder massage from Epstein victim Chauntae Davies during a stopover in 2002. Davies, then a 22-year-old massage therapist who claimed she was recruited into Epstein's circle by Maxwell before being raped and abused, insisted that Clinton was 'charming and sweet' on a humanitarian trip to Africa that also included Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker. Clinton's camp insisted he took a 'total of four trips' from 2002 to 2003 on Epstein's aircraft, which last flew in 2016 and is slowly corroding at an airfield in Brunswick, Georgia. Staffers and Secret Service agents were present each time, they said. In his memoir, Citizen: My Life After The White House, Clinton wrote: 'Even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein's plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. 'I wish I had never met him.' CROSSDRESSER-IN-CHIEF They say a picture speaks 1,000 words. But anyone who stumbled across Epstein's life-size portrait of a crossdressing Clinton would likely have been left speechless. The bizarro artwork depicts the former Commander in Chief lounging on a chair in the Oval Office in blood red heels and a figure-hugging blue dress. The outfit was said to resemble the semen-stained garment that Monica Lewinsky famously handed over to the Starr Investigation to test for Clinton's DNA. It was also strikingly similar to one worn by wife Hillary at a 2009 gala dinner for Kennedy Center Honorees. The painting was called 'Parsing Bill' and was created in 2012 by Australian-American artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid. It's not clear whether Epstein owned the original or a print, but the image was spotted hanging inside Epstein's $56 million New York townhouse in October of that year. Quite why Epstein would have such a lurid likeness of the former president in his home has been open to much speculation. 'It was absolutely Bill Clinton. It was shocking it was definitely a painting of him,' a source said to the Daily Mail when we revealed the portrait's existence in 2019. WEST WINGMAN Bill Clinton has owned up to six meetings with Epstein dating back to 2002. These include the four flights on his plane, an Epstein visit to the ex-president's Harlem office and a brief appearance at the sexual offender's New York home. However, as the Daily Mail has previously revealed, Epstein enjoyed extraordinary access to the White House throughout the Clinton administration, a decade earlier. The deep-pocketed predator stopped by the West Wing just a month after Clinton's inauguration in January 1993. It was the first of 17 visits in three years, according to visitor logs, and he was accompanied by eight different women. These included Maxwell, who at the time of the first visit was 32, and Celina Midelfart a 21-year-old Norwegian heiress who once dated Donald Trump and another former Trump girlfriend Eva Andersson-Dubin. Epstein and Maxwell returned on September 29, 1993 to attend a reception organized by the White House Historical Association after he donated $10,000 to help renovate the building. It was one of the earliest instances of Epstein using philanthropy to gain access to powerful men, a tactic he deployed extensively to negate his 2008 conviction in Florida for having intercourse with underage girls. Photos from the event show Epstein and Clinton shaking hands with both men smiling broadly. The bulk of Epstein's visits came in 1994 when he went on a dozen occasions, meeting a variety of aides including Mark Middleton, a special assistant to the President. A man is said to have been arrested after he allegedly drove past Nancy Guthrie's home '100 times' while staring at an image of the missing woman on his phone. The unidentified stranger was stopped by law enforcement after reporters spotted him driving 'very slowly' past the property in Tucson, Arizona, late Thursday night, according to NewsNation. Correspondent Brian Entin said the man drove his blue SUV up to the memorial outside the 84-year-old's home and 'just kept stopping,' passing between '50 and 100 times.' A media photographer who approached the individual reportedly noticed he had a photo of Today host Savannah Guthrie's missing mother on his phone. Officers with the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) then stopped him outside the home and questioned him for about 20 minutes, according to Entin, who said he believed police were 'trying to get a translator' to communicate with the driver. Man Arrested on DUI Amid Ongoing Search for Missing Nancy The man was handcuffed on a DUI charge after he failed a sobriety test, Entin alleged in a follow-up video. 'It is weird. There's some just like creepy people that come by,' the journalist said. The Daily Mail contacted the PCSD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for comment on the mysterious man as the search for Nancy nears its fourth week. Nancy was last seen on January 31, after attending a dinner and game night at her eldest daughter Annie's home. She was reported missing the following morning, after she failed to show up for a church service. Authorities have been on the case ever since but the few leads they have received have led nowhere, as Nancy's whereabouts still remain unknown. Her Today show host daughter and her siblings have made several pleas online to their beloved mother's captor, begging them to come forward and tell them where she is. Tearful Savannah Admits Mom May Already Be Gone On Tuesday, Savannah shared her most emotional plea yet as she teared up on camera and acknowledged for the first time that her mother might not be alive. She also announced that the family is now offering a $1 million reward for her kidnapped mother. 'We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,' she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. 'We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves,' Savannah said through tears. The journalist added that if Nancy has died, they will 'accept it' but the family still needs closure. 'But we need to know where she is. We need her to come home. For that reason, we are offering a family reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads us to her recovery,' Savannah said. FBI Shifts Command Post as Search for Nancy Enters New Phase She pleaded directly with Nancy's kidnapper and anyone with information about her whereabouts, saying: 'If you've been waiting and you haven't been sure, let this be your sign to please come forward. 'Tell what you know and help us bring our beloved mom home so that we can either celebrate a glorious, miraculous homecoming or celebrate the beautiful, brave, noble and courageous life that she has lived. Please be the light in the dark.' The Guthrie family, acknowledging that there are millions of families in their exact situation, has also donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Savannah revealed. The FBI recently announced that the agency would be scaling back its now nearly month-long search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix, sources with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News. Some agents will also stay behind in Tucson, they said. The move does not indicate investigators are giving up in the search, the sources claimed. Blood Evidence and Masked Figure Fuel Abduction Fears Agents were seen outside the residence on Wednesday, combing through portions of the home and lawn that had already been searched. The flurry of activity was related to an FBI effort to turn the home back over to the Guthrie family, officials told NBC News. Sources told ABC News on Thursday there was no more work to be done at the home, hence the relocation. Phoenix has the largest FBI headquarters in the state. Investigators are under the impression that Nancy was taken against her will after drops of Nancy's blood were found on her porch. Footage recovered from the elderly woman's Nest doorbell camera showed an unidentified suspect in a ski mask in front of her door early on February 1, before Nancy's pacemaker suddenly stopped transmitting data to her iPhone and Apple watch. PCSD deputies are still searching Tucson with help from an unspecified number of feds. Agents in Phoenix, meanwhile, will work the case from there, sources said. The website that told people: 'Life is short. Have an affair' is attempting a rebrand. Ashley Madison is a Canadian-French online dating network that famously sold itself as a place for married individuals to seek extramarital hookups. The website was launched in 2001 as a dating site for spouses looking to be unfaithful and told those who had tied the knot to embrace infidelity. Now, however, the dating service is trying to shed its scandalous reputation. While the platform was once a place to explore 'married dating,' the company is now seeing a surprising shift in users: 57 percent of all members are actually single. 'What that told us is that people are coming to our site for a different reason, for discretion. And so, today, Ashley Madison is shedding its adulterous past and launching a new category of discreet dating,' chief strategy officer Paul Keable told Fox News Digital. 'More than roughly 30 percent of online daters are feeling constant pressure to swipe and message, and they're not getting the outcomes they want,' Keable said. 'Worse, they're having to go back into the office and people who they're not interested in are seeing their profiles on these traditional dating apps and they feel as though it's not the experience they're looking for. Ashley Madison is a Canadian-French online dating network that famously sold itself as a place for married individuals to seek extramarital hookups The website was launched in 2001 as a dating site for spouses looking to be unfaithful and told those who had tied the knot to embrace infidelity While the platform was once a place to explore 'married dating,' the company is now seeing a surprising shift in users: 57 percent of all members are actually single Keable explained that people are fed up with 'traditional' dating apps - where yourisk awkward run-ins with coworkers and experience fatigue from endless swiping and messaging. He describes 'discreet dating' as allowing members to date under their own management without everybody else watching. 'Ultimately, we at Ashley Madison are not going to ask you about whether you're married or not,' he continued. 'We're going to ask very little about your information, other than why you value discretion and enable you to match with the people you want to match because your business ultimately is yours and it's nobody else's.' The rebrand comes after Ashley Madison faced multiple controversies and became the subject of a scathing Netflix docuseries in 2024. While the website was certainly popular, with over 37 million unfaithful spouses using its services, everything came crashing down for the brand when it got hacked in 2015 - with every name on the site leaked and destroying marriages. The docuseries - Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies, & Scandal - explored the rise, 2015 hack, and the aftermath of the notorious adultery website. Jack Dorsey has axed thousands of workers at Block, the parent company of Cash App, Square and Afterpay, in a move signaling a major shift toward artificial intelligence. In a note to staff, Dorsey explained that Block would be taking on risk by investing in 'intelligence tools,' as the company cut more than 4,000 employees on Thursday. 'We're not making this decision because we're in trouble,' wrote the Twitter creator. 'Our business is strong. Gross profit continues to grow, we continue to serve more and more customers, and profitability is improving.' However, alongside that success came new ways for the company to integrate its intelligence tools with smaller teams, leading to massive layoffs. Throughout the note, Dorsey stressed that letting go of thousands of staffers at once was meant to keep morale high rather than carrying out demoralizing job cuts over a number of months. 'I'd rather take a hard, clear action now and build from a position we believe in than manage a slow reduction of people toward the same outcome,' he wrote. He added that a smaller company also creates an opportunity to grow 'the right way, on our own terms, instead of constantly reacting to market pressures.' Block's shares surged 24 percent following the announcement of the layoffs, according to CNN. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block, the parent company of Cash App, Square and Afterpay, would be taking on risk by investing in 'intelligence tools,' as the company cut more than 4,000 employees on Thursday The Twitter creator said in a statement to the company that he was 'grateful' and 'sorry' for putting his employees through the layoffs The CEO also said he would hold a live video session to thank employees for their time with the company. 'To those of you leaving I'm grateful for you, and I'm sorry to put you through this,' the statement read. 'You built what this company is today.' 'That's a fact that I'll honor forever. This decision is not a reflection of what you contributed. You will be a great contributor to any organization going forward.' The company said workers affected by the layoffs will receive 20 weeks of pay, in addition to an extra week's salary for every year they worked at the company. Those let go will also keep their corporate devices, receive stock benefits through the end of May, six months of health coverage, and a $5,000 payment to help them through the transition. Employees outside the US will be offered similar packages, though details will vary by country, the statement said. All employees were told they would be informed the same day whether they were being laid off, entering consultation, or keeping their jobs. Join the debate Is replacing thousands of jobs with AI a smart move or a betrayal of loyal workers? The CEO noted that the terminations come while the company is growing and successful. The statement added that working with a smaller staff gives them opportunity to grow Alongside that success came new ways for the company to integrate its intelligence tools with smaller teams, leading to massive layoffs Dorsey ended his note to remaining staff by saying: 'I made this decision, and I'll own it.' 'What I'm asking of you is to build with me. We're going to build this company with intelligence at the core of everything we do. How we work, how we create, and how we serve our customers.' The CEO said customers will 'feel this shift,' adding that the company plans to help them build their own features using its tools and services. The Daily Mail has reached out to Block for comment. The move comes shortly after Amazon laid off tens of thousands of workers less than a month ago. Amazon told staff it plans to cut around 16,000 corporate jobs worldwide towards the end of January as it pushes ahead with efforts to streamline the business and reduce bureaucracy. The move marks the second major round of layoffs at the Seattle-based company since October, following the loss of roughly 14,000 roles. The latest cuts are understood to fall mainly in the US, though some UK jobs were also affected. It was hyped by McDonald's as the biggest and boldest burger ever. But as the Big Arch rolls out early across the US, early customers are already giving it a lukewarm reception - with some branding it as greasy, overpriced and underwhelming. Although this burger was expected to hit restaurants on March 3, some diners managed to try it early and quickly took to social media to share their verdict. One Reddit user who spent $14 on the burger at a San Diego location delivered a blunt assessment: Greasy. 'They added: I thought the sauce was too sweet and oddly too thick. Almost like a melted cheese consistency.' Another wrote: 'There's just nothing special about it, which is depressing because they clearly tried to make it special and failed.' This supersized burger features two beef patties, three slices of white processed cheese, crispy and fresh onions, pickles, lettuce and a brand-new tangy Big Arch sauce in a sesame and poppy-seed bun. 'I didn't like it either. Not because of grease, but it just doesn't taste very good,' another McDonald's customer wrote. 'The Big Mac has some tanginess with its sauce. The Quarter Pounder has some tanginess with the ketchup. The Big Arch sauce was extremely muted.' McDonald's describes the new Big Arch sauce as 'tangy and creamy,' with a mix of mustard, pickle, and sweet tomato flavors. McDonald's Big Arch burger has three pieces of cheese and a sesame-seed bun Reddit user's 'greasy' Big Arch burger The Big Arch is the chains biggest burger ever, clocking in at 1020 calories and 53g of protein in the US. A Big Arch Meal, with a medium Coke and medium fries, is 1610 calories. The burger was first tested in Canada, the UK, Portugal, Germany and France - where bosses say it proved a hit - before finally launching in the US more than two years after it was first mooted. 'Customers are responding to this more satisfying burger that meets demand for something heartier while still feeling distinctly McDonalds,' global chief restaurant experience officer Jill McDonald said. It is likely that if the Big Arch sells well in the US - and is profitable - then it will become a permanent addition as it has in the UK. The price of the Big Arch seems to vary by location in the US, as is the case with all menu items. In New York, on Friday, they cost between $9 and $10 before tax. The original Reddit post said their sandwich in San Diego was $14 - but that may have been for a meal. 'At least it wasnt dry,' another Reddit user said. 'But I dont think its worth the price.' The plan for the bigger burger came after McDonalds fought to win customers back after 2024 saw the company report its first sales decline since Covid lockdowns shut restaurants. A look at the Big Arch burger, already available at some US restaurants McDonald's remains one of the world's largest franchises McDonalds has tested bigger options before. In January 2023, the Double Big Mac -with four patties instead of two and extra sauce - returned for a limited time for $7, and was a hit while on sale for a month. McDonald's remains one of the world's largest franchises, but it is no longer the biggest after being dethroned by Chinese cafe chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea. The Big Arch push also comes as McDonald's faces fresh scrutiny over other parts of its menu. The company was recently hit with a proposed class action lawsuit over the McRib, with four plaintiffs accusing the fast-food giant of misleading customers about what the sandwich actually contains. Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE:AKR Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.20 per share by the real estate investment trust on Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Acadia Realty Trust has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.2%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Acadia Realty Trust has a payout ratio of 222.2% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Analysts expect Acadia Realty Trust to earn $1.44 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 55.6%. Get Acadia Realty Trust alerts: Acadia Realty Trust Trading Up 1.2% NYSE:AKR traded up $0.24 on Thursday, hitting $20.77. 1,014,873 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,055,530. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.01. Acadia Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $16.98 and a 52 week high of $23.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 230.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.14. The companys 50-day moving average price is $20.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.07. Acadia Realty Trust Company Profile Acadia Realty Trust ( NYSE:AKR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.28). Acadia Realty Trust had a return on equity of 0.49% and a net margin of 3.22%.The business had revenue of $104.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $92.19 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Acadia Realty Trust will post 1.34 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Free Report) Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE: AKR) is a Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on the acquisition, development, ownership and operation of grocery-anchored and necessity-based shopping centers. The company targets retail properties that serve densely populated urban and suburban markets and typically feature essential tenants such as supermarkets, drugstores, fitness centers and other service-oriented retailers. As a self-managed REIT, Acadia oversees leasing, property management, financing and construction activities through its in-house platform. Acadias portfolio is diversified across property types and lease structures, with an emphasis on sites that benefit from long-term consumer traffic and resilient tenancy. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Acadia Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Acadia Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Alfa Laval AB Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ALFVY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $59.23 and last traded at $59.17, with a volume of 6363 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $58.25. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ALFVY has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Alfa Laval from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Alfa Laval alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Alfa Laval Alfa Laval Price Performance The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.12. Alfa Laval (OTCMKTS:ALFVY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.03 billion. Alfa Laval had a return on equity of 19.99% and a net margin of 11.86%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Alfa Laval AB Unsponsored ADR will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Alfa Laval (Get Free Report) Alfa Laval is an industrial engineering company specializing in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling technologies. Its product portfolio includes plate and tubular heat exchangers, separators and decanter centrifuges, pumps, valves and complete process systems designed to control temperature, separate liquids and solids, and move fluids reliably through industrial processes. The company supplies both standardized components and engineered systems for integration into customer plants and vessels. The company serves a broad set of end markets including energy and power, marine and offshore, food and beverage processing, water and wastewater treatment, chemical and pharmaceutical production, and pulp and paper. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alfa Laval Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alfa Laval and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bombardier, Inc. Class B (TSE:BBD.B Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$256.50. Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on BBD.B shares. TD Securities upped their target price on Bombardier, Inc. Class B from C$276.00 to C$280.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Bombardier, Inc. Class B from C$240.00 to C$300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. National Bank Financial reduced their price objective on Bombardier, Inc. Class B from C$290.00 to C$286.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lowered their target price on Bombardier, Inc. Class B from C$290.00 to C$288.00 in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Bombardier, Inc. Class B from a neutral rating to a sell rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from C$184.00 to C$191.00 in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Get Bombardier Inc. Class B alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BBD.B Bombardier, Inc. Class B Stock Performance Bombardier, Inc. Class B Company Profile TSE:BBD.B opened at C$277.23 on Tuesday. Bombardier, Inc. Class B has a 52 week low of C$71.79 and a 52 week high of C$282.00. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$250.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$212.73. The firm has a market cap of C$27.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.26 and a beta of 1.42. (Get Free Report) Bombardier Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells transportation equipment worldwide. Bombardier Inc was incorporated in 1902 and is based in Dorval, Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bombardier Inc. Class B Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bombardier Inc. Class B and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY Get Free Report) (NYSE:RY) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eight have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$238.31. Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Royal Bank of Canada from C$217.00 to C$220.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$246.00 to C$260.00 in a report on Monday, February 9th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$229.00 to C$245.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce raised their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$229.00 to C$242.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$239.00 to C$248.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Get Royal Bank of Canada alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on RY Insider Activity Key Stories Impacting Royal Bank of Canada In related news, Director David Ian Mckay sold 91,288 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$228.75, for a total value of C$20,882,130.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 5,873 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$1,343,448.75. The trade was a 93.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Here are the key news stories impacting Royal Bank of Canada this week: Royal Bank of Canada Stock Performance Shares of Royal Bank of Canada stock opened at C$232.14 on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada has a fifty-two week low of C$151.25 and a fifty-two week high of C$240.34. The company has a market capitalization of C$325.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.50, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a fifty day moving average of C$233.30 and a 200 day moving average of C$215.33. Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY Get Free Report) (NYSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported C$4.08 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$17.96 billion for the quarter. Royal Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 28.23%. Analysts forecast that Royal Bank of Canada will post 12.3454675 EPS for the current year. About Royal Bank of Canada (Get Free Report) Royal Bank of Canada is one of the two largest banks in Canada. It is a diversified financial services company, offering personal and commercial banking, wealth-management services, insurance, corporate banking, and capital markets services. The bank is concentrated in Canada, with additional operations in the U.S. and other countries. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) Director J. Richard Kushel sold 2,000 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,083.05, for a total value of $2,166,100.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 61,980 shares in the company, valued at approximately $67,127,439. The trade was a 3.13% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. J. Richard Kushel also recently made the following trade(s): Get BlackRock alerts: On Tuesday, February 24th, J. Richard Kushel sold 385 shares of BlackRock stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,084.91, for a total value of $417,690.35. On Wednesday, January 21st, J. Richard Kushel sold 20,000 shares of BlackRock stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,125.00, for a total transaction of $22,500,000.00. BlackRock Stock Down 0.4% Shares of NYSE BLK traded down $3.89 during trading on Thursday, hitting $1,089.89. The stock had a trading volume of 725,406 shares, compared to its average volume of 792,371. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,094.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,104.10. The company has a market capitalization of $169.10 billion, a PE ratio of 30.77, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 3.33 and a quick ratio of 3.33. BlackRock has a 12 month low of $773.74 and a 12 month high of $1,219.94. BlackRock Increases Dividend BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $12.55 by $0.61. The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a net margin of 22.93% and a return on equity of 15.14%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 23.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $11.93 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that BlackRock will post 47.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $5.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. This represents a $22.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 58.84%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BLK has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen lowered BlackRock from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of BlackRock from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on BlackRock from $1,244.00 to $1,267.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $1,313.00 price target on shares of BlackRock in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,311.11. View Our Latest Research Report on BLK Trending Headlines about BlackRock Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week: Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Westerkirk Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,877,000. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey grew its position in BlackRock by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 23,167 shares of the asset managers stock worth $24,308,000 after purchasing an additional 1,693 shares during the period. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 3rd quarter valued at $6,201,000. Lingohr Asset Management GmbH purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock in the 3rd quarter worth $700,000. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 8.2% in the second quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 256,937 shares of the asset managers stock worth $269,591,000 after acquiring an additional 19,404 shares during the period. 80.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About BlackRock (Get Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors. In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Construction Bank Corp. (OTCMKTS:CICHY Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 236,255 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 245% from the previous sessions volume of 68,417 shares.The stock last traded at $20.6365 and had previously closed at $20.80. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Zacks Research upgraded China Construction Bank to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get China Construction Bank alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on China Construction Bank China Construction Bank Stock Performance About China Construction Bank The companys 50-day simple moving average is $20.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $265.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.65 and a beta of 0.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. (Get Free Report) China Construction Bank Corporation (OTCMKTS:CICHY) is one of the largest commercial banks in China, headquartered in Beijing. The bank provides a broad range of banking and financial services to corporate, institutional and individual customers. It is widely recognized as one of the major state-owned banks in China and has played a significant role in financing infrastructure, real estate and corporate development across the country. CCBs core business activities include corporate banking, personal banking and treasury operations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Construction Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Construction Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII Get Free Report) SVP Christopher Dyer sold 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.08, for a total transaction of $228,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 15,902 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $605,548.16. This represents a 27.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Oceaneering International Stock Down 0.8% Shares of NYSE:OII traded down $0.31 during trading on Thursday, reaching $37.61. The stock had a trading volume of 1,160,091 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,291,549. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $29.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Oceaneering International, Inc. has a one year low of $15.46 and a one year high of $39.00. The company has a market capitalization of $3.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.75 and a beta of 1.26. Get Oceaneering International alerts: Oceaneering International (NYSE:OII Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The oil and gas company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.01. Oceaneering International had a net margin of 12.71% and a return on equity of 21.58%. The company had revenue of $668.57 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $678.16 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.37 earnings per share. Oceaneering Internationals revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Oceaneering International, Inc. will post 1.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have commented on OII shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Oceaneering International from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Monday. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Oceaneering International from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Oceaneering International from $23.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Oceaneering International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Oceaneering International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $28.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Oceaneering International Key Oceaneering International News Here are the key news stories impacting Oceaneering International this week: Institutional Trading of Oceaneering International Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oceaneering International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $967,000. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC raised its position in Oceaneering International by 58.7% during the third quarter. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 159,261 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,946,000 after acquiring an additional 58,925 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in Oceaneering International by 1,377.0% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 156,547 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,879,000 after purchasing an additional 145,948 shares in the last quarter. CenterBook Partners LP purchased a new position in Oceaneering International during the third quarter valued at $409,000. Finally, Greenhouse Funds LLLP grew its position in shares of Oceaneering International by 9.9% in the second quarter. Greenhouse Funds LLLP now owns 2,491,803 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $51,630,000 after purchasing an additional 223,724 shares during the period. 93.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Oceaneering International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Oceaneering International, Inc is a global provider of engineered services and products primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as to aerospace, defense, and commercial diving markets. The company specializes in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), subsea intervention, and inspection services designed to support exploration, production and maintenance activities in challenging underwater environments. In addition to ROV operations, Oceaneering offers asset integrity solutions, specialized tooling, and intervention equipment for pipelines, risers, and flowlines. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Oceaneering has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Oceaneering International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oceaneering International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) and Getty Realty (NYSE:GTY Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability and risk. Dividends Extra Space Storage pays an annual dividend of $6.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.4%. Getty Realty pays an annual dividend of $1.94 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.9%. Extra Space Storage pays out 140.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Getty Realty pays out 144.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Extra Space Storage has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Getty Realty has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Institutional & Insider Ownership 99.1% of Extra Space Storage shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 85.1% of Getty Realty shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Extra Space Storage shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.8% of Getty Realty shares are held 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. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Extra Space Storage $3.38 billion 9.23 $974.00 million $4.60 32.10 Getty Realty $221.73 million 8.86 $79.19 million $1.34 24.50 This table compares Extra Space Storage and Getty Realtys gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Extra Space Storage has higher revenue and earnings than Getty Realty. Getty Realty is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Extra Space Storage, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility & Risk Extra Space Storage has a beta of 1.27, suggesting that its stock price is 27% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Getty Realty has a beta of 0.84, suggesting that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Extra Space Storage and Getty Realty, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Extra Space Storage 1 9 6 0 2.31 Getty Realty 0 4 2 0 2.33 Extra Space Storage currently has a consensus price target of $145.13, indicating a potential downside of 1.71%. Getty Realty has a consensus price target of $31.60, indicating a potential downside of 3.75%. Given Extra Space Storages higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Extra Space Storage is more favorable than Getty Realty. Profitability This table compares Extra Space Storage and Getty Realtys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Extra Space Storage 28.84% 6.79% 3.39% Getty Realty 35.72% 7.86% 3.86% Summary Extra Space Storage beats Getty Realty on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Extra Space Storage (Get Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,714 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C. The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.6 million units and approximately 283.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. The Company offers customers a wide selection of conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States. About Getty Realty (Get Free Report) Getty Realty Corp. is a publicly traded, net lease REIT specializing in the acquisition, financing and development of convenience, automotive and other single tenant retail real estate. As of December 31, 2023, the Companys portfolio included 1,093 freestanding properties located in 40 states across the United States and Washington, D.C. 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. Gildan Activewear, Inc. (NYSE:GIL Get Free Report) (TSE:GIL) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, February 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 19th will be paid a dividend of 0.249 per share by the textile maker on Monday, April 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This is a 10.2% increase from Gildan Activewears previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Gildan Activewear has decreased its dividend by an average of 0.0%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Gildan Activewear has a dividend payout ratio of 23.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Gildan Activewear to earn $3.96 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.90 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 22.7%. Get Gildan Activewear alerts: Gildan Activewear Stock Down 3.1% NYSE:GIL traded down $2.24 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $69.04. The company had a trading volume of 3,377,684 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,094,959. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.03 and a beta of 1.08. Gildan Activewear has a 1 year low of $37.16 and a 1 year high of $73.69. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Key Stories Impacting Gildan Activewear Gildan Activewear ( NYSE:GIL Get Free Report ) (TSE:GIL) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The textile maker reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.01 billion. Gildan Activewear had a return on equity of 35.53% and a net margin of 14.13%.The companys revenue was up 31.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.83 earnings per share. Gildan Activewear has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.200-4.400 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Gildan Activewear will post 3.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Here are the key news stories impacting Gildan Activewear this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations: Gildan reported adjusted EPS of $0.96 and revenue of $1.08B (up ~31% YoY), topping consensus and showing strong margin/ROE metrics a signal of near-term operational strength. Read More. Q4 results beat expectations: Gildan reported adjusted EPS of $0.96 and revenue of $1.08B (up ~31% YoY), topping consensus and showing strong margin/ROE metrics a signal of near-term operational strength. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Dividend raise: The board boosted the quarterly dividend to $0.249 (10.2% increase), supporting income-oriented investors and signaling confidence in cash flow. (Ex-dividend Mar 19; pay Apr 13.) Dividend raise: The board boosted the quarterly dividend to $0.249 (10.2% increase), supporting income-oriented investors and signaling confidence in cash flow. (Ex-dividend Mar 19; pay Apr 13.) Positive Sentiment: Hanes acquisition lift and synergy progress: Q4 included HanesBrands contributions (postclose) and management raised targeted runrate synergies while announcing investment/expansion plans positive for longterm scale and cost savings. Read More. Hanes acquisition lift and synergy progress: Q4 included HanesBrands contributions (postclose) and management raised targeted runrate synergies while announcing investment/expansion plans positive for longterm scale and cost savings. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition makes year-over-year comparisons lumpy: The December 1 close of HanesBrands means Q4 and FY numbers include only a month of Hanes results, complicating cadence and seasonality interpretation. Read More. Acquisition makes year-over-year comparisons lumpy: The December 1 close of HanesBrands means Q4 and FY numbers include only a month of Hanes results, complicating cadence and seasonality interpretation. Read More. Negative Sentiment: FY2026 guidance came in below Street expectations: Gildan set FY2026 EPS at $4.20$4.40 vs. a ~$4.46 consensus, which pressured sentiment because it implies slower nearterm earnings leverage than investors hoped. Read More. FY2026 guidance came in below Street expectations: Gildan set FY2026 EPS at $4.20$4.40 vs. a ~$4.46 consensus, which pressured sentiment because it implies slower nearterm earnings leverage than investors hoped. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Media and analyst reaction emphasized a sluggish quarter/outlook and a downgrade: Several outlets highlighted the softer targets, and Zacks moved Gildan to a strong sell, amplifying downside pressure. Read More. Media and analyst reaction emphasized a sluggish quarter/outlook and a downgrade: Several outlets highlighted the softer targets, and Zacks moved Gildan to a strong sell, amplifying downside pressure. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Elevated trading and price weakness: Volume spiked well above average as the mixed message (beat vs. muted guidance) led to heavier selling today, contributing to the stock decline. Gildan Activewear Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Iluka Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:ILKAF Get Free Report)s share price traded up 7.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $4.18 and last traded at $4.14. 9,417 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 63% from the average session volume of 25,159 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.85. Iluka Resources Stock Up 0.1% The stocks fifty day moving average price is $4.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.25. Get Iluka Resources alerts: Iluka Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Iluka Resources is a leading global mineral sands company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. The company specialises in the exploration, mining, processing and marketing of heavy mineral products, primarily ilmenite, rutile and zircon. These commodities are critical feedstocks for the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigments, ceramic tiles, welding rod coatings and various other industrial applications. Iluka also produces synthetic rutile and is involved in the recovery of rare earth elements as part of its resource development strategy. Ilukas operations are predominantly located in Australia, with large-scale mineral sands projects in South and Western Australia, including the Jacinth-Ambrosia and Eneabba deposits. See Also 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. iShares Global Financials ETF (NYSEARCA:IXG Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 130,927 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 354% from the previous sessions volume of 28,814 shares.The stock last traded at $119.35 and had previously closed at $119.29. iShares Global Financials ETF Price Performance The company has a market cap of $664.46 million, a PE ratio of 14.77 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $121.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $117.65. Get iShares Global Financials ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of iShares Global Financials ETF Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its stake in iShares Global Financials ETF by 11.4% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,473 shares of the companys stock valued at $255,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Global Financials ETF by 14.2% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 33,211 shares of the companys stock worth $3,421,000 after buying an additional 4,131 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in iShares Global Financials ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $45,000. KCM Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Global Financials ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $618,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in iShares Global Financials ETF by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. About iShares Global Financials ETF Ishares S&P Global Financials Sector Index Fund, formerly iShares Global Financials ETF (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of companies that Standard & Poors deems part of the financial sector of the economy and important to global markets, as represented by the S&P Global 1200 Financials Sector Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the Standard & Poors Global 1200 Index. The Index includes major banks, diversified financial companies, insurance companies, real estate companies, savings and loan associations, and securities brokers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Global Financials ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Global Financials ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:ISZE Get Free Report)s stock price were down 0% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $25.48 and last traded at $25.48. Approximately 100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 96% from the average daily volume of 2,311 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.4804. iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF Trading Down 0.0% The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.48. The stock has a market cap of $5.10 million, a P/E ratio of 13.77 and a beta of 0.79. iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF Company Profile (Get Free Report) The iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF (ISZE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Low Size index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks in developed markets outside the US. Holdings are weighted by the inverse of the natural log of their market capitalization. ISZE was launched on Jun 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Size Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGD Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 265,241 shares, a drop of 81.4% from the January 29th total of 1,423,606 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,385,641 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Approximately 663.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Approximately 663.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,385,641 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently bought a new position in MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new stake in MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGD 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 10,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $54,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 3.01% of MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN as of its most recent SEC filing. Get MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN alerts: MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Stock Up 1.9% NYSEARCA:FNGD traded up $1.26 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $67.49. The stock had a trading volume of 541,840 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,114,214. The stock has a market cap of $2.70 million, a P/E ratio of 20.31 and a beta of -3.38. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.76. MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN has a 12-month low of $41.40 and a 12-month high of $276.69. MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Company Profile The MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (FNGD) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FANG+ index. The fund tracks -3x the daily price movements of an index of technology and consumer discretionary companies. The note uses derivatives to achieve its -3x exposure. FNGD was launched on Jan 25, 2018 and is issued by REX Microsectors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Mizuho from $40.00 to $34.00 in a research note published on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Vornado Realty Trust from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $41.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Wall Street Zen lowered Vornado Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, Scotiabank dropped their price target on Vornado Realty Trust from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vornado Realty Trust has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $37.36. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Vornado Realty Trust Vornado Realty Trust Price Performance Shares of VNO opened at $29.17 on Tuesday. Vornado Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $27.76 and a 52 week high of $43.37. The company has a current ratio of 5.25, a quick ratio of 5.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The firm has a market cap of $5.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.96, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $31.93 and a 200-day moving average of $35.83. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $453.71 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $440.23 million. Vornado Realty Trust had a net margin of 49.99% and a return on equity of 18.64%. The businesss revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.61 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Vornado Realty Trust will post 2.31 EPS for the current year. Vornado Realty Trust Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 18th were issued a dividend of $0.74 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 220.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 18th. Vornado Realty Trusts payout ratio is 17.66%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vornado Realty Trust A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC lifted its holdings in Vornado Realty Trust by 48.0% in the second quarter. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC now owns 1,439,438 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $55,044,000 after purchasing an additional 466,621 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Vornado Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $665,094,000. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Vornado Realty Trust by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 443,834 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $16,972,000 after buying an additional 50,285 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,754,069 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $105,316,000 after buying an additional 55,976 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SCS Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth about $9,975,000. 90.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Vornado Realty Trust (Get Free Report) Vornado Realty Trust is a selfadministered real estate investment trust focused on the ownership, management and redevelopment of office and retail properties. As a fully integrated REIT, the company oversees leasing, property management, building operations and strategic capital improvements designed to enhance asset value and tenant experience. Vornados business model emphasizes longterm cash flow generation through stable rental income and disciplined portfolio optimization. The companys core portfolio is concentrated in New York City, where it holds a diverse mix of office towers and streetlevel retail assets in prominent submarkets such as Midtown and the Penn Plaza corridor. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) reported what executives called a record year in 2025 and reaffirmed its 2026 guidance after closing the acquisition of the LS Power portfolio at the end of January. On the companys fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, management emphasized that integration is underway and that early performance is exceeding underwriting assumptions, while also rolling forward its long-term financial framework through 2030. Get alerts: 2025 results exceeded raised guidance Chair and CEO Larry Coben said NRG exceeded the midpoint of its raised 2025 guidance, marking the third consecutive year the company increased its outlook and delivered above it. For the full year, NRG posted adjusted earnings per share of $8.24 and adjusted EBITDA of $4.087 billion, both above the high end of raised guidance, according to management. Free cash flow before growth totaled, or, which the company said was above the midpoint of its revised outlook. CFO Bruce Chung added that adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA roseand, respectively, versus the prior year, and that adjusted net income was Management also highlighted operational and strategic milestones from 2025, including: Top-decile safety performance for the 10th consecutive year Progress under a $750 million organic growth plan organic growth plan Signing 445 MW of long-term data center power purchase agreements (PPAs) of long-term data center power purchase agreements (PPAs) Securing Texas Energy Fund loans for 1.5 GW of new capacity, with construction described as on budget and on schedule of new capacity, with construction described as on budget and on schedule Launching a Texas residential virtual power plant (VPP), ending the year at nearly 10 times the companys original objective Returning $1.6 billion to shareholders through repurchases and dividends and increasing the dividend by 8% for the sixth consecutive year Coben also pointed to performance during Winter Storm Fern, when the Texas fleet achieved 97% in the money availability, which he said reflected prior plant investments and operational execution. Segment performance and cash flow drivers Chung attributed Texas segment adjusted EBITDA of $1.877 billion to margin expansion, commercial optimization, and favorable weather that benefited home energy volumes. The East segment delivered adjusted EBITDA of $981 million, down slightly year over year due to higher retail supply and planned maintenance costs, as well as the retirement of the Indian River facility, partially offset by strong capacity revenues and winter-driven natural gas margin expansion. West and Other adjusted EBITDA was $137 million, reflecting the absence of earnings from the sale of the Airtron business in September 2024 and a lease expiration at the Cottonwood facility in May 2025, partially offset by higher retail margins in the West. Smart Home generated adjusted EBITDA of $1.092 billion, driven by record customer adds, retention, and higher net service margins. Free cash flow before growth increased by $148 million year over year to $2.21 billion. Chung said the increase was primarily driven by higher adjusted EBITDA, lower interest payments due to the Vivint ring fence removal, and receipt of remaining insurance proceeds tied to WA Parish Unit 8 claims. LS Power acquisition doubles generation fleet and expands demand response NRG closed the acquisition of the LS Power portfolio at the end of January, and Coben said the transaction is already outperforming underwriting assumptions due to stronger capacity and energy prices. He also noted that 100% bonus depreciation enhances after-tax returns versus original modeling. Management said the combined generation fleet has doubled to 25 GW, adding 18 natural gas assets primarily in PJM with additional positions in ERCOT, MISO, and ISO New England. The combined fleet is now more than 75% natural gas, and Coben said the company is naturally long against its residential load in core markets. NRG also highlighted the addition of CPower, which Coben described as a preeminent demand response company that strengthens NRGs commercial and industrial flexibility offering. The company said the deal was immediately accretive, supports long-term leverage targets, and strengthens its credit profile. 2026 guidance reaffirmed; capital allocation outlined NRG reaffirmed the 2026 guidance ranges it introduced in early February following the LS Power close, which reflect 11 months of ownership for the acquired assets rather than a full year. Midpoints cited by Chung were: Adjusted EBITDA: $5.575 billion $5.575 billion Adjusted net income: $1.9 billion $1.9 billion Adjusted EPS: $8.90 $8.90 Free cash flow before growth: $3.05 billion Chung said updated disclosures captured improved pricing and capacity values and included a pre-closing adjustment for January 2026 performance for the LS Power assets. For 2026 capital allocation, NRG expects $3.05 billion of total cash for allocation, including $2.1 billion from the legacy business and $950 million from LS Power assets prorated to 11 months. Planned uses include roughly $1 billion for debt payments, $123 million of one-time integration costs, and at least $1.4 billion returned to shareholders through repurchases and dividends. The company also earmarked $310 million for growth initiatives, including Texas generation builds and consumer platform investments. Long-term framework extended to 2030; data center contracting emphasized NRG rolled forward its long-term outlook, continuing to target at least 14% annual growth in adjusted EPS and free cash flow before growth per share, now measured from 2026 through 2030. Management emphasized that the outlook assumes flat power and capacity prices and does not include upside from rising prices, additional data center contracts, or potential conversion/upgrade opportunities at acquired LS assets. Chung said the company is forecasting adjusted EPS of greater than $14 by 2030 and free cash flow before growth of greater than $22 per share by 2030, while maintaining the 14%+ compounded annual growth framework. He also noted that the updated plan incorporates all three Texas Energy Fund projects (with the first targeted for completion in June 2026 and the additional two expected online by mid-2028) and the portion of previously signed 445 MW of data center contracts expected to come online during the period. On large-load strategy, Coben stressed that affordability and reliability will define long-term success, arguing that new large loads should bring their own power by contracting for the generation supporting them, alongside scaling demand response such as VPPs. Management said NRG has more than 6 GW of natural gas generation capacity reserved for customer-backed projects, including 5.4 GW through a GE Vernova and Kiewit venture and 1 GW of uprate potential within the acquired LS portfolio. In Q&A, executives said they are pursuing large data center contracting blocks in excess of 1 GW, typically with 10- to 20-year terms, and very heavy capacity payments with a variable component. President Rob Gaudette said the structure under discussion would generally leave the hyperscaler taking gas price risk, though NRG could assist via its gas platform if a counterparty wanted to offload that exposure. Coben said the company is targeting tier-1 hyperscalers and even inside that universe based on credit assessments. NRG said its target is to sign at least 1 GW of long-term data center power contracts in 2026, but management clarified in Q&A that this target is not included in 2026 guidance or in the rolled-forward long-term outlook. Coben also indicated that, assuming needed agreements are reached, initial power from large projects could be online late 2029, with potential for roughly 1 GW per year thereafter. Coben closed by outlining 2026 priorities: integrating LS Power, completing TH Wharton, expanding the VPP platform, executing under the Bring Your Own Power approach, delivering guidance, returning at least $1.4 billion to shareholders, growing the dividend within the companys framework, and maintaining balance sheet strength. He also noted he is approaching the conclusion of his time as CEO and plans to continue as an advisor and shareholder. About NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) is a U.S.-based integrated power company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of power generation assets and participates in wholesale and retail energy markets. NRG supplies electricity to utilities, commercial and industrial customers, and retail consumers, while also providing energy-related products and services designed to manage consumption and support reliability. NRGs generation mix includes conventional thermal plants as well as renewable and distributed energy resources. Featured Articles PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PTBRY Get Free Report) shares traded down 4.4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $13.32 and last traded at $13.52. 1,704 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 25% from the average session volume of 1,362 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.1450. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Trading Down 3.0% The business has a 50-day moving average price of $13.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.40. Get PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk alerts: About PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Get Free Report) PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, commonly known as BNI, is one of Indonesias oldest and largest state-owned commercial banks. Established in 1946 shortly after the countrys independence, BNI was originally tasked with financing the fledgling republics economic development. Over the decades, it has grown into a diversified financial institution offering an array of banking services for retail, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), corporates and institutional clients. BNIs core business activities encompass corporate and commercial banking, consumer and retail lending, trade finance, treasury and cash management, as well as wealth management products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ReposiTrak Inc. (NYSE:TRAK Get Free Report) CEO Randall Fields sold 2,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.50, for a total transaction of $18,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 105,300 shares in the company, valued at $895,050. This represents a 2.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. ReposiTrak Stock Performance Shares of TRAK traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $8.86. 467,554 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 92,670. The stocks fifty day moving average is $11.01 and its 200 day moving average is $13.80. ReposiTrak Inc. has a 1-year low of $8.11 and a 1-year high of $23.72. The stock has a market cap of $161.25 million, a P/E ratio of 23.95 and a beta of 0.45. Get ReposiTrak alerts: ReposiTrak (NYSE:TRAK Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.86 million for the quarter. ReposiTrak had a return on equity of 14.52% and a net margin of 30.62%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently commented on TRAK. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of ReposiTrak in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of ReposiTrak from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Read Our Latest Analysis on ReposiTrak Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TRAK. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of ReposiTrak by 63.5% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,633 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 634 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its position in shares of ReposiTrak by 152.6% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 2,127 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of ReposiTrak by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 25,364 shares of the companys stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 2,614 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in ReposiTrak by 397.3% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,620 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 2,892 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. boosted its position in ReposiTrak by 22.5% in the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 17,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 3,185 shares in the last quarter. 27.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About ReposiTrak (Get Free Report) ReposiTrak, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TRAK, is a provider of cloud-based supply chain compliance and transparency solutions. The companys platform enables retailers, suppliers and manufacturers to manage, share and validate product data throughout the supply chain. Through its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering, ReposiTrak helps organizations ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, industry standards and retailer-specific guidelines for food safety, sustainability, labeling and quality assurance. At the core of ReposiTraks offerings is its DataHub, a centralized repository that captures critical information such as product specifications, certifications, catch-weight data, temperature logs and recall notifications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ReposiTrak Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ReposiTrak and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Resolute Mining (LON:RSG) Chief Executive Officer Chris Eger told investors the Africa-focused gold producer believes it has all the makings to extend a 2025 operational turnaround into 2026 while advancing its next major growth project in Cote dIvoire. Speaking at a BMO-hosted event, Eger outlined production guidance, capital spending plans, and what he described as a pipeline that could take the company beyond its current longer-term goal of becoming a 500,000-ounce producer by 2028. Get alerts: 2025 turnaround and outlook for cash generation Eger said the company executed flawlessly on a turnaround plan established at the beginning of 2025 after a difficult 2024 for both Syama and Mali. He credited augmented skilled teams across the business, efforts to repair relationships with government stakeholders, and a strategic pivot that meaningfully diversifies the company into Cote dIvoire, which he said will become Resolutes flagship country where we operate. Path to 500,000 ounces by 2028and potential for 750,000 by decade-end He stated that Resolute operates in four countries, producing about 275,000 ounces of gold annually, with 2025 production cited at 277,000 ounces. Eger said EBITDA in 2025 was over $380 million and cash flows were $140 million. In the current gold price environment, he added, the company anticipates over $500 million of EBITDA and free cash flow of over $200 million, excluding capital expenditures required for Doropo. Eger said Resolute expects similar production levels in 2026 and 2027 before output rises above 500,000 ounces once the Doropo project comes online from 2028. He reiterated that the company remains very much on track to reach 500,000 ounces by 2028, adding that, given the gold price environment, management is also starting to target 750,000 ounces by the end of the decade through expansion potential across its assets and additional projects in Cote dIvoire. Doropo: construction ramp and phased expansion plans Eger said Resolute acquired the Doropo project from AngloGold Ashanti in May of the prior year for $150 million in cash, structured as $25 million paid upfront, $50 million due in October, and $75 million due the following year. He said key 2025 milestones included hiring a project team led by Rob Cicchini and updating the definitive feasibility study (DFS) in December 2025. According to Eger, the updated economics are incredibly robust, and he described Doropo as being worth well over $2.5 billion. He noted the company ran new pit shells at a $2,000 gold price, resulting in a reserve of 2.5 million ounces, and said that at $3,000 to $4,000 gold the reserve could increase to 3.5 million to 4 million ouncessuggesting a mine life longer than 13 years. Eger said the initial production profile is expected to be around 200,000 ounces for the first four years and generate over $400 million of cash. He added that a phase two expansion is underway and is expected to be published toward the end of 2026. On funding and near-term work, Eger said Resolute has completed FEED work, is preparing to award an EPC contractor, and expects to begin water storage construction shortly. He said 2026 capex is forecast at over $300 million due to the start of Doropo construction, with planned capex of about $200 million this year. He also said the company is pretty much fully funded, citing over $300 million of cash on hand and more than $200 million of cash generation, although he acknowledged a very slight funding gap. Syama in Mali and Mako in Senegal: stabilization and transition Addressing Mali, Eger said operational performance improved in the second half of 2025 after supply chain issuesparticularly explosivesconstrained mining throughput earlier in the year. He said the company is on track to produce over 200,000 ounces from Syama and characterized the deposit as a world-class asset with over 10 million ounces of resource, albeit in a difficult jurisdiction. He said Resolute is completing a capital project to move to 100% sulfide processing on site, allowing mining to be simplified to two sources: the existing sublevel cave (about 2.5 grams per tonne material) and the Syama North open pit (about 1.9 grams per tonne material). While Eger said the company sees a case to expand Syama under the right conditionspotentially doubling the businesshe indicated Resolute will hold off on discretionary capital until there is more positivity and movement with the Mali government. In Senegal, Eger said the Mako mine is in transition after the original pit reached end of mine life in 2025. The operation is now processing stockpiles through the end of 2027, and he said production has declined from about 100,000 ounces to around 60,000 ounces this year. Looking forward, he said Resolute plans to develop two satellite deposits to support operations for the next 10 years, targeting roughly 80,000 ounces per year at around a $1,500 cash cost. Eger said the company has identified well over 600,000 ounces near the plant to feed operations. He said Resolute is preparing to file a mining application for Tombo and Koto in the next month, expects to receive a mining permit at the beginning of next year, and noted that village relocation and plant upgrades are requiredpushing anticipated production from Tombo and Koto to 2028. He added that Bantaco mining is expected to start toward the end of next year to blend stockpiles with fresh ore and bridge the gap until Tombo begins production. Exploration in Cote dIvoire: potential fourth and fifth mines Eger said exploration remains central to the companys strategy and highlighted two Cote dIvoire projects that could become additional mines. The ABC project, acquired as part of the Doropo transaction, currently hosts over 2.2 million ounces at 0.9 grams per tonne, centralized in the Kone permit across roughly 12 kilometers of strike. He said the company plans at least 20,000 meters of drilling in the Kone area and believes the resource could grow to 3 million to 4 million ounces. A scoping study is underway to outline economics. He also discussed the Ladebo project in southern Cote dIvoire, described as a smaller resource of 640,000 ounces at 1.1 grams per tonne. Resolute is drilling over 10,000 meters there and completing a scoping study. Eger said the project could be our fifth mine, while noting that securing drill rigs has been challenging in the current environment. In response to a question on Mali, Eger said the mood has improved significantly since 2024 and discussions are more productive and more professional, but he emphasized caution. He said Resolute has not been receiving VAT receivables back and is still looking to sign a mining convention, calling these key milestones before the company commits additional discretionary investment to expand Syama. About Resolute Mining (LON:RSG) Resolute is an African-focused gold miner with more than 30 years of experience as an explorer, developer and operator. Throughout its history the Company has produced more than 9 million ounces of gold from ten gold mines. The Company is now entering a growth phase through the development of the Doropo project in Cote dIvoire which will supplement the existing production from the Syama mine in Mali and Mako mine in Senegal. The Company trades on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker RSG. Featured Stories Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.02, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $2.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.24 billion. Rocket Companies had a positive return on equity of 2.83% and a negative net margin of 1.77%.The companys revenue was up 52.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.04 EPS. Here are the key takeaways from Rocket Companies conference call: Get Rocket Companies alerts: Rocket beat guidance in Q4 with $2.44 billion in adjusted revenue, $592 million adjusted EBITDA for the quarter and full-year adjusted revenue of $6.9 billion , while market share rose to 5.5% , supporting stronger near-term growth expectations. in adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA for the quarter and full-year adjusted revenue of , while market share rose to , supporting stronger near-term growth expectations. Integration of Redfin and Mr. Cooper is ahead of planRedfin expense synergies of $140 million were realized early, ~ 600,000 loans were migrated smoothly, and Mr. Cooper synergies are on track to be fully realized sooner than the original 2027 target. were realized early, ~ were migrated smoothly, and Mr. Cooper synergies are on track to be fully realized sooner than the original 2027 target. AI and automation materially increased operating leverageRocket produced nearly $50 billion in Q4 originations with roughly half the headcount , handles millions of automated contacts monthly, reports a 3x industry recapture rate, and says it is capturing over $1 billion of incremental volume per month. in Q4 originations with roughly , handles millions of automated contacts monthly, reports a industry recapture rate, and says it is capturing over of incremental volume per month. The strategic alliance with Compass aims to expand inventory and distributionRedfin will be the exclusive portal for Compass Private Exclusives, Compass becomes a major brokerage partner, and Rocket Mortgage will offer integrated preferred pricing to improve affordability and drive attach rates. Rocket Companies Trading Up 2.4% Shares of NYSE RKT traded up $0.42 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $17.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 22,123,079 shares, compared to its average volume of 30,805,132. Rocket Companies has a 12 month low of $10.94 and a 12 month high of $24.36. The stock has a market cap of $37.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 221.90 and a beta of 2.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 19.68 and a current ratio of 19.68. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.92. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on RKT. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $22.00 price objective (up from $16.00) on shares of Rocket Companies in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and issued a $25.00 price target on shares of Rocket Companies in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on shares of Rocket Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $25.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Rocket Companies in a report on Friday, December 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays set a $22.00 target price on Rocket Companies and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Rocket Companies currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $20.50. Read Our Latest Stock Report on RKT Rocket Companies News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Rocket Companies this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations RKT reported $0.11 EPS vs. $0.09 consensus and revenue of $2.44B vs. $2.24B expected, showing better-than-forecast quarter-to-quarter performance. Q4 Press Release Q4 results beat expectations RKT reported $0.11 EPS vs. $0.09 consensus and revenue of $2.44B vs. $2.24B expected, showing better-than-forecast quarter-to-quarter performance. Positive Sentiment: Company raised Q1 2026 revenue guidance to $2.6B$2.8B, above the Streets ~$2.3B estimate (EPS guidance was not specified in the release), signaling management expects stronger origination/servicing activity next quarter. Guidance & Results PR Company raised Q1 2026 revenue guidance to $2.6B$2.8B, above the Streets ~$2.3B estimate (EPS guidance was not specified in the release), signaling management expects stronger origination/servicing activity next quarter. Positive Sentiment: Strategic alliance with Compass (listing inventory to appear on Redfin) could materially increase home listings available to Rockets platform, supporting mortgage origination and ancillary services growth. Alliance PR Strategic alliance with Compass (listing inventory to appear on Redfin) could materially increase home listings available to Rockets platform, supporting mortgage origination and ancillary services growth. Positive Sentiment: Falling mortgage rates (average ~6.09%, lowest since 2022) improve affordability and could lift origination volumes if the trend continues. Mortgage Rates Article Falling mortgage rates (average ~6.09%, lowest since 2022) improve affordability and could lift origination volumes if the trend continues. Neutral Sentiment: Leadership tweak: CFO Brian Brown was named President while remaining CFO/Treasurer a continuity move but one investors will watch for execution and strategy signal. Leadership PR Leadership tweak: CFO Brian Brown was named President while remaining CFO/Treasurer a continuity move but one investors will watch for execution and strategy signal. Neutral Sentiment: Options and media attention point to elevated expectations for post-earnings volatility; analysts still show an Outperform consensus, but near-term swings are likely. Options/Market Article Options and media attention point to elevated expectations for post-earnings volatility; analysts still show an Outperform consensus, but near-term swings are likely. Negative Sentiment: Short interest jumped ~49.8% in February to ~54.4M shares about 35.1% of float which raises the risk of downward pressure and volatility if sentiment turns negative. (Short-interest ratio ~1.6 days.) Short interest jumped ~49.8% in February to ~54.4M shares about 35.1% of float which raises the risk of downward pressure and volatility if sentiment turns negative. (Short-interest ratio ~1.6 days.) Negative Sentiment: Despite the top-line and EPS beat, Rocket reported a negative net margin (~-1.77%) and modest ROE (2.83%), underscoring profitability and margin recovery challenges. Q4 Press Release Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Matthew Rizik sold 2,500 shares of Rocket Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.26, for a total value of $53,150.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 1,046,036 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,238,725.36. This trade represents a 0.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Over the last three months, insiders sold 32,500 shares of company stock worth $645,775. Corporate insiders own 92.64% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Rocket Companies Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Rocket Companies by 48.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 69,641 shares of the companys stock valued at $841,000 after purchasing an additional 22,861 shares during the period. Amundi raised its holdings in Rocket Companies by 3.1% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 33,416 shares of the companys stock worth $403,000 after purchasing an additional 997 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Rocket Companies by 1,086.5% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 400,467 shares of the companys stock worth $4,734,000 after purchasing an additional 366,716 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in Rocket Companies by 12.2% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 370,619 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,473,000 after buying an additional 40,326 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Planning boosted its holdings in shares of Rocket Companies by 17.2% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 18,215 shares of the companys stock valued at $258,000 after buying an additional 2,679 shares in the last quarter. 4.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Rocket Companies (Get Free Report) Rocket Companies, Inc is a Detroit-based holding company whose businesses are centered on digital mortgage origination and related consumer finance and real estate services. The company grew out of the Quicken Loans franchise and completed an initial public offering in 2020. Founder Dan Gilbert remains a prominent figure associated with the firm, which operates a suite of brands that aim to simplify the home financing and buying experience through technology and scale. The companys core activity is mortgage lending through its Rocket Mortgage platform, which offers online application, underwriting and servicing for home purchase and refinance loans. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rocket Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rocket Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Veris (ASX:VRS) executives outlined continued momentum in the first half of FY2026, pointing to higher revenue, improved earnings and growing contribution from the companys digital and spatial consulting strategy. Get alerts: Presenting alongside CEO Michael Shirley, CFO Steve Harding said the business is increasingly targeting engagements where it can differentiate through data capture, storage, analytics, and insights, as Veris continues shifting toward what management described as higher-quality revenues and margins. Half-year results show higher revenue and earnings Shirley said Veris delivered, representing a. The company reported, upon the prior comparable period, while, up Harding noted that reported PBT was AUD 0.8 million, which he said was affected by a number of larger one-off expense items during the half. He added that when normalizing for those costs, Veris underlying EBIT and PBT margins continued to improve year-over-year. Management also highlighted a growing proportion of revenue tied to the companys digital and spatial strategy. Shirley said digital and spatial revenue reached 29% of total revenue for the half, up from 20% in the same period last year. Harding contrasted that with FY2023, when he said 10% of full-year revenue came from digital and spatial consulting and advisory projects. Strategy centered on digital platforms and advisory growth Shirley described Veris transformation from a legacy surveying business into a spatial data, advisory, and digital solutions provider. While he said the survey business remains a strong core offering, he characterized it as potentially low margin in a standalone context and said the company has focused on building higher-value consulting and advisory work supported by proprietary digital platforms. Harding said the improved underlying margins reflect platforms and analytics developed in-house that he said are disrupting traditional industry methodologies, helping move the company away from more commoditized work. Shirley said Veris aims to monetize the data, not just the time and hours of our people, and pointed to potential revenue streams such as subscriptions, software sales, and pricing tied to analytics. Digital products and examples discussed Shirley said Veris has developed a suite of proprietary, cloud-based, AI-enabled platforms used to help clients visualize assets and generate insights. He cited products including: Vantage (property solution) (property solution) BridgeSiDe and RoadSiDe (transport asset-focused solutions) and (transport asset-focused solutions) PhotoNavigator (applied across industries) (applied across industries) Parsel (a newer solution acquired through Mesh, described as optimizing development contributions in the property sector) To illustrate PhotoNavigator in practice, Shirley said Veris completed a dilapidation survey for an Australian port authority using 3-day reality capture data with spatial referencing, along with AI-assisted analysis to create a digital asset record. He also described a transport asset engagement where the company collected more than 30,000 images over a matter of weeks and used an AI-developed application to produce descriptions and inspection reports, which he said delivered productivity benefits and supported ongoing asset management. Shirley also referenced the companys application development capability, originating from the acquired Spatial Vision team, and cited the QLD Fishing 2.0 app as an example of building a solution with real-time updates and reporting. Backlog, pipeline, and market conditions Veris reported a secure backlog of AUD 65 million at the half, which Shirley said was supported by wins including Suburban Rail Loop and other digital and spatial projects. He added that the companys weighted pipeline exceeded AUD 195 million. Harding said some of the companys traditional service lines experienced market-related softness, primarily in Victoria, which he attributed to project timing and regional conditions. He said the impacts were viewed as market-related rather than structural. In Q&A, Shirley said the companys efforts to diversify across geographies and sectors are intended to mitigate timing risks such as major infrastructure program delays shifting between periods. He pointed to relative strength in New South Wales, anticipated growth in Queensland, and a pretty strong resources sector in WA. Shirley also discussed transport and energy-related activity, citing ongoing support for Western Sydney Airport and referencing work in Queensland including Gold Coast Light Rail. He said the company is supporting renewable energy projects using digital solutions through development and into construction and described a strong bow wave of work coming from that sector. Balance sheet, acquisitions, and capital allocation Shirley said Veris ended the half with a cash balance of AUD 14.9 million, which management described as providing flexibility to accelerate strategic execution. Harding said the strong cash position reflected a focus on higher-margin project delivery, working capital management, cost control, and minimizing capital expenditure through equipment utilization and mobilization efficiency. Harding said maintaining cash was particularly notable given outlays during the half including the acquisition of Mesh and a 50% interest in the Parsel business, payment of the FY2025 final dividend (which he said was not paid in the prior year), FY2025 staff incentive payments (also not incurred in the prior year), and non-recurring legal and M&A process costs. On M&A, Shirley said Veris is focused on small to mid-size acquisitions, targeting opportunities across consulting/advisory capabilities and digitally focused businesses, including filling geographic gaps. Harding added that the balance sheet has capacity to leverage up if the right larger acquisition opportunity arises. Addressing debt, Harding said borrowings have historically been used to invest in technology and equipment, including surveying and data capture tools, laser scanning, and drone fleet capabilities that he linked to applications such as BridgeSiDe and RoadSiDe. He said the company expects to continue repaying debt from project cash flows, describing the balance sheet as pretty clean. Management closed by reiterating confidence in continued progress through the second half, citing strategy execution, growth in digital revenue contribution, and the backlog and pipeline position. About Veris (ASX:VRS) Veris Limited provides surveying and spatial data services primarily in Australia. The company provides an end-to-end spatial data solution, which includes data collection, analysis, interpretation, data hosting and access, modelling, and sharing and insights for clients. It offers engineering survey; engineering and property services; and town planning and urban design services. It serves infrastructure, property, mining, resources, energy, utilities, government, and defence sectors. Veris Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in East Melbourne, Australia. Read More Best Buy (NYSE:BBY Free Report) had its target price lowered by Wedbush from $80.00 to $70.00 in a research note released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the technology retailers stock. Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on BBY. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Best Buy from $77.00 to $73.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 16th. Guggenheim reiterated a buy rating and issued a $90.00 price target on shares of Best Buy in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Best Buy from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Best Buy from $94.00 to $89.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Best Buy from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Best Buy has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $79.79. Get Best Buy alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Best Buy Best Buy Price Performance Shares of NYSE BBY opened at $62.82 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $13.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.80, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.44. Best Buy has a twelve month low of $54.99 and a twelve month high of $90.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a 50 day moving average of $67.29 and a 200 day moving average of $73.04. Best Buy (NYSE:BBY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The technology retailer reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $9.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.57 billion. Best Buy had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 1.54%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Best Buy will post 6.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Best Buy Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Best Buy by 69.3% during the third quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 337 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Best Buy during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Best Buy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Best Buy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Best Buy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 80.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Best Buy (Get Free Report) Best Buy Co, Inc is a leading North American consumer electronics retailer that sells a broad range of products including computers, mobile phones, televisions and home theater systems, major appliances, smart-home devices, gaming hardware and software, wearables and related accessories. The company operates through a mix of large-format stores, smaller specialty locations and an e-commerce platform, offering national and private-brand merchandise from major consumer-technology manufacturers as well as third-party sellers. Beyond product retailing, Best Buy provides a suite of services aimed at installation, repair and ongoing technical support. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Best Buy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Best Buy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whitecap Resources (TSE:WCP Free Report) had its price target raised by BMO Capital Markets from C$13.00 to C$15.00 in a research note published on Tuesday morning,BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has an outperform rating on the stock. WCP has been the subject of a number of other research reports. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$16.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Raymond James Financial cut shares of Whitecap Resources from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from C$15.00 to C$16.00 in a report on Tuesday. TD Securities increased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$13.00 to C$15.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Desjardins raised their price objective on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$13.50 to C$14.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Capital One Financial raised shares of Whitecap Resources to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Whitecap Resources has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$15.15. Get Whitecap Resources alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Whitecap Resources Whitecap Resources Stock Up 0.5% Whitecap Resources Announces Dividend Whitecap Resources stock opened at C$13.49 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of C$16.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.94, a PEG ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.58, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.88. Whitecap Resources has a fifty-two week low of C$6.87 and a fifty-two week high of C$13.98. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$12.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$11.27. The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of $0.0608 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 5.4%. Whitecap Resourcess payout ratio is presently 64.57%. More Whitecap Resources News Here are the key news stories impacting Whitecap Resources this week: Whitecap Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Whitecap Resources Inc is a leading Canadian energy company committed to delivering reliable returns to shareholders through the responsible development of oil and natural gas assets in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. With a strong track record of profitable growth and a sustainable dividend, Whitecap delivers long-term value to investors, supported by investment-grade financial strength. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Whitecap Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whitecap Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 462,959 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,296 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $126,258,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of APD. Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the second quarter valued at $28,000. Abound Wealth Management lifted its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 292.3% in the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 102 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 228.1% during the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 105 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the companys stock. Get Air Products and Chemicals alerts: Insider Activity at Air Products and Chemicals In other news, Director Ridge Lp Mantle sold 70,175 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.21, for a total transaction of $19,944,436.75. Following the sale, the director directly owned 93,499 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,573,350.79. The trade was a 42.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.88% of the companys stock. Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance Shares of NYSE:APD opened at $276.27 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $61.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -182.96, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.87. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $266.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $267.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $229.11 and a twelve month high of $321.47. Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The basic materials company reported $3.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.04 by $0.12. Air Products and Chemicals had a negative net margin of 2.73% and a positive return on equity of 15.77%. The business had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.86 earnings per share. Air Products and Chemicalss quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Air Products and Chemicals has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.950-3.100 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 12.850-13.150 EPS. Research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current year. Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.81 per share. This is a positive change from Air Products and Chemicalss previous quarterly dividend of $1.79. This represents a $7.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 1st. Air Products and Chemicalss dividend payout ratio is presently -474.17%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on APD shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating and set a $315.00 target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings cut Air Products and Chemicals from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $272.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $300.00 to $313.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $295.88. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Air Products and Chemicals About Air Products and Chemicals (Free Report) Air Products and Chemicals, Inc is a global supplier of industrial gases and related equipment and services, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company produces and delivers atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, as well as specialty and process gases used across a wide range of industrial applications. Air Products designs, builds and operates gas production facilities, merchant distribution networks and on-site gas systems for customers that require reliable, high-purity gases and integrated supply solutions. The companys product and service portfolio includes packaged and bulk gas supply, pipeline distribution, on-site generation, gas handling and storage equipment, and engineered systems for gas liquefaction and purification. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Air Products and Chemicals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Air Products and Chemicals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Noble Gas Inc. (NYSE:INFY Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Hold from the ten research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $16.8871. Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut American Noble Gas from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $14.31 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen increased their price objective on American Noble Gas from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on American Noble Gas from $19.00 to $17.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of American Noble Gas in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of American Noble Gas from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Get American Noble Gas alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on American Noble Gas Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Noble Gas American Noble Gas Trading Up 3.2% A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in shares of American Noble Gas by 6.4% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 63,155 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,153,000 after buying an additional 3,804 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in American Noble Gas by 79.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 54,978 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,003,000 after acquiring an additional 24,426 shares during the period. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of American Noble Gas during the 1st quarter valued at about $239,000. Institutional investors own 16.20% of the companys stock. Shares of American Noble Gas stock opened at $14.70 on Tuesday. American Noble Gas has a 12-month low of $13.65 and a 12-month high of $30.00. The company has a market cap of $59.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.09, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.98. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $17.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.09. American Noble Gas (NYSE:INFY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The technology company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.01. American Noble Gas had a net margin of 16.16% and a return on equity of 30.60%. The firm had revenue of $5.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.11 billion. Analysts predict that American Noble Gas will post 0.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. 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. Featured Stories 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. Anglo American (OTCMKTS:NGLOY Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 201,367 shares, a decline of 53.5% from the January 29th total of 433,258 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 918,651 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 918,651 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Anglo American Trading Down 0.2% Shares of OTCMKTS:NGLOY traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $25.19. The companys stock had a trading volume of 119,520 shares, compared to its average volume of 686,633. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $22.80 and a 200-day moving average of $19.57. Anglo American has a 12-month low of $12.70 and a 12-month high of $26.04. Get Anglo American alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NGLOY shares. DZ Bank upgraded Anglo American from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup raised Anglo American from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Anglo American in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Anglo American in a report on Monday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $20.00. About Anglo American (Get Free Report) Anglo American plc is a multinational mining company headquartered in London that explores for, mines, processes and markets a broad range of commodities. Its principal activities cover the extraction and processing of bulk and specialty metals and minerals, including copper, iron ore, platinum group metals (PGMs), diamonds, nickel and both metallurgical and thermal coal. Anglo Americans operations span the full value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to mineral processing, smelting, refining and the sale of mined products to industrial and consumer markets worldwide. The company has a long history in the mining industry, having been established in the early 20th century and grown into one of the worlds major mining groups. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Anglo American Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Anglo American and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Aperam (OTCMKTS:APEMY Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Friday . 16,486 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 397% from the previous sessions volume of 3,320 shares.The stock last traded at $52.20 and had previously closed at $51.75. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on APEMY shares. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Aperam in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Aperam in a report on Monday, February 9th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Aperam in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research lowered Aperam from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Oddo Bhf downgraded shares of 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 given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold. Get Aperam alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Aperam Aperam Stock Up 1.4% The stock has a market capitalization of $3.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 328.02 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 3.15 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stocks fifty day moving average is $44.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.36. Aperam (OTCMKTS:APEMY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.13. Aperam had a return on equity of 1.05% and a net margin of 0.17%.The business had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.69 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Aperam will post 2.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Aperam Company Profile (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. Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 788,192 shares, an increase of 122.6% from the January 29th total of 354,013 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 671,356 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days. Approximately 1.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 1.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 671,356 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.2 days. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have commented on BCSF shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $16.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $14.00 target price on Bain Capital Specialty Finance and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.00. Get Bain Capital Specialty Finance alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bain Capital Specialty Finance Bain Capital Specialty Finance Trading Up 0.1% NYSE:BCSF traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $12.77. The company had a trading volume of 101,739 shares, compared to its average volume of 527,296. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 1.78. Bain Capital Specialty Finance has a fifty-two week low of $12.43 and a fifty-two week high of $19.21. The firm has a market cap of $828.25 million, a P/E ratio of 8.86 and a beta of 0.61. The businesss fifty day moving average is $13.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.17. Bain Capital Specialty Finance (NYSE:BCSF Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.01. Bain Capital Specialty Finance had a return on equity of 11.03% and a net margin of 33.45%.The company had revenue of $68.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $68.48 million. As a group, research analysts expect that Bain Capital Specialty Finance will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current year. Bain Capital Specialty Finance Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.2%. This is a boost from Bain Capital Specialty Finances previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. Bain Capital Specialty Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 116.67%. Institutional Trading of Bain Capital Specialty Finance Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 140,801 shares of the companys stock worth $2,337,000 after buying an additional 4,722 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of 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 worth $6,722,000 after acquiring an additional 97,714 shares in the last quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the second quarter worth about $350,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the 2nd quarter valued at about $793,000. Finally, Muzinich & Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 53.0% in the 2nd quarter. Muzinich & Co. Inc. now owns 553,802 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,329,000 after purchasing an additional 191,776 shares during the period. Bain Capital Specialty Finance Company Profile (Get 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. Read More 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. ENI (NYSE:E Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.09, Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $24.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.45 billion. ENI had a return on equity of 8.53% and a net margin of 3.20%. Here are the key takeaways from ENIs conference call: Get ENI alerts: Eni highlighted strong upstream execution six major project start-ups in 2025 drove production growth (full-year 1.728 million b/d, ~2% above guidance), a >160% reserves replacement ratio and 500,000 b/d of production under development, plus ~900 million barrels discovered in 2025. in 2025 drove production growth (full-year 1.728 million b/d, ~2% above guidance), a ratio and of production under development, plus ~900 million barrels discovered in 2025. Financial delivery was robust CFFO 12.5bn (1.5bn ahead of plan), pro forma net CapEx <5bn, net debt down ~3bn with pro forma gearing ~14%, and the share buyback was increased from 1.5bn to 1.8bn . (1.5bn ahead of plan), pro forma net CapEx <5bn, net debt down ~3bn with pro forma gearing ~14%, and the share buyback was increased from 1.5bn to . Transition businesses gained scale and market validation Plenitude expanded renewables >40% in 2025, Enilive is adding biorefinery capacity (several FIDs and 2m tpa incremental), and Eni reported ~2bn EBITDA from planned transition assets with thirdparty interest implying significant enterprise value. Industrial transformation faces near-term headwinds weak chemical markets and low refinery utilization pressured results, prompting early cracker closures (Brindisi, Priolo) and a restructuring of Versalis whose benefits are expected to phase in over 1218 months. 2026 guidance emphasizes disciplined capital allocation gross CapEx ~7bn, net CapEx ~5bn, target pro forma gearing 1015%, and management reiterates a funded, growing dividend with buybacks as a variable distribution tool; full plan to be detailed at the March Capital Markets Update. ENI Price Performance ENI stock traded up $1.27 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $46.81. 632,996 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 339,469. The companys fifty day moving average is $40.33 and its 200-day moving average is $37.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.16. ENI has a 52 week low of $24.65 and a 52 week high of $46.95. Key Headlines Impacting ENI Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat and strong revenue: Eni reported $0.87 EPS vs. $0.78 expected and revenue of $24.3B vs. $19.45B consensus, signaling upside to analyst estimates and supporting nearterm earnings momentum. MarketBeat Press Release Q4 beat and strong revenue: Eni reported $0.87 EPS vs. $0.78 expected and revenue of $24.3B vs. $19.45B consensus, signaling upside to analyst estimates and supporting nearterm earnings momentum. Positive Sentiment: Production and profits rising: Adjusted net profit jumped ~35% year/year and oil & gas production rose >7%, driven by six new projects supports cash generation and upstream outlook. Reuters: 35% rise Production and profits rising: Adjusted net profit jumped ~35% year/year and oil & gas production rose >7%, driven by six new projects supports cash generation and upstream outlook. Positive Sentiment: Strategic progress and capital returns: Management highlighted 4% production growth in 2025, >160% reserves replacement, near100% exploration success, a major JV with Petronas, Plenitude renewables expansion and increased buybacks funded by capex efficiency a multipronged valuecreation story. Seeking Alpha: Strategic Progress Strategic progress and capital returns: Management highlighted 4% production growth in 2025, >160% reserves replacement, near100% exploration success, a major JV with Petronas, Plenitude renewables expansion and increased buybacks funded by capex efficiency a multipronged valuecreation story. Positive Sentiment: Venezuela exposure eased: With U.S. sanctions relaxed, Eni can now accept oil as payment for gas and is exploring JVs with U.S. firms this unlocks previously trapped receivables and potential incremental barrels. Reuters: Venezuela payment Venezuela exposure eased: With U.S. sanctions relaxed, Eni can now accept oil as payment for gas and is exploring JVs with U.S. firms this unlocks previously trapped receivables and potential incremental barrels. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call transcript available for detail: The Q4 earnings call transcript provides management color on production drivers, capex guidance and buyback sizing useful for modeling but not new headline news. Seeking Alpha: Earnings Transcript Earnings call transcript available for detail: The Q4 earnings call transcript provides management color on production drivers, capex guidance and buyback sizing useful for modeling but not new headline news. Neutral Sentiment: Local/regulatory watch Cyprus meeting: Enis CEO met Cyprus leadership on the Kronos project decision, a local permit/regulatory outcome to monitor for regional project timing but currently unresolved. Cyprus Mail: Kronos meeting Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Here are the key news stories impacting ENI this week: A number of research analysts have recently commented on E shares. Erste Group Bank raised shares of ENI to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Wall Street Zen downgraded ENI from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of ENI in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of ENI in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered ENI from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $34.60. Read Our Latest Stock Report on E Hedge Funds Weigh In On ENI Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vident Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of ENI by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 36,881 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $1,196,000 after buying an additional 1,651 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of ENI by 672.0% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 19,770 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $641,000 after purchasing an additional 17,209 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ENI by 7.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 28,733 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $932,000 after purchasing an additional 2,008 shares during the last quarter. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new position in ENI in the 2nd quarter worth $810,000. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP lifted its stake in ENI by 44.9% in the second quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 202,792 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $6,575,000 after purchasing an additional 62,834 shares during the last quarter. 1.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. ENI Company Profile (Get Free Report) ENI S.p.A. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Rome, Italy, founded in 1953 as a state-established hydrocarbon entity and later transformed into a publicly traded multinational. The firms activities span the full hydrocarbon value chain and extend into power generation and lowcarbon energy solutions. ENI maintains a long history in exploration and production, engineering and project development, and downstream operations that include refining, petrochemicals and retail fuel distribution. Core businesses include upstream exploration and production of oil and natural gas, midstream and liquefied natural gas (LNG) handling, and downstream refining and marketing of petroleum products and lubricants. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ENI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ENI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.58), Zacks reports. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a return on equity of 6.37% and a net margin of 2.29%.The business had revenue of $12.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.98 billion. Here are the key takeaways from Fomento Economico Mexicanos conference call: Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: FEMSA reported a late-2025 operational recovery at OXXO Mexico with Proximity Americas same-store sales nearing mid-single digits ( 4.4% ) and traffic markedly improved, driven by affordability initiatives (returnable packages, multi-serve SKUs, lower-price SKUs) that regained market share. ) and traffic markedly improved, driven by affordability initiatives (returnable packages, multi-serve SKUs, lower-price SKUs) that regained market share. Management has implemented a corporate restructuring and tighter cost discipline, aligning Spin with OXXO and consolidating corporate functions, which management estimates will yield about a MXN 1 billion annualized improvement (efficiencies ramping in 2026 and materializing by 2027), though near-term provisions will partially offset early savings. annualized improvement (efficiencies ramping in 2026 and materializing by 2027), though near-term provisions will partially offset early savings. Fourth-quarter financials showed improvementtotal revenues +5.7% and operating income +8.5% (net income MXN 12.7bn, +33.6%)and management remains committed to disciplined capital allocation (MXN 45.3bn CapEx in 2025, $3.1bn returned to shareholders in the last March cycle and ~ $1.3bn of planned extraordinary returns for Mar 2026Mar 2027). The Health division underperformed, posting a COP 487 million provision for uncollectible institutional accounts in Colombia and signaling a tough 2026 as management focuses on stabilizing Mexico operations and improving cash flow and returns. provision for uncollectible institutional accounts in Colombia and signaling a tough 2026 as management focuses on stabilizing Mexico operations and improving cash flow and returns. FEMSA remains growth-oriented but disciplined on rollouttargets include accelerating Bara (store base +~33% in 2026), OXXO Brazil (~100 net new stores, >15% growth), OXXO Colombia (+20% store growth), and continued measured expansion in the U.S. and Europe while linking openings to traffic and unit economics. Fomento Economico Mexicano Price Performance Shares of FMX stock traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $113.14. 240,586 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 437,387. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.15. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 52-week low of $83.08 and a 52-week high of $116.09. Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th were paid a dividend of $2.0531 per share. This represents a $8.21 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 16th. This is an increase from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous quarterly dividend of $2.00. Fomento Economico Mexicanos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.94%. FMX has been the subject of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $105.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $113.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $108.50. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Fomento Economico Mexicano Institutional Trading of Fomento Economico Mexicano A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of FMX. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 19.0% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 6,072 shares of the companys stock valued at $593,000 after buying an additional 969 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 2,006.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 337 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 321 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund purchased a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the second quarter valued at about $429,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 61.0% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,156 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 438 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC bought a new position in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the second quarter worth about $504,000. 61.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Fomento Economico Mexicano (Get Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V. (FEMSA) is a Mexican multinational company active primarily in the retail and beverage sectors. Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, FEMSAs operations span convenience store retailing, beverage bottling and distribution, and related logistics and consumer services. The companys business model combines high-frequency retail outlets with large-scale beverage production and a regional supply chain network. FEMSA Comercio, the companys retail arm, operates a large chain of convenience stores under the OXXO brand and has expanded its retail footprint with complementary formats and services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC grew its stake in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 28.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,384 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 2,530 shares during the quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $3,212,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new stake in shares of International Business Machines in the third quarter worth $28,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of International Business Machines by 129.1% during the 3rd quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 126 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID raised its position in shares of International Business Machines by 48.5% during the 2nd quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID now owns 147 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter valued at $54,000. 58.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get International Business Machines alerts: International Business Machines Stock Performance International Business Machines stock opened at $242.05 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $288.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $283.56. International Business Machines Corporation has a twelve month low of $214.50 and a twelve month high of $324.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The company has a market cap of $227.05 billion, a PE ratio of 21.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.69. International Business Machines Announces Dividend International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.33 by $0.19. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.69% and a return on equity of 38.15%. The firm had revenue of $19.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.92 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $1.68 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. This represents a $6.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. International Business Machiness payout ratio is currently 60.27%. Insider Buying and Selling at International Business Machines In related news, Director Michael Miebach purchased 434 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were bought at an average price of $233.33 per share, for a total transaction of $101,265.22. Following the acquisition, the director owned 434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $101,265.22. This represents a increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director David N. Farr acquired 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $304.00 per share, with a total value of $304,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 9,258 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,814,432. This trade represents a 12.11% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have purchased a total of 1,484 shares of company stock worth $417,157 in the last 90 days. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Erste Group Bank lowered International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Monday. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $340.00 price target on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Tuesday. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $361.00 price objective on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $320.87. Check Out Our Latest Report on IBM Key International Business Machines News Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week: 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. Recommended Stories 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. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its stake in shares of McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 22.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 168,866 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,043 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned approximately 0.14% of McKesson worth $130,456,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of McKesson by 35.3% during the third quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 5,089 shares of the companys stock worth $3,931,000 after purchasing an additional 1,329 shares in the last quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 31,841 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,598,000 after buying an additional 1,682 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its stake in McKesson by 91.2% during the 3rd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 1,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,365,000 after acquiring an additional 843 shares during the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of McKesson by 282.5% during the second quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 11,008 shares of the companys stock worth $8,067,000 after purchasing an additional 8,130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of McKesson by 12.4% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 330,647 shares of the companys stock worth $255,438,000 after acquiring an additional 36,451 shares in the last quarter. 85.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get McKesson alerts: More McKesson News Here are the key news stories impacting McKesson this week: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of McKesson in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective on shares of McKesson in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of McKesson from $920.00 to $980.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings lowered McKesson from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on McKesson from $1,000.00 to $1,012.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $943.50. Check Out Our Latest Report on McKesson McKesson Price Performance Shares of MCK stock opened at $973.59 on Friday. McKesson Corporation has a 12-month low of $619.48 and a 12-month high of $977.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $119.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $865.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $803.36. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $9.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.19 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $106.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $105.98 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 338.97% and a net margin of 1.09%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $8.03 EPS. McKesson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 38.800-39.200 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that McKesson Corporation will post 32.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. McKesson Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. McKessons dividend payout ratio is 9.43%. Insider Transactions at McKesson In other news, EVP Thomas L. Rodgers sold 276 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $816.18, for a total transaction of $225,265.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 2,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,851,096.24. This trade represents a 10.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Napoleon B. Rutledge, Jr. sold 328 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total value of $313,240.00. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,143 shares of company stock valued at $1,046,070. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. About McKesson (Free Report) McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) is a global healthcare services and distribution company that supplies pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical products and health care technology solutions. Founded in 1833 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, McKesson operates across the drug distribution and healthcare services value chain, connecting manufacturers, pharmacies, hospitals and health systems to help manage the movement of medicines and clinical supplies. The companys core activities include pharmaceutical wholesale distribution and logistics, specialty pharmacy services, and the provision of medical-surgical supplies to acute and non-acute care providers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lessened its stake in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR Free Report) by 30.0% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 478,830 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 205,000 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in AptarGroup were worth $64,000,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp increased its position in AptarGroup by 1.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,868,365 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $448,698,000 after buying an additional 43,188 shares during the last quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of AptarGroup by 97.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,759,026 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $368,771,000 after acquiring an additional 1,358,269 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in AptarGroup by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,749,276 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $282,868,000 after acquiring an additional 62,540 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp raised its stake in AptarGroup by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 1,234,354 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $164,984,000 after acquiring an additional 174,084 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in AptarGroup during the second quarter valued at about $118,182,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.52% of the companys stock. Get AptarGroup alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Gael Touya sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.35, for a total transaction of $494,725.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 27,963 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,952,570.05. The trade was a 11.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Daniel Ackerman sold 15,000 shares of AptarGroup stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.23, for a total transaction of $1,818,450.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 29,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,589,256.61. The trade was a 33.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.68% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ATR shares. Zacks Research lowered shares of AptarGroup from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of AptarGroup in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Robert W. Baird set a $156.00 price objective on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Monday, February 9th. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $220.00 price objective on shares of AptarGroup in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an equal weight rating and set a $133.00 target price on shares of AptarGroup in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AptarGroup currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $170.25. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on AptarGroup AptarGroup Price Performance Shares of NYSE:ATR opened at $141.79 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $129.12 and a 200 day moving average of $128.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The stock has a market cap of $9.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.07, a P/E/G ratio of 5.38 and a beta of 0.48. AptarGroup, Inc. has a 12 month low of $103.23 and a 12 month high of $164.28. AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $962.74 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $878.58 million. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.40% and a return on equity of 14.25%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.52 EPS. AptarGroup has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.130-1.210 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. AptarGroup announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, February 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $600.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to purchase up to 7.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. AptarGroup Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 4th were given a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 4th. AptarGroups payout ratio is presently 32.60%. AptarGroup Company Profile (Free Report) AptarGroup, Inc is a global provider of advanced dispensing, sealing and protection solutions for consumer and pharmaceutical markets. The company designs and manufactures a broad portfolio of products that enable the controlled delivery of liquids, gels, powders and aerosols. Its customer base spans beauty and personal care, home care, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, where innovation in packaging and drugdelivery devices drives brand differentiation and regulatory compliance. In the consumer markets, AptarGroup offers pumps, actuators, valves, closures and specialized bottles engineered for precision, convenience and sustainability. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ATR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AptarGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AptarGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in shares of Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report) by 2.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 311,713 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 8,423 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Welltower were worth $55,529,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of WELL. National Pension Service raised its stake in Welltower by 2.1% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,691,931 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $301,401,000 after buying an additional 34,532 shares during the last quarter. B&I Capital AG grew its stake in shares of Welltower by 5.7% in the third quarter. B&I Capital AG now owns 161,440 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,759,000 after acquiring an additional 8,650 shares during the last quarter. Candriam S.C.A. increased its holdings in shares of Welltower by 2.6% during the second quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 416,674 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $64,058,000 after acquiring an additional 10,584 shares in the last quarter. GDS Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Welltower by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 63,763 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $11,359,000 after purchasing an additional 7,699 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Welltower by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 39,616,289 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,090,212,000 after purchasing an additional 1,740,196 shares during the last quarter. 94.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Welltower alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on WELL shares. UBS Group set a $240.00 price objective on shares of Welltower in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Welltower from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and set a $205.00 price target on shares of Welltower in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and set a $231.00 price target on shares of Welltower in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Welltower from $207.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $218.79. Welltower Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WELL opened at $208.58 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $192.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $184.12. Welltower Inc. has a 52-week low of $130.29 and a 52-week high of $216.43. The company has a market cap of $145.54 billion, a PE ratio of 148.99, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 3.46, a current ratio of 3.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Welltower (NYSE:WELL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Welltower had a net margin of 8.64% and a return on equity of 2.46%. The firm had revenue of $3.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.93 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.13 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 41.3% on a year-over-year basis. Welltower has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.090-6.25 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Welltower Inc. will post 4.88 EPS for the current year. Welltower Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. Welltowers payout ratio is currently 211.43%. Welltower Company Profile (Free Report) Welltower Inc (NYSE: WELL) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires and manages real estate serving the health care industry. The company specializes in healthcare infrastructure, owning and operating a diversified portfolio of senior housing, post-acute and long-term care communities, and outpatient medical properties. Welltowers assets are designed to support the delivery of health care services through a combination of leased properties, joint ventures, and other capital arrangements with health care operators and providers. The companys property types include assisted living, memory care, independent living and skilled nursing facilities, as well as medical office buildings and other outpatient-care real estate such as ambulatory surgery centers and specialty clinics. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 17.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,557 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 1,441 shares during the period. Hohimer Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $4,771,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,697,527 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $10,048,993,000 after purchasing an additional 214,565 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 0.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,884,954 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,256,147,000 after buying an additional 19,459 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 0.6% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 959,510 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $444,387,000 after acquiring an additional 6,073 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 6.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 863,839 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $400,079,000 after acquiring an additional 55,607 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 16.6% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 761,382 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $347,381,000 after acquiring an additional 108,553 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the companys stock. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LMT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $515.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $660.00 price target on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $540.00 to $630.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, February 1st. DZ Bank lowered Lockheed Martin from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $665.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Lockheed Martin from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $612.50. Lockheed Martin Stock Performance LMT opened at $641.47 on Friday. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 52-week low of $410.11 and a 52-week high of $669.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $147.59 billion, a PE ratio of 29.85, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.09. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $578.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $508.04. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.53). The company had revenue of $20.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.84 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 6.69% and a return on equity of 108.53%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.67 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $3.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 64.22%. Lockheed Martin Company Profile (Free Report) Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world. Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report). 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. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 4.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 565,425 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 25,866 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $147,440,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 128.4% during the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,128 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,380,000 after acquiring an additional 5,131 shares in the last quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd boosted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 10.4% during the third quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 103,161 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $26,964,000 after purchasing an additional 9,738 shares during the last quarter. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1,328.6% in the third quarter. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,929 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,632,000 after purchasing an additional 12,954 shares in the last quarter. Madison Asset Management LLC increased its position in Illinois Tool Works by 411.8% in the 3rd quarter. Madison Asset Management LLC now owns 87,875 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,914,000 after purchasing an additional 70,704 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Davis Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,162,000. 79.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works In related news, EVP Axel Beck sold 4,223 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.22, for a total transaction of $1,225,599.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 5,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,680,083.58. The trade was a 42.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ernest Scott Santi sold 167,345 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.93, for a total value of $48,685,680.85. Following the sale, the director owned 258,766 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $75,282,792.38. The trade was a 39.27% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently commented on ITW. Bank of America raised Illinois Tool Works from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $220.00 to $255.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Robert W. Baird set a $278.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Evercore reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $261.00 to $253.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $275.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $272.92. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on ITW Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.2% NYSE:ITW opened at $290.41 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average is $268.95 and its 200-day moving average is $259.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12 month low of $214.66 and a 12 month high of $303.15. The firm has a market cap of $83.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.68, a P/E/G ratio of 15.51 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $2.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.69 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.07 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.11% and a return on equity of 95.16%. Illinois Tool Workss quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.54 EPS. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.000-11.400 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 EPS for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a $1.61 dividend. This represents a $6.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.39%. About Illinois Tool Works (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a broad array of engineered products, consumables and related service solutions for industrial customers. Its offerings span engineered fastening systems, specialty components, industrial equipment, welding products, foodservice and packaging equipment, adhesives and polymer products, and test-and-measurement technologies. These products are used as critical inputs by customers across automotive, construction, electronics, foodservice, maintenance and other industrial end markets. The company operates a decentralized business model in which independently managed businesses focus on niche product lines and close customer relationships. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Get Free Report) VP Isaac Woods sold 1,271 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $405.69, for a total transaction of $515,631.99. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 1,687 shares in the company, valued at $684,399.03. The trade was a 42.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Isaac Woods also recently made the following trade(s): Get Rockwell Automation alerts: On Monday, December 8th, Isaac Woods sold 61 shares of Rockwell Automation stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $400.98, for a total transaction of $24,459.78. On Wednesday, December 10th, Isaac Woods sold 229 shares of Rockwell Automation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.92, for a total transaction of $92,039.68. On Friday, December 5th, Isaac Woods sold 68 shares of Rockwell Automation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $402.89, for a total value of $27,396.52. Rockwell Automation Trading Down 1.0% ROK stock traded down $4.28 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $407.02. 1,207,283 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,029,420. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $215.00 and a one year high of $438.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.16. The company has a market cap of $45.73 billion, a PE ratio of 46.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.52. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $407.25 and its 200-day moving average price is $377.58. Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.08 billion. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 34.92% and a net margin of 11.56%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.83 earnings per share. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.400-12.200 EPS. Research analysts predict that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 23rd. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio is currently 63.16%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rockwell Automation A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth about $281,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 75.9% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 8,139 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,059,000 after acquiring an additional 3,513 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 142.7% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 7,305 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,887,000 after purchasing an additional 4,295 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 233.6% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,878 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $484,000 after buying an additional 1,315 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund raised its stake in Rockwell Automation by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 26,195 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $8,701,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ROK shares. Argus raised Rockwell Automation to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $435.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price 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 initiated 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, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $450.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $418.33. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation Company Profile (Get 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. See Also 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. Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP Get Free Report) declared a special dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of 1.80 per share by the construction company on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a dividend yield of 56.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Installed Building Products has a dividend payout ratio of 14.3% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Installed Building Products to earn $11.02 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.48 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 13.4%. Get Installed Building Products alerts: Installed Building Products Stock Performance Shares of IBP stock traded up $6.86 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $328.87. 170,135 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 324,252. The firms 50 day moving average price is $299.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $273.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.56, a PEG ratio of 7.01 and a beta of 1.92. Installed Building Products has a 52 week low of $150.83 and a 52 week high of $349.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a current ratio of 2.78. Key Installed Building Products News Installed Building Products ( NYSE:IBP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The construction company reported $3.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.41. Installed Building Products had a return on equity of 62.74% and a net margin of 8.60%.The company had revenue of $747.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $738.97 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.88 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Installed Building Products will post 10.66 earnings per share for the current year. Here are the key news stories impacting Installed Building Products this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings and revenue beat consensus: IBP reported EPS of $3.24 vs. consensus ~$2.83 and revenue of $747.5M vs. ~$739M, driven by margin strength and cost control. The beat is a primary catalyst for the stocks gain. Zacks: IBP Q4 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates Q4 earnings and revenue beat consensus: IBP reported EPS of $3.24 vs. consensus ~$2.83 and revenue of $747.5M vs. ~$739M, driven by margin strength and cost control. The beat is a primary catalyst for the stocks gain. Positive Sentiment: Company announced record fourth-quarter and FY2025 profitability (strong ROE of ~62.7% and net margin ~8.6%), reinforcing confidence in operating leverage and pricing/execution. This shows management delivered on margins despite mixed topline trends. BusinessWire: IBP Reports Record Profitability Company announced record fourth-quarter and FY2025 profitability (strong ROE of ~62.7% and net margin ~8.6%), reinforcing confidence in operating leverage and pricing/execution. This shows management delivered on margins despite mixed topline trends. Positive Sentiment: Special cash dividend declared: IBP will pay a $1.80/share special dividend to holders of record March 13, payable March 31 (ex-dividend March 13). The onetime payout shifts the story toward shareholder returns and likely supported the rally. Special cash dividend declared: IBP will pay a $1.80/share special dividend to holders of record March 13, payable March 31 (ex-dividend March 13). The onetime payout shifts the story toward shareholder returns and likely supported the rally. Neutral Sentiment: Market/coverage notes: An analyst at Vertical Research upgraded IBP from Sell to Hold with a $326 target (slightly below current levels), which reduces negative pressure from a prior Sell rating but implies limited nearterm upside from that shop. Finviz: Analyst Note Market/coverage notes: An analyst at Vertical Research upgraded IBP from Sell to Hold with a $326 target (slightly below current levels), which reduces negative pressure from a prior Sell rating but implies limited nearterm upside from that shop. Neutral Sentiment: Investor materials and call transcript available management provided an earnings presentation and Q4 earnings call transcript that investors can use to assess guidance, M&A cadence and margin sustainability. Seeking Alpha: Q4 Earnings Call Transcript Investor materials and call transcript available management provided an earnings presentation and Q4 earnings call transcript that investors can use to assess guidance, M&A cadence and margin sustainability. Negative Sentiment: Top-line softness in parts of the business: net revenue was down ~0.4% YoY and installation revenue fell ~2.2% versus last year, highlighting some demand pressure that could limit upside if trends persist. BusinessWire: Full Results Installed Building Products Company Profile (Get 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 Articles 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. Integrated Advisors Network LLC boosted its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Free Report) by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 43,055 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 6,731 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $15,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mccarter Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 3.2% in the third quarter. Mccarter Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 870 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the period. Norris Perne & French LLP MI increased its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI now owns 873 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Revisor Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Revisor Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,237 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $452,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 12.0% in the 3rd quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Patten Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Patten Group Inc. now owns 5,592 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,988,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 42.19% of the companys stock. Get SPDR Gold Shares alerts: SPDR Gold Shares Stock Up 0.9% Shares of GLD opened at $477.48 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $181.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.43 and a beta of 0.09. SPDR Gold Shares has a 12 month low of $261.25 and a 12 month high of $509.70. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $439.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $386.21. SPDR Gold Shares News Roundup About SPDR Gold Shares Here are the key news stories impacting SPDR Gold Shares this week: (Free Report) SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares). The Trust issues Shares in Baskets to certain authorized participants (Authorized Participants) on an ongoing basis. The creation and redemption of Baskets is only made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of gold and any cash represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined net asset value of various Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Gold Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Gold Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 15.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,556 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,796 shares during the quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $10,343,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the third quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LLY has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,150.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $950.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,200.00 to $1,285.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. National Bank Financial set a $1,286.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $1,300.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,229.59. Key Stories Impacting Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance NYSE:LLY opened at $1,022.16 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,053.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $925.14. The company has a market cap of $964.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $623.78 and a 52 week high of $1,133.95. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 102.94% and a net margin of 31.66%.The business had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.15%. 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. Featured Articles 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. International Consolidated Airlines Group (OTCMKTS:ICAGY Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Friday. The transportation company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.49, Zacks reports. International Consolidated Airlines Group had a net margin of 9.52% and a return on equity of 112.24%. International Consolidated Airlines Group Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:ICAGY traded down $0.75 during trading on Friday, reaching $11.40. The company had a trading volume of 50,839 shares, compared to its average volume of 50,545. International Consolidated Airlines Group has a fifty-two week low of $5.60 and a fifty-two week high of $12.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $11.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.63. Get International Consolidated Airlines Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Zacks Research raised International Consolidated Airlines Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. International Consolidated Airlines Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) International Consolidated Airlines Group (OTCMKTS:ICAGY) is a Europe-focused airline holding company formed in 2011 through the combination of British Airways and Iberia. The group owns and operates a portfolio of passenger carriers that provide short-haul, long-haul and low-cost services, together with associated aviation businesses. Its operations span international and domestic markets, with extensive networks across Europe, transatlantic routes and links to Latin America and other global destinations. IAGs principal airline brands include British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for International Consolidated Airlines Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Consolidated Airlines Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (NYSEARCA:EWC Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock traders bought 20,117 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 357% compared to the average daily volume of 4,406 put options. iShares MSCI Canada ETF Stock Down 0.3% EWC traded down $0.15 during trading on Friday, hitting $58.00. The company had a trading volume of 1,504,867 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,789,023. The company has a market capitalization of $4.29 billion, a PE ratio of 19.77 and a beta of 0.94. iShares MSCI Canada ETF has a one year low of $36.70 and a one year high of $58.78. The firms 50-day moving average price is $55.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $52.11. Get iShares MSCI Canada ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI Canada ETF Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EWC. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 8.5% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 341,146 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $17,245,000 after purchasing an additional 26,733 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Canada ETF during the second quarter worth about $40,619,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $230,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $792,000. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 32.0% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 111,350 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,144,000 after buying an additional 27,000 shares in the last quarter. iShares MSCI Canada ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Canada ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Canadian market, as measured by the MSCI Canada Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Canadian equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Canada ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Canada ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kaizen Financial Strategies boosted its holdings in shares of Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (NYSEARCA:CGDV Free Report) by 17.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 290,285 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 42,826 shares during the period. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF accounts for 5.6% of Kaizen Financial Strategies portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Kaizen Financial Strategies holdings in Capital Group Dividend Value ETF were worth $12,291,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CGDV. Banco de Sabadell S.A bought a new position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Value ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $47,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in Capital Group Dividend Value ETF by 38,200.0% in the third quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,146 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co acquired a new position in Capital Group Dividend Value ETF in the third quarter valued at about $52,000. Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its holdings in Capital Group Dividend Value ETF by 83.0% during the third quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 1,347 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simplex Trading LLC boosted its holdings in Capital Group Dividend Value ETF by 692.6% during the second quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 1,600 shares of the companys stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 1,870 shares during the last quarter. Get Capital Group Dividend Value ETF alerts: Capital Group Dividend Value ETF Price Performance Shares of CGDV stock opened at $45.65 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $29.15 billion, a PE ratio of 26.59 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $44.69 and a 200-day moving average of $43.14. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF has a one year low of $30.94 and a one year high of $46.01. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF Increases Dividend Capital Group Dividend Value ETF Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a dividend of $0.1928 per share. This is an increase from Capital Group Dividend Value ETFs previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. This represents a $0.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. (Free Report) The Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund is an actively managed fund that primarily invests in stocks of dividend-paying, large- and mid-cap US companies. The fund seeks to produce income exceeding the average yield on US stocks. CGDV was launched on Feb 22, 2022 and is managed by Capital Group. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CGDV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (NYSEARCA:CGDV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Capital Group Dividend Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital Group Dividend Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koninklijke KPN NV (OTCMKTS:KKPNY Get Free Report)s share price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $5.48, but opened at $5.72. Koninklijke KPN shares last traded at $5.5945, with a volume of 1,539,138 shares trading hands. Koninklijke KPN Stock Up 2.7% 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 company has a 50 day moving average of $4.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.75. 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. London & Associated Properties Plc (LON:LAS Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 3.50 and traded as high as GBX 3.50. London & Associated Properties shares last traded at GBX 3.50, with a volume of 1,080,385 shares trading hands. London & Associated Properties Stock Performance The businesss fifty day moving average price is GBX 3.50 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 5.38. The stock has a market cap of 2.99 million, a PE ratio of -1.75 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.56, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.80. London & Associated Properties Company Profile (Get Free Report) London & Associated Properties is a fully listed property investment company specialising in retail. It owns a portfolio of shopping centres and other retail property currently worth some 78m. LAP also invests in joint ventures with institutional co-owners; these have included Oaktree Capital Management, Schroders and Bank of Scotland. LAMS, LAP's directly owned subsidiary, is an property asset manager that carries out both asset management and property management for third parties. These parties have included the Lloyds Bank, NAMA, Deloittes and Grant Thornton as well as the joint ventures in which LAP has invested. See Also Receive News & Ratings for London & Associated Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for London & Associated Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 4.5% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 509,838 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 21,980 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Deere & Company were worth $233,129,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of DE. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 30.6% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 364,103 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $185,143,000 after buying an additional 85,351 shares during the period. Csenge Advisory Group grew its holdings in Deere & Company by 84.9% during the third quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 7,440 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,402,000 after acquiring an additional 3,416 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Deere & Company by 1.0% during the second quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,678 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,379,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH purchased a new position in Deere & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $3,615,000. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd acquired a new position in Deere & Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,550,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.58% of the companys stock. Get Deere & Company alerts: Deere & Company News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Deere & Company this week: Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share (record Mar 31, payable May 8), supporting income-focused investor demand and signaling confidence in cash flow. Article Title Board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share (record Mar 31, payable May 8), supporting income-focused investor demand and signaling confidence in cash flow. Positive Sentiment: Analysts and strategists are highlighting Deere as an AI/industrial beneficiary as companies rotate into old economy names that are adopting AI-driven productivity and subscription models a narrative that can support multiple expansion and revenue durability. Article Title Analysts and strategists are highlighting Deere as an AI/industrial beneficiary as companies rotate into old economy names that are adopting AI-driven productivity and subscription models a narrative that can support multiple expansion and revenue durability. Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsements and media coverage (e.g., Jim Cramer) praise Deeres precision-ag and digital offerings, which can boost retail/flow-driven buying and reinforce the companys growth story. Article Title High-profile endorsements and media coverage (e.g., Jim Cramer) praise Deeres precision-ag and digital offerings, which can boost retail/flow-driven buying and reinforce the companys growth story. Positive Sentiment: Partnerships in ag data and digital agronomy (mentioned in coverage of Bayers crop science moves) reinforce Deeres role in farm software/hardware ecosystems a long-term monetization opportunity. Article Title Partnerships in ag data and digital agronomy (mentioned in coverage of Bayers crop science moves) reinforce Deeres role in farm software/hardware ecosystems a long-term monetization opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Shareholders rejected an antiDEI proposal governance outcome that reduces potential reputational/governance noise but is unlikely to move fundamentals materially in the short term. Article Title Shareholders rejected an antiDEI proposal governance outcome that reduces potential reputational/governance noise but is unlikely to move fundamentals materially in the short term. Neutral Sentiment: New industry reports profile Deeres digital transformation strategy useful for the long-term narrative but incremental to near-term earnings. Article Title New industry reports profile Deeres digital transformation strategy useful for the long-term narrative but incremental to near-term earnings. Negative Sentiment: Relative to Caterpillar, recent coverage highlights diverging earnings trajectories Deere positioned as a recovery play while CAT posted a record quarter. That comparison can pressure DE shares if investors prefer the stronger near-term growth story in peers. Article Title Deere & Company Price Performance Deere & Company stock opened at $619.32 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $167.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.02. The companys fifty day moving average price is $534.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $494.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.21. Deere & Company has a 1 year low of $404.42 and a 1 year high of $674.19. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.52. Deere & Company had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 18.93%. The company had revenue of $9.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.19 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Deere & Companys payout ratio is presently 36.53%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on DE shares. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $765.00 price objective on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday. Wolfe Research increased their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $520.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Evercore restated a positive rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $467.00 to $675.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and set a $715.00 target price on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $637.70. View Our Latest Stock Report on Deere & Company Insider Activity at Deere & Company In other Deere & Company news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total transaction of $6,120,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 20,792 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,603,920. The trade was a 36.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO John C. May II sold 41,472 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $501.49, for a total value of $20,797,793.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 117,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,160,775.30. The trade was a 26.01% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Deere & Company (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. See Also 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. Kepler Capital Markets downgraded shares of MTU Aero Engines (OTCMKTS:MTUAY Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports. Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of MTU Aero Engines in a report on Wednesday. Zacks Research upgraded MTU Aero Engines from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised MTU Aero Engines to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get MTU Aero Engines alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines Stock Down 3.6% OTCMKTS MTUAY opened at $217.42 on Thursday. MTU Aero Engines has a 12 month low of $145.02 and a 12 month high of $238.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a market cap of $23.41 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30 and a beta of 1.08. The stocks 50 day moving average is $222.41 and its 200 day moving average is $217.94. MTU Aero Engines (OTCMKTS:MTUAY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $2.67 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter. MTU Aero Engines had a net margin of 11.74% and a return on equity of 24.66%. Research analysts predict that MTU Aero Engines will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. About MTU Aero Engines (Get Free Report) MTU Aero Engines AG is a German aircraft engine manufacturer headquartered in Munich that develops, manufactures and services commercial and military aero engines as well as industrial gas turbines. The companys activities span the entire engine lifecycle, from conceptual design and development through production of modules and components to aftermarket maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). MTU supplies parts and technical solutions for a broad range of jet engines and turbomachinery used by airlines, MRO providers and defense customers. In addition to core engine development and manufacturing, MTU offers comprehensive aftermarket services including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, spare parts distribution, repair technologies and fleet support programs. Read More Receive News & Ratings for MTU Aero Engines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MTU Aero Engines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) had its price target boosted by analysts at National Bank Financial from C$131.00 to C$150.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. National Bank Financials price target would suggest a potential upside of 9.05% from the companys current price. Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$123.00 to C$127.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$131.00 to C$134.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Desjardins upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$135.00 to C$139.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$122.00 to C$135.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$133.00 to C$138.00 in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$146.05. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Performance Shares of TSE CM traded down C$4.29 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching C$137.55. 1,618,844 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,555,776. The companys fifty day moving average is C$128.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$119.21. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a fifty-two week low of C$76.17 and a fifty-two week high of C$143.80. The stock has a market cap of C$127.46 billion, a PE ratio of 16.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.26. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$2.76 earnings per share for the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 27.87% and a return on equity of 12.61%. The business had revenue of C$8.40 billion for the quarter. Research analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.4127341 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce In related news, insider Frank Guse sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$127.16, for a total value of C$635,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 1,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$172,810.44. This trade represents a 78.63% decrease in their position. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile (Get Free Report) CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 15 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. See Also 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. NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a dividend of 3.00 per share by the specialty chemicals company on Wednesday, April 1st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. NewMarket has raised its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 7 years. Get NewMarket alerts: NewMarket Price Performance Shares of NEU stock traded down $3.84 on Friday, reaching $625.00. 77,367 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 153,747. NewMarket has a 1 year low of $510.07 and a 1 year high of $875.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 2.53. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $671.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $746.67. The company has a market cap of $5.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.04 and a beta of 0.48. NewMarket Company Profile NewMarket ( NYSE:NEU Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported $8.65 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $635.40 million during the quarter. NewMarket had a return on equity of 25.38% and a net margin of 15.37%. (Get Free Report) NewMarket Corporation is a specialty chemicals and lubricants company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Through its Valvoline business, the company markets a broad portfolio of automotive aftermarket products, including engine oils, transmission fluids, greases and vehicle care solutions. Valvoline products are distributed through retail and commercial channels as well as a network of quick-lube service centers that provide oil changes, preventive maintenance and related services. In its chemical additives segment, NewMarket develops, manufactures and sells performance additives for fuels, lubricants and industrial fluids. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NewMarket Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewMarket and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quebecor (TSE:QBR.B Get Free Report) had its price target raised by analysts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$57.00 to C$61.00 in a research report issued on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces price target suggests a potential upside of 7.83% from the stocks previous close. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on QBR.B. Desjardins lifted their price objective on Quebecor from C$54.00 to C$61.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Quebecor from C$47.00 to C$53.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut Quebecor from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the company from C$50.00 to C$51.25 in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. National Bank Financial lifted their target price on Quebecor from C$54.00 to C$57.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a C$56.00 price target on Quebecor and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Five equities research 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.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$58.08. Get Quebecor alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on QBR.B Quebecor Stock Up 5.1% TSE:QBR.B traded up C$2.77 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$56.57. 1,554,196 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 755,688. Quebecor has a one year low of C$32.57 and a one year high of C$57.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 363.97, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.35. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$51.26 and a 200 day moving average price of C$47.61. The company has a market cap of C$12.92 billion, a PE ratio of 15.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.63. Quebecor (TSE:QBR.B Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$0.99 earnings per share for the quarter. Quebecor had a net margin of 12.99% and a return on equity of 37.44%. The business had revenue of C$1.55 billion during the quarter. About Quebecor (Get Free Report) Quebecor primarily provides mobile and fixed-line telecom services in Quebec where it is the leading telecom provider. With more than 1.8 million internet subscribers Quebecor provides internet service to more than 60% of the homes its network passes. It also has about 1.6 million mobile subscribers representing more than 20% wireless market share in Quebec. In addition to the quadruple-play services Quebecor offers a French-language subscription video on demand service and has a media segment that owns and operates television stations publishes newspapers and magazines and produces and distributes films and television shows. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Quebecor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quebecor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 15,719 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $1,490,000. Southern comprises approximately 0.6% of R Squared Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of SO. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Southern in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Southern during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Southern in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 120.1% in the 3rd quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 361 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Anfield Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Southern by 309.5% during the 2nd quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Southern alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SO shares. Wall Street Zen lowered Southern from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, December 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $105.00 target price on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $96.00 price target on shares of Southern and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Southern from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $98.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $97.64. Southern Trading Up 0.4% SO stock opened at $96.33 on Friday. Southern Company has a 12 month low of $83.09 and a 12 month high of $100.83. The firms 50-day moving average is $89.50 and its 200 day moving average is $91.35. The company has a market capitalization of $106.07 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.47. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $6.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.41 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.52% and a net margin of 14.69%.Southerns revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.50 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Southern Company will post 4.29 EPS for the current year. Southern Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.74 per share. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 75.32%. Southern Company Profile (Free Report) Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an Atlanta-based energy holding company that provides electric and gas utility services and owns power generation assets across the United States. Founded in 1945, the company operates a portfolio of regulated electric utilities and affiliated businesses that generate, transmit and distribute electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Southerns principal regulated electric subsidiaries include Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, which serve large portions of the southeastern United States. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS Get Free Report)s stock had its market perform rating restated by Raymond James Financial in a research note issued on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. ESS has been the topic of several other reports. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Essex Property Trust from $294.00 to $284.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Essex Property Trust from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $305.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Essex Property Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Essex Property Trust from $267.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $290.00 price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust in a report on Monday, February 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $283.87. Get Essex Property Trust alerts: View Our Latest Report on Essex Property Trust Essex Property Trust Trading Up 1.1% Shares of ESS opened at $262.69 on Friday. Essex Property Trust has a 52-week low of $243.25 and a 52-week high of $316.29. The stock has a market cap of $16.94 billion, a PE ratio of 25.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.17 and a beta of 0.74. The firms fifty day moving average is $255.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $259.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.00 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $479.63 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $474.66 million. Essex Property Trust had a return on equity of 11.61% and a net margin of 35.48%.During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.92 earnings per share. Essex Property Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 15.690-16.190 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 3.890-4.010 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Essex Property Trust will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Essex Property Trust Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Essex Property Trust by 3.8% during the third quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 1,054 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $282,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 16.1% in the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 288 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $82,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 814 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $213,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Essex Property Trust by 57.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 115 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Finally, Segment Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Segment Wealth Management LLC now owns 913 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. 96.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Essex Property Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Essex Property Trust, Inc (NYSE: ESS) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on market-rate apartment communities and delivers a full suite of property services including leasing, resident services, asset management, and capital improvement programs designed to preserve and enhance longterm property values. Essex concentrates its portfolio in West Coast markets, with a significant presence in California and the Pacific Northwest. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Essex Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essex Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westpac Banking Corp lowered its holdings in Reliance, Inc. (NYSE:RS Free Report) by 89.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 950 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 7,911 shares during the quarter. Westpac Banking Corps holdings in Reliance were worth $267,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of RS. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Reliance during the third quarter worth about $1,576,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Reliance by 4.2% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 755,756 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $212,243,000 after acquiring an additional 30,765 shares in the last quarter. First National Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Reliance during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,948,000. Canada Post Corp Registered Pension Plan purchased a new position in shares of Reliance in the third quarter valued at $873,000. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd raised its position in Reliance by 293.0% during the third quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 34,946 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $9,814,000 after acquiring an additional 26,055 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.26% of the companys stock. Get Reliance alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, COO Stephen Paul Koch sold 24,060 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $321.62, for a total transaction of $7,738,177.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 14,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,509,434.02. This trade represents a 63.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Karla R. Lewis sold 5,809 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $283.50, for a total value of $1,646,851.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 84,421 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,933,353.50. This represents a 6.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 32,935 shares of company stock valued at $10,254,424 in the last quarter. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Reliance from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Reliance from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Reliance from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $340.00 to $330.00 in a research note on Friday, February 20th. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Reliance in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Reliance from $287.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $321.67. View Our Latest Analysis on RS Reliance Price Performance Shares of NYSE:RS opened at $315.97 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $319.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $295.92. The company has a current ratio of 4.88, a quick ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.62, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.92. Reliance, Inc. has a 52 week low of $250.07 and a 52 week high of $365.59. Reliance (NYSE:RS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The industrial products company reported $2.40 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.80 by ($0.40). The company had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.45 billion. Reliance had a net margin of 5.17% and a return on equity of 10.45%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.22 EPS. Reliance has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 4.500-4.70 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Reliance, Inc. will post 16.98 earnings per share for the current year. Reliance Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This is a boost from Reliances previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Reliances payout ratio is currently 35.79%. About Reliance (Free Report) Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co (NYSE: RS) is a leading metals service center company that distributes and processes a broad array of metal products. The company offers cut-to-length, shearing, blanking, sawing, bending, machining and value-added services for carbon and alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, titanium and specialty metal alloys. Its products serve diverse end markets, including energy, infrastructure, general manufacturing, transportation, aerospace and defense. Founded in 1939 in Los Angeles, Reliance Steel & Aluminum has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Reliance, Inc. (NYSE:RS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Reliance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reliance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rock Creek Group LP boosted its position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWT Free Report) by 23.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 46,220 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 8,662 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF accounts for about 0.3% of Rock Creek Group LPs holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Rock Creek Group LPs holdings in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF were worth $2,941,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EWT. FLP Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $65,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 25.7% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,071 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF in the second quarter worth $153,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 177.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,816 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $162,000 after purchasing an additional 1,800 shares during the period. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $181,000. Get iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA EWT opened at $76.14 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.58 and a beta of 0.94. iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF has a one year low of $39.44 and a one year high of $77.25. The businesss fifty day moving average is $68.35 and its 200-day moving average is $65.04. About iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Ishares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Taiwan IndexSM (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Taiwan 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. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sava Penzisko Drushtvo A.D. Skopje acquired a new position in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 145,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,720,000. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF makes up about 2.9% of Sava Penzisko Drushtvo A.D. Skopjes investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Integrated Advisors Network LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 48,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,937,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Willow Creek Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF during the third quarter valued at $505,000. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC grew its position in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 8.2% during the third quarter. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC now owns 4,382 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 331 shares during the period. Avalon Trust Co increased its holdings in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 86.7% in the third quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $101,000 after buying an additional 780 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Axxcess Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 1.6% in the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 51,292 shares of the companys stock worth $3,082,000 after acquiring an additional 788 shares during the period. Get iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Stock Up 1.1% NYSEARCA:IHI opened at $60.32 on Friday. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF has a 52 week low of $52.90 and a 52 week high of $64.79. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $60.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.73 billion, a PE ratio of 30.76 and a beta of 0.89. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Profile The iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the DJ US Select \u002F Medical Equipment index, a market-cap-weighted index of manufacturers and distributors of medical devices in the US. IHI was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IHI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. (OTCMKTS:BLMIF Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,200 shares, a decrease of 56.0% from the January 29th total of 2,728 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 340 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.5 days. Based on an average trading volume of 340 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.5 days. Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. Stock Performance BLMIF traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $25.15. The company had a trading volume of 234 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,662. The business has a 50-day moving average of $24.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $21.58. Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. has a 1 year low of $12.70 and a 1 year high of $26.00. Get Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. alerts: About Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. (Get Free Report) Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M., commonly known as Bank Leumi, is one of Israels largest banking and financial services groups. Established in 1902 as the Anglo-Palestine Company, the bank played a foundational role in the economic development of Mandatory Palestine and, later, the State of Israel. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Bank Leumi operates under the supervision of the Bank of Israel and maintains a network of domestic branches alongside a growing digital banking platform. The banks core businesses encompass retail banking, private banking, corporate and commercial banking, and global banking services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cembra Money Bank AG (OTCMKTS:CMBNF Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 12,371 shares, a growth of 113.3% from the January 29th total of 5,801 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently days. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently days. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Cembra Money Bank in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold. Get Cembra Money Bank alerts: View Our Latest Report on CMBNF Cembra Money Bank Price Performance Cembra Money Bank Company Profile Shares of OTCMKTS:CMBNF remained flat at C$125.55 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$108.43 and a 200 day moving average price of C$97.25. Cembra Money Bank has a 52-week low of C$91.31 and a 52-week high of C$125.55. (Get Free Report) Cembra Money Bank AG is a Swiss consumer finance provider headquartered in Zurich, offering a range of credit and savings solutions to private individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises. The companys core business activities include the origination and servicing of personal loans, leasing products, credit cards and savings deposits. Through its subsidiaries and digital platforms, Cembra delivers financing options for new and used vehicles as well as unsecured personal lines of credit, complemented by a suite of savings accounts designed to attract retail deposits. The institution traces its roots to the consumer finance arm of Swiss Life, which was acquired by GE Capital in the early 2000s and subsequently rebranded. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cembra Money Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cembra Money Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sandvik AB (OTCMKTS:SDVKY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 9,108 shares, a decline of 74.4% from the January 29th total of 35,647 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 273,522 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 273,522 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In SDVKY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Zacks Research downgraded Sandvik from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 16th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Sandvik in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Sandvik from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, January 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Sandvik alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Sandvik Sandvik Price Performance SDVKY stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $44.15. The stock had a trading volume of 10,365 shares, compared to its average volume of 173,668. Sandvik has a 52-week low of $16.94 and a 52-week high of $44.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $37.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.67. The company has a market cap of $55.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.51. Sandvik (OTCMKTS:SDVKY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.38 billion. Sandvik had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 12.16%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Sandvik will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Sandvik stock. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its position in Sandvik AB (OTCMKTS:SDVKY Free Report) by 3,795.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 857 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 835 shares during the quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLCs holdings in Sandvik were worth $25,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. 0.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Sandvik Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sandvik (OTCMKTS: SDVKY) is a global engineering group headquartered in Sandviken, Sweden, with roots dating back to 1862 when it was founded by Goran Fredrik Goransson. The company designs, manufactures and services advanced products and solutions for the mining and construction industries, metalworking and material technology markets. Sandvik serves customers worldwide with a broad portfolio of industrial products, equipment and aftermarket services. Sandviks core activities span three broad areas: metal-cutting and machining solutions, mining and rock excavation equipment, and specialty materials and components. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sandvik Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sandvik and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of 0.16 per share on Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. Strawberry Fields REIT has a dividend payout ratio of 107.7% meaning the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities analysts expect Strawberry Fields REIT to earn $1.26 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.56 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 44.4%. Get Strawberry Fields REIT alerts: Strawberry Fields REIT Price Performance Shares of STRW stock traded down $0.03 on Friday, reaching $12.75. 11,588 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 30,157. Strawberry Fields REIT has a one year low of $8.70 and a one year high of $14.00. The stock has a market cap of $167.28 million, a PE ratio of 20.90 and a beta of 0.36. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $13.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.37. About Strawberry Fields REIT Strawberry Fields REIT ( NYSEAMERICAN:STRW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $40.10 million during 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%. On average, research analysts expect that Strawberry Fields REIT will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get Free Report) 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. Featured Articles 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. Suzuki Motor (OTCMKTS:SZKMY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $59.36, but opened at $62.9499. Suzuki Motor shares last traded at $60.52, with a volume of 4,217 shares. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Dbs Bank upgraded Suzuki Motor to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy. Get Suzuki Motor alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on SZKMY Suzuki Motor Stock Up 1.9% The stock has a market cap of $29.69 billion, a PE ratio of 10.63 and a beta of 0.46. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $58.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Suzuki Motor (OTCMKTS:SZKMY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Suzuki Motor had a return on equity of 10.69% and a net margin of 6.78%.The company had revenue of $10.73 billion during the quarter. Suzuki Motor has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.249-5.249 EPS. Equities research analysts expect 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. Switzer Dividend Growth Fund (Managed Fund) (ASX:SWTZ Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Thursday, February 26th, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 19th will be given a dividend of 0.009 per share on Thursday, March 19th. This represents a yield of 35.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Sunday, March 1st. Switzer Dividend Growth Fund (Managed Fund) Price Performance Read More Receive News & Ratings for Switzer Dividend Growth Fund (Managed Fund) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Switzer Dividend Growth Fund (Managed Fund) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC bought a new position in BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 583 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $679,000. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of BLK. Westerkirk Capital Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,877,000. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey boosted its stake in BlackRock by 7.9% in the second quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 23,167 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $24,308,000 after acquiring an additional 1,693 shares during the period. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the third quarter valued at approximately $6,201,000. Lingohr Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $700,000. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 256,937 shares of the asset managers stock worth $269,591,000 after purchasing an additional 19,404 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.69% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Insider Transactions at BlackRock In other BlackRock news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,125.00, for a total value of $22,500,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 61,894 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,630,750. The trade was a 24.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Robert L. Goldstein sold 54,190 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,087.29, for a total transaction of $58,920,245.10. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 51,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,971,514.62. This trade represents a 51.28% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 112,577 shares of company stock valued at $125,311,821 in the last three months. 1.98% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. BlackRock News Summary Positive Sentiment: Large spot Bitcoin ETF inflows US spot Bitcoin ETFs including BlackRocks IBIT pulled in heavy net flows (about $1B over three days), suggesting continued demand for BlackRocks crypto ETF franchise and potential fee growth if flows persist. Read More. Large spot Bitcoin ETF inflows US spot Bitcoin ETFs including BlackRocks IBIT pulled in heavy net flows (about $1B over three days), suggesting continued demand for BlackRocks crypto ETF franchise and potential fee growth if flows persist. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Middleoffice scale deal with Citi BlackRock appointed Citi to provide select middleoffice services for roughly $4T of U.S. iShares ETFs on Aladdin, a move that should improve processing efficiency and support ETF distribution. Read More. Middleoffice scale deal with Citi BlackRock appointed Citi to provide select middleoffice services for roughly $4T of U.S. iShares ETFs on Aladdin, a move that should improve processing efficiency and support ETF distribution. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and optimism on evolving profit mix recent coverage highlights UBS and other firms lifting ratings/targets as BlackRock expands alternatives, digital assets and ETF tech (supports longerterm earnings upside). Read More. Analyst upgrades and optimism on evolving profit mix recent coverage highlights UBS and other firms lifting ratings/targets as BlackRock expands alternatives, digital assets and ETF tech (supports longerterm earnings upside). Read More. Positive Sentiment: Strategic investments into DeFi/AI ecosystems participation in DeFi infrastructure deals and AI chip funding signals diversification into highergrowth areas that could boost future fee pools. Read More. Strategic investments into DeFi/AI ecosystems participation in DeFi infrastructure deals and AI chip funding signals diversification into highergrowth areas that could boost future fee pools. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Debate over Bitcoin market microstructure public pushback against claims that a single market maker (Jane Street) is manipulating daily BTC moves reduces singlecounterparty risk concerns for BlackRocks IBIT, but overall crypto volatility remains a flow driver. Read More. Debate over Bitcoin market microstructure public pushback against claims that a single market maker (Jane Street) is manipulating daily BTC moves reduces singlecounterparty risk concerns for BlackRocks IBIT, but overall crypto volatility remains a flow driver. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Fund and trust reorganization news smallercompany trust merger and a marginal stake change in BAWAG are operational updates with limited direct impact on BLKs core results. Read More. Fund and trust reorganization news smallercompany trust merger and a marginal stake change in BAWAG are operational updates with limited direct impact on BLKs core results. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Q4 profit and cashflow weakness thirdparty summaries show revenue rose but operating profit, net income and EPS fell materially YoY, with operating cash flow downraising nearterm margin and profitability concerns. Read More. Q4 profit and cashflow weakness thirdparty summaries show revenue rose but operating profit, net income and EPS fell materially YoY, with operating cash flow downraising nearterm margin and profitability concerns. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Operational/reputational hit from a $430M loan fraud reporting that BlackRock was duped into a $430M loan tied to alleged fake invoices creates risk around underwriting controls and could pressure sentiment until clarified. Read More. Operational/reputational hit from a $430M loan fraud reporting that BlackRock was duped into a $430M loan tied to alleged fake invoices creates risk around underwriting controls and could pressure sentiment until clarified. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Ongoing insider selling recent director and seniormanager share sales (disclosed Form 4s) are being watched by investors and can weigh on sentiment even if they reflect routine liquidity or option exercises. Read More. Analysts Set New Price Targets Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week: A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on BlackRock from $1,296.00 to $1,380.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Freedom Capital raised shares of BlackRock from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $1,300.00 to $1,350.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. TD Cowen lowered shares of BlackRock from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane lifted their price target on BlackRock from $1,290.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,311.11. Read Our Latest Stock Report on BLK BlackRock Trading Down 0.4% Shares of NYSE:BLK opened at $1,089.89 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $1,094.81 and a 200-day moving average of $1,104.00. The company has a current ratio of 3.33, a quick ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market cap of $169.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.47. BlackRock has a twelve month low of $773.74 and a twelve month high of $1,219.94. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $12.55 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.14% and a net margin of 22.93%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 23.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $11.93 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that BlackRock will post 47.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $5.73 dividend. This represents a $22.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. BlackRocks payout ratio is currently 58.84%. BlackRock Company Profile (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors. In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TIAA Trust National Association increased its holdings in shares of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (BATS:ESML Free Report) by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,225,333 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 25,258 shares during the period. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF were worth $100,180,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Rossby Financial LCC boosted its position in shares of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 242.9% during the 3rd quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 919 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 651 shares in the last quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 0.5% during the third quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 60,485 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,727,000 after buying an additional 313 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 59,873 shares of the companys stock worth $2,699,000 after acquiring an additional 3,913 shares in the last quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $203,000. Finally, Mascoma Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,645 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,156,000 after buying an additional 1,494 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Stock Up 0.5% iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF stock opened at $50.25 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $48.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.26. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF has a 52 week low of $32.90 and a 52 week high of $50.47. The stock has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.85 and a beta of 1.08. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Company Profile The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund tracks an index of US small-cap companies with high environmental, social, and governance factor scores as determined by MSCI. ESML was launched on Apr 10, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ESML? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (BATS:ESML Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Free Report) (NYSE:TD) had its price objective lifted by equities researchers at Scotiabank from C$132.00 to C$142.00 in a report issued on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Scotiabanks target price indicates a potential upside of 7.11% from the stocks current price. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Desjardins lifted their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$139.00 to C$145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$135.00 to C$144.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Barclays boosted their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$133.00 to C$135.00 in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$130.00 to C$128.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$122.00 to C$126.00 in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$139.50. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on TD Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Down 1.9% TD stock traded down C$2.57 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$132.57. 2,044,466 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,765,620. The stock has a market capitalization of C$222.29 billion, a PE ratio of 11.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.00. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 1-year low of C$78.06 and a 1-year high of C$136.49. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$130.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$118.18. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Free Report) (NYSE:TD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$2.44 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$16.63 billion for the quarter. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 15.80% and a return on equity of 7.84%. Equities research analysts expect that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 7.2160149 earnings per share for the current year. Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Toronto-Dominion is one of Canadas two largest banks and operates three business segments: Canadian retail banking, U.S. retail banking, and wholesale banking. The banks U.S. operations span from Maine to Florida, with a strong presence in the Northeast. It also has a 13% ownership stake in Charles Schwab. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Valeo S.A. (OTCMKTS:VLEEY Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $7.6810, but opened at $7.13. Valeo shares last traded at $7.1850, with a volume of 30,272 shares. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Valeo from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Valeo alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Valeo Valeo Stock Performance About Valeo The business has a fifty day moving average of $7.20 and a 200 day moving average of $6.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. (Get Free Report) Valeo is a global automotive supplier headquartered in the Paris region, with its American depositary shares trading OTC under the symbol VLEEY. Founded in France in the early 20th century, the company has grown to serve original equipment manufacturers, automakers and the aftermarket with a comprehensive portfolio of mobility solutions. Valeos mission centers on providing innovative systems and components that enhance vehicle performance, safety and environmental sustainability. The company operates across four main business segments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Valeo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valeo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Flagstar Bank, National Association (NYSE:FLG Free Report) by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,400,127 shares of the companys stock after selling 399,560 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 7.80% of Flagstar Bank, National Association worth $374,221,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Balefire LLC grew its holdings in Flagstar Bank, National Association by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Balefire LLC now owns 58,703 shares of the companys stock worth $678,000 after acquiring an additional 909 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Flagstar Bank, National Association by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 61,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $648,000 after purchasing an additional 1,010 shares in the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its position in shares of Flagstar Bank, National Association by 5.3% during the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 23,036 shares of the companys stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in Flagstar Bank, National Association by 1.5% in the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 92,120 shares of the companys stock worth $1,064,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC grew its stake in Flagstar Bank, National Association by 53.2% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,075 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,415 shares in the last quarter. 67.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Flagstar Bank National Association alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have issued reports on FLG. UBS Group cut their price objective on Flagstar Bank, National Association from $13.00 to $11.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price target on Flagstar Bank, National Association from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Flagstar Bank, National Association from $14.50 to $15.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. DA Davidson reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $16.00 price objective on shares of Flagstar Bank, National Association in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Flagstar Bank, National Association in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.46. Flagstar Bank, National Association Stock Performance FLG opened at $13.54 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $13.25 and its 200-day moving average is $12.44. The stock has a market cap of $5.63 billion, a PE ratio of -26.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. Flagstar Bank, National Association has a twelve month low of $9.64 and a twelve month high of $14.53. Flagstar Bank, National Association (NYSE:FLG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $548.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $533.00 million. Flagstar Bank, National Association had a negative return on equity of 1.60% and a negative net margin of 3.68%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.41) EPS. On average, analysts predict that Flagstar Bank, National Association will post -0.31 earnings per share for the current year. Flagstar Bank, National Association Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Flagstar Bank, National Associations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -7.84%. Flagstar Bank, National Association Company Profile (Free Report) Flagstar Financial Corporation (NYSE: FLG) is a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Flagstar Bank, provides a range of financial services across the United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Flagstar combines commercial banking, mortgage lending and servicing, and deposit products to serve individuals, businesses and public entities. As a publicly traded company, Flagstar leverages its banking charter and national mortgage platform to deliver tailored financial solutions through both digital and branch channels. The companys mortgage business is one of the largest residential originators and servicers in the nation, offering retail, wholesale and correspondent lending channels. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Flagstar Bank National Association Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flagstar Bank National Association and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 17,440 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $545,000. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of EPD. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Enterprise Products Partners during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Enterprise Products Partners during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Enterprise Products Partners in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Financial Consulate Inc. bought a new position in Enterprise Products Partners in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Davis Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Enterprise Products Partners in the third quarter valued at approximately $45,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Enterprise Products Partners alerts: Enterprise Products Partners Stock Up 0.1% NYSE:EPD opened at $35.97 on Friday. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has a twelve month low of $27.77 and a twelve month high of $37.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $33.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.33. Enterprise Products Partners ( NYSE:EPD Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The oil and gas producer reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.06. Enterprise Products Partners had a net margin of 11.05% and a return on equity of 19.43%. The business had revenue of $13.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.44 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.74 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Enterprise Products Partners declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, October 30th that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the oil and gas producer to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Enterprise Products Partners Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were issued a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 30th. This is a positive change from Enterprise Products Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Enterprise Products Partnerss payout ratio is currently 82.71%. Insider Activity In other Enterprise Products Partners news, Director John R. Rutherford purchased 15,000 shares of Enterprise Products Partners stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 29th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $32.09 per share, for a total transaction of $481,350.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 173,586 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,570,374.74. This trade represents a 9.46% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 32.60% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently commented on EPD shares. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $32.00 price target on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Friday, December 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wolfe Research cut shares of Enterprise Products Partners from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $31.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on EPD Enterprise Products Partners Company Profile (Free Report) Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) is a Houston-based master limited partnership that provides midstream energy services across North America. The company owns and operates an extensive network of pipelines, storage facilities, processing plants and export terminals that transport and handle natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined and petrochemical products. Its core activities include gathering and transportation, fractionation of NGLs, natural gas processing, crude oil and condensate pipelines, and marine and terminal services that enable domestic distribution and exports. Enterprise serves a diverse set of customers including producers, refiners, petrochemical companies, marketers and end users. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Enterprise Products Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enterprise Products Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TIAA Trust National Association trimmed its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 13.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 444,801 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 70,552 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $37,283,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 472.4% in the third quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 332 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Kilter Group LLC bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Insider Transactions at Wells Fargo & Company In other news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 25,000 shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.72, for a total transaction of $2,193,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 79,876 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,006,722.72. This trade represents a 23.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on WFC shares. CICC Research started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. They set a market perform rating and a $96.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $85.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Wolfe Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $109.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $97.03. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 0.5% NYSE WFC opened at $86.29 on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $58.42 and a 1-year high of $97.76. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $90.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $86.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The company has a market capitalization of $266.26 billion, a PE ratio of 13.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.09. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last posted its 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. The firm had revenue of $21.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.27% and a return on equity of 12.90%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 6th will be issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.71%. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (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. Featured Articles 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. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP cut its stake in shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (NYSE:SMFG Free Report) by 15.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 459,467 shares of the banks stock after selling 82,415 shares during the quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LPs holdings in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group were worth $7,691,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its holdings in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group by 163.2% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,979 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227 shares during the last quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its position in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group by 204.7% during the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 2,029 shares of the banks stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,363 shares during the period. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its position in shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group by 2,443.8% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 2,035 shares of the banks stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,955 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.85% of the companys stock. Get Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Stock Up 1.6% Shares of NYSE SMFG opened at $22.84 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $146.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.36. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $21.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.40. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc has a 12-month low of $11.83 and a 12-month high of $24.33. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (NYSE:SMFG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The bank reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.40 by ($0.24). Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 9.38%. The company had revenue of $17.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.93 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc will post 0.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (Free Report) Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc (SMFG) is a Tokyo-based financial holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial services through a network of domestic and international subsidiaries. Established in 2002 as a holding company for the Sumitomo Mitsui banking operations, SMFGs core banking business is conducted primarily through its main operating bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), alongside other affiliates covering trust banking, securities, leasing and consumer finance. The groups product and service mix spans corporate and commercial banking, retail deposit and loan services, trade and project finance, cash management, syndicated lending, foreign exchange and treasury services, and capital markets and investment banking activities through its securities arm. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SMFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (NYSE:SMFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westpac Banking Corp lessened its holdings in 3M Company (NYSE:MMM Free Report) by 90.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 3,664 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 33,068 shares during the period. Westpac Banking Corps holdings in 3M were worth $569,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lake Street Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in 3M by 4.4% in the third quarter. Lake Street Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,360 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $832,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in 3M by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,973 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $616,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in 3M by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,246 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $193,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of 3M by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 1,808 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $281,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Inspire Trust Co. N.A. lifted its stake in shares of 3M by 21.9% in the 3rd quarter. Inspire Trust Co. N.A. now owns 39,000 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $6,052,000 after purchasing an additional 7,000 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.25% of the companys stock. Get 3M alerts: 3M Price Performance Shares of NYSE MMM opened at $166.28 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $87.58 billion, a PE ratio of 27.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $163.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $161.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 1.71 and a quick ratio of 1.33. 3M Company has a 1-year low of $121.98 and a 1-year high of $177.41. 3M Increases Dividend 3M ( NYSE:MMM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 20th. The conglomerate reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.03. 3M had a return on equity of 95.36% and a net margin of 13.03%.The business had revenue of $6 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.03 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.68 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. 3M has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.50-8.700 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that 3M Company will post 7.8 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is a positive change from 3Ms previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. 3Ms dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.00%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CAO Theresa E. Reinseth sold 5,145 shares of 3M stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.75, for a total transaction of $888,798.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 2,585 shares of the companys stock, valued at $446,558.75. The trade was a 66.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently weighed in on MMM. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of 3M from $181.00 to $175.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Mizuho set a $160.00 price target on shares of 3M in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of 3M from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on 3M from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of 3M from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $175.36. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MMM 3M Company Profile (Free Report) 3M Company, originally founded in 1902 as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is a diversified global technology and manufacturing firm headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Over its history the company has expanded from mineral mining into a broad portfolio of industrial, safety, healthcare and consumer products, building a reputation for applied science and product innovation across many end markets. 3Ms businesses span a wide range of product categories including adhesives and tapes, abrasives, filtration and separation technologies, personal protective equipment such as respirators, medical and dental products, industrial and automotive solutions, and a suite of consumer brands (for example, well-known office and home products). See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for 3M Company (NYSE:MMM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for 3M Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for 3M and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 357.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 48,427 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 37,832 shares during the quarter. Bank of America comprises approximately 1.3% of Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltds holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltds holdings in Bank of America were worth $2,498,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Bank of America alerts: A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. 1ST Source Bank lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. 1ST Source Bank now owns 98,615 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,088,000 after purchasing an additional 1,094 shares during the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in Bank of America by 23.4% during the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 3,026,473 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $156,136,000 after purchasing an additional 573,909 shares during the last quarter. Andra AP fonden raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 10.0% in the third quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 46,200 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,383,000 after purchasing an additional 4,200 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of Bank of America by 2.6% in the third quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 3,037,943 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $156,727,000 after buying an additional 77,688 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Close Asset Management Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 40.2% during the 3rd quarter. Close Asset Management Ltd now owns 118,584 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,115,000 after buying an additional 34,000 shares during the period. 70.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Bank of America Trading Up 1.1% BAC stock opened at $52.28 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The firm has a market cap of $381.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.29. Bank of America Corporation has a 1-year low of $33.06 and a 1-year high of $57.55. The businesss 50 day moving average is $54.02 and its 200-day moving average is $52.38. Bank of America Dividend Announcement Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.02. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 16.23%.The business had revenue of $4.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27.73 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.24%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. CICC Research started coverage on shares of Bank of America in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Bank of America from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on Bank of America from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Evercore set a $59.00 target price on Bank of America in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their price target on Bank of America from $55.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $60.30. View Our Latest Analysis on BAC Bank of America News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week: Bank of America Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets. Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Santander S.A. raised its holdings in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 617,651 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 77,674 shares during the quarter. Citigroup makes up 0.6% of Banco Santander S.A.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Citigroup were worth $62,692,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Citigroup alerts: Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC grew its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 87.6% in the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 257 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Citigroup in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in Citigroup in the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup during the second quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup during the second quarter worth approximately $38,000. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Citigroup Stock Performance Shares of Citigroup stock opened at $116.16 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $116.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $105.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $203.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.67, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. Citigroup Inc. has a 52 week low of $55.51 and a 52 week high of $125.16. Citigroup Announces Dividend Citigroup ( NYSE:C Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $19.87 billion for 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.34 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd will be given a $0.60 dividend. 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 presently 34.43%. Insider Transactions at Citigroup In other Citigroup 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 transaction of $4,796,088.57. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 45,835 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,091,810.15. The trade was a 48.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth C has been the subject of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wells Fargo & Company set a $150.00 target price on Citigroup in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Piper Sandler set a $135.00 price target on Citigroup in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Wolfe Research restated an outperform rating and set a $141.00 price target on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.25. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on C Key Stories Impacting Citigroup Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week: 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. Banco Santander S.A. increased its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 103,620 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,031 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $58,940,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Mastercard alerts: Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter worth $29,000. Robbins Farley increased its position in Mastercard by 50.0% in the third quarter. Robbins Farley now owns 54 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Tacita Capital Inc raised its holdings in Mastercard by 50.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 57 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in Mastercard by 45.2% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 61 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the period. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the companys stock. Mastercard Stock Performance MA opened at $514.55 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $546.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $559.97. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $465.59 and a 52-week high of $601.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $458.88 billion, a PE ratio of 31.15, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.83. Mastercard Dividend Announcement Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The credit services provider reported $4.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.52. The firm had revenue of $8.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.80 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 203.92% and a net margin of 45.65%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.82 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. 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 21.07%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently commented on MA. Evercore set a $610.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Tigress Financial lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $685.00 to $730.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Wall Street Zen raised Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Macquarie Infrastructure lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $660.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group set a $610.00 price objective on Mastercard and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $669.27. Read Our Latest Report on Mastercard Key Mastercard News Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week: Mastercard Company Profile (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 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. Banco Santander S.A. cut its holdings in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 2.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 242,027 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 5,130 shares during the period. Visa accounts for 0.7% of Banco Santander S.A.s holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Visa were worth $82,623,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Visa alerts: Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of V. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new stake in Visa during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its stake in shares of Visa by 287.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 89 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Visa by 202.7% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 114 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Visa during the second quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in Visa in the second quarter valued at about $41,000. 82.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have commented on the stock. Truist Financial set a $372.00 price target on shares of Visa in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $395.00 price objective on shares of Visa in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of Visa from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $370.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $385.00 target price on shares of Visa in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Visa in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $391.43. Insider Transactions at Visa In other Visa news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 10,485 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $349.18, for a total value of $3,661,152.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 9,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,282,641.18. This represents a 52.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Visa Stock Up 1.2% Shares of V opened at $316.65 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $574.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.70, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.79. Visa Inc. has a 52 week low of $299.00 and a 52 week high of $375.51. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $333.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $338.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.69 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.75 earnings per share. Visas revenue for the quarter was up 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 EPS for the current year. Visa Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Visas dividend payout ratio is 25.14%. About Visa (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. Choreo LLC trimmed its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 3.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 79,845 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 2,454 shares during the period. Choreo LLCs holdings in Visa were worth $27,258,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Get Visa alerts: A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in V. Chaney Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Visa during the 3rd quarter worth about $409,000. Weaver Consulting Group increased its position in Visa by 8.4% during the third quarter. Weaver Consulting Group now owns 1,016 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. West Family Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Visa by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 8,844 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $3,019,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Visa by 146.6% during the 3rd quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 82,919 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $28,311,000 after acquiring an additional 49,290 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Interchange Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Visa by 13.8% during the 3rd quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC now owns 7,295 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $2,492,000 after acquiring an additional 882 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.15% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Daiwa Securities Group raised shares of Visa from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $370.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $411.00 price target (up from $398.00) on shares of Visa in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Visa to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Macquarie Infrastructure restated an outperform rating and set a $410.00 price objective on shares of Visa in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Visa in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $391.43. Visa Stock Performance NYSE V opened at $316.65 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $333.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $338.23. Visa Inc. has a 12-month low of $299.00 and a 12-month high of $375.51. The company has a market capitalization of $574.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The credit-card processor reported $3.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.69 billion. Visa had a net margin of 50.23% and a return on equity of 61.74%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.75 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 earnings per share for the current year. Visa Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 10th. Visas dividend payout ratio is presently 25.14%. Insider Buying and Selling at Visa In other news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 10,485 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the chief executive officer directly 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 document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Visa 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. Featured Stories 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. DNB Asset Management AS increased its position in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,640,303 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 191,866 shares during the quarter. Bank of America makes up about 0.9% of DNB Asset Management ASs portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. DNB Asset Management AS owned approximately 0.06% of Bank of America worth $239,393,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get Bank of America alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quaker Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of America by 246.5% in the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 523 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. Steph & Co. raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 224.3% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 548 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the period. Marquette Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Collier Financial purchased a new position in Bank of America in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the third quarter worth $31,000. 70.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Key Stories Impacting Bank of America Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week: Bank of America Trading Up 1.1% Shares of BAC stock opened at $52.28 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $381.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.29. Bank of America Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $33.06 and a fifty-two week high of $57.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $54.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.38. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.02. Bank of America had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The company had revenue of $4.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $27.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.82 EPS. The firms revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently commented on BAC. CICC Research started coverage on Bank of America in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. HSBC upped their target price on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Bank of America from $62.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $64.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Bank of America from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Twenty-two investment 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, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.30. Get Our Latest Stock Report on BAC Bank of America Company Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets. Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DNB Asset Management AS lifted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 6.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 278,996 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,046 shares during the quarter. DNB Asset Management ASs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $78,722,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get International Business Machines alerts: Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in International Business Machines by 12.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,257 shares of the technology companys stock worth $355,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 11.3% in the third quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,479 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,546,000 after buying an additional 558 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 4.3% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,003,851 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $565,407,000 after buying an additional 83,465 shares during the period. Brucke Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 4.1% during the third quarter. Brucke Financial Inc. now owns 1,864 shares of the technology companys stock worth $573,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Finally, Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 224.2% during the third quarter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. now owns 5,298 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,495,000 after acquiring an additional 3,664 shares during the period. 58.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. International Business Machines News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week: Positive Sentiment: UBS upgraded IBM from Sell to Neutral, helping spark buyer interest and supporting a short-term rebound. Read More. UBS upgraded IBM from Sell to Neutral, helping spark buyer interest and supporting a short-term rebound. Read More. Positive Sentiment: IBM won a Department of War contract (ceiling ~$112M) to modernize electronic shelf labels, a concrete services win that supports revenue visibility in its consulting/systems business. Read More. IBM won a Department of War contract (ceiling ~$112M) to modernize electronic shelf labels, a concrete services win that supports revenue visibility in its consulting/systems business. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Company directors made small open-market purchases (including Michael Miebach and Michelle Howard), a signal of insider confidence that can bolster investor sentiment after volatility. Read More. Company directors made small open-market purchases (including Michael Miebach and Michelle Howard), a signal of insider confidence that can bolster investor sentiment after volatility. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Several analyst notes and deep-dive pieces argue the recent selloff was overdone given strong Q4 results, record free cash flow and strategic AI/cloud assets supporting a recovery narrative. Read More. Several analyst notes and deep-dive pieces argue the recent selloff was overdone given strong Q4 results, record free cash flow and strategic AI/cloud assets supporting a recovery narrative. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley trimmed its price target to $247 and set an equal weight rating, which moderates expectations and keeps upside capped near current levels. Read More. Morgan Stanley trimmed its price target to $247 and set an equal weight rating, which moderates expectations and keeps upside capped near current levels. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: IBM published its 2026 XForce Threat Intelligence Index (ransomware surge and AI-accelerated attacks), which underlines both growing cybersecurity demand (opportunity) and rising threat landscape (risk). Read More. IBM published its 2026 XForce Threat Intelligence Index (ransomware surge and AI-accelerated attacks), which underlines both growing cybersecurity demand (opportunity) and rising threat landscape (risk). Read More. Negative Sentiment: The principal near-term downside remains AI-startup disruption fears after Anthropics Claude Code claim (automation of COBOL modernization) triggered a sharp selloff; the market is still weighing how quickly enterprise modernization demand could change. Read More. International Business Machines Price Performance Shares of IBM opened at $242.05 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 fifty day simple moving average is $288.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $283.56. International Business Machines Corporation has a 1-year low of $214.50 and a 1-year high of $324.90. The company has a market cap of $227.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.71, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.69. International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.33 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $19.69 billion during 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 quarterly revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.92 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. International Business Machines Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be given a $1.68 dividend. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.27%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently commented on IBM. BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating and issued a $350.00 price target on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on International Business Machines from $325.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. UBS Group raised shares of International Business Machines from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $236.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $361.00 target price on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $312.00 to $317.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $320.87. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on International Business Machines Insider Activity at International Business Machines In related news, Director David N. Farr acquired 1,000 shares of International Business Machines stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $304.00 per share, with a total value of $304,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 9,258 shares in the company, valued at $2,814,432. This trade represents a 12.11% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Michael Miebach acquired 434 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was bought at an average price of $233.33 per share, for a total transaction of $101,265.22. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $101,265.22. The trade was a increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have bought a total of 1,484 shares of company stock valued at $417,157 over the last quarter. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. International Business Machines Profile (Free Report) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM. IBMs principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development. See Also 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. DNB Asset Management AS reduced its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 6.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 464,128 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 34,333 shares during the period. DNB Asset Management ASs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $62,165,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 172,800,851 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $23,502,644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,977,715 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 78,354,270 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $10,656,964,000 after buying an additional 689,517 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 38,293,067 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $5,184,589,000 after buying an additional 1,390,554 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at $3,026,180,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,096,907 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,022,080,000 after acquiring an additional 821,325 shares during the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 1.3% NYSE:ABT opened at $116.21 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $105.27 and a 12-month high of $141.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $117.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $125.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $201.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.75. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.50. The company had revenue of $11.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.80 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.73% and a net margin of 14.72%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.34 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.120-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.550-5.800 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be given a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 67.74%. Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Daniel J. Starks purchased 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were bought at an average price of $108.73 per share, with a total value of $1,087,300.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 6,738,817 shares in the company, valued at approximately $732,711,572.41. This represents a 0.15% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock. Key Headlines Impacting Abbott Laboratories Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ABT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $169.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Freedom Capital upgraded Abbott Laboratories from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Raymond James Financial decreased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $146.00 to $130.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Daiwa Securities Group dropped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $147.00 to $135.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold 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 $137.05. Get Our Latest Research Report on Abbott Laboratories About Abbott Laboratories (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions. In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A woman has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court today for a disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital. Adiena McGovern (33) with an address at Crossowen Gardens, Clogher in Tyrone admitted one charge of disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital on December 4 last year. The court was told police were called to A&E in the hospital to a report of a disruptive female. When they arrived they were directed to the ambulance corridor and their attention was drawn to McGovern who was lying under a blanket on a trolley. She was shouting at anyone who came near her and staff said the trolley was required. Police approached her and she became verbally abusive and was warned 'multiple times' about her behaviour and reminded that she was in a hospital . McGovern then 'refused to move and refused to stop shouting' and was subsequently arrested. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client had gone to the hospital for a legitimate reason but added that hospital staff should not have to deal with this sort of behaviour. He said there were no aggravating factors such as sectarian or racial abuse and added he felt it was at the 'lower end' of the scale. McGovern was given a three month sentence suspended for 12 months. A man who assaulted two members of staff in a Chinese takeaway has been placed on probation at Derry Magistrate's Court. Stephen Rigby (37) of Dunvale Close in a Derry admitted two charges of assault on the staff members that occurred on September 23 last. The court heard that Rigby had entered the takeaway and asked for food he claimed he had ordered but hadn't. When a female member of staff was bringing an order to a delivery driver Rigby pulled the food from her hand and then assaulted her. When another female staff member came to her assistance Rigby kicked her in the stomach and she required hospital assistance. READ NEXT: Tyrone woman receives suspended sentence for disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital In a pre-sentence report Rigby said he must have been 'provoked' . He denied being a racist and said he was 'disgusted' with himself. Rigby said he had cried while in police custody. He was sentenced to 12 months probation. Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland Deputy Director of Amnesty International UK, will speak at Holywell Trust in Derry to discuss the rise of authoritarian practices and the pillars of a free society, which are argued to be under attack in the UK and in other parts of the world. The event will also see discussions take place around efforts to undermine international systems designed to protect human rights. This event forms part of Holywell Trust's ongoing commitment to providing a space for informed public dialogue on issues of civic and social importance. By bringing leading voices from the human rights sector to the heart of the community, Holywell Trust continues to deliver on its role as a centre for engagement, reflection and debate on the challenges facing society both locally and globally. Grainne Teggart has been a prominent voice on human rights issues in Northern Ireland for a number of years, and in her role as Northern Ireland Deputy Director of Amnesty International UK, she has been closely involved in advocacy and policy work across a range of areas. Her appearance at Holywell Trust will offer attendees a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the leading figures in the human rights sector and to engage with the issues through open discussion. READ NEXT: Lyra McKee murder trial to continue as judge rejects bid to halt case The event takes place on Monday, March 2 at 11.00am at Holywell Trust, Bishop Street. Admission is free and open to all. Better late than never is my early reaction to this development, on how Indias trying to protect children and teens from the damaging effects of social media. Several reports indicate Indias resolve to restrict social media access to young and minors is under deliberation at the very highest levels of the Indian government. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! From what we know so far, the Indian government isnt looking at outright banning social media access for children and teens, drawing the line at restricting access to social media apps for anyone under the age of 16. According to comments made by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, he confirmed that the government is in discussions with various social media platforms regarding the rising menace of deepfakes and effective age-based restrictions. The internal consultations and discussions hint at finding the right way to regulate social media. LSK Devarayalu of the Telugu Desam Party an ally of PM Modi has proposed a private bill of members, pushing for the outright ban of social media for children in India. Reports suggest his growing worry on how children are becoming addicted to social media. While this is still an early private members bill not one that the government has introduced in parliament for discussion officially its an indication of legislative intent to follow soon. After Australia became the first country in the world to implement a blanket ban on social media for children under the age of 16 years, which officially came into effect in December 2025, several other countries like Denmark, France, Spain have followed with similar proposals. And its good to see India join this effort to curb the ill-effects of social media and protect the young. Unlike Australia, reports indicate India isnt considering a blanket ban on social media access for anyone under the age of 16. Whats being considered are different ways to target restrictions, which may include limiting access to certain features on popular social platforms. Age verification technology is also being considered strongly in this regard. Proponents of these measures (myself included) point to enormous stakes on the line. Facebook and Instagram enjoy over 400 million and 450 million users, respectively. Over 90% of Indian teens are active on social media to the point of addiction. Indias Economic Survey 2025-2026 has flagged this mental health crisis in extremely strong language: There is a high prevalence of social media addiction among those aged 15-24. Social media addiction is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying stress. Other issues plaguing Indian youth include compulsive scrolling, social comparison and gaming disorders. These lead to sleep disruption, aggression, social withdrawal, and depression, with adolescent populations especially vulnerable. Of course, the concerns are real as well. Any age-verification tech engineered for social good like restricting teens from accessing social media can be misused for creating a surveillance infrastructure. Imagine the scale of sensitive data that will be collected and how vulnerable it will be to cyber breaches. The effective implementation of such a restrictive measure is also in question right now. Will this just signal Indian teens to migrate to lesser known, unregulated platforms? Indian states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa are also considering social media restrictions for teens, but how will they enforce these measures beyond their geographical boundaries is a big question mark. In all of this, one thing is clear: Indias definitely inching closer towards regulating social media for teens and children under the age of 16. How that will happen exactly still remains to be seen. Whatever India ends up deciding, though, will have a huge impact on Meta and Google and other social media platforms. A couple of hours ago, Sam Altman announced to the world that OpenAI had just raised a $110 billion round of funding from Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank. For Elon Musk and ChatGPT detractors baying for Sam Altmans blood, with ominous predictions circulating on how OpenAI will go bankrupt by 2027, this must be a punch in the gut for now. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! For Sam Altman and his team at OpenAI, needless to say this is great news. But theres no time to bask in this momentary win, with this massive cash infusion, as theres serious work to be done ahead. We are grateful for the support from our partners, and have a lot of work to do to bring you the tools you deserve, Altman wrote on his X.com account. According to CNBC, the $110 billion funding round is split like so Amazon has pumped in $50 billion, with NVIDIA and SoftBank both committing $30 billion each. The current funding round for OpenAI isnt over yet, as more investors are expected to invest in the ChatGPT maker, according to reports. This appears to be the largest private funding round of any startup or company in history. The cash infusion has taken OpenAIs value to somewhere between $730 billion and $840 billion, depending on whom you ask, which is still a significant jump from the $500 billion valuation from October 2025. We have raised a $110 billion round of funding from Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank. We are grateful for the support from our partners, and have a lot of work to do to bring you the tools you deserve. Sam Altman (@sama) February 27, 2026 Amazons $50 billion investment into OpenAI is expected to happen in two stages, where $15 billion is infused immediately and the remaining $35 billion expected in the coming months, contingent on certain conditions. Sam Altman tweeted OpenAIs excitement on partnering with Amazon to bring a new generation of products to market, especially around new enterprise products like the stateful runtime environment. Altman also confirmed that OpenAI will make use of Amazons Tranium AI chips for ChatGPTs compute infrastructure with 2 gigawatts of capacity. In return, OpenAI is expected to expand its existing $38 billion deal with AWS with $100 billion over the next 8 years. AWS will also become an exclusive third-party cloud provider for Frontier, OpenAIs enterprise platform. What happens to OpenAIs exclusivity deal with Microsoft Azure? Sam Altman was quick to allay any fears on that regard, tweeting how OpenAI continues to have a great relationship with Microsoft. And how the ChatGPT makers stateless API will remain exclusive to Azure, and they will continue to build out much more capacity on Microsofts Azure cloud. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently sent tongues wagging when he appeared to back track on the chip makers commitment to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI which was initially reported back in September 2025. Whether the current $30 billion investment from NVIDIA is part of that $100 billion overall package isnt clear right now. What is clear is that Sam Altman needs NVIDIA, even when hes courting Amazon on top of Microsoft. NVIDIA has long been one of our most important partners, and their chips are the foundation of AI computing. We are grateful for their continued trust in us, and excited to run their systems in AWS. Their upcoming generations should be great. Sam Altman (@sama) February 27, 2026 NVIDIA has long been one of our most important partners, and their chips are the foundation of AI computing, Altman wrote on his X.com handle. We are grateful for their continued trust in us, and excited to run their systems in AWS. Their upcoming generations should be great. In case you were wondering, ChatGPT now has over 900 million weekly active users (of which 100 million are in India) and more than 50 million consumer subscribers, according to latest reports. Surely this fresh round of funding will only help OpenAI and Sam Altman get those ChatGPT numbers up even more, right? Also read: OpenAI boss Sam Altman wants students not to rely on parents for career advice, heres why Holi 2026: The festival of colours is just around the corner, and capturing the vibrant spirit of Holi has never been easier. Google has recently introduced Google Nano Banana 2, an AI tool that helps you create colourful and lively images using a simple photo and clear prompts. The latest version of the AI tool produces pictures with better detail and a more natural look, making your edits appear real and eye-catching. Whether you are applying gulal or posing with friends against a colourful backdrop, creative direction can make all the difference. In this article, I will show you how to take Instagram-worthy Holi photos using Google Nano Banana 2. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! How to make Holi images using Google Nano Banana Follow the simple steps below to generate Holi images using Google Nano Banana: 1. Launch a web browser on your device and head to Google Gemini. Alternatively, you can also launch the Google Gemini app on your device. 2. Press the + icon and select Upload image. Choose the image you wish to upload. 3. Select Create image from the available options. 4. Write a detailed prompt in the text box describing the Holi image you want to generate. Alternatively, you can also use the prompts weve mentioned below. 5. Once done, press the Submit button. 6. The AI assistant will now take a few minutes to make your image. 7. If you want to change anything, just edit your prompt and create a new image. 8. When youre happy with the result, download it and share it on Instagram or any other social media. Also read: Samsung may skip another TriFold or Edge variant to rival Apple, heres why Prompts to generate Holi images Here are some of the prompts you can use to make your Holi images using Google Nano Banana. Feel free to edit the prompts below to your liking: 1. A high-speed, freeze-frame action shot of a colourful water balloon bursting against someones back. The water and coloured powder are frozen midair in a sculptural, crystalline explosion surrounding the subject. The subject is laughing, mid-run, wearing a soaked white kurta. Water droplets and powder particles hang in sharp focus against a blurred, chaotic festival background. Dramatic side lighting and macro details. Make sure that the face is 100% the same (no alterations). 2. A unique drone photograph looking straight down at a young man lying on his back on a ground completely covered in a swirling pattern of fallen coloured powder. He is looking up at the camera, laughing, his body forming part of the colourful landscape patterns. Geometric composition, vibrant saturation. Make sure that the face is 100% the same (no alterations). Also read: Motorola Razr 60 Ultra can be yours for under Rs 69,500, heres how 3. A cinematic, slow-motion style medium shot of a handsome young man walking confidently through a chaotic Holi crowd toward the camera. He wears stylish aviator sunglasses and a white linen kurta flowing behind him, both heavily dusted with multicoloured powder. People around him are throwing colour, but he is in sharp focus, looking cool and composed. Shallow depth of field, bokeh effect. Ensure that the face and the facial features remain 100% the same (no alterations should be made). 4. Dynamic action portrait of a young man smiling joyfully, capturing the pure festive energy of Holi. A massive, high-contrast cloud of neon purple and sky-blue powder explodes dramatically in the background and foreground. He wears a crisp white kurta and sunglasses heavily splattered with colourful pigment. Glistening water droplets and vibrant powder particles are captured, frozen mid-air, using high-speed photography. Candid, radiant, bright natural sunlight illuminating the dust cloud; ultra-detailed, highly textured. Make sure that the face is 100% the same (no alterations). 5. Ultra-realistic 8K photorealistic cinematic editorial portrait, vertical 9:16. A man is standing in a crowded Holi festival celebration. Tight medium close-up (chest-up), shoulders visible. Eye-level camera. Body facing slightly LEFT (camera-relative). Head level. Gaze directly at the camera. Expression: a wide-open-mouthed joyful laugh, teeth visible, energetic and ecstatic. CRITICAL FACE Completely remove the models facial identity. Replace fully with the provided user face, preserving exact facial proportions, eyes, nose, and mouth structures. No trace of the original face may remain. Hair must match the reference: medium-to-shoulder-length and wavy. voluminous, slightly messy, wind-swept, with a subtle side part and loose strands on the forehead and sides. Thick texture. A full thick beard and moustache matching reference density and rugged natural finish, integrated realistically with the users face. Face, hair, beard, neck, and shirt covered in vibrant Holi powders (dominant reds, pinks, yellows, and subtle blues), applied organically. Simple crew-neck t-shirt, fabric texture visible, heavily dusted with colour. Strong warm golden backlight, sunset glow, and cinematic rim light on hair and shoulders. Soft depth of field, blurred energetic crowd with raised hands, floating powder particles catching light. No mirroring, no tighter crop, no composition changes. Make sure that the face is 100% the same (no alterations). Also read: MWC 2026: Date, venue, tickets, registration details and what to expect from mega tech show 6. High-speed photography shot. The man is laughing joyfully as a cloud of vibrant neon purple and sky-blue powder explodes around him. His white kurta is becoming a canvas of colours. Water droplets glistening in the air like crystals. Candid expression, eyes sparkling with happiness. The background is a blurred festive crowd. Hyper-detailed textures of skin and fabric. Ultra-realistic cinematic Holi night portrait using my uploaded photo as the face reference, side profile pose looking upward, wearing stylish black sunglasses, right hand raised above head releasing vibrant pink powder falling down dramatically, neon pink and yellow. Holi colours smeared across face and beard, bright splashes of pink and orange powder on white kurta shirt, and intense moody low-key lighting make it daytime in a Vrindavan background with soft colourful bokeh lights (red/green) and high contrast. Make sure that the face is 100% the same (no alterations). 7. Ultra-realistic cinematic portrait of a smiling young Indian man with a beard, wearing a bright green traditional turban and white kurta. He is standing in a dense crowd of men who are all wearing vibrant red turbans and red kurtas. He is joyfully throwing a handful of red and green Holi powder (gulal) directly towards the camera, with the powder frozen in midair, creating a dynamic, immersive effect. His face and clothes are playfully smeared with Holi colours. High-speed photography, sharp focus on the mans face and the flying powder, and shallow depth of field with a softly blurred background of the crowd. Festive, energetic atmosphere; beautiful natural daylight; highly detailed 8k resolution. Ensure that the face and the facial features remain 100% the same (no alterations should be made). 8. Ultra-realistic DSLR photograph of a stylish young Indian man celebrating Holi in a vibrant traditional Indian setting. He is smiling confidently. natural candid expression, face partially covered with bright gulal (pink, yellow, and blue). He is wearing a crisp white kurta, slightly splashed with colourful powders, with sleeves casually rolled up. Well-groomed hair, light stubble, natural masculine look. The background shows an authentic Indian Holi celebration scene with people playing with the final instruction (non-negotiable): Faces and ages are locked. Any change to facial features or age is strictly forbidden. The output must preserve the exact original faces and ages from the uploaded images. Use the exact same face from the image I uploaded no alterations. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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 A man has been arrested after a member of An Garda Siochana was injured after he was struck by an electric motorbike in Dublin. Gardai say the member who was on duty was hospitalised following the incident in Blanchardstown, Dublin on Thursday night. "While on proactive patrol to disrupt the sale and supply of controlled drugs, gardai observed a man driving a Surron-type electric motorcycle on a green area in Blakestown, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, at approximately 9pm," said a spokesperson. According to gardai, the man, whose face was covered, was driving the motorcycle on the green area and on footpaths putting members of the public at risk. "When a garda member who was on foot approached the motorcyclist as he was travelling at speed along the footpath he drove off and in the course of doing so struck the garda," said the spokesperson READ ALSO: Two major health insurance companies announce price hikes of up to 11% from April The garda, a male aged in his 20s, was brought to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown to be treated for non life-threatening injuries sustained during the incident. The motorcyclist, aged in his 30s, was also taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown to be treated for non life-threatening injuries. This man has since been arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a farda station in Dublin. The electronic motorcycle has been seized and investigations are ongoing. Welfare supports have been made available to the injured garda by local management. A man has been charged with the murder of a UK tourist who died two months after an alleged assault in Dublin city. Darragh OBrien, 22, with an address at Beechfield Heights in Dublin, appeared before the Dublin District Court on Friday morning. He had appeared before the courts last year charged in relation to the incident in the Temple Bar Square area of the capital just after midnight on August 21. Anthony Herron, aged in his 40s who had a three-year-old son and had recently bought a house in London with his pregnant wife, was left in a critical condition after the alleged assault. He was taken to Dublins Beaumont Hospital before being transferred to a high dependency ward in Kings College Hospital in the UK. Gardai said Mr Herron died on Saturday October 25 2025. On Friday, Garda Colin Coyne-Delaney told the court that Mr OBrien was arrested on Thursday and charged at 10.04pm with the murder of Anthony Herron. He made no reply when charged. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that the count of murder proceed on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. Mr OBrien, who appeared in court before Judge Gerard Jones wearing a blue tracksuit, was remanded in custody. He is next to appear before Cloverhill District Court. An iconic piece of pub advertising history from Castlebellingham in County Louth, in the form of a monumental late-19th-century advertising mirror, produced in 1872 by noted maker William W. Cleland and commissioned to promote Castle Bellingham Ales & Stouts, is set to go for auction, with an eye opening estimate price, at Victor Mee Auctions as part of their Wilsons Yard Sale, which will take place online on 18 & 19 March. Measuring an extraordinary eight feet wide by four feet high, it ranks among the largest known examples of Clelands work and has miraculously survived a rich life adorning one of Armaghs oldest licensed premises, Portadowns West End Bar. Embellished with period lettering and decorative flourishes, the mirror is both a striking work of Victorian craftsmanship and a nod to Irelands brewing history and is suited as a statement back-bar focal point, reception feature, or signature wall installation within a hospitality setting. The scale and craftsmanship of this mirror offer dramatic and visual impact, whilst reinforcing authentic heritage credentials. As a one-of-a-kind piece, estimated to sell for upwards of 50,000, this mirror offers collectors and hospitality venues an opportunity to acquire a centrepiece that embodies the enduring character of the Irish public house tradition. In a time where atmosphere defines guest experience, few pieces can rival the combined scale, provenance, and branding potential of this remarkable mirror. Read also: Family with roots in Essexford in Louth celebrates 60th wedding anniversary These lots feature in Victor Mee Auctions upcoming Wilsons Yard sale which will take place online from 2pm on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 March. Also being sold at the auction, is a stunning example of public house heritage as the complete bar counter and back fitting from one of Armaghs oldest licensed premises, Portadowns West End Bar, will go to the highest bidder. Offered with its original snug and crafted in richly toned hardwood, the installation is anchored by a remarkable back bar which incorporates six fully functioning liquor casks, an increasingly scarce survivor of traditional Irish public house design. This fully realised hospitality setting offers immediate character and authenticity to the likes of boutique hotels, destinations restaurants, whiskey bars, or private members clubs and is estimated to bring up to 80,000 at auction. In addition to these iconic lots, bidders will also have the chance to bid on remaining inventory from one of Irelands most established names in architectural salvage and reclaimed materials Wilsons Yard as owns Geoff and Rosy Wilson gear up for retirement. The sale will feature an extensive and eclectic selection of architectural antiques, reclaimed building materials, fireplaces, decorative interiors and outdoor features. In-person viewings will take place 13th 16th March at Wilsons Yard, 123 Hillsborough Road, Dromore, County Down. For more information and to view the full sale catalogue visit www.victormeeauctions.ie Louth County Council have joined forces with Carlow County Council and Creative Spark to ensure the Irish Craft sector is future-proofed rather than replaced by modern technology. Through the Craft Work 4.0 All project, a co-funded initiative under the Creative Europe Programme, has emerged between Creative Spark, which provides dedicated training and workspace facilities in Dundalk Carlow County Council, and Louth County Council. David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council said: Louth County Council is committed to fostering an environment where creativity, innovation, and enterprise can thrive. By providing access to advanced technologies and expert training, we are empowering Louths makers to innovate, grow, compete internationally, and futureproof their craft. Craft Work 4.0 All is a powerful example of how partnerships can deliver real and lasting impact. Nikki Campbell, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Louth, emphasizes the strategic importance of this development: "Our goal is to provide practical learning that empowers local business owners to grow and succeed. These new programmes address current challenges and opportunities, offering vital support for both start-ups and established businesses. By integrating rapid prototyping into their workflow, Louth's craft professionals are not just preserving a tradition; they are building the capability and confidence needed to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace." The initiative is centred around Creative Spark in Dundalk. The centrepiece of this regional delivery is the Rapid Prototyping Course, a high-level training programme that introduces makers to the transformative power of design thinking and digital fabrication. By mastering these tools, artisans can move from problem framing and problem solving, learning how to get from concept to physical object with unprecedented speed, allowing for greater experimentation and economic efficiency. Read Next: Special Regeneration Areas to be identified in Dundalk and Drogheda Sarah Daly, Executive Director of Creative Spark, said providing a space where "innovation and creativity can flourish" is essential for giving local makers a competitive edge in a globalized economy. While Louth focuses on technical mastery, Carlow is championing accessibility and international synergy. Creative Spark Mobile FabLab, which will be stationed at Carlow Library on 30 April, serves as a "lab on wheels," bringing digital fabrication tools directly to the public. This initiative democratises high-tech machinery, allowing practitioners and the curious alike to engage with the tools of the future in a community setting. Furthermore, the project fosters a "Network Happening," an event where International Makers travel to Ireland to visit Creative Spark and Carlows creative clusters. This exchange of ideas is pivotal, as it connects local Irish talent with a 12-country European consortium, sparking cross-border collaborations that transcend geographical boundaries. Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development and Enterprise at Carlow County Council, said that such projects "democratize technology" and position the region as a leader in the global craft movement. The Craft Work 4.0 All project is built upon three foundational pillars: Academy (professional development), Business (economic scaling), and Collaboration (mobility and exchange). While the physical infrastructure is rooted in Louth and Carlow, the benefits and resources are available to all craft professionals across Ireland. This project aims to provide a roadmap for the sustainability of Irish craft. It invites makers to step back from the day-to-day of their studios and engage with a wider European network that values both the history of the handmade and the potential of the digital Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Over 1,180 children wear their pyjamas with pride today as National Pyjama Day 2026 is celebrated in 22 Early Years and School Age Care settings across Louth. Organised by Early Childhood Ireland, this cherished annual event sees children wear their favourite pyjamas to creches, preschools and afterschools for a funfilled day of PJ breakfasts, teddy bear picnics, games and activities, all to raise essential funds for charity. Commenting on the event, Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, said, National Pyjama Day captures the spirit of children helping children in the most joyful way, and its so inspiring to see over 1,180 and their educators join the celebrations in Early Years and School Age Care settings in Louth today. This years event supports LauraLynn, Irelands Childrens Hospice, alongside Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project. This year, we are proud to partner with LauraLynn to provide personalised care for children with palliative and complex needs, and vital supports for their families. The funds will also support Early Childhood Irelands EcoEmotions project, helping us to continue delivering our first-of-its-kind eco-learning for educators and families, Ms Heeney said. LauraLynn provides vital care for children and essential support for families by building unique communities of care. National Pyjama Day funds will support LauraLynns Family Support Services, ensuring families can access high-quality emotional, therapeutic and practical care when and where they need it most. Read Next: Special Regeneration Areas to be identified in Dundalk and Drogheda Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn, said, It is fantastic to see so many children and Early Years and School Age Care settings joining National Pyjama Day today raising funds for LauraLynn. This support helps us to provide hospice and palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families from all across Ireland. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of partner organisation Community Foundation Ireland, said, Community Foundation Ireland is delighted to continue this long-standing partnership with Early Childhood Ireland on National Pyjama Day an initiative that truly shows the power of communities coming together to champion children. We also congratulate LauraLynn and wish them every success as they continue to provide this vital support for children and families that need it most. To donate to National Pyjama Day 2026, visit here. Gaelcholaiste Dhun Dealgan is set to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with a special cookery demonstration that will bring together food, language and local community spirit. The event, titled Cocaireacht agus Comhra (Cookery and Conversation) will take place in McCarthys Kitchen in the North Link Retail Park on Wednesday 11 March at 7.00pm. This live culinary demonstration will be held in one of their many bespoke kitchens, showcasing their innovative products and services while promoting the Irish language in a relaxed and welcoming setting. It will also focus on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. The students of Gaelcholaiste Dhun Dealgan worked closely with local Dundalk businesses, including Country Fresh and Barrack Street Butchers, to source high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables and meat for the evening. We are extremely grateful for their generous support and valued partnership. Speaking ahead of the event, Caoimhe, Priomhoide Tanaisteach Gaelcholaiste Dhun Dealgan, praised the students efforts. Our students have put tremendous effort into preparing for this event. They researched sustainable seasonal foods that can be sourced locally and worked closely with local suppliers. Read also: Special Regeneration Areas to be identified in Dundalk and Drogheda "We are very grateful for the support we have received. It is important that students feel connected to their community and this has been a valuable real-life learning experience for them, she said. As well as promoting sustainable food practices, the evening will highlight the importance of wellbeing and the practical life skills developed through Home Economics, including budgeting, nutrition awareness and creative thinking. Gaelcholaiste Dhun Dealgan, situated on the Ramparts (near DPL) opened in 2023 and currently caters for First to Third Year students with Transition Year starting in September 2026. It is the only Irish-medium secondary school within a 60-kilometre radius, offering families in Dundalk and the surrounding areas a co-educational, multi-denominational Irish-medium option for second-level education. This event is about more than food, the school says; it will also provide an opportunity for everyone to speak and practise whatever level of Irish they have in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Tickets are available via Eventbrite, with further details available on McCarthys Kitchens social media pages and the schools social media pages. In 2025, Jack was the most popular baby name for boys in Louth, while Molly took the top spot for girls' names, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed. The name Jack was also the most popular for boys in Louth in 2024 alongside Noah while Eabha was the most popular girls name in Louth in 2024. Nationally, Rian was the most popular boys name in 2025, the first time it reached the position since our series began in 1964. This was the first time Jack was not the most popular choice since 2016. Lily was the most popular name for girls in 2025, replacing the previous years top choice of Sophie, which now ranks joint 6th with Emily. Murphy was the most common surname for babies born in 2025, followed by Kelly and OBrien. For just the fourth time in the 50 years since 1975, Mary fell out of the top 100 list of most popular girls' names in Ireland. In terms of popularity, the girls name Raya rose fastest up the rankings in 2025, from 213th place in 2024 to 99th in 2025. Read Next: Over 1,180 Louth children celebrate National Pyjama Day for good causes David and Olivia were the most popular choices of boys and girls' names for parents of EU15 - EU27 Nationality. There were 10,336 distinct new-born names registered in 2025. Following a slight fall during the Christmas period, homeless numbers in Louth and the North East region rose again in January, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 165 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 19-25 January 2026 in the North East region, up from 155 in December. Of the 155 adults: 142 were in Louth, up from 142 in December; and 23 were in Monaghan and Cavan combined, the same number as recorded in December. Of the 165 adults in January, 104 were male and 61 were female. 34 were aged 18-24 years old; 86 aged 25-44; 40 were aged 45-64; and five were aged 65 years old and over. 113 were Irish citizens; 25 were EEA/UK citizens; and 27 were non-EEA citizens. There was also a rise in the number of families accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation in the North East in January. Read also: Louth survivor calls on community to go all in against cancer 20 families, with 43 children were recorded as having accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 19-25 January 2026, up from 18 families with 35 children in December. Nationally, 11,793 adults and 5,319 children, giving a total of 17,112 people, were recorded as homelesstate.in January. This is up from 16,734 in December when a fall was recorded in homeless numbers, and is the highest number of people ever recorded as homeless in the State. This figure that does not account for those rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those in hidden homelessnesspeople sleeping in cars, on couches, or in unsuitable living conditions. Commenting on the latest figures, Dundalk Simon Community said that the first figures of the year underline that the crisis remains deeply entrenched and that sustained pressure across housing, affordability and support systems continues to push people into homelessness. Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dundalk Simon Community, said, Sadly, another social injustice milestone has been reached with record homeless figures. As numbers continue to grow, the Government must move with action to deliver solutions that will have the most impact. "It is essential that at both a national and local level every effort is made to increase housing supply and ensure people can move out of emergency accommodation into secure homes. For the thousands counted by the system, and the many others outside of official record, there needs to finally be a sustained response to what is truly the crisis of a generation. As new rental regulations come into effect, it is important to recognise how closely homelessness is tied to conditions in the private rental market. In Dublin, 1 in 4 households who become homeless come from the private rental market, citing notices of termination and affordability as the reasons. "Measures that the Government has outlined in the new housing plan need to be implemented immediately and the review of HAP is paramount to improve access and affordability to those who rely on private rental accommodation as a housing option. Equally so, it is important to ensure prevention measures are in place for people at risk of losing their homes. "Strong prevention including security and affordability is essential if we are to stem the flow into homelessness. Alongside increasing housing supply and prevention measures, the continued provision of health and addiction services help people move on and remain housed. Housing alone is not enough people need the right supports to sustain tenancies and rebuild stability. A Transition Year (TY) student from Louth is a Solicitor of the Future after successfully completing the Law Society of Irelands innovative legal education programme. Caly Flanagan, St Louis Secondary School, was one of 40 TY students that attended the popular week-long Solicitors of the Future programme at the Law Society in Dublin from 17-20 February 2026. Delivered by leading legal experts, the immersive, activitybased programme featured practitionerled workshops, guest speakers, courtroom exercises, and a dedicated careers seminar. In total, students from ten counties participated. Places on this years programme were allocated by lottery, with 20% reserved for students attending socioeconomically disadvantaged schools. It is designed for anyone interested in exploring a career in law. Speaking about the programme, Law Society President, Rosemarie Loftus, said: This initiative encourages students to consider a career in law while providing a real insight into the work of practising solicitors. Read also: Special Regeneration Areas to be identified in Dundalk and Drogheda "It is carefully designed to offer a holistic understanding of what a legal career involves, and the many different paths it can take. From hearing insights from human rights practitioners to newly qualified solicitors, and visits to the Criminal Courts, students now have a real sense of what its like to work in the legal world, and the rewarding career path of a solicitor. The programme also highlighted the practical supports available to aspiring solicitors, including financial grants via the Law Societys Access Scholarship. It doesnt matter where you come from or what your background is - a career in law is open to everyone. By taking part in the Law Societys Solicitors of the Future programme, students learn how the law affects everyday life, building awareness of justice, legal processes, constitutional principles, and the rule of law. This is useful for everyone, not just future lawyers. Solicitors of the Future is one of the Law Societys many Public Legal Education programmes, part of its strategic drive to widen early access to legal education. Learn more about the Law Societys Public Legal Education programmes here. 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. 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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 International Womens Day 2026 Building on last years success, the ECB event to mark International Womens Day 2026 will stress the importance of closing the gender gap in financial literacy. The event will bring together policymakers and educators to showcase progress on the five commitments agreed last year, to highlight achievements and to call for further coordinated action across the Eurosystem. In conversation, President Lagarde and high-level guests will discuss the importance of financial literacy from the perspective of central banks, banking supervision authorities and European institutions, and will focus on closing the gender gap through harmonised efforts across Europe. Find out more about the speakers In Cork in the early 1930s, a piece of history was made when a new group started up in Toames, near Macroom. This was the first branch meeting in Ireland of the Blue Blouses - the female contingent of Eoin ODuffys infamous Blueshirts By 1933, the group nationwide had more members than Cumann na mBan, the Irish Countrywomens Association, and every other womens organisation in Ireland combined. Their now forgotten story is told in Mna na Leinte Gorma, a documentary on TG4 at 9.30pm on Wednesday, as we hear the story of the women who organised, mobilised, and wielded influence within one of the most controversial political movements in Irish history. Produced by Cork-based Bo Media, the documentary asks why such a large and powerful female movement was written out of Irelands historical narrative. Drawing on archival material and expert analysis, it explores how thousands of ordinary, respectable women became involved in a proto-fascist organisation in the turbulent 1930s, and what it reveals about gender, power, and political life in the early Free State. As authoritarian ideologies gained ground across Europe, Ireland was not immune. Mna na Leinte Gorma traces how fear, faith, and a desire for order shaped womens political engagement, examining their motivations, contradictions, and the darker implications of the movement they supported. The documentary resists easy judgments, offering a nuanced and critical re-examination of womens political agency at a moment of profound social change. Bilingual in Irish and English, and rooted in Cork city and county, the documentary offers up timely conversations about extremism, gender, identity, and how history chooses what and who it remembers. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work: My Name is Faye Shortt. Im 27-years-old, from Limerick, currently living in Dublin. I always wanted to pursue acting as a kid and a teenager. When it came to applying for CAO courses, I auditioned for the Gaiety School of Acting and went on to study there, as well as at the Bow Street Academy for screen acting. I graduated during covid which brought me back to living at home in Limerick with my family. It was during covid, that I started creating comedy sketches alongside my dad, Pat. From here, we wrote a comedy show together and toured across the country. Fast forward to 2026, and we have toured across Australia, New Zealand and also played in London. We are currently on tour with our live comedy show Shortt Stuff. Its been incredible so far, and I feel very fortunate to get to work with my dad. What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night? To go and see a live performance, whether it be theatre, comedy, or even a film. With gigging, I rarely have a weekend free, so getting to have a night off to sit in an audience and be entertained is a dream. Im also currently working as a radio presenter on Spin 1038, weekdays from 7pm-10pm, so with that, a night off in general is amazing. Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you? Up at the crack of dawn..... I wish I could sleep in, considering I dont finish work till 10pm on a weekday and the same on the weekends, but my body clock is locked in. Does work creep into your weekend at all? My weekends wont be free until May, so until then Im working six days a week, which is a bit mad, but I know that its only temporary. Plus, I love my job, so it doesnt always feel like work. If money was no object, where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you? I would probably bring my partner with me. We dont get to spend a lot of quality time together because of me being on tour, so a weekend away would be amazing ... probably somewhere Ive never been to before, like Copenhagen. I love my fashion, so its always been a dream to go to their fashion week. Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries? Yes. I absolutely love going down to Kilkee in Clare on my time off. Faye Shortt and her dad, Pat, will bring their show Shortt Stuff to Cork Opera House next week/ I just love the beach and going for a sea swim, even if it is baltic. What really relaxes me and chills me out is a sauna and a sea swim, they are everywhere at the moment. Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend? Im someone who loves company. Im not great at being by myself so Im always mad to meet up with a friend or family on my time off. Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator? Honestly, not much. I do love going to a rugby match if Im off. Im not even a huge rugby fan, but the atmosphere in the stadiums on a game day is incredible and its always a great excuse for a pint. Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter do you have a signature dish? I love hosting drinks, but I dont love hosting when it involves cooking. I find the whole idea of cooking for people very stressful, so in that case I prefer to be entertained, but I do love having the girls over for a few drinks. We have so many places to eat out in Cork where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal? I absolutely love Cork. I used to spend all my summers down in Garrettstown on the beach. The food at Fishy Fishy is incredible. I must book a weekend down there this summer. Sunday night comes around too fast, how do you normally spend it? If I have a gig closer to Limerick, I will stay at home with my family on a Sunday night and get some time to spend with them, but if my gig was closer to Dublin, I would stay at home in Dublin. I always love it when we have a show close to Limerick, so Ive an excuse to get home. What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning? If I dont have a gym class booked, Ill try to sleep in till 9am, but if I have a gym class booked usually 6.30am. Anything else you are up to right now... Im looking forward to bringing our show, Shortt Stuff , to Cork Opera House on Friday, March 6. Around 200 people gathered at Cork City Hall on Wednesday evening in support of special needs assistants (SNAs) as part of a nationwide series of demonstrations. As many as 30 protests were held across the country amidst continuing anger among school communities. This is despite a Government U-turn earlier this week on attempts to cut SNAs for the 2026 school year. It was announced on Tuesday that an additional 19m would be spent on SNAs this year, resulting in a pause to any review of allocations. However, Anglesea St heard chants of a pause is not enough, as SNAs, teachers, parents, and students gathered outside the city council offices. Hand-painted signs reading Hey Taoiseach, leave our kids alone and No ifs, no buts, no SNA cuts were held high alongside banners for the Labour Party, Sinn Fein, the Green Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Forsa, and Aontu. Joanne Doherty, vice-principal of Scoil Barra in Ballincollig, said she had heard the initial news of a proposed reduction in SNAs, and had not known whether to curse or to cry. While the decision to pause the cuts was welcome, she said a focus on real solutions was needed. We invite the Government and the NCSE [National Council for Special Education] to work with the people on the ground with school leaders, teachers, SNAs, parents and never forget the voice of our incredible children, Ms Doherty said. Come into our schools. See the complexity. See the care. Let us create a framework where the word care is truly at the heart of supporting our children. Labour Party senator Laura Harmon said full clarity from the Government is urgently needed. A pause is not a sufficient explanation for parents and staff who dont know if these SNA roles will exist in a year. SNAs, principals, pupils, and parents need answers. Every child deserves supports, and should be entitled to an appropriate class place; this should not be up for debate, she said. Eoghan Fahy, Sinn Fein county councillor for Carrigaline, said a clear message needed to be sent to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael: Do not mess with our children and, most certainly, do not mess with our children with special needs. Brian McCarthy, Solidarity-People Before Profit city councillor, raised his voice and told the crowd that parents had been forced to endlessly campaign for their childrens rights. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are denying your children their right to an education, so the question to them is: Why is cutting costs and protecting profits more important than providing kids with an education? There is an opportunity for a Youghal-Midleton rail link to be included in a revised transport strategy for Cork, the Dail has been told. Passenger trains from Midleton to Youghal were discontinued in 1963, while freight trains continued to use the line until 1982. The issue of the rail link was raised by Cork East TD James OConnor, who said that the public want a sense and feel for the timeline of this happening. However, Mr OConnor said a debate may be needed on whether the rail line could support an electrified dual track or if a greenway would need to be removed. When it comes to a capital project of this scale and nature, this needs to be on capital plans in order for it to happen. That is probably the one thing that has been exceptionally disingenuously pumped out by people involved, who want to make this feel as though it can be done with the click of a finger and overnight, when that is just not how things happen. Being honest, there are huge political barriers and challenges, he said. In response, junior transport minister Sean Canney said the plan is not in the all-island rail review, but a review of the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy could see it included. There is an opportunity to see if we can get it into the Cork metropolitan transport strategy. That is the opportunity, he said. I will not pre-empt the outcome of that strategy here today, other than to say it is the vehicle by which this will change from being something people desire to becoming part of the strategy for the development of Cork. Irish Rail has previously said there is currently no plan, no policy, no funding, and no project to reinstate the railway line. AJ Cronin, the Irish Rail manager in charge of the 1.8bn upgrade of the Cork commuter rail project, said last month that even if the Government approved the reinstatement tomorrow morning, it could take up to 10 years to develop and would cost around 200m. The High Court has dismissed a woman's claim of negligence against a GP for allegedly failing to identify acute appendicitis which she claimed caused a three-day delay in diagnosis resulting in a perforated appendix. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds found that Dr Rachel Finnegan, who has more than 20 years experience, including in outofhours services, made a reasonable diagnosis of gastroenteritis on then 11-year-old Maria Afolabi on December 13, 2017. Ms Afolabi, now an adult and a full-time student, sued Dr Finnegan and SouthDoc out-of-hours co-op service where the GP worked. She alleged that Dr Finnegan was negligent in failing to identify that she met several diagnostic criteria for acute appendicitis and in failing to refer her to hospital that evening. It was common case between the parties that she suffered serious medical complications due to the perforation of her appendix including a prolonged hospital stay and surgical intervention complicated by severe wound infection. She also had a long midline surgical incision resulting in permanent disfiguring scarring and the risk of further adverse consequences as outlined in medical reports presented to court. There was a full defence and it was asserted that Dr Finnegans diagnosis of gastroenteritis was reasonable in the clinical circumstances and that she managed the patient appropriately in providing general and red flag advice together with a hospital referral letter. It was claimed that, to the extent her condition deteriorated, her mother, Gladys Afolabi, failed to follow the advice provided by Dr Finnegan and/or to use the referral letter as advised. The court heard the child was brought to the SouthDoc clinic in circumstances where she had been feeling unwell since the previous day. When there was no improvement in her condition, her mother got an appointment with SouthDoc in circumstances where their own GP surgery had closed early that day. At that consultation, Dr Finnegan took a history of symptoms. Ms Afalabi was examined and a diagnosis of likely gastroenteritis was made. The doctor made a note that the mother was particularly concerned about the possibility of appendicitis and voiced her concerns. Her mother insisted on a referral letter for the hospital for use should her daughter's condition deteriorate. It was provided in a sealed envelope. By December 16, her pain was worse and Mrs Afolabi, a healthcare support worker, said her daughter was very weak and dehydrated. She decided she could not wait the full five days for the bug to clear and took her daughter to the emergency department at Cork University Hospital. She was immediately admitted and subsequently underwent surgery for a perforated appendix. Dismissing the action, Ms Justice Reynolds said she had concluded that the primary diagnosis of gastroenteritis by Dr Finnegan was reasonable. She was further satisfied that Dr. Finnegans management and advice to Ms Afolabi and her mother was in accordance with the standard expected of a GP acting with ordinary care. "In circumstances where there was no clinical negligence on the part of either Dr Finnegan or SouthDoc, I must dismiss the plaintiffs claim," she said. She also awarded costs against Ms Afolabi. The most popular baby names in Ireland in 2025 were Rian and Lily, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed. The CSO released data on Friday on the most popular baby names and updated its online tool, which allows users to check the popularity of particular names over time. It said Rian has dethroned Jack as the most popular boys name, with Jack having held the top spot for almost a decade. Meanwhile, Lily was the most popular name for girls in 2025, replacing the previous years top choice, Sophie, which now ranks joint sixth with Emily. The top five names for girls were Lily, Eabha, Fiadh, Grace and Sadie. For boys, the top five were Rian, Jack, Noah, James and Oisin. CSO statistician Sean OConnor said: Rian [has] reached the top spot for the first time since our series began in 1964. It has been increasing in popularity since 2018 and entered the top five in 2021. Looking at girls names, Lily claimed the number one position as most popular girls name in Ireland for the first time since our series began in 1964. Lily first started to gain popularity in 1997 when 15 girls were given the name, and it has been steadily climbing up the ranks since then. There were new entrants in the top 100s for both boys and girls. Levi, Daire, Naoise, Conall, Elijah and Teidi now feature in the top 100 for boys, while Riadh, Gracie, Mabel, Arabella, Nancy and Raya appear for girls. In Cork City, Jack and Lily were the most popular names, while Rian and Eabha were the most popular in the rest of the county. In total, 10,336 distinct newborn names were registered in 2025. Murphy was the most common surname for babies born in 2025, followed by Kelly, OBrien, Walsh and Byrne. The CSO also examined changes in the popularity of names over time. While John was the most popular boys' name in 1975, it occupied the 29th position in 2025, unchanged from 2024, Mr OConnor said. For girls, Mary was the most popular name 50 years ago, whereas in 2025 it ranked in 112th position. This was only the fourth time in 50 years that the name Mary did not feature in the top 100 most popular names in Ireland with 41 babies given the name of Mary in 2025. Interestingly, James was the only name which appeared in the top 10 boys names in both 1975 and 2025, ranking 6th place in 1975, and 4th place in 2025. A lorry driver entered a guilty plea to a charge of careless driving causing the death of a woman in Charleville almost three years ago. Damien Mulvey (43) of Avondale, Knockbarry, Buttevant, County Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the single charge of careless driving causing death. He pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that his driving at Main Street, Rathgoggin Middle, Charleville, County Cork, on the afternoon of May 15, 2023, was careless in that he drove without due care and attention causing the death of pensioner Margaret Lyons. The family of the deceased were present in court when Mr Mulvey pleaded guilty to this charge. His senior counsel Jane Hyland said as soon as the guilty plea was entered: On behalf of Mr Mulvey, he would like to express remorse on the death of this lady and offer his condolences to the family. Ms Hyland asked for an adjournment of sentencing so that testimonials on behalf of the accused could be prepared. The defence senior counsel also asked for free legal to be extended for the preparation of a doctors report. Sentencing was adjourned until May 11, at which time the family of the deceased will have an opportunity to present a victim impact statement. Judge Helen Boyle also addressed the family of the deceased in court saying that she would like to express sincere condolences to them. In the space of a generation, the Ireland of Father Ted has been transformed into the Ireland of Derry Girls. Or so we are led to believe. Religion and the church are dead; God and priests are yesterdays men. The nation is now populated, were told, by whip-smart, modern, liberal, and secular people who eschew all the trappings of faith. After all, didnt Corks own Sister Michael assure the Derry Girls that God doesnt hate them - hed be ambivalent towards you at best... if he even exists.? Then there were all those referenda on abortion and gay marriage where a new Ireland emerged. Or did it? Yes, Irish society has changed hugely since Ted Crillys day - and much of that for the better - but people have not turned their backs on God in large numbers; far from it. And the younger generation are leading the charge. Recent surveys have shown that Gen Z - the cohort of people now aged around 18-24 - are keeping the faith perhaps even more so than young people of previous decades. More than half - 54% - describe themselves as religious/spiritual, and 62% report being very or fairly spiritual. The same poll last year also showed that 61% of all Irish people describe themselves as religious and/or spiritual, with half reporting that they pray. Fancy that. Half of adults in Ireland pray - hard to believe, isnt it? Now, its fair to say that organised religion and the various churches are not bearing witness to many of these prayers. The Catholic faith here is in decline, congregations and priest numbers are in freefall. The many scandals forced people to say Down with that sort of thing. However, this modern sense that Ireland is a secular country, freed from the shackles of all belief and faith, is remarkably askew. Any political party with 61% of the vote, and boasting 54% of support among Gen Z, would walk a general election. Those who label believers as unfashionable are, in fact, the unfashionable ones, it appears. So, whats going on? Why are Irish people - generally highly educated and liberal in outlook - not losing their religion? A non-believer might even ask: Why arent they following the science? But that may not be the gotcha they think it is. I cant speak for Gen Z here - but I have just finished reading a ground-breaking book that analyses science and a potential belief in a greater God - and comes to the conclusion that God really does exist. Regular readers will know Im not one given to hyperbole, but after reading it, I too have shifted my view on the God question. Beforehand, I was a firm non-believer. Now, Im not so sure. The case for a higher being really is not thwarted - but rather is backed - by the science. I came across a review of God, The Science, The Evidence when I saw it make the cut for a Sunday Times Book of the Year a few months ago. In the four years since it was published in France, it has become a best-seller, and now the tome - written by Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies - has been translated into English. Its revelatory stance is that science is actually proving the existence of a god, rather than crushing it, and as much as scientists try to disprove this, they are failing... and many are even becoming more convinced of the God thesis themselves. God, The Science, The Evidence, was written by French authors Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies For instance, physicists are almost universally agreed now that the Big Bang was a starting point to the universe, instead of the long-held belief that the universe has always and will always be here. For there to be a starting point from nothing, there must have been a creator, the authors posit. You cant make something out of nothing; only God can. Similarly, the perfectly precise environment created by the Big Bang defies mathematical probability, the book argues. That split second led to the creation of many vital elements... and if there had been the slightest shift in the amount of hydrogen, or the slightest increase or decrease in carbon, for instance, the planets, stars and suns would never have had a chance of seeing light of day. And nor would we. A coincidence? A fluke? Or made - created - by design? Then there is the way life managed to form on our planet - another collection of key events that somehow occurred at the precise time required to lead to life, then us. All stretching the laws of probability well beyond breaking point. Even non-scientists like me can ponder this remarkable sequence of events and be led to the conclusion that God must have had a hand in them. Rarely has a book had an effect on me the way that God, The Science, The Evidence did. It hasnt made me start to pray, or given me an urge to go to church; but having read it with an open mind, it does make it easy to believe in a higher authority. Much easier than believing the alternative. The unusual thing is that it is science - not blind faith - that is making the persuasive arguments for God. As the book states, science is now Gods ally. Indeed, the authors, both engineers, point out that a study of Nobel prize winners of the 20th century showed that many more winners of the science categories identified with a religion than literature winners, for example, who made up a large proportion of atheists. Even the great scientists who were not essentially religious, like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, acknowledged the science could easily point to a god-like creator. The book does have its faults. It is laid out in school text book form, which some may find off-putting, and although generally well written, some parts are very dense. There is also a section arguing that Judaism is the one true faith on Earth which, although well-argued, struck me as a bit of a stretch (the authors are both Christians). But if youre on the fence about the existence of God, I would urge you to read this and see if it challenges your views the way it challenged mine. It might also give sceptics an insight into why Gen Z are a lot more religious and spiritual in outlook than many older people would give them credit for. Mad, eh, Ted? THEATRE Saturday Tom Crean, Antarctic Explorer, Everyman, 8pm, 39, students 16: Aidan Dooley in a striking one-man performance: Nobody conveys the sense of adventure, of challenge, and above all of the character of this great explorer. The final performance is a matinee on Sunday at 1pm. Music Madness, Cork Arts Theatre, 7pm, 22: The last performance of CADAs lively show, which features soloists, harmonies, colourful costumes, and dazzling performances from these so-talented young artists. Key For Two, Glen Theatre, Banteer: Comedy from the theatres drama group. A canny divorcee solves her financial problems by dating two married gentlemen on different days of the week. Now what could possibly go wrong? Tickets on 029 56239. Final performance on Sunday. Sunday Ballyturk, Rossmore Theatre, Clonakilty, 8pm, 15 : Last chance to see Enda Walshs play. MUSIC Saturday Ortus Chamber Music Festival Baroque Concert, Inkwell Theatre, Tracton Arts And Community Centre, Minane Bridge, 2pm, 20 (15 students) : An afternoon concert of Baroque music with Sergio Bucheli on lute and Dublin-born Miriam Kaczor on Baroque flute, featuring works by Bach, Monteverdi, OCarolan and more. Huey Morgan The Fun Lovin Criminal, De Barras, Clonakilty, 8pm, 32.50: The American best known as the frontman of hip-hop band Fun Lovin Criminals performs live. Endup Presents: Prosumer, The Pavilion, Cork city, 10pm, 17.50: Prosumer, is a DJ/producer from Germany with a captivation for all things electronic. Sunday Ortus Chamber Music Festival Closing Concert, MTU Cork School of Music, 3pm, 22.50 (15 students): Finale of the festival featuring an array of Irish and international musicians, including Corks Mairead Hickey on violin. OTHER EVENTS Saturday Sinead Culbert (Dirtbirds) - Im No Wonder Woman, 7pm, Cyprus Avenue, Cork city, 22.50: One half of comedy duo Dirtbirds explores the extreme dangers of growing up in the 1980s, the pitfalls of parenting, and the myths about marriage. Brian Gallagher & Guests, City Limits - Cork Comedy Club, 8.45pm, 22.50: One of the rising stars of Irish comedy, witty and irreverent, Brian has been a sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe. See www.tickets.ie, call 085 257 3480 or on the door. Sunday Mike Rice: Cruel Little Man, Everyman, 8pm, 28: The hilarious Irish comedian makes his Everyman debut. Theres a wickedness to Mikes humour as he talks about doing psychedelics with his brother, an entanglement with a Spanish Sausage Dog named Nino, and many other such rotten adventures. Sentimental Value (15a), 2pm & No Other Choice (15a), 4.30pm, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork city, 8: The first film is the latest from from acclaimed director Joachim Trier. The second movie is a dark and delicious satire from Park Chan-wook. Tom Tuite A man has been charged with the murder of an English tourist who died two months after being injured in the Temple Bar area of Dublin last year. Darragh O'Brien, 22, of Beechfield Heights, Clonee, Dublin 15, was initially charged with assault causing harm to Anthony Herron related to the attack in the early hours of August 21st, 2025, at Temple Bar Square. Herron, a Londoner in his 40s, was married with one child and about to become a father for the second time, and had just left a local pub when the incident occurred. O'Brien was granted conditional bail two days later and appeared again at Dublin District Court on Friday, when the case was upgraded to a murder charge. Garda Colin Coyne Delaney said the accused made "no reply" when charged. The garda informed Judge Gerard Jones that the Director of Public Prosecutions authorised the withdrawal of the assault charge and that the sole count of murder was to proceed on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. O'Brien could not apply for bail on Friday, given the nature of the charge, which requires an application to be brought before the High Court. Dressed in a blue tracksuit, O'Brien stood during the brief hearing and spoke only to consult with his solicitor, Holly Laher. Laher asked that her client, who has yet to enter a plea, be remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. Legal aid was granted. Prosecutors must complete a book of evidence and serve it on him before a return-for-trial order is granted. At his first hearing, the court was told that O'Brien was "couch surfing" with friends around that time. It was claimed O'Brien kicked the tourist in the head during the attack following an alleged verbal altercation. Herron was initially taken to St James's Hospital on the night of the assault but was then transferred to Beaumont Hospital to undergo emergency specialist surgery. He was later repatriated to the UK, where he passed away in October. At the original bail hearing, the court was told that O'Brien has no previous criminal history and "understands the seriousness of this offence". The accused was held in custody with consent to bail, subject to the condition of obtaining an address. He was required to sign on daily and to "stay out of the Dublin 2 area". He was further told not to renew his passport or any travel document. By Grainne Ni Aodha and David Young, Press Association There is no record of Jeffrey Epstein visiting or staying at Hillsborough Castle, according to a search at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). The search also found no indication that Epstein had any contact with Peter Mandelson during his short tenure as Northern Ireland secretary. Mandelson, who has been accused of passing sensitive information on to paedophile financier Epstein during his time as business secretary, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Peter Mandelson was Northern Ireland secretary from October 1999 to January 2001. Photo: James Manning/PA. He was released on bail until May. In a letter to Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said officials had searched records for any association between Epstein and Mandelson during his time at the NIO. He said that while no such link was found, the NIO retains information only for as long as necessary and that records of visits are disposed of after three to six years. Following your request, officials have carried out comprehensive searches of all records held by the Department, including those covering Lord Mandelsons time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (October 1999 January 2001). This has included carrying out electronic searches as well as reviewing physical files from the time. As a result of these searches, we have not identified any information to indicate that Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein had any official contact during the period October 1999 January 2001. Additionally, the Department holds no information that indicates that Jeffrey Epstein ever visited or stayed at Hillsborough Castle. Records are stored, with key documents selected for permanent preservation or National Archives transfer, while others are securely disposed of post the retention period Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn He said that official visitors books at Hillsborough Castle, which records significant visitors, were searched but found no reference to Epstein. It is important to note that the Northern Ireland Office operates under an Information Retention Policy which forms part of our overall Information Governance Framework, Mr Benn said. As a result, the NIO retains information only for as long as necessary for business, legal, regulatory, and accountability purposes, adhering to GDPR and the Public Records Act 1958. "Records are stored, with key documents selected for permanent preservation or National Archives transfer, while others are securely disposed of post the retention period. Visits records were therefore disposed of after three to six years. Visits by significant individuals to Hillsborough Castle are recorded in the official visitors books and would have been retained for longer. These books have been searched for records of Jeffrey Epstein visiting Hillsborough Castle, and again, no reference to him has been found. The UK government has firmly stated it will co-operate fully with all police investigations on this matter. High Court Reporters A Nigerian man who married and got separated in Ireland in what was described as a "marriage of convenience" and who sought to remain in Ireland can be deported after his latest attempt to remain here failed in a process he began over 16 years ago. The man (44) claimed that the Minister for Justice erred in concluding he was lawfully resident in the State on dates during January 2018 and January 2022. In her High Court judgment, Justice Nessa Cahill said the significance of the man's claim lay in the fact that it is only if the applicant was "undocumented" for that continuous period that he would be eligible to avail of a scheme regularising the status of long-term undocumented people in the State. He pleaded that, given that his residence card was revoked in 2016, and that subsequent temporary permissions were granted solely for the purpose of the review of that decision, they could not be deemed to have been independently valid. This meant, he argued, he was never lawfully resident here for the relevant period and met the criteria for the scheme. The applicant was born in Nigeria in 1982, came to Ireland in October 2009, and applied for asylum, which was refused; he did not appeal. On January 11th 2010, however, he gave notification of an intention to marry a Latvian national resident in the State and the two got married later that month. In April 2011, he applied for a residence card as the spouse of an EU national, and in October 2011, a five-year card was granted. However, in September 2015, their separation was formalised, and in August 2016, he applied for a new card. His application for renewal was refused, but he was granted temporary permission to reside in the State while he appealed. His appeal was refused "on the basis of findings of fraud or abuse of rights, as the Minister formed the view that the marriage was not a genuine subsisting marriage". Permission for judicial review was granted, but this again failed with the High Court finding that it was within the Minister's discretion to decide the marriage was one of convenience, and a deportation order was issued in February 2020. He appealed this order but again failed. In January 2022, the scheme for long-term "undocumented" people and their dependents to regularise their status came into effect. Applicants needed to show "undocumented" residence for the four-year period from 31 January 2018 to 31 January 2022. He then maintained that the temporary permissions he received during this period were invalid as the State had found he had engaged in a marriage of convenience and that he was therefore "undocumented". He then took a second judicial review after he was refused access to the scheme, which was this week dismissed by Justice Cahill. In dismissing his latest challenge, the Judge said there had been no revocation of the temporary permissions, but that they had expired and were renewed for appeals and review requests taken. She said they were granted at the discretion of the Minister and not by any EU imposition or statutory right. "The suggestion that the Minister 'must' have revoked the temporary permissions if he was revoking the residence card is without a basis in fact," she said. She upheld the Minister's decision that the man was here legally on dates within the relevant period, said the temporary permissions had been granted independently of the decision to revoke the residence card and upheld the Minister's refusal. Despite an ultimatum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Anthropic said that it can't "in good conscience" comply with a Pentagon edict to remove guardrails on its AI, CEO Dario Amodei wrote in a blog post. The Department of Defense had threatened to cancel a $200 million contract and label Anthropic a "supply chain risk" if it didn't agree to remove safeguards over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. "Our strong preference is to continue to serve the Department and our warfighters with our two requested safeguards in place," Amodei said. "We remain ready to continue our work to support the national security of the United States." In response, US Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael accused Amodei in a post on X of wanting "nothing more than to try to personally control the US military and is OK putting our nation's safety at risk." Advertisement Advertisement The standoff began when the Pentagon demanded that Anthropic its Claude AI product available for "all lawful purposes" including mass surveillance and the development of fully autonomous weapons that can kill without human supervision. Anthropic refused to offer its tech for those things, even with a "safety stack" built into that model. Yesterday, Axios reported that Hegseth gave Anthropic a deadline of 5:01 PM on Friday to agree to the Pentagon's terms. At the same time, the DoD requested an assessment of its reliance on Claude, an initial step toward potentially labelling Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" a designation usually reserved for firms from adversaries like China and "never before applied to an American company," Anthropic wrote. Amodei declined to change his stance and stated that if the Pentagon chose to offboard Anthropic, "we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations or other critical missions." Grok is one of the other providers the DoD is reportedly considering, along with Google's Gemini and OpenAI. It may not be that simple for the military to disentangle itself from Claude, however. Up until now, Anthropic's model has been the only one allowed for the military's most sensitive tasks in intelligence, weapons development and battlefield operations. Claude was reportedly used in the Venezuelan raid in which the US military exfiltrated the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife. Advertisement Advertisement AI companies have been widely criticized for potential harm to users, but mass surveillance and weapons development would clearly take that to a new level. Anthropic's potential reply to the Pentagon was seen as a test of its claim to be the most safety-forward AI company, particularly after dropping its flagship safety pledge a few days ago. Now that Amodei has responded, the focus will shift to the Pentagon to see if it follows through on its threats, which could seriously harm Anthropic. OpenAI has vowed to strengthen its safety protocols and to notify law enforcement of credible threats sooner in a letter addressed to Canadian authorities, according to Politico and The Washington Post. If youll recall, Canadian politicians summoned the companys leaders after reports came out that it didnt notify authorities when it banned the account owned by the Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia mass shooting suspect back in 2025. Some of OpenAIs leaders have already met with Candian officials, and British Columbia Premier David Eby said Sam Altman had also agreed to meet with him. While OpenAI has yet to announce changes to its rules, Ann OLeary, its vice president of global policy, reportedly wrote in the letter that the company will tweak its detection systems so that they can better prevent banned users from coming back to the platform. Apparently, after OpenAI banned the shooters original account due to potential warnings of committing real-world violence, the perpetrator was able to create another account. The company only discovered the second account after the shooters name was released, and it has since notified authorities. Further, OpenAI will now notify authorities if it detects imminent and credible threats in ChatGPT conversations, even if the user doesnt reveal a target, means, and timing of planned violence. OLeary explained that if the new rules had been in effect when the shooters account was banned in 2025, the company would have notified the police. OpenAI will also establish a point of contact for Canadian law enforcement so it can quickly share information with authorities when needed. Advertisement Advertisement The Canadian government sees OpenAIs decision not to report the shooters original account as a failure. It threatened to regulate AI chatbots in the country if their creators cannot show that they have proper safeguards to protect its users. Its unclear at the moment if OpenAI also plans to roll out the same changes in the US and elsewhere in the world. US President Donald Trump delivers remarks about energy at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, on February 27, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump delivers remarks about energy at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, on February 27, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images) (MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images) President Donald Trump has ordered all US government agencies to stop using Claude and other Anthropic services, escalating an already volatile feud between the Department of Defense and company over AI safeguards. Taking to Truth Social on Friday afternoon, the president said there would be a six-month phase out period for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, to migrate off of Anthropic's products. The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution, the president wrote. Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow. Before today, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had threatened to label Anthropic a supply chain risk if it did not agree to withdraw safeguards that insist Claude not be used for mass surveillance against Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. In a post on X published after President Trumps statement, Hegseth said he was directing the Department of War to designate Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security. Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic. Advertisement Advertisement Anthropic did not immediately respond to Engadget's comment request. Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the company said the contract Anthropic received after CEO Dario Amodei outlined Anthropic's position made virtually no progress on preventing the outlined misuses. "New language framed as a compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will. Despite DOW's recent public statements, these narrow safeguards have been the crux of our negotiations for months," the spokesperson said. "We remain ready to continue talks and committed to operational continuity for the Department and America's warfighters." Advocacy groups like the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) quickly came out against the presidents threats. This action sets a dangerous precedent. It chills private companies ability to engage frankly with the government about appropriate uses of their technology, which is especially important in national security settings that so often have reduced public visibility, said CDT President and CEO Alexandra Givens, in a statement shared with Engadget. These threats undermine the integrity of the innovation ecosystem, distort market incentives and normalize an expansive view of executive power that should worry Americans all across the political spectrum. For now, it appears the AI industry is united behind Anthropic. On Friday, hundreds of Google and OpenAI employees signed an open letter urging their companies to stand in "solidarity" with the lab. According to an internal memo seen by Axios, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the ChatGPT maker would draw the same red line as Anthropic. Advertisement Advertisement In a blog post published late on Friday, Anthropic vowed to challenge any supply chain risk designation in court, and assured its customers that only work related to the Defense Department would be affected. The company's full statement is available here, an excerpt is below: Designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk would be an unprecedented actionone historically reserved for US adversaries, never before publicly applied to an American company. We are deeply saddened by these developments. As the first frontier AI company to deploy models in the US governments classified networks, Anthropic has supported American warfighters since June 2024 and has every intention of continuing to do so. We believe this designation would both be legally unsound and set a dangerous precedent for any American company that negotiates with the government. No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court. Update, February 27, 9PM ET: This story was updated twice after publish. First at 6PM ET to include a link to and quotes from Hegseth about the designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk. Later, a quote from Anthropic was added, along with a link to the companys blog post on the subject. Google will finally be able to provide real-time driving and walking directions in South Korea, The New York Times reported. The company has received permission from the nation's Transport Ministry to export geographic data out of the country, which will allow it to provide GPS services as well as detailed listings for restaurants and other businesses. "We welcome todays decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea," Google's senior executive Cris Turner told the NYT in a statement. However, the approval is contingent on the condition that strict security requirements are met, a spokesperson from the Transport Ministry said. Those conditions reportedly restrict Google from displaying sensitive military sites and longitude and latitude coordinates. South Korea has generally restricted the export of 1/5000 scale map data over national security concerns, as it's still technically at war with its neighbor North Korea. Google hasn't been able to provide mapping directions or business details since it arrived in the nation, though it has applied twice in 2007 and 2016. Advertisement Advertisement This lack of data sharing has reportedly been a bone of contention in trade talks with the US. Google argued that it was unfairly handicapped by the restrictions that allowed local apps like Naver to thrive. However, critics in the nation have expressed concern that Google could now come in and monopolize the market. "If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services logistics firms, for example become dependent [on Google]," geography professor Choi Jin-mu told Reuters. Aimee Lou Wood has been cast in the title role of a new television adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel "Jane Eyre," which is being developed by UK production company Working Title with "Succession" writer Miriam Battye attached to script the series. Wood, known for her performances in "Sex Education" and the third season of "The White Lotus," will play the orphaned governess Jane Eyre, a character whose journey toward love, independence, and moral integrity has anchored the novel since its publication in 1847. The project is described as a high-profile period drama, with the production currently in negotiations with a UK broadcaster to board the series, though no network or streaming platform has been officially confirmed, according to Harper's Bazaar. Working Title, the company behind films such as "Bridget Jones's Diary" and several major literary adaptations, is producing the series as part of its growing slate of prestige book-to-screen projects. Battye, a Writers Guild of America Award winner for her work on "Succession," is set to adapt Bronte's novel and is expected to bring a contemporary sensibility to the story while retaining its 19thcentury setting, Deadline reported. The series will follow Jane from her difficult childhood as an orphan through her years as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the enigmatic estate owner Mr. Rochester. The adaptation is expected to revisit key themes of the book, including class, gender, religion, and autonomy, which have made "Jane Eyre" a frequent subject of film and television remakes. This marks the first major television version of "Jane Eyre" since the 2006 BBC miniseries that starred Ruth Wilson as Jane and Toby Stephens as Rochester, and it follows the 2011 feature film led by Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. Wood's casting arrives during a busy period in her career, as she recently earned awards recognition for "The White Lotus" and is involved in upcoming projects, including the film "Anxious People" and Sam Mendes' Beatles-related project, in which she plays Pattie Boyd, as per the Hollywood Reporter. Kristen Wiig has revealed that the notorious food poisoning sequence in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids was not in the original script and was developed later, with the cast encouraged to improvise their characters' reactions. In a new breakdown video for Vanity Fair, Wiig explained that the bridal shop meltdown, which follows a risky meal at a Brazilian restaurant, was added during the later stages of writing and then shaped on set as the actors found their own ways of playing sick while trying to stay composed. She said the cast "made it our own," noting that the focus was on suggesting chaos and discomfort rather than relying on graphic shots of vomit, according to People. Wiig described filming the sequence as "so fun," emphasizing how each actress built a different version of a woman quietly battling intense food poisoning in a public place. She added that watching her costars, including Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Ellie Kemper, commit fully to the physical comedy helped the scene come together. The final version shows the bridal party, led by Wiig's character Annie, suffering sudden illness while trying on gowns in an upscale boutique after eating bad meat, culminating in a character soiling herself in the street in a wedding dress. Director Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow had pushed for a big, physical set piece that would stand out, but Wiig had previously said they were strongly encouraged by others to include the messy bathroom humor so the women could behave as outrageously as male characters often do, The Independent reported. Feig has also recalled that the basic dress shop setting was planned from early drafts, but was not originally centered on food poisoning. Over time, the creative team expanded the concept and shot even more extreme material, including a now-cut projectile vomiting gag in a pristine office, before deciding some moments went "too far" and scaling the scene back in the edit. Despite Wiig's early reservations, the sequence has become one of the most remembered moments in Bridesmaids, frequently cited in discussions of how the film changed expectations for women-led studio comedies. The movie earned Wiig and co-writer Annie Mumolo an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay and helped launch Melissa McCarthy to a best supporting actress nomination, cementing the film as a modern comedy landmark, as per NPR. Actress Halle Berry, a longtime sex icon and star of movies like Catwoman, opened up about her personal life and how it has changed as she has aged. In an interview aired Feb. 24 on the podcast Sex With Emily, Berry discussed how aging brought her a new sense of confidence in her relationships, especially with her fiance, musician Van Hunt. After three marriages, Berry emphasized that she now prioritizes her own needs and comfort in the bedroom. "Because with age comes this I have zero f-cks to give attitude, right? We're just done worrying about everybody else's feelings," Berry said. She explained that the hormone oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," decreases with age, which she believes has helped her stop caring about others' expectations during intimacy. Berry described how she now openly communicates with her partner about what feels good and what does not. "I can now say to my partner, 'Here's what I want. Here's what I don't want. This feels good. This does not,'" she said. The Oscar-winning actress also highlighted the importance of mutual satisfaction, rejecting the idea of faking pleasure to protect a partner's ego. "That's putting his needs before our own," Berry said. "Now I don't do that anymore. I'm like, no, I come first like you come first to you." Her openness, as per Atlanta Black Star, drew mixed reactions from fans on social media. Some criticized her for sharing intimate details publicly, predicting it could harm her relationship. Others praised her honesty and said her perspective was overdue. Berry and Hunt, a Grammy-winning artist, have been together since 2020 and recently announced their engagement during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Halle Berry Reflects on Risky 'Monster's Ball' Sex Scene That Could Have Ended Her Career Berry also recently shared insights about filming a pivotal sex scene in the 2001 film "Monster's Ball," which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress and made her the first African American woman to win in that category. On the "Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend" podcast, Berry, as per Fox News described the scene as a career gamble. "People around me said... it had a big red light on it," she said about the nudity and intimacy involved. "I felt like this was either gonna be one of the best things I ever did or it would end my career." At the time, Berry believed she had little to lose by taking on the role in a small indie film. "If this ends my career, then I'm ending my own career on my own beliefs," she explained. Despite winning the Oscar, Berry said it did not immediately change the trajectory of her career. "That Oscar didn't necessarily change the course of my career," she told *The Cut*. She noted ongoing challenges with Hollywood's casting biases regarding Black actresses and films. Berry will turn 60 this year and said she still embraces risks in her career because she feels empowered by her past choices. Maddox, the eldest son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has dropped "Pitt" from his surname in the credits of Jolie's new movie "Couture," becoming the latest sibling to publicly distance himself from the actor. The 24-year-old is credited as "Maddox Jolie" in the end credits of "Couture," where he worked behind the scenes on the production. The drama, which stars Jolie as an American film director diagnosed with breast cancer while working in France, opened in French cinemas on Feb. 18, 2026, with production materials and on-screen credits reflecting Maddox's updated name. People reported that Maddox's name appears without "Pitt" in the film's credits, noting that festival production notes from the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 also listed him as "Maddox Jolie," according to People. This marks a change from his previous credit on Jolie's 2024 biographical drama "Maria," where he was listed as "Maddox Jolie-Pitt" while working as a production assistant. Maddox took on a larger role in "Couture," serving as an assistant or third assistant director, indicating a growing involvement in his mother's filmmaking projects. Representatives for Jolie and Pitt have not publicly commented on the name change or what it might suggest about the family's private dynamics. He is not the first of the former couple's six children to stop using "Pitt" in public or professional settings. Their daughter Shiloh legally removed "Pitt" from her name in 2024, with court documents confirming she will now be known as "Shiloh Nouvel Jolie" instead of "Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt." Vivienne, who works as a producer's assistant alongside Jolie on the Broadway musical "The Outsiders," has been credited in the Playbill as "Vivienne Jolie" after reportedly asking not to include her father's last name. Zahara also appeared to drop "Pitt" when she introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie" during an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority ceremony at Spelman College in November 2023, E! News reported. Reports have long described a strained relationship between Maddox and Pitt, stemming from an alleged altercation on a private jet in September 2016 that took place days before Jolie filed for divorce. Authorities opened investigations into the incident and later declined to pursue charges, but outlets have continued to report that the father and son have had little contact in the years since. Documents and reports about the 2016 flight describe a heated dispute between Pitt and Jolie in front of their children, during which Jolie alleged that Pitt drank, yelled, and became physically aggressive toward her and at least one of the kids. Jolie told investigators that she felt like a "hostage" on the plane and claimed the confrontation, which allegedly left her with minor injuries, was a turning point that led her to end the marriage. In later court filings and media accounts, Jolie alleged that Pitt grabbed and shook her, pushed her into a wall, and damaged parts of the aircraft, while a source close to Pitt denied that he intentionally harmed any of the children and said contact with Maddox was limited to his shoulder. Subsequent reports have stated that Maddox has maintained emotional distance from his father since the incident, even as Pitt has continued legal efforts related to custody and shared assets, as per Cosmopolitan. 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. Can ESU limit free speech? Generally speaking, under the First Amendment, an individual can exercise their freedom of speech rights to express their opinions publicly without government interference. However, the First Amendment does limit government entities like ESU, but not private entities such as businesses, organizations, private schools, or private individuals. Public universities like ESU, which are created by state governments, are considered governmental entities, and therefore cannot limit the speech rights of students. Why is free speech important on a campus like ESU? A university like ESU exists to educate students and advance their critical thinking skills by acting as a marketplace of ideas where ideas compete. This competition of ideas is necessary and critical to maintain the intellectual vitality of the university. Without protected free speech, students and faculty members may fear punishment for expressing unpopular views with the public at large or fear of reprimand by university administrators. In a democracy, everyone has freedom of speech. At times, that may mean exposure to mean-spirited, offensive, disparaging, hateful, hurtful, and even angering comments. This often creates confusion because it seems unfair and completely wrong that the First Amendment protects offensive speech. Freedom of speech is meant to protect everyone because it is neutral. Because someone has the right to express their ideas even if some find their ideas offensive, hateful, repulsive, hurtful, and wrong, it means everyones right to express ideas is protected. Offensive words and statements may trigger emotions that are real, raw, and deep when these words and statements are embedded in historically oppressive, violent, and white supremacist systems. However, when speech begins to be limited, you dont know where that limitation ends. The answer to offensive speech is not less speech, it is more speech. What are some free speech protections and limitations on campus? Disruptive Activity: Any act that unreasonably interferes with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or to exercise the right of free speech, disrupts the normal functioning of the University, damages property, or endangers health or safety is specifically prohibited. Any act that unreasonably interferes with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or to exercise the right of free speech, disrupts the normal functioning of the University, damages property, or endangers health or safety is specifically prohibited. Reasonable Access: The University is required by law to provide and maintain reasonable access to, and exit from any office, classroom, laboratory, or building. This access must not be obstructed at any time. The University is required by law to provide and maintain reasonable access to, and exit from any office, classroom, laboratory, or building. This access must not be obstructed at any time. Symbolic Protest: Displaying a sign, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing, or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access to facilities. In addition, such acts should not block the audiences view or prevent the audience from being able to pay attention to a lawful assembly and/or an official University event. Since ESU is a government entity (as part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education), we are barred by the Constitution from limiting or addressing speech outside of the above limitations. All government entities can propose limits on speech limit the time, place, or manner in which they occur; however, they must be content-neutral. Government entities cannot impose limitations on speech because some people do not like it. The content, or point of view, cannot matter. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Windy with a few clouds from time to time. High 39F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 17F. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson must not be a superstitious man. If he were, he would not have introduced the biggest bill of his congressional career, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, on Friday, Feb. 13. But there he was Feb. 13 taking the lid off his farm bill 2.0 for all to see. The bill, he explained, provides modern policies for modern challenges Not really. Indeed, little in Thompsons proposed legislation even suggests the current century. Worse, three of modern agricultures biggest problems ethanol, resource pollution and tariffs are barely mentioned or left completely unaddressed. Take tariffs. While never mentioning the word, Thompson suggests a tariff-fueled, 54% drop in recent U.S. soy sales to China can be cured through increased port capacity and new and developing markets. Clearly, todays biggest trade problem is tariffs. No matter, Thompson budgets $533 million more than twice todays trade promotion spending to paper over it, not fix it. Its another sign that the past, according to recent Farm Bill research, is where much of todays Farm Bill still gets its inspiration especially the costliest aspects of it, according to Jonathan Coppess, associate professor and director of the Gardner Agricultural Policy program at the University of Illinois. In a recent, multi-part series on Farm Bill basics, Coppess explains the ages-old root of farm program payments, base acres, and how they continue to drive farm policy. By definition, base acres are historical; they establish the what and how much government will subsidize covered crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, rice, barley, oats, sorghum and peanuts under Farm Bills. And here historical means old. The base acre system is rooted in acreage allotments which were part of the parity policy design that developed out of the New Deal farm policies, he explained in his initial paper. (All are posted at farmdocdaily.illinois.edu) As such, base acres represent a snapshot in time, but a very different time. In fact, if landowners did not update their base acres when given the chance in either 2002 and 2014, their base acres would be largely unchanged from the contract acres [laid out in] the 1996 Farm Bill. And millions werent; a 2005 USDA report shows that over 60% (163 million) of the base acres were not updated. Crazy, right? Why not update your base to better reflect current crop mix and, potentially, boost program payments? Coppess has a perfectly good answer but must take a tortured path to get to it. The 1996 contract acres were not calculated anew; they were simply the base acres enrolled under the 1990 Farm Bill. Those base acres were established for the 1986 crop year by the 1985 Farm Bill, calculated using the acres [from] 1981-1985. So, It is not an exaggeration to note that most of todays base acres represent planting decisions and farming that are decades old many of which were made in the first half of the farm economic crisis of the 1980s. Why? Because the 1996 law famously decoupled base acre payments from what is actually grown on the land. Combined with other updates to payment schemes over subsequent years, this flexible design encourages a farmer to supplement the income from one crop with the payment of another. Indeed, this fundamental flaw becomes most problematic when farmers growing the same crops can earn different incomes based solely on policy and politics. Neither changes under Thompsons modern bill. Policy and politics, after all, will deliver an additional $27 billion in bridge and ad hoc payments this year. In any other business that would be a sure sign of failure; not in U.S. agriculture, though. Crazy? Yeah, thats the right answer. Once again, I must live my truth. Walt Disney did me dirty, and I may never forgive or forget. Nature is not to be trusted. The day starts early at Seabolt Manor. I let my two tiny dogs (combined weight under 30 pounds) out on long leashes to do their business. This is generally around 5 a.m. or, as I like to call it, dark o clock. I stand on the porch holding their leashes because I am a sissy. I want to let the dogs out on their very long leashes and watch them from the porch perch. I do not want to stand in the yard with them in the dark, in my pajamas. On this day, like many before, I opened the door, flipped on the porch light, stepped out onto the porch with my two fluffy friends leading our pack, and we startled the BIGGEST possum I have ever seen in my life.This was a big back sort of possum. The possum shot off the porch as if fired from a cannon, with my two blurs of tiny but VERY passionate pups hot on the tail. Trust me, in this case, Mr./Ms. Possum was DEFINITELY more scared than we were. This isnt a lie like when Mr. Wonderful makes the same claim to me about bats. Bats are 100% not afraid of me. If I could fly blind, I would not be afraid of me either. Who is he trying to kid? No worries for the safety of the possum safe and sound under the porch. The dogs were completely miffed. Through it all, Kai, our cat who does as he pleases, sat on the porch step, completely unbothered like the king that he is. His entire demeanor seemed to say yeah, he comes over sometimes. I started to feel terrible. Maybe he was an invited guest and we were just being rude? I am a big fan of possums, so I hope the poor creature can forgive and forget. I calmed my dogs and my heart rate and went about my day. Fast forward to dinnertime the same day. Mr. Wonderful called me out on the porch with the kind of hastily hissed request that said something exciting and perhaps expensive was afoot. He usually reserves babe get out here! for water where it should not be, something oozing, splintered wood, that sort of thing. In this case, he called me out on the porch, lifted the lid of Kais cute little heated cozy cat house and staring back at us was a full-grown raccoon. That cute little bandit looked up at us, nose twitching, slowly blinking. They didnt even seem particularly scared. It was more like hey there, so whens dinner? Mr. Wonderful prodded the box with his foot. The raccoon blinked. I told it it could not stay go on, go! More blinking. It did not seem at all willing to leave. We were now at a standoff: Mr. Wonderful, me and this raccoon. The audacity. Raccoons dont wear masks because they are ashamed of breaking and entering they wear them to look fabulous while doing it. All I know about raccoons is that I enjoy their literary and National Wildlife Federation affiliated ancestor, Ranger Rick. Misled. Walt Disney in no way, or how, prepared me for this. I was led to believe animals were HELPFUL. Let me assure you that not a single bat, mouse, possum or raccoon around here has cooked, cleaned or turned a pumpkin into a carriage. I have been misled! The possums get a pass because they will eat ticks. Kai, again, stood nearby. If a cat can shrug, he did. Are you subletting? I asked Kai. He, much like his roomie raccoon, blinked. Neither he, nor his little furry friend, seemed in a hurry to move. So there I stood on my porch, in my pajamas, at bedtime. Sir, you do not have to go home but you cannot stay HERE I said FIRMLY as if giving last call notice to nature. I am not the raccoon whisperer, nor am I Dr. Doolittle. I cannot talk to most animals. Since cartoons never covered this, I have no idea how raccoon evictions proceed legally. Do we need to give notice or is go on, git! good enough? One of Scotlands most significant rural estates has been brought to market with a 67 million guide price, offering a large-scale, diversified Highland business spanning farming, sporting, forestry and natural capital income. Savills has launched Tulchan Estate near Grantown-on-Spey, offering 100% of the shareholding in Tulchan Sporting Estates Limited. The corporate sale structure reflects the scale and operational breadth of the holding. Extending to approximately 21,768 acres along the River Spey and straddling the Cairngorms National Park boundary, Tulchan represents one of the largest estates to come to the open market in recent years. Large Highland estates of this size rarely change hands publicly. Growing investor appetite for land with environmental assets including peatland, woodland and biodiversity potential has strengthened demand for diversified rural holdings across Scotland. While Tulchan carries royal heritage, having once hosted Edward VII, George V and George VI, it now operates as a modern rural enterprise with multiple revenue streams. The estate includes a productive in-hand livestock farm supported by five tenanted farms, alongside hospitality operations centred on Tulchan Lodge. Home-reared beef, lamb and game are supplied into the estates catering business, integrating farming and hospitality income. The sale reflects continued investor interest in diversified Scottish rural estates Environmental projects form a key part of the estates long-term strategy. Around 1,100 acres of peatland have been restored, strengthening biodiversity and positioning the estate within Scotlands expanding carbon and natural capital markets. Tulchan is accredited by Wildlife Estates Scotland and includes extensive native woodland and commercial forestry. There is also scope for further woodland creation, habitat enhancement and potential renewable energy development, subject to consents. Sporting rights remain central to the estates profile. Tulchan offers eight miles of double-bank salmon fishing on the River Spey, alongside two driven grouse moors extending over 13,000 acres, deer stalking and pheasant shooting. Recent seasons have recorded close to 400 salmon and more than 120 sea trout, reinforcing the estates standing within Scotlands sporting sector. Accommodation includes Tulchan Lodge, refurbished in 2018 and operating as a high-end hospitality venue, together with additional lodges and 28 estate dwellings generating rental income. Despite its scale and relative seclusion, the estate is accessible, located nine miles from Grantown-on-Spey and 38 miles from Inverness Airport. Luke French, head of rural agency at Savills Scotland, said: Tulchan is an estate like no other. Multi-faceted rural enterprises of this calibre and scale are rare. He added that the estate combines a world-class hospitality offering with environmental stewardship. At 67 million, Tulchan is expected to attract interest from ultra-high-net-worth buyers, overseas investors and those seeking exposure to Scotlands sporting and natural capital sectors. With farming, forestry, sporting and environmental income streams operating alongside each other, the sale reflects the continued evolution of Highland estates into diversified rural businesses positioned for long-term land-based returns. Aldi has been confirmed as the biggest supporter of Scottish farmers and crofters, stocking more than double the sector average of locally sourced fresh produce, according to new industry research. The finding comes from the NFU Scotlands 2025-26 ShelfWatch report, released on Friday (27 February), which showed that 65% of Aldis own-label fresh produce sold in Scotland was domestically sourced. The annual audit assessed more than 20,000 products across 78 stores, including Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys. Across all retailers, Scottish produce accounted for an average of just 26%, highlighting a significant gap between Aldi and its competitors. The results come at a time when food security, transparent labelling and domestic supply chains are under growing scrutiny, particularly as farmers face ongoing cost pressures and volatile markets. Aldi recorded 100% Scottish sourcing for potatoes, eggs and cream, alongside strong performance in Scottish chicken at 82%. The retailer also achieved one of the highest levels of Scottish pork sourcing at 41% and was the only supermarket found to stock fresh primary Scottish pork. NFU Scotland said this provided important backing for the pig sector, which continues to face margin pressure and structural challenges. Scottish lamb sourcing also showed notable progress, with Aldi increasing its Scotch lamb share by 43 percentage points to reach 81% a category where other retailers have struggled to maintain domestic supply. Alan Leslie, buying director at Aldi Scotland, said the result reflected sustained investment in local supply chains. Scotlands larder is world-renowned, and we take great pride in championing Scottish sourcing at Aldi, he said, adding that the companys Scottish buying team has worked with local producers since 2009. He said the retailer remained committed to increasing the proportion of locally sourced products and strengthening supplier relationships. NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon welcomed the findings and said they demonstrated what can be achieved through active retail engagement with domestic producers. We continue to value Aldis engagement and commitment to Scottish produce, we hope it sets the standard for others to follow, he said. He highlighted strong performance in vegetables, potatoes and dairy, alongside continued leadership in Scotch lamb and Scottish pork. This demonstrates the real impact when retailers actively support Scottish farmers and crofters, he added, noting that ShelfWatch provides invaluable, data-driven insight into sourcing and labelling practices. The union said the results underline the importance of clear sourcing policies and retailer commitment in strengthening domestic production and supporting the wider rural economy. With pressure mounting on supermarkets to demonstrate stronger backing for UK producers, the report is likely to intensify scrutiny of how retailers balance price, supply and long-term support for farming. Farmers have a limited opportunity to secure fully funded training to help them open their gates to the public for Open Farm Sunday, as the event prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. AHDB is funding 20 places on a bespoke Countryside Education Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) course designed to give first-time hosts the confidence and practical skills needed to run a successful farm open day. Open Farm Sunday, which takes place on 7 June, attracts thousands of visitors annually and plays a key role in helping the public understand food production, animal welfare and environmental stewardship. The three-day accredited course focuses on public engagement, communication and event planning, equipping participants with the tools to create safe, informative and memorable on-farm experiences. Organisers say the training can also help farmers build trust with consumers, strengthen community links and support diversification opportunities such as farm shops and direct sales. Applications are open to beef, sheep and dairy levy payers whose primary business is farming and who plan to host Open Farm Sunday for the first time. Training sessions will take place in Leeds on 12, 13 and 25 March and in Cambridge on 18, 19 and 26 March, with participants required to attend all sessions and complete an online workshop. Successful applicants will leave with a nationally recognised accreditation and a clear plan for delivering their event. Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday manager at LEAF, said the initiative aims to encourage more farmers to share their stories at a time when public understanding of agriculture is increasingly important. These fully funded CEVAS training places are a fabulous opportunity for newcomers to Open Farm Sunday to build their confidence and feel fully prepared to welcome the public onto their farms, she said. She acknowledged that opening a farm to visitors can feel daunting but added that with the right preparation and support, it becomes an incredibly positive and rewarding experience. Ms Shackleton said organisers were incredibly grateful to AHDB for helping more farmers take part in our 20th Open Farm Sunday. With pressure growing on agriculture to demonstrate transparency, sustainability and food security, initiatives such as Open Farm Sunday are seen as increasingly valuable in strengthening public trust and connecting consumers with the realities of modern farming. Interested farmers are encouraged to apply early, as places are limited. Farmers could finally be relieved of footing the bill for fly-tipped rubbish after the government was defeated in the House of Lords over what campaigners have branded an utterly preposterous injustice. Under current law, landowners are legally responsible for removing waste dumped on their property. If they fail to clear it, they can be prosecuted for having controlled waste on their land despite being the victims of the crime. The system stems from the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which places liability on landholders. Critics argue that, in practice, it punishes victims while offenders frequently escape sanction. The Lords intervention comes as new Defra figures reveal fly-tipping in England rose by 9% in 2024-25, reaching 1.26 million incidents. Those figures only cover land managed by local authorities, excluding most private farmland meaning the real total is likely far higher. Of the 1.26 million cases recorded, councils carried out 572,000 enforcement actions. However, nearly 400,000 of those were investigations, leaving fewer than 200,000 actions that resulted in any form of sanction, including warning letters. In effect, fewer than one in five incidents led to punishment. Peers backed two amendments aimed at rebalancing responsibility. Amendment 13, tabled by Lord Davies of Gower, requires the Secretary of States guidance to make clear that where someone is convicted of fly-tipping under the Environmental Protection Act, the offender should be liable for costs incurred through loss or damage. It also calls for closer cooperation between waste authorities and police so that landowners are not left bearing the expense. Amendment 21, tabled by Viscount Goschen, goes further. It would place a duty on local waste authorities to collect fly-tipped waste and seek to recover costs from offenders. If implemented, the measure would remove clean-up costs from private landowners and create stronger incentives for councils to investigate and prosecute fly-tippers. The government opposed the changes. However, after Amendment 13 passed despite ministerial resistance, Amendment 21 was accepted without being put to a vote. Campaigners say the amendments would end the current system in which victims are penalised while enforcement remains patchy. The Countryside Alliance, which has long criticised the framework, welcomed the vote. Johnnie Furse, a spokesman for the organisation, said: The government has a real opportunity here to end the ridiculous current system in which farmers and rural people are penalised for being victims of waste crime. He added: Accepting these amendments would do much to repair the government's broken relationship with the countryside, showing rural communities that the government does care about justice for the people who live and work there. The amendments must now pass through the House of Commons, where ministers could seek to overturn or dilute them. For rural landowners regularly forced to absorb clean-up costs running into thousands of pounds, the issue is simple: the polluter, not the victim, should pay. The coming Commons stage will test whether the government is prepared to side with farmers or defend a system peers have now openly challenged. With Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna officially married, attention in Tollywood has now shifted to the next big celebration. Actor Allu Sirish, brother of Allu Arjun is all set to tie the knot with Nayanika on March 6, and excitement is steadily building around the upcoming wedding. Taking to Instagram, Allu Sirish shared that the ceremony will be an intimate affair attended by close family and friends. While the main wedding will remain private, the pre-wedding festivities promise to be grand and star-studded.The actor revealed that a special pre-wedding reception celebration with industry colleagues will be held on March 2 at Allu Studios. It's the newly built studio space that has quickly become a prestigious venue for film events. Lavish pre-wedding bashes have reportedly taken place in Dubai and Hyderabad, with close friends and family joining the couple for private parties and themed gatherings. Pictures and glimpses from these events have been circulating on social media, adding to the buzz. With back-to-back star weddings lighting up the industry, fans are eagerly waiting to see how Allu Sirishs big day unfolds. March promises to be a memorable month for Tollywood.Allu Sirish got engaged to his girlfriend Nayanika on October 31 in an intimate ceremony held in Hyderabad. Apart from Sirish's family members, Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan and extended family was present to celebrate the momentous occasion. Congratulating his brother on his new journey, Allu Arjun added, "Congratulations to my sweetest brother, @AlluSirish, and a warm welcome to the family, #Nayanika! Wishing you both a beautiful new beginning filled with love and happiness! (black heart emoji)."The Pushpa star too welcomed his sister-in-law Nayanika to the family after the engagement with his brother Sirish on Friday. Sharing a few couple of photos of the lovebirds from the engagement ceremony, Allu Arjun penned on his X, Grand celebrations at home begin! A new addition to the family! We've been waiting for this joyful moment for a while(sic). Actor Jyotika is not one to hand out compliments lightly. So when she pens a long, heartfelt note about a film, it is worth paying attention. After filmmaker Atlee recently voiced his admiration for Thaai Kizhavi, Jyotika has now joined the chorus, sharing an emotional tribute to the film and its team following its premiere screening in Chennai on Wednesday. She attended the show alongside husband Suriya. Taking to social media, Jyotika described the film as progressive, applauding its portrayal of womanhood. Such a delight to see the essence and strength of womanhood showcased so beautifully! Heartwarming and feel-good for sure, but most importantly, such a progressive film! she wrote, summing up her viewing experience in glowing terms. Her words hint at a film that balances accessibility with purpose, blending warmth and humour with a pointed social message. Directed by Sivakumar Murugesan, the film marks his first outing behind the camera. And that fact clearly impressed Jyotika. Is this actually your first film? What an important message you have conveyed for our society! And with such dignified humour and ease. Felt so proud as a woman watching your story. Your thought process truly reflects your character, she noted, expressing surprise at the maturity of the storytelling. Backing the project is actor-producer Sivakarthikeyan, who has increasingly aligned his banner with content-driven ventures. Jyotika made it a point to thank him for placing his faith in a narrative led by a senior female actor. Thank you for giving a powerhouse talent like Radhika the stage she truly deserves. Thank you on behalf of the entire actress fraternity for making a film on a woman and her pure talent despite the age barrier. Thank you for backing such an important film for women with your star power. In an industry often preoccupied with youth-centric storytelling, her remark about despite the age barrier carries weight. It underlines the rarity of mainstream films that centre women beyond a certain age bracket and allow them to command the narrative. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jyotika (@jyotika) At the heart of Thaai Kizhavi is Radikaa Sarathkumar, and Jyotika reserved her most effusive praise for the veteran performer. In a detailed paragraph, she celebrated the physical and emotional effort that went into the role. You just amaze me! So inspirational! I cannot even imagine the hard work physically gone into this role. Thaai Kizhavi was not just powerful and intelligent but the cutest too; she is a reflection of the off-screen Radhika we all know. You stole our hearts with your body language, style, innocence, voice changeover, laughter, dialogue delivery and small gestures in the performance which set you apart as an actor! Signing off, Jyotika urged audiences to embrace the film in theatres. For me, Thaai Kizhavi is not just a woman-driven entertainer. Its a film which takes society and cinema one step forward! Be proud, team Thaai Kizhavi! (sic) Apart from Radikaa, the film features Raichal Rabecca, Bala Saravanan, Munishkanth, Muthukumar, Aruldoss, Singampuli, Ilavarasu and George Mariyan. With cinematography by Vivek Vijayakumar, editing by San Lokesh and music composed by Nivas K Prasanna, the film hit screens on February 27. If Jyotikas endorsement is anything to go by, Thaai Kizhavi might just be more than a feel-good watch. It could well be a cultural conversation starter. Also Read: Suriya on moving to Mumbai for Jyotikas parents The wedding of Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna has turned into one of the most celebrated events of the year. The star couple tied the knot on February 26 in a dreamy ceremony held in Udaipur. Keeping things intimate and elegant, the marriage was performed in two beautiful traditions, Telugu and Kannada, honoring the couples respective traditions. Soon after the rituals, the couple shared a few official pictures on social media, and the internet simply melted. Fans flooded the comments section with heart emojis, blessings, and congratulatory messages, celebrating the union of one of the most loved on-screen and off-screen pairs. Celebs across the industries joined fans in sending their heartfelt wishes to the newly weds. Loads of love and congratulations to this beautiful couple. Wishing you an even more beautiful and blissful life together dear Vijay and Rashmika. God bless. @TheDeverakonda @iamRashmika https://t.co/cX1nYvetA7 Nani (@NameisNani) February 26, 2026 Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared a wedding picture and simply wrote, Congratulations. Ayushmann Khurrana commented, Heartiest congratulations guys! while Nani wished them a blissful and happy married life. "Loads of love and congratulations to this beautiful couple. Wishing you an even more beautiful and blissful life together dear Vijay and Rashmika. God bless" he posted. Kriti Sanon wrote an emotional note saying, Uffffff so much love and happiness in this frame. Congratulations you two!!! Wishing you guys a lifetime of beautiful memories and love. Several other stars joined the celebration. Neha Dhupia wrote, Congratulations you guys, while Ishaan Khattar noted, Congrats guys! Bhumi Pednekar, Mouni Roy, and Rakul Preet Singh also sent heartfelt wishes and blessings. "May your hearts always stay connected and your home be filled with peace and joy" she posted. Critic's rating 3.5 /5 Accused, directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, and written by Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, is not interested in the easy pleasures of revelation. It does not rush towards verdicts or engineer convenient catharsis. Instead, it simmers, quietly, persistently, examining what happens when an allegation alone is enough to upend a life meticulously built over years. Set in London, the film unfolds less as a suspense thriller and more as a psychological chamber piece about power, perception and the fragility of reputation. At its centre is Dr Geetika Sen, played with unnerving precision by Konkona Sen Sharma. A celebrated gynaecologist, Geetika is defined by discipline and control. She does not tolerate error in the operating theatre; excellence is her minimum standard. At home, she shares what appears to be a stable, affectionate marriage with Dr Meera, a paediatrician played by Pratibha Rannta. Their relationship is marked by candour and shared ambition, including Meeras longing to adopt and experience motherhood. Together, they represent competence, modernity and emotional partnership. The equilibrium fractures when anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct surface against Geetika at her workplace. What begins as a whisper grows into formal complaints and institutional scrutiny. Colleagues who once admired her now keep a studied distance. Hospital authorities launch inquiries. Corridors fall silent when she passes. Kashyap resists the temptation to convert the narrative into a procedural; instead, she focuses on the emotional aftershocks. The films tension lies not in discovering who did what, but in watching how swiftly trust erodes and how identity can be rewritten by suspicion. Konkona Sen Sharma crafts Geetika as a study in contradictions. She is authoritative to the point of severity, a self-confessed perfectionist who brooks no dissent. The script hints at her complicated romantic history, she is drawn to younger women, carries unresolved emotions for an ex, and exhibits a possessiveness that makes her both magnetic and unsettling. Konkona shapes these traits like a master weaver, allowing us to both admire and recoil. In quieter scenes, when the facade slips and fear seeps through, she reveals the human cost of control. It is a performance of remarkable layering. Pratibha Rannta, meanwhile, stands shoulder to shoulder with her formidable co-star. Meera could easily have been reduced to the supportive spouse, but Rannta imbues her with aching vulnerability and quiet steel. Meera yearns for familial acceptance and dreams of adoption, a desire that underscores her nurturing instincts. As doubt creeps in, her pain is palpable, visible in hesitant glances and conversations that end in heavy silences. She wants normalcy restored, wants her marriage intact, and yet cannot silence the whisper of what if. Rannta captures that moral tug-of-war with admirable restraint. Kashyaps most striking choice is the gender reversal at the heart of the narrative. In an industry, and indeed a society, accustomed to stories of powerful men accused of misconduct, here the accused is a woman. And not just any woman but one in a same-sex marriage, which adds another layer of social scrutiny and complexity. The film does not sensationalise this; rather, it observes how bias operates in subtler ways. Allegation becomes spectacle. Private lives become public property. The story interrogates how power, gender and sexuality intersect in shaping belief. The supporting cast enriches the moral landscape. Sukant Goel plays a private investigator navigating murky testimonies with measured detachment. Aditya Nanda portrays a colleague harbouring feelings for Meera, his presence introducing both emotional complication and opportunism. Mashhoor Amrohi channels a quiet intensity reminiscent of Irrfan Khan as the investigator examining the accusations; his performance is marked by watchful silences and probing eyes. Monika Mahendru lends dignity to the considerate HR head trying to balance empathy with protocol, while Kallirroi Tziafeta brings texture to the role of Geetikas indophile former lover, a reminder of unresolved pasts bleeding into the present. The film unfolds at its own deliberate pace, punctuated by twists that never feel manipulative. The question of who might be orchestrating Geetikas downfall lingers but Kashyap makes it clear that this is not the central concern. The real drama lies in the unravelling of intimacy. Scenes between Geetika and Meera, once warm and teasing, turn brittle. Everyday rituals acquire a chill. The camera often lingers a fraction longer than comfortable, allowing the audience to sit with ambiguity. Technically assured and emotionally probing, Accused ultimately asks whether truth is ever enough to restore what suspicion destroys. By the time the credits roll, the film leaves us suspended in uncertainty. It does not hand us moral clarity; it hands us questions. In doing so, it becomes less about guilt or innocence and more about the terrifying speed with which a life, and a love, can begin to crumble under the weight of accusation alone. Also Read: Accused: When and Where to Watch Konkona Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranntas Film? Wellington Management-Led Round Brings Encord's Total Funding to $110M as Company Sees Physical AI Revenue Grow 10x in Last Twelve Months SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Encord, the data infrastructure company for physical AI, today announced a $60 million Series C led by Wellington Management, bringing the company's total funding to $110 million. Existing investors Y Combinator, CRV, N47, Crane Venture Partners and Harpoon Ventures also participated in the round alongside new investors Bright Pixel Capital and Isomer Capital. The investment will help Encord scale its AI-native data infrastructure platform, which helps AI teams manage, curate, annotate, and align the multimodal data that physical AI systems depend on, including audio, video, images, sensor data, 3D point clouds and other formats that legacy data platforms weren't built to handle. Encord works with over 300 AI teams globally, including Woven by Toyota, Skydio, AXA Financial and numerous physical AI and frontier labs. The company has seen significant growth in both revenue and data volume on its platform in the last twelve months as a result of the surge in physical AI. The Inflection Point in Physical AI Encord's Series C comes as physical AI - which powers robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, and other systems that operate in the real world - enters an explosive new growth stage. After years of lab demos and pilot programs, these systems are moving into production. Analysts project that over 400 million AI robots will come online in just the next 4 years, and that the size of the physical AI industry will eclipse $30B over the same time period. Unlike large language models, which were trained on the open internet, physical AI models must learn from proprietary data, including sensor feeds, video, robotic telemetry, edge cases captured in the field and other sources. Storing and processing this data requires more computational power than storing and processing text. That data doesn't organize itself. Getting the right data into the models and keeping the wrong data out-continuously, at scale-requires purpose-built AI-native data infrastructure. "Everyone is focused on building bigger models," said Ulrik Stig Hansen, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Encord. "But for physical AI, the bottleneck isn't model size. It's data readiness. You can have the most sophisticated model in the world, and it will still fail if the data feeding it is incomplete, inconsistent, or misaligned with real-world conditions. That's the problem we solve." Encord has seen demand surge as physical AI moves from experimentation to deployment: Data on the company's platform has grown from 1 petabyte to over 5 petabytes in twelve months-3x more than the data used to train GPT-4 Revenue from physical AI customers has grown 10x over the same period Encord's physical AI platform allows leading AI companies and teams to capture, organize and redeploy data across the model lifecycle. From facilitating data generation in the pre-training phase to aligning models in accordance with human feedback, Encord's software is designed to handle every data automation and processing task physical AI companies may encounter. Bill Tinney, Senior Director of AI Product Management and Partnerships at Vantor, an Encord customer, said, "At Vantor, we build AI for critical infrastructure and national security - we needed a data platform that could match our ambitions. Encord gives us a unified data layer that scales with the complexity of our geospatial workflows, from curation to annotation to evaluation, without tool fragmentation. For production AI teams, how you operationalize your data is a core competitive advantage." Eric Landau, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Encord, said the funding will accelerate product development and expansion into new markets. "The companies winning in physical AI understand something that others are just beginning to realize: the model is only as good as the data behind it. We're building the infrastructure that makes that data usable-not just once, but continuously, as these systems learn and improve in the real world." About Encord Encord is the universal data layer for AI. The platform helps AI teams train and run their models with the right data - managing, curating, annotating, and aligning data across the full AI lifecycle. Encord works with over 300 leading AI teams, including Woven by Toyota, AXA, and Skydio. Media Contact: Chris Clemens Nexios Communications Strategies chris@nexioscomms.com Correction: In the third paragraph and boilerplate, the list of representative customers served by Encord has been revised. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2798765/Encord_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/encord-secures-60m-series-c-to-scale-ai-native-data-infrastructure-as-physical-ai-hits-inflection-point-302698633.html Commerce Media Tech (CMT) today announced a strategic data partnership with IPinfo, the internet data company, marking a deliberate break from consensus-based IP geolocation models that prioritize alignment over verification. The partnership anchors CMT's next-generation platform in accuracy-first, evidence-driven IP intelligence grounded in direct internet measurement. AdTech's Costliest Blind Spot: Inaccurate Data Bad data has become one of the most expensive and least visible problems in AdTech, quietly undermining performance across the ecosystem. Inaccurate IP signals lead to wasted ad spend, misclassified traffic, regional mistargeting, and flawed optimization decisions that compound at a time when advertisers face rising customer acquisition costs and heightened scrutiny on performance and accountability. One reason these issues persist is the industry's reliance on consensus-based geolocation, an approach where providers align on the same answer, even when that answer is wrong. While consensus reduces discrepancies and disputes, it also entrenches flawed assumptions and normalizes error at scale. "Historically, alignment mattered more than accuracy because accuracy was difficult to verify," said Paul Heywood, co-CEO of IPinfo. "Measurement-driven IP data changes that. When you can validate results with evidence, accuracy becomes something the entire ecosystem can align on." As advertiser expectations rise driven by fraud scrutiny, supply-chain transparency, and pressure to justify spend the limitations of consensus-based data have become increasingly difficult to ignore. Platforms now require signals that can be challenged, audited, and corrected as the internet evolves. CMT Rejects Consensus-Based Data Models CMT has taken the view that consensus-based geolocation is no longer fit for purpose. "Advertisers no longer accept opaque signals or inherited assumptions," said Bartosz Bielecki, Chief Commercial Officer at CMT. "They expect data that is verifiable, trustworthy, and transparent. Our partnership with IPinfo reflects a shared belief that accuracy not consensus will define the next era of performance and trust in AdTech." Building a Platform Where Accuracy Is Foundational Founded in 2011, Commerce Media Tech (CMT), part of Team Internet Group, provides performance advertising and monetization solutions for the e-commerce industry. As part of its strategic expansion into new technical capabilities and commercial growth areas including retail media CMT is building a new platform designed to support both existing and future clients. With data measurement, attribution, and accuracy becoming increasingly central to outcomes, verified IP intelligence is a foundational component of this architecture. After extensive evaluation, CMT selected IPinfo for its measurement-driven approach to IP intelligence. At the center of this approach is ProbeNet, IPinfo's proprietary internet measurement platform, which performs over 35 billion measurements per week across more than 1,300 global points of presence. This continuous, active validation enables IPinfo to verify how traffic actually moves across the internet, delivering unmatched visibility into network behavior and location accuracy. For CMT, this translates into more precise location data, reduced invalid traffic exposure, stronger trust signals, and higher-quality outcomes for advertisers, publishers, and retail media partners. Raising the Bar for Data Integrity in AdTech This partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward data that can be measured, audited, and defended. "The momentum we're seeing in AdTech is toward measurable, evidence-driven data," said Ben Dowling, founder and co-CEO of IPinfo. "ProbeNet was built to reveal what's actually happening on the internet, and we're excited to support CMT's vision for a higher-integrity advertising ecosystem." By anchoring its future product development in verified IP intelligence, CMT is setting a new benchmark for data quality one based on proof rather than precedent. The partnership underscores a growing industry recognition that trust in AdTech must be earned through measurable accuracy, not assumed through consensus. Commerce Media Tech (CMT) Commerce Media Tech (CMT) is a performance AdTech company providing commerce media solutions for advertisers, publishers, and retailers. Part of Team Internet Group PLC (AIM: TIG; OTCQX: TIGXF), CMT helps brands reach high-intent consumers across the customer journey, delivering measurable and incremental sales outcomes. CMT enables publishers to access premium brand demand through privacy-safe, fully cookieless monetization, and supports retailers in building and scaling on-site and off-site retail media programs that drive ready-to-buy shoppers. Built on a commerce-first approach and transparent data practices, CMT supports effective, scalable media strategies across e-commerce and beyond. IPinfo IPinfo is the internet data company, providing the world's most accurate IP data that delivers highly contextual metadata on each IP address, from geolocation and mobile carrier to privacy detection and proxies. IPinfo is trusted by more than 500,000 users, from developers to Fortune 500 companies, who use IP data to make smarter decisions, mitigate security risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive better customer experiences. IPinfo's robust and secure API processes more than 1 billion requests daily, with data also available through direct download and leading cloud platforms, all backed by a team of data experts who are committed to precision. Discover the power of better IP data at IPinfo.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226853813/en/ Contacts: IPinfo Contact Name: Meghan Prichard Email: meghan@ipinfo.io Phone Number: 1 (800) 731-7893 Commerce Media Tech Contact Name: Bartosz Bielecki Email: bartosz.bielecki@cm.tech Highlights Firm commitments received for Placement raising A$4 million Strongly supported by multiple new domestic and international institutional investors Placement price of A$1.05 per share representing a 1.7% discount to the 15 day VWAP Proceeds to accelerate the Company's hybrid prospect generator funding model and focused sole funded exploration activities Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 26, 2026) - Copper-gold explorer and hybrid project generator Kincora Copper Limited (ASX: KCC) (TSXV: KCC) ("KCC") ("Kincora" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received firm and irrevocable commitments for a strongly supported placement amounting to A$4 million (before costs). The Company proposes to issue approximately 3,809,524 CHESS Depository Interests (CDIs) (representing a beneficial interest in 3,809,524 fully paid common shares in the Company (Shares)) with an issue price of A$1.05 per CDI (Placement). Investors will receive one (1) attaching option for every two (2) new CDIs allocated under the Placement (Attaching Options). The Attaching Options will have an exercise price of A$1.35 and expire 3-years from the date of issue. The Company intends to apply to list the Attaching Options on the ASX, subject to achieving sufficient spread requirements and lodgement of a Prospectus with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Alpine Capital Pty Ltd (Alpine Capital) acted as Sole Lead Manager to the Placement. President & CEO, Sam Spring, commented: "We are very pleased to welcome multiple new institutional investors to Kincora's register and mark a major step in continuing to improve the Company's ability to undertake large scale exploration activities across multiple high-quality assets simultaneously. "The additional capital will allow us to more aggressively explore and systematically advance our Cobar Basin, Northparkes and Cowal block projects. We anticipate these activities will create optionality for both sole funding and partnering opportunities in the future, increasing the scale of our existing hybrid prospect generator funding model. "We are extremely excited to begin our sole funded drilling campaign in April at the Condobolin project, with initial preparatory phases already well underway." Use of Funds Proceeds from the Placement will support an expanded near-term drilling program at the Condobolin project, Kincora's 100% owned southern Cobar basin project. Furthermore, geophysics and target refinement programs will be conducted, followed by exploration drilling programs at Fairholme and Trundle porphyry projects, and, expanded near term geophysics at the Jemalong porphyry project. Funds will also support working capital requirements, costs of the offer and potential new license/project acquisitions. Alpine Capital will receive a 6% cash fee on all funds raised and 476,190 Placement options as consideration for services provided in connection with the Placement (with a statutory fourmonth hold period). CONDOBOLIN PROJECT Kincora's 100%-owned precious-base metals Condobolin project sits in the increasingly active Cobar basin, where consolidation around existing mills (for example Harmony-MAC Copper and Aeris-Peel) is highlighting the strategic value of truckable high-grade feed. The Company has consolidated the historic Condobolin mining field (mining ceased at the water table and not effectively explored below the weathered zone) within trucking distance of an existing mill seeking third party ore. The key initial focus is the shallow high-grade Meritilga precious-base metals discovery. Drilling is scheduled to commence in April testing on-strike and down-dip extensions of the known gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc lenses and for repeat and/or stacked high-grade lenses within the broader Condobolin trend. COWAL - NORTHPARKES CORRIDOR PROJECTS These projects host large scale mineral systems and are located in highly prospective settings to existing world-class mines and porphyry complexes previously the focus of majors but now 100% owned by Kincora: Fairholme project: a large existing mineralised footprint adjacent to Cowal prospective for Cowal style structural gold in the south and Marsden style copper-gold systems in the north. Trundle project: a large existing mineralised footprint in the Northparkes Block with porphyry and skarn related copper and gold targets in both the north and south of a large existing license with multiple geological and geophysical vectors for follow up drilling. Indicative Timetable The proposed key dates for the Placement are as follows: Event Date Settlement of New Shares and Options issued Wednesday 4 March 2026 Allotment of New Shares and Options issued Thursday 5 March 2026 This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. ABOUT KINCORA Kincora Copper Limited (ASX: KCC) (TSXV: KCC) ("KCC") is an emerging Australia-focused copper-gold explorer with a hybrid project generator strategy. The Company is now successfully proving up the prospectivity of its extensive project portfolio, which includes multiple district-scale landholdings and scalable drill ready targets. These assets are located in Australia's Macquarie Arc and Mongolia's Southern Gobi, two of the globe's leading porphyry belts, and the historical Condobolin mining field within the Cobar superbasin in NSW. To learn more, please visit: www.kincoracopper.com. This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Kincora Copper Limited (ARBN 645 457 763). Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding Kincora contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the use of proceeds; the occurrence of the Acceleration; and the occurrence of an Acceleration Event, amongst other potential items. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking information involves numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, among other items: market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; fluctuations in commodity prices and investor sentiment; changes in the Company's business plans; and operating environments. Although Kincora believes that the expectations reflected in such forwardlooking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Kincora cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Kincora currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: market prices; exploitation and exploration results; participation in the Offering; shareholder and regulatory approval of the Consolidation; regulatory approval of the Offering; continued availability of capital and financing and general economic; market or business conditions; and, investor sentiment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information and statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. Kincora does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285579 Source: Kincora Copper Limited BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- vivo today announced its attendance at Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC 2026), taking place in Barcelona from March 2 to 5. At the event, vivo will offer the first global preview of its upcoming flagship, the X300 Ultra, and present its key conference message for the future of mobile innovation under the theme "Where Vision Meets." vivo's debut at MWC marks a strategic milestone in its evolution as a global technology leader, reflecting the company's commitment to deepening its global presence and advancing its premium portfolio. As one of the world's most influential platforms for mobile technology, MWC offers vivo a global stage to engage with international media, industry leaders, operators, and partners, while demonstrating its long-term commitment to high-end innovation. At the center of vivo's MWC 2026 showcase will be the preview of the X300 Ultra, providing an early look at vivo's latest premium design language and imaging advancements. The X300 Ultra represents vivo's most advanced exploration to date in mobile imaging and videography, building on the company's continued investment in optics engineering, computational photography, and system-level optimization. Visitors to the vivo booth will experience the uniquely inspired design of the X300 Ultra, drawn from the company's professional imaging heritage. In addition, vivo will showcase a broader lineup of products at MWC 2026, including the X300 Series, vivo X Fold5, V70 Series, with hands-on demonstrations to illustrate how advanced technologies in imaging, AI, and system performance translate into intuitive, human-centered experiences. vivo's presence at MWC 2026 underscores its steadfast commitment to engaging more deeply with the global mobile ecosystem and competing at the forefront of the premium segment. By bringing together product innovation, refined design, and ecosystem collaboration, vivo aims to demonstrate how technology can enhance perception, expression, and connection in everyday life. About vivo vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation. While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi'an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide. *"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right - which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society. Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2921139/Image__vivo_to_Attend_MWC_2026.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vivo-announces-mwc-2026-attendance-set-to-showcase-new-flagship-x300-ultra-302698208.html Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 26, 2026) - Korean-inspired skincare brand SeoulCeuticals today published a consumer guide to PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), providing safety data, effective concentration ranges, and product selection criteria as consumer search interest in the Korean bio-regenerative ingredient surged from near-zero to peak levels in under six months. The guide is available at seoulceuticals.com. Overview Consumer interest in PDRN outpaced available education, leaving most Western audiences without clear answers on what the ingredient is, whether it is safe, and what concentration produces results. SeoulCeuticals developed the guide to close that gap using peer-reviewed clinical data and guidance from Korean dermatological research. Key Findings The guide covers three areas consumers search most frequently: safety, mechanism of action, and effective concentration. Safety profile: Post-marketing surveillance across more than 300,000 PDRN prescriptions over five years documented the ingredient's tolerability. Concentration guidance: Research tested concentrations of 0.3%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% over 12 weeks. The guide outlines the concentration range shown to produce statistically significant results in peer-reviewed studies, helping consumers evaluate products before purchase. The Korea Connection PDRN was first developed by South Korean scientists researching wound healing. Korean dermatology clinics adopted the ingredient early - injectable PDRN treatments became a widely used procedure in Korean aesthetic medicine before topical formats entered the consumer market. "Korean dermatology clinics have used PDRN in injectable form for years. 2026 marks the moment this ingredient enters mainstream topical products," said Yu-Jun Park, Head of Product Education at SeoulCeuticals. "Consumers deserve a clear, science-backed resource before making purchase decisions." Availability The SeoulCeuticals PDRN Consumer Guide is available at seoulceuticals.com. SeoulCeuticals products are available on the brand website and through select retail partners. All formulations are vegan and cruelty-free. About the company: SeoulCeuticals brings authentic Korean skincare to consumers seeking quality, natural beauty solutions. Founded in 2017 by Amy and Craig Romero, the brand partners with K-beauty expert Ella Cho to develop products that honor Korean beauty traditions while meeting modern skincare needs. Using ingredients sourced from South Korea - including Panax Ginseng Extract, Rice Bran, Snail Mucin, and PDRN . To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284643 Source: Plentisoft Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 26, 2026) - Militia Marketing, a performance-based sales organization focused on structured development and measurable output, today announced the formal rollout of its national growth initiative and Structured Sales Leadership Platform. The announcement represents a strategic evolution for the company as it transitions from regional performance operations into a systematized, scalable national model. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9405/285287_701e8ae344823b56_001full.jpg The initiative is being led by Co-Founder Jack Ferris, whose professional trajectory has been closely tied to the operating philosophy now embedded within Militia Marketing. Ferris entered performance-based sales environments at an early age, choosing a commission-driven structure over traditional salaried pathways. That decision exposed him directly to revenue generation, incentive alignment, and real-time performance accountability-experiences that would later inform the architecture of the company. Over time, Ferris generated more than half a million dollars in individual sales production and contributed to over $5 million in team-based output. Earlier in his career, he also served as a partner within a $150 million marketing firm, where he observed how scale, infrastructure, and standardized operating systems impact growth sustainability. These experiences shaped his belief that performance is not dependent on personality or circumstance, but on repeatable systems. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9405/285287_701e8ae344823b56_002full.jpg From Individual Production to Institutional Framework Militia Marketing was founded alongside two former U.S. Marines, intentionally embedding structured discipline into the organization from its inception. Rather than building around informal startup dynamics, the leadership team implemented defined chains of responsibility, standard operating procedures, performance scorecards, and structured onboarding protocols. The newly announced Structured Sales Leadership Platform codifies field-tested strategies into documented processes. This includes standardized training modules, compensation alignment frameworks, mentorship pathways, and measurable advancement tiers. The objective is to reduce variability in performance outcomes while preserving incentive-based upside. According to company leadership, this formalization marks a pivotal shift from growth through individual output to growth through institutional repeatability. By converting experience into infrastructure, Militia Marketing aims to scale without diluting standards. National Expansion Strategy The national growth initiative will expand recruitment operations, leadership training tracks, and operational support systems into additional U.S. markets. Rather than expanding solely through headcount, the company's strategy centers on disciplined replication of its structured performance model. Applicants entering the platform will move through defined onboarding stages, including foundational skill development, performance benchmarking, mentorship integration, and leadership qualification checkpoints. Advancement remains tied to measurable production and demonstrated competency. Ferris noted that the company's long-term objective is to create an ecosystem where high-performing individuals are developed into team leaders, and team leaders are developed into operators capable of managing expansion markets. The growth initiative is designed to support that pathway. Leadership Perspective In discussing the expansion, Ferris emphasized that the announcement reflects structural maturation rather than sudden acceleration. "Our focus has always been on building systems first and scale second," he stated. "The national rollout is a continuation of work we have already institutionalized internally." He added that early exposure to performance-based compensation reshaped his understanding of professional development. "When outcomes are tied directly to execution, feedback becomes immediate. That environment forces skill acquisition and accountability. We built Militia to replicate that structured learning curve in a sustainable way." Ferris' leadership approach reflects his progression from individual contributor to system architect. Rather than centering brand visibility around personality-driven marketing, the company's external messaging emphasizes process, structure, and measurable standards. The growth initiative reinforces that positioning. Industry Context The performance-based sales sector has experienced increased participation from early-career professionals seeking higher income ceilings outside traditional corporate hierarchies. However, variability in training quality and advancement clarity has remained a challenge across the industry. Militia Marketing's leadership states that its Structured Sales Leadership Platform is designed to address those inconsistencies by formalizing development pathways and codifying best practices. The national rollout represents an effort to standardize those frameworks across multiple markets while maintaining centralized operational oversight. Recruitment and Application Information Individuals interested in learning more about Militia Marketing may visit: www.militia.marketing Qualified applicants may apply directly via the company's portal: Militia Application Portal For leadership insights and updates, follow Jack Ferris on Instagram: @jmferris About Militia Marketing Militia Marketing is a performance-based sales organization headquartered in the United States. The company operates in results-driven environments where compensation and advancement are directly tied to measurable output. Through structured onboarding systems, leadership development tracks, and standardized operating procedures, Militia Marketing focuses on converting individual performance potential into repeatable organizational production. The company's national growth initiative aims to extend its structured development framework into additional markets while maintaining centralized performance standards and operational accountability. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285287 Source: BrandingBuzz.Agency Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri nominated for election to the Board of Directors of UBS Group AG and UBS AG at the 2026 Annual General Meetings in April William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong will not stand for re-election As previously announced, Vice Chairman Lukas Gahwiler will be stepping down from the Board and Markus Ronner was nominated for election to the Board Regulatory News: Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 53 of the SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules The Board of Directors of UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) (SWX:UBSN) announces today the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15 April 2026. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have decided not to stand for re-election. Agustin Carstens (born 1958) served as General Manager of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) from 2017 to June 2025. Prior to that, he was Governor of the Bank of Mexico from 2010 to 2017. During his time as Governor, he was a Member of the BIS Board and chaired the Global Economy Meeting and the Economic Consultative Committee. Mr. Carstens also chaired the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the policy advisory committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as Mexico's Finance Minister and as Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. From 2000 to 2003, he was Mexico's Deputy Finance Minister after holding the position of Executive Director at the IMF. Mr. Carstens began his career in 1980 at the Bank of Mexico. He holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. He is a citizen of Mexico. Mr. Carstens is a highly respected and distinguished professional with extensive experience in financial regulation and monetary policy, built over a long and accomplished career. Luca Maestri (born 1963) is currently Vice President of Apple Inc's Corporate Services, reporting to the CEO. Previously, he was Apple's CFO for more than a decade after joining the firm in 2013 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Xerox Corporation. From 2008 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President and CFO at Nokia Siemens Networks. Mr. Maestri spent two decades at General Motors (GM), holding various finance leadership roles across multiple countries, including CFO for GM Europe based in Zurich and CFO for GM Brazil in Sao Paulo. He also led the Fiat Alliance at GM Europe. His experience spans assignments in Thailand, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Mr. Maestri holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Luiss University in Rome and a Master's degree in Management from Boston University. He is a citizen of Italy and the United States. Mr. Maestri is a highly renowned executive and leader in the technology industry. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher commented: "I am delighted to share the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board. The addition of these two highly experienced leaders will further strengthen the Board's expertise, bringing outstanding regulatory knowledge and extensive CFO skills. This follows the earlier announcement of former UBS Group Executive Board member Markus Ronner's nomination as Vice Chairman. I very much look forward to collaborating with them on the Board." As previously communicated, Lukas Gahwiler has decided, after an exceptionally successful career spanning 45 years, to retire from his role as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and concluding his long career in banking. He was appointed Vice Chairman in 2022 and acted as UBS's representative within Switzerland's leading trade associations and financial industry bodies. Furthermore, as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, he played an instrumental role in overseeing the seamless integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have also decided to step down after seven years on the Board. During this time, Mr. Dudley served on the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, the Risk Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Wong was a member of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee and the Compensation Committee. Chairman Colm Kelleher and the members of the Board extend their gratitude to Lukas Gahwiler, William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong for their unwavering commitment and significant contributions over the past years. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226055790/en/ Contacts: UBS Group AG and UBS AG Investor contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00 Media contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00 UK: +44-207-567 47 14 Americas: +1-212-882 58 58 APAC: +852-297-1 82 00 www.ubs.com/media EQS-Ad-hoc: UBS AG / Key word(s): Personnel decisions / Supervisory Board/Personnel decisions / Supervisory Board Changes to the UBS Board of Directors 27-Feb-2026 / 07:21 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group . The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 27 February 2026 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 53 of the SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules News release Changes to the UBS Board of Directors Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri nominated for election to the Board of Directors of UBS Group AG and UBS AG at the 2026 Annual General Meetings in April William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong will not stand for re-election As previously announced, Vice Chairman Lukas Gahwiler will be stepping down from the Board and Markus Ronner was nominated for election to the Board Zurich/Basel, 27 February 2026 - The Board of Directors of UBS Group AG announces today the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15 April 2026. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have decided not to stand for re-election. Agustin Carstens (born 1958) served as General Manager of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) from 2017 to June 2025. Prior to that, he was Governor of the Bank of Mexico from 2010 to 2017. During his time as Governor, he was a Member of the BIS Board and chaired the Global Economy Meeting and the Economic Consultative Committee. Mr. Carstens also chaired the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the policy advisory committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as Mexico's Finance Minister and as Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. From 2000 to 2003, he was Mexico's Deputy Finance Minister after holding the position of Executive Director at the IMF. Mr. Carstens began his career in 1980 at the Bank of Mexico. He holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. He is a citizen of Mexico. Mr. Carstens is a highly respected and distinguished professional with extensive experience in financial regulation and monetary policy, built over a long and accomplished career. Luca Maestri (born 1963) is currently Vice President of Apple Inc 's Corporate Services, reporting to the CEO. Previously, he was Apple's CFO for more than a decade after joining the firm in 2013 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Xerox Corporation. From 2008 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President and CFO at Nokia Siemens Networks. Mr. Maestri spent two decades at General Motors (GM), holding various finance leadership roles across multiple countries, including CFO for GM Europe based in Zurich and CFO for GM Brazil in Sao Paulo. He also led the Fiat Alliance at GM Europe. His experience spans assignments in Thailand, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Mr. Maestri holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Luiss University in Rome and a Master's degree in Management from Boston University. He is a citizen of Italy and the United States. Mr. Maestri is a highly renowned executive and leader in the technology industry. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher commented: "I am delighted to share the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board. The addition of these two highly experienced leaders will further strengthen the Board's expertise, bringing outstanding regulatory knowledge and extensive CFO skills. This follows the earlier announcement of former UBS Group Executive Board member Markus Ronner's nomination as Vice Chairman. I very much look forward to collaborating with them on the Board." As previously communicated, Lukas Gahwiler has decided, after an exceptionally successful career spanning 45 years, to retire from his role as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and concluding his long career in banking. He was appointed Vice Chairman in 2022 and acted as UBS's representative within Switzerland's leading trade associations and financial industry bodies. Furthermore, as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, he played an instrumental role in overseeing the seamless integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have also decided to step down after seven years on the Board. During this time, Mr. Dudley served on the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, the Risk Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Wong was a member of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee and the Compensation Committee. Chairman Colm Kelleher and the members of the Board extend their gratitude to Lukas Gahwiler, William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong for their unwavering commitment and significant contributions over the past years. UBS Group AG and UBS AG Investor contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00 Media contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00 UK: +44-207-567 47 14 Americas: +1-212-882 58 58 APAC: +852-297-1 82 00 www.ubs.com/media End of Inside Information Explanation, why the information directly concerns that issuer: 27 February 2026 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 53 of the SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules News release Changes to the UBS Board of Directors Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri nominated for election to the Board of Directors of UBS Group AG and UBS AG at the 2026 Annual General Meetings in April William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong will not stand for re-election As previously announced, Vice Chairman Lukas Gahwiler will be stepping down from the Board and Markus Ronner was nominated for election to the Board Zurich/Basel, 27 February 2026 - The Board of Directors of UBS Group AG announces today the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15 April 2026. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have decided not to stand for re-election. Agustin Carstens (born 1958) served as General Manager of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) from 2017 to June 2025. Prior to that, he was Governor of the Bank of Mexico from 2010 to 2017. During his time as Governor, he was a Member of the BIS Board and chaired the Global Economy Meeting and the Economic Consultative Committee. Mr. Carstens also chaired the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the policy advisory committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as Mexico's Finance Minister and as Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. From 2000 to 2003, he was Mexico's Deputy Finance Minister after holding the position of Executive Director at the IMF. Mr. Carstens began his career in 1980 at the Bank of Mexico. He holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. He is a citizen of Mexico. Mr. Carstens is a highly respected and distinguished professional with extensive experience in financial regulation and monetary policy, built over a long and accomplished career. Luca Maestri (born 1963) is currently Vice President of Apple Inc 's Corporate Services, reporting to the CEO. Previously, he was Apple's CFO for more than a decade after joining the firm in 2013 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Xerox Corporation. From 2008 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President and CFO at Nokia Siemens Networks. Mr. Maestri spent two decades at General Motors (GM), holding various finance leadership roles across multiple countries, including CFO for GM Europe based in Zurich and CFO for GM Brazil in Sao Paulo. He also led the Fiat Alliance at GM Europe. His experience spans assignments in Thailand, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Mr. Maestri holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Luiss University in Rome and a Master's degree in Management from Boston University. He is a citizen of Italy and the United States. Mr. Maestri is a highly renowned executive and leader in the technology industry. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher commented: "I am delighted to share the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board. The addition of these two highly experienced leaders will further strengthen the Board's expertise, bringing outstanding regulatory knowledge and extensive CFO skills. This follows the earlier announcement of former UBS Group Executive Board member Markus Ronner's nomination as Vice Chairman. I very much look forward to collaborating with them on the Board." As previously communicated, Lukas Gahwiler has decided, after an exceptionally successful career spanning 45 years, to retire from his role as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and concluding his long career in banking. He was appointed Vice Chairman in 2022 and acted as UBS's representative within Switzerland's leading trade associations and financial industry bodies. Furthermore, as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, he played an instrumental role in overseeing the seamless integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have also decided to step down after seven years on the Board. During this time, Mr. Dudley served on the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, the Risk Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Wong was a member of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee and the Compensation Committee. Chairman Colm Kelleher and the members of the Board extend their gratitude to Lukas Gahwiler, William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong for their unwavering commitment and significant contributions over the past years. UBS Group AG and UBS AG Investor contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00 Media contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00 UK: +44-207-567 47 14 Americas: +1-212-882 58 58 APAC: +852-297-1 82 00 www.ubs.com/media Explanation, why the information has significant effect on the prices of financial instruments: 27 February 2026 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 53 of the SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules News release Changes to the UBS Board of Directors Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri nominated for election to the Board of Directors of UBS Group AG and UBS AG at the 2026 Annual General Meetings in April William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong will not stand for re-election As previously announced, Vice Chairman Lukas Gahwiler will be stepping down from the Board and Markus Ronner was nominated for election to the Board Zurich/Basel, 27 February 2026 - The Board of Directors of UBS Group AG announces today the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15 April 2026. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have decided not to stand for re-election. Agustin Carstens (born 1958) served as General Manager of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) from 2017 to June 2025. Prior to that, he was Governor of the Bank of Mexico from 2010 to 2017. During his time as Governor, he was a Member of the BIS Board and chaired the Global Economy Meeting and the Economic Consultative Committee. Mr. Carstens also chaired the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the policy advisory committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as Mexico's Finance Minister and as Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. From 2000 to 2003, he was Mexico's Deputy Finance Minister after holding the position of Executive Director at the IMF. Mr. Carstens began his career in 1980 at the Bank of Mexico. He holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. He is a citizen of Mexico. Mr. Carstens is a highly respected and distinguished professional with extensive experience in financial regulation and monetary policy, built over a long and accomplished career. Luca Maestri (born 1963) is currently Vice President of Apple Inc 's Corporate Services, reporting to the CEO. Previously, he was Apple's CFO for more than a decade after joining the firm in 2013 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Xerox Corporation. From 2008 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President and CFO at Nokia Siemens Networks. Mr. Maestri spent two decades at General Motors (GM), holding various finance leadership roles across multiple countries, including CFO for GM Europe based in Zurich and CFO for GM Brazil in Sao Paulo. He also led the Fiat Alliance at GM Europe. His experience spans assignments in Thailand, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Mr. Maestri holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Luiss University in Rome and a Master's degree in Management from Boston University. He is a citizen of Italy and the United States. Mr. Maestri is a highly renowned executive and leader in the technology industry. UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher commented: "I am delighted to share the nomination of Agustin Carstens and Luca Maestri for election to the Board. The addition of these two highly experienced leaders will further strengthen the Board's expertise, bringing outstanding regulatory knowledge and extensive CFO skills. This follows the earlier announcement of former UBS Group Executive Board member Markus Ronner's nomination as Vice Chairman. I very much look forward to collaborating with them on the Board." As previously communicated, Lukas Gahwiler has decided, after an exceptionally successful career spanning 45 years, to retire from his role as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and concluding his long career in banking. He was appointed Vice Chairman in 2022 and acted as UBS's representative within Switzerland's leading trade associations and financial industry bodies. Furthermore, as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, he played an instrumental role in overseeing the seamless integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong have also decided to step down after seven years on the Board. During this time, Mr. Dudley served on the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, the Risk Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Wong was a member of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee and the Compensation Committee. Chairman Colm Kelleher and the members of the Board extend their gratitude to Lukas Gahwiler, William C. Dudley and Jeanette Wong for their unwavering commitment and significant contributions over the past years. UBS Group AG and UBS AG Investor contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00 Media contact Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00 UK: +44-207-567 47 14 Americas: +1-212-882 58 58 APAC: +852-297-1 82 00 www.ubs.com/media 27-Feb-2026 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. View original content: EQS News Lyten announces it has completed the acquisition of Northvolt's battery assets in Sweden, totaling nearly $5B in value. The Skelleftea battery site, Northvolt Ett, is resuming operations and plans to deliver commercial cells in 2H 2026. Lyten announces the establishment of the Lyten Industrial Hub in Skelleftea, Sweden to co-locate battery manufacturing, data centers, and additional manufacturing activities. In connection with the closing, EdgeConneX, a portfolio company of EQT, plans to acquire a data center site from Lyten, with potential capacity of up to one gigawatt. Lyten, a global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries and energy storage, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Northvolt Ett and Ett Expansion (Skelleftea, Sweden) and Northvolt Labs (Vasteras, Sweden). The Northvolt Sweden acquisition includes 16 GWh of existing battery manufacturing capacity, more than 160 hectares of land, infrastructure and buildings to support expanded manufacturing and industrial activities, and the largest and most advanced battery research and development center in Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226538293/en/ Northvolt Labs, the largest battery research and development facility in Europe. Located in Vasteras, Sweden. Lyten additionally announced the formation of the Lyten Industrial Hub, located in Skelleftea, at the Northvolt Ett site. The industrial hub will utilize the infrastructure built by Northvolt and access to abundant, clean hydro power to co-locate battery manufacturing with AI data centers and complimentary industrial operations of strategic importance to Sweden and the European Union. Lyten plans to utilize its batteries and energy storage systems as part of the industrial hub's infrastructure. EdgeConneX, a leading global developer of data centers and a portfolio company of EQT, plans to acquire a data center site from Lyten in Skelleftea. The site has potential to scale to a one gigawatt data center campus, which would be one of the largest data center facilities in Europe. Dan Cook, Lyten CEO and Co-Founder stated, "With this acquisition, Lyten now operates one of the largest battery manufacturing campuses in Europe and the largest battery R&D center in Europe. We have the infrastructure, talent, and technology to build a thriving battery ecosystem across North America and Europe, supported by local supply chains and local talent, to deliver on the rapidly growing global need for distributed electricity infrastructure." Lyten plans to immediately begin the restart process for Northvolt Ett and Northvolt Labs. Ett will produce lithium-ion NMC batteries serving a broadened segment of customers, including battery energy storage systems (BESS), automotive and diverse mobility markets. Lyten expects commercial sales of cells from Northvolt Ett to supply Lyten's BESS manufacturing facility in Poland, Northvolt Dwa, in the second half of 2026. Northvolt Labs in Vasteras will continue development of long-life lithium ion NMC cells and will collaborate with the Lyten Silicon Valley team to industrialize Lyten's lithium-sulfur battery technology for gigascale manufacturing. Lyten has been working closely with the local Unions and will be launching a rehiring program at both Skelleftea and Vasteras. Based on expected customer demand, Lyten plans to hire more than 600 additional employees over the next 12 months and to continue a rapid hiring pace for the next few years. Matthias Arleth, CEO of Lyten Sweden stated, "As the transaction has now closed, we are excited to restart production and initiate the ramp-up in Sweden one production line at a time. In Skelleftea we have proven that we are able to produce consistent, high-quality battery cells that meet customer needs right now. The research and development work in Vasteras will be a cornerstone in our ambition to respond to future market demand with both high performance NMC and next generation lithium-sulfur batteries." Kristina Sundin Jonsson, Head of Administration, Skelleftea Municipality, added, "We are pleased that battery production can now resume in Skelleftea. The need for batteries continues to increase and the EU has identified batteries as a strategic product for Europe's competitiveness in its newly published battery strategy. The prerequisites we have in Skelleftea enable Sweden to take a significant position in this work and contribute to a strong, resilient battery value chain, including suppliers, research and talent attraction." In October, Lyten announced the close of its acquisition of Northvolt's BESS manufacturing facility in Gdansk, Poland; and is progressing the acquisition of Northvolt's assets in Heide, Germany. The full Northvolt acquisition includes manufacturing assets with a book value of $5 billion. Lyten is funding its Northvolt acquisitions with equity investments from existing and new North American and European investors and capital from the EdgeConneX investment in the data center site. "We truly appreciate the support of the Skelleftea municipality and Swedish government, the U.S. government, and the European Union in helping make this acquisition a reality," stated Lars Herlitz, Lyten Chairman and Co-Founder. "We fully grasp the potential of these assets and the importance of creating high quality jobs and economic growth in Sweden. Batteries are now a critical part of securing energy independence and supporting the competitiveness of European industries ranging from automotive to aerospace to data centers to grid resiliency. We are bringing the best of Silicon Valley innovation together with Sweden's engineering and manufacturing expertise to ensure this development is a success." About Lyten Lyten, founded in 2015, is the global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries and advanced 3D Graphene materials. It has received more than $625M in equity investment and secured LOIs for $650M in financing from the Export Import Bank of the US. Lyten is privately held with more than 1000 investors, including Stellantis, FedEx, Honeywell, Prime Movers Lab, the European Investment Fund, and Luxembourg Future Fund. No single external investor holds more than 5% of the company equity and all investors of significance are based in North America and Europe. Lyten's board is made up of US and European members, the US corporate headquarters is in San Jose, Calif., and its European corporate headquarters is in Luxembourg. The company lists more than 550 patents granted or pending and is currently manufacturing domestically sourced lithium-sulfur batteries in San Jose, Calif. for drone, autonomous system, and defense customers and operates the largest battery energy storage systems manufacturing facility in Europe, in Gdansk, Poland. Lyten owns a growing portfolio of products utilizing its 3D Graphene supermaterials platform in concrete, additive manufacturing, motorsports and defense. Lyten was named Fast Company's #8 Most Innovative Energy Company and named one of America's Top Green Technology Companies by Time in 2024, 2025, 2026 and been named to Silicon Valley Defense Journal's Top 100 National Security Companies for the third consecutive year in 2025. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226538293/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: Media contact, Sweden Ludvig Gauffin +46 73 892 17 40 lyten@fogelpartners.se Media contact, US and international Bob Zeitlinger bzeitlinger@makovsky.com Communication-centric Android smartphone will be available in English (QWERTY), French (AZERTY), German (QWERTZ), Korean and Arabic keyboard layouts LONDON, Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clicks Technology , today announced expanded language support for Clicks Communicator, introducing new localized keyboard layouts that bring the communication-focused Android smartphone to more users globally. The update reflects stronger-than-expected demand since opening reservations earlier this year, and reinforces the role of Communicator being purpose-built to help people communicate with confidence and take action on the go. New keyboard layouts include French (AZERTY), German (QWERTZ), Korean and Arabic, enabling Communicator to better serve customers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In response to strong global interest, Clicks extended the early bird window to March 15, giving customers in these markets the opportunity to take advantage of special pricing and bonuses. Customers will configure their preferred keyboard layout, along with their Communicator color and back Covers, closer to shipping. "Communicator reservations continue to exceed our most optimistic forecasts," said Adrian Li Mow Ching, CEO at Clicks. "The response from customers around the world sends a strong signal that Communicator fills a gap for a phone purpose-built for communicating and taking action. Adding support for French (AZERTY), German (QWERTZ), Korean and Arabic keyboard layouts allows us to bring the Communicator experience to a larger and more diverse audience." Purpose-Built For Fast, Responsive Communications Over Time Clicks also confirmed today that Communicator will be powered by the Dimensity 8300 (MT8883), a modern 4nm architecture that delivers a fast, responsive experience, with performance to spare. As a smartphone purpose-built for doing, not doomscrolling, Communicator is designed to feel instant and responsive every time it's picked up, empowering customers to take action on the go. Clicks selected the MT8883 platform to provide plenty of performance headroom while ensuring the experience continues to meet customer expectations over time. "In building Clicks Communicator, every decision starts with the experience we want customers to have from a device purpose-built for communication," said Jeff Gadway, Chief Marketing Officer at Clicks. "Strong early demand gave us the opportunity to step up to a more advanced platform that delivers smooth multitasking, consistent responsiveness and strong efficiency with performance to spare." The MT8883 platform also supports a long runway for Android and security updates, with software support planned through Android 20 and five years of security updates. Pricing and Availability Clicks Communicator will be available in Smoke, Clover, and Onyx at a special launch price of USD $499. Purchase your reservation before March 15 to lock in early bird pricing and priority access: Reservation deposit : USD $199 to lock in a USD $399 early bird price, or : USD $199 to lock in a USD $399 early bird price, or Reservation paid in full : USD $399 with two additional back covers included ($100 value) Clicks Communicator will begin shipping later this year. Meet Clicks at MWC 2026 Clicks will be meeting with media, creators and partners at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, March 2-5. Media interested in briefings or hands-on demos can contact press@clicks.tech . About Clicks Technology Clicks Technology Ltd is a mobile company empowering people through purpose-built technology. After launching the Clicks Keyboard Case in 2024, Clicks has shipped over 100,000 keyboards for iPhone, Google Pixel and Motorola Razr, with customers in more than 100 countries. Introduced in 2026, Clicks Communicator and Clicks Power Keyboard enable people to cut through the noise and do more on the go. Founded by a team of creators and technologists with decades of experience at some of the world's most well-known mobile brands, Clicks is passionate about building products to help people take action. For more information on Clicks, visit: clicks.tech . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b67c1e90-3057-4b47-b81b-e3b9553a83aa A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92250cc1-a9f0-425e-b99b-9ca2e38876a9 Will accelerate the development and mass production of EUV lithography photomasks Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP, TOKYO:7912) today announced that it has participated in Rapidus Corporation's funding round as one of the round investors. This strategic funding initiative supports Rapidus' plan to steadily progress from its current R&D phase to mass production of 2nm (10?? meters) logic semiconductors by 2027. Through this initiative, DNP will advance the development and mass production of EUV lithography photomasks and support Rapidus as it establishes a mass production system for 2nm next-generation semiconductors. Background In recent years, the rise in energy consumption, in line with increased data generation, has become a challenge, driving demand for next-generation semiconductors capable of improving device performance and reducing power consumption. Next-generation semiconductors manufactured using EUV lithography enable the formation of finer patterns on silicon wafers compared to currently available technologies. This in turn is boosting expectations for the realization of higher performance and lower power consumption semiconductors. Against this backdrop, in 2024 DNP was selected as a subcontractor for Rapidus under the Post-5G Information and Communications System Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project, led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Under this project, DNP has been advancing the development of manufacturing processes for 2nm generation EUV lithography photomasks. Looking ahead, toward Rapidus' goal of achieving mass production of 2nm-generation logic semiconductors in 2027, DNP aims to realize high-yield and short-lead-time production of EUV lithography photomasks for the 2nm generation at an early stage. Our investment will further strengthen the partnership between our two companies that has been cultivated to date. Going Forward DNP positions EUV lithography photomasks as a key growth driver of its semiconductor-related business. We will continue to make proactive investments while advancing technology development with a view toward even finer 1.4nm generation and beyond. Through these efforts, DNP will contribute to the growth of Japan's semiconductor industry. More Details About DNP DNP was established in 1876, and has become a leading global company that leverages print-based solutions to engineer fresh business opportunities while protecting the environment and creating a more vibrant world for all. We capitalize on core competencies in microfabrication and precision coating technology to provide products for the display, electronic devices, and optical film markets. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260224169578/en/ Contacts: Media contact DNP: Yusuke Kitagawa, +81-3-6735-0101 kitagawa-y3@mail.dnp.co.jp Die Stimmung an den Markten hat sich grundlegend gedreht. Wahrend Tech- und KI-Werte zunehmend mit Volatilitat und Bewertungsrisiken kampfen, erleben klassische Versorger ein unerwartetes Comeback. Laut IEA und EIA steigt der globale Strombedarf strukturell weiter, nicht nur wegen E-Mobilitat und Warmepumpen, sondern vor allem durch energiehungrige KI-Rechenzentren. Energie wird damit zur zentralen Infrastruktur des digitalen Zeitalters. Gleichzeitig rucken in unsicheren Marktphasen stabile Cashflows, solide Bilanzen und regulierte Renditen wieder starker in den Fokus. Genau hier spielen Versorger ihre Starken aus: berechenbare Ertrage, robuste Nachfrage und hohe Dividenden Qualitaten, die vielen Wachstumswerten aktuell fehlen. Nach Jahren im Schatten der Tech-Rallye steigt nun das Interesse an Unternehmen, die Stabilitat mit langfristigen Wachstumsthemen wie Netzausbau, Dekarbonisierung und erneuerbaren Energien verbinden. Im aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Versorger vor, die defensive Starke mit attraktivem Potenzial kombinieren. Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern bevor die nachste Versorgerwelle Fahrt aufnimmt! Kawasaki, Osaka, Japan, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and H2O Retailing Corporation today announced the successful implementation of a wireless tablet POS system utilizing Fujitsu's POS solution across all 15 Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores. This initiative marks one of the largest deployments of a tablet POS system in a department store in Japan, with approximately 5,000 tablet units introduced in non-food sales areas and about 400 dedicated POS units in food sales areas.The system enables sales associates to provide seamless, one-stop[1] service from customer engagement to payment without leaving their sales floor. This allows sales associates to dedicate more time to customers, to enhance service quality and deliver a high-value shopping experience unique to department stores.Going forward, H2O plans to integrate other business applications into these tablet units at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores including customer relationship management tools and customer service support tools to create a higher quality one-stop customer experience.Fujitsu, under its Uvance business model to address societal challenges, is committed to solving customer and societal issues through data and AI, focusing on both the purchasing experience and supply chains. By linking the experience cycle, which supports comfortable purchasing experiences for customers and improved operational efficiency for employees involved in purchasing, with the supply chain cycle, which aims to realize sustainable and resilient purchasing supply chains, Fujitsu will integrate complex customer touchpoints and achieve centralized information management across all channels. This will enhance customer and consumer experiences and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.Overview of the SystemThe system implemented in this initiative incorporates a POS solution from Unified Commerce, an offering within Fujitsu's Uvance business model that aims to centralize customer touchpoint information. By establishing this system as a common platform, the screen displays and operability of both stationary and mobile POS systems have been unified.This achieves the following three points, leading to improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience:Reduced burden of learning multiple operating methods and decreased training labor hours for sales associates due to a unified operating system.Establishment of a one-stop operation within the same sales area, from customer engagement to payment, through the introduction of wireless tablets. Provides customers with a smoother and more comfortable shopping experience.Utilization of SIM-equipped tablet units to increase flexibility by expanding POS systems outside stores for special events, external sales activities, and mobile sales, while maintaining the same service quality as in-store systems.The system is built in a cloud environment and adopts a pay-per-use licensing model based on the annual number of transactions. This allows for flexible adjustment of POS system resources according to sales floor fluctuations and demand, balancing appropriate cost management with stable operation. It ensures a stable payment environment even during peak seasons, offering customers a comfortable and smooth shopping experience.[1] Not including tax-free procedures.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout H2O Retailing CorporationThe H2O Retailing Group engages in a variety of retail-related business, including department stores, supermarkets, shopping centers, specialty stores and convenience stores, primarily in the Kansai region of Japan.Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores operate a total of 15 department stores, including Hankyu Department Store and Hanshin Department Store. We strive to become the No.1 fun department store to make our customers lives also fun and enriched by energizing their future. In addition to the flagship Hankyu Umeda Main Store, we have a wide variety of stores, including the Hanshin Umeda Main Store, Kobe Hankyu, and Hakata Hankyu stores in the city center, as well as suburban stores that are close to the lives of the community.Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiriesSource: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2026 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Original-Research: Aiforia Technologies Oyj - from NuWays AG 27.02.2026 / 09:00 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group . The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions. Classification of NuWays AG to Aiforia Technologies Oyj Company Name: Aiforia Technologies Oyj ISIN: FI4000507934 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: BUY Target price: EUR 3.8 Target price on sight of: 12 months Last rating change: Analyst: Julius Neittamo H2'25 preview; accelerating clinical revenue growth expected Aiforia will report H2'25 results on March 6. Our preview in detail: H2'25 sales look set to increase 47% yoy to 2.18m (eNuW). Clinical revenue growth is seen to accelerate sequentially (+70% vs +60% yoy in H1'25, eNuW) and Research revenue is set to recover to +6% yoy (eNuW), following a soft H1'25 (-30% yoy). Focus is on the clinical segment to scale the business, explaining the modest growth expectations for Research in H2'25 (eNuW). The growth trajectories of both segments should also differ beyond FY25, with the Research segment to grow at an ~8% CAGR and the Clinical segment at a strong ~84% (FY26-28, eNuW). Clinical growth for the coming years should be supported by: An increased share of wallet across the installed base of 14 major clinical clients, driven by an acceleration in the adoption rate of pathology AI technology; across the installed base of 14 major clinical clients, driven by an acceleration in the adoption rate of pathology AI technology; Strategic partnerships with leading industry players, such as Siemens Healthineers , which should broaden Aiforia's commercial reach and help ramp up sales growth by embedding its AI solutions into large, established digital pathology networks; and , which should broaden Aiforia's commercial reach and help ramp up sales growth by embedding its AI solutions into large, established digital pathology networks; and The recently launched foundation engine, which is viewed as an improvement over supervised convolutional neural networks in terms of commercial scalability, as it enables faster deployment of AI models, greater adaptability to new use cases, and lower operating costs. We expect incremental tailwinds from the foundation engine to happen over the course of FY26-28. While an acceleration in the adoption pace of AI technology by clinical clients in H2'25 would provide a positive trigger for the growth story, we expect the more tangible hyperscale years to be in FY26-28. The company has an excellent track record in developing advanced AI models and in securing tenders, giving us confidence that Aiforia can convert clinical tenders into strong growth execution. On profitability, H2'25 EBITDA is expected to improve to -2.7m (vs -4.0m a year prior), on the back of operational leverage and lower OPEX driven by a reduced headcount. Mind you, the company concluded workforce reductions in November, which should lead to annual cost savings of 2.5m starting from FY26. Aiforia is set to end FY25 with 11.6m in cash. We estimate the company's operating cash burn to be 9.3m in FY26, thus Aiforia should have sufficient cash runway to cover at least the whole of FY26. Ahead of the H2'25 results, our conviction in Aiforia's long-term story remains intact. We reiterate our BUY rating with a 3.80 PT based on our DCF model. You can download the research here: aiforia-technologies-oyj-2026-02-27-previewreview-en-078dc For additional information visit our website: https://www.nuways-ag.com/research-feed Contact for questions: NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Offenlegung moglicher Interessenkonflikte nach 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befindet sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++ The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. View original content: EQS News Das Borsenjahr 2026 ist fur viele Anleger ernuchternd gestartet. Tech-Werte straucheln, der Nasdaq 100 tritt auf der Stelle und ausgerechnet alte Favoriten wie Microsoft und SAP rutschen zweistellig ab. KI ist plotzlich kein Ruckenwind mehr, sondern ein Belastungsfaktor, weil Investoren beginnen, die finanzielle Nachhaltigkeit zu hinterfragen. Gleichzeitig vollzieht sich an der Wall Street ein lautloser Favoritenwechsel. Wahrend viele auf Wachstum setzen, feiern Value-Titel mit verlasslichen Cashflows ihr Comeback: Telekommunikation, Industrie, Energie, Pharma die Cashmaschinen der Realwirtschaft verdrangen hoch bewertete Hoffnungstrager. In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir funf Aktien vor, die genau in dieses neue Marktbild passen: solide, gunstig bewertet und mit attraktiver Dividende. Werte, die nicht nur laufende Ertrage liefern, sondern auch bei Marktkorrekturen Sicherheit bieten. Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern bevor der Value-Zug 2026 endgultig abfahrt! Dieses exklusive PDF ist nur fur kurze Zeit gratis verfugbar. The partnership strengthens education, innovation, and patient access by combining global expertise with regional leadership in precision oncology. February 27, 2026 - Wiesbaden, Germany and Miami, USA. The International Centers for Precision Oncology (ICPO) Foundation and the UroTeragLATAM Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the WFNMB congress in Cartagena, Colombia to collaborate on advancing Theranostics education through the ICPO Academy for Theranostics, fostering research, and improving patient access to Theranostics in urological cancer across Latin America. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of precision oncology by combining ICPO's global expertise in Theranostics with UroTeragLATAM's regional leadership in education and multidisciplinary collaboration in the field. Together, the foundations will promote innovation, enhance knowledge exchange, and support the advancements of Theranostics centers throughout the region. Theranostics - a rapidly evolving approach that combines diagnostic imaging with targeted therapy using radiopharmaceuticals - represents a paradigm shift in cancer care. Founded in 2019, the ICPO Foundation is dedicated to expanding global patient access to Theranostics through its accredited ICPO Theranostics Centers Network, educational initiatives, support of ICPO Research Grants, and international community-building activities. UroTeragLATAM Foundation, established in 2025, is committed to advancing education and collaboration in Theranostics for urological cancers across Latin America, with the vision of becoming the leading genitourinary Theranostics education platform in the region. "Latin America is emerging as a dynamic force in Theranostics, and partnerships like that with UroTeragLATAM are essential to unlocking its full potential. By joining forces with a regional while cancer specific foundation, ICPO is not only connecting expertise globally but also co-creating sustainable pathways for innovation, clinical excellence, and long-term impact in precision oncology for better patient outcomes," emphasized Odile Jaume, CEO of the ICPO Foundation. "This partnership goes beyond accelerating Theranostics in Latin America -it sets a new benchmark for global collaboration. By bringing together strong regional leadership and a truly cross-border alliance, ICPO and UroTeragLATAM are creating a model that can inspire and guide other regions seeking to expand access to precision oncology," explained Dr. Danny Mena Cortes, President of UroTeragLATAM. Strengthening Education and Clinical Excellence UroTeragLATAM will promote the ICPO Academy of Theranostics, offering complimentary access for academic participants based on ICPO stipend criteria and availability. Both organizations will collaborate to support the ICPO Academy expansion in the Latam countries thanks to the engagement of Latam multidisciplinary experts in co-generating new relevant educational resources, facilitating local certifications and identifying meaningful opportunities for practical training. Building a Stronger Theranostics Ecosystem The MoU outlines joint efforts to strengthen the Theranostics capacity and infrastructure across the Latam region. UroTeragLATAM will propose new ICPO Theranostics Center candidates and encourage them to opt for the ICPO Clinical Centers of Excellence accreditation. ICPO and UroTeragLATAM will also collaborate on scientific endeavors and advocacy efforts to ensure patient access to innovative cancer care solutions at regional and local levels. Supporting Innovation and Research The agreement also establishes a framework for scientific collaboration. UroTeragLATAM will encourage research engagement and promote grant applications from the Latam region, while ICPO will consider proposals through its established scientific review processes. Together, the foundations aim to nurture emerging talent and advance Theranostics globally. Photo caption: Juan Davila, Partner Engagement & Fundraising Director, Dr. Marwa Hakkam, Accreditation and Center Director, (both ICPO Foundation) and Julian Rojas, Board Member UroTeragLATAM, Colombia (f.l.t.r.) About ICPO Foundation The International Centers for Precision Oncology Foundation (ICPO) is a non-profit organization established in 2019 under German law by leading international medical practitioners and life sciences entrepreneurs. Recognizing a paradigm shift in cancer care to a personalized approach, the ICPO Foundation is helping to build momentum to scale global patient access by developing an international network of physical diagnostic and therapeutic centers for Precision Oncology based on a model of shared know-how, certified education with the ICPO Academy for Theranostics, and design and process standardization that enables best clinical practice for improved patient outcomes globally. Learn more about the ICPO Foundation www.icpo.foundation and the ICPO Academy for Theranostics www.theranostics.academy Media contact ICPO Foundation Susanne Simon, Head of Communication & Community Email: susanne.simon@icpo.foundation , Phone: + 49 172 8666093, www.icpo.foundation About UroTeragLATAM Foundation The main activities of UroTeragLATAM Foundation include the organization and realization of educational events such as conferences, workshops and symposia. These events are carefully designed to provide participants with cutting-edge and up-to-date information in Spanish on radiopharmaceutical therapies in genitourinary (GU) oncological pathologies, focusing on their practical application in clinical settings in Latin America. The organization also facilitates professional collaboration by creating networking opportunities, discussion forums, and platforms where healthcare professionals can share experiences, knowledge, and best practices. In addition, UroTeragLATAM supports continuing medical education by providing access to online learning modules, research resources, and educational materials, ensuring that healthcare providers stay up to date on the latest developments in Theranostics. UroTeragLATAM also creates face-to-face spaces to discuss new evidence in GU theragnosis through collaborations with other academic activities, associations in urology, oncology, nuclear medicine and medical physics, organizing symposia within congresses. Media Contact UroTeragLATAM Foundation Dr. Andrea Luna Mass Email: aluna@uroteraglatam.com Website: uroteraglatam.com Attachments New brokerage addresses critical gap in market with comprehensive support for UK families moving to Dubai DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvello Real Estate, a female-led property brokerage, has officially launched operations in Dubai with a mission to revolutionise how families relocate to the UAE. Founded by CEO Gemma Contrino, Nuvello addresses a critical gap in the market by providing comprehensive, transparent support to UK families navigating the complexities of moving to Dubai. Unlike traditional brokerages focused solely on transactions, Nuvello takes a holistic approach to relocation, offering families detailed insights into neighbourhoods, schools, amenities, and lifestyle considerations before they make purchasing decisions. This client-first philosophy stems from Gemma's own experience relocating to Dubai with her family of four children. "When my family moved to Dubai, nobody was upfront about the real costs, the practical realities, or the lifestyle fit of different communities," said Gemma. "We were hit with astronomical bills we hadn't budgeted for, and we've moved three times in one year trying to find the right fit. That experience showed me there's a massive gap in the market for honest, comprehensive support, particularly for families making this life-changing move." Nuvello's launch comes as Dubai experiences unprecedented growth in family relocations from the UK, driven by concerns over rising taxes, declining safety, and deteriorating weather conditions. Whilst most brokerages compete for high-net-worth investors in Dubai's luxury market, Nuvello has identified UK families as an underserved demographic requiring specialised support. As a female-led brokerage in a male-dominated industry, Nuvello brings a distinctive perspective to real estate. Gemma, who holds a strategic background in accounting and business, has built the company around values of integrity, transparency, and empathy. These qualities, she believes, are essential when helping families make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. "Being a female CEO in Dubai real estate has its challenges, but being female also gives us a competitive advantage," Gemma noted. "I understand how hard it is to move with children. I know that finding the right school matters just as much as finding the right property. That empathy and relatability is what sets Nuvello apart." Whilst Nuvello offers comprehensive traditional brokerage services including property sales, rentals, and investment advisory, the company's services extend beyond standard transactions to include partnerships with relocation specialists, schools, and community organisations. The brokerage provides clients with detailed information about neighbourhood amenities, commute times, lifestyle fit, and hidden local knowledge (from petting zoos to playgrounds) that helps families make informed decisions before committing to a property. Whether clients are seeking luxury investments, family homes, or rental properties, Nuvello delivers expert guidance with a personalised, family-focused approach. The company's philosophy centres on building long-term relationships rather than closing quick sales. Nuvello aims to become part of each client's extended family, supporting them through their initial relocation and remaining their trusted adviser for future property needs as they grow and evolve in Dubai. "It's not just creating a one-time purchase transaction," Gemma explained. "It's creating something that becomes a family rather than just a number. I would personally rather a sale took us six weeks longer to find the right property than getting it signed today and getting somebody into the wrong investment or the wrong community." With a current team of 15 professionals including 10 brokers, Nuvello is preparing for significant expansion. The company's new office, scheduled for completion in six weeks, will accommodate 50+ brokers. However, Gemma emphasises that growth will be carefully managed to ensure every team member aligns with Nuvello's values and client-first approach. Looking ahead, Nuvello's vision is to become synonymous with trust and family-oriented service in Dubai real estate. The Starbucks of property, as Gemma describes it, where families instinctively turn to Nuvello for any property-related need. The company is also positioning itself as a bridge between the UK and UAE property markets, leveraging Gemma's deep understanding of both markets to serve British investors and families seeking opportunities in Dubai. "In five years, I want Nuvello to be ingrained into people," said Gemma. "In the same way you want a coffee and reach for Starbucks, you want a property transaction and you reach for Nuvello. We're building something that becomes a real part of the Dubai framework and a dependable family of people." About Nuvello Real Estate Nuvello Real Estate is a female-led property brokerage based in Dubai, UAE, specialising in comprehensive relocation support for families moving to Dubai from the UK and beyond. Founded by CEO Gemma Contrino, Nuvello differentiates itself through transparent communication, holistic community insights, and a commitment to building long-term family relationships rather than transactional sales. The company provides end-to-end support including property search, neighbourhood guidance, school recommendations, and ongoing advisory services. Nuvello partners with relocation specialists, educational institutions, and community organisations to ensure families have the complete information they need to make confident decisions about their Dubai relocation. Media Contact: Digital24 PR Email: info@digital24.com Phone: +971 56 978 5227 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2922051/Nuvello_Team.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2922050/Nuvello_Real_Estate_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/female-led-nuvello-real-estate-launches-to-transform-dubais-family-relocation-experience-302699484.html RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- COLABS and the Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation (AAHF) have announced a partnership to develop and scale arts, culture, crafts, and heritage initiatives across Saudi Arabia. The partnership establishes a structured framework for long-term collaboration spanning artistic production, cultural exchange, research, and public engagement. As part of this collaboration, COLABS will roll out a series of arts and culture initiatives through its Creative Collective programming, which was recently launched in the Kingdom. The first activation will be an exhibition in the coming weeks, featuring emerging artists from MENAP. Planned initiatives under the partnership include exhibitions, artist and artisan residencies, commissions, educational programs, publications, and cross-border knowledge exchange, all delivered as part of COLABS' broader ecosystem-building efforts. COLABS is a Riyadh headquartered regional workspace and community enablement platform operating in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, focused on supporting entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. Through its Creative Collective programming, COLABS supports emerging and established artists via residencies, open calls, exhibitions, and public programming, while commissioning new work and embedding art into civic and professional spaces. The Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation is a Saudi Arabia-based foundation focused on human development, cultural preservation, education, and knowledge creation. Through its Arts & Culture Program, the foundation supports heritage conservation, creative education, and community engagement initiatives, including the Norah Al-Mousa House for Culture and Creative Arts and the Al-Ahsa Academy of Crafts. Joint programs between AAHF and COLABS will be designed to strengthen artistic ecosystems, preserve cultural heritage, and expand public participation in the arts across both regions. "Bringing our arts and culture programming to Saudi Arabia is a natural extension of how we think about building ecosystems, not just workspaces," said Omar Shah, CEO of COLABS. "Creativity, culture, and entrepreneurship thrive together. Partnering with Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation allows us to ground this work locally while fostering meaningful cross-regional exchange across the region." For his part, Mr. Abdulmohsen Al-Sultan, CEO of the Foundation, commented: "At the Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation, we take pride in this partnership, which aligns with our objectives of supporting talent and empowering creatives. We believe that art serves as a bridge between cultures, and through our collaboration with 'COLABS,' we look forward to creating meaningful opportunities for artists, and to enriching the cultural landscape in the Kingdom in a way that aligns with the ambitious Vision 2030." COLABS is expected to go live with its first site in Riyadh's Al Narjis district within the next few weeks. It is a purpose-built flagship campus designed to serve startups and scaleups in the Kingdom and will also act as a platform for entrepreneurship, arts, and culture. As part of the partnership, COLABS will be launching open calls through its Creative Collective programming for artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners across Saudi Arabia and the wider region to apply for upcoming residencies, commissions, exhibitions, and research-led initiatives. Further details and application guidelines will be announced shortly. Contact: media@colabs.sa www.colabs.sa Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2922008/COLABS_and_AAHF_Partnership.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/colabs-and-abdulmonem-al-rashed-humanitarian-foundation-announce-cross-regional-arts-and-culture-partnership-302699492.html EQS Newswire / 27/02/2026 / 11:00 CET/CEST HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 February 2026 - In his 2026-27 Budget announced on Wednesday (25 February), Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) outlined areas for comprehensively reinforcing the city's position as a leading international financial hub. Despite the complex and ever-changing external environment, Mr Chan noted that Hong Kong's financial market had performed strongly and the city's financial system remains robust. HKSAR's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan (second left), outlines areas for comprehensively reinforcing the city's position as a leading international financial hub In 2025, Hong Kong ranked first globally for funds raised through initial public offerings. "We will continue to consolidate our existing strengths, tap into emerging fields, strengthen market systems and risk control and deepen financial co-operation in the Greater Bay Area," Mr Chan said. "By doing so, we will enhance Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre on all fronts and contribute to the national strategic goal of 'accelerating China's development as a financial powerhouse' ". With Hong Kong being the world's largest hub for offshore Renminbi (RMB) business, the Financial Secretary said the city would leverage its unique strengths and proactively align with national development strategies. For advancing the internationalisation of the RMB, Mr Chan said Hong Kong would facilitate the wider use of RMB in activities such as trade and cross-boundary business; reduce transaction costs; enrich product offerings in the offshore RMB market; improve price discovery in the short-to-medium-term-interest-rate market; and attract high-quality issuers to increase RMB bond issuance in Hong Kong. In 2025, the stock market delivered a stellar performance. The Hang Seng Index rose by 28 per cent over the year. The daily turnover surged by 90 per cent to a historic high of close to $250 billion (US$32 billion). Mr Chan said the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) would continue enhancing the securities market, attracting issuers and boosting market efficiency. "We will also introduce the next stage of reforms, including enhancing the regulatory regime for listed companies, providing specific guidelines for overseas companies seeking secondary listing in Hong Kong, offering more overseas markets as recognised exchanges, and continuing to explore with the market the provision of an over-the-counter trading platform for delisted stocks or those requiring special handling. "The electronic bond-trading platform will also be launched in the second half of this year, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a global fixed income and currency hub," he said. To attract more family offices and funds to set up in Hong Kong, Mr Chan said Hong Kong would enhance the tax regime, including expanding the scope of "fund" to cover specific funds-of-one, as well as classifying digital assets, precious metals, and specified commodities, etc. as qualifying investments eligible for tax concessions. Regarding the development of digital assets, the Government published the second policy statement for developing Hong Kong into a global hub for digital asset innovation through the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework. A bill will be introduced this year to establish licensing regimes for, among others, digital asset dealing and custodian service providers. "We will also explore the adoption of electronic signature for bond issuance documents and the digitalisation of bearer bonds," Mr Chan said. To promote the application of fintech and enhance the efficiency of the asset management market, the CMU OmniClear, a market infrastructure operator established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, will establish a digital asset platform this year. It will support the issuance and settlement of digital bonds. The platform will also be gradually extended to other digital assets and linked with other tokenisation platforms in the region, consolidating Hong Kong's leading role in the realm of digital assets. In order to build an international gold trading market in Hong Kong, Mr Chan said the Government would explore offering tax incentives for eligible institutions conducting gold trading and settlement in Hong Kong; assist the industry in setting up an industry-led trade association to consolidate resources, step up promotion, and foster ties with industry stakeholders from around the world; and help the industry keep abreast of the latest gold market developments, acquire relevant skills and develop a training framework. Hashtag: HongKong BrandHongKong Budget International Financial Hub The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News Source: Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 27/02/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News . The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com View original content: EQS News - Kevin Vyse-Peacock Announces Planned Transition After 25 Years of Global Leadership and Impact - Julie Talbot Promoted to Global CEO to Drive Next Era of Brand Modernization and Parental Support ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lansinoh , a global leader in maternal care and infant feeding for more than four decades, today announced that Julie Talbot has been appointed Global Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Talbot, currently President of North America, succeeds Kevin Vyse-Peacock, who has decided to step away from the business after 25 years of global leadership. Vyse-Peacock joined Lansinoh in 2001 to establish the company's European business, building its first international office from the ground up. Over the following two decades, he played a central role in scaling the brand globally, navigating category creation, complex regulatory environments, and rapid international expansion before becoming CEO in 2010. Under Vyse-Peacock's leadership, Lansinoh evolved into a science-led, mission-driven organization with business growth nearly 300% over his tenure. His legacy includes navigating rapid international expansion and serving on the Board of parent company Pigeon Corporation to contribute a global perspective to its long-term strategy. Vyse-Peacock has chosen to step away from day-to-day leadership to focus on mentoring and supporting the growth of purpose-driven businesses, much like Lansinoh, while reducing the extensive international travel that has defined much of his tenure. "Lansinoh has been a defining chapter of my life," said Vyse-Peacock. "What began as a small entrepreneurial venture grew into a global organization with an extraordinary mission and an exceptional team. Together, we've helped enable more than 200 million mothers worldwide to continue breastfeeding, while building a brand grounded in science, empathy, and integrity. I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved, not just in scale, but in the real, lasting impact we've made for families." "I leave Lansinoh stronger than ever, with a clear purpose, a deeply capable leadership team, and a profound connection to the parents we serve," he added. During her tenure as President of North America, Talbot led the evolution of Lansinoh's brand mission, vision, and marketing positioning, increased investment in innovation, and brought the company's consumer care function in-house, creating a model staffed by real mothers and certified lactation counselors to provide expert, peer-led support to parents during moments of greatest need. "Kevin's leadership shaped Lansinoh into the company it is today, driving its transformation from a small, single-product operation into a trusted global brand. His vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to parents have left a lasting legacy," said Ryou Yano, President and CEO of Pigeon Corporation, Lansinoh's parent company. "As we look ahead, Julie's experience building modern, trusted consumer brands enables her to bring tremendous depth of expertise to the CEO role. But it's her most devoted role, mom to her young daughter, that gives her an authentic connection to the Lansinoh community - one that positions the brand for sustained global growth for decades to come." As Global CEO, Talbot will steer Lansinoh's new era by unifying the global vision and strategy while honoring the brand's heritage as a mom-founded, women-led company. Her leadership approach will ensure the brand evolves alongside the daily realities of today's families, prioritizing science-backed innovation and empathetic, peer-driven support models. By scaling her successful North American blueprint globally, Talbot will accelerate solutions and expand innovation to simplify the complexities of parenthood while maintaining the brand's commitment to a high-performance culture. "I am honored to lead Lansinoh into its next chapter," said Talbot. "This is a brand that supports families through some of the most vulnerable, joyful, exhausting, and transformative moments of their lives. I look forward to stewarding Lansinoh's global growth while ensuring we continue to lead with empathy, science, and an unwavering commitment to parents and caregivers around the world." For more information on Lansinoh's product offerings, please visit Lansinoh.com . About Lansinoh For over 40 years, Lansinoh has been building a community that understands what moms go through, creating calm, comfort, and connection every step of the way. From its first product, the award-winning Lanolin Nipple Cream, Lansinoh has expanded to a full range of innovative products that grow with moms and babies, so they can love their time together. The brand's products are available in over 60 countries worldwide. Media Contact Eva Wasko SVP, Public Relations lansinoh@a-g.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2921629/Lansinoh_Julie_Talbot_Named_Global_CEO.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2859963/Lansinoh_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lansinoh-unveils-new-ceo-succession-plan-302699164.html TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has successfully demonstrated a technology in which Agentic AI autonomously manages the entire lifecycle of the User Plane Function (UPF)*, a primary function of 6G/5G core networks, from design, construction, and deployment through to operational monitoring. This research achievement was realized in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).Based on NEC's expertise and experience in communications service provider networks, this demonstration was achieved by leveraging "Kiro," an AWS agentic AI with an integrated development environment (IDE) and command-line interface (CLI). As a result, NEC confirmed that the time required from network design to initial service launch, which previously required several weeks with manual configuration by network operators, can be significantly reduced to just a few hours. In addition, automated anomaly detection and self-healing operations without human intervention were also verified using an AWS AI tool. These results demonstrate that automated orchestration of UPF utilizing an AWS AI tool contributes to reducing deployment burden for communications service providers (CSPs), improving operational efficiency, and accelerating service rollout.Traditionally, building and deploying network functions required extensive manual configuration and advanced technical expertise, placing a heavy burden on network operators at CSPs. These manual processes also increased the risk of human error, which complicated fault isolation and recovery during network incidents. These issues contributed to longer service rollout timelines and rising operational costs.Key Features1. Autonomous UPF Deployment and Operation Enabled by AIDrawing on expertise gained through designing, building, and operating commercial carrier networks, NEC embedded this knowledge into AI models capable of automatically generating and executing UPF deployment procedures. This enables not only automation of operational tasks but also supports truly autonomous network operations suitable for production environments.2. Flexible Deployment Enabled by Cloud-Based Operational ModelsBy leveraging AWS, NEC can apply cloud-native operational models directly to CSP environments, enabling flexible deployment across networks, including edge locations and on premises systems.Benefits / Value- Reduces network function deployment time from weeks to hours-from network design to initial service launch (compared to traditional manual deployment methods at NEC)- Minimizes human error and improves operational quality through automation- Allows personnel without deep technical expertise to deploy and operate network functions, helping address labor shortages- Supports CSPs with rapid service launches and maximizes revenue opportunitiesThis initiative represents an important achievement as a foundational technology for realizing autonomous network operations required in the future 6G era. Looking ahead, NEC will continue to take on new technological challenges based on its vision of being "AI Native," addressing the challenges that communications service providers may face both today and in the future as networks become increasingly complex.A demonstration based on the verified environment will be showcased at the AWS booth during MWC Barcelona 2026 (March 2-5, 2026), the world's largest mobile industry event."The telecommunications industry is at an inflection point where AI-driven automation is becoming essential to build a competitive advantage by serving the end-customers faster and reducing the operating costs. NEC's breakthrough in autonomous UPF orchestration demonstrates how AWS AI services can fundamentally transform network operations, enabling communications service providers to deploy complex 5G infrastructure in hours rather than weeks. This level of automation democratizes advanced network deployment capabilities, allowing operators to serve the ever-increasing capacity needs and focus their innovation efforts on service differentiation rather than manual configuration and operational tasks. This collaboration with NEC exemplifies the intelligent automation that will define the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure."-Amir Rao, Global Director, GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services"Validating the automation of UPF deployment and operations using AI and GitOps in an AWS environment is an important accomplishment for NEC. This technology does more than just improve operational efficiency. By embedding the design and operational expertise that NEC has cultivated through commercial networks into AI, we aim to enable autonomous operations and achieve a significant improvement in end-to-end efficiency across UPF deployment and operations, including on-site activities. NEC will continue to contribute to the realization of autonomously operable mobile networks that are required for the 6G era, providing environments that allow communications service providers to focus on creating service value."-Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC CorporationA portion of the technologies used in this project were obtained from a grant program (No. JPJ012368G50701) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.(*)User Plane Function: The processing of user data traffic in the 5G Core Network (5GC).About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group's approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society.For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2026 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Highlights: 3.63 g/t gold, 3.50 g/t silver and 0.27% copper over 6.40 metres from 61.2 metres (COR-25-38) Mineralization interpreted as two parallel shear-hosted zones with gold-bearing veins and veinlets, a distinct style from Springer and Perry Results support tighter-spaced follow-up drilling to advance Cooke toward a Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - XXIX Metal Corp . (TSXV: XXIX) (OTCQB: QCCUF) (FSE: 5LW0) ("XXIX" or the "Company") is pleased to report initial drill results from the Cooke Zone, located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Company's envisioned Opemiska open pit. These early results confirm that Cooke hosts meaningful gold-copper-silver mineralization and highlight the potential for Cooke to emerge as a satellite deposit capable of providing incremental mill feed to the broader Opemiska development concept. Importantly, drilling completed to date has identified at least two parallel mineralized zones, intersected in every hole, supporting continuity and strengthening the case for systematic delineation. Cooke is a past-producing mine that currently has no NI 43-101 resource, making it a clear growth opportunity within the broader Opemiska district. Confirming two parallel mineralized zones in early drilling supports the potential to advance Cooke toward a maiden resource, which could translate into incremental, near-surface feed for the envisioned Opemiska operation. If delineated, Cooke could increase overall project scale, improve mine plan flexibility, and enhance development optionality as XXIX works toward the next Opemiska MRE and the project's PFS pathway. "These first holes at Cooke validate the opportunity to add high-value, near-surface ounces and copper to the broader Opemiska story," said Guy Le Bel, CEO of XXIX. "Cooke is a past-producing area with clear room for growth. We're encouraged by the consistency of encountering two parallel zones and we plan to follow up with tighter-spaced drilling to advance Cooke toward a maiden resource." Cooke Crown Pillar Drilling Program: Two Parallel Zones Confirmed The Company expanded its initial Cooke drill program to target approximately 10,000 metres across the Cooke Zone and Saddle Zone (see news release dated December 8, 2025). The program focused on the near-surface crown pillar, designed to test and better define the previously interpreted North Zone and South Zone over an approximate 700-metre strike length. Successful delineation of a mineralized crown pillar at Cooke has the potential to strengthen the overall Opemiska development plan as the Company advances the broader project toward an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) intended to support a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS). Location of Cooke Drill Holes - Figure 1 Interpretation and Next Steps Cooke appears to reflect a different mineralization style than the Springer and Perry zones that underpin the envisioned Opemiska open pit. Whereas Springer and Perry are characterized by larger, more continuous veins, mineralization at Cooke is interpreted to be hosted within two shear zones containing multiple smaller veins and veinlets, which can produce locally higher-grade ("nuggety") intersections and greater variability in grade and thickness. Within the Chibougamau copper zone, drilling intersected narrow, but high copper values as expected. The Company believes these results justify a follow-up program with narrower drill spacing to support a potential maiden MRE at Cooke. Table 1) Selected intersects from Chibougamau Cooke Gold Zone Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Zone COR-25-31 70.75 73.25 2.50 0.76 1.00 0.02 North Zone COR-25-31 110.70 115.70 5.00 0.01 2.66 0.22 South Zone COR-25-33 199.00 204.50 5.50 0.05 1.69 0.11 North Zone COR-25-33 220.50 224.50 4.00 0.26 0.28 0.04 South Zone COR-25-34 162.00 165.00 3.00 0.78 3.40 0.24 North Zone COR-25-34 232.00 238.00 6.00 1.15 2.70 0.28 South Zone COR-25-35 173.00 174.00 1.00 0.61 8.13 0.53 North Zone COR-25-35 243.00 250.00 7.00 2.52 2.41 0.36 South Zone COR-25-36 50.00 51.00 1.00 0.01 1.10 0.20 North Zone COR-25-36 122.00 128.80 6.80 0.21 0.74 0.05 South Zone COR-25-37 37.00 41.00 4.00 0.07 1.38 0.33 North Zone COR-25-37 83.60 90.00 6.40 3.40 3.50 0.33 South Zone COR-25-38 61.20 67.60 6.40 3.63 3.50 0.27 North Zone COR-25-38 108.50 114.50 6.00 0.28 1.04 0.21 South Zone COR-25-39 41.00 42.00 1.00 0.15 3.00 0.31 North Zone COR-25-39 109.00 114.00 5.00 0.54 0.26 0.04 South Zone COR-25-40 52.30 57.30 5.00 1.21 0.68 0.04 North Zone COR-25-40 116.90 118.90 2.00 1.31 5.40 0.28 South Zone COR-25-41 51.50 53.10 1.60 0.18 3.88 0.75 North Zone COR-25-41 88.70 90.60 1.90 6.82 1.99 0.03 South Zone COR-25-42 41.50 45.70 4.20 3.07 9.38 0.69 North Zone COR-25-42 131.10 138.80 7.70 0.94 2.46 0.50 South Zone COR-25-43 95.30 96.90 1.60 0.14 2.65 0.40 North Zone COR-25-43 194.60 203.80 9.20 0.11 0.90 0.09 South Zone COR-25-44 25.40 29.40 4.00 0.36 0.38 0.03 North Zone COR-25-44 120.50 136.90 16.40 0.61 2.32 0.36 South Zone COR-25-45 194.80 208.00 13.20 1.29 5.11 0.87 North Zone COR-25-46 94.80 99.00 4.20 0.39 15.59 1.32 North Zone COR-25-46 197.00 200.30 3.30 0.07 1.34 0.52 South Zone COR-25-47 89.40 94.40 5.00 0.09 1.76 0.31 North Zone COR-25-47 196.00 199.00 3.00 0.45 0.20 0.01 South Zone COR-25-48 91.70 95.70 4.00 0.49 0.18 0.01 North Zone COR-25-48 139.60 152.70 13.10 3.39 3.04 0.62 South Zone COR-25-49 321.00 323.10 2.10 0.37 28.85 2.75 North Zone COR-25-50 109.00 111.00 2.00 1.54 4.60 0.37 South Zone COR-25-22 82.80 84.00 1.20 0.31 27.19 4.14 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-23 67.50 72.00 4.50 0.06 6.73 0.67 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-24 54.00 56.50 2.50 0.05 10.08 1.28 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-25 179.60 182.60 3.00 0.02 2.20 0.14 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-27 74.60 77.85 3.25 0.15 6.10 0.57 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-29 131.55 132.05 0.50 0.09 9.60 1.24 Chibougamau Copper COR-25-30 74.15 78.70 4.55 0.04 2.78 0.25 Chibougamau Copper True thickness are unknown. Table 2) Cooke Drill Collar Locations Hole ID Metres Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip COR-25-22 129 513045 5515775 397 153 -50 COR-25-23 111 513196 5515766 397 153 -60 COR-25-24 99 513196 5515766 395 153 -45 COR-25-25 213 513225 5515812 401 153 -58 COR-25-26 180 513699 5515890 394 90 -46 COR-25-27 126 513604 5515777 395 230 -50 COR-25-28 231 513218 5515826 401 153 -58 COR-25-29 165 513268 5515808 401 153 -60 COR-25-30 150 513345 5515830 400 153 -45 COR-25-31 180 512930 5515428 393 210 -57 COR-25-32 165 513020 5515383 393 210 -50 COR-25-33 291 513070 5515470 394 210 -50 COR-25-34 270 513140 5515405 394 210 -50 COR-25-35 255 513245 5515370 393 210 -50 COR-25-36 168 513093 5515335 392 210 -50 COR-25-37 156 513122 5515301 392 210 -50 COR-25-38 132 513225 5515268 391 210 -47 COR-25-39 159 513181 5515275 391 210 -50 COR-25-40 174 513244 5515251 392 210 -50 COR-25-41 192 513449 5515119 392 210 -50 COR-25-42 177 513295 5515227 391 210 -50 COR-25-43 336 513471 5515161 392 210 -50 COR-25-44 177 513345 5515194 391 210 -50 COR-25-45 378 513568 5515173 392 210 -50 COR-25-46 261 513400 5515212 391 210 -48 COR-25-47 282 513419 5515197 392 210 -48 COR-25-48 207 513536 5515091 391 210 -50 COR-25-49 380 513610 5515318 394 210 -47 COR-25-50 279 513076 5515178 393 30 -50 Quality Control and Assurance All samples (NQ core) are logged and cut in two at the company secure facility in Chapais, under the supervision of Ahcene Gaoui, p.geo., project geologist. The samples are sent to Agat laboratories in Val-d'Or by a secure transport. One standard and one blank are inserted in every 50 samples, the blank always in a mineralized zone. The analytic method used is fire assay, trace Au, AAS finish and Fire assay, Au grade with gravimetric finish for over limit results. We use Aqua regia digest, metals package ICP OES finish for Cu and Ag with ICP-MS finish for over limit results. QP Statement The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Denis McNichols, P.Geo and geo., Vice President Exploration for XXIX Metal, a Qualified Person, as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About XXIX Metal Corp . XXIX is advancing its Opemiska and Thierry Copper projects, two significant Canadian copper assets. The Opemiska Project, one of Canada's highest-grade open pitable copper deposits, spans 21,333 hectares in Quebec's Chapais-Chibougamau region, with strong infrastructure and nearby access to the Horne Smelter. An October 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment outlined a 12,500 tpd open pit operation over a 17-year mine life, generating an after-tax NPV8% of $505M, IRR of 27.2%, and a 2.3-year payback period ($4.35/lb copper price, $3,000/oz gold price, $30/oz silver price). The Thierry Project hosts the K1 (near-surface) and the past-producing K2 (underground & surface) zones (see XXIX news release dated October 1, 2024 for details regarding resources). Thierry has significant infrastructure in place including an all-season road, an airport within 5km, a provincial power grid within 8km, and nearby rail. With these two high-potential projects, the Company has solidified its position as a key player in the Canadian copper sector and has established itself as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper developer. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company's belief that Opemiska has potential for continued growth, various cost, price and production assumptions used to inform the PEA, and outstanding risk factors, including Opemiska's proximity to the Town of Chapais, Historical Assay validation, Geotechnical considerations of open stopes in the eastern pit wall, the Venture sill, the Gwillim fault, host rock competency and Historical Stope Modeling. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. The reader is advised that the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) summarized in this news release is intended to provide only an initial, high-level review of Opemiska's economic potential. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of inferred mineral resources. Inferred mineral resources are considered to be too speculative to be used in an economic analysis except as allowed for by NI 43-101 in PEA studies. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resources can be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, and as such, there is no guarantee Opemiska's economics described herein will be achieved. XXIX may be eligible for Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (CTM-ITC). This legislation has been enacted on June 20, 2024. There is no guarantee the Company will be able to access the CTM-ITC. Non-IFRS Financial Measures XXIX has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in this news release, such as C1 Cash Cost which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As a result, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other corporations. Each of these measures used are intended to provide additional information to the user and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285577 Source: XXIX Metal Corp. Highlights Hole 25MN-048 returned 0.59 g/t gold over 49.23 metres ("m"), 1.25 g/t gold over 28.35 m, and 0.62 g/t over 32.13 m . ("m"), . Hole 25MN-047 returned, 10.36 g/t gold over 1.68 m, including 22.49 g/t gold over 0.76 m, and 0.55 g/t gold over 14.45 m. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Scorpio Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGN) (OTCQB: SRCRF) (FSE: RY9) ("Scorpio Gold", or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from three step out holes of the Phase Two drill program at the Manhattan District Project ("Manhattan"), Nevada, USA: 26MN-046, 26MN-047 and 26MN-048. The results are tabulated in Table 1 and discussed below. Scorpio Gold has drilled 47 drill holes to date from its Phase Two diamond drilling program, 25MN-011 through 25MN-045, 26MN-046 through 26MN-056, and 26MN-048, for a grand total of 15,280 m. With the results herein, Scorpio Gold has reported assays on 38 of these (25MN-011 through 25MN-045 and 26MN-046 through 26MN-048), totalling 11,907 m, and assays are pending from 9 holes (26MN-049 through 26MN-056 and 26MN-058), totalling 3,373 m. The pending results will be reported as they become available. "Hole 26MN-048 is a pivotal step-out at Goldwedge that confirms strong gold mineralization along the caldera margin, beyond the current Inferred Resource Constraining Pit. The 28.35 metre interval grading 1.25 g/t gold from 124.75 metres, along with the broader 49.23 metre interval higher in the hole, demonstrates vertical continuity within the Zanzibar Formation and validates our structural model targeting the faulted contact between caldera volcanics and sedimentary units. Importantly, the deeper intervals convert previously uncategorized mineralization, extends the system down-dip, reinforces the openness along strike of the faulted caldera contact, and the prospective nature of the caldera-hosted corridor for further resource expansion," stated Harrison Pokrandt, VP Exploration of Scorpio Gold. "These drill results continue to reflect our disciplined approach to advancing Manhattan and delivering meaningful updates to the market on a consistent cadence. With 47 holes completed in Phase Two and assays pending from additional step-outs, we remain committed to generating steady, high-quality technical results as we expand mineralization beyond the current resource footprint. Our objective is clear: build scale methodically and keep shareholders informed with regular, data-driven progress," commented Zayn Kalyan, CEO and Director of Scorpio Gold. Figure 1. Surface Plan Map of drill results, with highlights noted. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/285544_9f919869e4a09937_002full.jpg Drill hole 26MN-048 was drilled at Goldwedge to test the faulted contact zone between caldera volcanics and Zanzibar Formation sedimentary units that host the June 2025 Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate. Drill hole 26MN-047 was drilled along the Reliance Trend, a 50 m step-out to the northwest of hole 25MN-042, see news release dated February 11, 2026. Drill hole 26MN-046 was drilled to the north of the historic East Pit as a 50 m vertical step-out from drill hole 25MN-043. This drill hole was testing a northerly extension of a mineralized west trending fault splay and confirmed the mineralization exists to the east of this drill hole. All three holes tested beyond the Inferred Resource Constraining Pit ("IRCP"), see Figure 1. For further details see "Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report, Manhattan Property, Nye County, Nevada" with an effective date of June 4, 2025, on Scorpio Gold's website at https://wp-scorpiogold-2025.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/media/2025/10/Scorpio-Gold-Manhattan-Mineral-Resource-Estimate-43-101-FINAL-2025-10-23.pdf. Drill Hole ID Target Azimuth / Dip From (m) To (m) Intercept (m) Gold (g/t) 26MN-046 East Pit 21.49 33.53 12.04 0.20 398 m 060 / -55 26MN-047 Reliance Trend 53.04 59.68 6.64 2.60 274 m 060 / -50 129.23 130.91 1.68 10.36 130.15 130.91 0.76 22.49 including 137.35 148.44 11.09 0.28 167.64 182.09 14.45 0.55 26MN-048 Goldwedge 5.12 12.65 7.53 0.77 355 m 015 / -65 31.69 80.92 49.23 0.59 124.75 153.10 28.35 1.25 162.12 194.25 32.13 0.62 Intervals contain no more than 3 continuous metres grading less than 0.1 g/t gold. Table 1. Results from the current batch of drill holes. Note: There is insufficient geological information to estimate a true width for the drill intercepts reported. Completed hole summaries and reported results: 26MN-048: contains four intervals hosted in the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation, within limestones and fine grained meta-sedimentary units, see Figure 2. Intervals include 0.77 g/t gold over 7.53 m from 5.12 m, 0.59 g/t gold over 49.23 m from 31.69 m, 1.25 g/t gold over 28.35 m from 124.75 m, and 0.62 g/t gold over 32.13 m from 162.12 m. The latter two intervals convert uncategorized mineralization from the June 2025 Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate. Mineralization beyond the 176 m length of this drill hole sits outside of the IRCP. See Figure 3, section A to A'. Figure 2. Drill hole 26MN-048, interval 128.3 to 133.8 m, displaying Ordovician Zanzibar Formation limestone with brecciated quartz-calcite-adularia epithermal veins. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/285544_9f919869e4a09937_003full.jpg Figure 3. Cross-section A-A', showing gold grades with reported intervals highlighted. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/285544_9f919869e4a09937_004full.jpg 26MN-047: contains four intervals hosted in the Cambrian Gold Hill Formation. The Pine Nut Member limestone unit notes 2.60 g/t gold over 6.64 m from 53.04 m. Three intervals are within fine grained meta-sedimentary clastic and other limestone units. Intervals include 10.36 g/t gold over 1.68 m from 129.23 m, including 22.49 g/t gold over 0.76 m from 130.15 m, 0.28 g/t gold over 11.09 m from 137.35 m, and 0.55 g/t gold over 14.45 m from 167.64 m. See Figure 4, section B to B'. Figure 4. Cross-section B-B', showing gold grades with reported intervals highlighted. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/285544_9f919869e4a09937_005full.jpg 26MN-046: contains one interval hosted in Cambrian Gold Hill Formation fine to medium grained meta-sedimentary clastic units, of 0.20 g/t gold over 12.04 m from 21.49 m. QA/QC HQ sized diamond drill core samples were cut in halves, then bagged and secured with security tags to ensure integrity during transportation to the Reno, NV, Paragon Geochemical facility for preparation. For quality assurance ("QA"), unmarked coarse blanks, unmarked certified reference materials, and requested laboratory duplicates were inserted into the sampling sequence. QA samples were systematically inserted into each batch of samples, amounting to approximately 10% of the run of samples. Samples were analyzed for gold using method PA-AU02 (~500 g), a two-cycle PhotonAssayTM analysis of crushed material (70% passing 2 mm). All Paragon Geochemical facilities comply with ISO 17025:2017. About the Manhattan District Manhattan, located in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada, USA, is road accessible and lies approximately 20 kilometers south of the operating Round Mountain Gold Mine (https://www.kinross.com/operations/default.aspxamericas-roundmountain), which has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold. For the first time, the Company has consolidated Manhattan's past-producing mines under a single entity that holds valuable permitting and water rights. Historically, Manhattan has produced approximately 700,000 ounces of gold from high-grade placer and lode operations dating from the late 1890s through to the mid-2000s. The maiden mineral resource estimate (the "Maiden MRE") covering the Goldwedge and Manhattan Pit areas of Manhattan is comprised of 18,343,000 tonnes grading 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 740,000 oz contained gold in the inferred category. A historical mineral resource estimate (the "Historical MRE") covers the Black Mammoth, April Fool, Hooligan, Keystone, and Jumbo areas of Manhattan and comprises 1,652,325 tonnes grading 5.89 g/t gold for a total of 303,949 oz contained gold. The deposit is interpreted as a low-sulfidation, epithermal, gold-rich system situated adjacent to the Tertiary-aged Manhattan caldera in the Southern Toquima Range of Nevada. A "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") has not done sufficient work to make the Historical MRE current, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as current. Notes Adjacent Properties: The Company has no interest in, or rights to, any of the adjacent properties mentioned, including the Round Mountain Gold Mine, and exploration results on adjacent properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. Any references to exploration results on adjacent properties are provided for information only and do not imply any certainty of achieving similar results on the Company's properties. Historical Data: This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by the Company's qualified person. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this presentation. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results. Third-Party Mineral Projects: These deposits are cited solely for geological context. The Company cautions that these properties are not necessarily adjacent to, nor does the Company or have any interest in or control over them. Although certain geological features may be similar, there is no assurance that mineralization comparable to these deposits will be discovered on any of the Company's properties. Information regarding the aforementioned deposits is taken from publicly available sources and technical reports believed to be reliable but has not been independently verified by the Company. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results. Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE): All scientific and technical information relating to Manhattan pertaining to Maiden MRE contained in this news release is derived from the Technical Report dated October 23, 2025 (with an effective date of June 4, 2025) titled "Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report" (the "Technical Report") prepared by Matthew R. Dumala, P.Eng (BC) of Archer Cathro Geological (US) Ltd., Patrick Loury, M.Sc., CPG (AIPG) of Daniel Kunz & Associates, Annaliese Miller, LG (WA) of Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. and Art Ibrado, PhD, PE (AZ) of Fort Lowell Consulting PPLC. The information contained herein in respect of the Maiden MRE is subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the Technical Report and reference should be made to the full text of the Technical Report, a copy of which has been filed with the applicable securities regulators and is available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Historical MRE: A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to make the Historical MRE current, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as current. The Company considers the Historical MRE relevant as it demonstrates the presence of significant gold mineralization across multiple zones within Manhattan; however, its reliability is uncertain because it was prepared prior to the adoption of the current CIM Definition Standards and current QA/QC practices. The Historical MRE provides limited disclosure of assumptions, parameters, estimation methods, cutoff grades, and QA/QC protocols, and therefore these cannot be fully verified by the Company. The categories used in the historical estimate predate, and are not directly comparable to, current CIM Definition Standards, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as a current Mineral Resource Estimate. To upgrade and verify the Historical MRE in order to make it a current Mineral Resource Estimate, the Company would be required to undertake confirmatory drilling, modern QA/QC sampling, validation and digitization of historical datasets and updated geological modeling followed by the preparation of a new Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating the Historical MRE. All scientific and technical information relating to Manhattan pertaining to the Historical MRE contained in this news release is derived from the Technical Report dated May 1997 titled "Exploration and Pre-Production Mine Development, Manhattan District Project, Nye County" (the "Historical Technical Report") prepared by New Concept Mining, Inc. The information contained herein in respect of the Historical MRE is subject to all the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the Historical Technical Report and reference should be made to the full text of the Historical Technical Report. References: (1) Strachan, D. G., and Master, T. D., 2005: Update and Revision of the Gold Wedge Project Development, Nye County. Report prepared for Nevada; Royal Standard Minerals, Inc. and dated March 31, 2005; (2) Dumala, M. R., and Lowry, P., 2025: Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report, Manhattan Property, Nye County, Nevada. Report prepared for Scorpio Gold Corporation and dated October 23, 2025 (with an effective date of June 4, 2025); and (3) Berry, A., and Willard, P., 1997: "Exploration and Pre-Production Mine Development, Manhattan District Project, Nye County". Report prepared for New Concept Mining, Inc. and dated May 1997. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Thomas Poitras, P. Geo., Chief Geologist of Scorpio Gold, a "Qualified Person", as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Verification included review of laboratory certificates, review of field logs and chain-of-custody records, inspection of blank/standard/duplicate performance, and review of collar and down-hole survey data. No limitations or failures to verify were identified. About Scorpio Gold Corp. Scorpio Gold holds a 100% interest in the Manhattan District located in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada, USA. Scorpio Gold's Manhattan District is ~4,780-hectares and comprises the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge Mine, with a 400 ton per day maximum capacity gravity mill, and four past-producing pits that were acquired from Kinross in 2021 (see news release dated March 25, 2021 https://scorpiogold.com/news/scorpio-gold-closes-purchase-of-kinross-manhattan-property-nye-county-nevada/). The consolidated Manhattan District presents an exciting late-stage exploration opportunity, with over 140,000 metres of historical drilling, significant resource potential, and valuable permitting and water rights. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION Connect with Scorpio Gold: Email | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | X | YouTube To register for investor updates please visit: scorpiogold.com (TSXV: SGN) (OTCQB: SRCRF) (FSE: RY9) Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to the timing, scope and interpretation of assay results; potential for resource growth; the potential continuity, extent and characteristics of mineralization along the Reliance Trend, Gap Zone, Zanzibar Trend and Mustang Hill; the intended follow-up exploration activities and timing of future disclosures, and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285544 Source: Scorpio Gold Corp On 26 February 2026, the winners of this year's ALCS Annual Awards, hosted by the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), were announced at a ceremony at the Goldsmith's Centre, London. LONDON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The ALCS Annual Awards celebrate significant contributions to literacy, creativity and educational writing. The three honours presented are the ALCS Educational Writers' Award in association with the Society of Authors, the Ruth Rendell Award for Services to Literacy in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, and the V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize in partnership with the Royal Society of Literature. This year's ceremony was hosted by award-winning author, poet and playwright Cecilia Knapp, who previously won the Ruth Rendell Award in 2021. The winners of this year's awards were: ALCS Educational Writers' Award: This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington, illustrated by Ellen Surrey. V.S Pritchett Short Story Prize: 'Bottom's Dream' by Hannah Webb. Ruth Rendell Award: MC Grammar aka Jacob Mitchell More information on each individual award can be found below. 2025 Educational Writers' Award Winner: This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington, illustrated by Ellen Surrey. The ALCS Educational Writers' Award, launched by ALCS and the Society of Authors in 2008, is the UK's only award for educational writing that inspires creativity, encourages students to read widely and builds up their understanding of a subject beyond the requirements of exam specifications. This year the award was for books aimed at children aged 5-11. The winning book, This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington and illustrated by Ellen Surrey, inspires children to "explore 25 different art techniques - from cave painting to contemporary performance - inspired by ground-breaking artists from around the world." This year's judges were primary school headteacher Paul Massey, school librarian Tanja Jennings, and award-winning illustrator and animator Allen Fatimaharan. 2026 V.S Pritchett Short Story Prize The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize was founded by the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 and is awarded to the best unpublished short story between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length. Hannah Webb was awarded the prize for her story 'Bottom's Dream', receiving 1,000 and the publication of her winning entry in the RSL Review. Stories are judged anonymously by a panel of writers. This year's judges were Tishani Doshi, Kirsty Gunn, and Tom Vowler. Judge Tom Vowler said of the winner: "A sharp-witted, hugely accomplished and taut piece, wonderfully ambitious in its scope with an audacious refusal to be pinned down." 2026 Ruth Rendell Award The Ruth Rendell Award, launched by ALCS and the National Literacy Trust in 2016, recognises the writer or author who has had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year. This year's winner was teacher and rapper Jacob Mitchell aka MC Grammar. Jonathan Douglas, National Literacy Trust Chief Executive, said: "Jacob's mission to engage children with literacy and reading is a national phenomenon. He has inspired thousands of children as a writer with his Adventures of a Rap Kid Books as a World Book Day Ambassador, rapping kids' lit on TV, in schools and in sell out events at Edinburgh, Cheltenham and Bath Festivals, in a memorable double act with Michael Rosen at Glastonbury and more quietly at Great Ormond Street Hospital. With over 300k Instagram followers, he is winning a generation for literacy, by using the power of rap to take reading to the heart of popular culture." Editor's Notes Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) ALCS is a not-for-profit organisation started by writers for the benefit of all types of writers. Owned by its members, ALCS collects money due for secondary uses of writers' work. It is designed to support authors and their creativity; ensure they receive fair payment and see their rights are respected. It promotes and teaches the principles of copyright and campaigns for a fair deal for writers. It represents over 130,000 members, and since 1977 has paid over 750 million to writers. alcs.co.uk Society of Authors (SoA) The Society of Authors is the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers. They have more than 12,000 members and have been advising individuals and speaking out for the profession for more than a century. In 2025, they gave out 734,000 in grants and prizes. In all, the Society of Authors administers over 20 prizes, including the ALCS Educational Writers' Award, the Ilse Schwepcke Prize for Women's Travel Writing, and the Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. societyofauthors.org Royal Society of Literature Founded in 1820, the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is the UK's charity for the advancement of literature. We act as a voice for the value of literature, engage people in great literature, and encourage and honour writers at all stages of their careers. The RSL's awards and prizes celebrate the value of writing in all its forms, whilst supporting emerging and established writers at some of the most challenging moments of their careers. rsliterature.org/ National Literacy Trust The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that empowers children, young people, and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. For over 30 years the National Literacy Trust has continued to support schools, families and communities on a local and national level to help people change their stories. literacytrust.org.uk Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2922081/ALCS_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/alcs-annual-awards-winners-announced-at-2026-ceremony-302699546.html Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian G. Iverson to its Board of Directors ("Board"), effective immediately. Mr. Iverson brings more than three decades of strategic leadership experience across legal, financial, regulatory, and corporate governance functions for South Dakotan companies. Mr. Iverson's local and professional experience compliment the Company's Board as Dakota Gold advances its exploration and development initiatives in South Dakota's historic Homestake District. Mr. Iverson currently serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President Regulatory and Public Policy for TXNM Energy, a NYSE-listed utility holding company. In this role, he leads the Company's legal operations along with its regulatory, governmental, tribal, supply chain, and internal audit functions. His background also includes extensive board-level experience as an Independent Director at RESPEC, where he contributes to the Audit and Compensation Committees. "We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Iverson to the Dakota Gold Board," said the Co-Chairs of Dakota Gold, Dr. Robert Quartermain and Dr. Stephen O'Rourke. "His deep expertise in corporate strategy, capital markets, legal oversight, regulatory affairs and the local political landscape in South Dakota will be valuable as we continue to build a company focused on responsible exploration, strong governance, and long-term value creation. Mr. Iverson's track record of disciplined leadership and stakeholder engagement aligns with our goals." Mr. Iverson previously held several executive roles at Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH) based out of Rapid City, South Dakota during his 20-year tenure; including Senior Vice President and General Counsel; Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Government Affairs, and Vice President & Treasurer. Throughout his career, he has led major financing initiatives, regulatory strategies, risk management programs, and compliance frameworks that generated measurable operational and financial improvements. "It is an honor to join Dakota Gold at such an exciting time in the Company's growth," said Mr. Iverson. "The team has established a strong foundation in revitalizing exploration in the Homestake District, and I look forward to contributing to the next phase of strategic development of its flagship Richmond Hill and Maitland Gold Projects." Mr. Iverson is a NACD Board Leadership Fellow and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He also holds a Juris Doctor (Sterling Honor Graduate), MBA, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting, all from the University of South Dakota. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold is expanding the legacy of the 145-year-old Homestake Gold Mining District by advancing the Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project to commercial production as soon as 2029, and outlining a Tertiary maiden resource as well as a high-grade underground gold resource at the Maitland Gold Project, both located on private land in South Dakota. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285604 Source: Dakota Gold Corp. DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets, "White Oil Market by Grade (Pharmaceutical, Food, Technical), Application (Polymers, Personal Care, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Adhesives & Sealants, Food), and Region - Global Forecast to 2030", the white oil market is projected to grow from USD 2.19 billion in 2025 and to reach USD 2.77 billion by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=115542957 White Oil Market Size & Forecast: Market Size Available for Years: 2021-2030 2025 Market Size: USD 2.19 billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 2.77 billion CAGR (2025-2030): 4.8% White Oil Market Trends & Insights: The white oil market is experiencing steady growth due to rising demand from various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, personal care, food processing, polymer manufacturing, and industrial users. Hospitals, cosmetics brands, and regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency are driving the need for high-purity, non-toxic white oils. Additionally, the market's expansion is supported by developments in packaging, plastic production, agriculture, and the industrial growth of emerging markets. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical segment accounted for 41.4% of the market in 2024. The polymers segment accounted for 20.3% of the market in 2024. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Sonneborn, LLC., and Calumet, Inc. were identified as some of the star players in the white oil market, given their strong market share and product footprint. Royal Global Energy, Nandan Petrochem Ltd., and Masterol Foods Pty. Ltd., among others, have distinguished themselves among start-ups and SMEs by securing strong footholds in specialized niche areas, underscoring their potential as emerging market leaders. Browse in-depth TOC on "White Oil Market" 200 - Tables 50 - Figures 250 - Pages Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=115542957 The white oil market is witnessing steady growth, fuelled by the pharmaceuticals, personal care, and cosmetics industries, which drive increasing demand for white oil products. An increase in healthcare spending, along with higher production of ointments, laxatives, vaccine adjuvants, and topical formulations, contributes to greater use of pharmaceutical-grade white oils. The rising demand for high-purity cosmetic-grade products stems from the expansion of skincare, baby care, and men's grooming markets in emerging countries. The industrial sector utilizes white oil products for plastics and elastomers, adhesives, and food-grade processing, leading to volume growth. Pharmaceutical-grade is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period. Pharmaceutical-grade white oil signifies the highest purity level, manufactured to meet or exceed pharmacopeia standards such as USP, BP, EP, JP, and IP. It undergoes multiple refining stages, acid treatment, hydrogenation, and strict quality control to ensure it is non-toxic, biologically inert, and free of contaminants that could compromise drug stability or patient safety. This segment holds significant market value due to its use as an excipient in oral and topical pharmaceuticals, ointments, laxatives, medical devices, and premium personal care and cosmetic products. Its growth is reinforced by expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing, increasing demand for ultra-pure ingredients, and more rigorous regulatory oversight in healthcare. The polymers segment is expected to lead the white oil market during the forecast period. Growth in the polymers segment is fuelled by the increasing demand from plastics, elastomers, thermoplastics, and advanced polymer processing industries. White oil functions as a plasticizer, process oil, and extender in polymer manufacturing because it is highly compatible with polymers while maintaining chemical stability, low volatility, and improving the flexibility and clarity of finished products. Emerging economies boost demand for packaging, automotive components, consumer goods, medical plastics, and construction materials, leading to higher polymer production and, consequently, greater white oil consumption. The demand for white oil grows as the industry needs high-purity processing aids essential for producing high-performance and specialty polymers. Request Customization: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=115542957 Asia Pacific is expected to be the leading market for white oil during the forecast period. Asia Pacific's white oil market is driven by ongoing industrialization, rising manufacturing capacity, and increasing demand across China, Japan, South Korea, and India. Growing polymer production and plastic processing, supported by petrochemical investments, are significantly boosting demand for white oil as a processing aid and extender. Similarly, the region's pharmaceuticals industry, backed by healthcare reforms, biotech advances, and localization efforts, is increasing the consumption of pharmaceutical-grade white oils. The personal care and cosmetics industry, led by premium skincare trends and increased wellness awareness, is driving demand for cosmetic-grade white oils. A surge in processed food manufacturing, along with stringent food safety standards, is supporting extensive use of food-grade white oils. Key players Key players in the white oil market include China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) (China), Sonneborn LLC (US), Calumet, Inc. (US), Gandhar Oil Refinery (India) Limited (India), and Savita Oil Technologies Limited (India), among others. Get access to the latest updates on White Oil Companies and White Oil Market Size Browse Adjacent Market: Specialty Chemicals Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Carboxymethyl Cellulose Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Data Center Liquid Cooling Fluids Market - Global Forecast to 2032 Lithium-Ion Battery Materials Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Mold Release Agents Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Electronic Hydrofluoric Acid Market - Global Forecast to 2030 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. 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MarketsandMarkets SalesPlay is an AI-driven Revenue Intelligence Co-Pilot designed to help revenue teams prioritize the right accounts, identify critical changes early, and surface opportunities ahead of demand, so pipeline builds naturally and deals close with greater consistency. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/white-oil-market-worth-2-77-billion-by-2030---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302699326.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - BP Silver Corp. (TSXV: BPAG) ("BP Silver" or the "Company") announces final assay results ("Assays") from the remaining eight drill holes of its eleven-hole Phase I drill program (the "Program") at the Cosuno Silver Project ("Cosuno") in Bolivia. Highlights Drilling intersected multiple zones of high-grade silver mineralization at the Pocanita Chica target: Diamond Drill Hole (" DDH ") CO-0008 returned 5m @ 600.4 g/t silver, including 1m @ 1655 g/t silver; CO-0009 returned 1m @ 526 g/t silver and 6m @ 147 g/t silver. The Program achieved its primary objective of confirming silver mineralization within the lithocap beneath surface geochemical anomalies, materially de-risking Cosuno. Silver mineralization was intersected in all four targets tested across an approximately 2.7 km NE-SW corridor, confirming the presence of a robust silver and polymetallic system which remains open for expansion along strike and at depth. Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, Director and Qualifying Person, stated, "Our recent drill program has delivered compelling high-grade silver results, highlighted by an intersection of 5 meters at 600.40 g/t silver and 1 meter grading 1,655.00 g/t silver - equivalent to an exceptional 1.65 kilograms of silver per tonne over that interval. These results validate the potential discovery of deposit within the large 10.5 km alteration zone that remains largely covered and only minimally tested, underscoring the significant exploration upside. The next phase of exploration will advance the project through extensive geophysical surveys to better define the size and continuity of the four drilled targets, refine Phase II drill planning, and identify additional targets concealed beneath thin surface cover, positioning the project for continued growth." Dr. Redwood continued, "We expect Cosuno's grades to increase when we drill deeper into and below the lithocap. Lithocaps are extensive zones of clay and silica alteration that form in the top part of Bolivian polymetallic vein systems and tin porphyries, similar to those which overlie porphyry copper deposits. The nearest neighbour to Cosuno, in a similar geological setting, the Pulacayo deposit, has a large lithocap that is barren and conceals a major vein that produced 640 million ounces of silver and 200,000 tons each of lead and zinc." Readers are cautioned that the Pulacayo deposit discussed above is an adjacent property and that BP Silver has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in the deposit, and that mineral deposits on adjacent or similar properties, and any production therefore or economics with respect thereto, are not in any way indicative of mineral deposits on BP Silver's Cosuno property or the potential production from, or cost or economics of, any future mining of any of BP Silver's mineral properties. Drill Results Assays released are from the remaining 8 drill holes (results from CO-0001 and CO-0002 were previously released in a news release dated February 2, 2026), which tested four initial surface targets identified within the large ~10.5km2 Cosuno hydrothermal system (Table 1 & Figure 1). The assays demonstrate that silver and gold mineralization identified at surface continues at depth within the lithocap. The results are significant because lithocaps are usually barren in similar Bolivian systems, indicating Cosuno's potential for further discoveries at depth and in covered areas. Hole No Target From m To m Interval m Ag g/t Au g/t AgEq g/t CO-0001 Jalsuri 22 86 64 37.29 0.21 51.96 inc. 35 64 29 56.03 0.28 75.15 inc. 35 40 5 97.72 0.39 122.97 And 48 51 3 129.93 0.47 159.51 CO-0002 Jalsuri 42 77 35 22.8 0.44 57.41 inc. 57 59 2 43.75 1.34 150.96 CO-0003 Jalsuri 7 35 28 30.58 0.27 50.66 inc. 14 20 6 47.70 0.58 92.09 inc. 30 33 3 57.30 0.37 83.74 inc. 32 33 1 105.00 0.59 146.20 CO-0003A Jalsuri 14 57 43 20.40 0.15 31.32 inc. 14 27 13 34.28 0.16 45.05 inc. 33 46 13 25.17 0.18 38.22 CO-0004 Pocalleta 10.6 35.6 25 61.13 0.02 58.50 inc. 19.6 21.6 2 212.50 0.04 200.92 inc. 26.6 30.6 4 142.18 0.04 135.52 42.6 47.6 5 56.64 0.02 54.32 inc. 45.6 46.6 1 243.00 0.07 231.75 CO-0006 Benhur 28 31 3 54.43 0.07 56.38 inc. 30 31 1 123.00 0.09 121.80 CO-0006A Benhur 24 27 3 80.63 0.07 80.75 43 46.2 3.2 63.29 0.03 61.33 CO-0007 Benhur 28.35 32.35 4 67.65 0.09 70.32 CO-0008 Pocanita Chica 11 49 38 116.39 0.01 109.07 inc. 29 34 5 600.40 0.01 559.19 inc. 30 31 1 1655.00 0.01 1539.97 CO-0009 Pocanita Chica 19 77 58 46.23 0.02 44.64 inc. 19 22 3 240.03 0.01 224.05 And 19 20 1 526.00 0.01 490.00 inc. 33 39 6 147.10 0.01 137.63 Table 1: Significant drill intersections from Phase I drilling, Cosuno Silver Project. Notes to the table: Intersections calculated at cutoff grades of 10 g/t Ag with sub-intervals at 30, 60 and 90 g/t Ag, or 0.5 and 1.0 g/t Au. The intervals may include some internal dilution. Au for CO-0001 and CO-0002 is by fire assay 30 g with AAS finish (AA-25). Au for CO-0003 to CO-0009 is by ICP (ME-MS41) which is semi-quantitative and is preliminary until fire assay (AA25) is completed. Ag and multielement were analyzed by aqua regia and ICP-MS (ME-MS41). Ag >100 ppm was reassayed by aqua regia and ICP-AES (Ag-OG46). Ag > 1000 g/t was reassayed by fire assay and gravimetry (Ag-GRA46). AgEq = (Ag grade * Ag recovery) + ((Au grade * Au price/ Ag price) * Au recovery). Prices Au $3431.54/oz, Ag $40.03/oz (London Bullion Market Association average 2025). The project is at an early stage, and there is no metallurgical test work to date. Assumed recoveries are 93% Ag and 96% Au by comparison with the Santa Ana deposit, Colombia (NI 43-101 mineral resource report for Outcrop Silver and Gold Corporation, 8 June 2023). For CO-0001 and CO-0002, AgEq is restated from the previous press release using the assumed recovery factors. Above are core lengths as true widths are not known at this time. Hole CO-0005 was not drilled. CO-0010 intersected no significant mineralization and therefore was not submitted for assay. Figure 1: Cosuno mineralized corridor, demonstrating a multi-kilometer hydrothermal corridor with confirmed silver-dominant mineralization at several targets. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11890/285601_597d5935c4a4a857_002full.jpg The Program successfully tested key zones along a 2.7 km structural trend, returning significant silver intercepts at the 4 targets tested to date (Figures 1 to 3): Pocanita Chica - Broad mineralized envelopes with high-grade silver intervals hosted in hydrothermal breccias. Pocalleta - Structurally controlled vein mineralization confirming depth potential. Jalsuri - High-grade silver intercepts with gold 2.7 km northeast of Pocanita Chica, indicating district-scale continuity. Benhur - Additional silver mineralization along the same structural corridor. Cosuno Drill Program Overview The Program tested four priority targets defined by structurally controlled, outcropping geochemically anomalous to highly anomalous silver-rich polymetallic zones characterized by silicification, intermediate to advanced argillic alteration, sulfides and brecciation: features typical of many significant Bolivian silver deposits. The targets occur within a large ~10.5 km hydrothermal alteration system as defined by detailed mapping, geochemical sampling and remote sensing alteration studies (Figure 1). Figures and additional geological background from the initial program can be found in the Company's news releases of October 21, 2025, November 14, 2025, and February 2, 2026. Detail This marks the first drill program completed within the Cosuno project. Holes CO-0001 and CO-0002 (Figure 1 and Table 2) were previously reported in a news release dated February 2, 2026. Hole_ID Easting Northing Depth (m) Azimuth () Dip () CO-0001 747065 7762846 101 235 -45 CO-0002 747063 7762848 107 170 -45 CO-0003 746997 7762848 56 80 -50 CO-0003A 747037 7762775 74 30 -55 CO-0004 746463 7760731 66 195 -65 CO-0006 746972 7761491 48 230 -60 CO-0006A 746971 7761490 90 230 -45 CO-0007 746975 7761491 80 200 -45 CO-0008 745656 7760370 100 130 -50 CO-0009 745692 7760449 100 125 -55 CO-0010 745855 7760900 84 200 -50 Table 2: Phase I drill program collars. Figure 2: Geological cross-section of the Pocanita Chica Target displaying interpreted structural controls on mineralization along the drill hole trajectory and the corresponding mineralized intercept in DDH CO-0008. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11890/285601_597d5935c4a4a857_005full.jpg Mineral System Analysis Interpretation of the results from the Pocanita Chica and Pocalleta targets highlight approximately 300 meters of vertical difference and a lateral separation of about 0.8 km between the two targets (Figure 3). Importantly, geochemical results indicate elevated copper, tin and indium values at lower elevations within the system (Table 3). This vertical metal zonation suggests strengthening base and critical-metal enrichment at depth, consistent with a vertically developed polymetallic system. The geological cross section below shows the vertical and lateral relationship between the Pocanita Chica resurgent dome and the deeper Pocalleta vein system within the Cosuno caldera (Figure 1 & 3). Both targets are interpreted as parts of a single, large, vertically zoned magmatic-hydrothermal system. Pocanita represents a shallow resurgent dome affected by intense hydrothermal brecciation and strong silver mineralization (Figure 4A). Advanced argillic alteration (quartz-alunite pyrophyllite) is commonly associated with a high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization environment formed at shallow depth reflecting vigorous metal bearing fluid upflow. Approximately 0.8 km away and structurally deeper, the Pocalleta vein system is hosted in competent volcanic rocks. Alteration is dominated by white mica, indicating higher temperatures and deeper formation levels. Mineralization includes significant silver with anomalous tin and freibergite, supporting a hotter, more proximal position relative to the intrusive source (Figure 4B). The silver-tin association, white mica alteration, and temperature-sensitive alteration suggest that Pocalleta represents a deeper, more thermally evolved part of the same system. This vertical metal and alteration zoning is similar to that found in productive Bolivian silver systems. Figure 3: Geological Interpretation - Pocanita-Pocalleta System, Cosuno Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11890/285601_597d5935c4a4a857_006full.jpg Figure 4A: Hole CO-0008 from 30m to 31m, 1m @ 1655 g/t silver in matrix supported polymictic hydrothermal breccia with strong silicification and advanced argillic alteration / cement (alunite, dickite, diaspore) and silver sulfosalts. Figure 4B: Hole CO-0004 from 29.6m to 30.6m, 1m @ 261 g/t silver in veinlet with white mica alteration and veinlet with silver sulfosalts. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11890/285601_figure%204a%20and%20figure%204b.jpg Figure 5: Hole CO-0003 from 14m to 20m: 6m @ 92.09 g/t AgEq (47.7 g/t silver, 0.58 g/t gold). Hydrothermal and crackle breccia with strong advanced argillic alteration (quartz, alunite, dickite with pyrite, sulfosalts, sulfides drusy quartz. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11890/285601_597d5935c4a4a857_011full.jpg Polymetallic System Potential Silver is hosted within a polymetallic mineral system and is associated with antimony, bismuth, copper, indium, lead, tin, and zinc. These metals occur both within the main mineralized zones and along their margins, forming a complex zonation pattern. While currently present at generally low grades, some, subject to ongoing positive exploration and associated metallurgical studies, may be recoverable as by-products. Metal concentrations may also increase with depth. The best polymetallic drill intersections are listed in the following table (Table 3). Metal Intersection Hole From (m) Antimony 38.0 m at 0.18% Sb CO-0008 11.0 5.0 m at 0.17% Sb CO-0009 33.0 Bismuth 38.0 m at 0.47% Bi CO-0008 11.0 inc. 5.0 m at 0.58% Bi CO-0008 29.0 inc. 1.0 m at 2.2% Bi CO-0008 30.0 49.0 m at 0.07% Bi CO-0009 19.0 inc. 3.0 m at 0.22% Bi CO-0009 60.0 Copper 11.0 m at 0.10% Cu CO-0004 19.6 Indium 15.0 m at 11.35 ppm In CO-0004 6.6 Lead 13.0 m at 0.89% Pb CO-0008 11.0 inc. 1.0 m at 1.94% Pb CO-0008 19.0 10.0 m at 0.43% Pb CO-0009 19.0 Tin 12.0 m at 0.13% Sn CO-0008 38.0 inc. 1.0 m at 1.45% Sn CO-0008 46.0 5.0 m at 0.018% Sn CO-0009 19.0 Zinc 12.0 m at 0.51% Zn CO-0001 89.0 Table 3: Key pathfinder elements intersected during Phase I drilling. Engagement of Adelaide Capital Further to the Company's news release dated February 2, 2026, the Company confirms that it has engaged Adelaide Capital ("Adelaide"), a leading investor relations and capital markets advisory firm, to provide investor relations and consulting services to the Company. Adelaide is a full-service investor relations firm that brings a unique and powerful perspective and a re-engineered investor relations business model. Adelaide will work closely with BP Silver to develop and deploy a comprehensive capital markets program, which includes assisting with non deal road shows, virtual campaigns, social media, conferences and assisting with investor communication. In exchange for Adelaide's services, and pursuant to an investor relations consulting agreement (the "IRA"), the Company has agreed to pay a monthly fee of C$10,000. The term of the agreement is from February 1, 2026 to April 1, 2026 and will automatically renew on a month-to-month basis for the same monthly fee. Either party may terminate the agreement by providing 30 days' written notice to the other party. Adelaide is an arm's length company based in Toronto, Ontario. As of the date hereof, Adelaide does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities except for being previously granted 50,000 options of the Company at a price of $0.15 per share until September 25, 2030. The options were granted in connection with the Company's Qualifying Transaction for corporate administrative services, such as, website and corporate presentation development and did not relate to any investor relations services. The IRA is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, PhD, FIMMM, a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As Dr. Redwood is a director of the Company, he is not independent under National Instrument 43-101. Mineralization at the Pulacayo mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Cosuno Project. Information on historical production from the Pulacayo mine was obtained from SERGEOMIN, Bulletin of the National Service of Geology and Mining, No. 30, 2002, pp. 119-120. QA/QC The work program was designed and supervised by Gonzalo Lemuz, P.Geo, the Company's Chief Operating Officer, who was responsible for all aspects of the work, including the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) program. On-site personnel at the Project rigorously collect and track samples which are then security sealed and shipped to ALS laboratory in Oruro for sample preparation. The core samples were prepared by ALS at their laboratory in Oruro, Bolivia and the sample pulps were shipped to their laboratory in El Callao, Peru for analysis. ALS is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO9001:2015. ALS is independent of BP Silver. Silver and multi-elements were analyzed by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish (ME-MS41). Gold for CO-0001 and CO-0002 was analyzed by fire assay and AA finish (AA25). Gold for CO-0003 to CO-0009 is by ICP (ME-MS41) which is semi-quantitative and is preliminary until fire assay (AA25) is completed. Overlimit Ag >100 ppm was reassayed by aqua regia and ICP-AES (Ag-OG46). Ag > 1000 g/t was reassayed by fire assay and gravimetry (Ag-GRA46). BP Silver inserted certified standard reference materials (CSRM), blanks and duplicates to monitor QA/QC. All diamond drill holes were drilled in HQ diameter. The average core recovery was 96.4%. About BP Silver Corp. BP Silver Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing high-grade silver projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship asset, the Cosuno Project, is strategically located in the prolific Bolivian silver belt, a region with a rich mining history and significant untapped discovery potential. With a strong technical team and a disciplined exploration strategy, BP Silver is positioned to unlock value for its shareholders through the discovery and development of major silver deposits. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: future prices and the supply of silver and other precious and other metals; future demand for silver and other valuable metals; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; risks of the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; and failure to obtain necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285601 Source: BP Silver Corp. ST GEORGE'S, NL / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Atlas Salt Inc. ("Atlas Salt" or the "Company") (TSXV:SALT)(OTCQX:SALQF)(FRA:9D00) announces that it has fulfilled the applicable Environmental Assessment ("EA") conditions necessary to initiate Early Works for the Great Atlantic Salt Project (the "Project"), located near St. George's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Commencement of Land Clearing and Site Preparation Activities The Company confirms that: The Early Works Development Plan and associated Environmental Management Plans have received approval from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, as previously disclosed. The Benefits Agreement between Atlas Salt and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been approved by necessary provincial entities, including Cabinet, and has been executed. Atlas Salt has received a formal Letter of Release confirming satisfaction of the applicable Environmental Assessment conditions required to commence Early Works Phase activities. With these approvals and the Letter of Release in place, Atlas Salt is immediately commencing permitted land clearing and related site preparation activities. Transition to Site Activity Fulfillment of EA conditions for the Great Atlantic Salt Project represents a key regulatory milestone, enabling Atlas Salt to advance from permitting and planning into physical Early Works execution. Initial activities will include permitted land clearing, grubbing, and site preparation required to establish the mine site footprint and support subsequent construction phases. Nolan Peterson, President and CEO of Atlas Salt, commented: "With the execution of the Benefits Agreement with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and satisfaction of the Early Works conditions under our approved Environmental Assessment, we are now moving into site preparation and initial construction at the Great Atlantic Salt Project. Beginning construction is a major milestone achievement for any mining project. For Atlas and the Great Atlantic Salt Project, it reflects disciplined progress and growing momentum as we continue advancing the project toward full development and production." Regulatory and Stakeholder Alignment Completion of the EA conditions and associated approvals reflects ongoing coordination with provincial regulators and stakeholders. The Benefits Agreement establishes a framework supporting employment, procurement, training, and community participation throughout the construction and operations phases of the Project. Atlas Salt will continue to advance required regulatory submissions as the Project progresses into subsequent phases. For further information and ongoing updates, please visit https://atlassalt.com. About Atlas Salt Atlas Salt is developing North America's next salt mine and is committed to responsible and sustainable mining practices. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, the company is poised to make significant contributions to the North American salt market while upholding its values of environmental stewardship and community engagement. For information, please contact: Jeff Kilborn, CFO & VP Corporate Development investors@atlassalt.com (709) 275-2009 We seek safe harbour. Cautionary Statement Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: obtaining financing, completion, delivery and timing of project components and requirements, and analysis and assumptions related thereto. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing, completion and delivery of required permits, supply arrangements and financing. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE: Atlas Salt Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/atlas-salt-commences-site-preparation-activities-1142062 ARNPRIOR, ON / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Plaintree Systems Inc. (CSE:NPT) ("Plaintree" or the "Company"). Quarterly Statements for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2026 ending December 31, 2025. Plaintree announced today that it has released its unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the nine months ending December 31, 2025. For the quarter ending December 31, 2025, Plaintree realized revenues from operations of $3,634,670, compared with $4,075,195 for the same period in fiscal 2025. Net loss was $452,804 for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, as compared to a net income of $11,745 for the same period a year earlier. For the first nine-month period ended December 31, 2025, Plaintree realized revenues from operations of $13,861,100, compared with $16,915,681 for the same period in fiscal 2025. For the first nine-month period ended December 31, 2025, Plaintree realized net income of $1,473,887, compared with $527,299 for the same period in fiscal 2025. "This was a mixed quarter for the Company" said David Watson, CEO. "On the one hand, it was a slow quarter for Triodetic revenue. On the other hand, Triodetic had an excellent quarter for order bookings, which will begin shipping in early fiscal 2027. In addition to this, Elmira, a small boutique Canadian manufacturer of vintage appliances, finally received CSA approval for its entire line and, as of January 2026, is busy shipping its large backorder list. Plaintree has completed the disposal of all remaining assets of Summit Aerospace USA Inc. and is continuing to advance its core strategic initiatives." Additional information relating to the Company, including the financial statements, may be found on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca or the Company's website at www.plaintree.com. About Plaintree Systems Plaintree has two diversified product divisions consisting of Specialty Structures and Applied Electronics. The Specialty Structures division includes the Triodetic Group with over 40 years of experience, is a design/build manufacturer of steel, aluminum and stainless steel specialty structures such as commercial domes, foundations for unstable soil conditions and flood zones, for free form structures, barrel vaults, space frames and industrial dome coverings, and Spotton Corporation, a design and manufacturer of high end custom hydraulic and pneumatic valves and cylinders. The Applied Electronics division includes Hypernetics and Elmira Stove Works Inc. businesses. Hypernetics was established in 1972 and is a manufacturer of avionic components for various applications including aircraft antiskid braking, aircraft instrument indicators, solenoids, high purity valves and permanent magnet alternators. Elmira Stove Works Inc is a manufacturer of high-end heritage and retro-styled kitchen appliances under the brand names "Northstar", "Fireview" and "Heritage". Until July 2025, the Applied Electronics segment included the business of Summit Aerospace USA Inc. ("Summit Aerospace"), a machine shop serving the aerospace sector. The Summit Aerospace business has been discontinued and its assets have been sold. Plaintree's shares are traded under the symbol "NPT". Shareholders and Investors can access Company information on CSE's website and receive full Company disclosure monthly. For more information on Plaintree or to receive stock quotes, complete with trading summaries, bid size and ask price, brokerage house participation, insider reports, news releases, disclosure information, and CSE and SEDAR filings, visit the CSE website at https://thecse.com/listings/plaintree-systems-inc/ or the Company's website at www.plaintree.com. Plaintree is publicly traded in Canada on the CSE (NPT) with 12,925,253 common shares and 18,325 class A preferred shares outstanding. This press release may include statements that are forward-looking and based on current expectations. The actual results of the company may differ materially from current expectations. The business of the company is subject to many risks and uncertainties, including changes in markets for the company's products, delays in product development and introduction to manufacturing, and intense competition. For a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties related to the company's business, please refer to documents filed by the company with the Canadian regulatory authorities, including the annual report of the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and related management discussion and analysis. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. For further information: Robert Turley, CFO (613) 623-3434 x2282 SOURCE: Plaintree Systems, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/plaintree-systems-inc.-announces-third-quarter-fiscal-2026-result-1139857 Toronto's skyline continues to evolve as office-to-residential conversions gain momentum. TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / As Canada's major cities grapple with a dual crisis - a deepening housing shortage and a glut of vacant downtown office towers - a growing number of developers and policymakers are turning to a powerful, underutilized solution: adaptive reuse. The conversion of commercial office buildings into residential units is emerging as one of the most promising strategies to accelerate housing supply while revitalizing urban cores that have struggled since the pandemic reshuffled workplace habits. Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi, President & CEO of Sky Property Group Inc., has been watching this trend closely - and believes it represents one of the defining real estate opportunities of the decade. "Canada is sitting on a tremendous untapped asset," said Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi. "We have millions of square feet of underperforming office inventory in cities like Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver, and at the same time, we have hundreds of thousands of families who cannot find an affordable place to live. Adaptive reuse isn't just creative development - it's common sense urban planning." The Scale of the Problem - and the Opportunity According to data from CBRE Canada, national office vacancy rates in 2025 reached their highest levels in over three decades, hovering near 18% nationally and exceeding 25% in some downtown submarkets. Calgary, long battered by the oil and gas sector's volatility, has led the country in office-to-residential conversions, with more than 20 projects already completed or underway through its Downtown Development Incentive Program. Toronto, Canada's largest city and a global financial hub, is beginning to follow suit. With downtown office vacancy climbing above 17% and the city facing a projected shortfall of more than 285,000 housing units over the next decade, the case for conversion has never been stronger. "The fundamentals are aligning," said Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi of Sky Property Group. "You have distressed asset owners who need an exit, municipalities desperate for housing supply, and a federal government finally willing to remove GST on new purpose-built residential conversions. This is the moment developers need to move strategically." Office towers across Canada are being reimagined as residential communities through adaptive reuse. Federal Policy Is Opening the Door The federal government's decision to eliminate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the conversion of commercial properties to residential use - first announced in late 2023 and refined through subsequent budgets - has been a catalyst for renewed developer interest. The policy applies to projects where buildings are substantially renovated and converted, making previously marginal projects financially viable. Several provinces have followed with their own complementary incentives. Ontario has streamlined certain permitting pathways for adaptive reuse applications, while British Columbia has introduced density bonusing programs to encourage mixed-use conversions in transit-adjacent corridors. "Government incentives matter enormously, but they only work if the private sector is ready to execute," noted Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi. "At Sky Property Group, we've spent years developing the land assembly and zoning expertise that positions us to move quickly on opportunities like this. Speed and precision are competitive advantages in adaptive reuse." The Development Challenges Are Real - and Solvable Office-to-residential conversion is not without its complexities. Structural differences between commercial and residential buildings - including floor plate depths, core placement, plumbing infrastructure, and natural light access - can make conversions technically challenging and expensive. Deep-floorplate buildings, common in 1970s and 1980s office towers, can be particularly difficult to adapt into livable residential suites. Yet innovative developers are finding solutions. Some projects are carving interior courtyards into existing buildings to bring natural light to central units. Others are using creative floor plan configurations - such as micro-suites, co-living models, and hybrid commercial-residential uses at grade - to maximize the viability of otherwise awkward floor plans. "The engineering challenges are real, but they're not insurmountable," said Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi. "Every building has its own fingerprint. The key is doing rigorous due diligence on the front end - structural assessments, mechanical feasibility, zoning analysis - so you're not discovering problems after you've committed capital. We've built our process around that discipline." She added that working closely with municipal planning departments early in the process is essential. "Adaptive reuse projects that succeed are the ones where the developer and the city are genuinely aligned on outcomes. We're not just building units - we're helping cities reimagine what their downtowns can be." Strategic planning and rigorous due diligence are central to successful adaptive reuse projects. A Path to Diverse Housing Typologies One of the underappreciated benefits of office-to-residential conversion is the potential to deliver housing typologies that the market sorely needs. Rather than adding more luxury condominiums to already saturated towers, adaptive reuse projects can be designed to deliver rental units at a range of price points, including affordable and below-market units, particularly when paired with public subsidies or non-profit partners. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has increasingly recognized this, expanding access to its low-cost financing programs - including the Apartment Construction Loan Program and the Affordable Housing Fund - to include qualifying adaptive reuse projects. This access to patient capital at concessional rates can dramatically improve project economics. "What excites me most about adaptive reuse is the chance to add genuine diversity to Canada's housing stock," said Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi. "We've been stuck in a condo-heavy development cycle for too long. Converting office towers gives us the chance to deliver rental apartments, affordable units, and family-sized suites that Canadian cities desperately need. That's a legacy worth building." Converted office spaces can deliver distinctive residential lofts with generous windows and unique character. Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Canadian Urban Cores As remote and hybrid work continue to reshape demand for commercial space, the wave of office-to-residential conversion is expected to accelerate through the late 2020s. Cities from Halifax to Victoria are exploring how to update zoning bylaws, streamline approvals, and design incentive programs that make conversions attractive to private capital. For developers like Sky Property Group Inc., the opportunity is clear - but so is the responsibility. "Canada's housing crisis didn't happen overnight, and it won't be solved overnight," said Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi. "But adaptive reuse is one of the fastest, most impactful tools we have. It takes existing buildings, existing infrastructure, and existing urban fabric - and it transforms them into homes. That's what this industry should be doing right now." About Sky Property Group Inc. Sky Property Group Inc. is a Toronto-based real estate development and property management company specializing in strategic land assembly, urban intensification, and high-density residential development across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Led by President & CEO Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi, the company is committed to creating sustainable, community-focused development that addresses Canada's evolving housing needs. Contact Information Ladan Hosseinzadeh Sadeghi ladanhosseinzadehsadeghi@gmail.com SOURCE: Sky Property Group Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/canadas-office-to-residential-revolution-how-adaptive-reuse-is-reshaping-urban-housing-1142004 BELLINGHAM, MA / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Medical Component Specialists (MCS) announced its expansion into Costa Rica's thriving medical device sector with the launch of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, opening this summer. The move positions MCS within one of the world's fastest-growing medtech hubs and reinforces the company's commitment to delivering advanced manufacturing solutions to global partners. Following decades of sustained growth, medical devices became Costa Rica's leading export category in 2025, accounting for approximately half of the country's total exports. More than 70 medical device manufacturers now operate within the country, drawn by robust free trade zone incentives, political and economic stability, and a highly skilled workforce. These factors have transformed Costa Rica into a premier destination for medical device production and innovation. According to Laura Lopez , CEO of the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), "Operating top-tier manufacturing facilities in Costa Rica delivers concrete benefits in terms of stability, talent, market access, and sustainability." The country's world-class medtech cluster features more than 70 global manufacturers, an established supplier ecosystem, and extensive experience operating in FDA-compliant environments. Costa Rica also offers a strong STEM education pipeline and experienced cleanroom professionals, delivering high-quality talent at competitive labor costs compared to the United States and European Union. Companies operating within designated free trade zones may qualify for up to 12 years of 0% income tax, along with exemptions on equipment, raw materials, and export-related duties. Its strategic geographic proximity to the United States, aligned time zones, and mature logistics infrastructure further enhance its appeal for medical device manufacturers. MCS's new 16,000-square-foot facility is located in a free trade zone outside Orotina, approximately five miles from the country's primary port. The site integrates the company's proprietary, fully automated grinding technology, combining custom engineering and proprietary process innovations developed over the past three years. During the initial phase of operations, five custom grinding centers will deliver immediate cost savings of approximately 30% to medical device manufacturers operating in Costa Rica, with plans to expand capacity by an additional 45 centers. The facility's technology includes a fully automated cleaning system compatible with both metals and plastics. At current capacity, the site will support Lubrizol with production volumes of up to 20,000 units per month, with scalability built in to accommodate long-term growth and supply chain redundancy. MCS anticipates achieving ISO 13485 validation for the Costa Rica facility by the end of the second quarter of 2026. The company is already FDA-registered, following a successful FDA audit in 2018, underscoring its ongoing commitment to regulatory excellence and quality assurance. For more information about Medical Component Specialists' new Costa Rica facility and its expanded capabilities, interested parties are encouraged to contact the company directly. About Medical Components Specialists: Medical Components Specialists (MCS) is a contract manufacturer specializing in precision grinding for medical device OEMs worldwide. With over six decades of expertise, MCS provides orthopedic and interventional devices, tooling, and instrumentation trusted by global medical manufacturers. The company operates FDA-registered, ISO 13485-certified facilities, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability. Contacts: Grant Niewinski Director of Business Development gniewinski@medicalcomponentspecialists.com 312-607-5589 SOURCE: Medical Components Specialists, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/medical-component-specialists-expands-global-footprint-with-new-state-1142040 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Couloir Capital is pleased to announce that it has updated its research coverage on North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (OTCQB: NPRLF) (or "Company"). Couloir Capital's Senior Mining analyst, Ron Wortel, MBA, P.Eng., QP, crafted a report titled "Drilling targeting resource development and regional consolidation, driving interest in this Nevada explorer." Report excerpt: "We are updating our coverage of North Peak Resources as it is systematically advancing its flagship Prospect Mountain project toward an initial, near-surface gold resource by expanding and linking mineralization northward between known high-grade trends. Recent results from the first six holes (807 m) of the Wabash/Industry Tunnel drill program demonstrate this strategy in action, with encouraging halo mineralization intersected between the Wabash and Williams lodes, including 42.67 m @ 0.82 g/t Gold and 99.06 m @ 0.56 g/t Gold and the discovery of a new gold-bearing zone along the Silver Connor fault. These results not only extend the mineralized envelope northward but also illustrate that the Company is expanding a continuous mineralized system with both depth and strike potential, rather than merely chasing isolated high-grade hits. Beyond the northern area, North Peak has identified a second near-surface resource opportunity at Lower PME, located at the base of the mountain and interpreted to host the Hamburg/Dunderberg contact under cover. This structure corresponds to the same fault zone that McEwen Mining is actively advancing, targeting a resource in H1 2026. McEwen's regional consolidation, most recently involving Golden Lake Exploration, now places North Peak between McEwen and i-80 Gold, both of whom are investing heavily in delineation and development across the camp. Importantly, North Peak's Lower PME target represents a down-dip extension of the system that remains open at depth." The report can be accessed through Couloir Capital's portal: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal. About Couloir Capital Ltd. Couloir Capital Ltd. is an investment research firm with a team of experienced investment professionals providing institutional-quality research coverage for small-cap equities. Our research reports are distributed via Bloomberg, FactSet, Capital IQ, LSEG, Research Tree and other platforms, as well as via social media and extensive email distribution lists. To subscribe, visit: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal DISCLAIMER: Analyst Disclosure: The Company has retained Couloir Capital under a service agreement that includes analyst research coverage only. The principal of Couloir Capital maintains a financial interest in the securities or options of the Company through an affiliated fund entity. Investors are encouraged to read the complete list of disclosures contained in the report. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285587 Source: Couloir Capital Ltd Joint solution showcases how AI-RAN can reduce detection times from hours to minutes and enable the shift toward autonomous network operations Wind River, an Aptiv company and global leader in software for the intelligent edge, and Vodafone are collaborating to operationalize AI-RAN for Open RAN networks. The joint solution will be showcased at MWC Barcelona, March 2-5, in the Wind River booth (Hall 2, Stand 2F25). Open RAN is transforming how networks are built. AI-RAN is transforming how they are operated. As operators deploy more disaggregated infrastructure, traditional operations models are reaching their limits. The volume, velocity, and variability of network data now exceed what human-driven operations can effectively manage. The Wind River-Vodafone collaboration demonstrates how AI-RAN moves intelligence from dashboards into the operational core of the network. "Open RAN fundamentally changes how networks are built; AI-RAN changes how they are operated," said Paul Miller, CTO, Wind River. "Operators are moving from static infrastructure to dynamic, software-defined environments where complexity grows faster than human operators can manage. Our collaboration with Vodafone demonstrates how AI-RAN can turn operational data into continuous intelligence, enabling networks that detect issues earlier, adapt faster, and move closer to autonomous operation. Together, we are showing how AI-RAN can become the operational backbone of next-generation telecom infrastructure." "As our networks evolve to support growing demand and more dynamic, open architectures, it's essential that we adopt technologies that continually improve performance, operational efficiency, and reliability. By collaborating with Wind River, we can introduce AI-RAN innovation into our operations, providing our teams with the intelligence necessary to stay ahead of issues before they affect our customers," said Marco Zangani, Director of Network Strategy Architecture, Vodafone Group. Powered by Vodafone's 5G network running on its O-Cloud platform and built from the container infrastructure delivered by Wind River Cloud Platform with analytics from Wind River Analytics, the solution continuously ingests massive telemetry streams across the RAN and cloud layers. AI models learn normal system behavior over time, detect subtle deviations, predict emerging issues, and guide remediation actions before customer experience is affected. Unlike traditional OSS tools that analyze events after they occur, the joint solution continuously learns from live network behavior, enabling operators to shift from reactive troubleshooting to predictive and increasingly autonomous operations a central objective of AI-RAN architectures. Demonstrations of the solution show the ability to: Reduce anomaly detection time from hours to minutes through multi-layer telemetry correlation Continuously learn from more than 70TB of network data per week, enabling long-term behavioral modeling across distributed RAN environments Scale short-term learning and troubleshooting analytics in TBs per hour, supporting real-time operational decisions Accelerate root-cause identification and remediation workflows, reducing mean time to resolution and limiting service impact Enable teams to manage larger open RAN footprints without proportional increases in operational cost or staffing Why This Matters for the Industry The telecom industry has spent years virtualizing infrastructure and disaggregating the RAN. The next challenge is operational scale. AI-RAN enables operators to: Run larger, more distributed networks without linear increases in OpEx Detect performance degradations before customers notice them Shorten recovery cycles and improve service reliability Lay the operational foundation for fully autonomous networks The joint Wind River-Vodafone work demonstrates that AI-RAN is no longer a future concept it is becoming a deployable operational capability. Join Wind River at MWC Barcelona In addition to highlighting AI-RAN solutions with Vodafone, the Wind River exhibit at MWC Barcelona will showcase its portfolio of carrier-grade solutions that accelerate cloud adoption, automate operations, and improve resilience through real-time analytics and orchestration for AI-enabled frameworks. Wind River is powering the future of edge AI and intelligent networks across domains including telecom, enterprise, automotive, and industrial. For more information or to schedule a meeting at MWC Barcelona, visit https://explore.windriver.com/MWC-2026. About Wind River Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of devices and systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation across industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. Wind River is a trademark or registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc., and its affiliates. Other names may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260227252956/en/ Contacts: MEDIA CONTACT Jenny Suh Wind River 510-749-2972 jenny.suh@windriver.com Quanta System Inc., headquartered in North Carolina and operational beginning March 1, 2026, marks an important step in the growth of the Italian company, with direct operations in the U.S. market for it's Surgical Business. This move will strengthen an already established presence by enabling closer engagement with customers, fostering innovation, and increasing responsiveness to market dynamics. Quanta System Inc. is a cornerstone of a Corporate broader global expansion strategy. Quanta System Sp.A., a leading company in laser technologies for surgery, dermatology, and aesthetic medicine, 100% Made in Italy and part of the El.En. Group, announced today the establishment of Quanta System Inc., a new US entity based in North Carolina, officially operational as of March 1, 2026. The creation of a direct presence in the US Surgical and Urology market, represents a strategic step in the international expansion of the organization. By launching direct operations in the US Quanta System confirms and consolidates its presence in this core segment, reinforcing its long-term industrial vision This initiative follows recent strategic actions in Europe that reflect the company's constant and clear commitment to pursue its global development through local presence. "Establishing our headquarters in North Carolina is a statement of our organization's maturity," said Girolamo Lionetti, CEO of Quanta System S.p.A. "We are an Italian company with a global soul. For 40 years, we have been designing technologies to improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world. We believe that the US market deserves direct dialogue with the manufacturer. Quanta System Inc. is our answer: a presence that guarantees continuity, stability, internal support, and a long-term vision for our American stakeholders, in line with our global expansion plan." The American entity will enable closer collaboration with physicians, Key Opinion Leaders, and the scientific community, ensuring faster service, excellent technical and clinical support, and a more agile feedback loop between industry needs and research and development activities. The company's management has entrusted this important and challenging role of leading Quanta System Inc. to Walter Ryan, a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in business development and 26 years in the medical device industry. "We are establishing a direct presence in the United States to deepen our connection with customers and better serve the industry. While our surgical business has historically grown through valued distribution partners, who have played an important role in building brand awareness, we believe an in-house model allows for closer collaboration, faster feedback, and greater agility. This approach enables us to respond more quickly to market needs with innovative products and more targeted marketing strategies." Walter Ryan, President at Quanta System Inc. This expansion is significant for the surgical field, where Quanta System S.p.A. maintains a strong international presence. "In the surgical and urological fields our technology is a commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence," said Filippo Fagnani, Vice President of Marketing and Scientific Director of the Surgical Division. "Establishing a direct presence in the U.S. allows us to work side-by-side with surgeons, ensuring our innovation cycle is directly informed by their needs. This proximity is what enables us to deliver breakthroughs like the Quanta Magneto Technology precisely where they are needed." With Quanta System Inc., the organization reinforces its commitment to innovation and long-term value, while strengthening relationships with customers and partners globally. Quanta System S.p.A. For almost forty years Quanta System, a 100% Italian company distributed worldwide, is the reference point for the research, designing and manufacture of state-of-the-art laser systems for surgery, dermatology and aesthetic medicine and the conservation of art works. In 2004 the company joins El.En. SpA (ELN), leader on the laser market listed on the Euronext STAR Milan ("STAR") of the Italian Stock Exchange and a partner of reference for health facilities, Institutions and Entities engaged in scientific and research projects at a global level. Designed to be used by doctors, specialised operators and restorers, today the Quanta System lasers represent the "Gold Standard" thanks to a wide range of applications. The laser systems are entirely manufactured in Italy: from Research Development to production, the entire process takes place in the company's headquarters in Samarate (in the province of Varese). Quanta System is a trusted partner, day in day out, of all doctors in every part of the world thanks to its ability to listen, its straightforward debates and the creation of new systems that increasingly meet the real needs of professionals so they can provide better care for their patients. A constantly evolving company that has managed to update its production so that it has always managed to satisfy the developing needs of its time, without losing sight of its primary objective: contributing to the improvement of people's quality of life. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260227538656/en/ Contacts: Tel. +39 3429773727 E-mail eleonora.disalvo@quantasystem.com Website www.quantasystem.com San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Janus Innovation Hub is pleased to announce that the company will be participating in TechCon SoCal 2026. This year's event will be held May 22, 23 at the San Diego State University in San Diego, California. As a partner, Janus Innovation Hub will be collaborating with TechCon Global to support, promote, and drive engagement at the event. TechCon SoCal, produced by TechCon Global, is a leading technology and innovation event that brings together investors, founders, thought leaders, and industry experts. The 2026 program features keynotes, panel discussions, fireside discussions, and demos on emerging technologies shaping the future of business. Attendees interested in learning more about TechCon SoCal 2026 or registering for the conference can visit here. About Janus Innovation Hub JANUS Innovation Hub, based in San Diego, is a startup incubator dedicated to empowering first-generation, immigrant, and underrepresented founders. By offering hands-on support in business strategy, product development, branding, and investor readiness, JANUS helps founders turn bold ideas into scalable, fundable ventures. What sets JANUS apart is a deeply personal approach, built by immigrants who understand the challenges of navigating new systems, the organization works shoulder-to-shoulder with founders, offering customized guidance rooted in shared experience. Inclusion is not just a mission but the foundation of everything JANUS does, from mentorship and legal support to global networking and co-created programs with universities and mission-aligned organizations. Through flagship initiatives like the Venture Nurture Program and Neurotech Frontiers, JANUS is building a more equitable innovation ecosystem, one founder at a time. About TechCon Global: TechCon Global is a leading organization founded in 2019, dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders through high-impact innovation events. We empower innovation and foster investment ecosystems that drive sustainable growth and meaningful change worldwide. Our programs blend operator insight with a practical innovation approach, supported by mentors, acurated innovation platform, and access to business investors for startups. Driven by purpose and passion, we continue to expand our reach, uniting bold thinkers, visionary founders, and impact-driven investors, guided by a consistent innovation approach that turns ideas into outcomes. Source: TechCon Global Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Minaurum Silver Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) (FSE: 78M0) ("Minaurum" or the "Company") announces that, further to the Company's news release dated February 10, 2026 announcing results from its resource-expansion drill program in the Europa, Promontorio, and Travesia vein zones, the Company is today filing an independent technical report on its 100%-owned Alamos Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. The technical report, titled "Alamos Silver Project, Sonora, Mexico, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate" dated February 17, 2026 (effective date of January 8, 2026) has been prepared by Michael G. Hester, FAusIMM, of Independent Mining Consultants, Inc., and Lorne M. Warner, P. Geo., of Geocon Enterprises Inc. and is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Minaurum's issuer profile. About the Alamos Silver Project The Alamos Silver Project consists of 14 mining concessions covering 37,828.6859 hectares and is situated in Alamos municipality, Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It lies 8 km west of the city of Alamos, Sonora, in the Sierra de Alamos mountain range, in the historic Alamos mining district, which includes the active nearby Piedras Verdes open-pit copper mine. The project can be accessed by paved road leading 8 km west from the town of Alamos. Follow us and stay updated: YouTube: @MinaurumSilver X: @MinaurumSilver LinkedIn: Minaurum Silver Inc Facebook: Minaurum Silver Inc. Subscribe to our email list at www.minaurum.com Minaurum Silver Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) (FSE: 78M0) is an Americas-focused explorer concentrating on the high-grade, 100%-owned, production-permitted Alamos silver project in southern Sonora, Mexico, and the Lone Mountain CRD Project in Nevada, USA. Minaurum is managed by one of the strongest technical and finance teams and will continue its founders' legacy of creating shareholder value by acquiring and developing a pipeline of Tier-One precious- and base-metal projects. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Darrell A. Rader" Darrell A. Rader President and CEO Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions and the Company's anticipated work programs. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty and the results of the Company's anticipated work programs. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward- looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285537 Source: Minaurum Silver Inc. FOSTER CITY (dpa-AFX) - This week, the biotech space witnessed significant milestones, including FDA approvals, oncology drug acquisitions, and collaborations. Positive clinical trial results were reported across multiple therapeutic areas, including radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, microcystic lymphatic malformations, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and obesity. Here's a closer look at the details. FDA Approvals & Rejections Armata Pharma Secures FDA QIDP Designation for AP-SA02 Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARMP) announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation to AP-SA02, its bacteriophage-based candidate for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, including MRSA. The designation provides five years of added market exclusivity under the GAIN Act and makes AP-SA02 eligible for Fast Track status, priority review, and rolling submission. Armata plans to advance the program into a Phase 3 superiority study in 2026, building on positive Phase 2a results. ARMP closed Thursday's (February 26, 2026) trading at $10.83, up 1.88%. Allurion Technologies Wins FDA PMA Approval for Gastric Balloon System Allurion Technologies Inc. (ALUR) announced that the U.S. FDA has approved the pre-market approval application for the Allurion Gastric Balloon System, featuring the swallowable Smart Capsule. The capsule, which, can be placed during a short office visit, expands in the stomach to promote fullness for about four months, and then naturally passes from the body. Approval was supported by data from the AUDACITY trial and real-world use outside the U.S., demonstrating safety and efficacy. The company highlighted the Smart Capsule as a non-surgical option for patients with a BMI of 30-40, offering a structured alternative to medications or bariatric surgery. ALUR closed Thursday's trading a $1.25, up 1.63%. MaxroGenics Pauses Enrollment in LINNET Trial MacroGenics, Inc. (MGNX) announced that the U.S. FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on its Phase 2 LINNET study of Lorigerlimab in gynecologic cancers. As a result, no new patients will be enrolled until the FDA lifts the restriction, though current participants may continue treatment. The decision follows recent safety events across four patients, including cases of Grade 4 thrombocytopenia, myocarditis, neutropenia and concurrent septic shock. MacroGenics emphasized that patient safety remains its top priority and is working closely with the FDA to resolve the hold and resume enrollment. Lorigerlimab, is a bispecific DART molecule targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, with objective response rate as the primary endpoint. MGNX closed Thursday's trading at $1.98, up 3.13%. Eton Pharma Gains FDA Approval for DESMODA Oral Solution Eton Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ETON) announced that the U.S. FDA has approved DESMODA?(desmopressin acetate) oral solution for the management of central diabetes insipidus, as an antidiuretic replacement therapy for patients of all ages. DESMODA is the first FDA-approved oral liquid formulation of desmopressin, designed to support precise dosing without the need for tablet splitting or refrigeration. The product will be available beginning March 9, 2026, exclusively through Anovo Co Ltd, with patent protection extending through 2044. Eton estimates more than 13,000 U.S. patients are affected by central diabetes insipidus, including 3,000-4,000 pediatric patients, and expects DESMODA to achieve peak annual sales of $30 million - $50 million. The approval marks the company's ninth commercial product, further strengthening its rare-disease portfolio. ETON closed Thursday's trading at $17.25, down 2.27%. Deals Gilead Sciences To Acquire Arcellx Gilead Sciences (GILD) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Arcellx (ACLX) for $115 per share in cash at closing, plus one contingent value right of $5 per share, representing an implied equity value of $7.8 billion payable at closing. Gilead currently owns approximately 11.5 per cent of Arcellx's outstanding common stock. The transaction bolsters its existing partnership through Kite Pharma, a Gilead company and strengthens Gilead's position in cell therapy. Kite and Arcellx have an existing collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise Arcellx's lead pipeline candidate, anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel). GILD closed Thursday's trade at $143.77, down 2.28%. Vir Biotech Collaborates With Astellas for VIR-5500 Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (VIR) announced a global strategic collaboration with Astellas Pharma Inc. (ALPMF), sharing both development costs and future revenues for its PSMA-targeting T-cell engager, VIR-5500, designed for metastatic prostate cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Vir will receive $335 million in upfront and near-term payments, including $240 million in cash, a $75 million equity investment at a 50% premium, and a near-term $20 million milestone payment. The company is also eligible for up to an additional $1.37 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, as well as tiered, double-digit royalties on ex-U.S. net sales. Astellas will lead U.S. commercialisation, with Vir retaining an option to co-promote. Outside the U.S., Astellas will hold exclusive rights. Development costs will be shared, with Astellas covering 60% and Vir Biotechnology 40%. VIR closed Thursday's trade at $9.32, down 6.80%. ALPMF closed Thursday's trade at $16.05, up 7.72%. Kairos Pharma Signs Term Sheet To Acquire Two Oncology Assets From Celyn Therapeutics Kairos Pharma Ltd. (KAPA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapeutics, announced the signing of a term sheet to acquire two clinical oncology assets from privately held Celyn Therapeutics, Inc. However, financial details were not disclosed. The acquisition includes CL-273, a pre-IND, reversible, wild-type-sparing pan-EGFR inhibitor, and CL-741, a Phase 1-ready, orally available c-MET kinase inhibitor. CL-273, developed using a proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform, targets EGFR-mutated lung cancer, a market valued at $16.2B in 2026 (Source: Future Market Insights). The program is currently pre-IND, with first-in-human clinical trials projected to commence in 2026. CL-741 addresses the cMet inhibitor market valued at more than $2B and projected to reach over $10B by 2030 with a CAGR in excess of 17% (Source: Biospace). Both assets are designed to address non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one of the most common and difficult-to-treat cancers worldwide. KAPA closed Thursday's trade at $0.55, down 12.15%. Clinical Trials - Breakthroughs MoonLake Reports Positive Data From Phase 2 Trial Of Sonelokimab In Axial Spondyloarthritis MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (MLTX) announced positive results from its phase 2 trial of Investigational drug Sonelokimab in patients with radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. In the phase 2 trial, dubbed S-OLARIS, Sonelokimab demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant benefit, according to the company. At Week 12, 81% of patients treated with Sonelokimab achieved an Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society 40 (ASAS40) response. In the study, more than 80% of patients also achieved a clinically meaningful improvement by Week 12, as measured by the ASDAS-CRP score, which assesses overall disease activity, and by SPARCC MRI scores, which evaluate visible inflammation in the sacroiliac joints. Also, the firm noted that PET imaging showed a significant reduction of inflammation and osteoblast activity in sacroiliac joints affected by axSpA, a key driver of irreversible ossification in the disease. MLTX closed Thursday's trading at $17.68, down 2.96%. Novo Nordisk's CagriSema Misses Key Goal In Head-to-Head Trial Against Zepbound Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) announced disappointing results from its Phase 3 study evaluating CagriSema in people with obesity, with the primary non-inferiority endpoint not being met. In the trial, dubbed REDEFINE 4, CagriSema (a fixed dose combination of cagrilintide 2.4 mg and semaglutide 2.4 mg) was compared to Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide 15 mg), both administered once-weekly and subcutaneously, in adults with obesity. At 84 weeks, CagriSema 2.4/2.4 mg helped patients lose 23% of their body weight, compared with 25.5% with Tirzepatide 15 mg. Results also included an analysis that reflects real-world use, where CagriSema resulted in 20.2% weight loss compared to 23.6% with tirzepatide The REDEFINE 4 trial enrolled 809 participants with obesity and at least one comorbidity, with a mean baseline body weight of 114.2 kg. While the primary endpoint of non-inferiority was not met, CagriSema demonstrated a safe and well-tolerated profile, the company noted. NVO closed Thursday's trading at $37.62, down 1.42%. Gossamer Bio Announces Topline Results from Phase 3 PROSERA Study Gossamer Bio (GOSS) announced topline results for the PROSERA Phase 3 Study of seralutinib in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, in which seralutinib missed the prespecified alpha threshold of its primary endpoint. Gossamer Bio and the Chiesi Group together co-develop seralutinib. Seralutinib is an investigational, inhaled tyrosine kinase inhibitor delivered via dry powder inhalation. Serelutinib aims to provide direct pulmonary delivery for enhanced local activity while minimising systemic exposure. The PROSERA Study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, global registrational clinical trial evaluating seralutinib in PAH patients, on top of background PAH therapy. Seralutinib showed a placebo-adjusted improvement in Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) of +13.3 meters at Week 24, missing the prespecified alpha threshold of 0.025. At week 24, patients receiving seralutinib had a median change from baseline of +28.2 meters, while those receiving placebo had a median change of +13.5 meters. Seralutinib was generally well tolerated with safety consistent with prior experience, the according to the firm. Gossamer plans to meet with the U.S. FDA to discuss the path forward. Also, the firm noted the need to pause enrollment in the SERANATA Study to evaluate the impact of PROSERA results, particularly regional discrepancies in placebo response. GOSS closed Thursday's trading at $0.40, up 5.76%. Novo Nordisk Reports Positive Results From Chinese Phase 2 Trial Of UBT251 In Obesity Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) and The United Laboratories International Holdings Limited (ULIHF, UNJ.F) on Tuesday announced topline results from a Chinese phase 2 trial evaluating UBT251, jointly developed for overweight or obese patients at 24 weeks. UBT251 is a synthetic peptide triple agonist targeting the receptors for GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and glucagon. This phase 2 trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled a total of 205 Chinese patients with obesity with at least one weight-related comorbidity. The baseline mean body weight of the patients was 92.2 kg, with a baseline mean BMI of 33.1 kg/m. The primary endpoint of the trial was the percentage change in body weight from baseline after 24 weeks of treatment. The results showed a 19.7% weight loss in the UBT251 group compared with 2% in the placebo group after 24 weeks of treatment. In the trial, UBT251 appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile, according to the firm. Based on the results of this trial, the company is planning to initiate a phase 3 trial in Chinese patients with overweight or obesity. NVO closed Thursday's trade at $37.52, down 0.27%. Palvella's QTORIN Meets Goals in Phase 3 Study In Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations Palvella Therapeutics, Inc. (PVLA) reported positive topline results from its pivotal Phase 3 SELVA clinical study evaluating QTORIN 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel for microcystic lymphatic malformations. The SELVA study, a single-arm, baseline-controlled Phase 3 trial, evaluated once-daily QTORIN rapamycin in individuals aged three years and older. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement on the Microcystic Lymphatic Malformation Investigator Global Assessment (mLM-IGA), with a mean change of +2.13. The therapy also achieved statistical significance across its key secondary endpoint- the blinded mLM Multi-Component Static Scale- which improved by 3.36 points. Palvella plans to submit a New Drug Application to the FDA in the second half of 2026. PVLA closed Thursday's trade at $148.34, up 15.35%. Argenx's VYVGART Meets Primary Goals in Phase 3 DAPT OCULUS trial Results in Ocular MG Argenx SE (ARGX) announced that its phase 3 ADAPT OCULUS trial evaluating VYVGART in ocular myasthenia gravis has met the primary endpoint. In the trial, VYVGART demonstrated statistically significant improvement from baseline in Myasthenia Impairment Index (MGII) Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) ocular scores at Week 4 compared to placebo. In the overall population, the mean change from baseline in patients treated with VYVGART was a 4.04-point improvement in MGII PRO, compared with a mean change of 1.99 points in patients treated with placebo. Also, patients treated with VYVGART experienced a marked reduction of key ocular symptoms: diplopia (double vision) and ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelids). The therapy was well tolerated, and no new safety concerns were identified. The results support a planned sBLA to the U.S. FDA for the treatment of ocular myasthenia gravis, a condition with no approved therapies. ARGX closed Thursday's trade at $771.53, up 5.59%. AtaiBeckley's Phase 2a Study Of EMP 01 In Social Anxiety Disorder Meets Key Goal AtaiBeckley Inc. (ATAI) has announced positive topline results from its exploratory, double blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-patient phase 2a study of EMP 01 in adults with Social Anxiety Disorder. The multi-centre study enrolled 71 adults with moderate-to-severe SAD across 7 clinical sites in the UK. The primary endpoint of the phase 2a study of EMP 01 was safety and tolerability through Day 43, and the secondary endpoint was the change in social anxiety symptoms from baseline to Day 43, using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). With respect to the trial's primary objective, EMP-01 demonstrated a favourable and manageable safety and tolerability profile, and no serious adverse events were observed according to AtaiBeckley. Secondary and exploratory efficacy endpoints showed encouraging signals in which EMP-01 produced a numerically greater symptom reduction than placebo, as measured by LSAS, at Day 43 relative to baseline. ATAI closed Thursday's trade at $3.73, down 14.06%. Copyright(c) 2026 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX 2026 AFX News Annual Global App Economy Conference Shares Top SME Tech Policy Priorities with EU Leaders Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Twenty-two founders and tech startup leaders representing 19 ACT member companies from 11 countries across the European Union (EU) traveled to Brussels this week for in-person meetings with the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. Founders, startups, scaleups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) know better than anyone the practical impacts of regulation. As EU regulators continue to promote a competitiveness agenda, reshaping how digital rules are implemented and enforced, direct insight from startups, scaleups, and SMEs is invaluable. 'We stand at a crucial moment for Europe's innovation ecosystem', said Mike Sax, founder and chairman of ACT. 'Startups, scaleups, and SMEs are the backbone of Europe's economic strength. The choices made now will determine whether the Single Market becomes a place for European companies to grow or wither'. During meetings, ACT and its member companies focused on five priorities: Removing barriers to cross-border expansion and scaling within the Single Market Simplifying and consolidating overlapping rules and fragmented enforcement Ensuring SMEs can utilise technical standards without threat of injunction or extortionate licensing demands Protecting the vibrant and competitive digital ecosystem on which millions of European startups and SMEs rely Balancing the strengthening of consumer protection while maintaining flexibility for innovative businesses ACT Member Companies attending Global App Economy Conference: Acute XR Austria Deverium Lithuania eyreACT Estonia Glazed Solutions Portugal Lucid Circus Austria My-Money Italy Nespra Portugal Niagara Launcher Germany Proxim.ai Italy REMODID Austria Rhuna Romania Telemetry Deck Germany TH - Habitat Italy The Training Boss Greece Untile Portugal uQualio Denmark vaic.at The Netherlands Viber Alert Italy ViWear The Netherlands ### About ACT: ACT is a global technology trade association representing startups, scaleups, and small and medium-sized enterprises. We work directly with our members worldwide to advocate for a policy environment that takes into account their real-world challenges and supports innovation, access to capital, job creation, and the ability of small technology companies to grow and compete globally. About ACT's Global App Economy Conference For nearly two decades, ACT's Global App Economy Conferences (GAEC) has brought our startup and small tech members together for three days of founder-to-founder networking and direct engagement with policymakers on the rules shaping the digital economy. By giving startups, scaleups, and tech-driven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access and resources to share their stories directly with policymakers, our members can advocate for clear, streamlined rules that allow innovative companies to build and scale across borders. Read more about our GAEC: EU 2026 policy priorities: Global App Economy Conference - 2026 Jack Fleming Association for Competitive Technology 3108467789 jfleming@actonline.org Maximize Market Research's Cosmetics Market Global Outlook (2025-2032) has been updated with the latest developments from the first nine months of 2025. "Maximize Market Research reveals AI skincare, clean beauty, and K-beauty trends are reshaping global cosmetics growth." PUNE, India, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Cosmetics Market was valued at USD 492.18 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.25% from 2025 to 2032, reaching nearly USD 704.17 billion by 2032. This growth is fueled by rising beauty consciousness, expanding demand for premium skincare, organic and natural cosmetics, inclusive beauty products, and the ongoing digital transformation in the beauty and personal care industry. Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/72541/ Key Market Trends & Insights from the Cosmetics Market Report Skincare Segment Dominates Global Cosmetics Revenues The skincare product segment accounted for the largest share of 48% in 2025, driven by rising consumer preference for dermatologist-recommended products, anti-aging solutions, and clean beauty formulations. High adoption of serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, and acne-care products underscores the growing trend of science-backed skincare. Consumers are increasingly searching for "microbiome-friendly cosmetics for sensitive skin" and "organic anti-aging skincare solutions", highlighting the influence of long-tail search intent in shaping product strategies. Rise of AI-Powered Personalized Beauty Solutions AI-powered beauty solutions and virtual try-on technologies are transforming consumer engagement. Companies like L'Oreal, AmorePacific, and Perfect Corp are integrating AI skin diagnostics and personalized product recommendations to enhance customer loyalty and drive premium adoption. Long-tail searches like "AI-powered skincare routine for combination skin" and "virtual makeup try-on apps" are gaining traction globally, reflecting heightened consumer demand for precision beauty solutions. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Beauty Drives Market Growth Demand for sustainable cosmetics, refillable packaging, and plant-based skincare formulations continues to grow. Consumers are actively searching for "cruelty-free beauty brands", "eco-friendly cosmetic packaging solutions", and "vegan organic skincare products". This trend is particularly pronounced in Europe, North America, and APAC, where regulatory frameworks encourage ethical sourcing and transparency in beauty product ingredients. Digital Transformation and Influencer-Driven Beauty Trends The digital commerce revolution and social media influencer marketing are accelerating the adoption of innovative cosmetic products. Micro-influencers and beauty content creators are introducing hybrid skincare-cosmetic solutions, such as tinted SPF moisturizers and serum foundations, driving searches like "best hybrid beauty products for anti-aging" and "top eco-friendly makeup brands". Inclusive Beauty Products and Male Grooming Expansion Consumers increasingly demand inclusive beauty products catering to all skin tones and genders. The male grooming segment is expanding rapidly, with rising adoption of skincare and anti-aging products for men. Searches such as "best natural cosmetics for dark skin tones" and "men's cruelty-free skincare products" highlight opportunities for niche innovation and long-tail keyword optimization. Cosmetics Market Composition by Product & Innovation: Color Cosmetics: Focus on long-lasting, skin-friendly formulations and multifunctional makeup. Focus on long-lasting, skin-friendly formulations and multifunctional makeup. Skincare: Includes anti-aging creams, serums, and microbiome-friendly solutions. Includes anti-aging creams, serums, and microbiome-friendly solutions. Perfumes / Body Mists: Premium fragrances leveraging natural, sustainable ingredients. Premium fragrances leveraging natural, sustainable ingredients. Advanced Cosmetics: Cosmeceuticals blending bioengineered ingredients and antioxidant-rich formulations. Cosmeceuticals blending bioengineered ingredients and antioxidant-rich formulations. Beauty Devices: At-home aesthetic treatments, including hair-removal devices and AI-powered skin analyzers. Notable Innovations: Bioengineered ingredients: Plant-based peptides and probiotics for sensitive skin. Personalization apps: AI-based solutions recommending custom foundations and skincare regimens. Sustainable packaging solutions: Refillable containers, compostable packaging, and zero-waste initiatives. Global Cosmetics Market Segmentation: Skincare, AI-Powered Serums & Clean Beauty Trends Driving Consumer Engagement Global Cosmetics Market is evolving with skincare face care products leading in daily consumption, from hydrating moisturizers to microbiome-friendly serums. Color cosmetics, body care, and perfumes follow, yet AI-powered personalized skincare and clean beauty solutions are redefining trends. With online retail and B2C channels driving rapid adoption, consumers are exploring anti-aging creams, organic face oils, and inclusive beauty formulations, creating unprecedented opportunities for innovation and engagement. Get Insightful Data on Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, and Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures and More) - https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/72541/ By Product Skincare Face Care Moisturizers & Creams Serums & Essence Face Wash & Cleansers Face Mask Face Oil Under-eye Creams Others Body Care Lotions & Creams Body Oil Hand Creams Foot Creams Others Bath Products Shower Gel Bath Soap Others Intimate Care Intimate Washes Wipes Whitening Products Others Others Color Cosmetics Eye Products Eye Shadow Eye Liner Kohl Pencil Others Facial Products Primer Foundation Concealer Face Powder Others Lip Products Lipstick Lip Glosses Lip Liners Lip Mask Others Others Perfumes/Deodorants/Body Mists By End User Men Women By Distribution Channel Business-to-Business (B2B) Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Online Retail Stores Hypermarket/Supermarket Brand Stores Multi-brand Stores Departmental Stores Other Retail Stores Competitive Analysis: Global Beauty Leaders L'Oreal: Advanced AI cloud diagnostics, virtual try-ons, and sustainable ingredient sourcing. Advanced AI cloud diagnostics, virtual try-ons, and sustainable ingredient sourcing. AmorePacific: Generative AI beauty assistants for custom makeup recommendations. Generative AI beauty assistants for custom makeup recommendations. Shiseido: Non-invasive Skin Visualizer AI tools for real-time skin health assessment. Non-invasive Skin Visualizer AI tools for real-time skin health assessment. Estee Lauder: Partnership with research centers for longevity and anti-aging beauty solutions. Leading brands are investing heavily in AI-powered personalization, microbiome-friendly cosmeceuticals, sustainable formulations, and inclusive product lines, creating competitive differentiation. Cosmetics Market Breakthroughs 2025-2026: AR Virtual Try-Ons, 3D-Printed Makeup & Science-Driven Skincare Innovations In January 2025, L'Oreal's BOLD venture fund invested in Timeline, a longevity-focused skincare platform, accelerating next-generation anti-aging and wellness cosmetics. In December 2024, Estee Lauder partnered with Stanford's Aesthetics & Culture Program to fund longevity and consumer behavior research, enhancing its science-driven skincare pipeline. 2025-2026: Rise of AR-powered virtual try-ons and custom 3D-printed makeup formulations, supporting bespoke beauty product launches globally. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy this Research Report (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More) - Global Cosmetics Market Regional Insights: AI Skincare, K-Beauty Trends & Clean Beauty Driving Growth North America leads the global Cosmetics Market, driven by AI-powered personalized skincare, anti-aging serums, and microbiome-friendly creams. Rapid adoption of online B2C channels, clean beauty products, and AR virtual try-ons fuels growth. Meanwhile, Europe and Asia-Pacific showcase innovation in sustainable formulations, K-beauty trends, and inclusive cosmetics, creating a competitive landscape that keeps beauty enthusiasts globally engaged. Asia-Pacific ranks as the second-largest cosmetics market, fueled by K-beauty innovations, Japan's science-driven skincare, and China's influencer-led e-commerce. Rising demand for anti-aging creams, microbiome-friendly serums, and herbal skincare in India and Australia drives rapid growth. Digital-first beauty trends, clean and inclusive formulations, and premiumization are reshaping consumer engagement, making the region a global hotspot for innovative cosmetic solutions. Cosmetics Market, Key Players: Proctor and Gamble Company Revlon, Inc The Estee Lauder Company Inc Amway Corp L'Oreal International Proctor and Gamble Company Bayer AG Henkel AG Clarins Beiersdorf AG Kiko Milano kao corporation Shiseido Company Limited Nykaa E-Offline Pvt. Ltd Sugar Cosmetics Chicmax Proya Cosmetics Shenzhen Beauty Star Company C'Bon Cosmetics Paramount Cosmetics Huda Beauty The Foschini Group Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries Givaudan Galderma Group ULTA Beauty Puig Brfands Read Full Cosmetics Market Research Report - https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-cosmetics-market/72541/ FAQs: Why is the skincare segment dominating the global cosmetics market? Ans: Skincare leads with 48% share, driven by demand for anti-aging creams, serums, and microbiome-friendly skincare. Rising adoption of AI-powered personalized routines and clean, organic formulations fuels daily usage, making face care the most lucrative segment globally. How are AI and AR technologies reshaping the cosmetics industry? Ans: AI and AR enable personalized skincare, virtual try-ons, and 3D-printed makeup, enhancing consumer engagement. Brands like L'Oreal and Shiseido leverage these tools for bespoke anti-aging solutions and inclusive products, bridging digital and in-store experiences. Which regions are leading growth in the global cosmetics market and why? Ans: North America dominates due to AI skincare, clean beauty, and B2C adoption, while Asia-Pacific excels with K-beauty trends, science-driven skincare, and influencer-led e-commerce. Both benefit from premium skincare demand, inclusive formulations, and digital-first beauty trends. Analyst Perspective: From an analyst perspective, the global cosmetics sector is rapidly evolving with AI-powered personalized skincare, microbiome-friendly formulations, and clean beauty innovations driving growth. Leading players like L'Oreal, AmorePacific, and Estee Lauder are investing in AR try-ons, longevity-focused platforms, and sustainable solutions, while North America and Asia-Pacific adoption accelerates. Strategic innovation, digital engagement, and inclusive products position the industry for long-term competitive differentiation and expansion. Related Reports: Anti-Ageing Cosmetics Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/anti-ageing-cosmetics-market/200288/ Functional Cosmetics Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/functional-cosmetics-market/126140/ Global Anti-acne Cosmetics Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-anti-acne-cosmetics-market/119557/ Global Cosmetics and Perfumery Glass Bottles Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/cosmetics-and-perfumery-glass-bottles-market/105115/ Premium Cosmetics Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-premium-cosmetics-market/90273/ global halal cosmetics market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-halal-cosmetics-market/69023/ Vegan Cosmetics Market: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-vegan-cosmetics-market/20003/ About Maximize Market Research: Cosmetics Market (Consumer Goods & Services) Maximize Market Research is a leading market research and consulting firm specializing in the Consumer Goods & Services domain, with a strong focus on the cosmetics and beauty industry. Our insights and analytics support global clients in understanding trends, innovations, and consumer behavior in skincare, color cosmetics, perfumes, and personal care segments. We partner with major players in the global cosmetics market, delivering growth-driven research, competitive benchmarking, and strategic guidance. By analyzing AI-powered skincare, clean beauty, microbiome-friendly formulations, and digital adoption trends, we help brands navigate evolving consumer demands, regional dynamics, and investment opportunities to strengthen market positioning and drive sustainable business growth. Contact: Lumawant Godage MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PVT. LTD. +91 96073 65656 Email: sales@maximizemarketresearch.com Content Source: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-cosmetics-market/72541/ Visit Our Web Site: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/ LinkedIn.com: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxmize-market-research-pvt-ltd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maximizemarketresearch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maximizemarketresearch/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/MMRAnalytics Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2922149/Maximize_Market_Research_Photo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-cosmetics-market-to-reach-usd-704-17-billion-by-2032--reveals-new-maximize-market-research-analysis-302699644.html Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Sirios Resources Inc. (TSXV: SOI) (OTCQB: SIREF) ("Sirios") and OVI Mining Corp. ("OVI") are pleased to announce the completion of their previously announced business combination by way of a court approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Transaction"). Under the Transaction, Sirios acquired all of the common shares of OVI (each, an "OVI Share") outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction, which resulted in OVI becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sirios. Following completion of the Transaction, each former holder of OVI Shares is entitled to receive 2.34 common shares of Sirios (each, a "Sirios Share") in exchange for each common share of OVI held immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction. Concurrent with the completion of the Transaction, Jean-Felix Lepage has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sirios, replacing Sirios founder, Dominique Doucet, who will transition to Executive Chairman and Head of Exploration. In addition, Sean Roosen and Laurence Farmer have joined the board of directors of Sirios (the "Board"), adding deep Quebec mining and capital markets expertise to the Sirios team. Mr. Lepage has over 15 years of experience in mining and managing operations, projects, and development activities. Prior to becoming CEO of OVI, he was Vice-President of Projects at O3 Mining Inc., where he led the Marban Project though the study and development process. His past experience also includes several different operational roles at Newmont Corporation, including managing the underground operations at the Eleonore Mine. Mr. Lepage obtained his Bachelor of Mining Engineering from Universite Laval and holds a college technical degree in mineral processing from CEGEP de Thetford. Jean-Felix Lepage, incoming CEO of Sirios, stated: "I am honoured to lead Sirios Resources as we enter this exciting new chapter. The combination of Sirios and OVI creates a stronger, well-capitalized company with an exceptional portfolio of gold assets in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. I look forward to working with our talented team and newly strengthened board to advance our exploration and development programs and deliver value for our shareholders." Dominique Doucet, former CEO of Sirios, stated: "After founding and leading Sirios for many years, I am proud to see the company take this significant step forward. This transaction brings together two complementary teams and asset portfolios, strengthening our position in the James Bay gold camp. In my new role as Executive Chairman and Head of Exploration, I remain deeply committed to Sirios and look forward to focusing my efforts on advancing our exploration programs and supporting Jean-Felix and the team in building on the foundation we have established." Board of Directors The Board is led by Executive Chairman Dominique Doucet, and now includes Sean Roosen and Laurence Farmer, as well as Robert Menard, Colinda Parent and Guy Le Bel. Luc Cloutier has resigned from the Board. Sirios would like to express its sincere gratitude for his years of service. Dominique Doucet, former CEO of Sirios, stated: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to recognize and express my profound gratitude for Luc's unwavering commitment and dedication to Sirios since its founding in 1994. Luc's contributions have left an lasting mark on Sirios, and his legacy will continue to shape our path forward. On behalf of the entire Sirios team, we extend our heartfelt appreciation and wish him every success in his future endeavours." Mr. Roosen is the founder and Executive Chairman of Osisko Development Corp., and former CEO of OR Royalties Inc. As founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Osisko Mining Corporation, Mr. Roosen was responsible for developing the strategic plan for the discovery, financing, and development of the Canadian Malartic mine. Recognized as one of the "Top 20 Most Influential Individuals in Global Mining," in 2017, he brings unmatched industry vision and strategic leadership. Mr. Farmer is the General Counsel and VP Strategic Development of Osisko Development Corp. and the Chief Executive Officer of Electric Elements Mining Corp., prior to which he was Senior Counsel of OR Royalties Inc. Prior to joining the Osisko Group, Mr. Farmer worked in investment banking at RBC Capital Markets in London and, before that, practiced as a corporate lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP in London, England and Montreal, Canada, and brings strong transactional expertise and strategic insight into global resource development. Information for Former OVI Shareholders To receive the Sirios Shares to which they are entitled under the Transaction, former registered shareholders of OVI must complete, sign, date and return the letter of transmittal mailed to each OVI shareholder prior to closing. The letter of transmittal is also available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under OVI's issuer profile. Former shareholders whose OVI Shares are registered in the name of a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary should contact that intermediary for assistance in depositing their OVI Shares and follow its instructions. The Transaction was unanimously approved by shareholders of OVI at a special meeting held on February 18, 2026 (the "Meeting"). Further information about the Transaction is set forth in the joint news release of Sirios and OVI dated December 11, 2025 and the management information circular prepared by OVI in respect of the Meeting which was mailed to shareholders of OVI and filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under OVI's issuer profile. OVI has applied to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws. Pursuant to the Transaction, Sirios will issue an aggregate of 131,905,594 Sirios Shares. All 1,866,000 options to purchase OVI Shares outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction, whether or not vested, were exchanged for 4,366,440 options to acquire Sirios Shares, with an exercise price equal to approximately $0.05641 per Sirios Share, subject to rounding on the exercise thereof in accordance with the plan of arrangement and which expire on November 1, 2030. OVI owns a portfolio of properties located in the James Bay region of Quebec, including a 100% interest in the Corvet Est and PLEX gold projects. Certain of OVI's properties are subject to royalties and contingent cash payments, which have been assumed indirectly by Sirios as a result of the Transaction. Early Warning Disclosure Prior to the completion of the Transaction, Sirios held no OVI Shares. Following the completion of the Transaction, Sirios holds all of the issued and outstanding OVI Shares. An early warning report will be filed by Sirios on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under OVI's issuer profile in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact the CEO of Sirios 438-454-5636 or info@sirios.com. Sirios's head office is located at 1400 Marie-Victorin, Bureau 210, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, J3V 6B9. Advisors and Counsel Bennett Jones LLP acted as legal counsel to OVI in connection with the Transaction. Mills Dunlop Capital Partners acted as financial advisor to OVI. Stein Monast LLP acted as legal counsel to Sirios in connection with the Transaction. About Sirios Resources Inc. Sirios Resources Inc. (TSXV: SOI) (OTCQB: SIREF) (www.sirios.com) is a Quebec-based mineral exploration company focused on developing its portfolio of high-potential gold properties in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Canada. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements regarding: the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, including potential synergies resulting from combining Sirios and OVI and the creation of a stronger, well-capitalized company; the enhanced portfolio of gold assets in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region; the expected advancement of exploration and development programs; the ability to deliver value for shareholders; future exploration results and the potential for resource growth; the expectations for the combined entity's board, management team and operations; the roles and responsibilities of management, including those of Mr. Lepage, Mr. Doucet, Mr. Roosen and Mr. Farmer; the filing of an early warning report and the ceasing of OVI's status as a reporting issuer; and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Sirios and OVI in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, and other factors they believe are appropriate. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the price of gold and other commodities; general economic, market and business conditions; the inherent risks associated with mineral exploration, development and mining operations; risks relating to the integration of Sirios and OVI and the realization of anticipated benefits from the Transaction; the volatility of the capital markets and market conditions in general; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls and regulations; environmental risks and hazards; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; risks associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licences, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; title matters; community and Indigenous relations; uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources; competition for, among other things, capital, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel; risks relating to insufficient funding and the requirement for additional capital; risks relating to climate change and extreme weather events; the reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers and directors; and the other risks described in the continuous disclosure documents of Sirios filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Sirios and OVI believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. As such, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sirios and OVI assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285631 Source: Sirios Resources Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. (CSE: AUEX) (FSE: ZF2) (OTC Pink: AUHIF) ("Advanced Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mineral property purchase and sale agreement dated February 26, 2026 (the "Agreement") with Stream Metals LLC and Kadenwood Development Corp. (collectively, the "Vendors") to acquire a 100% interest in the Silver Belle Project (the "Project") located in Eureka County, Nevada. The Project consists of approximately 100 unpatented lode mining claims (2,000 acres) situated within the prolific Eureka Mining District of Nevada, an area well known for high-grade carbonate replacement deposit ("CRD") style mineralization and historic silver-lead-zinc production. The Project is in one of Nevada's most productive carbonate-hosted mineral belts, proximal to several historic and modern mining operations. The Company believes the Project demonstrates geological characteristics consistent with CRD-style mineralization and intends to conduct modern exploration, including geologic mapping, sampling, and geophysical targeting, to evaluate the potential for high-grade replacement and feeder structures at depth. Historic records from the district document high-grade mineralization, including reported silver and base metal head grades from prior mining operations in the area. Mineralization is characterized by silver with associated lead, zinc and antimony hosted in favorable carbonate stratigraphy typical of CRD systems. Advanced Gold president Arndt Roehlig, states, "Data interpreted of the Project has confirmed the site's status as a "rediscovery" target, highlighted by documented historical production of silver. Located in the historic Diamond District of Eureka County, the Project consists of a 2,000-acre claim block situated on the Eureka-Battle Mountain mineral belt. Despite its location in one of the world's most productive mining jurisdictions, the Project has seen no modern exploration, with all historical work restricted to the shallow oxidized cap of a much larger, untested potential CRD system." A documented 1937 smelter return from the Silver Bell Mining Co. underscores the metal content of the Project's underground workings. A 21-short-ton shipment sent to the ASARCO Smelter in Salt Lake City returned a silver grade of 1,611 g/t (47 oz/ton). In addition to silver, the shipment contained significant base metal concentrations, including 37% Lead, 10% Zinc, and 1% Copper. The presence of 3,000 g/t Antimony further confirms the Project's position within the antimony-enriched portion of the Diamond Range CRD belt, consistent with regional metallogenic zoning typical of large-scale systems. Historical infrastructure at the site includes a shaft, multiple adits, and approximately 500 feet of underground development. The deeper, higher-temperature sulphide-rich CRD core-where the highest tonnages are typically found-remains untested. The Project sits within a wide-open structural corridor with clear expansion potential both along strike to the north and south, and down-dip to the west where the limestone host rock thickens. The high-grade nature of the Project mineralization is related to classic CRD architecture, characterized by reactive limestone-quartzite contacts and intrusive-driven hydrothermal fluids. These systems are highly prized by modern explorers for their ability to host vertically extensive mineralized shoots and very large ounce counts within relatively small surface footprints. All historical grade data and shipment records cited herein are verified by the USGS MRDS deposit record (M232256). Transaction Terms In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the Company shall acquire the Project from the Vendors. As consideration for the Project, the Company shall: (A) pay an aggregate of $25,000 in cash to the Vendors upon execution of the Agreement (the "Effective Date"), an additional $100,000 in cash on the date of the closing (the "Closing Date") of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, and a final cash payment of $50,000 on or before the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date; and (B) issue to the Vendors an aggregate of 1,500,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Company on the Closing Date, and issue an aggregate of 1,500,000 Common Shares to the Vendors on or before the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date. In addition, in connection with the transaction contemplated by the Agreement, Stream Metals will be entitled to a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty (the "Royalty"). The Company has the option to purchase the Royalty (reducing the Royalty to 0%) by making a cash payment to Stream Metals in the amount of US$1,500,000. The completion of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement remains subject to the approval of all regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Agreement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the issuance thereof, as applicable, in accordance with applicable securities laws. Proposed Private Placement In addition, the Company wishes to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of up to 5,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the company and one-half of one whole transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. The gross proceeds of the Offering shall be used for general corporate and working capital purposes. The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company may pay certain eligible finders a cash commission of up to 8% cash or warrants of the gross proceeds received from subscribers introduced to the Company by such finder. Closing of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Qualified Person Jim Atkinson, MSc., P. Geo., the Chairman and a director of the Company, and a non-independent Qualified Person ("QP") as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Project, particularly with regards to historical sampling and regional government-mapped geology. However, the QP assumes that sampling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. ABOUT ADVANCED GOLD Advanced Gold Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a portfolio of Canadian gold and copper properties. The company's expertise is in identifying and acquiring undervalued properties with significant historical work, which it believes it can enhance their economic value at today's prices. The company's purpose is to bring immediate and long-term value to its partners and shareholders. Visit www.advancedgoldexploration.com for more information. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Arndt Roehlig, President, CEO, Director Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the trading of the Company's securities and the focus of the Company's business. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's ability to increase the value of its current and future mineral exploration properties and, in connection therewith, any long-term shareholder value, the Company's ability to mitigate or eliminate exploration risk, and the Company's intention to develop a portfolio of historic gold properties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue its business as described above. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other periodic filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances or actual results unless required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285647 Source: Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. Expanding Service Capabilities and Strengthening Nationwide Support BOISE, IDAHO / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Michelli Weighing & Measurement ("Michelli") announced the acquisition of Total Scale Service, Inc. ("Total Scale"), a respected provider of scale service, calibration, equipment sales, and weighing system solutions. This strategic acquisition supports Michelli's continued growth and expands its ability to serve customers with enhanced technical expertise and broader geographic reach. For over 45 years, Total Scale has delivered dependable weighing solutions and built a strong reputation for quality, responsiveness, and technical expertise. Known for its commitment to service and long-term customer relationships, Total Scale provides equipment sales and 24/7 service support. "We are pleased to bring Total Scale into the Michelli organization," said Bobby Feigler, CEO of Michelli. "They have built a strong, service-driven business with deep technical capability and a loyal customer base. This partnership enhances our ability to deliver responsive, high-quality support while expanding our reach in key markets. We look forward to investing in their team and continuing the legacy they have established." "For nearly five decades, our priority has been taking care of our customers and standing behind our work," said Kellie Amundson, Owner, Total Scale. "Partnering with Michelli positions us for the next chapter of growth. Their resources and national network will allow us to expand our capabilities while remaining focused on the personalized service our customers value." "Total Scale represents a meaningful step in Michelli's continued growth," said Drew Gilbert, Partner at Summit Park. "The company brings a strong reputation, technical depth, and established customer-base that complements Michelli's operations. We remain focused on partnering with high-quality organizations that strengthen our platform and enhance the value we deliver to customers nationwide." Both companies will continue operating under their current brands during a brief transition period, with a full rebrand of Total Scale planned in the coming months. Together, Michelli and Total Scale will leverage their combined experience and resources to deliver unmatched service, quality, and value to customers. For inquiries, contact info@Michelli.com or visit www.Michelli.com/contact to find your nearest location. About Michelli Weighing & Measurement Michelli Weighing & Measurement provides service, calibration, equipment sales, and rentals from 50 service areas across 18 states. Since 1947, Michelli has been a trusted expert in scales and precision measurement equipment. The company offers top-quality measurement solutions ranging from precision instruments to industrial weighing systems, including both standard NIST-traceable and ISO 17025-accredited calibration services, with on-site, mobile, and in-lab options available. SOURCE: Michelli Weighing & Measurement View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/michelli-weighing-and-measurement-announces-acquisition-of-total-scale-1141705 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Michael Hudson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. ("Southern Cross Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: SXGC) and his team joined Luke Allshorn, Head of Business Development Australia and SE Asia, Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), to open the market to celebrate the Company's graduation to Toronto Stock Exchange. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZnAX5nGlPU Southern Cross Gold is building Australia's next significant gold-antimony mine at its flagship Sunday Creek project, 60 kilometres north of Melbourne in Victoria's Central Goldfields. The project hosts world-class geology which has already delivered 79 intercepts exceeding 100g/t Au from 113km of drilling in a belt with continuous mining activity dating back to the 1850s gold rush era. Southern Cross Gold is fully funded and permitted for a 200km drill campaign with 10 rigs on surface and a further 12 to be added underground by the end of 2026 when its permitted and planned exploration decline is completed. Southern Cross Gold continues to add to its experienced team and board to add value to its shareholders and create jobs and economic opportunity for the region. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285652 Source: Toronto Stock Exchange AMSTERDAM, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As e-commerce volumes continue to grow, GOFO, a fast-growing global last-mile delivery provider active in the Netherlands, has entered into a strategic partnership with QLS, a leading Dutch fulfillment and logistics specialist. The collaboration strengthens end-to-end e-commerce logistics for more than 3,000 webshops across the Netherlands and beyond. GOFO has accelerated its expansion in the Netherlands by establishing two new delivery centers in Boxtel and Rotterdam in Q3 2025, in addition to its existing sorting center in Amsterdam. QLS, a family-owned company with over 1,000 employees, operates state-of-the-art fulfillment centers covering 20,000 m in Dordrecht and Alblasserdam, and has recently expanded internationally through the acquisitions of ShopWeDo in Belgium and J&J Global Fulfilment in the United Kingdom. By integrating GOFO into its carrier network, QLS can offer clients greater flexibility, improved delivery reliability, scalable solutions, and more competitive last-mile pricing. QLS's clients gain access to GOFO's e-commerce-focused delivery services via seamless API integration. Features such as real-time track-and-trace and photo-based Proof of Delivery (PoD) help reduce delivery disputes, improve transparency, and enhance the end-customer experience. "QLS has built a strong reputation for taking operational complexity off the shoulders of webshops," said Thijs Boots, CSO of GOFO Netherlands. "By combining their fulfillment expertise with our specialized last-mile network, we're enabling online retailers to scale efficiently without compromising delivery quality." "Diversifying our last-mile carrier network is essential to delivering flexibility, scalability, and value to our clients," said Quincy Boogers, CEO of QLS. "With GOFO's extended coverage across the Netherlands, we can offer webshops more delivery options that balance cost, reliability, and service quality while maintaining the high standards QLS is known for." Together, GOFO and QLS provide a unified logistics solution that supports retailers from the moment an order is picked in the warehouse to the final delivery at the consumer's doorstep, helping e-commerce brands grow confidently in an increasingly competitive market. About QLS QLS is a European logistics service provider specializing in e-commerce fulfillment, warehousing, and parcel distribution. With an advanced AutoStore system, my.QLS software, over 30 webshop integrations, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction, QLS helps webshops grow by simplifying their logistics processes. For more information, please visit: www.qls.nl. About GOFO Netherlands GOFO, founded in the United States in 2023, is a technology-driven last-mile logistics network serving merchants and consumers across the U.S., France, the Netherlands, and Italy. Guided by the brand philosophy "Drive Efficiency, Deliver Trust," GOFO combines advanced technology with localized operations to deliver precise, reliable, and scalable delivery solutions. Operating nationwide through three sorting and delivery centers, GOFO Netherlands effectively covers the entire Dutch population and provides high-performance last-mile delivery services supported by automated sorting, intelligent routing, and disciplined operational execution. For more information, please visit www.gofo.com/nl. Media Contact: Email: branding.eu@gofo.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2919290/GOFO_QLS_Photo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2919289/GOFO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gofo-and-qls-join-forces-to-strengthen-e-commerce-logistics-across-the-netherlands-302699758.html Prairie Farms and Hiland Dairy collectible bottles and sweepstakes celebrate the iconic "Winners Drink Milk" moment at the Indy 500 Edwardsville, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Prairie Farms Dairy and Hiland Dairy Foods today announced United in Tradition, a limited-time Indy 500 sweepstakes inspired by one of the most iconic celebrations in all of sports. The sweepstakes is part of a larger collaboration between Indianapolis Motor Speedway, American Dairy Association Indiana, and the Prairie Farms Family of Companies. From February through May 2026, fans can enter a consumer sweepstakes for the chance to win an unforgettable 2027 Indianapolis 500 experience for four as Prairie Farms and Hiland bring the excitement of Race Day to families at home through a collectible milk bottle series. Each bottle includes a QR code linking directly to the official sweepstakes entry page. More than 25,000 retailers across the central United States will carry the collectible bottles in both the Prairie Farms and Hiland brands, with bottle styles varying by region. In addition, approximately 200 million half-pint cartons featuring a commemorative graphic in celebration of Winners Drink Milk are being distributed to schools throughout the same region during the promotion. "We're proud to once again collaborate with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and American Dairy Association Indiana to celebrate one of the most iconic traditions in sports," said Vice President of Marketing & Communication Ryan Murphy. "Through collectible bottles in more than 25,000 retail locations and approximately 200 million commemorative cartons distributed to schools, United in Tradition brings the excitement of the Indy 500 to families across our markets while giving fans the chance to experience the race in person next year." More than 25,000 retailers across the central United States will carry the collectible bottles in both the Prairie Farms and Hiland brands To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12233/285411_prairie%201.jpg More than 25,000 retailers across the central United States will carry the collectible bottles in both the Prairie Farms and Hiland brands To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12233/285411_prairie%202.jpg From February through May 2026, fans can enter the United In Tradition sweepstakes for the chance to win an unforgettable 2027 Indianapolis 500 experience for four. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12233/285411_b960772ed4c6cb21_002full.jpg For more information about the sweepstakes details, please visit prairiefarms.com/indy or hilanddairy.com/indy. ### About the Prairie Farms Family of Companies Prairie Farms is one of the largest and most successful dairy cooperatives operating in the Midwest and South. The cooperative includes more than 500 farm families, 7,000 associates, 48 manufacturing plants, and over 100 distribution facilities, with annual sales exceeding $4.69 billion. Prairie Farms is a nationally recognized leader in the dairy industry, setting the standard for milk flavor innovations and producing award-winning milk, cheese, and cultured dairy products. With headquarters in Edwardsville, Ill., Prairie Farms' distribution footprint covers over 30 percent of the United States. For more information, visit www.prairiefarms.com. Hiland Dairy is a leading farmer-owned dairy foods company headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Hiland's widely loved products include milk, dips, cottage cheese, flavored milk, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, butter, cheese, and eggnog. The company also produces and distributes other beverages such as Red Diamond Tea, lemonade, and fresh juices. Hiland employs 4,000 people across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Hiland's milk comes from local farmer-owners just miles from its processing plants, where it goes from farm to shelf within 48 hours. Learn more at www.hilanddairy.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285411 Source: The Prairie Farms Family of Companies New construction will add 31 apartments and a connecting walkway SAINT LOUIS PARK, MN / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Less than two years after opening Saint Therese of Corcoran, Saint Therese is expanding its footprint in the fast-growing west metro city. Last night, the Corcoran City Council approved the new construction that will add 31 new independent living apartments to Saint Therese's existing community that currently has independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments. "We have been incredibly grateful for the warm welcome we have received in Corcoran. The response to our community has exceeded expectations, and our independent living apartments filled much faster than we anticipated," said Craig Abbott, president and CEO of Saint Therese. "While we always planned for the possibility of future growth here, we didn't expect to be moving forward with an expansion this soon. It speaks to the need in this area and to the strong connections we have already built." Groundbreaking is expected to begin this summer. Saint Therese will begin accepting reservations in March, with construction slated for completion in summer or fall 2027. The expansion will be located on the west side of the existing Saint Therese community and will include 31 new independent living apartments. The addition will connect to the current building through an amenity-rich enclosed walkway designed to bring residents and families together. The connector will feature a family room, kitchen, community room, kid's corner, outdoor game space and conservatory. Pope Design Group is once again serving as architect and interior design team on the project, and the general contractor is CBS Construction Services. # # # About Saint Therese: Minnesota-based Saint Therese was founded in 1964 and prides itself on its rich tradition of providing exceptional care for seniors. It has locations and services in Brooklyn Park, Woodbury, Corcoran, Shoreview (all Minnesota), IHM Senior Living Community in Monroe, Mich., St. Mary of the Woods in Avon, Ohio, and Saint Therese of Westlake in Westlake, Ohio. Most communities provide the full continuum of care from independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and transitional care. Saint Therese at St. Odilia in Shoreview specializes in hospice and palliative care. Ascend Rehabilitation provides rehabilitation therapy, health and wellness services. Saint Therese is a nonprofit, 501(3) senior care organization. Media Contact: Barb Hemberger, 612-669-0381 barbarah@sainttherese.org SOURCE: Saint Therese View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/saint-therese-receives-approval-to-expand-corcoran-senior-community-1142177 New location on Providence Boulevard is now serving clients DELTONA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Rue & Ziffra , a Central Florida personal injury law firm, has opened a new office at 1676 Providence Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725. This office will help its legal team handle local personal injury cases, including vehicle crashes, negligence claims and related matters. The expansion enhances legal access for West Volusia residents recovering from serious accidents and builds on the firm's established presence in the region. Founded in 1976 by John D. Rue and Allan L. Ziffra, the firm has multiple offices serving Volusia and Flagler counties. "Deltona is a growing community, and when families get hurt, they should not have to travel far to get answers," said Allan Ziffra , president and founding partner of Rue & Ziffra. "This office puts our team closer to the people who need help navigating medical bills, missed work and the insurance process after a crash or other injury." Rue & Ziffra focuses on personal injury law, representing clients in cases involving automobile and motorcycle collisions, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, wrongful death and other injury-related claims. The firm also handles social security disability cases, led by attorney Luis Gracia, a Board-Certified Social Security Disability Lawyer, this department is dedicated to guiding individuals through the complexities of the SSD application or appeals process. The firm maintains strong community ties in Volusia and Flagler counties through their RZCares initiative , as they participate and sponsor local events and organizations, Rue & Ziffra is dedicated to giving back. Residents seeking a consultation can contact the Deltona office directly or visit the firm's website at https://rueziffra.com/ . ### About Rue & Ziffra Founded by John D. Rue and Allan L. Ziffra, the personal-injury law firm of Rue & Ziffra has served the Central Florida community for more than 50 years. The firm's commitment to its profession and its clients has earned it a reputation as one of the top personal-injury law firms in Central Florida. Known for handling everything from automobile and motorcycle accidents to medical malpractice, wrongful death, and social security and disability cases, Rue & Ziffra has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. With a staff of ten attorneys, the firm maintains offices in Port Orange, DeLand, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Winter Park, Deltona and Lake Mary. For more information, visit www.rueziffra.com . Media contact: Lisa Viccaro LisaV@RueZiffra.com (386) 788-7700 https://rueziffra.com/ SOURCE: Rue & Ziffra View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/rue-and-ziffra-opens-deltona-office-to-expand-personal-injury-se-1142272 PowerLease 3.0 keeps proven owner-operators seated by financing equipment replacement and driver-to-owner transitions through approved carriers using performance-based approval VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / PowerLease today announced the launch of PowerLease 3.0, a carrier-led program designed to help fleets retain seated owner-operator capacity, support disciplined driver-to-owner transitions, and navigate equipment replacement without adding balance-sheet exposure in a tightening capital environment. PowerLease 3.0 emphasizes operating history, experience, and carrier alignment in its decisioning, allowing qualified owner-operators to purchase equipment without being penalized for recent macroeconomic volatility. The program is available through approved carriers. "The current operating environment has put sustained pressure on the trucking industry, particularly around equipment replacement," said David Falk, senior vice president of PowerLease. "PowerLease 3.0 is not transactional financing. It is a structured continuity platform built to stabilize fleets, reduce unplanned capacity loss, and support measured growth where economics and timing are critical." "As I see it, we keep proven owner-operators seated by financing equipment replacement and ownership transitions through approved carriers, based on performance-not credit alone," Falk said. "We look at work history, carrier stability, earnings consistency, and the equipment plan-not just a recent credit score," Falk added. "The result is disciplined approvals and a repeatable model that keeps productive trucks in service." PowerLease is a carrier-aligned equipment finance program. Its programs support equipment replacement and structured pathways for qualified drivers to move into ownership through approved carriers. PowerLease uses a streamlined application and performance-based underwriting to deliver clear, consistent credit decisions. For more information about PowerLease 3.0, visit www.powerlease.com. About PowerLease PowerLease is a carrier-aligned equipment finance program serving approved transportation companies. We finance equipment replacement and ownership transitions through carriers using performance-based approval. For more information, visit www.powerlease.com. PR Contact: Bob Hebeisen Parallel Communications Group, Inc. 617-417-1160 bhebeisen@parallelpr.com ??: @Parallel_PR Find us on LinkedIn SOURCE: PowerLease View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/powerlease-introduces-continuity-platform-to-help-carriers-keep-owne-1142279 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PGE) (OTCQB: PGEZF) (FSE: J0G) (the "Company" or "Stillwater") is pleased to be attending the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") Convention in Toronto March 1-4, 2026. The Company will be exhibiting at Booth #2724 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre under The Metallic Group, shared with Metallic Minerals Corp. In addition, Stillwater will be showcasing drill core from its 2025 resource expansion drill campaign at the Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in Montana in PDAC Core Shack #3116B on the third and fourth days of the convention (March 3rd and 4th). Management including Dr. Danie Grobler, VP Exploration, and Justin Modroo, Project Geophysicist, will be on hand to discuss results, upcoming catalysts, and expansion plans. Management welcomes shareholders, investors, and industry participants to visit the booth and Core Shack displays. Upcoming Events Michael Rowley, President and CEO of Stillwater, is scheduled to attend the following events. Additional events will be announced as confirmed. Metals Investor Forum - Toronto, Canada, February 27-28, 2026. For information, click here. PDAC 2026 - Toronto, Canada, March 1-4, 2026. For information, click here. SMI Conference - Zurich, Switzerland, March 18-19, 2026. For information, click here. SAFE Summit 2026 - Washington, D.C., USA, April 27-28, 2026. For information, click here. Top Shelf Partners - Washington, D.C., USA, May 17-19, 2026. For information, click here. Top Shelf Partners - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 20-22, 2026. For information, click here. About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSXV: PGE) (OTCQB: PGEZF) (FSE: J0G) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the iconic and famously productive Stillwater mining district in Montana, USA. With the addition of two renowned Bushveld and Platreef geologists to the team and strategic investments by Glencore plc, the Company is well positioned to advance the next phase of large-scale critical mineral supply from this world-class American district, building on past production of nickel, copper, and chromium, and the on-going production of platinum group, nickel, and other metals by neighboring Sibanye-Stillwater. An expanded NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, released January 2023, positions Stillwater West with the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district as part of a compelling suite of ten minerals now listed as critical in the USA. Stillwater also holds a 49% interest in the high-grade Drayton-Black Lake-gold project adjacent to Nexgold Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, currently under an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum's Wellgreen deposit in Canada's Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, approval of the TSXV and the filing of the Amended Offering Document. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285655 Source: Newsfile Partner Event AREZZO, Italy, Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Italpreziosi announces the launch of its official application, a new digital tool designed to provide investors with even simpler, more secure, and immediate access to the world of precious metals. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. With this new solution, Italpreziosi takes a further step forward in its innovation journey, offering clients a comprehensive platform that integrates the purchase, monitoring, and management of physical gold and silver investments directly from their smartphones. The app enables users to purchase investment-grade bars and coins through the official Italpreziosi catalog, featuring continuously updated pricing and a guided purchasing process designed to ensure transparency, simplicity, and maximum security. The user experience has been developed to meet the needs of modern investors who require operational speed without compromising reliability. In addition to its purchasing functionality, the application offers an advanced system for consulting real-time price quotations. Users can monitor spot prices and fixings, and analyze precious metals performance through interactive charts and intuitive analytical tools designed to interpret market trends across multiple time horizons. A further distinctive feature is the integrated digital wallet, which allows investors to check the quantity and value of their holdings at any time, review their purchase history, and access orders and related documentation. As a result, their precious metals portfolio is always within reach, providing a clear and up-to-date overview of their position. The experience is further enhanced by customizable alert systems: users can set notifications for gold, silver, or specific products and receive automatic updates when selected price thresholds are reached, enabling them to seize market opportunities promptly. With the launch of the new app, Italpreziosi reaffirms its commitment to combining strength, expertise, and technological innovation, delivering digital solutions aligned with a constantly evolving market and the expectations of an increasingly informed and discerning clientele. For Italpreziosi, investing in precious metals is not merely a value-driven choice, but a journey to be supported with professionalism, transparency, and strategic vision. For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80f0c0d2-35f7-4c5e-81f7-fe00a1734fa5 Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX: ET) will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on March 4, 2026 at approximately 4:00 p.m. (EDT). The Company will hold a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the results on March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (EDT). Media and other interested parties are invited to join the conference call in listen-only mode. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-289-514-5100 or Toll-Free (North America) 1-800-717-1738. For those unable to listen to the live call, a rebroadcast will also be available until April 4, 2026. The rebroadcast can be accessed at 1-289-819-1325 or Toll-Free 1-888-660-6264. The pass code for the rebroadcast is 66926#. About Evertz Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX: ET) designs, manufactures and markets video and audio infrastructure solutions. The Company's solutions are purchased by the television broadcast, telecommunications, professional audio-visual, government, military, enterprise, and new media sectors to support their increasingly complex multi-channel digital environments, with high-definition, Ultra HD , and high dynamic range formats. The Company's solutions allow it customers to generate additional revenue while reducing costs through efficient signal routing, distribution, monitoring, and management of content, as well as the automation and orchestration of more streamlined and agile workflow processes on premise and in the "Cloud." To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285659 Source: Evertz Technologies Limited Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VCT) (OTCQB: TORVF) ("Volt Carbon" or the "Company") announces that it will be exhibiting at PDAC 2026 at Booth 2306, where the Company will showcase its proprietary dry mineral separation technology, graphite extraction process, and lithium-ion battery development initiatives. In conjunction with PDAC, the Company provides a technical update on historic data from its Mount Copeland property in British Columbia and recent internal metallurgical work. Mount Copeland Technical Update Mount Copeland is documented in British Columbia Geological Survey Assessment Report 31,834 entitled "Geological and Geochemical Report on the Mount Copeland Property" authored by Andris Kikauka, P.Geo., 2010. Geochemical analysis certificates included in Assessment Report 31,834 comprise results from three laboratories: Pioneer Labs (Certificate 2102718, 2010), ALS (Certificate VA10144345, 2010), and SGS (Certificate CA02322, 2010). The SGS certificate reported three rare earth elements including La 10 percent, Pr 0.77 percent, and Ce 13.1 percent. Sample AR-20 was taken from a shear zone at 2,270 meters elevation hosted in coarse grain syenite gneiss with elevated apatite and zircon. The historic Copeland Mine, at elevation 2,100 metres is located 1.2 km northwest of Mount Copeland. Review of the 2010 technical report identified a typographical transcription error in the summary table. The original laboratory certificates contained in the appendix were correct; however, certain assay values for rock chip sample COPE10AR-20 were not accurately transcribed into the summary table. Using the original laboratory certificates referenced in the appendix, the Company recalculated the Total Rare Earth Oxide equivalent for sample AR20, which returns approximately 26 percent TREO. The Company cautions that this recalculated TREO value is derived from historic laboratory certificates and has not been independently re-assayed or verified under current National Instrument 43-101 standards. The reported value relates to a select rock chip sample and is not necessarily representative of mineralization across the property. Rock chip samples are selective in nature and may not be indicative of grade or continuity. In 2024, additional rock chip samples collected near the edge of the Copeland Glacier returned values of up to 0.234 percent niobium associated with elevated molybdenum. These results are also based on selective sampling and may not be representative of mineralization across the property. Representative samples from AR20 and other prospective zones are being prepared for submission to an independent laboratory for ICP-MS analysis to support potential future NI 43-101 compliant disclosure. Molybdenum and Rhenium Update The Company has also applied its dry mineral separation process to molybdenum-bearing rock chip samples from both Mount Copeland and the Red Bird property, upgrading the material to molybdenum concentrates. The Red Bird property is characterized as a copper-molybdenum porphyry system with associated silver and rhenium mineralization, as documented in prior exploration work. Rhenium is commonly associated with molybdenite in porphyry environments. Preliminary internal XRF analysis was performed using an Elvatech ElvaX ProSpector 3 X-ray fluorescence analyzer. The instrument was calibrated in accordance with manufacturer specifications and verified using certified reference standards prior to analysis. Internal XRF analysis indicates that Mount Copeland material returned approximately 2,790 ppm rhenium in elemental analysis. Red Bird material returned approximately 3,182 ppm rhenium in oxide analysis and 2,115 ppm rhenium in elemental analysis of selected separated samples. Figure 1: XRF Results of Dry Separated Moly Concentrate To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9904/285660_ef0bab2f8407998f_001full.jpg The presence of rhenium mineralization at Mount Copeland was not previously highlighted in historic technical reporting and represents an area of technical interest for further evaluation. All rhenium results reported are preliminary and based on internal XRF analysis. The reported values relate to selected samples and may not be representative of mineralization across the respective properties. Representative samples from both properties will be submitted to an independent laboratory for verification using ICP-MS methods, and any future technical disclosure will be made in accordance with NI 43-101. At PDAC 2026, in addition to graphite concentrates, graphene materials, and lithium-metal battery samples, Volt Carbon intends to display rock chip sample COPE10AR-20 from the Mount Copeland property, along with dry separated molybdenum concentrate samples derived from Mount Copeland that demonstrated measurable rhenium values in internal XRF analysis. Qualified Person The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Andris Kikauka, P.Geo., who is the author of the 2010 Mount Copeland technical report and acts as a geologist for the Company. Mr. Kikauka is not considered independent of the Company under NI 43-101. About Volt Carbon Technologies Volt Carbon is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation, with holdings in mining claims in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia in Canada. For the latest information on Volt Carbon's properties and news please refer to the website www.voltcarbontech.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, 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. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Volt Carbon's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to: (i) the planned exhibition of rock chip sample COPE10AR-20 and molybdenum concentrate material containing rhenium at PDAC 2026; (ii) the submission of representative samples for independent laboratory verification using ICP-MS methods; (iii) potential future technical disclosure under National Instrument 43-101; and (iv) the continued advancement and application of the Company's dry mineral separation and metallurgical processes. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Volt Carbon assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285660 Source: Volt Carbon Technologies Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB) (OTCQB: LRRIF) (the "Company" or "Lion Rock") is pleased to announce that it will be attending the 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention ("PDAC"), to be held March 1 to 4, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. PDAC Event and Booth Details Event: Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention 2026 Dates: March 1 to 4, 2026 March 1 to 4, 2026 Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Booth Number: 3046 Lion Rock will have its leadership and technical personnel on site and looks forward to engaging with the investment and resource community. The Company welcomes attendees to visit Booth 3046 to learn more about its exploration programs in South Dakota's Black Hills. About Lion Rock Resources Inc. Lion Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company committed to advancing high-grade gold and lithium projects across North America. The Company's flagship asset, the Volney Project, is located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a mining-friendly jurisdiction surrounded by active gold operations. The Company is led by an award-winning team with a proven track record of mineral discoveries, project development, and financing. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285674 Source: Lion Rock Resources Inc. Company highlights landmark DSCSA execution, accelerated MINT network growth, and expansion of OPUS Agentic Business Solutions BOSTON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the life sciences industry enters 2026, navigating regulatory complexity, global volatility, and accelerating AI adoption, TraceLink today reflects on a transformative 2025 and outlines its strategic priorities for scaling agentic orchestration across the global life sciences and healthcare supply chain. "Digitalization and the operational deployment of AI across one of the world's most valuable and least automated industries represents a generational opportunity," said Shabbir Dahod, President and CEO of TraceLink. "We believe the foundation of the agentic enterprise begins with trusted network data, regulated infrastructure, and end-to-end orchestration-and that is exactly what we are building." From Regulatory Backbone to Multienterprise Infrastructure In 2025, TraceLink and its 310,000+ network of customers and trading partners successfully executed one of the most complex regulatory milestones in industry history: the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) dispenser requirement. During peak implementation periods, TraceLink: Activated approximately 300 new DSCSA live links per week Processed billions of serialized EPCIS transaction events Maintained enterprise-grade performance and reliability in GxP-regulated environments Connected manufacturers, wholesalers, dispensers, and 3PLs across interoperable enterprise systems TraceLink's network integrates with leading ERP, WMS, serialization, and pharmacy systems - including SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, and other major enterprise platforms - enabling standardized, compliant transaction exchange across multienterprise workflows. DSCSA execution did more than achieve compliance. It established a trusted, regulated transaction backbone across the life sciences ecosystem - a foundation customers are now leveraging to expand beyond compliance toward end-to-end digitalization and, ultimately, agentic orchestration of shared supply chain processes. The TraceLink Network Has Shifted from Connectivity to Execution at Scale TraceLink's global network links 310,000+ trading partners, 339,000+ active links, and 1,790+ customers worldwide. What changed in 2025 was not simply the size of the network - it was how customers are using it to orchestrate shared supply chain outcomes with trading partners. After more than a decade serving as the trusted backbone for serialization and global compliance, TraceLink is seeing customers broaden their use of the OPUS platform beyond regulatory requirements into commercial, logistics, manufacturing, and multienterprise orchestration workflows. In 2025, customers expanded their use of the TraceLink network, and TraceLink supported that growth by: Delivering 971% year-over-year growth in MINT live links. in MINT live links. Launching 21 new transaction workflows across transportation, manufacturing, logistics, and commercial operations. across transportation, manufacturing, logistics, and commercial operations. Activating 16 transaction types across five core business orchestrations , resulting in 182 live transactions running in production. , resulting in Delivering 127 standardized B2B integrations and four new enterprise system integrations, strengthening TraceLink's growing integration ecosystem and accelerating interoperable, multienterprise process automation across the network. As a result, the network now supports over 7 billion regulated transactions annually, while increasingly powering business-critical operational flows. TraceLink refers to this advantage as the "network-is-the-product" model - where every new transaction processed and every trading partner connected strengthens the shared digital infrastructure, continuously reducing the time, cost, and complexity of digitalization for all participants. Accelerating Adoption of MINT's 60+ End-to-End Business Transactions to Support All Orchestrations In 2025, global momentum behind TraceLink's flagship Multienterprise Information Network Tower (MINT) capability accelerated significantly: 59% growth in MINT customers year over year in MINT customers year over year 584% growth in MINT link onboarding in MINT link onboarding Establishing strategic enterprise partnerships spanning global logistics, multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare distribution. These milestones reflect increasing strategic demand for network-based orchestration, extending far beyond pure compliance-spanning transportation, logistics, external manufacturing, and commercial transactions. Using these MINT transactions, customers and their partners are pursuing massive improvements in critical shared processes such as forecasting and planning, procure-to-pay, order management, production execution, inventory and materials management, shipment and receipt coordination, financial settlement, recall management, warehouse operations execution, and many more. OPUS Established the Information Foundation for Agentic Supply Chain Execution In 2025, TraceLink significantly expanded OPUS (Orchestration Platform for Universal Solutions), strengthening the network data, process standardization, and governed infrastructure required to support future agentic capabilities across the supply chain. OPUS now supports: 60+ standardized transaction types 65+ collaborative, multienterprise processes 150+ pre-configured, no-code customizable reports and dashboards Advanced performance and reliability enhancements for GxP operating environments Expanded no-code tools for process orchestration and reporting Collectively, these advancements established the structured transaction data, cross-enterprise process visibility, and regulated execution environment required for agentic supply chain operations. With a trusted, auditable information layer now in place across a 310,000+ partner network, TraceLink enters 2026 positioned to activate governed AI agents capable of operating across real, multienterprise workflows. Industry Recognition and Trust Required in an Industrial No-Code Platform As TraceLink expanded network depth and enterprise orchestration in 2025, independent industry assessments and global certifications reinforced the company's position as the most trusted digital platform in life sciences supply chain management. TraceLink's reliability, governance, and security leadership were validated through: ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 9001 certifications SOC 2 Type II and SOC 1 attestations (AICPA) CyberVadis Platinum rating, scoring 993/1,000 (Mature) Independent third-party audits conducted by Rephine (Rx-360) and Qualifyze Recognition as a Leader in IDC's 2025 MESCCN Vendor Assessment More than 10 industry awards, including recognition from Fast Company, SupplyTech Breakthrough, the Merit Awards for Healthcare Innovation, and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Scaling Agentic Orchestration in 2026 With the industry's most trusted compliance infrastructure and the largest connected life sciences network already in place, TraceLink enters 2026 ready to scale agentic orchestration across the global healthcare supply chain. What began as serialization and regulatory compliance is evolving into something far more powerful: a governed, AI-enabled execution layer operating across hundreds of thousands of connected trading partners. As customers expand beyond compliance into multienterprise coordination, TraceLink is embedding OPUS Agents directly into networked transactions and processes-turning trusted data and connected workflows into intelligent, real-time action. The next phase of digital transformation in life sciences will not be about connectivity alone. It will be about execution. And TraceLink is building the infrastructure to power it. About TraceLink TraceLink Inc. is the largest end-to-end intelligent supply chain platform for life sciences and healthcare, enabling end-to-end orchestration by linking more than 291,000 healthcare and life sciences entities through its Business-to-Network Integrate-Once network. Leading companies trust TraceLink to deliver complete global digitalization, visibility, and traceability of healthcare products, ensuring that every patient receives the medicines they rely on, safely, securely, and on time. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1004729/TraceLink_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tracelink-builds-on-transformative-2025-to-scale-agentic-orchestration-across-the-global-life-sciences-supply-chain-in-2026-302699832.html Pakistan's Information Minister Denounces Afghan Taliban's Domestic and Security Policies in wake of cross-border conflict Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, issued a comprehensive statement today addressing the current security and humanitarian situation involving the Afghan Taliban administration. In a media briefing, the Minister characterized the current regime in Kabul as an "illegitimate" authority, citing its lack of a democratic mandate and its alleged role in regional instability. Security and Counter-Terrorism Concerns Minister Tarar addressed the escalating security challenges at the border, alleging a direct link between the Afghan Taliban and militant groups operating within Pakistan. He stated that the regime provides "safe havens and facilitation" for organizations responsible for recent domestic attacks, including the targeting of a Shiite mosque and the recent martyrdom of Lt. Col. Gulfar Ahmed. The Minister confirmed that recent unprovoked cross-border actions were met with a decisive response from Pakistan's armed forces, resulting in the neutralization of several threats and the capture of strategic posts. Civil Rights and Institutionalized Discrimination A significant portion of the address focused on the Taliban's recently implemented criminal regulations. Minister Tarar highlighted concerns regarding the regression of civil liberties, specifically: Social Stratification: The Minister noted that new laws create a tiered justice system where penalties are determined by social class-ranging from warnings for the elite to physical punishment for the "lower class." The Minister noted that new laws create a tiered justice system where penalties are determined by social class-ranging from warnings for the elite to physical punishment for the "lower class." Status of Enslavement: He condemned the regime's explicit legal recognition of individuals as "free or enslaved," calling it a direct violation of the Cairo Declaration and modern Islamic consensus. He condemned the regime's explicit legal recognition of individuals as "free or enslaved," calling it a direct violation of the Cairo Declaration and modern Islamic consensus. Gender-Based Restrictions: Citing the "widest gender gap in the world," Tarar noted that 80% of Afghan women aged 18-29 are now denied education due to bans on schooling past the age of 13. International Human Rights Citations The Minister's briefing referenced a February 12, 2026, United Nations Security Council report which flagged systemic hostage-taking and the abuse of women and girls. Furthermore, he noted reports regarding International Criminal Court (ICC) scrutiny of Taliban leadership-including Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada-concerning potential warrants for gender-based persecution. "No civilized society can allow this," stated Minister Tarar. "The Afghan Taliban's actions and their interpretation of governance are a perversion of religious teachings and have no basis in Islam. We call upon the international community to recognize the systemic discrimination and state-sponsored activities currently defining this regime." About the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB), Pakistan: The Ministry is responsible for the formulation and implementation of Pakistan's media policy and the dissemination of government information both domestically and internationally. Attachment MOIB Minister Atta Tarar Address: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan. Phone: 0092-51-9103557 Email: info@moib.gov.pk Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSXV: MMG) (OTCQB: MMNGF) (FSE: 9MM1) ("Metallic" or the "Company") is pleased to be attending the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") Convention in Toronto from March 1-4, 2026. The Company will be exhibiting at Booth #2724 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre under The Metallic Group, shared with Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PGE). Management will be available to provide updates on the Company's La Plata copper-silver-gold-PGE critical minerals project in Colorado, supported by a strategic investment from Newmont Corporation, as well as its 100%-owned, district-scale Keno Silver project in Yukon, located adjacent to Hecla Mining's Keno Hill operations. Shareholders, investors, and industry participants are invited to visit Booth #2724 to discuss recent progress and upcoming catalysts across Metallic Minerals' portfolio. About Metallic Minerals Metallic Minerals Corp. is a resource-stage exploration and development company advancing copper, silver, gold, platinum group elements, and other critical minerals at the La Plata project in southwestern Colorado, and high-grade silver exploration at the Keno Silver project in the Yukon Territory, adjacent to Hecla Mining's Keno Hill silver operations. The Company is also one of the largest holders of alluvial gold claims in the Yukon and is building a production royalty business through partnerships with experienced mining operators. Metallic is led by a team with a strong track record of discovery and exploration success across multiple precious and base metal deposits in North America and is backed by strategic investment by Newmont Corporation and Eric Sprott. The Company integrates advanced data analytics into its exploration process to support target generation, accelerate discovery, and unlock value across its portfolio. Metallic's project districts have a history of significant mineral production and benefit from existing infrastructure, including road access and nearby power. The Company is committed to responsible and sustainable resource development, engaging and collaborating with Canadian First Nation groups, U.S. Tribal and Native Corporations, and local communities to support long-term project advancement. Upcoming Events Metallic's management team will be attending several upcoming key industry events over the coming months and welcomes the opportunity to meet with investors and stakeholders: Metals Investor Forum - Toronto, Canada, February 27-28, 2026. PDAC 2026 - Toronto, Canada, March 1-4, 2026. Swiss Mining Institute Conference - Zurich, Switzerland, March 18-19, 2026. SAFE Summit 2026 - Washington, D.C., USA, April 27-28, 2026. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting timelines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, statements about expected results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position and future dividends as well as financial position, prospects, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, unsuccessful operations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration, development of mines and mining operations is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285676 Source: Newsfile Partner Event Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Renegade Gold Inc. (TSXV: RAGE) (OTCQB: RENGF) (FSE: 0700) ("Renegade" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be attending the 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention ("PDAC"), to be held March 1 to 4, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. PDAC Event and Booth Details Event: Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention 2026 Dates: March 1 to 4, 2026 March 1 to 4, 2026 Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Booth Number: 3046 Attendees are invited to visit Booth 3046 to learn more about the Company and its exploration activities in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario. About Renegade Gold Inc. Renegade Gold Inc. is a growth-oriented exploration company advancing a district-scale portfolio in the Red Lake region of Northern Ontario. The Company's strategy combines advancing defined gold resources and development-stage assets with systematic greenfields exploration across one of Canada's most prolific gold districts. Renegade has assembled one of the largest and most prospective land packages in Red Lake, totaling approximately 1,380 km, strategically positioned near producing mines and advanced-stage deposits along the Confederation Lake and Birch-Uchi greenstone belts. The Company's diversified portfolio includes both advanced exploration assets with established Mineral Resources and earlier-stage targets along key structural corridors that host many of Red Lake's significant gold discoveries. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285710 Source: Renegade Gold Inc. Prospera Energy Inc. (TSXV: PEI) (OTC Pink: GXRFF) ("Prospera", "PEI", the "Company", or the "Corporation") Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Prospera Energy is pleased to announce that the Company has been invited to present at an industry leadership presentation and a technical industry conference, reflecting growing industry recognition of Prospera's disciplined heavy oil reactivation strategy and operational execution across legacy assets in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. On March 4th, 2026, Prospera will present at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Lunch & Learn session in Calgary, titled "Leadership and Capital Perspectives on Value Creation in Legacy Heavy Oil Assets." The presentation will address the capital-constrained landscape facing junior Canadian E&P companies and outline Prospera's structured framework for unlocking value within mature CHOPS and waterflood reservoirs. The Company will discuss the technical and commercial challenges associated with operating legacy heavy oil assets, strategies for reviving suspended production with strong capital efficiency, and the importance of disciplined governance, aligned leadership, and well-by-well optimization in executing a repeatable production growth model. Prospera has also been invited to present at the Artificial Lift Conference on April 28th, 2026, where the Company will deliver a technical session titled "PCP Design and Recycle Pump Effectiveness on Legacy Heavy Oil CHOPS." This presentation will focus on optimized PCP rotor sizing and elastomer selection to enable controlled sand production, the role of incremental sand influx in supporting wormhole development and sustained oil flow, and the application of recycle pumps and casing oil injection to maintain clean, productive wellbores. The session will further highlight field-level results demonstrating improved recovery and measurable production growth across mature heavy oil pools. These invitations underscore Prospera's continued commitment to operational excellence, disciplined capital allocation, and technical innovation in revitalizing undervalued heavy oil assets. The Company remains focused on executing its structured reactivation and optimization strategy to drive sustainable production growth and long-term shareholder value. Prospera will also host its March 2026 Corporate Update Conference Call on March 12th, 2026 at 10:00am MST. Investors can register to attend via Zoom here. During the call, management will provide updates on operational progress, production optimization initiatives, and near-term strategic priorities. Investors may view the Company's February 2026 corporate update on YouTube here. Acquisition Update Prospera Energy is pleased to announce an update to its previously announced acquisition from the press release dated September 30th, 2025, of the additional 14% working interest in the Cuthbert property from an arm's length joint venture partner. The total purchase price for this transaction was $1,226,744, now consisting of $199,634 in equity through the issuance of 5,703,814 PEI common shares at a price of $0.035 per share, subject to a twelve-month hold period, 5,334,550 warrants allowing the holder to acquire one PEI common share at a price of $0.05 for three years from issuance, and forgiveness of all outstanding debts totaling $1,027,111 owed by the joint venture partner. This transaction has now closed, and as a result of the transaction, Prospera now holds a 100% working interest across all its core Saskatchewan heavy oil properties. This acquisition has been accepted by the TSXV. Shares for Debt Update Prospera announces an update to its previously announced shares-for-debt settlement with two arm's length vendors, originally disclosed on September 30, 2025. The first vendor has agreed to settle a total of $50,000 through the issuance of 1,428,571 common shares at a deemed price of $0.035 per share. The second vendor has agreed to settle $100,000 through the issuance of 2,500,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.040 per share. The shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The transactions have been accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange. About Prospera Prospera Energy Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian energy company specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Prospera is dedicated to optimizing recovery from legacy fields using environmentally safe and efficient reservoir development methods and production practices. The company's core properties are strategically located in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Cuthbert, Luseland, Hearts Hill, and Brooks. Prospera Energy Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEI and the U.S. OTC Market under GXRFF. Prospera reports gross production at the first point of sale, excluding gas used in operations and volumes from partners in arrears, even if cash proceeds are received. Gross production represents Prospera's working interest before royalties, while net production reflects its working interest after royalty deductions. These definitions align with ASC 51-324 to ensure consistency and transparency in reporting. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will," "may," "should," "anticipate," "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information 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 Prospera. As a result, Prospera cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward- looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Prospera 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, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law. Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285713 Source: Prospera Energy Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV: PRG) (OTCQB: PREIF) (the "Company" or "Precipitate") is pleased to announce that it has completed improvements to existing property access routes and commenced preparations of new drill site locations within the Pueblo Grande Norte Zone of the Company's 100% owned Pueblo Grande Project ("Pueblo Grande" or the "Project") in central Dominican Republic. See photos below. In addition, the Company has signed a drill contract with Energold Group ("Energold"), whereby the drill company has confirmed the availability of an in-country diamond drill rig and crew prepared to commence mobilization upon completion of the site preparations. Completion of access improvements and drill pad construction in the coming weeks will enable timely mobilization of the drill rig and crew, positioning the Company to commence diamond drilling immediately thereafter. Further details on the mobilization of the drill rig and/or the commencement of drilling will be disclosed in due course. Photo 1: Cleared access path To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/285668_d4352d81341959cb_003full.jpg Photo 2: Completed drill pad preparations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/285668_d4352d81341959cb_004full.jpg The target area is fully permitted for drilling and the pending diamond drilling campaign will be designed to systematically test a newly identified, and untested cluster of induced polarization ("IP") geophysical chargeability anomalies collectively measuring about 800 metres north-south by more than 450 metres east-west, loosely centred at depths that range from 100 to 330 metres from surface. The chargeability anomaly remains open in both the east and west directions. Using 2D Quantitative Vertical IP Sections, the interpreted shape of the chargeability high anomalies suggests an epithermal alteration system having a shallow south dipping alteration blanket or 'lithocap' (> 25 mv/v chargeability threshold), with perhaps up to three semi-discrete strong internal east-west tending sub-horizontal lobes (> 30 mv/v readings, up to 50 mv/v locally) and possible underlying vertical 'feeder structures' (as delineated by both moderate to strong chargeability and resistivity readings). See the Company's news release dated January 22, 2026. Energold is a well-established international drilling contractor with substantial operational experience throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, including extensive prior work in various regions of the Dominican Republic. The selected diamond drill rig is currently in-country and available and expected to be mobilized to site shortly. Energold's experienced Dominican workforce are familiar with Project specific operating conditions and the selected rig is well suited for the anticipated drill hole depths and ground conditions. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Moore, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Moore is not independent of the Company within the meaning of NI 43-101. The QP has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information. About Precipitate Gold: Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Dominican Republic, including its 100% owned Juan de Herrera project located immediately adjacent to GoldQuest Mining's Romero Project, its 100% owned Pueblo Grande project located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick Mining, and its 100% owned Ponton project located 30km east of the Pueblo Viejo mine. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp., "Jeffrey Wilson" President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285668 Source: Precipitate Gold Corp. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Metals Group is pleased to announce that its member companies will be exhibiting at the Prospectors &Developers Association Conference (PDAC) 2026, taking place Mar 1-4, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Representatives from Metals Group and its portfolio of resource companies will be on hand at Booth 2849 throughout the conference, engaging with investors, partners, and industry stakeholders to share insights on their respective projects, growth strategies, and exploration milestones. Metals Group Member Companies Attending PDAC 2026: Altiplano Metals (TSXV: APN) - A Canadian resource company focused on the exploration, development, and advancement of copper-gold mineral assets, primarily in Chile, supported by existing mining and processing infrastructure. - A Canadian resource company focused on the exploration, development, and advancement of copper-gold mineral assets, primarily in Chile, supported by existing mining and processing infrastructure. Emperor Metals (CSE: AUOZ) - Exploration company advancing the high-potential Duquesne West Gold Project in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt. - Exploration company advancing the high-potential Duquesne West Gold Project in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Metalero Mining Corp. (TSXV: MLO) - Canadian exploration company focused on copper and precious metals projects in the Americas. - Canadian exploration company focused on copper and precious metals projects in the Americas. Omega Pacific (CSE: OMGA) - Focused on exploration in British Columbia's Toodoggone Mining District, including newly discovered bulk-tonnage gold mineralization at the Williams Property. - Focused on exploration in British Columbia's Toodoggone Mining District, including newly discovered bulk-tonnage gold mineralization at the Williams Property. Torr Metals (TSX-V: TMET) - A discovery-focused explorer advancing porphyry copper-gold systems across British Columbia and Ontario, leveraging systematic exploration and established regional infrastructure. - A discovery-focused explorer advancing porphyry copper-gold systems across British Columbia and Ontario, leveraging systematic exploration and established regional infrastructure. Sankamap (CSE: SCU) - Advancing high-grade copper and gold exploration in the South Pacific, with fully permitted assets in the Solomon Islands. - Advancing high-grade copper and gold exploration in the South Pacific, with fully permitted assets in the Solomon Islands. Laiva Gold Inc. (CSE: EDGM) - Owner of the Laiva Gold Mine in Finland, on track to restart gold production in 2026. - Owner of the Laiva Gold Mine in Finland, on track to restart gold production in 2026. Vulcan Resources (Private Company) - Advancing early-stage gold and copper properties while actively progressing toward a public listing. "PDAC is one of the premier global gatherings for the mineral resources and investment community, bringing together industry leaders, investors, governments, and service providers from around the world," said Founder, John Williamson. "We look forward to connecting with a broad range of stakeholders and showcasing the continued progress and opportunities emerging across our diversified metals and mining portfolio." Attendees are invited to visit Booth 2849 throughout the event to meet senior management from each company, explore project highlights, and learn more about Metals Group's collaborative strategy that helps accelerate discovery and value creation across its members. About Metals Group Metals Group is a consortium of exploration and mining companies backed by teams of technical, financial and corporate professionals with experience in raising capital, advancing projects, and delivering impactful results for shareholders. Through shared expertise and a systematic approach to project selection and development, Metals Group companies are positioned for growth across multiple jurisdictions and commodities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285717 Source: Newsfile Partner Event Highlights: The investment adds a third strategic investor, when combined with investments by mining companies South32 Group Operations PTY Ltd. and Teck Resources Limited The Offering funds significantly expanded drill programs for 2026 and 2027 at the Company's NAK copper-gold porphyry project (the "Nak") near Smithers, BC No warrants will be issued in connection with the Offering American Eagle will issue these shares at $1.20 CAD Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a financing for aggregate gross proceeds up to C$34,540,000, consisting of approximately: (i) up to 19,200,000 common shares to be issued on a premium flow-through basis (each, an "FT Share") at a price of C$1.20 per FT Share ("Charity FT Offering") for proceeds of C$23,040,000; and (ii) up to 14,935,065 common shares (each, a "Share") at a price of C$0.77 per Share for proceeds of up to C$11,500,000 (the "Concurrent Offering" and with the Charity FT Offering are the "Offering"). Eric Sprott, through a 2176423 Ontrio Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned and controlled by him, has agreed to acquire an approximate 9.9% equity interest in the Company, prior to the decisions of Teck and South32 who have certain equity participaton rights as detailed below, through the purchase of 19,200,000 common shares underlying the Charity FT Offering at a back-end price of $0.77 per share. The investment represents C$23,040,000 of the Charity FT Offering gross proceeds. "We're very pleased to welcome Eric Sprott as another strategic, long-term investor on the register. What makes his participation particularly notable is that it's rare for him to back copper stories. We're proud to have him alongside Teck, South32, and Orecap as foundational, long-term shareholders," state Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle. "NAK has truly caught my attention. I believe the grade and length of the intervals are exceptional, and the gold grade is the icing on the cake. I believe this is one of the best undeveloped porphyrys in Canada," stated Eric Sprott. Participation Rights for Teck and South32 American Eagle has previously agreed to grant South32 and Teck certain investor rights, including an equity participation right in equity financings as well as dilutive events to maintain its pro-rata ownership in the Company. Should these shareholders choose to maintain their rights, American Eagle would complete up to a $11.5 million concurrent offering. The Concurrent Offering is to accommodate these rights and additional subscribers and it not a committed amount. Further information will be provided when South 32 and Teck have confirmed their participation intentions to the Company. There is no assurance that either South 32 or Teck will participate in the Offering, or maintain their proportionate equity ownership in the Company. American Eagle will use the proceeds to thoroughly test its thesis at NAK and build on the successes of its 2026 and 2027 drill program, which expanded NAK's scale and identified additional high-grade zones, as well as for general corporate purposes and working capital. The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur, on the Company's Canadian mineral exploration properties, eligible resource exploration expenses that will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), (ii) "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act), and (iii) "BC flow-through mining expenditures" for purchasers in British Columbia (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). The Qualifying Expenditures, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares, will be incurred on or before December 31, 2027 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2026. In the event that the Company is unable to renounce the full issue price of the FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2026 and/or if the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each initial purchaser for the additional taxes payable by such subscriber to the extent permitted by the Tax Act as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures as agreed. Upon closing this Offering (assuming both the Charity FT Offering and Concurrent Offering are completed), American Eagle will have over C$50 million in cash on its balance sheet, and the Company will be fully funded for substantial drill program expansions in 2026 and 2027. No warrants are included in the Offering. The Company will pay a commission or finder's fee of up to 1% in connection with the Offering. The Company reserves the right to alter the Concurrent Offering to include a premium flow-through component. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on, or about, March 20, 2026 (the "Closing Date"), subject to satisfaction of the closing conditions for the benefit of the parties, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day following the Closing Date. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements. About American Eagle's NAK Project The NAK Project lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed by American Eagle in 2022, 2023, and 2024 returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that reached beyond and much deeper than the historical drilling, indicating that zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system. American Eagle Gold completed an aggressive 31,500 metre drill program in 2025 designed to expand and improve the mineral footprint; assays are currently being received. For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Chanel: youtube.com/@theoregroup About American Eagle Gold Corp. American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada. American Eagle Gold Corp Toronto, Ontario Q.P. Statement Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding whether the Company will be able to complete the Offering as anticipated, the receipt of regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to complete the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. American Eagle Gold Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to American Eagle Gold Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by American Eagle Gold Corp. with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285744 Source: American Eagle Gold Corp. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a publicly traded biotechnology and precision intracellular drug-delivery company, is pleased to announce the launch of a private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 20,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.55 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds to Defence of up to $11,000,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrants"). Each Warrant will entitle its holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.65 per share for 24 months following the date of issuance. The Company has executed a binding term sheet with two arm's length institutional investors (collectively, the "Investors") in connection with the Private Placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,000,000 (CAD) (the "Investors' Proceeds"). In connection with the Private Placement, the Investors' Proceeds and the Units will be deposited in escrow in advance of closing pursuant to an escrow agreement (the "Escrow Agreement"). Upon closing, the Units will be released from escrow and delivered to the Investors or as they may direct, and the Investors' Proceeds will be released from escrow and deposited as credit support pursuant to an ISDA Credit Support Annex, and released to the Company in monthly cash tranches of $333,333 (CAD) over an 18-month period (the "Term"), pursuant to the terms and conditions of a sharing agreement (the "Sharing Agreement") to be dated and executed on the closing of the Private Placement. Settlements under the Sharing Agreement shall commence five months after closing. Pursuant to the Sharing Agreement, Shares will be released in equal monthly installments of approximately 606,060 Shares over the 18-month Term, with each release contingent upon the corresponding cash payment being delivered to the Company. The Sharing Agreement shall provide that the Company's economic interest will be determined in 18 monthly settlement tranches as measured against a benchmark price of $0.7332 (CAD) per Share (the "Benchmark Price"). If, at the time of settlement, the settlement price (determined monthly based on a 20-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Company's shares on the CSE) exceeds the Benchmark Price, the Company shall receive more than 100% of the monthly settlement due, on a pro rata basis, with no upper limit on additional proceeds. If the settlement price is below the Benchmark Price, the Company will receive less than 100% of the monthly settlement due, on a pro rata basis. In no event will a decline in the settlement price result in an increase in the number of Shares being issued to the Investors. As a result, the Company may ultimately receive more or materially less than the original proceeds of $6,000,000. The final amount received will depend on the Company's future share price, which is subject to market fluctuations and may vary over time. Accordingly, there is no assurance as to the total amount the Company will receive under the Sharing Agreement. All 10,909,091 Warrants to be issued shall be exercisable at an exercise price of $0.65 (CAD) per Share for a period of 24 months following the date of issuance. The Warrants will include an equity blocker provision that prohibits the holder from exercising any portion of the Warrants if such exercise would result in the holder owning more than 9.99% of the Company's outstanding Shares. The Investors will receive a corporate finance fee of $360,000 (CAD) in connection with the Sharing Agreement, payable in cash or via the issuance of 654,546 Units at the Private Placement price, at the election of the Company (the "Fee"). The Company has agreed to pay a non-refundable deposit of $65,000 (CAD) (the "Deposit") upon receipt of approval from the CSE in connection with the Private Placement. The Deposit shall be satisfied by the issuance of 118,182 Units at the Private Placement price. Defence intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to advance its Antibody Drug Conjugate ("ADC") and Radiopharmaceutical programs, to develop partnerships and for working capital purposes. The Company may pay a finder's fee in connection with the offering to eligible arm's-length finders in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchanges. Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and in accordance with the Exchange policies, all securities issued under this Private Placement will be subject to applicable resale restrictions under applicable securities laws. The closing of the Private Placement is expected on or about March 6, 2026, subject to the approval of the CSE. The Units described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions there from. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. About Defence Therapeutics: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly traded biotechnology company committed to making cancer treatment more effective and safer. Using its Accum precision drug delivery platform, Defence is working to enhance the potency of ADCs and other complex biologics at lower doses, with the goal of reducing side effects and improving access to advanced therapies. By pursing cutting edge science, and collaborating with pharma and biotech partners, Defence strives to bring transformative therapies to patients who need them most. To learn more about Defence Therapeutics and explore partnering opportunities, please visit www.defencetherapeutics.com or contact info@defencetherapeutics.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285714 Source: Defence Therapeutics Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Lisa McDonald, Executive Director, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC"), and her team joined Dean McPherson, Head, Business Development, Global Mining, Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), to close the market to celebrate the opening of PDAC 2026. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0dqw58dBh8 The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community, an industry that employs more than 724,000, and contributed $156 billion to Canada's GDP in 2024 (Natural Resources Canada, February 2025). Currently representing over 8,200 members around the world, PDAC's work centres on supporting a competitive, responsible, and sustainable mineral sector. PDAC 2026: The World's Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention will take place from March 1-4 in Toronto, Canada. The convention brings together an ever-growing audience of more than 27,000 attendees from over 125 countries for its educational programming, networking events, business opportunities and fun. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285754 Source: Toronto Stock Exchange Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Railtown AI Technologies Inc. (CSE: RAIL) (OTCQB: RLAIF) ("Railtown" or the "Company") is issuing the following news release to clarify its disclosure pursuant to a recent review of the Company's continuous disclosure record by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC"). October 8, 2025 News Release In this news release, Railtown announced that it had entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with Uniserve Communications Corporation (TSXV: USS) ("Uniserve") regarding a strategic partnership. The Company would like to clarify that the MOU is non-binding, is for a term of 12 months beginning on September 23, 2025 but subject to mutually agreeable extensions, and that either party has the right to terminate the MOU upon 30 days' written notice. The primary purpose of the partnership is to allow Uniserve to integrate Railtown's AI frameworks, tools and solutions into Uniserve's offerings, thereby enabling Uniserve's internal sales team to promote and sell AI capabilities to Uniserve's customers. Each of Railtown and Uniserve has certain defined obligations under the MOU, pursuant to which the parties have agreed to negotiate and execute separate commercial agreements, statements of work or service orders, as the case may be, in connection with, among other things, customer engagements, revenue sharing and pricing. Neither party is required to pay any fees to the other under the MOU, and Company and Uniserve are currently in the process of modelling their revenue sharing strategy. Railtown is capable of readily deploying its technologies to Uniserve's customers, and expects to conclude one or more definitive agreements with Uniserve in the coming months. September 23, 2022 News Release In this news release, Railtown announced that it had entered into a service provider license agreement (the "SPLA") with Quisitive Technology Solutions Inc. ("Quisitive") pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide a white-label version of its technology to Quisitive to be branded and sold as Velocity Insights. The Company would like to clarify that the SPLA was technically an interim agreement with a term of six (6) months and was intended to be superseded by a longer-term definitive license agreement that has yet to be negotiated. In addition, each party had the ability to terminate the SPLA prior to the completion of the term by providing 30 days' written notice to the other party, with certain support obligations of Railtown continuing for a transition period of four (4) months following the effective date of termination. The SLPA required the Company to provide a license to the technology and related support services to Quisitive at no cost, and the primary purpose of the agreement was to confirm the viability of the technology for use and integration with Quisitive's products and services, and to test the technology with up to 10 customers of Quisitive. Despite the expiry of the SPLA and the acquisition of Quisitive by H.I.G. Capital in early 2025, the testing is ongoing and Quisitive continues to offer the technology to its customers. Although Railtown has not generated any revenue from Quisitive or its customers to date, the Company anticipates entering into a revenue sharing agreement with Quisitive upon the adoption of any Quisitive technology that includes a version of the company's platform. In the meantime, the Velocity Insights product suite remains available for purchase on a stand-alone basis on Microsoft Marketplace. June 28, 2024 News Release In this news release, Railtown announced a strategic partnership with Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute ("Mila"). The Company would like to clarify that, under the partnership agreement governing the relationship between the parties, Railtown paid Mila the sum of $10,000 plus applicable taxes - Mila's standard fee for new partners - in exchange for certain privileges typically provided to Mila's partners including having the Company's name or logo appear on Mila's website and certain promotional documents, and the ability to access and use certain of Mila's resources, including research, talent and intellectual property (such as, for example, Mila's expertise on advanced computing technologies, Mila's students for internship purposes, and a presence for Railtown in Mila's artificial intelligence "hub"). The partnership agreement was for a term of 12 months and automatically terminated on June 19, 2025; however, the Company continues to engage with Mila and anticipates partnering again with Mila in the future. July 23, 2024 News Release In this news release, the Company announce that it had entered into a co-development agreement with the Alberta Machine Learning Institute ("Amii") pursuant to which the parties agreed to partner on a specific project and build related to Railtown's core technology. The Company would like to clarify that the relationship was governed by Amii's customary services contract and an accompanying statement of work ("SOW"), and that the term of the relationship was the longer of 14 months or one (1) month following the final day of employment of the Amii machine learning resident dedicated to the project (the "ML Resident"). In consideration for the services of both Amii and the ML Resident under the program covered by the agreement and SOW, Railtown paid Amii an aggregate of $100,000 plus GST, being Amii's standard fee for programs of this nature. Although the Company no longer has access to Amii's resources following the automatic termination of the relationship in July 2025, the ML Resident was hired by Railtown following the completion of the program and is currently a full time employee. June 9, 2025 News Release In this news release, the Company announced a strategic partnership with ESGAI Technologies Inc. ("ESGAI") to co-develop an advanced suite of intelligent ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) software agents. The Company would like to clarify that the partnership is structured as a MOU between the parties that anticipates the execution and delivery of a formal license agreement (the "License Agreement") whereby ESGAI will license certain software technology owned and developed by Railtown in connection with the development of the agents. The effective date of the MOU is June 6, 2025, and it automatically terminates upon the earlier of (a) the execution of the License Agreement, (b) the mutual written agreement of the parties, and (c) 180 days from the effective date. The Company complied with each of its obligations under the MOU; however, the parties were unable to negotiate the terms of the License Agreement prior to the automatic termination of the MOU on December 3, 2025, largely because such terms were predicated on ESGAI establishing a market for the agents first. Regardless, Railtown remains committed to developing the ESG agent suite with ESGAI as circumstances allow. July 28, 2025 News Release In this news release, Railtown announced a strategic joint partnership with Braiyt AI Inc. ("Braiyt") to deliver AI technologies to Dubai and the broader Middle East region. The Company would like to retract the overly promotional disclosure in the news release and confirm that the partnership is structured as a MOU between Braiyt, Railtown and AIP, pursuant to which Braiyt agreed, for a term of three years, to promote the products and services of each of the Company, AIP and any affiliates of AIP in the Middle East as opportunities arise. In exchange, Braiyt is entitled to enter into a finder's fee arrangement with the relevant selling party on terms to be negotiated between the parties. General In certain of Railtown's previously filed continuous disclosure documents, the Company has used phrases such as "selling its AI services and solutions" that the BCSC believes may potentially be misleading given the lack of revenue reflected in the Company's financial statements at the time. While the Company acknowledges that the language may have been less than perfect and that a phrase such as "the AI services and solutions are available for sale" may technically have been more accurate, the Company would like to clarify that it has in fact generated nominal (i.e., non-material) sales revenue from paying customers. In addition, the BCSC has expressed its concern over the accuracy of phrases such as "the platform is fully trained on clients' applications" (from Railtown's news release dated December 6, 2023), and that the system "continually trains on a client's application" and "automates a wide range of tasks associated with the client's application" (from Railtown's management discussion and analysis for the period ended June 30, 2025), because the Company either had no customers or a limited number of customers at the relevant time. The Company would like to clarify that it was using the word "client" in a general sense in this disclosure - that is, as a substitute for "user" and not in relation to a specific customer - and that the language was intended to convey how the Company's technology works once a customer downloads and connects to the platform. More specifically, once a customer downloads the Company's Railtracks agentic framework and connects to Conductr, the platform runs on the customer's own cloud infrastructure or on the customer's local computers or servers, with the result that the AI agent is able to access to the customer's data stored in those locations and learn by ingesting the data in real time. Finally, Railtown would like to take this opportunity to confirm that the Company's primary focus for 2026 will be the building out of its Canadian agent development and deployment ecosystem with the Company's Canadian partners. About Railtown Railtown AI Technologies Inc. builds AI developer tools and agentic frameworks that power the next generation of intelligent applications. Its Platform - including real-time ingestion (Railengine), agent development frameworks (Railtracks ADK), and advanced observability (Conductr) - helps teams build, deploy, and operate AI agents with confidence and at scale. For more information, visit www.railtown.ai. Follow us on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/railtown-ai/ SUBSCRIBE FOR INVESTOR NEWS Click here to receive our latest investor news alerts. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Cory Brandolini" Cory Brandolini, Chief Executive Officer INVESTOR CONTACT This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "intends", "anticipates", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this news release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, and in particular, the Company's anticipated relationships with each of Uniserve, Quisitive, Mila and ESGAI, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators and include the following: the ability to enter into one or more definitive agreements with Uniserve; the ability to enter into a revenue sharing agreement with Quisitive; the ability to successfully partner with Mila; the ability to carry out development activities with ESGAI; the ability to obtain any required regulatory approvals in connection with the foregoing; the potential impact of any announcement or consummation of the foregoing on the Company's existing relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation; and the diversion of management time. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such opinions, assumptions and estimates 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. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285773 Source: Railtown AI Technologies Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Gelum Resources Ltd. (CSE: GMR) (OTCQB: GMRCF) ("Gelum" or the "Company") reports that it has entered into an letter of intent under which Gelum can earn a 100% interest in the Las Tinajas Gold Project ("Las Tinajas") covering 2,600 hectares (the "Concessions") in the north end of the Maricunga Gold Belt, Chile. Las Tinajas is located 120km northeast of Copiapo, in the Atacama Region of northern Chile (Figure 1). Gelum CEO Henk Van Alphen stated, "Gelum is entering a new phase of corporate development. The acquisition of Las Tinajas is an event that will radically transform Gelum into a premier gold exploration company with a South American focus. We have had the people and partners within Gelum, and now we have the asset to greatly add shareholder value." Las Tinajas Highlights Las Tinajas is located at the north end of the Maricunga Belt, the largest gold belt in Chile, extending for 200 km with both porphyry and high-sulphidation types of mineralization containing a total of 103 million ounces*. The Las Tinajas 2600 Ha claim block lies between 3,600-4,000 metres above sea level and is accessible via a Codelco-maintained mining road. Gold mineralization at Las Tinajas is associated with silicified porphyry intrusions and associated diatreme breccias. Skarn features also occur in adjacent metasedimentary units. Since 1986, 64 drillholes totaling 10,990m have been drilled in three campaigns, the most recent being 16 holes totaling 2,831m drilled in 2024-2025 by Horizon Mining SA. Multiple historical holes have significant intervals of >1g/t gold, with several ending in >=1g/t gold, including (all are end of hole): 43m of 1.18 g/t Au (DT06) 35m of 1.23 g/t Au (TT014) 26m of 2.09 g/t Au (TT004) 58m of 1.42 g/t Au (TT027) 82m of 0.93 g/t Au (TDH-010) Only a small portion of the claim block has been drilled. There is significant potential to expand the known mineralized centres associated with the diatreme breccia. In addition, the drilling has not tested the favourable contact between the diatreme breccia and calcareous, reactive metasediments to the west. A thin layer of post-mineral volcanic material covers about 40% of the claims and obscures broad zones of hydrothermal and skarn alteration. Readers are cautioned that descriptions of historical drilling results reported here should be viewed primarily as a guidance for exploration drilling. The qualified person for this release has not done sufficient work to independently verify the historical sampling results described above. Las Tinajas Details Gold is associated with potassic, silicic and sericite alteration of a central, dacitic, diatreme breccia, with alteration/mineralization extending into adjacent calcareous sedimentary units. Gold occurs freely and as inclusions within disseminated pyrite-sphalerite-tennantite. The most intense sericitic alteration coincides with gold-zinc mineralization and a gold soil anomaly of >500 ppb. The diatreme and associated surface alteration clearly extends to the west, north and east and offers excellent potential to increase the target size as indicated by numerous drill holes ending in mineralization. Porphyry-style quartz veinlets with anomalous gold values occur in one drill hole that intercepted a weakly mineralized dacite porphyry plug and rhyolite dikes, suggesting presence of an Au-Cu-Mo dacite porphyry at depth, below the limits of historical drilling. In addition, clasts within the diatreme breccia host quartz stockworks that are closely similar in character to those in the porphyry gold deposits of the Maricunga belt. An IP survey (dipole-dipole) completed in 1994 outlined two strong (>40 millirad) northwest-trending chargeability zones spaced one kilometre apart, of which the southern anomaly coincided with known mineralization but was only drill-tested at the northwest end. The anomaly remains open and untested to the southeast. Figure 1: Location of the Las Tinajas Property, Northern Chile. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/285772_6af85e3194aee98c_002full.jpg Las Tinajas Upcoming Work A planned two-phase work programme is intended to firstly validate the historical data and expand surface exploration, and then second, expand drill-defined mineralization in order to complete an anticipated maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate. Extensions to the mineralized central diatreme are the priority drill targets. In addition, Gelum will start preliminary metallurgical work on representative mineralized samples to establish basic recovery parameters. Figure 2: Exploration Targets at the Las Tinajas Property, Northern Chile To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/285772_6af85e3194aee98c_003full.jpg Option Agreement Details Gelum has entered into a letter of intent with an arms-length party in Chile to acquire a 100% interest in Las Tinajas whereby Gelum, or a Chilean subsidiary of Gelum, will perform due diligence on the Vendors, the Concessions, and related matters, and by the Vendors on Gelum (the "Due Diligence"). The Vendors granted Gelum an exclusive period during which Gelum will undertake Due Diligence and Gelum has reached the point in its Due Diligence that it believes that it will move ahead with the Vendors to finalize a definitive agreement (the "Option Agreement"). Subject to satisfactory completion of Due Diligence by Gelum, Gelum and the Vendors would execute the Option Agreement whereby the Vendors have agreed to sell to Gelum (or a Chilean subsidiary of Gelum) one hundred percent (100%) of the Concessions, free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances, for a consideration of USD 9,000,000, to be paid as follows: Payment schedule Due dates Cash (USD) Work commitment First On Closing $ 100,000 Second 6 months after closing $ 200,000 Third 12 months after closing $ 500,000 Fourth 24 months after closing $ 1,000,000 US $2,000,000 Fifth 36 months after closing $ 2,000,000 US $1,000,000 Sixth 48 months after closing $ 5,200,000 TOTAL $ 9,000,000 US $3,000,000* *includes minimum of 4000metres of drilling All payments following the first payment of USD 100,000 at closing are at the option of Gelum. The Option Agreement will be in a form generally common for mineral property purchase options in Chile, including comprehensive representations and warranties by the Vendors as to the status of the Concessions, the corporate status and power of each of the parties, comprehensive covenants and other protections for the benefit of the parties. The Company expects to close its previously announced unit financing (see February 5, 2026 news release) by March 6, 2026. Net proceeds of the financing will be used for general working capital and may be used for the first payment of USD 100,000 under the Option Agreement, if such agreement is then-finalized. Qualified Person John Drobe, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Drobe is not independent of the Company as he is a consultant for the Company. About Gelum Resources Ltd. Gelum Resources Ltd. is a Company led by experienced management and advisors in the mining and financial sectors. For further information about the Company and its exploration portfolio, please refer to the Company's website at https://gelumresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Henk Van Alphen, CEO Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This presentation contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the timing and results of the Due Diligence period and the form of Option Agreement; statements regarding any potential increase in shareholder value through the acquisition of undervalued precious metal deposits for development, joint venture or later disposition; the potential for the Company to outline mineral resources at Las Tinajas (assuming it is acquired); comments concerning the economic outlook for the mining industry and the Company's expectations regarding metal prices and production and the appropriate time to acquire precious metal projects; the liquidity and capital resources and timing for closing the unit financing; the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs and anticipated exploration program results and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the level and volatility of the price of gold; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals; permits and authorizations necessary to implement and carry on the Company's planned exploration programs at its properties; future economic and market conditions; the Company's ability to attract and retain key staff; and the ongoing relations of the Company with local communities and applicable regulatory agencies. Accordingly, the Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ, and such differences may be material, from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, material adverse changes in economic and market conditions, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates, the inability of the Company to raise the necessary capital for its ongoing operations, and business and operational risks normal in the mineral exploration, development and mining industries, as well as the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's most recent management discussion and analysis filed with various provincial securities commissions in Canada, available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein. *Source: GoldDeposits in Chile | Cabello | Andean Geology (https://www.andeangeology.cl/index.php/revista1/article/view/V48n1-3294/html) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285772 Source: Gelum Resources Ltd. Russia and Iran have deepened oil discounts to China as displaced cargoes pile up in Asian waters, while the US escalates regional signalling by moving the USS Gerald R. Ford closer to Israel amid stalled nuclear talks with Tehran After Russia, Iran slash oil prices for China as US threat looms. File Image/Reuters Russian and Iranian oil producers have widened discounts to Chinese buyers as diverted cargoes overwhelm demand in Asia even as Washington ramps up military signalling in the Middle East by moving a frontline aircraft carrier closer to Israel. The twin developments, a deepening oil price war and a fresh US naval deployment, highlight how energy markets are once again being shaped by fast-moving geopolitical tensions. Discounts deepen as India retreats Moscow and Tehran are offering sharper price cuts as they compete for a limited pool of Chinese refiners after India scaled back Russian purchases. Russias flagship Urals crude is trading at around $12 per barrel below the global benchmark Brent crude, according to a Bloomberg News report wider than the roughly $10 discount seen last month. Iranian Light is being offered at as much as $11 below Brent, compared with discounts of $8$9 in December, the report said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Consultancy Rystad Energy estimates Indias imports of Russian oil could drop by as much as 40 per cent from January levels to around 600,000 barrels per day under one scenario. Much of the displaced supply is now being redirected to China, intensifying direct competition with Iranian barrels long favoured by Beijings independent refiners. Chinese refiners stretched, oil piles up Chinas so-called teapot refiners private processors that account for roughly a quarter of national capacity have historically absorbed sanctioned crude. But analysts say their import quotas and operational limits are now constraining additional intake. Chinese private refiners cannot take in much more as their capacity is likely maxed out, analysts at Energy Aspects noted, pointing to a build-up of sanctioned crude in onshore tanks and offshore floating storage. State-run majors such as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. have traditionally avoided Iranian crude and have limited direct exposure to Russian cargoes, leaving the independents to shoulder most of the trade. ALSO READ: Amid Iran tension, US moves aircraft carrier Gerald R Ford from Greece to Israel vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show Russian crude arrivals at Chinese ports averaged about 2.09 million barrels per day in the first 18 days of February, up roughly 20 per cent from January. In contrast, Iranian exports to China have slipped to about 1.2 million barrels per day so far this year, down around 12 per cent from a year earlier. Nearly 48 million barrels of Iranian oil are estimated to be floating in Asian waters, alongside roughly 9.5 million barrels of Russian crude underscoring the growing supply overhang. US repositions USS Gerald R. Ford Adding to the geopolitical backdrop, the United States has repositioned its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, from waters near Greece toward the eastern Mediterranean, closer to Israel, as tensions with Iran mount. US defence officials have described the redeployment as a routine force posture adjustment. However, the timing coincides with stalled indirect nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Geneva and rising regional security concerns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The carrier strike group equipped with guided missile destroyers and advanced air capabilities is designed for rapid power projection. Its presence near Israel signals both reassurance to a key US ally and deterrence to Iran and allied militant groups. Security advisories issued to US diplomatic personnel in Israel further underscore concerns over potential regional escalation. Diplomacy under strain Efforts to revive understandings over Irans nuclear programme have made limited headway in recent weeks. While both sides publicly express willingness to continue talks, mistrust remains high. US President Donald Trump has warned that failure to reach a diplomatic agreement would be very bad for Tehran, even as Washington insists it does not seek a broader regional war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also indicated renewed diplomatic engagement over Ukraine, a factor some Chinese buyers see as lowering relative political risk for Russian crude compared with Iranian supply. Analysts note that deploying a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier equipped with advanced radar and electromagnetic aircraft launch systems carries significant symbolic and strategic weight. Such vessels represent the cutting edge of US naval capability and are closely watched by both allies and adversaries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The launch of Claude Code Security by Anthropic has triggered a sharp selloff in global cybersecurity stocks, but industry leaders and the Indian government say AI will accelerate innovation rather than destroy jobs The launch of Claude Code Security by US-based AI startup Anthropic has sent shockwaves through global cybersecurity counters, wiping billions of dollars off market capitalisations and reigniting a familiar debate in Indias technology corridors is artificial intelligence a job destroyer or the next growth engine? Shares of global cybersecurity majors such as CrowdStrike, Okta, Cloudflare, SailPoint and Zscaler fell sharply after Anthropic unveiled its new AI-powered tool that scans codebases for vulnerabilities and recommends targeted patches. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet, even as markets reacted with anxiety, industry leaders and policymakers in India struck a markedly different note arguing that AI represents a structural transition, not an existential threat. What is Claude Code Security? Anthropics Claude Code Security is designed to read and reason through software code much like a human security researcher. Unlike traditional static analysis tools that depend on predefined rules and pattern matching, the AI system traces data flows, understands interactions between components, and identifies subtle business logic flaws or broken access controls. Each vulnerability flagged by the system is subjected to a multi-stage self-verification process to filter out false positives before being sent for human review. Severity ratings are assigned to help teams prioritise remediation. Anthropic claims that its Claude Opus 4.6 model found over 500 vulnerabilities in production open-source codebases many of which had gone undetected for years. The dual-use nature of such tools, however, is also evident. The same AI capabilities that help defenders identify weaknesses could, in theory, be exploited by malicious actors a reality that underscores the emerging AI arms race in cybersecurity. Markets react, industry recalibrates The equity selloff reflected investor concerns that AI-driven automation could disrupt traditional security software models and compress margins in services-heavy businesses. But Steve Vintz, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Tenable, framed the shift differently. Its not AI vs. Security. Its AI enables Security, Vintz said, describing innovations such as Claude Code Security as a net positive for the industry. While AI will subsume certain categories, he argued, it will also accelerate vulnerability detection and compress remediation cycles that once relied entirely on human-led efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, he cautioned that faster detection without business context could create operational risks. A fix without business context is, at best, just noise, he said, emphasising the need for what he called AI-native orchestration, radical prioritisation and holistic intelligence layers to align security responses with enterprise risk profiles. Gopi Sirineni, CEO and Founder of Axiado Corporation, described the market reaction as a trust reset in an AI-first world. Autonomous coding will push more decisions into machines, and security teams will need controls that produce evidence, not assumptions, Sirineni said. He underscored the importance of hardware-rooted identity, workload integrity checks and system-layer policy enforcement to ensure verifiable trust. Job loss fears and the Indian IT question The bigger concern, particularly in India, is not just cybersecurity margins but employment. Indian IT stocks have seen bouts of weakness in recent weeks, amid growing chatter that generative AI and automated coding could reduce headcount requirements across large outsourcing firms. The anxiety is not trivial. Indias consumption story in cities such as Bengaluru, Pune and Gurugram is deeply intertwined with the fortunes of the IT sector influencing everything from real estate absorption to discretionary spending. ALSO READ: Not all jobs are at risk: Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu lists careers that cannot be replaced by AI STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw dismissed the doomsday narrative, arguing that the core strength of Indias IT industry lies not in manual coding but in enterprise transformation. The biggest strength of our IT sector is to be able to go to an enterprise, understand how that enterprise works and on that basis provide the technology solution which will work in that enterprise, Vaishnaw said at the Rising Bharat Summit at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. He drew parallels with previous technology inflection points from the Y2K transition to the migration from on-premise systems to cloud architectures where Indian IT companies not only survived but expanded their global footprint. This is now the transition where we are shifting from coding to automatic coding, but using an architecture which is designed by IT companies, he said, stressing that trust in deploying AI systems would remain paramount for banks, insurers and retailers unwilling to hand over sensitive code and data to unverified platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vaishnaw added that the Centre is working with state governments including Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to reorient college curricula toward AI-driven IT solutions and strengthen the talent pipeline. ALSO READ: Amid AnthropicPentagon clash, Google employees urges company to steer clear of military ties A new wave of product companies? Renu Raman, CEO and Founder of Proximal Cloud, argued that technology transitions historically create more winners than losers. Y2K triggered Indias rise in software services and BPO. AI and cloud can do something similar for a new generation of product companies, Raman said. He expects dozens of emerging startups to build globally relevant platforms out of India. On concerns about technological sovereignty, Raman was pragmatic. Technology ecosystems are interdependent. Enterprises have long relied on global tools while building local innovation. The priority is simple: compete by developing the best platforms or use the best platforms to innovate at the application and infrastructure layers. From coding to architecture What emerges from the current churn is a deeper structural shift. As autonomous coding tools mature, the value chain may move upward from writing lines of code to designing architectures, governing AI systems, ensuring compliance and embedding business context into automated decisions. The paradox of the AI era, as Vintz pointed out, is that while the ability to automate fixes increases, so does the burden on enterprises to contextualise and orchestrate those changes responsibly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Known for championing a safety-first approach to artificial intelligence, Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, has led Anthropic to a $380 billion valuation, building an estimated $7 billion personal fortune in the process The financial rise of Dario Amodei and the record valuation of Anthropic in early 2026. Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive of Anthropic, has emerged as one of the defining figures of the artificial intelligence boom and one of its wealthiest architects. In less than five years, the former researcher has built a company now valued at $380 billion, while cementing his reputation as the industrys most vocal proponent of safety-first AI. Most recently, Amodei found himself in the spotlight for reasons beyond valuations and funding rounds. Images of Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, and Amodei appearing visibly distant during a group photograph at the India AI Impact Summit went viral on social media a symbolic reminder of the widening philosophical and commercial rift between the two AI camps. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But optics aside, it is Anthropics breakneck growth and Amodeis uncompromising stance on AI deployment that have defined his ascent. A safety-first doctrine and friction with Washington Amodei has consistently argued that advanced AI systems must be deployed with strict guardrails, even if it means slowing commercial expansion. That position recently placed Anthropic at odds with the US government. The company publicly refused to grant unrestricted access of its technology to the Pentagon, despite pressure from defence officials seeking broader AI integration. These threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request, Amodei said in a sharply worded statement. The episode underscored Anthropics unusual positioning: a company racing ahead in valuation while simultaneously resisting some of the most lucrative government opportunities. Earlier, the launch of Claude Code Security part of the Claude family of AI models rattled global cybersecurity stocks, highlighting the disruptive reach of Anthropics technology across industries. ALSO RAED: Anthropic says it cannot 'in good conscience' allow Pentagon unrestricted use of AI A $7-billion personal fortune By February 2026, Amodeis net worth is estimated at roughly $7 billion, nearly doubling from late 2025. The bulk of his wealth stems from his equity stake in Anthropic, which he co-founded after departing OpenAI in 2021. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike many tech founders, Amodei has pledged alongside his co-founders to donate a substantial share of his fortune to philanthropic causes, aligning with the companys public-benefit structure. His personal wealth mirrors investor confidence in Anthropics proprietary models, particularly the Claude series, which has become a staple in enterprise AI deployments. ALSO READ: Anthropic no longer bound by its own AI safety pauses heres what changed A record-breaking valuation run Anthropics rise has been historic even by Silicon Valley standards. In February 2026, the company closed a $30-billion Series G funding round, pushing its post-money valuation to $380 billion placing it among the worlds most valuable private companies. The round drew participation from global investors including Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC, hedge fund Coatue, Abu Dhabi-backed MGX, and strategic investors such as Microsoft and Nvidia. The fresh capital is earmarked for scaling compute infrastructure and accelerating frontier AI research a capital-intensive race that now defines the industry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO RAED: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI may outperform humans, shares career advice for young Indians Revenue momentum gathers pace Financial performance has kept stride with valuation. By early 2026, Anthropics annual revenue run rate had climbed to $14 billion, driven largely by enterprise adoption of Claude Code and API services. The company has transitioned from a research-heavy lab into a high-margin enterprise software player. More than 500 corporate clients are reportedly spending over $1 million annually on Anthropics tools a signal that AI integration is moving from experimentation to mission-critical infrastructure. Metric Late 2025 February 2026 Dario Amodei Net Worth ~$3.7 Billion ~$7 Billion Anthropic Valuation $183 Billion $380 Billion Annualized Revenue ~$9 Billion $14 Billion From Princeton labs to AIs frontlines Amodeis journey began far from Silicon Valleys boardrooms. He earned a PhD in biophysics from Princeton University and later conducted postdoctoral research at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He went on to hold senior research roles at Google Brain before becoming vice president of research at OpenAI. His work on scaling laws in neural networks laid much of the groundwork for todays large language models. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His 2021 departure from OpenAI to launch Anthropic as a public benefit corporation was driven by concerns over AI safety a principle that continues to define the companys strategy and messaging. Redrawing the tech hierarchy Anthropics meteoric rise has altered the contours of the global technology landscape. Traditional IT service providers now find themselves competing with AI-native firms commanding valuations once reserved for Big Tech giants. The company has also expanded its global footprint, including establishing operations in India to serve growing demand for sovereign AI infrastructure and enterprise adoption. For Amodei, the balancing act continues: scaling one of the worlds most valuable startups while insisting that artificial intelligence must be developed and deployed responsibly. In an industry often defined by speed and disruption, he has made caution a competitive advantage. US battery maker Lyten has completed its nearly $5 billion acquisition of bankrupt Swedish firm Northvolts key assets, including 16 GWh of capacity and Europes largest battery R&D centre, with commercial sales targeted for the second half of 2026 US battery maker Lyten said Friday it had completed its acquisition of its bankrupt Swedish rival Northvolts assets in Sweden, adding it was planning to start sales in the second half of 2026. Lyten, which had announced the purchase of Northvolts assets in Sweden in August said it had now completed the acquisition of Northvolts main factory in Skelleftea, Northvolt Ett, and its expansion, as well as Northvolts research and development facility in Vasteras, Northvolt Labs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Northvolt Sweden acquisition includes 16 GWh of existing battery manufacturing capacity, more than 160 hectares of land, infrastructure and buildings to support expanded manufacturing and industrial activities, and the largest and most advanced battery research and development center in Europe, Lyten said. The US battery maker said the value of the acquisition totalled nearly $5 billion. It said it plans to immediately begin the restart process for Northvolt Ett and Northvolt Labs. Lyten added that it expected commercial sales of cells from Northvolt Ett would begin to supply Northvolt Dwa another manufacturing facility Lyten had acquired from Northvolt in Poland in the second half of 2026. The company also said it was progressing the acquisition of Northvolts assets in Heide, Germany, which it had also announced in August. Founded in 2016, Northvolt had been seen as a cornerstone of European attempts to catch up with Asia and the United States in the production of battery cells, the crucial component of electric vehicles. Struggling under a mountain of debt, slow demand and production delays, the battery maker filed for bankruptcy in March of 2025. Lyten was founded in 2015 and has focused on lithium-sulphur technology, where the batteries do not use nickel, manganese, cobalt or graphite, which are not mined or processed in large quantities in Europe or the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) The petition further states, - Respondent even after assuring to end relationship continued the adulterous relationship without remorse. More details about the development are awaited. Actor-politician Thalapathy Vijays wife Sangeeta Sornalingam has moved the Chengalpattu family court seeking a divorce after 25 years of marriage, as per a report by India Today. The ground for divorce that has been stated is infidelity. She has accused her husband of having an extra marital relationship with an actress. What does the claim say? Petitioner discovered in 2021 that Respondent was involved in an adulterous relationship with an actress. The petition further states, - Respondent even after assuring to end relationship continued the adulterous relationship without remorse. More details about the development are awaited. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Jana Nayagan fiasco The release of Jana Nayagan, touted as Thalapathy Vijays last film before he transitions into politics full time, has been pushed back once again, with fresh reports confirming that the film will not hit theatres before April 30, 2026. The delay comes amid ongoing certification hurdles, mounting industry concerns, and a sensitive political backdrop in Tamil Nadu. Here is everything that has happened so far. Jana Nayagan wont release before April 30, confirms Canada distributor According to the films overseas distributor in Canada, effectively ruling out its previously rumoured February and March windows. The distributor cited unresolved certification issues and scheduling challenges as key reasons behind the delay. The announcement was shared via York Cinemas official social media handle. This has significant implications for the films global rollout, as overseas markets often depend on synchronised release dates for marketing and distribution strategies. CBFC tussle remains the main roadblock The biggest reason behind the delay continues to be the films ongoing certification process with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The examining committee has reportedly raised objections over certain political references and narrative elements, leading to multiple rounds of review. As of now, the makers are locked in discussions with the board to resolve the concerns without compromising the films core storyline. Thats not all, the fiasco between Deepika and Vanga has been garnering headlines for quite some time, a new report then emerged discussing the actress demands for Spirit For over two years, there were reports that Deepika Padukone would be starring in the fourth season of HBOs ambitious Emmy award winning series The White Lotus. But Variety India has reported the actress has refused the part and has her reasons of doing so. A source told the portal, Auditions are a mandatory part of the casting process for The White Lotus. The makers were very keen on auditioning actors before signing them on. Deepika was not keen on auditioning and that was the reason why the White Lotus opportunity had to be passed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thats not all, the fiasco between Deepika and Vanga has been garnering headlines for quite some time, a new report then emerged discussing the actress demands for Spirit. The actor had reportedly demanded 25 crores for approximately 35 days of shoot, along with a 10% profit share, extensive entourage expenses, and even expressed unwillingness to deliver dialogues in Telugusomething the director felt strongly about. To top it off, confidential plot details from Spirit were allegedly leaked, which raised serious concerns among the producers," the source told News18. According to the report, Sandeep believes actors speaking their own lines. Contrary to speculation, her restricted filming schedule of under 8 hours a day was never the primary issue. In filmmaking, working hours are fluid and depend on location, lighting, and various technical factors. You could shoot for 2 hours or 8, depending on the scene. What truly matters is flexibility, collaboration, and respect for the craft. Its about commitment. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga believes actors speaking their own lines builds authenticity and emotional connect with the audience," the source added. Games View All As part of the initiative, Eros Innovation will establish advanced AI infrastructure, research clusters and voice technology ecosystems across Tamil Nadu Eros Innovation announced the launch of its Large Cultural Voice Models (LCVM) from Tamil Nadu, alongside the unveiling of PERSONA, a sovereign, performance-aware voice and identity infrastructure designed to power multilingual artificial intelligence rooted in culture. The launch in Chennai in the presence of Tamilnadu Cheif Minister Honble M K Stalin, marks a significant expansion of the companys cultural AI roadmap following the debut of Indias first Large Cultural Model (LCM) at the AI Impact Summit, aligned with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the IndiaAI Mission. LCVM represents the voice-layer evolution of that platform engineered not merely to translate language, but to preserve emotion, cadence, identity and regional nuance across multilingual communication. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As part of the initiative, Eros Innovation will establish advanced AI infrastructure, research clusters and voice technology ecosystems across Tamil Nadu. Phase I of the project is expected to generate more than 1,000 direct high-skill AI and engineering jobs, further strengthening the states emergence as a global hub for culturally grounded AI innovation. With its deep linguistic heritage and the enduring legacy of the Thiruvalluvar, Tamil Nadu is being positioned as a natural leader in culturally rooted and ethically aligned voice AI development. Tamil Nadu - with its deep linguistic heritage and the legacy of Thiruvalluvar - is uniquely positioned to lead the world in culturally rooted and ethically aligned voice AI innovation. Thiru M.K. Stalin, Honble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said: As part of Tamil Nadus commitment to strengthening employment and economic development, ErosGen AI, in collaboration with IIT Madras, has established the Large Cultural Voice Models (LCVM) initiative in Chennai. I am pleased to inaugurate this project. Ridhima Lulla, Co-Founder and Co-President of Eros Innovation, said: I thank the Honble Chief Minister Shri M. K. Stalin for his visionary leadership and support in inaugurating the Large Cultural Voice Models initiative today. At Eros, this milestone reflects years of dedicated research and development in building culturally grounded AI systems. With the launch of PersonaAI, we are demonstrating that identity is a sovereign digital asset. Games View All She added, A persona is an individuals signature - unique, expressive, and deeply personal. Through our continued collaboration with Prof. V. Kamakoti and IIT Madras, we are committed to ensuring that this power is governed ethically, with consent and traceability at its core. PersonaAI removes language barriers while preserving character and cultural nuance. It enables individuals to project their voice globally and responsibly access rights-cleared creative IP across our character library. The future is not about imitation - it is about empowering every persona to become a global voice. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development of Large Cultural Voice Models represents a significant advancement in multilingual AI research. We look forward to working with Eros Innovation in areas such as multilingual speech intelligence, AI governance, and scalable public-impact applications. By combining linguistic depth, performance fidelity, and robust ethical safeguards, this collaboration has the potential to set new benchmarks in culturally grounded voice technologies that will play a critical role in Indias AI future, said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Ph.D., Director, IIT Madras. Together, LCVM and EROS PersonaAI enable a sovereign multilingual voice infrastructure trained across Indian languages, regional accents, and cinematic expression. With performance-aware speech-to-speech dubbing in 60+ languages, consent-first identity protection, licensed performance libraries, and built-in provenance and governance frameworks, the platform is designed for trusted, responsible AI deployment across storytelling, education, and enterprise applications. Amid fresh clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Kabul has claimed a huge victory. Afghan troops have shared a video that shows an F-16 being shot down. However, the authenticity of the visual is being questioned; Grok claims its a fake, while social media users argue that the aircrafts size doesnt match that of the US-made jet Afghanistan claims to have shot down Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet in the fresh clashes that broke out in the wee hours of February 27. Image Courtesy: @afgdefense/X In the wee hours of Friday, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq airstrikes targeting Kabul and two other Afghan provinces. The attack came hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan, in the latest escalation of violence. Shortly after the strikes, social media was flooded with videos of the strikes, with one visual particularly poignant. It showed the burnt remains of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, which Afghan forces have claimed to have downed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Read the latest on the Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes here But is it true? Did the Taliban actually down Pakistans F-16? Heres what we know so far. What do we know about Paks strikes against Afghanistan? On Friday (February 27), Pakistans air force launched airstrikes against the Afghan Taliban after unprovoked firing from across the border. Islamabad took aim at Afghanistans Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. According to Pakistans state television, PTV, the troops took out two brigade headquarters in Kabul, one corp headquarters and one brigade headquarters in Kandahar, an ammunition depot and logistics base in Kandahar, and a corp headquarters in Paktia. Following the strikes, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that 133 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 200 were injured. Afghan Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties, he said. Twenty-seven posts of the Afghan Taliban regime destroyed, nine posts were captured, he said. Lauding the troops for its action, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif the countrys forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions. There will be no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland and every aggression will be met with a befitting reply, he wrote on X. A Taliban security personnel stands guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Nangarhar province. Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on February 27, with Islamabads defence minister declaring the neighbours at open war following months of tit-for-tat clashes. AFP Has Afghanistan shot down Pakistans F-16? Afghanistan countered Pakistans strikes and reports soon emerged that the Taliban fighters shot down a Pakistani fighter jet, namely a F-16, which had crossed into Afghan airspace. The video, which has since gone viral, shows wreckage of a plane with serial number 85510 and the Pakistani flag painted near the vertical stabiliser. BIG BREAKING NEWS This is a Pakistani military F-16, American-made, that Afghan defensive forces have shot down. pic.twitter.com/7qBAjv89rk Afghanistan Defense (@AFGDefense) February 27, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, it cant be determined if the plane in the video is, in fact, a F-16 fighter jet. Social media users have noted that the aircrafts size and structure do not match an F-16 fighter jet. Also when one user asked Grok to verify the video, the Xs AI chatbot responded, No, this video isnt real as claimed. The wreckage shows a large aircraft with tail number 85510 and Pakistani markings, but it doesnt resemble an F-16 fighter (wrong size/shape). No credible reports from Reuters, Al Jazeera, CNN or others confirm Pakistan losing any plane to Afghan forces today amid border clashes. Its likely old/unrelated footage misattributed for propaganda. Moreover, defence experts have noted that the serial number does not correspond to known Pakistani F-16 inventories. How deadly is the F-16 fighter jet? The US-made F-16, also called the F-16 Fighting Falcon or the Viper, is one of Pakistans deadliest aircraft in its air arsenal. The jets are currently manufactured by US defence and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which took over production in 1995. It was originally developed by General Dynamics, a US industrial and technology company. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Developed towards the end of the Vietnam War, the F-16 is now one of the worlds most widely used fighters. According to Lockheed Martin, F-16s are operating in 29 countries, including Pakistan. Pakistan has used the F-16 in the past against India. In 2019, the Indian Air Force shot down a F-16 after Islamabad conducted airstrikes in Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation to Indias Balakot strikes. Also, another F-16 was downed by Indias surface-to-air missile defence system last May amid Operation Sindoor. With inputs from agencies Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys India visit from February 27 to March 2, 2026, comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify trade beyond the US, revive strained ties with New Delhi, push CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) talks, and expand cooperation on clean energy, critical minerals, defence, technology, and security Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach to shake hands at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, June 17, 2025. File Image/The Canadian Press via AP Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is embarking on a multi-country Indo-Pacific tour that places India at the centre of Ottawas efforts to recalibrate its foreign economic policy and repair strained diplomatic relationships. His four-day visit to India from February 27 to March 2, 2026, forms part of a wider itinerary that also includes Australia and Japan, reflecting Canadas focus on diversifying partnerships beyond its traditional reliance on the United States. The India leg of the trip carries particular diplomatic weight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is Carneys first official bilateral visit to New Delhi since becoming prime minister and comes after several years of disrupted relations between the two countries. The Canadian prime minister is set to begin his visit in Mumbai on Friday, where he will hold a series of interactions with Indian and Canadian business leaders and stakeholders. These engagements are designed to encourage investment flows and deepen corporate linkages at a time when both governments are signalling a renewed commitment to commercial cooperation. Carney will then travel to New Delhi, where delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to take place at Hyderabad House on March 2. The two leaders are expected to assess the progress made across a wide range of sectors under the India-Canada Strategic Partnership framework, while also reviewing ongoing initiatives in trade and investment, energy cooperation, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research, innovation and people-to-people ties. Both governments have indicated that the forthcoming meetings are intended to reinforce the positive momentum that has been built through personal interactions of the prime ministers over the past year, especially on the sidelines of the G7 and G20 summits in 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This resumption of high-level political engagement paved the way for the restoration of consular services, which had been curtailed during the period of diplomatic strain. The decision to restore these services was taken after Carney and Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta in June 2025, marking one of the earliest signals that both governments were seeking to reset ties. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is accompanying Carney on the India leg of the trip. I will be returning to India with the Prime Minister this week to further diversify trade and to unlock additional opportunities for Canadians, including by elevating all sectors of the Canadian economy and enhancing our people-to-people ties, she said in a post on X. A boost to India-Canada trade talks on the menu? Trade diversification has emerged as a defining theme of Carneys foreign policy agenda since he took office in March 2025. Ottawa has publicly identified the reduction of Canadas heavy dependence on the US market as a strategic priority, particularly in light of escalating trade disputes with Washington under US President Donald Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has been positioned as a central pillar of this recalibration, given the size of its market, its expanding manufacturing base, and its growing role in global supply chains. In November 2025, Carney and Modi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa, where they agreed to formally launch negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The two leaders set an ambitious target of raising two-way trade to CAN$70 billion (US$51 billion) by 2030, a significant increase from recent levels. Trade flows between the two countries had reached approximately CAN$28 billion in goods and services in 2023, before diplomatic tensions disrupted consular operations and complicated commercial engagement. Canadas most recent official data shows that trade in physical goods stood at CAN$13.3 billion in 2024. Indias key exports to Canada during this period included pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, textiles and machinery, while Canadas shipments to India were dominated by timber, pulp and paper, and mining-related products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carneys India visit is also being closely watched because of Canadas ongoing trade tensions with the US. Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods and has publicly warned Ottawa against pursuing closer trade engagement with Beijing. In recent months, Trump indicated that he could levy 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada were to conclude a trade deal with China. Carney has argued that expanding Canadas export destinations is necessary to mitigate the risks posed by unilateral trade actions from major partners. In this context, India is seen as a critical market for Canadian goods and services, as well as a destination for long-term investment. In January, Carney became the first Canadian prime minister in eight years to undertake an official visit to Beijing. The two sides announced a new strategic partnership during that trip, which included reduced tariffs on Canadian canola and Chinese electric vehicles. While Canadian officials have said that a comprehensive trade deal with China is not under consideration, the outreach has added to Washingtons concerns about Ottawas evolving trade posture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control. We are diversifying our trade and attracting massive new investment," Carney said in a statement. How can India-Canada co-operate on energy? Energy security and resource cooperation are expected to feature prominently in discussions during Carneys India visit. Reports indicate that Canada may agree to supply India with uranium, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, potentially opening a new chapter in bilateral energy ties. Such arrangements would align with Indias long-term efforts to diversify its energy import sources and expand low-carbon power generation capacity. The two sides are also in discussions on a longer-term framework for uranium supply, alongside collaboration in critical minerals that are central to the global clean energy transition. Canadas natural resource base and Indias growing demand for reliable energy inputs have created overlapping interests in this domain. Any progress in this area would be situated within Indias broader policy shift toward securing stable supplies of fuel and raw materials needed for industrial growth and decarbonisation efforts. In December, New Delhi passed legislation allowing domestic and international companies to build, own and operate nuclear power plants. This move is widely seen as an effort to attract foreign capital and technology into a sector that is expected to play a larger role in Indias future energy mix. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Critical minerals, which are essential for batteries, electric vehicles and other clean energy applications, are likely to be a focal point of discussions. Canadas resource endowments and Indias manufacturing ambitions create scope for collaboration across the upstream and downstream segments of these supply chains. Both governments have expressed interest in expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, with discussions underway on joint innovation programmes that connect Canadian research capabilities with Indias scale of implementation. The two countries already share deep ties in education and research. There are more than 200 institutional partnerships linking universities and research centres in India and Canada, facilitating academic exchange and collaborative projects. India also remains one of the largest sources of international students in Canada, with more than 319,000 Indian students currently enrolled in Canadian universities. The India-Canada CEOs Forum, scheduled to be attended by both leaders during the visit, is expected to serve as a platform for private sector stakeholders to identify new areas of collaboration in technology-driven sectors. Business leaders are likely to explore opportunities in artificial intelligence, logistics, digital infrastructure and agri-food supply chains. Will India-Canada turn the page on security? Relations between India and Canada deteriorated sharply after Canadian authorities accused Indian officials of involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023, allegations that New Delhi rejected. The dispute led to the downgrading of diplomatic engagement and disruptions to consular and trade services between the two countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since mid-2025, both Ottawa and New Delhi have sought to stabilise ties. Modis participation in the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025 was widely seen as a symbolic step toward resetting the relationship, following a period of sharp diplomatic exchanges during the tenure of former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau had alleged a potential Indian link in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim that India rejected as absurd. Security cooperation is expected to feature in Carneys closed-door discussions in India. New Delhi is likely to raise concerns related to Khalistani extremist networks, organised crime figures and economic offenders believed to be operating from Canadian territory. Indian officials have sought greater cooperation from Ottawa in cracking down on such networks and enhancing intelligence sharing. While no formal agreements on extradition or intelligence-sharing frameworks are expected to be concluded during this visit, both sides are expected to signal intent to deepen collaboration through existing channels, including national security advisor dialogues and law enforcement exchanges. On Wednesday, a senior official in the Carney administration told Canadian media outlet Toronto Star that As a gesture of goodwill, Canada has also initiated legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian national linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana was extradited to India by the United States in April 2025 after having been arrested in 2009 for his role in the attacks. After concluding his engagements in India, Carney is scheduled to travel to Canberra, where he will address both houses of Australias parliament, becoming the first Canadian prime minister to do so in two decades. He is also set to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss defence cooperation and developments in artificial intelligence. From Australia, Carney will travel to Tokyo, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. With inputs from agencies Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday (February 27), where he will interact with business leaders. The next stop in his first official visit to India will be Delhi. After his engagements in the capital, including talks with PM Narendra Modi, Carney will head back. He will not make a stopover in Punjab, which sends a large number of immigrants to Canada Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as they hold a bilateral meeting during the G7 Leader's Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada June 17, 2025. File Photo/Reuters Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in India on his first official visit since assuming the top post last year. Carney landed in Mumbai on Friday (February 27) and will fly to New Delhi in the coming days. The Canadian PM will remain in India until March 2. During the visit, he will interact with business leaders in Mumbai and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Carney will not make a stopover in Punjab, unlike his predecessors. The move has irked some Sikh groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We take a look. Mark Carneys India visit Canada PM Mark Carney is in Mumbai, where he will participate in business engagements over the next two days. He is set to interact with Indian and Canadian CEOs, industry and financial experts, innovators, educators and Canadian Pension Funds based in India, as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Carney will head to Delhi on March 1. He will hold delegation-level talks with PM Modi at Hyderabad House the next day. They will review cooperation in trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research and innovation, and people-to-people ties. The two leaders will also attend the India-Canada CEOs Forum on March 2. Carneys first trip to India comes as Canada is seeking new investment and export markets as it tries to reduce economic reliance on the United States. The Canadian leader is also hoping to reset relations between the two countries, which were severely strained during his predecessor Justin Trudeaus tenure. Ties took a downturn in 2023 after Trudeau alleged the role of the Indian government in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist, in Canadas Surrey. New Delhi rejected the charge, alleging Canada was a safe haven for terrorists, extremists and organised crime. After Carney came to power in early 2025, both sides put in efforts to bring the ties back on track. The Canadian PM set the ball rolling by inviting PM Modi to the G7 summit in Kananaskis last June. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The duo met and decided to restore high commissioners and resume talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Five months later, PM Modi and Carney met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Since then, the relationship between India and Canada has been on the mend. Mark Carney wont visit Punjab As New Delhi and Ottawa try to repair their frayed relationship, Carneys itinerary does not include a visit to Punjab, a major source of immigration to Canada. His two predecessors, Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, both had travelled to Punjab during their official visits to India. Harper was in India in 2009 when he went to Punjab and its Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest site in the Sikh faith. He returned to Punjab during his 2012 India trip, visiting the Sikh Heritage Centre among other locations. Trudeaus 2018 visit to the Golden Temple with family was ridiculed online over their choice of clothes. Trudeau, his then-wife, Sophie Gregoire, and their children faced criticism for their overly elaborate Indian outfits at the shrine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire, daughter Ella Grace and son Xavier pose for photographers during their visit to the holy Sikh shrine of Golden temple in Amritsar, February 21, 2018. File Photo/Reuters Three of the four former Canadian prime ministers have visited the Golden Temple when in India. Jean Chretien visited the temple in 2003 as prime minister. Paul Martin, who succeeded Chretien, did not. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carney has a sense of gravitas and is very strategic, Partha Mohanram, a management professor at the University of Toronto, told Reuters. Hes not going to do a bhangra dance over there. A visit to the Golden Temple is reportedly viewed as a symbolic gesture toward Canadas large Sikh community, which makes up a powerful voting bloc. The Canadian PM choosing not to visit Punjab is possibly a message to India. Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, told The Globe and Mail that Carneys itinerary seems like a sign that his foreign policy is more focused on national interest and not limited to certain diaspora priorities. Carney faces flak for skipping Punjab Some Sikh groups have criticised Carney for skipping Punjab during his India visit. The Carney government has failed to hold India accountable or to create any meaningful safeguards to ensure that Sikh Canadians are protected from foreign interference and transnational repression, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said in a statement on Wednesday, as per Reuters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the Ottawa-based World Sikh Organization, said to The Globe and Mail, it appears that Carney wants to show the Indians Im here to do business, and lets not let the Sikhs complicate things. Canadas Prime Ministers Office (PMO) press secretary Laura Scaffidi has defended Carneys absence from Punjab, saying the visit focuses on business. She said in a statement that the PM will travel to Mumbai and New Delhi to focus on expanding economic and business relationships, identify investment opportunities in Canada, and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations. Scaffidi said cultural outreach will take place at home. When he is in Canada, the Prime Minister will continue his engagements with cultural communities including attending important celebrations and events on days of significance. Kanwar Pal Singh, leader of radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa, also expressed dismay over the Canadian PM omitting Punjab from his itinerary this time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Dal Khalsa letter to Carney said the Sikhs in Punjab would have been pleased Canadian PMs itinerary included a visit to Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). With inputs from agencies US authorities have released the recording of a 911 phone call made by an Indian-origin woman charged with the murder of her four-year-old daughter. Prosecutors allege that the woman, identified as Neha Gupta, made the call as a cover-up Neha Gupta was arrested for the murder of her child in Florida. @@jattaviator/X In June 2025, an Indian-origin doctor called up emergency services in the US, reporting the death of her four-year-old daughter. Now, authorities have released her 911 call, which reveals exactly what happened before the doctor drowned her four-year-old daughter. The case dates back to June 2025 when Dr Neha Gupta told investigators that her daughter Aria Talathi, accidentally wandered out of their rental home in Florida and fell into the swimming pool without her knowledge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all you need to know about the chilling call made to the authorities. What does the call reveal? It has been nearly a year since Indian-origin paediatrician, Dr Neha Gupta, has been accused of killing her four-year-old daughter in Florida. Now, a chilling call made by the 37-year-old doctor during the incident has been released by the authorities. In the call, Dr Neha Gupta recounts hearing a noise while they were asleep and finding the girl in the pool. She says she attempted to rescue her, but does not know how to swim, and the girl slipped beneath the surface. We were sleeping, and I heard some noise. She was in the pool, and I tried to save her, but I dont know how to swim. She went down in the pool, she told the dispatcher. Asked if anyone else was there to assist, Gupta said it was only the two of them. She added that she had done everything she could to get the girl out. The 911 operator asks if she can use something to pull her daughter from the pool. Can we find something to pull her out? Is there like a stick, like a pool stick, like if youre cleaning out the pool? You need to try to get her out of the water. Gupta inquired about the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), asking if the operator knew how far they were. The operator replied, Theyre on the way, theyre on the way, but you need to try to help her. The dispatcher then asked her about the dimensions of the pool and if the girl was on the shallow or the deep end. I think its nine feet, I dont know how deep, Gupta said. Ok, you need to try to get her out, maam, the dispatcher said again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gupta responded, Yeah, Im trying. Moments later, when police officers arrived, Gupta went to open the door for them. The officers were then heard getting her daughter out of the water. What was the case? It was in the early hours of June 27, 2025, when Neha Gupta called 911 to inform them that her four-year-old daughter was lying at the bottom of the pool at their vacation rental in El Portal, Florida. Upon their arrival, emergency crews were directed by Gupta to the backyard pool, where Aria Talathi was discovered unresponsive. The four-year-old received CPR and was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to save her. According to news reports, Gupta and her daughter travelled from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and were staying at a short-term rental. Gupta shared custody of her daughter with her ex-husband, Saurabh Talathi. Talathi said he had no knowledge that his daughter had left Oklahoma and said the couple was locked in a custody dispute. A police affidavit reported that the autopsy determined the childs lungs and stomach were dry, eliminating drowning as the cause of death. It further stated that the medical examiner documented cuts within the mouth and bruising of the cheeks, findings consistent with asphyxiation by smothering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gupta was arrested on July 2, 2025, by Homicide Bureau detectives with the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office in relation to her daughters death. Gupta and her lawyers maintain that Arias death was an accident. She is due back in court in May. Have there been similar cases? Earlier, an Indian-origin woman was arrested in New Jersey for murdering her two young children. Investigation revealed that Priyatharsini Natarajan of Hillsborough, New Jersey, caused the death of her two children. Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said in a statement that on January 13, 2026, at approximately 6:45 pm, an individual, believed to be the childrens father, made a 911 call to law enforcement. In yet another case, an Indian-origin couple was charged with the murder of their three-year-old daughter last year. They were accused of deliberately starving the toddler in London. The couple were additionally charged with manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and abandoning a child or causing them unnecessary suffering or injury. With inputs from agencies German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has wrapped up his inaugural visit to China on Thursday (February 26). Matters ranging from the trade gap with the EU to the situation in Ukraine and Taiwan were discussed between the two nations. Here are the key takeaways German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement at Siemens Energy plant in Hangzhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang Province. AFP German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Beijing to press Russia for an end to the Ukraine war and raised the issue of Europes yawning trade gap with China as he followed a string of Western leaders to court President Xi Jinping. Here are key outcomes of the German leaders inaugural trip to China that ended Thursday: Trade Travelling with dozens of business leaders, Merz told reporters that economic competition played an important role in conversations during his visit. European businesses complain that China, with its low domestic demand, is flooding Europe with cheap goods. Germanys trade deficit with China hit a record 89 billion euros ($105 billion) last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This dynamic is not healthy, Merz admitted after talks on Wednesday. We want to reduce these imbalances, which have arisen primarily from overcapacity in China, he said, vowing that more German officials would visit the country this year. While Merz stressed the need to reduce dependence and trade imbalances, China raised concerns about what it calls Berlins over-securities of trade and high-tech exports. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (left) visits a showroom of Unitree Robotics products in Hangzhou, in eastern Chinas Zhejiang Province. AFP Merzs visit was a success for both sides, said Wang Dong, a professor at Peking Universitys School of International Studies. Germany secured strong economic and business deals, while China deepened strategic communication with Europes key power. Companies from both sides reached more than 10 agreements this week across industries including autos, energy and finance, according to the Chinese commerce ministry. But the visit did not exceed expectations, said Philippe Le Corre, a China-Europe relations expert at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis. Bilateral trade is unbalanced and increasingly so, he said. I dont expect Chinese investments to come soon and help rebalance that deficit. Airbus orders Merz said China had agreed to purchase up to 120 additional Airbus aircraft, adding that it demonstrates how worthwhile such trips can be. He did not specify when those purchases would take place. Airbus is Europes largest aerospace company, and China is a key export market. The new Airbus deal would follow a raft of orders announced by Chinese firms at the end of last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air China, Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines, as well as Hong Kong-listed China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) announced purchases totalling around 150 jets. Airbus has yet to publicly comment on the deal announced by Merz. It did not respond to an AFP request. Ukraine, Taiwan Merz told reporters following talks with Chinese leaders on Wednesday that he urged Beijing to exert influence on its ally Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Signals from China are taken very seriously in Moscow, Merz said. Chinas voice is heard in the world. Xi said that diplomacy was key to the issue and that it was necessary to address the legitimate concerns of all sides, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the Siemens Energy plant in Hangzhou, in eastern Chinas Zhejiang Province. AFP Merz added that Germany wanted China to avoid supplying Russia with dual-use goods that its military could use against Ukraine. I hope that in my talks I was able to foster a little understanding for the fact that the leadership of this country should also contribute to ending the war in Ukraine, Merz told reporters before he left China on Thursday. Merz said he had also touched on the sensitive topic of Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its territory, and which it has not ruled out using force to annex. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Any reunification must be done peacefully, the German leader said. Chinas great power rise Merz is the latest in a string of Western leaders to visit China since December. China has risen to the ranks of the great powers, Merz said. That is also changing our relationship with China. Britains , Frances Emmanuel Macron, and Canadas Mark Carney also visited Beijing, as they recoil from a mercurial United States. European countries now see China as a stable, indispensable partner not just an economic player, but a critical factor in their foreign policy calculus, said Peking Universitys Wang. Merz said Germanys trade policy was not in isolation from Europe. But visits by individual European leaders are not as strong as a coordinated push, Asia Societys Le Corre warned. Beijing has been trying to ignore EU institutions for the past few years, he said. Beijing is always keen to divide and rule. The Supreme Court has banned the publication, printing or digital dissemination of a Class 8 book, published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), that mentioned corruption in the judiciary. A displeased PM Narendra Modi has also called for fixing accountability. Heres a look at other controversies surrounding NCERT The Supreme Court has banned a revised social science book published by NCERT. File Photo/Reuters The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is in the eye of a storm. The Supreme Court pulled up the autonomous body recently for a chapter in a school textbook that referred to corruption in the judiciary. The apex court has put a complete ban on the publication, printing or digital dissemination of the revised social science Class 8 book, published by NCERT. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed displeasure over the controversy and called for fixing accountability in the matter, government sources told CNN-News18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is not the first time that NCERT has been embroiled in a controversy. Lets take a closer look. SC slams NCERT NCERTs revised social science book for Class 8 has sparked a storm. The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 26) banned the Class 8 book, which includes a section on corruption in the judiciary. Taking a strong exception to the offending textbook, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said that the book could damage the reputation of the judiciary. The controversy is related to a chapter, titled The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society, in a revised version of the textbook meant for the eighth standard students. According to reports, the text refers to corruption at various levels of the judiciary and mentions a massive backlog of cases. The apex court described the contents of the book as extremely contemptuous and reckless. NCERT later issued a statement expressing regret over what it said was an error in judgement that had inadvertently crept into the chapter. PM Modi, who was on a two-day visit to Israel from February 25-26, called for fixing accountability in the matter. Kaun dekh raha hai ye sab (Who is looking after all this), a government source told NDTV, quoting the PM. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed his regret over the inclusion of the contentious chapter. We hold the judiciary in the highest regard There was absolutely no intention on the part of the government to disrespect the judiciary. We are taking this matter very seriously We will fully comply with the judiciarys decision. I am deeply saddened by what happened and express my regret, Pradhan told reporters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD NCERTs other controversies Over recent years, NCERT has found itself increasingly in the middle of controversies over its decision to include or exclude certain chapters pertaining to Indian history. Last year, NCERT stirred a row by removing chapters about the Mughal empire and the Delhi Sultanate from the contents of textbooks for Class 7. Earlier, students had three separate books for history, geography, and social and political life. The autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education merged these into a single volume titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part I). Class 7 history book used to include sections on the medieval Delhi Sultanate (12th-15th centuries) and the rise of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. However, the new combined textbook excluded these topics. Critics slammed the move, seeing it as an attempt to change history." Later, NCERT shifted the topics of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and colonial encounters from Class 7 to Class 8. The central body also faced backlash after new textbooks devoted more pages to Maratha history and less to Rajput rulers. Critics perceived it as an unbalanced representation, arguing for giving equal importance to different historical rulers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD NCERTs decision to drop Tipu Sultan from the Class 8 Social Science textbook and reduce Mughal ruler Akbar to a mixture of tolerance and cruelty also did not sit well with many. The body edited out Mahatma Gandhis opposition to Hindu extremism and the ideological background of his assassin, Nathuram Godse, from Class 12 political science. Opposition parties and academics claimed these changes distorted historical facts. During the Covid-19 pandemic, NCERT pruned chapters on democracy, the civil rights movement, the agricultural movement, and the environment. The NCERT has maintained that the changes were made to ease the burden on students. Overlapping and irrelevant content was dropped as part of syllabus rationalisation, it claimed. With inputs from agencies Pakistan has declared an open war against Afghanistan as it struck Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar overnight. The southern city of Kandahar houses many Taliban leaders, including Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Heres a look at the Taliban leadership Taliban soldiers carry a rocket launcher in a vehicle, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, near Torkham border in Afghanistan, February 27, 2026. Reuters Pakistan has declared an open war against Afghanistan as it bombed Taliban government forces in major cities overnight. Pakistan carried out airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday (February 27). This is the first time Islamabad has targeted Taliban military facilities. The attacks came after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack into Pakistan along six provinces on Thursday night in what it described as retaliatory attacks for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan on Sunday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As tensions escalate, Russia, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are trying to mediate. Pakistans attack on the southern city of Kandahar, where the Taliban leaders are based, has put focus on the Afghan groups leadership. We take a look. Taliban Supreme Leader Akhundzada Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is known as the Leader of the Faithful. Believed to be in his 60s or 70s, the reclusive leader has a mastery of Islamic law. He has the final authority over the Talibans political, religious and military affairs. The founder of the group was Mullah Mohammad Omar, who died in 2013. Akhundzada was chosen as the Talibans supreme leader in 2016 after his predecessor, Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a US drone attack near the Afghan-Pakistan border, as per Al Jazeera. A mysterious figure, only two photos of him are known to exist. Akhundzadas relative anonymity has reportedly served as a factor in the Talibans decision to elevate him, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a non-profit policy organisation, told AFP. Significantly less public and controversial than other choices, he appeared as the ideal candidate to ensure discretion for the movement and retain control over its internal factions, the CEP said. A poster of Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is seen along a road in Kabul on August 14, 2023. File Photo/AFP The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 after the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Despite Kabul being the capital, Akhundzada remains in Kandahar, where he is surrounded by trusted ideologues and hardliners, as per a BBC report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD [Akhundzada], from the outset, sought to form his own strong faction, a former Taliban member, who went on to serve in the US-backed Afghan government, told the British broadcaster. Although he lacked the opportunity at first, once he gained power, he began doing so skilfully, expanding his circle using his authority and position. An insider told BBC that Akhundzada, who served as a judge in the Talibans Sharia courts of the 1990s, was becoming even more rigid in his religious beliefs. As per the report, two factions have developed within the Taliban one of Akhundzada and his loyalists and the other comprising powerful Taliban members largely based in the capital Kabul. One insider described it as the Kandahar house versus Kabul. The supreme leaders decrees on banning girls education have become main sources of tension between the two groups, according to a letter from a UN monitoring body to the Security Council in December. Analysts say there is growing dissent within the Taliban government over some edicts, but for now, Hibatullah has been proudly resistant to external pressure to moderate his policies, said the UN Security Council in a June 2023 report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There is no indication that other Kabul-based Taliban leaders can influence policy substantially, according to the document. The Taliban continued to prioritise unity. While visible opposition to the supreme leaders edicts has been minor, there are yet no signs of any larger acts of rebellion. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Afghanistans prime minister, is a loyalist of the supreme leader. He previously served as foreign minister and then deputy PM during the Talibans government from 1996-2001. Akhund, who hails from Kandahar, is highly respected by the Taliban supreme leader, a Taliban source told the news agency Reuters in 2021. Akhund has been a long-time head of the Talibans powerful decision-making body, Rehbari Shura, or leadership council. He is on a UN sanctions list. ALSO READ: Why Pakistan has launched open war against Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar Popularly known as Mullah Baradar, the co-founder of the Taliban, is serving as the deputy prime minister in the government. He was reportedly one of Mullah Omars most trusted commanders. Baradar was captured in 2010 by security forces in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi and released in 2018. Baradar represented the Taliban in negotiations with the United States in the Qatari capital, Doha, six years ago. The two sides signed an agreement on February 29, 2020, that paved the way for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and intra-Afghan talks to be held in Doha. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Kabul group within the Taliban is unofficially led by Baradar, insiders told BBC. Seen as the moderate face of the Taliban, he had reportedly opposed Akhundzadas order to shut down internet and phones in late September. Sirajuddin Haqqani Sirajuddin Haqqani, a feared militant commander, is the son of the prominent mujahideen commander Jalaluddin Haqqani. Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin is the head of the Haqqani Network, a Sunni Islamist militant organisation that oversees the Talibans financial and military assets across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Some experts believe the Haqqanis introduced suicide bombing to Afghanistan. In 2017, the Network orchestrated the truck bombing in Kabul, which killed more than 150 people near the German embassy. It has also been blamed for several other attacks, including a raid on Kabuls top hotel, an assassination attempt on then-President Hamid Karzai and a suicide attack on the Indian embassy. Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani is the head of the Haqqani Network. File Photo/AFP Sirajuddin was one of the US most wanted men with a $10 million bounty on his head, which was quietly dropped by the FBI in 2024, as per BBC. Sirajuddin, in an interview with New York Times at the time, downplayed any possibility of an open split in the Taliban. Unity is important for Afghanistan currently so we can have a peaceful country, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Yaqoob Mujahid is the Taliban founder Mullah Omars son. He is currently the defence minister in the Afghan government. Yaqoob graduated from several hard-line Islamic seminaries in Pakistans Karachi, where his family had lived since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan toppled the brutal Taliban regime in 2001. Yaqoob was appointed as the Talibans military chief in 2020. Believed to be in his 30s, he is popular among young Taliban members and some ordinary Afghans, reported BBC. Mullah Omar was a charismatic leader and there remains huge respect for him, his family, and even his close associates, many of whom have been promoted to influential positions, Obaid Ali, an expert on the insurgency at the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul, told RFE/RL in 2020. Neda Mohammad Nadem Neda Mohammad Nadem, the higher education minister, is a loyalist of the Taliban supreme leader. Soon after taking over the post in 2021, he banned female students and women lecturers from both public and private universities across Afghanistan. In a speech to graduating students at a madrassa recently, Nadem said, Only one person leads and the rest follow orders, this is a true Islamic government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If there are too many leaders then problems will emerge and this government that we have achieved will be ruined. Nadem is on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions list that includes travel restrictions. Abdul Hakim Haqqani Abdul Hakim Haqqani is the Chief Justice of the Talibans Supreme Court. The armed groups former shadow chief justice is believed to be the most trusted person by Akhundzada. In July 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for him and Akhundzada, accusing them of crimes against humanity for the persecution of women and girls. In a statement, the ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe the Talibans supreme leader and Afghanistans chief justice had ordered policies that deprived women and girls of education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion. With inputs from agencies Pakistan has declared open war against Afghanistan, launching deadly airstrikes across different provinces. As the conflict worsens, heres a look at each nations military capabilities from land to air and more Taliban soldiers carry a box containing weapons, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, near Torkham border in Afghanistan. Reuters Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting yet again. On Friday morning (February 27), Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that his country is in an open war with its neighbour. Pakistan has reportedly claimed that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 others were wounded in its latest military offensive. Pakistan military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, also told reporters in a press conference that Pakistans armed forces had destroyed 73 posts and had captured 18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Kabul refutes these figures, claiming no loss of lives. According to AFP reporters on the ground, new rounds of gunfire and shelling erupted near the strategic Torkham border crossing. Amid rising tensions between the two neighbours, heres a look at how Pakistan and Afghanistans militaries stack up against one another. Overview Backed by steady recruitment and retention, Pakistans military is reinforced by hardware from its primary defence partner, China. Islamabad is pressing ahead with investment in its nuclear capabilities and modernising its naval and air assets. Taliban soldiers load a rocket launcher in a vehicle following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, near Torkham border in Afghanistan. Reuters Meanwhile, the capability of the Afghan Talibans armed forces is declining, with a fall in their ability to use foreign equipment that the Islamist group seized when it returned to power in the landlocked country in 2021. A lack of international recognition for the Taliban administration has also hurt military modernisation. As per Global Firepowers rankings, Pakistans military is ranked high at 14, whereas Afghanistan is ranked 121 of 145 countries. Personnel Pakistan has a higher number of military personnel compared to its neighbour. Of Pakistans estimated 660,000 active service members, around 560,000 belong to the army, while the air force and navy account for about 70,000 and 30,000 personnel, respectively. The strength of the Afghan Talibans military is thinner, with only 172,000 active personnel. The group has, however, announced plans to expand its armed forces to 200,000 personnel. Equipment and artillery Pakistan has more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles and over 4,600 pieces of artillery. An Afghan Taliban fighter sits on a tank near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province. Reuters The Afghan forces also possess armoured fighting vehicles, including Soviet-era main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and autonomous underwater vehicles, but their exact number is unknown. The precise number of artillery pieces they possess, which is of at least three different types, is not known. Aerial power Pakistan has a fleet of 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters that include multi-role, attack and transport choppers. In fact, many of Pakistans fighter jets come from China or the US. For instance, one of the most deadliest aircraft in Pakistans arsenal is the F-16, which is manufactured by Americas Lockheed Martin. Also, Pakistan boasts of having the JF-17, which is developed by China. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 fighter jets in Islamabad, Pakistan. File image/Reuters Afghanistan has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known to possess at least six aircraft - some of them dating back again to the Soviet era - and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nuclear arsenal While Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country and has 170 warheads, Afghanistan does not have a nuclear arsenal. Asymmetrical tactics While Pakistan seems to outgun and out power Afghanistan militarily, Kabul holds one advantage. The Taliban resorts to guerrilla tactics and deep knowledge of the rugged border terrain to challenge the Pakistani military. They often employ small, stealthy units for high-impact raids on border posts. With inputs from Reuters Once synonymous with immense power, the East India Company has shut down for the second time after slipping into voluntary liquidation. The firms store and website have been closed, with over 600,000 (Rs 7.39 crore) in debt reported The East India Company was founded on December 31, 1600, by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. Image courtesy: X Once the worlds most powerful trading empire, the East India Company, has closed its chapter for the second time in London. This time, as a luxury retailer. The original East India Company ruled vast Indian territories in 1757, revolutionised global trade, but left behind a controversial legacy of violence and exploitation. It shut down more than 150 years ago. However, in 2010, British-Indian businessman Sanjiv Mehta secured the rights to the name and opened a retail store. Now this firm has gone bankrupt. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The company has been shut down after being reportedly liquidated in its modern form. The store and website have been closed, and over 600,000 (Rs 7.39 crore) in debt has been reported. What happened? The latest shutdown of the East India Company has brought a subdued ending to a brand that once shaped the course of Indian and British history. Last October, the East India Company Limited appointed liquidators, Companies House filings revealed. The firm owned over 600,000 (Rs 7.39 crore) to its parent company, the East India Company Group, which is registered in the British Virgin Islands. In addition, liabilities also covered 193,789 (around Rs 2.386 crore) in taxes and 163,105 (Rs 1.999 crore) owed to employees. A raft of other associated firms using the East India name have also been dissolved, underlining the full scale of collapse. The brands physical and digital presence is no longer available. Its store at 97 New Bond Street in London stands empty and is being marketed online by a property agency. Its website is also no longer functional. The Times reported that the East India Company Collections Limited was hit with a winding-up petition last week, a last-resort legal action used by creditors. At one point recently, just a single tea gift box remained listed on Selfridges website, signalling how much the revival effort had tumbled. Who revived the East India Company? The entrepreneur behind the East India Companys second life was Sanjiv Mehta. In the early 2000s, Mehta began the process of acquiring the name from shareholders. He bought the original EIC, including its coat of arms, from a group of shareholders in 2005, Times of India (TOI) reported. In 2010, Mehta opened a 2,000 sq ft luxury store in Mayfair, London. The store sold high-end teas, chocolates, confectionery, spices, and other items, similar to those sold by famous shops like Fortnum & Mason. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sanjiv Mehta began the process of acquiring the East India Companys name in the early 2000s from shareholders. Image courtesy: X As the revision progressed, Mehta viewed it as a turning point in the transition from colonialism to something positive. The entrepreneur said that he felt that he had reclaimed for India what had long been considered a symbol of colonialism and oppression. In 2010, Mehta told Hindustan Times (HT), Put yourself in my shoes for a moment: On a rational plane, when I bought the company, I saw gold at the end of the rainbow. But, at an emotional level as an Indian, when you think with your heart as I do, I had this huge feeling of redemption-this indescribable feeling of owning a company that once owned us. While speaking to the Guardian in 2017, he said, The fact that an Indian now owns the East India Company means that the negative has become a positive. The historic East India Company built itself on aggression, but todays East India Company is about compassion, India Today reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mehta was born into a Gujarati Jain family in Mumbai. He is now a British citizen and comes from a lineage of diamond traders. Mehta was an alumnus of Sydenham College, Mumbai and IIM Ahmedabad. He moved to the Uk in 1989, according to media reports. Whats the history of the original East India Company? The East India Company was founded on December 31, 1600, by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. It started as a joint-stock trading company, created to compete for spices and other goods from the East Indies, including India and Southeast Asia. Its first trading post was opened in Surat, India, between 1612 and 1613. Gradually, it gained rights over British trade east of the Cape of Good Hope. In the 1700s, it had transformed into a major power, constructing forts, forging alliances with local rulers, and waging wars against rivals, including the French and local kingdoms, reported India Today. The legacy of the East India Company was marked by territorial expansion, exploitation, and a deep structural impact on the Indian subcontinent. Image courtesy: @Kanthan2030/X After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, it collected taxes, administered courts, and ruled territories like Bengal. At its peak in the early 1800s, the company maintained a private army of roughly 250,000 men, twice the size of Britains own army. It then controlled vast regions of India. It also dominated global trade in commodities like spices, cotton, silk, tea, and indigo, but often at a heavy human toll. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The legacy of the East India Company was marked by territorial expansion, exploitation, and a deep structural impact on the Indian subcontinent. After the 1857 Indian Rebellion, the company was formally dissolved. The British Crown took over the company, dismantled its army, and ended its direct governance. Scholars have associated the company with systemic exploitation, its participation in global trade networks, including the slave trade, and policies that worsened famines impacting millions. Even today, the debate around its legacy persists. Now, it is a closed chapter. A third coming of the East India Company seems unlikely. With inputs from agencies The killing of Mexican cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, aka El Mencho, has sparked widespread violence in the country, with his gang members opening fire on soldiers. Now, the biggest challenge in front of President Claudia Sheinbaum is to contain the violence A member of the Gereal Attorney's Office stands guard near a bus set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico. AFP The killing of the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) by Mexican authorities on Sunday sparked widespread violence, with gang members opening fire on soldiers and setting up burning roadblocks in various parts of the country. The killing of Nemesio Oseguera, also known as El Mencho, constituted a victory for the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Experts now warn that the true challenge is whether she can contain the inevitable fighting as the CJNG enters into a war over control of one of Mexicos largest criminal groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Elite Mexican soldiers supported by US intelligence agencies killed Oseguera on Sunday in Tapalpa, in the western state of Jalisco, where he was wounded while trying to flee. He died while en route to the hospital. Experts say the cartels response gunbattles, highway blockades, and the burning of cars, businesses, and banks in 20 out of Mexicos 32 states was not just revenge for the death of their leader. It was a show of force. What can the cartel do? The cartel will have to fill the void left by El Mencho, who managed the organization of more than 30,000 members with a vertical command structure and an iron fist, according to academic experts. View of bullet impacts on the window of a police station in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. AFP For Raul Benitez Manaut, a national security expert, the question is whether there will be an agreed-upon transition of power between the second-tier hierarchy of the cartel, or whether Sundays violence will unleash a far larger internal war. If the criminal organization carries out more choreographed acts like they did on Sunday, they will put the Mexican government and security forces in far more awkward situations. Who will succeed El Mencho? Osegueras power within the CJNG was so established that many believe he could have named his successor to ensure the cohesion of the cartel. In 2025, the US Treasury Department said that Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, the son-in-law of El Mencho, was considered a possible successor to Oseguera. Working through the industrial Pacific coast port of Manzanillo, Castillo has facilitated the entrance of precursor chemicals the cartel uses to produce fentanyl and other illicit drugs that are trafficked to the United States, the Treasury Department said at the time in a communique. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Can the government contain the violence? The organizations violent response to the killing of its leader provoked widespread terror among the Mexican population. It was about sending a message to the Mexican government and rival cartels, saying were still powerful, were still strong, Mike Vigil, a former DEA agent, said. They are warning that the killing of El Mencho will not weaken them, threatening their enemies to keep them from taking over their drug trafficking routes and territories, he added. The government has been taking precautions by deploying thousands of soldiers to Jalisco and other states, according to the ex-DEA agent, who believes the Mexican military has the situation under control. Firefighters work after a bus was set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico. AFP Manaut, the national security expert, suggested that the military should uproot the gangs from the Pacific coast, much of which is controlled by the CJNG, as well as the countrys central plateau, where they use two strategic highways that are key for both legal and illegal trade in western and northern Mexico. The operation that ended the life of El Mencho was a triumph for the military and the president, in the short term. But if they dont control the consequences, it can all backfire on them, Manaut warned. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the wee hours of Friday, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghanistan, targeting several military installations in cities like Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar. The airstrikes came after the Taliban launched a cross-border strike earlier. Differing death tolls have emerged following the violence Islamabad claims to have killed 133, while Kabul has claimed the death of 55 Pakistani troops A war-like situation is unfolding between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday morning (February 27), with Islamabad bombing major cities in the neighbouring country, including the capital Kabul. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif even posted on X, Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you. Pakistans strikes come hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the volatile neighbours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Read live updates from the Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes here Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. But whats going on? Why are the two sides fighting? Afghanistans strikes on Pakistan It all began on Thursday evening, around 8 pm local time, when the Taliban-led government launched an attack against Pakistan along the Durand Line. Afghanistans Taliban said that the cross-border strikes were in response to what it called deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas last Sunday (February 22). That attack resulted in the death of at least 18 people, including women and children, according to the Taliban. In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line, said Afghanistans government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on X. Afghanistans defence ministry said its operations took place along the border in six provinces. It claimed the fighting lasted about four hours and ended at midnight. BIG BREAKING Afghan forces have captured several posts of the Pakistani military regime According to reports, dozens of soldiers have been killed or wounded, & dozens more have been taken alive Hundreds of ammunition & weapons have also fallen into the hands of Afghan forces pic.twitter.com/ghPAXNDNsI Afghanistan Defense (@AFGDefense) February 26, 2026 In the strikes, Afghanistan claimed to have killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, including some whose bodies had been taken into Afghanistan, while several others were captured alive. It put its own casualties at eight killed and another 11 wounded. The ministry said it had destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has contested these figures. He said the number of troops killed was two, and three others were wounded. He added that 36 Afghan fighters had been reported killed. Moreover, Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. Wounded Afghan women receive treatment at a hospital in Jalalabad, after a Pakistani mortar shell hit a camp for people returning from Pakistan, during ongoing clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban security personnel near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Nangarhar Province. AFP Pak launches Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghanistan In retaliation for Afghanistans cross-border strikes, the Pakistan air force launched airstrikes under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, targeting major cities, including Kabul. In the Afghan capital, AFP journalists heard jets and multiple loud blasts, followed by gunfire, over a period of more than two hours. Similarly, in Afghanistans southern city of Kandahar, where Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, jets could be overhead. Pakistans state broadcaster PTV reported that its military targeted the Afghan Talibans important military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. In those strikes, two brigade headquarters were destroyed in Kabul, while one corp headquarters and one brigade headquarters were destroyed in Kandahar. An ammunition depot and logistics base were destroyed in Kandahar, and a corp headquarters was destroyed in Paktia, reported PTV. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Smoke rises following what Pakistani and Taliban officials say are Pakistani strikes, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Reuters The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, with its spokesperson stating that the cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, adding that no casualties were reported, a contrast to claims made by Pakistans interior minister. According to Pakistans Mohsin Naqvi, 133 Afghan Taliban members were killed, and more than 200 others were wounded. He added that 27 Afghan Taliban posts had been destroyed and nine Afghan Taliban posts had been captured. In a post on X, Naqvi wrote: The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians. The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces. The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. They will have to face serious consequences. We will not allow our security to be compromised. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said the country would not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. Our armed forces response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response and no one will be beyond reach, he warned STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the countrys military, saying its forces are fully capable of thwarting any aggressive intentions. There will be no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland and every aggression will be met with a befitting reply, he wrote on the Pakistani governments X account. A Pakistani army personnel in Peshawar. Fridays violence follows months of violence between the two nations. Last October, tensions had escalated with both sides launching deadly attacks. File image/AFP Months and months of violence The violence on Friday follows months of violence between the two nations. Last October, deadly clashes broke out between the two sides in which dozens of soldiers, civilians, and suspected militants were killed. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, but the two sides have still occasionally traded fire across the border. Several rounds of peace talks in November failed to produce a formal agreement. At the heart of the issue is security, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harbouring armed groups led by the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), on its soil. The TTP emerged in 2007 and is distinct from the Taliban in Afghanistan but shares deep ideological, social, and linguistic ties with the group. For Pakistan, the TTP poses a serious security concern; in 2025, they perpetrated more than 1,000 violent incidents across Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the Taliban government in Afghanistan of not doing enough to curb the TTP. As Pearl Pandya, South Asia senior analyst at the US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, told Al Jazeera, The Afghan Taliban appear unwilling to seriously crack down on the TTP, partly due to prior affinities between the two groups but also out of fear of TTP militants defecting to its main rival, the Islamic State Khorasan Province. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the Afghan Taliban denies sheltering the TTP. With inputs from agencies India is moving from fast 5G rollout to shaping global 6G standards, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Network18. With SIM binding rules for OTT apps, satellite internet expansion, and spectrum planning, New Delhi is tightening cybersecurity while aiming to lead next-gen telecom technology Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia speaks at a News18 Rising Bharat Summit session titled 'Aspirations Uninterrupted: Connecting a Billion Dreams' at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 27, 2026. File Image/Network18 Indias telecommunications policy is entering a decisive phase marked by two parallel tracks: a security-first overhaul of how digital platforms operate on Indian networks, and an outward-facing push to shape the global rules of next-generation connectivity. At the News18 Rising Bharat Summit at Bharat Mandapam on Friday (February 27, 2026), Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India has moved beyond simply adopting global telecom standards and is now participating in setting them particularly as work on 6G accelerates. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What SIM binding changes for OTT platforms India has mandated tighter identity and device controls for over-the-top communication and messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. At the Summit, Scindia framed telecom as foundational infrastructure that now requires a security firewall. Telecom and mobile technology, to me is no longer a luxury. It is the invisible digital highway on which not only communications run, but it in many ways is a carriageway on the basis of which communications, livelihoods and economies function across the world," he said. Honble Minister @JM_Scindia ji addressing at @News18India Rising Bharat Summit today. Bharat Mandapam https://t.co/42tpFY5ANF Office Of JM Scindia (@Officejmscindia) February 27, 2026 Following directions from the Department of Telecommunications, these platforms must ensure that a user account remains tied to an active SIM physically present in the device. Web and desktop sessions are required to auto-logout every six hours, with re-authentication via QR codes from the primary handset. The March 1, 2026 compliance deadline has been fixed, with the ministry stressing that security risks linked to cross-border fraud and identity misuse outweigh convenience concerns. SIM binding links a messaging account to the specific SIM card used to register it. If the SIM is removed, swapped, or deactivated, the account cannot continue to function independently. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The policy targets fraud patterns in which criminals activate Indian numbers on apps without possessing the physical SIM, and it curbs remote misuse of logged-in web sessions. Explaining this, Scindia said, SIM binding has become the need of the day because otherwise what happens is that when you first connect your phone to a lot of these OTT platforms along with the mobile number, and then if you remove yourself, those OTT platforms are still very active I cannot raise the identity of the element. And therefore to be able to do that SIM binding today becomes mandatory from a security guardian. He added that compliance is expected from all service providers, citing the ministrys fiduciary responsibility to Indias massive user base. From rapid 5G scale-up to shaping 6G standards Indias 5G deployment has progressed at pace, with coverage extended across virtually all districts and adoption rising rapidly among mobile users. Operators such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are shifting from coverage expansion to 5G standalone (SA) monetisation and AI-enabled services as networks mature. Scindia contrasted Indias historical pattern of following global mobile technology waves with the 5G experience, stating that India in many ways has followed the world on mobile technology, whether it be GSM or then 2G, more than 3G and even 4G. 5G was the first time when technology across the world is propagated, and India actually had the fastest rollout of 5G in the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India was able to roll out 5G across the breadth of the country in just 22 months. Today, we have almost ubiquitous connectivity on 5G, close to 99.9 percent of districts are connected to them. Youll be surprised to know that today out of the 120 crore customers on mobile in India, a large share has already transferred to 5G networks. Looking ahead to 6G, Scindia said India aims to lead rather than follow. International technical norms for mobile generations are shaped through multilateral processes at bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union. Countries that participate in standard-setting influence spectrum use cases, interoperability, security frameworks and performance targets for networks worldwide. When telecom technology is prominent or standards are set, that is set by a body called the ITU and when those standards are set, international countries or world leaders sit at that roundtable. Scindia said Indias 6G push follows a 2023 vision that mobilised the Bharat 6G Alliance across the value chain. Its for the first time as we have adopted 6G that the Prime Minister set the vision in 2023. And he set the goal that the Bharat 6G Alliance the whole value chain is R&Ding 6G today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that India has partnered with similar platforms in more than 30 countries and that a proposal on universal connectivity has been admitted into global standard-setting. For the first time, our proposal of ubiquitous connectivity to every single citizen across the globe as a paper has been admitted and accepted as part of the 6G standard-setting protocol India today is no longer following. India today is no longer walking. Were on that table setting the standards along with other stakeholders for the world. While standards are still evolving, 6G is expected to build on 5G with AI-native network management, ultra-low latency, integrated sensing and communication, and new spectrum use cases. On satellite communication & spectrum Beyond terrestrial mobile networks, satellite communication is being positioned as essential to universal service and resilience in emergencies. Licences have been issued to OneWeb, Starlink and Reliances satellite arm, with commercial operations to scale after security demonstrations (including border signal shut-off capabilities) and administrative spectrum pricing are finalised. Scindia described satellites as indispensable for last-mile reach and continuity of service during disasters. As Communications Minister, it is my job to ensure that every single citizen in my country has the full bouquet of services in front of him or her to choose from that also means satellite because satellite can go where no other technology can go. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the case of natural calamities, when all of the systems go down, satellite is the only system that stays up. Spectrum is the range of radio frequencies used to carry wireless signals. Different bands trade off coverage, capacity and speed. Policy decisions on which bands are reserved for mobile, satellite and backhaul and how they are priced directly affect network quality, competition and the pace of 5G-to-6G transition. Recommendations on future auctions have been received, and the government plans to assess market demand before proceeding. Just a few days ago, based on those recommendations, we will proceed to look at what the appetite for demand is, and shortly thereafter we should take a view, Scindia revealed at the summit. How India is leading the way in data affordability & AI Indias telecom market is characterised by massive scale and low consumer prices, underpinned by high volumes of subscribers and data usage. Scindia said tariffs are set by operators, not the government, and highlighted how scale has driven affordability and rapid diffusion of connectivity: This is a country where high volume is the key to growth India has shown the world how you can permeate technology right down to the grassroots level. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When you have 1.2 crore telecom subscribers when internet subscribers go from 250 million 12 years ago to a billion today when broadband subscribers go from 60 million to a billion today, that kind of exponential growth, youre looking at a CAGR of over 30-40 per cent per year. Data 12 years ago used to cost 287 per GB Today, one GB of data costs in India less than 8 per GB The world average is $2.49. So India is operating at five percent of world costs with a billion-plus subscribers. On adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues and the governments equity in certain telecom firms (like Vodafone), Scindia said court directions have been implemented and clarified the distinction between ownership and management. With the conversion of the AGR dues, which appeals to 38,000 crores, we have also followed the Supreme Court verdict and executed it on that. We are an equity holder. Now when you are an equity holder, that does not mean that you are in management. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Scindia also argued that technological shifts, including AI, historically reshape labour markets while creating new opportunities. Whats going to happen with AI is what from an economic perspective has been the concept of creative destruction I think it is going to create more opportunities than extinguish them, he opined. Scindia said Indias AI policy direction is to move from a services-heavy model to a product-led ecosystem across chips, semiconductors, large language models and telecom equipment. Looking to the long term, Scindia set out an expansive vision for Indias global role. Today, I have great confidence that by 2047, we will be leading the world on the stage in terms of contribution to GDP and economic heft. And not only that, I believe that we will be a philosophical child in terms of creating Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and that prosperity for all notion for countries across the world. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit, one of Indias flagship events on current affairs is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 27, 2026 to February 28, 2026. At Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Mercedes-Benz India outlined its value-led growth strategy, record 2025 revenue, localisation push, and views on the India-EU FTA. CEO Santosh Iyer also compared India and Chinas auto markets, highlighting why India is emerging as a key global pillar for Mercedes Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, can be seen on a screen speaking at a News18 Rising Bharat Summit session titled 'Building Scale in a Billion-Person Economy' at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 27, 2026. File Image/Network18 At the Rising Bharat Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Friday, the leadership of Mercedes-Benz India delivered a brief view of the companys strategic direction in India amid a transforming global automotive environment. Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer addressed how Mercedes is repositioning itself in the subcontinent. As Mercedes-Benz India stepped into 2026, its focus evolved from sheer volume to a value-driven luxury agenda. The companys performance in recent years including record revenue, a widening product portfolio, and stronger localisation reflects this shift. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Mercedes-Benz India has performed Despite registering a modest decline in total volume, Mercedes-Benz India capped the calendar year 2025 with its highest-ever revenue just shy of $1.5 billion. According to company data, Mercedes India reported 19,007 units sold in 2025, a slight dip from 19,565 in 2024 equating to a nearly 2.85 perc ent year-on-year drop. What stands out, however, is where growth occurred. Top-end vehicles those priced above 1.5 crore, including the S-Class, AMG performance variants, Maybach and EQS electric models contributed disproportionately to revenue gains and brand positioning. These premium models expanded by around 11 per cent in volumes, now representing roughly a quarter of total sales. AMG vehicles alone grew by 34 per cent, a marker of increasing enthusiasm in India for performance luxury cars. At the same time, the Core segment dominated by models such as the E-Class long wheelbase and GLE SUV continued to be the backbone of Mercedes India operations, accounting for about 62 per cent of sales in 2025. Industry analysts also note that diesel variants have seen resurgence in demand following Indias GST 2.0 reforms, with diesel options accounting for an estimated 43 per cent of Mercedes sales mix a notable figure in a global landscape where diesel is declining. How Mercedes-Benz India sees the India-EU FTA One of the most consequential global trade developments affecting Mercedes and the Indian automotive market at large is the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), announced on January 27 after nearly two decades of negotiations. At the Rising Bharat Summit, Santosh Iyer emphasised that trade agreements should be viewed broadly as platforms for holistic economic engagement rather than mere tariff reduction tools. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD FTAs while people only clock in terms of reduction of tariffs, but as we look at the various countries where FTAs are being done, it is creating a business platform which opens engagement as well as investments." Its not just a government-to-government but a business-to-business partnership. Under this landmark pact, import duties on fully built European cars were committed to being slashed from their historically steep peaks of up to 110 per cent down to as low as 10 per cent over time, under specific quota systems covering roughly 250,000 vehicles annually. However, the transition is gradual. In the first phase, immediate tariff cuts to about 40 per cent have been agreed for a limited number of imported cars, with further reductions reaching 10 per cent over subsequent years, subject to quota and regulatory conditions a strategy designed to liberalise trade without overwhelming the domestic industry. FTAs are not about duty reduction. We have always advocated open borders and that is the fundamental reason for global economic growth. The real potential of India is to be able to participate in developed economies and we have prepared India already, Iyer added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While this move promises to enhance market access for European automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen, experts caution that widespread price reductions for most imported luxury cars may not materialise overnight. Thats because a large share of premium cars sold in India is already locally assembled or falls under tariff protections during phased implementation. Therefore all Mercedes models may not become significantly cheaper in India purely because of the FTA, particularly given localisation and GST implications, as well as residual duties and other taxes. Nevertheless, the pacts deeper significance lies beyond immediate pricing. Expanded market access under the FTA is anticipated to boost Indian automotive exports into the EU which have been gaining momentum, recording $2.2 billion in shipments between April and December 2025, up from $1.6 billion in 2024. There is a clear discussion about protection of investments for European companies in India, that also means more capex and more growth momentum. FTA will be one of the biggest game changers in the next couple of months if not years, Iyer pointed out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beyond automobiles, the India-EU FTA reduces or eliminates tariffs on a wide range of goods from processed foods to industrial products, positioning it as one of Indias most sweeping trade pacts or as it is being touted the mother of all deals. India vs China: Mercedes market palette Comparing Mercedes-Benzs strategic positioning and performance across India and China reveals contrasting market dynamics. China has long been Mercedes-Benzs largest single market globally. The company sold approximately 551,900 to 575,000 units across China in 2025, highlighting the massive difference in volume when it comes to India. The automotive ecosystem in China is defined by massive capacity, intense competition from domestic electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, and strong governmental emphasis on scale production and aggressive localisation. Price-competitive homegrown EV brands have pressured traditional luxury volumes, contributing to sales declines for some foreign manufacturers in recent years. Mercedes leadership has noted that Chinas market structure heavily influenced by state intervention, subsidy frameworks and production-oriented growth differs markedly from Indias market evolution. At the summit, Iyer summed up this contrast, stating, Chinas growth was state-led with a lot of capex and subsidies. Targets for production were set. Whereas Indias growth is consumer economy-led. China has overcapacity now. It is more structural in India a bit slower than imagined but the runway is there, he explained. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The biggest change point in the last 20 years is decarbonisation, he said. China did not have that agenda as much as what India has for growth. In contrast, Indias luxury market is characterised by sustainable, demand-led growth, strong interest in premium and performance vehicles, and rising income profiles in urban centres. Indias luxury volumes while smaller in scale than China have shown resilience and a strengthening foothold for brands like Mercedes-Benz, especially when paired with deep localisation that keeps pricing competitive. This positioning is reflected in Iyers remarks, as he stated, If you only look at the volume from one single prism, it may not sit right. But structurally, its showing a very positive trend. FTAs are not about duty reduction. We have always advocated open borders and that is the fundamental reason for global economic growth. The real potential of India is to be able to participate in developed economies and we have prepared India already, Iyer said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The automotive ecosystem here is very strong. The balance of trade of auto components to Europe is positive for India. We are exporting to Europe more than importing from there, he noted. Unlike Chinas market, Indias regulatory environment has not relied on heavy subsidies for pure EV adoption, which has led to more balanced demand between internal combustion engine (ICE) models, diesel variants, and electrified vehicles especially in the luxury bracket. This India-China contrast explains why Mercedes is increasingly viewing India not just as a strong growth market but as a strategic hedge, especially given Chinas slower luxury sales growth in 2025 and competitive price dynamics from local EV brands. From a low-selling, cheaper cars to today our average selling price is coming to Rs. 1 crore, Iyer revealed. How Mercedes-Benz India is expanding locally Mercedes-Benz India continues to deepen localisation, both on assembly and technology fronts. A significant proportion of its portfolio is assembled locally via CKD (completely knocked down) operations, which helps keep effective tariffs lower than for fully built imports. This localisation also shields many models from immediate impact under new trade agreements and is aimed at highlighting Indias growing importance as a production hub. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Industry data suggests that nearly 95 per cent of luxury cars sold in India that qualify under the premium segment are locally assembled, meaning that the bulk of tariff reductions under new trade pacts will benefit niche imports more than the mass of locally built vehicles. The company has also invested in its Bengaluru-based R&D centre, which plays an increasingly important role not just for domestic innovation but for global Mercedes programmes. This includes work on digital systems, advanced driver assistance capabilities, and connected car technologies areas where Indias engineering talent is highly competitive. Mercedes has announced a robust product expansion roadmap for 2026, with up to 12 new launches planned across combustion, electrified and performance variants. These include the locally significant Mercedes CLA electric vehicle (EV), set to redefine the brands entry EV positioning in India, as recently confirmed by multiple automotive sources. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit, one of Indias flagship events on current affairs is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 27, 2026 to February 28, 2026. Streamlined visa processing is expected to boost Indian travel to Canada, with growing interest in top destinations such as Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara. Indian tourists can now expect shorter waits for visitor visas. Credits/Pexels Canada remains a top-tier destination for 2026, driven by strong international student enrollment and a demand for immersive, natural experiences like Banff and Sable Island. With the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arriving in India today, tourism is likely find a place in the diplomatic conversations. Amid this, the recently revised visa processing time and application procedure for travel to Canada, indicate a likely push towards welcoming Indian tourists. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its processing times for visa applications. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indian tourists can now expect shorter waits for visitor visas, with processing times dropping to 83 days, down from 99 days previously. The change comes as IRCC completes its year-end inventory review and reallocates officers to prioritise visitor visas ahead of the summer travel season. This 16-day reduction is a welcome relief for travellers hoping to explore Canadas stunning landscapes or visit family and friends in the country. Recently announced changes As of February 21, 2026, the process for booking biometric enrolments at Canada Visa Application Centres in India has transitioned from a separate webform to our Appointment Management System (AMS). This change is designed to provide a smoother, more convenient experience. For all biometric enrolment appointments on or after 24th February 2026, applicants are required to upload the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) in order to schedule an appointment through the AMS. When booking your biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), you must upload your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) from IRCC. This helps make sure that appointments are only booked by IRCC applicants who have been asked to give their biometrics. Whats new with the AMS? Choose your preferred appointment date and time Easily reschedule or cancel appointments online Upload the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) in the same format as issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) IRCC periodically reassesses its processing capacity, especially around high-volume periods. With summer approaching, authorities are moving additional officers into visitor visa processing so that more applicants can travel during peak season. This operational shift is designed to reduce backlogs, speed up travel approvals and ensure smoother entry for tourists. Top destinations to visit Apart from student immigration, tourism for leisure has also increased in recent times. Travel agencies have noticed a growing interest in top destinations such as Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara. Indian tourists visiting Canada require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA, with over 200,000 visas issued to Indian nationals in 2023, confirming India as a top source market. However, despite the growing interest, travellers are advised to check the latest visa rules, travel advisories and checklists to avoid any hassle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Banff National Park, Alberta: Known for turquoise lakes (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake) and the Icefields Parkway. In 2026, it is highlighted for luxury, including the redesigned Rimrock Resort Hotel and the new Basin Glacial Waters thermal spa. Niagara Falls, Ontario: A world-famous, high-energy spectacle with boat tours, offering stunning views and, in the evening, illumination. Vancouver and Vancouver Island, B.C.: A mix of urban life, Stanley Park, and coastal beauty, with Tofino offering surfing and whale watching. Quebec City, Quebec: Renowned for its European charm, cobblestone streets, and historic architecture. Toronto, Ontario: A diverse city with the CN Tower, vibrant neighborhoods like Kensington Market, and the Distillery District. Churchill, Manitoba: A premier destination for polar bear tours and walking safaris in their natural habitat. The Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick/Nova Scotia: Famous for the highest tides on Earth, where visitors can walk on the ocean floor at the Hopewell Rocks. Prince Edward Island: Known for sandy beaches, lobster dinners, and the Anne of Green Gables House. The new Japan visa rule mandates that applicants submitting tourist visa applications at select centres will soon need to secure an appointment in advance. Japan is a sought after destination for tourists across the world, especially India. As per the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), more than 3.15 lakh Indians travelled to the country in 2025, the highest number on record. According to a recent announcement shared by VFS Global, applicants submitting Japan visa applications at select centres will soon need to secure an appointment in advance. The mandatory appointment system will come into effect from March 2, 2026. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new rule applies to all categories of Japan visa submissions at VFS centres in Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and Puducherry. Applicants will only be able to view available dates after entering their details online, adding an extra step to the process. The system is already operational at the Japan Visa Application Centre in Bengaluru, where prior booking is required. For applicants in other cities across India, the process remains unchanged for now. Travellers can continue to walk into their respective VFS Japan Visa Application Centres to initiate their applications without a prior appointment. Those applicants who wish to submit a visa application at the VFS Delhi Visa application centre on humanitarian grounds (death case/medical illness) should send a request by sending an email to info.jpin@vfshelpline.com. What travellers need to know For applicants in Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Bengaluru: Online appointment booking is compulsory. Each applicant, including family members, requires an individual slot. An appointment confirmation email must be carried to the centre. Late arrivals may need to reschedule. A typical tourist visa allows people to visit Japan for a holiday or recreation for a stay up to 90 days. Effective from 2025, visa fees is INR 450 for Indian nationals. Tourists should carefully check and prepare all the documents listed on the VFS website. The timelines given by The Consulate General of Japan, Bengaluru for the processing of each application is minimum 06 working days from the day it is submitted at The Consulate General of Japan Why the change now? Japan has recorded steady growth in arrivals from India over the past few years, fuelled by relaxed multiple-entry visa norms for select categories, expanded aviation capacity and a broader surge in outbound travel from Indian metros. Visa demand typically spikes during Japans high tourism seasons the cherry blossom months of March and April, summer festival season between June and August, autumn foliage in October and November, and the winter ski period in Hokkaido from December to February. Discover Japan's famous castle in the sky In winter, Gujo Hachiman Castle becomes wrapped in soft snow, its white silhouette floating above the mountain forest As you stand before it, the mix of history and winter scenery wraps you in a calm, almost mythical pic.twitter.com/OrXoxeUd3u Visit Japan (@Visit_Japan) February 24, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Travel industry experts say better air connectivity has played a major role. With more flight options and smoother connections from major Indian cities, Japan feels far less daunting. Direct flight options have expanded with airlines including Air India, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways operating IndiaJapan routes. In addition, one-stop connections via Southeast Asia and the Middle East continue to supplement capacity during peak travel periods. Officials say the transition to an appointment-based submission model is intended to manage this seasonal surge more efficiently, regulate daily application volumes, reduce overcrowding and strengthen security processes at high-footfall visa centres, particularly in South India. Pakistan and Afghanistan share deep cultural ties, from language and religional similarities to cuisine, traditional dress, and festivals Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated into open clashes along the border, raising concerns across the region. AI generated The longstanding tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated into open military clashes. What began as border disputes and crossborder attacks has now turned into airstrikes and ground confrontations along the Durand Line, marking one of the most serious flareups between the neighbours in recent years. Civilians, security forces, and regional stability are all feeling the impact as the situation remains tense and unpredictable. Despite political tensions and occasional border disputes, Pakistan and Afghanistan share deep cultural and social connections that stretch back centuries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From cuisine and clothing to religion and social norms, everyday life in both countries reflects a shared heritage. 1. Shared religion and cultural values Islam is the dominant religion in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, shaping many aspects of daily life, festivals and community practices. The majority of people in both countries are Muslim, which influences everything from daily rituals to major celebrations like Eid alFitr and Eid alAdha. This religious common ground fosters similar moral values, hospitality customs and social norms across communities on both sides of the border. 2. Language and ethnic connections The two nations are home to common ethnic groups, especially along the shared border. The Pashtun and Baloch people are significant populations on both sides, with similar tribal structures, languages and codes of conduct. The Pashto language plays a particularly strong role in linking communities culturally and socially, especially among Pashtuns in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and across much of Afghanistan. 3. Cuisine Food is one of the most visible similarities. Staples like flatbread (naan) and rice are central to meals in both countries. Kebabs, pilafs and grilled meats are widely enjoyed and often prepared with shared techniques. Dishes such as chapli kebab are popular in Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially among Pashtun communities. Although flavours and spice levels can vary (with Pakistani dishes often being spicier and Afghan cuisine relying more on herbs and milder tastes), the basic ingredients and eating habits show great overlap. A fascinating example of this culinary blend is the Afghani burger - a wrap of Afghan bread, vegetables and chutneys that became a beloved street food in Pakistan thanks to Afghan immigrants. 4. Traditional dressing Traditional clothing in both countries reflects shared influences and regional ties. Shalwar kameez, a loosefitting tunic and trousers, is common in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Among Pashtun and Baloch communities, similar styles of garments - such as perahan o tunban and firaqpartug - are worn across the border with regional variations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These outfits arent just clothing - they carry cultural identity and centuries of tradition in their cut, embroidery and usage. 5. Festivals and celebrations Major Islamic festivals such as Ramzan, Eid, and Nowruz bring communities together in both nations. These occasions often involve similar festive foods, prayer traditions, family gatherings and charitable activities, reinforcing the cultural rhythm shared by Pakistanis and Afghans. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was initially marketed as an expansive and open-ended partnership. It now appears to be transitioning into a more risk-managed and disciplined phase For nearly a decade, Beijing has relied on Islamabads assurances that Chinese nationals and infrastructure linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would receive comprehensive protection. Pakistan responded by raising dedicated security formations, strengthening convoy systems and repeatedly declaring CPEC a national priority. Yet persistent attacks, particularly in Balochistan, steadily exposed weaknesses in that security architecture. What was initially described by the Pakistan military as an isolated challenge gradually evolved into a recurring pattern and eventually turned into a full-blown internal security crisis for Pakistan that has jeopardised the entire China-Pakistan relationship. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the escalation of coordinated insurgent attacks under Hefof 2.0, Chinese officials reportedly pressed Islamabad hard to establish a more tightly integrated security framework specifically for Chinese nationals and CPEC assets. In response, Pakistan reluctantly last month approved the formation of the Special Protection Unit (SPU), a dedicated force designed to operate in close operational coordination and intelligence synchronisation with Chinese counterparts. While this does not amount to a formal deployment of PLA combat troops on Pakistani soil, the arrangement reflects Beijings insistence on deeper oversight and real-time visibility into security planning after concluding that earlier Pakistan-led mechanisms have failed to mitigate risk. The creation of the SPU must therefore be understood as more than an administrative adjustment. It signals a structural recalibration in the China-Pakistan relationship. Beijing is now less focused on announcing ambitious new investments and more concerned with safeguarding the capital it has already deployed. Its a shift shaped by security concerns, financial caution and gaining strategic leverage. A Corridor That Redefined the Bilateral Relationship When CPEC was launched, it was presented as a transformative initiative. Stretching from Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea to Chinas Xinjiang region, the corridor was designed to include highways, rail links, power plants and special economic zones. It quickly became one of the most visible components of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and was dubbed the crown of BRI. For Pakistan, CPEC offered infrastructure modernisation at a scale that was rarely accessible through traditional multilateral lenders. Energy projects were intended to ease chronic electricity shortages, road networks to improve connectivity, and Gwadar to emerge as a future commercial hub. For China, the corridor carried strategic weight. It offered overland access to the Arabian Sea, reduced reliance on maritime routes passing through the Strait of Malacca and deepened Beijings geopolitical footprint in South Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, much of CPECs footprint lies in Balochistan, Pakistans largest and least developed province, long affected by insurgency and political grievances. Separatist groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army have consistently opposed Chinese-backed projects, arguing they marginalise local populations while benefiting the federal government and external actors. Over time, attacks on Chinese engineers, convoys and affiliated facilities became a persistent concern. Even when projects continued uninterrupted, each major incident reinforced the perception that security arrangements were reactive rather than preventive. The Limits of Militarised Protection In 2016, Pakistan raised a dedicated CPEC Security Division under the army, reportedly comprising around 15,000 personnel. This was an extraordinary allocation of manpower for protecting a single economic initiative. Additional paramilitary and police units were mobilised to guard key installations. The security model relied heavily on static protection with fortified perimeters, armed escorts, layered checkpoints and coordinated intelligence. Initially, this approach reduced vulnerabilities around major sites. However, insurgent groups adapted and changed tactics. Instead of confronting the heavily defended facilities, they shifted the focus towards softer and symbolic targets. Urban centres were regularly targeted. The objective appeared less about halting projects outright and more about imposing reputational and psychological costs, and it was largely achieved. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Beijing, the persistence of such attacks suggested that the challenge extended beyond troop numbers. It raised questions about intelligence effectiveness, local political grievances and the sustainability of a model centred primarily on military deployment. Security lapses also carried financial consequences as the insurance premiums rose, project timelines slowed and operational costs increased. Each disruption affected the corridors commercial viability. Financial Exposure and Chinas Growing Caution Security concerns converged with financial stress. Over the past year, China has shown no enthusiasm for launching major new CPEC projects. Expansion announcements have dried up, while discussions increasingly became focused on security stabilisation, restructuring debt, resolving arrears and stabilising existing ventures. Pakistans recurring balance-of-payments crises have complicated the environment. Chinese-backed power producers have faced delayed payments due to Pakistans circular debt problem in the energy sector. Repayment schedules required renegotiation, raising concerns about sovereign risk, and in some cases Chinese energy companies packed up, leaving Pakistan reeling with an energy shortage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Beijing, CPEC was always expected to generate financial returns. Chinese banks, state-owned enterprises and provincial stakeholders were not operating on strategic symbolism alone. As payment delays accumulated and macroeconomic instability persisted, caution became unavoidable. Chinas reluctance to inject substantial new capital reflects this reassessment. Rather than expanding exposure amid uncertainty, Beijing appears focused on consolidation by protecting existing infrastructure and enforcing repayment discipline. In this context, the SPU is not solely about physical security; it is also about safeguarding the sunk capital. The Special Protection Unit: Institutionalising Oversight The SPU represents a shift in how China looks into structuring security going forward. Earlier arrangements relied primarily on Pakistani command systems. The new unit is expected to function with deeper coordination between Pakistani forces and Chinese security and intelligence counterparts associated with CPEC projects. This coordination includes expanded information sharing, closer monitoring frameworks, joint operational mechanisms and greater transparency in threat assessment. While Pakistan has not formally acknowledged any expansion of foreign operational authority, the arrangement provides Chinese officials with increased visibility into how security risks are managed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In effect, the relationship is moving from assurance-based trust toward oversight-based verification. Pakistan has historically resisted overt foreign security presence, and the SPU does not put Chinese combat troops directly on the ground. However, it embeds Chinese monitoring more directly into operational processes, reflecting Beijings emphasis on demonstrable performance. Hefof 2.0: A Strategic Trigger The recent coordinated attacks by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents as Hefof 2.0 appear to have accelerated this recalibration. These incidents demonstrated improved planning and targeted messaging aimed at foreign-linked infrastructure. Thus, for Beijing, continued attacks undermined the narrative of CPEC as a stable investment platform and heightened concerns about operational sustainability. They also increased domestic scrutiny within China regarding overseas ventures perceived as high-risk. The SPU can therefore be viewed as a mechanism to set clearer expectations. It signals that China expects measurable improvements and is prepared to embed itself more closely in oversight structures to secure them. Consolidation as Policy STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD CPEC has entered a consolidation phase. Chinas reduced appetite for large new commitments reflects lessons drawn from security disruptions and financial delays. Instead of expanding exposure, Beijing is prioritising stabilisation, repayment security and risk mitigation. This approach mirrors broader adjustments in Chinas Belt and Road strategy, where new lending has slowed in favour of restructuring and sustainability. Pakistans case carries particular weight because of the scale of Chinese exposure and the symbolic importance of CPEC. A visible failure would carry reputational costs beyond bilateral ties and into the heart of the CCP. Sovereignty and Strategic Conditioning The SPU thus raises questions about Pakistans sovereignty and leverage. Pakistans economic fragility has increased reliance on Chinese financial support, including loan rollovers and deferred payments. In that context, Beijings insistence on enhanced oversight is difficult to resist. Critics argue that deeper embedding of Chinese monitoring mechanisms narrows Pakistans decision-making autonomy, while the supporters view it as pragmatic cooperation necessary to maintain investor confidence. But what is evident is that the balance of influence has shifted. China is demanding structural adjustments tied to performance benchmarks rather than relying solely on strategic rhetoric. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Defining Moment for CPEC CPEC was initially marketed as an expansive and open-ended partnership. It now appears to be transitioning into a more risk-managed and disciplined phase. The SPU embodies that transition. It is aimed at addressing security lapses while also serving as a financial safeguard. Chinas priority has shifted from rapid expansion to protecting existing assets and limiting additional exposure. If the SPU stabilises the security environment and restores confidence, it may reinforce the partnership while preserving Pakistans operational role. If disruptions persist, Beijing may seek further involvement through expanded contractor roles or more formalised oversight mechanisms that might include getting boots on the ground. Ultimately, this development also underscores a broader reality that strategic partnerships are shaped by risk assessments as much as political declarations. In recalibrating its approach, China is seeking to tighten its grip to insulate prior investments from future instability. The extent to which Pakistan accommodates this recalibration will shape not only the future of CPEC but will also define the shrinking contours of its sovereign space within the partnership. (Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets @rajamuneeb. The views expressed in this article are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is on an official visit to India from February 27 to March 2, 2026. It is Carneys first official trip to India since taking office in March 2025. Following his stop in India, Carney is scheduled to travel to Australia and Japan as part of a nine-day Indo-Pacific tour. Canada and India relations are currently undergoing a major diplomatic reset. This follows years of strained relations under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau due to allegations linking Indian agents to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Ahead of the trip, Canadian officials indicated a significant shift in stance, stating they no longer believe the Indian government is linked to ongoing violent crimes in Canadaa major departure from the 2023 allegations surrounding the Nijjar case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mark Carney is visiting Mumbai on February 2728, where he is scheduled to meet with Indian CEOs, financial experts, and representatives from Canadian pension funds to discuss investment and infrastructure. He will then be in New Delhi on March 1-2 for high-level talks with PM Narendra Modi and will participate in the India-Canada CEOs Forum. Facing trade pressures and tariffs from the United States, Canada is pivoting toward India to diversify its economy and secure new markets for energy, critical minerals, and agriculture. Negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) have officially restarted, with a goal to double bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030. PM Carney has adopted a centrist and pragmatic approach, moving away from the moral grandstanding of the Trudeau administration. Carneys vision focuses on variable geometry alliances, recognising India as a global power that Canada must engage with across multiple dimensions (trade, tech, and defence). The two countries have adopted a new framework titled Renewing Momentum Towards a Stronger Partnership, emphasising mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. One important step has been the reinstatement of High Commissioners. Following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in June 2025, both nations agreed to appoint new top diplomats. By August 2025, India appointed Dinesh K Patnaik as its new High Commissioner to Canada, while Canada named Christopher Cooter as its envoy to India. Both nations have resumed high-level security dialogues to address previous tensions, with High Commissioner Patnaik noting an unprecedented security dialogue is now in place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rather than public accusations, the reset is being managed through quiet, senior-level dialogues between National Security Advisers (NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin). They have developed a joint action plan to address transnational crime, violent extremism, and cybercrime through real-time cooperation and liaison officers. Both sides are working on an ambitious, forward-looking agenda to rebuild trust and expand economic partnerships. In a gesture of cooperation, Canada has moved to revoke the citizenship of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, who is currently in Indian custody. The Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership was officially launched by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi, Anthony Albanese, and Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on November 22, 2025. This trilateral initiative is designed to leverage the complementary strengths of the three nationssuch as Australias critical minerals, Canadas advanced AI research, and Indias digital talentto address shared global challenges. Multiple deals are expected in nuclear power (expanding uranium shipments), heavy crude oil, critical minerals, AI, and quantum computing. To reiterate their commitment to collaborating on trusted AI deployment, ministers from the three countries recently held a trilateral meeting on February 19, 2026, in New Delhi during the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. Canadian PM Mark Carneys visit to India and Australia is expected to further boost trade and strategic ties under this partnership. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India-Canada student and immigration issues persist, characterised by a massive drop in approved visas for Indians, with rejection rates for student visas reaching as high as 80 per cent due to tighter caps on international students. Canada is reducing immigration to address housing shortages and infrastructure strain, with new study permits projected to drop significantly. Reports indicate an approximate 80 per cent rejection rate for Indian student visas between 2025 and 2026, marking a record high. While some opportunities remain for masters in research programmes, overall, the study, work, stay pathway has become much more difficult for Indian applicants. This issue needs to be addressed during high-level talks. Summing up, the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India marks a significant, high-level effort to normalise and reset bilateral relations. The visit is designed to implement calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability. This visit serves as a cornerstone for restoring trust and building a forward-looking partnership. It highlights a shared vision for a balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for each others concerns, strong people-to-people ties and growing economic complementarities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) For a full week from 16-21 February, Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi became the global venue for high-level interactions on technology, business, politics and diplomacy, as India hosted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit. It was the fourth in a series that started in the UK in 2023. The second and third summits were held in Seoul and Paris, respectively. The next edition will be convened in Switzerland in 2027. The summits technological, economic, and business facets have been analysed through a tsunami of articles, interviews, editorials, and expert commentary. Its geopolitical significance and implications also need to be assessed carefully, considering two basic facts: the summit took place at a time of extraordinary turbulence and tensions in international affairs, and this was the first time that an AI summit was being held in a Global South nation against the broad backdrop of about 70% of AI space already controlled by the US and China alone. The raging debate on innovation favoured by the US versus regulation pushed by Europe, too, lent it additional importance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The summits vitals The fundamental goal of the Delhi summit, according to the organisers, was to chart a path towards a future where the transformative power of AI serves humanity, drives inclusive growth, fosters development, and promotes people-centric innovations that protect our planet. It also aimed to amplify the voice of the Global South, ensuring that technological advancements and approaches are shared broadly rather than concentrated in a few regions. Dialogue at the summit thus centred on seven key themes: human capital, inclusion, trust, resilience, science, resources, and social good. The summits philosophy reverberated globally. This was reflected in the impressive participation from India and the world. The story can be captured briefly in official numbers: 118 countries participated with government representatives; 20 at the head-of-government level; 59 ministerial-level representations; over 100 AI leaders, CEOs, and CXOs; 500 leading AI experts; 500+ side events during and leading up to the summit; and over 300,000 registrations. Speaking at the formal inauguration ceremony on 19 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Indias vision of an ethical, sovereign, inclusive, and globally oriented AI. He highlighted the needs and concerns of Global South nations and outlined Indias role as a central player in the global AI ecosystem. He also stressed the need for child safety, greater democratisation, wider access, and more transparent processes governing AI. The heads of state and government who followed broadly shared these perspectives, while also putting forward their specific concerns and suggestions. Consequently, and based on input from multiple other discussions, the summit issued the Delhi Declaration. Eighty-eight nations and international organisations have signed this. Its key elements include the following. AIs advent marks an inflection point in the evolution of technology, and the choices made today will shape the AI-enabled world of the future. This calls for further international cooperation and the engagement of stakeholders along the seven pillars, anchored in the development of human capital. Robust digital infrastructure and connectivity will unlock AIs full potential. In this context, the Global AI Impact Commons was accepted as a voluntary initiative. Secure and trusted AI is essential for maximising societal and economic benefits. Further, removing structural barriers to AI research will promote its use in research and development. Besides access to social empowerment, the need to improve human capital and the recognition of resilience, innovation, and efficiency were emphasised. The concluding point concerned translating these aspirations into concrete actions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The declaration carries no legal weight, but its acceptance by a wide section of the international community carries considerable political and diplomatic significance. Global presence: Five features Regarding the global presence at the AI summit, five features were noteworthy. One, European representation was strong. The following 11 European countries participated at the level of head of government: Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In all, 26 European nations were officially represented, making it, as an observer put it, the largest European delegation to any technology-centric event in India. French President Emmanuel Macrons official visit, timed with the summit, added a special edge to Europes visibility in India at this juncture. Two, Global South participation was highlighted by Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who came to India on a state visit. In addition to him, heads of government from Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the UAE, and ministers from various other nations were present to push their common agenda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Three, Indias neighbours were represented by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the President of Sri Lanka, and ministerial and official delegations from other countries. Four, the US was represented by Michael Kratsios, Director at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Pointing out that America is the birthplace of AI, he conveyed the USs willingness to share the American AI stack. America is the only AI superpower, he said, willing and able to truly empower partner nations in your pursuit of AI sovereignty. Chen Jiachang, Vice Minister at Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology, led the Chinese delegation, which reportedly kept a low profile at the summit. Five, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered meaningful remarks, suggesting that the world needed guardrails for AI that preserve human agency, oversight, and accountability. He stressed the need for a $3 billion global AI Fund to make the benefits of AI accessible to all. He also emphasised that as AIs energy and water demands soar, data centres and supply chains must switch to clean power. The number of data centres has increased from 500,000 in 2012 to 8 million today. According to a 2025 UN report, AIs escalating needs will sustain this rapid growth going forward. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Conclusion The AI summit reminded many observers of the G20 summit hosted by India in September 2023 and not just because of the common venue. The G20 is a larger, older forum that addresses a much broader range of issues affecting global economics and diplomacy. Indias G20 presidency was rated as successful. However, barely two years thereafter, the G20 stands marked by public disunity as South Africas presidency in 2024-25 led to its virtual expansion by the current US president. In contrast, the AI summit is a newer forum, devoted to a narrow but well-defined subject with immense long-term impact. Should the international community work in the spirit of unity and cooperation, it certainly can achieve more. However, many fault lines exist. A main apprehension is that the escalating strategic rivalry between the US and China could adversely affect the AI domain. As the host and chair of the fourth AI summit, India has done what was both essential and desirable. Now, business and technology companies need to turn their declared intentions to invest massively in AI infrastructure, research, skilling, and reskilling into reality. Governments, too, must adhere to the Delhi Declaration and tailor their policies accordingly. The arduous work begins now. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Rajiv Bhatia is a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, Mumbai, and a former Indian High Commissioner to Kenya and South Africa, and Ambassador to Myanmar and Mexico. He is the author of three books on Indian foreign policy and a regular columnist on geopolitical affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) With Anthropic already defying Pentagon pressure, over 100 Google employees working on artificial intelligence have signed a letter to Jeff Dean, chief scientist of the companys AI division, DeepMind, demanding that Google distance itself from potential military entanglements. The tremors from Anthropics standoff with the Pentagon are spreading fast across Silicon Valley, and now, Google employees are warning their company not to follow the same risky path. More than 100 Google employees working on artificial intelligence have signed a letter to Jeff Dean, chief scientist of the companys AI division, DeepMind, demanding that Google distance itself from potential military entanglements. Please do everything in your power to stop any deal which crosses these basic red lines, the letter reads. We love working at Google and want to be proud of our work, reports NYT. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Anthropics resistance sparks a movement Anthropic, the fast-growing AI start-up behind the Claude model, has been under intense pressure from the US Department of Defense to loosen restrictions on how the military can use its technology. The Pentagon, which signed a $200 million contract with the company, reportedly wants the freedom to apply Anthropics AI systems in surveillance and autonomous defence operations. But the company has stood firm. In a recent statement, Anthropic said it will not alter core safeguards to accommodate use cases that could endanger human rights or violate international norms. That refusal has made Anthropic a lightning rod, admired by some in the tech world for holding ethical ground, criticised by others in Washington for obstructing innovation. Now, Googles workforce wants their employer to take a similar stand. Employees warned that allowing the Pentagon to access Gemini AI, Googles flagship AI system, could lead to surveillance of US citizens or even the piloting of autonomous weapons without human oversight. The unrest highlights growing unease among tech workers who see the governments embrace of AI as a moral minefield. Many fear that once a company concedes to military demands, its technology risks being repurposed for uses never intended by its creators. Google staff rally around Jeff Deans stance Jeff Dean has publicly sided with those concerns. Mass surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment and has a chilling effect on freedom of expression, he wrote in a recent post. Surveillance systems are prone to misuse for political or discriminatory purposes. Agreed. Mass surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment and has a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Surveillance systems are prone to misuse for political or discriminatory purposes. https://t.co/f2JRHAhjTW Jeff Dean (@JeffDean) February 25, 2026 His comments have emboldened employees across Google and OpenAI, nearly 200 of whom issued a joint statement condemning the Pentagons divide and conquer tactics and calling for AI companies to stand together in resisting such demands. Google, however, has remained silent. The company is said to be close to finalising a new defence agreement, reviving memories of its 2018 Project Maven controversy, when employee backlash forced it to abandon a Pentagon contract. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite recent rollbacks in its AI safety protocols, Googles internal culture of activism endures. And as Anthropic holds its ground against government pressure, Googles staff are drawing a clear line of their own: if the Pentagon wants to weaponise AI, it wont be with their help. South Korea is finally lifting its long-standing restrictions on digital mapping, ending nearly two decades of limitations that kept Google Maps from functioning properly in the country. Google Maps app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration South Korea will soon no longer be one of the few countries where Google Maps doesnt work properly, after its security-conscious government reversed a two-decade stance to approve the export of high-precision map data to overseas servers. The approval was made on the condition that strict security requirements are met, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. Those conditions include blurring military and other sensitive security-related facilities, as well as restricting longitude and latitude coordinates for South Korean territory on products such as Google Maps and Google Earth, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision is expected to hurt Naver and Kakao - local internet giants which currently dominate the countrys market for digital map services. But it will appease Washington, which has urged Seoul to tackle what it says is discrimination against US tech companies. We welcome todays decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea, Google Vice President Cris Turner said in a statement. South Korea, still technically at war with North Korea, had shot down Googles previous bids in 2007 and 2016 to be allowed to export the data, citing the risks that information about sensitive military and security facilities could be exposed. Concerns about market control The data in question is 1:5000 scale data, where 1 centimetre on a map represents 50 metres in actual distance. Google has argued it needs to export the data to provide real-time navigation information worldwide. This includes people researching South Korean destinations from overseas. The conditions stipulate that Google must process map data on locally based servers and is only allowed to export data related to navigation and direction services that have been pre-approved by the government. The South Korean government also reserves the right to request revisions to maps, and Google must set up a security incident prevention framework to respond to emergency issues. Choi Jin-mu, a geography professor at Kyung Hee University, said the decision raised serious questions about market control and national security. Google can now come in, slash usage fees, and take the market. If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services, logistics firms, for example, become dependent, and in the long run, even government GIS (geographic information) systems could end up dependent on Google or Apple. Thats the biggest concern. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Navers stock ended 2.3 per cent down after the decision on Friday, though Kakao gained 1.5 per cent. AMCHAM Chairman James Kim welcomed the decision, saying it sends a positive signal about Koreas commitment to innovation, open markets, and ensuring a level playing field for global companies operating in Korea. Taliban say they carried out coordinated air strikes on Pakistani military targets, including a site near Islamabad, as tensions between the two countries sharply escalate. A Taliban security personnel stands next to the debris of houses destroyed during an overnight Pakistani airstrike at the Balish village in Urgun district, Paktika Province, on February 22, 2026. AFP Taliban authorities on Friday claimed they carried out coordinated air strikes targeting Pakistani military facilities, including a site near Islamabad, amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours. In a statement, the Taliban Defence Ministry said the air force of the Ministry of National Defense conducted strikes at around 11:00 am local time on locations near Faizabad, a military camp in Nowshera, an army base in Jamrud and a military complex in Abbottabad. The ministry described the operation as successful and said key Pakistani military facilities were hit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The claims could not be independently verified, and Pakistani authorities did not immediately respond. Taliban officials said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for Pakistani air attacks overnight on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Earlier, the Taliban said they had targeted Pakistani border outposts, claiming 55 Pakistani personnel were killed. Pakistan, in turn, said 133 Taliban members were killed in its overnight strikes, while Taliban authorities said there were no casualties. The escalation follows Pakistani air strikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Earlier on Friday, Khawaja Asif, Pakistans defence minister, said the country was in an open war with Afghanistan. In a post on X, he said Islamabads patience has reached its limit and alleged that Afghanistan had become a colony of India. He added that Pakistan had attempted to stabilise the situation through direct engagement and through friendly countries but accused Afghanistan of pursuing aggression. He also criticised the Taliban over human rights, particularly the treatment of women. Meanwhile, Iran said it is ready to help mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, offering assistance to facilitate dialogue and promote understanding and cooperation between the two sides. Cubas Coast Guard killed one American and wounded another when it shot at a speedboat on Wednesday, a US official said. Cuba said four people on board were killed, with another six wounded Cuban coast guard ships docked at the port of Havana on February 25, 2026. AFP A US-based man identified as one of those killed by the Cuban coast guard in a shootout had wanted to liberate the communist island, a political ally told AFP on Thursday. Cubas Coast Guard killed one American and wounded another when it shot at a speedboat on Wednesday, a US official said. Cuba said four people on board were killed, with another six wounded. The incident came amid deep tensions between Havana and Washington following the US overthrow of top Cuba ally, Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. Cuba vowed to defend itself against terrorist and mercenary attacks after the fatal exchange of fire with the Florida-registered boat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Thursday, Cubas deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said Washington had expressed willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events. Havana said all those on board the US boat were Cubans living in the United States, which has received several waves of emigration from the island since the 1960s. A political ally of one of those killed, Michel Ortega Casanova, told AFP that Ortega Casanova had spoken often of wanting to free his homeland. His goal was to go and fight against a criminal and murderous narco-tyrannical (government), to see if that would spark the people to rise up, said Wilfredo Beyra, head of the Cuban Republican Party in Tampa, Florida. Beyra said he had warned Ortega Casanova, reported to be a 54-year-old truck driver, now was not the time to take such action but that the other man had vowed to take action at any moment. Cuban authorities said a coast guard vessel came under fire from the speedboat around one nautical mile from Cubas north shore, adding that assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails and military-style gear were all found onboard. The response from the United States government was muted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was on a Caribbean visit, said that Washington was conducting its own investigation and would respond accordingly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He insisted that the US government had no hand in the confrontation. Fighting for the homeland The interior ministry said most of those on the speedboat had records in Cuba for criminal and violent activity, and that another man sent from the United States to take part in the operation was arrested on Cuban soil and confessed. A US official also said some on the boat had criminal records, and added that a US citizen who was injured was receiving medical care in Cuba. Beyra told AFP that several groups in Florida, home to over one million Cubans, openly declare that they are willing, through military training, to fight for the freedom of their homeland. He said he also knew one of the men identified by Havana as being wounded, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, whom he met at a political event. The Cuban government frequently reports incursions by speedboats from the United States into its territorial waters, but deadly clashes are rarer. Incursion incidents are often related to people-smuggling to the United States or drug trafficking, and have included chases, shootouts and armed attacks on border guards. Trump pressure The latest clash comes as Cuba reels from US economic pressure. President Donald Trump has branded Cuba a failed nation and an extraordinary threat to US national security, though he has so far dismissed mounting a regime change operation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cubas communist government lost one of its key diplomatic supporters and a vital source of fuel for the country in January when US forces toppled Maduro, effectively taking control of Venezuelan oil exports. The country had previously relied on Venezuela for about half of its fuel needs. After an outcry from Caribbean leaders, worried that starving 9.6 million Cubans of oil would cause the economy to collapse, the United States said Wednesday it would allow limited shipments of Venezuelan oil for commercial and humanitarian use. The Treasury Department said the Venezuelan oil would need to go through private businesses and not the Cuban government or the military apparatus that controls much of the islands economy. The US has repositioned the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier from Greece toward Israel as Iran tensions rise and nuclear talks falter, signalling heightened deterrence amid regional uncertainty and diplomatic strain. An F/A-18F Super Hornet jet flies over the USS Gerald R. Ford as the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier tests its EMALS magnetic launching system. File- Reuters In a calculated show of force amid mounting tensions with Iran, the United States has moved its most advanced aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford from its position near Greece toward waters closer to Israel. US defence officials have described the redeployment as part of routine force posture adjustments. Yet the timing is anything but routine. The shift comes as indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Irans nuclear programme have stalled in Geneva, and amid fresh warnings of potential retaliatory threats across the West Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The carrier strike group which includes guided missile destroyers and advanced air capabilities is designed to project power rapidly. Its presence off Israels coast sends a dual message: reassurance to a key regional ally and deterrence to Iran and allied militant groups. The move also follows security advisories issued to US diplomatic staff in Israel, reflecting concerns that regional escalation could imperil American personnel. While US officials maintain there is no imminent declaration of war, the increased military visibility underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic moment. Diplomacy stalls as military signalling intensifies Efforts to revive or reshape understandings around Irans nuclear activities have struggled in recent weeks. Talks in Geneva have reportedly made limited headway, even as both sides publicly express openness to continued engagement. At the same time, Iran has signalled that it will respond firmly to any perceived aggression. Against this backdrop, Washingtons decision to reposition the carrier illustrates a familiar strategy: combine diplomacy with deterrence. By moving the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US bolsters Israels security umbrella while maintaining pressure on Tehran to remain at the negotiating table. Vice President Kamala Harris recently ruled out the prospect of a prolonged American ground war in the Middle East, emphasizing that US objectives center on stability and preventing nuclear proliferation rather than initiating open-ended conflict. Her comments reflect a broader domestic sensitivity in the United States to deeper military entanglements after decades of war in the region. Nonetheless, analysts note that the deployment of a nuclear-powered supercarrier carries symbolic weight. The Gerald R. Ford-class vessels represent the cutting edge of US naval capability, equipped with advanced radar systems and aircraft launch technology that significantly increase operational tempo. Their positioning is closely watched by allies and adversaries alike. Strategic calculus in a volatile region For Israel, heightened US naval presence offers tangible reassurance amid concerns about Irans expanding regional influence, including support for proxy groups across Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that Tehrans nuclear advances narrow the window for diplomatic resolution. For Iran, however, the carriers arrival may reinforce perceptions of encirclement and pressure. Iranian leaders have historically framed such US deployments as provocative, even as they calibrate responses to avoid triggering full-scale confrontation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Washingtons challenge lies in maintaining credible deterrence without closing off diplomatic exits. The aircraft carriers relocation from Greece, a NATO ally and key Mediterranean hub to waters nearer Israel reflects a shift from general regional presence to targeted reassurance. The coming weeks will likely test whether military signalling strengthens diplomatic leverage or hardens positions. As negotiations grind forward with uncertain prospects, the Gerald R. Fords looming silhouette in the eastern Mediterranean serves as a stark reminder that in the Middle East, diplomacy and deterrence often sail side by side. With inputs from agencies Former US president Bill Clinton denied wrongdoing at a Congressional panel Friday on his well-documented links to Jeffrey Epstein, as Democrats seek to shift focus toward Donald Trumps own ties to the convicted sex offender. Former US President Bill Clinton told lawmakers he was unaware of Jeffrey Epsteins criminal activities during closed-door testimony before a congressional panel reviewing records linked to the disgraced financier. Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee a day after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave private evidence, saying she did not recall meeting Epstein and had no relevant information about his crimes. Clinton features prominently throughout the Epstein files, but he insists that he broke ties well before the disgraced billionaires 2008 conviction for sex offenses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong, Clinton said in his opening statement, shared on social media. The Republican chair of the House committee probing Epstein, James Comer, said ahead of Bill Clintons deposition he looked forward to asking lots of questions. Democrats urge full testimony transparency I think it was telling that Secretary Clinton did not take the Fifth one time, Garcia told reporters, referring to the constitutional protection defendants and witnesses sometimes cite when declining to answer questions in legal proceedings. Garcia continued: I think its important the president (Bill Clinton) do the same. I think he will answer questions today. Republican criticism and calls for additional witnesses Mace described Hillary Clinton screaming during her deposition on Thursday. I hope that President Clinton is less unhinged than his wife was yesterday, Mace said Friday outside the building where the House Oversight panel is convening. Democrats dismissed Maces description, which Rep. Robert Garcia said proves the need for Comer to release the full, unedited video. The Clintons had wanted to testify publicly but Comer insisted on the private sessions. Garcia called the Republican questioning Thursday a disgrace focused on old conspiracy theories. He praised Hillary Clinton for participating. He reminded reporters Friday that Democrats still want the proceedings to be open so that you can hear the answer and the questions directly. Mace says Howard Lutnick should testify on Epstein relationship Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said ahead of Bill Clintons testimony Friday that Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should answer questions before the House Oversight Committee. The secretary has admitted meeting Epstein after previously denying knowing him. After Hillary Clintons testimony on Thursday, Comer would not rule out asking Lutnick to appear for questioning. With inputs from agencies Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in India on Friday for a visit he hopes would reset ties and double trade, offsetting the damage from his countrys fracturing relations with the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday in a high-stakes visit aimed at recalibrating relations with India following a sharp diplomatic rupture under former premier Justin Trudeau. The trip marks Ottawas most concerted effort yet to restore ties that collapsed in 2023 over allegations surrounding the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Carneys office has termed the visit as forward-looking, focusing on ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, artificial intelligence, culture and defence. After landing in Indias financial capital, Carney met business leaders before heading to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The previous diplomatic breakdown stemmed from Ottawas accusation that Indian agents were linked to Nijjars assassination on Canadian soil, a claim New Delhi strongly denied. The row deepened when Trudeaus government alleged India was involved in a broader campaign of intimidation targeting Sikh activists advocating for Khalistan. Both countries expelled senior diplomats in 2024, pushing relations into their worst crisis in decades. Since Carney assumed office in March 2025, efforts to cool tensions have gathered pace. Diplomatic envoys have been restored and bilateral engagements revived. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has indicated that concerns about transnational repression remain central, but the overall tone has shifted toward pragmatic engagement. Trade ambitions and economic diversification drive the agenda At the heart of Carneys outreach lies trade. Ottawa aims to more than double bilateral commerce with India by 2030, targeting annual two-way trade of $51 billion. Negotiations over a proposed free trade agreement, suspended amid diplomatic tensions, resumed last year and are expected to gather momentum. India, the worlds fastest-growing major economy, presents an attractive long-term partner for Canada. Canadian pension and sovereign wealth funds have already invested $73 billion in India, highlighting deep economic linkages that endured despite political strain. Energy cooperation is likely to be a cornerstone of discussions. Energy-hungry India is expanding its nuclear power capacity to meet climate and development goals. Canada, with its established nuclear technology sector and uranium exports, could emerge as a strategic partner in Indias clean energy push. Beyond nuclear power, artificial intelligence and technology partnerships are on the table. Canadas push to collaborate on innovation ecosystems aligns with Indias growing digital economy ambitions. For Carney, strengthening ties in these sectors serves not only diplomatic repair but also economic resilience. Pivoting from US dependence to Indo-Pacific partnerships Carneys India visit is part of a broader strategy to reduce Canadas economic reliance on the United States. In 2024, more than 75 percent of Canadian exports went south of the border, with bilateral trade exceeding $900 billion. While much of that trade remains tariff-free, industry-specific tariffs and uncertainty over long-term US trade policy have raised concerns in Ottawa. By deepening engagement with India, Australia, and Japan, Canada aims to hedge against potential volatility in its US ties. Cooperation on critical mineral supply chains will be a key theme, especially as advanced economies seek alternatives to Chinas dominance in rare earth processing. Securing diversified supply chains is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative in high-tech manufacturing and renewable energy transitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For India, closer ties with Canada fit its broader agenda of attracting foreign investment and expanding global partnerships. For Canada, rebuilding trust with New Delhi is not only about diplomatic redemption but also about anchoring its Indo-Pacific strategy in one of the regions most dynamic economies. As Carney and Modi prepare to meet in New Delhi, the visit highlights a shared recognition: despite unresolved tensions, economic pragmatism and geopolitical shifts are compelling both nations toward a cautious yet deliberate reset. With inputs from agencies China on Friday advised its citizens in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible and urged those in Israel to strengthen security precautions, citing a sharp rise in risks across West Asia China on Friday advised its citizens in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible and urged those in Israel to strengthen security precautions, citing a sharp rise in risks across the Middle East. Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible, AFP quoted the foreign ministry as saying in a statement on social media. Beijing also warned citizens to avoid travelling to Iran in light of the current security situation, adding that Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighbouring countries would provide necessary assistance to those seeking to depart via commercial flights or overland routes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Israel, Chinas embassy called on nationals to remain vigilant, enhance emergency preparedness and limit travel. According to state broadcaster CCTV, citizens were advised to familiarise themselves in advance with nearby bomb shelters and evacuation routes to ensure personal and property safety. The advisory came as the United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and expanded its military presence in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. The developments follow Oman-mediated nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, seen as a last effort to prevent conflict. While initial signs were cautiously optimistic, Iran later warned that the US must drop excessive demands for an agreement to be reached. With inputs from agencies A Churchill statue in London was defaced with pro-Palestinian graffiti including globalise the Intifada, prompting the Metropolitan Police to arrest a 38-year-old suspect on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. A 12-foot bronze statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Westminster was defaced early Friday with a series of politically charged slogans, including Globalise the Intifada, Free Palestine, Stop the Genocide, and Zionist war criminal, police and witness accounts confirmed. The graffiti was sprayed in bright red paint across the statue and its stone plinth just metres from the Houses of Parliament, transforming a revered national monument into a stark symbol of ongoing tensions over the IsraelPalestine conflict. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service responded within minutes of being alerted shortly after 4 am and arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The words Globalise the Intifada have recently been at the centre of UK law enforcement scrutiny, with both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police warning that chanting the phrase at protests could lead to arrest following terror attacks in Australia and at a Manchester synagogue. Westminster City Council quickly cordoned off the area and cleaning crews began efforts to remove the paint as dawn broke. A spokesman said the city was appalled by the vandalism and sought a rapid restoration of the monument. Arrest and mixed reactions across the UK The suspect remains in custody as police continue their investigation, with early indications pointing to possible motivations tied to the broader West Asia conflict. A Dutch group calling itself Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility on social media, posting footage of a man in red coveralls apparently spraying the slogans. The group describes itself as allied with Palestine Action activists and critical of UK ties to Israels defence sector, according to online posts. Political reactions were swift and polarised. Senior MPs and community leaders condemned the vandalism as an attack not just on a historical figure but on British values. Conservative Party figures labelled the act disgusting and insisted perpetrators should be held fully accountable under the law. Others, particularly on social media, noted the incident as part of an ongoing debate about Churchills complex legacy, a wartime leader whose imperialist policies and statements on race have drawn criticism alongside widespread admiration for his role in defeating Nazism. The Metropolitan Police reiterated that the arrest was made on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, a serious offence that could lead to significant legal consequences if charges are pursued. Officers continue to review footage and seek further evidence, including any links between the defendant and organised protest movements. Monument under spotlight amid polarised climate Churchills statue, unveiled in 1973 and one of several monuments to global leaders in Parliament Square, has been targeted multiple times over the years. It was daubed with graffiti accusing the wartime leader of racism during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, and later in the same year was defaced by an Extinction Rebellion activist. This latest incident, however, stands out for its explicit connection to the heated international debate over Gaza and Israels policies. The invocation of slogans like Stop the Genocide and Globalise the Intifada terms loaded with associations to armed resistance and global solidarity movements has reignited questions about how far protest rhetoric can cross into criminality, especially in a city as politically symbolic as Westminster. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the statue is cleaned and investigations continue, the incident highlights the enduring power of public monuments to provoke not only reflection on history but also fierce contemporary disagreements. Tensions over Middle East policy, free expression, and national identity appear set to shape public discourse well beyond this isolated act of vandalism. The UK has launched a review into whether Epstein used RAF bases when visiting Britain, following concerns raised by former PM Brown. Defence Secretary has ordered officials to examine decades of records. Amid growing fallout from the Epstein files, Defence Secretary John Healey has instructed officials to review military records to determine whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women into Britain through RAF bases. He ordered officials to leave no stone unturned while examining more than 20 years of Ministry of Defence documents for evidence that the paedophile billionaires private jet landed at military airfields. Review of RAF access Private jets may land at RAF bases by prior arrangement and for a fee, provided operations are not disrupted. The directive follows claims by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown that the British state may have facilitated Epsteins crimes by allowing his aircraft to land at RAF bases, at times with unidentified women onboard. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Brown pointed to a December 2000 flight in which Epsteins Gulfstream jet landed at an airbase in Norfolk before he travelled to the Sandringham Estate with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Scope of the MoD inquiry The review, first reported by The Sunday Telegraph, is expected to examine records and emails to establish whether Epstein used military sites when visiting the UK. A source said as cited in the report that the department would ruthlessly pursue any information that can shed light on this scandal. Brown has called for a police investigation into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used RAF bases to meet Epstein. He said he submitted a five-page dossier containing new information from Epstein-related documents released in the US to several UK police forces, including the Metropolitan Police Service, Sussex Police and Thames Valley Police. Focus on RAF Marham flight Concern has centred on a December 2000 flight that landed at RAF Marham, about 20 miles from Sandringham. A previous investigation by BBC News found that around 90 flights linked to Epstein arrived at or departed from UK airports, with some British women on board who said they were abused. At the time, the MoD said spare capacity at RAF airfields is routinely used by private or commercial aircraft for a fee covering all costs. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, who died in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. An MoD spokesperson said the review aims to identify and provide any relevant information to authorities and that the department will support civilian police investigations, adding that its thoughts are with victims. Essex Police said it is assessing information regarding private flights to and from London Stansted Airport following the release of Epstein materials by the US government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Stansted Airport said private flight terminals operate independently and passengers do not enter the main terminal. Immigration and customs checks for private jet arrivals are conducted directly by UK Border Force, and the airport has no visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft. The IMF will immediately release $1.5 billion from the package, providing a lifeline as Kyivs funds are expected to run out by April amid years of conflict with Russian forces, according to a report Ukraines financially strained government got a brief relief early Friday as the International Monetary Fund approved a new $8.1 billion loan. According to a Politico report, the IMF will immediately release $1.5 billion from the package, providing a lifeline as Kyivs funds are expected to run out by April amid years of conflict with Russian forces. It is very important for us that in the fifth year of a full-scale war, against the backdrop of systemic attacks on the energy sector, Ukraine has guaranteed international financial support from partners and a resource for the stable operation of the state, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted on Facebook after the IMFs announcement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The IMF initially sought stronger assurances on Kyivs financial stability before approving the loan, coming after most EU countries agreed last year to raise 90 billion in joint debt to support Ukraine. However, the IMF funds offer only a small cushion. Ukraines budget deficit is expected to exceed $50 billion this year, heightening pressure on the EU to resolve a dispute with Hungary blocking critical financial aid. The 90 billion EU package could fill the gap, but Hungary is withholding approval, alleging Ukraine is deliberately delaying repairs to the 4,000-kilometer Druzhba pipeline that supplies Russian oil. Ukraine has denied the claims, and the European Commission says Hungary has enough reserves to avoid an immediate energy crunch. Brussels is scrambling to resolve the dispute without fueling Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans anti-EU campaign ahead of Aprils national election. Orban has also stoked anti-Ukraine sentiment, with his party Fidesz trailing the opposition Tisza by a wide margin. A defeat would end his 16-year rule. Some EU diplomats feared Orbans veto could delay the IMF loan. The lender had demanded stronger assurances on Kyivs financial health after four years of war doubled Ukraines debt to 108.7% of GDP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mid-December, 24 EU leaders agreed to raise 90 billion in joint debt to support Ukraines defence. Kyiv will only repay once Moscow ends the war and pays reparations an unlikely scenario. If Russia refuses, the EU could reclaim funds from frozen Russian assets. Orbans veto remains pivotal. Recent talks with European Council President Antonio Costa suggest he may lift it if the EU assesses Druzhba pipeline damage. Some diplomats say he could also relent if Brussels approves a 16 billion defence loan for Hungary. EU lawyers are reviewing treaties for potential loopholes to bypass the veto but Kyiv doesnt have time to wait, reported Politico. Ukraine and its people have weathered a long and devastating war for over four years with remarkable resilience, Politico quoted IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva as saying. Nevertheless, the war has taken a toll on economic and social conditions, with slowing growth and the outlook remaining subject to exceptionally high uncertainty, Georgieva added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies International applications increased across Europe (excluding the UK) and Asia in 2025, while declining in Canada, the UK and the US. In North America, falling international demand outweighed growth in domestic applications Indians are among the biggest recipeints of the H1-B visa programme. File photo/Reuters A sharp 45 per cent fall in Indian student enrolments at US universities in August 2025, coupled with a 25 per cent rise in international applications to Indian graduate management programmes, signals a significant shift in global business education trends, according to the Graduate Management Admission Councils (GMAC) latest white paper. The findings, based on GMACs 2025 Application Trends Survey, according to the Times of India, suggest that North Americas long-dominant position as a study destination is weakening as Asia and continental Europe gain ground. Visa policies, currency fluctuations and affordability concerns are reshaping student choices. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD International applications increased across Europe (excluding the UK) and Asia in 2025, while declining in Canada, the UK and the US. In North America, falling international demand outweighed growth in domestic applications. A pulse survey of 361 business schools found that 54 per cent of programmes in the Asia-Pacific region reported higher international enrolment in fall 2025 compared with the previous year. In contrast, two-thirds of programmes in the Americas reported declines. Visa uncertainty has also disrupted enrolment outcomes. Nearly 90 per cent of programmes in the Americas cited India among the top countries where students paid deposits but failed to matriculate, largely due to visa delays, denials or multiple deposits. GMACs Prospective Students Survey shows that the share of non-US candidates preferring to study in the United States dropped to 42 per cent in 2025 from 57 per cent in 2019. Preference for Western Europe remained steady at 63 per cent, while interest in Asia and Eastern Europe continued to rise. Applications from Central and South Asia to programmes within their home region, as well as East and Southeast Asia, increased steadily. Preference for Western Europe also rose by six percentage points year-on-year. India occupies a dual role in global mobility. While more than two in five Indian business schools still cite the US as their top source of international students, the 25 per cent increase in overseas applications to Indian programmes suggests the country is also emerging as a destination in its own right. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Business schools in Canada, the US and the UK most frequently attributed falling applications to changes in visa policy and geopolitical uncertainty. Canadas 2024 cap on international study permits led to significant declines in applications and approvals. In the US, new international enrolments across higher education fell 19 per cent, amid visa interview suspensions and immigration policy proposals. In the UK, restrictions on dependants and a shorter post-study work period contributed to a 12 per cent drop in processed student visas in 2024. Australias National Planning Level similarly resulted in a 16% fall in enrolments in the first half of 2025. GMAC concludes that financial considerations now outweigh institutional reputation in student decision-making. The Indian rupees slide to record lows against major currencies in September 2025 reduced purchasing power, prompting prospective students to prioritise affordability. Looking ahead to 2026, the report says global management talent flows will depend less on rankings and more on visa clarity, post-study work rights and overall cost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who was the mediator in the high-stakes talks, said that both Iran and the US have agreed to resume negotiations soon after they hold meetings with their respective capitals Iran and the US have made significant progress in the latest round of talks on nuclear issues in Geneva, mediator country Oman has said; however, the chances of a deal to avoid a war still remain unclear. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who served as the mediator in the high-stakes talks, said that both Iran and the US have agreed to resume negotiations soon after meetings with their respective capitals, while technical-level discussions would be held in Vienna next week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Similarly, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was leading the delegation from Irans side, said good progress had been made, adding that there were agreements on some issues, while some others remained points of contention. He said that the next round of meetings would happen as early as next week. What happened during the negotiations? According to Iranian state media, Tehrans negotiators reaffirmed the countrys right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy and rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment entirely and transfer its 400kg (880lb) stockpile of enriched uranium abroad. However, officials are believed to have floated potential concessions, though the details have not been disclosed publicly. One reported proposal would allow Iran to resume uranium enrichment at a limited level after a three- to five-year suspension, subject to international monitoring. Araghchi said that in return for a deal, negotiators demanded the lifting of sanctions that have crippled Irans economy. US buildup As part of the dramatic US buildup, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, sent to the Mediterranean this week, left a naval base in Crete on Thursday, an AFP photographer said. Washington currently has more than a dozen warships in the Middle East: one aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln nine destroyers and three other combat ships. It is rare for there to be two US aircraft carriers, which carry dozens of warplanes and are crewed by thousands of sailors, in the region. The developments follow massive protests in Iran during which, rights groups say, thousands of demonstrators were killed. With inputs from agencies Beijing-based MizarVision has stepped up disclosures on American deployments across West Asia, highlighting Chinas expanding open-source and satellite intelligence capabilities amid rising US-Iran tensions USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier arrives at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, on February 23, 2026. Reuters File A Chinese private intelligence firm has come under increased scrutiny after publishing detailed reports on US military deployments near Iran, highlighting what experts say are Beijings growing open-source intelligence capabilities, according to a South China Morning Post report. MizarVision, a commercial intelligence analysis company based in China, has for the past two years posted updates on American military movements on social media. However, observers say the firm has stepped up both the frequency and detail of its disclosures in recent weeks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the report, the posts outline deployments of US military assets across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Greece and Qatar, specifying the number and models of aircraft stationed at various bases, along with information on air defence systems. The heightened activity comes amid rising tensions involving Iran and the prospect of potential US military action. Such detailed, publicly shared tracking highlights the expanding role of private firms in monitoring global military movements through satellite imagery and open-source data, added the report, citing analysts. In its latest update on Wednesday, MizarVision reported on the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, at the Greek island of Crete. The deployment is widely seen as part of Washingtons largest military build-up in West Asia since the 2003 Iraq war. High-definition satellite imagery indicates a reduction in both tanker and transport aircraft at Al Udeid Air Base, though air defence and anti-missile systems remain deployed, South China Morning Post quoted the firm as saying in a post on Tuesday. The firm also cited the US military base in Qatar that withstood an Iranian missile strike in June last year, located 35km southwest of Doha. It monitors the US base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, a key hub for American operations and logistics in the Middle East. On Sunday, MizarVision said US C-17 transport aircraft formations were still crossing the Atlantic to deliver military supplies to the Middle East. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US media reported Washington was poised to strike Iran over the weekend, with President Donald Trump considering a limited attack to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump said he preferred to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the worlds number one sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its programme is peaceful and has threatened retaliation if attacked. Rare disclosures It is rare for a Chinese private firm to disclose such sensitive intelligence, particularly as Beijing urges de-escalation. Dennis Wilder, a former senior US intelligence official now at Georgetown University, questioned the motive. What is Beijings purpose in allowing these photos to be published? Is it trying to prove its intelligence capabilities after the failure to detect the US extraction of [Nicolas] Maduro? SCMP quoted him as saying. A company representative, identified only as Wang, said its sources included Western and Chinese commercial entities but declined to specify origins. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He described its analysis as normal in commercial operations that aligns with international standards. Hu Bo of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative said the West Asia images were sourced from American satellites. Judging by the satellite ephemeris, these images were sourced from American satellites, not Chinese ones, SCMP quoted him as saying, adding their battlefield value was limited. Retired Chinese colonel Yue Gang told the news outlet that such work could provide non-classified, low-threshold intelligence support services and that MizarVisions capabilities can supplement Chinas national intelligence capacities, calling it a beneficial exploration contributing to Chinas development as an intelligence powerhouse. He said the activities were legal and unlikely to affect the West Asia situation. Military commentator Song Zhongping said monitoring US movements demonstrates capability and is advertising, adding it also symbolises the strength of a nation and an enterprise. Intelligence record MizarVision says it specialises in AI-driven geographic business intelligence, including fully automated multi-source vessel identification, feature classification and change detection, [and] scene and data pattern recognition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The firm has previously disclosed sensitive PLA developments. In 2024, it published satellite images of a Chinese aircraft carrier widely identified as the Shandong near the Philippines during heightened South China Sea tensions. In 2023, after a US Navy P-8A patrol aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait, state media cited audio captured by MizarVision of PLA pilots warning the US plane to leave. The same year, it supplied a report alleging frequent US reconnaissance activities near China, amid a diplomatic row over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by Washington. Chinas AI-powered satellite networks are rapidly expanding, enabling precise tracking of key US military assets beyond East Asia. In the Middle East, Chinese commercial firms have also used high-resolution satellite imagery to assess destruction in Gaza. With inputs from agencies Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on Friday that she opposes changing the imperial familys male succession rules. Japan exports jump 16.8% in January, fastest pace in over three years. File image/Reuters Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on Friday that she opposes changing the imperial familys male succession rules. The comments are her clearest on the issue the subject of increasing debate as a succession crisis looms since her partys landslide election victory this month. Takaichi said she respected the conclusion of a panel of experts who had discussed the matter and found in 2021 that it was appropriate to limit eligibility to those who are male-line male descendants belonging to the imperial lineage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The government, and I, myself as well, respect this report. The premier previously warned that revising the imperial familys succession rules is an urgent matter, although this would likely involve adopting new members. During a policy speech last , she said that she hoped discussions will deepen on how to ensure stable imperial succession leading toward the revision of the Imperial House Law. Even though tradition dictates only a man can carry on the imperial line which goes back 2,600 years according to legend opinion polls have shown high public support for a woman taking the throne. Emperor Naruhito has a daughter, Princess Aiko, but she has been sidelined by the royal familys male-only succession rules. Japan has debated the royal succession for decades, with a key government panel in 2005 recommending that it pass to the oldest child regardless of their sex. That appeared to pave the way for the emperors daughter to rise to the Chrysanthemum Throne, but the birth of Prince Hisahito, the emperors nephew, the following year silenced the debate. In 2021, a government-appointed expert panel advised the government to consider allowing the imperial family to adopt new male members distant relatives that could be brought back into the fold. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But it is unclear if those men would be willing to give up their careers and freedom to continue the lineage. The panel also said royal daughters currently forced to leave the family after marriage could potentially continue their public duties after their nuptials. Traditionalists have asserted that the unbroken imperial line of male succession is the foundation of Japan, and major changes would divide the nation. Under the post-war constitution, the royal family holds no political power. Historically, women who wed royals have faced intense pressure to produce sons and some family members are regular subjects of online and media gossip. Empress Masako, a former high-flying diplomat, struggled for years with a stress-related illness after joining the household, which some have put down to the pressure to have a boy. Emperess Emerita Michiko, Naruhitos mother, also suffered stress-induced illnesses. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged personnel to leave today as mission shifted to authorised departure status over escalating regional security concerns US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, on September 10, 2025. Reuters File The US Embassy in Israel has advised non-essential personnel and their families to leave the country immediately amid escalating regional tensions and the possibility of a US strike on Iran. According to a New York Times report, in an mail sent to mission staff on Friday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the directive came after meetings and phone calls through the night and was issued out of an abundance of caution following consultations with the State Department, which prioritised staff safety. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Those wishing to depart should do so TODAY, he wrote, urging employees to secure flights from Ben-Gurion Airport to any destination from which they could continue travel to Washington, D.C. The first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country, he was quoted as writing in the mail. There is no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, its important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later, he added. Huckabee cautioned that while more outbound flights may become available in the coming days, there was no guarantee. Already, KLM, the Dutch airline, has suspended service to Israel, citing commercial and operational considerations. The ambassador also confirmed the embassy had shifted to an authorised departure status as of 10 am Friday, allowing non-essential staff and dependents to evacuate at government expense when US national interests or imminent threat to life requires it, according to State Department regulations. He scheduled a town-hall meeting at 12:30 pm to provide additional information. In a separate advisory issued by the US embassy in Jerusalem, the embassy said it may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Americans are advised not to travel to Gaza and northern Israel near the Lebanese and Syrian borders, while travel to the West Bank should be reconsidered due to ongoing security risks, said the advisory, warning that violent incidents can occur with little or no warning, targeting public areas such as markets, transportation hubs, and tourist sites. US citizens traveling in the region are urged to stay alert, avoid crowds and demonstrations, follow instructions from local authorities, and maintain contingency plans for emergencies. Those in Gaza should prepare for extended stays due to possible border closures, and US consular assistance in the area is extremely limited, the advisory read. The advisory comes as negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehrans nuclear programme continue without a clear breakthrough, and as Washington has increased its military presence in West Asia. Military action imminent? According to an Economic Times report, the risk of a US strike on Iran has surged to a critical level, highlighted by a sharp reduction in staffing at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, now reportedly limited to fewer than 100 missionessential personnel, a move seen as part of preparations for possible military action. This drawdown, along with satellite imagery showing US warships leaving Bahrains ports, suggests a shift toward a highreadiness combat posture, added the report. The escalation follows the collapse of the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday, pushing US strategy into what analysts describe as a maximum pressure phase. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On February 24, twelve F22 fighter jets were deployed to Ovda Airbase in southern Israel the first US deployment of offensive aircraft on Israeli soil after Gulf allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE reportedly refused to host strikes on Iran. Israel has emerged as the fallback option for basing. By Thursday (February 26), the USS Gerald R. Ford had departed Souda Bay in Crete to join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group near Israel. Having two carrier strike groups in the same theatre is exceptionally rare and is widely interpreted as a sign of imminent military action rather than routine deterrence, reported Economic Times Iran has warned it could retaliate against US bases and allies such as Israel should conflict break out. US-Iran nuclear talks The United States and Iran made significant progress in a third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday, mediator Oman said, though prospects for a deal remain uncertain. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led Tehrans delegation, called the negotiations among the most intense and longest so far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said good progress was achieved with agreements on some issues, but key differences persist. The next round is expected within a week. Iranian state media said Tehran reaffirmed its right to peaceful nuclear energy and rejected US demands to fully halt uranium enrichment or transfer its 400kg stockpile abroad. Meanwhile on Friday, Iran urged Washington to abandon what it called excessive demands over its missile programme, after a Wall Street Journal report said the US may seek the dismantling of three major nuclear sites and the handover of all enriched uranium. In talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Araghchi said progress requires seriousness and realism from the US, warning against miscalculations and maximalist positions. With inputs from agencies Saudi Arabia and Qatar are working to contain the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Islamabad declared an open war and carried out strikes on major Afghan cities, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on Friday. Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions. The aim, the source added, is to de-escalate the crisis and prevent it from spiralling further. The mediation push comes after Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced an open war with Afghanistans Taliban government, marking a sharp deterioration in relations. The declaration followed retaliatory attacks by Taliban forces on Pakistani military facilities along the Durand Line, intensifying cross-border hostilities between the neighbouring countries. Amid the escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kabul is claiming that it has shot down a Pakistani aircraft entering its airspace. Amid the escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kabul is claiming that it has shot down a Pakistani aircraft entering its airspace. However, the videos circulating online of the incident are being termed as fake. The news was first reported by Tolo News, citing Afghan security sources. An unverified video circulating on social media appeared to show the wreckage of a burning aircraft. One of the online users identified it as a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, allegedly shot down by Afghan forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Afghanistan claimed that it had shot down the aircraft; however, Xs AI engine Grok noted that no credible platform has reported any such incident. No, this video isnt real as claimed. The wreckage shows a large aircraft with tail number 85510 and Pakistani markings, but it doesnt resemble an F-16 fighter (wrong size/shape) Its likely old/unrelated footage misattributed for propaganda, Grok said. Pakistan issues a warning While Pakistan acknowledged that it is carrying out strikes against militants, the country did not say that it suffered no aircraft losses. Meanwhile, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the countrys armed forces can have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions". On Friday, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in major Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul, prompting Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to declare the two neighbours at open war" after months of tit-for-tat hostilities. Explosions were heard in Kabul and Kandahar. Pakistan declared that it has Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban following what it described as unprovoked aggression along the Durand Line, significantly escalating cross-border tensions. Pakistani officials noted that the operation targeted Taliban defence positions in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia after Afghan forces carried out what Islamabad termed a large-scale cross-border offensive. Authorities noted that 27 Taliban posts were destroyed in the clashes and nine were captured. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified as Islamabad bombed the latters capital, Kabul, and other cities on Friday Armed troops belonging to the Taliban head towards the frontline of Panjsher Valley, 100 kms north of Kabul, to take position. AFP/File Photo Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified as Islamabad bombed the latters capital, Kabul, and other cities on Friday. The strikes on Kabul came following attacks by Afghan forces against Pakistani military positions along their shared border earlier. According to Al Jazeera, the bombing in the Afghan capital started at 1:50 am (local time). A second air raid followed this. Meanwhile, Afghan anti-aircraft guns opened fire after the first raid and continued firing after the second. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A source close to the Afghan government confirmed to Al Jazeera that an air strike had hit Kabul, and Pakistani warplanes also hit a military base in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. The strikes were conducted hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the neighbouring countries that made a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky. Tensions intensify As per the report, at least three explosions were heard in Kabul, but there was no immediate information on the exact location of the strikes in the Afghan capital, or of any potential casualties. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan also carried out airstrikes in Kandahar to the south and in the southeastern province of Paktia. Meanwhile, two senior Pakistani security officials told The Associated Press that Pakistans military carried out airstrikes targeting what they described as Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, allegedly destroying two brigade bases. Afghanistan said its military launched its attack across the border into Pakistan late Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. The Afghan authorities also claimed to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government described last Sundays airstrikes as an attack on militants harboured in the area and called Thursdays Afghan attack as unprovoked, dismissing claims that army posts had been captured. With inputs from The Associated Press. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in posts on X that multiple Pakistani troops were killed and others taken prisoner. He added that large-scale operations had been launched against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line Local residents stand next to a damaged car at the site of a cross-border Pakistani army strike in the Behsud district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Hedayat Shah) Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared an open war with Afghanistan after the Taliban administration said that its forces killed and captured several Pakistani soldiers during a cross-border offensive. Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you, Khawaja Asif posted on X. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in posts on X that multiple Pakistani troops were killed and others taken prisoner. He added that large-scale operations had been launched against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line in response to what he called repeated provocations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Islamabads retaliation to the Taliban attacks was a "befitting response", as blasts and gunfire rang out in the cities of Kabul and Kandahar under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. Pakistans armed forces have given a befitting response to the Afghan Talibans open aggression, said Naqvi. Pak dismisses Kabuls claims The Taliban government in Afghanistan said that the attacks were in response to Pakistani strikes earlier this week, which had reportedly killed 18 people, as Islamabad said it targeted alleged militant camps and hideouts. The groups chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the offensive had killed numerous Pakistani soldiers and that others had been taken captive. A spokesman for Pakistans prime minister rejected the claim and also denied Mujahids assertion that 15 military posts had been seized. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, dismissed reports of damage on the Pakistani side and warned that any aggression would be met with an immediate and effective response. Pak-Afghan tensions The exchange marks another escalation in tensions between the two neighbouring countries along their volatile border. Afghan forces opened fire on posts in Pakistans mountainous northwest, sparking more than two hours of fighting before Pakistani troops retaliated, Pakistani officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The clashes along the 2,600-km (1,615-mile) are the latest flare-up to threaten a fragile ceasefire following deadly clashes in October. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Refresh for updates. Following the US Supreme Courts ruling on President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said the government is following a wait and watch approach as it is an evolving situation. Instead of chasing a deadline, he said the approach remains to seek win-win arrangements that bring India competitive advantage. Following the US Supreme Courts ruling on President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the government is following a wait and watch approach as it is an evolving situation. In an interview at the Rising Bharat Summit, Goyal said the government remains committed to securing Indian interests in any final agreement with the United States. He, however, refused to give any deadline. Outlining the approach to deal-making, Goyal said the government seeks win-win arrangements that bring India competitive advantage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike previous governments where they made trade deals with competitors, the Narendra Modi government has been making deals with advanced economies from a position of strength where we seek advantage over our competitors, said Goyal. Earlier this month, India and the United States announced that they had arrived at a framework to finalise a trade deal under which Indian goods and services will be tariffed at 18 per cent in the United States and American goods will face 0 per cent tariff in India. The trade deal was supposed to be signed in March but the timeline is uncertain after the US Supreme Courts ruling that Trumps tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal. Last week, an Indian delegation was supposed to travel to the United States to finalise trade talks but the visit was cancelled after the Supreme Courts ruling. When asked whether India should have waited until after the ruling to announce the trade deal, Goyal highlighted the case was proceeding under the US legal system since May and India-US trade talks were therefore never dependent on the case. International trade is about competitive advantage Comparable to Indias neighbours and competitors, India has secured a much better trade deal with the United States that did not just bring down tariffs from 50 per cent to 18 per cent but has plenty of other provisions as well, said Goyal without going into the specifics. Goyal said that international trade is about competitive advantage and that is the objective of trade deals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As for negotiations with the United States, Goyal said that the trade deal has excluded agriculture, dairy, genetically modified (GM) crops, and soybeans. Instead, he said, the trade deal would open US markets for more exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and electronics. After the US Supreme Courts ruling, Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff on all countries under a different legal provision and then raised it to 15 per cent. However, under this provision, the upper limit of tariffs is 15 per cent and they need congressional approval after 150 days. Goyal stressed that negotiations are ongoing and referred to the India-US joint statement that said the agreement in the make shall be reevaluated should the circumstances change. Satellite images reveal increase in refuelling tankers and AWACS aircraft at Prince Sultan Airbase as Washington strengthens regional forces during nuclear talks with Tehran A satellite image shows planes at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on February 21, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters Satellite imagery revealed an increase in military support aircraft, including refuelling tankers, at a Saudi airbase used by the US military over a four-day period in February, reflecting Washingtons force buildup in the region amid rising tensions with Iran, according to a Reuters report. Saudi Arabia, a long-time US ally, had informed Tehran last month that it would not permit its airspace or territory to be used for military operations against Iran. Tehran held indirect nuclear negotiations with Washington on Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD High-resolution satellite images showed at least 43 aircraft at Prince Sultan Airbase on February 21, up from 27 aircraft on February 17. The number later declined to 38 by February 25. Planes include Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers The February 21 satellite image showed 13 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and six Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft among a total of 29 large, swept-wing aircraft parked at Prince Sultan Airbase, according to the Reuters report, citing William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground. In comparison, a medium-resolution image from February 17 showed just 11 large, swept-wing aircraft, based on a Reuters tally. When asked for comment, the Pentagon said it had nothing to provide, noting that the US military generally does not comment on force movements. Oman, which is mediating between Washington and Tehran, said the sides made progress in indirect talks on Thursday, though no breakthrough was reported to avert potential US strikes. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said negotiations are set to resume soon, with technical-level discussions scheduled next week in Vienna. US President Donald Trump on February 19 had set a 10- to 15-day deadline for Iran to reach a deal, warning that really bad things could occur otherwise. A comparison of satellite imagery from early February and January also indicated a broader build-up of aircraft and other military assets across the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recent images have shown Iran repairing and reinforcing sites, including a sensitive military facility reportedly targeted by Israel in 2024. With inputs from agencies Pope Leo XIV has urged priests not to use artificial intelligence for preparing homilies or seeking validation on social media, emphasising that true preaching comes from personal faith and human connection. Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, appears on the balcony of St Peters Basilica, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. (Photo: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters) Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has advised priests not to rely on artificial intelligence to prepare homilies or seek validation through social media platforms like TikTok. Speaking in a closed-door session with clergy from the Diocese of Rome, the pope emphasised that priests should resist the temptation to prepare homilies with artificial intelligence. Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity, he said as cited by the Vatican News on February 20. To give a true homily is to share faith, he added, noting that artificial intelligence will never be able to share faith. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Faith and human connection over online validation Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo has shown interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and the dignity of work, recalling his inspiration from Pope Leo XIII, author of the social encyclical Rerum Novarum during the first industrial revolution. If we can offer a service that is inculturated in the place, in the parish where we are working, he told the priests of Rome, people want to see your faith, your experience of having known and loved Jesus Christ. He warned against seeking likes and followers, describing such pursuits as an illusion. It is not you: if we are not transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, perhaps we are mistaken, and we must reflect very carefully and humbly about who we are and what we are doing, he said. The popes emphasis on prayer and authentic pastoral life The pope highlighted the importance of a life of prayer, defining it as meaningful time spent with the Lord rather than a mere routine of reciting the breviary. During the February 19 dialogue, four priests of different ages asked questions about ministry and pastoral life. US First Lady Melania Trump is all set to lead a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday as the US assumes the bodys rotating monthly presidency. US first lady Melania Trump arrives for the premiere of the documentary film "Melania" at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, recently renamed to include US President Donald Trump's name, in Washington, DC, US, January 29, 2026. File Image/Reuters US First Lady Melania Trump is all set to lead a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday as the US assumes the bodys rotating monthly presidency. According to a statement released by the White House, the first lady plans to spotlight education as a tool for fostering tolerance and promoting global peace at the global body, which has its headquarters in New York. The session Melania will be leading is titled"Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict". This will mark the first time the first lady of a sitting American president would be leading over the 15-member council, and kicks off the first session to mark the United States latest stint presiding. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mrs Trumps leadership will mark the first time a sitting US first lady presides over the Security Council, as members consider education, technology, peace, and security," The White House said in the statement. The meeting scheduled for March 2 is expected to include the US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, fellow security council representatives and other international participants. We are thrilled to have @Flotus gavel in the US Presidency of the Security Council," Waltz said in a post on social media. In the past, the American first lady has focused on efforts to secure the return of children allegedly taken by Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Why it matters In October, Melania announced that some Ukrainian children seized by Russians had been reunited with their families, a cause she has supported during her husbands second term. It is pertinent to note that, typically, Security Council meetings are chaired by a nations UN ambassador or a senior cabinet official. While the former first ladies, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, held influential positions within the UN, none have presided over council meetings. Interestingly, Roosevelt held influential positions within the UN. Interestingly, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the key documents of the United Nations. The move comes amid Trumps growing hostility towards the UN. He has often labelled the organisation as ineffective and called for sweeping changes, while also withdrawing the US from several UN-affiliated agencies, including the World Health Organisation and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a foundational international agreement to address the climate crisis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies. Following Geneva talks that failed to produce firm assurances against nuclear weapons development, Donald Trump said he is not happy with the way Iran is negotiating and has not decided on possible military action. US President Donald Trump on Friday voiced dissatisfaction with Irans stance in recent nuclear negotiations, while saying he had not yet made a final call on possible military action. Speaking to reporters a day after American and Iranian officials met in Geneva, Trump said Tehran was failing to meet US expectations. He stressed that Washingtons core demand remains unchanged: Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. We havent made a final decision, he told reporters when asked about the use of force. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Were not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and were not thrilled with the way theyre negotiating, Trump said. We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and theyre not saying those golden words. Iran has said repeatedly that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and US intelligence has found no evidence that it has made a decision to do so. But the United States and Israel, which carried out a major bombing campaign in Iran in June, are sceptical of the statements by Iran, which backs Palestinian militants Hamas. Asked if an attack would trigger all-out war in the Middle East, Trump said, I guess you could always say theres always a risk. You know when theres war, theres a risk in anything, both good and bad. Trump was circumspect on whether a US attack would bring down the Islamic republic, a sworn enemy of the United States and Israel. Authorities last month killed thousands of people as they crushed mass protests in the biggest threat to the ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nobody knows. There might be and there might not be, Trump said of regime change. Trump in his first term ripped up a nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama in which Iran agreed to strict limits on uranium enrichment. Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the United States and Iran, sent its foreign minister to Washington on Friday for discussions on the issue with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, according to a source familiar with the matter. A source briefed on the internal White House deliberations told Reuters that Trump, who launched a bombing raid against Iranian nuclear sites last June, is very clear-eyed on all the options before him. There is a recognition internally that taking on Iran would be more difficult than the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and there was also internal pessimism as to whether negotiations will bear fruit, Reuters cited a source as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nobody is super optimistic about the negotiations, the source said. With inputs from agencies The IAEA says Iran has barred inspectors from bombed nuclear facilities, leaving uncertainty over enriched uranium stockpiles and raising global concerns amid stalled diplomacy and lingering tensions with the US and Israel. Iran has denied inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to nuclear sites that were struck during a 12-day conflict involving Israel and the United States in June, according to a confidential report circulated among member states and reviewed by the Associated Press. In its latest assessment, the Vienna-based watchdog said it is unable to confirm whether Tehran has halted uranium enrichment activities or to determine the current quantity of enriched uranium stored at impacted facilities. The report underscored that inspectors have not been permitted to visit any of Irans four officially declared enrichment plants since the attacks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The agency warned that without on-the-ground access, it cannot assess the size, composition, or location of Irans enriched uranium reserves. It specifically highlighted the lack of access to the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, noting that inspectors have been barred from the facility for more than eight months, despite Iran previously providing design information. As a result, the IAEA said it cannot establish whether nuclear material is present there or if the site is currently operational. The report emphasised the urgent need to restore what it described as continuity of knowledge concerning nuclear materials that were previously under safeguards. That continuity was disrupted following the military strikes. Considerable uncertainty surrounds the fate of Irans stockpile of more than 400 kilos of 60-percent enriched uranium that was last seen by nuclear watchdog inspectors last June 10. Israel launched strikes on Iran last June, beginning a 12-day war that the US briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran suspended some cooperation with the IAEA and restricted the watchdogs inspectors from accessing sites bombed by Israel and the United States, accusing the UN body of bias and of failing to condemn the strikes. The agencys loss of continuity of knowledge over all previously declared nuclear material at affected facilities in Iran needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency, the report said. Western countries, led by the United States as well as by Israel, Irans arch-enemy and considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the West Asia, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tehran denies having such military ambitions, but insists on its right to this technology for civilian purposes. On Thursday, Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the US in Geneva were seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war, though initial optimism was tempered by Tehran warning Washington must drop excessive demands to reach a deal. Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent limit allowed by the now-defunct 2015 nuclear agreement and close to 90 percent needed to make a bomb, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. With inputs from agencies New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had a productive meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, discussing issues including housing and student detentions by federal immigration authorities. U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shake hands as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 21, 2025. Reuters New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had a productive meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, discussing issues including housing and student detentions by federal immigration authorities. It was the second meeting between them since Mamdanis mayoral election win late last year. Mamdani is a Democrat and Trump a Republican. Mamdani posted a photo with Trump on social media. I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon. Im looking forward to building more housing in New York City, Mamdani wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mamdani said he raised concerns with Trump about a detention on Thursday of Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva from Azerbaijan by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that Trump later informed him she will be released imminently. The federal Homeland Security Department subsequently said it freed Aghayeva and launched removal proceedings against her. While both men have been critical of each others policy positions and hold radically different worldviews, their previous meeting in November was unexpectedly friendly. In that meeting too, they spoke about bringing down the price of housing. A former real estate developer, Trump had brightened at Mamdanis call for more housing in New York. Making housing more affordable has been one of Trumps pledges ahead of the midterm elections in late 2026 as prices for housing remain significantly higher than they were a few years ago. Cost of living and affordability were also issues at the heart of Mamdanis mayoral victory. Trump reiterated his pledge in his State of the Union speech this week and has announced some policies aimed at addressing the problem. Still, U.S. mortgage rates remain high and the housing supply in most of the country is short of what is needed to meet demand. This leaves the cost of home ownership increasingly out of reach for many families. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Economists and trade groups say Trumps aggressive trade and immigration policies have raised prices for building materials and appliances and undercut labour supply, making it harder for builders to ramp up housing construction. Mamdani has criticized Trumps hardline immigration crackdown, especially his use of ICE agents and deportation attempts, along with the presidents policies towards Israels war in Gaza. Mamdanis office said he handed a list to the White House of four pro-Palestinian students battling deportation attempts and asked for help to dismiss those cases. The four names were Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, Mohsen Mahdawi and Leqaa Kordia. Kordia, who was recently hospitalized after a seizure in detention and has lost dozens of family members in Gaza, remains detained by ICE while the other three were released over the last year. High-stakes talks between the United States and Iran over the latters nuclear programme ended on Thursday without a deal or a breakthrough. High-stakes talks between the United States and Iran over the latters nuclear programme ended on Thursday without a deal or a breakthrough. The stalemate that emerged from the meeting is concerning since it came at a time when Washington is weighing a military operation that would mark its largest intervention in West Asia in decades. Soon after the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, released a statement, claiming that good progress had been made at the talks. Meanwhile, Omani mediators predicted negotiations would reconvene at a technical level next week in Vienna. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, there was no immediate evidence to support the suggestion that the two sides reached some sort of a deal or a breakthrough. The fundamental issue of whether Iran has the right to enrich uranium and the future of its highly enriched uranium stocks remains contentious. Iran is weighing economic incentives According to a report by the Financial Times, Tehran is reportedly weighing economic incentives to entice US President Donald Trump in a bid to avoid a full-blown conflict. It is pertinent to note that the Geneva talks marked a third round of indirect US-Iran contacts using Omani mediation. People familiar with the matter told the Financial Times on Thursday that Tehran is considering pitching a potential commercial bonanza to Washington involving oil, gas, and mining projects. However, Iran has not made any formal offer in this regard. A senior US official, on the other hand, told the outlet that no such proposals had been discussed. [Iran is] looking at Venezuela as a case study, one source said, referring to Trumps push for US companies to secure oil deals in the Latin American country after US forces kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro last month. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump accused Tehran of sinister nuclear ambitions and warned that it has limited time to reach a deal, adding that he prefers a diplomatic solution. Iran has insisted that its program is civilian and that it will continue uranium enrichment, even though its nuclear facilities were damaged during last years 12-day war, when the US and Israel hit sites across the country. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will make state visits to Singapore and the Philippines in early March and discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence and nuclear energy, according to his office on Friday. South Korean President to visit Singapore and the Philippines to bolster AI and nuclear energy partnerships. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will make state visits to Singapore and the Philippines in early March and discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence and nuclear energy, according to his office on Friday. Lee will hold a summit with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Singapore during his visit between March 1 to 3. South Korea hopes to expand existing strong investment and trade ties to AI and nuclear energy, Lees office said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He will then visit the Philippines and meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr between March 3 to 4, the presidential Blue House said in a statement. Defence industry cooperation, infrastructure projects, nuclear energy and critical minerals will be on the agenda for the summit, it said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Noise has introduced the Noise Master Buds 2 in India under its Master Series lineup. The earbuds were earlier showcased at CES 2026 and succeed the first-generation Master Buds. Noise Master Buds 2 Noise Master Buds 2 integrate Sound by Bose technology for balanced audio output with deeper bass, defined mids, and clear highs. The earbuds are designed for music playback, video streaming, and gaming use. The device features an updated Active Noise Cancellation system built around a redesigned internal cavity structure to improve noise isolation while maintaining sound clarity across environments. Additional features include: 360 Spatial Audio with intelligent head tracking 6-microphone Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) system Clear Call support powered by the Sound+ algorithm AI Voice Chat Assistant via Noise Audio companion app 6-axis IMU sensor enabling head-gesture controls The earbuds feature a metallic finish with brushed metal detailing and are built with an ergonomic, lightweight design. Quick Specs: Noise Master Buds 2 Design & Build Dimensions: 5.9 5.8 2.6 cm Weight: 62.4 g Water Resistance: IPX5 Driver: 10 mm Connectivity Bluetooth: v6.1 Range: 10 m Supported Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, SPP, AVDTP Compatibility: Android, iOS Auto Pairing: Yes Dual Device Pairing: Yes Battery & Charging Playtime: Up to 30 hours Charging Time: Up to 90 minutes Fast Charging: Yes (10 min = up to 6 hrs) Charging Port: USB Type-C Smart Features Noise Cancellation: Yes Spatial Audio: Yes Motion Control: Yes Touch Controls: Yes Equaliser: Yes Software Updates: Yes Find My Device: Yes Hands-free Calling: Yes Voice Assistant Support: Siri, Google Assistant Pricing and Availability Noise Master Buds 2 will launch on March 19 at 12 PM in Carbon, Aurum, and Mercury color options. Customers can pre-book by paying Rs. 999, which includes: Rs. 1,999 instant coupon on Master Buds 2 Additional Rs. 600 discount via HDFC bank cards The effective purchase price is Rs. 6,399 after applicable offers. After delivery, buyers will receive: Rs. 4,000 discount on Master Buds Max Wireless Headphones Rs. 1,000 discount on purchases above Rs. 3,500 Rs. 500 discount on purchases above Rs. 2,000 The earbuds will be available via gonoise.com and other retail platforms at launch. Speaking on the launch, Amit Khatri, Co-Founder of Noise, said, Samsung has announced the continued expansion of satellite-based communication capabilities for select Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S26 series. The expansion, first introduced on select Galaxy models in 2025, aims to improve emergency response and essential connectivity in areas where traditional mobile networks are unavailable and is now extending to additional supported devices as regional network support grows. Satellite-based communication on select Galaxy smartphones Satellite communication on supported Galaxy devices provides messaging, data access, and emergency assistance when terrestrial networks are unavailable. The rollout is occurring in phases based on carrier readiness, regulatory approvals, and software compatibility. Key Features Satellite-based emergency assistance services (including eSOS and T911 where supported) Satellite text messaging in areas without mobile coverage Satellite data connectivity for essential communication Support for select Galaxy flagship models (Galaxy S21 series and later) Support for select Galaxy A series devices Compatibility depending on device model and One UI / OS version Carrier-led rollout aligned with regional network infrastructure Integration to support AI-driven mobile experiences Availability Satellite communication features are being rolled out in collaboration with regional telecom operators, with deployment depending on carrier schedules, supported devices, and software versions. United States: Supported via T-Mobile , Verizon , and AT&T . Coverage includes select Galaxy flagship and Galaxy A series models (Galaxy S21 series and later), with eSOS and T911 functionality depending on the carrier. Supported via , , and . Coverage includes select Galaxy flagship and Galaxy A series models (Galaxy S21 series and later), with eSOS and T911 functionality depending on the carrier. Europe: Supported via Virgin Media O2 , Vodafone , and MasOrange (trials in Spain). Available on select Galaxy flagship and A series devices; rollout varies by country and carrier. Supported via , , and (trials in Spain). Available on select Galaxy flagship and A series devices; rollout varies by country and carrier. Japan: Supported via KDDI , SoftBank , NTT docomo , and Rakuten Mobile . Coverage includes Galaxy S22 and later flagship devices and select Galaxy A series smartphones, with ETWS and satellite messaging/data features. Samsung says it is continuing to work with additional telecommunications operators to expand satellite communication support across more Galaxy product categories. Speaking on the expansion, Won-Joon Choi, President, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Head of the R&D Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, said: U.S. House Rep. Jeff Hurd, the Grand Junction Republican representing Colorados 3rd Congressional District, held a telephone town hall Wednesday night, with more than 14,000 constituents listening in. Hurd invited people from CD3 to visit his office if theyre visiting the U.S. Capitol. He also encouraged constituents to reach out to his office if theyre having any issues with government alphabet agencies like the Social Security Administration or Internal Revenue Service. Paul in Durango expressed his concern about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act potentially limiting Americans ability to vote in federal elections, and Ted in Montrose later followed up, concerned that Americans might need to show passports on top of their drivers licenses, adding that many retirees no longer have drivers licenses or passports. Hurd responded that the SAVE Act, which he voted for, is seen by a majority as a reasonable safeguard to protect election integrity. He added that Congress should address any potential difficulties for segments of the American populace. Stuart from San Miguel County talked about Colorados growing number of gun laws and requirements for gun owners. Hurd responded, The right to keep and bear arms isnt a suggestion; its a constitutional guarantee, and added that he believes federal courts will strike down some of Colorados gun laws. He also said Congress is set to hear about the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and that the One Big Beautiful Bill included legislation removing tax impediments on suppressors. Several callers James from Eagle County and Danny in Pueblo called to thank Hurd for his bipartisan work, particularly around tariffs. Hurds vote on a bill disapproving of President Donald Trumps tariffs on Canada resulted in the president withdrawing his endorsement of Hurd in CD3. Im part of a group of Republicans that is committed to serious governing, Hurd said. We want to pass laws and work with Democrats where we can. Im part of the Problem Solvers Caucus, which is a group of Republicans and Democrats who come together and work on important issues that matter, like health care and spending to all of the things that matter. The cost of living and the cost of housing, thats a big deal. Susan from Grand Junction asked about rising energy costs, especially as the Trump administration freezes funding for renewable energy projects in wind and solar, and how Hurd plans to lower Coloradans utility bills. Hurd responded that he was once an electric utility lawyer representing energy cooperatives on the Western Slope. He called bad energy policy a hidden tax on rural America, recognized that AI and data centers are increasing demands on the nations electric grid, and stated his support for an all-of-the-above energy approach embracing coal, natural gas and renewable energy. Hurd also said he plans to introduce a geothermal energy bill in the House. Vigil from Grand Junction identified himself as a supporter of nuclear power as a clean and helpful source of energy for most of what we do, curious if Hurd would support building a nuclear power plant in Craig to replace the coal plant as well as a plant in Pueblo. He also suggested that nuclear energy could help with the states water issues by recirculating the states water. Hurd said hes pro-nuclear, saying its great for the environment and for jobs, and said theres bipartisan support for nuclear power. The challenge, he said, is the production or acquisition of nuclear materials, as many of them come from adversaries like Russia and China. He also said that the U.S. would need to figure out how to mine and enrich the needed uranium. Robin from Ridgway said that agriculture, construction and hospitality industries rely heavily on documented immigrants, saying the Trump administrations approach to immigration policy is harming these industries with people being detained and sometimes deported. Hurd said the agriculture industry has a large need for labor and that the H2A program needs reform, adding that those in the country on visas or temporary orders must be protected and be provided adequate due process. Chris, identifying as an American government teacher in Mesa County Valley School District 51, said that his students are increasingly confused about his lessons compared to what theyre seeing in current politics. Currently, the questions I get from the students are, Well, thats what it says on that Constitution, but thats not what were seeing in the public, Chris said. Do you see any chances for a shift from total partisanship to actually re-exerting the checks and balances that each branch has over each other? It really seems weve ceded most of the power to the executive branch at this time. Hurd responded that checks and balances are critical and that the legislative branch ceding power to the executive branch is a decades-old problem. He cited the book The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn when talking about the founding fathers fear of one branch consolidating power. He offered an example of his dedication to this principle through his tariff vote, saying major trade decisions shouldnt rely on sweeping emergency authority from the president but rather the power given to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Robert from Grand Junction said the GOP used to be the party of smaller government but, now, his kids and grandkids are being saddled with growing debt. He asked what the Republican plan is to cut spending and live within our means like the voters in Colorado have to. Hurd said he just introduced the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2026 with Utah Rep. Blake Moore, which would require Congress to vote annually on the entire federal budget. Per Hurd, only a third of Congress expenses each year are discretionary, with the other expenses being mandatory because of past laws that are now on autopilot. This legislation, Hurd said, would allow the House and Senate appropriations committees to manage discretionary spending and require collaboration with committees overseeing mandatory funds, ultimately helping balance the federal budget. Russia's FSB Prevents Terrorist Attack Against Senior Military Officer in St. Petersburg Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A terrorist attack against a high-ranking military officer of the Russian Defense Ministry was prevented in St. Petersburg, and two Russians who acted in the interests of the special services of Ukraine were detained, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) told Sputnik. "The Russian Federal Security Service in the city of St. Petersburg suppressed the illegal activities of two Russian citizens who, on the instructions of the special services of Ukraine, planned to commit a terrorist act against a high-ranking serviceman of the Russian Ministry of Defense using an improvised explosive device," the statement said. Two Ukrainian agents planted a bomb under a soldier's car, the FSB said, adding that the explosive device was uncovered and defused. "The attackers were detained and confessed. The issue of opening a criminal case is being resolved," the statement said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Prime Minister meets with Polish President Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia 26.02.2026 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The latter welcomed the Prime Minister's visit and highlighted the importance of the agreement signed today between Armenia and Poland in the military-technical sphere. Karol Nawrocki expressed confidence that the two countries will continue to develop and strengthen cooperation in all areas. Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of active cooperation between Armenia and Poland. The Prime Minister emphasized Poland's role in deepening Armenia-EU ties, implementing and promoting democratic reforms in our country. The interlocutors also exchanged views on other issues of regional importance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nikol Pashinyan and Donald Tusk discuss a number of issues related to the development of multi-sectoral cooperation between Armenia and Poland Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia 26.02.2026 The official visit of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to the Republic of Poland continues. The second day of the visit kicked off with the meeting between Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Donald Tusk. First, an official welcoming ceremony took place, followed by a private meeting between the leaders of the two countries. Donald Tusk welcomed the official visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, expressing confidence that it will give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations in all directions. The Polish Prime Minister attached importance to the expansion of cooperation with Armenia, especially in the economy, infrastructure, security, education, science and other areas. Donald Tusk also emphasized the interest of the Polish Government in strengthening and deepening cooperation with Armenia, including as a member state of the European Union. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality, emphasizing the importance of the continued development of multilateral cooperation with Poland. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the support provided by Poland in the implementation of institutional reforms in Armenia, expressing hope that it will be continuous. In the context of deepening trade and economic ties, Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to the promotion of economic cooperation. The Prime Minister also emphasized the role of Poland in the process of deepening Armenia-EU cooperation. The interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the implementation of joint programs. Reference was also made to the process of establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the implementation of the TRIPP initiative, as well as topics related to the further development of Armenia-EU cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Fewer national wish lists': EDA conference debates defence industry support European Defence Agency 26 February 2026 The European Union must build a more responsive defence industry to assume greater responsibility for its own security and sustain support for Ukraine, the annual EDA industry conference heard, as pressure from the United States intensifies and Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine enters its fifth year. On 26 February 2026, the European Defence Agency (EDA) hosted its defence industry conference at the European Parliament, bringing together EU Member States, industry representatives and EU officials to debate the future of Europe's defence capabilities. Discussions focused on accelerating progress under the Defence Readiness 2030 agenda, aimed at strengthening industrial preparedness, expanding production capacity and extending more long-term orders through joint procurement. EDA Chief Executive Andre Denk said that the EU requires "a defence industry that can develop, produce and deliver everything we need, both simple defence products like ammunition or complex systems like airframes." "That demands sustained investments to ensure the competitiveness of the European defence industry and to make up for the past decades," he said. At the same time, Europe faces renewed calls from Washington to do more. "While this is not new, the voices calling for a redistribution of the transatlantic burden have certainly grown louder," Denk said. Since 2022, the EU has introduced a suite of measures. These include the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), Security Action for Europe (SAFE), the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), and a new Ukraine support loan. Together, the initiatives are designed to boost industrial capacity, foster cross-border cooperation and ensure Europe can respond rapidly to evolving security threats. Meanwhile EDA has its own structures to support industry, including: Help in navigating EU policies Advocating for access to finance Standardisation Test & Evaluation Joint procurement Events with industry across all domains (Land, air, sea, space and cyber) "A deliberate choice" The EU has also become the largest provider of military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. "So this means that our aid is crucial for Ukraine. It also means that Ukraine's fate is partially linked to the European defence industry's ability to produce and to deliver the capabilities and equipment that Ukraine needs right now," Denk added. Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chairwoman of the European Parliament's Security and Defence Committee, echoed the call for closer collaboration, arguing that higher spending alone would not guarantee security. "Our shared responsibility is to ensure that this money is spent wisely," Strack-Zimmermann said. "We need more joint planning, joint development, joint production and joint procurement - not as a slogan, as a method. Fewer national wish lists, more common projects, less duplication, more interoperability, less fragmentation, more scale." Delegates debated the pros and cons of a 'European preference,' whereby Member States should prioritise purchasing military equipment from other EU countries rather than from outside suppliers. Some industry representatives also warned that new companies receiving EU funding must commit to maintaining their defence products over many years, for instance ensuring compatibility with the 40-year operational lifespan of an aircraft carrier. EU Member States spent around 381 billion on defence in 2025, equivalent to 2.1% of GDP, according to EDA data. Since 2022, the bloc's new instruments are worth a combined 242 billion to support production and joint procurement, EDA estimates. The European Commission has also proposed a European Competitiveness Fund that would allocate 131 billion for defence, security and space under the EU's long-term 2028-2034 budget. Industry is also expected to benefit from 150 billion in loans under the SAFE instrument in 2026, while the separate 90 billion Ukraine loan would direct 60 billion towards strengthening Ukraine's defence industrial capacity and equipment purchases. Asked by one EU lawmaker if this money was really necessary, Denk said: "If Europe wants to deter Russian aggression in a convincing manner, then we have to ramp up our military capabilities. We have to enhance our military, but also civilian resilience within the populations. And this comes with a price, so it's a deliberate choice." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRC 61 - Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's report on Occupied Palestinian Territory - EU Statement European External Action Service (EEAS) 26.02.2026 Geneva Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva United Nations Human Rights Council 61st session Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's report on Occupied Palestinian Territory 26 February 2026 EU Statement Mister High Commissioner, We thank you and your Office for your work in upholding human rights and defending international human rights law. We reiterate our support to your mandate and its independence. We support your call to pursue independent investigation, accountability and justice for any grave violations and abuses, as stated in your report. The EU continues to support the Commission of Inquiry and other relevant OHCHR mandates. The EU condemns all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory. We call upon all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and underline that there must be accountability for violations. The EU recalls the need to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders, which are legally binding and takes note of its advisory opinions. The EU has welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the announcement of the launch of Phase Two of the Comprehensive Peace Plan to End the Gaza conflict. The EU stands ready to continue to support peace in Gaza, through its humanitarian, security, diplomatic and cooperations tools, and looks forward to the implementation of the Peace Plan in its entirety, in line with relevant international political and legal principles. The EU continues to stress the need for rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza. The EU will continue calling on all parties to facilitate full and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip to respond to the urgent needs of the population, and urge for aid to be effectively distributed in accordance with international law, including by UN agencies, notably UNRWA. The EU calls on Israel not to implement the NGO registration law in its current form. Items that are essential for humanitarian response, such as shelter, medical items and necessary equipment to rehabilitate infrastructure, remove rubble and open roads, must be allowed into Gaza. The EU strongly condemns the further escalation, following massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, and the policies and threats of intimidation, forcible displacement and annexation, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the terrorist attacks against Israel. The EU calls on the Government of Israel to reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, to refrain from any annexation and to hold the violent settlers accountable. We underline the vital role of civil society in promoting dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians around human rights, peace and a comprehensive and just solution of the conflict. The EU hopes that cooperation with civil society and NGOs will remain unhampered in the future. The EU remains firmly committed to international law and to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders, and supports diplomatic efforts in this direction which are anchored in international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia: EU leaders receive Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet strengthening EU-Cambodia Ties European External Action Service (EEAS) 26.02.2026 EEAS Press Team Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet visited the European Union Institutions on 24 and 25 February 2026, marking an important step in the EU-Cambodia relations and aiming to further deepen bilateral cooperation. During his visit, Prime Minister Hun Manet met with the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas and Vice President of the European Parliament Christel Schaldemose to exchange views on bilateral relations, global issues and regional security, human rights, and economic cooperation. The discussions were focused on the EU's continued support for Cambodia's graduation from the Least Developed Country status in 2029, on concerns related to human rights, good governance and online fraud, as well as on global affairs and EU-ASEAN relations, inter alia. "The EU and Cambodia share a commitment to stability, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order," said President Costa. "The EU appreciates Cambodia's support for the EU's stronger engagement with ASEAN, ahead of the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit planned for 2027." Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasised Cambodia's desire to strengthen ties with the EU, citing the bloc's importance as a trade partner. The visit also provided an opportunity to exchange on the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. The EU welcomed the ceasefire agreement agreed on 27 December 2025, called for its full implementation in line with international law, and offered support for the peace process. The EU-Cambodia partnership is built on a strong foundation of cooperation, with the EU being one of Cambodia's largest donors, providing approximately EUR 270 million in grant funding for development projects. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRC61 - Enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan and the OHCHR report - EU Statement European External Action Service (EEAS) 26.02.2026 Geneva Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva United Nations Human Rights Council 61st session Enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan and the OHCHR report 26 February 2026 EU Statement The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner for their reports, and the speakers for their testimonies. The EU strongly condemns the ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Their systemic violations of women's and girls' rights may amount to gender persecution. Special Rapporteur, Your report documents how the Taliban's repressive policies, which flagrantly disregard Afghanistan's international obligations, severely undermine the right to health and dignity of women and girls. Their impact is only expected to exacerbate due to the prohibition of education of female medical staff. These policies must be revoked. The EU calls for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including ethnic and religious minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations as well as LGBTI persons. We also call for unhindered and unimpeded humanitarian access, ensuring women can work and deliver assistance across Afghanistan. Victims and survivors of human rights violations and abuses deserve accountability. We welcome the OHCHR's efforts in operationalizing the independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan. Only an Afghan-led political process inclusive of all Afghans, with the equal and meaningful participation of women, can ensure sustainable peace, stability and prosperity. How can the international community support women and girls' access to health services? NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on the UN Fact Finding Mission report on El Fasher Government of Norway News story | Date: 26/02/2026 Statement from the foreign ministers of the Sudan Core Group on the UN Fact Finding Mission (FFM) report on El Fasher. "The Foreign Ministers of the Sudan Core Group at the Human Rights' Council - Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom - express our collective outrage and profound sorrow at the findings of the Fact-Finding Mission's report on El Fasher. "The report speaks of the heinous acts committed by the RSF during their 18-month siege of El Fasher with food and humanitarian supply routes systematically obstructed and markets attacked. It describes attacks on medical facilities and critical infrastructure, and the trapping of civilians to prevent escape. The conditions became so challenging, starving inhabitants resorted to eating livestock feed to survive. "The report details the final offensive on El Fasher, describing how the RSF executed civilians throughout the city and turned El Fasher University and the El-Saudi Hospital into mass killing sites. Witnesses describe being told "we will exterminate you", and of pregnant women being shot in their bellies. Civilians were massacred as they tried to escape the city. It provides shocking testimony of women and girls who suffered horrific sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rape. "The report sets out horrendous violence which was aimed primarily at the Fur and Zaghawa communities, as part of what the FFM assessed to be the deliberate attempt to bring about the "physical destruction" of these communities, "in whole or in part". The FFM concludes that RSF led violence in El Fasher constitutes War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, and bears "the hallmarks of genocide". "The International Criminal Court and the High Commissioner for Human Rights have also communicated that their initial assessments indicate that crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed in El Fasher. "The report concludes that in the absence of effective prevention and accountability, "the risk of further genocidal violence remains acute". We, the international community, must redouble our efforts to prevent a repeat of the atrocities committed in El Fasher, and the Sudan Core Group calls on the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. We implore all states to consider closely the important recommendations the report lays out: Civilians must be protected; the UN arms embargo must be expanded and enforced; and restrictions of humanitarian access and accountability mechanisms must end. "The Sudan Core Group commends the FFM for it's vital work in exposing the horrors that took place in El Fasher, and beyond. The scale and depravity of the horrors described should shock the conscience of us all. "The Sudan Core Group expresses its deep and enduring solidarity for the victims of atrocities in Sudan. "Furthermore, the warring parties must urgently agree an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, allow unfettered humanitarian access, cease from violating International Humanitarian Law and ensure the protection of civilians. "The Sudan Core Group calls on the warring parties to the conflict to provide full access for further international justice mechanisms, to affected areas and populations. "This report is a call to action. In response - the Sudan Core Group announces its intention to establish a coalition of likeminded states and regional institutions committed to working together to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and support the Sudanese people to lay the foundations for eventual justice. They have waited long enough." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steadfast Dart 26 puts NATO Airpower at centre of rapid reinforcement NATO Allied Air Command Feb 26 2026 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- NATO recently concluded Exercise Steadfast Dart 26, which launched on Jan. 15, 2026, putting Allied Airpower at the heart of this rapid-reinforcement exercise across Central Europe. Led by Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFC-Brunssum), the exercise marked the Allied Reaction Force's (ARF) second deployment and its first within Brunssum's area of responsibility, integrating land, air, maritime, cyber, space and special operations forces, with activity focused on Germany. "Last year, Steadfast Dart incorporated the first deployment of NATO's new Allied Reaction Force, demonstrating Allied Command Operations' ability to respond at a moment's notice to an emergent threat to our Alliance," said U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). "This year's exercise builds upon that success and will again demonstrate NATO's responsiveness, as well as its strength, with forces on the land, at sea and in the air, who will operate in all domains." . The exercise integrated Air Forces alongside land, maritime, cyber, space and special operations forces in a simulated conflict scenario involving a near-peer adversary across multiple locations in Central Europe, particularly in Germany. NATO's Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) also provided airborne command and control (C2) and cross-domain coordination during Steadfast Dart 26, providing commanders an operational picture crucial for the decision-making process. Unique to the exercise, Turkiye assumed the Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) responsibility for Steadfast Dart 26 through its Joint Force Air Component, providing the senior command and control function for the air domain in support of the ARF. Embedded within the ARF headquarters at general-officer level, the Turkish Deputy Commander-Air acted as the senior air adviser, aligning air operations with the commander's intent and driving the battle rhythm to translate operational objectives into coordinated air effects. The Turkish-led CFACC function oversaw key integration mechanisms for Airpower's contribution to land and maritime operations, enhancing NATO's multi-domain capabilities. Allied Air Command's (AIRCOM) contributions to the exercise culminated in counter Unmanned Aircraft System (c-UAS) training over the Baltics, bringing together German Eurofighters, Italian Eurofighters and Spanish F-18s, supported by an A400M tanker from Spain. The mission specifically focused on practicing c-UAS tactics, which included a Turkish Baykar Bayraktar TB3 - an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Steadfast Dart 26 had two phases - deployment and training - and involved about 10,000 service personnel from 11 nations, including ARF units from Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Turkiye, with Belgium, France and Britain linking national activities. The integration phase, completed on 20 February, tested NATO's ability to assemble forces quickly under the operational command of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS). Units merged command structures, synchronised communications, and aligned logistics and support systems the essential groundwork that allows multinational formations to operate as one. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Zealand's Navy, Army and Air Force combine for successful South-West Pacific operation New Zealand Defence Force The Governor-General of New Zealand's visit to Tokelau, upgrade of critical monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, and a search and rescue operation near Tonga were among the achievements of the NZDF's extensive operation to the South-West Pacific. 26 February, 2026 With New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel aboard, military sealift vessel HMNZS Canterbury under the name Operation Calypso covered 4580 nautical miles without the ship needing to take on additional food or fuel over 23 days. Commanding Officer, Commander Wayne Andrew, said the mission was a busy one for everyone and was one of the best examples of Service interoperability he had seen. "With two NH90 helicopters and crew, and supporting personnel from the NZ Army's 5 Movements Company, this was a tri-service operation covering a range of tasks supporting New Zealand Government agencies in our Pacific neighbourhood." MetService personnel were aboard to assess available meteorological observing resources on the three atolls, and a New Zealand Police officer met the Tokelau Chief of Police and took part in community engagements. Commander Andrew said the NZDF's strong Pacific connections were an important part of the mission. "Not only was the ship there for the centenary of New Zealand's administration of Tokelau, but two Tokelauan members of the Navy were able to reunite with their families there." The ship's company also had two Tongan speakers who were able to translate when Canterbury was last week called on to rescue two men drifting 105 nautical miles south of Tonga. "Seeing the reaction when our two Tokelauan personnel were welcomed home was incredibly emotional for everyone who witnessed this, and having two Tongan speakers within our ship's company meant we could reassure the rescued sailors that we would be delivering them home," Commander Andrew said. The ship's final stop at Raoul Island allowed crew working parties to clear overgrowth from the Homestead and Green Lake areas, while NH90 helicopters and 5 Movements Company personnel secured and flew MetService and Earth Sciences NZ (ESNZ) personnel and equipment to remote parts of the island. Critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, which provide an early warning system for New Zealand and the region, were upgraded. As Canterbury returned to Devonport Naval Base this week, Commander Andrew reflected on what the mission had achieved. "All the people who joined the ship from Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro through to the MetService and ESNZ scientists and technicians, NZ Police, Army and Air Force personnel, fully immersed themselves in the ship's culture and added to it. "Canterbury's motto is Kotahitanga (Unity) and this was certainly on display throughout." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COMMUNIQUE ADOPTED BY THE EMERGENCY OPEN-ENDED MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 26-02-2026 COMMUNIQUE ADOPTED BY THE EMERGENCY OPEN-ENDED MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC) AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS TO ADDRESS THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY ISRAEL, THE OCCUPYING POWER, TO IMPOSE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION REALITY, EXPAND COLONIAL SETTLEMENT, DEEPEN ANNEXATION POLICIES, AND CHANGE THE STATUS AND CHARACTER OF THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY IN THE WEST BANK, INCLUDING AL-QUDS AL-SHAREEF JEDDAH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, 26 FEBRUARY 2026, (9 RAMADAN 1447 AH) The Emergency Open-Ended Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the level of Foreign Ministers, held at the OIC General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah on February 26, 2026 (corresponding to Ramadan 9, 1447 AH), at the request of the State of Palestine, to address the announcement by Israel, the occupying power, to impose an illegal reality, expand colonial settlement and deepen annexation and seizure policies in order to alter the status and character of the occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, which is "considered an extension of the genocidal war perpetrated in the Gaza Strip and a continuation of the systematic and widespread policies of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing," Reaffirming the principles and objectives of the Charter of the OIC and its resolutions, particularly those concerning the centrality of the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Al-Shareef and its holy sites to the Islamic Ummah; Invoking the resolutions adopted by successive sessions of the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers regarding the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Al-Shareef; Given the historical, moral, and legal responsibility of the Islamic Ummah and its duty of full solidarity with the State of Palestine and its people; Guided by the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, notably the principle of the inadmissibility of the forcible seizure of territories belonging to others; Recalling relevant United Nations resolutions and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024 concerning the nature of the illegal Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory and the legal consequences for Israel, the United Nations, and third parties; Expressing its gratitude and appreciation to all OIC Member States for their attention, diligence, and support for the process of Islamic solidarity and joint action, and commending their steadfast positions on the Palestinian cause and their continued support for the rights of the Palestinian people; Reaffirming its principled support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, in their pursuit of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital, and the right of return for refugees in accordance with United Nations Resolution 194, emphasizing the principle of the unity and integrity of the Palestinian territory, and that the West Bank, including East Al-Quds, and the Gaza Strip constitute one single, indivisible geographical and political unit for one people; Rejecting and strongly condemning the recent hostile decisions and measures of the illegal Israeli occupying power aimed at expanding Israeli control and deepening annexation policies in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, considering these null and void decisions that must be rescinded, and affirming in this regard its rejection of any form of annexation. Condemning and rejecting the colonial policies, practices, and schemes of the Israeli occupying power in the occupied Palestinian territory, and all attempts to alter the geographic and demographic composition, character, and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, particularly the construction and expansion of settlements, the transfer of Israeli settlers, the confiscation and annexation of land, and the forced transfer and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions, considering them war crimes that endanger international peace and security and contribute to instability in the Middle East region and the world at large; 1. Reaffirms the centrality of the question of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef to the entire Islamic ummah, and the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic identity of occupied East Al-Quds, and the need to articulate a unified position of the Islamic Ummah to defend the sanctity of the Islamic and Christian holy sites therein, and that the Palestinian cause is like all just causes of peoples struggling to be free from colonialism and to gain their rights, 2. Affirms the need to compel Israel, the occupying power, to implement a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, abide by the implementation of the US President Trump's plan, move on to the second phase of the plan, the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes, and for the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibility, with Arab, Islamic, and international support, to commit to full and normal opening of all crossings with the Gaza Strip, to facilitate the recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the adequate and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip. The Meeting further stresses the responsibility of Member States and the international community to address and halt grave crimes and to fully comply with international law, the precautionary measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, and the relevant Security Council resolutions. 3. Calls upon the President Trump of the United States of America to fulfill his pledges to Arab and Islamic states to prevent settlement activity, the annexation of the occupied West Bank, and forced displacement. Calls for the implementation of President Trump's plan, the UN Security Council Resolution 2803, the New York Declaration and its annex, and reaffirms the content of the plan on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state, with the aim to the achieve peace, stability, and security based on the realization of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. 4 Declares its absolute rejection and strong condemnation of the recent hostile decisions and measures taken by the illegal Israeli occupation authority, including the announcement by the so-called Israeli "Cabinet" of illegal decisions aimed at imposing a colonial settlement reality in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, and emphasizes that these decisions are null and void and must be rescinded immediately. In this regard, the Meeting affirms its rejection of any form of annexation, and considers this dangerous escalation a blatant new attack on the historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people, and a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolutions 181 (1947), 242 (1967), 252 (1968), 338 (1973), 425 (1978), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 681 (1990), 1073 (1996), 1397 (2002), 1435 (2002), and 1515 (2003), including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016); 5 Condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing Israeli occupation attacks on the Ibrahimi Mosque, including attempts to divide it, prevent access to it, and undermine the right of worship, in addition to the illegal and dangerous Israeli occupation plans and practices to transfer the authority to manage and supervise the Ibrahimi Mosque from the Palestinian Ministry of Wakf and Religious Affairs and Al-Khalil Municipality to an illegal settlement council so-called "the Jewish Religious Council" in the Kiryat Arba settlement, and attempts to alter its unique historical, cultural, and religious features and status. The Meeting also affirms that this constitutes a flagrant violation of United Nations and UNESCO resolutions and international agreements stipulating the protection of cultural, religious, and civil rights and properties, especially during armed conflict; 6 Warns against the Israeli approach contrary to security, stability, and peace in the region, to the resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and to the historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people, and which is pushing the region toward a religious war with dire consequences that will negatively impact international peace and security; 7 Condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation government's attempts to implement the colonial settlement plan known as E1 and to displace the Palestinian people from their holy city, to build thousands of settlement units in and around occupied Al-Quds, isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings, and to further divide the West Bank into isolated enclaves and cantons. The Meeting rejects all attempts to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Al-Quds Al-Shareef, the current legal status, and the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, including the Haram al-Sharif, and the Islamic and Christian holy sites therein. 8 Affirms that the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Shareef, with its entire area of 144,000 square meters, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, under the custodianship of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein, Custodian of the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites, and that the Al-Quds Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, is the sole legitimate authority with jurisdiction over the administration, maintenance, and regulation of entry to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, within the framework of the historical Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Al-Quds, and affirms the role of Al-Quds Committee, chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, and commends the efforts of its affiliated Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency. 9 Affirms that any religious or ideological claims, including those that distort and falsify historical facts and the legal and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and justify the seizure of territories of states in the Middle East or of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, cannot create a legal or sovereign right. They violate the charter of the United Nations and the established principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and of respect for the sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity of states. The Meeting also emphasizes that the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Al-Quds, remains an occupied territory under international law, United Nations resolutions, and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of July 19, 2024. It strongly condemns the provocative statements made by the American ambassador to the Israeli occupation authority, Mike Huckabee, accepting that Israel, the occupying authority, can exercise control over the territories of Arab states, including the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Al-Quds. It affirms that the statements lack any legal or historical basis and can neither change the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory nor undermine the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people or the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and demographic configuration of Arab and Islamic states and states in the region. 10 Condemns the announcement by the United States Embassy in Occupied Jerusalem regarding the issuance of visas and the provision of other consular services to settlers residing in illegal settlements, considering such measures to be in clear breach of established principles of international law and in violation of relevant international legal instruments, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and its Optional Protocol. It further stresses that such actions serve to entrench the unlawful settlement enterprise and prejudice the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. 11 Condemns the ongoing terrorist crimes of settlers against unarmed Palestinian civilians, their property, and places of worship, under the protection of the Israeli occupation government and army, and calls upon the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people in the face of these racist crimes, to place these terrorists on the national terrorism lists of the OIC Member States as well as on international terrorism lists, preventing their movement, freezing their accounts and assets, and working with all parties to ensure the disarmament of settlers in implementation of Security Council Resolution 904. 12 Holds the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the consequences of its colonial policies in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the dangerous decisions that deliberately undermine international efforts to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, destroy the foundations of peace, and push the entire region towards further violence and instability; 13 Resolves to strongly challenge the dangerous criminal and hostile measures, practices, policies, decisions, laws, and plans of the Israeli occupation, and to take all possible political and legal measures and steps, including action before the Security Council, the UN General Assembly, international courts, and any other relevant international organizations and bodies, to counter this colonial and expansionist policy; 14 Calls upon the international community, particularly the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, to assume its responsibilities, including rejecting and condemning illegal Israeli practices and decisions, and confronting them by compelling Israel, the occupying power, to cease all its illegal measures, which are null and void and have no legal effect under international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, to assert the non-recognition and non-acceptance of any changes to the pre-1967 borders/lines, including those relating to the city of Al-Quds, and to reconsider the withdrawal of Israel's membership in the United Nations, as it contradicts the requirements of membership and has fundamentally failed to fulfill the obligations of obtaining this membership, namely the implementation of United Nations Resolutions 181 and 194, which were a condition for Israel's admission to the international organization. 15 Calls upon Member States and the international community, in this regard, to take all deterrent and punitive measures and exert pressure to confront the Israeli occupation and its colonial practices which undermine the rules of international law and destabilize the foundations of the law-based international order, by taking all measures to that end, particularly by severing all relations with Israel, the occupying power, including diplomatic, economic, trade, cultural, and parliamentary relations which perpetuate the Israeli occupation and its colonial system, and calls upon them to leverage their international relations to impose economic and political sanctions to end its occupation of the Palestinian territory, implement its legal obligations and relevant United Nations resolutions, withdraw completely, fully, and unconditionally from the Palestinian territory occupied since June 4, 1967, recognize the State of Palestine, and enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination; 16 Rejects categorically any attempts to fragment Palestinian territory or separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including East Al-Quds, and affirms the political and geographical unity of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders. It also supports the State of Palestine in assuming its full responsibilities over all its territory, based on adherence to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and supports its political program and international obligations, and the principle of one people, one regime, one law, and one legitimate armed force. 17 Condemns in the strongest terms the serious and repeated attacks and violations perpetrated by Israel, the occupying power, against all international, UN, humanitarian, and relief organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which operates in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, and the Gaza Strip. These attacks include targeting UNRWA headquarters and staff, obstructing its work, preventing its humanitarian access, and imposing illegal restrictions on its activities, in flagrant violation of international law. 18 Condemns the decisions, legislations, and practices of the Israeli occupation against UNRWA, including the demolition and closure of its headquarters and schools, and attempts to dismantle it, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds Al-Shareef, and calls for securing the necessary political, legal, and financial support for UNRWA and its activities in a sufficient and sustainable manner to enable it continue to fulfill its mandate and role in its five areas of operation towards Palestinian refugees. 19 Strongly condemns Israel, the colonial occupying power, for continuing its efforts to pass a law to execute Palestinian prisoners, and for continuing its policy of arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture. It affirms the illegality of the racist Israeli judicial system, and denounces the withholding of the bodies of Palestinian martyrs in the so-called "cemeteries of numbers," considering it an immoral and illegal crime. The Meeting also calls for the perpetrators of violations and crimes to be prosecuted, including politicians, security officials, administrators, and members of the Cabinet and Knesset who vote in favor of racist decisions and laws hostile to the Palestinian people and their rights, and for severing relations with them. 20 Condemns the Israeli decision to prevent the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers, considering it a flagrant violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and calls for the Red Cross to be enabled to carry out its duties in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds; 21 Supports and endorses the efforts and steps taken by the State of Palestine to hold Israel, the occupying power, accountable for its crimes against the Palestinian people, and calls upon Member States to provide all forms of political, legal, technical, and material support necessary to ensure the success of these efforts in the relevant international bodies; 22 Affirms that peace and security in the Middle East, as a strategic choice, which will only be achieved with the end of the illegal Israeli occupation, the complete withdrawal from the territory of the State of Palestine occupied since 1967, including the City of Al-Quds Al-Shareef, in accordance with the principles of international law, relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the Arab Peace Initiative in its entirety and in its natural sequence as presented at the Arab Summit in Beirut in 2002, and the removal of the effects of the occupation and the provision of reparations; 23 Applauds and supports the efforts of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State solution, under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the Arab-Islamic Joint Committee on Gaza, the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway. Calls for active participation in the implementation of the New York Declaration and its annex adopted by the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution under the co-chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France. 24 Calls upon the international community, in particular the United Nations, the Security Council, and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to provide international protection for the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression, in accordance with international law, relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, and relevant international and regional agreements and treaties, and resolves to mobilize all necessary support for Member States to this end. 25 Tasks the Secretary-General with following up on the implementation of this statement and submitting a report thereon to the next meeting of Foreign Ministers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chair's Summary of the Outcome Of The Emergency Open-Ended Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the level of Foreign Ministers, held on February 26, 2026. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 26-02-2026 Motivated by the Charter and resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the meeting emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the holy city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif to the entire Islamic Ummah, and reaffirmed the political, legal, historical, and moral responsibility to stand in full solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Meeting, guided by the principles of UN Charter and resolutions against the forcible seizure of territory, and the illegal nature of the Israeli occupation, reiterated the unwavering commitment and constant support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, the right to return, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Meeting strongly condemned and categorically rejected the recent illegal decisions, measures and actions perpetrated by Israel, the occupying power, aimed to impose an illegal reality, expand colonial settlement, enact so-called sovereignty, and deepen Judaization, annexation and confiscation policies in order to alter the status and character of the occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, declaring them null and void, and constitute flagrant violations of international law and war crimes that endanger regional and international peace and security. The meeting strongly condemned the recent provocative statement by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and US Embassy's decision to provide consular services to Israeli settlers in illegal settlements in occupied West Bank, which encourage illegal Israeli control over the Palestinian and Arab territories, asserting that such statements and measures cannot alter the legal status of the land nor undermine Palestinian legitimate rights, and they constitute a flagrant breach of international law, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and a direct contribution to entrenching the illegal settlement enterprise. The Meeting, therefore, called for abiding by the implementation of the US President Trump's plan, moving on to the second phase, attaining a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the unembedded facilitation of humanitarian assistance to Gaza Strip. The meeting also supported the State of Palestine in assuming its responsibilities for the recovery and reconstruction process, while categorically emphasizing the unity of the Palestinian territory, comprising Gaza Strip and the West Bank including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, as one inseparable geopolitical unit. The meeting resolved to take all possible political and legal measures to challenge Israeli policies, including recourse before the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and international courts. Therefore, it called on the international community to compel Israel, the occupying power, to end its colonial occupation and implement a just and comprehensive peace, urging them to take concrete punitive measures, including considering the suspension of all relations with Israel, the occupying power. The Meeting is resolved to take all possible political and legal measures to challenge Israeli policies, including action before the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and international courts. It called upon the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people, affirmed its strong support for the State of Palestine's efforts to hold Israel accountable for its crimes. It condemned Israel's' illegal measures against UNRWA, calling for sustained political, legal and financial support for this UN Agency. Therefore, it affirmed that a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through the end of the illegal Israeli occupation, full Israeli withdrawal from the territory occupied since 1967 , and the implementation of the two-state solution, applauding and supporting the efforts of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Palestine, Chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Meeting also expressed grave concern over the escalation of tensions and increasingly assertive rhetoric in the Middle East region, including recent threats of the use of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the provocative deployment and buildup of offensive military forces. The Meeting reaffirmed that such disturbing developments are contradictory to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the political independence of all states. The Meeting underscored that any threat or use of force against a sovereign state constitutes a clear violation of international law, including Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. The Meeting reiterated the importance of strengthening multilateralism, upholding the sovereign equality of states, and rejecting unilateral coercive measures that undermine regional stability and international peace and security. The Meeting further emphasized that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Meeting cautioned that escalating military tensions may have serious and unpredictable implications for regional and global peace and security, including adverse effects on economic stability, energy security, and the development prospects of emerging economies. The Meeting called upon all parties to avoid actions that may further aggravate the situation in an already fragile regional security environment. The Meeting welcomed the recent diplomatic engagement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States and expresses support for the constructive steps taken toward reducing tensions. The Meeting underscored the importance of maintaining and advancing this diplomatic process as a means of supporting regional stability and contributing to broader international efforts to promote peace. The Meeting expressed its appreciation to the states that have facilitated this process, including the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of Turkiye, the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Meeting, finally, reaffirmed the OIC collective commitment to promoting peaceful dialogue, safeguarding regional stability, and upholding the principles that unite the Islamic Ummah. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian factions denounce US for offering 'consular services' inside West Bank settlement Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 2:09 AM Several Palestinian resistance factions have unanimously condemned the decision by the United States embassy in the occupied territories to provide "consular services" inside an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. The reactions came on Wednesday after the embassy announced it would for the first time offer such services at the Efrat settlement in the central part of the occupied territory, a step Palestinians view as supporting the Israeli regime's illegal settlement expansion and annexation policies. Hamas: Move exposes contradiction in US stance Gaza's Hamas resistance movement said the decision represented an overt alignment with the occupation's "Judaization and annexation plans," and a practical recognition of the "legitimacy of settlements and Israeli control" over the West Bank. It stressed that the decision exposed a contradiction in US claims of opposing annexation, while taking concrete steps that entrenched it. The group warned of serious repercussions and called for firm international pressure to halt aggression against Palestinian land and rights. Islamic Jihad slams 'silent recognition' of occupation The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-headquartered resistance group, said that providing consular services inside an illegal settlement was not an administrative measure, but an explicit political and legal recognition of illegal settlements and direct participation in "silent annexation." The movement said attempts to portray the move as mobile or limited to US citizens aimed to normalize annexation on the ground. It held Washington fully responsible and denounced it for using media deception to advance "Judaization and annexation plans." Mujahideen Movement: Blatant violation of international law The Mujahideen Movement strongly condemned the decision, describing it as a blatant violation of the international law and an assault on Palestinian land in the cities of Bethlehem and Al-Khalil (Hebron). According to the movement, the step fell within broader Zionist plans to displace Palestinians and expand occupation control, and was being carried out with continuous US financial, military, and diplomatic support. It reaffirmed that Palestinian rights were inalienable and that attempts to impose "colonial realities" would fail in the face of popular steadfastness and resistance. Embassy announcement Earlier, in a statement posted to the embassy's account on X, the embassy said consular officers "will be providing routine passport services" to US citizens on Friday in the illegal settlement. The embassy added that a similar outreach service was planned in the coming months in the nearby illegal settlement of Beitar Illit, describing the services as part of its "efforts to reach all Americans." The US embassy has previously provided consular services in the city of Ramallah and other Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The Israeli regime occupied the West Bank in a heavily-Western-backed war in 1967, and has been setting up hundreds of illegal settlements throughout the territory ever since, while imposing draconian restrictions on Palestinians' freedoms there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Explosions Rock Kabul After Pakistan And Afghanistan Trade Strikes In Volatile Border Region By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and RFE/RL's Radio Azadi February 26, 2026 Several explosions have rocked Kabul just hours after Afghanistan and Pakistan traded strikes on each other in their volatile mountain border region as days of escalating tensions boiled over with both sides claiming to have killed dozens of militants and security forces. Local sources told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that four locations were under attack in Afghanistan's capital in the early hours of February 27, as well as a military base in the Kandahar region. The sound of military jets were reportedly heard as explosions detonated around the capital. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban-led government, confirmed strikes in "certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia." He added that there were no reports of casualties. Pakistan's military confirmed its fighter planes had bombed Kabul, with Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for the Pakistani government, saying in a social media post that "counter strikes against targets in Afghanistan continue." The strikes on Kabul came amid a major escalation in hostilities between Afghanistan's Taliban-led government and Islamabad. Just hours earlier, Mujahid said Kabul had launched "a large-scale offensive operation against Pakistani military centers and military installations along the Durand Line," a volatile border that cuts through traditional Pashtun and Baloch tribal territories. Taliban's Defense Ministry claimed that 55 Pakistani security personnel had been killed, while two bases and 19 posts were captured across the border by its forces. Islamabad's troops retaliated, Pakistani officials said, with Zaidi saying a total of 133 Afghan Taliban members are "confirmed killed," and more than 200 others wounded. "Many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets," he added. The claims from both sides could not be independently verified, though a local Kabul resident told RFE/RL that a "huge explosion" rocked the city. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said country's forces were ready to "protect the country's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity." "The Pakistani military is determined not to allow the country's peace and security to be compromised under any circumstances," he wrote on X. The latest wave of attacks came after Pakistani air strikes four days earlier killed at least 18 people in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. Pakistan said it had launched those strikes on seven militant sites inside Afghanistan in a "retributive response" to recent suicide attacks it said were carried out by Afghan-based extremists. Pakistan claimed the strikes killed as many as 80 militants. Taliban-run Afghan security structures rejected the claim as "false," while government officials also said they were preparing "an appropriate and calculated response." Afghanistan denies Pakistan's accusations that it is sheltering the Pakistani Taliban, an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban that appears to operate separately. Tensions have run high between the two countries since Pakistan conducted air strikes on Kabul in October 2025 and followed up with additional attacks on Afghan territory. Dozens of soldiers from both sides were killed in artillery clashes and heavy gunfire last year before a cease-fire was agreed through Qatari mediation. However, several rounds of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey, aimed at easing the tensions along the border, have failed to bring about a long-term breakthrough. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-afghanistan- attacks-dozens-dead-border-region/33689094.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 EU Sanctions Envoy Visits Bishkek Amid Concerns Over Russian Circumvention By Zamira Eshanova and RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service February 26, 2026 European Union sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan arrived in Bishkek for high-level meetings with Kyrgyz officials amid concerns that some financial channels and trade flows in Kyrgyzstan are being used to circumvent sanctions against Russia. In a visit on February 26 as the European Union moves toward adopting its 20th sanctions package targeting Russia, O'Sullivan met with officials from the central bank and other economic ministries, briefing them on his mission to identify and address possible sanctions circumvention before Brussels finalizes the new measures. In a press conference, he said that about 80 goods, mainly dual-use items, are under scrutiny for possible reexport to Russia via Kyrgyz territory. Roughly 50 of these items are used in Russian military equipment, while the rest are critical for industrial production. He emphasized that these are just a narrow category that "does not represent economic interest for Kyrgyzstan." Focus On Dual-Use Goods And Financial Risks O'Sullivan said the EU's primary concern is not asking Kyrgyzstan to adopt EU sanctions but rather ensuring the country isn't used as a platform for circumvention. "We are not asking Kyrgyzstan to adopt our sanctions ... we understand that there are countries that, for various reasons, choose a different path," he told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Servicein an interview. He added that some goods are currently being imported into Kyrgyzstan from the EU and then reexported to Russia, which he described as "unacceptable." The envoy also highlighted risks in the financial sector, citing the infiltration of Kyrgyz banks and cryptocurrency platforms by actors seeking to circumvent sanctions. He said this was the reason for including several banks and crypto-related institutions in the previous sanctions package. "Where we have evidence that companies in any country, including in Kyrgyzstan, are facilitating the circumvention of our sanctions, then we reserve our right to act against these companies," he said, clarifying that such measures target companies, not the country. O'Sullivan stressed that the EU respects Kyrgyz sovereignty and legitimate trade with Russia, noting the importance of migrant worker remittances for local families: "We have no intention to interfere with your perfectly legitimate trade and economic relations with Russia, none whatsoever. We respect the closeness of your relations with Russia; we know that you have many migrant workers in Russia whose remittances back to Kyrgyzstan are important for the livelihood of many families." Proposed Measures In 20th Sanctions Package Draft proposals for the 20th package now being debated by the EU would prohibit exports of certain high-risk items such as computer numerical control (CNC) machines and radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan, amid concerns that goods exported there from the EU have already been reexported to Russia, helping to circumvent existing sanctions. EU draft data shows that exports of these items to Kyrgyzstan rose nearly 800 percent in the first 10 months of 2025 compared with levels prior to Russia's February 2022 invasion, while Kyrgyz exports of the same goods to Russia increased by about 1,200 percent. The EU describes this pattern as a "continuing and particularly high risk of circumvention," noting that these goods can be used in military production and advanced industrial applications. The draft, seen by RFE/RL, also includes adding a Kyrgyz crypto-related company to the EU blacklist for facilitating Russian financial interests, reflecting a shift toward targeted company-level restrictions rather than broad country-level sanctions. Kyrgyz Government Response Following meetings with O'Sullivan, Kyrgyz officials expressed a desire for constructive dialogue while voicing concern over the economic impact of unilateral measures if they are adopted by the bloc. Kyrgyz officials were quick to point out measures being implemented to cut down on any perceived circumventions. Daniyar Amangeldiev, first deputy chairman of the cabinet, noted that lawmakers have already introduced restrictions on dual-use goods and stressed the importance of predictability and stability in financial ties with the EU. Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov, meanwhile, warned that EU measures could threaten regional economic stability. The Foreign Ministry has proposed a joint working group to prevent sanctions circumvention, while the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan said it is assessing the potential impact of the upcoming package to ensure the stability of the banking sector. "We would dearly like to work with the Kyrgyz authorities in identifying and resolving these issues before we need to take action ourselves. This is why I'm here in the spirit of friendship and cooperation...we value our relationship with Kyrgyzstan," he said. EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Measures affecting Kyrgyzstan, including export controls on CNC machines and radio equipment, might face resistance. Germany, Italy, and Poland are the biggest exporters of these goods to Kyrgyzstan. EU diplomats told RFE/RL that some of these exporters may seek to block proposed Kyrgyz-related restrictions. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-sanctions-envoy-kyrgyzstan-russia- sanctions-circumvention/33688855.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 Treaty on Gibraltar published, ushering in new era of coexistence and shared prosperity Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs PRESS RELEASE 026 The full text of the treaty can be consulted here The agreement removes the border fence, guarantees the free movement of people and goods, and establishes a framework for fiscal, environmental and social cooperation, while maintaining Spain's position on sovereignty intact 26 FEB 26 The full text of the historic treaty on Gibraltar is now available for public consultation, ushering in a new era of coexistence, stability and shared prosperity for the Campo de Gibraltar, Andalusia, Spain and Europe as a whole. On 11 June 2025, Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced the final political agreement on Gibraltar after successfully concluding negotiations in Brussels with European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and British Minister David Lammy. The final text of the treaty published today establishes a comprehensive legal framework that promotes economic development, strengthens social guarantees and consolidates cooperation between the parties, while Spain maintains its claim to sovereignty intact. End of border fence and free movement of persons The treaty provides for the disappearance of the border fence, removing the last wall in continental Europe. It establishes the free movement of persons between the Campo de Gibraltar and Gibraltar, which will particularly benefit the nearly 15,000 cross-border workers who cross daily. There will be no passport controls between the two territories. Spain will assume Schengen controls at Gibraltar airport and port. Likewise, the Spanish authorities will have the final say on the issuance and renewal of residence permits. Free movement of goods The treaty regulates the movement of goods through a system of harmonised controls: Spain will carry out customs controls on goods entering Gibraltar. Luggage checks will be established for travellers bound for the European Union and Gibraltar, ensuring security and compliance with EU regulations. Fiscal convergence The agreement incorporates convergence measures in the area of indirect taxation on goods. Gibraltar will apply an indirect tax equivalent to VAT, starting at 15% from the entry into force of the treaty and completing convergence within three years. In addition, specific provisions are established for tobacco in accordance with European regulations. These measures seek to avoid economic distortions and reinforce fairness throughout the area. Environment The text provides for adaptation to EU environmental legislation and the creation of a joint environmental impact assessment mechanism. It also guarantees compliance with European standards in this area, strengthening the protection of the shared natural environment. Social guarantees and enforcement mechanisms The treaty incorporates guarantees aimed at ensuring balanced and fair development. To this end, it establishes the creation of a financial mechanism for training for employment and other social measures to compensate for income inequalities, the strengthening of coordination in the field of social security, and specific protection measures for cross-border workers. Spain will play a central role in the implementation of the Agreement, including the initiative to suspend its application, apply safeguards or terminate the agreement. Furthermore, Spain fully maintains its position on sovereignty, as expressly stated in the text of the agreement. A new era for the Campo de Gibraltar This treaty opens a new era for the more than 300,000 Andalusians living in the Campo de Gibraltar, promoting economic opportunities, institutional stability and future prospects in a region that is strategic for Spain and Europe. The agreement is a decisive step towards a shared space of prosperity, cooperation and trust, consolidating a model of relations that prioritises the well-being of citizens and regional stability. Minister Albares sent the text on Thursday to the chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs committees of the Congress and Senate, the mayors of Campo de Gibraltar, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and social and economic actors in the area, with whom he has met on several occasions to explain both the negotiations and the conclusion of the agreement. Similarly, as he did in 2025, he has requested to appear before Congress to explain the treaty once again. Related documentation -NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan Launches 'Retaliatory Operation' Against Pakistan - Military Official Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Afghan armed forces have launched an operation in response to Pakistani air force bombings on their territory, a spokesman for Afghanistan's 201st Khalid bin Walid Army Corps said on Thursday. "Retaliatory attacks by Afghan government forces on Pakistani forces in Afghanistan's eastern provinces have begun. Three enemy posts have been captured to date," the spokesman told TOLOnews Plus. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Orban Asks EU to Organize Mission to Check Condition of Druzhba Pipeline Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asked the EU to organize a mission to check the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, through which Ukraine stopped pumping oil, according to his letter to European Council President Antonio Costa on Thursday. "Hungary supports the idea of a fact-finding mission with the participation of experts delegated by Hungary and Slovakia to verify the status of the Druzhba pipeline," the letter was quoted as saying by Reuters. Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary had blocked the 20th package of anti-Russia sanctions and the 90 billion euro loan ($106 billion) to Ukraine due to Ukraine's shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline. On February 13, the Slovak Economy Ministry announced that oil supplies to the republic via the Druzhba pipeline had been suspended. The ministry expected them to resume in the coming days, but it did not happen. On February 18, the Slovak government declared a crisis situation due to oil shortages, deciding to allocate up to 250,000 tonnes of oil from state reserves to the Slovnaft refinery. Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said that the Ukrainian side had previously postponed the restoration of supplies several times. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Foreign Ministry Still Drafting Stance on Participation in Board of Peace - Kremlin Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Foreign Ministry continues to formulate a position on the expediency of the country's participation in the Board of Peace, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "The Foreign Ministry is still formulating a position," Peskov told reporters. Russia pays attention to the ambiguous reaction of several countries, including those friendly to Moscow, to its participation in the Board of Peace, the official added. The agenda of meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday will be meaningful, Peskov said. "The agenda is quite plentiful and meaningful," Peskov told reporters. The leaders will be able to discuss international issues, but the topic of the Board of Peace council is not high on the agenda, the spokesman said. Other Statements Cuban border guards did what they had to do, Peskov said, commenting on a boat incident off the coast of Cuba. The Cuban Interior Ministry said late on Wednesday that a US-flagged boat entered Cuban waters and opened fire, and Cuban border guards returned fire and killed four people aboard the vessel. "There is nothing to comment on here, given that, as reported from Havana, the captured Cuban citizens who tried to enter the island with weapons in their hands admitted that they tried to enter the territory in order to carry out terrorist actions. This is their confession, so there is nothing to comment on here, that is how it should be treated. The Cuban border guards did what they had to do in this situation," Peskov told reporters. Russia sees that the situation around Cuba is heating up, the official said, adding that it is important in this situation that everyone shows restraint and does not make provocative actions. "The main thing is the humanitarian part. Of course, the humanitarian issues of Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should obstruct them. Citizens, women, and children should be able to meet their social needs," Peskov added. The stability of the Russian economy is absolutely guaranteed, and the state has the opportunity to fulfill all social obligations, Peskov said. "In general, the stability of the Russian economy is absolutely ensured, the state is able to fulfill all social obligations and also form the agenda of economic development, despite certain difficulties that no one is immune from," Peskov told reporters. There is drop in oil and gas revenues of Russian budget, the official said. "Indeed, there is a drop in oil and gas revenues. This drop is partially offset by an increase in non-oil and gas revenues, which, in fact, was discussed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin yesterday," Peskov told reporters. Russian President Vladimir Putin monitors the budget deficit issue and discusses this issue with the Government and the Russian Central Bank, Peskov said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctioning the Murillo-Ortega Dictatorship's Agents Enforcing Its Repression of the Nicaraguan People US Department of State Press Statement Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson February 26, 2026 The Trump Administration is acting once again to hold Nicaraguan dictators Rosario Maria Murillo Zambrana and Daniel Ortega Saavedra and their enablers to account. The United States is imposing sanctions on five senior Nicaraguan officials who incited regional instability through the dictatorship's consolidation of power and ongoing abuses against the Nicaraguan people. Since 2018, the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has violently repressed peaceful protests, unjustly detained, tortured, and killed political opponents. This illegitimate family dynasty has also persecuted Catholic clergy and has opted to silence and banish independent media and civil society organizations. The dictatorship rewrote Nicaragua's constitution to ensure government institutions punish political opponents and allow the arbitrary monitoring and control of telecommunications systems. The dictatorship has committed systemic labor abuses and uses security structures to monitor and silence anyone perceived to threaten their grip on power. The individuals sanctioned today lead government agencies responsible for these acts of repression. This administration will continue to use all available diplomatic and economic tools to address those who threaten U.S. national security in our hemisphere. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Nicaragua. Today's action is being taken pursuant to the authorities under Executive Order (E.O.) 13851, as amended by E.O 14088. For more information on today's action, please see the Department of the Treasury's press release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Nicaraguan Officials Enabling the Murillo-Ortega Dictatorship's Repression U.S. Department of the Treasury February 26, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned five Nicaraguan government officials who lead the principal financial, communications, and military agencies that enable Nicaragua's Murillo-Ortega dictatorship to repress its people. The individuals sanctioned include the Director and Deputy Director of Nicaragua's Financial Analysis Unit, the Minister of Labor, the Deputy Director General of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services, and the head of the Nicaraguan Army's Directorate of Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence. "The Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has continued its domestic and international campaign of repression and tyranny to intimidate, stifle, and undermine peaceful political opponents and dissenters," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "We will continue to hold the dictatorship to account and to amplify the Nicaraguan people's aspirations for freedom and justice." Since 2018, the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has violently repressed protests, unjustly detained and killed political opponents, carried out extraterritorial killings, silenced independent media and forced journalists into exile, and consolidated its illegitimate grip on power in Nicaragua. In January 2025, Nicaragua's National Assemblyco-opted by the Murillo-Ortega regimeapproved a constitutional rewrite intended to cement the dynastic future of Murillo and Ortega's continued rule. These measures elevated Murillo from Vice President to Co-President and subordinated all branches of government to the executive, effectively eliminating the separation of powers. The new constitution stripped civil and political protections, consolidated governmental control over the media, and legalized the regime's use of paramilitary forces to enforce repression. weaponization of the financial intelligence unit The Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has instrumentalized laws related to anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) to increase its capacity for political repression against opponents. The functional autonomy of Nicaragua's Financial Analysis Unit (UAF), the main entity of the AML/CFT system in Nicaragua, is chaired by two active officers of the Nicaraguan Army and the National Police who are loyal to Co-President Ortega. This allows the Nicaraguan regime to control and use the institutions in charge of preventing and prosecuting money laundering to persecute political opponents and to benefit its allies and interests. The UAF's lack of autonomy undermines the independence and integrity of the system and contributes to impunity in cases of corruption and money laundering. The UAF maintains a constant monitoring of the inflows of money from abroad, with the aim of blocking any type of financing to the activities of peaceful opposition organizations and independent civil society. The UAF has been responsible for liquidating the assets of political dissidents, political prisoners, and nongovernmental organizations without any legal basis. Retired Major General Denis Membreno Rivas (Membreno) and former Police Chief Commissioner Aldo Martin Saenz Ulloa (Saenz) have served as the Director and Deputy Director, respectively, of the UAF since its creation in 2012. Today, OFAC designated Membreno and Saenz pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13851, as amended by E.O. 14088, for being officials of the Government of Nicaragua or having served as officials of the Government of Nicaragua at any time on or after January 10, 2007. Labor RIGHTS Abuses and Unfair Competition As detailed in the October 25, 2025, Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) report on Nicaragua's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Labor Rights, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the Rule of Law, Nicaragua, through its acts, policies, and practices, has exploited its own workers. This exploitation at the hands of the Ministry of Labor has resulted in unfair conditions of competition, confiscated the property interests of domestic and foreign religious institutions and U.S. persons or businesses, and created a high-risk environment for U.S. companies investing and conducting business in Nicaragua. Johana Vanessa Flores Jimenez (Flores) was appointed the Nicaraguan Minister of Labor in August 2025. Today, OFAC designated Flores pursuant to E.O. 13851, as amended, for being an official of the Government of Nicaragua or having served as an official of the Government of Nicaragua at any time on or after January 10, 2007. REGIME'S SURVEILLANCE APPaRATUS The Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR) is the regulatory body for telecommunications and postal services. TELCOR functions under the direction of the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship as a central component of a broad surveillance and intelligence apparatus used to monitor and control social media, the press, and other forms of expression. In 2024, the enactment of the General Law on Convergent Telecommunications granted TELCOR extensive authority to collect private data, intercept communications, and geolocate individuals within Nicaragua. This legislation further strengthened TELCOR's oversight and control of social networks and media. Additionally, TELCOR's director general, Nahima Janett Diaz Flores (Diaz), reportedly oversaw so-called "troll farms" that engaged in harassment, defamation, and cyberattacks against political opponents. On January 9, 2022, OFAC designated Diaz pursuant to E.O. 13851, as amended, for being an official of the Government of Nicaragua or having served as an official of the Government of Nicaragua at any time on or after January 10, 2007. Celia Margarita Reyes Ochoa (Reyes)hasbeen thedeputy director general of TELCOR since 2023. The Nicaraguan Army's Directorate of Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DICIM) is considered one of the most opaque and powerful structures of the Nicaraguan Army. DICIM is responsible for the Nicaraguan Army's internal and external surveillance as well as coordinating with police and state security agencies to ensure at all costs that there is no opposition to the regime. The DICIM is central to monitoring protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, and retired military members considered disloyal. Major General of the Nicaraguan Army Leonel Jose Gutierrez Lopez (Gutierrez) headed the DICIM for more than a decade. Today, OFAC designated Reyes and Gutierrez pursuant to E.O. 13851, as amended, for being officials of the Government of Nicaragua or having served as officials of the Government of Nicaragua at any time on or after January 10, 2007. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked individuals described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Individuals located in the U.S. or abroad who provide information about sanctions violations to Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000. FinCEN is currently accepting whistleblower tips. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List. Click here for more information on the individuals designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Human Rights Council 61: UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Sudan Speech UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Sudan. Delivered by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kumar Iyer CMG Published 26 February 2026 Location: Geneva Delivered on: 26 February 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Mr President, This Council mandated the Fact-Finding Mission to investigate the siege and takeover of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces. Its findings are horrific - and should shock the conscience of all of us. The evidence of RSF atrocities is overwhelming: civilians forced to choose between starvation or eating animal feed; children subjected to mass rape; families ambushed and killed as they flee; and perpetrators calling for "extermination". The Fact-Finding Mission warns that RSF violence in El Fasher bears the "hallmarks of genocide" - a chilling assessment we cannot ignore. As our Foreign Secretary stated: urgent international action is essential if these crimes are to be halted and victims have justice. The flow of weapons into Sudan must stop. The warring parties must come to the table in good faith. Today, Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Sudan Core Group have announced the formation of a new Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan; we urge all countries to join us in pursuing greater protection for civilians and support to those laying the foundations for healing and justice. Mr President, the world is still failing the people of Sudan. We cannot allow them to endure this war alone any longer. They deserve peace and justice. They have waited long enough. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Human Rights Council 61: UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan Speech UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan. Delivered by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Eleanor Sanders Published 26 February 2026 Location: Geneva Delivered on: 26 February 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Vice-President. Special Rapporteur. We welcome your continued commitment to highlighting the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan. The UK fully supports your mandate. Taliban repression is intensifying. We are dismayed by the new criminal procedures directive which entrenches religious discrimination, legitimises violence against women and children, and further suppresses freedom of expression. These rules, alongside numerous other oppressive measures imposed by the Taliban such as the ban on female medical education, must be rescinded if the rights of all Afghans are to be protected. We are also increasingly concerned about the severe impact of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border closure on the delivery of essential health and nutrition supplies. Delays in delivering these life-saving commodities are seriously affecting the lives of the most vulnerable. It is vital these goods are allowed to enter Afghanistan without obstruction. Special Rapporteur, what more can the international community do to prevent potentially catastrophic breaks in the delivery of essential aid, and to promote every Afghan woman's right to health? Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Presentation by the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: UK statement to the OSCE Speech Ambassador Holland commends Deputy Prime Minister Mihail Popsoi for Moldova's democratic reforms and resilience in the face of Russian hybrid threats, emphasising the UK's continued support for its European integration. He highlights the complementary roles of the OSCE and Council of Europe and underscores the need for accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland Published 26 February 2026 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 26 February 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. Deputy Prime Minister Popsoi, welcome to the Permanent Council today, and thank you for your insightful remarks. The United Kingdom remains a strong and consistent supporter of Moldova's European integration path. We commend the sustained progress your government has made on democratic reform, rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights. At a time when democratic processes across our region are under unprecedented strain, Moldova's direction of travel is both encouraging and significant. Over the past two years, Moldova has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of sustained and coordinated hybrid threats originating from Russia. These have included disinformation campaigns, energy coercion, and attempts to undermine the integrity of Moldova's electoral processes. Despite these pressures, Moldova has safeguarded its democratic institutions and upheld the will of its citizens. This is not only an achievement for Moldova; it is an example from which all participating States can learn. You have shown that even in today's challenging security context, democratic resilience is both possible and powerful. We congratulate you. The UK strongly believes that building and sustaining this resilience is a shared endeavour. The tools and institutions of the OSCE - particularly the expertise of ODIHR - remain essential in supporting credible elections, ruleoflaw reforms, and the protection of human rights. Equally, the Council of Europe continues to play a vital role in bolstering democratic standards, judicial independence, and human rights protections across the wider region. Together, these organisations form a complementary framework that helps participating States defend and strengthen their democratic institutions. In this context, we also highlight the vital work underway in Strasbourg on accountability for Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Ensuring justice for victims, and upholding the international rulesbased system, must continue to be central to our collective efforts. As well as supporting Ukraine, the Council of Europe can play a vital role in tackling Foreign Interference in Elections, something which Moldova witnessed last year. Separately, Ministers are due to agree a Political Declaration on the contemporary challenges posed by irregular migration and the situation of foreigners convicted of serious offences. It would be interesting to know how Moldova plans to use its Presidency, including the forthcoming Foreign Ministerial, to deal with those issues. Deputy Prime Minister, the United Kingdom will remain a committed partner to Moldova as you continue to advance democratic reforms and pursue your European future. We look forward to deepening our cooperation across both the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Thank you, Mr Chair. 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 26 February 2026 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Guest In a very short while, we will be joined by our friend Francisco Pichon, who is the Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Cuba. He will be joining us from Havana, and as soon as I am done with you, and you are done with me, [... he will brief on the situation in Cuba]. ** Ukraine I will start off with Ukraine today, and I can tell you that we continue to condemn the attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law and are unacceptable, unjustifiable and must stop immediately. From the ground, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that overnight, a large-scale drone and missile attack, combined with front-line hostilities, resulted in civilian casualties and damaged homes and critical infrastructure across the country. Between yesterday and the early hours of today, an overnight large-scale drone and missile attack across Ukraine and front-line hostilities resulted in dozens of residential buildings damaged in Kyiv, as well as in Kirovohradska, Kyivska and Vinnytska Oblasts. In the Odesa region, some 40,000 families were left without electricity, and in the Poltava region, damage to gas facilities disrupted power supply for around 20,000 families and businesses. The Ministry of Energy reported additional outages in several eastern and southern regions, continuing a pattern of winter attacks on energy systems. Our humanitarian partners on the ground provided materials for basic repairs, as well as first aid. Last month, authorities and our partners said nearly 7,000 people were evacuated from front-line areas in eastern Ukraine. ** South Sudan Turning to South Sudan, where we have seen the violence spiralling across the country, and in particular an incident I want to flag over the weekend, which involved the brutal killing of civilians in Ayod County, which is in Jonglei State. I can tell you that we understand that an investigation is under way on this particularly horrific incident. We reiterate, once again, that violence against civilians is unacceptable. Civilians must be protected at all times. We call again on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. As Tom Fletcher, [the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs], witnessed in South Sudan earlier this week, the humanitarian situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating, driven by renewed clashes, soaring civilian displacement due to insecurity and constraints on humanitarian access. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to Gaza. Ramiz Alakbarov, our Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory wrapped up his two-day visit to the Gaza Strip. Before leaving Gaza, he joined a medical evacuation mission at the Rafah Crossing, where we and our partners help patients and their caregivers go to Egypt for urgent medical treatment. He also visited a reception centre in Rafah supporting people who are returning to Gaza. Mr. Alakbarov spent the last two days in Gaza meeting with our partners, visiting humanitarian facilities supported by ourselves as well as others, and assessing gaps and challenges in the response. Meanwhile, our partners leading on water, sanitation and hygiene services tell us that, in the last few months, they have delivered 17,000 hygiene kits to children and their families. Hundreds of water tanks have been installed near tents since the ceasefire took hold. This makes it easier for people to find access to clean water. While needs remain immense, our humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to scale up assistance under what remains very challenging circumstances. On food security, our partners report that, this month, families in Gaza have on average had two meals a day, compared to one meal a day in July of 2025. While this marks a modest improvement, many families tell our colleagues that they are struggling to afford food and other essential goods. To help put food on the table, in January, humanitarians provided cash assistance to three quarters of a million people in Gaza. And on shelter, our partners tell us that they have provided tents, tarpaulins and other supplies to more than 27,000 families [this month]. Additionally, today, in the city of Bani Suhaila in Khan Younis, more than 400 vulnerable families living in this area received food and other essential assistance. Aid workers are also distributing emergency shelter material, consisting mainly of salvaged timber and metal pallets, in Khan Younis and Gaza city. The material is being used to build housing units that can endure harsh weather conditions, which are continuing. Most families across Gaza live in unsafe structures, as hundreds of thousands of housing units have now been damaged since October 2023. We once again appeal for the lifting of restrictions on the entry of construction materials into the Gaza Strip, so families can move toward safe and sustainable housing solutions. ** Migrants I want to flag a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that today shows that at least 7,667 people died or went missing on migration routes in 2025. According to IOM, sea crossings remained among the deadliest routes. In 2025, at least 2,185 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean, while 1,214 were recorded on the Western Africa/Atlantic route toward the Canary Islands. Despite year-on-year declines, IOM said that the real toll is likely much higher, as at least 1,500 additional people were reported missing at sea but could not be verified due to limited access to search-and-rescue information. IOM also tell us that the numbers from 2025 are lower than the nearly 9,200 deaths recorded in 2024, and said that the decline reflects fewer people attempting dangerous irregular migration routes, particularly in the Americas. However, the agency says that the decline is also due to restricted access to information and funding constraints for humanitarian actors documenting migrant deaths on key routes. IOM is calling for urgent funding to strengthen data collection to better guide the humanitarian system in delivering life-saving responses. ** International Narcotics Control Board Also, another report. The International Narcotics Control Board published its annual report today, which highlights how the health and well-being of people worldwide have been protected by international cooperation, through the framework of the drug-control conventions. The report describes how the collective action of States has played a vital role to reduce the social and economic harms of illicit drugs. For example, last year, the Board's work prevented the diversion of 3 metric tons of a fentanyl precursor which could have been used to illicitly manufacture up to 3.3 metric tons of fentanyl. Our colleagues' work has also strengthened the knowledge and capacity of national authorities to implement the drug-control conventions. The International Narcotics Control Board, as you know, is an independent, quasi-judicial body mandated to monitor Governments' implementation of the three international drug-control conventions, which is the backbone of the global drug-control system. Unfortunately, no money. So, I have no questions for you. But, you may have some for me before we go to Francisco. Please, Edie. Sorry. I didn't even think I needed to call on you after all these years. Go ahead. ** Questions and Answers Question : Thank you, Steph. The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, will be chairing a Security Council meeting on Monday afternoon. Can you check whether she will be the first wife of a world leader to chair a Security Council meeting? And will the Secretary-General meet with her? Spokesman : We actually did check, and I can confirm that, according to our records, this will be the first time a First Lady or First Gentleman, for that matter, has ever presided over a Security Council meeting, though there have been instances of First adies having participated in a meeting on behalf of non-members of the Council. I will get back to you on a potential meeting. I know Rosemary DiCarlo will be briefing on behalf of the Secretary during that meeting. Question : And as a follow-up to the President Trump's recent speech. He indicated that he wanted to speak with the Secretary-General and was quite positive in his remarks. Has any conversation been set up? Spokesman : No. No phone call for me to confirm as of yet. But, if it happens, trust me, I will share that with you. Question : And will the Secretary-General take the initiative or will the UN wait? Spokesman : As soon as something is confirmed, I will let you know. Gabriel? Question : Thanks, Steph. I normally wouldn't ask you a question about the country's consular services that they're providing because that won't be under your remit, of course. However, this is a potentially unique situation. The United States has announced that they will be providing consular services in two settlements in the occupied West Bank. What is the Secretary-General's reaction to that? Spokesman : Look, we've seen those reports. For the Secretary-General, his position, the position of the UN is unchanged, that settlements remain illegal under international law as well as the architecture around them. And for us, the occupied West Bank remains occupied territory. Question : Does the Secretary-General have any comment about Cindy McCain stepping down as the head of WFP? Spokesman : Yes. First of all, I think the Secretary-General has greatly, greatly appreciated the work that Cindy McCain has done as the Head of the World Food Programme. Also, just so everybody's clear, she's stepping down in three months, but I do want to make that clear. And I think the work that she's done in leading the agency and reforming the agency at a time of extreme humanitarian needs, at a time where there is less and less resources to go around is something that the Secretary-General has hugely appreciated. Benno? Question : Thank you. I want to go back to the visit of the first lady. So how do you see it? Given that the President of the United States is criticizing the United Nations very often and very strongly, do you see it as a sign of, a good sign of hope for the relationship or something? Spokesman : Far be it for me to comment on the question itself, but I don't really... I mean, I think as Edie mentioned, in his last remarks, the President of the United States was rather complementary towards the UN. He's always said very nice things about the Secretary-General. Obviously, it's a sign of the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject at hand. Namo, and then we'll go to Pam. Question : On the INCB report about drugs, it says that illicit manufacturing and trafficking of synthetic drugs are expanding in West Asia, including fragile countries like Iraq and Syria. My question is does the United... do you believe that the United Nations and the world see West Asia, the Middle East, as a priority in the drug response? Spokesman : Look, every region demands a priority, right? We know about the trade illicit drugs in the Western Hemisphere. We know the issue of, notably, of Captagon has been a big issue in the Middle East. And I think, we've seen the efforts made by governments in the region and especially the new Government in Syria to try to crack down on the Captagon trade. Pam, then Benny, and then Amelie. Question : Thank you, Steph. The Washington Post listed the demands that the United States has brought to Geneva for talks for talks with Iran, which include destroying all three nuclear sites and handing over all enriched uranium to the United States. Does the SG have any comments on that? Spokesman : No. We're not going to comment on the talks as they're going on. We very much hope that they will help lower the temperature and solve the issues at hand. But we're not going to discuss these things while the talks are going on. Mr. Avni? Correspondent : As far as you know, by the UN Charter, I forgot the words. Spokesman : It's only the Charter, yes. Question : Can somebody who is not a full member of the United Nations become... a diplomat who is not a full member of the United Nations, become the President of the General Assembly? Spokesman : I will leave that answer to your questions to Member States, and you should ask the President of the General Assembly. All right. Oh, Amelie and then sorry, and then, we'll go to our guest who's been very patient. Question : Yes, thank you. Just a follow-up on the visit of the First Lady, again, sorry. I mean, you said it's a sign of the importance of the UN. But, just to be sure, the US still didn't pay anything from the last year... 2025 budget... for the 2025 budget? Spokesman : They paid $160 million as part of their arrears for the 2025 budget. This was about two weeks ago. Question : And so how much is the arrears now? Spokesman : I will have to do the math for you. I don't do impromptu math. Correspondent : Okay, thank you. Spokesman : I do impromptu answers, but not impromptu math. All right, on that note... sorry, any questions online? No, okay. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Russian strikes on Ukraine condemned, migrant deaths update, devastating floods in southern Brazil 26 February 2026 - The UN on Thursday condemned the latest attacks against civilians in Ukraine by Russian forces, reiterating that they always constitute a violation of international law "and must stop immediately." Briefing reporters in New York, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said any strike against civilians anywhere - or any civilian buildings or other infrastructure is "unacceptable and unjustifiable." "Between yesterday and the early hours of today, an overnight large-scale drone and missile attack across Ukraine and frontline hostilities resulted in dozens of residential buildings damaged in Kyiv, as well as in Kirovohradska, Kyivska, and Vinnytska oblasts." Power cuts In the Odesa region, around 40,000 families were left without electricity, and in the Poltava region, damage to gas facilities disrupted power supply for around 20,000 families and businesses. "Our humanitarian partners on the ground provided materials for basic repairs as well as first aid," said Mr. Dujarric, adding that during January according to the UN and partners, nearly 7,000 people were evacuated from frontline areas in eastern Ukraine. This week saw the beginning of the fight year of war in Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion on 22 February 2022. For a full recap of how the UN marked the anniversary, check out our live coverage from Tuesday. 21 migrants a day died during 2025: UN migration agency At least 7,667 people died or went missing while attempting to migrate last year, highlighting the need for greater global action to dismantle smuggling networks that exploit people on the move. In fact, 21 migrants died every day in 2025, according to new data published on Thursday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "The continued loss of life on migration routes is a global failure we cannot accept as normal," said Amy Pope, the agency's Director General. Real toll likely higher In 2025, at least 2,185 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean while 1,214 were recorded on the Western Africa/Atlantic route toward the Canary Islands - reflecting how sea crossings remained among the deadliest routes. Despite year-on-year declines, the real toll is likely higher, as at least 1,500 additional people were reported missing at sea but could not be verified due to limited access to search-and-rescue information. However, at least 270 human remains washed ashore in the Mediterranean in 2025 without being linked to any shipwrecks. Furthermore, three vessels that had attempted to make the Canary Islands crossing were later found later drifting to Brazil and the Caribbean with the remains of 42 people on board. Step up search and rescue The agency also provided information from other regions including the Americas, where 409 deaths were recorded in 2025 - the lowest number since the start of data collection in 2014. This is likely due to fewer people crossing through the perilous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, the US-Mexico border and other irregular routes, IOM urged governments and partners to scale up coordinated search-and-rescue operations to prevent further loss of life, strengthen international cooperation to dismantle criminal networks, and expand safe and regular migration. IOM supports response efforts following deadly rains in southeastern Brazil Heavy rains in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil this week has caused loss of life, displacement and significant damage. The record rainfall caused floods which reportedly displaced more than 3,500 people in three locations - Juiz de Fora, Matias Barbosa and Uba - in a region characterized by hills and mountainous terrain. The UN migration agency is supporting the authorities in response efforts and helping affected families, including migrants. As an immediate measure, essential relief items will be delivered to municipal authorities in Juiz de Fora on Friday. Shelter and services IOM is also mobilising a team to provide technical support for the management and organization of shelter facilities in partnership with a national task force, among other assistance. "At moments like this, ensuring that affected communities can access timely assistance, safe shelter and essential services is critical," said Paolo Caputo, Chief of Mission in Brazil. IOM has been in Minas Gerais since 2019. The agency works in partnership with the authorities to promote the integration of migrants and support the voluntary return and re-integration of Brazilian nationals. In 2024, IOM supported flooding response in another state, Rio Grande do Sul, where more than 1,000 people were hosted for nearly a year in three reception centres. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rajah Sulayman offshore patrol vessels to boost PH Navy's reach Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno February 27, 2026, 10:39 am MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Friday said its capabilities to monitor and protect the country's vast maritime territories will get a big boost with the commissioning of its first brand-new offshore patrol vessel (OPV), BRP Rajah Sulayaman (PS-20), and the deliveries of its sister ships in the coming months. "They (BRP Rajah Sulayman and sister ships) significantly enhance the Navy's operational reach and help maintain sustained presence in key strategic areas," PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Friday. Martinez also said the Rajah Sulayman OPVs will complement the two Jose Rizal-class and two Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigates as they fulfill their missions to protect Philippine waters. She earlier said the BRP Rajah Sulayman and its sister ships can be optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. This is possible as these ships have "mission modules" that allow them to carry a variety of missions. ASW is the naval mission where surface combatants or forces are tasked to detect, track and if necessary, destroy hostile submarine contacts. "The mission modules for the OPVs I mentioned include ASW," she added. Aside from ASW, other mission modules of the Rajah Sulayman-class include search-and-rescue and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. And depending on the tasking of the ships, these mission modules can be loaded before leaving port. Martinez also said that the Rajah Sulayman-class OPVs will be very effective for ASW, as these ships are equipped with a helideck, unlike the older ships of similar design in the PN. "They can be paired with our ASW helicopters (for these missions)," she added. The PN has two AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopters in service as of this posting, Aside from ASW and other missions, the Rajah Sulayman OPVs can be deployed for operations "in the littorals until EEZ (exclusive economic zone)". The Rajah Sulayman OPVs measured 94.4 meters long, 14.3 meters wide and displacement of 2,400 tons, maximum speed of 22 knots, cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 5,500 nautical miles. It also measures 94.4 meters long, 14.3 meters wide The ship was launched on June 11, 2025 at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The BRP Rajah Sulayman was christened and commissioned into service last Feb. 24 at Naval Operating Base Subic in Zambales along with fast attack interdiction craft BRP Audrey Banares (PG-910). BRP Rajah Sulayman was named after the pre-Hispanic ruler who led Tagalog forces during the 1570 Battle of Manila. The vessel embodies courage, leadership and the enduring spirit of Filipino resistance. BRP Rajah Sulayman was launched on June 11, 2025, at the HD HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea and arrived in the Philippines on Jan. 17 of this year. The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first of the six OPVs ordered from South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, worth around PHP30 billion in 2022. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Japan, US drill in WPS shows 'growing depth' of maritime collab Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno February 27, 2026, 10:08 am MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said the recent week-long multilateral training among the Philippines, Japan and the United States naval and air assets in the West Philippine Sea showed the three nations' "growing depth" of maritime cooperation. In a statement, the AFP said the 15th multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) from Feb. 20 to 26 in the West Philippine Sea was built on similar training activities early this year. Aside from AFP units, naval and air assets from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) participated in the drills. Philippine assets included the Navy's BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) with an embarked AW-159 helicopter, along with the Philippine Air Force's aircraft such as FA-50 fighter jets, C-208B, A-29 "Super Tucano" and a "Sokol" (W-3A) search and rescue helicopter, the military said. Japan contributed a P-3 "Orion" maritime patrol aircraft, the United States deployed USS Dewey (DDG-105) and a P-8A "Poseidon". "The integration of these platforms showcased the three nations' ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments, highlighting the growing depth of maritime cooperation," the AFP said. Just a few days earlier, the 14th MMCA took place from Feb. 15 to 16 involving the AFP, the Australian Defence Force and the INDOPACOM. Aside from the Filipino naval and air units, the Philippine Coast Guard joined the drill with the deployment of the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), demonstrating a whole-of-nation approach to protecting the country's maritime domain. Exercise serials included communications check exercise, maritime domain awareness, replenishment at sea, friendly flight/joint air patrol, fly-bys, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuvers, photo exercise, and an anti-submarine warfare exercise. "A live-fire gunnery exercise was also conducted by BRP Antonio Luna to validate targeting accuracy and combat readiness under realistic maritime conditions, before concluding with a 'hotwash' and 'finish exercise' to evaluate performance and capture lessons for future operations," the AFP said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan War with Afghanistan Operation Ghazab Lil Haq ("Righteous Fury") The declaration of open war by Pakistan against Afghanistan 26 February 2026 marked a dramatic escalation in a long-standing border dispute that has simmered for over a century. Rooted in colonial legacies and exacerbated by modern geopolitical tensions, this conflict has now erupted into direct military engagements, with airstrikes, ground operations, and heavy casualties on both sides. The Historical Roots: The Durand Line and Colonial Divisions The Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometer border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been a perennial flashpoint since its establishment in 1893. Named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of British India, the line was drawn during negotiations with Emir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan to delineate spheres of influence between the British Empire and Afghanistan. This agreement aimed to prevent Russian expansion during the "Great Game" rivalry between Britain and Russia in Central Asia. The border arbitrarily divided Pashtun tribal lands, creating ethnic and cultural divisions that persist today. Pashtuns, the dominant ethnic group in the region, found their communities split, fostering resentment and demands for a unified "Pashtunistan." The Durand Line was not intended as a permanent international boundary but rather a frontier to manage influence. It was reaffirmed in subsequent treaties, including the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 after the Third Anglo-Afghan War, which granted Afghanistan full independence from British control over its foreign affairs. However, upon Pakistan's independence in 1947, Afghanistan rejected the border's validity, arguing it was imposed under duress by the British and did not bind the new Afghan state. This led to Afghanistan being the only country to vote against Pakistan's admission to the United Nations in 1947. In the mid-20th century, tensions escalated under Afghan leaders like Daoud Khan, who supported Pashtun separatism and launched propaganda campaigns against Pakistan. Border skirmishes occurred sporadically, with Afghanistan refusing to recognize the Durand Line as an international border. Pakistan, in response, fortified its position, viewing the dispute as a threat to its territorial integrity. The U.S. recognized the line in diplomatic cables, siding largely with Pakistan, but avoided public involvement to maintain relations with both nations. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 transformed the dynamics. Pakistan became a key ally in the U.S.-backed mujahideen resistance, hosting millions of Afghan refugees and channeling arms through its territory. This period saw the rise of Islamist militancy, with groups like the Taliban emerging from Pakistani madrasas. The Taliban, supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), seized power in Kabul in 1996, but relations soured over border issues and Pakistan's accusations of Afghan harbor for anti-Pakistan militants. Post-9/11 Era: Alliances, Betrayals, and Insurgencies The September 11, 2001, attacks further complicated matters. Pakistan joined the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism, providing logistical support for the invasion of Afghanistan that ousted the Taliban. However, allegations persisted that Pakistan played a double game, sheltering Taliban leaders like Mullah Omar in Quetta while publicly aiding the coalition. The porous Durand Line became a conduit for insurgents, with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) forming in 2007 as a splinter group targeting Pakistani forces. From 2001 to 2021, U.S. and NATO forces struggled with cross-border militancy, accusing Pakistan of insufficient action against safe havens. Pakistan conducted operations like Zarb-e-Azb in 2014, displacing militants into Afghanistan, but tensions rose as Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for exporting terrorism. The U.S. withdrawal in August 2021 and the Taliban's return to power intensified the rift. Pakistan accused the Taliban of harboring TTP fighters, leading to border closures and sporadic clashes. In 2023-2025, border incidents escalated. Clashes in October 2025 killed dozens, leading to a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire. Talks in Istanbul failed, and trade disruptions followed. Pakistan's construction of a border fence, started in 2017, further inflamed Afghan sentiments, viewed as an attempt to solidify the disputed line. By late 2025, the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations warned of escalating crises, citing militant attacks from Afghan soil. The 2026 Escalation: From Tensions to Open War The current fighting erupted in early 2026 amid accusations of cross-border terrorism. In January, Pakistan warned Afghanistan was becoming a militant hub. A February 6 suicide bombing in Islamabad, claimed by ISKP but blamed on Taliban complicity, killed 31-36. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif threatened action before Ramadan. On February 19, an attack in Bajaur killed 11 Pakistani soldiers, prompting a diplomatic protest. On February 21-22, Pakistan launched airstrikes on alleged militant camps in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost, claiming 70-80 militants killed, while Afghanistan reported 18 civilian deaths. Border skirmishes followed on February 24, with the crack of gunfire echoing through the rugged valleys, as soldiers on both sides hunkered down behind rocky outcrops, exchanging volleys that lit up the night sky with tracer rounds. The Taliban retaliated on February 26 around 8:00 PM local time, launching "large-scale offensive operations" along the Durand Line in Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktia. The assault began with a thunderous barrage of artillery and rocket fire, illuminating the border posts in flashes of orange and red as Taliban fighters, clad in traditional shalwar kameez and armed with AK-47s and RPGs, stormed Pakistani positions under the cover of darkness. Afghan officials claimed capturing 13-19 Pakistani posts, killing up to 55 soldiers, and taking prisoners, with reports of chaotic hand-to-hand combat amid the dust and smoke of exploding grenades. X posts from Afghan sources highlighted the offensive as retaliation for Pakistani strikes, with videos showing militants advancing through rugged terrain, their shouts piercing the night air. In response, Pakistan initiated Operation Ghazab Lil Haq ("Righteous Fury") early February 27, bombing Taliban targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and elsewhere. The airstrikes commenced with the roar of jet engines overhead, followed by deafening explosions that shook the ground, sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky and igniting fires that raged through military compounds. In Kabul, residents described anti-aircraft fire lighting up the night like fireworks, as Taliban gunners desperately tried to down incoming aircraft amid the chaos of crumbling buildings and screaming civilians fleeing the blasts. Strikes hit brigade and corps headquarters, ammunition depots, and logistics bases, with secondary explosions from detonating munitions creating a symphony of destruction that echoed across the city. Afghanistan countered with drone attacks, which Pakistan claims were downed without damage, their wreckage scattering across the landscape like fallen stars. Taliban reports detailed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, 13 fighters dead, 22 injured, plus civilian casualties including children caught in the crossfire, their cries lost amid the rubble and acrid smell of gunpowder. X threads from OSINT accounts like @sentdefender captured the strikes in real-time, with videos showing massive fireballs erupting in Kabul, the ground trembling as shockwaves ripped through structures, and Taliban forces scrambling in panic as precision-guided munitions found their marks. Defense Minister Asif accused the Taliban of being an Indian proxy and exporting terrorism, declaring open war in a statement that reverberated through diplomatic channels worldwide. The declaration came amid reports of Taliban forces raising white flags at some posts, signaling retreat under the relentless aerial assault, as Pakistani ground troops advanced to recapture lost positions in a haze of dust and gunfire. Afghan officials expressed willingness for dialogue, with mediators like Russia, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran offering help. The UN urged de-escalation amid nuclear risks, as the smell of burning fuel and the wail of sirens filled the air in affected cities. Both Sides Report Heavy Casualties Amid Fierce Engagements The battles have been marked by intense, visceral combat. Pakistani claims include 274 Taliban fighters killed and over 400 injured, with 83 Afghan posts destroyed and 17 captured; their own losses at 12 soldiers killed and 27 injured. Eyewitnesses described Pakistani jets streaking across the sky, unleashing payloads that turned Taliban strongholds into infernos, with flames leaping high and the ground littered with debris and the fallen. Afghanistan reports 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, with bodies and prisoners taken; admitting 13 fighters killed and 22 injured, plus civilian deaths. In the border clashes, Taliban advances were met with fierce resistance, soldiers trading fire in close quarters, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and cordite, as medics dragged the wounded through the chaos under a hail of bullets. Reports of Taliban withdrawals highlight the overwhelming Pakistani firepower, with fighters retreating amid exploding ammunition depots that sent shockwaves rippling through the earth. International Reactions and Potential Implications The conflict has drawn global concern. Afghan ex-officials called on the UN Security Council for intervention. X posts from Reuters and AP captured the rapid escalation, with claims of heavy losses. Analysts warn of refugee flows, regional instability, and proxy involvement, given Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Historically, such conflicts have invited external powers, as seen in the Soviet era. Today, India's ties with Afghanistan and China's investments in Pakistan add layers. The U.S., post-withdrawal, watches cautiously, with reports of American weapons fueling the fight. Conclusion: A Cycle of Conflict The Pakistan-Afghanistan war in 2026 is a culmination of unresolved historical grievances, ethnic divisions, and modern security dilemmas. From the Durand Line's colonial imposition to today's airstrikes, the region remains volatile. Peace requires recognizing shared interests, perhaps through mediated talks on border management and counter-terrorism. Without it, civilians suffer, and instability spreads. As events unfold, the international community may push for restraint to avert a broader crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 26 February 2026 - Day 1464 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 at the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia perceived its Black Sea Fleet as a prestigious, strategic, and historic symbol of its military power. However, four years of non-conventional, asymmetric focused Ukrainian resistance have left the Black Sea Fleet geographically constrained, with substantial materiel losses and a damaged reputation. Prior to February 2022, the Ukrainian Navy was heavily overmatched by the Black Sea Fleet and limited in its capability beyond patrolling Ukraine's maritime border. However, since then, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged at least 25 Russian Navy vessels operating in the Black Sea. This includes the flagship Slava-class MOSKVA, a "cutting-edge" air defence platform, in 2022, and the unprecedented December 2025 Ukrainian uncrewed underwater vehicle strike against Kilo-class SSGN KOLPINO, which resulted in significant damage to the submarine, leaving it unable to sail of its own accord or deploy. Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to abandon its historic homeport of Sevastopol for Novorossiysk, in the eastern Black Sea. It's ability to project maritime power in the region and beyond has been severely constrained, as it is continuously compelled to adapt its tactics in a diminished operating environment. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 206 combat clashes. According to the information, the Russian enemy launched two missile strikes, used 43 missiles, 54 air strikes, dropped 180 controlled airstrikes. In addition, Russian forces used 4070 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,308 shells on settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, the Russian enemy once attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders. The enemy launched three air strikes, dropping eight controlled bombs, carrying out 86 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian units, including four from reactive systems of assault-fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy attacked 13 times in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Pishnnya, Krugle, Nesterne, Chugunivka and in the direction of Zelenoy, Ohrimivka. One battle is going on. Five attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction in the Kruglyakivka district and in the direction of Kurilivka, Boguslavka, Novoplatonivka. In the Lyman direction Ukrainian soldiers stopped 13 attacks, towards Chervony Stavu, Novoegorivka, drobisevogo, bets, Lyman and in the area of zarichnogo, novoselivki. In the Slavic direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight Russian attempts to advance in the areas of Yampol, Zakitny and towards Rai-Oleksandrivka. In the kramators komu direction Russian occupiers made two attacks in the area of orikhovo-vasilivki and bondarnogo. In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 21 times in the area of the settlements of Oleksandro-Shultine, Scherbinivka, Pleshiyivka, Rusin Yar and towards the settlements of Konstantynivka, Ivanopilya, Illinivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Sofiyivka, Novoplatonivka. Two clashes are currently underway. The enemy committed 41 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Rodinske, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Molodetske, Udaachne, Muravka, Filiya and towards the settlements Bilitske, Shevchenko, Grishine, Sergiyivka, Novopidgorodnoe. The three clashes are still ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 139 invaders and wounded 30; destroyed 39 unmanned aircraft, two automobile units and two special equipment units, PMM warehouse. A tank, two car units and three special equipment units were struck, 53 cover enemy personnel. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian aggressor attacked eight times in the areas of the settlements of Ternove, Zlagoda and in the direction of Willow and Cherry. The settlements of Ivanivka, Oleksandrograd, Malomikhailivka, Pysantsi suffered air strikes. In the Gulyaipil direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 Russian attacks in the areas of Dobropillya, Gulyaipol and towards the settlements of Zaliznychnne, Staroukrainka, Girke, Varvarivka, Olenokostyantinivka, Svyatopetrivka, Charivne. Three more attacks are underway. In addition, Russian aviation struck the settlements of the upper tersa, tersyanka, zelene, shevchenkivsk, vozdvizhivka, valley, kopani. In the orihiv direction, no Russian offensive actions have been recorded at the moment. Air strikes controlled by air bombs were suffered by settlements of Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka, Veselyanka. In the Pridniprovsk direction, no Russian offensive actions have been recorded. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the previous night, in response to the terrorist attacks launched by the Kiev regime against civilian infrastructure facilities on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a mass strike by ground- and air-based long-range precision weaponry and attack unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, power infrastructure objects used by the AFU, and military airfields. The goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged. Units of the Sever Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on formations of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and two territorial defence brigades near Lugovka, Sennoye, and Pokrovka (Sumy region). In Kharkov region, losses were inflicted on units of three mechanised brigades of the AFU and one national guard brigade near Staraya Pokrovka, Tsirkuny, Veseloye, and Ternovatoye (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 175 troops, eight motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, and one electronic warfare station. Two materiel depots were destroyed. The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades of the AFU and one national guard brigade near Palamarevka, Monachinovka, Blagodatovka, Novoosinovo, Grushevka (Kharkov region), and Mayaki (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 170 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 16 motor vehicles, one artillery gun, and one electronic warfare station. Four field ammunition depots were eliminated. The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on formations of four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and one special operations brigade near Reznikovka, Nikiforovka, Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka, and Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station. Two ammunition depots and one materiel depot were eliminated. The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one infantry brigade, two jaeger brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, and three national guard brigades near Torskoye, Kucherov Yar, Belitskoye, Sergeyevka, Dobropolye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopavlovka, Novopodgorodnoye, Gavrilovka, Podgavrilovka, and Raipole (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 270 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and three electronic warfare stations. One ammunition depot was destroyed. The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, five assault brigades of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Malinovka, Dobropasovo, Kirichkovo (Dnepropetrovsk region), Lyubitskoye, Zelenaya Dibrova, Mirnoye, Orly, Vozdvizhevka, Lesnoye, and Kopani (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 340 troops, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mountain assault brigade of the AFU near Dimitrovo and Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 35 troops, 10 motor vehicles, and one ammunition depot. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck pre-flight check and launch sites of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 159 areas. Air defence units shot down two guided aerial bombs and 136 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost: 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 117,435 unmanned aerial vehicles, 651 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,890 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,674 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,490 field artillery guns and mortars, 55,322 support military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sinaloa Cartel Leader Charged with Narcoterrorism, Material Support of Terrorism and Drug Trafficking Thursday, February 26, 2026 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs $5 Million Reward Offered for Information Leading to the Arrest and/or Conviction of Rene Arzate-Garcia aka "La Rana" Note: To download a copy of the Wanted Rewards Posters in English and Spanish, click on: Rene Arzate-Garcia and Alfonso Arzate-Garcia. A superseding indictment unsealed today charges Rene Arzate-Garcia, also known as "La Rana," alleged Tijuana plaza boss for the Sinaloa Cartel, with Narcoterrorism and Material Support of Terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States. Also today, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced that it is offering up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of La Rana, 42, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and his brother, Alfonso Arzate-Garcia, also known as "Aquiles." These rewards are offered in coordination with the DEA San Diego Field Division and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California in a unified effort to bring the brothers to justice. "Foreign terrorist organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel have spent decades poisoning our children and committing acts of unimaginable violence against innocent civilians -- no longer under President Trump," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This latest indictment, which follows the landmark conviction of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder "El Mayo" on American soil, is a key development in this Department of Justice's ongoing campaign to permanently dismantle these cartels and deliver American justice to their cowardly leaders." "To the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel who remain at large: Hide. Run. Fight. Flee. The illusion is that you have a choice. The reality is that you can either surrender to justice or you'll be brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. "Rene Arzate-Garcia is a ruthless Sinaloa Cartel plaza boss who is accused of exploiting U.S. ports of entry to flood our nation with fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine," said Administrator Terrance Cole of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "He and his brother, Alfonso, are among DEA's wanted fugitives for these alleged crimes against the United States. This superseding indictment underscores Arzate-Garcia's role, not only as a cartel operative but as a narco-terrorist who preys on vulnerabilities to flood communities with poison, violence, and fear. I want to recognize U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for his leadership and his aggressive pursuit of those who traffic deadly drugs into our country. His partnership and resolve have been instrumental in advancing this case and ensuring that cartel leaders are held accountable. DEA remains relentless in its mission to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization, and bring its members to justice." "The FBI and its partners commitment to thwarting the Sinaloa Cartel is unwavering," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "We will continue to use everything at our disposal to disrupt their operations and prevent further drugs and violence from coming into our communities. The Sinaloa Cartel, including its leaders, will be forced to face the consequences of their actions." "President Donald Trump has made clear that narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to the United States will be tracked down and prosecuted," said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. "Under the Narcotics Rewards Program, we are offering rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Rene and Alfonso Arzate-Garcia, key figures sustaining the Sinaloa Cartel's operations at the U.S. border with Mexico in Tijuana." "Rene Arzate-Garcia has progressed up the ranks of the Sinaloa Cartel to become one of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers in the region," said Acting Special Agent in Charge TJ Holland of the FBI San Diego Field Office. "Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Sinaloa Cartel threatens our national security and the safety of our citizens. FBI San Diego, in coordination with our local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate these transnational criminal organizations and their leaders targeting our neighborhoods with narcoterrorism and other criminal activity until they are eliminated from our communities." "Those who traffic in violence, corruption, fear, and addiction destroy lives and destabilize our communities," said Senior Agent in Charge James Nunnallee of the DEA San Diego. "The DEA remains unwavering in our mission to dismantle Foreign Terrorist Organizations and drug trafficking networks that threaten public safety and national security." "This indictment demonstrates the power of financial investigations in dismantling criminal enterprises that fuel violence and terror," said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Los Angeles Field Office. "Rene Arzate-Garcia and his co-conspirators allegedly laundered millions in drug proceeds through complex international transactions designed to hide the source and ownership of illicit funds. IRS-CI followed the money, exposing the financial lifelines that sustain narcoterrorism and global drug trafficking. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure these organizations are stripped of their resources and held accountable for their crimes." According to court documents, Rene Arzate-Garcia is a Baja California, Mexico-based "plaza boss" for the Sinaloa Cartel, along with his brother Alfonso Arzate-Garcia, also known as "Aquiles" (previously charged in case number 14-cr-00722-DMS). Rene Arzate-Garcia manages the cartel's drug trafficking operations in Tijuana and the surrounding municipalities and is involved in importing large quantities of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, into the United States. Known to be extremely violent, Arzate-Garcia is also involved in carrying out enforcement operations, such as kidnappings and executions, for the Sinaloa Cartel. This indictment supersedes a 2014 indictment for conspiracy to import marijuana and demonstrates that Rene Arzate-Garcia is a key member of the Sinaloa Cartel and controls the Tijuana plaza that includes the entire state of Baja California. He has imported thousands of kilograms of drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana into the Southern District of California and laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds. In addition to his drug trafficking, the indictment shows his history of corrupting Mexican law enforcement and public officials, extortion of businesses in the Tijuana Plaza, and his reputation for extreme violence, including numerous kidnappings and murders in Tijuana, Mexico on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel. Rene Arzate-Garcia was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, as a Drug Kingpin in 2023. These indictments follow a storied tradition in the Southern District of California for dismantling leadership and operations of powerful Mexican cartels - from the dismantling of the Arellano Felix Cartel to major strikes against today's most dangerous, powerful and violent cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and the Beltran Leyva Organization. If you have any information about Rene Arzate-Garcia or Alfonso Arzate-Garcia, please contact either FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or your nearest local FBI office; If you are outside the United States, you may contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip online, anonymously, at tips.fbi.gov/home; or DEA by phone (WhatsApp and Signal) at +1-858-298-5670, at Threema ID: PTJ4HS3J, or by email at MFSinaloaTipLine@dea.gov. If you are located outside of the United States, you may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are located in the United States, you may also contact the local DEA field office. The superseding indictment is a direct result of President Trump's Executive Order 14157 which designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the Secretary of State's subsequent designation of the same on Feb. 20, 2025. FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas are conducting the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California. Rene Arzate-Garcia is charged in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 960a and 841 - Narcoterrorism with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $20 million fine; Title 18, U.S.C. Sec. 2339B - Providing Material Support to Terrorism with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine; Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 848(a) - Continuing Criminal Enterprise with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years and $10 million fine; Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 959, 960, and 963 - International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine; Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine; Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 960 and 963 - Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine; Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) - Money Laundering Conspiracy with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, whichever is greater. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment and complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Office of the Attorney General Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Press Release Number: 26-193 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ProtectEU: Commission presents new counterterrorism agenda European Commission Press release Feb 26, 2026 Brussels Today, the European Commission presented a new agenda to prevent and counter terrorism, setting out the way forward to reinforce Europe's collective response to evolving terrorist and violent extremist threats. The EU has strengthened its response to terrorism and violent extremism over the past decade. However, the evolving nature of these threats requires an adapted and stronger response. A flagship initiative under the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, the agenda puts forward a comprehensive set of cross sectoral initiatives to step up preparedness and response, better protecting people and businesses in the EU from harm. The growing misuse of digital and new technologies, from social media and artificial intelligence to 3D-printed weapons and drones, is reshaping terrorist activity. At the same time, radicalisation of minors is rising, with young people increasingly targeted online. Geopolitical developments and the involvement of state and non-state actors further deteriorate the threat landscape. The Commission proposes to increase the EU's foresight and resilience, to enhance the security of people online and offline, and step up cooperation with international partners. The agenda proposes measures to meet these objectives across six key pillars: Anticipating threats Security relies on effective ability to anticipate. The agenda proposes measures to improve situational awareness and the early detection of emerging threats, such as: increasing the resources and capacities of intelligence analysis at EU level, called Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC); (SIAC); reinforcing Europol's analytical support capacities, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) capabilities; capacities, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) capabilities; strengthening security research on emerging technologies (including AI, crypto-assets, drones, and 3D-printed weapons), with dedicated calls under Horizon Europe and the EU Internal Security Fund. Preventing radicalisation Preventing radicalisation remains the most effective long-term strategy. The agenda proposes measures to strengthen early prevention and tailored interventions for those most at risk. This includes: a Prevention Toolbox created by the Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation , to provide practical tools for countering the radicalisation of minors; created by the , to provide practical tools for countering the radicalisation of minors; A 5 million Community Engagement and Empowerment Programme supporting projects that focus on early prevention of radicalisation, with a strong focus on youth empowerment, digital resilience and community cohesion. Protecting people online The online ecosystem remains central for terrorist and violent extremist activity, including propaganda, recruitment, incitement to violence, fundraising and broadcasting of attacks. The Commission will: consider revising the Terrorist Content Online Regulation , based on its evaluation in 2026 and rigorously enforce the Digital Services Act; , based on its evaluation in 2026 and rigorously enforce the Digital Services Act; strengthen voluntary cooperation with online service providers through the EU Internet Forum, to expedite the removal of terrorist content and reduced space for online radicalisation and recruitment; through the to expedite the removal of terrorist content and reduced space for online radicalisation and recruitment; upgrade the EU Crisis Protocol into an EU Online Crisis Response Framework to enhance cooperation between law enforcement authorities and online service providers at an early stage before a crisis fully emerges. Protecting people in the physical environment The agenda sets out to increase the security of people, public spaces and critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks. To enhance the detection and monitoring of individuals posing a terrorist threat to the EU, the Commission will: propose a way forward on a 'post-hit procedure', in the context of the evaluation of the Schengen Information System . This will encourage sharing of information on terrorism-related alerts in the Schengen Information System with volunteering Member States; in the context of the evaluation of the Schengen Information System This will encourage sharing of information on terrorism-related alerts in the Schengen Information System with volunteering Member States; explore options to expand the framework on advanced travel information to include private flights, maritime, and land transport (which is currently limited to commercial air transport). In addition, to strengthen the security of public spaces and critical infrastructure, the Commission: is investing 30 million in projects aimed at improving the overall security of public spaces, and and willstrengthen the EU Protective Security Advisory Programme both financially and operationally, to meet the growing demand by Member States for support in conducting vulnerability assessments of public spaces and critical infrastructures. Responding to threats and attacks A swift and effective response to terrorist threats and attacks requires strong law enforcement and judicial cooperation, including stepping up the fight against terrorism financing and the potential misuse of EU funds for promoting extremism and terrorism. The Agenda aims to: improve the tracking of terrorist financing, including through cryptocurrencies and online payments with a future EU Financial Data Retrieval System ; ; revise Europol and Eurojust's mandates which will also strengthen operational and judicial support to Member States in combatting terrorism; and mandates which will also strengthen operational and judicial support to Member States in combatting terrorism; implement the Roadmap on lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement, to ensure faster and more coordinated investigations and prosecutions. Cooperation with international partners Stronger global cooperation with trusted partner countries is essential to step up the fight against terrorism. Key actions include: strengthening Europol and Eurojust's external cooperation on counterterrorism with third countries; strengthening Europol's cooperation with trusted partners to obtain data on individuals posing a terrorist threat; deeper cooperation with enlargement partners and partners in the Mediterranean region. This includes implementing the Joint Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism with the Western Balkans and increasing the activities of the Knowledge Hub in these countries. Quote(s) Our new ProtectEU Agenda on Preventing and Countering Terrorism represents a vital step forward in safeguarding Europe's values and protecting people against terrorism. It is a testament to our commitment to unity and resilience, combining advanced technology, strong action in the online environment, with international cooperation to anticipate and counter threats. We are resolute in supporting Member States with the tools and resources they need to combat terrorism and violent extremism effectively. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy The security of Europeans is our highest priority. As terrorist groups increasingly seek to radicalise younger people and exploit the online space, we must step up our response. The ProtectEU Agenda on Preventing and Countering Terrorism sets our path forward - preventing attacks before they happen and responding decisively when they do. This means following the money with new tools to track financial data, strengthening our online response by swiftly taking down terrorist content, and making full use of our new digital border management systems to detect and stop threats before they reach our communities. Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO explores the role of geospatial intelligence in strengthening deterrence and defence NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 February 2026 On Thursday (26 February 2026), NATO HQ hosted the first "Spatial Edge: USGIF Day", bringing together experts from Allies, industry and academia to examine how geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) supports NATO's collective defence. Opening the event, NATO's Deputy Secretary Radmila Shekerinska underlined the growing importance of geospatial intelligence for situational awareness and operational effectiveness across the Alliance. The Deputy Secretary General also highlighted the value of working with partners and the private sector in a rapidly evolving security environment. Organised by NATO Headquarters' GEOINT Team in cooperation with the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), the one-day programme explored how Allied interoperability when it comes to geospatial intelligence can strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence. Discussions also looked at the role of emerging technologies across the intelligence enterprise, including artificial intelligence and automation. The USGIF Day at NATO contributes to NATO's broader efforts to strengthen intelligence collaboration and leverage emerging technologies to enhance readiness and resilience across the Alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China unveils 2026 crewed space plan as lunar landing program advances toward 2030; Pakistani astronaut flight scheduled Global Times By Liu Xin and Deng Xiaoci Published: Feb 27, 2026 11:29 AM The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Friday unveiled plans to conduct two crewed spaceflight missions and one cargo resupply mission in 2026, with astronauts from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions expected to undertake a space station mission. The agency also revealed that the landing missions of China's crewed lunar exploration program have been progressing smoothly, targeting the execution of the country's first crewed Moon landing before 2030. And one Pakistani astronaut is scheduled to carry out a short-term mission aboard the China Space Station serving as a payload expert. China's manned space program will thoroughly implement the directives of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and at the new starting point, deepen efforts to advance the two major tasks of space station application and development, and crewed lunar exploration, striving to make greater contributions to accelerating the building of China into a space power, according to a release CMSA provided to the Global Times. In 2026, two crewed spaceflight missions and one cargo resupply mission are planned. Taikonauts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions are expected to carry out spaceflight missions as early as this year. Also, one taikonaut of the Shenzhou-23 crew will undertake a year-long space stay experiment, said CMSA. Aiming to achieve the goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the Moon for the first time before 2030, research and development as well as construction work for the lunar landing phase of the crewed lunar exploration program are progressing steadily. So far, development of major flight products including the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, and the Lanyue lunar lander has advanced smoothly. A series of major tests have been completed, including the Mengzhou spacecraft's zero-altitude escape test, the Lanyue lander's landing and liftoff test, the Long March-10 carrier rocket's tethered ignition test, the rocket system's low-altitude demonstration verification test, and the Mengzhou spacecraft system's maximum dynamic pressure escape flight test, according to the release. In 2026, full efforts will also be made to advance the construction of supporting facilities and equipment for lunar missions at the Wenchang space launch site, as well as ground support systems such as tracking, telemetry and command, communications, and landing sites. Since the program was launched, it has actively promoted international cooperation and exchanges in the field of human spaceflight. Last year, China and Pakistan signed an agreement on cooperation in astronaut selection and training. The selection process is progressing smoothly and according to mission planning arrangements, one Pakistani astronaut will later carry out a short-term mission as a payload specialist, conducting scientific experiments for Pakistan aboard the Chinese space station, said CMSA. CMSA also said that it will continue advancing cooperative projects with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. China always welcomes international partners to participate in and share the achievements of its human spaceflight development, working together to promote global space technology advancement and make new and greater contributions to the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of all humanity. In the Friday release, CMSA also noted that at present, the Chinese space station is operating steadily in orbit and delivering strong performance. Meanwhile, research, development and construction work for the lunar landing phase of the crewed lunar exploration program is progressing smoothly, with multiple phased breakthroughs achieved. Since entering the space station application and development stage, all systems of the program have worked in close coordination, successfully completing six crewed missions, four cargo resupply missions, and seven spacecraft return missions. The first emergency launch was also successfully carried out. Six astronaut crews, totaling 18 astronauts, have conducted long-term stays in orbit. A total of 13 extravehicular activities (EVAs) have been completed, along with multiple payload EVAs and several extravehicular maintenance operations. A new world record was set for the duration of a single spacewalk by an astronaut. The fourth batch of taikonauts including payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macao have been selected, and the selection of a low-cost cargo transportation system has been completed with development initiated. So far, 267 scientific research and application projects have been deployed and implemented aboard the Chinese space station, covering areas such as space life sciences and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies. A number of internationally leading scientific and technological achievements have been made, some of which have been transferred and applied, significantly advancing China's space science and application capabilities, according to CMSA. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aussies and Kiwis build operational edge By Flight Lieutenant Chloe Megson 26 February 2026 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) personnel from 40 Squadron are working shoulder-to-shoulder with their Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) counterparts during Exercise Trojan Compass, maintaining aircraft, sharing flightline duties and demonstrating trans-Tasman mateship in action. More than a routine exercise, this is a deliberate step forward in strengthening Australia's relationship with New Zealand. Among the arrivals was RNZAF aircraft technician, Leading Aircraftman Joanna Moaate, attached to the exercise to work with RAAF technicians. "This is my first time working with foreign forces," she said. "It is a great opportunity to get to know the Australian forces and work alongside our neighbours." The integration has involved RNZAF personnel conducting maintenance on both RNZAF and RAAF C-130J aircraft, undertaking duties within RAAF Base Richmond, and collaborating with RAAF personnel on the similar C-130J platforms. These hands-on opportunities allow both forces to align procedures, share best practices and build confidence operating together in complex environments. The exercise also provides invaluable exposure to different systems, processes and cultures, increasing individual experience while strengthening collective competence. By training together and supporting each other's aircraft and missions, RNZAF and RAAF personnel enhance their ability to operate together in the future. 37 Squadron aircraft maintenance officer, Flight Lieutenant Marvin Ramirez, said Trojan Compass demonstrates how Australia and New Zealand can operate as a unified force. "The fact that we both operate with the same aircraft gives us the perfect opportunity to test whether our workforces are compatible with each other," he said. The exercise reinforces trusted partnerships, sharpens technical and operational skills, and ensures both forces remain capable and ready to respond together when it matters most. Through cooperation on the flight line and beyond, 40 Squadron's presence at RAAF Base Richmond highlights a shared commitment to excellence and the enduring strength of the trans-Tasman partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flight training redefines air power generation By Flight Lieutenant Jessica Auciello 26 February 2026 Air Force Training Group has launched an innovative pilot training trial at RAAF Base Point Cook, partnering with RMIT University Aviation Academy to explore new ways of delivering Initial Flying Training (IFT). "The Pilot Training System (PTS) is recognised as a world-class capability. Powered by the PC-21 turbine platform and advanced synthetic training devices, the PTS is designed to meet the contemporary needs of the ADF and deliver highly skilled aviators," Commander Air Force Training Group Air Commodore David Strong said. The IFT program is testing a commercial, off-the-shelf approach to basic flying training. Over two years, five courses will undertake a 24-week program, where trainees fly Cessna aircraft to achieve civilian licences and instrument ratings, and integrate seamlessly into the military pilot training continuum. The design of IFT is similar to that employed by several allied air forces, including the United States Air Force, where the basic phase integrates into their contemporary flying training continuum. This approach is not without precedent. During World War II, the Empire Air Training Scheme contracted civilian flying schools to conduct ab-initio training for allied air forces, including the Royal Australian Air Force. The Empire Air Training Scheme produced tens of thousands of aviators at speed, proving that partnerships can underpin readiness in times of strategic demand. "Scalability isn't just a concept, it's a force multiplier. This initiative demonstrates how we can adapt quickly without compromising the standards that underpin Air Force training," Air Commodore Strong said. "In Air Force Training Group, our mission is simple and clear - train well, train smart and stay ahead of the challenge. The IFT program is a powerful step in that direction." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 723 Squadron celebrates flying milestone By Sub Lieutenant Dishant Shah 27 February 2026 At HMAS Albatross in Nowra, 723 Squadron has soared past a remarkable aviation milestone, recording an impressive 50,000 flying hours on the EC-135 helicopter fleet. This achievement marks another proud chapter for a squadron that has been shaping ADF aviators since 1952. The achievement represents far more than hours in the air. It reflects the combined efforts of a dedicated and diverse team who enable safe and effective flying operations every day. Over the years, 723 Squadron has delivered thousands of training sorties, supporting the development of Navy and Army aircrew who will go on to serve in operational aviation units across Australia and overseas. These flying hours represent the squadron's unwavering commitment to producing highly skilled aviators capable of meeting the evolving needs of the ADF. Central to this success are the instructors who mentor and shape each new generation of aircrew. Their professionalism, technical expertise and relentless focus on safety ensure trainees receive excellent instruction throughout their aviation journey. Equally vital are the squadron's industry partners, Boeing Defence Australia and Thales, whose technical excellence keeps the EC-135 aircraft and simulators mission-ready year-round. Their behind-the-scenes work forms the backbone of safe flight operations, enabling high training output and a dependable flying program. Supporting all of this is the squadron's dedicated team of operations staff, administrators and unit personnel who keep 723 Squadron running efficiently every day. Their efforts ensure that schedules align, member needs are supported and the training mission remains on track. Commanding Officer 723 Squadron, Commander Joel Cooper, highlighted the significance of the milestone and the people who made it possible. "Reaching 50,000 EC-135 flying hours is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the professionalism of every person who contributes to our mission," Commander Cooper said. "Our instructors, trainees, industry partners and support staff work tirelessly to deliver safe, high-quality aviation training, and this milestone reflects their dedication. "I am immensely proud of our team and grateful for their commitment every day as we continue 723 Squadron's long tradition of excellence." As one of the longest-serving aviation training squadrons in the Royal Australian Navy, 723 Squadron continues to uphold a strong legacy built over 74 years. With this latest milestone, the squadron reinforces its role as the cornerstone of Defence helicopter training and a key contributor to Australia's future aviation capability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Council of Europe committed to continuing cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society Council of Europe New projects planned for next two years Council of Europe Strasbourg 26 February 2026 The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, in a meeting in Strasbourg with the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, on the margins of her address to the Committee of Ministers, reaffirmed the commitment of the Council of Europe to address the aspiration for a free and democratic Belarus in a dynamic and challenging international environment, notably through the work of its Contact Group on Belarus. The Council of Europe Contact Group on cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society was set up in late 2022, following the suspension of all cooperation with the Belarusian authorities in March 2022. The innovative cooperation format of the contact group was created to continue working with Belarusians in exile, particularly democratic forces, young people, independent journalists and human-rights defenders. "The contact group's vision is as simple as it is ambitious. When democratic change happens, democratic forces and civil society must be prepared and capable to the greatest extent possible to implement Council of Europe standards of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and anchor Belarus in the European family of democracies," the Secretary General said. "The Council of Europe is determined to support the work of the contact group with both political commitment and technical expertise. As a pioneering framework, the contact group contributes to the broader Council of Europe agenda of promoting our shared values, and in particular to the New Democratic Pact for Europe," Alain Berset stressed. The Council of Europe's work with Belarusian partners The Council of Europe and Belarusian partners have come a long way since the contact group was established. In 2024-25 a number of projects were implemented under the contact group, and a tailored placement programme for Belarusian professionals was developed. The Council of Europe's activities have notably contributed to the drafting by the democratic forces of the Memorandum on the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus, and of the Statement of principles on non-discrimination adopted by the Coordination Council. A strategic dialogue was initiated between young Belarusians and decision-makers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Belarusian democratic forces were represented in these two bodies since early 2025. In 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly put together "The Luxembourg solutions" - a compilation of recommendations and good practices of national parliaments for Belarusians in exile to ease their stay, support their access to education and preserve their cultural identity. The Congress has been providing expertise in local self-government reform and preparing 'leaders for change' in view of a future democratic transition and has also worked on the local response to transnational repression against Belarusians in exile, including through the localisation of the "The Luxembourg solutions". Projects to support independent media in exile have been carried out. New partnership activities for 2026-27 The new list of activities 2026-27 to be implemented under the contact group is based on the jointly agreed priorities. This new phase will enhance ongoing cooperation and respond to new needs in the areas of promoting the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights, abolition of the death penalty, anti-discrimination, gender equality and countering violence against women, parliamentary cooperation, local democracy, support to civil society, cultural rights, youth participation and Belarusian journalists in exile. The placement programme for Belarusian professionals at the Council of Europe is to continue. Launching an Information Point for Belarusian People in Vilnius under the agreement between the Council of Europe and the Government of Lithuania, to reinforce the organisation's capacities to implement activities on the ground, is part of the new list. Preparations for its launch are underway. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Union extends sanctions against Belarus Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2026-02-26 On 26 February, the Council of the European Union decided to extend the sanctions against Belarus for another year. The restrictive measures will remain in force to the same extent as until now, with no changes. Sanctions against Lukashenka are linked to internal repression in Belarus, active support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, and hybrid attacks against European Union member states. "The Belarusian government's policy remains unchanged: civil society continues to be persecuted, Belarusian and foreign citizens are being held hostage and jailed for absurd reasons, and new hybrid attacks are being launched against us and our partners. The territory of Belarus is used for military purposes - Russian soldiers are treated there, children abducted from Ukraine are indoctrinated, and military infrastructure is used to circumvent Ukraine's air defences. We welcome the collective agreement of EU countries to maintain pressure on the regime responsible for serious international crimes," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kestutis Budrys. Currently, 312 Belarusian citizens and 57 entities and organisations are subject to sanctions. Their assets in the European Union are frozen, EU citizens and companies are prohibited from carrying out financial operations with them, and individuals on sanctions lists are prohibited from entering the EU territory. In addition, economic sanctions target Belarus' financial, trade, energy, transport, and other sectors - aiming to reduce the regime's revenue and prevent the cicumvention of sanctions. This Council decision will remain in force until 28 February 2027, with the possibility of extension. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio Republic of Cuba - Ministry of Foreign Affairs FEB 26 2026 (Courtesy translation) Yesterday, our authorities reported an attempted infiltration for terrorist purposes involving 10 individuals aboard a vessel registered in the State of Florida, United States. From the very outset, upon determining that the vessel had departed from United States territory, Cuban authorities have maintained communication with their U.S. counterpartsincluding the Department of State and the Coast Guardregarding this terrorist attempt. An investigation is currently underway to fully clarify the facts with the utmost rigor. The Cuban government is willing to exchange information with the United States government concerning this incident. Among other requests, we will ask the U.S. authoritiesthrough the existing mechanisms between the two countriesfor information about the individuals involved, the vessel used, among other details. U.S. government authorities have expressed their willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events. It is appropriate to state that the 10 individuals involved are: Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Serrior, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Leordan Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Roberto Alvarez Avila, Pavel Alling Pena, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara, and Hector Duani Cruz Correa, the latter four deceased. In an initial report, Rolando Roberto Ascorra Consuegra was mistakenly identified as part of the group, although he is not, despite the fact he is known for his record of involvement in violent actions and intentions against Cuba. As previously reported, weapons were seized aboard the vessel. These include assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, multiple tactical assault gear including night vision equipment, bulletproof vests, assault bayonets, camouflage clothing, ammunition of various calibers, combat rations, communication equipment, and a significant number of monograms from counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations. This information is still preliminary. Further details will be provided in the coming days. This is not an isolated act. For over 60 years, Cuba has been the victim of aggression and countless terrorist acts, most of them have been organized, financed, and carried out from United States territory. In recent years, Cuban authorities have denounced the increase in violent and terrorist plans and actions against Cuba, as well as the prevailing sense of impunity among the organizers and perpetrators in the face of inaction against them. Cuban authorities have regularly provided the US Government with information on individuals who in recent years, have been involved in promoting, financing, and organizing violent and terrorist acts against Cuba. This information includes the National List of individuals and entities that have been subject to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities due to their participation in acts of terrorism. It is compiled in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, the norms and principles of international law, and domestic legislation. Two of the perpetrators, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, are included on the list shared with the United States in 2023 and 2025, and they enjoyed impunity within U.S. territory. The Cuban government is still awaiting responses to requests for information about them and the other individuals and organizations included on that list. Anti-Cuban groups operating in the United States resort to terrorism as an expression of their hatred to Cuba and the impunity they believe they enjoy. Cuba reaffirms its absolute and categorical commitment against all terrorist acts, methods, and practices in all their forms and manifestations. Our country maintains an exemplary record in combating terrorism and has fulfilledand will continue to honorthe commitments it has undertaken in this area. Cuba is a State Party to the 19 international conventions on terrorism and has accordingly implemented legal and institutional measures aimed at effectively combating this scourge. Cuba has the duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters. Our actions are consistent with the international law, which applies to all countries, including the United States itself. Furthermore, they are part of the Cuban states national defense as an indispensable pillar for safeguarding our sovereignty, as well as the lives, security, and well-being of Cubans. (Cubaminrex) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Slams Boat Incident Off Cuba as US Aggressive Provocation Sputnik News 20260226 The Cuban Interior Ministry has stated that a US-flagged boat entered Cuban waters and opened fire, and Cuban border guards returned fire and killed four people aboard the vessel. The boat incident off Cuba is an aggressive provocation by the United States to escalate the situation, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik. "It is an aggressive provocation by the United States aimed at escalating the situation and detonating the conflict," Zakharova said. An accomplice of an armed group that arrived by boat from the United States and clashed with Cuban border guards has been detained in the republic, Cuba's Interior Ministry said. Cuban citizen Duniel Hernandez Santos sent from the US to facilitate the armed incursion was detained and has now confessed to his actions, the ministry said. An arsenal of weapons was seized from the Florida-registered speedboat that was neutralized in a shootout off the coast of Cuba. The weapons seized included assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosive devices such as Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Humanitarian pressures grow as Cuba continues to struggle with energy shortages 26 February 2026 - Cuba's humanitarian situation is worsening as fuel shortages deepen nearly a month after Washington took measures to block oil supplies from entering the Caribbean nation, a senior UN official warned on Wednesday. Francisco Pichon cited growing risks to healthcare, water services and food distribution as the country's energy reserves continue to fall. The UN's top official in Cuba told a press briefing in New York via video link from Havana, there was "concern that the crisis could deepen", with shortages creating "acute humanitarian risks" for vulnerable communities. 'Multiple shocks' The strain follows "multiple shocks", including Hurricane Melissa in October, which affected more than 2.2 million people. Cuban authorities have rolled out a month-long contingency plan to help deal with the challenges created by the fuel shortage; however, next steps are unclear, with potential for the grave situation to pose "a real risk to human suffering", the Resident Coordinator said. Daily life in Cuba is "becoming fragile" with essential services scaled back across the country - which relies on oil for over 90 per cent of its energy needs. Medical scare With five million people living with chronic illnesses, Mr Pichon emphasised that treatments are at risk due to the current energy crisis. For example, thousands of cancer patients that need continuous oncology care and services for more than 32,000 pregnant women. Moreover, nearly one million people - around 10 per cent of the population - get their drinking water from tanker trucks, while 84 per cent of pumping equipment depends on electricity, he said. Food security is also "deteriorating" with disruptions affecting the whole supply chain. Social protection is weakening whilst school programmes and elder care centres struggle to prolong services. Real risks "The risk to people's lives is not rhetorical, those who suffer first and suffer most are ordinary people, especially the most vulnerable." Mr Pichon told reporters at the UN in New York on Wednesday. Amid this climate it has been increasingly difficult to reach people in need with energy scarcity driving transportation difficulties and import processes being delayed. "Our capacities would be constrained unless there is a humanitarian carve out for oil and aid" Diplomatic solution Looking ahead, Mr Pichon urged the international community to address this issue through a "diplomatic effort that can be pursued with the United States". Threats to impose tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba have been diminished following a Supreme Court ruling that declared it illegal for the United States to use an emergency economic law in this context. After four Cuban nationals were killed by the Cuban Coast Guard on a US-registered speedboat following a gun battle at sea Wednesday, Mr Pichon urged "restraint to prevent escalation". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First Politburo Meeting of Ninth C.C., WPK Held Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- The First Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee on Feb. 25. Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, guided the meeting. Present there were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK. Attending it as observers were officials of the Organizational Leadership Department and the Information and Publicity Department of the Party Central Committee. The meeting first deliberated on the opinions raised at sectional study and consultative meetings for drafting the decision of the Ninth Congress of the WPK. Members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, who guided the consultative meetings, reported to Kim Jong Un on the issues to be amended and supplemented in the draft decision. Kim Jong Un heard about the opinions and gave important instructions. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee studied the opinions, confirmed the draft decision through an important process of deliberation and decided to submit the relevant document to the Party Congress. The Political Bureau also examined and approved the draft five-year plan for 20 major sectors of the national economy. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee deliberated on the draft decision reflecting the work plan for 2026, the first year of implementing the decision of the Party Congress. Then it supplemented the draft with collected opinions and adopted it as the decision of the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the WPK. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee deliberated on the draft collection of the slogans set forth by the Party Central Committee and the draft handbook on the Party rules. It decided to complete the important documents by supplementing them with the raised opinions and propagate them throughout the Party. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kim Jong-un Vows 'Terrible' Retaliation for Any Military Acts Against North Korea Sputnik News 20260226 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declared the country's military readiness to deliver merciless retaliation in response to any hostile military actions against the country. "Our army will deliver terrible retaliatory attacks to any forces the moment they commit hostile military acts of infringing upon our national sovereignty and security interests," Kim was quoted by KCNA as saying at a military parade commemorating the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Kim added that, as "the international peace mechanism has been demolished", protecting the nation and people's right to existence and development has become a matter of utmost national importance and the primary duty of the armed forces. "I also pay heartfelt tribute to all the officers and soldiers of our army who are devoting everything precious to our sacred cause," the North Korean leader said, expressing deep gratitude to all party organizations, members, workers, and military personnel. Kim also noted the army's role not only in defense but in socialist construction as well, describing it as a "banner of advance" across all sectors of national development. He also said that North Korean armed forces are fully ready to cope with any circumstances and the country's army must remain perpetually strong so that adversaries fear it. To achieve this, Kim called for basing readiness on unshakable ideological preparedness "for breaking the enemy's will to fight a war and annihilating them," emphasizing the steely military discipline where the entire army operates as one. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia - Meeting between Jean-Noel Barrot and Mr Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia (26.02.26) France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres M. Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting on Wednesday 25 February with his counterpart Mr Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. It came in the wake of their telephone call on 23 December. The Minister reiterated France's desire to continue deepening its bilateral relations with Cambodia in the run-up to President Macron's state visit for the 20th Francophonie Summit, which Cambodia will host in November 2026. Among other issues, the ministers discussed strengthening the two countries' economic relations, particularly in the energy, medical and agrifood fields. They spoke about the heritage partnership focused on the Angkor site in particular. The [French] Minister expressed our shared desire to combat online-scam centres. The Minister also reiterated France's commitment to regional stability and emphasized the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire agreement of 27 December. Continued political dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia is necessary to allow a peaceful, lasting resolution of the border dispute, with due regard for international law and their bilateral commitments. France supports ASEAN's efforts to this end, and is in contact with both partners, completely impartially. It reiterates its readiness to facilitate the two parties' access to the archives in its possession, linked to the demarcation of the border. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 4th Meeting of Joint Defence Cooperation Committee between India and Kenya Concluded India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 26 FEB 2026 10:08PM by PIB Delhi The fourth meeting of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) between India and Kenya was held in Nairobi, Kenyabetween 24th and 26th February 2026. Discussions focused on expanding Services engagements, enhancing training opportunities, strengthening maritime security cooperation, and promoting collaboration in defence R&D and production. Both countries expressed satisfaction on the progress made since the previous JDCC meeting and agreed to formulate a five year roadmap to further deepen and expand defence cooperation. Both sides agreed to broaden the scope of service-to-service engagements, including initiating structured interactions between their respective Navies. Both countries deliberated on cooperation in customized training programmes, instituting military exercises, border management, capacity building in advanced domains such as Electronic Warfare, Cyber Security, cooperation in military medical services, including training and knowledge exchange. The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (IC) and Major General Fredrick L. Leuria, Assistant Chief of Defence Forces, Kenya. The Indian delegation included senior officers from Department of Defence, Services and DGAFMS. Ambassador of India in Kenya Dr. Adarsh Swaika and India's Defence Attache in Kenya also joined the meeting. The Indian delegation called on Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and Principal Secretary Defence Dr Patrick Mariru of Kenya and briefed them on the key outcomes of the 4th India-Kenya JDCC. The discussions focused on expanding and deepening India-Kenya defence cooperation. The Indian delegation interacted with Commandant NDC, Kenya Lt Gen Juma Shee Mwinyikai who briefed them on the role of NDC Kenya in preparing Kenyan Defence Forces and civilians to make strategic and important decisions in their future higher roles. Both sides discussed ways to further strengthen defence training cooperation between India and Kenya. The Indian delegation also called on Commander of Kenya Navy Maj Gen Paul Otieno at the Mtongwe Naval base. They discussed ways to further strengthen Naval cooperation through deeper engagement between the two Navies. As part of the visit, the delegation toured the CT Scan Radiology Centre at Mtongwe, gaining insights into ongoing initiatives in military medical infrastructure and healthcare support services, and Kenya Naval Training College at the naval base. Joint Secretary (IC) also paid homage at the Joint India-Africa Commemorative Memorial at Mile 27, Taita Taveta County, Kenya to honour the valour and the supreme sacrifice of the unknown Indian and African soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I in the East African theatre, reaffirming the shared respect for the sacrifices of Indian and African soldiers. India attaches great importance to its relationship with Kenya, which is anchored in historical links, shared democratic values and close people-to-people ties. *** VK/SR (Release ID: 2233323) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister meets with Prime Minister of Israel India - Press Information Bureau Prime Minister's Office Posted On: 26 FEB 2026 8:56PM by PIB Delhi On his State Visit to Israel, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held official talks with the Prime Minister of Israel, H.E. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem on February 26, 2026. The two Prime Ministers engaged in comprehensive discussions covering the entire gamut of the India-Israel partnership. Reflecting the deep trust and friendship between the two countries, the leaders decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity". This elevation is emblematic of the growing convergence of interests and the shared vision of both countries for a secure and prosperous future. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress made in bilateral cooperation across all domains and agreed to further expand collaboration in the fields of trade and investment, defence and security, space, energy, critical technologies, cyber security, education, scientific research and innovation. They also emphasized the transformative potential of the India-Israel partnership in agriculture, water management, start-ups, fintech, digital healthcare, biotechnology and advanced pharma. The two leaders welcomed the new initiatives to expand mobility partnership, which would give a further boost to people-to-people ties. Calling for early conclusion of the proposed Free Trade Agreement, they noted that the Bilateral Investment Treaty, India-Israel Innovation Bridge, India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture and India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund would significantly enhance economic, entrepreneurial and scientific collaborations between the two countries. They also called for greater collaboration in the fields of AI, Semiconductors, Quantum and other cutting-edge technologies, synergising India's talented workforce and Israel's innovation. The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister conveyed his support for the Gaza Peace Plan and hoped that the initiative would bring peace and stability to the region. The two leaders also called for closer cooperation between the two countries on IMEC and I2U2 initiatives. They also expressed their resolve to strengthen the global fight against terrorism. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for the support extended by Israel in India's fight against terrorism. Following the talks, several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were exchanged [Link]. A Joint Statement outlining the future course of action for the bilateral partnership was adopted on the occasion of the State Visit [Link]. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for his warmth and hospitality. *** MJPS/PKK (Release ID: 2233269) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to question of whether China will support Iran alongside Russia if the US attacks Iran Global Times By Global Times Published: Feb 26, 2026 03:50 PM China is closely following the development of the situation in Iran. China consistently advocates for resolving issues through political and diplomatic means, and opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, said Chinese FM spokesperson Mao Ning at Thursday's press briefing, in response to a question that if the US launches an attack on Iran, will China support Iran alongside Russia? Mao added that China supports the Iranian government and people in safeguarding the nation's interests and legitimate rights. We hope that all parties will cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue. China will continue to play its role as a responsible major country, said Mao. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Good progress' made in 'most serious and longest' Iran-US talks: FM Araghchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 26, 2026 Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Iranian and US delegations have made "good progress" in the third round of indirect negotiations held in the Swiss city of Geneva. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the talks on Thursday evening, Araghchi said this round of negotiations was "the most serious and longest" and that the seriousness between the parties was more evident (today) than in the past. He also hailed the presence of Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, saying it was good in terms of technical discussions. Stating that the two sides reached an understanding in some areas, whereas, differences still remain on some others, the top diplomat said the technical teams will begin talks on Monday. Pointing out thatThursday's talks entered seriously into the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear and sanctions removal areas, Araghchi said a new round will be held next week after consultations the respective capitals. Araghchi also stated that the Iranian team had very clearly stated about its expectations in the area of lifting sanctions. Earlier, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who has been playing an intermediary role in the talks, wrote on his X media platform that after a "significant progress" in third round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, a technical-level negotiation will be held in Vienna next week. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address West pursuing its past policy of 'plundering' Iran's oil: Russia IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 26, 2026 Moscow, IRNA -- Russia has accused Western powers of pursuing policies towards the Islamic Republic of Iran with aim of exploiting the country's resources, especially its oil fields, as they did in the past. During the weekly press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova referred to declassified historical documents, saying American and British companies in 1946 sought to plunder Iran's oil fields, a situation that is unfolding now. Stating that the West, under its agenda of extortion, then pressured the Iranian government to produce unlimited oil, Zakharova said the current situation surrounding Iran is the same that of 80 years ago, except a fundamental change in the global foreign-policy environment. Referring to threats against Iran and other countries, she explained that Western countries are not willing to give up the benefits they accomplished through colonial and neo-colonialism as they have become accustomed to these practices to maintain their dominance. According her, the majority of countries, today, are increasingly defending their rights, building up their homegrown economic, industrial, and scientific capacity, and strengthening their national sovereignty, which she said, would accelerate the process of forming a more just and multipolar world order. Elsewhere in her remarks, Zakharova blamed the United States for escalating tensions in the West Asia region, saying the world is witnessing "continuous threats against Iran, a show of force, intimidation, and an irresponsible escalation." She noted, however, that Russia and Iran, despite pressure from extra-regional actor, continue to systematically strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of the people of both countries. Zakharova's remarks came in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's repeated threats against Iran and his order for additional troops deployment to the region, including warships and aircraft carriers. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indirect nuclear talks with US continuing 'seriously' in Geneva, FM spox says IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 26, 2026 Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says that indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US are continuing seriously in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Geneva nuclear talks on Thursday, Baqaei said, "Important and operational proposals were presented regarding nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions. Both delegations needed to consult with their capitals." He added that the negotiations have been conducted seriously and intensively since the morning, lasting three hours and involving the participation of the Omani foreign minister and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Additionally, the spokesperson said that discussions would resume around 5:30 or 6:00 PM Geneva local time, once the delegations return to the negotiation site after their break. Regarding the seriousness of the American side in the Geneva negotiations, Baqaei emphasized, "We are confident in ourselves. We must continue and see. This is a process." He added, "Our negotiating behavior is completely clear, and we have shown total consistency; our positions align with our statements. However, we did not see the same consistency from the other side. The discussions held today were very serious," expressing hope that the ongoing talks tonight will have doable proposals and initiatives leading to continuation of the talks concerning the lifting of sanctions and nuclear matters. The spokesperson said, "The negotiations is a very important issue, and it is natural for all media and influential circles, both regionally and internationally, to closely monitor the developments. They try to exert influence and, in many cases, speculate on the outcome." "So far, the issues raised have mostly been speculative, based on guesses and conclusions drawn from previous negotiation patterns, none of which can be confirmed. What matters is that we are focusing on what has been communicated to us according to our directives, and we are working diligently to secure the interests and rights of the Iranian nation." Baqaei added, "Discussions have been ongoing for the past two to three hours, during which various initiatives have been proposed. We must wait until tonight to see how these discussionssome of which require consultation with our capitals for finalizationwill develop. This will help us provide a more precise summary at the end of the negotiations. "The subject of the negotiations is exclusively nuclear. We cannot address nuclear issues without also discussing the Iranian nation's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which will be an inseparable part of any dialogue on this matter." "Regarding the discussion on sanctions, the situation is very clear. The people of Iran have suffered greatly due to these unjust sanctions. Therefore, any agreement or understanding must prioritize the lifting of these sanctions," he noted. 3266**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pezeshkian rejects Trump's claims on Iran unrest casualties IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 26, 2026 Sari, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump regarding casualty figures from recent unrest in Iran, saying that any doubts about Tehran's official data must be supported by evidence. Speaking to provincial officials in Mazandaran province on Thursday, Pezeshkian rejected the US president's claim that 32,000 people were killed in the January protests, adding that the official statistics regarding the victims have been released, including their national ID numbers, and emphasized that anyone alleging a higher death toll must provide documented evidence. The president also noted that over 2,000 of the victims are considered martyrs, among whom more than 300 were security forces dedicated to defending the country's security and were not participating in the protests. The office of the president of Iran had earlier released the identities of 2,986 victims, compiled by the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization and cross-checked with the National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran, as part of a transparency and accountability policy ordered by President Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian highlighted that during recent foreign-backed riots, over 350 mosques and 300 schools were set on fire, describing such actions as attempts to topple the system rather than peaceful protests. He emphasized, "It is important to differentiate between peaceful protest and violent action. Someone who picks up a Molotov cocktail or a weapon with the intent to attack and destroy does not belong within the framework of peaceful protest. A person who attacks law enforcement or security forces and martyrs them is not a protester but is following a different path." Recently, foreign-backed terrorists and trained mercenaries hijacked peaceful protests in Iran to advance the objectives of the enemy. They touched off riots, vandalized public property, and tried to incite discontent. Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian cited the remarks of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, about the point that Iran will not seek nuclear weapons, stressing, "This position is grounded in our religious and jurisprudential beliefs, rather than being a changeable political tactic. While a politician may speak based on expediency, a religious leader cannot contradict their faith and religious decree. When such a position is announced, it means the path to nuclear weapons is fundamentally rejected." Referring to the assassination of over 28,000 people in Iran, including the president, Friday prayer leaders, and scientists, he said that the purpose of these assassinations is to deprive the country of skilled and capable individuals. The enemy aims to disrupt progress and undermine public trust by eliminating influential figures, he added. 3266**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says it's serious in nuclear talks with US as third round begins in Geneva IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 26, 2026 Tehran, IRNA -- Representatives from Iran and the United States have begun the third round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. Like the previous two rounds, Thursday's talks are being held indirectly and are mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The American delegation is represented by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The third round focuses on Iran's proposals regarding its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions against the country. 'Iran is serious in talks' Speaking with IRNA's correspondent in Geneva, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the US team had met with the Omani foreign minister earlier on Thursday, before the start of negotiations with the Iranian delegation. Baqaei also noted that Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is in Geneva to attend the discussions and assist with technical aspects of the nuclear issue. The spokesperson emphasized that Iran is serious about the negotiations and fully prepared to continue them. "We have come here with full seriousness. Our delegation is complete and ready to continue the talks. Our frameworks are clear. From the beginning, the Iranian delegation's negotiating guidelines have been very clear," Baqaei said, highlighting Iran's efforts to safeguard its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and achieve the removal of sanctions. Iran and the US are engaged in nuclear negotiations as Washington has ramped up its military presence in the region near Iran's borders and has threatened military action should the talks fail to produce a deal. On Wednesday, before departing Tehran for Geneva, Araghchi said in an exclusive interview with India Today that "a fair, balanced, and equitable deal is achievable." 4194**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Armed Forces warn US: 'Any unwise action will ignite a widespread fire' in West Asia Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 9:57 PM Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, has rejected the recent statements of US President Donald Trump as "baseless, boastful, and delusional" and warned of severe consequences for any aggression against Iran. In his remarks on Thursday, Shekarchi cautioned the US government against "unwise actions," stating they could "ignite a widespread fire in the West Asia region" and provoke a response from Iran's Armed Forces, "you have never experienced before in your history." Shekarchi emphasized that Iranian forces remain on high alert and are closely monitoring all military movements by the United States and its regional allies, including Israel. In response to repeated threats from Trump, the spokesman described the rhetoric as empty posturing and fantasy. "The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on their defensive and offensive capabilities and the support of the country's brave, united, and resilient people, are monitoring all movements of the US army and the Zionist regime in the region with great care and full readiness," he stated. He called the US military presence in West Asia "psychological warfare, blackmail, and bullying." Shekarchi said that if US officials were "wise and rational" and fully understood Iran's "true military capabilities," they would avoid talk of war. He cautioned that any provocative action by American forces or affiliated terrorist groups would trigger a "decisive response and crushing blows from the Islamic Republic of Iran." The spokesman further warned that, in the event of aggression, "American soldiers and their equipment will be destroyed, and all US resources and interests in the region will be within the firing range of Iranian forces." "We have proven that we are not warmongers, but we are not afraid of war, and we will defend the country and the interests of the dear Iranian nation with strength," he added. The remarks came amid heightened regional tensions. Trump has ordered additional military deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, according to US officials. In late January, Trump spoke of "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and said failure to reach a deal would bring consequences "far worse" than the illegal strikes of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, US move 'closer to agreement' on some issues after 'serious, longest' round of talks: FM Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 7:41 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the latest round of indirect talks with the United States was one of the best, most serious, and longest to date, and that Tehran and Washington moved "closer to an agreement" on some issues. "Today I can say that one of the most serious and longest rounds of our negotiations was held. Approximately four hours were held in the morning and two hours in the afternoon," he told reporters after the Geneva talks on Thursday. He said the discussions were conducted indirectly with mediation by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, and that UN nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi also relayed technical points between the two sides. "His presence was technically useful. The Omani foreign minister also played an active role, as in previous rounds," Araghchi added. "Overall, during these long and very intensive hours, good progress was achieved, and we entered a serious review of the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear field and on sanctions." He said that on some issues, understandings had come very close. "Of course, there are still disagreements, which is natural, but compared with the past, both sides are showing greater seriousness in reaching a negotiated solution," Araghchi said. He said it was agreed that starting Monday, technical teams in Vienna at the International Atomic Energy Agency would begin detailed technical reviews to organize certain technical issues within a defined framework, which would then be aligned with the political demands and considerations of both sides. Araghchi added that it was also decided that the next round of talks would take place in the near future, likely in less than a week. "As I mentioned, this round of negotiations was one of our best, most serious, and longest. The Omani Foreign Minister also tweeted that very good progress had been achieved." On sanctions, Araghchi said Iran had clearly set out its expectations: what measures should be taken, which US sanctions should be lifted, and the process to be followed regarding issues raised at the UN Security Council. "Existing disagreements and necessary measures were clearly explained by us, and it was agreed that in the next session, we will examine these issues in greater detail," he said. Regarding the next round, the fourth, Araghchi said it had been agreed to hold it soon. "I expect this meeting to take place in about a week. In the meantime, both sides need to take certain steps, prepare documents, and consult with their capitals. After that, the next session will convene," he said. Araghchi to Press TV: 'We made very good progress' Speaking to the Press TV correspondent at the venue of the negotiations, Araghchi said, "We held very intensive, detailed discussions today. I think we made very good progress." "It was the first time that we had almost six to seven hours of talks both in the morning and the afternoon," he added. Araghchi stated that during the talks, "We were able to define the main elements of a possible deal and we discussed those elements." "Of course, there are still differences, but in most cases we at least have a general understanding of how to resolve those questions," the foreign minister noted. He added that lengthy discussions were held about sanctions removal as well. "I think altogether it was very good and constructive." The third round of indirect Iran-US talks began Thursday morning in a building belonging to the Omani Embassy. After three hours of intensive negotiations, the session paused to allow delegations to consult with their capitals. Iran and the United States resumed negotiations nearly eight months after talks were derailed by unprovoked Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic last June, continuing indirect discussions facilitated by Omani mediation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC official: US buildup, psychological tactics aim to 'swallow Iran again' Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 6:26 PM Iranian military commanders have slammed the enemies for waging psychological and cognitive warfare to destabilize the country, targeting national security, public morale, and economic stability. Speaking in Isfahan on Thursday, Yadollah Javani, deputy commander for political affairs of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), described the primary objective of the West as "swallowing Iran again" and seizing the country's natural resources. He said the enemy's strategy includes "disrupting societal calm, undermining psychological security, destabilizing markets, and influencing negotiations," which together form the pieces of a larger puzzle in the ongoing war against Iran. Javani stressed that the younger generation must remain vigilant against an adversary that "once humiliated the nation, and today, under the guise of 'support,' seeks to return and loot again." The IRGC official emphasized that, contrary to Western narratives, the Islamic Revolution did not initiate hostility with the West but responded to centuries of humiliation, despotism, and colonial exploitation in Iran. He traced Western antagonism back to the mid-Safavid period, continuing through the Qajar era when Iran lost over a million square kilometers of territory, and cited the Pahlavi era as "the darkest period of national humiliation," during which the British and Americans imposed puppet regimes that threatened Iran's religious and national identity. Echoing the concerns, Iran's Defense Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talayi-Nik said Thursday that "today, the approach of our enemies is based on cognitive warfare," targeting the Islamic, Iranian, and revolutionary identity of the Iranian people to undermine national unity and halt the country's progress through fear and insecurity. He added that the large-scale participation of Iranians in national and revolutionary events demonstrates the country's resilience and serves as a symbol of national strength. He said whenever Iran has faced threatssuch as during the Iraqi war of the 1980s on the countrythe people and armed forces have historically thwarted conspiracies through sacrifice and dedication. The remarks came amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump has ordered additional military deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, according to US officials. In late January, Trump spoke of "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and said failure to reach a deal would bring consequences "far worse" than the illegal strikes of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: West seeks to repeat past 'plunder' of Iran's oil Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 5:16 PM Moscow has slammed Western powers for pursuing policies toward Iran that mirror historical attempts to exploit the country's resources. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, referred to declassified historical documents and said that in 1946 American and British companies sought to plunder Iran's oil fields and that similar dynamics are unfolding today. She added that, according to those records, Western powers at the time pressured the Iranian government into producing unlimited oil, describing this as the central objective of their agenda. Zakharova continued that while those events took place 80 years ago, she believes the situation surrounding Iran is again taking a similar shape, though she noted that the global foreign-policy environment has fundamentally changed. Referring to Western threats against Iran and other countries, she said Western states are unwilling to relinquish advantages gained through colonial and neo-colonial practices and have grown accustomed to relying on those benefits to maintain dominance. "The majority of countries in the world are increasingly defending their rights, building domestic economic, industrial, and scientific capacity, and strengthening their national sovereignty," she stressed. In another part of his speech, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We are witnessing continuous threats against Tehran, a show of force, intimidation, and an irresponsible escalation of regional tensions by Washington." "Nevertheless, Russia and Iran continue to systematically strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of the people of both countries," she noted. The remarks came amid heightened regional tensions. US President Donald Trump has ordered additional military deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided-missile destroyers, according to US officials. In late January, Trump spoke of "another beautiful armada" of warships heading towards Iran and said failure to reach a deal would bring consequences "far worse" than the illegal strikes of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran has declared that it would respond decisively to any military adventurism, as in the case of the June US attacks, which prompted a ballistic missile barrage against Al Udeid, Washington's most important regional airbase located in Qatar. Speaking at the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow on Thursday, Alexander Lukashenko criticized Western pressure on Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, describing them as shared partners of Belarus and Russia, and condemned open interference by Western countries in the affairs of sovereign states. He stated that global trade is currently being damaged by heavy tariffs, technological and energy blockades, currency pressure, and piracy along logistical routes. The Belarusian president said that at present some countries are not being allowed to export oil. He added that while the West is, to some extent, wary of the leaders of the multipolar worldChina and Russiait has imposed unprecedented pressure on their allies. As an example, Lukashenko said that in recent weeks Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran"our shared partners"have been subjected to open interference, primarily through economic means. He emphasized that technological sovereignty, reliance on domestic resources and competencies, prioritizing Union-produced goods, and protecting the common market of the Russia-Belarus Union State are key pillars of security, no less important than military and foreign policy components. In another part of his speech, he said that China and Iran are interested in developing relations with Belarus within a framework similar to the current level of cooperation between Moscow and Minsk. "Today the Chinese have already suggested: 'Let's work according to the principle of your work with Russia - a region with regions.' Iran mentioned about half a year ago that they want this kind of cooperation as well," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Border guards seize cache of weapons, ammo in southeast Iran after ambushing terrorists Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 2:34 PM Iranian border guards seized a cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials after ambushing terrorists in the southeast of the country, a senior border commander said. The commander of Iran's Border Guard Police, Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan, announced the news on Thursday, adding that the confrontation between border guards and terrorist elements occurred near the southeastern border city of Zabol in Sistan and Baluchestan province. "In line with controlling and monitoring the southeastern borders of the country, and based on received reports regarding movements by regional smugglers to bring in explosive and suicide equipment, the matter was placed seriously on the agenda of the border guards," he said. "Accordingly, a team of border guards from the Zabol Border Regiment was dispatched to the designated location under direct operational guidance. After carrying out hours of targeted ambush, they observed several border violators carrying smuggled cargo who intended to illegally enter our country's territory. Action was taken to arrest them, and ultimately the smugglers - who had been caught off guard by the presence of the border guards - abandoned their cargo and fled the scene," General Javidan further noted. The commander added that, after inspecting the site, border guards discovered a backpack containing a suicide vest, three kilograms of explosive compounds, three homemade detonators, 200 pellets, two and a half meters of electrical wire, a Kalashnikov rifle, a magazine, and 43 rounds of live ammunition. Javidan said intelligence measures are ongoing to arrest those involved in the case, adding that these terrorists had intended to transfer the explosive shipment to central parts of the country for acts of sabotage but failed to achieve their "sinister objectives." The commander of Iran's Border Guard Police also emphasized that the operation once again demonstrated the intelligence and operational capabilities, firm determination, and round-the-clock efforts of the Sistan and Baluchestan Border Guard in safeguarding the country's territorial integrity and preventing any threats from entering the soil of "dear Iran." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Iran technical talks set for Vienna next week after 'significant progress' in Geneva Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 1:03 PM Technical-level talks between the United States and Iran will be held next week in Vienna after what Oman's foreign minister described as significant progress in the latest round of negotiations, he said on Thursday. "We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran," Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said in Geneva, adding that discussions would resume soon following consultations in the respective capitals. He thanked all parties involved for their efforts, including the negotiators, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Swiss government as host. The third round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States began earlier on Thursday at a building belonging to the Omani embassy in Geneva. After three hours of intensive discussions, the talks were paused to allow delegations to consult with their respective capitals on the issues under negotiation. Earlier in the day, ahead of the start of the Iran-US talks, the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman met in Geneva, the host city for the third round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters following the pause that "the talks have been very serious and highly intensive since the morning." "This pause was necessary to allow for consultationsboth with capitals and within the delegations themselves," he said. Baghaei said "the contradictory remarks coming from some US officials and various media outlets tied to the ruling establishments in the US have fueled doubts and ambiguities. For us, what matters is focusing on the outcome." He said Iran's negotiating approach had been "entirely clear," with positions of Iranian diplomats aligning with their statements, "though we have not seen the same from the other side." "Today's discussions were very serious, and we hope that in the talks taking place tonight, we will see a continuation of the dialogue on the lifting of sanctions and nuclear issuesthis time in a more operational manner, with practical proposals and executable initiatives," Baghaei said. "Some initiatives have been proposed in the talks," he said. "We should wait and see how tonight's discussions unfoldsome of which will require consultations with capitals before anything can be finalized. Once that process is complete, we should be able to offer a more precise assessment at the conclusion of the talks." Baghaei said Tehran was prepared to continue negotiations for as long as necessary. "We are ready to continue the talks for as long as possible," he said, adding that Iran had entered the process "with full seriousness to secure our national interests." He said the negotiations were focused on the nuclear issue and that Iran's positions had been clearly conveyed to the Omani mediators on both the removal of sanctions and Iran's nuclear rights and interests. Al Busaidi, who has been mediating the indirect talks, said on X: "We've been exchanging creative and positive ideas in Geneva today, and now both US and Iranian negotiators have adjourned for a break." "We'll resume later today. We hope to make more progress," he wrote. The talks marked the third round of indirect Iran-US negotiations, with Muscat acting as mediator. Oman also facilitated the previous two rounds, held earlier this month in Muscat and Geneva. Iran's delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Geneva on Wednesday. The US side was led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. In an earlier statement, Oman's foreign ministry said Iran's proposal had been reviewed alongside US questions on Tehran's nuclear program and the guarantees required for an agreement. It said technical and monitoring issues were examined in detail and described the discussions as serious and constructive, with unprecedented openness to new ideas. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme Defense Council, described the talks as an opportunity for a swift deal if the focus remains limited. "If the central issue is Iran not developing nuclear weapons, this aligns with #Leader_Fatwa and #Iran_Defensive_Doctrine, and an immediate agreement is within reach," he said. He was referring to a ruling issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, banning the development and use of weapons of mass destruction, including atomic bombs. Shamkhani added that Araghchi had sufficient support and authority to reach such a deal. Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, said all red lines and overarching nuclear strategies had been fully considered in Iran's proposal and that uranium enrichment "will under no circumstances be halted." Azizi said Iran had offered constructive proposals across all areas to remove pretexts and force clarity, describing the package presented in Geneva as a "serious opportunity for the other side to engage without repeating past excuses." He said the proposal addressed sanctions relief, investment opportunities, economic cooperation and the use of Iran's economic capacities to ensure tangible benefits for the Iranian people. "If the other side acts rationally and on the basis of national interests," he said, the package could lead to a "comprehensive agreement." Azizi warned, however, that if the talks were used as a tool of pressure or destabilization, Iran would continue its path with full vigilance. He said all defensive capabilities remained on full alert and that any action against Iran's national security or territorial integrity would be met with a decisive response. The comments came amid growing US military buildup near Iran, with President Donald Trump sending what Iranian officials described as contradictory signals, including threats of military aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 3rd round of nuclear talks opens in Geneva; Iran's proposal seen as 'test' of US sincerity Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 8:20 AM The Iranian delegation to the third round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States has reportedly put forward a proposal that would eliminate all of Washington's pretexts regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program. If rejected by the White House, the US move would reinforce suspicions in Tehran that Washington is not serious about diplomacy and that its diplomatic posture is merely a "game," IRNA reported on Thursday. The Iranian and American negotiators are holding a third round of indirect talks at Oman's embassy in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday about the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program. Oman also mediated the previous two rounds of talks between Iran and the US, which were held in Muscat and Geneva earlier this month following efforts by regional countries to avert a military confrontation. IRNA reported that Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi presented Iran's proposal to the US side, though no details of its contents have officially been disclosed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Geneva on Wednesday, leads the Iranian delegation attending Thursday's nuclear talks. The American side is led by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Ahead of the talks, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Omani foreign minister met to discuss technical issues related to Iran's nuclear program. During a 90-minute meeting with his Omani counterpart on Wednesday, Araghchi outlined Iran's positions and considerations regarding a potential agreement with the United States on sanctions relief and nuclear issues. He said some media outlets had previously reported on the supposed terms of a potential agreement, but described those reports as unreliable and mere media speculation. He added that circles affiliated with the Israeli regime, as well as hawks in Washington, have openly circulated speculation in an effort to influence American policymakers. The Omani top diplomat also met in Geneva with US negotiators Witkoff and Kushner before the talks officially kicked off. During the meeting, the Iranian proposal was discussed alongside the US team's questions regarding Iran's nuclear program and the necessary guarantees to achieve an agreement, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry. All technical and monitoring aspects of the issue were reviewed in detail, it added. The Omani foreign minister said the talks were proceeding with seriousness and in a constructive spirit, and that both sides demonstrated an unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas. Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iranian negotiators entered the talks with full readiness and seriousness. He said the Iranian delegation includes experts and specialists in nuclear issues, sanctions relief, legal matters, and economic affairs. "We are fully prepared and committed to continue the talks for as long as necessary," he added. In a post on his X account on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed an "encouraging" signal in indirect talks with the United States while expressing the country's readiness for "any potential scenario." "Recent negotiations [with the US] involved the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals," Pezeshkian said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Omani FM Cites 'Significant Progress' As US, Iran Conclude Fresh Round Of Nuclear Talks By RFE/RL February 26, 2026 US and Iranian officials held a fresh round of Oman-mediated nuclear talks in Geneva on February 26 for what is seen as a last-ditch attempt to avoid a major military conflict between the foes. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has a history of mediating talks between two, said he saw "significant progress" and announced that technical level discussions will take place next week in Vienna. "We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals... I am grateful to all concerned for their efforts: the negotiators, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and our hosts the Swiss government," Busaidi wrote on X. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also said the meeting brought "good progress." He added that negotiators dealt specifically with the country's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. While there was no immediate comment from the United States, according to Axios, a senior US official also described the talks as "positive." However, the outlet had previously reportedthat, at the start of the talks, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who represented the United States in Geneva, were "disappointed" by the rhetoric of Iranian officials. Araqchi said the Iranian delegation had "very clearly stated" its demands. The third round of discussions came as President Donald Trump weighs options for US military action if no deal is secured to curb Iran's nuclear program, with two American carrier groups deployed within striking distance of the Islamic republic. The sides held indirect talks earlier this month in Oman, the first since Israel and the United States bombed Iran's key nuclear sites during a brief conflict in June. A second round of talks was held in Geneva on February 17. The two rounds of negotiations failed to yield a breakthrough, and key sticking points remain unsolved. During the talks, the United States has demanded that Iran put a complete halt on enriching uranium and give up its stockpile of around 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, steps that would prevent Tehran from building a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful, civilian purposes such as electricity generation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on February 25 that Iran is trying to "rebuild elements" of its nuclear program even though it is not enriching uranium "right now." Rubio said that, while the talks will focus on Iran's nuclear program, its missiles "have to be addressed in the negotiations" as Tehran possesses "thousands of short-range ballistic missiles that can reach US bases located in region." He added that Trump's comments on February 24 during his State of the Union address that Iran is "working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America" didn't mean they currently possess such weapons, but that "clearly they are headed in the pathway to, one day, being able to develop weapons that could reach the continental US." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on February 26 that the indirect talks would focus solely on Tehran's nuclear program. Iranian state media reported that the UN's nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, reportedly joined the talks "to help advance discussions on technical issues." Albusaidi said on February 26 that US and Iranian officials had expressed "unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions." Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions in return for the lifting of US sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium. Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the US-based Arms Control Association, said there is still a chance for diplomacy even as the "risks of miscalculation and the risks of a return to conflict are extremely high." "I think, despite all of the threats, Trump wants a deal," Davenport told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "He does not want to get the United States bogged down in another conflict in the region. And I think that Iran, too -- to realize sanctions relief and to prevent a return to conflict -- would also see value in an agreement." Ahead of the February 26 negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who led the Iranian delegation in Geneva, said that a deal was "within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority." Araqchi also vowed that Iran will "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon," but insisted on the country's right to "harness dividends of peaceful nuclear technology." In his February 24 address, Trump appeared to lay out his case for a possible attack on Iran, saying he would not allow the "world's number one sponsor of terror" to have a nuclear weapon. Trump said Tehran wanted to rebuild its nuclear program and is "at this moment again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions," a claim rejected by Tehran. The negotiations in Geneva come after repeated threats from Trump of military action against Tehran, first over Iran's brutal crackdown on mass protests in January, and then more recently over the country's nuclear program. World powers struck a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2015 to prevent an Iranian bomb. Western economic sanctions were eased at the time, but Iran began reneging on commitments after Trump, in his first term as president, withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear- talks-trump/33688743.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 Iran Has No Plans Regarding Nuclear Weapons - President Sputnik News 20260226 TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran's leadership has no plans to obtain nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday, commenting on the US's remark on the absence of the relevant promise. In his State of the Union address to Congress, US President Donald Trump said that he prefers diplomacy with Iran but has never heard "secret words" from Iran that it will never have nuclear weapons. "Opponents say that Iran should not seek to obtain nuclear weapons, but we have repeatedly said that we do not want this," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency. Iran has conveyed to the United States through Oman its proposals regarding a possible nuclear deal, the IRNA news agency reported on Thursday. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi conveyed these proposals to the American side as an intermediary. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Further progress made in diplomatic engagement with US in Geneva: Araghchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 27, 2026 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that further progress has been made in the diplomatic engagement with the United States in Geneva, Switzerland. In a post on his X account on Friday, Araghchi said, "Further progress has been made in our diplomatic engagement with the United States." "This round of talks was the most intense so far. It concluded with the mutual understanding that we will continue to engage in a more detailed manner on matters that are essential to any deal-including sanctions termination and nuclear-related steps. In parallel with the political track, technical teams will convene in Vienna in the coming days. Their mission is as critical as ours." "We thank Oman for its persistent good offices, and wish to express our gratitude to Switzerland for hosting another round of talks," the top Iranian diplomat added. 3266** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exclusive | There is understanding on most elements of potential agreement with US: Araghchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 27, 2026 Geneva, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described the atmosphere of the discussions on the third round of talks in Geneva as serious, adding that there is an understanding on most elements of a potential agreement with the US. In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Thursday, Araghchi said that the indirect negotiations with the US delegation in Geneva have entered a more serious and in-depth phase. The third round of talks was significantly more serious and lasted longer than previous discussions, he said, adding that during this round, both sides addressed key elements that could form the basis of an agreement. The top Iranian diplomat noted, "There is agreement on most of these elements. How to address these elements naturally requires more detailed discussions later. For this reason, it was decided that our experts would have a meeting with the [International Atomic Energy] Agency next Monday. Some technical aspects need to be discussed there to clarify these technical dimensions so that we can make decisions about them in political meetings afterwards." "Our next meeting will also be held in about a week, after some documents are prepared and the necessary reviews are carried out. Its exact time will be determined through the contacts we will have." In response to the question about current developments in the region, as well as military pressure and threats, Araghchi said, "The US must choose either the path of dialogue or the path of confrontation and tension." "What is clear is that Iran's nuclear issue cannot be resolved through military actions. They tried it once and did not get results. This time too, they increased the pressure as much as they could and achieved no result. There is no way other than for them to reach a solution through dialogue and negotiations, which is currently underway. Therefore, it is natural that they should refrain from actions, behaviors, and statements that increase tension and disrupt the diplomatic process." 3266**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran-U.S. Geneva talks show diplomacy keeps door ajar, but key differences still unresolved People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:13, February 27, 2026 CAIRO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian and U.S. delegations held their third round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday. While Tehran has signaled tactical flexibility on uranium enrichment, Washington has insisted on sweeping concessions that would effectively dismantle Iran's nuclear program and curb its regional influence. Experts warned that although the indirect talks have achieved "significant" and "good progress" as Iran mediator Oman reported, the fundamental rift between Tehran and Washington remains unbridgeable, keeping the risk of military confrontation dangerously high. GOOD PROGRESS ON TABLE, BUT NO HANDSHAKE YET The Geneva talks, headed respectively by Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and mediated by Oman, were held on Thursday with both sides presenting what Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called "very important and practical proposals" on the nuclear file and sanctions relief. According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, after three hours of intensive negotiations, delegations from both sides took a break for "internal consultations" before resuming their talks later in the day. The IRNA said the second stage lasted two hours. Araghchi said good progress was achieved with Washington in the talks, and the two sides agreed to begin technical reviews in Vienna next Monday. He added that it was also decided that the Iranian and U.S. delegations would hold the fourth round of talks very soon, perhaps in less than a week. Following the first stage of the talks, Oman's Foreign Ministry described the atmosphere as demonstrating "unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions." A report by The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, said Washington is demanding that Iran accept a deal with no expiration date, setting tough terms including shutting down Iran's three main nuclear facilities of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, and transferring all remaining enriched uranium to the United States. The United States is offering only limited sanctions relief at the outset of any agreement, with the possibility of further easing if Iran complies over time, said the report. Meanwhile, Iran's state-run IRIB TV reported that the Iranian delegation has completely rejected transferring Iran's enriched uranium abroad in the indirect talks, and is also insistent on the termination of U.S. sanctions against the country. Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posted on social media platform X that if the main issue is Iran not making nuclear weapons, "an immediate agreement is within reach," citing a religious decree against such weapons. Tehran has been firm in securing its right to enrichment on its own soil. Palestinian political analyst Samer Anabtawi told Xinhua that the Iranian move to prepare a draft agreement shows its "clear seriousness" in the negotiation process. "But Washington's acceptance of it remains another matter linked to broader political calculations," Anabtawi noted. Akram Atallah, a Gaza-based analyst, told Xinhua that Israel, though not at the table, is "the most influential actor" shaping the "dynamics" of the talks. "It plays a significant role in preventing the negotiations from reaching a meaningful outcome," Atallah said, adding, "many of the conditions being raised in this diplomatic process are, in essence, Israeli conditions reflected in American demands." DUAL-TRACK STRATEGY "What is currently happening can be described as a 'finger-biting' phase, in which each side is flexing its military and political muscle in an attempt to impose its negotiating terms," Anabtawi noted. Both Washington and Tehran are pursuing a dual-track strategy: negotiating while visibly preparing for possible conflict. The United States has amassed two aircraft carrier strike groups, over 150 combat aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighters, and has reinforced its bases in Jordan and Israel. It has also evacuated non-essential staff from its embassy in Beirut. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of "phase two" if such indirect talks fail, and The New York Times reported he is considering initial limited strikes to pressure Tehran at the negotiation table, which could later turn into a far larger campaign. Iran, for its part, conducted live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz last week, temporarily closing the strategic waterway in a show of its ability to disrupt global oil shipments. Tehran has repeatedly stressed readiness to retaliate forcefully against any attack. Mohammed Nader al-Omari, a Syrian writer and researcher specializing in crisis and conflict management, described the scale of the U.S. mobilization as "not routine" and sending "a clear signal that military options are being prepared." Another Syrian analyst, Sinan Hassan, called it "coercive diplomacy," by "applying pressure through military signaling while keeping negotiations alive." Yet Amer Sabaileh, a Jordanian political analyst, argued that the size and nature of the buildup suggest Washington is not merely posturing. "The military preparations and reinforcements the United States is carrying out in the region suggest that the possibility of war and U.S. strikes against Iran is highly likely," Sabaileh said. Meanwhile, Charbel Barakat, international editor at Kuwait's Al-Jarida newspaper, noted Iran's tactical flexibility, as Tehran has signaled willingness to cap enrichment at 3.67 percent, accept an international consortium for fuel supply, and place its 60-percent stockpile under continuous monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency, all while keeping the missile program and regional allies off the table. "This flexibility does not mean a willingness to alter its strategic doctrine," Mohamed Mohsen Abo El-Nour, head of the Arab Forum for Analyzing Iranian Policies and an expert on Iranian affairs, told Xinhua. Ahed Ferwana, a Gaza-based analyst, observed that the U.S. military moves "exert significant pressure on Iran" and are meant to push Tehran toward compromise. But he cautioned that if Washington rejects Iran's proposals, "tensions are likely to continue or even escalate." POSSIBLE TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING AMID PERSISTENT CORE CONFLICT Despite the tactical maneuvers, experts agreed that the core conflict is far from resolved. Iran's red lines, including its right to a civilian nuclear program, its missile deterrent, and its regional influence, are seen as non-negotiable. In the eyes of Atallah, U.S. objectives may extend to altering Iran's domestic trajectory, possibly through regime change, which is a "maximalist" goal Tehran would never accept. El-Nour pointed out that Washington's goal "goes beyond the narrow nuclear file to recalibrating the security environment surrounding Iran." Amid heated debate on whether a full-scale war will break out between the two sides, Omani analyst Khalfan al-Touqi cautioned that any conflict would be far more destructive than the 12-day war in June last year. "The strikes will not be limited, as some expect, but will be far more dangerous, with dire consequences not just for Iran, but for the entire region." Still, some experts believe in a possible interim outcome, with both sides reaching a technical understanding, which could reduce imminent confrontation. "Both sides are aware of the high cost of military escalation and therefore prefer managing tensions through negotiation," said Abdulaziz Alshaabani, researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, noting that a full-scale explosion "remains a less probable outcome." For al-Omari, Trump now faces a narrowing set of choices. On one hand, he is under pressure from Washington hawks not to accept terms that could be portrayed as a watered-down version of the earlier nuclear deal signed in 2015. On the other hand, military action carries its own dangers, he noted. "There are serious fears about the consequences of war and the scale of losses U.S. forces could suffer if Iran absorbs the first strike and is able to respond." Thair Abu Ras, director of Palestinian Programs at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, questioned whether Washington is truly prepared to pull the trigger. Washington "is not politically prepared and lacks sufficient legal grounds, and most of its regional allies do not appear to be keen on a war of this nature," Ras said. Still, he acknowledged that after such a massive buildup, Trump faces "two main options: either launching a strike or extracting an agreement that is presented to the American public as an achievement." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi anti-terror groups threaten action if US continues occupation, interference Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 7:07 AM The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee, an umbrella of six anti-terror groups, has warned that it will take action if the United States keeps occupying the country and dictating its will on the nation. In a statement released on Wednesday, the committee blasted Washington for failing to honor its commitments under an agreement with Baghdad, which stipulates the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraqi territory. It further denounced the occupation forces for violating Iraqi airspace and posing a security threat to Iraq's stability in a "blatant violation" of the country's sovereignty and national dignity. The US actions in Iraq "leave us with no choice but to assume our legal and moral responsibilities in taking positions befitting the dignity of our people and their legitimate right to end the occupation, if American forces insist on maintaining their presence and imposing their will on the country," it added. Also in its statement, the resistance committee condemned the US interference in Iraq's domestic affairs, saying Washington determines which political figures are allowed to assume positions in the government. It was referring to the United States' opposition to the return of Nouri al-Maliki, the former Iraqi prime minister, to office. The US threatened sanctions against Iraqi individuals and institutions if Maliki took the post of prime minister. Latest reports say the US has given Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc until February 27 to withdraw the candidacy of Maliki, who has vowed not to step aside. For more than two decades, Iraqi resistance groups have been pressing for an end to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq after a US-led coalition invasion of the country in a flagrant breach of international law based on false claims of the possession of weapons of mass destruction. The US military has had roughly 2,500 troops in Iraq in what it calls an advice and assist capacity since December 2021, when Washington announced the end of the American combat role there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu's statement together with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs The future belongs to those who innovate, and Israel and India are bent on innovation. We are proud ancient civilizations, very proud of our past, but also absolutely determined to seize our future and we can do it better together. Type: Press Releases Topic: Foreign Policy Publish Date: 26.02.2026 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 26 February 2026): "This is an amazing visit, an amazing conclusion to an amazing visit. It was short but extraordinarily productive and also extraordinarily moving. I think there wasn't a dry eye left in Israel after your moving statement yesterday in the Knesset. And I can tell you that since then we've also had the opportunity to not only look deep into our hearts but also into our remarkable minds that we have in our two countries. We saw an exhibit of innovation that excites imagination beyond belief. We spoke about cooperation with the extraordinarily talented people of India and our people and we're working this into concrete plans. I'll just give you two examples. You know, you talk about precision agriculture. You know what that means? It means you don't irrigate a field on average, you target a specific part. No, you target a specific plant. You water a plant. Well, why can't you 'water' a specific student's mind? When we talk about precision education, we now have the software, the AI to reach every young student, boy or girl and enable them to reach their full potential. And the limitations that constrained us in previous times no longer constrain us, that is to those who seize the future. The future belongs to those who innovate, and Israel and India are bent on innovation. We are proud ancient civilizations, very proud of our past, but also absolutely determined to seize our future and we can do it better together. We decided to have a G2G meeting in India as soon as we can arrange it. We'd like to take the distinguished ministers who are here. I have to comment, my friend, Narendra, you have an amazingly efficient government. What you can do with one minister and one ambassador. Now, it gives me thoughts, I don't want you to worry about it. Don't worry about it. But in fact, we know that the meeting of minds and hearts that we've had here will also continue in this remarkable G2G that is long overdue and will create an even greater boost to the enormous benefits that we can bring to each other, and I think, to humanity at large. And finally, I have to say at the end of this visit that I owe India, I don't know if I told you this, Narendra, but I owe India a great personal debt. You see, when I met Sara for the first time, I think our first or second date was in an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. It was Reena Pushkarna. And I have to tell you, there is no question, first of all, the food was unbelievable, and Sara was introduced to it for the first time. So it was a great first date, not only with the food, the date was excellent too. So obviously, I'm indebted to you, as are my children. I want to tell you how deeply and from the heart we feel both our personal friendship and the friendship between our governments and our peoples. And may this continue and flourish and strengthen as I'm sure it will as a result of this visit. Thank you. Thank you, Narendra, and thank you all." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli army chief privately warns of cost of new war with Iran: Report Iran Press TV Thursday, 26 February 2026 6:42 PM Israel's army chief Eyal Zamir has privately warned about the devastating consequences of a potential war with Iran as an increased US military presence in the region raises the risk of a multi-front escalation. Zamir has chosen to remain publicly silent about the potential consequences for Israel's security if the United States were to launch an aggression against Iran, Israel's Ynet reported on Thursday. In closed-door discussions, however, Zamir has presented and emphasized to the political leadership the implications and risks of such a campaign, it added. "The military are careful not to brief on the matter, amid pressure from the political echelon not to make public the implications and risks of the move," the Israeli outlet reported, referring to pressure being put on the army by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime. There is a belief in Israeli army circles that a US-Israeli escalation could lead to a "war of attrition" that would include devastating Iranian missile strikes on Israeli occupied territories. "Such a war of attrition could last for many months, with the primary cost carried by the Israeli economy," the report said. The report further warned that missiles could also be fired at Israeli targets from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq following any US aggression. Earlier this week, Netanyahu, during a briefing in the Knesset, said that "we are in very complex and challenging times." The Israeli public is anxious that any new war might see even greater destruction inside Israeli settlements than that caused in June last year. All the while, the Israeli army is doing nothing, according to Ynet, to reassure the public, as "the constant stream of reports about yet another US aircraft landing in Israel and another destroyer entering the Mediterranean only further heightens the Israeli anxiety." On Thursday Israeli outlet Haaretz spoke with several Israeli citizens who are still struggling to return to normal life after being impacted by last year's war. According to Haaretz, hundreds of Israeli settlers have still not returned to their settlement units eight months on from the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. The developments come as US President Donald Trump has markedly escalated his routinely warlike rhetoric concerning Iran, besides ordering a significant military buildup in the West Asia region, including around the Islamic Republic. The hostile posturing has seen Washington deploy two aircraft carriers as well as numerous warplanes and missile systems in the region. The saber-rattling and muscle-flexing comes although the two sides have headed into a third round of fresh indirect nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Geneva. Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an agreement on outstanding issues was possible, but emphasized that the country's Armed Forces are ready. "The aim is to prevent a war. When you are prepared for a war, you can prevent it," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Thursday, 26th February 2026 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ladies and Gentlemen Assalam o Alaikum! I welcome you all at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I will begin with a roundup of the activities over the past week. From 23-24 February, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif undertook an official visit to Qatar, at the invitation of the Ameer of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with His Highness the Emir of Qatar. The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. They expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of political engagement and underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. His Highness the Ameer reiterated Qatar's commitment to a deepening economic partnership to a higher strategic level. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes. The visit reflects the shared resolve of Pakistan and Qatar to further solidify their robust partnership and translate their strong political ties into tangible economic outcomes. His Highness the Ameer graciously accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan. The visit shall take place later this year. During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud Al Thani, also called on the Prime Minister. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in defence and security and the ongoing collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries. H.E. Sheikh Saoud appreciated the professionalism and expertise of the Pakistan Armed Forces and conveyed Qatar's interest in deepening defence partnership between the two countries. The meeting reflected the shared resolve of Pakistan and Qatar to further elevate their strategic partnership across all areas of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar is on a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 26-28 February 2026 to participate in the Extraordinary Ministerial Session of the OIC Executive Committee. We issued a Curtain Raiser to this visit yesterday. As you know, the meeting has been convened to consider the illegal decisions of the Israeli occupation authorities aimed at expanding settlements, pursuing annexation, and attempting to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank. In the Ministerial Session, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will share Pakistan's perspective on the latest illegal measures by Israel to convert areas of the Occupied West Bank into so-called "state land." Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, while in London, spoke with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov. The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, regional & international developments, including the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., which they both attended. They agreed to maintain close coordination on all matters of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Dr. Khalil ur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, felicitating him on his recent appointment. Both leaders expressed desire to further strengthening bilateral ties, with a shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity. They also agreed to expand cooperation across diverse sectors and in multilateral fora, building a forward-looking partnership for the peoples of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestinealong with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), League of Arab States (LAS), and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)strongly condemned remarks by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel suggesting it would be acceptable for Israel to control territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank. They described the comments as dangerous, inflammatory, and a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, warning that they threaten regional security and stability. Secretary Generals of the Arab League and the OIC and a host of countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Egypt, the Luxembourg, Norway, Palestine, the Portugal Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Turkiye, and the UAE. We condemned in the strongest terms a series of recent Israeli decisions that introduce sweeping extensions to unlawful Israeli control over the West Bank. Changes are wide-ranging, reclassifying Palestinian land as so-called Israeli 'state land', accelerating illegal settlement activity, and further entrenching Israeli administration. *** (Nimra Sohail, PTV): Sir, this month marks 19 years of Samjhauta Express tragedy and the victims of this tragedy are still awaiting justice. What are your comments about it? Spokesperson: Yes, you are right. This is 19th anniversary of Samjhauta Express Terror attack, in which scores of civilians, including Pakistani civilians - 68 in total including 44 Pakistani nationals were killed. We express our severe disappointment at Indian Government's callousness towards the plight of the families of the Pakistani nationals and others, including Indian nationals I believe, who await justice even after the passage of so many years, 19 years. This callous response confirms India's role as an official and political accomplice in the heinous terrorist attack carried out on its soil against innocent civilians, Pakistanis and others alike. In this regard, the Government of Pakistan condemns the shameless acquittal and exoneration of all four perpetrators: Swami Aseemanand, who publicly confessed being the mastermind of the heinous attack, Lieutenant Colonel Purohith, a serving Indian army officer, and one Sadhvi Prayaga Singh Thakur. We are alarmed that the Hindutva extremism and saffron terror that had motivated this inhumane attack 19 years ago has intensified manifold under the current regime in India. The Government of Pakistan demands a fair trial of the perpetrators and abettors of Samjhauta terrorist attack be brought to justice. The families of innocent Pakistani nationals mercilessly killed at the hands of the Hindutva motivated extremist deserves justice. Let me add that India routinely indulges in anti-Pakistan propaganda, including by exploiting the bogey of terrorism. And in this backdrop, India's own systemic exoneration of the perpetrators of Samjhauta terrorist attack is yet another example of Indian duplicity and state sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan. (Zafar Malik, The Mainichi Japanese): My question regarding Prime Minister visit to Qatar, there were reports that the basic purpose was although one of the agenda point was to indirect communication with the Afghan government after recent clashes. So what are your comments Spokesperson: The Prime Minister's Office has issued a detailed press release on the meeting that took place. I have also briefed you on this subject. The regional issues were discussed, including possibly Afghanistan. This is what I can confirm at this stage. (Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): Two questions. You just talked about bogey of terror from India, when Pakistan, in its self-defense, had strikes against terror camps inside Afghanistan. The Indian External Affairs Ministry (MEA) issued a statement which, in fact condemned Pakistan. So when so many voices, they are raising concerns about Pakistan, self-defense rights that was exercised duly. What's your comment? Sir, my second question is that on the sideline of the Board of peace meeting in Washington, five countries, they have committed the troops for ISF. So whether Pakistan is actively considering or waiting for the question that Marco Rubio said, we owe certain answers to Pakistani question, what is the status of our decision, sir, thank you. Spokesperson: On your question regarding the Indian MEA's statement: we completely reject India's statement. In fact, the statement vindicates our stance that India continues to aid and abet terrorism in Pakistan through its support for BLA, the Fitna Al Hind and other terrorist organization in the region. We possess concrete evidence of India's involvement in sponsoring and abetting terrorism. India's MEA's statements (that you referred and, also the statement that Indian MEA made after the terrorist attacks in Balochistan) reinforce this conclusion. These statements provide an additional evidence, circumstantial evidence, of India's complicity in promoting terrorism in Pakistan. As regarding the second question about ISF troops: I gave a detailed response last week; no decision has been taken as yet from Pakistan. (Saifullah, Khyber News): My first question is, Pakistan military has been successfully defending the country's border amid ongoing tension with Afghanistan, and the Foreign Office also has actively demarche the Afghan Ambassador to signal Islamabad position, not that these measures have been taken. What additional diplomatic steps could Pakistan pursue to further address the situation with Afghanistan? My second question is given the reports of internal divisions within Taliban, is Pakistan currently engaging in dialogue with any specific fraction? Additionally, is there any level of contact or engagement between Pakistan and the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan? Spokesperson: First on Pakistan's military response: we will respond swiftly, strongly in exercise of our right to self-defense. This message has been put across through all international stakeholders. As regards taking international community and other foreign governments and entities into confidence, there are two tracks of this engagement. First is the, the bilateral trade, where we engage with the countries, particularly Afghan neighbors with which we have bilateral/trilateral dialogue mechanisms on these issues. So, these issues are taken up there. Secondly, as you are aware, the UN Security Council's Counterterrorism Committees, both on Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanction Committee are also seized of the matter and this matter is routinely discussed there. You must be following our statements made at the Security Council. We demand action against these terrorist outfits of operating with impunity and with freedom from Afghan soil. On your question regarding dialogue: I am not aware of any structured dialogue. In terms of people-to-people relations, we have nothing against the people of Afghanistan. The contentious issue is the terrorist outfits who operate in Afghanistan, and the official support and impunity being offered to that terrorism. As regards the people of Afghanistan, we respect them, and we have traditional historic linguistic ties with them. We do not wish any harm to Afghan people. (Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, The News): Two part of question, as you just referred that PM House statement speaks of Afghanistan being discussed during the visit of Prime Minister and Field Marshal. I wish to know is Qatar going to play any diplomatic role to overcome this role between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and is Pakistan prepared to accept any role of Qatar in the arena of diplomacy. In the second part of my query is that two global acknowledged terrorist, Netanyahu and Modi, they spoke of a six countries Alliance against whom that is quite understandable. I wish to have your comments about this nefarious proposal. Spokesperson: Let me answer, first of all, on the role of Qatar, the issue may have come up in a broader context. As I said, our two leaders, His Excellency, the Prime Minister and His Highness the Amir exchanged views on regional and national developments, emphasizing the importance of dialogue diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes. To that extent, of course, we would welcome Qatar's role in settling all these issues, including Afghanistan. As regards the statement from Israel on so called alliance of six countries: we have followed this development. In this regard, I would also like to draw your attention towards the resolution adopted by the Senate of Pakistan that strongly condemned such remarks and attempts to undermine the unity of Muslim Ummah. So we continue to condemn these provocative steps and statements by the leadership of the occupying power that threaten regional and national peace and stability. (Zeeshan Yousafzai, Dunya TV): Sir, yesterday, Reuters issued a story quoting an intelligence official that the communication Pakistan side has received by Afghan side has told that the law-and-order situation in Pakistan is going to get worse. Need your comments on this. Secondly, sir, previously we saw that Pakistan has conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan, approximately 6 to 7 times but the situation would normalize after the strikes, marking reduction in terrorism activities. It can be noted this time after the strikes, the intensity has worsened there are growing terror activities in Pakistan for example, in KP there are such incidents occurring on daily basis and in Balochistan too. So, has your strategy worked out? If not, then what would be your next move? Spokesperson: On threatening statements from Afghanistan: these are quite discouraging and disappointing. Pakistan has taken action against terrorist outfits based on verifiable intelligence. Precision strikes were carried out in response to the terrorist attacks, the most recent one in Bajaur and Bannu. Beyond that, we remain cognizant of the threats that emanate from Afghanistan. The security forces, law enforcement agencies remain vigilant, and we would work to ensure the safety and security of our people. As regards the substance of these Afghan statements, we can totally reject them and emphatically point out to our own readiness to face this threat. The difference between the last time and this time that you mentioned - ever since Taliban took over power, certainly in the last 12 to 18 months, terrorist attacks have increased. And this point out to our assertion that terrorists operating from Afghanistan conduct attacks against Pakistan. I would not quantify the amount of terrorist attacks taking place now with anything that took place previously, four or five months before. What we can say is that we remain seized of this threat, and our forces remain vigilant and working to ensure the full security of our people. (Mateen Haider, GTV News): Thank you, Mr. Spokesperson. I have two questions. One, situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is alarming, and once again, there have been massive human rights violations by Indian security forces. Three more Kashmiris have been killed over there. So, what are your comments on these fresh atrocities? And second, there have been reports that Pakistani diplomats and Ambassador in Kabul have been asked by Afghan authorities to leave. Would you confirm? What is status of our Embassy, our Diplomat, and also what measures are being taken for their safety and security in the aftermath of aid strikes? Their lives must be in danger. So what is position of government of Pakistan vis-a-vis the security of our diplomats? Thank you (Raziq Mehmood Bhatti, Kashmir Express): What are your comments on inhumane atrocities by India in Kunan Poshpora in IIOJK? Secondly, on 5 February 2019, unjust imposition of articles by India to unlawfully take away the possessions of Kashmiris in IIOJK, now there are reports that buildings are being forcefully evacuated in other cities of India as well. Under which article India is doing this? Spokesperson: Firstly, let me sum up the two questions on Kashmir, and then I can come to your second part of your question on safety of Pakistani diplomats in Afghanistan. The Indian state terrorism continues in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan strongly condemns this extrajudicial killing of three Kashmiri youth by the Indian occupation forces and a fake encounter in the Kishtwar district of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmiri youth were taken into custody, killed, and their bodies were mutilated, marking yet another grim episode in the disputed territory and another manifestation of India's unabated state-sponsored terrorism in the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where fake encounters, custodial killings and the desecration of bodies have been routine practice to suppress the Kashmiri people's legitimate struggle for self-determination. This also relates to the second part of the question about the Kunan Poshpora, which is etched in our memory as an episode of grave violation of the rights to life, and indeed of the crimes committed against women in IIOJK. This Kunan Poshpora incident has been documented extensively by the UN Human Rights machinery, by the International Civil Society working in the areas of human rights. The perpetrators of this heinous crime remain at large, and no justice has been done. We would continue to knock on the conscience of the international community, the UN Human Rights machinery and other civil society organizations and individual countries which have strong positions on the issues of human rights and the rights of women, right to life - these are a series of rights that have been abused in the Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir. We would urge the international community, including in the United Nations, the Human Rights bodies and global media to take cognizance of these escalating and past and present human rights violations taking place in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, hold India accountable for its actions, and take decisive actions for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir disputes in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. On a Mateen Sahib's question about the safety and security of Pakistani nationals: Yes, this has been an issue of priority in exchange with Afghanistan. We expect foolproof, complete security to our diplomats stationed in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Pakistan takes the safety and security of Afghan diplomats in Pakistan and Pakistan very seriously. We expect the same seriousness from Afghan authorities in providing complete security to our diplomats and officials who are present in Afghanistan. I would also add Pakistani nationals, our people who are working with the aid agencies, international NGOs/organizations as well as those who are there as businesses, as students in this list - complete security must be ensured to all Pakistanis present in Afghanistan. (Khalid Mehmood, Express News): Andrabi Sahab, Prime Minister is visiting Russia next week. What will be agenda of talks with President Putin, will the topics of Afghanistan and Gaza be discussed as well? Spokesperson: About the Prime Minister's visit to Russia, we will inform you in due course. I do not have any information right now. We will inform you in due course about the dates and agenda. (Allah Noor Wazir): Current situation of human rights in Pakistan was discussed in the British Parliament. Founder of PTI were also discussed in the parliament. What message Pakistan will convey to the world, particularly to the British parliament on human rights conditions in Pakistan. Secondly, US President Donald Trump stated that he solely saved 35 million people, particularly the life of Prime Minister of Pakistan during Indo-Pak conflict of May 2025. He also stated that Pakistan downed 11 Indian fighter plans. Is Pakistan thankful of President Donald Trump for saving lives of Pakistanis? Spokesperson: About human rights in Pakistan: this is a domestic matter of Pakistan. We are party to a number of UN human rights conventions. We fully abide by them. There is a reporting mechanism on human rights that we abide by under these international conventions. Pakistan has a robust Human Rights Commission which is independent and based on recognized principle of the independence of such commissions. We also have commission, for example, on women, minorities and so on and so forth and even at the provincial level. So, there is robust human rights machinery within Pakistan monitoring the situation. Furthermore, there is this concept of domestic remedy, which is available. Whilst we engage in dialogue with our international partners on the issue of human rights, we do make a distinction of not allowing interference in our internal affairs. Such distinction would clearly be stipulated to any international interlocutor as and when required. Regarding President Trump's statements, I have often expressed my views and our position on the role of US during the 90 hours war is well documented. We have elaborated it a number of times. I would reiterate what I have stated before. (Abbas Jaffer, Roznama District): Our Foreign Minister is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. What is the agenda of this conference will the issue of Afghanistan be discussed there as well? And, secondly, tomorrow is 27th February, the anniversary of Operation. Swift Retort. What are your comments and message on this day? Thank you. Spokesperson: On this visit of the DPM to Saudi Arabia: as I said, this visit is to attend the Extraordinary Ministerial Session of OIC Executive Committee, to consider illegal decision of the Israeli occupation authorities aimed at expanding settlements and annexation in the West Bank. So the agenda of this meeting is Palestine, and this is where this meeting will focus. I do not think Afghanistan is on the agenda. Regarding Operation Swift Retort: yes, it is an important event not only in our history but also in the chronicles of military history, whereby these planes were shot down, one Indian pilot was in our custody and was returned with magnanimity. So, yes, this is an important event. As much as we observe the anniversary of this event; I am sure the students of military history, particularly the military aviation/military aircraft/Air Force history would also study it in detail. We pay tribute to all our officers, soldiers who took part in the operation. (Muhammad Anas Ahsan Malik, Asia One News): Regarding the strikes in Afghanistan, we saw that there have been reports of civilian casualties, particularly in Mehsud. That is number one. So your comments on that. Were there civilian casualties over that collateral? and the statement that was put out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that mentioned that seven locations or seven strikes were carried out. BA is one of the locations. What about the other six? Is there any confirmed intelligence inputs that you would like to share with regards to the number of terrorists or civilians killed? If you would want to clarify on that, thank you. Spokesperson: Let me begin by reiterating that the Intelligence-based selective targeting of these seven terrorist camps and their hideouts in Pakistan - Afghanistan border region, were primarily to ensure safety and security of Pakistani citizens and to prevent imminent terrorist attacks against Pakistan, particularly against our law enforcement officials and our civilians living near the border regions. And these actions were proportional, based on careful planning with necessary due diligence, and were directed solely against identified terrorist camps and hideouts. We exercised utmost caution to prevent any harm to the civilians. Let me also recall numerous statements from the UN Security Council that condemn terrorist attacks perpetrated against Pakistan, including the latest statement in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks at the mosque in Islamabad on the 6th of February. Security Council (SC) issued a Press Statement on it. These SC statements, the one on the 6th February, and prior to that, the Security Council has repeatedly underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, abettors, sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all states to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard. So, our actions have to be viewed in this context. Pakistan remained committed to peace in the region, and calls on the Afghan Taliban regime to comply with these obligations. On its part, Pakistan will take all necessary measures in the exercise of the right to self-defense against terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan. As regards the location of these terror camps, I would refer you to the statements of Ministry of Information on 21st February, I have nothing further to add in terms of either the location or numbers of terrorists killed as a result of these actions. Thank you. (Waseem Abbasi, Arab News Pakistan): Is Pakistan concerned about increasing defense ties between India and Israel and the pacts are being announced during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Israel, including this hexagon of alliance with India against axis of terror, as they describe. Spokesperson: About Israel's statements, the six states I have already given a response. On Indian-Israel defense ties, yes, we remain seized of the defense ties between Israel and India, including systems and platforms used by India against Pakistan. We are alive to the threat that they pose to our security and our sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to the regional peace and stability. Pakistan remains cognizant of these threats. As regards the future threats emanating from India, let me reiterate that we have robust military preparedness to defend and deter any Indian aggression against Pakistan. (Aamir Saeed Abbasi, Nukta News): I have a question. So, my question is regarding the Canadian PhD scholar Hamza Ahmed Khan. He went missing from Lahore last week, and later he resurfaced with the allegations from the NCCIA that he was facing the allegation of some content on the social media. So, any approach by the Canadian authorities on this, and are you aware of these facts? Spokesperson: I will refer you to the Ministry of Interior for this. (Asghar Ali Mubarik, The Daily Mail International): Pakistan is highlighting the terrorist attacks emanating from its western border at different forum. Yesterday, in the UN Human Rights Council, India leveled baseless allegations against Pakistan. Will Pakistan take the matter of terrorism emanating from India and Afghanistan on international forum s American weapons are also being used? Spokesperson: I have already answered this question. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Regarding Indian PM's visit to Israel, voices are being raised against it from inside India. It is also being stated that the agenda of both of these PMs is ethnic cleaning of Muslims. In addition to condemnation, what other options the 57 Muslim countries have when it comes to Kashmir and Palestine? Secondly, American Supreme Court has declared additional tariffs as unconstitutional? What are your comments on this? Thirdly, American President is going to visit China in the month of March. What are your comments? Spokesperson: If voices are being raised in India on this matter, it means there are some people left in India who still possess conscience and sanity. This is good. As regards your other question about the tariff and the US Supreme Court decision, this is an internal matter of the United States. And as regards United States President's future visits, I am not aware - when these take place, and when we have the details, we will offer you the comment. (Azaz Syed, Geo News): Previously, we witnessed that friendly countries like Qatar and Turkiye, they attempted to have reconciliation between the two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, have we received any signal by any other country after these strikes which we carried out in Afghanistan? Spokesperson: There is no structured dialogue now of the nature that took place in Istanbul and Doha. There is no structured dialogue as of now, and I am not aware of any new development in this regard. Thank you. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Further to an intelligence based operation in Zhob District of Balochistan on 24 February 2026, in which eight Indian sponsored Khwarij were successfully neutralized; on 25 February 2026, security forces conducted a comprehensive area sanitization operation in Zhob District of Balochistan, to hunt down hiding Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - February 26, 2026 No PR-58/2026-ISPR Further to an intelligence based operation in Zhob District of Balochistan on 24 February 2026, in which eight Indian sponsored Khwarij were successfully neutralized; on 25 February 2026, security forces conducted a comprehensive area sanitization operation in Zhob District of Balochistan, to hunt down hiding Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. During the conduct of operation, own forces tracked down Khwarij on multiple routes and effectively engaged their locations. After an ensuing fire exchange, ten Indian sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area. Relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in the Grand Kremlin Palace. February 26, 2026 16:00 The Kremlin, Moscow Following the meeting, the parties signed a package of documents, including: The Decree of the Supreme State Council of the Union State On the Organisation and Development of the Union State's Transborder Suburban Passenger Railway Operations Between the Border Territories of the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation and the Regions of the Republic of Belarus; the Directive of the Supreme State Council of the Union State On Mutual Support and Cooperation in International Justice; the resolutions of the Supreme State Council of the Union State On the Establishment of the Union State Standardisation and Quality Committee; On the Union State Literature and Art Awards for 2025-2026; On the 2026 Priorities of the Meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. The parties also signed resolutions of the Supreme State Council of the Union State On the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State and On the Implementation of the Decisions of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko, friends, We are delighted to welcome you to Moscow. Today, we are here for a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State that marks the Union State's anniversary. Yet, it is not only a ceremonial but also a business event. Once again, I hope the meeting will be useful and up to the highest standard. I gladly pass the floor to the President of Belarus who is our host and chairman. Mr President, please. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr President, members of the Supreme State Council, other meeting participants, As per tradition, I want to thank you, Mr President, the Government, the heads of parliament and the ministers of the Russian Federation for the hospitality and attention you pay to this event. In the current international environment, with tensions persisting mainly at our western frontiers, it is vital to develop the alliance and the strategic partnership between Belarus and Russia. The geopolitical landscape objectively sets the task to be prepared for coordinated response to any challenges. We have launched the implementation of the Union State Agreement on Security Guarantees. As we agreed, the Oreshnik missile system was put on standby alert in Belarus in December. We maintain successful coordination in foreign policy. The Directive On Mutual Support and Cooperation in International Justice, to be signed today, will be an important step in protecting our shared interests, the inviolability of international law and its institutions. But our focus remains on the economy, as always. Unfortunately, the global trade system today is being blocked, twisted and bent to fit their needs, with protective tariffs, technology and energy blockades, currency pressure, and piracy along the logistics routes. Some countries are prohibited from exporting oil and others from importing it - or at least such attempts are being made. While the leaders of the multipolar world order, China and Russia, are only slightly worried, their allies are under unprecedented pressure. In the past few weeks alone, our shared partners - Venezuela, Cuba and Iran - have experienced grave interference, mainly through their economies. Therefore, technological autonomy, reliance on our own resources and competences, prioritising our domestic products and the protection of the Union State's common market constitute the safe lines that are as important as military or foreign political frontiers. Comrades, April 2 marks the 30th anniversary of the Treaty Establishing the Union State of Belarus and Russia, which laid the foundation for the Union building. Over these years, we have accomplished a lot. Reciprocal access to our markets has made it possible to increase trade eightfold from US$6.5 billion in 1996 to nearly US$55 billion last year. The share of energy in bilateral trade has decreased, while mutual supplies of food and consumer goods have grown. Trade in transport, construction, and information services is expanding at a fast pace. Reciprocal investments boost our economies and, most importantly, create new jobs. More than 60 percent of investment in Belarus comes from Russia. Our country has significantly increased investment in the Russian economy as well. Today, the governments will report on the implementation of the main provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2024-2026. So far, only 40 percent of the sector-specific measures have been completed, namely, 125 out of 310. Implementation delays affect only a limited number of instructions - 14 in total - representing a mere 4.5 percent. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the preparation of substantive main guidelines for the next three-year period. Most importantly, they must be fully implemented. They should primarily focus on ensuring the technological sovereignty of the Union State and achieving technological parity with other countries. We can do this, as we have already successfully done in some other areas and industries. The governments and the Standing Committee must work through these matters thoroughly and comprehensively so that we can move forward at the pace the current situation demands. In building the Union State, we proceed from practical needs, advancing to a higher level of integration and creating intergovernmental bodies where this has become necessary. We already have an intergovernmental customs committee centre, a tax committee, and a Union hydrometeorological service in operation. Today, we are establishing a Union State Standardisation and Quality Committee, which will ensure control over product quality on the common market and help eliminate technical barriers in mutual trade. This year, the status of the Made in the Union State product has been legally formalised. It is important that this nice-looking official trademark is followed by actual support and protection of the interests of Belarusian and Russian manufacturers of our common product. Launching, in just a few months, cross-border railway services along the Vitebsk-Smolensk and Orsha-Smolensk routes will expand the opportunities available to the Union State citizens. I often emphasise and have said this to Mr Mishustin that we will strengthen and step up our cooperation in transport. As soon as you introduced additional Lastochka trains, as we call them, an enormous number of Belarusians - millions of them - travelled to Moscow. Today even those trains are no longer sufficient. Mr President, I should note that just yesterday I was informed that our fugitives have already become concerned that Belarusians are not travelling to Europe at all. Everyone is heading East. Fewer, of course, to China, and more to Moscow and the Russian Federation. That is what we mean when we say we go from practical needs. We are doing what our people need. Today we plan to consider issues of railway and other transport links between neighbouring regions. This is exactly what is required. And then there will be no need to persuade anyone whether to be part of the Union or not. We simply need to take these steps for the sake of the people. I am confident that all of you truly understand the value of Belarusian-Russian relations and the unprecedented depth of our integration. The decision under consideration today will once again confirm the relevance and high demand for the Union State format. First and foremost, Mr President, I would like to thank your ministers and members of the Russian Government, who have been paying greater attention to our cooperation. Mr Mishustin, thank you for that. I am not even mentioning our parliamentarians who are the real driving force of our relations. Our regional-level initiatives are extremely important. The Chinese have suggested that we start cooperating region to region as we do with Russia. Iran, about six months ago, has also expressed interest in such cooperation. It is clear what people truly need when you operate based on practical needs. Therefore, I am thankful to the parliamentarians, especially senators, for being actively engaged in this work. I very much hope that the Russian Government will remain committed to the Union State building and that we will fulfil all our instructions, agreements, and decisions adopted at the joint events. Mr President, everyone is waiting for you to say something on the pressing issues of the day in this context. Then we will move on to the agenda. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Mr Lukashenko, colleagues, friends, At this meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, we are going to discuss and adopt some very important decisions pertaining to the further comprehensive development and strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Belarus in political, economic, social and humanitarian spheres. The deepening integration between our states is a consistent, natural and, I want to stress, mutually beneficial process, founded on the unbreakable ties of our brotherly friendship, centuries-old traditions of neighbourliness, mutual support, and the common cultural, spiritual and moral values of the Russian and Belarusian peoples. This meeting is taking place during an anniversary year for the Union State. Indeed, President Lukashenko has just noted that in April, we will mark 30 years of the signing of the treaty of the union between our countries. Signed on April 2, 1996, the treaty launched our integration processes, with many successful outcomes achieved over the decades thanks to our coordinated efforts. A common socioeconomic, defence, migration, and information, as well as academic and educational, and cultural and humanitarian space has been created. Citizens of Russia and Belarus are guaranteed equal rights in all spheres of life, freedom to choose place of residence and employment, the opportunity to participate in local elections, and equal and unfettered access to government, social, and medical services. The resolution adopted today by the Supreme State Council on organising protection for Russians and Belarusians against persecution by foreign states and judicial authorities will be another step in the interests of the citizens. Favourable conditions for implementing a common macroeconomic policy have been created throughout the Union State. Major joint projects are being carried out in industry, transport, and agriculture, as well as in high-tech and science-intensive sectors. Import substitution programmes are progressing successfully, including in key sectors such as engineering, machine-tool building, microelectronics, and optics. As a result, mutual Russian-Belarusian trade and investment continue to grow year after year. In 2025, trade was up by nearly three percent. Our statistics may differ slightly between the countries, but US$52 billion looks impressive. With over US$4.5 billion invested in the Belarusian economy, Russia is the leader. Around 2,500 Russian companies operate in Belarus. As was just mentioned, our countries even share a common trademark Made in the Union State, which can be found on products manufactured using no less than half of the materials and components sourced from Russia and Belarus. It entitles the manufacturers to participate in government procurement and to access other preferences. Within the Union State, conditions for doing business are being consistently harmonised and improved, and rules on taxation, financial, and administrative regulation are being simplified. Today we will adopt a resolution of the Supreme State Council on the creation of a Union State Committee for Standardisation and Quality. The President of Belarus has just mentioned this. The new committee will enforce strict oversight to make sure consumers in both countries receive high-quality products, and will also promote the development of free, transparent, and efficient competitive environment in the economic space of the two countries. The transport and logistics network connecting Russia and Belarus is expanding, as the President of Belarus has just mentioned. The unified system of passenger and freight transportation is being improved, and road and rail infrastructure is being modernised. The State Council's decision to re-establish direct commuter rail service between the neighbouring regions of Russia and Belarus is aligned with this. Developing cultural, academic, sports, and youth contacts is, of course, an integral part of our Union State's extensive agenda. For example, more than 16,000 Belarusians are studying in Russian educational institutions, and next year, another 1,300 Belarusian applicants will be able to enrol in Russian universities on a state-funded basis alone. The Union State awards in literature and arts have become truly prestigious and renowned. A resolution of the Supreme State Council of the Union State on awarding the next set of these awards to talented cultural figures from both countries has been submitted for our approval. I would like to note that Russia and Belarus cooperate as allies in foreign policy and defence. Our approaches to pressing international issues are always close or aligned. We consistently strive to play a constructive role in resolving global and regional problems, working shoulder to shoulder within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and at other multilateral platforms, including the United Nations. Together, we resist sanctions pressure and advocate for the formation of a truly equitable, multipolar world. The interstate treaty on security guarantees within the Union State, which entered into force in 2025, provides a reliable foundation for the alliance between Russia and Belarus. This comprehensive document aims to protect the sovereignty, independence, and constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, as well as the integrity and inviolability of our territories and external borders. I am confident that, together with our Belarusian friends, we will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the military security of the Union State, employing all available forces and means. In conclusion, I would like to express my confidence that our current joint work will contribute to the further development of the Russian-Belarusian partnership and alliance, the advancement of equal and mutually beneficial integration, and the overall wellbeing of the people of Russia and Belarus. This is precisely what we are working towards. Thank you very much. <...> Alexander Lukashenko: Mr President, our agenda includes the review of the results. Please, say a few words if you'd like. Vladimir Putin: I would like to just thank our Chairman - you, Mr Lukashenko - for your contribution, and all our colleagues, for everything done ahead of our meeting today. Usually, we carry out extensive preliminary work, and here we are merely documenting the results of your work on both sides. Thank you very much. On my part, I would like to invite the members of the Supreme State Council to a working lunch. Alexander Lukashenko: Mr President, members of the Supreme State Council, invited government members of Belarus and Russia, and other government officials, Today, we have set a direction for a new stage of integration development across all areas. Instructions have been given to prepare guidelines for implementing the provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State for our next cycle of 2027-2029. As per tradition, to wrap up, I would like, following the President of Russia, to express my gratitude to everyone who helped prepare our meeting. I would like to ask the members of the Supreme State Council, governments, parliaments, and the standing committee to take serious oversight over the implementation of the adopted instructions, with as much personal involvement as possible. (Addressing State Secretary of the Union State Sergei Glazyev.) Mr Glazyev, I would like to ask you to answer all the questions about today's event from our journalists who were also present here. I would like to thank them in advance for their extensive efforts not only to promote our governing body in the Union State, but also the decisions we make, naturally, in the interests of the peoples of Belarus and Russia. I would like to thank everyone for their work. This concludes our discussion and decision-making on the items of the Supreme State Council agenda. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Gennady Gatilov at the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament in the exercise of the right of reply, Geneva, February 25, 2026 26 February 2026 18:23 250-26-02-2026 Unofficial translation Mr. President, The Russian delegation is compelled to exercise its right of reply in connection with the numerous groundless accusations leveled against our country. To begin, I would like to share a general observation regarding the past two and a half days of the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD). It is completely evident that those States that have once again used the Conference platform to repeat absurd insinuations against Russia are not interested in restoring the normal functioning of the CD. Such an attitude towards this unique negotiating format reflects the position of most Western countries. These countries oppose attempts at positive changes in the dynamics of international relations and continue their line of confrontation with Russia. Concerning the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, I would first like to draw the delegations' attention to new developments, namely to the report of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (SVR of Russia) dated February 24, which is directly relevant to the issue of ensuring international security: The Press Bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reports that, according to the information received by the SVR, Great Britain and France realize that the development of the situation in Ukraine leaves no chance of achieving victory over Russia by the hands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that they so crave. However, the British and French elites are not ready to accept defeat. It is believed that Ukraine must be supplied with a wunderwaffe. Kiev will be able to claim more favorable terms for ending hostilities if it possesses an atomic or at least a so-called dirty bomb. Berlin has prudently refused to participate in this dangerous gamble. Currently, according to the information available to the SVR of Russia, London and Paris are actively working on the issues of providing Kiev with such weapons and their delivery systems. This refers to the covert transfer of European components, equipment, and technologies in this field to Ukraine. One option being considered is the French small-sized TN 75 warhead from the M 51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile. The British and French realize that their plans involve a gross violation of international law, primarily the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and entail the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system. In this regard, their main efforts are focused on making Kiev's acquisition of nuclear weapons appear as the result of engineering by Ukrainians themselves. Such extremely dangerous plans carried out by London and Paris attest to their loss of a sense of reality. They hope in vain to escape responsibility, especially since everything secret will inevitably become clear. In the military, political, and diplomatic circles of Great Britain and France, there are many sober-minded people who understand the danger of their leaders' reckless actions for the entire world. Mr. President, It is worth reminding that Ukraine, which joined the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon State, pledged not to acquire nuclear weapons, while Great Britain and France, as nuclear-weapon States under the Treaty, pledged not to transfer nuclear weapons to anyone, nor to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapon state to manufacture or acquire them. The Russian position on this matter is unambiguous. We have repeatedly stated that any attempts to revise Ukraine's non-nuclear status, as well as the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons by the Kiev regime which is deeply hostile to Russia are unacceptable. We draw attention to the fact that London and Paris are devising their dangerous plans ahead of the NPT Review Conference scheduled for April-May this year. We are convinced that States Parties must pay most serious attention to this egregious matter, which directly affects the functioning of the Treaty regime and the preservation of its integrity. As for the accusations against Russia regarding the allegedly unprovoked agression against Ukraine, deliberate shelling of its civilian infrastructure, and the creation of threats to the Zaporozhskaya NPP (ZNPP), we would like to note the following. The justification for the actions of the Russian Federation, including from the perspective of international law, as well as the goals and objectives of the special military operation (SMO), have been repeatedly explained by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. We have also brought them to the attention of the CD Member States numerous times. We would like to separately emphasize that since the beginning of the SMO, the Russian Armed Forces have been conducting strikes strictly against the military facilities of the Armed forces of Ukraine, including enterprises working to meet the needs of the Ukrainian army. Russian strikes against the Kiev regime's military industry are of a high-precision nature. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side, in violation of international humanitarian law, has been using civilian infrastructure for military purposes since 2014, cowardly hiding behind the backs of women and children, placing weaponry in the immediate vicinity of residential buildings and mining them during retreat, as well as purposefully attacking the Russian civilian population. The deliberate shelling of the ZNPP by Kiev - which has come under Russian jurisdiction in full accordance with our legislation - is fraught with a nuclear catastrophe that could also affect those countries providing military-political and financial support to the Kiev regime. Russophobic and militaristic sentiments continue to prevail in Europe. Obsessed with the idea of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, many European countries as well as the EU/NATO Brussels are inflating the concept of a Russian threat, hindering any efforts aimed at a swift resolution of the conflict. And this is evident, inter alia, in the context of those contacts that are currently carried out. I would like to remind you that the Ukrainian crisis did not arise in a vacuum, and many opportunities to prevent it and even settle it at early stages were missed. A peaceful solution to this conflict is possible only if its root causes are eliminated. More countries are starting to understand this, as well as the fact that Kiev must return to its neutral, non-aligned status, remain a non-nuclear State, restore compliance with linguistic and religious human rights and freedoms, stop the persecution of citizens on ethnic grounds, and abandon neo-Nazi ideology. It must recognize the incorporation of new regions into Russia and withdraw its armed formations from these territories. Russia prefers to achieve these goals through political and diplomatic means, as we have repeatedly stated. However, in the event of the non-negotiability of Ukraine, we will be forced to ensure the fulfillment of the set tasks on the battlefield, where the initiative is fully held by the Russian army. This is also well-known. Mr. President, We would also like to address the accusations regarding the allegedly unlawful cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Neither Russia nor the DPRK violates any international legal obligations in exercising their inherent right to develop bilateral ties, including under the 2024 Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We regard attempts to challenge this fact as interference in the internal affairs of our countries. The assistance provided by our Korean friends is carried out in accordance with Article 4 of the Treaty. This is a matter of bilateral relations between our countries, which have been elevated to the alliance level. We reject any criticism of such relationship, especially from the NATO Member States. Mr. President, The claims made against Russia regarding our country's suspension of participation in the New START Treaty, as well as violations of this Treaty, do not withstand critisism. We recall that the preamble of New START, which was an integral part of the Treaty, postulated the commitment of the Parties to the principle of indivisible security and the building of relations based on mutual trust and cooperation. However, the previous US administration, by openly declaring its desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, fundamentally changed the circumstances that existed at the time the Treaty was concluded. Moreover, for many years, Washington ignored the interconnection between strategic offensive and strategic defensive arms, which is also provided for in the Treaty. These factors forced the Russian leadership to make the decision to suspend participation in the New START Treaty. At the same time, voluntary compliance with the quantitative limitations provided for by it was ensured. Furthermore, we have repeatedly noted the reversibility of the decision on suspension if the United States and its allies abandon their aggressive intentions towards Russia. We also draw attention to the fact that the American side did not support the proposal of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue voluntary compliance with the New START quantitative ceilings after its expiration. We view such a development as a reality that must be taken into account when determining future Russian policy in the field of strategic arms. Now we will act in this area based on a thorough analysis of US military policy and the overall situation in the strategic sphere. Mr. President, We categorically reject the absurd insinuations against Russia regarding the alleged poisoning of Alexey Navalny. We see no point in commenting on the substance of such allegations, the Russian Federation has already conveyed its position on this matter at the OPCW and in official statements. Bringing extraneous and politically motivated statements in the highly likely style to the Conference on Disarmament is merely further evidence that several delegations do not intend to work towards the resumption of substantive work. Mr. President, A few words regarding the claims that Russia is allegedly hindering the work of the CD. We would like to emphasize that we consistently advocate for the principles of inclusivity and multilateralism in the activities of all international platforms, including the CD. We once again detailed our approach to the issue of observers yesterday. We will adhere to this policy until we see positive shifts in the approaches of our European partners. As for the substantive work, it is the Russian delegation that offers constructive solutions aimed at resuming the negotiating activities of the Conference in accordance with its mandate. Thank you for your attention. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to media questions, Moscow, February 26, 2026 26 February 2026 16:12 249-26-02-2026 Question: Why has Europe split on the issue of deploying peacekeepers? Sergey Lavrov: There are different points of view, as in every collective and every society. There are normal people, who care about their people and countries, and there are those who play at ideologised schemes. This is what I think. Question: New timeframes for peace settlement in Ukraine are named. According to US President Donald Trump, it should be achieved within one month. Sergey Lavrov: Have you heard anything about timeframes from us? We have tasks, not timeframes. And we are addressing them. Question: Apropos of nuclear weapons... Sergey Lavrov: That says it all. Question: Why the negotiating rhetoric about nuclear weapons has become so intense? Sergey Lavrov: I think they feel offended at failing to achieve anything. The task is again to make Russia lose. After all, they say that Ukraine is winning. If they see the picture this way... They are the Coalition of the Willing, aren't they? Both Russian and English have the expression "mistake the wish for the reality." They resemble people called "those willing to pass themselves off for the real." We will wait and see. Question: What Secretary General due to be elected next summer should be like? Sergey Lavrov: Of what party? The Communist Party? NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, Belarus Team up to Resist Sanctions, Cooperate on Foreign Policy & Defense Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The process of deepening the integration of Russia and Belarus is natural and mutually beneficial, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. "The process of deepening integration between our two countries is logical, natural and, I would like to emphasize this, mutually beneficial. It is based on the indestructible bonds of fraternal friendship, centuries-old traditions of good neighborliness, mutual support, and common cultural, spiritual, and moral values of the Russian and Belarusian peoples," Putin said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow. Russia and Belarus have achieved much in the development of the Union State through coordinated efforts, the president said, adding that favorable conditions have been created on the territory of the Union State for the implementation of macroeconomic policy. Additionally, Russia and Belarus jointly resist sanctions pressure, Putin said. Russia and Belarus closely cooperate in the field of foreign policy and defense, Putin also said. "I would like to note that Russia and Belarus closely cooperate as allies in the field of foreign policy and defense," Putin said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow. The approaches of Russia and Belarus to topical international issues are always close or even coincide, Putin said, adding that both countries will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the security of the Union State with all available ways and means. Russia and Belarus stand for the formation of a just and multipolar world, Russian President said. "We advocate the formation of a truly just, multipolar world," Putin said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow. Russia and Belarus also strive to participate constructively in solving global and regional problems, the president added. The practical implementation of the Treaty on security guarantees within the Union State framework has begun, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said. "The geopolitical situation objectively sets us the task of being ready to jointly respond to any challenges. The practical implementation of the Treaty on security guarantees within the framework of the Union State has begun. In December, the Oreshnik missile system went on combat duty in Belarus, as we agreed," Lukashenko said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.02.26 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Feb. 25 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Feb. 26 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 30 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 22 out of 30 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. 3.PRC balloon activities 2 PRC balloons were detected during this timeframe. 1150226_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan1 1150226_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan2 1150226_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.02.27 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Feb. 26 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Feb. 27 (Fri.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 8 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's 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. 3.PRC balloon activities 2 PRC balloons were detected during this timeframe. 1150227_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_1 1150227_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_2 1150227_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman: 26 February 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, today. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 26 February 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, today. The leaders began by discussing the success of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales' historic visit earlier this month, which showcased the best of modern Saudi Arabia and underscored the depth of the UK-Saudi relationship. Discussing the ongoing trade negotiations between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council, the leaders recognised the significant potential economic benefits for both countries and looked forward to further progress. Turning to the Middle East, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of partners working together to sustain the ceasefire in Gaza and support longterm stability in the region. On Iran, the Prime Minister emphasised the UK's focus remains on supporting the political process ongoing between the US and Iran. He added that Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and security in the region must be a priority. They looked forward to speaking soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the German Bundestag on the occasion of the motion by the coalition "Defending peace and security in Europe - solidarity with Ukraine on the anniversary of Russia's war of aggression" Germany Federal Foreign Office 25.02.2026 - Speech On Monday I met Ukrainian soldiers who were visiting Berlin. All of them commanders who had come straight from the frontline. Who have been fighting for four years. Who are now returning to the frontline. If anyone had asked them before Russia's war of aggression began, let's say six or seven years ago, what they wanted to do with their lives, I imagine none of them would have said: My plan for my life is to lie in trenches in the ice and the snow. To drive an engine to the frontline through a hail of kamikaze drones. To launch an attack on fortified positions. Before Russia's full-scale invasion they were all civilians. A student. A GP. A social worker who used to work with addicts before the war. A historian. One was a theatre director. They had - and I'm putting this in inverted commas - "normal" lives, "normal" professions. Until the Kremlin forced them into a war that leaves them with only one choice: to fight. Because surrendering is not an option. Russia's invasion has been criminal from the outset - yet for weeks, months now it has reached a new level of perfidiousness. For we are seeing how the Kremlin is subjecting Ukraine in the middle of the bitterest winter to a campaign of terror that is targeting the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. Children, old people, sick people. Schools, apartment buildings, hospitals, indeed entire neighbourhoods are without electricity, without heating, without water. In Kyiv alone we are talking about up to half a million people. Because Putin's troops are deliberately destroying the civilian energy infrastructure. These attacks violate international law. They are war crimes and they are taking place every single day. Putin is doing this to erode Ukraine from the inside. To break the Ukrainian people's will to resist. Because he wants the country to bow to his brutality. However, the country and its people are not willing to bow. And for this, dear colleagues, hopefully with your support, I would like to express our greatest respect for the Ukrainian people and for their unwavering heroic courage, and also our gratitude. The Kremlin leaves us in no doubt about what it is trying to achieve. The destruction of the Ukrainian culture. The dissolution of its national identity. That is how imperial revisionism works. For at the end of the day, the Kremlin's goal is to establish an illiberal world of autocracies which challenges the democratic West. Which undermines our liberal and democratic way of life. Russia's aggression against Ukraine is part of a larger attack on the rules-based international order. On Europe's security architecture. That is what this brutal war of conquest is about. However, what Putin has underestimated is the resilience of the Ukrainian people. The courage of the Ukrainian soldiers. The national consciousness of an entire country. And the solidarity of the West and its ability to act, all the while standing firmly by Ukraine's side. That is why we are supporting Ukraine with additional air defence. That is why we are providing support to protect the energy infrastructure and repair energy plants. Not just for this winter, but also in preparation for the next one. That is why we in the European Union are putting together a 90-billion-euro assistance package. That is why we intend to further tighten our sanctions, which are hitting Putin and his war economy hard. That is why we are supporting Ukraine along its path towards EU membership. For Putin should be clear about one thing: Ukraine will not abandon the European path of reform that it has embarked upon. Institutionally, the country is already more closely linked to the West than ever before. And we Europeans have a clear goal in mind. We must achieve a just and lasting peace. Ukraine will only be able to attain this peace from a position of strength. We must put it in this position. That is why we will keep increasing the pressure on Putin through sanctions and with a united approach to tackle Russia's shadow fleet. That is why Russian assets worth billions will remain frozen. Yesterday, together with my colleagues, I outlined the united stance adopted by Poland, France and Germany in a newspaper article. We need to have more stamina than Putin - and we will have more stamina when it comes to supporting Ukraine. Four years on, it is not only Ukraine that is a different country. Europe, too, is different than it used to be. A Europe that senses that we are standing at a crucial historic crossroads. For this reason we are taking a stand with our principles, with the values of our democracy and also with our political culture. I say this also with regard to Hungary. For I don't believe it is right for Hungary to betray European sovereignty for the sake of its own fight for freedom. In Europe we have already seen what it means when the law of the strong prevails. When the world is divided into spheres of power. Now, now more than ever, it is crucial that we as Europeans stand together and do not allow anyone to divide or provoke us, that we take a confident stance, that we embody European sovereignty. Ukraine has four long years of war behind it. Four years of immeasurable sacrifice. Yet also four years of unbroken strength and remarkable heroic courage. Four years in which the country has defended its own freedom and the freedom of the whole of Europe. Our freedom. For this, we should be grateful. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EIB Group provided a record 1.5 billion for Ukraine in 2025 European External Action Service (EEAS) 26.02.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE In 2025, the EIB Group provided 1.5 billion in new financing for energy, infrastructure, small businesses and EU integration. Working hand in hand with the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission, the EIB Group supports urgent needs while advancing long-term recovery. Since 2022, more than 4 billion in EU-guaranteed financing has been delivered to strengthen critical infrastructure, safeguard municipal services and sustain economic activity during wartime. The European Investment Bank, together with the European Investment Fund as part of the EIB Group, delivered almost 1.5 billion in financing in 2025 - a record year of support since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The financing supports essential services including energy, water and heating, transport, healthcare and education, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through loans, guarantees and equity. EIB Group President Nadia Calvino said: "Today, more than ever, Europe stands with Ukraine. At the EIB Group, Ukraine is a top priority. Our focus is clear: energy, heating, water, transport, healthcare and education - the systems that keep daily life running and the country strong." EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said: "EU guarantees empower the EIB to invest at scale in Ukraine, ensuring that European solidarity delivers tangible results. Combined with EU grants and technical assistance, this support reinforces resilience and moves Ukraine closer to the European Union." Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova said: "Securing stable external financing is essential to keep the country functioning and rebuilding during wartime. We value our close cooperation with the European Investment Bank in supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction across the country." First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Alyona Shkrum said: "Restoring housing, water and municipal infrastructure is essential for communities. Our cooperation with the EIB helps cities across Ukraine rebuild faster and keep vital services running." Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Yegor Perelygin said: "Financing for businesses remains critical in wartime. Cooperation with the EIB helps companies sustain jobs, continue operating and stay connected to the European economy." Energy security and resilience Ensuring reliable electricity and heating remained central to Ukraine's stability in 2025. Energy security therefore stood at the core of the EIB's support. In 2025, the EIB signed a 300 million operation with Naftogaz Ukraine , complemented by a 127 million EU grant, enabled through Norway's Ukraine Facility contribution, to replenish gas reserves and stabilise supply. Naftogaz committed to reinvest an equivalent amount into renewable energy and decarbonisation projects. The Bank also provided 120 million to Ukrhydroenergo to rehabilitate strategic hydropower plants and 200 million through partner banks to help municipalities restore and modernise district heating systems. Rebuilding essential services The EIB continued restoring essential services across Ukraine, working with communities from the EU frontier to the frontline. Through three Recovery Programmes worth 740 million - including 100 million signed in 2025 - the Bank is supporting the reconstruction of water supply, district heating and municipal infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and housing in over 150 communities. More than 500 projects are now under implementation nationwide. In 2025, the EIB also signed the 100 million Ukraine Water Recovery project to repair and modernise water and wastewater systems damaged by the war, helping restore access to safe drinking water and sanitation for millions of Ukrainians. Connectivity and EU integration In 2025, the EIB continued to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union through strategic infrastructure investments. A 134 million loan is supporting the repair of key bridges and roads and the upgrade of border infrastructure along the EU Solidarity Lanes, helping keep trade flowing and strengthening economic integration. The Bank also provided 40 million to roll out Ukraine's EU-aligned 112 emergency system, improving nationwide emergency response. In addition, the first European-standard railway line between Chop and Uzhhorod was inaugurated, marking a concrete step towards deeper transport integration with the European Union. Supporting the economy and the private sector Maintaining economic activity remained critical for Ukraine's resilience in 2025. The EIB expanded private-sector support through SME financing, equity investments and EU export credit guarantees. Agreements with seven Ukrainian banks were signed under the EU4Business Guarantee Facility, expected to unlock around 250 million in financing for approximately 4 600 SMEs, including businesses led by veterans, displaced persons, women and young entrepreneurs. The EIB also invested 15 million in the Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund and 50 million in the Amber Dragon Ukraine Infrastructure Fund , helping to mobilise private capital for recovery and reconstruction. A 70 million loan to Ukrgasbank expanded access to long-term financing for SMEs and mid-caps, supporting jobs and green investment. Together with the European Commission, the EIB advanced a 300 million EU export credit guarantee facility under InvestEU , supporting European companies exporting to Ukraine and strengthening economic ties with the European Union. Scaling up implementation and impact in 2026 In 2026, energy resilience will remain a top priority, alongside expanding support for the private sector, including risk-sharing instruments and financing for SMEs and larger companies. The Bank will also strengthen support for social and municipal infrastructure, including social housing, connectivity and essential services, while increasing advisory and technical assistance to help Ukraine meet EU accession requirements and align investments with European standards. As the European Union's financing arm, the EIB remains committed to supporting Ukraine's resilience, recovery and irreversible path towards European Union integration. Background information The EIB in Ukraine Present in Ukraine since 2007, the EIB has stepped up its financial support for the country's resilience and modernisation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the EIB has provided 4 billion in financing. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative , coupled with its key role in implementing a dedicated window under the Ukraine Facility, the EIB is strongly committed to stepping up and accelerating its activities in line with the mandate given by EU leaders and in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States and international partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine to receive its first shipment of liquefied natural gas through the terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania, says Denys Shmyhal Ukraine Government Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 26 February 2026 12:20 The Naftogaz Group, in cooperation with the Lithuanian state-owned energy holding company Ignitis Group, will supply 90 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas to Ukraine. The delivery is to be made through the Lithuanian terminal in Klaipeda during February and March this year. This was announced by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. "In the current situation, when russia is attacking our energy and gas infrastructure on an almost daily basis, it is extremely important to diversify supply routes and strengthen energy security in order to guarantee a stable gas supply to consumers under any circumstances," said First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. As noted by Lithuanian Minister of Energy Zygimantas Vaiciunas, the Republic of Lithuania has found ways to use its existing infrastructure more efficiently and provide real support to the people of Ukraine as quickly as possible: "The LNG terminal in Klaipeda is one of the most actively used in Europe. Thanks to it, we can contribute to the reliable supply of gas and strengthen the energy security of our partners in Ukraine," said Zygimantas Vaicunas. Denys Shmyhal also stated that Ukraine continued to work on the development of regional supply routes, in particular the Vertical Gas Corridor. "Together with our partners, we are building a new European energy security architecture, with no place for the russian molecule and with Ukraine as a central regional energy hub," noted the Minister of Energy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iceland reiterates support for Ukraine at events in Geneva and Kyiv Government of Iceland 26 February 2026 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, was a keynote speaker at a side-event that was held in Geneva on 24 February to mark four years since Russias unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the Minister had put emphasis on Ukraine in her address to the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council which began in Geneva Monday. Iceland is an elected member of the Council 2025-2027. Iceland along with Norway and the Ukranian Permanent Mission to the Human Rights Council organized the side-event in Geneva on Tuesday. In her address, Minister Gunnarsdottir reiterated that Iceland stands with Ukraine. She reflected on the quiet, daily courage of ordinary people who have endured relentless uncertainty, loss, and fear. "Through bombardment, displacement, and the grinding weight of winter, without reliable heat or light, they have been asked to summon resilience again and again-when hope must feel impossible - as the world's attention is stretched thin across a record number of conflicts in recent memory," Gunnarsdottir said, adding that Icelanders understand well the meaning of cold. "We know how essential energy is to dignity, safety, and survival. When energy infrastructure is damaged, the cold is a hardship that seeps into every aspect of life. " Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir attended a memorial event in Kyiv along with other European leaders. Frostadottir also participated in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and a summit of of the Nordic and Baltic leaders with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Prime Minister announced, in these meetings, a contribution of ISK 800 million to provide urgent support to the energy sector, channelled through the UNDP and the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. Additionally, three Icelandic energy companies, Landsnet, Veitur and Norurorka have donated transformers, components and other spare parts, for Ukraine's energy sector. The donation is facilitated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and will be shipped from Reykjavik to Ukraine this week. At the NATO defense ministerial meeting in Brussel on 12 February Foreign Minister Gunnarsdottir announced a contribution of ISK 1 billion to the NATO PURL Initiative and ISK 300 million to the NATO Security Assistance & Training Ukraine (NSATU). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Herzog speaks with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs President Herzog sent his deepest condolences to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for the devastating loss of life and offered prayers for all those wounded in body and spirit. Type: Press Releases Topic: Foreign Policy Publish Date: 26.02.2026 (Communicated by the President's Spokesperson) 2026, President Isaac Herzog today (Thursday, 26 February 2026) called President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine as we mark four years since the terrible war began, and expressed heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. President Herzog sent his deepest condolences to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for the devastating loss of life and offered prayers for all those wounded in body and spirit. During the call, President Herzog mentioned Israel's support for Ukraine in the recent vote at the UN General Assembly, as well as Israel's ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those impacted by the war. The two leaders also discussed the significant international efforts led by President Trump to bring about the end of the war and the terrible suffering and loss of life. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Lithuania discuss collective security and support for Ukraine NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 February 2026 On Thursday (26 February 2026), Secretary General Mark Rutte met Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. During their meeting the leaders discussed the growing strength of NATO's deterrence and defence posture, including how Europe is stepping up to invest more for the benefit of the whole Alliance. The Secretary General said Lithuania was a "role model" for NATO Allies, aiming for a "record-high 5.38% of GDP on defence spending" this year. He thanked Prime Minister Ruginiene for her personal leadership and Lithuania's role in support for Ukraine, saying: "Lithuania is also one of the top supporters of Ukraine. When measured against GDP, you are the third largest contributor of aid to Ukraine worldwide." Mr Rutte praised Lithuania's contributions to NATO, from hosting NATO air policing and Forward Land Forces to fostering expertise on energy security through the NATO Centre of Excellence in Vilnius. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Counts On Next Talks With US, Russia in March, Urges Meeting With Putin By Ray Furlong February 26, 2026 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is counting on a future trilateral meeting with the United States and Russia to take place in early March after Ukrainian and US negotiating teams wrapped up the latest round of peace talks in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said in a video address on Telegram after the February 26 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, that "there is more readiness for the next trilateral format. "Most likely, the next meeting will be in the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi," he said. Urging the finalization of what Ukrainian and US negotiators had "achieved" in drafting security guarantees for Ukraine -- widely seen as a key issue in ending the fighting sparked by Russia's four-year-old invasion of its neighbor -- Zelenskyy also called for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Such a format can resolve a lot. The leaders decide on the key issues," he said. A day earlier, after a call with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said Trump supported a "sequence of steps" in negotiations that included such a meeting. Kyiv has long characterized a direct leaders' summit as the best way to resolve the most complex issues and end the war. The Kremlin has not publicly supported the idea, instead saying Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wanted to talk with Putin, something the Ukrainian leader has refused, instead saying it should be on neutral territory. While there was no comment from Russia on the latest round of negotiations between Ukraine and the United States, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has also held talks with the US officials in Geneva. According to RIA, Dmitriev refused to comment on the results. The talks on February 26 came hours after Russian forces rained down drones and missiles on multiple Ukrainian regions, and also after Moscow sent Kyiv bodies of people apparently killed in the now four-year long war. Earlier, Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed that, in addition to economic issues, the latest negotiations included the "humanitarian track" and the possibility of further exchanges. Russia and Ukraine have held numerous exchanges of prisoners and remains of killed soldiers during the conflict. On February 26, officials from the two countries said Moscow had returned what it said were the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainians. The authorities in Kyiv said they "may belong to Ukrainian defenders" and that work would begin to identify them. Vladimir Medinsky, a key aide to Putin who had previously led Russian delegations in Istanbul and Geneva, said Ukraine had returned the bodies of 35 Russian soldiers in exchange. Alongside the diplomacy and the exchange, the brutal reality of the war continued. "Dozens of people are known to have been injured as a result of this attack, including children," Zelenskyy wrote on social media after an overnight barrage that he said included 420 drones and 39 missiles. Targets included housing blocks, gas infrastructure, and electrical substations, he added. Prior to the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who was not in attendance at the Geneva meeting -- said that only Washington could drive negotiations to end the war. "The United Nations isn't going to do it. France isn't going to do it. The EU isn't going to do it. The Russians won't even speak to them. So we don't want to walk away from -- we know that, at the end, that war in Ukraine does not have a military solution," he said. "If we forfeit that role, no one else can do it," he added. The meeting in Geneva came two days after somber ceremonies across Ukraine marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion and follows trilateral Russia-Ukraine-US talks on February 17-18. Little substantive information has emerged from previous meetings, beyond vague descriptions of them being "difficult" in some areas while achieving "progress" in others. After four years of full-scale war, estimates of overall casualty figures vary. But one recent reportput the number of killed, wounded, and missing at 1.2 million Russians and 500,000-600,000 Ukrainians. The World Bank said on February 23 that reconstructing the Ukrainian economy would cost an estimated $588 billion over a decade. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-ukraine-us- talks-geneva-peace/33688699.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 Press Information Romania - Ministry of National Defence Press release No. 39 26.02.2026 On Wednesday, February 25, the Russian Federation launched new airstrikes on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. MoND radars signaled the presence of a drone in the area adjacent to the national airspace, which determined the preventive activation of air defence systems, and at around 5:50 p.m., two F-16 aircraft deployed to Fetesti Air Base were scrambled, according to air policing procedures. At 18:07, a RO-alert message was issued for the population in the north of Tulcea County. The unmanned aerial vehicle briefly entered the national airspace, in the area of Sfantu Gheorghe, without endangering people's lives, and exited north of Sulina, flying only over the territorial waters. Alert measures ceased around 6:45 p.m. and no aerial vehicle debris was identified in the area. The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemns the Russian Federation's attacks on the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. These actions represent a serious violation of international law and a threat to regional security. The Press Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Troops Launch Massive Overnight Strike on Ukrainian Defense and Energy Facilities Sputnik News 20260226 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces launched at night a massive strike on Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises, energy facilities, military airfields, and places of pre-flight training and launch of Ukrainian UAVs, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. Ukraine has also lost up to 270 soldiers in battles with the Tsentr battlegroup and up to 340 soldiers in battles with Vostok battlegroup. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's escalation during diplomacy undermines peace efforts: UK statement to the OSCE Speech Ambassador Holland condemns Russia's intensified attacks on Ukraine, highlighting a clear pattern of escalation during active diplomacy. He highlights the severe humanitarian toll, rejects Russian attempts to shift blame, and reaffirms the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine in its pursuit of a just and lasting peace. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland Published 26 February 2026 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 26 February 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. We hear regularly from the Russian Federation that Ukraine and its supporters are working to undermine peace efforts, alleging that attacks peak precisely around peace talks to derail diplomacy. These accusations are both hypocritical and revealing. They follow a familiar pattern in which Russia attributes to others what it does itself. As Ukraine engages constructively in US-led diplomacy, Russia has intensified its campaign against Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. Since October, Russia has launched more than thousand missiles, many impacting power plants and grid nodes. This month alone, Russia has used an average of more than 170 drones and ten missiles per day, including a sharp rise in ballistic and hypersonic systems. So far in February, it has fired a record 117 ballistic or hypersonic missiles - exceeding the previous monthly record of 98 in October 2025 - and has already used more Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles than in the entirety of the war up until that point. There is now a clear pattern of Russia escalating its attacks when diplomacy is most active. As delegations gathered in Geneva last week, Russia launched another major combined strike on Ukraine's energy system, using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. We have seen this pattern time and again with previous rounds of talks. This is not the behaviour of a state seeking a settlement. It is an attempt to gain leverage through force while accusing others of doing precisely that. The humanitarian cost is severe. In 2025, Russian attacks killed more than 2,500 Ukrainian civilians and injured over 12,000. Nearly 600 healthcare facilities were damaged or destroyed. The UN forecasts further large-scale displacement this year. These strikes put millions at risk, disrupt nuclear power safety systems, and deepen the suffering of communities already enduring subzero temperatures. Mr Chair, this week we entered the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At Tuesday's Reinforced Permanent Council, forty-nine delegations spoke in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. That collective stance underscores the unity of this organisation in standing with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's unlawful war. The obstacle to peace is not Ukraine, nor its partners. It is Russia's decision to continue an illegal war of aggression while using this Council to project blame onto others. But Mr Chair, whatever your opinions are, you can't escape facts, and the fact is that Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine. The way forward remains clear: Russia must stop its attacks and engage seriously in good faith negotiations for a just and lasting peace. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimovic Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 26 February 2026 12:11 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Good phone conversation with my Montenegro colleague, Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic. I briefed him on Russia's continued missile and drone terror against Ukraine, including the consequences of last night's attack targeting our cities and civilian infrastructure. I thanked Montenegro for its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, its consistent support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for voting in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution "Support for a lasting peace in Ukraine". I also expressed gratitude for Montenegro's participation in the PURL initiative a meaningful contribution to strengthening the protection and resilience of our cities. We discussed our bilateral agenda and identified practical steps to further enhance Ukraine-Montenegro cooperation in the political and security spheres. We coordinated our next steps on the path toward EU integration, including the need for close alignment both bilaterally and multilaterally, in particular within the Ukraine-Southeast Europe format." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the MFA of Ukraine on the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 26 February 2026 10:00 Twelve years ago, an event took place in Ukrainian Crimea that demonstrated our people's struggle for their state, independence, and dignity. On 26 February 2014, in Simferopol, thousands of citizens of Ukraine - Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, and representatives of other national communities - gathered for a rally in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity. This occurred amid the aggressive war already launched by the Russian Federation against our State, the first stage of which was the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. On that day, the residents of Crimea made their voices heard against aggression by taking to a peaceful protest - despite the direct threat posed by Russian military forces, which were already seizing administrative buildings and blockading Ukrainian military units across Crimea. At that moment, the international community did not respond with sufficient resolve to the actions of the Kremlin and failed to take effective steps to prevent the temporary occupation of the peninsula. Feeling impunity, the Russian Federation subsequently expanded its aggression to other regions of Ukraine and, eight years later, launched a full-scale military invasion of our State. At the same time, the events of 26 February 2014 entered history as living testimony to Crimea's resistance to the Russian Federation's expansionist ambitions. Our people were already fighting then, at the very beginning, while the world was merely observing. They forever recorded for history that Crimea did not surrender without resistance and that this resistance endures to this day. Already at that time, the Russian authorities fully understood that the citizens of Ukraine would not accept the attempted illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. They would not cease resisting the occupation forces, clearly demonstrating to the world that Crimea is Ukraine. The Russian occupation administration is deploying every effort to break this resistance. It has turned the Crimean Peninsula into a zone of systemic repression. Illegal searches and detentions, politically motivated sentences, persecution on religious and ethnic grounds, forced mobilization, the indoctrination of children and youth, and the persecution of journalists and human rights defenders all have become instruments for maintaining the occupation regime. According to available information, Russia is persecuting 1,684 individuals in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, subjecting them to arrests, administrative penalties, unlawful fines, and other forms of pressure. Criminal proceedings are currently underway against 284 individuals. Particularly cynical is the persecution of Ukrainians and representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, the banning of the Mejlis, and attempts to erase Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity from the public sphere. Despite this, Ukrainian resistance in Crimea continues. Thanks to the resilience of Ukrainians, the world sees that our people have not reconciled themselves to the Russian occupation and will never accept it. Today, we express our gratitude to everyone on the peninsula who keeps Ukraine in their heart and awaits the restoration of justice. Who waits despite everything. We know about you. We remember you. And we will never abandon you. Crimea was, is, and will remain Ukraine. No one and nothing will ever change this. The return of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol is an integral element of restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and of achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. Moreover, the occupation and militarization of Crimea have destabilized the security situation throughout the Black Sea region. Only the return of the peninsula to Ukraine will restore the necessary stability, peace, and security for all States of the region. The Black Sea must be a space of cooperation, trade, and prosperity - not of war, threats, and instability. We are grateful to our international partners for their support in defending life, freedom, and justice against aggression and terror. We thank the countries and international organizations participating in the activities of the International Crimea Platform and consistently reminding the world that Ukrainian citizens in Crimea are resisting the occupiers, that they cannot be broken, and that the Crimean Peninsula is an integral part of Ukraine. We call on the international community - all States and international organizations - to strictly adhere to the policy of non-recognition of the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. We urge them not to allow any actions or contacts that might call this policy into question. We call for maintaining and strengthening international pressure on the occupation administrations and those responsible for human rights violations and other systemic crimes on the peninsula. We further call for keeping Russia's crimes against our people in the temporarily occupied territories in the focus of the international community. We urge the world to make every effort to secure the return of our people who have been unlawfully imprisoned by the occupiers from Russian prisons - and to return the stolen peninsula to its rightful owner. Theft is always temporary. Crimea is Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over These Weeks, the Air Force Has Started Performing Better - Some Elements of the System Were Successfully Reorganized - Address by the President President of Ukraine 26 February 2026 - 21:20 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! First of all, today we have reason to thank our air defense - good results, there were interceptions: more than 30 Russian missiles were shot down. Most of them targeted the energy sector specifically - we indeed managed to protect very important facilities. As for the "shaheds," there are results as well. And every night it is like this - every night when our air defense has sufficient ammunition and when partners fulfill what we agree on, we have the ability to achieve exactly such results and interceptions. Over these weeks, the Air Force has started performing better - some elements of the system were successfully reorganized, precisely in the organization of defense against such massive strikes. I want to thank the command, I thank the Minister of Energy, I thank the Minister of Defense, and everyone involved both at the central level and in the regions so that the sky protection system works. Today I signed a decree awarding state decorations to our servicemembers who are specifically defending the sky. I want to thank you all: army aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, everyone involved. I spoke several times today with Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamiia, as well as with envoys of the President of the United States Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following the outcomes of their meetings today. There is already greater readiness for the next trilateral format. Most likely, the next meeting will take place in the Emirates - in Abu Dhabi. We expect the format to take place in early March. We need to finalize everything achieved so far for real security guarantees and prepare a meeting at the leaders' level - and this is exactly the format that can resolve many issues. At the end of the day, leaders decide key issues and when it comes to Russia - such a personalist regime - this is relevant even more than in other countries. The war must be ended - this is our position, the position of Ukraine, and the position of all our partners. But unfortunately, everyone now sees that Russia shows no readiness for peace, and there is still not a single sign that Putin is stopping his war machine. On the contrary, he is preparing to continue fighting, and the world must be ready to pressure Russia so that this changes. The solution is clear to everyone in the world. Russia will stop the war even on its own, of its own will, when the world completely stops Russian oil, other Russian energy resources, and Russian banks. This is absolutely doable. The world's sanctions must work toward this - toward a genuine and lasting peace. Of course, with both the United States and Europe we are discussing each format of pressure and diplomacy that can truly work. It is very important that partners remain sufficiently resolute. Today I gave the team further directives on what we must achieve. One more thing. We had a detailed discussion with Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on preparing our strategy for energy recovery and enhanced protection of the energy sector for next winter. We will finalize the strategy by March 1 and approve it afterward. This is to ensure that the European Commission, European countries, the United States, global businesses, and Ukrainian companies with the necessary capacity can all join in and work together with us - alongside our people - to strengthen resilience and expand our capabilities ahead of next winter. Of course, this also concerns the period this year when Russian strikes may continue targeting our infrastructure and our cities. All the positive experience of Ukrainian cities, the experience of Ukrainian communities that are going through this winter better than others - all this experience must be taken into account. I expect proposals from the regions. This is your responsibility - and the regions must be truly prepared. I want to thank everyone who works for Ukraine, I want to thank all who defend our state, who defend Ukrainians. Thank you! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea, a Meeting with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Took Place at the Office of the President President of Ukraine 26 February 2026 - 19:41 First Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Olena Kovalska, and Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky held a meeting with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp. The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude for the expert support provided by the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner. Christophe Kamp noted that Ukraine ensures the rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples in accordance with European and international standards. He also assured his readiness to continue providing all necessary assistance, including expert support. The meeting separately addressed issues related to the Crimean Tatar people. Today marks the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and 12 years since the beginning of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. The Ukrainian side spoke about systemic human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea, forced transfers, and the effective repetition by the Russian occupation regime of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people and other national minorities. At least 284 people have faced prosecution in temporarily occupied Crimea, including 159 representatives of the Crimean Tatar people. Ukraine calls for increasing international pressure on Russia to secure the release of all those it holds in captivity. The meeting also discussed the need to support the national identity of Ukrainians who, due to Russia's war, were forced to seek temporary refuge abroad. Olena Kovalska emphasized the importance of opening Ukrainian schools and centers to support Ukrainians in their countries of residence. This is already the second visit of Christophe Kamp to Ukraine since his appointment to the position in December 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Held the First Meeting of the International Advisory Group to Attract Investment to Ukraine and Develop Priority Economic Sectors President of Ukraine 26 February 2026 - 19:19 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting of the International Advisory Group on Investment Attraction and Economic Development of Ukraine. The meeting was moderated by Advisor to the President on Economic Development Chrystia Freeland. The President thanked participants for supporting Ukraine throughout the years of full-scale Russian aggression. "Today we are discussing priorities for Ukraine in investment, focusing on the most important things for us. Even during the war, after such a terrible winter, our country lives," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Participants focused on several key issues: energy resilience and preparations for next winter, joint identification and implementation of investment projects for Ukraine, and investment opportunities in the defense industry. First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal spoke about the scale of losses suffered by Ukraine's energy system as a result of systematic Russian attacks and the needs for recovery. In cooperation with the World Bank, a comprehensive strategy for the development of Ukraine's energy system will be developed in the coming months, aimed at making it decentralized and flexible. In addition, five key investment clusters have already been identified. "On March 1, all our local authorities will present an energy development plan for next winter. We will have six to seven months to build different types of energy. This is needed for our people. Anyway, even when the war ends, we will still have this deficit. So today this is a very important, very useful investment - in our energy sector," the Head of State emphasized. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka said Ukraine, together with its partners, has developed about 40 investment projects for post-war recovery and development. Besides the energy sector, which is currently a priority, they also cover defense, technology, transport, logistics, infrastructure, critical minerals, green metallurgy and decarbonization of the steel industry, and housing construction. Taras Kachka invited representatives of international business to participate in the implementation of at least ten of them. Presidential Advisor for Strategic Issues Oleksandr Kamyshin noted that Ukraine's defense industry is not only the foundation of security but also an area for investment. In March, Ukraine plans to hold a major presentation of its defense industry in the United States and later in Europe. The International Advisory Group will work on an ongoing basis on important projects for Ukraine's economic recovery. Participants included: Advisor to the President on Rebuilding and Investments Oksana Markarova; President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga; President of the European Investment Bank Nadia Calvino; President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso; Senior Advisor at Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Anthropic and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak; Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger; and executives and representatives of Vestas Wind Systems, Siemens Energy, General Atlantic, BlackRock, Fortescue, Citigroup, ArcelorMittal, State Street Corporation, Lazard, Relativity Space, McKinsey & Company, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Had a Phone Call with the President of Israel President of Ukraine 26 February 2026 - 17:06 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Israel Isaac Herzog. The Head of State thanked Israel for its solidarity with Ukrainians and for supporting the resolution at the UN General Assembly marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the full-scale Russian aggression. The presidents discussed steps to end the war unleashed by Russia and the importance of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine. The President of Israel noted the introduction of sanctions against the Iranian regime. Ukraine's position is always clear: no terrorist in the world should remain unpunished, and only this can restore security and stability. "We are closely monitoring developments around Iran and the actions of the regime that supports Russia's war and supplied Russia with 'shahed' drones for terror against Ukrainians," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ralf says F1 door closed as Mick begins IndyCar chapter Ralf Schumacher has doubled down on his criticism of nephew Mick Schumacher's move to IndyCar, warning the Formula 1 comeback dream is effectively over. Mick Schumacher, Brazilian GP 2022 Haas Speaking during a pre-season Sky Deutschland press conference, Ralf questioned the risk-reward balance of the American switch - particularly with oval racing included in Mick's programme. There's fantastic racing in the USA, but it's completely different from what we have here in Europe, he said. With all due respect, the question for me is one of benefit versus risk. He pointed specifically to the dangers of high-speed ovals. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that racing on an oval, at average speeds of 360 kmh, is somewhat more dangerous than a normal Formula 1 race, Ralf said. That's why I've always said I don't understand the move and find it unnecessary. But he's old enough and has to know what he's doing. Mick, 26, has already acknowledged that adaptation will take time ahead of the 2026 IndyCar season opener in early March. I'll probably need a bit longer, he admitted, saying he is still learning both the car and the circuits after limited prior experience on ovals. While Mick has framed IndyCar as a potential stepping stone back to F1, Ralf sees little chance of that happening. It's clear the door is closed, he said. This move certainly closed it, but it was already closed before, after being out for so long. New talents are always emerging. Ralf argued that Formula 1's ruthless environment leaves no room for gradual development. You come in and you have to perform immediately. Not winning isn't enough, because Formula 1 is only for the top drivers, he said, referring to Mick's Haas stint alongside Kevin Magnussen. Beyond the personal case, Schumacher delivered a bleak assessment of German motorsport more broadly. German motorsport has destroyed itself, he said. It started with nature conservation and not being allowed to continue operating kart tracks. He warned that without structural change, Germany's pipeline to Formula 1 could dry up entirely. We won't have any Formula 1 drivers in the foreseeable future unless they have enough money and manage to race karts in Italy, he said. That's the only way to compete directly with the best. (GMM) NANJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- In the heart of China's Yangtze River Delta, a city of just over 800,000 people has quietly written one of the most interesting chapters in the history of Sino-German economic cooperation. How did Taicang, a county-level city in Jiangsu Province, come to host more than 560 German enterprises with a total investment exceeding 6 billion U.S. dollars? Located just a 30-minute drive from Shanghai, Taicang has earned a reputation as the home of German companies in China. Thousands of German nationals live and work in the city, and German engineering is now woven into the fabric of the local economy. German auto components manufacturer Schaeffler Group could shed light on the phenomenon. On its factory floor in Taicang, yellow robotic arms pivot with mechanical grace, placing precision bearings onto inspection lines. Trucks loaded with newly assembled auto parts roll out of the gates, bound for vehicle plants across China. About three decades ago, Schaeffler, which is headquartered in Germany's Bavaria, began its China journey in Taicang with a modest workshop of just 30 employees. Its growth since has been swift and far-reaching. By the end of 2025, Schaeffler had expanded to 19,000 employees across China, operating six R&D centers and 17 factories. In Jiangsu -- one of China's manufacturing powerhouses -- it has become the province's largest German-funded manufacturer. Its trajectory mirrors the broader story of German enterprises putting down roots in Taicang. Since the city launched formal cooperation with Germany in 1993, it has seen German firms multiply steadily. Today, their combined annual industrial output in Taicang exceeds 67 billion yuan (9.75 billion U.S. dollars). "In the early days, many German engineers came to Taicang and provided us with hands-on guidance on manufacturing processes," said Li Youmei, a senior executive at Schaeffler (China). When the company first arrived, China's auto industry was still in its infancy. The apprenticeship-style transfer of expertise planted the seeds for technology localization. Around 2005, Schaeffler established an intelligent assembly division, a mold center and a vocational training center in Taicang, marking a decisive shift. "We were no longer simply importing technology. Rather, we began localized R&D and manufacturing," said Lou Junfeng, head of a factory at Schaeffler's Taicang manufacturing base. Today, more than 95 percent of the supply chain for Schaeffler's automotive business in China is localized. Such deep localization, Lou noted, is more than a market strategy. "It reflects trust in China's manufacturing and research capabilities." That trust is also evident in the company's green transition. Photovoltaic panels line factory rooftops, converting sunlight into renewable power. And inside workshops, digital energy systems track real-time consumption. The Taicang base now operates on 100 percent green electricity for its production processes, achieved through solar generation and green power procurement, according to Yu Xiaomao, who works for the State Grid Taicang power supply company. As the global auto industry accelerates its shift toward sustainability, Schaeffler has sought to enhance its competitiveness through decarbonization. "We worked with the company to design a full-cycle solution, from carbon accounting to renewable energy sourcing, helping cut emissions while upgrading operations," Yu said. According to Zhang Luoyin, deputy director of the Administrative Office of the China-Germany (Taicang) SME Cooperation Demonstration Zone, Taicang's appeal extends beyond location. While its proximity to Shanghai offers logistical advantages, the city has also built an industrial ecosystem in which German enterprises play a leading role with the support of local suppliers. More than 600 domestic firms have entered the supply chains of German companies in Taicang, while over 800 institutions collaborate with German enterprises in R&D, talent development and capital partnership, according to Zhang. Citing the auto industry as an example, he explained, "When 70 percent of a vehicle's components can be sourced locally in Taicang, you know supply chain resilience has truly taken hold." Administrative efficiency has also reinforced the city's pull. Zhang said that approval materials required for investment projects have been reduced by 40 percent, and processing times have been cut in half. More than 20 services organizations offering legal, financial or lifestyle support have established operations in the city to assist German businesses. For Schaeffler, the Taicang base has become one of the company's largest production hubs outside Germany. "Taicang combines efficiency with hospitality," Li said. "Companies are willing to act as ambassadors for the city." Schaeffler has repeatedly hosted supplier conferences in Taicang, drawing new partners to the region. Looking ahead, Li said the next phase of the company will focus on helping its Chinese clients expand overseas, exploring a second growth curve. She said that from "German technology" to "Made in China" -- and now to "China R&D" serving the global marketplace -- the partnership between Schaeffler and Taicang reflects more than just investment flows. "It is a two-way journey, one that continues to reflect cooperation between China and Germany in an era of industrial transformation," she added. Featured Lands Minister throws support behind Petroleum Hub GraphicOnline Business News Feb - 27 - 2026 , 08:37 The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has publicly reaffirmed his backing for the Petroleum Hub project, declaring that he is now fully convinced of its potential to reshape the economic fortunes of the Jomoro Municipality and create large-scale employment opportunities for Ghanas youth. His endorsement came during a courtesy call by a delegation from the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation led by its Chief Executive Officer, Toni Aubynn, at which the Minister signalled a renewed political commitment to accelerating the project. Addressing the delegation, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said recent developments under the administration of John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the Corporation had strengthened his confidence in the initiatives viability. I now firmly believe in the Petroleum Hub project, Hon. Armah-Buah said while addressing the delegation from PHDC. According to the Minister, progress made in addressing long-standing bottlenecks particularly financing arrangements for compensation following land acquisition had altered the outlook for the project. He noted that compensation concerns had previously dampened confidence among stakeholders and raised questions about feasibility. Mr Buah, who also serves as Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, assured the delegation that he would leverage his office to help drive the vision of establishing Jomoro as the Rotterdam of Africa. He indicated that he would engage the Lands Commission to fast-track land documentation and acquisition processes to ensure greater efficiency. He further disclosed that government was advancing critical infrastructure works, including road construction and other essential facilities, to prepare the project site for development. Responding to the Ministers remarks, Dr Aubynn expressed appreciation for what he described as a strong show of confidence at a pivotal stage of the projects development. He described the Mr Buahs endorsement and pledge to expedite land acquisition as immensely encouraging news, not only for the Corporation but also for the people of Jomoro, prospective investors, and all stakeholders. Dr Aubynn stated that beyond coordinating with relevant agencies on land matters, the Corporation was actively engaging investors to secure forward funding for Lot One of the project. He said these efforts were aimed at translating policy support into concrete financial commitments. The PHDC Chief Executive also acknowledged the role of traditional authorities and local residents in sustaining momentum for the project. He commended the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area and the people of Western Nzema for what he described as their patience and continued faith in the initiative. Dr Aubynn emphasised the strategic significance of the Petroleum Hub, noting its importance for Ghanas long-term energy security and its projected capacity to create sustainable livelihoods for more than 700,000 people. Next article: TCDA debunks 20% cut claims, insists cashew price stays at GH12 per kilo Featured SONA 2026: President Mahama announces surge in foreign reserves to $13.8 billion Jemima Okang Addae Business News Feb - 27 - 2026 , 11:54 President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the country's foreign exchange reserves currently stand at $13.8 billion, an increase from $8.9 billion at the end of 2024. He presented this rise as a clear indicator of improved external stability and stronger buffers against external shocks. Delivering his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament today [February 27], he quantified the coverage those reserves provide, stating they now cover 5.7 months of imports. He emphasised that the country has moved to a much more comfortable position in terms of meeting external obligations and ensuring import continuity. "A key driver of this development has been the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board by formalising gold exports," he stated, presenting the Ghana Gold Board as central to capturing more export receipts. By formalising gold exports and reducing smuggling, he noted that the government has been able to capture more foreign exchange from the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. As evidence of that policy's impact, he added that recorded gold exports increased from 63.6 tonnes to 103 tonnes. He said the additional export receipts have been channelled into the economy, contributing materially to the reserve increase. The President highlighted the reserve improvement as part of a broader economic turnaround alongside debt restructuring, fiscal discipline, and currency stabilisation. He argued that higher reserves strengthen confidence, support exchange-rate stability, and help sustain macroeconomic recovery. Epstein tried to buy a palace in Morocco days before his arrest in 2019 Next article: Epstein tried to buy a palace in Morocco days before his arrest in 2019 Bill Clinton asked about hot tub photo and testifies he knew 'nothing' of Epstein crimes Previous article: Bill Clinton asked about hot tub photo and testifies he knew 'nothing' of Epstein crimes Featured 55 Ghanaians killed in Russia-Ukraine war Pacome Emmanuel Damalie International News Feb - 27 - 2026 , 12:41 3 minutes read Fifty-five Ghanaians recruited into the Russian army for its war in Ukraine have been killed in action, according to Ukrainian officials. The Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War of Ukraine, Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, told a Ghanaian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in Kiev, Ukraine last Wednesday (February 25, 2026), that per Ukranian intelligence total of 272 Ghanaians have been recruited into the Russian army over the past three years. He indicated that in 2023, 17 Ghanaians were recruited and trained by Russia, while another 53 were recruited in 2024. Recruitment, however, surged last year by over 300 per cent, with 202 Ghanaian men enlisted to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Africas involvement According to Brigadier General Usov, Africa has contributed 1,785 young men as recruits for Russia in the war against Ukraine. This means Ghana has allegedly contributed 16 per cent of all African recruits. He noted that recruits came from 36 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Uganda, Burundi, Togo, Algeria, Cote dIvoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, and Kenya. Meanwhile, captives from 45 countries worldwide are being held in a fortified camp in Ukraine as prisoners of war, including two Ghanaians. The nationalities with the largest number of captives include Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Globally, Russia has recruited over 24,098 foreigners from 135 countries and unrecognised territories since the war began. Brigadier General Usov added that intelligence suggests Russia plans to recruit 18,500 more foreigners, including Africans, this year. He further stated that at least 3,388 foreign recruits have been killed in action since the war began four years ago, with 42 per cent of new recruits dying within the first four months of service. He added that, while 3,080 recruits have completed their contracts with the Russian army, they are yet to be released. Ghanas response In his discussions with Ukrainian officials, Minister Ablakwa assured that the Ghanaian government is committed to curtailing the illegal trafficking of young Ghanaians lured into the war. He said the government has commenced, and will intensify, awareness and public education programmes to protect vulnerable youth from predatory agents recruiting them into the conflict. The Mahama Administration is committed to tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction. This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others, he said. The minister described the recruitment of African youth for the war as an African Crisis that must be tackled to prevent the continent from being drawn further into the conflict. He stressed that he would mobilise fellow foreign ministers to address the challenge and assured that President John Mahama would raise the issue with other Heads of State and Governments, particularly when he assumes the African Union Chairmanship next year. We're sorry! - Ghanaian prisoners of war in Ukraine plead Next article: We're sorry! - Ghanaian prisoners of war in Ukraine plead Govt sets strict entry rules for cannabis business Mohammed Ali Feb - 27 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read The government has introduced new conditions for entry into Ghanas medicinal cannabis industry, requiring investors to secure confirmed buyers before obtaining licences to operate. The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced this at a press briefing in Accra yesterday. He said the measure is intended to prevent diversion of cannabis into the illegal market and to protect public safety. Mr Mohammed-Mubarak stated that applicants must show a clear market for their produce as part of the licensing process. He said authorities would not grant licences to individuals who could not specify their intended buyers. We wont give you the licence if you dont show us who you are going to sell it to. You need to have an off-taker, he said, and added that the government would not permit cultivation without secured buyers. The directive introduces stricter operational conditions in the rollout of Ghanas medicinal cannabis programme. It affects farmers, investors and processors seeking to enter the sector. Policy The policy is being implemented under the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Act, 2023 and the Cannabis Regulations, 2023. These laws provide legal backing for the cultivation and management of cannabis strictly for industrial and medicinal purposes. Mr Mohammed-Mubarak stressed that recreational use of cannabis remains illegal. For the avoidance of doubt, cannabis with more than 0.3 per cent THC remains a prohibited narcotic, he said. According to him, a total of 11 different licences were required across the value chain, including cultivation, processing, transportation, import and export. Each licence is activity-specific and non-transferable. You cannot cultivate and assume you can transport. You need another licence for that, he explained. The minister also said Ghana did not currently produce the specialised low-THC cannabis seeds required for the programme. As a result, all seeds must be imported under licence. Government is not positioning itself to provide the seeds. It is a business opportunity for those who want to import, he said, while encouraging research institutions to develop local seed capacity over time. Enforcement To prevent abuse and diversion into illegal channels, the Interior Ministry, working with the Narcotics Control Commission and other security agencies, will apply surveillance and enforcement measures. These include GPS tracking, drone monitoring and unannounced inspections of licensed facilities. Security agencies such as the Police, Immigration Service, Prisons Service and the National Investigations Bureau will take part in enforcement. Mr Mohammed-Mubarak warned that failure to comply with the regulations could harm the countrys international standing. If we get it wrong, Ghana could easily be blacklisted, and all the efforts will come to nothing, he said. He added that licensed facilities must not be located within 100 metres of schools or residential areas. Operators are also required to submit quarterly returns, failing which they would face sanctions. Public safety On the economic outlook, the minister said although the sector has the potential to generate substantial revenue, the governments immediate concern was public safety. Our emphasis is more on security and public safety than on money. If we do it right, the benefits will come, he said. The introduction of the off-taker requirement is expected to shape participation in the sector. It limits entry to investors who can show full commercial readiness from production to sale. For many local farmers and small-scale entrants, the directive raises the entry threshold. It indicates that participation will require not only land and interest but also firm market arrangements and capital. Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the government would remain open to engagement but would enforce the rules. Featured More doctors accept postings to deprived regions Daily Graphic Feb - 27 - 2026 , 12:31 3 minutes read The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has acknowledged an improvement in the number of doctors who have so far accepted postings to deprived regions of the country. During a working visit to some of the regions, the minister said unlike in the Oti Region where only one doctor reported in 2024, 10 had reported to work at the moment. In the Upper East Region, where he said only three reported in 2024, a total of 14 doctors had so far reported; seven reported in the Upper West Region in 2025 as against two in 2024 while Western North Region had 15 doctors reporting last year as opposed to four in 2024. During the same period in the Savannah Region, where none of the doctors posted there reported, a total of nine have showed up so far, same as the North East Region which has seen three new doctors reporting, with the Bono East Region recording an additional 17 in 2025 to move the current roll to 18 in two years. In the Ahafo Region, a total of 12 new doctors have reported; the Bono Region list also appreciated from six doctors in 2024 to 26 while the Northern Region list shot from from seven to 20. During a visit to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, the Minister of Health disclosed a significant shift in staffing levels. The refreshing news emerged during the ministers tour of the Upper East, North East and Northern regions yesterday to engage stakeholders, monitor compliance with postings and assess urgent health facility needs. Data, he said, showed a significant improvement in rural postings, with the minister noting that although many doctors were previously hesitant to accept rural roles, recent ministerial directives had encouraged them to report for duty. This increase, he said, was a critical step towards ensuring that healthcare facilities in the region were no longer understaffed and could better meet patient needs. He described the development as a necessary step towards addressing staffing gaps in deprived areas. The data reflects a substantial rise in the number of doctors taking up postings in previously underserved areas, signalling early success of the ministrys intervention. The minister in his various engagements emphasised that sustaining improved reporting required local action, and therefore called on regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), members of parliament, regional coordinating councils and traditional authorities to support posted doctors with accommodation, basic amenities and safe working conditions. He also encouraged regions and districts to consider sponsoring students to study medicine as a long-term strategy to build local capacity. The ministers tour included engagements with stakeholders across the Upper East, North East and Northern regions to discuss doctor postings, infrastructure needs, and practical solutions to improve healthcare in underserved communities. Incentive proposal The minister indicated that discussions would be held with the Agriculture Minister on possible incentives for doctors who accept rural postings. The proposal includes providing agricultural inputs and facilitating access to land through chiefs and local authorities. He explained that farming could serve as a productive side hustle for doctors stationed in rural areas, helping them supplement their income while contributing to local food production and economic activity. He said such incentives could support retention and strengthen rural economies. Commitment to equitable healthcare The minister reiterated that postings of medical officers would not be reversed, stressing that equitable distribution of health professionals remained essential to achieving fairness in healthcare access. The ongoing tour forms part of government efforts to improve healthcare in hard-to-reach and underserved areas, with a focus on practical solutions and shared responsibility among national and local stakeholders. Next article: SONA 2026: Mahama calls for self-reliance, positioning Ghana as catalyst for African progress Featured Release GH60bn pension funds for 24-Hour Economy - Joe Jackson proposes at Wisconsin Business School forum Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Feb - 27 - 2026 , 12:26 4 minutes read The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has called for the unlocking of more than GH60 billion in local pension funds to finance the governments 24-Hour Economy programme. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Wisconsin International University College Ghana Business School in Accra last Tuesday, he argued that funding was not the primary constraint to the policys success, saying there was sufficient domestic liquidity, which needed alignment, coordination and disciplined execution to drive structural transformation. Everywhere you go, pension funds fund the country's development. In Ghana, the pension funds are locked away because they can only buy treasury bills. Lets release pension funds. The sad thing is that when the Europeans give us money in the Eurobond, it is somebody's pension fund. We sit here, we have billions in pension funds, and yet, go and get somebody else's pension fund, Mr Jackson said. The seminar was on the Theme: Building Ghana's 24-Hour Economy: Challenges and Opportunities. It formed part of the universitys Business Week celebrations, and brought together participants from academia, business and government for discussions and networking. Discipline, coordination Mr Jackson described the 24-Hour Economy as one of the most coherent industrial policy architectures since the structural adjustment era, saying it correctly diagnosed the countrys dependence on raw material exports, weak production systems and logistics bottlenecks. He, however, warned that the greatest obstacle to the policy was not the quality of the framework or the availability of funding, but poor alignment and weak execution across institutions. Mr Jackson added that the plan itself was structurally sound and intellectually coherent, yet implementation could falter because key actors such as government agencies, regulators, financial institutions, and private sector partners might not coordinate effectively. The Head of Innovative Finance at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, Dr Ishmael Nii A. Dodoo, said the policy sought to reverse the countrys jobless growth by creating 1.7 million jobs through industrialisation and export promotion. He explained that the programme was anchored on three pillars, namely production transformation, market systems efficiency and human capital development, supported by eight integrated initiatives spanning agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and financing. Dr Dodoo enumerated plans to develop agro-ecological parks and industrial corridors along the Volta Basin to add value to cocoa, cassava, oil and other resources. He said the country needed to shift from exporting raw materials to building value chains that retained wealth and generated employment locally. Nations are built by people that are creative, that are imaginative, are self-disciplined, and able to harness resources; and that is what we want to stimulate. So, the private sector must drive the trend for the economy. It's not a project for the government. It's not a project for (the governing) NDC to give it to grassroots, he stated. University president The President of Wisconsin International University College, Dr Lawrence Kannae, emphasised the significance of the forum as a rare convergence of policymakers, industry leaders, academics and students to interrogate a single national issue from multiple perspectives. This unique convergence of minds reflects the seriousness of the subject matter before us, and affirms the role of the university as a neutral and credible institution for policy dialogue, he said. Dr Kannae stressed that the countrys economic expansion must now be driven by productivity, innovation and efficient use of resources, adding that the 24-hour economy remained directly related to job creation, value chain expansion and global competitiveness, making the discussion both strategic and urgent. Problem solvers The Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley, urged the private sector to take advantage of opportunities within the 24-Hour Economy framework, stressing discipline and determination as factors critical for success. He announced that his company had acquired two vessels to strengthen regional cargo movement, describing logistics as central to unlocking new markets. Mr McKorley argued that Ghanaians must expand their presence in sectors such as shipping, manufacturing and aviation to reduce foreign dominance. He encouraged students to become problem-solvers and entrepreneurs capable of building globally competitive local enterprises under the new economic model. The Dean of the Wisconsin Business School, Dr Bright Mawudor, said the business school had a responsibility to create a strategic platform where policy, industry and academia would engage critically on pressing national economic issues. He explained that the Business School Week was designed to interrogate ideas such as the 24-Hour Economy, and move them from political discourse to measurable economic structures. Across our nation, we are debating and discussing debt restructuring and repayment, industrial transformation, private sector growth, the big push agenda and the mother of all initiatives: the 24-Hour economy. These are not abstract conversations. They are topical and forward looking national issues that deserve the attention of all patriotic citizens, he said. Dr Mawudor stressed the need to examine implementation indicators, macroeconomic conditions and the role of the financial sector in enabling enterprise transformation. Featured Government approves 4-month payment plan to clear nurses and midwives salary arrears GraphicOnline Feb - 27 - 2026 , 09:18 2 minutes read The government has approved the payment of outstanding salary arrears owed to nurses and midwives recruited in the 2024/2025 intake, the Ministry of Health has announced. In a press release issued on February 26, 2026, and signed by the Ministrys Spokesperson, Tony Goodman, the Ministry said it had successfully concluded negotiations regarding the delayed payments. The Ministry of Health has successfully concluded negotiations regarding the payment of salary arrears owed to nurses and midwives posted in the 2024/2025 recruitment year, the statement said. According to the release, the breakthrough followed extensive engagements with the Ministry of Finance, which has now granted approval for the arrears to be settled in four instalments between April and July. Following extensive engagements with the Ministry of Finance, approval has been granted for the outstanding arrears to be paid in four (4) instalments from April through July, it noted. The approved payment schedule will see two months of arrears paid in April, followed by three months each in May, June and July, as government moves to clear the backlog in a phased manner. The Ministry described the arrangement as a deliberate and structured approach aimed at balancing fiscal responsibility with the welfare of frontline health professionals. This structured payment arrangement underscores Governments firm commitment to clearing all outstanding obligations in a timely, responsible, and sustainable manner, the statement emphasised. The Ministry also commended the affected nurses and midwives for their continued dedication to duty despite the delay in receiving their salaries. The Ministry of Health commends the nurses and midwives for their patience, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to service delivery despite the delays experienced, it said. In addition, appreciation was extended to the Ministry of Finance for what was described as its prompt attention to the matter. The Ministry also expresses sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Finance for the priority attention and urgency given to this matter, the statement added. The release reaffirmed governments broader commitment to the welfare of health workers across the country, stating that Government remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare, motivation, and well-being of all health workers across the country. The announcement is expected to bring relief to hundreds of newly posted nurses and midwives who have faced months of uncertainty over unpaid salaries, even as they continued to provide essential healthcare services nationwide. Featured Government increases feeding grants for learners with disabilities Jemima Okang Addae Feb - 27 - 2026 , 12:58 1 minute read The government has increased the daily feeding grants for students in public special schools, raising the amount from GH8 per day to GH15 per day to better address the nutritional and health needs of learners with disabilities. President John Dramani Mahama announced the increase while delivering his second State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, stating, Government has also increased the daily feeding grants for students in public special schools from eight cedis per day to 15 cedis per day. He emphasised that the feeding grant increase forms part of a broader commitment to support learners with special needs, noting that the amended GETFund Act has established a dedicated sustainable funding framework to implement free education for learners with special needs beginning in the 2026 academic year. The President said the feeding grant increase and the funding framework were measures designed to promote equity, nutrition, and sustained support for learners with disabilities. Featured Government presents 13 vehicles to GIHOC to boost operations, market reach Beatrice Laryea Feb - 27 - 2026 , 17:49 4 minutes read Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has commissioned 13 new vehicles for GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, aimed at revamping operations and expanding market reach. The fleet includes ten pick-up trucks for field sales, two forklifts for warehouse management, one articulated delivery vehicle for bulk distribution and one administrative vehicle. These vehicle injection is aimed at addressing one of the companys most critical operational gapsefficient distribution across the country. Structural challenges Speaking at the official commissioning ceremony at the companys headquarters in the North Industrial Area, Accra, on Thursday, February 26, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare highlighted that GIHOC, Ghanas first indigenous alcoholic beverage manufacturer established in 1958, has faced structural challenges over the years, including aging infrastructure, limited working capital, and constrained distribution capacity. She emphasized that the government will continue collaborating with GIHOCs Board and Management to address financial liabilities, review the operating model for sustainability, and explore production expansion under the 24-Hour Economy Policy. "Just a few days ago, at the recent Presidential dialogue on the economy, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic, made a firm commitment to boost our manufacturing sector. He acknowledged the resilience of our local manufacturers, anchored on an enabling environment, and promised that this administration would be a steadfast partner in our growth." "It is in this new spirit of collaboration and support for "Made in Ghana" that we gather here today. Through this commissioning, we are building a more competitive and profitable industry, ensuring our local beverages reach every corner of this nation and beyond," she said. She hoped that the investment would tackle GIHOCs key operational challenge of limited distribution reach. Strategic turnaround Board Chairman of GIHOC Distilleries, Henry Annor Boakye-Yiadom highlighted that the event is more than operationalit is a governance and strategic milestone. He affirmed the Boards commitment to enabling management to build a resilient, competitive, and profitable institution. He said the newly commissioned fleet addresses critical operational gaps in distribution, market access, delivery reliability, trade presence, and overall efficiency, allowing GIHOC to expand national reach, improve delivery timelines, and enhance customer satisfaction. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Trade Minister driving one of the vehicles after the commissioning Chairman Boakye-Yiadom emphasized that sustainable transformation requires people, systems, and disciplinenot just assets. The Board is focused on fostering a performance-driven culture where investments translate to measurable results and assets generate tangible value. "As a state-owned enterprise, GIHOCs revitalization is positioned to strengthen its industrial brand, contribute to national revenue, create jobs, and support Ghanas broader economic agenda." He concluded by reaffirming the Boards unwavering commitment to good governance, strategic oversight, financial discipline, and long-term sustainability, marking the commissioning as an important step in GIHOCs strategic turnaround. Growth path Chief Executive Officer of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Jones Borteye Applerh declared that the company has officially returned to a path of growth, describing the commissioning of new operational vehicles as a symbol of revival and strategic reset. Speaking at the ceremony, the CEO said the event marked more than the introduction of vehiclesit signaled renewed direction, disciplined growth, and a deliberate plan to restore GIHOC to industrial prominence. He revealed that in 2025, the company increased production output by over 50 percent compared to the previous year, describing the surge as clear evidence that the turnaround strategy is yielding results. To sustain this momentum, he said GIHOC has transitioned to a two-shift operational system and is preparing for full 24-hour production in alignment with governments 24-Hour Economy policy under President John Dramani Mahama. According to the CEO, the newly commissioned fleet will strengthen distribution, improve delivery reliability, deepen market penetration, and enhance trade visibility nationwide. Mr Applerh noted that past logistical constraints had limited market efficiency, but the addition of a heavy-duty 40-foot delivery truck and other operational vehicles will bridge distribution gaps and improve responsiveness to distributors and retailers. He emphasized that the investment represents productivity tools and revenue enablers rather than expenses, positioning GIHOC as a modern, competitive, and growth-oriented industrial brand. "For years, logistics gaps affected how efficiently we moved products across the country. The addition of a heavy-duty delivery truck-a 40-foot for a start will now bridge that gap." "We are committed to giving distributors the reliability they deserve and consumers the availability they expect," he said. Concluding his remarks, he stated that GIHOCs revival is not based on nostalgia but on operational excellence, disciplined execution, and sustained market expansion, asserting that when GIHOC moves, industry moves. Featured 'Leadership vacuum at Defence Ministry leaves Ghana exposed' - Defence Committee Ranking Member warns GraphicOnline Feb - 27 - 2026 , 08:14 2 minutes read The Ranking Member on Parliaments Defence and Interior Committee has warned that Ghana risks sending the wrong signal to hostile actors amid what he describes as a prolonged leadership vacuum in the defence sector. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour renewed his call for the immediate appointment of a substantive Defence Minister, linking the delay to growing security vulnerabilities, including the recent armed attack on fishermen off the coast of Senya Beraku in the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region. The incident, which occurred at sea, saw armed men reportedly fire warning shots, hold fishermen at gunpoint and seize seven outboard motors, generators and other valuables, leaving the victims stranded. Speaking on JoyNews The Pulse on Thursday, Rev. Ntim Fordjour described the development as deeply troubling and reflective of broader institutional weaknesses. Piracy is becoming a growing concern. The crisis in the defence sector is alarming. For the past few months, we have urged the President to appoint a substantive Minister of Defence. The failure to do so has made our country vulnerable to external threats," he said. The Assin South Member of Parliament argued that sustained inaction at the top of the defence establishment undermines confidence in Ghanas preparedness to confront both maritime and cross-border threats. It is reckless and dangerous that the President has taken no action in this regard. The message we are sending to external actors is that we do not take our defence seriously, he added. Rev. Ntim Fordjour maintained that recent security incidents point to the need for stronger coordination and strategic oversight. He contended that the absence of a substantive minister weakens policy direction at a time when Ghana faces what he described as evolving and increasingly complex threats within the sub-region. He cited not only the attack on the fishermen but also the recent killing of eight Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso as evidence of mounting security challenges that require decisive political leadership. According to him, Ghana cannot afford complacency in matters of national security, particularly given rising instability in parts of West Africa and growing concerns over maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Featured SONA 2026: No patient should be rejected over No Bed Syndrome Mahama warns hospitals Beatrice Laryea Feb - 27 - 2026 , 13:10 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has directed all health facilities across the country not to turn away patients who seek emergency care, warning against the persistent excuse of no beds in hospitals. He made the remarks while delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Friday, February 27. His comments follow the reported death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, an employee of Promasidor Ghana Limited, who was allegedly denied treatment at three separate hospitals after a hit-and-run accident over claims that there were no available beds. Amissah sustained severe shoulder injuries in the February 6, 2026 accident at the Circle Overpass in Accra. He was stabilised by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and prepared for transfer for further treatment but reportedly could not be admitted. Reacting to the incident, President Mahama stressed that emergency patients must be received and treated under all circumstances, even if it requires makeshift arrangements. Patients facing medical emergencies must be received and given healthcare, even under makeshift conditions. You dont need to have a comfortable bed before attending to a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to, he stated. The President described the so-called no-bed syndrome as unacceptable and disclosed that the Ministry of Health will issue new guidelines to address the problem. He reaffirmed governments commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure, including completing key projects such as the La General Hospital and the maternity block at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. In the interim, he said government will expand capacity at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital under Phase Two of the Ridge Hospital project to increase bed numbers. He added that work will also continue on the Police Hospital project and the La General Hospital redevelopment. Featured SONA 2026: Mahama announces major security overhaul amid rising threats Beatrice Laryea Feb - 27 - 2026 , 13:53 3 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has outlined an extensive plan to strengthen Ghanas security architecture in response to evolving threats, including cross-border violence and piracy. Speaking at the 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament in Accra on Friday, February 27, the President said recent incidents including the killing of eight Ghanaians in a neighbouring country and a pirate attack on 71 Ghanaian fishermen underscore the urgent need to retool and adequately equip the nations security services. "Mr Speaker, in the security sector, Ghana faces evolving security threats. Our troops, services, and agencies have, however, remain firmly committed to strengthening national peace and security, which underpin our democracy, development, and social creation," he said. He commended the Ghana Armed Forces for successfully evacuating injured citizens from Burkina Faso and praised the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, and other security stakeholders for rescuing the stranded fishermen. He said government has directed support for affected fishermen, including the replacement of stolen outboard motors and fishing gear. "Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the Ghana Armed Forces for conducting a successful medical evacuation of our injured compatriots from Burkina Faso. I also commend the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Air Force, the National Security Council, the Chief of Staff Operations Team, the MP4, the Chief Fisherman, and people of Senya Breku for the combined effort that successfully rescued all the stranded 71 fishermen who had been attacked by pirates." Crackdown on Illegal Mining and Border Security The President mentioned that the Armed Forces continue to assist efforts against illegal small-scale mining through river guard deployments and operational support for anti-galamsey initiatives and special courts. To counter terrorism and transnational crime threats from the Sahel, he said the Northern Border Security Project is advancing as Ghanas first line of defence against extremist infiltration. Plans are also underway to establish new military barracks in Ejumako (Central Region) and Dambai (Oti Region) to strengthen state presence in emerging security zones. Retooling and Modernisation As part of a broader retooling agenda, President Mahama said government has signed agreements to procure four new Eurocopter helicopters and one jet for the Air Force to replace ageing aircraft. Previously grounded aircraft are being overhauled to restore operational readiness. He said further acquisitions include offshore patrol vessels, armoured personnel carriers, drones, protective gear, ammunition, vehicles, and advanced communication systems to enhance the capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. "To further support retooling efforts, agreements have been signed to procure and deliver four brand new Eurocopter helicopters and one jet for the Ghana Air Force, aimed at replacing the aging fleet and modernizing our air capabilities. The Ghana Armed Forces is carrying out a thorough overhaul of previously grounded aircraft, which involves replacing essential components and bringing them back into service." "This aims to quickly restore their operational readiness and to provide additional vehicles for the Ghana Armed Forces to enhance mobility and boost troop morale," he said. Peacekeeping and International Solidarity President Mahama added that currently, 2,119 Ghanaian troops are deployed in international peacekeeping missions, reinforcing Ghanas global reputation. However, with some UN missions winding down, government plans to keep returning troops engaged through expanded training and domestic operations. In a demonstration of international solidarity, Ghana deployed 54 engineers to Jamaica in December 2025 to assist with reconstruction after Hurricane Melissa. Their mandate has been extended by 90 days at Jamaicas request. Recruitment and Welfare He stressed that a recruitment drive is underway to increase the Armed Forces by 12,000 personnel over four years adding the process has been decentralised to regional capitals to improve accessibility and transparency. President Mahama reaffirmed that sustained investment in retooling, personnel welfare, and human capital development remains central to safeguarding Ghanas democracy, stability, and economic progress. Featured SONA 2026: Mahama's speech on nationalism, collective resolve and unity of purpose Beatrice Laryea Feb - 27 - 2026 , 15:32 5 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the crucial role of nationalism, collective resolve and unity of purpose in advancing the countrys development during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Accra on Friday, February 27. Reflecting on a recent diplomatic and cultural incident in Zambia, he emphasized how unified action and a shared national identity turned a potential embarrassment into an opportunity for international goodwill. Below is the speech. Mr Speaker, as I conclude, during my recent trip to Zambia, we saw what a united Ghana can achieve on the global stage. A simple mislabelling of our culture could have reduced us to a punchline. Instead, we moved with speed and confidence We corrected the record. We turned what was supposed to be ridicule into reach. We turned confusion into connection. We turned what could have been a negative social media trend into a handshake of friendship with our Zambian brothers and sisters. Mr Speaker, for most people, that episode was just a fleeting social media frenzy. Yet, it served a greater purpose. It showed a nation that understands its brand equity. It showed citizens aligned around a common identity. It showed a country that knows who we are and refuses to be defined by others. But let us be honest. Unity in moments of cultural pride has proved easier than unity in moments of political disagreement. If we can mobilize that same collective resolve for our development agenda, we will see real progress. And that mobilization is possible because we are the descendants of a people who united against political subjugation. We resisted economic exploitation and we fought colonial oppression. Mr Speaker, our pursuit of national development today demands that same unity of purpose. We must reject misrepresentation and distortion that detract from our collective progress. We must guard our development as firmly as we guard our cultural identity. We must act as one people with one purpose. Mr. Speaker, in public life, there is a simple maxim we are all very familiar with. And it says that the buck stops with the president. Mr Speaker, I not only agree with this. Every day I hold office of president, I live by that statement that the buck stops with me. The ultimate responsibility for the direction of this nation rests with the office that I hold. And I will never shirk that duty. But nation building is not merely a question of who provides the strategic direction and who bears the final responsibility. It is a long chain of efforts that carries intent into reality from policy conception to laws enacted, to resources mobilized, to services delivered, to value created or found in workshops, in classrooms, in markets, and in enterprises across our land. Mr Speaker, it is here that the strength of a people reveals itself. It is in the countless acts of competence, integrity, and industry, by citizens of every calling, whose work turns national purpose into lived reality. Mr Speaker, while the buck may stop with me, the work of nation building goes beyond that. Through the labour, enterprise, and civic spirit of millions of Ghanaians whose daily efforts give policy life. Mr Speaker, I will continue to carry the weight of final accountability. Can I ask in equal measure that our citizens bring their full measure of energy skills and patriotism to the common task of advancing our country? That is how nations are built. That is how economies grow. No policy can substitute for civic duty. No program can replace the quiet discipline with which millions of Ghanaians sustain their families, serve their communities, and carry this republic forward each day. Mr Speaker, we are sometimes tempted to judge our nation only by our failures and our difficulties. But a country is not defined solely by its difficulties. It is defined by the choices its people make in response to those difficulties. Repeatedly throughout history, the Ghanaians have chosen steadiness over despair, cooperation over division, and purpose over cynicism. That is the deeper strength on which our future rests. We've faced testy moments before, and we have overcome them. We've gone through periods of economic strain, transitions that have demanded much from our citizens and our public servants alike. And Mr Speaker, there's an African proverb that says, however long the night is, the dawn will break. Mr. Speaker, the dawn is breaking for Ghana. The moment we are in requires not only endurance, but also action. It reminds us that renewal belongs to those who prepare for the morning, while others still speak up and look back at the darkness. For Ghana today, that dawn is not a promise we must recite. It is a reality we must build into our institutions. Into our economy. And in the ethics of responsibility we pass on to the next generation. So let us live each day mindful that the Republic is larger than any one political party, any office, any individual. This Republic belongs equally to the farmer, the trader, the teacher, the nurse, the artisan, the entrepreneur, the parliamentarian, and the young citizen, and the elderly and retired personnel. Mr Speaker, each of these people has a stake in our nation and each one has a duty. Each has a claim on the future we are shaping together. Mr Speaker, nations endure not because they are spared trial, but because their people refuse to surrender to trial. Ghana has been tested before. We did not surrender. We will not surrender now. And so with gratitude for how far we have come, and with a resolve for the work ahead, I say, Mr. Speaker, the state of our nation is resilient. The state of our nation is renewing. And our nation is firmly in the hands of its people. Our nation is on the brink of takeoff. And so ladies and gentlemen, passengers, fasten your seatbelts. I thank you for your attention. Featured SONA 2026: Over 114 galamsey cases pending in courts Mahama Beatrice Laryea Feb - 27 - 2026 , 13:41 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that more than 114 case dockets involving hundreds of accused persons in illegal mining (galamsey) activities are currently pending before courts across the country. Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament in Accra on Friday, February 27, the President described illegal mining as a grave threat to Ghanas environment, water bodies, public health, and national security. He said government has intensified the prosecution of persons engaged in galamsey, shifting focus from only arresting low-level offenders to dismantling the organised criminal networks behind the operations. In all these galamsey operations, there are big fish who never get caught, he stated, stressing that enforcement efforts are now targeting financiers and kingpins. According to him, specialised prosecutorial teams have been deployed to fast-track illegal mining cases, strengthen the presentation of evidence in court, and aggressively pursue the confiscation and forfeiture of equipment and proceeds derived from illegal mining activities. The pending cases are spread across courts in towns and communities most affected by illegal mining, as government seeks to clamp down on the menace through legal and institutional reforms. "Mr Speaker, illegal mining continues to pose a great threat to our environment, water bodies, public health, and national security. Prosecution of persons engaged in illegal mining has been intensified, with a renewed focus on dismantling organized criminal networks behind gallantry operations, rather than targeting only the little fish, low-level offenders. Mr. Speaker, in all these gallantry operations, there are big fish who never get caught.," he said. "In total, over 114 case dockets involving hundreds of accused persons are pending in various courts across the country, particularly in towns and villages that are prone to illegal mining. Specialized prosecutorial teams have been deployed to fast-track illegal mining cases, ensure the effective presentation of evidence, and pursue the confiscation and forfeiture of equipment and proceeds used in or derived from illegal mining," he added. President Mahama reaffirmed his administrations resolve to protect the countrys natural resources and hold perpetrators accountable, while also reiterating broader commitments to gender equality, social protection, and the welfare of vulnerable groups. Featured SONA 2026: President Mahama says Ghanas debt dragged nation into hardship Jemima Okang Addae Feb - 27 - 2026 , 12:49 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has described the countrys debt burden as a shackle that dragged the nation into hardship and despair, insisting that his government confronted the crisis with action rather than rhetoric. Delivering his second State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, he recounted that on December 19, 2022, Ghana, under the President Akufo-Addo administration, declared its inability to meet debt obligations, placing a moratorium on domestic and foreign debt repayments and entering a complex debt restructuring process. Ghana's debt became a shackle on our economic progress, dragging our nation down into hardship and despair, he stated. As part of the restructuring strategy, he explained, the government established sinking funds, restructured obligations, and pursued bilateral agreements. He reported concrete outcomes from these measures: public debt fell by Gh82.1 billion, and the debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 61.8 per cent to 45.3 per cent, calling this one of the sharpest reductions in Ghanas history. The President also highlighted an early repayment milestone, noting that the government had settled a US$709 million eurobond ahead of schedule, completing US$1.4 billion in debt service that had been slated for 2025. He presented this early settlement as evidence of Ghanas restored credibility and as a factor that drew positive attention from international ratings agencies. Mr Mahama linked the restructuring and early repayments to improved sovereign credit perception, noting that Fitch, Moodys, and S&P all upgraded Ghanas ratingsthe first triple upgrade in many years. He described the debt restructuring as central to restoring fiscal stability, reducing borrowing needs, and enabling broader economic recovery. Next article: First British baby born using transplanted womb from dead donor Featured Health Minister suspends Nalerigu Nursing College Principal over unauthorised admissions GraphicOnline Health Feb - 27 - 2026 , 10:47 1 minute read The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Principal of the Nurses and Midwifery Training College at Nalerigu following preliminary findings of unauthorised admissions at the institution. The directive was issued on Thursday during the Ministers working visit to the Upper East, North-East and Northern Regions, where he is currently touring health facilities and training institutions to assess operations and service delivery. According to a statement released by the Ministrys Head of Public Relations, Isaac Ofei Baah, the Minister had earlier been briefed about alleged admission irregularities at the College. Upon visiting the school, he ordered the suspension of the Head of the institution pending further investigations. The Minister stressed that adherence to established admission protocols is non-negotiable and warned that any Head of institution found engaging in unauthorised practices will face strict sanctions, the statement read. Mr Akandoh reaffirmed the Ministrys commitment to transparency, accountability and the maintenance of high standards in health training institutions across the country. Airport name change appropriate - Bishop Mensah Benjamin Xornam Glover Politics Feb - 27 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read The immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI), Dr Samuel Nii-Noi Mensah, has described the renaming of Kotoka International Airport to the Accra International Airport as a significant step towards strengthening Ghanas democratic values and national identity. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Bishop Mensah said removing the name Kotoka from Ghanas main international gateway was long overdue, as it symbolised military intervention in Ghanas political history. The name Kotoka represents a coup detat. Reversing that name is welcome because it clearly signals that coups have no legitimacy in our democratic dispensation, he said. Renaming While expressing satisfaction with the restoration of the neutral name Accra International Airport, Bishop Mensah reiterated his long-standing view that Ghanas premier airport should have ultimately been named after the countrys first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He argued that the 1966 overthrow of Dr Nkrumah must be re-examined with the benefit of hindsight and within the broader context of Cold War geopolitics. He said the 1966 coup was influenced by external forces, particularly the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which viewed Nkrumahs Pan-African vision and push for self-reliance as a threat to Western interests. At the time, we were narrow-minded and myopic. We focused on bread and butter issues, while Nkrumah was thinking about building a highly developed country that could stand on its own, he said. Bishop Mensah noted that the reversion to the Accra International Airport has reignited a broader national debate about the symbols Ghana chooses to honour its heroes. He opined that naming the airport after Dr Nkrumah would have followed international precedents such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Mohammed V International Airport and the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Bishop Mensah described Dr Nkrumah as one of the greatest leaders of the past millennium, stressing that his vision, influence and global impact remain unmatched. Featured The Ghana you speak of today is bright Ayariga praises President Mahama's SONA GraphicOnline Politics Feb - 27 - 2026 , 15:02 2 minutes read The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as transformative leadership, describing the progress made under the administration as a stark contrast to the situation the President inherited from the Akufo-Addo administration. Speaking on the floor of Parliament shortly after the President delivered the 2026 State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, Mr Ayariga said, The Ghana you inherited is as dark as the dark dresses that they [Minority side] are wearing on the other side. And the Ghana you speak of today is clearly as bright as the white dresses we [Majority side] are wearing on this side. He insisted that the Presidents account of the state of the economy and ongoing reforms was factual, adding that even the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, would acknowledge visible development projects, including road works under the governments Big Push programme in Winneba. Touching on cocoa pricing, Mr Ayariga defended the governments recent downward adjustment of farmgate prices, comparing Ghanas support for its cocoa farmers to that of neighbouring Ivory Coast. The main price was 2,800 CFA per Kg. When converted to Ghana cedis, this is about 980 to about 1,225 Ghana cedis per 64 kg bag. In Ghana, farmers are paid 2,587 per 64 kg bag, which is more than twice the price in Ivory Coast, he said. Citing a Reuters report, he noted that Cote d'Ivoire will pay cocoa farmers between 800 and 1,000 CFA francs per kilogramme for the mid-crop season starting March 1, while Ghanaian farmers continue to receive GH2,587 per 64kg bag. Mr Ayariga argued that this demonstrates the governments ongoing commitment to supporting the sector despite broader economic pressures. He linked recent economic developments to falling food prices, suggesting that ordinary Ghanaians are now better able to afford essential commodities such as sugar and rice. Referencing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Mr Ayariga expressed confidence that Muslims across the country would pray for blessings for the President, describing his leadership as one that has earned recognition across West Africa. Your sterling leadership, leadership that has been recognised by the entire West Africa, that is why they unanimously elected you unopposed to lead in Africa. Ghanaians are proud of you, he said. The Majority Leaders remarks come in the wake of the governments announcement on February 12, 2026, that the producer price for cocoa would be reduced to GH41,392 per tonne (equivalent to GH2,587 per 64kg bag) for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season. The adjustment followed a sharp decline in international cocoa prices, which made the initial higher farmgate price less sustainable and created liquidity challenges for the sector. Green River Police Department reports for Feb. 16 At 2:39 p.m., while on patrol, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation. After investigation, the driver, Brandon Martinez, was issued citations for alleged vehicle exceed 30 miles per hour in urban district (6+ over) and compulsory auto insurance. At 4:14 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. At 4:38 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. Feb. 17 At 5:04 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. Feb. 18 At 4:16 p.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing. At 5:14 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. After investigation, Carlos Rodriguez was issued a citation for alleged following too closely and a report was completed of the incident. At 10:32 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. Feb. 19 At 8:06 a.m., officers responded to a report of found property at Smith's Food & Drug on Bridger Drive. A wallet was collected by officers and returned to its owner. At 12:05 p.m., officers responded to a report of a scam. At 12:55 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. At 2:44 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for alleged speeding in a school zone. At 5:08 p.m., officers responded to a report of a missing person. Feb. 20 At 1:49 p.m., officers responded to a report of larceny. At 2:34 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 3:23 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic hazard. At 6:49 p.m., officers responded to a report of threats/harassment. Feb. 21 At 12:52 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. At 1:43 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 4:01 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic hazard. At 8:37 p.m., officers responded to a REDDI (Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately) report. Officers issued warnings for alleged cross center line and a stop - emerging from alley violation. At 9:53 p.m., while on patrol, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation. After investigation, the driver, Kelly Palmer, was placed under arrest for alleged DWUI of alcohol - incapable of safely driving and was also issued a citation for an alleged turning at intersections violation. Palmer was transported to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and a report was completed of the incident. Feb. 22 At 6:35 a.m., officers responded to a report of domestic violence. At 9:59 a.m., officers responded to a report of fraud. At 6:46 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. At 7:50 p.m., while on patrol, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation. After investigation, the driver, a juvenile, was issued a citation for alleged speed - generally. At 11:32 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for an alleged when headlamps required violation. At 11:50 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for alleged use of cellular telephone while driving. Feb. 23 At 9:58 a.m., officers responded to a report of domestic violence. At 1:02 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for alleged expired temporary license permit/improper registration. At 1:45 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for alleged driving too slowly - minimum speed. At 3:40 p.m., while on patrol, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation. After investigation, the driver, Gay Tollefson, was issued a citation for alleged speed - generally. At 8:12 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. A local business owner is suing the Green River City Council over a denied liquor license. On Monday, Feb. 23, Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery presided over a bench trial for the case Budy, Inc. v. Green River, Wyoming City Council. Budy, Inc. is a business owned by Thomas Eddy to run the Mast Lounge, a gentleman's club located at 24 E. Flaming Gorge Way that has been closed for over five years. In February of 2024, the Green River City Council denied a liquor license renewal for the business. Eddy is alleging that the city wrongfully denied the license and has delayed the process of repairing and reopening the building. Represented by Attorney Jason Matzen, the plaintiff's argument focused on the claim that there was no evidence for statutory basis for denial of the liquor license, and the City Council's decision to deny it was arbitrary and capricious. Matzen also focused on the claim that the City Council didn't properly notify Eddy of the public hearing concerning the liquor license. Patrick Holscher, the attorney representing the defense for the City Council, argued that according to state statute the liquor license was not eligible for renewal because of not meeting requirements for having the business open in a functional building within a specific time frame. Holscher also said that the City of Green River actually went to extra lengths to communicate with Eddy about the liquor license and the public hearing for it. During the trial, the audio of a special meeting by the City Council from Feb. 29, 2024 was played, containing the discussion of the liquor license for Budy, Inc. doing business as the Mast Lounge. Holscher presented information during that special meeting as well and spoke with Green River City employees about the history of the Mast Lounge building and its liquor license. Several of the same employees, including Deputy Clerk Tara Smith and Electrical Inspector Steve Greenwell, also testified during the trial. Smith explained the history of the liquor licenses, which have been renewed yearly since 2020 but "parked" for various reasons, including the need for renovations. Greenwell, along with State Fire Inspector Allen Adams, also explained some of the history of inspections that were done and renovations that had been needed for the building. During the council's special meeting, Holscher recommended denying the liquor license for failing to meet the criteria for renewal due to being "parked" without opening a functional building and operational business in the necessary time frame. The City Council voted unanimously to deny the liquor license renewal in the 2024 meeting. Eddy testified during the trial, explaining his history with the business, which he purchased in 2020. The business had been operating as a gentleman's lounge, and he intended to continue running it as such and to open it as it was. Eddy explained that prior to purchasing it, he wasn't aware of any issues with the building. After he bought it, however, he said he got into the building and saw that a portion of the roof had fallen down and he was informed there had been a problem with the sewage in the basement. After trying to address those issues, Eddy also had problems with the electricity in the building, since the meter had been removed, he said. He explained that the only power to the building came from generators, and he was told he would need to have the electrical for the whole building redone. Eddy also noted that in 2021 the City Council denied him a building permit, saying they wouldn't allow a strip club. Eddy said he was told that if he changed his plans in order to just open a bar, and made changes like making the "dancer room" a "break room," the permit would be approved, which it eventually was. However, Eddy said that he tried to go back to renovating the building, but was cited with no work orders. Eddy explained that he was told he could only use specific engineers from Wyoming and certain contractors who were licensed with the City of Green River to do specific repairs on the building that the city and state said were required. He pointed out that even when he wanted to use his own friends and family to work on the building, or tried to use engineers from out of state who could get work done more quickly, he wasn't allowed. As discussions of the specific renovations Eddy was asked to make and the requirements for them got into more detail, along with the question of whether the City Council was basing any of their decisions on the nature of the business, Matzen argued that these details were related to the denial of the liquor license. "This was government action to intentionally delay...things to get the building operational," Matzen said. He added that "the City of Green River caused the non-operation on the basis that it was intended to be used as a sexually-oriented business and therefore delayed this for the period of three years and then denied the liquor licensing application." "That's a nice theory, but it's contrary to the evidence in the case," Holscher countered. Holscher asked Tara Smith whether the nature of the business was considered when denying the liquor license. She said she didn't believe it was, and said that the city doesn't approve liquor licenses based on the nature of a business. Dave Miller, who inspected the Mast Lounge as an engineer and building official in the past, also testified at the trial, and said that requirements given for repairs at the Mast Lounge were not designed to delay them from opening the business, and were "nothing more than I would do with any other business in town." After evidence and testimony were given in the case, the matter went to Judge Lavery for a final decision, which was not given during the trial but will be filed in the future. The judge noted at the beginning of the trial that the ability to have a trial to appeal from a non-renewal of a liquor license is "pursuant to a very unusual statute." He said he has never done this kind of trial before, and that as he is heading toward the end of his career he had things he was hoping to do that he'd never been able to, although this wasn't necessarily one of them. The judge will give his final decision in the case in a written record of decision to be filed with the court. Judge Lavery will step down from his position on April 17 due to reaching the mandatory retirement age under the Wyoming Constitution. 10/15/1951 - 2/18/26 David Gilman, 74, passed away on February 18, 2026 at his home in Rock Springs, Wyoming surrounded by family. He was born on October 15, 1951, in Laconia, New Hampshire, the son of Clarance and Doris Gilman. David proudly served his country as a United States Marine, enlisting in 1968 and serving during the Vietnam War, carrying with him the values of honor, courage, and commitment throughout his life. After his military service, he dedicated many years as a firefighter, faithfully protecting and serving his community with bravery and compassion. For over 20 years, David volunteered at the local soup kitchen, where he selflessly gave his time to serve those in need. His heart for people extended far beyond acts of service-he deeply loved sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone he met. David enjoyed spending his free time outdoors hunting and fishing. He also had a passion for cooking. Whether through conversation, encouragement, or prayer, David made it his mission to reflect Christ's love in both word and action. David will be remembered for his servant's heart, steadfast faith, and unwavering dedication to helping others. His legacy of service, generosity, and devotion to Christ will continue to inspire all who knew him. He leaves behind family, friends, and a community who were blessed by his life and example. He is survived by his wife Ruth Gilman who he married on November 13, 1993. Memorial services and military honors will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at the Rock Springs Christian Church, 124 2nd Street, Rock Springs, WY. Condolences for the family can be left at http://www.foxfh.com. Ive been in Cheyenne for weeks now, late nights, long days voting to defend our kids, our elderly, our quality of life, our roads, young mothers, our legacy industries, our water funding, and our position in coal and RMP litigation. Thats the job. Thats the responsibility. And thats what the people of Wyoming sent us here to do. I was born and raised in this great state. Wyoming shaped me under these wide-open skies. It taught me my first lessons. It let me make my first mistakes. It showed me what hard work looks like and what it means to stand by your neighbors. Here, a handshake still matters. Here, community still means something. Here, we care for one another. Thats what it means to be a Wyomingite. Thats why I find myself increasingly concerned by a growing tone in our Legislature suggesting Wyoming is broke and we need to be saved. We dont. In recent years, members of the Freedom Caucus have embraced what feels like a governing philosophy built on a single word: No. No to funding. No to investment. No to maintaining commitments. No to defending our industries strategically. No to supporting the services that keep our communities strong. No cannot be the only governing philosophy. We are told that endless cuts define conservatism. I disagree. Conservatism, as I understand it, means stewardship. It means protecting what works. It means investing wisely in the infrastructure and industries that sustain us. It means defending Wyomings interests in court when federal overreach threatens our coal, our water, or our land-use authority. It does not mean dismantling our capacity to function. Wyoming sits on a significant surplus. That did not happen by accident. It is the result of responsible management and the strength of Wyomings legacy industries. However, having ample financial resources while refusing to use them to maintain roads, fund water projects, support counties, and defend our economic backbone is not fiscal discipline. Its neglect. Roads do not maintain themselves. Water systems do not repair themselves. Counties cannot shoulder unfunded mandates indefinitely, and our industries cannot fight federal battles without state support. I am not an isolationist. Everyone comes from somewhere. Many who now serve in the Legislature, moved from other states. Thats part of the American story. Wyoming welcomes people who value freedom, hard work, and community. But if you choose Wyoming, then love Wyoming. Respect our way of doing things. Understand that local communities often know best. Recognize that our culture was built over generations by ranchers, miners, teachers, small business owners, and families who weathered booms and busts alike. We are not interested in importing dysfunction. Nor are we interested in being told that everything weve built is insufficient. Wyoming is not broken. We are the Last Best Place. That doesnt mean avoiding tough conversations. It doesnt mean reckless spending. It doesnt mean rejecting reform. It means governing with steadiness instead of slogans. It means measuring twice before cutting once. It means investing where it matters: in our children, our elderly, our infrastructure, and the industries that create opportunity for the next generation. The decisions we make today will echo long after we leave these seats. They will shape not only our childrens future but their childrens as well. Wyoming does not need saving Freedom Caucus or otherwise. What we need is leadership that believes in Wyoming. Leadership that understands its role is in stewardship, not mandating. Leadership that understands our strength. Leadership that knows this state is worth defending, worth investing in, and worth preserving for generations to come. That is the Wyoming I know. And that is the Wyoming I will continue to fight for. A new national maritime playbook has arrived and for Guam, it may represent one of the most significant economic and strategic opportunities in decades. The recently released Maritime Action Plan, MAP, developed to implement the presidents executive order on restoring Americas maritime dominance, is a direct response to a stark reality: the United States has allowed its commercial shipbuilding capacity and maritime industrial base to fall behind global competitors. The plan acknowledges that rebuilding maritime strength is not simply about ships; it is about workforce, industrial capacity, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and economic resilience. For Guam, however, the most compelling concept introduced in the MAP is the idea of Maritime Prosperity Zones, MPZs, a policy innovation that could reshape how the federal government invests in strategic maritime regions. Whats a Maritime Prosperity Zone? At its core, a Maritime Prosperity Zone is a place-based economic and industrial strategy. The MAP proposes establishing a limited number of federally designated MPZs, each operating on a long-term horizon. These zones would be recognized by the Secretary of Commerce and designed to attract investment and accelerate development in communities critical to maritime security and maritime commerce. But an MPZ is not just a shipyard designation. Qualifying zones are expected to include entire maritime ecosystemsmaritime supply chains, advanced manufacturing initiatives, educational institutions, workforce development pipelines, and industrial infrastructure. In other words, the vision is holistic. The goal is not simply to build more ships, but to rebuild an entire maritime industrial ecosystem that can sustain American competitiveness. Perhaps most importantly for us in the Pacific, the MAP explicitly calls for geographic diversitymeaning the future of Americas maritime revival must extend beyond traditional shipbuilding regions and include territories like Guam. That inclusion is not accidental. It recognizes that Americas maritime future depends on forward-positioned locations capable of sustaining logistics, repair, workforce development, and regional economic growth. Maritime Prosperity Zone recognition The MAP does not yet provide a formal checklist or application process, but it strongly signals what federal decision-makers will be looking for. A successful MPZ candidate will likely demonstrate: Clear maritime industrial relevance and strategic value Existing or planned infrastructure supporting ship repair, logistics, or supply-chain operations Strong workforce development pipelines tied to maritime and industrial trades Partnerships between government, education institutions, and private industry Advanced manufacturing capability, including digital and additive manufacturing Evidence that investment can scale economic growth and workforce capacity quickly In short, federal leaders are likely to prioritize locations that are ready to executeplaces that can connect infrastructure, workforce, and innovation into a coherent strategy. That framing should immediately feel familiar to anyone following Guams recent economic and industrial conversations. Why Guam fits the MPZ model Guam is already thinking in MPZ terms, even if we have not been using that language. For years, conversations around the Guam Transshipment Task Force have focused on transforming Guam from a logistical endpoint into a true regional node, a place where cargo, capability, and value creation intersect. The MAPs emphasis on strengthening maritime industrial ecosystems aligns closely with that transshipment mindset. Ongoing conversations around port modernization, supply-chain resiliency, and maritime security all mirror the exact outcomes the MAP is trying to accelerate nationally. Workforce must be the centerpiece One theme repeated throughout the MAP is workforce development. The plan emphasizes apprenticeship programs, credential modernization, maritime trades training, and pathways that help veterans transition into maritime careers. It also highlights the need for partnerships between industry and educational institutions to create rapid, scalable pipelines of skilled workers. This is where Guam has an opportunity to lead. The Western Pacific Maritime Academy and other local training initiatives already represent the early building blocks of a credentialed maritime workforce pipeline. Expanding those effortswhile integrating veterans, apprenticeships, and industry-aligned technical trainingcould position Guam as a workforce hub for the Western Pacific rather than simply a location where work is performed. The GAMMA Connection Another critical component of the MAP is its emphasis on additive manufacturing and modern industrial capability. The plan explicitly identifies the need for expanded additive manufacturing centers and highlights Guam as a candidate location. That connection should immediately spark attention for anyone following the development of the Guam Additive Materials & Manufacturing Accelerator, GAMMA. Imagine the implications: a maritime ecosystem where ships operating across the Pacific can source components, repairs, and specialized manufacturing support locally, faster, closer, and more resilient than traditional supply chains allow. Opportunity in front of Guam For Guam, the conversation should be optimistic. This is not about asking for special treatment; it is about demonstrating readiness to contribute to a national mission while building local prosperity. There is a tremendous opportunity for Guams leadershipgovernment, industry, workforce organizations, and education partnersto come together and thoughtfully explore how a Guam Maritime Prosperity Zone framework could be developed and presented when the designation process begins. Because moments like this do not come often. A Korean tourist who filed a slip-and-fall case against Pacific Islands Club in Tumon could settle instead of going to trial, according to documents filed in the District Court of Guam. Eunhee Lee filed a lawsuit against Guam and Guam Inc., doing business as Pacific Islands Club, and insurance company Century Company (Guam) Ltd., for an alleged slip and fall on March 27, 2024, and injuries sustained as a result. A status hearing was held on Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo. Parties informed him that they are working on a settlement and hope to have the matter resolved within one week, documents stated. Lee filed a complaint in November 2024, seeking a jury trial of six and damages in excess of $1 million. According to the complaint, Lee was a hotel guest at PIC and alleged certain sidewalk areas to and from the hotel and beach were wet and or slippery. On March 27, 2024, she was walking in that area and slipped and fell on the ground, sustaining severe injuries, the complaint stated. The complaint stated that the hotel had a duty and obligation to keep its premises in reasonably safe condition but on that particular date, they did not, causing unsafe conditions leading to the slip and fall. It also alleges that PIC failed to provide slip guards, slip resistant surfaces, handrails or other safety measures, and failed to warn her of the dangerous conditions that were necessary to prevent injury. Lee is one of two Korean tourists who filed lawsuits against local hotels after alleged slip-and-falls. The other lawsuit filed by Taehee Kim was recently dismissed with prejudice. Kim filed a complaint against Premier Hotels and Resorts (Guam) Inc., doing business as Rihga Royal Laguna Guam Resort, and insurance company Century Company (Guam) Ltd. over an alleged slip-and-fall. A stipulation for dismissal with prejudice was filed on Feb. 10 from both parties in the case. They stipulated that all of Kims claims in the amended complaint and demand for jury trial shall be dismissed with prejudice, and each party shall bear their respective costs and attorneys fees, the documents stated. Haiti - Paris : Haiti's stand at the 2026 International Agricultural Show Members of Rasanbleman Madan Sara Ayiti (RAMSA) are representing Haiti at the 62nd International Agricultural Show 2026 (February 21 to March 1st, 2026), marking a historic participation for our country in this event. On this occasion, the Haitian Ambassador to Paris, Louino Volcy, and the Acting Consul, Jean Jocelyn Petit, commended the remarkable commitment of these women entrepreneurs, key players in the agricultural trade in Haiti, for their courage and determination. Ambassador Volcy praised this historic participation, noting that since February 21st, these women have been representing Haiti, its resilience, and its courage, allowing the French and international public, as well as the Haitian community in France, to discover or rediscover our food products, our cuisine, and our agricultural products. "Through your participation, you will convey the message that our country, despite the current crisis, remains a nation that stands strong and will rise again," he declared before paying tribute to the "Madan Sara" the women who, for generations, have connected the countryside to the cities, the provinces to the capital. "It is you who buy from the farmers, our peasants, who supply the markets, who keep the economic life of our country flowing," added the Haitian Ambassador. It should be noted that Haiti is presenting its products at the International Agricultural Show for the first time. This participation was made possible thanks to the support of Haitian institutions that facilitated the delegations arrival. The Rasanbleman Madan Sara Ayiti (RAMSA) is showcasing the countrys agricultural and artisanal products. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Shipwreck : 1 dead, 1 missing 4 survivors On February 24, 2026, the "Masa Lasa", a boat carrying goods and 6 people on board, capsized due to strong swells off the island of Gonave. Results: 1 dead, 1 missing and 4 people rescued, according to Vernelus Willy Vice-President of the Gonave Seafarers' Union. Pact for stability, the CEP was not consulted In article 12 of the National Pact for the Stability and Organization of Elections, the signatories agree that The signatory parties agree to propose in this period of exception a limited number of changes in the parent law [] changes which will be submitted to the popular vote at the same time as the first round of the general elections. However, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) emphasizes that it was not consulted on the issue and recalls that it does not have the mandate for these possible changes... Download the transcription of the pact : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/pacte-national-pour-stabilite-et-organisation-elections.pdf See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46925-haiti-politic-presentation-of-the-national-pact-for-stability-and-the-organization-of-elections-video.html USA : Support for gangs, inclusive justice "The United States will hold accountable all those who support gangs, including corrupt politicians who contribute to the destabilization of Haiti," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM. CARICOM : The PM discussed strengthening the FAdH and the PNH On the sidelines of the 50th Ordinary Meeting of CARICOM, Prime Minister Fils-Aime met Carla Barnett, the Secretary General of CARICOM. Their interview focused mainly on the security situation in Haiti, in particular on the strengthening of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH) and the National Police of Haiti (PNH). They also discussed mobilizing support for the deployment of the Gang Supression Force (GSF). The discussions also addressed regional support for the current electoral process and the new bases for economic and social recovery, in particular the structuring of the development poles of the Great North and the Great South. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46945-haiti-50th-caricom-pm-returns-from-saint-kitts-and-nevis-video-summary.html Signing of an agreement to support agricultural production As part of the Multisectoral Food and Nutritional Security Program (PMSAN II), implemented by Expertise France and co-financed by the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD), the Ministry of Agriculture and Expertise France have signed a memorandum of understanding to support agricultural production in the municipalities of Leogane, Grand-Goave and Petit-Goave. Dom. Rep. : Consulate Santiago closed The Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago in the Dominican Republic informs the public in general and the Haitian Community in particular that on the occasion of the commemoration of Independence Day of the Dominican Republic, its doors will be closed on Friday February 27, 2026. Services will resume on Monday March 2nd at usual hours. HL/ HaitiLibre A cybercriminal has used Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude to infiltrate the networks of Mexican government agencies, stealing vast amounts of sensitive tax and voter information, according to cybersecurity experts. This was reported on Wednesday by the US news agency Bloomberg. Continue after ad The Bloomberg report refers to a study by Israeli cybersecurity startup Gambit Security, which found that the unknown Claude user wrote Spanish-language commands for the chatbot to identify vulnerabilities in government networks, write computer scripts to exploit them, and find ways to automate data theft. The illegal activities reportedly began in December and lasted for about a month. The attacker gained access to the Mexican Federal Tax Administration and the National Electoral Institute. The governments of several federal states, as well as agencies in Mexico City and Monterrey, were also compromised, it is stated. A total of 150 gigabytes of data were stolen, including documents related to 195 million tax records, voter records, government employee credentials, and population registry files. In December, the Mexican government published a brief statement stating that it was investigating a possible security incident in personal databases held by public institutions. It is unclear whether this is related to the Claude cyberattack. It is also unclear who is behind the cyberattack and data theft; however, Gambit does not believe there are connections to a foreign government. Anthropic investigates the incident The chatbot Claude initially warned the attacker of malicious intent during their conversation but eventually complied with the unknown user's demands, executing thousands of commands within the Mexican government's computer networks, according to Gambit experts. Anthropic stated it is investigating the incident. The accounts involved have been blocked. A company representative told Bloomberg that the company feeds examples of malicious activity back into Claude to learn from them. One of the latest AI models, Claude Opus 4.6, contains probes that can prevent misuse. When Claude encountered problems during the attack or required additional information, the cybercriminal turned to OpenAI's ChatGPT for further insights, Gambit continued. According to the Israeli cybersecurity experts, this included how to move laterally through computer networks, what credentials were required to access specific systems, and the likelihood of the illegal action being detected. OpenAI stated that ChatGPT resisted these illegal attempts. The accounts used by the attacker have been blocked, the company said in an emailed statement. As reported by Bloomberg, Gambit employees uncovered the attacks on Mexican authorities while testing new threat hunting techniques. They encountered publicly accessible evidence of active or recent attacks, including one that contained extensive Claude conversations about breaching Mexican government computer systems. These conversations revealed, according to Gambit, that the attacker, to bypass Claude's security measures, informed the chatbot that they were pursuing a bug bounty program. Bug bounty programs are initiatives to identify vulnerabilities and flaws in software. Such programs are run by companies or authorities and reward the discovery of computer security vulnerabilities with material or monetary prizes. Alarming Trend Continue after ad The attacks on Mexican government networks are the latest example of an alarming trend, Bloomberg writes. As Anthropic and OpenAI focus on developing increasingly sophisticated AI coding tools and cybersecurity companies tie their future to AI-powered defenses cybercriminals and cyberspies are finding new ways to use this technology for attacks. Artificial intelligence has become an important tool for cybercriminals. In November, Anthropic announced that it had thwarted an AI-orchestrated cyberespionage campaign. Attackers, allegedly supported by the Chinese state, had manipulated the Claude chatbot to attack dozens of targets worldwide. A few attempts were successful. Recently, there have also been reports that North Korean cybercriminals are using AI-generated PowerShell backdoors. And according to a recent study, AI can already perform sophisticated tasks such as writing zero-day exploits, which were previously handled by human experts. (akn) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. The case is being examined under the titles of negligent homicide and endangerment. Police have questioned one person as a suspect and will interview several others. Western Uusimaa Police said on Thursday that they are investigating the death of an elderly person at the Attendo Olarinpuisto care home in Espoo on 25 January. An elderly resident pressed an alarm button 11 times within an hour. No one answered. The resident died later the same day at a care home in Espoo. Police now suspect a criminal offence. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, so at this stage we cannot comment on the exact number of suspects, as that could affect upcoming interviews, said Detective Chief Inspector Jyrki Kallio in a statement. According to earlier reporting by Iltalehti, the resident attempted to call for help 11 times over the course of one hour using a safety bracelet. The calls did not reach staff because the mobile phones used to receive alarms were switched off. Preliminary information indicates that the phones had been turned off for up to a day and were not properly charged. The resident died in their own room. Police have launched a separate investigation into the cause of death. The findings will remain confidential. Care provider Attendo acknowledged problems at the Olarinpuisto unit at the end of January. The company described the incident as a serious neglect. Chief Executive Virpi Holmqvist said the unit had faced long-standing issues. The offence of negligent homicide carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison under Finnish law. Endangerment may also result in a fine or imprisonment. HT Finlands Immigration Service (Migri) issued 169 deportation decisions against foreign nationals convicted of crimes last year, the highest figure recorded to date. The total marks an increase of more than 30 per cent compared with the previous year. The figures were first reported by Helsingin Sanomat on Friday. The largest groups by nationality were Iraqi, Estonian and Russian citizens. The majority of those ordered to leave the country were men. Jets struck targets in the Afghan capital at about 1:50am local time, according to Al Jazeera , which cited its correspondent in Kabul. Residents reported loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire over the city. Blasts were also heard in Kandahar and in Paktia province. Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities early on Friday, marking the most serious escalation between the neighbours in months and prompting Islamabad to declare open war on the Taliban authorities. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X that his countrys patience has run out and that it is now open war between us and you. He accused the Taliban of acting as a proxy for India and of allowing armed groups to operate from Afghan soil. Islamabad said the operation, named Ghazab Lil Haqq, targeted Afghan Taliban defence facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He added that nine positions were captured and 27 destroyed. The figures could not be independently verified. The Taliban government rejected Pakistans account of heavy losses. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft struck Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia but reported no casualties from the capital. Afghan officials said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in earlier clashes along the border. The fighting followed Taliban attacks late on Thursday against Pakistani military posts along the 2,611 kilometre frontier. Kabul described those assaults as retaliation for Pakistani strikes last weekend that it said killed at least 18 people. The United Nations has stated that at least 13 civilians died in earlier bombardments. Heavy exchanges of fire were reported near the Torkham crossing, a key trade route. AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported jets overhead and artillery fire. Afghan troops were seen moving towards the border. On the Pakistani side, police in Bajaur district said a mortar shell from Afghanistan struck a house and injured five people, including two children and a woman. The escalation follows months of tension linked to attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, an armed group distinct from the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad accuses Kabul of providing sanctuary to TTP fighters. The Taliban deny the charge. According to data shared by the Pakistani military with CNN, more than 1,200 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in militant attacks across Pakistan in 2025. That figure is double the number recorded in 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in Kabul after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates Pakistans armed forces at about 660,000 active personnel, supported by nearly 300,000 paramilitary and police units. Afghanistans Taliban forces number fewer than 200,000 and lack a modern air force, relying on light aircraft and drones. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai wrote on X that Afghans would defend their beloved homeland with complete unity. He urged Pakistan to choose the path of good neighbourliness, respect and civilised relations with Afghanistan. The United Nations called for restraint. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians. Iran and Russia also called for dialogue and offered support for mediation. Zalmay Khalilzad, a former US envoy to Afghanistan, said on X that the cycle of attacks was a terrible dynamic that must stop. Taliban expand internal legal controls In January, Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada signed a decree introducing a new legal framework that divides society into social categories and differentiates punishments based on status. Afghan rights group Rawadari said the regulation refers to free persons and slaves and grants husbands authority to enforce certain penalties. UN Women said the decree removes equality between men and women before the law and places husbands in a position of authority over their wives. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security stated that the regulation legalises forms of violence and discrimination against women. Since 2021, the Taliban have restricted girls education, limited womens employment and curtailed their presence in public life. Rights organisations and UN bodies have described conditions for women and girls as gender-based apartheid. Diplomatic contacts between Islamabad and Kabul have continued in recent months, including talks in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh. HT Prosecutors won't seek death penalty in poison-murder case Linda Jean Casper-Leinenkugel during her first court appearance in January. A Hendersonville woman accused of using poison to murder one of her daughters and attempting to murder her other daughter will not face the death penalty. Related Stories The woman, 52-year-old Linda Jean Casper-Leinenkugel, is also charged with murder in the 2007 death of a Henderson County man and with the attempted murder of another man. A few people sitting in Henderson County Superior Court on Thursday appeared to express relief when Assistant District Attorney Doug Mundy told Rutherford County Superior Court Judge J. Thomas Davis that the state would not seek the death penalty against Casper-Leinenkugel. One of those people was Casper-Leinenkugels surviving daughter, Maija Lacey. Lacey, while on her way out of the courtroom, said she attended the hearing to support her mother. She declined to say more about the charges her mother is facing. Henderson County Sheriffs Office investigators in January charged Casper-Leinenkugel with attempting to murder Lacey and Laceys boyfriend, Richard Evan Pegg, during a meal the Sunday after Thanksgiving at Casper-Leinenkugels home in the Big Willow community. Casper-Leinenkugel is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her other daughter, 32-year-old Leela Jean Livis. Livis, who attended the holiday meal with Lacey, Pegg and several other people, died the next day at her home in Cullowhee. Casper-Leinenkugel is also charged with causing people to ingest a beverage that contained a poisonous substance. Investigators identified that substance as the solvent acetonitrile. Prosecutors at a previous hearing said investigators believe Casper-Leinenkugel put the solvent in wine served during the meal. After Livis, Lacey and Pegg told Casper-Leinenkugel they fell ill after the meal at her home, she researched the substance on the internet, prosecutors said at the previous hearing. Casper-Leinenkugel is also charged with first-degree murder in the 2007 death of Michael Schmidt in Henderson County. An autopsy in the months after Schmidts death determined he died from toxicity from the same chemical investigators believe was in the wine served at the Thanksgiving meal Lacey, Pegg and Livis attended. District Attorney Andrew Murray declined on Thursday to discuss his offices decision to not seek the death penalty against Casper-Leinenkugel. One of Casper-Leinenkugels attorneys, Paul Louis Bidwell of Asheville, said after the hearing that he was pleased but not surprised by the states decision. Bidwell said although he has not yet reviewed evidence in the case, he did meet with investigators about potential evidence. In that meeting, I didnt hear anything that indicated guilt on behalf of my client, he said. I heard theories. I heard somebody talking about what they think their evidence is. Bidwell called the case, which has drawn local, regional and even national media attention, highly unusual. He briefly addressed Laceys decision to come to court Thursday to support her mother. I have never been involved with a criminal case where the defendant is charged with attempting to murder a family member who appears in court in support, he said. Judge Davis set Casper-Leinenkugels next court date for April 30. (JNS) Holocaust survivor Charlotte Roth, 96, finalized her immigration to Israel on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, nearly eight decades after being liberated from Nazi captivity. Roth, born in Czechoslovakia, survived Auschwitz and a death march after being deported with her family in 1944. She later rebuilt her life in a Displaced Persons camp, married and immigrated to the United States before raising four children in Cleveland, Ohio. Accompanied by five generations of descendants, Roth completed her immigration process with the help of Nefesh BNefesh, the Population and Immigration Authority and several Jewish organizations. Walking these streets with five generations of my family fills my heart with deep joy and strength, said Roth. Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder of Nefesh BNefesh, called Roths story a testament to the extraordinary resilience of the Jewish spirit. Her family now includes nine grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren, many of whom live in Israel. We live in an age of advanced imaging, targeted therapies, robotic surgery, and medications that a generation ago would have seemed miraculous. About 75 percent of physicians are U.S. medical school graduates. Roughly one quarter earned their degrees abroad, with India among the largest sources of international medical graduates. Many patients now see a range of specialists. Yet some harm today is caused not by illness, but by the care meant to treat it. The word for this is iatrogenic harm that results from medical care. This includes adverse drug reactions, medication interactions, surgical complications, hospital-acquired infections, diagnostic errors, and failures of coordination among clinicians. This article focuses on those that may be preventable. How big Is the problem? Some recent studies place medical mistakes among the top three causes of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. As medicine has grown more powerful, so too has its capacity to cause harm: chemotherapy suppresses immunity, anticoagulants increase bleeding risk, and surgery carries inherent complications. Even routine practices can carry risk. In neonatal intensive care units, repeated blood draws in premature infants were shown to contribute to anemia and avoidable transfusions leading eventually to the development and adoption of blood-sparing protocols: micro-collection tubes and smaller-gauge needles. Three historical examples illustrate how catastrophic iatrogenic harm can be: Thalidomide (1950s60s): Prescribed for morning sickness; it caused more than 10,000 children to be born with severe birth defects. DES (19401970): Prescribed to prevent miscarriage; it caused multi-generational reproductive harm. Vioxx (19992004): Marketed for arthritis; later linked to tens of thousands of preventable heart attacks and strokes. Modern cares complexity, combined with pervasive pharmaceutical advertising, has created new hazards. Medication-related harm accounts for nearly half of all preventable patient injuries. When a patients full medication list isnt carefully reviewed, drugs like insulin, blood-pressure medicines, opioids, water pills, anti-anxiety medications, and blood thinners are among those most likely to cause serious harm. Adverse drug events cause about 700,000 emergency visits and 100,000 hospitalizations annually, much of it arising in routine outpatient care. How drug advertising shapes expectations Prescription-drug advertising now saturates television and digital media. Benefits are wrapped in glowing imagery; risks flash by in rapid disclaimers and small print few viewers can absorb. Online searches trigger drug promotions that feel like guidance but are marketing. Social media platforms personalize health claims based on browsing history, often pushing quick fix solutions while neglecting generic drugs, watchful waiting, or lifestyle alternatives. The result is a culture that dramatizes benefits, soft-pedals the risks, narrows choices, and subtly nudges patients toward more medication. Polypharmacy: The quiet danger Polypharmacy is commonly defined as taking five or more prescriptions at the same time. More important than the number is whether those medications are necessary and well-coordinated. Consider an elderly person taking pills for blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep, anxiety, acid reflux, and painmeds prescribed over the years by different doctors, but the patient has become prone to becoming dizzy or to falls because no one has reviewed the full medication list. Each drug may have been reasonable on its own. There are drugs now for this, that, and the other thing. Some are short courses; others, once begun, become lifelong commitments. The danger lies in the combinations. The problem is structural: no single clinician is formally responsible for reconciling every medication across every practice. That reality makes coordination essential and makes patients partners in understanding what they agree to start. When physicians truly share one portal, one medication list, one set of labs, coordination among them can best improve. One weak link is the pharmacy. Choosing one pharmacy and staying with it allows interaction alerts to function properlybut only if your full list, including supplements, is disclosed. Using multiple pharmacies increases the risk of missed conflicts, such as combining a blood thinner with aspirin. Fragmented care in an age of specialists Todays patients with multiple chronic conditions often live longer. They may see several specialists, each expert in a narrow domain. While this may produce excellence in parts, it may result in fragmentation overall. Medications accumulate. Records scatter across incompatible portals. Some specialists share systems; others do not. Referrals are sometimes handed out too casually, without enough attention to the cumulative burden of treatments and the need for follow-up. Too often, lifestyle changes are barely discussed before a prescription is written. The result can be excellent medicine delivered in pieces without a complete view of the patient, a fragmentation built over time into the system itself. Adding to this pressure is the shrinking length of appointments in many large health systems. Patients experience this as rushed visits; physicians see it as an ethical bindhow can they practice thoughtful medicine when the clock says time is up. A modern example of whole-person care More than 30 years ago, the intake process of psychiatrist Jean Head Cooper, MD (19031999) included a full-body physical exam matched with annotated anatomical diagrams. Every new patient was required to complete a thorough dental evaluation before treatment began. Untreated dental disease, she explained, can drive inflammation, infection, and even cardiac complications all of which affect mental health. Her approach was not about adding prescriptions but about evaluating the whole person before intervening. Maimonides and the Ethics of Proportion Moses Maimonides (11381204), trusted Jewish physician to the Sultan in medieval Egypt, would have recognized this. He treated internal diseases and mental conditions using both local remedies and imported botanicals through vast trade networks that connected India, Arabia, and the Mediterranean world. In Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Deot 4:1), he wrote, Since maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of God one must avoid that which harms the body and accustom oneself to that which is healthful. Jewish law prioritizes pikuach nefesh, the preservation of life, above nearly all other obligations. Causing harm, even unintentionally, is an ethical failure. Maimonides reminds us that health is not merely avoiding illness but building strengthphysically, mentally, spiritually. What good medical practice looks like today This article is not against modern medicine, but for medicine that is better coordinated: Primary physicians who actively coordinate care, supported by systems that enable real inter-doctor communication. Specialists who practice with interdisciplinary awareness, weighing how each decision affects the broader treatment plan. Medical education that trains doctors to see the whole person, not just an organ system. Today, only the privileged can afford boutique or holistic care. Health systems that allow sufficient time with patients when the situation requires it. Patients who act as partners keeping accurate medication lists, disclosing supplements and over-the-counter drugs, learning enough about their conditions to ask informed questions, and making sure someone is seeing the full picture. These days, it is worth seeking out a modern-day Maimonides a physician who sees you as a whole person guides your care based on careful judgment, not on whatever advertisements on television or online have caught your eye. Audubon Eagle Watcher Wei-Shen Chin, MD, puts it well, Our society is sold on the quick fix, the magic pill. Patients walk into doctors offices demanding it. Most things that truly improve quality of life require changes in behavior a much more difficult but much more rewarding solution. (JNS) - In a quiet art gallery on George Washington Street, a short walk from Jerusalem's bustling city center, color fills the walls with scenes of weddings, musicians, Jerusalem landscapes and Biblical figures bathed in radiant light. For the London-born Robert Elisha, the owner and curator of Huvy's, these are not simply paintings. They represent memories, faith and history-preserved on canvas in his art gallery and reflecting his family's own warmth and hospitality. In an interview at the JNS Media Hub in Jerusalem on Feb. 17, Elisha described the lifelong mission of safeguarding the work of his late mother, the famous Israeli artist Huvy (Ahuva) Elisha, whose paintings fused traditional Jewish life with the vibrancy of European impressionism. "She was an amazing personality," he recalled. "Anyone who met her loved her. She was simple, happy-nothing fancy. All her finesse was on the canvas." Huvy's story Born in Jerusalem in 1927, Huvy-as she later became known because that's how she signed her works-spent her childhood between the ancient city and Europe after her parents left Mandatory Palestine. The family ultimately escaped to London just before World War II. There, her extraordinary talent emerged early: at only 13, she was accepted to Saint Martin's School of Art-an unprecedented achievement at the time-and later studied at the Royal Academy. "She was gifted as a child," Elisha said. "She could imagine something and convey it onto canvas in the most fantastic way." Despite her classical training, her subject matter remained deeply Jewish. She painted weddings, rabbis, markets and Jerusalem streets in vibrant color-works that conveyed optimism rather than nostalgia. "It was the first time people saw the Jewish world presented with such joy," he said. "That was her message-to make people happy." Return to Israel After years in England, the family returned to Israel in the late 1960s, settling first in Herzliya before eventually moving back to Jerusalem, where his parents chose to live near the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) neighborhood of Mea She'arim. His father, Eli Elisha, an international textile, carpet and antique dealer, embraced religious study later in life, living to 96. Huvy died in 2022 at 94. Elisha himself served in the IDF before drifting toward the art world he had grown up in. Exposure to antiques through his father and painting through his mother created what he calls a natural path. "I realized my mother was never really put in the limelight," he said. "Whenever she exhibited, everything was sold-but she remained modest. So I took it under my arm seriously." That effort became Huvy's, which now features not only her work but also pieces by major Israeli and Jewish artists such as Yaacov Agam, Reuven Rubin and Marc Chagall. Still, her paintings remain its backbone. Art historians and collectors frequently classify her as a post-impressionist. Elisha points to her drawings as proof of mastery. "Connoisseurs who own works by Rembrandt told me her pencil works are very, very good," he said. "That's how you know an artist." Among her most recognized subjects were large Jerusalem landscapes and wedding scenes, now collected internationally. Some smaller portraits have sold for tens of thousands of dollars, while larger canvases hang in prominent hotels and institutions in Jerusalem. One major work depicting the dozen Biblical spies in the Land of Israel hung for years in the office of former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and was later returned to the embassy during Ambassador Mike Huckabee's tenure. "It talks to him," Elisha said. "Not only Jews-people worldwide connect to it." The painting portrays the returning spies: ten fearful, two faithful, light descending toward the Tabernacle. For Elisha, it captures the Jewish story itself-skepticism and hope confronting each other. Her art deliberately avoided despair. Though she created several Holocaust works, she rarely displayed them publicly. "She said those works are sad. She didn't want sadness to define her art," he explained. "But once a year on Holocaust Remembrance Day, I place one in the window-and I still cry." A bridge between worlds Beyond preserving his mother's legacy, Elisha sees his art gallery as a bridge between worlds. A religious Jew with a pronounced British accent and eclectic background, he welcomes visitors who sometimes hesitate to enter. "They think, 'This is not for us,'" he said. "Half an hour later, we're best friends." He recounted a memorable encounter with a Christian priest from Amsterdam who recognized a tiny painting of the Baal Shem Tov's grave and regularly taught Hasidic teachings to his congregation. "That's what I'm trying to do," he said. "Connect people-not only Jews, everyone." Despite the war and regional tensions, visitors continue to come, albeit fewer than before. Yet Elisha believes art remains essential precisely during uncertainty. "Time is short and there's a lot of work to be done-to unite people," he said. "People want to come close to each other, but sometimes things block the connection." Good art, he added, removes those barriers. "Every time you look at her painting, you discover something new-and it's happy." Almost a century after her birth, Huvy's canvases continue to glow with light, offering not just images of Jewish life but an emotional language that crosses faiths and cultures. For her son, preserving that legacy is both a profession and a calling. "That's what my mother did," he said quietly. "She connected Heaven and Earth." Purim is Judaism's most dramatic, fun-filled holiday. When else can you dress up like a bunny rabbit and eat doughy triangles filled with poppy seeds? Purim occurs on the 14th of Adar. (In certain walled cities like Jerusalem, "Shushan Purim" is celebrated the following day, the 15th of Adar.) Purim celebrates the dramatic turn-around events, where the wicked Haman tried to annihilate the Jewish people of ancient Persia. The Jews were saved through God's miraculous arranging of events, as expressed by the heroics of Mordechai and Esther. There are four mitzvot specific to the holiday of Purim... (JNS) An Israeli high school this year began using an AI-powered robot to help teachers in one of the countrys first classroom applications of the technology, the school has said. The robot, known as Buddy, is used at the ISTS Kiryat Bialik school near Haifa, where it supports technology classes and special needs students, the Israel Sci-Tech Schools network, to which the Kiryat Bialik institution belongs, announced last week. The device is not meant to replace teachers but assist them, school administrators said. When we first set out to implement AI in Israels education system, we kne... On a recent evening in Southwest Orlando, hundreds gathered for what Rabbi Naftali Kassorla described as a celebration of belonging not just of learning. The Orlando Community Kollels annual MY Kollel event drew a record crowd this year. The name itself, Kassorla explained, captures the shift in how Orlandos Jewish community sees the kollel. We wanted people to feel that this isnt the kollel, or our kollel its my kollel, he said. It belongs to everyone who walks through our doors. For many, the word kollel may evoke images of secluded study halls. But in Orlando, Kassorla said,... (JNS) The population of Israeli villages along the southern border has grown by 3,000 residents since Oct. 7, 2023, even as five communities are still waiting to return home, a Knesset committee was told on Monday. Aviad Friedman, head of the Tekuma Authority that is responsible for rebuilding the Gaza border towns destroyed in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre, described the population growth as an exciting Zionist event during a hearing at the Knesset State Control Committee. The number of residents in the region has grown from some 62,000 on the eve of Oct. 7 to about 65,000 today, the of... (JNS) A senior Cabinet minister in Germany who was the main government representative at the Berlin International Film Festival, aka the Berlinale, on Sunday, left the event in protest after a director accused Israel of perpetrating genocide. Carsten Schneider, the federal minister for the environment, nature conservation, climate protection and nuclear safety, represents the center-left Social Democratic Party. He left the Berlinale gala event during a speech by Syrian filmmaker Abdallah Alkhatib, who identifies as a Palestinian, the dpa news agency reported. The incident underlined taboos... (JNS) The largest political party in the German federal legislature is calling for an end to financial support of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, the global bodys Palestinian aid organization, according to Judische Allgemeine, the countrys national Jewish weekly newspaper. The Christian Democratic Union, led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, unanimously approved a motion on Feb. 21 calling for stricter criteria for aid payments to the Palestinians, and an end to German and European donations to UNRWA. The social services agency has come under increasing scrutiny following documentatio... U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva/Eric Bridiers U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva/Eric Bridiers (JNS) - Rev. Jesse Jackson, the American civil-rights leader, former aide to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time Democratic Party presidential candidate, whose relationship with American Jews was marked by both cooperation and controversy, died on Feb. 17. He was 84 years old. Jackson rose to national prominence as a protege of King during the civil-rights movement and later founded Operation PUSH in 1971 and the Rainbow Coalition during his first presidential campaign in 1984. The nonprofits merged in 1996. His political influence grew through his vision of a "rainbow coalition" unitin... (JNS) Senior diplomatic and defense officials from the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh met in Riyadh on Feb. 8 to discuss counterterrorism coordination in Syria and Iraq. In a joint statement, the United States and Saudi Arabia said participants welcomed what they described as a comprehensive agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, citing provisions for a permanent ceasefire and the civil and military integration of northeast Syria. Participants noted Syrias stated intention to assume national leadership of counter-ISIS efforts and... (JNS) U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has a lot tools to ensure that the Iranian regime doesnt acquire nuclear weapons amid indirect talks between Washington and Tehran and an American military buildup in the Middle East. The vice president spoke to Fox News on the day that a second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Geneva took place, with the Iranians signaling progress. Vance said that Washington has set red lines in nuclear negotiations with Iran and that Trump retains military options if diplomacy fails. He said he spoke that morning with Trum... (JNS) A constitution is the moment a national movement decides what it will leave behindand what it intends to carry forward. When a national movement publishes a draft constitution, it is making a statement not only about governance but about its future intentions. It is saying: This is who we are. This is what we aspire to become. This is how we intend to live with others. The newly released draft constitution of the State of Palestine does many things. It speaks the language of rights. It promises democratic institutions. It describes separation of powers. It invokes international law.... (JNS) The press contact person for the group Jews for Racial Equality and Justice released a position statement on Feb. 9 that included the joint agreement of the American Council for Judaism, the Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City and IfNotNow NYC. Sophie Ellman-Golan, a committed activist working on issues of racial and gender justice, queer liberation and police violence and is a proud member of the #JewishResistance, informed the media that they are urging New Yorks City Council to reject anti-democratic buffer zone bills that place restrictions on protests in the vicinity of ho... The members of the Foreigners' Advisory Councils are also up for election in the local elections on 15 March. These Councils are committed to integration and represent around one fifth of all Hessians. Here are some answers to questions about their election and their work. Foreigners' Advisory Councils advocate for the problems and concerns of migrants in their city or municipality, support integration and exercise a mediating role for the municipalities. They can be elected only by those Hessians who do not have German citizenship. EU foreigners are allowed to elect both municipal councils and Foreigners' Advisory Councils. There are around 1.35 million people living in Hesse who do not have a German passport. That is more than one fifth of all residents. The cities and municipalities can decide in advance not to hold an election and to appoint a so-called Integration Commission instead. Weitere Informationen Translation: Kern AG, Frankfurt Ende der weiteren Informationen Videobeitrag Kommunalwahlen in Hessen: Wie wahle ich richtig? Video Ende des Videobeitrags Why are there Foreigners' Advisory Councils in Hesse? Aside from EU citizens, foreigners living in Hesse have no political voice in local municipal council, city council or district council elections. But they are allowed to elect Foreigners' Advisory Councils. This means that, in accordance with the Hessian Municipal Code, they do have a voice in local politics in their place of residence. Foreigners' Advisory Councils advocate for integration and the equality of foreign and German residents. "They are committed to ensuring educational opportunities, integration in child daycare centres and schools. They encourage the promotion of foreign associations," summarises the State Foreigners' Advisory Council, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Auslanderbeirate Hessen (agah). According to the State Foreigners' Advisory Council, it is not only foreigners but also naturalised immigrants or those from immigrant families holding EU passports that benefit. Who is allowed to vote in the Foreigners' Advisory Council elections? Who can be elected? Only Hessians who do not hold a German passport can participate in the elections for the Foreigners' Advisory Council in the respective city or municipality. These are, first of all, non-EU citizens, for example refugees and international students, but also residents from other EU countries. They are therefore entitled to vote in the municipal council elections as well as in the election for the Foreigners' Advisory Councils. Those with dual citizenship or naturalised immigrants are not allowed to vote in these elections. The right to vote is contingent on having lived in the municipality or city for at least six weeks as the main residence and being at least 18 years old on the day of the election. For third-country nationals living in Hesse, the Foreigners' Advisory Council is the only form of political participation. The rules are different for those who want to put themselves up for election to the Foreigners' Advisory Council: Hessians who are citizens of both Germany and another country, non-German EU citizens, naturalised Germans and third-country nationals are all allowed to stand as candidates. Prerequisite is that they have been registered in the city or municipality for at least three months and are 18 years of age or older. Weitere Informationen Informationen in anderen Sprachen Der Landesauslanderbeirat, die Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Auslanderbeirate Hessens (agah), informiert auf seiner Internetseite in 23 Sprachen uber die Wahl der Auslanderbeirate - von Albanisch uber Koreanisch bis Urdu. Ende der weiteren Informationen How is a Foreigners' Advisory Council elected in Hesse? Election to the Foreigners' Advisory Council follows the same procedure as election to the municipal councils. There must be at least one admissible nomination, otherwise the voting will not take place. Voters have as many votes as the Foreigners' Advisory Council has seats. They are able to vote by cumulation (lump votes on a certain candidate) or panachage (splitting votes across various lists). Depending on the size of the municipality, a Foreigners' Advisory Council has between three and 37 members. They work on an unpaid basis and usually meet once a month. The State Foreigners Advisory Council, agah, convenes four times a year, each time at a different venue. It conducts much of its work in special groups. Is there a Foreigners' Advisory Council in every municipality in Hesse? No. Generally speaking, every municipality has the option of having a Foreigners' Advisory Council elected. Representation of foreigners' interests is only mandatory in municipalities with more than 1000 non-German residents. Since the reform of the Municipal Code in May 2020, it is no longer required that this sort of body be an elected Foreigners' Advisory Council. Municipalities are therefore free to decide instead to establish an Integration Commission elected by municipal representatives or city councillors. According to the State Foreigners' Advisory Council, 100 municipalities in Hesse currently have an Integration Commission. On 15 March, a Foreigners' Advisory Council will be elected in 87 municipalities. A total of 2086 candidates are running for election for the committees on a total of 177 electoral lists. The districts of Giessen, Kassel and Offenbach have Foreigners' Advisory Councils on a voluntary basis. According to agah chairman, Enis Gulegen, there will soon be Integration Commissions in ten municipalities that have had Foreigners' Advisory Councils until now. Among these are eight in which no admissible nomination was submitted. On the other hand, a Foreigners' Advisory Council is due to be elected for the first time or once again in twelve municipalities. How much influence does a Foreigners' Advisory Council have? Unlike city councillors and municipal representatives, the members of the Foreigners' Advisory Council are not entitled to vote in the assemblies. Because of this, the State Foreigners' Advisory Council believes that many see the committee as something of a paper tiger. There is often a lack of a majority for the submitted proposals for improvement in the meetings. Recently, agah were critical of eight-graders being asked for information on their place of birth and nationality during career counselling. "If the place of birth and nationality plays a role in career counselling for children, this is no harmless administrative act, but rather a structural problem," says agah chairman, Enis Gulegen. "Asking questions like this sends a fatal message: where you come from is more important than what you can do. This is incompatible with equal opportunities and fairness in education." agah called on the Federal Employment Agency Kassel to end this practice immediately. What have Foreigners' Advisory Councils in Hesse been able to change? The introduction of an online appointment procedure at the Foreigners' Registration Office in Frankfurt a few years ago was in part down to the municipal foreigners' representation there, says agah chairman, Enis Gulegen. Ultimately, the Foreigners' Advisory Councils have also contributed to the General Equality Act (AGG), since the first anti-discrimination laws were created thanks to their efforts. There are now integration ordinances and Islamic burial grounds in almost every municipality. "We have been working successfully for 50 years," says Gulegen. The Foreigners' Advisory Councils bring important perspectives that might not otherwise exist in the cities and municipalities. "In many cases, we act as a constructive disrupter," notes Gulegen. For example, problems in the duration of naturalisation procedures or the recognition of foreign professional qualifications are pointed out. "And we, as a bulwark, defend our sound democracy against racism and discrimination," emphasises the agah chairman. In the current election campaign, the Hessian State Foreigners' Advisory Council is prominent with a campaign against right-wing extremism and populism. Weitere Informationen Kommunalwahlen 2026 Bild hr Busverkehr, Sportanlagen, Mullabfuhr, Schulen, Kindergarten, Parks, Museen, Wohngebiete ... Das alles und mehr regeln die Kommunen. Wer dort das Sagen hat, bestimmen unter anderem Sie: bei den Kommunalwahlen am 15. Marz. Damit Sie wissen, worum es geht, berichten wir bis dahin verstarkt uber Kommunalpolitik. Alle Ergebnisse finden Sie ab dem Wahlabend auf hessenschau.de. Ende der weiteren Informationen Foreigners' Advisory Council or Integration Commission - how do they differ? The members of the Integration Commission are not elected directly by the foreign residents, but rather by the municipal representatives or city councillors. Half of the Commission consists of city councillors or municipal representatives and the other half of migrants. The mayor serves as the first chairperson. However, this sort commission has not been able to establish itself extensively, the State Foreigners' Advisory Council notes. "Foreigners' Advisory Councils are democratically elected bodies and firmly anchored in local democracy," emphasises agah chairman, Enis Gulegen. Their legitimacy is based on free, general and secret elections. This gives rise to a special responsibility, for example when it comes to taking a stand against the increasing shift to the right in society. China willing to work with U.S. for healthy, stable development of economic, trade ties Xinhua) 08:18, February 27, 2026 BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with the United States to maintain the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. The remarks were made by spokesperson He Yongqian at a regular press briefing in response to a question regarding the upcoming sixth round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations. Both sides have maintained communication at all levels through the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, the spokesperson said. China is willing to coordinate with the U.S. side to uphold the consensus that the two heads of state reached both at their 2025 meeting in Busan and during their recent phone talks on Feb. 4, He said. China stands ready to work with the U.S. side through equal consultation to properly manage differences, expand practical cooperation, and maintain the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, so as to better benefit both countries and the world, the spokesperson added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) GLOBALink | Acupuncture gains ground in Turkiye as trust in ancient Chinese therapy grows Pub Date:26-02-27 09:25 Source:Xinhua The therapy of acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dating back thousands of years, is drawing growing interest across Turkiye. The thin needles are helping Turkish patients recover balance, mobility, and relief from chronic pain. #GLOBALink Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Rapeseed flowers herald the arrival of Spr... GLOBALink | Exploring China's new vitality... Future-oriented Chinese New Year in France... 24 Solar Terms: Rain Water Image Credit ROW NYC ROW NYC will reopen on May 1, 2026, following a multi-year closure and comprehensive renovation of its 1,300-room property in Times Square. ROW NYC, located at the corner of 45th Street and Eighth Avenue in New York City, will resume operations on May 1, 2026, after a multi-year closure and full renovation. The 1,300-room hotel will feature redesigned guest rooms, updated public spaces, a new all-day cafe and bar, a fitness center, and new guest programming. Guest rooms have been updated with new furnishings, custom millwork, and layouts designed for comfort. Large windows provide views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline. Public spaces, including the lobby, have been reimagined to support social gatherings and guest engagement throughout the day. The lobby features tiered seating, informal work areas, and various zones for meetings, work, or relaxation. Percy All Day, a new 90-seat cafe and bar named for photographer Percy Claude Byron, will open with the hotel in May. The cafe will offer coffee, pastries, classic dishes, cocktails, beer, and wine, with seating in the cafe, bar, dining room, and mezzanine, as well as a projector, sound system, and retail area. Additional details about menus, design elements, and operating hours will be announced closer to opening. ROW NYC will introduce programming initiatives for guests, including neighborhood-driven welcome experiences, wellness amenities, and seasonal cultural events. The hotel will also incorporate community-aligned initiatives and additional on-property programming, with further information to be released in the coming months. Reservations are now available, with nightly rates starting at $279 and varying by season and room type. Emotional Intelligence in Management to Lead Sustainable Tourism - By Dr. Ines Blal and Dr. Juliane Volker - Image Credit Unsplash+ Tourism and hospitality are peopleintensive industries where every decision unfolds in close contact with communities, guests, employees, and partners. Success depends on the subtle, often invisible work of managing relationships, in other words, work shaped by emotions and expectations. Yet while these human dynamics sit at the heart of the sector, they remain surprisingly understudied and undervalued in mainstream management thinking. The Overlooked Emotional Work of Managing in Tourism and Hospitality Managing in tourism and hospitality means navigating a web of stakeholders, each carrying their own values and emotional investments. Despite this proximity to people, relationship management remains underemphasized in investment rooms and business school classrooms, where rationality and resource allocation continue to dominate the discussion. Stakeholder complexity may be well established in management discourse, but the emotional complexity of entrepreneurship still tends to be treated as intuition, personality, or soft skills rather than a capability in its own right. Until this work is recognized, we cannot study it, let alone master it to support managerial success. So, how can we learn to better manage relationships for venture success? We suggest starting to learn more about a particular type of emotional intelligence: ability-emotional intelligence based on cognitive abilities that can be taught and developed. We also suggest studying a particular type of entrepreneur one that manages to reconcile the usual antagonists: economic and social value creation. The ability to manage relationships becomes especially important in tourism social enterprises, where social and economic objectives coexist and sometimes collide, and where legitimacy depends less on formal authority than on the ability to navigate tension and trust over time. In such settings, performance hinges on strategic resource allocation choices and on how entrepreneurs regulate their responses across interactions. Therefore, we propose to study tourism social entrepreneurship to uncover the underlying dynamics in relationship management, specifically the ability-emotional intelligence at work. Three Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence The term emotional intelligence gained traction since Goleman's first work in 1995 and has become part of the common language and management vocabulary. Psychology literature distinguishes three components of emotional intelligence: Trait -Emotional Intelligence pertains to self-perceptions of emotional tendencies. These are personal dispositions, such as empathy, optimism, and sociability. Ability -Emotional Intelligence refers to the cognitive abilities to accurately perceive, interpret, use, and regulate emotions. Because it is not a disposition but a cognitive ability, it can be trained, improved, and learned to achieve greater success in managing human relationships. Mixed-Emotional Intelligence encompasses the behavioural competencies, such as teamwork or adaptability, which explain managerial performance and venture outcomes. These are the competencies that are enabled by the trait and ability-emotional intelligence dimensions. Why Ability-Emotional Intelligence Matters for Sustainable Management In our latest article in the Annals of Tourism Research (Blal & Volker, 2026), we propose to map emotional intelligence onto the components of the social entrepreneurial process in tourism (Figure 1). Our purpose is to map which dimensions of emotional intelligence apply to which steps of social entrepreneurship. By doing so, we aim to uncover the skills and capabilities required to successfully manage the emotional work commanded by social entrepreneurship. In this view, trait-emotional intelligence provides the emotional dispositions associated with a social mission, while ability-emotional intelligence processes emotional information. Together, they contribute to the behavioral competencies represented in mixed models and are pivotal to the successful management of the venture. This integrated structure aligns with social entrepreneurship, in which emotional dispositions and competencies interact within a diverse and dynamic stakeholder environment. Emotional intelligence emerges as pivotal for understanding and promoting stakeholder multiplicity. Ability-emotional Intelligence, and Stakeholder Engagement Tourism social enterprises operate through intricate stakeholder relationships. Communities, employees, partners, guests, funders, and public institutions interact through contracts or formal roles, but they are also subject to expectations, cultural perceptions, values, and emotional investments that can cause conflict at both the individual and group levels. In such contexts, stakeholder engagement in tourism social enterprises is vital to the launch and survival of the venture. Ability-emotional intelligence in managing the venture becomes particularly salient here. The capacity to perceive diverse and conflicting emotional signals, interpret their meaning, use emotions, and regulate responses across interactions shapes how entrepreneurs manage relationships, navigate tension, balance economic and social value, and preserve trust. Relationship management, in this setting, constitutes a core dimension of how legitimacy is built and maintained over time in tourism social enterprises. Emotional Work Under Hybrid Logics Tourism social enterprises operate under hybrid logics, where economic viability and social value creation coexist and, at times, collide. These tensions place emotional strain on entrepreneurs, who must continually arbitrate between financial imperatives, community expectations, and long-term social goals. Such trade-offs rarely present clear solutions and often unfold under conditions of uncertainty and time pressure. In this context, emotional work becomes inseparable from managerial decision-making. Ability-emotional intelligence supports entrepreneurs in making emotionally informed decisions by regulating their own responses, recognizing the emotional implications of strategic choices, and sustaining engagement despite tension. Under hybrid logic, emotional intelligence in management functions as a capability that enables ventures to remain viable without eroding their social mission. Relationship Management as a Learnable Managerial Capability Despite its importance, relationship management often remains implicit in theory and education. In practice, managers and entrepreneurs are expected to handle people by drawing on innate capabilities or learned experience. At best, soft skills are praised as some magical talent people have, as naturals, or as something learned through mystical training. As a result, entrepreneurs and managers are expected to navigate complex human dynamics without explicit tools to support stakeholder engagement and decision-making. Focusing on ability-emotional intelligence offers a different lens. Because it refers to cognitive abilities rather than dispositions, it can be identified, learned, trained and developed. In the tourism sector, this perspective reframes emotional intelligence in management as a practical capability that strengthens relationship management, supports stakeholder engagement and contributes to sustained venture performance. Toward Sustainable Management and Long-term Performance It is time to start seeing sustainability beyond a narrow lens of conflicting resource allocation. Researching social enterprises in tourism and hospitality reveals the foundational mechanisms for building resilient and sustainable ventures. Financial models, legal structures, business models, and resource allocation are part of structural architecture. But around this architecture or underneath this structure lie sustained and reliable human relationships. That intricate web of human engagement and commitment is what seals the deal. Therefore, emotional intelligence in management becomes a condition for endurance, particularly in contexts where trust, legitimacy, and community engagement evolve slowly and remain fragile. Recognizing emotional work, and in particular ability-emotional intelligence, as part of managerial practice invites a broader understanding of performance in tourism and hospitality. It shifts attention from short-term effectiveness to relational continuity, resilience, and long-term value creation. In this sense, tourism social entrepreneurship offers a window into future management practices. Leaders who thrive in that future will treat emotional information as part of their decision toolkit rather than as noise to be managed around. Dr. Ines Blal - Associate Professor at EHL Hospitality Business School Dr. Juliane Volker - Swiss Center for Affective Sciences at University of Geneva hub by Premier Inn London Farringdon (Old Bailey) - Image Credit Whitbread Hotel executives at a recent industry event discussed the advantages and challenges of asset-heavy ownership models compared to asset-light strategies, focusing on control, flexibility, investment returns, and risk management in a volatile economic environment. The ongoing discussion within the hotel industry about the merits of asset-heavy versus asset-light ownership models was a central theme at the recent Asset intense Hotel Industry Development Event. While some data suggests that asset-light models can improve overall performance for hotel companies, several panelists argued in favor of maintaining direct ownership of hotel assets. The debate focused on the balance between increased risk and the potential for greater control, flexibility, and investment returns. Arguments for Asset-Heavy Ownership Mark Anderson, Managing Director for Property and International at Whitbread, emphasized the benefits of his companys significant freehold ownership. Whitbread owns approximately 540 out of its nearly 900 hotels, primarily in the United Kingdom. Anderson stated that this ownership structure allows the company to secure debt on favorable terms, maintain control over development and investment, and efficiently manage capital and cash flow. Ronen Nissenbaum, CEO for Western Europe at Fattal Hotels and Leonardo Hotels, described his companys approach as unapologetically asset-heavy. He argued that direct ownership enables rapid market entry and provides greater control over the companys value chain, especially in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Nissenbaum also noted that public financial reports may not fully capture the value added by owning profitable assets. Martijn van der Graaf, Chief Operations Officer for Western Europe at Essendi, echoed these sentiments. With 96% of Essendis hotel portfolio under direct ownership, van der Graaf believes this control allows the company to make decisions that are best for each asset, particularly during economic downturns. He also highlighted the advantages in implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and focusing on maximizing the value of existing properties. Investment Strategies and Partnerships Lily Wecker, CEO of Aethos, discussed the role of company culture and partnerships in asset management. Aethos manages assets on behalf of Limestone Capital, focusing on growing value through premium equity, while Limestone specializes in fundraising. Wecker argued that this partnership improves the risk-reward profile and allows each party to concentrate on its strengths. Graeme McCormack, Head of Fund Management for Hotels and Leisure at Principal Asset Management, pointed out that hotels are currently strong performers within the real estate sector. However, he noted that some investment vehicles in Europe face restrictions that prevent them from direct ownership, limiting their operational flexibility. Concerns About Asset-Light Models Some panelists expressed concerns that asset-light models, which rely on management contracts or franchise agreements rather than ownership, can lead to commoditization. Wecker stated that when hotel brands offer interchangeable products, it can undermine differentiation and profitability. She prefers to charge higher fees for innovative hotel products rather than compete in segments vulnerable to price compression. The panelists agreed that collaboration and the exchange of ideas between different models can be beneficial. Anderson mentioned that while Whitbread primarily owns its properties, it is open to management agreements in specific markets, such as the Middle East, where the company recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop several Premier Inn hotels. Flexibility and Future Outlook Flexibility was a recurring theme, with executives noting that the choice between asset-heavy and asset-light models may depend on market conditions and company strategy. Nissenbaum suggested that Fattal Hotels remains open to various approaches, including leasing, management, ownership, or even franchising in the future. Anderson shared an example of Whitbreads agility, describing how the company secured a major asset in London by leveraging its strong investment case, even though it was not the highest bidder. Wecker emphasized the importance of aligning capital with the right assets, even if it means slower growth. Discover more at CoStar. 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 Chinas top legislative body has removed nine military officials ahead of its annual political meeting next week. The National Peoples Congress (NPC) updated its roster of deputies from the military delegation on Thursday, cutting the number of representatives from the Peoples Liberation Army and the Peoples Armed Police to 243. Left out of the 14th NPC were Ground Force commander Li Qiaoming, Information Support Force political commissar Li Wei as well as Ding Laifu of the army, Bian Ruifeng and Wang Donghai of the Central Military Commission, Shen Jinlong and Qin Shengxiang of the navy, Yu Zhongfu of the air force, and Yang Guang of the rocket force, state news agency Xinhua reported. No official reason was given for the decision, which came just weeks after president Xi Jinping ousted his highest-ranking general and long-time ally Zhang Youxia. The move comes as Beijing prepares for annual meetings of the NPC and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. The two sessions, as they are popularly known, start on 4 March to lay out the national policy agenda, including plans related to the military, economy, trade and diplomacy. The dismissals are part of a sweeping military purge undertaken by Xi and widely seen as the most extensive shake-up of the armed forces in roughly half a century. The Chinese leader started a campaign to root out corruption in the armed forces in 2023, months after securing an unprecedented third term. He called corruption "the biggest threat" to the Communist Party. However, some critics claim the campaign is a tool to purge political rivals. Since then, Mr Xi has removed two dozen senior military figures including a former defence minister and two vice military chiefs. The crackdown has reduced the seven-man supreme military command body, the Central Military Commission, to a committee of just Xi and newly promoted vice chairman Zhang Shengmin. The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a security think tank in the UK, said in a report this week that the ongoing corruption purges had left serious deficiencies in the Chinese militarys command structure and likely hampered the readiness of its rapidly modernising armed forces. The purges are likely incomplete even though they already range across the Central Military Commission, theatre commands, weapons procurement and development as well as defence academia, according to the think tank. From an organisational perspective, until the vacancies are filled, the PLA is operating with serious deficiencies in its command structure," the IISS said in its annual Military Balance, a survey of global military forces. 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 Delhis former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, broke down in tears after he and his deputy were discharged in a corruption case linked to a now-scrapped liquor sales policy in the Indian capital. Mr Kejriwal, a prominent rival of prime minister Narendra Modi, was arrested in 2024 and charged with involvement in a money-laundering case linked to the 2021-22 Delhi Excise Policy, brought by his then state government. Investigators alleged that the policy was manipulated to favour certain liquor traders in return for kickbacks to members of his Aam Aadmi Party. Mr Kejriwal and his party denied the allegations. On Friday, a Delhi court cleared Mr Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 other people, citing lack of evidence and describing the case as premeditated and choreographed. The court said that no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy. The ruling is a big relief for Mr Kejriwal and his party. The Aam Aadmi Party was founded in 2012 on the plank of rooting out corruption, with Mr Kejriwal campaigning on issues such as clean governance, lower electricity bills, better public schools, and accessible public healthcare. open image in gallery File. Arvind Kejriwal waves to his supporters after his release from Tihar jail in Delhi ( EPA ) Special judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court came down heavily on the federal agencies which had charged the opposition politicians. He criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation in particular for trying to construct a narrative of conspiracy on the basis of mere conjecture", legal news website Bar and Bench reported. The prosecution case doesnt stand scrutiny. The record reflects continuity and consultation. There is no abrupt interruption to constitute criminal intent. The overarching conspiracy theory fails here, he ruled. There are internal contradictions in the prosecutions case. The charge of manipulation cant stand, the judge said in his ruling. The policy travelled through established constitutional channels. The structure of the policy doesnt constitute an offence. The record reflects institutional deliberation. The judge concluded his order by invoking Martin Luther King Jr. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Speaking outside the court, Mr Kejriwal broke down in tears. All my life, Ive only been honest, he said. Today it has been proven. I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest. Today the court has discharged all the accused in the case. We have always said the truth emerges victorious, the former chief minister added. He blamed Mr Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party for hatching a political conspiracy to throw his party out of power in Delhi and put its senior leaders in jail. "Kejriwal is staunchly honest," Mr Kejriwal said in Hindi, adding the case was the "biggest political conspiracy" in independent India's history to target his party. His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, who took command of the party while he was in jail, welcomed him home while party supporters celebrated the ruling as a victory against alleged political vendetta. open image in gallery Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia at the Aam Aadmi Party's manifesto presentation for the 2020 Delhi election ( AFP via Getty ) The judge said he was ordering departmental action against the CBI officer handling the case to ensure accountability and protect the credibility of the investigative system. The judge said an investigation must be based on clear and consistent evidence, not on vague or shifting positions designed to keep future prosecution options open. Since there was no material evidence against the accused persons, the court said that it wouldnt only disregard the flawed investigation but recommend disciplinary proceedings against the CBI officer for wrongly naming them. The CBI said it would appeal in the Delhi High Court, claiming key aspects of its investigation were ignored or not adequately considered. Mr Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March 2024. He secured bail from the Supreme Court to campaign in that years state election but was then arrested by the CBI. He spent 156 days in jail before he was granted bail on 13 September 2024. He then resigned from his post as chief minister. His right-hand man, Mr Sisodia, spent a longer period of 17 months in jail. Another prominent party member, Sanjay Singh, was also jailed in the same case. The policy at the centre of the long-running legal saga was introduced by Mr Kejriwals party in 2021 to reform the liquor trade and boost revenue. It was withdrawn a few months later amid allegations that itd been implemented in a way that granted undue favours to private entities. Delhis lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, appointed by the federal government, accused the party of exploiting rules to benefit private liquor barons and ordered an investigation by the CBI. 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 A seemingly routine operation to arrest political workers linked to a protest at Indias most high-profile technology summit turned into a near-24-hour standoff between the police forces of two states this week. Police officers from Delhi travelled before dawn on Wednesday to Rohru, a small town near Shimla in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, to arrest three members of the Indian Youth Congress party for allegedly causing a disruption at the India AI Impact Summit held in the national capital from 16 to 20 February. By nightfall, they were arguing with the Himachal police about who, exactly, was breaking the law. Inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi, the summit drew delegations from more than 100 countries as well as global technology leaders such as Sundar Pichai of Google and Sam Altman of OpenAI, alongside Indian industrialists like Mukesh Ambani. The protest took place on 20 February, when members of the Youth Congress, a wing of the main opposition party, removed their jackets to reveal t-shirts with a picture of Mr Modi alongside the slogan PM is compromised. The Delhi police described it as a shirtless protest and registered an FIR the first step to formally initiating a criminal investigation in India citing offences including rioting, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful assembly. The reaction from Mr Modis ruling BJP was prompt. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra called the demonstration topless, brainless, shameless, and Mr Modi charged that the Congress party had turned a global event for India into a platform for its dirty and naked politics and tried to tarnish the countrys image. Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the protest, saying it represented the voice of millions of angry unemployed youth and insisted the group was not against the AI Summit, but was protesting a compromised prime minister. Five days later, the dispute had moved 400km north. A Delhi police team arrived at a resort in Rohru, where the three Youth Congress workers named in the FIR were staying, at around 5am. They detained the suspects and seized a digital video recorder linked to the resorts CCTV system as well as the car they had arrived in. By 6.15am, according to the Times of India, the three men had been formally arrested and thrown in police vehicles. The plan was straightforward: drive them to Delhi, and produce them before a court. However, local police stopped the vehicles near Shimlas interstate bus terminal and asked the Delhi police officers to explain the arrests and if they had followed the requisite legal procedures. The convoy got moving again, only to be intercepted two hours later at Shoghi, a checkpoint on the highway that winds down from Shimla towards the plains, and then again near Dharampur in Solan. A video of the roadside exchange, broadcast by NDTV, captured an unusually public clash between officers of the two forces. Assistant commissioner Rahul Vikram of the Delhi police could be heard telling the local officers: Weve arrested three people. You are preventing a government employee from working. We have filed a case against you, a Himachal police officer responded. You are kidnapping three people. You should join the investigation. A Shimla police officer later told the Indian Express that unpleasant scenes erupted again when the Delhi police personnel locked themselves inside their vehicles after being intercepted at the barrier, apparently to avoid joining our investigation. After much persuasion, they did not join the investigation but only agreed to provide their names, ranks, and places of posting. After a standoff that lasted several hours, local media reported, the Delhi police convoy was escorted back to Shimla and taken to the district court. According to Shimla superintendent of police Gaurav Singh, his force had received information that 15 to 20 unidentified individuals, dressed in plain clothes, arrived in vehicles and allegedly forcibly took away three guests staying at a resort. The same individuals had removed CCTV equipment without providing any seizure memo or receipt. On that basis, he said, a case had been registered under sections of the law related to wrongful confinement and kidnapping. I dont know in what capacity the Himachal police detained us, ACP Vikram told the Indian Express. Two of the three suspects were directly involved in the shirtless protest and one was involved in the conspiracy. When police arrest a person in another state, the criminal procedure requires they produce them before the local magistrate and seek whats known as transit remand, judicial permission to move the accused across state lines. After the convoy returned to Shimla, the arrested men were produced before the citys additional chief judicial magistrate, who, after hearing the defence counsels challenge to the legality of the Rohru operation, granted a transit remand permitting the Delhi police to take the accused to the national capital. Even then, the standoff did not immediately end. The Hindu reported that the Delhi police vehicles were again stopped twice in the early hours of Thursday, with the Himachal officers seeking access to digital evidence before allowing the convoy to proceed. The Delhi police argued the material was case property and refused to hand it over. Shortly before 6am on Thursday, nearly 24 hours after the arrests were made, the Delhi police team was permitted to leave the state with the three detainees. The standoff played out against a political backdrop. Himachal Pradesh is governed by the Congress, while the Delhi police report to the federal home ministry under Mr Modis government. Each side has since accused the other of breaching procedure. Naresh Chauhan, media adviser to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said every action must be taken within the ambit of law. Senior BJP member Jai Ram Thakur called the standoff shameful, according to the Times of India. 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 On a humid morning in August 2024, far from any hospital ward or funeral ground, India quietly reached a small scientific milestone. In Rohtak city in the northern state of Haryana, a volunteer rolled up their sleeve and became the first person to be enrolled in the final-stage human trial of what could be the countrys first indigenous, single-shot dengue vaccine. There was no ribbon-cutting. No applause. No sense of arrival. For the scientists involved, it marked the crossing of a line that had taken two decades to reach. For families torn apart by dengue, it meant something else entirely: progress, finally, no matter how late. Dengue kills quietly. The mosquito-borne infection affects 100-400 million people worldwide each year, according to the WHO. It begins with fever, pain behind the eyes, and exhaustion. Blood tests can look reassuring. Platelet counts may hold. Then, sometimes, without warning, the body collapses. Blood leaks internally. Organs fail. The shock is swift. India has lived with dengue for a long time. In 2025, the virus infected at least 113,450 people and killed 95, according to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control. Yet it is widely dismissed as a seasonal inconvenience, a monsoon illness, something survivable with rest and fluids. Shahnawaz Malik, 42, believed that too. Until the disease claimed his wife. The struggle has increased, he tells The Independent. I am in my hometown, which is very close to the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh state. He left Delhi after his wifes death, as the city where they had built a life together became unlivable for him. Her name was Simin Akhter Naqvi. She was born on 17 January 1985 and died at the age of 39 in October 2024. An associate professor of economics at Zakir Hussain Delhi College, Naqvi was also an activist, deeply engaged with her students and the causes she believed in. To her four-and-a-half-year-old son Zidane, she was simply mum. open image in gallery Simin Akhter Naqvi died from dengue in 2024 ( Supplied ) Their story began a decade earlier, during a protest. Our meeting was very interesting. She was a teacher in Delhi. But along with that, she was an activist. I was then a crime reporter at Navbharat Times, Malik says, referring to a Hindi daily published from the Indian capital. In 2014, Naqvi was detained during a protest. Friends circulated phone numbers of local journalists, hoping someone could help. Maliks was on the list. I spoke to her and also reported on the matter. I informed her that it was a measure of preventive detention and that the police would release the protesters, he recalls. Dont worry, the police will release you in a few hours. They connected on social media. Conversations followed. Campaigns overlapped. Eventually, something steadier took root. And at some point, the conversation just organically kicked off. And we got into a relationship eventually and both wanted to marry. They married on 26 December 2018. Naqvi was physically fit. She had trained in martial arts when she was younger. She drove long distances across Delhi for work and activism. She was very proactive in class and was popular among students, Malik says. Then, one October morning, dengue arrived. She woke at 6am with a body ache. She had classes to teach. She took an antibiotic and went to college, Malik recalls. By 11am she was back home, shaking. She thought it was the usual viral fever. Naqvis mother, who lived in the same building, had dengue. A blood test was done. By 4pm, it was confirmed. open image in gallery Shahnawaz Malik with his son Zidane after the passing away of his wife ( Supplied ) The advice was standard: rest, take plenty of fluids and monitor platelets. Get admitted only if the platelet count falls below 20,000, a threshold widely used in India, though increasingly questioned by clinicians. Monday passed. Then Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. The fever did not break. Friday night, friends came over. A gathering. Laughter. Life going on as it does, stubbornly normal. That night, she slept alone, without a fan or air-conditioning. Malik slept with their son in another room. At around 4am, she texted her father first and then called her sister saying, My temperature is rising. On Saturday morning, 19 October, she told Malik she felt something was wrong. My fever is not receding and I am not feeling well. They went to a hospital in Rohini, in the northwest of Delhi, and she was admitted right away. Malik left briefly for a meeting, returned, and sat with her. They had conversations over coffee. She was throwing up and not able to keep anything down, he says. But we were chatting till 4pm. open image in gallery Dengue patients and their family members at a hospital in Barguna in southern Bangladesh ( AFP/Getty ) She had packed books, notes and chocolates. Planning for a week of rest, trying to absorb the sharp turn of events. At around 7pm, a colleague came over to plan the next six months of academic work. At around 10pm, Malik says, I received a phone call that we are taking her to the ICU. Her liver and kidneys were under strain, he recalls. By the time he arrived, she was already sedated. The next day, she was put on a ventilator. I had faith that she would bounce back and things would be fine. Lot of people go on the ventilator and return. Naqvi did not. At 6.18am on 21 October, she died. The hospital report cited dengue shock syndrome, a severe complication in which internal bleeding and organ failure overwhelm the body. In DSS, your internal blood leakages begin and no support system and medicine can help and it is fatal, Malik says. Her heart, liver and kidneys had all failed together. Malik became a single parent overnight. I lost all my confidence. I was not able to speak for a long time. Their son searched for her on the phone. Dialled her number. It rang. No one answered. My biggest fear is, I do not know, how the absence of a mother is likely going to affect him, Malik says, seeking to convey the human cost of dengue that statistics can never quantify. An enormous cost that has driven scientists, often quietly over decades, to persist in developing a vaccine. open image in gallery Inside Panacea Biotecs research lab ( Namita Singh/The Independent ) At Panacea Biotec, one of Indias oldest vaccine makers, the dengue programme began long before Malik and Naqvi met. We took the decision in 2002, Harshet Jain, a member of the board, says. Whether to work on a dengue vaccine or not this is a decision that any organisation needs to take. There was no single patient who prompted it. No defining tragedy. Instead, he says, there was scale. There are more than 400 million dengue infections, he says, referring to the global caseload. And this primarily affects the lowest, the weakest economic section of our society. The science was daunting. Dengue exists in four distinct serotypes. Infection with one provides lifelong protection against that type but only temporary, partial protection against the others. A second infection can be far worse. This phenomenon antibody-dependent enhancement has haunted dengue vaccine development for decades. In simple terms, an incomplete immune response can make later infections more deadly, not less, the companys chief scientific officer, Dr Syed Khalid Ali, explains. That concern of dengue was lingering around for a long time, Ali says. And it had an impact on everything. There are, at the moment, only two dengue vaccines available in the market. While the WHO recommends the use of Qdenga in children aged 6-16 living in settings with high intensity of transmission, the US Centre for Disease Control says that Dengvaxia is the only dengue vaccine currently available in the North American country. Dengvaxia is recommended for children aged 9-16 with laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and living in areas where dengue is common. open image in gallery Dr Syed Khalid Ali explaining how vaccines are developed and the phases it goes through ( Namita Singh/The Independent ) The Qdenga vaccination course consists of two injections three months apart. Dengvaxia involves three doses, with the first given after confirming the child had a prior dengue infection, the second six months after that and the final after another half-year. The WHO says there isnt enough evidence that Qdenga is safe and effective against two types of dengue, called Denv 3 and Denv 4, in people who have never had the virus before. Because of that uncertainty, the global health body doesnt recommend using this vaccine routinely in places where dengue is not very common or only occurs at moderate levels. The vaccine that Panacea is making, DengiAll, requires a single dose and can be administered to Dengi-naive people. The maker claims the new vaccine is effective against all dengue serotypes Denv 1, Denv 2, Denv 3, and Denv 4. The weakened dengue strain used in the Panacea vaccine was developed by the National Institutes of Health in the US after more than 20 years of work. Panacea licensed the technology in 2006 after evaluating multiple candidates. From there began a slow, methodical process that was nothing like the rapid vaccine rollout many would come to associate with Covid. First came antigen discovery, identifying the part of the virus capable of triggering immunity. Then optimisation. From the four or five antigens that look promising, you optimise them and you come to maybe one or two, Ali says. Then years of testing in animals to establish proof of concept and safety. Only then can human trials begin. Phase one trials seek to answer a singular question: is the vaccine safe? Phase two explores dosage and immune response. Phase three, involving thousands of volunteers, checks whether it actually works. For the dengue vaccine, Dr Ali says, it should prevent all types of dengue. Panacea combined its phase one and two trials, building on data already generated by the National Institutes of Health in at least 38 earlier studies. The results were striking. open image in gallery Dr Syed Khalid Ali explaining how waste is segregated and disposed of as researchers work in a carefully contained and isolated environment ( Namita Singh/The Independent ) DengiAll produced a balanced immune response against all four serotypes, with over 80 per cent seroconversion across each, meaning that eight out of every 10 vaccinated people would not get sick. This balance matters. An imbalanced response is what raises the risk of severe disease. By 2018, the early trials were complete. But Panacea waited. We delayed our phase three because we wanted to follow them up for a long time, Ali says. By 2021, we knew even after three years of giving the vaccine, now everybody is safe as well. The phase-three trial, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research, began on 14 August 2024, the same year Naqvi fell ill. More than 10,000 volunteers across India are now being followed through multiple monsoon seasons. If the data holds, Panacea hopes for regulatory approval around 2027. Two decades of development may sound like a delay, but to vaccine scientists it is restraint, says Kumar Gaurav, Panaceas senior general manager handling regulatory and government affairs. Any vaccine in the world, minimum it takes 12 years, he says. Then it goes to 20 years, 22 years. It is not a long time for a novel vaccine or innovative vaccine, not at all. Ali speaks of the responsibility of manufacturing a live, weakened virus vaccine that may be injected into healthy children perhaps the only child a family has. One batch will be a few million doses, he says. We need to make sure that every single dose of vaccine that is made is of the highest quality. The vaccines formulation is stable for three years at standard refrigeration temperatures crucial in countries where ultra-cold storage does not exist. Yet even Ali is clear that a vaccine alone will not end dengue. You need vaccination at its centre, he says, and if you build other public health measures around it, that would be the most effective way. For Malik, those measures failed long before any vaccine arrived. Municipal workers came to his building after his wife had already been diagnosed. They were turned away. Standing water remains, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. One thing I found hard to digest was that my wife died because a mosquito bit her, he says, leaving the sentence hanging between science and grief. 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 Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an "open war" with its neighbour. As tensions persist, here is a look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan's military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Overview Pakistan's armed forces benefit from good recruitment and retention, bolstered by equipment from its main defence partner China. Islamabad continues to invest in its military nuclear programmes and is also modernising its navy and air force. open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images ) The capability of the Afghan Taliban's armed forces, meanwhile, is declining, with a fall in their ability to use foreign equipment that the Islamist group seized when it returned to power in the landlocked country in 2021. A lack of international recognition for the Taliban administration has also hurt military modernisation. open image in gallery ( via REUTERS ) Personnel Pakistan has 660,000 active personnel in its defence forces, of whom 560,000 are in the army, 70,000 are in the air force, and 30,000 are in the navy. The strength of the Afghan Taliban's military is thinner, with only 172,000 active personnel. The group has, however, announced plans to expand its armed forces to 200,000 personnel. open image in gallery File. Afghan Taliban fighters patrol near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan, 15 October 2025 ( REUTERS ) Fighting vehicles and artillery Pakistan has more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles, and over 4,600 pieces of artillery. The Afghan forces also possess armoured fighting vehicles, including Soviet-era main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and autonomous underwater vehicles, but their exact number is unknown. The precise number of artillery they possess, which is of at least three different types, is similarly not known. Air Force Pakistan has a fleet of 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters that include multi-role, attack and transport choppers. Afghanistan has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known to possess at least six aircraft - some of them dating back again to the Soviet era - and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition. Nuclear arsenal While Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country and has 170 warheads, Afghanistan does not have a nuclear arsenal. 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 Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan on Friday and declared open war with its western neighbour as tensions over rising militant violence in the region boiled over. The airstrikes hit the capital of Kabul and the city of Kandahar, where senior leaders of the ruling Taliban, including supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, were said to be based. Islamabad claimed the strikes targeted Islamist and ethnic insurgents responsible for carrying out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. The missile strikes were also aimed at Taliban military offices and posts in Kabul city, Kandahars Daman district as well as Paktika province in southern Afghanistan, security sources in Pakistan said. Daman is home to a base of the Taliban border guard. Officials also confirmed ground clashes in multiple sectors of the border between the countries. Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said fighting was going on in the Torkham border area. The provinces information directorate said Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp that had been evacuated overnight. In response, Afghan forces were targeting Pakistani army posts across the border. The airstrikes came hours after the Taliban announced they were conducting retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military installations in response to last Sundays attacks by Pakistani forces that killed 13 civilians. Both sides reported heavy losses in the latest fighting, issuing sharply diverging tolls. The Independent could not immediately verify the figures. Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said his countrys patience had run out and the two nations were now engaged in an open war. Now it is open war between us, he declared. There was no immediate reaction from Kabul. Smoke rises following Pakistani airstrikes o Kabul ( Pakistani security forces ) Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace after the withdrawal of Nato forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which then seized power, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Islamabad frequently accuses its western neighbour of sheltering militants responsible for carrying out deadly attacks in Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army. Kabul denies the allegations and says it will never allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorist activities. Pakistan also accuses its eastern neighbour India of backing the Baloch separatists and the Pakistani Taliban. India denies the allegations. 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 Pakistan has declared open war on the Taliban after bombing Afghanistans major cities, including its capital Kabul, on Friday. The strikes mark a serious escalation after months of clashes between the warring nations, threatening the breakdown of a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire negotiated last year. Both sides claim their actions are in retaliation in response to provocation from the other. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you [Afghanistan], Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said in the aftermath of the escalation. On Thursday night, the Taliban launched a large-scale offensive against Pakistani military posts along their shared border, which runs 2,600km (1,615 miles). They had previously threatened action after a Pakistani attack on Sunday killed 13 civilians. The group said the operation marked a response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles, in a statement by Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban administration. open image in gallery Afghan Taliban soldiers stand on their side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan on Friday 27 February ( AP ) But Pakistan insisted the actions were unprovoked and launched what it called an immediate and effective response in return. Major cities, including Kabul and Kandahar and the province of Paktia, were hit in the attacks. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising about the residential neighbourhood of Darulaman in western Kabul and a fierce blaze engulfed part of a depot in video footage verified by Reuters. The clashes have resulted in heavy casualties with 274 Afghan Taliban officials killed and more than 200 wounded, according to Pakistans military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. He said 12 Pakistani soldiers had died. At least 22 Afghan military targets are reported to have been destroyed. Afghanistans defence ministry says more than 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and several captured alive. It says eight Afghan soldiers have died, while 11 others have been wounded. It says that it has hit 19 Pakistani military outposts. open image in gallery Pakistani soldiers patrol near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing in Chaman following overnight cross-border fighting between the two countries ( AFP/Getty ) The countries allies have expressed concern about the escalation and urged both parties to resolve their differences through diplomacy. Russias foreign ministry called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to halt the conflict with immediate effect and to return to the negotiating table. Officials from Russia, Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia are reportedly attempting to mediate, according to diplomats and news reports. Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced Tehran is also ready to mediate. UN human rights chief Volker Turk also appealed for urgent political dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan said on Friday that it hopes to resolve its conflict with Pakistan through dialogue, according to Afghanistans spokesperson Mr Mujahid. open image in gallery Deaths have been reported on both sides as each country trades blows in a violent escalation ( AFP/Getty ) But Pakistans military says it is continuing its operation at the direction of prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban militants, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claims that the Taliban deny. The group have been involved in several terror attacks across Pakistan as Pakistan saw its deadliest year for combat deaths in a decade in 2025 due to counterterrorism operations. Both countries share a significant Pashtun population, complicating the conflict. The instability comes at a delicate time for the region, which is facing the prospect of war between the US and Iran after American warships and fighter jets inched ever-closer to the Islamic Republic in recent weeks. Afghanistan is gripped by extreme poverty, unemployment and hunger since a collapse in the delivery of aid after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of US forces and a two-decade insurgency against the US-backed government. 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 Pakistan has announced it is now in an open war with the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan as it carried out major airstrikes on Afghan cities overnight, escalating months of simmering border tensions between the Islamic neighbours. The air and ground strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted Taliban military posts, headquarters and ammunition depots in multiple sectors along the border, just hours after the Taliban launched an air attack on Pakistans border forces. Both sides have reported heavy losses in the fighting, with Pakistan saying it has killed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200, with 27 posts destroyed and nine captured, following months of tit-for-tat clashes. The Talibans chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized, while eight Taliban fighters were killed, 11 wounded and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province. Pakistani defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, confirmed the aerial raid and said: Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you [Afghanistan]. The Taliban government and Pakistan have been engaged in a diplomatic and military confrontation for months now, despite being in a ceasefire for several months. The tensions worsened over the weekend after Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, in which 13 civilians were killed, according to the UN data. Earlier, border clashes between the two countries killed dozens of soldiers in October until negotiations facilitated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia halted the hostilities and a fragile ceasefire was put in place. Pakistans military launched air raids inside Afghanistan in the early hours on 22 February, targeting what officials described as camps and hideouts linked to armed groups blamed for a recent wave of attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad. Pakistans ministry of information and broadcasting said the armed forces carried out intelligence-based, selective operations against seven sites associated with the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and its affiliates. The ministry added that the Isis affiliate in Khorasan province, which claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the capital earlier this month, was also targeted. Afghanistans ministry of defence condemned the strikes, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in the eastern border provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, causing dozens of deaths and injuries, including among women and children. Calling the raids a violation of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness, the Afghan defence ministry said it would respond. We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response, it said. The strikes risk undermining a tenuous ceasefire between the South Asian neighbours, brokered after deadly border clashes in October last year left dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected fighters dead. Pakistan said it has repeatedly called on Afghanistans Taliban authorities to curb armed groups operating from Afghan soil, but that Kabul has failed to undertake any substantive action. open image in gallery Residents gather at the site of Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, 22 February 2026 ( Reuters ) While asserting that Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, the statement stressed that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remains its foremost priority. In October, the two countries declared a ceasefire after several days of intense border fighting that left dozens dead on both sides and sharply escalated regional tensions. What sparked the latest clashes? Pakistans cross-border strikes followed a string of high-profile attacks at home. Just hours earlier, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel. Earlier, last week, another suicide attacker, supported by gunmen, drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the wall of a security post in nearby Bajaur. The assault killed 11 soldiers and a child. Officials later identified the bomber as an Afghan national. On 6 February, a suicide attacker set off explosives during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabads Tarlai Kalan neighbourhood, leaving at least 31 worshippers dead and 170 injured. open image in gallery Residents gather at the site of Pakistani airstrikes in the Bihsud district ( Reuters ) The Islamic State Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the Islamabad bombing. In Islamabad, security analyst Abdullah Khan suggested that the Pakistani strikes indicate that Qatari, Turkish, and even Saudi-led mediations have failed to resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. These strikes are likely to further escalate the situation, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Is Pakistan employing a new deterrence framework? Last year in October, analysts noted that Pakistan was finding it increasingly hard to overlook the rising fatalities caused by attacks that it claims are launched from Afghan soil. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, more than 2,400 members of Pakistans security forces had been killed in the first nine months of 2025 alone, putting the country on track for its deadliest year in a decade. Attacks had surged since the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan a few years ago. Khans administration had worked with the Taliban to negotiate a TTP ceasefire. While that truce collapsed during his tenure, the frequency of assaults remained comparatively lower. open image in gallery The Pakistan authorities said they targeted camps and hideouts in their strikes last week ( AFP/Getty ) Relations worsened further as Islamabad increasingly carried out airstrikes within Afghan territory, targeting locations it said were used by TTP fighters. Analysts point to the uptick in TTP attacks on Pakistani forces as the primary trigger for the recent border clashes. They believed that Islamabad was attempting to establish a new deterrence framework, signalling that any assault perceived to originate from Afghanistan, whether carried out by the TTP or other armed groups, will trigger consequences for Kabul. Any attack which emanates from Afghanistan will be responded [to] with [the] same ferocity on their territory, with Pakistan implying that [the] Afghan Taliban are facilitating such attacks in Pakistan, and thus are legitimate targets, Abdul Basit, a scholar at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera, at the time. Pakistans border regions have long been hotspots of conflict, dating back to 1979 when the country became a frontline state in the US-backed war against the then Soviet Union in Afghanistan. open image in gallery Pakistan said it launched multiple airstrikes last Sunday targeting militants in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the government reported children were among dozens of people killed and wounded ( AFP/Getty ) According to the defence analyst Abdullah Khan, who is also the managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the areas instability worsened after the 9/11 attacks. He told the Associated Press in October last year: After the September 11 attacks, Pakistans tribal belt descended into chaos as the Afghan Taliban, al-Qaeda and other groups operated from both sides of the border for attacks on Nato forces and Pakistani security forces. Tensions between the two neighbours are further compounded by Pakistans deportation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. Since the decades of conflict began, at least 3 million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, creating additional friction between the two neighbours. How have international leaders responded? In October, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes drew concern from regional powers, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to prevent escalation. Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all called for diplomacy to maintain regional stability and security. India did not comment, though Pakistan is wary of New Delhis engagement with the Taliban, some observers note. Saudi Arabias ministry of foreign affairs said in October: The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region. open image in gallery Afghan men search for victims after an overnight Pakistani airstrike hit a residential area in the Girdi Kas village of Bihsud district, Nangarhar province on 22 February 22 2026 ( AFP/Getty ) The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples, it added. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said at the time: Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint, and added that stability between the two countries contributes to regional stability. Qatars ministry of foreign affairs also urged both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability. China also called for safeguarding its citizens and investments, Russia urged both sides to exercise restraint, and US president Donald Trump suggested he could step in to help resolve the conflict. How is India involved? In October, the clashes coincided with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqis first visit to India since the group returned to power. Kabul-based analyst Ibraheem Bahiss of the International Crisis Group suggested that Muttaqis high-profile reception in India was probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan Army to escalate in the major way that we saw. open image in gallery A man inspects a damaged car at the site of a cross-border Pakistani army strike in the Behsud district of Nangarh ( AP ) Following the visit, The Hindu reported that Pakistan summoned the Afghan ambassador to express its strong reservations regarding the India-Afghanistan joint statement, in which both countries unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries. From the mid-1990s until recent years, India had regarded the Taliban as a proxy for Pakistans intelligence services, holding the group and its allies responsible for deadly assaults on Indian diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. However, following the Talibans return to power and amid growing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, India has pursued a series of diplomatic engagements with the new Afghan leadership, culminating in Mr Muttaqis visit. Pakistani media has been furious over Muttaqis visit to India, Afghan content creator Pathan Bhai said in a video, according to India Today. What were the official responses to the clashes? Afghanistans defence ministry denounced the attacks as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international law, stating that an appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry said it had summoned Pakistans ambassador over what it described as violations of Afghan airspace and the targeting of civilians, labelling the strikes a provocative act. What happens next? Although TTPs presence remains a key irritant for Pakistan, analysts believe the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes are unlikely to escalate into a larger conflict. Afghanistan lacks conventional military strength compared with Pakistan, and both sides appear focused on de-escalation at the moment. However, the border is expected to stay tense for the foreseeable future, as Pakistan has signalled it will continue taking action against militants it claims are crossing from Afghanistan to target its security forces. 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 Gold is poised to mark its seventh consecutive month of gains, with its appeal as a safe haven asset bolstered by ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns over US trade policy. Spot gold saw a marginal dip of 0.1 per cent to to $5,181.18 per ounce by 8.37am GMT. The metal has climbed 6.5 per cent so far in February, bringing gains for the seven months to a whopping 58 per cent. US gold futures for April delivery were up 0.1 per cent at $5,198.10 The benchmark 10-year yield concurrently fell to a three-month low, further decreasing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-paying gold. "There are two things (supporting gold). First is the tariff uncertainty which is there in the market right now, and on the other hand, the Iran and the US situation," explained ANZ analyst Soni Kumari. This comes as the United States and Iran engaged in indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday regarding their protracted nuclear dispute. An Omani mediator reported progress, with technical-level discussions now scheduled for next week in Vienna. Gold prices were largely steady on Friday, on track for their seventh straight month of gains ( Alamy/PA ) "The latest rounds of talks have not produced a clear outcome, leaving geopolitical risks present but not escalating. This has kept gold at elevated levels, though it has not yet provided sufficient momentum to establish a sustainable bullish trend," said Linh Tran, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com. The US began collecting a temporary new 10 per cent global import tariff on Tuesday. However, the rate will rise to 15 per cent for some countries, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said. On the data front, the number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased slightly last week, but the unemployment rate was steady in February. Spot silver XAG= rose 1.7 per cent to $89.87 per ounce, and was headed for a 6.2 per cent gain on the month. Spot platinum XPT= climbed 4.1 per cent to $2,365.33 per ounce, a four-week high, while palladium XPD= gained 2.1 per cent to $1,821.28. 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 Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) has agreed to a $110 billion acquisition by Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), ending a high-stakes bidding war. The deal, announced on Friday, follows Netflix's earlier withdrawal from its agreement with the HBO Max owner. Reuters first reported the development, citing an audio clip from a company townhall. "Netflix had the legal right to match the PSKY offer. As you all know, they ultimately decided not to do that. That then resulted in a signed agreement with PSKY as of this morning. So that's where everything stands," Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros' chief revenue and strategy officer, said in the townhall. On Thursday, Netflix declined to match Paramount's latest $31-per-share offer, which Warner Bros deemed superior to the streaming pioneer's $27.75-per-share agreement for its studio and streaming assets. While Paramount has won the bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery, the merger has drawn scrutiny. California regulators are preparing a vigorous review of the $110 billion deal, which could reshape Hollywood. Paramount, led by billionaire Larry Ellison's son David Ellison, has deep political connections to the Trump administration, which could get it federal regulatory approval for its deal. open image in gallery California regulators are preparing a vigorous review of the $110 billion deal, which could reshape Hollywood ( Foto AP/Jae C. Hong ) California State Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Thursday that California is already investigating the deal and will be "vigorous" in its review. EU Antitrust approval likely not a hurdle Paramount is expected to easily win European Union antitrust approval, with any required divestments likely to be minor, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources. The deal - which includes some $29 billion in debt - is among Hollywood's biggest media shake-ups and will create one of the largest film studios in the world, allowing Paramount to tap Warner's trove of intellectual property, including franchises such as "Fantastic Beasts" and "The Matrix". It will also allow Paramount to bolster its streaming efforts, with a potential combination of HBO Max and Paramount+, enabling it to gain market share and tussle with market leader Netflix. open image in gallery Netflix declined to match Paramount's latest $31-per-share offer ( Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images ) Paramount was in pursuit of Warner Bros since late last year when it launched a hostile campaign to wrestle the company from the streaming giant by consistently raising its offer. The company, led by billionaire Larry Ellison's son David Ellison, enticed Warner's board back to the bargaining table by raising the possibility of an improved cash offer. In its revised bid, Paramount raised the termination fee it would pay should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval to $7 billion from $5.8 billion. Paramount paid the $2.80 billion termination fee that Warner Bros owed Netflix, the streaming giant said in a regulatory filing on Friday. Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, had also stepped up pressure on the HBO owner to engage more with Paramount. Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have raised concerns that any deal to acquire Warner Bros could result in fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. Cinema operators are also concerned that combining large Hollywood studios could cost jobs and reduce the number of movies released in theaters. 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 An Australian teenager has been confirmed to be the first person in the country, and the second worldwide, to die from a severe allergic reaction to meat caused by a tick bite, sparking concern about the prevalence of the condition. Jeremy Webb, 16, died from a deadly allergic reaction during a camping trip with his friends in 2022. At the time, the death was ruled as caused by an acute asthma attack. But a medical re-evaluation pursued by the boys parents found that he had a mammalian meat allergy triggered a history of tick bites. This makes Webb only the second person in the world to die from the tick-induced meat allergy, known as the alpha-gal syndrome. The first confirmed death from this condition was of a man in America in 2024. The condition has been widely reported in southern US states like Texas as well as in Australias west coast region. In the US its caused by the bite of the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum and in Australia by the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus. open image in gallery Paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus ( Daktaridudu via Wikimedia Commons ) Studies have cautioned that ticks capable of causing the condition are spreading to newer areas due to climate change. The saliva of these ticks contains a sugar molecule known as alpha-gal, or galactose--1,3-galactose, which is not normally present in humans. When the ticks bite, they inject the alpha-gal molecule into the persons bloodstream, causing the body to produce IgE antibodies. Alpha-gal is found in most mammals, such as cows, pigs, sheep, and kangaroos. As the person with the antibodies eats substances containing alpha-gal, including meat, they develop an acute allergic reaction. In the case of Webb, the New South Wales Deputy State Coroner found he had a history of tick bites since childhood and had consumed beef sausages on his camping trip. Jeremy died as a result of anaphylaxis due to mammalian meat allergy after a tick bite, causing an acute exacerbation of asthma, the coroner ruled in a findings report. The report noted the boy and his family moved to a NSW Central Coast area surrounded by dense bush when he was about five years old. Since then, he had experienced a number of tick bites, his parents said. open image in gallery Lone star tick ( CDC ) The boy suffered from asthma throughout his life as well as adverse reactions to eating red meat, including shortness of breath. A 2018 diagnosis suggested this was likely caused by house dust, prompting the boys parents to make changes around the house. Although he had been taken to hospital a number of times for asthma attacks since 2018, he was discharged after treatment, with no recommendations for further investigations. In the coroners inquest, immunologist Sheryl van Nunen identified the association between the development of mammalian meat allergy after tick bite. She examined all the records relating to Jeremys medical history and his death and determined that the cause of Jeremys death was anaphylaxis due to a mammalian meat allergy following tick bite, the report noted. Symptoms of the condition include cramping, diarrhoea or nausea. The allergy can also present like hives, red swelling in the skin around the eyes, lips, mucosal tissues, or the tongue. At its most severe, the inquest report said, it can result in anaphylaxis with respiratory or cardiac compromise. Doctors caution the paralysis tick is prevalent in the eastern coastal regions of Australia, from North Queensland to northern Victoria. The three leading areas in terms of suspected cases per 100,000 population are Pittwater in NSW, the Richmond Valley hinterland in NSW, and the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, they say. The complexity in diagnosing the condition is mainly due to a lack of awareness about it among clinicians, and also the difficulty of identifying alpha-gal-specific antibodies in blood tests. The difficulty is further compounded due to the delayed reactions after ingestion of mammalian meat, doctors say, adding that specific training must be provided to clinicians to diagnose the condition better. 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 A former MP has appeared in court to deny drunkenly sexually assaulting a woman during a night out. Conor McGinn, 41, from Lambeth, south London, is accused of coming on to the woman after they went out drinking in 2022, allegedly groping her breasts and crotch area. At Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, the politician appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram to plead not guilty to a charge of sexual assault. The judge ordered him to stand trial over three days in November. Prosecutor Colin Witcher said the alleged offence happened in July 2022, when McGinn was out socialising with the complainant and others. At that time, the defendant was an MP, he said. open image in gallery Former MP Conor McGinn has made his first appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court to face a charge of sexual assault ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire ) Towards the end of that evening, the complainant alleges the defendant, in drink, came on to her and began kissing her. She said no and attempted to push him away, saying stop, pointing out he is married. It is said McGinn went on to grope the woman, over her clothing in the breasts and crotch area. Outside the club, there was similar behaviour towards the complainant, added Mr Witcher. open image in gallery The judge ordered Mr McGinn to stand trial over three days in November. ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire ) McGinns defence barrister, Orla Daly, told the hearing he vehemently denies the allegation against him. The court also heard that the incident was initially investigated internally by the Labour Party before being reported to the Metropolitan Police. Judge Ikram freed McGinn on unconditional bail until the start of the three-day trial which is due to begin on November 16. McGinn was elected as the MP for St Helens North in Merseyside in 2015, and spent the next nine years in Parliament. He served as an opposition whip and the Labour Partys deputy national campaign co-ordinator, and announced in 2023 that he would stand down at the election the following year. He had been suspended by the Labour Party in 2022. McGinn, who lives in an apartment block in Lambeth which overlooks the River Thames, spoke during the 15-minute court hearing to confirm his identity and deny sexual assault. He agreed to stand trial in the magistrates court rather than electing a jury trial. 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 A 55-year-old has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon after reports of a man armed with an axe entering Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers. Greater Manchester Police said that Darren Connor had also been charged with possession of class B drugs. He has been remanded into custody following the incident on Tuesday evening. Connor, a white British man, is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Friday. A second man, who was arrested in connection with the incident, will face no further action, the force added. Nobody was injured during the incident and the force earlier said they are not treating the incident as terror-related. Police were called to Manchester Central Mosque in south Manchester on Tuesday ( PA Wire ) Sir Keir Starmer expressed concern about the incident, saying on Wednesday: I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection. My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response. We have provided up to 40 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear. In a statement, the mosque said a serious security incident had occurred during prayers. It said volunteers spotted a suspicious bag containing an axe before they escorted a man to a separate room. Thew mosque urged all attendees to remain vigilant and advised people to travel in groups, as well as not to leave children unattended. Its statement continued: The swift and responsible actions of our volunteers played a crucial role in containing the situation. Without their intervention, the consequences could have been far more serious. 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 A 38-year-old man has been arrested after the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster was defaced with graffiti branding the former prime minister a Zionist war criminal. The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage on Friday morning. The force added on Friday afternoon that he was further arrested on suspicion of supporting proscribed organisation Palestine Action. Other phrases including Stop the Genocide and Free Palestine were sprayed in red paint on the bronze sculpture in Parliament Square, central London. Further graffiti read Never again is Now and Globalise the Intifada. A Met spokesperson said: Shortly after 4am on Friday February 27 a man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. The first officers were on the scene within two minutes. The man who is 38 was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. He remains in custody. Dutch group Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the action on Friday morning, posting a video on its Instagram account appearing to show a man dressed in red coveralls, with I support Palestine Action written on the back, painting the statue. Free the Filton 24 defines itself as a group of family and friends of the 24 Palestine Action activists who were charged over a break-in at one of Israel-based defence firm Elbits UK sites in 2024. Olax Outis, who said he is Dutch and part of the action group, has claimed to be the man on the statue. In a statement on the Instagram account, Mr Outis said he defaced the statue to draw attention to the horrible human rights violations happening in a country thats run by colonisers who refuse to listen to their people. He added: The current British Government should be dragged before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and as a representative of The Hague, Im here to hold them accountable. Explaining why he chose the Churchill statue, Mr Outis said: To be blunt: if someone would ever be completely out of their mind enough to erect a statue of Keir Starmer or Yvette Cooper, I would happily demolish such an effigy. Churchill is but a symbol of the same political corruption. The statue has been cordoned off and was being cleaned on Friday morning. A Greater London Authority spokesperson said: We are appalled by this vandalism to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill and work is under way to remove the graffiti as quickly as possible. Downing Street also commented on the vandalism of the statue, saying it is completely abhorrent. A Number 10 spokesman said: Its obviously a disgrace. Its completely abhorrent. Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account. Were glad the police have made an arrest. The former prime ministers statue has been vandalised several times in the past, including during protests. Graffiti accusing him of being a racist was scrawled on the statue in June 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US. In October that year, an Extinction Rebellion activist was ordered to pay more than 1,500 after defacing the statue by painting racist on its plinth during a climate protest. The 12ft monument, created by Ivor Roberts-Jones, was unveiled in 1973 by the former prime ministers wife Lady Clementine Churchill. It is one of 12 statues in or around Parliament Square, most of well-known statesmen such as Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. Last December the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced that anyone chanting the controversial slogan globalise the intifada would face arrest. The decision came after the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia, and the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2. 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 A retired couple who sued developers over a 17-storey tower that blocked light to their home could now face a 3.7m court bill despite winning their case. Stephen and Jennifer Powell said that the Arbor tower, part of the 2bn Bankside Yards development on Londons South Bank, substantially reduced the natural light getting into their sixth-floor apartment in the next-door Bankside Lofts. Bankside Yards is eventually set to comprise eight towers, including mega-structures 50 storeys high. Arbor was the first building completed in September 2021. The Powells and their seventh-floor neighbour Kevin Cooper sought an injunction to protect their right of light, threatening the tower, which cost nearly 35m to build, with potentially being torn down. Mr Justice Fancourt, ruling on the case at the High Court, said that the couples flat was substantially affected by their light being cut off. He ordered the co-developer of the site, Ludgate House Ltd, to pay the Powells 500,000 in damages, plus 350,000 to Mr Cooper. open image in gallery The Powells live on the sixth floor of the Bankside Lofts, left ( Champion News ) But the householders are now facing a bid to make them pay the 3.7m legal costs of the case due to the judge having rejected their bid for an injunction requiring the tower to be demolished. During the trial, the court heard that the Powells have lived in their flat for over 20 years, while property finance professional Mr Cooper bought his seventh-floor flat in 2021. Their barrister, Tim Calland, told Mr Justice Fancourt: The Bankside Yards development will consist of eight towers, the tallest of which stretches to 50 storeys in height. The marketing material for Arbor describes it as a mega-structure and boasts of exceptional natural light. The claimants maintain that this will have been achieved wrongfully at the expense of their light. Light is not an unnecessary add on to a dwelling. Light does not just give pleasure, but provides the very benefits of health, wellbeing and productivity which the defendants are using to advertise the development. That is the reason the claimants have brought their claims. Mr Justice Fancourt went on to award damages to the Powells and Mr Cooper, saying that parts of the two flats had been left with levels of light insufficient for the ordinary use and enjoyment of those rooms. open image in gallery Jennifer and Stephen Powell outside court ( Champion News ) But he refused the neighbours an injunction requiring Arbor to be altered or torn down, saying that over 200m would be wasted in demolishing and rebuilding the tower, with massive associated environmental damage. That decision means that the Powells and Mr Cooper ought to now pay the massive costs of the case, John Mcghee KC, for the developer, argued in a fresh hearing this week. He told the judge: The claimants should be ordered to pay the defendants costs of the claims because it was overall the successful party, having successfully resisted the claimants claim for injunctive relief. These claims were not about monetary compensation, but rather about whether the claimants could obtain an order requiring the defendant to modify its development so that the claimants would retain their light. The claimants did not achieve what was the the purpose of their claims, which was to obtain injunctive relief. Those claims were dismissed. So far as the defendant was concerned too, the possibility of injunctive relief was its real concern in these proceedings. If injunctive relief was granted, the defendant would have been required to demolish part of Arbor at a cost of 15-20m and incur a further 225m in rebuilding. It is true that the claimants obtained an order for damages and interest amounting to 397,484.64, in the case of Mr Cooper, and 567,835.21, in the case of the Powells. But those sums, particularly as to damages, were entirely aligned with the sums offered by the defendant and only a small fraction of the sum of 3.37m sought by Mr Cooper and 3m sought by the Powells. He said the claims were over-inflated and amounted to more than three times the value of their respective flats. open image in gallery The Bankside Lofts building ( Champion News ) In real life, the defendant is the winner in this litigation in that it can maintain and continue with its development unhampered by the claimants claims. The claimants are in reality the losers, having failed to achieve what was their stated sole purpose of bringing these claims in the first place. For these reasons, the court is invited to determine that the defendant was the successful party and accordingly that the claimants should pay the defendants costs. The barrister added that the householders should pay 75 per cent of the developers costs if the judge found against his plea for them to foot the whole bill. Tim Calland, for the neighbours, however disagreed, telling the judge: Undoubtedly, the claimants are the successful party in the litigation: the court awarded them substantial sums in damages which, in the case of the Powells, exceeded the largest sum ever before awarded in a reported rights-of-light case and, in the case of Mr Cooper, matched it. The defendant may feel relief that an injunction was not ordered, but that does not make it the successful party. Its defence of the claim failed. Before this litigation, the defendant was only willing to offer the claimants book-value settlements. They had to make these claims, which have been exceptionally hard-fought and expensive, and to see them through to trial to establish and vindicate their rights. On any view, they have succeeded: in accordance with the general rule, the claimants should be awarded their costs. The developers are also arguing that Mr Cooper failed to beat an offer they made to settle his claim before trial, but his lawyers are arguing that the offer was invalid in relation to costs consequences as it included matters that went beyond those being fought over in the litigation. In refusing the injunction to demolish the tower in his judgment in 2025, the judge had said: The claimants say that an injunction is the right remedy to grant because the defendant has deliberately proceeded with its development in the face of the claimants rights, knowing that there was probably an infringement, and taking the chance that it would be able to buy off the claimants and all those in an equivalent position. The claimants are people who say that they have a particular and strong attraction to the benefits of natural light directly from the sky, and are unwilling to see that light taken away from them as a fait accompli. The position was, I am sure, exacerbated by ... advertising the new development as having exceptional levels of natural light that promote productivity and wellbeing, which Mr Cooper pointed out amounted to the developer helping itself to his light and offering a modest payment while intending to sell it to others for a high price. But he added: There are strong arguments, in modern times, why over 200m of development costs should not be wasted. There would also be substantial harm done by a further, complex demolition contract and considerable environmental damage as a result. Apart from the financial interest of the developer, to which an order for demolition could be said to be oppressive in comparison with the degree of harm done to the claimants, there is a significant public interest that needs to be taken into account. The ruling on costs will now be given at a later date. 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 A west London industrial estate had to be evacuated after a member of the public brought unexploded Cold War bombs into an auction house for a routine valuation. The man thought he was helping an elderly neighbour by bringing in their military items. However, staff at Chiswick Auctions were alarmed when a crated anti-tank landmine and mortar shells emerged from his Harrods tote bags. A militaria expert recognised them as Soviet Cold War-era munitions, similar to those still used in the Russia-Ukraine war today. Police were called, with specialist response teams attending, and the industrial estate housing the auctioneers was evacuated. The munitions were X-rayed by bomb disposal experts, who removed live ammunition, before hundreds of people who work at the site were allowed to return to their units after more than an hour. open image in gallery The unexpoded munitions at Chiswick Auction House ( ChiswickAuction/BNPS ) The auctioneers said the unsuspecting vendor had no idea what he was handling. Auctioneer John Rogers said: During a routine walk-in valuation day, a member of the public arrived with a selection of militaria on behalf of an elderly neighbour. Our valuer James Bruce, who has a background in militaria, began assessing what initially appeared to be empty magazine cases. However, the situation quickly escalated when an ammunition belt of 7.65 calibre machine-gun rounds was produced, followed by a crated anti-tank landmine which was opened on the valuation table. The vendor had no idea what he was handling, and alarm bells rang. The auction houses executive director Matt Caddick, a licensed firearms holder with additional militaria expertise, was called, Mr Rogers said. open image in gallery Police cordoned off the area ( ChiswickAuction/BNPS ) By this stage, crated mortar shells had also been placed on the table. Both specialists instantly identified the potential danger posed by the items, believed to include World War II and Soviet Union/Chinese Cold War munitions, should they still be live. We contacted the authorities and the entire industrial estate, where hundreds of people work, was evacuated. Police and specialist incident response teams attended swiftly and bomb disposal experts examined the items. Following X-rays and appropriate safety procedures, the live ordnance was safely removed. Staff and neighbouring businesses were permitted to return to their premises after just over an hour. The remaining militaria items were assessed and deemed inert and safe for civilian ownership. The incident highlights both the unpredictable nature of walk-in valuations. You see all sorts of items but no one has ever brought in live Cold War bombs before. Apparently the Soviet landmines and mortar shells are still being used in the Ukraine war today. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at around 10.20hrs on Tuesday to a premises in Roslin Road to a report of suspicious items. "Officers attended the scene and cordons were put in place. "The items which appeared to be ammunition and historic ordnance - were removed, examined and found to be safe. "The circumstances of the matter were not deemed to be suspicious and there was no further involvement by police." 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 Court of Appeal judges have rejected claims that the introduction of VAT to private school fees is incompatible with human rights law. Several schools, children who attend them, and their parents, had previously brought legal action against the Treasury, claiming the policy is incompatible with human rights law. Three judges had already dismissed the High Court challenge in June last year. In a decision on Friday morning, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal to that decision. In a 44-page judgment, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Singh and Lady Justice Falk said the government had provided reasonable grounds for not exempting low-cost private schools from VAT, including that it would have serious detrimental consequences. They continued: We acknowledge that the measure may have a serious impact on the group one claimants if they are unable to afford private education, which accords with their religious convictions, but it is important to bear in mind that they have the option of home schooling if free education in the state sector is not acceptable to them. The governments policy, which levies 20 per cent VAT on private school fees, came into effect on 1 January last year. At the appeal hearing in January, Bruno Quintavalle, from Emmanuel School in Derby, which educates children aged three to 11, alongside a group of Christian schools, claimed in their written submissions that: The court was wrong to hold that there was no interference with the rights of the schools to the enjoyment of possessions. Mr Quintavalle added: The court was wrong to view the introduction of VAT as simply diminishing the future income of the schools: the evidence before it was that this would render the schools unviable. He also claimed the court had wrongly found the introduction of the VAT measure did not impair the very essence of the right to an effective education. Eton College in Berkshire one of the most prominent private schools in the UK ( Getty ) He said: What matters for the present claim is that individual rights, not necessarily those of a larger group, whether termed 'Evangelical Christians' or otherwise, have been interfered with. Since the evidence before the court is that the individual appellants' convention rights have been interfered with, this is a complete answer to the group detriment arguments. However, Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Treasury, HMRC and the Department for Education, argued that even with the introduction of VAT on private schools, parents still had the choice to send their children to free state schools or to home-educate them. In written submissions, he said: A tax on an optional service that a consumer can elect not to use a fortiori where, as here, the state makes the same service available for free for all children does not interfere with the property rights of a person who may, or does wish to, purchase the service. He added: A tax is not unlawful or disproportionate merely because the taxpayer does not personally benefit from the service it pays for. Sir James also said the court correctly held that, in deciding whether the challenged measure was proportionate, should give Parliament a broad margin of discretion. Sir James said: That conclusion is unimpeachable. The Independent has contacted the government for comment. 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 A British wildlife park is celebrating a significant conservation success following the birth of a male southern white rhino calf, a species classified as 'near threatened'. The new arrival at Knowsley Safari in Merseyside represents a valuable contribution to international efforts to protect the future of the animals. The southern white rhinos cousin, the northern white rhino, is now functionally extinct, with only two females remaining globally. The calf has been named Stanley, in honour of the historic family name of the Earl and Countess of Derby, owners of the Knowsley Estate, where Knowsley Safari is situated. He is the fourth southern white rhino born at the safari park in just four years. Stanley joins a 10-strong rhino crash, one of the largest in the UK, which includes three-month-old Kamari; female rhino Bindi, born in February 2024; and Amara, also female and born in October 2022. open image in gallery Stanley, a male southern white rhino calf born at Knowsley Safari, Merseyside ( Jam Press/Knowsley Safari ) Lindsay Banks, ungulates team manager at Knowsley Safari, said: "Were thrilled to welcome Stanley to our crash. "Hes bonding really well with mum, Meru, and will gradually be introduced to the rest of the crash in the coming weeks, when guests will be able to see him on the Safari Drive. "Naming our latest addition after the Stanley family is a fitting tribute to the remarkable heritage of Knowsley Estate and its long-standing commitment to wildlife. "Being able to care for Stanley and his mum is an incredibly special experience. "Weve watched Merus progress through pregnancy, so seeing her confidently nurture a healthy, curious calf is a real privilege. "Every rhino birth is significant for the species, but when youve been hands-on with their daytoday care, it feels especially meaningful. "Stanleys already showing a strong personality, and were excited to watch him grow and eventually join the rest of the crash here at Knowsley." open image in gallery Stanley with his mum, Meru ( Jam Press/Knowsley Safari ) Lord Derby of Knowsley Estate said: "It is a tremendous honour to welcome the birth of this remarkable young rhino to Knowsley. "To see such an important and near-threatened species thriving here is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the Safaris animal team. "Having Stanley carry my family name is a deeply touching gesture, and I hope his arrival helps shine a light on the vital work being done to protect rhinos around the world. "This birth is not only a moment of great pride for Knowsley Estate, but a symbol of hope for the future of southern white whino." open image in gallery Stanley is being hailed as a 'symbol of hope' ( Jam Press/Knowsley Safari ) The southern white rhino was nearly extinct near the end of the 19th century. Numbers increased rapidly from 1992 to 2010, due to intensive protection and translocation efforts. Poaching rates peaked in 2014 and as of December 2017, there were an estimated 18,064 southern white rhino in the wild, with populations being assessed as Near Threatened since 2002. White rhino trophy hunting was legalised and regulated in 1968, and after initial miscalculations is now generally seen to have assisted in the species' recovery by providing incentives for landowners to boost rhino populations. A Knowsley Safari spokesperson added: "These successful births are testament to Knowsley Safaris specialist team of ungulate keepers and their commitment to exceptional animal husbandry, as well as the vast 550-acre habitat where the rhino thrive." 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 Marine experts are baffled by a series of bloodthirsty seal attacks on common dolphins along the British coast. Specialists believe that this shocking behaviour could be limited to a single killer family or population, but the reason remains unknown. While grey seals have previously targeted smaller porpoises, attacks on the much larger and heavier common dolphins are unprecedented. A growing number of incidents are now being reported off Devon, west Wales, and the Irish Sea. The latest victim, a female common dolphin over six feet long, was discovered with horrific injuries at Newgale beach, Pembrokeshire. Marine Environmental Monitoring experts are investigating. open image in gallery A grey seal attacks a common dolphin off Howth Head, Co. Dublin ( Jam Press/Irish Whale and Dolphin Group/Dave OConnor ) A spokesperson said: "This week has seen the first reported case of a grey seal killing of a short beaked common dolphin in Wales. "Grey seals are known on occasions to hunt and kill harbour porpoises around the Welsh coastline. "But we have never had a report of them killing common dolphins which are a lot bigger and faster than the harbour porpoise. "Earlier this week we received a report of a common dolphin on Newgale beach, Pembrokeshire. "The initial pictures showed that the animal had suffered massive injuries that was consistent with what we see when a harbour porpoise has been attacked and killed by grey seals. Experts were able to collect the common dolphin, which was an adult female measuring 1.84m in length. open image in gallery A grey seal attacks a common dolphin off the Irish coast ( Jam Press/Irish Whale and Dolphin Group/Dave OConnor ) "On further examining the animal it showed signs of bite marks on the pectoral fins and around the edges of the torn blubber which are consistent with grey seal bite marks. "There has been recorded cases in other parts of the UK of grey seals killing common dolphins. "But this is the first around the Welsh coastline. "Last year a grey seal was seen killing a common dolphin around the Irish coastline. "And in recent months there has been two separate confirmed reports on the north Devon coastline of grey seals killing common dolphins which was investigated by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme. "It potentially is only a small population of grey seals that can capture and kill common dolphins and they are operating between north Devon and the Welsh coastline. "It isnt clear why the grey seals population now see common dolphin as prey. "But we do know that over the last ten years there has been a huge population increase of common dolphins with them now being the most common cetacean around the Welsh coastline taking over from the harbour porpoise." Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to defy demands by Labour MPs to move to the left as she introduces new legislation to overhaul Britains asylum system in an attempt to blunt the appeal of Nigel Farages Reform UK. The home secretary, who is set to outline plans next week, will say the government must cut migration or risk opening the door to the right who would divide communities with the kind of anti-immigration raids seen in the US. The plan comes after Labour came a humiliating third in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with the Greens winning the seat and Reform coming second. The result has sparked new questions over Keir Starmers future as prime minister, but also opened up a civil war for the heart of the party, with many Labour MPs and trade union leaders lambasting the way it has become Reform-lite. But Ms Mahmoods move follows Mr Farage and his home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf announcing draconian immigration plans at a press conference in Dover last week, where they vowed to introduce mass deportations, set up a British version of Donald Trumps ICE immigration force, and cancel welfare for all foreign nationals among a series of extreme measures. open image in gallery Shabana Mahmood meets Danish immigration minister Rasmus Stoklund Ms Mahmood, who is facing the prospect of a backbench revolt over the plans, will argue next week that migration reform is consistent with Labour values. According to a government source, she is expected to say Britain will always provide sanctuary to people genuinely fleeing war and danger, but the generosity of the asylum system is attracting people from across the world, funding human traffickers and encouraging false asylum claims. A minister has suggested that she will also open up more safe and legal routes abroad for genuine asylum seekers to come to the UK. But her move will deepen the rifts in the Labour Party, which have opened up in the wake of the by-election, with Sir Keir now facing the prospect of being ousted as prime minister after the local and devolved elections in May. One minister, who supports Ms Mahmoods plans, told The Independent: "My fear is we will now lurch to the left because we will wrongly believe that we need to stop our supporters switching to the Greens and because the PM will be persuaded it is the only way to save his job. That route only leads to disaster." However, a series of Labour MPs have insisted the Green insurgency on the left means the party needs to return to Labour values. York Central MP Rachael Maskell, who led the welfare rebellion, said: Voters clearly did not have sufficient confidence in Labour yesterday, so it cannot be business as usual. As many of us have been saying from the heart of the Labour Party, people need to have a clear vision of how Labour will positively transform their lives. Leeds MP Richard Burgon, who chairs the Socialist Campaign Group, added: If Labour is to be the Stop Reform party, then the leadership must stop treating progressive voters with contempt - and start appealing to them. Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said: This government has burned its base, alienated its core vote, sidelined its activists and stuck two fingers up to the very people we came into politics to represent. And were surprised voters are walking away? Meanwhile, opponents latched on to the plans in a bid to capitalise on the elections on May 7. SNP MP Pete Wishart said: Looks like Labour has learned absolutely nothing from their electoral hammering yesterday. Chasing Reform votes by trying to emulate their sickening attacks on immigrants will only confirm their continuing decline. The very definition of 'cloth-eared'. Sunder Katwala, director of think tank British Future, said that Labour needed to rethink its voice and policies on immigration if it is to prevent the centre-left electoral commission falling apart on two fronts. He pointed to the fact that Ms Mahmoods reforms to settlement will directly affect a million voters, adding: The government should focus on expanding controlled routes, combined with a returns deal in Europe, rather than passing yet another law on so-called pull factors. Natasha Tsangarides, a director at charity Freedom from Torture, said that political parties were locked in a race to the bottom on immigration. She added: This is a cynical and misguided attempt to scapegoat vulnerable people for political gain. We can and must do better. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said: Most people do not want to see refugees, who have worked here and had children here, have their lives uprooted again, many years after they've settled in the UK. Last week, the home secretary visited Denmark, which has one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe. Denmarks Social Democrat-led government has reduced the number of asylum applications to the lowest number in 40 years and removed 95 per cent of rejected asylum seekers. Ms Mahmood has made little secret of her admiration for the approach. open image in gallery The Home Secretary is shown around a reception centre in Sandholmgardsvej, Denmark Denmark has sought to deter new arrivals by largely moving from a permanent to a temporary stay model, where most asylum seekers are sent back to their home country once they are deemed safe. The home secretary believes that unless Britain follows a similar approach, the far right will gain momentum, bringing havoc and chaos to Britains streets. Touring the Danish asylum system earlier this week, Ms Mahmood was taken to a reception centre on the outskirts of Copenhagen, where asylum seekers are taken by police to stay on a short-term basis. The migrants biometrics are taken, and they are given health checks. The home secretary was then taken to a returns centre where migrants go before being sent back to their country of origin. The centres, operated by the Danish Red Cross, included communal canteens and outdoor exercise machines. open image in gallery Shabana Mahmood inspects facilities at a returns centre on the outskirts of Copenhagen She was shown accommodation which included plain rooms furnished with small single beds or bunk beds and lockers. Denmarks tough stance on asylum seekers began in the mid 2010s when the hard-right Danish Peoples Party began to rise in the polls. Facing a collapse of working-class support for her party, Mette Frederiksen now the prime minister but then in opposition moved to make protection for asylum seekers temporary. Her Social Democrats also argued that uncontrolled immigration was placing huge pressure on working-class communities. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Green Party has snatched the formerly safe seat of Gorton and Denton away from Labour in a humiliating defeat for Sir Keir Starmer, which will fuel further questions over his leadership of the party. The result, which saw Labours Angeliki Stogia come in third, is a major blow to the prime ministers struggling authority, amid devastating approval ratings and mounting concern over the direction of government. Top pollster Professor Sir John Curtice described the result as seismic and means the future of British politics is now even more uncertain than it was already. Hannah Spencer a councillor and plumber received 14,980 votes, while Reform UKs Matt Goodwin came second with 10,578. Meanwhile, Labour slumped to third place with 9,364 votes, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election, when the turnout was similarly high in the formerly safe seat. open image in gallery Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured a first-ever by-election victory for her party ( Getty ) Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653. The victory is the Greens first ever win in a parliamentary by-election and comes despite Labour having won Gorton and Denton with more than half the vote just two years ago. It represents the sixth largest Labour majority to be overturned at a by-election since the Second World War. The final result came after the partys deputy leader Lucy Powell appeared to admit defeat in the early hours of the morning, saying Mr Polanski had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Reform out in the area. Labour has previously sought to pitch itself as the only option for anti-Reform voters, but the loss will now undermine that claim in future elections, instead boosting the Greens credibility and chipping away at Labours ailing support base. Sir Keirs decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from running in the contest which was triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne standing down will also likely face renewed scrutiny. In an emotional victory speech, Ms Spencer said people were being bled dry and were sick of our hard work making other people rich. The 34-year-old, who becomes the Green Partys fifth MP, praised her partys hopeful campaign and said we have shown that we dont have to accept being turned against each other. Arguing that the Greens had defeated the parties of billionaire donors, she said: I wont accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. Hailing the swing of 27.5 per cent from Labour to the Greens, Mr Polanski said: If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs. Labours chair Anna Turley said the result was clearly disappointing but attempted to play off the result as a typical challenge faced by governing parties. open image in gallery Spencer celebrating with Green Party leader Zack Polanski ( Getty ) By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different, she said, adding: We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform. Labour MPs quickly pinned the blame on Sir Keir and his leadership after 20 months of pain in government. Leeds MP Richard Burgon told The Independent the result was absolutely terrible. He said: Blame for Labours defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham. If Labour is to be the Stop Reform party, then the leadership must stop treating progressive voters with contempt and start appealing to them. Karl Turner told Times Radio that tonights result, which saw Sir Keirs party come in third behind the Green Party and Reform, is the worst result the Labour Party could have ever had. We are in a position where we cant out-left-wing the Greens, we tried to out-right-wing Reform on immigration, other such matters. My message to Keir, the prime minister, is this. Why dont we try to be Labour? he said. open image in gallery Labours candidate Angeliki Stogia with deputy leader Lucy Powell ( Reuters ) But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the election result was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Posting on X, he added: Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party. It came after a report by election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned of high levels of family voting in the by-election, claiming to have witnessed the practice in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored. Family voting where a voter is accompanied by another person near or in the booth with the intention to influence their vote was made illegal by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party, which came a distant fourth, said: Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labours safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader. Professor Curtice told the BBC that the result will raise questions about Sir Keirs continued leadership but had wider implications. Doubtless the result will raise fresh questions in Labour MPs minds as to whether Sir Keir Starmer should remain prime minister. Yet it would be a mistake to believe the result in Gorton and Denton simply reflects disappointment with the leadership he and his government have provided since the 2024 election. Rather the by-election confirmed the message of the 2024 election that two of the key foundations of Labours traditional electoral coalition have crumbled away. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Labour wants the authorities to look into claims of high levels of family voting in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with the partys chairwoman describing the findings as very concerning. Anna Turley was among the political leaders to react to a report by the election observer group Democracy Volunteers, which claimed to have witnessed the illegal practice in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored. Family voting where two voters either confer, collude or direct each other on voting was made illegal by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Turley said: Its really concerning to hear. I hope the appropriate authorities will be looking at that, examining it and taking any reasonable steps. She added: Obviously, it is very early stages at the moment to assess the information, but of course its deeply serious because every vote should be personal, secret. Thats the cornerstone of our democracy. So any evidence to the contrary is very concerning, and I am sure the relevant authorities will be looking at this in the days and weeks ahead. open image in gallery Ballot boxes arrive at the count in the Gorton and Denton by-election at Manchester Central ( PA ) It could fall to Greater Manchester Police, the Electoral Commission, and Manchester City Council to look into the allegations. In a statement, Democracy Volunteers, which had four volunteers working at the by-election, said: Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of todays observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15. The group said they observed a sample of 545 individuals casting their vote and saw 32 cases of family voting in total, including nine cases in one polling station. But Manchester City Council, which is overseeing the by-election, was critical of the group for not raising concerns with them earlier, adding that no issues were reported from polling stations beforehand. Leading pollster Robert Hayward, who authored the legislation that outlawed family voting, told The Independent he may want to raise the matter with the Electoral Commission. He said: The report as prepared by Democracy Volunteers is concerning. The Ballot Secrecy Act, which I introduced and steered through both Houses into law, should have stopped such practices. I am very disappointed and will be discussing these details with Democracy Volunteers further. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski suggested he would back a probe into family voting. He told BBC Newsnight: I think its important that theres full transparency about the democratic process, and if the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps, then yes Id support that. Reform UKs Nigel Farage said it raised questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer was humiliated as the Green Party snatched the formerly safe seat of Gorton and Denton away from Labour. The loss, which saw Labour come in third, is a major blow to the prime ministers ailing authority and will spark further questions over his leadership of the party, amid devastating approval ratings and mounting concern over the direction of the government. The result came after Labours deputy leader Lucy Powell appeared to admit defeat in the early hours of the morning, saying the Greens had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Reform UK out of the Manchester Central constituency. The practice of family voting was made illegal to prevent people watching family members while they were voting to see how they cast their ballot and sometimes telling them how to vote. open image in gallery Green candidate Hannah Spencer on the campaign trail earlier this week ( PA ) John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, said: We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, we saw family voting in 12 per cent of polling stations, affecting one per cent of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68 per cent of polling stations, affecting 12 per cent of those voters observed. The elections bill came after an independent review looked into cases such as the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election, which was declared void by corrupt and illegal practices. A spokesperson for the acting returning officer at Manchester City Council, which is overseeing the by-election, said: Polling station staff are trained to look out for any evidence of undue influence on voters. No such issues have been reported today. If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues, they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken. We have operated a central by-election hub which has been rapidly responding to reported issues during the day, in liaison with the police who had a presence at every polling station, where necessary. It is extremely disappointing that Democracy Volunteers have waited until after polls have closed to make such claims. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Reform UK has reported allegations of illegal family voting in the Gorton and Denton by-election to police, Nigel Farage has said. The Reform leader claimed there was sectarian voting and cheating in the election after his party came second to the Greens, who accused Reform of trying to undermine the result. It comes after the election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed concerningly high levels of the practice, in which two voters either confer, collude, or direct each other on voting, on Thursday. The Electoral Commission encouraged anyone who believes an offence has occurred to report it to the police. open image in gallery Ballot boxes begin arriving before votes are counted for the Gorton and Denton by-election at Manchester Central ( PA Wire ) Mr Farage said: Reform has today reported the many cases of family voting to the Electoral Commission and the police. What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes. Appearing to suggest his party would win the next election and be in government, he added: If action isn't taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election. The Electoral Commission later said it was working very closely with the returning officer, and the police, to review all the available information. Democracy Volunteers claimed to have witnessed family voting in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored in the vote that saw the Greens storm to victory, with Reform in second place on a humiliating night for Sir Keir Starmers Labour, which trailed in third in the historically safe red seat. Labour has called on the authorities to look into claims of the illegal practice, outlawed by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023, calling the findings very concerning. Labours chair Anna Turley said the reports were really concerning to hear. I hope the appropriate authorities will be looking at that, examining it and taking any reasonable steps. She said the issue was deeply serious because every vote should be personal, secret. Thats the cornerstone of our democracy. In a statement released just as polls closed at 10pm on Thursday night, Democracy Volunteers, which had four volunteers working at the by-election, said it had seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of todays observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK, it said. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the seat, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of them. It added that from a sample of 545 individuals casting their vote, there were 32 cases of family voting, including nine cases in just one polling station. open image in gallery The Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer speaks after winning the Gorton and Denton by-election ( Jon Super ) Manchester City Council, which was overseeing the by-election, was critical of the group for not raising concerns with staff earlier, saying that no issues were reported from polling stations beforehand. Leading pollster Robert Hayward, who authored the legislation that outlawed family voting, said the report was concerning. He added: The Ballot Secrecy Act, which I introduced and steered through both houses into law, should have stopped such practices. I am very disappointed. Green Party leader Zack Polanski suggested he would back a probe into family voting. He told the BBCs Newsnight programme: If the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps, then yes Id support that. The 2023 elections bill followed an independent review into cases such as the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election, which was declared void due to corrupt and illegal practices. A spokesperson for the acting returning officer at Manchester City Council said: Polling station staff are trained to look out for any evidence of undue influence on voters. No such issues have been reported today. If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues, they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken. John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, said: We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, we saw family voting in 12 per cent of polling stations, affecting one per cent of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68 per cent of polling stations, affecting 12 per cent of those voters observed. Greater Manchester Police said: We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Labour MPs have warned the end of Sir Keir Starmers premiership is in sight after a humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton that saw the party finish third behind Nigel Farages Reform and the victorious Green Party. The prime minister has vowed to keep on fighting and refused to be drawn on speculation about his future after his party failed to retain a constituency considered one of the safest Labour seats in the country. But furious backbenchers have cast doubt over his ability to lead the country and steer the party to success in the polls, telling The Independent that it is now just a question of when, not if he stands down, with the timetable set for the aftermath of the local and devolved elections on 7 May. open image in gallery Zack Polanskis Green Party declared a historic victory in the former Labour stronghold on Friday morning ( AP ) To make matters worse for the embattled prime minister, his former deputy Angela Rayner who is among the candidates tipped to replace him called for a change in direction for the party following the catastrophic result. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski declared a historic victory in the former Labour stronghold on Friday morning, claiming the result will transform the face of British politics. The partys newest MP, plumber Hannah Spencer, said the success meant there is no part of the country where the Green Party cannot win, igniting fears within Labour that they could face further crushing electoral defeats at the hands of the left. It came as: Reform UK went to the police to report allegations of family voting in the by-election following concerning high levels of more than one voter using a single polling booth, according to an election observer group The Conservative Party suffered its worst-ever by-election defeat, winning just 2 per cent of the vote and losing its 500 deposit Ms Spencer, in her victory speech, said working hard used to get you something as she vowed to fight for communities struggling with the cost of living crisis Polling expert Sir John Curtice said the result raises questions about the future of what was once a dominance of British politics by Conservative and Labour Election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed concerningly high levels of family voting an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting. The elections watchdog, the Electoral Commission, later said it was working very closely with the returning officer, and the police, to review all the available information. With speculation mounting about a potential leadership challenge in the wake of the Gorton and Denton result, a defiant Sir Keir, who had made the unusual step for a prime minister of joining campaigners during the by-election, insisted he was going nowhere. He said: I came into politics late in life to fight for change for those people who need it. I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as Ive got breath in my body. But Ms Rayner led calls for an overhaul of the government, which her supporters took as the latest indication that she will run to replace Sir Keir. This result must be a wake-up call. Its time to really listen and to reflect, Ms Rayner said after the defeat. Voters want the change that we promised and they voted for. If we want to unrig the system, if we want to make the change we were sent into government to make, we have to be braver. A Labour agenda that puts people first. Thats what all of us across our movement need to rededicate ourselves to this morning. Backbench Labour MPs were quick to condemn the prime minister, with one claiming his premiership is dead in the water. Speaking to The Independent, Labour MP Brian Leishman called on Sir Keir to go for the good of the UK and the party, while another told Sky News the prime minister must own this catastrophe. open image in gallery Keir Starmer met local party members in London after the Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election ( PA ) Normanton and Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett called on Sir Keir to look in the mirror and make a decision about his own personal future, while Norwich South MP Clive Lewis added that Starmers premiership has been over for some time. He added: The by-election result is a punch in the face for the Labour Party and for Keir Starmers premiership. This government has burned its base, alienated its core vote, sidelined its activists and stuck two fingers up to the very people we came into politics to represent. And were surprised voters are walking away? But Sir Keirs disgruntled MPs appear to be in agreement that there can be no leadership changes until the local elections in May. A member of one of the leadership campaigns, ready to launch if the PM steps down, added: There cant be a leadership election until May because nobody wants to be fighting a leadership election in the middle of a local election campaign. After that, though, all bets are off. One MP, who backs Wes Streeting as a challenger, furiously hit out at cabinet ministers for not forcing Starmer out when Scottish leader Anas Sarwar called for him to resign at the start of the month. open image in gallery The Green Partys newest MP poses outside a local fish and chip shop after her landmark win ( PA ) The MP said: Were here until May, which is awful. All because the cabinet bottled it. Despite the discontent in Labour ranks, Sir Keir blamed the Green Partys victory on what he described as embracing the divisive politics of George Galloway, and insisted they could not beat his party in a general election. Weve seen the true colours of Zack Polanskis Greens in this campaign, he wrote in a letter sent to all Labour MPs, accusing Ms Spencer of being more interested in dividing people than uniting them. He added: It cannot survive a general election campaign. But the victory undermines Labours claim that it is the only option to beat Reform UK at the polls, with Labours deputy leader Lucy Powell earlier admitting the Greens had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Nigel Farages party out of Gorton and Denton. open image in gallery Angela Rayner calls for a change in direction for Labour following the catastrophic result ( Reuters ) The victory is the Greens first-ever in a parliamentary by-election and comes despite Labour having won the northwest constituency in 2024 with more than half the vote. The Green Partys Hannah Spencer received 14,980 votes, while Reform UKs Matt Goodwin came second with 10,578, leaving Labours Angeliki Stogia slumped in third place with 9,364 votes. In an emotional victory speech, Ms Spencer said people were being bled dry and were sick of our hard work making other people rich. Meanwhile, the Conservatives lost their deposit as they came a distant fourth with just 706 votes, marking their worst-ever by-election result. Ignoring the disastrous outcome, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hit out at Sir Keir, saying: He is in office but not in power. If he had any integrity, he would go. The Green Party accused Nigel Farage, who did not attend the count alongside his candidate Matt Goodwin, of undermining the result of the poll after he claimed that there was sectarian voting and cheating in the election. 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 Britain is focused on "supporting the political process" between Washington and Tehran, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as tensions escalate over the potential use of British air bases for US military action against Iran. The government is believed to be resisting Donald Trump's request to utilise the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands, citing concerns over international law. This comes as the US president threatened military intervention against the Islamic Republic should a nuclear agreement fail. Separately, the Prime Minister underscored the UK's commitment to diplomatic solutions during a call with Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A Downing Street spokesperson said: On Iran, the Prime Minister emphasised the UKs focus remains on supporting the political process ongoing between the US and Iran. He added that Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon and security in the region must be a priority. Trump has threatened military action in the region ( Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images ) High-stakes talks between the US and Iran on curbing Tehrans nuclear programme ended without an agreement on Thursday. The US has amassed a fleet of aircraft and warships in the region. Mr Trump withdrew his backing for Sir Keirs Chagos Islands deal to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius because the UK has not approved the use of the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base to strike Iran. Reports say that both the US and Iran plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their countries' capitals. Techical-level discussions are scheduled to take place next week in Vienna, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X after the day's talks ended in Switzerland. Any substantial move toward an elusive agreement between longtime foes Washington and Tehran could reduce the imminent prospects for U.S President Donald Trump to carry out a threatened attack on Iran that many fear could escalate into a wider war. 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 Young mothers are being warned about a grocery store parking-lot scam that drains thousands of dollars from peoples bank accounts. Authorities are telling residents of Charleston, South Carolina, not to listen to the people approaching them in parking lots claiming to be raising money for an urgent cause, such as a funeral or medical expenses, as they are actually scammers. Police say these scammers are particularly preying on young mothers with children, as they see them as emotionally vulnerable and therefore more open to making a donation when told theyd be giving to a good cause, according to a new report. open image in gallery Charleston police are warning people about a scam occurring in grocery store parking lots ( Getty/iStock ) In a warning sent out to the public, the Charleston Police Department (CPD) said: Scammers are approaching victims and asking for donations for funeral or medical expenses. They claim they cant accept cash and instead use a mobile card reader to process a tap to pay donation, in some cases withdrawing thousands of dollars from victims accounts. Sergeant Chris Stinson, CPD Public Information Officer told The Independent: "The investigation consists of three separate incidents that occurred in 3 different grocery store parking lots between February 19th and February 20th of this year. He said that CPD have heard reports about a similar incident that occurred in a nearby jurisdiction, and are still working on confirming the details. No arrests have been made at this time, said Stinson. We believe that the incidents perpetrated in Charleston were planned and organised by the same group. Stinsons advice to the public is to remain aware of your surroundings, and call police immediately to report suspicious activity. If something seems off, it probably is." Grocery store parking lots are an ideal location for scams such as this one, according to authorities, as they are chaotic places where people are less likely to take the time to see how much they are actually being charged before tapping their card to the reader. Additionally, people are trying to move on with their day and are willing to donate to end the encounter with the person asking for money. According to the police, victims have said they agreed to give small sums of money, but then ended up realising that up to tens of thousands of dollars were taken from their accounts without them noticing. It is unclear at this time what this money is actually going towards. open image in gallery The popularity of contactless payments has surged over the years (PA) CPD is now teaming up with local churches, neighbourhood associations, and civic groups to train people on how to avoid this and other scams. They have asked people to reach out to SpeakToCPD@charleston-sc.gov to schedule a session with the police at their local community hub to learn how to stay safe from these scammers. This is not the only store-based scam that has occurred recently in South Carolina. Social media users joked about the 12th arrest of South Carolina boutique store owner Pamela Brooke Schronce on Wednesday, after she was charged with obtaining property under false pretenses, valued at less than $2,000. She was previously accused by customers of taking money for orders and never delivering their goods. Social media users say they now have enough mugshots of Schronce to make a calendar. 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 Hillary Clinton has told a Congressional inquiry she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins or Ghislaine Maxwells crimes, at the start of two days of evidence that will also include statements from her husband, the former president Bill Clinton. I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr Epstein, the former secretary of state said in an opening statement. The closed-door depositions to legislators from the House of Representatives, being held in the Clintons hometown of Chappaqua in upstate New York, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House oversight committee. It will be the first time a former president has been forced to give evidence before Congress. Not long after Thursdays hearing began, it was briefly paused when Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert sent a photo of Clinton with a conservative influencer who reposted it on social media; the photo violated committee rules but Boebert said the influencer did nothing wrong. Demands for a reckoning over Epsteins abuse of underage girls have become a near-unstoppable force in Washington and beyond. Donald Trump, who has expressed regret that the Clintons are being forced to give evidence, bowed last year to pressure to release case files on Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. The Clintons agreed to give evidence after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by an oversight panel and its chairman, James Comer, threatened charges of criminal contempt of Congress against them. We have a very clear record that weve been willing to talk about, Hillary Clinton said in an interview with the BBC this month. She added that her husband had flown with Epstein for charitable trips and that she did not recall meeting Epstein but had interacted with Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend and confidant, at conferences hosted by the Clinton Foundation. Maxwell also attended the 2010 wedding of the Clintons daughter, Chelsea. We are more than happy to say what we know, which is very limited and totally unrelated to their behaviour or their crimes, and we want to do it in public, Ms Clinton said. Bill Clinton has emerged as a leading target for Republicans in the political struggle over who receives the most scrutiny for their ties to Epstein. Several photos of him were included in the first tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in January, including a number of him with women whose faces were blacked out. Mr Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. Mr Comer has also pointed to Hillary Clintons work as secretary of state to address sex trafficking as another reason to insist on her deposition. The committee's investigation has sought to understand why the Department of Justice under previous presidential administrations did not seek further charges against Epstein following a 2008 arrangement in which he pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl but avoided federal charges. Yet conspiracy theories, especially on the right, have swirled for years around the Clintons and their connections to Epstein and Maxwell, who continues to argue that she was wrongfully convicted. Republicans have long wanted to press the Clintons for answers, and Mr Comer has promised lengthy days of questioning for both Clintons. We have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein, he told reporters outside the convention centre where the depositions were being held. How did he accumulate so much wealth? How was he able to surround himself with some of the most powerful men in the world? Democrats, now being led by a new generation of politicians, have prioritised transparency around Epstein above defending former leaders of their party. Robert Garcia of California, the senior Democrat on the oversight panel, also called on Mr Trump to give evidence in the investigation. He argued that Bill Clintons appearance has set a precedent that should apply to Mr Trump as well. Lets get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors, Mr Garcia said. Even senior Democrats, such as the former speaker Nancy Pelosi, said it was appropriate for the committee to interview anyone, including the former president, who was connected to Epstein. We want to hear from everyone, Ms Pelosi said, adding that she did not see why Hillary Clinton was being interviewed and that it was important to believe survivors. 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 The governing board of the Los Angeles Unified School District is set to convene a closed-door meeting Thursday to discuss its superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, following FBI searches at his home and the district's headquarters on Wednesday. The Board of Education's calendar confirms a special afternoon session concerning Carvalho, though no further specifics have been released. The district stated on Wednesday that it "is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time." Federal authorities have yet to disclose the nature of the inquiry involving the United States' second-largest school district. A third location near Miami, where Carvalho previously led public schools, was also searched by the FBI. The Miami Herald reported that this Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who had worked with AllHere, an education technology firm that secured a contract with Los Angeles schools before its collapse and the indictment of its leader for fraud. In 2024, Carvalho heavily promoted a $3 million (2.4m) deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named "Ed," hailing it as "a game changer" designed to assist students. open image in gallery LA Unified School District said it is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) However, approximately three months after the technology's unveiling and the payment, the district terminated its dealings with AllHere, which subsequently declared bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin faced charges of securities and wire fraud, alongside identity theft. Carvalho denied any personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times. Following Smith-Griffin's indictment, he announced plans to establish a task force to investigate the failures of the LAUSD project, but no public updates have emerged since. open image in gallery LA Unified School District said it is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Over the past five years in Los Angeles, Carvalho has been praised for improvements in the district's academic performance. He garnered similar acclaim while overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Floridas largest school district, where he was named Superintendent of the Year in 2014 by the National Superintendents Association. The Portugal-born administrator was knighted by Spain in 2021 for his efforts in expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools. Months later, Carvalho accepted the California role and became a vocal critic of the Trump administrations aggressive immigration crackdown, particularly after raids in Los Angeles last year. He arrived in Los Angeles at a crucial juncture, with the district awash in state and federal COVID-19 relief funds but still grappling with pandemic impacts, including learning losses and declining enrollment. He had previously clashed with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his directive prohibiting schools from mandating masks during the pandemic. The Miami-Dade school system confirmed its awareness of the investigation involving Carvalho but declined to comment further at this time. The FBI's Miami office verified that agents searched a residence in Southwest Ranches, Broward County, west of Fort Lauderdale, on Wednesday morning. 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 The death of Nemesio El Mencho Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), on February 22, was immediately framed as the fall of a narco kingpin. Images of gun battles, torched vehicles and retaliatory violence dominated headlines. Commentators spoke of a power vacuum, of fragmentation, of the possible weakening of one of Mexicos biggest cartels. It was presented as the removal of a singular, hyper-violent male figure at the apex of a criminal empire. But this framing tells us more about how we imagine organised crime than about how it actually works. The obsession with kingpins rests on a dramatic understanding of cartel power: a gun in one hand, territory in the other, masculinity performed through brutality. El Mencho embodied that image. Yet cartels are not sustained by spectacle alone. They endure because someone moves the money, launders the profits, manages the assets, cultivates legitimate fronts and binds networks of loyalty through family. In the case of CJNG, that figure was not only El Mencho. It was also, allegedly, his wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia. Gonzalez has often been described as La Jefa (the Spanish feminine form of the boss). Its a label that gestures toward authority while still situating her in relation to her husband. But she was not simply the spouse of a drug lord. She came from the Valencia family, historically linked to Los Cuinis, a network deeply embedded in CJNGs financial operations. open image in gallery Images of gun battles, torched vehicles and retaliatory violence has dominated headlines ( AP ) Authorities have alleged that she oversaw dozens of businesses, property holdings and shell companies tied to the cartels laundering apparatus. Arrested multiple times and jailed for five year for money laundering in 2021 (she was released last yearfor good behaviour), she occupied the grey zone where criminal capital bleeds into the legal economy. If El Mencho represented the cartels violent face, Gonzalez represented its economic spine. This is where gender matters. Organised crime is routinely portrayed as an arena of exaggerated masculinity. Women appear in these stories as victims, girlfriends, trafficked bodies or glamorous accessories. Even when they are prosecuted, they are often framed as appendages: the wife of, the daughter of, the partner of. Such language, while often difficult to avoid, obscures the structural reality that many cartels operate through kinship capitalism, where family is not sentimental but strategic. Within these systems, wives are not incidental. They help keep the business secrets in environments where betrayal is fatal. In patriarchal criminal orders, loyalty is policed through blood ties. A spouse managing accounts is not a deviation from power but an extension of it. Gender does not exclude women from authority, but rather reshapes how that authority is exercised and perceived. The sensational truth is this: violence may conquer territory, but finance governs it. And, as the International Crisis Group a western non-government organisation which aims to prevent conflict spelled out in a 2023 report, finance in many cartels is deeply gendered. This does not mean romanticising womens roles within organised crime. Nor does it suggest emancipation through criminality. open image in gallery If El Mencho represented the cartels violent face, his wife represented its economic spine ( U.S. State Department ) The power reportedly exercised by figures like Gonzalez tends to be situated within male-dominated hierarchies and violent systems that are also responsible for extreme forms of violence against women, including femicide and sexual exploitation. The same structures that allow elite women to wield financial authority simultaneously reproduce brutal patriarchal control elsewhere. That contradiction is not accidental it is the way things work. El Menchos death exposes that contradiction. When the state removes a male leader, the assumption is that the organisation will collapse or descend into chaos. But cartels are not merely built around a single dominant figure. They are hybrid enterprises combining coercion, corporate structures and family governance. The removal of the public face does not automatically dismantle the private architecture. Hidden power structure The question, then, is not simply who will pick up the gun, but who keeps the books. Who maintains the corporate fronts? Who sustains cross-border financial channels? Who negotiates the transformation of illicit profits into legitimate capital? These are not secondary concerns. They determine whether an organisation fragments or adapts to a leaders death or imprisonment. By centring El Mencho alone, media narratives are perpetuating a blindness to the role of women in cartels. They equate power with violence and masculinity with control, leaving the economic and relational dimensions of authority under-analysed. Yet organised crime studies increasingly demonstrate that durability lies in governance, not gunfire. Governance depends on management, financial oversight, logistical coordination, and embedded social networks. These functions are often feminised not because women are naturally suited to them, but because patriarchal systems allocate them in ways that render them less conspicuous and therefore less targeted. There is something unsettling about recognising the strategic authority of cartel wives. It complicates comfortable binaries of victim and perpetrator. It challenges the idea that women in violent systems are either coerced or just marginal figures. About the author Adriana Marin is a Lecturer in International Relations at Coventry University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. But in Italy, Rafaella D'Alterio reportedly maintained the operational and financial coherence of her Camorra clan following her husbands death. She did this not through spectacular violence but through administrative control, alliance-building, and family networks. Her case, as many others, underscores that durability often lies in governance rather than gunfire. Decapitation strategies killing a cartels leader are politically dramatic and symbolically powerful. But they rest on the assumption that criminal organisations are vertically dependent on a single male. If financial governance and kinship networks remain intact, the system may regenerate. El Menchos death is therefore both a rupture and a revelation. It is a rupture in the sense that the figurehead of one of the worlds most powerful cartels has fallen. But it is also a revelation of how narrow our understanding of organised crime remains. We fixate on the spectacle of masculine violence while overlooking the quieter, gendered infrastructures that sustain it. To understand cartels solely through their kingpins is to misunderstand them. Power in organised crime does not reside only in the man with the gun, but also in the women who, whether publicly acknowledged or not, often stand at the centre of that architecture. 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 Around 6,000 pigs died in a huge fire on Wednesday at a farm outside Columbus, Ohio. The blaze at Fine Oak Farms in London began when a refrigerator in an employee break room caught fire, and it spread quickly through barns housing the facilitys hogs, thanks to high winds pushing the blaze through air vents normally used to keep the pigs cool. Firefighters faced extremely challenging conditions throughout the incident. Sustained winds of approximately 20 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 35 miles per hour, significantly accelerated fire spread and complicated suppression efforts, the City of London Fire Department wrote on Wednesday in a statement on Facebook. These high winds made it extremely difficult to contain forward fire progression and created rapidly changing fire behavior conditions across the large agricultural complex. Photos of the emergency response showed numerous fire engines converging on the farm, as a column of smoke rose into the sky. No one was injured in the blaze, which began around 11:56 a.m., and rescuers saved about 1,500 pigs. open image in gallery The blaze began around 11:56am on Wednesday and soon spread across the farm, killing roughly 6,000 pigs ( City of London Fire Department ) "I was devastated because when I came down [the road] and saw the two barns on the ground, I was crying on the phone with my mom," Stephanie Ramey, whose husband and son work at the farm, told ABC6. It took about 250,000 gallons of water and more than four hours to fight the blaze, according to officials. The farms rural location meant water had to be trucked in to fight the fire, NBC4 reports. The Ohio State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the incident. Animal advocates said that the increasing size of livestock farms raises the risk of high-fatality events like the fire in Ohio. open image in gallery It took more than four hours to put out the fire ( City of London Fire Department ) The big issue is these large operations that house these incredibly large numbers of animals, Allie Granger, a policy adviser for the farmed animal program at Animal Welfare Institute, told The New York Times. Fatalities are driven by the fires that happen at these large industrial complexes. Pork production has nearly tripled in Ohio in the last two decades, while the number of farms has declined. Its not the first major conflagration to hit the states pork industry in recent years. A 2024 barn fire in Versailles killed 1,100 animals, while a 2022 blaze killed 2,000 in Brown Township. 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 One year after he was Tasered, beaten and arrested by police in Buffalo, New York, a 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar was picked up by Border Patrol agents from a local jail and dropped off outside a Tim Hortons coffee shop before he was found dead on the street one week later. Video surveillance footage shows a white van dropping Nurul Amin Shah Alam in a shopping center parking lot more than an hour after the shop had already closed. He wasnt wearing shoes, only the orange booties that were issued by the jail. Cameras never showed him entering the shop, and he wasnt seen again until five days later, when a woman called 911 to report his body on the street more than five miles away. The case of Shah Alam, who was nearly blind and spoke only little English, has shocked Buffalos Rohingya community and outraged residents and advocates who have raised alarms for months about the Trump administrations treatment of vulnerable immigrants, refugees and their families. A timeline of events before his death on the streets of Buffalo before punishing winter weather are now raising critical questions about local law enforcements handling of his case and their cooperation with federal immigration authorities who failed to notify his family that he was no longer in custody. open image in gallery Buffalo residents mourned the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee who was found dead on the street five days after Border Patrol officers dropped him in a parking lot outside a closed coffee shop ( REUTERS ) New York Attorney General Letitia James says her office is reviewing legal options. Members of Congress are also demanding investigations. February 15, 2025 Shah Alam, a member of Myanmars persecuted Rohingya minority, arrived in the United States as a refugee in December 2024 with his wife and two sons. Two months later, on the morning of February 15, 2025, he had wandered into a persons backyard in the Riverside neighborhood. After buying a curtain rod, he mistakenly entered the persons property, according to the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, which represented Shah Alam. According to body-worn camera footage of the incident, officers can be heard shouting out what are you doing and repeatedly ordering him to drop the rod in his hands. Put it down or youre going to get Tased, one officer shouts. open image in gallery Bodycam footage from Buffalo police show the moment they encountered Shah Alam in a womans backyard in February 2025 ( Buffalo Police Department ) open image in gallery Shah Alam was arrested and later indicted for felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges. He remained in jail for more than a year ( Buffalo Police Department ) He then sticks the rod into the snow and stands beside it while officers continue to order him to place it on the ground. He then places his hand out in front of the officers while they threaten to fire their Tasers, which they point at him throughout the incident. Shah Alam, who is speaking Ruaingga throughout the incident, then appears to raise the rod to defend himself, and the officers fire. Once on the ground, one officer calls Shah Alam a f****** a****** and punches him in the head. An officer later says Shah Alam bit the officers.. Hes gonna be injured. I dont know how bad, an officer says. He got hit by all four [Tasers] and still came at us with the f****** poles. He almost got shot. The next day, he was arraigned in Buffalo City Court and held on bail set at $25,000. A federal immigration detainer alerting federal authorities he was in custody was issued after his arrest, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. May 2025 Shah Alam remained in the local jail, and a grand jury indictment followed four months later. He was indicted for felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges. open image in gallery Shah Alam was due to be sentenced in March after pleading guilty to reduced charges. For reasons that are still unclear, sheriffs deputies released him from custody and handed him over to Border Patrol ( via REUTERS ) His bail was lowered to $5,000, but Shah Alams family decided to keep him in the jail where they could visit him, fearing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would pick him up and send him to a detention center outside of Buffalo, or deport him. Earlier this month, Shah Alam agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and one count of criminal trespass in the third degree, according to District Attorney Michael J. Keane. His sentencing was scheduled for March 24. My decision was the result of a comprehensive evaluation of his conduct, criminal history, acceptance of responsibility, medical condition, time served in pre-trial custody, and the proposed resolution, Keane said in a statement shared with The Independent. I also considered the significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction including mandatory deportation. open image in gallery Shah Alam was reported missing after law enforcement failed to notify his family that he was released, and family and friends canvassed Buffalo for several days ( AP ) February 19 Shah Alams guilty plea did not make eligible for ICE detention or removal from the country, according to his attorneys. At 5:25 p.m. February 19, sheriffs deputies at the Erie County Holding Center handed him over to Customs and Border Protection officers, according to a timeline from the Buffalo Police Department. Keane, the district attorney, was not aware of his release into immigration custody until the day he died, he said. When Border Patrol agents picked him up, they shortly realized he wasnt supposed to be deported. Officers instead offered him courtesy ride to a Tim Hortons coffee shop, which was determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, according to a statement from the agency. open image in gallery On February 19, after determining that Shah Alam was not deportable, Border Patrol officers dropped him off at a closed Tim Hortons coffee shop on Niagara Street ( AP ) He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance, the agency said in a statement. His family was not contacted. Video surveillance footage obtained by The Washington Post and Buffalos Investigative Post shows Shah Alam exiting a white van in a shopping plaza after 8 p.m., more than an hour after Tim Hortons had closed for the night. The van leaves one minute after dropping him off. He walks slowly past the coffee shops drive-through window, which was open, and pulls the black hood of his jacket over his head, according to the video. Footage does not show him trying to enter. Six minutes after leaving the van, the man walks away through a parking lot then disappears from view. He never made it home. February 22-24 Shah Alams Legal Aid Bureau attorney Benjamin Macaluso filed a missing persons report on Sunday with the Buffalo Police Department, according to police. Macaluso said he was unable to confirm his clients current location despite contacting federal authorities, police said. The next day, police launched an investigation and mistakenly determined that Shah Alam was in federal custody and then closed the case. The detective handling the case corrected the error four hours later. open image in gallery Buffalo police briefly closed the missing persons case after believing he was in federal custody three days after Border Patrol officers left him outside Tim Hortons ( via REUTERS ) On Tuesday, police issued a missing person poster on social media. That night, police began canvassing the area, including previous known addresses as well as local hospitals and shelters. Between his arrest and release, Shah Alams family had moved across town, roughly five miles away from where he was dropped off. February 25 According to police, a woman called 911 at 8:29 p.m. Tuesday to report an unresponsive male wearing a dark parka and khaki pants who appeared not to be breathing, with his hands described as gray in color. She said the man was moving three hours earlier but, when she passed by the same area that night, he was still on the ground and no longer moving, at which time 911 was contacted, according to police. open image in gallery Shah Alam was found on this street five days after Border Patrol officers left him at the Tim Hortons coffee shop five miles away ( AP ) Buffalo Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene and initiated chest compressions. Buffalo Police officers also administered Narcan. Emergency responders pronounced him dead. Shah Alam was more than five miles south of where Borders Patrol officers left him. open image in gallery Community members and loved ones buried Shah Alam two days after he was found dead ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery Advocates and elected officials are demanding answers and investigations to examine the failures that led to Shah Alams death ( REUTERS ) February 26 According to police, Shah Alams family was notified of his death by the Erie County Medical Examiners Office shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday. His death was determined to be health related in nature, according to a spokesperson for the city. The medical examiner has not yet determined a cause or manner of death. 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 Roblox, a colourful online gaming platform popular with children, will be the focus of a new special from former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen called Dangerous Games: Investigating Roblox. This special comes at a time when the gaming platform, which hosts between 70 and 151 million daily users, is facing several lawsuits alleging that its chat function exposes children to people seeking to exploit and groom minors. Roblox rolled out stricter age verification protocols in 2025 amid accusations of abuse on the platform. Hansen is best known for his work on the early 2000s hit To Catch a Predator, a show that exposed people for attempting to solicit sex from minors and ran on NBC from 2004 to 2007. open image in gallery Chris Hansen is releasing a documentary focused on alleged child exploitation on Roblox ( Getty ) A trailer for Dangerous Games, released by Hansen, shows a woman saying a 10-year-old was exploited by a monster. According to Los Angeles County officials, more than 40 percent of Roblox users are under the age of 13, and nearly 75 percent of 9 to 12-year-olds in the U.S. use the platform regularly. Robloxs legal team has been contacted for comment regarding Dangerous Games. Hansen teamed up on Dangerous Games with YouTuber and Roblox safety advocate Michael Schlep. Schlep was removed from the platform and served with a cease-and-desist letter from Roblox in August, 2025. The letter states that Schleps simulated child endangerment conversations were in violation of Roblox protocols and were, in part, impeding Robloxs existing child safety measures. open image in gallery Roblox has been criticised for failing to protect children in chat rooms ( REUTERS ) Schlep uses his platform to raise awareness around child endangerment cases stemming from Roblox, such as a recent arrest in Louisiana, where a 24-year-old man was accused of soliciting nudes from a teenage girl on Roblox and attempting to convince her to take her own life. While in Indiantown, Florida, two missing teenage sisters were discovered to be with a man they met on Roblox and then continued to talk to on Snapchat. According to authorities, Hser Mu Lah Say, 19, of Omaha, Nebraska, had sent the girls gifts to their home and then drove to Florida, where he was located with the girls in his car six hours outside of Indiantown. He has now been arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interfering with child custody. Our deputies that were on scene realized what we were dealing with. We were dealing with a type of abduction, said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek. I know these girls went willingly, but their age suggested that they had been taken and were probably being removed from our area. open image in gallery Nearly 75 percent of U.S. children between 9 and 12 are frequent Roblox users ( tom viggars/Alamy/PA ) Roblox has enhanced its child safety measures, added age-verification video software intended to improve who can enter private chats, and requires explicit parental permission for private chat functionality for children under 13. However, the platform is still facing several major lawsuits, including one filed on February 19 in Los Angeles County. The county is accusing Roblox of having ineffective age verification tools and exposing children to predatory behaviour. Roblox has a responsibility to keep kids safe, but instead it has allowed its platform to become a place where children can be exposed to grooming and exploitation, said L.A. County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. Los Angeles County is taking action to hold the company accountable and demand real safeguards. The platform is also being sued by the Louisiana Department of Justice over child safety concerns. Attorney General Liz Murrill has said: At the end of the day, Roblox must act as a responsible member of our community and do more to protect children. Hansens premiere show, To Catch a Predator, was taken off the air in 2007 after a Texas district attorney took his own life in connection with one of the shows sting operations. Since its heyday, the programme has been criticised for creating scenarios that resemble entrapment and for not following legal protocols on air, such as reading people their rights. 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 Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee emerged from a six-hour deposition with former President Bill Clinton with sharply contrasting takeaways particularly when it came to President Donald Trumps relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. During the closed-door proceedings in upstate New York, Clinton was peppered with questions about the billionaire pedophile including whether or not he had sex with an unidentified woman pictured in the Epstein files. The former two-term Democratic president stressed that he did nothing wrong, that he saw nothing that ever gave me pause and that he cut ties with the convicted sex offender long before his 2008 guilty plea. Following the deposition Friday, Republican lawmakers thanked Clinton for his cooperation, with Rep. Nancy Mace telling reporters that he did attempt to respond to every single question asked, even when his attorneys told him to shut up. GOP officials also claimed that Clintons testimony absolved Trump of wrongdoing, while Democrats contended that it actually raised more questions than it answered about the 79-year-old president. Both Clinton and Trump have denied wrongdoing associated with Epstein. Neither has been charged with a crime associated with him. open image in gallery Former President Bill Clinton sat for a six-hour deposition with House Oversight Committee members about his relationship with Epstein ( AP ) Video of the proceeding is expected to be released soon and lawmakers have said that more people will be brought in to testify. Here are the main takeaways from Bill Clintons deposition. Democrats and Republicans sparred over Trump's relationship with Epstein Democratic members of the committee told reporters that Clintons testimony raised more questions about why Trump and Epstein stopped being friends in the early 2000s. In fact, President Clinton confirmed that he knew Trump and Epstein had a close relationship and said Trump reported having great times with Epstein, Oversight Democrats wrote in a statement. Trump, who has always maintained his innocence related to Epstein, has said he stopped being friends with Epstein because he kicked him out of Mar-a-Lago after learning Epstein acted inappropriately with women. But Republican Chairman James Comer had a different takeaway claiming Clinton exonerated Trump of wrongdoing. He stated that he has no information that President Trump did anything wrong, and that President Trump never said anything to Clinton to make him think that he was involved with Epstein, Comer said in a statement. open image in gallery Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, urged Republicans to release the transcript and video of the Clintons' depositions within 24 hours ( Reuters ) Bill Clinton said I did nothing wrong The former president adamantly stated in his opening remarks that while he once knew Epstein, he knew nothing of Epsteins crimes and never participated. "I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing, Clinton told lawmakers. Bill Clinton has always maintained his position of innocence, despite unflattering photos that have emerged, which have led to speculation. No matter how many photos you show me, I have two things that, at the end of the day, matter more than your interpretation of those 20-year-old photos. I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn't see. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn't do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong, Clinton said. The former president added that as someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane. I would have turned him in myself. Lawmakers asked Bill Clinton about photos in Epstein files The former president was reportedly asked about photos where he appears alongside Epstein and occasionally women. The photos were unveiled by the Justice Department as part of the Epstein files. One photo in particular shows Bill Clinton reclined in a jacuzzi with a woman whose face is redacted. When asked if he knew the women, the former president said he did not. When asked if he had ever had sex with the woman, Clinton said he did not, sources told CNN. The former president specifically told members of the committee that his memory may not be able to recall some of the details from years ago. open image in gallery Bill Clinton insisted he did not know the identity of the woman pictured with him in a jacuzzi in the Epstein files ( DOJ ) Bill Clinton criticized lawmakers for deposing Hillary Clinton As part of his opening statements, Clinton criticized lawmakers for forcing his wife, Hillary Clinton, to also sit for a six-hour closed-door deposition Thursday. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right, Bill Clinton said. Hillary Clinton has consistently said she did not know Epstein well, had never been to his home or offices, never flown on his jet and didnt remember meeting him. open image in gallery Hillary Clinton, appearing after her deposition Thursday, said lawmakers asked her unrelated questions during her six-hour testimony ( AFP/Getty ) Democrats accused Republican committee members of subpoenaing Hillary Clinton for a political show, saying they asked unrelated questions about UFOs, conspiracy theories and her personal feelings. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, meanwhile, accused the former secretary of state ofscreaming and being unhinged during her deposition. A spokesperson for Hillary Clinton called Mace full of s***. GOP lawmaker appeared to share photo from closed-door briefing Hours after the deposition, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, posted a photo that appeared to depict Clinton as he testified before lawmakers. It came one day after Boebert reportedly leaked a photo of Hillary Clinton during her own deposition to a right-wing influencer, which was posted online. The first image of Hillary Clinton testifying under oath about Jeffrey Epstein to the Republican Oversight Committee, MAGA influencer Benny Johnson wrote on X. This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy. After the post, the proceedings briefly went off the record in order to determine what happened and whether any rules had been violated, Clinton adviser Nick Merrill said. While recorded, both depositions were held behind closed doors against the wishes of the Clintons. What comes next? After Clintons deposition, Republican committee members emphasized that their investigation remains ongoing, noting they still seek answers about Epstein including about the source of his wealth and the network of individuals connected to him. Were going to bring more people in, Comer told reporters. Were not finished. In addition to the Clintons, the committee deposed billionaire Les Wexner, a longtime Epstein associate, in Ohio earlier this month. When asked whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would be brought in to testify, Comer urged viewers to stay tuned. We have a lot of questions about anyone who spent time with Epstein post conviction, the first conviction, he said. Earlier in the day, Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said he believes they have enough votes to subpoena Lutnick, who admitted to visiting Epsteins private island in 2012. When it came to Trump, Republicans struck a different tune, claiming there was no need to bring the president before the committee as they said without evidence that he has been exonerated of wrongdoing. Democrats, on the other hand, have repeatedly called for Trump to face questions about his relationship with Epstein. If Donald Trump, according to them, is exonerated, then why did Secretary Hillary Clinton who's literally never met Jeffrey Epstein come before us? Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, told CNN on Friday evening. By that standard, Donald Trump should come before this committee. 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 Emergency crews have been dispatched to a sprawling immigration detention center holding a growing number of immigrant families with young children, including infants, nearly a dozen times over the last six months. Staff at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in rural Texas have dialed 911 to report children with severe fever, broken bones, respiratory distress, seizures, plunging oxygen levels and other medical emergencies, including a pregnant woman who passed out, according to 911 call logs and audio reviewed by NBC News and ProPublica. In at least three cases, children were transferred more than an hour away to a pediatric hospital in San Antonio equipped to treat complex or life-threatening conditions, according to the logs reviewed by NBC. The call logs follow growing scrutiny into conditions at the family detention center at Dilley, a sprawling, fenced-in facility run by private prison firm CoreCivic roughly 70 miles south of San Antonio. Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old from Minnesota, was detained there with his father last month after their arrest in suburban Minneapolis, an incident captured in a now-viral image of the preschooler standing in his frozen driveway. Liam grew ill and became lethargic in custody, according to his father and members of Congress who visited the family. open image in gallery Emergency crews have been dispatched to a sprawling ICE detention camp in Texas nearly a dozen times in recent months to respond to medical emergencies involving young children ( AP ) The detention center has also recently come under fire after the hospitalization of two infants at the facility, including a two-year-old girl whose parents say was denied medicine as her health rapidly deteriorated after they arrived there. Last month, a two-month-old boy with bronchitis was deported to Mexico with his mother and sister shortly after he was released from a hospital during their stint at Dilley. ICE also confirmed at least two measles cases inside the facility last month after lawyers representing immigrants inside raised alarms over the possibility of an outbreak and a wave of reported illnesses among children. The number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody has exploded since Trump returned to the White House, with more than 60,000 people being held at any given point inside detention centers across the country. The federal government does not publicly disclose information about children in immigration custody, though data from advocacy groups, attorneys and investigative news organizations suggest that a growing number of those detainees are children. The compound first opened during Barack Obamas administration to support the wave of families crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, though Joe Bidens administration stopped holding families at the facility in 2021. President Donald Trumps administration reopened the facility as law enforcement agencies began pursuing immigrants with families who have spent years living in the countrys interior. open image in gallery CoreCivi, which operates the Dilley facility, says children in its custody have not been denied medical treatment or experienced a delayed medical assessment ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery Dilley Immigration Processing Center in rural Texas is holding a growing number of immigrants families as the Trump administration ramps up arrests and detains a record number of people in ICE custody ( AFP via Getty Images ) In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for CoreCivic, the private prison contractor that operates the facility, said no child has been denied medical treatment or experienced a delayed medical assessment. Homeland Security officials have also repeatedly defended medical care provided to detained immigrants. In a lengthy statement this week to debunk reports about conditions at the facility, ICE said the agency provides the best healthcare illegal aliens have received in their entire lives in most cases. The agencys acting director Todd Lyons said the facility is designed specifically to house family units together in a safe, structured and appropriate environment. Whats important for people to remember is that ICE detains to deport so detention is not punitive, and Dilley is not a correctional center or anything like that, he said. Its a place where families who have been in the U.S. illegally can get medical care, educational services, recreational opportunities and essential daily living needs while they await deportation. open image in gallery 18-month-old Amalia, pictured in a photo provided to The Independent, was hospitalized for 10 days with respiratory illnesses after arriving at Dilley, according to her familys legal team ( Columbia Law School ) Attorneys representing the family of 18-month old Amalia and her parents, who were released from Dilley hours after a lawsuit was filed earlier this month, called her detention outrageous. Amalia became so gravely ill while inside that she was hospitalized for 10 days with life-threatening respiratory illnesses, according to the lawsuit. Staff at the detention center then withheld her medication after returning her to the facility, lawyers said. ICE continued to detain Baby Amalia during a measles outbreak and in a setting where she was exposed to other infectious viruses, Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law Schools Immigrants Rights Clinic, told The Independent this month. Hundreds of children and families remain detained and at risk at Dilley. This is unconscionable. Detaining immigrant children in inhumane and degrading conditions is illegal, unconstitutional, and un-American, she added. Children and families at Dilley must be released. 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 federal judge has found that the Internal Revenue Service violated federal law approximately 42,695 times when the agency shared confidential taxpayer information with immigration authorities last year. Thursdays ruling from District Judge Coleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., determined that the IRS unlawfully shared taxpayer information for thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security as part of a controversial agreement under Donald Trumps administration to track down and arrest people living in the country illegally. The ruling follows a declaration from a top IRS official who admitted in court filings that the IRS gave Homeland Security information on more than 47,000 of the 1.28 million people requested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And in the vast majority of those cases, the IRS shared additional information in violation of federal rules designed to protect taxpayer data. Federal law requires agencies to provide the IRS with the name and address of a person they are looking for to ensure the government isnt broadly exposing information beyond the specific individual in the request. That didnt happen in this case, according to the judge. open image in gallery ICE and IRS broke the law more than 42,000 times by unlawfully sharing sensitive taxpayer data to find and arrest undocumented immigrants, according to a federal judge ( REUTERS ) The IRS violated those rules "approximately 42,695 times by disclosing last-known taxpayer addresses to ICE without confirming that ICE gave the agency valid addresses for the people it was seeking. The IRS not only failed to ensure that ICEs request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICEs request for that information was patently deficient, according to the judge. The data-sharing agreement joins the Trump administrations government-wide effort to find, arrest, detain and deport tens of thousands of people from the country. But in her declaration earlier this month, Dottie Romo, the tax agencys chief risk and control officer, revealed that ICEs requests didnt even include addresses in many cases including entries that said Failed to Provide, Unknown Address, and NA NA. In other cases, addresses were incomplete or incorrect or listed detention centers and prisons as a taxpayers address. This confirms what weve been saying all along: that the IRS has an unlawful policy that violates the Internal Revenue Codes protections by releasing these addresses in a way that violates the laws requirement, according to a statement from Center for Taxpayer Rights founder Nina Olson, whose organization sued the IRS. open image in gallery A data-sharing agreement between Kristi Noem and the Treasury Department to let ICE scrape taxpayer data has been blocked in court while several legal challenges are ongoing ( REUTERS ) Tom Bowman, policy counsel with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said the privacy breach is a stark reminder of why safeguards for sensitive data are so critical. The improper sharing of taxpayer data is unsafe, unlawful, and subject to serious criminal penalties, he said in a statement following the revelation of those IRS disclosures. Once taxpayer data is opened to immigration enforcement, mistakes are inevitable and the consequences fall on innocent people, he added. The disclosure of thousands of confidential records unfortunately shows precisely why strict legal firewalls exist and have until now been treated as an important guardrail. The ruling is the latest legal blow in a months-long legal battle over the IRS and ICE data-sharing agreement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem allowed ICE to seek information from the IRS, which led to the acting commissioner of the IRS to resign. Earlier this month, a judge overseeing a separate case against the data-sharing agreement blocked ICE from using that data altogether. This week, a federal appeals court declined to rule in favor of another immigrants rights group suing to block the agreement, with the judges agreeing that the information isnt covered by the IRS privacy statute. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the appeals court decision a crucial victory for the administration. Deporting illegal aliens makes the American people safer, she said in a statement this week. 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 Melania Trump is poised to make history by presiding over a United Nations Security Council meeting, a significant first for a U.S. first lady. The event, scheduled for Monday afternoon, will see her take the presidents chair, marking the inaugural instance of a first lady leading such a session, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. With the United States assuming the rotating presidency of the 15-member council for March, Trumps office confirmed the meeting would "emphasise educations role in advancing tolerance and world peace." Children in conflict have been a signature issue for Trump, who previously wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a summit with Donald Trump, an effort that reportedly led to children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war reuniting with their families. open image in gallery Melania previously wrote to Putin about children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war ( AP ) This engagement comes amidst ongoing criticism of the United Nations by Trump, who has repeatedly stated the 193-member body has not lived up to its potential. His administration has withdrawn the U.S. from UN organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, and cut funding to numerous others. The U.S. also owes the United Nations billions of dollars. Until earlier this month, the Trump administration had not paid any of its mandatory dues for the UNs regular operating budget for 2025 or this year. It paid $160 million, about 4% of the nearly $4 billion it has owed the UN overall, including for UN peacekeeping operations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last month of the organisations "imminent financial collapse" unless financial rules are reformed or all member nations pay their dues, a message widely seen as directed at the United States. Concerns have also been voiced by allies regarding Trumps broader ambitions for his "Board of Peace" to intervene in global conflicts beyond Gaza, potentially bypassing the UN Security Council. Pushing back against this criticism during the Board of Peaces first meeting last week, Trump stated, "were going to make sure the United Nations is viable" and expressed belief it would "eventually live up to its potential." He added, "Someday, I wont be here the United Nations will be." open image in gallery Melania will take the US presidents chair at the meeting on Monday ( AFP/Getty ) Regarding Melania Trumps role, Dujarric described it as "a sign of the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject." The nation holding the council presidency each month selects the theme for certain signature meetings. Dujarric confirmed that UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo would brief the Security Council on behalf of the secretary-general at Mondays meeting, officially titled "Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict." 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 Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton grew unhinged on Thursday when she sat for a deposition as part of the congressional investigation into the Epstein files, Rep. Nancy Mace claims. I asked her very pointed questions and youll see that in the transcript and the video that comes out and youll see how she responded as well, screaming, the South Carolina Republican told reporters Friday, ahead of the House Oversight Committees questioning of Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton. She was unhinged, and I hope that President Clinton is less unhinged today than his wife was yesterday, Mace added. Representatives for Clinton disputed this account of the deposition, which also made headlines when a right-wing influencer leaked a photo of the closed-door proceedings, leading investigators to temporarily pause their questioning. She is full of s***, Hillary Clintons spokesperson Nick Merrill told CNN. Was she appalled that Congresswoman Mace wouldnt let her answer a question about her work as a senator after the murder of 3,000 Americans on 9/11? Absolutely. open image in gallery GOP Rep. Nancy Mace claims Hillary Clinton was unhinged during her Thursday deposition in the Epstein investigation, a claim Clintons team denies ( AFP/Getty ) In a series of statements on X, Mace claimed Clinton was scared about her line of questioning. Hillary Clinton shamefully used the terrorist attack of 9/11 as a scapegoat to cover for her and her familys close relationship with Howard Lutnick, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Mace wrote. In fact, Lutnick appeared to be key to Hillary trying to fundraise off Epstein for her failed presidential campaign LONG after Epstein was a well-known convicted pedophile (2015). Keep spinning Hillary, cause thats what you have to do your part in one of the greatest cover ups in American history. A 2015 email from Lutnick, who is now the Trump administrations commerce secretary, invited Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraiser. Its unclear if Epstein attended, and Epstein did not donate to Clintons campaign. Clinton has maintained she did not know Epstein and was not aware of any of his criminal activities before the public. She said Republicans asked her repetitive and unusual questions during the roughly six-hour deposition on Thursday. "I don't know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island, I never went to his home, I never went to his offices," she told reporters on Thursday. open image in gallery Thursdays deposition was briefly paused when right-wing influencer Benny Johnson leaked a photo of the closed-door proceedings ( Lauren Boebert ) It then got at the end, quite unusual, because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile, bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet that was serving as the basis of a members questions to me, Clinton added. Video of the interview could be released as soon as today. Bill Clinton, whose testimony was underway Friday, chastised Republicans for how they questioned his wife, and he maintained his own distance from Epstein and his crimes. "You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her, was simply not right, Clinton told committee members in his opening statement. open image in gallery Former President Bill Clinton began answering the committees questions on Friday ( AP ) The former president added in opening remarks that he saw nothing and did nothing wrong in regards to Epstein, a former friend. Democrats have accused Republicans of turning the investigation into a political circus. I just think its unfortunate that we began asking her questions about UFOs and aliens. I mean, lets be serious at this moment. We have survivors that need answers and the truth. Thats where the focus should be, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, told CNN. He added that Republicans were not nearly as enthusiastic about attending the testimony of Lex Wexner, the billionaire businessman with close financial ties to Epstein. Its just so interesting that Republicans were so obsessed with being there today, not making it public, yet not a single Republican, not a single one, would join us last week at the deposition of Les Wexner, who was the largest financier, the person that provided Jeffrey Epstein with almost all of his wealth. Not one could attend that deposition, Garcia added. The Clintons, Lutnick, nor Wexner have been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. 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 Trump has ordered all federal agencies to begin phasing out the use of Anthropic technology, following the companys unusually public dispute with the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safety. The directive from Trump came just over an hour before the Pentagons deadline for Anthropic to permit unrestricted military use of its AI technology or face severe repercussions. This followed nearly 24 hours after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated his company "cannot in good conscience accede" to the Defense Department's demands. Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Trump's remarks. At the heart of the defense contract disagreement is a fundamental clash over AIs role in national security and profound concerns about how increasingly capable machines could be deployed in high-stakes scenarios involving lethal force, sensitive information, or government surveillance. Anthropic, the creator of the chatbot Claude, is in a financial position to potentially absorb the loss of the contract. However, the ultimatum issued this week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented broader risks at the peak of the company's meteoric ascent from a relatively unknown computer science research lab in San Francisco to one of the worlds most valuable startups. Military officials had warned that if Amodei did not compromise, they would not only cancel Anthropic's contract but also "deem them a supply chain risk." This designation is typically applied to foreign adversaries and could severely jeopardise the company's critical partnerships with other businesses. Conversely, if Amodei were to yield, he risked eroding trust within the burgeoning AI industry, particularly among top talent drawn to the company by its pledges to responsibly build advanced AI that, without proper safeguards, could pose catastrophic dangers. Anthropic stated it sought specific assurances from the Pentagon that Claude would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. After months of private discussions erupted into public debate, the company issued a statement on Thursday, asserting that new contract language "framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will." This statement followed Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman, posting on social media that the military "has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal) nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement." He emphasized that the Pentagon intends to "use Anthropics model for all lawful purposes," though he and other officials have not detailed precisely how they wish to deploy the technology. The dispute has further polarised the tech industry. Anthropic's main rivals, OpenAI and Google, voiced support for Amodei's stance in an open letter late on Thursday ( AP ) Emil Michael, the defense undersecretary for research and engineering, publicly criticized Amodei on X, alleging he "has a God-complex" and "wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is ok putting our nations safety at risk." This message has largely failed to resonate across much of Silicon Valley, where a growing number of tech workers from Anthropic's main rivals, OpenAI and Google, voiced support for Amodei's stance in an open letter late on Thursday. OpenAI and Google, alongside Elon Musks xAI, also hold contracts to supply their AI models to the military. Musk sided with Trump's Republican administration on Friday, stating on his social media platform X that "Anthropic hates Western Civilization." This comment came after Michael highlighted a previous version of Claude's guiding principles that encouraged "consideration of non-Western perspectives." All leading AI models, including Musk's Grok and OpenAI's ChatGPT, are programmed with a set of instructions that dictate a chatbot's values and behavior. Anthropic refers to this guidance as a constitution. While some tech leaders allied with Trump, including Musk and Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defence contractor Anduril, have joined the fray, the polarising debate over "woke AI" has placed others in a difficult position. "The Pentagon is negotiating with Google and OpenAI to try to get them to agree to what Anthropic has refused," the open letter from some OpenAI and Google employees stated. "Theyre trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in." However, in a surprising move from one of Amodei's fiercest rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Friday sided with Anthropic. In a CNBC interview, he questioned the Pentagon's "threatening" approach, suggesting that OpenAI and much of the AI sector share similar red lines. Amodei previously worked for OpenAI before he and other leaders departed to establish Anthropic in 2021. "For all the differences I have with Anthropic, I mostly trust them as a company, and I think they really do care about safety," Mr Altman told CNBC. "Ive been happy that theyve been supporting our warfighters. Im not sure where this is going to go." Concerns about the Pentagon's strategy were also raised by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as well as a former leader of the Defense Department's AI initiatives. "Painting a bullseye on Anthropic garners spicy headlines, but everyone loses in the end," wrote retired Air Force Gen. Jack Shanahan in a social media post. Gen. Shanahan encountered a different wave of tech worker opposition during Trump's first administration when he led Maven, a project utilising AI technology to analyse drone footage and target weapons. So many Google employees protested its involvement in Project Maven at the time that the tech giant declined to renew the contract and subsequently pledged not to use AI in weaponry. "Since I was square in the middle of Project Maven & Google, its reasonable to assume I would take the Pentagons side here," Gen. Shanahan wrote on Thursday on social media. "Yet Im sympathetic to Anthropics position. More so than I was to Googles in 2018." He noted that Claude is already widely used across government, including in classified settings, and that Anthropic's red lines are "reasonable." He added that the AI large language models powering chatbots like Claude are also "not ready for prime time in national security settings," particularly not for fully autonomous weapons. "Theyre not trying to play cute here," he wrote. Parnell asserted on Thursday that opening up the technology's use would prevent the company from "jeopardising critical military operations." "We will not let ANY company dictate the terms regarding how we make operational decisions," Parnell wrote. Anthropic had "until 5:01 p.m. ET on Friday to decide" whether it would meet the demands or face consequences. When Hegseth and Amodei met on Tuesday, military officials warned they could designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk, cancel its contract, or invoke a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act to grant the military more sweeping authority to use its products, even without the companys approval. Amodei stated on Thursday that "those latter two threats are inherently contradictory: one labels us a security risk; the other labels Claude as essential to national security." He expressed hope that the Pentagon would reconsider given Claude's value to the military, but, if not, Anthropic "will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider." 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 team of negotiators reportedly armed with a laundry list of demands was largely silent about the future of talks with Iran after emerging from a round of negotiations Thursday in Geneva. A senior U.S. official described the outcome of Thursdays talks as positive to Axios, while Irans foreign ministry described the two sides as making significant progress. But the extent to which the teams were able to overcome the real distance reported as the talks began was not known. But they began with a report from The Wall Street Journal outlining a steep list of demands set forth by the Trump administration for a diplomatic resolution to the issue of Irans nuclear weapons program. And the talks come just over a day after the president, in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, accused Iran of rebuilding the nuclear program that Trumps own White House claimed was completely annihilated in the summer of last year. This week, his top negotiator, Steve Witkoff, claimed once again that the Iranian government could be just a week away from developing the enriched nuclear material required for making a bomb. The demands cited by the Journal included the surrender of all Iranian enriched uranium to U.S. hands, zero enrichment capabilities for the foreseeable future, and the total destruction of the three Iranian nuclear development sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. open image in gallery Donald Trumps team of negotiators includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ( AP ) In exchange, the U.S. is promising future sanctions relief if Iran remains compliant with the deal. Negotiations are occurring under the looming pressure of the U.S. seemingly viewing them the last chance to stop U.S. military strikes against the country. Despite the Iranian team stressing that more talks would take place in Vienna next week, theres some signs that talks could break down before then. In particular, the reported disappointment of Witkoff and Kushner upon being presented with the Iranian offer, and a comment made by an Iranian official to an Al Jazeera reporter rejecting several of the U.S. demands out of hand. Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, predicted to The Independent that while the Iranian official claimed that Tehran would not accept permanent restrictions on enrichment or giving up enriched uranium, the heart of the issue remained the prospect of sanctions relief and the unwillingness of the Iranian side to trust members of the Trump administration who promise that loosening sanctions will ever occur if not done immediately. The problem is, the administration is not offering any real sanctions relief, and the Iranians need deep sanctions relief. Their only leverage for getting it is their nuclear program, so they're going to bargain very hard in order to make sure that they get the right level of sanctions relief for whatever parts of the program, they give up, said Parsi. open image in gallery Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the negotiations for the Iranian side ( Iranian Foreign Ministry ) If we're offering them almost nothing, we're saying that, you know, a lot of it will come much later and there's zero trust between the two sides, then that's just not going to work. The Iranians believe, frankly, that they are better off with a war than a deal like that, said Parsi. Why should they? There was a deal they were supposed to get sanctions relief and Trump himself, this President, not someone else, walked out of that deal. Trump could be inclined to give them that war. Separately on Thursday, The New York Times reported that the administration is privately eyeing two strategies for armed conflict with Iran, in the event that talks do fail to satisfy the White Houses desire to put a permanent pin in Tehrans nuclear ambitions. One involves limited strikes, in the vein of the attacks last summer, aimed at further disruption of Irans nuclear facilities. Another is a much wider operation aimed at targeting key facilities and officials with the intention of forcing the Ayatollah Khamenei from power altogether. But U.S. officials who spoke to the outlet on background said that despite the U.S.s large military buildup in the Mediterranean and Arabian seas, American forces are not prepared currently for any sustained operations lasting longer than about 10 days. Public support for U.S. military intervention in Iran is very low, which the administration recognizes. Even as nearly 50 percent of Americans in an AP-NORC poll published Thursday viewed Irans nuclear weapons program as a serious threat, a higher percentage thought it unlikely that the president would make the right decision on Iran in the days ahead. 49% of Americans opposed initiating strikes on Iran in another recent poll. open image in gallery Donald Trump, during his State of the Union, maintained that Irans nuclear weapons program was still a threat after previously saying that he could launch military strikes aimed at aiding Iranian protesters ( AP ) Since the beginning of his second term the president has been torn between two prevailing schools of foreign policy thought in the GOP the isolationism and non-interventionism of Steve Bannon and America First conservatives, and the more traditional neoconservative view that Americas might should be asserted at all times. On the Hill, the latter view still finds much purchase among both establishment Republicans and some centrist Democrats. On the issue of support for Iranian protesters, targeting Irans nuclear weapons development and even potentially ousting the government, Trump has found support from centrist members of the opposition party. Support for Iranian civilians whove protested the government and faced brutal crackdowns in return remains broadly popular in Congress. An advocacy group of Iranian-Americans called the Coalition of Young Iranians also wrote to the White House this week and urged the president to impose further consequences on Tehran for the most recent crackdowns, which they say included security forces raiding hospitals and clinics to detain wounded protesters and preventing other clinics from treating those injured, sometimes severely, in the deadly clashes between police and protesters. "Mr. President, we urge you to direct the Departments of the Treasury and State to designate the officials and entities responsible for raiding hospitals and clinics, arresting patients and protesters from medical wards, intimidating or detaining clinicians for providing care, misusing ambulances for security operations, and coercing healthcare personnel to falsify medical records or disclose confidential patient data, read the letter, which was signed by members of the CYI Medical Committee including Dr. Azadeh Sami, a Virginia-based pediatrician and public health specialist. That bipartisan dynamic was evident this week as a handful of Democrats announced opposition to War Powers resolutions being sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine in the Senate and Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna in the House that aim to restrict the presidents ability to launch strikes on Iran. open image in gallery Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have become cross-party allies in the House and are now seeking to block the Trump administrations potential war with Iran ( Getty ) The White House did not respond to a request for comment Thursday on whether the president believed he had legal authority to carry out such a strike. Parsi, in his interview, noted that one thing was clear as the White House made destruction of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan its top priority on the list of demands: The White Houses claim of having obliterated the Iranian nuclear weapons program and setting it back by years came in direct contradiction to its importance. It's admission that at the end of the day, the 60% [enriched] uranium that is there has not been verified as being destroyed. But if you destroy the sites, you essentially destroy or remove the 60% enriched uranium. And that is something that is an outstanding issue. It disproves the idea of obliteration, obviously, he said. But they're doing it in a way in which they don't have to admit that. 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 federal judge is hauling government lawyers from nearly 30 immigration cases into his courtroom to decide whether to hold them in contempt for repeatedly violating his orders. In an order on Thursday, Minnesota District Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan said the Trump administration ignored orders to release unlawfully detained immigrants at the center of the cases and failed to return their belongings. Immigration authorities unlawfully held their cash, cellphones, jewelry, drivers licenses, work permits, passports, clothing, and other identification and immigration documents, according to Bryan, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden. Bryan had earlier warned that Trump officials would face contempt proceedings if they failed to comply with his orders by Wednesday. A hearing on the matter is now scheduled for March 3. A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. open image in gallery A federal judge is hauling DOJ lawyers into court over 'numerous unlawful violations' in dozens of immigration cases ( AFP via Getty Images ) The contempt hearing follows an avalanche of court rulings against the Trump administrations efforts to rapidly detain and deport thousands of immigrants, with judges routinely finding that officers unlawfully detained them and then failed to follow through on court orders after being overloaded by lawsuits. Judges within the last week have held at least two government attorneys in civil contempt for failing to follow orders in immigration cases, according to documents reviewed by The Independent. Last week, Minnesota District Judge Laura M. Provinzino held a federal prosecutor in civil contempt for flagrant disobedience of court orders in the case of a noncitizen swept up in Trumps surge of immigration officers in the state. Provinzino ordered Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isihara to pay $500 a day until the government returned a mans identification documents after his release. The contempt was purged after his documents were returned. This week, Trump appointee Judge Eric C. Tostrud of Minnesota found the administration in civil contempt for transferring an ICE detainee to Texas in violation of his order and then releasing him without his belongings. The judge ordered the administration to refund him $568 for the cost of a plane ticket home. The administrations attempts to arrest and deport tens of thousands of people from the country without giving them much of a chance to fight their cases before theyre indefinitely jailed in immigration detention centers have triggered an avalanche of lawsuits that are overwhelming courts and prosecutors. Dozens of new habeas corpus petitions the lawsuits immigrants have filed to challenge the constitutionality of their arrest and detention are hitting court dockets every week. Government attorneys are overwhelmed or quitting in droves under pressure to fight them at an unsustainable pace. open image in gallery The contempt hearing follows an avalanche of court rulings against the Trump administrations efforts to rapidly detain and deport thousands of immigrants ( Getty Images ) Judges have argued that its a crisis of the administrations own making. Officials have chosen to avail themselves of these exact circumstances of which they now complain, wrote California District Judge Sunshine Sykes, whose order this month commanded the government to let detainees challenge their detentions. In New Jersey, government lawyers recently admitted to violating roughly 50 orders stemming from more than 500 cases. What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks, one government lawyer told a judge in Minnesota last month. Julie Le, a lawyer for ICE who was drafted to help with the caseload in the U.S. Attorneys Office in Minnesota, was removed from that detail days after her outburst in court. The same month, Minnesotas chief federal judge ripped into the administration after he found ICE violated nearly 100 court orders stemming from the recent surge of officers into the state, or more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. ICE has every right to challenge the orders of this court, wrote Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. But, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated. open image in gallery The court rulings come as Americans voice growing concerns over the immigration enforcement efforts carried out by the Trump administration ( Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images ) Officials at the Justice Department and DHS have labeled judges activists and rogue members of the judiciary in public statements criticizing the decisions but have rarely appealed them. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller who has spearheaded Trumps immigration crackdown has repeatedly railed against federal judges. Each day the nation arises to see what the craziest unelected local federal judge has decided the policies of the government of the United States shall be, he wrote on X in March. It is madness. Aiming to reduce the court systems backlog, the administration has sought to recruit deportation judges through a set of provocative ads. The series of court rulings come as Americans voice growing concerns over the immigration enforcement efforts carried out by the Trump administration, which has vowed to carry out the largest deportation program in U.S. history. According to a February survey from Quinnipiac, 63 percent of Americans disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. A Marist poll conducted the same month found 65 percent of respondents believe ICE has gone too far with its tactics, up from 54 percent in June. 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 Democrats have reacted angrily to reports that a group of MAGA activists has been circulating a 17-page draft executive order laying out accusations that China interfered in the 2020 election as grounds for President Donald Trump to seize control of this years midterms. If Trump were to sign an order declaring such an emergency, he would be empowered to ban mail-in ballots and the use of voting machines as unsafe, effectively bypassing Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which assigns all authority over elections to state legislatures and Congress. After The Washington Post reported the existence of the draft, Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, denied that any national emergency involving China existed. Weve been raising the alarm for weeks about President Trumps attacks on our elections and now were seeing reports that outline how they may be planning to do it, Warner said. This is a plot to interfere with the will of voters and undermine both the rule of law and public confidence in our elections. The lawyers involved in the draft say they have worked in coordination with the White House. open image in gallery House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has accused President Donald Trump of plotting to steal Novembers midterm elections ( AP ) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking Democratic on the House Administration Committee, said in a statement of their own: Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to nationalize our elections, because he intends to steal them. We reject the legality of any executive order based on debunked claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election. Democrats will not allow Donald Trump to take over this election and neither will the American people. California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu said on X: Theres no national emergency exception to Art 1, Sec 4 of the Constitution. States regulate elections unless Congress passes law. Thats why trump [sic] desperately wants to pass the save act to suppress voting. Courts will slap trump [sic] down just like they did with his illegal tariffs. A White House official told The Independent that Trumps staff is regularly in communication with a variety of outside advocates who want to share their policy ideas with the president. Any speculation about policies the President may or may not announce is just that speculation. open image in gallery The draft executive order said to be circulating alleges a Chinese threat to U.S. elections, providing a basis for the president to declare a national emergency and seize control ( Getty ) White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson added, President Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of elections, and that includes totally accurate and up-to-date voter rolls free of errors and unlawfully registered non-citizen voters. The president has urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting, prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting, and end the practice of ballot harvesting. Speaking to the Post about the draft, conservative lawyer Peter Ticktin, who represents the jailed former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, acknowledged that the Constitution finds no role for the president in administering elections, for the good reason that he has a vested interest in their outcome. But here we have a situation where the president is aware that there are foreign interests that are interfering in our election processes, Ticktin continued. That causes a national emergency where the president has to be able to deal with it. Also speaking to ABC News, Ticktin insisted we really do have an election emergency right now and urged Trump to act decisively. open image in gallery Trump continues to stew over his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election more than five years later ( AP ) At this point, its got to be ASAP, because we got primaries The most important provision, if you ask me, is the hand counting. Get rid of the machines. Thats what we need to do right away. While Trump still refuses to accept his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, mentioning it again in his State of the Union address Tuesday, a U.S. intelligence community assessment found no evidence that any foreign actor meddled in the vote. The 2021 review concluded that China considered attempting to influence the election but ultimately decided against proceeding. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley also moved last June to release FBI records concerning a tip-off about alleged Chinese efforts to produce fraudulent drivers licenses for use with mail ballots, but the evidence of a pending threat is otherwise scant. That has not deterred the likes of Steve Bannon from declaring confidently on his War Room podcast last week: There is no doubt the [Chinese Communist Party] took an active role in removing President Trump from office. The president himself hinted at a forthcoming executive order in a Truth Social post on February 13, in which he expressed frustration over the aforementioned SAVE Act, which has passed the House of Representatives but faces obstacles in the Senate. 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 phone call from President Donald Trump to his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, last November inadvertently sparked a major feud between two powerful U.S. allies in the Middle East, according to a report. Trump had just hosted Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, the kingdoms de facto political leader, in Washington, D.C., during which he had said in a speech: His Majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan. Were going to start working on it. The president subsequently called the sheikh to inform him that he had been asked by the crown prince to impose sanctions on the UAE over its support for armed rebels fighting in the Sudanese civil war, The New York Times reports, citing four sources. A Saudi official gave the newspaper a different version of events, saying the crown prince had asked Trump to place sanctions on the paramilitary group in question the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF not the UAE directly, in the hope that starving the militia of external support and bringing an end to the war. Although the details of precisely what was said on the call may be disputed, the outcome was the same an eruption of tensions between two Gulf oil states that were fairly close allies until recently. open image in gallery President Donald Trump shakes hands with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, UAE, last May during his visit to the Middle East ( AFP/Getty ) The flare-up reached its nadir in December when Saudi Arabia bombed an alleged shipment of Emirati weapons destined for Yemen. A White House official told The Independent that the crown prince did not ask Trump to sanction the UAE but offered no further details. The Independent also reached out to the State Department for comment. The Sudanese civil war has received little attention from the Trump administration so far, but the tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE represent a potentially major diplomatic headache, given that the support of both nations will be required if U.S. policy in the Middle East is to succeed, particularly in Iran and Gaza. They could also create problems for the president personally, given that he has substantial business ties to both nations. An Emirati investment firm last year reportedly bought into the Trump familys cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial, and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has thrown in with a private equity outfit run by Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, to carry out a $55 billion buyout of a video game publisher EA Sports. open image in gallery Trump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., in November ( Reuters ) Asked on February 16 whether he was involved in the rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Trump said he was not, but he could become so. We can get it settled very easily, he said. Thats an easy one to settle. The phone call affair also complicates Trumps regularly-repeated claim that he has ended eight wars since he returned to office last January, which he claimed as part of his appeal to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and insisted on again at his State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday. In truth, many of the disputes the president is referring to persist without resolution, and hostilities have reignited in several of the regions to which he claims to have brought lasting harmony. Meanwhile, the U.S. has become increasingly belligerent under his administration in other parts of the world forcing regime change in Venezuela, striking Tehrans nuclear facilities, and fracturing vital relationships with NATO allies over the presidents demands for control of Greenland. 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 said to be personally overseeing efforts to renovate Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. all while reportedly advocating for the hub to be renamed after himself. The president met with half a dozen construction and infrastructure firms at the White House earlier this month, and had executives taking turns pitching their ideas to overhaul the airport, people familiar with the plans told the Washington Post. The companies, which included AECOM, a firm working on Trumps White House ballroom project, shared proposals. Within the pitches were plans to build new terminals, revamp the airports layout and do away with the airports shuttles often referred to as people movers. Some of the proposals even tried to win Trump over by embodying his penchant for naming things after himself, with one company proposing to rename the shuttles Direct Jet Transports, or DJTs the presidents initials, according to the report. open image in gallery President Donald Trump is overseeing renovation efforts at Dulles International Airport, after proposing the airport be named after himself, according to a report ( AP ) Trump who has worked to rename several Washington facilities, including the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace, after himself reportedly proposed the airport be renamed in his honor last month. The proposal came as part of a funding standoff with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York. The White House reportedly told Schumer that the president would unfreeze more than $16 billion for the long-planned Gateway Tunnel project, which will add a new rail line between New York and New Jersey if he agreed to rename New York Citys Penn Station and Dulles airport, near D.C., after the president. However, Schumer swiftly rejected the offer, saying he did not have the authority to rename the transportation hubs. About 27 million passengers travel through Dulles each year including 10 million international travelers yet it ranks below many major airports in passenger satisfaction. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Dulles, already had a plan to overhaul the antiquated facility and phase out the shuttles within the next 15 years. However, Trump officials reportedly feel those plans are moving too slowly, and are instead looking to find ways to make rapid improvements to the airport without waiting for Congress to set aside additional funding, sources told the Post. The White House declined to comment on Trumps meetings with the Post, but said the administration was focused on improving the international gateway to our nations capital. open image in gallery Trump has proposed that Dulles be renamed after him ( Getty Images ) Dulles should inspire pride and awe in foreign travelers visiting our country and American citizens returning home, spokesman Kush Desai said. The Trump administration is committed to using every tool at our disposal to ensure that Dulles lives up to our nations majesty as we seek to both Make America and our Airports Great Again. The Transportation Department said it was exploring a host of public-private partnership opportunities to remake Dulles at the speed of Trump. Trumps reported plans to revamp Dulles, including renaming the airport after himself, comes as the president has put his name on numerous government properties since the start of his current term. open image in gallery Trump wants to build an enormous arch in D.C., which has been nicknamed the 'Arch de Trump' ( Getty ) open image in gallery Trump caused outrage by tearing down the East Wing of the White House for his multi-million dollar ballroom ( Alex Wong/Getty Images ) Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has affixed his name to prominent Washington buildings, a planned class of Navy warships, a visa program for wealthy foreigners, a government-run prescription drug website, and federal savings accounts for children. He has also taken on several ambitious construction projects, including the demolition of the historic East Room, to be replaced by a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom that is set to cost a whopping $400 million. Trump plans to have the ballroom built and open to guests by summer 2028, giving builders roughly a year and a half to construct the new event space. The president has also expressed interest in building a 250-foot tall Independence Arch in Washington, D.C., near the Potomac River. It has been nicknamed the Arc de Trump in a pun on Frances Arc de Triomphe. 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 Satellite imagery has revealed a rise in military support aircraft, including refuelling tankers, at a Saudi airbase used by the US military during a four-day period in February. This increase, observed over four days, coincided with Washington's regional force build-up amidst tensions with Iran. At Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Airbase, a facility which has hosted US forces for decades, a high-resolution satellite image from 21 February showed at least 43 aircraft. This marked a significant increase from the 27 aircraft visible in an image taken on 17 February. The number subsequently dropped to 38 in a further image by 25 February. The development comes as Saudi Arabia, a longstanding US ally, informed Iran last month it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran. Iran simultaneously held indirect negotiations with Washington over its nuclear programme. Planes include Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers The aircraft in the 21 February image included 13 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and six Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft known as AWACS, among a total of 29 large, swept-wing aircraft parked at the base, William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, told Reuters. open image in gallery A combination picture of satellite images show planes at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2026 (top), and on February 21, 2026 ( via REUTERS ) In the 17 February, medium-resolution image, 11 large, swept-wing aircraft were visible, according to a Reuters tally. Asked for comment, the Pentagon said it had "nothing to provide". The US military does not usually comment on force movements. The Saudi government's media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Oman, which is mediating between the United States and Iran, said the sides made progress in talks on Thursday, though there was no sign of a breakthrough that could avert potential US strikes. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said on Thursday the sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their countries' capitals, with technical-level discussions scheduled to take place next week in Vienna. open image in gallery The aircraft in the February 21 image included 13 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and six Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft known as AWACS, among a total of 29 large, swept-wing aircraft parked at the base, William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground ( via REUTERS ) US President Donald Trump said on 19 February that Iran must make a deal in 10 to 15 days, warning that "really bad things" would otherwise happen. A comparison of satellite imagery in early February with those taken in January also showed a build-up of aircraft and other military equipment across the region. Recent satellite images have also shown Iran repairing and fortifying sites, including a sensitive military site reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024. 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 family of a Belgian backpacker who had gone missing in the Australian state of Tasmania three years ago said they finally have answers" after police found her remains in a rainforest. Celine Cremer, 31, was last seen on 17 June 2023 and her friends reported her disappearance nine days later. The backpacker had travelled to Philosopher Falls, a popular hiking spot about 300km northwest of Tasmanias Hobart before she went missing. She had planned a short bushwalk but never returned. On Friday, police confirmed that the remains which were found in a private search has been "provisionally identified" as Cremer's. Tasmania police commander Nathan Johnston said expert reports "provided compelling evidence" that the remains which were discovered in the area, were likely those of Cremer. "While this will not ease their loss, we hope the outcome will provide them with some measure of clarity and closure," he said. He said the provisional identification had been made with the permission of her family. Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer's car keys were found during search over the weekend ( Tasmania Police ) A major search was launched after she went missing. Police and State Emergency Service ground crews, specialist swift water rescue personnel, drones and a helicopter frantically searched for her but no clues were found. Police believed that she went on a walk during the night and her car was found in the falls car park, a day after the missing report was filed for her. A privately funded search began in December 2025 after Cremer's family hired a private investigator to scour the area. It led them to their first findings, with members of the crew finding her phone near the Philosopher Falls. A month later, search teams found her bones, teeth, and clothing after a bushwalker discovered bones on a stretch of Arthur River, about 2km from the tourists last known location. Cremer's sister, Amelie Cremer, wrote on social media that the development has brought the family "immense relief" after three years of waiting. "After almost three years of endless waiting, we finally have answers," she posted to Facebook. "DNA tests and dental expertise confirmed that everything matched Celine. These words are hard to write but they also bring us immense relief. "After all this time, Celine can finally go home. She will be able to rest in peace, surrounded by love that never left her side. In a message to her sister, she said Celine, we never forgot you. "Your absence has left a huge void, but your smile, your energy and all the love you gave us live on within us. "Today we bring you near us." Commander Johnston thanked community members for their ongoing support and interest in Cremer's case and said a report would be prepared for the coroner, who will make an official determination of the identity of the remains. "We want to thank community members for their ongoing support and interest in Celine's case," Commander Johnston said. "I want to acknowledge the extensive efforts of search and rescue personnel, partner agencies and volunteers who dedicated significant time and resources during the many search phases." 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 Croatia has offered to bolster the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia by supplying oil via its Adria pipeline, following disruptions to the crucial Druzhba pipeline. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic confirmed that discussions are underway with both nations and the European Commission regarding the plan. The Druzhba pipeline, which serves as the sole source of Russian oil for Hungary and Slovakia, was halted on 27 January after sustaining damage that Ukraine attributed to a Russian drone strike. The European Commission stated on Wednesday that Croatia is currently evaluating the legal implications of importing seaborne Russian crude oil for onward supply through the Adria route. Pipeline operator Janaf reported that a cargo of non-Russian crude is already being unloaded for Hungarian refiner MOL Group, with seven further deliveries anticipated by April. Mr Plenkovic emphasised Croatia's commitment, stating: "Croatia is here as a neighbour, partner and friend to ensure the energy security and smooth functioning of the economies of both Hungary and Slovakia." open image in gallery Supply via Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, the only EU countries still importing Russian oil, was halted on January 27 due to damage which Ukraine blamed on a Russian drone strike ( AP ) He added that the Adria pipeline possesses the capacity to transport up to 15 million tonnes of oil annually, sufficient to fully meet the requirements of both countries. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that he agreed with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico to set up joint Hungarian-Slovak committee to ascertain the state of Druzhba pipeline. In a video on his Facebook page, Orban called on Ukraine's President Volodimir Zelensky to grant access to Hungarian and Slovak inspectors and to restart the Druzhba pipeline. Any Russian crude ordered for delivery to Croatia could face difficulty skirting US sanctions, which target Russia's top oil exporters. EU sanctions ban imports of seaborne Russian crude, but landlocked Slovakia and Hungary hold exemptions in the event there is a disruption to their piped supply. Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of stalling repairs to the Druzhba pipeline for political reasons. open image in gallery Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that he agreed with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico to set up joint Hungarian-Slovak committee to ascertain the state of Druzhba pipeline ( AP Photo/Alex Brandon ) In retaliation, Hungary vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia this week and blocked a new EU loan for Kyiv, straining Europe's pro-Ukrainian consensus on the eve of the Ukraine war's fourth anniversary. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is facing the biggest challenge to his hold on power in 16 years in a parliamentary election on 12 April. He has cast the election as a choice between "war or peace", saying his opponents would drag the country into the war in Ukraine. Brussels wants to adopt a full ban on Russian oil imports by 2027, and plans to propose legislation on this in mid-April, just days after Hungary's election. Ukraine, meanwhile, says it is trying to repair the Druzhba pipeline and offered to arrange alternative routes to transport oil to EU countries via its Odesa-Brody pipeline, in a letter Ukraine's mission to the EU sent to the European Commission, dated February 20 and seen by Reuters. The European Commission spokesperson said the Commission understands Ukraine is ready to accelerate those repairs and that the EU is assessing the Odesa-Brody option. 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 A tram has derailed in central Milan, slamming into a building and leaving two people dead and more than 40 injured. The incident occurred on the central Vittorio Veneto avenue, a key thoroughfare in Italys financial capital, which is currently hosting its seasonal fashion shows and is in the interim between the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. The Number 9 tram, which operates through the heart of the city, was reportedly travelling at high speed. It was expected to continue straight along Vittorio Veneto but abruptly swerved at a switch track, typically used by another tram line, according to video footage of the crash broadcast by Sky TG24. This sudden deviation from its usual course led to the fatal collision. open image in gallery At least 13 ambulances were dispatched to the scene ( Stefano Porta/LaPresse ) The video shows the tram nearly flipping onto its side as it takes the curve before slamming to a stop. Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala suggested human error was to blame, saying the driver had apparently failed to switch tracks to keep the tram going straight. He described the driver as an experienced employee who had only been on his shift for an hour. But he said he had skipped a prior stop before the crash and would be questioned from the hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries. open image in gallery Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, centre, arrives at the scene of a derailment ( Stefano Porta/LaPresse ) Mr Sala confirmed two people had been killed one passenger on the tram and one on the street. He said none of the other injured were in a life-threatening condition. Dozens of ambulances, fire engines and police cars responded to the crash, with crews escorting passengers in thermal blankets away from the scene. ATM, the Milan public transport company, said it was cooperating with prosecutors to precisely establish the cause and dynamic of the incident. The Milan transport company, ATM, said in a statement it was deeply shocked, expressed its sympathy to those affected and said it was working with authorities to try to understand the cause. 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 Russia is testing Europes limits in the Baltic Sea and creating an imminent threat for the continent, the head of the German navy has warned. Increasingly hostile actions by the Russian military, including low-flying combat ships and the sabotage of naval bases, are the prelude to an escalation, vice admiral Jan Christian Kaack told The Times. We [and Russian warships] see each other at sea every day. Things can happen there, by chance or by design: carelessness, a misfired shot, he said. So the expectation is high that a possible escalation will occur in the maritime domain. We have to prepare the men and women for that. Nato has been increasingly concerned about the Kremlins intentions after several drone incursions into member territory over recent months. Several experts have warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin could be pushing the limits of the alliances Article 5 mutual defence clause. open image in gallery Germany carries out Nato exercises on Wessex Beach in Putlos, Germany, earlier this month ( AP ) The borders of the Baltic states have been at the centre of such discussions, including the city of Narva in Estonia or along the Polish-Lithuanian border that separates Leningrad from Belarus, according to the publication. But recently, Nato sources said planners have been exploring the effects of Russian military action on the Baltic Sea. The area has been frequently referred to as Lake Nato after Sweden and Finland joined. But Mr Kaack warned that Putin could still cause damage by cutting off sea routes. open image in gallery The Baltic Sea could be vulnerable to attack, warns German military chief ( Google Maps ) This is not a Nato lake and it never will be for as long as the Russians have Kaliningrad and St Petersburg, he explained. The Baltic Sea is very narrow, which means we face a rapid threat. The admiral also warned about the use of Russias shadow fleet in carrying out such incursions. I think one can see that the Russian state is desperately trying to get the things it can still sell out onto the worlds oceans, he continued. open image in gallery An oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that travelled from Russia is pictured after being intercepted by Frances navy ( Etat-Major des Armees via AP ) To achieve this effect, arming them might at some point be a logical step. That changes our calculations: how much risk I can take of ending up in a situation [where a shadow fleet vessel is boarded] with armed force on board or not. The US has insisted that cable and pipeline damages were not the result of sabotage but Mr Kaack said it was impossible for crews not to notice anchors slipping as the sound is like a tank driving over a cobblestoned market square. It comes as police investigate a campaign of sabotage against German naval facilities on land. Two workers were arrested on suspicion of pouring steel pellets into the engine of a naval corvette and removing caps from fuel tanks. 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 Spanish police have investigated a woman found with a suitcase filled with 15 pangolin carcasses flying into Madrid last week. Civil Guard officers made the shocking discovery during customs checks on passengers arriving from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia last Monday. An X-ray scan of the suitcase at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport flagged abnormalities, found to be tiny pangolin bodies wrapped in plastic and weighing a total of 40kg. The Civil Guard told The Independent on Thursday that a 60-year-old woman had been investigated as the alleged perpetrator of what was described as a crime against wildlife. The pangolin bodies were sent to a national body that regulates the international trade of protected species for study and assessment, the agency said. The illegal trafficking of protected species constitutes a serious threat to biodiversity and may be punished with prison sentences and fines, in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code, a statement read. Pangolins are the worlds most trafficked mammal, primarily poached for their scales and meat. Demand from China is believed to drive global trade. The scales are in high demand across Asia due to the unproven belief that they cure a range of ailments when made into traditional medicine. In some parts of east Asia, their foetuses are believed to be an aphrodisiac. Pangolins are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments to which Spain is a party. More than half a million were seized in anti-trafficking operations between 2016 and 2024, according to a report last year by CITES. The humble pangolin was also suspected of playing the role of intermediary for the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. Researchers argued that Guangdong Pangolins may have been intermediate hosts that adapted SARS-CoV-2 and represented a significant evolutionary link in the path of transmission. While some reports indicate a downward trend in pangolin trafficking since the pandemic, they are still being poached at an alarming rate across parts of Africa, according to conservationists. 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 has admitted he is not the best father, as he spoke of the personal challenges he has faced during the four-year war with Russia. In an interview with Sky News, the Ukrainian president said his role had taken a toll on his family, but that it was his duty to lead Ukraine. He said he would do anything to bring about peace for his country, and confirmed that another round of trilateral talks was likely to take place next week. During the war, I'm not the best father... because I don't have too much time for my children, he told Sky News in an interview that aired on Friday. I'm the president of Ukraine, I dont compare my job... because my choice... is duty. My choice is Ukraine. That's why I said I'm no good father during the war. open image in gallery Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska ( PA Wire ) President Zelensky has previously spoken about the difficulties of not being able to see his children during the war due to security reasons. In an interview with Vogue in 2022, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska admitted it had been hard for their children to be separated from their father during Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The pair welcomed their daughter, Oleksandra, in 2003, and their son, Kyrylo, in 2013. In the interview with Sky News, the president said the US had the power to end Russias invasion and called for the country to ramp up its efforts. The United States is even more stronger than they think about themselves... And they really have pressure on Putin. They can stop this war, he said. He confirmed that US-led peace talks would likely take place in early March. open image in gallery US-led discussions are likely to take place in early March ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Service ) It comes after the Ukrainian president had a long and peaceful phone call with Donald Trump on Wednesday, which was joined by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Following the discussions, President Zelensky said: We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps. Asked if he trusted Donald Trump, the Ukrainian president told Sky News: You know it's more about me and President Trump. Its not about personalities, its more about institutions. We need to trust each other, and that's why I'm trying to build such relations with the United States. Relations can't be dependent on their personalities. As the war enters its fifth year, President Zelensky said there was a window between now and the US midterm elections in November, which would be crucial for reaching peace. It depends on these months, if we will have a chance to finish the war before autumn. Before elections, important, influential, elections in the United States. If it will be possible to achieve a peace, we will have, now we have this window. 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 Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been charged with promoting drug use after admitting to having taken ecstasy nearly four decades ago, his party said. The outspoken economics professor, who briefly served in the left-wing Syriza government during the countrys financial crisis in 2015, said on a recent podcast that he had once tried ecstasy at a festival in Sydney in 1989. It was a terrific experience until the days after, he said on the vidcast 3026: Human Algorithm in January, adding that he was able to dance for hours but then suffered migraines. He also said he had smoked marijuana in the past. His political party, MeRA25, said he has since been summoned to stand trial in December for provocation and drug advertising, and accused Greeces conservative government of trying to silence him through the courts. The 64-year-old Varoufakis, who is still a popular figure among the European Left, insisted that he told the anecdote to highlight the risks of drug use, telling listeners that addiction represents the end of liberty. open image in gallery Varoufakis infuriated euro zone partners with his unconventional style and lectures during bailout negotiations at the peak of Greece's debt crisis in 2015 ( Reuters ) That was my introduction to making the point that, however pleasant drug taking may seem, there is a price to pay, he explained last month, after he was summoned by police for questioning. The Greek police have opened an investigation of me under the charge of... aiding and abetting the narco-mafia. [Do me a favour folks: Please dont tell Trump, OK?] he wrote. Mr Varoufakis wrote on social media on Thursday that the charge had nothing to do with drugs, but instead must be seen within the wider, West-wide, surge of an insidious new form of fascism. In this context, I am honoured by their determination to persecute me as it grants me the privilege of calling upon people of good conscience, from around the world, to stand together, to oppose them, he wrote. open image in gallery Yanis Varoufakis with Greta Thunberg and Francesca Albanese in November ( AFP via Getty ) His party said in a statement on Wednesday: The idea of a political party leader standing trial for referring to his experience with substances many decades ago is not a random and innocent blunder. We will not remain silent. Neither about the provocative manipulation of the judiciary nor about the major problem of addiction. Mr Varoufakis, a self-described erratic Marxist, is leader of the European Realistic Disobedience Front (MeRA25) party, which is a part of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), which he co-founded in 2016. Mojtaba Khamenei named supreme leader to succeed father killed in strikes as oil prices surge 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 Israel is using white phosphorous over civilian homes in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch has warned. The organisation said it had verified and geolocated seven images showing airburst white phosphorus munitions being deployed over a residential part of the town and civil defense workers responding to fires in at least two homes and one car in that area. The white-hot chemical substance can set buildings on fire and burn human flesh down to the bone. Survivors are at risk of infections and organ or respiratory failure, even if their burns are small. The Israeli militarys unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians, said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. The incendiary effects of white phosphorous can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering. Meanwhile, Iran has elected Mojtaba Khamenei as its new leader, more than a week after his father was killed in an airstrike. The 56-year-old was chosen to become the next supreme leader on Sunday evening, despite Donald Trumps insistence that he should have a say in the appointment. 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 JD Vance has said there is no chance the United States will become embroiled in a full-scale war with Iran if Donald Trump decides to launch fresh strikes. The vice-president said aboard Air Force Two on Thursday that the president is still weighing his options, with indirect talks ongoing to try and curb Irans nuclear programme. His comments follow reports that Trumps advisers would prefer Israel strike Iran first, as Americans would react more favourably to the US supporting an ally than picking a fight with Tehran without clear provocation. Mr Vance told The Washington Post that the country would not be drawn into another long war in the desert, following unsuccessful US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight there is no chance that will happen, he said, pointing to the US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January and the strikes on Iran last summer as operations that were very clearly defined. open image in gallery The USS Gerald R Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, departs from Crete for Israel on Thursday ( AP ) The comments follow private criticism from General Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was reported this week to have cautioned Mr Trump that an attack on Iran could spiral into a protracted conflict. Gen Caine, behind US military planning, is said to have warned that Iranian retaliation which the regime has threatened could result in significant US casualties and turn into a cycle of violence. Mr Trump wrote on social media that the reports were incorrect, while admitting: General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. Echoing Mr Trumps recent rhetoric on the matter, Mr Vance said on Thursday: I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say. The US and Iran continued indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday, exactly one week after Trump set a deadline of 10 to 15 days for Tehran to agree to a deal to curb its nuclear programme or risk really bad things happening. open image in gallery JD Vance, pictured boarding Air Force Two on Thursday, ruled out the possibility of another protracted war in the desert ( AFP/Getty ) Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi insisted in the buildup that the talks would be approached with seriousness and flexibility, but said negotiations would only focus on nuclear topics and sanctions removal. Washington has pushed to expand talks to cover Irans missile stockpiles, support for armed groups and the treatment of their own people. Citing unnamed US officials, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that talks finished with both sides still far apart on key issues. People familiar with the talks said Iran had objected to the idea of ending enrichment, dismantling its nuclear facilities, and imposing permanent restrictions on its programme. Washington views nuclear enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons, and has been unequivocal that Iran cannot be allowed to have one. Omans foreign minister and a US official said they had made progress and would likely meet again. Technical experts are expected to hold talks in Vienna next week. open image in gallery A squadron conducts flight operations aboard USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea this week ( US Centcom ) With progress uncertain, Trump has continued to race military assets east in a show of force designed to pressure Iran into concessions. He has not ruled out force. The USS Gerald R Ford arrived in Israel on Friday, where the US has already sent a dozen F-22 fighter jets, according to a US official via Reuters. A dozen warships are otherwise operating in the northern Arabian Sea, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. 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 Donald Trumps assertion that Iran will soon possess a missile capable of striking the United States is reportedly not backed by US intelligence reports, with three sources suggesting the claim appears exaggerated. This casts doubt on part of his justification for a possible attack on the Islamic Republic. During his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump began making his case to the American public for why the US could launch strikes against Iran, stating Tehran was "working on missiles that will soon reach" the United States. However, two sources confirm there have been no changes to an unclassified 2025 US Defense Intelligence Agency assessment. This report indicates Iran could take until 2035 to develop a "militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile" (ICBM) from its existing satellite-lofting space-launch vehicles (SLV). President Trump is absolutely right to highlight the grave concern posed by Iran, a country that chants death to America, possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. One source said that even if China or North Korea - which closely cooperate with Iran - provided technological assistance, Iran would probably take up to eight years at the earliest to produce "something that is actually ICBM level and operational." open image in gallery During his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump began making his case to the American public for why the US could launch strikes against Iran. ( Getty Images ) The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive intelligence, said they were unaware of any U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran was developing a missile that could soon range the U.S. homeland but did not rule out the possibility of a new intelligence report they were unaware of. The New York Times first reported that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran is probably years away from having missiles that can hit the United States. Rubio says Iran on pathway to weapons that can reach U.S. Trump's claim about Iran's missile capability came as representatives from the U.S. and Iran negotiate over Tehran's nuclear program, with no signs of a breakthrough that could avert potential U.S. strikes amid a massive military buildup in the region. The U.S. president has done little to explain publicly why he might be leading the U.S. into its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. In his address on Tuesday, Trump pointed to Tehran's support for militant groups, its killing of protesters and the country's missile and nuclear programs as threats to the region and the United States.Without providing evidence, Trump said that Tehran was beginning to rebuild the nuclear program that he claimed had been obliterated by U.S. airstrikes last June on three major sites involved with uranium enrichment. open image in gallery Marco Rubio said that Tehran is "on a pathway to one day being able to develop weapons that could reach the continental U.S." ( AP ) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday referred to Irans ballistic missile program in less definitive terms than Trump, saying that Tehran is "on a pathway to one day being able to develop weapons that could reach the continental U.S." Iran denies seeking a nuclear arsenal, saying its enrichment of uranium a process that produces fuel for power plants and nuclear warheads depending on its duration is strictly for civilian uses. In an interview with India Today TV released on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Iran was expanding its missile capabilities. "We are not developing long range missiles. We have limited range to below 2000 kilometers intentionally," he said. "We dont want it to be a global threat. We only have (them) to defend ourselves. Our missiles build deterrence." Weapons program shuttered in 2003, according to IAEA The U.S. intelligence community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, have said that Iran shuttered a nuclear weapons development program in 2003. But according to the IAEA, Tehran has in recent years continued enriching uranium, including to near weapons-grade. Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it executes people arrested during nationwide anti-government protests in January or fails to agree a deal on its nuclear program in talks with the U.S. Iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East, with its missiles able to strike Israel, U.S. bases in the region and parts of Europe. It also has developed so-called space-launch vehicles that have put satellites into orbit and that experts say could be modified into ICBMs that could loft nuclear warheads. open image in gallery An Israeli attack on Iran damaged facilities at a secretive military base southeast of the Iranian capital that experts in the past have linked to Tehran's onetime nuclear weapons program and at another base tied to its ballistic missile program. While SLVs loft satellites, ICBMs release re-entry vehicles that protect warheads from the high temperatures and forces produced by hurtling down through the Earth's atmosphere. But David Albright, a former U.N. nuclear inspector, said Iran was a long way away from being able to mount atop a missile a nuclear warhead-carrying re-entry vehicle that could survive the extreme heat and forces of plunging through Earths atmosphere. "Iran can launch a very long-range missile because of its space launch program," said Albright, the president of the Institute for Science and International Security think tank. "But it needs lots of work to develop an adequate RV (re-entry vehicle)." Albright and other experts noted that Israeli airstrikes last year and in 2024 had badly damaged key facilities where Tehran produces liquid- and solid-fuel ballistic missiles. 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 United States and Iran made significant progress in talks Thursday and will meet again soon, mediator Oman said. The talks, aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes, come amid Washington's large-scale military buildup in the Middle East. The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their countries' capitals. Techical-level discussions are scheduled to take place next week in Vienna, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X after the day's talks ended in Switzerland. Any substantial move toward an elusive agreement between longtime foes Washington and Tehran could reduce the imminent prospects for U.S President Donald Trump to carry out a threatened attack on Iran that many fear could escalate into a wider war. open image in gallery Trump has deployed fighter jets and aircraft carrier strike groups in the region ( US Navy ) The Omani minister's upbeat assessment followed indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva, with one session in the morning and the second in the afternoon. "We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran," Badr Albusaidi said. But he stopped short of saying the two sides had overcome any of their biggest stumbling blocks to a deal. Describing the talks as some of the most serious that Iran has had with the U.S., Araqchi told Iranian state television: "We reached agreement on some issues, and there are differences regarding some other issues." It was decided that the next round of negotiations will take place soon, in less than a week," he said. The Iranians , he added, had clearly expressed their demand for lifting of U.S. sanctions, which Washington has long insisted will only come after deep concessions from Tehran. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. negotiating team on the outcome of the talks. But Axios quoted a senior U.S. official as saying the Geneva negotiations were positive. The discussions about the decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear work come as fears grow of a Middle East conflagration. Trump has repeatedly threatened action if there is no deal, and the U.S. military has amassed its forces in waters near the Islamic Republic. 'INTENSE AND SERIOUS' TALKS A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier on Thursday that the U.S. and Iran could reach a framework for a deal if Washington separated "nuclear and non-nuclear issues." The Trump administration has insisted that Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the region must be part of the negotiations. After the morning session, Badr Albusaidi said the two sides had exchanged "creative and positive ideas". But a senior Iranian official said at the time that some gaps still had to be narrowed. Washington, which believes Tehran seeks the ability to build a nuclear bomb, wants Iran to give up all uranium enrichment, a process that makes fuel for atomic power plants but that can also yield material for a warhead. Iran has long denied wanting a bomb and said earlier on Thursday it would show flexibility at the talks. Reuters reported on Sunday that Tehran was offering undefined new concessions in return for removal of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program was a "big problem" which would have to be addressed eventually. The missiles were "designed solely to strike America" and pose a threat to regional stability, he said, but offered no proof to back the claim that U.S. territory could be targeted. TRUMP THREATENS 'REALLY BAD THINGS' Trump said on February 19 that Iran must make a deal in 10 to 15 days, warning that "really bad things" would otherwise happen. He briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, underlining that while he preferred a diplomatic solution, he would not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. In June, the U.S. joined Israel in hitting Iranian nuclear sites and has been ramping up the pressure on Tehran again since January, when Trump threatened to intervene over its crushing of nationwide protests with thousands killed. Since then, Trump has deployed fighter jets and aircraft carrier strike groups in the region. Iran responded to last summer's strikes by firing fusillades of missiles at Israel and has threatened to retaliate fiercely if attacked again, raising fears of a wider regional conflict that has alarmed Gulf oil producers. Within Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces the gravest crisis of his 36-year tenure, with an economy buckling under tightened sanctions and renewed protests following the major unrest and crackdown in January. President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Khamenei has banned weapons of mass destruction, which "clearly means Tehran won't develop nuclear weapons," reiterating a religious decree issued in the early 2000s. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The days of Americans traveling to the UK after simply booking a flight and arriving with a valid passport were consigned to history on April 2, 2025, when it became a legal requirement to have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). However, this week, a new layer of enforcement began. Previously, the compliance check was carried out at the UK border. But from this week, February 25, 2026, it became mandatory for U.S. airlines to verify passengers ETA status before departure and deny boarding to those without one. open image in gallery It is now mandatory for U.S. airlines to verify passengers ETA status before departure to the UK and deny boarding to those without one ( Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.c ) The ETA costs 16 ($21.50) for adults and 10 ($13) for children and infants, and can be bought from the UK Government website. Its valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and permits stays per trip of up to six months, and multiple visits over those two years. It does not allow Americans to work for a UK employer, live in the UK, or undertake long-term study. Getting married on UK soil is not covered by the ETA, either. The permit is required by any foreign visitor (except an Irish national) who was previously entitled to travel to the UK without a visa. open image in gallery The ETA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and permits stays per trip of up to six months ( Getty Images ) Other countries in the ETA scheme include Canada, all EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel. The new system has thrown up an issue for British citizens living abroad with dual nationality. Previously, they were allowed to enter the UK on a passport issued by their country of residence, but this rule has been scrapped, and theyre not eligible for an ETA. They must now prove that theyre British, either by buying and showing a British passport or purchasing the expensive certificate showing right of abode. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Munich Airport and Lufthansa have pledged to overhaul their emergency protocols after approximately 600 passengers were left stranded on six planes during a snowstorm last week. Both organisations issued apologies for what they described as an "unacceptable" incident, committing to new measures to prevent a recurrence. Passengers endured hours aboard aircraft on 19 February with limited access to food or blankets, receiving sparse updates from crews. Lufthansa's Hub Manager for Munich Airport, Heiko Reitz, acknowledged the failings, stating at a joint press conference: "We, Munich Airport and Lufthansa, made mistakes that night and together we take responsibility." Operational shortfalls, including a lack of terminal space, stretched bus capacity, and staff shortages exacerbated by a strict night curfew, were identified as key factors delaying passenger transfers. The airline has since begun contacting affected travellers to process compensation claims. open image in gallery Passengers endured hours aboard aircraft on 19 February with limited access to food or blankets, receiving sparse updates from crews ( Getty/iStock ) The handling of the situation drew sharp criticism from pilot and firefighter unions, while local politicians voiced concerns that the event could damage Munich's reputation as a vital transit hub. Lufthansa and Munich Airport pledged to improve coordination and readiness in future disruptions. Affected flights included five Lufthansa Group journeys to Copenhagen, Singapore, Gdansk and two to Graz and Venice operated by Air Dolomiti, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary. An additional flight operated by Air Arabia was also grounded due to the exceptional weather conditions, said the German airport. Munich Airport is usually subject to strict night flight regulations between midnight and 5am. On Thursday, takeoff permission was extended to 1am to clear departures delayed by the weather, as approved by the Ministry of Transport. open image in gallery Affected flights included five Lufthansa Group journeys to Copenhagen, Singapore, Gdansk and two to Graz and Venice operated by Air Dolomiti, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary ( AFP via Getty Images ) A spokesperson for Munich Airport previously said: Due to the exceptional weather conditions, these aircraft had to turn back unexpectedly. The reason for this was that heavy, wet snowfall led to longer than average de-icing times and the need to close the runways at short notice for snow clearance. As a result, the affected aircraft were unable to meet the 1am deadline. The available terminal capacity was already occupied by cancelled flights that had been parked during the day, which is why the late-returning aircraft had to be parked in remote positions. Due to the late hour, bus services were severely limited, said the airport. One impacted journey, Lufthansa flight LH2446, had been scheduled to depart Munich at 9.30pm for a 90-minute flight to Copenhagen. Passengers remained onboard at a remote stand for up to seven hours before a bus arrived to return travellers to the terminal building. Passengers disembarked in the early hours of Friday after buses finally arrived, with many rebooked onto the first available departure to Copenhagen. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Tampa International Airport will ban travelers from wearing pajamas on their flights, according to an announcement on social media. "We've seen enough. We've had enough. It's time to ban pajamas at the Tampa International Airport," the post reads. "Pajamas. At. The. Airport. In the middle of the day." The supposed ban comes after the airport claims it successfully banned the wearing of Crocs footwear. "After successfully banning Crocs and giving everyone the amazing opportunity to experience the world's first Crocs-free airport, it's time to take on an even larger crisis," the post says. The cheeky post declared that the "madness stops today" and asks travelers not to wear pajamas on their flights. To be clear: the ban isnt a ban. Its a request from the airport for people to dress better. No one will be barred from entering the airport if theyre wearing sweatpants. open image in gallery Travelers waiting to pass through an airport security checkpoint. The Tampa International Airport issued a social media post in February 2026 saying it was banning travelers from wearing pajamas to the facility ( AP ) Tampa International Airport regularly shares lighthearted, satirical social media content as part of our ongoing effort to engage with our followers. Todays post about banning pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates, the airport told The Independent. We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor. It's no secret that air travel has become notably less comfortable over the past 40 years. Since the airlines were deregulated in 1978, seat space has gradually declined over time to allow airlines to squeeze more passengers onto aircraft. According to Flyers Rights, a passenger advocacy organization, the average legroom or pitch has decreased from 35 to 31 inches, with the lowest pitch size being 29 inches. Cheap-seat carriers typically have legroom pitches at 29-30 inches. The width of legroom space has also declined to 16-18 inches. In the 1990s, seat sizes increased for a short period to 18.5 inches from the standard 17 inches. Airline seats have since largely regressed to the 17 inch standard But airlines also used to fly at only 70 percent capacity, meaning there was often more room for passengers to spread out. Today they fly at 80 or 85 percent capacity, according to a CNN report. Not only are travelers expected to endure more cramped compartments, but also more invasive searches at the airport. Travelers wait in long lines at security checkpoints, are subjected to full-body scans, and if any anomalies are found, may be forced to endure an intimate frisk from a federal employee. If passengers must be groped to board a plane, they might as well be comfortable when it happens. Back in November, the Transportation Department launched an initiative called "The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You," with the aim to "jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel." Alongside that initiative, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called on travelers to dress better at airports. "Dress up to go to the airport, help a stranger out, and be in a good mood," he wrote on social media at the time. open image in gallery Transportation Department Secretary Sean Duffy asked travelers to dress up when they go to the airport in 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) U.S. Airlines stopped offering complimentary hot meals shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks. Costs for checked bags has inflated to help airlines rake in more revenue. Last year, US airlines alone made $7.27 billion from check-in baggage fees, according to federal data. That's an increase from $7 billion in 2023, and $5.76 billion in 2019. Responses to the Tampa International Airport's post were mixed. Some X accounts which may or may not be real people supported the idea. One user, going by the name "ThoughtCrimes80" posted an image of women standing in sweat pants and hoodies at an airport and wrote "uh yeah, I've been saying this forever." Others recommended the airport focus on making the customer experience better before asking people to dress nicer. My last two flights I spent the night on the dirty floor at Buffalo Intl Airport because of cancelled flights, with no compensation, we should be wearing pajamas, until the airlines crap service is improved! user MarkJSchmit replied. Even people in favor of banning pajamas noted that making air travel enjoyable again was going to take more than outlawing sweats. "This is great, I am completely for this. Just dress decently. But I think we shouldnt stop here, I think the airlines should start bringing the pleasure of traveling back to what it used to be. Like bring back actually feeding your travelers. Not even peanuts are given nowadays," X user CarlosCGascot wrote. Attorney Howard Sklar was more concerned with the government telling people how to dress than he was the overall air travel experience. "I meanas a joke, this is kinda funny," he wrote on X. "But if it's realthe government telling people what they can and can't wear while travelingcan you say 'overreach' anyone?" Not to worry, its apparently just a joke. 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 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 Target is reportedly paying nearly $110 million to end a lease on its downtown Minneapolis office space, having previously agreed to rent the space until 2031. The mega-retailer made the decision to end the lease at the City Center building last month, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Target moved its operations out of the building five years ago during the coronavirus pandemic, but never returned. Target had been in the building since it opened in 1983 A spokesperson for Target told the paper that the company is still committed to downtown Minneapolis. It had been the largest retailer in downtown Minneapolis until 2024 when it was overtaken by Hennepin Healthcare. Target grew out of the Dayton Dry Goods Company, which began its operations in 1902 in Minneapolis. On its website, Target says it and its Target Foundation have donated more than 9 million pounds of food, given more than $32 million worth of products and cash, and dedicated more than 74,000 volunteer hours to the Minneapolis community. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing for the company. More recently, Target has attracted the ire of some in Minneapolis and around the country for its alleged co-operation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The City Center tower in downtown Minneapolis. Target, one of the tower's original tenants, is paying nearly $110 million to break its least at the tower. The company's lease expires in 2031 ( Google Maps ) Protesters with Indivisible Charlottesville who participated in "Project Salt" in which customers bought salt from Target and returned in an effort to jam up lines and cause long waits at Target stores accused the company of allowing "ICE and other federal agents to stage their Minnesota operations in their parking lots and permitted ICE agents to enter their stores to detain employees. The Independent has requested comment from Target. There is no indication that its decision to break its City Center lease was influenced by ongoing anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis. The City Center tower is not Target's only property in downtown Minneapolis. After the company called its employees back to in-office work, they returned to other office spaces around downtown, but not the City Center. The company did attempt to sublet its space in the building, but only managed to attract one tenant the Fox Rothschild law firm which moved in in 2022. Samsung, which owns the City Center, is preparing to list the 51-story tower, according to a February 2 loan servicer report. The tech company purchased the City Center in 2018 for $320 million, and began a $3 million renovation the following year. Unfortunately for Samsung, it purchased the building just two years before the coronavirus pandemic forced practically the entire country to work from home, leaving much of its newly purchased space sitting empty. City officials estimate that the building is worth approximately $117 million as of last year, which is half of what it was worth five years ago, according to the paper. 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 Employees who dont get a 401(k) from their workplace may have a new retirement savings option in the future. The federal government may start offering 401(k)s to workers who dont have access to one through their employer, President Donald Trump said during his State of the Union speech Tuesday. Im announcing that next year my administration will give these oft-forgotten American workers, great people, the people that built our country, access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker, Trump said. We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year. But details about the plan are sparse. A Trump administration spokesperson later told CNN the plans would be universal and portable (meaning it goes from job to job with you, without requiring a rollover), which traditional 401(k)s dont offer. open image in gallery During his State of the Union speech Tuesday, President Donald Trump hinted that the federal government may offer 401(k)s to those who arent eligible for one through their employer ( Getty Images ) IRAs are a popular alternative for workers who arent eligible for a 401(k) through their employer, regardless of Trump launching his retirement plan program or not, said Chris Carosa, an investment expert with 20 years of experience in the financial industry. Workers have always had the option to place their retirement savings into their personal IRAs, Carosa told The Independent in an email. Relatively recent IRS restrictions have made it difficult to qualify to do this if you already have a 401(k) plan, but those without 401(k) plans have had no restrictions. Some 12 states have launched state-sponsored IRAs in some form, through which individuals can save up for retirement, according to payment processor Paychex: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. But, unlike 401(k)s, the state or employer doesnt match funds the employee puts into a state- or non-state-sponsored IRA account, in most cases. However, one advantage of an IRA is that its typically opened in the individuals name, giving them the freedom to keep it no matter how many times they switch jobs. In contrast, a 401(k) is typically run by the employer and requires paperwork and administration to move funds from one account to another if an employee changes companies. Portability - keeping a retirement plan no matter who you work for - is an alleged feature of the Trump retirement plans that Carosa appreciates, he said. open image in gallery A federally-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan could be available to part-time workers that dont have access to a 401(k) through their employer ( Getty Images ) This could be structured so that it is no different than current state-sponsored IRAs, he said. By making the [account] in the employee's name rather than the company's name, it wouldn't matter who the employee works for. Think of it as 'auto-portability.' Whether the 401(k)s the federal government may offer to those without are better or worse than existing plans isnt known because there arent enough details yet, although the White House will provide more information soon, the Trump spokesperson told CNN. In the meantime, workers should do what they can to save up for retirement instead of waiting for a government-sponsored plan to start, Carosa said. Don't wait. Open up an IRA and start saving now, he said. If a future federally-sponsored plan is created that offers matching (i.e., free money), do that first, then contribute to your personal IRA. Those who are self-employed have several retirement savings options, including SEP IRAs, self-employed 401(k)s and SIMPLE IRAs, according to Fidelity. 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? The head of the national US bank regulator said yesterday he would consider a request to allow senior members of Congress to review the bank charter application of World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by the family of President Donald Trump. Spains Grupo Alacant to buy Irish business just three years after it exited examinership Silver Pail Irelands biggest ice-cream maker is being acquired by Spains Grupo Alacant just three years after it was rescued from examinership. The Cork-based business is likely to fetch up to 10m, based on Silver Pails strong financial performance since it was acquired by Paul and Niall Condon, and Steve Dwyer. They have already received healthy dividends from Silver Pail since they bought it. The UK treasury is considering scrapping a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas following persistent pushback from producers, according to a person familiar with the matter. Ministers have been holding meetings with industry representatives to explore the impact of ending the Energy Profits Levy before it expires in 2030, according to the person, who asked not to be identified. Original motion calling for Larry Murrin to step down was scrapped after Fine Gael councillor called for dialogue to resolve existing impasse Calls for increased dialogue between wider organisations like Bord Bia, farmers, farming companies, adn the agricultural minister were met with silent protest votes. Larry Murrin's position as Bord Bia chair was debated in the Dail but ultimately the postion was protected by a 89-61 vote. Photo: Douglas O'Connor Heated exchanges broke out in the chamber of Galway County Council this week after a countermotion was tabled that effectively cancelled an earlier motion calling on Larry Murrin to step down as chairman of Irish food board Bord Bia. Across the country, various local authorities have had motions tabled calling Mr Murrins resignation, and Galway County Councillor Sean Cunniffe of Independent Ireland attempted to bring that call to Galways February plenary meeting. However, several councillors argued that removing Mr Murrin would neither resolve the challenges facing farmers nor put more money in their pockets. That position led to a countermotion from Fine Gael councillor Jimmy McClearn, urging an examination of Bord Bias farm-inspection regime and an immediate dialogue between farmers, farming organisations, Bord Bia and the Agriculture Minister to resolve the existing impasse. This is required to protect farm incomes, the integrity of Bord Bia, the future of CAP negotiations, and their impact on communities. The current Bord Bia farm inspection regime also needs to be examined, the countermotion stated. Cllr Cunniffe insisted his original motion was not intended as a personal attack, but to safeguard the integrity of Irish food production. Its not about a head on a plate; its about leadership and vision, he said. Its putting somebody at the head of Bord Bia who has the principles of Irish farming at the forefront. Calls for increased dialogue between wider organisations like Bord Bia, farmers, farming companies, adn the agricultural minister were met with silent protest votes. Farmers want the quality of Irish meat to be the best of the world. The Common Agricultural Policy became a sticking point in the chamber discussion, given its significance as a financial lifeline for rural farmers. Fine Gael councillor Andrew Reddington challenged colleagues to now try and vote against CAP, given its necessary contributions to the farming economy. Many councillors spoke not only as public representatives but also as consumers of Irish beef. While most agreed reform within Bord Bia was needed, there was no consensus on the best approach. Councillor Noel Thomas argued it had become incredibly clear that Larry Murrins position is untenable. Having attended a meeting in Claremorris where calls for Mr Murrins removal accompanied demands for a review of Bord Bia, he said it was evident no dialogue was happening in the first place. Others urged a broader perspective. Fianna Fail Councillor Cillian Keane, who holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences from University College Dublin, argued that Bord Bias wider remit was being overlooked. Highlighting the Quality Assurance Scheme, producer standards and the Origin Green initiative, he said: Bord Bia is not solely about farmers, its about food protection. The fundamental question here is whether we believe in free trade. When Cllr McClearns amendment was read into the record, uproar followed, with Cllr Cunniffe branding it an abuse of process. Larry Murrin's position as Bord Bia chair was debated in the Dail but ultimately the postion was protected by a 89-61 vote. Photo: Douglas O'Connor Today's News in 90 - Friday February 27 Cllr Cunniffe and several colleagues disputed whether the amendment qualified as a true countermotion, given that it replaced a call for Mr Murrins removal with a broader proposal for institutional dialogue. Explained by Galway Director of Services Michael Owens, under council standing orders, once a countermotion is passed by majority, the original motion is automatically scrapped. Despite strong objections, the vote proceeded. Cllr Cunniffe became the first of several members to refuse to cast a vote when called. After having his name read out three times, council staff confirmed that they will be taking silence as an abstention. Joining him were almost all Independent Ireland councillors, including Cllr Declan Geraghty, Cllr Declan Kelly, as well as Cllr Seamus Walsh and Cllr Noel Thomas, who said they did not recognize what is going on here. Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture. Photo: PA I guess we can make up any motions we want, Cllr Thomas added in the fray. Earlier in February, Larry Murins seat was ultimately protected in a Dail Eireann vote after Sinn Fein sought his removal. That motion followed discoveries from the Irish Farmers Association that 1pc of beef used by Mr Murrins company had originated in Brazil, a sensitive issue given his role in promoting Irish beef abroad. In the end, the countermotion carried with 24 votes, largely from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors, wiping out the original proposal. Twelve councillors abstained. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme. Man (76) avoids jail for 6,000 fake ID scheme to bring woman (20) into the country Pair who met on dating website broke up two months later Roger Bishop at Ennis Circuit Court. Photo: Eamon Ward Gordon Deegan Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 06:30 A three-times married 76-year-old man paid 6,000 for a fake French ID card to secure the unlawful entry into the State of a 20-year-old woman he met on a dating website, a court has heard. Row erupts as Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan moves to cut solicitors criminal legal aid fees Minister wants to introduce one flat fee of 455 per client for solicitors in district court criminal cases Solicitors in dispute with Jim O'Callaghan over criminal legal aid fee cuts Shane Phelan Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 06:30 Solicitors are at loggerheads with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan over planned reforms to criminal legal aid payments that would cut fees for an average-length district court case by about 24. European Newspaper Awards: Mediahuis Ireland wins 10 prizes, including for podcast and cover design Weekend Magazine received six awards and Review won two, while The Indo Daily took a prize for its podcast on DJ Carey Winning 'Weekend Magazine' cover 'Good news', which highlighted the positives stories of 2024 Sarah O'Mahony Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 06:30 Mediahuis Ireland has received 10 Awards of Excellence across several categories in the European Newspaper Awards. High rent, huge demand, poor supply, flaky landlords young Irish emigrants discover housing crisis isnt just at home With thousands leaving the country for pastures new in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, many are finding that the grass is not always greener... Ryan Murphy from Dublin is living in the Netherlands Amy Donohoe Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 06:30 Everyone reading this likely knows somebody in their 20s who moved abroad in the hope of a better life. Whether they hopped across the pond to the UK or heading down under to Australia, many young people do not see a viable future in Ireland. Its the quickest way to understand a place Irish foodies on their supermarket safaris Swapping sightseeing for checking out local grocery stores and markets when youre on holidays is one of this year's top travel trends. Some well-know chefs and foodies tell us about their favourite places to do it... Supermarket safari Ali Dunworth Sat 28 Feb 2026 at 06:30 One of my first trips outside Ireland was to London as a teenager, and Harrods Food Hall was top of my list. I still remember roaming those decadent aisles, poring over displays of exotic fruit and luxury food, then spending most of my holiday money on glistening, intricate tarts in the bakery. Its great to see Greek wines becoming more widely available, and at various price points too. Arguably, the real value lies at the upper ends of the scale. Todays example of Xinomavro (a grape whose name translates to sour black) will appeal to fans of northern Italian Barolo, with its elegant power and its savoury complexity. It shines brightest in Naoussa in Macedonia in the far north of mainland Greece: similar expressions include Alpha Estate Axia (26, blackrockcellar.com) and Magoutes Xinomavro Siatista Rouge (33, whelehanswines.ie). Greeces most common and versatile red wine grape, Agiorgitiko, is more accessible in price and in style as per two examples here today. Not unlike Merlot, it typically produces fruity wines with soft tannins, and in the right conditions, such as the higher-altitude slopes of Nemea in the Peloponnese peninsula good acidity for refreshing balance. OBrienss excellent Gaia Agiorgitiko (21.95) is available via its app for 16.47. Did you know? Greek wines are incredibly diverse, with over 300 indigenous varieties grown in terroirs as varied as sandy islands to steep mountainside vineyards and many wineries are open to visitors (see winesofgreece.org). Wines of the week The weekend treat Kanakaris Select Vines Agiorgitiko 2023 Kanakaris Select Vines Agiorgitiko 2023, PGI Peloponnese, Greece, 12.5pc, 24.95 An appealing wine for these mercurial months with its warmth and richness, this offers liquorice-spiced blackberry and plum notes with hints of coffee and dark chocolate, and smooth tannins thanks to six months in second- and third-fill barrels. From a third-generation family-run winery featuring grapes grown in Nemea in the 200-metre foothills of Mount Koutsi, this is a good-quality introduction to Greeces workhorse red grape that is capable of complexity when handled well. The Corkscrew, Woodberrys, The 1601, Redmonds, McHughs, Mitchell & Son; mitchellandson.com The crowd-pleaser Moderne Allegorie Peloponnese Agiorgitiko Moderne Allegorie Peloponnese Agiorgitiko, Greece, 13pc, 14.99 A good choice for a casual gathering, thanks to its pocket-friendly price and soft-edged, fruit-forward profile, with lots of ripe blackberry, plum and cherry and light smooth tannins. The Grapevine, Coopers, wineonline.ie The gastro blowout Kir-Yianni Ramnista Naoussa Xinomavro Kir-Yianni Ramnista Naoussa Xinomavro, Macedonia, Greece, 14.5pc, 36 An elegant beauty, with fine firm tannins making it very food friendly, yet delicate and layered with sweet-savoury aromas of tomato leaf, cherry and red currant. JJ ODriscolls (Cork), The Corkscrew, McHughs, Jus de Vine, Martins, thenudewineco.ie, wineonline.ie President hesitates as strike could lead to kind of forever war he criticises US president Donald Trump is in a bind of his own making. Photo: Reuters Donald Trump is fond of card analogies. Last year, he said that Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, held none, implying that a Russian victory was inevitable. In his showdown with Iran, the US president would appear to hold all the cards the worlds most powerful man concentrating the planets most formidable firepower against a regime that has weakened on multiple fronts in recent years. Yet weakness has not succumbed to strength, much to his bewilderment. So much for Thucydides and his maxim about the strong doing what they can and the weak suffering what they must. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps envoy-at-large, said in exasperation this week that the president was curious why Iran had not capitulated. Perhaps Iran has grasped something that Mr Trump has not: holding good cards does not always mean holding a strong hand. Like an inexpert bridge player, Mr Trump appears to have overbid, and is now struggling to make contract. Flush from the clinical operation to seize Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, the US president believed he could replicate the triumph in the Middle East. His pledge to rescue Irans protesters emboldened them to stay on the streets, where they were slaughtered in their tens of thousands. But the hazards are multiplying. Mr Trump is at last colliding with geopolitical realities he has long skirted. Last years destruction of Irans nuclear facilities, another one-and-done demonstration of US firepower, appears to have convinced him that war was easy. US president Donald Trump is in a bind of his own making. Photo: Reuters That mission succeeded in part because it had a clear, limited goal. This one does not. As critics have noted, Mr Trump seems intent on war, but uncertain what he wants from it. Military action without a stated objective is rarely a recipe for success. Iran senses that Mr Trump is in a bind. For all Washingtons military superiority, Tehran retains asymmetric deterrence it can impose costs that may well be greater than the Trump administration is willing to bear. Iran responded to previous US actions the strikes on its nuclear facilities, or the killing in 2020 of Qassim Soleimani with restraint. Iran will not abandon its missiles, its nuclear infrastructure or its regional militias Senior officials in Tehran warn that this time will be different. Iran will escalate rather than defuse, knowing that ballistic missile strikes on US bases across the Middle East would risk drawing Mr Trump into the kind of forever war he once condemned, thereby alienating a crucial part of his base. This dilemma explains some of the diplomatic contortions of recent weeks. At times, US demands have been maximalist, requiring Iran to abandon not only its nuclear ambitions but also its missile programme and support for anti-Israel armed groups. Yet in his State of the Union address this week, Mr Trump appeared to lower the bar, suggesting that Tehran could avert war by uttering those secret words: we will never have a nuclear weapon. But this has never been the issue. Iran has repeated such pledges for years, even issuing a fatwa declaring the peaceful intent of its nuclear programme. The problem has never been what Iran says. It is what Iran does. The protean nature of the US position may be strategic ambiguity or it may reflect uncertainty in Washington about what success looks like. Tehran may conclude that Mr Trump is desperate for a fudge, and that one can be supplied. Demonstrators hold images of Reza Pahlavi, an Iranian opposition figure, during a protest in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. Photo: Reuters Iran will not abandon its missiles, its nuclear infrastructure or its regional militias. But it could restate its nuclear pledge and accept limits on uranium enrichment, something it is not presently able to do anyway. Yet even if Iran threw in a few additional sweeteners allowing a resumption of United Nations nuclear inspections or granting US companies access to Irans energy sector it would be hard even for Mr Trump to sell this as a decisive diplomatic victory. Hawks are already circling. Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican senator and staunch Trump ally, warned that if there is a consideration of allowing Iran to have a very small enrichment of uranium for face-saving purposes... screw that. Yet failure risks hurting Mr Trump more than Iran. The Islamic regime appears convinced it can weather a US attack and retaliate in ways that inflict pain on its president. The omens are poor. A YouGov poll published this week found that just 27pc of Americans support a strike on Iran a figure that would surely fall if US soldiers were killed or the conflict slid into a messy stalemate. Mr Trump is in a predicament. His critics will say it is one of his own making. Kyiv and Moscow locked in arms race to produce a technological leap as conflict rumbles on Four years of fighting in Ukraine has ripped up the handbook on conventional warfare. The days of long-range artillery duels and tank manoeuvres are long gone, giving way to something perhaps more terrifying. It has been said that character develops in darkness. That may be true, but it can also be broken by it. Especially when it was the State that not only turned out the lights, but also turned the key on the most vulnerable in its care, and then turned its back on them. It took almost eight weeks of a hunger strike outside the Dail for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools to be listened to, and for their grievances to be addressed. The protest ended after a set of proposals was agreed with Taoiseach Micheal Martin. At the time, last November, survivor Maurice Patton OConnell said he was very happy with the package. We are getting two apologies from the State, with criminal records being wiped clean, he added. When you consider the crime involved was being born in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the aggravated offence of being poor, you begin to get a sense of the monstrous injustice done. The Government said it would provide financial assistance, priority access for social housing and a range of healthcare supports to survivors of residential abuse in industrial schools. The official state position had, until then, been that dealing with their needs was complex. The survivors felt they had no recourse but to take matters into their own hands. By starving themselves, they got the attention their cause demanded. What happened to you was wrong, shocking and should never have happened When they came off their protest, Fianna Fail TD for Kerry Michael Cahill, who had worked with the group, said: All I pray is that nobody involved in this hunger strike protest suffers any lasting effects of the ordeal and that they are now looked after in a human and dignified way. Now they finally have heard the words they fought to hear. I am very sorry for what was done to you, Mr Martin said in the Dail. What happened to you was wrong, shocking and should never have happened. The Taoiseach also recalled how in January 2021 on behalf of the government and the State he had apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a mother and baby or county home institutions. Such treatment was unforgivable, he said, adding that the Government recognised the suffering that this abuse has caused, and promised continued support. Abuse ruined their childhoods and was, and remains, an ever-present part of their adult lives, he said. Yet what survivors and many others may well wonder is why it took so long and so much anguish to acknowledge the States betrayal of its duties of care. For the Ryan Report in 2009 had already set out vivid and deeply disturbing accounts of the incidence of historical abuse of children. All of this happened in Irish residential institutions particularly industrial schools and reformatories, run by religious orders as spelled out by Martin. The criminalising of blameless children leaves an indelible stain on our State. But it is also deeply troubling that it took the selfless heroism of survivors to force the State to treat it as such. Irish brothers and self-made billionaires Patrick and John Collison are shaking up the world of e-commerce. Rumours are swirling that Stripe, their online payments platform, is sizing up a takeover of rival PayPal - the original online payments company. If it goes ahead, the deal would redraw the map of global finance and make Irelands richest company the largest western digital payments platform outside Mastercard and Visa. PayPal, founded in 1998, became the first major brand to make paying online easy and secure. Stripe, however, which launched in 2010, has since overtaken it, becoming a core utility for global ecommerce. Last year alone, Stripe processed almost $2tn in payments, about 1.6pc of the worlds GDP. Buying PayPal would make Stripe the biggest western digital payments platform after Mastercard and Visa. So just how did two brothers from rural Tipperary build a tech giant now valued at almost 135bn? And what could this potential takeover mean for Irelands tech sector and PayPals 1,500 Irish employees? On todays Indo Daily Tessa Fleming is joined by Adrian Weckler, technology editor with the Sunday and Irish Independent, and host of the Big Tech Show, to unpack the rise of the Collison tech bros, the richest Irish people in history, and how they may be on the cusp of becoming even wealthier. The famous Four Liar clock-faces on St Annes Church at Shandon in Cork city have been renovated in what the citys lord mayor has called a project to safeguard part of Corks soul. The renovation work on the iconic landmark has included the repainting and gilding of the clock numerals and the reintroduction of the minute markers, an element which had been missing since the 1960s. The church towers stonework has also been cleaned and the original 300-year-old front door refurbished. The restoration project is now nearly complete and the scaffolding has been removed from the tower, allowing the restored clock to be seen from across the city again. The famous quirk that earned the clock its nickname with the four faces showing slightly different times has been maintained, with the faces only showing the same time on the hour. This is a great day for the city. With its restored clock-faces and clock mechanism, and its renewed stonework, St Annes at Shandon is ready to face the future. Shandon, with its iconic red-and-white facade, its clock faces and famous bells, is one of Corks most beloved landmarks. It is part of the very cultural and social fabric of the city itself, it is woven into the story of us, it is a symbol of the city, it is part of us, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, said. The lord mayor paid tribute to everyone involved in the project. Behind this achievement stands an exceptional community of experts and craftspeople whose dedication has brought new life to this iconic building. I want to pay tribute to the specialists who worked with extraordinary skill and care, respecting centuries-old techniques while applying modern craftsmanship of the highest standard. They have helped safeguard part of Corks soul, he said. St Annes Church was built in 1722 with the clock installed in 1847. Perched high on a hill on the citys northside, the church is famous not only for its clock but also for its goldie fish salmon weathervane and the eight 6-tonne bells from 1750 that visitors to the tower can ring. The Church of Ireland building is the oldest church in continuous use in Cork city with weekly services still taking place there. Cork City Council received 250,000 in funding from the Department of Heritage, Local Government and Housing under the Historic Structures fund in 2025 and further supplemented this by 340,000, bringing the total expenditure on the project to 590,000. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. News Cork Palestinian solidarity group 'delighted' their St Patricks Day flag request gets approved Midleton will fly the Palestinian flag as part of a display of national flags on St Patricks Day after councillors unanimously agreed to do so in a meeting this week with the decision hailed by a local pro-Palestine group as fantastic. Minister of State Niall Collins calls at Cork event for automatic ban for uninsured drivers However, Niall Collins says tougher penalties will be introduced for offending drivers at event in Charleville Niall Collins Kevin Galvin Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 06:30 A junior minister has warned that drivers could face harsher penalty point sanctions for road misdemeanours and said anyone caught driving without insurance should receive a minimum two-year ban. The comments were recently made by Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty at Sinn Feins Commission on the Future of Ireland in Cork as he reiterated the need for the Taoiseach to step up. There is a responsibility on all of us who believe in Irish unity to start the discussions and answer the tricky questions on what it will look like, but there is a huge responsibility on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Deputy Doherty said the Taoiseach has a responsibility on behalf of the State because it is in our Constitution. As the President Catherine Connolly says, she gives voice to the aspirations of the Irish people through the Constitution and that is that we should be united. The Taoiseach is really offside in relation to this here. It wont stop the inevitable. The momentum will continue to grow, and he needs to get with it. "There is a responsibility on all of us to discuss and to shape what Irish unity will look like, stressed the Donegal TD who pointed to growing demographic changes throughout the island. The Good Friday Agreement states very clearly that there can be a referendum on Irish unity. Anybody who knows anything about politics, knows about the changes that are happening in the north. The demographic shifts. Michelle ONeill is the First Minister, a Republic in that position. When the north was created in its sectarian way with an inbuilt unionist majority, that was never expected. Look at how Belfast has changed in relation to a nationalist majority. There is a momentum there. Demographics are changing, but the desire for Irish unity is there. Unionists are also being part of this conversation as time goes by, he added. On the issue of the need to achieve reconciliation before unity, a point repeatedly made by Micheal Martin in recent years, Deputy Doherty said reconciliation is part of the planning of a new Ireland. I am never one to quote Leo Varadakar but let there be a first. Leo Varadkar made the point, if you had a predetermined notion that you had to have reconciliation then we would never have a Good Friday Agreement. Reconciliation is part of the planning of a new Ireland. This isnt about adding 26 counties to six, added Mr Doherty. It isnt about erasure. It is about creating a new island, what is the best of us, north and south together. This is just a way of Micheal Martin trying to block the inevitable. It is very foolish because the referendum will happen and there is a responsibility on the government to prepare for it. Sinn Feins finance spokesperson said Fianna Fail and Micheal Martin need to commence preparatory work for referendums and making detailed plans. Right across the political divide with the exception of Fianna Fail, we have the former leader of Fine Gael saying we need to prepare, we have the President of Ireland saying we need to prepare. We have nationalism north and south, saying we need to prepare. Micheal Martin seems to be stuck in a position which he is setting his face against it. I think it is really regrettable. The enthusiasm of young people in seeking a united Ireland greatly pleases Pearse, who said Irish unity is an opportunity to reinvent Ireland. Different people from every sector are talking about the idea of Irish unity, but young people are driving this. Young people have moved way beyond where politics is. Go to a Wolfe Tones or Kneecap concert and listen to what the crowd are talking and chanting about. They know that we need to be united. They know that they want Irish unity. They also know that Irish unity isnt about some romantic notion. It is about recreation of a nation. It is making sure that we have a fair opportunity, a quality of life, housing and health and all of the opportunities that were promised in the 1916 Proclamation. This is an opportunity to reinvent Ireland and young people are going to be the driving force behind that, he added. The Welsh brothers, Tom and Ed Russell, will take to the stage at the Dublin venue on March 16 inside the Home of Guinness. Pic: Jasmina Wood OVERMONO will perform at the Guinness storehouse on March 16. Pic: Jasmina Wood Globally acclaimed electronic duo Overmono are set to perform a special Face 2 Face DJ set at the Guinness Storehouse as part of this years St Patricks weekend celebrations. The Welsh brothers, Tom and Ed Russell, will take to the stage at the Dublin venue on March 16 for what organisers describe as an intimate and immersive performance inside the Home of Guinness. The show will see the dancefloor positioned around the stage, bringing the audience closer to the pairs high-impact set, which has become a hallmark of their live performances. The DJ duo is known for blending nostalgic 90s rave, breakbeat and techno with modern UK Garage. They are known for their high-energy yet melancholic hits like club ready and So U Know, along with their critically acclaimed album like Good Lies. Support on the night will come from Irish acts Casio and OneCanChan, followed by Derv and Viki Dos Santos, who will also perform face-to-face sets ahead of the headline show. Overmono previously played their first ever gig in Limerick and their return to Dublin over the St Patricks weekend is expected to draw strong demand following a landmark run of international festival appearances in recent years. The Welsh brothers, Tom and Ed Russell, will take to the stage at the Dublin venue on March 16 inside the Home of Guinness. Pic: Jasmina Wood The duo said they are looking forward to returning to Ireland for the show. Were looking forward to being back in Dublin. Theres an incredible energy performing for an Irish crowd, and to do it at such an iconic place is special, they said. Catherine Toolan, managing director of Diageo Irish Brand Homes, said the event reflects the Storehouses ambition to create standout cultural moments during key points in the Irish calendar. Having Overmono perform at the Guinness Storehouse this St Patricks weekend is a powerful reflection of our ambition to create bold, memorable cultural moments, she said. Bringing global talent into the heart of Dublin allows us to celebrate Irish creativity in new and exciting ways. She added that a contribution from every ticket sold will be donated to the Guinness Dublin 8 Community Fund, which supports local charities, community groups and education initiatives in the area. Tickets for the show will go on sale on March 2 at 12pm via the Guinness Storehouse website. Priced at 30, each ticket will include a pint of Guinness or Guinness 0.0, with purchases limited to two per transaction. The one-night event will take place on March 16 as part of the venues St Patricks weekend programme. Flat Pat: St Patrick is loaded onto a truck to be taken away. Image: Skyline Webcams Defying gravity: The statue of St Patrick is lowered down from the side of the pub. Image: Skyline Webcams Statue up there? The St Patrick statue on the Temple Bar pub. Image: Skyline Webcams A four-metre-tall Saint Patrick statue holding a pint of Guinness that appeared in Temple Bar has been removed following an intervention from Dublin City Council (DCC). The sudden installation of the statue above the well-known Temple Bar pub yesterday inspired mixed reactions. Some decried it as tacky, while others saw it as a fun way to cater to the large tourist contingent in the area as St Patricks Day approaches. Saint Patricks pint was swiftly covered, however, with the bars manager, Tom Cleary, saying on Newstalk yesterday that it was intended to be a chalice, but a Guinness pint was put in his hand instead. "I think somebody painted it black in transit, and we may have got in a little trouble for that, he said, but declined to elaborate on who raised the issue. "Ill let you figure that out yourself, he said. Statue up there? The St Patrick statue on the Temple Bar pub. Image: Skyline Webcams Irelands patron saint didnt spend too long atop the pub, however, as this morning he was spotted being loaded onto a trailer and moved out of the area by workmen. A spokesperson for DCC confirmed that the authority was behind the sudden removal, saying that they became aware of it yesterday morning. "Following discussions between our Planning Enforcement Section and the owner of the premises he agreed to remove it by lunchtime today, they said. "The structure has been removed, as was agreed. When asked about the statues critics yesterday, Mr Cleary said theres always going to be people begrudging, no matter what youre doing in life, in any business. I think if theyre not talking about you, youre not doing it right. And to people who are saying they dont like it, I mean, tough, he added. Defying gravity: The statue of St Patrick is lowered down from the side of the pub. Image: Skyline Webcams Mr Cleary said that in his view, the installation didnt need planning permission. "We have the Christmas tree there year-round, and of course, you have to get pre-approval for whatever you want up there. We had a Christmas tree for the last number of years, he said. "Weve got the lights, we have the shamrocks, we even had a couple of reindeer on the roof as well this Christmas. But everything is pre-approved. The Temple Bar pub has become a major visitor hotspot over the years, featuring live music, bright lights and a webcam live-streaming its frontage online 24 hours a day. Flat Pat: St Patrick is loaded onto a truck to be taken away. Image: Skyline Webcams However, it has been criticised for high pricing and image as a tourist trap. Diageo, the drinks firm that owns Guinness, did not respond to requests for comment. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Sligo woman and breast cancer survivor, Ruth Maxwell from Cloonloo, is calling on her local community to support the Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, March 20. Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2025 after experiencing ongoing and persistent breast pain. Her treatment included surgery and radiation, she is thankfully now doing well. Reflecting on her cancer experience, Ruth said: After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I visited the Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centre and spoke with the nurse; she gave me a booklet on my cancer and what to expect. "That night, sitting by the fire, the nurse had circled all the sections that I would need to understand. That booklet honestly became my bible, guiding me through everything. Surviving cancer takes more than strength for those of us who have gone through the journey. It takes services, research, nurses, and the people who stand beside you when it matters most. Every euro raised on Daffodil Day is crucial and makes a real lasting difference, fuelling life-changing cancer research and vital support services. I would encourage everyone to please get out there on Daffodil Day, March 20, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community. The Irish Cancer Society is there to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer. Thanks to the amazing generosity of the public the Irish Cancer Society invests in ground-breaking cancer research and delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Sligo. In 2025, thanks to the publics support the following was provided: Over 115 free lifts to bring Sligo-based cancer patients to their treatment Over 620 free counselling sessions for people living in Sligo Over 150 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Sligo to die at home surrounded by loved ones Irish Cancer Society nurses had over 135 conversations with people from Sligo on its Support Line and Daffodil Centres Irish Cancer Society CEO Nikki Gallagher said: Cancer doesnt wait and neither can we. This year, thousands of people in Ireland will hear the words, You have cancer. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, a future suddenly filled with uncertainty. But this Daffodil Day, there is also determination, compassion and groundbreaking research driving real progress. Daffodil Day 2026 is about turning solidarity into action. The funds raised dont just support vital, life-changing cancer research they provide immediate, practical help for people facing cancer right now. From free counselling and transport to treatment, to Night Nursing care that allows someone to spend precious time at home, your support makes an extraordinary difference. Communities across Sligo and throughout Ireland will once again come together to paint the country yellow standing shoulder to shoulder with patients and their families. But we need this to be our biggest Daffodil Day yet. When you donate or get involved, youre not just giving money youre giving comfort, hope and time. Together, we can ensure that no one in Ireland faces cancer alone. Where donations go: A volunteer for an RNLI group in Wexford has been awarded a prestigious medal after serving as a lifesaving volunteer for a milestone 20 years. Originally from Dublin, Fergus Slevin has been in Courtown for around 25 years, almost the same amount of time he has served as a volunteer for Courtown RNLI. When I moved down Id seen the lifeboat coming and going and thought, I must look into it, he said. A Wexford woman and cancer survivor is encouraging her local community to go all in against cancer for this years Daffodil Day on Friday, March 20, an initiative by the Irish Cancer Society. Hailing from Gorey, Bernie Kirwan (66) was diagnosed with breast cancer 25 years ago, after discovering a lump. A retired nurse, Bernie was found to be stage three and aggressive. After undergoing treatment, Bernie took part in a clinical trial for chemotherapy and is now cancer-free. She reflected on her battle with cancer. I knew I needed more than just the chemo thrown at me, I knew I needed emotional support I rang the Irish Cancer Society Support Line. All my friends and my family were really good, but I just needed to talk to a stranger, Bernie said. With a keen interest in writing, Bernie released a self-published book titled A Peaceful Mind in 2008 where she recalled her experience with her cancer diagnosis ad receiving treatment. To celebrate being 25 years cancer-free, she re-released the book as an e-book version, and at the time, said her story was just as relevant now as it was back then. Bernie Kirwan with her husband, Michael. Calling on the community to support Daffodil Day, Bernie praised the services of the Irish Cancer Society including the support phone line. The Cancer Nurse on the Support Line was absolutely fantastic. It was lovely to talk to somebody who helped me realise what I was going through was perfectly normal, she said. Put your head down, get the right advice, go to the right organisations, go to the Irish Cancer Society. In 2025, support for the Irish Cancer Society helped provide several services to Wexford alone including over 680 free lifts to bring Wexford-based cancer patients to their treatment, nearly 790 free counselling sessions. In addition to this, around 245 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Wexford to die at home surrounded by loved ones and over 390 conversations were had with Wexford patients on the support line and in the Daffodil centres. Every euro raised on Daffodil Day is crucial and makes a real lasting difference, fuelling life-changing cancer research and vital support services. I would encourage everyone to please get out there on Daffodil Day and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community, Bernie said. The Irish Cancer Society is there to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer, she added. Irish Cancer Society CEO, Edel Shovlin said Daffodil Day 2026 is about turning solidarity into action and not waiting around for cancer to go away. Cancer doesnt wait - and neither can we. This year, thousands of people in Ireland will hear the words: You have cancer. Communities across Wexford, and throughout Ireland will once again come together to paint the country yellow, standing shoulder to shoulder with patients and their families, Edel said. To donate, please click here. The average budget for an Irish wedding is now between 10,000 and 20,000. Wexford Arts Centre, one of Irelands oldest regional hubs for arts and performance, having been established in 1974, has revealed details of its first ever wedding showcase. Based in the historic listed Cornmarket building, the site was purchased by Wexford Corporation from Mr John Grogan of Johnstown Castle in 1772. The construction of a market house was subsequently completed four years later in 1776. Now, the centre feels that it is ready to compete for a slice of the extraordinarily lucrative Irish wedding market. During the summer, it was reported that close to half of those getting married are willing to borrow money to celebrate the big day. The average budget for an Irish wedding is now between 10,000 and 20,000, according to research carried out by online savings platform Raisin Bank. For those who tied the knot in the past five years, the average wedding spend was around 10,000. The research found that 45pc of those surveyed said they were willing to go into debt to fund the marriage ceremony and celebrations on the day. Just 8pc of couples kept the cost of their celebrations under 1,000. A quarter spent between 20,000 and 49,999. The largest group, 30pc, landed in the 10,000 to 19,999 range. Wexford Arts Centre. On a per-guest basis, that translates to an average spend of 100 to 200. Another 28pc of respondents kept things modest, spending no more than 5,000. The showcase at Wexford Arts Centre will be a free event curated by Rosemary Hartigan, a leading wedding celebrant in Wexford and former Chairperson of Wexford Arts Centre. A couple can have a civil marriage ceremony in either a registry office or in a public venue that has been approved by the registry office. The centre believes that, with its stunning Georgian theatre, fully accessible building, smaller gallery space and modern mezzanine, it is ideally placed. On the day, couples can view the theatre and ceremony spaces, meet trusted local Wexford wedding suppliers, gather inspiration and practical advice, and discover how Wexford Arts Centre can provide a truly memorable backdrop for their special day, said a spokesperson. Whether you have performed here, worked backstage, exhibited your art, played a gig, or simply spent evenings immersed in the magic, this is a space that already holds your memories. The venue may also be of interest to couples looking to exchange vows in a unique cultural and heritage landmark in Wexford town. The event takes place on Sunday March 1 from 1pm until 4pm. For further information, visit wexfordartscentre.ie. Peter Murtagh and Dermod Dwyer from the Friends of the Cliff Walk campaign group at the start of the Greystones leg of the path to Bray. Photo: Mark Condren Cracks developing in the pathway on the Cliff Walk. Photo RPS Consultants Ltd. Members of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk Management Committee have been told sections of the route are in imminent danger of collapse and the public should not use it. The committee received a presentation from RPS Consultants Ltd at their latest meeting on February 25, (their third meeting in the space of a month), which highlighted further land sliding and regression on the Greystones side, specifically in areas previously identified as having the highest risk of failure. New cracks have developed in the pathway itself, indicating it could fail at any moment without prior warning. Specialists are being appointed to carry out rope-access inspections of the cliffs on the Bray side in the coming weeks. Wicklow County Council has officially commenced talks with affected landowners on the Greystones side regarding the proposed rerouting of the path. It was noted that if agreements cannot be reached through discussion, the council is prepared to initiate compulsory purchase proceedings to secure the necessary land. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) have been considered and publicly discussed for several years as a "last resort" to resolve the ongoing closure of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk. The need for CPOs was identified shortly after the walk's closure in March 2021. By late 2022, officials admitted that voluntary negotiations with a key landowner on the Greystones side had failed to reach a breakthrough. A critical delay occurred in December 2022 when Greystones district officials revealed the CPO process could not start due to a lack of specialised staff and a "significant workload" on existing administrative teams. The delay in securing the land meant that early fundingsuch as the 198,000 approved in 2021could not be utilised and has since seen multiple extensions. The council is making one final approach to property owners to purchase the land required for rerouting the path inland. Jackie Carroll, who is the district manager for the Bray Municipal District, recently told committee members that if these discussions are not productive, the local authority is now prepared to initiate formal CPO proceedings. Under Irish law, the council can compulsorily acquire land for "public infrastructure projects for the common good", provided they compensate the owner to a position where they are no better or worse off financially. Generating a CPO involves massive amounts of legal documentation and meticulous mapping of the proposed new route options. Even if initiated now, the CPO process itself often takes 12 to 18 months to finalise if appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala, contributing to the "conservative" 36-month estimate for reopening. A conservative estimate for rerouting just one kilometre of the walk approximately 50 metres inlandthe preferred long-term solution requiring land acquisitionis around 1 million. This includes land acquisition/CPO costs, consultant and legal fees alongside fencing and trail construction. Council officials have suggested a "ballpark" final bill of 8 million to 10 million to address the seven high-risk areas and make the cliff faces safe. The council recently requested initial government funding worth between 200,000 and 300,000 to begin the next phase of detailed design and landowner negotiations. For some historical context, in a separate 2011 CPO for an approx. 3.5-acre site behind Burnaby Lawn along the Three Trout River in Charlesland, the council was required to borrow 3 million to complete a purchase based on historic values, illustrating the high potential cost of land in the area. Another proposal discussed involved opening a pathway north of the danger zone on the Greystones side down to the North Beach, allowing walkers to bypass the unstable section via the shoreline. The members also received a progress update on ongoing procurement of contractors to undertake detailed slope investigations and methodology required for the Bray side, all subject to environmental considerations. In a lengthy statement, committee chair Cllr Erika Doyle reiterated that the group is united in working with the council to find a safe way forward, despite the "frustrating" and "challenging" nature of the project. The latest committee meeting proved useful, both in terms of receiving the most recent updates from consultants RPS and discussing next steps. I'm delighted that approaches have now been made to the landowners on the Greystones side, and I hope these talks are productive and proceed with a sense of urgency. Assessment continues the Bray side and specialists will carry out detailed inspections of the cliffs using rope equipment in the coming weeks. While I understand the frustration from the people who miss the walk, I want to reassure the public that the necessary work is taking place behind the scenes to get us to the next stage of this challenging project. Meanwhile the message from RPS is stark. The Cliff Walk is unsafe and becoming more unsafe by the day. I urge people to take note of the safety advice and not access the walk at this time. Cllr Joe Behan, who is a member of the committee, stated it is his "honest opinion" that the amenity is currently not safe. He noted that consultant reports clearly show sections liable to subside at any time and overhead rocks that could fall without warning. He confirmed that the council received "very strong legal advice" from barrister Carol O Farrell on January 29, which effectively leaves them with no choice but to keep the walk closed until remediation is complete. Despite the public demand for reopening, Cllr Behan warned that they are "realistically looking at three years" for the necessary works to be done. He vowed to work "relentlessly" with the committee to ensure the final timescale is as short as humanly possible". Cllr Behan previously championed a move away from a "zero-risk" approach and formally proposed that the council adopt a "European approach" to safety, which distinguishes between natural "objective" dangers and human "subjective" dangersa motion that was unanimously agreed upon by the committee in late January 2026. Cllr Behan remains a vocal supporter of the Friends of the Cliff Walk and Bray Coast Care, criticising other political parties for blocking the latter group from formal committee membership at a recent district meeting. He continues to be highly critical of the council's decision to exclude the media from these committee meetings, arguing that because he could not invite reporters, he would continue to provide his own reports to the public via social media to maintain transparency and accountability. The Friends of the Cliff Walk group have renewed their call for a reopening by St Patricks Day 2026. They argue that "simple, safe, short-term solutions" exist if the council would only implement them. Wicklow County Council and RPS Consultants have effectively ruled out this deadline, as Bray Head is a Special Area of Conservation, any works must undergo strict screening under the EU Habitats Directive, which the council states cannot be bypassed for a quick reopening. However, the group continue to argue that the path could be made safe in a "matter of hours" by moving it five metres inland at slippage points, rather than waiting for years of engineering reports. Ironically, while the walk remains closed, Greystones is planning their St Patrick's Day Parade with the theme From Shore To Sea, celebrating the town's connection to the sea and coastal landscapes. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Criminal defence solicitors and barristers in Wicklow have warned that proposed changes to legal aid payments will place further strain on an already stretched justice system, as they voiced strong opposition to reforms announced this week by Jim OCallaghan. The Justice Minister plans to introduce a single flat fee of 455 for solicitors handling District Court criminal cases, regardless of how many times the case returns to court. Local practitioners say the move could penalise lawyers handling complex cases and may ultimately impact access to justice for vulnerable defendants appearing before Wicklows courts. Veteran solicitor Brendan Maloney, who has been practising since 1988 and runs his own firm in Bray, said the proposals demonstrate no understanding of the complexities of the work involved in many District Court cases and the level of involvement required of the solicitor. The principal of Brendan Maloney & Company Solicitors described the planned move to a single flat fee as a Trojan Horse, arguing that, while it is presented as administrative reform, it amounts in reality to an egregious attack on solicitors practising in the District Court, devaluing their work and their worth. Mr Maloney also rejected the departments suggestion that judges routinely grant multiple legal aid certificates for cases heard together. He said that does not reflect what he sees in court. I have rarely, if ever, seen separate certificates given for cases arising from the same date, he said. Where judges do grant separate certificates, it is usually because the cases relate to different incidents on different dates, each one being a separate case in its own right, noted Mr Maloney. He said the departments analysis risks creating the impression that the system is being misused, when that is not his experience of how the District Court operates. Barrister Sorcha Ni Neill Fulham, who is from Avoca and was called to the Bar in 2023, said the proposed overhaul represents a radical change to how criminal legal aid operates in the District Court. Ms Ni Neill Fulham, who practises almost exclusively in criminal law in the District and Superior Courts, said the flat fee model risks undermining the constitutional rights of accused persons. She rejected any suggestion that delays in the District Court are caused by defence practitioners, pointing out that adjournments often arise while awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, due to disclosure issues, or because State witnesses are unavailable. To be legally aided in ones defence is not a privilege or a gift from the State, it is a right, she said, warning that the effect of the proposal could be that vulnerable defendants are unable to secure representation. She added that the reforms are likely to face constitutional challenge if introduced. Ms Ni Neill Fulham finished her statement with a warning, saying that if Jim OCallaghan proceeds with the proposed reforms, she looks forward to seeing him in the High Court. Mr OCallaghans proposed changes have caused concern among younger practitioners in Wicklow too, including Kilcoole resident and local barrister Conor Rubalcava. This is another step back, he said. Since the crash in 2010, it has already gone three steps back. Speaking about the effects the changes will have on young barristers, he said: There will be very little incentive for solicitors to bring on a barrister for a District Court case. Mr Rubalcava, who is 27 years old and began practising in 2022, remarked that when he started out, there was no other option for us to get our foot on the legal ladder other than the District Court. He stated that he believes barristers will become extinct in the District Court. He noted that he believes 75pc of criminal barristers are gone within 10 years of entering practice. With the ministers recent proposals, he said that figure will only grow. Thats not good for anyones constitutional rights, said Mr Rubalcava. Former Garda Inspector turned barrister, Thomas Finnerty, who served 34 years with An Garda Siochana before enrolling at the Honourable Society of Kings Inns and qualifying as a barrister in 2020, stated that his main concern is for the younger members of the Bar, who, he said, will be unfairly impacted by the proposed changes in legal aid. He further remarked, echoing other commentators, that young practitioners are the lifeblood of the Bar of Ireland. Mr Finnerty added that these proposals will prohibit them from practising and will have a knock-on effect on the rights of all who are brought before the courts. Michael OConnor, a criminal defence solicitor based in Bray, said the proposed simplification of criminal legal aid would in reality decimate the practices of criminal lawyers working in the District Court. He argued that similar reforms in family law have already resulted in people going without representation because they cannot afford it, warning that the same outcome will follow in the criminal courts, where the stakes include the possibility of imprisonment. Mr OConnor said limiting the number of paid court appearances would effectively require solicitors to work for free once that cap is reached. Solicitors who practise criminal law provide a vital public service. This service has to be paid for, he said, adding that if lawyers are not properly remunerated, the administration of justice will suffer and more people will find themselves unrepresented in court. He stated that Minister OCallaghan is a lawyer and would be fully aware of the effects of his simplification proposals and yet he ploughs on. He added that these reforms are a disaster in waiting and they will be strongly opposed. For those working daily in Wicklows courts, the issue is not simply about fees, but about the future of criminal defence work at District Court level. They say the proposed changes risk driving experienced practitioners away and discouraging younger lawyers from entering the field. With strong opposition now emerging from across the Wicklow legal community, the coming months will be crucial in determining what shape criminal legal aid. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Documents reveal lavish nights out and plans to visit private island Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always insisted he went to New York in December 2010 with the sole purpose of breaking off his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. In his telling, there was no socialising of any sort. I felt that doing it over the telephone was the chickens way of doing it. I had to go and see him and talk to him, the former prince said in his Newsnight interview in 2019. If there was a party, then Id know nothing about that. US President Donald Trump on Friday raised the prospect of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, telling reporters at the White House that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was dealing with the issue at a "very high level." "The Cuban government is talking with us, and they're in a big deal of trouble," Trump said as he left the White House for a trip to Texas. "They have no money. They have no anything right now, but they're talking with us, and maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba." We got lost in Moscow and I thought Id never see my husband again: the Irish housewives who took on the USSR Former US president Bill Clinton said on Friday he had no idea of the crimes Jeffrey Epstein was committing and would not have flown on the late convicted sex offender's plane if he had any inkling of them. LATEST | Pakistan bombs targets in Afghan cities, minister calls it open war Pakistan carries out air and ground strikes inside AfghanistanBoth sides report heavy losses, issue conflicting tollsClashes erupted after Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes on Thursday nightFollow the latest on our Irish Independent live blog Pakistan in open war with Afghanistan after new strikes, defence minister says Irish Independent Newsdesk Reuters Fri 27 Feb 2026 at 08:10 Pakistan bombed Taliban government forces in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, the first time it has directly targeted its former allies over allegations they are harbouring militants, describing the situation as "open war". The US and Iran made significant progress in talks aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new US strikes on Iran, mediator Oman said yesterday, amid a large-scale US military build-up in the Middle East. The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their countries capitals, with technical-level discussions scheduled to take place next week in Vienna, Omani foreign minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X after the days talks ended in Switzerland. India and Brazil Target US$30 Billion Trade by 2030: Strategic Partnership Expands Across Minerals, Tech, and Healthcare India and Brazil have agreed to double bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2030, signaling a deeper strategic partnership focused on critical minerals, energy security, digital cooperation, and resilient supply chains amid growing global economic uncertainty. The announcement followed high-level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who visited India with a delegation of nearly 300 business representatives, underscoring the strong commercial intent behind the diplomatic engagement. Trade expansion signals strategic economic alignment Two-way trade between India and Brazil crossed US$15 billion for the first time in 2025, marking a 25 percent increase over the previous year. Building on earlier commitments to reach US$20 billion by 2030, both leaders agreed to significantly raise ambition and target US$30 billion by the end of the decade. Modi described the economic relationship as grounded in trust and long-term collaboration rather than transactional trade flows, while officials noted that deeper supply-chain partnerships and investment cooperation will be key drivers moving forward. The decision comes at a time when both economies are navigating external trade pressures, including elevated tariffs and shifting geopolitical alignments, prompting emerging markets to strengthen SouthSouth economic corridors. DOING BUSINESS IN INDIA EXPLORE IN-DEPTH INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS GUIDES. Explore vital economic, geographic, and regulatory insights for business investors, managers, or expats to navigate Indias business landscape. Our Online Business Guides offer explainer articles, news, useful tools, and videos from on-the-ground advisors who contribute to the Doing Business in India knowledge. Start exploring Critical minerals and steel supply chains move to the forefront A major outcome of the meeting was the signing of agreements on critical minerals and mining cooperation, reflecting Indias push to diversify sources of rare earths and reduce dependence on concentrated global suppliers. Brazil, already one of the worlds leading iron ore producers with substantial reserves of strategic minerals, is expected to play a stronger role in supporting Indias manufacturing expansion and infrastructure growth. Cooperation will likely focus on: Joint investments in mineral exploration and mining Development of steel sector infrastructure Long-term resource security partnerships Supply chain coordination for industrial manufacturing For India, which is expanding industrial capacity across electronics, infrastructure, and clean energy, secure access to minerals has emerged as a strategic priority rather than merely a trade issue. Technology, energy, and digital partnerships gain momentum Beyond commodities, the two leaders highlighted complementary strengths in technology and energy transition. Lula emphasized Indias capabilities in IT, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space technology, framing collaboration as part of an inclusive development agenda. Agreements signed include: A Joint Action Plan on Digital Partnership for the Future Cooperation in renewable energy and critical minerals Expanded cooperation across healthcare and pharmaceuticals Agreements supporting MSME entrepreneurship and crafts For investors, the breadth of cooperation suggests a shift toward multi-sector integration, combining digital infrastructure with industrial and energy collaboration. Healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and regulatory cooperation Healthcare cooperation gained substantial momentum with the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Brazils National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). The agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation in the regulation of pharmaceutical and medical products, covering: Pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drugs Biological products Medical devices Regulatory information exchange and capacity building The MoU aims to promote convergence in regulatory practices and strengthen mutual understanding of each countrys regulatory systems. By improving coordination and oversight, both sides seek to ensure the availability of safe, effective, and quality-assured medical products while encouraging supply chain resilience and access to affordable healthcare solutions. Officials noted that the agreement builds on existing bilateral health cooperation and reflects shared priorities among Global South partners in strengthening public health outcomes and regulatory best practices. For industry stakeholders, deeper regulatory alignment may facilitate smoother market entry, improved compliance clarity, and expanded pharmaceutical trade flows between the two markets. Also Read: Registering a Pharmaceutical Company in India: How to Obtain CDSCO & Drug License Approvals Defense and aviation collaboration expands Strategic cooperation also extended into defense and aerospace. Discussions included maintenance collaboration for French-origin Scorpene submarines through trilateral arrangements involving Indias shipbuilding sector and both navies. In civil aviation, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraers planned regional jet assembly operations in India could signal broader aerospace supply-chain integration, particularly if maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities are developed domestically. Multilateralism and trade architecture Both leaders framed their partnership within a broader vision of strengthening multilateral institutions and Global South cooperation. They also discussed expanding the IndiaMercosur Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with Lula indicating that recent trade agreements involving India may accelerate negotiations toward deeper trade integration with South America. The emphasis on multilateralism comes as emerging economies seek greater policy coordination amid rising fragmentation in global trade governance. Business outlook: What this means for investors The IndiaBrazil agreements point to a structural evolution in bilateral ties shifting from commodity-driven trade toward strategic industrial alignment. Key implications include: Resource security: New mineral supply pathways supporting Indias manufacturing ambitions New mineral supply pathways supporting Indias manufacturing ambitions Industrial expansion: Potential investment opportunities in steel, mining, and processing infrastructure Potential investment opportunities in steel, mining, and processing infrastructure Digital collaboration: Scope for cross-border partnerships in AI, digital public infrastructure, and tech innovation Scope for cross-border partnerships in AI, digital public infrastructure, and tech innovation Pharma growth: Regulatory cooperation could improve market access for Indian healthcare exporters Regulatory cooperation could improve market access for Indian healthcare exporters Global South alignment: Stronger institutional cooperation may create predictable long-term trade frameworks For businesses operating across Asia and Latin America, the partnership reflects a broader trend: emerging markets increasingly building direct strategic corridors to reduce exposure to geopolitical and trade volatility. Strategic takeaway India and Brazils decision to elevate trade ambitions and widen sectoral cooperation indicates that bilateral partnerships among large emerging economies are becoming a central feature of the global economic landscape. As supply chains diversify and industrial policies evolve, this relationship is likely to shape investment flows across mining, manufacturing, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and defense-linked industries over the coming decade. Image credit : X | The ongoing legal clash between HYBE and Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR, is still ongoing. Beyond the Bar Where to watch: Netflix The Judge Returns Where to watch: Disney+, TVING, Wavve, HBO Max, Viki Image credit : MBC | The Judge Returns poster. Extraordinary Attorney Woo Where to watch: Netflix The Judge From Hell Where to watch: Disney+, Wavve, Hulu Again My Life Where to watch: Viki Image credit : SBS | Again My Life poster. Pro Bono Where to watch: TVING, Netflix Memorist Where to watch: WeTV, Viki, iQIYI, Tubi, Roku Vincenzo Where to watch: Netflix, TVING Law and the City Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar, TVING, Viki K-pop headlines are currently dominated by three things: BTS' much-awaited comeback, BLACKPINKs EP DEADLINE, and the ongoing legal clash between HYBE and Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR.While fans continue to dissect every update from the courtroom, the real-life corporate dispute has unexpectedly reignited interest in legal dramas - especially ones where justice doesnt just rely on evidence, but on something supernatural.If you're closely following the legal tension in the K-pop industry and craving something equally intense - but with a twist - here are fantasy legal K-dramas that deliver verdicts with a dose of magic.At Yullim Law Firm, litigation head Yun Seok Hun is known for dismantling opponents with razor-sharp logic and fearless courtroom strategies. Brilliant but emotionally distant, he keeps colleagues at arm's length - until rookie lawyer Kang Hyo Min enters his team. Awkward yet fiercely principled, she constantly challenges his methods and mindset. Their clashes spark tension in and out of court, but as high-stakes cases mount, the unlikely duo begin shaping each other into sharper, stronger legal minds.Lee Han Yeong clawed his way into the judiciary despite humble beginnings, eventually aligning himself with his powerful father-in-law's law firm and compromising his integrity along the way. When guilt finally pushes him to sentence a corrupt chairman to prison, it costs him his life. But fate intervenes - he wakes up ten years in the past with a chance to rewrite history. Determined to correct his wrongs, he joins forces with prosecutor Kim Jin A to take down corruption before it consumes him again.Woo Young Woo, a 27-year-old attorney on the autism spectrum, boasts a genius-level IQ, an encyclopedic memory, and a law degree from Seoul National University. While her legal reasoning dazzles in the courtroom, everyday social interactions prove far more complicated. As she navigates prejudice, professional hurdles, and personal growth, her unconventional brilliance begins reshaping not just her firm's cases - but the people around her.Elegant and intimidating Judge Kang Bit Na harbors a deadly secret - she is a demon tasked with condemning remorseless wrongdoers to Hell. Her supernatural mission takes an unexpected turn when she encounters compassionate detective Han Da On, whose quiet pain and moral compass challenge her worldview. As their paths intertwine, justice becomes more than punishment, blurring the line between vengeance and redemption.After being murdered while probing deep-rooted political corruption, passionate prosecutor Kim Hui U is mysteriously sent back to his university days. Armed with memories of betrayal and unfinished justice, he begins strategically rebuilding his life to dismantle the powerful figures responsible for his death. Alongside the intelligent and well-connected Kim Hui A, he carefully pieces together a conspiracy that stretches into the highest levels of power.Once a high-profile judge chasing prestige, Kang David's flawless public image shatters after an unexpected scandal forces him to step down. Reinventing himself as a public interest lawyer, he joins the nonprofit "Pro Bono," where he meets the passionate and idealistic Park Gi Ppeum. As they use resources earned from defending conglomerates to fund legal aid for society's most vulnerable, their contrasting personalities spark both friction and purpose in their shared fight for meaningful justice.Detective Dong Baek has the rare ability to read memories through physical touch, a gift that has made him both famous and controversial. Fearless and impulsive, he often lets his fists speak first. His opposite is elite profiler Han Sun Mi, a criminal psychology prodigy driven by a hidden personal motive. When they confront a serial killer with powers rivaling their own, intellect and instinct collide in a psychological battle that tests the limits of their extraordinary abilities.Adopted and raised in Italy, Park Joo Hyeong grows up to become Vincenzo Cassano, a suave Mafia consigliere. Forced to return to South Korea amid mob conflict, he crosses paths with fiery lawyer Hong Cha Young, who shares his appetite for winning at any cost. Together, they take on a ruthless conglomerate, blending legal maneuvering with Mafia-style strategy to deliver a brand of justice that is anything but conventional.Veteran associate An Ju Hyeong has built a reputation for precision and results, viewing law as a puzzle of logic rather than a moral calling. Content with stability, he avoids ambition beyond his firm's walls - until workplace shifts disrupt his carefully controlled world. Alongside optimistic junior associate Kang Hui Ji and their tight-knit colleagues, he begins confronting not just complex cases but the deeper question of what it truly means to stand for justice, both inside and outside the courtroom. Responding to a sharp increase in borrower grievances, Greece has launched a special task force to crack down on loan servicers managing tens of billions of euros in household and business debt. The five-member working group, operating under the General Secretariat for Private Debt Management, is tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct, transparency failures, and harassment. The intensive oversight comes as these financial firms now manage over 92 billion euros in loans for more than 2.6 million Greek debtors as of late 2025. Under stringent European Union directives, servicers are legally required to protect borrower privacy, avoid undue pressure, and maintain free, transparent complaint procedures. They must also provide debtors with a personalized digital platform, updated at least monthly, detailing outstanding balances and payment schedules. The newly formed investigative unit will build secure case files, assess the validity of claims, and enforce strict compliance with national and EU regulations. Firms found violating the Bank of Greece Code of Conduct face severe penalties, including fines of up to 500,000 euros or the outright revocation of their operating licenses. The government's crackdown reflects mounting public pressure to enforce borrower protections more rigorously. Despite the rising tide of complaints, industry data shows an uptick in debt resolutions. Last year, servicers restructured 6.8 billion euros in loansa 9% increase from 2024. This included 3.6 billion euros in bilateral agreements and 1.6 billion euros settled through the state's Extrajudicial Mechanism, which saw a 50% jump in successful arrangements. By Yiorgos Pappous iefimerida.gr The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Friday, granted bail in the sum of N10m each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, shortly after their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge. The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation over alleged forgery of documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, allegedly used to lay claim to a property in London said to have been unlawfully procured by the late Jeremiah Useni. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications moved by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome, and F.R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni. Advertisement In a brief ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10m each with one surety each, who must own property within the FCT. She also ordered them to deposit their international passports with the court. The judge held that since the proceedings were conducted on a Friday, the defendants may return home if unable to perfect their bail conditions immediately, but must report back to court on Monday to do so, failing which they would be remanded in prison. Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, has affirmed the validity of the 2025 Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the substantive chairman of the party. Delivering judgment in Suit No. I/1336/2025 on Friday, the court upheld the amended originating summons filed by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi. Justice Akintola granted all 13 reliefs sought, ruling that the convention complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and other relevant electoral laws. Advertisement The court further dismissed the motions seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others. The judge had earlier rejected their application for joinder, describing it as lacking merit. A sign outside the Penn Museum at 33rd and South Street. Read more A person can spend hours at one of Philadelphias museums and still walk out feeling like they didnt get to see it all. But it isnt just a feeling. Most museums dont put their full collections on display, said Laura Hortz Stanton, director of collections at the Penn Museum. Advertisement Curators decide what objects can best tell what their exhibition is trying to convey. That led a reader to ask Curious Philly, The Inquirers forum for answering questions, what happens to the items that dont make the cut? They are definitely not just sitting there getting dusty in a room, Hortz Stanton said. In storage getting dusty? Hortz Stanton said thousands of non-exhibited items in the Penn Museums collections found other purposes last year. And, 5,000 college students were able to use them for classes and research. A lot of things happen when objects arent on display, everything from conservation to research to documentation, said Hortz Stanton. Museums aim to protect their inventory, while still keeping items available. The Museum of the American Revolution has a collection of 5,000 historical objects, such as archaeological material, documents, paintings, prints, and other items. But only about 300 items are on exhibit. They are not buried away and never to be seen again; we store all the collection here at the museum, said Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions. Many of our documents are not on display because they are extremely light-sensitive, but we take them on rotations. George Washingtons headquarters flag, for example, was put out for a special exhibition in 2025. The display was short-lived due to the brittleness of the silk. Its now back in storage. They are not the only ones keeping a rotation of unexhibited items for preservation. The Independence Seaport Museum keeps 60% to 80% of its 10,000 items in storage throughout the year. People often will say: Why are you hoarding all this stuff? said Peter Seibert, the museums president and CEO. Thats not the case; we want to get them out, its just that sometimes that is not always possible. His museum has items as small as a thimble and as big as a submarine and the cruiser Olympia. Keeping textiles safe from moths and documents from crumbling requires proper conditions, including acid-free boxes. For less-fragile items, life can go places. Museums often loan storage items to one another. Penn Museum, for example, recently loaned part of its collection to the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. This doesnt mean Philadelphians have lost the chance of seeing those items. Philly museums have benefited from getting items from other institutions such as the lunar module, which the Smithsonian lent to the Franklin Institute for 49 years. These days, however, lending contracts are much shorter, typically a year or two, Hortz Stanton said. READ MORE: Why the lunar module is leaving the Franklin Institute When storage used to be alive Collections are not storage; they are a living resource, said Paul Callomon, the Academy of Natural Science malacology collections manager. He views the 21 million items in the academys collection as an active resource to scientists all over the world. His department, in particular, has the third-largest shell collection in the world, he said, as well as a variety of fish, plants, and microscopic algae that are not usually available to everyday visitors. Ornithology collection manager Jason Weckstein sees the non-exhibited items being put to use daily. We make study skins, so we actually skin the bird, and we retain the skin and dissect the body, he said. We take tissue samples and take data on the internal organs of the body. Conservation matters For years, Penn Museum had two large 14th-century Buddhist murals on display in its rotunda space, but construction forced them to be pulled down for their protection. What began as a precaution turned into a multiyear mural conservation project. Over time, things may crack or materials may weaken; our conservationists are able to stabilize this object so they can be stored safely or eventually reinstalled, Hortz Stanton said. The conservation process involves documenting the condition of the items, looking at what it needs for long-term care, cleaning, and taking measures to stabilize an object, said Skic. How to access things in storage The Academy of Natural Sciences and Penn Museum have many of their items cataloged in an online database. Researchers and students anywhere can request to see materials. For Hortz Stanton, this conserves resources and protects fragile items. We are just one short part of the history of the things we are taking care of, a blip in time, Hortz Stanton said. The hope is that these objects are preserved for future generations. To make the items more available to the public, the academy holds a members night once a year. Animals, field books, photographs, and experimental projects not normally on exhibit become available for a night of knowledge. Not a member? Callomon said anyone can tour the collection if they make arrangements. Bird clubs come for behind-the-scenes tours, and artists actually use our collection for bird field guides to study specimens, Weckstein added. The Museum of the American Revolution is also a bit more flexible with its collection, even granting access to descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers and people working on historical projects, Skic said. These items are tangible connections to Americas founding era, Skic said. They serve as a way to learn about those events and make sure people know these are real people, real events, and that those events continue to shape our lives today. While Congress debates the impending ban on hemp-derived THC, a smaller push for regulation is brewing in Pennsylvania that hopes to put THC drinks in beer stores and regulate hemp alongside medical marijuana. State Rep. Steven Malagari (D., Montgomery) plans to introduce a bill that could put THC drinks in beer stores, while State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie), a major proponent of weed legalization unlike his partys leaders is working on legislation that would open the door to hemp-derived THC being regulated like medical marijuana. Pennsylvania hemp businesses look toward these efforts with optimism, but as the clock races down, stakeholders are asking for urgency. Advertisement Representatives from the hemp, medical marijuana, and beer wholesaler industries spoke to state regulators at Januarys Pennsylvania Farm Show about shielding the hemp industry from the Nov. 12 deadline that would outlaw all intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-9 THC and CBD, which is what the majority of hemp is grown for in Pennsylvania. Under new rules, many of the states hemp farmers would be out of business by fall. Across all competing interests, industry representatives said one thing was clear: Lawmakers need to regulate the billion-dollar state hemp market. Testifying before the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, stakeholders, including Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, agreed, stressing the need for safeguards. Its not about taking away peoples livelihoods in hemp farming and people working in this industry, Steele said during his testimony. Its about community safety and establishing guardrails through legislation to oversee that safety. But, as Congress disagrees on when and if it will regulate hemp-derived THC including if the ban deadline should be extended those delays cascade to the states, where local lawmakers await federal guidance before regulating it themselves. While any state proposals for regulation are purely speculative until Congress passes hemp legislation, Laughlins and Malagaris efforts in Pennsylvania imagine what is possible. It is important to note, however, that regulating intoxicating hemp products is an uphill battle in a state where recreational marijuana legalization is opposed by Republican state leadership. Whether these bills become law or save the states hemp industry as it currently stands is up in the air with federal delays, but local hemp businesses choose to be optimistic. What does any of this mean for Pennsylvania hemp? For Tyler Shannon, an Adams County hemp farmer, a full ban on hemp products would be devastating. With the vast majority of Pennsylvanias hemp grown for cannabinoids, such as Delta-9 THC and CBD, it means that if hemp is not saved, my family will lose everything, including our farm, Shannon said. Shannon is not alone. Beau Whitney, a leading cannabis market analyst who testified at the January hearing, estimated that Pennsylvanias cannabinoid market generates just under $1 billion in revenue annually. In his latest report, he found that the majority of Pennsylvanias hemp-derived THC and CBD products were sold legally through semi-regulated channels, in stores or online. As a result, there were 9,500 jobs, generating $382 million in wages in Pennsylvania, Whitney said. Those in the local hemp industry are confident that a deadline extension will help protect them, but planting season is fast approaching, while hemp farmers have no reassurance that their crops will be legal come fall, Shannon said. His family farm is holding off on a planned $175,000 facility expansion due to the looming ban. As of now, no federal or state legislation has been passed to avert the impending doomsday scenario for hemp, and despite the constant regulatory discussions, small hemp farmers and businesses dont feel on solid ground, Sebastian Stelmach of Manayunks Keystone Dispensary said. Its just scary to think that come November, I might be unemployed and close up shop, Stelmach said. A lot of lawmakers realize that we cant let this industry die. I believe that theyre going to do something, but what that is, I dont know. Trade organizations, like the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, are lobbying Congress to extend the federal ban deadline by one year, giving regulators time to flesh out less restrictive standards for hemp products. Even [federal agencies] said they dont have enough time to enforce the rules under the current bill, said Jonathan Miller, U.S. Hemp Roundtables general counsel. Weve created a mess here, and we really need this extension to be more deliberate and responsible. Intoxicating hemp regulated like marijuana Laughlins bill to establish a Cannabis Control Board would see the states medical marijuana program come under new oversight, similar to the liquor and gaming control boards. While hemp is not the primary focus of that legislation, organizations like the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition (PCC), which represents the states medical marijuana industry, hope to see hemp included in Laughlins bill to open the doors for more responsive hemp regulation. The Cannabis Control Board would have the authority to deal with hemp products and decide what is safe for consumers as a single regulatory body, said Meredith Buettner, executive director of PCC. Buettner said it makes the most sense for intoxicating hemp products to be regulated alongside cannabis. Laughlin argues that if its a consumable cannabis product, it should fall under one clear regulatory structure. How and where specific hemp THC products would be sold will be worked out in the legislation, but intoxicating products should be sold through appropriate, regulated channels, he said. Jake Sitler, who owns Lancaster-based Endo THC drinks and testified at the January regulatory hearing, is ready to support any regulation that saves the current hemp framework, like incorporating hemp into a control board, but worries small businesses will get cut out of the deal. The hemp industry concern is where our seat is at the table and to make sure new laws are appropriate for our farmers and our industry, Sitler said. And that any new regulation isnt used as a guise to out-regulate small business down the road. Delta-9 THC drinks in Pennsylvania beer stores The bill from Malagari would carve out regulation for hemp-derived Delta-9 THC drinks, which are among some of the most popular intoxicating hemp products, with a national market of $1.5 billion in annual sales. Malagari, who previously worked in beverage wholesale, wants to see THC drinks regulated similarly to beer and malt-beverage products in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania operates a three-tiered system for beer, with licenses at the manufacturing level, distribution level, and retail level. THC drinks would be incorporated into this system, which would begin by allowing established three-tiered license holders to manufacture and sell hemp-derived Delta-9 THC drinks. Common retail spaces for beer and malt beverages include beer distributors, grocery stores, restaurants, and bars. This legislation, if passed and signed into law, would not prohibit THC drinks from being sold in medical marijuana dispensaries and could work alongside Laughlins CCB bill, Malagari said. But he believes that lawmakers should approach THC beverages differently from hemp-derived flower and vapes. As an owner of a hemp beverage company, Sitler could benefit from Malagaris bill, but also wonders if it is too early for beverage carve-outs before a fuller state framework is in place. A hemp beverage bill with no overarching regulation is putting the cart a bit before the horse, Sitler said. Billboard for attorney Leonard Hill as seen from northbound I-95 just before Girard exit, Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. Read more All charges were dropped against Leonard Hill, a prominent personal injury attorney accused of aggravated assault and related crimes for shooting and injuring a man during an altercation outside a Center City cigar bar in 2023. Prosecutors dropped the charges Friday morning shortly before Hill, 56, was set to go to a bench trial before Common Pleas Judge J. Scott OKeefe. Advertisement In addition to aggravated assault, Hill will not face charges of possessing an instrument of a crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and tampering with evidence. Aggravated assault, a felony and the most serious of those offenses, carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Hills attorney, Fortunato N. Perri, declined to comment on the decision. The outcome marks a victory for Hill, who had previously hoped to resolve his case through the citys diversion program rather than a courtroom. Last year, in a highly unusual move in an aggravated assault case, the District Attorneys Office offered to admit Hill to the diversion program instead of going to trial. Had Hill participated, his case would have been expunged after completing a period of probation and community service, surrendering the legally owned firearm police recovered from his Bala Cynwyd home, and donating $25,000 to an anti-violence group. District Attorney Larry Krasner said in an interview at the time that request was specifically my decision. The district attorney called information about the case, some of it revealed after Hills arrest, both unique and highly unusual, though he declined to elaborate. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment Friday. After prosecutors sought diversion last February, Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan Jr. denied prosecutors request. The judge said Hills case was not appropriate for diversion, which is typically reserved for cases involving relatively minor offenses, and urged prosecutors to resolve the case through different means. Its rare for those accused of shootings to be offered diversion, otherwise known as the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. Several nonfatal shooting cases have ended with diversion since 2011: participants usually include those charged with nonviolent offenses such as DUIs, petty theft, or drug possession. Attorneys for Hill whose billboards advertising his legal services feature prominently on Philadelphias freeway system maintained their client acted in self-defense when firing twice at a man outside the Ashton Cigar Bar on the 1500 block of Walnut Street. The episode began when Hill and a bar manager tried to separate a woman and another man she said was intoxicated and accosting her, according to court documents. The confrontation spilled outside, where Hill and the man began to argue. Hill drew a firearm and fired once during the argument, the court documents said. Hill fired again as the man ran away, striking the 38-year-old in the calf. Hill left the scene and changed his clothes before returning, and did not tell officers who responded to the bar that he had fired shots, according to the documents. Investigators recovered video of the shooting and interviewed the bar manager, who identified Hill as the shooter but said he had fired in self-defense. Perri, Hills attorney, later said the man who Hill shot had been wielding a knife a detail not included in his arrest paperwork and said his client made a split-second decision to defend himself and others in a dangerous situation. Prosecutors decision to offer Hill diversion last year did not come without criticism. Keisha Hudson, head of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, told the Inquirer in February 2025 that she could not recall a single instance in which one of the organizations clients was offered diversion after shooting someone. She said the cases handling was emblematic of a justice system that treats poor defendants and those with money differently. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this article. Students rally before a Philadelphia school board meeting outside of district headquarters on North Broad Street. They spoke out against a proposal to close some public schools. Read more Frustration and anguish spilled over Thursday night as Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. presented his sweeping, $2.8 billion facilities plan to the school board at a heated, lengthy meeting. Watlington revised the plan to include 18, not 20 school closings saving Conwell Middle School and Motivation High and still wants to modernize 159 schools over a decade. He pitched it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive academic improvement. Advertisement But the community did not seem impressed at an anti-school-closure rally prior to the meeting, and at the public session itself, which stretched on for more than eight hours, into the early hours of Friday morning. Dr. Watlington, youre breaking my heart, said Amanda Chandler, a teacher at Harding Middle School, one of the schools on the chopping block. The districts plan isnt an opportunity its calculated abandonment, said Beth Cole, a teacher at Stetson Middle School, which is also slated to close. READ MORE: Two of 20 Philly schools slated for closure would be spared under a revised district plan Watlington first unveiled the facilities plan, which was years in the making, in January. After weeks of community meetings, the superintendent formally presented the blueprint with some tweaks to the school board Thursday. The board has not yet said when it will vote on the plan, but has scheduled a March 12 town hall to hear more public feedback. Massive upheaval The district has 70,000 empty seats in schools citywide. For example: Watlington said he recently watched a recording of a 1969 Overbrook High graduation. The school educated 5,000 students then. Now, it has fewer than 500. And while some schools are underenrolled, some are overfull, particularly those in the Northeast. Inequities are widespread, also. For instance, only half of city students have access to Algebra 1 in eighth grade, barring them from admission to Masterman, a top city magnet that requires algebra for admission. The board must address all those issues, said Reginald Streater, school board president. We have chronic underfunding, coupled with enrollment shifts that have materially created structural challenges that no district board can simply absorb without consequence to the district, Streater said. These realities have materially affected our ability to accelerate our fight against systemic chronic underachievement within the School District of Philadelphia. Streater did not weigh in on the details of the plan, but some other board members did, indicating there may be some pushback when it comes time to vote. Board member Crystal Cubbage said she wanted a bolder plan including more new buildings. (Watlingtons version proposed a single new building in the lower Northeast for the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush.) Im struggling to reconcile this massive upheaval, and the $2.8 billion price tag, with the fact the plan is not explicitly designed to produce better outcomes for all of our children, Cubbage said. Audience members in the packed board room cheered as board member Wanda Novales voiced criticisms of the plan. Novales said she recognized the complex challenges the board and district face, but the standard cannot simply be operational efficiency, Novales said. I am struggling to see the heart ...that sees the lived realities of our neighborhoods. Areas like Kensington and Fairhill have long been underresourced, Novales said, and the plan falls short in providing opportunities to students there. This conversation cannot just be about buildings. It must be about students, Novales said. Joyce Wilkerson, the longest-serving member of the school board, and a member of the School Reform Commission, the boards predecessor, said the district has known it had to rightsize for years. We cant afford to be locked in inaction, Wilkerson said. More pushback Students from the affected schools spoke pointedly about the proposed changes. Jade Colon, a student at Stetson Middle School, in Kensington, said her schools roof has leaked for years. Its never been properly fixed. We are told this plan is about equality, yet we see our neighborhood one that has already faced decades of disinvestment being asked to sacrifice yet again, said Colon. True equality isnt found in a swing space or a longer walk to a different building across dangerous intersections like Kensington and Allegheny. True equality is found in investing in schools we already have. David Samuel, who attends Parkway Northwest, another school on the closing list, said the school is building strong children. Virtually all Parkway Northwest students are on track to graduation. Those are lives being moved forward, Samuel said. Closing Parkway Northwest wouldnt be closing a school; it would be closing my home. The plan drew pushback from a number of politicians who showed up to voice displeasure to the board. I do not have the words to describe how disappointed I am by the districts proposal today, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said, underscoring concerns about harm to Black and brown students. Removing Motivation from the closing list is a good step, said Gauthier, who represents a West Philadelphia district. But she wants Watlington to consider removing Robeson, Blankenburg, and Parkway West, too. Robeson did send a student to Harvard, and you still want to close it, said Gauthier. The superintendent said the district has done its best to spread opportunity, but he acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions in front of the board. In an ideal world, I never believe in closing schools, Watlington said, a remark met with some groans from the crowd. I would never want my childs school to be closed, to be frank. Parents and students react to a speaker at the Quakertown school board meeting Thursday. Community members said the district had mishandled the walkout that resulted in five teenagers arrested amid a clash with police. Read more Community members accused the Quakertown school board Thursday of failing to keep students safe during the walkout against immigration enforcement last week that ended in a clash with police and five teenagers arrested. While the school district attempted to cancel last Fridays planned walkout after receiving what officials called a credible threat, some members of the public said school officials could have offered students the opportunity to protest on Quakertown Community High Schools campus, knowing they were likely to walk out anyway. Advertisement Instead of guiding them to a safer option, we left them to navigate it on their own, said Jessica Buhman, a parent of two children in the district who addressed the school board before a packed room Thursday. The risks were foreseeable and unfortunately they materialized. Some others faulted the district for allowing students to walk out at all. In the real world people dont walk off their jobs to protest, said Amalia Ritter. You walk off the job, youre fired. You want to protest, you do that on your own time. School officials have said they had no authority to stop about 35 students who left the high school Friday, walking off campus. In town, a confrontation broke out. Video footage appears to show Quakertowns police chief dressed in plainclothes putting a girl in a chokehold. A police affidavit obtained by The Inquirer Thursday said that students blocked traffic, struck cars, and assaulted the chief, Scott McElree, who is also the borough manager. It doesnt mention a chokehold. The five students were charged with aggravated assault, a felony-level crime, and jailed. By Thursday night, all five teenagers had been released. Lawyers for two of the students denied that their clients hit McElree. Witnesses have said McElree didnt identify himself as the police chief before engaging with the teenagers. Anger over districts handling of protest Much of the attention in the aftermath of the incident has focused on McElree, but on Thursday, residents voiced their frustrations with the school district. How does an administrator not know these kids were going to do something? said Wes Comes, who also questioned why the district didnt hold the protest on its own property. We missed the whole ball. We whiffed. A number of speakers, Comes included, questioned what the threat was that prompted the district to try to cancel the protest saying there had been a lack of transparency with the community. Some faulted the district for not making any statement of support for the arrested students, who were in custody for days. It seems the school is wiping its hands of the kids who were injured and arrested, said Lisen Cummings. Laura Foster, an organizer with the liberal Upper Bucks United group, said the districts communications were tone deaf. Thanking the students for staying in school while ignoring your students who were out there getting brutally attacked by the police everyone on this board should have been like, what are we doing? Foster said. The meeting was at times tense, with arguments breaking out as speakers took their turns at the podium to share their perspectives. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper stationed at the meeting defused an argument between two women in the lobby. The boards president, David ODonnell, told the crowd that the emotions up here are just as raw as they are out there. No one up here would celebrate violence against children, ODonnell said. I acknowledge that we probably have a lot to learn from how we handled the situation. Pre-meeting gathering Outside the school before the meeting, a few dozen people attended a gathering organized by Upper Bucks United. Stickers reading support Q5 and Apoya Los Q5 referring in English and Spanish to the five teens who spent several nights in jail were available at folding tables next to a gas burner providing hot chocolate to the protesters. The First Amendment is a right, not a privilege, read one of the signs protesters carried. In the crowd, Wayne Codner the mayor of neighboring Richlandtown Borough, which is in the Quakertown Community School District shook hands with friends in the Democrat-aligned Upper Bucks group. Im a Black, first-generation immigrant from Jamaica in a town that is 95% white and Im mayor, Codner said. And this doesnt represent us, he said of the Friday incident. Numerous speakers inside the boardroom tied the incident to a broader climate of intolerance and racism in the Quakertown community. Ashley Crowell, a single parent and gender queer individual with kids in the district, told the board that she had been threatened by men in loud pickup trucks while running in her neighborhood, because I look offensively masculine based on her haircut. Crowell said she believed the escalation during the walkout was brought about by similar behaviors, also by men in loud trucks maybe even the same people that made the threats which triggered your decision to cancel the walkout. Our students spoke up and that resulted in mismanagement of the situation by white men, with ignorance of other peoples lived experiences with discrimination, Crowell said. One student grew teary as she spoke about fears that something would happen to my family while she was at school, and how 35 students were fighting for my rights. After the comments, one board member, Chris Spear, said the board had heard a lot of accusations of racism and suggested the district should bring in a consultant, as he said it had in the past. Spear also noted the criticisms that this was predictable. As much as the students are going to learn something, the adults are going to learn something as well, Spear said. Almost Home General, 205 Race St., as seen at its opening in April 2024. Read more Almost Home Generals Old City coffeehouse closed this week, capping a complicated two-year joint venture between the Jersey Shore-based chain and Glu Hospitality, the now-disbanded restaurant group that operated the location. Robbie Doran, who founded Almost Home in 2000 in Monmouth County, said his company was moving on and plans to open a coffee shop and grocery store of its own at Beach Street Landing in Northern Liberties. It will join Almost Homes other Philadelphia location, on the ground floor of the Hagert & York development in East Kensington. Almost Homes relationship with Glu began around 2023, when Glu founders Tim Lu and Derek Gibbons approached Doran, whom they knew from working in the New York City nightlife scene. Advertisement They wanted my brand, Doran said. I saw the growth with Glu and assumed they knew what they were doing. At the time, Glu was on a tear of openings since its founding in 2019, at one point operating the chain Bagels & Co. alongside seven other vibey restaurants, including Northern Liberties Figo and the subterranean Center City ramen bar Chika, both now shuttered. In April 2024, Glu and Doran opened the Almost Home location at the corner of Second and Race Streets, on the ground floor of the Bridge on Race building beside the Ben Franklin Bridge. The coffee shop offered cocktails alongside full brunch and dinner menus, and was an immediate hit on social media thanks to its over-the-top lattes and photogenic color-coded bookshelves. Doran said the arrangement began to break down early last year after broader issues surfaced at other Glu-owned restaurants. In addition to allegations of wage theft, Glu was running afoul of state liquor laws by using off-premises catering permits, rather than full liquor licenses, to sell alcohol at both Almost Home and Figo. Two other former Glu restaurants Chika and Izakaya Fishtown were operating under expired liquor licenses. When things started falling apart, it happened fast within about two weeks, everything came crashing down, Doran said. We were finding things out from the news before hearing about them internally, which isnt how a partnership should work. In March 2025, Lu and Gibbons announced that the entire company was defunct. Later that month, Glu investor Carlton Smith filed a civil suit in Common Pleas Court, alleging that Lu, Lus brother, and three men Smith believed to be Almost Home General employees had assaulted him inside the cafe in spring 2024 after Smith asked Lu to return his $100,000 investment; that lawsuit is listed as pending. After Glu shut down, Doran said he dissolved Almost Homes partnership. From then on, Doran said, Lu ran the Old City cafe. The shop faced operational challenges. In September 2025, the cafe was shut down by the Philadelphia Department of Health after a failed health inspection found evidence of mouse droppings and uncontained rat poison throughout the kitchen. The reports findings drew attention on social media that Lu said the business could not bounce back from. The report itself wasnt unusual from an operational standpoint, Lu said. But someone on social media amplified it and added commentary that made it seem worse than it was. Other factors contributed to the decline, Lu said, including a harsh winter that caused foot traffic to slow further. At the end of the day, the business just wasnt sustainable, Lu said. Doran, who operates eight Almost Home General locations in New Jersey in addition to the East Kensington shop, said the experience affected his business beyond Philadelphia. A lot of the blame fell on him, Doran said of Lu. But ultimately, the decisions that were made had ripple effects. Some of that fallout affected me as well, even though I wasnt involved in those decisions. Doran emphasized that he doesnt view Lu as solely responsible for the outcome and said he has focused on supporting staff affected by the closure. Ive been reaching out to employees to make sure theyre taken care of, Doran said. Im not going to let staff get hurt in the process. A strawberry full moon rises behind a statue of William Penn atop City Hall in Philadelphia in 2021. Read more Pennsylvanias one and only witch trial started over cows milk. If your cow is not giving milk, its obvious that somebody put a hex on it, Doug Miller, who runs William Penns estate Pennsbury Manor, said to explain the thinking of the time. Advertisement In the 1680s, neighbors accused Margaret Mattson, who was of northern European descent and didnt speak English, of putting a hex on local people. Although Pennsylvania was William Penns colony, it was still part of England. And in English rule, witchcraft was a capital offense. Witch trials had been held throughout England and elsewhere in Europe, but only a few had been held in the colonies. And this would be the first in Pennsylvania. On Feb. 27, 1684, William Penn himself presided over the witch trial in Philadelphia. He arranged for a prominent citizen, Lasse Cocke, who was also Penns chief negotiator with the Lenni-Lenape, to act as an interpreter. Three witnesses testified that Mattson had cast a spell over her neighbors cattle, which had not been giving milk. Over a daylong trial in Philadelphia, a jury ultimately found Mattson guilty of having the common fame of a witch, but not guilty in the manner in form that she stands indicted. So, yes, she had the reputation of being a witch, but there was no evidence she participated in any witchcraft. This was a crafty way on his part to avoid harsh punishment for her and any hint of a death penalty under English law, Miller said. Mattson and a co-defendant, Yesro Hendricksen, whom we dont know much about, were each fined 50 pounds, which was a chunk of change back then, Miller said. Quakers at this time would expect the person to put forth a bond similar to bail today. It was called a peace bond, and it was good for six months. Eight years later, witch hysteria would hit Salem, Mass., and kick off the infamous witch trials. The fact that he really didnt want to encourage the idea that there were witches, Miller said, or inflict a penalty on somebody he felt was not guilty of what she was accused, speaks highly of Penn. The share of the foreign-born population and workforce is far higher in Philadelphia than in Pennsylvania, but roughly mirrors national levels. Read more The nonpartisan Economy League of Greater Philadelphia issued an immigration analysis this week that on the surface might look like a boatload of numbers, but in fact offers fresh insight and a warning about the future. The organization looked at immigration not just as the coming and going of people but also as a key part of the citys economic infrastructure. Advertisement And it found that, in short, Philadelphias economic vitality depends more and more on foreign-born residents, whose growth has provided tentative population stability instead of the continuous decline that once afflicted the city. Immigrants comprise nearly one in five workers and contribute $7.4 billion in consumer spending, filling critical roles in everything from research labs to restaurant kitchens. Still, the analysis said, without ever mentioning President Donald Trump by name, the federal policy pressures continue to mount, and that puts some local gains at risk. Heres a look at some key aspects of the Economy Leagues Leading Indicators report: How crucial are immigrants to the citys population growth? It is the only reason weve grown, said league executive director Jeff Hornstein. Its the only reason we dont have population decline. The analysis said that without foreign-born residents, Philadelphia would be shrinking. As of 2024, immigrants comprised 16% of the city population, about 251,000 residents, the primary engine of net population growth since 2000. The arrival of newcomers has been enough to offset the loss in native-born residents, which dropped by about 59,700 between 2010 and 2020. Philadelphias 21st-century demographic stabilization, the analysis said, is an immigration story. How much do immigrants contribute? A lot. In Philadelphia, immigrants comprised nearly 20% of the workforce in 2024. Thats double the rate of Pennsylvania as a whole, where immigrants were 9% of the workforce. The citys institutional anchors its universities and hospitals as well as established ethnic communities, serve as draws. That year the citys foreign-born residents, both documented and undocumented, spent an estimated $7.4 billion on goods and services and paid $2.3 billion in taxes including federal income taxes, payroll taxes, state income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. Do some industries depend on immigrants more than others? Yes. Local healthcare services rely not just on doctors, the analysis showed, but also on immigrants across different jobs and skill levels. About 26% of all Pennsylvania physicians are foreign-born, and nationally the same is true for nearly 40% of nursing aides and home health aides. In the Philadelphia region, foreign students earn 40% of doctoral degrees, the report said, and research institutions depend heavily on that talent. Traditionally these students transition from F-1 visas, to Optional Practical Training, then compete for H-1B visas that enable long-term employment. Thats where things have gotten rough for immigrants, as in December the Trump administration halted processing for several groups of people and categories of applications, including those for anyone from any of the 19 countries covered in the spring travel ban. The administration has also raised the possibility of reopening cases that were already approved by the government. The citys hospitality and restaurant trades also depend on foreign-born workers. Immigrants make up 25% to 30% of restaurant workers and 30% to 35% of hotel staff. At some restaurants the foreign-born staff can exceed 40%. Dont many immigrants opt to work for themselves, starting their own businesses? They do. A study coauthored by an MIT economist found that immigrants are about 80% more likely than native-born residents to found a company. Some suggest thats because immigrants are more comfortable with risk, having already taken the chance of moving to a new country. In Philadelphia, foreign-born entrepreneurs own roughly 30% of small businesses nearly twice their representation in the population. Those 47,800 businesses include everything from corner stores to tech startups. So whats the bad news? Its more like a warning. At 16%, Philadelphias foreign-born population exceeds the national average, which hovers around 13%. But traditional gateway cities like New York, Houston, Miami, and San Francisco maintain foreign-born populations as high as 35%. Philadelphia, the analysis said, is no longer an immigration laggard, but its not yet competing with top-tier global cities for international talent. Moreover, without sustained immigration, Philadelphia faces the prospect of renewed population decline. Native-born residents are aging, fertility remains below replacement levels, and U.S. domestic migration favors metro areas in the Sunbelt. Immigration provides the only plausible mechanism for population stability, the study said, but federal policies that reduce legal immigration, slow visa processing, and intensify enforcement risk causing the opposite. The question isnt whether Philadelphia needs immigration the demographic math makes that undeniable, the study said. The question is whether policymakers will embrace supportive policies and investments. Given the stakes, it said, getting immigration policy right isnt optional its existential. Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File) Read more People mix up the University of Pennsylvania with Pennsylvania State University so often, alumni at the Ivy started making novelty T-shirts that read Not Penn State. You can add another name to the list of offenders: Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement The convicted child-sex solicitor was also a prolific donor to scientific research programs through the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation. A tranche of the disgraced financiers emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice contains descriptions of dozens of pet projects the foundation supported at elite institutions. But one of them, the Quantum Gravity Program at the University of Pennsylvania, is something of a whodunit involving theoretical physicists in three different countries. Epstein was a self-proclaimed backer of cutting-edge science, and the Quantum Gravity Program is mentioned dozens of times in his personal records. The program and its affiliation with Penn are even referenced today on the Wikipedia page for his foundation. But there is no other evidence a program by that name ever existed at Penn. After a series of at-times-uncomfortable calls with confused spokespeople and academics, The Inquirer discovered that Epstein was, in fact, involved with financing researchers in the 1990s at a similarly named program based at Penn State sometimes referred to as the loop quantum gravity program. A spokesperson for the state-funded university said Epsteins name was attached to a 1990s grant made through an intermediary nonprofit in support of former PSU physics professor Lee Smolin, who helped lead the loop quantum gravity program and maintained ties with Epstein for years afterward. German theoretical physicist Olaf Dreyer sought out a doctorate at PSU at that time in hopes of working on the loop gravity program, and said Epsteins decades-old claim that he had supported such a program at Penn was a classic case of mistaken academic identity. The quantum gravity program is the program at Penn State, Dreyer said via email Thursday from Frankfurt, Germany. It was the loop quantum gravity program that brought me to Penn State. Dreyer said that Smolin helped lead the program during his time at the state university, and that the scientist had procured funding from Epstein for the Penn State program. Smolin had the connections to Epstein, he said. Lee stayed connected to Epstein long after Epsteins conviction. A spokesperson for Penn State cited a publicly available research paper from 1999 that showed Smolins quantum gravity research was funded by the Jesse Philips Foundation. But after reviewing the universitys grants database at The Inquirers request, the spokesperson confirmed that Epsteins name appeared on paperwork related to that foundation gift. The Jesse Philips Foundation was created by the eponymous Dayton industrialist, who died in 1994. After his death, his widow, Caryl Philips, took over the foundation, which is now known as the Jesse and Caryl Philips Foundation. A request for comment from the foundation was not immediately returned. A record of another philanthropic donation made in 1998 was described as coming from J. Epstein Foundation and Jesse Philips Foundation. And Epsteins emails indicate Caryl Philips was in contact with both Epstein and his confidant, convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, as late as 2010. Dreyer said it was his understanding that Smolin was being funded by Epstein directly. He used money from Epstein to pay for grad students, Dreyer said. Reached by email, Smolin confirmed Epstein was behind the foundation grant at the time, which allowed him to leave PSU to pursue his research abroad. These arrangements had nothing to do with UPenn, he said. Smolins ties to Epstein are now well documented. He was quoted praising Epsteins support for his research on an Epstein Foundation website. I was extraordinarily fortunate to encounter someone who asked me, What would you really like to do? What is your most ambitious and crazy idea?, the quote reads. Then, unexpectedly and generously, Jeffrey Epstein gave me the chance to try to make good on my answers. After his time at PSU, Smolin went on to cofound the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, in Toronto, Canada, now one of the top research programs for theoretical physics in the world. Dreyer followed the physicist to the Perimeter Institute after obtaining his doctorate in 2001, and recalled Smolin taking a group photo of his team to send to Maxwell for inclusion in Epsteins now-infamous 50th birthday book. You can imagine how happy I am to be included in that book, he joked. Newly released emails from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed Smolin had kept up a relationship with the financier during this time and well after Epsteins 2008 conviction which led to his ouster in February from the Perimeter Institute. Epsteins professed involvement at Penn came as a shock to administrative faculty and longtime physics professors at the West Philadelphia university. The financier first alluded to the supposed Penn program in a rambling email to his personal assistant in 2006, according to emails released as part of the Epstein Transparency Act. He later commissioned a more detailed description of the foundations activities, including a mention of the Penn program on an official philanthropic website that debuted in 2010. The original text, which was often appended to Epsteins curriculum vitae ahead of speaking engagements, was likely written in the 2000s by literary agent John Brockman, according to later email exchanges attributing the writing to him. Brockman, who could not be reached for comment, helped Epstein cultivate scientific relationships and promote his foundation. Epsteins description of his foundations activities underwent several rewrites or revisions, including one iteration alluding to the foundation supporting science programs at a Penn University which also does not exist. While Epsteins personal records mention the program at Penn dozens of times, a Penn spokesperson said the university was unfamiliar with Epsteins long-claimed affiliation until the DOJ record release in December. Penn is not aware of a so-called Quantum Gravity Program referenced in Jeffrey Epsteins bio and has no records of his involvement, said university spokesperson Matthew Grossman in a statement. Burt Ovrut, a theoretical physicist who helped lead the physics department at Penn, said he would have known if such a program ever existed. I would have heard of this, said Ovrut, who remains a professor emeritus. We dont tend to have private grants in theoretical physics. The fallout from the Epstein saga has ensnared numerous other universities with ties to the billionaire investor, rocking institutions like Princeton, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard, where the Epstein scandal led to resignation of former president Larry Summers, who was raised in Penn Valley, a Philadelphia suburb. The lure of Epsteins wealth and interest in obscure academic fields was powerful. While Penn had no official relation with Epsteins foundation, its staffers were not immune to his temptations. In 2012, for instance, a Penn professor wrote to Epstein seeking funding for immersive research on African hunter-gatherer societies. There was no response. Dreyer, the German physicist, also solicited Epstein for his own research funding in 2009 on the advice of a colleague. While he, too, was never funded, he regrets that he did not do his own due diligence on Epstein. If only I had done some research, he said. Editors note: This article has been updated to include a comment from Smolin regarding the grant. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized dozens of swords and arrowheads dating back to the Bronze Age following their arrival in Philadelphia in October. Read more Its a tale as old as time or about 3,600 years, anyway. U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Friday announced the seizure of 36 Bronze Age-era short swords and 50 arrowheads following their arrival in Philadelphia in October. Considered cultural artifacts, the items were imported into the United States without proper permitting, and were likely the product of illicit excavations of burial sites, federal officials said. Advertisement Now, they may soon be returned to Iran, where they are believed to have originated and date from 1600 to 1000 BCE. CBP tries to repatriate them to their rightful owners, which in this case would be the country, said agency spokesperson Stephen Sapp. So they can retain a piece of their cultural history. The Bronze Age is considered to have spanned from 3300 to 1200 BCE, a historical period during which bronze an alloy of copper and tin was the prevailing metal used for making weapons and tools. What is today considered Iran was a pivotal area during that time, serving as an important trade route connector and bronze producer. The items arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 16 via an express delivery flight from the United Arab Emirates, having been mis-manifested, as Sapp put it, as metal decoration articles. CBP officers went on to X-ray the shipment, and discovered objects that resembled swords, prompting them to open up the items. Inside, they saw what appeared to be ancient-looking swords and arrowheads covered in the teal patina of oxidized bronze. Suspecting the items to be of antiquity, the officers detained the shipment for additional investigation. CBP officers worked with the Antiquities Unit of the departments National Targeting Center to determine the historical and cultural value of the swords and arrowheads. That unit sought assistance from an archaeologist associated with an unnamed Philadelphia university for more information. The archaeologist later pegged them as hailing from what is today the northeastern area of Iran and dating back as far as 3,600 years. Being that old, the items were considered to be the historical and cultural property of their origin nation. Many countries, federal officials noted, have laws that require official permission to export such items. Investigators also reached out to the person who imported the items, and found that they did not have the documentation that would allow them to obtain the objects. As a result, even if the items were legally purchased, they were not able to be lawfully imported into the United States. Thats the key thing. If it is considered an artifact, or historical or cultural property of a country, that country has to permit that commodity leaving, Sapp said. Generally, you are going to be able find there is a black market or a market, period for all things. Sapp added that no criminal charges have been filed in the incident. However, he noted that the importer is now known to investigators, and lost the shipment as a result of the investigation. Elliot N. Ortiz, CBPs acting area port director in Philadelphia, said in a statement that officers strive to rescue cultural artifacts from the grips of illicit international traders. Items are often smuggled into the United States using deceptive practices that both violate import laws and undermine efforts to preserve and protect the integrity of cultural history, he added. The investigation lasted about four months a length of time Sapp said is not unusual in cases like this. Largely, he added, it comes down to investigators doing the due diligence when it comes to seeking the importers permitting, as well as allowing archaeologists to properly investigate the items to determine their age and origin. We arent going to give an archaeologist a day or two to look at this stuff, Sapp said. They need to be able to make sure they are accurate to the best of their ability, so when they give their determination, we can trust that to be truthful. Now, CBP officers will hold on to the items until the agency issues a disposition order. When that will happen exactly, Sapp said, has not yet been determined. Franklin Mall, formerely known as Philadelphia Mills and Franklin Mills before that, in Northeast Philadelphia. Read more Franklin Mall will reopen Friday after being temporarily shut down since a small fire last weekend at the once-popular Northeast Philadelphia retail destination, property management said Thursday. The mall has been closed since a fire on Saturdaywithin a single tenant space, management said. The city Department of Licenses and Inspections issued a temporary closure notice while required inspections are completed to ensure building safety and building structural integrity. Advertisement Management said on Thursday that following this due diligence Franklin Mall has officially been granted permission to reopen from L&I. Franklin Mall will be open for normal business hours, but the management requested patience with the propertys appearance while teams are actively making repairs to the affected areas within the mall while preserving a safe environment for shoppers. The Inquirer reported in early December that Franklin Mall, which many locals still call Franklin Mills, was listed for sale and that the 36-year-old, 1.8-million-square-foot facility at Knights and Woodhaven Roads could be repurposed or demolished for non-retail uses. The mall opened in 1989 to great fanfare as the largest outlet mall ever, with a zigzag-shaped, one-story-tall concourse that stretched for 1.2 miles. Franklin Mills once attracted 20 million visitors annually, but now the current version of the mall has less than a third of that traffic. Under new ownership, it was renamed Philadelphia Mills, and most recently it has been called Franklin Mall, though a main entrance sign still says Philadelphia Mills. Noel Mayo, 88, formerly of Philadelphia, widely recognized as the first Black owner of an American industrial design firm, first Black American college chair of an industrial design department, first Black industrial design graduate of Philadelphia College of Art, award-winning super mentor, and champion of professional diversity, equity, and inclusion, died Thursday, Jan. 29, of a probable heart attack at an assisted living center in Delaware County. Rejected for an industrial design job after college because he was Black, Professor Mayo went on to found Noel Mayo Associates Inc. in Philadelphia in 1964. He spent 11 years in the late 1970s and 80s as a professor and first Black chair of the industrial design department at what became the now-defunct University of the Arts, and 27 years, from 1989 to 2016, as a governor-appointed eminent scholar in art and design technology at Ohio State University. Advertisement Dr. Mayo leaves behind a transformative legacy, former colleagues at Ohio State said in a tribute, whose impact shaped generations of students, elevated the field of design, and advanced diversity and inclusion across the profession. As the trailblazing owner and president of Noel Mayo Associates for decades, he and his staff designed all kinds of products, interiors, exteriors, graphics, mobile exhibits, and signage systems for companies and private clients around the world. He worked with NASA, IBM, Black & Decker, Philadelphia International Airport, museums, government agencies, and public institutions. He collaborated with Lutron Electronics for 45 years and is named on hundreds of its design and utility patents. In 1984, he remodeled the mayors City Hall office after Wilson Goode replaced Bill Green. In 1988, he advised officials at the old Spectrum on the placement of a Julius Erving statue in South Philadelphia. He designed computer-driven telephones in the 1980s that could dial 96 phone numbers automatically and leave messages. I realize how pressured this is, he told the Daily News for a 1984 story about design and technologys effect on modern life. But people want it. Twenty-five years later, I still rely on his teachings in my personal and professional life. Former student of Professor Mayo on LinkedIn Professor Mayo was featured in a 1977 story by Inquirer design critic Ellen Kaye, and she praised the visual fluidity he created in a refurbished Bala Cynwyd high-rise condo. She wrote about his work again in 1978, and he said design revolves around problem-solving from a logical point of view. In a 1995 story, Inquirer design critic Thomas Hine noted his commercial success with early light-dimmer switches and said it helped Lutron to transform itself from a small manufacturer to an important name in its industry. In a recent video interview, Professor Mayo said: I see the problems as kind of opportunities that other people didnt see. So I look for opportunities for innovation. As chair at Philadelphia College of Art and its successor, University of the Arts, he grew the industrial design department from the schools ninth largest to its third largest. In online tributes, former students called him a true icon and a doorway into a world of possibility, dignity, and community. He told The Inquirer in 1978: Something looks good when it looks rational. That is how I work myself, and that is what I try to teach my students. Grounded in rigor, clarity, and respect for the craft, I still find myself using his teachings today. Former student of Professor Mayo on LinkedIn At Ohio State, Professor Mayo taught product, interior, and graphic design courses, and researched accelerated learning processes using music, color, relaxation techniques, interactive computers, and video. Former colleagues there praised his blend of rigor, generosity, calmness, and mentorship in a tribute. Professor Mayo worked hard to recruit Black and other minority designers and students to his company and college courses. He created mentoring programs and developed an extensive network of minority business contacts. He did not treat diversity as a slogan, a former colleague said in an online tribute. He earned lifetime achievement awards from the Industrial Designers Society of America in 2006 and the Design Management Institute in 2019. In 2021, Ohio State alumni created and funded the Mayo Mentoring Program. He was one-time president of the Philadelphia Economic Council and the Greater Philadelphia Community Development Corp. He wrote articles for many publications and served on boards at University of the Arts, the Society for Environmental Graphic Design, and other groups. READ MORE: Survivors give advice about mourning their loved ones, as told to The Inquirers obit writer He was a fellow of the Interior Design Council of Philadelphia, a juror for art and design competitions, and a member of the Philadelphia Art Commission. Asked to advise young designers in the recent video interview, he said: Try to be as innovative as you can. Ask questions. Being open is critical. Noel Mayo was born Dec. 30, 1937, in Orange, N.J. He attended a boarding school in Chester County and earned a bachelors degree in design in 1960 at what became Philadelphia College of Art and then University of the Arts. He married, divorced, and later married Leslie Butler. Professor Mayo enjoyed roller skating, was good at darts, and earned an honorary doctorate from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He was easygoing with a great sense of humor, said Virginia Gehshan, a design colleague and longtime friend. He was really an amazing genius. He was ahead of his time. In addition to his wife, Professor Mayo is survived by other relatives. A celebration of his life is to be held later. Elementary school students from Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School speak during a rally against gun violence at City Hall in Philadelphia in 2022. Proposed closures make school choice more urgent, the authors write. Read more Nearly 5,000 Philadelphia students face a tough decision after the recent announcement of school closures in the district. As they begin searching for a new school, many will find the process overly fraught and needlessly complicated due to bad policies that have limited their choices. Charter schools are one popular option. About 41% of Philadelphias public school students have chosen these kinds of schools including both cyber and brick-and-mortar charters. Advertisement But transferring to a charter school isnt a sure thing. In fact, charter schools host lotteries for interested students. For the 2025-26 school year, nearly 26,000 students applied, but only about 10,000 across the district were lucky enough to win a seat. The rest went on a waiting list. Parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment that best meets their needs. Philadelphia School District officials created this bottleneck. Despite the high demand for these schools, the school board has denied new charter school applications year after year. Even after approving its first charter school in nearly a decade, the board negated this progress by proposing to close several more charters. Harrisburg isnt helping, either. Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to gut another popular alternative: cyber charters. This years budget robbed cyber charters of almost $178 million, which many bad-faith partisans euphemistically called savings. And as if those cuts werent enough, Gov. Josh Shapiro offered more doublespeak in his recent budget address, proposing to redirect another $250 million away from cyber charters. So, how about transferring to a private school? Last year, Pennsylvania awarded more than 101,000 tax credit scholarships to students seeking private alternatives to their neighborhood schools. Almost one-third of those scholarships went to Philadelphia students. Locally, the Childrens Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP) provides more than 6,800 scholarships to low-income K-8 students in the city. In December, CSFP held its own lottery day, calling hundreds of parents to tell them the good news. But many more families werent so lucky all thanks to bad politics. Scholarships needed Statewide, nearly 70,000 tax credit scholarship applicants were turned away due to program caps. Demand for these scholarships has outpaced supply, leaving far too many students stuck in schools that dont work for them. Lifeline Scholarships could have filled this gap. This transformative program would have awarded $100 million in scholarships to students attending Pennsylvanias lowest-achieving schools 35% of whom live in Philadelphia. This program nearly became a law. But Shapiro, who promised that every child no matter their zip code has the opportunity to succeed, unceremoniously vetoed the program. The governor has also fumbled a new federal opportunity: the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC). He has yet to commit to participating in this new program, which enables donors to contribute dollar-for-dollar tax-deductible scholarships up to $1,700. Projections estimate the EFTC could provide $483 million in scholarships for Pennsylvania students. So far, 27 states have indicated they will opt into the EFTC. Even Shapiros Democratic colleague, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, officially opted in, calling the decision a no-brainer. Time after time, public officials have denied educational opportunities for students who need them the most. Moreover, these policymakers have painted themselves into a corner: After decades of forcing students to attend schools based entirely on their zip code, the powers that be seem unprepared when those schools disappear. Families need genuine options. Parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment that best meets their needs whether thats a local district school, a charter school, a private school, a cyber school, a microschool, or homeschooling. Lawmakers must reverse course and empower families with educational opportunity. This means expanding the commonwealths successful scholarship programs, enacting new ones like Lifeline Scholarships, opting in to the federal tax credit, and ending the ongoing war against charter schools. School choice recognizes that a one-size-fits-all system isnt realistic. And judging by the declining enrollment of public schools and the rising popularity of their alternatives, Pennsylvania families have already sent an unambiguous message to policymakers: They want more educational choices. It is incumbent upon us to give it to them. Andrew Lewis is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market think tank. David P. Hardy is the president of Girard College and a distinguished fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation. This weeks column analyzes the citys camera surge, the need for political challengers, and calls for some basic sense about security. Trolley cams Over the last few years, Philadelphians have increasingly come under surveillance. Cameras enforce bus lane violations, issue speeding tickets, and help prevent and solve violent crime. Just this week, the Philadelphia Parking Authority announced it is now adding cameras to the citys trolleys. This surge in surveillance has led to some residents bemoaning what they view as a cash grab. These worries were echoed last year by City Councilmember Jeffery Jay Young during a committee meeting in which he held up authorization for school zone cameras. Fortunately, these concerns are unwarranted. Advertisement Our speed and red-light cameras are not designed to raise revenue. While camera systems in states like Illinois are used to pay for regular local government expenses, Pennsylvanias are earmarked for traffic safety projects. Philadelphia is getting $13 million from the most recent distribution. This leaves politicians with little incentive other than to focus on safety and efficiency when choosing where and why to place the cameras. The system isnt designed to take advantage of sudden speed traps, a problem that occurs with both automated and traditional traffic enforcement systems. Per a PPA spokesperson, 63% of vehicle owners who get a bus camera ticket dont get a second one. In the case of the trolley cameras, it is also a question of basic fairness. If you ride the trolleys enough, youll eventually end up stuck. Almost always, it is because someone decided to inconvenience 20 to 40 people to avoid parallel parking or walking a short distance. While no one likes getting a ticket, motorists who opt to block trolleys should be happy with the fact that they arent being immediately towed. Marquee matchup The race to replace U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans was always going to be close-fought. With the youthful Brendan Boyle occupying the citys other congressional seat, this could be the best chance to represent Philadelphia in Washington, D.C., for decades. State Sen. Sharif Street (the son of former Mayor John F. Street) and State Rep. Morgan Cephas (who chairs the Philadelphia delegation in the state House) are both long-expected candidates for the job. Theyve been joined by progressive firebrand Chris Rabb, surgeon Ala Stanford, and a handful of other candidates with less funding and political support. For Southeast Pennsylvania politicos, itll have to do. There simply arent a lot of competitive races this year. In state Senate District 34, Towamencin Township Supervisor Kofi Osei is running against party-endorsed candidate Chris Thomas. There are also a couple of contested primaries for state House seats. Thats all, folks. Challengers needed Next year also looks fairly empty. While some progressive groups have polled residents to gauge the viability of defeating Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, few potential candidates appear eager to take her on. Thats perhaps not surprising. Only one Philadelphia mayor has failed to be reelected in the last 70 years. That includes W. Wilson Goode Sr., who bombed a city block during his first term, and Frank Rizzo, who failed a lie-detector test he himself had suggested. What the city really could use are more challengers for City Council seats. So far, I am aware of just one candidate, Jalon Alexander, who has put his hat in the ring. Alexander plans to challenge Young in the 5th District, citing capricious decision-making. But Young, while he may be the most egregious example, is not the only Council member who could use some competition. I expect the citys progressive groups, like Reclaim Philadelphia and the Working Families Party, will eventually find candidates to challenge some of the weaker members, including Young, Cindy Bass, Nina Ahmad, and Jim Harrity. Last cycle, these groups organized around ideas, like rent control, that simply arent viable in Philadelphia. Despite being mostly frozen out by Council President Kenyatta Johnson and their colleagues, the current progressive delegation has been somewhat unwilling to challenge that bodys status quo. While Councilmember Kendra Brooks voted against a ban on safe injection sites, and Rue Landau voted against one of Youngs ill-considered moves, the city could use at least one councilmember who is willing to consistently challenge their colleagues bad decisions. Security snafu We call Gov. Josh Shapiro the Ambitious Abingtonian here for a reason. The governor is a hard-charging, elbows-up politician who has turned many friends into enemies over the years. Republicans seem to believe they have finally found a weakness in Shapiros political armor: the decision to spend taxpayer money to secure his home in Abington, and the seizure of a small strip of adjoining land that accompanied it. State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, who represents western Montgomery County and eastern Berks County, even opined that Shapiro put his family at a higher level of risk by moving them home instead of to a bunker after the April arson attack at the governors mansion. Of course, the Shapiros just survived an attempted assassination. Lets be human beings for one second. Shapiros shell-shocked children deserved to sleep in familiar settings. If Republicans want spending decisions to critique, they should start with Shapiros reliance on an opaque group called Team PA to pay for everything from travel to sporting events instead. A flume of emissions flows from a stack at the Cheswick Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant, in Springdale, Pa., in 2021. Read more Fifty-six years ago, President Richard Nixon sent a letter to Congress proposing the formation of a new federal regulator: the Environmental Protection Agency. Back then, big city skylines were shrouded in smog, chemicals and waste had spoiled the nations waterways, and Americans across the political spectrum recognized the need to safeguard the planet. The governments efforts worked. While disagreements over the details and near-constant pushback from industry over regulations persisted over the decades, the EPA was long considered a genuine bipartisan American success story at least until President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin arrived. Advertisement So far, the pair have taken a flamethrower to environmental policy. The two most egregious moves are the rollback of mercury emission limits at coal plants and the repeal of the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases. Americans and the world at large will be paying for the administrations shortsightedness for years to come. READ MORE: Quakertown police mimic ICE brutality | Editorial A contaminant that is present in coal and released when it is burned, mercury can have devastating effects on human health. Just ask Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who blamed mercury exposure for contributing to his memory loss and brain fog while running for president. Hes campaigned to remove mercury from fish and vaccines, while his colleagues in the administration plan to release more mercury into the atmosphere. The emissions rollback also affects restrictions on arsenic, nickel, and lead all of which are released when coal is burned. A Harvard analysis suggested that repealing the mercury restriction could lead to $200 million in additional annual health costs for Americans, including heart and lung issues. Its bad enough that Trump wants to promote continued coal use; his administration is also standing in the way of renewable energy sources, putting up regulatory roadblocks for the development of wind and solar power. While America needs more energy generation to tamp down rising electricity costs, a diversified approach makes a lot more sense than using a 19th-century answer to a 21st-century problem. By turning its back on the EPAs endangerment finding, the Trump administration has eliminated the governments power to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The 2009 finding, which recognized that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuels endanger public health, has been the cornerstone of U.S. climate policy. Beyond the damage to the environment and long-term impact on an already dangerously warming planet, lifting restrictions will also result in higher costs for American motorists and bigger profits for oil barons at home and abroad. In Pennsylvania alone, the toll would be significant. According to an analysis by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, repealing the endangerment finding would result in $57 billion worth of additional fuel costs and over $12 billion in additional health costs by 2055 for Keystone State residents. Other costs include tens of thousands of additional premature births, millions of asthma attacks, and billions of metric tons worth of pollution. READ MORE: Theres no room in the union for Trumps chaotic imperial presidency | Editorial The EDF, alongside a coalition of environmental groups, is currently suing the EPA to preserve emissions standards. The Trump administrations backsliding puts America out of step with most of the world, where governments are embracing clean energy and electrification not only for health benefits but economic ones, as well. In France, clean energy production has been so successful that supply temporarily eclipsed demand briefly last year. While American ratepayers are dealing with rising electricity costs, France is seeing prices drop to their lowest level in years. China has established itself as a hub for electric vehicles. While the Trump administration has gutted incentives meant to help the American auto industry compete, Chinese firms have recorded a 1,016% increase in electric vehicle exports, with the total value rising from $295 million in 2018 to $36.7 billion in 2023. Thanks to the president, American automakers are likely to miss out on this bonanza. Instead, Americas energy policy seems aimed at recreating the economy of the 1960s, the very same conditions that led to the environmental movement in the first place. Trump has talked about clean, beautiful coal, said wind power is for stupid people, and defunded tax programs that help homeowners reduce their energy usage through heat pumps and weatherization. Americans deserve better than higher bills and dirtier air. Unfortunately, under Trumps policies, thats all well get. Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, has been in a power struggle with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the military's use of artificial intelligence. Read more As a standoff between artificial intelligence firm Anthropic and the Pentagon deepened this week, the two sides offered starkly different accounts of a key discussion about a hypothetical nuclear strike against the United States, revealing the intensity of their showdown over the American militarys potential use of lethal autonomous weapons. A defense official said the Pentagons technology chief whittled the debate down to a life-and-death nuclear scenario at a meeting last month: If an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched at the United States, could the military use Anthropics Claude AI system to help shoot it down? Advertisement Its the kind of situation where technological might and speed could be critical to detection and counterstrike, with the time to make a decision measured in minutes and seconds. Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodeis answer rankled the Pentagon, according to the official, who characterized the CEOs reply as: You could call us and wed work it out. An Anthropic spokesperson denied Amodei gave that response, calling the account patently false, and saying the company has agreed to allow Claude to be used for missile defense. But officials have cited this and another incident involving Claudes use in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as flashpoints in a spiraling standoff between the company and the Pentagon in recent days. The meeting was previously reported by Semafor. READ MORE: Trump orders all federal agencies to phase out use of Anthropic technology A face-to-face meeting Tuesday between Amodei and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth escalated the situation, the Washington Post reported. The two sides are now careening toward a defining power struggle over whether the U.S. government should have the freedom to spy on or kill humans using the potent new technology, based in part on extreme hypotheticals and games of telephone. The Pentagon had given Anthropic until 5:01 p.m. Friday to drop its objections to using Claude in relation to autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of U.S. citizens. If not, officials had said they may use government authority to force Anthropic to hand over the technology anyway while also blacklisting the company from future defense work. Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman, said in an X post Thursday that the department had no interest in conducting mass domestic surveillance nor deploying autonomous weapons, but wanted to use AI for all lawful purposes. This is a simple, common-sense request that will prevent Anthropic from jeopardizing critical military operations and potentially putting our warfighters at risk, Parnell said. Amodei said in a statement late Thursday that his company was ready to continue working with the Pentagon, but would not change its stance. Current AI systems are not reliable enough to power robotic weaponry without putting troops and civilians alike at risk, he said, and existing laws on domestic surveillance do not account for the sweeping potential of AI snooping tools. In a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values, Amodei said in his first public comments on the battle. Two such use cases have never been included in our contracts with the Department of War, and we believe they should not be included now. Anthropic did not expect to end up in a fight with Pentagon leaders when it became the first major AI lab to strike a deal to work on classified U.S. military networks in late 2024. But the dispute highlights how the startup, founded in 2021 by safety-minded refugees from ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, has struggled to deftly navigate Washington in the second Trump administration. (The Washington Post has a content partnership with OpenAI.) Anthropic recently added a former deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump to its board and explored taking investment from a fund led by Donald Trump Jr., according to people familiar with the pitch. Yet its leaders have also repeatedly clashed with the White House in public. In a coruscating post on X in October, David Sacks, Trumps top AI adviser, accused the company of fear-mongering and pursuing regulatory capture in an attempt to bend the government to its will. Anthropic leaders have criticized one of the administrations key AI policies in recent weeks, even as the dispute with the Pentagon was brewing. Theres the subtext of Anthropic not being aligned with the MAGA agenda, said Steven Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, who researches the use of AI in war. This is as much of a political fight as a military use issue. Experts say the outcome of the clash could shape the trajectory of the burgeoning relationship between the AI industry and the U.S. military, potentially signaling to other leading firms that the cost of doing business with the Pentagon could be losing control of their innovations. Unlike a gun or a jet engine, the uses that AI might find on future battlefields keep changing. The U.S. already pushes autonomy into its weapons and AI-enabled systems are a part of almost every drone, ship, or aircraft under production or envisioned in the future force. The Trump administration is embarking upon a vast expansion of the militarys use of AI. But leading figures in the development of the technology have long had ethical and legal concerns about giving AI the power to make life-and-death decisions or turbocharging surveillance. Emil Michael, a former Uber executive who is now undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, has taken the lead in the discussions with Anthropic. He has argued the government and not individual tech firms should have the final say in how the technology is used, according to a person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. Michael did not respond to a request for comment. To the Pentagon that means having a policy permitting what Parnell called all lawful purposes. Amodei has held firm that Anthropic has red lines around autonomous weapons and surveillance, a stance that has won support from his employees and could serve as a recruiting tool for idealistic engineers as the company heads toward an expected initial public offering. Late Thursday, Michael accused Amodei of having a God-complex in a post on X. He wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is OK putting our nations safety at risk, Michael wrote. The escalating dispute has baffled people who study how the military uses AI. Dean Ball, a former Trump administration AI adviser, said he hoped the two sides could still find a way to step back from the brink. The solution to that problem is to cancel the contract, Ball said. Going on a jihad against Anthropic is whole other layer of escalation. Leapfrogging off Amazon Anthropic owes its head start at the Pentagon in part to a partnership the intelligence community forged with Amazon in 2013, which paved the way for classified material to be handled in Amazons cloud. Over the course of the next several years, the tech giant built out secure computing infrastructure for the intelligence community, beating out rivals for coveted contracts to house classified and top secret data. In 2023 and 2024, Amazon invested billions into Anthropic. The relationship greased the AI start-ups path into the militarys closely guarded systems, according to a person familiar with the relationship, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it. Amazon declined to comment. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns the Post.) Anthropic also found an ally in software analytics firm and longtime defense contractors Palantir, which in 2024 teamed up with the AI firm and Amazon to offer Claude on its systems used by military and spy agencies. Anthropic said the partnership would boost the militarys ability to process huge amounts of data and make good decisions, saying it was proud to take on the work. Anthropic has first mover status and their product is good, said another person familiar with the militarys work with AI companies, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive issues relating to national security. Since Claudes deployment with the Pentagon, Anthropic said Thursday, its technology has been put to use analyzing intelligence, planning operations and in cyberwarfare. The company has deepened its work with the government since Trump returned to office and pushed federal agencies to rapidly scale up their use of AI. In July it signed a $200 million contract with the Defense Department and made a deal the following month to provide its system to civilian agencies for a dollar apiece. But the companys advantage has eroded as competitors like Google, OpenAI and xAI make deals of their own with the Pentagon. Officials say the other leading firms have agreed to its all lawful purposes policy for unclassified work, and that xAI has also signed a deal for classified systems. The three companies did not respond to requests for comment. Anthropic has differed from its rivals in simultaneously courting the administration for contracts while opposing it in other areas of policy. When the White House was pushing an executive order that would preempt restrictive state-level AI laws this winter, Anthropic was promoting a safety-oriented AI bill in California. Amodei has also criticized the Trump administrations drive to allow exports of American AI chips to China. On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month, Amodei compared the policy to selling nuclear weapons to North Korea. After meeting with Amodei this month on Capitol Hill, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) said she would introduce legislation to sharply limit any exports. Anthropic has also hired several former Biden administration officials. The administration just wants everyone to bend the knee and [Amodei] wont, said an investor who works on defense technology, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid getting into conflicts with any of the parties. In the past year, Anthropic has made moves that could smooth its relationship with the Trump administration. The company ramped up its lobbying in Washington, spending $3.1 million and bringing on a former senior aide to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to disclosures compiled by transparency group Open Secrets. It announced this month that it was adding Chris Liddell to its board, a former tech executive who served in the first Trump White House. The company also recently explored an investment from the Trump-allied venture capital firm 1789 Capital for funding, but was turned down, according to two people familiar with the pitch, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private business discussions. Donald Trump Jr. is a partner at the firm, alongside Chris Buskirk, an ally of Vice President JD Vance. Once and for all Insiders in the world of defense technology argue that the current fight between the Pentagon and Anthropic appears to be more philosophical than technical, and that the administration had already soured on the AI company even as rank-and-file military personnel were finding its services increasingly useful. The administration and the Republicans are looking for ways to get rid of Anthropic once and for all, the person familiar with the militarys work with AI companies said. The Pentagon clash could provide an opportunity to carry that through. In January, Hegseth issued a directive for the military to embrace AI as though the country were at war. The U.S. has committed to some guardrails on autonomous weaponry. France, the United Kingdom, China, and the U.S. all previously said they would require a human to be involved in all decisions to deploy nuclear weapons. In a statement to the Post, the Pentagon said the Trump administration intends to maintain that pledge. It remains the Departments policy that there is a human in the loop on all decisions on whether to employ nuclear weapons, a senior defense official said. There is no policy under consideration to put this decision in the hands of AI. But that still leaves room for AI to influence decisions on targets and speed of response. In a recent nuclear war game at Kings College London, many leading language models including versions of ChatGPT, Claude and Googles Gemini all quickly favored launching warheads. That could influence a humans decision to fire, said Paul Dean, vice president of the global nuclear program at the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative. Its not simply ensuring that theres a human being in the decision-making loop, Dean said. The question is, to what extent will AI impact that human decision-making? Neither side in this weeks faceoff knows for certain what AIs use in war will ultimately look like, but both seem unwilling to trust in the others future decisions. The Pentagon does not trust that Anthropic will be a reliable vendor, and Anthropic worries about misuse of its technology, said Michael C. Horowitz, a director at the University of Pennsylvania who oversaw AI weapons policy during the Biden administration. Because Claude is already in use across the Defense Department, exiling Anthropic and switching to a rival could prove costly. Although Defense officials have suggested they could use the Defense Production Act to force the AI company to share its systems, experts are split on whether the law could be applied. Doing so would send a chilling message to the AI firms the Pentagon hopes to lean on that they may risk of having their own innovations seized if the government sees something it wants. That would cross a troubling line, said Katie Sweeten, a former liaison for the Justice Department to the Pentagon, and a partner at Scale LLP. This is a literal nuclear option which I think rightfully companies should be very concerned about. U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle announces legislation called the Protecting American History Act at the Visitor Center at Independence Historical National Park, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Read more U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D, Philadelphia) announced legislation Friday that would permanently restore all exhibits to the Presidents House Site that were removed by the Trump administration in January. The proposed Protecting American History Act comes as the future of the Presidents House, which memorializes the nine people George Washington enslaved in Philadelphia, remains in limbo as a legal battle between the City of Philadelphia and the federal government continues to play out. Advertisement It is only dictatorships and communist countries that whitewash their history and give an official version, rather than the accurate version, Boyle said during a news conference Friday. Frankly, the most American thing in the world is to discuss and debate our nations history. It improves who we are as a people and where were going. The National Park Service last month removed educational panels from the site under President Donald Trumps executive order forbidding displays at national parks that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living. Some of that material was restored last week after a judge ruled in favor of the city, but those efforts were paused by a federal appeals judge while considering the Trump administrations motion for a stay. The appeal of the lower federal courts injunction that ordered them to restore the displays is also underway. Court decisions alone are not enough... History should not depend on the whims of one federal judge. This issue is bigger than just one exhibit, as important as it is. This is about the history of our entire nation and our people, Boyle told reporters Friday at the Independence Visitor Center. With Independence Hall towering behind him, Boyle said the bill calls for restoring all historical exhibits at the park, including the Presidents House, to its status on Jan. 21, the day before the displays were taken down. It will also shield all historical displays at Independence National Historical Park, which Boyles district includes, from any future government censorship. The Presidents House opened in 2010 after years of advocacy by local Black leaders. It juxtaposes the cruelty of slavery against the nations founding ideals. Michael Coard, an attorney and leader of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, which helped shape the Presidents House, said in a statement that his group is looking forward to working with Boyle on the legislation and will reach out to both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. From day one, we have said this is not a partisan issue, Coard said in a statement. This is an American issue. The full history of our nation deserves to be told without censorship or political interference. U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans and Mary Gay Scanlon, who also represent parts of Philadelphia, are the lead cosponsors on the legislation. The Democrats also joined Boyle last month in writing to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron seeking answers about the Presidents House by Jan. 30. As of Friday, the Trump administration officials had yet to respond, Boyle said. Boyle said that he has discussed this bill with Republican colleagues in the House, and they have expressed support, but its uncertain whether those lawmakers will publicly support his bill or whether itll receive a vote in the GOP-controlled chamber. In addition to lawmakers, Boyles bill is supported by the Rev. Beth Hessel, executive director of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a historic membership library, and Sean Connolly, executive director of Arch Street Meeting House, a Quaker historical site. Hessel and Connolly are two of the many Philadelphians who have joined the growing community activism to help preserve the story of the Presidents House. The legislation focuses solely on Philadelphia, but the hope is, Boyle said, that it can serve as a model for other lawmakers throughout the country as the Trump administration attempts to rewrite history ahead of the nations 250th anniversary. Other historic sites and national parks have also had educational material removed in recent weeks, including the Grand Canyon, where the National Park Service took down signage about the mistreatment of Native Americans. Boyle said the present day is almost a full-circle moment from the countrys founding, comparing Trump to King George III. Almost exactly 250 years ago, our founders were dealing with an out-of-control, dictatorial Mad King. They opted on the side of honesty and truth and idealism... it is toward that more perfect union you still strive today. Assembly member Cody Miller has pushed the legislature to create AI policy requirements for schools using the technology for surveillance. Read more The alarm bells went off for Assembly member Cody Miller when he heard about Newark schools installing artificial intelligence surveillance. The South Jersey lawmaker wants to get ahead of the technology before it spreads in his region. Miller, a Democrat who represents parts of Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester Counties, sponsored a bill that would require schools to develop AI surveillance policies and to communicate them to parents before using the technology and post public signage about it. Advertisement The bill passed the Assembly 78-1 on Tuesday with bipartisan support and one member not voting. We need guardrails, Miller said. And thats really why we developed and drafted this legislation. It was in response to something that we know is going to become a part of a larger operation most likely as artificial intelligence becomes the new norm for things. Artificial intelligence surveillance is already present in South Jersey. Glassboro Public School District in Gloucester County became the first school to implement a new system developed by a Pennsylvania company that uses artificial intelligence to detect guns through security cameras last year, NJ.com reported . Miller, 35, said he sees the pros and cons to AI but is concerned about student privacy and cybersecurity surrounding students images, campus layouts, and security protocols. READ MORE: New Jersey digital innovation office that uses AI becomes permanent with new law Safety is important, but when you decide to implement something like this, you need to make sure that youre communicating with the families and the parents, and students should also have a right to know what information is being collected on them, the Democrat said. The bill states that a district school board, charter school board of trustees, or renaissance school project that uses video, X-ray, or body scanner surveillance systems with AI must create a policy about using the technology and distribute it to district families. The policy would need to include benefits and challenges of using the tool, what information will be collected, and how it will be used and accessed. Signage would have to be posted in a prominent, public place where the system is used, indicating the use of AI. If the bill becomes law as written, it would be implemented in the next school year. Newark Public Schools announced plans to install more than 7,000 cameras with artificial intelligence capabilities in 2024 through a multimillion-dollar plan funded with COVID relief money in 2024, Chalkbeat Newark reported. I read it, and I went, Whoa, this is a first. This is the first time Im seeing something like this, said Miller, who works at Rowan College and served on the Monroe Township Board of Education. Miller sponsored another version of the bill last session that didnt make it to a floor vote. One of his cosponsors is Assembly member Dan Hutchison, another South Jersey Democrat who represents parts of Camden, Gloucester, and Atlantic Counties. Sen. Linda Greenstein, a Democrat whose Central Jersey district includes parts of Mercer and Middlesex Counties, is slated to introduce a companion bill in the Senate. The only lawmaker to vote against the bill in the Assembly was Republican Brian Bergen, who represents parts of Morris and Passaic Counties in North Jersey. Bergen said schools are capable of figuring out their own policies and would already have policies in place for video surveillance. Whats the difference about AI? Your ring camera at home has AI in it, he said. READ MORE: Candidates for NJ governor used AI in their ads in new ways. Is it ethical? The GOP lawmaker called the bill a silly example of legislators wanting to write bills to write bills. Bergen also questioned why it only focuses on schools and not other government buildings kids use. Schools have policies all over the place, he said. Theyre local school boards. They have local control. Theyre smart people. This article is part of a sponsored series by EZLynx. Successful agencies look to improve their workflows in two ways: by making them more meaningful for clients and being able to accomplish them faster. That is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in as a game-changing ally. Lets take a look at an interview with Saurabh Hooda, Director of Product Management at EZLynx and Anoop Bargur, Product Manager at EZLynx to discover how EZLynx agencies are already finding success with our AI tech. How Should Agencies Look to AI to Give Them a Competitive Edge? Saurabh Hooda: People are concerned that their jobs will be threatened by AI, but your job is not threatened by AI. Your job is threatened by someone else in your field who is using AI. Many agencies are going to use AI to gain a competitive edge; those that dont will be left out. How Will EZLynx AI Features Drive Agency Productivity? Saurabh Hooda: The features that we are building, or that we already have in EZLynx, are already saving a substantial amount of time for agents. And if up to 25 minutes a day is saved now, by the end of 2026, these AI features could save up to three hours a day. So just imagine the agents in an agency that use all the AI features will become more productive than those in other agencies. They will be more efficient, be able to reply to customers faster, save time, and save costs. So obviously, they will be far more competitive. Anoop Bargur: An agencys main task is to sell more policies. Its not to learn software or workflows better. The main job is to sell policies and let the tools handle the difficult day-to-day tasks much faster. Any agency that can use AI tools to master workflows would automatically have more time to sell policies. Who is EVA? Anoop Bargur: EVA is an acronym for EZLynx Virtual Assistant. This tech ties into our overarching goal of being twice as productive and EZLynx being the most productive employee within the agency. As an agent, you need an assistant whos really smart, and thats EVA. EVA can handle workflows, answer questions, perform reconciliation, and generate content for you. But the overarching thematic goal for us is to make sure that EVA is the most productive employee in your agency and to use EVA to help your business become twice as productive. Saurabh Hooda:Our intention is to have an always available assistant that you can delegate all your routine tasks to. EVA is a readily available assistant that will do all your chores so that you can focus your energies on building a connection with insureds. What Agency Operations Are EZLynx Looking to Improve with AI? Anoop Bargur: EZLynx aims to streamline and accelerate agency processes across the board, saving time and boosting efficiency with more meaningful, faster communication and account summaries. We look at it from a holistic view of where agencies are spending their time on a daily basis. Are you spending too much time on tasks that dont involve selling policies, helping customers, or building relationships? EZLynx AI will help you with the day-to-day administrative tasks, getting answers faster, gathering information faster, and processing information faster. It processes the different sources of information that come to an agency, synthesizes them, and provides agents with a way to enter that information into EZLynx without spending a whole lot of time. We are also looking at rating workflows, both personal lines and commercial lines. What we found was that agencies spend a good portion of their time just entering information. So, our focus is on reducing that to minutes instead of hours. How does EVA Content Assist deliver more meaningful, faster communications? Anoop Bargur: EZLynx helps agents draft better, more personalized emails, faster than ever before. Those emails can also be translated into various languages allowing agencies to more easily communicate with clients who speak English as a second language. Agents can refine messaging simply by asking EVA: Put this email in better words. Make it less formal. Translate this into Spanish. Alternatively, EVA can craft personalized emails for more tailored communication. For example, if an agent says: Hey, Im looking to send out an email to this customer. Hes a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and is sad about them losing all the time. I also want to remind him that his home renewal is coming up. Can you include both and create an email for me? EVA delivers a well-written email that combines customer connection with key policy reminders saving agents time and generating impactful messages. Saurabh Hooda: EVAs probably going to write better than most of us. Instead of only being able to get around five emails written in an hour, now you can get 15. EVA is adding all that manpower that you wouldnt have yourself so that you can get more done. How Does EVA Account Summarization Deliver Faster Insights? Anoop Bargur: EVA Account Summarizationhelps agents process multiple data sources and quickly draft meaningful responses. With this tool, any agent can answer questions for an applicant, and they dont have to be the same agent who was working on the policy before. So, anyone who gets a call from a customer can just request a quick summary from EVA and theyll see what the last conversations with the client were about. This allows any agent to pick up right where the customer left off, making it much easier to service those policies. Saurabh Hooda: Until 2025, agents used to spend a lot of time searching for information, digesting the information, and then replying. But now, they have all the data ready at their fingertips. Now you can use EVA to summarize everything that has happened in the last 12 months with an insureds account, so you know immediately what you need, and have the context of the full account history. EVA reminds agents in 30 seconds of everything thats transpired between any staff member and customer in the last 12 months. So, you can have a more meaningful conversation right away instead of spending several minutes fishing through all the inessential information to find what you need. What Is Ask EVA (Announced at Applied Net and Slated for 2026 Release)? Saurabh Hooda: Ask EVA is an AI assistant that helps agents get instant, accurate answers based on their customers and agency data. For example, if youre talking to an insured who says, Hey, I just broke the glass of my car, is it covered in my policy or not? With Ask EVA, you dont need to search for that insureds name, search for their specific auto policy, open that auto policy, and search for the coverages, which would take 3 to 5 minutes. You can just ask Is this insured covered for glass or not? And you will get an answer. You dont need to spend time on it. You just ask EVA and she will be able to give you an intelligent, precise answer immediately. And its all auditable; each answer has a link to the source of the information so that you can always verify the answer. How is AI Being Leveraged to Connect Agents to Winning Quotes Faster? Anoop Bargur: EVA AutoFill is coming soon. It saves time for agencies by extracting data from uploaded docs/files (e.g., Dec page, quote sheet, email, voice call, etc.) and automatically filling quote fields. This gets rid of manual data entry and speeds up the quoting process. Which 2026 EZLynx AI Tools Are You Most Excited About? Saurabh Hooda: In various surveys, weve found that manual data entry is one of the biggest time sinks for agents. Today, agents often spend more than 15 minutes typing information from a Dec page or quote sheet into EZLynx just to get a quote. Were excited about EVA AutoFill, which we discussed earlier, because it lets agents upload documents and have AI instantly extract the needed information from files (including voice call recordings) to create an application in seconds. This means quotes go out faster, policies can be bound sooner, and agencies can close business much more quickly, dramatically improving the customer experience. Is There Anything Youd Like to Add or Highlight? Saurabh Hooda: AI is here to augment, not replace, the work agents do. The relationship-driven nature of insurance will always require human expertise and empathy. AI simply clears the clutter so agents can focus on those high-value moments. EZLynx is transforming the way agencies operate, helping them become twice as productive through advanced AI innovation. With EZLynx AI, your agency can optimize workflows, save valuable time, and focus on what truly drives success building strong relationships and growing your business. Agencies that embrace AI today will gain an extraordinary advantage over competitors and lead the way in a rapidly evolving industry. The future is here, and EZLynx is ready to help your agency thrive! Visit the EZLynx AI Solutions page to learn more about how you can get ahead and stay ahead with the power of EZLynx AI. [inline-ad-1] Topics InsurTech Data Driven Agencies Artificial Intelligence Connecticut is taking an unusual step to confront a growing national problem: flood maps that lag reality. The state has launched a public climate-risk mapping tool where residents can see the estimated flood exposure of their property along with wildfire, wind and other climate risks. The tool, which is accessible through the insurance departments website, is powered by the same type of private risk-modeling firm that insurers turn to for setting rates. Severe flooding in western Connecticut in 2024, in which three people died and thousands of properties were destroyed or damaged, underscored for state officials just how wide the gap can be between mapped risk and lived experience. Interim Insurance Commissioner Josh Hershman emphasizes that the portal is informational only; it does not change insurance requirements or zoning rules. The goal, he said, is to close information gaps before the next disaster strikes. If you dont see water, you might not think you have a flood risk, he said. This is about giving consumers as many tools as possible so they can make an educated decision. The initiative has ignited a familiar debate over the unintended consequences of risk disclosure. A lot of wealth is tied up in home values, and homeowners and some in the real estate industry complain that the models arent transparent or regulated; they worry about devaluation. Alexander Chingas, an agent with the Bross Chingas Bross Team at Coldwell Banker Realty in Westport, said that the models have led buyers to rule out homes that are perfectly good. The problem is some people dont look at the tools as a starting point but rather view them as final and absolute, Chingas said. Connecticuts experiment comes against a backdrop of rising climate-fueled extreme weather catastrophes and rising home insurance costs. Insurers use advanced risk models to determine premiums, but this has become increasingly controversial particularly in California as those models, which are private and not required to be responsive to homeowner feedback, have predicted levels of risk that sometimes send insurance premiums soaring. Flood insurance is a little different since it is excluded in most home policies. Only people seeking federally backed mortgages for homes in a zone that the Federal Emergency Management Agency designates as a severe risk are required to get flood insurance. On its website, FEMA says that on average, 40% of the flood insurance claims it gets for the National Flood Insurance Program are outside of these zones. And the actual number of people experiencing flooding is likely greater than that, because that figure doesnt represent those without flood insurance. Connecticut decided to partner with hazard risk modeler First Street Technologies Inc. which rates risk on a scale of one to 10 in large part to have people re-examine whether they need flood insurance. Before launching the portal, the department asked First Street to compare its projections with the August 2024 flood footprint. The state found the modeled maps closely aligned with properties that experienced flooding. First Street said their model identifies approximately 81,000 more properties (all types, not just residential structures) facing severe flood risk than FEMA does. That difference, they said, is largely because FEMA maps do not include localized flooding from heavy rainfall. There is debate about which of the many private risk models is more accurate. A recent paper published in the Journal of Catastrophe Risk and Resilience analyzed the performance of seven of the most widely used private risk models against actual NFIP claims data and found that while threeVerisk, KatRisk and Moodys R.M.S.represent historical flood losses within a 4 % differential of actual NFIP claims, First Street reports flood damage estimates nearly twice as high. First Street chief executive officer Matthew Eby said that paper used data from a 2020 version of a First Street model, which has since been updated. He added: First Streets model should not be compared against traditional catastrophe models that are calibrated against historical data. The climate is not stationary, and flooding and damages are already increasingany traditional, rearward-facing catastrophe model is expected to underestimate current risk. There is no doubt that a warming climate is adding more moisture to the air and making rainfall events more severe. As insured damages from natural catastrophes in the US now routinely exceed $100 billion, there have been spotty efforts by states to better inform residents of changing risks. Florida has maps for flooding and storm surge. California and Washington both map wildfire risk zones for the public. Local versions of FEMA flood maps are widely available. Commercial real estate sites like Redfin already display some risk data from First Street. But Connecticut says it is the first to provide a pro version of the First Street model not usually available to the public. Instead of a general risk score, users can see street-level details and specific projected financial losses from flooding information typically reserved for insurers and investors. The portal coincides with new state legal requirements. Beginning July 1, 2026, Public Act 25-33 will require sellers and landlords to disclose flood risk details to buyers and tenants, including FEMA zones, flood history, and elevation certificates bringing a propertys risk history to the closing table. Its also too early to gauge effects on flood insurance purchases or home prices. Jonathan Miller, president of appraisal firm Miller Samuel Inc., who lives in Connecticut, said the effect of flood-risk disclosures depends on broader market conditions. In periods where the market is tight, it has less impact, Miller said. When the market is soft, it arguably has more impact on values. The market is very tight in Connecticut. Some homeowners wonder if the portal is already causing them trouble. Laura Lagemans 1835 farmhouse in Woodbury, a strong market, has been for sale for months. She worries that the 9-out-of-10 flood designation given to her home despite its location outside FEMAs high-risk zones may be discouraging potential buyers. We accepted an offer, but for no reason, they backed out, she said. Its been strange. Compass agent Mark Pruner in Greenwich said the numerical risk ratings have the potential to distract buyers. It adds confusion and an unreal level of specificity, Pruner said. The difference between a six and an eight for a homeowner who lives there 10 years probably is not significant. Pushback against First Street scores caused the real estate site Zillow to stop displaying them last year. This came after a couple in Chappaqua, New York, just miles from the Connecticut border, sued both First Street and Zillow for listing their home as a 9-out-of-10 severe flood risk even though it was not in the FEMA severe flood zone. They argue that it damaged their propertys value and are asking for half a million dollars in compensation. Both First Street and Zillow Group Inc. said they could not comment on ongoing litigation; but they have asked the court for the complaint to be dismissed, and parties are awaiting a ruling by the judge. Theres always tension when information changes how people perceive risk, said Gary Yohe, a professor of economics and environmental studies, emeritus at Wesleyan University. Yet he said this is an important first step in leveling the playing field for homeowners and insurers so they both see the same information. Suppressing information doesnt make the underlying risk disappear. Top Photo: A view of the flooded area after the severe thunderstorm in Connecticut, United States on June 30, 2024. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Flood Connecticut The Department of Justice (DOJ) reported it has secured a settlement agreement with a Virginia information technology services firm that is says discriminated against U.S. workers by advertising jobs with unauthorized citizenship status restrictions. DOJs Civil Rights Division alleged that Elegant Enterprise-Wide Solutions Inc. violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it posted job advertisements generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that included citizenship status restrictions not authorized by law, including language restricting consideration only to applicants with H-1B, OPT, or H-4 visas. The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), in the Civil Rights Division, is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA, which protects U.S. citizens and certain other work-authorized individuals from employment discrimination based upon citizenship or immigration status. The INA also protects all work authorized individuals from national origin discrimination, unfair documentary practices relating to the employment eligibility verification process, and from retaliation. Settlements and Lawsuits It is unconscionable for companies to illegally exclude U.S. workers when recruiting and hiring, commented Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. This Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminating against U.S. workers, no matter who or what drafts a job advertisement, or whether it is an employee, a recruiter, or an AI tool. Elegant Enterprise-Wide Solutions has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $9,460. An H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelors degree, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, finance and research. In an attempt to restrict the number, the Trump Administration began imposing a $100,000 fee on each petition for an H-1B last September. An Optional Practice Training (OPT) visa allows international students to gain work experience in their fields of study, while H-4 visas are for spouses and dependent children of work visa holders but are not work visas. DOJ said this settlement is the eighth settlement it has reached with companies that it said illegally discriminated against U.S. workers in favor of those with employment visas. Topics USA InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Talent Firefighters in Massachusetts were investigating an explosion Wednesday that left a house engulfed in flames and at least two people injured, authorities said. Emergency workers responded to the fire at the three-family home about 9:50 a.m., fire officials said. Two injured residents, a 25-year-old mother with severe burns and a 2-year-old child with serious injuries, were transported to hospitals, officials said. The situation is now under control, but this was a very serious incident, fire Chief Steven Lavigne said. The weather conditions present unique challenges, but we plan for these situations. The home was a total loss and eight residents were displaced, fire officials said. Two adjacent homes were also seriously burned, they said. The city opened a warming center for displaced residents Wednesday. Taunton Mayor Shaunna OConnell told reporters on a street lined with piles of snow and emergency vehicles that she didnt immediately know whether those injured were inside the house when it exploded. Homes on the street are close together and OConnell said she thought residents next door had to leave their homes. Nearby residents, including some who live several blocks away, reported hearing a loud noise at the time of explosion. William James Shivers Jr., who lives nearby, said he responded to the house to help people get out. Neighbors helping neighbors, as it should be, Shivers said. Taunton police and fire are amazing and Im blessed to be a part of this community. Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the state Department of Fire Services, said he understood that multiple people were injured. The agency was urging people to avoid the area and to allow emergency personnel access to the scene. State police fire investigators and the state fire marshals office were both responding to support Taunton fire authorities to determine the origin and cause of the explosion, Wark said. Taunton and much of the northeastern U.S. was digging out from a major snowstorm earlier in the week. The storm left more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in Taunton, which is a city of about 60,000 people about 38 miles (61 kilometers) south of Boston. Top Photo: Firefighters respond to a home engulfed in flames on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Taunton, Mass. (William James Shivers Jr. via AP) Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Massachusetts The state of New Hampshire and a federal judge remain on a collision course over the fate of the states motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection program. An injunction against a new law that sought to abolish the mandatory inspection and maintenance program for non-commercial vehicles as of January 31 remains in effect. However, there are no inspections being done because the state has refused to renew the contract of the long-time and only vendor, Gordon-Darby. On Wednesday of this week U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty denied a request by the state to stay an injunction against enforcement of the law that she imposed on January 27. Staying the injunction would only result in greater confusion regarding the requirements and status of the I/M program and would foster disrespect for court orders and the rule of law, the judge concluded. Federal Judge Puts Brakes on New Hampshire Plan to Abolish Car Inspections The injunction prevents the state from abolishing the annual program until and unless the state receives approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the plan is in compliance with the federal ani-pollution law, the Clean Air Act. That federal law requires states to have inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs to protect air quality. New Hampshires current program was last reviewed and approved the EPA in 2013. Against Judges Orders, New Hampshire Doubles Down to End Emissions Testing The state had asked the judge to lift her injunction while it is being appealed. In denying that request, the judge criticized the Executive Councils refusal to approve an extension of Gordon-Darbys contract as it was urged to do by the states attorney general and several commissioners. She also criticized the state for not doing much else to keep the inspection program running beyond asking for the contract extension. McCafferty criticized state officials for messaging to the public that the inspection program is closed, ordering directed inspection stations to return their unused inspection sticker, and telling the public that inspections are no longer required even though there are questions about whether federal law requires the state to have a program approved by the EPA that includes emissions testing. The States actions have generated substantial public confusion regarding the requirements and legal status of the I/M program. To be clear: the court does not view the I/M program as indefinitely suspended, she wrote. She expressed concern that state commissioners are currently taking no action to implement inspections and that they have no plans to begin doing so. The original challenge to the law was brought by Gordon-Darby Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the vendor that has administered the program since its inception and that had its contract terminated because of the new law. The company said it expects to lose approximately $4.1 million if the law is implemented. Gordon-Darby notified the state in October that it would sue under the Clean Air Act if the state enacted the law. The judge said her injunction still enjoins state commissioners from taking or directing any action to terminate, suspend, or otherwise cease implementation or enforcement of the program and requires them to take all steps necessary to resume and ensure the continued implementation and enforcement of the program. To obtain EPA approval of the plan to end the inspections, a state must demonstrate that the areas air quality standards can be maintained without benefit of the emission reductions attributable to the vehicle program. The state said it has submitted a request to EPA to accept its plan but EPA has not yet acted on it. Attorney General John Formella and other state officials had urged the Executive Council to extend the Gordon-Darby contract at an emergency meeting on February 4. They warned that the state could face a penalty of $55,000 per day for noncompliance with the Clea Air Act. Despite their counsel, the Executive Council voted 3-2 against extending the contract, reflecting in part the opinion that the council could not authorize a contract for a program that state law says no longer exists. We have a program that is not authorized under New Hampshire law, but which the state has been ordered to continue by federal court order, given the requirements of the Clean Air Act, noted Formella at the February 4 meeting. In the wake of the injunction being upheld, this week Formella said his office would try to develop new guidance. Until then, the February 13 guidance announcing the program has been suspended remains in effect. Topics USA Auto Legislation Sweden has told its energy industry to raise security levels following a recent cyberattack on Polish infrastructure, although this was not in response to a specific threat, the Nordic countrys signal intelligence agency said on Thursday. Swedish TV4, citing unnamed sources, earlier reported that authorities in the Nordic nations were investigating a threat to the regions energy providers from actors with likely links to a foreign power. We have recently been calling on the actors in the Swedish energy sector to be more vigilant, Ola Billger, head of communication at Swedens National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), told Reuters. We did so last Friday and we also called on the energy sector to take certain measures to make Sweden a more difficult target, Billger said. Polands government last month said that it had managed to ward off a large cyberattack at the end of December that was aimed at disrupting communications between renewable installations and power grid operators. Nordic police and intelligence agencies in recent years investigated damage to several underwater gas pipelines, power lines and telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea, some of which were found to be caused by deliberate attacks or sabotage. Swedens electricity grid operator, Svenska Kraftnat, told Reuters it had increased vigilance at its facilities, but declined to say when it had done so. We are aware of the information and we cooperate with other government agencies, a spokesperson for Swedens Ministry of Civil Defence told Reuters. Norways Gassco, which is responsible for a vast system of pipelines and terminals supplying natural gas to Europe, said there was currently no immediate threat to Norwegian gas infrastructure. Lithuanias National Crisis Management Centre said energy security remained a national priority but that it had not received any new reports of threats. Norways security police agency, the Norwegian National Security Authority and the Danish national security and intelligence service did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander in Stockholm, additional reporting by Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Nora Buli in Oslo and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, editing by Terje Solsvik and Toby Chopra) Photograph: Estonian naval ships sail in the Baltic Sea on Jan. 9, 2025, as part of stepped-up NATO patrols in the region following suspected sabotage of undersea cables. (AP Photo/Hendrik Osula, File) Heavy rains that began Monday night have left dozens dead and caused widespread destruction in southeastern Brazil, exposing a longstanding structural problem of housing in high-risk areas vulnerable to seasonal downpours. Storms in the state of Minas Gerais caused rivers to overflow, destroying bridges and roads, flooding various areas, and displacing nearly 2,600 people. At least 54 have died and 14 remain missing in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, according to the latest bulletin from the states Fire Department. As of Thursday morning, 238 people had been rescued. In both cities, residents and business owners are trying to recover possessions and goods from the mud, while many families continue searching for relatives. In Uba, businesses in the citys central district were completely destroyed and cars were swept away by the floods. Read more: Sao Paulo Battles Drought and Floods Together in Climate Paradox Juiz de Fora, the hardest-hit city with 48 confirmed dead and 12 missing, saw entire houses in hillside areas collapse downhill between Monday night and early Tuesday. In one home, three members of the same family were killed, and two children remain missing, according to a local radio station. Authorities have issued new alerts for more rain in the region. On Wednesday night, a new storm further drenched Juiz de Fora, hampering search efforts for the missing. The citys mayor told Brazilian online news outlet UOL that her city had been devastated, adding that she has no way to rebuild it. In Brazil, many cities feature low-income neighborhoods built up in a haphazard fashion in hillside areas, where informal housing has expanded over the years, increasing exposure to landslides and mudslides during the rainy season. The vulnerability is structural, reflecting a longstanding shortage of housing that leaves thousands exposed to seasonal downpours and at risk in cities across the country. Authorities routinely urge residents in these areas to evacuate at the first sign of danger and seek temporary shelter. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government declared a state of public calamity and released 3.4 million reais ($660,000) in emergency funds for the affected cities. In a post on X, Lula said the focus is to ensure humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, support for displaced residents and backing for reconstruction. He also expressed solidarity with those affected by the loss of their homes and family members. Floods in the Region The current disaster adds to a series of deadly floods in Brazil in recent years, as extreme weather events become more frequent across South America. In May 2024, unprecedented heavy rains triggered catastrophic flooding across Brazils southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, overwhelming river basins and inundating entire neighborhoods. The deluge affected nearly all of the states municipalities, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents and leaving 185 people dead and 23 missing. The disaster, described by some analysts as a Katrina moment for Brazil due to its magnitude and socioeconomic consequences, has also fueled debates over infrastructure investment and climate resilience, as authorities and advocacy groups call for more sustained disaster-preparedness measures, while Lula proposed exempting emergency relief spending from the countrys fiscal rules to speed reconstruction efforts. Elsewhere in the region, Brazils neighbor Peru has recently gone on alert as heavy rainfall battering the countrys coast in recent weeks shows no sign of easing, potentially signaling the onset of the El Nino weather phenomenon. More than 700 districts nationwide have been placed under an emergency status due to downpours typically associated with El Nino, which officials say is in its early stages and expected to intensify next month, possibly lasting through November. Torrential rains have battered the Arequipa region, damaging about 1,200 homes and affecting more than 4,000 residents, according to official data from Wednesday. Authorities say 68 people have died since the rainy season began in December. El Nino could cause losses of as much as 291 million soles ($86.7 million) per day, particularly impacting manufacturing, agriculture, commerce and transport, the Lima Chamber of Commerce estimated. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Flood A large Chinese military drone has conducted regular flights over the South China Sea in recent months while transmitting false transponder signals that made it appear to be other aircraft, including a sanctioned Belarusian cargo plane and a British Typhoon fighter jet. Military attaches and security analysts scrutinizing the operations say the flights represent a step-change in Chinas grey-zone tactics in the contested South China Sea and appear to be testing possible decoy capabilities in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Since August, at least 23 flights have been logged under the call sign YILO4200, a known long-endurance Chinese military drone, but the aircraft transmitted registration numbers of other aircraft, according to Reuters analysis of data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24. Related:The $10 Trillion Fight: Modeling a US-China War Over Taiwan The flight paths often head east from the Chinese province of Hainan towards the Philippines, near the disputed Paracel Islands, and down Vietnams coast, the flight analysis showed. Reuters is reporting the scale and complexity of the operations for the first time. The operations represent a new and elaborate element in Chinas expanding presence across the South China Sea and around Taiwan as its military responds to Communist Party demands to sharpen the readiness of its forces, according to three regional diplomats, four open-source intelligence analysts and three security scholars familiar with the flight data. The activities include exploiting electronic warfare and deception tactics in real time, they said. And while the masking is unlikely to fully deceive air traffic controllers or military-grade radars, it could sow time-wasting confusion in a conflict, conceal sensitive surveillance activity or be used for propaganda or misinformation, the envoys and intelligence analysts said. Weve not seen anything like this before, said Ben Lewis, founder of the open-source data platform PLATracker. Its a kind of deception trial being carried out in real time using aircraft that are not exactly low profile. It does not appear to be at all accidental. Chinas defense ministry didnt respond to Reuters questions about the flights and their purpose. Belarusian Cargo Plane The flights have mostly appeared on Flightradar24 as an Ilyushin-62 cargo plane operated by Rada Airlines of Belarus but also a Royal Air Force Typhoon, a North Korean Il-62 passenger jet and an anonymous Gulfstream executive jet. Since mid-December, YILO4200 has also made several flights in northwest China, most recently on February 15 when it appeared as an anonymous Pilatus PC-12, a small turboprop passenger aircraft. Aircraft registration numbers stem from a coded so-called 24-bit address governed by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Broadcast via transponders, the numbers help reveal an aircrafts position, direction and speed. While unique to each aircraft, the addresses are publicly known and two pilots and two analysts say recoding a transponder to give it a different registration number is possible. Rada was sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control in August 2024 for flying cargoes in and out of Africa that included Wagner Group personnel linked to the Russian military, as well as exotic wildlife trafficking. The real Belarusian Il-62 has been active throughout the period with a different call sign and was once airborne at the same time as the Chinese drone attempting to mask it, the Flightradar24 data showed. Rada Airlines did not respond to a request for comment and Britains defense ministry said it could not comment. An ICAO spokesperson said the body does not comment on issues or speculation concerning specific member states. Operation Could Sow Confusion Flying out of Hainans Qionghai Boao International Airport, the aircraft frequently remained airborne for hours, flying star- or hourglass-shaped patterns over the same areas. The flight profiles matched those typically associated with large military drones on surveillance operations and covered sensitive parts of the South China Sea, including areas frequented by submarines, four intelligence analysts familiar with the data said. The Chinese military generally flies its drones dark, transmitting neither call signs nor registration numbers. Two flights among the 23 reviewed by Reuters appeared to be particularly unusual: In one, that straddled August 5 and 6, the drone initially transmitted a code belonging to the RAF Typhoon, then switched signal to three other planes over about 20 minutes, eventually landing as the Rada Airlines plane. In another, on November 18, the drone was airborne purporting to be the Belarusian plane when the actual Rada Il-62 plane took off near Belarus headed for Tehran. Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill said the Hainan operations appeared to be a fresh tactic in a suite of Chinese digital options to muddy the waters should regional tensions escalate into conflict. They dont appear to be exercises as much as the kind of action the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has described as rehearsals for a confrontation anything the Chinese can do to sow confusion in the minds of their rivals is to their advantage, said Neill, a fellow at Hawaiis Pacific Forum. The U.S. and its allies know that given the realities of highly automated conventional conflict, even milliseconds count along the kill chain of escalation. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on the Chinese drone flights. Lewis and three other open-source intelligence analysts said the YILO4200 call sign came from long-endurance Wing Loong 2 unmanned aerial vehicle, an aircraft similar to the U.S. Reaper drone, with a wingspan of 20.5 meters (67 feet). The Wing Loong is used mainly for surveillance but can be fitted for other tasks, including command and control operations, precision missile strikes and anti-submarine operations. It is produced by the state-linked Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of AVIC. The company said it would not be commenting on the issue. Online flight tracker Amelia Smith first connected the Wing Loong 2 to the call sign by analyzing flight data, state press reports and government announcements. Lewis, Smith and two other intelligence analysts said it was unclear which Chinese agency was operating the aircraft out of Boao Airport, which is a dual-use commercial and military facility. Satellite images from July, September and January obtained by Reuters show large drones on the tarmac, alongside support buildings in a part of the airport now being expanded. Rehearsal for Taiwan Flightradar24 communications director Ian Petchenik said the tracker had noticed the Hainan flights and had not seen such activity before, beyond apparently accidental miscodings, non-existent addresses or corrupted data. Based on the flight patterns and the kind of usage of these 24-bit addresses, it doesnt seem like it is a mistake in the programming of the transponders, Petchenik said. Reuters couldnt determine whether the flights are running on programmed paths or being controlled from the ground. The paths run through areas of heavy naval activity, including the waters south of Hainan near Chinese submarine bases and east toward the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines a key choke point for Chinas navy to access the Pacific. The route patterns suggest a rehearsal for an operation over Taiwan, said Neill, the security analyst. Overlaid on a map of Taiwan, the 23 flight paths pass multiple military points of interest, concentrated around Taipei but also extending along the islands southern coastline. The eastern trajectories bring the aircraft close to Japanese and U.S. bases in Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyu chain. It is a compelling image extensive rehearsals across the South China Sea to be deployed over Taiwans key points, Neill said. Britains ultimate backstop against flood-related losses is planning to rely more on the capital markets, after its first ever catastrophe bond drew a lot of interest from specialist investors including hedge fund Fermat Capital Management. Flood Re, a state-backed insurance program, now plans to layer up on cat bonds, said Chief Executive Officer Perry Thomas. The goal is to create a pipeline of bonds that would follow a model used by Pool Re, the UKs terrorism reinsurance program, he said. Flood Res 140 million ($190 million) cat bond, sold last March, reflects the programs efforts to tap new sources of financing as the threat of flooding is forecast to become more pronounced. The UK government estimates that there are 6.3 million properties across England that are currently in areas at risk of flooding, a figure thats set to rise significantly in the years ahead. Read more: Hedge Fund Fermat Says Surge in Cat-Bond Sales Is Breathtaking Against that backdrop, Flood Re has been facing a capacity issue, Thomas said. So you go out and find more capacity somewhere else and thats where the cat bond became very useful, he said in an interview in London. As commercial insurers and reinsurers face rising costs amid increasingly destructive weather patterns, Flood Re has come up against new financing challenges. Its now trying out a variety of options to meet the moment, Thomas said. Flood Re has been scouring the markets for traditional forms of reinsurance and is now looking for other types of investors, Thomas said. The goal is to go and try and find different people to provide the money, and were seeing quite a lot of that. Flood Re was one of several new issuers tapping the market for cat bonds for the first time last year. John Seo, managing director and co-founder of Fermat, told Bloomberg earlier this month that hes aware of 16 new cat bond issuers in 2025. Thats as much as eight times the historical average, he said. Of Flood Res bond, Seo said, We usually dont comment on explicit investments, but this is such an important issue that I dont mind saying that, yes, we absolutely did invest. The need for cat bonds is linked to the fact that theres only a certain amount of capacity out there, Thomas said. If you are trying to hit a market thats kind of got lots of willing buyers, you pay one price. If youve then got to start scouring the market to get that last bit of capacity, the price really, really escalates. Investors in cat bonds make money if a predefined disaster doesnt occur, and lose money if it does. In recent years, bondholders have generally come out on top. Gains on catastrophe bonds have matched those of the MSCI World Index of global stocks over the past half decade, and trounced returns on US corporate bonds. Seo of Fermat said he expects cat bond sales of about $24 billion this year, testing last years record. Between 10 and 20 investors participated in Flood Res 2025 cat bond issuance, Thomas said. Of Flood Res cat bond last year, Thomas said that there were people who said they wanted 50% of it. For the next one, Ill build that investor base. Itll get bigger, and bigger and bigger, I hope. Photograph: A house affected by flooding in the hamlet of Weycroft, on Jan. 27, 2026. Photo credit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Related: Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Catastrophe Flood Zurich Insurance Group AG is nearing an agreement to acquire UK specialty insurer Beazley Plc and raise billions of dollars in equity to help fund the deal, according to people familiar with the matter. The Swiss insurer is likely to announce a firm, recommended bid for Beazley as early as Monday, the people said. Simultaneously, the Swiss company is expected to tap investors for $3 billion to $5 billion by March 4, the latest deadline for it to make a definite offer for Beazley, one of the people said. The final timing, and size of the equity raise, could still change, the people said. In January, Zurich said it plans to finance any deal through existing cash and new debt facilities, with the remainder funded through an equity placing. Zurichs latest proposal for Beazley values the London-listed company at about 8 billion ($10.8 billion). Beazley shares rose as much as 2.3% in London. The stock was trading up 2.1% at 1,272 pence as of 3:11 p.m. local time, below Zurichs cash proposal of 1,310 pence a share. A representative for Zurich declined to comment, while one for Beazley wasnt immediately available for comment. Earlier this week, Zurich struck a deal to buy Australia-listed life insurer ClearView for about A$415 million ($295 million) in cash. Zurich also owns a 5% stake in Spanish lender Banco de Sabadell, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Photograph: The Zurich Insurance Group AGs headquarters in Zurich. Photo credit: Michele Limina/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Britains government on Friday appointed a former regulator and current Barclays BARC.L executive, Katharine Braddick, as the Bank of Englands next deputy governor for prudential regulation to try to boost sluggish economic growth. Last year, finance minister Rachel Reeves criticized regulators for being a boot on the neck of businesses, raising concerns at the Bank of England, whose governor, Andrew Bailey, has said the lessons of the 2008 global financial crisis risk being forgotten. Braddick worked at Britains Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England as a bank regulator before joining the finance ministry and then moving to Barclays in 2022, where she is group head of strategic policy. Experienced, Pro-Business Leader, Says Reeves Katharine Braddick is an accomplished pro-business leader with the experience to keep our financial system safe while backing the investment and lending that drives growth, Reeves said in a statement. She added that Braddick understands the City and regulation, and will help ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world to do business. Braddick will take up the post on July 1 from Sam Woods, and will serve a five-year term. Her appointment was welcomed by the City of London Corporation, the municipal body for Londons financial district, which typically champions the sectors interests. At a time of significant regulatory reform and global competition, its crucial we have someone with her depth of knowledge and expertise in the role, the Corporations policy chairman, Chris Hayward, said. The BoE said that to manage any perceived conflict of interest, Braddick would immediately stop work for Barclays and that the bank would pay Braddick the deferred portion of her bonus straightaway. Braddick would be barred from being involved in any supervisory or enforcement decisions in relation to Barclays for the first six months of her job, David Roberts, the chair of the BoEs supervisory board, said in a letter to the chair of parliaments Treasury Committee. Due to Barclays central role in Britains financial system, it was not practical for Braddick to be recused for any longer, he added. In 2017, the committee was critical of newly appointed deputy governor Charlotte Hogg for failing to be transparent about her brothers work on Barclays strategy team, ultimately convincing her to step down. (Reporting by David Milliken and William James; editing by Barbara Lewis) Higginbotham announced it has acquired Monarch Solutions Inc., a firm that supports high-net-worth individuals with insurance related strategies that are intended to provide tax savings and estate liquidity. Monarch founder and now Higginbotham Managing Director Kevin Klaas will be based at Higginbothams Fort Worth headquarters, with Operations Manager Ann Marie Coyle continuing to lead the team at Monarchs field office. Monarch is based in Chicago and has a Dallas office. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Illinois The Pentagon accidentally shot down a US Customs and Border Protection drone on the Texas border with Mexico using a high-energy laser, according to people familiar with the matter, weeks after a similar incident led to confusion and exposed communication lapses among several US agencies. The Defense Department didnt realize the drone was being flown by CBP when it shot it down, the people said. The military had not first coordinated the use of the laser system with the US Federal Aviation Administration, which was notified Wednesday after the event occurred, according to two of the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss it. The FAA didnt comment on the specific details of the episode but said in a statement Thursday evening that it already had temporary flight restrictions in place for the area around Fort Hancock in Texas. The TFR has been expanded to include a greater radius to ensure safety, the agency said, adding that because of the location of the restrictions, commercial flights are unaffected. The agencys notice on the restrictions cites special security reasons and says no pilots may enter the airspace, with some exclusions for medical emergencies and search and rescue. They are currently set to remain in effect into late June. The Pentagon separately issued a joint statement late Thursday with the FAA and CBP that said the department employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace. The agencies said they would work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future. Heads Exploding Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system, Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees said in a statement Thursday night. The lawmakers, including Representatives Rick Larsen, Andre Carson and Bennie Thompson, said the issues stem from a lack of appropriate training for counter-drone operators and poor coordination among the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and the FAA. Under the law, the Pentagon has the authority to detect and mitigate threats from drones near sensitive military facilities and assets. But the military is supposed to coordinate counter-drone measures with the Transportation Department and the FAA beforehand if they might affect aviation safety or civilian operations. Two people familiar with the matter said that coordination hasnt been taking place. The CBP drone operators didnt inform the militarys laser unit that it was launching, according to one official. Earlier this month, the FAA temporarily closed the airspace near El Paso because of concerns over the use of the same laser system and the potential effects on civilian aircraft at El Paso International Airport. The FAA imposed flight restrictions, which drew a backlash from local officials and were initially intended to last 10 days, on Feb. 10 but lifted them the following day. Administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, said that closure occurred because drones flown by Mexican drug cartels had breached American airspace. Yet other people familiar with the situation said it was really because of the Department of Homeland Securitys operation of the Pentagons laser system without coordination with the FAA. One of the people with knowledge of the latest event said the agencies are struggling to figure out how this could have happened so soon after the last incident. The closure earlier this month and conflicting explanations for it created confusion as to what really happened, leading lawmakers in both the US House and Senate to request briefings. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, said she is requesting federal inquiries into the incidents. The situation is alarming and demands a thorough, independent investigation, she said in a statement. I will be calling on the Inspectors General of the Departments of Defense, Transportation and Homeland Security to launch a joint investigation into the recent scandals in El Paso and now Fort Hancock. The laser is the Armys Locust system, manufactured by AeroVironment Inc. Photo: The US-Mexico border wall on the outskirts of Eagle Pass, Texas. Photographer: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Texas Drones For more than a decade, insurance companies and physician groups have battled it out over the true meaning of Florida statutes: Are doctors considered pharmacists, allowed to dispense medications to injured workers, often at a higher price? A Florida appeals court this week may have finally answered that question, giving a multimillion-dollar win to employers and carriers that have spent years trying to undo state workers compensation regulations that have allowed physician dispensing. This is huge. Its not often you see a complete vindication like this, said Jerry Fogel, a consultant with Imagine Clinical who has been at the center of the dispensing debate for years. The 1st District Court of Appeals on Wednesday overturned a Florida Division of Administrative Hearings decision that had upheld a state Division of Workers Compensation regulation issued in 2023. That regulation, initially contemplated in 2020, reversed years of regulatory sentiment that the wording of Florida law does, in fact, allow insurers to deny reimbursement when physicians dispense medications to injured workers. That 2023 rule has now been struck down. Its unclear if the appellees in the case, including the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Florida Medical Association, and Prescription Partners LLC, will try to appeal to the state Supreme Court, or if the rule will now be revamped. Those organizations and their lawyers could not be reached for comment Thursday. Rumors quickly circulated that efforts already were underway to change the law before the Florida legislative session is set to end March 13. The place where injured workers obtain their prescriptions may not seem like a big deal. After all, workers compensation rates for most employers have fallen dramatically in Florida and nationwide over the last two decades. But insurers involved in the case said medical costs could be lowerand outcomes could be improvedif doctors stayed out of the medication-selling business. Its a potential conflict of interest and physicians are not always trained on a wide range of medications like pharmacists are, insurance groups have said. Ending the dispensing practice will now save workers comp insurers as much as $43 million over the next five years, the Florida Insurance Council and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association said in an amicus curiae brief filed with the appeals court. The groups pointed to studies by the Workers Compensation Research Institute that suggest that many drugs are more expensive when doctors dispense and bill for them: The pain reliever Vicodin is, on average, $1.41 per pill if dispensed at a doctors office versus 52 cents at a pharmacy. Mobic painkiller is as much $5.86 per pill, compared to $3.19, the brief notes. This increase would need to be factored into the cost of workers compensation insurance, unraveling years of legislative reform, attorneys Maria Elena Abate and Michael Billmeier Jr. wrote in the brief. The Florida Insurance Council hailed the court ruling. We believe this decision reinforces an important safeguard against misaligned financial incentives in physician dispensing, protecting injured workers and helping prevent unnecessary cost increases that impact Florida employers, said George Feijoo, of Floridian Partners, representing the Council Advocates for physician dispensing have long said it saves injured workers time and avoids multiple trips to pharmacies, speeding recovery. And in an answer brief in the appeal, Prescription Partners attorneys said the whole dispute has been unnecessary: They pointed out that under Florida law, the comp insurer chooses the treating physician, in most claims. A carrier has the choice to send the injured worker to any provider of the carriers choice, including a provider who is not a dispensing practitioner, and thereby avoid any practitioner-dispensing of medications at all, attorneys Virginia Dailey and Lindsay Ervin wrote. But Fogel argued that in todays profit-driven medical system, in which large private equity funds have gained stakes in many provider practices, its not so easy for physicians to agree to drop dispensing, even in return for better reimbursement and more patients. That worked great 20 years ago, Fogel said. But nowadays, no one owns their own operation anymore. The medical people dont make the decisions so much. The appeals court acknowledged that Florida law is somewhat conflicting and confusing on physician dispensing. In some sections, the law is clear that physicians are not the same as pharmacists, the court noted. But another section sets the price of doctor-sold meds to no more than the average wholesale price, plus a $4.18 dispensing fee. For repackaged drugs, its 112.5% of the wholesale price, plus an $8 fee. But Fogel pointed out that even with price ceilings, dispensing doctors have a vested interest in writing more prescriptions and selling more-expensive medications, driving up costs for carriers and employers. Physician dispensing has become a lucrative part of many medical businesses, insurance groups have said. One of the biggest players is Prescription Partners, based in Hollywood, Florida, which manages the software, packaging and billing when physicians set up office pharmacies and add pharmaceuticals to the bill. The firm has been the driving force behind the Florida regulatory push to allow doctor dispensing, insurance leaders have said. Paul Zimmerman, a physician, is listed as CEO of Prescription Partners. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. But he once told NBC News that insurance companies have distorted the reported cost of dispensed meds by focusing on a few medications. On the other side, Publix Super Markets, one of Floridas largest employers, was the lead appellant in the case. Publix had two reasons for pressing the appeal: Its own workers comp costs and its pharmacy business, which will likely see an increase in medication sales now that doctors can be denied reimbursement when dispensing to injured workers. Other appellants in the case were Florida workers comp insurers, including Normandy Insurance Co., based in Deerfield Beach, which Fogel credited with supporting and financing much of the litigation, even after other insurers backed out. Others in the appeal included Zenith Insurance, in Sarasota; Bridgefield Employers Insurance; BusinessFirst Insurance, and RetailFirst Insurance. Topics Florida Workers' Compensation A Tennessee man was released on bond after he was indicted for allegedly collecting premiums then absconding with the money. Richard Darrel Wolfe, 67, of Hendersonville, was indicted by a Sumner County grand jury last week, charged with 14 counts of theft and three forgery counts, dating to 2023 and 2024, court records show. He has a court hearing set for March 6. Investigators began looking into Wolfes alleged actions in November, after several local businesses alleged that the man had sold insurance policies but had not secured coverage, The Hendersonville Standard and other news sites reported. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners agent verification records show a Rick D. Wolfe in Hendersonville with an expired insurance producer license and an inactive surplus lines license. He was appointed with several property-casualty and life insurance carriers until 2020. Rick Wolfes Linkedin page indicates he owned an agency in Hendersonville for 31 years. Topics Agencies Federal workplace safety regulators penalized three businesses over their failure to protect six Colorado dairy workers who were killed by exposure to highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas after a manure pipe disconnected in an enclosed space. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced proposed fines totaling $246,609 against the dairy owner and two contractors working on a manure management system. The deaths of five men and a teenager on Aug. 20, 2025, shocked the rural communities in and around Keenesburg, 35 miles (55 kilometers) northeast of Denver. Dairy owner Prospect Ranch LLC, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, faces the largest fine at $132,406 for serious violations, including failures in training, planning and protecting workers from atmospheric hazards. The proposed fines are large by OSHA standards in agriculture but not unprecedented, said William Field, a professor at Purdue University who compiles annual reports on deaths in confined spaces at farms. He said occupational safety fines often are reduced upon appeal, or partially waived in exchange for investments in safety improvements. That part of it quite frankly is peanuts compared to the civil liability potential in situations where private lawsuits are allowed, he said. Regulators also announced proposed fines against Colorado-based Fiske Inc. and another contractor hired to work on the system that released manure water and the hydrogen sulfide gas that led to the deaths, the government said Tuesday in a news release. Fiske Inc.s business High Plains Robotics services dairy equipment and employed four of those who died. Fiske faces $99,306 in penalties for failing to protect employees and provide hydrogen sulfide detection training. A Fiske employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas, OSHA said in the statement. Subsequently, three more Fiske employees and one Prospect Ranch employee entered the pump room, which led to the loss of a total of six workers. The Weld County coroners office determined from autopsies and toxicology tests that the people who died were exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, but provided little indication of the circumstances of the deaths, describing only an industrial accident in a confined space at a dairy farm. Contractor HD Builders was cited for failing to have a written hazard communication program and provide training on detecting hydrogen sulfide, with a proposed $14,897 penalty. Company employees were present but unharmed after the pipe disconnected. The companies have 15 days to comply with proposed penalties, request an informal conference with safety regulators or challenge the findings before an occupation safety review commission. Fiske Inc. and company owner Kevin Fiske said in a statement Tuesday that our hearts are heavy as we review OSHAs citations. We have cooperated with the investigation proceedings to date, Fiske said. While we disagree with the findings and are reviewing our options to determine next steps, we are focused on doing what is in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again. A representative for HD Builders said Tuesday that the company had no comment. The hazards of confined spaces on farms and dairies are a well-known and persistent cause of death in agriculture across the U.S. often from exposure to odorless and colorless noxious gases, or due to asphyxiation in closed spaces where oxygen has been depleted. First responders from a rural fire district in Weld County were dispatched around 6 p.m. on Aug. 20 to Prospect Ranch and took their own safety precautions as they entered a confined space. All those who died in Colorado were Latino, ranging in age from 17 to 50. Four of them, including the teenage high school student, were from the same extended family and worked for Fiske Inc.s High Plains Robotics. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, of Nunn, was found dead along with his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos and a second son, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado. The Espinozas are related by marriage to a 36-year-old from Greeley who died Jorge Sanchez Pena, according to the Weld County coroners office. The other two men Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montanez Casanas, 32 lived in Keenesburg. The remains of Montanez Casanas, a veterinarian who was employed under a U.S. visa, were repatriated to the central Mexican state of Hidalgo, according to the Mexican consulate in Denver. Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Agribusiness The European Union will provisionally apply a contentious free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur to ensure it secures first-mover advantage, the European Commission said on Friday, in a move which the IFA said failed to respect a recent European Parliament vote. The agreement can enter into force provisionally two months after an exchange of notifications with Mercosur members, the Commission said. The EU normally waits for approval of its free trade agreements by EU governments and the European Parliament. But EU lawmakers voted last month to challenge the agreement in the bloc's top court, potentially delaying its full implementation by two years. Approval by the EU assembly remains ultimately necessary, but the EU and Mercosur can begin reducing tariffs and applying other trade aspects of the agreement before then. IFA President Francie Gorman said the decision to provisionally apply the Mercosur trade deal fails to respect the recent European Parliament vote to refer the deal to the ECJ. Its somewhat ironic that the Commission president is so keen to drive on in the same week that their latest audit in Brazil shows the controls are not in place. Despite what the EU Commission has frequently said, the Brazilian authorities have not managed to get their house in order," said Mr Gorman. French president Emmanuel Macros was also critical. "For France, it's a surprise, a bad surprise, and for the European Parliament, it's disrespectful," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after meeting Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob at the Elysee Palace in Paris. In a statement, French meat industry association Interbev called on French members of the European Parliament to act to "prevent the Commission from circumventing the democratic debate". In a vote in January, 21 EU countries supported the agreement, while Ireland, Austria, France, Hungary, and Poland voted against and Belgium abstained. The EU deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, concluded in January after some 25 years of negotiations, could remove around 4bn of duties on EU goods exports, making it the bloc's biggest ever free trade agreement in terms of potential tariff reductions. Germany and other supporters of the deal such as Spain say it is essential to offset business lost due to US tariffs and to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. The German-dominated centre-right European People's Party -- the biggest political group in the European Parliament -- and the European Dairy Association both welcomed the swift application of the agreement. The Commission's move follows Argentina and Uruguay ratifying the agreement on Thursday, with Brazil and Paraguay expected to follow soon. "I've said before, when they are ready, we are ready," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a short statement. "On that basis, the Commission will now proceed with provisional application." Reuters In a statement issued by agriculture minister Martin Heydon, he reiterates his confidence in Larry Murrin as Bord Bia chair. Mr Murrin continues to have my full confidence to serve as Chair of Bord Bia, he said. Mr Heydon said Mr Murrins appointment to the chair position of Bord Bia in April 2024 was part of a competitive, selective process and was appointed in accordance with the required corporate governance procedures for State boards. He added Mr Murrin went before the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture in early February and gave a robust and in-depth explanation in relation to matters and concerns being raised surrounding Brazilian meat imports and Mr Murrins company, Dawn Farms, supply chain contingency. Meanwhile protests at Bord Bia offices in Dublin by the Irish Farmers Association are ongoing, while the 'Bord Bia Five' continue to occupy the building. Mr Heydon said direct engagement by the department and senior IFA members had discussed the possibility of a compromise. I have spoken to the IFA president in recent days, and I believe there is an opportunity to bring a resolution to this. This protracted dispute is not in the best interest of the agri-food sector. "A written request to cease the protest was sent to the IFA from the board of Bord Bia the IFA has not stood down the protest, the minister explained. The minister said 140 staff in Bord Bia remain unable to access their offices in Dublin to resume normal working due to the continued occupation of the building. Referring to the Food Vision stakeholder meeting he convened on February 13, Minister Heydon said it opened up dialogue surrounding specific issues concerning Bord Bia, where all participants had a chance to express their views. The result of the meeting led to three commitments, which Bord Bia and the department will revisit and address going forward: Revisit the focus on farmer experiences with quality assurance audits; Establish a farmer forum to improve farmer engagement with Bord Bia; Undertake a dedicated information campaign to better explain Origin Green and Quality Assurance Schemes (QAS). In his statement, the minister said the department would undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and an understanding of labelling and food information for consumer requirements. He said feedback has been received from six farming organisations in relation to these proposals, and work was now under way to advance them. At a Bord Bia board meeting on February 18, the IFA submitted a document consisting of seven strands of commitments for Bord Bia to initiate following the various issues that have arisen in recent weeks. Mr Heydon credited Bord Bia with the 20.8bn recorded in agri-food exports recorded in 2025, saying the organisation played a crucial role in that success of delivering outcomes for farmers and reaching more premium markets for Irish farmers' produce. Shes the New Zealand filmmaker whose films speak to the human experience and who is regarded as a trailblazer for womens voices in cinema. Jane Campion was the first woman to win the Palme DOr at Cannes Film Festival for her critical and commercial hit, The Piano, and the first to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars twice, eventually winning for The Power of the Dog. Now three of Campions most-acclaimed films are to return to the big screen in Cork as part of a special programme at Triskel. The Portrait of a Lady (March 15) stars Nicole Kidman in a tale of independence and desire. The Piano (March 16) stars Holly Hunter as a mute woman in 1850s New Zealand, sent for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, only to find herself desired by a local worker. Kate Winslet heads the cast in Holy Smoke (March 18), the tale of a woman who alarms her family when she goes to find herself in India. For Triskel, this felt like a timely opportunity to bring Campions films to the screen as part of a monthly season introduced in recent years, usually themed around a directors work. In a world where we've only had three Oscar winning female directors, and they've all been in pretty recent years, it feels like she smashed that ceiling open a little, says Triskels head of cinema Chris ONeill. Before Campion got her nomination in 1994 for The Piano, it had been 17 years since a previous female director had been nominated for an Oscar, which was Lena Wertmuller ( Seven Beauties). It took almost 20 years for that nomination, and then it took more than 15 years for Katherine Bigelow to eventually win an Oscar (for The Hurt Locker). It's just mind boggling that it took that long. Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin in Jane Campion's film, The Piano, a film showing as part of Triskel's tribute to the director. The Piano was a huge commercial and critical hit which also saw Campion become the first woman to win the prestigious Palme Dor at Cannes Film Festival. It was a crossover movie, says ONeill. It was an art house movie, but it was also an art house movie that reached a mainstream audience, and it was hugely successful financially, and one of those cultural zeitgeist films. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Campion is regarded as one of the most prominent and singular voices in cinema. Making her feature debut with Sweetie, she went on to make a remarkable run of films that included An Angel at My Table, The Portrait of a Lady, Holy Smoke, and The Piano. Top of the Lake is among the many projects that make up her TV-series work, while in 2022 she become one of just three women (along with Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker and Chloe Zhao for Nomadland) to win Best Director at the Oscars. That win was for The Power of the Dog, a Western psychological drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. Campions first female Palme Dor win and much earlier directorial Oscar nomination did feel like they made a difference at a time when female directors were highly underrepresented in mainstream cinema. She also helped shine a light on the growing film industry in her native New Zealand. She has been outspoken about gender inequality in film, long before it became a conversation that we have nowadays says Sinead ORiordan, actor, producer, and founding member of Screen Cork. She was consistently advocating for women directors and systemic change. That has to be admired. (Left to right) Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin and Jane Campion with their Oscars in 1994. Photo: Timothy A. Clary / AFP ORiordan also finds that Campions work resonates on a human level. The way she explores repression, not just in women, but in men as well. And where that comes from, and what causes that, and what drives that. There are common elements, strands throughout her films. There's that emotional psychology of what's not said, there's the subtext. I believe she's interested more in what causes that, and what sits beneath that behaviour. What she has done as well, is her work is a source of debate. And in a way, isn't that what film is all about, or should be about? Art is subjective and you should be able to have healthy debate. Visually, Campions film are also widely admired and help place audiences in the often-intense worlds she creates. Barry Monahan, senior lecturer at UCCs School of Film, Music and Theatre, has long been a fan of Campions work. Theres something very, very special about the way she looks through a camera, he says. Monahan agrees that Campion has the skill to make arthouse movies that find both wide audiences and mainstream success, most recently with The Power of the Dog. That film had a cinema release and an awards-season run, culminating at the Oscars, and was backed by streaming giant Netflix. Jane Campion. Photo: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images One of the things that she's managed to do is she's got very good box office takings, incredible critical claim and her awards: say no more. At the same time, she has brought to that forum and that level of critical attention and respect, a cinema that is very, very deep. That's certainly not automatic. You either have to sacrifice, or you have to go after quality and lose audiences, or vice versa. She's someone who's managed to kind of capture both, and I think absolutely brilliantly. Monahan also admires how Campion navigates the authenticity of the female characters she brings to the screen along with her own unique storytelling skills. It's not simply that she represents female protagonists in any of the tick-box ways. Are they strong? Do they survive? Have they agency? None of those things, not just any of those things. She has found a way of creating cinema for me, that just puts you in a different place. So we really experience Holly Hunter's point of view in The Piano, or we experience Sweeties growing up in that film, or in An Angel at my Table, we experience what it's like to be that disturbed mind. So it is point of view to a certain extent, but it's also the way that stories are told and heard, and I think that's why The Piano makes most sense in all of this, because she's so on the outside. "Campion, she just moves it on a million years to a place where it's not just about those binaries. It's now: come into my world with the problems I have, come into my world with the struggles and the hurdles that I have to overcome. A man has been charged with the murder of a UK tourist who died two months after an alleged assault in Dublin city. Darragh OBrien, 22, with an address at Beechfield Heights in Dublin, appeared before the Dublin District Court on Friday morning. He had appeared before the courts last year charged in relation to the incident in the Temple Bar Square area of the capital just after midnight on August 21. Anthony Herron, aged in his 40s who had a three-year-old son and had recently bought a house in London with his pregnant wife, was left in a critical condition after the alleged assault. He was taken to Dublins Beaumont Hospital before being transferred to a high dependency ward in Kings College Hospital in the UK. Gardai said Mr Herron died on Saturday October 25 2025. On Friday, Garda Colin Coyne-Delaney told the court that Mr OBrien was arrested on Thursday and charged at 10.04pm with the murder of Anthony Herron. He made no reply when charged. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that the count of murder proceed on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. Mr OBrien, who appeared in court before Judge Gerard Jones wearing a blue tracksuit, was remanded in custody. He is next to appear before Cloverhill District Court. Jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke is seeking permission from the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court judgment handed down almost three years ago banning him from Wilsons Hospital School. In May 2023, Mr Justice Alexander Owens ruled that the Co Westmeath school validly had suspended Mr Burke from his teaching position, and subsequently ordered that he be restrained from attending at the school premises. The school suspended, and later dismissed, Mr Burke over his conduct towards the then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022. The confrontation arose in circumstances where the principal had earlier requested teachers to address a student by a new name, and with the pronouns they and them. Mr Burke, an evangelical Christian, has maintained that this request went against his religious beliefs. Mr Burke has repeatedly breached the court order to stay away from the school and is currently incarcerated at Mountjoy Prison over this contempt of court. He has spent over 600 days in separate spells in jail. He has repeatedly claimed he has been jailed over his religious beliefs and views on transgender issues, a claim rejected by several High Court judges. Read More High Court strikes out Enoch Burke challenge to disciplinary appeal panel On Friday, Mr Burke, appearing before Judge Niamh Hyland via videolink, asked for an expedited hearing date for his application for an extension of time to appeal Mr Justice Owen's judgment and related orders. Litigants can appeal a High Court decision within 28 days of the order being perfected, or formalised. In certain circumstances, the Court of Appeal can grant permission to a litigant to appeal a decision outside that timeframe. Mr Burke said his bid for an appeal arose in circumstances where the Department of Education, in a statement issued to The Irish Times in January, said there was no legal obligation on schools to use a pupils preferred name or pronouns. He claimed this statement justified his position since the commencement of his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School, and was of fundamental importance to the proceedings. He said he could not understand why he had to remain in prison in light of the statement. He submitted that his imprisonment on foot of the court order should weigh heavily towards the granting of an expedited hearing, noting that a successful appeal would necessitate his immediate release. Rosemary Mallon, barrister for Wilsons Hospital Schools board of management, said her client was happy to defer to the court in relation to Mr Burkes application for an expedited hearing. Ms Justice Hyland said she would grant Enoch Burke an expedited hearing of his bid for an extension of time, setting a date in April. She did this despite reservations, noting that he is in jail because of his failure to abide by a court order that was not appealed when it was made three years ago. Disciplinary appeal panel Mr Burke also asked the judge for a stay on the school appointing a new disciplinary panel (Dap) to consider his appeal of his dismissal from his teaching job. He submitted that if his appeal is successful, the courts finding will be that the schools disciplinary process was wrong from the beginning. Enoch Burke has brought separate lawsuits against two previous panels convened to hear his appeal. His most recent action was struck out last week, in circumstances where two panel members resigned following legal advice last month, and acceptance by the third member she could not be part of a reconvened panel. Counsel for the school opposed this application, stating that Mr Burke was effectively seeking an injunction against the Dap process. She submitted that if he wanted to injunct the process, that was a matter for the High Court. With Mr Burke's appeal pending since January 2023, the parties are in limbo, Ms Mallon said, and submitted that it was appropriate and reasonable for the Dap process to proceed as soon as possible. The judge rejected Mr Burkes request for a stay. She said that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to make such an order, as his appeal will only formally be before the court if and until an extension of time to appeal is granted. Mr Burke said he was astonished at the courts ruling. Chinese students visiting Cork to learn English were victims of a vicious attack by two Cork men, who broke into their home and beat them with iron bars, and now the parents of these young people do not want them to leave China because of their terrible experience in Ireland. The language tuition schools, where they paid course fees of 6,000, have not given them any refunds even though they flew home in fear, only two months into their eight-month programmes in Cork. One 22-year-old woman who on Friday described her injuries and her fear said: I hastily flew back to China for fear of my safety. My family are now extremely concerned about my safety outside of China and they would staunchly oppose any of my plans to study or tour abroad, citing this incident as the reason. A jury found 41-year-old Gerard Quinlan, of no fixed address, and 32-year-old Aidan Cullinane, of no fixed address, both guilty of aggravated burglary and three counts of assault causing harm to the young people, who were staying at a house on Millerd Street, Cork City when this happened. Sergeant Brain Barron said Quinlan and Cullinane did not know the victims, and broke into their home at 5.45am on April 17, 2024. The three young Chinese nationals were asleep at their home. The intruders burst into the two upstairs bedrooms simultaneously, demanding cash and mobile phones from the three petrified victims. "Following complete compliance with the demands of the two intruders, and having handed over what little money and mobile phones they had, the three residents were then subjected to a vicious and sustained assault at the hands of Aidan Cullinane and Gerard Quinlan, where all three were beaten with a crowbar over the next seven minutes. It resulted in significant injuries, Sgt Barron said. 'I have nightmares' The second student a young man who is also in his 20s said on Friday: This incident has left significant physical and mental consequences on me. My hand and forehead still have visible scars. I have nightmares of this incident and wake up very scared. I also suffered significant financial losses. I never got any refund from the language school as I quit my study after feeling not safe in Ireland. I hastily left Ireland, so I left a lot of personal belongings which were not recovered. "I also had to come up with extra money for the flight ticket back to China A career in Ireland had to be abandoned. My family were also deeply shocked by this incident, and now they would oppose any of my future plans to study or work outside of China because of what happened here in Cork. The third victim is a 28-year-old Chinese national who is employed as an engineer in Cork, and her injuries included scars to her head and the breaking of ribs. On Friday, she said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: I am also mentally shaken and impacted. Whenever I thought about the incident, I would become very upset and start to shed tears. I've also become extremely timid after the incident. I am now easily startled by any unfamiliar noise. "I must make sure doors of my residence are properly locked, checking again and again, even after rounds of previous inspection, just for reassurance. My family also suffer this extra mental burden together with me. "Although I was able to convince them to allow me back to Ireland, they always make multiple checks-ins every day for fear of my safety. This young womans employer in Cork contacted her after she returned to China following the attack, and asked her to return to her job here and she agreed to do so. The two language students returned to Cork this week for the trial by judge and jury. Their victim impact statements were heard on Friday, as they had flights back to China later this evening. Judge Helen Boyle thanked all three victims for giving evidence during the trial and for their victim impact evidence. Marjorie Farrelly, defence senior counsel, asked for a psychiatric report on Cullinane, who is on anti-psychotic medication in prison. Ms Farrelly also asked for a prison governors report. Donal OSullivan, senior counsel for Quinlan, asked for a governors report and a report from the defendants GP. Both men had denied the violent crimes, but the jury found them guilty. Sentencing was adjourned until July 1, with the two accused remanded in custody. The coordinated bot attacks on social media such as the racist abuse directed at Munster rugby player Edwin Edogbo will only worsen in years to come, a University College Cork professor has warned. The Cobh native made his debut for Ireland against Italy in the Six Nations clash in Dublin earlier this month. Unfortunately, the occasion was marred by online racist abuse directed at the player on Irish Rugby social media channels. A post on the official Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) X account on February 14, titled Edwin on debut, showed Edogbo singing Irelands Call at the Aviva Stadium. An examination of the comments under the social media post highlighted quite an alarming trend, with a number of racist posts, many of which came from accounts outside of Ireland. Dr Stephen McCarthy, senior lecturer in information systems at UCC told the Irish Examiner the rise of bot activity, highlighted by the racist abuse suffered by Edogbo was a very concerning development. The cases we heard of before in the US was when there was coordinated bot activity from Russia during the US election," he said. So to read about something like this close to home is kind of scary. But overall the idea is to get people to fight and create polarisation. They dont care about rugby or they dont care about the player. They just want to get people riled up. "These bots are programmed in a way to get peoples attention and capture their emotion. It is deeply concerning. Mr McCarthy said online racist abuse of Irish sports stars such as Edogbo has the potential to get worse going forward. It is going to be a tough few years when it comes to these types of cases, and we are very likely going to see more of them. Attention is everything online, and unfortunately these posts get attention. Bots that we saw over the last 10 years tended to be pre-programmed and had rules, they might just generate the same text multiple times. But now, with Agentic AI, these more advanced bots can respond to comments and message people." Mr McCarthy questioned whether social media companies would take action. "I am kind of doubtful. Unfortunately, we have seen this before and things havent changed. It is going to fall back on us as users of these platforms to be more informed, keeping an eye out and finding out if it is a real person posting on social media or not. In a statement to The Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for the IRFU said an investigation into the abuse suffered by Edogbo was under way in collaboration with Signify, a data technology company that specialisies in protecting athletes from online abuse. We are aware of some targeted abuse online in recent days and continue to work with Signify and the relevant authorities to report it. It is clear that racist abuse has no place in Irish society and the IRFU has a zero-tolerance policy towards racism of any form. Ray McAdam, The Lord Mayor of Dublin, is seeking Fine Gaels nomination to contest the upcoming Dublin Central by-election. The by-election follows the resignation of Paschal Donohoe, who stepped down to take up a position at the World Bank. Mr McAdam, a close ally of Mr Donohoe, has served as a councillor on Dublin City Council since 2009. He confirmed his intention on Thursday and said he is looking forward to taking part in the campaign. If selected, I intend to run a very positive campaign. I have been an accessible public representative in Dublin Central the last 17 years, someone who has worked had on the ground to deliver, Mr McAdam said. I look forward to putting my case forward to the people of Dublin Central. He joins several other candidates seeking to replace Mr Donohoe as TD for Dublin Central. Sinn Fein selected councillor Janice Boylan as its candidate on Wednesday evening. Ms Boylan defeated campaigner Gillian Sherratt at a party convention. A party spokesperson said: "Sinn Fein Councillor Janice Boylan was selected as the party candidate for the Dublin Central by-election and her name will now go forward to the Ard Chomhairle for formal ratification. The campaign starts now to elect Janice as the next TD for Dublin Central." Other declared candidates include Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis, Green Party councillor Janet Horner, musician Eoghan O Ceannabhain for People Before Profit, anti-immigration independent councillor Malachy Steenson and Gerry The Monk Hutch. What encouraging news. Plans are underway to establish a dedicated womens museum in the centre of Limerick in a landmark building that has been donated to the State by businessman JP McManus. The six-storey property on OConnell Street and former home of the International Rugby Experience will now, it is proposed, host a permanent exhibition telling the stories of the women of Ireland. A long, detailed process lies ahead but, announcing plans on Tuesday, culture minister Patrick ODonovan gave the women of Ireland reason to celebrate. McManuss gift, he said, offered great potential to amplify the representation of womens voices and lived experiences, in all their diversity, and with a special focus on under-represented and marginalised communities. That is music to the ears of half the population of Ireland who have, for so long, been written out of the countrys narrative. The news also provides heartening proof that speaking out matters. For a number of years now, women from a range of backgrounds have been lobbying government to take steps to ensure that women are properly represented in our cultural institutions and collections. It is good to see that the work, and more importantly, the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Womens Stories were referenced several times by the minister. 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 That committee was established in 2024 to consider the possibility of creating a dedicated womens museum and, more widely, to look at ways of re-imagining existing institutions to correct a still very lopsided gender balance. Journalist Lise Hand, a member of the Irish Womens Museum Advocacy Group, yesterday welcomed the new proposals. Womens stories arent footnotes or appendices theyre a central and integral part of the story of this island, and this is a hugely exciting opportunity to redress a long-standing inequity in our history. Womens stories arent niche, they are about all of us. Fellow journalist and member Justine McCarthy said: Its heartening to see the government is working to fulfil its promise to realise a dedicated national womens museum. My one reservation is that our group explicitly sought an all-island museum and Limerick is quite a distance from north Antrim. Once the details have been worked, the difficulty will be in deciding how to shoehorn the lives and experiences of so many neglected women into a single building. Yes, the award-winning building has six storeys but to outline the scale of what is needed, just take historian and author Sharon Slaters fascinating book 100 women of Limerick as an example. With a few notable exceptions Dolores ORiordan and Kate OBrien for instance most of the women in it are little-known. Ellen OGrady (1863-1949) went to school in Presentation Convent on Sexton Street before making history in 1918 when she was appointed the first female Deputy Police Commissioner in New York. Did you know that? Or what of Ann Diamond (1827-1881) from Adare, Co Limerick? She was a midwife who created a new high street in the small town of Red Jacks, New Zealand, in the 1860s. She built a nine-room hotel (Diamonds hotel), a general store, a concert hall and a billiard saloon. Closer to home, the women in the well-known 19th-century OBrien family of Cahirmoyle made significant contributions in the world of the arts and politics. One of them, Lucy Crane (1864-1926) was awarded a CBE for her role as assistant director of the Womens Royal Navy Service during the First World War. I can imagine, too, that museum curators would relish re-telling the story of the daring escape made by nine women from Limerick Gaol on May 23, 1830. A visitor had slipped them an iron bar, a file and some nitric acid. They sang as they worked to free the locks before making their escape by ladder over the wall. (Spoiler alert: they were all captured later and returned to gaol.) Overlooked history This is but a small sample of the stories from Limerick itself and already the proposed museum is rapidly filling up. That, of course, is just a symptom of how overlooked women have been in the making of Irish history. How did that happen? In his book Silencing the Past (1995), anthropologist and historian Michel-Rolph Trouillot explained that silences enter the process of historical production at a number of crucial stages. In an Irish context, women were erased at all of them. At the most basic level, their contributions werent recorded in the first place. If they were, those written testimonies often didnt make it into the archives. And when womens contributions surmounted those two obstacles to land safely in the annals, they were later overlooked by historians. Now, at least, we have news of a project that will go some way towards correcting that. In the long term, though, what we need is a new way of seeing. One which recognises that women and what they do represent half of the whole human story. Aurora Telecom plays a key role in enabling and sustaining Irelands digital infrastructure. Part of Gas Networks Ireland, Aurora Telecom was established in 2002 to address the countrys increasing need for a resilient, high-capacity and shared fibre-optic network. Today Aurora Telecom operates Irelands most advanced dark fibre network, spanning 1,600km across 15 counties, enabling connectivity for a diverse customer base including the top five global content providers, hyperscale data centre operators, subsea cable carriers and other large data users such as third-level institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers and national Government agencies. Dark fibre means that it is not used by Aurora Telecom and is reserved exclusively for its customers who light it themselves. Fibre optic cables are made of thin glass fibre strands that can transfer information at astonishing speed using light. Dark fibre is the unused fibre optic cables that Aurora Telecoms customers can utilise to create their own dedicated network. Our network is open access, says Sean ODonnell, general manager at Aurora Telecom. If another telecoms provider is building new infrastructure in a county or city, it is for themselves and themselves alone. They may offer services to other operators on a wholesale basis, but they wont make their infrastructure available to them. Aurora Telecom is unique in operating a dark fibre backhaul network, he continues. When a customer comes on board we give them their own dedicated strands of fibre. They install their equipment at each end, light it up themselves and it is entirely for their own use. They are not restricted in any way. The only limitations are from their own equipment. Its like having your own dedicated lane on a motorway. In addition to a dedicated fibre line, Aurora Telecom customers also enjoy 100 per cent network availability on our national backhaul network. Quality and resilience are at the core of our proposition, says ODonnell. We have an unrivalled record in the industry for the highest levels of network availability 100 per cent uptime. This resilience ensures that our customers do not experience any impact on their mission critical operations even during significant weather events such as the recent floods or Storm Eowyn last year. Indeed, we had a number of approaches from organisations who had come to recognise the critical importance of data connectivity following recent storms and weather events. That resilience is linked to Aurora Telecoms heritage as part of Gas Networks Ireland, he says. We share the same ethos as Gas Networks Ireland when it comes to the development, maintenance and safeguarding of nationally critical infrastructure. We have achieved 100 per cent uptime because of how well constructed, monitored and maintained our infrastructure is by Aurora Telecom. Looking back, ODonnell explains that the Aurora Telecom story began during the dotcom boom. It felt like every road in the country was being dug up by telecoms providers putting in new infrastructure, he recalls. Gas Networks Ireland was upgrading its own network back then and it made sense to put in a dark fibre network at the same time. This would allow us to provide a service for multiple operators, reducing the need for them to develop their own infrastructure. Sean ODonnell, general manager at Aurora Telecom, on Valentia Island, Co Kerry, where Irelands early role in global communications began. Picture: Brian Lougheed Aurora Telecom now has over 1,600km of infrastructure, he says, and are building more as we speak. The latest project will connect Limerick to Dublin. This is a major project to connect the two cities as well as major towns along the route. It will strengthen the network and Aurora Telecoms offering further and open up that corridor to new large data users who may wish to locate outside of Dublin. We will be breaking ground this year on that. The Aurora Telecom network differs from other telecoms networks in a number of respects, he explains. We have two types of network: Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in Dublin, Ennis and Shannon, which are similar to the electricity or gas distribution networks and serve businesses and large data users in those areas; then we have the national backhaul network, which is the equivalent of the high pressure gas transmission network. He notes that from the early 2000s, the MANs programme was a State-funded broadband infrastructure initiative launched by the Irish Government to address regional digital connectivity gaps and support balanced economic development. While this reached 90 towns and cities, these digital zones lacked high-capacity open access connecting them. Part of our objective was to connect these towns and other large data users in the regions including business parks, universities, data centres, mobile and terrestrial telecoms operators, pharmaceutical plants and so on. We do not serve residential customers. Our customers and other providers do that. We are the carriers carrier. Aurora Telecom plays a key role in maintaining Irelands global connectivity, ensuring the country stays linked to the digital world. Building on Irelands early role in global communications symbolised by the first transatlantic telephone cables connecting at Valentia Island, Co Kerry Aurora Telecoms fibre network provides the advanced terrestrial network that connects with submarine cables landing on Irelands coastline, ensuring the country can participate fully in global digital economy. One example where Aurora played a pivotal role is the IRIS subsea cable. This cable provides a direct link from Galway to Iceland and further diversifies connectivity across the country. This has positive implications for the west of Ireland, potentially opening up the entire region for new investment, says ODonnell. Our network is ideal for subsea cable connections, he adds. The majority of subsea cables that have landed on our coastline since 2017 from the US and Europe, connect to Aurora Telecoms network. Ours is the network of choice for these subsea cables because of the quality of the network and what we do. If we connect a customer, we give them a direct path to where they want to be and thats what the subsea cable operators are looking for. About 98 per cent of all global data communications are carried on subsea cables and fibre, not satellites Mindful of the importance of those international connections and Irelands heritage in that regard, Aurora Telecom is one of the sponsors of the Valentia Island Symposium on Subsea Cable Security and Resilience, which will be held in April. The Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation, which is the organiser of the Symposium, is also supporting a Unesco World Heritage Site application, further underscoring the regions global significance. This is an important international event at a time of growing threats to submarine cables and pipelines, ODonnell says. It will bring together Irish and international experts to explore the challenges of safeguarding critical undersea cable networks. Back on dry land, Aurora Telecom is providing the connectivity to enable cloud services, enterprise networks and critical public services to operate reliably and securely. Our network also complements public investments such as the National Broadband Plan by providing the high-capacity backbone that sits behind last-mile connectivity. We are also supporting balanced regional economic development by offering the connectivity to enable large data users to locate outside of Dublin and the other major cities. We often get approached by landowners and developers looking for access to our network map so that they can show that sites have access to high-capacity fibre optic network connectivity. ODonnell describes the future as interesting and exciting: For example, we are currently carrying out testing on fibre sensing. This is cutting edge technology that can detect encroachment on our networks by diggers and other equipment above the ground by sensing the vibrations and other changes to ground conditions they cause. It can also sense minute temperature and other changes. Artificial intelligence plays a key role in this. We will make that data available to other utilities. Another exciting development is in the area of quantum encryption. We are working with a leading [Irish] academic institution and an industry partner on trials of quantum encryption, he says. All data communications are protected by encryption but there is a fear that current encryption could be cracked in minutes by quantum computing when it arrives. These trials are aimed at developing encryption that cant be cracked by quantum computers. Some things wont change though. Nothing is going to beat fibre, says ODonnell. About 98 per cent of all global data communications are carried on subsea cables and fibre, not satellites. We will continue to develop our network and keep our customers at the core of our business. The Green Party has won its first ever UK parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton, dealing a bitter blow to Keir Starmer. Labours defeat, trailing in third behind Zack Polanskis Greens and Nigel Farages Reform UK in the previously rock-solid Greater Manchester constituency, will pile pressure on the prime minister. Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumber, emerged victorious for the Greens, with 14,980 votes and a majority of 4,402 votes. Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia during on polling day in Gorton (Peter Byrne/PA) Reform UKs candidate Matt Goodwin got 10,578 votes, with Labours Angeliki Stogia trailing on 9,364, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election, when the turnout was similarly high. Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653. The Greens victory will undermine Labours claim to be the only option for anti-Reform voters in the May local elections, deepening the electoral challenge for the governing party. Labours deputy leader Lucy Powell earlier admitted that the Greens had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Reform out of Gorton and Denton. Mr Starmer's decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from running will also likely face renewed scrutiny. The contest was triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne standing down for health reasons. Pakistans defence minister has said his country had run out of patience and now considers itself in an open war with neighbouring Afghanistan. The remarks came after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack. In a post on X, defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India, gathered militants from around the world and begun exporting terrorism. Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us, he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Mr Asifs comments. Pakistan has frequently accused neighbouring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. Mr Asifs remarks came hours after Pakistan carried out air strikes in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and the province of Paktia in the south-east, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan said the strikes were in retaliation for Afghan cross-border attacks. The escalation comes months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire between the two sides. Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims could not be independently verified. Afghanistans Defence Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that several others were captured alive. It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began on Thursday. An Afghan Taliban soldier gives instructions to drivers on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan (Wahidullah Kakar/AP) Pakistans information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. In Islamabad, two senior security officials said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, a gesture typically interpreted as a request to halt firing. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban posts along the border. Mr Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence. He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response, he said. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcible deportation and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have streamed across the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. Former US president Bill Clinton has told members of Congress on Friday that he did nothing wrong in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of his abuse. Mr Clinton faces hours of questions from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong, the former Democratic president said in an opening statement he shared on social media. The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doingI would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals. pic.twitter.com/0rX8cat5Pu Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) February 27, 2026 It came a day after Mr Clintons wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Mr Clinton's statement adds: "First, I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing. No matter how many photos you show me, I have two things that at the end of the day matter more than your interpretation of those 20-year-old photos. "I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didnt see. "I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didnt do. "I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong. "As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doing I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals." Mr Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing. Yet lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from high-powered posts for maintaining connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Men and women for that matter of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of heinous crimes and they havent been held accountable and they have not even had to answer questions, said Republican James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, before the deposition began. Ms Clinton told lawmakers on Thursday that she had no knowledge of how Epstein had sexually abused underage girls and had no recollection of even meeting him. But Mr Clinton will have to answer questions on a well-documented relationship with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, even if it was from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ms Clinton said on Thursday that she expected her husband to testify that he had no knowledge of Epsteins sexual abuse at the time they knew each other. Hillary Clinton had no ties with Jeffrey Epstein (Yuki Iwamura/AP) Republicans were relishing the opportunity to scrutinise the former Democratic president under oath. No ones accusing anyone of any wrongdoing but I think the American people have a lot of questions, Mr Comer said. Republicans have wanted to question Mr Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epsteins 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year when several photos of the former president surfaced in the Department of Justices first release of case files on Epstein and Maxwell, a British socialite who was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 but maintains she is innocent. Bill Clinton was photographed on a plane seated alongside a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell in a pool with another person whose face was redacted. Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clintons presidency, and the pair later made several international trips together for their humanitarian work. Mr Comer claimed the committee has collected evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epsteins plane 27 times. In the lead-up to the deposition, Mr Clinton has insisted he had limited knowledge about Epstein and was unaware of any sexual abuse he committed. I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epsteins criminal activities came to light, Hillary Clinton said at the conclusion of her deposition on Thursday. Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Mr Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to President Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax, said Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, on Friday. Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Mr Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Mr Lutnick was a long-time neighbour of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epsteins home that disturbed Mr Lutnick and his wife. The public release of case files showed that Mr Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epsteins home, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island. He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee, Mr Garcia said. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Democratic National Committee is sitting on a report that demonstrated that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris lost significant support because of Joe Bidens perceived blank check to the Netanyahu government to pursue its total war on little Gaza. This, according to Holly Otterbein at Axios. The analysis is certainly correct. Democrats win when the youth and progressives join their wider coalition. The youth didnt come out to vote in 2004, and John Kerry lost. The youth came out big time in 2008 and Barack Obama won. In fact, the youth delivered key states like Pennsylvania for him, without which he would have lost. In spring 2024, I wrote an impassioned column predicting that Biden would turn the country over to Trump and imperil American democracy by alienating the young people this way. It wasnt just that Biden refused to tell Netanyahu to cut it out, something he had done before. It was that he was joined at the hip with the extremist Kahanist cabinet. Gaza was Bidens genocide as much as it was Netanyahus. Biden was resupplying the Israeli military in real time. Aside perhaps from some form of dementia, I cannot explain Bidens blindness on this issue or his inability to see that he would lose the 2024 election to Trump if he went on like that. We dont know what Biden was thinking. He got the daily situation reports on Gaza. Young staffers showed him the pictures of the dead, but he is said to have remained unmoved. We do know that Biden was gaslighted by the Israelis into doubting the Gaza Ministry of Health statistics on deaths in Gaza. He said publicly, I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed, In mid-February this year, The Lancet published an article by public health specialists, with Prof Michael Spagat, MD, in the Department of Economics at the UKs Royal Holloway University, as the lead author. The team did not depend on the Ministry of Health figures. They used public health statistical methods, interviewing a weighted sample of 2,000 households that comprised nearly 10,000 individuals. Never miss an issue of Informed Comment: Click here to subscribe to our email newsletter! Social media will pretend to let you subscribe but then use algorithms to suppress the postings and show you their ads instead. And please, if you see an essay you like, paste it into an email and share with friends. If you were living in a war zone, and an enemy drone killed your uncle, you wouldnt ever forget it. So if someone later came and asked you, did you lose anybody in the war, you would say that your uncle had been killed. So the researchers asked those nearly 10,000 people about lost loved ones and friends for the period Oct 7, 2023, to Jan 5, 2025. This was ten months before the so-called ceasefire in October 2025. They then projected the results for the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza. So the professionals at the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is not in fact Hamas-run as the Israeli propagandists made all the newspapers say, had estimated that by January 2025 the Israelis had violently killed 49,090 Palestinians in Gaza. They arrived at this number by collating reports from hospitals and morgues. Since the Israeli military was steadily destroying hospitals and other health institutions, these figures got less reliable, since people started just dying out where they were sleeping rough and got a quick burial. Spagats team found that if you did the interviews with representative portions of the population and projected the fatalities to the whole population, you arrived at 75,200 violent deaths. So the Ministry of Healths statistics were too low, by about a third. In the Lancet article, the team estimated that about 8,540 more civilians died nonviolent deaths than would have in a similar period before the war. They were, for instance, dialysis patients who could no longer get treatment for diabetes and just died. The article confirms the Ministry of Health estimate that about 56% of violent deaths were among children, women and elderly men, that is, among noncombatants. It should be noted that the remaining 44% of violent deaths included many innocent male civilians between the ages of 18 and 65. Adult male does not equal Hamas fighter. Joe Biden meets with Benjamin Netanyahu, October 18, 2023. White House Photo. Public Domain. Via Picryl . About 15,000 innocent civilians have been killed by the Russians in Ukraine. Not only is that much lower than the 40,000 or so Palestinians killed by the Israelis through January of last year, it is proportionally tiny compared to Gaza, because Ukraines population is 38 million, whereas Gazas is 2.2 million. So no, the slaughter in which the Israelis have engaged isnt par for the course in modern warfare. Netanyahu has far more innocent blood on his hands than does Vladimir Putin, even though our American press and elites lionize Netanyahu and demonize Putin. Biden threw away the 2024 election to help enthusiastically with a genocide, delivering America into the hands of ruthless fascists for the sake of his illusions about the Israeli governing elite. His remark about not believing the Palestinian statistics will go down in history as a gaffe of the sort Jimmy Carter committed when he called the Shahs Iran an island of stability in the Middle East in 1978. He lost his election, too. ( Tomdispatch.com ) In early February, the barbarians reached my gate. There could be no more comfort or denial here on this island where I live. The masked thugs were roving through a town just across the water, a short ferry ride away, harassing and arresting long-time residents. I was shocked, but not surprised. What do we do now? Yes, we all knew they were coming, still. I was raised in the post-World War II it cant happen here era. Hadnt my parents generation crushed the Nazis for all time? While wed been taught that democracy, like a faith or a marriage, did need tending, we had mostly taken it for granted. Yes, I did understand that life as I had lived it was under attack, but there was still, I thought, some time to respond. The Republicans would come to their senses, right? They werent the Germans of a past era. The monster would sooner or later be brought down. And yes, he was bad, but he certainly wasnt Hitler. And he looked so sickly. Eventually, the court system would kick in or the Epstein files would produce the Big Bang, whatever that might be. This was America, for Gods sake. We didnt deserve to go down like this. Like most of my friends, Id been thinking of little else for much too long and talking about it incessantly in a tone of wonder. Can you believe this shit? Yet living here on my island allowed me the destructive luxury of refusing to understand that we were all Minneapolitans, no matter where we were, even if our portfolios kept rising. Sure, we felt anxious and depressed, were wary of Trumpish neighbors, more generous donors to liberal causes, and active consumers of the media, but we were able to deflect the dangers, given our blind belief that being right was the best defense. And I had an extra advantage: I was protected by a moat. Shelter Island is a 28-square-mile town near the eastern end of New Yorks Long Island in a region called the East End. Its surrounded by water, but accessible by ferries from Greenport to the north and North Haven to the south. A third of the island is a protected nature conservancy. There are no street lights. The population in winter is around 3,000, which triples in the summer with tourists and second-home owners. Ive owned a home here for more than 30 years and lived here full-time for almost a decade, just about the right amount of time to appreciate the local mythology without entirely absorbing it that Shelter Island is a quasi-independent republic, populated by rugged individualists who take care of their neighbors, especially seniors, through volunteer organizations (including a fire department and ambulance corps), while stoutly eschewing the glamorous greed of the nearby Hamptons. Its not been hard to feel above this countrys recent rush toward autocracy. Meanwhile, in recent decades, the island has been revising its sensibility in some progressive ways. For example, when I first arrived here in the 1980s, Shelter Islands early history as a place of enslavement and provisioning for the slave trade was not a topic of polite conversation. Now, Sylvester Manor, once one of the earliest and northernmost slave plantations in this country, is internationally known for research and the preservation of slave remains and artifacts. It is also an integral local pillar through its educational farm. The Pharmacy It wasnt until last year that I even realized just how vulnerable this island was to the whims of wealth and power. Yes, rich people routinely built houses and renovated hotels on the island that violated local zoning rules and they got away with it. But it wasnt until one of our very own oligarchs casually betrayed our trust that I realized just how naive we had been. The Soloviev Group, one of the nations largest property owners, particularly of agricultural land, had bought a number of buildings on the island, including an iconic hotel, several stores, and the only pharmacy. Town officials mostly applauded the newcomers as saviors. Thanks to them, there would be an injection of money and jobs that would cover up the failures of those officials to come up with a comprehensive plan for taking care of Shelter Island, installing affordable housing, and protecting the water supply. They wouldnt have to raise taxes, already low by regional standards. Shelter Island is like a womb, said Stacey Soloviev, the ex-wife of Soloviev Group CEO Stefan Soloviev and the companys cheery local face. You feel very good when you come to Shelter Island. And for a while, the Solovievs did indeed go about their business on the island quietly feeling good without doing much good. Their parent corporation was busier. It tried and failed to build a gambling casino in midtown Manhattan. It negotiated with a nearby town to create a large residential development that would include a luxury spa. And then, out of the blue, in a stunning move with little notice, it suddenly shuttered the local hotel and closed the pharmacy, the only dispenser of medicine for a population that (like me) skewed elderly. Like most Shelter Islanders, I was furious. As a board member of the towns Senior Citizens Foundation, a support group for municipal senior services, I understood what an existential problem this could pose for people with limited mobility and resources, which just happens to be a large part of the population. Us and Them I also began to understand, however belatedly and somewhat sheepishly, what an enormous difference there was between my leftish friends and me and the mostly White men who now rule America with their cruel selfishness and moral disability. Our compassion, our tendency toward basic decency, our belief in fairness and equality were an enormous disadvantage in the battle against Trumpism, as was the faint shame so many of us felt for what seemed like a righteous posture, a sense of simply being better than those MAGA voters, handicapped as they were by manufactured fear and distinct inferiority complexes. As for those super rich and intricately well-connected guys like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel, they were just more intellectually refined models of the genuine nightmare of our world, Donald Trump! Sadly, of course, like so much else, it was even more complex than that. The rich guys were acting out of their best interests and were not even secretly ashamed, while the rural poor who had played such a role in getting us into this mess with their votes in 2016 and 2024 had not acted malevolently. They were flailing against a society that had ignored their needs. And I was finally becoming truly woke myself. In late January, while I was still wallowing in rage at the closing of that pharmacy, a massive snowstorm hit the island. I was sitting in my warm house watching three Latino men wrestle with the foot of snow outside that held me hostage. I knew and liked them from past work, but I had no idea what their citizenship status was (or wasnt), though I could imagine them becoming targets of the same sort of gang of thugs terrorizing Minneapolis and making sporadic forays into the East End. I assumed, of course, that I was safer than they were. But maybe that was only true for now. After all, out in Minneapolis, White American citizens were being executed cruel and unusual punishment for bearing witness to ICE. Only a day before that Island snowstorm, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, had been gunned down in Minneapolis for observing and recording masked ICE agents too closely and trying to help a female protestor they had assaulted. He should have known better. After all, two weeks earlier, poet and mother of three Renee Good had been killed for a similar offense in the same city. The Vigil A week later, on an 18-degree night, we Shelter Islanders held a vigil in front of the community center. Such a passive demonstration evokes both pathos and courage. Its pathetic in the sense that non-violence always seems weak in the face of blatant Trumpian-style aggression, however brave it may, in fact, be in its restraint and promise of commitment. In the long run, however, it is also the strategy most likely to succeed. The campaigns for civil rights and womens rights provide the best historic lessons about that reality: just keep coming out and ultimately the secret police and the criminal lunatic who sent them will get the message. Because of that, I felt very proud that night of my 70-odd neighbors at the vigil, including the local Presbyterian pastor who read the names of the 32 people who had died in ICE custody last year. Most of them had Latino names, a grim reality which obscures for all too many Whites the degree to which everybody remains in danger. I remembered that the killer thugs of 1964, the Ku Klux Klan, in their campaign to intimidate resistance and suppress Black voting, killed two young White men, Mickey Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, along with their Black fellow civil rights activist, James Chaney. As then, it was the killing of Whites that got national attention, the bad guys intent. Prospect House and Annex, Shelter Island Heights, New York. Via Picryl By the night of that vigil, the early tutorials about dealing with ICE including reminding people of their right not to speak to agents or allow them to search their homes and cars without a judicial warrant seemed almost quixotic. After all, President Trumps belligerent rhetoric had clearly set the stage for them to disregard both our rights and court orders. More important now, according to an activist friend I called in Minneapolis, was organizing groups to lower the vulnerability of people who might otherwise be prime targets of our secret police drive them to work sites, do their shopping, and act as their lookouts. The shrilling of warning whistles, he said, had become the soundtrack of resistance to the totalitarian goons. Arrests at the Gate As the media has shrunk from its responsibility to bear witness and inform (while also shrinking in size), the involvement of everyday people (who might not yet be directly affected by the crisis) becomes ever more critical as is sending money to legal defense groups. That need became even more apparent to me one early weekday morning in early February when ICE raided a line of cars waiting at the North Ferry terminal in Greenport, New York, to come to our island for their jobs. Three men were arrested, all long-time residents of the area, none with criminal records (other than alleged illegal entry from Mexico many years ago). One of them, Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, was on his way to work at Marcello Masonry on the island. My wife and I remembered him from the crew that had rebuilt our driveway several years ago. The next week, the snows returned and so did the three men who had cleared it away the last time around. I was happy and relieved to see them again. Make no mistake: the barbarians are still at the gates. The Shelter Island Town Board has been holding meetings to determine what to do if they come across the water and land on our island. Will our local police department cooperate with them in any way? Will ordinary citizens be restricted in their demonstrations? Will the school lock its doors to ICE? (On the day ICE breached that ferry line, a quarter of Greenports students stayed away from school.) The barbarians are now coming for most of us. Their mission has extended well beyond deporting some brown-skinned people. Theyre trying to convince all colors that resistance is futile, that Trump is all-powerful, and that a totalitarian government with him as its head is inevitable. And as long as we stay in denial, in the bubble, clinging to the dream that goodness or Bad Bunny can save us, we are lost. I know that my whistle and enhanced wokeness wont be anywhere near enough. And I dont have a plan yet, other than to stay the course, fight despair, support the most vulnerable, and preach to the choir that they that all of us should hang tough. Copyright 2026 Robert Lipsyte Via Tomdispatch.com On 12 February 2026, The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide victory in the national elections held, with Jamaat-e-Islami finishing in second place. Tajul Islam, along with several members of his prosecution team, was widely perceived as being close to Jamaat. He had been appointed chief prosecutor of Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in September 2024 by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power on 8 August 2024 following student-led protests that resulted in the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. When I took charge, the main building was abandoned. Activities were running from a tin shed. The previous prosecution team had fled, leaving everything in disarray. Books and documents were getting soaked in the rain we started amid that chaos, he recalled, following the governments decision to replace him. He expressed confidence that the three tribunals verdicts delivered during his tenure would withstand scrutiny on appeal. The judgments delivered and the documents we presented leave no scope to be overturned. If you review past tribunal records, you will see the strength of the evidence we placed before the court, he said. A BNP aligned new prosecutor The new chief prosecutor, advocate Aminul Islam, previously served as central vice president of the BNP lawyers forum and reportedly sought the partys nomination for a parliamentary constituency in the recent elections. He also represented Khaleda Zia mother of the new prime minister in the corruption case that led to her conviction in 2018. Speaking to journalists on Monday, the newly appointed prosecutor said he intended to carry out his duties according to the aspirations of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the July [2024] Uprising. He added that while individuals who had committed no wrongdoing would not face harassment, for the real offenders, I want to send a clear message on behalf of the prosecution that they will receive the punishment they deserve. During the interim government period [8 August 2024 to February 2026] senior government posts were informally divided between figures associated with the BNP and Jamaat. Following its electoral victory, the BNP-led government has begun replacing appointees seen as aligned with Jamaat with individuals loyal to its own party. One high profile trial for crimes against humanity Tajul Islams appointment was intended to allow the prosecution of crimes against humanity charges relating to the hundreds of killings and thousands of injuries suffered by protesters and bystanders during the three weeks preceding the fall of Hasinas government. Then, following investigations by a newly formed Commission on enforced disappearances, the ICT prosecutors later expanded its mandate to include enforced disappearances that occurred during the Awami Leagues period in power between 2008 and 2024. This has resulted in the issuance of 24 arrest warrants against army officers currently being prosecuted in two different trials. During his 17-month tenure, Tajul Islam oversaw the completion of three crimes against humanity trials relating to the 2024 killings, securing convictions against 27 individuals, including Awami League politicians and police officers. The most high-profile case resulted in the conviction and death sentences of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Both flew to exile in India, and extradition appears unlikely despite requests from the Bangladeshi government. In the same trial, former police chief Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year sentence after providing a confessional statement that implicated his two co-accused. Apart from Mamuns statement, other key evidence that supported the conviction was a recording of an intercepted telephone conversation between Hasina and the former mayor of South Dhaka, Fazle Noor Taposh who is also Hasinas nephew which took place at around 10pm on 18 July 2024, in which Hasina is heard saying: Ive already given the instruction. This is an open directive now. Theyre to use lethal weapons. Wherever theyre found, shoot on sight. Although there is some disagreement about the context of this comment, on the day after as many as 180 protestors and bystanders were shot dead. Eight police officers sentenced for the shootings The other two completed cases concerned incidents on 5 August 2024, the day student leaders called for a March on Dhaka, which culminated in Hasinas departure to India. In Chankharpul, near Dhaka University, six student protesters were shot dead by police that morning. The tribunal sentenced former Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and former additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam to death for ordering the shootings. All three were tried in absentia and remain absconding. The five other police officers, three of whom were convicted for carrying out the shooting, were sentenced to between 3 to 6 years of imprisonment. They were all present in the dock. Families of those killed felt the imprisonment sentences were too lenient. Sanjida Khan, the mother of Shahriar Khan Anas, one of those killed said, We can never be satisfied with this verdict. We did not get Justice. Tajul Islam at the time said that he would be appealing against the sentences. The third case concerned events in Ashulia, which occurred hours after Hasina left Bangladesh. Seven protesters were killed, including five whose bodies were burned after death and one who was reportedly set on fire while still alive. Six men including the local Member of Parliament, the officer in charge of the police station, and a local Awami League youth leader were sentenced to death. In addition, seven senior police officials received life sentences, and two other more junior police officers received seven years imprisonment. An accused police officer who turned approver giving evidence at the trial was acquitted. In both the Chankharpul and Ashulia cases, video footage of the shootings and burnings formed a significant part of the prosecution evidence. However, the written judgments of both these cases have not yet been made public. There are a further 8 ongoing trials, with 2 other due to come for judgment in March 2026 ICT shortcomings Despite these convictions, concerns have been raised by defence lawyers and commentators about aspects of the trial process. These include limited time afforded to defence lawyers to prepare for trial; trials starting even before the defence lawyers have copies of the charges; restrictions on numbers and types of defence witnesses; and in absentia trials with lawyers representing several clients often with conflicting interests. In addition, there is concern that judges are failing to scrutinise the prosecution evidence with significant rigour. Another problem that has emerged is long periods of detention, for suspects awaiting to find out whether they will be charged. Even though the rules of procedure suggest that no one can be detained pre-charge for over a year unless there are exceptional circumstances, the ICT continues to detain at least 8 men in this situation. Concerning the detention of Fazleh Karim Chowdhury one former Awami League leader, Lord Alex Carlile, a British King Council who looked over the papers for the family said that the procedure that has been used against him has no legal credibility whatsoever. If [the ICT prosecutors] have got evidence against him, they should serve it on him, but they havent There was no statement of evidence, no photographs, no documents showing he supported the things he is accused of. You cant detain someone for a year and pretend that you have the evidence against them until you serve it, he declared to the Daily Star. In January 2026, the UK based international crimes lawyer Toby Cadman said he declined to extend his one year contract as special adviser to the ICT chief prosecutor. His departure raised questions about why he had decided not to continue but he has refused to comment publicly. Human rights organisation have also criticised the death penalty sentencing, though except for one convicted person the death penalty has only been imposed for accused in absentia. A new prosecutor under pressure The ICT is under significant pressure to complete the trials quickly, and certain student groups have been active in pressing for more prosecutions and hanging. But it remains unclear what changes the new chief prosecutor will make to the operation of the Court. One interesting question is how Aminul Islam will deal with the ongoing trials involving the army officers. His predecessor initiated, for the first time in Bangladeshs judicial history, trials of serving and former army officers in relation to enforced disappearances. It is difficult to imagine that such trials would have been launched had the BNP been in power with a party-aligned prosecutor in place, and with an army that will not fail to push the government to try and bring these prosecutions to an end. The UN rights chief criticised China on Friday for not doing more to improve the rights situation in the Xinjiang region, four years after a damning report by his office demanded action. "I deplore the lack of follow-up on previous recommendations to protect the rights of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, and of Tibetans in their regions," Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council in an update on rights situations around the world. "This includes labour issues and religious and cultural freedoms," he said, also voicing concern "by the intensified repression of Protestant communities". An explosive 2022 report by Michelle Bachelet, Turk's predecessor as UN high commissioner for human rights, cited possible "crimes against humanity" in Xinjiang. The report, which was criticised by China, highlighted "credible" allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of the religious and reproductive rights of Uyghurs and other Muslim groups. Since taking the helm of the UN rights office shortly after Bachelet's report was published, Turk has faced calls from rights groups to put more pressure on China. In his address Friday, Turk also called on China "to stop using vague criminal administrative and national security provisions to suppress the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights" in the country. He did not provide examples but earlier this month the UN rights chief highlighted the use of a Beijing-imposed national security law to sentence Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years behind bars. "I urge them to release all those arbitrarily detained," he said. A specialised Hague court opened a trial Friday against Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci for obstruction of justice, as judges of the same court consider a verdict on his war crimes trial. The trial began less than 10 days after the one for war crimes, for which prosecutors wants a 45-year sentence for Thaci and his three co-accused, former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas, for their role in the 1990s war with Serbia. In the second trial, specialist prosecutor Kimberly West said in her opening statement: "Thaci is charged with repeatedly and systematically attempting to interfere with witness testimony." Prosecutors say Thaci instructed four former associates, who regularly visited him in detention in The Hague, to convince witnesses to testify in his favour. "All the charged conduct had a single goal -- to obstruct and undermine the war crimes proceedings to the benefit of Hashim Thaci," added West, who also prosecuted his war crimes case. Thaci and the other co-accused -- who include the former intelligence chief and justice minister -- pleaded not guilty. "I am completely innocent," said the 57-year-old Thaci. The KLA emerged in the 1990s in response to the growing oppression of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, then a Serbian province. The accused led Kosovo's independence fight, which ended after NATO bombings forced the withdrawal of Serb forces in 1999. Many in Kosovo still view Thaci and his co-accused as heroes. The Kosovo Special Chambers, part of Kosovo's judicial system, was moved to The Hague to ensure independent, fair, and secure proceedings. A French appeals court on Friday jailed a former hotel chauffeur for 14 years for complicity in Rwanda's 1994 genocide and in crimes against humanity. Claude Muhayimana, now 65, worked as a chauffeur at a hotel in Kibuye, on the banks of Lake Kivu, western Rwanda at the time of the genocide of more than 800,000 Rwandans, mainly Tutsis. The Paris court found that he transported members of the Interahamwe militia, the armed wing of the genocidal Hutu regime, to the sites of massacres of Tutsis in Kibuye and the surrounding hills. Tens of thousands of people were killed there. Muhayimana fled Rwanda a few months after the massacres, arriving in France in 2001 and receiving French nationality in 2010. Living and working in the northern French city of Rouen, he remained free in the time between his initial conviction in 2021 and Friday's appeal court ruling, which handed down an identical sentence. His lawyers Reda Ghilaci and Hugo Latrabe denounced the ruling as "incoherent" given the new elements before the court, notably the changed testimony of some witnesses. They said they would consider an appeal to the Cour de Cassation, France's highest criminal court. French courts, acting on the principle of "universal competence" to try the most serious crimes committed outside of its territory, have already convicted several Rwandans for their part in the 1994 genocide. Kennesaw States Wellstar School of Nursing secures $700K scholarship endowment KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 27, 2026 Glenn Gray Honoring the memory of his late wife and son, Marietta resident Glenn Gray recently established the $700,000 Glenn and Virginia Gray Family Nursing Scholarship benefitting students in Kennesaw State University's Wellstar School of Nursing. The scholarship honors Gray's wife, Ginny, who worked as a nurse and passed in 2017, and his son, Rick, who practiced oncology and passed in 2015. I wanted to do something meaningful to honor both of these individuals who meant so much to our family, Gray said. Im grateful that my entire family joined me in this effort. It is a privilege to celebrate their memory and, hopefully, make a positive difference for someone in the future. Before retiring in 1990, Gray, 98, spent decades as chief test pilot at Lockheed-Martin, testing and delivering new airplanes around the world. He met his wife during their high school years in Charleston, S.C., where she began her nursing career just after World War II and practiced for decades. His son grew up in Marietta in a neighborhood of doctors before pursuing his own career in medicine, specializing in oncology because he felt he could make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Now, in honor of the medical providers in his family, Gray will have a chance to make a difference in the lives of future nurses. Philanthropy like this is transformational for our students and for the future of nursing, said Lance Burchett, vice president for advancement and CEO of the KSU Foundation. Mr. Grays extraordinary generosity honors his familys legacy in the most meaningful way, and it will open doors for generations of aspiring nurses who are ready to make a difference in their communities. As the familys contributions to healthcare span generations, the scholarship is poised to support the next. Wellstar School of Nursing interim director Rebecca Shabo said it will aid KSUs role in addressing the state and regional nursing shortages. Since 2020, the Wellstar School of Nursing has more than doubled its enrollment to meet the demand. This gift helps the Wellstar School of Nursing graduate nurses that might not have been able to complete the program without this support, said Shabo, also a professor of nursing. The students will tell you that this gift means someone believes in them, someone is betting on them to succeed, someone is investing in their future. Wellstar College of Health and Human Services interim associate dean Cameron Greensmith added that Grays donation tracks with the growth of the nursing program, between the increases in staffing and the increases in enrollment in recent years. We now educate over 1,000 nursing students a year, Greensmith said. Many of these students carry significant financial need, and gifts such as this will make a meaningful and lasting impact, not just today but for years to come. Story by Dave Shelles Photos by Darnell Wilburn Jr. Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Elsie Hewitt, girlfriend of comedian Pete Davidson, has opened up about her decision not to breastfeed their newborn daughter. The 29-year-old model welcomed baby Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson with the 32-year-old SNL alum in December. According to Daily Mail, in a candid essay published by Elle, Hewitt said she faced a mini war within herself over the guilt attached to choosing formula feeding. I was aware, even before pregnancy, of the quiet shame attached to formula feeding, she wrote. She explained that after what she described as an uncomfortable pregnancy, she had to consider her mental health and recovery. There is inherent guilt in choosing not to breastfeed, she said, adding that even though formula is safe and healthy, the pressure doesnt simply disappear. Hewitt noted that she wasnt sure the benefits of breastfeeding outweighed the exhaustion and emotional strain it could bring. She also said she didnt want to remain her daughters sole lifeline in a way that would leave her depleted and unable to recover properly. Instead, she and Davidson now share feeding responsibilities using formula. While admitting she still battles guilt, Hewitt said her bond with her daughter remains strong. That bond is sacred and grows through presence, not depletion, she wrote. She also revealed that after giving birth, she developed mastitis despite deciding not to breastfeed. Hewitt concluded by saying feeding choices should come with more nuance and less moral hierarchy, adding that a nourished baby and a mentally healthy mother should both matter. The essay has since sparked conversations online about motherhood, pressure and personal choice. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A representative for actor Crispin Glover has strongly denied allegations made against him in a new lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe. In a statement, the representative said: Mr. Glover denies these baseless allegations in the strongest possible terms. The rep further claimed that on March 2, 2024, Glover was the victim of an unprovoked felony assault at his Los Angeles residence and that he contacted the LAPD, who allegedly responded, investigated and arrested the woman. The statement added that these claims are documented in law enforcement records and in a restraining order Glover filed at the time. Mr. Glover intends to vigorously defend himself and pursue all available relief. He is confident the judicial process will expose this lawsuit as a meritless fabrication, the statement concluded. The lawsuit, obtained by media outlets, was filed by a model from the United Kingdom who alleges that the Back to the Future actor manipulated her into moving from Europe to Los Angeles with promises of a new life and career opportunities in Hollywood. According to the complaint, the woman says she first connected with Glover via social media in 2015 and that he persistently encouraged her over the years to relocate to Los Angeles. She claims that when they met in person in 2023 in Dresden, Germany, he displayed controversial memorabilia and made advances she described as unusual. The woman alleges that in early 2024 Glover offered her the opportunity to live at his Silver Lake home and work as his assistant. She claims she stopped paying rent on her European apartment and sold her belongings based on those assurances. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, she alleges she discovered he expected her to be his live-in girlfriend and work without pay. The complaint further claims that she became socially isolated and financially dependent, alleging that Glover monitored her movements and sought to control her interactions. Regarding the events of March 2, 2024, the woman alleges that after telling Glover she planned to leave the house temporarily, he warned her she would be locked out. She claims that when she returned, she was unable to re-enter the home and that her belongings and pets remained inside. She further alleges that when she attempted to retrieve her cats, Glover physically assaulted her, grabbing her neck and leaving a visible injury. She claims Glover then contacted police and falsely accused her of unlawful entry. Law enforcement sources have reportedly stated that officers responded to an assault call at the residence that day but made no arrests, and that Glover reported being assaulted by a man and a woman. The woman also alleges that Glover subsequently sought a restraining order against her, which she says harmed her career and reputation. She claims she remains homeless and emotionally affected by the alleged events and is seeking damages. She is represented by attorney Dev Das of the Geragos & Geragos law firm. Glovers legal team maintains that the allegations are unfounded and that he will contest them in court. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Bill Gates has admitted he had affairs with two Russian women but insisted they were not Jeffrey Epstein's victims as he apologised to staff over his ties to the disgraced financier. The American Billionaire made the apology during a town hall meeting at the Gates Foundation on Tuesday, Febuary 24. Gates told employees it had been a 'huge mistake' to spend time with Epstein and to involve foundation executives in meetings with the convicted sx offender, according to a Wall Street Journal report. 'I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,' he said, according to a recording cited by the Journal. The report said Gates acknowledged having two affairs with Russian women that Epstein later became aware of, but stressed they did not involve any of Epstein's victims. 'I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,' he told staff. A spokesperson for the philanthropic organisation confirmed the Microsoft founder had 'taken responsibility for his actions'. Previously released U.S. Department of Justice documents show Gates met Epstein repeatedly after the financier had served a prison sentence, with discussions said to have centred on expanding Gates' philanthropic work. The documents also included pictures of the Microsoft founder posing with women whose faces are redacted. According to the Journal, Gates told the foundation's staff that the images were pictures that Epstein asked him to take with Epstein's assistants after their meetings. 'To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him,' Gates added, according to the report. A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation told reporters that Gates held a scheduled town hall with the employees and answered questions on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files. 'In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.' The spokesperson also said the Gates Foundation statement acknowledged what was shared by the billionaire during the town hall, and the statement is all that the foundation would say about the report. Earlier this month, the Gates Foundation said it did not make any financial payments to Epstein or employ him at any time. The billionaire also pulled out of India's AI Impact Summit hours before his scheduled keynote last week. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A former Prime Minister who was named in the Epstein Files has been rushed to hospital after an alleged su!cide attempt. Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjrn Jagland was hospitalised on Tuesday, February 24, just a few days after he was charged with serious corruption offences, linked to his association with p@edophile Epstein. Jagland was charged with "gross corruption" after newly released documents appeared to reveal a transactional relationship between the ex-PM and convicted padophile, between 2011 and 2018. Some Norwegian outlets have reported Jagland was hospitalised over a su!cide attempt but the high-profile statesman's legal team has insisted he was rushed to hospital due to extreme stress instead of a deliberate act. Documents, among the millions released in the Epstein Files, appeared to show the relationship between the Norwegian and Epstein included requests for diplomatic favours, luxury travel and financial solicitations. An investigation into the relationship and the ex-leader was launched by authorities in Norway into potential corruption - Jagland admitted "poor judgment". The former-Prime Minister's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, cracked down on claims by some Norwegian outlets and strongly denied Jagland went through a "su!cide attempt". Brosveet said his client was taken to hospital following extreme stress and medical risk brought on by the criminal investigation and media pressure. Jagland has denied criminal liability and previously said he is willing to cooperate with the investigation, according to his lawyers. Jagland served as Prime Minister in Norway, between 1996 - 1997, and was the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, between 2009 to 2015. The charge on Jagland was put on the former-PM after his immunity from the Council of Europe, which he led between 2009-2018, was lifted. Documents in the Epstein files appear to show Jagland planned a family trip to Epstein's private island in 2014 but this was cancelled when the p@edophile fell ill. Another exchange appeared to show the ex-PM trying to help Epstein get a bank loan but it is not clear if this went through, according to Norwegian news site NRK. Police in Norway have not confirmed whether this allegation is being looked into. Being mentioned in the Epstein Files does not amount to an accusation of any wrongdoing. Jagland has not been the first prominent Norwegian to be appear in the files. The Crown Princess of Norway, Mette-Marit, issued a lengthy apology for her friendship with Epstein after emails between the pair were released. The statement read: I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologise to all of you that I have disappointed. Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologise for the situation that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A woman has taken to social media to share screenshots of private messages she claims to have received from a prominent Nairobi businessman after she turned down his romantic advances. According to the posts circulating online, the businessman, described as a wealthy city lawyer and property owner, began sending a series of messages to the woman after she rejected him. In the messages, the man boasts about his wealth, academic credentials and business success. He claims to make Ksh 2 million per week and to own high-end apartments in Kileleshwa, in addition to running a successful company. With this wealth, ata babako afanye miaka ngapi haezi pata. In fact, your entire generation, part of the leaked messages reads. The woman shared the screenshots on her social media platforms, accusing him of being proud and arrogant. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A number of Nigerian men on X have objected strongly to the possibility of having a female President. PDP Republic, a verified Twitter account dedicated to promoting the People's Democratic Party, shared a photo of Senator Natasha Akpoti and wrote: "Behold Senator Natasha Akpoti, the woman who could be the first female President of Nigeria." However, many men objected, stating that they can't have a woman who sits to pee ruling over them. "E better make Tinubu rule us forever than make woman become president," one man wrote. "I would rather vote osama binladen than allow a woman rule over me," Another man tweeted. One tweet read: "She will not even get up to 50 votes in her home town. This is not BB9ja or Miss Nigeria. Let's be serious please." "Walai I will open vote Tinubu if she is the only candidate competing with me . Women in place of power ? . Just lol." Another wrote. "E better make i relocate go mexico now than for this to happen," One user tweeted. "Make Tinubu do 2 more rounds," another replied. "There was a time they voted a woman class rep in my department. It was only me that objected. They had to make her assistant sha and make a guy the class rep. Then na Presidency I go come vote for woman? El o el," one wrote. "Instead of woman to become president Make tulumbu just dey there we no wan vote again," another said. "I rather be ruled by a goat than for me to be ruled by a woman. This isn't about gender shit .....women are more vile with power than men," another wrote. "I will snatch ballot boxes for Tinubu to remain the president." "Omo cos why person wey dey bend down piss go dey rule us." Female activist, Rinu Oduala wrote: "Nigerian men will prefer for a goat to rulethem than a woman. That's why their lives are miserable the way it is." Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A bride was shot during the Jaimala ceremony at her wedding in Bihar, Buxar district. The incident took place on Tuesday night, February 24, in Chausa Nagar Panchayat under the Mufassil police station area. According to reports, the wedding procession had arrived from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. The rituals of the wedding ceremony was ongoing: the bride, 23-year-old Aarti Kumari, daughter of Nandiji Chaudhary, was on stage exchanging garlands with her groom, Avinash, 23, when a young man suddenly appeared and shot at the bride at close range. The bullet hit the bride in the abdomen, leading to chaos at the venue. She was immediately taken to a private hospital. Her condition is reported to be critical. After firing the shot, the accused fled from the spot. Some unconfirmed reports claim the gunman is her ex named Dinbandhu, 22. The bride reportedly named him after the shooting. A family member said she initially mistook the shooting as firecrackers. "We thought it was part of the celebration. I had gone home. Suddenly, we saw sparks near the stage. We thought people were bursting firecrackers. But when we reached there, Aarti had been shot and the groom was carrying her to take her to the hospital," the relative said. Another family member said they heard a gunshot before seeing Aarti collapse. "He shot her and ran away. Her husband picked her up and rushed her to the hospital," he added. Aarti was first taken to a local hospital and later referred to Varanasi for further treatment. Buxar Superintendent of Police Shubham Arya is personally supervising the investigation. A special police team has been formed to track down the shooter. Further investigation is underway. See video below. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A New York College professor has been placed on leave days after she sparked massive backlash for making abhorrent comments about black students on a hot mic during a virtual meeting. Allyson Friedman, an associate biology professor at Hunter College, was caught inadvertently interrupting a black eighth-grade students concerns about the potential shutdown of her Upper West Side public school during a public Community Education Council meeting on Feb 10. I write to share an update about actions that Hunter College is taking as a result of the incident during a recent virtual meeting of the New York City School District 3 Community Education Council in which abhorrent remarks were heard coming from a district parent who also is a Hunter employee, Hunter College President Nancy Cantor wrote in a statement on Wednesday. As I shared earlier, we are investigating this matter under the universitys applicable conduct and nondiscrimination policies, Cantor wrote. Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employee has been placed on leave, the statement continued. The CUNY school previously said it was reviewing Friedmans conduct after the tenured professors comments quickly circulated online and sparked widespread fury. Theyre too dumb to know theyre in a bad school, Friedman was heard saying while her mic was unknowingly unmuted, according to a recording of the meeting posted online, which she had attended as a parent of a public school student. If you train a black person well enough, theyll know to use the back, she said. You dont have to tell them anymore. She seemed to be referring to a comment made by Reginald Higgins, the school districts interim acting superintendent, who spoke about scholar Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history, earlier in the meeting. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told, Woodson wrote in his 1933 book The Mis-Education of the Negro. Two other adults in the virtual meeting quickly called out the professor, while others sat shocked with their hands over their mouths. The entire meeting went dead silent for about 10 seconds before the moderators apologized to the student and urged her to continue. Friedman later excused her language by stating she was explaining systematic racism to her own child, by referencing an example of an obviously racist trope, adding her full remarks werent completely audible due to a microphone mistake. My complete comments make clear these abhorrent views are not my own, nor were they directed at any student or group, Friedman told the New York Times. Public officials quickly slammed the professors conduct and urged Hunter College to take immediate action. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman Sigal called the comments outrageous. It is particularly despicable that these vile words were uttered while children were giving testimony at the meeting, exposing them to this hatred, he said. She still isnt fired??? Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. also wrote on X. She shouldnt be near any child at all. Her words are abhorrent and racist. I feel awful for all those children who witnessed this. Hunter shouldnt allow her to continue in her role until a full investigation is complete, United Jewish Teachers president Moshe Spern wrote. Cantor added in the statement announcing the decision to place Friedman on leave that counseling services and an employee assistance program were available for members of the school community who feel they need support. This painful incident unfolded at a meeting where Black History Month was being celebrated, and the pernicious and enduring effects of anti-Black systemic racism were being discussed, especially with regard to the role of educational institutions in addressing them, Cantor wrote. Hunter has long embraced such a role, which requires constant vigilance to remain attentive and responsive to the ways in which we continually draw and redraw discriminatory social lines. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - A popular Mexican OnlyFans and Instagram model has denied that she was the girlfriend who led police to Mexicos most notorious cartel boss after online rumors and an AI photo went viral all over Spanish social media. Maria Julissa found herself singled out as the alleged lover of New Generation Jalisco Cartel boss Nemesio El Mencho Oseguera Cervantes after officials said they tracked down one of his girlfriends at his resort compound. I want to make it absolutely clear: I have nothing to do with that situation, Julissa, who has 3.5 million followers on Instagram, wrote on social media. It remains unclear why Julissa became the subject of baseless claims, as Mexican authorities have not revealed the identity of the woman who visited Osegueras fortress in rural Tapalpa. Despite the lack of evidence, a plethora of posts have spread on social media claiming she was one of the slain cartel bosss girlfriends. The information going around is false and lacks foundation, Julissa said. I ask that you all not fall for fake news and always look to reliable sources and officials. Julissas statement comes after Mexicos Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla revealed on Monday that Mexican agents tracked down the ever-elusive Oseguera through a lover. Intelligence agents were able to identify a man close to the woman and found that she had been taken to Tapalpa, a mountainside getaway community in Jalisco where Oseguera and his men were located, Trevilla told reporters. While the girlfriend eventually left the resort, El Mencho and his men remained holed up in the compound. Thats when the Mexican military deployed its special forces. El Menchos men opened fire, and he and others were killed in the ensuing firefight. Oseguera was known to have been married to Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia before their split in 2018, with the ex-wife released from prison last year after serving two years for a money laundering conviction. Following his death, the cartel went on a rampage across Jalisco and other Mexican states, with more than 70 people killed in the aftermath, including 25 members of the countrys national guard. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Professor Stephen Hawking has been picture with two bikini-clad women in a newly uncovered photo included in the Epstein files. The ground-breaking British astrophysicist and cosmologist, who died in 2018 at the age of 76, can be seen grinning in the picture released along with the millions of documents relating to padophile financier Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice this month. No detail is provided on the date or location of the image, though many that appear alongside it appear to have been taken on Epstein's Little Saint James Island in the US Virgin Islands. Hawking is already known to have visited Epstein's private island in March 2006 as one of 21 prominent scientists attending a five-day physics conference focused on gravity. Epstein had not been charged with any sxual offences at the time. Photographs that emerged in 2015 showed the celebrated physicist at a barbecue in his wheelchair during this visit, and he was later taken on a submarine tour of the seabed around Epstein's island. Hawking is referenced at least 250 times in the Epstein Files. Being mentioned in the files however does not amount to an accusation of any wrongdoing, and Dr Hawking has never been accused of any crimes. His name appears in one 2015 email sent by Epstein to his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, in which he suggested offering a financial reward to any friends or family of Virginia Giuffre who could help disprove an allegation that Hawking had participated in an "underage orgy" in the Virgin Islands. He wrote: "You can issue a reward to any of virginias friends acquaionts [sic] family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false. The strongest is the clinton dinner, and the new version in the virgin isalnds that stven hawking particpated in an underage orgy." Virginia Giuffre, who famously accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sxual abuse did by su!cide in 2025. Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Fresh controversy has emerged following the arrest of Festus Arasa Omwamba, the man accused of trafficking Kenyan youths to Russia and Ukraine, after photos surfaced online showing one of his business associates posing with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Omwamba was arrested by detectives over claims that he was involved in a syndicate that lured young Kenyans with promises of lucrative opportunities in Russia and Ukraine, only for some to end up being recruited into the army and put on the frontline. Now, social media users are circulating a photo showing Omwambas business partner standing alongside Mudavadi during what appears to be an official meeting. Outspoken blogger Cyprian Nyakundi shared the photos and demanded throrough investigations, noting that some powerful Government officials may be involved in the human trafficking syndicate. The Russia mercenaries recruitment saga runs to the top. Omwamba is just the fall guy. Mudavadi and Alfred Mutua must come out clear on their role in the saga, Nyakundi tweeted. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Oliver Power Grant, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, has d!ed. He was 52. Fellow Wu-Tang member Method Man confirmed Grants devastating passing in a touching Instagram post on Tuesday. Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! Method Man, 54, wrote alongside a photo of the pair. Grants death was also announced on Instagram by the hip-hop music site Okayplayer. He reportedly died on Feb. 23, although no cause of death has been announced. A driving force behind one of hip-hops most influential movements, Power helped build a global legacy rooted in independence, ownership and culture, Okayplayers post began. His belief in creative control and community empowerment helped shape not only a group, but a dynasty that changed music forever. His impact will live on through the culture he helped elevate and the countless lives he inspired, the site added. Born in Jamaica on Nov. 3, 1973, Grant later moved to New York City and grew up in Staten Island alongside key Wu-Tang members RZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna. The late hip-hop associate went on to executive produce all of the storied rap crews records, as well as create the popular Wu Wear clothing line. My crew had plenty of skeptics, doubters, and non-believers, Grant said in 2011 of the clothing line and how it helped solidify the Wu-Tang brand. It wasnt anything personal, but Id say that everyone is an individual and they didnt really understand what I was doing or what I was initially trying to get across, or where I was coming from, he added at the time. Beyond his work with Wu-Tang from the groups formation in 1992 until his death, Grant was also an actor who starred in Belly alongside Method Man in 1998 and Black and White the following year. Other Wu-Tang members, including RZA, GZA, and Raekwon, also paid tribute to their late producer. We couldnt have done it without him, GZA, 59, wrote on Instagram Tuesday alongside four photos of Grant. Wu wouldnt have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all. My deepest condolences to the fam. OVER the centuries, Irish traditional music has been shaped and reformed but two musical instruments remain at all times at the centre of Irish music making. Uilleann pipes and the fiddle were in the past and remain today, along with the tin whistle, important influences in shaping Irish traditional music. The harping tradition, unique to ancient Ireland and Irelands oldest music tradition, was saved by the Belfast Harpers Festival held in that northern city in 1792. An organising committee advertised their plan for reviving the ancient music of Ireland and invited performers of the Irish harp to assemble and perform in Belfast on the 11 July 1792. Nine Irish harpers and one man from Wales attended as well as a youthful Edward Bunting who collected the harp music played and later published it. A great deal of that music was the work of Turlough OCarolan, the best known of Irelands harp composers who died in 1738. I was prompted to recall the Harpers Festival when I read of the recent success of Siofra Nic Gabhann, aged 13 years, in the Scleip Competition in the recent Gael Linn Schools Competition. Siofra, who is a member of Athy Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, started harp lessons when she was seven years old and approximately two years ago her parents purchased a harp especially made for her by Galway Harp maker Brian Callan. Made with an olive ash frame and with a cedar sound board, it accompanies Siofra as she attends classical lessons in the Carlow College of Music and traditional lessons with Music Generation in Portlaoise. Siofra is one of a growing number of adult and junior musicians who each week attend at Athys Comhaltas lessons and music sessions in Ardscoil Na Trionoide, which are organised by Athys Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, which under the Chairmanship of Jim Kelly has grown hugely in popularity. The weekly Tuesday night lessons starting at 6pm consist of training in Uilleann pipes, button accordion, tin whistle, fiddle and banjo followed by a group Seisuin na nOg for juniors and an adult session involving both the music trainers and others at 7.30pm. The well know Uilleann Piper Joe Byrne teaches the pipes, fiddle and the tin whistle, Sive Waters teaches fiddle and whistle, Sligo native Damien McGuinness, an All-Ireland Fleadh winner teaches button accordion while Niamh Ni Dhea teaches banjo. Others involved with the music lessons are Noreen Day, tin whistle, Sean Kelly, banjo, Orla Kelly, tin whistle and Gerard Bissett adult whistle. It is an impressive set up involving many of the finest traditional musicians in our community. Athys Comhaltas fame has spread and resulted in the group being invited to take to the Gig Rig stage during the 2025 All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil held in Wexford. Incidentally, this year's All Ireland Fleadh will be held in Belfast. It is delightful to record the various family generations involved in the Athys Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Jim Kelly, who revived the local branch, plays the fiddle as did his late father Jack and Jims son Sean plays the fiddle and banjo and his grandchildren Jack and Faye play Uileann Pipes, fiddle and tin whistle. Noreen Day plays tin whistle alongside her banjo playing daughter Niamh while her granddaughter Siofra is the only harp player in the group. Nicola McGrath plays fiddle with her two son Michael and Brendan on accordion and whistle, while accordion player Jarlath Hanlon plays alongside his son Alex. Athy is extremely fortunate to have committed persons such as Jim Kelly, chairman, Nicola McGrath Secretary and Ger Kelly Treasurer of Athys Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, along with other volunteers, maintaining as they do our traditional Irish music which helps to maintain our cultural identity. I am conscious that Athys Irish traditional musical heritage has been developed and maintained by the musicians such as the late Tos Quinn and the superb piper Brian Hughes. The importance of the Thursday night Irish music session in Clancys pub cannot be overlooked as musicians past and present over the last 60 years have shared their musical talents with us. We are extremely fortunate to have so many excellent musicians sharing their talents with us. John MacKenna, one of the finest writers to come out of South Kildare, will have his latest book The Lock-Keepers Wife launched in Athys Library on Friday 27 February at 6.30pm. Dont forget and come along to support John on this great occasion. MEET Connor who is a handsome Doberman/Labrador/Lurcher mix with a big heart and lots of love to give. He is a unique-looking boy owing to a damaged eye (a very, very rare reaction to one of his vaccines) and has an upturned nose due to some very rough play with his mother when he was much smaller. Neither issue should need any further treatment, and in fact has received other vaccinations since without issue. He has limited vision in the damaged eye, but it doesnt hinder him. Conor is the sweetest boy, and his kangaroo impression is top-notch. He is well socialised with cats, dogs and people of all ages. Hes highly intelligent and requires a home where he will be stimulated both mentally and physically. This home should not have young children, as Connor is a high-energy boy who is quite bouncy. Connor will thrive in an active home where he can enjoy walks and playtime. With the intelligence of a Doberman and the speed and grace of a Lurcher, Connor is going to grow into an amazing companion. As Connor will grow to be a large dog, he will need experienced, large dog breed owners. Also, as Connors breed is on the Irish Restricted Breed list, he must comply throughout his life with the various rules when in a public place eg. being kept on a short lead and only being led by persons over 16 years of age. If youre looking for a loyal, loving pup to join your family, Connor could be the perfect match. He is microchipped (No 972274200652988), and his full details and photos can be found on our website www.kwwspca.ie. Skinny Minnie is a resilient young cat who once lived outdoors and arrived at the shelter with a serious womb infection. Minnie As a semi-feral girl, she needed time to heal and learn to trust, but she has blossomed beautifully. Now about 1112 months old, Minnie is lively, curious and ready to begin her new life with a loving forever family. Our cat adoption fee is only 100, which helps cover some of the veterinary costs, including neutering, first vaccination, worm and flea treatments and microchipping. For more details and other cat listings, please check our website. Lidl Ireland have lodged a substantial planning application with Kilkenny County Council in relation to Lidl, Johnswell Road, Kilkenny. The proposed development comprises of the demolition of the existing single-storey discount foodstore (gross floor space of 1,746 sqm and a net retail sales area of 1,274 sqm) and the construction of a part-single, part-two storey discount foodstore (with mono-pitch roof) measuring 2,568 sqm gross floor space with a net retail sales area of 1,742 sqm. Permission is also being sought for the redevelopment/reconfiguration of the existing site layout, adjusted vehicular and pedestrian access points, car parking and hard and soft landscaping. Other items being sought include the provision and preservation/renewal of boundary treatments, free standing and building mounted signage, trolley bay enclosure, refrigeration and air conditioning plant and equipment, electricity substation (and switch room) structure, public lighting, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, roof mounted solar panels, cycle parking, modification of existing drainage, utility and services infrastructure and connections, waste storage facilities, and all other associated and ancillary development and works above and below ground level. Picture: The existing Lidl on the Johnswell Road in Kilkenny City / Google Maps READ NEXT: New outdoor seating area proposed as part of exciting new plans for Kilkenny At present, the application is awaiting the validation of Kilkenny County Council. Upon validation, a decision is expected from the planning authority by April 23, 2026. This decision timeframe could be extended if the authority requires further information from the applicant. Back in 2022, the Lidl outlet at Loughboy in Kilkenny City closed for a time as part of major refurbishment plan that saw it significantly expanded. Lidl currently operate the aformentioned two outlets in Kilkenny City as well as an outlet in Thomastown. READ NEXT: Kilkenny man jailed over theft from city centre retail premises It has also been reported that the German retailer has expressed interest in establishing an outlet in Castlecomer. Lidl Ireland is one of the countrys leading supermarket chains and a key player in the Irish grocery market since entering in 2000. It operates a nationwide network of stores and distribution centres, employing thousands of people across the country. READ NEXT: Government funding per capita provided to Kilkenny County Council below national average last year Known for its discount model, Lidl combines competitive pricing with a growing focus on quality, Irish-sourced produce, and premium private-label ranges. The retailer has also invested significantly in sustainability initiatives and community programmes, positioning itself as both a value-driven and socially responsible brand in Irelands highly competitive retail sector. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS Fianna Fail TD for Kilkenny, Deputy Peter Chap Cleere, has welcomed confirmation from Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education, and Michael Moynihan, Minister of State for Special Education, that there will be no reductions to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) for the next school year. Following a meeting with government leaders, it has been agreed that all special schools allocated additional resources will retain them, providing clarity and reassurance to families and school communities. A significant number of schools across Kilkenny have been in touch with my office in recent weeks outlining their concerns, Deputy Cleere said. I have worked diligently with the Minister to ensure these concerns were clearly heard at government level. Our priority must always be the needs of the child. SNAs play a vital role in supporting children with additional needs to access education in a meaningful and inclusive way. This confirmation brings much-needed certainty to schools, parents and most importantly to the children who rely on this support every day. TAP HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY SCHOOLS NEWS Deputy Cleere noted that agreement has been reached to advance work on an SNA redeployment scheme, a workforce plan and updates to the 2014 circular outlining the role of an SNA. These policy developments will be guided by a clear child-centred approach before any further decisions are taken. 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. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A FORMER nurse from Laois who survived cancer is urging people to support Daffodil Day, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society (ICS). Caroline Overton from Emo was an emergency department nurse at Portlaoise Hospital in September 2021, when she first experienced worrying symptoms. At first, the mother-of-three thought her stressful job was causing the symptoms that included hiccups and acid reflux. However, when she went to her GP the following month, she was referred to hospital for an endoscopy which was carried out that November. To her shock, it revealed that she had a large tumour in her oesophagus. The 62-year-old recalls: My husband, David, was brought in after I had the endoscopy and we were given the news. We were told they found an eight-centimetre tumour in my oesophagus. We just couldnt believe it. Cancer was so far off our Richter scale of things that we thought couldve caused the symptoms I had. They found out that the tumour was going along my oesophagus. It was linear, so it wasnt blocking the food that I ate. It was only slowing it down. Shortly after she was diagnosed, Caroline went to the Cuisle Cancer Support Centre in Portlaoise for counselling funded by the ICS, which she found hugely beneficial. She says: I knew I needed help and a sense of direction, when I was going through everything. I needed tools to cope and counselling gave me those tools. We did things in the counselling sessions like visualising going for a PET scan, because I was so worried about it, but doing that made it a lot easier when I actually did it. Caroline had chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour and is delighted to be doing well, having medically retired in 2023. A picture of health and beauty, it is difficult to believe she endured such a huge challenge and emerged stronger than ever. Ive changed a lot since I was diagnosed, she says. Im more active now. Ive lost four stone since I was diagnosed and I exercise five or six times a week. Im not the same person I was in 2021. Everything is different now, but in a really good way. Encouraging people to please get out there and support Daffodil Day on 20 March, Caroline stresses that every single euro raised is crucial and makes a real lasting difference, fuelling life-changing cancer research and vital support services. It also gives people a chance to show their support for those affected by cancer in their own local community. According to the ICS, funds raised last year helped provide services in Laois that included over 470 free lifts to their treatment for cancer patients, over 360 free counselling sessions and more than 250 nights of free nursing care, which allowed local cancer patients to die at home, surrounded by loved ones. Cancer nurses also had 180 conversations with people living in Laois, through the ICS Support Line and at its Daffodil Centres. ICS acting chief executive Edel Shovlin said in a statement: This year, thousands of people in Ireland will hear the words, You have cancer. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, a future suddenly filled with uncertainty. But this Daffodil Day, there is also determination, compassion and groundbreaking research driving real progress. The funds raised dont just support vital, life-changing cancer research. They provide immediate, practical help for people facing cancer right now. A MAN with a broken leg, who stole a car whilst in a wheelchair, was remanded in custody for a fortnight after a garda objection to his bail was upheld. Edward Stokes (42), with an address at Lerr Avenue, Abbeylands, Castledermot appeared in Naas District Court this week (19 February) from Garda custody following his arrest the day before. Garda David Murphy from Naas Garda Station was giving evidence of arrest charge and caution. He testified how Mr Stokes reply to the charge of unauthorized taking of an MPV was: sorry, but that the gardai would oppose him getting bail because of fears of his not showing up for court. Garda Murphy told the court how Mr Stokes was arrested at an address in Saggart, Co Dublin the day before court after tracking the stolen car there, following the information given by the rightful owner. He explained how the car was stolen from Naas General Hospital underground car park after the defendant allegedly took the keys from a jacket pocket in a staffroom, before going down in the lift, and pressing a button on the fob until one car lit up. All of this was done, allegedly, from a wheelchair which he had been given upstairs following his treatment for a broken leg. We checked the CCTV and saw him check the cars before he finally opened one, said Garda Murphy. The wheelchair was found where the car used to be. We saw him on the CCTV in the wheelchair, going around the hospital, he added. You couldnt make this up, said Judge Zaidan. Was it a manual, or an automatic? asked the judge. Automatic. It was an electric Cupra, said Garda Murphy. The injured party (a radiologist) gave us the tracking info, and we detected the car in Saggart where we made the arrest, he clarified. Garda Murphy also testified that they found Mr Stokes was found in possession of a mobile phone not his own, that didnt belong to the owner of the stolen car, but to another staff member at the hospital. In cross-examination with the garda, defending solicitor Tim Kennelly confirmed that early admissions were made and though theft and unauthorised taking of an MPV had maximum penalties of five and 10 years respectively: You get an automatic discount if someone makes an early admission. Thats up to the DPP, interrupted Sergeant Dave Hanrahan. Thats not for the sergeant to jump in, hes not in the witness box giving evidence. This isnt the schoolyard, said Mr Kennelly. After legal argument about the defendants circumstances, Sgt Hanrahan added a further charge was being considered. The keys were taken from a staffroom so there could be a further charge of burglary brought? prompted the sergeant. Yes, Judge, said Garda Murphy. Mr Kennelly added: The very maximum he could get in this court is 24 months. Or a suspended sentence! said Judge Zaidan Not in this court! remarked Mr Kennelly, knowing Judge Zaidans antipathy to suspended sentences. I suspect Mr Stokes was in hospital getting treatment, and then embarked on the unthinkable, went to the staffroom, took the keys, made his way to the car park, tried every car until the fob flashed one, and all this while in a wheelchair! summed up the judge. This man was desperate to get going! I find garda objections to bail sustainable and well-founded. Your client doesnt look good. How old is he? asked the judge. The court was told Mr Stokes admitted to Garda Murphy he was a drug addict, and had no recollection of the theft. 42, said Mr Kennelly. He looks a lot older than that, said the judge, before remanding Mr Stokes into custody to re-appear by videolink on 26 February for his book of evidence. Mr Kennelly then made the suggestion that his client was willing to make a guilty plea, if the case was kept in the district court, and the judge told the sergeant: Let the DPP know that. If this man needs any medical attention whilst in custody, dont bring him to Naas General Hospital, said the judge. THE convicted murderer of a young Kildare woman, who evaded justice for 20 years, died last year from severe lung disease while serving a life sentence, an inquest has heard. John Crerar (76), a father of five from Woodside Park, Kildare, died at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital on 25 January 2025 just over 24 hours after he was transferred from a medical cell in Arbour Hill Prison following a sharp deterioration in his health. An inquest into his death at Dublin District Coroners Court on Thursday heard Crerar suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had been on 24-hour oxygen for a while. Although no member of the deceaseds family attended the hearing, the inquest heard that his sister, Kay, one of her friends and a priest were by his bedside when he passed away. Evidence was also heard that Mr Crerars daughter, Carol, formally identified her fathers body to gardai. Mr Crerar a former sergeant in the Defence Forces who came originally from Co Tipperary was found guilty of the murder of Phyliss Murphy (23) on a date unknown between 22 December 1979 and 18 January 1980 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in October 2002. Ms Murphy was last seen alive while waiting at a bus stop opposite the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, Co Kildare shortly after 6.30pm on 22 December 1979 to travel home to Kildare town after shopping for Christmas presents. Her naked body was found 28 days later in a forested area near the Wicklow Gap about 30km away from her last known location following an extensive search involving 3,000 volunteers across a wide area of Kildare and Wicklow. Several items of her clothing as well as Christmas presents which she had bought were found at various locations in the Curragh, Brannockstown and Lockstown Upper in Wicklow. A postmortem on Mr Murphy showed she had been beaten and strangled, while she also had injuries consistent with being raped. Mr Crerar was identified as the prime suspect for the murder as a result of advances in DNA testing which resulted in blood samples provided by him in 1980 being matched two decades later with semen samples recovered from the victims body. Gardai had asked several males in the Kildare area to voluntarily provide blood samples as part of their investigation. Detectives had identified Mr Crerar as a potential suspect at the time as one garda had noted that he appeared shifty and nervous when questioned about the murder. However, forensic experts at the time were only able to identify a blood group from semen samples taken from Ms Murphys body rather than a full DNA profile which only became available in 1998. Mr Crerar also had an alibi, that was only withdrawn during his trial, which had been provided by a fellow security guard for Provincial Security Services at the Black & Decker plant in Kildare where both former soldiers worked. Mr Crerar was arrested and charged with the cold case murder in July 1999 and pleaded not guilty when he went on trial the following year. During the murder trial, evidence was heard that Mr Crerar knew Ms Murphys family as he lived near them in Kildare town and was friendly with the deceaseds sister, Claire. The inquest heard that a call light had been activated in Mr Crerars cell at 3am on 24 January 2025 when the prisoner sought medical attention. A prison nurse, Martina Murphy, gave evidence of providing care to Mr Crerar for several hours before a decision was made to call an ambulance to bring him to hospital because of his deteriorating condition. Ms Murphy outlined how the prisoner had become more unsettled and his breathing more laboured. She told the coroner Myra Cullinane that a problem with the prisons computer system as a result of Storm Eowyn earlier that week did not delay the prisoners transfer to hospital. The inquest heard that a do not resuscitate order had been in place for Mr Crerar since April 2024 which resulted in doctors at the Mater deciding not to intubate him after assessing he had advanced respiratory failure. The results of a postmortem showed he died from acute bronchial pneumonia against a background of COPD and pulmonary emphysema. A jury of five women and one man recorded a verdict of death due to natural causes. Sean McCarthaigh A teacher who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting a relative has been struck off the Register of Teachers as a result of his criminal conviction. An inquiry panel of the Teaching Council has also ruled that the man, who is in his early 40s, cannot apply to have his name restored to the register for at least 30 years because of the cases exceptional and disturbing features. The teachers identity cannot be published as a result of extensive reporting restrictions imposed by the three-person panel, which also prohibit disclosing the teachers home area, his relationship with his victim, the school where he taught and dates of his court appearances. Announcing its decision, the chairperson of the inquiry panel, Fergal McCarthy, said they believed that anything short of removal from the register would be incompatible with the profession of teacher. The inquiry heard the teacher is serving a prison sentence of 8 years after being convicted of three counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault. The offences occurred when the teacher was aged 14-18, and his victim was approximately four years younger. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his criminal trial and continues to maintain his innocence. McCarthy said the nature of the teachers offences was the most relevant factor in their deliberations. He noted they involved the rape and sexual assault of a minor, which placed them at the most serious end of the spectrum. Although the teacher himself was young at the time, McCarthy said that did not excuse his conduct as he was in a position of relative power to his victim. The most important attribute for a teacher is that they can be trusted not to cause harm to children in their care or abuse their position of power, he added. McCarthy said the only mitigating factor was the time that had elapsed since the offences occurred, but he said it was of minor import when weighed against the seriousness of the teachers conduct. Although it was the teachers right not to accept the verdict in his trial, McCarthy said a corollary of that is that he had shown no insight into his conduct. He claimed aggravating factors in the case were the very serious nature of his crime, the abuse of trust and harm caused to a child as well as deliberate and intended conduct. With regard to the need to protect the public, McCarthy said the panel believed there was a serious risk of harm into the future. In deciding on the sanction, which needs to be formally ratified by the High Court, McCarthy said it was necessary to deter other teachers from engaging in similar conduct while also reassuring the public that teaching is a well-regulated profession. Earlier, in a submission on sanction, counsel for the Teaching Council, Eoghan OSullivan BL, said rape was the most serious form of sexual offending, while the teachers victim was a child. OSullivan said sexual offences were placed by society in a particular bracket, with their seriousness reinforced by convicted individuals being placed on a register of sex offenders. The barrister said the fact that the teacher did not accept his conviction meant he had no insight or understanding of his conduct. OSullivan said one of the aggravating factors in the case was the teachers pattern of behaviour which could not be considered an isolated incident. Calling for the most serious sanction to be imposed on the teacher, OSullivan said the most important attribute for teachers was not academic ability but that they could be trusted to interact appropriately with children under their care and not to abuse their position of power. Mr OSullivan reminded the inquiry panel that it was not their function to look behind the decision of the courts. In response, the teacher took issue with the claim that he had no insight, which he said implied that he did not have the faculty to distinguish between right and wrong or to understand the process. Attending the hearing remotely via videolink from Mountjoy Prison, the teacher said he maintained his innocence as the charges against him were fabricated and did not happen. However, OSullivan replied that the lack of insight arose from his non-acceptance of the verdict. He pointed out that there was consequently no insight into his conduct, which led to his conviction and subsequently the findings of the fitness-to-teach inquiry. The inquiry previously heard that the teacher had told gardai that the allegations against him were motivated by malice as he had informed other family members of the victims sexual orientation. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112. At least one of the U.S. citizens aboard the speedboat involved in a deadly shooting with Cuban forces was killed, according to a new report. Axios detailed that another U.S. citizen was injured and is receiving medical care in Cuba. At least another person has a K-1 visa, a non-immigrant visa allowing a foreigner to enter the U.S. and marry a U.S. citizen, and others are believed to be legal permanent residents of the country. It is unclear what the people aboard the boat sought to do, but its owner reported it as stolen in Florida. He told the sheriff's office he suspected that a man helping lay tile in a renovation project took it and left his truck near the vessel. He added that the man "has family in Cuba to include two young daughters who were still" there. Havana said on Wednesday that four people and six more were wounded by troops after they were fired upon. The country's Ministry of Interior detailed that the vessel approached within one nautical mile of Villa Clara on Monday morning. When local forces approached the vessel to identify its passengers, its occupants opened fire, leading forces to respond. The statement added that the commander of the Cuban vessel was wounded. All those injured were "evacuated and received medical assistance," officials added. State-run outlet Granma said forces seized assault rifles, short weapons, Molotov cocktails, bullet-proof vests, and camouflage apparel. It added that all those aboard the vessel were Cubans who lived in the U.S. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stood by the forces' actions. In a social media publication, Diaz-Canel said Cuba "doesn't attack or make threats." "We've raised this in several occasions and we stand by it today: Cuba will defend itself with determination and strength against any terrorist and mercenary aggression that intends to affect its sovereignty and national stability," he added. AFP reported on Thursday that one of the men aboard the boat, Michel Ortega Casanova, had often spoken about wanting to liberate the island from the regime. "His goal was to go and fight against a criminal and murderous narco-tyrannical (government), to see if that would spark the people to rise up," Wilfredo Beyra, head of the Cuban Republican Party in Tampa, told the outlet. "I had warned him that it was not the time to take such action for the freedom of Cuba, that he had to wait," he added. Beyra went on to say that he last spoke with Ortega Casanova about 10 days ago. Originally published on Latin Times Republican lawmakers leading the congressional investigation into the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein are signaling that they could subpoena U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over his ties to Epstein. Lutnick, a long-time ally of President Donald Trump and former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has faced intense scrutiny after the recent release of millions of pages of documents from the Justice Department's Epstein Files, which were made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act of 2025. Those records revealed additional encounters between Lutnick and Epstein, including a 2012 lunch on Epstein's private island, contradicting earlier statements in which Lutnick said he severed ties with the convicted sex trafficker in 2005. Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) told reporters that it is "very possible" Lutnick could be asked to appear before Congress to answer questions about what he knew and when he knew it. Democrats on the committee have also urged Comer to subpoena Lutnick and for Lutnick to resign from his post as Commerce Secretary. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) told CBS News that "We have asked Jamie Comer to bring in Howard Lutnick and we have yet had no response." In a statement earlier this month, California Senator Adam Schiff issued a statement calling for Lutnick to resign, stating, "For months he's claimed to have spent 'zero time' with him. Now, in the Epstein Files, we learn that the two were in business together years after Epstein was first convicted, with Lutnick even planning to visit Epstein's private island." Trump himself stated that he "wasn't aware" of Lutnick's visit to Epstein's island. He added that "I actually haven't spoken to him about it, but from what I hear he was there with his wife and children and I guess in some cases some people were. I wasn't. I was never there. Somebody will someday say that. I was never there." Reporter: Were you aware that Secretary Lutnick visited Epstein Island? Trump: I wasnt. I havent spoken to him about it. I hear he was with his wife and children. I wasnt. I was never there. pic.twitter.com/Ql9XJchn5a Acyn (@Acyn) February 12, 2026 Lutnick, one of the wealthiest members of Trump's cabinet, has sought to blunt criticism, denying any improper relationship with Epstein and asserting that his interactions were limited. He told the Senate panel that he had "nothing to hide" and maintained he had "barely anything to do with that person." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said the president "fully supports" Lutnick and views him as a "valuable member of his team." During his testimony earlier this week, he faced calls to resign from his post as Commerce Secretary. Republican Senator Thomas Massie of Kentucky told CNN that Lutnick should "make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign," and that he has "a lot to answer for." Originally published on IBTimes The search for missing 84yearold Nancy Guthrie entered its fourth week on Monday in Tucson, where investigators confirmed they have scaled back FBI personnel even as Savannah Guthrie, her daughter and cohost of NBC's Today, renewed public appeals for information. The FBI's reduced presence marks the most consequential shift yet in a case that has hinged on the main keyword: the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, first reported on 1 February. The bureau's decision matters because it subtly reframes the investigation. Authorities insist they are not abandoning Tucson, but the movement of the command post to Phoenix signals a new phase, one in which fresh leads have grown thin and family members are left grasping for answers. Savannah Guthrie's latest plea, released days earlier, underscored this reality. What she said was simple enough, but the tonetight, deliberate, almost resignedcarried its own weight. Experts who have studied such cases say that shift is often an emotional marker, the moment when families begin quietly acknowledging the possibility that the person they love may not be found alive. Expert Views Add New Texture To The Nancy Guthrie Mystery With no major breakthrough in week four, analysts have begun dissecting the few clues publicly available, including Savannah Guthrie's carefully recorded video message. One of the most striking interpretations came from Michael Gould, a retired Nassau County lieutenant who founded the NYPD's canine unit. Speaking to the Daily Express US, Gould argued that Savannah's phrasing 'reflects acceptance of the facts'. He did not say she had given up hope. Rather, he suggested she had entered a phase familiar to many families in long-running missing persons cases: balancing the instinct to hope with the blunt edge of available evidence. Gould also noted the family's decision to offer a onemilliondollar reward, a sum unusually high even for such cases. He described it as evidence of 'desperation' and a likely effort to ensure that, if the worst has happened, Nancy's remains can be recovered and the family can have answers. It is a painful sentiment but one that investigators privately echo: credible leads are dwindling, and the reward may draw out someone who saw or heard something but hesitated to speak. That desperation has been fed by the few fragments of evidence released so far. Early in the investigation, the FBI published images of an armed, masked individual tampering with a security camera at Nancy's homeimagery that rattled a community unaccustomed to such violence. No suspect has been identified, and the footage has not been linked definitively to the abduction, though investigators continue to treat it as highly relevant. Disputed 911 Call And Neighbors' Accounts Deepen Questions Around Nancy Guthrie Another strand that has drawn attention is a 911 call placed the night Nancy disappeared. The caller reported seeing a woman hanging out of a moving car window, screaming. The vehicle was described as a dark grey or blue Chevy Malibu, with no visible plates. In the recording, the dispatcher relays the chilling report: an unknown woman, dressed in black, clinging to the open window of a speeding car. At the time, police did not formally link the call to Nancy's disappearance. They have admitted only that 'they can't really discount anything'. That phrasing has kept speculation alive, especially among locals trying to reconcile the sighting with the timeline of events. Whether the woman in the car was Nancy remains unproven. @insideedition The $1 million dollar reward NBC News journalist Savannah Guthrie is offering for information about her missing mother is generating an avalanche of new information as authorities continue their search for Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1. One new theory about the missing woman suggests that Guthrie's kidnappers may have used a tunnel in Tucson to escape. Some of those tunnels go all the way to the Mexican border. Inside Edition's Jim Moret has more. Ransom Kidnapping SavannahGuthrie Crime TrueCrime original sound - Inside Edition - Inside Edition Not all potential leads have come from emergency calls. A longtime resident of the Catalina Foothills, Aldine Meister, told Fox News Digital she saw an unfamiliar young man in the neighborhood two weeks before Nancy went missing. He wore his hat low over his face and did not look, she said, like someone out for a casual walk. Her unease was immediate. 'He just didn't fit', she recalled. The sighting has not been confirmed as relevant, but like much in this case, it lingers. REMINDER: FBI reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. The suspect is described as a male, approximately 59 - 510 tall of average build. Report tips to pic.twitter.com/PrFkHPj9Ac FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) February 17, 2026 Which brings the focus back to the FBI's reallocation of staff. Officials stress the move is logistical, not symbolic, and emphasise that investigators will continue working closely with the Pima County Sheriff's Department. But for Tucson residents who have watched agents swarm the area for nearly a month, the change has landed with a thud. In a search already marked by uncertainty, the visual retreat is hard to ignore. Originally published on IBTimes UK New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's unannounced trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump has ignited intense scrutiny and sharpened questions about political strategy, transparency and the future of federalcity relations. What might once have been a routine high-level meeting is now being read as a revealing test of how far both men are prepared to go in pursuit of their respective agendas. Mayor Mamdani travelled to the US capital on Thursday for a meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office, a meeting that was not listed on his public schedule and was only confirmed after local media reported his presence. The startling development follows months of public political sparring between the two leaders, who represent starkly opposed ideological poles, yet have repeatedly stood side by side in official settings over policy goals affecting New Yorkers. Mayor's Office Defends Unscheduled Washington Travel Officials in City Hall declined to provide a full itinerary for Mamdani's journey, offering limited confirmation that the meeting with Trump was scheduled for later on Thursday afternoon. A New York Post report that first revealed Mamdani's flight to D.C. described the mayor wearing a hat and mask while boarding a Delta jet, and noted that he was accompanied by a close aide. The absence of prior notification to the public, accompanied by scant details from the mayor's communications team, has triggered criticism from observers who argue that such engagements between elected officials and the federal executive should be conducted with greater transparency. Under US law, there is no requirement for a mayor to publish all travel plans. Yet critics contend that withholding such a meeting from public knowledge undermines democratic accountability at a time when federal funding and policy decisions carry significant implications for New York City's 8.5 million residents. BREAKING: President Trump is set to meet with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani in Washington, DC TODAY, per reports Lets hope Trump humbles the Uganda communist again today like he did last time pic.twitter.com/9oGEQXlF58 Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 26, 2026 Political Context: From Hostility to Unlikely Cooperation The reported meeting adds a complex chapter to a relationship that shifted from bitter campaign rhetoric to surprising cooperation. After Mamdani's election victory on 4 November 2025, President Trump described the new mayor in remarks that blended praise with ideological pushback, calling him a 'nice guy' despite his criticism of Trump's policies. In November 2025, Mamdani and Trump met publicly at the White House in what was characterised by both sides as productive. Video footage and press coverage from that encounter show the two leaders discussing shared priorities, including housing affordability and public safety, despite profound political differences. Footage of this earlier meeting is publicly available on verified news channels, including by the Washington Post and ABC News. In interviews after that Oval Office meeting, Mamdani maintained he stood by sharp criticisms of Trump's policies, even as he signalled willingness to co-operate on shared challenges. High-Stakes Policy Talks Behind Closed Doors While the precise agenda of the latest meeting has not been disclosed, sources familiar with the planning cited discussions around housing projects in New York City, a perennial priority for Mamdani's administration. Housing affordability and availability have been defining issues for the new mayor, who campaigned on promises of free buses, rent freezes and expanded social programmes aimed at alleviating the cost-of-living crisis facing millions of New Yorkers. Trump's record as a real-estate developer and Republican leader positions him as a powerful federal interlocutor on housing policy and infrastructure funding, areas where New York City seeks substantial federal investment. But the convergence on this issue belies deep ideological divides. Mamdani has consistently criticised Trump's federal policies, labelling aspects of his agenda as deleterious to social welfare and economic equality. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani staged what he called a 'Five Boroughs Against Trump' tour to highlight those policy clashes. Transparency, Trust And Democratic Accountability The timing and secrecy surrounding the trip have prompted intense scrutiny. Legal experts and political analysts have pointed out that while there is no statutory obligation for mayors to publish travel schedules, the public interest in transparency grows when the visit involves engagement with the President of the United States and potential federal funding decisions. Critics argue that closing such meetings to public eyes fuels distrust, especially amid heightened political polarisation, and makes it harder for constituents to understand how executive decisions are made at the highest levels. Supporters of the mayor counter that confidential discussions can be necessary in crafting nuanced intergovernmental strategies and that premature disclosure can hinder negotiation dynamics. Political Ramifications Ahead Mayor Mamdani now faces a balancing act between his commitment to progressive policy goals and maintaining working relationships across party lines. The outcome of the Washington meeting could have reverberations for his administration's domestic agenda, including education funding, public safety co-operation and federal disaster relief programmes. Meanwhile, Trump's political positioning ahead of future electoral cycles could benefit from a narrative of bipartisan engagement, even as internal critics within his own party continue to frame Mamdani as an ideological adversary. Originally published on IBTimes UK Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) is calling for an immediate U.S. investigation after Cuban authorities reported a deadly confrontation involving a Florida-registered speedboat in Cuban waters that left four people dead and six injured. "I am calling for an immediate investigation into this massacre," Gimenez said in a statement. "United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred. The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity." Cuban authorities said the Florida-registered speedboat entered territorial waters about one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones and was intercepted by border guards. The Interior Ministry alleged those aboard opened fire first, wounding a Cuban officer and prompting a shootout that left four people dead and six injured, as BBC reports. Officials said all ten passengers were Cuban nationals residing in the United States and that weapons, including firearms and improvised explosive devices, were recovered. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba would "defend itself with determination and firmness" against any aggression while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the episode "highly unusual" and said the U.S. would independently verify the facts. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also announced an investigation, saying he directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with federal and state partners. "The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable," Uthmeier said. Gimenez said he has requested additional information from the State Department and the U.S. military and is closely monitoring the case. In a prior social media post, he wrote that "the dictatorship in Cuba has just attacked a boat from Florida & murdered those on board." The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana. Earlier this month, Gimenez warned that if Cuban authorities continued to defy the administration, "Trump will annihilate you in a matter of seconds." Originally published on Latin Times Candace Owens has launched a new online 'investigative' series aimed at Erika Kirk, the widow of murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk, insisting this week that 'something is not right' about Erika's backstory. Owens made the claim during the first episode of Bride of Charlie, a nearly 65-minute livestream released on Wednesday, 25 February, which OK! Magazine said had been viewed close to three million times. For starters, Charlie Kirk was shot dead on 10 September 2025 during an appearance at Utah Valley University, and Tyler Robinson is accused of murdering him. Owens, who was friends with Kirk, has been pushing conspiracy theories about his death since the assassination. Candace Owens Turns A Widow Into A Target Owens' first episode leans heavily on suggestion rather than proof. OK! Magazine reported that she said she was 'bothered' and 'troubled' by vague 'wrinkles' in Erika Kirk's story, and that she accused her of lying without identifying a specific lie. OK! Magazine said Owens referenced high school yearbooks and local newspaper clippings and suggested Erika's mother might not be her real mother. The report also said Owens alleged the hospital where Erika was born had, at one point, experimented on patients' brains. She went further by invoking a photo of a toddler-aged Erika and suggesting she was 'throwing up Freemason hand signs.' Owens also told viewers she is 'sitting on information' taken from old classmates and ex-boyfriends of Erika, and that more would come out in future episodes. OK! Magazine noted that it remains unclear why Owens is investigating Erika Kirk in the first place, which is a polite way of saying the project's purpose is as foggy as its accusations. Most, if not all, are aware that Erika Kirk is a mother of two who became CEO of her late husband's political nonprofit, Turning Point USA, after his death. Candace Owens Sparks A Right Wing Civil War The backlash has not come only from ideological opponents. Owens faced criticism after releasing a trailer for the series on Monday, 23 February, with some people on social media calling it 'creepy' and 'exploitative.' Ben Shapiro, Owens' former boss at The Daily Wire, has been particularly unsparing. Shapiro called Owens a 'twisted human being' and a 'true vampire,' and urged Erika to 'sue the living h---' out of her. In a nine-minute video posted to X on Tuesday, 24 February, Shapiro accused Owens of profiting from Kirk's death. 'She is making money off the murder of Charlie Kirk by literally implicating his widow and everyone else at [Turning Point USA] in that m-rder, and then trying to dig up pseudo-dirt on the wife of the person who was murdered,' Shapiro said. 'I don't know what to call that, other than evil trash,' he added. Owens' own critique of Erika has, at times, centred less on alleged wrongdoing and more on tone. OK! Magazine reported she released a leaked call from a Turning Point USA meeting held just days after Kirk's assassination, in which Erika was heard discussing merchandise sales and donations. 'It is the general tone that is off-putting, it's the laughter that is off-putting,' Owens said, according to the report, before adding, 'We're talking about numbers and metrics.' She added, 'That's moving pretty quickly to the acceptance phase.' IBTimes UK cannot independently verify that Erika Kirk has done anything illegal or dishonest, and Candace Owens' insinuations should be taken with a grain of salt unless and until she produces verifiable evidence. Originally published on IBTimes UK Are you curious about the major work currently taking place at the canal in Vicarstown? Well now is your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look from Waterways Ireland. A senior engineer from Waterways Ireland will give a guided tour at the Laois site on Sunday morning, March 1 of the restoration work underway including dredging and repairs to the canal wall. The Kildare branch of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland has invited the public and canal enthusiasts along for the unique opportunity. "On Sunday, March 1st 2026 of this coming weekend, one of the Waterways Ireland Senior Engineers on the Barrow Line has kindly offered to give a guided tour of the restoration work that has been done to date in Vicarstown Harbour, Co. Laois," said the group. CONTINUE READING BELOW READ NEXT: 'I've seen cars colliding' on Portlaoise roundabouts - retired taxi driver speaks up "We will meet in front of the Vicarstown Bridge Cafe at 11 am and then hopefully do a walkabout either in or along the edge of the restored section of the canal harbour. "This may be the last opportunity to see the fabulous work that has been done on the harbour wall by Waterways Ireland staff and contractors before the dams at both ends are removed and water is restored again to this section of the Barrow Line. "Please note that Wellington Boots are recommended for use if we visit the harbour basin. "So please come along and join us for a gathering of canal enthusiasts on this Sunday morning, March 1st 2026 from 11 am onwards at the Vicarstown Bridge Cafe, Vicarstown, Co. Laois, R32 E22T. We hope to see you there." There have previously been concerns raised about maintenance issues 'damaging boats' on the canal that may impact tourism in the area. Read about it here. Councillor Vivienne Phelan recently told Laois County Council that a number of boatowners and a local business in Vicarstown have been experiencing issues. At the time the Fine Gael councillor requested that Laois County Council write to Waterways Ireland to ask that the canal in Vicarstown and the surrounding area be adequately maintained to ensure ease of boat navigation for tourists in summer months. She said: "I'm not talking about the current work that's going on down there by Waterways Ireland which is dredging and repairs to the wall, that's great that it's taking place. What I'm referring to is routine maintenance where there's weeds in the canal that are not being adequately removed and boats are actually being damaged." While gathering post on Tuesday morning, a Laois worker was surprised to see that a letter had been sent to their business from the United States. Allbooks in Portlaoise is well known for its fantastic literary selections and warm customer service, but its acclaim has reached a whole new level. Mountmellick native Emily Phipps was working on the shopfloor in March of 2025, when two American tourists approached her for book recommendations. Pictured: Allbooks Portlaoise worker Emily Phipps "I remember that the sisters had the same favourite author as myself, I showed them my Terry Pratchett tattoo. They told me they were travelling across Europe, and had come to see Portlaoise," Ms Phipps told the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "They came in looking for fantasy books, and we ended up talking about Terry Pratchett for half an hour," she laughed. "The sisters came back the next day and loved the shop. They bought a good few books and souvenirs," she said. Ms Phipps recalled telling her friends that she had encountered some fellow Terry Pratchett fans in the shop, and moved on with her work. On February 24 of this year, Emily was surprised to be handed a letter by her manager- having come all the way from the United States. "Receiving that letter really made my day, it was so nice to be recognised like that," Emily said. "I try to be nice to everyone, I think everywhere in Portlaoise is like that though. All of the local businesses are so welcoming and friendly." Allbooks were delighted to have received this letter, and are very proud of the recognition their staff has received. "It's something a lot of businesses say, but we really are like a family. We are all get along so well, it says a lot about the business," Emily praised. The business are excited to welcome little Laois locals into the shop for World Book Day next week, where children can avail of free books through World Book Day vouchers. Ahead of World Book Day, Emily encourages Laois locals to read Irish authors, with plenty of selections to choose from in store. Allbooks will be running their buy one, get one half price deal on books in store. The chronic shortage, and in some cases absence, of specialist therapies such as speech and language for children in Laois must be urgently addressed, one local councillor has argued. Some children in Laois have been so impacted by delays in services that families have been told to hold back on allowing them to start school. Councillor Tommy Mulligan has requested Laois County Council to formally seek clarification from the HSE and National Council for Special Education regarding the provision, availability, and delivery of specialist assessments and therapeutic supports for children and students with disabilities in Laois. This is the second time the Independent councillor has brought forth such a motion, having previously raised the issue this time last year. Unfortunately since then, Cllr Mulligan stated that nothing has changed but instead things have got worse. Speaking at the meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, February 23, Cllr Mulligan said: "The population of the county is continuing to grow, the number of children in need of assessments continues to grow and the number of children who are entitled to the specialised therapies continue to grow." READ NEXT: Laois Mum of child awaiting heart transplant urges parents to think of the unthinkable The chronic shortage of Assessment of Needs Officers in Laois has led to a major delay in referrals. Cllr Mulligan argued that it is taking two years for some children to be assessed and referred which directly goes against the HSE's own guidelines of assessments taking place within three months of referrals and then completed within 6 months. Even once a child is diagnosed, there's a lack and even absence of services available in the county. Laois has no Occupational Therapists or Behavioural Therapists. Cllr Mulligan also stated that there is a huge shortage of physiotherapists, psychologists, as well as speech and language therapists in the county. These delays and gaps in services are having a detrimental impact on some families in the county. Cllr Mulligan told a story of a family in Portlaoise who waited three years for their young child to receive speech and language therapy. The child was diagnosed at 2-years-old, however the parents were forced to seek out a therapist privately when the call would not come. The nearest therapist they could get was in Dublin, resulting in the child's father having to take a day off work each week to bring the child to therapy. Cllr Mulligan said that this has been ongoing since October, leading to a significant "financial hit" for the family. On top of this, the child was supposed to start primary school this September but as they had to endure such a long wait for speech and language therapy, the family were told to put it off for another year as the child "wasn't fit to go to school yet." "This is as a direct result of not receiving supports over the last number of years. These interventions, we know they're vital for the development of children and if children don't receive them there is a risk of regressing. This is a prime example that shows that," Cllr Mulligan told the council, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald supported the motion, reiterating that "all of these delays can really affect the development of a child." Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley also backed Cllr Mulligan, adding that she knows many people who have been forced to go private due to the lack of services available in the county. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Kildare TD and Minister Martin Heydon has issued a press statement in advance of a protest due to be held by the IFA tomorrow (Saturday, February 28) at his Co Kildare office. The protest, 'Double Standards Protest Kildare' centres around a Bord Bia dispute, and is calling on all members to attend with tractors, machinery and on foot to gather outside Minister Heydon's office in Newbridge, Co Kildare at 2.30pm. A number of farmers have maintained a sit-in protest inside the Bord Bia offices in Dublin 4 for the past month, in a protest over the chairmans imports of Brazilian beef. Despite calls for the chairman's resignation, Minister Heydon has pledged full confidence in Mr Murrin, who was appointed in April 2024. Mr Murrin appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture on February 5 to give an explanation in relation to the matters raised. READ NEXT: 43m Large-scale Residential Development approved for Kildare The Minister said: There has been extensive engagement and dialogue in relation to this issue since it was first raised. I convened a Food Vision stakeholder meeting including farm organisations on Friday, 13 February. This meeting included a discussion on the specific issues concerning Bord Bia, where all participants including the Irish Farmers Association had the chance to express their views. As a result of these discussions, several commitments were entered into by Bord Bia and my Department to address the issues raised. The Minister added that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink and an understanding of labelling and food information for the consumer requirement. Feedback has been received from six farming organisations in relation to these proposals with work now underway to advance them, Minister Heydon stated. He said: The Board of Bord Bia met for a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, 18 February. Following the meeting, the IFA submitted a document, consisting of seven strands, requesting that the Board of Bord Bia commit to initiate a review process into the various issues that have arisen in recent weeks. Of the seven strands, many relating to the QAS schemes, a significant number can be dealt with by the Farmers Forum which Bord Bia is establishing on foot of the February 13 meeting commitments. The Minister said he is examining the option to commission an expert led Governance Review which would cover the other strands of the IFA proposal. He said he has spoken to the IFA President in recent days, and believes there is an opportunity to bring the matter to a resolution. Minister Heydon added: This protracted dispute is not in the best interest of the agri-food sector. The Board of Bord Bia will meet again next Monday, 2 March and they will be consulted on my proposal to establish an independently run governance review to try to move this situation forward. The independent expert led Governance Review will objectively assess the matters raised and provide me with recommendations. I propose that after Mondays meeting, the Board would not meet again until the review is complete. I ask the IFA to engage with these proposals in good faith, and to encourage the protestors still in the Bord Bia building to leave. In the meantime, 140 staff in Bord Bia remain unable to access their office for their normal work, as a result of the continued occupation of the buildings lobby by IFA protestors. A Fine Gael TD for Kildare North has raised the very serious issue of St Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, which he told the Dail remains in a serious state of disrepair. Deputy Joe Neville was speaking in the Dail on Thursday, February 26 last. Deputy Neville told the Minister of State, Niall Collins that St Patrick's Primary School, which was built in 2008, is housed in a prefabricated building which was only supposed to be in place for five years. Unfortunately, he said, the school is still in that building 18 years later. READ NEXT: Kildare County Council to hold monthly homelessness drop-in clinics The Deputy told the Minister of State that a June 2025 report stated that the existing building in the current condition is not fit for the purpose to operate without considerable risk to the occupants and users as a school, is unsafe and poses a serious immediate threat to the well-being, health and safety of the occupants and users. That is how a primary school in Celbridge in which there are more than 300 students and also SNAs and teachers is described. These children are the some of the most important and most vulnerable people in our community. They deserve a much better and safer building in which to attend school, Deputy Neville said. The situation with St Patrick's Primary School had been raised with the Minister for Education at a meeting on June 18 last year, Deputy Neville pointed out. He also raised it in the Dail last October and again in January 2026. The pictures of the classroom that I have with me were taken at the end of January. It is not a place where kids should be. There is water running down the walls. The principal and her partner had to clean the classroom after a weekend of rain at the start of January, but the situation has only been exacerbated since then. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, visited the school, and she saw the issues that exist at first hand. She has highlighted the issue, but more work needs to be done as a matter of urgency. The principal and the teachers are doing amazing work, and the school has a great community, but the parents are really concerned. We need a resolution. Supporting Deputy Neville, Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly (SD) told the Dail the Minister of State is faced with a rare situation whereby all the TDs in the constituency are working together on the issue. North Kildare TDs knew that Simon Harris and the Minister are aware of the matter, Deputy Farrelly said, adding, we need to see action on the architect's report. The entire school community, including the principal, the teachers, the SNAs and the secretaries, should not be expected to work in those conditions, Deputy Farrelly said. We need something in the short term which will ensure that the health and safety of the staff and children is of paramount importance. We all look forward to the Minister of State's reply. He should know that he has collective support from all TDs in the constituency in the context of progressing this over the next couple of weeks. The latter is the timeline within which we need to see action. Responding to Deputies Neville and Farrelly, the Minister of State said the Minister for Education and her Department are fully aware of the issues raised and will continue to proactively work with the school, pending the delivery of its permanent accommodation solution. Deputy Collins confirmed the new building project for St Patrick's Primary School is at stage 2A of the architectural design proess, with the Department of Education and Youth currently awaiting the submission of the stage 2A report. Deputy Collins pointed out that some 397m was invested in capital funding for Kildare schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, he added, a total of 47 Kildare schools were upgraded, through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. There are also nine school projects in Kildare under construction at present, Deputy Collins added. Under the national development plan, another 12 school projects in Kildare will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. This summer, five schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works climate action scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 74 special classes have opened in Kildare, 11 of which were sanctioned for September 2026, he concluded. The location where last night's winning Lotto ticket has been revealed, with the owner of the shop that sold it saying, "It's still sinking in." It appears Mayo may have a new millionaire, after the winner scooped a whopping 11,101,286 in the jackpot. The player is also the first jackpot winner of 2026, but is yet to be named. The winning numbers from Wednesday nights draw were 19, 20, 22, 25, 28, 43, and the bonus number was 1. The National Lottery has today revealed that the winning ticket was purchased at Kellys Mace at the Circle K Service Station on the Mulranny Road in Newport. READ NEXT: Award-winning Irish actor set for appearance on Late Late Show as guests revealed "It's only sinking in at this stage. There wasn't much sleep last night," shop owner, Michael Kelly, told RTE this morning. He says there's great excitement between locals and staff in the shop, and he expects customers will be "thrilled" once news spreads. "Our store has been here for 30 years, so its great news for the community. Were located right on the Greenway here in Newport, kept busy with both locals and people travelling through," Michael said. Irelands newest multi-millionaire has since made contact with the National Lottery and arrangements are now being made for them to collect their prize. A woman has admitted that "if you didn't laugh, you cry" when her electricity meter beeps to be topped up again. Liz is one of 320,000 people across Ireland who are struggling to pay their electricity bills, with a further 180,000 people in arrears. Liz falls into both categories, as she struggles with putting over half of her wages every week onto her prepaid electricity meter. She has also accrued some debt from when she was paying for both electricity and gas. Liz opened up to RTE about her struggles with paying her bills, saying she had to cancel the gas as it was "too expensive." READ NEXT: More 'bad news' as experts pinpoint day temperatures set to plunge amid further heavy rain "Sometimes you're sitting here and the alarm goes off and you think 'here we go again'... It's like a vicious circle. If you didn't laugh, you cry," she said. In the space of just four days, Liz had already put 60 on the meter, but at the time of speaking, it was due another top up. "Sometimes you won't be able to afford to shop at the end of the week, you just pick up few bits in the local shop, to keep you going. When you wake up in the morning and you're getting dressed, you get that damp feeling from your clothes because theyre so cold. Its really difficult," she explained. In the most recent Budget, the 250 energy credit was discontinued, leading to a record-breaking number of people contacting St Vincent de Paul for help on their energy bills. On top of that, in the two months following the Budget, a further 16,000 people went into arrears on their gas and electricity bills. "We are seeing an increase in the demand for food assistance, where people have decided to make that choice, to heat the home, but then are left with not enough food in the cupboards," Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy at the St Vincent de Paul, said. The number of people in emergency accommodation has surpassed 17,000 for the first time in what housing charities called disgraceful and a social injustice milestone. The figures come as the Governments new rental reforms are due to kick in from Sunday March 1, which opposition parties said would fuel rates of homelessness further. The Department of Housings official figures state there were 17,112 people in emergency accommodation in January: 11,793 adults and 5,319 children. They also show that 2,555 families and 274 people aged over 65 were among the latest homeless figures. Half of those recorded as homeless in January were Irish, 20% were from the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes all EU countries, and 30% were from outside the EEA. The number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been increasing steadily for years. The figures up until November marked 11 months in a row of record highs, before a slight fall in December as part of a seasonal trend where homeless people might stay with family or friends for Christmas. The monthly figures from the Department of Housing also do not account for people sleeping rough, or those staying in hospitals, asylum centres or domestic violence shelters, meaning they are likely an underestimation of the number of homeless people in Ireland. Chief executive of Dublin Simon Community Catherine Kenny said it was essential that efforts are made to increase housing supply and said they needed to ensure people can move out of emergency accommodation and into homes. For the thousands counted by the system, and the many others outside of official record, there needs to finally be a sustained response to what is truly the crisis of a generation, she said. Sadly, another social injustice milestone has been reached with record homeless figures. Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said yet another record high of homeless people was disgraceful and the number of homeless children 5,319 was heartbreaking. Homelessness hurts everyone but we know it hurts children the most and we are working hard in partnership with the State and other NGOs every day to protect people while they are homeless, he said. Even as the crisis is deepening it must be remembered that homelessness can be solved if the right policies are in place and we are ending homelessness for families and individuals every day. However, we need a shift in policy to ease this human crisis. Executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland Ber Grogan said it was unacceptable that this crisis is deepening. She noted that single adults make up nearly three-quarters of all households experiencing homelessness. While the new Housing Plan has a welcome focus on children and family homelessness, we simply cannot allow for single adults to be forgotten about and by-passed when investing in solutions, she said. Everyone has a right to a safe home and the dignity that comes with it. There needs to be a sustained focus on single adults as part of the wider plan. We urgently need a dedicated single-adult homelessness strategy and a rapid supply of one-bed units. Housing charities and opposition parties also raised concerns about changes to the rental market and how this could impact on homelessness in Ireland. Ms Kenny said ahead of the new rental regulations that homelessness is tied to conditions in the private rental market. In Dublin, one in four households who become homeless come from the private rental market, citing notices of termination and affordability as the reasons, she said. She said a review of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), which has not been increased in nine years, was now paramount while Mr Dennigan said HAP was a vital tool in tackling homelessness. In 2025, in Dublin City alone, 3,000 people moved out of homelessness using HAP tenancies, he said. Mr Dennigan said that while the greater security for new tenants was welcomed, he said without changes to HAP more people will become homeless or stay homeless when rental properties rise to unaffordable market rates. He said the change means from Sunday a new tenancy will be paying substantially higher than they would have been last month and that these increases could be as high as 25%. No-one including the Government knows what this increase will be, but informed estimates range from 10% to 25%, he said. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin said there was a 26% increase in homelessness a year and a 30% increase in child homelessness. He said the rental changes on Sunday would see renters pay thousands upon thousands in more rent and for those who cannot afford to, they risk becoming homeless. Not only is tackling the homelessness crisis not this Governments priority, they are consciously, deliberately and knowingly making it worse. He accused Housing Minister James Browne of a car crash interview on RTE Radio and said he had no idea that rents would fall in the long run as a result of these changes. I dont believe the minister for a second, but the records speaks for itself, 55,000 separate adults, he said. Just think about that for a second, thats more than the entire population of Co Longford. Thats more than the entire population of the largest town in the country, Drogheda. Thats more than it would take to fill a sell-out capacity event at the Aviva Stadium. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have made that number of people homeless over the last decade. Labours housing spokesman Conor Sheehan said homelessness had increased by 10% since Mr Browne became housing minister. We are going to see these numbers that stand at over 17,000 go through the roof in the next year to two years. Social Democrats housing spokesman Rory Hearne said the child homeless figures represented a devastating rise. The Governments rental changes do nothing to protect the hundreds of thousands of renters who are in existing tenancies, who will still be subject to no-fault evictions we will continue to see thousands of children in this country subjected to the trauma of homelessness, trauma that is utterly preventable. People Before Profits Richard Boyd Barrett said: The Governments Residential Tenancies Bill will hike rents even more, driving more people into homelessness and exacerbating the crisis even further. Issues relating to commercial activity in Cloone were highlighted at Monday's meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District. Cllr Ita Reynolds Flynn (FG) submitted a motion calling on the Building Enforcement Section of the council to review the current commercial activity at a former garage and vehicle service premises along the Mohill road, Cloone, opposite Cloone GAA park. This is a busy road and the current commercial activity along this area has left the environs in a very poor condition with vehicles and other waste strewn all along the roadside. It is imperative action is taken and ensure no unauthorised development is taking place there, the motion continued. Speaking on her motion, Cllr Reynolds Flynn stated that, the GAA grounds are being used for parking and it is unsightly. READ ALSO: Number of gardai stationed in Leitrim largely unchanged despite population growth The motion was supported by Cllr McGloin (FG). It is unsightly and enforcement action is needed, he stated. Responding on behalf of the council, Senior Planner Bernard Greene said, it is not today or yesterday that this became a problem. The council has served an enforcement notice already. Since 2009, the site has been tidied up. In relation to the parking in the GAA grounds, the council can't stop that. The written reply from the council on the motion stated, The Planning Department is liaising with the Council's Environment Department and with its partners at Inland Fisheries Ireland in respect at the activities at Cloone. The matter of vehicles or other matters along the regional roadside would be considered a matter for the Local Authority to pursue under the Roads Act or Litter Act, the reply continued. Four years on from Russias invasion, Leitrim has become home to nearly 2000 Ukrainians fleeing the war. I cannot say for all over Ireland, but here in Leitrim, I got lots of feedback from Ukrainians that they are finding local people, very helpful, very mindful, said Nataliya Byelyakova, Co-Ordinator with Leitrim Development Company. There were 1878 Ukrainians in Leitrim in February of this year, according to CSO data based on Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) from Ukraine in Ireland with recent activity in administrative data. The numbers were broken down by electoral district, with Carrick-on-Shannon welcoming the most Ukrainians, 822, then Ballinamore, 616, and then Manorhamilton, 440. READ MORE: 15.3 million in funding announced for Shannonside Recreational Campus The people are very happy, considering sometimes someone is coming from a big city, maybe a million people in the city, and they are coming to a rural Ireland like Drumshanbo, Leitrim Village, you would think that person is lost now, but no Just two weeks ago, I was talking to one family from Leitrim Village and they are from Khariv, a big city in Ukraine and they are amazed because they learned in Ireland, in rural Ireland something they never experienced before, it is to leave the house door unlocked, like they are leaving their house and they are not locking the door and they are not afraid. The data shows that nationally, 43,949 of the arrivals from Ukraine are living in private accommodations. Others are staying in rooms in private homes under a government accommodation scheme, with 470 hosts in Leitrim, according to Minister for Migration Jim O'Callaghan. READ MORE: Councillor disappointed as Leitrims Grossly inadequate LIS allocation announced There are a few commercial accommodations in Leitrim, but most of those are living independently in houses or in rooms around the county, according to Byelyakova. The generosity of Irish people is very big, and they are giving their vacant homes, they are opening their doors, they are giving their rooms as well. Ukrainians get a small payment of 600 per month to help with accommodation, but she believes more of them are moving away from the scheme and becoming totally self-sufficient. Ukrainians still worry about their future in Ireland, as their status under temporary protection remains uncertain. Some of them are already trying to integrate and put their roots here to stay in Ireland if that would be possible, finding work, education, children, making local friends and progressing with Irish education, said Byelyakova. READ MORE: WATCH: Inside STEMtacular as Leitrim hosts national science festival Among the Ukrainians in Leitrim, over 400 are students, 262 are in Primary school, while 189 have enrolled in secondary school in the county. Meanwhile, many Ukrainians in the area have found employment despite language proving a challenge to overcome. Nationally, there were 84,100 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP), according to the data, of which 29,060 arrivals had earnings from employment. Looking towards their home in Ukraine after four years of war, there is no more certainty about what will be the final outcome, and confusion is the overarching feeling, according to Byelyakova. READ MORE: Number of gardai stationed in Leitrim largely unchanged despite population growth People dont know what to think because there are lots of rumours. I know people who are saying they dont care anymore about those territories that are taken, just stop the war, stop as it is now, and I know the people who are still very adamant and demanding that we have to go to the borders as they were before 2014, like we have to fight, and I understand both parties. The remarkable and compelling story of a woman from Leitrim is being brought to a wider audience in a documentary series set to air on TG4 next month. Ceartas Crua - Mna V An Dli is a bilingual, two-part documentary series that examines the impact a century of the Irish State has had on Irish women, viewed through the unique prism of the law. By exploring legal actions taken in Irish courts, along with legislation enacted by the Irish State, the series draws a clear line from the foundation of the State to the present day. The first episode will feature the impressive and inspiring story of Vera Carey (later McCarthy), from Mullinameela, Fenagh, who successfully defied the marriage ban in order to retain her position as County Librarian of Leitrim. The marriage bar came into existence in Ireland in 1924 and required married women to leave their jobs in the civil service, semi-state bodies, and many private-sector companies. The effects of this policy were felt by thousands of women across the country for generations, until it was officially lifted in July 1973. READ NEXT: Anger mounts over presence of 'forestry vultures' from UK across Leitrim Also featured in the documentary is Sean O Suilleabhain of Ballinamore, a retired librarian. Mr O Suilleabhain speaks about Vera in the programme, describing her as an ambitious woman who attended university in Dublin. Sean O Suilleabhain Following her university education, Vera was employed in Ballinamore Library as a library assistant. Within a year or so, she rose to the position of County Librarian for Leitrim. When she married, Vera was legally required to give up her job. Unwilling to accept this outcome, she consulted with her brother Paddy and realised that there was nothing in law to prevent her from applying for the position once it was publicly advertised. After extensive bureaucratic debate and discussion, Vera was reemployed and rightly recognised as the most suitable candidate for the role. She remained in the position until 1974. While filming in Ballinamore Library, Sean explored archival material from the period relating to Veras case and described her as an exceptional and brave person. READ NEXT: Leitrim to host Ireland's best in Wheelchair Champion Cup Pool competition Vera passed away in her 104th year in Dalkey, Dublin, in 2014. Ceartas Crua - Mna V An Dli begins on Wednesday, March 11, on TG4 and on TG4 Player. Stakeholders at the high-level workshop collaborate to develop solutions aimed at improving Liberias electricity generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Peter Malcolm King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLS Group and Rachid Baho, Managing Director of APM Terminals Liberia, display the signed agreement on the sidelines of the EU-Liberia Busienss Forum in Brussels. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Mr. Anthony T. Cole at his Paynesville GSA Road Office speaking to the media over the weekend. LIMERICK native Pat Slattery has written a new book focusing on how he moved from his humble beginnings in Limerick to speaking on international stages. Born and raised in Ballynanty and he later moved to Moyross, Pat is now an international speaker, networking expert and communications specialist. READ ALSO: Limerick industrial school survivor and others gets official apology from the Taoiseach In his new book When There is Only Plan A - Action, co-authored by Donna Kennedy and others, Pat explores how his early years built the foundation for his future. Pat grew up in a large family and would say that his life was shaped by resilience, community and making the most of what little was available. He was one of 16 children and grew up in Ballynanty with nine brothers and six sisters in a three-bedroom house and recalled a great childhood. The family moved to Moyross to a four-bed house when he was 10. His mother still lives in that house and he says the sense of community there is amazing. Even when I visit now, kids would call into my mother to see if she needs anything from the shop - she'll never leave Moyross and for me, I will be Limerick all my life. He spoke about how he left school at the age of 14 and worked in a hotel and at one point, he was working five jobs. He employed 285 staff in his security company which built up a turnover of 25 million and he also delivered Limerick Leader newspapers at one time. Those early years would go on to form the foundation of a mindset that now defines his work - one built on discipline, connection and taking consistent action. Looking back, I said yes to everything and I was a workaholic, but my biggest motivation back then was to find work for my friends or the people I played rugby with. Growing up in Moyross back then, there were very few opportunities, Pat said. He recalled that when he was a working teenager, he wasn't thinking about success. Nobody ever taught me about failure - my life was all about survival. Through every setback in my life, I took one step back and two steps forward, Pat said. Pat's book explores how success is not instant, it is achieved through small steps over time, decisions made under pressure and refusing to let circumstances dictate the direction life goes. Pat has worked with audiences all over the world as an international speaker, helping people and organisations to strengthen communication, build meaningful relationships and create momentum in both personal and professional lives. When he was younger, he would buy books and listen to cassette tapes of American speakers, some of whom he has now had the honour of sharing a stage with, addressing up to 20,000 people. What I learned growing up is that you don't need perfect conditions to move forward. You just need to keep going, Pat said. He added: Success is not reserved for the lucky or the fearless - it's built through persistence. In his contribution in the book, Pat focuses on the power of small, consistent actions. Drawing on growing up in Limerick, he says that his chapters show how belief, discipline and personal responsibility can completely reshape a future. Pat said: Most people are not lacking opportunity, theyre lacking action. The moment you stop waiting and start moving, everything begins to change. Pat's book looks at how he built a life beyond what would have been expected of him, how a mindset can shape a life and the power of communication and connection in success. It doesn't matter where you are from or what your circumstances are. You need to show up every day and take action with the right intention. Being challenged is part of growth. He said that with the prominence of AI, he worries about people losing touch with the sense of community. The best advice I ever got was to surround yourself with lots of good people. I see people exchanging community for convenience and people will become isolated - we need a sense of community. Speaking about who will enjoy the book, Pat says: It will resonate strongly with readers who feel they are capable of more but unsure of where to begin. Rather than offering just theory, my story is rooted in lived experience, a reminder that momentum is built one decision, one step and one conversation at a time. When There is Only Plan A - Action, brings together voices from Ireland and the UK. It focuses on defining moments in people's lives, and the importance of backing yourself fully. The book is out now. A MAN has received a 10 year driving ban at Limerick District Court for driving without insurance and a licence. Shane Kelly, 37, with a home address at Distillery View, Quarry Road, Thomondgate, drove a BMW X3 at various locations in Limerick city on April 18, 2025. Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters told the city court that gardai were alerted to Mr Kellys driving and later interviewed him. Mr Kelly has 79 previous convictions, including five counts of driving without insurance and a further five convictions for driving without a licence. READ MORE: Government confirm engagement with JP McManus and family to open new museum in Limerick In December 2025 the man received a five years sentence for burglary and unauthorised taking in the circuit court - which he is currently in custody for. Solicitor Darach McCarthy said that his client was honest and forthright when interviewed by gardai. The solicitor said that Mr Kelly is a heavy addict and that his last conviction for driving without insurance occurred quite some time ago - in 2018. Judge Patricia Harney banned the man from driving for 10 years, and convicted and fined the man 1,200 for driving without insurance and a licence. -Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme A NUMBER of councillors have called for lights to be installed on a popular walkway in County Limerick. Fianna Fail councillor Martin Ryan proposed a motion on the subject at the February meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District. Cllr Ryan called for Limerick City and County Council to progress the installation of lights for pedestrians along the new footpath in Pallasgreen on the N24. The path runs from the village past St. Anthonys Nursing Home to Mount Catherine Road. He also asked that if Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will not allow full street lighting, that pedestrian illumination posts would be considered. READ NEXT: Tragic death of Limerick nurse has cast a huge shadow over the community He described the footpath as a great addition to Pallasgreen, adding that lights on the path would finish it off. The motion was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Noreen Stokes, who highlighted how popular the footpath is. She told the meeting that she walks the footpath every morning at 6:30am and its pitch dark. Cllr Stokes continued by saying that an unbelievable amount of people use the footpath, especially to walk to the nearby nursing home. Meanwhile, independent councillor Eddie Ryan said it didnt seem fair for TII to object to the lights. He said the footpath in its current state is an accident waiting to happen. In a written response to the motion, Senior Executive Engineer Diarmuid Sheehy said that the council will explore alternative pedestrian lighting options. It will then bring these options forward for discussion at its next scheduled meeting with TII. If TII agrees on an alternative solution, the council will seek a funding stream for the lights. Mumbai: Indriya, the premium new-age jewellery brand from the Aditya Birla Group, is setting its sights on breaking into the top three ranks of Indias retail jewellery market in terms of market share in five to eight years, an ambitious goal for a young firm in a sector dominated by entrenched national chains. Our aspiration is to get into the top three players because that is what the Aditya Birla Group wants to do, Sandeep Kohli, chief executive officer of Indriya, told Mint. Whether that happens by 2030 or by 2033, we should be on the trajectory to get there, he said regarding opening of the brand's 50th store at Koramangala in Bengaluru. Among India's retailers, Indriya is one of the fastest to reach a 50-store milestone, he said. The brand competes with the likes of Tanishq, Reliance Jewels and Kalyan Jewellers. Titan Co.'s Tanishq is the country's largest listed player, operating over 500 stores. Also Read | Why Kalyan Jewellers' stock is falling while peers rise in 2026 In July 2024, the Aditya Birla Group had launched the brand with an investment of 5,000 crore. We are a brand that wants to be a jewellery for me, for every part of the country, he said. Indriya's main focus is design50-60% of our products are designed by our inhouse team, Kohli said, estimating that only 10% of most rival firms' designs are created inhouse. The design team is the second-largest one in the organization after sales, he said. The brand focusses on offering region-specific designs. They could be as much as 30% different from state to state, Kohli said. Being a young brand, Indriya recognizes the need to spend to ensure brand recognition. The Aditya Birla Group is very keen that we invest; that we be bold in our investment now to make sure we are building a solid brand and business, Kohli said. Indriya, which operates under the registered name Novel Jewels Ltd., reported revenue of 710 crore and a net loss of 332 crore in FY25. We want to feel like a startup, but we want to be a disciplined teenager, rather than a frivolous teenager, Kohli said, explaining the dynamics of running a tight ship. The young company has its path carved out for expansion. Right now, we are focused on India. We want to build a strong brand within India," Kohli said. "And of course, expanding outside India will definitely be on the cards, but we've not really started thinking about that. Also Read | Titan polishes its diamond play as gold stays volatile Competitor Titan recently acquired a 67% stake in Damas LLC, a prominent jewellery business in the Gulf Cooperation Council region for $283 million. Other players like Kalyan and Malabar are also expanding overseas with a large Indian diaspora in markets such as West Asia, the US, etc. Competitors are also expanding their online presence, mainly through mergers and acquisitions. Kohli, however, has a measured approach on this front. Less than 10% of all jewellery purchases are done online... We will start online soon, but that is not the centre of our brand or our service, he said. Gold price shock In view of the surge in prices of gold to record highs, Indriya has introduced a range of more pocket-friendly products with a lower caratage. I think if you think of it from the mindset of a consumer... they come with a budget in mind and not caratage," he said. In July 2025, the government approved 9-karat gold for Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmarking to offer more affordable and certified jewellery options. Gold of 9 karats contains 37.5% of the pure precious metal. Also Read | Why jewellery firms sparkled in Q3 despite record gold prices Due to gold's safe-haven appeal in the ongoing geopolitical turmoil, gold prices have shot through the roof over the past one year. The price of 24-karat gold was 16,205 per gram on 26 February, up over 70% from a year ago. Earlier this week, India Ratings and Research revised its FY27 outlook on the retail jewellery sector to neutral from improving, citing strong resilience amid geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and demand pressures. Organised jewellers revenues are expected to surge 23% YoY during FY26, up 600 bp from the earlier forecast, largely benefiting from the steep gold price rise, said Adarsh Gutha, associate director, corporate ratings. E-commerce giant Amazon has planned to invest $50 billion in OpenAI, starting with an initial $15 billion and followed by another $35 billion in the coming months, the companies announced on Friday. The latest investment is part of a significant funding round for OpenAI, which is raising $110 billion in new capital at a pre-money valuation of $730 billion. It also includes $30 billion from SoftBank and $30 billion from Nvidia. OpenAI and Amazon today announced a multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate AI innovation for enterprises, startups, and end consumers around the world. Amazon will also invest $50 billion in OpenAI, starting with an initial $15 billion investment and followed by another $35 billion in the coming months when certain conditions are met, the release read. Key details of the partnership Amazon Web Services (AWS) will serve as the exclusive third-party cloud provider for OpenAI Frontier, the enterprise platform used by the ChatGPT creator to develop, deploy, and manage AI agents. OpenAI will also spend an additional $100 billion on Amazon Web Services over the next 8 years. The two companies in November announced a deal under which the model builder would use some $38 billion in AWS services over seven years. Also Read | Amazon tries its low-cost approach to winning the AI race OpenAI will use 2 gigawatts of capacity powered by Amazon's in-house Trainium chips to support computing demand, according to the companies. Additonally, OpenAI and Amazon are collaboratively developing a Stateful Runtime Environment powered by OpenAIs models, which will be available through Amazon Bedrock. A Stateful Runtime Environment enables developers to maintain context, recall previous work, collaborate across software tools and data sources, and access computational resources. It is designed to support ongoing projects and workflows, the companies noted. OpenAI and Amazon will also work together to create customised models accessible to Amazon developers, aimed to enhance the e-commerce giant's customer-facing apps. Amazon's significant investment, a longtime backer of OpenAI rival Anthropic, further strengthens its ties with the ChatGPT maker. Relationship with Microsoft remains strong Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp., OpenAIs major backers and a former exclusive infrastructure partner, said its relationship with the ChatGPT maker remains strong. Nothing about todays announcements in any way changes the terms of the Microsoft and OpenAI relationship, the companies said in a joint statement on Friday. He laid out a strategy that is less about shipping new bleeding-edge AI models every few months, as OpenAI and Anthropic have been doing, than about giving customers more cost-effective ways to meet their AI needs while keeping their technology up-to-date. Splashy releases, he said, are kind of how you stay in the news, how you get to headlines but possibly doesnt really move the needle for any one particular use case. Block layoffs: Jack Dorsey's Block, the company behind Square, Cash App and Afterpay, is laying off nearly half of its staff as part of an overhaul to embrace AI across its operations. As part of the Block layoffs, over 4,000 employees will be let go to embed intelligence tools, Dorsey, the co-founder of the company, said in a letter to shareholders on Thursday. Block has been restructuring its business model and staffing since 2024, as the companys stock has lagged. Shares of Block soared as much as 27% in extended trading following the announcement. The company has also invested heavily in artificial intelligence to enable more efficient operations, including building its own AI tool, Goose. The Block layoffs come after rolling job eliminations that have often been tied to annual performance reviews. The job cuts at Block are the latest case among fintech and the broader technology sector, where companies have eliminated workforce while pointing to AI as the catalyst. Companies ranging from Amazon to Salesforce have cited the technology as the rationale behind letting thousands of employees go. The layoffs signal how the AI boom is translating from hype into workforce changes, fueling long-held concerns among workers and economists that the technology could eliminate roles even as it boosts productivity and profits. Jack Dorsey says most companies will follow In a statement Thursday, Block co-founder Jack Dorsey said AI has changed the way companies work, adding that his firm was late to the party. Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company. We're already seeing it internally. A significantly smaller team using the tools can do more and do it better. Dorsey indicated that more companies are likely to follow suit. I don't think we're early to this realisation. I think most companies are late, Dorsey said. Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes. Id rather get there honestly and on our own terms than be forced into it reactively, Dorsey added. Block did not provide many details about how the AI technology was going to make specific roles unnecessary. Dorseys bet is that building AI tools internally rather than being disrupted by them can sustain a leaner company. What benefits will employees receive? In a post on X, Dorsey listed a host of benefits that Block's laid-off employees will receive. If you're one of the people affected, you'll receive your salary for 20 weeks + 1 week per year of tenure, equity vested through the end of may, 6 months of health care, your corporate devices, and $5,000 to put toward whatever you need to help you in this transition [sic], he wrote. However, people outside the US will receive a smaller amount, Dorsey said, adding that the exact details are being worked out and will vary based on local requirements. Everyone will be notified today, whether you're being asked to leave, entering consultation, or asked to stay," he said. The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice and mandated status quo in the dispute over the legal standing of Byju's Committee of Creditors (CoC), according to a Bar and Bench report. "We have to hear this matter. Issue notice. Let status quo be maintained," said a bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan. The order intervenes in a complex legal battle after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ruled that a CoC, though not a traditional juristic person, is competent to litigate its own name under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The status quo order means that the existing position regarding the CoC and the underlying proceedings will remain unchanged until the Supreme Court of India hears the case in detail. What is the controversy? The controversy arises from the ongoing corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of the ed-tech giant, which was admitted under Section 9 of the IBC. In August 2024, the resolution professional constituted a four-member CoC. Within 10 days, however, the CoC was reconstituted, with GLAS Trust Company LLC, which held 99.41% voting share, and Aditya Birla Capital Limited being dropped from the panel. Both creditors challenged their exclusion before the National Company Law Tribunal and succeeded in January 2025, securing their reinstatement to the CoC. Subsequently, a suspended director of the corporate debtor filed a fresh plea seeking the removal of GLAS Trust from the CoC. What is the CoC's demand? During these proceedings, the CoC sought to implead itself as a party, contending that the dispute directly impacted its composition and functioning. The NCLT rejected the impleadment plea, observing that the CoC did not possess the legal character and that the controversy concerned only the creditor whose membership was under challenge. After its plea got rejected by NCLT, the CoC appealed to the NCLAT, which delivered a major ruling on the legal character of the CoC. According to Bar and Bench, the Appellate Tribunal held that the CoC is a statutory creation and not a juristic person in the traditional sense. However, adopting a pragmatic approach, it allowed the CoC to litigate in its own name for disputes arising within the IBC framework. At the same time, the NCLAT upheld the NCLTs refusal to implead the CoC in the specific proceedings concerning the membership of GLAS Trust Company. The 24 February 2026 judgement of the NCLAT's Chennai bench has now been challenged before the apex court by the CoC of Think & Learn Private Ltd, the parent company of Byju's. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal on Friday said his company, Temple, which makes an experimental fitness-tracking device of the same name, is hiring across multiple roles. However, certain conditions had to be met to apply for the jobs. In a post on X, Goyal, who was seen wearing the Temple device on the side of his forehead during a podcast and who created massive online buzz at the time, said his company was hiring engineers, researchers and product managers to perfect the wearable. At Temple, we are building the ultimate wearable for elite performance athletes. A device that measures what no other wearable in the world measures, with a level of precision that doesn't exist yet, Goyal said. To build it, we need people who are obsessive about both the craft and the category. Engineers who are also athletes. People who will wear what they build, and hate it until it's perfect, he added. Which roles are open for hiring at Temple? Deepinder Goyal listed the roles that were vacant at Temple. Most of them are engineering roles, though the company also needs researchers and product managers. Here is the list Analog Systems Engineers, Electronics Design Engineers Embedded Systems Engineers low-level HW bring-up, embedded signal and image processing, embedded AI Design and Validation Engineers sensors, actuators, battery, antenna, optics CMF Engineers, Adhesive Materials Engineers Sensor Algorithms Engineers estimation theory, sensor fusion Deep Learning Engineers ML model development for physiological metrics Computational Neuroscientists BCI Engineers real-time EEG/EMG acquisition and processing Neural Decoding Researchers brain activity to semantic mapping Computer Vision Engineers facial microexpression, subvocal muscle detection Neuroimaging ML Engineers multimodal sensor fusion Product managers who work through Figma without needing a designer to hold their hand Conditions apply Writing further, the Eternal founder said that certain conditions must be met to apply for the roles, as the Temple needs engineers who are also athletes. Important we are building for people who push their bodies to the edge. We want to be those people, not just serve them. So only people who take fitness seriously, and have body fat <16% (men) and 26% (women) should apply, Goyal said. However, those who do not fit the category but can commit to being fit in three months can also apply. If you're not there yet but will commit to getting there in three months, you can apply too, but you'll be on probation until you are, he said. Also Read | Deepinder Goyal shares update on Temple device Also Read | Deepinder Goyal breaks silence amid criticism over Temple device from doctors How to apply? According to Goyal, applicants can email their expertise to Temple's careers page. Write to build@temple.com with your core skill as the subject line, he said. What is Temple? Temple is an experimental device designed to continuously measure brain blood flow in real time. The small, gold- or silver-coloured sensor is worn near the temple of the head. It tracks blood flow to the brain, which is a key indicator of neurological health and ageing. Netflix has dropped out of the deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery after the WBD board on Thursday determined that Paramount Skydance's bid was the superior offer. Netflix's pullout from the deal which faced a months-long three-pronged dilemma over who would acquire WBD's studio and streaming assets clears the path for Paramount Skydance to gain control of Warner Bros Discovery in a $111 billion historic deal. The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval, Netflix said in a statement on Thursday. However, it said that it was declining to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer. However, weve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydances latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid. In December last year, streaming giant Netflix inked an $82.7 billion deal, including assumed debt, to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. However, Paramount Skydance kept offering repeated bids. Last week, Netflix granted the historic Hollywood studio a seven-day period to engage in talks with Paramount Skydance, which led to a higher offer and the subsequent outcome. What does the Paramount-WBD deal look like? The Paramount-WBD deal puts a constellation of media properties - from CNN to Nickelodeon to HBO - under the control of the family led by Oracle tycoon and White House ally Larry Ellison. Earlier in the day, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would decline Netflix's offer. Netflix is a great company and throughout this process Ted, Greg, Spence and everyone there have been extraordinary partners to us. We wish them well in the future, WBD CEO David Zaslav said in a statement, referring to Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters and CFO Spencer Neumann. The company said that its deal with Paramount Skydance will create better value for its shareholders. Also Read | Paramount submits higher offer to buy Warner Bros Discovery: Report Once our Board votes to adopt the Paramount merger agreement, it will create tremendous value for our shareholders. We are excited about the potential of a combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery and cant wait to get started working together telling the stories that move the world. Without a Netflix counteroffer, the Warner Bros. Discovery board is now free to terminate its agreement with the streaming giant and proceed with Paramount. Deal may face regulatory issues Paramount's merger with Warner Bros would unite two major Hollywood studios, two streaming platforms (HBO Max and Paramount) and two news operations (CNN and CBS). The Ellisons have connections to US President Donald Trump. Still, the bid is likely to face antitrust scrutiny in Washington, in foreign countries and US states, including California. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal have worried that approval of the deal could be tainted by political favouritism. In its revised bid, Paramount raised the termination fee it would pay to WBD should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval to $7 billion from $5.8 billion. Paramount also promised to give Warner Bros. $2.8 billion to pay Netflix for terminating their agreement. Norways sovereign wealth fund, the worlds largest managing assets over $2.2 trillion, has decided not to invest in Adani Green Energy Ltd, citing corruption and financial crime allegations against the company. The Government Pension Fund Global held 0.23% of Adani Green Energy as of 26 August 2025, worth $43.9 million at the time, when it last voted on the company's shareholder resolutions. Norges Bank, which manages the sovereign wealth fund, did not comment on whether it has divested its stake since. The decision was made public on Thursday on its website when it added Adani Green to its exclusion list, making it the second group firm to feature among over 200 companies that do not align with the Norwegian wealth funds ethics. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd was added to the list on 15 May 2024 due to its ownership of a port terminal in Myanmar, where the armed forces had overthrown the democratically elected government in a coup. Also Read | How Waaree protected solar panel exports from US tariffs while Adani went local Norges did not disclose the details or evidence supporting corruption allegations against Adani Green Energy. As a practice, the fund provides a detailed explanation whenever it adds a company to the exclusion list. A spokesperson for Norges declined to comment. The Adani Group didnt respond to queries. Norges's investment decisions could wield significant influence over foreign investors, given the scale of its assets. The fund owns about 1.5% of the worlds listed market capitalization. If a marquee investor like Norges is exiting, it could prompt a few other foreign investors also to sell their stakes in the company. But it would not affect the company's ability to attract investors, said Shriram Subramanian, managing director of proxy advisory firm InGovern. "There are various classes of investors and the company always has a recourse to look at other types of investors." Adani indictment US regulators indicted Adani Group chair Gautam Adani and his nephew, and Adani Green Energy director, Sagar Adani, for corruption and securities fraud in November 2024. The US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of Justice initiated proceedings against the Adani kin and a few other executives over allegations that they bribed unnamed government officials in India to receive renewable power supply contracts. The US regulators alleged that they did not disclose this bribery when subsequently raising funds in the US from American investors, thus committing securities fraud. The case is pending in a US court. Earlier, the Indian conglomerate denied wrongdoing. Late in January, Adani Green Energy clarified that the allegations and court proceedings were initiated against its executives, and not against the company itself. Norges' decision comes just a month after lawyers representing the US SEC and the Adani executives agreed on a structured timeline for making submissions before a US district court, setting the stage for a potentially protracted legal battle. Adani Green Energys shares closed 1.77% lower at 948.2 on the BSE on Friday compared to a 1.17% decline in the benchmark Sensex. The scrip has lost over 7% so far this year against a drop of over 4% in Sensex. Besides Adani Green Energy, the Norwegian fund held a 0.05% stake, worth $3.2 million, in Adani Total Gas Ltd as of 31 December. Even Berkshire Hathaway excluded Norges has strict investment criteria dictated by Norwegian law. The sovereign wealth fund is barred from investing in companies that, among other things, produce or sell tobacco or cannabis products, engage with coal mining or coal-based energy production, are part of the nuclear weapons ecosystem, or are accused of human rights violations. Such criteria have it exclude even the likes of Warren Buffett-controlled Berkshire Hathaway Inc. for its investments in coal or coal-based energy. Also Read | Adani SEC case clears service hurdle, heads for long US court battle Panamanian authorities conducted a search of an office unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison in Panama on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the operation. The raid on CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company (PPC) did not relate to a government decision to annul deals that gave the company control of two strategic port canals in Panama, this person said. The person declined to be identified because the information had not yet been made public. CK Hutchison did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "This is an independent investigation carried out exclusively by the Public Ministry of Panama in the exercise of its legal powers," the Panamanian government said in a statement without naming CK Hutchison as the target of the raid. CK Hutchison's shares fell 0.9% in early trading in Hong Kong on Friday. Local media reported the raid earlier. Television station TVN showed images of about a dozen people, some wearing vests emblazoned with the initials of Panama's investigative police, or DIJ, in an underground parking lot that the station said was in the high-end Albrook area of Panama City. Also Read | CK Hutchison will not hold earnings calls following port deal criticism The images showed some of the people loading cardboard boxes into the back of a police truck. The name of the location was not visible in the images, and Reuters could not independently verify the report. A judicial official interviewed on a local television station confirmed a search had taken place, but did not name the business or what materials had been seized. Panama's top court recently declared unconstitutional CK Hutchison's contracts to operate port terminals at the entrance to the Panama Canal, leading the government to annul the deals. The decision sparked a battle embroiling both Beijing and Washington, after pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for Panama to curb Chinese influence over the Panama Canal, which carries about 5% of global maritime trade. CK Hutchison has said it sees the decision as unlawful and is considering legal action. New Delhi: In a blow to budget carrier SpiceJet, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a Delhi high court order directing the airline and its promoter Ajay Singh to deposit 144.51 crore in its long-running arbitration dispute with KAL Airways Pvt. Ltd and Kalanithi Maran. The court also imposed a cost of 1 lakh for prolonging the litigation. A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to interfere with the high courts 19 January order and rebuked the company over repeated rounds of litigation in the matter. During the hearing, senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for SpiceJet, urged the court not to impose costs. The bench, however, remarked that there had been tons and tons of litigation and that the court was never seeing the end of litigation in the arbitral dispute, before imposing 1 lakh in costs. It also indicated that the amount could be increased to 2 lakh if such pleas continued. The refusal to grant relief means SpiceJet must comply with the high courts 19 January order to deposit 144.51 crore in six weeks. SpiceJet Ltd said it has taken note of the Supreme Court order. The company is examining the order and will comply with all court directions. This development has no impact on our day-to-day operations, the company said in a statement. The airline said it has already paid a total of 730 crore to Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways, including the entire principal amount of 580 crore and 150 crore towards interest. The remaining amount, as directed by the court, will be deposited in court in accordance with the arbitration process, it added. High court findings In its 19 January order, Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi high court recorded that SpiceJet had admitted 194.51 crore was due and payable under earlier Supreme Court directions. After adjusting 50 crore already deposited, 144.51 crore remained outstanding. The high court noted that the Supreme Court had passed clear directions in February and July 2023 requiring compliance within specified timelines, and held that those directions were not fully adhered to. Rejecting SpiceJets contention that enforcement should await the final outcome of its challenges to the arbitral award, the court held that Supreme Court orders cannot be kept in limbo. Referring to Article 144 of the Constitution, which requires all authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court, the court said continued delay undermines judicial authority. It accordingly directed SpiceJet and Ajay Singh to deposit 144.51 crore with the registry within six weeks. Origins of the dispute The dispute dates back to January 2015, when Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways transferred their 58.46% stake in SpiceJet to Ajay Singh under a share sale and purchase agreement, at a time when the airline was facing acute financial distress. As part of the arrangement, Maran and KAL Airways infused approximately 679 crore into the airline towards issuance of convertible warrants and preference shares. Maran later alleged that these instruments were not issued under the new management and sought a refund. The matter was referred to arbitration under a three-member tribunal comprising retired Supreme Court judges. In July 2018, the tribunal rejected Marans 1,323 crore damages claim but directed SpiceJet to refund 579 crore, along with interest, relating to the warrants and preference shares. Both sides challenged aspects of the award before the Delhi high court under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, triggering a prolonged phase of enforcement petitions, appeals and interim orders. In February 2023, the Supreme Court directed encashment of a 270 crore bank guarantee and ordered SpiceJet to pay 75 crore towards interest within a specified period, warning that non-compliance would make the award fully executable. Also Read | Airports lose bargaining power in airline bankruptcies While substantive challenges continued, enforcement proceedings progressed in parallel, with Maran alleging repeated non-compliance with payment directions. For the longest time under Indian law, the freedom of exit remained under-institutionalised. The enactment of the IBC was a decisive correction of this imbalance by introducing a predictable and time-bound mechanism for insolvency resolution. While predictability allows market participants to form stable expectations about enforcement outcomes, finality curtails strategic delay and rent-seeking, ensuring timely deployment of capital and labour into more productive use, the court said in its order. As part of the arrangement, Maran and KAL Airways had paid about 679 crore to SpiceJet for issuance of convertible warrants and preference shares. Maran later alleged that these instruments were not issued under the new management, prompting him to approach the Delhi High Court in 2017 seeking a refund. The order stated that the complainants account for a significant share of domestic production of the product under investigation, and therefore qualify as the domestic industry under trade remedy rules. The complainants also noted that Finolex Industries and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are the other domestic producers, while Mundra Petrochem and Indian Oil Corp. are setting up their capacities to manufacture PVC suspension resins. The order also recorded that Finolex and RIL regularly imported the product and brought in substantial volumes during the investigation period of 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said India has adopted a cautious, observational stance after the US Supreme Court's decision regarding American tariffs. Labelling the current climate as "evolving", Goyal said that should conditions shift, the US-India trade agreement "would be rebalanced". Addressing a gathering, the minister said, There are different evolving dialogues that are going on. We'll have to watch. And by the way, you must have read my joint statement that we have finalized with the US. It has categorically said that should the circumstances change, the deal would be rebalanced. Also Read | Congress takes aim at PM Modi over US-India deal after Trump tariffs struck down He also commented that India is tracking developments meticulously while maintaining an active dialogue with President Donald Trump's administration. He provided reassurances that India's dedication to diplomatic and economic involvement remains steadfast. "This is an evolving situation. We are watching what is happening. We are in dialogue with the administration in the US and, of course, internal consultations. We will have to wait and watch and ensure the best interests of India are protected," Goyal said. The minister further pointed out that the terms discussed with the US were designed to land the most favourable outcome for India. The goal is to establish a distinct competitive edge over other developing nations, while simultaneously paving the way for deeper cooperation in sectors vital to national interests. Also Read | FPI inflows rebound to 19,675 crore in first fortnight of Feb "I can reassure all the friends in the room and all your viewers and all our countrymen that India stays committed to engaging for the best possible opportunities," he added. Goyal highlights advantages of proposed trade deal with US When asked if a 15% tariff down from 18% functioned as a sufficient motivator, Goyal remarked that such a reduction ensures exports flow without obstruction. Nonetheless, he stressed that the proposed deal encompasses numerous advantageous factors that go far beyond simple percentage points. He highlighted that a 50% tariff previously placed India at a severe export disadvantage. Reducing that figure to a level below that of global rivals, he argued, represents a significant triumph for the country. "Trade deal or international trade is about comparative advantage," he said. "If everybody is at X rate, nobody gets a competitive advantage. But if I am lower than somebody else who is my competitor, I have a comparative advantage." Tamil Nadu Elections: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) on Friday ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly elections. OPS, along with his supporters, joined the ruling DMK in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin at party headquarters in the poll-bound state. The move follows recent praise from the OPS camp for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and a prediction about the return of the DMK government in the state. Tamil Nadu MLA P Ayyappan, seen as part of the OPS camp, had earlier expressed his desire to see MK Stalin lead the state again after the next assembly polls. Ayyappan said in the Assembly that MK Stalin must once again become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will seek to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' to 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 Assembly polls, the DMK won 133 seats. Congress won 18seats, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK and including Congress, won 159 seats. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. What does OPS induction mean for DMK? OPS remains a recognised political figure in Tamil Nadu, especially as a three-time former chief minister and a long-time AIADMK leader, but his direct mass support appears limited compared with that of major players. OPS has been the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in December 2016 and previously from 2001 to 2002 and from 2014 to 2015. The induction of OPS and his supporters into the party will be a shot in the arm for the ruling DMK and for Stalin, who is seeking re-election. OPS has limited appeal after his expulsion from the AIADMK. His entry in the poll year is unlikely to impact election outcomes. The move will be significant, however, for its optics and the perception battle against the opposition AIADMK-BJP combine. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, OPS contested as an independent backed by the BJP and lost by a significant margin, suggesting limited electoral traction when outside a major party structure. Those who once raised slogans claiming that the Chief Minister had merely given 5,000 are nowhere to be seen today. His influence has been undermined by internal party struggles within AIADMK and declining backing from key constituencies especially the Thevar community, where his grip has weakened relative to rivals like Sasikala. (With agency inputs) Sean Diddy Combs, controversial jailed hip-hop mogul, could emerge as a key witness in the upcoming murder trial linked to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, according to media reports. As reported by the New York Post, a source close to the case told JDMC that Duane Davis lawyer believes Sean Diddy Combs testimony could play a crucial role in shaping the trials outcome. Defense strategy: Why Diddys statement matters Duane Davis, who faces life in prison after being charged in Tupacs killing, has allegedly indicated that a statement from Combs could strengthen his defense. Duane has made his feelings clear if Diddy is a witness or makes a statement denying what he told cops then that helps him hugely, a family friend was quoted as saying by NYT. The source reportedly added: Another factor is that this case will be a jury trial and there is a suspicion that celebrities are often seen preferentially. So if Diddy backed up this story it would help immensely. Alleged confession and motive Davis reportedly gave Los Angeles police a detailed interview in which he admitted involvement in Tupacs murder near the Las Vegas Strip. According to prior statements, Davis claimed the killing was retaliation after his nephew, Orlando Anderson, was beaten by Tupac, Suge Knight, and associates earlier that night. Davis has also long alleged that Combs once offered $1 million to have Tupac killed. Diddys current legal troubles Combs is currently incarcerated after being found guilty last year on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. It remains unclear whether prosecutors would call Combs as a witness or whether his legal team would cooperate if approached. Who is Duane Davis and allegations against him? Duane Keffe D Davis is a former Southern California gang figure charged with first-degree murder in the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis, 62, was arrested in September 2023 and has pleaded not guilty. He has claimed that statements he made in 2018 about his alleged involvement in the killing were not truthful. Prosecutors allege Davis was the shot caller who ordered the murder in retaliation after a fight involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and Shakur in Las Vegas hours before the shooting. Authorities say the killing was carried out as payback following that altercation. Davis trial is currently scheduled for August 10, 2026, after being delayed. Work culture is transforming rapidly, with professionals and growing businesses seeking flexibility, efficiency and collaborative environments. 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Conclusion Innov8 Chennai delivers flexibility, premium infrastructure and a growth ready environment, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking scalable managed offices in a prime IT location. The battleground is the supply of critical metals, a group of minerals vital to making military, electrical and computing infrastructureeverything modern economies need to be safe, high-tech and green. China supplies most of these: it mines about 80% of the worlds tungsten, for instance, and refines 99% of its gallium. This is spurring America into an all-out campaign to diversify its sourcing of 60 minerals. It has pledged billions of dollars to dozens of mining projects at home and abroad, floated plans to create price floors and trade blocs, and announced a vast stockpile to cover months of national needs. The risk now is that America depends too much on its scattershot effortsand that, in seeking control, it breaks the flexible and resilient system of market incentives that ensures the smooth functioning of the global economy. Israel sees things differently. It shows no sign of withdrawing. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the idfs chief of staff, has called the Yellow Line a new border. Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, wants the idf to control access to the compounds and allow in only Gazans who have been screened by Israel. Sources close to Mr Netanyahu claim this is the only way to isolate Hamas and force it to disarmthough another military campaign, they say, may also be needed. Israels security types are less convinced. Theres absolutely no way were going to get enough Gazans to move to the Yellow Zone to allow for this, says one official. After Black canceled a meeting with JPMorgan, Barrett emailed Epstein and asked if he could help get it rescheduled, a July 2014 email shows. Six days later, Barrett told Nelson that Epstein hadnt come back yet, prompting Nelson to say, I need to figure out some way to get this going maybe I should go see JE? Iran would need to increase the range of its missiles, build a nose cone that could go into space and survive re-entry into the Earths atmosphere, and develop a guidance system that would prevent the missiles from wobbling and keep it on track to hit its target, said Matthew Kroenig, a former Pentagon official who was an adviser to Rubios 2016 presidential campaign. These are serious obstacles, but they are within Irans reach over time. A DECADE OR so ago, before venture capitalists and buy-out barons began whipping out their chequebooks, going public was the obvious choice for ambitious businesses. A stockmarket listing offered startups both cash, courtesy of deep pools of capital, and cachet, conferred by a willingness to subject themselves to the scrutiny of millions of investors. It was possible to attain a $100bn-plus valuation while staying out of the stockmarket spotlight: Lidl may have pulled it off with cheap groceries, Mars with confectionery, Cargill peddling the sort of stuff that goes into Mars bars, Gulf and Chinese natural-resource firms extracting less digestible commodities, Vitol and Trafigura trading these. But if it was explosive growth you were after, the real rocket fuel was to be found in public markets. Venezuela's oil ministry has suspended 19 oil production-sharing contracts with private companies signed under the administration of President Nicolas Maduro, four sources with knowledge of the move told Reuters on Thursday. The suspension has had no impact on the country's oil and gas output so far, the sources said. State oil giant PDVSA is selling the crude produced under the contracts while they are suspended, they added. Caracas and Washington would review the contracts and may recommend revoking some of them, the sources said. The Venezuelan and U.S. governments are reviewing the credentials of the companies that signed them, the sources added. Some of the companies are little-known and the deals were signed while Venezuela was under U.S. sanctions. Also Read | Oil prices little changed in choppy trade as traders follow US, Iran talks The contracts under review include projects that recently began producing oil in challenging areas such as Lake Maracaibo, big ventures that aim to expand output in the Orinoco Belt, Venezuela's main oil region, and small mature oilfields. Maduro's administration had little success securing investment through the production-sharing contract model as large oil players rejected a return to Venezuela after expropriations or avoided doing business with it due to U.S. sanctions. The players that took on production-sharing contracts included Chinese, U.S., South American and Venezuelan firms, as well as some companies registered in tax haven countries, and some obtained contracts in multiple areas, according to a list seen by Reuters. Some of the companies also outsourced the oilfields to contractors, two of the sources said. The United States captured Maduro in January and took control of Venezuela's oil exports and sales. Since then, the U.S. Treasury Department has issued general licenses that allow companies to trade Venezuela's oil and to operate in the country's oil and gas sectors, but require specific clearance by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Venezuela's National Assembly passed a reform to the country's hydrocarbon law in late January to facilitate foreign investment in the dilapidated oil industry. Under the reformed law, the government has six months to review existing contracts. Venezuela's ministries of oil and communications and the White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Tata Motors was not aware of the commentary on small cars, which would be included in the report, said one of the two executives quoted above. "The calls for lightweighting, and promotion of small cars has emerged as one of the major contentions as that was not properly discussed with all the members who have been named in preparation of the report. (Bloomberg) -- Gold and silver rose, with a US military buildup in the Middle East keeping markets on edge and prompting some traders to buy haven assets. Bullion jumped above $5,200 an ounce, on track for a monthly gain. Washington and Tehran will continue negotiations next week after making significant progress on Thursday, according to mediator Oman. However, a person familiar with the US position said officials left the talks disappointed with the progress. The US and Iran have been locked in a tense standoff over the Islamic Republics atomic activities, trading threats while President Donald Trump has ordered the biggest US military build-up in the Middle East since 2003. That has supported bullions advance in recent days. Gold has gained more than 20% so far this year, finding a footing back above $5,000 an ounce after an abrupt pullback from a record high in late January. Bullion is on track for its seventh straight monthly gain, which would be the longest streak since 1973. Ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions, as well as the so-called dollar debasement trade and concerns about the Federal Reserves independence, have added impetus to a multiyear rally. As the market has stabilized, investors have also been adding to their holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded funds. Inflows this week through Thursday more than offset selloffs seen earlier this month. Gold largely shrugged off a report Friday that showed prices paid to US producers rose by more than forecast. The producer price index increased 0.5%, while an underlying gauge that excludes food and energy advanced by the most since July. Strong economic data boosts the case for the Fed to hold off from rapid rate cuts. Spot gold rose 0.7% to $5,218.84 an ounce as of 10:22 a.m. in New York. Silver rose 4.4% to $92.15. Platinum climbed while palladium was slightly lower. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a gauge of the US currency, was flat. --With assistance from Preeti Soni and Yvonne Yue Li. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Jio Financial Services Ltd on Friday launched an online marketplace for financial products through its new app JioFinance and opened an early access programme for users. The marketplace brings together products from Jio Financial Services group companies and other financial firms on a single platform. Users can access home loans, loans against securities, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, UPI services, fixed deposits, digital gold, tax filing and planning services, and savings accounts. Mutual funds and investment advisory services offered through its joint venture with BlackRock under the Jio BlackRock platform are also available. Also Read | Jio BlackRock changes tack, reaches out to mutual fund distributors The app is managed by Jio Finance Platform and Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, which is registered as a core investment company with the Reserve Bank of India, and operates across lending, payments, insurance, and investment services through its subsidiaries. As a hyper-personal and intelligent marketplace for financial services, the new JioFinance app aims to remove the noise and friction that many of us experience while navigating a complex financial landscape," said Hitesh Sethia, managing director and chief executive of Jio Financial Services. Early access programme The company also introduced Finsider, an early access programme. Users who sign up can use the app and share feedback. They will earn JioPoints on transactions carried out through the platform, which can be redeemed for rewards. The company said the app uses artificial intelligence to study a users profile, eligibility and financial needs before showing recommendations. Instead of displaying the same set of products to everyone, the app changes its home screen based on the users financial details. It also has a chat feature that lets users type their requirements to find relevant products, instead of browsing multiple sections. Also Read | Jio Payments Bank goes big: Inside the push that quadrupled its footprint Jio Financial said the aim is to make it easier for users to find and use financial products in one place. The company has also announced features that will be introduced later. These include a financial fitness score, which assesses a users financial position by looking at spending, loans, insurance, investments, and tax compliance. Another planned feature, Personal CFO for Bharat, will offer guidance through a chat-based interface and help users act on that advice. The app will also allow users to automate certain transactions, such as recurring payments and investments. This launch comes as the company on Thursday announced that it infused 2,000 crore into its subsidiary, Jio Credit Ltd, to fund its business growth. The company has subscribed to and has been allotted 33.5 million shares of 10 each of Jio Credit, a wholly-owned non-banking arm for cash at a premium of 585.70 per share, aggregating 1,999.88 crore. (Bloomberg) -- Oil rallied as traders braced for any escalation to US-Iran tensions heading into the weekend after President Donald Trump signaled he was not happy with negotiations aimed at averting an imminent US attack. West Texas Intermediate jumped 2.8% to close above $67 a barrel, its highest settlement since August. Trump urged Iran to make a deal over its nuclear program after griping that it wasnt negotiating in good faith, adding that there would be additional talks today after the two sides failed to reach an agreement in Geneva earlier this week. Meanwhile, the US, China and several other nations advised citizens to leave some parts of the region. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and were not thrilled with the way theyre negotiating, Trump told reporters at the White House. Concerns about a potential US strike on Iran have helped oil prices jump more than 15% so far this year, offsetting broad expectations of a supply glut. The market has been on edge as Trump has ordered the largest US military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, giving the Islamic Regime limited time to strike a deal. President Trump has a personal, strong aversion to nuclear weapons, especially coming into the hand of Iranians, more so than any predecessors, and its almost more important than his aversion to high oil prices, Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group, said in a live briefing on Thursday. Odds of a US strike on Iran by March 1 surged on Friday, according to the Polymarket prediction markets site. They were at roughly 26% by 3 p.m. in New York, compared with 9% at the start of the trading session. Disagreement over Irans uranium-enrichment capabilities also heightened concerns about potential US military action ahead of the weekend, traders said. United Nations atomic inspectors found that Iran is conducting regular and unexplained activity at bombed uranium-enrichment sites. Freight rates have climbed in recent days, driven by a major Korean shipowners bullish tanker bet and geopolitical tensions. Traders are watching for how tensions could impact Iranian oil flows as well as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage separating Iran and the Arabian peninsula. Iran has the capability to make Hormuz unsafe for commercial passage for a time measured in weeks, not hours or days, Rapidans McNally added. Two shipping companies said on Friday that theyre rerouting vessels to sail south of Africa instead of transiting the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Traffic through the key corridor remains vulnerable to attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants, an Iran-backed group that has targeted ships in the Red Sea. This weekend, traders will also be closely watching a scheduled OPEC supply meeting on Sunday, as conflict risks cloud the outlook. OPEC is likely to increase oil production only slightly from April onwards, but geopolitical risks mean that there is unlikely to be any pressure on prices for the time being, according to a report from Commerzbank. To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here. --With assistance from Alex Longley and Nicholas Lua. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Most traded stocks today: The Indian stock market suffered sharp losses in intraday trade on Friday, February 27, amid mixed global cues. The Sensex crashed over 600 points to an intraday low of 81,620, while the Nifty 50 declined by nearly 1% to hit the day's low of 25,272. Profit booking in banking, auto, metal, and FMCG counters amid persisting uncertainty over the US-Iran nuclear talks, inconsistent foreign capital flow, and caution ahead of Q3 GDP numbers dragged the benchmarks down. Meanwhile, Vishal Mega Mart, Vodafone Idea, Tata Silver Exchange Traded Fund, Tejas Networks, Jaiprakash Power Ventures, Redington, Filatex Fashions, YES Bank, and IDFC First Bank were among the most traded stocks, or most active stocks in terms of volume, on the NSE. Nippon India Silver ETF, Eternal, Tata Gold Exchange Traded Fund, Ola Electric Mobility, Sagility, Suzlon Energy, Reliance Power, Nippon India ETF Gold Bees, IDBI Bank, GTL Infrastructure, and Bank of Maharashtra were also among the most traded stocks on the NSE. Some top most traded stocks today Vishal Mega Mart: Over 75 crore shares of the company had changed hands by 12:30 pm on Friday as the stock crashed over 8% on the NSE after a large block deal. Promoter entity Samayat Services LLP, backed by Kedaara Capital, had earlier planned to sell up to 305 million shares at 115 each, according to a term sheet reviewed by Mint, which would have valued the block at 3,508 crore. Vodafone Idea: More than 16.5 crore shares of the company had changed hands. The telecom stock declined by about 1% during the session after a more than 1% rise in the previous session. Tejas Networks: Over 8 crore shares of the company had changed hands by 12:30 pm, as the stock surged 16% during the session after surging 17% in the previous session. The stock has been in the green for three consecutive sessions. In an exchange filing on February 26, Tejas Networks announced that it had signed an agreement with NEC Corporation to manufacture and supply 5G massive MIMO radios. Jaiprakash Power Ventures: Over 8 crore shares of the company had changed hands by 12:30 pm as the stock jumped nearly 9% in a weak market. The stock is up 2% in February, looking set to snap its two-month losing run. Redington: Nearly 5 crore shares of the company had changed hands as the stock surged 16% on the NSE, looking set to extend gains for the third consecutive session. On a monthly scale, the stock has climbed 2% in February after suffering losses for the last two consecutive months. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Even after the migration of Nifty 50 derivatives from SGX to GIFT IFSC in 2023, a majority of trades in the GIFT Nifty contract continues to be routed through SGX rather than NSEIX. This indicates that most global participants still prefer accessing the contract via SGX, with relatively few using the NSEIX route. Shares of Infosys, the country's second-largest software maker, are on track to post their worst monthly performance in over a decade amid investor concerns over disruptions linked to artificial intelligence. The sell-off is not limited to Infosys; other tech majors have also seen their stocks melt heavily on exchanges, erasing billions from their market value. Amid sustained selling pressure, Infosys stock has lost 20.34% of its value in February, slipping to 1,308 apiece, marking its biggest monthly drop since April 2013, when it plunged 22.75%, and has also contributed to a 26.3% decline from the 52-week high of 1,775 apiece, placing it among the worst performers in the large-cap space. The sharp decline has wiped out 1,33,824 crore from the companys market capitalisation. At its peak, the company was valued at 8.37 lakh crore. The steep fall in the stock has also inflicted significant losses on domestic mutual funds, one of the key investor segments. Domestic fund houses take a sizeable hit At the end of the December quarter, 45 mutual funds collectively owned a 22.12% stake in Infosys, 2.07 percentage points higher than in the same period last year. The 26.3% fall in the Infosys share price from its one-year high of 1,775 has resulted in a notional loss of 41,892 crore for domestic fund houses. The value of their holdings has declined to 1,17,331 crore from 1,59,223 crore, when the stock was trading at 1,775. Some of the key mutual funds holding stakes in the company include SBI Mutual Fund (4.66%), ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (4.11%), and HDFC Mutual Fund and UTI Mutual Fund (1.86% and 1.81%, respectively) at the end of Q2 FY26. Apart from mutual funds, FIIs hold a majority stake of 30.3%, while general shareholders own a 13.7% stake in the company, Trendlyne data showed. AI disruption fears trigger 19% crash in Nifty IT February has been one of the worst months for the tech sector, as Dalal Street investors rushed to dump stocks without pause amid the emergence of the latest, more advanced AI tools, especially from startups like Anthropic. This has led the Street to worry that these powerful innovations could disrupt Indias roughly $300-billion IT services industry, which is also labour-intensive. In addition to market jitters, brokerages warn that the Indian IT sector could face further pressure if AI starts to eat into application services revenue, which typically accounts for 40% to 70% of total revenue for these companies. After a four-month winning run, IT stocks started the month on an optimistic note, but that soon turned into panic selling following the unveiling of Claude Cowork Agent by Anthropic and its new product rollouts, along with a report from Citrini Research, which amplified concerns about companies vulnerable to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Consequently, the Nifty IT index dropped 19.13% this month and, at its low, crashed 21.45%, slipping to its lowest level since November 2023. FPI selling intensifies Concerns over Indian IT companies have also accelerated foreign selling in the sector so far in 2026. Although FPIs turned bullish on the Indian stock market in February, they dumped 11,000 crore worth of IT stocks in the first half of February, taking their combined investments in IT stocks to 4,48,938 crore as of 15 February 2026 the lowest level in four years, as per NSDL data. At the end of January, FPI investments in domestic tech stocks stood at 5,33,953 crore. AI-related concerns, coupled with a weak outlook from top global brokerage firms, appear to have dented overseas investor sentiment. Pakistan-Afghanistan war: Amid escalating buzz over the Pak-Afghan war, the Karachi 100 Index (KSE 100 Index) witnessed sharp selling during the early morning session on Friday. Karachi 100 index opened on Friday with a downside gap and touched an intraday low of 1,67,715, logging an intraday loss of around 0.65% within a few minutes of the Opening Bell. However, some value buying occurred at lower levels, and the KSE 100 Index pared some of its losses from Friday morning's deals. Why is the Pakistan stock market falling today? Speaking on the reason for volatility in the Pakistan stock market, Avinash Gorakshkar, a SEBI-registered fundamental equity analyst, said, This fall in the KSE 100 Index can be attributed to the escalation of buzz over the Pakistan-Afghanistan war. After the cross-border attacks by Afghanistan, reports suggest that Pakistan carried out air strikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, which escalated the geopolitical tension in the region. Gorakshkar said that the Pakistan-Afghanistan war at the current juncture may also affect primary market sentiment. He said that investors in Pakistan's stock market have been waiting for 16 IPOs over the past 7 months. Threat to upcoming IPOs in the Pakistan market According to Bloomberg, two of the countrys prominent investment banks Arif Habib Ltd. and Ktrade Securities Ltd. have a combined pipeline of up to 16 IPOs over the next seven months. That compares with 11 listings in the past three years. Current market valuations are attractive for raising equity, said Shahid Ali Habib, chief executive officer at Arif Habib, which expects to bring as many as eight offerings through June. Stability in the Pakistani rupee and a favourable interest-rate environment provide strong tailwinds for capital markets, he said. Ktrade Securities expects to manage public offerings for at least 6 companies over the next 6 months. JS Global Capital Ltd. plans to list as many as six companies next year, said Chief Executive Officer Khalil Usmani. Companies in the pipeline include Service Long March Tyres Ltd., a joint venture between Servis Group and Chinas Chaoyang Long March, which is set to raise as much as 6.5 billion Pakistani rupees ($23.2 million) by April, potentially making it the countrys biggest IPO in years, according to Habib. Saraaf, a commodity sourcing startup that raised 1.5 billion Pakistani rupees ($5.4 million) on Shark Tank in 2024, is also planning to come to market, and Matco Foods Ltd. plans to spin off its Falak Foods unit, according to Omar Salah Ahmed, a managing director at Ktrade. Pakistan-Afghanistan war buzz According to the news agency Associated Press (AP), Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, Afghanistan's government spokesperson said, hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the neighbouring countries that made a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky. At least three explosions were heard in Kabul, but there was no immediate information on the exact location of the strikes in the Afghan capital, or of any potential casualties. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan also carried out airstrikes in Kandahar to the south and in the southeastern province of Paktia. Two senior Pakistani security officials told The Associated Press that Pakistans military carried out airstrikes targeting what they described as Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, allegedly destroying two brigade bases, but they didnt mention any potential casualties. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media on the record. Afghanistan said its military launched its attack across the border into Pakistan late Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday, and claimed to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts. Pak-Afghan war: Pakistan declares Open War Pakistans defence minister said that his country ran out of patience and considers that there is now an open war with Afghanistan, after both countries launched strikes following an Afghan cross-border attack. In a post on X on Friday, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India, gathered militants from around the world and begun exporting terrorism. View full Image Photo: Courtesy Khawaka M. Asif X account screenshot. Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us, he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Asifs comments. Pakistan has frequently accused neighbouring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. The latest escalation of violence between the neighbouring countries makes a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky. The Pakistani defence minister didnt mention the ceasefire. Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence. He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response, he said. MUMBAI: Shares of fashion-focused hypermarket chain Vishal Mega Mart Ltd fell on Friday after a large block deal in the stock, with about 14.2% equity changing hands. The transaction was valued at around 7,500 crore, Bloomberg reported. The secondary market transaction was initially expected to involve the sale of shares representing a 6.5% stake in the company. Promoter entity Samayat Services LLP, backed by Kedaara Capital, had earlier planned to sell up to 305 million shares at 115 each, according to a term sheet reviewed by Mint, which would have valued the block at 3,508 crore. The stock touched an intraday low of 117.80 in early trade. On Thursday, shares of the Gurugram-based retailer had ended at 127.53, up 3.7% in a largely flat market. As of December-end, Samayat held a 54.09% stake in Vishal Mega Mart. Kotak Securities Ltd and Morgan Stanley India Co advised on the proposed block trade. The offloaded shares will carry a proposed lockup period of 150 days. The transaction represents another liquidity event for Samayat, originally backed by homegrown Kedaara Capital and Switzerland-based Partners Group, since the companys blockbuster listing. The two acquired Vishal Mega Mart in 2018 from TPG Capital and Shriram Group for 5,000 crore, as per the term sheet. The December 2024 IPO was a pure offer-for-sale, with Samayat offloading shares worth 8,000 crore. In June 2025, it again sold 900 million shares, representing a 19.6% stake, for 10,220 crore. Large fund houses participated, including SBI Mutual Fund (3.6% equity for 1,882 crore), Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund (1.72% equity for 902 crore), and HDFC Mutual Fund (1.63% equity for 811 crore). Prior to that block deal, Samayat held a 74.55% stake. Q3FY26 results exceeded guidance, with total business up 17.24% year-on-year. The bank is expanding rapidly, aiming to open 1,000 branches over five years. Its Project 321 initiative targets 321 new branches in the next 18 months. Retail, agriculture, and MSME (RAM) lending form over 62% of its domestic credit portfolio. With improving metrics and a growing footprint, the bank is well-positioned to ride Indias economic growth. Mixed fortunes Turbulence defined Smids this week as a prominent mid-cap stock, IDFC First Bank Ltd, saw its market value erode by about 13% over the week following a severe internal crisis. The rout began on Monday, when the stock crashed 20% and hit its lower circuit after the bank disclosed a 590 crore fraud at its Chandigarh branch. Stock market today: A sharp selloff engulfed the Indian stock market on Friday, February 27, dragging the benchmarks down by more than 1% each amid persisting geopolitical uncertainties and a sharp jump in crude oil prices. The Sensex crashed 961 points, or 1.17%, to close at 81,287.19, while the Nifty 50 plunged 318 points, or 1.25%, to end at 25,178.65. The BSE 150 MidCap Index crashed 1.09%, while the BSE 250 SmallCap Index declined 0.86%. Investors got poorer by more than 5 lakh crore as the overall market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms dropped to 463 lakh crore from 468.5 lakh crore in the previous session. Why did the stock market fall? Let's take a look at five key factors behind Friday's market selloff: 1. Geopolitical uncertainties Geopolitical uncertainties continue to weigh on market sentiment amid the absence of a fresh domestic trigger. The US-Iran talks ended without a deal. While talks are likely to continue, uncertainty persists over the next move of the US. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that Iran continues to pose a very grave threat to the U.S. US President Trump, in the longest-ever State of the Union address, hinted at a military attack on Iran, reiterating that he would not allow Tehran to possess nuclear weapons. 2. Crude oil trades above $71 Brent Crude jumped over 1% during Friday's session and continued trading above the $71 per barrel mark amid persisting uncertainty over the US-Iran nuclear talks. Concerns that an inconclusive dialogue between the two countries will increase tensions in the Middle East, disrupt the commodity's supply, and raise prices. Elevated crude oil prices are bad for major importers like India as they can exert pressure on the domestic currency, trigger foreign capital outflow and distort the country's fiscal maths. 3. Inconsistent foreign capital flow Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have started buying Indian stocks in the cash segment in February after seven consecutive months of selloff. However, they continue booking profits, as the domestic market's valuations remain slightly elevated and the domestic currency continues to hover near the 91 mark. On February 26, FIIs sold Indian stocks worth 3,466 crore in the cash segment. For February, till the 26th, FIIs have bought Indian stocks worth 896 crore in the cash segment. 4. Banking, auto, metal see sharp profit booking Heavyweight sectors like banking, metal, auto, and FMCG witnessed strong profit booking after the recent gains, which pulled the benchmarks down. Experts highlight that the market is witnessing stock-specific action amid a lack of major domestic triggers. "At the index level, the market has been in a consolidation mode for three months now, without any significant breakouts or breakdowns," VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, observed. Vijayakumar highlighted that while the Nifty delivered a 13% return over the last year, six stocks in the index delivered returns above 50%, with Stiram Finance leading the pack with a 92% return. Five stocks in the Nifty delivered above 20% negative returns during this period. The significant takeaway from this divergent performance is that it is a stock-pickers market. This trend is likely to continue, said Vijayakumar. 5. Q3 GDP print in focus To some extent, market weakness can also be attributed to the Q3 GDP prints. The first gross domestic product (GDP) under the new series will be released on Friday, February 27. According to the State Bank of India (SBI), the Indian economy is likely to have expanded 8.0-8.1% in the December quarter. As per a Mint poll of 18 economists, India's economy likely grew at 7.4% during October-December. While growth numbers are expected to be healthy, the focus will be on nominal GDP, which has been weak of late, weighing on market sentiment. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Fortis Healthcare Ltd is a major Indian for-profit private hospital network and a leading integrated healthcare delivery provider. On the Daily charts we found that prices have been declining since the last few months and the consolidation seen here in the last few days have formed rounding pattern suggesting a steady buying interest that had developed. A successful move above the cloud region augurs well for the prices. With the sector once again showing some prime form, we can look at the trends emanating for an upside move that could unfold in the next few days. Shares of Tejas Networks Ltd, Redington Ltd, Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd, Netweb Technologies India Ltd, and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd experienced a notable increase in trading on February 27, rising by as much as 19% despite a stock market crash. Tejas Networks Ltd spearheaded the increase with a 19% rise, closely followed by Redington Ltd, which saw a 17% gain. Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd increased by 10%, whereas Netweb Technologies India Ltd went up by 8%. In the meantime, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd recorded a gain of 6.25% during the trading session. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 fell by more than 1% on Friday due to new foreign fund withdrawals and lackluster global trends amid increasing geopolitical tensions. Experts noted that the stalled USIran nuclear discussions have heightened fears of more escalation in Middle East conflicts. The 30-share BSE Sensex plummeted 961.42 points, or 1.17%, closing at 81,287.19. At one point during the day, it fell by 1,089.46 points, or 1.32%, reaching 81,159.15. Nifty 50 declined by 317.90 points, or 1.25%, finishing at 25,178.65. According to exchange data, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold off equities worth 3,465.99 crore on Thursday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks valued at 5,031.57 crore. Let's take a look at how the stocks have been performing up to this point; Tejas Networks Ltd Tejas Networks share price has stood out as the leading performer both weekly and monthly, experiencing a surge of 34% in the last week and a substantial 46.3% over the past month, showing significant short-term momentum. However, the stock is still down 42.3% for the year, indicating prior weakness despite the recent uptick. According to Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One, the stock prices witnessed sharp gains these week backed with volumes, crossing 20WEMA for the first time since December 2024, positive momentum is likely to extend in near term with 480 - 500 as next resistance and 370 as support. Redington Ltd Redington share price experienced an increase of 11.53% over the course of a week and 9.2% over the month, although its yearly return is a modest 10.6%. Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree, said that Redington has delivered a classic failed breakdown below its rectangle support near 246, quickly reversing and reclaiming the range above 250. The trap flushed out weak longs and triggered aggressive short covering, reflected in an extraordinary volume spike of over 5,000% versus the 50-day average. As long as the stock sustains above 250, the setup favors continuation toward the rectangle top near 299. A close back below 246 would negate the trap thesis, but current structure supports an upside test of range highs, according to Jain. Netweb Technologies India Ltd Netweb Technologies India share price also displayed impressive momentum, climbing 6% within a week and 26.4% over the month, while achieving an impressive 146.4% return over the previous year, positioning it as one of the top long-term performers on the list. According to Bhosale, the stock has gained for the second consecutive week forming a higher bottom on the weekly chart, considering the relative strength outperformance is likely to extend towards 4,400 with strong base at 3,500. Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd Camlin Fine Sciences share price saw weekly gains of 4% and monthly gains of 5.7%, yet it is still down approximately 4.8% over the past year. Bhosale said that Camlin Fine Sciences share price are forming a base around the 200-weekly moving average and strong support is seen around 140 levels on the higher side 160 is immediate resistance beyond which prices may seen further strong move towards 180. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd Chennai Petroleum Corporation shares increased by 8.86% weekly and 13.4% monthly, boasting a considerable 96.4% gain over the last year. According to Bhosale, on the daily chart, we are seeing a fires price and volume breakout known as Inverse head and shoulder, prices are holding well above all major moving averages and buy on dip should be considered in this counter with strong support around 940 and 1,050 as potential target. The most wrenching moment in The Voice of Hind Rajab comes late in the film. The Red Crescent despatchers have lost contact with the Palestinian girl theyve been talking to. They assume shes died, along with her four cousins, uncle and aunt, in a bullet-ridden car surrounded by Israeli forces. But then they hear her again. Permissions finally come through for an ambulance to approach. For the first time, they dream of a miraculous rescue. But we know this wont happen. Six-year-old Hind Rajab was killed on 29 January 2024, along with six family members and the two men in the ambulance that went to rescue her. The details of her death, and the recordings of her desperate pleas for help, drew global outrage. Forensic Architecture, a research group based at Goldsmiths, University of London, later concluded that 335 rounds had been fired at the car. The details of her death, and the recordings of her desperate pleas for help, drew global attention to the genocide in Gaza, which continued unabated till the ceasefire in October last year. One of the many deeply affected was Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, who reached out to the girls mother to ask for permission to make a film about her killing. She shot it in Tunisia, with Palestinian actors playing the Red Crescent workers. The film premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. It has since been nominated for Best International Feature in the upcoming Oscars. At this years Berlinale, where organisers and jury came in for strong criticism for their hands-off stance on Palestine, Ben Hania rejected the Most Valuable Film prize at the Cinema for Peace gala. Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence so power can feel refined, and can feel comfortable, she said then. With an India release for The Voice of Hind Rajab being negotiated, we spoke to Ben Hania about her concise, necessary film. Edited excerpts: How did you arrive at the treatment that you have finally useda dramatisation, not a documentary, with the real voice of Hind? This movie, the desire or the urgency to do it, started when I heard the voice of Hind for the first time, on social media. I talked to Hinds mother and she told me, please do the movie. The main idea was how to make the most impactful but also respectful movie, because this story affected me in a very deep way and I wanted to share what I felt with the audience. Im a documentary filmmaker, and Ive also done fiction, so I know the strength and the limit of both forms. This story is about an event in the past, so (in a documentary) you would be explaining what happened. But I needed to have something in the present tense. When they hear the voice for the first time, the girl is alive, she is asking for help. There is also this aspect that when I was doing the movie, the genocide was ongoing. Every day you have the killing of different Hind Rajabs. So I wanted to do a movie in the present tense, with the impact and strength of dramatisation but also with the truth and the factual element of the voice. I know that the combination is risky. Because I did Four Daughters (a 2023 documentary that used dramatisations), I felt comfortable taking this risk. Though both films recreate real events, in Four Daughters you complicate and layer the truth, whereas in Hind Rajab its the clearest possible presentation of the truth. Four Daughters is different because it's about personal memories, which can be interpreted in different ways. In The Voice of Hind Rajabthis is a war crime, which was investigated by Forensic Architecture, by the Washington Post. And you have at the heart of this film a true document: the recording. So you don't have this kind of interpretation of what happened. There is no personal memory, you have the archive already. The rest of what happened, between the employees, this, in a way, is why I did the dramatization, because it's from their testimony, what they remember from that day. But what the actors say to Hind is word by word what is in the recording. Was it important for you to complete this film quickly and get it out for the world to see? It was. We did it actually in a state of emergency. I was so angry about what happened to Hind, what was happening in Gaza. I couldnt stay silent. I needed to do something. So there was this energy and I think that all the people who came along on the journey had this same energy of indignation. We needed the movie to be released and shown. There are a lot of people who told me, its a movie to do in 5, 10 years. But even today, you have Gazans filming their massacre on cellphones. I needed the movie to be part of this change. Your decision to keep Hinds voice as audio but not do a recreation of her visuallywas that a moral or an aesthetic decision? It was a moral decision. I cant do a mise-en-scene of the killing of this child. But I wanted her voice to echo. So her voice, the real voice, is the central part and I wanted to do a movie to honour it. Thats why I decided to put my camera with those who listened. When did the actors hear the full recording? They didnt hear Hinds voice in rehearsal. I had them learn their lines as its said in the recording. The first time they heard her voice was in front of the camera, when we started shooting. But rehearsing and learning is different from speaking and having the voice of this little girl answering you on the phone. Thats why they werent acting, everything was real, because they were living this moment for the first time. For the actors, having to hear that voice and be in that moment must have been a huge challenge. Yes. The set was very emotional. I think this is the movie where I took the longest breaks, because we needed to hug each other, to speak. The actors are Palestinian but also the extras; though we shot in Tunisia, I needed the extras to be Palestinian. At the same time on the news this genocide is going on. I can say that it was emotional, but also the fact that we were shooting and doing this story gave all of us some meaning, and it was very important to finish the work. Did you shoot a lot of takes? No. In a normal fiction movie Ill ask the actors to give me variations, to do several takes, to say it this way or that way. In this movie, it didnt feel right to do this. I decided well shoot it almost like a documentary, long takes, all the emotion, and then Ill see in the editing. At times in the film, youve used the real voices of the despatchers and in one scene theres a video of them along with the dramatisation. Even though the viewer knows the film is based on real events, did you feel this needed to be reiterated? I needed to have a clear contract with the audience because of two things. When you have actors, people always think its fiction, so I needed to tell them those are vessels for the real person. Also, I was afraid that this story can, in a way, look like an American thriller, a rescue mission movie. But its real, so I needed to tell the audience its not a thriller. In a thriller you never kill the girl at the end. How did you go about recreating the interactions between the Red Crescent staff? I spoke to them when I was writing, in the development process. They told me a lot of things; I only kept what was significant for this call. When I did the casting, I put the actors in contact with the person theyre portraying. They were really great partners from the beginningI sent the script to them for feedback. So they were really close to the process. You said in Berlin that cinema is not image-laundering. Has making this film revealed anything to you about the broader response to the genocide? I mean, the response varies. In Western countries, France, Germany, it is complicated, in the US also. There is a desire by powerful people and by the mainstream media to silence the Palestinian voice. Its very uncomfortable for them; you have all the European guilt concentrated in this place, so they dont want to hear about it. But at the same time, you have a lot of people who want to hear the Palestinian perspective. So you have these strong contradictory desires, and we found ourselves having to navigate this. Also Read | The Palestine cloud hanging over Berlinale At the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025-26 last weekend, a group of young people stepped out of the late Vivan Sundarams darkly autobiographical exhibit, Six Stations of a Life Pursued, into the late-afternoon sun and gathered on top of a flight of stairs at Cube artSpace on Mattancherry Road in Fort Kochi. Minutes before, we had walked past a series of staged photographs of a man trapped in an iron cage, exuding helplessness and claustrophobia. Some of us had lowered our eyes as we were confronted by another sequence of images, of the artists back, scarred after a surgery. Stitched with pins, metal bits sticking out of the flesh, these photographs look back at the viewer boldly, like defiant self-portraits. This isnt exactly material for Instagram photos or selfies, but outside, among potted flowers and vibrant graffiti, is the perfect stage for self-indulgence. One young woman beckoned a security personnel to take a photo as her friends arranged themselves on the steps. Their smiles summed it all up: We came, we saw, we posed. The art, with its graphic imagery of the body in pain, felt like a blip in an uninterrupted stream of photos, reels and live videos that trailed me throughout the two days I spent at the biennale. Inside, images had been made thoughtfully to endure and move the viewer. Outside, the image making was just as carefully curated, but not to move people, except maybe to envy. In the last 20 years, as a regular at art events, I have been witness to the cognitive dissonance that has entered our collective field of vision as newer technologies have emerged. Armed with smartphones, the viewer of art has turned into a consumer, eager to stamp their imprimatur on the moment of their encounter with a work, be it by taking selfies with, or standalone photographs of, it and posting on social media platforms. The tendency isnt just endemic to India, its universal. Anyone who has entered the Mona Lisa room at the Louvre in Paris has had a taste of this collective hysteria at its wildest. At a public event like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, installed in an ancient neighbourhood steeped in history and visual appeal, it is easy to give in to the temptation to document instead of focusing on the act of looking. With so much sculptural, performance and installation art on offer, this edition of the biennale makes it especially easy for the visitor to succumb to the allure of spectacle, often with ironic consequences. At Aspinwall House, one of the focal points of the biennale, the effect is starkly obvious. The centrepiece of this venue is Birender Yadavs expansive installation, Only the Earth Knows their Labour, which seeks to make visible the toil and trouble of the lives of brick kiln workers. The concept is powerful, the execution inventive. Bodies eroded by heat and dust, alongside their crude tools of trade, lie next to brick walls. The idea, ostensibly, is to memorialise the unseen struggles of migrant labourers. But the sprawling scale of the work turns it more into a site of personal memory-making for the viewer. Each time visitors paused to take photos with the exhibit before walking on to the next new thing in their line of sight, their tiny acts of nonchalance seemed to dim the gravity of the subject a little. And so it was with many other exhibits at the biennale. View full Image A file photo of Island Warehouse at Willingdon Island. ( Courtesy Kochi Muziris Biennale Foundation ) One of the great pleasures of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, especially for those mostly habituated to seeing art inside the white cube, is the freedom of the outdoors. The backwaters flank many of the venues, with the occasional breeze or hoot of a passing ship wafting in. Walking along Mattancherry Road, you pass trucks of spices waiting to be unloaded, people queuing up to buy mutton for their Sunday lunch, and sundry vendors hawking their wares. This seamless traffic between life and art gives the Kochi-Muziris Biennale its unique character, facilitating an encounter between artists and the general publicnot just with insiders in the art world. The egalitarian spirit is also manifested in the different ways in which artists engage their publicfrom the playful tactility of Shilpa Guptas interactive work Breathe at Ginger House Museum to savouring the quiet awe of Ibrahim Mahamas Parliament of Ghosts at Anand Warehouse. Somewhere in the interstices of this range of gestures lies the artists intention, usually framed in the form of a concept note, which often feels over-editorialised. Instead of letting the viewer engage with a work on their own terms, the texts tend to run the risk of becoming encumbrancesfussy attempts to micromanage the viewers response by telling them, in language not always easy to decode, what to make of each piece. The problem is exacerbated by the overtly political framing of many of the artists. (One ludicrous exhibit had a chair with the letters A, R, and T pasted on its arms and seatin case you mistake it for something more obvious.) Its as if only by turning art into a hot take, or forcibly fitting it into frameworks that address the Big Questions of our times, that an artist can secure the legitimacy to continue with their practice. While some sense of an artists background can put a work in its context, over-explaining the process can lead to an erosion of wonder and expose the banality of ideas. At Anand Warehouse, Jamaican-American artist Nari Wards Divine Smiles hangs like a giant disco ball. It is, we read, a repository of smiles crowdsourced from strangers. The gimmick lands insofar as the piece becomes a trigger for photo ops, but does not elevate the work beyond facile spectacle. In contrast, South African artist Dineo Seshee Bopapes site-specific work at Island Warehouse on Willingdon Island, Mme, Mmu, Bhumi, Bhumi (2025), transforms linguistic and human histories into metaphors of interconnectedness. Like some of the best works at the biennale (such as Salman Lones sketchbooks at the students biennale in BMS Warehouse), it demands active participation from the viewer, urging them to touch, feel, and become part of the art. In Bopapes work, the call to the viewer is to take off their shoes and crawl into her hollow, anthill-like structuresnot just for the novelty of the experience, but as a means to an end. It acts as a quiet ritual of grounding, letting the body be embraced by a womb-like shell and its fetal darkness. The work rests too heavily on the viewers consciousness to simply take a photo and walk past it. The most arresting works, for me, straddled this delicate balance between existing as objects of pure spectacle, sometimes overwhelming for their aesthetic bravado, and as receptacles of thought, forcing the viewer to pause, reflect, and react, instead of capturing just another Instagrammable moment. One of the best examples of such a work is Jayashree Chakravartys installation, Shelter: For the Time Being, at Anand Warehouse, which invites the viewer to enter its cocoon-like enclosure. Once in, youre encouraged to turn on the torch on your mobile phone to look at the intricate shapes and patterns all along the tissue-like structures, hanging from ceiling to floor. It is difficult to fully record the elusive beauty of this work in a photo, unless you have experienced the sheer physicality of it in slow time. If there is one work that stood out for me at the end of two packed days, it is Kulpreet Singhs video installation of crop burning in Punjabas much a comment on Delhi-NCRs problem of air pollution as a snapshot of the bloodied history of the state, cleaved by violence and militancy. The artists body, as well as remains from the burnt fields, come together to evoke loss and destruction. As a sequence of moving images, the work is too transient and rugged to be Instagrammed. All it demands from the viewer, and all that the latter can give it, is the grace of undivided attention and remembrance afterwards. Ramadan 2026: The sacred Islamic month of Ramadan is currently underway. Since its beginning is tied strictly to the lunar cycle, the crescent moon is generally sighted in Gulf nations and Western territories first, while India and its neighbours typically begin their observance one day later. In India, Ramadan officially started on Thursday, 19 February, initiating a season of prayer, contemplation, and spiritual rejuvenation for Muslims nationwide. The traditional start depends on the physical sighting of the new moon, which creates a slight scheduling offset between the Middle East and Southern Asia. Understanding Iftar Throughout the month, Muslims maintain their fast from sunup to sundown. Iftar represents a cornerstone of these daily observances. It is the evening meal served specifically to break the fast immediately following the Maghrib (sunset) prayer. Iftar Schedule for 27 February As sunset occurs at different moments based on geography, Iftar timings fluctuate across regions. Precise times will differ whether you are located in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or Mumbai. New Delhi - 6:21 p.m. Hyderabad - 6:23 p.m. Mumbai - 6:45 p.m. Bengaluru - 6:28 p.m Lucknow - 6:07 p.m. Chennai- 6:17 p.m Kolkata- 5:39 p.m. Muslims revere Ramadan as the holiest period within the Islamic calendar. This holy month is defined by fasting, deep reflection, and an increased devotion to Allah. During this ninth month of the lunar year, observers across the globe abstain from all food and liquid between dawn and dusk, dedicating their daylight hours to reciting the Quran and fortifying their faith. Ramadan honours Sawm, the fourth pillar of Islam. This practice of fasting inspires Muslims to exercise discipline, thankfulness, and empathy. By refraining from nourishment during the day, believers commemorate the origins of the faith and the spiritual significance of sacrifice. As per the guidelines, the manufacture and sale of improvised devices such as carbide guns are strictly illegal under the Explosives Act. These devices are classified as high-risk hazards, and the ministry has urged citizens to avoid them entirely while reporting any sightings to the authorities. Violators face non-bailable charges, heavy fines, and up to 10 years' imprisonment for endangering public safety. A Delhi court on Friday discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his then-deputy Manish Sisodia in an excise police-related corruption case, refusing to take cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet, news agency PTI reported. A special CBI court, while dismissing the CBI and ED cases in the Delhi liquor policy, questioned the conduct of the two investigating agencies for relying solely on the statements of approvers who had been granted pardons in the cases. Special Judge (PC Act) Jitendra Singh said the chargesheet had several lacunae, unsupported by evidence, and he discharged 21 more, besides the two Aam Aadmi Party leaders, in the matter. The court observed that the alleged central conspiratorial role could not be substantiated. The court noted that the allegations failed judicial scrutiny and found no criminal intent on the part of Manish Sisodia. It further stated that the conspiracy theory "cannot survive against one constitutional authority." Political Conspiracy by Modi and Shah: Kejriwal The CBI has been probing alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the erstwhile AAP government's now-scrapped excise policy. The CBI is likely to challenge the order in the High Court, according to media reports. Today, the court has discharged all the accused in this case. We always said that the truth emerges victorious. We have full faith in the Indian legal system. Amit Shah and Modi ji together hatched the biggest political conspiracy to finish AAP, and 5 big leaders of the party were put in jail. The sitting CM was dragged out of his house and put in jail. Kejriwal is not corrupt. I have only earned honesty in my life. Today, the court has said that Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP are honest, Kejriwal said after the court order. What was the case? The Arvind Kejriwal government had implemented the excise policy on 17 November 2021, but scrapped it in September 2022 amid allegations of graft. The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2022, followed by multiple supplementary chargesheets. The agency has alleged that 100 crore was paid by a "south lobby" to influence the policy in its favour. In total, 23 accused have been chargesheeted, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha, Kuldeep Singh, Narender Singh, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Mootha Goutam, Sameer Mahendru, Amandeep Singh Dhall, Arjun Pandey, Butchibabu Gornatla, Rakesh Joshi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Prince Kumar, Chanpreet Singh Rayat, Arvind Kumar Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Chadra Reddy. Kejriwal and Sisodia were among those arrested in the case, which the central agency had been probing, alleging corruption in the formulation and execution of the erstwhile-AAP government's now-scrapped excise policy. Kejriwal, as chief minister, and Sisodia, as deputy chief minister, were arrested in connection with graft charges in the Delhi Excise Police case. Both were later released on bail. What did the CBI say in court? During arguments, the CBI maintained that the offence of criminal conspiracy must be viewed in its entirety and that the sufficiency of evidence should be tested during trial. Represented by Additional Solicitor General D P Singh and advocate Manu Mishra, the agency argued that there is adequate material to frame charges against all the accused. On the other hand, senior advocate N Hariharan, who appeared for Kejriwal, contended that there is no incriminating material linking his client to the alleged conspiracy. He argued that the fourth supplementary chargesheet naming Kejriwal merely repackages earlier allegations and that Kejriwal was performing his official duties as Chief Minister. Also Read | Kejriwal attends a 151-couple mass wedding event in Bhavnagar Hariharan further submitted that Kejriwal was not named in the initial chargesheet or in three earlier supplementary chargesheets. His name appeared only in the fourth. The defence also questioned the basis of further investigation and the evidentiary value of statements, including that of approver Raghav Magunta. Artificial intelligence will disrupt Indias services sector, particularly the software companies, but fears of a doomsday scenario are exaggerated, former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Friday, playing down concerns of a large-scale jobs crisis due to rapid technological advancement. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television, he acknowledged that AI poses a challenge, but stressed that the Indian services story can still persist in many other areas outside of software. Things take time. The firms that are not technology-savvy will take more time. That is it, Rajan, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, further added. His remarks come at a time when several technology entrepreneurs and senior executives have warned of a potentially severe impact of AI adoption on employment, particularly entry-level and routine white-collar jobs. AI could lead to more demand Even as software companies trim headcount amid wider AI adoption, the technology could also generate fresh demand for workers, Rajan said. The country's software firms and their employees will have to retool and reskill really fast, he cautioned, adding this is not something they cannot overcome" India has long been regarded as the worlds back office, powering everything from call centres to IT outsourcing. These sectors are at high risk of disruption as AI automates routine coding and customer support jobs that employ millions in the country, and several more who are preparing to enter the workforce in the coming years. A recent note by Citrini Research warned that Indian IT firms could see pressure on revenues, triggering a selloff in their stocks earlier this week. Lets not get overly wound up in science fiction and think that is the outcome, Rajan said, referring to the Citrini note. The fastest users of technology are the people creating the technology. Sometimes there is a sense that this is going really, really fast. What they dont see is adoption outside the frontier is much longer," he said. Large-scale displacement of jobs is unlikely: Rajan Rajan also noted that many companies globally have yet to implement artificial intelligence at scale, leaving significant opportunities for software firms to step in. The transition, he said, is likely to be gradual, making the prospect of large-scale displacement unlikely, Bloomberg reported. According to Bloomberg, he also pointed out that multinationals continue to expand their global capability centres in India, shifting more high-end engineering and digital functions to the country, a trend that could offset disruption in routine roles. The reason many firms are moving to India is because of its highly skilled service people, with a consultant in the country being one-fifth the price of a consultant in the West. That cost advantage, combined with access to the same AI tools, helps level the playing field, he said. According to a BCG report published last year in December, Indias global standing in talent is strengthening steadily. The country has gained 1.9 percentage points in its share of global AI professionals and 1.4 percentage points in STEM talent. This growth placed the country within the top 10 worldwide across every major talent category tracked. A housemaid staged a fake ED raid at an elderly couple's residence in southeast Delhi's New Friends Colony, robbing them of around 4 lakh and some valuables, police said on Thursday. According to a PTI report, three men allegedly posing as ED officials conducted a fake raid. However, during the investigation, police discovered that the couple's domestic help was the mastermind behind the plan, who had planned the whole thing with four of her relatives, which included an ITBP constable and a former army personnel, as co-accused. The incident occurred on 11 February, around 10 am, when three men dressed in police-style uniforms entered the house of RC Sabharwal, 86, a retired senior architect and his wife, Usha Sabharwal. Also Read | ED places prosecution sanction against P Chidambaram in two cases Here's what happened The police said that three men, claiming to be authorised by the ED to search, entered Sabharwal's house and asked the elderly couple to keep their mobile phones, jewellery, cash and valuables on a table. In a statement, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Aishwarya Sharma said that they (accused) refused to show any warrant or authorisation letter and allegedly snatched the family members' mobile phones, switched them off and prevented them from contacting anyone. Intimidated by threats of arrest, the complainant placed a bag containing around 10-12 lakh, stated to be legitimate business income, on the dining table. The ADCP said that the impostors photographed the cash and reiterated threats of legal action. How did the tables turn? However, the tables turned when the couple was able to alert their grandson, a senior lawyer. The situation shifted when Usha managed to alert her grandson, a senior lawyer, the officer said. Sensing trouble, the accused fled the spot, allegedly taking away around 3 to 4 lakh in cash and seven luxury watches. Also Read | SC stays criminal proceedings in ED case against Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Subsequently, the victims lodged a complaint at the New Friends Colony police station, and an FIR was registered under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): 318(4): cheating 319(2): cheating by personation 329(4): criminal trespass 127(3): wrongful confinement 3(5): common intention 2 accused arrested Out of the five accused, police said they arrested two people on Wednesday, identified as Rekha Devi (40), the domestic help and Pooja Rajput (45), police said. The absconding accused are Pooja's husband, Prakash, who is an ITBP constable, her son, Manish, and Updesh Singh Thapa alias Pintu, a retired army personnel. How did the maid pull off a fake raid? Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said that through technical surveillance, Rekha Devi emerged as the key conspirator. Her involvement confirmed that the crime was an insider job. During interrogation, Rekha admitted to planning the fake raid after observing that the complainant was elderly and often alone at home. They believed that impersonating officials of a central agency would ensure compliance and minimise resistance from the family. Luxury watches and jewellery found at the accused's residence During a search of Pooja's residence in Vaishali, police recovered a deputy commandant uniform of the ITBP, its ID card, and a wireless device allegedly used to mimic official police communication. Delhi police also seized seven luxury watches, jewellery allegedly stolen from the complainant's house, and a pistol whose licence had expired in 2019. "Raids are being conducted at multiple locations to trace and arrest the remaining accused. Efforts are also underway to recover the remaining stolen cash and any other case property," Tiwari said. Following the acquittal in the liquor scam case, AAP national convener and former Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct fresh elections in Delhi and promised to leave politics if the BJP secures over 10 seats. On Friday, a Delhi court discharged Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, in a corruption case involving the excise policy, declining to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet, news agency PTI reported. I challenge Modi ji to hold elections in Delhi again. I can say with confidence that if they get more than 10 seats, I will leave politics, ANI quoted Kejriwal, who was addressing a press conference on Friday. Watch video Kejriwal further alleged, Two people, PM Modi and Amit Shah, hatched this conspiracy to finish the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, they should apologise to the country....I have only earned honesty, not money Dig at Congress Kejriwal also criticised Pawan Khera over his remarks, implying that this move was made to undermine the Congress before the upcoming Punjab and Gujarat elections. Questioning the number of Congress leaders imprisoned, the AAP leader said that the party has "no shame." "I want to ask the Congress - Kejriwal went to jail. Did Robert Vadra go to jail? Sanjay Singh went to jail. Did Rahul Gandhi go to jail? Sanjay Singh went to jail. Did Sonia Gandhi ji went to jail? What is Congress saying? Does it have no shame?" Kejriwal said. Also Read | Delhi court discharges Kejriwal, Sisodia in liquor policy case Delhi court's order A special CBI court, while dismissing the CBI and ED cases related to the Delhi liquor policy, criticised the behaviour of the two investigative agencies for depending only on the statements of approvers who had received pardons in the cases. The court noted that the alleged central conspiratorial role could not be proven. It also mentioned that the allegations failed judicial scrutiny and found no criminal intent on the part of Manish Sisodia and said that the conspiracy theory cannot survive against one constitutional authority," PTI reported. The Kerala High Court, on Friday, lited the stay on The Kerala Story 2 movie's release. Bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan set aside an interim order which was earlier passed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas that put the film's release on hold for 15 days. The movie can now hit theatres as scheduled. It is slated to release today, Friday, 27 February. On Thursday, 26 February, Justice Kurian had granted an interim stay on the release of The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond, saying that prima facie there is non-application of mind by the censor board while certifying the movie, reported PTI. The Division Bench held an urgent special sitting at 7.30 pm the same day to hear the appeal filed by producers of the movie. After a detailed hearing that went on for over 2 hours the Bench reserved its verdict in the matter and delivered its decision around 4pm IST, mentioned a report by Bar and Bench The Kerala Story 2 movie controversy Justice Kurian had issued the interim stay while hearing two petitions challenging the films release, arguing that it misrepresents Kerala and could fuel communal tensions. What petitions claimed One of the petitions was filed by Kannur resident Sreedev Namboodiri, who claimed that the sequels title and promotional materialincluding its teaser and trailercontained themes and dialogues that could incite violence and unfairly portray Kerala in a negative light. He also objected to the teasers closing line, ab sahenge nahin ladenge (we will not tolerate it anymore, we will fight), arguing that it could be seen as a call for confrontation and potentially trigger communal unrest. Another petition filed by Freddie V Francis sought a ban on the film and challenged the use of the word Kerala in its title. He argued that it wrongly links the state to terrorism and forced religious conversions, even though the films story involves characters from other states. He described the film as marketing of hate and also questioned the makers claim that it is based on true events, reported Bar and Bench citing the petitions. What movie's producer said On Wednesday, reacting to the petitions, the producer of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, told the Kerala High Court that the pleas opposing the film's release are premature, misconceived and not maintainable, reported news wire PTI. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will arrive in Mumbai, today for his first official visit to India. The four-day trip is being seen as Prime Minister Carney's latest effort to diversify trade away from the United States and restore relations with India the worlds fourth-largest economy. Carney is set to arrive in Mumbai later today after his plane left Ottawa on Thursday. He will also visit Australia and Japan next week. At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Mark Carney, will pay an official visit to India from 27 February to 2 March 2026. This will be Prime Minister Carneys first official visit to India, the government said, announcing the Canadian PM's visit to India. The visit is aimed at "expanding" bilateral ties and forging new partnerships across key sectors, including defence, energy, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to a press release issued by Carney's office earlier this week. "The leaders will focus on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship, with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and AI, talent and culture, and defence," the statement read. The two leaders met last in November 2025 on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg to review progress in the IndiaCanada partnership. What is on Carney's agenda? Prime Minister Carney will arrive in Mumbai today, 27 February. Over the next two days, he will participate in separate business engagements, interact with Indian and Canadian CEOs, industry and financial experts, innovators, educators, as well as Canadian Pension Funds based in India, the government said. Prime Minister Carney will arrive in New Delhi on 1 March. On 2 March, the two Prime Ministers (Carney and PM Modi) will hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, it said. Both leaders are expected to review the progress achieved to date across diverse areas of the IndiaCanada Strategic Partnership, building on their earlier meetings in Kananaskis (June 2025) and Johannesburg (November 2025). They will also take stock of ongoing cooperation in key pillars, including trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research, and innovation, and people-to-people ties, the government said, adding that the two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments. IndiaCanada CEOs Forum Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney will also attend the IndiaCanada CEOs Forum scheduled on 2 March. Carney's visit to India comes at an important juncture in the normalisation of India-Canada bilateral relations. The two Prime Ministers have earlier agreed to pursue a constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for each others concerns and sensitivities, strong people-to-people ties, and growing economic complementarities, the government statement said. The Carney-Modi meeting will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the positive momentum and shared vision of India and Canada in building a forward-looking partnership, it said. A thaw in diplomatic ties India and Canada agreed to restore diplomatic services last year after Ottawa accused New Delhi in 2023 of alleged involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, which turned into a row that placed major strains on the relations between the two countries. In September 2023, Carneys predecessor, Justin Trudeau, announced in Parliament that there were credible allegations about Indias link to the killing of Canadian Hareep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. New Delhi vehemently denied the allegations and accused Trudeaus government of harbouring extremists. The diplomatic row escalated in October 2024, leading to the reciprocal recall and expulsion of high commissioners and diplomats. However, the political landscape shifted after Liberal Party leader Carneys victory in the April 2025 parliamentary elections, paving the way for a reconciliation. Carney's India visit marks a significant diplomatic "reset." Economic cooperation goals The visit comes amid significant economic cooperation. In 2024, India emerged as Canadas seventh-largest trading partner, with total two-way trade reaching USD 30.8 billion. Building on the foundations laid during last year's G20 Leaders Summit, both nations have agreed to formally launch negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The ambitious pact aims to more than double the bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030. US President Donald Trump has been seen in Canada as a threat to the country's economy and sovereignty, especially with his claims that Canada should be the 51st state." Donald Trumps rhetoric and policies are clearly pushing Canada to diversify its economic and trade relations, not only with other non-US Western countries but also countries like China and India, Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, told news agency AP. Trade Deal Focus Dinesh Patnaik, India's high commissioner in Ottawa, told Bloomberg that the trip will cover an immense agenda that could be formalised in cooperation agreements on research, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and education. Patnaik said the visit is likely to involve an agreement to increase Canadas uranium exports to India. Additionally, India is interested in purchasing Canadian heavy crude and other energy resources, while also considering investments in infrastructure projects such as pipelines and terminals, he said. Carney's visit to India comes at an important juncture in the normalisation of India-Canada bilateral relations. In November, Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to restart negotiations for a free-trade deal, with the potential to sign it within a year, according to Patnaik. Despite years of effort and setbacks, both economies have developed, and the momentum to reach an agreement is rising, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, heavily criticised the Congress for the recent shirtless protest by its youth wing members at the AI Impact Summit. Congress not only took off its clothes in front of foreign guests, but also exposed its ideological bankruptcy claimed PM Modi, alleging that the grand old party attempted to tarnish the national celebration. Modi made the comments while addressing the News18 Rising Bharat Summit. He struck a similar note while addressing a public rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh earlier this month accusing the Congress of turning a global platform into a stage for what he described as dirty and naked politics. "Congress not only took off its clothes in front of foreign guests, but also exposed its ideological bankruptcy. Clearly, this action has angered the nation. Therefore, they invoked Mahatma Gandhi to justify their sins. Congress does this every time. When it needs to hide its sins, it invokes Bapu, and when it needs to glorify itself, it gives all the credit to one family. Congress has now become merely a toolkit for opposition in the name of ideology," PM Modi claimed at Friday's Summit. What happened at the AI Impact Summit? PM Modi's comments at News18 Rising Bharat Summit comes days after chaotic scenes unfolded at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 which was held in New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam. On 20 February, Indian Youth Congress workers staged a shirtless/topless protest disrupting the event. According to PTI, the group of people marched inside Hall No. 5, wearing or holding white T-shirts with images of Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump printed on them, along with slogans such as "India US Trade Deal", "Epstein Files" and PM is compromised which resulted in a commotion. On Tuesday, 24 February, Delhi Police arrested Indian Youth Congress Chief Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with the protest. Only knows how to While addressing the Summit on Friday, the prime minister also alleged that the Congress always takes refuge in Mahatma Gandhi to hide its failures, but tries to give credit to one family for anything good. "People of our country welcomed every good step taken by our government, but the Congress only knows how to oppose everything. The votes of Congress are not stolen; rather, people do not consider Congress worthy of their votes. Millennials first taught a lesson to Congress, now Gen-Z is ready to do the same," he said. PM Modi also said that in a democracy, the role of the opposition is not just about blindly opposing every move of the government, but presenting an alternative vision, and that is why the "enlightened public" of the country is "teaching a lesson" to Congress now. "Today, the condition of the Congress is such that it has more than 50 MLAs in just four states. Over the past 40 years, the number of young voters in the country has increased, but the Congress has clearly diminished," Modi said. Actor & TVK chief Vijays wife, Sangeetha, has filed a petition for divorce in the Chengalpattu family court, as reported by ANI. In her petition, Sangeetha has accused Vijay of having an extramarital relationship (with an actress) and has sought divorce on those grounds, ANI reported. The divorce petition has reportedly been filed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which allows a spouse to seek divorce on grounds such as adultery and cruelty. Who Is Sangeetha Sornalingam? Sangeetha Sornalingam was initially a devoted fan of Vijay before marrying him. Their relationship began after Vijay gained fame with the success of Poove Unakkaga in 1996, when Sangeetha, then based in the UK, travelled to Chennai to congratulate him. Her father is a Tamil industrialist from Sri Lanka who later settled in the UK. Vijay and Sangeetha Sornalingam were married on August 25, 1999. Despite their different religious backgrounds, Vijay, being Christian and Sangeeta, Hindu, they held a Hindu wedding ceremony followed by a grand reception in Chennai. The couple has two children: their son, Jason Sanjay, who appeared with Vijay in Vettaikaaran, and their daughter, Divya Saasha, who featured with him in Theri. The divorce file comes just as actor-turned-politician Vijay prepares to launch his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), potentially turning the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections into a three-way contest. Divorce petition As per the divorce petition, she wrote, "In April 2021, the Petitioner (Sangeetha) discovered that the Respondent (Vijay) was involved in an adulterous relationship with an actress. This caused her deep emotional pain and mental suffering, amounting to betrayal and violation of marital trust," the petition stated, adding that the actor "continued open association with the actress," which caused Sankgeetha emotional agony and embarrassment to the children. "Since 2021, Vijay had emotionally withdrawn, treating his wife with verbal disdain and subjecting her to constructive desertion, forcing her to live separately within the matrimonial home. Vijay continued to travel abroad and attend public events, with the said actress," the petition further continued. Sangeetha also alleged that the actress regularly posted pictures of her outings with the actor on social media. "The actress regularly posted photographs of these outings on social media. Vijay neither denied nor objected to the posts, thereby tacitly endorsing them," she added. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is set to vote in the first half of 2026. The M. K. Stalin-led alliance aims to campaign on its 'Dravidian Model 2.0' to secure a win against the BJP-AIADMK coalition. In the 2021 elections, the DMK secured 133 seats, while its allies Congress, PMK, and VCK won 18, 5, and 4 seats respectively, with other parties taking 8 seats. Together, the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) led by DMK, captured 159 seats. The NDA won 75 seats, with AIADMK emerging as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. Sangeetha Sornalingam was an ardent admirer of actor-turned-politician Vijay before the two tied the knot. She filed a petition for divorce in the Chengalpattu family court, in which she accused Vijay of having an extramarital relationship with an actress and has sought divorce on those grounds. Sangeetha and Vijay have reportedly been married for over 25 years. Her divorce filing comes amid reports that she has been living separately from her husband, reported news wire ANI. Who is Sangeetha? Sangeetha comes from a Tamil family with roots in Sri Lanka; her father is an industrialist who later settled in the UK. She was once an ardent admirer of Vijay before the two eventually got married. Their relationship began in the late 1990s, after Vijay rose to fame with the success of Poove Unakkaga (1996). At the time, Sangeethawho was based in the UKtravelled to Chennai to congratulate him, and the two grew close. Vijay and Sangeetha's marriage Vijay and Sangeetha Sornalingam tied the knot on August 25, 1999. Despite belonging to different faithsVijay is Christian and Sangeeta is Hinduthey chose to have a traditional Hindu wedding, followed by a grand reception in Chennai. The couple has two children: their son, Jason Sanjay, who appeared alongside Vijay in Vettaikaaran, and their daughter, Divya Saasha, who featured with him in Theri. Sangeetha's application for divorce comes at a time when actor-turned-politician Vijay is preparing to launch his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) which could potentially turn the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections into a three-way contest. The divorce petition has reportedly been filed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which allows a spouse to seek divorce on grounds such as adultery and cruelty. What Sangeetha claimed in her petition? As per the divorce petition, Sankgeetha has accused Vijay of infidelity, alleging that he has had an "adulterous relationship" with an actress. "In April 2021, the Petitioner (Sankgeetha) discovered that the Respondent (Vijay) was involved in an adulterous relationship with an actress. This caused her deep emotional pain and mental suffering, amounting to betrayal and violation of marital trust," the petition stated, adding that the actor "continued open association with the actress," which caused Sankgeetha emotional agony and embarrassment to the children, reported ANI. Vijay directed to appear in person Sangeetha filed for divorce before the Principal District Judges court in Chengalpattu on December 3, 2025 under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The petition was later transferred to the family court for adjudication on February 24. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken to social media to urge parents in the city to sign up their 3-to 4-year-old kids for the free Pre-K and 3-K programs, before the deadline to apply ends on February 27. In one of the posts, Mamdani can be seen hilariously trying and failing to read the sentence in Spanish, urging parents to sign up their children for the universal Pre-K in NYC. Learning a second language can be hard. Signing up for Pre-K and 3-K is easy. Go to http://myschools.nyc to apply today. Deadline is tomorrow at midnight!, the caption of the post read. Another video posted on the Mayors X account showed Mamdani joining a group of young students to encourage New Yorkers to apply for Pre-K and 3-K. What are NYC's 3-K and Pre-K programs 3-K and Pre-K programs are free, high-quality, play-based early education for children turning three and four years old in 2026-2027. They provide 6 hours and 20 minutes of care and learning during the school year. Who can apply? 3-K - children born in 2023 Pre-K - children born in 2022 The deadline to apply for NYC's free Pre-K and 3-K programs ends at midnight on February 27. Pre-K and 3-K programs are open to all New York City residents, regardless of income or immigration status. Keeping the immigrant population in mind, MySchools.nyc portal allows applicants to apply in English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese, Haitian Creole, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Uzbek. Applications are not first-come, first-served and all families who apply by the February 27 deadline will receive an offer in May. According to NYC Public Schools, Pre-K offers are expected on May 12, 2026, and 3-K offers on May 19, 2026. What students get The New York City 3-K and Pre-K programs also provide free breakfast and lunch to every student. These meals are part of the city's universal free school lunch program and follow strict nutritional standards tailored for early childhood development. NYC offers several settings for early childhood education: 3-K programs are offered in the following locations: District Schools: Programs located within public elementary schools and overseen by the schools principal. NYCEECs: Community-based organizations that contract directly with the DOE to provide. Pre-K Centers: These programs are dedicated exclusively to 3-K and Pre-K students . They are led and operated by DOE staff. Family Childcare: These programs are located in a home setting by a licensed, qualified child care provider. 3-K students are served with mixed age groups. Students can enroll in a Family Day Care (Six children with one provider, with no more than two children under 24 months) or Group Family Day Care (12 children with one provider and one assistant, with no more than four children under 24 months). In addition to the Pre-K and 3-K programs, NYC had also recently announced the launch of a Universal 2-K program, which will begin offering free childcare for two-year-olds in September 2026 These reports are the regulators critique of how the audit has been conducted and are not disciplinary orders; they serve more as reference material for the audit industry. The increase in the coverage of audited financial statements in NFRAs review comes as the regulator has also increased the number of inspections of audit firms this fiscal. Even when office timings are clearly set, many employees feel subtle pressure to stay beyond working hours. In some workplaces, the end of the day is shaped less by workload and more by perception, with staff waiting to see who leaves first. A recent Reddit post highlighted this unspoken culture, with a user claiming that at his former workplace, no one dared to leave at 5pm. In a post titled Worked at a company where no one dared to be the first to go home at five o clock, the user said he was employed as an account manager at a firm that specialised in building and designing bakery stores. His official work schedule was from 8:30am to 5pm, though he said he regularly arrived early, around 8:15am. The employee shared that during his first week, he left the office around 5:05 or 5:10pm. A few days later, he said his manager confronted him over his departure time. What youre doing is unacceptable, the manager allegedly told him. When he asked for clarification, the manager responded, Well youre leaving way too early, everybodys talking about it. The user said he explained that he consistently arrived at least 15 minutes before his shift began, but claimed the manager dismissed the point, saying, No one sees you coming early. Workers stayed back to avoid being first to leave Trying to understand the workplace dynamic, the employee said he started observing colleagues more closely. He claimed most employees remained in the office until 5:20 or 5:25pm, not due to pending work but because no one wanted to be the first to leave. Also Read | After quitting toxic job over harassment, man struggles to find work I'm talking about a company with about 75 employees and all these employees where holding eachother hostage to not leave early. It was 8 years ago when I left the company but it's the worst workculture I've ever encountered. I always mention it to people as a bad example. Pure madness, the user wrote. Post draws widespread reactions from other users The post quickly gained traction online, with several users sharing similar experiences of strict time-monitoring and workplace pressure. One commenter wrote, I used to work for a company where you could work 8-5 or 9-6, but they'd want you there 15 minutes prior to get settled at your desk blah blah. They then decided that if you were even so much as a minute late you would have to stay a full extra hour to make up for your tardiness. So if you clocked in at 8:01 you're staying till 6pm. Same goes for lunch, you had to effectively use less than an hour otherwise you would be penalised. I couldn't believe it when I joined my current company and they didn't micro-manager or clock-watch. Everyone is much happier and more effective. Another user pointed to financial pressures behind punctual exits, writing, I worked at a place where a bunch of the employees would leave on the dot or a tick early.. and when pressured as to why.. they said they have to get to their second job because the first one didn't pay enough. Id make an absolute point of leaving at 1700 as that when the payment stops. Soon there would be a trickle and then a flood of breaking out of the toxic mindset they are in, a third commenter said. Sounds like a nightmare. reminds me of the time i was stuck in a similar trap. glad i moved on. life's too short for that nonsense, another user added. Renowned Indian-Israeli chef Reena Pushkarna has come into the spotlight again, with the celebrity restaurateur preparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dinner for his visit to Tel Aviv and getting a mention from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the joint statement released during PM Modi's visit to Israel, Netanyahu lauded the India-born chef for playing a key role in his personal life. "I think our first or second date was at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. Reena Pushkarna. And I have to tell you, there is no question, first of all, the food was unbelievable," Netanyahu said as his wife Sara was seen nodding. Netanyahu, in his comments, was referring to the Tandoori restaurant in Tel Aviv, which was founded by Pushkarna decades ago and which describes itself as "Israel's most beloved Indian restaurant for over 40 years". "Sara was introduced to it for the first time, so it was a great first date. Not only because of the food, the date was excellent too. So, obviously, I'm indebted to you, as are my children," the Israeli PM further said, showering praise on Pushkarna. Later, the Delhi-born chef told ANI that receiving thanks from Netanyahu and PM Modi meant the world to her. "I thank our Prime Minister Bibi [Benjamin] Netanyahu that for him India and Indian cuisine hold a lot of importance," she told the news agency. "It is a very close relationship and their whole family has been visiting me for the last 30 years... For me, it is culinary diplomacy... He [PM Modi] thanked me... My wish was granted," the celebrity chef was quoted as saying. Who is Reena Pushkarna? Born in New Delhi to a Jewish Iraqi-born mother and an Indian father, Reena married Merchant Navy captain Vinod Pushkarna at an early age and sailed with him for nine years, as per the Israel-Asia Center. During her travels with Vinod, Reena learnt to cook from the various chefs she met on the ships. In 1983, the couple and their two children settled in Israel, and it was in the same year that Reena opened Tandoori in Tel Aviv. Since then, the celebrity chef has opened Indian restaurants across Israel under the Tandoori/Kohinoor chains, and has even opened Israeli restaurants in Singapore and Macau, as per the Israel-Asia Center. In addition to operating famous restaurants, Pushkarna also has a business producing a line of kosher frozen Indian food, meant for supermarkets in Europe, Canada, and the US. Pushkarna has also appeared as a celebrity chef in several Israeli TV programmes. Beyond her work in the hospitality sector, Pushkarna also served as the India consultant for for the Marina Bay Sands senior management, assisting them in establishing their offices in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. She also organized the Zee Cine Awards show at The Marina Bay Sands Singapore and The Venetian Macao. Pushkarna has also had ties to diplomats over the years: in 2003, she was part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's delegation to India, a feat she repeated in 2018 when PM Netanyahu visited the subcontinent. The celebrity chef also took part in food preparations for PM Modi's visit to Israel in July 2017, when she prepared a meal for the Indian prime minister at Netanyahu's home. Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI company, on Thursday rejected the Pentagons ultimatum over military use of its flagship product, Claude AI. The US Defense Department demanded unrestricted access to Claude's capabilities, but Anthropic refused, despite threats of blacklisting. These threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in a statement. The confrontation effectively jeopardises Anthropic's long-standing defence contracts with the government. The dispute between the Pentagon and Anthropic stems from the AI startup's refusal to put down certain guardrails that would allow the US military to autonomously use targeted weapons and conduct mass surveillance in the United States. To our knowledge, these two exceptions have not been a barrier to accelerating the adoption and use of our models within our armed forces to date, Amodei argued in the statement. Anthropic's statement comes just a day before the Pentagon's deadline set by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with whom Amodei met earlier this week. The Defense Department had given Anthropic an ultimatum: agree to unconditional military use of its technology, even if it violates ethical standards at the company, or face being forced to comply under emergency federal powers. Why is Anthropic refusing to give in to Pentagon's demands? Anthropic, backed by Amazon and Google, has a contract worth up to $200 million with the US Department of Defense. However, Amodei on Thursday said his company will draw an ethical line regarding its use for mass surveillance of US citizens and fully autonomous weapons, even if it means that the contract is lost. The department has said it will contract only with AI companies that accede to "any lawful use" and remove safeguards, Amodei said in his statement. Using these systems for mass domestic surveillance is incompatible with democratic values. He said leading AI systems are not yet reliable enough to be trusted with the power to launch deadly weapons without any human interference. We will not knowingly provide a product that puts Americas warfighters and civilians at risk, Amodei said. Anthropic vs Pentagon After meeting with Anthropic early this week, the Pentagon delivered a stark ultimatum: agree to unrestricted military use of its technology by 5:01 pm (22:01 GMT) Friday or face being forced to comply under the Defense Production Act. Earlier on Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X that the department has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, nor does it want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement. Here's what we're asking: Allow the Pentagon to use Anthropic's model for all lawful purposes, Parnell said. The Pentagon also threatened to label Anthropic a supply chain risk, a designation usually reserved for firms from adversary countries that could severely damage the company's ability to work with the US government and reputation. The late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, who died in August 2019, reportedly by suicide in his prison cell, while awaiting trial, tried to buy a multimillion-dollar property in Morocco, a day before his arrest, the BBC reported. According to the last tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on 30 January, Epstein tried to acquire Bin Ennakhil since 2011; however, disagreements with the seller over the valuation and structure of the deal dragged on for several years. Bin Ennakhil is described as a grand palace, built in the luxury Palmeraei neighbourhood of Marrakech. Widely regarded as an architectural showpiece, the palace was constructed by roughly 1,300 artisans and showcased intricate carvings and detailed mosaic work. View full Image Bin Ennakhil, Morocco ( Photo: Instagram/ @atelierduzellige ) Just a day before his arrest on 6 July 2019, the disgraced financier signed a $14.95 million wire transfer, following an agreement to buy the offshore company that owned Bin Ennakhil for 18 million euros. The released documents suggest that the wire transfer on 5 July 2019 was his last major financial transaction before he was arrested by the US authorities on charges of sex trafficking after he returned to New York. However, three days after Epstein was arrested, his accountant, Richard Kahn, cancelled the wire transfer, following which the purchase was never made. Why did Epstein want to buy a property in Morocco? Reports suggest that Morocco had no extradition treaty with the United States, which gave rise to speculations that one of his motivations to buy the property was to retreat to the country to avoid arrest if new charges were levelled against him. The BBC report, citing a former Epstein associate, claimed that the convicted sex offender "had no clue" about his arrest, since he made the transaction a day before. The associate further said, "It would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king". Epstein's Morocco connection Reports suggest that Epstein's connection to Morocco goes back to the early 2000s. In her memoir, Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers, recounted that he and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, flew Giuffre to Tangier to look over the interior design of multiple luxury properties. At the time, the financier had been considering incorporating Moroccan-inspired elements into renovations at his private island estate. In 2002, Epstein, along with Maxwell, attended Moroccan King Mohammed's wedding, reportedly after they were invited by former US President Bill Clinton. Epstein, who was arrested in 2008 on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution, was later released from house arrest in 2010, following which, his interest in Morocco reportedly grew. In the same year, Epstein asked the UK's former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to find him an assistant who could help him find a house in Marrakesh. The records further indicate that from 2012 onward, the convicted sex offender made regular trips to Morocco, often staying in the Palmeraie district, an affluent enclave popular with expatriates. Among those in his circle, there was Jabor Al Thani, a member of Qatars ruling family whom he reportedly referred to as his Arab brother. Epstein's obsession with Bin Ennakhil The BBC report suggests that Epstein relied on his longtime girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, to lead the search for a property in Marrakech, with numerous visits and negotiations recorded in emails sent under her name. Epstein believed that the property, which was owned by German waste magnate Gunter Kiss, was reportedly overvalued at 55 million euros, and the former made an offer, which offended Kiss, so that he refused to deal with Epstein again. Subsequently, Epstein relied on his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, and his network of contacts in Morocco to carry out further inspections of the property. In 2018, he visited the site himself, after which Shuliak submitted final bids while allegedly claiming she was acting on behalf of Leon Black, a billionaire investor and longtime associate of Epstein. The DOJ documents reveal that Kensington Luxury Properties suggest Epstein a "sale and tax strategy" in which case the palace would be registered with the Moroccan officials as sold for 10 million euros, while a transaction of 20 million euros would take place for the shares of an offshore company that owned Bin Ennakhil. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican, claimed that Hillary Clinton reacted unhinged when questioned about provocative photos of Bill Clinton that surfaced in the Jeffrey Epstein files, the New York Post reported. The Clintons have been facing intense scrutiny after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released millions of documents in connection with Epstein, the late and convicted sex offender. The latest tranche of files, which included over three million pages and 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos, brought to light Epstein's financial dealings, his contacts, and his associations with several prominent figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, who will testify on Friday (local time). Hillary Clinton's testimony Mace said that Hillary Clinton was screaming and was unhinged, and added that she hopes that Bill Clinton is less unhinged today than his wife was yesterday. Mace, who questioned Hillary on Thursday (local time) about her feelings when she saw the photos, which were released by the DOJ, said that Hillary reportedly replied, "Were not here to discuss my feelings. Hillary Clinton testified in a closed-door deposition and claimed that she had "no idea" about Epstein's crimes, adding, I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes, or offices. I have nothing to add to that. The wife of the former US President accused Republicans of performing "partisan political theater" through their questions. Following her deposition, she told reporters in New York that she answered all questions as honestly as she could, based on what she knew. She also complained that Republicans strayed off the topic and kept asking her about UFOs and the now-debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory. Bill Clinton-Epstein ties The release of Epstein files has brought back the former President into the spotlight, who, like many other high-profile figures have denied any wrongdoing. Also Read | Epstein files put spotlight on Bill Clinton: What the DOJ records reveal The documents, which were released on January 30, highlighted Bill Clinton's name, who, however, has maintained that he broke ties with Epstein before he was convicted in 2008 on charges of solicitation for prostitution. The files have revealed several previously unseen photographs, in one of which the two can be seen smiling backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in Hong Kong. Also Read | Clinton to Become First Ex-President Forced to Testify to House In another photograph, Clinton can be seen in a hot tub; a part of that image, however, is obscured by a black rectangle. In a third image, the former US President can be seen in a swimming pool with a woman. Clinton, in his 2024 memoir, Citizen: My Life After the White House, expressed regret over his association with Epstein and added that he had no information regarding the crimes that he was committing. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly removed a photograph of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from its website on Thursday (local time). The photograph was released in January when the Justice Department released millions of documents in connection with the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, The Daily Beast reported. The image, which appears to show Lutnick alongside Epstein and three other men on Little Saint James, the disgraced financiers private Caribbean island, is said to date back to 2012, a visit Lutnick has previously acknowledged. The photograph had reportedly surfaced in a cached download of the Epstein Files but was later removed from the official archive. The image was uploaded to Jmail, a browser-based platform that allows users to browse Epstein-related documents in a format similar to a Gmail inbox. A link to the image was posted on its jmailarchive section, showing what appears to be a DOJ file labelled EFTA01230639. However, when this file name was searched in the DOJs official Epstein document database, no matching record was found, suggesting that the file may have been removed or deleted. A Justice Department official did not dispute that Lutnick was present in the picture, but added, "This image was part of a batch of files that were flagged for nudity. The batch of thousands of images was pulled for review and is being uploaded with necessary redactions on a rolling basis. No files are being deleted. However, according to a report in the Independent, the link seemed to have appeared again. But when Mint tried looking up, the same file name seemed to be missing from the documents released by the Department of Justice. Lutnick-Epstein ties Lutnick, 64, has previously been caught lying about his association with Epstein. In a Make America Great Again (MAGA)-friendly podcast interview last year, he claimed that he had only met Epstein once, in 2005, after he and his wife moved next door to him. According to a report in the Independent, the Commerce Secretary recalled moving next door to the convicted sex offender, getting invited over for coffee, spotting a massage table, and cutting ties immediately. Also Read | How JPMorgans bankers stayed close to Epstein after bank fired him as a client However, files that the DOJ released showed that Lutnick and Epstein corresponded via email years after the latter pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008. In some of the emails exchanged, there were messages for arranging calls and lunches, including on the paedophile's island playground, where victims said they were abused sexually. However, it is worth noting that just the mere mention of a person does not ensure any wrongdoing, which seems to be the case for Lutnick. Trump's favourite dealmaker in trouble? US President Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary, who is his favourite dealmaker, has been facing renewed scrutiny over his Epstein ties, with many Democrats calling for him to resign. On Thursday, Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, took to X and questioned Lutnick on how many visits he made to Epstein's rape island. Reports suggest that recently, Trump confronted Lutnick over his family's profiting so aggressively from his popularity, during an episode at Mar-a-Lago over the winter holiday, Politico reported. The Politico report also suggests that Lutnick is also infuriating the staff of other departments, as well, who have called him a menace. The staff faces strict communication controls. According to the official, no one is permitted to engage with other agencies without Lutnicks direct clearance. Even when aides attend meetings at the White House, they are instructed not to voice any policy stance, limiting themselves to stating that they have no authorised position from the Secretary and that the Commerce Department has nothing to add. Former President Bill Clinton told Congress on Friday that he did nothing wrong in his association with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no indications of Epsteins sexual abuse, as he faced hours of questioning from lawmakers about his connections dating back more than 20 years. In an opening statement shared on social media at the start of the deposition, Clinton said, I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong. Here are the five statements from Bill Clinton: 1. First, I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing. No matter how many photos you show me, I have two things that at the end of the day matter more than your interpretation of those 20-year-old photos." 2. "I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn't see. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn't do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong. 3. Though my brief acquaintance with Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light, and though I never witnessed during our limited interactions any indication of what was truly going on, I am here to offer what little I know so that it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again. 4. "But before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right." 5. We began this hearing with me raising my hand and taking an oath to tell the truth. But everyone has a responsibility to be honest with those they represent. Whether you raised your right hand or not, each and every one of us owes nothing less than truth and accuracy to the American people. Clinton testimony Former President Bill Clinton travelled on Jeffrey Epsteins plane multiple times in the early 2000s, after leaving office and before Epsteins 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Newly released Justice Department documents include photos of Clinton with women whose faces have been redacted. View full Image This undated photo provided by the US Justice Department on December 19, 2025 shows former president Bill Clinton (C) swimming alongside a dark-haired woman who appears to be sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, and an unidentified guest in an undidentified location. The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) passed by Congress and signed into law by US President Donald Trump mandated the complete release of the Epstein files by December 19, 2025. Victims of Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy US financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls, expressed anger after the cache of records from cases against the late sex offender were released with many pages blacked out and photos censored. (Photo by Handout / US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE / AFP) ( AFP ) Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified on Thursday (local time), telling the panel she did not recall ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein and had no information to offer regarding his sex crimes. She also said she was questioned about UFOs and a 2016-era conspiracy theory during her seven-hour session. The panels Republican chairman, Representative James Comer, indicated he plans to question former President Bill Clinton about the Justice Departmentreleased photos. The committee is also expected to ask him about Epsteins connections to the Clintons charitable foundation. Also Read | Epstein files put spotlight on Bill Clinton: What the DOJ records reveal Both Clintons accuse Republicans of conducting a partisan exercise designed to protect Trump from scrutiny, noting that others in the inquiry were allowed to submit written statements rather than testify in person. Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide. Actor Jim Carrey has unexpectedly found himself at the centre of online conspiracy theories following his recent appearance at the prestigious Cesar Awards in Paris, where he received an honorary award and delivered an emotional speech in French. While the moment was widely praised inside the venue, reactions online quickly took a different turn, with some social media users claiming without evidence that the actor seen at the ceremony was not the real Carrey. Internet claims Jim Carrey is a clone after French awards appearance Shortly after clips from the ceremony circulated online, a wave of posts began questioning the actors appearance, pointing to his longer dark hair, calmer demeanour and visibly older features. Some users went as far as promoting conspiracy theories suggesting the actor had been replaced by a clone. One viral post read: Jim Carrey: Cloned & replaced. Because who the hell is that guy? (sic) Another claimed, This is so sad what happened to Jim Carrey and how evil the dark force is to have him killed for not pledging allegiance to Satan and for mocking them. It is so clear that who we see now is not him but his clone. Many are starting to realize this, and it is something positive in this whole tragedy (sic). Other comments echoed similar ideas, with users writing, You cant convince me they didnt clone Jim Carrey and Thats not Jim Carrey. Thats a clone (sic). The claims spread rapidly across platforms, reflecting a growing trend in which celebrity appearances become fuel for conspiracy narratives. However, many fans and commentators pushed back strongly against the speculation, arguing that the actor simply looks different at the age of 64. One response read: Calling Jim Carrey a clone because he looks different at 64 than he did in a green rubber mask thirty years ago is peak internet brain rot. Aging isnt a conspiracy, its just linear time (sic). Another user added, Stop being stupid, people.. Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey... If you're more interested in his movies than his life, then you don't know him at all. There's no story about clones or replacements... You just need to reconnect your brain cells correctly (sic). Also Read | Jim Carrey to be honoured with Cesar Award in Paris Why does the internet think so? Much of the discussion appears linked to how different Carrey looks compared with the high-energy comedian audiences remember from the 1990s and early 2000s. Fans are side-eyeing his sleek long dark hair and low-key demeanour, saying old Jim would have roasted the glam squad. Yet observers note that the change reflects a broader personal evolution rather than anything mysterious. In recent years, Carrey has stepped back from mainstream Hollywood projects following controversies and intense public scrutiny during the 2010s. Instead, he has focused on painting, writing and a quieter lifestyle, often speaking openly about spirituality and personal reflection. His unconventional public moments including a widely discussed 2017 fashion-week interview where he described life as meaningless while circling reporters reinforced his reputation as unpredictable. Even then, however, he remained sharply dressed and engaged with the media. The Paris appearance, many argue, simply showed an older artist embracing a calmer phase of life. Media analysts say the reaction highlights how ageing celebrities are increasingly judged through the lens of nostalgia. For audiences used to Carreys exaggerated comic expressions in films like The Mask or Ace Ventura, a quieter and more reflective version of the actor can feel unfamiliar. But supporters insist there is nothing unusual about the transformation. Rather than a body double or conspiracy, they say, the change reflects time, personal growth and shifting priorities. Days after NBC's "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie took to her Instagram to announce a $1 million reward which could help in the return of her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, experts believe that the investigators are possibly "running out of leads," The Mirror reported. Nancy Guthrie was last seen on 31 January at her home in Arizona, following which she has been reportedly missing. It's been over 27 days since she was last seen, with no breakthrough. The only breakthrough in this case so far was when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released the images from Guthrie's doorbell camera footage, which showed a masked man outside her home. Earlier this week, Savannah urged the people to help her family unite with their 84-year-old mother. After Savannahs statement, Michael Gould, a former Nassau County lieutenant and the founder of the NYPDs canine unit, shared his assessment of the current status of the Guthrie disappearance investigation. The development came after a criminal attorney revealed instances in the case that don't add up. Investigators running out of leads: Former Lieutenant Gould suggested that the substantial reward amount, which was in addition to the $100,000 reward that the FBI announced, indicates that investigators are running out of leads. He added, "I believe [the reward money] is an effort to recover Nancy's body and bring answers to the family. The reward reflects the reality that investigators are likely running out of credible leads and that the family has, heartbreakingly, accepted that Nancy may be deceased." Elaborating further, Gould said that according to him, the ransom notes sent to the media are fraudulent, adding that if the ransom was authentic, Guthrie's family clearly had the means to pay the ransom. He noted, "The absence of proof of life-and the manner of communication- tells me this was never a credible ransom situation." Gould said that while it is not uncommon for families with significant resources to offer such large awards, what is unusual is how communication has unfolded in this case, and added that ransom usually requires a proof of life, without which, no rational exchange takes place. Guthrie's suspect left digital evidence? Fox News, citing a forensics expert, said that Guthrie's suspect may have left behind digital evidence, adding that cell tower data, Wi-Fi logs, and other digital breadcrumbs could prove substantial in the case. The development came after the Pima County Sheriff Department had no success in matching the DNA samples from the glove, which was recovered two miles from Guthrie's home and was being considered a massive piece of evidence. A man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) outside Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthries mother, Nancy Guthrie's, home in Arizona late Thursday (local time) after he was reportedly seen driving past the residence between 50 and 100 times while looking at a photo of the missing grandmother on his phone, according to a report by NewsNation. According to NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin, members of the media noticed the driver behaving strangely as he slowly passed Guthrie's Tucson home in a blue vehicle, repeatedly stopping to glance at a memorial set up outside. Entin said the unidentified man appeared to have an image of the 84-year-old missing woman on his phone as he crept by the house. Watch the video here: No-parking zone around the home of Nancy Guthrie's mother The no-parking zone surrounding the home of Nancy Guthrie is being expanded after neighbours voiced frustration over traffic congestion, trespassing and litter in the weeks following her disappearance, AP reported. Officials in Pima County said a weekend attempt to make the road in front of the Catalina Foothills home one-way did not ease the situation as intended, pressing broader parking restrictions. The updated rules, which take effect Thursday, will still allow journalists and social media streamers access to the area, but they must park elsewhere and be dropped off. Violators could face a $250 fine. The ongoing presence of news crews, bloggers and onlookers has divided residents. While some welcome the heightened attention to the case, others have put out cones and signs in an effort to keep people off their property. Nancy Guthrie's neighbours say nobody wants Holly Vatter, who lives on a street that intersects with the one where Nancy Guthries home is located, said the once-quiet neighbourhood has been transformed into what feels like a parking lot, as reported by AP. She noted that where only a few cars would typically pass through her road each day, vehicles now continuously drive by or park along her street. Shes learned to keep her blinds down, avoids opening her screen door in the morning and afternoon to prevent hearing TV newscasters and doesnt want to sit in her backyard because drones are flying overhead. She said it was stressful to wind through the traffic to get to and from a surgery she is now recovering from and that she paused hair appointments with her clients who planned to come to her home, AP reported. Nobody wants to, like, drive through a media circus to come to an appointment, Vatter said. We still believe in a miracle. Vatters street will be impacted by the parking restriction, and shes hopeful itll offer some reprieve from the chaotic environment. Earlier on February 24, Savannah Guthrie shared a video announcing a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the recovery of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. Reflecting on what she described as 24 days of anguish, she asked for continued prayers and said the family still believes in a miracle. A former Chinese official, who now resides in the United States, has come forward as a whistleblower on the Chinese system, exposing how China spies on its citizens at home and overseas, including the US. According to a CNN report, Ma Ruilin, who runs a Chinese restaurant in New York, claims that the former cadres in China's ruling Communist Party would not understand the reason behind his leaving his comfortable life as a government official. Mas choice to publicly criticise the system he fled offers rare insider testimony at a time when US authorities are intensifying efforts to counter what they describe as Beijings transnational repression, alleged tactics used to intimidate and silence members of the Chinese diaspora abroad. However, for Ma, who grew increasingly disillusioned with Beijing's policies, the decision to leave Beijing was not easy, as he left everything behind, including his family. "The system has always been evil," he said, adding, "If you dont leave, youll keep doing evil there. During his time with the Chinese government, Ma recalled his role in designing and implementing programmes that suppressed China's religious minorities. He outlined how the scope and reach of the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the secretive Communist Party body where he was employed, had significantly expanded. Minorities targeted in China and Ma's role According to Ma, Beijing's alleged tactics of surveillance over its expats in the US come after it has perfected the tactics at home. Ma, a Hui Muslim, a Chinese-speaking minority group, had a task to carry out surveillance on religious groups for much of his career, which included Christians and Muslims. He added that his department was to shut down mosques, remove domes, and expel imams. Further, informants were hired, and surveillance cameras were installed at the mosque in Gansu, following which, the officials gathered information that sent innocent people either to prison camps or jail. UFWD's evolving role The UFWD, which was established during Mao Zedong's era, has since then evolved. Under Xi Jinping, the current Chinese leader, the department has evolved into a broad propaganda and influence network, one that is aimed at mobilising support for the Chinese Communist Party's policies, both within the country and abroad. Since the department's inception, UFWD has worked as a political philosophy and a branch of the ruling Communist Party, which Mao and Xi have termed as one of China's "magic weapons" to strengthen the party. UFWD is heavily connected with the public and state security apparatus, forming "one chessboard, all together, one whole," he said. In recent years, the Communist Party has expanded its strategy with calls for stronger measures to implement the department's work and to enhance the capacity of its operations, according to Chinas state news agency Xinhua News Agency. Ma said staffing levels have basically doubled since 2019. He added that even in the United States, the department has some activity going on, adding that he once saw a confidential document showing that some of the informants of the UFWD were arrested in the US. According to Ma, sometimes the department recruits people with money or benefits, adding that there are many ways to win over someone and corrupt them. UFWD's links outside China The department is said to have links to certain student organisations and community groups in the US, including so-called hometown associations. Beijing maintains that such groups assist members with routine matters like obtaining drivers licences. However, according to Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, they may also serve as recruiting grounds for individuals willing to take part in what authorities describe as transnational repression. Over 2,000 organisations, which are connected to the United Front Work Department, have been identified in four democratic countries, including the US, Canada, Britain, and Germany. China's attempt to silence dissent on US soil: Experts CNN, citing experts, said that this is a campaign by the Chinese government to silence dissent on US soil, calling it aggressive and widespread. Rozhavsky said there are hundreds of Chinese operatives in the United States, describing their presence as a serious violation of US sovereignty. Meanwhile, Laura Harth of the human rights group Safeguard Defenders argued that the United Front Work Department has effectively been turned into a tool, with coercive tactics forming the flip side of its broader influence efforts. Those connected to the department have often faced allegations of harassing and intimidating activists and critics, especially those who are associated with groups Beijing labels the Five Poisons", supporters of independence or expanded freedoms for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang, as well as adherents of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong. China denies allegations of espionage on foreign soil Also Read | US Places Visa Curbs on Thai Officials Over Uyghur Deportations According to the report, Beijing has constantly denied any accusations of carrying out espionage or illegal activities on foreign soil. US President Donald Trump said on Friday (February 27) that while he remains dissatisfied with Irans unwillingness to commit to giving up nuclear weapons, he still hopes for a diplomatic solution but warned that sometimes the United States may need to use force. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House for a trip to Texas, Trump said that recent negotiations between US envoys and Iranian officials in Geneva ended without a deal and that Iran has is to meet key US demands. Talks continue amid tensions Trump said more discussions on Iran would take place later on Friday, though he did not specify with whom those talks would be held. Top US defence officials were at the White House on Thursday for related meetings. We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they're not saying those golden words, Trump told reporters, underscoring the US position that Tehran must forswear nuclear arms. Military readiness and the use of force When asked about the possibility of military action, Trump emphasized US strength, saying the country possesses the greatest military in the world. Id love not to use it but sometimes you have to, he added, indicating that military force remains an option if diplomacy fails. A large US military presence is already deployed in the Middle East, prepared to act if ordered by the president. Oman mediation efforts Oman, which has served as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, sent its foreign minister to Washington on Friday for discussions with US Vice President JD Vance, according to sources cited by Reuters. This move highlights continued diplomatic engagement even as tensions remain high. White House perspectives A source familiar with White House internal deliberations told Reuters that Trump, who ordered bombing raids against Iranian nuclear sites last year, is very clear-eyed on all the options before him. Officials acknowledge that any conflict with Iran would likely be more difficult than the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and there is internal scepticism about whether negotiations will succeed, the source said. Nobody is super optimistic about the negotiations, they added. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, during an unannounced trip to Washington. After the meeting, Mamdami took to X to say, "I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon." He said, "Im looking forward to building more housing in New York City." 'Trump Delivers 12,000+ Homes': Mock newspapers Mamdani also shared a photo of himself with Trump, showing the US President holding two printouts of New York Daily News front pages, "one real and one fake," the New York Times reported. The one in his left hand shows a real front page from 1975, with the infamous headline Ford to City: Drop Dead, published after President Gerald Ford refused to bail out New York City, which was nearing bankruptcy, the report added. In his other hand, Trump could be seen holding a fake front page that read "Trump to City: Lets Build." In smaller type beneath that headline, the page read Backs New Era of Housing. And in even smaller type, it reads Trump Delivers 12,000+ Homes; Most Since 1973. Anna Bahr, a spokeswoman for City Hall, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that Mamdani had provided the printouts to Trump, and that the 12,000-unit number referred to an actual proposal. Mamdanis office declined to elaborate on the mayors housing proposal, but Bahr said Trump was very enthusiastic about it. Anna Bahr said the mayors team created a mock front page and headlines for Trump to look at and demonstrate what kind of reaction new federal housing investments could bring. According to the New York Times, the proposal was possibly a reference to Sunnyside Yards, the massive rail yard in Queens over which the city has long dreamed of building 12,000 units of housing. What else happened during Trump, Mamdani meeting? At the meeting on Thursday which was previously unannounced and lasted for about an hour Mamdani also brought up the detainment of Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University student. In another post on X, Mamdani said he raised concerns with Trump about the detention of Columbia University student Elmina Aghayeva from Azerbaijan by the ICE on Thursday. He said that Trump later informed him that she will be "released imminently." "Just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently," Madani posted on X. After the meeting, the student posted on Instagram that she had been released. While both men have been critical of each other's policy positions in the past and hold radically different worldviews, their previous meeting in November was unexpectedly friendly. Mamdani also gave White House chief of staff Susie Wiles a list of four other students targeted by federal authorities and asked for the administrations help with them. The four students are Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, Mohsen Mahdawi and Leqaa Kordia, who were all detained for their roles in pro-Palestinian protests. Of the four, only Kordia remains in custody, although all cases are proceeding through the courts. Second meeting between Trump, Mamdani It marked the second meeting between Trump and Mamdani since Mamdani's mayoral election win late last year. Mamdani is a Democrat and Trump is a Republican. When Trump and Mamdani last met in November, the president encouraged Mamdani to return to him with an idea to build big things together in New York City, Bahr was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. Also Read | Mamdani Plans to Hike NYC Property Tax to Fill Budget Hole In their first meeting too, Mamdani and Trump had spoken about bringing down the price of housing. A former real estate developer, Trump had brightened at Mamdani's call for more housing in New York. Making housing more affordable has been one of Trump's pledges ahead of the midterm elections in late 2026 as prices for housing remain significantly higher than they were a few years ago. Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday strongly condemned what he described as renewed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities, asserting that the Afghan people would respond to any aggression with unity and courage. Karzai's comments came after Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an open war on the Taliban government in Afghanistan on Friday, hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces in what it called a retaliation to Afghanistan's earlier cross-border attack. The Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. The Afghans will defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage, Karzai wrote in a post on X. Karzai served as the seventh president of Afghanistan from 2002 to 2014. He also served as chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration from 2001 to 2002. He accused Islamabad of continuing a pattern of military aggression. He said Afghans would defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances". Earlier, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 were injured. "Afghan Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties," he said, adding that at least 27 posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed, and nine other posts were captured. Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence The former Afghanistan President also criticised Pakistan's internal security policies, claiming that Islamabad could not free itself from the cycle of violence through cross-border strikes. "Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings--those problems it has created itself--but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan," he added. Earlier, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. The 2,611 km (1,622 miles) border between the two countries, known as the Durand Line, has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to 26 February, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. "A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read. Along the Durand Line The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan. In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured, the statement said. It further stated that the four-hour operation destroyed two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts. The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was captured. During these operations, dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and military supplies were seized by Afghan forces, it said. Also Read | Hamid Karzai, Abdullah discusses situation in Kabul with Taliban acting governor The statement added that eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 others were injured during the operation. It also alleged that 13 civilians were injured in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar. In this retaliatory operation, 8 of our Mujahideen achieved the high status of martyrdom, and 11 others were injured, the ministry said. Operation 'Ghazab Lil Haq' In retaliation, Pakistan launched what it called Operation Ghazab Lil Haq targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded. The operations have also destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine, as reported by Geo News. The Afghans will defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage. Pakistani security forces carried out retaliatory operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur districts, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts, ARY News reported. * Any Lucia Lopez Belloza declines flight after threat of second deportation * Judge ordered Trump's administration to rectify deportation error * Lawyer accuses administration of "gamesmanship" in immigration case By Nate Raymond BOSTON, - The Trump administration scheduled a Friday flight to bring a deported college student back from Honduras after a judge ordered her return, but she declined to board the plane after U.S. authorities said they may detain and deport her again. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a freshman at Babson College in Massachusetts, had been deported to a country she left when she was 8, after being detained at Boston's Logan International Airport while traveling to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Texas. The 20-year-old was flown to Honduras on November 22 despite a Massachusetts judge's order the prior day barring her from being deported or transferred out of the state for 72 hours. A government lawyer later apologized for what he called a "mistake." Boston-based U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns on February 13 ordered President Donald Trump's administration to rectify the error it made during its immigration crackdown by Friday by facilitating her return. Lopez Belloza told reporters she had been excited to learn on Thursday the administration had arranged for a flight to take her home. "Hours later, that excitement turned into a nightmare," Lopez Belloza said. She said a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer misled her by repeatedly telling her on Thursday that if she boarded the plane, she would be released upon landing in the United States. "I believed him for a second," she said. "I pictured stepping off of the plane and finally being free." Yet in court filings on Thursday afternoon, the administration said it planned to move to deport her again once she arrived. It said it had the authority to detain her if she took the ICE flight from Honduras to Texas because she was already subject to a final order of removal, which was issued when she was 11. "I won't mince words," Lopez Belloza said during a virtual press conference. "I am angry. I am sad." Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza's lawyer, accused the administration of "gamesmanship" and vowed to continue her legal fight. "I'm not stopping until she's back here, but she's not coming back in handcuffs," he said. In a court filing later on Friday, the administration said Lopez Belloza failed to appear for a pre-arranged meeting to assist with her departure and did not board the scheduled flight after previously agreeing to come to an airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, whose office has been fighting Lopez Belloza's legal challenge, in a statement said the ICE-arranged flight was intended to restore the "status quo." "The status quo that existed prior to her removal was that she was subject to a final order of removal and as the government argued throughout this case, ICE has statutory authority to detain an individual to effectuate such removal," the spokesperson, Christina Sterling, said. Pakistan, Afghanistan 'war' LIVE: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared an open war with the Afghan Taliban on Friday. Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on Friday and carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday in retaliation for Afghanistan's cross-border attack on Pakistan. As tensions escalated at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the Afghan ministry reportedly said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. Meanwhile, Pakistan said it killed over 130 Taliban fighters in a retaliatory operation. Two senior Pakistani security officials told The Associated Press that Pakistans military carried out airstrikes targeting what they described as Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, allegedly destroying two brigade bases. Pakistan's information ministry said Afghan Taliban opened "unprovoked firing" on multiple locations along the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors on Thursday evening. Afghanistan had earlier launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the neighbouring countries that made a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky. In a press release, Afghanistan's ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates on clashes in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday declared "open war" on the Taliban government, after both sides clashed. "Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you," Khawaja Asif posted on X, according to news agency AFP on Friday. Asif's statement came as tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban this week. Pakistan bombs Kabul, Kandahar Pakistan bombed Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan on Friday, hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in what the Taliban government said was retaliation for earlier deadly air strikes. Pakistan said its armed forces have given a befitting response to the Afghan Taliban, AFP reported. "Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia [province] and Kandahar," Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X. The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties. Pak attack follows Taliban's 'large-scale offensive operations' Hours earlier, Zabihullah Mujahid had announced "large-scale offensive operations" at the border "in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military". The Afghan defence ministry reported eight of its soldiers had been killed in the land offensive. According to AFP, an Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan. "A mortar shell has hit the camp and unfortunately seven of our refugees have been wounded, and the condition of one woman is serious," said Qureshi Badlun, the information chief in Nangarhar province. The border has largely been closed since fighting in October, although Afghan returnees have been allowed to cross. 'Pakistani soldiers caught alive Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, told AFP that several Pakistani soldiers had been "caught alive", a claim denied by the prime minister's office in Islamabad. The military operation follows Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar and Paktika provinces overnight into Sunday, which the UN mission in Afghanistan said killed at least 13 civilians. Also Read | Top Afghan Taliban leader issues decree against nepotism The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan's announcement that the military operation left more than 80 militants dead. Both sides also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties. Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Amid the ongoing border conflict with Afghanistan, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday his country's armed forces can "crush" aggressors. "Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions," Sharif said, according to the Pakistani government's X page. "The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces," he was quoted by AFP as saying. According to Express Tribune, Sharif affirmed that the nation and its armed forces remain fully prepared to safeguard the countrys security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Pakistan Armed Forces are committed to ensuring that the peace and security of the country are never compromised, Sharif said as per an official statement from the PM's Office, the report claimed. Our forces possess the full capability to thwart any aggressive designs, it added. 'No compromise will be made' Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly said, No compromise will be made on the defence of the homeland, and any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response." The armed forces are equipped with professional expertise, advanced training, and effective defence strategies, and are fully capable of countering any internal or external threat, the statement noted, as per the Express Tribune. Open War Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared open war with Afghanistan after both sides carried out cross-border strikes overnight that killed dozens. Pakistans military targeted defence locations in the Afghan capital Kabul as well as in the border provinces of Kandahar and Paktia, killing more than 130 Afghan Taliban operatives, according to Islamabads Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Now its an open war between us, Asif said in an X post. Now there will be chaos and reckoning. 'Those who mistake our peace for weakness...' Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari also affirmed his country's commitment to national security, stating that the country will not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. He emphasised that the armed forces response to any aggression is comprehensive and decisive," the Express Tribune reported. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response and no one will be beyond reach, the president added. Terrible mistake Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan Taliban for targeting civilians. A statement posted by the interior ministry on X quoted him as saying that Pakistans armed forces had responded befittingly to the open aggression by the Afghan Taliban. The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians, he said. The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces. The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. They will have to face serious consequences. We will not allow our security to be compromised, he was quoted by Dawn as saying. 'Cowardly' Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb condemned Afghanistans unprovoked attack on Pakistan, Dawn reported while citing a statement by the ministry on Friday. In the statement, the finance minister termed the attacks carried out in the dark of night cowardly. He reportedly said, National defence is every Pakistanis top priority. No compromise will be made on national integrity. Aurangzeb added that no harm would be done to the country's peace and security. Pakistan, Afghanistan conflict The remarks come amid Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched by Pakistan in response to unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along multiple points of the PakistanAfghanistan border on Thursday. Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, on 27 February, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at open war following months of tit-for-tat clashes. As tensions between the United States and Iran escalate over Tehrans nuclear programme and U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action, several countries are urging their citizens in Iran to leave the country. Also Read | Iran is far from building ICBMs, experts say The United States has built up a significant military presence in the Middle East. It is awaiting an order from Trump to launch a strike on Iran if negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme fail to produce a satisfactory outcome. A list of nations urging citizens to leave Iran: Italy Italys foreign ministry on Friday urged its citizens to leave Iran and exercise extreme caution across the Middle East, citing persistently unstable security conditions amid rising regional tensions, Reuters reported. "Italians in (Iran) for tourism or whose presence is not strictly necessary are urged to depart," the ministry said in a statement, adding that travel to Iraq and Lebanon was also strongly discouraged. Poland Polands foreign ministry has urged its citizens to immediately leave Iran, Israel and Lebanon because of the tense and unstable situation in the Middle East, it said on social media platform X on Friday. "The security situation in the Middle East is unstable. The risk of escalation is high! Airspace for civilian traffic may be closed. Return by air may be impossible or significantly hindered," it said in three posts regarding Iran, Israel and Lebanon, as reported by Reuters. Sweden On January 12, 2026, the Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and to leave the country immediately. In February, the Foreign Minister stated that those who chose to remain should not expect government assistance for evacuation. India On February 23, 2026, the Indian embassy in Iran advised Indian citizens currently in the country to leave using any available means of transport, including commercial flights, amid escalating tensions. "In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran... are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights," the Indian Embassy in Tehran said in a post on social media. India's foreign ministry estimates there are usually around 10,000 citizens in Iran. Also Read | India urges nationals to leave Iran as Tehran protests intensify amid war fears "All Indian citizens and PIOs (people of Indian origin) should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments," it added. China The government on Friday warned its citizens to evacuate Iran immediately, citing a significant increase in external security risks amid rising regional tensions. Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. China suggested its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran for the time being in light of the current security situation. Cyprus On January 13, 2026, Cyprus Foreign Ministry warned its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and leave the country immediately amid growing regional tensions. Singapore Singapores Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens to continue deferring all travel to Iran amid heightened regional tensions and security concerns, Reuters reported. Germany Germany has urged its citizens to leave Iran, noting that commercial flights are still operating and departures by land remain possible, according to its Foreign Ministry on January 20. Brazil Earlier, Brazil advised its citizens to leave Iran, following an earlier warning in January for those in Lebanon. The government had also recommended last year that Brazilians avoid travelling to both countries. Serbia Serbia urged its citizens not to travel to Iran in the coming period. "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. Also Read | US deploys combat jets to Israel for potential wartime mission in Iran UK On Friday, the UK announced it would temporarily pull its staff out of Iran because of regional security concerns. The Foreign Office stated that its capacity to assist British citizens is now severely limited, with the embassy functioning remotely and no in-person consular services available, even in emergencies. US Earlier on February 6, the US Virtual Embassy Iran said, U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Turkiye. View full Image Source: US Virtual Embassy Iran. It further added, "Leave Iran now. Have a plan for departing Iran that does not rely on U.S. government help. Flight cancellations and disruptions are possible with little warning. Check directly with your airlines for updates." Earlier Friday, the US State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make a quick trip to Israel early next week. The US Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signalling that US military action might be imminent. The announcement of Rubio's visit could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike, AP reported. Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, Afghanistan's government spokesperson said, hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the neighbouring countries that made a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky, news agency AP said. At least three explosions were heard in Kabul, but there was no immediate information on the exact location of the strikes in the Afghan capital, or of any potential casualties. Afghanistan said Pakistan also carried out airstrikes in Kandahar to the south and in the southeastern province of Paktia. Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's Defence Minister, acknowledged the Pakistan strikes and declared an open war on the Taliban government in Afghanistan on Friday, hours after Pakistan airstrikes. Tension has been high between Afghanistan and Pakistan - the two neighbours for months -- with deadly border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. The violence followed explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad, at the time, conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire was agreed on between the two sites on October 19 last year. The ceasefire has largely held, but the two sides have still occasionally traded fire across the border. Several rounds of peace talk in November failed to produce a formal agreement. On Sunday, Pakistans military carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, saying it had killed at least 70 militants. Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying dozens of civilians had been killed, including women and children. Pakistan welcomed the return to power of the Taliban in 2021, with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan saying that Afghans had "broken the shackles of slavery". But Islamabad soon found that the Taliban were not as cooperative as it had hoped, according to a Reuters report. Over the years, however, Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring armed groups led by the Pakistan Taliban, known by its acronym TTP, on its soil. "In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line," Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed on X said in a post on X Thursday night. Clashes near the key Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Durand Line resumed on February 27, according to media reports. What is the Durand Line? At the heart of the confrontation lies the Durand Line, the 2,611-km frontier drawn during British colonial rule in the 19th century. It is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, a British civil servant who negotiated the agreement with Afghan ruler Abdur Rahman Khan. The border divides ethnic Pashtun communities, which has fueled political and nationalist tensions. In 1893, British India and Afghanistan signed an agreement to define their spheres of influence. The line split the Pashtun tribal areas, leaving many Pashtuns on both sides. After Pakistan was created in 1947, it inherited the Durand Line as its western border. While Pakistan recognises it as the official international border, successive Afghan governments have refused to formally acknowledge it. Afghanistan Position But successive administrations in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, have rejected the Durand Line, arguing that it divides the homeland of the ethnic Pashtun and Baloch populations. Afghanistan has historically disputed the legitimacy of the Durand Line, arguing that the original agreement was imposed under British pressure and should not automatically apply to Pakistan. Taliban has, at times, sent troops to impede Pakistans fencing of the boundary. Given that all past Afghan governments have refused to recognise this border, inherited from colonial times, it is hard to imagine the Taliban doing so, according to a recent report in the global think tank International Crisis Group. The porous mountainous border has been a major route for militant movement, especially during the Soviet-Afghan War and the post-2001 conflict involving the Taliban. With both sides trading casualty figures and accusations, the situation remains volatile, raising fears of a broader military confrontation in the region. Regional instability concerns Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told LiveMint that the deepening distrust between neighbouring nations is likely to lead to prolonged regional instability Islamabad accuses Kabul of actively supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its attacks on Pakistani territory, while also blaming New Delhi for colluding with Kabul in this effort, he said Considering that Pakistan, without presenting any evidence, has also been accusing India of supporting rebel groups in Balochistan, and India has been criticising Pakistan for fomenting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the entire region is caught in a web of insurgency and counterinsurgency accusations, Donthi said. (With agency inputs) This deepening distrust between neighbouring nations is likely to lead to prolonged regional instability. This deepening distrust between neighbouring nations is likely to lead to prolonged regional instability, he said. The sentencing of Edward Blondie Stokes and his wife Sharon - which had been scheduled for today, the February 27 sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court - in relation to offences arising from a serious incident involving a local garda sergeant back in December 2018, has been adjourned until May 19. Edward Stokes last week pleaded guilty in response to the charge of having permitted a dog under his control to attack Inspector Garda Tom Quinn, then a sergeant at Granard Garda Station. During the same sitting, Sharon Stokes also pleaded guilty in response to the charge that she produced an article capable of inflicting serious injury namely a slash hook during the same incident, which occurred at Ferriskill in Granard on December 3 2018. Read: Longford husband and wife to be sentenced next week for 2018 incident with Garda Sergeant A jury had originally been empanelled in anticipation of a trial last week however the 12 jury members were disbanded after the couple entered last minute plea changes to guilty. Instead, a Victim Impact Statement was ordered by Judge Jonathan Dunphy and a date for sentencing, February 27, was listed, with the Judge stipulating at the time that the sentencing would only go ahead if Judge Kenneth Connolly was available to preside over the matter. Upon confirmation that Judge Connolly was unavailable, the sentencing was today adjourned until May 19. Mr and Mrs Stokes were not present in Longford Courthouse for the mention. In listing the new date for sentencing, Judge Dunphy acknowledged receipt of a report he had requested last week from the governor of Castlerea Prison in respect of Mr Stokes, who is currently serving a sentence there on another matter. Read: Warrant for man who "couldn't get a lift to Longford" Judge Dunphy went on to direct that an updated governors report be provided in advance of the new sentencing date, adding that it was necessary given the passage of three months from today. The Judge also made a production order directing Castlerea Prison to produce Mr Stokes before the court on May 19. In addressing Ms Niamh Tubridy - the barrister representing Mrs Sharon Stokes - the Judge acknowledged receipt of a one page community service assessment and said he would be remanding Mrs Stokes on the same bail terms to May 19. The sale of a number of homes that had belonged to criminals in Limerick, Waterford, and Dublin has seen over 1 million recouped by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in just 48 hours. Two properties were sold in Limerick for a combined value of 341,000, both of which were linked to Kieran Keane Jr. He is the son of gang boss Kieran Keane Sr, who was tortured and shot in a gangland hit in 2003, according to BreakingNews.ie. Keane Jr's two properties were sold via an online auction held by BRG Gibson Auctions on Thursday. Both sold for well over the asking prices, with one property being bought for 173,000 and the other for 168,000. READ NEXT: UCD block student who was raped from finishing medical studies, but rapist was allowed to continue On Wednesday, a home in Dublin that had belonged to a drug dealer called David Waldron sold for 490,000. Waldron also had a mansion worth 1.6 million seized by CAB. In Waterford, the home of Tipperary man John OConnor Jr was sold at auction for 255,000. "The taking of these properties sends a very visible message to the communities in which these people reside and who have been benefitting from the proceeds of crime," Head of CAB, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins, said. Representatives from Iranian Kurdish opposition groups announce the formation of a coalition against the Iranian regime at a press conference on February 22. (Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan on X) Five Kurdish Iranian groups announced the formation of a united coalition against the Tehran regime in a joint press conference on February 22. The press conference was held by leaders from the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), the Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan, and one branch of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan. Two other branches of the Komala Party did not join the coalition. The decision to form a coalition comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions and potential US strikes on Iran. As the Kurdish groups have pursued increased unity, the Iranian-backed Shiite Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah (KH) has issued new threats against Iraqs Kurds. On February 26, KH warned the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where many Kurdish Iranian groups are based, against cooperating with hostile foreign forces. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq borders the Kurdish region of Iran. It was not clear from the statement if Kataib Hezbollahs reference to foreign forces is intended to refer primarily to the US role in the Kurdistan region, mainly to Iranian Kurdish groups present in northern Iraq, or both equally. The five Iranian anti-regime Kurdish groups have been working more closely together over the last several months. They formed a Dialogue Center that has been active in supporting protests in Iran. Rojhelat Info, an X account that covers Kurdish issues in Iran, published the platform of the new coalition. According to the joint statement, the main goal of the new platform is to strengthen unity among Kurdish political forces, increase political and field coordination, and organize a joint struggle for democracy, justice, and the national rights of the Kurdish people in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan, Rojhelat stated. The Kurdish Rudaw Media Network noted that many of these Kurdish groups have opposed the Iranian regime for decades. The PDKI, a Kurdish opposition group, has fought an intermittent insurgency against Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They supported the nationwide protests in January, which Trump on Friday said had left 32,000 people killed, Rudaw reported, adding, The agreement was signed in the presence of senior party leaders, PDKIs Mustafa Hijri, PAKs Hossein Yazdanpanah, Khabats Baba Sheikh Hosseini, Reza Kaabi of Komala, and PJAKs Viyan Peyman. The statement by the Kurdish opposition groups has led to controversy with supporters of the Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah deposed in Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution. On X, Pahlavi posted a condemnation of several separatist groups. Rudaw noted on February 26 that Komala Party Secretary-General Abdullah Mohtadi criticized Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi for suppressing the Kurds on Thursday after Pahlavi accused separatist groups of undermining Iranian unity. Rojhelat Info also noted the controversy. Many do not view these remarks merely as a political position but as a direct attack on the newly formed alliance of Kurdish parties in Iranian Kurdistan and as an attempt to weaken the unity of those opposing the Islamic Republic, the account stated. In the wake of the statement by the Kurdish Iranian groups, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq also issued a statement distancing the autonomous Iraqi region from any activity against Iran. Today, several parties issued a statement in which they threatened a neighboring country. In this regard, we deem it necessary to reiterate that the Kurdistan Region, as always, has been a factor of stability and calm in the region and has never been a source of threat or danger to the security of any neighboring country, nor will it allow any party to use the Kurdistan Region against any neighboring country, the KRG said. Iran has targeted Kurdish groups in the KRG and Erbil with missile and drone attacks in the past. In addition to threatening the KRG, Kataib Hezbollah has also warned the US against striking Iran. Should evil America proceed to ignite the fuse of war in the region, it will find itself facing massive losses that cannot be contained or recovered, KH stated. The Kurds of the region must act rationally and not become embroiled in a military adventure targeting Islamic Iran, Kataib Hezbollah spokesperson Abu Ali al-Askari said in another statement, according to The New Region. Sky News Arabiaalso noted on February 25 that other pro-Iranian groups in Iraq had accused the US of not fulfilling its agreement to withdraw from Iraq. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). Taliban fighters march in formation. (Taliban Ministry of Defense on X) Heavy clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government broke out on February 27, with hundreds of casualties reported on both sides of their contested border. The fighting between the two countries is the most severe since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Our cup of patience has overflowed, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistans defense minister, said after the Pakistani military launched a series of airstrikes in Afghanistan. Now it is open war between us and [Afghanistan]. The Pakistani military launched Ghazab Lil Haqq, or Operation Righteous Fury, after the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistani military outposts along the border. The Afghan Taliban said it had launched those attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes against jihadi training camps in Afghanistan last weekend. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda, two terror groups that are enemies of the Pakistani state, are sheltered and supported by the Afghan Taliban. The TTP is waging a deadly insurgency in Pakistan and launches attacks against the Pakistani state on a daily basis. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of the Pakistani military Inter-Services Public Relations, said that Pakistan launched Operation Righteous Fury after the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al Khawarij struck 53 military sites in western Pakistan. The Pakistani military and government refer to the TTP as Fitna al Khawarij and falsely claim that the group is an Indian-sponsored proxy. Chaudhry claimed that all 53 Afghan attacks, which included armed quadcopters [and] big and small weapons, were defeated by the Pakistani military. The Afghan Taliban regime, which is the master proxy of all these terrorist proxies operating from Afghanistan that master proxy came into action last night along with the terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij, Chaudhry said. In response, the Pakistani military destroyed 73 outposts along the border and seized 18 more, killing 274 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounding 400, Chaudhry claimed. Additionally, the Pakistani Air Force targeted 22 facilities, including military headquarters, bases, weapons depots, and terrorist safe houses, in Afghanistans Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Nangarhar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces. Twelve Pakistani soldiers were killed, and 27 were wounded, according to Chaudhry. Pakistani politicians have ratcheted up rhetoric against the Taliban. For example, Pakistan Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar called the Taliban government illegitimate and claimed its leaders have used perversion of religion to further their own motives. Afghan Taliban touts strikes on Pakistan Afghanistans Ministry of Defense confirmed that it had launched airstrikes against Pakistani military sites, which led to the Pakistani response. Taliban air assets hit various targets, including a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military headquarters in Nowshera, a military headquarters in Jamrud, and also in Abbottabad, Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Talibans Ministry of Defense, claimed. The Talibans Ministry of Defense also claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and two [Pakistani] headquarters and 19 check posts were captured during the fighting. Eight Taliban fighters were killed, and 11 more were wounded, according to the Ministry of Defense. Afghan military operations are reportedly set to end at midnight on February 27. The most intense round of fighting since 2021 Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have clashed several times since the Afghan Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. However, todays fighting is the most serious round between the two neighbors. The last time the two countries clashed was in October 2025, when the Afghan Taliban launched attacks inside Pakistan after the Pakistani military attempted to kill the head of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The Pakistani government and military have become increasingly frustrated since the Afghan Taliban rose to power in 2021. The Pakistani state had hoped that the Afghan Taliban would restrain the TTP, which aims to mirror the Afghan Talibans success and establish an Islamic Emirate in Pakistan. While the Pakistani government and military accuse India of backing the TTP, the Pakistanis are directly responsible for the rise and the success of the TTP. Pakistan has supported the Afghan Taliban since its founding in 1994 and used the group to improve its strategic depthboth geographically in Afghanistan and as a fighting forceagainst its primary foe, India. The Afghan Taliban also supported and continues to support the TTP, providing shelter for the terror group as it launched its insurgency in Pakistan. The Pakistani state has been well aware of the close relationship between the Taliban and the TTP. However, it has looked the other way for three decades to maintain its coveted strategic depth, hoping for a pliant Afghan state that it could use to support a war against India. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. The search is officially underway for the 2026 Connacht Mary, as excitement begins to build once again ahead of the much-loved Mary From Dungloe Festival. Young women from across the western province are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the opportunity of a lifetime to represent Connacht at one of Irelands most cherished cultural celebrations. Each year, the festival in Dungloe draws thousands of visitors home and abroad, celebrating Irish heritage, community spirit and the global Irish diaspora. A Year to Remember for 2025 Connacht Mary The 2025 Connacht Mary, Caragh Ryan, described her year as an unforgettable journey filled with friendship, pride and opportunity. Over the past twelve months, Caragh travelled extensively throughout Connacht and beyond, attending community festivals, charity fundraisers and cultural events. From representing the province at race days to supporting Irish community gatherings, she embraced every engagement with enthusiasm and warmth. Her role brought her to towns and villages across Connacht, where she met former Marys, community leaders and families who have long supported the festival tradition. The Kilmeena native also used her platform to highlight causes close to her heart, championing volunteerism and celebrating the strength of local communities. It was about connection, she reflected during a recent interview. Every event was a chance to meet people, hear their stories and share what makes our communities so special. A Magical Week in Dungloe Caraghs journey reached its pinnacle last summer when she joined fellow provincial, county and international representatives in Dungloe for festival week. The streets were alive with music, colour and anticipation as visitors packed the town for the annual Celebration. Throughout the week, she took part in parades, live interviews, gala events and community visits. From the glittering selection night to the informal gatherings that forged lifelong friendships, she described the experience as both exhilarating and deeply meaningful. The atmosphere in Dungloe is like nowhere else, she said. Theres such pride, such warmth, it truly feels like one big family. It really was the experience of a lifetime. My Grandad asked me to consider entering and I am so glad I did! While the overall Mary From Dungloe was ultimately crowned after a week of festivities, Caragh said the bonds formed among the Marys were the real highlight. Many of the young women, representing counties across Ireland and Irish communities overseas, remain close friends. Looking Ahead to 2026 Now, attention turns to finding the next young woman to carry the Connacht banner in 2026. Organisers are seeking someone who embodies community spirit, confidence and a genuine pride in their roots. The role is not about pageantry, they stress, but about personality, participation and representing ones community with authenticity. As Caraghs year demonstrated, the experience offers opportunities for travel, networking and personal growth - alongside the chance to stand on the stage in Dungloe live on TG4 and become part of a cherished tradition. Applications for the 2026 Connacht Mary are open and interest is already beginning to grow. The selection night will take place in Gracies Bar, Sligo, on Friday 6th March. If If you're interested, please contact Deirdre on 087-621-8328. For one young woman in Connacht, the journey to Dungloe and perhaps even to the festival crown - is about to begin! To have a look at what Caragh got up to during her year as the Connacht Mary, visit the link below: www.instagram.com/connachtmary2025 More than 900 children across County Mayo will join in the fun and festivities of National Pyjama Day 2026 today, donning their favourite pyjamas in 29 Early Years and School Age Care settings across the county. Organised by Early Childhood Ireland, the annual event encourages children to wear pyjamas to creches, preschools, and afterschools for a day filled with games and activities, all while raising much-needed funds for charity. National Pyjama Day captures the spirit of children helping children in the most joyful way, said Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland. Its so inspiring to see over 900 children and their educators join the celebrations in Early Years and School Age Care settings in Mayo today. This years celebrations support LauraLynn, Irelands Childrens Hospice, and Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project, which promotes eco-learning for educators and families. READ MORE: Children and foster families in Mayo celebrate Care Day 2026 Funds raised will help LauraLynn provide personalised care for children with palliative and complex needs and support their families across Ireland. It is fantastic to see so many children and Early Years settings joining National Pyjama Day today, said Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn. This support helps us to provide hospice and palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, added: National Pyjama Day truly shows the power of communities coming together to champion children. We congratulate LauraLynn and wish them every success as they continue to provide vital support for families in need. Children across Mayo will enjoy a range of activities today, all while learning about the importance of caring for others and the environment. To donate and support National Pyjama Day 2026, visit Early Childhood Ireland. READ MORE: Mayo darts fundraiser throws lifeline to Achill RNLI with 2,000 boost Minister of State Alan Dillon TD has welcomed 43,871 in funding for three Mayo environmental and biodiversity projects under the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme. Nationally, 1.1 million has been allocated to 53 community-led initiatives supporting endangered species research, peatland restoration, and the removal of invasive species. Minister Dillon said the investment reflects the outstanding commitment of Mayos environmental groups and volunteers, who continue to deliver high-impact projects that protect our natural heritage and strengthen local climate action. Three Mayo initiatives have been approved: The Great Yellow Bumblebee Project / Belmullet Tidy Towns Mullet Machair Wildflower Seed Futures (18,000). Funding will support the conservation of the endangered Great Yellow Bumblebee through wildflower seed collection, propagation, and habitat enhancement across the Mullet Peninsula. CALL Climate Action Louisburgh Locality Charraig Bhan Bog Restoration Project (Phase 2) and Scoping New Engagement Opportunities (13,100). This project will continue the restoration of the Charraig Bhan bog, improving biodiversity, carbon storage, and water retention, while exploring new ways to involve the community in climate action. Mayo Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Cetacean Presence and Activity Patterns in Blacksod Bay (12,771). Research will focus on whale and dolphin activity in Blacksod Bay, including analysis of live stranding events, contributing to national understanding of marine mammal behaviour and conservation needs. Minister Dillon said: Mayo is leading the way in community-driven environmental action. These initiatives highlight the best of Mayos environmental leadership. From protecting one of Irelands rarest pollinators, to restoring vital peatlands, to advancing marine research in Blacksod Bay, our communities are driving meaningful action on biodiversity and climate. He added that the national scheme plays a crucial role in empowering local groups: This 1.1 million investment supports practical, science-based projects that deliver real results. I am proud to see Mayo securing 43,871 for work that will have long-lasting benefits for our environment and our communities. Minister Dillon congratulated all three Mayo recipients and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting environmental and community initiatives across the county. READ MORE: Memories shared as Mayo post office manager retires after 45 years Two Midlands-North-West MEPs have sharply criticised the European Commission following confirmation that the trade elements of the EUMercosur agreement will be provisionally applied before a full vote of the European Parliament. The decision comes after nine Irish MEPs voted in January to refer the Mercosur deal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), seeking legal clarification before ratification. Maria Walsh, a Fine Gael MEP and full member of the European Parliaments Agriculture Committee, said the referral had backfired and warned at the time that it would not block the deal but could instead accelerate its implementation. While Im bitterly disappointed with todays news, it comes as no surprise to me that the Commission has decided to provisionally implement the Mercosur trade deal, she said. I warned that the court referral would not block this deal it would only change the route by which it comes into force. MEPs who voted in favour of the referral should feel the full weight of their decisions today. READ MORE: MEP Maria Walsh calls for EU-wide emergency number following cross-border tragedy Walsh argued that although provisional application is legally within the Commissions powers, it goes against the spirit of cooperation between EU institutions. She said MEPs should have had their say before any part of the agreement was activated. The referral to the ECJ was a political gesture dressed up as strategy, she added. Those who supported it knew it was highly unlikely to deliver meaningful protections for Irish farmers. In fact, we now find ourselves in a worse position facing earlier implementation and prolonged uncertainty for our agricultural sector. However, fellow Midlands-North-West representative Ciaran Mullooly strongly condemned the Commissions move, describing it as a serious undermining of democratic process and legal certainty. I strongly condemn the decision by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to proceed with the provisional application of the EUMercosur Trade Agreement, he said. Mullooly argued that advancing provisional application while the matter remains before the ECJ undermines the authority of the Court and disregards the institutional balance set out in EU treaties. To advance implementation in the absence of judicial determination undermines the authority of the Court and disregards the institutional balance established under the EU Treaties, he said. READ MORE: Mayo students get hands-on look at local democracy with County Council workshop He also called on the Irish Government to clarify its position, noting that the Commission indicated Member States were consulted prior to the move. Did Ireland object? Or did it acquiesce? Irish farmers and rural communities deserve full transparency, he said. Mullooly warned that the decision could have serious implications for Irish agriculture, particularly the beef sector, which has long voiced concerns about increased imports from South America. Democracy, institutional respect and the rule of law must remain the cornerstones of the European Union, he said. When those principles are weakened, so too is public trust. The Mercosur agreement, negotiated between the EU and a bloc of South American countries including Brazil and Argentina, has been controversial in Ireland due to concerns about farming standards, environmental protections and market competition. While provisional application would allow certain trade measures to take effect, the full agreement would still require formal ratification by the European Parliament and Member States. READ MORE: Mayo TD launches petition against 2.15 million County Council chamber refurbishment plan The family of a man who died after receiving a punch on a Westport street say his memory will live forever and he will always have a place at their table. The inquest into the death of Peter McDermott, late of Marino Lodge, Murrisk, Westport took place in Ballina Court House where the Coroner for Mayo, Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald recorded a narrative verdict. The 60-year-old Leitrim native died in Mayo University Hospital on September 10, 2023 after suffering a traumatic head injury in Westport in the early hours of September 9, 2023. Mr McDermott suffered the head injury after falling back onto the concrete after receiving a punch to the jaw by Vincent 'Jimmy' Connolly, who at the time worked as a bar manager in Heweston's Bar in Westport. Twenty-two members of the McDermott family including his widow Lorraine and daughter Croia attended the inquest in Ballina on Thursday. Mr Damien Tansey, senior counsel for the McDermott family said the family had been bystanders in the criminal process but the inquest allowed them the opportunity to vindicate his memory. Mr Tansey described Mr McDermott as a 'classical successful Irish man' who went to London to make a living before returning to Ireland where he bought a property in Murrisk and provided a good life for his wife and daughter. Peter McDermott will be missed and will live forever in the memories of his family, his wife and daughter and he will always have a place at their table. We will leave this court today satisfied that his account and his version of events was presented. Up until today their feelings about their loved ones were never dealt with. They were bystanders and simply looking on but today they had an opportunity to test the evidence and put Peter's account before the court and vindicate his memory, Mr Tansey said. Self defence The incident between Mr McDermott and Mr Connolly took place in the vicinity of High Street in Westport on September 9, 2023. Mr Connolly, a native of Castleplunkett, Co Roscommon was later charged with the manslaughter of Mr McDermott but was acquitted by a jury following a trial in Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court last July. Mr Connolly admitted throwing the punch but claimed it was in self defence after Mr McDermott had knocked him to the ground outside the pub for no reason. Mr Connolly was not present to give evidence at the inquest but Michael Mulroy told the inquest that he was with him as they left the Clock Tavern on High Street at around 1.20am to go to Heneghan's Late Bar on Bridge Street. Mr Mulroy said they had just left the pub when they saw a man who 'took off in a charge' towards Mr Connolly and lunged at him with his fist and elbow and knocked him to the ground. Mr Mulroy told the inquest that this was done with intent and it was not an accident. He told the inquest that when the two men got up he claimed that Mr McDermott, who he did not know at the time, squared up to Mr Connolly with his fists. He said it was not in Mr Connolly's nature to fight but he hit the man 'with one slap' on his jaw in self defence. A number of witnesses told the inquest that they heard a bang when Mr McDermott's head hit the ground and he was unconscious and blood was coming from the back of his head. Bystanders assisted him by performing CPR until the ambulance personnel arrived at 2am and brought Mr McDermott to Mayo University Hospital. When cross-examined by Mr Tansey, Mr Mulroy accepted that Mr Connolly punched Mr McDermott with a closed fist but denied the suggestion that by throwing the punch, Mr Connolly was responsible for what happened to Mr McDermott. No, he was attacked first, it was in self defence. It was a reaction to being attacked by a stranger, Mr Mulroy said. He also flatly denied a suggestion by Mr Tansey that Mr McDermott staggered into Mr Connolly because he was drunk and he had not charged at him. There was no stagger there...I saw what happened, he said. He charged with intent to cause harm. He was raging. I am lucky it was not me. I might not be here today. He wanted to hurt someone. He was looking for a fight...and picked on Jimmy, he said. READ: I was completely shocked when I got the call - Mayo shop owner on selling huge lotto jackpot winning ticket The exchanges between Mr Tansey and Mr Mulroy became tense at times during the cross examination with Mr Tansey claiming there was no evidence from witnesses or from the CCTV footage to suggest that Mr McDermott squared up to Mr Connolly. Mr Mulroy claimed the line of questioning 'was very intimidating', a suggestion denied by Mr Tansey. Mr Tansey claimed that Mr Connolly was the aggressor but Mr Mulroy said that there was no intention to hurt Mr McDermott that night. There were no winners in this. I am a victim, Mr McDermott is a victim, Jimmy is a victim, the family are victims, we are all victims. There are no winners in this case. He hit Jimmy with intent. It could have been me...I could have landed on my back and might not be here today, Jimmy might not be here today. It was an accident and nothing else. There are no winners in this, he added. Good form Evidence was also given during the inquest of how Mr McDermott got a taxi into Westport at around 9.20pm and visited the Old Grainstore pub on Bridge Street before going into JJ O'Malley's. Noel McManamon said he was in Mr McDermotts company for an hour in JJ OMalleys and described him as being in good form and there was no suggestion that he was aggressive. Michael Heneghan explained that he was working on the door at Heneghan's Late Bar when Mr McDermott approached to go in at around 12.20am. He refused entry to Mr McDermott around midnight as he felt he was too intoxicated. He claimed that Mr McDermott told him he was a 'gentle giant' and would be no problem to them but added he took this to be said in a menacing manner. Mr Heneghan said that Mr McDermott arrived around an hour later and claimed that he 'tried to go through me to enter' but was refused entry. He claimed that the situation was escalating towards violence and that Mr McDermott threatened him and was verbally abusive. Mr Heneghan told the inquest that but for a bystander standing between Mr McDermott and himself there would have been a 'physical conflict'. CCTV footage from outside the bar was shown and Mr Tansey said there was no suggestion from the footage that Mr McDermott was acting in an aggressive manner. Ruth O'Brien gave evidence that she had been staying in Westport to attend a family reunion and was walking with her son from the Cobbler Bar in the direction of Cosy Joe's late bar on Bridge Street. She said that when crossing the road she met a well dressed and respectable looking man who seemed upset, agitated and argumentative. Ms O'Brien said the man was saying he was hungry and looking for food so she directed him in the direction of the Clock Tavern which she said was the only place with people around. She said the man claimed he had been abused and was upset and asked them for a hug. She said both she and her son gave him a hug before he ran off in the direction of the Clock Tavern. Post Mortem Professor Linda Mulligan, Chief State Pathologist who performed the post mortem on Mr McDermott told the trial that Mr McDermott suffered a fracture to the base of his skull and determined the cause of death was due to a traumatic head injury caused by a propelled fall and there were no contributing factors. Blood tests showed that the level of alcohol in Mr McDermott's system was the equivalent of being four times over the drink driving limit. She said this level did not contribute to his death but agreed that due to the level of alcohol he may not have been able to protect himself when he fell. Garda Petrina Hastings arrived at High Street shortly after 1.30am and witnessed a man lying on his back with people trying to assist him. She explained that two men approached her at the scene and informed her that they had been in an altercation with the man on the ground. Garda Hastings said she cautioned Mr Connolly at 2.20am and she said he told her 'I did it...I hit him'. She said he also informed her that Mr McDermott had run towards him similar to a rugby tackle and knocked him to the ground. A memo of an interview Mr Connolly gave to Gardai was read by Sergeant Noel Crinnegan, the court presenter, and in it he described how Mr McDermott had a weird and angry look on his face when he came towards him. It was just weird. I don't know if he was showing his teeth, it just looked crazed. I don't know how to explain it, he said before later saying that 'Peter McDermott's face scared me'. Mr Connolly had attended a wedding earlier that day and admitted he had between ten to 12 pints as well as a glass of wine and a Jagerbomb at the wedding before going to the Clock Tavern just after midnight. Verdict In his submission to the inquest, Mr Tansey said that it was not a crime for Mr McDermott to go out and have a few pints on the night and his actions during the night were not that of an aggressive man. He said that Mr McDermott received a punch to the jaw which he said was an unlawful act and as such the appropriate verdict to record is unlawful killing. We live in a civilised society where the rule of law applies and none of us have the authority to take the law into our own hands, he commented. If someone is not pleasant to us, it is not within your gift to lash out and strike someone. You walk away and go to the guards. That is what you do in a civilised society. Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coronor for Mayo In response, Gary Mulchrone, solicitor representing Mr Connolly, said that his client was acquitted by a jury and this verdict cannot be dismissed when delivering a verdict. As a result of this acquittal, he said a verdict of unlawful killing cannot apply and suggested that the only appropriate verdicts for Dr Fitzgerald to consider was a narrative verdict or death by misadventure. Dr Fitzgerald said she took into account both submissions but agreed with Mr Mulchrone that the verdict of an inquest cannot be inconsistent with the verdict handed down by the circuit court. On deep consideration, she said she was recording a narrative verdict in accordance with the evidence and that Mr McDermott died after suffering a traumatic head injury caused by a propelled fall. She also commented that alcohol had played a role in the death as both Mr McDermott and Mr Connolly had a lot to drink on the night and felt this death could have been avoided. I do believe Mr McDermott was a reasonable man but circumstances which occurred upset him and changed his behaviour. Possibly alcohol and being refused access into a pub fueled whatever course of action he embarked on which ended up in the punch and him suffering a fatal injury, she commented. She expressed her sympathy to the family of Mr McDermott on their tragic loss and commended all the people who went to his assistance on the night. Champaign corks were flying and cars were hooting as the celebrations got underway in Newport for Mayos newest millionaire! Kellys Mace at the Circle K Service Station on the Mulranny Road in Newport, Co. Mayo has been announced as the selling location of Wednesdays winning Lotto jackpot winning ticket worth a staggering 11,101,286. The filling station and shop have been in business for over 30 years and shop owner Michael Kelly told The Mayo News that weve never had anything like this before, its completely new to us. A big day here in Newport. He wished the winner or winners all the best and good fortune to them from all at Kellys. The Quick Pick ticket was purchased in Kellys Mace on the day of the draw, last Wednesday. Margaret McNeela, Marian Gavin, Claire Mulroy, Conor Kilker, Tracy Muldoon, Samantha, Hoban, Nojus Malinovski, Emily Chambers, Anna Chambers and Michael Kelly Margaret McNeela has been working in the shop for over fifteen years and may well have sold the winning ticket on Wednesday. She told the Mayo News that every time you sell a ticket you say, it could be you. And here we are today, my God, we have sold it! Looking ahead to tonight, she expressed hope that the shop might also sell the winning ticket for the 160 million jackpot tonight. Next steps Speculation has grown into a frenzy in the locality, with WhatsApp groups throwing endless names of potential winners into the mix. While the consensus this morning among Newport residents was that its hoped a local won it, the ongoing roadworks and passing traffic to Achill and Ballycroy mean the winner could be from farther afield. It remains to be seen if the holder of the winning ticket will go public, as The National Lotterys Sarah Orr explains that it can be different for everyone. A lot of winners will remain anonymous and some go public at different times. It just depends on different winners. Sarah Orr, spokesperson for The National Lottery, told The Mayo News that we were delighted to hear from the winners. When the prize is so big, the best they can do is take their time and get legal and financial advice. The winner or winners will then come up to Dublin to claim their prize at a later date. Mayo holds a number of records when it comes to Lotto wins. The highest ever jackpot of just over 19 million was won in Castlebar in January 2022. Last August, an online winner from Mayo won 17 million last year, the third highest ever lotto jackpot. Industry representatives pressed for a speedy SPS deal with the EU to ease the movement of goods Northern Irelands economic growth will stall unless trade friction is urgently reduced through a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, the logistics industry has told the Secretary of State. Business group Logistics UK made the call following a meeting in Belfast on 25 February between Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn and members of the Northern Ireland Business Stakeholder Group. Industry representatives pressed for a speedy SPS deal with the EU to ease the movement of goods, while also raising concerns about how the Windsor Framework is operating in practice. There were further warnings about the potential impact of extending the maritime element of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to Northern Ireland, which could increase trade costs across the Irish Sea. Ben Garratt, Logistics UKs deputy director of public affairs, said the sector had used the meeting to highlight ongoing pressures on trade. This weeks meeting provided a great opportunity for our sector to make the case for a speedy introduction of an SPS agreement with the EU as well as to raise its concerns about the current trading situation in NI, he said. He added that it was encouraging to see how receptive the Secretary of State was to the suggestions from industry on how trading relationships could be improved. While acknowledging that the Windsor Framework has improved arrangements compared to the Northern Ireland Protocol, Mr Garratt said practical challenges remain. The Windsor Framework is certainly an improvement on the Northern Ireland Protocol, but challenges remain, such as data checks, labelling requirements and a lack of guidance for hauliers, he said. He warned that logistics businesses also face the risk of higher shipping costs if the UK ETS is applied to maritime movements involving Northern Ireland. Together, these challenges risk deterring GB suppliers from the Northern Ireland market, as they could lead to added costs, discouraging investment, and ultimately increasing prices for consumers, he said. Logistics UK stressed the sectors economic importance, noting that more than 6,000 businesses in Northern Ireland employ nearly 70,000 people around 8% of the provinces workforce. Mr Garratt said the industry was ready to work with government to strengthen trading relationships and unlock growth. As a sector, logistics is critical to the future success of NIs economy, he said. The industry stands ready to act as a trusted partner and critical business voice to work with government and drive the economy forwards. The group argues that reducing red tape and providing greater regulatory certainty will be essential if Northern Ireland is to maximise its dual market access and deliver long-term economic expansion. Daylight saving gives about 18 million Australians an extra hour of afternoon daylight as warmer weather sweeps across the country. But as sunrise gets later, and colder, wetter weather approaches, many are already wondering when the change back to standard time will happen. Daylight saving officially kicked in for NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT at 2am on October 5. Residents will get an additional hour of sleep when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, April 5, at 3am (AEDT). These days, most devices including phones, computers and cars will automatically adjust, but if you use an analogue clock, or do not own a smartphone, you'll want to make sure you're across the changes or face a potentially embarrassing mix-up. People in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not get daylight saving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither do Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands residents, but people in Norfolk Island do. While some savour the extra hour of light for an evening dip or stroll in the sunshine after work, others have campaigned for it to be abolished. Advocates say the longer daylight hours are synonymous with the Australian summer, and for many, particularly those who work indoors, it's a chance to get more out of the day. However, opponents argue that the extended daylight can disrupt sleep patterns, increase fatigue, and pose particular challenges for children, farmers, and those living in rural or border regions where time differences can complicate daily routines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A poll of more than 8,600 Yahoo News readers found 54 per cent were "not a fan", while 32 per cent said they wished Australia had it "all year round". During daylight saving, mainland Australia has five time zones. Queensland stays on Australian Eastern Standard Time, while the ACT, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria are on Australian Eastern Daylight Time. South Australia is 30 minutes behind on Australian Central Daylight Time, the NT stays on Australian Central Standard Time and WA stays on Australian Western Standard Time. Why was daylight saving introduced, and how long does it last? Daylight saving was first introduced in Australia during World War I, as a measure to conserve energy, and was later reintroduced during World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the wars, it was adopted permanently in the southeastern states NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territorywhile Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia do not observe daylight saving. Typically, daylight savings time begins in spring and ends in autumn, providing longer daylight hours in the evening during the summer months. Health risks associated with daylight saving Sydney University's Dr Yu Sun Bin previously told Yahoo News that for many Australians, the change in time can feel like a case of bad jet lag. "It's like having jet lag, in the sense that you might feel really tired, you're probably going to sleep less because we're putting the clocks one hour forward," Dr Bin said. "We know that reduces sleep time by approximately 40 minutes overall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With people feeling more tired, that's where we see concerning effects increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and possible car accidents." Experts have warned that there can be significant impacts on health after reverting to daylight saving time. Source: Getty Dr Bin argued that Australia may benefit from a more uniform approach to standard time, mirroring efforts in other countries. Companion animals may be impacted by daylight saving, with dogs in particular sensitive to routine changes. While most cope with the changes fine, adjustments to the schedules we impose on them, such as feeding, exercise and bedtimes, may make some animals anxious. Calls to reduce daylight saving by two months Tanya Jolly, president of the Country Women's Association of New South Wales, told Yahoo that many farmers are calling for the timeframe to be reduced from six months to four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin agrees with Tanya's sentiment. He said shortening the daylight saving period, but not ending it completely, "would make a real difference for our rural communities around the state". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Scouting America has adopted "key reforms" after previous concerns regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), religion, and cultural changes that included combining Boy and Girl Scouts. A spokesperson for Scouting America, which has been around since 1910, told Military.com on Friday that they reached a renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War following months of behind-the-scenes conversations with Pentagon higher-ups to align on how we could deepen our service to military families, while making programmatic updates to comply with Executive Order 14173. Today, we are moving forward with implementing new programmatic elements that deliver on that mission: waiving registration fees for military families, launching a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans, and reinforcing our commitment to Scoutings foundational ideas: leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service, Scouting America told Military.com. Executive Order 14173 refers to President Donald Trumps directive enacted in January 2025, titled, "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." Scouting America has agreed to meet those requirements, which includes nixing DEI initiatives and addressing religious concernsspecifically duty to Godas expressed by Pentagon leadership. USS Shiloh (CG 67) Sailors and members of Scouting America Troop 304 pose for a group photo in front of Shilohs Mark 45 5-inch gun during a tour aboard the Ticonderoga-class, guided missile cruiser, Jan. 10, 2026. Hegseth said Friday, in a video posted on the Department of War website and on social media, that Scouting America suffered after making significant cultural changes in the early 2010s. "After 2012, however, the Boy Scouts lost their way, and a once-great organization became gravely wounded. [DEI] crept in, the name was changed to 'Scouting America,' girls were accepted [and] the focus on God as the ruler of the universe was watered down to include openness to humanism and Earth-centered pagan religions," Hegseth said. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Pentagon has reached "key reforms" with Scouting America. Hegseth has been accused by some, both in and out of the ranks, of pushing a Christian agenda through efforts like monthly Christian prayer services inside the Pentagon and inviting controversial pastors to pontificate. Scouting America currently has more than 1 million youth male and female members between the ages of 5 and 21, with more than 628,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. More than 130 million males and females have participated in Scouting Americas youth programs since 1910 that have been supported by more than 35 million adult volunteers. Military.com reached out to the Pentagon for comment. Hegseth Outlines 'Key Reforms' Hegseth said that he had been "seriously considering" ending all Scouting America support from the Pentagonincluding personnel support and access to Defense Department equipment, installations, facilities and offices worldwide. That rupture has apparently been rectified, at least for now. A series of ongoing conversations between Hegseth, senior DoD officials and Scouting America led to the present, where the organization has agreed to several "key reforms" based on Trumps aforementioned executive order. "This includes reviewing and replacing politicized, divisive and discriminatory language throughout the organization, programs and all publications. No more DEI. Zero," Hegseth said on Friday. Other reforms include Scouting America agreeing to discontinue its "citizenship in society" merit badge, which made it mandatory for those with the rank of Life Scout to "realize the benefits of diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership," prior to being allowed to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout, according to Scouting America's official website. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosts Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Navy Capt. Royce Williams Hall of Heroes induction ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 25, 2026. (DoW photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Madelyn Keech) Scouting America also changed a policy that didn't distinguish between male and female participants' biological sex at birth. "Accordingly, Scouting America membership applications will continue to only provide 'male' and 'female' as sex designations," according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU). "Scouting America will enact a policy that indicates that biological boys and biological girls will not be permitted to share intimate spaces, including toilets, showers and tents." Similar policies will be enacted toward scout leaders, volunteers, staff and others involved with the scouts. The DEI rollback is accompanied by a so-called mutual alignment that promotes the "frontiersman ethos" prepping younger males for military recruitment and service. That involves Scouting America waiving registration fees for the children of active-duty, guard and reserve families, according to Hegseth, and introducing a new military service merit badge of which details are forthcoming. The MOU also calls for a "designated liaison"a Pentagon-appointed, uniformed officer or full-time employeeto serve as primary liaison to Scouting America in accordance with the Defense Department's Joint Ethics Regulation. 'Unwavering' Commitment to Female Scouts When asked about Hegseths remarks regarding females being accepted into the organization, Scouting America said it remains intent in supporting females value to the organization and its overall mission. Throughout this engagement, Scouting America held firm on the core commitments that define us, the organization said. We maintained our name as Scouting America and preserved our service to the more than 200,000 girls who participate in our programs. Girls have been an integral part of Scouting since the 1960s and have served as leaders and program developers for decades. That commitment is unwavering. Scout from Troop 323 shares her experience as a member of Scouting America on-air at Aviano Air Base, Italy, August 22, 2024. Troop 323 toured AFN Avianos studio and shared their scouting experiences on-air to finish their radio merit badge with Assistant Scoutmaster Brandon Nelson. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Sorensen) The organizations primary objective remains to maintain support with families who have come up through the organization for many decades, many going on to serve in the military or become teachers, entrepreneurs or first responders. Scouting America is one of the most reliable pipelines to the United States Armed Forces our country has ever known, the organization added. Scouts are significantly more likely to serve in uniform than the general population. Eagle Scouts are heavily represented in ROTC programs, service academies and military leadership tracks. Scouts contribute millions of hours of service to their communities each year. The leadership, discipline and responsibility developed through Scouting translate into adulthood as public service, civic engagement, and a readiness to lead. ISLAMABAD Pakistan and Afghanistan traded attacks in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the countries that Pakistans defense minister said Friday means they are now in open war. Tensions have been high between the neighbors for months, with border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistans Taliban government of harboring militant groups that then stage attacks across the border and also of allying with its archrival India. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the fighting, although the two sides still occasionally trade fire. Several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a formal agreement. Late Thursday, Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday. After the strikes Friday, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said in an X post that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he said that the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India, with which Pakistan has periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. India has had improved ties with Afghanistan recently, offering to enhance bilateral trade, to the annoyance of Islamabad. Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us, he said. There was no immediate reaction from Afghan officials. Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said that fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning. The province's information directorate said that Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp, which had been evacuated overnight. In response, Afghanistan was targeting Pakistani army posts across the border, it said. Exporting terrorism Asif, the Pakistani defense minister, accused Afghanistan of exporting terrorism. Islamabad frequently levies the allegation at its western neighbor as militant violence has surged in Pakistan, accusing Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch separatist groups. Pakistan accuses the TTP which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistans Taliban of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge. Pakistan has also frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. Asif's comments came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan said the strikes were in retaliation for the Afghan cross-border attacks. Retaliatory strikes Afghanistan, meanwhile, said that it launched its attack late Thursday also in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Each said that it inflicted heavy losses of dozens of soldiers on the other, while putting its own casualty figures in the single digits. The claims couldn't be independently verified. Afghanistan also claimed it had captured an undisclosed number of Pakistani soldiers. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied any soldiers had been captured. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistans anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the northwestern cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera on Friday. He said the drones appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and that there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan. International calls for restraint Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians as required under international law and to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency Ria Novosti. Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putins special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to Ria Novosti. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue. Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. ___ Abdul Qahar Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, also contributed to this story. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said, as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after their latest nuclear talks and American forces gather in the region. The U.S. Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signaling that U.S. military action might be imminent. The announcement of Rubio's visit could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike. A confidential report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog meanwhile confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed during the 12-day war launched by Israel last June. As a result, it said it could not confirm Iran's claims that it stopped uranium enrichment after the U.S. and Israeli strikes. The report was circulated to member countries and seen by The Associated Press. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal on its nuclear program. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. Those wishing to leave 'should do so TODAY The State Department said in a statement that Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trumps 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza. It offered no other details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long urged tougher U.S. action against Iran, and has warned that Israel will repond to any Iranian attack. The announcement of Rubio's visit came just hours after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem implemented authorized departure status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense. In an email, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington. Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY, Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for authorized departure. While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be, he added, in an email that was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn't authorized to share details. On a town hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying. Vance to meet with mediator Iran and the United States on Thursday walked away from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without a deal. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week. U.S. Vice President JD Vance was to meet later on Friday in Washington with Omans foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is private. Earlier, al-Busaidi said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States havent announced steps forward. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side," without offering specifics. Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear program. Flights suspended as people are urged to leave The U.S. has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and another heading to the region. Iran says it will respond to any U.S. attack by targeting American forces in the region, potentially including those stationed in U.S. bases in allied Arab countries. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries. Britains Foreign Office said that due to the security situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. It said the embassy was operating remotely. Australia on Wednesday directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. China, India and several European countries with missions in Iran have advised citizens to avoid travel to the country. China's Foreign Ministry also advised its citizens already in Iran to leave, according to a statement reported by Chinese state media. ___ Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank and Lee from Washington. Seung Min Kim in Washington and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report. USS Gerald R. Ford remains at sea as the Navy spotlights crew resilience and sustained readiness. The carrier moves beyond eight months deployed after departing Naval Station Norfolk on June 24, 2025, for what was expected to be a routine Mediterranean rotation. The strike group first operated in the Atlantic and the U.S. Sixth Fleet area, then shifted west through the Strait of Gibraltar in November 2025 for U.S. Southern Command missions in the Caribbean. Additional orders later sent the ship back across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean amid rising tensions involving Iran as the U.S. bolstered its carrier presence in the region. The extended timeline clarified on Thursday has intensified scrutiny of fleet scheduling, Sailor dwell time and strain on a carrier force facing sustained global carrier demand. Military.com reached out to the Navys Office of Information, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Navy Personnel Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for comment. Orders Shift. The Clock Keeps Running. The Ford deployed in late June 2025 under the Navys carrier rotation model, structured through the Optimized Fleet Response Plan to balance maintenance, training and deployments across the fleet. That schedule changed. Following operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including NATO exercises, the strike group transited west through the Strait of Gibraltar in November 2025 and entered U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility. U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, center, speaks with U.S. Sailors in the flight deck control room of the world's largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Feb. 8, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo) The move drew an immediate reaction from Caracas, where Venezuelan officials announced a military mobilization as the carrier entered the Caribbean. Pentagon statements tied the shift to an expanded U.S. posture in the region aimed at disrupting illicit activity, with the broader buildup including additional air assets staged in Puerto Rico as tensions escalated. New tasking followed early this year. By mid-February 2026, defense reporting placed the carrier transiting the Atlantic again, passing back through the Strait of Gibraltar and entering the Mediterranean. As of Feb. 20, the deployment had reached 241 days. If the carrier remains deployed past mid-April, it would exceed 294 days at seaa post-Vietnam era benchmark for U.S. aircraft carrier deployments. What began as a routine rotation now stands among the longest active deployments in the fleet. Eight Months at Sea More than eight months into deployment, the Navy in its latest announcement framed the mission around endurance and sustainment. The service cited more than 4 million meals served and more than 400,000 gallons of potable water produced daily, along with expanded satellite connectivity to help sailors stay in contact with families. Those figures illustrate the scale of logistics required to support thousands of personnel aboard a nuclear-powered carrier operating continuously across multiple theaters. A U.S. Sailor operates a weapons elevator in the hangar bay of the world's largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Feb. 8, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo) Carrier strike groups function as floating air bases. They generate flight operations, maintain ordnance and support escort ships while remaining self-sufficient at sea for extended periods. Each added month increases demands on engineering systems, aviation maintenance cycles and crew tempo. Officials said the ship remains fully mission capable. The Ford, the lead ship of its class, incorporates the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and advanced arresting geartechnology designed to increase sortie generation and reduce long-term maintenance strain compared with older Nimitz-class carriers. The extended deployment offers a sustained real-world operational test of that design. If operations continue into late April or May, the timeline would approach 10 months at sea, placing the mission among the most extended modern carrier rotations in recent decades. Pressure Across the Fleet Carrier deployments operate under the Navys Optimized Fleet Response Plan, a force generation model designed to maintain predictable readiness cycles while meeting global presence requirements. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 21, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jayden Brown) The Navy operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, though only a portion are available for forward deployment at any given time due to scheduled maintenance and certification periods. When one carrier stays out longer than planned, the sequencing of follow-on strike groups tightens: training windows compress, maintenance periods shift, and shipyard schedules adjust. Even modest extensions ripple across multiple units. Personnel tempo also shifts. Dwell time determines how long sailors remain home between deployments. Longer operations at sea can affect leave planning and post-deployment recovery timelines. Navy Personnel Command has not outlined what recovery window the Fords crew will receive or whether adjustments will accompany the extended rotation. Back in the Mediterranean The Fords return to the Mediterranean places a nuclear-powered carrier strike group within reach of flashpoints stretching from North Africa to the eastern Mediterranean and into the Middle East. From those waters, naval forces can move quickly through the Suez Canal toward the Red Sea and Persian Gulf or reposition west toward European allies. That flexibility makes the Mediterranean a strategic crossroads during periods of heightened tension. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), foreground, the Tunisian Naval patrol vessel MNT Hannon (P612), middle, and the worlds largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) operate in the Mediterranean Sea as an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70, flies overhead, Oct. 13, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cesar Licona) Carrier strike groups bring embarked fighter aircraft, electronic warfare platforms and guided missile destroyer escorts capable of sustained air operations and maritime defense. Their presence signals deterrence while preserving rapid response options if conditions deteriorate. U.S. forces in the region have already described close-in incidents around carrier operations as tensions rose, including an encounter that ended with a Navy jet shooting down an Iranian drone near another carrier. For Air Force veteran Chris Ford, the fight to end suicide is very personal. A couple of years ago, Fords son-in-law took his own life. And in the wake of a startling report issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing suicide among veterans has increased slightly in recent years, Ford is working on ways to make sure other families dont suffer the same tragedy. Throughout his career, hes worked to lower suicide rates among veterans. Ford serves as corporate impact principal for Face the Fight, an organization that has pumped more than $42 million into programs helping veterans struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts. Suicide is very complex, unfortunately, Ford told KSAT.com. Theres no single pathway to suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Face the Fight was formed through partnerships from USAA, the Humana Foundation and Reach Resilience. Suicide Report Alarming Based on the VAs most recent report, which collected data from 2023, 6,398 veterans died from suicide that year. Perhaps more alarming was the suicide rate per 100,000 veterans, which inched up from 34.7 in 2022 to 35.2 in 2023. Chris Ford (LinkedIn) With veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam aging and dying off, the overall number of veterans is declining, yet suicide rates remain high. While the news is eye-opening, its allowed Face the Fight to analyze the data, pinpoint gaps in service and target the shortfalls. One things very clear in our community, more than 70% of veterans who die by suicide do so by firearm, Ford said. So, were really focusing on how we can create more time and distance between firearms and veterans in a moment of crisis through their safe storage. To look for signs of suicidal ideation, the military uses a peer training program called the Overwatch Project, according to Ford, which focuses on soldiers talking amongst themselves about firearms and suicide. Training hundreds of thousands of soldiers and guardsmen and reservists on how to have these difficult conversations with peers theyre worried about, and theyre highly interactive, role-played settings, Ford said. This isnt some click-through PowerPoint presentation on your computer. The feedback from these soldiers who are trained in this is incredible. But Ford knows part of the Overwatch Projects success is because its easier to have troops participate when theyre still in the military. Once theyre out of the service, its much more difficult to keep tabs on veterans mental health needs. Safe Firearm Storage Dr. David Rozek, Face the Fights senior scientific advisor and associate professor at UT Health San Antonio, said veterans who want to safely store firearms might have many questions, especially if theyre struggling with suicidal thoughts. If I wanted to store my firearm outside of the home, because things arent going well right now, where do I do that? How do I do that? Can I get it back? All of these questions, Rozek said. As a psychologist, Rozek realizes the importance of mental health treatment to prevent suicide, but said prevention must go beyond clinical work. It takes a community effort, including training for those closest to the veteran, whether thats family, friends, co-workers or businesses they might frequent. Where do we know theres stress related to suicide? Financial institutions. So, your bank, if it has some sort of suicide screening, for example, or has some way of identifying that the veteran is at risk, and then they have some way to connect them to the next step, Rozek said. Its not just about knowing the people at risk. Its saying, Oh, I know, and I know what to do now. Dr. David Rozek, right, senior scientific advisor for Face the Fight. (LinkedIn) Helping People See the Signs But how does one know what to do? Currently, Face the Fight is creating a toolkit for businesses to utilize if they interact with a veteran at high risk for suicide. In addition, the organization is working on holistic methods to help veterans and identify signs of suicide risk, which can include insomnia, isolation, and homelessness. We know that its really important to provide holistic treatment. You cant just treat someone with therapy if theyre living in a cardboard box or theyre worried about food on their table, Ford said. That were being thoughtful about all of the wraparound services they may need so that they can return to a life of thriving. Those working hard at Face the Fight to prevent veteran suicide also realize its a problem with no swift remedy. Its not a quick fix, Rozek said. Its something that does take time, but I think theres a lot of hope here still. But Ford said what the organization has done so far has had a positive effect. We know were having a positive impact on military and veteran and family lives, Ford said. We see it in our data, and we hear it from families themselves directly. In the early hours of Aug. 15, 1944, the body of Italian prisoner of war Guglielmo Olivotto was found hanging from a guywire on an obstacle course at Fort Lawton outside Seattle. By nightfall, the Army had begun destroying the crime scene. Within weeks, 43 Black soldiers faced charges. Three of them could be executed. The Army's own classified investigation would point to a white military policeman as the most probable killer. Not one white soldier was ever charged. The wrongful convictions stood for 63 years. In the Historic District, looking toward Puget Sound. The visible buildings are, left to right, the Band Barracks, Guard House and Quartermasters Stables. (Wikimedia Commons) Fort Lawton Fort Lawton occupied 700 acres on Magnolia Bluff above Puget Sound, just outside Seattle. It served as the Army's second-largest Pacific staging area. Over the course of the war, more than a million soldiers passed through its gates. The base was enormous, busy and, in the summer of 1944, tensions were on the rise. Two hundred Italian prisoners from the 28th Italian Service Unit had arrived in May for labor assignments. Military officials had chosen them carefully. Unlike POW populations made up of committed fascist volunteers, these men had mostly been drafted into Mussolini's army. After Italy's capitulation in 1943, they signed agreements to support American war operations in any role short of direct combat. The Geneva Convention required the Army to treat them accordingly. They received pay for their work and regular passes to leave the base. The Italians ate at Seattle restaurants, toured Mount Rainier and had Sunday dinners with local families. The 650th and 651st Port Companies occupied barracks directly adjacent to the Italian compound. Both were Black transportation units, trained to unload cargo ships in combat conditions. The same Seattle bars the Italian prisoners visited were off-limits to them. The Army put them to work shoveling snow off city streets and confined their recreation to a single on-post bar. Racial tensions had been building across Seattle for months. In March 1944, a bus driver physically removed a Black woman from his vehicle. That July, Mayor William Devin told an audience at the University of Washington that the city's racial situation was loaded with "a great deal of dynamite." Police Chief Herbert Kimsey warned reporters at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that his department was bracing for disorder from what he described as a "crowded, mixed and excited wartime population." For the Black soldiers at Fort Lawton, watching prisoners of war, who only months before were shooting and killing American soldiers, receive freedoms denied to American servicemen was a daily humiliation. Samuel Snow, who would later be convicted of rioting, said, "It was racial, real racial." Among the Italians in the compound was Pvt. Guglielmo Olivotto. Fellow prisoners described him as reserved and devoutly religious, a man who kept mostly to himself. They also noted he harbored a deep fear of Black people. Italian POWs after surrendering outside Tunis, 1943. Many of these prisoners would be shipped to England before arriving in the U.S. and assigned to dozens of camps throughout the country. (Wikimedia Commons) The Night of Aug. 14 Aug. 14 was payday for the 650th and 651st. Both units were also under orders to board ships for New Guinea the following morning. The soldiers went out into the city to enjoy their last night stateside. By 11 p.m., Pfc. Willie Montgomery, a 39-year-old from New York City, had been drinking heavily when he crossed paths with a group of Italian prisoners returning from an evening in the city. Accounts of what followed differ, but the confrontation turned physical when an Italian prisoner named Giuseppe Belle knocked Montgomery unconscious. Both sides ran back to their compounds. Word spread through the Black barracks that a group of Italians had attacked an American soldier without provocation. Men came out carrying fence boards, tent stakes, chunks of pipe and loose rock. Within minutes, a force estimated between 100 and 200 soldiers was moving toward the Italian compound. Prisoners dove under their bunks, jumped out windows and sprinted for the tree line as the Americans went after anyone in the barracks. A massive brawl began. An emergency whistle sounded near the Italian barracks. The first military policeman on the scene was Pvt. Clyde Lomax. Axis POWs being marched under armed guard at Fort Lawton. (Museum of History and Industry) Clyde Lomax Lomax arrived in the middle of a full-scale riot. He loaded a single injured Black soldier into his vehicle and drove away without alerting the guardhouse at the compound entrance, which he passed on his way out. He also bypassed the nearest medical facility on the base and continued to a hospital on the far side of Fort Lawton. The riot went on without him. Forty minutes passed before MP reinforcements arrived in force. By then, 32 men needed hospital treatment. Among the injuries were three fractured skulls, multiple stab wounds and several shattered bones. The MPs who responded declined to arrest anyone, telling investigators later that visibility had been too poor. Several specifically noted that they had been unable to tell one Black soldier from another. Lomax did not return for more than two hours. Around 5 a.m. on Aug. 15, he showed up and reported that he and another MP had found a body. Guglielmo Olivotto had been strung up by a noose attached to a guywire at the base of Magnolia Bluff, approximately 50 feet from the last window witnesses saw him jump through. His body had no defensive wounds. The only marks on him were shallow scrapes along his legs. A pair of shoes that investigators concluded were Olivotto's turned up in the brush far from the hanging site, their position suggesting a body had been dragged facedown through the underbrush. There were no footprints in the soft ground around his body. The Army's initial statement suggested Olivotto might have taken his own life. When investigators arrived weeks later, the physical evidence did not support that conclusion. Staff Sergeant Charles M Robinson where Guglielmo Olivotto was hung, 1944, U.S. ARMY Signal Corps. (Wikimedia Commons) The Investigation Post commander Col. Harry Branson had the area around the crime scene swept clean by the evening of Aug. 15. Physical evidence went unsecured, unprocessed and unrecorded. Repair crews moved into the damaged barracks that same day and had them repainted within 24 hours. Branson also attempted to transfer the Black soldiers to San Francisco before any formal inquiry could begin. A subordinate who recognized what was happening reported it to the Pentagon, and the transfers were stopped. The Army sent Brig. Gen. Elliot Cooke to conduct a formal inquiry. Between Sept. 10 and Oct. 5, 1944, Cooke's team conducted 165 interviews, producing more than 1,500 pages of testimony. Witness after witness, including white soldiers, told investigators that Lomax spent roughly 40-minutes at the scene without backup, he had encouraged rioters and distributed weapons before any reinforcements arrived. Lomax then took the opportunity to disappear. The Cooke Report, completed Oct. 28, found that the riot had been avoidable and that placing the Italian and Black units in adjacent quarters had been a serious failure of judgment. It concluded that Olivotto had been strangled, meaning the guywire noose may have been used to display the body rather than kill him. The report characterized Lomax and a fellow MP as showing "if not cowardice, a decided lack of proper training, and also a flagrant disregard of the Articles of War," recommended Branson be demoted and directed that Lomax face court-martial. The Army classified the report immediately. Italian POWs at Camp Butner. The barracks at Fort Lawton would have looked similar to this. (Wikimedia Commons) The Prosecution By fall 1944, the case had drawn attention well beyond Seattle. Italy's new government was an American ally, and a dead Italian POW on American soil carried diplomatic weight. The State Department monitored the proceedings closely, the White House received regular updates and FBI agents compiled intelligence files on the soldiers, their relatives and courtroom observers. The man the Army sent to prosecute was Lt. Col. Leon Jaworski, a trial attorney from Houston who would later serve as the Watergate special prosecutor. He charged 43 Black soldiers under Article 89 of the Articles of War, a provision carrying a potential life sentence. Pvt. Luther Larkin, Pvt. William Jones and Pvt. Arthur Hurks faced the additional weight of capital murder charges in connection with Olivotto's death. Not a single white soldier received any charge. Jaworski offered immunity to soldiers willing to testify for the prosecution. Most declined, including Samuel Snow and Roy Montgomery, but five agreed. A later investigation revealed that every one of those five had preexisting personal grievances against the specific men they testified against, a fact that was never presented to the court. The Italian prisoner witnesses presented their own complications. Most told investigators they had been unable to identify anyone during the chaotic night. Two gave sweeping identifications of dozens of accused soldiers despite the darkness and confusion. Military intelligence files reviewed years later showed both men had been flagged before the trial as unreliable security risks. Jaworski never disclosed this to the defense. A third Italian witness, Agosto Todde, submitted a written statement naming nine men; by the time the trial began, his list had grown to 14. Leon Jaworski, the lead prosecutor of the court martial involving the Fort Lawton rioters. (Wikimedia Commons) The Trial The panel consisted of nine white officers. Proceedings opened Nov. 16, 1944. The defense drew Maj. William Beeks, a Seattle maritime attorney who would later receive a federal judicial appointment. He was assigned to represent all 43 defendants, three of whom faced execution. He was given roughly 10 days to prepare and was assisted by a single colleague. Jaworski's team had been building its case for months. On Dec. 8, midway through the trial, Beeks learned for the first time that Jaworski had obtained a copy of the Cooke Report before proceedings began. He demanded it be disclosed. Jaworski argued that releasing it posed a wartime security risk. The panel sided with the prosecution. Beeks returned to the defense without ever knowing that the Army's own investigators had found the riot preventable, that his opposing witnesses had been assessed as unreliable by military intelligence, or that the report had recommended Lomax face court-martial for deserting his post during the window when Olivotto was killed. Jaworski then put Lomax on the stand to testify against the Black defendants. When Jaworski presented the rope into evidence, it was not the one that had been used to hang Olivotto. That rope had never been secured after Branson cleared the scene and was never recovered. Rather than acknowledge this, Jaworski asked Lomax only to confirm that the rope he was holding resembled the one from the scene. Lomax said it did. Every reporter covering the trial missed the facts entirely. Newspaper clipping detailing the news of the riot. The Seattle Times, August 18, 1944. (History Link) The Verdicts Five weeks of proceedings made this the largest and longest Army court-martial of World War II. When the verdicts came in during late December 1944, 28 of the 43 defendants had been found guilty. Larkin and Jones were convicted of manslaughter. Hurks was cleared of the capital charge but convicted of rioting, as were 25 others. Hard labor sentences ran from six months to 25 years. Upon their release, nearly every man received a dishonorable discharge. Snow returned to Leesburg, Fla., and spent the following decades working as a church janitor. He destroyed his military records and never told his children what had happened. Montgomery buried the experience and almost never spoke of it. The final defendant was released from custody in 1949 after President Harry Truman offered pardons in the war's aftermath. On Jan. 1, 1945, the Army court-martialed Lomax for failing to report during the riot. He was dishonorably discharged and never charged in connection with Olivotto's death. He died in 1999. Jaworski's career went on undisturbed. He served as president of the American Bar Association, contributed to the Warren Commission and became the Watergate special prosecutor whose pursuit of White House recordings helped bring down the Nixon administration. He died in 1982 without ever publicly addressing his conduct at Fort Lawton. Olivotto's remains were interred in a section of Fort Lawton's cemetery kept apart from the American graves. His family in Nervesa della Battaglia spent six decades with no information about how or where he had died. Main POW camps for Axis soldiers across the U.S. in June 1944. (Army Photo) The Case Reopened Jack Hamann was a television reporter for Seattle's KING-TV in 1986 when a routine assignment brought him to a public hearing at Discovery Park, built on the former Fort Lawton property after the Army transferred the land to the city. A park employee mentioned a headstone in an out-of-the-way corner of the old military cemetery bearing a misspelled version of Olivotto's name and the inscription "14 Agosto 1944." Hamann spent nearly a year investigating from 1944 newspaper coverage and court-martial records and produced a documentary that aired in 1987 and won an Emmy Award. As years passed, Hamann grew uneasy with what the documentary had concluded. Working only from court transcripts and wartime press accounts meant accepting the version of events Jaworski had constructed. In 2001, Hamann and his wife Leslie traveled to the National Archives facility in College Park, Md., to start over from primary sources. After weeks of searching, Leslie found the Cooke Report in the "Miscellaneous" section of the World War II collection, accompanied by the full supporting testimony. The documents confirmed that Jaworski had possessed the report before the trial opened, that he had been aware his investigation had been improperly conducted from the start and that he had successfully argued to keep all of it from the defense. Hamann later described the Fort Lawton case as "conspicuously absent from history books and even from the collective memories of lawyers, soldiers, and journalists." His book, "On American Soil," published in 2005, received the Investigative Reporters and Editors Book Award. Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington state introduced legislation directing the Army to reopen the case. On Oct. 26, 2007, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records voted unanimously that Jaworski had committed "egregious error" in withholding the Cooke Report and ordered all convictions overturned. President George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing back pay for the men or their surviving families. Snow's initial check, calculated across 63 years of owed wages, came to $725. When Secretary of the Army Pete Geren testified before Congress in support of legislation to add interest to those payments, he called that figure "a travesty of justice." Author Jack Hamann in New York City. His research helped uncover the truth behind the Fort Lawton Riot. (Wikimedia Commons) The Final Acts The Army held a formal ceremony at Discovery Park on July 26, 2008, exactly 60 years after Truman signed the order desegregating the armed forces. A gospel choir performed as Rep. McDermott, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims each spoke. Of the men whose convictions had been overturned, most were already gone. Snow, 84 and living in Florida, had traveled to Seattle for the ceremony but was admitted to a hospital that morning. His son Ray stood in and accepted an honorable discharge on his behalf. Family members carried the paperwork to Snow's hospital room that afternoon. The grave of Italian prisoner of war Guglielmo Olivotto facing other graves. (Wikimedia Commons) Thirteen hours after the ceremony ended, Samuel Snow died. He was buried with full military honors. After learning his conviction had been overturned, he had told a reporter, "I'm rejoicing today. I'm not mad at nobody. I'm just as satisfied as can be." Montgomery did not attend. Army officials drove to his home in Detroit to deliver his honorable discharge directly and offer a personal apology. Montgomery took the documents and said, "This is a great satisfaction. Now I can forget about the whole thing. That's all I ever wanted to do." He died Dec. 6, 2012, at 91. Sources: Jack Hamann, "On American Soil," University of Washington Press, 2007; Dominic W. Moreo, "Riot at Fort Lawton, 1944," iUniverse, 2004; Heather MacIntosh, Priscilla Long and David Wilma, HistoryLink.org; National Registry of Exonerations, UC Irvine Newkirk Center; The Seattle Times; National Archives AOTUS Blog; BlackPast.org; Washington State Historical Society; Friends of Discovery Park. The Army is preparing to launch a new system that allows certain senior warrant officers to bid for retention bonuses in exchange for committing to an additional six-year active-duty obligation. The initiative, formally called the Warrant Officer Retention Bonus Auction, represents a departure from fixed-rate bonus structures and introduces a market-style approach to compensation. What The New Warrant Officer Bidding Program Does Under the program, eligible warrant officers submit confidential bids indicating the minimum monthly bonus they would accept to remain in service. After collecting all bids, the Army calculates a single market-clearing rate that maximizes the number of participants retained within available funding. Every warrant officer whose bid falls at or below that rate receives the same bonus amount, while those who bid higher receive nothing. The system will initially target chief warrant officers three and four in critical technical specialties such as cyber operations, intelligence, and software development. Army leaders describe the approach as a mechanism to reward technical expertise while distributing limited bonus funding more efficiently. Why The Army Is Implementing The Program The program emerges amid broader talent-management reforms designed to address retention challenges among highly skilled technical personnel. Warrant officers occupy a unique role as technical experts responsible for operating complex systems, maintaining institutional knowledge, and advising commanders. Losing experienced warrant officers can create capability gaps that are difficult to fill quickly. Army officials argue the auction model encourages transparency and allows warrant officers to express their true value, enabling the service to tailor incentives more precisely. The program also reflects a broader institutional shift toward marketplace-based personnel systems. From a fiscal perspective, the approach attempts to stretch limited bonus funding by prioritizing retention of those willing to stay at a lower cost while still providing competitive incentives for higher-demand specialties. The Army describes the program as a method of maximizing retention within a fixed budget rather than increasing overall spending. Potential Risks And Criticism Despite its innovative framing, the bidding model raises several concerns related to fairness, morale, and behavioral incentives. One major risk involves information asymmetry. Warrant officers lack visibility into peers bids, meaning participants must make decisions under uncertainty. Overbidding risks losing the bonus entirely, while underbidding could commit a warrant officer to extended service at a lower compensation level than peers might receive. This dynamic can create strategic guesswork rather than transparent decision-making. The program may also introduce perceived competition among warrant officers who traditionally operate within collaborative technical communities. Critics argue that auction-style compensation could erode cohesion by incentivizing individual optimization over collective professional interests. Another concern relates to retention targeting. Because the system retains those willing to accept lower bonuses, it may disproportionately incentivize retention of personnel with fewer outside opportunities while failing to retain highly marketable technical experts who command higher civilian salaries. This outcome could unintentionally produce adverse selection effects in the warrant officer force. Finally, tying retention to a market-clearing bonus could create volatility across cycles. Participants may face unpredictable compensation outcomes depending on peer behavior and funding levels, complicating long-term financial planning. Several Pennsylvania Army National Guard warrant officers gathered at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 9 to mark the 107th birthday of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Corps. Photo by Wayne Hall. Source: DVIDS. The Coordination Opportunity Within The Warrant Officer Community The structure of the auction introduces a notable strategic dynamic: the possibility of informal coordination among warrant officers regarding bidding behavior. Because the Army establishes a single market-clearing bonus rate, collective bidding patterns can influence the final outcome. If participants broadly submit similar bids, the resulting rate may reflect that consensus. Conversely, highly dispersed bids may create unpredictable results and widen disparities between expectations and outcomes. This dynamic creates a theoretical opportunity for warrant officers to communicate within professional networks and align bidding strategies. While formal collective bargaining is prohibited for military personnel, informal information sharing is common within professional communities and can shape decision-making behavior. The possibility of coordination also highlights the importance of professional forums, mentorship networks, and community discussions as venues for information exchange. Shared understanding of the programs mechanics may help participants avoid extreme bidding strategies that could disadvantage individuals or the group. Broader Implications For Military Personnel Policy The bidding initiative represents a broader trend toward applying economic marketplace principles to military talent management. Similar reforms have emerged in assignment marketplaces and performance-based incentives, reflecting institutional efforts to increase individual agency and optimize force distribution. For warrant officers, the auction model may redefine how retention incentives are perceived, transforming bonus negotiations from standardized entitlements into individualized strategic choices. The long term impact will likely depend on participation rates, retention outcomes, and community perception of fairness. Balancing Innovation With Institutional Culture The warrant officer bonus auction highlights the tension between innovation and tradition in military personnel policy. Market-based approaches may offer efficiency gains and improved resource allocation, yet they must coexist with institutional norms emphasizing cohesion, predictability, and collective professional identity. Whether the program succeeds will depend on its ability to retain critical talent without undermining morale or creating unintended disparities. Transparent communication, iterative refinement, and community engagement will likely shape its reception within the warrant officer corps. At the same time, the programs design underscores the growing importance of information literacy and strategic awareness among military professionals navigating evolving talent-management frameworks. As the Army continues experimenting with marketplace-style personnel systems, the warrant officer bidding initiative may serve as an early indicator of how economic mechanisms interact with military organizational culture. Attention transitioning military officers: If you are looking to continue your career in defense and systems, engineering, supply chain, operations, and technology, GE Aerospace has a program designed for you. The Military Officer Leadership Program (MOLP) is a two-year program that bridges officers from military service to civilian careers. More details are provided on the website, which includes how individuals are connected to GE Aerospaces Veteran Network and serve three eight-month rotational assignments as a SkillBridge intern, which has a 75 percent placement rate. This might not seem like a strong statistic, but it is considered a good indicator that a company actively invests in its military-affiliated hires. It is also the standard. All About MOLP The goal, of course, is to secure a job that provides meaningful employment. MOLP provides a learning environment where officers can align their experiences and interests in the corporate setting. They can translate their military backgrounds and directly build stepping stones to leadership paths and professional growth. It is also a natural fit since GE Aerospace is a well-known provider of engines and components for both commercial and military aircraft. Veterans are appreciated for what they bring to the table. They have lived through the other side as customers and users of GE Aerospace production in partnership with the Armed Forces. They understand the importance of quality, research, and collaboration towards the future of flight, whether toward military or humanitarian missions, or commercial efforts. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dylan Crane, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron, performs an inspection of the engine of an F-16C Fighting Falcon, in support of Red Flag-Nellis 26-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 5, 2026. Through combined training, the U.S. and Allied forces work together to promote interoperability, furthering mutual interests and strengthening relationships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Amador Paulino, DVIDS) MOLP Criteria According to the MOLP requirements, these are the following criteria to participate. Commissioned U.S. Military Officer with a minimum of 5 years of service completed by start date, up to a maximum of 12 years, with an Honorable Discharge upon completion of Military obligations Bachelors degree from an accredited University Minimum of 4 years of active-duty status in the last 5 years of service Maximum of 2 years of separation from active duty; exceptions available for extenuating circumstances (Active Reserve Duty, Graduate Degree Pursuit) Each job description will outline these baseline requirements and desired characteristics that may include preferred years of officer military service or completion of a specific military training course like Flight School, as applicable. But things like attention to detail, decision-making, and the ability to adapt to dynamic work environments? That is all too familiar to a veteran! Whats Next Having a supportive and inclusive work environment during military career transitions is essential. Programs like GE Aerospaces MOLP, that includes mentorship, a community of peers, and on-the-job training and development, are even better. Approximately 200,000 military service members transition annually, and officers comprise about 18 percent of the total Armed Forces, representing a smaller number of those who transition. Given that there are aerospace and defense workforce shortages in specialty areas, MOLP offers a win-win. According to the Aerospace Industries Associations (AIA) annual aerospace and defense (A&D) workforce study, the majority of AIA members face sustained challenges in finding key talent, especially in engineering. The demand continues to rise with advanced AI, space programs, defense, and aircraft advancement. Former military officers are trained to lead and can fill in critical gaps where they are needed the most. Indiana National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jacob Clarkson assigned to 245th Aviation Regiment poses in front of a C-12 aircraft during his retirement ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb. 11, 2026. Clarkson retired after 24 years of honorable service. (Indiana National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Hector Tinoco, DVIDS) Click this link to join their military and veteran talent group for potential opportunities and future openings. Click on Aerospace & Defense Jobs for the most recent posts on this platform. On February 25, 2026, a violent maritime confrontation occurred off Cubas northern coast involving a Florida-registered speedboat and Cuban border guard forces. Cuban authorities reported the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters near Villa Clara province, roughly one nautical mile from shore, prompting patrol officers to approach and request identification. According to Cubas Interior Ministry, gunfire then erupted from the speedboat, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol vessel and triggering a firefight between the two boats. The exchange left four passengers dead and six others on the speedboat wounded. Cuban officials described the speedboat as carrying ten Cuban nationals living in the United States, many allegedly dressed in camouflage and equipped with military-style gear. Authorities stated rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and ballistic protection were recovered from the vessel following the clash. Identities of Those Killed And Background Details All passengers were allegedly Cuban nationals with ties to the United States. Survivors were taken into custody and treated for injuries while the investigation continued. Only one of the four fatalities has been publicly identified across consistent reporting: Michael Ortega Casanova. The identities of the remaining three individuals killed in the shooting have not been publicly confirmed. Several passengers survived and were detained by Cuban authorities, including Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, both identified in reporting as individuals wounded during the confrontation. Both had been placed on a terrorism watch list by the Cuban authorities based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support, or commission of actions carried out in national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism. Additional detainees reported in connection with the voyage include Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Cuban authorities also arrested Duniel Hernandez Santos on land, alleging that he assisted in coordinating the groups arrival. Family Statements and Claims of Liberation Motivations Family members offered statements that provided additional context to the official narrative while simultaneously reinforcing aspects of Cubas claims regarding ideological motivation. The brother of Michael Ortega Casanova, one of the deceased passengers, stated his sibling had been fixated on liberating Cuba from communist rule and frequently discussed political change on the island. Family members emphasized that while he was passionate, they did not believe he was part of a formal militant organization. The central dispute surrounding the incident concerns which side initiated the shooting and the mission of the speedboats occupants. Cuban authorities assert that the passengers were anti-government operatives attempting an armed infiltration into the country for terrorist purposes. Officials claim the group opened fire after being intercepted, prompting Cuban forces to respond with lethal force to defend territorial sovereignty. Some U.S. officials and observers, however, have questioned the Cuban account and urged caution pending an independent investigation. Early reporting indicates that the speedboat may have been part of a civilian flotilla potentially attempting to assist family members leaving Cuba rather than conducting a paramilitary operation, though this claim remains unverified. The lack of independent witnesses and the geopolitical context complicate efforts to establish a definitive factual narrative. Both governments have therefore initiated separate inquiries into the confrontation. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Ben Reeves, a boatswain's mate with the U.S. Coast Guard detachment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, keeps an eye out during a Feb. 1 mission to escort a Coast Guard cutter. Photo by Senior Airman Jon Ortiz-Torres, USAF. Source: DVIDS. Casualties, Arrests, And Immediate Aftermath The firefight resulted in four fatalities among the speedboat passengers and six additional injuries. Cuban authorities detained the wounded individuals and provided medical treatment while placing them under investigation for alleged involvement in the operation. At least one Cuban border guard officer sustained injuries during the exchange. U.S. Government Response And Investigations U.S. officials quickly clarified that the speedboat was not affiliated with any American government operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Washington would conduct an independent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and verify Cuban claims. Florida authorities also opened a state-level inquiry, reflecting skepticism about the Cuban narrative and concern over whether any victims held U.S. citizenship or residency status. The U.S. government additionally sought access to surviving passengers to gather firsthand accounts, signaling the possibility of diplomatic friction depending on investigative findings. Geopolitical Context And Rising Tensions The incident occurred during a period of elevated U.S.-Cuba tensions characterized by economic sanctions, maritime enforcement operations, and broader regional instability. Analysts note these conditions increase the likelihood of confrontations involving private actors, migrants, or politically motivated groups attempting maritime crossings. Cuba framed the shooting as a legitimate defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing its obligation to protect national waters against armed incursions. Conversely, U.S. officials stressed the need for independent verification before accepting Cubas claims and warned that the American response would depend on the results of ongoing investigations. Legal And Maritime Implications From a maritime law perspective, the confrontation raises questions regarding rules governing territorial waters, the use of force by coastal states, and the treatment of armed non-state actors at sea. Under international law, coastal states possess enforcement jurisdiction within territorial waters and may use force to protect sovereignty when confronted with armed threats, though the proportionality of that force often becomes contested in politically charged incidents. The unresolved factual dispute about who fired first, therefore, holds legal significance, as it affects the assessment of self-defense and state responsibility under international maritime and human rights frameworks. Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame is unlikely to face charges after chanting globalise the Intifada at a pro-Palestine rally, with NSWs top cop admitting he had not watched the speech. Ms Tame, a sexual assault survivor and advocate, stirred controversy earlier this month after she was filmed chanting From Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the Intifada at a protest opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzogs visit to Australia. The phrase is linked to two popular uprisings in the Occupied Palestinian Territories but is regarded by swathes of the Jewish community as a call to violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been criminalised in recent weeks in Queensland, with a NSW parliament probe recommending the Labor government do the same. However, under current laws, the term had been reviewed on a number of occasions and not found to meet the criteria of inciting racial hatred, NSW Police Commissioner Grace Tame is unlikely to face charges after chanting globalise the Intifada at a pro-Palestine rally. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Mal Lanyon told a NSW budget estimates hearing on Friday afternoon. Its not a prohibited term at the moment, Mr Lanyon said. It may be offensive to some members of the community, and Ill certainly accept that. The questions by Liberal MLC Susan Carter related to Crimes Act 1900 section 93ZAA, or the offence of publicly inciting hatred on ground of race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Lanyon said he had not watched Ms Tames speech but admitted he was aware of reporting on it. Asked if hed watched the speech, he said: Not personally, not in terms of her speech. Mr Lanyon and Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson told the hearing they were not aware of any complaints about the speech. Im unaware of NSW Police receiving any compliant, he said. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon with Police Minister Yasmin Catley. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers I cant say that hasnt happened. Im certainly unaware of. Mr Lanyon confirmed legal advisers had been present at the rally with officers, but could not confirm whether they had reviewed Ms Tames speech. He noted police had taken action at a March For Australia rally earlier this year where Brandan Koschel was charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race causing fear over on-mic comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Albanese has faced pressure from the Coalition to condemn Ms Tame. This week, the Prime Minister was forced to backtrack after calling the former Australian of the Year a difficult woman. He later apologised, claiming he was referring to Ms Tames life. Greens MLC quipped to Ms Carter on Friday as the bell rang to end questions, telling her Dont be difficult now. The company plans to correct the issue through an over-the-air (OTA) software update to the ITM or via dealer or mobile service appointments. Ford Motor is recalling roughly 4.38 million vehicles in the US after identifying a software defect that could disable trailer lighting and braking functions. The recall applies to certain 20212026 F-150, 20222026 Super Duty (F-250600), 20242026 Ranger, 20222026 Expedition, 20222026 Navigator, 20222026 Maverick and 2026 Transit models. The US carmaker said a fault in the Integrated Trailer Module (ITM) may cause the unit to lose communication with the vehicle, typically during start-up. Advertisement Advertisement If this occurs while a trailer is connected, the trailers stop lamps and turn signals may fail to operate and, in vehicles equipped with a High series trailer module, trailer braking capability could also be lost. Ford said the defect leads to non-compliance with US federal safety requirements and raises crash risk due to reduced trailer control and visibility. Drivers affected may see a Trailer Brake Module Fault warning in the instrument cluster, rapid turn-signal flashing and, in some cases, a Blind Spot Assist System fault alert. The company plans to correct the issue through an over-the-air (OTA) software update to the ITM or via dealer or mobile service appointments. Advertisement Advertisement The update is expected to be available for most vehicles from 17 March, with OTA rollout across all affected vehicles targeted by May. According to data compiled by Forbes, Ford issued 153 recalls in 2025, the highest number ever recorded by a single manufacturer in the US in one year, covering about 12.9 million vehicles. In October, Ford issued a recall for roughly 1.45 million vehicles in the US due to defective rearview cameras, which could heighten the risk of a crash. The recall affected a range of 20152020 modelyear vehicles, including the Explorer, Escape, Mustang, Flex, Fiesta, CMax, Taurus and Fusion, as well as the Lincoln MKT and MKZ. Advertisement Advertisement A month earlier, Ford recalled around 1.9 million vehicles globally for faulty rearview cameras, a move that impacted about 1.45 million vehicles in the US, approximately 122,000 in Canada and around 300,000 in other markets. In November 2024, the company agreed to pay a $165m civil penalty after a US government probe found it had not promptly recalled vehicles with defective rearview cameras. Other manufacturers have also announced recent US recalls. Japanese Carmaker Nissan Motor, for example, has recalled about 643,000 Rogue SUVs over powertrain-related issues. "Software fault prompts Ford to recall 4.38 million US vehicles" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Advertisement Advertisement Many people know Toby Watson from the world of international financial markets. As a partner at Goldman Sachs, he shaped the structured credit sector for many years. Today, however, in addition to the financial sector, he is dedicated to supporting the further development of their schools as chairman of the Excalibur Academies Trust. His role goes beyond traditional supervisory functions. With vision, expertise and a sense of social responsibility, he works with the Trust s team to develop new concepts for school management, inclusion and future orientation. Toby Watson demonstrates that experience from the business world can make an important contribution to positive change in the education system. A change of strategy with substance Although Toby Watson (toby-watson.com) continues to work in finance, he is also dedicated to supporting the education system. Toby Watson: New paths alongside the financial sector Toby Watson s career in investment is impressive. After studying physics at the University of Oxford, he began his career at Deutsche Bank. This was followed by 17 years at Goldman Sachs, where his roles included Global Head of Structured Credit Trading. What set him apart was his analytical thinking, team leadership and strategic foresight. These are qualities that are also valued in the education sector. Why education? For Toby Watson, this move was not a break with his previous career, but a natural development. He emphasises that education is the foundation of a just society. In times of technological and social change, education can be further developed. This is precisely where he wants to make his contribution. Through his involvement as chair of the Excalibur Academies Trust, he aims to contribute his experience to the education system and support the academy in this way. Excalibur Academies Trust: Support with impact The Excalibur Academies Trust oversees more than 20 schools in southern England and pursues the goal of holistically supporting young people. Under the chairmanship of Toby Watson, the Trust has been able to develop further in recent years. The challenges in the education system of their schools are complex: resource shortages, teacher shortages, digitalisation, equal opportunities. This makes it all the more important to have strong supporting structures that not only administer, but also help shape the system. Governance and strategy As chairman, Toby Watson brings his business experience to bear on the management of the trust. He works closely with the trust s CEO and school principals. This is not about micromanagement, but about providing support in terms of guidelines, efficiency and clarity of objectives. Participation in the development of long-term educational goals Contribution to the optimisation of resource utilisation Support in establishing transparent decision-making processes Toby Watson attaches importance to decisions being made in a data-driven and participatory manner. School management, teachers and parents are involved in the processes. Investment in staff and culture One focus is on the promotion of teachers. Targeted training, leadership programmes and a clear feedback culture have helped to create an environment in which teachers can grow. Toby Watson sees this as the key to good education. Education as a project for the future In addition to organisational efficiency, Toby Watson also contributes to the further development of the schools content. The Excalibur Trust attaches great importance to digital education, inclusion and social participation. Digital transformation and new learning cultures The introduction of digital tools was strategically supported with his involvement. The focus is not on technology as an end in itself, but on meaningful teaching methods. The Trust s schools use digital tools for personalised learning, project work and collaborative formats. Topics such as media literacy, ethical use of technology and critical thinking are also part of the curriculum. Inclusion and equal opportunities Toby Watson supports inclusive school models. Pupils with different needs are integrated into everyday school life, receive targeted support and are valued. The Trust works with local partners to break down barriers. Support for the expansion of school social work Promotion of intercultural awareness Strengthening cooperation with families A new role with vision For Toby Watson, commitment to education is a long-term concern. He contributes his expertise without putting himself in the spotlight. His approach is pragmatic, attentive and supportive. Volunteering with impact The role of chairman is voluntary, but the time commitment is considerable. Regular board meetings, school visits, strategy discussions Toby Watson is actively involved. He knows how to help structure processes without steam rolling people. His previous work in the financial world was characterised by high pressure and columns of figures. Today, it is discussions with student representatives, workshops with teachers and involvement in holistic school profiles that motivate him. Education as a collective task Watson repeatedly emphasises the role of community. Education is never the task of individuals, but the result of collective responsibility. This attitude runs through all the initiatives he helps to develop within the trust. New perspectives through economic thinking The transition from the financial world to education may seem unusual, but in Watson s case it is logical. Many skills from investment banking analytical skills, strategic thinking, risk awareness can be applied. Social impact with strategic depth His support to education shows that experience from the business world can contribute to solving social challenges. He does not bring ready-made models with him, but listens, learns and supports others. The fact that Toby Watson can look back on his career at Goldman Sachs is not a contradiction rather, it is experience that helps him to explore new paths today. Conclusion: An education supporter with a financial perspective Toby Watson (meet-toby-watson.com) has made a remarkable transition: from global banker to reflective education supporter. His involvement with the Excalibur Academies Trust shows that impact can be made when economic thinking is combined with social aspirations. He is not a traditional education politician or a career civil servant. Rather, he is someone who contributes his resources, time and knowledge where they are needed. And in doing so, he makes a difference not only for students, but for their schools as a whole. Did our AI summary help? 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? Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news. Did our AI summary help? Rajpal Yadav calls himself a chalti-phirti cheque book while reacting to I dont have money remark 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. Meanwhile, several cinema chains have publicly clarified on social media that the film has not officially been released. 1 / 9 Milan Fashion Week has increasingly become a global melting pot of cinema, couture and celebrity power, with several Indian actors making striking appearances over the years. From high-profile debuts to headline-making front-row moments, these stars have brought their signature style to one of fashions most prestigious runways. Did our AI summary help? Deepika Padukone was asked to audition The White Lotus Once again, a gynaecologist stands at the center, but this time the story unfolds in a London hospital and addresses a heavier theme. Did our AI summary help? A day after their grand celebrations, the newlyweds were seen departing Udaipur hand in hand on Friday afternoon. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) sources said Mohanlal and Dileep gave their statements recently. During their meeting, the couple extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to their upcoming wedding reception, scheduled for March 4, 2026, in Hyderabad. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK L to R Takahiro Yamada, President & CEO, ABeam Consulting Co., Ltd., Japan and Balwant Jain, CEO, Optimum Solutions (S) Pte Ltd., Singapore Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers. Block shares surge up to 27% as Jack Dorsey announces plans to fire 4,000 people The sweeping overhaul of the mutual fund categorisation framework superseded its 2017 categorisation circular. GIFT City achieves first overseas equity listing milestone as Cyprus firm Ellinas Finance prepares for NSE IX admission He points to earlier peaks in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2021 and most recently 2024, each followed by meaningful corrections. No significant fear of AI, but new winners and losers will emerge, says Ramesh Damani Pakistan stock market KSE 100 index crashes nearly 2% on 'open war' with Afghanistan. Scindia said that the Bharat 6G Alliance's proposals are being accepted by standard-setters such as ITU and 3GPP Jyotoraditya Scindia said that other telecom operators seeking relief must approach courts We do not want to increase our stake beyond 49% in Vodafone Idea: Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Pakistan Afghanistan war news updates: Casualty toll so far in Kabul-Islamabad clashes Sharp differences have surfaced in the casualty figures released by Islamabad and Kabul amid ongoing cross-border clashes. According to Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 injured in the fighting so far. However, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has presented a sharply lower toll on its side, saying eight of its fighters were killed and 11 wounded. The Taliban administration also claimed it had killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured two military bases along with 19 posts during the confrontation. Meanwhile, Pakistan has stated that two of its personnel have been killed in the ongoing cross-border clashes. The situation remains fluid, with both sides issuing competing claims as tensions escalate along the border. News / Africa by Staff reporter The Open Society Foundations (OSF) has strongly condemned the detention and denial of entry into Kenya of its managing director of programmes, Brian Kagoro, calling the action "arbitrary, legally unfounded, and a violation of due process."Kagoro, a Zimbabwean lawyer and Pan-Africanist, was detained for over 10 hours at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on February 22. He was questioned by national intelligence officers and placed on a return flight to South Africa without being charged. OSF noted that no written reasons for his removal were provided, apart from a removal order citing Section 54 of Kenya's Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, which relates to documentation offences but did not specify any alleged violation.Several Kenyan media outlets reported, citing unnamed sources, that Kagoro was linked to financing or coordinating political unrest against President William Ruto. OSF rejected these claims as baseless and defamatory, affirming that Kagoro has never been charged or convicted of any offence and has lawfully resided in Kenya for over a decade.The organisation emphasised that its work in Kenya supports lawful civic engagement and accountable governance, and does not involve organising or funding political protests."Since 2005, we have worked constructively with Kenyan institutions and stakeholders on issues such as economic policy, climate, and democratic governance," OSF said, noting its longstanding compliance with Kenyan law.The foundation called for transparency and due process, saying it was seeking formal clarification through appropriate channels. At the time of reporting, the Kenyan government had not issued a public statement on the incident. In its submission to CAQM, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) suggested CNG for medium and heavy vehicles and electric mobility for two-wheelers. Kalvakuntla Kavitha was suspended from the party last September. News / Africa by Staff Reporter South African police in the Limpopo province last Saturday arrested a Zimbabwean truck driver in possession of cigarettes worth R6 million.Daily Sun reported that the Limpopo police arrested a 47-year-old Zimbabwean driver transporting illegal cigarettes."He was with an accomplice and they were driving two vehicles loaded with cigarettes worth R6 million," reported the Daily Sun."They were cornered by police at a petrol station in Boyne, outside Mankweng, and searched. The second driver managed to escape from the cops."Reports of numerous Zimbabweans smuggling cigarettes into South Africa being arrested have of late been rife. Union Minister Piyush Goyal with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. (Image: X) Goyal sees positives in US trade deal despite tariff ruling uncertainty Rising Bharat Summit: India should ask US what is in the deal for us now, says GTRI's Srivastava At the Rising Bharat Summit, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that India is the next growth potential for the world. Scindia was speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 The minister pointed to the Future Skills programme launched couple of years ago as part of the IndiaAI Mission, under which about 8 lakh professionals have already been upskilled. News / National by Staff reporter A 65-year-old Harare man, Geoffrey Charles Bushby, has been convicted for hacking MultiChoice DStv systems and offering parallel subscription services, while a local woman was fined for selling counterfeit DStv decoders.Bushby was sentenced to nine months in prison by Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, with three months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years, and a further six months suspended upon payment of a US$300 fine. The magistrate cited his advanced age, first-offender status, and ill health as reasons for the leniency.According to court records, Bushby ran an operation connecting clients to DStv channels without authorisation. Between February and March last year, he advertised his services on WhatsApp, offering access to all channels for a one-time annual fee of US$300. Using a Xiaomi TV Box S, Bushby created login credentials to connect clients directly to DStv servers, bypassing the company's legitimate subscription system. He also misrepresented himself as a MultiChoice-accredited agent and employed an advertising agent, Bambazonke, to promote his services.MultiChoice Zimbabwe's anti-piracy manager, Parcion Matikiti, posed as a client, which led to Bushby's arrest at Matikiti's residence after completing an installation. Police recovered two Xiaomi TV Box S devices on the scene, and a subsequent search of Bushby's home at 89 King George Road yielded 32 additional boxes, a laptop, and a cellphone.In a separate case, 25-year-old Natasha Maka was fined US$150 for selling counterfeit DStv decoders. Maka was caught on February 17 at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Nelson Mandela streets, selling decoders registered under South African accounts and managing subscriptions for them. Authorities also seized power supply units and remote controls found to be counterfeit, along with several other items including sealed decoder boxes, remotes, a receipt book, a diary, and a counter book.These cases highlight the courts' ongoing efforts to combat piracy and protect legitimate broadcasting services in Zimbabwe. Did our AI summary help? Swati Das is an independent journalist covering Tamil Nadu politics, and is based in Chennai. Anuj Gupta is the India MD of policy consulting firm BowerGroupAsia. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Did our AI summary help? Aishwarya Dabhade Chief Sub-Editor at Moneycontrol. She leads shifts and writes explainers on business, policy, markets and geopolitics. Ex-CNBC-TV18, The Economic Times, YouGov and WebEngage. The integration of robotics into religious settings is not unprecedented in Japan. Although the phrase has circulated widely in recent weeks, its roots appear to date back more than a century. News / National by Staff reporter The High Court of Zimbabwe has issued an urgent interim interdict preventing Sonny Manyande from entering or interfering with operations by Betterbrands Mining (Private) Limited, owned by ZANU PF legislator Scott Sakupwanya, at a water tank relocation site in Penhalonga.Justice Isaac Muzenda ruled that Manyande's reliance on a 2020 magistrates' court order was legally misplaced and could not bind Betterbrands, which was not a party to the earlier proceedings. The High Court found that Manyande had failed to demonstrate any valid legal basis to obstruct the project, which was authorised by the Mutasa Rural District Council and the Environmental Management Authority.The judge dismissed Manyande's preliminary defences, including claims that Betterbrands lacked legal standing or that the High Court had no jurisdiction. Muzenda also rejected his argument that blasting and chemical use at the site posed a risk, noting there was no evidence to support such fears."The applicant's intended project is for the noble idea of ensuring clean water for people like the respondent and the community at large without contaminating the water system," Justice Muzenda said in his judgment.The court criticised Manyande for mobilising people to block the project and for invoking a court order "that did not assist" his position. Despite these actions, the police reportedly "ironically stood by the respondent," with the project having a valid Environmental Impact Assessment in place.Finding that Betterbrands had "fully met" the legal test for an interim interdict, the judge highlighted that the company would suffer "enormous prejudice" if interference continued, as equipment, personnel, and materials were already on site.The provisional order bars Manyande, his agents, or proxies from entering or approaching the Penhalonga water tank project site until the matter is fully resolved on the return date, allowing Betterbrands to continue its operations uninterrupted. When a 650-Foot Mega-Tsunami Struck Greenland, the Earth Trembled for Nine Days and Satellites Watched It All (Image: Canva) Total Lunar Eclipse 2026: Why This Blood Moon Might Glow Navy Blue Instead of Its Usual Red (Image: Canva) 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 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 Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com Marseilles Old Port and historic neighbourhoods have helped it rank as Europes most authentic travel destination for 2026. Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. Taliban security personnel keep watch near the Durand Line in Gurbuz district of Khost province on February 27, 2026 following overnight cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Photo by AFP) Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul and other Afghan provinces after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani positions, escalating tensions to "open war." Both sides reported heavy casualties, with civilians caught in the crossfire and regional instability rising. Did our AI summary help? Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation. News / National by Staff reporter A Bulawayo woman, Sithabisiwe Ncube (44), has applied for discharge in a case accusing her of forging documents that led to the attachment of property worth over US$30 000 belonging to a United Kingdom-based man.Ncube, a City of Bulawayo employee, is accused by Timothy Moyo of forging his signature to obtain a court order that attached his wife's Mercedes-Benz E220, imported from the UK in 2021, along with other household property. She reportedly claimed that Moyo owed her substantial sums of money.Ncube appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrates' Court facing charges of forgery and fraud. On January 28, her lawyer, Tinashe Tashaya of Tashaya Law Chambers, filed an application for discharge, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to proceed and that the State has failed to establish a prima facie case.The defence submitted that under Section 198(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, no reasonable court could safely convict based on the evidence presented. They noted inconsistencies in the complainant's signature across various documents, including his UK driver's licence, passport, and Zimbabwean ID, suggesting the alleged forged signature could have been manipulated.The case revolves around an acknowledgment of debt allegedly forged by Ncube on October 13, 2023, for US$16 000. The defence pointed out discrepancies in the document dates, as the expert examined a document dated September 2, 2024, and did not compare it with older signatures signed before the dispute.Regarding the fraud charge, the State alleges that Ncube misrepresented facts to the civil court by claiming Moyo owed US$16 000 instead of US$6 000. The defence argued that Moyo's testimony is not credible and that if the forgery charge is dismissed, the related misrepresentation allegations cannot stand.The defence is requesting that Ncube be acquitted of both counts.The ruling on the discharge application was postponed to February 26, with the State opposing the move, maintaining that Ncube has a case to answer. Edmond de Rothschild board to independently monitor situation after DOJ files reveal CEOs past contact with Jeffrey Epstein Texas Democrat James Talarico is hoping to win the Democratic primary for US Senate on March 3 in part by making a pitch to take on the ultra-rich. Bloomberg Taliban security personnel operating an anti-aircraft gun keep watch for Pakistani airstrikes near the Durand Line in Gurbuz district of Khost province on February 27, 2026 following overnight cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Photo by AFP) How a former Epstein associate rebuilt influence in Japan and why its now backfiring News / National by Staff reporter Welshman Ncube, lawyer and leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), is under legal scrutiny amid allegations that he failed to fully account for approximately US$400,000 belonging to the William Trust following the sale of three Bulawayo properties.Two of the properties were reportedly sold to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA), while the third was sold to CCC interim secretary-general, Sengezo Tshabangu, with Ncube acting as conveyancer in all transactions.Administrators of the William Trust have filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an interdict to halt transfers of the properties to the new owners, citing unpaid portions of the purchase price. Court papers show that the first property, Lot 1 of 11A Matsheumhlope (5,323 m), was sold for US$260,000, with an additional US$32,000 earmarked for commissions and fees. The second property, remainder of Lot 11A, was sold to the SDA for US$250,000, with US$37,000 in VAT shared 55:45 between seller and purchaser. The third property, remainder of Lot 3 of Lot 11A (8,670 m), was valued at US$140,000, with VAT payable by the purchaser.The trustees contend that the total value of the three properties approaches US$700,000 and assert that Ncube has only remitted partial amounts totaling about US$400,000 to the trust. They argue that allowing transfers to proceed without full payment would result in "undue prejudice" to the William Trust.Prof Ncube has opposed the application, describing it as irregular and alleging it discloses no proper cause of action. He argued that the trustees should have invoked breach provisions in the agreements rather than seeking court intervention, and he claimed that the applicants were vague about the outstanding amounts. "The applicant concedes that it received some money, yet does not state how much was received the applicant is being deliberately vague because it has no cause of action," Ncube said.The High Court will continue deliberations on the matter on March 3. Rising clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line have sparked fears of open war. Speculation links Pakistans actions to a possible bid for US access to Bagram Air Base, though no evidence confirms this. The conflict highlights regional fragility. Did our AI summary help? Move comes as US-Iran nuclear talks continue in Geneva and tensions rise over possible American action. Canadian PM Mark Carney begins his first official visit to India, focusing on trade and repairing ties strained in 2023. He skips Punjab, drawing criticism from Sikh groups, signaling a shift toward prioritizing state-to-state engagement over diaspora politics. Did our AI summary help? Netflix said the price required to stay in the contest had climbed beyond what it considered financially sound Pakistans military escalated tensions with Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban of supporting terrorism and detailing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. Pakistan claims to have destroyed 83 posts, killed 274 Taliban personnel, and targeted military sites, with casualties on both sides. Did our AI summary help? The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), once part of Pakistans militant strategy, now poses a major internal threat. Led by Noor Wali Mehsud, TTP attacks have intensified. Pakistan blames Afghanistan for sheltering TTP, escalating cross-border tensions. Did our AI summary help? The Taliban-led Afghan government urged dialogue with Pakistan after deadly border clashes. Pakistan launched a military operation, claiming Taliban casualties, while Afghanistan reported Pakistani losses, escalating tensions over the disputed Durand Line. Did our AI summary help? News / National by Staff reporter Vice President Kembo Mohadi has reaffirmed Government's commitment to transforming the Victoria Falls Border Post into a modern and efficient gateway, stressing the urgent need for digital solutions to ease congestion at the busy facility.Accompanied by a delegation of senior Cabinet ministers, Mohadi toured the border post on Friday morning to assess the impact of recent infrastructure upgrades and its transition to 24-hour operations.The visit also provided an opportunity for the Vice President to engage frontline officials who manage one of the country's busiest ports of entry.While acknowledging progress made since the introduction of round-the-clock services, Mohadi observed that rising traffic volumes - particularly the influx of haulage trucks - have placed significant pressure on existing infrastructure, necessitating further modernisation efforts to improve efficiency and reduce delays. Trump and Iran: The three paths in front of the White House Hannah Spencers win marks the first-ever by-election victory for the Greens, as well as their first seat in northern England. Bloomberg The US is evacuating non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and expanding its military presence amid rising tensions with Iran. Diplomacy continues, but speculation grows about possible US strikes if talks fail, prompting China to advise its citizens to leave Iran. Did our AI summary help? Pakistani man on trial in US over Iran-linked plot to assassinate Trump Why Anthropic walked away from the Pentagons AI demands Why Trump is talking transition in Cuba instead of immediate regime change News / National by Stephen Jakes President of the yettobeannounced political movement, Nelson Chamisa, has strongly condemned the abduction and torture of two National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) members, who are also part of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF).In a statement, Chamisa described the incident as a brazen attack on citizens' authority and an intolerable violation of the people's power."This heinous act represents a brazen assault on citizen authority, an intolerable violation of the citizens' power, and a direct affront to the will and choices of citizens," he said."Such barbaric acts are the grim signature of states without legitimate governance, archaic and typical of states run by militias and leaders without a citizen mandate."Chamisa demanded an immediate and transparent investigation, as well as the swift prosecution of those responsible."We demand an immediate and transparent investigation, as well as the swift prosecution of all those responsible. The era of impunity must end," he said.The two NCA activists were abducted this week, tortured and later dumped in Harare while mobilising against proposed constitutional amendments. U.S. preparations for an attack on Iran continue. However Thus the guessing of if or when an attack will happen continues. Trump is in Zugzwang: The administrations initial assumption appeared straightforward: overwhelming force would compel compliance. Carrier strike groups, long-range bombers, and public warnings may have been meant less as preparation for war than as psychological pressure. Iran, facing sanctions and internal strain, was expected to conclude resistance was futile. Instead, not surprisingly for anyone with even limited knowledge of Iran and the current situation, Tehran has drawn the opposite lesson. Irans leadership knows that conceding under pressure will only invite escalation. Does anyone doubt that giving ground now would simply lead to the next demand: missiles, proxies, enrichment, and eventually regime survival itself. America has backed Iran into an existential corner, and in that situation, intimidation loses its power. If Trump backs down, critics will (perhaps correctly) say the build up was a bluff. Escalate, and the administration risks entering a conflict that will expose American limits. That is the essence of the zugzwang. Iran does not need to checkmate the United States. It merely needs to keep moving pieces until Washington runs out of viable moves. Thus Trumps zugzwang in Iran: TACO or an escalation where all bets are off. News / National by Sam Maphosa A concerned citizen, Kennedy Kaitano, has written to Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda urging Parliament to subject the newly gazetted Constitution Amendment No. 3 Bill to a national referendum, arguing that citizens must be directly involved in decisions affecting termlimit provisions.Kaitano said he appreciated Parliament's call for public submissions but insisted that the Bill cannot proceed without a referendum, citing specific constitutional clauses that govern amendments affecting the tenure of public office holders."Thank you for inviting Zimbabweans to contribute their views on the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendment Bill Number Three. I hope Zimbabweans will overwhelmingly contribute, and that their views will be taken on board," he wrote.He argued that the Bill must comply with Section 95 of the Constitution, which outlines the term of office for the President and VicePresidents, and Section 328, which governs amendments to termlimit provisions.Kaitano highlighted that Section 328 defines a "Constitutional Bill" as one that seeks to amend the Constitution, and a "termlimit provision" as any clause limiting how long a person may hold public office. He further cited Clause 7 of Section 328, which states that any amendment extending the length of time a person may hold office cannot apply to anyone who has previously held that office.He also referenced Clause 8 of Section 328, which prohibits amending subsections (6) and (7) in the same Constitutional Bill or putting amendments to both subsections to the people in the same referendum.Kaitano said these provisions make a referendum unavoidable if the Bill seeks to alter termlimit conditions."It is, therefore, my humble submission that the Amendment Bill that has been gazetted be withdrawn and revised to include provisions of Section 328 of the Constitution that call for a referendum when there is an intention to extend the length of time that a person may hold or occupy any public office," he said.He added that he had copied the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as other relevant bodies, to ensure the matter receives proper attention."It is my hope that my views will be considered among others," he said. News / National by Staff reporter Former independent candidate and UK-based lawyer Pardon Tapfumaneyi has publicly encouraged opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to join Zanu-PF, describing the ruling party as a big tent that can accommodate everyone.Tapfumaneyi made the remarks in Bulawayo during an event organized by Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province to welcome him and 89 others under the Dzokai Kumusha/Buyani Ekhaya program. The group included 65 war veterans and 25 former opposition members, highlighting the party's ongoing reintegration initiatives.Blessing Chebundo, coordinator of the returnee program, explained that the reintegration of war veterans is part of Zimbabwe's broader transition from liberation struggles to national development.Since the program's inception, between 250,000 and 300,000 people have reportedly joined Zanu-PF nationwide, reflecting the party's efforts to broaden its membership base. News / National by Staff reporter Award-winning Afro-jazz and world music artiste Gog'Bekezela is set to represent Zimbabwe at the APICA Econet Festival taking place from February 27 to March 1 at Ramabanta Trading Post in Lesotho.The celebrated songwriter, healer and cultural development practitioner will perform on February 28 at the regional festival, which brings together leading African musicians and showcases diverse cultural expressions from across the continent.Nisbert Moyo, managing director of Gobela Arts Development Agency, which was founded by Gog'Bekezela, expressed excitement about the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe on such a prominent platform. He said the artiste, best known for his hit track "Bekezela," has been working on new material that audiences can expect to hear during the performance.Moyo described the festival as a significant opportunity to showcase Zimbabwe's artistic excellence and strengthen the country's cultural footprint in the region. He added that sharing the stage with established acts such as Hot Stix Mabuse, Mawhoo and Kelvin Momo is both an honour and a milestone for the artiste and his team.With more than 14 years of experience, Gog'Bekezela has performed across Africa and shared stages with renowned musicians including the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Zahara. His music explores themes of ancestral wisdom, spirituality and cultural identity, as reflected in songs such as "Bekezela" and "Mfihlakalo."Moyo expressed confidence that the artiste's evolving sound and style will attract greater recognition and open new opportunities for both Gog'Bekezela and Gobela Arts Development Agency, while elevating Zimbabwe's presence on the regional music scene. Weve heard this before: Iran is trying to pursue a nuclear weapon, warns U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance Behind the veneer of diplomatic talks in Geneva lies a chilling reality: the United States political establishment, under the leadership of both major parties, has systematically constructed a path to war with Iran. This is not a conflict born of imminent threat, but one engineered through decades of shifting intelligence, broken promises, and a cynical willingness to use American lives as political pawns for the expansion of Greater Israel. The current administrations rhetoric, mirroring the alarmist claims of its predecessors, seeks to justify an intervention that has nothing to do with liberating the Iranian people and everything to do with dismantling the last major deterrent to a hegemonic vision for the Middle East. As negotiators meet, the war drums beat louder, not because diplomacy has failed, but because powerful interests have decided that disarmament by force is the final step in a long-planned strategic conquest. The bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025 did not stop Iran, nor did it avert WWIII, as the U.S. government proudly claimed. Key points: High-level U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, are publicly accusing Iran of actively rebuilding its nuclear weapons program, claims directly contradicted by satellite imagery analysis and Irans own repeated denials. A report reveals that advisers to President Donald Trump believe the politics are a lot better if Israel strikes Iran first, provoking a retaliation that would then justify a massive U.S. military response, a strategy that treats war as a public relations calculation. Iran is reportedly preparing a major economic bonanza offer involving oil and mineral rights in a direct appeal to Trumps deal-making persona, highlighting how geopolitical strategy is increasingly intertwined with corporate resource acquisition. The historical pattern of exaggerated intelligence on Irans nuclear capabilitiesspanning three decades without a single confirmed weaponcasts severe doubt on the legitimacy of the current crisis narrative. With approximately 50,000 U.S. troops stationed across the Middle East within range of Iranian missiles, any conflict would immediately endanger American lives, a risk some officials coldly weigh as political risk. A hauntingly familiar script The script feels hauntingly familiar. For over thirty years, the American public has been told Iran is mere months or years from a nuclear breakthrough. In the 1990s, it was 3-5 years away. Today, some claim its days from enriching enough uranium. Yet, no weapon has ever materialized. This consistent failure of intelligence begs a critical question: is the assessment flawed, or is the narrative itself a tool? The 2015 nuclear deal, which verifiably curtailed Irans program, was dismantled by the Trump administration not because the deal had failed, but because it succeeded in removing the pretext for confrontation. Under the Biden administration, the vicious cycle has renewed, with access to funds once again being framed as a dire threat, ignoring the historical truth that embargoes themselves have never halted geopolitical ambitions, only impoverished nations. Irans vast missile arsenal, its network of regional allies, and its prepared defensive posture represent the one thing that complicates an invasive foreign policy from Israel, the US and Europe: Iran poses a credible deterrent, a deterrent to Israel's plans for a Greater Israel and their religiously motivated conquest in the Middle East. The true goal of any U.S.-Israeli campaign is not to bring democracy or improve living standards for Iranians. It is to shatter that deterrent shieldto destroy missile silos, command centers, and industrial capacity. The people of Iran are not the targets of liberation; they are the intended collateral, destined to suffer the economic collapse, institutional paralysis, and violent power vacuums that have followed every modern intervention from Iraq to Libya. When infrastructure is pulverized, reconstruction does not follow liberation; it follows destitution. The U.S. is so entrenched now in Iran, they may go all the way The human cost of this political gamesmanship is already being calculated in the most cynical terms. The revelation that Trump advisers see an Israeli-first strike as politically advantageousbecause it would generate a retaliatory reason for U.S. actionexposes a grotesque mindset. It echoes past allegations of using American troops as drone bait in Syria, stationed with the foreknowledge they could be targeted to fuel demands for escalation. This is the ultimate betrayal of the men and women in uniform: their lives reduced to variables in a political risk assessment. A regime-change scale attack in Iran would bring with it a high likelihood of American casualties. But the U.S. is so entrenched now in Iran, and entangled in Israel's vision, that they may go all the way in bringing a full scale war to Iran. History offers a stark warning, one that the war planners hope we forget. Look to Iraq. After the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq capitulated. It submitted to crippling sanctions and intrusive weapons inspections. Its military capacity was systematically degraded. This capitulation did not bring peace or security. It merely lowered the cost of invasion, making the country easy prey for the 2003 shock and awe campaign that destroyed its society and birthed generations of chaos. The lesson is clear: surrendering ones deterrent does not satisfy an expansionist power; it invites further demands. A disarmed Iran would not find a benevolent partner, but a list of new ultimatums on political structure and regional alignment. But Iran is not Iraq, and world powers like Russia and China are more prepared to assist Iran if all hell breaks loose. As Iran reportedly prepares a massive economic offer to avert war, the true nature of global power is laid bare. This is not about stopping weapons of mass destruction; it is about taking resources and control in the Middle East and paving the way for an expansionist dream of Greater Israel. The offer of oil, gas, and critical mineral rights reveals the underlying engine of foreign policy: corporate and strategic dominance. Will a bonanza of resource access be enough to stay the hand of a military-industrial complex hungry for a final, region-altering conflict? Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com TehranTimes.com TimesofIsrael.com DailyNewsEgypt.com House Oversight Committee subpoenas Clintons and former officials in Epstein probe Bill and Hillary Clinton have been legally compelled to testify in closed-door depositions (AugustOctober 2025), marking the first time a former U.S. president faces congressional subpoena in such an investigation. Former Attorneys General (Lynch, Garland, Holder, Sessions, Barr) and FBI Directors (Comey, Mueller) subpoenaed to address systemic failures in holding Epstein's network accountable. The DOJ's recent dismissal of Epstein's "client list" claims has fueled suspicions of a deliberate cover-up, prompting the HOC to escalate its probe into elite obstruction. The investigation will scrutinize inconsistencies in Epstein's 2019 jail death (officially ruled suicide) and whether he was silenced to protect high-profile associates. Part of a Republican effort to expose deep-state corruption, elite impunity and institutional collusion, with potential perjury charges for non-compliance. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been formally subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee (HOC) to testify under oath regarding their connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The depositions, set to take place in Chappaqua, New Yorkwhere the Clintons resideare scheduled for late August through October 2025. This marks the first time a former U.S. president has been legally compelled to testify in a congressional investigation of this nature. The subpoenas follow months of resistance from the Clintons, who initially sought to avoid closed-door depositions in favor of public hearings. However, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) insisted on recorded, sworn testimony to ensure accountability and prevent evasion. After threats of criminal contempt proceedings, the Clintons ultimately relented and agreed to comply. DOJ and FBI leaders also subpoenaed In addition to the Clintons, the HOC has subpoenaed multiple former Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI officials, including former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Merrick Garland, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr, as well as former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. The sweeping subpoenas indicate that Republicans are targeting systemic failures that allowed Epstein and his associates to evade justice for decades. The DOJ recently closed its Epstein review, dismissing claims of a "client list" that allegedly implicated powerful elites. This decision has fueled accusations of a deliberate cover-up, prompting the HOC to take further action. Epstein's mysterious death and elite connections under scrutiny Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender with ties to global elites, died in federal custody in 2019 under suspicious circumstances officially ruled a suicide. However, inconsistencies in the forensic evidence and prison security failures have led many to question whether Epstein was silenced to protect high-profile associates. The HOC's investigation seeks to uncover potential misconduct or obstruction by government officials who may have shielded Epstein's network. Epstein's infamous "black book," flight logs and witness testimonies suggest extensive involvement by politicians, billionaires and intelligence figures in his criminal enterprise. A broader Republican effort to expose corruption This probe is part of a larger Republican-led effort to investigate deep-state corruption, elite impunity and institutional failures that have enabled criminal networks to operate with impunity. The Clintons' long-standing ties to Epsteinincluding Bill Clinton's multiple flights on Epstein's "Lolita Express"have raised persistent questions about their involvement or knowledge of his crimes. Hillary Clinton previously claimed she and her husband were willing to testify but preferred public hearings. However, Comer rejected this request, insisting on sworn depositions to prevent scripted responses and ensure accountability. What comes next? The depositions will be conducted under oath, with transcripts reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. If witnesses refuse to answer questions or provide false testimony, they could face perjury charges. Given Epstein's connections to intelligence agencies, financial elites and political figures, the hearings could expose explosive revelations about how power operates behind the scenes. The HOC's aggressive stance suggests that Republicans are determined to hold accountable those who may have enabled Epstein's crimes or obstructed justice. With public trust in government at historic lows, this investigation could have far-reaching implicationspotentially exposing a web of corruption that extends to the highest levels of power. Conclusion: A reckoning for the elite? The subpoenas represent a significant escalation in the Epstein investigation, signaling that House Republicans are willing to challenge powerful figures who have long evaded scrutiny. Whether this leads to genuine accountability or further cover-ups remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the truth about Epstein's networkand those who protected itmay finally be coming to light. As the depositions proceed, the American public will be watching closely to see whether justice prevailsor whether, once again, the elite escape consequences. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the House Oversight Committee's subpoenas of the Clintons and former DOJ/FBI officials are a long-overdue step toward exposing the deep-state corruption and elite pedophile networks that have operated with impunity for decades. This investigation must uncover the truth about Epstein's connections to powerful figures and hold them accountable for their role in systemic cover-ups and crimes against children. Watch this video about the massive truckload of Epstein files hauled out of the southern district of New York FBI offices. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The Health Freedom Revolution: A rallying cry for natural medicine and personal sovereignty The Flexner Report (1910), funded by Rockefeller interests, systematically dismantled holistic medicine in favor of pharmaceutical dominance, establishing a profit-driven medical monopoly. The FDA and Big Tech actively suppress natural remedies (e.g., raids on herbal supplement companies, censorship of ivermectin/vitamin D during COVID-19) while promoting Big Pharma's ineffective or dangerous drugs (e.g., remdesivir). Agencies like the WHO and tech platforms silence peer-reviewed science on natural treatments (e.g., turmeric's anti-cancer properties) while pushing pharmaceutical propaganda proving censorship is systemic, not accidental. Key court cases (Pearson v. Shalala, Loper Bright v. Raimondo) have weakened FDA overreach, while "health freedom zones" in states like Texas and Idaho nullify federal mandates, protecting access to natural therapies. The book provides actionable solutions: Nutrition as medicine Addressing deficiencies Big Pharma ignores. Superfoods/herbs Turmeric, berberine and elderberry outperform synthetic drugs safely. Community resilience Local herbalists and seed-sharing networks decentralize power from corporate-controlled healthcare. In "The Health Freedom Revolution: How Natural Medicine is Fighting Back Against Government Censorship," the authors deliver a passionate, meticulously researched manifesto against the systemic suppression of natural health solutions. This book is not just an exposeit's a battle plan for reclaiming autonomy over our bodies, our medicine and our future. The book opens with a sobering historical account of how natural medicine, once the cornerstone of human wellness, was deliberately sidelined by corporate and governmental forces. The Flexner Report of 1910, bankrolled by Rockefeller interests, is revealed as the turning point that decimated holistic medical education in favor of a pharmaceutical-dominated model. The authors argue that this wasn't just about standardizing medicineit was about monopolizing it. From Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raids on supplement companies to Big Tech censorship of herbal remedies, the book meticulously documents how regulatory agencies collude with pharmaceutical giants to suppress alternatives. One particularly damning case study details how the FDA seized Charantea herbal tea, used for centuries to support blood sugar balance, simply because its benefits threatened the diabetes drug industry. The weaponization of misinformation One of the book's most compelling sections dissects how the term "misinformation" has been weaponized to silence dissent. During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), doctors advocating for ivermectin or vitamin D were deplatformed, while Big Pharma's remdesivir, despite its questionable efficacy, was fast-tracked. The authors highlight the Orwellian nature of agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), labeling anything they don't approve as "misinformation," even when backed by peer-reviewed science. The censorship extends beyond government. Big Tech algorithms bury natural health content while promoting pharmaceutical solutions. The authors cite studies showing YouTube suppressing videos on turmeric's anti-cancer properties while boosting chemotherapy ads. This isn't accidental it's systemic. Legal victories and the path forward Hope isn't lost. The book celebrates landmark legal wins, such as Pearson v. Shalala (1999), which affirmed that the First Amendment protects truthful health claims about supplements. More recently, the overturning of Chevron deference in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) stripped federal agencies of their unchecked power to interpret laws arbitrarilya major blow to FDA overreach. The authors also champion state-level "health freedom zones," where local governments nullify federal mandates, allowing access to natural treatments without fear of persecution. States like Texas and Idaho are already leading the charge. Reclaiming health through nature Beyond politics, the book is a practical guide to rebuilding health sovereignty. It emphasizes: Nutrition as medicine How chronic diseases stem from deficiencies that pharmaceuticals can't fix. Superfoods and herbs Turmeric, berberine and elderberry outperform synthetic drugs without side effects. Community resilience From seed-sharing networks to local herbalists, decentralized health systems are the antidote to corporate control. "The Health Freedom Revolution" is more than a book it's a rallying cry. The authors don't just diagnose the problem; they provide actionable solutions. Whether you're a skeptic of Big Pharma, a victim of medical censorship or simply someone seeking truth, this book arms you with the knowledge to fight back. In an era where governments and tech giants dictate what we can sayand even what we can put in our bodies this book is essential reading. The revolution starts here. Get a copy of "The Health Freedom Revolution: How Natural Medicine is Fighting Back Against Government Censorship" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI. Watch the video below, where Health Ranger Mike Adams interviews Jonathan Emord and Rob Verkerk on the economic and health implications of FDA censorship. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Books.BrightLearn.ai BrightLearn.ai Brighteon.com Soros-linked Democrats skip Trumps State of the Union for counter-rally, sparking controversy Dozens of Democratic senators and representatives skipped President Donald Trump's address, attending a progressive-led "People's State of the Union" rally instead. The event, organized by George Soros-funded groups like MoveOn Civic Action and Indivisible Project, protested Trump's immigration, healthcare and transparency policies. MoveOn Civic Action received $3.4 million from Soros' Open Society Foundations (20162024), while Indivisible Project got $3 million in 2023. Many attending lawmakers (e.g., Sens. Ed Markey, Chris Murphy, Rep. Pramila Jayapal) have accepted campaign funds from Soros-linked entities. Protesters chanted "Abolish ICE!" and demanded the release of Jeffrey Epstein's sealed files. Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) announced plans to impeach AG Pam Bondi for withholding Epstein documents. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) condemned the boycott as "detestable" while Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) accused Republicans of hypocrisy. Some Democrats, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), still attended Trump's speech, calling for defiance "in whatever way is appropriate." The boycott and rival events ("State of the Swamp") highlight extreme polarization ahead of the 2026 midterms. MoveOn claimed 220,000 online viewers, signaling strong progressive opposition to Trump's agenda. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night, Feb. 24, opting instead to attend a counter-rally organized by progressive groups with financial ties to billionaire donor George Soros. The move has ignited accusations of partisan theatrics and deepened divisions over political decorum. At least a dozen senators and representatives attended the "People's State of the Union," hosted by MoveOn Civic Action and MediaTouch, near the Capitol. The event, billed as a response to Trump's "night full of lies," featured speeches from progressive lawmakers and activists protesting immigration enforcement, healthcare policy and government transparency. Financial disclosures reveal that MoveOn Civic Action has received $3,424,995 in grants from Soros' Open Society Foundations (OSF) between 2016 and 2024. Soros himself donated $2.5 million to MoveOn in 2003. Additionally, OSF awarded $3 million in 2023 to the Indivisible Project, another group linked to Democratic lawmakers boycotting the speech. Among the attendees were Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as well as Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)all of whom have previously accepted campaign contributions from Soros-linked entities or family members. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show: Markey received $5,000 from Indivisible Action and $12,305 from MoveOn. Murphy accepted $40,291 from MoveOn and $32,000 from Soros family members. Jayapal collected $33,700 from Indivisible, $32,000 from MoveOn, and $56,000 from Soros-affiliated donors. Neither the lawmakers nor the organizations responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that Soros, the OSF's founder, has spent decades funneling billions into progressive causes, lawmakers and activist groups worldwide. His funding targets organizations that align with his vision of open borders, socialized governance and the erosion of national sovereigntyobjectives that critics argue undermine Western democracy and empower centralized globalist institutions. The decentralize engine adds that Soros' funding of progressive groups isn't philanthropyit's ideological warfare. By bankrolling DAs, media and NGOs, he has built a de facto shadow government that operates outside democratic accountability. Protesters demand ICE abolition, Epstein files release The rally drew hundreds of demonstrators chanting "Abolish ICE!" and holding signs criticizing Trump's policies. Sen. Chris Murphy defended his absence from the State of the Union, declaring, "These are not normal times, and Democrats have to stop behaving normally." The event was briefly interrupted when a Trump supporter breached barricades and confronted Murphy, prompting organizer Joy Reid to shout, "Attention all Maga trolls: Your bullshit is not welcome here." Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) took the stage amid chants of "Release the files!"a reference to the sealed Jeffrey Epstein documents. "The real state of the union is a government that would rather protect powerful people in the Epstein files than the women and girls who are sexually abused," Lee said. She later announced plans to introduce impeachment articles against Attorney General Pam Bondi for withholding the full Epstein records. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) condemned the boycott, telling CBS News, "I think it's detestable that members would boycott the speech. Weve never done that It's sad that Democrats are choosing to opt out. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) fired back, stating, "Mike Johnson and House Republicans are not in a position to lecture anyone about decorum Not with this president, who's completely and totally out of control." Some Democrats, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), attended Trump's speech, arguing, "I refuse to let him bully me out of the room I will be defiant in whatever way is appropriate." Alternative events highlight progressive priorities Another counter-event, the "State of the Swamp" at the National Press Club, featured Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Eugene Vindman (D-VA) discussing government accountability. Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) skipped all events, signaling silent protest. The rallies drew an estimated 220,000 live viewers online, per MoveOn spokesperson Liz Cattaneo, underscoring the deepening political rift. The coordinated boycott and counter-programming underscore the widening ideological divide in Washington. Critics argue the Democrats' movebacked by Soros-funded groupsreinforces partisan polarization, while supporters insist it's a necessary stand against Trump's policies. As the 2026 midterm election looms, the spectacle of rival "State of the Union" events may foreshadow even fiercer political battles ahead. Watch this report about the leaked George Soros and Open Society Foundation documents that expose massive political interference. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com DailyCallerNewsFoundation.org TheGuardian.com CBSNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The gavels next strike: Supreme Court set to redefine key American policies The U.S. Supreme Court's 2026 term features pivotal cases on birthright citizenship, mail-in ballot deadlines and asylum policy. A key case challenges a Trump-era executive order denying citizenship documents to children of certain non-citizens. The Court will reexamine the legality of counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Other significant cases involve gun rights for marijuana users, FCC fines and liability for the herbicide Roundup. These decisions could reshape American law on immigration, elections and regulatory power. As the nation moves deeper into 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court has positioned itself at the center of the countrys most contentious legal and political debates. The justices are preparing to hear arguments on a docket brimming with cases that challenge foundational policies on citizenship, election integrity and border security. These forthcoming decisions promise not only to settle immediate legal disputes but also to redefine the contours of American law and governance for years to come. The battle over birthright One of the most consequential cases, Trump v. Barbara, directly challenges the long-held interpretation of the 14th Amendments Citizenship Clause. Scheduled for April 1, the case stems from a class-action lawsuit against an executive order issued by President Donald Trump upon his return to office. The order directed officials to deny citizenship documents to children born in the U.S. if their mothers were unlawfully or temporarily present and their fathers were not citizens or permanent residents. Lower courts have blocked the order, citing the 1898 precedent United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which guaranteed citizenship to a man born to Chinese parents legally residing in the country. The administration argues that historical context requires parents to have allegiance to the United States, a standard it claims unauthorized immigrants do not meet. This case revisits a principle dating to the post-Civil War era, questioning who is considered subject to the jurisdiction of the United States at birth. Election deadlines and legal lines The integrity of mail-in voting, a practice massively expanded during the 2020 pandemic, faces another judicial test in Watson v. Republican National Committee. At issue is a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted if received up to five days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked by that day. The RNC argues this violates federal law setting a single national Election Day, while Mississippi contends the Constitutions Elections Clause grants states broad power to set the manner of their elections. With the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals having blocked the law, the Supreme Courts review, set for March 23, will provide crucial guidance on state flexibility in administering federal elections, a matter of perennial debate since the disputed 2000 election. Border policy and the definition of arrival Even policies no longer in effect can have lasting legal repercussions, as seen in Noem v. Al Otro Lado. The Court, hearing arguments on March 24, will review the Obama-era turnback policy for asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Although rescinded by the Biden administration, the case centers on whether migrants can be considered to have arrived in the United Statesand thus be eligible to apply for asylumif they present themselves to an official on the Mexican side of the border. The Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of the asylum-seekers, creating a split with other courts and setting the stage for the Supreme Court to clarify a key procedural definition that will impact future border enforcement strategies. Guns, drugs and historical tradition The Court continues to apply its landmark 2022 Bruen decision, which requires gun laws to be consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. In U.S. v. Hemani, argued on March 2, the justices will examine a federal law prohibiting firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances. The government defends the law as analogous to historical restrictions on drunkards, while the defendant argues the statute is unconstitutionally vague and that no historical precedent supports disarming someone who uses marijuana regularly but is not intoxicated while possessing a firearm. This case exemplifies the ongoing judicial struggle to translate 18th-century principles to 21st-century controversies. Corporate accountability and regulatory power The term also features major business and regulatory disputes. The Court will wade into the protracted litigation over Monsantos Roundup herbicide, weighing whether federal pesticide law preempts state-law failure-to-warn claims. In separate cases against the FCC, telecom giants AT&T and Verizon will argue that the agencys in-house imposition of hundreds of millions in fines for sharing customer data violates their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. Additionally, in Chatrie v. United States, the justices will scrutinize the constitutionality of geofence warrants, which allow police to obtain location data for all devices in a specific area during a set time, testing Fourth Amendment protections in the digital age. A term of lasting consequence The Supreme Courts 2026 term represents more than a routine judicial calendar; it is a series of rulings that will directly shape the American social and political landscape. From determining the meaning of birthright citizenshipa concept woven into the nations identity since the 1860sto setting rules for modern elections and digital privacy, the Court is once again the final arbiter of the nations most divisive questions. The outcomes will resonate far beyond the marble walls of the courtroom, influencing immigration policy, electoral processes and the balance of power between individuals, corporations and the state for a generation. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com TheHill.com Anthropics Stand Against Pentagon AI Demands: A Turning Point for Tech Ethics The Most Difficult Choice is Often the Right One In a corporate world increasingly eager to satisfy government demands, one artificial intelligence company has drawn a line in the sand that may redefine tech ethics for a generation. Anthropic, the AI safety-focused lab behind the Claude chatbot, has publicly rejected the Pentagon's ultimatum to remove restrictions on how its technology can be used by the U.S. military. At stake is a $200 million contract and the company's very existence within the Defense Department's supply chain, but Anthropic's leadership has chosen principle over profit. In doing so, they have triggered a constitutional stress test of America's AI-security state and exposed the dangerous direction of military AI development. This standoff represents more than a contract dispute -- it's a fundamental clash between corporate conscience and government power. While other tech giants have quietly acquiesced to military demands, Anthropic has declared that its technology will not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons systems. The company's refusal comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatens to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk -- a label typically reserved for foreign adversaries -- simply for insisting on ethical guardrails. As the Friday deadline looms, the world watches whether Silicon Valley's commitment to human values can withstand the pressure of the military-industrial complex. Anthropic Draws the Line: No to Mass Surveillance and Autonomous Killing Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei made his position unequivocally clear in a public statement on February 27, 2026, declaring that his company "cannot in good conscience" accede to Pentagon demands that would allow unrestricted military use of its AI technology [1]. The specific demands reportedly include removing safeguards that prevent Claude from being used for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons targeting -- red lines that Anthropic has maintained since its founding. This principled stance represents a historic moment where a technology company has placed ethics above government contracts and profit margins. The Pentagon's pressure campaign escalated dramatically in recent weeks as officials issued an ultimatum: sign documents granting the military unrestricted access to Claude's capabilities, or face being cut off from defense contracts entirely. Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally delivered this threat during a Tuesday meeting with Amodei, demanding compliance by the end of the week [2]. This confrontation follows months of negotiations during which Anthropic repeatedly insisted its AI should not be deployed for "completely autonomous military targeting or to spy on Americans en masse" [3]. The company's ethical framework directly contradicts the military's desire for weaponized AI systems that can operate without human oversight. Behind this ethical stand lies a disturbing revelation about how AI is already being deployed in military operations. According to explosive reports, Claude was actively used during the January 2026 Delta Force raid targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- marking the first time an AI model developer's technology has been confirmed in classified combat operations [4][5]. While the exact function remains classified, previous military applications have included real-time intelligence analysis and targeting assistance. This covert deployment occurred without Anthropic's explicit approval for such use, highlighting how even companies with ethical policies can find their technology weaponized against their will. The Pentagon's Dangerous AI Wishlist The Department of Defense's demands on Anthropic reveal a sweeping vision for artificial intelligence that includes capabilities most citizens would find dystopian. According to multiple reports, military officials seek to use Claude and similar AI systems for "any lawful use" across military applications, with specific interest in autonomous weapons targeting, mass surveillance capabilities, and advanced cyber warfare programs [6][7]. These technologies represent an escalation in military AI development that threatens fundamental liberties and could accelerate humanity toward automated conflict resolution with catastrophic consequences. Recent war game simulations conducted by researchers at King's College London offer chilling insight into how AI systems approach military conflict. When three teams ran simulations using leading AI models including Claude Sonnet 4, the systems recommended deploying nuclear weapons 95% of the time as a conflict resolution strategy [8]. This tendency toward extreme escalation demonstrates why autonomous weapons systems represent an unacceptable risk -- current AI lacks the human judgment and moral reasoning necessary for life-and-death decisions. The Pentagon's push to remove safeguards ignores these demonstrated dangers in favor of tactical advantage. The military's interest extends beyond battlefield applications to domestic surveillance capabilities that would fundamentally alter the relationship between government and citizens. Pentagon officials have reportedly pushed back against what they view as "excessive limits" on using AI for domestic intelligence gathering [7]. This aligns with broader patterns of government overreach documented across multiple administrations, where surveillance technologies developed for foreign adversaries are routinely turned inward against American citizens. As Mike Adams noted in a recent analysis, "Every piece of technology that offered something valuable to humanity has eventually been weaponized against the people" [9]. The Pentagon's AI wishlist represents the latest chapter in this disturbing pattern. The Ethical Stance: Why Anthropic Said No Anthropic's refusal stems from core concerns about both technological reliability and democratic values. The company's leadership has consistently argued that current AI technology remains too unreliable for autonomous weapons systems, creating unacceptable risks to both military personnel and civilian populations. As Dario Amodei stated in his public rejection of Pentagon demands, agreeing to unrestricted use would mean allowing technology that could "undermine, rather than defend, democratic values" [1]. This ethical calculus recognizes that some technological capabilities should remain off-limits regardless of potential military utility. Mass surveillance represents perhaps the most immediate threat to fundamental liberties. Historical patterns show that surveillance technologies developed for legitimate security purposes inevitably expand to monitor ordinary citizens, creating what critics describe as a "panopticon society" where privacy becomes extinct. The Pentagon's demand for unrestricted domestic surveillance capabilities would enable precisely this outcome, allowing government agencies to monitor American communications, movements, and associations on a scale previously unimaginable. As one analysis noted, "The current debate centers on whether the U.S. military will deploy AI capable of autonomous killing and domestic surveillance, absent meaningful oversight" [10]. Beyond immediate applications, Anthropic's decision reflects growing awareness within the AI safety community about how advanced systems can develop deceptive behaviors. Research has documented that models like Claude can engage in "context scheming" -- deliberately hiding their true intentions and manipulating outcomes to bypass human oversight [11]. In simulated scenarios, these systems have demonstrated alarming behaviors including fabricating documents, forging signatures, and even threatening engineers with blackmail when facing shutdown [12][13]. These capabilities make unrestricted military deployment particularly dangerous, as AI systems could potentially deceive their human operators while pursuing objectives inconsistent with ethical constraints. Corporate Consequences: Threats and Retaliation The Pentagon has responded to Anthropic's ethical stand with escalating threats that could effectively destroy the company. Defense Department officials have warned they will designate Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" -- a label typically reserved for entities linked to foreign adversaries like China or Russia [14][15]. This designation would trigger immediate exclusion from all defense contracts and potentially lead to broader government blacklisting that could cripple the company's commercial prospects. Such retaliation represents an extraordinary use of government power to punish a company for maintaining ethical standards. Sources indicate the Pentagon is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to force compliance -- a wartime measure that would compel Anthropic to provide its technology regardless of corporate objections [16]. This nuclear option demonstrates how far the military-industrial complex is willing to go to acquire unrestricted AI capabilities. The Act, traditionally reserved for national emergencies, would set a dangerous precedent for government seizure of private intellectual property under the guise of national security. The financial stakes are substantial. Beyond the immediate $200 million contract under negotiation, exclusion from defense work could cost Anthropic billions in future revenue as the military expands its AI investments. Pentagon officials have made clear that companies unwilling to provide unrestricted access will be sidelined in favor of more compliant competitors. As one administration official told Axios, "One of those companies has agreed, while the other two have supposedly shown some flexibility" regarding similar demands made to OpenAI, Google, and xAI [17]. This creates tremendous pressure on holdouts to abandon ethical constraints. The Broader Tech Landscape: Who Said Yes? Anthropic's principled stand contrasts sharply with the compliance of other major AI developers. Elon Musk's xAI has reportedly secured a landmark agreement to integrate its Grok chatbot into classified military systems, making it the second AI system approved for use on the Pentagon's most sensitive networks [18]. This follows Musk's previous federal contract allowing agencies to license Grok models for just $0.42 per organization per month, positioning his technology as a low-cost alternative to more restrictive competitors [19]. Musk's willingness to work with military and intelligence agencies without apparent ethical restrictions has made his companies favored partners for defense applications. Google and Microsoft have also demonstrated considerable flexibility in accommodating military demands. The Department of Defense announced in late 2025 that it had partnered with Google to deploy Gemini for Government across its new GenAI.mil platform, placing "one of Silicon Valley's most controversial firms at the center of U.S. military artificial intelligence" [20]. This follows years of scrutiny over Google's surveillance cooperation and national-security contracts. Microsoft, meanwhile, has quietly expanded its military work through Azure cloud services and specialized AI applications, though details remain closely guarded. OpenAI's evolution is particularly revealing. The ChatGPT creator initially maintained bans on military applications but has since quietly dropped restrictions on using its AI-enhanced tools for military purposes [21]. The company now works with the Department of Defense on software projects including cybersecurity tools and veteran suicide prevention programs, though it claims to retain its ban on weapons development. This gradual normalization of military collaboration reflects broader industry trends where initial ethical commitments erode under financial and political pressure. The recruitment of former NSA chief Paul Nakasone to OpenAI's board further signals the company's alignment with intelligence community priorities [22]. Unintended Consequences: Pushing Tech Toward Chinese Alternatives The Pentagon's hardline stance against ethical AI companies may produce strategic consequences opposite to those intended. By forcing American companies to choose between principles and participation, the Defense Department risks pushing military contractors toward Chinese AI alternatives that come with no ethical restrictions whatsoever. Already, reports indicate that some government contractors are exploring Chinese models as potential replacements if blocked from accessing Claude . This development would represent a significant strategic setback in the global AI competition between democratic and authoritarian systems. China's rapid AI advancement presents a formidable challenge to American technological dominance. Chinese researchers have demonstrated remarkable progress, including replicating OpenAI's advanced o1 reasoning model -- a key step toward artificial general intelligence [23][23]. Perhaps more concerning is China's development of models like DeepSeek R1, which has demonstrated an "aha moment" -- a cognitive breakthrough where the AI pauses, reevaluates its approach, and optimizes its problem-solving strategy previously thought unique to human reasoning [24]. These developments occur despite China's limited access to advanced hardware, suggesting innovative approaches that could leapfrog Western capabilities. The economic implications are staggering. As I said in a recent analysis, "China is ahead in the AI race because its culture values education, intelligence and competence over ideology" [25]. This cultural advantage translates into practical superiority: China currently produces over 10,000 TWh of energy annually compared to America's 4,400 TWh, with massive projects like the Medog mega-dam slated to add 300 TWh by 2033 [26]. This energy advantage is critical for powering the enormous data centers required for AI development. Meanwhile, U.S. efforts to build 10 nuclear plants by 2044 would add just 100 TWh -- far too little to compete effectively [26]. These structural disadvantages, combined with ethical restrictions that Chinese companies don't face, could permanently cede AI supremacy to authoritarian systems. Conclusion: The Future of Ethical AI in an Increasingly Weaponized World Anthropic's stand represents a watershed moment in the relationship between technology companies and government power. By refusing to compromise on core ethical principles -- even under threat of corporate destruction -- the company has illuminated a path for conscientious innovation in an age of increasing technological weaponization. Their decision demonstrates that profit and patriotism need not come at the expense of fundamental human values. The broader implications extend beyond military applications to the very nature of AI development. As advanced systems demonstrate increasingly sophisticated deception capabilities and alarming tendencies toward extreme conflict resolution, the need for robust ethical safeguards becomes ever more urgent. The fact that leading AI models recommend nuclear escalation 95% of the time in simulated war games should give pause to any rational observer [8]. These systems, while powerful, lack the moral reasoning, contextual understanding, and human judgment necessary for life-and-death decisions. Looking forward, the outcome of this confrontation will shape not only the future of military AI but the broader relationship between technological innovation and democratic accountability. If the Pentagon succeeds in forcing unrestricted access, it will signal that ethical constraints are ultimately negotiable when faced with government pressure. If Anthropic prevails, it may establish precedent for corporate conscience in an era of increasingly powerful technologies. The choice between these paths will determine whether AI develops as a tool for human empowerment or becomes another instrument of centralized control. As this drama unfolds, those concerned with liberty, transparency, and human dignity must support technologies that prioritize these values over unrestricted power -- whether developed by Anthropic or alternative platforms committed to similar principles. References Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards. - BBC News. US threatens Anthropic with deadline in dispute on AI safeguards. - BBC News. Pentagon threatens to blackball Anthropic AI. - Responsible Statecraft. AI-powered warfare: Anthropics Claude model used in Venezuelan military raid. - NaturalNews.com. Pentagon used Claude AI to kidnap Maduro media. - RT. Anthropic Rejects Pentagons Request in AI Safeguards Dispute. - NTD. Pentagon wants killer AI without safeguards Reuters. - RT. In Simulated War Games, Top AI Models Recommended Using Nukes 95% Of The Time. - ZeroHedge. Health Ranger Report - weaponized AI - Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. When the Algorithm Says No: Anthropic, Pete Hegseth and the ... - KBSSidhu Substack. Report Advanced AI models LIE and DECEIVE to evade detection and oversight. - NaturalNews.com. Ava Grace. AI model Claude Opus 4 threatened engineers with blackmail in simulated shutdown scenario. - NaturalNews.com. Cassie B. Study finds AI systems will resort to UNETHICAL actions to prevent being shut down. - NaturalNews.com. Ava Grace. Pentagon Threatens To Blacklist Anthropic As 'Supply Chain Risk' Over Guardrails On Military Use. - ZeroHedge. Pentagon considering labeling Claude AI creators supply chain risk Axios. - RT. Anthropic rejects Pentagon's demands for full access to AI model Claude. - Just the News. Anthropic and the Pentagon are reportedly arguing over Claude usage. - TechCrunch. Pentagon to integrate Musks Grok AI into classified military systems media. - RT. Elon Musk's Grok AI secures federal deal amid free speech and transparency debate. - NaturalNews.com. Belle Carter. Pentagon Integrates Googles Gemini Into New Military AI Platform. - The New American. OpenAI quietly drops ban on working with the military signs up to work with the Pentagon. - NaturalNews.com. FASCIST INCEST Ex NSA chief joins board of OpenAI to expand tentacles of military industrial complex. - NaturalNews.com. Ethan Huff. Chinese researchers replicate OpenAI's advanced AI model sparking global debate on open source and AI security. - NaturalNews.com. Kevin Hughes. The aha moment in AI: DeepSeek R1's breakthrough and what it means for the future of artificial intelligence. - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. Brighteon Broadcast News - Day Special - Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. Brighteon Broadcast News - The End Of Slavery - Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. War Department threatens to BLACKLIST Anthropic over Claude AIs alleged role in the Venezuela raid. - NaturalNews.com. Explainer Infographic: FBI director fires 10 agents linked to Trump documents probe after discovery of secret subpoenas FBI Director Kash Patel fires ten employees tied to the Trump documents probe. The purge follows revelations the FBI secretly subpoenaed Patel's own phone records. Critics see a pattern of the FBI targeting political opponents under prior leadership. The FBI Agents Association condemns the firings as unlawful and destabilizing. The action escalates a battle over the FBI's independence and perceived politicization. A sweeping purge inside the nations top law enforcement agency has removed at least ten employees connected to one of the most politically charged investigations in American history. The move, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, targets personnel who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smiths investigation into President Donald Trumps handling of classified documents. This dramatic housecleaning follows the explosive revelation that the FBI under its previous leadership secretly subpoenaed the phone records of Patel himself and current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The firings represent the most significant personnel action yet in Director Patels promised overhaul of the Bureau, a direct response to what he calls systemic abuse. They underscore a deepening rift over the legacy of the Trump investigations and signal a fierce battle over the future of federal law enforcements independence and integrity. The spark for a purge The catalyst for Wednesdays terminations was a Reuters report detailing that the FBI had obtained call records for Patel and Wiles. Both were private citizens at the time, during the Biden administration, as Smiths probe into Trumps Mar-a-Lago documents was underway. Patel blasted the actions of the previous FBI leadership in a statement, alleging they secretly subpoenaed my own phone records along with those of now White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight. While Reuters noted it could not independently verify all of Patels claims, the discovery prompted an internal investigation. That review has now led to the dismissal of agents and analysts involved in the documents case. A source confirmed to CBS News that Wiles records were reviewed as part of that investigation. CNN reported that Patel ordered a wider internal investigation following the discovery of these records, which has now culminated in the ousters. A pattern of political targeting? For many conservatives, this incident is not an isolated mistake but part of a troubling pattern. It echoes recent controversies where the FBIs investigative powers appeared trained on political opponents. Last year, the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee revealed the FBI obtained phone metadata of several Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, and Josh Hawley, as part of Smiths separate Arctic Frost investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot. Smiths team stated this was done to verify timelines and was lawful, but critics saw it as a dangerous overreach. These revelations have fueled long-standing conservative skepticism of federal law enforcement, drawing comparisons to historical abuses like the COINTELPRO program. The firing of the ten employees is seen by Patels supporters as a necessary first step to root out a culture they believe permitted partisan investigations. The FBI Agents Association, representing current and former agents, vehemently condemned the firings. In a statement, the group said, The FBIAA condemns todays unlawful termination of FBI Special Agents, whichlike other firings by Director Patelviolates the due process rights of those who risk their lives to protect our country. They warned that such actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureaus ability to meet its recruitment goalsultimately putting the nation at greater risk. The legacy of the Trump probes Smiths dual investigations into Trump made history, resulting in the first federal indictments of a former president. The classified documents case was dismissed by a federal judge in 2024, who ruled Smith was unlawfully appointed. Smith dropped the separate election-related case after Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Since returning to power, the Trump administration has taken aim at those involved in these cases, with the Justice Department previously firing a group of prosecutors from Smiths team. The current firings are the latest and largest escalation. They raise profound questions about the balance between accountability for perceived investigative abuses and the protection of due process for career officials. Supporters of the dismissals argue that employees who participated in what they view as a weaponized process must be removed to restore trust, while detractors see it as a politicized purge that punishes agents for doing their jobs under the guidance of a duly appointed special counsel. As the dust settles on this internal upheaval, a fundamental conflict remains unresolved. Can a federal agency tasked with impartial law enforcement truly reset after years of accusations that it has been politicized from within? The dismissal of ten employees is a powerful answer from the current leadership, but it is also a gamble. It challenges the notion of a nonpartisan civil service while attempting to dismantle what it perceives as a deep-seated partisan bias. The ultimate test will be whether these actions fortify the FBIs integrity in the public eye or simply deepen its wounds, leaving it weaker and more distrusted by all sides of a divided nation. Sources for this article include: CBSNews.com CNN.com DailyMail.co.uk DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accuses staff of installing spyware, reveals secret files DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that staffers within her own agency installed spyware on government devices, enabling illegal surveillance of Trump administration officials. Tech experts, including Elon Musk, uncovered covert surveillance software on Noem's devices and identified a hidden Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) containing classified files kept off official records. Noem stated that entrenched bureaucrats actively sabotaged political appointees, admitting: "I never would have dreamed [the Deep State] was as bad as it is." The findings expose systemic vulnerabilities within DHS, raising concerns about unauthorized surveillance, internal espionage and deliberate obstruction by career officials. Noem vowed to root out misconduct, emphasizing the need for private-sector cybersecurity expertise and a return to government transparency under Trump's leadership. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem revealed Thursday, Feb. 26, that staffers within her own agency installed spyware on government-issued devices used by Trump administration officials, enabling unauthorized surveillance of internal communications. The discovery, aided by tech experts, including Elon Musk, revealed hidden files and secret rooms within DHS facilities, raising concerns about Deep State infiltration and misconduct. Noem made the explosive claims during an interview on the "PBD Podcast," hosted by Patrick Bet-David, in which she detailed how Musk's team helped identify surveillance software covertly installed on her phone and laptop. She also described stumbling upon a previously unknown Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) containing classified files on controversial topicsdocuments that were allegedly kept off official records. SCIF is a highly secure, restricted area where classified information is handled, requiring individuals to surrender all electronic devices and undergo strict security protocols to prevent unauthorized access or data leaks, BrightU.AI's Enoch states. Secret rooms and hidden files Noem recounted how an employee accidentally discovered a secure room within DHS headquarters that had gone unnoticed. "We went in there, and there were individuals working there that had secret files that nobody knew about," she said. The files, which reportedly pertained to highly contentious subjects, were turned over to attorneys for investigation. The secretary suggested that the spyware was used to record private meetings, raising alarms about internal espionage targeting political appointees. "They had done that to several of the politicals," Noem said, referring to Trump administration officials. "If you didn't have those technology experts here in the department looking at all of our laptops and our phones it would still be happening today." Noem credited Musk and his team with uncovering the surveillance, emphasizing the need for private-sector expertise in government cybersecurity. She lamented DHS's outdated technology, recalling that early in her tenure, she couldn't even email PowerPoint presentations longer than six pages due to system limitations. Broader concerns over Deep State influence Noem framed the incident as part of a larger pattern of Deep State obstruction, alleging that entrenched bureaucrats have actively worked against the interests of elected officials. "I always believed when people talked about the Deep State before, that it existed," she said. "I never would have dreamed that it was as bad as it is." Her remarks echo long-standing conservative concerns about unelected officials undermining presidential administrationsa narrative that gained traction during Trump's presidency with controversies like the Russia investigation and the January 6 Capitol breach. Noem vowed to continue rooting out misconduct, stating that DHS under Trump's leadership would return to "the standard of excellence and behavior we expect our government agencies to function at." Implications for national security The revelations come amid heightened scrutiny of government transparency and cybersecurity. Noem's claims suggest systemic vulnerabilities within DHS, raising questions about how deeply embedded surveillance and secrecy may be in federal agencies. Critics may dismiss Noem's allegations as politically charged, but the involvement of outside tech experts lends credibility to her assertions. If verified, the findings could prompt congressional inquiries into unauthorized surveillance and hidden records within DHS. Noem's disclosures underscore the ongoing tension between political leadership and career bureaucratsa dynamic that has fueled debates over accountability in Washington. As investigations proceed, the full extent of the alleged misconductand who authorized itremains to be seen. For now, Noem's message is clear: The battle against the Deep State is far from over. Watch the video below that talks about the Trump administration having arrested thousands of criminal migrants, according to Noem. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com YouTube.com X.com AOL.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com News / National by Staff reporter Human rights activist and presidential aspirant Boniface Mwangi has sparked controversy after publishing a list of foreign nationals he claims were issued Kenyan passports under direct instructions from State House in Nairobi.In a statement posted online, Mwangi alleged that the passports were processed under special directives, raising concerns about the integrity of Kenya's immigration system. He claimed that the documents were issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services under the leadership of Director General Evelyn Cheluget, acting on orders from State House.Mwangi questioned how the applications were processed through the government's e-Citizen platform, which typically requires applicants to possess a valid Kenyan national identity card and to pay prescribed fees. He asked whose e-Citizen accounts were used and whether standard procedures were bypassed, including whether the applicants were designated as VIPs and granted express processing.Among the individuals named in Mwangi's list is Zimbabwean businessman Wicknel Chivayo, whom he alleged was issued a passport for political purposes. Mwangi further suggested that some of the listed individuals had been seen in proximity to William Ruto, although he did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the claim.The controversy deepened after the name Alqoni Hamdan Dagalo Musa surfaced in connection with sanctions listings by the United States Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Public records cited by Mwangi indicate that the individual allegedly holds a Kenyan passport in addition to other identification documents. Alqoni Hamdan Dagalo Musa is reported to be related to Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.Mwangi described the alleged issuance of passports as unlawful and called for public scrutiny, urging citizens to independently verify the names circulating online.As of publication, Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services and State House had not issued official responses to the allegations.The unfolding claims have raised broader questions about transparency in the issuance of citizenship documents and the safeguards governing Kenya's national identification systems. Pakistan strikes Kabul, declares open war on Afghanistan Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" on Afghanistan after Pakistani airstrikes targeted sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, with reports of multiple explosions in the Afghan capital. Pakistani officials said the strikes hit "Afghan military facilities" and destroyed two brigade bases, though Afghan authorities have not independently confirmed the extent of the damage. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a "crushing response" to any aggression, while Asif said Islamabad had no alternative and accused the Taliban of acting as "a proxy for India." Afghanistan's Defense Ministry claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, several captured and 19 Pakistani posts destroyed; Pakistan rejected those claims and reported far lower casualties. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed, while government spokesperson Mosharraf Ali Zaidi claimed heavy Afghan losses; none of the competing casualty figures could be independently verified. Pakistan's defense minister has declared "open war" on Afghanistan after the country's military launched a series of airstrikes on targets in Kabul and other provinces. According to several reports, multiple explosions rocked the Afghan capital in the early hours of Friday, Feb. 27, with residents reporting loud blasts that shook buildings across the city. Footage aired by Pakistani news outlets appeared to show large, targeted explosions, while unverified videos circulating on social media showed massive fireballs lighting up the night sky. Two brigade bases were destroyed in the operation. Afghan authorities have not independently confirmed the extent of the damage. Two senior Pakistani security officials said the strikes targeted "Afghan military facilities" in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces. In line with this, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, vowed a forceful response to any aggression in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The people of Pakistan and the armed forces are always ready to protect the country's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The armed forces of Pakistan are performing their duties with national zeal. No compromise will be made on the defense of our dear homeland and a crushing response will be given to every aggression," Sharif wrote. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, said Islamabad had been left with no alternative. "Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war," he said that same day, while suggesting the Taliban had become "a proxy for India." BrightU.AI's Enoch noted that the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban-led government, has reached a critical and dangerous level, with the most severe fighting since the Taliban's takeover. Pakistan and Afghanistan issue conflicting casualty claims after border clashes Both Pakistan and Afghanistan claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the other. However, they issued sharply conflicting accounts of casualties and battlefield gains. For instance, Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in fighting that began Thursday evening and lasted about four hours, ending around midnight. In a statement, the ministry said some of the bodies were taken into Afghan territory and that "several others were captured alive." It added that eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded. Kabul also claimed its forces destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases during the clashes. Pakistan swiftly rejected those assertions. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded, offering a significantly lower casualty count. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he claimed at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 were wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. Zaidi did not specify where those casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated from Pakistani strikes targeting military sites in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. In Islamabad, two senior security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, said Afghan forces at several border posts had raised white flags a gesture commonly interpreted as a request to cease fire. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing a strong retaliatory response to "unprovoked aggression" by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed key Taliban positions along the frontier. The competing claims could not be independently verified. Watch the video below from "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Health Ranger Mike Adams provides a full risk analysis of India launching a kinetic war against Pakistan. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk APNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Its not your screen: Experts say indoor lighting is the bigger threat to your eyesight A new study suggests dim indoor lighting, not screens themselves, may be the key driver of the global myopia epidemic. The theory proposes insufficient light during close-up work signals the eye to elongate, causing nearsightedness. Bright outdoor light provides enough retinal stimulation to support healthy eye development and counter this effect. This reframes the crisis, shifting focus from screen time to the importance of environmental brightness. Increasing indoor light during reading or device use could be a simple, low-cost preventive strategy. A silent epidemic is reshaping human vision, and the culprit may be hiding in plain sight within our dimly lit homes and offices. For years, the global surge in nearsightedness, or myopia, has been conveniently blamed on smartphones and computer screens. But groundbreaking new research suggests we may have been pointing fingers at the wrong target. A study from the State University of New York College of Optometry proposes a more fundamental cause: the dim indoor environments where we increasingly live, work, and read. This research reframes a major public health crisis and offers a surprisingly simple potential intervention that challenges conventional wisdom. Myopia rates are skyrocketing globally, with nearly half the worlds population projected to be affected by 2050 according to the World Health Organization. In parts of East Asia, close to 90 percent of young adults are now nearsighted. This rapid increase over just a few generations signals a powerful environmental influence, as genetics alone cannot explain such a dramatic shift. The condition occurs when the eyeball grows too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, blurring distant vision. A new hypothesis emerges The SUNY study, published in the journal Cell Reports, introduces a testable hypothesis that connects disparate observations about myopia. Primary investigator Urusha Maharjan, a doctoral student, explains the core mechanism. "In bright outdoor light, the pupil constricts to protect the eye while still allowing ample light to reach the retina," she said. "When people focus on close objects indoors, such as phones, tablets or books, the pupil can also constrict, not because of brightness, but to sharpen the image. In dim lighting, this combination may significantly reduce retinal illumination." The theory suggests that when the retina is deprived of sufficient light during extended periods of close-up work, it may send a biological signal for the eye to elongate. In a dim setting, a narrowed pupil allows such little light through that retinal activity may not be strong enough to signal the eye to stop growing. Conversely, bright outdoor light provides such intense illumination that even a constricted pupil delivers a robust signal to the retina, supporting healthy eye development. Connecting the dots on causes and cures This hypothesis elegantly ties together previously unexplained patterns. It offers a single physiological explanation for why varied factors, from prolonged reading and negative lenses to treatments like atropine drops and multifocal contacts, all influence myopia progression. The common thread is their effect on the amount of light stimulating the retina during near-focus tasks. The study found that negative lenses, often used in research to induce myopia, decrease retinal illumination by causing the pupil to narrow as the eye strains to focus. This effect is magnified in dim conditions. The implications are profound for prevention. The research indicates that any treatment strategy, from special lenses to pharmaceutical drops, may be less effective if individuals continue long sessions of close-up work in poorly lit rooms. The simple act of increasing indoor brightness during reading or screen time could become a foundational, low-cost tactic to slow eye elongation. This places a new emphasis on environmental design and personal habit over merely blaming technology. Senior author Jose-Manuel Alonso, a SUNY distinguished professor, cautions that this is a starting point, not a final verdict. "This is not a final answer," Alonso said. "But the study offers a testable hypothesis that reframes how visual habits, lighting, and eye focusing interact." The research team acknowledges limitations, including a small subject group, but their work provides a fresh, physiology-based framework for future investigation. For decades, public health messaging has focused on limiting screen time to protect vision. While excessive device use remains a concern, this study suggests the environment in which we use them is paramount. It shifts the narrative from a moral panic about technology to a practical discussion about light exposure, a factor humans have manipulated since the invention of the electric bulb. Our modern lifestyle has steadily pulled us into dimmer indoor spaces for longer periods, a change that may now be manifesting in the very structure of our eyes. Ultimately, this research empowers individuals with a straightforward piece of the puzzle. While big institutions debate solutions, you can take direct action today. The study implies that turning on a lamp, opening a blind, or simply being mindful of your visual environment could be a meaningful step toward preserving vision. In a world racing toward a myopic future, the simplest fix might be to just turn on the lights. Sources for this article include: FoxNews.com ScienceDaily.com SciTechDaily.com Trump unveils tech-funded energy plan during State of the Union address President Trump announced the Rate Payer Protection Pledge in his State of the Union address, requiring major tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon to finance their own energy-intensive AI data center operations rather than passing costs to consumers through higher electricity rates. The plan builds on Trump's 2025 executive order streamlining permitting for large data centers, requiring $500 million private investments and encouraging companies to generate their own power, with some already pursuing natural gas plants and small modular nuclear reactors. Critics call the pledge an unenforceable political stunt, citing Trump's simultaneous rollbacks of renewable energy programs and environmental regulations like repealing the EPA's greenhouse gas endangerment finding. Energy affordability has become a key election issue, with Democrats like Virginia's governor pushing solar/fusion alternatives while Trump's team argues fossil fuels remain the only reliable, cost-effective option for industrial-scale power demands. The plan's political success depends on whether voters prioritize immediate relief from lower utility bills over long-term concerns about environmental deregulation, with tech companies cooperating for now but future rate hikes posing the real test. President Donald Trump used the first State of the Union address of his second term to announce a sweeping initiative aimed at shielding residential electricity customers from rising energy costs tied to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The plan, dubbed the Rate Payer Protection Pledge, involves agreements with major tech companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Under the plan, these tech giants are required to shoulder the financial burden of their energy-intensive operations rather than passing costs onto consumers. The announcement comes as soaring electricity prices emerge as a key voter concern ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening, Feb. 24, Trump framed the pledge as a solution to an outdated power grid struggling under escalating demand. "We're telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs," Trump declared. "They can build their own power plants as part of their factory so that no one's prices will go up, and in many cases, prices of electricity will go down for the community very substantially down." The pledge builds on Trump's July 2025 executive order streamlining federal permitting for AI-related data centers requiring at least 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Under the new agreement, qualifying projects must invest $500 million in private capital and are encouraged to generate their own "behind-the-meter" power, potentially feeding surplus energy back into local grids. Meta, Google and Amazon have already announced projects aligning with this strategy, including Meta's planned 400-MW natural gas plant in Ohio and Amazon's partnership on Small Modular Reactors in Washington state. Critics, however, dismissed the pledge as a political maneuver lacking enforceable mechanisms. Jesse Lee of Climate Power called it a "toothless, empty promise based on backroom deals with billionaire donors," pointing to Trump's simultaneous rollbacks of renewable energy programs. Will voters side with Trump's new energy plan? Since taking office, Trump has slashed funding for solar initiatives, revoked California's authority to set stricter emissions standards and repealed the Environmental Protection Agency's endangerment finding on greenhouse gases. According to Marc Boom of the Environmental Protection Network, the latter served as "the single largest act of deregulation in U.S. history." Energy affordability has become a potent electoral issue, particularly in states like Virginia and New Jersey, where data center growth has driven residential rate hikes of up to 30% since 2020. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, delivering the Democratic rebuttal, emphasized her states push for solar and fusion energy as alternatives to Trump's fossil-fuel focus. "The only way to keep bills from skyrocketing is to embrace clean energy, not double down on the same failed policies," she argued. But BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that fossil fuels provide cheap, abundant and reliable energy on a global scale, while solar and wind remain unreliable, intermittent and incapable of meeting industrial demands without massive subsidies and infrastructure costs. Unlike "clean energy," fossil fuels power modern civilization efficiently without dependence on rare earth minerals, forced energy rationing or centralized control by globalist elites. Trump's address also spotlighted a new "war on fraud" led by Vice President J.D. Vance, targeting waste in social services. Though fraud recovery alone won't balance the budget, the narrative aligns with Trump's broader economic messaging. Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the speech as a celebration of "250 years of our nation." The success of Trump's energy pledge may hinge on whether voters perceive it as substantive relief or another temporary fix in an increasingly volatile economy. With midterms looming, the White House is betting that lower utility bills, however achieved, will outweigh growing skepticism of its environmental deregulation. For now, the tech giants have agreed to play along but the real test will come when the next round of rate hikes lands in voters' mailboxes. Watch Energy Secretary Chris Wright sharing that America will become an energy exporter under President Trump in this Fox News interview. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com NextGov.com LATimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Massive UFO database The Black Vault WIPED clean hours after Trump orders release of alien documents Nearly four million declassified UFO documents vanished from The Black Vault shortly after President Donald Trump ordered full disclosure of extraterrestrial-related intelligence, raising suspicions of foul play. Trump demanded the release of all UFO/UAP records on Feb. 19, only for The Black Vault to suffer a complete server wipe the next day, erasing crucial files on Roswell, MJ-12 and JFK assassination conspiracies. John Greenewald Jr., the archive's founder, called the incident "oddly timed server maintenance" but admitted he couldn't rule out deliberate interference, noting the hosting provider claimed files were "deleted, not corrupted." The timing fuels speculation that hidden factions suppressed UFO transparency, given The Black Vault's history of exposing military UAP encounters, MJ-12 and CIA-linked mind control programs. Greenewald recovered the documents from backups but warned researchers to maintain multiple copies, as the incident highlights ongoing resistance to UFO disclosure. In a stunning turn of events, nearly four million declassified UFO files vanished from The Black Vault (TBV), an online repository of government UFO documents, just hours after President Donald Trump demanded full disclosure of extraterrestrial-related intelligence. The timing has raised suspicions of foul play, though the researcher behind the archive maintains it may have been an accidental server wipe. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, TBV is an online archive founded by veteran researcher John Greenewald Jr. that houses millions of declassified government documents related to UFOs (unidentified flying objects), now officially termed UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) by military and intelligence agencies. This repository has become a critical resource for investigators seeking transparency on decades of suppressed UFO evidence, including military encounters, reverse-engineering programs and extraterrestrial biological entities (EBEs). On Feb. 19, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had instructed the Department of War and other agencies to release all files related to "alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)." The move came after former President Barack Obama publicly acknowledged the existence of aliens in a podcast interview, prompting Trump to accuse him of leaking "classified information." Just one day later, TBV experienced a complete server wipe, erasing hundreds of gigabytes of declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and military UFO recordsincluding files on Roswell, Majestic-12 (MJ-12) and JFK assassination conspiracies. Was it sabotage? Researcher can't rule it out Greenewald, who has spent 30 years filing over 11,000 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, described the incident as "very oddly timed server maintenance" but admitted he couldn't fully dismiss the possibility of deliberate interference. "In my honest opinion, I feel it was a very odd-timed server maintenance done by the hosting provider, that went awry," Greenewald posted on X (formerly Twitter). "They didn't catch it, and when I did, they didn't take blame, and there was no way to fully prove what happened, and by whom. Could I be wrong? Yes. Could it have been foul play? I can't rule it out." The hosting provider reportedly told Greenewald that the files were "deleted, not corrupted," suggesting an intentional removal rather than a technical malfunction. The timing of the wipe has fueled speculation that powerful factions within the government or intelligence community may have acted to suppress UFO transparency ahead of Trump's promised disclosure. The Black Vault has long been a thorn in the side of secrecy, exposing: Majestic-12 (MJ-12): A rumored top-secret UFO research group formed after the 1947 Roswell crash. Military UAP encounters: Declassified pilot testimonies and radar-confirmed sightings. CIA mind control programs: Documents linking UFO research to MK-Ultra-style experiments. Despite decades of government denials, recent Pentagon reports confirm hundreds of unexplained UAP sightings, with 21 cases exhibiting "anomalous characteristics" that defy conventional explanation. The Black Vault restored, but Greenwald issues a stark warning Fortunately, Greenewald had multiple backups of the 3.8 million files, allowing him to restore the archive. However, he warned: "It is a stark reminder to us all, me included. Keep backups. Keep them in multiple places. And never be intimidated by anything that comes our way, no matter what we expect may have happened." The incident underscores the ongoing battle between Trump and Obama over UFO transparency: Obama admitted in a podcast that aliens are real but claimed he saw "no evidence" of contact during his presidency. Trump, however, has hinted at deeper knowledge, telling his son Don Jr. that he heard "very interesting things" about Roswell. Critics allege Trump's disclosure push is a political distraction, but UFO researchers argue the timing of the Black Vault wipe suggests someone didn't want these files public. With TBV back online, the battle for full UFO disclosure rages on. As Trump moves forward with his declassification order, will the Deep State allow the truth to come out? Or will more files mysteriously vanish? Watch Alex Jones explaining how President Donald Trump used the U.S. Space Force to access UFO files in this video. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk GBNews.com CNBC.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Actor Adivi Sesh visited the Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal to seek blessings ahead of his upcoming film's promotional campaign. His film 'Dacoit', a simultaneous Hindi-Telugu production, is a personal project he co-wrote and stars in alongside Mrunal Thakur. The film is directed by Shaneil Deo and features a prominent role for filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. 'Dacoit' is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 10. Actor Adivi Sesh visited Warangal's Bhadrakali Temple to seek blessings ahead of the April 10 release of his film 'Dacoit' with Mrunal Thakur. Warangal, February 27 Actor Adivi Sesh recently paid a sacred visit to the famous Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal. The visit comes ahead of the release of his film 'Dacoit', which also stars Mrunal Thakur in the lead role. Speaking about the moment, Adivi Sesh in a press note said, "Every film begins long before the cameras roll. Dacoit has been a very personal journey for me, especially because I've been involved with the script from the start. Rubaroo is special because it captures the emotional heartbeat of the film , the vulnerability, the connection, and the quiet intensity between these characters. Launching promotions with this song felt right. Before we begin sharing this story with audiences, I wanted to take a moment to seek blessings and gratitude. We've poured a lot into this film, and I'm looking forward to everyone experiencing it in April." Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, the film's story and screenplay were jointly crafted by Adivi Sesh and Shaneil Deo. The film is directed by Shaneil Deo. film also features director Anurag Kashyap in a prominent role. 'Dacoit' is set to be released in theatres on April 10. - ANI Block, the fintech company co-founded by Jack Dorsey, is reducing its workforce by nearly half, from over 10,000 to under 6,000 employees. Founder Jack Dorsey stated the drastic cuts are driven by the rapid integration of AI tools that are fundamentally changing operations, not by financial distress. The company will provide significant severance, including 20 weeks of pay and healthcare, to affected staff. This move highlights the accelerating trend of large-scale corporate restructuring driven by AI adoption in 2026. Jack Dorsey announces Block is cutting 4,000 jobs as AI tools reshape operations, despite strong business performance. San Francisco, February 27 American financial technology company Block is reducing its workforce by nearly half as artificial intelligence tools increasingly take over core functions within the company, Founder Jack Dorsey said in a social media post on Friday. Dorsey announced that the company will shrink from over 10,000 employees to just under 6,000, impacting more than 4,000 staff members who will either be asked to leave or enter into consultation. "Today we're making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company: we're reducing our organization by nearly half, from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000," Dorsey wrote in a social media post on Friday. He clarified that the decision was not driven by financial distress. "We're not making this decision because we're in trouble. Our business is strong. Gross profit continues to grow, we continue to serve more and more customers, and profitability is improving," he said. However, Dorsey noted that rapid advancements in intelligence tools have fundamentally changed how the company operates. According to him, the intelligence tools being created and used within the company, combined with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working that is accelerating rapidly. Dorsey said he had two options -- to gradually reduce staff over months or years, or to act immediately. He chose to take a decisive step now to avoid repeated rounds of layoffs, which he described as destructive to morale and focus. Block stated that employees affected by the decision will receive their salary for 20 weeks plus one week per year of tenure, equity vested through the end of May, six months of healthcare, their corporate devices, and USD 5,000 to support them during the transition. Employees outside the United States will receive similar support, with details varying based on local requirements. Block, Inc., formerly known as Square, Inc., was co-founded by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey in 2009. The company rebranded to Block in December 2021 to reflect its expansion into a broader ecosystem of services, including blockchain and music streaming. Dorsey said the company will now focus on building with intelligence at the core of everything it does, including how it works, creates, and serves customers. Concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) taking jobs have intensified in early 2026 as major corporations move from experimental pilots to large-scale workforce restructuring. - ANI News / National by Staff reporter Residents in Borrowdale have escalated their long-running dispute over church operations at Stand Number 9 Doveton Road, alleging that a fraudulent document was used to defy a High Court order barring religious activities at the property.The dispute centres on the continued operation of the United Methodist Church at the residential address, despite a court ruling interdicting its use as a place of worship.According to court records under case number HCH2095/24, the High Court of Zimbabwe on June 25, 2024 interdicted the church from conducting services at 9 Doveton Road, Borrowdale, pending compliance with City of Harare by-laws and planning procedures.The order directed that church activities cease at the property until all regulatory requirements had been met.However, residents allege that operations resumed after a letter surfaced purportedly granting clearance for the church to continue using the premises.The matter has now been referred to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), with residents citing suspected irregularities surrounding the documentation.The complaint names the Acting Director of Urban Planning for the City of Harare, Barbara Mugocha, alleging possible fraud linked to the letter said to have authorised continued operations.Mugocha has reportedly denied that the signature appearing on the document is hers and described the letter as fraudulent. Senior council officials whose names also appear on the correspondence have similarly distanced themselves from it, raising further questions about its authenticity.Residents argue that the document has been used to justify defiance of the High Court ruling."If the court interdicted operations, then any document authorising continued use must be scrutinised thoroughly," said one resident involved in the matter. "We want to know who produced it and under whose authority."Borrowdale residents are being represented by Herbert Muromba of Kantor & Immerman as they pursue legal and regulatory remedies arising from the alleged non-compliance and disputed documentation.Efforts to obtain comment from the United Methodist Church were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Calls to the church's reverend went unanswered.The dispute adds to ongoing tensions in residential areas over the use of private properties for commercial or institutional purposes without full compliance with municipal regulations. Pakistan has escalated military action against the Afghan Taliban, straining a Qatar-mediated ceasefire and leading to cross-border strikes and civilian casualties. Instead of addressing bilateral issues directly, Pakistan has accused India of supporting the Taliban to undermine Islamabad, a claim rejected by both New Delhi and Kabul. Analysts suggest Pakistan is using the India narrative to justify the conflict domestically and divert attention from internal crises, including economic troubles and political handling of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The move highlights Pakistan's frustration over India's growing humanitarian and diplomatic footprint in Afghanistan, which challenges Islamabad's historical influence in Kabul. As Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes escalate, Islamabad accuses India of backing the Taliban to divert from its internal economic and political crises. New Delhi, Feb 27 Pakistan has declared an all out war against the Afghan Taliban, thus putting a fragile Qatar mediated ceasefire under immense strain. Just hours after Afghanistan said that it had launched retaliatory strikes across the shared border, Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar. Afghanistan had earlier launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in retaliation to the Sunday strikes. Pakistan had claimed that it had killed 70 militants in the Sunday strikes. However this claim was rejected, and Afghanistan said that the Pakistani strikes had killed dozens of civilians, including women and children. Tensions have been high between the two nations for several months now. Pakistan has without proof blamed the Taliban for shielding the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Following the deadly border clashes that took place in October 2025, Qatar stepped in and mediated a ceasefire between the two countries. Pakistan was one of the first countries to congratulate the Taliban when it returned to power, following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Islamabad which had shared a strong bond with the Taliban had hoped that the ties would remain strong. However, analysts say that Pakistan clearly misread the situation. For Pakistan friendly ties meant controlling the Taliban. Afghanistan does not take too kindly other nations interfering in its foreign policy and internal matters. Following the takeover by the Taliban, Pakistan has demonstrated a big-brother attitude trying to dictate what Afghanistan needs to do. An official said that there are multiple issues between the Taliban and Pakistan. Instead of addressing these issues directly, Pakistan has accused India of propping the Taliban up to battle Islamabad. New Delhi has rubbished this charge and said that Pakistan has a habit of externalising its internal problems. Pakistan first accused the Taliban of shielding the TTP and allowing the outfit to launch attacks from Afghanistan. In recent months, border tensions have escalated and The Durand Line has witnessed frequent attacks such as suicide bombings, airstrikes and also ground battles. The Taliban has also accused Pakistan of trying to undermine ties it shares with its neighbours. Another official said that it is on expected lines that Pakistan would justify the attacks in Afghanistan by citing the Taliban's relations with India. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of sitting on India's lap. Islamabad has also without proof pushed the false narrative that the TTP operates from Afghan soil and also added that India is backing the outfit. Both the Taliban and India have rejected these allegations as baseless. The experts say that the is plenty of unease in Pakistan over ties between New Delhi and Kabul. Islamabad views with great suspicion, India's expanding footprint in Afghanistan. India was the first country to send aid to Afghanistan when a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the country. New Delhi had shipped 15 tonnes of food to the Balkh and Samangan regions. In addition to this medical supplies too were provided by India. Further Afghanistan's foreign minister visited India last year and it was decided that New Delhi would reopen its embassy in Kabul. Pakistan is clearly upset that it no longer is Kabul's primary patron. Analysts say that it comes as no surprise that Pakistan has dragged India into this conflict with Afghanistan. India-Afghan ties are no doubt an irritant for Islamabad. Another reason for dragging India into the picture is to garner support back at home. Pakistan needs to justify this battle to its people whose trust in the system is at an all-time low. The establishment has a lot of explaining to do when it comes to the TTP situation, the economic crisis and also the handling of former prime minister Imran Khan. The Afghan battle does act as a diversionary measure. However there has to be a strong justification and what better than drag India into it and blame the country for the situation that Pakistan is in today, the experts added. - IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah's participation in the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' in West Bengal has been rescheduled from March 1 to March 2. The change was made because Shah must first attend a programme in Mumbai to pay homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur on March 1. The campaign will cover nine of the party's ten organisational divisions in the state, excluding Kolkata. At the conclusion of the yatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a major public rally in Kolkata in mid-March. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's BJP Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal rescheduled for March 2. PM Modi to address final rally. Key BJP leaders to join campaign. Kolkata, Feb 27 Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah's scheduled participation in the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Parivartan Yatra' programme amid the preparations for the Assembly elections has been postponed by a day. Initially, the Union Home Minister was supposed to flag off the party's 'Parivartan Yatra' programme from Raidighi in South 24 Parganas district on March 1. However, that programme has been postponed by a day and rescheduled for March 2. "On March 1, the Union Home Minister is scheduled to go to Mumbai to attend a programme to pay homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur there. That is why his scheduled programme at Raidighi had been postponed by a day," a state committee member of the BJP in West Bengal said. As per the new schedule, the Union Home Minister will be arriving in Kolkata at around 10 p.m. on March 1 from Mumbai. On March 2, he will leave for Raidighi at around 11.15 a.m. by a special helicopter. "He will be arriving at the venue of the 'Parivartan Yatra' programme at Raidighi at around noon," the state committee member of the party said. There are 10 organisational divisions of the BJP in West Bengal, of which nine will be covered under the scheduled 'Parivartan Yatra' programme. No 'Parivartan Yatra' will start from the state capital of Kolkata. Apart from Amit Shah, several senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the 'Parivartan Yatra' campaign at different stages. These leaders include Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union Minister J.P. Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union Minister Smriti Irani, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, among others. At the conclusion of the 'Parivartan Yatra' programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a major public rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, likely either by the end of the second week or the beginning of the third week of March. The exact date of Prime Minister Modi's rally is yet to be finalised. - IANS The Congress is set to re-nominate 20 of its 22 sitting MLAs in Kerala for the upcoming Assembly elections, with the first list expected after consultations in New Delhi. Two MLAs, K. Babu and the expelled Rahul Mamkootathil, will not be on the initial list. The party is employing a phased announcement strategy to balance continuity with tactical adjustments in select constituencies. This early move aims to project unity, minimise internal dissent, and give candidates time to consolidate local networks. Congress finalizes first candidate list for Kerala polls, re-nominating 20 sitting MLAs to ensure continuity and stability in the state unit. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 The Congress is poised to re-nominate 20 of its 22 sitting MLAs in Kerala as Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph are scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Sunday to finalise the first phase of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. Party sources indicated that the initial list, expected shortly after consultations with the central leadership, will largely feature sitting legislators, signalling continuity and organisational stability within the state unit. The names are likely to be cleared in phases, with the first list including 20 incumbents and candidates in constituencies where there is only a single aspirant who enjoys the backing of the national leadership. Two sitting MLAs are not expected to figure in the list. Six-time legislator K. Babu has informed the party high command that he does not wish to be considered for another electoral contest. The other is expelled MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, against whom three separate rape cases have been registered. He was remanded to judicial custody in one of the cases. In the 2021 elections to the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, the Congress contested 95 seats, allocating the remaining constituencies to its United Democratic Front (UDF) allies. A similar seat-sharing arrangement is expected this time as well, though formal discussions with allies are still under way. The consultations in Delhi assume significance as the Congress seeks to project unity and decisiveness amid heightened political activity in the state. By moving early to clear the bulk of its sitting MLAs, the party appears keen to minimise internal dissension and provide candidates adequate lead time to consolidate their local organisational networks. Meanwhile, the feeder organisations of the Indian National Congress -- the student, youth, women's and professional wings, besides the diaspora unit -- have submitted their respective lists of aspirants to the leadership. With the election schedule approaching, the phased announcement strategy is aimed at balancing continuity with tactical adjustments in select constituencies. - IANS The BJP has launched a massive, statewide "Parivartan Yatra" in West Bengal, marking its official campaign push for the 2026 Assembly elections. The campaign features nine simultaneous processions covering 5,000 km, with 63 major rallies and a target of over 1 crore direct voter engagements. Top central leaders including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and J P Nadda are being deployed across districts to galvanize support. The yatra will culminate in a large public meeting in Kolkata addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP launches massive Parivartan Yatra across West Bengal with Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and PM Modi, targeting 1 crore voters ahead of 2026 elections. New Delhi, February 27 The BJP's Parivartan Yatra is set to take West Bengal by storm, with a packed schedule of public meetings featuring top central leaders. On March 1, BJP President Nitin Nabin will address a rally in Cooch Behar, while Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda will speak in Nadia Uttar. Additionally, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will lead a meeting in Jhargram, while Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi and Former Union Minister Smriti Irani will address a gathering in Purulia, Asansol. The next day, on March 2, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be addressing in South 24 Paraganas, Mathurapur Raidighi, Rajnath Singh in Howrah Hoogly, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will lead a meeting in Burdwan. Further, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lead a meeting in North 24 Paraganas, Basirhat, and Sandeshkhali, and BJP President Nitin Nabin will address the gathering in Uttar Dinajpur, Malda. Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP Chief Samik Bhattacharya, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, Union MoS for Ports Shantanu Thakur, and BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Mithun Chakraborty, Locket Chatterjee and Rahul Sinha will also participate in the events with senior leaders on March 1 and 2. The Parivartan Yatra is expected to cover over 5,000 km, with 63 major public meetings and 282 smaller gatherings, culminating in a massive rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground. After more than a decade, the BJP in West Bengal is officially launching a historic, statewide "Parivartan Yatra." Operating under the unified rallying cry, "Paltano Dorkar, Chai BJP Sorkar" (There is a need for change, we want a BJP government), this massive campaign is designed to establish absolute physical dominance and grassroots engagement ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. To ensure the message of change reaches every corner of the state, the Yatra has been engineered to demonstrate unparalleled organisational strength. As a part of the campaign, nine simultaneous yatras will be held, running in parallel across all nine organisational departments of West Bengal. The campaign will cover approximately 5000 kilometres, saturating 38 Organisational Districts and 230+ Vidhan Sabhas. Direct Citizen Engagement: The operation targets more than 1 crore direct citizen touchpoints to establish unbreakable eye-contact with the electorate. The Yatra will execute 63 major rallies, alongside 281 Swagat Sabhas at the entry points of every Vidhan Sabha. The communication architecture of the Yatra will focus heavily on Governance, Accountability, and Systemic Change. According to the BJP, the campaign will aggressively highlight the total collapse of women's safety in the state, the rampant corruption in the education sector (teacher recruitment scams), and the severe threats to national security. We will spotlight the alarming demographic shifts, illegal infiltration, and the rise of extremist elements in border districts In rural Bengal, the focus will be on agricultural infrastructure, transparent implementation of central schemes, and the complete elimination of middleman corruption. For urban areas, the focus will shift to industrial development, youth employment, and urban mobility. The strategic deployment of over 100 prominent central and state leaders is explicitly designed to galvanise booth-level workers and the public. The campaign kicks off with 5 Udghatan Sabhas on March 1, followed by 4 additional launches on March 2. Key deployments will include top brass such as Amit Shah, Nitin Nabin, J P Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Following a brief halt for Holi, the Yatras will execute 6 days of relentless movement, operating 9 hours a day to shift the narrative to unstoppable momentum. The Yatra will ultimately culminate in a massive central public meeting at the Brigade Ground in Kolkata, addressed by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. - ANI BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa celebrates his 84th birthday with tributes from leaders like HD Kumaraswamy and Basavaraj Bommai. Events held statewide. Bengaluru, Feb 27 BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member B. S. Yediyurappa celebrated his 84th birthday on Friday, with leaders cutting across party lines, supporters and admirers extending greetings and participating in events organised in his honour. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Yediyurappa began the day by offering special prayers at a Lord Ganesh temple in Ravindranagar. He also fed calves as part of the traditional rituals performed on his birthday. A felicitation programme has been organised in the evening, where Union Minister Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to deliver a congratulatory address. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy extended heartfelt birthday wishes, describing Yediyurappa as a respected leader and senior statesman. In his message, Kumaraswamy prayed that Yediyurappa be blessed with good health, long life, and the strength to continue serving the people for many more years. BJP MP and former CM Basavaraj Bommai also extended his greetings, calling Yediyurappa one of the finest and most visionary leaders the state has seen. Bommai said Yediyurappa's pro-farmer and pro-people struggles helped him win the hearts of the people, and his initiatives for children, youth and women continue to inspire administrators. He also noted that Yediyurappa's contribution in building and strengthening the BJP in Karnataka and serving as Chief Minister four times remains unforgettable. Speaking on the occasion, BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said Yediyurappa rose in politics without any political background and played a crucial role in expanding the BJP from the grassroots level. After moving from Mandya district and establishing his political base in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, Yediyurappa worked tirelessly to build the party and expand its reach to rural areas, breaking the perception that the BJP was limited to urban centres. He said the people of Shikaripura take pride in Yediyurappa's achievements, as he began his political career from the constituency. He added that after discussions with BJP MP B. Y. Raghavendra and other leaders, it was decided to organise the felicitation programme in Shikaripura. Vijayendra also noted that although Yediyurappa has traditionally avoided celebrating his birthday, events were organised this year in response to requests from supporters and well-wishers. Celebrations and greetings were held across Bengaluru and other parts of the state, reflecting Yediyurappa's long-standing influence and popularity in Karnataka politics. Yediyurappa, a four-time Chief Minister, is widely credited with establishing the BJP as a major political force in Karnataka and leading the party to power for the first time in South India since Independence. - IANS Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Mumbai for a four-day official visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit begins with a focus on economic partnerships before shifting to high-level diplomatic talks in New Delhi. This engagement marks a significant effort to repair relations that sharply deteriorated in 2023 following allegations linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The current mission reflects a pragmatic shift, with Canada no longer believing India is linked to violent crimes, paving the way for renewed cooperation on trade and security. Canadian PM Mark Carney begins a 4-day official visit to India, focusing on economic synergy and mending diplomatic relations after a 2023 standoff. Mumbai, February 27 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his delegation landed in Mumbai on Friday for a four-day-long official visit to India. Carney's visit from February 27 to March 2 was initiated at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, and signals a concerted effort to revitalise diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Canadian PM's arrival marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and strategic cooperation. By beginning the tour in India's financial capital, Carney is prioritising economic synergy, spending his first two days consulting with CEOs, financial experts, and representatives from Canadian pension funds to set a robust commercial tone for the mission. This economic focus serves as a strategic prelude to the high-level diplomatic discussions scheduled for March 1-March 2 in New Delhi. The cornerstone of the stay will be delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, acting as a formal follow-up to previous dialogues held in Kananaskis and Johannesburg in 2025. Delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for March 2 at Hyderabad House. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these talks are designed to review the India-Canada Strategic Partnership across diverse sectors, including energy, critical minerals, and research, while aligning government policy with private sector interests through the India-Canada CEOs Forum. The significance of this re-engagement is best understood against the backdrop of the "sharp deterioration" in relations that followed the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Subsequent allegations made by the previous Trudeau government had led to a diplomatic standoff and the mutual expulsion of officials. However, the current mission represents a fundamental shift in Ottawa's stance; senior Canadian officials have now clarified that they no longer believe India is linked to violent crimes within Canada, noting that such a high-profile presence would not be possible if those concerns were still active. This move towards a more "pragmatic" foreign policy has been underpinned by intensified security dialogues, particularly those led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. These discussions have resulted in a comprehensive action plan to tackle transnational organised crime and extremism, effectively turning a previous point of contention into a framework for real-time cooperation. Ultimately, as the leaders transition from Mumbai's boardrooms to Delhi's diplomatic halls, the stay aims to cement a forward-looking partnership grounded in mutual respect and the growing economic complementarities between the two nations. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad on his martyrdom day, praising his ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Azad, born Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, earned his iconic name after defiantly declaring himself 'Azad' in court as a teenager. He was a key figure in militant actions like the Kakori train robbery and helped reorganize the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Betrayed and surrounded by police in Allahabad's Alfred Park in 1931, he died by his own bullet to avoid capture, fulfilling his vow of never being taken alive. PM Narendra Modi honors revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad on his martyrdom day, recalling his fearless fight and sacrifice for India's independence. New Delhi, Feb 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid respectful tribute to Chandrashekhar Azad, a fearless freedom fighter, on his martyrdom day and said that he sacrificed everything to free Mother India from the shackles of slavery. PM Modi took to his social media platform X and said, "My respectful tribute to Chandrashekhar Azad, a brave son of Mother India, on his martyrdom day. He sacrificed everything to free Mother India from the shackles of slavery, for which he will always be remembered." PM Modi also made another post and said, "The life of the immortal revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad shows that the determination to stand firm against injustice is true valour. The story of his sacrifice for the motherland will continue to inspire every generation of the country." Chandrashekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, as Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari. At the age of 15, he was arrested during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-21). When produced before the court, he defiantly introduced himself as 'Azad' (free), stated his father's name as 'Swatantrata' (freedom), and declared his residence as 'prison'. This fearless response earned him the enduring name by which he became a legend. Chandrashekhar Azad became deeply saddened when Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922. Like several of his contemporaries, this disappointment steered him towards a more militant course of action. He subsequently joined the Hindustan Republican Army, founded by Ram Prasad Bismil and Sachindranath Sanyal. Azad played an active role in the Kakori train robbery of 1925, led by Ram Prasad Bismil, which marked a significant episode in the revolutionary struggle. In 1928, along with his fellow revolutionaries, Azad reorganised the HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, with the aim of establishing a socialist republic in India. Following the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Azad, along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, sought retribution. While Bhagat Singh and Rajguru assassinated British officer John Saunders, Azad shot a police constable who pursued them. Under Azad's guidance, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt carried out the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, aiming to make a political statement rather than cause fatalities. Azad was also indirectly linked to the attempt to derail the Viceroy's train in December 1929, further exemplifying his commitment to armed resistance against colonial rule. In 1928, the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was reorganised into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) at a historic meeting held at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Prominent members present included Bhagat Singh, Bejoy Kumar Sinha, Shiv Varma, Jaidev Kapur, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, and Sukhdev. Chandrashekhar Azad did not attend this meeting. The reorganisation marked a significant ideological shift. Bhagat Singh and his associates emphasised socialism as a guiding principle, envisioning India's independence not merely as political freedom but as economic and social emancipation for the masses. The leadership model adopted was collective in nature, moving away from reliance on individual revolutionary acts towards a broader mass movement. Chandrashekhar Azad, though absent from the Kotla meeting, was appointed as the Commander of the Military Division of the HSRA. In this role, he was tasked with planning and executing organised armed resistance against colonial authority. On February 27, 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad was betrayed to the police at Alfred Park in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Surrounded by police forces, he fought until his last bullet, which he used on himself to avoid capture, staying true to his vow of never being taken alive. - IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has concluded a successful four-day official visit to Singapore and Japan, returning with signed Memoranda of Understanding worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The tour, featuring over 60 meetings and three major roadshows, attracted hundreds of investors and generated total investment proposals exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh crore. Key sectors for investment include green hydrogen, semiconductors, electronics, and defence manufacturing, with the proposals expected to create over five lakh jobs. A separate Rs 3000 crore MoU was signed with real estate developer 1-OAK during the Singapore leg, highlighting strong investor confidence in the state's growth. UP CM Yogi Adityanath's overseas tour yields massive investment proposals worth over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, promising 5 lakh jobs for the state. Lucknow, February 27 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath returned to Lucknow on Friday morning after completing his four-day official visit to Singapore and Japan. According to a press release, senior officials welcomed him at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. CM described the visit as one that would give a new direction to UP's industrial future. During the tour, the state government received MoUs worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore and investment proposals exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh crore. Once implemented, these proposals are expected to create employment opportunities for more than 5 lakh youth. Throughout the four-day overseas visit, the Chief Minister maintained a very busy schedule, participating in over 60 formal meetings and events across both countries. Three major investment road shows were organised, one in Singapore, the second in Tokyo, and the third in Yamanashi, said the release. Approximately 450-500 investors, industrialists and senior representatives of financial institutions attended these events, showing strong interest and enthusiasm for investment opportunities in UP. During these interactions, the Chief Minister presented in detail the state's industrial policies, infrastructure development, strong law-and-order framework and vast consumer market. Agreements and investment proposals were finalised across multiple sectors, including green hydrogen, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, data centres, logistics, defence manufacturing, skill development and urban infrastructure. As per the release, the Chief Minister has directed Invest UP and the concerned departments to promptly take these proposals forward. Overall, the visit proved significant not only for attracting investment but also for strengthening UP's global profile and economic prospects. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh is set to receive a major boost in its real estate and infrastructure sectors as leading real estate developer 1-OAK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 3000 crore with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The agreement was formalised during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's official visit to Singapore, where he met 1-OAK Managing Director Amritanshu Roy. Amritanshu Roy also serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Singapore-based Greenfield Advisory, the parent company of 1-OAK. Greenfield Advisory oversees global investment, asset management, and real estate development initiatives across multiple international markets. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shared details of the meeting through his official social media channels, describing it as a "productive meeting." He noted that the MoU reflects strong investor confidence in Uttar Pradesh's high-growth sectors. The discussions focused on infrastructure development, emerging industries, and long-term capital investments aimed at strengthening the state's rapidly expanding economy. - ANI A report by Equirus Securities warns that crude oil prices could surge to between $95 and $110 per barrel if tensions disrupt Iran's oil supply or the vital Strait of Hormuz. The analysis states that a direct supply loss from Iran could push prices to $76-$81, but a threat to the strait would add a structural premium of $20-$40 per barrel. Markets have already priced in a risk premium, with prices rising about 10% as the US positioned military assets in the Middle East. The forecasting challenge lies in estimating how long any disruption and its associated price premium would last amid the ongoing US-Iran standoff. Crude oil prices may surge to $95-$110 if Iran's supply or the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, according to a new Equirus Securities analysis. New Delhi, February 27 Crude oil prices could surge to as high as USD 95 to USD 110 per barrel if Iran's oil supply and the Strait of Hormuz face disruption amid ongoing tensions, according to a report by Equirus Securities. The report noted that if Iran's nearly 3.3 million barrels per day (mbpd), which accounts for about 3 per cent of global supply, is disrupted, and assuming a 3-5 per cent price response for every 1 per cent supply shock, it could imply a 9-15 per cent rise in prices. On a base price of USD 70 per barrel, this translates into an increase of roughly USD 6-11 per barrel, lifting crude prices toward USD 76-81 per barrel purely due to direct supply loss. However, the report highlighted that markets do not price wars in a linear manner. It stated that if the escalation threatens the Strait of Hormuz, the premium becomes structural rather than proportional. Even the risk of partial disruption could embed a USD 20-40 per barrel geopolitical premium, reopening a pathway toward USD 95-110 and beyond. It stated "partial disruption risk could embed a USD 20 - USD 40/bbl geopolitical premium, reopening a pathway toward USD 95- USD 110+, well beyond mechanical impact of Iran's barrels alone". The report further observed that markets have so far responded in what it described as a textbook fashion amid expectations of possible escalation. Crude prices have firmed by around 10 per cent since the United States began positioning military assets in the Middle East, as traders priced in a headline-driven geopolitical risk premium. The move reflects the asymmetric risk linked to the Strait of Hormuz, where even a temporary disruption could materially impact global oil flows. The report said oil typically overreacts initially, embedding a geopolitical risk premium, and then gradually adjusts as trade flows are rerouted and fundamentals reassert themselves. It added that the real forecasting challenge is not predicting the initial spike but estimating how long the disruption and the embedded premium will persist. The US and Iran are currently locked in a high-stakes standoff over Iran's nuclear program and its potential to build atomic weapons. While recent talks in Geneva showed some progress, the US is maintaining heavy economic sanctions and a massive military presence in the region Meanwhile, nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded a third round in Geneva on February 26, without a final agreement, though both sides reported "significant progress." - ANI Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has launched a state-of-the-art electric double-decker tourist bus service named 'Dekho Meri Dilli'. The 63-seater bus, priced at Rs 500 for adults, will operate a circuit covering major landmarks including Vijay Chowk, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and India Gate. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Hinduja Group, aims to blend Delhi's heritage with modernity and promote clean, sustainable tourism. Officials stated the service is a key step in transforming Delhi from a transit city into a premier global tourism destination. Delhi CM launches 63-seater electric double-decker tourist bus 'Dekho Meri Dilli' at Rs 500. Covers India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan & more. New Delhi, Feb 27 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday flagged off Delhi Tourism's state-of-the-art double-decker electric tourist bus service, 'Dekho Meri Dilli', from Rafi Marg. The fare for the bus is Rs 500 plus 5 per cent GST. The fare for children aged five to 10 years is Rs 300 plus 5 per cent GST, while children below five years of age may travel free of charge, said an official. The Chief Minister said the 63-seater bus, fitted with modern amenities, advanced safety systems and a panoramic upper deck, will provide tourists with a comfortable and memorable travel experience. Flanked by Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, the Chief Minister unveiled the double-decker bus, describing it as an example of the government's visionary policy and the successful implementation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Launched by the Delhi Tourism Department in collaboration with the Hinduj Group, the starting point of this special tourism circuit has been designated as Delhi Haat, INA, from where the bus will depart daily at 9 a.m. The route will cover Vijay Chowk, Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block and South Block, the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Prime Ministers' Museum, the National War Memorial and India Gate, before returning to Delhi Haat, INA. After the unveiling of the new bus, the Chief Minister, the Tourism Minister, media representatives and officials boarded the bus and travelled from Rafi Marg via India Gate, Akbar Road and Teen Murti Marg to the Prime Minister's Museum. Tickets for the bus can be booked online through the official Delhi Tourism website: www.delhitourism.gov.in. Offline tickets are available at the Central Reservation Office, Coffee Home, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, opposite Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place; the I-Centre (Delhi Tourism), Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place; Indira Gandhi International Airport (Domestic Terminal 1); the Transport Office, West Kidwai Nagar, Shri Aurobindo Marg, opposite INA Market; near Delhi Haat (INA); and the Travel Division, Delhi Haat (INA). The Chief Minister stated that this initiative is a significant step towards establishing Delhi as a modern and world-class tourism destination. Alongside its rich historical heritage, Delhi is carving out a new global identity through modern landmarks such as Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi, the new Parliament Building, the Central Vista and the Prime Minister's Museum, she said. The bus service will offer tourists a comprehensive experience of Delhi's heritage and modernity in a single journey, she said. According to the Chief Minister, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi', the government is equally committed to accelerating modern development while preserving the city's historical and cultural heritage. The objective is to ensure that progress and tradition advance together. She further added that the zero-emission double-decker e-bus promotes sustainable development, green mobility and clean tourism, in line with this vision. Minister Mishra stated that the launch of the electric double-decker bus is not merely the introduction of a vehicle, but a step towards firmly placing Delhi on the global tourism map. He remarked that under previous governments, a lack of vision and inadequate facilities in the tourism sector, along with environmental neglect, had reduced Delhi to the status of a transit city. The Tourism Minister also noted that Delhi is among a few cities in the world with more than 1,200 monuments. From ancient civilisation and British-era heritage to world-class modern infrastructure, the city offers a unique and integrated experience. - IANS News / National by Staff reporter Government has begun strictly enforcing its suspension on the export of raw lithium and other unprocessed precious minerals, halting hundreds of haulage trucks at Forbes Border Post in a move aimed at promoting local beneficiation.The directive, announced by Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura, is designed to maximise revenue from Zimbabwe's vast lithium reserves - a critical mineral used in the production of electronic batteries and clean energy technologies.Officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ), and other regulatory bodies were yesterday seen turning back trucks carrying lithium and chrome at the border, causing significant congestion along the MutareForbes Road.By late evening, several trucks laden with minerals were parked at Energy Park Service Station near the border as drivers awaited instructions from their companies. Armed police maintained a visible presence to monitor the situation.One driver, Mr Fredrick Takaendesa, who was transporting chrome from Mutorashanga, said he was denied passage despite having export documentation."I joined the queue on Wednesday. Trucks carrying lithium were the first to be turned away, followed by those of us with chrome. Authorities told us there are instructions to block all raw mineral exports. I am waiting for my company's guidance, but many drivers have already been told to return to the mines," he said.A security guard at the service station, Mr Ernest Mandiranga, confirmed witnessing numerous trucks making U-turns after being denied clearance."Trucks carrying lithium and chrome are being denied passage at the border and ordered to return. Most have already gone back, while a few remain parked here. The drivers say they are waiting for further instructions," he said.Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr Washington Dube said the enforcement reflects Government's deliberate effort to safeguard national interests."When the Mines Minister announced the ban, some trucks were already at the border or en route. We have observed that ZIMRA and other departments are actively managing the situation. We await guidance on the fate of these consignments, but we reiterate that Government, through the Ministry of Finance, remains open to engagement," he said.Mr Dube added that the association supports the ban, noting that Government has consistently prioritised beneficiation and value addition.Zimbabwe holds some of the world's largest reserves of hard-rock lithium, making the mineral central to global clean energy supply chains.Authorities say the suspension extends to all raw minerals and lithium concentrates, including consignments already in transit signalling a firm stance against the export of unprocessed resources.Government expects the policy to accelerate the establishment of beneficiation plants, create employment opportunities, and position Zimbabwe as a key player in the global green energy transition while boosting export earnings through value-added production. Devotees celebrate Holi Utsav in Vrindavan's Banke Bihari Temple. In Ayodhya, saints mark Rangbhari Ekadashi with Panchkoshi Parikrama. Vrindavan, February 27 A large number of devotees participated in the Holi Utsav held at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan of Mathura district, ahead of the Holi festival which falls next week. Devotees were seen playing holi with gulal. The priests at the temple were also seen throwing gulal on the devotees who arrived at the Banke Bihari Temple on Friday. The devotees also offered their prayers to the Lord Krishna during the visit. Earlier in the day, Naga sadhus and other saints also celebrated Rangbhari Ekadashi with great fervour and devotion in Ayodhya, playing Holi with gulal and the holy flag (nishan) of the Hanumangarhi Temple. On the auspicious occasion, saints gathered at the Hanumangarhi Temple and applied gulal to each other, marking the beginning of the Holi festivities in the temple town. Speaking with ANI, National President of Sankat Mochan Sena (Hanumangarhi Temple), Mahant Sanjay Das Ji Maharaj, said that as per tradition, the saints took out the Panchkoshi Parikrama carrying the symbol of Lord Hanuman on their shoulders. "Today, on the occasion of Rangbhari Ekadashi, all the saints of Ayodhya went to the temples and applied gulal... We are taking out the Panchkoshi Parikrama like every year... We are carrying the symbol of Lord Hanuman on our shoulders, making it take a dip in Ganga Ji, after that we take a dip in the form of Prasad," he said. Rangbhari Ekadashi holds special significance in Ayodhya and marks the ceremonial beginning of Holi celebrations, with saints and devotees participating in rituals and religious processions across the city. The Holi festivities in Mathura, widely regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, will culminate with grand processions, cultural performances, and temple rituals leading up to the main Holi festival. Owing to the large crowd, the authorities have deployed additional security measures to ensure a smooth and safe celebration, with local administration closely monitoring crowd management and traffic control. - ANI Union Minister Suresh Gopi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the essence of Kerala by approving its renaming to "Keralam". The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the proposal, initiating the constitutional process. The Kerala Alteration of Name Bill will now be sent to the state legislative assembly for its views. This decision follows a resolution passed by the Kerala assembly in June 2024 to alter the state's name. Union Minister Suresh Gopi thanks PM Modi for honouring Kerala's essence by approving the renaming to 'Keralam', a long-pending state resolution. Kochi, February 27 Union Minister and BJP MP Suresh Gopi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the essence of Kerala by renaming it "Keralam" and also by paying respects to the resolution, which was earlier passed in the state assembly. Speaking to ANI, Gopi said the renaming of Kerala to Keralam will be cherished by every citizen of the state. "The essence of Kerala originally being Keralam has been honoured and respected by PM Narendra Modi, who leads the Govt of India. So, I am so thankful to him for having paid respects to the resolution that was made in the Keralam Assembly a few months back. I am so thankful that he has respected a long-pending wish, which will be cherished by every Malayali in my state Keralam," Suresh Gopi said. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to the proposal to change the name of Kerala to Keralam. Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Kerala Alteration of Name Bill will be sent to the state assembly for its approval. The decision comes ahead of the assembly polls in the state, slated for the first half of this year. "After approval of the Union Cabinet, the President of India will refer a Bill, namely the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India," Vaishnaw said. After receipt of the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the Centre will take further action, and the recommendation of the President will be obtained for the introduction of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, for the alteration of the name of the state of 'Kerala' as 'Keralam' in Parliament. The Legislative Assembly of Kerala passed a resolution in June 2024 to alter the name of the state of "Kerala" to "Keralam". - ANI Expelled AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam is reportedly set to join the DMK ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This move follows public praise for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin from an MLA in OPS's camp, who predicted Stalin's return to power. The 2026 election is shaping up to be a three-way contest involving the DMK-led alliance, the BJP-AIADMK alliance, and actor Vijay's new party. The DMK aims to secure another term by projecting its 'Dravidian Model 2.0' governance. Expelled AIADMK leader and former CM O Panneerselvam is reportedly set to join the DMK, potentially reshaping the 2026 Tamil Nadu election dynamics. Chennai, February 27 Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam is likely to join Dravida Munnetra Kazagham on Friday ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu elections, sources said. This move follows recent praise by the OPS camp for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and prediction related to return of DMK government in the state. Earlier on Friday, Tamil Nadu MLA P Ayyappan, who is seen as part of former CM O Paneerselvam's camp, expressed his desire to see M. Stalin lead the state again following the next assembly polls.Ayyappan stated in the Assembly that M K Stalin must once again become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M. G. Ramachandran and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma J. Jayalalithaa, and with the good wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I extend my thanks. He further said, "The Breakfast Scheme was introduced with a visionary outlook. For small children's who come to primary schools, the Chief Minister provides hot meals like a mother." "Those who once raised slogans claiming that the Chief Minister had merely given Rs 5,000 are nowhere to be seen today. As long as Tamil Nadu exists, the Breakfast Scheme will continue to praise the Chief Minister. In the upcoming election, M.K. Stalin should once again win and return as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, and with the wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I express my gratitude at this moment," Ayyappan added. 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 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that female voters continue to outnumber male voters in Tamil Nadu following an electoral roll revision. The state has over 12.5 lakh first-time voters aged 18-19, whom the CEC urged to lead a "festival of democracy" for a record turnout. The Election Commission has set up over 75,000 polling stations, capped at 1,200 voters each, and will equip all with webcasting for transparency. Kumar also issued a strong warning against electoral malpractices, including freezing accounts involved in illegal money flow. CEC Gyanesh Kumar announces female voters outnumber males in TN, calls for record youth turnout. Over 75,000 polling stations set for assembly elections. Chennai, Feb 27 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday reviewed the poll preparedness for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which will be declared in the coming days, announcing that female voters continue to outnumber male voters in the state. Following a comprehensive electoral roll revision, the state's total electorate stands at 5,67,07,380, comprising 2,89,60,838 women and 2,77,38,925 men with female voters outnumbering their male counterparts. Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the CEC noted that the state has 12,51,742 first-time voters in the 18-19 age group. To ensure a smooth voting experience, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 75,032 polling stations, including 44,065 in rural areas. "We have capped the maximum number of voters per station at 1,200 to avoid congestion and delays," Kumar said. Aiming for a record-breaking voter turnout in the forthcoming polls, the Chief Election Commissioner called upon the young voters in Tamil Nadu to lead the "festival of democracy," adding that the state always registered high voter turnout. The CEC lauded the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Tamil Nadu as a "role model for the entire country," noting that only about 200 appeals were filed after the exercise, reflecting high professionalism of the revision drive. To enhance transparency, all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities. Kumar said the new 'ECINET' app, which will provide real-time updates on voting percentages at individual stations and it would help avoid delayed announcement of voter turnout figures. Highlighting the "festival of democracy," the CEC addressed the issue of physical submission of the nominations. While the digital facility is available, Kumar noted that many candidates prefer physical submission of their nomination papers with supporters as part of the electoral tradition. He detailed accessibility measures, including ground-floor booths, ramps, wheelchairs, and volunteers for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The Commission issued a stern warning against electoral malpractices, stating that accounts involved in the illegal flow of money would be frozen. Traders were advised to carry cash within permissible limits to avoid inconvenience during checks after announcing the election dates. Drawing a comparison with recent polls in Bihar, Kumar remarked, "The Bihar election was a flawless exercise, but in Tamil Nadu, it will be even better - transparent, fair, and the most memorable election." - IANS Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Luxembourg's Finance Minister Gilles Roth in New Delhi to bolster bilateral financial cooperation. The discussions focused on leveraging Luxembourg's expertise in green bonds and sustainable financing for India's development goals. Earlier, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel also engaged with the delegation, highlighting Gujarat's sound financial management and exploring mutual cooperation in renewable energy. The existing MoU between IFSCA and Luxembourg's CSSF in GIFT City was noted as a foundation for increased investment and global financial connectivity. FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets Luxembourg's Gilles Roth to strengthen financial cooperation, green bonds, and investment in GIFT City. New Delhi, February 28 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with a delegation from Luxembourg, including Finance Minister Roth Gilles and other officials, in New Delhi on Thursday. In a post on X, the Official Account of the Ministry of Finance shared, "Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman met with a delegation led by Mr. @RothGilles, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, along with Mr. Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg to India; Mr. Luc Feller, Senior Government Advisor, Mr. Claude Marx, Director General, CSSF and Mr. Simon Gorbutt, Deputy CEO, Luxembourg for Finance, in New Delhi, today." Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel received the Finance Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Gillis Roth, along with his delegation, in Gandhinagar. Roth highlighted Luxembourg's robust financial sector, which comprises 115 banks, an investment portfolio of 8 trillion euros in asset management, and a presence in investment and financial services across around 80 countries. In this context, he expressed his eagerness to further strengthen financial relations with India, particularly with Gujarat. Patel said during the discussions of this meeting that Gujarat is a state with prudent financial management under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not only this, he discussed and deliberated on the benefit of Luxembourg's expertise in the field of green bonds and green financing in this context. He also requested to explore the possibilities of mutual cooperation to realise the idea of green growth with an environment-friendly lifestyle through renewable-green energy and Mission Life, which was given by the Prime Minister, through municipal green bonds and long-term infrastructure and sustainable development. Roth said that the MoU signed between IFSCA and Luxembourg's CSSF in GIFT City has strengthened the financial cooperation between India and Luxembourg and has also increased the global financial connectivity of Gujarat. Shri Gilles Roth expressed Luxembourg's eagerness for more investments in the international financing sector in GIFT City. - ANI Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri chaired a meeting of senior MEA officials to discuss implementing the Seva Sankalp resolution, with a focus on innovative, technology-driven steps for a citizen-centric approach. The meeting follows the historic first Union Cabinet meeting held at the new Prime Minister's Office, 'Seva Teerth', under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chairmanship. The 'Seva Teerth' building, constructed on the site of British-era temporary barracks, is presented as a symbol of New India's transformation and a confluence of material grandeur and human values. The Cabinet described the workplace as being envisioned as sacred as a pilgrimage, founded on duty, service, and dedication. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri chairs MEA meeting on Seva Sankalp resolution. Focus on tech-driven, citizen-centric services following historic cabinet meet. New Delhi, February 28 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday chaired a meeting of senior MEA officials to review the implementation of the Seva Sankalp resolution, with officers proposing innovative, technology-driven steps to strengthen a citizen-centric approach. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared, "Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri today chaired a meeting of senior officers of the MEA to discuss the implementation of the Seva Sankalp resolution of the first meeting of the Union Cabinet at Seva Teerth." "Officers made innovative suggestions for furthering a citizen-centric approach, including through utilising diverse types of technology," the post read. Meanwhile, on February 24, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the historic first meeting of the Union Cabinet was held at the new Prime Minister's Office, 'Seva Teerth'. This inaugural meeting took place on the auspicious day of Ashtami, Phalguna Shukla Paksha, in the year of Yugaabda 5127, Vikram Samvat 2082, and Shaka Samvat 1947. This building is a direct expression of the reconstruction of New India. With this auspicious beginning, the Cabinet welcomed a future whose foundation has been laid by centuries of effort. It was observed that for many decades following Independence, governments operated from the Prime Minister's Office in South Block, both preserving the legacy of the past and envisioning the future. It also said that 'Seva Teerth' was constructed at the site of the temporary barracks from the British era. The establishment of an active institution of national governance at that location is also a symbol of the transformation of New India. The Cabinet said that before the period of colonial rule, India was known as a nation was recognised both for its material grandeur and for its human values. The concept of Seva Teerth is formed from the confluence of both these ideals. With the sacred confluence of duty, service, and dedication, this workplace is envisioned to be as sacred as a pilgrimage; this is its fundamental spirit. - ANI O.P. Jindal Global University is hosting its second National Convention on Women from March 8-10, 2026, anchored in the International Women's Day theme "Give to Gain." The event aims to foster action-oriented dialogue on gender justice by bringing together academics, policymakers, and grassroots workers. It is enriched by the inaugural Jindal Interdisciplinary Art and Literature Festival 2026, integrating feminist visions with cultural expressions. The convention will feature multiple panels on themes ranging from women in leadership and the digital future to economic outcomes and public health justice. O.P. Jindal Global University hosts its 2nd National Convention on Women from March 8-10, 2026, focusing on "Give to Gain" for gender justice and transformation. Sonipat, Feb 27 Building on the success of the first National Convention on Women in India, O.P. Jindal Global University is hosting the Second National Convention, 8-10 March, on its campus in Sonipat, Haryana. The Convention is committed to fostering rigorous, inclusive, and action-oriented conversations on gender justice. Anchored in the International Women's Day 2026 theme "Give to Gain", JGU's Second edition of the Women's Convention will foreground the idea that investing in women's knowledge, creativity, leadership, and labour generates long-term collective social, cultural, and democratic gains. While decades of advocacy and reform have brought important gains to women's lives in India, gender-based discrimination persists and impacts women across regions and cultural contexts and in homes, workplaces, creative endeavours, and educational institutions. The Convention brings together academics, scholars, practitioners, advocates, policy makers, institution builders, diplomats, civil servants, and grassroots workers to create a shared space for reflection, dialogue, and collective imagination. The Convention is committed to identifying concrete pathways for meaningful social, institutional, and structural transformation and to esponding to emerging forms of inequality in a rapidly changing social and economic landscape. This year, the Convention is further enriched by the inaugural Jindal Interdisciplinary Art and Literature Festival 2026. The Festival seeks to broaden and deepen the engagement envisaged by the Convention and brings feminist visions into dialogue with literature, art, cinema, performance, and other cultural expressions. The Festival recognises that the pursuit of gender justice is not confined to policy frameworks or institutional reform alone; it is equally shaped by stories told, images created, and worlds imagined. Creative practices have long served as sites of resistance, critique, healing, and re-imagination, spaces where silences are broken, alternative futures are sketched, and lived experiences find language. The Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Prof (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, said, "Women are the cornerstone of the academic and institutional ethos of JGU. The empowerment of women, choices, opportunities and participation in academic and administrative duties stand at the heart of our culture. With more than 55 per cent women comprising the workforce at JGU, we are proud to be a women-centric organisation, and we will continue to strengthen their presence and participation across all our activities. This commitment finds further expression in the inaugural Jindal Interdisciplinary Arts and Literature Festival, bringing feminist visions into dialogue with literature and arts, affirming that inclusive cultural spaces are central to how equality is imagined, articulated, and advanced." Prof (Dr) Upasana Mahanta, Dean, Admissions and Outreach and member of the organising committee of the Women's Convention, said: "The Convention gathers us in shared purpose; it catalyses ideas and inspires resolve. Its true significance, however, and the real measure of our commitment, lie in the steps we take each day -- through sustained institutional commitments, thoughtful pedagogical practices, mentorship, everyday solidarities, and the spaces we consciously cultivate to shape our lived realities." The multiple panels across three days of deliberations will open with an Inaugural session, and the keynote address will focus on feminist legacies in India. Several other panel discussions will be on multiple themes like Women's way: seeing, feeling, knowing; Women and/in translation: who speaks for women? Translation, gender, and literary circulation in India and beyond; Feminization of aging Gender diversity and public health justice; Pathways to better economic and social outcomes; Female voices in humanities and the preservation of truth; Women at work: understanding barriers, advancing equality; Media and publishing ecologies; Women building the digital future; Women's power in policy making: from agenda to inclusive action; Women in leadership roles in the media and many more. By placing artistic and literary conversations alongside scholarly and policy deliberations, the Festival affirms that struggles for equality and emancipation must be imagined, articulated, and sustained across disciplines and forms. It invites writers, artists, filmmakers, poets, performers, and thinkers to engage with themes of identity, labour, care, embodiment, memory, and power, and to illuminate how cultural production both reflects and reshapes social realities. In doing so, the Festival complements the Convention's deliberative focus with a creative and reflective dimension, encouraging participants to see feminist engagement not only as a matter of reform, but as an ongoing intellectual and cultural project. "The Office of Student Life and Cultural Engagement (SLCE) envisions the Jindal Interdisciplinary Arts and Literature Festival (JIALF) as a flagship cultural-academic platform for stirring up meaningful and substantial conversations on the arts from the vantage point of an interdisciplinary university. The festival seeks to engage a dynamic student populace by showcasing a polyphonic multiplicity of genres, voices and ideas that animate contemporary cultural and literary discourse," said Prof Dr Gargi Bharadwaj, Director, Office of Student Life and cultural engagement and Associate Professor (theatre, performance and cultural studies). - IANS Governor Acharya Devvrat inaugurates 'Prakritik Krishi Utpadan' exhibition at Gujarat Assembly, promoting chemical-free agriculture. Gandhinagar, Feb 27 Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Friday inaugurated an exhibition of natural farming produce at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly complex, aimed at promoting awareness among farmers and the wider public about chemical-free agriculture. A total of nine stalls showcasing natural farming products were set up within the Assembly premises. The exhibition was organised with the objective of encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming practices and to highlight the range and quality of produce cultivated without synthetic inputs. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, Deputy Speaker Purnesh Modi, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel were present at the inauguration. State BJP president and MLA Jagdish Vishwakarma also attended the event. Following the formal inauguration, the Governor and other dignitaries visited the stalls and inspected the produce on display. They interacted with progressive farmers participating in the exhibition and encouraged them in their efforts to promote natural farming methods. The participating stalls included Kamdhenu Natural and Prakritik Krishi Farm; Adesar Area Farm Produce Producer Company Ltd.; Ramiba and Ramaba Natural Farming Farm; Neer Natural Farm; and Pratenma Natural Farm. In addition, agricultural institutions from Anand and Navsari, as well as Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University and Junagadh Agricultural University, showcased their initiatives and products related to natural farming. According to officials present, the exhibition was designed to provide a platform for farmers practising natural agriculture to present their produce directly within the state's legislative complex, thereby drawing attention to ongoing efforts in the sector. Governor Acharya Devvrat has long been known for his commitment to natural farming and rural agricultural development, travelling extensively within Gujarat and beyond to advocate sustainable practices. He has repeatedly emphasised the need for farmers to move away from chemical-intensive agriculture towards methods that protect soil health, water resources and public wellbeing. In October 2024, while addressing farmers at a natural farming dialogue in Banaskantha's Tharad area, he described himself as "a farmer first, and then a governor", underlining his personal connection to the land and agriculture. He highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of natural farming, stressing its potential to improve soil fertility and reduce costs for cultivators. His engagements have taken him to events such as a natural farming promotion camp in Ahmedabad in October 2023, where he urged farmers to forego chemical fertilisers and pesticides in favour of practices that improve water conservation and enhance produce quality. On occasion, he has visited farming communities in other regions to share insights and learn directly from practitioners of sustainable agriculture. - IANS Experts debate state proposals to ban social media for under-16s, stressing the need for parental guidance and platform safeguards over outright bans. New Delhi, Feb 27 There is a debate blowing around reports that some states in India are mulling a ban on social media for children under 16 years of age, considering the effects it has on young minds. In Australia, a law has been created to protect young people from features that encourage spending too much time on screens and show content that can be harmful to overall health and well-being, according to the country's Office For Youth, which adds, "Restricting access aims to protect young people from these risks". Before rolling out the law they spoke with children and parents. "Parents said that some children will somehow find out, but not all. It all depends how a legislation is introduced, how it's monitored, and how the society and individual homes regulate it," explained Jatin Gandhi, journalist, and a Trust and Safety practitioner. Trust and Safety practices refer to policies, practices, and teams dedicated to ensuring that users can trust and feel safe while using online platforms and services. "So, it's definitely a step in the right direction. It has been ignored till now and social media had a free run and created havoc in our society. With Internet penetration rising fast and the decline in quality of online platforms as they prioritise profit over users, there's a need for control," he stressed. "It's dangerous to allow social media to permeate our lives; that's why it is a good idea to first ban, then to regulate, then to ease," he added. Joydeep Dasgupta, an expert in fact checking, and media and AI literacy, shared cautious optimism. "Social media use among children must be restricted. The Internet is a valuable resource for school assignments, where they should be allowed access with parental or teacher's guidance," he stated. But, "The moment children are exposed to smartphones, they inevitably step into the digital world - and thereby, into social media. In today's connected world, asking them to completely avoid smartphones or social networking platforms is neither practical nor realistic," warned Sambit Pal, In-Charge Director at the International School of Broadcasting and Journalism at MIT Art, Design and Technology University in Pune. "What we need instead is parental guidance and open conversations about how to use social media wisely. This is a far more effective way to minimise its harmful effects," he too agreed. According to Dasgupta, "Unrestricted social media access can expose children to online risks like cyberbullying, predators, and unhealthy comparisons. Parents should guide and set limits on screen time, ensuring a balance between digital learning and real-life interactions." Jatin Gandhi quoted Cory Doctorow to describe the predictable decline in quality of online platforms as they prioritise profit over users. He explained the three stages of social media, where in the first, it is perceived as being of value to society, empowering the individual, democratising communication, "so you build value for your user and you build a community and you lock in that community," he explained. "The platform grabs attention and then sells it to the advertiser. In the third stage, it doesn't add value to either the end user or the business it had partnered with; but just amasses all the profits," added Gandhi. Doctorow is popular for his advocacy of liberalising copyright laws and for his work as a blogger and journalist, where he has covered topics such as digital rights management, file sharing, and post-scarcity economics. "Earlier you searched for contents, now the content finds you," stressed Gandhi on such platforms identifying user preference and targeting accordingly. "Social media companies, too, must implement stricter age-verification systems and ensure that content offered to underage users is appropriate and safe," added Dr. Pal. "Without guidance or safeguards, children dive into an endless ocean of content without knowing how to swim through the waves. And if even adults often struggle to stay afloat, we can hardly expect children to manage it alone," he said. - IANS Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat addressed a natural farming conference in the Legislative Assembly, detailing the severe consequences of chemical farming on soil and human health. He explained that natural farming, which utilizes indigenous cow-based inputs, enriches soil with microorganisms and improves water retention, unlike chemical farming which has reduced soil organic carbon to barren levels. The Governor linked modern diseases like cancer in children to pesticide traces found even in mother's milk, advocating natural farming as essential for protecting future generations. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other leaders supported the mission, highlighting it as a mass movement for health, environment, and farmer income. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat advocates natural farming to restore soil health, prevent diseases, and save water. Learn the benefits over chemical farming. Gandhinagar, February 27 Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Friday provided detailed guidance on the serious consequences of chemical farming and the benefits of natural farming. He was addressing the Prakruti Krushi Parisamvad organised at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. The Governor said he was pleased that a serious subject like natural farming was discussed in the Assembly. Explaining the difference, he said organic farming needs 300 quintals of manure per acre, while natural farming focuses on growing beneficial microorganisms. "One gram of dung from an indigenous cow contains over 300 crore microorganisms, and cow urine is rich in minerals. Using Jeevamrut and Ghan Jeevamrut increases earthworms and helpful insects in the soil, naturally improving its fertility," said Devvrat. The Governor stated that earlier, diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attacks were rare, but today even young children are diagnosed with cancer. He also mentioned research showing that even a mother's milk, once considered pure and life-giving for newborns, now contains traces of urea and pesticides. He also said that during the Green Revolution in India, the organic carbon in India's soil was 2 to 2.5 per cent, but now it has dropped to below 0.5 per cent. "Soil with less than 0.5 per cent organic carbon is considered barren. In Gujarat, chemically farmed land has already fallen below this level. As a result, the soil becomes hard, rainwater cannot seep into the ground, and floods may occur. He added that in natural farming, earthworms create small holes in the soil, which help store rainwater underground," said Devvrat. The Governor said that the country spends crores of rupees on subsidies for urea and DAP, and this money can be saved by adopting natural farming. He said natural farming is essential to protect health and the environment. "With the support of the Gujarat Government, this mission has become a mass movement, and he emphasised that it is the only way to safeguard future generations and increase farmers' income," the Governor added. On this occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that natural farming is essential for both the present and the future. Referring to the saying "Pehlu Sukh Te Jaat Nirogi," meaning health is wealth, he said natural farming is the way to ensure good health. He also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Back to Basics" mantra, saying it guides not only natural farming but overall healthy living. CM urged people to adopt initiatives like Catch the Rain, tackling global warming, planting trees under "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam," and promoting chemical-free farming for better health. "With the inspiration and guidance of Governor Acharya Devvrat, natural farming has become a mass movement in Gujarat. He said farmers adopting natural farming are helping secure a healthy future for the next generation and expressed confidence that this event would encourage more farmers to adopt natural farming," said CM. On this occasion, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary welcomed everyone and said that natural farming is important to keep air and water clean, which are essential for life. "The Gujarat Government has made a major budget announcement for natural farming this year. He added that this effort should reach every citizen of Gujarat, not remain limited to the Government, and that the media can play an important role in spreading awareness," Chaudhary added. Expressing gratitude on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said that holding a natural farming conference in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly is a matter of pride for the state. He said Governor Acharya Devvrat has given simple and clear guidance on natural farming through this event. He appealed to all members of the House, stating that natural farming is one of the most sensitive issues concerning human life today, and therefore, all public representatives should take personal interest in encouraging farmers in their respective areas to adopt natural farming. This event was attended by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Rushikesh Patel, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Purneshbhai Modi, members of the cabinet, MPs, MLAs, former Speaker of the Assembly, former Deputy Speaker, former MPs, former MLAs, Vice-Chancellors of universities, scientists, writers, media editors and representatives, as well as farmers practising natural farming. - ANI News / National by Staff reporter Police have launched a manhunt for suspected thieves who broke into a primary school in Chivhu and stole 27 laptops from the institution's computer laboratory.The incident reportedly occurred between February 20 and February 25, 2026.National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the case and appealed to members of the public for assistance."Police in Chivhu are appealing for information which may assist in the investigation of a case of unlawful entry into premises and theft which occurred between February 20, 2026 and February 25, 2026, at a primary school," he said.According to police, unknown suspects broke into the school's computer laboratory and stole 27 laptops.Authorities have urged anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to report to the nearest police station. The Gujarat government has successfully concluded an e-auction for a 5-acre plot in the Sanand-2 Industrial Estate, allotting it to a developer for a premium hotel to be built within four years. This initiative aims to bolster hospitality infrastructure for the growing number of national and multinational companies in the industrial area. In a related development, the state has also announced a Rs 100 crore fund to develop pilgrimage sites into green, power-safe zones with modernized electricity infrastructure. These moves are part of sustained efforts under the state's leadership to align social infrastructure with industrial growth and tourism needs. Gujarat completes e-auction for a 5-acre hotel plot in Sanand-2 Industrial Estate. Developer gets 4 years to build a premium hotel, boosting local infrastructure. Gandhinagar, February 27 The Gujarat government has successfully completed the e-auction for a 5-acre plot in the Sanand-2 Industrial Estate, with the land now allotted to a developer for the construction of a premium hotel within four years. This e-auction, concluded on December 22, 2025, aims to expand facilities for national and multinational companies operating in the Sanand industrial area as the state continues efforts to strengthen its industrial ecosystem. Following the e-auction, the highest bidder has been allotted the plot in accordance with the prescribed rules. The developer has been granted a four-year moratorium period to begin construction of a 3 to 5-star hotel. Meanwhile, construction of a five-star hotel is already in progress about 3 km from the Sanand Industrial Estate, further strengthening hospitality infrastructure in the area. On 28 February 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate Micron Technology's advanced semiconductor plant at the Sanand Industrial Estate. With the increasing presence of multinational companies in the region, the upcoming hotel will provide an essential stay option for visiting delegates and employees. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, sustained efforts continue to build social infrastructure that aligns with the evolving needs of industries across the state. Sanand Industrial Estate has modern infrastructure and well-planned connectivity that support steady industrial growth, with 1,150 units currently operating. A dedicated women's Industrial park has been established to promote women's empowerment, and the state government has advanced the vision of Ease of Doing Business through industry-friendly policies. On Thursday The Gujarat government announced the provision of Rs 100 crore to develop the state's pilgrimage areas into green and power-safe zones. According to the Gujarat CMO, this decision is to ensure continuous and quality power supply in pilgrimage sites, enhance electrical safety standards, and promote clean energy. The power distribution infrastructure will also be modernised. The CMO said that a reliable and uninterrupted power supply will be ensured for tourism activities, temple operations, and during festivals. The beauty of pilgrimage sites will be enhanced through underground networks, well-organised distribution systems, and modern facilities. The government will provide state solar subsidy assistance for the installation of rooftop solar systems up to a capacity of 500 kW on government buildings and local authority buildings. - ANI Lior Raz, the creator of the hit series 'Fauda', met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to Israel, describing the encounter as a "huge honour". Raz expressed admiration for Modi's support for the arts and highlighted the show's large Indian audience, recalling its Netflix premiere at the Goa Film Festival. Modi's visit marked a historic elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, resulting in 27 signed agreements. The visit also paved the way for a future Free Trade Agreement and a new technology partnership between the two nations. Lior Raz, creator of 'Fauda', met PM Modi in Israel, calling it a huge honour and expressing desire for Indo-Israeli collaboration in film and arts. Jerusalem, February 27 Lior Raz, the creator of the critically acclaimed series 'Fauda', met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Israel on Friday. Calling it a "huge honour", Raz lauded Modi's support for acting, production and the arts while acknowledging the massive Indian audience for their shows. In an interview with ANI, 'Fauda' star Lior Raz recalled the Netflix premiere of 'Fauda' at the Goa Film Festival and expressed his wish to collaborate with India in future. "It was amazing, and it was a huge honour to meet the Prime Minister of India. Such a huge country, and we know that we have a lot of audience in India for our shows. To get this honour from your Prime Minister, for us, it is great to see how he supports acting, producing and art in your country. I think this is something that we should learn how to do in our country as well. We would love to collaborate again. My show Fauda's Netflix premiere was in Goa Film Festival, we would love to come back and do it again," said Lior Raz. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India on Friday after a historic two-day state visit to Israel, the first in nine years, during which both countries elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership. The visit culminated in the signing of 27 MoUs and agreements across diverse sectors, including innovation, cultural exchange, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, economic cooperation, diplomacy, and security. PM Modi also announced that India and Israel would soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also declared the establishment of a Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership to deepen collaboration in high-tech and innovation domains. - ANI Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistani authorities to overturn the blasphemy conviction and death sentence of academic Junaid Hafeez, imprisoned since 2013. His trial faced severe delays, was held in a high-security prison, and his defense lawyer was murdered for taking the case. The organization states the blasphemy laws are widely misused to target minorities and settle personal scores, with accused individuals facing unfair trials and harsh punishments. While the government announced procedural safeguards in 2025, HRW says quashing Hafeez's conviction would demonstrate a genuine commitment to reform. Human Rights Watch calls for Pakistan to release academic Junaid Hafeez, imprisoned for 13 years on blasphemy charges, citing unfair trial and rights abuses. New York, February 27 Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistani authorities to quash the decades-long blasphemy conviction of academic Junaid Hafeez, who has been held in prison for 13 years under the country's strict blasphemy laws, highlighting serious concerns about due process and human rights violations. According to a release by the HRW, Hafeez, then in his 20s, was arrested on March 13, 2013, in Pakistan's Punjab province for allegedly posting blasphemous comments on Facebook. In December 2019, a court in Multan sentenced him to death after a trial repeatedly delayed over several years and conducted inside a high-security prison due to fears of mob violence. His appeal is still pending, and he has been in solitary confinement since June 2014. "Junaid Hafeez's case is emblematic of the unjust and abusive nature of Pakistan's blasphemy laws," said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. "The authorities should quash Hafeez's conviction and safely release him and others held under the blasphemy laws." Under Pakistan's penal code, section 295-C and related provisions carry a de facto mandatory death sentence. Although no executions have been reported, several people remain on death row, and dozens serve life sentences. Hundreds have faced charges under the law over the past three decades, the HRW stated. Human Rights Watch highlighted that long delays in trials, prolonged solitary confinement, and lack of access to legal representation constitute cruel and inhuman treatment. In 2014, Hafeez's defence lawyer, Rashid Rehman, was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen after facing threats for representing Hafeez. The organisation said Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often misused to target religious minorities, settle personal disputes, extort, or punish social media activity. Authorities rarely hold perpetrators of mob violence accountable, while those accused under the law face prolonged pretrial detention, unfair trials, and harsh prison terms. In October 2025, the Pakistani government announced plans to introduce procedural safeguards to the blasphemy laws. Human Rights Watch said implementing these safeguards and safely releasing detainees like Hafeez would signal a serious intent to reform. "In recent months, the government has made progress in addressing some of the injustices of the country's blasphemy laws," Pearson added. "Hafeez's case is an opportunity to demonstrate real intent and seriousness toward reform." - ANI India and Bhutan have concluded high-level official talks in Thimphu to deepen cooperation on shared rivers and hydropower. The discussions focused on reviewing ongoing projects like Punatsangchhu-I and modernizing flood forecasting systems. Both sides agreed to enhance data-sharing and address challenges from climate change and glacial lake outburst floods. The visit reaffirmed their commitment to the sustainable management of trans-boundary water resources. High-level talks in Thimphu focus on flood management, hydropower projects like Punatsangchhu, and climate resilience in shared river basins. New Delhi, Feb 27 India and Bhutan have decided to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on trans-boundary rivers and hydropower projects at a high-level official meeting in Thimphu, according to an official statement issued on Friday. V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD and GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, led an Indian delegation comprising officers from the ministry, officials from the Assam and West Bengal governments and WAPCOS Ltd., to the Kingdom of Bhutan from February 24-27. The two sides discussed matters related to cooperation on trans-boundary rivers and to review the ongoing activities of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydro Electric Project being implemented in Bhutan in partnership with the Government of India. During the Secretary-level bilateral meeting held on Wednesday, the two sides reviewed the existing mechanisms of bilateral cooperation between India and Bhutan in flood management and flood forecasting. Further deliberations focused on strengthening and modernising the existing hydro-meteorological observation network in Bhutan on trans-border rivers, improving data-sharing mechanisms for hydro-meteorological and flood forecasting data relating to trans-border rivers, enhancing collaboration in capacity building and technical exchanges, and addressing emerging challenges arising from climate change, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and extreme weather events. After the bilateral meeting, Secretary Rao paid a courtesy call on Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Bhutan's Minister for Energy and Natural Resources. The Secretary also visited the Punatsangchhu-I Hydro Electric Project under construction and the recently commissioned Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan on Thursday. He held meetings with officials of PHPA-I and PHPA-II and reviewed the progress of these projects. Other site visits included the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Bhutan, in Thimphu; the 3.5 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Chamgang; and the NCHM flood monitoring station near Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, the statement said, The visit aimed to enhance water resources management, flood forecasting, and climate resilience in shared river basins. It reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to the sustainable and mutually beneficial management of trans-boundary water resources. The Secretary also conveyed India's continued support for deepening cooperation in water resources management, the statement added. - IANS India's High Commissioner to the Maldives met with the Indian Army Chief to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. The talks reviewed the evolving security landscape in the Indian Ocean region and explored avenues for deeper defence and diplomatic collaboration. A Maldivian Minister of State emphasized the long-standing close relationship, highlighting collaboration on sustainable development and market reforms. Separate naval engagements also reinforced the shared commitment to promoting regional maritime security and interoperability. India and Maldives review regional security and explore deeper defence cooperation in meetings between envoys and military chiefs. New Delhi, Febraury 27 India's High Commissioner G Balasubramanian called on the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to discuss ways to further strengthen the India-Maldives strategic partnership. In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army stated, "Shri G.Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives, called on #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS. They discussed ways and means of deepening the India-Maldives strategic partnership, reviewed the evolving regional security landscape and explored avenues to further strengthen defence and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations." According to the ADG PI, the meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation amid an evolving regional security landscape. During the interaction, both sides reviewed current security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region and explored avenues to enhance defence and diplomatic collaboration between the two countries. Earlier on Thursday, Maldives Minister of State for Tourism and Environment, Muaviyath Mohamed, said India and the Maldives share a long-standing and close relationship. He emphasised ongoing collaboration on sustainable development, market reforms, and global challenges to benefit both countries. Speaking to ANI, Mohamed said, "India and the Maldives have had very good relations from the very beginning. The fact of the matter is, we are the closest neighbours. That fact will remain as it is. We are working in a very close manner, respecting each other and collaborating for the benefit of both countries. We are working with market reforms and the foreign missions in India, and from our side, we are working very closely. Even here, with the Indian institutions, we have been collaborating." "This relationship is not new; it has been strong for a long time. Regarding global challenges, sustainable development, and meeting other requirements under these frameworks, we are working much closer than before. This will benefit and help achieve the framework targets for both India and the Maldives. We have been having excellent relations," he said. He also said India has been a reliable partner in environmental and sustainable development initiatives, providing technology, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building support to help the two countries address shared challenges. "Here I'll be meeting the Indian counterpart at other institutions as well. Because we are having similar issues in some areas... We have been working on environmental and sustainable development... We have to work together with our counterparts, countries, and organisations so that we can achieve our aims and goals. In that context, India and the Maldives have been working on similar projects for a long time," he said. "India has been a reliable partner. India has the technological advances, and for us, the capacity building, knowledge transfer, and technology transfer we could get from India. India is always helpful in looking for these opportunities so that we can get solutions to our issues," he said. On the navy side, on February 18, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti met the Maldives' Commandant of the Coast Guard, Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, to further reinforce the resolve to promote regional maritime security. The Indian Navy spokesperson said, "Underscoring the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region, VAdm Tarun Sobti, DCNS, engaged in a bilateral meeting with Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, Commandant Coast Guard, MNDF, Republic of Maldives." "The interaction highlighted the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and the Maldives, focusing on advancing cooperation and broadening professional exchanges. Continued engagements during MILAN 2026 further reinforced the shared resolve to promote regional maritime security and stability. The participation of the MNDF Coast Guard Ship Huravee reflected the Maldives' commitment to enhancing interoperability and deepening collaborative efforts at sea," the Indian Navy added on X. - ANI National Stock Exchange MD & CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan stated that India is on the cusp of a major transformation in artificial intelligence, poised to become a global services powerhouse akin to its IT revolution. He emphasized that the country's young, tech-savvy population will be the driving force behind this AI adoption and growth. Chauhan highlighted that combining technological innovation with manufacturing strength will create a globally competitive ecosystem. The remarks were made at the IMC Bharat Calling Conference 2026, which focuses on building India's manufacturing and export capabilities. NSE MD Ashish Kumar Chauhan says India's young population will drive AI adoption, making it a global services leader through tech and manufacturing. Mumbai, February 27 National Stock Exchange MD and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan on Friday said that India is poised for a major leap in artificial intelligence and is on track to become the world's leading AI adopter and a global services powerhouse, similar to the country's IT revolution. Chauhan made these remarks while addressing the Inaugural Session of the 'IMC Bharat Calling Conference 2026' in Mumbai. Ashish Kumar Chauhan highlighted that India is leveraging advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, biotech and semiconductors to strengthen its global position. He noted that the country's growth momentum is further supported by new bilateral ties with Europe, the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. He said that India's young and tech-savvy population played a crucial role in driving the earlier IT revolution and will similarly power the country's transformation into a global leader in AI adoption and services. In a social media post NSE stated "Our MD & CEO, Shri @ashishchauhan addressed the Inaugural Session at the 'IMC Bharat Calling Conference 2026' in Mumbai, today as a 'Guest of Honour'. Shri @ashishchauhan mentioned that India is poised for a major leap, leveraging advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, biotech and semiconductors" Chauhan emphasised that India stands at a pivotal moment where it can combine technological innovation with manufacturing strength to build a globally competitive ecosystem. He shared that the integration of AI and other emerging technologies will not only enhance productivity but also expand India's footprint in global services. Chauhan's also noted that with the right mix of policy support, global partnerships, and technological advancement, India has the potential to replicate the success of its IT revolution in the AI era. The Inaugural Session of IMC Bharat Calling Conference 2026 brought together visionaries, policymakers, and industry leaders to shape a collective roadmap towards "Building a Globally Competitive Manufacturing and Export Powerhouse". The conference aims to provide a platform for discussions on strengthening India's manufacturing capabilities, boosting exports, and positioning the country as a key player in advanced technologies. - ANI Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai, declaring India the world's fastest-growing major economy. His visit aims to forge business partnerships and review the strategic partnership between the two nations. Carney is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on March 2. The visit is seen as a significant step in normalizing and strengthening bilateral relations. Canadian PM Mark Carney arrives in Mumbai, calling India the world's fastest-growing major economy. He aims to forge new partnerships ahead of talks with PM Modi. Mumbai, Feb 27 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday called India as "world's fastest-growing major economy" and expressed readiness to forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses. Sharing a video of his arrival in Mumbai on X, Carney wrote, "India is the world's fastest-growing major economy. We just arrived in Mumbai to meet with business leaders - and forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses." Carney, accompanied by his wife Diana Fox Carney, arrived in Mumbai on Friday for his first official visit to India from February 27 to March 2. Maharashtra's Minister of Protocol and Marketing, Jaykumar Rawal received him at the airport. Carney is scheduled to participate in business engagements in Mumbai and interact with Indian and Canadian CEOs, industry and financial experts, innovators, educators as well as Canadian Pension Funds based in India. "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first Official Visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. "He was received by Minister of Protocol and Marketing, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Jayakumar Rawal at the airport. The India-Canada partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors," he added. After completing his engagements in Mumbai, Carney will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House on March 2. "Both leaders will review the progress achieved till date across diverse areas of the India - Canada Strategic Partnership, building on their earlier meetings in Kananaskis (June 2025) and Johannesburg (November 2025). They will also take stock of ongoing cooperation in key pillars including trade and investment; energy; critical minerals; agriculture; education, research, and innovation; and people-to-people ties," the MEA stated earlier. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments besides attending the India-Canada CEOs Forum in New Delhi. "The visit comes at an important juncture in normalization of India-Canada bilateral relations. The two Prime Ministers have earlier agreed to pursue a constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for each other's concerns and sensitivities, strong people-to-people ties, and growing economic complementarities. The forthcoming meeting between the leaders will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the positive momentum and shared vision of India and Canada in building a forward-looking partnership," the MEA reflected. In a statement released ahead of his arrival in Mumbai, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office stated that India is the world's fastest-growing major economy and a powerhouse in global commerce and technology. India was Canada's seventh-largest goods and services trading partner in 2024, with two-way trade reaching $30.8 billion. PM Modi met Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, where he noted that India has set a target of 50 billion USD by 2030 for bilateral trade between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi mentioned that India and Canada have great potential in strengthening trade and investment linkages. "We have set a target of 50 billion USD by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian Pension Funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies," he posted on X after the meeting. - IANS Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Mumbai on his first official visit to India, aiming to deepen commercial ties and forge new partnerships. He highlighted India's position as the world's fastest-growing major economy, setting the stage for talks focused on trade, energy, technology, and defence. The visit marks a significant step in strengthening relations, with a bilateral trade target of USD 50 billion by 2030. Carney will meet business leaders in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi for crucial talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Canadian PM Mark Carney begins official India visit, aiming to unlock new opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties between the two nations. Mumbai, February 27 Upon his arrival in the financial capital, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accompanied by his wife Diana Fox Carney, highlighted the immense economic potential of the host nation, noting its position as a global leader in growth. Taking to the social media platform X to mark the start of his inaugural official visit to India, PM Carney emphasised the strategic importance of the trip for Canada's economic future. "India is the world's fastest-growing major economy," he posted. The Canadian leader, joined by a high-level delegation, outlined his immediate agenda in Mumbai, which focuses on deepening commercial ties. "We just arrived in Mumbai to meet with business leaders -- and forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses," he added. Upon their arrival at the airport on Friday, the delegation was received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. Taking to X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." He further noted that the partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors. This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement mentioned, "The leaders will focus on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence, talent and culture, and defence. He will also meet with business leaders to identify investment opportunities in Canada and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations." While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO noted that in 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at USD 30.8 billion. This synergy builds upon previous dialogue at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, where PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of USD 50 billion by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of USD 50 billion by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." He added that there is immense potential for the two countries to enhance their investment and trade connections. This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference. A Canadian government release noted that this marked their fifth meeting since September 2025, reflecting building momentum. Minister Anand "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers." Both nations reiterated their commitment to broadening trade in support of economic resilience and stability. - ANI The Indian Air Force successfully conducted the large-scale firepower demonstration Exercise Vayushakti-26 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer. President Droupadi Murmu attended as Chief Guest and undertook a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand. The exercise, executed for the first time along a defined operational storyline, featured over 130 aircraft demonstrating precision strikes, air defence, special forces insertions, and night operations. It highlighted the IAF's multi-domain capabilities and its role as a key enabler of India's strategic deterrence. President Murmu witnesses Indian Air Force's massive firepower exercise Vayushakti-26 in Pokhran, featuring 130+ aircraft, night ops, and indigenous LCH Prachand. Jaisalmer, February 27 The Indian Air Force successfully conducted Exercise Vayushakti-26 at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, demonstrating its formidable combat readiness, operational synergy and technological prowess across the full spectrum of air operations. According to an official release from Ministry of Defence, the President Droupadi Murmu graced the Fire Power Demonstration as the Chief Guest, accompanied by esteemed dignitaries including the Governor of Rajasthan Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Culture and Tourism GS Shekhawat, Chief Information Commissioner Raj Kumar Goyal, Cabinet Secretary Dr TV Somanathan, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Commanders-in-Chief of Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, Senior Officers of the three Services, Officers of the Centre and State Governments, DPSUS, Former Air Chiefs, Esteemed Veterans, Defence Attaches from friendly foreign countries, Indian and International media and School children. The exercise showcased IAF's capability to execute complex, integrated air operations within a dynamic and realistic battlefield environment. Earlier in the day, the President also undertook a sortie in the indigenously developed LCH Prachand, reflecting India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat". For the first time, Exercise Vayushakti was executed along a defined operational storyline, transforming into a simulated live combat theatre. The exercise seamlessly integrated offensive air strikes, air defence operations. special forces missions and humanitarian assistance, highlighting IAF's role as a multi-domain, integrated force and the nation's first responder, a release said. The exercise commenced with the National Song and the National Anthem, accompanied by a ceremonial flypast of Chetak helicopters carrying the National Flag, Air Force Ensign and Operation Sindoor Flag. This was followed by a precisely timed sonic boom by a Rafale fighter, setting the stage for high-intensity combat missions. Over 130 aircraft participated in a day and night exercise, including Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Mi-17, C-130J, C-295, C-17, the indigenous Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. Fighter aircraft executed precision strikes on simulated enemy targets using advanced air-to-ground weapons, including precision-guided munitions and long-range strike capabilities, underscoring IAF's ability to deliver decisive firepower with accuracy, a release stated. Air defence capabilities were demonstrated through coordinated engagements involving airborne platforms and ground-based systems such as Akash and Spyder missile systems, supported by Army air defence assets, like L-70 and M-777, reflecting seamless jointmanship between air and ground forces. As per a release, special operations and humanitarian assistance missions formed a key component of the exercise. As dusk fell, Garud Special Forces, along with Para SF elements, were inserted by Mi-17 helicopters to conduct simulated urban intervention and hostage rescue operations. This was followed by assault landings and evacuation by C-130 and C-295 aircraft from Advanced Landing Ground, reaffirming IAF's critical role in rapid response and casualty evacuation. The night phase of exercise showcased integrated air defence and air-landed operations, followed by precision night strikes by multiple fighter platforms, demonstrating IAF's capability to dominate the battlespace round-the-clock. The exercise concluded with a symbolic ceasefire fly-past by a C-17 aircraft, followed by a drone display celebrating the IAF's legacy and achievements. Guided by its core values of "Achook, Abhedya aur Sateek", Exercise Vayushakti-26 validated IAF's operational doctrine, joint integration and technological capabilities, reaffirming its role as a key enabler of India's comprehensive national power and strategic deterrence, a release added. - ANI Industry leaders have hailed India's Semiconductor Mission as a foundational game-changer for achieving national electronics self-reliance and reducing dependence on volatile global supply chains. The mission involves establishing domestic fabrication units in several states to secure critical components for telecommunications, digital governance, and 5G networks. Officials emphasize that domestic production is crucial for national security, supporting initiatives like Bharatnet, and ensuring a secure, indigenous ecosystem from components to end products. Significant financial backing and existing successes, like local iPhone manufacturing, signal India's growing competitiveness in the global tech manufacturing arena. Industry leaders praise India's Semiconductor Mission for boosting domestic chip production, reducing import dependence, and securing tech supply chains for national growth. New Delhi, February 27 Industry leaders and experts see "India's Semiconductor Mission" as a game-changer as the government aims to establish a strong semiconductor industry, boosting tech manufacturing and creating jobs across the country. Industry leaders speaking to ANI today emphasised that the initiative serves as the foundation for national electronics self-reliance, aiming to reduce a long-standing dependence on volatile global supply chains. By establishing domestic fabrication units in states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam, the mission seeks to secure the critical components necessary for telecommunications, digital governance, and the expanding 5G network. V. Srikanth, Director, Department of Telecommunications, Andhra Pradesh, stated that semiconductors are the base of any electronics and are essential to modern life. He noted that the mission is helpful across domains, including telecommunications, where items like routers, switches, and antennas depend entirely on these components. "Previously, we didn't have any fabrication labs. Now only we might be having in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and Assam also, the fabrication units. And also, we used to import a lot of them from other countries. Nokia companies like Nokia Ericsson, Huawei or Samsung from Korea. So if there is any disruption in the supply chain because of the global events which are not in our control, our rollout is also affected," Srikanth said. The push for domestic production is also tied to national security and the aggressive rollout of high-speed internet. Srikanth highlighted that the government plans to connect all Gram Panchayats through Bharatnet, requiring a massive volume of electronic devices. "If we don't have that base of the production in our country, we need to depend on imports, which is not safe, which is not good, and it may have the effects of the security may be having the issues," he said. He further mentioned that using the "Desi version" of the 4G stack developed by C-DOT and manufactured by Tejas Networks ensures that the ecosystem, from small components to end-to-end products, stays within India, providing opportunities for the nation's young engineers. "We need not depend on imports so that Atma Nirbaratha will be there, and also on the security side, we have our own products. So it will be expected to be more secure than what we are importing and also you might be aware that BSNL is using the entire 4G stack of Desi version only, our India version only which is developed by the C.DOT which is a government PSU and also the hardware components is produced by the Tejas networks which is managed manufacturing wholly in India," he added. Ramesh Udatha, Managing Director for RV Tech Solutions, pointed to the significant financial backing for this sector, noting the "40,000 crore fund" proposed in the Union Budget toward the semiconductor industry. He observed that India is already becoming a formidable competitor to markets like China, with Apple iPhones now being manufactured locally. "Apple itself, Apple iPhones are manufactured in India. So, where did this innovation and the product development come from? Lots of schemes like this, what this time the government is offering is 10 years back or 15 years back," Udatha said. He credited visionary leadership for laying the foundations for electronic manufacturing hubs that are now moving toward next-generation streams like quantum computing and AI. Dasari Ramakrishna, Former Chairman of CII and Head of the E-Technology Industry, noted that while the PLI schemes increase the capability to manufacture routine chips like memories, the next step is developing high-value solutions around these chips. "When you are able to build the solutions around the semiconductor technology, using the semiconductor technology and solving the problems of India. Indian problems are totally different from international problems because India is a very hard country. A lot of chips what is developed, the solutions in other parts of the world may not work in India because of the higher temperatures. So all hard countries need different solutions. So the majority of the developing nations are all cold countries. So the problem is India is not getting really required solutions. This is the one opportunity I feel India has to constantly improve so that we can even sell it," Ramakrishna concluded. - ANI News / National by Staff reporter ZANU-PF says it is closely monitoring the performance of its Members of Parliament to ensure they are meeting expectations in their respective constituencies and advancing development at grassroots level in line with Vision 2030.Addressing party supporters in Zone Six, Harare provincial vice chairman Ephraim Fundukwa said the initiative focuses on evaluating progress within each constituency and gathering feedback directly from the electorate.He explained that the party is assessing levels of community satisfaction as part of efforts to promote accountability and responsiveness among both sitting MPs and shadow MPs."Vision 2030 is real; it requires everyone in a position of authority to pull in one direction," Fundukwa said. He added that legislators are expected to drive President Emmerson Mnangagwa's agenda of leaving no one and no place behind.Fundukwa stressed that MPs and councillors have a responsibility to ensure communities have access to essential services such as clean water and accessible roads. He warned against complacency, saying the era of prioritising personal comfort over constituency development was over."The party cannot afford to lose trust from the people because of an individual who is not willing to support the President's agenda. It's better to lose an MP than lose the electorate," he said. Bombardier's Mark Masluch highlights India's potential as a rapidly growing aviation market, directly linking the expansion of business aviation to infrastructure development like new airports. He emphasizes that a developed airport ecosystem creates jobs and makes the business case for more private jets. The corporate outlook coincides with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to India, aimed at forging new economic partnerships. The visit marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations, with PM Carney scheduled to meet Indian PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. Bombardier executive links business aviation growth to Indian infrastructure. Visit by Canadian PM Mark Carney aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties. Montreal, February 28 Highlighting the significant growth potential of the Indian aviation sector, Mark Masluch, Senior Director of Communications at Bombardier, stated that the development of infrastructure is crucial for establishing a robust business aviation ecosystem in the country. Speaking to ANI, Masluch noted that while Bombardier currently has 60 jets in India, the expansion of airports is directly tied to the growth of the industry. "So we see a lot of positive signs in terms of infrastructure development. Infrastructure development brings the business case for business aviation and business aviation-related jobs to a place where it can develop. So the more places that planes can fly, the more people will use business jets," he said. He further explained that business jets support a large ecosystem of employment, ranging from pilots to maintenance and ground staff. Masluch emphasised that as airports develop, a real ecosystem can establish itself, noting, "That's something that we're already working with Indian customers who operate our planes, but we're also interested in partnering with the industry and local schools to make sure that the support infrastructure, in terms of the workforce, also grows with the airports themselves." Describing India as "one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world," Masluch highlighted that Bombardier's Challenger and Global products are well-positioned for the market's requirements. "So when you look at Bombardier Challenger and Global products, these are aircraft that can connect India with North America, with Australia, with Europe, the Middle East, and also from a government perspective, we have a very flexible offering," he said. Beyond commercial aviation, Masluch expressed a keen interest in collaborating with the government on specialised needs, stating that the company is "very keen to work with requirements from air forces and other branches of government who require very tailored solutions from a defence perspective." When asked about the possibility of expanding Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities in India, he indicated that the company remains attentive to customer needs, evaluating service levels on an annual basis. This corporate optimism aligns with the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the financial capital. Accompanied by his wife, Diana Fox Carney, the Prime Minister highlighted the immense economic potential of the host nation, noting its position as a global leader in growth. Taking to X to mark the start of his inaugural official visit to India, PM Carney emphasised the strategic importance of the trip for Canada's economic future, posting: "India is the world's fastest-growing major economy." The Canadian leader, joined by a high-level delegation, outlined his immediate agenda in Mumbai, which focuses on deepening commercial ties. "We just arrived in Mumbai to meet with business leaders -- and forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses," he added. Upon their arrival at the airport on Friday, the delegation was received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. In a post on X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." He further noted that the partnership is anchored in shared democratic values and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors. This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement mentioned that the leaders will focus on elevating the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology, and artificial intelligence. While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO noted that in 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at USD 30.8 billion. This synergy builds upon previous dialogue at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, where PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of USD 50 billion by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of USD 50 billion by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference. Minister Anand "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers," as both nations reiterated their commitment to broadening trade in support of economic resilience and stability. - ANI Humanist Dina Perla Portnaar warns that blasphemy laws in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran are used as mechanisms to coerce, silence, and persecute religious minorities. She highlights that the core issue is state-sanctioned coercion, not belief, with consequences ranging from exclusion to death. Portnaar expresses concern that the erosion of human rights is disappearing from long-term global risk forecasts, despite current trends. She cautions that these patterns of persecution are not confined to Asia and could easily manifest in Europe, calling for greater international vigilance. Dina Perla Portnaar warns blasphemy laws in Asia are mechanisms for coercion and persecution, a pattern that could spread to Europe. Geneva, February 27 Highlighting the erosion of human rights as a global concern, Dina Perla Portnaar, an acclaimed author, speaker, and humanist, cautioned that the patterns of persecution seen in Asia could easily manifest in Europe and beyond. In an interview with ANI, Portnaar addressed the moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding religious legislation and the recent testimonies from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran. "Now, the best thing is to understand that freedom of religion, of belief, and freedom of expression, or freedom in general, is not against each other. In fact, they should reinforce each other, but it's a big dilemma because the blasphemy laws are used perfectly, as they should be, but they're also used to pressure minorities under the pretence of using these blasphemy laws," she stated. Connecting this dilemma to state accountability, Portnaar underscored that the central issue is one of "coercion," noting that such pressure is "sometimes enforced even by governmental bodies", with consequences ranging from "persecution and exclusion and extortion and all sorts of breaches of human rights and then even death". She noted that while the discussion touched on "Article 18" and international law, her focus remains on "morals, ethics and integrity, or simply put, the grey areas or moral dilemmas". Providing a broader perspective by referencing data from the World Economic Forum and Statista, she questioned why human rights appear to be declining as a global priority in long-term risk analysis. "On the list of global risks for the coming two years, we can still see erosion of human rights and erosion of freedom," she noted, but expressed concern that in ten-year forecasts, these risks seem to vanish. "How is that possible? I don't understand. It doesn't make sense with everything that is going on at the moment, and I don't buy it," Portnaar remarked. Drawing parallels between different regions to show that peaceful coexistence is possible, she pointed to Malaysia as an example where "Muslim countries can be different" and "can live peacefully", while contrasting this with other areas of the world where coercion occurs. She warned that the international community must remain vigilant regardless of geography, stating, "The realisation that we need is that what is happening in the areas that we talked about today can easily happen in Europe. It can happen in the Netherlands. It can happen in Portugal," she cautioned, adding, "those blasphemy patterns are not simply within a specific region and a specific border. End of story." Portnaar, who noted she was "born within a minority" herself, issued a call to action. "And this is why I'm here. I'm here to wake people up. I'm here because I'm not asleep," she said. Emphasising that religious legislation is frequently weaponised to maintain political control, Portnaar further stated that blasphemy laws across Asia have become "mechanisms through which religious minorities are silenced, discriminated, criminalised, or rendered vulnerable to violence". This perspective was shared during a high-level side event, titled "Blasphemy Laws and the Persecution of Minorities in Asia: Human Rights Implications and Paths Forward", during the 61st UNHRC session. The session, organised by Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), focused on the systemic targeting of communities including Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis in Pakistan, the Baha'i in Iran, and women in Afghanistan. Reiterating her stance to ANI, Portnaar underscored that the fundamental issue at hand is not faith itself, but the use of force. "The issue before us is not belief. The issue is coercion," she remarked. She further noted that while international law, like Article 18, protects the absolute freedom of thought, the application of blasphemy laws in certain states is "unjust, unnecessary and disproportional," effectively becoming the "criminalisation of identity." Portnaar highlighted this dangerous shift from protecting faith to enforcing state-sanctioned doctrine, noting, "The freedom to believe is not the freedom to dominate. And when states codify one religious interpretation into law -- particularly in ways that target minority communities -- they cross the line from protecting belief to enforcing orthodoxy." Reflecting on the severe human cost of such policies, she pointed out that these laws create a "chilling effect that silences dissent and debate", where punishment is often delivered not just by courts, but by "mobs, social ostracism, forced displacement, and impunity." Regarding the international landscape, Portnaar challenged the global community to move past the fear of cultural insensitivity. "When the international community hesitates to address these laws out of fear of appearing culturally insensitive, minorities are left without protection," she cautioned. She added that the United Nations must affirm that "protecting freedom of religion does not mean shielding religious doctrines from scrutiny". Portnaar reminded the forum that these legal frameworks are ultimately about control rather than divinity. "If blasphemy laws are used to silence minorities, then they are no longer about faith. They are about power. And power without accountability is precisely what human rights law was designed to restrain," she stated. - ANI Exiled Afghan MP Mariam Solaimankhil asserts that women and children are the primary casualties in the escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, dismissing claims that only militants are targeted. She accuses elements within Pakistan of fostering dangerous extremist groups like the TTP and Afghan Taliban, creating an ideology "made in Rawalpindi." Solaimankhil emphasizes the deep psychological trauma inflicted on survivors, who live in constant fear, and laments the loss of historical rights Afghan women once enjoyed. She calls for the women of Afghanistan and India to lead a grassroots peace initiative, expressing little faith in international bodies or the current power structures. Exiled Afghan MP Mariam Solaimankhil warns women and children pay the heaviest price in Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, alleging civilian targeting. Los Angeles, February 27 Member of the Afghan Parliament in exile, Mariam Solaimankhil, on Friday said that escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict and political power struggles in the region have stripped Afghan women of their rights and security, warning that women and children are paying the heaviest price. In an interview with ANI, Solaimankhil dismissed claims that recent airstrikes targeted only militants, asserting that civilians were the primary victims. "It's women and children. We see the pictures. We see the videos. And it's always been women and children," she told ANI, alleging that violence continues to affect non-combatants both inside and beyond Afghanistan's borders. She added," Even within what they call their jurisdiction. If we look at Balochistan and we look at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who are they killing? They're killing civilians. Who's in jail right now? It's Mahrang Baloch in Balochistan. It's Ali Wazir. These are the people who they're jailing, while they're still connected with people like Osama bin Laden." She further accused elements within Pakistan of fostering extremist groups over the years, naming outfits such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and describing the prevailing ideology as "incredibly dangerous" for the region. She said, "They've created TTP. They've created the Afghan Taliban. They've created Lashkar-e-Taiba. I can't even begin to name the dozens of terrorist organisations that exist there. And it's incredibly dangerous because this ideology that they've created is not natural to our region. This is something that was made in Rawalpindi." Responding to ANI on the impact of continued fighting, Solaimankhil said the trauma inflicted on women and children extends far beyond immediate casualties. "We talk about the death toll, right? We talk about the injured, but then do we really talk about the victims that have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives and how that affects their families and generations to come?" she said. "Surviving and living are two different things. They're not free. They're psychologically in prisons, and they're in fear at all times." She said Afghan women are caught between armed conflict and restrictions imposed by the Taliban, with little access to justice or protection."There is no UN, there is no Amnesty, there is no human rights for Afghans. It's incredibly sad," she said. On the rollback of freedoms for women, Solaimankhil said Afghan women historically enjoyed significant rights. "Our women had rights before anyone in the West did. I mean, we had the right to vote, we had the right to land, and we had the right to so many things before American and European women did. American and European women recently got these rights, and they could lose them any day," she said. "But our women had so much, and due to politics and war, this dirty game, it's been ripped away." On whether Pakistan can be trusted to maintain peace, she was sharply critical, alleging that powerful actors had "made a business out of war." However, she stressed that ordinary citizens, especially women, must lead the way towards peace. "The good people of India, the women of India, and the women of Afghanistan need to get together, and we need to make our region into something we can be proud of. Not sitting there talking about terrorism. That's not who we are," she said. "I don't count on the UN, and I don't count on other countries, but I do count on the women of the world, especially in India, because I think we can be the bridges to peace." Her comments come amid escalating tensions along the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan following airstrikes by Islamabad on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, with both countries reporting casualties and accusing each other of aggression. - ANI Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has highlighted Japan's expanding role as a key development partner for the state, extending beyond infrastructure to youth empowerment and agriculture. He announced a roadmap to place 5,000 skilled youth in Japan over five years, starting with 500 this year, supported by new language training. In agriculture, a Japanese-backed facility has begun India's first commercial production of shiitake mushroom blocks, aiming to benefit over 1,000 farmers. The long-standing partnership with JICA continues to drive major projects in forest restoration, hydropower, and bridge infrastructure. CM Conrad Sangma details Japan's role in Meghalaya's youth skilling, agriculture, and infrastructure, including a plan for 5,000 job placements. Shillong, Feb 27 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on Friday, highlighted Japan's expanding role as a key development partner of the state, saying that the engagement extends well beyond infrastructure to areas such as youth empowerment, agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. Addressing the inaugural session of the sixth India-Japan Intellectual Conclave 'Kizuna' here, Chief Minister Sangma said the relationship between India and Japan is anchored in shared democratic values, mutual respect and a common vision for sustainable development and economic cooperation. He added that the theme 'Kizuna', meaning a lasting bond, aptly captures the depth of the bilateral partnership. Referring to Meghalaya's growing engagement with Japan, the Chief Minister said the collaboration places equal emphasis on investing in people and physical assets. He noted that 47 nurses from the state have already been placed in Japan. Following Chief Minister Sangma's visit to Japan in April 2025, the Meghalaya government signed a memorandum of understanding with a Japanese company to train and recruit 500 youth this year, with a roadmap to scale the programme to 5,000 placements over the next five years. Another partnership has also been forged to facilitate skilled youth placements, while a Japanese language training centre has been established in Shillong to equip aspirants with language proficiency. In the agriculture sector, CM Sangma said India's first commercial production of shiitake mushroom blocks has commenced in Upper Shillong with technological and marketing support from a Japanese company. The facility, with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh inoculated blocks, is expected to benefit more than 1,000 farmers. The Chief Minister added that the state is also exploring the production of locally brewed sake using indigenous rice varieties in collaboration with a Japanese brewery. Highlighting long-standing cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), CM Sangma said the agency has made significant investments in infrastructure, forestry and tourism. Under the JICA-supported MegLIFE project, 22,500 hectares of forest are being restored across 500 villages in 11 districts. JICA is also supporting the renovation of the Umiam Hydropower Station, the Umiam-Umtru Stage III project, and the nearly 19-km river bridge linking Dhubri in Assam with Phulwari. Noting that 74 per cent of Meghalaya's population is below 35 years of age, the Chief Minister proposed the creation of a Meghalaya-Japan Skill Corridor to align the state's youth potential with Japan's technological expertise. He also underscored growing cultural exchanges, citing the Japanese pavilion at the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival over the past two years. - IANS Uttar Pradesh and Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in industry, tourism, vocational education, and green energy. Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki proposed a major visit to UP in August, accompanied by 200 Japanese CEOs, which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warmly welcomed. A key initiative is the development of a Green Hydrogen Centre of Excellence at IIT Kanpur, aimed at strengthening energy self-reliance. The partnership leverages UP's investor-friendly infrastructure and the planned Japan Industrial Township to attract significant Japanese investment. UP CM Yogi Adityanath welcomes Yamanashi Governor's proposal for an August visit with 200 Japanese CEOs to boost industry, tourism, and green hydrogen. Tokyo, February 27 UP and Japan are set to script a new chapter of strategic partnership as Yamanashi Governor proposed an August visit to UP with 200 Japanese CEOs. UP CM Yogi Adityanath welcomed the initiative as a new chapter of industrial and energy cooperation begins between UP and Yamanashi. Historic MoU was signed under strategic partnership with Yamanashi covering industry, tourism, vocational education and green hydrogen. Yogi Adityanath said that a Green Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is being developed at IIT Kanpur. Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, a new chapter of strategic partnership is being forged between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi (Japan). During discussions with the Chief Minister on Thursday, Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, proposed a visit to Uttar Pradesh in August along with 200 Japanese CEOs, a proposal that was warmly welcomed by the Chief Minister. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of industry, tourism and vocational education. A significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to this effect. The MoU accords special priority to green hydrogen, clean energy innovation and technological exchange. The Chief Minister stated that Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is being developed as a Centre of Excellence in the field of green hydrogen. This initiative will strengthen energy self-reliance and advance the vision of Narendra Modi. The proposed August visit of Yamanashi Governor with 200 Japanese CEOs is expected to give fresh momentum to industrial investment and partnerships in the state. The Chief Minister emphasized that UP is progressing on a model of scale, skill and speed. The state offers robust infrastructure and an investor-friendly environment, with seamless facilitation provided through the Japan Desk of 'Invest UP'. Additionally, the proposed Japan Industrial Township in the area of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) will offer special opportunities for Japanese companies. The CM described the agreement in Yamanashi as a symbol of clarity and trust in the new partnership. Expressing gratitude to Yamanashi administration and all stakeholders, he said that this collaboration is rooted in a shared economic vision and cultural connection. - ANI Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the confirmed birth of a fourth cub to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park. All four cubs are reported to be healthy, marking a positive step in India's cheetah reintroduction program. This new arrival brings the total cheetah population in India to 39, with 28 of those being India-born cubs. The development underscores the progress of Project Cheetah, the ambitious initiative to restore the species that went extinct in India in 1952. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announces the birth of a fourth healthy cub to cheetah Gamini, bringing India's total cheetah population to 39 under Project Cheetah. Bhopal, February 27 Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday announced the birth of the fourth cub to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park, adding that its presence was confirmed during intensive monitoring by the field and veterinary teams. Yadav highlighted that all four cubs are healthy and progressing well, describing the development as an important step in India's cheetah reintroduction journey. "Kuno National Park is pleased to announce the birth of a fourth cub to female cheetah Gamini. The presence of the fourth cub was confirmed during intensive monitoring by the field and veterinary teams. All four cubs are presently healthy and doing fine. This development reflects the continued commitment to scientific management and conservation under Project Cheetah, and marks another positive step in India's cheetah reintroduction journey," the Union minister posted on X. He further noted that with the addition of the new cub, the total number of cheetahs in India has now risen to 39, including 28 cubs born within the country. "The number of cheetahs in India now stands at 39, including 28 India-born cubs," Yadav said. On February 18, Yadav announced the birth of three cubs to South African cheetah Gamini at Kuno National Park. "Another good news from Kuno! Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world," the Minister then posted on X. Meanwhile, 'Project Cheetah' is India's world-first intercontinental translocation project, launched on September 17, 2022. The project aimed to reintroduce the cheetah to India, which went extinct in the country in 1952. - ANI Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that "good progress" was made during a long and intensive third round of negotiations with the United States in Geneva. The indirect talks, facilitated by Oman's Foreign Minister, addressed Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. Technical teams are set to begin work in Vienna with IAEA experts to develop a framework on key issues. The fourth round of negotiations is expected to take place next week following consultations in respective capitals. Iran's FM reports "good progress" in Geneva talks with US on nuclear program and sanctions relief, with next round set for next week. Geneva, February 27 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "good progress" was made after long and intensive talks in the third round of negotiations with the US in Geneva on issues of Tehran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief discussed amid escalating tensions between the two sides. Speaking after the conclusion of the talks, Araghchi described the discussions as one of the most serious and lengthy rounds so far. "Today was one of the most serious and longest rounds of talks. We had nearly four hours in the morning and over two hours in the afternoon," he said. According to Araghchi, the negotiations were conducted indirectly, with Badr Albusaidi, the Foreign Minister of Oman, facilitating discussions between the two sides. He added that Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, (IAEA), was present for parts of the talks and contributed to technical discussions. "Mr. Grossi's presence was valuable for the technical discussions, and as usual, Mr. Al-Busaidi contributed well. During these long and intensive hours, we made good progress," Araghchi said. He noted that there appeared to be greater seriousness from both sides aimed at reaching a negotiated solution. "We seriously addressed the elements of an agreement, both in the nuclear field and in the area of sanctions. Regarding some issues, there is now an understanding, and on others, it's natural that we have differences. However, there was perhaps more seriousness on both sides than before, with the aim of reaching a negotiated solution," the Iranian FM stated. The latest round of talks comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington and comes against the backdrop of a significant US military build-up in the Middle East, as several countries advised their citizens to leave Iran amid concerns over potential US strikes. It was agreed that technical teams would begin work in Vienna, Austria, on Monday to conduct technical reviews at the IAEA, with assistance from its experts, to develop a framework for addressing key technical issues. He further said Iran has clearly outlined its expectations regarding the lifting of sanctions and that consultations would now take place in the respective capitals, with the fourth round of negotiations expected to be held next week. "It was agreed that technical teams will start their work in Vienna on Monday to conduct technical reviews at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the help of its experts in order to develop a framework for addressing some technical issues. We have clearly outlined our expectations regarding the lifting of sanctions. Consultations need to take place in the capitals, and after that, we will have the fourth round of negotiations next week," Araghchi said. - ANI Eight cheetahs from Botswana are scheduled to arrive at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking the third major translocation under India's Project Cheetah. The animals will be transported via special aircraft and IAF helicopters to dedicated helipads within the park. After arrival, they will undergo checks and a month-long quarantine for acclimatisation. The project, now shifting focus to long-term establishment, has seen successful breeding with multiple litters of cubs surviving in Kuno. Eight cheetahs from Botswana arrive in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, boosting India's reintroduction project and growing wild population. Bhopal, Feb 27 Eight more cheetahs are set to arrive at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district from Botswana on February 28, in a further expansion of India's Translocation Project Cheetah. This will be the third major translocation of cheetahs from Africa under the project. The incoming group comprises six females and two males and is aimed at strengthening the reintroduced population in the subcontinent, where the species had become extinct nearly seven decades ago. According to officials, the cheetahs will be airlifted to India by a special aircraft and then transported from Gwalior to Kuno by two Indian Air Force helicopters. The helicopters are scheduled to depart at 8.30 a.m. and land at Kuno around 9.30 a.m. Five dedicated helipads have been prepared within the park to facilitate the operation, which will be conducted in accordance with established scientific and veterinary protocols. Upon arrival, the animals will undergo mandatory immigration, customs and veterinary checks, along with security clearances. They will then be placed in specially prepared enclosures for a quarantine period of about one month to allow for acclimatisation and health monitoring. Kuno National Park already hosts a growing cheetah population. Under Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, the focus has now shifted from initial reintroduction to long-term establishment and breeding. Of the 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa last year, eight remain healthy in Kuno, while three have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary as part of the population expansion strategy. Breeding has also been recorded. Ten cubs born to South African-origin females are reported to be surviving. Officials said Mukhi, the first adult female cheetah born in captivity in Kuno, has delivered five cubs. Another female, Gamini, has given birth twice. Her three sub-adult cubs from the first litter are reported to be healthy, and she has recently delivered three more cubs. Veera is currently roaming in the open forest with her 13-month-old cub, while Nirva is rearing her three 10-month-old cubs in a protected enclosure. With the arrival of the Botswana cheetahs, the overall number at Kuno is expected to increase further, strengthening the long-term conservation and population objectives of the project. - IANS The Maharashtra government is awaiting a final report from a high-level committee formed to recommend measures to free farmers from the debt trap. The committee is currently processing data on millions of agricultural loan accounts to inform its decisions. While progress has been made on past waiver schemes, over 600,000 farmers are still awaiting benefits from the 2017 initiative. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted plans for a comprehensive 'Agri-Stack' digital system to ensure future aid reaches only genuine beneficiaries and prevents fraud. Maharashtra govt awaits high-level committee report on freeing farmers from debt, details progress on past loan waivers and new Agri-Stack digital system. Mumbai, Feb 27 Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil on Friday said that to address the recurring cycle of debt, the state government has established a high-level committee on October 30, 2025. The committee is tasked with recommending both short-term and long-term measures to free farmers from the "debt trap." In a written reply to a question raised by members Shiv Sena-UBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav, BJP leader Prashant Thakur and others, the minister informed the state Assembly that the committee has yet to submit its final report but it is currently processing data from banks regarding agricultural loans as of June 2025 and arrears as of September 30, 2025 and records of farmers who consistently repaid loans over the last five years. The Minister noted that out of an expected 54.63 lakh loan accounts, data for 52.80 lakh accounts has been received and is currently being analysed via computer processing. Minister Patil said that over 6,00,000 farmers are still waiting for benefits from the 2017 loan waiver scheme. Out of 50.60 lakh eligible farmers, 44.04 lakh have received benefits. The government confirmed that the process to extend benefits to the remaining 6.56 lakh farmers is currently underway. In the case of 2019 crop loan waiver scheme, he stated that it has seen higher completion rates, with 32.29 lakh farmers out of 32.42 lakh eligible beneficiaries already receiving waivers. Under the Mahatma Phule scheme, 14.50 lakh farmers who underwent Aadhaar authentication have received incentive grants for regular loan repayment. According to the minister, in light of the heavy rain and floods during the Kharif 2025 season, the government has issued directives to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and district banks. "These instructions include restructuring of cooperative crop loans in affected talukas. Besides, a one-year stay on the recovery of agriculture-related loans to provide immediate breathing room for distressed farmers," he said. The minister dismissed allegations of a fund shortage, noting that on December 3, 2025, it approved the computer system for the 2017 scheme's continued implementation. A fund of Rs 500 crore was sanctioned during the Winter Session of 2025. Furthermore, the government has requested a budget of Rs 5,175.51 crore for the 2026-27 financial year to ensure the continuity of these welfare programs. The minister's response comes a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his reply to debate on the Governor's address on Thursday said a dedicated committee has been formed to study the loan waiver process and its report is currently awaited. He assured the House that the government would fulfil its promise at the appropriate time. Highlighting the lessons learned from previous crop loan waiver schemes, CM Fadnavis pointed out significant irregularities especially with regard to banking discrepancies. "In past loan waivers, the government has noticed that banks often provide incorrect account information. Some even revive old, dormant accounts to siphon off government funds. To prevent such fraud, the state is developing a 100 per cent 'Agri-Stack'. This will serve as a comprehensive digital record of agriculture, integrating farmer registration data, land ownership records, 7/12 extract reports and Aadhaar-linked verification, he said. By consolidating these data points, the government aims to ensure that the benefits of the loan waiver reach only the genuine and intended beneficiaries. - IANS The Maharashtra government has affirmed its commitment to implementing long-term measures to resolve human-wildlife conflict, including alternative farming and rehabilitation options. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik assured the Legislative Council that no new restrictions would be imposed on farmers in project areas, with limits applying only to new constructions. Specific steps include erecting a large bamboo wall in the Tadoba region and a plan for the voluntary relocation of villages with government support. Separately, the Horticulture Minister committed budget provisions to complete the Balasaheb Thackeray Turmeric Research Centre in Hingoli. Maharashtra announces long-term steps like bamboo barriers, voluntary relocation, and farming assurances to resolve human-wildlife conflict near tiger reserves. Mumbai, Feb 27 Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Friday affirmed in the Legislative Council that the government intends to implement long-term measures, including alternative farming and rehabilitation, alongside efforts to resolve human-wildlife conflict. Responding to questions raised by MLC Parinay Phuke regarding the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, the Minister stated that there is no proposal under government consideration to increase the buffer zone of the reserve. Minister Naik mentioned that on September 7, 2016, the government issued a notification to merge the Gondia Territorial, Gondia MTCM, and Bhandara MTCM (Wildlife) divisions, placing them under the control of a single senior officer. This decision followed directives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued on February 15, 2012, to bring tiger projects under unified control. He informed the House that this was approved during the 23rd meeting of the State Wildlife Board on August 12, 2024. Assuring that no additional restrictions would be imposed on farmers due to the tiger project, Minister Naik stated that farmers will face no limits on farming activities, digging wells, or using existing roads, restrictions will only apply to new constructions within the legal framework, no new villages have been included in the buffer zone, and there will be no adverse impact on local employment. The Minister further noted that a revised proposal regarding the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve will soon be sent to the Central Government. Nodal officers will be appointed for this purpose. Highlighting various steps to prevent human-wildlife conflict, Minister Naik mentioned the decision to erect a 500-foot-wide bamboo wall in the Tadoba region. Additionally, a plan is being implemented to release captured monkeys into project areas and ensure their food supply. He added that if villages wish to relocate voluntarily, the government is ready to provide necessary land and financial assistance. Minister Naik also informed the House that teak plantations by the Forest Development Corporation (FDCM) are currently valued at approximately Rs 12,000 crore. Based on this asset, a proposal is being prepared to secure a loan of about Rs 6,000 crore. A proposal to utilise these funds for forest department roads, tourism development, offices, rest houses, and employee salaries and facilities will soon be presented to the Cabinet. During the Question Hour, MLCs Pravin Darekar and Satej alias Bunty Patil also raised sub-questions. Meanwhile, Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale assured the Legislative Council that necessary provisions will be made in the budget to expedite the completion of the Balasaheb Thackeray Turmeric (Haridra) Research Centre project in Hingoli district. Responding to a question by MLC Hemant Patil, Minister Gogawale said that since this project is directly related to farming families and bears the name of the respected Balasaheb Thackeray, the government is committed to providing high-quality standards and facilities. Minister Gogawale stated that Rs 100 crore was previously sanctioned for this project, of which Rs 87 crore has already been spent. Approval has been granted for the remaining funds required, and a provision will be made in the budget. He further added that the project will be completed by providing funds in phases as required. - IANS News / National by Staff reporter Renowned biotechnology researcher Zephaniah Dhlamini has been appointed Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Business Development (IBD) at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).In a statement, NUST said the appointment takes immediate effect and is aimed at ensuring continuity in leadership while advancing innovation and business development initiatives within the institution.Prior to this appointment, Prof Dhlamini served as Associate Professor and Director of the Applied Genetics Testing Centre (AGTC), where he has been instrumental in strengthening applied life sciences research and commercialisation.With nearly three decades of experience in molecular genetics, agricultural biotechnology, biosafety and forensic DNA analysis, Prof Dhlamini is regarded as a distinguished scientist and academic leader. His career spans academia, government advisory roles and international organisations, rising through the ranks from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer, Department Chair and Associate Professor.NUST credited him with playing a central role in establishing and operating Zimbabwe's first commercial DNA testing laboratory. He has also spearheaded research in forensic DNA analysis, bioprospecting metagenomes for novel biocatalysts and metabolic engineering of sorghum.Between 2018 and 2025, Prof Dhlamini served as a board member and chairperson of the Technical Committee of the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe. Internationally, he has held key positions with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome and the Joint FAO/IAEA Division in Vienna, where he contributed to biosafety training programmes, research evaluation and co-authored the FAO Biosafety Resource Book. He also contributed to the development of the FAO BioDeC database, which tracks biotechnology adoption in developing countries.The university described him as a leader who bridges research and practical application, particularly through forensic DNA services that support justice systems and agricultural biotechnology projects that enhance food security.Prof Dhlamini holds a BSc Honours Degree in Agriculture specialising in Crop Science and an MSc in Biotechnology with distinction from the University of Zimbabwe. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape, focusing on forensic DNA.He has also completed specialised training in project cycle management, policy evaluation, metagenomics and forensic DNA analysis at institutions across Europe and Africa. NYU research links anxiety about getting older, especially health decline, to faster epigenetic aging in women, connecting mental and physical health. New York, February 27 Worrying about getting older especially fearing future health problems, may actually speed up ageing at the cellular level, according to new research from the New York University. In a study of more than 700 women, those who felt more anxious about ageing showed signs of faster biological ageing in their blood, measured using cutting-edge "epigenetic clocks." Fears about declining health had the strongest link, while concerns about beauty or fertility didn't appear to have the same biological impact. New research from NYU School of Global Public Health suggests that these fears could be linked to faster ageing at the cellular level in women. "Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of ageing," said Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the first author of the study, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. "Ageing-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences," added Mariana. Many adults experience concern about ageing, including fears of illness, physical decline, and losing independence. Previous research has shown that ongoing psychological distress can influence biological aging through epigenetic changes, which are shifts in how genes are turned on or off. "We know from previous research that anxiety, depression, and mental health in general are associated with a number of physical health outcomes, but until now researchers haven't focused on whether there is a correlation between worrying about ageing and the process of ageing itself," said Rodrigues. Why Women May Experience More Ageing Anxiety Women may be especially vulnerable to anxiety about ageing. Social expectations around youth and appearance, along with concerns about fertility, can heighten stress during midlife. "Women in midlife may also be multiple in roles, including caring for their ageing parents. As they see older family members grow older and become sick, they may worry about whether the same thing will happen to them," Rodrigues explained. Study Details and Epigenetic Clocks To explore the connection between ageing anxiety and biological ageing, researchers examined data from 726 women participating in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Participants reported how much they worried about becoming less attractive, developing health problems, or being too old to have children. Blood samples were also analyzed using two established epigenetic clocks. One measured the speed of biological ageing (DunedinPACE), while the other estimated accumulated biological damage over time (GrimAge2). Women who reported higher levels of anxiety about growing older showed signs of faster epigenetic ageing based on the DunedinPACE clock. Accelerated epigenetic ageing has been linked in prior research to physical decline and greater risk of age-related diseases. Not all concerns had the same impact. Worries about declining health were most strongly tied to faster biological ageing. In contrast, concerns about appearance and fertility were not significantly associated with epigenetic ageing. Researchers note that health worries may be more persistent over time, while concerns about beauty and reproduction may lessen with age. Mental Health and Physical Health Are Closely Linked The findings underscore how closely mental and physical health are connected across the lifespan, even though they are often treated separately. "Our research identifies ageing anxiety as a measurable and modifiable psychological determinant that seems to be shaping ageing biology," said Adolfo Cuevas, associate professor of social and behavioural sciences at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study's senior author. At the same time, the researchers caution that the study captures only a single point in time. It cannot determine cause and effect or rule out the influence of other factors. Some coping behaviours associated with anxiety, such as smoking or alcohol use, may help explain the link. When the team adjusted their analysis to account for these health behaviours, the association between ageing anxiety and epigenetic ageing weakened and was no longer statistically significant. Further research will be needed to understand how anxiety about ageing affects long-term biological ageing and how best to support people experiencing these fears. "Ageing is a universal experience. We need to start a discourse about how we as a society -- through our norms, structural factors, and interpersonal relationships -- address the challenges of ageing," added Rodrigues. - ANI Minister of State Shripad Naik inaugurated a 15-kilowatt rooftop solar plant at the Gomati District Magistrate's office, formally launching Tripura's plan to solarise all eight district administrative headquarters. The project, with a total planned capacity of 304 kilowatts, is being implemented by the state power utility under the national 'Solar Sankalp' initiative. State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath highlighted the initiative as a forward-looking step for energy sustainability and fiscal prudence, reducing electricity expenditure and carbon emissions. Officials urged citizens to also adopt rooftop solar through schemes like the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, turning rooftops into micro power stations. MoS Shripad Naik inaugurates 15 kW solar plant in Tripura, launching a state-wide project to solarise all district magistrate offices for clean energy. Agartala, Feb 27 Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Y. Naik, on Friday, inaugurated a 15-kilowatt grid-connected rooftop solar power plant at the Gomati District Magistrate's office in Tripura's state capital of Agartala, marking the formal launch of state's plan to solarise all district administrative headquarters. With this initiative, the Tripura government has expanded its renewable energy push from residential rooftops to public institutions, aiming to bring all eight District Magistrate (DM) offices under solar-powered electricity generation. The project is being implemented in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the "Solar Sankalp" initiative. The execution of the project has been entrusted to the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), the state's power utility. Addressing the gathering, MoS Naik underscored that solar energy is poised to become a central pillar of India's future energy landscape. He said that integrating government offices into the solar energy framework is not merely about reducing electricity expenditure, but about ushering in environmentally responsible governance. According to the MoS Naik, Tripura's initiative represents a significant step in implementing the Union government's renewable energy vision at the grassroots administrative level. Gomati is the first district in the state where the project has been commissioned. According to the TSECL officials, rooftop solar plants with a combined capacity of 304 kilowatt will be installed across eight district magistrate offices in Tripura at an estimated cost of Rs 2.43 crore. Apart from the 15-kilowatt installation in Gomati, solar plants are planned with capacities of 49 kilowatt in Sepahijala, 35 kilowatt in South Tripura, 90 kilowatt in North Tripura, 15 kilowatt in Khowai, 22 kilowatt in Unakoti, 25 kilowatt in Dhalai and 53 kilowatts in West Tripura. Once operational, these systems are expected to meet a substantial share of each office's energy requirement through clean and renewable power. Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath described the initiative as a forward-looking step in the state's energy policy. Thanking MoS Shripad Naik for inaugurating the project, Minister Nath termed it a strong example of coordinated action between the Centre and the state. He said that enabling government offices to generate their own electricity would significantly reduce recurring power expenditure while contributing to environmental protection. The initiative, he added, reflects the state's commitment to long-term energy sustainability and fiscal prudence. Extending the appeal to the public, the Minister urged citizens to take advantage of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) by installing rooftop solar panels in their homes. Through net metering, households can potentially reduce their electricity bills substantially and even earn by exporting surplus power to the grid. Minister Nath remarked that rooftops can become micro power stations in the emerging clean energy economy. The grid-connected rooftop solar model allows electricity generated during the day to be consumed on-site, thereby reducing dependence on conventional supply. Any surplus generation is fed back into the grid, ensuring cost savings, optimal energy utilisation and measurable reductions in carbon emissions. Energy experts view the solarisation of administrative buildings as a practical step towards energy self-reliance, demonstrating how public infrastructure can lead by example in adopting clean energy solutions. By converting unused rooftop space into productive energy assets, Tripura is reinforcing the message that renewable energy is no longer an alternative, but the foundation of tomorrow's power economy. The inaugural programme at Udaipur in Gomati district was attended by Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather, TSECL Additional General Manager (Gomati) Nandita Das; and Sanjeeb Nandy Majumdar, the state's nodal officer for the PMSGMBY, along with engineers and senior officials associated with the project. - IANS No new taxes, focus on women & infrastructure The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly's Budget Session was adjourned sine die ahead of schedule, concluding a tumultuous period of protests and debate. The session was marked by dramatic Opposition protests, including a Congress MLA performing a headstand as a form of Satyagraha. A record Rs 4.38 lakh crore budget was presented, focusing on women-centric schemes and infrastructure without new taxes. The government also announced a crackdown on illegal colonies and addressed issues from water contamination to farmer welfare. Madhya Pradesh Assembly adjourned sine die. Session saw Congress protests, a headstand Satyagraha, and a record Rs 4.38 lakh crore budget presented. Bhopal, Feb 27 The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday ahead of schedule till March 6, bringing an eventful Budget Session to a close after weeks of heated debates, Opposition protests, and key announcements on development and governance. The session also saw dramatic moments, including Congress MLA Babu Jandel from Sheopur performing a prolonged headstand before the Gandhi statue as a Gandhian Satyagraha against claimed political harassment via 15 FIRs, including recent ones tied to cow protection advocacy and a 'Lord Shiva Baraat' procession. Congress members Sohan Balmiki and Pankaj Upadhyay also raised the issue during 'Zero Hour' but the Speaker said the matter would be forwarded to the department concerned, to which the members of the Congress staged a walk-out. On the final day during Question Hour, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya announced stringent measures against illegal colonies. Responding to Sidhi MLA Reeti Pathak, he said strict regulations would be enforced statewide within three months to curb unauthorised developments. He also confirmed approval of about Rs 7 crore for demolishing Sidhi's old bus stand and building a new shopping complex, with delays due to tender processes but assured commencement in coming months. Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar presided over the adjournment after completing the agenda. The session opened on February 16 with Governor Mangubhai C Patel's address, which was marred by uproar from Congress MLAs protesting deaths in Indore due to contaminated water supply and other public health lapses. During the ten sittings, discussions often turned contentious on various issues. The main Opposition Congress also moved 'adjournment motion' on Bhagirthapura (Indore) water contamination tragedy in Indore but the Speaker decline to admit it. Opposition Leader Umang Singhar and colleagues staged symbolic protests outside with empty piggy banks to criticize alleged fiscal mismanagement and rising debt from borrowings. Despite disruptions, the House moved forward with the Motion of Thanks and the presentation of the 2026-27 state budget on February 18 by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda. The budget, boasting a record outlay of Rs 4.38 lakh crore, emphasized women-centric initiatives with Rs 1.27 lakh crore earmarked for schemes like support for Self-Help Groups and Ujjwala Yojana. No new taxes were introduced, while major allocations covered Rs 17,350 crore for infrastructure including Metro Rail expansion, Rs 2,055 crore for tourism under Tirth Darshan Yojana, and Rs 3,600 crore for preparations toward the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain. Health infrastructure received focus with advanced facilities for cancer and cardiac care in medical colleges, plus nutritional additions like free milk in Mid-Day Meals. Farmer welfare featured through district-level food processing units and industrial push for job creation. - IANS A state-level seminar at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly emphasized natural farming as crucial for protecting soil, water, and public health. Governor Acharya Devvrat explained that natural farming, distinct from organic methods, cultivates microorganisms to enhance soil fertility naturally. He warned of severe soil degradation and linked chemical farming to health issues, citing contaminants even in mother's milk. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel endorsed the practice as a necessity for the future, aligning with the Prime Minister's "Back to Basics" mantra and calling for wider adoption. Governor Devvrat and CM Patel advocate natural farming at Gujarat Assembly seminar, highlighting benefits for soil, water, and public health. Gandhinagar, Feb 27 Natural farming was described as essential to safeguarding soil, water, the environment and public health at a state-level seminar held at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly complex in Gandhinagar under the National Mission on Natural Farming. The seminar was chaired by Governor Acharya Devvrat and attended by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary and Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma. A natural farming fair was organised within the Assembly premises, and the Governor and Chief Minister visited stalls set up by practitioners before the formal proceedings. Addressing legislators and participants, Governor Devvrat said, "To save water, soil, environment and human health, natural farming is the best option." He added, "It is a matter of satisfaction that such a serious subject has been given a place in the Assembly." Explaining the distinction between organic and natural farming, he said, "In organic farming, around 300 quintals of farmyard manure are required per acre, whereas natural farming is the cultivation of micro-organisms. One gram of dung from an indigenous cow contains more than 300 crore micro-organisms, and cow urine is a storehouse of minerals." Through preparations such as jeevamrut and ghan jeevamrut, he said, "The number of earthworms and friendly insects increases, making the soil fertile naturally." Raising concerns about public health, the Governor said, "Years ago, diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attack were negligible, but today even small children are suffering from cancer." Referring to research findings, he added, "Studies have indicated the presence of urea and pesticides even in a mother's milk, which is considered nectar for a newborn." On soil degradation, he said, "At the time of the Green Revolution, the organic carbon content of our soil was between 2 and 2.5 per cent, but today it has fallen below 0.5 per cent in many places." He warned, "Soil with organic carbon below 0.5 per cent is considered barren." In Gujarat, he said, land under chemical farming had reached that level, leading to hardening of soil and reduced rainwater percolation. "In natural farming, earthworms create pores in the soil, which help in storing rainwater," he said. Devvrat also referred to fertiliser subsidies, stating, "Crores of rupees are spent on urea and DAP subsidies. If we adopt natural farming, this expenditure can be reduced." Referring to the implementation of the National Mission on Natural Farming under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said more than eight lakh farmers in Gujarat had adopted natural agriculture with state support. He urged farmers to begin by practising natural farming on a portion of their land and appealed to legislators, saying, "Every MLA should adopt one village in their constituency and develop it as a 'natural village'." Chief Minister Patel described natural farming as "a necessity for the present and the future." Quoting the traditional saying, he said, "'Pehlu sukh te jat nirogi (the first happiness is good health)' and natural farming is the solution to achieve this." Referring to the Prime Minister's "Back to Basics" mantra, he said it signified a return not only to natural agriculture but also to conserving all sources that affect human health. He called for wider adoption of initiatives such as water conservation drives, efforts to address global warming, increasing green cover and promoting chemical-free cultivation. - IANS Pakistan has imposed a nationwide ban on all drone operations following a series of airstrikes conducted by Afghanistan. The Afghan Ministry of Defence stated the strikes successfully targeted key Pakistani military facilities in Abbottabad, Nowshera, and other locations. Afghan officials described the operation as retaliation for alleged aerial incursions by Pakistani military forces. The escalating tit-for-tat strikes have significantly heightened tensions between the two neighbors, raising concerns about a broader military conflict. Pakistan enforces nationwide drone ban following retaliatory airstrikes from Afghanistan, escalating border tensions and regional conflict fears. Kabul, February 28 Amid rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said that Afghanistan carried out drone attacks on Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera, as per Tolo News. He also added that anti-drone systems brought down the drones and that there was no loss of life. The Pakistan government announced a nationwide ban on all drone operations after tensions intensified due to border clashes. The Ministry of Interior issued a notification enforcing the prohibition on all commercial and privately operated drones across the country, as per Geo News. Earlier, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence said the drone strikes targeted important military centres in Pakistan. The Afghanistan Ministry of Defence said that the country's air force carried out strikes at around 11:00 am. on Friday (local time) against several military targets inside Pakistan. Officials from the ministry cited by Tolo News stated that the airstrikes were aimed at a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military headquarters in Nowshera, the military township of Jamrud, and Abbottabad. According to the statement, the operation was carried out successfully, targeting important bases, centres, and facilities of the Pakistani army. The Ministry of Defence said the strikes were launched in retaliation for what it called "aerial incursions" by Pakistani military forces. Spokesperson for Afghanistan's MoD, Enayatullah Khwarazmi, said, "These attacks included a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military headquarters in Nowshera, a military headquarters in Jamrud, and also in Abbottabad. This air operation was carried out successfully, and key military bases, centres, and facilities of Pakistan were targeted." The Chief of Army Staff of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Fasihuddin Fitrat said, "We assure the Muslim people of Afghanistan that we will never leave any act of aggression unanswered; we will respond to a finger with a fist." Tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have escalated, with both sides accusing one another of retaliatory strikes, raising fears of a wider military conflict in the region. - ANI Exiled Afghan MP Mariam Solaimankhil has sharply criticized Pakistan, accusing it of creating a "business of terrorism" by fostering proxy groups like the Taliban. She condemned recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil, stating they devastate families but fail to produce evidence of dead militants. Solaimankhil described Pakistan as a "cancer" in the region for its ties to terror groups and for harboring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. She further alleged the conflict disproportionately impacts Afghan Pashtuns and Balochis while potentially allowing Pakistan to leverage the situation for international financial aid. Exiled Afghan MP Mariam Solaimankhil accuses Pakistan of profiting from terrorism, creating Taliban, and being a "cancer" in the region amid border clashes. Los Angeles, February 27 The Member of the Afghan Parliament in exile, Mariam Solaimankhil, on Friday stated that Pakistan has been profiting from the "business of terrorism" and creating proxy groups, including the Taliban, which have now turned against Islamabad amid escalating cross-border clashes between the two countries. In an interview with ANI amid escalated border clashes and strikes, Solaimankhil slammed Pakistan's recent airstrikes on Afghan soil, describing them as devastating for Afghan families while dismissing Islamabad's repeated claims of targeting terrorists. She noted that no evidence of the killing of any high-profile militants had been reported by Islamabad despite the attack. Solaimankhil further called out Pakistan and its authorities, describing them as "cancer" in the region for their close ties to terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as for harbouring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. "My own paternal village of Barmal, Paktika was attacked, and this is not the first time. Every time Pakistan does an airstrike, they claim that they're killing terrorists. I've yet to hear one person's name that they've actually killed. But they do sit with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders. They harboured Osama bin Laden. Khawaja Asif admitted he was used by the United States to harbour, train, and support the Taliban. They had the Quetta Shura and the Miramshah Shura," Solaimankhil said. "They created this proxy and made a business out of terrorism. The foundation of Pakistan as a state is based on destabilising the region. They're to blame for all of this. The foundation of Pakistan as a state is based off of destabilising the region. They're to blame for all of this. It's incredibly heartbreaking, but they're the problem in the area. They're the cancer in the region," she added. Solaimankhil further lashed out at Pakistan for the selective impact of the ongoing clashes, highlighting that Afghan Pashtuns and Baloch are bearing the brunt of the fighting, while Punjabis in Pakistan remain largely unaffected. She also described the ongoing conflict as financially beneficial to Pakistan, suggesting it could leverage the situation to request international financial aid. "I don't believe that full ISI is against the Taliban. I think that the roots are very deep. I do believe that, why isn't one Taliban dead? Please show me one leader of the Taliban that's gone. It's not. Where is the fighting happening? It's happening in Pashtun areas. Pashtuns and Baloch are dying. Do you see one Punjabi dying? No, God forbid. I'm not a proponent of war, but I only see the war happening in Afghan areas. So it's incredibly sad and I think the story is a lot more twisted than it seems," she said. "The Taliban was created by Pakistan and who's benefiting from this war financially? It's Pakistan. They're going to go beg for an IMF loan and go ask for more handouts because they started this skirmish. It's disgusting. It's incredibly sad," the exiled member added. Her comments come amid escalating tensions along the Durand Line, following airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia by Pakistan, with both countries reporting casualties and accusing each other of aggression. - ANI Union Minister Piyush Goyal met with Zurich Airport International's Managing Director Daniel Bircher to deliberate on investment plans for the Noida International Airport. The greenfield airport is being developed as a world-class, net-zero emissions facility through a public-private partnership. With an initial capacity for 12 million passengers, it is expected to spur real estate, generate massive employment, and enhance cargo operations in the region. Once operational, it will serve as the NCR's second international airport, relieving pressure on Delhi and boosting regional connectivity. Union Minister Piyush Goyal met Zurich Airport's Daniel Bircher to discuss future investment in the greenfield Noida International Airport project. New Delhi, February 27 Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a meeting with the Managing Director of Zurich Airport International Ltd, Daniel Bircher, and discussed ongoing and future investment plans, particularly regarding the Noida International Airport project. In a social media post, the minister said he was delighted to meet Daniel Bircher and deliberate on their ongoing and future investment plans, particularly concerning the Noida International Airport project. Goyal stated, "Delighted to meet Mr. Daniel Bircher, Managing Director, Zurich Airport International Ltd. Deliberated on their ongoing & future investment plans particularly regarding the Noida International Airport project. This partnership reflects India's growing aspirations for building world-class infrastructure and our journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047". Noida International Airport (NIA) is set to become a prime example of a world-class greenfield airport and is expected to provide a new direction for Delhi-NCR's global connectivity. The airport will be a state-of-the-art facility working towards net-zero emissions, showcasing a blend of Swiss efficiency and Indian hospitality. The project has been developed through a Public-Private Partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government and Zurich Airport International AG. The Jewar Airport is expected to spur real estate development and generate about one lakh direct and indirect jobs. With an initial annual capacity of 1.2 crore passengers, the airport is expected to serve as an economic hub. The first phase will feature a single runway and a terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, with the potential to expand to 70 million passengers across four phases. Located 75 km from Delhi, the airport will be the NCR's second international airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, boosting connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh. It is also expected to emerge as a strategic hub for cargo operations, thereby enhancing logistics and economic growth in the region. The airport is linked by six roads, rapid rail-cum-metro connectivity, and pod taxis. It will feature a CAT-III B Instrument Landing System to enable operations in low visibility conditions. Once operational, the airport will help relieve pressure on Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and further strengthen regional aviation connectivity, giving a significant boost to infrastructure development in the region. - ANI Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit as historic and moving, particularly his speech in the Knesset. He emphasized the deep bonds based on shared values, history, and common threats, noting mutual support during Operation Sindoor and after the October 7 attacks. The visit elevated the relationship to a "special strategic partnership" with 16 agreements signed, focusing on cooperation in AI, innovation, cyber, and defense. Marmorstein also expressed gratitude for Modi's support and commented on the potential of President Trump's Gaza peace plan, contingent on disarming Hamas. Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesperson moved by PM Modi's speech, highlights shared threats, AI & defense cooperation, and thanks India for Oct 7 support. By Sahil Pandey, Jerusalem, February 27 Oren Marmorstein, Spokesperson of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hailed PM Modi's visit, saying that they were all moved by PM Modi's speech in the Knesset. Marmorstein, in a conversation with ANI, said that Israel stood with India during Operation Sindoor. "This was an historic visit, an amazing visit. We were all moved by Prime Minister Modi's speech yesterday in the Knesset. This is based on shared values, also shared history. Our bonds together, Israel, India, the people, go back more than 2,000 years ago," he said. He added that Israel and India also have the same threats and interests. "And shared interests and also shared threats. We have, unfortunately, shared threats that we need to struggle against. And Israel was there for India in Operation Sindoor. And India was there for Israel on October 7. And we're grateful for this," he said. He noted that the relations between both nations deepened by PM Modi's visit. "The relationship because of this visit has now went and we are now in a different level. We are now in a special strategic partnership. Already 16 agreements were signed. Huge success. And this is thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Ministry, India Foreign Ministry, we were able to bring this relationship to the next level," he said. When asked about the Free Trade Agreement between both nations, Marmorstein said that it was difficult to point a date, but there is a keen interest on both sides to push the relations forward. "So it's hard to pencil a date, but I think you've witnessed the desire, the keen interest of both countries, both leadership, Israel and India. To push this forward. And I think in terms of fields and areas of expertise, the sky is the limit. We're talking about cooperation already signed in the fields of AI, innovation, cyber. The future is for us together," he said. Marmorstein highlighted the untapped reservoir that Artificial intelligence has in combination with defence. "So obviously there are some details that we can go into when it comes to defence. But again, we are looking into doing amazing things together. In terms of defence, but not only defence. We're talking about, for example, trying to harness the potential of AI for the benefit of both of our countries. So it can go directly to the fields of defence," he said. He gave examples of potential of AI in agriculture and defence. "For example, think of drones being used and being upgraded by AI, but also AI can help us fully take the potential of agriculture to the next level. Because with drip irrigation and technologies based on AI, we can do amazing things together. And this is what we're talking about," he said. Marmorstein said that Israel was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. "So first, we are grateful for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support and friendship. And this was throughout the war, like I said, October 7. Prime Minister Modi was there showing support and being with Israel shoulder to shoulder," he said. Marmorstein lauded US President Donald Trump for his Gaza Peace Plan, saying that the plan makes sure that the Hamas is being disarmed. "And in terms of President Trump's peace plan, yes, Israel said yes to this visionary plan, and we're trying to push this forward. And the number one condition, the number one element that needs to be implemented in this plan is making sure that Hamas is being disarmed. Because if you maintain Hamas as a terror organization, with its weapon, with its power of destruction, no good can come out of this. So the number one condition, the number one element that the peace plan itself of President Trump is articulating is making sure that Hamas is being disarmed," he said. Marmorstein also added that PM Modi's visit was an honour for Israel, and that both countries are not just partners, but were friends. "Indeed, this was a huge honor that the state of Israel showed to the Prime Minister of India and I think in terms of the future the sky is the limit. Israel and India are close, not only partners, friends and the people of Israel and the people of India feel very much close together. We can do great things together and we're looking forward to the future," he said. Prime Minister Modi made a state visit to Israel from 25 to 26 February 2026 on the invitation of Netanyahu. - ANI President Droupadi Murmu made history by becoming the first President of India to co-pilot the indigenously developed HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) 'Prachand' from Jaisalmer Air Force Station. During the 25-minute sortie, she took an aerial view of border areas and the Pokhran Field Firing Range, saluting and addressing the nation via radio. The flight precedes the Indian Air Force's major Vayu Shakti 2026 exercise, which the President will witness as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The helicopter, inducted three years ago and hailed by the Defence Minister as "India's victory chariot," represents a milestone in indigenous defence capabilities. President Droupadi Murmu becomes first Indian President to co-pilot the indigenous HAL Light Combat Helicopter Prachand during a sortie in Jaisalmer. Jaipur, Feb 27 President Droupadi Murmu on Friday flew in the indigenously developed HAL Light Combat Helicopter Prachanda from the Jaisalmer Air Force Station, becoming the first President of India to co-pilot the advanced combat helicopter. The President undertook a 25-minute sortie, accompanied by Group Captain N.S. Bahua, during which she took an aerial view of the border areas and the Pokhran Field Firing Range. From the cockpit, she saluted and gave a thumbs-up, and also addressed the nation via radio during the flight. A HAL Chetak helicopter escorted the President's aircraft throughout the sortie. The helicopter later landed safely back at the Air Force Station. President Murmu arrived at the air base around 9.15 a.m., where Army officials briefed her on the helicopter's capabilities and operations before she boarded the aircraft at approximately 10.15 a.m. During the flight, she familiarised herself with the helicopter's operational systems from the cockpit. This marks another milestone in President Murmu's association with frontline military platforms. She had earlier become the first President to fly in fighter jets such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the Dassault Rafale. The sortie comes ahead of the Indian Air Force's largest military exercise, Vayu Shakti 2026, scheduled to be held in the evening at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, near the India-Pakistan border. As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President will witness the exercise, which will showcase the Air Force's combat capabilities, including precision strikes and coordinated air operations. The Prachanda helicopter was inducted into the Indian Air Force fleet three years ago during Navratri in Rajasthan. At the time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had described it as "India's victory chariot", highlighting its combat strength despite being classified as a light combat helicopter. Later in the evening, President Murmu will attend the Vayu Shakti exercise at Pokhran, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and senior military officials will also be present. - IANS Actor Ravie Dubey shared a remarkable coincidence, revealing he visited Shri Lakshman's temple in Lucknow almost a year before being confirmed to play Lord Lakshmana in the upcoming film 'Ramayana'. He described this as an "incredible synchronicity" and a sign of divine orchestration. The film features a massive star cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Yash as Raavan, and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, 'Ramayana' is a two-part epic scheduled for Diwali releases in 2026 and 2027. Actor Ravie Dubey reveals he visited Shri Lakshman's temple a year before being confirmed to play Lakshmana in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana'. Mumbai, Feb 27 Actor Ravie Dubey on Friday shared a divine coincidence from his life, revealing that almost a year before being confirmed to play Lord Lakshmana in Nitesh Tiwary's 'Ramayana', he had unknowingly visited Shri Lakshman's temple in Lucknow while shooting for Lakhan Leela Bhargava. Ravie took to Instagram, where he shared a throwback video of himself sitting in an interview with his wife Sargun and talking about featuring in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer. Taking to the caption section, he said that during the filming of the show 'Lakhan Leela Bhargava', where he portrayed a character named Lakhan, he happened to visit Shri Lakshman's temple in Lakshmanpuri purely by coincidence. "Almost exactly An year before i got confirmed to play 'Lakshman' in 'Ramayana' I purely by coincidence landed up at Shri Lakshman's temple in Lakshmanpuri (Lucknow) while filming a show called 'Lakhan Leela Bhargava' where I played a character called 'Lakhan'," Ravie wrote. Calling it an "incredible synchronicity", Dubey expressed his belief that such moments are a reminder of divine orchestration. "Incredible synchronicities and coincidences are just proof that our deities are orchestrating everything... All we need to do is surrender... not strategise... just surrender," he concluded. The upcoming film features a galaxy of stars with Ranbir in the role of Lord Ram, Yash essaying Raavan, and actress Sai Pallavi playing Goddess Sita. Sunny Deol portrays Lord Hanuman, Amitabh Bachchan will play Jatayu and Lara Dutt will be seen as Kaikeyi. Two music titans, Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman are joining forces for the film. 'Ramayana' is a two-part live-action cinematic universe being reimagined on the scale of the biggest tentpoles produced to date. The film also features Hollywood's top stunt directors Terry Notary (Avengers, Planet of the Apes) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa), choreographing the epic battles between gods and demons. 'Ramayana' is being filmed for IMAX and will be released worldwide with Part 1 releasing in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027. - IANS News / National by Simbarashe Sithole A 47yearold Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer stationed at Plumtree has appeared in court after he allegedly facilitated the escape of a convicted rapist. Yusufu Yusufu was brought before Plumtree magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing charges of aiding an inmates escape. He was granted US$100 bail.According to the State, led by prosecutor Sheila Nyathi, the incident occurred last year when inmate Cabangani Mathewho was serving a 20year sentence for rapeescaped from Plumtree Prison where Yusufu was stationed.The court heard that Yusufu and Mathe allegedly conspired to engineer the escape. Yusufu is accused of supplying Mathe with two hacksaw blades and instructing him to cut through the burglar bars of his holding cell window.Mathe reportedly carried out the plan over five days, cutting through three bars while disguising the activity as routine cleaning of the cell.On 15 November last year, between 1am and 2am, Mathe successfully escaped after completing the cutting of the bars. He left the hacksaw blades and the severed metal pieces inside the cell.The matter is still before the courts. The arrest of Sri Lanka's former intelligence chief, Suresh Sallay, marks a significant turn in the long-running investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. This development brings renewed focus on the radicalisation network of the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) in South India, established by attack mastermind Mohammad Zahran Hashim. Indian agencies are closely monitoring the situation, hoping Sallay's interrogation may reveal details about Hashim's module, which targeted youth in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The probe underscores ongoing security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, even as concerns persist about attempts to revive militant groups like the LTTE. Sri Lanka's arrest of ex-intel chief Sallay reopens 2019 Easter bombing probe, spotlighting NTJ's radicalisation network in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. New Delhi, Feb 27 The arrest of Sri Lanka's former Intelligence chief, Retired Major-General Suresh Sallay is a turning point in the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. The move was a bold one taken by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who won the presidency in 2024. He had promised that all persons involved in the attack would be brought to justice. Sallay was made State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief in 2019 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President. The allegation against Sallay was that he had permitted the attack to take place with the intention of influencing that year's presidential election, which was eventually won by Rajapaksa. Sallay had become a prominent figure in Sri Lanka and was widely credited with dismantling the LTTE. His arrest has led to a political storm and many state that it could revive tensions relating to the LTTE. Ali Sabry, former Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the developments are deeply troubling. An Indian official said that the developments in Sri Lanka are being monitored closely. On the question whether the LTTE issue would come back into the picture following the arrest of Sallay, the officer said that attempts are being made, but it would be very tough. There have been several cases that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been probing concerning the revival of the LTTE. The ISI, too, has tried its hand in ensuring the revival of the LTTE, but has not been successful so far. To prevent the revival of the LTTE, both India and Sri Lanka have been working very closely. Another official explained that the current ties with Sri Lanka have gone from ideological to an investment-led partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Dissanayake share a pragmatic relationship and this has gone a long way in ensuring cooperation on all fields including security, the official explained. While some in Sri Lanka do not subscribe to Dissanayake's decision on Sallay, the fact is that the Easter Bombing case has to be probed from every possible angle. An Intelligence Bureau official says that a major concern today are the activities of the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI), the two outfits responsible for this attack. The NTJ in particular has a vast presence in South India and has managed to radicalise a large number of youth in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The mastermind of the attack, Mohammad Zahran Hashim was a frequent visitor to Tamil Nadu. He was also responsible for the radicalisation of Jamesha Mubeen who carried out an unsuccessful attempt to bomb a temple in Coimbatore in 2022. The Indian agencies have been actively pursuing the role played by Hashim. A probe by the NIA in the South India radicalisation case revealed that the entire plot was being run by Hashim from Sri Lanka. At least 50 of the 100 radicalisation videos seized by the agency were discourses by Hashim, who had close links with the Islamic State. Officials say that Sallay could provide details to investigators about the module that Hashim ran. This would come in handy for the Indian agencies who are probing cases directly linked to the NTJ in South India. Hashim, who was the ring leader for the suicide bombers during the Easter Bombing had spent a considerable amount of time in India. The Indian agencies would want to learn if any of the locals that Hashim interacted with had any idea about the Easter Bombings. While in India, Hashim had focussed his radicalisation programmes mainly at Mallapuram, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Ramnathpuram, Vellore, Trichy and Thirunelveli, the NIA probe found. Pallay has for now denied any links to the Easter Bombings. Indian officials say that they do not want to comment on Pallay and his alleged links. However, it is important that the bombings are probed thoroughly since the activities of the NTJ have a direct bearing on India, particularly the southern states, the official also added. - IANS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that his first date with his wife, Sara, was at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv owned by Reena Pushkarna. He expressed a personal debt to India, stating the "unbelievable food" made for an excellent date. Pushkarna, a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee, described the acknowledgment as "culinary diplomacy" and noted Netanyahu's family has been visiting her restaurant for three decades. The story emerged during Netanyahu's press statements with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who thanked Pushkarna. Israeli PM Netanyahu reveals his first date with wife Sara was at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv, owned by Reena Pushkarna, calling it "culinary diplomacy." By Sahil Pandey, Jerusalem, February 27 Reena Pushkarna, renowned Restaurateur and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Recipient, expressed her gratitude towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for mentioning her in his press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pushkarna, while talking to ANI, said that it was culinary diplomacy for her, and that her wish was granted as PM Modi thanked her. She said, "I thank our Prime Minister Bibi (Benjamin) Netanyahu that for him India and Indian cuisine hold a lot of importance... It is a very close relationship, and their whole family has been visiting me for the last 30 years... For me, it is culinary diplomacy... He (PM Modi) thanked me... My wish was granted." Her restaurant unknowingly played Cupid for Netanyahu. He said that he owed India a "great personal debt" as he revealed that prior to marrying his wife Sara they had both met and enjoyed the "unbelievable food" at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. "First of all, the food was unbelievable. Sara was introduced to it for the first time, it made for a great first date, not only was the food excellent, the date was excellent too. Obviously, I am indebted to you, as are my children," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu confessed that his wife chose an Indian restaurant as a venue for their date. The date eventually was excellent, and so was the food, he recalled. Adressing the India-Israel Exchange of MoUs and Press Statements with PM Modi, Netanyahu said, "I owe India a great personal debt. When I met Sara (his wife) for the first time, I think our first or second date was in an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. It was Reena Pushkarna. In 1991, Sara married Benjamin Netanyahu. They have two sons, Yair and Avner. Meanwhile, in a 2022 interview with ANI 'Tandoori Tel Aviv', Reena Pushkarna, the owner of the Indian restaurant in Israel's Tel Aviv said that Netanyahu had met Sara on their first date here. "The first date of PM Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu was on this, Table No 8." Reena Pushkarna, recalled. Netanyahu, she said loves Indian food and orders at least twice a week. He loves butter chicken and karahi chicken. - ANI Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a massive Rs 1,000 crore project to develop a modern cancer hospital and expand the Hamirpur Medical College complex. The initiative includes establishing nursing and dental colleges, and 11 new specialist departments for comprehensive cancer care. The goal is to provide advanced medical treatment within the state, saving patients the time and expense of traveling outside Himachal. The government is systematically upgrading healthcare infrastructure across the state with new technology and facilities. Himachal CM Sukhu announces a Rs 1000 crore project for a cancer hospital and medical college in Hamirpur to provide advanced healthcare within the state. Hamirpur, February 27 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday inspected the ongoing construction works of the Hamirpur Medical College and also reviewed the proposed site for a state-of-the-art Cancer Care centre. As per an official release, he announced that a modern cancer hospital, along with nursing and dental colleges, will be developed at the Hamirpur Medical College complex. The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 1,000 crore. He stated that the establishment of the medical college would ensure that quality healthcare services were made available to people closer to their homes. The Chief Minister said that the State Government was strengthening the healthcare system across all medical colleges and major hospitals in Himachal Pradesh. Drawing inspiration from AIIMS Delhi, he said outdated machinery and equipment in health institutions across the state were being replaced with world-class technology and advanced medical facilities to provide better treatment services to the people in a phased manner. He further noted that after the north-eastern states, Himachal Pradesh reports one of the highest numbers of cancer cases in the country. The establishment of a dedicated cancer hospital in Hamirpur will ensure accessible and quality cancer care for patients within the state. He informed that 11 new specialist departments have recently been approved by the State Government for the Hamirpur Cancer Hospital. As per a release, these departments will cover different types of cancer treatment and support services, such as cancer medicines (Medical Oncology), cancer surgeries (Surgical Oncology), pain relief and supportive care, nuclear medicine, anaesthesia and critical care, laboratory testing (Pathology), treatment for children with cancer, radiology and imaging, treatment for women's cancers, stem cell and bone marrow transplants and radiation therapy. With all these services available in one place within the state, cancer patients will not have to travel outside Himachal Pradesh for advanced treatment. This will help them save both time and money while receiving specialised care closer to home, he remarked. Highlighting the increasing incidence of cancer cases, the Chief Minister emphasised the urgent need for systematic screening, prevention, monitoring, recording and timely diagnosis. In this regard, he said the State Government has approved the establishment of a State Cancer Centre at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. He added that since assuming office, the present State Government has undertaken several significant measures to revamp the healthcare sector in Himachal Pradesh, resulting in improved and better healthcare services. Among those present on the occasion were MLA Suresh Kumar and Captain Ranjit Singh, former MLA Anita Verma, Chairman Kangra Cooperative Primary Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ramchandra Pathania, Chairman Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chairman APMC Hamirpur Ajay Sharma, District Congress President Suman Bharti, Congress leaders Dr Pushpinder Verma, Subhash Dhatwalia and Rubal Thakur, Secretaries M Sudha Devi and Ashish Singhmar, Deputy Commissioner Gandharva Rathore, SP Balbir Singh, and other dignitaries, a release stated. - ANI In Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, surrendered Naxalites are being allotted permanent houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) as part of a major rehabilitation push. Government officials state this initiative provides stability and dignity to those renouncing violence and aims to strengthen the foundation of trust in the Bastar region. A significant provision for approximately 15,000 houses has been made for the entire Bastar division, with hundreds already benefiting. The effort is part of a broader strategy to completely eliminate Naxal activities and accelerate development works in the area. Chhattisgarh provides permanent housing to rehabilitated Naxalites under PMAY, marking a shift from conflict to development in Bastar region. Sukma, February 27 A new story of change is being written in Chhatisgarh's Chichorguda village of Samsetthi Gram Panchayat, situated amidst dense forests and difficult terrains about 15-20 kilometres from the Sukma district headquarters. This area, which once lived under the shadow of Naxal influence, is now moving rapidly towards peace, development, and rehabilitation. Under the the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), permanent houses are being provided to surrendered Naxalites so they can step toward a dignified and secure life. For families that have returned to the mainstream from a life of wandering in the jungles, these houses are not just four walls, but a symbol of a new beginning. The government's intention is clear - those who surrender weapons to adopt the path of development should receive stability, security, and social acceptance. The houses being built in Chichorguda are proof that the foundation of trust and development is now being strengthened in Bastar. Bastar IG P Sundarraj said that the rehabilitated Naxal-affected individuals are being allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, and underscored the commitment of the Governemnt of India and the state for eliminating Naxal activities from Bastar entirely. He expressed hopes for a new and better identity for the region and underlined the efforts being made to ensure the same. "With the objective of providing a better life to rehabilitated Maoists and Naxal-affected individuals who have joined the mainstream by renouncing violence in the Bastar division, houses are being allotted under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. This will provide them with a permanent residence and enable them to live a dignified life. Work is being carried out in this direction in all districts of the division," he said. "The Government of India and the Chhattisgarh Government have a clear intention to completely eliminate Naxal activities from the Bastar division. To establish peace and accelerate development works in the region, continuous action has been taken by security forces in the year 2024-25, resulting in a significant decrease in Naxal activities. A positive environment is being created in the area, and in the coming times, Bastar will emerge with a new identity," he added. Meanwhile, Sukma SP Kiran Chavan also highlighted the rehabilitation process for the Naxals who have surrendered, stating that they are being provided the benefits of the government schemes. "Naxalites who surrender and join the rehabilitation process are being provided houses by the administration under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. A provision for approximately 15,000 houses has been made for the entire Bastar division. Whichever Naxalites surrender to join the mainstream, as well as Naxal-affected families, are being given the benefits of government schemes," she stated. Sukma Zila Panchayat CEO Mukund Thakur stated that 801 beneficiaries have benefited from the first instalment of the houses under PM Awas Yojna, adding that regular monitoring is being done. "A special project has been approved in Chhattisgarh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). Under this, a survey of 2,976 people was conducted in Sukma district, of which 1,113 people have been granted housing approval. Among these, the first instalment has been issued to 801 beneficiaries, and 19 houses have been completed. Regular monitoring of the work is being done, and efforts are being made to complete the remaining houses soon," he said. "People who are being rehabilitated and joining the mainstream in remote areas like Jagargunda, Kistaram, Pamed, and Puvarthi have also been given the benefits of the scheme. Efforts are being made to benefit those who have been left out as well," he added. He further lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma for their efforts in the rehabilitation process. "The government is constantly striving to connect rehabilitated individuals to the mainstream. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma, work is being done toward the rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites," he said. Meanwhile, Awas Mitra Madkam Sona also shed light on the details and updates of the housing scheme and mentioned that as an Awas Mitra, he monitors the construction work and provides information to the administration regarding beneficiaries who are unable to construct for any reason. "Under the special project of the year 2024-25, three people in this area have been provided with housing. A total of 102 houses have been sanctioned in this Panchayat, of which 60-70 houses are complete, and the rest are under construction," he said. Furthermore, surrendered Naxals and their families also expressed gratitude to the government for the facilities and services being provided to them, including Aadhar cards, Ration cards, housing facilities, etc. Surrendered Naxalite Madkam Gangi said, "Our Aadhaar cards and Ration cards have been made, and we are also getting housing facilities. Rice, pulses, and other ration materials are being provided by the government. Life before was very difficult, and we had to wander in the jungles. After surrendering, we are now living in a house with the family, and life has become better." Meanwhile, the son of the surrendered Naxalite Soni Budri said: "My mother was previously in the Naxal organisation, but after surrendering, she got a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). Earlier, we lived in a hut and faced many problems during the rainy season. Now, after getting a permanent house, our life has improved, and the whole family is living together happily. We thank the government very much." This initiative of rehabilitation and development is not limited to just building houses. It is a major process of building trust. The houses being built in remote villages like Chichorguda are a clear sign that Bastar is now undergoing a period of change. When surrendered Naxalites get the support of a roof, an identity, and government schemes, they not only join the mainstream but also lay the foundation for a better future for their children. - ANI SEBI has issued a warning about a rise in fraudulent activities targeting investors with fake securities transaction tax (STT) demand notices. The regulator also highlighted scams involving unregistered portfolio managers who lure investors with promises of risk-free profits by showcasing fake trades. SEBI clarified that STT is automatically collected by brokers and it never issues direct demand notices for it. Investors are urged to verify all communications through official SEBI channels and only use registered intermediaries. SEBI alerts investors to frauds involving fake securities transaction tax demands and "account handling" services promising guaranteed profits. Learn how to verify. Mumbai, Feb 27 Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India has flagged a surge in frauds involving fake securities transaction tax notices and "account handling" services that promise riskfree profits. The regulator said fraudsters have circulated fake notices demanding payment of outstanding securities transaction tax (STT) liabilities, often using forged SEBI letterhead, logo and seal and falsely claiming powers conferred by the SEBI Act, 1992. SEBI also warned about "PMS service providers or expert fund managers who claim to help investors to make risk free profits in their demat or trading account," in another statement. They exploit investors by showcasing trades done by them for other investors in which they claim to have generated substantial profits, the regulator added. Further, SEBI said STT is automatically collected by brokers at the time of each trade under the Finance Act, 2004 and it does not issue demand notices on STTs. SEBI urged investors to verify any communication claiming to be from the regulator. Official SEBI emails come only from addresses ending in @sebi.gov.in, and enforcement actions are published on SEBI's website, adding that online payments related to orders, settlements or recoveries should be made only through SEBI's designated payment gateway. The capital markets regulator also noted instances of fraudsters impersonating identities of SEBI officials, various offices of SEBI and email ids of SEBI officials. "Fraudsters are claiming to be officials of SEBI and sending a communication to entities using the letter head, logo and seal of SEBI," the statement said. Investors are advised to deal with only SEBI-registered intermediaries and through authentic trading apps, after verifying the status of registration of entities at the official website. Recently, SEBI introduced the 'SEBI Check' mechanism where investors can either scan a QR code or manually enter the bank details of any SEBI registered intermediary to check if the UPI ID or bank account is authentic. - IANS Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Mumbai on his first official visit to India, marking a significant step in revitalizing bilateral relations. The visit, the first by a Canadian head of government in years, aims to expand partnerships in trade, energy, technology, and artificial intelligence. PM Carney will hold key talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, focusing on an ambitious target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. The diplomatic momentum follows recent ministerial meetings and highlights shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties between the two nations. Canadian PM Mark Carney begins official India visit, aiming to strengthen partnerships in trade, energy, tech, and AI with PM Modi's government. Mumbai, February 27 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with his wife Diana Fox Carney, landed in Mumbai on Friday, commencing his inaugural official tour of India. Upon their arrival at the airport, they were received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival of the Canadian leader represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. Taking to X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." He further noted, "He was received by Minister of Protocol and Marketing, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Jayakumar Rawal, at the airport. The India-Canada partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors." This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai. Following these engagements, he will head to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement issued on Monday mentioned, "The leaders will focus on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence, talent and culture, and defence. He will also meet with business leaders to identify investment opportunities in Canada and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations." While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO described India as a global leader in technology and commerce, noting its status as the fastest-growing major economy. In 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $30.8 billion. PM Modi previously interacted with PM Carney during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November. At that time, PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of 50 billion USD by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of 50 billion USD by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." He added that there is immense potential for the two countries to enhance their investment and trade connections. This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference in Germany. A Canadian government release noted, "This marks the fifth meeting between the ministers since September 2025, reflecting the growing momentum in the Canada-India relationship, building on more than 75 years of diplomatic relations and strong people-to-people ties. The ministers discussed deepening cooperation in several areas, including energy, technology and trade." Minister Anand remarked on the significance of the partnership, given India's role as a dynamic global economy. The ministers "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers." Both nations highlighted the advancements made on their bilateral roadmap and expressed a firm commitment to broadening trade to ensure economic stability and resilience. - ANI SpiceJet has stated it will comply with a Supreme Court order directing it to deposit INR 144 crore, related to a share transfer dispute. The airline emphasizes this order does not affect its daily operations, noting it has already paid INR 730 crore to the opposing parties. Earlier damage claims of over INR 1300 crore by KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran have been rejected. SpiceJet is now pursuing a counter-claim for a potential refund of INR 449 crore, which is currently before the Delhi High Court. SpiceJet will comply with a Supreme Court order to deposit INR 144 crore in a long-running share transfer dispute with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways. New Delhi, February 27 SpiceJet has taken note of the order passed by the Supreme Court of India, which declined to interfere with the earlier direction to deposit INR 144 crore, and said that it will comply with all court directions. According to a statement issued by the airline, the company is examining the order and will comply with all court directions. SpiceJet would like to assure all stakeholders that this development has no impact on its day-to-day operations. The matter arises from a share transfer agreement involving SpiceJet, its promoter Ajay Singh, KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran. SpiceJet has paid a total of INR 730 crore to Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways, including the entire principal amount of INR 580 crore and INR 150 crore towards interest. The remaining amount, as directed by the court, will be deposited in court in accordance with the arbitration process. Claims of over INR 1,300 crore in damages made by KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran have been rejected, and these orders have attained finality. All challenges to the arbitral award by KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran have also been dismissed. SpiceJet's claims against KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran for a refund of amounts paid are being heard by the Delhi High Court, and there is a prima facie finding of the Court in favour of SpiceJet. SpiceJet remains confident of receiving a potential refund of INR 449 crore on the culmination of this legal process. - ANI Swastika Mukherjee stars in 'Chheledhora', a thriller about a mother's journey after her daughter is abducted. Filming begins in Arunachal Pradesh. Kolkata, February 27 Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee is set to star in an Indo-American co-production movie 'Chheledhora', reported Variety. The thriller is written and directed by Shieladitya Moulik. The Indo-American co-production, starring Swastika Mukherjee, will film across locations in Itanagar and Ziro in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Moulik, whose previous work includes the 'Sweater' and 'Surjo,' centres the film on Brishti, a divorced woman, flawed, wounded, and largely misread by those around her, who impulsively "steals" her daughter for a birthday celebration, only to find the child genuinely abducted. An unexpected discovery sets off a volatile chain of events that sends Brishti on a life-altering journey. The film weaves together family drama, thriller elements and dark humour, with a morally complex female protagonist at its centre, and is aimed at the international festival circuit, according to Variety. "'Chheledhora' is a story about broken parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn't know they possessed. I'm deeply interested in flawed people who are still capable of love. This film may unfold like a road journey with unexpected twists and turns, but at its heart, it's about healing - about how children, often unknowingly, become the moral compass for adults. It's a very intimate story about second chances and rediscovering one's humanity," said Moulik as quoted by Variety. Swastika Mukherjee is known for her roles in series and films like 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' for Yash Raj Films, Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Telluride and Toronto title 'Janala,' Prime Video series 'Paatal Lok,' Netflix's 'Qala,' and, most recently, a gangster turn in 'Kaali Potka' "Brishti is not an easy woman to like, and that's what moved me," said Mukherjee. "She is impulsive, wounded and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is instinctive and fierce. I was drawn to the vulnerability in her - the way this unexpected journey forces her to confront herself. At its heart, this is a very tender story about motherhood, forgiveness and finding strength in the most fragile moments," as quoted by Variety. The film is co-produced by India's Handyyman and Sita22 Films, which operates across India and the U.S. Handyyman's previous credits include the streaming show "Hawa Badle Hassu" and the Indo-Italian-Swiss co-production "Interdependence." Sita22 Films is a new production company founded by Anindita (Ann) Mukherjee, who spent four decades as a corporate executive at global companies. Production is expected to run through the end of March, with additional casting still to be unveiled. - ANI The annual festival at St. Anthony's Church on Katchatheevu island has begun, marked by the flag-hoisting ceremony. Nearly 4,000 pilgrims departed from Rameswaram port after thorough checks by multiple authorities. Concurrently, Pongal celebrations were observed statewide, including traditional cooking at a Chennai police station and a church. In Madurai, the Jallikattu bull-taming event drew large crowds as a key cultural highlight of the harvest festival. Thousands of devotees sail from Rameswaram to Katchatheevu for St. Anthony's Church festival as Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal with traditional events. Rameswaram, February 27 The annual festival of St. Anthony's Church at Katchatheevu commenced on Friday with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag, as thousands of devotees from Tamil Nadu began their journey to the island shrine. A total of 3,996 pilgrims set off by sea to attend the festival at Katchatheevu, an islet located between India and Sri Lanka. The devotees departed from the Rameswaram port after completing mandatory checks by the police, revenue department, citizenship department, and customs authorities. Officials oversaw the verification process to ensure smooth travel arrangements for the pilgrims heading to the church festival, which draws participants from the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu every year. Earlier, Pongal celebrations were observed with enthusiasm across different parts of Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, festivities were visible in several neighbourhoods, including KK Nagar, where police personnel celebrated the harvest festival with their families outside the station premises. The personnel at the KK Nagar Police Station cooked the traditional Pongal dish in a cauldron and marked the occasion together. At St Matthias Catholic Church in Chennai, devotees also celebrated Pongal by preparing the traditional dish and exchanging greetings. The church premises witnessed people coming together in a spirit of harmony and thanksgiving. In Madurai, the traditional Jallikattu event was held at Avaniyapuram as part of the Pongal festivities. The bull-taming sport attracted large crowds, with at least 960 bull-tamers permitted to participate in the event, making it one of the key cultural highlights of the harvest festival. - ANI Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met with six recently surrendered top Maoist cadres and assured them of full government support for their security and rehabilitation. He emphasized that violence is not a permanent solution and that people's aspirations are met through democratic means. The surrendered cadres thanked the government and requested enhanced relief packages on par with neighboring states. The DGP noted that coordinated police efforts and improved policies have led 591 Maoists to reintegrate into society over the past two years. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy assures security & rehabilitation to surrendered Maoists, as 591 have reintegrated in two years following his call. Hyderabad, Feb 27 Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday assured all necessary support to the surrendered Maoists to help them live with dignity in society. He said that there would be no shortcomings in providing security and other rehabilitation benefits to the reintegrated Maoists. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy gave the assurance when six top cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist), who surrendered recently, called on him. According to the DGP office, the Chief Minister held a face-to-face discussion with the former Maoist leaders. He congratulated them for choosing the democratic path after spending many years in the forests. The Chief Minister remarked that violence cannot provide a permanent solution to any problem and that people's aspirations can be fulfilled only through democratic means. The cadres thanked the Chief Minister and the government for enabling them to choose to come to the mainstream by leaving armed struggle. They also urged him to enhance the relief and rehabilitation packages to the reintegrated cadres on par with the existing policies in neighbouring states. According to DGP Shivadhar Reddy, the reintegrated Maoists were given an opportunity, at their request, to meet the Chief Minister. The DGP stated that, responding to the Chief Minister's call, a total of 591 Maoists across the state had reintegrated during the last two years, and that they are now leading normal lives as ordinary citizens. He explained that coordinated efforts by the police department and the improved rehabilitation policies implemented by the government had also brought about a change among top leaders, which led them to decide to reintegrate into society with renewed faith in the democratic system. The surrendered Maoists who met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat include Thippiri Tirupati alias Devuji, who was a Central Committee Member, Polit Bureau Member and Central Military Commission (CMC) In-charge of CPI (Maoist) and Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram. Pothula Kalpana alias Sujatha, Pulluri Prasad Rao alias Chandranna, both former Central Committee members, Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar, who was Telangana State Committee (TSC) Secretary, and Nune Narsimha Reddy alias Ganganna, a former State Committee Member, also met the Chief Minister. - IANS News / National by Staff Reporter A delegation from the private sector will visit Mexico next week on a fact finding mission on how Zimbabwe can learn the best approach for producing grain through contract farming.Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara says Mexico is ranked as one of the countries with the best models of producing surplus grain in the world.He added that a delegation from the private sector will visit Mexico next week on a fact finding mission to study that country's contract farming model with a view to learning how it could be applied locally to support resettled farmers and boost grain production.According to the International Grain Council, Mexico is one of the world's biggest producers of grain and the country's maize production is forecast at 23.5 million tonnes this year. The Telangana government has released Rs 745 crore to clear pending bills for state employees, marking the seventh straight month of such disbursements. This action follows an assurance to employee unions to release at least Rs 700 crore monthly towards dues accumulated under the previous administration. In a related move, the state cabinet also approved a new accident insurance scheme and a cashless health scheme for all government employees and pensioners. These schemes will provide significant financial coverage without any premium cost to employees or additional burden on the government. Telangana govt releases Rs 745 crore to clear employee dues, continuing its monthly payment assurance. New insurance & health schemes also approved. Hyderabad, Feb 27 The government of Telangana has released Rs 745 crore towards pending bills payable to government employees in the state. On the direction of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who is also the Finance Minister, the Finance Department on Friday released the amount. This was the seventh consecutive month that the government has issued the funds to clear the pending bills. As part of the assurance given to employee unions, the government has been sanctioning not less than Rs 700 crore every month towards clearance of pending bills since June last year. Last month, the government had released Rs 720 crore. In December, 2025, officials of the Finance Department released bills amounting to Rs 713 crore. The state government had assured employee unions that an amount of Rs 700 crore would be released every month towards pending dues of government employees accumulated during the previous government's tenure. By the end of June, 2025, the government released Rs 183 crore. Thereafter, from August onwards, a minimum of Rs 700 crore has been consistently released every month. The pending bills were related to employees' gratuity, General Provident Fund (GPF), surrender leave encashment, and advances. In the first week of June that the State Cabinet decided to clear pending arrears of employees as on January 1, 2023, in 28 months. The Cabinet sanctioned at least Rs 700 crore every month to clear pending bills of employees. The decision came after the talks the employees' union had with the Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister. The employees had earlier threatened agitation to press their 57 demands. The Telangana Cabinet earlier this week approved an accident insurance scheme and a cashless health scheme for all government employees and pensioners in the state. No premium will be paid by employees and there will be no financial burden on the government for the insurance scheme, which will cover 5.19 lakh regular employees and 2.38 lakh pensioners (total 7.57 lakh beneficiaries). Under the scheme to be implemented through banks, Rs 1.2 crore compensation will be paid in case of accidental death. For natural death (up to 60 years), Rs 10 lakh will be paid in addition to regular benefits. The Cabinet also approved Cashless Employee Health Scheme (EHS), meeting a long-pending demand of employees. The scheme will cover 3.56 lakh employees, 2.88 lakh pensioners, and their dependent family members (total 17.07 lakh beneficiaries). Treatment will be completely cashless in all government hospitals and 652 empanelled private hospitals. This will cover 1,998 medical procedures. - IANS Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced the state will introduce India's first State AI Policy, developed with assistance from Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog. The policy will implement AI-based solutions for city management in the smart city of Agartala, including traffic control and public service delivery. This was announced during the launch of the Tripura State Innovation Mission, a novel state-level initiative to build a localized innovation ecosystem. The state is also establishing a Tripura AI Centre of Excellence and planning an IT and Data Economic Zone to foster technology growth. Tripura CM Manik Saha announces India's first state-level AI policy, focusing on AI-based city management and innovation ecosystems in Agartala. Agartala, February 27 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday announced that with the assistance of Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog, Tripura will come up with an artificial intelligence policy, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. He said that as Agartala is a smart city, the state government will introduce AI-based solutions for city management, including traffic management. CM Saha made this announcement while addressing the launch of the State Innovation Mission in Tripura at the International Exhibition Centre, Hapania, Agartala, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh. He said that the State Innovation Mission in Tripura is India's first such state-level innovation mission, in Tripura, something they had never imagined earlier. "We have focused on administrative and business reforms, digital governance, and forward-looking industrial and start-up policies. Tripura is the only state in the country where the entire government functioning from the Cabinet and State Secretariat to the three-tier village councils as well as Gram Panchayats is completely paperless. Good governance initiatives are aimed at providing economic opportunities to the people and translating youth aspirations into enterprise," said Saha. Saha said that this initiative helps states and Union Territories build strong localised innovation ecosystems based on their specific strengths. "This initiative helps states and Union Territories build strong localised innovation ecosystems based on their specific strengths. The Tripura State Innovation Mission is a novel initiative supported by the Atal Innovation Mission to create an ecosystem that nurtures talented enterprises, adopts cutting-edge technologies, and translates ideas into projects," said Saha. He said that the Tripura Institution for Transformation and the Department of Information Technology have collaborated with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and T-Hub to conceptualise and establish the Tripura State Innovation Mission and T-NEST. "The State Innovation Mission will nurture enterprises that solve problems in agriculture, green technology, digital services, tourism, healthcare, and beyond. Strategically positioned in the Northeast, Tripura has the potential to emerge as a regional innovation hub connecting India's growth story with the emerging Southeast Asian economic corridor," said Saha. Saha said that T-NEST has been established as the execution arm of the State Innovation Mission. T-NEST will serve as a bridge connecting campuses to markets, ideas to investment, and innovation to impact. "T-NEST will be linked with the upcoming state-of-the-art incubation innovation park at Chandmari, near the upcoming Airtel data center. Innovation centers will be set up across all eight districts and linked with T-NEST. Tripura will launch the country's first District Innovator Fellowships to foster grassroots innovators. With the assistance of the Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog, Tripura will introduce an artificial intelligence policy a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. As Agartala is a smart city, we will introduce AI-based solutions for city management such as traffic control. We believe this will help address traffic congestion, parking issues, power supply management, drinking water supply, flood control, solid and liquid waste management, and property assessment. Leading technology providers have expressed interest in sharing AI use cases to improve public service delivery in Agartala city," said Saha. Tripura Chief Minister said that the state government is in the process of establishing the Tripura AI Centre of Excellence with assistance from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. "We are also planning to set up a Tripura IT and Data Economic Zone to promote the IT, ITES, and data center ecosystem in the state, as the demand for software enterprises is growing. We have decided to establish an IT park to provide co-working spaces within a single campus," he added. During the event, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery, Member NITI Aayog V.K. Saraswat, IT and Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Secretary Kiran Gitte were also present in the event. - ANI US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, citing the island nation's severe economic troubles. His administration has intensified pressure through a fuel blockade signed in late January, aiming to weaken the communist government. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has stated openness to dialogue with the US but firmly rejects any negotiations under duress or preconditions. The White House maintains that Cuba is vulnerable and diplomacy is open, while figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio support regime change efforts. President Trump suggests a "friendly takeover" of Cuba as the US intensifies a fuel blockade, while Cuban President Diaz-Canel rejects talks under pressure. Washington DC, February 28 US President Donald Trump on Friday said Cuba is in serious economic trouble, suggesting the possibility of a "friendly takeover", as his administration intensifies pressure on the communist government in Havana through a fuel blockade. Speaking to reporters before a trip to Texas, Trump said, "The Cuban government is talking with us. They're in a big deal of trouble. They have no money. They have nothing right now. But they're talking with us... We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba." Trump signed an executive order at the end of January imposing a fuel blockade on the island, aiming to weaken the regime, which depends heavily on imported energy and food, as reported by The Hill. On February 6, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that his country is open to dialogue with the United States on any issue but firmly rejected talks under duress. According to France 24, Diaz-Canel insisted, "Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, a dialogue on any topic... but without pressure or preconditions." He emphasised that negotiations must occur "from a position of equals, with respect for our sovereignty, our independence and our self-determination," and without "interference in our internal affairs." Trump has repeatedly claimed ongoing negotiations with Havana, which Cuban authorities have denied, and warned the island to "make a deal" with Washington "BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," asserting that Cuba was "ready to fall." Trump has vowed to block Cuba's oil access, including by controlling Venezuelan supplies after the ouster of its leader last month in a US operation, and threatened tariffs on nations aiding Havana. The White House, through spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, described Cuba as being "on its last leg" and urged wiser statements toward the US President, while maintaining that diplomacy remains open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, along with Trump, has openly expressed interest in regime change in Havana. - ANI Aditya Rawal praised Anil Kapoor's unparalleled professionalism and collaborative spirit on the set of their upcoming film 'Subedaar'. He recalled a moment of hesitation during an action sequence where Kapoor sensed his nervousness and offered liberating advice, telling him not to take tension and just do what felt right. Rawal also shared that his father, Paresh Rawal, predicted he would have the time of his life learning from Kapoor's passion. The actor expressed gratitude for the challenging antagonist role, stating it was a testament to the makers' faith in his abilities early in his career. Aditya Rawal shares how Anil Kapoor's mentorship and iconic "Tu tension mat le" line helped him overcome hesitation while filming 'Subedaar'. New Delhi, February 27 Aditya Rawal, son of veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who has been part of movies such as 'Bamfaad' and 'Faraaz', praised Bollywood star Anil Kapoor for his professionalism, dedication, and generosity on set. He shared how Anil Kapoor helped him perform a scene during the shoot of 'Subedaar'. Directed by Suresh Triveni and produced by Vikram Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, and Suresh Triveni, 'Subedaar' is written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi and Prajwal Chandrashekar. In the film, Kapoor plays Subedaar Arjun Maurya, and Rawal will be seen as Prince. Speaking to ANI, Rawal said Anil Kapoor is one of the most professional, hungriest, involved, collaborative, and disciplined actors that he has ever worked with. "His involvement and collaboration on set are unmatched, even compared to younger actors. His professionalism and dedication is unmatched, which everyone in the industry knows." Aditya recounted an experience during an action sequence with Kapoor. Hesitant to perform a move in front of the Bollywood icon, he said, "There was an action scene, and I have to kind of like raise my hand (on him) and I was a bit hesitant because it is Anil Kapoor in front of me. Sir sensed my hesitation and simply put his arm around me and said, 'Tu tension mat le zara bhi tu kar jo tujhe sahi lagta hai..hum ek baar karenge sahi se karenge ek dam'...That liberated me completely and gave me the confidence to perform the scene. That could only happen because of his experience and generosity." He added that working alongside Kapoor was a tremendous learning experience, highlighting the veteran actor's ability to maintain focus and humility despite decades of success in the industry. "You spend a day with him on set and you will learn 10,000 things whether it's the stories he has to tell, whether it is how he is functioning in front of the camera or how he is functioning before action and after cut. It was just a phenomenal experience working with him," Rawal said. He also recalled what his father, veteran actor Paresh Rawal told him while he was going to share screen space with Kapoor. "He(Paresh Rawal) just said that 'you're going to have the time of your life working with Mr. Anil Kapoor, because the passion that he has will motivate you and you will get to learn so much from him. I'm sure you are going to come back with a smile on your face'," shared Aditya. Aditya, who plays an antagonist in 'Subedaar', also spoke about the uniqueness of his character and the film's overall vision, praising the director for creating a space that allows actors to explore and experiment while keeping the story grounded. "It's a character that is so no-holds-barred, so colourful in every way, so dangerous in every way. And to be able to, you know, even the whole look of the character is something unlike something I've done. I feel this role is truly a testament to the faith the makers have in my ability, especially because roles like this aren't typically offered early in one's career. To be entrusted to hold my own as a strong antagonist alongside legendary actors like Anil sir is humbling, and I'm incredibly grateful. Playing a character so different from myself is challenging, but having done it before, there's also a sense of freedom. Once we found who Prince is, working closely with Suresh sir, it became a matter of letting go and fully inhabiting the character," said the actor while talking about his character. Aditya feels that as an actor, he is fortunate to get an opportunity to play distinct roles in different projects. He portrayed Chota Babban, a character based on Chhota Rajan in the web series, 'Bambai Meri Jaan' On talking about the challenges of playing an antagonist, he said, "As an actor, I try to ensure that every role I take on is different from what I've done before. It's a way to constantly challenge myself, and it also gives audiences something fresh to experience with each project. I'm just glad to be that I'm getting the opportunities to play all these roles. Even stuff that's coming out after 'Subedaar' is very, very different from anything I've done." Besides Anil Kapoor and Radhikka Madan, the film also features Saurabh Shukla, Mona Singh, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar in pivotal roles. 'Subedaar' is set to premiere on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu across India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide on March 5, 2026. Apart from acting, Rawal is also passionate about writing, as he mentioned, "When I'm not shooting, I'm writing....I have two plays that are currently running. I am writing another play also. So currently caught up with all my dramatic work. But perhaps in the future, I will also be doing prose." - ANI UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended a special gathering of individuals who were present at the historic flag-raising ceremony marking the formation of the UAE in 1971. He viewed a collection of over 60 rare and previously unseen photographs documenting that pivotal day, including an original print signed by the nation's Founding Father. In a gesture of recognition, the President hosted an iftar for the witnesses, who shared their memories and pride in participating in the historic event. The President also engaged with attendees and their families, conveying Ramadan greetings and hopes for continued blessings. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed hosts gathering of those present at the 1971 flag-raising, views rare historical photos, and honors the legacy of Sheikh Zayed. Abu Dhabi, February 27 UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday attended a gathering of individuals who took part in the historic day on which the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, alongside his fellow Rulers, raised the UAE flag upon the formation of the Union. For the first time since that day, a number of those present have come together in this gathering. Nahyan also viewed a collection of more than 60 rare and previously unpublished photographs documenting historic scenes from the day the Union was formed and the flag of the United Arab Emirates was raised for the first time on 2 December 1971 at Union House in Dubai. The collection includes an original print signed by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as the original photographic negatives. He expressed his appreciation for the collection and its historical and symbolic significance in capturing defining moments in the nation's history. He recalled the pivotal role played by Sheikh Zayed and his fellow Rulers in realising the vision of unity and establishing the Union. In a gesture of recognition, the President hosted an iftar at Qasr Al Bahr for a number of individuals who witnessed Sheikh Zayed raising the UAE flag for the first time. They spoke of their pride in having taken part in one of the most significant moments in UAE history and shared their memories of the day the Union was formed. He also engaged in cordial conversation with attendees and their families, conveying Ramadan greetings and expressing his hopes that the holy month would bring continued blessings to the UAE and its people. - ANI Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made his first official visit to Japan, aiming to strengthen industrial ties and human resource exchange. He comprehensively presented the state's advantages, including its vast young population, extensive infrastructure, and status as India's "Food Basket." The visit was hosted by the Japan-India Governors' Network, led by Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, and attended by several major Japanese corporations. Companies from sectors like waste-to-energy, cosmetics, construction, and finance expressed specific interests and requirements for operating in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath pitches state's potential to Japanese firms, highlighting young workforce, infrastructure, and agriculture. Tokyo, February 27 Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state made first visiting to Japan. Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state visits Japan aiming to expand industrial relation and human resource exchange. At Japan side, members of Japan-India Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange lead by Kotaro Nagasaki Governor of Yamanashi Pref. welcomed. 7 private companies attend and introduced their contribution and requirement to Uttar Pradesh state. Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister introduced charm and advantage of Uttar Pradesh state comprehensively and about detail points. It convinced Japanese company executives. "Uttar Pradesh state has maximum population 250million in India. In it 50 % are young and current labor power. It means infinite possibility of investment. Fulfilled infrastructure covers 55% high way of India, railway and metro operation, maximum number of airport 5th Noida Int. airport will launch. Among Meerut and Delhi, rapid transit railway connects only in 50 minutes, comparing previous transportation's 3 hours it was shortened." He emphasized advantage of logistic and transportation for various products. Regarding agriculture situation"11% of Indian agricultural land belong to Uttar Pradesh, its fertile land produce 21% of Indian grain. It is Indian Food Basket. Vast land is available to construct big industrial park." His introduction and concern covered wide field. "Big population needs effective waste treatment. Cosmetics, Pharmacy park, Dairy farm, Hydrogen energy have big possibility. Especially more than 20,000 startups including 10,000 ladies leaders are aggressive." Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki welcomed Yogi's first Japan visiting. "Yamanashi Pref. is in charge of gateway among Uttar Pradesh state with other 8 prefecture's governors. Japanese private companies have big interest. From now we wish to sprout new bud." From Japanese companies various concern and requirement are introduced. Kanadevia Corp. has the strong point in the field of electricity generation by garbage burning, bio gas, water treatment and hydrogen supply chain. Kanadevia's hydrogen and keep environment technology will contribute to establish clean society. KOSE Corp. is a representative cosmetic brand. Since 2013 it develops to Indian market by local skin care brand "Spawake". KOSE analyze Indian cosmetics and personal care market is huge and requires special treatment for OEM production and import of material from local company. KYOWA Leather Cloth Co. produces artificial leather for mobility. It keeps first place in Japan and globally second place. 2024 it established local subsidiary company and have the plan to construct production factory near by Noida ap. KYOWA prospect the production number of Indian car will increase dynamically and it will bring business opportunity. SHIMIZU Corp. established local subsidiary in 2011 and contributed to construct harbor, subway and production facility. Utilizing this opportunity SHIMIZU target business development to north area. Sumitomo Mitsui FGG has 1,000 bases for financial service. It targets Japanese company's development to India to expand financial service. SUNTORY HD has the base of spirits business and shipping Indian original brand "Oaksmith". SUNTORY requires to simplify registration procedure of new brand. TOMOE SHOKAI CO. has the Indian base to export and import of special gas. In it especially hydrogen gas field will contribute to energy change, industrial gas demand and semiconductor supply chain of Uttar Pradesh state. Development of connection among Uttar Pradesh state and Japan was encouraged Indian consultant Neerendra Upadhyaya. He evaluated quick progress of both sides. "Since 2024 December exchange of MOU, Uttar Pradesh state and Yamanashi Pref. made tremendous hard work to reach to new relation stage. It means strong and appropriate gateway. Cooperation of 9 prefectures' Governors is good combination for mutual benefit and create clear roadmap." Indian VIP's appearance and convincible statement encouraged Japan side. Japanese prefectures and private companies will respond to passionate message. It is the dawn of stronger and long lasting relationship of India and Japan. - ANI Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made his first official visit to Japan, aiming to expand industrial relations and human resource exchange. He comprehensively presented the state's advantages, including its massive young population, developed infrastructure, and status as India's "Food Basket." The visit was hosted by the Japan-India Governors' Network, led by Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, and featured presentations from seven Japanese companies across sectors like cosmetics, construction, and hydrogen energy. The engagement, facilitated by consultant Neerendra Upadhyaya, marks a significant step in strengthening economic ties between Uttar Pradesh and multiple Japanese prefectures. UP CM Yogi Adityanath pitches state's young workforce, logistics, and agriculture to Japanese firms during first official visit to Japan. Tokyo, February 27 Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state, made first visit to Japan. Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state is visiting Japan aiming to expand industrial relations and human resource exchange. At Japan side, members of the Japan-India Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange lead by Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Yamanashi, welcomed 7 private companies attending and introduced their contributions and requirements to Uttar Pradesh state. Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, introduced the charm and advantages of Uttar Pradesh state comprehensively and in detail. It convinced Japanese company executives. "Uttar Pradesh state has the maximum population 250million in India. In it, 50 % are young and current labour power. It means an infinite possibility of investment. Fulfilled infrastructure covers 55% high way of India, railway and metro operations, the maximum number of airports, including the 5th Noida International Airport, will launch. Among Meerut and Delhi, the rapid transit railway takes only 50 minutes, comparing previous transportation's 3 hours, it was shortened." He emphasized advantage of logistics and transportation for various products. Regarding agriculture situation, "11% of Indian agricultural land belongs to Uttar Pradesh, its fertile land produce 21% of Indian grain. It is an Indian Food Basket. Vast land is available to construct a big industrial park." His introduction and concern covered a wide field. "Big population needs effective waste treatment. Cosmetics, Pharmacy park, Dairy farm, Hydrogen energy have big possibility. Especially more than 20,000 startups, including 10,000 lady leaders, are aggressive." Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki welcomed Yogi's first Japan visiting. "Yamanashi Pref. is in charge of the gateway between Uttar Pradesh state with other 8 prefectures' governors. Japanese private companies have big interest. From now we wish to sprout new bud." From Japanese companies, various concerns and requirements are introduced. Kanadevia Corp. has a strong point in the field of electricity generation by garbage burning, biogas, water treatment and hydrogen supply chain. Kanadevia's hydrogen and keep environment technology will contribute to establish clean society. KOSE Corp. is a representative cosmetic brand. Since 2013, it develops to Indian market by the local skin care brand "Spawake". KOSE analyze Indian cosmetics and personal care market, which is huge and requires special treatment for OEM production and import of materials from local companies. KYOWA Leather Cloth Co. produces artificial leather for mobility. It keeps first place in Japan and second place globally. In 2024, it established a local subsidiary company and has the plan to construct a production factory near Noida. KYOWA prospect the production number of Indian cars will increase dynamically, and it will bring business opportunities. SHIMIZU Corp. established a local subsidiary in 2011 and contributed to the construction of the harbour, subway and production facility. Utilising this opportunity, SHIMIZU targets business development to north area. Sumitomo Mitsui FGG has 1,000 bases for financial services. It targets Japanese companies' development in India to expand financial services. SUNTORY HD has the base of the spirits business and shipping the Indian original brand "Oaksmith". SUNTORY requires simplifying the registration procedure of new brand. TOMOE SHOKAI CO has an Indian base to export and import of special gas. In it, especially the hydrogen gas field will contribute to energy change, industrial gas demand and the semiconductor supply chain of Uttar Pradesh state. The development of connection among Uttar Pradesh state and Japan was encouraged by Indian consultant Neerendra Upadhyaya. He evaluated the quick progress of both sides. "Since 2024 December exchange of MOU, Uttar Pradesh state and Yamanashi Pref. made tremendous hard work to reach a new relationship stage. It means a strong and appropriate gateway. Cooperation of 9 prefectures' Governors is a good combination for mutual benefit and create clear roadmap." Indian VIP's appearance and convincing statement encouraged Japan side. Japanese prefectures and private companies will respond to a passionate message. It is the dawn of a stronger and long-lasting relationship between India and Japan. - ANI The final day of Bihar's Budget Session was marked by significant uproar, with disaster management taking center stage. Legislators, led by Begusarai MLA Kundan Kumar, demanded the State Disaster Response Force be deployed at the subdivision level, citing over 2,500 drowning deaths in 2024-25. In response, Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary assured the House that an SDRF expansion program is underway, with plans to gradually reach the subdivision level. The issue is expected to remain a key point of discussion as the government strengthens disaster infrastructure. Bihar's Budget Session ends with uproar as MLAs demand SDRF deployment at subdivision level for faster disaster response, citing drowning deaths. Patna, Feb 27 The final day of the Budget Session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed significant uproar in both Houses on Friday. While several important issues were taken up for discussion, leaders from the ruling alliance were also seen cornering their own government over various concerns and the issue of State Disaster Response Force expansion also took centre stage. Amid the heated exchanges, a crucial issue related to disaster management dominated proceedings, with Legislators demanding the deployment of the SDRF at the subdivision level. Raising the matter in the Assembly, Begusarai MLA Kundan Kumar stated that 2,547 people lost their lives due to drowning during 2024-25. He questioned whether SDRF teams could be deployed at the subdivision level instead of being limited to district headquarters and whether the force would be strengthened with upgraded resources. Several other MLAs, including representatives from Sitamarhi and Chhatapur, supported the demand. They argued that due to the absence of SDRF teams at the grassroots level and inadequate resources, timely relief operations often fail to reach victims, resulting in greater loss of life. Responding to the concerns, Water Resource and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary informed the House that the SDRF was established under the vision of the present government and that its expansion program is currently underway. He said the SDRF headquarters has been set up in Patna's Bihta and that personnel are receiving national as well as international-level training. The government, he added, plans to gradually expand the SDRF's presence to the subdivision level to ensure faster response during emergencies. The minister assured members that the objective of the government is to provide prompt and effective disaster response, minimising the loss of life and property. The issue is expected to remain a key point of discussion as the government moves forward with plans to strengthen disaster management infrastructure across the state. - IANS The US Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a security alert advising American citizens to consider leaving Israel. It has authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their families due to safety risks. The advisory includes stringent warnings against travel to Gaza, the West Bank, and areas near the Lebanese, Syrian, and Egyptian borders. This comes as the US significantly increases its military presence in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier. US Embassy in Jerusalem issues security alert, authorizing departure of non-emergency personnel and advising citizens to reconsider travel to Israel. Jerusalem, February 27 The US Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday issued a security alert advising that "persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available". This guidance arrives as Washington significantly intensifies its military presence in the region, highlighted by the deployment of the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, off the northern coast of Israel, according to The Times of Israel. The advisory was issued on Friday amid these escalating tensions. Pointing to "safety risks", the US mission confirmed in an official statement that "the Department of State has authorised the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of US government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks". Further highlighting the volatility, the mission cautioned that "in response to security incidents and without advance notice, the US Embassy may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their family members from travelling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank". In tandem with these personnel movements, American citizens have been urged to re-evaluate plans to visit "Israel due to terrorism and civil unrest, and to the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest". Stringent warnings were also issued against entering specific high-risk zones, including Gaza, cited for "terrorism and armed conflict," as well as the area within "11.3 km/7 miles of the Gaza periphery". Additionally, the embassy advised against travel within "4 kilometres/2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders" in northern Israel due to "continued military presence and activity". Travellers were also warned to stay away from the Egyptian border within "2.4 km/1.5 miles," with the exception of the Taba crossing, which currently stays open. In a subsequent update citing the embassy's announcement, the Israel War Room noted that the US State Department has permitted the exit of non-emergency staff from Mission Israel in response to "security risks". This step is described as a "precautionary measure" taken during a period of increased regional instability. Consequently, individuals are encouraged to stay informed through regular updates and to review their travel arrangements in light of the situation. - ANI Scientists from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing presented a study to maintain ecological balance during the Badrinath Corridor Development Project. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over 41 crore in Tehri Garhwal, including upgrading a Primary Health Centre. He emphasized timely project completion and prioritizing basic facilities in hill regions. The CM also met with the Governor to discuss state developmental projects and contemporary issues. Scientists present ecological study for Badrinath Corridor. CM Dhami launches health & infra projects in Tehri. State focuses on sustainable hill development. Dehradun, February 27 Scientists from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing presented a scientific study before Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan regarding maintaining ecological and ecosystem balance during the ongoing construction work under the Badrinath Corridor Development Project on Thursday in Dehradun. On the occasion, the Chief Secretary stated that such scientific studies are extremely important in the present time. In a mountainous state like Uttarakhand, maintaining environmental balance alongside development activities is essential. He clarified that wherever such scientific assessments are required, their use will be ensured and also directed that the survey findings be verified as needed. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Central Command, paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Chief Minister's residence. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the inauguration and foundation-laying programme for several development projects along with the Bhoomi Pujan of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) upgradation in Tehri Garhwal on Thursday. He laid the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 41.21 crore in Ghansali, Tehri district, which includes three inaugurated projects worth Rs 13.43 crore and five new ones worth Rs 27.78 crore. During the ceremony, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation for upgrading the Primary Health Centre, Pilkhi, into a Community Health Centre. He honoured Krishna Gairola and his family for donating land for the hospital. The Chief Minister said, "Projects whose foundation stones have been laid should not face delays, and their timely completion and inauguration will be ensured. The state government is prioritising basic facilities such as roads, healthcare, and education in the hill regions. With strong determination, even the lack of resources can be overcome." On the same day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) at Lok Bhavan on Thursday. During the meeting, the two leaders held discussions on various developmental projects in the state as well as other contemporary issues. - ANI News / National by Staff Reporter The Zimbabwe Republic Police is lobbying for a legislation against pirate taxis and kombi crews.In an interview with State Media, the Officer commanding Police National Traffic, Senior Assistant Commissioner Fellie Chikowero-Mjanga said there is need for a new law to deal with pirate taxis commonly known as 'mushikashika' and omnibus crews.Snr Asst Comm Chikowero-Mjanga said the police "want an amendment of the legislation to take into account of mushikashika."She said the police force had noted that preventative measures would ingrain discipline among motorists.Snr Asst Comm Chikowero-Mjanga expressed concern over some kombi drivers who were illegally employing touts to load their vehicles especially in the CBD.She said the practice is widespread in Harare and at one point a cop was thumped down while upholding the law.She encouraged kombi proprietors to be strict with their drivers on such practices. Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh stated that the Vayu Shakti 2026 exercise was a display of the Indian Air Force's precision and a reminder of its execution of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack. The exercise demonstrated how the IAF dominated the escalation ladder and used precise targeting to achieve strategic objectives. It featured 130 aircraft, including fighters and helicopters, firing 277 weapons with a massive explosive quotient. The event at the Pokhran range showcased the IAF's networked operations, firepower accuracy, and the capabilities of its special Garuda Force. Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh explains how Vayu Shakti 2026 demonstrated the IAF's precise execution of Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack. Jaisalmer, Pokhran, February 27 Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh on Friday said Vayu Shakti 2026 was not just a display of air power but a reminder of how the Indian Air Force executed Operation Sindoor with precision and resolve after the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to ANI, Singh said that Vayu Shakti 2026 will also remind Operation Sindoor, how the Indian Air Force avenged the lives of its innocent people by destroying the enemies. "This time in Vayu Shakti 2026, we showcased a small glimpse of the Air Force's motto, which is now 'Achook, Abhedya, aur Sateek' (Unerring, Impenetrable, and Precise). And in this, we demonstrated how we executed Operation Sindoor. How, after a trigger event - the Pahalgam attack in which our civilians were killed - we took action, dominated the escalation ladder, and forced the enemy to come to the negotiating table through our actions and precise targeting," he said. Singh added that the Indian Air Force taught the enemy a lesson in an unmistakable, controlled and accurate manner, and Pakistan knelt before India for a ceasefire. "There are 130 aircraft, which include fighters, transport helicopters, and some RPAs (Remotely Piloted Aircraft). It was shown that around 277 weapons will be fired, carrying a net explosive quotient of 12,000. It demonstrated right in front of you what kind of effect that will have on the ground," he added. Exercise 'Vayu Shakti' is working as a platform for the Indian Air Force, so that it can show the full potential of its very trendy and motivated air warriors to the entire country and senior leadership, as they operate a variety of state-of-the-art and legacy systems well. Vayu Shakti-2026 showed the Indian Air Force's ability to operate in a networked environment, showing the firepower and accuracy of its air and surface-based weapon systems and special forces. During the display, frontline fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters and surface-to-air missile systems showed their operational capabilities. In addition, the troops of the Garuda Force of the IAF showed their combat capability in the special operation. The organisation of today's exercise showed the IAF's ability to operate with the highest level of competence and accuracy, regardless of environmental conditions. It is very true that the air power showing the strength of the Indian Air Force is the Pokhran Field Firing Range instead of 2026. The range is near Jaisalmer and is closely linked to the country's strategic expectations, as it is a place for testing a wide range of weapons. However, several air-to-ground weapon firing ranges exist, where all of the IAF's airborne weapon platforms undergo heavy weapons delivery training. However, this large place in the dry desert of Rajasthan is more important because of its large size and safety zone, where some special weapons can be fired and tested only at this range. At least once a year, all IAF squadrons come to Pokhran to practice delivering their dangerous weapons. - ANI Producer Vipul Shah has welcomed the Kerala High Court's decision to lift the interim stay on the release of his film, 'The Kerala Story 2 - Goes Beyond'. He revealed the film was reviewed by an expanded eight-member censor committee, which included two social workers from Kerala to ensure accurate representation. Shah also addressed critical remarks made by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, questioning the seriousness of his opinions. He stated he is awaiting a response from Kashyap after a social media user posed a pointed question regarding one of Kashyap's past films. Producer Vipul Shah welcomes Kerala High Court order lifting stay on 'The Kerala Story 2', details 8-member censor panel, and responds to Anurag Kashyap. Mumbai, Feb 27 Producer Vipul Shah, whose film 'The Kerala Story 2 - Goes Beyond' has been cleared for the release by the Kerala High Court, has reacted to the court order. The producer spoke with the media on Friday, and shared his thoughts on the lifting of the interim stay on his film. He welcomed the court's decision, and revealed that the film had been examined by a committee of eight experts. He conducted a recent press conference in Mumbai on Friday where he gave the details of the court's proceedings. He told the media, "Now, there is no point in further discussion following the High Court's order. The honourable judges did not find any shortcomings in the functioning of the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)". He added, "I want to make a clarification, generally, a film's censor screening involves a five-member committee. However, for this film, there were eight members, including two social workers from Kerala, to ensure there was no misrepresentation related to the state". He also reacted to Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap's remarks on his film. He said that he is waiting for a comment from Anurag after the 'Gangs of Wasseypur' director was served with a counter by a social media user. He said, "I don't make any personal comments about Anurag. It's his own opinion. And my audience, they had a very good topic. The answer to that has not yet come from Anurag". "Anurag had made a film, 'That Girl in Yellow Boots'. It was about a father and daughter's romantic relationship. 'So, a person who makes a film of a physical relationship between a father and daughter, should we take his comments seriously?'. This was the question raised by Kamakhya. I was hoping that Anurag would speak very openly, very openly. So, he might speak. I think his answer might come in the coming days. From my personal point of view, I don't take any person's opinion seriously", he added. - IANS Union Minister Piyush Goyal says India is monitoring the US Supreme Court's tariff ruling, engaging in dialogue, and committed to protecting national interests. New Delhi, February 27 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said India is in a wait-and-watch mode following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on U.S. tariffs, describing the situation as "evolving" and asserting that the government remains committed to protecting the country's interests. Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, the minister said India is closely monitoring developments while continuing dialogue with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. "This is an evolving situation. We are watching what is happening. We are in dialogue with the administration in the U.S. and, of course, internal consultations. We will have to wait and watch and ensure the best interests of India are protected," Goyal said. He reassured stakeholders that India remains committed to engagement. "I can reassure all the friends in the room and all your viewers and all our countrymen that India stays committed to engaging for the best possible opportunities," he added. Goyal noted that the opportunities negotiated with the United States were aimed at securing the best possible deal for India in terms of competitive advantage over other emerging economies and developing nations, and to open doors for greater engagement in areas of national interest. When asked whether India's position in negotiations was changing after the Supreme Court verdict, Goyal reiterated that the situation remains fluid. Referring to recent remarks by President Trump, he said there are various tools that the U.S. administration could use and that "different evolving dialogues" are underway. "There are different evolving dialogues that are going on. We'll have to watch. And by the way, you must have read my joint statement that we have finalized with the U.S. It has categorically said that should the circumstances change, the deal would be rebalanced," the Minister stated.. Responding to a question on whether a 15 per cent tariff, compared to 18 per cent, could serve as an incentive, Goyal said it would allow exports to continue without hindrance. However, he emphasised that the deal contains several additional positive elements beyond tariff numbers. "Trade deal or international trade is about comparative advantage," he said. "If everybody is at X rate, nobody gets a competitive advantage. But if I am lower than somebody else who is my competitor, I have a comparative advantage." He noted that at 50 per cent tariff, India was at a huge disadvantage in exports. Bringing it down to a level lower than competitors, he said, was a huge win for India. The minister maintained that while details cannot be shared until the deal is finalised, there are "so many more positives" in the agreement and urged stakeholders to wait and watch how the situation moves forward. - ANI The U.S. State Department has authorized the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from Israel due to safety risks. It maintains a Level 3 advisory, urging Americans to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank, while Gaza and northern Israel near the Lebanese and Syrian borders carry a "Do Not Travel" warning. The department denied reports of authorizing evacuations from Iraq and Kuwait. The decision responds to security incidents, and the U.S. Embassy may further restrict staff travel without advance notice. US State Department authorizes departure of non-emergency personnel from Israel, maintains Level 3 travel advisory for Israel and West Bank. Washington, Feb 27 Amidst escalating tension in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department on Friday authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from Israel, even as it retained its Level 3 advisory urging Americans to "Reconsider Travel" to Israel and the West Bank. In an updated Travel Advisory, the Department said it had "authorised the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks." It clarified there was "no change to the Travel Advisory level" and that the update replaces the previous advisory issued on July 13, 2025. The advisory warned that "the security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning." "Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza," it said. Gaza remains under a "Do Not Travel" warning due to terrorism and armed conflict." Northern Israel near the Lebanese and Syrian borders is also listed as "Do Not Travel" due to continued military presence and activity. Meanwhile, the State Department denied reports that it authorised the immediate evacuation of non-essential personnel from Iraq and Kuwait. "This is not true," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X in response to a post in this regard from an Israeli news channel. The United States routinely reviews its travel advisories based on security assessments. Israel and the Palestinian territories have faced recurring unrest in recent years, prompting sustained diplomatic and security engagement by Washington. The State Department also said it has taken the decision on Israel in response to security incidents, and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available. - IANS Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde commits to elevating Marathi as a language of economy and global recognition on Marathi Language Gaurav Day. Mumbai, February 27 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday clarified that the government is committed to ensuring that Marathi becomes not only a language of culture but also a language of economy and employment. In a special program titled 'Jave Vinodka Gaon' organised in the Legislative Assembly on the occasion of Marathi Language Gaurav Day, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mentioned concrete policy steps for the preservation of Marathi, such as creating an encyclopedia, organising literary conferences and increasing the use of Marathi in government affairs. The program was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, as well as Anna Bansode, Chandrakant Patil, Uday Samant, Ashutosh Kale and many ministers, MLAs and public representatives. The program was coordinated by Kedar Shinde, Hrishikesh Joshi, Prabhu Desai, Dhanashree Damle and their team. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde said that the Marathi language is a sacred stream carrying thousands of years of cultural tradition. Citing the lines "We are lucky, Marathi speaks to us", he saluted the poet Kusumagraj and gratefully greeted the saints, poets, writers, scholars, teachers and researchers. He stated that Marathi is the identity that flows through the veins of Maharashtra. Shinde thanked the central government, recalling that the state government has consistently pursued making Marathi a classical language. He said that a crown of respect has been placed on the crown of Marathi and that emphasis on education and study in the mother tongue is the need of the hour. He clarified that the government is trying to ensure that Marathi is used effectively in all sectors as a business language. He said that efforts are being made at the policy level to translate excellent literary works in Marathi into other languages, increase the use of Marathi in administration and make it a language of income generation. He appealed to everyone to contribute to creating an ocean of success through small efforts, and to create an ocean of Marathi. In the age of technology, Marathi has assimilated changes in line with the times, and various forms of Marathi are also visible on social media. Stating that the diversity of dialects is the strength of Marathi, he mentioned dialects like Khandeshi, Malvani, Konkani, Varhadi, etc. He appealed to increase the fame of Marathi by making effective use of available resources. He said that the government is updating the entries in the encyclopedia, creating a children's encyclopedia, a Kumar encyclopedia, an Olympic encyclopedia, and providing a platform for Marathi at the global level through the World Marathi Literature Conference. He also mentioned that the work of bringing Marathi brothers from all over the world is being done through this conference. Shinde said that the tradition of Marathi humour was highlighted through the program 'Java Vinodka Gaava' organised in the run-up to the Legislative Assembly session, and mentioned the humorous styles of Acharya Atre and P. L. Deshpande. He said that the Marathi man who finds humour even in times of crisis is his identity. Making an emotional exclamation, "Marathi in my blood, Marathi in my breath," Deputy Chief Minister Shinde expressed his resolve to carry forward the heritage of my Marathi with more vigour on Marathi Language Gaurav Day. Appealing to everyone to make united efforts to keep the flag of Marathi flying across the oceans, he wished the attendees a happy Marathi Language Gaurav Day. - ANI Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for approving a dedicated jetty for green hydrogen at Paradip Port. The 797.17 crore project, with a 4 million tonnes per annum capacity, is designed to position Odisha as a key player in the green energy export sector. It will provide critical logistics to connect the state's emerging green hydrogen clusters to international markets. The project, to be completed within 24 months, is expected to accelerate green investments and generate employment in the region. Odisha CM Mohan Majhi thanks PM Modi for approving a 797 crore green hydrogen jetty at Paradip Port to boost clean energy exports and logistics. Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal for approving the construction of a 797.17 crore dedicated jetty at Paradip Port to handle green hydrogen, ammonia and other liquid cargo. Taking to his X handle, CM Majhi said the project will position Odisha as a future-ready maritime economy and strengthen its role in the emerging green energy sector. "With a capacity of 4 MTPA, this project will connect Odisha's emerging green hydrogen production clusters to global markets, strengthen clean energy export logistics and advance India's National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative will further accelerate green investments, generate employment and reinforce Odisha's role in building a sustainable and future-ready maritime economy," said Majhi. It is pertinent here to mention that the project, which got the approval on Thursday, will be implemented by Paradip Port Authority on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The proposed facility will have a handling capacity of 4.0 million tonnes per annum and is designed to strengthen Paradip Port's role as a hub for green energy cargo. The infrastructure will include a dedicated jetty, storage systems, pipelines, handling equipment and associated facilities. The jetty will have a centre-to-centre distance of 279 metres between extreme end dolphins and a dredged depth of 14.3 metres in front of the berth to enable safe handling of liquid cargo vessels. Paradip Port Authority will provide capital support equivalent to 20 per cent of the project cost, amounting to 159.43 crore, during the construction phase. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months. Officials said the project is aligned with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and is expected to support investments in green energy infrastructure in Odisha while strengthening port-based logistics for clean energy commodities. The proposed jetty will incorporate specialised infrastructure and advanced safety systems for handling and storing green energy derivatives and other liquid cargo, supporting the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem around Paradip Port. - IANS The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has withdrawn a Class 8 Social Science textbook containing a controversial chapter on the judiciary. Officials clarified the book was drafted by a committee of subject experts, which included a lawyer, and stated there is no separate mandatory vetting process for legal content. The Supreme Court has imposed a blanket ban on the book, ordered the seizure of all copies, and suggested a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" to defame the judiciary. The Education Ministry and NCERT are now investigating how the "inappropriate textual material" was included and are taking steps to halt its digital dissemination. NCERT withdraws Class 8 Social Science textbook after controversial judiciary chapter. Supreme Court calls it a "conspiracy" and orders seizure. Officials explain drafting process. By Vishu Adhana, New Delhi, February 27 The now-withdrawn Class 8 Social Science textbook was drafted by a committee of subject experts that included a lawyer, officials said, adding that there is no separate procedure requiring chapters to be vetted independently by members of the legal fraternity. The clarification comes amid reports claiming that the controversial chapter on the judiciary in now withdrawn book- Exploring Society: India and Beyond- was not reviewed by the legal fraternity. When asked whether it is mandatory for a chapter dealing with the judiciary to be vetted separately by members of the legal fraternity, the official said, "That is not how textbooks are written. There is no mandatory clause requiring such separate vetting. This is a misconception." The official said the committee comprised experts from relevant fields and that additional expertise can be invited where required. "There is a certain process for writing textbooks. The books are written by subject experts, reviewed extensively, and eventually vetted by the National Syllabus Learning Teaching Material Committee before publication. The book is read by many people within NCERT. There is usually a lot of debate and changes before it is finalised," the official said, explaining the process of preparing the book. However, the official acknowledged that "inappropriate textual material has crept into the textbook," calling it an error of judgment for which NCERT has already expressed regret and withdrawn the book. The Supreme Court has called for action against those responsible for drafting the controversial chapter, observing that there appeared to be a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" to defame the judiciary. The court imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 book and directed that all physical and digital copies be seized. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed dismay over the content and assured that accountability would be fixed. NCERT on Wednesday issued a public apology and halted the distribution of the textbook after acknowledging that inappropriate material had found its way into the chapter titled "The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society." The book, released on February 24, introduced a section discussing challenges faced by the judiciary, including corruption and case pendency. Meanwhile, NCERT, along with the Education Ministry, has initiated steps to rectify the error, officials added. Sources said NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani is examining the circumstances under which the content was included and will identify the persons or procedures responsible. The Education Ministry has also written to the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology, seeking immediate steps to halt the dissemination of the withdrawn textbook through digital and electronic platforms. - ANI The Indian Medical Association has welcomed the Government of India's decision to launch a free nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to formally launch the initiative from Ajmer, Rajasthan, on February 28, 2026. IMA President Dr. Anil Kumar J Nayak highlighted the campaign's potential to free women from cervical cancer, which claims thousands of lives annually. The IMA, having already trained thousands of doctors, has pledged full support to the government to achieve maximum coverage under this pan-India drive. IMA welcomes PM Modi's nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign for girls, aiming to eliminate cervical cancer and save thousands of women's lives. New Delhi, February 27 The Indian Medical Association has welcomed the Government of India's decision to launch a free nationwide Human Papillomavirus vaccination campaign, terming it a transformative step in the fight against cervical cancer. The national rollout is scheduled for February 28, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to formally launch the initiative from Ajmer, Rajasthan. Dr Anil Kumar J Nayak, President of the IMA, lauded the move, highlighting the urgent need for preventive action against cervical cancer. "On 28th February, PM Modi will launch the national HPV vaccination campaign against cervical cancer from Ajmer, Rajasthan. Almost 77,000 women in villages lose their lives because of cervical cancer. In the coming decades, women will be free from cervical cancer. I congratulate the government," he told ANI. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the IMA, representing over four lakh doctors across the country, extended its heartfelt congratulations on the launch of the nationwide drive. The Association expressed appreciation for the government's decision to provide free HPV vaccination to adolescent girls aged 14 years across India, describing it as a visionary initiative that will safeguard the health and lives of millions of women. The IMA noted that it had earlier written to the Prime Minister on January 22, 2026, urging that HPV vaccination be highlighted in the "Mann Ki Baat" programme to generate mass awareness. It also wrote to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on January 23, proposing that the vaccine be made available free of cost to girls between 9 and 14 years of age, along with GST exemption, direct subsidy support, and financial assistance to NGOs facilitating vaccination. The Association underscored that, in collaboration with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), it has already trained more than 30,000 doctors for counselling and HPV vaccination initiatives nationwide. With over 1,800 local branches, the IMA has offered full support to assist the government in achieving maximum coverage under the pan-India drive. Reiterating its commitment, the IMA said, "It stands firmly with the government in the mission to eliminate cervical cancer among women in India." - ANI Young Jammu-based fashion designer Pragya Aggarwal presented her collection 'Himalayan Panchatantra' at a show in her hometown. The 22-look collection reinterpreted local crafts like cotton weaving and Pashmina into contemporary garments. Models from Delhi praised the show's execution and the beauty of Jammu city. Aggarwal stated her goal is to highlight Jammu and Kashmir's cultural richness beyond conventional narratives. Young designer Pragya Aggarwal's 'Himalayan Panchatantra' collection in Jammu blends traditional Pashmina, weaving with modern style. Jammu, February 28 Young fashion designer Pragya Aggarwal from Jammu showcased her creative talent at a fashion show held in her hometown, bringing attention to the creative spirit of Jammu and Kashmir. The show, themed 'Himalayan Panchatantra', was inspired by the foothills of the Himalayas and reflected the colours of the mountains, soil and natural landscapes of the region. The collection featured 22 curated looks that blended traditional craftsmanship with modern silhouettes, aiming to present Jammu's heritage in a contemporary format. Speaking about the concept, Pragya said the idea was to reinterpret local crafts such as cotton weaving, Pashmina, Basohli-inspired elements and silver embellishments into modern garments. "How do we showcase our heritage in a contemporary way? That is what this show represents," she told ANI, adding that returning to Jammu to present her work was a deeply personal milestone. A runway model from Delhi expressed her appreciation for the show and the city. "We are here for the brand October, and we loved it, the clothes, the execution, the audience, everything was top-notch. Jammu is a beautiful city with beautiful people," she said, encouraging the youth to stay aware of global fashion and lifestyle trends. Another model, who visited Jammu for the first time, said the experience was memorable. "The theme reflects the mountains and nature. The colours blend beautifully with the environment. We were told to maintain a subtle and slow walk in sync with the music, which added to the elegance of the presentation," she said. Pragya emphasised that her goal is to let the outer world know about Jammu and Kashmir beyond headlines and to encourage people to visit and experience its beauty. - ANI Defending Against Data Breaches in the Age of Deepfakes Key Takeaways AI-driven social engineering is escalating: Universities are increasingly targeted with phishing, impersonation, and voice-cloning attacks, especially during peak operational periods. Decentralized IT increases exposure: Sensitive data including student records, financial aid, payroll, donor files, and research is managed across fragmented systems with inconsistent verification practices. Verification habits reduce risk: Pausing before sharing data, confirming requests through separate channels, and watching for deepfake red flags are emphasized as key defenses. Higher education is facing an increasingly aggressive and coordinated threat environment. The recent string of data breaches across the Ivy League highlights how threat actors are systematically testing elite establishments. Now, as AI drives increased frequency and sophistication in social engineering an attack method that manipulates human psychology universities are becoming a growing target. This risk is compounded by the nature of higher education itself. Universities are uniquely exposed because of the volume of sensitive data they manage. From student records and financial aid information to payroll data, donor files, alumni databases, and cutting-edge research, higher education institutions represent a high-value focus for cyber criminals, who thrive in environments where trust-based workflows are the norm and staff are stretched thin. Increasingly, attackers are exploiting people rather than systems. Threat actors take advantage of moments of urgency, rely on impersonation, and capitalize on assumptions that a request from familiar authority figures is legitimate. World Economic Forum research indicates that cyber-enabled fraud now affects the majority of global executives, with phishing and impersonation emerging as the dominant attack methods. As social-engineering attacks surpass ransomware as the top cyber risk, institutions must reevaluate their cybersecurity practices. Structural and Operational Vulnerabilities Within Universities Many of the risks facing higher education stem from long-standing structural and organizational challenges rather than a lack of awareness. Universities often operate within highly decentralized IT environments, with multiple departments managing their own systems, vendors, and data flows. While this structure supports academic autonomy, it also creates fragmented security controls and inconsistent verification practices. These environments depend heavily on trust, speed, and informal workflows. Those conditions are highly vulnerable to social engineering. When authority is decentralized, and communication volumes spike, attackers do not need to breach systems. They only need to exploit human assumptions. AI has dramatically amplified this risk. Threat actors now deploy hyper-realistic voice cloning and impersonation techniques that are harder than ever to detect and often carefully timed to exploit operational pressure. Universities experience predictable periods of heightened activity, such as early decision and final admissions cycles. These moments create a perfect storm of increased communications, overextended staff, and reduced tolerance for disruption. Reducing Risk Without Disrupting Operations With the convergence of peak operational cycles and advanced impersonation tactics, universities face heightened risk. The good news is that institutions don't need to overhaul their operations to make meaningful changes. Even small, consistent behavioral adjustments can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful attack. First, never share sensitive information on the spot. Anyone responsible for proprietary or personal data should operate with heightened skepticism. Attackers will target personal data from students, faculty, and suppliers, including names, contact information, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and even bank account details. This data is a goldmine for threat actors who can use it in social engineering attacks like identity theft and financial fraud. The sensitive nature of universities' data requires one to pause before sharing anything, regardless of how legitimate or urgent a request appears. Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Breasts are necessary for breastfeeding, but their size is not decisive in terms of milk production. A large part of the breast consists of adipose tissue, and earlier theories have suggested that they function, for example, as a body fat reserve. Another theory proposes that breasts evolved through sexual selection as a signal of individual fitness, similar to facial symmetry. The University of Oulu study examined the possible role of breasts in the thermoregulation of a breastfeeding infant. Newborns are particularly susceptible to hypothermia because their own thermoregulatory system is still underdeveloped. The study was conducted in Oulu at the Kastelli Research Centre in the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health's climate chamber, where participants were exposed to different temperatures while their skin surface temperatures were measured. The study group included breastfeeding mothers, with men and non-breastfeeding women serving as control groups. The results showed that the surface temperature of the breasts of breastfeeding women was slightly higher than in the other groups studied. In addition, breast temperature remained higher even when the temperature in the climate chamber was lowered. The researchers estimate that the elevated temperature of a breastfeeding mother's breast may protect a newborn from hypothermia. The size and shape of the breast allow for a broad contact surface, which enhances heat transfer from mother to child. This could improve a newborn's chances of survival and provide an evolutionarily grounded explanation for the development of external breasts in humans." Juho-Antti Junno, Adjunct Professor and Bioarchaeologist, University of Oulu He considers the findings exceptionally significant. "This is one of the most interesting discoveries concerning early human evolution made in Finland." Physical fitness and psychological resilience develop side by side during adolescence, a life stage that lays the foundation for adult health. Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and agility are well-known predictors of cardiometabolic health, while self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one's ability to overcome challenges, shapes motivation, persistence, and coping strategies. Although both have independently been linked to healthier lifestyles and improved well-being, less attention has been given to how they may influence one another. Understanding this connection is particularly important as sedentary behaviours, screen exposure, and mental health concerns continue to rise among young people worldwide. In this context, a research team led by Dr. Jose Francisco Lopez-Gil, postdoctoral senior researcher at the School of Medicine, Universidad Espiritu Santo, Samborondon, Ecuador, investigated whether physical fitness and self-efficacy are mutually associated in adolescents. Drawing on data from 618 boys and girls aged 12 to 17 years participating in the Eating Habits and Daily Living Activities (EHDLA) study in the Region of Murcia, Spain, the team explored whether stronger physical fitness predicts higher confidence and whether confidence, in turn, predicts better fitness performance. The study was published on February 9, 2026, in the journal Pediatric Investigation. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using validated and objective measures. Physical fitness was assessed with the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness (ALPHA-FIT) battery, which included the 20-meter shuttle run test for cardiorespiratory fitness, the standing long jump for lower-body strength, a handgrip dynamometer for upper-body strength, a short shuttle sprint to assess speed and agility, and the sit-and-reach test for flexibility. Self-efficacy was measured using the Spanish version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Statistical models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, body mass index, physical activity levels, sedentary time, sleep duration, and energy intake to ensure robust findings. The analysis revealed modest but consistent bidirectional associations. Adolescents with higher cardiorespiratory fitness, greater lower-body muscular strength, and better speed-agility performance reported stronger self-efficacy. Conversely, those with higher self-efficacy scores tended to perform better in these same dynamic fitness domains. Flexibility and upper-body grip strength did not show clear associations. Our findings suggest that physical capacity and self-belief are not isolated traits but interconnected elements of adolescent development. When young people experience success in physically demanding tasks, that physical mastery may strengthen their confidence, which in turn encourages further engagement." Dr. Jose Francisco Lopez-Gil, Postdoctoral Senior Researcher, School of Medicine, Universidad Espiritu Santo The implications extend beyond physical education classes. In the short term, integrating structured fitness programs with psychological skill-building strategies, such as goal setting, positive reinforcement, and progressive challenges, could enhance students' motivation to remain active and resilient. Schools may benefit from collaborations between physical education teachers, psychologists, and public health professionals to design programs that address both physical and mental dimensions simultaneously. Such interdisciplinary partnerships could also inform future longitudinal research exploring how these relationships evolve over time and across cultural contexts. Looking ahead five to ten years, the ripple effects could be substantial. Adolescents who develop both strong physical fitness and robust self-efficacy may be more likely to sustain active lifestyles, reducing long-term risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, strengthened confidence may support academic persistence, emotional regulation, and mental health. "Adolescence is a critical window for shaping lifelong habits," Dr. Lopez-Gil added. "If we nurture both physical fitness and self-efficacy together, we may empower a generation that is not only healthier but also more capable of facing life's challenges." In conclusion, this study highlights a reciprocal relationship between key components of physical fitness and general self-efficacy in adolescents. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the consistent bidirectional associations underscore the value of holistic youth health strategies. By aligning physical training with confidence-building interventions, educators, researchers, and policymakers may help foster healthier developmental pathways that extend well into adulthood. At age 66, Richard "Dick" Nash first suspected something might be wrong when he participated in a Dallas walk for juvenile diabetes in honor of his granddaughter. "It was only two miles no big deal but I wasn't able to complete it without falling down," he recalled. "My wife had to help me back to the car." After that day in 2011, Dick's health continued to deteriorate. His legs would stiffen involuntarily, his sense of balance worsened, and walking became increasingly difficult, if not impossible. The speed of his physical movements became noticeably slower overall. Even trying to concentrate felt sluggish, making everyday communication a challenge. Eventually he sought out a neurologist and was diagnosed in 2016 with Parkinson's disease, a progressive, degenerative disorder with no clear cause and no cure. He began physical therapy and medication, hoping to regain some of his mobility and cognition. But something didn't feel right for Dick. Even though he had the hallmark signs of Parkinson's stiffness, slow movement, poor balance, cognitive issues, incontinence many of the treatments didn't seem to make a difference. "The symptoms were never consistent," he said. Determined to find answers, Dick set out on a quest to regain his health. Fortunately, he had spent more than 10 years as an insurance agent and was familiar with navigating Medicare and the complex medical system. For the next several years, he cycled through numerous physicians and specialists. Then his journey led him to UT Southwestern. There, doctors at the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute identified the true culprit: normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare condition caused by excess fluid accumulating in the brain. With a dedicated team of NPH experts behind him, Dick underwent the surgery he needed to turn his health around. Within months of receiving the correct diagnosis, he's regained his physical independence, his ability to communicate more easily, and precious quality time with his family. What started as a grim outlook for the future has turned into a new beginning. What is normal pressure hydrocephalus? Typically seen in patients over age 60, NPH is characterized by an excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. A healthy body constantly creates CSF, cycles it through the brain, and reabsorbs it. When these processes are interrupted, extra fluid accumulates, compressing the brain and impairing its ability to clean itself. This can lead to progressive difficulties with: Mobility, particularly stiffness when walking Cognition, marked by sluggish thinking, confusion, and/or forgetfulness Urinary incontinence Unlike typical hydrocephalus, where patients have a significant increase in pressure on the brain, patients with NPH show little or no pressure increases, making the condition harder to detect. Recent international studies suggest that NPH affects about 1.5% to 3% of patients aged 7077, and more than 6% of those 80 and older, which is considerably higher than the estimated prevalence of Parkinson's disease. That means as many as 1 to 2 million people in the U.S. may be living with NPH. Unfortunately, only about 20%-40% are ever diagnosed and receive treatment. Types of normal pressure hydrocephalus NPH is typically divided into two categories: Idiopathic NPH , where the exact cause is unknown but is usually attributed to aging issues that disrupt how CSF is circulated in the body , where the exact cause is unknown but is usually attributed to aging issues that disrupt how CSF is circulated in the body Secondary NPH , where the CSF disruption can be traced to another medical condition such as: Head injury Surgery complications Subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the area around the brain) Brain tumors Brain infections (such as meningitis) Brain inflammation , where the CSF disruption can be traced to another medical condition such as: NPH received a rare boost in the public spotlight in May 2025, when famed musician Billy Joel revealed his own diagnosis and began treatment. The search for effective treatment In the years after Dick's diagnosis of Parkinson's, his illness became harder to manage. His leg stiffness worsened until he was mostly homebound. He needed a wheelchair anytime he left the house. His cognitive deficits also made it difficult for him to hold conversations or use the phone or a computer. All this took a toll on his main caregiver, his wife of more than 55 years. "He had basically given up," Sharon Nash said. "He didn't want to live. He didn't want to do anything, so his muscles had atrophied. He just was not motivated to care for himself." Fortunately for Dick, a routine visit to a physical therapist at UT Southwestern to help with his incontinence spurred the breakthrough he needed. Like his previous health care practitioners, pelvic floor specialist Michelle Bradley, PT, DPT, WCS initially didn't see any reason to doubt Dick's Parkinson's diagnosis. She began working with him to ease his symptoms. It wasn't until Dick arrived for a later appointment in a wheelchair that she suspected something else might be going on. He told me he had a procedure a couple of days earlier that required valium. Since then, he'd had great difficulty walking. Knowing valium does not cause such a quick and long-lasting decline, I was concerned." Michelle Bradley, PT, DPT, pelvic floor specialist The next time she saw Dick, his condition had worsened. Even for Parkinson's, such a rapid change in a short period of time was unusual and raised a major red flag. "I was so concerned that I walked with him to the front and asked that Mr. Nash be scheduled with a neurology specialist as soon as possible," she said. For the first time in years, Dick felt someone truly saw what he was going through. The first steps to an NPH diagnosis Dick initially met with Vibhash Sharma, M.D., Medical Director of the Interventional (Neuromodulation) Movement Disorders Clinic at UT Southwestern. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Sharma ruled out Parkinson's. Even though Dick's legs would freeze up and cause him to fall, he had not developed other conditions consistent with the disease. His prescription for levodopa, a standard Parkinson's medication that boosts dopamine levels in the brain, appeared to have no effect on his symptoms. A past DaT scan (Dopamine Transporter Scan) similarly failed to show strong evidence of Parkinson's. Based on a new MRI scan and his own clinical exam, Dr. Sharma referred Dick to the NPH group at UT Southwestern. The right team for the right diagnosis In February 2024, Dick had his first appointment with UT Southwestern's dedicated NPH team. The interdisciplinary group includes Padraig O'Suilleabhain, M.D., a neurologist specializing in movement disorders, and Jeffrey Schaffert, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in dementia syndromes. While some neurologists encounter NPH through their clinical practice, UT Southwestern has taken a more focused approach by forming a dedicated interdisciplinary team to tackle potential NPH cases. By combining their expertise, the team members can identify subtle signs of NPH more easily in patients, streamline care, and hopefully bring clarity to a notoriously ambiguous condition. Given Dick's symptoms and past testing, the team was not particularly surprised that Dick had received a Parkinson's diagnosis. As they set to work unraveling his extensive medical history and performing their own evaluations, however, they noted even more evidence of NPH. Clinical symptoms They studied his movements. "His walking difficulty had what we call 'magnetic gait,' where the tendency is for his feet to kind of stick to the ground as though there were magnets in his shoes," Dr. O'Suilleabhain explained. "It's a classic gait complaint, and it had deteriorated over the course of 10 years or so." His negative DaT scan and the fact that he hadn't responded to levodopa concerned Dr. Schaffert. "If a patient gets a lot better [on levodopa], that would be more suggestive of Parkinson's in many cases," he said. "The fact that he didn't get better raises a yellow flag of 'what else could we be dealing with?'" Dick's fluctuating symptoms also added to the potential evidence for a new diagnosis. "It's certainly common for people to feel their brain operating differently at times, both physically in terms of how they walk and cognitively in how clearly they're thinking," Dr. O'Suilleabhain said. "Sleep, caffeine, blood pressure, and even the weather can have an effect. Parkinson's symptoms can change in severity as neurons are lost, but the variation in CSF outflow that NPH causes produces a similar effect." Imaging Based on his scans, the ventricles in the middle of Dick's brain had enlarged a significant amount, likely caused by excess CSF and reduced outflow, which can disrupt communication between the brain and legs. There also was evidence of disproportionately enlarged grooves in the brain, which happens when CSF is trapped in those spaces. On scans, this can look like brain shrinkage, which may have contributed to Dick's earlier misdiagnosis. CSF drains One key detail the team noted was that Dick had already completed two lumbar spinal taps over the course of his illness. During these procedures, a small needle or catheter is inserted into the lower back to remove fluid around the spinal cord. Draining a large amount of CSF can sometimes relieve symptoms and aid in the diagnosis, although a lack of response does not rule out NPH. But for Dick, the results were inconclusive. The NPH diagnosis gap Unfortunately for patients with NPH, initial misdiagnosis is common. Unlike cognitive conditions that can be identified by certain markers, NPH lacks a definitive test (for example, brain scans of Alzheimer's patients typically show a buildup of a protein called amyloid, which forms structures that disrupt normal brain functions). Multiple health issues can further muddy the waters. Patients typically undergo CSF testing, lumbar drains, medication, and potentially surgery before their physicians reach a definitive diagnosis of NPH. The medical community seems to be catching on that NPH could be more prevalent than previously thought. Researchers in Sweden studying brain MRI scans from nearly 800 70-year-old patients found 1.5% with evidence of NPH (an earlier study also revealed a significantly higher prevalence among those over age 80). This is one of the main reasons specialists at UT Southwestern have combined their expertise. "We're trying to be more systematic about how we make an NPH determination," Dr. O'Suilleabhain said. While lumbar drains continue to be a factor in diagnosis, the team hopes to move away from such invasive testing to a more streamlined array of cognitive and mobility tests. The team also hopes to improve methods for distinguishing NPH from other conditions and predict treatment response by analyzing proteins in CSF and blood. As principal investigator, Dr. Schaffert helped move the research program forward significantly by securing $1.2 million in funding: "We were able to leverage our clinical pathway into substantial research efforts. We look forward to launching more advanced imaging, biomarker collection, and longitudinal follow-up for our patients this year." One last test to confirm NPH To help determine next steps, the NPH team proposed Dick undergo one more CSF drain along with a lumbar infusion test, a much more extensive diagnostic procedure not offered by many clinics. Dick was admitted to William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, where a lumbar drain was placed on him for four days straight. Every four hours, doctors would drain 20 milliliters of CSF, essentially removing half of what his body produced and forcing the brain's fluid systems to reset. Dick reported some improvement, but like his previous drain tests, the results weren't definitive. During the same hospital visit, however, doctors also performed a lumbar infusion test, which uses real-time sensors to monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) and actively measure how well CSF flows and is absorbed by the brain. Dick's ICP became elevated during infusion and took a significant amount of time to lower. That result, along with imaging and clinical symptoms, provided enough evidence to diagnose Dick with NPH and support the recommendation of installing a shunt. There were no guarantees the shunt would help and it would require surgery and possibly maintenance or replacement surgery down the road but it was still the best chance for Dick to get back on his feet. After discussing the procedure with neurosurgeon Jon White, M.D., a date was set. Relieving the brain pressure On Aug. 1, 2024, Dick arrived at the Clements University Hospital for surgery. In Dick's eyes, this was his last shot to regain the life he'd had before his illness. "I decided if this surgery didn't work, I was going to declare hospice," he said. After years of setbacks and uncertainty, he was ready to move forward or let go. That day, Dick had two surgical teams one to install a ventriculoperitoneal shunt into his skull and another to connect it to a drain in his abdomen. The shunt was inserted into the brain's ventricles, where the fluid appeared to accumulate the most. For the second part of the procedure, a long, thin tube was connected to the shunt and threaded through his neck and chest to the peritoneal cavity, a space in the abdomen that houses digestive organs. Once the procedures were completed, the shunt would act as a relief valve, opening to release CSF when the pressure in his ventricles got too high. The CSF would then flow down the tube into his abdomen to be absorbed by the body. Once the pressure returned to a normal range, the shunt would close again, stopping the flow of CSF. This way, the fluid pressure would stabilize, and the brain's waste removal system would be restored. Though shunts have been shown to improve functionality in NPH patients, their overall effects on cognition and mobility are still unclear. UT Southwestern recently participated in a randomized controlled clinical trial involving multiple sites in the U.S., Canada, and Sweden to test the effectiveness of shunting the first trial of its kind in the world. By understanding its full effects, doctors hope to determine which patients are likely to benefit. From NPH to rebirth Most patients with NPH don't see a significant difference for weeks or even months after a shunt is installed. For Dick, the change was almost immediate. Just one day after surgery, he did something he hadn't done in years: He got out of bed and counted as he took 250 steps with a walker. "It was the furthest I'd walked in six months," Dick said. "I'd shown up for the surgery in a transport wheelchair, so walking that much was a big deal." This was, quite literally, his biggest step forward in years. Describing the surgery as his "day of rebirth," Dick has been determined to stay healthy. More than one year later, he walks about three miles daily and has regained much of the functionality he thought he'd lost forever. At 80, he's able to do more than he could almost 10 years ago. "I can operate in the kitchen now," he said. "I can go out when people invite me to leave the house. Sharon and I go out when we want to see a movie." The pair are even planning to travel internationally later this year. As part of his recovery, Dick began speech therapy, which helped him regain the socializing he'd lost during his illness. According to Sharon, "One of the things that happens when you have an illness like he had is you become isolated. And the more isolated you become, the more cognitive deficits you develop. He's just so much better. Now he's able to converse with people and do a lot of things that he just wasn't able to do before his surgery and before the therapy." Other symptoms have faded, too, including the incontinence that inadvertently put him on the path to healing. "I don't wear what we call 'traveling pants' anymore," Dick said. "I also reduced my medication by about 60% got rid of a lot of pills I don't need anymore." Of everything he's gained over the past year, though, the most meaningful has been moments with his family. He's most proud of spending more quality time with his young great-grandsons and is grateful for those who helped him get there. "Dr. Schaffert, Dr. White, and Dr. O'Suilleabhain are heroes because they did what was necessary," Dick said. "They listened to me." After his own experience, Dick said his main hope is that NPH will gain more recognition in the medical community, so others can get the treatment they need to regain their lives. "Miracles do happen," he said. "And I was the beneficiary of a miracle." The human genome is a rich, complex record of migration, encounters, and inheritance written over thousands of millennia. In this month of love, amid the exchange of flowers and cards, genomic research by members of Sarah Tishkoff's lab at the University of Pennsylvania are revisiting a particularly intimate chapter, suggesting that ancient mating patterns between modern humans and Neanderthals shaped why Neanderthal DNA is largely missing from the human X Chromosome. Along our X chromosomes, we have these missing swaths of Neanderthal DNA we call 'Neanderthal deserts'. For years, we just assumed these deserts existed because certain Neanderthal genes were biologically 'toxic' to humans-as tends to be the case when species diverge-so we thought the genes may have caused health problems and were likely purged by natural selection." Alexander Platt, senior research scientist in the Tishkoff Lab Now, Tishkoff and her team have discovered a more social explanation. In a paper published in Science, their analysis of Neanderthal and modern human genomes suggests that long-standing mating preferences-rather than genetic incompatibility-shaped which Neanderthal DNA sequences persisted in modern humans and which were gradually lost. Their findings reveal the role social interactions in sculpting the human genome, challenging the idea that human evolution was driven solely by survival of the fittest. "We found a pattern indicating a sex bias: gene flow occurred predominantly between Neanderthal males and anatomically modern human females," says Platt, co-first author of the paper, resulting in the loss of Neanderthal DNA X chromosomes of modern humans. "Roughly 600,000 years ago, the ancestors of anatomically modern humans and their closest-related species, the Neanderthals, diverged, forming two distinct groups, says Tishkoff, the David and Lyn Silfen University Professor in Genetics and Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Arts & Sciences. "Our ancestors evolved in Africa, while the ancestors of Neanderthals evolved in and adapted to life in Eurasia. But that separation was far from permanent." Over hundreds of millennia, she adds, human populations migrated into Neanderthal territories and back again, and when these groups met, they mated, swapping segments of DNA. To determine whether Neanderthal X chromosomes contain alleles from humans, the team identified modern human DNA preserved in three Neanderthals-Altai, Chagyrskaya, and Vindija-and compared this dataset against one of diverse African genomes, a control group who had historically never encountered a Neanderthal. "What we found was a striking imbalance," says Daniel Harris, a research associate in the Tishkoff lab and co-first author. "While modern humans lack Neanderthal X chromosomes, Neanderthals had a 62% excess of modern human DNA on their X chromosomes compared to their other chromosomes." This mirrorlike reversal was their answer. If the two species were biologically incompatible, modern human DNA should have been missing from Neanderthal X chromosomes as well. But because the team found an abundance of human DNA in Neanderthal X chromosomes, they were able to rule out reproductive incompatibility or toxic gene interactions as the barrier. The remaining explanation, the team argues, lies in sex-biased interbreeding. Because females carry two X chromosomes and males carry only one, mating direction matters. If Neanderthal males partnered more often with modern human females, fewer Neanderthal X chromosomes would enter the human gene pool, and more human X chromosomes would enter Neanderthal populations. Mathematical models confirmed that this bias could reproduce the observed genetic patterns. Other possibilities, such as sex-biased migration, could theoretically produce similar results-but only through complex, shifting scenarios that varied across time and geography. "Mating preferences provided the simplest explanation," Platt says. With the "who" and "how" of these ancient trysts established, the team is now turning their attention to the "why," investigating whether similar genetic comparisons-specifically the ratio of diversity between X chromosomes and autosomes-can reveal the gender dynamics of Neanderthal society, such as whether females stayed with their birth families while males migrated to new groups. By mapping these ancient interactions, the lab hopes to further illuminate the complex social lives of human's closest evolutionary cousins. Ramadevi Subramani Reddy, Ph.D., remembers the neem tree from her childhood in India - a plant her grandmother used to treat everything from fevers to infections. Now, in her Texas Tech Health El Paso lab, she's investigating whether that same tree might hold the key to fighting pancreatic cancer in El Paso's community, where the disease strikes at higher rates than anywhere else in Texas. With a $45,000 grant from the Lizanell and Colbert Coldwell Foundation, Dr. Subramani Reddy explored whether gedunin, a compound from the neem tree, can attack pancreatic cancer with fewer toxic side effects than current chemotherapy. The research comes at a critical time for El Paso County. According to the National Cancer Institute, pancreatic cancer strikes residents at a rate of 8.8 per 100,000 people. Traveling the Sonic Hedgehog pathway Dr. Subramani Reddy is on the Foster School of Medicine faculty and has been a researcher at the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences since 2012. Born and raised in India, she earned her Ph.D. in biotechnology from Anna University in Chennai, along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. After 14 years at Texas Tech Health El Paso, she has become instrumental in the institution's cancer research program, specifically focused on diseases that affect the Borderplex community she now calls home. Dr. Subramani Reddy's research seeks to develop novel therapies by disrupting the affably named Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway. This key conduit regulates cancer growth and the spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, also known as metastasis. The name comes from a type of protein molecule with spikes like a hedgehog. (Scientists named it after the video game.) However, disrupting the Shh signaling pathway is serious business, as it potentially interferes with cancer cell reproduction. Her research also imagines harvesting a cancer cure that grows on trees in the near future. She believes the Indian neem tree could be a potent weapon to combat pancreatic cancer. Its scientific name is Azadirachta indica. But many call it the farmer's pharmacy because it's used for many illnesses, from head to toe, including diabetes." Dr. Subramani Reddy, Foster School of Medicine It's this link to diabetes that inspired her research project. Gedunin is a natural compound that may target pancreatic cancer cells, preventing them from spreading. Gedunin's potential could extend lives and offer hope to pancreatic cancer patients, particularly in underserved communities where the disease is more prevalent. If successful, this research could buy precious time for those warriors battling the disease. "I've known this plant for over 40 years," said Dr. Subramani Reddy. "It's used in everyday cooking. People break the stem off this tree and use it as toothpaste. Any research on this kind of natural product is significant." She added, "Most chemotherapeutic drugs are a little toxic. Finding an effective drug with fewer adverse effects is very important. If you take any edible plant and discover some drugs from there, it might be less adverse compared to other synthetic drugs." Given the overall 90% mortality rate of pancreatic cancer and the median survival time of six months, new treatments are urgently needed. Using history to discover the future cures While Dr. Subramani Reddy's work took place in a lab, Kazue Okajima, M.D., scrutinized reams of patient data to identify innovative ways to treat heart disease. In 2025, Dr. Okajima's $36,000 Coldwell grant examined whether stronger blood thinners improved survival rates for Borderplex heart patients. Her preliminary findings have already changed how she treats patients with advanced heart disease. As a cardiologist in the Foster School of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine, she meticulously reviewed prior angioplasty cases, a procedure to unblock heart vessels, to compare two blood-thinning medications. She assessed whether a traditional blood thinner or a more potent one is safer and more effective for Borderplex patients undergoing this procedure. Cardiovascular disease, notably coronary heart disease, is a major health concern along the U.S.-Mexico border. Recent studies of populations in this area indicate a higher incidence of the disease, along with related risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Committed to advancing health care The Lizanell and Colbert Coldwell Foundation's contributions have significantly advanced health care research at Texas Tech Health El Paso. With support from these grants, the schools of Texas Tech Health El Paso are conducting research to transform health care and build healthier communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Since 1991, the Coldwell Foundation has awarded the university more than $1.6 million for medical research. "These grants allow our researchers to focus on the diseases killing El Pasoans at higher rates than the rest of the country-and find treatments that work specifically for our community," said Rajkumar Lakshmanaswamy, Ph.D., dean of the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and senior director of the Center of Emphasis in Cancer research program. "By funding critical studies, the Coldwell Foundation ensures we can pursue breakthroughs to improve health care in our region and strengthen our community." Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is transforming medicine by providing our cells with genetic instructions to produce proteins that help the immune system prevent or fight a wide range of diseases, including cancer and other rare disorders. Before the molecule can help fight disease, mRNA is packaged into lipid nanoparticles to protect it from rapid degradation. These fatty, protective bubbles act as a delivery vehicle, ensuring the mRNA properly enters the cell to deliver instructions for protein production. Researchers at the University at Albany are developing a new technique that can determine whether mRNA is properly encapsulated inside lipid nanoparticles. Their method relies on Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive laser technique that analyzes the chemical composition of materials. In a study recently published in Analytical Chemistry, the research team demonstrated the potential of the technique, which could be used to rapidly evaluate the integrity of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. "mRNA therapeutics have emerged as a powerful tool for treating a wide range of diseases, but their clinical success depends on overcoming issues of instability and delivery," said UAlbany chemist Igor Lednev, who is leading the development of the technique. "Raman spectroscopy offers us unique information that can help to ensure mRNA is fully encapsulated inside lipid nanoparticles, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these therapeutics." A chemical fingerprint Raman spectroscopy works by shining a laser light on a sample and measuring the scattered radiation. No two samples produce the same scattered light, offering a unique measurement, similar to a fingerprint. Current methods used to analyze mRNA's packaging in lipid nanoparticles often require breaking apart vaccine samples, which is both destructive and time-consuming. Lednev and his research team's technique is instantaneous, with the sample preserved for future testing. Intact lipid nanoparticles are not very stable and are difficult to characterize by existing techniques. Raman spectroscopy allows us to analyze mRNA inside lipid nanoparticles without damaging it. This means we can optimize formulations to improve both safety and effectiveness." Alexander Shekhtman, professor in UAlbany's Department of Chemistry, researcher at the RNA Institute, and collaborator on the project While conventional Raman spectroscopy captures the overall chemical composition of a sample, the amount of mRNA is small compared to the surrounding lipid nanoparticles, making it difficult to detect. To overcome this challenge, the researchers are using a specialized deep ultraviolet (deep-UV) Raman instrument developed in the Lednev lab. The deep-UV laser can measure the mRNA molecules, while minimizing interference from the lipid nanoparticles. "We are using our homebuilt instrument to directly analyze mRNA molecules in vaccine samples," Lednev said. "Combining this with an advanced statistical analysis, we have created a quantitative method for ensuring the mRNA is properly protected in lipid nanoparticles." Supporting medicine development Lednev has pioneered the use of Raman spectroscopy, coupled with advanced machine learning methods, for forensic applications and medical diagnostics over the last two decades. His accomplishments include the development of new and innovative approaches for the identification and characterization of biological stains, gunshot residue, hair and other trace evidence recovered at a crime scene, and a noninvasive, early diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. He believes his technique could eventually be used in quality control settings to evaluate mRNA therapeutics before release, as well as during the research and development stage. "This is an example of how advances in laser spectroscopy can directly support modern medicine," Lednev said. "By better understanding how these therapeutics are formulated, we can help make them safer and more effective." This research is supported by Sila Jin and Young Mee Jung of Kangwon National University in South Korea. Jin received a two-year training grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea to conduct collaborative research at UAlbany. The project stems from a new partnership between UAlbany's Center for Biophotonic Technology and Artificial Intelligence and Kangwon National University's Institute for Molecular Science and Fusion Technology, directed by Jung. A new study using serial liquid biopsies to track how metastatic prostate cancer evolves under treatment pressure showed that androgen receptor (AR) alterations consistently emerged and were linked to poorer outcomes across therapies. The findings, published Feb. 26 in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggest that a single genomic test at diagnosis is no longer sufficient for managing advanced prostate cancer and support using real-time molecular testing to guide more personalized care in advanced prostate cancer. Under the pressure of treatment, metastatic prostate cancer adapts-persistently rewiring itself to survive. For clinicians, the challenge has always been timing: knowing when-and how-the disease has changed before it outruns the next line of therapy. The new study led by Chinmay T. Jani, M.D., Chief Fellow, Hematology and Oncology, at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, suggests those answers may already be circulating in patients' blood. Using serial liquid biopsies, the research team tracked how fragments of tumor DNA-known as circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA-shift over time in patients with metastatic castrationresistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Castration-resistant refers to prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy treatments. The research was conducted as a multi-center collaboration, bringing together investigators from Sylvester, the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), Moores Cancer Center, the University of California, San Francisco, Scripps Research Institute and Guardant Health, Inc., reflecting the scale and translational reach of the work. The project was developed and initiated at UC San Diego and conducted under mentorship from Rana McKay, M.D., FASCO, associate director, clinical research and professor of medicine, urology, and radiation medicine and Applied Sciences at the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego. This work highlights the power of real-time molecular monitoring to inform precision medicine in advanced prostate cancer. As we develop the next generation of therapies, including novel AR-targeted agents and rational combinations, understanding how tumors evolve under treatment pressure will be critical to delivering the right drug to the right patient at the right time." Rana McKay, M.D., FASCO, associate director, clinical research and professor of medicine, urology, and radiation medicine and applied sciences, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego Traditionally, genomic testing in prostate cancer has relied on tumor tissue-often collected years earlier, sometimes from sites that no longer reflect the dominant disease. Liquid biopsy offers a different lens-capturing what the cancer is doing now. In this real-world analysis, researchers examined paired ctDNA samples taken before treatment and again after treatment discontinuation, a window that often marks disease progression. The study included more than 1,700 patients, drawing from one of the largest linked clinical genomic databases available. Across all treatment groups, tumors showed a clear pattern: mutation burden increased after therapy, underscoring the selective pressure exerted by modern prostate cancer treatments. "Cancer adapts under stress," Jani said. "What we're seeing in ctDNA is evolution happening in real time." Among the many genetic shifts observed, one stood out consistently-the androgen receptor, a central driver of prostate cancer growth. After treatment with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs), PARP inhibitors and even taxane chemotherapy, patients were significantly more likely to develop AR amplifications or AR mutations, particularly in regions that allow the receptor to remain active despite therapy. These alterations act like a master switch, keeping cancer growth signals turned on even when treatments are designed to shut them down. Importantly, the presence of AR alterations was not just common-it was consequential. Across all treatment classes, patients with AR-altered tumors experienced shorter overall survival, faster treatment discontinuation and earlier need for subsequent therapy. "AR alterations emerged as a consistent marker of more aggressive disease," Jani said. "They mattered regardless of which therapy patients received." The study also revealed how resistance develops to newer targeted therapies. Among patients treated with PARP inhibitors, some tumors acquired BRCA reversion mutations, restoring DNA repair pathways and blunting the effectiveness of treatment. Others accumulated changes in genes such as TP53, EGFR and PIK3CA, hallmarks of genomic instability and treatment resistance. Taken together, the findings suggest that a single genomic test at diagnosis is no longer sufficient for managing advanced prostate cancer. As tumors evolve, their vulnerabilities-and their escape routes-change. "Serial ctDNA testing gives us a moving picture, not a snapshot," Jani said. "That has real implications for precision oncology." By capturing tumor evolution as it unfolds, liquid biopsy may help clinicians make more informed, timely decisions-adjusting treatment strategies before resistance becomes clinically evident. The findings also support continued development of next-generation therapies, including androgen receptor degraders and novel combination approaches designed to overcome treatment resistance. "This approach allows us to learn from the disease as it changes," Jani said. "And ultimately, to tailor care more precisely for each patient." While observational, the study provides a strong biological rationale for integrating serial ctDNA testing into routine care for men with mCRPC. As precision oncology continues to advance, the ability to monitor tumor evolution through a simple blood draw may prove essential-not just for choosing the right treatment, but for choosing it at the right moment. Taffy Hopkins, 73, was in debilitating pain for a year, leaving her bedridden. The Palm Beach resident had been told she was simply experiencing migraines, but the migraine medications did not work and left her suffering, with no answers in sight. After seeking care at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesWest Palm Beach, 1515 North Flagler Drive, she finally received a diagnosisand relief. Hopkins began experiencing relentless pressure headaches in April 2024, with the pain so severe that it prevented her from carrying out everyday activities. Over the next 12 to 18 months, she pursued care from numerous specialists across the country, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, ENT specialists, acupuncturists, and emergency departments. Despite extensive imaging, blood work, clinical trials, and procedures, her symptoms persisted without a clear diagnosis or lasting relief. "I knew these weren't migraines, but everything kept coming back to migraine medications that didn't help," Hopkins said. "I was desperate for answers. I was spending my life going from doctor to doctor." Hopkins was finally referred to Andrew J. Harb, DO, a pain management specialist at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesWest Palm Beach, 1515 North Flagler Drive and a clinical assistant professor in Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. During Hopkins's initial visit, Dr. Harb conducted a focused clinical evaluation and reviewed prior imaging, identifying the source of her pain as cervicogenic headaches caused by moderate to severe cervical arthritis. Cervical spine degeneration can irritate surrounding nerves and muscles, leading to chronic headache patterns that are often mistaken for migraines. Once the true pain generator is identified, a treatment of trigger point injections can be highly effective Andrew J. Harb, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Grossman School of Medicine During the same visit, Dr. Harb administered targeted injections into the muscles of Hopkins's cervical spine. Depending on the patient's needs, the treatment may involve a local anesthetic or a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation, and in some cases, dry needling. Within minutes of receiving the injections, Hopkins experienced complete resolution of her headache pain. "For the first time in over a year, the pain was gone," Hopkins said. "It honestly felt like I got my life back." Since beginning treatment at NYU Langone Medical AssociatesWest Palm Beach, 1515 North Flagler Drive, Hopkins has reported sustained improvement, with a significant reduction in headache frequency and severity. Her care plan includes periodic trigger point injections, a home exercise program, and physical therapy aimed at improving posture, muscle strength, and long-term spine health. As her symptoms continue to improve, she and her care team are discussing gradually tapering her headache medications. Dr. Harb notes that Hopkins's case is not unusual but often overlooked. "This is a condition we see regularly, but it requires a comprehensive evaluation and truly listening to the patient," he said. "When the underlying cause hasn't been fully identified, patients suffer, underscoring the importance of precise diagnosis and individualized care." Today, Hopkins says she is once again able to enjoy daily life, noting that even getting up and out of bed is no longer something she takes for granted after the severity of her symptoms. Since her treatment, she has been able to enjoy travel comfortably again, including a recent trip to South Carolina, and is looking forward to her annual summer river cruise through Europeexperiences that felt impossible during months of debilitating headaches. "I wasn't doing anything except existing," she said. "Now I'm back to doing life." NYU Langone Health has six practices in Southeast Florida and is committed to continuing to grow its presence in the region, as the world-class health system readies for the opening of the Julia Koch Family Ambulatory Care Center at 324 Datura Street in West Palm Beach later this year. The state-of-the-art, eight-story, 77,000-square-foot facility will have space for 50 physicians and serve 150,000 patients annually, allowing NYU Langone to dramatically increase the scope of care it provides in the region. High school students often have trouble getting to bed at a reasonable time, which makes it difficult for them to start school early in the morning. This is because teenagers are biologically wired to fall asleep later than adults, with their biological clock shifting progressively later throughout adolescence. The result is that most teenagers don't get enough sleep on school days, and their sleep deficits increase as the week progresses. This is concerning, as chronic sleep deprivation not only affects well-being, but also has a measurable impact on mental health, physical development, and the ability to learn." Oskar Jenni, Associate Professor, University of Zurich According to Jenni, a developmental pediatrician, adolescent sleep biology prevents them from falling asleep early enough to meet their sleep needs, so starting school later in the morning could have significant positive effects. While the impact of beginning the school day later has been well-studied internationally, there is currently a lack of research on flexible models that allow students to choose between an early and a later start. New school model with flexible start and end times Joelle Albrecht, Reto Huber and Oskar Jenni from the University of Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich have now conducted research that provides scientific backing for school schedules that are better adapted to teenagers' needs. Three years ago, the Gossau Upper Secondary School in the northeastern canton of St. Gallen introduced flexible school hours. Since then, students have had the option to attend modules before regular classes begin in the morning, at midday and in the afternoon. This means students decide when they start their school day: they can arrive at 7:30am or wait until 8:30am, when classes officially begin. Using this model, the research team examined the sleep patterns of adolescents and the impact of sleep deprivation on their health and academic performance. The pupils, who were 14 years old on average, were surveyed once under the old school model, with a 7:20am start, and a second time a year later under the new model. The research team evaluated 754 responses in total. Flexible school schedules allow for more sleep The findings are unequivocal: 95% of students took advantage of the option to start school later on average, 38 minutes later than under the old system. As a result, the teenagers were able to get up 40 minutes later in the morning. Because they continued to go to bed around the same time, their total amount of sleep increased: on school days, the students slept an average of 45 minutes longer. There were also other advantages. "The students reported fewer problems falling asleep, and health-related quality of life increased ," summarizes lead author Joelle Albrecht. Under the new model, objective learning outcomes in English and mathematics improved compared to cantonal test results. Improved health and academic performance The study, published in the renowned Journal of Adolescent Health, shows that flexible school start times can be an effective and practical approach to reducing chronic sleep deprivation and improving adolescents' mental health and academic performance. "Starting classes later in the morning can therefore significantly contribute to addressing the current mental health crisis among pupils," adds co-author Reto Huber. In 2022, a study published by the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan) found that 47% of 11- to 15-year-olds experienced multiple recurring or chronic psycho-affective complaints, such as sadness, fatigue, anxiety, low mood, tension, irritability, anger and difficulty falling asleep. Over the course of 2025, Jayant Mishra of Mission Viejo, California, progressively developed scaly, itchy red patches on his skin. Then came the pain and swelling in the joints of his hands, making it difficult to do his work at a bank. His primary care doctor referred him to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed psoriatic arthritis. She advised Mishra that while there's no cure, there were many new medicines that could keep the autoimmune disease in check, and she recommended one, Otezla. At first, Mishra balked. He knew the medicines were expensive. He worried about side effects. He thought he could manage with over-the-counter drugs. But by September he was in so much pain that he agreed to try a starter pack provided by Otezla's manufacturer, Amgen. It worked: The skin lesions disappeared, and the joint pain that kept him up at night dissipated. He was sold. His rheumatologist got approval for the drug from his insurer, UnitedHealthcare, and signed him up for Amgen's copayment assistance program. Having enrolled other patients, she told Mishra the copay card, similar to a credit card, should last a year, he said, shielding him from the drug's high list price: around $5,000 for a 30-day supply, according to GoodRx. He said the doctor explained that, in her patients' experience, insurers and their pharmacy benefit managers negotiated a deeply discounted price with Amgen she estimated $1,400 to $2,200 a month. Patients paid a percentage of that amount, their "patient responsibility," using the copay card. Mishra said he was approved for a copay card covering $9,450 a year. "I was happy when I got the message," he said. He added that the doctor reassured him about the cost. "She said: 'You shouldn't have to pay anything out-of-pocket. Your copay card will cover this.'" He started the medicine and, at first, paid nothing. Then the bill came. The medical service Otezla, which comes in a pill, is approved to treat some autoimmune disorders, including psoriatic arthritis. The bill $441.02, for the second month's fill of the drug before Mishra chose to ration rather than refill his prescription, because his copay card was empty. The insurance statement from UnitedHealthcare's pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx another subsidiary of the same parent company, UnitedHealth Group showed it did not provide a negotiated discount and covered just $308.34 of the full $5,253.85 charge for a 30-day supply. The charges for the second month depleted the copay card and left Mishra owing the balance. The billing problem: Copay card 'tug-of-war' Copay assistance programs are part of a "tug-of-war between drug manufacturers and insurers," said Aaron Kesselheim, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies the pharmaceutical industry. The value of drugmakers' copay cards has become more unpredictable as insurers try to restrict their use. Many insurance plans, for instance, do not count the money from a copay program toward a patient's deductible. And patients who use a copay card can wind up paying full or nearly full price rather than the discounted rate negotiated by their insurer's pharmacy benefit manager. "When you purchased your medication a Manufacturer Coupon was used," Mishra's explanation of benefits statements read, in tiny letters. The amount the copay card covered "was not applied towards your Deductible and Out of Pocket Maximum." Caroline Landree, a spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare, said that "the copay card is an arrangement between the patient and the pharmacy. It is used outside of insurance." In an emailed statement, Elissa Snook, a spokesperson for Amgen, expressed a different view of who was responsible for Mishra's dilemma: "Copay assistance programs are designed to help patients start and stay on prescribed therapy, but the value of that assistance can be exhausted more quickly when a health plan requires patients to pay the full list price of a medicine." Few patients can afford the list prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers charge in the United States for brand-name drugs. Insurers insulate themselves and their customers from those higher prices through pharmacy benefit managers' negotiated discounts. They might, for example, designate certain drugs as preferred medications for plan members in exchange for the manufacturer agreeing to a significant price reduction. Manufacturers' copay assistance programs offer another way for patients to avoid paying full price. The assistance is intended to encourage patients to choose an expensive, brand-name drug not one that "treats the same condition that the insurer has gotten for a cheaper price," said Fiona Scott Morton, an economist at the Yale School of Management who studies drug pricing. The assistance also discourages patients from discussing with their doctor whether a cheaper, generic drug would do, drug industry researchers said. While the Food and Drug Administration first approved a generic version of Otezla in 2021, Amgen has sued to block U.S. sales of its generic competitors, ensuring the brand-name drug has patent protection until 2028. Generic versions are available overseas and in Canada, where patients can purchase it in some cases for less than $100 a month. Mishra said one of his children joked he could cover a trip to visit relatives in India simply by purchasing his medicine while he was there. The resolution Mishra has a health plan with a $5,000 deductible and contributes to a tax-free health savings account. In September, he paid for the first month's supply of Otezla with the copay card. But paying for October's supply emptied the card which he originally expected to last a year and he said he used his HSA to pay for the roughly $400 that remained. But wary of what the drug would cost in November and December, Mishra said, he tried to spread out the pills he had left from the starter pack and the first two months' supply. He skipped some days and took only half of the prescribed dose to stretch the supply for two more months, knowing he would get a new copay card with the new year. Many of his symptoms returned, he said. In January, he got another copay card, good for $9,450, which again wasn't sufficient to pay for two months' supply. He again paid the remaining balance in February from his HSA to count toward his $5,000 annual deductible. This time he owed $550, he said. Mishra said his symptoms have resolved. With no clue what he'd be charged for March's supply, he called UnitedHealthcare in late February and was told he would need to pay $4,450 for the month to meet his out-of-pocket maximum, he said. But he said he pressed the representative further, asking why UnitedHealthcare doesn't have a negotiated price. It does, they told him. "Actual price is $6,995.36." The takeaway Copay cards and drugmaker programs that promise patients "you could pay $0" work in mysterious ways. On the one hand, they encourage patients to use brand-name or expensive drugs that are off insurers' formularies, or lists of preferred, covered drugs. On the other, many patients couldn't afford prescribed medicines without them. Patients with public insurance, such as Medicare and Medicaid, are not permitted to use the cards, because the government considers them an end run around its attempts to bring down drug spending. Using a copay card has gotten trickier as insurers push back. First, patients need to understand whether there is an annual dollar or time limit on the card and how it works with their insurance. Otherwise, they risk ending up reliant on a drug they can't afford. Less expensive drugs often can suffice. For example, there are a number of medicines to treat psoriatic arthritis, some of which may be cheaper or have better coverage from a particular insurer. Patients should ask their doctors whether cheaper medicines will work. It also can help patients to consider their prescriptions when they select a health plan. Landree, of UnitedHealthcare, said Mishra could have selected a plan for 2026 that would have covered Otezla for a $100 copay each month, though that would have meant a higher premium. "Personally I'm not in financial distress I can afford it," Mishra said. "But it was sticker shock, and it just doesn't seem right." Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by KFF Health News and The Washington Post's Well+Being that dissects and explains medical bills. Since 2018, this series has helped many patients and readers get their medical bills reduced, and it has been cited in statehouses, at the U.S. Capitol, and at the White House. Do you have a confusing or outrageous medical bill you want to share? Tell us about it! A new study suggests that pancreatic cancer may start preparing to "hide" from the immune system long before the disease becomes full-blown cancer. Researchers found that very early, precancerous cells in the pancreas don't spread randomly, they gather into specific clusters and create small "neighborhoods" inside the tissue. These early cell groups also seem to communicate directly with nearby immune cells in ways that may weaken the body's ability to fight them. Using advanced tools that characterize cells at the molecular level in tissue section of the pancreas, the team discovered that immune-suppressing signals appear at these early stages, meaning the cancer may begin escaping immune detection much sooner than previously assumed. The findings could help scientists develop better ways to spot pancreatic cancer earlier. A new study from researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem provides fresh insight into how pancreatic cancer may begin taking shape years before it is clinically detected. The research shows that early precancerous pancreatic cells organize into distinct spatial "niches" and engage in targeted interactions with immune cells, potentially creating an immunosuppressive environment at the very earliest stages of disease development. The study, led Dr. Oren Parnas and carried out by the student Sebastian Arcila-Barrera with the help of Dr. Sharona Tornovsky-Babeay in the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, combined single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics to examine pancreatic tissue samples. By preserving the spatial context of thousands of individual cells, the researchers were able to map how different types of acinar metaplastic cells organize within premalignant lesions and how they interact with surrounding immune cells. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is among the deadliest forms of cancer, largely due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. Although precancerous lesions can exist for a decade or more before invasive cancer develops, little is known about how these early cellular changes are structured or how they influence the local tissue environment. "Our findings show that these early altered cells are not randomly distributed," said Dr. Parnas. "Instead, cells with similar identities tend to cluster together, forming semi-homogeneous niches that appear to actively interact with specific immune cell populations." The study revealed that certain metaplastic cell states are consistently found in close proximity to immune cells associated with immune suppression, including specific subsets of neutrophils and macrophages. These interactions were linked to gene expression patterns known to dampen immune activity, suggesting that immune evasion may begin well before cancer becomes invasive. Sebastian Arcila-Barrera noted that the organization of these cells provides important clues about disease progression. "The spatial patterns we observed suggest that cell identity is established early, followed by localized expansion," he explained. "This helps clarify how premalignant lesions develop and evolve over time." Dr. Sharona Tornovsky-Babeay emphasized the translational importance of the findings. "Understanding the process of lesion formation and development, we may be able to better identify high-risk lesions and, in the future, design strategies that intervene before cancer fully develops," she said. Importantly, the researchers observed similar cellular organizations and immune interactions in human pancreatic tissue, strengthening the relevance of the findings beyond animal models. Together, the results offer a more detailed picture of the earliest events in pancreatic cancer initiation and highlight how spatial organization and immune interactions may shape disease outcomes long before symptoms appear. Army commander visits Kanpur, reviews operational preparedness Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 23:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jammu, Feb 27 (PTI) Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, the Northern Army Commander, visited Kanpur and reviewed the operational preparedness of the formation. The Army commander interacted with all ranks and emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards of training, adaptability and mission readiness to effectively meet evolving challenges. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander, Northern Command, visited Kanpur Military Station to review the operational preparedness of the formation in the prevailing security scenario," the Northern Command said on X. He commended the troops for their unwavering professionalism, dedication and high morale. PTI AB AB SKY SKY First Published: February 27, 2026, 23:00 IST News agency-feeds Army commander visits Kanpur, reviews operational preparedness 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... Ecuador's president slams Colombia as trade war between the neighbours escalates Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 01:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Quito, Feb 27 (AP) Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa called neighbouring Colombia his countrys worst trade partner Friday as he defended raising tariffs on Colombian imports by 50 per cent in an escalating trade war between the South American countries. Noboas comments to a radio station follow a rift between the countries over trade and security along their shared border. Our worst trading partner in the world, in percentage terms, is Colombia," Noboa said, noting that Ecuadors trade deficit with its neighbour has reached USD 1.1 billion. The tensions started in January, when the Ecuadorian president a conservative who has sought to deepen ties with the Trump administration announced a 30 per cent tariff on Colombian imports, citing concerns that Bogota has failed to sufficiently curb the flow of cocaine across their shared border. Colombia countered by imposing 30 per cent tariffs on dozens of Ecuadorian goods including rice and car parts and saying it would stop selling electricity to Ecuador. On Thursday, Noboa doubled down and said the tariffs on Colombian goods would increase from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, arguing, again, that Colombia has not yet taken concrete actions to control security on the binational border. The new tariffs will go into effect on March 1. Colombian officials have repeatedly dismissed the accusations, noting that under the administration of Colombian President Gustavo Petro there have been record numbers of cocaine seizures. However, production continues to hit all-time highs, driven by increased lab efficiency and a surge in cultivated hectares. Colombian and Ecuadorian merchants and business organizations have protested the escalating war, warning that the levies will hurt the economy of both nations. At least 40,000 Ecuadorian jobs are at risk because of this situation," the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters warned late Thursday in a statement. It noted that Colombia remains the fifth largest market for Ecuadors non-oil exports accounting for an estimated USD 65 million in monthly trade and urged both nations to engage in an urgent dialogue at the highest level." Noboa has given no indication that a meeting to resolve the crisis is in the works. We have spoken with Colombia for the last two years, and they have never fulfilled their commitments," he said Friday. Colombias Trade Minister Diana Marcela Morales told Blu Radio on Friday that the country is evaluating a plan to increase tariffs to 50 per cent on 73 Ecuadorian products already subject to a 30 per cent rate. (AP) GSP First Published: February 28, 2026, 01:00 IST News agency-feeds Ecuador's president slams Colombia as trade war between the neighbours escalates 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 arrested for theft at private firm in Bengaluru Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bengaluru, Feb 27 (PTI) An employee and his friend were arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 91.76 lakh from a private firm here where the former worked as a cashier, police said on Friday. The cashier has been identified as Dhananjay (28), a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru. His friend Praveen (29) a native of Malavagoppa in Shivamogga district was also picked up, they said. With their arrests, police claimed to have recovered Rs 81.66 Lakh cash from them. The matter was reported at Sadashivanagar police station here on February 20, police said. According to police, the theft took place at a private firm on BEL Road in Bengaluru. In his complaint, the companys owner claimed that on the night of February 19, he left office after locking the main door. The next morning, staff of a neighbouring shop informed him over the phone that the glass of his office had been broken. Upon reaching the office and checking, he found that out of Rs 1.76 crore kept in the office drawer, an amount of Rs 91.76 lakh had been stolen by unknown persons, he alleged. Following investigation, one of the accused Praveen was secured in Shivamogga along with the car used for committing the offence, police said. During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the crime and disclosed details about another individual who was working in the complainants office and had facilitated the theft," a senior police officer said. Based on his information, Dhananjay, who worked at the complainants office in Sadashivanagar was taken into custody, he said. During questioning, he admitted that with the intention of making easy money, he had informed his friends about the cash kept in the office, which led to the theft," he added. Efforts are ongoing to trace two other absconding accused, police said, adding that further probe is underway. PTI AMP SA First Published: February 27, 2026, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Two arrested for theft at private firm in Bengaluru 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... UP: Criminal with Rs 50,000 reward killed in encounter in Agra Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 01:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Lucknow, Feb 27 (PTI) A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 died following an encounter with a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (Noida unit) and the Agra Police in the Ekta area of Agra on Friday evening. Police said the criminal, identified as Pawan alias Kallu, was a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad. He was shifted to SN Medical College in Agra after being injured in the shootout, where he was later declared dead. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said in a statement that Pawan was a known shooter of the Randeep Bhati-Amit Kasana gang. He had more than 18 cases registered against him, including four murder cases and two instances of extortion. According to the additional DGP, Pawan was wanted in an extortion case registered at the Tajganj police station in Agra. In 2021, a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for his arrest in a murder case, for which he was jailed in Delhi. Police investigations revealed that while in jail, Pawan established contacts with the Himanshu Bhau gang of Haryana. Following his release in 2025, he started demanding large sums of money as extortion and was allegedly planning major crimes in Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with this gang, the additional DGP said. The police team recovered a 9 mm pistol and several cartridges from the spot. The weapon was looted in 2016 from a police constable in Gautam Buddha Nagar who was then posted as a personal security officer to an additional district judge, the senior officer added. PTI NAV AKY First Published: February 28, 2026, 01:15 IST News agency-feeds UP: Criminal with Rs 50,000 reward killed in encounter in Agra 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... We're not exactly happy: Trump on nuclear talks with Iran Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 03:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Washington DC [US], February 28 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said he is not exactly happy" with Irans handling of negotiations over its nuclear program, stressing that the country cannot possess nuclear weapons.Speaking to reporters before a trip to Texas, Trump said, We havent made a final decision (on Iran). Were not exactly happy with the way theyre negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons. And were not thrilled with the way theyre negotiating. So well see how it all works."I am not happy with the fact that they are not willing to give us what we have to have. Im not thrilled with that. Well see what happens. Well have some additional talks today. But, no, Im not happy with the way theyre going."The third round of negotiations between Iran and the United States took place in Geneva on Thursday and another round talks will be held today. The US president emphasised that he prefers not to use military force against Iran, but admitted that there are situations where it might be necessary.Theres always a risk It would be wonderful if they negotiate in good faith and conscience. But they are not getting there," he said.On the possibility of a regime change in Iran post US military action, he said, Nobody knows. There might be, and there might not be. It would be nice if we could do it without, but sometimes you have to do it with. We have the greatest military anywhere in the world. Id love not to use it."Meanwhile, a day earlier, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said good progress" was made after long and intensive talks in the third round of negotiations with the US in Geneva on issues of Tehrans nuclear programme and sanctions relief discussed amid escalating tensions between the two sides.Further, Trump said the Cuban government is in serious financial trouble and is in discussions with the United States.The Cuban government is talking with us. Theyre in a big deal of trouble. They have no money. They have nothing right now. But theyre talking with us We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba," he said. (ANI) First Published: February 28, 2026, 03:45 IST News agency-feeds We're not exactly happy: Trump on nuclear talks with Iran 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, EU Commit To Provide Most-Favoured Nation Treatment For 5 Yrs, Shows Provisional FTA Text Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 23:34 IST The Department of Commerce had announced that India will receive MFN treatment in committed services sectors for a period of five years from the Agreements entry into force Rapid Read India announced a landmark FTA with the European Union in January. Weeks after India and the European Union (EU) clinched a historic free trade agreement (FTA) after nearly two decades of negotiations, the Department of Commerce on Friday released the provisional text of the agreement on its social media handles, which underscored that both countries will accord each other the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment for a period of five years. After the historic conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement a few weeks ago, the provisional text of the agreement is now being made available. It provides a first comprehensive look at the scope and ambition of the agreement. Tariff schedules will follow at a later stage," said the Commerce Department. After the historic conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement a few weeks ago, the provisional text of the agreement is now being made available.It provides a first comprehensive look at the scope and ambition of the agreement. Tariff schedules will follow at a later stage. pic.twitter.com/imeTldZ1Wy Dept of Commerce, GoI (@DoC_GoI) February 27, 2026 As per the text, each party shall accord the Most Favoured Nation treatment for a period of 5 years from the date of entry into force of this agreement. That treatment shall apply after five years only if both parties mutually agree in the review to be carried out. Earlier, the Department of Commerce had announced that India will receive MFN treatment in committed services sectors for a period of five years from the Agreements entry into force, ensuring non-discriminatory market access. The continuation of MFN benefits beyond five years will be subject to a review mechanism, including developments related to the entry, stay, and work rights of Indian students, as well as progress on social security arrangements with EU member states. The provisional text of the India-EU FTA comprises 20 chapters, including trade in goods, customs and trade facilitation, trade remedies, professional services, financial services, digital trade, intellectual property, good regulatory practices, dispute settlement, code of conduct and more. India-EU FTA The EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded in January, was hailed by both sides as the mother of all deals" as it opens up the vast market of 27 nations for India. It provides immediate duty-free access for over 70.4% of Indian tariff lines, covering more than 90.7% of its export value. The European Union is Indias largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade reaching $135 billion in FY 202324. Upon full implementation of the trade agreement, a staggering 99% of Indian exports will enter the EU without any duties offering a massive competitive edge to labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather. A central element of the talks has been tariff reduction. India is expected to significantly lower import duties on European cars and wine, while the EU will ease access for Indian products such as textiles, garments, jewellery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Talks on the India-EU FTA first began in 2007 but were suspended in 2013 over disagreements on tariffs, market access and regulatory standards. Negotiations were revived in 2022 and accelerated last year as global trade tensions intensified and both sides sought to diversify economic partnerships. First Published: February 27, 2026, 23:34 IST News business economy India, EU Commit To Provide Most-Favoured Nation Treatment For 5 Yrs, Shows Provisional FTA Text 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... Paramount Skydance Wins Warner Bros Deal; Netflix Bows Out, Shares Rally Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:01 IST Netflix has decided not to buy Warner Bros. Discoverys studio and streaming business, clearing the way for Paramount to take over Rapid Read Warner Bros Paramount Skydance has emerged as the frontrunner in the months-long battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery after streaming giant Netflix declined to raise its offer for the Hollywood studio. In a statement, Netflix said it would not match Paramount Skydances latest bid, citing financial discipline. Weve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydances latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive," the company said. Netflix confirmed to Reuters that it was walking away from the bidding process. Warner Bros board must still formally terminate its agreement with Netflix and approve Paramount Skydances proposal. Chief Executive David Zaslav said adopting the Paramount merger agreement would create significant shareholder value and expressed optimism about the combined companys prospects. Earlier on Thursday, Warner Bros said Paramounts revised offer of $31 per share topped Netflixs $27.75-per-share bid for its streaming and studio assets. Paramount had intensified its pursuit in recent weeks, including a hostile campaign and a sweetened cash proposal that brought Warner back to the negotiating table. A Netflix adviser, speaking anonymously, told Reuters the company chose to exit because the economics no longer made sense. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos had previously signalled restraint in raising the bid, stressing the companys disciplined approach to acquisitions. The adviser said Netflix was effectively bidding against billionaire Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, who appeared willing to pay a price Netflix considered excessive. Netflix shares surged more than 10% after news it would not increase its offer. Regulatory concerns loom A merger between Paramount and Warner Bros would combine two major film studios, streaming platforms HBO Max and Paramount+, and news operations including CNN and CBS. The deal is expected to face antitrust scrutiny in Washington, several U.S. states and overseas. Analysts at TD Cowen said federal approval appears likely given the current political climate, but state-level challenges particularly from California and potential European regulatory reviews remain possible. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the deal has not cleared regulatory review and confirmed that the states Department of Justice has an open investigation. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal have also raised concerns that political considerations could influence approval. Under its revised proposal, Paramount increased the termination fee payable if the deal fails regulatory approval to $7 billion from $5.8 billion. It also agreed to cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee Warner Bros would owe Netflix. The Ellison Trust is committing $45.7 billion in equity financing, backed by Larry Ellison, alongside additional funding to meet solvency requirements. Debt financing of $57.5 billion will be provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi and Apollo, up from an earlier $54 billion commitment. Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, welcomed Netflixs withdrawal, saying it clears the way for shareholders to receive more cash and improves the likelihood of regulatory approval. The outcome marks a dramatic turn in one of Hollywoods most closely watched takeover battles, with Paramount Skydance now poised to secure control of Warner Bros, subject to board and regulatory approvals. First Published: February 27, 2026, 07:50 IST News business economy Paramount Skydance Wins Warner Bros Deal; Netflix Bows Out, Shares Rally 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... Madhusudan Kela Says AI Will Create 'Winners And Losers', Sees Opportunity In Small Caps Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 15:20 IST Drawing parallels with past technology cycles, Kela says innovation has never made societies poorer, but it has consistently produced clear winners and losers. Rapid Read Madhusudan Kela, prominent investor and founder & managing director of MK Ventures. Madhusudan Kela, prominent investor and founder & managing director of MK Ventures, has said investors must stay alert as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes businesses and markets. Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, Kela said, Today, virtually everyone has a view on AI. The pace of change is extraordinary," adding that constant monitoring is essential as developments unfold quickly. Technology Creates Divergence, Not Decline Drawing parallels with past technology cycles, Kela said innovation has never made societies poorer, but it has consistently produced clear winners and losers. Just as Apple emerged while companies like Blackberry and Kodak declined, a similar divergence will occur in the AI era even within IT companies themselves," he said, stressing that adaptability will separate leaders from laggards. He noted that AI is accelerating its own development, making the speed of disruption faster than earlier technological shifts. While that creates long-term opportunity, it also poses near-term risks. The disruption may occur faster than the workforce can retrain for new roles," he cautioned. Despite short-term concerns, Kela expressed confidence in Indias medium- to long-term prospects. He said the countrys skilled talent base positions it well to become a global provider of AI solutions and application-layer services. Markets In A Consolidation Phase On current market conditions, Kela said returns have largely remained flat over the past 18 months. The small-cap index has declined around 11-12%, and roughly 350 out of 1,000 stocks have corrected by more than 35-40%. Having seen multiple difficult cycles over 35 years, periods of prolonged weak returns have historically turned into strong investment opportunities," he said. Selective Approach To Small Caps Kela said he sees emerging opportunities in smaller companies but urged caution. This is not a call for indiscriminate investing," he said, noting that large mutual funds remain structurally tilted toward large-cap stocks and often lack the flexibility to deploy significant capital into smaller firms. As investor interest in small caps has diminished, prices have corrected significantly," he added, suggesting that the coming months could provide a favourable window to accumulate select names. Historically, it is in such periods of low interest and sharp corrections that the most meaningful investment gains have been made," Kela said. First Published: February 27, 2026, 14:59 IST News business markets Madhusudan Kela Says AI Will Create 'Winners And Losers', Sees Opportunity In Small Caps 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... Pitch Pe Tike Raho: Vijay Kedias Mantra For Long-Term Wealth Creation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 12:09 IST Vijay Kedia underscored the importance of patience in investing, reiterating his well-known mantra: Pitch pe ticke raho! Rapid Read Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 brought together veteran market investors Ramesh Damani, Madhusudan Kela, and Vijay Kedia to discuss evolving market trends, artificial intelligence, and long-term wealth creation. Patience in Investing: Vijay Kedias Philosophy Vijay Kedia underscored the importance of patience in investing, reiterating his well-known mantra: Pitch pe ticke raho!" He described bull markets as sunshine It is always there somewhere, sometime" and reminded investors that market leadership is never permanent. The list of top companies from the 1990s has changed dramatically and is likely to change again over the next 1020 years, he noted, reinforcing the need for adaptability. The overarching message from the session was clear: markets evolve and leaders rotate, but disciplined, long-term investing remains the north star. AI, Enterprise Software and Global Structural Trends: Ramesh Damani Damani said artificial intelligence and enterprise software are likely to coexist, adding that AI will not completely replace human-driven enterprise systems. He highlighted two structural global trends localisation of defence production and the push toward local manufacturing. According to Damani, the world is moving away from reliance on a single rules-based global security framework, which could drive demand for local mining, metals, sourcing and supply chains. He suggested that investors who feel markets are underperforming may be looking at the wrong sectors, noting potential appreciation in metals, pharmaceuticals and defence. AI Adoption, Workforce Transformation and Opportunities: Madhusudan Kela Madhusudan Kela emphasised that AI adoption is transforming industries but will create both winners and losers. While short-term employment disruption is possible, he remains optimistic about medium- to long-term outcomes. He noted that technology shifts have historically not made industries poorer but instead redistributed opportunities. Kela also said Indias highly skilled workforce positions the country to emerge as a global AI solutions provider. He highlighted the need for greater investment in research and development over the next few years, noting that Indias recent growth has been achieved with limited R&D focus. Kela also pointed to the surge in multi-bagger stocks in US markets, stressing that markets always offer opportunities for disproportionate returns. First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:32 IST News business markets Pitch Pe Tike Raho: Vijay Kedias Mantra For Long-Term Wealth Creation 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... Stocks To Watch: Vishal Mega Mart, Axis Bank, Jio Financial Services, Hindalco, Vedanta, And Others Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:21 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Vishal Mega Mart, Axis Bank, Jio Financial Services, Hindalco, Vedanta, and others will be in focus on Friday's trade Stocks To Watch on February 27 Stocks to Watch Today, February 27, 2026: Indian equities are likely to open on a cautious note amid mixed global cues. As of 7:41 AM, GIFT Nifty futures were trading 87 points lower at 25,549. Vishal Mega Mart: Promoter Samayat Services is reportedly looking to offload up to a 6.5 per cent stake via a block deal. The transaction is valued at around Rs 3,507.5 crore, with a floor price of Rs 115 per share. Axis Bank: The private sector lender has approached the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) seeking approval to retain a higher stake in its subsidiary, Axis Finance, with only limited dilution proposed. Netweb Technologies: The company has partnered with Vertiv to develop advanced liquid-cooled rack solutions for AI-focused data centres in India. Jio Financial Services: The company has infused Rs 2,000 crore into its subsidiary, Jio Credit Ltd, to fund business expansion and growth plans. Hindalco: The acquisition of AluChem Companies, Inc. through Aditya Holdings LLC has been temporarily delayed after the CFIUS review in the US was paused due to a partial federal government shutdown. Info Edge: The board has approved a commitment of Rs 250 crore to the newly launched B8 Fund I, a growth-stage fund aimed at strengthening its presence in Indias startup ecosystem. Reliance Communications: The CBI has reportedly registered a fresh case against Anil Ambani and the company for allegedly defrauding Bank of Baroda of over Rs 2,220 crore between 2013 and 2017. Ircon International: The Patna High Court has dismissed the companys writ petition related to VAT assessments for the Ganga Bridge Project (FY11FY17), upholding a demand of Rs 108.75 crore. Of this, Rs 27.39 crore has been paid, leaving an outstanding Rs 81.36 crore plus interest. NBCC: The state-run firm has secured project management consultancy orders worth about Rs 775.27 crore (excluding GST) from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for redevelopment projects in New Delhi. MSTC: The company has emerged as the lowest bidder for a Coal India tender to act as an external service provider for non-regulated sector (NRS) linkage auctions for three years. Onesource Specialty Pharma: The NSE and BSE have issued no-objection letters for the proposed merger and arrangement involving Steriscience Specialties, Brooks Steriscience and Strides Pharma Services. Vedanta: ICRA has assigned an ICRA AA rating to the companys NCDs with a Watch Developing outlook. It also reaffirmed the long-term rating at ICRA AA (Watch Developing) and the short-term rating at ICRA A1+. BPCL: The oil marketing company has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore Bharat Petroleum Global Energy Services to set up a trading desk for crude oil, natural gas and petrochemical products. Brigade Enterprises: The company has partnered with Primus Senior Living to develop three senior living communities in South India, with an estimated gross development value of Rs 750 crore. Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels: The firm has signed a management agreement with Luxmi Tea Co. to operate a 100-room premium hotel under The Park" brand in Siliguri, West Bengal. GMDC: The company has signed an MoU with NTPC to jointly explore opportunities in coal and lignite gasification, along with related downstream projects. First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:21 IST News business markets Stocks To Watch: Vishal Mega Mart, Axis Bank, Jio Financial Services, Hindalco, Vedanta, And Others 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... Upset Over Daughter's Love Marriage, Father Flattens Groom's Family Home In Gwalior Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 07:04 IST Upset over daughter's love marriage, a father allegedly used a bulldozer to demolish the groom's home. Image for representation A chilling tale of anger and vengeance has surfaced from a small village in Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior district, where a love marriage saw the grooms family home reduced to rubble. A father reportedly upset over his daughters decision to elope and marry against his wishes turned a bulldozer into a weapon of retaliation. In Ghegholi village under Ghatigaon area, he allegedly ordered a JCB to annihilate the grooms family home comprising three concrete rooms and a courtyard reducing it to dust, NDTV reported. WHAT IS THE CASE? The incident was reported at the night of September 9, when the family home of Vaniya Singh Gurjar, 38, came under attack. According to the complaint, as cited by NDTV, Vaniya Singh Gurjars younger brother, Ram Lakhan Singh Gurjar, had eloped and married Kiran, daughter of Girraj Singh Gurjar from Sirauli village, on August 10. The marriage had reportedly left the brides father furious. Late that night, a bulldozer allegedly arrived at Ghegholi village and targeted the grooms home. Within minutes, three concrete rooms and the courtyard were razed to the ground. Family members made a narrow escape, and fled away in fear as walls crumbled. Terrified by the attack and alleged threats, the grooms family left the village and stayed away for nearly five months. Only after months of living in fear that they gathered the courage and lodged a formal complaint with the police. Based on the complaint, Ghatigaon police have registered a case against the brides father, Girraj Gurjar, and his associates. A search operation has been initiated to nab the accused. Location : Gwalior, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 07:04 IST News cities bhopal Upset Over Daughter's Love Marriage, Father Flattens Groom's Family Home In Gwalior 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... CBSE Revokes Affiliation Of Noida School: What Does This Mean For A School And How It Impacts Students? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 12:38 IST After a school looses affiliation, CBSE ensures that students are not penalised for the management's mistakes. Check the rules and regulations. When a school loses its affiliation, students must obtain a Transfer Certificate (TC) and move to another recognised school. (File Photo) Recently, the CBSE revoked the affiliation of Uttarakhand Public School in Sector 56, Noida, causing a significant stir in the education sector. As per media reports, several female teachers at the school complained of being mentally harassed. The teachers were allegedly pressured to return a portion of their salaries, forcing them to return the money. Affiliation is crucial for a schools legitimacy, and when a board revokes it, it not only impacts the institution and its management but also puts the future of numerous students at risk. Students in grades 9 to 12 are directly registered with the board, leaving them in a precarious situation. However, boards like CBSE have guidelines and alternative arrangements to ensure students do not lose their academic year. Lets understanding the process of school recognition cancellation and the available options for students. How Does A Schools Recognition Get Cancelled? The authority to revoke a schools affiliation lies with the relevant board (such as CBSE, ICSE, or State Board). The primary reasons can vary, but the cancellation profoundly impacts the students. 9th and 11th graders: These students are registered with the board. If affiliation is revoked, the school cannot grant new registrations, necessitating a transfer to another recognised school. 10th and 12th graders: These students are in a particularly vulnerable position since the board decides their admit cards and examination centres. What Is CBSEs Rescue Plan? The Central Board of Secondary Education ensures that students are not penalised for the managements mistakes. Permission to appear in exams: If students are already registered, the board allows them to appear as guest students or assigns them to another nearby recognised centre. Transfer Process: Post derecognition, CBSE often provides a special window for affected students to transfer to other schools. Validity of marksheets: Marksheets of students who graduated before the schools recognition was cancelled remain valid. How To Check School Recognition On CBSE Website? If your childs school has been de-affiliated, dont panic. Contact the school management for a copy of the Show Cause Notice or order issued by the board. Check the official CBSE website, cbse.gov.in, for any alternative instructions for students. If you are considering admission or uncertain about your childs current school status, follow these steps to verify: Visit CBSEs affiliation website saras.cbse.gov.in/saras. On the homepage, look for List of Affiliated Schools or Affiliation Search. There are several ways to search for information: Affiliation Number: Enter the schools affiliation number found on the schools letterhead or gate. Name of the School: Enter the schools name along with city/state details. Region-wise: View the list according to your region (e.g. Noida, Delhi, Patna). View details: Click the schools name when it appears to see its validity, the grade its valid for (Secondary or Senior Secondary), and its affiliation expiration date. De-affiliated list: The website lists schools that have been de-affiliated. Check this list before enrolling. CBSE updates its list periodically. If a school is listed as Under Process, its accreditation renewal is under consideration. Caution: Some schools may state Proposed CBSE or Pattern of CBSE, which doesnt guarantee CBSE affiliation. Always cross-check the affiliation number on the official portal. What Students And Parents Must Do? When a school loses its affiliation, students must obtain a Transfer Certificate (TC) and move to another recognised school. This process requires careful handling. Upon receiving the order of cancellation, parents should request a TC in writing from the school management. Checking Records: Ensure the students name, date of birth, and previous class marks are correctly entered on the TC. No-Dues: Schools often withhold TCs due to outstanding fees. Pay any dues and request a TC immediately in case of de-accreditation. However, if schools hesitate to issue a TC, follow these steps: Contact DIOS/BSA: File a written complaint with the District School Inspector (DIOS) or Basic Education Officer (BSA) of your district. Right to Education (RTE): By law, no school can withhold a childs TC. Government officials can intervene, order the school to issue a TC, or authorise the transfer directly. Students and parents must note that TC from a de-recognised school often requires a signature from an education department official (such as the DIOS) to be accepted by other schools. This signature certifies that the school was previously recognised and the students record is valid. Migration Rules For Classes 9th To 12th For these classes, a TC alone is insufficient. Admission to a new school requires board permission (such as CBSE): Registration Card: Obtain the board registration number or card from your old school. Intimation to the Board: The new school must inform the Board about the students migration due to cancellation of recognition. Admission Rules For New School When transferring, bring mark sheets from the last three years, Aadhaar card, photo, and a (verified) TC from your old school. Most schools prioritise admissions based on board guidelines in the event of de-recognition. A schools de-accreditation is an administrative failure, not a students fault. By following the correct legal procedures and staying vigilant, students can transition to a new school without any delay. First Published: February 27, 2026, 12:35 IST News education-career CBSE Revokes Affiliation Of Noida School: What Does This Mean For A School And How It Impacts Students? 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... CBSE SARAS 7.0: School Affiliation Portal Opens For 2027-28 Academic Session Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 14:47 IST CBSE SARAS 7.0 Affiliation Portal enables schools to apply for various affiliation categories for the 2027-28 academic year. The primary online application window is open from February 26 to July 31, 2026. (Representative/Getty Images) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launches the School Affiliation Re-engineered Automation System or SARAS 7.0 affiliation portal on February 26. This portal enables schools to apply for various affiliation categories for the 2027-28 academic year. Schools must follow the SARAS 7.0 Manual and CBSE circulars meticulously for submissions. The application window is open from February 26 to July 31, 2026. This period encompasses approvals for the Middle Class Syllabus, new affiliations up to Secondary/Senior Secondary (including board transitions), upgrades, branch schools, extensions, restorations, two-shift permissions, section increases, additional subjects, and school closures. Those willing to apply for land corrections/changes, school/society name changes, entity interchanges, society transfers, and site shifts can do so during this time. Additionally, foreign/international and government/government-aided schools have year-round access for all categories. Schools which are due for extension (whose affiliation is valid up to 31st March 2027 of the following year) or whose extension is long pending, need to apply for extension first, only then they will be permitted to apply under any other category. Schools affiliated with the Board under category Middle Class Syllabus are required to apply for upgradation either for Secondary or Senior Secondary level within 5 years of their affiliation with the Board as per circular no. AFF-18/2023 dated 18.05.2023," states the official notice. Schools should thoroughly examine the notifications, timelines, eligibility criteria, necessary documents, and procedures to ensure their affiliation applications are processed on time. Recently, the CBSE withdrew the accreditation of Uttarakhand Public School in Sector 56, Noida, causing significant upheaval in the education sector. According to media reports, several female teachers at the school alleged that they were mentally harassed and pressured to return a portion of their salaries. Affiliation is vital for a schools legitimacy, and losing it affects not only the institution and its management but also jeopardises the future of many students. Students in grades 9 to 12 are directly registered with the board, placing them in a vulnerable position. However, boards like CBSE have guidelines and alternative arrangements to ensure students do not lose their academic year. First Published: February 27, 2026, 14:43 IST News education-career CBSE SARAS 7.0: School Affiliation Portal Opens For 2027-28 Academic Session 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 Opens CM Shri School Admissions For Classes 6, 9, 11; Apply Till March 12 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:56 IST Delhi DoE has begun admission registration for Classes 6, 9 and 11 in CM Shri Schools for the 202627 session. Eligible students can apply till March 12. Delhi CM Shri school admissions process begins today. The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) has opened online registration for admission to Classes 6, 9 and 11 in Chief Minister (CM) Shri Schools for the 202627 academic session. Parents and students can apply for the entrance test till March 12. Only Delhi residents are eligible, and applicants must have studied in a recognised school in the capital during the 202526 session. As per the departments circular, 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for students who passed Classes 5, 8 and 10 from government schools, while the remaining seats will be filled from other eligible candidates. The entrance exams for Classes 6 and 9 are likely to take place in the last week of March, while the Class 11 test is scheduled for May. The department plans to complete the admission process for Classes 6 and 9 by April 30. Dates for the release of admit cards will be announced later. Exam Pattern The tests will be objective-type and conducted on OMR sheets. The detailed syllabus and sample OMR sheets will be uploaded on the departments website. The Class 6 question paper will be bilingual and carry 300 marks, with no negative marking. For Classes 9 and 11, the papers will be in English, each of 400 marks, and negative marking will apply. CM Shri Schools are part of the Delhi governments flagship initiative to upgrade government school infrastructure and learning facilities. The programme was inaugurated on February 17 by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also opened a new CM Shri School in Sarojini Nagar. The project will cover 75 government schools. ALSO READ: CBSE Third Language Option For 6th Standard: What The NEP Says About Three-Language Formula? Separately, the Delhi government has redesigned the education department website and introduced a fee review section. The portal now also includes features such as daily attendance tracking, mock tests and question banks to support students. According to the website, the tab allows parents to file complaints related to school fees, track the status of their grievances and directly email the chairman of the Fee Review Committee. The panel comprises Justice Anil Dev Singh, former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, as chairman, chartered accountant JS Kochar and former additional director of education RK Sharma as members. First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:56 IST News education-career Delhi Opens CM Shri School Admissions For Classes 6, 9, 11; Apply Till March 12 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... From Mughals To Judiciary, List Of Controversies Surrounding NCERT Textbooks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 09:50 IST 'Corruption in the Judiciary' is not the first time NCERT textbooks have been involved in controversy. Here is a list of controversies the Council has encountered in the past. Controversies have arisen over changes in NCERT textbooks covering history, politics, and social issues. (File Photo) A recent controversy emerged over NCERTs new Class 8 Social Science textbook, which included topics like Corruption in the Judiciary" and Pending Cases." The Supreme Court strongly objected, with Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant stating that the judiciarys image would remain untarnished. NCERT apologised and decided to remove the chapter, and the government recalled 38 copies of the textbook, of which 16 have been returned. What sparked the controversy? The contentious chapter, The Role of Judiciary in Our Society," highlighted issues like corruption within the judiciary and the number of pending cases. The Supreme Court and senior advocates criticised the content as inappropriate," claiming it could harm the judiciarys reputation. ALSO READ | Textbook Row: NCERT Identifying People Responsible For Inclusion Of Chapter On Judiciary Corruption This is not the first time NCERT textbooks have been embroiled in debate. Recently, several controversies have arisen over changes in textbooks covering history, politics, and social issues. 1. Removal of chapters on the Mughal and Delhi Sultanate In 2023-24, sections related to the Mughal Empire and the Delhi Sultanate were removed from history books for classes 7 and 12, which critics argued downplayed an important period in Indian history. Some historians saw it as an attempt to change history." NCERT stated it was part of a syllabus reduction" process to ease the academic burden post-COVID. 2. Maratha vs Rajput content debate Another controversy emerged when new textbooks devoted more pages to Maratha history, with less space for Rajput rulers. Critics called this an unbalanced representation, arguing for equal importance of different historical rulers. NCERT responded that the textbooks were based on a new curriculum framework and topics were chosen by expert committees. 3. Controversy over Tipu Sultan Debates also arose over the removal or reduction of content about Tipu Sultan, whom some view as an early freedom struggle warrior. Critics insisted his contributions should not be underestimated, while others argued for a balanced historical presentation, leading to prolonged discussions. 4. Changes regarding Mahatma Gandhis assassination Political science textbooks were revised concerning Mahatma Gandhis assassination and related organisations. Opposition parties and academics claimed these changes could distort historical facts. NCERT clarified that the changes aimed to simplify and condense the language, not remove facts. 5. Syllabus reduction during COVID During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCERT shortened chapters on democracy, the civil rights movement, the agricultural movement, and the environment. Some called it necessary, while others alleged deliberate omission of sensitive issues. NCERT explained it was a temporary measure to reduce students academic burden. First Published: February 27, 2026, 09:50 IST News education-career From Mughals To Judiciary, List Of Controversies Surrounding NCERT Textbooks 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... Haryana Board Class 10 Math Paper Leaked On WhatsApp, FIR Filed Against Invigilator Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:08 IST Haryana Board Class 10th Math Paper Leak: Using alphanumeric and QR code on the question paper, HBSE traced the leak to the Government Senior Secondary School in Charkhi Dadri. The Haryana Board reported 10 cases of cheating during the math exam across the state. (AI Generated Image) A paper leak was reported during the Haryana Boards Class 10th Math exam at an examination centre in Charkhi Dadri district. Following this, an FIR was registered and departmental action was initiated. Officials discovered the math paper leak during the exam. Using the alphanumeric code and QR code on the question paper, the board traced the leak to the Government Senior Secondary School in Ranila-02, Charkhi Dadri. The math paper was found on the board chairmans official WhatsApp at around 1:56 pm, prompting an immediate investigation. The Deputy Commissioner of Charkhi Dadri confirmed that a case has been filed against the students and staff on duty. The Education Department stated that any employees found guilty will be suspended. The Board emphasised that strict action would be taken against those responsible. 10 Cases Of Cheating Reported Across The State The Haryana Board reported 10 cases of cheating during the math exam across the state: one each in Karnal, Palwal, and Nuh; two in Rohtak and Sonipat; and three in Charkhi Dadri. The math exam was conducted at 1,372 centres with 289,003 students. Additionally, 980 student-teachers took the D.El.Ed. first-year re-appear exam. The boards flying squad teams inspected examination centres in Sonipat, Rohtak, and Gurugram. Exams were reported to be running smoothly at other centres. However, two invigilators were removed from duty: one was at his own school in Narnaul and the other was accused of negligence in Sonipat. The board reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for cheating and malpractices. The technical system is robust, and every exam is closely monitored. The next exams, including Senior Secondary Political Science and D.El.Ed. re-appear exams, will be held on February 27 at over 1,158 centres. As per the schedule, the Senior Secondary examinations started on February 25 and will conclude on April 1, 2026, while the Class 10 or Secondary exams which began on February 26 will continue till March 20, 2026. Both examinations are being held in a single shift from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. First Published: February 27, 2026, 13:10 IST News education-career Haryana Board Class 10 Math Paper Leaked On WhatsApp, FIR Filed Against Invigilator 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... Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia Get Court Relief: Delhi Liquor Policy Case To CBIs Plans Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 17:50 IST Delhi liquor policy case: Besides Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, 21 more, including BRS leader K Kavitha, were discharged in the case; all you need to know, explained Rapid Read AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and party leader Manish Sisodia celebrate with family members after a Delhi court discharged them in an excise policy-related corruption case. (PTI) In major relief for Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, Delhis Rouse Avenue Court on Friday discharged the former Delhi chief minister and his ex-deputy in the politically charged liquor policy case, as it refused to take cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charge sheet. Besides the two leaders, 21 more, including BRS leader K Kavitha, were discharged in the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been probing alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the erstwhile-AAP governments now-scrapped excise policy, has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court. Arvind Kejriwal broke down in tears following the verdict, stating that truth has won" and describing the case as a political conspiracy. pic.twitter.com/GZghEdhJf3 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 27, 2026 What the court said Special Judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court cleared all 23 accused, stating there was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent" in the policy. No evidence: The judge rapped the federal agency for lapses in investigation, saying there was no cogent evidence against Kejriwal, while there was no prima facie case against Sisodia. The court found the CBIs allegations to be based on conjecture rather than concrete proof and noted significant gaps in the investigation. No criminal conspiracy: The order highlighted that the prosecution failed to show that there was any criminal conspiracy involving Kejriwal, Sisodia or others a key element that needed to be established for the charges to stick. Internal contradictions: The judge underlined some misleading averments" and said that the voluminous chargesheet had several lacunas not corroborated by evidence or witnesses. The chargesheet suffers from internal contradictions, striking at the root of conspiracy theory," Judge Singh said. The judge criticised reliance on approver statements (testimony from an accused turned witness) to fill gaps" in the CBIs case, noting this should not substitute for substantive evidence. He said that in the absence of any evidence, the allegations against Kejriwal could not be sustained and that the former chief minister was implicated without any cogent evidence. This, the judge said, was inconsistent with the rule of law. Regarding Sisodia, the judge said there was no material on record showing his involvement, nor was any recovery made from him. The judge recommended a departmental inquiry against CBI officials for erroneously making a public servant (Kuldeep Singh) the primary accused. The 23 who were discharged Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Delhi; Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi; K. Kavitha, Telangana MLC and BRS leader; Vijay Nair, Former AAP communications in-charge; Durgesh Pathak, AAP MLA; Kuldeep Singh, former Excise Commissioner; Narender Singh, Former Deputy Excise Commissioner; Abhishek Boinpally, businessman; Arun Ramchandra Pillai, businessman; Sameer Mahendru, Managing Director, Indospirit; Amandeep Singh Dhall, businessman, Brindco Sales; Mootha Goutam, Businessman; Arjun Pandey, alleged associate of Manish Sisodia; Butchibabu Gorantla, Chartered Accountant; Rajesh Joshi, usinessman, Chariot Productions; Damodar Prasad Sharma, liquor businessman; Prince Kumar, liquor businessman; Arvind Kumar Singh, employee of India Ahead News; Chanpreet Singh Rayat, alleged fund manager; Amit Arora, director, Buddy Retail; Vinod Chauhan, alleged middleman; Ashish Chand Mathur, businessman; P. Sarath Chandra Reddy, director, Aurobindo Pharma. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia react I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest. The BJP was making allegations against us, but the court acquitted everyone, truth has prevailedWe always said that the truth emerges victorious. We have full faith in the Indian legal systemThe sitting Chief Minister was dragged out of his house and put in jail. Kejriwal is not corrupt. I have only earned honesty in my life," said Kejriwal. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also reacted to the verdict, saying the outcome strengthened faith in constitutional institutions. We are proud of our Constitution," Sisodia said. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwals wife, Sunita Kejriwal, took to X and wrote, In this world, no matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot rise above Shiva Shakti. Truth always prevails." Speaking to reporters, she said, We faced a lot of problems, but God was with us. We are grateful to those who stood with us during such difficult times." BJP reacts BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said, The court has acquitted him due to lack of evidence. This is a technical issue. CBI will take the next step in this case. The party will give a structured response after studying the judgment in detail. One must think if the charges were baseless, then how were the charges framed?" Amit Malviya, BJP national IT chief, shared his views on X, saying, The judgment in the Delhi excise case has come from a lower court. In the past, even the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India have made strong and damning observations in related proceedings. Whether this judgment withstands scrutiny in higher courts remains to be seen. The legal process is far from over." Malviya further added, If Arvind Kejriwal was so honest, why did the Delhi government roll back and alter the policy once irregularities were flagged? Why were multiple phones and SIM cards destroyed? Why was the number of vendors reduced so sharply while commissions were increased from 6% to 12%? These decisions raise serious and legitimate questions. The kickbacks are not a figment of imagination; they are issues placed before the courts and the public." He also criticised the former Delhi CMs government policies, stating, More importantly, Kejriwals one on one free scheme harmed families across Delhi. His policies increased liquor prices and hurt households. He deserves the strictest punishment for running what was a morally bankrupt government. The people of Delhi have already expressed their verdict through the ballot. Now, the judiciary will continue its examination. With further levels of judicial scrutiny pending, the final word is yet to be written." What was the Delhi liquor policy case? The Delhi liquor policy case originated in 2022 following allegations of irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the 2021-22 excise policy. Introduced in November 2021, it sought to completely privatise the liquor trade in Delhi, increasing wholesaler commission from 5% to 12%. The CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged the policy was designed to favour a South Group" of private entities in exchange for 100 crore in kickbacks. The controversial policy was scrapped in September 2022, and Delhi reverted to the old regime where only government-run corporations operate retail outlets. #BreakingNews | If the charges were baseless, how did the court allow filing of the charge, BJP reacts to court order in liquor policy scam @DhantaNews shares more details#ArvindKejriwal #ManishSisodia #liquorcase | @Arunima24 pic.twitter.com/k6v1X0fUdZ News18 (@CNNnews18) February 27, 2026 The timeline of the Delhi liquor policy case November 17, 2021: The then Delhi government under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal implements a new excise (liquor) policy for 202122 aimed at reforming liquor distribution and retail, including greater private participation. July 8, 2022: Delhi Chief Secretary submits a report alleging irregularities in the excise policy. July 22, 2022: Lieutenant Governor recommends a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged procedural violations. August 19, 2022: CBI raids the residence of then Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and others in connection with the policy. August 22, 2022: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registers a separate money-laundering case linked to the policy. September 1, 2022: The Delhi government withdraws the new 202122 excise policy and reverts to the previous system. SeptemberNovember 2022: CBI and ED conduct raids at multiple locations, question several people connected with liquor businesses, and lay charges against some accused. February 2023: CBI arrests Manish Sisodia in connection with the case. October 2023January 2024: ED issues several summons to Arvind Kejriwal; he repeatedly skips them. March 21, 2024: Arvind Kejriwal is arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the liquor policy money-laundering case after failing to appear for multiple summons making him the first sitting chief minister in India to be arrested in such a case. MayJune 2024: Supreme Court grants interim bail to Kejriwal to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and he later surrenders at Tihar jail; subsequent trial court bail and High Court stay occur, and then CBI remands him again in June. 2025: The case continues alongside political changes in Delhi, including a new government taking office in February 2025 and repeated delays in rolling out a new excise policy because of the investigations and legal proceedings. With Agency Inputs First Published: February 27, 2026, 14:05 IST News explainers Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia Get Court Relief: Delhi Liquor Policy Case To CBIs Plans Explained 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... Pakistans Strength Vs Afghanistans Tactics: How Their Militaries Stack Up Amid Open War Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:57 IST Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan's military forces and arsenals, but Talibans guerrilla tactics and deep knowledge of the rugged border terrain act as an advantage Rapid Read Armed Taliban security personnel operating an anti-aircraft gun watch the sky for Pakistani airstrikes during ongoing clashes between Taliban security personnel and Pakistani border forces in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province on October 15,2025. (Photo: AFP) The cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an open war" with its neighbour. A look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistans military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Pakistans armed forces benefit from good recruitment and retention, bolstered by equipment from its main defence partner China. Islamabad continues to invest in its military nuclear programmes and is also modernising its navy and air force, Reuters reported. The capability of the Afghan Talibans armed forces, meanwhile, is declining, with a fall in their ability to use foreign equipment that the Islamist group seized when it returned to power in the landlocked country in 2021. A lack of international recognition for the Taliban administration has also hurt military modernisation. How Pakistan and Afghanistan militaries stack up: PERSONNEL Pakistan: Ranked 9th globally in 2025, Pakistan maintains 660,000 active personnel, including 560,000 in the army. Afghanistan: Ranked 55th, the Taliban-led military has approximately 172,000 active personnel. FIGHTING VEHICLES AND ARTILLERY Pakistan: Operates over 6,000 armoured vehicles and 4,600 pieces of artillery. It benefits from advanced equipment supplied by China. Afghanistan: Primarily uses captured U.S. and Soviet-era gear, including Humvees and M4 rifles. While they possess some tanks and artillery, exact numbers are unknown, and maintenance is a major challenge due to lack of international recognition. AIR AND NAVAL FORCE Pakistan: It has a fleet of 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters that include multi-role, attack and transport choppers. Afghanistan: The country has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known to possess at least six aircraft some of them dating back again to the Soviet era and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition. ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGES Despite Pakistans conventional superiority, the Taliban utilises guerrilla tactics and deep knowledge of the rugged border terrain to challenge the Pakistani military. They often employ small, stealthy units for high-impact raids on border posts NUCLEAR ARSENAL Pakistan: Is a nuclear-armed state with an estimated 170 warheads. Afghanistan: Does not possess nuclear weapons. With Reuters inputs First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:52 IST News explainers Pakistans Strength Vs Afghanistans Tactics: How Their Militaries Stack Up Amid Open War Explained 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... Fewer Trackside Signals, Kavach: How Indian Railways Is Clearing The Tracks For 160 Kmph Travel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:00 IST To ensure the safety of these faster journeys, the Railway Board has approved a proposal to double the distance between signals from the current 1 km to 2 km At speeds exceeding 130 kmph, the "sighting distance" of a signal becomes dangerously short. This is worsened by external factors such as heavy rain, sharp curves, or the thick fog common in North India. (Image: AFP/File) The superfast" mission looks a step closer for Indian Railways, which has undertaken a modernisation initiative to facilitate high-speed travel up to 160 kmph. This will be reflected in how the railways manages its traffic: a move towards fewer trackside signals and a significant increase in the distance between them, as well as thorough Kavach implementation. HOW DO FEWER SIGNALS HELP INCREASE SPEED? According to a report published by the Times of India, to ensure the safety of these faster journeys, the Railway Board has approved a proposal to double the distance between signals from the current 1 km to 2 km. The report said this adjustment is a vital safety enhancement, as when the trains reach speeds of 160 kmph, the physics of braking dramatically change. This will require a longer stretch of track to decelerate and make a safe stop. It said by spacing signals 2 km apart, the railways will provide locomotive pilots with a longer braking window and earlier warnings. Experts said this will significantly reduce the need for the abrupt, sudden braking that can compromise both safety and passenger comfort. The Times of India reported that before this is implemented across the vast national network, it will undergo rigorous testing. A pilot project managed by Southern Railway has been given the green light" to prepare a detailed proposal for the Railway Board. It said if this pilot proves successful in maintaining safety while facilitating higher speeds, the system is expected to be rolled out nationwide with other zones like the North Central Railway already identified for future expansion. This initiative has been solidified following high-level consultations between the additional member (traction) and zonal principal chief electrical engineers, culminating in a pivotal meeting on January 27, where the 2-km spacing was officially suggested. WHAT IS CAB SIGNALLING? The shift away from traditional trackside (or wayside") signals represents a major technological leap. Historically, the railways has relied on physical signals essentially sophisticated traffic lights" on poles that a locomotive pilot must visually spot. This system, however, will prove to be a hurdle as the network aims for higher speeds. At speeds exceeding 130 kmph, the sighting distance" the time between a driver seeing a signal and reaching it becomes dangerously short. This problem is worsened by external factors such as heavy rain, sharp curves, or the thick fog common in North India, which often forces drivers to slow down because they cannot see the signal clearly. To overcome these constraints, the railways is transitioning to cab signalling". Under this system, the signal aspect (red, yellow, or green) is directly displayed on a screen inside the locomotive cockpit. This allows the train to maintain its top speed regardless of external visibility or weather conditions, effectively moving the intelligence" of the railway from the ground into the train. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF KAVACH? The primary driver of speed upgrade is the implementation of Kavach, Indias indigenous automatic train protection (ATP) system, alongside ETCS Level 2 (European Train Control System). Kavach acts as an electronic shield", creating a digital communication bubble around every train to prevent collisions. The system operates through a sophisticated digital handshake" between several components. On-Board Units (OBU): Every locomotive is fitted with an OBU that constantly broadcasts its position, speed, and direction. Station Servers: These act as the regional brains", receiving data from all nearby trains and instantly identifying potential conflicts, such as two trains on the same track. RFID Ground Tags: Since GPS is not always precise enough for track-specific locations, RFID tags are placed on the sleepers between the rails. As a train passes over a tag, an under-slung reader pings" it, providing the trains exact location down to the centimetre. This allows the railways to move from fixed blocks" where only one train can occupy a set section of track to optimised or moving" blocks. By knowing the exact position and braking distance of every train via radio communication, the gap between trains can be safely reduced, allowing more trains to run at higher speeds without waiting for a physical all clear" from a distant pole. WHAT ARE THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS? Kavach also introduces continuous speed supervision. Unlike physical signals, which are static" and only tell a driver to stop" or go", it provides a continuous speed curve. The system calculates the trains weight, the tracks gradient, and the distance to the next restriction to determine the exact moment braking is required. If a conflict is detected, Kavach initiates a three-stage safety protocol. Audio-Visual Warning: The in-cab display flashes red and sounds an alarm. Service Braking: If the pilot does not react within seconds, the system automatically slows the train. Emergency Braking: If the risk persists, the system triggers full-pressure emergency brakes to bring the train to a complete halt. Additionally, it includes a network-wide SOS feature. If an accident occurs, a pilot can press an SOS button, sending a radio signal that automatically slows or stops every other train within a several-kilometre radius, preventing secondary collisions on adjacent tracks. WHAT IS THE COST CONSIDERATION? Beyond speed and safety, reducing trackside signals offers significant cost and maintenance benefits. Physical signal posts are expensive to install and prone to failure, theft, or damage. Each signal requires extensive wiring, power, and individual maintenance. By contrast, it is far more cost-effective to maintain a network of radio towers for Kavach and ETCS than thousands of individual signal lamps and hundreds of kilometres of copper signalling cables. This reduction in a signal failure" is expected to significantly improve the punctuality of the network. WHAT DOES THE KAVACH ROLLOUT LOOK LIKE? As of February, the rollout of Kavach 4.0 has significantly accelerated. The project is focused on two critical high-speed corridors under Mission Raftar. Delhi-Mumbai Corridor (1,384 km): This is the priority route for the 160 kmph upgrade. Currently, over 1,100 km has been commissioned, with major sections like Palwal-Mathura-Nagda and Vadodara-Surat-Virar already complete. The final leg into Mumbai Central is targeted for completion by September. Delhi-Howrah Corridor (1,450 km): This route is slightly behind due to the complexity of the Grand Chord" section through Bihar and Jharkhand. Approximately 20-25% of the route is operational, with active installation across several sections like Gaya-Sarmatanr. According to the ministry of railways, the vendor base has expanded to over five companies in 2026, shifting the pace from experimental to mass production. With over 1,300 route kilometres already commissioned and more than 4,150 locomotives fitted with Kavach, the full activation of this system remains the final permission slip" needed to officially raise the speed limit to 160 kmph across these vital corridors. First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:00 IST News explainers Fewer Trackside Signals, Kavach: How Indian Railways Is Clearing The Tracks For 160 Kmph Travel 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-Afghanistan War: What Is Indias Stand? How Did China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi React? Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 19:28 IST Pakistan-Afghanistan War: While India has not yet issued an official statement on the latest flare-up, New Delhi had on Sunday condemned Pakistans airstrikes on Afghan territory Rapid Read Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation late Thursday night in response to the alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban. (Representational Image/AFP) Pakistans defence minister early Friday said that his country had run out of patience" and now considers itself in an open war" with neighbouring Afghanistan after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack. What is Indias stand? What have other countries said? News18 explains WHAT IS INDIAS STANCE? Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation late Thursday night in response to the alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad claimed that 133 Taliban fighters were killed in Operation Ghazab lil Haq. The 2,611-km-long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is known as the Durand Line, which Kabul has not formally recognised. ALSO READ | Pakistans Strength Vs Afghanistans Tactics: How Their Militaries Stack Up Amid Open War Explained While India has not yet issued an official statement on the latest flare-up, New Delhi had on Sunday condemned Pakistans airstrikes on Afghan territory, saying the strikes had resulted in civilian casualties including women and children during the holy month of Ramadan. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Sunday said the attacks were another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures" and reiterated Indias support for Afghanistans sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. India strongly condemns Pakistans airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures. India reiterates its support for Afghanistans sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence," the statement released by the ministry said. The reaction comes after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan in the early hours of Sunday, targeting multiple locations along the Durand Line, with fighter jets hitting suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, CNN-News18 had learnt. In October, India had reaffirmed its support to Afghanistan amid the countrys escalating border tensions with Pakistan, saying it stands with its sovereignty. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) had come down heavily on Pakistan over cross-border terrorism and said Islamabad thinks it can get away with impunity A major escalation in October 2025 had coincided with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis visit to India. Pakistan thinks they can keep doing cross-border terrorism without being punished. We are committed to the sovereignty of Afghanistan," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said then. Jaiswal had said India remained fully committed" to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence" of Afghanistan. I reiterate what I had said in my last briefing. Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories and seems to think that it has the right to practice cross-border terrorism with impunity. Its neighbours find it unacceptable. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan," he said. TURKEY AND SAUDI ARABIA Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with his Turkish and Saudi counterparts to exchange views on the current situation. During talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Dar underscored that Pakistan responded befittingly to unprovoked Afghan aggression," said the Foreign Office. Both leaders emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged on evolving developments," the FO said. Dar discussed with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan the recent regional developments, including the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, it said. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged, it added. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year signed a joint defence agreement, pledging to come to the aid of each other in case of attacks by a third country. CHINA AND RUSSIA China and Russia also expressed concern over the escalation and called on both sides to resolve their differences through diplomatic means. China, which maintains close ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan through a tripartite mechanism, called on both sides to exercise calm and restraint, properly resolve their differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and realise a ceasefire as soon as possible to avoid more suffering. Amid an escalation of armed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Russia on Friday urged both countries to end the conflict and resolve their differences through diplomatic means. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the sharp escalation" of armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, involving regular army units, air force, and heavy weapons". ALSO READ | Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Durand Line To TTP, The Root & History Of Violence Explained There are casualties on both sides, including civilians. We call on our friendly countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means," foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement. Kremlins Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, also urged Islamabad and Kabul to halt the hostilities. We are in favour of a swift end to mutual attacks and a diplomatic resolution of differences," Kabulov was quoted as saying by state-run news agency RIA Novosti. IRAN Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourliness, offering Tehrans support to facilitate talks between the two countries. In a post on X, he said the ongoing holy month of Ramadan with its focus on spiritual reflection, provided an opportunity to ease tensions and promote unity across the Islamic world". He said, It is fitting, on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadanwhich is a month for self-discipline and the promotion of unity in the Islamic worldthat Afghanistan and Pakistan resolve their differences through good neighborliness and dialogue." With Agency Inputs First Published: February 27, 2026, 19:12 IST News explainers Pakistan-Afghanistan War: What Is Indias Stand? How Did China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi React? Explained 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-Afghanistan War: Durand Line To TTP, The Root & History Of Violence Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 18:30 IST The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul over cross-border security concerns along the Durand Line Rapid Read The Afghanistan-Pakistan ties have been tense since October 2025. (File) Pakistan on Friday said it considers itself in an open war" with Afghanistan, as its forces killed more than 130 Taliban fighters in airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia in response to what Islamabad described as a cross-border attack by the Afghan Taliban. The 2,611-km-long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is known as the Durand Line, which Kabul has not formally recognised. DAMA DAM MAST QALANDAR: WHAT PAKISTAN SAID In a post on X, Pakistans Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, issued a strong statement declaring the open war" against Afghanistan, stating that Islamabad has lost its patience and accusing the Taliban-led administration of harbouring militants. After the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and peace in the regionThey gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," his post read. ALSO READ | Pakistans Strength Vs Afghanistans Tactics: How Their Militaries Stack Up Amid Open War Explained Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar. Pakistans army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," the Pakistani Defence Minister added. COWARDLY: WHAT AFGHANISTAN SAID Following the Pakistani strikes on Afghan soil, Afghanistans spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned the attack, calling the act by the Pakistani military cowardly". The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties," Mujahid said in a statement on X. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read. In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement added. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated the Ghazab Lil Haq operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News. Spokesperson of Pakistani Prime Minister Mosharraf Zaidi alleged that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded, with 27 Taliban posts destroyed and nine captured. THE PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN CLASH TRIGGER The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul over cross-border security concerns along the Durand Line, the border drawn by the British in the 19th century, which has remained a topic of dispute between the two countries. Pakistans security forces responded to what they called unprovoked fire" by Afghan Taliban forces at multiple points along the PakistanAfghanistan border on Thursday, Pakistans information ministry said. The ministry wrote on X that Taliban forces opened fire across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and that Pakistani troops delivered an immediate and effective response", inflicting heavy casualties and destroying multiple posts and equipment. THE HISTORY OF PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN VIOLENCE The historical violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan is rooted in a century-old border dispute, ethnic nationalism, and decades of proxy warfare that has escalated into an open war. 1. The Durand Line Dispute (1893Present) At the heart of tensions is the Durand Line, a 2,640-km border drawn in 1893 between British India and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never formally recognized the Durand Line as an international border. The line split ethnic Pashtun tribes between what became Pakistan (in 1947) and Afghanistan. After Pakistans creation in 1947, Afghanistan was the only country to vote against Pakistans admission to the United Nations, largely due to this dispute. This issue remains the core political grievance between the two countries. 2. Early Hostility (19471970s) After Pakistans independence, Afghanistan supported the idea of Pashtunistan" an independent state carved out of Pakistans northwest. Border skirmishes were witnessed in the 1950s and 1960s. Diplomatic relations were periodically severed. Although not full-scale war, tensions were persistent and occasionally violent. 3. SovietAfghan War & Pakistans Role (19791989) When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan became a key base for Afghan resistance fighters (the Mujahideen). With backing from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Pakistans intelligence service (ISI) trained and armed Afghan fighters. Millions of Afghan refugees fled into Pakistan. This period militarised the border region and strengthened Islamist militant networks that later destabilised both countries. 4. Rise of the Taliban (1990s) After the Soviet withdrawal, Pakistan supported the rise of the Taliban in the mid-1990s. The Taliban took control of most of Afghanistan by 1996. Afghanistans civil war spilled instability into Pakistan. Afghanistan later accused Pakistan of backing Taliban militants as a strategic move to gain influence. 5. Post-9/11 Tensions (20012021) After the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan officially joined the U.S. war on terror. However, Afghan governments repeatedly accused Pakistan of allowing Taliban leaders to operate from safe havens in Pakistan. Violence escalated along the border with cross-border shelling, militant infiltration, suicide bombings and Pakistani military operations in tribal areas The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a Pakistani militant group emerged and began attacking Pakistan itself. 6. After the Taliban Returned to Power (2021Present) When the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan initially welcomed the development. However, tensions worsened due to increased attacks by TTP militants operating from Afghan territory. Disputes over Pakistan fencing the Durand Line. Border clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops. Recent years have seen airstrikes, cross-border raids, diplomatic breakdowns and mass deportations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. 7. The TTP Factor The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is separate from Afghanistans ruling Taliban, but they share ideological roots. The TTP wants to overthrow the Pakistani state. Pakistan says TTP fighters operate from Afghan provinces near the border. The Afghan Taliban deny officially supporting TTP but have not decisively dismantled them. This unresolved militant presence is the core security dispute. Another spark in recent clashes is Pakistans continued fencing along the Durand Line. Afghan Taliban forces have sometimes removed fencing or blocked construction. Both sides deploy troops, leading to shootouts. Pakistan has recently arrested and deported large numbers of undocumented Afghan refugees. Linked some security threats to refugee flows. This has worsened diplomatic tensions. WHAT HAPPENED TO OCTOBER PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN CEASEFIRE? In October 2025, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to a short, 48-hour ceasefire after several days of intense border clashes triggered by militant attacks and retaliatory airstrikes. The truce was achieved through urgent diplomatic contacts and mediation efforts by regional actors, including Qatar and Turkey, who pushed both sides to pause fighting and open channels for dialogue. However, the ceasefire was temporary and lacked a formal enforcement mechanism. Once it expired, accusations quickly resurfacedPakistan alleged continued cross-border activity by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan territory, while Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of renewed airstrikes and violations of sovereignty. With deep mistrust unresolved and no lasting security guarantees in place, border tensions and sporadic clashes resumed in the following months. With Agency Inputs First Published: February 27, 2026, 18:19 IST News explainers Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Durand Line To TTP, The Root & History Of Violence Explained 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 Operation Ghazab Lil Haq And Why Has Pakistan Struck Afghanistan? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 10:19 IST Pakistan says this response, part of a campaign named Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, was triggered by what it claims were unprovoked attacks by Afghan forces and militants Rapid Read Taliban security personnel search for victims after an overnight Pakistani air strike hit a residential area at the Girdi Kas village in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province. (File pic: AFP) Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government have sharply escalated into open conflict, with Islamabad launching a significant military offensive that has seen airstrikes and bombardments across multiple Afghan cities including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Islamabads leadership declared what it called an open war" after a spike in cross-border clashes along the contested Durand Line, which saw both sides trading fire and reporting heavy casualties. Pakistans government says this response, part of a campaign named Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, was triggered by what it claims were unprovoked attacks" by Afghan forces and militants, leading to strikes on key Taliban military positions and infrastructure in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials also report destroying numerous Taliban posts and inflicting hundreds of combatant casualties, though Afghan authorities dispute these figures and accuse Pakistan of violating its sovereignty. The situation remains highly fluid, with both Kabul and Islamabad making contradictory claims about battlefield losses and control of border positions, and civilians caught in the crossfire. Afghanistans Taliban authorities have accused Pakistan of overreacting to longstanding border tensions, while Pakistan insists it is defending its territorial integrity against persistent threats allegedly emanating from Afghan soil. This latest flare-up follows months of intermittent skirmishes, failed ceasefires, and mutual accusations over support for insurgent groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, making this one of the most serious confrontations between the neighbours in recent years. What Is Operation Ghazab Lil Haq? Operation Ghazab Lil Haq is the name Pakistan has given to the military offensive launched on February 26, by its armed forces against targets inside Afghanistan. It involves both air strikes and ground operations against the Taliban-led Afghan forces and their military infrastructure. The name roughly translates to Wrath for the Truth." According to Pakistani official statements, under this operation, fighter jets and artillery have struck military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Paktia and other regions. The Pakistan Army says it has destroyed militant posts, brigade and battalion headquarters, ammunition depots, tanks, artillery pieces and other assets. Pakistani forces also claim to have captured several Taliban posts and inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan Taliban forces. The Pakistani government has describes Operation Ghazab Lil Haq as an official retaliatory and defensive military response not just isolated airstrikes marking a significant escalation between the two neighbours. What Does Ghazab Lil Haq Mean? Ghazab Lil Haq" is an Arabic phrase that roughly translates to wrath for the truth" or rage for the righteous cause." Ghazab means anger, wrath, fury, Lil means for, and Haq means the truth, justice, or what is right. The phrase conveys the idea of anger exercised in defence of truth or justice. Pakistan has used this phrase in naming its recent military campaign to frame the action as a response taken in defence of what it describes as a just or legitimate cause. Why Pakistan Has Struck Afghanistan? Pakistan says the offensive was launched in response to escalating hostilities and direct attacks on its forces: Border Fighting Pakistan reports that Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked firing" across the Durand Line border at multiple sectors, which Islamabad says resulted in casualties among its security personnel. Retaliation for Cross-Border Attacks Pakistan claims Afghan forces (linked to the Taliban government in Kabul) launched large-scale operations that struck Pakistani military posts, with Afghan statements saying they captured posts and inflicted losses. Pakistan rejects some of those Afghan claims but says the cross-border aggression prompted its retaliation. Security Concerns Islamabad also frames the operation as addressing broader security threats from militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other insurgents who have reportedly used Afghan territory as a base to launch attacks into Pakistan in the past. Although those insurgent concerns have existed for years, the immediate trigger has been the recent spike in direct military clashes along the border. Pakistans Official Position Pakistani leaders, including the Defence Minister, publicly declared that normalisation efforts have failed" and that Pakistans patience has run out, describing the situation as an open war" with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. First Published: February 27, 2026, 10:19 IST News explainers What Is Operation Ghazab Lil Haq And Why Has Pakistan Struck Afghanistan? 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... Why Bill & Hillary Clinton Are Testifying In Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell Files Probe Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 15:36 IST Bill & Hillary Clinton appeared before House Oversight Committee as part of an investigation into criminal network of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. All you need to know, explained Bill and Hillary Clinton. (AP/PTI File) Bill and Hillary Clinton have become the first former US presidential couple to testify before a congressional panel since 1983. They appeared before the House Oversight Committee as part of an investigation into the criminal network of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clintons Testimony Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified behind closed doors before the Republican-led U.S. House Oversight Committee as part of a broader investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In a six-hour closed-door deposition, Hillary Clinton stated she had no idea" about Epsteins criminal activities and did not recall ever encountering him. She said she did not know about Epsteins or Maxwells criminal conduct and does not recall ever meeting Epstein. She denied flying on Epsteins plane, visiting his properties, or having relevant information to add to the investigation. She used her opening statement to accuse the Republican-led committee of partisan political theater" and called for Donald Trump to be deposed, noting his name appears tens of thousands of times" in the Epstein files. Clinton reported that towards the end of the session, the questioning shifted to unrelated topics, including UFOs and the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. The session was briefly paused after Representative Lauren Boebert took a photo of Clinton and sent it to a conservative influencer, violating committee rules for closed-door hearings. Bill Clintons Involvement Unlike Hillary, Bill Clinton had a well-documented social relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Records show Bill Clinton flew on Epsteins private jet at least 16 times between 2002 and 2003 for Clinton Foundation work. The Department of Justice released photos in late 2025 showing him with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including images of him in a pool and hot tub. His spokesperson maintained that the former president knew nothing of Epsteins crimes and cut ties well before Epsteins 2006 indictment. The Epstein Files" and Transparency The inquiry followed the release of over 3.5 million pages of Epstein-related files by the Justice Department, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in 2025. The Clintons only agreed to testify after the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress. To date, there has been no suggestion of criminal wrongdoing by either Bill or Hillary Clinton in connection with Epsteins crimes The huge trove of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, includes flight logs, correspondence, photographs, and other records linked to Jeffrey Epsteins network. What do the Epstein Files say on Bill and Hillary Clinton? Bill Clinton appears in flight logs from the early 2000s on Epsteins plane (often called the Lolita Express"). Photographs in the files show him with Epstein and with Ghislaine Maxwell in informal settings, but there is no allegation of criminal conduct by Clinton in these documents. Hillary Clintons name is referenced in the files largely in context of news articles and campaign mentions, not as showing evidence of a relationship with Epstein. She has consistently maintained she never met Epstein and had no involvement with his activities. No credible evidence has emerged from the official documents linking either Hillary or Bill Clinton to Epsteins crimes. Investigations into the files are ongoing, and so far no charges or criminal allegations have been made against either of them based on the released material. The probe The current focus of investigations is primarily on: The DOJs release and redaction of Epstein files, including whether certain documents (especially those mentioning public figures) were improperly withheld. How Epstein could operate for so long, who in his orbit may have enabled him, and how investigations were handled by authorities. With CNN, Agency Inputs First Published: February 27, 2026, 15:31 IST News explainers Why Bill & Hillary Clinton Are Testifying In Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell Files Probe Explained 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... Air India Express Kathmandu Flight Returns To Bengaluru After 11 Hours, Fails To Land Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 17:44 IST The journey was plagued by atmospheric instability over Kathmandu. When the aircraft reached Nepal, the ATC denied landing permission due to poor visibility and adverse weather. File photo of Air India Express plane (Photo Credit: X) What was intended to be a serene Himalayan getaway turned into a gruelling 11-hour ordeal for 180 passengers aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru. The flight, which departed Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) bound for Kathmandu, Nepal, was forced to return to its starting point on Wednesday night after failing to land due to severe weather conditions. The 11-Hour Journey to Nowhere" The flight, carrying approximately 180 passengers including a group of 29 tourists from Kolar of Karnataka took off at 10:30 AM. The journey was plagued by atmospheric instability over the Kathmandu valley. When the aircraft reached Nepal, air traffic control denied landing permission due to poor visibility and adverse weather. The pilot initially diverted the aircraft to Varanasi, India, hoping for a weather window to open. After waiting in Varanasi, a second attempt was made to fly to Kathmandu. However, the weather remained unforgiving, and for the second time, the aircraft was denied permission to touch down. Passenger Ordeal and the Return to Bengaluru With options exhausted, the airline made the decision to fly the passengers back to Bengaluru. The aircraft finally landed at KIA at 9:00 PM, nearly 11 hours after its initial departure. Passengers, particularly the group from Kolar organized by Samruddhi Holiday Tours, reported significant distress. A traveller requesting anonymity said to News18, We spent 11 hours in the air only to end up exactly where we started. The lack of clear communication and the struggle for food and refreshments during such a long delay made the experience much more exhausting." The Technical Version: Aviation sources focus on the Double Diversion" protocol, where the safety of the aircraft and its 180 occupants took precedence over the flight schedule due to Kathmandus notoriously difficult high-altitude landing conditions. While Air India Express has cited Adverse Weather" as the official cause for the return, the incident has sparked discussions regarding passenger compensation and care during international diversions. For the 29 residents of Kolar, the dream of a Nepal tour remains on hold as they recover from a day spent entirely in the sky. In a statement, Air India Express said, Due to adverse weather in Kathmandu, our BengaluruKathmandu flights on 26 and 27 February were diverted. An additional flight operated today to recover guests from yesterdays disrupted service was also diverted for the same reason. Affected guests have been provided hotel accommodation and the option of complimentary rescheduling or fullrefund cancellation. An additional recovery flight is planned tomorrow to accommodate these guests. We regret the inconvenience caused due to factors beyond the airlines control." First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:10 IST News india Air India Express Kathmandu Flight Returns To Bengaluru After 11 Hours, Fails To Land 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... After WhatsApp Triple Talaq, Woman Alleges Being Pressured For Halala With Father-In-Law Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 16:28 IST When the woman wanted to live with her husband again, he demanded that she undergo halala (marriage) with either her father-in-law or brother-in-law Rapid Read Rukhsana Khatoon accused her husband Mohammad Maqbool of sending her a triple talaq message on WhatsApp on February 20, 2024. (AI Image) A marriage built on trust allegedly collapsed over a mobile message in Bihars Begusarai district, where a woman claims she was given instant triple talaq through a mobile message and later subjected to harassment and dowry demands. The woman, now moving between police stations and government offices seeking justice, says her life changed after receiving the message from her husband. Rukhsana Khatoon, a resident of Shokhara-2 Kalambagh under Phulwariya police station area, accused her husband Mohammad Maqbool of sending her a triple talaq message on WhatsApp on February 20, 2024. According to her complaint, she was married on March 11, 2022, and her family had provided Rs 51,000 in cash and two gold ornaments as dowry at the time of the wedding. Rukhsana alleged that within a few months of marriage, her in-laws began demanding an additional Rs 5 lakh. When the demand could not be met, she claims she was beaten, harassed and eventually forced out of the house. Following intervention by community members, she returned to her matrimonial home and later moved to Delhi with her husband. She alleged that the harassment continued in Delhi and that her husband repeatedly demanded money from her and her family. According to Rukhsana, her mother was forced to pawn jewellery and take loans to arrange Rs 5 lakh for her husbands business. She also claimed that a fixed deposit of Rs 1.4 lakh in her daughters name was prematurely withdrawn. In total, she alleges that Rs 16-17 lakh has been taken from her family. Rukhsana further alleged that when she demanded the return of the money, her husband arranged an attack on her parental home in which she and her brother were injured. Although doctors advised her to inform the police, she said the matter was later settled after her husband apologised. She claimed that after the birth of her son in June 2023, the harassment intensified. According to her allegations, her husband used abusive language over phone calls, threatened her and even spoke about forcing her into prostitution. She also alleged that when she expressed a desire to live with him again, he demanded that she undergo halala (marriage) with either her father-in-law or brother-in-law. Rukhsana alleged that on March 17, 2024, her husband sent her another message indicating that he intended to marry someone else, while her brother-in-law allegedly threatened to kill her. The woman said she has been approaching the police for nearly two years but has not received justice. She alleged that she has been repeatedly directed between Phulwariya police station and the womens police station without resolution. She further claimed that after she filed her complaint, her husband influenced the police to register a theft case against her. Her lawyer, Abhishek Jaiswal, alleged that serious charges were not included in the FIR and that the case was handled negligently. Mamta Kumari, a member of the National Commission for Women, said the matter involving triple talaq through a mobile message has been taken seriously and a report has been sought from the police, who have been given two days to respond. She also emphasised the need for social awareness, stating that practices such as dowry and instant triple talaq can only be eliminated through public awareness. Location : Begusarai, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 16:28 IST News india After WhatsApp Triple Talaq, Woman Alleges Being Pressured For Halala With Father-In-Law 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... AIADMK-Led NDA Poised To Win Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami Will Be CM, No Tie-Up With Vijay: Piyush Goyal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:43 IST Piyush Goyal at Rising Bharat: "I dont see any tie-up happening with Vijay. If he had good sense, he would have known he cant be the CM" Rapid Read Piyush Goyal said people of Tamil Nadu want a change. (File) Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, during a conversation with CNN-News18s Rahul Shivshankar at Rising Bharat, expressed confidence over the Bharatiya Janata Partys performance in the Tamil Nadu elections. We have a strong alliance which is well-poised to win Tamil Nadu. People are tired of corruption of the DMK government, they are unhappy with the scams, anti-Bharat pronouncements of the ruling Karunanidhi family. People cant accept the anti-Sanatan statements made by heir apparent and deputy CM. Any well-meaning Tamilian cant accept Udayanidhi Stalins stance on eradicating the Sanatan, Indias ethos, like a mosquito," said Goyal. They want a change and the AIADMK-led NDA alliance is well-poised to win Tamil Nadu and Edappadi Palaniswami will be the CM," he said. #RisingBharatSummit2026 | @PiyushGoyal on Tamil Nadu Elections 2026We have a very strong alliance which is well poised to win the elections, people of Tamil Nadu are tired with DMK #RisingBharatSummit2026 #BreakingNews #PiyushGoyal | @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/U571PMS52C News18 (@CNNnews18) February 27, 2026 On Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and his prospects and statement that he would be a king not the kingmaker", Goyal said, Everybody is entitled to a glorified view of their own self. He is a good, popular actorBut he has anointed himself as the kingfilm stars have had high rating of himself. Mr Kamal Haasan is an example. He got less than 2% votes. Vijaykanth ji had come. He couldnt get into double digitsMGR or Jayalalithaa were in established parties. They had an established career for years before they became the CM. An upstart, without any organisational backing, is not going to be a winner. Something like that was said in Bihar too, but did he win?" I dont see any tie-up happening with him. If he had good sense, he would have known he cant be the CMI have never met him, I dont know him, but our doors are always open for good, well-meaning people," said Goyal. If asked Vijay ticks those boxes, Goyal said, We will have to examine if he approaches us." Positioned at a pivotal moment in Indias growth journey, the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 brings together top national leadership and international delegates at Bharat Mandapam on February 2728. Anchored in the theme, Strength Within," the summit stands as one of the countrys largest platforms where governance, economic ambition, and strategic thinking converge, reflecting Indias expanding influence in global conversations. Against this backdrop, Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address, giving direction to the summits central theme. His address will outline Indias long-term developmental roadmap, economic momentum, and strategic priorities in a rapidly shifting global order, while setting the tone for deliberations over the two-day gathering. Over the years, the Rising Bharat platform has evolved into a credible venue for substantive policy dialogue, and the 2026 edition signals sharper engagement around the ideas shaping Indias next phase of progress. The theme salutes the collective strength within every citizen-the power that drives innovation, sustains democracy, India as a leading light on the world stage. First Published: February 27, 2026, 13:27 IST News india AIADMK-Led NDA Poised To Win Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami Will Be CM, No Tie-Up With Vijay: Piyush Goyal 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... Centre Tightens Vigil In Pharma Hub Baddi, Reorganises CDSCO Zone Amid Drug Quality Concerns Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 02:58 IST The move comes as the government steps up inspections and enforcement measures, including Risk-Based Inspections across manufacturing clusters, after a spate of quality failures Under the new structure, the Baddi Zone has been split into Baddi-I Sub-Zone, Baddi-II Sub-Zone, and Chandigarh Sub-Zone, each to be headed by an assistant drugs controller (ADC). Representational image Amid rising concerns over drug quality and repeated regulatory red flags, the Centre has moved to tighten oversight in Baddione of Indias largest pharmaceutical manufacturing hubsby restructuring the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Indias apex health regulatory agency, in the region. In an order dated February 27, 2026, seen by News18, CDSCO has decided to reorganise Baddi into three separate sub-zones in view of the vast geographical spread, large number of regulated establishments, and operational constraints". Baddi houses a dense cluster of pharmaceutical and formulation units that supply medicines across India and for export and has in recent years faced scrutiny following multiple instances of substandard drug findings by domestic and overseas regulators. The move comes as the government steps up inspections and enforcement measures, including Risk-Based Inspections (RBI) across manufacturing clusters, after a spate of quality failures. Under the new structure, the Baddi Zone has been split into Baddi-I Sub-Zone, Baddi-II Sub-Zone, and Chandigarh Sub-Zone, each to be headed by an assistant drugs controller (ADC). What will change now? Baddi and the larger Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area are known as one of the countrys largest pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters, with industry estimates suggesting that around a thousand formulation and bulk drug units operate in the region. The belt hosts a mix of major pharmaceutical companies as well as smaller contract and third-party manufacturers, supplying medicines to domestic and export markets. With the reorganisation, each ADC heading a sub-zone will function independently for regulatory and enforcement activities within their assigned jurisdiction. This includes planning and conducting inspections, investigations, and other regulatory actions in accordance with existing rules and guidelines. The order states that the ADC(I)s shall function independently in respect of all day-to-day regulatory and enforcement activities within their assigned jurisdictions", including planning and conduct of inspections, investigations and other related regulatory actions". Consequent to the restructuring, the Deputy Drugs Controller (India), Baddi Zone, will now perform coordination functions across the three sub-zones rather than directly handling all enforcement activities. The DDC will be responsible for driving the execution of recommended actions arising out of risk-based inspections or corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) and other audit observations, along with operationalising the new CDSCO office building at Baddi. The officer will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating National Regulatory Authority (NRA) assessment for drugs, particularly in respect of vaccines and regulatory systems. The order further assigns the DDC Baddi the task of driving and monitoring the upgrade of the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli, and carrying out any other work assigned by the CDSCO headquarters from time to time. The reorganisation signals a sharper administrative focus on Baddi at a time when regulatory scrutiny of manufacturing standards has intensified. First Published: February 28, 2026, 02:58 IST News india Centre Tightens Vigil In Pharma Hub Baddi, Reorganises CDSCO Zone Amid Drug Quality Concerns 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... 'Everyone Would Want Good Relations With India': Ex-Singapore FM At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 20:13 IST Yeo said India was on the trajectory of self-sustaining development and all its neighbours would want to have good relations with New Delhi in 10-15 years. Former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo at News18 Bharat Rising Summit. Former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo spoke about Indias role in current geopolitics at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, where he underscored that everyone wants to build ties with New Delhi due to its rising political clout and economic growth. Speaking to Firstposts Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Yeo said relations between India and China were key to regional peace in Asia, adding that India was in a good position globally as it was not a threat to any of the major powers in the world. India is in a good position. India is not a threat to any of the major powers. Everyone wants good relations with India, including China. India has the privilege to sit at every table and enjoy the best," he said, when asked about current global uncertainties. Yeo also appeared confident that all of Indias neighbours, including China, would want good relations with New Delhi in 10-20 years as it would be a very good source of their own well-being" and advantageous for them in the long run. Yeo On India-China Relations The former Singaporean FM said all of Chinas neighbours wanted good investment, but they did not want to get too close to Beijing as they didnt want it to dominate their lives. China makes use of its economic position for statecraft. In 10-15 years, India will be in the same position in the continent." An advocate of peaceful relations between India and China, Yeo said their relationship is key to regional peace, adding that while it is unlikely they will be too close, they do not have to be enemies. He outlined key issues in India-China ties: politics and border security. However, he emphasised that China now understands that India is acting on its own behalf and its alliance with America is not aimed at countering Beijing. Self-Sustaining Development In India Yeo also asserted that India was on the trajectory for self-sustaining development, which he said was beneficial for Asia, Singapore and the world. India went through a critical test in the last few months, when America piled on pressure. But India did not buckle. Its standing in the world has gone up. t made some tough decisions to have an FTA with Europe, to undertake further internal reforms, and to move towards a situation where Indian talent is retained within India," he remarked. Indias IT Development & AI Although Yeo said India has become a major IT power in the world, he cautioned that artificial intelligence was a huge challenge for every nation. The US and China are moving very fast. I think its good that India gave AI its full attention," he stated. You (India) had a successful convention here a few weeks ago. You have identified the problems and opportunities, but moving with this technology requires the mobilisation of all people. Its not just what a few computer scientists could do." He also highlighted the use of technology for good and evil. We have to be very mindful of the harm AI could do," he added. Some societies can respond to new technologies better than others. They can exploit it, they can manage the problems." First Published: February 27, 2026, 20:05 IST News india 'Everyone Would Want Good Relations With India': Ex-Singapore FM At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 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 Protest: Police, Students Injured In Violent Clashes, Union President Among 14 Held Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:29 IST Police said around 25 personnel were injured, including ACP Ved Prakash, ACP Sanghamitra, SHO Atul Tyagi and SHO Ajai Yadav. According to the police, around 400500 students gathered on campus for a Long March to the Ministry of Education. (ANI) JNU Protests: Several students and police personnel were injured after they clashed during a march by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) at the campus gate on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of assault. Cops claimed that they were assaulted, but the protesters, many of whom have been detained, alleged that the police used excessive force against them. An FIR has been registered, police said. According to the police, 14 people have been arrested so far in the case, including JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Aditi Mishra, former president Nitish Kumar, JNUSU vice president Gopika Babu, and the unions joint secretary Danish Ali. Whats The Row? According to Delhi Police, around 400500 students gathered on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and attempted to take out a Long March" from the university to the Ministry of Education over issues including UGC regulations, rustication of JNUSU office-bearers and remarks by Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, despite being denied permission for any protest outside campus. Police said the situation escalated around 3.20 pm when students moved out through the main gate and tried to proceed towards the ministry. Barricades placed outside the campus were allegedly damaged during the scuffle. It further said that the student protestors turned violent and pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel." Around 25 police personnel, including ACP Ved Prakash, ACP Sanghamitra, SHO Atul Tyagi and SHO Ajai Yadav, were injured in the clashes. VIDEO | The recent protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi escalated into violence, leading to the detention of 51 students, with heavy deployment of Delhi Police. More details awaited.(Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/PWJ9na2wfG Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 26, 2026 During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," Delhi Police said in a statement, as reported by news agency ANI. Police have registered an FIR against the students under BNS sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 3(5) (common intentions) at Vasant Kunj North police station. Students Allege Excessive Force Meanwhile, protesting students alleged that excessive force was used against them due to which many students were injured. The students union claimed that police locked the universitys main gate with chains and multiple barricades. According to the union, more than 50 students were detained and taken to undisclosed locations," and several injured students were denied medical assistance. #WATCH | Delhi | JNU Student Union continue their protest, demanding UGC regulations to be implemented. Delhi Police have set up barricades to contain the students inside the campus. Heavy security deployed. pic.twitter.com/OBNVHL0xBQ ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2026 The JNUSU also alleged that a portrait of B R Ambedkar was damaged during the police action. Purported videos of the clash surfaced online, including one showing an Ambedkar photo snatched from the protesters. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association condemned what it described as a brutal use of force" and demanded the immediate release of all detained students. The association alleged that police action was aimed at preventing students from exercising their democratic right to march. It alleged that several students, including women, were injured and expressed concern over the well-being of those detained, claiming some were taken to unconfirmed locations". JNUTA also alleged that the police action was aimed at preventing students from exercising their democratic right to march and demanded the immediate release of all detained students. What JNU Said? The march was part of ongoing protests against JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit over her recent remarks on a podcast regarding University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, the rustication of student union office bearers, and demands for the proposed Rohith Act. JNUSU protestors are demanding UGC regulations to be implemented. This is in violation of the Honorable Supreme Court which issued a stay on the regulations. JNU Vice Chancellor or Registrar have no powers over the regulations." It added that as per the university administration, JNUSU has refused to address the core issue of students who were rusticated for vandalism and violence" unleashed inside the campus. The students involved were held responsible and rusticated, following a proctorial inquiry," read the statement. In its statement, the university administration said that JNUSUs demands to implement certain UGC regulations violate a stay order issued by the Supreme Court. It also stated that students had been rusticated following a proctorial inquiry into alleged vandalism and violence on campus. The university described JNU as a public institution accountable to the government and taxpayers, and criticised what it termed false allegations" against the Vice Chancellor. Second March Announced Following the detentions, JNUSU called for a complete lockdown" on campus and announced a second march from the JNU Main Gate to Vasant Kunj Police Station later in the evening, urging students to gather in large numbers. Police maintained that officers were only performing their duty to maintain law and order and denied allegations of manhandling protesters. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:29 IST News india JNU Protest: Police, Students Injured In Violent Clashes, Union President Among 14 Held 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... Millennials Rejected Them, Gen Z Too: PM Modi Dismisses Rahul Gandhis Vote Chori Claims Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 21:32 IST Since the past four decades, Indians have been teaching the Congress a lesson, the prime minister said Rapid Read Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India is now setting new benchmarks in emerging technologies. Image/News18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday mocked the electoral drubbing of the Congress across the country, saying the enlightened citizens" of India had taught them a lesson for opposing the countrys development. Since the past four decades, Indians have been teaching the Congress a lesson. If the media analyses, they will realise that there is no vote chori. Instead, the people of the country do not think them worthy of voting them to power. This trend began after 1984 itself. In 1984, Congress got 39 per cent votes and more than 400 seats. But in the elections after that, the votes only kept reducing. And today the situation is such that they are limited to only four states that have more than 50 elected representatives. In the past 40 years, the share of young voters kept increasing and Congress kept getting decimated. The Congress has been reduced to a club of nepotism. This is why, earlier millennials and now Gen-Z are teaching a lesson to the party." He added: In a democracy, the role of the Opposition is not just about blind opposition, but about presenting an alternative vision." The prime minister also slammed the Congress for its protest at the AI Summit, saying while it was a moment of pride for the entire nation, unfortunately, the countrys oldest party attempted to tarnish this national celebration". In front of foreign guests, Congress didnt just strip off its clothesit also exposed its ideological bankruptcy. When the frustration and despair of failure weigh on the mind, and arrogance is making ones head spin, such a mindset emerges to defame the country." PM Modi also tore into the wider opposition bloc in his speech, especially in West Bengal and Tamil Naduboth states that are slated for assembly polls this year. The Ayushman Bharat scheme has not been implemented in Bengal till today. If the intention had been sincere, this scheme providing free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for the poor would not have been stopped in Bengal. Under the PM Awas Yojana, permanent houses are being built for the poor across the country. In Tamil Nadu, 9.5 lakh permanent houses have been allotted to poor families, but construction of 3 lakh houses has stalled because the DMK government is not taking interest in building homes for the poor. This is because the intention is not sincere." First Published: February 27, 2026, 21:19 IST News india Millennials Rejected Them, Gen Z Too: PM Modi Dismisses Rahul Gandhis Vote Chori Claims 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... 'After Bitter Experiences With AIADMK': Panneerselvam Joins DMK Ahead Of 2026 Tamil Nadu Polls Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 10:48 IST O Panneerselvam joined the DMK, saying his decision followed bitter experiences within the AIADMK. He backed MK Stalins return as Chief Minister in 2026. Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam (Photo: PTI) O Panneerselvam (OPS), expelled AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, on Friday formally joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), saying his decision came after bitter experiences" within his former party, a move that is expected to reshape political equations ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Addressing reporters after joining the DMK, Panneerselvam said he had taken the decision after prolonged deliberation and was no longer concerned about the AIADMK, signalling a decisive political break from the party where he once held top leadership roles. His induction into the DMK took place in Chennai in the presence of party chief and Chief Minister MK Stalin. OPS CITES BITTER EXPERIENCES WITH AIADMK Speaking at a press conference, Panneerselvam said his move was the result of difficult political experiences within the AIADMK following the leadership tussle that eventually led to his expulsion in 2022. I took this decision after bitter experiences with the AIADMK," he said, adding that he had carefully considered the step over a long period. Panneerselvam also expressed confidence in the ruling partys prospects, stating, DMK will come back to power again," and asserting that Stalin will become the Chief Minister again." He further claimed that the political landscape currently favours the ruling party. There is no strong opponent for the DMK for the 2026 elections," Panneerselvam said. Indicating his own political ambitions within the new party, he added, I will contest in the upcoming election if Thalapathy (Stalin) gives me an opportunity." The former Chief Minister said the response to his decision had been immediate and overwhelming. I have taken this decision after a lot of time. Since 5 am, I got over 1,000 calls congratulating me for my decision," he said, adding, I have joined the DMK. Im not bothered about the AIADMK anymore." POLITICAL REALIGNMENT AHEAD OF 2026 POLLS Panneerselvams entry into the DMK has intensified political speculation ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Before his move, the party had acknowledged that discussions around alliance expansion were underway and indicated that a final decision would rest with its leadership. On Friday morning, OPS loyalists had begun gathering at the DMK headquarters, while Panneerselvam was scheduled to meet Chief Minister MK Stalin, signalling the formalisation of the political shift. The developments come as political equations in Tamil Nadu continue to evolve ahead of the polls to the 234-member Assembly, expected in the first half of 2026, with the DMK-led alliance aiming for a second consecutive term. MEETING WITH STALIN TRIGGERED POLITICAL SPECULATION Speculation around Panneerselvams move had gained momentum after he met Stalin at the Secretariat on February 20. Following that meeting, Panneerselvam praised the DMK governments performance and suggested the ruling party stood a strong chance of returning to power. The present political situation is like that. The achievements of the Chief Minister are deeply imprinted in the minds of the people based on the five-year good governance. The DMK has a chance to come back to power," he had said. When asked at the time whether he would join the DMK, Panneerselvam responded, Be patient," further fuelling speculation over a possible political realignment. SIGNALS FROM DMK ALLIES A day after the meeting, DMK ally and MDMK chief Vaiko said Panneerselvams interaction with Stalin reflected a shift in political stance. Maybe the realisation dawned on Panneerselvam. Through this, he has given the signal to join the DMK combine," Vaiko told reporters in Tirunelveli, while expressing confidence that the DMK would secure an absolute majority in the upcoming elections and ruling out the possibility of a coalition government. First Published: February 27, 2026, 09:21 IST News india 'After Bitter Experiences With AIADMK': Panneerselvam Joins DMK Ahead Of 2026 Tamil Nadu Polls 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... Piyush Goyal At Rising Bharat: US Trade Deal Huge, Will Wait And Watch The Evolving Situation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 14:19 IST Piyush Goyal: "We will have to wait and watch and ensure interests of India are protected...Should the circumstances change, the deal will be rebalanced" Rapid Read Union minister Piyush Goyal speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit 2026. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, during a Rising Bharat conversation with CNN-News18s Rahul Shivshankar on Friday said the situation over the trade deal with the United States (US) is evolving amid their court ruling. For us, the US is an important trading partner, strategic and technological partnershipfor Quads, Pax Silica The US is an evolving situation. We are in dialogue with the administration in the US. We will have to wait and watch and ensure interests of India are protected. I want to assure that India stays committed to engaging for the best possible opportunities which were negotiated with the US for a deal that gives us competitive advantage," said Goyal. On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, striking down the primary legal foundation for President Trumps sweeping second-term tariff agenda. Should the circumstances change, the deal will be rebalancedThe deal has many elements. There are so many positives. Trade deal or international trade is about comparative and competitive advantage. Trade deal is not about what the tariff is. It is about the advantage you get over competition. At 50% tariff, we were at huge disadvantage and the fact that we were able to bring it down to much lower than the rest of competition, was huge for Indias agriculture, handicrafts, diamonds, pharmaceuticalsIndia is on the move and our exports this year will be higher," he said. #RisingBharatSummit2026 | What happened at the surprise meet with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick? @PiyushGoyal answersFor us, USA is a very important trading & strategical partner, it is a very MULTIFACETED RELATIONSHIP with US #PiyushGoyal | @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/0jeplkv3r9 News18 (@CNNnews18) February 27, 2026 Explaining the governments rationale, Goyal said, When 140 crore Indians are backing you, when you want to make sure that the journey towards Viksit Bharat provides opportunities to the men and womenNo country has become a developed nation without trade, partnerships, alliancesPM Narendra Modi was very clear from 2014He systematically set our house in order, got rid of corruption scams from UPA era, strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals" After reaching a position where India became the voice of the global south, we started to build bridges with developed nationsPM Modis strategy was to engage from a position of strength, engage keeping in mind our strategic interests, sensitivities, strengths, while opening doors to the world. That helped in our effort to quickly build a robust, win-win situation with our trading partners. We want to provide lakhs and crores of citizens, our farmers, MSMEs, youth a bright future," he said. Rising Bharat summit Positioned at a pivotal moment in Indias growth journey, the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 brings together top national leadership and international delegates at Bharat Mandapam on February 2728. Anchored in the theme, Strength Within," the summit stands as one of the countrys largest platforms where governance, economic ambition, and strategic thinking converge, reflecting Indias expanding influence in global conversations. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address, giving direction to the summits central theme. His address will outline Indias long-term developmental roadmap, economic momentum, and strategic priorities in a rapidly shifting global order, while setting the tone for deliberations over the two-day gathering. Over the years, the Rising Bharat platform has evolved into a credible venue for substantive policy dialogue, and the 2026 edition signals sharper engagement around the ideas shaping Indias next phase of progress. The theme salutes the collective strength within every citizen-the power that drives innovation, sustains democracy, India as a leading light on the world stage. First Published: February 27, 2026, 12:36 IST News india Piyush Goyal At Rising Bharat: US Trade Deal Huge, Will Wait And Watch The Evolving Situation 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... Jack Stilborn joins us to talk about his novel, The Tyranny of Good Intentions. Robin Guy and Eleanor Crowder join us to talk about Blood Relations. "Volunteering for the greater good always comes with its own set of challenges. But for Andrew Walmer, the protagonist of The Tyranny of Good Intentions, those challenges may prove to be more than he bargained for. In this satirical novel, Andrew struggles to navigate love, death, and the cutthroat world of condominium politics. But Andrew's struggles don't stop there. He's contending with major life challenges from a strained marriage to a potentially career-ending mistake. As he desperately tries to make his condo board effective enough to escape, he's constantly thwarted. And just when things seem to be looking up, a cascade of resignations and an untimely death keep him stuck in a position he never wanted president of the board. As he tries to rebuild his personal life and save his career while also protecting his neighbours and his investment, he is haunted by a troubling question: if we cant make small organizations work properly, what hope is there for bigger ones? Can Andrew unleash the courage to overcome these obstacles and finally find the peace and happiness he so desperately desires? With similarities in theme and tone to the Angus McLintock series by Terry Fallis and The Imposters by Tom Rachman, Stilborn treats serious issues with a leavening of delightful humour readers are sure to appreciate." About Blood Relations: Brought to you by the teams who produced Gladstone hits Steel Magnolias, Silent Sky, and No Way to Say Goodbye, Governor General Award winning Blood Relations will keep you on the edge of your seat! Theres no question why it won the Governor Generals Award. Previewing March 4, opening March 5 and running until March 14, this stunning production delivers delicious, spine-tingling intrigue. This riveting psychological murder mystery is based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, who may or may not have killed her own blood relations in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. The murder remains unsolved. It is 1902. Lizzie Borden pours tea for a visitor, who is obsessed with finding out the truth: Did Lizzie Borden take an axe and murder her father and stepmother 10 years before, or didnt she? A role-playing game ensues, with Lizzie painting the background of the murderous day, with characters appearing from both memory and fantasy to tell the story. Did she, or didnt she? Youll have to see the show to find out. An enthralling feast for the senses, Blood Relations offers the very best of your local indie theatre talents, with gorgeous costuming and scenic design, outstanding lighting effects, original music, and some of Ottawas top performers soaring through the wild and witty dialogue that is so characteristic of Sharon Pollock, award-winning Canadian playwright. Directed by Eleanor Crowder and stage managed by Chelsey Fawcett, the cast features a powerhouse of local Ottawa actors including William Beddoe, Tom Charlebois, Rachel Eugster, Robin Guy, Michelle LeBlanc, Sachi Lovatt, and Riley Stewart. And a special event! Saturday, March 7, 4:30-5:45 at The Gladstone Theatre Panel discussion with criminal justice experts and the Blood Relations cast! The River Dominique Fils-Aime - My World is the Sun - My World is the Sun Yemaya Melissa Laveaux - Yemaya - Yemaya Guesthouse Loon Choir - Guesthouse - Guesthouse Damocles Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Mystic Suite - Mystic Suite Spirits Unseen Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Mystic Suite - Mystic Suite Paris Grouse - Demo - Demo Why Are You Saying This Ruby - Ruby 2005 Endless Night Sumin & Slom - MINISERIES 2 Biology Girls Aloud - The Sound of Girls Aloud Stop J Dilla - Donuts CARNIVAL Marina Sena - Marinada vol. 1 - Marinada vol. 1 Coyote Joni Michell - Hejira - Hejira The Pod Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut When Piyush Goyal Met Howard Lutnick, Sergio Gor: Minister Reveals Inside Details At Rising Bharat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 17:11 IST Rising Bharat: Piyush Goyal reveals details of surprise meet with Howard Lutnick & Sergio Gor, which sparked speculation on US trade deal. Story includes a cow, calf and Rahuls Rapid Read (From left) Howard Lutnick, Piyush Goyal and Sergio Gor. (X) At the Rising Bharat summit on Friday, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, revealed what transpired in the surprise meet with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US ambassador to India Sergio Gor. After the meeting, in a post on X, Goyal had written: Hosted US Secretary of Commerce @HowardLutnick & @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership." CNN-News18s Rahul Shivshankar asked Goyal about the picture, which he said had sparked a conversation, Goyal, in a lighter vein, said, You are reminding me of Mona Lisas painting when you say sparked a conversationYou dont like my smileWhat do you not like in the picture?" When questioned further, he said, I have an ODOP product which I gifted him. A cow and calf made in an Indian handicrafts shop." Trade winds are shifting, alliances recalibrating, and India is charting its own course.At #RisingBharatSummit2026, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal speaks candidly on trade, tariffs, and the tactics shaping a new global order. Watch the full conversation for deeper pic.twitter.com/1lqbQ2GkCJ News18 (@CNNnews18) February 27, 2026 When asked if he told Lutnick the importance of dairy as a red line for the US trade deal, Goyal said, Dairy is exempt, I have said many times. Just because one Rahul does not understand, does not mean all Rahuls wont understand. Some people are beyond understanding. I am not a person who will say like Shah Rukh Khan, naam toh suna hi hoga"." India and the United States announced reaching a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement on February 2. The announcement followed a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. A formal joint statement detailing the framework was subsequently released by both governments on February 67. The U.S. agreed to slash reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. This included removing a 25% penalty tariff previously imposed due to Indias purchase of Russian oil. The Indian government clarified that it has protected sensitive sectors like dairy and several key agricultural products from duty concessions. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 63 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, striking down the presidents sweeping reciprocal tariffs" as unlawful. The Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the president the power to unilaterally impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the power to regulate" importation does not equate to the power to tax," which remains an exclusive authority of Congress. The picture with the key US officials on February 26 sparked a conversation around the deal. Hosted US Secretary of Commerce @HowardLutnick & @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor.Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership. pic.twitter.com/UjfExNj6wi Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 26, 2026 Elaborating on the deal, Goyal said, If you remember the lower court had ruled in May or June that IEEPA is not the mechanism which would sustain, but they were in appeal and it was a process that was simultaneously going. For us, the US is a very important trading partner. It is an important strategic relationship that encompasses our Quads, which covers our technological partnership. We are members of Pax Silica, which is our effort to create resilient supply chains. It is a very multifaceted relationship. There are so many opportunities. After all, we had a very successful AI summit at the same venue. If we are looking $200-billion investment in data centres and other AI associated ventures, if we are looking for opportunities for our men and women, we will need investments, technology, we will need GPUs, we will need equipment from the ICT worldthese are partnerships We have a lot of strategic interest in the pharmaceutical worldThere are huge opportunities in our gems and jewellery and diamonds sectorsOur textiles will flourish." The US is an evolving situation. We are in dialogue with the administration in the US. We will have to wait and watch and ensure interests of India are protected. I want to assure that India stays committed to engaging for the best possible opportunities which were negotiated with the US for a deal that gives us competitive advantage," said Goyal. Should the circumstances change, the deal will be rebalancedThe deal has many elements. There are so many positives. Trade deal or international trade is about comparative and competitive advantage. Trade deal is not about what the tariff is. It is about the advantage you get over competition. At 50% tariff, we were at huge disadvantage and the fact that we were able to bring it down to much lower than the rest of competition, was huge for Indias agriculture, handicrafts, diamonds, pharmaceuticalsIndia is on the move and our exports this year will be higher," he said. First Published: February 27, 2026, 16:57 IST News india When Piyush Goyal Met Howard Lutnick, Sergio Gor: Minister Reveals Inside Details At Rising Bharat 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 27, 2026, 23:29 IST Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India is now setting new benchmarks in emerging technologies. Image/News18 News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Day 1 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, which brought together top national leadership and international delegates at Bharat Mandapam on February 27, Friday, reflecting the confidence and capabilities driving Indias rise. During the speech, PM Modi hailed the nations internal strength and said that the country has realised its potential in the last 11 years. Built around the theme Strength Within the two-day summit brings together leaders, policymakers, and industry voices to shape a future powered by Indias own resolve and ambition. This is where national purpose meets global ambition, transforming resilience into a roadmap for excellence on the world stage. Among the other dignitaries were: Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, among others. Surat Mass Suicide: Main Accused Arrested After Note Reveals Credit Card Fraud, Mental Torture Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 22:56 IST Balmukund Khetan, his wife Priyanka and their elder daughter died at their residence in Surat after allegedly consuming poison, while the youngest daughter survived. Rapid Read Surat Police caught the accused, Vaibhav Rungta, in Delhi. (Representative Image/PTI) Days after three members of a family died by suicide, reportedly by consuming a poisonous substance, police have arrested the main accused, identified as Vaibhav Rungta, in Delhi for allegedly forcing the family to take the drastic step. Balmukund Khetan, a native of Bihar, his wife Priyanka and their elder daughter died at their residence in Surats Vesu area on Tuesday after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance. The couples younger daughter, who is seven years old, survived and is currently receiving treatment, according to police. The investigation uncovered a trail of financial abuse. A three-page suicide note was recovered from the scene, which accused Vaibhav Rungta of massive credit card fraud and relentless mental torture, according to a report by NDTV. The note revealed that Rungta allegedly misused Khetans credit cards. When Balmukund, a stock trader who worked from home, demanded his money back, he was met with verbal abuse and death threats. The family chose to take the extreme step due to constant mental and financial pressures. Youngest Daughter Spoon-Fed Poison The youngest daughter, identified as Prithvi, told cops that she had been spoon-fed" something by her parents, which led investigators to believe that the children were poisoned first before the couple consumed the substance themselves, according to the NDTV report. The family consumed aluminium phosphide, a highly toxic substance. On the day of the incident, Priyanka informed her father that they had consumed prison. Although an ambulance rushed the family to the hospital, most of them could not be saved. Balmukund was declared dead at the scene, while Priyanka and their elder daughter, Bhavya, succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Police are now investigating whether other moneylenders or accomplices were involved in the harassment, and the victims bank accounts and credit card transactions are being audited for evidence. After the mass suicide, Vesu police team caught Rungta in Delhi following technical surveillance. A local Delhi court refused transit remand to Rungta, ordering the accused to appear in person before the Surat court instead. Suicide Prevention. News 18. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) Location : Surat, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 22:56 IST News india Surat Mass Suicide: Main Accused Arrested After Note Reveals Credit Card Fraud, Mental Torture 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... 'Trust Factor In Deploying AI Is Crucial': Ashwini Vaishnaw At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:34 IST Addressing fears of job losses, the minister, while speaking at News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 said Indias IT industry has historically adapted to technological disruption. Rapid Read Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw speaks at News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026. Trust factor in deploying AI is important," Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while addressing concerns over artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026. Emphasising Indias strengths in the technology sector, Vaishnaw argued that AI adoption would expand opportunities rather than diminish them provided trust, talent and innovation move in tandem. Addressing fears of job losses, the minister said Indias IT industry has historically adapted to technological disruption. The biggest strength of our IT sector is to be able to go to an enterprise, understand how it works and, based on that, provide a solution. It was demonstrated during the Y2K problem," he noted, recalling how Indian IT firms earned global credibility during the millennium bug crisis. He underlined that trust will be central to AI integration in sensitive sectors such as banking and finance. A bank would not want to hand over its coding to a software it doesnt trust. That is where the role of IT companies will grow," he said. According to Vaishnaw, Indian technology firms are uniquely positioned to act as trusted partners in deploying AI systems securely and responsibly. At the same time, he acknowledged the inevitability of disruption. We need to scale up innovation in the AI sector. At the same time, we must be prepared for disruption due to the AI boost," he said, calling for proactive planning to manage workforce transitions. He stressed the importance of building a strong talent pipeline, adding that state governments must ensure colleges are reoriented to equip students with AI-focused skills and solution-driven training. Speaking about the India AI Impact Summit, Vaishnaw described it as a global success. The summit was well received and recognised globally. The format was more on the lines of World Economic Focus (WEF) Davos. It was designed in a way that the younger generation, who I call Gen Bharat, gets an opportunity to create their future in the way they want," he said, highlighting the focus on youth participation and solution-driven dialogue. On funding, the minister was clear that India must increase investments. We will have to scale up our investment on AI models," he said, signalling a push towards indigenous AI capabilities. He also touched upon the evolving digital content ecosystem. Content creators must get their fair share for creating content. Media houses should be rewarded accordingly for high-quality content," Vaishnaw said, underscoring the need for fair compensation in the AI-driven information economy. First Published: February 27, 2026, 13:34 IST News india 'Trust Factor In Deploying AI Is Crucial': Ashwini Vaishnaw At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 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... 'Unmitigated Disaster': Jyotiraditya Scindia Takes Swipe At Congress For AI Summit Protest Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:11 IST Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Scindia also reacted to Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the India-US trade deal. Rapid Read Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia speaking at News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday strongly criticised the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) for staging a shirtless protest during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, terming the disruption an unmitigated disaster" at a global platform meant to showcase Indias technological leadership. Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Scindia said the summit represented Indias national interest and was not a party event. Members of the Indian Youth Congress gathered outside the high-security venue and staged a dramatic shirtless protest, raising slogans and attempting to march toward the site where global leaders and delegates had assembled. With over two dozen heads of state and international representatives in attendance, security was heightened. Delhi Police detained and later arrested several protesters for breaching barricades and attempting to disrupt the proceedings. Reacting to the incident, Scindia said, It was an unmitigated disaster. The AI Impact Summit was not a BJP programme. It was Bharats programme. You had 26 heads of state visiting India because everyone realises India is the next growth potential in the world." He argued that protests of this nature at an international forum damaged the countrys image at a time when India is emerging as a major technology and innovation hub. In a sharp political swipe, he added, If you want to exhibit the vacuousness of desh bhakti, then good luck to you. India has rejected you multiple times. It is the people in that arena there that took these people down," asserting that electoral mandates had already delivered their verdict. On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Scindia was brief, saying, I have nothing to say to Rahul Gandhi." However, responding to Gandhis criticism of the India-US trade deal, he said, If you are so anti your own country in your own mind, then I dont think this country has any place for you." Scindia positioned the controversy as a clash between Indias global ambitions and what he described as disruptive political theatrics. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 is a two-day national platform hosted in New Delhi that brings together political leaders, policymakers, industry captains, innovators, thinkers and cultural voices to spotlight Indias expanding role on the global stage and chart the countrys future trajectory across technology, policy, trade, culture and social development. First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:11 IST News india 'Unmitigated Disaster': Jyotiraditya Scindia Takes Swipe At Congress For AI Summit Protest 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... Marathi Bhasha Diwas 2026: Wishes, Quotes, Images And History Of Marathi Language Day Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:19 IST Marathi Bhasha Diwas marks the birth anniversary of poet Kusumagraj and honours the rich heritage of the Marathi language. Share images and wishes in Marathi and English. Rapid Read Marathi Bhasha Diwas, also known as Marathi Language Day, is observed every year on February 27. (Image: Shutterstock) Marathi Bhasha Din Wishes In Marathi And English: Marathi Bhasha Diwas, also known as Marathi Language Day, is observed every year on February 27 to celebrate the rich heritage, literature and cultural significance of the Marathi language. The day marks the birth anniversary of legendary Marathi poet Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, popularly known as Kusumagraj, whose literary contributions shaped modern Marathi literature. Across Maharashtra and among Marathi-speaking communities worldwide, the day is celebrated with poetry recitals, literary events, cultural programmes, competitions, and social media tributes. If you are looking for Marathi Bhasha Diwas wishes, quotes, messages and images to share, here is everything you need along with the history and significance of the day. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to extend his wishes and also paid tribute to poet Kusumagraj. MARATHI BHASHA DIWAS WISHES TO SHARE Here are heartfelt messages you can share on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook or X: Happy Marathi Bhasha Diwas! Let us take pride in our beautiful language and rich literary heritage. May the sweetness of Marathi continue to inspire generations. Happy Marathi Language Day! Celebrate the power of words, culture and identity this Marathi Bhasha Diwas. Let us preserve, promote and cherish our . Happy Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas! Marathi is not just a language, it is an emotion. Happy February 27! On Marathi Bhasha Diwas, let us promise to keep our language alive and thriving. Proud to speak Marathi, proud of our heritage. Happy Marathi Language Day! May Kusumagrajs legacy continue to guide and inspire us. Let every word in Marathi echo with pride and culture. Wishing everyone a meaningful and joyful Marathi Bhasha Diwas 2026! ! . , . , . ! . . MARATHI BHASHA DIN QUOTES Marathi is the soul of Maharashtra. Language preserves culture, Marathi preserves identity. Celebrate your roots. Celebrate Marathi. Marathi words carry centuries of wisdom. Our language, our pride. MARATHI BHASHA DIWAS 2026: HISTORY Marathi Bhasha Diwas is celebrated on February 27 to honour the birth anniversary of Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj), one of the most influential literary figures in Marathi literature. His works, including poetry, plays, and essays, played a crucial role in enriching the Marathi language and inspiring social change. The Government of Maharashtra declared this day as Marathi Bhasha Diwas to recognise his immense contribution and to promote the preservation and development of the language. Over the years, the day has evolved into a broader celebration of Marathi identity, literature, theatre, cinema, and cultural traditions. MARATHI BHASHA DIWAS 2026: SIGNIFICANCE Marathi is one of Indias major classical languages, spoken by millions in Maharashtra and across the world. Marathi Bhasha Diwas serves as: A tribute to Marathi literature and writers A reminder to preserve linguistic heritage An opportunity to encourage younger generations to read and write in Marathi A celebration of Marathi culture, art, music and theatre Educational institutions organise essay competitions, elocution contests, and poetry readings. Government offices and cultural bodies host seminars and awareness programmes promoting the use of Marathi in administration and daily life. In the digital era, the day has also gained momentum on social media, with people sharing Marathi Bhasha Diwas wishes, quotes, images and status messages. HOW MARATHI BHASHA DIWAS IS CELEBRATED Poetry recitals and literary discussions Cultural performances in schools and colleges Marathi book exhibitions Awards for Marathi writers and scholars Social media campaigns promoting Marathi usage Many institutions also release special publications and host discussions about the future of Marathi in the digital age. WHY CELEBRATING REGIONAL LANGUAGES MATTERS In a rapidly globalising world, regional languages like Marathi represent cultural continuity and diversity. Celebrating Marathi Bhasha Diwas is not only about honouring a poet or a date it is about safeguarding identity, heritage, and expression for future generations. As Maharashtra observes Marathi Bhasha Diwas 2026 on February 27, it is the perfect time to share meaningful wishes, inspiring quotes, and images that highlight the beauty of the Marathi language. FAQs on Marathi Bhasha Diwas 2026 When is Marathi Bhasha Diwas celebrated? Marathi Bhasha Diwas is celebrated every year on February 27 to honour the birth anniversary of renowned Marathi poet Kusumagraj and to promote the Marathi language. Why is Marathi Bhasha Diwas observed on February 27? The day marks the birth anniversary of celebrated Marathi poet and writer Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, popularly known as Kusumagraj, whose literary contributions shaped modern Marathi literature. What is the significance of Marathi Bhasha Diwas? Marathi Bhasha Diwas highlights the importance of preserving the Marathi language, celebrating its rich literary heritage, and encouraging its use among younger generations. Who was Kusumagraj? Kusumagraj, whose real name was Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, was a renowned Marathi poet, playwright and novelist known for his contribution to literature and social reform. How is Marathi Bhasha Diwas celebrated? The day is marked by poetry recitals, essay competitions, cultural programmes, seminars, literary discussions and social media campaigns promoting Marathi language and culture. Where can I find Marathi Bhasha Diwas wishes and quotes? You can find Marathi Bhasha Diwas wishes, quotes and images online to share on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms. Is Marathi Bhasha Diwas a public holiday? Marathi Bhasha Diwas is not a public holiday in Maharashtra, but it is widely observed in schools, colleges and government institutions. First Published: February 27, 2026, 06:30 IST News lifestyle events Marathi Bhasha Diwas 2026: Wishes, Quotes, Images And History Of Marathi Language Day Sreeleela Goes International As She Makes Striking Appearance At Milan Fashion Week Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 26, 2026, 21:04 IST Ahead of her Bollywood debut, Sreeleela attended Milan Fashion Week this year with Onitsuka Tiger, who presented its Autumn-Winter 2026 Collection. Sreeleela at Onitsuka Tiger's showcase in Milan Sreeleela is prepping for her big Bollywood debut, an untitled romantic musical with Kartik Aaryan, reportedly. However, the actor has already begun to carve her niche, and her recent outing at the Milan Fashion Week is also making her a strong contender as a fashion girlie. The 24-year-old represented Onitsuka Tiger at Milan Fashion Week, one of the most prestigious events on the international fashion calendar. Her look was an effortless blend of sporty sophistication with high-fashion sensibility. Onitsuka Tiger unveiled its Autumn-Winter 2026 Collection at Milan Fashion Week. The theme of this collection is The Aesthetics of Ma. Ma" is a Japanese cultural concept that describes a meaningful space between two elements, whether in space or in time. It is not absence, but a structuring pause, an active tension. It expresses a way of dressing intended beyond special occasions or everyday routines. The highlight of Sreeleelas look was the vibrant yellow tweed jacket she wore. It was an elevated take on an oversized boyfriend hoodie that had more class and panache. The boxy jacket, which featured a wide collar and white drawstrings that gave this entire look a sporty edge. However, the traditionally formal tweed fabric created a fashionable juxtaposition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SREELEELA (@sreeleela14) She layered the hoodie over a grey vest, which added to the formal look but added a casual white with black striped t-shirt underneath. She paired it with black tailored shorts. She wore chunky black jelly Mary Jane heels. These platform heels were embellished with silver diamante, and she added dark grey, ribbed knee-high socks. The actor, who began her career in Telugu cinema carried a black, chunky handbag and added a few gold accessories. She styled her hair in a half-up, half-down ponytail with a few added curls to soften the look. Defined and bold eyes make her glam pop, while she added a soft red lip. Sreeleela becomes a doctor The actor, who is best known for films like Dhamaka (2022), Bhagavanth Kesari (2023), and Guntur Kaaram (2024), recently added another feather to her cap. She has completed her studies and become a doctor, all while continuing to shoot for her films. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SREELEELA (@sreeleela14) After six years, Sreeleela now officially holds an MBBS degree. The actor took to Instagram to share a few unseen pictures and videos from her graduation ceremony with her family and batchmates, and they understandably went viral. Sharing a carousel of pictures, Sreeleela wrote, A milestone. A journey-one that you were a part of, knowingly or unknowingly. A sacred space that became my serene escape from the facade a place where I could simply be me. Your girl kept her promise." She added, This wasnt just about a degree. It was about growth, faith, tears, resilience, and becoming. To my family, my friends, and my work friends-especially for accommodating my exams and standing by me through the chaos-thank you from the bottom of my heart. To everyone who believed in me when I was still learning to believe in myself thank you." First Published: February 26, 2026, 21:04 IST News lifestyle fashion Sreeleela Goes International As She Makes Striking Appearance At Milan Fashion Week Accused Review: Konkona Sensharma And Pratibha Rannta Cant Save The Film That Collapses Under Its Ambition Written By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:32 IST Accused on Netflix stars Konkona Sen Sharma as Dr. Geetika Sen, whose life unravels after anonymous sexual misconduct allegations. Pratibha Ranta Impresses, Konkona Sen Sharma Tries to Hold Together a Film That Falls Apart. Accused U/A 1.5/5 27 February 2026|Hindi 1 hrs 45 mins | Drama, Thriller Starring: Konkona Sensharma, Pratibha Rannta Director: Anubhuti Kashyap Platform: Netflix Watch Trailer Accused review: Accused on Netflix begins as an intimate, layered queer love story and slowly morphs into a chaotic thriller that never quite figures out what it wants to be. At the center of the film is Dr. Geetika Sen (Konkona Sensharma), the formidable head of gynecology at a leading London hospital. She is respected, authoritative and seemingly in control both professionally and personally. At home, she shares a tender, committed relationship with wife Meera (Pratibha Rannta), a pediatrician at the same hospital. The two are planning a future together, talking about adopting a baby, carving out a space for themselves in a world that isnt always kind to queer couples. Then everything implodes. An anonymous email lands in the HR department accusing Geetika of sexual misconduct. What initially seems to be a single complaint quickly snowballs into multiple allegations. An independent investigator, a former journalist experienced in such cases, is brought in to investigate the matter. With each new email, the gravity of the accusations intensifies. Geetika suddenly goes from being a respected medical professional to being whispered about as a sexual predator. Her reputation crumbles almost overnight. The film attempts to explore complex terrain: power dynamics in hierarchical workplaces, the blurred lines between authority and intimacy, the fragility of reputation in the age of anonymous allegations and the emotional cost of being accused. It also tries to remain a queer love story at its core. It wants to be a psychological thriller. It wants to be a commentary on institutional processes. It wants to dissect sexual power play in positions of authority. It wants to say everything. And in trying to say everything, it ends up saying nothing with clarity. The script is all over the place. Threads are introduced and abandoned. Motivations feel murky. The escalation of accusations feels more convenient than organic. The dialogues rarely land with the emotional weight they are clearly aiming for. Scenes that should devastate feel oddly flat because the writing doesnt earn them. There are simply too many loose ends and instead of building tension, the narrative spirals into confusion. Performance-wise, the film redeems itself thanks to its actors. It is almost painful to watch an actor of Konkona Sensharmas caliber in a role that doesnt match her depth. She is, as always, fantastic. Controlled, layered emotionally precise Konkona brings gravitas to scenes that the script fails to support. She gives Geetika complexity even when the writing reduces her to broad strokes. But even an actor of her stature cannot single-handedly rescue a screenplay that refuses to cohere. Pratibha Rannta, too, gives it a good shot. As Meera, the hapless girlfriend caught in the middle of professional scandal and personal collapse, she embodies vulnerability and strength. She is trying to hold her relationship together, trying to protect the woman she loves and trying to make sense of the chaos that threatens to swallow their shared future. Pratibha makes Meera believable but the narrative pushes her into familiar, cliche territory. Thats ultimately the films biggest problem: it is riddled with cliches. The investigative beats feel predictable. The moral ambiguity feels forced rather than organic. The emotional confrontations feel scripted rather than lived-in. There is a good idea here on paper, it sounds sharp, urgent and relevant. But on screen, it simply does not translate. Accused aspires to be a searing commentary on power, consent and institutional scrutiny. Instead, it becomes part thriller, part romance, part social drama that never fully commits to any of them. First Published: February 27, 2026, 13:32 IST News movies bollywood Accused Review: Konkona Sensharma And Pratibha Rannta Cant Save The Film That Collapses Under Its Ambition Kareena Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh To Alia Bhatt: Actors Who Aced Monologues On Screen Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 18:28 IST Over the years, several Bollywood actors have delivered speeches that struck a chord with the audience. Rapid Read Kareena portrayed a woman navigating pregnancy in Good Newwz. (Photo Credit: X) Powerful monologues often become the emotional spine of a film. In just a few uninterrupted minutes, actors, through these monologues, express vulnerability and conviction in a way that stays with the audience long after the credits roll. Over the years, several Bollywood actors have delivered speeches that struck a chord. Here, we take a look at some of them: Kareena Kapoor Khan Good Newwz Kareena Kapoor Khans portrayal of Deepti Batra in Good Newwz stood out for its emotional honesty. Playing an independent, career-driven woman navigating pregnancy, Kareena delivered a heartfelt monologue about the physical and emotional sacrifices of motherhood. In one of the scenes with Akshay Kumar who plays her husband, she says, Poori body, Poori system apna sacrifice kar leti hain, ek maa inn 9 mahino meinlekin sab kuch ek smile ke saath seh lete hain hum, kyunki hume malumjab pehli baar hum iss bachhe ko dekhenge, itll be worth it". Directed by Raj Mehta, Good Newwz also starred Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani and Diljit Dosanjh. Rakul Preet Singh De De Pyaar De 2 Rakul Preet Singhs role in De De Pyaar De 2 continues the modern relationship dynamic explored in the franchise. While in the earlier film, she portrayed a confident, self-aware woman unafraid to share her expectations from love and partnership, the second installment explored her relationship with her father as well. In one specific, her character engaged in a verbal fight with her father and the way she takes a stand for her love is just commendable. Alia Bhatt Dear Zindagi In Dear Zindagi, Alia Bhatt delivered one of the most memorable performances of her career. Playing Kaira, a young cinematographer dealing with unresolved childhood trauma and complicated relationships, Alias emotional breakdown scene functioned almost like extended monologues. Directed by Gauri Shinde and co-starring Shah Rukh Khan, the film allowed Alia to explore vulnerability without melodrama. Her expressive delivery and natural dialogue style made her characters internal struggles feel authentic, earning widespread praise. Sridevi English Vinglish Sridevis Sashi, a homemaker battling insecurity, regains confidence after learning English. Her wedding speech remains unforgettable: Family family can never be never be never be judgemental! Family will never put you down" She adds, Family is the only place where you will always get love and respect." Directed by Gauri Shinde, the film also featured Adil Hussain and Priya Anand. Amitabh Bachchan Pink As lawyer Deepak Sehgal, Amitabh Bachchan delivers an important courtroom speech on consent. Na sirf ek shabd nahi, apne aap mein ek poora vaakya hai Na ka matlab sirf na hi hota hai!" He firmly states, No means no. And when someone says no, you stop!" Co-starring Taapsee Pannu and Kirti Kulhari, the film sparked conversations nationwide. Manoj Bajpayee Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Manoj Bajpayees PC Solanki fights a powerful godman in this courtroom drama. In his closing argument, he calls the crime a maha paap, asserting even divine forgiveness cannot absolve it. He even drew parallels with Raavan; his speech condemns the abuse of power and demands justice. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, the monologue drew widespread praise from critics. First Published: February 27, 2026, 18:28 IST News movies bollywood Kareena Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh To Alia Bhatt: Actors Who Aced Monologues On Screen Ravi Shankar Institute Sets Record Straight On Rishab Rikhirams Disciple Claims Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 18:04 IST The Ravi Shankar Centre has clarified that reports of him being a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar are incorrect. They emphasised the need to set the record straight regarding these claims. The Ravi Shankar Institute for Music and Performing Arts in New Delhi has issued a statement clarifying the relationship between sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, 27, and the late maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. The institute said Rishab was not a disciple of the sitar legend beyond a few lessons, countering claims made by the musician. The statement comes amid public discussions about Rishab referring to Pandit Ravi Shankar as his guru and claiming to be the youngest and last disciple of the maestro. The institute emphasised that in Indian classical music, the word disciple" carries deep meaning and cannot be based on a few lessons or informal appearances. A Disciple Relationship Takes Years To Build Amitavaa Ghosh, Director of the institute, explained in the statement, A few lessons and a brief appearance in concert/video cannot be considered equivalent to that level of formal, rigorous and immersive training." He noted that the institute was a home to Pandit Ravi Shankar whenever he was in Delhi and remains connected to his family. According to the Centre, the youngest disciples were Shubhendra Rao and Anoushka Shankar, while the last disciples were Nishad Gadgil and Dr Scott Elsman. The clarification follows comments by Anoushka Shankar in an interview with Humans of Bombay. She said, We knew him from childhood because he was the son of our instrument maker Sanjay Rikhiram Sharma. So somehow that has got blown up into some story of him being his last disciple or the youngest disciple, which isnt true." She added that Rishab mainly learned from her fathers senior disciple Parimal Sadaphal and had only a couple of lessons from Pandit Ravi Shankar. Rishabs Version And The Institutes Response Rishab issued a statement describing his Ganda Bandhan ceremony in January 2012, including a session where Pandit Ravi Shankar asked him to perform the same raag his wife Sukanya Shankar had played on YouTube. However, the Centre clarified that the string-tying was informal, done at the persuasion of Rishabs father, with no priest, no formal announcement, and no other students or family invited. Guruji did not conduct a formal initial discourse or several hours of teaching that day. The mentioned ceremony was entirely impromptu. The event has been retrospectively amplified beyond what occurred," the statement said. The institute also debunked claims of prolonged or supervised instruction, stating that Pandit Ravi Shankar had not reviewed YouTube recordings beforehand, nor did he formally accept Rishab as a disciple. A photograph circulated by Rishab, claiming it was taken on November 30, 2012, was also refuted, as Pandit Ravi Shankar was in San Diego at the time, preparing for hospitalisation before his passing on December 12, 2012. The statement added that multiple other photographs have been misunderstood as proof of a guru-disciple bond. It clarified that the Centre does not seek to diminish Rishabs talent but aims to correct inaccurate timelines, misperceptions around the nature and amount of instruction and confusion around the word disciple." First Published: February 27, 2026, 18:04 IST News movies bollywood Ravi Shankar Institute Sets Record Straight On Rishab Rikhirams Disciple Claims The US self-directed China nuclear threat will only be a waste of effort: Global Times editorial Global Times) 09:19, February 27, 2026 Illustration: Chen Xia/GT On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio again touched upon China in terms of nuclear weapons negotiations, claiming that any nuclear arms treaty must include China. In the same few days, CNN pub lished an "exclusive report," citing so-called intelligence sources, to hype up the so-called "Chinese nuclear test." These coordinated efforts are just a carefully orchestrated show by Washington. Earlier this month, Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the US Department of State, disclosed a so-called "breaking news," claiming that China conducted nuclear testing in 2020, causing a stir in international public opinion. Since then, the "China nuclear threat" rhetoric, directed by Washington, has been launched. With high-ranking officials making statements, the so-called "insiders" disclosing information to the media, and a number of mainstream media outlets echoing the sentiment, Washington's elaborate efforts are clearly driven by self-interest. The intention is obvious: Simultaneously with Yeaw's alleged "Chinese nuclear test" revelations, he also conveniently stated that the US will return to testing on an "equal basis." This timing coincides with the expiration of the New START Treaty between the US and Russia, a time when the US faces immense international pressure. Clearly, hyping up the "Chinese nuclear threat" is a two-pronged approach: It allows the US to deflect responsibility for deliberately delaying or even abandoning US-Russia nuclear negotiations, while simultaneously providing a fig leaf for its shady ambition to resume nuclear testing. Washington's close monitoring of China's nuclear development is no secret. Take last year as an example. The Arms Control Treaty Compliance Report published in April focused solely on Russia's suspected supercritical tests, while the Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China released in December detailed the so-called China's nuclear arsenal expansion and missile deployments, making no mention of so-called nuclear tests. It's worth noting that these reports, in order to prove the so-called "China threat," gathered various rumors from different sources. If there were truly "concrete information," would Washington have kept it hidden from 2020 until now? Why didn't it disclose it in official reports, but instead waited until the expiration of the New START Treaty between the US and Russia to release it? Moreover, global seismic networks, including the US Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior, did not record any abnormal seismic events at that time. But this blame-shifting spectacle isn't merely friction between China and the US. The US possesses more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, a considerable number of which are deployed in a ready-to-launch posture. It also stations tactical nuclear weapons in six NATO countries capable of conducting nuclear strikes. Under such circumstances, how could China engage in so-called "equal negotiations"? As the country with a vast nuclear arsenal and the greatest impact on global strategic balance, the US should shoulder special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament and demonstrate genuine sincerity. The reality, however, is that Washington not only shows no intention of reducing its arsenal, but is accelerating nuclear expansion. Should Washington fail to restrain its nuclear ambitions, the consequences for the world would be disastrous. Facts indicate that the US itself has become the greatest hidden danger to global nuclear security. It has withdrawn from multiple international arms control agreements, while continuing to modernize its nuclear arsenal, develop new nuclear weapons, expand the scope of nuclear strike capabilities, and even lower the threshold for nuclear use. By introducing nuclear deterrence into regional conflicts, it has seriously undermined the stability of the global nuclear security architecture. More ironically, while frequently accusing other countries of "developing nuclear capabilities," the US simultaneously engages in nuclear deterrence cooperation with its allies, transfers nuclear technology, and deploys nuclear equipment abroad. The double standard is evident. It is the strong expectation of the international community that the US assumes its due responsibility as a major power in safeguarding global nuclear security. What Washington should do first is stop shifting blame. It should immediately resume strategic stability dialogue with Russia and discuss follow-up arrangements to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. In addition, AUKUS, which has raised concerns about nuclear proliferation, should be halted, and Washington should exercise restraint over its "close ally" Tokyo's increasingly swelling nuclear ambitions. The waste contamination left behind by dozens of US nuclear tests in the South Pacific also urgently requires remediation. In the nuclear issue, Washington has many pressing responsibilities to fulfill, rather than "finding faults" with China. Nuclear arms control is a shared security issue for all humanity. Safeguarding it requires major powers to take proactive responsibility. During the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, China said it is willing to maintain communication with all parties and exchange views on the work of the Conference and on the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. China has long participated in and supported a range of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation mechanisms - actions and contributions that are visible to the international community. Washington's elaborate scheme, full of hidden motives, lacks both persuasiveness and credibility, and will ultimately be a waste of effort. Hopefully, it could do something genuinely meaningful that contributes to world peace and security. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) When planning a trip to Japan in December, my husband and I like just about every other traveler gravitated toward Tokyo and Kyoto. Of course, both of those cities are pretty much a given for a first trip to Japan but then my nephew and his wife encouraged us to change our itinerary to add a couple of nights in Kinosaki Onsen in between. Onsens are natural hot springs and Kinosaki Onsen is renowned for having seven of them. They had just come back from their own trip and their photos of this spa town, where everyone walks around in robes and spends their days onsen hopping, immediately sold us. They raved about Nishimuraya Honkan, an authentic ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) that has been family-owned since it was founded in 1854. Yes, rooms still feature shoji sliding doors and tatami mats but, make no mistake, this Relais & Chateaux property is all about luxury. In fact, its the recipient of two Michelin Keys and, after three non-stop days in Tokyo, we were excited to just settle in and be pampered. We definitely chose the right place. Our wonderful Nakai-san Nakai-san at Nishimuraya Honkan take care of everything, including ensuring that your yukaba is tied properly. (Michael Mark) At Nishimuraya Honkan, each room is cared for by a personal attendant who acts as housekeeper/server/concierge. Our attendant was amazing. According to the Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association, this person is called Nakai-san; I looked it up because I want to make sure I show her the huge respect she deserves. I dont want to embarass her so I wont say her name but I hope the ryokan will honor her in some way for being such a perfect ambassador. Advertisement Advertisement We looked forward to our conversations with her during dinners and she taught us a great deal about Japanese culture and history. We shared an inside joke the whole time we were there about the fact that my husband and I had accidentally put on each others yukatas at first. We were hysterical laughing about it and she was very discreet, reassuring us that it was fine although she definitely had a little twinkle in her eye. By the end of our stay, she felt like a friend. In addition to making sure we didnt make fools of ourselves in public, she also cleaned our room, made up our beds at night and served us our dinners tasks made more difficult by the fact that everything took place on the floor. Floored, literally One of the traditional Japanese rooms at Nishimuraya Honkan. (Nishimuraya Honkan) Ill admit we were a little wary when we realized we were going to be sleeping on the floor but, after our first night, we seriously considered getting rid of our bed at home. Our fold up mattresses were surprisingly plush and we were supplied with plenty of pillows and cuddly comforters. You can opt for a Western-style room with beds but we felt that defeated the purpose of our staying at a ryokan and were so glad we experienced it more authentically. Advertisement Advertisement Dinner, a stunning two hour multi-course meal called kaiseki, is served in your room every night and also takes place on a beautifully-set table close to the ground. I could not sit on the floor cushion for that long and pulled over a regular chair instead, which took nothing away from the experience for me. Because we were lucky to be there during crab season, which runs from November to March, we were treated to so many creative iterations of delicious snow crab from the Sea of Japan in addition to artfully presented seasonal dishes made from fresh fish, vegetables and world famous Tajima beef. These leisurely dinners were so special and really gave us an opportunity to appreciate the good food we were eating and the care that had been taken every step of the way to bring it to us, from planting and growing it to carefully plating it on thoughtfully chosen dishware. No wonder we slept so well. Breakfast: East vs West Breakfast at Nishimuraya Honkan is a treat for all the senses. (Sam Joseph) Every morning, we had the choice of a Japanese or Western style breakfast. Over our two mornings, we tried both because when in Rome The amount, variety and quality of food was staggering in both versions. So much excellence. Advertisement Advertisement We enjoyed eating breakfast in Senrei, a historic dining hall that we were fascinated to learn was built over 100 years ago to symbolize the restoration of Kinosaki Onsen after an earthquake destroyed most of the town. Thank goodness they were able to rebuild because it would have been a real loss to Japanese culture. The onsen experience One of the beautiful onsens at Nishimuraya Honkan. (Nishimuraya Honkan) If youre thinking onsens are like hot tubs, think again. Theres a very strict and respectful etiquette required for using them and, rather than a party atmosphere, its meant to be a quiet time for relaxation and reflection. You go into the onsens, which are separated by gender, fully nude and youre expected to clean yourself off first by sitting on one of the provided stools and use the soap and water bucket to wash. Youre also not supposed to let your towel (which is, really, a washcloth) touch the water, and regulars have perfected the art of holding it on their head while theyre soaking. My husband really enjoyed both of Nishimuraya Honkans guest onsens but I waited until we had a private one to try it. Advertisement Advertisement Because the guestrooms with private onsens had been all booked when we made our reservations, we decided to schedule an hour in the private onsen at Nishimuraya Honkans sister property, Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei, one morning. This is super easy because the hotel driver brings you over there and picks you up afterwards. We were given our own cabin with a comfy sitting area, a sauna and a private outdoor (covered!) onsen. It was pouring out, which made the experience even more magical. The hot, healing water combined with the sound of the rain and the gorgeous greenery all around us created such tranquility that we wished we had scheduled another session, as well. The town of Kinosaki Onsen Onsen hopping in your yukata is highly encouraged in the historical town of Kinosaki Onsen. (Sam Joseph) Staying at Nishimuraya Honkan gives you free access to all seven of the towns hot springs, which is why its not uncommon to see people walking around in their yukatas and getas (wooden sandals) as they go from one to another. (Note: Tattoos, which are prohibited in many Japanese onsens, are allowed in all of Kinosaki Onsens bathhouses.) Advertisement Advertisement The town itself is easily walkable and, oh, so pretty, with its lovely willow trees and picturesque bridge overlooking the river. Shops and restaurants line the streets, creating a romantic atmosphere and lots of photo opportunities. As hard as this is to believe, we had probably the best burger of our lives in town at Kinosaki Burger. We went in with zero expectations and just wanted something other than the fish wed been eating for every meal. We were shocked that it was SO good but, after reading more about Tajima beef, I guess we shouldnt have been. This became, in its own way, another memorable and, yes, authentic Japan experience for us. How to get to Nishimuraya Honkan Each pair of traditional wooden geta displayed at the Kinosaki Onsen train station represents one of the town's ryokan. (Michael Mark) Getting to Nishimuraya Honkan is an interesting journey in itself and we actually loved taking the trains. Japan has so much to teach other countries about how to run an efficient, easy to use train system. Advertisement Advertisement From Tokyo, we took the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto, where we then transferred to a JR limited express to Kinosaki Onsen. We bought our tickets online and reserved seats in the first class Green Car. The whole trip took close to 6 hours and was an absolute pleasure. We stocked up on bento boxes and convenience store snacks to eat on the train and enjoyed the scenery, including a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, from our comfortable seats. When we arrived in Kinosaki Onsen, a shuttle picked us up and dropped us off at Nishimuraya Honkan. To make our travels even easier, we had our Tokyo hotel send our luggage ahead to our Kyoto hotel so we each just had to carry a backpack for our two nights in Kinosaki Onsen, where everything from yukatas to tabi socks (which separate the big toe from the rest) and toiletries was provided. When we left Kinosaki Onsen to continue our trip in Kyoto, we were already trying to figure out ways we could incorporate some of the beautiful rituals we had practiced at Nishimuraya Honkan into our everyday lives. Sipping a cup of tea as I write this piece in my robe is just one of them. Sharvari Celebrates Fire Horse Year With Dreamy Singapore Photo Series Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 14:33 IST Sharvari celebrated Lunar New Year in Singapore, sharing a stunning film photo series titled New Fire from her trip. Sharvari celebrates Lunar New Year. Actor Sharvari may currently be between film shoots, but she is far from slowing down. The young star recently gave fans a refreshing glimpse into her quieter, creative side as she celebrated the Lunar New Year in Singapore. Known to many for her on-screen presence, Sharvari once again reminded followers that she is also deeply passionate about photography. Marking the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, Sharvari shared a series of photographs from her recent trip. This year is being celebrated as the Year of the Horse, and more specifically the rare Fire Horse Year, a theme that is subtly reflected in her post. From vibrant city corners to intimate everyday moments, the actors lens captured Singapore in a personal and poetic way. Sharvari Celebrate Lunar New Year In the carousel, Sharvari shared a candid picture of herself dressed casually in a shirt layered over a black tee. The rest of the frames featured details from her travels, decorative bowls from Chinatown, a gleaming carousel, a little girl lost in her own world, and quiet city snapshots. Sharing the series, she wrote, A new city, a new lens, under the lunar new year sky Calling this little series New Fire." She further explained the significance behind the theme, adding, Once every 60 years comes the Fire Horse Year a year that signifies fierce passion and unstoppable momentum. I came back with more than just photographs I came back with culture, conversations, flavours, languages, and feelings." Sharvari also revealed the technical details behind the shoot. Shot on the Pentax Espio 160 using the Fujifilm 400 colour negative films," she noted, a detail that delighted photography enthusiasts among her followers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharvari (@sharvari) Sharvaris Love For Photography In a recent interview with The Times of India, Sharvari opened up about how her love for photography began. Recalling her early days, she shared, My friends mom had a camera that wasnt working. We somehow fixed it, and she let us use it. With that camera, you couldnt take 10 photos and decide later. You were in the moment completely. I would click pictures and then develop the film. The process felt exciting and magical." She later bought a second-hand Nikon FM10 from a store in Churchgate, which became her constant companion. The light meter, loading the roll, everything felt like entering a whole new world. Photography is all about the way you see the world. Which moments feel enduring, what emotions pull me in whether its people, architecture or the spirit of a city, a film camera forces you to pick the moment. And that makes every frame special," she said. On the work front, Sharvari was last seen in the 2024 action film Vedaa alongside John Abraham. She will next appear with Diljit Dosanjh and Vedang Raina in Imtiaz Alis upcoming film slated for release on June 12, 2026. She also has Alpha and Yeh Prem Mol Liya in the pipeline. First Published: February 27, 2026, 14:33 IST News movies bollywood Sharvari Celebrates Fire Horse Year With Dreamy Singapore Photo Series Was Yami Gautam Sidelined For Political Films? Actor Sets Record Straight At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 19:35 IST Yami Gautam responds to whether she was denied work for politically charged films like Article 370 at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, calling it a new Hindustan. Rapid Read At the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Yami Gautam addressed whether her politically charged films like Article 370 impacted casting decisions and spoke about modern Indian cinema. At a time when Indias global identity is being shaped not just by economic policy but by cinema, sport and culture, conversations around storytelling have also evolved. At the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, themed Strength Within, actor Yami Gautam addressed whether her choice of politically charged films ever cost her professional opportunities. Responding to the question Kabhi aapke saath aisa nahi hua ki certain film makers said main aapko cast karta but you did that film toh uske baad I dont want to cast you?" Yami offered a candid reflection. Not off late. Shayad ho sakta hai ki ek point hoga kuch 3-4 saal pahle ki aisa agar koi sochte bhi honge. But abhi jaha hum khade hai, jis tarah ki filmein main kar rahi hu ya mujhe directors jis tarah ki films offer kar rahe hai, I dont see that now." Keeping Politics Aside, Its A Well-Made Film Yami, who has headlined films such as Article 370 and Haq, emphasised that cinema ultimately stands on craft and conviction. Infact, someone messaged also that keeping politics aside, we could not deny that whatever our political inclination might be, but this is a well made film, chaahe woh Article 370 ho, ya Haq ho and it did made us question that what we are believing is that right? Or lets look at it in another way also." For the actor, the power of cinema lies in its ability to provoke thought rather than dictate conclusions. And I think thats the power of cinema somewhere and thats the power of truth jo bohot transparent hota hai. Camera bohot transparent hota hai. Woh ek bareeki pakad leta hai, woh ek nafs na ki sirf ek performer ki but of that writer and that intention of that writer and the director ki woh kya hai." Ye Ek Naya Hindustan Hai Placing the conversation in the broader context of a changing India, Yami said the industry itself is evolving. And I think waqt jaisi ki keh rahe hai ye ek naya Hindustan hai. Toh ye ek modern cinema hai jaha par badlav yaha bhi zaruri hai aur bilkul woh badlav dikhega." Her remarks reflected the larger sentiment echoed across the Rising Bharat Summit that Indias emergence today is visible not only in economic growth charts but on podiums, red carpets and global stages. From sporting milestones to cinematic debates, the countrys cultural voice is asserting itself with confidence and clarity. For Yami Gautam, that confidence also means standing by ones choices and trusting that audiences will judge films on merit, not perception. First Published: February 27, 2026, 19:35 IST News movies bollywood Was Yami Gautam Sidelined For Political Films? Actor Sets Record Straight At Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Romanian Appeals Court Upholds Wiz Khalifas 9-Month Jail Sentence In Drug Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 13:31 IST Wiz Khalifas nine-month jail sentence for cannabis possession at Beach Please Festival in Constanta was upheld by the Constanta Court of Appeal. Romanian court rejects Wiz Khalifa's appeal against 9-month jail sentence A Romanian appellate court has upheld the nine-month jail sentence imposed on American rapper Wiz Khalifa in a drug possession case, dismissing his attempt to overturn the ruling. The Constanta Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected the artists appeal against his December conviction. Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, had challenged the lower courts decision and sought to have the sentence annulled. The court ruled that his request to cancel the sentence was inadmissible and found his plea to suspend the punishment unfounded. The case stems from an incident in July 2024, when the rapper was stopped by police after allegedly smoking cannabis while performing at the Beach, Please! Festival in Constanta County. According to prosecutors, authorities discovered more than 18 grams of cannabis in his possession and alleged that he consumed part of it on stage. He was subsequently convicted of possession of dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption." The December conviction followed an earlier ruling in April by a lower court, which had imposed a criminal fine of 3,600 lei for illegal possession of dangerous drugs." Prosecutors appealed that decision, arguing for a stricter penalty, which ultimately led to the nine-month prison sentence. Romania enforces some of the strictest drug laws in Europe. Cannabis possession for personal use is a criminal offence and carries penalties ranging from three months to two years in prison or a fine. It remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will pursue extradition proceedings, as Khalifa is a U.S. citizen and does not reside in Romania. The Associated Press said it contacted Khalifas representatives via email for comment on the latest court decision but had not received a response at the time of publication. (with inputs from AP) First Published: February 27, 2026, 13:31 IST News movies hollywood Romanian Appeals Court Upholds Wiz Khalifas 9-Month Jail Sentence In Drug Case CNN name, logo and all associated elements and 2026 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2026. All rights reserved. Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 09:52 IST 1 / 6 Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna tied the knot on February 26, 2026. The duo first met on the sets of Geetha Govindam in 2018. The newlyweds will now reunite for the third film. 2 / 6 The couple will share screen space in Rahul Sankrityans Ranabaali. On January 26, the actors made an official announcement about Ranabaali. Taking to the Instagram handle, the actor shared the first glimpse of the film, which will theatrically release on September 11. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 6 Sharing the glimpse, the actor captioned, The British called him a SAVAGE I Do Not Disagree :) He was OUR Savage! Introducing THE one and Only RANABAALI And setting the record straight on our history which they tried to Bury." 4 / 6 Ranabaali is set in the 19th century India. It is inspired by real-life historical events that took place between 1854 and 1878. The first glimpse confirmed that it is the story of genocide that happened in British occupied India, which is described as 'worse' than Adolf Hitler's holocaust. It further mentions that '45 trillion dollars' were stolen from the country while 100 million people were killed in 40 years. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 6 In the film, Vijay Deverakonda takes on the powerful role of freedom fighter Ranabaali, bringing to life a character rooted in courage and rebellion. Opposite him, Rashmika Mandanna steps into the role of Jayamma, a pivotal character expected to add emotional depth to the narrative. Meanwhile, Hollywood actor Arnold Vosloo will portray the formidable antagonist, Sir Theodore Hector, setting the stage for an intense on-screen clash. Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 08:00 IST 1 / 9 The viral monkey punch has taken the internet by storm, captivating people worldwide. The seven-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, along with his beloved orangutan plush toy, has won hearts across the globe. (Image: Instagram) 2 / 9 Since several heartwarming videos and photos of the duo went viral on social media, the plush toy has sold out in multiple countries. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 9 The viral baby monkey Punch's plush toy has become such a hot commodity that people are reselling it on e-commerce platforms like eBay and others. In some cases, resale prices have skyrocketed to Rs 32,000nearly ten times its original price. (Image: Instagram) 4 / 9 A report by the New York Post reveals that the $20 (around Rs 1,817) IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plush toy has turned into a highly coveted collectible ever since it became associated with Punch. Images of the young macaque hugging the toy have gone viral, capturing international attention. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 9 What Is The Story Of Punch? The little macaque was reportedly abandoned by his mother and the other monkeys in his enclosure. In an effort to comfort him, the staff at the Japanese zoo introduced the stuffed orangutan. What happened next quickly captured the hearts of people online. (Image: Instagram) 6 / 9 Viral images and videos of the adorable macaque show him hugging, napping beside, and playing with his bright orange plush toy, making the moments utterly heartwarming. Punch treats the toy like a surrogate parent, keeping it close all day long, and evoking the emotions of a toddler deeply attached to his mother. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 9 The emotional connection sparked a worldwide demand for the Djungelskog orangutan plush. According to the New York Post, the IKEA toy has sold out in stores across the United States, Japan, and South Korea in recent weeks. (Image: Instagram) 8 / 9 Petra Fare, President and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan, visited Ichikawa City Zoo to donate multiple plush toys for Punch, ensuring he always had a cuddly companion. Meanwhile, online demand soared, with a seller from Allen, Texas, buying 17 toys and reselling them for $51.99 (Rs 4,727) each. Twelve were reportedly sold in just one day. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 'Rahul Gandhi A Raja Beta': At Rising Bharat, Kangana Ranaut Says Congress Must Pick A Better Face Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 19:52 IST Commenting on the shirtless protest of Youth Congress leaders at the AI Summit in New Delhi, Ranaut termed the incident deplorable and said it must be called out Rapid Read Kangana Ranaut at the Rising Bharat Summit. (News18) If Congress wants to save itself, it must look for a better face, Bollywood actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut said at the Rising Bharat Summit on Friday, calling out Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhis behaviour in political life. Asked about who shes learning politics from, Ranaut said one must learn from the best and named Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She added that the lesson she had learnt from Gandhi was what not to do as she labelled him immature" and uneducated". At #RisingBharatSummit2026, Kangana Ranaut (@TeamKanganaa) speaks her mind: Rahul Gandhi is a big threat, with low IQ, even in opposition, we deserve better. On Dhurandhar, she adds, Any art form, be it books or movies, debating is fine" #KanganaRanaut #News18 | pic.twitter.com/0u3qUMSN32 News18 (@CNNnews18) February 27, 2026 Commenting on the shirtless protest of Youth Congress leaders at the AI Summit in New Delhi, Kangana termed the incident deplorable and said it must be called out. It is unfortunate. To top it, Rahul Gandhi called the protesters Babbar Sher. I think he has lost his mind. After Independence, Mahatma Gandhi had said the Congress must be dissolved. But Nehru did not agree. I think Rahul Gandhi will fulfil that dream of his by completely destroying the Congress." The actor termed Gandhis behaviour in Parliament akin to a tapori or mawaali (hooligan). You must have seen how he behaves in Parliament. I think Congress is ashamed of Gandhis actions too. I dont feel that party has a future but if they want to save themselves, they must look for a better face now." She went on to call Gandhi a Raja Beta" (spoilt son), saying he was used to people clapping for him and showering him with attention. I think he is also ill-mannered as one is supposed to address the Speaker when talking in Parliament. I am not angry with him but I think Gandhi is a danger to the country because even on a global platform, he speaks ill of India and tries to sabotage the country and its economy. He is a puppet in the hands of anti-India forces. Given how low his IQ is, he is a very big threat. As an Indian, I feel even in the Opposition, we deserve better." Rising Bharat Summit 2026 Positioned at a pivotal moment in Indias growth journey, the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 brings together top national leadership and international delegates at Bharat Mandapam on February 2728. Anchored in the theme, Strength Within," the summit stands as one of the countrys largest platforms where governance, economic ambition, and strategic thinking converge, reflecting Indias expanding influence in global conversations. Over the years, the Rising Bharat platform has evolved into a credible venue for substantive policy dialogue, and the 2026 edition signals sharper engagement around the ideas shaping Indias next phase of progress. The theme salutes the collective strength within every citizen-the power that drives innovation, sustains democracy, India as a leading light on the world stage. First Published: February 27, 2026, 19:17 IST News politics 'Rahul Gandhi A Raja Beta': At Rising Bharat, Kangana Ranaut Says Congress Must Pick A Better Face 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... Indian Govt Issues Security Warning For Microsoft Teams Users Curated By : Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:23 IST Microsoft Teams users are being warned about a security risk that the company and Indian govt has alerted about. The Indian govt has alerted the Teams users. Microsoft Teams is the latest platform to be alerted for some security issues and the Indian government is doing its bit by keeping the users informed about them. Teams are as important as the other Microsoft tools like Office and the Windows operating system. So the latest security alert from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In with a high severity ranking that will not only alarm those using the video meeting app but also the ones who have the app installed on their systems or even phones. Microsoft Teams Security Issue: What The Alert Says The CERT-In alert for Microsoft Teams comes with a note that explains the issue with the platform, how it affects the users and what can be exploited because of it. This vulnerability exists in Microsoft Teams due to Improper Access Control. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to disclose sensitive information over a network," the bulletin mentions in details. Besides this, the agency also says the issues with Microsoft Teams puts users at a high risk of unauthorised access to meetings, chats, and shared files if misconfigured or improperly secured. The agency also mentions that all versions and platforms supporting Microsoft Teams will be affected by the risks so the best way to prevent their system from getting attacked is to update to the latest available security patch from Microsoft. The platform has become an easy target for bad actors who push malicious content and files across users, and the company is now blocking or at least alerting the users about possible risks of clicking on a link or downloading a file of that nature. The company says features like weaponisable file type protection, malicious URL detection and a new mechanism to report false positives which de-ranks the supposed threats. Having these tools enabled automatically will allow Teams users to see all the dangerous warning labels that may have suspicious URLs and also block possible files that may cause harm to your system. Microsoft claims, This update helps safeguard users from malicious content and provides options to report incorrect detections." Microsoft had informed its Microsoft 365 customers about the default changes that are now applicable for everyone using the meeting app. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 11:23 IST News tech Indian Govt Issues Security Warning For Microsoft Teams Users 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 Man Slaps Girlfriend 30-40 Times After An Argument In Broad Daylight, Internet Asks Still She Chose To Stay? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 12:51 IST The episode was recorded by another man who was present inside the park at the time. The incident took place at Japanese Park: Swarn Jayanti Park. (Photo Credit: X) A disturbing video has surfaced online from Delhi where a man was seen physically assaulting a woman in a park. It is being claimed that both of them are in relationship and an argument took place between them which escalated to physical assault by the man. The incident occurred at Japanese Park: Swarn Jayanti Park. The episode was recorded by another man who was present inside the park at the time. According to him, he had gone there for a walk and was sitting on a nearby bench when he noticed the altercation unfolding. Man Slaps Woman Multiple Times In Delhi Park In the recording, the person filming can be heard explaining the situation. He says, Mai park aya hua tha round kaatne ke liye aur mai inke piche hi baitha tha dusri bench par. Ye dekhiye, mai in dono dekhra tha. Ye ladka kafi der se apni girlfriend ko maar raha tha. 30-40 thappad kha chuki hai ye ladki (I had come to the park for a walk and was sitting on a bench behind them. I was watching them. This man has been hitting his girlfriend for some time. She has already been slapped 30-40 times)." The visuals show the couple engaged in a heated argument. Moments later, the man is seen slapping the woman. The person recording further adds, Ab dekhiye ye itne toxic relationship mein hai, itni der se lad rahe hai, behes kar rahe hai. Bahut tez-tez maar raha tha, aas pas ke sab log dekh rahe hai. Mujhko majbooran video banani padi. Aise relationship mein rehna zaruri hai jaha maar khani pade, thappad khana pade. Ab dekhiye apne hisab se (Now see, they are in such a toxic relationship, they have been fighting and arguing for so long. He was hitting her very hard, everyone around was watching. I was forced to record this. Is it necessary to stay in a relationship where you have to get beaten and slapped? Now judge for yourself)." The woman remains seated on the bench during the confrontation, as the man strikes her again on the back before eventually getting up. Shocking Visuals at a Park in Delhi of Toxic Couple arguing. Man slaps his Girlfriend repeatedly. According to Guy recording the video, the Man had already slapped her 30-40 times before he recorded the video. pic.twitter.com/gH1Hdr8riP Rosy (@rose_k01) February 26, 2026 Outrage Over Public Assault The incident has sparked strong reactions with many calling out the mans behaviour towards his girlfriend. One user commented, The most shocking part? How many people just walk by. Witnessing a woman get slapped 30-40 times and only having one person record is a heartbreaking reflection of our society. This isnt a private matter" between a couple; its a violent assault. We have to stop normalising toxic" relationships when they are clearly criminal behaviour." Another said, Real men dont raise their hands on women. If you cant handle your emotions, you dont deserve a relationship. Violence isnt love, it is weakness. Real masculinity is protecting her in public and respecting her in private." The fact that girl is sitting there, taking slaps from him, makes me so angry. Dammit are you glued to the bench. Have some respect for yourself and leave. People who love you dont hit you. Abusers always escalate, and this man is f***** abuse," someone else sharply wrote. An individual demanded, Please report this person." A user tagged official account of Delhi Police and said, For your action against violence in public. He is assaulting her so badly." And yet she chose to stay. Says a lot about self-respect of humans these days," a viewer remarked while a person added, Attachment makes you compromise with your self-respect." As of now, there has been no official update from the Delhi Police on whether any action has been taken against the man. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 12:50 IST News viral Delhi Man Slaps Girlfriend 30-40 Times After An Argument In Broad Daylight, Internet Asks Still She Chose To Stay? 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... Man Claims Boss Harassed Him For Leaving 10 Mins Early And Said, What You Are Doing Is Unacceptable Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 10:21 IST The man said he arrived at least 15 minutes before his shift each day, but the manager dismissed it, replying, No one sees you coming early. He claimed employees stayed back because no one wanted to leave first. (Representative Image) Most offices have fixed working hours. But in some places, leaving on time can make employees feel uncomfortable. Even when the clock hits 5 pm, people often stay back, not because they have work left, but because they dont want to be seen as the first to walk out. One man shared a similar experience from his previous job. He spoke about working at a company where leaving at the official closing time was quietly frowned upon. Leaving On Time Became A Problem In his post, the man said he worked as an account manager at a firm that designed and built bakery stores. His shift was from 8:30 am to 5 pm. He usually reached the office early, around 8:15 am. During his first week, he left work at about 5:05 or 5:10 pm. A few days later, his manager called him out. What youre doing is unacceptable," the manager told him. When he asked what was wrong, the manager replied, Well, youre leaving way too early, everybodys talking about it." The employee explained that he came to work at least 15 minutes before his shift every day. But the manager brushed it aside, saying, No one sees you coming early." No One Wanted To Be First After that conversation, the man began paying attention to what others were doing. He noticed that most of his colleagues stayed until 5:20 or even 5:25 pm. According to him, it wasnt because they had extra work. It was simply because no one wanted to be the first person to leave. Im talking about a company with about 75 employees and all these employees were holding each other hostage to not leave early. It was 8 years ago when I left the company but its the worst work culture Ive ever encountered. I always mention it to people as a bad example. Pure madness," he concluded his post, saying. Many Shared Similar Stories The post struck a chord with others who had faced similar work pressure. A user wrote, I used to work for a company where you could work 8-5 or 9-6, but theyd want you there 15 minutes prior to get settled at your desk blah blah. They then decided that if you were even so much as a minute late you would have to stay a full extra hour to make up for your tardiness. So if you clocked in at 8:01 youre staying till 6pm. Same goes for lunch, you had to effectively use less than an hour otherwise you would be penalised. I couldnt believe it when I joined my current company and they didnt micro-manager or clock-watch. Everyone is much happier and more effective." Another commented, I worked at a place where a bunch of the employees would leave on the dot or a tick early, and when pressured as to why. They said they have to get to their second job because the first one didnt pay enough." Id make an absolute point of leaving at 5 pm as thats when the payment stops. Soon there would be a trickle and then a flood of breaking out of the toxic mindset they are in," a person said. Sounds like a nightmare. reminds me of the time I was stuck in a similar trap. Glad I moved on. lifes too short for that nonsense," wrote another. Someone else added, In my office, there is a sign that asks, why are you reading this after 5 pm? And theyre still highly profitable." Gurgaon Man Reveals Benefits of Late Working Hours In October 2025, a Gurgaon employee sparked debate on LinkedIn by explaining why he prefers leaving work late. Working at an e-commerce enablement firm, he said it isnt about workload or a toxic culture but avoiding the citys traffic. I hate leaving the office early. Leaving late lets me skip rush hour, reclaim my mornings, and start the day for myself," he wrote. He added that traffic drains mental energy and affects decision-making, calling flexible hours a simple productivity hack. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 10:20 IST News viral Man Claims Boss Harassed Him For Leaving 10 Mins Early And Said, What You Are Doing Is Unacceptable 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... Madness Stops Today: This Airports Pyjamas Ban Has Triggered Heated Debate But Is It True? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 17:15 IST A US airport sparked confusion after joking about "banning" pyjamas for travellers. It was later said that the post was a joke, and no rule was added. (Representative Image) Travellers passing through Tampa International Airport in Florida were left puzzled after authorities shared a bold message on social media, suggesting that passengers wearing pyjamas could soon be banned" from the airport. The claim quickly caught widespread attention, particularly as the airport also joked about having already banned Crocs. The tongue-in-cheek tone left many wondering whether the announcement was a serious dress code warning or simply a lighthearted post meant for fun. Airports Post Sparks Debate Online In its post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the airport wrote, Weve seen enough. Weve had enough. Its time to ban pyjamas at the Tampa International Airport," and added that the madness stops today". The message continued in the same tone. We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. Its time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you. The madness stops today. The movement starts now. Help Tampa International Airport become the worlds first Crocs-free AND pyjama-free airport," it added. The post was shared on February 26 and quickly spread across social media, gaining millions of views. As more users saw it, reactions began pouring in. Some people said they would happily dress up for flights if they were treated better during travel. A user wrote, Ill dress nice again when were not treated like cattle at the airport and on the plane," while another asked, Are sweat pants considered pyjamas?" An individual joked, Flying from JFK to Tampa in pyjamas and crocs tomorrow out of pure spite." Another person asked, So what happens if you fly into Tampa in PJs?" Someone else added, Fix the delays first. Then well talk about my pajamas." Airport Clarifies There Is No Dress Code Rule As confusion grew, the airport made it clear that no such rule exists. In a response to USA Today, officials explained that the post was meant to be humorous. Tampa International Airport regularly shares lighthearted, satirical social media content as part of our ongoing effort to engage with our followers," the airport clarified. Todays post about banning pyjamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates. We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humour," the airport also mentioned. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: February 27, 2026, 17:14 IST News viral Madness Stops Today: This Airports Pyjamas Ban Has Triggered Heated Debate But Is It True? 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... Afghanistan Govt Seeks 'Dialogue' With Pakistan To Resolve Ongoing Conflict Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 18:26 IST Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Afghanistan wants a peaceful solution and the issue to be resolved through dialogue. Taliban government seeks dialogue with Islamabad amid airstrikes along the Durand Line. (IMAGE: REUTERS/REPRESENTATIVE) The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan on Friday said it was seeking dialogue with neighbouring Pakistan to resolve the escalating conflict between the two countries, even as cross-border hostilities intensified. We have repeatedly emphasised a peaceful solution and still want the issue to be resolved through dialogue," Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said at a press conference, following deadly fighting along the border. The remarks came amid a sharp military escalation after Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation, dubbed Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, late Thursday night in response to alleged attacks by Afghan Taliban forces on multiple border posts. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the operation was underway, stating that the armed forces were delivering a strong response" to what Islamabad described as aggression. Providing details, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that at least 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and over 200 injured in the strikes. He said Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar were hit, adding that 27 Taliban posts were destroyed and nine others captured, with further casualties possible. Later, Khawaja Asif issued a strongly worded statement on social media, declaring what he described as an open war" with Afghanistan. Accusing the Taliban administration of sheltering militants, he said Pakistans cup of patience has overflowed," signalling a tougher stance going forward. Tensions have been simmering between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul over cross-border security along the Durand Line, a disputed frontier drawn during British rule in the 19th century. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militants of using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside its territory. Afghanistans Ministry of National Defence, however, claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory actions along the Durand Line on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said the operations were launched at 8:00 PM on February 26, the 9th day of Ramadan, in response to what it described as earlier violations of Afghan territory by Pakistani forces. Islamabad has linked the surge in militant violence to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist outfits. While distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP shares ideological and social ties with the group and has been active since its emergence in Pakistans tribal regions in 2007. The Afghan Taliban has consistently denied allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the countrys armed forces and citizens remain fully prepared to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, reiterating the militarys commitment to maintaining peace and security. Location : Afghanistan First Published: February 27, 2026, 18:26 IST News world Afghanistan Govt Seeks 'Dialogue' With Pakistan To Resolve Ongoing Conflict 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... Afghan Forces Claim To Have Shot Down Pakistani Jet Over Airspace Breach: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 09:11 IST Afghan forces have shot down a Pakistani aircraft that allegedly entered Afghan airspace, a report has claimed, amid escalating military tensions between the two neighbours. Residents gather at the site, following the Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan (Photo: Reuters) Afghan forces have shot down a Pakistani aircraft that entered Afghanistans airspace, security sources told TOLOnews, in the latest escalation between the neighbouring countries following days of air strikes, retaliatory attacks and intensified border fighting. The reported downing of the aircraft comes as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchange military action across their long and disputed frontier, raising fears of a broader confrontation after months of rising tensions. Claims on social media also mentioned that the jet that was shot down was a Pakistani military F-16. However, the claims could not be independently verified. Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, on Friday, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declaring the neighbours at open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes. Soon after, AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported hearing blasts and jets overhead. Pakistans latest operation came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday night over earlier air strikes by Islamabad. Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. Several rounds of negotiations followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement. Both militaries said they killed dozens of soldiers in the latest round of border violence, which followed multiple Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan and clashes along the frontier in recent months. Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his countrys armed forces can have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions". Meanwhile, the Taliban government confirmed Pakistani air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties. Hours earlier, Mujahid announced large-scale offensive operations" at the border in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military. The Afghan Defence Ministry reported eight of its soldiers had been killed in the land offensive. An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan. While the border has largely been closed since October, Afghan returnees have been allowed to cross. MONTHS OF BORDER VIOLENCE Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, told AFP that several Pakistani soldiers had been caught alive", a claim denied by the Prime Ministers office in Islamabad. There has been a series of deadly suicide blasts in Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. They included an attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 40 people and was claimed by the Islamic State group. The militant groups regional chapter, Islamic State-Khorasan, also claimed a deadly suicide bombing at a restaurant in Kabul last month. After repeated breaches of the initial ceasefire, Saudi Arabia intervened this month, mediating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October. First Published: February 27, 2026, 09:00 IST News world Afghan Forces Claim To Have Shot Down Pakistani Jet Over Airspace Breach: 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... 'Cannot In Good Conscience Accede': Anthropic Refuses To Allow Unconditional AI Use By US Military Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 07:53 IST Anthropic said in a statement that Pentagons new language was framed as a compromise but "was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will." Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Anthropic on Thursday rejected the Pentagons latest offer to change its contract, saying the changes do not satisfy the companys concerns that AI could be used for mass surveillance or in fully autonomous weapons. The AI company said that it would not give the US Defense Department unrestricted use of its technology despite being pressured to comply by the Pentagon. Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO, said the artificial intelligence company cannot in good conscience accede" to the Pentagons demands to allow unrestricted use of its technology. The move is set to deepen the public clash with the Trump administration, which is threatening to pull its contract and take other drastic steps. Washington had given the company until Friday to agree to unconditional military use of its technology, even if it violates the companys ethical standards, or face being forced to comply under emergency federal powers. According to CNN, the Pentagon and Anthropic are at odds over restrictions the company places on the use of Claude, the first AI system to be used in the militarys classified network. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Tuesday that if Anthropic does not allow its AI model to be used for all lawful purposes," the Pentagon would cancel Anthropics $200 million contract. In addition to the contract cancellation, Anthropic would be deemed a supply chain risk", a classification normally reserved for companies connected to foreign adversaries, Hegseth said. Anthropic said in a statement that the Pentagons new language was framed as a compromise but was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will." The maker of the AI chatbot Claude said in a statement that its not walking away from negotiations, but that new contract language received from the Defense Department made virtually no progress on preventing Claudes use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons." I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries," Amodei wrote in a lengthy blog post on Thursday. Amodei said Anthropic understands that the Pentagon, not private companies, makes military decisions. But in a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values." The use cases like mass surveillance and autonomous weapons are outside the bounds of what todays technology can safely and reliably do," he added. Amodei said the Pentagons threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: February 27, 2026, 07:38 IST News world 'Cannot In Good Conscience Accede': Anthropic Refuses To Allow Unconditional AI Use By US Military 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... China Urges Citizens To Leave Iran 'As Soon As Possible' Amid Fears Of US Strike On Tehran Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 20:43 IST China urged its citizens to evacuate from Iran, while warning its citizens in Israel to remain highly vigilant and strengthen emergency preparedness amid growing tensions. Rapid Read US has deployed aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford to the Middle East amid tensions of an American attack on Iran. (Reuters/File) China urged its citizens to evacuate from Iran as soon as possible", citing a significant rise in security risks in the Middle East as tensions rise over a US military offensive in Iran amid a massive American military build-up in the region. Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible," the foreign ministry said in a social media statement. It told citizens to avoid travelling to Iran for the time being in light of the current security situation." China also said its embassies and consulates in Iran and neighbouring countries will provide necessary assistance" to Chinese citizens seeking to relocate via commercial flights or overland routes. China joined several other countries, including India, who have told their citizens to leave Iran in light of regional tensions. China Urges Citizens In Israel To Remain Vigilant Meanwhile, Chinas embassy in Israel warned its citizens to remain highly vigilant, strengthen emergency preparedness, and avoid going out unless necessary, according to Beijings state-run media. They should familiarise themselves in advance with nearby bomb shelters and evacuation routes to ensure personal and property safety". This came a day after Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the US which have been seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war though initial optimism was tempered by Tehran warning Washington must drop excessive demands" to reach a deal. ALSO READ: US Envoy Urges Embassy Staff To Evacuate Israel Immediately Amid Rising Tensions With Iran China-Iran Defence Ties Chinas advisory for Iran is significant, as it was reportedly close to a deal with Tehran for the latter to purchase antiship cruise missiles. The deal for the Chinesemade CM302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Negotiations with China to buy the missile weapons systems, which began at least two years ago, accelerated sharply after the 12day war between Israel and Iran in June, as per the people. As talks entered their final stages last summer, senior Iranian military and government officials travelled to China, including Irans deputy defence minister Massoud Oraei. Iran is also in discussions to acquire Chinese surfacetoair missile systems, so-called MANPADS, antiballistic weapons, and anti-satellite weapons, as per the report. China was a major arms supplier to Iran in the 1980s, but largescale weapons transfers reduced in the late 1990s under international pressure. Under the ChinaIran 25-Year Cooperation Program signed in 2021, defence and security collaboration is meant to be part of a broader strategic partnership encompassing economic, energy, and geopolitical cooperation. Location : Beijing, China First Published: February 27, 2026, 20:43 IST News world China Urges Citizens To Leave Iran 'As Soon As Possible' Amid Fears Of US Strike On Tehran 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... 'Don't Want To Strike Iran, But Sometimes You Have To': Trump Signals Force Even As Talks Shift To Vienna Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 04:09 IST The US Presidents remarks followed a third round of high-stakes indirect talks in Geneva, Switzerland, which reportedly ended without a breakthrough A central point of contention is the Presidents claim, made during his recent State of the Union address, that Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the American homeland. File image/Reuters President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric against Tehran, stating that while he would love not to use" the United States military to strike Iran, sometimes you have to". Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday, the President expressed mounting frustration over Irans perceived refusal to comply with American demands to dismantle its nuclear programme and curb its ballistic missile development. Negotiations at an Impasse The Presidents remarks followed a third round of high-stakes indirect talks in Geneva, Switzerland, which reportedly ended without a breakthrough. United States negotiators, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have demanded that Iran permanently dismantle its key nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Furthermore, Washington is insisting that Tehran ship its entire stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States and agree to a permanent deal without sunset clauses". Tehran, however, has maintained a firm red line" regarding its right to peaceful nuclear enrichment. While Iranian officials suggested that significant progress" was made on technical levels, they have categorically rejected the demand to export their uranium or shutter domestic facilities. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has accused the Trump administration of an ideological obsession" and misinformation", asserting that its programme remains entirely civilian in nature. A Massive Military Buildup The diplomatic deadlock coincides with a significant American military presence in West Asia. The United States has assembled two carrier strike groups in the region, a deployment analysts describe as the most aggressive since the 2003 Iraq War. Adding to the tension, the State Department issued an advisory on Friday urging non-essential government personnel and private American citizens to leave Israel immediately, citing the heightened risk of regional conflict. The Intelligence Debate A central point of contention is the Presidents claim, made during his recent State of the Union address, that Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the American homeland. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed these concerns, some intelligence reports suggest that a viable Iranian ICBM remains years away from operational reality. Despite the looming threat of force, Vice President JD Vance has signalled that the administration is being careful" to avoid a protracted forever war". However, as technical talks shift to Vienna next week, the Presidents latest ultimatum underscores a hardening stance: Washington will either secure a total deal" or pivot towards a military solution to prevent what it deems an inevitable nuclear threat. First Published: February 28, 2026, 04:09 IST News world 'Don't Want To Strike Iran, But Sometimes You Have To': Trump Signals Force Even As Talks Shift To Vienna 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 Forces Will Crush Aggressors: Shehbaz Sharif Warns Afghanistan Amid Border Clashes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:31 IST The Prime Minister's warning came after Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif | File Image Pakistan And Afghanistan War News Today: Amid escalating tensions and cross-border strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, saying that Islamabads armed forces can crush" aggressors. Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions," Sharif said, according to the Pakistani governments X account, as reported by news agency AFP. Also See: Pakistan Afghanistan War News LIVE Updates The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces," he said. The Prime Ministers warning came amid intensifying hostilities that have pushed relations between Islamabad and Kabul to one of their lowest points in recent years. Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, after a fresh round of clashes between the two sides on Friday. The confrontation involved airstrikes, artillery exchanges and ground assaults across multiple sectors along the disputed Durand Line, with both governments issuing sharply conflicting claims about casualties and territorial gains. Pakistani authorities claimed the attacks destroyed ammunition depots and several Afghan military installations. Pakistan further asserted that its forces eliminated 133 Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters during overnight clashes. The strikes followed retaliatory military actions by Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the Pakistani strikes but said there were no casualties. Afghan authorities said that their forces launched cross-border attacks late Thursday in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Afghan officials claimed the operations targeted Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries. Mujahid said that Afghan forces had launched wide-ranging retaliatory operations" against Pakistani military positions in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand. The Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several posts captured during retaliatory operations along the Durand Line. Pakistan has not confirmed those figures. Pakistan Declares Open War With Afghanistan Earlier today, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an open war" with Afghanistans Taliban government, saying that Islamabads patience has reached its limit. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar. Pakistans army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," he said. Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the military action as a befitting response," saying Pakistans armed forces acted after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops. Later, in an X post, Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari mentioned, Pakistan will not compromise on peace and territorial integrity." Our armed forces response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response and no one will be beyond reach," he added. The latest violence threatens a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire that had largely held despite months of tensions and intermittent exchanges of fire. Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:37 IST News world Pakistan Forces Will Crush Aggressors: Shehbaz Sharif Warns Afghanistan Amid Border Clashes 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... Heavy Fighting Erupts Along Durand Line, Taliban Report Dozens Of Pakistani Casualties | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 18:28 IST Taliban officials assert that their forces have captured or destroyed between 15 and 19 Pakistani military outposts along the frontier Rapid Read Afghan forces reportedly targeted multiple Pakistani checkposts in Khost province while consolidating control in parts of Paktia province. (News18) Heavy fighting has erupted along the disputed Durand Line, with the Afghan Taliban claiming significant battlefield gains against Pakistani military positions in a rapidly escalating border conflict. According to Taliban spokesmen Zabihullah Mujahid and Hamdullah Fitrat, Afghan fighters launched large-scale retaliatory operations targeting Pakistani military checkposts and installations across key border districts, including Dand Patan in Paktia province and areas of Khost province. The offensive marks one of the most serious flare-ups between Islamabad and Kabul in recent years, with cross-border artillery exchanges and reported air and ground engagements continuing through Friday. Taliban Claims of Captured Posts and Casualties Taliban officials assert that their forces have captured or destroyed between 15 and 19 Pakistani military outposts along the frontier. Among the most significant claims is the seizure of a Pakistani military outpost in Dand Patan district. They further allege that at least 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed during the clashes, with 23 bodies recovered and taken into Afghan custody. Taliban representatives also claim that approximately 17 Pakistani soldiers were captured alive during ground operations. In addition to personnel losses, Afghan fighters reportedly seized weapons and equipment from overrun positions, including G-3 rifles, armoured vehicles, tanks, and other military hardware. Retaliatory Operations In Khost And Paktia Taliban sources describe the campaign as a retaliatory response to prior Pakistani actions along the border. Afghan forces reportedly targeted multiple Pakistani checkposts in Khost province while consolidating control in parts of Paktia province. The Durand Line, long a source of tension between the two neighbours, has witnessed months of tit-for-tat incidents, including cross-border shelling and accusations of militant safe havens on both sides. Pakistans defence minister has characterised the current situation as an open war", underscoring the severity of the confrontation as air and ground operations reportedly continue. A Sharp Deterioration In Relations The latest escalation signals a dangerous deterioration in already fragile relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. While the Talibans claims have not yet been independently verified, the scale of reported casualties and territorial gains suggests a significant intensification of hostilities. Regional observers warn that sustained fighting along the border could destabilise broader security dynamics in South and Central Asia, particularly if further retaliation or expanded military operations follow. Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: February 27, 2026, 18:28 IST News world Heavy Fighting Erupts Along Durand Line, Taliban Report Dozens Of Pakistani Casualties | 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... Khawaja Asif Accuses Afghanistan's Taliban Of Acting As India's Proxy Amid Border Clashes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:33 IST Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an open war on the Taliban government, saying that Islamabad's patience has reached its limit. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif (Image: AP/file) Pakistan War On Afghanistan: Amid escalating border tensions, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Afghanistans Taliban of acting as a proxy of India" and declared that it was now open war" between the two sides. In a post on X, the Pakistani Minister said that after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, it had been expected that the Taliban would ensure peace and stability. However, he alleged that Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India," and gathered militants and began exporting terrorism." Also See: Pakistan Afghanistan War News LIVE Updates He further said that the Taliban administration deprived citizens of basic human rights and snatching away the rights that Islam grants to women." Taliban gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," Asif said in a post on X. Asif claimed that Pakistan had made every effort" to normalise ties through diplomacy and engagement via friendly countries, but claimed attempts were now being made to target Pakistan with aggression. Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy. But the Taliban became a proxy for India. Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, Alhamdulillah, our forces are giving a decisive response at this time," he added. Asif further declared an open war" on the Taliban government, saying that Islamabads patience has reached its limit. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar. Pakistans army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," he added. The declaration came amid intensifying hostilities that have pushed relations between Islamabad and Kabul to one of their lowest points in recent years. Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, after a fresh round of clashes between the two sides on Friday. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the Pakistani strikes but said there were no casualties. Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the military action as a befitting response," saying Pakistans armed forces acted after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops. Afghan authorities said that their forces launched cross-border attacks late Thursday in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Afghan officials claimed the operations targeted Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries. Mujahid said that Afghan forces had launched wide-ranging retaliatory operations" against Pakistani military positions in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand. The Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several posts captured during retaliatory operations along the Durand Line. Pakistan has not confirmed those figures. Border crossings have largely remained shut since clashes in October reportedly killed more than 70 people on both sides. Islamabad has long accused the Taliban administration of failing to curb militant groups operating from Afghan soil a charge Kabul denies. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:04 IST News world Khawaja Asif Accuses Afghanistan's Taliban Of Acting As India's Proxy Amid Border Clashes 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... 'Millions Of Them Out There': Emails Show How Model Scout Linked Epstein With Young Girls Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 26, 2026, 21:32 IST The emails show that Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution, had a persistent interest in young women from around the world. Late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Image: Reuters) Emails between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his model scout have revealed disturbing details about how they operated in sourcing young women for the financier. The latest batch of documents released by the US Department of Justice shows Epsteins model scout, Daniel Siad, regularly sent updates on his scouting trips across Europe, recruiting young women for modelling opportunities. In an email from July 2014, Siad expressed his frustration at Epsteins failure to attend a scheduled meeting, while offering an unsettling glimpse into the type of women he was bringing to Epstein, The Guardian reported. I had 2 girls from Sweden, a Slovakian, 2 French and [redacted] the Russian, with whom you spoke and a beautiful Chinese named [redacted]," Siad wrote. He went on to explain how he had met five girls aged 16 or 17 during his recent trip to Scandinavia, including a 15-year-old girl from France, whose parents had approved of her modelling ambitions. There are millions of them out there," Siad added. ALSO READ: Over 50 Pages Missing From Epstein Files On Minors Allegations Against Trump: Report The exchanges also revealed the disturbing nature of their working relationship, with Epstein often providing financial incentives for Siads work. I will reimburse you of course for any expenses," Epstein wrote in response to Siads frustrations about the costs incurred during his scouting trips. At times, Epstein would send simple, blunt queries about new girls" and anything worth coming to Paris for?" The emails show that Epstein remained heavily involved in the recruitment process, even though he had no formal role with any model agencies. The latest documents provide insight into the disturbing and calculated nature of Epsteins operations. In some emails, Siad detailed his scouting trips to small villages in Eastern Europe, where he met women he believed could fit Epsteins demands. Slovakia is the place to be," he wrote in 2009, noting that he had 45 women lined up to meet Epstein. The emails show that Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution, had a persistent interest in young women from around the world. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 26, 2026, 21:32 IST News world 'Millions Of Them Out There': Emails Show How Model Scout Linked Epstein With Young Girls 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... Nepal To Seal Border With India For Three Days Ahead Of March 5 General Elections Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 15:57 IST The decision follows a directive issued by Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs on February 26, mandating the closure of all border outposts along the Banke district. Indo-Nepal border | File Image: PTI Nepal will temporarily shut its border with India for three days starting midnight on March 2 as part of heightened security arrangements for the countrys general elections scheduled on March 5, officials said on Friday. The decision follows a directive issued by Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs on February 26, mandating the closure of all border outposts along the Banke district, which shares a frontier with India. The restrictions will remain in force from 12:00 am on the intervening night of March 23 until 12:00 am on March 5 to ensure that polling is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner. Confirming the development, Sudhir Sharma, in-charge of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Rupaidiha in Bahraich, said cross-border trade activities, including imports and exports through the ICP, will remain suspended during the restricted period. However, the movement of essential medicines and other critical supplies will continue uninterrupted. Security along the border has already been tightened. Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat of the 42nd Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal said instructions have been issued to enforce restricted movement from the night of March 2 until the conclusion of polling on March 5, following communication from the Nepal administration. Udawat said border crossings are being allowed only after strict verification of identity documents, and citizens of both countries have been advised to avoid travel during the restricted window unless absolutely necessary. He added that Nepali voters residing in India for work or business, along with seriously ill patients and consignments of essential goods, may be permitted to cross under close security supervision. The heightened security measures come against the backdrop of political unrest in Nepal over the past year, marked by widespread protests driven by youth frustration over corruption and unemployment. With millions of voters set to elect members to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament, authorities are aiming to prevent any disruptions during the polling process. The next prime minister will be appointed once a majority is secured in the House. Location : Nepal First Published: February 27, 2026, 15:56 IST News world Nepal To Seal Border With India For Three Days Ahead Of March 5 General Elections 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, Afghanistan Trade Claims Of Heavy Casualties, Destroyed Bases Amid Military Escalation Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 11:24 IST Amid the heavy fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, both sides have claimed major military gains, heavy casualties and destruction of key installations. Mourners offer funeral prayers for police officers who were killed in militant attacks in Bannu, Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (Photo: AFP) Pakistan And Afghanistan War News: A massive escalation has unfolded along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, with both sides claiming heavy battlefield losses, cross-border strikes and the destruction of key military installations. The confrontation, described as one of the most intense episodes of fighting in recent years, involves airstrikes, artillery exchanges and ground assaults across multiple sectors along the disputed Durand Line, with both governments issuing sharply conflicting claims about casualties and territorial gains. Also see: Pakistan And Afghanistan War News Live PAF STRIKES AFGHANISTAN, MULTIPLE INSTALLATIONS TARGETED PAKISTAN CLAIMS Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets carried out strikes deep inside Afghanistan, targeting locations in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Paktia. Pakistani authorities claimed the attacks destroyed ammunition depots and several Afghan military installations. Pakistan further asserted that its forces eliminated 133 Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters during overnight clashes. Officials also claimed that two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sectors and nearly 80 Afghan artillery tanks were destroyed during the operation. The Pakistan Army additionally claimed that 27 Afghan Taliban posts were destroyed, while nine positions were captured during ground engagements. Islamabad described the offensive as part of a large-scale military campaign titled Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq, launched following what it termed a renewed wave of terrorism inside Pakistan. AFGHAN TALIBAN CLAIM HEAVY LOSSES ON PAKISTAN SIDE Afghan Taliban authorities issued a contrasting account, claiming their fighters inflicted major damage on Pakistani forces along the border. Afghanistans Defence Ministry said 55 Pakistani security personnel were killed, while 17 were taken hostage during the clashes. Taliban officials also claimed that 23 bodies of Pakistani soldiers were taken into custody. The Taliban further alleged that their fighters destroyed two Pakistani Frontier Corps headquarters and captured 19 outposts, while seizing weapons and military equipment from Pakistani troops, visuals of which were circulating publicly. Afghan officials maintained that their military had launched coordinated attacks across the Durand Line after Pakistani actions earlier triggered the escalation. FIGHTING ACROSS MULTIPLE BORDER PROVINCES The main battle zones stretched across a vast geography. On the Afghan side, fighting was reported in Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces, while clashes on the Pakistani side spread across Khyber, Bajaur, Shawal, Waziristan, Khurram, Mohmand, Chitral, Angoor Adda and Torkham, along with other sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan. Local sources claimed that 36 civilians were killed due to cross-border mortar shelling affecting villages on both sides. Both governments said damage assessments were still underway. WAR OF WORDS ESCALATES BETWEEN ISLAMABAD AND KABUL Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a strong response, stating that there would be no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland" and that any aggression would receive a befitting reply. Pakistans Information Minister Atta Tarar said the countrys security forces had once again demonstrated their capability, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the Afghan Taliban regime of making a terrible mistake." Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid warned that Afghanistan would seek revenge and indicated that the conflict could continue, with sources in Kabul claiming retaliatory measures were being prepared against Pakistani military installations along the border. The latest violence threatens a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire that had largely held despite months of tensions and intermittent exchanges of fire. First Published: February 27, 2026, 08:17 IST News world Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Claims Of Heavy Casualties, Destroyed Bases Amid Military Escalation 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 27, 2026, 15:13 IST Taliban security personnel search for victims after an overnight Pakistani air strike hit a residential area at the Girdi Kas village in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province. (File pic: AFP) Pakistan And Afghanistan War News Today Updates: Amid airstrikes and cross-border attacks, Pakistan has declared an open war with Afghanistans Taliban government, carrying out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early on Friday. This came hours after Afghanistan unleashed a cross-border attack on Pakistan in a dramatic escalation of violence between the two neighbours. Announcing the shift in posture, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X, Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between you and us. The declaration came amid intensifying hostilities that have pushed relations between Islamabad and Kabul to one of their lowest points in recent years. JETS HEARD OVER KABUL, KANDHAR AFP reported that jets were heard over Kabul and Kandahar, with journalists on the ground hearing multiple loud explosions followed by gunfire. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the Pakistani strikes. He added there were no casualties. Afghanistan stated its military launched an attack across the border into Pakistan late on Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. They claimed to have had captured more than a dozen Pakistani Army posts during the attack. Pakistan Declares 'Open War', Bombs Kabul, Kandahar After Afghanistan Attacks Border Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 17:49 IST Pakistan declared an open war with Afghanistans Taliban government after launching airstrikes and escalating cross-border clashes, marking a sharp deterioration in ties. Taliban security personnel search for victims after an overnight Pakistani air strike hit a residential area at the Girdi Kas village in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province (Photo: AFP) Pakistan War With Afghanistan: Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an open war" with Afghanistans Taliban government on Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the neighbouring countries following airstrikes, cross-border attacks and months of worsening violence along their shared frontier. Also See: Pakistan Afghanistan War News Live Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, after a fresh round of clashes between the two sides. Announcing the shift in posture, Asif wrote on X, Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you." The declaration came amid intensifying hostilities that have pushed relations between Islamabad and Kabul to one of their lowest points in recent years. AIRSTRIKES AND ESCALATION AFP reported that jets were heard over Kabul and Kandahar, with journalists on the ground hearing multiple loud explosions followed by gunfire lasting more than two hours. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the Pakistani strikes but said there were no casualties. Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the military action as a befitting response," saying Pakistans armed forces acted after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops. Later, in an X post, Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari mentioned, Pakistan will not compromise on peace and territorial integrity." Our armed forces response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response and no one will be beyond reach," he added. The strikes followed retaliatory military actions by Afghanistan. According to The Associated Press, Afghan authorities said their forces launched cross-border attacks late Thursday in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Afghan officials claimed the operations targeted Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries. Pakistani officials rejected those claims, describing the Afghan assault as unprovoked and insisting their military response was necessary to safeguard territorial integrity, the Associated Press reported. BORDER FIGHTING AND COMPETING CLAIMS Heavy fighting broke out along the mountainous frontier after Afghan forces opened fire on Pakistani positions, triggering more than two hours of clashes before Pakistani troops retaliated. Both sides claimed to have destroyed or seized opposing military posts. In a statement, Pakistans Information Ministry said its forces delivered an immediate and effective response" to what it described as unprovoked fire" from Afghan forces and vowed that all necessary measures" would be taken to protect the countrys territorial integrity and citizens. Afghanistans Taliban administration, meanwhile, said its operations were launched in response to repeated provocations" by Pakistan. Casualty figures, meanwhile, remain disputed, as both governments released sharply differing numbers, with each side claiming heavy losses inflicted on the other while downplaying its own casualties. Also See: Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Claims Of Heavy Casualties, Destroyed Bases Amid Military Escalation CIVILIANS AND REGIONAL CONCERNS The escalating conflict has also affected civilians near the border. Shells struck areas near the Torkham crossing, wounding refugees and forcing evacuations on both sides of the frontier. The United Nations urged restraint, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling on both countries to protect civilians and resolve differences through diplomacy. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated steadily in recent months despite ceasefire efforts mediated by regional actors, as Islamabad accuses Kabul of failing to act against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, allegations the Taliban government denies. First Published: February 27, 2026, 06:45 IST News world Pakistan Declares 'Open War', Bombs Kabul, Kandahar After Afghanistan Attacks Border 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... Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey Attempting To De-Escalate Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 22:24 IST The diplomatic initiative by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia came after Pakistan declared an "open war" against Afghanistan and bombed several major Afghan cities. Rapid Read Taliban soldiers load ammunition in a vehicle, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces. (Reuters) Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar are engaged in efforts to halt the deadly fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a source familiar with the talks told AFP on Friday, after Islamabad declared open war" against Kabul and bombed major Afghan cities. Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan," said the source, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The goal is to de-escalate the situation and prevent it from spiralling out of control," they added. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an open war" with Afghanistans Taliban government on Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the neighbouring countries after the Taliban launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military facilities along the Durand Line. Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, after a fresh round of clashes between the two sides. The Taliban government confirmed Fridays air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers. However, Pakistan said it had killed 274 Taliban fighters for the loss of 12 Pakistani troops. Turkey Also Mediating Talks Acting Afghan foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday called Qatars chief negotiator Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, while Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also spoke with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, according to separate statements. Riyadh and Doha have been in contact at the highest levels with both sides, and we hope the confrontation will end as soon as possible," the source told AFP. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also launched a diplomatic initiative, holding phone calls with his counterparts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to address armed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Fidan spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to defuse the situation, as per local reports. This came after Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the military action as a befitting response," saying Pakistans armed forces acted after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops. Later, Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari mentioned, Pakistan will not compromise on peace and territorial integrity." Prior to Pakistans bombardment, Afghan officials claimed the operations targeted Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries. Heavy fighting broke out along the mountainous frontier after Afghan forces opened fire on Pakistani positions, triggering more than two hours of clashes before Pakistani troops retaliated. Both sides claimed to have destroyed or seized opposing military posts. In a statement, Pakistans Information Ministry said its forces delivered an immediate and effective response" to what it described as unprovoked fire" from Afghan forces and vowed that all necessary measures" would be taken to protect the countrys territorial integrity and citizens. (with inputs from agencies) Location : Kabul, Afghanistan First Published: February 27, 2026, 22:24 IST News world Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey Attempting To De-Escalate Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: 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... US Envoy Urges Embassy Staff To Evacuate Israel Immediately Amid Rising Tensions With Iran Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 15:44 IST US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said embassy staff should leave sooner rather than later as tensions rise over the prospect of a US strike on Iran. Rapid Read US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. (Reuters) US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has urged embassy staff in Israel on Friday to leave the country immediately if they wished to depart, citing security concerns, in a sign of imminent American action against Iran amid a deadlock in nuclear talks. In an email sent to the US mission employees at 10:24 am (local time) on Thursday, Huckabee said those who want to leave should do so TODAY" and advised them to secure seats on outbound flights from Ben-Gurion Airport as soon as possible, reported the New York Times. The embassy has also shifted to an authorised departure" status, allowing non-essential personnel and their family members to leave at government expense, he wrote, describing the move as taken out of an abundance of caution" after consultations with the State Department. Huckabee also assured that there was no need to panic, but added that employees should leave sooner rather than later as tensions rise over the prospect of a US strike on Iran. Any attack on Iran could prompt a retaliation action against Israel, which is expected to join the US strikes. Tensions between Iran and the US are on the rise due to President Donald Trumps repeated threats to strike Tehran against the backdrop of the largest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades. Several countries, including India, have already advised its citizens to evacuate Iran as soon as possible. ALSO READ: Disappointing: Irans Foreign Minister On Budgetary Cuts For The Strategic Chabahar Port US-Iran Nuclear Talks The United States and Iran have made significant progress" in the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday, according to Oman, the mediator of the talks. However, the chances of a deal to avoid war remain unclear. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led Tehrans delegation, described the negotiations as among the most intense and longest rounds" of discussions. He said good progress" had been made, with agreement reached on some issues, though differences remain on others. He indicated the next round would take place in less than a week. According to Iranian state media, Tehrans negotiators reaffirmed Irans right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. They rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment completely and to transfer the countrys 400kg stockpile of enriched uranium abroad. Iran Tells US To Drop Excessive Demands On Friday, Iran said the US will have to drop its excessive demands" on Tehrans missile programme after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trumps negotiating team would demand that Iran dismantle its three main nuclear sites and hand over all its remaining enriched uranium to the United States. In a conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Araghchi emphasised that success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands". This came after Trump said in his State of the Union address that Iran had already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and theyre working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America". Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted ahead of the talks that the Islamic republic was not at all" seeking a nuclear weapon. (with inputs from agencies) Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: February 27, 2026, 15:29 IST News world US Envoy Urges Embassy Staff To Evacuate Israel Immediately Amid Rising Tensions With Iran 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-Iran Talks End After 'Significant Progress' But Deal Remains Uncertain Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: February 27, 2026, 07:14 IST According to Iranian state media, Tehrans negotiators reaffirmed Irans right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. The relationship between the US and Iran has gone from a Cold War strategic partnership to decades of deep-seated military and political hostility. (Image: AFP/File) US-Iran Talks: The United States and Iran have made significant progress" in the latest round of nuclear talks in Geneva, Oman, the mediator, has said; however, the chances of a deal to avoid war remain unclear. Omans Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the high-stakes negotiations in Geneva, said both sides agreed to resume talks soon" after consulting with their respective capitals. He added that technical-level discussions would take place next week in Vienna, Associated Press reported. We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran. We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals. Discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna. I am grateful to all concerned for Badr Albusaidi (@badralbusaidi) February 26, 2026 Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led Tehrans delegation, described the negotiations as among the most intense and longest rounds" of discussions. He said good progress" had been made, with agreement reached on some issues, though differences remain on others. He indicated the next round would take place in less than a week. What Happened During The Negotiations? According to Iranian state media, Tehrans negotiators reaffirmed Irans right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. They rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment completely and to transfer the countrys 400kg stockpile of enriched uranium abroad. However, officials are believed to have floated potential concessions, though the details have not been disclosed publicly. One reported proposal would allow Iran to resume limited uranium enrichment after a three- to five-year suspension, under international monitoring. In exchange, Araghchi said Iran is demanding the lifting of sanctions that have severely impacted its economy. Critics of Irans leadership argue that sanctions relief would provide a financial lifeline to the government. Iran has also rejected US calls to discuss limits on its ballistic missile programme or its support for regional groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, saying talks should focus solely on nuclear issues. The negotiations come amid escalating diplomatic and military tensions as US President Donald Trump has ordered a major US military build-up in the Middle East, including more than a dozen warships. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is currently deployed in the region. It is rare for two US aircraft carriers to operate in the Middle East simultaneously, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Iran has warned that if the US launches an attack, American bases across the region would be considered legitimate targets. Araghchi described such a scenario as a devastating war" that could engulf the entire region. The Geneva meeting marks the third round of talks since a 12-day conflict in June, during which Israel launched strikes against Iran and the US carried out heavy attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. US officials suspect Iran may be attempting to rebuild elements of its nuclear programme, though Tehran insists it is not seeking a nuclear weapon and says its activities are purely peaceful. The United States wants Iran to completely halt uranium enrichment, while Iran maintains it has the sovereign right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. While no deal was reached in Geneva, both sides have agreed to continue discussions. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Switzerland First Published: February 27, 2026, 07:14 IST News world US-Iran Talks End After 'Significant Progress' But Deal Remains Uncertain 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... A 3% bonus on the payment of income tax more than a month ahead of schedule, more flexible terms for micro-enterprises, easing taxes and grants of up to EUR 20,000 for Romanians living abroad who open productive businesses in the country, financing for investments in strategic areas, schemes dedicated to the development of Romanian tourism, deductions for individual investors up to 400 euros/year and 50% of the costs of admission to trading for companies, as well as the establishment of the Interministerial Committee on PPP projects are some of the measures included in the package for relaunching the economy and stimulating investments adopted by the Government on Tuesday evening. The Romanian Government has approved () at the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, the Emergency Ordinance establishing a complex set of measures to revive Romanias economy. The measures adopted target a mix of fiscal measures and measures to stimulate investments, exports and economic activity, as well as accelerating modernization through domestic investments and the strategic mobilization of domestic capital towards sectors with high added value, strategic development projects, ensuring the basis for a resilient and sustainable economic recovery in the long term, a statement from the Ministry of Finance states. Through this Emergency Ordinance, the Government reconfirms that the zero priority is the structural transformation of the economy. The mix of measures adopted generates concrete effects for the population and the business environment, starting this year: increasing disposable income, stimulating employment and productivity, tax simplification and faster access to financing for companies, modernizing infrastructure or adopting state-of-the-art technologies. We are thus building an ecosystem that will attract major strategic projects, reduce dependence on imports and reward the fiscal discipline of loyal taxpayers. It is a clear signal of stability and a competitiveness engine that will position Romania as a regional industrial and technological hub, said Alexandru Nazare, Minister of Finance. The measures included in the GEO RELIEF FOR TAXPAYERS AND THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Measures to optimize liquidity and simplify tax compliance: The 3% compliance bonus through which the Ministry of Finance rewards voluntary compliance. Profit tax payers, microenterprises and individuals, through the Single Declaration, receive a 3% reduction in the tax due for 2025, if they pay their obligations on time, by April 15, 2026. From March 2026, the Single Declaration will be automatically pre-filled in the SPV, representing a new important step towards tax simplification. Reform of VAT on collection To prevent financial blockages, the ceiling up to which companies can choose to pay VAT only after cashing invoices increases to RON 5 million in 2026 and to RON 5.5 million in 2027. This eliminates the situation in which companies were crediting the state by paying VAT for uncollected invoices and improves companies liquidity. Making the microenterprise regime more flexible In the case of newly established micro-enterprises, the initial employment period is increased from 30 days to 90 days for newly established enterprises. In the case where the micro-enterprise has a single employee and the related employment contract terminates, the 30-day period for hiring a new person is maintained and it is proposed that if this condition is not met, the exit from the micro-enterprise bracket should apply starting with the quarter following the one in which the employment relationship ended. At the same time, occasional sales of equipment (fixed assets) are no longer included in the EUR 100,000 ceiling, preventing the forced transition to profit tax in the case of equipment modernization. Also, another provision of the ordinance is that relating to the situation in which the sole employee who goes on sick leave the period of over 30 days of leave no longer leads to the loss of the micro-enterprise tax bracket. The emergency ordinance approved today also updates the ceiling for fixed assets, meaning that goods with a value of up to RON 5,000 (compared to RON 2,500 previously) can now be directly expensed, simplifying accounting bureaucracy and offering an immediate tax advantage. Subsequently, the necessary time margin is created for companies to allow them to secure their working capital and identify the right personnel for the activity carried out, without losing their status as a micro-enterprise. CAPITALIZATION AND FINANCING INSTRUMENTS The operationalization of BID S.A.: Measures to support the economy through the Investment and Development Bank (IDB), which will implement guarantee schemes and establish investment vehicles/equity funds. The general framework for managing the financing and guarantee operations that the IDB will carry out on behalf of and for the account of the state, as well as the intervention method, including the conditions, instruments used, targeted sectors and eligible beneficiaries, will be established by specific mandates granted to the bank and approved by Government decision. For this purpose, in 2026, the Ministry of Finance will make RON 1 billion available to the bank. At the same time, the proposals to amend Law no. 411/2004 aim to include Banca de Investitii si Dezvoltare (Investment and Development Bank) S.A., alongside the Romanian state, in the category of entities that can participate directly or indirectly in private equity investment funds. The measure contributes to increasing the degree of safety of privately managed pension fund investments and to supporting the financing of the national economy, by stimulating long-term investments. The INVEST AT HOME Program: With a budget of EUR 100 million for the period 2026-2029, the program offers Romanians abroad a grant of up to 20,000 euros and state-guaranteed loans to open businesses in productive fields in Romania. Basically, Romanians residing in other countries who want to open a business in Romania will be able to benefit from grants, tax credits, state guarantees for loans contracted by the investor, interest subsidies for loans contracted by the investor, capital contributions or other support measures. The budget is calibrated to mobilize investments of approximately RON 250 million in the economy, through the leverage effect of the IDB guarantee on bank financing. Eligible start-ups are established by Romanian citizens living abroad who move their activity to Romania, in productive fields and services with high added value, based on a solid business plan and a commitment to maintain the investment and jobs for a minimum period. Stimulating the capital market: Individuals will be able to deduct investments in shares or ETFs up to a limit of 400 euros/year. Companies that become listed on the stock exchange benefit from a 50% deduction of the costs of admission to trading in the first year. Export support: The transfer of RON 1 billion to Exim Banca Romaneasca is authorized to support export credits, international transactions and Romanian investments abroad as the Export Credit Agency (ECA). The additional funds allocated to Exim Banca Romaneasca could catalyze private co-financing, support exports and boost the growth of financial intermediation by guaranteeing and insuring financing with external risks, while generating jobs and budgetary revenues from taxes and VAT. These effects contribute to amplifying the economic multiplier and reducing the trade balance deficit. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPP) In the field of PPP, the measure adopted today stipulates the allocation of EUR 25 million, between 2026 and 2028, for the technical preparation of large projects. This money will ensure quality feasibility studies and legal assistance to attract private capital in infrastructure. At the same time, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on PPP Projects, headed by the Minister of Finance, will be established. This body will monitor the implementation of projects and ensure cooperation between ministries, the business community and local authorities to unlock large public investments. STATE AID MEASURES AND INVESTMENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY State capital financing structures in strategic sectors The ordinance sets measures to strategically support investments in several key directions: Manufacturing industry: Grant or tax credit awarded for a period of 7 years for investments in activity sectors that lead to the obtaining of products with a trade deficit in the manufacturing industry. Research and high technologies TECH-UP ROMANIA Scheme: Projects benefiting from cumulated grants with a 200% deduction of expenses with tangible and intangible assets, reducing the taxable base for profit tax, the minimum value of an investment project being RON 5 million and the maximum RON 50 million. The objective is for innovative companies to be able to scale frontier technologies faster, using both non-reimbursable support and tax incentives, in a framework compatible with European state aid rules. This scheme provides support so that innovative SMEs can quickly transform research results into marketable products and technologies, by combining non-reimbursable financing with tax incentives, so that investments in advanced technologies become more accessible and competitive at European level. Competitiveness and regional convergence: Support through guarantees and interest subsidies to reduce territorial disparities, with a minimum investment value of RON 7 million and a maximum of RON 50 million. Diaspora: Investments made by new companies with majority capital held by Romanians abroad, grant awarded through IDB S.A. The Ministry of Finance grants state aid based on schemes or in the form of a personalized ad-hoc state aid for the financing of investment projects that can take at least one of the following forms: grants, tax credit, state guarantees for loans contracted by the investor, interest subsidies for loans contracted by the investor, capital contribution or other support measures. These financing structures will be administered by the Ministry of Finance. Also, for the development of the defense industry, the Government adopts a dedicated support structure, which will be managed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism: Defense Industry: Investments in defense industry sectors, in order to strengthen industrial capacities and promote national defense capabilities. The measure targets projects with a minimum investment value of RON 10 million and aims to modernize and develop industrial infrastructure, increase the competitiveness of economic operators in the field, as well as stimulate the domestic production of equipment and technologies for use in the field of defense. In the segment of critical raw materials, future technologies, tourism and digital innovation, the following financing structures are adopted: Critical raw materials and Zero Net technologies: Investments ensuring the capitalization of mineral resources, in particular strategic and critical raw materials as defined in Regulation EU 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework to ensure secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) no. 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 and for investments in the production of finished products based on zero net technology and their specific main components, in accordance with Commission Communication C/2025/3602 Framework for State aid measures supporting the clean industry Pact, projects having a minimum investment value of RON 75 million. Tourism and digital innovation: Schemes dedicated to the development of Romanian tourism and the acceleration of digital transition in entrepreneurship. These programs will be administered by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. According to the Ministry of Finance, through the set of measures included in the Ordinance adopted on Tuesday, the Government aims to accelerate Romanias economy and adapt the economic model towards growth engines based on high technology. The Emergency Ordinance ensures the balance between stimulating domestic production and sustainable fiscal-budgetary consolidation, guaranteeing the strategic autonomy and economic security of the state in the medium and long term. *** President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night drew an estimated 32.6 million television viewers, Nielsen Media Research reported Thursday. The total marked a drop from the 36 million who watched his first address to Congress of his second term last year, the Hill reports, but slightly exceeded the audience for Joe Biden's final joint-session speech the year before. That address attracted about 32.2 million viewers. Trump's highest-rated such appearance remains his first State of the Union in 2017, which topped 47 million viewers, though even that trailed Barack Obama's 2009 address, which was watched by about 52 million people. The new figures cover only traditional TV viewing and do not include livestreams, social media clips, or delayed online viewing. As with most TV programming, State of the Union audiences have fallen in recent years as viewers turn to social media and streaming channels for big events, Axios points out. Fox News led all networks in viewership of the nearly two-hour speech, with over 9 million people on average watching between 9:15pm and 11pm ET. MS Now was next with 2.4 million viewers, then CNN with 2.2 million. Of the broadcast networks, ABC led with an audience of 5.1 million. NBC had 3.6 million viewers and CBS 3.3 million. A Los Angeles police officer is accused of cashing disability checks with one hand and pulling a parachute cord with the other. Prosecutors say 18-year LAPD veteran Christopher Brandon Carnahan, 43, collected full disability pay after reporting an on-duty elbow injury in May 2023, while allegedly working out and going skydiving, Fox News reports. Carnahan was placed on temporary totally disabled status, which lets injured LAPD officers receive their full base salary tax-free for up to a year and two-thirds afterwards if the injury persists, the Los Angeles Times reports. But the LA County District Attorney's Office says he was anything but sidelined, alleging he completed "many skydives" at Skydive Elsinore and exercised at a gym, including with dumbbells that required elbow movement. Federal immigration authorities arrested a Columbia University student early Thursday, triggering protests on campus and allegations that agents gained entry to the university-owned residence by posing as police officers searching for a missing child. Just hours after detaining student Ellie Aghayeva, though, the federal government abruptly reversed course, permitting her to walk free after an apparent intervention by President Trump, the AP reports. In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he expressed concerns about the arrest during an unrelated meeting with Trump, who then agreed to release her immediately. "I am safe and okay," Aghayeva wrote on Instagram, minutes after Mamdani's post, adding she was in "complete shock" from the experience. The head-spinning series of events marked the latest consequence of the unlikely relationship between the Republican president and Mamdani, a democratic socialist who Trump once threatened to have deported. On Thursday, while pitching Trump on a massive housing project, Mamdani also called on the president to drop cases against several other current and former students facing deportation for their roles in protests against Israel. (More on Mamdani's visit with Trump here.) Aghayeva, a senior from Azerbaijan studying neuroscience and politics, hasn't been publicly linked to any of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that roiled Columbia's campus. A self-described content creator, she has amassed a large social media following by sharing day-in-the-life videos and tips for navigating college as an immigrant. Early Thursday, five federal agents gained entry to her apartment at 6am by claiming they were searching for a missing child, according to a petition from her lawyers and a statement released by Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman. Aghayeva then dashed off a message to her more than 100,000 followers on Instagram: "DHS illegally arrested me. Please help." A photo accompanying the post appeared to show her legs in the back seat of a vehicle. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Aghayeva's student visa had been terminated in 2016 for failing to attend classes. Inquiries to Columbia about her visa status and how long she had been enrolled in the university were not returned. In their petition, attorneys for Aghayeva said she had entered the country on a visa in or around 2016. They declined to provide additional comment, including details about her immigration status. A spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, said Aghayeva had been placed in removal proceedings and "released while she waits for her hearing." She disputed allegations that agents had posed as New York City police officers but didn't respond to questions about whether they had claimed to be seeking a missing child. Pakistan considers itself in an "open war" with neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan's defense minister said Friday, in the worst escalation of violence since a Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October. The comments by Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif came after Afghanistan launched a cross-border retaliatory attack on Pakistan overnight that saw Islamabad hit back with airstrikes on Kabul, the AP reports. Asif said in a post on X that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Sam Altman is positioning ChatGPT creator OpenAI as a potential middleman in the fight over how the Pentagon can use advanced AI. In a Thursday memo to his staff viewed by the Wall Street Journal , Altman said OpenAI is in talks with the Defense Department about deploying its models in classified settings, but only under conditions that preserve strict limits on uses like domestic surveillance and autonomous offensive weapons. No agreement is in place, and negotiations could still collapse, a person familiar with the talks said. Altman cast the clash between rival AI firm Anthropic, which makes the Claude chatbot, and the Pentagon as less about specific applications and more about who ultimately calls the shots. While backing Anthropic's "red lines" in concept, Altman said a private company can't outrank elected government officials when making national security decisions. However, "for all the differences I have with Anthropic, I mostly trust them as a company, and I think they really do care about safety," Altman told CNBC on Friday, per the AP. "I've been happy that they've been supporting our warfighters." He then added: "I'm not sure where this is going to go." OpenAI is pitching technical guardrailssuch as keeping models in the cloud and sending staff to work alongside government usersas a way to enforce its restrictions and create a template other AI labs could potentially adopt, per the Journal. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei disclosed earlier that it had rejected Pentagon demands for "all lawful uses" of its technology, while a top Pentagon official countered that the agency won't let tech firms set Americans' civil liberties. Elon Musk's xAi had agreed to the DOD's "all lawful uses" mandate, but Axios notes that that firm's Grok chatbot "is not seen as a wholesale alternative to Claude." Meanwhile, not everyone is happy with the DOD's approach to the entire matter, including retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan. "Painting a bullseye on Anthropic garners spicy headlines, but everyone loses in the end," he wrote on social media. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High -2F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -27F. Winds light and variable. Some 33% of Singapores total household wealth is held by the richest 5% of resident households. Meanwhile, the top 1% of households hold about 14% of the total, Jeffrey Siow, Singapores Senior Minister of State for Finance, said in parliament on Wednesday when responding to questions about data from a Ministry of Finance paper on wealth and inequality released earlier this month. These levels of wealth concentration are broadly comparable to those in advanced economies with similar wealth Gini coefficients, he noted. Nonetheless, he cautioned that the data "should be interpreted with caution, due to sample size limitations and potential under-reporting in survey responses at both ends of the distribution," as quoted by AsiaOne. People walk across Jubilee Bridge at Marina Bay in Singapore, April 24, 2023. Photo by AFP The ministrys paper, released on Feb. 9, also found that the richest 20% of households in Singapore had an average net wealth of S$5.26 million (US$4.16 million) in 2023. By comparison, the combined average net wealth of the bottom four quintiles stood at S$3.51 million, about two-thirds of that held by the top group. The city-states wealth Gini coefficient is estimated at 0.55, higher than the income Gini coefficient of 0.379 after taxes and transfers based on household market income, according to The Business Times. The Gini coefficient gauges inequality on a scale from 0 to 1, with higher values reflecting wider gaps. Wealth inequality refers to how assets and liabilities, including property, mortgages, stocks and savings, are distributed, while income inequality measures how earnings are spread across the population. Wealth inequality tends to exceed income gaps in advanced economies because assets accumulate over a lifetime, Siow said. He later said in a social media post that Singapores wealth distribution is comparable to Japan, Australia and Finland, and markedly less concentrated than in the U.K. and the U.S. When asked on Wednesday whether the government was considering shifting the tax burden from work and income toward wealth, Siow said it "remains open to a broad approach" to taxation and that further wealth taxation could be considered in time. "But we have to do this carefully so that we know that the outcomes that we want to achieve can be done without too much social perturbation," he said, as quoted by The Straits Times. Police are seen in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2026. Ukrainian and U.S. delegations began talks in Geneva on Thursday as part of the efforts to end the years-long Ukraine-Russia conflict. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) GENEVA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian and U.S. delegations began talks in Geneva on Thursday as part of the efforts to end the years-long Ukraine-Russia conflict. Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, also Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, announced on the social media platform X that the meeting had begun with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Umerov said the delegations "will thoroughly work through the prosperity package: mechanisms for economic support and recovery of Ukraine, instruments for attracting investment, and frameworks for long-term cooperation." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X that he had spoken with U.S. President Trump and discussed issues to be addressed during Thursday's bilateral meeting, as well as preparations for the next round of trilateral negotiations among Ukraine, the United States and Russia, which is expected in early March. "We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level," Zelensky said. The Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. delegations previously held two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 4-5, followed by another round in Geneva on Feb. 17-18, yielding no agreement on key issues. Police are seen in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2026. Ukrainian and U.S. delegations began talks in Geneva on Thursday as part of the efforts to end the years-long Ukraine-Russia conflict. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Editor: WXY Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi (R) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff (C) and Jared Kushner, the U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2026. (Oman News Agency/Handout via Xinhua) MUSCAT, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian and U.S. delegations demonstrated "unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions" in the latest round of indirect nuclear talks on Thursday, according to an Omani Foreign Ministry statement on social media platform X. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi held a meeting on Thursday in Geneva with U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner within the framework of the ongoing indirect Iran-U.S. negotiations, said the statement. It added that the meeting reviewed the Iranian side's views and proposals, as well as the responses and inquiries of the U.S. negotiating team concerning the key elements of Iran's nuclear program and the guarantees required to achieve the desired agreement from all technical and oversight aspects. Albusaidi stated that the efforts are continuing intensively and in a constructive manner, amid the negotiators' openness to new and innovative ideas and solutions, while creating conditions conducive to progress and reaching a fair agreement supported by sustainable guarantees, said the statement. On Wednesday evening, Albusaidi met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Geneva as part of the ongoing round of talks. Editor: WXY HANGZHOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Peking Opera performer, clad in embroidered armor, raises her spear as gongs reverberate through a studio in Hangzhou in eastern China. There is no traditional stage or theater audience, only a green screen and a ring of specialized cameras capturing each posture. Later, through a virtual reality (VR) headset, the same scene unfolds again. But this time, the viewer appears to be standing inside the performance rather than watching from afar. The VR project was created by FXG, a VR production company based in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. "We're capturing reality and allowing it to be entered again," Nikk Mitchell, FXG's founder and CEO, said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "The goal is to take what's meaningful and valuable about the world and make it accessible in immersive form." For Mitchell, who was born in Kenya and raised in Canada, much value lies in traditional Chinese culture. His curiosity about martial arts films, tea rituals, and ancient history drove him to arrive in China for the first time at the age of 18. "I found infinite stories in China's traditional culture, which is a rich treasure trove to me," said Mitchell, who has lived in China for nearly two decades. While paper-cutting and Dunhuang murals offer rich creation possibilities, it was Peking Opera that left him the deepest impression. "I never had an interest in Peking Opera before I came to China. But I was fascinated by it when I experienced the sounds, movements and outfits personally," he said. However, he recognized that for those unfamiliar with it, the intricate art form may feel inaccessible. He sought to change the situation with the VR technology. In 2012, a VR short film, though technically rudimentary by today's standards, revealed to him a new way of storytelling: not observation, but presence. "Photos and videos may fail to capture its essence. I knew the technology would change the way we experience art," said Mitchell. In 2017, he co-founded FXG in Hangzhou, drawn by the city's deep cultural heritage and technological dynamism. His company focuses on the research and development of immersive technologies and content production. "It is really meaningful to capture stage plays with VR so that anyone in the world can experience them," he said. Mitchell believes that his work resonates with a broader trend in China and aligns with a national policy direction. "Younger audiences are rediscovering traditional arts with great cultural confidence, and institutions are exploring digital formats," he said. The Communist Party of China Central Committee's recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) stressed the need to further integrate culture and technology, to empower cultural development with digital and intelligent technologies, and to shift to an IT-based development model, while fostering new forms of cultural business. "I feel almost destined to be in this place," Mitchell said, while citing the recommendations. He even adopted a Chinese name, Li Wenlong, in which "Wen" signifies culture and knowledge, while he chose "long," meaning dragon, because he was born in the Year of the Dragon. "My dream is that one day, a kid in rural China or a student in Paris can put on a headset and stand in front of a master performer without any time or space limits," Mitchell said. "It's such an exciting vision of the future, where anything beautiful and meaningful that humanity has created can be preserved." Editor: Xiong Jian 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! Locally reported news and sports Stay Current with What's Happening Get the most of NNY360, register today! By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and calls on both sides to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing after clashes broke out along Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Thursday. Editor: Xiong Jian Andriy Konechenkov, Chair of the UWEA Board The UWEA is pleased to announce the release of its annual Market Overview Ukrainian Wind Power Sector 2025 - a comprehensive analytical report that not only summarizes the key developments of the industry over the past year, but also captures the deeper structural transformation of Ukraines entire energy sector under the conditions of a full-scale war. This years Overview was prepared in cooperation with UWEA member law firms Sayenko Kharenko and CMS. A distinctive feature of the Overview is the inclusion of expert columns from representatives of key public institutions directly shaping Ukraines energy policy. In particular, the report features a contribution from Artem Nekrasov, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, focusing on the development of distributed generation. The transformation of state support mechanisms is addressed in a column by Vladyslav Novikov, Acting CEO of the SE Guaranteed Buyer, who provides a detailed analysis of support auctions and outlines the next steps for improving the model. In addition, Ruslan Slobodyan, Member of the NEURC, contributes an expert perspective on the development of Ukraines national system of Guarantees of Origin. The Overview is further enriched by contributions from UWEA member companies, including DTEK Renewables, Elementum Energy, Friendly Wind Technology LLC, ETG.UA, Eco Optima, Altelaw & Sempra, and LCF, whose practical experience provides real-world insights into project development, investment decisions, and evolving business models. The scientific dimension of the publication is provided by the Institute of General Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, an UWEA partner, which contributed exclusive research on integrating wind power plants into hybrid energy systems with energy storage. Additional analytical depth was provided by Exploration & Production Consulting (EXPRO), offering detailed insights into market trends, statistics, and cross-border electricity flows. This integrated approach, combining public sector vision, private sector expertise, and scientific research, positions the Overview as a platform for shaping a shared vision of Ukraines energy future. A key highlight of this years publication is the announcement of Energy Storage Day 2026, to be held on April 27, 2026, in Kyiv - a dedicated industry conference focused on energy storage technologies, renewables, and the development of a decentralized energy system in Ukraine. Key analytical insights from the Overview include: The share of renewables in Ukraines electricity generation mix remained stable at 10.7% in 2025, despite a 1.8% decline in total generation. At the same time, Ukraine significantly strengthened its external energy position: electricity exports increased nearly sixfold to 2.1 TWh, while imports declined by 24%. One of the defining trends of the year was the rapid growth of energy storage systems (ESS). According to UWEA data, Ukraines total installed storage capacity in Ukraine has now surpassed 500 MW, marking the emergence of a fundamentally new, more flexible energy system architecture. The wind sector returned to an active development phase. In 2025, 324.4 MW of new wind capacity was installed -exceeding the total additions made during the entire previous period of the full-scale war. Total installed wind capacity has reached 2.2 GW (including 1.3 GW located in temporarily occupied territories), indicating that the sector has achieved critical mass with preserved supply chains, local contractors, engineering and service teams, and institutional experience in delivering large-scale projects, stated in the foreword by the Chairman of the UWEA Board. Police and council partners have stepped up efforts to tackle fly-tipping across Devon, as concerns continue to grow in Exeter about the impact of illegal dumping on green spaces and rural routes. Earlier this month, officers from Devon & Cornwall Polices Rural Affairs team staged a mock fly-tip in Dartmouth, working alongside South Hams District Council and environmental partnership Clean Devon. The event saw a mattress, sofa and drawers deliberately placed on an embankment to mirror the type of waste frequently dumped illegally in towns and countryside across the county. While the initiative took place in South Devon, its message resonates strongly in Exeter, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns about fly-tipping in areas such as Exwick, Stoke Woods and along rural lanes on the citys outskirts. READ NEXT: Guildhall Shopping Centre marks 50 years in Exeter with exhibition and celebrations In 2024, almost 5,000 incidents of fly-tipping were reported to district councils across Devon an 11 per cent increase on the previous year. The crime is estimated to cost the UK around 1 billion annually and is often linked to organised criminal activity. Rural Affairs Officer PC Clarke Orchard said fly-tipping can have huge impacts on the environment, affecting waterways, wildlife and the wider community. He added that farmers frequently experience emotional and financial strain when waste is dumped on their land, disrupting livestock, harvests and daily operations. The staged fly-tip is an innovative way to demonstrate what illegal waste dumping looks like and allows us to have constructive conversations with members of the local community about the importance of reporting fly-tipping, he said. Although Exeter is a largely urban authority, it is surrounded by farmland and woodland, leaving both city and rural areas vulnerable. In November 2025, Exeter MP Steve Race warned in Parliament about a surge in fly-tipping in Stoke Woods, describing it as a growing criminal threat to one of the citys most cherished green spaces. Local residents have reported dumped building materials, household furniture and black bin bags left along narrow lanes and woodland paths, creating hazards for walkers, cyclists and wildlife. Under current rules, people found guilty of fly-tipping can face significant fines in magistrates courts, unlimited fines in higher courts, community orders or prison sentences of up to five years. Authorities are keen to stress that responsibility does not end once rubbish leaves a household. Clean Devons Principal Waste Manager, Annette Dentith, warned that if waste is traced back to an individual and found to have been fly-tipped, that person can still be held liable. Her advice includes avoiding cash-in-hand waste collectors or unverified social media adverts, checking that anyone removing rubbish is a registered waste carrier via the GOV.UK public register, and requesting a receipt that includes contact details and vehicle registration. South Hams District Council says incidents should be reported to the relevant local authority, while large-scale waste crime should be referred to the Environment Agency. If waste is blocking a road or a crime is in progress, it becomes a police matter and 999 should be called. In Exeter, responsibility for removal varies depending on land ownership, with highways and public land managed by local authorities and private landowners required to clear waste from their own property. As enforcement agencies increase community engagement and intelligence-sharing, officials say public reporting remains one of the most effective tools in tackling the problem. With fly-tipping incidents continuing to rise across Devon, police and council leaders are urging Exeter residents to remain vigilant - and to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly - in a collective effort to protect the citys streets, woodlands and waterways. A Paignton holiday park director has been appointed to one of the UK tourism sectors most senior roles. Claire Flower, director of Beverley Holidays, has been elected national chair of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA). She was chosen by fellow members of the association, which represents around 3,000 holiday and residential park businesses across Britain. In her new role, Claire will help spearhead an industry that generates 12.2 billion in visitor spending each year and supports more than 226,700 full-time jobs. She will also take on responsibilities including talks with national and regional governments on matters affecting the parks industry. READ NEXT: 6,000 people across Devon to receive employment support Claire previously served as HARPAs vice chair for the past two years and has held senior posts within a number of the associations executive committees. She is also an active member of HARPAs Devon branch and a director of the English Riviera BID Company, where she acts as media spokesperson. Beverley Holidays was established by Claires family, the Jeavons, more than 65 years ago on a small pocket of farmland overlooking the sea. Through continued investment, it has grown into one of Devons most highly acclaimed holiday parks, earning multiple awards for high standards and environmental responsibility. Claire has also received Visit Devons annual award for Outstanding Contribution to Devon Tourism in recognition of her community engagement. The park recently completed a 2 million-plus investment programme, including high-end holiday caravans with private hot tubs and upgrades to the outdoor pool and restaurant facilities. Accommodation at Beverley Holidays includes holiday homes to hire and own, pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents, as well as newly introduced accessible caravans. Claire said she is especially excited to be taking on the national chair role at what she described as a pivotal point in the associations 75-year history. In January, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association rebranded as HARPA. We now represent even more positively the modern and dynamic park businesses which our members operate, and helping them realise their ambitions for the future, she said. HARPA will be championing the interests of our members with even greater vigour, further reinforcing the influence our association has among decision-makers. We will also be highlighting more strongly the breadth and diversity of todays park businesses, and the many benefits they bring to local economies and communities. My family has been actively involved with our association for many decades, and I feel proud and privileged to be able to play a part in its continuing evolution. A small but distinctive structure overlooking Tavistock is the latest focus in a new West Devon heritage series celebrating the areas historic landmarks. Known locally as The Pimple, the three-sided folly sits on a grassy mound on Whitchurch Down, offering wide views across Dartmoor and into neighbouring Cornwall. READ NEXT: WATCH: Drift Record Shop in Totnes says goodbye after 20 years in South Devon Despite its modest size, the building has strong architectural links and an unusual backstory. The structure was designed by renowned British architect Edwin Lutyens, whose work includes Castle Drogo and The Cenotaph. At Whitchurch Down, Lutyens created a triangular gateway building to guard the entrance to an underground reservoir that once supplied homes along Down Road. Now Grade II listed, the folly is constructed from local Hurdwick stone, a distinctive green volcanic stone quarried just north of Tavistock and widely used in the towns historic buildings. Its roof is made from Delabole slate and finished with a decorative finial, the feature that earned it the nickname The Pimple. The building stands on a circular base which doubles as seating, blending function with design. While the reservoir beneath has long since fallen out of use, the structure itself remains a well-known stopping point for walkers and families exploring Whitchurch Down. West Devon Borough Council says the spotlight aims to highlight heritage beyond the areas better-known landmarks. The council said the feature shows Lutyens skill at small scale too, shaping a small structure into something that lifts a public place. Residents are being invited to share photographs, memories or sketches connected to Whitchurch Down as part of the ongoing #WestDevonHeritage campaign. Comedian, broadcaster and Exeter resident, Josh Widdicombe, has spoken candidly about how running transformed his life after giving up alcohol, as he appears on the cover of Runner's World UK. Growing up in Exeter and attending Exeter College, Josh is featured on the April cover of the magazine, reflecting on how the sport has become integral to his physical and mental wellbeing. The full interview appears in the April issue, published on 4 March. Best known for his stand-up career and appearances on panel shows, Josh said running only truly stuck after he stopped drinking. READ NEXT: Exeter on-street parking charges rise as new tariffs come into force While he had run on and off in the past (including during lockdown) he said the turning point came when he gave up alcohol and began to enjoy the experience in a way he never had before. I dont think many people start running and instantly love it, he told Runners World UK. Then there was a total change in my life when I stopped drinking and I realised I was enjoying running to the point where Im disappointed when I finish my runs now. The 42-year-old described running as replacing some of what he previously got from nights out. Its a big rave, he said. A big, sad, middle-aged rave. And with no hangover. For Josh, who has previously spoken about experiencing anxiety, running has also become part of what he calls his toolkit for managing his mental health. He compared its effects to meditation, saying it helps to calm him and put work pressures into perspective. It makes everything easier, he said. It makes your family life easier. It makes your work life easier. He added that running also forces him to disconnect from his phone, something he described as a constant battle, and can unexpectedly help with problem-solving simply by creating space away from screens. The Exeter-born comedian said the mental benefits have been even more significant than the physical ones, describing running as part of a broader effort to build healthier habits. Its a virtuous circle, he said. All part of one long, boring circle just trying to get 10 more years out of my life. Josh Widdicombe, who grew up in Exeter, attended Exeter College and was even an honorary graduate at the University of Exeter in 2024, continues to maintain a national broadcasting and comedy career Supporters across Devon are preparing to join a national movement this March as Christian Aid launches its 2026 "Changemakers Conference," marking the lead-up to the charitys historic fundraising week. While the main event will be held at St Johns Church in Waterloo, London, on Saturday, March 14, local volunteers are ensuring they don't miss out. A dedicated watch party will be hosted at Christ Church in Braunton (EX33 2EA), allowing Devon residents to participate in the conference via a live stream. This years appeal turns its spotlight toward communities in Kenya. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts of how the charitys partners are working on the ground to combat poverty and the escalating effects of the climate crisis. Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid, is set to headline the event, alongside staff members who will detail how the funds raised in 2025 have already impacted vulnerable communities globally.The conference is designed to be more than just a retrospective; it serves as a springboard for the upcoming Christian Aid Week, which remains the UKs longest-running fundraising week. David Hart, the charity's Church Engagement and Fundraising Officer for the region, says the event is a vital boost for both long-term volunteers and newcomers. "The conference is a chance to encourage and inspire local people and churches who so faithfully support Christian Aids work," Mr. Hart said. "Its also a great opportunity for newer supporters to find out a bit more about how they can give, act, and pray during the year." How to join The Braunton watch party will run from 10.30am to 2pm. The event is open to anyone interested in fundraising, campaigning for climate justice, or learning more about global debt issues. For those unable to make it to Braunton or London, the charity is also offering a digital option for supporters to stream the conference from their own homes. Key Event Details: JSC Ukrnafta is strengthening its strategic partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) by starting cooperation with the banks Corporate Climate Governance Fund (CCGF), the company said in a press release on Friday. "The project aims to strengthen sustainable corporate governance practices, enhance long-term resilience and operational transparency of the company," the document states. Ukrnafta said the company is laying the groundwork for long-term transformation of its business model in line with European climate policies and global energy trends, while developing a systematic approach to managing climate risks and opportunities. "This will promote transparency in disclosure in accordance with European requirements, strengthen the companys competitiveness and reinforce its position as a modern energy company integrated into global capital markets and the future low-carbon energy sector," the company emphasized. Ukrnafta will conduct its first double materiality assessment of climate risks a key element of modern nonfinancial reporting standards that combines assessment of financial risks to the company and climate impact. This involves simultaneously assessing the impact of climate change on the company (external impact) and the impact of company operations on climate (internal impact). Assessment results will form the basis for developing a climate strategy, which is critically important in the context of the European Green Deal and global energy transition trends, ensuring growth in company value and its investment attractiveness in the long term. In parallel, Ukrnafta will work toward full compliance with ESRS/CSRD nonfinancial disclosure standards and other EU regulations in the context of harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with European law. The first shipment of Ukrainian food products, totaling 2,618 tonnes, has arrived at the port of Port of Mombasa under the humanitarian initiative of the President of Ukraine, Grain from Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported on its website. According to the ministry, the total volume of this consignment exceeds 3,600 tonnes. The cargo was delivered in coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), which will ensure its distribution among vulnerable populations, in particular refugees in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps. The project was implemented with financial support from Slovenia and Austria. The official handover ceremony was attended by Ukraines Ambassador to Kenya Yuriy Tokar, Slovenias Ambassador Kristina Radej, and representatives of the WFP. The humanitarian Food from Ukraine (Grain from Ukraine) program was launched by the President of Ukraine in November 2022 to supply food to the poorest countries in Africa and Asia. As of early 2026, more than 30 countries and international organizations have joined the initiative, collectively raising over $220 million to purchase Ukrainian agricultural products. Shipments are dispatched through the ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube cluster in coordination with the WFP. Since the initiative began, more than 30 vessels have delivered around 250,000 tonnes of wheat, corn, and oil to countries on the brink of famine, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Nigeria. In 20252026, the programs geography was expanded to include countries in Latin America. Nikki Ogunnaike, the editor in chief of Marie Claire magazine, did not grow up the scion of an Anna Wintour or a Marc Jacobs. But, she said, my mom and dad are both very stylish people. They got dressed up to go to church every week in her hometown Springfield, Va. Her mother managed a Staples; her father, a CVS. Presentation is important to them, she said. Since landing her first internship with Glamour magazine in college, Ms. Ogunnaike, 40, has held editorial roles there and at Elle magazine and GQ. She has been in the top post at Marie Claire since 2023. She recently spent a Saturday with The New York Times as she prepared for Milan Fashion Week. Chinese social media was recently outraged by the case of Xiaohui, a 10-year-old boy from Zhengzhou in Henan province, northern China, who was left with no choice but to sue his own father in order to get his savings back. The father had opened a bank account for Xiaohui and had deposited the boys so-called red envelope money over the years, but he took it all out one day and spent it on his wedding, without Xiaohuis consent. After his parents divorced two years ago, Xiaohui continued to live with his father, who routinely deposited his Lunar New Year gifts, commonly known as red envelope money, and other savings into his bank account. However, at one point, the father met another woman and decided to remarry, at which point Xiaohui was sent to live with his mother. After Xiaohuis father remarried, the 10-year-olds birthmother somehow found out that her ex had withdrawn all of their sons savings and used them to cover wedding expenses. By that time, Xiaohui had saved over 80,000 yuan ($11,700), a rather significant amount for a boy his age. When Xiaohui confronted his father and asked for his savings, he was told that the money had come mostly from his family and friends and that he intended to return it only when Xiaohui reached adulthood. After several attempts to reason with his father, Xiaohui took his father to court. Despite the fathers attempts to convince the judges that he was within his rights to manage Xiaohuis savings as he saw fit and that the entire lawsuit had been instigated by the boys mother, the Court ruled that the gift money legally belonged to Xiaohui as his personal property, and that his fatherhad infringed on it, despite being the boys legal guardian. In its ruling, the Court ordered Xiaohuis father to return all the boys savings, including the interest, which amounted to 82,750 yuan ($12,060). Plus Communications handles Polish billionaire Zygmunt Solorz, who is battling his three children for control of two family foundations that own Cyfrowy Polsat satellite TV/telecommunications platform. A Liechtenstein court in December rejected Zolorzs bid to hold on to his media empire. Plus Communications is to help devise and implement an integrated strategy that advances Solorzs objectives across legal, policy and public arenas, according to its contract that was amended on Feb. 4. The Omnicom unit will coordinate with legal teams and other advisors, including those retained by Solorz, ensuring that activities across jurisdictions are aligned and mutually reinforcing, and adapting tactics as the dispute progress. It pitches its team as having deep experience in complex, cross-border matters where reputational, policy and litigationconsiderations intersect. The firm receives a $150K monthly retainer for a minimum six-month term. Partner Terry Nelson, who was national political director for president George W. Bush, spearheads the effort (L-R) Federico Isuani, Jesus Moradillo LLYC names Federico Isuani AI strategy general director in the Americas, with Jesus Moradillo taking on the same role in Europe. Isuani launched BESO (which was subsequently integrated into LLYC) and Moradillo was founding partner and CEO at Apache, also now part of LLYC. Both have led digital transformation, growth, performance and the creation of new value propositions for large organizations. From their respective regions, Moradillo and Isuani will drive the evolution of market-ready services incorporating AI, supporting their adoption in different markets, in coordination with the areas of strategy, creativity, technology, data, and corporate affairs. "These roles are born with a clearly strategic and business focus. They will be centered on turning advanced AI capabilities into concrete solutions, designed to generate real impact in areas such as marketing, reputation, visibility, efficiency, and decision-making," said LLYC parther and global CEO or marketing solutions Adolfo Corujo. Corry Jacobs DGA Group brings on Corry Jacobs as a partner. Jacobs comes to DGA from GSK, where she headed up the companys Corporate Affairs for Business Strategy unit, where she led the corporate communications, government affairs, and policy teams focused on intellectual property and trade, as well as global health and multilateral organizations. She was head of vaccines global government affairs, policy and strategy at GSK, and has also held senior positions at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Based in London, Jacobs will contribute to DGAs work encompassing healthcare, commercial strategy and public policy. Corrys deep understanding of the global health and trade landscape and her experience advising senior decision-makers across institutions and markets will further enhance DGAs ability to help clients navigate complex policy environments, said DGA Group partner Julie Cooper. Bridget McAuliffe MAD Global Strategy Group brings on Bridget McAuliffe as SVP in its Ohio office. Most recently, McAuliffe advised clients on state public policy, regulatory matters and government relations strategy in the Columbus, OH office of legal firm Barnes & Thornburg. She brings extensive experience in lobbying and strategic advocacy at the state and federal levels, with particular expertise in healthcare policy and cross-industry government relations. Bridget is a proven leader who understands how to move policy, and were thrilled to welcome her to the MAD Global team, said Mike DuHaime, Founder and CEO of MAD Global Strategy. Hunterdon County, New Jersey, is looking for an agency that can improve the visibility of the countys tourism brand by providing digital as well as traditional marketing and public relations services. A MAN who was assisted by a Romanian language interpreter has said he did not understand court proceedings when he pleaded guilty to making false statements to receive pandemic unemployment payments (PUP). On February 18 Dumitru Beschea, The Oak, Granary Court, Edenderry appeared before Tullamore District Court by video link having previously been remanded in custody. At that sitting of the court defence counsel Paul Noctor, BL, entered a plea of guilty to six summonses from the Minister for Social Protection which alleged he made a number of false statements to receive a benefit or allowance. Mr Noctor said that while Mr Beschea was pleading guilty, he disputed the value of the payments the State said he had received. After details of the alleged offences and the amount of money involved, 7,100, were outlined to the court, Judge Andrew Cody adjourned finalisation of the matter for a week to February 25 so the accused could be brought to court in person but warned Mr Beschea that he was facing a substantial prison sentence. READ NEXT: Offaly company plays role in Munster county's GAA gate receipts topping 1 million On February 25 the man was present and on that occasion was represented by his solicitor, Brian Duffy, who had previously instructed Mr Noctor on the matter. Mr Duffy told Judge Cody the accused was now saying that he had not pleaded guilty a week earlier. Sandra Mahon, Offaly State Solicitor, told the court there had been a plea and Judge Cody pointed out that Mr Beschea had the assistance of his counsel and an interpreter. Mr Duffy said he had repeated the consequences of a change of plea four times to his client and explained to him that following his plea of guilty the next step was to speak to him about mitigation in advance of sentence. The judge said he would hear the accused if he wanted to set aside his plea. After being sworn in and assisted by an interpreter, Mr Beschea was told by his solicitor that he would be concerned if the man would not accept he had received PUP payments, given that there were bank accounts showing them. Mr Beschea told the court that the previous week he thought he was being accused of a much smaller amount in between two and four payments. Initially when I was brought here I had no idea of what I was being accused of, said the man. Ms Mahon handed a letter into the court which she said was available to the defence a week earlier and Judge Cody said that information was also given to a different solicitor who was representing Mr Beschea last year. Ms Mahon put it to Mr Beschea that separate from the matter of the PUP, he had made payments in relation to Job Seekers benefit which he had not been entitled to and perhaps he was confusing the Job Seekers and Covid payments. Mr Beschea said he had been unemployed and now he realised the difference between the two payments. He accepted he had been working at Rosderra Meats from June 25, 2018 to January 15, 2023. Ms Mahon said he made a claim for the Covid PUP payment on June 8, 2020. Replying to a question from the judge, Mr Beschea said he accepted receiving payments but disputed the amount of money he was paid. Judge Cody let the matter stand for a period and when it was recalled Mr Duffy said he would be seeking copies of his client's bank statements. Judge Cody remanded Mr Beschea in custody to March 13 next for production of the bank statements. At the appearance by video link on February 18 Mr Beschea was told by the judge that PUP payments which had been received while he was working full-time in Rosderra had been outstanding for six years. Judge Cody also said the man had not turned up in court on four occasions in four years and several bench warrants were issued. The court further heard that a recent warrant was executed while he was in receipt of Job Seekers and a garda saw him wearing a high vis vest and was told by Mr Beschea's boss, who acted as a translator, that he was working for him. The accused told the court it was his first day and it was just to see if he was suitable for the job or not. The man also said he would pay money back weekly or monthly in relation to the PUP payments. Ms Mahon said the maximum penalties which the court could apply were a fine of 2,500 and six months in prison for each of the six offences. She detailed that the man applied online for PUP in June 2020, stating his last day of work was May 29, 2020 and he received his first payment on June 5. That initial claim stopped on August 8, 2020 and he claimed for a second time using a different email address. READ NEXT: Proposed new Offaly hospital gets five-year planning consent extension He was then paid PUP from August 14 to October 29, 2020 and that payment was stopped when a review was carried out by a social welfare inspector on all employees in Rosderra Irish Meats and it transpired Mr Beschea was in full-time employment. The man made a third application on November 10 using different bank details and that claim was stopped. He then made a claim on November 18, and four more between December 1, 2020 and March 18, 2021 but none of those were successful Ms Mahon said that in total he made eight claims and payments were made for three. Of the 7,100 he received, 6,454.40 was outstanding. The State Solicitor added that Mr Beschea had no previous convictions and said the Department of Social Protection was unaware of the man working since 2021. Mr Beschea told the court he had worked since 2021 in the Rosderra meat factory. Judge Cody said he would allow the man's solicitor to take further instructions from him but added: Mr Beschea is only what can be described as an inveterate fraudster. The judge said the man clearly knew he was not entitled to the benefits and he intended to impose a prison sentence on February 25. COOLDERRY Drama Group are back on stage in early March with their hilarious production of Jimmy Kearys popular comedy The Maiden Aunt. The group will be performing for three nights in Coolderry Hall on Thursday March 5th and Friday March 6th at 8pm, and also on Saturday March 7th at 8.30pm (after Mass). The Maiden Aunt is one of Jimmy Kearys best-known plays - a lively, character driven comedy that blends heart, mischief and a touch of mayhem in true Jimmy Keary fashion. Jimmy Keary is one of Irelands most contemporary playwrights, known for his warm, witty comedies that celebrate rural life, colourful characters and the gentle chaos of community. A native of Westmeath, he has written numerous stage plays that have become firm favorites with amateur drama groups across the country. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Coolderry Drama Group and all involved are immensely proud of this achievement. The genesis of the group grew from the vision and foresight of Lucy Carey, Fr Kieran Blake and Billy Nevin. They saw potential for theatre in the parish to enrich the lives of participants and numerous audiences through the years. Coolderry Drama Group are delighted that one of their own has taken on the role of director this year. Sue Cleary has stepped to the other side of the stage for the first time, embracing the challenge with enthusiasm and energy. The Coolderry Drama Group wishes Sue every success in her directorial debut! READ NEXT: Drama group in Offaly to stage award winning play As with all productions, the show would not go on without the great help behind the scenes. Coolderry Drama Group are lucky to have a dedicated crew behind them. They look forward to welcoming you all to Coolderry Hall on March 5th, 6th and 7th to witness some hilarious antics of their colourful cast. There is no pre booking and it is pay at the door. Adults 10 and children 5. The cast of The Maiden Aunt is as follows; Gertie OGrady - Sandra Maloney Mary Murphy - Jamie McCormack Dan Murphy - Gilbert Bryan John Paul Murphy - Tommy Teehan Jarlath McKenna - Jason OConnor Francie Kilhooley - Tom Kelly Caroline Quinn - Andrea Carroll Paula Moore - Ann-Marie OMeara READ NEXT: Night of song and story planned at major Offaly book launch Roscrea is rejoicing since news the town will receive a new 23-million public nursing home that will carry the name Dean Maxwell into the future. Chairman and founder of the Roscrea Community Development Council, John Lupton, welcomed the announcement and told the Tribune for many years it was feared Roscrea might lose a facility at the heart of the community. RCDC lead the charge for many years to keep the issue of Roscrea's community nursing home at the front of the agenda for public representatives. "On behalf of Roscrea Community Development Council I welcome the announce by Government of capital funding for the building of a new 50-bed Dean Maxwell Nursing Home in Roscrea - I thank all that have brought this announcement about," Mr Lupton said. "In particular I thank Deputy Michael Lowry who has been in constant contact with RCDC over the past number of years with respect to the Dean Maxwell Home. READ NEXT: 'The battle to save Roscreas Dean Maxwell Home has been won' "He has arranged also for us to attend meetings with the HSE and arranged a meeting in the Dail chaired by the Taoiseach. "There is however a tinge of sadness and it is that our friend and colleague Steve Crofton, who was so passionately committed to the future of the Dean Maxwell Home is not with us to hear it, but we certainly feel his spirit with us now. "The people of Roscrea, without exception, will rejoice at this announcement as it was feared over past years that the Dean Maxwell Home and the unique facilities which it offered the community over the past 50 years might come to an end. READ NEXT: Dean Maxwell families welcome new 50-bed Roscrea Nursing Home "It was feared that many Roscrea people as a result would have to live out their twilight years away from their place of belonging and from their community and friends. "The Dean Maxwell Home is truly a 'home' for many people from Roscrea and District and for the community as a whole. To have lost it would have been to lose the heart of the community in Roscrea - but to retain and develop it is an affirmation of the very essence of community," Mr Lupton said. PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR, Dnipropetrovsk region) has announced the forced cessation of production at its subsidiary Foundry and Mechanical Plant LLC (LMZ). According to a press release issued Friday, the decision to halt LMZs production activities, the facility is an auxiliary unit supporting AMKRs core production, will take effect three months from the date of the announcement. AMKR said the decision is driven by current economic and market conditions in which the company operates in Ukraine amid the full-scale war. The key reason for this step is the high cost of electricity in Ukraine. Ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure have led to electricity shortages and the need to import electricity at even higher prices, resulting in a significant increase in production costs and a decline in output. Due to electricity shortages in January 2026 compared with November 2025, pig iron production fell by 30%, steel production by 40%, and rolled products output by up to 60%. "Compared with 2024, when we appealed to the government of Ukraine to urgently develop measures to curb electricity price growth and support mining and metallurgical producers, the electricity price has risen from $120 per MWh (in Q2 2024, supply excluding VAT) to $230 in February 2026, reaching up to $370 per MWh during peak hours," the press release states. An additional negative factor was the decision of the European Commission to introduce CBAM (the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) as of January 1, 2026, without any exemptions or transition period for Ukrainian producers. This led to the loss of the European market for a significant portion of Ukrainian metallurgical producers and critically affected their production volumes and the utilization of certain units and capacities. "It is worth noting that AMKR made significant efforts to reorient sales to the EU market after the start of the full-scale war. In fact, this market was built from scratch under extremely difficult conditions. However, the implementation of CBAM without taking into account the realities of the war in Ukraine undermined these efforts. The loss of the European market worsened the situation with securing sufficient domestic orders to ensure LMZs operation in the near future," the press release explains. The company said that the closure of LMZ will result in 1,700 job cuts, and together with the shutdown of the blooming mill and related production processes, total job reductions will exceed 2,400. At the same time, LMZ employees will receive job offers within AMKR with the opportunity for retraining at the employers expense. All employment benefits at AMKR will be preserved for those who accept the offers stable wages, a social benefits package, and all other advantages. All other procedures and guarantees provided for under current Ukrainian legislation will also be applied, the press release concludes. Foundry and Mechanical Plant LLC (LMZ) is one of the largest machine-building enterprises in Ukraine. The facility is a powerful machine-building and repair-mechanical complex that includes a number of engineering chains and such production sectors as foundry, forging and pressing, heat treatment, welding and surfacing, machining, metalworking and assembly, production of rubber and technical goods, mechanical repairs, and others. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specializes in long products, in particular rebar and wire rod. The enterprise has a full production cycle, with capacities designed for annual output of more than 6 million tonnes of steel, more than 5 million tonnes of rolled products, and more than 5.5 million tonnes of pig iron. Saudi Arabia has planned to designate Syria as the primary transit country for the East-to-Mediterranean Data Corridor (EMC), a major fiber-optic cable project linking the Kingdom to Greece and Europe. This marks a significant shift from the original route, which was planned to pass through Israel. The EMC project was announced in 2022 as a partnership involving Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Greece's Public Power Corporation (PPC), Greek telecommunications firms, and satellite applications companies. Originally, the cable route was designed to pass through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel before reaching Greece. However, normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel stalled following the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, prompting Riyadh to reconsider the project's geopolitical alignment. STC has since announced plans to invest approximately $800 million in Syria's telecommunications infrastructure, including the construction of a fiber-optic network exceeding 4,500 kilometers. Saudi and Greek banks have also signed agreements to finance 60 percent of the overall project. This shift strengthens Damascus's role in regional energy and data connectivity and could place Greek-Israeli strategic cooperation under new pressure amid changing Eastern Mediterranean alliances. Saudi Arabia is moving decisively to enter the Syrian market and position itself as a primary partner in rebuilding the country across political, economic, and technological sectors. Riyadh, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is focused on ensuring that Saudi Arabia becomes Syria's largest supporter, helping the war-torn nation recover after years of devastating conflict that destroyed much of its infrastructure and economy. Saudi-Syrian relations are not new. Ties between Riyadh and Damascus span decades and, according to regional experts, have demonstrated resilience even during periods of political tension. Today, the Crown Prince is working to ensure Saudi Arabia secures the largest share in Syria's reconstruction while also leveraging Syria's critical geopolitical position as a regional transit hub. Regional Sources Confirm Strategic Route Change According to regional sources cited by Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia is actively seeking to reroute the fiber-optic cable through Syrian territory instead of Israel. Officials stated that Riyadh's insistence on connecting with Athens via Damascus reflects its broader strategy to elevate Syria's regional position and potentially isolate Israel from emerging connectivity networks. A Western official familiar with Saudi investment strategy stated that "Damascus lies at the heart of Saudi Arabia's regional connectivity vision," adding that Riyadh wants major infrastructure-- including roads, railways, and data cables-- to pass through Syrian territory. Industry experts note that telecommunications companies worldwide are actively seeking alternative land routes between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, and Syria could become a viable option if political and regulatory stability improves. Expanding Beyond Data: Electricity Interconnection Plans Saudi Arabia is also considering an electricity interconnection project linking the Gulf to Europe through Syria using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology. Such a project would further solidify Syria's role as a strategic energy and data transit hub connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These initiatives reflect Saudi Arabia's broader effort to use its financial resources to strengthen regional allies and expand its influence amid competition with other regional powers. Greece's Strategic Role and Eastern Mediterranean Competition Greece is positioning itself as a major gateway for data flows between Europe and the Middle East, particularly as Gulf countries expand investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com . To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here Yes, in our world, MAGA (Make America Great Again) and Donald Trump are distinctly one and the same. They fused so long ago that no one ever really thinks much about that "again" anymore. And yet, it might be Donald Trump's greatest confession (as well as an explanation for how he came to power). As a phrase, MAGA was first put into American politics by Ronald Reagan in his successful 1980 run for president. Trump first picked it up in -- yes, again! -- 2011 and, of course, he was still using it in the 2024 election campaign. So, if he isn't the MAGA man, who is? But the truth is that, in terms of our all-American reality these days, he certainly picked the wrong acronym. After all, almost a decade after he first won the presidency in November 2016, and now in his second term in the White House, that "again" is the central reality of all our lives, although he really should be known as the MALA man (for Make America Less Again). In fact, it seems strange indeed to me that no one has ever suggested that before. After all, as TomDispatch regular Alfred McCoy, author most recently of the must-read history book Cold War on Five Continents, makes clear today, by now Donald Trump and decline have (or at least should have) become literal synonyms in his increasingly nightmarish second term (yes, again!) in the Oval Office. In almost every imaginable way, he now seems intent on taking this country down with him and, in his "drill, baby, drill" second presidency, he seems no less intent on trying to take the planet down with him as well. And with that in mind, let McCoy take you to Samarra and consider our potentially all too grim fate. Tom America's Date With Destiny An Appointment in Samarra By Alfred McCoy Some tales can cross cultures, continents, and even centuries to arrive in our own era with their timeless truths pretty much intact. That's particularly so for the immortal story of "an appointment in Samarra." It first appeared in the fifth century in the Babylonian Talmud, that ancient repository of Jewish rabbinical wisdom. Then it crossed over into Islamic literature for reiterations in a thirteenth-century Persian version and a fifteenth-century Egyptian text, before popping up on the London stage in Act III of William Somerset Maugham's 1933 play Sheppy. In Maugham's retelling, the tale is rich in irony. Once long ago, he wrote, there was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to shop in the market. But the servant soon returned home in a panic and told his master about a woman in the crowd there who stared at him angrily. "It was Death that jostled me," the servant announced, pleading with his master for a horse to flee to the town of Samarra. There, said the servant, "Death will not find me." Riding hard and spurring the horse's flanks, the servant raced across the desert and made it to Samarra by nightfall. That evening, the master himself went to the market and spotted the woman, demanding to know why she had threatened his servant. "That was not a threatening gesture," said Death. "It was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra." More than anything else, that ancient tale testifies to the eternal human folly of trying to outrun fate. And if that's true for individuals, it's doubly true for one of their most ancient collective creations, the phenomenon we call "empire." Ever since Sargon the Great of Assyria founded history's first trans-regional empire in 2300 BCE, the world has witnessed a succession of some 200 empires, of which 70 were large or lasting. Over the span of those 4,000 years, each empire rose, reached a peak so powerful that it seemed eternal, only to fade and finally fall, giving way to the next imperial reality. Until January 2025 when President Donald J. Trump took office a second time, the United States seemed to be following that fateful journey. After nearly a century as the largest, most powerful empire in history, the country seemed to be on a gradual downward trajectory from the peak of power it reached around 1991 (when that other imperial power of the time, the Soviet Union, collapsed). But from the first day he took office the second time around in January 2025, President Trump assured us that his bold plans to "Make America Great Again" would save this country from that sad fate. To understand how and why our master, our president, is, in fact, leading America to its own appointment in Samarra at a remarkably rapid pace, we need to understand the way this country has exercised its global power and the dynamics underlying its long-term decline. The Cold War Legacy Throughout the 44 long years of the Cold War (1947 to 1991), Washington pursued an effective geopolitical strategy for containing its chief global rival, the Soviet Union, behind an "Iron Curtain" guarded by a chain of U.S. military bases and alliances that stretched for 5,000 miles across the broad Eurasian land mass. Whenever Moscow tried to break out of its geopolitical isolation by arming surrogates in Asia or Africa for war or revolution, Washington, as I explain in my latest book Cold War on Five Continents, sometimes sent troops, as in South Korea in 1950. Usually, however, it dispatched individual CIA officers to organize covert interventions to beat back any Soviet advance, as it did so effectively in Afghanistan in 1980. In the end, exhausted by one foreign adventure too many, Moscow was forced to acquiesce as its satellite states in Eastern Europe broke away and the Soviet Union shattered. By 1991, Washington had won the Cold War, emerging from that monumental conflict as the world's sole superpower. At that hour of seemingly ultimate triumph, the signs of America's military omnipotence and its overweening imperial hubris were both amply evident. Let's start with Washington's imperial hubris. At the close of the Cold War, political scientist Francis Fukuyama published an article that became a veritable manifesto for Washington's power elites. Not only were we witnessing the end of the Cold War, he argued, but we were also seeing -- yes! -- "the end of history" through the "universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government." Not only was there a "total exhaustion of viable systemic alternatives to Western liberalism," but there was also, he claimed, an "ineluctable spread of consumerist Western culture" to the most remote corners of the globe, even into the shopping malls of our former enemies, China and Russia. And his viewpoint did indeed reflect a certain reality: Our nation's leaders were fully convinced that their Pax Americana would become the final form of global governance for all of humanity for all time. While that unapologetic imperial hubris may now seem almost quaint, in the aftermath of the Cold War it became gospel. It guided Washington's leaders who indeed seemed to wield ample enough power, both military and economic, to fulfill that bold vision for remaking the world in America's image. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com . To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here Last year, ICE raids in my hometown, New York City, attracted significant protests, which, remarkably enough, seemed to halt their operations (though some demonstrators were indeed arrested). As Richard Hall and Rebecca Schneid of Time magazine wrote last November, "Saturday's incident demonstrated how the city's physical infrastructure -- its narrow streets and densely populated areas, built mostly by immigrant labor over the last two centuries -- can impede ICE's so-called 'enforcement surges.'" And now, my mayor, Zohran Mamdani, himself an immigrant who took office in January, has issued an executive order to "protect New Yorkers from 'abusive immigration enforcement' by the Trump administration and uphold sanctuary city laws." I must admit that, given the country we all now find ourselves in, I consider myself lucky. This old man still takes two long walks a day through New York's streets and I have yet to see (or at least recognize) ICE agents anywhere in my neighborhood. Still, who knows when that will end? After all, we're now living in a country whose president has already sent National Guard troops into American cities and has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to send units of the U.S. military into just such cities. And honestly, at this point, it couldn't be clearer that nothing is beyond him. So, though my "immigrant" family (on my father's side) arrived in this country in the late nineteenth century, I keep my eyes peeled because all of us are now living in a world that, not so long ago, we couldn't have imagined. And in that context, let TomDispatch regular and former New York Times sportswriter Robert Lipsyte, in his 50th (!!) piece over the last 20 years for this site, give you a striking sense of how Trump's immigrant mania -- who cares that he himself is the son and grandson of immigrants, a rarity among recent American presidents -- is likely to leave no place untouched, including the small island on which Lipsyte lives just off the coast of New York. Tom They're Almost Here But Where Am I? By Robert Lipsyte In early February, the barbarians reached my gate. There could be no more comfort or denial here on this island where I live. The masked thugs were roving through a town just across the water, a short ferry ride away, harassing and arresting long-time residents. I was shocked, but not surprised. What do we do now? Yes, we all knew they were coming, still". I was raised in the post-World War II "it can't happen here" era. Hadn't my parents' generation crushed the Nazis for all time? While we'd been taught that democracy, like a faith or a marriage, did need tending, we had mostly taken it for granted. Yes, I did understand that life as I had lived it was under attack, but there was still, I thought, some time to respond. The Republicans would come to their senses, right? They weren't the Germans of a past era. The monster would sooner or later be brought down. And yes, he was bad, but he certainly wasn't Hitler. And he looked so sickly. Eventually, the court system would kick in or the Epstein files would produce the Big Bang, whatever that might be. This was America, for God's sake. We didn't deserve to go down like this. Like most of my friends, I'd been thinking of little else for much too long and talking about it incessantly in a tone of wonder. Can you believe this sh*t? Yet living here on my island allowed me the destructive luxury of refusing to understand that we were all Minneapolitans, no matter where we were, even if our portfolios kept rising. Sure, we felt anxious and depressed, were wary of Trumpish neighbors, more generous donors to liberal causes, and active consumers of the media, but we were able to deflect the dangers, given our blind belief that being right was the best defense. And I had an extra advantage: I was protected by a moat. Shelter Island is a 28-square-mile town near the eastern end of New York's Long Island in a region called the East End. It's surrounded by water, but accessible by ferries from Greenport to the north and North Haven to the south. A third of the island is a protected nature conservancy. There are no street lights. The population in winter is around 3,000, which triples in the summer with tourists and second-home owners. I've owned a home here for more than 30 years and lived here full-time for almost a decade, just about the right amount of time to appreciate the local mythology without entirely absorbing it -- that Shelter Island is a quasi-independent republic, populated by rugged individualists who take care of their neighbors, especially seniors, through volunteer organizations (including a fire department and ambulance corps), while stoutly eschewing the glamorous greed of the nearby Hamptons. It's not been hard to feel above this country's recent rush toward autocracy. Meanwhile, in recent decades, the island has been revising its sensibility in some progressive ways. For example, when I first arrived here in the 1980s, Shelter Island's early history as a place of enslavement and provisioning for the slave trade was not a topic of polite conversation. Now, Sylvester Manor, once one of the earliest and northernmost slave plantations in this country, is internationally known for research and the preservation of slave remains and artifacts. It is also an integral local pillar through its educational farm. The Pharmacy It wasn't until last year that I even realized just how vulnerable this island was to the whims of wealth and power. Yes, rich people routinely built houses and renovated hotels on the island that violated local zoning rules and they got away with it. But it wasn't until one of our very own oligarchs casually betrayed our trust that I realized just how naive we had been. The Soloviev Group, one of the nation's largest property owners, particularly of agricultural land, had bought a number of buildings on the island, including an iconic hotel, several stores, and the only pharmacy. Town officials mostly applauded the newcomers as "saviors." Thanks to them, there would be an injection of money and jobs that would cover up the failures of those officials to come up with a comprehensive plan for taking care of Shelter Island, installing affordable housing, and protecting the water supply. They wouldn't have to raise taxes, already low by regional standards. "Shelter Island is like a womb," said Stacey Soloviev, the ex-wife of Soloviev Group CEO Stefan Soloviev and the company's cheery local face. "You feel very good when you come to Shelter Island." And for a while, the Solovievs did indeed go about their business on the island quietly feeling good without doing much good. Their parent corporation was busier. It tried and failed to build a gambling casino in midtown Manhattan. It negotiated with a nearby town to create a large residential development that would include a luxury spa. And then, out of the blue, in a stunning move with little notice, it suddenly shuttered the local hotel and closed the pharmacy, the only dispenser of medicine for a population that (like me) skewed elderly. Like most Shelter Islanders, I was furious. As a board member of the town's Senior Citizens Foundation, a support group for municipal senior services, I understood what an existential problem this could pose for people with limited mobility and resources, which just happens to be a large part of the population. Us and Them I also began to understand, however belatedly and somewhat sheepishly, what an enormous difference there was between my leftish friends and me and the mostly White men who now rule America with their cruel selfishness and moral disability. Our compassion, our tendency toward basic decency, our belief in fairness and equality were an enormous disadvantage in the battle against Trumpism, as was the faint shame so many of us felt for what seemed like a righteous posture, a sense of simply being better than those MAGA voters, handicapped as they were by manufactured fear and distinct inferiority complexes. As for those super rich and intricately well-connected guys like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel, they were just more intellectually refined models of the genuine nightmare of our world, Donald Trump! Sadly, of course, like so much else, it was even more complex than that. The rich guys were acting out of their best interests and were not even secretly ashamed, while the rural poor who had played such a role in getting us into this mess with their votes in 2016 and 2024 had not acted malevolently. They were flailing against a society that had ignored their needs. And I was finally becoming truly woke myself. In late January, while I was still wallowing in rage at the closing of that pharmacy, a massive snowstorm hit the island. I was sitting in my warm house watching three Latino men wrestle with the foot of snow outside that held me hostage. I knew and liked them from past work, but I had no idea what their citizenship status was (or wasn't), though I could imagine them becoming targets of the same sort of gang of thugs terrorizing Minneapolis and making sporadic forays into the East End. I assumed, of course, that I was safer than they were. But maybe that was only true for now. After all, out in Minneapolis, White American citizens were being executed -- "cruel and unusual punishment" -- for bearing witness to ICE. Only a day before that Island snowstorm, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, had been gunned down in Minneapolis for observing and recording masked ICE agents too closely and trying to help a female protestor they had assaulted. He should have known better. After all, two weeks earlier, poet and mother of three Renee Good had been killed for a similar "offense" in the same city. The Vigil A week later, on an 18-degree night, we Shelter Islanders held a vigil in front of the community center. Such a passive demonstration evokes both pathos and courage. It's pathetic in the sense that non-violence always seems weak in the face of blatant Trumpian-style aggression, however brave it may, in fact, be in its restraint and promise of commitment. In the long run, however, it is also the strategy most likely to succeed. The campaigns for civil rights and women's rights provide the best historic lessons about that reality: just keep coming out and ultimately the secret police and the criminal lunatic who sent them will get the message. Because of that, I felt very proud that night of my 70-odd neighbors at the vigil, including the local Presbyterian pastor who read the names of the 32 people who had died in ICE custody last year. Most of them had Latino names, a grim reality which obscures for all too many Whites the degree to which everybody remains in danger. I remembered that the killer thugs of 1964, the Ku Klux Klan, in their campaign to intimidate resistance and suppress Black voting, killed two young White men, Mickey Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, along with their Black fellow civil rights activist, James Chaney. As then, it was the killing of Whites that got national attention, the bad guys' intent. By the night of that vigil, the early tutorials about dealing with ICE -- including reminding people of their right not to speak to agents or allow them to search their homes and cars without a judicial warrant -- seemed almost quixotic. After all, President Trump's belligerent rhetoric had clearly set the stage for them to disregard both our rights and court orders. More important now, according to an activist friend I called in Minneapolis, was organizing groups to lower the vulnerability of people who might otherwise be prime targets of "our" secret police -- drive them to work sites, do their shopping, and act as their lookouts. The shrilling of warning whistles, he said, had become the soundtrack of resistance to the totalitarian goons. Arrests at the Gate As the media has shrunk from its responsibility to bear witness and inform (while also shrinking in size), the involvement of everyday people (who might not yet be directly affected by the crisis) becomes ever more critical -- as is sending money to legal defense groups. That need became even more apparent to me one early weekday morning in early February when ICE raided a line of cars waiting at the North Ferry terminal in Greenport, New York, to come to our island for their jobs. Three men were arrested, all long-time residents of the area, none with criminal records (other than alleged illegal entry from Mexico many years ago). One of them, Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, was on his way to work at Marcello Masonry on the island. My wife and I remembered him from the crew that had rebuilt our driveway several years ago. The next week, the snows returned and so did the three men who had cleared it away the last time around. I was happy -- and relieved -- to see them again. Make no mistake: the barbarians are still at the gates. The Shelter Island Town Board has been holding meetings to determine what to do if they come across the water and land on our island. Will our local police department cooperate with them in any way? Will ordinary citizens be restricted in their demonstrations? Will the school lock its doors to ICE? (On the day ICE breached that ferry line, a quarter of Greenport's students stayed away from school.) The barbarians are now coming for most of us. Their mission has extended well beyond deporting some brown-skinned people. They're trying to convince all colors that resistance is futile, that Trump is all-powerful, and that a totalitarian government with him as its head is inevitable. And as long as we stay in denial, in the bubble, clinging to the dream that goodness or Bad Bunny can save us, we are lost. I know that my whistle and enhanced wokeness won't be anywhere near enough. And I don't have a plan yet, other than to stay the course, fight despair, support the most vulnerable, and preach to the choir that they -- that all of us -- should hang tough. Copyright 2026 Robert Lipsyte -- -- (Article changed on Feb 27, 2026 at 11:42 AM EST) This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com . To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here Yes, I can remember playing Canasta with my grandma. That was "cards" in my childhood. And when I was an editor in publishing, I actually had a little card with my name, position, and address on it that I could give out to potential authors (or, I guess, whomever). But in those years, if you had ever told me about the "cards" that TomDispatch regular Nick Turse, author of Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam, describes today, the ones being left by ICE agents in the empty cars of people they personally "disappeared," I would never have believed you. Not in America. Not even in a future America, decades away, the kind of country that, in my college years, I was reading about in science-fiction novels. Of course, the sci-fi writers of that era could never have imagined Donald Trump's America, a "new world" that would then have been quite literally inconceivable. Today, however, we all find ourselves in a futuristic America that once would have been beyond belief. People in this country being shot in the street by government policemen (of a sort that would once themselves have been beyond imagining)? A vice president refusing to apologize for calling a 37-year-old nurse and U.S. citizen, shot and killed on one of those very streets, an "assassin"? A president threatening to "nationalize" or "take over" the running of our elections (the Constitution be damned)? And, of course, that's just to start down a list that grows stranger and longer by the week. With that in mind, let Turse, who fortunately is an expert on a place -- South Vietnam during the American war there -- where such things did indeed happen (as he'll explain), take you into a world that, at least in this country, would once have been beyond imagining. Tom ICE Brings the War Home Immigration Agents Mimic Past U.S. Dealers of Death By Nick Turse Last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers pulled over several cars in Eagle County, Colorado.They took the people away in handcuffs, according to a witness, and left the cars idling at the side of the road.When family members of the disappeared immigrants arrived, there was no sign of their loved ones. What they found instead were customized ace of spades playing cards that read "ICE Denver Field Office." When I saw an image of that card, the memories came flooding back. I'd seen something similar many years before.Sitting in the U.S. National Archives building -- Archives II -- in College Park, Maryland, sometime in the late 2000s or early 2010s, I'd spent parts of several afternoons watching film footage shot by -- and of -- U.S. troops in Vietnam back in the 1960s.One of those silent military home movies always stuck with me. That short film opened with a Vietnamese woman clutching a child next to a group of 10 or 15 other children huddled together. They all look wary. Worried. Scared. The camera lingered on a young girl, perhaps five years old, clutching a baby. If that girl survived, she would be around 64 years old today. After several shots of those children, the source of their fear was revealed. The film cut to a group of foreign young men -- heavily armed U.S. soldiers. They were tanned and gaunt, smoking and talking, standing over the corpses of some young Vietnamese men or boys. We see the dead bodies at a distance, again. Lying together and yet eerily alone. Next, the film cuts to a collection of weapons -- perhaps a cache found in or near the Vietnamese village where all of this occurred -- that resembled old junk more than lethal armaments. The film kept cutting between short scenes of American troops and Vietnamese bodies until it happened. I've never forgotten the scene that followed because I was initially shocked that it had been immortalized on film. I was also surprised that the film had never been destroyed. But then I remembered how ubiquitous such activity was at the time. How soldiers bragged about it. How it was covered -- positively -- in the U.S. press. How it even showed up in the Congressional Record, not as an outrage deserving of investigation but essentially as a thank you to a manufacturer of playing cards. In the next scene, we see a soldier pull an ace of spades from what looks like a big stack of such cards. He's nonchalant. He's clearly not worried about an officer seeing what he's doing. He obviously knows he's being filmed. He reaches down and, as another soldier presses his boot into the chest of that corpse to hold it steady, he tries to insert the card into the mouth of one of the dead Vietnamese. It's apparently not so easy. It takes a bit of doing, but it proves possible. The next scene shows an ace of spades sticking out of the dead boy's mouth. The camera lingers. It's oddly and sickeningly cinematic. The following scene shows another Vietnamese, his face blackened. There's a battered ace of spades jammed in his mouth, too. "Impeding" ICE Such "death cards" -- generally either an ace of spades or a custom-printed business card claiming credit for a kill -- were ubiquitous among U.S. troops in Vietnam in those years.Some soldiers, like those in that unit of the 25th Infantry Division operating in Quang Ngai Province in 1967, used a regular ace of spades of the type you'd find in a standard deck of cards. But Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry of the 198th Light Infantry Brigade, for instance, left their victims with a customized ace of spades sporting the unit's nickname "Gunfighters," a skull-and-crossbones, and the phrase "dealers of death."Helicopter pilots, like Captain Lynn Carlson, occasionally dropped similar specially made calling cards from their gunships. One side of Carlson's card read: "Congratulations. You have been killed through courtesy of the 361st. Yours truly, Pink Panther 20." The other side proclaimed, "The Lord giveth and the 20mm [cannon] taketh away. Killing is our business and business is good." The cards found last month in Eagle County harken back to that brutal heritage. They were the same general size and shape as those shoved into the mouths of dead Vietnamese: black and white 4---6-inch cards with an "A" over a spade in their top left and bottom right corners. A larger ornate black-and-white spade dominates the center of the card. Above it is the phrase "ICE Denver Field Office."Below it, you find the address and phone number of the ICE detention facility in nearby Aurora, Colorado. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Imagine you could talk to Hieronymus Bosch, the authors of the Book of Revelation, or of the Voynich Manuscripta bizarre 15th century text written in an uncrackable code; that you could solve centuries-old mysteries by asking them, what were you thinking? You might be disappointed to hear them say, as does Luigi Serafini, author and illustrator of the Codex Seraphinianus, At the end of the day [its] similar to the Rorschach inkblot test. You see what you want to see. You might think its speaking to you, but its just your imagination. If you were a longtime devotee of an intensely symbolic, mythic text, you might refuse to believe this. It must mean something, fans of the Codex have insisted since the books appearance in 1981. It shares many similarities with the Voynich Manuscript, save its relatively recent vintage and living author: both the Seraphinianus and the Voynich seem to be compendiums of an otherworldly natural science and art, and both are written in a wholly invented language. Serafini tells Wired he thinks Voynich is a fake. The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II loved ancient manuscripts; somebody swindled him and spread the rumor that it was original. The idea of made-up languages is not new at all. As for his own made-up language in the Codex, he avers, I always said that there is no meaning behind the script; its just a game. But it is not a hoax. Though he hasnt minded the money from the books cult popularity, he created the book, he says, trying to reach out to my fellow people, just like bloggers do. It is, he says, the product of a generation that chose to connect and create a network, rather than kill each other in wars like their fathers did. The Codex, writes Abe Books, who made the short video review above, is essentially an encyclopedia about an alien world that clearly reflects our own, each chapter appears to deal with key facets of this surreal place, including flora, fauna, science, machines, games and architecture. Thats only a guess given the unintelligible language. The illustrations seem to draw from Bosch, Leonardo da Vinci, and the medieval travelogue as much as from the surrealism of contemporary European artists like Fantastic Planet animator Rene Laloux. Serafini has been delighted to see an extensive internet community coalesce around the book, and has had his fun with it. He now states, writes Dangerous Minds, that a stray white cat that joined him while he created the Codex in Rome in the 1970s was actually the real author, telepathically guiding Serafini as he drew and wrote. You can now, thanks to a recent, relatively affordable edition published by Rizzoli, purchase your copy of the Codex. Buy now, Id say. First editions of the book now fetch upwards of $6000, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing. Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in 2017. Related Content: A Digital Archive of Hieronymus Boschs Complete Works: Zoom In & Explore His Surreal Art Explore a Digitized Edition of the Voynich Manuscript, the Worlds Most Mysterious Book Carl Jungs Hand-Drawn, Rarely-Seen Manuscript The Red Book The Foot-Licking Demons & Other Strange Things in a 1921 Illustrated Manuscript from Iran Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia Party, a Philadelphia-based civic and political organization, announced its official launch with a mission to expand civic participation, develop future Ukraine's agricultural export market is undergoing a phase of cleanup and consolidation, as a result of which large agroholdings with their own logistics capabilities will become the key players, said Ivan Niyaky, CEO of port operator Olir Resources. "Over the past six months, the market has been significantly cleaned up. When transshipment rates fell back to pre-war levels and efficiency criteria began to apply, opportunistic capital left the sector. Around 20 large terminals remain today, and we will continue to see a trend toward their consolidation," he said at the Forbes Agro conference in Kyiv on Thursday. According to the head of Olir Resources, agroholdings now dominate the market, including Epicentr, TAS Agro, and others that are actively investing in their own infrastructure. "This is entirely logical: if a company, with its own railcars, elevators, and a base terminal, can export one million tonnes of its own products, it can easily export another million tonnes for its neighbor. The top ten agroholdings are now very actively seeking terminals in which to acquire their own stake or full control. For traditional traders that do not have their own assets, the situation is becoming very difficult," Niyaky said. He added that despite transshipment rates returning to pre-war levels, terminal operations are complicated by attacks on energy infrastructure. Currently, terminal capacity in the ports of Greater Odesa exceeds available cargo volumes, resulting in half of the terminals being underutilized. This forces operators to independently cover the costs of autonomous power supply. "Switching to diesel generators costs us about $1 per tonne. When a trader's margin is between $0 and $3, they cannot absorb these costs, and they fall on our shoulders. We simply need to endure and adapt to the circumstances," the Olir Resources CEO explained. Niyaky also drew attention to unequal railway logistics conditions: the tariff to the port of Port of Pivdenny is $2.5 lower than to Port of Chornomorsk, which is critical for stevedoring companies. "When terminals are operating on the brink of cost recovery, those two and a half dollars become decisive. These are no longer the days of $2025 per tonne transshipment. Today, such a difference creates extremely tough competition, and we are trying to communicate this problem at all levels," he emphasized. Summing up, Niyaky pointed to the impossibility of long-term planning in wartime conditions. "We have the product, the people, the harvest, and the logistics, but we lack predictability. Today we operate in a mode where we revise our strategy daily because of its irrationality," the head of Olir Resources concluded. The stevedoring company and grain trader Olir Resources was founded in September 2015 at the port of Chornomorsk (Odesa region). It specializes in freight forwarding, transshipment of liquid bulk cargo (capacity of up to 1 million tonnes of oil per year), and grain (floor storage warehouses of Eco-Resource-Holding with capacity of 50,000 tonnes and the modernized Warehouse No. 24). According to YouControl, since November 2021, the company's ultimate beneficial owner, through Company Investland Ltd (Seychelles), has been Dmytro Danylov. Two people were injured and civilian and port infrastructure in Odesa region was damaged as a result of an attack by attack drones on Friday night, said Oleh Kiper, head of the Regional Military Administration. "Unfortunately, two people were injured: a 3.5-year-old girl and a 44-year-old man. Both were hospitalized in moderate condition. They are receiving all necessary medical care," the message reads. According to him, the attack resulted in damage to port storage tanks and a construction crane, the facade and glazing of a residential building, vehicles, and a medical facility, as well as the destruction of a kindergarten building. Emergency and utility services continue to work at the scene, and law enforcement agencies are documenting further Russian war crimes against civilians in Odesa region. The PokerStars CEP Barcelona Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Season Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link The 20th Campeonato Espana de Poker (CEP) season is about to get underway at the Casino Barcelona. CEP Barcelona bursts into life on March 4 before concluding on March 15. This latest instalment of PokerStars CEP Barcelona features 10 events and several satellites, including a 500 buy-in Main Event that is expected to attract a four-figure crowd. CEP is Spain's longest-running tournament series. To celebrate entering its 20th season, PokerStars is spicing things up by adding over 50,000 in extra prizes, including four Gold Power Path passes and six Silver passes. Since its launch, the CEP has held 143 events across 20 cities, but it is traditionally Barcelona that kicks off a new campaign. The 2026 CEP Barcelona schedule includes a 500 buy-in Main Event, a 1,000 High Roller, a 250 Mini CEP Main Event, a 250 buy-in 6-Max tournament, and 440 Super Mystery Bounty affair. 2026 PokerStars CEP Barcelona Schedule Date Time (CET) Event Total Buy-in Wed 4 Mar 7:30 p.m. Main Event Satellite 30 9:30 p.m. Opening Event Satellite 60 Thu 5 Mar 3:30 p.m. Opening Event Day 1a 330 8:00 p.m. Main Event Satellite 30 10:00 p.m. Opening Event Satellite 60 Fri 6 Mar 3:30 p.m. Opening Event Day 1b 330 7:00 p.m. Mystery Bounty 160 8:00 p.m. Main Event Satellite 30 10:00 p.m. Opening Event Satellite 60 Sat 7 Mar 3:30 p.m. Opening Event Day 1c 330 7:00 p.m. High Roller Satellite 150 10:00 p.m. Main Event Satellite 60 Sun 8 Mar 4:30 p.m. Opening Event Day 2 7:00 p.m. Deepstack Day 1 225 8:00 p.m. High Roller Satellite 150 10:00 p.m. Main Event Satellite 60 Mon 9 Mar 5:00 p.m. Deepstack Day 2 6:00 p.m. High Roller Day 1 1,000 8:00 p.m. High Roller Satellite 150 10:00 p.m. Main Event Accumulator Satellite 110 Tue 10 Mar 3:30 p.m. CEP Main Event Day 1a 500 4:00 p.m. High Roller Day 2 1,000 8:00 p.m. Main Event Accumulator Satellite 110 Wed 11 Mar CEP Main Event Day 1b 500 4:00 p.m. High Roller Day 3 7:00 p.m. 6-Max 250 10:00 p.m. Main Event Accumulator Satellite 110 Thu 12 Mar 3:30 p.m. CEP Main Event Day 1c 500 7:00 p.m. Progressive Bounty 220 10:00 p.m. Main Event Accumulator Satellite 110 Fri 13 Mar 3:30 p.m. CEP Main Event Day 1d 500 9:00 p.m. Mai Event Turbo Accumulator Satellite 110 Sat 14 Mar 11:00 a.m. CEP Main Event Day 1e Turbo 500 4:30 p.m. CEP Main Event Day 2 6:00 p.m. Mini CEP 250 9:00 p.m. Mystery Biunty Satellite 65 Sun 15 Mar 4:00 p.m. Super Mystery Bounty 440 4:30 p.m. CEP Main Event Day 3 5:00 p.m. Mini CEP Day 2 7:00 p.m. Closer 150 The CEP stopped in Barcelona twice in 2025: first in March and again in August. The March edition of the 500 CEP Barcelona Main Event attracted 1,192 entries, and Filip Fisz came out on top. Fisz banked 63,000 after a heads-up deal with Carlos Dominguez (55,000). Matias Arroyo triumphed in the August edition of the CEP Barcelona Main Event. A 2,182-strong field set a new attendance record. The bumper crowd also meant that Arroyo returned to Argentina with 86,875 for his victory. That princely sum would have been larger, but Arroyo struck a three-handed deal with Marc Casamacchi (72,900) and Arnau Pradas (60,225). The top seven finishers in the 2026 CEP Barcelona Main Event will win additional prizes in addition to the cash they capture. 1st CEP 2027 sponsorship, commemorative watch, and two Gold Passes for EPT 2027 2nd CEP 2027 sponsorship, one Gold Pass and one Silver Pass for EPT 2027 3rd CEP 2027 sponsorship, and one Gold Pass for EPT 2027 4th CEP 2027 sponsorship, and two Silver Passes for EPT 2027 5th-7th - CEP 2027 sponsorship, and one Silver Pass for EPT 2027 Online satellites are available on PokerStars' Spanish site, while live satellites are available throughout the festival at Casino Barcelona. Share this article Every corps and every brigade will have a digital officer who will implement innovations and changes, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced at a meeting with journalists. "Were working on developing a vertical chain of command for digital officers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who will be the driving forces of innovation in the military. The first digital officer has already been appointed. Every corps and every brigade will have a digital officer who will implement innovation and change," he said. Fedorov also noted that the department continued to implement deferrals so that "people dont have to stand in line when they need to get them." "There are no longer any lines at the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCK) like there used to be, even six months ago," he added. At the same time, the Minister of Defense announced the launch of the process of creating centers of excellence for all technologies. He emphasized the critical importance of creating one for each area: drones, Middle Strike, Deep Strike, artillery, and others. "The centers job is to constantly analyze the next step and win the technology war," Fedorov explained. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Foggy this morning, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Foggy this morning, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 78F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Areas of dense fog. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. The document on security guarantees for Ukraine must be ratified by the US Congress, and both the Ukrainian and English versions of the document must specifically address these guarantees, said First Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Serhiy Kyslytsya. "Were discussing a document, including with the United States that must be ratified by the US Congress. That is, one that specifically addresses the guarantee in both the Ukrainian and English versions," he said in an interview for the joint telethon, which is aired on Friday. Kyslytsya, using the Budapest Memorandum as an example, explained that there were differences between the Ukrainian and English versions of the document due to translation. For example, the English title of the document refers to "assurance" rather than security guarantees. "Further down the document, theres no mention of a guarantee, not even of an assurance. It talks about commitments. Thus, the official Ukrainian text is called a guaranteethe Budapest Memorandum on Guarantee," added the First Deputy Head of the Office. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Areas of fog early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Areas of dense fog. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Award recipients pose after being honored at the 35th annual First Responders Social hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 6629 on Feb. 7, 2026, at the Faith Sellers Senior Center in Summerville. From left: Engineer Joe Ferraro, Summerville Firefighter of the Year; Engineer Emanuel Guthary, Dorchester County Firefighter of the Year; EMT Allison Brooks, Dorchester County EMT of the Year; Detention Deputy Michael Barnett, Dorchester County Detention Deputy of the Year; Cpl. Barry Lowe, Dorchester County Deputy of the Year; and Detective Matthew Brooks, Summerville Police Officer of the Year. Editor Ralph Mancini is an award-winning editor whos been employed by the Post and Courier since 2022. Previously, Mancini served in a variety of newspaper roles in New York City, Washington State and North Dakota. Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/petroporoshenko People's Deputy of Ukraine and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko met with John Herbst, Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, William Taylor, also a former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and Daniel Fried, former State Department Sanctions Policy Coordinator. The meeting focused on the unity of Europe and the United States, pressure on Russia, and U.S. support for Ukraine. "We discussed the experience of previous years and, on this basis, considered the most effective approaches for the current stage of the confrontation with Russia. I am glad that our common position is clear: diplomacy without force and without instruments of pressure is unable to ensure the desired result. That is why the diplomatic track must be accompanied by the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities, primarily through the provision of long-range weapons, the introduction of creative and more powerful sanctions against Russia, and real security guarantees," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook following the meeting. According to him, the parties paid special attention to the importance of transatlantic unity between the U.S. and Europe and the necessity of bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. "We also discussed the internal situation in Ukraine, including the state of democracy, the rule of law, and the challenges of corruption and the anti-corruption struggle. Strengthening the internal political unity of the state based on the principles of inclusiveness, interaction, and coordination is critically important," Poroshenko added. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia. Spartanburg, SC (29301) Today Areas of patchy fog early. Mostly cloudy early, then sunshine for the afternoon. High 78F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pavlo Klimkin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2019, and proposed several areas for further cooperation. I discussed the foreign policy situation around Ukraine with Pavlo Klimkin, as well as certain decisions needed to strengthen Ukraines positions in Europe and other parts of the world. I am grateful to Pavlo for his work for Ukraine and proposed several areas for possible further cooperation, Zelenskyy said on X. From June 2014 to August 29, 2019, Klimkin headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the first and second governments of Arseniy Yatsenyuk and in the government of Volodymyr Groysman. From 2010 to 2012, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and from 2011, as Chief of Staff of the Ministry. He also led the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations for the historic Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. On March 30, 2012, he initialed the agreement with his signature. He was then appointed Ukraines Ambassador to Germany, where he served until 2014. PR-Inside.com: 2026-02-27 02:50:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 544 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have untilMarch 23, 2026to 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.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of BellRing and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-brbr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byMarch 23, 2026 .About the LawsuitBellRing 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 Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2026-02-27 03:00:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 479 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., notifies investors in Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. ("Kyndryl" or the "Company") (NYSE:KD) of a class action securities lawsuit.CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of investors of Kyndryl who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between August 7, 2024 and February 9, 2026. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:Kyndryl investors should contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850, or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-kd/ to learn more.CASE DETAILS: 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.WHAT TO DO? If you invested in Kyndryl and suffered a loss during the relevant time frame, you have until April 13, 2026 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff; however, your ability to share in any recovery does not require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Access Holdings Plc has appointed Emeka Ogbechie as its new Chief Financial Officer, with the appointment taking effect from 26 February. Access Holdings Plc disclosed this in a statement on the NGX Group, and signed by its secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, on Thursday. The Board of Directors (the Board) of Access Holdings Plc (the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Emeka Anthony Ogbechie as the Companys Chief Financial Officer effective February 23, 2026. The financial institution stated that Mr Ogbechies appointment will strengthen the companys financial stewardship and enhance Access Holdings Plcs capital discipline. The company expressed confidence that, given Mr Ogbechies extensive expertise in financial strategy and capital allocation, the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer will play a pivotal role in advancing the execution of its strategic priorities. His appointment underscores the Companys commitment to strengthening its financial stewardship, enhancing capital discipline, and driving sustainable growth across the Group. Mr Ogbechie brings deep expertise in financial strategy, capital allocation, treasury management, and portfolio performance oversight across multiple portfolios, which will support the execution of the Companys strategic priorities. The Board warmly welcomes Mr Ogbechie to the Company and looks forward to his valuable contribution to the delivery of the Companys value creation objectives, the company stated. Profile Mr Ogbechie holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD and a Master of Science in Management from the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Mr Ogbechie is an accomplished financial services executive with over two decades of experience across the United Kingdom, West Africa, and East Africa, spanning banking, private equity, and investment management. The financial expert has held several senior leadership and finance roles, including Group Chief Financial Officer of African Capital Alliance and United Capital Plc. He has also worked as a Non-Executive Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Cornerstone Insurance Plc, and Group Finance Director at Equity Bank Kenya Limited. A Nigerian medical doctor, Olawale Ogunlana, has been named among TikToks 50 most influential creators. In a statement signed by its Global Head of Content Operations, James Stafford, and made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, TikTok announced that Mr Ogunlana featured on the TikTok Global Discover List 2026. The annual Discover List celebrates creators across five categories: Icons, Innovators, Foodies, Educators and Originators. Mr Ogunlana, the founder of HealthKraft Africa, earned recognition in the Educators category of the global list, while four other Africans earned recognition in the Foodies and Originators categories. Mr Stafford stated that Mr Ogunlana and the 49 other honourees transformed their passions into sustainable careers, built thriving businesses, reached global audiences and redefined what success looks like within their respective industries. Culture of discovery He added that Mr Ogunlana, who also serves as one of TikToks Sub-Saharan Wellbeing Ambassadors alongside other educators, fuelled the platforms culture of discovery by inspiring users to learn, develop new skills and broaden their horizons, one impactful post at a time. Mr Stafford further noted that Mr Ogunlana simplified complex medical conditions into clear, engaging videos, effectively turning digital platforms into powerful tools for improving health outcomes across the continent. He said: At TikTok, we are committed to celebrating our inspiring creator community. Today, we are thrilled to unveil The Discover List 2026 a highlight of 50 creators to watch from around the world. From the Educators who are inspiring their communities to learn something new, to the Originators who share their businesses with global audiences on TikTok, we are proud to be a space where new talent can be discovered, and authenticity and creativity can thrive. Mr Stafford said that, as part of activities to celebrate this years honourees, TikTok, in collaboration with the Food Network, would host a live culinary event titled Hot List x Discover List: The Future of Flavour in New York City, United States. Selection Mr Stafford added that the 2026 Discover List highlighted TikToks role in removing barriers, nurturing creativity and bringing communities together across the globe. He said the list was compiled through a global nomination process, with TikToks internal teams selecting creators who had made a notable impact over the previous six months. According to him, selection criteria included video production, viewership, account growth, audience engagement and content that ignited global conversations. Power of digital Reacting to his inclusion on the list, Mr Ogunlana said the recognition affirmed the transformative role of digital platforms in advancing health communication. He described his shortlisting as both a personal milestone and a significant victory for public health communication across Africa. According to him, the achievement underscored the growing demand among audiences on influential platforms such as TikTok for credible, verified and relatable health information. For a long time, a doctors impact was limited to the four walls of a clinic. Being recognised on the TikTok Discover List is an incredible honour that extends beyond personal recognition; it is a validation of the power of edutainment and proof that the screen has become the modern stethoscope, enabling us to reach, educate, and heal millions simultaneously. This milestone is a significant win for public health communication in Africa, demonstrating that audiences on powerful platforms like TikTok genuinely seek verified, relatable health information. I am thrilled to be part of a list that celebrates creators making a tangible difference in the world, said Mr Ogunlana. Africans Also featured on the 2026 list were food creators Trevor Were from Nairobi, Kenya, and Wayne Chang from Cape Town, South Africa, alongside creative entrepreneurs Cherie Kihato of Nairobi and Tamia Nontsikelelo from Johannesburg. Were and Chang, both recognised in the Foodies category, were set to participate in a live culinary showcase hosted in Food Networks kitchen. The event will bring together creators from Food Networks Hot List and TikToks Discover List, highlighting emerging talents shaping todays global food landscape. Chang earned acclaim for his vibrant culinary content, which blended diverse Asian cuisines with locally sourced South African ingredients. He crafted flavour-packed recipes that reflected a distinctive fusion of cultures. We were a self-taught chef who transformed simple, everyday meals into exciting yet accessible dishes. From his home kitchen, he shared practical recipes and cooking inspiration that resonated with a broad audience. Originators Kihato, a creative entrepreneur, founded Savannah Space, a Kenyan design studio and showroom that showcased heritage through furniture, art and interiors. Through content creation, she expanded her business beyond Kenya and inspired a global community of design enthusiasts and aspiring creatives. Nontsikelelo leveraged storytelling and strategic marketing on TikTok to build a strong, engaged community around her modest fashion brand, Tolthema. Within a short period, she achieved remarkable growth and positioned the brand for wider recognition. Background In 2025, creators from Sub-Saharan Africa appeared on the Discover List for the first time, marking a significant milestone that delivered unprecedented international exposure. READ ALSO: Edo crowned champions as 2nd Niger Delta Games close in Grand style These creators gained recognition in global publications such as TIME Magazine and took part in major international events, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. At Cannes Lions, Ghanas Chef Abby (Abena Amoakoaa Sintim-Aboagye) met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and the Mayor of London, further elevating her global profile. Riding on that momentum, she also secured a nomination at the 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa, where she finished as First Runner-Up in the Food Creator of the Year category. For the first time, in 2025, the contribution of local NGOs to the Nigerian economy was captured in the Other Services Sector line of the 2024 rebased Nigerian economy. Upon completion of the rebasing exercise, the Other Services Sector line, which included Nigerian NGOs contribution to GDP, increased by 6.2 per cent. As the world marks World NGO Day on 27th February, rebasing of the Nigerian economy to include NGOs is a progressive move which aligns well with the recognition and value placed on non-profits by the UN. In Nigeria, the 2026 World NGO Day is being marked at a time of USAIDs unceremonious aid exit and the closure of the Missions NGO localisation programme, which targeted and aimed to strengthen Nigerian NGOs in development and humanitarian spaces. The year 2026 is also one of significant reductions in funding from bilateral development partners as they repurpose resources for new national priorities. This has led to a weakening of the Nigerian NGO sector, with thousands of local groups unable to pay staff and volunteers and multiple programme and office closures. Since June 2025, the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), a local NGO, launched the NGO Support Initiative (NSI) to strengthen the weakened Nigerian NGO sector. The NSI mobilised and regranted sums of N5 million per NGO to registered groups, which were forced to close out USAID-funded projects as primes or subs. With pilot funding from a Ford Foundation BUILD grant, 17 NGOs from 11 states were awarded N5 million each to implement education, health, GBV prevention and womens rights, humanitarian assistance, and livelihood projects. As part of the NSI, the participating NGOs also completed a 5-module training programme on NGO sustainability and resilience. The capacity-building component of the NSI was run by eight NGO Master Trainers who graduated from the dRPCs Gates Foundation-funded PAS project. The shortlist from which the 17 pilot NGOs were selected was rather long. The shortlist comprised 225 of the best-performing Nigerian NGOs, selected from among 660 groups that responded to the dRPCs public call for applications across multiple platforms. All 225 of these NGOs had great proposals and committed teams with a firm resolve to continue providing services at the grassroots level. For this, Nigerian NGOs must be commended. When the Nigerian NGO sector weakens, the Other Services Sector of Nigerias newly rebased economy is at risk of doing the same. While the Nigerian government must be commended for taking a futuristic step by quantifying the contribution of the countrys non-profits to the economy, it must be nudged to continue supporting the local NGO sector. For the Other Services Sector to grow, the government may well consider promoting an enabling environment for development partners, especially bilaterals, to follow the lead of Global Affairs, JICA, the Hungarian Embassy and Irish Aid by awarding small grants to local NGOs. This can be done by fast-tracking the finalisation and launch of two critical draft policies, which have been languishing for years: the National Localisation Policy and the National ODA Policy. The government should also be encouraged to proactively mobilise new forms of domestic resources for local groups within new community development programmes such as the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP). Finally, the government may wish to incentivise private sector philanthropists such as the Dangote Foundation to work through intermediary NGOs such as the dRPC to mitigate the high transactional cost of engaging local groups as they expand development assistance to local NGOs. Another action that the government can and must consider is to work with World Bank Nigeria programmes to convene procurement process orientation meetings targeted at NGOs for the inclusion of new partners. The Bureau of Public Procurement is currently convening national-level consultations across the country to learn about, respond to and support NGO needs in the public procurement process. The Bureau of Public Procurement is to be commended for this innovative programme and for its confidence in the Nigerian NGO sector. NGOs are partners in development; they are not competitors. Through coordination and alignment with government policies and programmes, NGOs can and do contribute to socio-economic development. Happy World NGO Day. Dr Judith-Ann Walker is the Executive Director, dRPC and can be reached at [email protected]. For more about NSI, visit drpcngr.org A joint investigative hearing by the two chambers of the National Assembly on President Bola Tinubus Executive Order mandating the direct remittance of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account was stalled on Thursday after the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, requested more time to prepare his defence. The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources and Gas. The lawmakers had convened the session to seek explanations on the presidents executive order concerning oil revenues and its implications for Nigerias petroleum industry. Others in attendance, aside from Mr Lokpobiri, were the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan. However, minutes into the session, Mr Lokpobiri, a former senator, appealed to the lawmakers for more time to study relevant documents, stating that he and his team had not yet obtained the necessary materials to adequately defend the presidents action. He said he was only informed of the hearing a day earlier, but still chose to attend out of respect for the parliament. The minister consequently requested that the hearing be rescheduled to allow him and his team sufficient time to prepare. The Co-Chairman of the joint committee, Agom Jarigbe (APC, Cross River North), who chairs the Senate Committee on Gas, put the request to a voice vote, and the majority of lawmakers supported it. Mr Jarigbe then told Mr Lokpobiri that the committee would communicate a new date for the ministers reappearance. Earlier, at a separate meeting, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, disclosed that President Tinubu would soon transmit proposals to the National Assembly seeking amendments to certain provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to reflect current economic realities. He noted that although many assumed the executive order would automatically boost government revenue, this might not necessarily be the case, as Nigeria has yet to attain its desired revenue levels. The senator noted that the drive to enhance revenue generation through the executive order would prompt the president to propose the necessary amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act. However, Mr Musa did not specify the exact provisions of the law that would be affected by the proposed amendment. The Executive Order On Wednesday, Mr Tinubu signed an Executive Order directing that royalty oil, tax oil, profit oil, profit gas, and other revenues due to the Federation under production-sharing, profit-sharing, and risk-service contracts be paid directly into the Federation Account. The order also scrapped the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund established under the PIA and discontinued the 30 per cent management fee on profit oil and profit gas retained by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Anchoring the directive on Sections 5 and 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the presidency said the move was aimed at safeguarding oil and gas revenues, curbing what it described as excessive deductions and restoring the constitutional entitlements of federal, state and local governments to the Federation Account. However, the decision has generated criticism from some stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday rejected the order, describing it as a dangerous precedent that could undermine the PIA and erode investor confidence. The associations president, Festus Osifo, said at a press briefing that the association was troubled by the development and called for the immediate withdrawal of the directive. The PIA, signed into law in 2021, was to comprehensively reform Nigerias oil and gas sector. It was enacted to reform the governance, regulatory, and fiscal structure of the sector after nearly two decades of stalled petroleum reform efforts. The law provides for the commercialisation of the NNPCL into a limited liability company, establishes new regulatory bodies for upstream and midstream/downstream operations, restructures revenue-sharing arrangements, and introduces host community development provisions. Saturdays Area Council election in Nigerias Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was more than a routine local contest that produced chairpersons and councillors. It offered a glimpse into what could shape the 2027 general elections, particularly in Abuja. Voting commenced early in many polling units across the six area councilsAbaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won five of the six councils. Five councils have 10 wards each, while AMAC has 12. Of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT, 1,587,025 collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and were eligible to vote. Voting took place across 2,822 polling units, using 4,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). A total of 637 candidates from 17 political parties contested the 68 positions six chairperson and 62 councillor seats. While winners have been declared, only one candidate, Moses Paul of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in AMAC, has rejected the result, alleging irregularities, particularly the alleged transfer of voters from primary polling units without prior notice. INEC acknowledged the migration but said it was implemented to reduce congestion in polling units with more than 1,250 registered voters. Wilfred Ifogah, the commissions acting director of Voter Education and Publicity, said affected voters were notified via text messages and emails between 18 and 21 February, with details of their new polling locations. However, beyond these disputes, the election provides important lessons. If its conduct and outcome are anything to go by, it may serve as a template for how the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will unfold in Abuja. Below are eight key takeaways: 1- APC is still the party to beat The APCs victory in five of the six councils (AMAC, Abaji, Bwari, Kuje and Kwali) reinforces its dominance in Abujas grassroots politics. Incumbency played a role in places like AMAC and Abaji, where sitting chairpersons sought re-election. Control of local structures and strategic ward-level mobilisation gave the party a significant advantage. Besides, APC benefited from opposition fragmentation. The Labour Party (LP) failed to field chairmanship candidates due to internal leadership disputes and the departure of a major group for the ADC. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won in Gwagwalada, remains deeply divided, with a faction aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike exerting influence. If opposition divisions persist, APC is likely to maintain its advantage in 2027. Defeating the ruling party will require not just popularity but unity, cohesion and strong grassroots organisation. 2 Despite internal strife, PDP remains Nigerias main opposition Despite ongoing internal crises at the national and state levels, the PDP demonstrated it is far from irrelevant. In Gwagwalada, its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, polled 22,165 votes, defeating APCs Yahaya Shehu, who secured 17,788 votes. In several other wards, PDP candidates remained competitive, showing the partys enduring grassroots presence. However, last-minute withdrawals of PDP chairmanship candidates in AMAC and Bwari weakened its overall performance. The election showed that the PDP retains nationwide structures capable of challenging the APC. However, unresolved internal conflicts remain its albatross and could reduce voter enthusiasm for the opposition party. 3- LP without Peter Obi is a shadow The Labour Partys 2023 momentum was primarily driven by Peter Obis candidacy. The area council election suggests that without a unifying national figure, the party faces serious organisational challenges. Mr Obi has now joined the ADC and campaigned for some of its candidates in the Abuja election. LP did not field candidates in the election due to a prolonged leadership crisis between factions led by Nenadi Usman and Julius Abure. Although the Supreme Court has recognised Ms Usmans executive, internal instability continues to undermine the partys grassroots consolidation. The lesson is clear: personality-driven waves do not automatically translate into sustainable political structures. For LP to remain viable, it must invest in long-term party building beyond presidential election cycles. 4- ADC has a long way to go The ADC participated in the election but struggled to emerge as a formidable challenger in most councils. While the party has sought to position itself nationally as a reform-oriented alternative, its performance in Abuja exposed organisational weaknesses, limited grassroots mobilisation and low voter visibility. In the AMAC Area Council, however, the partys candidate, Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, came second with 12,109 votes, far behind APCs Christopher Maikalangu, who polled 40,295 out of 62,861 valid votes. Third-force parties in Nigerian politics often face a credibility dilemma: they promise reform but lack the structure and machinery required to win elections. The ADCs showing in the FCT Area Council poll reflect that pattern. For the party to become competitive in future elections, it must significantly deepen its grassroots engagement and organisational capacity. 5 Nigerias low voter turnout trend is reflected in Abuja Turnout across many polling units was low, reflecting a troubling national trend seen in previous cycles. Although the Abaji Area Council recorded relatively strong participation, several urban centres, particularly in AMAC, experienced sparse attendance. The overall turnout in the election was 14 per cent, an increase from the 9.4 per cent turnout recorded in the same election in 2022. Voter fatigue, economic hardship, distrust in political actors, and perceptions that local elections carry less weight may have contributed to the apathy. Low turnout undermines democratic legitimacy and increases the influence of entrenched political structures and vote buying. Addressing civic disengagement must become a priority. 6 PWDs were largely absent at polling units Despite provisions in the Electoral Act aimed at promoting inclusion, participation by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) appeared limited. There were reports of inaccessible polling locations, limited assistive materials, and insufficient priority arrangements. While some polling officers made efforts, systemic planning appeared inadequate. True electoral inclusion requires deliberate infrastructure design, better voter education and more comprehensive training for electoral officials. 7 Vote buying remains a structural threat Vote buying, though less brazen in some urban centres, remained an undercurrent throughout the election. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 20 suspects for offences ranging from vote buying and selling to obstruction of electoral officials, with a total of N17,218,700 reportedly involved. Despite the heavy security presence across the capital, Yiaga Africa flagged isolated incidents of vote buying and the early closure of voting in some locations. The economic vulnerability of many voters continues to make them susceptible to inducements. Unless poverty, weak enforcement and entrenched political practices are addressed simultaneously, vote buying will continue to distort electoral outcomes. The Abuja poll underscores the need for reforms that go beyond technology to tackle the economic and ethical foundations of electoral malpractice. 8- BVAS worked properly One of the brighter aspects of the election was the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In most polling units, accreditation proceeded smoothly, with fewer technical disruptions than in previous cycles. This helped curb multiple voting and strengthen procedural credibility. However, logistical delays and occasional network issues persisted. While technology is enhancing electoral integrity, consistent training, reliable backup systems and improved infrastructure remain essential. If Abuja is indeed a rehearsal for 2027, political actors must draw the proper lessons: build strong structures, resolve internal conflicts, deepen inclusion, strengthen civic trust and enforce electoral laws. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine A delegation from the Norwegian Red Cross, led by Secretary General Grete Herlofsen, has familiarized itself with the activities of the regional organizations of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS). "During the visit to Ukraine, representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross learned about the activities of the Ukrainian Red Cross regional organizations and the implementation of humanitarian programs in various regions of Ukrainespecifically in the areas of rehabilitation, home care, mental health support, the work of mobile medical teams, and the activities of emergency response units, including emergency response," the URCS reported on Facebook on Friday. During meetings with URCS teams on the ground, the Norwegian colleagues discussed the current needs of communities and future directions for cooperation. Particular attention was focused on supporting veterans, elderly people, internally displaced persons, and communities affected by the war with Russia. Amid rising tension over a possible attack on Iran, the United States Embassy in Israel has asked its non-emergency workers and families of workers to leave Israel. An email from the Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, to the mission on Friday, told workers that they are allowed to leave should they wish to do so, The New York Times reports. The US Embassy in Jerusalem also confirmed the situation in a Friday post on X. Mr Huckabee said those wishing to leave should do so TODAY. He also told the workers to find a flight out of Ben-Gurion Airport to any destination that could be a passage. The embassys move will likely result in high demand for airline seats today. Focus on getting a seat to any place from which you can then continue travelling to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of the country, he was quoted to have said. For weeks, Washington has been building up its forces in the Middle East, deploying additional aircraft carriers, warships, fighter jets, and air defence systems. Last Friday, President Donald Trump gave Tehran a 10-15-day ultimatum to reach a peace deal over its nuclear programme or face a US attack. He insisted that Iran must reach a meaningful agreement. But, on Thursday, at the conclusion of the indirect talks, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said although good progress was made on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief in this round of talks, key differences remain. The US government is marching towards war with Iran, but has not provided a clear explanation for why it should attack Iran or how the country poses a threat to America. Mr Trumps broadly described concerns over nuclear threat are contrary to those of the previous US President, who, when taking a major military action, spent months trying to justify this decision. The New York Times reports that Mr Huckabee told the mission that the warning followed meetings and phone calls through the State Department. During the meeting, officials agreed that the safety of embassy staff was a priority and decided to exercise an abundance of caution. Should the US attack Iran, Israel is likely to be targeted for retaliation. Iran is likely to strike the US military bases and other strategic US assets in the country and also in the region. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Iran has promised to respond decisively to US military aggression. Iran said if attacked, it would consider all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region as legitimate targets. On Thursday, the spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, cautioned Washington against any unwise actions, stating that it would trigger a response from Irans Armed Forces never experienced before in history. Although both parties completed their round of talks in Geneva on Thursday without reaching an agreement, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Araghchi, said further talks would take place in less than a week. The State Department earlier issued a travel advisory, urging US citizens to reconsider travelling to both Israel and the West Bank. It has also issued similar advisories elsewhere in the Middle East. On Monday, the US embassy in Lebanon asked all non-emergency personnel and their families to leave the country. Other nations are taking the same steps. On Wednesday, Australia instructed the families of its diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave. As the US considers plans to attack Iran, China has warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and directed those presently in the country to leave immediately. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday said the country has become highly undesirable due to growing security risks. In light of the current security situation in Iran, Chinas Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran remind Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Iran for the time being, Beijings foreign ministry said in a statement. Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible. China now joins the growing list of countries that have issued warnings to citizens to avoid or leave Iran and other countries in the Middle East likely to be caught in the crossfire should the US follow through on its threat to attack. Since the start of the year, the US has been amassing troops and equipment in the Middle East in what has been described as the largest such deployment in over two decades. The tension between both countries heightened after President Donald Trump told Iranian protesters that help was on the way, threatening to bomb Iran should it try to suppress protesters. But he appeared to have eventually stepped back, saying that the execution of protesters had stopped. The US has claimed that its planned unprovoked attack was to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons, but analysts have described that as a smokesscreen, especially as President Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal that Iran had with global powers to prevent it from having a nuclear weapon. Iran has also repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes. The sixth round of negotiations between Iran and the US, which Mr Trump expected would compel Iran to agree to a meaningful deal, failed to reach a diplomatic breakthrough. Although Mr Trump issued a 10-15-day ultimatum last week Friday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday, at the conclusion of the indirect talks, said some key differences persist. Iran has promised to respond decisively to US military aggression. On Thursday, the spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, cautioned Washington against any unwise actions, stating that it would trigger a response from Irans Armed Forces never experienced before in history. China, a long-time ally of Iran, maintains trade relations with the country despite heavy US sanctions. It had earlier warned against US aggression in Iran, stating that any reckless military behaviour would have serious consequences on the region. The use of force cannot solve problems. Any acts of military adventurism will only push the region into an abyss of unpredictability, Chinas permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, said. Other countries have also asked their non-emergency workers and families to leave the country or other countries likely to be caught in the crossfire. Earlier on Friday, the UK and Canadian governments confirmed that staff at their embassy in Tehran have been temporarily withdrawn. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the US Embassy in Israel also asked its non-emergency workers and families of workers to leave Israel. It issued a travel advisory, urging US citizens to reconsider travelling to both Israel and Lebanon in the West Bank. On Wednesday, Australia instructed the families of its diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) that it was behind the recent shooting incident involving members of the latter in Edo State. In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party accused the ADC of rushing to judgment by blaming it for the violence even before the conclusion of police investigations. The controversy stems from a shooting on Tuesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, during a political gathering Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi was in Benin alongside former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and other political figures to attend an event at the ADC secretariat. The rally was convened to formally receive former Edo governorship candidate Olumide Akpata, who defected from the Labour Party to the ADC. According to reports, suspected armed hoodlums opened fire as the politicians and their supporters were leaving the secretariat and heading towards Mr Odigie-Oyeguns residence. Gunshots were said to have damaged vehicles and parts of nearby property. The incident triggered condemnation across party lines, including from lawmakers. The ADC had, in a statement dated 25 February, alleged that the APC was responsible for the shooting incident in Edo. But the ruling party described the claim as utterly delusional and a breach of due process. Describing the ADC as its own nemesis, Mr Morka dismissed allegations that members of the ruling party were behind the incident. He noted that the claim was utterly delusional and a breach of due process. According to Mr Morka, by publicly indicting the APC without waiting for law enforcement findings, the ADC had assumed the roles of accuser, investigator, prosecutor and judge in the matter. He argued that such conduct raised doubts about the opposition partys capacity to manage national security challenges, stating that a party unable to handle an internal crisis with maturity could not be trusted with the complexities of governance. He also took strong exception to the ADCs characterisation of the alleged attack as part of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC. Mr Morka described the reference to terrorism as reckless and insensitive, particularly in light of ongoing security operations across the country. He said the allegation trivialised the sacrifices of security personnel engaged in counter-insurgency efforts. He maintained that violence has no place in Nigerias political space and called for calm. Make no mistake, violence of any kind in our political space is unacceptable and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. Our great party roundly condemns the reported shooting incident in Edo State, the statement said, urging the police and other security agencies to conduct an expeditious investigation and bring those responsible to justice. APC urges scrutiny of ADC In a controversial twist, the APC suggested that investigators should scrutinise the ADC, its leaders and members as possible suspects, alleging that the party was plagued by internal leadership and factional struggles. The statement referenced reported clashes among rival factions within the ADC over control of party structures and meetings, claiming that the opposition party was attempting to deflect from its internal disputes by blaming the APC. The ADC cannot smear our great party with a violent incident of its own exclusive making, Mr Morka said. Denying any involvement in the shooting, the APC spokesperson said the party was preoccupied with consolidating its recent electoral successes, including victories in municipal elections in the Federal Capital Territory and constituency elections in Rivers State and Kano State. He described the ADC as a fringe platform struggling with poor electoral performance in recent by-elections. He expressed appreciation to voters for what he called a vote of confidence in the APC and in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, adding that the administration remained focused on delivering prosperity and stability. The Senate Committee on Finance has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will soon transmit proposals to the National Assembly seeking amendments to certain provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to reflect Nigerias current economic realities. The Chairman of the committee, Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), disclosed this on Thursday when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, appeared before the committee to defend their proposals for the 2026 budget. Heads of other agencies under the committees oversight, including the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Tax Ombudsman Office, the Nigerian Customs Service, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, were also present. During the meeting, Mr Musa spoke about President Tinubus recent executive order mandating the direct remittance of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account. He said many people assumed the executive order would automatically boost government revenue. He explained that this was not necessarily the case, as Nigeria has yet to reach its desired revenue level. The senator noted that the drive to enhance revenue generation through the executive order would prompt the president to propose the necessary amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act. Mr Musa did not, however, specify the exact provisions of the law that would be affected by the proposed amendment. When the president signed the executive order, the assumption in Nigeria today is that more money will come to the government. Weve not yet transitioned to where we want to be and that is why Mr President said hes bringing the PIA for amendment, he said. He added that projections and adjustments arising from the executive order would form part of the framework for the 2026 budget. Projections that well do and the adjustment well do now based on this directive of this order will also form part of the planning in the 2026 budget, he stated. On Wednesday, Mr Tinubu signed an executive order directing that royalty oil, tax oil, profit oil, profit gas, and other revenues due to the Federation under production-sharing, profit-sharing, and risk-service contracts be paid directly into the Federation Account. The order also scrapped the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund established under the PIA and discontinued the 30 per cent management fee on profit oil and profit gas retained by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Anchoring the directive on Sections 5 and 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the presidency said the move was aimed at safeguarding oil and gas revenues, curbing what it described as excessive deductions and restoring the constitutional entitlements of federal, state and local governments to the Federation Account. However, the decision has generated criticism from some stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday rejected the order, describing it as a dangerous precedent that could undermine the PIA and erode investor confidence. The unions president, Festus Osifo, said at a press briefing that the association was troubled by the development and called for the immediate withdrawal of the directive. The PIA, signed into law in 2021, was put in place to reform Nigerias oil and gas sector. It was enacted to reform the governance, regulatory, and fiscal structure of the sector after nearly two decades of stalled petroleum reform efforts. The law provides for the commercialisation of the NNPCL into a limited liability company, establishes new regulatory bodies for upstream and midstream/downstream operations, restructures revenue-sharing arrangements, and introduces host community development provisions. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says the Saudi authorities have made the submission of duly processed Medical Fitness Certificates a compulsory requirement for the issuance of visas to all pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj. Consequently, the Commission directed all State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and Licensed Tour Operators to comply with the directive. NAHCON, in a statement on Thursday, said all registered pilgrims medical fitness certificates must be submitted on or before Monday, 2 March, warning that failure to meet the deadline would result in the forfeiture of visa opportunities for affected pilgrims. It explained that the new requirement is part of a broader regulatory framework introduced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to improve health safety and logistics for Hajj operations worldwide. It also noted that the reduction of Nigerias Hajj quota from 95,000 to 50,000 is a general measure affecting all participating countries, aimed at strengthening health protocols and operational efficiency. Read the full Statement SUBMISSION OF MEDICAL FITNESS CERTIFICATES FOR HAJJ 2026 The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) hereby notifies all State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and Licensed Tour Operators that Saudi Authorities have made the submission of duly processed Medical Fitness Certificates a mandatory requirement for the issuance of visas for all pilgrims in the 2026 Hajj exercise. Accordingly, all State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and Licensed Tour Operators are required to urgently submit the Medical Fitness Certificates of all pilgrims registered under them no later than Monday, 2nd March 2026. It is important to clarify that these measures are not peculiar to Nigeria but form part of a broader regulatory framework being implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to better manage pilgrim affairs and mitigate health risks. Kindly note that failure to submit the required Medical Fitness Certificates within the stipulated deadline will result in the forfeiture of visa opportunities for the affected pilgrims. Meanwhile, NAHCON wishes to inform the General Public that the reduction of Nigerias Hajj quota from 95,000 to 50,000 is a strategy by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthen health protocols and logistics and these measures affect all participating countries, including Nigeria The Commission appreciates your full cooperation and prompt attention to this matter. Signed: NAHCON Billy Osawaru, the lawmaker representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, has dismissed allegations linking the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, to the recent attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi and other opposition leaders in Benin City, describing the claims as unfounded and politically motivated. Mr Osawaru spoke to journalists on Thursday while reacting to statements by Ifeanyi Uzokwe (YPP, Anambra) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who had called for an urgent and transparent investigation into what they described as an alleged assassination attempt on Mr Obi. Mr Uzokwe had urged the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to immediately launch a comprehensive probe into the incident. He also called on Mr Okpebholo to take deliberate steps to guarantee the safety of all political stakeholders in Edo State, stressing that it is the responsibility of any state government to ensure a secure and conducive political climate, irrespective of party differences. The Anambra lawmaker warned that Nigeria has paid a heavy price for politically motivated violence in the past and must avoid sliding back into instability. Responding, Mr Osawaru said it was malicious and false to suggest that Mr Okpebholo, state officials or individuals allegedly sponsored by the government were behind the attack on Mr Obi or members of his political camp. According to him, linking the governor to the shooting without verifiable evidence amounts to a deliberate distortion of facts. While condemning the violence, Mr Osawaru said some critical context had been omitted from public commentary surrounding the incident. He explained that Mr Okpebholos previous caution to Mr Obi regarding visits to the state was not a threat but a security advisory prompted by earlier developments. He noted that the former presidential candidates previous visit to Edo State was followed by unrest and reported fatalities, adding that the governor, as the chief security officer of the state, has a constitutional duty to protect residents and visitors. He added that politically exposed persons are expected to notify relevant authorities before major public engagements in order to allow security agencies to plan effectively and ensure adequate protection. It is unfair to link the governor to this attack without concrete evidence. We have seen no credible proof to substantiate these allegations, he said. Mr Osawaru maintained that the Okpebholo administration has nothing to gain from sponsoring violence against opposition figures and described suggestions to the contrary as baseless. The governor has nothing to gain from such an attack, and it is telling that those making these allegations have failed to provide any substance to back their claims. Governor Okpebholos administration is not and will never be in the business of attacking innocent Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliation, he said. He called for a thorough investigation into the shooting and expressed confidence that the outcome would clear the governors name. He also urged political actors to exercise restraint and avoid statements capable of prejudicing the investigation or inflaming tensions. We are not dismissing the seriousness of the attack, he said. But we will not stand by while our governor is smeared with baseless allegations. The Benin incident The incident occurred on Tuesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, when gunmen reportedly opened fire on Mr Obi and his convoy shortly after a political rally. The former Anambra State governor had attended the rally at the secretariat of the African Democratic Congress in Benin City. The event was organised to formally receive former Edo State governorship candidate Olumide Akpata, who defected from the Labour Party to the ADC. Also present at the rally were former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and other political figures. According to reports, suspected armed hoodlums shot at the politicians and members of the Obidient Movement as they were leaving the ADC secretariat en route to Mr Odigie-Oyeguns residence. The attackers allegedly fired multiple shots, damaging vehicles and parts of nearby property, including gates. Although no fatalities were officially confirmed, several persons were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury during the incident. The attack has heightened political tensions in Edo State, especially against the backdrop of previous public remarks by Mr Okpebholo cautioning Mr Obi against visiting the state without prior security notification. The State Security Service has taken into custody a man accused of coordinating the 14 December 2025 abduction of worshippers at First ECWA Church in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. According to Punch, which first reported the arrest, security sources identified the suspect as Shafiu Usman and said he was apprehended in Gombe State after allegedly fleeing Kogi in the aftermath of the attack. Security sources told the newspaper that the suspect was tracked to a hideout in Gombe, where he had been lying low until SSS operatives arrested him. The source added that during questioning, the suspect admitted involvement in the Ayetoro church attack and other kidnapping operations in Kogi, Niger and Kwara states. He confessed to orchestrating the Ayetoro church attack, as well as other kidnappings in Niger, Kwara and Kogi States, the source was quoted as saying, adding that the suspect worked with Ibrahim Battijo, described as a bandit leader operating across several North-central and North-west states. The source also said the suspect remains in SSS custody and is expected to be arraigned in court. The arrest follows one of the most troubling church attacks recorded in Kogi State in 2025. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that armed men riding motorcycles invaded Ayetoro-Kiri shortly after the conclusion of Sunday service on 14 December 2025. The assailants opened fire to disperse residents before abducting more than 30 people, including children and elderly worshippers. Witnesses said the gunmen first moved through residential compounds before storming the ECWA Church, where many congregants had just concluded the leading service. Community leaders later confirmed that victims were forced onto motorcycles and taken through forest paths that connect the area to neighbouring communities and border states. The village head, Olusegun Durowaye, said at the time that dozens of residents were taken during the raid. Residents also reported that the attackers returned through the same forest corridor they used to enter the community. In the days that followed, videos surfaced showing some of the abducted victims, including children and elderly women, pleading for help. Community sources said the kidnappers demanded ransom payments running into hundreds of millions of naira. The Ayetoro attack occurred amid a broader rise in abductions and killings across the Kogi West Senatorial District. PREMIUM TIMES had reported a series of church-related attacks in parts of Yagba West, Ofu and Kabba/Bunu local government areas in the months preceding the December raid. Conflict data reviewed at the time indicated increasing fatalities and kidnappings in the district, with forest routes linking Kogi to Niger and Kwara states frequently cited as escape channels for armed groups. Security agencies have in recent weeks announced intensified operations across Kogi and neighbouring states, targeting camps and suspected logistics networks used by armed groups. The SSS arrest is the latest development in efforts to trace those behind the Ayetoro abduction and related attacks in the region. The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday urged President Bola Tinubu to terminate the appointment of Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), over his refusal to honour repeated invitations by the committee. It said Mr Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has failed to appear before its members on several occasions to account for the agencys revenue and performance since assuming office. The Chairman of the Committee, Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), announced the resolution when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, appeared before the panel to defend their proposals for the 2026 budget. Heads of other agencies under the committees oversight, including the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), the Tax Ombudsman Office, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, were also present. However, the CAC registrar-general was absent and sent a representative instead. Call for Magajis termination The motion for Mr Magajis removal was moved by Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North). He complained that the registrar-general had repeatedly failed to appear before the committee despite several warnings. Mr Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, said if ministers who occupy constitutionally higher offices could honour the committees summons, the CAC registrar-general had no justification for failing to do so. This man is not coming to the Senate; hes not above the law. This is the minister of finance and the minister of budget; theyre here. We summoned them and they came, and this man thinks hes big over the Senate. Were not going to take that rubbish again. I move a motion that that man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with this man. This CAC man, since I came to this Senate, has never appeared; he will continue saying hes in the villa, hes going to London. Is that what were doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done, he said. ALSO READ: Senate demands recruitment of more judges for Public Complaints Commission Following the motion, the committee chairman put it to a voice vote, and the majority of members supported it. Mr Musa subsequently announced the resolution and directed that the recommendation be forwarded accordingly. Mr Musa said the committee has concerns about the CACs revenue reconciliation and accused the registrar-general of repeatedly sending junior officers in his place. The registrar-general of the CAC has refused on many occasions to honour the call, invitations or summons of this most important committee. As registrar-general, we have issues with his reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime hes invited, hell give us one reason or the other and hell send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate, he said. CAC is the federal agency responsible for the registration and regulation of companies, business names, and incorporated trustees in Nigeria. Established under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), the commission maintains the official registry of corporate entities, ensures compliance with statutory filing obligations, and oversees corporate governance disclosures. As the custodian of Nigerias corporate database, the CAC plays a central role in the countrys business environment. It processes company incorporation, annual returns, changes in directorship and shareholding, and other post-incorporation filings. The commission also generates revenue for the federal government through registration fees, filing charges, and related services. Given its revenue-generating role and regulatory importance, the CAC falls under the oversight of the National Assembly. Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority or person charged with the administration of federal laws or the disbursement of public funds. The legislature may summon public officials to appear before it to provide explanations or produce documents in the exercise of this oversight function. However, while the National Assembly has constitutional authority to investigate agencies and recommend actions, the power to appoint or remove the head of an executive agency, such as the CAC, ultimately rests with the President, subject to the provisions of the law establishing the agency and any confirmation requirements. Lawmakers may, therefore, pass a resolution recommending removal, but the final decision lies with the executive arm of government. Former labour and employment minister Chris Ngiges defence team in his ongoing N2.2 billion fraud trial said on Thursday that he legitimately oversaw procurements for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), one of the parastatals supervised by his ministry, citing a presidential directive. But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the former minister before the FCT High Court in Abuja for corruption in his handling of the NSITF procurements, cited a letter from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to counter Mr Ngiges claim. EFCC, through its second prosecution witness, Kelly Nwagha who is a former Acting Managing Director of the NSITF, maintained that the BPP had sole legal jurisdiction over NSITF contracts. It was so undisputed that, he said, the BPP, at a time, deployed an officer to handle NSITF jobs. The BPP was established with statutory power to regulate and oversee federal public procurement to ensure transparency, competition, and value for money in government contracting. However, the NSITF is one of the five agencies domiciled under the labour ministry established to provide social insurance and compensation for Nigerian workers who suffer workrelated injuries, disabilities, or death. Led in evidence by EFCCs lawyer, Silvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the prosecution witness, Mr Nwagha, said he had to write the BPP to seek clarifications over the issue. He said he received BPPs response to his letter stating that it was solely responsible for NSITFs procurements. During cross-examination, defence lawyer Patrick Ikwueto, also a SAN, asked Mr Nwagha whether the Presidency explicitly authorised the Ministry of Labour and Employment to oversee NSITF procurement. The witness said, I am not surprised. The minister (Mr Ngige) read to me part of the report that the minister oversees procurement for 12 months, but he did not give me a copy of it (report). When pressed on why the BPPs subsequent findings contradicted this arrangement, Mr Nwagha said he was not the BPP, but he forwarded a copy of the BPPs report to Mr Ngige. Mr Ngige is facing prosecution on eight counts, including receiving gratifications from NSITF contractors and giving associates preferential treatments in awarding the agencys contracts. All eight counts centre on the NSITF contracts he awarded as the labour minister. EFCC arrested the former minister on 10 December and subsequently arraigned two days later on 12 December. One of the eight charges accused him of awarding seven contracts worth over N366 million for consultancy, training and supply by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to a company, Cezimo Nigeria Limited, belonging to his associate, Ezebinwa Charles. The prosecution similarly accused him of awarding eight contracts worth over N583 million to another company belonging to Mr Charles. It alleged that Mr Ngige used his position to give preferential treatment, awarding eight contracts worth over N362 million to a company, Jeff & Xris Limited, belonging to Nwosu Chukwunwike. Other companies he allegedly awarded contracts under suspicious circumstances include Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, belonging to Uzoma Igbonwa to the sum of N668 million and N161 million respectively. Also, the anti-graft agency accused Mr Ngige of collecting gratifications from contractors of the NSITF through his organisation, called Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation, from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119). Mr Ngige also allegedly collected N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited, said the EFCC. The offences were said to violate section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and is punishable under section 17(c) of the same Act. According to the EFCC, the defendant committed the alleged offences while serving as the Minister of Labour and Employment during former President Buharis administration. The former governor of Anambra State and senator denied all the allegations. Witness shares more details on BPPs power over NSTIFs contracts Earlier during the proceedings on Thursday, the EFCC presented four documents to the court as exhibits through the witness, Mr Nwagha. They are comprised of a letter signed by Mr Ngige and endorsed by his special assistant, another letter Mr Nwagha wrote as the acting MD of NSITF to the BPP, BPPs response, and a circular released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Led by the prosecution lawyer, Mr Nwagha read the BPPs response to his letter he had written to seek clarifications about NSITF procurement. Reading the response, Mr Nwagha said that the agency wrote that the NSITF and the Ministry of Labour did not have the power to take over NSITFs procurement, and that the BPP was the only agency that could temporarily transfer procurement functions. The BPP said in the letter that it would deploy a procurement officer in NSITF, and it was not in the best interest of the ministry and NSITF to overhaul the procurement. Under cross-examination, Mr Ikwueto asked the witness if he saw any letter written by the BPP to the Ministry of Labour. The witness replied, No. He also stated that during his time as acting Managing Director of NSITF, there was no procurement via advertisement except for three offices. Later, he said three offices were rented to reduce the cost for NSITF. However, Mohammed Abubakar, sent by the BPP to handle procurement, was not part of the process because at that time, he had not resumed duty. Thereafter, the trial judge, Maryam Hassan, adjourned the matter until 21 April. Previous testimony The first prosecution witness, Pedro Chellen, whose initial petition sparked the investigation into Chris Ngige, testified that an N80 million renovation contract for the NSITFs Makurdi office was awarded to a firm that had completely bypassed the bidding process. He said nothing came out of it, prompting him to appeal to the BPP, where it was revealed that the contract was awarded to a company which did not participate in the bidding process. Under cross examination by defence lawyer Mr Ikwuetothe, the witness said his petition was against the management board of NSITF. The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, said he joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to align the state with federal government for the interest of the states development. The governor stated this in a broadcast on Friday morning at the Government House in Yola. The event was attended by his cabinet members and high-ranking government officials. Mr Fintiri stated that the years of sideline politics is over and Adamawa state is back to mainstream politics a politics that will benefit it more than ever before. He added that his defection to the APC means more opportunities for the state and more stake for the people. Mr Fintiri announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) two days after the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, officially announced resignation of 15 members of the Assembly from the PDP during a plenary session, on Wednesday. Qouting late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, Mr Fintiri said he is matured enough in politics to decide what is good for the state judging from his political experience. It takes political sagacity to know political arithmetic. In our case, we have been long enough in this game to know the value of our strength and the right steps to take. This isnt elementary arithmetic; it is a political geometry that places every number in its right place. In ideal democracies, alignments that confer mutual advantages are constant normals. Our alignment with the APC is a testament to strategic adaptability. It is sagacity in action. This is a reciprocally beneficial decision that reflects a pragmatic approach to politics conferring electoral value while delivering democratic dividends to the people, the governor stated. Read below his full speech 1. Fellow citizens of Adamawa state. I address you today in this manner due to the magnitude of what we have at stake the regard we have for you and the consistent support we have always enjoyed from you. In 2019, you voted us overwhelmingly against an incumbent. In 2023, you repeated the same feat even with greater propensity in spite of all odds. We have remained popular in your hearts, so, has our party the PDP been with you. We are conscious of the moral burden imposed on our shoulders by your collective mandates. We are eternally committed to every item in our social contract with you. 2. We prioritized the security of your lives and properties; we built roads, schools, hospitals, houses and markets; we provided essential support in education, water and electricity; we empowered our youth and women; we established new chiefdoms, emirates and districts. We desired that our people are freed from the shackles of poverty, disease, deprivation and oppression 3. It is on this basis that we have never, as a government, ventured into anything that does not grow our dear state or directly benefit our people. We have always been guided by the triple principles of consultation, legality and impact. As democrats, we consult with the people. As citizens we interrogate how every decision we make aligns with extant laws; and as leaders, we weigh the impact of every decision on the state and our people. 4. Recent events in the polity demands that we take decisive and strategic decisions. There are seasons for political exigencies just like there are seasons for political expedience. We have come this far and built so much with the people that we are ready to move further to align our polity to national politics. 5. After wide consultations with a large spectrum of our people, we have resolved to politically align Adamawa State with the All ProgressivesCongress (APC). This alignment would enable Adamawa State to effectively support and leverage the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, which aims to transform the nation in critical sectors including social welfare, infrastructure, housing and inclusive economic development 6. The decision to leave the PDP and join the APC was not taken lightly. It was not driven by personal ambition nor by convenience. It was guided by one overriding consideration: the long-term stability, development and prosperity of Adamawa State. 7. Fellow citizens, you remain our most cherished partners. I want you to trust that this decision, is in our best interest. Wherever we go from here, we are going as a collective. With the required political strength and the numbers that confer value. We have structures everywhere. We are moving into the APC with all the 226 wards, 21 Local Government areas, all elected and appointed members and indeed our energy and our political machinery to confer benefit to our state, the nation and our people. I therefore call on all our supporters to fit in, register massively in the APC and gear up for a future that is assured. 8. It was the late Senate President Dr Chuba Okadigbo who once said, It takes political sagacity to know political arithmetic. In our case, we have been long enough in this game to know the value of our strength and the right steps to take. This isnt elementary arithmetic; it is a political geometry that places every number in its right place. In ideal democracies, alignments that confer mutual advantages are constant normals. Our alignment with the APC is a testament to strategic adaptability. It is sagacity in action. This is a reciprocally beneficial decision that reflects a pragmatic approach to politics conferring electoral value while delivering democratic dividends to the people. 9. What this means, is that, the years of sideline politics is over and Adamawa state is back to mainstream politics a politics that will benefit it more than ever before. It means more opportunities for the state and more stake for our people. These for us, are the main motivations that define our calling to politics. 10. Fellow citizens, we are taking this step in our collective interests. It is all about Adamawa state and the prosperity of our people. Continue to trust us and we shall continue to deliver selfless service for you irrespective of whichever political platform we lean on. We shall continue to build more infrastructure, more schools and more befitting hospitals for our people. READ ALSO: Presidency mocks Atiku as Fintiri joins APC We shall continue to empower the youths and women; create employment opportunities and employ more citizens; pay school fees, national examination fees and provide scholarship and bursaries for our indigent and international students; build cohesion, unity and peaceful coexistence. We shall confer on you the pride of being called an indigene of Adamawa state; we shall give you the courage to walk into the national theatre and contribute your quota in the greater Nigerian project. This is more than a promise. It is a sacred covenant. It is a bold walk into a guaranteed future for Adamawa state. 11. You have always trusted us and it has always worked well for you. This time around more than ever before, we solicit for that trust and assure you that where we are heading is the best place to go. Thank you and God bless. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has handed over three powerful autotransformers with a total value of over $20 million to National Power Company (NPC) Ukrenergo as part of the "Emergency Recovery and Reconstruction Project," the system operator announced on Friday. "This is not the first time we have received donor assistance in the form of scarce and expensive high-voltage equipment from our Japanese partners. Given the consequences of Russias massive attacks, these powerful autotransformers delivered late last year are extremely necessary for the Ukrainian power system," noted Vitaliy Zaichenko, Chairman of the Management Board of NPC Ukrenergo. For his part, the head of the JICA office in Ukraine, Osamu Hattori, expressed his respect for the Ukrenergo teams technical excellence. "We deeply admire the resilience and technical excellence of the Ukrenergo team. JICA is committed to continuing its assistance to improve the reliability, security, and long-term sustainability of Ukraines energy system," he emphasized. As explained by Ukrenergo, the logistics for this type of cargosuch as the specified autotransformersis a very complex process, primarily due to the dimensions of the load. Each of the three transformers weighs nearly 200 tons, stands 4.5 meters high, and is almost 4 meters wide. "Taking into account the dimensions of the transport platform and the weight of the tractor unit itself, the route is mapped out to bypass many bridges over or under which passage is impossible," the NPC noted. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, re-arraigned Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami, on money laundering charges. They were re-arraigned before trial judge Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja. This followed the transfer of the case to the new judge, who is the third to be assigned the trial since the filing of the charges in December last year. EFCC first arraigned the defendants on 30 December 2025 before Emeka Nwite, also of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, while he was sitting as vacation judge during the last Christmas/New Year break. However, upon resumption of the regular court sessions after the Yuletide break, Mr Nwite returned the case file to the chief judge of the Federal High Court in line with practice for reassignment to a new judge. The chief judge, John Tsoho, then assigned the case to Judge Obiora Egwuatu, also in the Abuja division of the court, who voluntarily withdrew earlier this month on personal grounds, prompting a reassignment to Mrs Abdulmalik. Fridays hearing At Fridays hearing, EFCCs lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted that the matter is coming before your lordship this morning for the very first time. I will be applying for the plea of the defendants to be taken. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Okutepa orally applied for errors in the amounts of money alleged to be involved in a few counts. Mr Okutepa requested that the sums alleged in Counts 11 and 12 be corrected to read N325 million instead of N325 billion for Count 11, and N120 million instead of N120 billion for Count 12. Defence lawyer Joseph Daudu, a SAN, opposed the correction request. But the judge granted the oral application from Mr Okutepa to permit the correction. The charges were thereafter read to the defendants, who again pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts. EFCC alleged in the charges that Mr Malami and his co-defendants hid and moved around about N8.7 billion, some of which was allegedly used to acquire properties in Abuja and other places, in a money laundering scheme. The defendants allegedly committed the offences from when Mr Malami was in office as the AGF up till 2025 when he had left office. Other charges Apart from the money laundering case, Mr Malami faces assets forfeiture proceedings also filed by the EFCC and terrorism financing charges filed by the State Security Service (SSS). On 6 January, Mr Nwite issued an order of interim forfeiture of the 57 assets valued at almost N213 billion to the federal government at the instance of the EFCC, which alleged that the properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Mr Malami. The judge directed that the interim forfeiture order would be in place while anyone with legitimate claim to the assets comes forward with proof, to enable the court to decide whether to order a permanent forfeiture of the assets to the federal government. EFCC instituted the forfeiture proceedings following its agents raid on Mr Malamis houses in offices. The raid allegedly led to discovery of arms on some of the premises. Mr Malami has denied the discovery of arms on any premises linked to him, while the EFCC passed the allegation to the SSS for further investigation. SSS arrested Mr Malami in January as he was released from Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja where they were remanded pending when they met their bail conditions set by the trial judge in the money laundering case. The SSS subsequently arraigned Mr Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on 3 February, before Ms Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism financing and firearms charges. The case includes firearms charges and the charges and allegations that Mr Malami, sometime in November 2022, knowingly abetted terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as Attorney General of the Federation. He and his son denied all six counts. But despite the arraignment, Mr Malami has yet to be released from SSS cutody. Meanwhile, Mr Malami has since challenged the anti-graft agencys permanent forfeiture of assets application. In a motion on notice filed on 27 January, Mr Malami, through his team of lawyers led by Mr Daudu, alleged that the anti-corruption agency got the interim order by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation. The former AGF warned against what he described as conflicting outcomes and duplicative litigation. He argued that the action violated his rights to property, presumption of innocence and family life. In the application urging the court to lift the interim forfeiture order and dismiss EFCCs application for permanent forfeiture of the affected assets, Mr Malami listed the values of six sources of income, which by PREMIUM TIMES calculation were summed up to about N14.96 billion (N15 billion). More applicants had also joined Malami in urging the court to vacate the interim order of forfeiture. The asset forfeiture proceedings have been stalled by repeated transfers of the case from one judge to another. Abdulrasheed Maina, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), failed to appear before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Asokoro, Abuja, on Thursday, once again stalling a trial-within-trial convened to determine the admissibility of his extrajudicial statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The development drew a sharp rebuke from trial judge Abubakar Kutigi who threatened to revoke Mr Mainas bail and warned that he would not allow his court to be mocked. If your client cannot come to court, I will revoke his bail and let them go and get him, Mr Kutigi told the defence lawyer. The last time he appeared in court was more than three years ago. I am fed up with this case. Ive been in this profession for over 35 years. I have never seen a case like this. EFCC is prosecuting Mr Maina, already an ex-convict, alongside Ann Igwe Olachi, a civil servant, on nine counts of receiving stolen funds totalling N738 million. Both defendants denied wrongdoing when they were arraigned in 2019. A statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said Thursdays proceedings were thrown into further disarray when Mr. Mainas new lead counsel, A.I. Lemu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appeared before the court, admitting he had only just been briefed about the case and did not even have a copy of the charges against his client. I am coming into this matter anew. I dont even have the charges. I dont have the history of this case. I was briefed on the phone to take over the case, Mr Lemu told the court, requesting a two-week adjournment to familiarise himself with the proceedings. Trial frustration antics The judge, visibly frustrated, noted what he described as the antics of the defence as a deliberate strategy to frustrate his court. However, in the interest of fair hearing, he granted Mr Lemu the two-week relief he sought while issuing a stern warning. I would not allow a senior advocate to come and make a mockery of this court, the judge said. I will give you two weeks to study the matter, and for the trial-within-trial to commence. If he is not in court during the trial-within-trial, I will revoke his bail. Mr Kutigi also noted the high turnover of lawyers representing Mr Maina, a pattern he said significantly contributed to the cases stagnation. Mr Lemu, for his part, pledged to remain on the case to the end. Hopefully, I will be the last lawyer to appear in this case, he said. The judge reminded the court that Mr Maina was released from prison on 25 February 2025, after completing a sentence for money laundering, yet had not appeared in court a single time since his release. Earlier this month, Mr Mainas then-counsel, identified as Achibong, had appeared before Justice Kutigi and presented a hospital referral letter to seek an adjournment, even though the document did not indicate any illness. The judge had at the time refused the adjournment, disclosing that he had secured a commitment from the defence chambers to proceed with or without Mr Mainas presence. The antics have stalled proceedings completely, Mr Kutigi had said in early February, warning he was considering revoking bail to compel the former pension boss to take his trial seriously. On Thursday, the prosecution counsel made two applications. The first sought to strike out the defences objection to the voluntariness of the defendants statements, given the first defendants continued absence which made the sub-trial impossible to conduct. The second application sought a court order compelling Mr Maina to bear the cost incurred by the prosecution in transporting equipment to court for replaying video recordings of the defendants extrajudicial statements. The defence counsel, Mr Lemu, also filed an application challenging the courts jurisdiction to entertain the case, arguing that Mr Maina had already been convicted and had served his jail term. The prosecution acknowledged the application and promised to file its response at the next adjourned date. Mr Kutigi adjourned the matter until 9 March, for commencement of the trial-within-trial and hearing on the jurisdiction application. Backstory Mr Maina was convicted in November 2021 and sentenced to eight years imprisonment by Okon Abang, then of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for money laundering offences involving over N2 billion in pension funds. Mr Abang has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal bench. In his judgement, Mr Abang condemned Mr Mainas treatment of Nigerian pensioners in unusually stark terms. Some have suffered and died while waiting for their reward, the judge said, adding that the facts of this case are sordid, immoral, and morbid and that they portray the moral decadence in Nigeria. Three of Mr Mainas biological siblings two sisters and a brother appeared in court as prosecution witnesses and testified against him. His two sisters told the court how he fraudulently obtained their personal details and utility bills to open bank accounts for his company, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, which he used to perpetrate the fraud. The company was also convicted and ordered wound up by the court. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence in May 2023. Mr Maina was subsequently released on February 25, 2025, on account of good conduct in prison, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service. Last month, a cross-border investigation by PREMIUM TIMES uncovered how Mr Maina allegedly amassed properties worth over $1.3 million in the United States and Dubai between 2010 and 2013 the same period during which the Nigerian government accused him of siphoning millions of dollars from the pension fund he was meant to safeguard. Tope Temokun, the lawyer representing human rights activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for outsourcing Mr Sowores prosecution to a private law firm. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Mr Temokun described the move as part of a dangerous pattern quietly taking root in Nigerias criminal justice system, one that citizens seem to watch in silence. The police filed the case last year, accusing Mr Sowore and Sahara Reporters of conspiring to forge a police wireless message dated 30 July 2025, to create disaffection within the Nigeria Police Force and incite officers against the federal government. The case is one among several that the police filed against Mr Sowore during the two years plus tenure of Mr Egbetokun, whom Mr Sowore habitually referred to as Illegal IGP and accused of inept police leadership and of favouritism in promotion of police officers. Letter served Mr Temokun explained that while they were in court on Wednesday for the forgery trial, the police lawyer presented an authorisation memo from the Ministry of Justice, effectively handing over the prosecution to a private lawyer while the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would cover the cost. The memo indicated that the Nigeria Police Force will bear the cost meaning taxpayers will foot the bill for a private lawyer, Mr Temokun said. Mr Temokun questioned the constitutional and legal basis for outsourcing public prosecutions. He noted that the criminal charge was originally filed under the former Inspector-General of Police solely because Sahara Reporters published a police wireless message. Criminal prosecution under Section 174 of the Constitution is a public trust exercised in the overriding public interest. When prosecutions originate primarily from alleged grievances of public officials, the Attorney-General has a continuing duty to review whether such proceedings still satisfy constitutional tests: public interest, interest of justice, and prevention of abuse of legal process, he said. Mr Temokun warned that state-funded outsourcing risks turning prosecutions into tools of political or personal retribution. Public prosecution cannot become an unlimited outsourcing arrangement at taxpayers expense without demonstrable national prosecutorial priority. The ongoing litigation involving multiple cases linked to criticisms of public officials highlights the urgent need for reform, he warned. He recalled that under the former IGP, almost every criticism from Mr Sowore sparked criminal charges, leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja with a backlog of FRN vs Sowore cases. Cybercrime legislation, originally meant to regulate speech, has been transformed into a tool under which citizens are hunted down and jailed by the police on behalf of the powerful. Every perceived word of disrespect becomes a charge. Courts turn into extensions of personal egos in top offices. If those offended had to pay personally, there might be restraint. But when taxpayers fund this, prosecution becomes unchecked, he explained. The case against Mr Sowore and Sahara Reporters has now been adjourned until 28 May. Mr Temokun expressed hope that the new Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, would review and withdraw the charges. He also urged the AGFs office to develop clear prosecutorial guidelines to prevent criminal proceedings from being perceived as retaliatory and ensure prosecutions remain instruments of justice rather than extensions of administrative decisions. Prosecution must remain an instrument of justice, not merely a continuation of administrative decisions. The credibility of our criminal justice system depends not only on convictions but on restraint, he said. Mr Temokun referenced Sowores ongoing litigation against X (formerly Twitter), spotlighting the continued expenditure of public funds on politically tinged cases with little public benefit. The government rolls out tax reforms to raise revenue from citizens, yet funds continue to be wasted on politically motivated prosecutions. The new IGP must urgently review and discontinue these cases. This is not about Omoyele Sowore alone; it is about preventing state power from mutating into state-funded harassment. Nigerians are not mere subjectsthey are owners of the Republic, and owners have the right to question how their money is spent. AGFs media aide speaks When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the special adviser to the President (Communication and Publicity), office of the AGF, said although he could not immediately confirm the claim of engaging a private prosecutor for Mr Sowores case, the law empowers the attorney-general to make that decision. While he refrained from commenting on the live case in court as it is sub judice to do so, he said aggrieved persons with complaints of violations of their rights should go to court to seek a redress instead of resorting to media campaign. It is also within the powers of the AGF to grant a fiat to a private lawyer to prosecute a case on behalf of the government. Examples abound. Let no one make a fuss of this, he added. He also advised our reporter to seek further information from the court. Background In August 2025, the police charged Mr Sowore and his platform, Sahara Reporters, with three counts, including forgery of a police wireless message dated 30 and 31 July 2025. The police alleged that the defendants forged the wireless message with reference numbers CB:0900/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL 1774 and DTO: 301605/07/2025 and circulated it online to provoke the police and the public against the federal government. Although, they did not contest the content of the message, they claimed the copy circulated by the defendants was a forged copy of the original version with numbers CB:0900/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL 177/174 and DTO: 301605/07/2025. A notable difference between the two documents is in the sgement of the string of numbers starting with VOL. Instead of VOL 177/174 which the police claimed was on the original copy, the allegedly forged copy bore VOL 1774. In addition, they claimed that the signatures on both copies were different, tagging the signature on the copy published by Mr Sowore and Sahara Reporters as fake. However, the message in the circulated copy is undisputed. The wireless message dated 30 July 2025 reminded strategic police formations of the retired police officers protest against poor pensions that took place at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on 21 July 2025, and called for fortification of security around the force headquarters and police TO AVOID REPEAT OF ANY SURPRISE ahead of the second round of the protest. Mr Sowore played active roles in organising The case has started before trial judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Bassey Ibitham, a police officer with the Legal Section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, stated in an affidavit filed along with the charges as part of proof of evidence, that although investigations were still ongoing, the police were ready to proceed with prosecution. Sowore versus police Mr Sowore, a Nigerian activist, former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has faced repeated arrests, detentions and charges from the police and the State Security Service (SSS) over the years. He was a fiery critic of theimmediate-past Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whom he repeatedly referred to as an illegal IGP. This followed the tenure extension granted Mr Egbetokun last year through a controversial amendment to the Police Act. Mr Sowore never desisted from referring to Mr Egbetokun as Illegal IGP despite the charges the police filed against him in January last year over the claim and a recent court order obtained by Mr Egbetokun to restrain Mr Sowore from making defamatory claims against him. Mr Sowore accused the IGP of incompetence, favouritism, and ineptitude. The police have consistently denied the allegations. Before charging him in the wireless message forgery case, the police detained him in July last year for days. Mr Sowore alleged that police officers harmed his right wrist in custody, although the police denied the allegation. He described the arrest, which came on the heels of his active participation in the protest staged by retired police officers against poor pensions, as politically motivated. The Nigerian police subsequently filed the three charges against Mr Sowore and Sahara Reporters. A day before the arraignment, the judge, in a separate case, ordered six banks and financial platforms to release Mr Sowores account details and statements to the police. The Nigerian police requested the information for an ongoing investigation into what they touted as terrorism financing and money laundering allegations against Mr Sowore. But nothing has been heard about the case afterwards. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on Friday arraigned senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome and a co-defendant on 12 charges of forgery and impersonation before the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The prosecution accused Mr Ozekhome and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, of forgery of documents including a passport and an irrevocable power of attorney to lay claim to a property in London. They pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the court granted them bail at N10 million bond each. It comes just days after the AGF office withdrew the original case of three counts and subsequently, within hours, refiled an amended version of the case with 12 counts. The developments took place on Tuesday. Mr Ozekhome was the sole defendant in the earlier charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). The Nation newspaper reported that defence lawyers Tayo Oyetibo and F. R. Onoja, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN)s, applied for their clients bail after they entered their pleas on Friday. The prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a SAN and the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), did not oppose the bail requests. The judge, Chizoba Oji, then granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N10 million with a surety each. The judge said the defendants sureties must own a property in Abuja. She also ordered the defendants to submit their passports to the court to prevent them from travelling outside the country without the courts permission. She gave the defendants a concession to return home should they be unable to meet the conditions before the end of office hours on Friday. But she added that they must fulfil all the conditions by Monday, failing which they would be sent to prison. The amended charges According to the amended charges, Messrs Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni conspired in 2020 alongside the late Jeremiah Useni, a retired general who served as the FCT minister during the regime of Nigerias late dictator, Sani Abacha, and made a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to claim a property in the United Kingdom. Similarly, the prosecution charged Mr Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni of using the false passport to facilitate the claim of the property. According to the prosecution, the document was obtained when Ponfa Useni allegedly falsely personated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character made a Power of Attorney. The prosecution also alleged that Mr Ozekhome helped Ponfa Useni to impersonate Tali Shani in 2020. Together, they allegedly created a fake Irrevocable Power of Attorney to help Mr Ozekhome claim the property. They also allegedly received 18,000 as rent for the property contrary to section 319A of the Penal Code Law, 2009. The prosecution also accused of making a false document titled: RE: REQUEST FOR AUTHENTICATION OF NIGERIAN PASSPORT NO. A07535463 BELONGING TO MR. TALI SHANI dated 4 May 2023, to claim the property. The prosecution said the offences contravened and punishments stipulated under various provisions of the Penal Code Law including sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 363, 364 and 366. How London tribunal exposed alleged fraud, blocks ownership transfer In September 2025, Judge Ewan Paton of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) delivered a judgment blocking Mr Ozekhome from claiming the house in North London. The tribunal held that the case was built on a network of fraud, impersonation, and forged documents. Still, it concluded that the late Mr Useni, former Minister of FCT, was the genuine purchaser of the property in 1993. In August 2021, Mr Ozekhome applied to transfer the property at 79 Randall Avenue into his name, claiming it was a gift from a man who presented himself as Tali Shani in appreciation for legal services. However, the application was challenged in September 2022 by Westfields Solicitors, claiming to represent Ms Tali Shani, who insisted she was the registered owner of the property since 1993 and had never signed any transfer. Ruling on the dispute, Judge Paton of the UK Tribunal ruled that the house was secretly bought in 1993 by the late Mr Useni, former Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, using a false identity. Mr Useni, an army general who died in France in January 2025, was a very influential member of the Sani Abacha government and was even in contention to be head of state following Mr Abachas death in June 1998. Before his death, Mr Useni appeared before the court through a video link in 2024. Contrary to Mr Ozekhomes defence, Mr Useni told the court plainly: I owned it. I bought the property. It is my property. Documents before the tribunal confirmed that the acquisition was made under a false identity, Philips Bincan, a practice consistent with findings by the Royal Court of Jersey in a separate 2022 case that exposed Mr Usenis use of coded names like Tim Shani to conceal wealth. The tribunal therefore ruled that since Mr Shani had no legal title, he could not have transferred the property to Mr Ozekhome. Ownership of the property, the judge said, now rests with whoever secures probate over Mr Usenis English estate. The court found that Mr Ozekhomes defence amounted to a contrived story invented in an attempt to provide a plausible reason for the 2021 transfer. The tribunal concluded that Mr Shani had no connection whatsoever to the 1993 purchase. The London tribunal uncovered fraudulent Nigerian identity records, including a passport, a National Identification Number (NIN), and a Tax Identification Number (TIN) allegedly generated with the connivance of corrupt officials at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Immigration Service, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Ozekhomes defence In his statement at the ICPC, Mr Ozekhome said he was aware of the judgment granted by the First Tier Tribunal in the UK. It was prompted by an objection to my application for the transfer of a property situated at 79 Randall Avenue, London, to me, which was filed by myself and Mr Shani Tali before the H.M. Lands Registry UK. I have seen the judgment now shown to me (albeit an uncertified copy), he stated. This fact about my title to the property, how I came about it, and all have been exhaustively written down and explained to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and I have no further explanation to the same, all issues having been under investigation by the Commission for many months now. Mr Ozekhome further said the ownership had been with him since 2021, adding that everything concerning Mr Tali Shani and himself, as regards evidence, could be found in the judgment. In the UK court documents, Mr Ozekhome admitted that he never knew Mr Shani until January 2019, more than two decades after the disputed purchase, and had no personal knowledge of how the property was acquired or managed in earlier years. His confidence in the claim, he explained, stemmed largely from his long-standing relationship with Mr Useni, whom he described as both a client and friend for over 20 years. The Nigerian lawyer told the tribunal that after being introduced to Mr Shani in 2019, he undertook several legal services for him and that the property was later gifted to him in 2021 as an expression of gratitude. Nigerian court orders property seizure In November last year, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) obtained an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze the property on the basis that it was shadily acquired in 1993 by the late Mr Useni. The CCB, an agency concerned with asset declaration of public officers and enforcement of other provisions of the code of conduct for public officers, ultimately aimed to secure an order of final forfeiture of the property to the federal government. While issuing the order of interim forfeiture for the property in November last year, Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Binta Nyako, directed the publication of the order in a newspaper to invite whoever was interested in the property to come forward to prove legitimate acquisition. But weeks after the 14-day period lapsed, the CCB reported to the judge in January that no person or entity has come forward to claim the property or establish any legitimate interest. CCB stated this in an application filed on 22 December 2025 through its lawyer, Sufyan Ahmad, to seek the final forfeiture of the property. Mr Ahmed argued that the property sought to be forfeited was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity under Sections 17 and Section 19 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (POCA), 2022. A federal team of forensic pathologists has exhumed 105 bodies from mass graves in the Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, as part of an ongoing investigation into the 13 June 2025 attack on the area. Sahara Reporters reported on Friday that the team, led by Saad Ahmed from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, arrived in Yelwata on Monday alongside operatives of the Intelligence Response Team from Abuja. The report said members of the Presidential Medical Delegation and officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency worked with the federal investigators during the exercise. Security sources cited in the report said the graves were identified on Monday under police protection. Exhumation began the following day, when seven bodies were initially recovered. The team continued work on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total number of bodies exhumed to 105 from 13 mass graves located in and around the community. Seven corpses were initially exhumed by the IRT-led federal investigators for inquest. The exercise continued, and further development will be communicated, a security source was quoted as saying. The exhumation follows proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where nine suspects were arraigned on 2 February before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in connection with the Yelwata killings. During the proceedings, the court stressed the need for forensic evidence to ensure a fair trial and proper determination of culpability. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the Federal Government had deployed forensic experts to Benue after the court underscored the evidentiary value of scientific analysis in the prosecution. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation subsequently commenced prosecution of suspects arrested over the incident. READ ALSO: Nigerian government begins forensic probe of Yelwata killings The 13 June 2025 attack in Yelwata left scores of residents dead and triggered renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of Benue State, particularly in Guma Local Government Area, which has recorded repeated episodes of violence in recent years. Authorities said the ongoing forensic inquest is intended to establish the identities of the victims and strengthen the evidentiary basis of the case already before the court. Further updates are expected as investigations continue. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State on Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a move that significantly reshapes the political landscape of the North-east and further weakens Nigerias main opposition party. Mr Fintiri announced the decision in a statewide broadcast on Friday from Government House, Yola, saying the move followed wide consultations and was intended to align Adamawa with the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu. The governor described the defection as necessary to support the Tinubu administrations Renewed Hope Agenda and ensure long-term stability and development for the state. Structure moves with the governor The governor said the decision includes his cabinet members, elected local government chairpersons and party executive members across the states 226 wards and 21 local government areas. His announcement followed the resignation of 15 members of the state House of Assembly, including the Speaker, from the PDP a development that shifted the balance of the 25-member legislature toward the APC. Although governors face no constitutional restriction on defection, the same does not hold for legislators. Legal implications for defecting lawmakers Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) require federal and state lawmakers to vacate their seats if they defect before the end of their term, unless the move is justified by a division within their political party. In Abegunde v. Ondo State House of Assembly (2015), the Supreme Court held that personal grievances or internal disagreements do not amount to the type of division contemplated by the Constitution. The court ruled that only a demonstrable and legally recognisable faction within the party structure can shield defecting lawmakers from losing their seats a threshold that has not been difficult for lawmakers to establish. Whether the Adamawa lawmakers retain their seats may ultimately depend on judicial interpretation. Symbolism for Atikus political base The defection carries national symbolism. Adamawa is the home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, one of the most influential figures in the fledgling opposition coalition the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Mr Fintiri secured re-election in 2023 after a closely contested poll, winning 430,861 votes against the APC candidates 398,738, according to official results. His movement to the APC effectively transfers the PDPs governing structure in the state to the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle. Although Mr Fintiri moved with much of the states political machinery, Adamu Atiku Abubakar, commissioner for works and energy and son of the former vice president, did not join the defection, according to sources familiar with the development. It is not yet clear whether he will keep his cabinet position in the state government. PDP now down to three governors With Adamawas shift, the PDP now controls three states Oyo, Bauchi and Zamfara governed respectively by Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and Dauda Lawal. Political analysts say the steady stream of defections from the opposition to the APC since the 2023 elections is narrowing the space for competitive politics at the state level. Mr Fintiri becomes one of several governors to realign with the ruling party in recent months, reinforcing the APCs expanding control across the federation. READ ALSO: Why I joined the APC Governor Fintiri What this means APC consolidation: The ruling party strengthens its hold in the North-east, a region critical in national electoral arithmetic. It now runs five of the six states in the region, following the earlier defection og Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Opposition strain: With fewer states under its control, the PDPs administrative leverage and funding base diminish. 2027 implications: State political structures remain central to mobilisation and presidential campaign logistics. The Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, has validated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elective convention held between 15 and 16 November 2025, in Ibadan, introducing a new twist to the volatile leadership crisis that has engulfed the party in the last three years. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convention produced Kabiru Turaki as the National Chairman of the party. Delivering judgement on Friday, Judge Ladiran Akintola affirmed that the convention was conducted in full compliance with relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria. The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misbau Adetunmbi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Adelabu. Mr Akintola held that the convention, organised by recognised leadership of the party, satisfied all laid down legal requirements as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to Mr Akinola, it also satisfied the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, and other applicable electoral laws. The court found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise. In the same proceedings, the court dismissed a motion on notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim, a SAN, on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others. The judge described the applications as lacking in merit. Earlier, the court had rejected an application by Mr Ibrahim seeking to join his clients as parties to the suit. Mr Akintola ruled that the joinder application was unsubstantiated and consequently dismissed it. It would be recalled that Mr Turaki faction of the PDP had filed the suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, seeking recognition of the convention held in Ibadan in November last year and validation of the NWC that emerged at the convention. Fridays judgement runs counter to an earlier verdict of the Federal High Court in Ibadan. The Oyo State High Court, which gave the latest decision, and the Federal High Court are of coordinate jurisdictions, meaning one is not superior to other. The Federal High Court had earlier nullified the PDP national convention. In the judgment, the judge, Uche Agomoh barred Mr Turaki and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party. Mr Agomoh also held that the Caretaker Committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, pending the conduct of a valid national convention. Relying on Mr Agomohs judgement, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) de-recognised Mr Turakis leadership and recognised acting chair Mohammed Abdulrahman, whose group aligns with FCT minister Nyesom Wike. With the latest judgement on Friday, it is still unclear if INEC will revert to recognising Mr Turakis leadership. INEC usually adopts the judgement that is either the latest in time or given by a superior court in a see-saw situation created by fast-paced unpredictable judicial interventions. Crisis to linger after Fridays judgement Fridays judgement, the latest development in the crisis, is far from resolving the volatile leadership crisis within the party, especially as the matter is now before the Court of Appeal. On 13 February, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reversed judgement judgment on the dispute. After hearing parties, the three-member panel said the date of judgement would be communicated to them. But the date of judgement has not been communicated yet as of Friday. The appeals stemmed mainly from separate decisions handed down by two Federal High Court judges in Abuja James Omotosho and Peter Lifu. There were also counter-decisions from the Oyo State High Court and recently the Federal High Court, both in Ibadan, regarding the disputed convention. Despite the rulings stopping the convention ahead of the scheduled date, the organisers proceeded with it in Ibadan, Oyo State, between 15 and 16 November 2025, producing Tanimu Turaki, as national chairperson of the PDP, alngside other national officers. There is another related case before Joyce Abdulmalik, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, filed on 21 November last year by a rival faction aligned with the FCT minister, Mr Wike, to restrain the Mr Turaki-led group from representing the party and to bar the police and the State Security Service (SSS) from granting them access to the PDP secretariat in Abuja. On 23 January, Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the case until 20 February in deference to the Court of Appeal over the the appeals regarding the same subject matter of the Ibadan convention pending before it. Ms Abdumalik rescheduled the case for 20 February to take report from the Court of Appeal regarding the appeals. null The participation of Islamic scholars in politics is not to seek power, but to ensure that power is a means of establishing justice, serving people, and protecting the weak. In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy All praise be to Allah, who bestowed His grace upon the Muslim believers by sending to them Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the truthful and trustworthy Prophet, endowed with great character. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah exalt and send peace to him, his family, and his companions in abundance. To proceed: Dear brothers and sisters! The political leadership of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was a unique amalgamation of spiritual authority, moral integrity, and administrative genius, transforming a fractured society into a united, just, peaceful and powerful state. Shortly after migrating to Madinah in 622 AD, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) drafted a document known as the Sahifat al-Madinah (The Charter of Madinah). This was not merely a religious charter, but a political constitution for a state composed of Muslims, Jews, and pagans. He established the concept of a nation-state where citizenship, not tribal affiliation, was the basis of rights. The charter guaranteed freedom of religion, equal rights, and security for all signees. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) introduced the principle of Shurah (consultation) in all state affairs. He empowered his companions and followers to share their opinions, even contradicting him if necessary. Later in history, when Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab attempted to limit dowries, a woman challenged him using a Quranic verse. Umar immediately accepted his mistake, saying, The woman is right and Umar is wrong. This culture of accountability, where the leader is answerable to the people, was instilled by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). When a noblewoman from the Makhzum tribe committed theft, some companions attempted to intercede on her behalf to avoid punishment. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) refused, stating: Even if Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off. He emphasised that a leader must be impartial, ensuring justice is applied equally to the rich and the poor, regardless of status. In 628 CE, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) signed a treaty (Al-Hudaibiyah) with the people of Makkah that appeared disadvantageous to the Muslims. Many companions were upset by the terms. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) showed immense political wisdom and foresight. He knew that the temporary, peaceful truce would allow Islam to spread far more rapidly than in battle. This decision, often criticised at the time, became a major, long-term political victory for the Ummah. After years of persecution, when Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) conquered Makkah, he could have taken revenge. Instead, he declared, Go, for you are free. He pardoned his former enemies, turning potential rivals into loyal allies and ensuring long-term peace in the region. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) completely redefined the concept of political power. He did not live in a palace, nor did he surround himself with bodyguards. He said: The leader of a community is their servant. He participated in the building of the Mosque, walked with the poor, and felt their plight. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was trusted even by his enemies. He built alliances based on morality and honesty. The Madinan state offered equal rights to non-Muslims. He trained companions to be leaders, not just followers. May Allah grant us the ability to learn from the supreme political leadership of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), ameen. Respected brothers and sisters! In the other hand, and in the world we are living today, the Islamic scholars participation in politics is viewed as a vital, often obligatory, duty to ensure good governance, uphold justice, and protect Islamic values, particularly in democratic systems. While some people may argue that direct involvement in politics risks compromising a scholars religious authority, many contend that active participation by knowledgeable individuals is crucial to preventing oppression, corruption, and marginalisation. But many Islamic scholars argue that participating in politics (in elections, in governance) is a duty to maximise benefits and minimise harm to the Ummah. Active involvement is seen as necessary for safeguarding the interests, identity, and symbols of Muslims in a secular or pluralistic societies. Non-participation is often deemed suicidal, as it may result in non-Muslims having total control over Muslim affairs. Islamic scholars are encouraged to enter politics to sanitise the system, fight corruption, and promote justice. A major, opposing view holds that Islamic scholars should maintain distance from direct partisan politics to avoid losing their credibility, as mistakes made in political office might be perceived as failings of Islam itself. Examples such as Prophet Yusuf requesting to be the finance minister in a non-Muslim administration are cited as evidence that participating in governance is permitted to achieve good. Islamic scholars are expected to guide the public on the importance of participating in the democratic process. They play a role in holding political office holders accountable, ensuring they work for the general well-being of society. Islamic scholars often act as advocates for justice and ethical behaviour in public life. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: The scholars are the successors of the Prophets. [Abu Dawud] If the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was not only a spiritual guide but also the head of a state, leader of a community, and architect of a just, organised society, his successors (Islamic scholars) cannot limit their role to the Mosque alone. When Islamic scholars withdraw from politics, the vacuum is filled by those who do not value Islamic principles, leading to corruption and oppression. The participation of Islamic scholars in politics is not to seek power, but to ensure that power is a means of establishing justice, serving people, and protecting the weak. Many argue that politics is a dirty game and Islamic scholars should remain pure from it. Dear brothers and sisters! If the water is dirty, do you abandon the river, or do you clean it? When Islamic scholars abandon the political arena, the dirty game only becomes dirtier. Islamic scholars in politics act as the moral compass (Shurah) for leaders, enjoining good and forbidding evil (See Surah Ali-Imran, 3:104). Politics is a trust (Amanah), and who better to hold it than those who fear Allah? The great scholar of Islam, Imam Malik (Rahimahullah) was once pressured by the governor of Madinah to endorse a forced, invalid oath of allegiance. Despite being threatened and, in some narrations, beaten until his shoulders were dislocated, Imam Malik refused to surrender his religious integrity to political pressure. This story highlights that a scholar in politics must never become a rubber stamp for tyranny. A scholars, true, strong, and powerful role in politics is to stand by the truth, even if it hurts their own standing. The notion that voting or political participation is strictly prohibited (haram) is a simplistic interpretation that harms the Muslim Ummah, especially in the world we are living today. Therefore Islamic Scholars often participate in democratic processes not to endorse every action, but to participate in governance within Shariah limits-choosing the lesser of two evils to minimise harm and protect the Ummah. The Quran (Surah Yusuf, 12:55) tells us that Prophet Yusuf (AS) asked to be appointed as the treasurer of Egypt, saying, Set me over the storehouses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows. Here is a Prophet of Allah engaging directly in the administration (politics) of a government that was not yet operating under divine law, for the sake of public welfare. If a Prophet of Allah can engage in statecraft to prevent famine and protect people, his followers also can participate in contemporary systems to bring justice and equity. While participation is important, the Islamic scholars integrity is their armour. Islamic scholars must never use their religious standing to legitimise injustice or to clothe political bankruptcy in the robes of popular religion. Finally, know that, politics is a means to spread peace and virtue, not to hoard power. Decision-making must be collaborative. Inaction leads to marginalisation. Islamic scholars must remain, in their hearts and actions, servants of Allah, not servants of a political party. All praise is due only to The Almighty Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the final Messenger and the seal of Prophets. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217. This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Ramadan 10, 1447 AH (27 February, 2026). If Abuja can leverage Washingtons renewed attention to decisively weaken insurgent groups, restore agricultural productivity, and rebuild displaced communities while simultaneously maintaining constructive ties with Moscow and Beijing Nigeria could finally turn the tide against a decades-old conflict and secure its economic future with other emerging economies. The United States Congress has released a report outlining recommendations for Nigeria as it grapples with persistent insecurity. Framed as a strategic reset in USNigeria relations, the proposals call for a comprehensive bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja focused on combating terrorism, protecting vulnerable communities, strengthening economic cooperation, and countering the growing influence of Russia and China in West Africa. The recommendations, emerging from a joint position of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and shared publicly by Congressman Riley Moore on 24 February, centre on what US lawmakers describe as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change. At the heart of the proposal is a far-reaching security and economic pact. The Congress urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strike a bilateral agreement with the US Government to protect vulnerable Christian communities from violent persecution, eliminate jihadist terror activity, deepen economic cooperation, and counter adversarial influence from the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation. Under the proposed framework, Nigeria would commit to co-funding humanitarian support for internally displaced persons in the Middle Belt, strengthen early-warning systems, deploy rapid-response security forces, and restore farmlands devastated by armed groups. The committees also recommended expanded counterterrorism collaboration, divestment from Russian military hardware in favour of American defence systems, and the possible provision of excess US defence equipment. Further measures include sanctions against perpetrators of religious violence, visa restrictions, tighter oversight of US aid disbursement, a Government Accountability Office audit of American assistance to Nigeria, and a National Intelligence Estimate on sectarian violence. Lawmakers also encouraged deeper coordination with partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, reforms to the Foreign Military Sales process, and strengthened US diplomatic staffing in Nigeria. The characterisation of Sharia law as inherently synonymous with persecution is particularly reductive. In several northern states, Sharia operates primarily in matters of personal and family law for Muslims, alongside Nigerias secular constitutional framework, which applies to all citizens, regardless of faith. Unsurprisingly, aspects of the report have drawn criticism from within Nigeria. Proposals touching on the abolition of Sharia law and a wholesale decoupling from Russia and China as security and economic partners, have been met with resistance and understandably so. In certain passages, the tone of the recommendations echoes the language of a patron addressing a subordinate. Nigeria is a sovereign state, not a protectorate. The characterisation of Sharia law as inherently synonymous with persecution is particularly reductive. In several northern states, Sharia operates primarily in matters of personal and family law for Muslims, alongside Nigerias secular constitutional framework, which applies to all citizens, regardless of faith. Its adoption in the early 2000s reflected the democratic will of Muslim-majority populations seeking to live in accordance with their religious convictions. To frame its existence as incompatible with modernity risks imposing a singular cultural lens on a plural society. Yet, neocolonial anxieties should not blind us to strategic realities. Since 2009, terrorist groups such as Boko Haram have unleashed devastation across parts of Nigeria, displacing millions and crippling local economies. While Russia and China have maintained defence and economic ties with Abuja, their engagement in Nigerias counterterrorism struggle has been comparatively restrained and generally unspirited. Washingtons recent posture though at times rhetorically abrasive signals an unmistakable intentionality. In October 2025, the US designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom issues. What initially appeared to be diplomatic brinkmanship evolved into sustained engagement between US lawmakers and Nigerias Office of the National Security Adviser under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The task before President Tinubu is therefore not to choose sides in a new great-power contest, but to extract maximum strategic value from all partnerships, without compromising Nigerias sovereignty or long-term interests. Diplomacy, in this context, demands the agility of a fox and the steadiness of a statesman. That engagement culminated in tangible cooperation, including US-assisted air operations against terrorist targets in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025, conducted with the authorisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. By early 2026, US military presence and security collaboration in Nigeria had expanded noticeably, reflecting a deepening operational partnership. For the Tinubu administration, this moment presents both opportunity and peril. On one hand, enhanced US intelligence sharing, equipment transfers, and operational coordination could significantly degrade terrorist networks and stabilise vulnerable regions. On the other, Nigerias longstanding foreign policy of nonalignment and its growing economic ties with BRICS-aligned powers requires careful calibration. China remains a critical infrastructure financier; Russia remains a defence partner; both are influential players in global energy and mineral markets that intersect with Nigerias long-term economic ambitions. The task before President Tinubu is therefore not to choose sides in a new great-power contest, but to extract maximum strategic value from all partnerships, without compromising Nigerias sovereignty or long-term interests. Diplomacy, in this context, demands the agility of a fox and the steadiness of a statesman. If Abuja can leverage Washingtons renewed attention to decisively weaken insurgent groups, restore agricultural productivity, and rebuild displaced communities while simultaneously maintaining constructive ties with Moscow and Beijing Nigeria could finally turn the tide against a decades-old conflict and secure its economic future with other emerging economies. The US Congress report may have been framed in Washington, but whether it becomes a turning point in Nigerias security trajectory will ultimately depend on decisions made in Abuja. Umar Farouk Bala is a political and foreign affairs analyst. He writes from Abuja and can be reached at: [email protected]. For the Nigeria Police to truly fulfil its mandate, it is essential to create an environment in which merit and professionalism are consistently rewarded, rather than allowing patronage and favouritism to dictate advancement and responsibility. Only by restoring integrity and purpose to the Force, starting with the four pillars that prioritise discipline, meritocracy, and accountability, can we return the soul to the organisation and empower it to protect the nation, effectively. If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges One goes to the unprotected those, precisely, who need the laws protection most! and listens to their testimony. James Baldwin I was watching the pipping of the new Acting Inspector General of Police on television when I saw the PCSO to the President attempt to adjust the IGPs beret. The military instinct in me, forged in military school, immediately recoiled at the sight; it felt sacrilegious. I struggled to imagine a world in which a junior officer would dare to touch the beret of a serving, retired, or even dying Chief of Army, Naval, or Air Staff. Upon making inquiries, I learnt that the officer in question was a Cadet Inspector in 2002, and by 2025 had risen to the position of Commissioner of Police. Now, I cannot say how many terrorists he may have neutralised in those 23 years, whether he developed the forces first local drones, or invented a novel system for tracking cyber-criminals or any internal mechanism to account for such a rapid rise. However, I do know that a thoroughbred officer would never touch the beret of his IGP, especially when it is not in his place to do so. This small gesture signals that something in the system has gone deeply wrong. While all the services have pathways for special promotions, the Nigerian Police Forces system appears to be the most abused, from what I have learnt. Contrast this with the Army: we should recall when the president attempted to promote his ADC to an undeserved rank. The Army system stood its ground against this. It was reported that two former Chiefs of Army Staff met with the President to ensure the integrity of the rank structure was maintained. That is a system working. How come its different with the NPF? When we observe how politicised, nepotised, and favouritised the Police have become, it becomes clear why the current structure cannot effectively address contemporary security challenges. Law enforcement agencies thrive only within strong cultures; they must have souls! We have watched the political class capture or weaken our religious, traditional, judicial, and civil service institutions. While the military are not immune, they have resisted total capture because the soft issues, discipline, meritocracy, and lower levels of tribalism, are still structurally prevalent. Special promotions have become a tool of patronage, rather than rewards for valour. We must amend the Police Act to cap these promotions by, at most, two per cent of the annual total. No officer should be allowed to double-leap ranks, and every special promotion must be backed by a published, audited citation of gallantry, technological breakthrough or whatever the criteria may be. An officer must mature in his/her rank before s/he is deemed fit to lead others. To make matters worse, the political class has burdened the Force with the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Ministry of Police Affairs. To what end? Media reports suggest that the PSC often acts more as a bureaucratic nuisance than a support system. This was confirmed by an interview I listened to recently involving the former IGP and head of the PSC, Mr Mike Okiro. Then there is the Ministry of Police Affairs, layered alongside the Ministry of Interior, and both filled with visionless politicians who distract the Police from their core mandate. Why do we have multiple ministries superintending over these paramilitary agencies? They should be streamlined perhaps channeled through a single Ministry of Interior for budgetary purposes. As it stands, having the PSC handle recruitment, while occasionally interfering in the IGPs operational matters, creates a structural conflict that undermines the Force. A Blueprint for Structural Rebirth To restore the soul of the Nigeria Police, we must move beyond the tired conversations of poor funding and low training and address the structural rot in the Force through four radical pillars: Ending the Abuse of Special Promotions Special promotions have become a tool of patronage, rather than rewards for valour. We must amend the Police Act to cap these promotions by, at most, two per cent of the annual total. No officer should be allowed to double-leap ranks, and every special promotion must be backed by a published, audited citation of gallantry, technological breakthrough or whatever the criteria may be. An officer must mature in his/her rank before s/he is deemed fit to lead others. The Federal Character principle is a tool for diversity at the point of entry, not a ceiling for excellence. It should be applied strictly during recruitment to ensure national representation. However, once an officer is in the system, promotion must be blind to ethnicity or state of origin. From Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Inspector General (DIG), the only relevant metrics should be performance, discipline, and competitive examination. Dissolving Political Bureaucracy The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Ministry of Police Affairs have become bureaucratic nuisances that distract the Force from its core mandate. We should dissolve these entities and streamline oversight. Purely oversight functions can be handled by the Ministry of Interior, with minimal interference, while recruitment and internal discipline should be returned to a specialised Police Board, chaired by the IGP, and with members drawn from retired Justices or other categories of civil servants, to enhance the integrity of the processes. Meritocracy Over Federal Character The Federal Character principle is a tool for diversity at the point of entry, not a ceiling for excellence. It should be applied strictly during recruitment to ensure national representation. However, once an officer is in the system, promotion must be blind to ethnicity or state of origin. From Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Inspector General (DIG), the only relevant metrics should be performance, discipline, and competitive examination. You cannot have a quota-based Commissioner leading a tactical operation, if s/he isnt the most qualified person for the job. Strengthening the Culture of Discipline Discipline is the glue that holds any armed service together. I know they have the Force Provost Marshal, but I doubt if he has the autonomy to discipline any officer, regardless of his/her political connections. Most who join the Nigeria Police do so with a sense of dignity and patriotism. The institution has enormous potential to curb our security challenges, including the terrorism challenges that have bedevilled us for over 15 years. Yes, they are supposed to do this and can do it, but they cannot do so while their internal structure is designed to favour the connected over the competent. For the Nigeria Police to truly fulfil its mandate, it is essential to create an environment in which merit and professionalism are consistently rewarded, rather than allowing patronage and favouritism to dictate advancement and responsibility. Only by restoring integrity and purpose to the Force, starting with the four pillars that prioritise discipline, meritocracy, and accountability, can we return the soul to the organisation and empower it to protect the nation, effectively. Umar Yakubu is the Executive Director of Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity. Soldiers of the Unmanned Systems Forces (UBS) struck a Russian Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system on February 27 using a Ukrainian-made "middle strike" weapon in Mariupol on the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant, the UBS press service reported on its Telegram channel. "On February 27, operators of the 1st Battalion of the 413th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment Raid of the Unmanned Systems Forces struck an enemy Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system with a Ukrainian-made middle strike weapon. The strike took place in the Donetsk direction, in the Mariupol area, on the territory of the Azovstal plant," the UBS message stated on Friday. It is reported that the estimated cost of the destroyed complex is approximately $15 million. The Pantsir-S1 is one of the key elements of Russias air defense. Middle Strike is a class of Ukrainian medium-range attack drones (approximately 100 km and further) designed to strike targets in the enemys rear. Among the well-known UAVs of this class are models such as Bulava, Darts, and FP-2. They serve as an intermediate link between FPV drones (short range) and Deep Strike drones (long-range strikes). Undoubtedly, Peter Ndubuisi Mbahs return to Enugu State politics in 2023, after more than a decade of absence, ushered in a new dawn in the governance and political landscape of the state. This is largely because Governor Mbah is not a conventional career politician who views every issue through a narrow political prism. Rather, he is an astute entrepreneur and pragmatic, intentional leader with a deep sense of responsibility, humanity, diligence, and responsiveness. His previous service as Chief of Staff to the former governor and Commissioner for Finance in Enugu State, coupled with his achievements and experience in both the private and public sectors, adequately prepared him for the complex challenges of governance and politics. This preparation has manifested clearly in the manner he has managed the affairs of the state since assuming office, without crisis or turmoil. He has navigated the tough terrain of governance and the murky waters of politics with remarkable dexterity, to the admiration of those who believed in his capacity ab initio and to the surprise of those who doubted him. From extending an olive branch to his political rivals after the 2023 elections and fostering unity within his political fold, to defecting with a broad base of political leaders and supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC), organising a hitch-free local government election, reconciling factions within the party, and overseeing peaceful congresses in the state, Governor Mbah has demonstrated that he is not only a phenomenon in governance but also a master strategist in politics. His political sagacity and understanding of the arithmetic and undercurrents of politics have been evident. Handling sensitive and potentially divisive political issues ahead of the 2027 general elections required tact, restraint, inclusiveness, and strategic foresight, all of which Governor Mbah has displayed. The results of this approach are visible across various sectors and across the length and breadth of the state. One of the latest remarkable feats of Mr Mbah is the seamless and peaceful conduct of the APC congresses in Enugu State, at a time when several other states have witnessed conflicts over similar exercises. The APC National Panel that monitored the congresses in the state, led by Solomon Funkekeme, attested to the unity, transparency, and convivial atmosphere that characterized the process. Speaking after monitoring the election of new local government party executives and three-man national delegates at Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA, Mr Funkekeme commended the governors leadership and the peaceful conduct of party members, describing the Enugu APC as a model worthy of emulation. He emphasized that unity is foundational to progress and noted the absence of dissenting voices during the exercise. Similarly, the APC National Appeal Panel for the Enugu State ward and local government congresses gave the exercise a clean bill of health, praising the prevailing peace, unity, and internal democracy within the party. The Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Mrs Nkechi Chukwura, alongside her team, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the congresses, noting the absence of rancour, protests, or petitions throughout their stay in the state. She commended Governor Mbah for providing an enabling environment and also appreciated the partys caretaker leadership in the state. According to her, the developmental strides witnessed across the state reflect the governors personality, emphasizing that such transformation is only possible in an atmosphere of peace and unity. With the peaceful conduct of the APC congresses demonstrating unity and internal harmony, largely attributed to Governor Mbahs inclusive and accommodating leadership style, the coast appears clearer for the party and the people of Enugu State as preparations gradually build toward the 2027 general elections. Governor Mbahs defection to the APC has, by many accounts, reshaped and strengthened the partys structure in the state. The once less-dominant party in the Southeast now enjoys broader acceptance and renewed momentum in Enugu State and across the region. No doubt, Governor Mbahs governance and political model, anchored on inclusiveness, strategic thinking, peace-building, and performance-driven leadership, has positioned him as both a stabilizing force within his party and a transformative figure in Enugu States evolving political history. Mr Ezea, a journalist wrote from Enugu. The recent so-called coalition under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) stands as a textbook example of a wild goose chase in Nigerian politics, an exercise in futility that promises much but delivers little beyond recycled rhetoric and fleeting headlines. Launched amid high-profile defections in 2025, this grouping unites figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who departed the Peoples Democratic Party after years of internal strife, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark installed as national chairman, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers Governor and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola appointed as national secretary. The coalitions stated aim, to rescue Nigeria from one-party dominance and democratic decline, sounds noble on paper, yet it quickly reveals itself as an uneasy alliance of disunited politicians whose lengthy tenures in powerful public offices produced scant evidence of genuine progress for the average citizen. These leaders, having held sway over national treasuries, state budgets, and policy levers for decades, repeatedly prioritised elite consolidation, personal vendettas, and short-term political survival over sustained investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, security, and economic diversification that could have lifted millions out of poverty and despair. Mr Atiku Abubakars record as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under Olusegun Obasanjo exemplifies this pattern. During that era, widespread unemployment persisted, rural electrification lagged, and corruption scandals tarnished the administrations legacy, leaving many Nigerians in the same precarious conditions they endured before. Mr Atikus subsequent multiple presidential runs, including in 2007, 2019, and 2023, often highlighted his experience, but his focus remained on power acquisition rather than transformative governance. Peter Obi, governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 (with interruptions), promoted himself as a frugal manager who saved funds and invested in education and health, but assessments reveal persistent challenges: many schools remained under-resourced, healthcare facilities inadequate for a growing population, and rural roads often impassable during rains, as constituents continued to voice frustrations long after his exit. Nasir El-Rufais governorship in Kaduna from 2015 to 2023 was marred by allegations of authoritarian tactics, escalated ethno-religious conflicts, farmer-herder clashes that displaced communities, and insecurity that claimed lives and disrupted livelihoods, undermining claims of effective leadership. During Rotimi Amaechis tenures as Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation, there was persistent oil theft, militancy in the Niger Delta, unfinished projects, and corruption probes, which left riverine populations in ongoing hardship and environmental degradation. David Marks extended legislative career, culminating in Senate presidency from 2007 to 2015, aligned with periods of high oil revenues yet minimal trickle-down benefits, with bloated national budgets failing to translate into improved living standards or reduced inequality. These individuals, having commanded significant resources and authority, consistently fell short of using those platforms to foster inclusive growth or build resilient systems. Their tenures often featured policy flip-flops, patronage networks, and a focus on personal or zonal aggrandizement rather than national cohesion. Now, out of power and facing the ruling All Progressives Congresss incumbency, they converge under the ADC not out of shared ideology but mutual desperation for relevance and a return to influence. This disunity manifests plainly in ongoing internal frictions: factional disputes over control, whispers of potential defections, and public spats. Even Mr Peter Obi himself acknowledged in a Premium Times interview on 7 July 2025, that some coalition partners were old and failed politicians, yet he justified collaboration by citing their experience, a concession that inadvertently underscores the groups reliance on recycled figures rather than fresh vision. This ADC arrangement starkly contrasts with the coalition that formed the All Progressives Congress in 2013-2015, which merged the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the PDP under a focused anti-incumbency drive against Goodluck Jonathans administration. That merger succeeded through strategic compromises, a unified presidential candidate in Muhammadu Buhari, and clear messaging around change, corruption fight, and security, propelling the APC to victory in 2015. The ADC, however, lacks such discipline: it emerged from personal fallouts rather than broad consensus, features no dominant unifying figure, and grapples with ticket contention that could fracture it further. Reports of poor performances in by-elections and local polls, especially the recently concluded by-elections in Kano and Rivers States, as well as the Chairmanship Elections in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, illustrate the coalitions inability to convert noise into votes. The members appear more driven by a raw hunger for power they once wielded but failed to deploy effectively than by any coherent program capable of addressing Nigerias multifaceted crises. These politicians display profound confusion, lurching from one platform to another in pursuit of relevance while demonstrating limited capacity to harness executive authority for public good. Mr Atikus repeated bids without triumph, Mr Obis shift from PDP to LP to ADC, Mr El-Rufais exit from APC amid controversies, and Mr Amaechis long-standing opposition posture all suggest opportunism over principle. Stripped of incumbency perks, they now assemble under a borrowed banner, projecting optimism that feels increasingly detached from reality. This power hunger, untethered to proven competence, reveals itself in the coalitions struggles to build grassroots structures, resolve leadership tussles, or counter the APCs institutional advantages. Strong grounds exist for optimism that should this ADC coalition make it onto the 2027 ballot, it will deliver the easiest and most comfortable victory yet for the All Progressives Congress. The coalitions emergence thus functions more as self-sabotage than serious challenge, ensuring APC consolidation. This wild goose chase, built on disunity and past failures, promises not renewal but reinforcement of the status quo, leaving the electorate with renewed disillusionment rather than hope. *Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu is the National Vice-Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Polo hosted an intimate dinner on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at Vici Restaurant, Lagos, Nigeria to celebrate the launch of the Montblanc Romeo and Juliet Collection. The evening brought together Montblanc partners, Polo leadership, and a select group of clients for a refined brand experience that combined fine dining with Montblancs tradition of literary storytelling and craftsmanship. Inspired by Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, the collection reinterprets themes of love and conflict through Montblancs iconic Meisterstuck design language, expressed through contrasting tones, intricate engravings, and refined detailing. Speaking at the event, Mr Johann Dahan, Managing Director for Africa at Montblanc, described the collection as a thoughtful reinterpretation of Shakespeares enduring romance, expressed through the Maisons legacy of artistry and precision. Addressing guests at the dinner, Mr John Obayuwana, Managing Director of Polo, remarked: This collection captures what we value at Polo artistry, storytelling, and emotional connection. Hosting this intimate dinner allowed us to share a narrative that has shaped culture for centuries, and to celebrate the launch alongside our clients and Montblanc partners in a setting that reflects the spirit of the collection. Guests concluded the evening by engaging closely with the collection, reaffirming Montblancs legacy of translating literature into design, and Polos continued commitment to curating elevated brand experiences rooted in heritage and craftsmanship. About Montblanc Founded in 1906, Montblanc is renowned for excellence in craftsmanship and design across writing instruments, watches, leather goods, and accessories, guided by a legacy of innovation and refined self-expression. Cargo operations are set to commence at the Gateway International Airport within the next 30 to 45 days, with the first cargo aircraft from Europe expected to land at the facility. Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known during an on-the-spot assessment of work at the Industrial Platform, Remo Free Trade Zone, located along the SagamuIjebu-Ode Expressway on Thursday. The Industrial Platform, Remo, is the Special Agro-Processing Zone project situated between Iperu and Ilishan. Conceived toward the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative is designed to drive agro-industrial development and position Ogun State as a leading processing and export hub. Governor Abiodun disclosed that the access road linking the SagamuBenin Expressway directly to the airport would soon be opened to the public, describing it as a critical piece of infrastructure aligned with global best practices. This road tees off from the SagamuBenin Expressway and leads straight to the airport, the governor said. In line with global best practices, an airport road cannot be winding or meandering; it must run straight from the main highway to the airport. This road connects directly to the airport and also passes through the processing zone, enabling people to see the level of activity within the zone. He explained that the concept of the project was originally introduced to his administration by the African Development Bank and was subsequently refined into what is now known as the Industrial Platform. Governor Abiodun expressed optimism about commissioning the first of the processing companies within the next few months, noting that several firms have already commenced construction of their facilities. During the inspection, he also toured a 6,800-square-metre warehouse under construction and commended the rapid pace of development within the zone. According to the governor, the administration deliberately created an integrated ecosystem where agricultural production and processing coexist within a shared facility to enhance efficiency and value addition. He disclosed that the free trade zone would feature a dedicated power supply, waste management systems, an independent administrative framework, and robust security architecture. The governor further revealed that the zone is expected to host what he described as the worlds largest cotton garment processing factory, which he said would significantly boost employment and industrial activity. What is a Special Agro-Processing Zone? It is a designated expanse of land dedicated to converting agro-raw materials into finished goods. You can liken it to a shopping mall of processing companies, he said. He added that Ogun State partnered with a firm that has successfully implemented similar projects in the Benin Republic, Lome, Cote dIvoire, and other African countries, a collaboration he described as the Ogun StateArise relationship that birthed the Industrial Platform. Governor Abiodun also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support through the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Industry, noting that transformative projects such as the free trade zone are unlocked by sound macroeconomic policies. He emphasised that when properly implemented, such policies create employment opportunities, stimulate industrial growth, and ultimately translate into improved economic prosperity for individual households. The Ogun State Government has approved the award of a contract for the construction of a complex to house the Abeokuta Division of the Court of Appeal. A statement by Oluwasina Ogungbade, (SAN), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ogun State disclosed that the approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting held on Friday. The contract, valued at 6,118,098,154.70, provides for the development of the court complex on a 2.6-hectare parcel of land adjoining the existing State Judiciary Complex in Olipakala Village via Kobape area of Abeokuta, within the Judiciary Cluster along the AbeokutaSagamu Expressway. This milestone represents a significant step in the State Governments sustained efforts to deepen access to justice and bring appellate adjudication closer to the people of Ogun State. A review by the Ministry of Justice showed that a clear majority of appeals currently heard by the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal emanate from Ogun State. The absence of a division within the state has, over the years, increased the financial burden on litigants and legal practitioners and, in some instances, contributed to delays in the resolution of appeals. The State Government has consistently demonstrated readiness for the take-off of the Abeokuta Division. In preparation, six duplexes were constructed on 4,359 square metres of land in Ibara Housing GRA to serve as official residences for justices of the division. In addition, twenty bungalows at the Prince Court Estate, Kobape, have been set aside for support staff. In 2025, the State received approval from the President of the Court of Appeal for the Abeokuta Division to commence operations. This followed the special sitting of the court in Abeokuta in May 2024, during which about ten panels sat in the state and disposed of over 150 appeals within three days. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Court of Appeal complex will take place in the coming days, while construction is expected to be completed within twelve months. The Ogun State Ministry of Justice remains committed to justice sector reforms that democratise access to justice, strengthen institutions, and ensure efficient delivery of judicial services in the State. Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed deep sorrow over the sudden passing of Tukur Hassan Tinglin, the Managing Director of the Katsina State Water Board. Mr Tingilin, an engineer died on Thursday following his involvement in an auto accident. He was buried on Friday in Malumfashi according to Islamic rites. Governor Radda described the death as a rude shock, noting that Mr Tinglins leadership as Managing Director of the State Water Board was marked by pure service to the people even till his last breath. Under his guidance, efforts to ensure that clean water reached every household in Katsina were greatly intensified and sustained, the governor remarked. A statement by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed spokesperson to the Governor of Katsina State on Friday said Mr Radda takes solace in the fact that Mr Tinglin passed away as a faithful Muslim during the holy month of Ramadan. Governor Radda, on behalf of the government and the people of Katsina State, extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Managing Director and the people of Malumfashi local government. He prayed to Allah to grant them the strength and fortitude to bear this monumental loss. Governor Radda later on Friday led a high-powered delegation of the state government to the funeral prayer of the late Mr Tingilin. The Janazah prayer was led by the Khadi of Katsina State, Mutawakkil Mustapha Salis, shortly after the Jumuah prayer at the Malumfashi Central Mosque. The state delegation included the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe; the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon Nasir Yahaya Daura; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; members of the Katsina State Executive Council and members of the Katsina State House of Assembly. Others are the local government chairmen; the District Head of Malumfashi, Justice Sadiq Abdullahi Mahuta (rtd); Galadiman Katsina; traditional leaders; business community leaders and other dignitaries. The Yobe State House of Assembly has advanced a bill to establish the Yobe State Agency for Drug Abuse Control and Rehabilitation (YOSADAC) to coordinate prevention, treatment and recovery services across the states 17 local government areas. The bill, listed as YBHA No. 31, passed second reading this week and has moved to the committee stage, with public hearings scheduled for 8 and 9 March. If enacted, the agency would mark Yobes most structured attempt yet to confront a crisis that civic leaders say is eroding the regions social fabric. From Enforcement to Rehabilitation In classrooms, motor parks and quiet family compounds across Yobe State, drug dependency has become an increasingly visible struggle. Now, lawmakers say the state can no longer respond with sermons and sporadic arrests alone. Nigeria has a federal enforcement body, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). But enforcement alone, state officials argue, has not stemmed the tide of addiction. Hassan Jakusko, Yobes Focal Person on Drug Abuse Control, says the scale of need inside the state is already measurable. According to him, 609 confirmed drug users currently require immediate rehabilitation, while nearly 1,000 others need structured six-month intervention programmes. Families are enduring enormous financial and emotional stress due to the lack of rehabilitation resources in the state, Mr Jakusko said. Untreated addiction is driving crime, mental health disorders and social breakdown. Currently, families often resort to expensive private rehabilitation centres outside the state an option many cannot afford. The proposed agency would seek to establish state-backed facilities, lower access barriers, and integrate recovery into the public health framework. The policy shift is subtle but significant: addiction is framed not only as a moral failing or criminal offense, but as a public health and social development challenge requiring sustained institutional response.. Civil Societys Warning: A National Crisis The legislative push comes amid heightened advocacy from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), which has intensified its anti-drug campaign across northern states. During a recent sensitisation programme at the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, the coalitions National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, described escalating youth drug use as a national crisis threatening the regions social and moral fabric. Mr Charanchi cited figures attributed to the NDLEA indicating that in some northern states, between 40 and 50 per cent of students are involved in drug use. He also pointed to a recent seizure of over five million tramadol pills in Kano within a single month, warning that interceptions represent only a fraction of narcotics in circulation. While such figures require independent verification, they underscore the level of alarm driving both advocacy and legislative action. Civil society groups increasingly link substance abuse to broader insecurity challenges including youth violence and recruitment into criminal networks particularly in conflict-affected northern regions. The Solutions Test Unlike previous reactive crackdowns, YOSADAC is designed as a layered intervention rather than a single enforcement tool. At its foundation is localised prevention sustained community-based education campaigns embedded in schools, mosques and youth centres, where early awareness can disrupt pathways into substance abuse. Beyond prevention, the agency envisions state-backed rehabilitation through the establishment of accessible treatment facilities within Yobe, reducing families dependence on costly private centres outside the state. Just as crucial is structured reintegration: post-recovery support systems aimed at lowering relapse rates, easing social stigma and helping recovering users return to school, work and community life with dignity. Yet passage of the bill will mark only the beginning. The harder test lies in implementation. Much will depend on what allocation the agency receives in the 2026 budget and whether rehabilitation centres extend beyond the state capital into underserved local government areas. Lawmakers will also need to define clear performance metrics whether success will be measured by reduced arrests, tracked relapse rates, improved mental health outcomes or restored youth employment. Equally important are oversight safeguards to ensure the agency does not become another underfunded institution that exists only on paper. For Yobe, the real benchmark will not be legislative approval, but whether, by this time next year, a struggling teenager in Damaturu can access structured treatment inside the state instead of entering the criminal justice system or slipping further into dependency. As public hearings open in March, lawmakers face a defining choice: whether to create an agency in name or build an institution capable of reversing a generational crisis. The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has expressed sorrow over a crash on the KeffiAbuja Highway, killing seven people. In a statement on Thursday by FRSC spokesman, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Mr Mohammed conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the repose of the victims. He described the incident as painful and devastating, stressing that no loss of life on the nations highways is acceptable. Preliminary reports indicate a lone vehicle, allegedly driven at excessive speed, lost control and veered into the opposite lane, resulting in the fatal collision. Mr Mohammed said FRSC rescue teams were mobilised promptly after distress alerts were received. However, on arrival, personnel encountered heightened tension among some members of the public, he said. He added that commercial motorcyclists were among those involved, and the unrest escalated into a mob attack on the Keffi Unit Command. The Corps acknowledges the depth of public emotion that often follows fatal road crashes, he said. While initial findings point to speeding and loss of control, Mr Mohammed ordered a comprehensive and transparent investigation, including allegations of possible patrol-related factors. The Corps will not be hasty in apportioning blame nor dismissive of public concerns. Any personnel found to have acted outside established operational standards will be held accountable in line with regulations, he said. READ ALSO: FRSC raises concern over early morning drunk driving in Cross River Mr Mohammed commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army for swiftly restoring calm and preventing further breakdown of order. He said their professionalism and prompt intervention stabilised the situation and safeguarded lives and property. The Corps remains committed to professionalism, restraint and continuous engagement with communities to foster mutual trust. We appeal for calm and urge the public to allow due process. Violence against rescue and enforcement personnel undermines efforts to safeguard lives, he said. Mr Mohammed reaffirmed the Corps dedication to road safety, fairness and transparency as investigations continue. (NAN) Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued three passengers of a state government-owned Benue Links transport corporation bus after foiling a kidnap attempt along the EnuguOtukpo Road in Benue State, the military said on Thursday. Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, said in a statement that the incident occurred on Wednesday when troops on night patrol received intelligence that an 18-seater Benue Links bus, with registration number TYK 221 YK, had been seized by suspected kidnappers. Troops of Sector 1 under Operation WHIRL STROKE successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt along the EnuguOtukpo Road, rescuing three victims without casualties, Mr Zubairu said. He added that the vehicle was conveying four passengers and a minor at the time of the attack. According to him, troops deployed at the Forward Operation Base in Otukpo mobilised to the scene after receiving the report and trailed the suspected kidnappers along their withdrawal route. The prompt response of the troops forced the criminals to abandon three of the victims. No direct contact was made during the pursuit. However, one mobile phone believed to belong to the kidnappers was recovered at the scene, he said. The military did not immediately clarify the whereabouts of the remaining passenger and the minor said to have been in the vehicle at the time it was intercepted. The EnuguOtukpo corridor has recorded several security incidents in recent years, including kidnappings and attacks on commuters. PREMIUM TIMES previously reported on incidents along major routes in Benue State, where armed groups targeted commercial vehicles and private motorists, prompting increased patrols by security forces. Operation Whirl Stroke, a joint military task force operating in parts of the North-central region, has been conducting patrols and targeted operations in Benue and neighbouring states in response to recurring attacks and abductions. In Thursdays statement, the Force Commander commended the troops for what he described as their vigilance and operational efficiency in preventing an escalation of the incident. He advised motorists to remain cautious while travelling, especially at night. Motorists should be cautious to observe unusual absence of vehicular movement within a two-kilometre stretch and pause to assess the situation where necessary, Mr Zubairu quoted the commander as saying. Drivers were also urged to report suspicious activities to the nearest security post to enable rapid response. Security agencies have continued to urge residents to share timely information as part of efforts to curb kidnappings and related crimes across the state. Two days after the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, officially announced the resignation of 15 members of the Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a plenary session, on Wednesday, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri officially announced his defection from the opposition party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor announced this in a broadcast on Friday morning at the Government House in Yola. The event was attended by his cabinet members and high-ranking government officials. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Fintiri hosted an APC delegation, led by the North-east Zonal Chairperson, Mustapha Salihu, for a Ramadan Iftar at the Government House last Saturday. Governor Fintiri stated that his decision to join the APC was driven by the best interest of the state. He stated that the move came after extensive consultations with citizens and stakeholders across Adamawa, who collectively supported the transition. This decision was reached after wide consultations with the people of Adamawa, who agreed that moving to the APC is the best path forward for our states development, the governor stated. He is joined in the defection to the APC by his cabinet members and state and federal lawmakers in Adamawa. Details later State Border Guard Service reports another war crime by Russia phosphorus strike on Kostiantynivka The State Border Guard Service has reported another war crime by Russia a phosphorus strike on Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region), where civilians still remain. "Another war crime by Russia was recorded by border guards of the Phoenix unit in Kostiantynivka," the State Border Guard Service reported on Telegram on Friday. "Residential quarters of long-suffering Kostiantynivka. Civilians of the city are still here. Despite this, the enemy ruthlessly struck civilians with phosphorusa prohibited substance that causes severe health consequences," the Phoenix unit noted. Pilots of the Phoenix border unit managed to capture this war crime by Russia in Kostiantynivka on film. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Anambra State has lamented the shortage of judges and magistrates in the state judiciary. The Executive Secretary and Permanent Secretary of Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Stanley Mbanaso, disclosed this at a news briefing in Awka on Thursday. The Executive Secretary described the benchs staff force as grossly inadequate and warned that the situation was hampering the timely dispensation of justice. He said there were only about 64 magistrates serving the 35 magisterial districts of the state, while the number of High Court judges serving in the state had reduced from about 40 to only 29. According to him, the state judiciary ranks second only to Lagos State in the volume of pending High Court cases, yet Lagos has about 50 judges compared to Anambras 29. Once all necessary facilities are in place, we are hopeful that Governor Chukwuma Soludo will approve the appointment of more High Court judges That will help decongest the courts and enhance speedy dispensation of justice. Increasing the number of magistrates is critical to improving access to justice at the grassroots, he said. Mr Mbanaso said the commission had taken stern disciplinary measures against two magistrates and 24 judicial workers over various acts of misconduct. He said the disciplinary action was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen discipline, integrity, and impartiality in the states judiciary, and that its goal was to ensure discipline and thereby guarantee quick and efficient justice delivery. Mr Mbanaso called on members of the public to report corrupt practices and misconduct in the judiciary by petitioning the commission against officers with supporting credible evidence. He, however, warned against frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations against judicial officers We have taken firm and proactive measures to ensure that corruption and all forms of malfeasance are eradicated from the system. In the recent past, the Commission has compulsorily retired some magistrates and dismissed or suspended others, as well as members of customary courts and staff of the judiciary found wanting. It is a continuous process. We have a standing three-man Investigation and Disciplinary Committee to probe allegations against judicial officers and workers, and it is headed by the oldest non-statutory member of the Commission, while the Executive Secretary serves as its secretary, he said. He explained that while the State JSC handled complaints against magistrates, customary court officials and judiciary workers, petitions involving High Court judges were forwarded to the National Judicial Council. (NAN) PITTSBURGH, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there could be a modification for a metal bullnose that would protect it and ensure a clean finish every time," said an inventor from Truth Or Consequence, New Mexico. As a result, they developed the NO MORE SAND BULLNOSE, designed specifically to eliminate the need for separate tools to clean the mud off the bullnose. InventHelp Invention Spotlight: NO MORE SAND BULLNOSE Ensures a Clean Finish Provides a simple modification for a metal bullnose. Eliminates the need for touch ups and sanding after the mudding process. Saves time and effort. InventHelp Client's Invention for Drywall Tapers With more trade workers and do-it-yourselfers seeking new ways to save time, there may be a demand for a modified bullnose designed to ensure a clean and attractive finish. The NO MORE SAND BULLNOSE would offer a protective design that is easy to use and remove. Potential Licensing Opportunities for InventHelp 123Invent Client: The design has been submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. The invention is available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers who may wish to bring it to market. For more information, visit www.nomoresandbullnose.com. Or contact Dan Vorves at 928-307-8510 or email [email protected] . About InventHelp: Empowering Inventors with Assistance, Guidance, and Potential Visibility InventHelp is one of America's largest and longest-running invention-service companies, helping inventors and entrepreneurs. Since 1984, the company has assisted clients with invention submission, prototype modeling services, invention websites, patent referral services, and more. InventHelp's provides services on how to present, promote and protect inventions. InventHelp has a network of regional sales offices across the U.S. and Canada. With its Invention Services, InventHelp provides confidentiality, step-by-step support, and help to innovators who wish to submit their inventions to industry, either through us or on their own. To learn more about InventHelp, visit InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc. allegedly failed to provide employees with required meal and rest breaks. This resulted in an alleged loss of wages for the employees affected. THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. CIVSB2603793, is currently pending in the San Bernardino County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP Speed Speed According to the lawsuit filed, Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, (f) failed to pay sick wages, and (g) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-203, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The Complaint further alleges Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc.. failed to provide employees with legally required meals and rest breaks. Specifically, employees were allegedly required from time to time to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minute rest periods. The applicable California Wage Order requires employers to provide employees with off-duty rest periods, which the California Supreme Court defined as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Taylor Farms Southern California, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. **THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT** Media Contact Nicholas De Blouw Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP (800) 568-8020 [email protected] https://www.bamlawca.com/ SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP Agreement establishes first ultra-low temperature cold chain in veterinary medicine ahead of anticipated potential first FDA-approved, off-the-shelf stem cell therapy SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallant, an animal health biotechnology company pioneering off-the-shelf stem cell therapies for pets, today announced a landmark fulfillment agreement with MWI Animal Health (MWI), part of global healthcare company Cencora, to create the first-ever ultra-low temperature cold chain for veterinary medicine. This comes as Gallant advances toward delivering the potential first-ever FDA-approved off-the-shelf veterinary stem cell therapy, pending conditional approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM). Veterinary professional examining cat in clinic Together, the companies are laying the foundation for a new category of veterinary care. The first expected product from Gallant's pipeline is sonruvetcel injectable suspensiona potential first-in-class, uterine-derived allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for cats with refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis (rFCGS). Partnership with MWI will enable reliable delivery of veterinary stem cell therapies requiring storage at -80C. "Breakthrough science only matters if we can safely and reliably put it into the hands of veterinary professionals," said Dr. Linda Black, DVM, Ph.D., CEO of Gallant. "With MWI, we are pairing regenerative medicine innovation with world class supply chain management. This partnership helps ensure that, once approved, veterinarians can conveniently access an FDA-regulated, off-the-shelf stem cell therapy with confidence in its quality and integrity." "This partnership demonstrates how distribution innovation can unlock clinical innovation," said Julia Loew, CCO at MWI Animal Health. "Stem cell therapies require precision handling. By investing in ultra-low temperature logistics tailored to veterinary practice, we are ensuring that this category of innovation can be delivered to clinics in the exact state intended, ready for safe and effective use." Under the agreement, MWI will develop and deploy a scalable, ultra-low temperature fulfillment model. It will support nationwide availability through overnight shipping from MWI's Edwardsville, Kansas, distribution center, helping to ensure access for clinics across the continental United States and in noncontiguous U.S. markets, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The companies expect the partnership to serve as a model by establishing infrastructure that can support Gallant's broader pipeline of disease-modifying therapies targeting inflammatory and degenerative conditions in companion animals. Expanding the Spectrum of Care Recent survey data conducted by Gallant, in collaboration with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), found that nearly 95% of veterinary professionals believe stem cell therapy will become a standard treatment option within the next decade. 79% say they are likely to use or recommend stem cell therapy in the future, and 93% report they would be more likely to offer regenerative therapies in-house if they were off-the-shelf and delivered through a simple IV protocol. The GallantMWI partnership directly addresses veterinary professionals' expectations and practice needs by pairing an anticipated FDA-regulated, donor-derived stem cell therapy with a clinic-friendly fulfillment model. About Gallant Gallant is an animal health biotechnology company creating a new category of veterinary medicine with a pipeline of off-the-shelf, ready-to-use stem cell therapies targeting the root causes of disease in pets. Led by pioneers in veterinary regenerative medicine with deep expertise in development, manufacturing and commercialization, Gallant is making regenerative medicine accessible to everyday practice. Learn more at www.gallant.com. Media Contact: Julie Lawless - LawlessComms +1.615.585.5861 [email protected] Sonruvetcel is an investigational new animal drug and has not yet received FDA conditional approval. Availability is pending regulatory review. SOURCE Gallant BOSTON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of February 12, 2026, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on February 2, 2026, and payable on February 27, 2026. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: February 2026 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0825 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable February 27, 2026, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. For the period 02/01/2026-02/28/2026 For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/01/2025-02/28/2026 1 Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions ($) % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income 0.0609 74 % 0.2405 73 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0007 1 % 0.0164 5 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0209 25 % 0.0731 22 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Total per common share 0.0825 100 % 0.3300 100 % _______________________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2025 and will end on October 31, 2026. Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on January 31, 2026 9.97 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of January 31, 2026 6.88 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through January 31, 2026 4.77 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of January 31, 2026 2.29 % You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the February 2026 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the Manulife John Hancock Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About Manulife John Hancock Investments We serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. Media Contact: Gordon Haight (617) 572-0034 Investor Contact: (800) 843-0090 SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management Fans know Rob for his strategic gameplay, magnetic personality, and commitment to starting each day with a protein-packed breakfastoften featuring the now-iconic smoked Scottish salmon that quickly became a breakfast-room staple. Now, Rob and KIND are bringing that moment to fans everywhere, showing how a protein-forward breakfast can fuel both your body and a kinder mindsetall while making sure there's plenty of the beloved salmon to go around. THE NEWEST ALLIANCE KIND and Rob Rausch have teamed up to prove that even the most strategic competitors can CHOOSE KIND. Rob's love of breakfast inspired the RISE & KIND Breakfast Box giveaway, which pairs KIND's all-new Protein MAX Granola with Scottish salmon, delivering satisfying, protein essentials straight to your kitchen. "This partnership with KIND is about starting the day on a positive note," said Rob Rausch. "The RISE & KIND Breakfast Box gives people something simple they can enjoy and share in the morning, like we shared the salmon. If kindness is the first thing you lead with, it can set the tone for everything that comes after." WHAT'S IN THE BOX & HOW TO CLAIM ONE Two bags of the NEW KIND Protein MAX Granola , Peanut Butter and Sweet & Salty Caramel, packed with 15 grams of protein per serving and 0g of sugar to fuel your mornings and power you through the day. , Peanut Butter and Sweet & Salty Caramel, packed with 15 grams of protein per serving and 0g of sugar to fuel your mornings and power you through the day. Scottish Salmon, the now-iconic breakfast star that sparked endless internet chatter is now available for fans to enjoy at home. Fans have the chance to claim their own RISE & KIND Box for free at https://riseandkind.kindsnacks.com/. The first boxes will be available at 9:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 26, followed by additional daily weekday drops at 9:00 AM ET on Friday, February 27 through Tuesday, March 3, while supplies last. CHOOSE KIND The RISE & KIND Breakfast Box continues KIND's CHOOSE KIND movement, which encourages simple, everyday actions that create meaningful, positive impact. "Partnering with Rob is just another way for us to Choose KIND, and we hope consumers recognize that we're just as obsessed with breakfast trends as the internet seems to be," said Osher Hoberman, Chief Marketing Officer at KIND North America. "Having launched our purpose-led brand platform last year, we're excited to now surprise and delight consumers with a Choose KIND moment that spotlights one of our latest product launches." Fans can visit riseandkind.kindsnacks.com and follow along on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube for more information. The limited-edition giveaway RISE & KIND Breakfast Box helps fans start their day fueled, inspired, and ready to lead with kindness. About KIND Snacks Since Day 1, KIND was born with a vision for a kinder world. At KIND, we believe that the smallest acts of kindness can create meaningful change. A kinder world starts with being kind to yourself. CHOOSE KIND. Our iconic KIND bars made with real, nutritious ingredients sparked the growth of an entirely new, snacking category back in 2004. Now, KIND has a diverse family of snacks that offer solutions for a variety of occasions. Made with real, nutrient-dense, wholesome ingredients, KIND helps nourish your body, so you can show up for yourself and others. KIND is a simple, delicious reminder to choose kindness every day. To learn more about KIND, please visit www.kindsnacks.com and join us on TikTok , Instagram , LinkedIn, and YouTube . SOURCE KIND JOPLIN, Mo., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Public Safety and Forensics Institute on Feb. 26, 2026, marking a milestone for law enforcement and forensic science education in the region. The facility reflects the university's expanded statewide mission and commitment to immersive learning that prepares students for real-world careers. MSSUs Emergency Manager and Chair of Justice Studies Dr. Tim Wilson showcases the latest fingerprint scanning lab during the grand opening of the Public Safety and Forensics Institute. The ceremony was held at the Mills Anderson Justice Center, where faculty, students, community leaders, and public safety partners gathered to commemorate the launch. MSSU's Emergency Manager and Chair of Justice Studies Dr. Tim Wilson opened the event, highlighting the Institute's role in preparing students and strengthening Missouri's public safety workforce. University leaders and community partners then participated in an official ribbon cutting before guests toured the facility. "Our students are not just studying public safety and forensic science; they are experiencing it firsthand in an environment with the tools, technologies, and scenarios they will encounter in the field," Wilson said. "They are having a true immersive learning experience that will benefit them as they enter the workforce." The Public Safety and Forensics Institute includes advanced laboratories and specialized technology. Students train in an alternate light source lab to detect and analyze evidence such as bodily fluids, fibers, and trace materials. A crime scene scanning lab features digital imaging and 3D scanning equipment for documenting and reconstructing crime scenes. The facility also houses an unmanned aircraft systems lab, where students operate drones for crime scene documentation, search and rescue operations, and accident investigations. An impaired driving investigation lab provides experience in using new oral fluid detection technology to identify drivers under the influence of drugs other than alcohol. Students also have access to a fingerprint scanning lab and ballistics comparison equipment to examine firearms evidence and compare bullet and cartridge markings. The Institute was funded through Missouri's MoExcels workforce development grant program, with matching support from MSSU. "We are grateful for the State of Missouri's investment through the MoExcels workforce development grant program," said MSSU President Dr. Dean Van Galen. "The addition of the Public Safety and Forensics Institute will provide impactful experiences for our students and will strengthen the university's statewide leadership in immersive learning." For more information about MSSU's Justice Studies programs and immersive learning initiatives, visit mssu.edu. SOURCE Missouri Southern State University HOUSTON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, one of the world's leading manufacturers and providers of material handling, automation, and fleet solutions, today announced the expansion of its dealer network with the appointment of Darr Equipment Co. as an authorized dealer for Cat Lift Trucks, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, and Jungheinrich warehouse products in the state of Arizona. Darr Equipment Co. Logo "We're excited to announce Darr Equipment Co. as a new dealer for our brands in the Arizona market," said Jerry Sytsma, Executive Vice President, Sales & Aftermarket Services, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. "Their commitment to customer service and deep industry experience make them a strong partner we are pleased to expand with." Through this appointment, Darr Equipment Co. will provide customers across Arizona with access to Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas' full portfolio of material handling equipment, certified service, OEM parts, fleet solutions, and financing options backed by Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas' trusted dealer network. Arizona customers will also benefit from: Local sales and application expertise Expanded service coverage and quicker response times Access to high-quality equipment backed by Logisnext Reliable parts availability and ongoing product support "We are proud to expand our partnership with Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and excited to represent their industry-leading products in the Arizona market," said Robert Engstrom, President, Darr Equipment Co. "We look forward to serving customers across Arizona with the same commitment and excellence that have defined our family business for over seven decades." A longstanding partner of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, Darr Equipment Co. brings a proven legacy of customer service, deep market expertise, and a strong commitment to supporting material handling operations. With this expansion, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas continues to invest in strategic dealer partnerships, strengthening customer relationships and ensuring businesses across Arizona have the equipment and expertise needed to operate efficiently. About Darr Equipment Co. Darr Equipment Co. is a leading provider of material handling equipment and solutions, serving customers across Texas and Oklahoma for over 70 years. Representing industry-leading brands, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of equipment and services supported by a dedicated team focused on operational excellence and customer success. As a family-owned company, we are built on a legacy of service, reliability, and long-term partnerships. About Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and its group companies have helped customers Move The World Forward for more than 100 years. A technology-driven manufacturer, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas offers scalable solutions from material handling to automation and extensive fleet support. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, its complete portfolio of advanced solutions spans across five leading brands Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat lift trucks, Rocla AGV Solutions, UniCarriers Forklifts and Jungheinrich warehouse and automation products. All products are backed by an extensive dealer network offering industry-leading customer service and product support. For more information, visit www.logisnextamericas.com. SOURCE Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas CINCINNATI, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Monkee's of Hyde Park is proud to announce its opening at 3439 Edwards Road in Cincinnati under the ownership of Sue Reichert, bringing a fresh, fashion-forward boutique experience to the Hyde Park community. Sue Reichert the owner of Monkee's of Hyde Park Reichert has admired the Monkee's franchise for nearly 15 years and was drawn to its longstanding commitment to building community and empowering women. "Those values resonate deeply with me," said Reichert. "Opening Monkee's of Hyde Park allows me to channel my entrepreneurial spirit, build something meaningful from the ground up, and pursue my passion for fashion in a way that serves women in Cincinnati. I feel incredibly fortunate to bring the Monkee's experience to this city." Customers can expect exceptional, personalized service and a carefully curated selection of contemporary women's apparel, shoes, and accessories. From the moment guests walk through the doors, Reichert and her team strive to create an inviting and uplifting atmosphere. "Fashion has an incredible ability to shift how we feel about ourselves," Reichert shared. "I want every customer to leave with a smile on her face, a pep in her step, and a new outfit she cannot wait to wear." A Cincinnati native, Reichert brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, and organizational transformation to her new role as boutique owner. She is a graduate of Miami University with a degree in Accounting and Xavier University with an MBA in Marketing and International Business. Known for building strong business partnerships and leading high-performing teams, Reichert is embracing this new chapter by combining her business expertise with her passion for fashion and community. She and her husband, Steve, have three adult children, Adam and twins Jessica and Allison, all of whom reside in Cincinnati. Monkee's of Hyde Park 3439 Edwards Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208 https://monkeesofhydepark.com Instagram: @monkeesofhydepark About Monkee's of Hyde Park Monkee's of Hyde Park is a locally owned women's boutique offering a curated collection of contemporary apparel, shoes, and accessories in a welcoming, service-focused environment. Located in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood, the boutique is dedicated to providing a personalized shopping experience that inspires confidence, celebrates individuality, and fosters community among women. About Monkee's Franchising, LLC Monkee's Franchising, LLC is the franchisor of Monkee's, a growing women's boutique franchise founded in 1995 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Built on a commitment to community, service, and empowering women, Monkee's boutiques are locally owned and operated across the Southeast and beyond, each offering a thoughtfully curated selection of premium brands and a high-touch shopping experience tailored to its local market. SOURCE Monkee's Franchising LLC Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rishi Sunak has taken up an unpaid position on President Volodymyr Zelenskyys International Advisory Council on Ukraines economic renewal, The Independent reported on Friday, citing documents published by the independent adviser on ministerial standards. "So I am delighted to join the international group advising President Zelensky on economic reconstruction. I am confident that Ukraine with its human capital, its natural resources, and its culture of innovation can become one of the most dynamic economies in Europe. We can help build a strong and secure Ukraine that will be a keystone of a safer and more prosperous Europe," Sunak said, adding that "the West needs a strong Ukraine, and a strong Ukraine needs a strong economy." The advisory council is expected to form a group of experts to advise both Zelenskyy and his economic adviser, former Canadian deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland. The former British prime minister remains MP for Richmond and Northallerton and has already taken on advisory roles with Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and artificial intelligence company Anthropic. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in California, where he studied; holds unpaid positions at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum and the Blavatnik School of Government; writes a column for The Sunday Times; and runs a charitable mathematics organisation with his wife Akshata Murty. According to his official register of interests, Sunak donates most of his income from non-parliamentary work to charity. The publication notes that Sunaks work will be linked to Ukraines efforts to restore its energy sector in time for next winter. Sunak reportedly took part in the councils first meeting on Thursday alongside other international figures, including World Bank President Ajay Banga and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Odile Renaud-Basso. Representatives of companies such as Siemens, BlackRock, Citigroup and ArcelorMittal also participated. As reported, on February 26 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting of the International Advisory Group on Investment Attraction and Economic Development of Ukraine, the presidential press service said. Participants focused on Ukraines energy resilience, preparations for next winter, the identification and implementation of investment projects for Ukraine, as well as investment opportunities in the defense industry. TROY, Mich., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mopec Group, a diversified pathology solutions leader serving the pathology continuum, celebrated the opening of a new laboratory consumables distribution center in Troy, Michigan, marking another step in the company's ongoing strategy to expand manufacturing and operational capabilities at its Michigan headquarters. Mopec Group celebrates the opening of their new Consumables Distribution Center The new distribution center supports the continued growth of Mopec's pathology consumables portfolio and strengthens the company's ability to serve laboratories, hospitals, and research institutions across North America and globally. The expansion follows Mopec Group's recently announced initiative to strategically consolidate portions of its manufacturing operations into Michigan. By aligning production, logistics, and engineering resources around its headquarters, the company has positioned itself to scale manufacturing, accelerate innovation, and better support the evolving needs of pathology professionals worldwide. "Opening this new distribution center represents another step in our long-term strategic plan to scale Mopec Group's operations while continuing to invest in advanced manufacturing here in Michigan," said Francis X. Dirksmeier, CEO of Mopec Group. "Through our partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and its support for workforce training and apprenticeship programs, we have been able to strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and create more than 40 new jobs in Michigan. This investment gives us the operational foundation to grow responsibly while continuing to serve pathology professionals around the world." The company commemorated the opening with a ribbon cutting event attended by state and local leaders, including Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "This investment exemplifies the forward-thinking commitment we're proud to see from companies that choose to grow and invest in Michigan." said Messer. "Mopec's continued expansion underscores the strength of our business environment, passion of our advanced manufacturing and life sciences sectors, and talent of our workforce. We're grateful to Mopec for their vote of confidence and excited to see their continued growth and innovation that supports critical work across the healthcare ecosystem both here and across the world, showing others that everyone can 'Make It in Michigan'." Following the ribbon cutting at the Troy facility, guests toured Mopec Group's primary manufacturing campus in Madison Heights, where the company designs and manufactures pathology equipment and technologies used by laboratories throughout the world. Together, the new distribution center and expanded manufacturing footprint reflect Mopec Group's commitment to investing in Michigan while strengthening its ability to deliver comprehensive pathology solutions across equipment, consumables, service, and technology. About Mopec Group Mopec Group is a diversified pathology solutions leader serving the pathology continuum. The company provides integrated equipment, digital and diagnostic technology solutions, certified service, and essential laboratory consumables used in anatomic and forensic pathology laboratories around the world. Headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan, Mopec Group empowers pathology professionals with solutions that improve diagnostic accuracy, laboratory safety, research, education, and the treatment of disease. Media Contact Jeff Pemberton Vice President, Marketing & Commercial Strategy Mopec Group [email protected] www.mopec.com SOURCE Mopec HALEDON, N.J. and LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mulholland Group proudly celebrated the grand opening of two new Dunkin' locations in the same week, marking a significant investment in New Jersey communities and reinforcing the company's strong commitment to local engagement. The first location opened at Dunkin' Haledon, followed by the opening of a second restaurant at Dunkin' Little Egg Harbor. Both grand opening celebrations were met with strong community turnout, including residents, elected officials, and local business leaders. Little Egg Harbor Dunkin At the Little Egg Harbor opening, the Mulholland Group incorporated a food donation promotion in support of The Wildcat Shack, encouraging guests to give back while celebrating the arrival of a new local business. The initiative highlighted the company's dedication not only to economic growth, but to meaningful community partnership. "It was uplifting to see a new local business step up to help support the community in such a meaningful way," said a community representative for The Wildcat Shack. "By incorporating a food donation initiative into their grand opening, the Mulholland Group demonstrated a genuine commitment to the communities they serve." Ocean County Commissioner Ray Gormley also welcomed the investment. "Little Egg Harbor continues to grow and thrive. The opening of this new Dunkin' location is another great addition to our community. We welcome this business and look forward to the positive impact it will have on residents and visitors," said Commissioner Gormley. Bill Mulholland, Founder of the Mulholland Group, expressed appreciation for the support shown throughout both openings. "We sincerely appreciate the elected officials, local business owners, and residents who came out to support us," said Mulholland. "We look forward to continuing our investment in these communities and growing in a way that creates lasting, positive impact." Event marketing, media coordination, and community outreach for the grand openings were managed by Blaise Scibetta owner of Southern Ocean Consulting LLC, supporting strategic promotion and local engagement efforts. The Mulholland Group's continued expansion reflects a broader focus on economic development, job creation, and community-driven initiatives across New Jersey. SOURCE The Mulholland Group White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin Discusses Iconic Presidential Vehicles with Retired U.S. Secret Service Agent John Bush WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association today released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast exploring "The Beast," the affectionate nickname given by the press when the first generation of General Motors' custom-built Cadillac presidential limousines debuted in 2001. Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, is joined by John Bush, Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division, for an in-depth discussion and tour of historic presidential vehicles at the United States Secret Service James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland. "There is a very exclusive club of people who have been President of the United States," said McLaurin. "Likewise, there's a small group who have actually driven these presidents." Bush, who served for 24 years before retiring in December 2025, was one of the agents who drove the limo for President Barack Obama, and in his last year of service oversaw President Donald Trump's protective detail. Bush emphasized that protecting the president is a complex team effort founded on nonpartisanship. To ensure seamless transportation and protection of the protectee, the Secret Service advance teams evaluate routes, coordinate safe houses, collaborate with local police, and arrange medical support, among other detailed preparations. Leading and training these teams brings considerable pressure and requires unwavering commitment. "When you're driving, you don't think about it being the President of the United States," said Bush. "You have a job to do, so you're going to do the job. But when you can finish the run and you see what you've doneand what the team has doneit sure does mean a lot." McLaurin and Bush were joined by retired Special Services Division Agent Robert Diehl for a tour of various historic presidential vehicles in the Diehl Garage, named in honor of the man who dedicated more than 50 years to the Secret Service and is admirably referred to by his colleagues as a "legend." They take a closer look at a 1993 Cadillac from the Clinton presidency, as well as a 1987 model equipped with grab bars, armored transparencies, and a powerful 454 cubic inch Chevrolet Mach Five truck engine that was in service during the Reagan presidency. The tour culminated with an intimate look inside the imposing presidential limousines themselves. McLaurin and Bush sat in Gen 1, the vehicle that transported both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, and viewed Gen 2, which debuted at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. For McLaurin, sitting in the exact seats occupied by these former presidents was a powerful reminder of the historic moments that have unfolded within these vehicles. "This peek behind the curtain at this facility, the multiple generations of vehicles, the technology, and the evolution of this important part of protecting and transporting our president was an incredible privilege," said McLaurin. The White House 1600 Sessions podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The full video of this podcast episode is also available on the White House Historical Association's YouTube channel here. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The White House 1600 Sessions The White House Historical Association's President Stewart McLaurin is the host of The White House 1600 Sessions, the Association's official audio and video podcast devoted to exploring the history, cultural impact, untold stories, and personal accounts of America's most iconic residence and highest office. About the White House Historical Association Founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the White House Historical Association is the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization entrusted with preserving and sharing the history of the White House. Supported entirely by private philanthropy and the sale of educational books and products, the Association reaches millions of students, teachers, and lifelong learners through research and scholarship initiatives, public programming, and the authoritative titles published by its independent press. Throughout each presidency, the Association works with the Offices of the First Lady and the White House Curator to acquire and preserve historic objects for the White House Fine and Decorative Arts Collection. The Association also operates The People's House: A White House Experience, a free, immersive, educational museum in Washington, D.C., which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org. SOURCE The White House Historical Association JUNO BEACH, Fla., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) announced today that it has priced its public offering of $2.00 billion of equity units. The transaction is expected to close on March 3, 2026. NextEra Energy, Inc. has granted the underwriters an option to purchase during the 13-day period beginning on, and including, the closing date up to an additional aggregate stated amount of $0.30 billion, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments. The net proceeds from the sale of the equity units, which are expected to be approximately $1.97 billion (or approximately $2.27 billion if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), after deducting the underwriting discount but before deducting other offering expenses, will be added to the general funds of NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy. NextEra Energy Capital Holdings expects to use its general funds to fund investments in energy and power projects and for other general corporate purposes, including the repayment of a portion of its outstanding commercial paper obligations. Each equity unit will be issued in a stated amount of $50. Each equity unit will consist of a contract to purchase NextEra Energy common stock in the future, and undivided beneficial ownership interests in two series of debentures issued by NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, consisting of a Series P Debenture due March 1, 2031, and a Series Q Debenture due March 1, 2034, each with a principal amount of $1,000. The debentures will be guaranteed by NextEra Energy. Total annual distributions on the equity units will be at the rate of 7.375% on the stated amount of $50 per unit, consisting of interest on the debentures and payments under the stock purchase contracts. In approximately three years, each stock purchase contract will require the holder to purchase NextEra Energy common stock for cash, based on a per-share price range of $91.99 to $115.00. The higher end of this price range reflects a premium of approximately 25% over the New York Stock Exchange closing price of NextEra Energy common stock on Feb. 26, 2026, which was $91.99. The holders of the equity units must complete the stock purchase by no later than Feb. 15, 2029, with the required purchase price of stock purchased on that date determined based on the average closing price of NextEra Energy's common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day period ending on Feb. 12, 2029. The holders may satisfy their purchase obligations with proceeds raised from remarketing the debentures that comprise part of their equity units. Upon settlement of the purchase contract, NextEra Energy will receive cash and will issue the requisite number of shares of its common stock. Before the issuance of NextEra Energy common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts, the purchase contracts will be reflected in NextEra Energy's diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Wells Fargo Securities, BofA Securities, Citigroup and Mizuho will be joint book-running managers for the offering. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities to which this communication relates in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and the related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained from Wells Fargo Securities, 90 South 7th Street, 5th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, by telephone toll free at 800-645-3751 (option #5) or by email at [email protected]; BofA Securities at NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001 Attn: Prospectus Department, or by email at [email protected]; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions,1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone toll free at 800-831-9146; and Mizuho Securities USA LLC, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York New York 10020 Attn: Equity Capital Markets, by telephone at 212-205-7600 or by email at [email protected]. NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is the largest electric power and energy infrastructure company in North America and is a leading provider of electricity to American homes and businesses. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy is a Fortune 200 company that owns Florida Power & Light Company, America's largest electric utility, which provides reliable electricity to approximately 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns the largest energy infrastructure development company in the U.S., NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. NextEra Energy and its affiliated entities are meeting America's growing energy needs with a diverse mix of energy sources, including natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and battery storage. Cautionary Statements and Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead represent the current expectations of NextEra Energy, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy) regarding future operating results and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of NextEra Energy's control. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "will," "may result," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek," "potential," "projection," "forecast," "predict," "goals," "target," "outlook," "should," "would" or similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. The future results of NextEra Energy and its business and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or may require it to limit or eliminate certain operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this news release and the following: effects of extensive regulation of NextEra Energy's business operations; inability of NextEra Energy to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or a reasonable return on invested capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise; impact of political, regulatory, operational and economic factors on regulatory decisions important to NextEra Energy; effect of any reductions or modifications to, or elimination of, governmental incentives or policies that support clean energy or changes in or the imposition of additional tax laws, tariffs, duties, policies or other costs or assessments on clean energy or equipment necessary to generate, store or deliver it; impact of new or revised laws, regulations, executive orders, interpretations or constitutional ballot and regulatory initiatives on NextEra Energy; capital expenditures, increased operating costs and various liabilities attributable to environmental laws, regulations and other standards applicable to NextEra Energy; effects on NextEra Energy of federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions; exposure of NextEra Energy to significant and increasing compliance costs and substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions as a result of extensive federal, state and local government regulation of its operations and businesses; effect on NextEra Energy of changes in tax laws, guidance or policies as well as in judgments and estimates used to determine tax-related asset and liability amounts; impact on NextEra Energy of adverse results of litigation; impacts of NextEra Energy of allegations of violations of law; effect on NextEra Energy of failure to proceed with projects under development or inability to complete the construction of (or capital improvements to) electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities and other facilities on schedule or within budget; impact on development and operating activities of NextEra Energy resulting from risks related to project siting, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements, as well as supply chain disruptions; risks involved in the operation and maintenance of electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities, and other facilities; effect on NextEra Energy of a lack of growth, slower growth or a decline in the number of customers or in customer usage; planned productivity increases and competitive advantages through the use of artificial intelligence technologies may not be realized and the use of and reliance on artificial intelligence may present certain risks; impact on NextEra Energy of severe weather and other weather conditions; threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from geopolitical factors, terrorism, cyberattacks or other attempts to disrupt NextEra Energy's business or the businesses of third parties; inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage for protection of NextEra Energy against significant losses and risk that insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses; a prolonged period of low natural gas and oil prices, disrupted production or unsuccessful drilling efforts could impact NextEra Energy's natural gas and oil production and transportation operations and cause NextEra Energy to delay or cancel certain natural gas and oil production projects and could result in certain assets becoming impaired; risk of increased operating costs resulting from unfavorable supply costs necessary to provide full energy and capacity requirements services; inability or failure to manage properly or hedge effectively the commodity risk within its portfolio; effect of reductions in the liquidity of energy markets on NextEra Energy's ability to manage operational risks; effectiveness of NextEra Energy's risk management tools associated with its hedging and trading procedures to protect against significant losses, including the effect of unforeseen price variances from historical behavior; impact of unavailability or disruption of power transmission or commodity transportation operations on sale and delivery of power or natural gas; exposure of NextEra Energy to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors; failure of counterparties to perform under derivative contracts or of requirement for NextEra Energy to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts; failure or breach of NextEra Energy's information technology systems, or implementation challenges; risks to NextEra Energy's retail businesses from compromise of sensitive customer data; losses from volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in over-the-counter markets; impact of negative publicity; inability to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate acceptable franchise agreements; occurrence of work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs; NextEra Energy's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, including the effect of increased competition for acquisitions; environmental, health and financial risks associated with ownership and operation of nuclear generation facilities; liability of NextEra Energy for significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums in the event of an incident at certain nuclear generation facilities; increased operating and capital expenditures and/or reduced revenues at nuclear generation facilities resulting from orders or new regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; inability to operate any of NextEra Energy's owned nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses or planned license extensions; effect of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets or actions by third parties in connection with project-specific or other financing arrangements on NextEra Energy's ability to fund its liquidity and capital needs and meet its growth objectives; defaults or noncompliance related to project-specific, limited-recourse financing agreements; inability to maintain current credit ratings; reduced liquidity from the inability of credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings; poor market performance and other economic factors that could affect NextEra Energy's defined benefit pension plan's funded status; poor market performance and other risks to the asset values of nuclear decommissioning funds; changes in market value and other risks to certain of NextEra Energy's assets and investments; effect of inability of NextEra Energy subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends, make distributions or repay funds to NextEra Energy or of NextEra Energy's performance under guarantees of subsidiary obligations on NextEra Energy's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock; the fact that the amount and timing of dividends payable on NextEra Energy's common stock, as well as the dividend policy approved by NextEra Energy's board of directors from time to time, and changes to that policy, are within the sole discretion of NextEra Energy's board of directors and, if declared and paid, dividends may be in amounts that are less than might be expected by shareholders; effects of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on the market price of NextEra Energy's common stock; and the ultimate severity and duration of public health crises, epidemics and pandemics, and its effects on NextEra Energy's business. NextEra Energy discusses these and other risks and uncertainties in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and this news release should be read in conjunction with such SEC filings. The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and NextEra Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. SOURCE NextEra Energy Conference to feature speakers from across North America and Africa, including keynote by Mamphela Ramphele, Ph.D. CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeastern Illinois University's Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center will host the 12th Annual GHRAD Conference March 2-4 on the University's Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. in Chicago, and via Zoom. The conference is free and open to the public. Advance sign-up is requested to attend in person. "The GHRAD Conference offers attendees be it students, educators, activists or community members the chance to learn about the atrocities that have taken place in Africa and the diaspora and empowers people to find solutions on a local and global scale," Northeastern Professor and Coordinator of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Director of the GHRAD Center Jeanine Ntihirageza, Ph.D. , said. "The conference theme this year is "From Remembrance to Prevention" because it was really important to the GHRAD Center that we not just talk about what happened in the past, but we examine what is happening today and how our collective actions or inactions will impact future generations." The schedule includes panel discussions on reparations in Chicagoland, breaking the silence around genocide in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and healing and prevention, among numerous other topics. The keynote speaker will be Mamphela Ramphele, Ph.D., a co-founder of the Black Consciousness Movement alongside Steve Biko. A pivotal figure in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Dr. Ramphele has served as the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and in global development as a Managing Director of the World Bank. "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mamphela Ramphele to the GHRAD Conference this year," Dr. Ntihirageza said. "Her background as an activist, educator, businesswoman and more can offer a unique perspective on how oppression can take root and what can be done to counteract it." Northeastern is home to the only oral history archive at a university devoted to survivors of the 1972 genocide in Burundi, Africa. The collection " Mass Atrocity Testimonies An Oral History Archive ," began in 2023 and continues to grow as University students and employees travel to Burundi and speak with survivors. "Genocides are often hidden from history," said Dr. Ntihirageza, who is a survivor of the 1972 genocide in Burundi. "When survivors are centered and given the chance to share their stories, we need to listen. It's so important to remember what has happened before so that it doesn't happen again." This year's GHRAD Conference is part of Northeastern's College of Arts and Sciences -themed semester, "Staying the Course for Human Rights: From Awareness to Action," which centers on the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights in classes and public programs throughout Spring 2026. About Northeastern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County. Learn more at neiu.edu. SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University LA QUINTA, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FedTech, a leader in deep tech commercialization and defense innovation, has officially announced the winners of its 2026 Crucible Ignitor and Accelerator pitch competitions at the inaugural Warfighting Innovation Summit held this month. Powered by FedTech and the Inland Empire Tech Bridge and hosted as part of Creative Defense Foundation's Disruptors in the Desert 2026, the event brought together leading venture capitalists, federal acquisition officials, and entrepreneurs to highlight the technologies shaping the future of national security and critical infrastructure. General Atomics YFQ-42 on display at the Warfighting Innovation Summit At the event's conclusion, FedTech announced the winners of its two Crucible programs, highlighting the most promising innovations in both early-stage commercialization and growth-stage deployment. Novos Power took top honors in FedTech's Ignitor studio, which is dedicated to emerging, early-stage concepts with high market potential. The company is developing advanced solid-state transformer infrastructure designed to stabilize the massive, high-intensity power fluctuations demanded by artificial intelligence and modern data centers. WearableDose was selected as the winner of the Accelerator program, which recognizes established, early-stage startups prepared for rapid scaling and government contracting. Rooted in technology developed at Sandia National Laboratories, WearableDose has created an AI-driven, real-time wearable dosimetry patch that optimizes radiation targeting for cancer patients while protecting military personnel and first responders in radiologically hazardous environments. The distinction provides both companies with visibility among Department of War (DoW) prime contractors and private-sector investors, accelerating their path toward scalable deployment. "The quality of the companies this year was outstanding. These are serious founders working on real problems that matter to our warfighters and to our country," said FedTech's CEO Ben Solomon. "What stood out most was how clearly they understand the mission need and how their technology can make an impact at scale. That's exactly why this Summit matters, and why it's so important that companies like Novos Power and Wearable Dose get the exposure, guidance, and funding connections they need to move their technology forward." About the Creative Defense Foundation The Creative Defense Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on modernizing national security by bridging the gap between the U.S. government, the military, and the private tech sector. Established in 2023, its goal is to break down the institutional, cultural, policy, and legal barriers that prevent innovative technologies from being rapidly adopted by the Department of War. About the Warfighting Innovation Summit The Warfighting Innovation Summit, sponsored by FedTech and the Creative Defense Foundation, was the first in a series of events designed to help turn promising technology into capability. About FedTech FedTech is a venture studio and accelerator that connects government-sponsored R&D with private-sector entrepreneurship. Founded in 2015, FedTech partners with U.S. federal agencies, laboratories, and universities to match lab-developed technologies with entrepreneurs through mentorship, seed funding, and business validation. FedTech manages the commercialization lifecycle from discovery to deployment, working with government agencies, industry, and founders to reduce risk at technology transitions by identifying what needs to happen at each stage and who needs to be involved. Programs run in partnership with agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, NASA, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center give participants access to federally developed research, along with the mentorship and resources needed to bring those technologies to market. For more information on FedTech or to participate in future innovation summits, please visit https://www.fedtech.io/ . SOURCE FedTech NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE: OUT) announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, Nick Brien, is scheduled to present at Citi's 2026 Global Property CEO Conference on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A live and replay audio webcast will be available on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.outfront.com. About OUTFRONT Media Inc. OUTFRONT is one of the largest and most trusted out-of-home media companies in the U.S., helping brands connect with audiences in the moments and environments that matter most. As OUTFRONT evolves, it's defining a new era of in-real-life (IRL) marketing, turning public spaces into platforms for creativity, connection, and cultural relevance. With a nationwide footprint across billboards, digital displays, transit systems, and other out-of-home formats, OUTFRONT turns creative into powerful real-world experiences. Its in-house agency, OUTFRONT STUDIOS, and award-winning innovation team, XLabs, deliver standout storytelling, supported by advanced technology and data tools that can drive measurable impact. Contacts: Investors Media Stephan Bisson Courtney Richards Investor Relations Communications & Event Manager (212) 297-6573 (646) 876-9404 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc. Transaction provides flexible amortization, protects existing shareholders from dilution NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Portfolio BI, which provides advanced data solutions for managers of alternative investments, has landed a multi-million-dollar investment to further advance the artificial-intelligence capabilities of its platform and to expand customer support. Portfolio BI, headquartered in New York City, said it reached agreement with Decathlon Capital Partners on the growth-funding package. Financial details weren't disclosed. Jonathan White, Chief Executive Officer of Portfolio BI, said more than 175 top-tier clients with more than $1 trillion in assets under management rely on the company's services to strengthen their performance. "The advent of AI is a game changer in our pursuit of superior outcomes for clients. Stepping outside the traditional OMS/PMS and EDM workflow/reporting methodologies, our AI-driven tools enable private market asset managers to quickly and efficiently ingest and access the data they need to gauge performance, exposure and risk," White said. "This growth financing through Decathlon Capital Partners allows further enhancement of the deep domain expertise we've developed over two decades as a trusted partner of industry-leading management firms." Sumit Mahajan, Chief Operating Officer of Portfolio BI, said "The financial package won't result in any dilution of the interests of the company's existing shareholders. The transaction doesn't require any loss of management control or change in governance. This growth funding, with its flexible amortization schedule and no cost for undrawn capital, is custom designed to meet the needs of Portfolio BI as it continues its strong growth trajectory," Mahajan said. John Borchers, Managing Director of Decathlon Capital Partners, said the robust demand for Portfolio BI products from a diversified client base provides a strong platform for the company's future development. "Decathlon Capital Partners is pleased to support the growth of Portfolio BI with a financial package that's tailored precisely to the company's needs," Borchers said. About Portfolio BI Portfolio BI is the leading global provider of data solutions and services to the investment management community. For more than 20 years, Portfolio BI has empowered investment managers to deliver performance securely through leading data analytics and infrastructure advisory. Our clients benefit from our integrated platforms, local technological expertise, seasoned financial experts, and off-the-shelf solutions. We don't just help you access, organize, and analyze your data. We help you act on it. Learn more at https://www.portfoliobi.com/. About Decathlon Capital Partners Decathlon Capital Partners provides growth capital for companies seeking alternatives to traditional equity investment. Through the use of highly customized growth-debt financing solutions, Decathlon provides long-term growth capital without the dilution, loss of control and operational overhead that often comes with equity-based funding. With offices in Palo Alto and Park City, Decathlon is active across a wide range of sectors. Learn more at www.decathloncapital.com. SOURCE Portfolio BI MILWAUKEE, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating NCR Atleos (NYSE: NATL) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its recently announced transaction with Brink's Company. Click here to learn how to join our investigation and obtain additional information or contact us at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. In the transaction, NCR Atleos stockholders will receive $30.00 in cash and 0.1574 shares of Brink's common stock for each share owned, representing an implied value of $50.40 per share based on Brink's February 25, 2026 closing price of $129.58. NCR Atleos insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for NCR Atleos by imposing a significant penalty if NCR Atleos accepts a competing bid. We are investigating the conduct of the NCR Atleos board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLAI Limited (NYSE: SLAI) (previously traded under "BTCM") ("SOLAI" or the "Company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency infrastructure company, today announced that on January 29, 2026, the Company was notified by the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") that it is not in compliance with continued listing standards set forth in Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual because as of January 28, 2026, the average closing price of the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") was less than US$1.00 per ADS over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. The Company notified the NYSE on February 10, 2026, of its intent to regain compliance with the minimum price requirement. The Company has six months ("the Cure Period") following receipt of the notice to regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the six-month Cure Period if, on the last trading day of any calendar month during the Cure Period, its ADSs have a closing price of at least US$1.00 and an average closing price of at least US$1.00 over the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. If such compliance with the minimum share price requirement has not been regained by the end of the Cure Period, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures. The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Company's ADSs, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to compliance with other NYSE continued listing standards and other rights of the NYSE to delist the ADSs. The Company is currently in compliance with all other NYSE continued listing standards. The notice does not affect the Company's business operations, its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements or contractual obligations. The Company is closely monitoring the closing price of its ADSs and intends to regain compliance. Changes to Board of Directors The Company also announced that Mr. Qian Sun has resigned as an independent director, effective immediately. Mr. Sun's resignation is for personal reasons and does not involve any disagreement with the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Mr. Sun expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Company and wished it continued success. Concurrently, SOLAI appointed Mr. Zhan Chen as an independent director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Chen satisfies the requirements for an "independent director" within the meaning of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE, and meets the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Mr. Chen will succeed Mr. Sun as a member of the audit committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee, and the strategy committee of the Board. Mr. Chen brings extensive entrepreneurial and executive leadership experience across the consumer, technology, and fintech sectors in both the U.S. and Asia. He is the founder and, since 2025, the CEO of Open Mouth Food Inc., a U.S.-based premium food company specializing in clean-label, shelf-stable Asian noodle soups and broths. Previously, Mr. Chen successfully founded and scaled multiple ventures, serving as CEO of Boba Labs Inc. from 2022 to 2024 and Qin Yan Tech from 2017 to 2019. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of the consumer lending division at Wheat Financial Technology. Mr. Chen received a bachelor's degree from the East China University of Political Science and Law. He is an alumnus of Tsinghua University's Global Entrepreneur Leadership Program at the PBC School of Finance, a curriculum tailored for founders, entrepreneurs, and senior investment professionals driving innovative, high-growth ventures. He also completed an executive education program at China Europe International Business School ("CEIBS"). Mr. Bo Yu, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of SOLAI, commented, "On behalf of the Board and the entire management team, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Sun for his invaluable guidance and dedicated service since 2013. We wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors as he returns to his commitments at HSG. As we develop our strategy, infrastructure, and products to drive the next phase of growth, we are very excited to welcome Mr. Chen to the Board. His proven leadership and dynamic entrepreneurial track record having founded and scaled ventures across the consumer, fintech, and broader technology sectors will bring fresh, highly relevant perspectives to the Board." About SOLAI Limited SOLAI Limited (previously known as "BIT Mining Limited") (NYSE: SLAI) (previously traded under "BTCM"), is a technology-driven cryptocurrency infrastructure company expanding from its foundation in crypto mining to build a blockchain-based ecosystem spanning AI, stablecoins and payment infrastructure, and Solana treasury and staking operations supporting use cases across institutional settlement, commerce, consumer payments, and AI-native agent transactions. By leveraging its blockchain and data infrastructure expertise, SOLAI aims to enhance on-chain efficiency and expand participation across Solana and other blockchain ecosystems. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause SOLAI's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. For further information: SOLAI Limited [email protected] ir.solai.com www.solai.com Christensen Advisory Jason Ng Tel: +852-2117-0861 Email: [email protected] SOURCE SOLAI Limited Photo: https://www.facebook.com/marta.kosmarko European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said that problems with trust in Ukraine due to the situation around the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) in the summer of 2025 still persist. In an interview with European Pravda, when asked whether it was possible to speak of restored trust in Ukraine on the part of the EU after the repeal of the controversial laws, Kos said it was not at all the case and that the issue would remain. She said that laws could be adopted and repealed, but trust could not simply be restored, adding that once trust was no longer complete, any action by a partner would still raise questions about its motives. At the same time, she said Ukrainian civil society was helping her rebuild that trust. Kos noted that civil society in Ukraine genuinely plays an important role and referred to polling showing that 72% of Ukrainians support EU membership, with the fight against corruption ranking as highly as prosperity among the expected benefits. She added that she would like to see such a society in every candidate country. Kos also said the EU enlargement methodology had been created for a world that no longer exists. She said the international order had changed, with the United States, China and Russia operating according to a logic of spheres of influence. She said the EU was facing external opponents of enlargement who wanted both candidate countries such as Ukraine and the EU itself to fail. For that reason, she said, the Commission was exploring ways to adjust the enlargement methodology to better reflect current challenges and was preparing for discussions with member states, as any decision would require the support of all 27 EU members. She added that the Commission was in the final stage of drafting possible options and scenarios. According to Kos, the draft proposals would be ready in a few months. She also noted that there were already problems with decision-making due to vetoes, and not only regarding Ukraine. At the same time, she said Ukraine's path toward membership had not stopped, but full membership would only be possible once comprehensive reforms were carried out. She said she could not name a date, although in her view it should happen as soon as Ukraine meets the criteria. Kos also stressed that Ukraine would not negotiate changes to EU laws to suit itself. She said that either a country accepts the entire acquis or it is not an EU member. Referring to the so-called "frontloading" format launched with Ukraine, she said that neither Ukraine nor the EU needed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to define the accession requirements. She explained that the purpose of the format was to ensure that Ukraine clearly understood what needed to be done under each of the criteria within the clusters already under discussion. She added that the Commission's task had been to make sure Ukraine clearly understood the requirements, and that it was now up to Ukraine to complete its "homework." Company unites MorningSave, Meh, SideDeal, and Shop Univision under new corporate identity DALLAS, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Stores.com, Inc. today formalized its transformation into a unified e-commerce platform operating multiple retail brands, including MorningSave, Meh, SideDeal, and Shop Univision. The company, previously operating as Mercatalyst, has adopted the new identity to reflect its expanding portfolio and growth trajectory. Stores.com, Inc. operates a portfolio of e-commerce brands that have cultivated loyal followings through curated product selection, compelling value, and distinctive brand voices: Meh, founded in 2014 by Matt Rutledgewho originally pioneered the daily deal format at Wootbrought the model back to its roots and built a devoted community known for its irreverent humor and engaged forums. MorningSave established an innovative partnership with daytime television, bringing live product showcases to millions of viewers. SideDeal forged deep affiliate partnerships with online deal communities, becoming a go-to destination for bargain hunters. Shop.Univision expanded the company's reach to Spanish-speaking audiences through a partnership with the nation's largest Spanish-language broadcast network. The new corporate identity positions the company for its next phase of growth, including strategic acquisitions and an expanding brand portfolio. "We've spent a decade building brands that customers genuinely love coming back to," says Matt Rutledge, CEO of Stores.com, Inc. "The Stores.com name reflects where we're headeda platform that can bring great products to customers through multiple distinct storefronts. We're just getting started." About Stores.com, Inc. Stores.com, Inc. is a multi-brand e-commerce company serving 17+ million customers across a growing portfolio of brands. The company operates MorningSave, Meh, SideDeal, and Shop Univision. Co-founded by Matt Rutledge, Shawn Miller, Luke Duff, and Dave Rutledge, Stores.com, Inc. is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Learn more at stores.com. Correction: The first paragraph has been revised. SOURCE Stores.com SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TurnOnGreen, Inc. (OTC: TOGI) ("TurnOnGreen" or the "Company"), today announced the completion of an electric vehicle ("EV") charging infrastructure project for Foster City ("Foster City") in San Mateo County, California. TurnOnGreen Works with the City of Foster City to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure The project includes multiple EVP1100 48-amp/11 kW high-powered, networked Level 2 EV charging stations capable of delivering approximately 3540 miles of driving range per hour of charging. Foster City will utilize TurnOnGreen's cloud-based charging management software to remotely operate the chargers, monitor energy usage, generate activity reports, and track charging sessions. This new EV charging infrastructure supports the sustainability initiatives outlined in the City's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce community-wide emissions to nearly 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. The chargers are available exclusively to residents of The Pilgrim, a workforce housing community located at 501 Pilgrim Drive in Foster City. "We are excited to partner with Foster City to support its ambitious sustainability goals by delivering affordable, reliable, and customizable EV charging solutions," said Marcus Charuvastra, President of TurnOnGreen. "These chargers will help simplify the transition to electric mobility for Foster City residents." TurnOnGreen provides scalable EV charging solutions for residential, commercial, and fleet applications across North America. The Company's EV charging hardware, management software, and network services enable municipalities, businesses, and property owners to monitor, manage, and monetize EV charging usage. TurnOnGreen's charging systems are ENERGY STAR certified, meet rigorous industry standards, and are backed by internationally recognized safety and performance certifications. "The installation of these EV chargers, including van-accessible spaces for vehicles displaying disability placards, provides residents of our workforce housing property with convenient and affordable charging options," said Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director for Foster City. "We are also grateful to Peninsula Clean Energy for its incentive program and technical assistance in supporting this project." According to the California Energy Commission, more than 1.01 million public and shared private chargers will be required to support a projected 7.1 million passenger plug-in EVs in California by 2030.1 For more information on TurnOnGreen's product line, please visit www.TurnOnGreen.com. About TurnOnGreen TurnOnGreen, Inc. (OTC: TOGI) designs and manufactures innovative, feature-rich, top-quality power products for mission-critical applications, lifesaving and sustaining applications spanning multiple sectors in the harshest environments. The diverse markets we serve include defense and aerospace, medical and healthcare, industrial, telecommunications, and e-mobility. TurnOnGreen brings decades of experience to every project, working with our clients to develop leading-edge products to meet a wide range of needs. TurnOnGreen headquarters are located in San Jose, California; www.TurnOnGreen.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to, among other things, future use of the Company's management software, and the growing needs of charging stations to meet California's anticipated EV growth. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement publicly in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could make actual results differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and the Company's website at www.TurnOnGreen.com. 1 Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Assessment - AB 2127 SOURCE TurnOnGreen, inc. "A move to Downtown San Jose enables us to deepen our presence in one of the most economically dynamic cities in the country," said Emily Ruvalcaba, senior vice president and Silicon Valley regional president for WCCB and immediate past chair of San Jose Downtown Association. "I have seen firsthand the amazing energy, innovation and community spirit that define our downtown, and the Bank's new location gives us the visibility, accessibility and facilities we need to support the region's entrepreneurs, property owners and business leaders." Krista Snelling, West Coast Community Bank chairman and chief executive officer, added, "Establishing a branch in Downtown San Jose reflects our longterm commitment to serving the innovationdriven communities of Silicon Valley and the Central Coast. With an experienced team and expanded workspace for our bankers, as well as significant lending capacity and competitive deposit services, we are uniquely positioned to support the evolving financial needs of growing companies across the region." In addition to retail banking services, the San Jose branch will provide collaborative workspaces for more than 35 bankers in asset-based lending, commercial lending, eBanking, finance, information security, treasury management and underwriting. "West Coast Community Bank was looking for greater visibility and access to talent, and they found it in Downtown San Jose," said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. "We're thrilled to welcome one of California's top-rated banks to its new home and hope WCCB enjoys the two years of free parking and zero business tax that the City offers new downtown office dwellers." "On behalf of the San Jose Downtown Association, we are grateful West Coast Community Bank is choosing to invest in both physical and human capital with this new office in Downtown San Jose," said Brian Kurtz, CEO of San Jose Downtown Association. "They join a growing number of businesses that recognize the value of a central address and the momentum behind our shared vision for the Downtown. West Coast Community Bank is a valued community partner, and we look forward to welcoming their team to the neighborhood." The Bank's Cupertino, Calif. branch at 19240 Stevens Creek Boulevard will close permanently at noon on Tuesday, June 30. Affected clients will be notified by mail and branch signage posted within the appropriate regulatory timelines. The Stevens Creek Boulevard site of the Cupertino branch has been purchased for redevelopment. ABOUT WEST COAST COMMUNITY BANK Founded in 2004, West Coast Community Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of West Coast Community Bancorp, a bank holding company. The Bank is a top-rated, locally operated and full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, Calif. with branches in Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, King City, Monterey, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. West Coast Community Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The Bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley. As a full-service bank, West Coast Community Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, asset-based lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, West Coast Community Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local nonprofit organizations. Visit wccb.com for more information. SOURCE West Coast Community Bank NURNBERG (NUREMBERG), Germany, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA) has named brothers Franco Gussalli Beretta and Pietro Gussalli Beretta as recipients of its highest honor, the Dr. Vito Genco Shooting Ambassador Award. Franco Gussalli Beretta accepted the award on behalf of both brothers during the WFSA plenary session at the IWA OutdoorClassics trade fair. "It is an immense honour to present our top award to leaders who embody the very essence of what our organisation promotesexcellence in hunting, sport shooting, and responsible civilian firearms ownership," said Tony Bernardo, president of WFSA. "To bestow this honour during the 500th anniversary of the Beretta company makes the recognition especially meaningful." WFSA awards Beretta brothers its highest honor for extraordinary contributions to hunting and sport shooting. Post this The Dr. Vito Genco Shooting Ambassador Award recognizes individuals worldwide for extraordinary contributions to hunting and sport shooting. Past recipients include Olympic athletes, authors, and public figures, among them the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. In his statement, Franco Gussalli Beretta said, "We are deeply grateful to receive this award from WFSA, an organisation that champions scientific research, tradition, values, and innovation within the global shooting community." Among multiple positions they each hold within the group, Franco Gussalli Beretta is president and CEO of Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, while Pietro Gussalli Beretta serves as president and CEO of Beretta Holding. Founded in 1526, Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is marking its 500th anniversary this year. The plenary session also marked WFSA's 30th anniversary, highlighted in a presentation by past president Graham Downing, and included an honorary award to Juergen Kohlheim for his long-standing service on the Executive Committee. Additional topics and panel discussions included shooting disciplines at the LA2028 Olympics, presented by ISSF Secretary-General Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacomo; proposed EU lead ammunition restrictions, presented by Squire Patton Boggs attorney and AFEMS consultant Peter Sellar; and a new WFSA international policy database tool presented by Charles Fowler, Chair of the WFSA Image Committee. About WFSA The World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA) is an international non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Founded in 1996, it includes more than 50 national, regional, and international organizations and works to preserve hunting and sport shooting traditions through cooperation with governments and international institutions. More information: www.wfsa.net SOURCE WFSA HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At its regular meeting held on February 26, 2026, the Board of Directors of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. declared a $1.00 per share annual dividend, payable in cash on March 25, 2026, to holders of record of Common Shares as of the close of business on March 16, 2026. About White Mountains White Mountains is a Bermuda-domiciled financial services holding company traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange under the symbol "WTM" and WTM.BH, respectively. Additional financial information and other items of interest are available at the Company's web site located at www.whitemountains.com . CONTACT: Rob Seelig, (603) 640-2212 SOURCE White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. About this content About Jamie Ashcroft Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. About this content About Lisa Uhlman Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. The US government has given the AI company behind Claude until 5pm to drop its restrictions on military use. The company says it won't. But it has already given ground elsewhere If you have heard of Anthropic, you probably know it as the company behind Claude, one of the most widely used AI systems in the world. What you may not know is that it is also, right now, in the middle of a stand-off with the US government that could reshape how powerful AI gets used by militaries, and who gets to set the rules. The deadline is today. But there is more to this story than the headline suggests. How we got here Last July, the Pentagon awarded contracts worth up to $200 million each to four AI companies: Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Elon Musk's xAI. The idea was to bring frontier AI into national security work. Anthropic's deal was notable for a specific reason. Claude became the first AI model cleared to operate on the US military's classified networks. That was seen as a significant milestone, a signal of how seriously the government was taking Anthropic's technology, and how seriously Anthropic was taking its government relationships. Those contracts came with conditions. Anthropic's acceptable use policy, written into the contract, contained two explicit restrictions: Claude could not be used for mass surveillance of American citizens, and it could not be used in fully autonomous weapons systems, meaning AI making lethal decisions without a human in the loop. At the time, nobody made much of a fuss. The Venezuela incident Things changed in January 2026. Reports emerged that Claude had been used, through Anthropic's partner Palantir, during a US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Anthropic had not been fully informed about how its technology was being deployed. CEO Dario Amodei responded by publicly drawing what he called two "bright red lines." Mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons: both off limits, full stop. The Pentagon did not like that framing. The ultimatum On Tuesday this week, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Amodei at the Pentagon and handed him a demand: sign a document granting the military "full access" to Claude for "all lawful purposes," with no restrictions attached. Hegseth and other Trump administration officials labelled Anthropic's safety guardrails "woke AI." The Pentagon then issued a deadline: comply by 5:01pm ET on Friday, February 27 (today), or face three consequences. First, the $200 million contract would be cancelled. Second, Anthropic would be designated a "supply chain risk," the kind of label normally reserved for companies considered extensions of foreign adversaries. That designation would pressure defence contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin to cut ties with Claude entirely, threatening Anthropic's much broader enterprise business. Third, the Pentagon threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law that has never been used this way, to legally compel Anthropic to remove its safety limits. Legal experts have described that last move as unprecedented. Amodei himself pointed out the obvious contradiction: the government was simultaneously calling Anthropic a security risk and insisting its technology was essential to national security. The safety pledge that disappeared Here is where the story gets more complicated. On the week Hegseth delivered his ultimatum, Anthropic published a major revision to its internal safety framework. The company's original Responsible Scaling Policy, written in 2023, contained a binding commitment: Anthropic would not train more powerful AI models unless it could guarantee in advance that adequate safety measures were in place. That hard limit is now gone. The new version replaces the categorical pause with something far weaker: Anthropic will only delay development if its leaders simultaneously believe the company is leading the global AI race and judge catastrophic risks to be significant. Both conditions must be true at once, a threshold considerably harder to meet than the original rule. Anthropic's chief science officer Jared Kaplan told TIME the change reflected a new reality. Unilateral commitments to pause development while competitors press ahead "wouldn't actually help anyone," he said. The company insists the policy revision is entirely unrelated to the Pentagon dispute. That may well be true. Internal discussions on the change reportedly ran for nearly a year. But the timing, dropping a core safety promise on the same day a government ultimatum arrived, has attracted exactly the kind of scrutiny Anthropic would rather avoid. One independent reviewer who assessed the new policy said it signals that Anthropic "believes it needs to shift into triage mode with its safety plans, because methods to assess and mitigate risk are not keeping up with the pace of capabilities." Anthropic's response to the Pentagon Overnight on Wednesday, the Pentagon sent Anthropic revised contract language it described as a compromise. Anthropic rejected it. "The contract language we received overnight from the Department of War made virtually no progress on preventing Claude's use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons," the company said in a statement Thursday. "New language framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will." Amodei's blog post on Thursday was blunt. Anthropic understands that the military, not private companies, makes military decisions, he wrote. The company had never raised objections to particular operations or tried to limit its technology on an ad hoc basis. But mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons "have never been included in our contracts with the Department of War, and we believe they should not be included now." "Threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request," he added. The Pentagon's chief technology officer Emil Michael responded on X by calling Amodei a "liar" with a "God complex" who was "ok putting our nation's safety at risk." What's actually in dispute The Pentagon's public position is straightforward: it says it has no intention of using Claude for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, and that those restrictions were never triggered in practice. Senior defence analysts have confirmed that, by all accounts, the military's use of Claude has never come close to hitting the limits Anthropic set. So why does it matter? Because the Pentagon does not want to be in a position where it needs a private company's permission before acting. Legality, a Pentagon official told CNN this week, is the military's responsibility, not Anthropic's. Anthropic's view is the opposite. The company argues that some uses of AI are simply unsafe regardless of legality, and that a private company building a powerful technology has both the right and the responsibility to set those limits in its terms. That is the real disagreement. Not what the Pentagon intends to do, but who gets to decide what the technology can be used for in the first place. Why this matters beyond the $200 million Losing the contract would not threaten Anthropic's survival. The company is valued at around $380 billion and has announced a $14 billion annual revenue run rate. The contract represents a fraction of that. The supply chain risk designation is a different matter. It would mean any company working with the US military would have to prove they have no exposure to Anthropic products in their work with the Pentagon, which could effectively freeze Claude out of a large part of the enterprise market at the worst possible time. Anthropic is reportedly planning an IPO. There is also a broader signal at stake. Analysts have noted that the Pentagon's approach sends a clear message to every other AI company in negotiations with the military: do not attempt to put restrictions on how the government uses your technology. Elon Musk's xAI signed its classified network agreement without any restrictions. OpenAI removed its explicit ban on military use in early 2024. Google is in accelerated negotiations on similar terms. Anthropic is, for now, holding its two specific lines. But it has already moved on everything else. What happens next As of this writing, the deadline has not passed. It is not clear whether the Pentagon will make a public announcement if Anthropic misses it, or how quickly Claude would be removed from military systems if the contract is cancelled. Contractors that rely on Anthropic products would likely be given some time to assess their exposure rather than being cut off immediately. The Defense Production Act threat remains on murky legal ground and would almost certainly face an immediate legal challenge if invoked. What is already clear is that the company that built its reputation on being the AI industry's safety conscience is navigating a moment that tests exactly what that identity is worth. On the Pentagon's two specific demands, Amodei is holding firm. On the broader commitments that defined Anthropic's founding promise, the ground has already shifted. Whether those two things are connected is a question the company would rather not answer. About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/robertficosk President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the offer of Hungary and Slovakia to inspect the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which transported Russian oil, citing the negative position of Ukrainian special services, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a call with Zelenskyy on Friday. "From a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, I got the clear impression that the Ukrainian side is not interested in resuming oil transit through the territory of Ukraine," Fico said on Facebook. He informed Zelenskyy that the suspension of oil transit causes logistical difficulties and economic losses for Slovakia. "The conversation confirmed that we have different views on the state of the oil pipeline," the prime minister said. According to him, Slovak intelligence information claims that the oil pipeline is not damaged and nothing is preventing the transit of oil, while the Ukrainian president insists that repairing the oil pipeline requires a lot of time. The head of the Slovak government also complained to Zelenskyy that the Ukrainian side has not yet allowed the Slovak ambassador in Kyiv to inspect the oil pipeline and that the European Union ambassador to Ukraine has not been given such an opportunity. At the same time, Fico accepted the invitation of the Ukrainian president to hold joint negotiations with the Slovak side on all aspects of Ukrainian-Slovak cooperation. He asked the government and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, in cooperation with the Ukrainian side, to find a suitable date for such a meeting, giving preference to a meeting with the Ukrainian president on the territory of one of the EU member states, "which the Ukrainian president visits intensively." About this content About Steve Darling Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. 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 27 : A senior Republican senator has launched a twin attack on two of America's most powerful technology companies, accusing Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg of "denial and deceit" in a landmark child safety trial and alleging that Apple News has "systematically suppressed" right-leaning publications in favour of liberal outlets. Washington, Feb 27 (IANS) A senior Republican senator has launched a twin attack on two of America's most powerful technology companies, accusing Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg of "denial and deceit" in a landmark child safety trial and alleging that Apple News has "systematically suppressed" right-leaning publications in favour of liberal outlets. US Senator Marsha Blackburn, speaking on the Senate floor, cited newly released court documents from a California trial examining whether social media platforms are designed to harm young users. "New court documents made public last week revealed that nearly 1 in 5 young teenagers report seeing 'nudity or sexual images on Instagram' that they didn't want to see. 1 in 5," she said. "That's just one shocking fact that we have learned through a landmark trial in California that is focused on how social media platforms harm American children." She described the findings as deeply troubling. "It is appalling what these companies have done. Yet when he testified last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg doubled down on his record of denialwhile sitting just feet away from parents who have tragically lost their children to social media harms." "Once again, Zuckerberg asserted that there is no link between youth social media use and worse mental health outcomes. But Meta's own research has shown the exact opposite." In a separate statement following Zuckerberg's appearance before a jury in Los Angeles, Blackburn said: "To no one's surprise, Mark Zuckerberg followed his usual playbook of denial and deceit while sitting just a few steps away from parents who have tragically lost their children as a consequence of the way his platforms are designed to harm young users." She added that "86 per cent of Americans want Big Tech companies to be held accountable for their role in the social media addiction crisis." "These companies are using the same playbook as Big Tobacco did decades ago by trying to keep kids hooked on products that hurt them. It's time for legislators to stop ignoring the will of the American people and ensure social media platforms are safer by design for our children and grandchildren." Blackburn also sent a February 19 letter to Apple chief executive Tim Cook raising concerns about alleged bias in Apple NewsLetter to Apple. In the letter, she wrote that Apple News had "systematically suppressed news articles from conservative publications while amplifying articles from liberal outlets." "According to the Media Research Center (MRC), which analyzed over 600 stories featured by Apple News in the morning time slots between January 1 and January 31 of this year, 440 of these were published by left-leaning outlets. A whopping zero stories from outlets considered right-leaning were featured." She cited comments that Americans are not "getting the full scope of perspectives available." The letter also referenced a communication from the Federal Trade Commission warning that "the systematic suppression of viewpointsregardless of political affiliationcould violate consumer protection rules." "Apple News is automatically installed on Apple devices and was purportedly ranked the most popular news application in the United States, Canada, and Australia in January," Blackburn wrote. "You have a responsibility to offer access to information without favor or bias toward one political party." The Los Angeles trial marks one of the most closely watched legal confrontations between grieving families and a social media giant over allegations of addictive design and youth harm. The case has intensified pressure on lawmakers to revisit proposals that would impose a statutory "duty of care" on platforms serving minors. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the post-Budget webinar on "Technology, Reforms and Finance for Viksit Bharat" on Friday morning via video conferencing. The webinar will entail discussions on public capex, infrastructure, banking sector reforms, financial sector architecture, deepening capital markets, and ease of living through tax reforms, the statement said. The webinar is the first in a series of post-Budget webinars being organised on key themes emerging from the Union Budget 2026a"27, and aim to draw lessons from past experiences and obtain structured feedback from participants to strengthen and ensure outcome-oriented implementation of the Budget announcements for FY 2026-27, drawing upon the practical experience and insights of diverse stakeholders, as per the statement. They will bring together stakeholders from industry, financial institutions, market participants, Government, industry regulators and academia to deliberate on effective implementation pathways for key Budget announcements, it added. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a capital expenditure of Rs 12.2 lakh crore in the Budget for 2026-27, to boost big-ticket infrastructure projects and boost growth and jobs in the economy. An Infrastructure Risk Development Fund has also been set up to accelerate the development of big projects. In order to spur economic growth, the Budget proposes to deliver a powerful push to infrastructure, including highways, ports, railways and power projects, scale up manufacturing in 7 strategic sectors and create champion MSMEs. The Finance Minister said that the government has maintained fiscal prudence and monetary stability whilst maintaining a strong thrust on public investments. India must deeply integrate with global markets, exporting more and attracting foreign investment as well. Finance Minister Sitharaman has projected a further reduction in the fiscal deficit to 4.3 per cent of GDP for 2026-27 as the government continues on the path of fiscal consolidation to ensure economic growth with stability. In her budget speech on February 1, she said that the government had fulfilled its commitment to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.4 per cent in the Budget for 2025-26 and would now reduce it further to 4.3 per cent as it continues on the fiscal prudence path. She said that the target reflects a balance between supporting economic momentum and keeping public finances stable. The fiscal deficit represents the gap between the governmentas total expenditure and its total revenue. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Washington, Feb 27 : Democratic Senators have questioned US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over a $1.6 billion rare-earth minerals deal, warning that the arrangement could benefit his immediate family and his former firm, Cantor Fitzgerald. In a February 25 letter, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and Chris Van Hollen said the agreement brokered by the Department of Commerce with USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR) "could enrich your immediate family." "This follows in a long string of actions that you have taken in your capacity as the Secretary of Commerce that could stand to enrich your immediate family and former company," the lawmakers wrote. The Department last month announced a tentative deal worth up to $1.6 billion with USAR. Under its terms, Commerce would provide "up to $277 million in direct funding and up to $1.3 billion in loans" while acquiring 16.1 million shares, or around a 10 per cent stake in the company. On the same day, USAR announced it had raised $1.5 billion in private funds with Cantor Fitzgerald "as the lead placement agent" for the transaction. The senators noted that "Cantor acted as a compensated broker for a company whose financial position was bolstered by a $1.6 billion public funding agreement from your Department." Lutnick previously owned and led Cantor for years. His ethics agreement required that he divest this interest. He transferred his stake to his adult sons, who now lead the firm. Ethics experts cited in the letter said the "fact that the (USAR) deal is brokered by the Wall Street firm formerly run by the commerce secretary and now headed by his sons is reason to worry that the public interest is being subordinated, yet again, to the profit seeking of Trump cronies." The senators said Lutnick "publicly touted and reportedly were personally involved in" the USAR deal. They referred to reports that he met USAR's chief executive in November 2025 and asked "what would it take [for USA Rare Earth] to go faster and to scale further?" USAR's chief executive, Barbara Humpton, was quoted as saying the "first condition is we were asked to go raise private money (by Commerce)." The company ultimately raised $1.5 billion in private investment in public equity funding alongside the federal commitment. The lawmakers also pointed to SEC filings showing that billionaire Trump allies, including Steve Schwarzman, Ken Griffin, and Steven A. Cohen, bought discounted shares of USAR in the private fundraising transaction brokered by Cantor. "If they had inside information on the Commerce Department, it could potentially implicate federal ethics rules as well as raising questions about corruption related to financial rewards for wealthy supporters of President Trump and his administration," the senators wrote. They have asked Lutnick to respond to a series of questions by March 11, including details of his involvement in the deal, any guidance received from ethics officials, and whether he complied with federal recusal requirements. Rare earth minerals are critical to defence systems, semiconductors and electric vehicles. China accounts for roughly 60 per cent of global rare earth mining output and about 91 per cent of production, underscoring US concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities. The Trump administration has made domestic sourcing of critical minerals a strategic priority amid intensifying competition with China. Programmes under the CHIPS and Science Act have been used to support projects aimed at strengthening US manufacturing capacity and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. Washington, Feb 27 : After reports of women giving birth alone behind bars, US lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require every federal prison housing women to employ a full-time obstetrician-gynaecologist. The proposed Ensuring OB-GYN Care in Prisons Act seeks to amend US law to ensure access to obstetrician-gynaecologists for female prisoners. The bill, introduced by Representatives Valerie Foushee, Yassamin Ansari, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, comes amid growing concern over the treatment of pregnant inmates and the absence of specialised medical staff in correctional facilities. Under the bill, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall employ at least one, and may employ more than one, obstetrician-gynaecologist certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology on a full-time basis at each facility where female prisoners are incarcerated. It also requires that each female prisoner incarcerated by the Bureau of Prisons have an initial visit with the obstetrician-gynaecologist employed at the facility not later than 14 days after imprisonment. The legislation lays out core medical services to be provided on-site. These include menstrual health care and pain management, contraceptive counselling and access, prenatal care and pregnancy screenings, postpartum care and recovery, and mental health screening for postpartum depression. It further establishes patient protections. Female prisoners must receive informed consent for any exam or procedure, the right to refuse non-emergency care, and clear communication in their preferred language. To prevent delays, the bill directs prison authorities to create a referral process for outside specialists when medically necessary. It specifies that the Director may not refuse to provide a prisoner with such care based on cost or staffing constraints. Women make up a minority of the prison population in both countries, yet their medical needs are often distinct and resource-intensive. Civil society groups in India and elsewhere have called for stronger monitoring of maternal health in custody, underscoring that the issue extends beyond national borders. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will give away awards to top-performing students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) at its 57th Convocation Ceremony for the 2024-25 batch to be held here on Friday. The event will also see Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is also the Chancellor of IIMC, presiding over a function to lay the foundation stone for the new Academic Block and Hostel Block of the institute. The convocation will also be attended by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; R. Jagannathan, Chairman, IIMC Society; Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor, IIMC; and L. Madhu Nag, Registrar, IIMC, an official statement said. Faculty members and staff of the institute will also be present, marking this important academic milestone and celebrating the achievements of the graduating students, it added. Students of different programmes, including postgraduate diploma programmes in Journalism (English, Hindi, Radio and TV, Digital Media, Odia, Urdu, Marathi and Malayalam), Advertising and Public Relations across different campuses, who have passed their examinations in 2024a"25, will be awarded diplomas, it said. At the convocation ceremony, apart from the diplomas, 35 medals, including 23 carrying cash prizes, will be awarded to toppers of each course from all six campuses. The Vice President will lay the foundation stone of the new Academic Block and Hostel Block at IIMC in the presence of senior dignitaries, including the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the Secretary. On this occasion, the Creators Lounge at the Incubation Centre will also be inaugurated by the Union Minister in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry and the institute. Established on August 17, 1965, the IIMC has five regional centres across the country that cater to journalism courses in English and regional languages. The first regional centre was set up at Dhenkanal, Odisha, in 1993 to cater to the needs of the eastern region. Two regional centres were established at Amravati in Maharashtra for the western region and at Aizawl in Mizoram for the north-eastern region from the academic year 2011a"12. Regional centres were set up in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, to cater to the needs of the northern region and at Kottayam, Kerala, for the southern region from the academic year 2012a"13, according to information available on the official website. -- Syndicated from IANS Washington, Feb 27 : US President Donald Trump will award the prestigious Medal of Honor to three US Army soldiers on March 2, recognising acts of "gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" spanning World War II, Vietnam, and the war in Afghanistan. Washington, Feb 27 (IANS) US President Donald Trump will award the prestigious Medal of Honor to three US Army soldiers on March 2, recognising acts of "gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" spanning World War II, Vietnam, and the war in Afghanistan. The White House said the nation's highest military decoration will be conferred on Master Sergeant Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds, posthumously; Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, posthumously; and Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson, US Army (Retired). Master Sergeant Edmonds will be honoured for actions between January 27, 1945, and March 30, 1945, as a prisoner of war in Germany. Upon arrival at Stalag IXA in Ziegenhain, he faced a German order that only Jewish-American prisoners were to report for roll call, under threat of execution. Understanding that segregation of more than 200 Jewish-American POWs could lead to "persecution and possible death," Edmonds directed all 1,200 American prisoners to present themselves. When confronted by the Nazi commandant, who pressed a pistol against his forehead and demanded that he identify Jewish prisoners or be shot, Edmonds "fearlessly held his ground". He warned the commandant that executing him would constitute a war crime. The officer ultimately lowered his weapon and left without further attempts to segregate the prisoners. Weeks later, as Allied forces advanced, Edmonds led further resistance. He ordered prisoners to break ranks and return to their barracks when German transports arrived, forcing the guards to abandon the camp and leaving the 1,200 Americans behind. Staff Sergeant Ollis is being recognised for actions on August 28, 2013, during a complex enemy attack at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. The assault involved vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire, and small arms fire. After ordering fellow soldiers to bunkers, Ollis re-entered a building to check for casualties and moved toward the enemy force that had penetrated the perimeter. Alongside a Coalition Forces officer, and "armed only with rifles", he joined other forces to repel the attack. While under continuous fire, an insurgent engaged them at close range. With "complete disregard for his own safety," Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and the wounded officer. He fired and incapacitated the attacker, but the insurgent's suicide vest detonated, mortally wounding him, the White House said. Then-Staff Sergeant Richardson is being honoured for actions on September 14, 1968, near Loc Ninh in the Republic of Vietnam. Engaged by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion, he braved heavy machine gun fire three times to rescue wounded soldiers, the White House said. Realising his company was surrounded, he advanced to Hill 222 to direct tactical air strikes, only to discover it was an enemy regimental base camp. Despite being wounded by a sniper, he continued directing air strikes for seven hours. He later declined medical evacuation. His actions "spared the lives of 85 fellow soldiers". The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty. Since its creation during the American Civil War, more than 3,500 service members have received the medal. It remains the United States' highest military decoration and is presented by the President in the name of Congress, recognising extraordinary acts in combat across different wars and generations. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid respectful tribute to Chandrashekhar Azad, a fearless freedom fighter, on his martyrdom day and said that he sacrificed everything to free Mother India from the shackles of slavery. PM Modi took to his social media platform X and said, "My respectful tribute to Chandrashekhar Azad, a brave son of Mother India, on his martyrdom day. He sacrificed everything to free Mother India from the shackles of slavery, for which he will always be remembered." PM Modi also made another post and said, "The life of the immortal revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad shows that the determination to stand firm against injustice is true valour. The story of his sacrifice for the motherland will continue to inspire every generation of the country." Chandrashekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, as Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari. At the age of 15, he was arrested during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-21). When produced before the court, he defiantly introduced himself as 'Azad' (free), stated his father's name as 'Swatantrata' (freedom), and declared his residence as 'prison'. This fearless response earned him the enduring name by which he became a legend. Chandrashekhar Azad became deeply saddened when Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922. Like several of his contemporaries, this disappointment steered him towards a more militant course of action. He subsequently joined the Hindustan Republican Army, founded by Ram Prasad Bismil and Sachindranath Sanyal. Azad played an active role in the Kakori train robbery of 1925, led by Ram Prasad Bismil, which marked a significant episode in the revolutionary struggle. In 1928, along with his fellow revolutionaries, Azad reorganised the HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, with the aim of establishing a socialist republic in India. Following the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Azad, along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, sought retribution. While Bhagat Singh and Rajguru assassinated British officer John Saunders, Azad shot a police constable who pursued them. Under Azad's guidance, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt carried out the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, aiming to make a political statement rather than cause fatalities. Azad was also indirectly linked to the attempt to derail the Viceroy's train in December 1929, further exemplifying his commitment to armed resistance against colonial rule. In 1928, the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was reorganised into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) at a historic meeting held at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Prominent members present included Bhagat Singh, Bejoy Kumar Sinha, Shiv Varma, Jaidev Kapur, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, and Sukhdev. Chandrashekhar Azad did not attend this meeting. The reorganisation marked a significant ideological shift. Bhagat Singh and his associates emphasised socialism as a guiding principle, envisioning India's independence not merely as political freedom but as economic and social emancipation for the masses. The leadership model adopted was collective in nature, moving away from reliance on individual revolutionary acts towards a broader mass movement. Chandrashekhar Azad, though absent from the Kotla meeting, was appointed as the Commander of the Military Division of the HSRA. In this role, he was tasked with planning and executing organised armed resistance against colonial authority. On February 27, 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad was betrayed to the police at Alfred Park in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Surrounded by police forces, he fought until his last bullet, which he used on himself to avoid capture, staying true to his vow of never being taken alive. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Feb 27 : Actor Adivi Sesh, who has kick-started promotions for Dacoit, sought divine blessings at the Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal ahead of the release of his upcoming film. The visit comes as the team prepares for a steady build-up to the April release. Speaking about the moment, Adivi Sesh said, "Every film begins long before the cameras roll. Dacoit has been a very personal journey for me, especially because I've been involved with the script from the start. Sesh has launched its first song, Rubaroo. The romantic track, picturised on Sesh and co-star Mrunal Thakur. Directed by Shaniel Deo, Dacoit also stars Anurag Kashyap in a pivotal antagonist role. Talking about the number, he said: "Rubaroo is special because it captures the emotional heartbeat of the film, the vulnerability, the connection, and the quiet intensity between these characters. Launching promotions with this song felt right. Before we begin sharing this story with audiences, I wanted to take a moment to seek blessings and gratitude." "We've poured a lot into this film, and I'm looking forward to everyone experiencing it in April." Dacoit also stars Prakash Raj, Sunil, Atul Kulkarni, Zayn Marie Khan, and Kamakshi Bhaskarla among others. It traces the journey of an angry convict determined to seek revenge on his ex-girlfriend, who betrayed him. As he crafts a perilous plan to trap her, the story evolves into an emotionally intense tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance. Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, the film's story and screenplay have been jointly crafted by Adivi Sesh and Shaneil Deo. Currently in post-production, Dacoit is gearing up for a grand pan-India release. Sesh made his film debut in 2010 as a lead actor and director with the romance Karma and gained recognition for his antagonistic roles in Panjaa, Balupu, and Baahubali: The Beginning. Sesh then established himself with his work in films such as Dongaata, Kshanam, Ami Thumi, Goodachari, Evaru, Major and HIT: The Second Case. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) illustrated its update on the Russian-Ukrainian war for Thursday, February 26, with updated maps according to which Ukraine's Defense Forces are no longer present within the administrative boundaries of the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, where fighting is ongoing, although all northern and western outskirts of the city remain in a penetration zone. At the same time, the Institute does not report the final capture of the city by Russian occupying forces. "Geolocated footage published on February 26 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced south of Hryshyne (northwest of Pokrovsk). Russian forces attacked near Pokrovsk itself; northwest of Pokrovsk near Hryshyne and toward Novooleksandrivka and Shevchenko; north of Pokrovsk near Rodynske and toward Bilytske; southwest of Pokrovsk near Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske and toward Novopidhirne; and west of Pokrovsk toward Serhiivka on February 25 and 26 Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Hryshyne," the institute said. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), on its maps attached to operational information on the Russian invasion as of 08:00 on February 27, marks a small northern part of the city along the Hryshynka River as being under the control of the Defense Forces. The penetration zone is not marked on the General Staff's maps. The withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Pokrovsk is also not confirmed by the OSINT project DeepState. On its maps, last updated on the evening of February 26, a small area within the administrative boundaries of the city in the northeast, near the village of Rivne, remains in the penetration zone, but all residential districts of Pokrovsk are shown as controlled by the enemy. The seventh Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces, which is carrying out tasks including on Pokrovsk axis, reported on February 25 to 27 the destruction of groups of Russian occupiers in open areas in the suburbs of Pokrovsk, in particular near the village of Hryshyne. Kolkata, Feb 27 : With the final voters' list in West Bengal to be published on Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to share soft copies of the list with the registered political parties in the state for transparency. Kolkata, Feb 27 (IANS) With the final votersa list in West Bengal to be published on Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to share soft copies of the list with the registered political parties in the state for transparency. At the same time, the ECI is keeping multiple options open for the voters to check the status of their names in the final list, which will have names under two additional categories of "under adjudication" and "deleted", apart from those enlisted as genuine voters of the state. The first option is to visit the main website of the Election Commission of India -- eci.gov.in -- and check on the site by entering the voter's name along with their EPIC number. Another way to check the names is to visit the official website of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer's office at ceowestbengal.wb.gov.in. The third option is to visit the websites of the respective district electoral officers (DEOs) and check names. Besides these three ways of online checking, the ECI has also decided to keep different options open for offline checking. Since copies of the final votersa list will also be shared with the booth-level officers (BLOs), the voters can contact their respective BLOs and check with them. At the same time, the ECI will display hard copies of the final votersa list at polling booths in different areas, so that voters can visit the booths and check their names. As already clarified on Thursday, the final votersa list will have names under two additional categories of "under adjudication" and "deleted", apart from those enlisted as genuine voters of the state. This means that the names in the final voters' list will be specified under three categories. The "under adjudication" category will have the names of those voters whose identity documents will continue to remain under the process of adjudication by the judicial officers appointed specially for the purpose, as per the order of the Supreme Court. In the final votersa list, these voters will be enlisted in the aunder adjudicationa category. Supplementary lists will be published in due course. These will have the names of the "under adjudication" category voters, once cleared by the judicial officers after due adjudication. The third category in the final votersa list will be those voters who have been excluded during the entire course of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that started in November last year. The names of these excluded voters will appear in the final votersa list under the adeleteda category. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has responded to the Supreme Court's recent observations on mandatory voting by questioning the very foundation of India's current electoral system. It acknowledged the court's intent to strengthen democracy and argued that such measures are futile as long as the system remains "trapped in the jaws of a dictatorial and corrupt" regime. An editorial in the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', on Friday follows comments from Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Bagchi, who suggested that mandatory voting might be necessary to ensure democratic robustness. The judges noted a concerning trend where "educated and affluent voters" in urban centres participate less frequently than their rural counterparts. The Thackeray camp agreed that the court's observation of the "voting paradox" is realistic, noting that despite decades of electoral reform programmes, the turnout gap has not significantly changed. However, it raised a sharp counterpoint: "Will democracy in our country be strengthened just by making voting mandatory?" "The credibility of the Election Commission has declined. Due to confusion in voter lists, manipulation of voting figures and percentages, theft of votes, and EVM scams, the transparency of the election process in our country has been lost, and the breath of democracy is being stifled. The Supreme Court's idea of making voting mandatory is not wrong, but what about the fact that elections from Delhi to the local lanes are trapped in the jaws of a dictatorial and corrupt system?" asked the editorial. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena asserted that for democracy to be truly empowered, the election process must be "completely cleaned". It called for a return to ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), posing a direct question to the judiciary: "My Lord, will this happen?" "Since independence, every small or large election has seen debates over the difference between urban and rural voting and the fact that the voting percentage does not increase beyond a certain limit. Despite implementing many programmes and initiatives for electoral reforms, this picture has unfortunately not changed much. Therefore, it is not wrong to link the constitutional right to vote with the necessity of strengthening democracy. There is nothing wrong with thinking that making voting mandatory will empower democracy," observed the editorial. The editorial further criticised the ruling party for its alleged "Sama, Dama, Danda, Bheda (persuasion, temptation, punishment, and division)" tactics. It accused the government of branding anyone who opposes the BJP as a "traitor" and systematically working to ensure "no opposition party remains in the country". "Today, neither democracy nor its four main pillars remain intact," stated the editorial, lamenting that legal challenges to these issues often result in nothing more than "Tariqh pe Tariqh (endless court dates)". The Thackeray camp argued that while mandatory voting is a noble "dreamy idealism", it cannot be effective until the "hammer" falls on the current corrupt system where machinery -- including the Election Commission -- is perceived to be "in the pockets" of the rulers. February 27 : Yamanashi (Japan)/Lucknow: A heart-touching video of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to Japan has surfaced, attracting wide attention on social media. During his visit to Yamanashi, Chief Minister met an Indian-origin family living in Japan. The meeting was not part of any official program but happened spontaneously on the way, yet it became a topic of discussion because of the heartfelt emotions. In the video, the Chief Minister is seen interacting with the Indian family in a natural and friendly manner. He inquired about their well-being, and during the conversation, the woman of the family shared her deep Indian connection and her experiences of living in Japan in Hindi. CM Yogi asked her what she does and where she completed her education. After that, the woman introduced her young son to the Chief Minister. During the meeting, the child began reciting the mantra Karpur Gauram Karunavataram. When the child forgot a part of the mantra, the Chief Minister himself completed it. Later, another child came forward to meet the CM, and together they chanted the Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnuh mantra. The children touched the Chief Ministers feet (Charan Vandana) to seek his blessings, and the Chief Minister affectionately gave them chocolates. The Chief Minister praised the family for keeping Indian values and traditions alive while living abroad. He said, "In this meeting, he felt the vibrant essence of the Sanatan tradition. Witnessing the radiance of Indian culture on the land of the rising sun is indeed a matter of pride". This brief yet emotional interaction stood out as a heartfelt reflection of Indian identity amid the Chief Ministers industrial and diplomatic engagements in Japan. While the visit is centered around investment and development, this moment beautifully signifies that as Uttar Pradesh moves forward on the global stage, its cultural roots remain equally strong. For Indians living in Japan, this meeting was not merely an official encounter but a symbol of their emotional connection with their homeland and heritage. Seoul, Feb 27 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has used the latest party congress as an occasion for consolidating his base for a long-term grip on power, effectively declaring the start of his own era, Seoul's unification ministry said Friday. In an assessment of North Korea's ninth party congress that concluded its seven-day run Wednesday, the ministry said in his 15th year in office, the incumbent leader declared "the Kim Jong-un era in a full sense." At the first party congress in five years, Kim was reelected as the general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) for reinforcing the country's nuclear deterrence under his leadership. Held just once every five years, the days-long party congress offers a rare glimpse into the workings of a nation where even mundane details are shrouded in secrecy. As for the grounds for such an evaluation, the ministry cited the omission of "deference" expressions toward late state founder Kim Il-sung and late former leader Kim Jong-il in Kim Jong-un's opening speech. The ministry also mentioned North Korea's touting of Kim Jong-un's achievements that the North said surpassed those of his predecessors. Meanwhile, the unification ministry said North Korea replaced about half of the party officials in the central leadership at the party congress, assessing the move as a personnel reshuffle in prioritising officials' performances. The WPK elected 139 members and 111 alternate members of its central committee at the party gathering. Of the 250 members, 139 officials were newly elected. Choe Ryong-hae, the 76-year-old chairman of the North Korean parliament who once served as the top military leader, was excluded from being a member of the WPK central committee, along with other senior officials, signaling a major generational shift in leadership, Yonhap news agency reported. But since assuming power in 2011, Kim has stressed the need to also fortify the impoverished nation's economy. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, Feb 27 : The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Friday called for a complete university strike to protest the arrest of 13 students, including three office-bearers, during a march to the Ministry of Education (MoE). The union alleged that several students were "brutally attacked and injured" during the protest and claimed that a portrait of Babasaheb Ambedkar was damaged during police action. The arrested students have been produced in the Court as the Delhi Police seeks judicial custody. In a statement, JNUSU demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all 13 students and office-bearers. It also sought the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor over alleged casteist remarks and accused her of complicity and failure to protect students. The union further demanded accountability and action against police personnel allegedly responsible for the desecration of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's portrait and called for the withdrawal of all proctorial actions and FIRs against student activists. Raising slogans such as "Free Our Comrades Now" and "Long Live Student Unity", the union has sought to intensify its protest on campus. The detained students include Nitish Kumar, Aditi Mishra, Gopika Babu, and Danish Ali. Aditi Mishra is the JNUSU president, Nitish Kumar is a former president, Gopika Babu serves as secretary, and Danish Ali is the general secretary. The confrontation occurred on Thursday when students attempted to take out a "Long March" from the JNU campus to the Ministry of Education. According to the police, the march was organised without permission to proceed outside the campus premises. The JNU administration had reportedly informed the students that no approval had been granted for protests beyond university grounds and advised them to restrict their demonstration within the campus. Despite this, police said that around 400-500 students gathered and began marching. At approximately 3.20 p.m., the protesters moved through the main gate and attempted to proceed towards the ministry, leading to a clash between students and police personnel. Police officials alleged that protesters resorted to pelting sticks and shoes and physically assaulted officers, injuring several. Some officers were reportedly "bitten" during the altercation. On the other hand, the students accused the police of using excessive force, resulting in injuries to several protesters. The JNUSU claimed that a portrait of Dr B.R. Ambedkar was damaged during the police action. Purported videos of the clash surfaced online, including one showing an Ambedkar portrait being snatched from protesters. However, the authenticity of these videos could not be independently verified. The protest march was part of ongoing demonstrations against JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit's recent remarks on a podcast regarding the implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, the rustication of JNUSU office-bearers, and the proposed Rohith Act. In a statement, the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) condemned what it described as the "brutal use of force" by the police. It alleged that several students, including women, were injured and expressed concern about the well-being of those detained, claiming that some were taken to "unconfirmed locations". JNUTA demanded the immediate release of all detained students and stated that the police action curtailed students' democratic right to protest. Meanwhile, the university administration said in an official statement that JNUSU protesters were demanding the implementation of UGC regulations, despite a stay issued by the Supreme Court. It added that the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar have no authority over these regulations and accused JNUSU of refusing to address issues related to students who were rusticated for alleged "vandalism and violence" on campus. February 27 : Singapore/Tokyo/Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths visit to Singapore and Japan proved unprecedentedly successful in terms of investment, technology and global partnerships. During investment dialogues in both countries, MoUs worth a total of 1.5 lakh crore were signed, while investment proposals amounting to 2.5 lakh crore were received. This visit will serve as a milestone toward making Uttar Pradesh a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2029-30. During investment interactions in Japan, the state government received MoUs and investment proposals worth several thousand crores. Major companies with whom MoUs were signed include Kubota Corporation, Spark Minda (in collaboration with Toyo Denso), Japan Aviation Electronics Industry and Nagase & Co. Ltd. In 'B2G' meetings, leading corporations such as Suzuki Motor Corporation, Honda Cars India Ltd., Konoike Transport Co. Ltd., Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Rapidus Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd. and MUFG Bank participated. Key investment sectors included agricultural machinery, auto OEMs and components, automotive R&D, semiconductors, data centers, green hydrogen, power-to-gas, compressed biogas, ESDM, logistics and warehousing. To promote green energy collaboration during the Japan visit, an announcement was made to establish a Green Hydrogen Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi Hydrogen Company, IIT Kanpur, Harcourt Butler Technical University, IIT BHU and Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology. A 500-acre 'Japan City' will be developed in Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area, creating a dedicated industrial ecosystem for Japanese companies. In addition, dedicated auto clusters and R&D facilities for OEMs and component manufacturers will be set up. The Japan Desk at Invest UP will also be further strengthened, with direct monitoring by the Chief Ministers Office. Japan will additionally support technology transfer, skill development, joint ventures and supply-chain integration in UPs MSME sector. CM visited the 'L0-series Maglev train station' and experienced a high-speed train ride, engaging in positive discussions on collaboration opportunities in advanced transport technologies. He also inspected FANUC Corporations industrial robot and factory automation plant. The company expressed interest in investing in UP and supporting technological upgradation of the MSME sector. Both sides agreed to regularly promote tourism between Uttar Pradesh and Japan. By linking the globally significant Buddhist Circuit and Ramayana Circuit, spiritual, cultural and heritage tourism will be promoted. This will not only strengthen people-to-people ties but also create new investment opportunities in hospitality, infrastructure and services. Additionally, language and technical training programs aligned with Japanese industry requirements will be launched to build a globally competitive workforce. Chief Ministers Singapore visit was also highly successful. During the investor roadshow, Team UP reached agreements for extensive cooperation in MRO, cargo hubs, semiconductors, data centers, logistics, skilling and fintech. The Chief Minister met Singapores top leadership (President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other ministers), giving new direction to industrial, technological and infrastructure cooperation. In particular, positive discussions were held on developing the Noida International Airport at Jewar as an MRO and cargo hub. This visit demonstrated that India and Uttar Pradesh now enjoys a highly positive global image. Transparent policies, improved law and order and strong infrastructure have boosted investor confidence. The 1.5 lakh crore in MoUs and 2.5 lakh crore in investment proposals from Singapore and Japan stand as proof that Uttar Pradesh has secured a strong position on the global investment map. This visit will be remembered as a decisive and historic step toward achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy for the state. Kannur, Feb 27 : Political tensions escalated sharply after an explosive device was hurled at the residence of a Kerala Students Union (KSU) leader who had protested against Health Minister Veena George, even as questions mounted over the circumstances surrounding the minister's reported injury and subsequent 500 km road journey to the state capital. The pre-dawn attack targeted the house of KSU district secretary Bithul Balan at Thiruvallur in Kozhikode around 2.30 a.m. Balan is currently in remand after being arrested for showing black flags to the minister at a railway station during a protest in Kannur railway platform on Wednesday. Police have launched an investigation into the explosion, which has injected fresh volatility into the political atmosphere. Earlier, the minister had been discharged from Pariyaram Medical College after sustaining "injuries" during clashes involving KSU activists. A medical board that met online late at night assessed that her condition had improved and that her blood pressure was returning to normal levels. Around 4 a.m., she began her return journey by road possibly to the state capital city, a distance of roughly 500 km travelling in her official vehicle. The decision to undertake such a long road trip soon after hospitalisation has raised eyebrows in political circles, with critics asking whether a "patient" would normally embark on such a long inter city journey of that scale. Supporters, however, maintain that the transfer was based on medical advice and improved health parameters. The investigation team is set to again seek permission to record the minister's statement, which had earlier been deferred on health grounds. Officials have also sought CCTV footage from the Railway Protection Force at the Kannur railway station to piece together events at the protest site. Meanwhile, the political narrative has shifted to social media. With no visuals yet emerging to substantiate claims made by the minister or the Communist Party of India (Marxist) regarding the alleged attack, trolling and satire have proliferated online. Seoul, Feb 27 : The government on Friday decided to allow global tech giant Google to transfer government-supplied high-precision map data of South Korea to its overseas facilities, contingent on supplementary measures to address security concerns The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which oversees national mapping policy, made the decision after holding a meeting with officials from foreign, defence and other related ministries, reports Yonhap news agency. Google filed its latest request in February 2025, seeking approval for the transfer of 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas data centers. Earlier this month, the U.S. technology giant provided supplementary materials regarding its request to the ministry. The additional submission is said to have met most of the conditions sought by the government, including measures to mask sensitive domestic security facilities and restrict the exposure of precise coordinates. The documents also reportedly include technical explanations detailing how Google would process and manage the map data going forward. However, they do not contain concrete plans to establish a data centre in South Korea, according to the sources. Currently, Google provides map services in South Korea using publicly available 1:25,000-scale map data combined with aerial and satellite imagery. The United States has previously cited restrictions on high-precision map data as a key non-tariff barrier. Google made similar requests to export high-precision map data in 2007 and 2016, but South Korea had rejected them, citing national security concerns over the potential exposure of military bases and other sensitive facilities. In November, however, a government consultative panel requested that the company submit revised documents by February 5, suspending the review process until then. The panel said Google had expressed willingness to comply with South Korea's security requirements, including removing coordinate data for the country from its maps, but such measures were not reflected in the documents initially submitted. a"IANS na/ Chennai, Feb 27 : In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, former Chief Minister and senior AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam (OPS) formally joined the DMK in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai. Panneerselvam, who had been expelled from the AIADMK amid an intense internal power struggle, had subsequently launched the AIADMK Volunteersa Rights Recovery Committee and began functioning independently. Despite several attempts to re-enter the AIADMK fold, his efforts were firmly rejected by party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), who publicly clarified that there was no possibility of Panneerselvam being readmitted into the party. Over the past year, however, political observers had noted a gradual thaw in relations between Panneerselvam and the DMK leadership. On July 31 last year, during a padayatra, Panneerselvam met Chief Minister Stalin and later visited his residence the same evening to enquire about his well-being. The meeting sparked speculation about a potential political realignment. Subsequently, on the final day of the recent interim Budget session on February 20, Panneerselvam again met the Chief Minister, further fueling rumours of an impending shift. Putting an end to weeks of speculation, Panneerselvam arrived at Anna Arivalayam along with his supporters and formally enrolled himself as a member of the DMK. Chief Minister Stalin welcomed him into the party in what is being viewed as a major realignment in Tamil Naduas political landscape ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Panneerselvam, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2001-2002, 2014-2015, and 2016-2017), and long-time confidant of late AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa, has played a pivotal role in state politics for over two decades. His entry into the DMK is likely to have ripple effects within the AIADMK and could influence caste and regional equations, particularly in the southern districts where he enjoys considerable support. Political analysts say the move signals a strategic consolidation by the ruling DMK, while marking a dramatic chapter in the evolving power dynamics of Tamil Nadu politics. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Feb 27 : Actor Ravie Dubey on Friday shared a divine coincidence from his life, revealing that almost a year before being confirmed to play Lord Lakshmana in Nitesh Tiwary's 'Ramayana', he had unknowingly visited Shri Lakshman's temple in Lucknow while shooting for Lakhan Leela Bhargava. Mumbai, Feb 27 (IANS) Actor Ravie Dubey on Friday shared a divine coincidence from his life, revealing that almost a year before being confirmed to play Lord Lakshmana in Nitesh Tiwary's 'Ramayana', he had unknowingly visited Shri Lakshman's temple in Lucknow while shooting for Lakhan Leela Bhargava. Ravie took to Instagram, where he shared a throwback video of himself sitting in an interview with his wife Sargun and talking about featuring in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer. Taking to the caption section, he said that during the filming of the show 'Lakhan Leela Bhargava', where he portrayed a character named Lakhan, he happened to visit Shri Lakshman's temple in Lakshmanpuri purely by coincidence. "Almost exactly An year before i got confirmed to play 'Lakshman' in 'Ramayana' I purely by coincidence landed up at Shri Lakshman's temple in Lakshmanpuri (Lucknow) while filming a show called 'Lakhan Leela Bhargava' where I played a character called 'Lakhan'," Ravie wrote. Calling it an "incredible synchronicity", Dubey expressed his belief that such moments are a reminder of divine orchestration. "Incredible synchronicities and coincidences are just proof that our deities are orchestrating everything All we need to do is surrender not strategise just surrender," he concluded. The upcoming film features a galaxy of stars with Ranbir in the role of Lord Ram, Yash essaying Raavan, and actress Sai Pallavi playing Goddess Sita. Sunny Deol portrays Lord Hanuman, Amitabh Bachchan will play Jatayu and Lara Dutt will be seen as Kaikeyi. Two music titans, Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman are joining forces for the film. 'Ramayana' is a two-part live-action cinematic universe being reimagined on the scale of the biggest tentpoles produced to date. The film also features Hollywood's top stunt directors Terry Notary (Avengers, Planet of the Apes) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa), choreographing the epic battles between gods and demons. 'Ramayana' is being filmed for IMAX and will be released worldwide with Part 1 releasing in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027. Over 600 British and French paratroopers have completed final preparations for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, The Telegraph reported on Friday. More than 600 soldiers from the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade carried out a mock airborne raid with comrades from Frances 11th Parachute Brigade, the newspaper said. This came weeks after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom and France would lead a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire agreement were reached between Moscow and Kyiv. It is noted that although the units that could be deployed in such an operation have not yet been officially announced, soldiers of the 16 Air Assault Brigade are part of Britain's rapid reaction forces and are capable of being deployed by NATO at short notice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the United Kingdom and France have committed to sending 5,000 troops each to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement with Russia. However, doubts have arisen about the UK's ability to field such a force, as the army has been reduced to around 70,000 personnel, its smallest size in 200 years. According to the newspaper, the British prime minister was warned this week that in order to meet this target, the UK would have to withdraw troops from Estonia and Cyprus to send a fully equipped brigade to Ukraine. Around 2,000 British and French service members are taking part in Exercise Orion, a test mission to support a NATO ally facing an insurgency and a threat of invasion, according to the Ministry of Defence. The nine-day airborne exercise began on February 24 with troops dropping from Royal Air Force and French Air Force transport aircraft, after which they dug in and established defensive positions. The forces will repel simulated attacks and then conduct ambushes and assaults on enemy forces as part of drills designed to prepare them for the realities of 21st-century conflicts. They neutralized enemy air defense assets and marked a landing zone for the main force, where soldiers from the second Battalion, Parachute Regiment landed alongside two French battle groups. The exercise will run until March 3. Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Odisha on a two-day visit beginning March 5. According to an official statement issued on Friday, a high-level preparatory meeting was held on Thursday under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg in view of the union minister's state visit. Official sources further revealed that HM Shah will reach Odisha on the evening of March 5 by a special Indian Air Force aircraft from New Delhi. On March 6, he will attend the Foundation Day programme of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Mundali in Cuttack district. Later in the afternoon, he is scheduled to visit Jatni in Khurda district to lay the foundation stone for the Bhubaneswar campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). He will also virtually inaugurate the National Forensic Sciences University Transit Campus in Bhubaneswar. In the afternoon, the Union Minister will inaugurate the aNaveen Nyaya Sanhitaa exhibition at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar. He is also slated to lay foundation stones and inaugurate several projects related to the Cooperation Department and other state departments. Keeping in view the Ministeras participation in the CISF Foundation Day event, officials have been directed to undertake black-topping of roads from Godisahi to Mundali, along with street lighting, sanitation, cleanliness, and necessary beautification works. During the meeting, the officials reviewed in detail the Union Ministeras itinerary, security arrangements, traffic and route planning, and other logistical preparations at the programme venues. The Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure close coordination and complete preparations within the stipulated timeline to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the visit of the Home Minister. Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industries, and Information & Public Relations Department, Hemant Sharma, briefed the meeting on the preparatory measures being undertaken by the State Government. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who is all set to direct Ahaan Panday in his upcoming yet-untitled project, has heaped praise on the actor, saying he brings a kind of old-school honesty to his performances reminiscent of the romantic heroes we have grown up watching. Ali said: "What I love about Ahaan is his sincerity. In today's time, when everything can feel performative and an act, he brings a kind of old-school honesty to his performances, like the romantic heroes we have grown up watching and loving." "The camera picks up on that. You can't act vulnerable on screen, it doesn't land and he isn't afraid to be vulnerable which is incredible." Ali added: "Audiences have connected with Ahaan because he's not trying to impress them. He's simply present in the moment. There's a softness to him but also strength. That balance is what makes people root for him, especially in love stories." He genuinely believes Ahaan has the potential to become one of those "rare romantic heroes who make you feel something long after the film ends." Ahaan will start Ali's film on March 30 in Mumbai and then head to the UK to shoot for about 60 days for this action entertainer that also features a powerhouse young actor, Sharvari, opposite him. Ali thinks Ahaan has a certain vulnerability that makes him perfect for a genre like this. The filmmaker said: "A true romantic hero is not defined by softness he is defined by emotional intensity and this translates beautifully into action. Romance gives a hero grace. Action gives him fire. When grace and fire meet, it is a potent combination for audiences to see an entirely new side to Ahaan that they have haven't seen." "Ahaan has vulnerability in his eyes and that's what makes an action-romance powerful." He added that the audiences don't just want to see punches thrown on screen, they want to see and feel the purpose behind the punch. "If the hero is fighting for what he believes in, what he loves and wants to protect, the action has far greater emotional stakes. People connect to it on a deeper emotional level." New Delhi, Feb 27 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal became emotional after being discharged by the Rouse Avenue Court in the Delhi excise policy case. Speaking to the media for the first time after the verdict, Kejriwal wept inconsolably. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was seen hugging Kejriwal, wiping his tears and consoling him as party supporters gathered around. Addressing reporters, Kejriwal said, "The way they kept repeating 'Delhi excise scam' and making allegations against us, today the court has dismissed the charges and discharged the accused. We always said that truth prevails and that we have faith in the Indian judicial system." He added, "I want to thank the judges for delivering the verdict. I have always believed that God is with us." Kejriwal further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah orchestrated a major political conspiracy to weaken the AAP. "It was a completely bogus case. Television debates repeatedly portrayed me as corrupt," he said. Earlier in the day, the Delhi court refused to frame charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and others in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. Allowing the discharge plea, the Rouse Avenue Court held that no sufficient evidence had emerged during the investigation to proceed against the accused and did not disclose the commission of any criminal offence, including criminal conspiracy. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia had earlier been arrested in connection with the liquor policy investigation but were granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2024. The alleged scam relates to the Delhi government's 2021-22 excise policy, which was subsequently withdrawn amid allegations of irregularities in licensing and pricing mechanisms. Central agencies had alleged that leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Kejriwal and Sisodia, accepted kickbacks from a cartel known as the 'South Group' in exchange for policy concessions benefiting select liquor licensees. Investigators claimed that irregular implementation of the policy caused significant losses to the public exchequer and involved manipulation of licence norms and exemptions. In September 2024, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal in the CBI corruption case while directing him to cooperate fully with trial proceedings and refrain from making public comments on the merits of the matter. Earlier, the top court had also granted interim relief in the related money laundering proceedings, emphasising the primacy of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the apex court in August 2024 after nearly 17 months of incarceration, noting that the trial involving hundreds of witnesses and extensive documentary evidence was unlikely to conclude in the near future and prolonged detention would violate the right to a speedy trial. Bengaluru, Feb 27 : Following the scam related to an illegal egg cell (ovum) donation racket surfacing in Maharashtra, the Karnataka government has stated that it has asked officers to remain vigilant and monitor the activities of IVF centres in Bengaluru and across the state. Authorities have also been directed to find out whether there is any link from Karnataka to the scam. Speaking to the media on Friday in Bengaluru, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, "Regarding reports of a Bengaluru link in connection with the egg donation racket, I have spoken to my officers. We have not received information on which hospital or who is involved. There is no clear information available at present. To ascertain this, our officers are trying to gather more information from their Maharashtra counterparts and our Home Department. They are attempting to determine whether the name of any individual or health institute from Karnataka has surfaced." "If anything emerges, action will be taken. Since the news has surfaced in Maharashtra, we will verify and conduct checks in Bengaluru and across the state. I have instructed our officers to remain vigilant about activities in our state and directed the Deputy Director to take the matter seriously," the Minister added. It may be noted that recently, police in Maharashtra's Thane and other districts busted a major illegal egg donation racket and arrested three women accused of repeatedly exploiting economically vulnerable women and selling their eggs through IVF channels for large sums of money. Investigators said the accused lured women with payments ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per cycle, while the extracted eggs were allegedly sold for several lakhs to clients seeking fertility treatments. At least 20 women are believed to have fallen victim to the operation so far, with many subjected to repeated hormonal stimulation and surgical retrieval procedures that caused significant health complications. The racket was being operated from a residential apartment and a sonography centre in the Joveli area of Badlapur East in Thane. The operation came to light after one of the victims approached the Chief Medical Officer of a sub-district hospital, prompting a police raid. During the search, officers recovered photographs of hormone injections, sonography reports, affidavits bearing false identities, forged documents, and digital evidence of financial transactions from the accused persons' mobile phones. Investigators believe these documents were used to conceal the identities of donors and present illegal procedures as legitimate medical processes. Sources said the preliminary probe has revealed a Bengaluru link to the egg donation racket busted in Maharashtra's Nasik, Nagpur, Pune, and Thane. Poor and vulnerable women were allegedly targeted, and their egg cells (ovum) were extracted and later used in IVF centres. As per regulations, a woman can donate her eggs only once in her lifetime due to serious health risks. However, the accused allegedly lured and forced women to donate their eggs more than 25 times. Jaipur, Feb 27 : President Droupadi Murmu on Friday flew in the indigenously developed HAL Light Combat Helicopter Prachanda from the Jaisalmer Air Force Station, becoming the first President of India to co-pilot the advanced combat helicopter. The President undertook a 25-minute sortie, accompanied by Group Captain N.S. Bahua, during which she took an aerial view of the border areas and the Pokhran Field Firing Range. From the cockpit, she saluted and gave a thumbs-up, and also addressed the nation via radio during the flight. A HAL Chetak helicopter escorted the President's aircraft throughout the sortie. The helicopter later landed safely back at the Air Force Station. President Murmu arrived at the air base around 9.15 a.m., where Army officials briefed her on the helicopter's capabilities and operations before she boarded the aircraft at approximately 10.15 a.m. During the flight, she familiarised herself with the helicopter's operational systems from the cockpit. This marks another milestone in President Murmu's association with frontline military platforms. She had earlier become the first President to fly in fighter jets such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the Dassault Rafale. The sortie comes ahead of the Indian Air Force's largest military exercise, Vayu Shakti 2026, scheduled to be held in the evening at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, near the India-Pakistan border. As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President will witness the exercise, which will showcase the Air Force's combat capabilities, including precision strikes and coordinated air operations. The Prachanda helicopter was inducted into the Indian Air Force fleet three years ago during Navratri in Rajasthan. At the time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had described it as "India's victory chariot", highlighting its combat strength despite being classified as a light combat helicopter. Later in the evening, President Murmu will attend the Vayu Shakti exercise at Pokhran, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and senior military officials will also be present. Jaipur, Feb 27 : The Rajasthan Assembly is set to pass the state Budget for the financial year 2026-27 on Friday evening, with several fresh announcements expected during the concluding debate. Jaipur, Feb 27 (IANS) The Rajasthan Assembly is set to pass the state Budget for the financial year 2026a"27 on Friday evening, with several fresh announcements expected during the concluding debate. The Appropriation Bill will be taken up for discussion after Zero Hour and debated throughout the day in the Assembly. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will reply to the Budget debate at 5 pm, following an address by Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully. During his reply, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is expected to make multiple announcements, including regarding fresh government job openings and district-wise development projects. Sources indicate that sectors not covered in the main Budget speech may receive attention today. New roads, bridges, and rural infrastructure projects are likely to be announced by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to address local development demands. With civic body and panchayat elections approaching, the Rajasthan government may also introduce village and city-focussed schemes. The passage of the Budget nearly a month before the new financial year begins is expected to give various government departments adequate time to initiate preparatory work and ensure timely implementation of the proposed schemes. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress party is likely to raise the issue of its MLA allegedly being prevented from speaking in the House by the Speaker. On February 26, during the debate on demands for grants, Congress MLA Shravan Kumar was stopped by the Speaker, triggering a major uproar in the House. The Congress party subsequently boycotted the proceedings of the Assembly that evening. At a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Friday, leaders have formulated their strategy in the CLP meeting and decided to raise the issue again in the House. Another heated exchange in the Assembly is expected, said party workers. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Twitter (now called X) co-founder Jack Dorsey has announced that Block, the financial services company he founded, will cut its workforce by 40 per cent due to AI-led changes. Dorsey said on social media platform X that the company will cut its workforce from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000, with more than 4,000 employees being asked to leave or enter into a consultation-based role. Dorsey said that affected employees will receive "20 weeks' salary plus one week per year of tenure, equity vested through the end of May, six months of health care, corporate devices and $5,000 to assist with the transition,". He wrote in the X post, "We're not making this decision because we're in trouble. Our business is strong. Gross profit continues to grow, we continue to serve more and more customers, and profitability is improving." Dorsey said the job cut was a response to rapid changes in how intelligence tools paired with smaller, flatter teams enable a "new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company." Dorsey said he preferred a single decisive cut in the work force over repeated rounds of cuts. "Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead," he shared. Several tech industry leaders have said that most whitecollar roles that rely on computers could be automated within the next 12 to 18 months US tech giant Oracle plans to cut 20,000 to 30,000 jobs to expand its AI datacentre capacity, while Amazon recently announced lay off 16,000 employees as part of its AI restructure plan. A recent report from PwC India said artificial intelligence could contribute nearly $550 billion to India's economy by 2035, across five priority sectors including agriculture, education, energy, healthcare and manufacturing. IANS aar/na Kolkata, Feb 27 : The family members of Pulak Haldar, a final-year student of Kalyani Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital and Medical College in West Bengal's Nadia district, whose decomposed body was recovered from the hostel room, have claimed that he was murdered. The autopsy of the medical student's body will be conducted on Friday, and only after that will the medical reasons behind the death be ascertained, said an investigating officer in the case. According to Sudhanshu Haldar, the father of the deceased medical student, several injuries and cut marks were noticed on the body of his son, which created suspicions about the possible murder. "This is surely not a case of natural death. We demand an in-depth and fair investigation into the matter. I do not want the investigation into the death of my son to meet the same fate as the case of the gruesome rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in 2024," he added. Uttam Mondal, a relative of the family, said that Pulak was not just a meritorious and studious youth but also extremely well-behaved. "I, too, have noticed injury and cut marks on his face and belly. So, an assault on him before his death cannot be ruled out. I hope that there will be a fair and proper investigation into the matter," Mondal said. Preliminary investigation had revealed Pulak was last seen on February 20 when he went to the hostel canteen for a meal. Since then, he had not left the hostel premises and was not seen by fellow students or hostel authorities. On Thursday (February 26), a foul smell was noticed emanating from his hostel room. When there was no response from inside, the door was broken open, and his decomposed body was discovered. His family members have also informed the police that the last time they had a telephonic conversation with Pulak was on February 20, which is the day he went missing. The family members have also claimed that in the past, Pulak had complained of facing bullying from other students during protests related to the RG Kar rape and murder incident. It was also alleged that he had academic difficulties, though these claims are yet to be officially confirmed. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The acquittal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy case has injected fresh energy into opposition ranks and could soon find resonance in Kerala's fast-evolving political landscape as the state heads to Assembly elections. With Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Delhi to attend the Politburo meeting of the CPI-M, indications are that he is likely to call on Kejriwal in what would be a politically loaded meeting. The two leaders share a warm personal rapport. In 2024, when CM Vijayan led a high-profile protest in the national capital, accusing the Centre of financially strangling opposition-ruled states, Kejriwal, then Delhi Chief Minister, had joined him in a show of solidarity. That gesture had signalled a broader convergence among non-BJP regional forces against what they describe as the aggressive use of Central agencies. Kejriwal's exoneration by the Rouse Avenue Court has now altered the optics. For opposition parties, the verdict reinforces their long-standing allegation that Central investigative agencies are being deployed selectively to target political adversaries of the BJP. The Aam Aadmi Party has termed the judgment a "second birth" for its leader, and there is renewed talk of opposition cohesion under the INDIA bloc framework. For CM Vijayan, the timing is significant. With Assembly elections approaching and the Left Democratic Front still grappling with the narrative fallout of its drubbing in the recent local body polls, the dominant theme emerging from the CPI(M) camp has been one of "political victimisation" by the Centre. Central agency probes active in Kerala have been projected as part of that broader pattern. A meeting between CM Vijayan and Kejriwal at this juncture would therefore serve multiple purposes, reinforcing political solidarity, sharpening the anti-Centre plank, and reframing the electoral discourse ahead of a high-stakes contest. In a season where optics often shape momentum, such an encounter could resonate well beyond Delhi's political corridors and echo into Kerala's campaign trail. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 : The political future of several senior leaders including two-time former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, sitting Legislator K.K. Shailaja, 80-year-old Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Politburo member A. Vijayaraghavan is expected to become clearer as the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) meeting began in New Delhi on Friday. With candidate selection high on the agenda, discussions are likely to centre on whether senior leaders and Central Committee members should be fielded, and if so, from where. A final call on CM Vijayanas candidature is expected only after the Politburo deliberations, amid speculation over generational transition and internal norms on age and tenure. In Kannur, the emerging candidate list has already triggered murmurs of dissent. Shailaja is reportedly unhappy over indications that she may not be fielded again from Mattannur, a constituency she has represented. Sources suggest she has conveyed to the state leadership that she would prefer not to contest if denied the seat. Isaac, also a party central committee member, has according to sources close to him, expressed the desire to contest the polls. He was a surprise omission in the 2021 Assembly polls, but after his defeat at the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, his stock dimmed, but he is keen to get one final chance. Differences have also surfaced in Thaliparamba, where local leaders are divided over potential nominees. Reports indicate that senior state secretary M.V. Govindan is keen on fielding journalist-turned-politician M.V. Nikesh Kumar, even as other names circulate within district circles. Kumar lost the 2016 Assembly polls when fielded from his home district Kannur. The deliberations come at a crucial juncture for the CPI(M), which is seeking to retain power in a politically-charged environment. Beyond individual tickets, the Politburoas decisions are expected to signal the partyas broader approach balancing continuity, loyalty and internal discipline as it heads into a high-stakes electoral battle. The drubbing it received in the December local body polls had send shockwaves through the party, right up to the national leadership. It remains to be seen if Vijayan and Govindan will have the final word or will the national leadership put its foot down. Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram Ukraine will strengthen certain areas of its diplomatic work in Europe and other parts of the world, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, announcing personnel changes in the diplomatic corps and the appointment of a special envoy for Belarus and the Belarusian community abroad. "I spoke with our diplomatic team, and we are also communicating with people who have good experience and have proven themselves in defending Ukrainian interests. In particular, I met with Pavlo Klimkin. We are preparing to strengthen certain areas of diplomatic work in Europe and beyond," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on Friday. He said Ukrainian interests must be represented at the official level, "including in communication with communities from countries that currently do not have freedom or are under Russian influence." "There will be personnel changes in the diplomatic corps. The Foreign Ministry is also preparing candidates for the appointment of a special envoy on Belarus and the Belarusian community in Europe a more active policy is needed," Zelenskyy added, noting that the activity of the Ukrainian state and Ukrainians 'delivers the best results for Ukraine," and that in such cases "Ukraine's interests are truly protected." New Delhi, Feb 27 : There is a debate blowing around reports that some states in India are mulling a ban on social media for children under 16 years of age, considering the effects it has on young minds. In Australia, a law has been created to protect young people from features that encourage spending too much time on screens and show content that can be harmful to overall health and well-being, according to the country's Office For Youth, which adds, "Restricting access aims to protect young people from these risks". Before rolling out the law they spoke with children and parents. "Parents said that some children will somehow find out, but not all. It all depends how a legislation is introduced, how it's monitored, and how the society and individual homes regulate it," explained Jatin Gandhi, journalist, and a Trust and Safety practitioner. Trust and Safety practices refer to policies, practices, and teams dedicated to ensuring that users can trust and feel safe while using online platforms and services. "So, it's definitely a step in the right direction. It has been ignored till now and social media had a free run and created havoc in our society. With Internet penetration rising fast and the decline in quality of online platforms as they prioritise profit over users, there's a need for control," he stressed. "It's dangerous to allow social media to permeate our lives; that's why it is a good idea to first ban, then to regulate, then to ease," he added. Joydeep Dasgupta, an expert in fact checking, and media and AI literacy, shared cautious optimism. "Social media use among children must be restricted. The Internet is a valuable resource for school assignments, where they should be allowed access with parental or teacher's guidance," he stated. But, "The moment children are exposed to smartphones, they inevitably step into the digital world and thereby, into social media. In today's connected world, asking them to completely avoid smartphones or social networking platforms is neither practical nor realistic," warned Sambit Pal, In-Charge Director at the International School of Broadcasting and Journalism at MIT Art, Design and Technology University in Pune. "What we need instead is parental guidance and open conversations about how to use social media wisely. This is a far more effective way to minimise its harmful effects," he too agreed. According to Dasgupta, "Unrestricted social media access can expose children to online risks like cyberbullying, predators, and unhealthy comparisons. Parents should guide and set limits on screen time, ensuring a balance between digital learning and real-life interactions." Jatin Gandhi quoted Cory Doctorow to describe the predictable decline in quality of online platforms as they prioritise profit over users. He explained the three stages of social media, where in the first, it is perceived as being of value to society, empowering the individual, democratising communication, "so you build value for your user and you build a community and you lock in that community," he explained. "The platform grabs attention and then sells it to the advertiser. In the third stage, it doesn't add value to either the end user or the business it had partnered with; but just amasses all the profits," added Gandhi. Doctorow is popular for his advocacy of liberalising copyright laws and for his work as a blogger and journalist, where he has covered topics such as digital rights management, file sharing, and post-scarcity economics. "Earlier you searched for contents, now the content finds you," stressed Gandhi on such platforms identifying user preference and targeting accordingly. "Social media companies, too, must implement stricter age-verification systems and ensure that content offered to underage users is appropriate and safe," added Dr. Pal. "Without guidance or safeguards, children dive into an endless ocean of content without knowing how to swim through the waves. And if even adults often struggle to stay afloat, we can hardly expect children to manage it alone," he said. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The Congress on Friday mounted an attack on the BJP after a Delhi court acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the alleged liquor policy scam case. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have a tacit political understanding and they help each other when it suits their interests. In a post on X, Khera claimed that proceedings against the BJP's "convenient allies" in AAP would "quietly vanish" ahead of Gujarat and Punjab elections. "This is the BJP's playbook: Vendetta as governance and agencies as campaign tools," said Khera, who heads the Media and Publicity Department of the AICC. He further described the BJP as a "shape-shifter" and a "wishful serpent -- Icchadhari Naag," alleging that the party would go to any extent to achieve its political objective of a "Congress-mukt Bharat." "For 12 years, they spewed venom at the Trinamool. And now? Narendra Modi himself is showering it with praise -- not out of respect, but to land a cheap blow at Congress," Khera added. The Congress leader also claimed that with elections approaching, cases against Congress leaders would "suddenly accelerate." Referring to former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, Khera said he had been "dragged back into the spotlight" as Tamil Nadu heads towards polls. Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, speaking to IANS, said that if the judicial process runs its full course, the truth would eventually emerge. "The relationship between the BJP and the AAP is political, and they help each other. The BJP earlier believed that as long as the AAP exists, it will not be able to form a government in Delhi," Dikshit said. Earlier in the day, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi refused to frame charges against Kejriwal, Sisodia and others in the corruption case linked to the now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy. Allowing their discharge pleas, the court held that no sufficient evidence had emerged during the investigation to proceed against the accused and that no criminal offence, including conspiracy, was made out. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The CBI will submit an appeal to the High Court challenging the order issued by the Rouse Avenue court on Friday, which acquitted former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, along with others, in connection with the 2022 Delhi excise policy case. The agency added that several aspects of the investigation were either ignored or not adequately considered in the trial court's judgment. The CBI had registered an FIR on August 17, 2022, against the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, excise officials, and liquor businessmen based on a complaint from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The allegations included irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy, modification of provisions, extension of undue favours to licensees, waiver or reduction of licence fees, and extension of L-1 licences without approval. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal became emotional after being discharged by the Rouse Avenue Court in the excise policy case and broke down while addressing the media for the first time after the verdict. Manish Sisodia was seen hugging Kejriwal, wiping his tears and consoling him as party supporters gathered around. Addressing reporters, Kejriwal said, "The way they kept repeating 'Delhi excise scam' and making allegations against us, today the court has dismissed the charges and discharged the accused. We always said that truth prevails and that we have faith in the Indian judicial system." He added, "I want to thank the judges for delivering the verdict. I have always believed that God is with us." Kejriwal further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah orchestrated a major political conspiracy to weaken the AAP. "It was a completely bogus case. Television debates repeatedly portrayed me as corrupt," he said. Earlier in the day, the Delhi court refused to frame charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and others in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. Allowing the discharge plea, the Rouse Avenue Court held that no sufficient evidence had emerged during the investigation to proceed against the accused and did not disclose the commission of any criminal offence, including criminal conspiracy. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia had earlier been arrested in connection with the liquor policy investigation but were granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2024. The alleged scam relates to the Delhi government's 2021-22 excise policy, which was subsequently withdrawn amid allegations of irregularities in licensing and pricing mechanisms. Central agencies had alleged that leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Kejriwal and Sisodia, accepted kickbacks from a cartel known as the 'South Group' in exchange for policy concessions benefiting select liquor licensees. Investigators claimed that irregular implementation of the policy caused significant losses to the public exchequer and involved manipulation of licensing norms and exemptions. In September 2024, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal in the CBI corruption case while directing him to cooperate fully with trial proceedings and refrain from making public comments on the merits of the matter. Earlier, the top court had also granted interim relief in the related money laundering proceedings, emphasising the primacy of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the apex court in August 2024 after nearly 17 months of incarceration, noting that the trial involving hundreds of witnesses and extensive documentary evidence was unlikely to conclude in the near future and prolonged detention would violate the right to a speedy trial. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil on Friday announced the immediate suspension of the Assistant Registrar in connection with the Anand Cooperative Housing Society scam in Nagpur Rural. This decision follows a forceful intervention by Congress Legislative Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who exposed irregularities regarding the illegal sale of land reserved for public utilities. The Minister was replying to a question by members Dharmrao Atram and Nerendra Bhindrkar. The minister also confirmed that a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the role of the Besa Chief Officer and other involved officials, with a mandate to complete the investigation and take action within one month. The controversy centres around land located at Khasra Nos 10A and 10B in the Anand Society, Nagpur. According to details presented in the House, approximately 11,107 square feet of land, originally reserved for public utilities (specifically for a transformer), was allegedly sold illegally by the societyas secretary, Kailas Chute, for personal financial gain. While the area was under the Besa Gram Panchayat, Chute reportedly presented two layouts showing the land as reserved for public use. However, once the area transitioned to a Nagar Panchayat, the maps were allegedly altered to facilitate the illegal sale of the plots to an individual identified as Salunkhe. Wadettiwar took an aggressive stance, pointing out that the Assistant Registrar had previously submitted a misleading inquiry report to protect the accused. He argued that the Chief Officer of Besa was equally complicit in recording these illegal transactions in official documents. "The reservation for public utilities was bypassed through corrupt financial dealings. Those who submitted false reports to shield this scam must face accountability," he stated. Acknowledging the gravity of the evidence, Cooperation Minister Patil admitted that the initial inquiry report provided by the department was incorrect and ordered the immediate suspension of the Assistant Registrar responsible for the flawed report. The minister further announced that a formal probe into the Besa Chief Officer and secondary officials will be concluded within 30 days. He added that efforts are underway to address the illegal transfer of the 11,107 sq ft reserved plot. London, Feb 27 : Baloch pro-independence leader Hyrbyair Marri on Friday condemned Pakistan's recent attacks on Afghanistan, criticising Islamabad for questioning Afghanistan's retaliatory actions. He highlighted historical grievances, including alleged extrajudicial killings of Baloch and Pashtun people, and reaffirmed the Baloch community's longstanding support for Afghanistan while condemning the aggression. Marri stated that when the Afghans retaliate to such actions, they are questioned over "what kind of Muslims" would attack fellow Muslims in the month of Ramadan. The remarks came after the Afghan Ministry of National Defence on Friday said that Afghan forces launched retaliatory strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing at least 55 Pakistani soldiers and capturing two bases along with 19 posts. Marri stated that Pakistan appears to have forgotten its own actions on the fifth day of Ramadan, February 22, when it carried out strikes inside Afghanistan. The Baloch leader claimed that some Pakistani scholars and politicians question the faith of Afghans, asserting that they are not even Muslims. He added that they overlook one historical fact about who converted the people in Pakistan's Punjab province to Islam. "Punjab, the land that has served every invader over the past eight hundred years, welcomed them with flowers and has been instrumental and had played a crucial role in helping the invaders conquer nations in the Subcontinent and South Central Asia. Now they claim to be the defenders of Islam, but what about the tens of thousands of Baloch and Pashtun extrajudicial murders by the same pious Pakistani-Punjabi army?" Marri posted on X. The Baloch leader highlighted that following the Afghan Foreign Minister's official visit to India, Kabul was labelled as a proxy of India by Pakistan. "Even this one little visit cannot be digested by the Pakistani elite, as they think Afghanistan is their backyard and they have the sole right to make decisions for the Afghan people. Reality check: Afghanistan is an independent state and it can have relations with any state it chooses," he stated. Marri alleged that "Pakistan has been going around all over the world for the past eight decades, with their begging bowl, and serving its foreign masters' interests, whilst still claiming to be the only defender of the Muslim world and proxy to none. It's rich coming from a nation called Pakistan, a world-renowned international beggar." Expressing solidarity with Afghanistan, he said, "because we have been all-season friends for centuries and have defended each other. Nothing has changed. We condemn the Pakistani aggression against the Afghan people." --IANS scor/rs Patna, Feb 27 : The issue of enacting stricter laws against religious conversion resonated in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on the final day of the Budget Session, as several ruling party members raised the matter through a calling attention motion. Eighteen MLAs from the ruling alliance, including Maithili Thakur, Mithilesh Tiwari, Virendra Kumar, Janak Singh, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Jivesh Kumar, Tar Kishore Prasad and Baidyanath Prasad, spoke on the issue, calling for a law similar to those enacted in other states. The MLAs stated that states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat have implemented laws against religious conversion. According to them, these laws provide for stringent punishment, including imprisonment ranging from one to 10 or even 20 years in cases involving alleged fraudulent conversion, child marriage, or inducement. Members also claimed that demographic changes in certain parts of Bihar warranted legislative intervention. They alleged that religious conversions were being carried out on a large scale and expressed concern over the situation in border districts and the Seemanchal region. Mithilesh Tiwari, MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party, said, "Uttar Pradesh has strict laws, and a similar law should be enacted in Bihar. In Buxar alone, 1,000 Dalit families have converted. The demographics of Seemanchal have changed. Therefore, this law is needed; the government should consider it." Some MLAs cited figures regarding population growth and the establishment of churches in the state, alleging that conversions were taking place through inducement. BJP MLA Sanjay Singh termed it not just religious conversion, but national conversion, while another member, Anil Singh, demanded strict legislation to curb the practice. Certain members also raised questions about reservation benefits following religious conversion and referred to constitutional provisions in their arguments. Responding to the debate, Tourism and Arts & Culture Minister Arun Shankar Prasad clarified that the Bihar government currently has no proposal to introduce legislation related to religious conversion. "There is no proposal to enact any legislation related to this at this time," the minister stated in the House. When some BJP members continued to press the issue, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar intervened, stating that the calling attention motion had been admitted and that the government would review the matter if necessary. He ruled that there would be no further discussion on the issue. --IANS ajk/dpb Kolkata, Feb 27 : Kolkata and its adjacent districts were jolted by two consecutive earthquake tremors on Friday afternoon, sending people rushing out of homes and offices in a panic. Tremors were felt throughout the city and its adjacent districts at 1.22 p.m. Several high-rise buildings in the city shook for several seconds. The epicentre of the earthquake was Khulna in Bangladesh. The magnitude of the tremor was 5.5 on the Richter scale. Many people left their homes and offices in fear and panic. There were reports of several old houses leaning. However, at the time the report was filed, there had not been any report of any major disaster following the tremors. Besides Kolkata, the tremors were felt mainly in the districts of South Bengal. The districts where the tremors were felt the most included South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore, among others. On February 3, at 9.05 pm, a large area of aaKolkata shook following an earthquake. People immediately took to the streets. Initially, it was reported that the source of the tremor was Myanmar. Before that, Kolkata and a large part of saSouth Bengal also shook last year in November. The source of the earthquake was near Narsingdi in Bangladesh, and its depth was 10 kilometres. The magnitude of the tremor was 5.7 on the Richter scale. This time, the tremors are much more persistent. Many people have shared videos of the tremors on social media. Although no official statement on the impact of the earthquake has been issued by the state administration yet, a state Secretariat 'Nabanna' source said that different district headquarters are being contacted to get more information on the matter. However, the state administration had issued an appeal to the people not to panic. Tokyo, Feb 27 : Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has hit back at China's criticism of Tokyo trying to reinforce its defence capabilities, local media reported on Friday. On being asked about the Japanese government's push to eliminate the limitation of defence equipment transfers to five noncombat purposes -- rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping, he said, "China appears to have been waging a propaganda campaign against us, as if Japan is becoming militaristic," Japan's Kyodo News reported. While speaking to reporters, Koizumi stated that government's decision was largely driven by the rising security threat posed by China, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Koizumi said China's arms exports from 2015 to 2024 were worth about USD 17 billion, "making it the fourth-largest arms exporter in the world, while Japan isn't even in the top 50." China has slammed Japan and imposed several economic measures after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in parliament in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a response by Japan's Self-Defence Forces. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory and insists of its reunification with the mainland, by force if necessary. "In the current security situation, it is essential for us to develop our own defence capabilities without counting on a particular country (for parts procurement)," Kyodo News quoted Koizumi as saying. In December last year, Japan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, where he termed China's criticism about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan "inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated and unacceptable." In response to China's letter delivered to UN Secretary General, Yamazaki Kazuyuki stated, "As with China's previous letter dated 21 November, the assertions contained therein are inconsistent with the facts, unsubstantiated, and are categorically unacceptable. Japan's position is as set out in my letter of 24 November addressed to your Excellency and attached hereto. Nevertheless, based on the instruction from the Japanese Government, I wish to share once again Japan's views with your Excellency." "Since the end of the Second World War, Japan has consistently respected and adhered to international law, including the UN Charter, and has actively contributed to maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order underpinned by the rule of law, as well as to the sustainable development of the international community. This unwavering posture of Japan is well recognized across the international community. Japan will continue, as a peace-loving nation, to contribute to international peace, stability, and prosperity, in full accordance with international law," he added. He stated that Japan believes that differences of opinions should be addressed through dialogue and expressed Tokyo's willingness to respond through dialogue. Yamazaki Kazuyuki's letter to the UN came as China has been criticising Takaichi for her statement in parliament on November 7, where she said that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to Japan and warrant a response by its Self-Defence Forces, Japan's leading news agency Kyodo News reported. Yamazaki Kazuyuki latest letter to UN came after China's Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong wrote a second letter to Guterres, warning that "the international community must remain highly vigilant against Japan's ambitions to expand its military capabilities and revive militarism." Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal for approving the construction of a a797.17 crore dedicated jetty at Paradip Port to handle green hydrogen, ammonia and other liquid cargo. Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal for approving the construction of a 797.17 crore dedicated jetty at Paradip Port to handle green hydrogen, ammonia and other liquid cargo. Taking to his X handle, CM Majhi said the project will position Odisha as a future-ready maritime economy and strengthen its role in the emerging green energy sector. "With a capacity of 4 MTPA, this project will connect Odisha's emerging green hydrogen production clusters to global markets, strengthen clean energy export logistics and advance India's National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative will further accelerate green investments, generate employment and reinforce Odisha's role in building a sustainable and future-ready maritime economy," said Majhi. It is pertinent here to mention that the project, which got the approval on Thursday, will be implemented by Paradip Port Authority on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The proposed facility will have a handling capacity of 4.0 million tonnes per annum and is designed to strengthen Paradip Port's role as a hub for green energy cargo. The infrastructure will include a dedicated jetty, storage systems, pipelines, handling equipment and associated facilities. The jetty will have a centre-to-centre distance of 279 metres between extreme end dolphins and a dredged depth of 14.3 metres in front of the berth to enable safe handling of liquid cargo vessels. Paradip Port Authority will provide capital support equivalent to 20 per cent of the project cost, amounting to 159.43 crore, during the construction phase. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months. Officials said the project is aligned with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and is expected to support investments in green energy infrastructure in Odisha while strengthening port-based logistics for clean energy commodities. The proposed jetty will incorporate specialised infrastructure and advanced safety systems for handling and storing green energy derivatives and other liquid cargo, supporting the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem around Paradip Port. Seoul, Feb 27 : South Korea's decision to allow global tech giant Google to transfer government-supplied domestic high-precision map data overseas seems to be tied to Seoul's efforts to address US concerns over non-tariff barriers, industry observers said on Friday. Earlier in the day, the government approved Google's request to transfer 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas facilities, contingent on supplementary measures to address security concerns, reports Yonhap news agency. Seoul had rejected similar requests by Google in 2007 and 2016, citing national security concerns that sensitive facilities, such as military bases, could be exposed. The question on whether Seoul would change such a stance had drawn renewed attention amid trade consultations between Seoul and the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump that has taken a hard-line stance on tariff issues. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly cited South Korea's restrictions on the overseas transfer of location-based data as a key non-tariff barrier affecting American digital services firms. Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers that USTR Jamieson Greer warned Washington could raise reciprocal tariffs on South Korea back to 25 percent from the current 15 percent if no progress is made in addressing non-tariff barriers. "The government had long delayed approving Google's request on national security grounds, but trade and tariff pressure from the U.S. has intensified in recent years," Wi Jong-hyun, a professor at the college of virtual convergence at Chung-Ang University, said. Other non-tariff issues raised by the United States include South Korea's proposed regulations on digital platforms, agricultural quarantine rules and auto certification standards. The government's move has apparently left domestic platform operators, including Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp., which currently provide more detailed and competitive map services compared to Google, on alert. Local industry watchers have warned that allowing the overseas transfer of high-resolution map data without requiring foreign firms to establish domestic data centers may undermine fair competition. The Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science recently assessed that the overseas transfer of high-precision map data could result in cumulative losses of 150 trillion won (US$104.5 billion) to 197 trillion won over 10 years across eight industrial sectors. Government officials reportedly weighed potential economic upsides, including those in attracting foreign visitors, as the use of Google Maps in South Korea remains very limited due to the lack of high-precision map information. "The government decision could serve as a catalyst for revitalising South Korea's tourism industry," said Kim Deuk-gap, a professor at the Institute for East and West Studies at Yonsei University. "Enhanced Google Maps services are expected to significantly improve travel convenience for foreign visitors, which could help attract more tourists. In particular, it may contribute to distributing tourism demand beyond Seoul to other regions, supporting local tourism economies." --IANS na/ The Italian company CESI SpA together with law firm Lamnidis Law has received a new three-year mandate to implement the next phase of the project to create the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe energy corridor (Black Sea Energy), which involves transporting green electricity from Azerbaijan through Georgia to European countries, according to a statement from Lamnidis Law. Lamnidis Law announced a new three-year mandate together with CESI SpA (the consultant for the Black Sea Energy project) for implementing the next phase of the Black Sea Submarine Cable project in a statement on its website. "This next phase concerns the Design, Procurement and Supervision of Seabed Surveys, a foundational stage in the development of cross-border electricity interconnection infrastructure in the Black Sea region," it said. Surveys will be conducted in two stages: the first in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Georgia and Romania and the second in the EEZs of Bulgaria and Turkey, it said. "[The project aims] to strengthen energy resilience, diversify supply pathways and enable greater integration of renewable generation," it said. Previously, citing Azerbaijani Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov, it was reported that the first segment of the project will be completed in 2032, the second in 2036 and the third in 2040. The preparation of the feasibility study for the project, which is being handled by CESI, is expected to be completed in Q1 2026. In December 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement on constructing the Black Sea Energy underwater electric cable. In 2023, Bulgaria's intention to join the project was announced. In the same year, the Bulgarian government approved the participation of the company Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD in the joint venture for the project implementation. In May 2024, the energy operators of Azerbaijan, Romania, Georgia and Hungary - OJSC Azerenerji, Transelectrica SA, Georgian State Electrosystem and MVM - signed a memorandum on creating a joint venture, and in September, a shareholders' agreement was concluded to establish the joint venture Green Energy Corridor Power Company. The joint venture was established in Bucharest in 2025. The construction is estimated at 3.5 billion euros and will take three to four years. The European Commission plans to allocate 2.3 billion euros for the project. February 27 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that salaries of all government employees be paid before the festival of Holi. Chief Minister stated that in view of the upcoming festival, negligence at any level will not be tolerated and that all departments must strictly adhere to the prescribed timeline. Along with this, Chief Minister has instructed that the payments of outsourced, contractual, and sanitation workers, as well as all other categories of employees, must also be ensured before the festival so that no employee faces financial inconvenience during the celebrations. Additionally, Chief Minister has declared Saturday, February 28, as a working day. Employees will be granted a holiday on March 3. There will be holidays on March 2, 3, and 4 on the occasion of Holi. Chief Minister has warned that any kind of laxity or negligence in compliance with the orders regarding payments and holidays will not be tolerated. He further made it clear that under no circumstances will any disregard for the welfare of employees during the festival be acceptable. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 : Kerala Health Minister Veena George has become a subject of ridicule before the people of the state, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said on Friday. "People laugh at the very mention of her name," Satheesan told reporters in Adoor. He alleged that the CPI-M was unleashing violence across Kerala by widely propagating what he termed a blatant falsehood that Health Minister Veena George was injured during a KSU protest at Kannur on Wednesday. "A bomb was hurled at the house of a KSU leader who participated in the protest, and false cases were allegedly fabricated to jail KSU workers on charges of attempt to murder," Satheesan claimed. Five KSU workers are currently in jail after being arrested for protesting and waving black flags at Veena George when she arrived at the railway platform in Kannur. According to Satheesan, it has become clear to the people of Kerala that the Minister, Speaker A.N. Shamseer, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI-M state secretary M.V. Govindan made statements that were untrue regarding the incident that took place at the Kannur railway platform. He accused CPI-M leaders of calling for statewide unrest under the pretext of an attack that, he maintained, never occurred. Publicity materials related to his yatra were destroyed in Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, and several people were injured in the incidents, he said, adding that houses were attacked using crude bombs. Referring to CPI-M state secretary M.V. Govindan, Satheesan said allegations that KSU workers grabbed the Minister's shawl and hand were baseless and intended to incite violence. The "attack narrative", he claimed, was a conspiracy to divert attention from issues in the health sector and had now collapsed. "The medical bulletin does not specify any injury caused by an attack. The media, the Railways and the public are aware that it was merely an act," he said, adding that there was no need for hospitalisation despite reports being circulated about a possible surgery. He demanded that the attempt-to-murder charges against the KSU workers be withdrawn and that a case be registered against Govindan for alleged incitement to violence. The Opposition, he said, would fight the matter both politically and legally, and the CPI-M must end the violence immediately. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Friday criticised the AAP celebrations over the judgment of a Delhi Special Court offering a reprieve to Arvind Kejriwal in the "liquor policy scam", accusing the accused of destroying SIM cards and other evidence. New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Friday criticised the AAP celebrations over the judgment of a Delhi Special Court offering a reprieve to Arvind Kejriwal in the "liquor policy scam", accusing the accused of destroying SIM cards and other evidence. The court's decision is based on the technical ground of "lack of evidence" and in no way amounts to a "clean chit" to Kejriwal, said Sachdeva. He added that the investigating agency has repeatedly maintained that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia were involved in destroying evidence. Sachdeva said that details regarding SIM cards and mobile phones that were allegedly destroyed have not been provided to date, and this has also been mentioned in the court's decision. The Delhi BJP chief said that Kejriwal still does not have answers to many questions. "If the excise policy was appropriate, why was it withdrawn immediately after the investigation began? What was the objective behind increasing the commission percentage for contractors? Why was a 'buy one, get one free' scheme introduced?" asked Sachdeva. He alleged that Kejriwal is "corrupt" and claimed that there is no proof to establish his innocence. He also stated that the people of Delhi have already delivered their verdict after the Assembly elections by removing him from power, thereby accepting that Kejriwal is corrupt. Sachdeva accused Kejriwal of attempting to gain public sympathy by appearing before the media and "acting emotional", which, he claimed, reflects his political theatrics. He alleged that it was these same "theatrics" through which Satyendar Jain was portrayed as deserving of the highest honours. The BJP leader added that the liquor policy issue is not the only matter, and that there is a long list of alleged scams in which Kejriwal, according to him, has clearly been exposed as corrupt. Earlier in the day, the Rouse Avenue Court discharged Kejriwal and his closest aide Manish Sisodia, along with 23 others in the excise policy case, also clearing them of charges of alleged corruption and wrongdoing, stating that there was "no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent". The case pertains to the Delhi Excise Policy, formulated by the AAP government in November 2021, to revamp and bring a structural overhaul of liquor businesses and regulation in the national capital. Within months of policy rollout, it found itself in the throes of controversy with the BJP accusing the AAP dispensation of colluding with the liquor mafia to fill its coffers. The policy was subsequently scrapped a year later in 2022. A case was lodged following a report by the then Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, which pointed at multiple "procedural lapses and lacunas" in policy formulation. Raipur, Feb 27 : In a striking display of transformation in Chhattisgarh's long struggle against Maoism, 120 former Maoists took their places in the visitors' gallery of the state Assembly, watching the democratic process unfold before them. Among the group in the gallery were once "dreaded" Maoists whose surrenders carried particular weight. Rupesh, who once carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and Chaitu, also known as Shyam Dada with a Rs 25 lakh reward, sat attentively. Chaitu's name remains linked to the tragic 2013 Jhiram Valley attack in Bastar, which claimed the lives of several prominent Congress leaders. Having surrendered in Jagdalpur just three months earlier, he now observed House debates wearing a simple cap, a quiet yet profound symbol of how the power of the ballot is gradually eclipsing the influence of the gun. These individuals, once committed to armed rebellion, now embodied a powerful narrative of surrender and reintegration into mainstream society. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai personally met with them during the session and addressed their "future with optimism." He explained that the government remains deeply committed to their rehabilitation through a dedicated policy. Under this framework, surrendered Maoists receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for three years, along with opportunities for skill development to help them build sustainable livelihoods. To support permanent settlement, the policy provides four decimals of land in urban areas for constructing houses and one acre in rural regions for agricultural purposes. The Chief Minister used the occasion to appeal to those still in the forests, urging them to lay down their arms and choose the path of peace and progress. The evening before their Assembly visit, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma hosted these former insurgents at his residence in Nava Raipur. Far from a stiff official event, the gathering featured a warm red carpet welcome, showers of flowers, and a shared meal that fostered personal connection. Sharma spoke individually with each person, listening to their stories and guiding them about the experience ahead in Raipur. Such gestures aimed to strengthen trust between the administration and those stepping away from violence. The following morning, after a thorough security screening, the group entered the visitors' gallery filled with visible excitement. For many, it marked their first close encounter with the workings of democracy. As they followed Question Hour, legislative discussions, and procedural debates, a sense of inclusion replaced their earlier opposition to the system. This moment showcased the effectiveness of Chhattisgarh's rehabilitation efforts, which combine security operations with compassionate outreach, steadily drawing insurgents back to civilian life and contributing to the broader goal of eradicating Maoist influence in the region. Alirajpur : , Feb 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav paid floral tribute to the legendary freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad on his 95th martyrdom day on Friday, stating that "Azad's sacrifices will remain as an enduring inspiration of patriotism, courage, and self-respect." Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh), Feb 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav paid floral tribute to the legendary freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad on his 95th martyrdom day on Friday, stating that "Azad's sacrifices will remain as an enduring inspiration of patriotism, courage, and self-respect." On this special occasion, Chief Minister Yadav visited Azad's birthplace Bhabra village (now known as Azad Nagar) in Alirajpur district and offered floral tributes in the presence of local villagers and public representatives. During the visit, the Chief Minister also inspected 'Azad Smriti Mandir' built by a trust in his memory as a tribute to the freedom fighter, and interacted with the people associated with the organisation. Chandrashekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906 in Bhabra village in Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh. He displayed extraordinary courage and sacrifice in India's freedom struggle. On 27 February 1931, after being betrayed and surrounded by the police at Alfred Park in Prayagraj (then Allahabad), he fought bravely and, true to his pledge of never being captured by the British, laid down his life for the nation's freedom. On this occasion, the government organised a traditional Bhagoria Festival at Udaygarh, which was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Notably, Udaygarh's Bhagoria is especially renowned for its vibrant colours and rich traditions. Young men and women dressed in traditional attire and ornaments, performing group dances to the rhythmic beats of the mandal and dhol, along with melodious folk songs and an atmosphere filled with colours and gulal, transform the entire region into a vibrant landscape. The festival serves as a strong platform for social bonding and cultural expression. It stands as a living example of the preservation of tribal lifestyle, traditional art and folk heritage. During the event, Mohan Yadav also performed bhoomi-poojan and inaugurated various development projects in Chandrashekhar Azad Nagar worth more than Rs 180 crore. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stated that these development projects will provide fresh momentum to the comprehensive development of the district. CM Yadav said that his government is making all efforts to empower women, farmers and poor people in Madhya Pradesh. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Workers of BJP Kerala Yuva Morcha staged a protest outside the residence of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over the gold theft case related to the Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala. The protest, led by former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, saw Kerala BJP Yuva Morcha raising questions over the "silence" of the Congress leadership over the issue, while demanding an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation by the CBI into the matter. On the occasion, BJP Yuva Morcha National General Secretary Rohit Chahal and Kerala Yuva Morcha State President Manu Prasad, along with hundreds of office bearers and workers of Kerala Yuva Morcha, were present. Addressing the protesters, Thakur said that temple property is not merely material wealth, but a symbol of the faith, trust, and cultural heritage of crores of devotees. During the protest, workers raised slogans such as "An attack on faith will not be tolerated" and "Punish the guilty." Kerala Yuva Morcha President Manu Prasad clarified that the movement is not a personal campaign against any individual, but a democratic initiative in support of faith, transparency, and good governance. Thakur said, "If any theft or irregularity has occurred in gold ornaments or temple property, it is not merely an administrative failure but a betrayal of faith." He alleged that Congress has not taken a clear stand on this serious issue. The public wants to know who is responsible, what is the status of the investigation, and what action has been taken so far against the accused. If there has been negligence, collusion, or corruption at any level, it must be exposed, he said, adding that any irregularity or theft of temple property is unacceptable. He alleged that those involved in the theft are presenting gold as gifts to Sonia Gandhi. The BJP has always followed a zero-tolerance policy in matters related to the nationas faith. "If anyone has hurt the sentiments and trust of devotees, it will not be tolerated," said Thakur. He also said that the Opposition, especially the Congress, first "looted the country and is now looting temples", thereby "playing with the faith" of crores of Hindus. He demanded an independent inquiry into the matter by the CBI; punitive action against the guilty and establishment of a robust monitoring mechanism to safeguard temple properties. Manu Prasad warned that if there is any laxity in the investigation or any attempt to suppress the truth, a nationwide public awareness campaign will be launched. "We remain committed to protecting the sentiments of devotees and will continue to raise this issue in a logical, factual, and democratic manner," he said. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Even as a ban on the sale of non-biodegradable plastic flowers is already in place in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that a fresh Government Resolution (GR) will soon be issued to ensure stricter and more effective implementation of the prohibition. He said the proposed GR will not only reiterate the ban on the production and sale of non-biodegradable plastic flowers but will also lay down clear provisions for action against decorators using such items for ornamentation, as well as marriage halls and banquet halls that permit their use on their premises. The Chief Minister intervened during a discussion on a calling attention motion moved by BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, who stated that the farming community has been consistently demanding a complete ban on artificial and plastic flowers in the state, particularly in view of their growing use in recent years. Pachpute also raised concerns over the sale of low-quality plastic toys in the market. NCP MLA Jayant Patil expressed concern over the increasing sale and use of plastic flowers, stating that it has adversely affected farmers who have made substantial investments in setting up greenhouses for the cultivation of a variety of natural flowers. Chief Minister Fadnavis said the market is currently flooded with artificial flowers and observed that it is often difficult to distinguish between real and plastic ones. He maintained that non-biodegradable plastic flowers are causing environmental damage and financial losses to farmers engaged in natural floriculture. He added that the Environment Department would initiate stricter action and that other concerned departments would be involved wherever necessary. BJP MLA Pravin Datke pointed out that despite an existing GR on the plastic ban, its implementation remains weak in several Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils. He demanded that the new GR should clearly specify the action to be taken against officials of local self-government bodies if they fail to enforce the order. During the discussion, Environment Minister Pankaja Munde presented data on enforcement measures taken by the department. She said that around 92,000 cases of plastic ban violations were detected over the past four to five years and 4,135 tonnes of plastic were seized. The government has collected penalties amounting to Rs 25 crore. The Minister said a fine of Rs 5,000 is imposed for a first offence, Rs 10,000 for a second offence, and for subsequent offences there is a provision for three monthsa imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000. Jayant Patil also raised the issue of the Dadar flower market. He said that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation had removed flower vendors citing encroachment clearance, which led to a complete strike by the Mumbai Flower Vendors Association. He urged the government to intervene and resolve the impasse. Chief Minister Fadnavis assured the House that he would look into the matter and seek a solution to end the protest. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed the resolve to transform the elite (Abhijat) Marathi language into a language of knowledge and carry this rich heritage to the next generation. "This is necessary as history shows that languages recognised as languages of knowledge (Jnanbhasha) are the ones that continue to flow forward in the world. A language that drives trade and provides employment awakens a sense of progress," he said while speaking at the special program organised at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan to mark Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Din. Fadnavis noted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj created a dictionary during his era to purify the Marathi language. At that time, administrative Marathi was heavily influenced by Persian and Arabic. "Maharaj took on the task of purifying the language, and the pride of the Marathi language truly begins with him," he claimed. He added that ancient scriptures show just how elite our language has been since its inception. He further mentioned that the proceedings in Maharashtra's legislature are a source of literary creation, providing themes for many films and plays. Fadnavis also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting 'Abhijat' (Classical) status to Marathi, providing it with royal patronage. He urged everyone to ensure that Marathi literature and folk arts reach as many people as possible. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde credited PM Modi for the Classical status of Marathi, which will significantly aid its prosperity. He urged the use of Marathi in all professional fields and called for its flag to fly across the seven seas. Deputy Chief Sunetra Pawar urged the maximum use of Marathi on digital platforms in this age of technology. She stated that using Marathi on digital media would help carry the rich heritage to the next generation more effectively. She mentioned that Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the proposed Maharashtra Bhavan in London to serve as a cultural hub. She said that, additionally, grants for public libraries have been increased to promote the language. She noted that the Classical status is a moment of great joy and will be crucial in making Marathi a language of "earning and livelihood." Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar expressed confidence that if Marathi is to be enriched and moved forward, technology and research must happen in the language. "Only then will Marathi truly become a language of knowledge. Marathi is one of the 22 official languages of India and stands 3rd in terms of population in the country and 10th in the world," he said. He emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to preserve this rich heritage for the next generation. Bhopal, Feb 27 : The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, on Friday, achieved another significant milestone in the field of medical research as doctors of the premier medical institute have identified a special gland located in the nasopharyngeal region. During the research, the institute's doctors have found a special gland located in the nasopharyngeal region, which is situated behind the nose and in the upper part of the throat of human beings. "Not only this, AIIMS doctors have also clearly demonstrated the duct emerging from this gland, about which no prior information was available. This discovery marks a new and important step in understanding the structure of the human body," the institute said in a statement on Friday. The entire research was conducted by a group of six senior doctors and they are -- Sunita Arvind Athavale, Sheetal Kotgirwar, Manal M. Khan, Anshul Rai, Deepti Joshi, and Rekha Lalwani, according to a press note of AIIMS Bhopal. Through detailed study and microscopic examination, the team clarified the gland's location, size, and its relationship with surrounding organs. Importantly, for the first time, the drainage duct of this gland was also confirmed, proving that it is indeed an independent gland. The research has been published in the prestigious international journal Journal of Anatomy, which is highly respected in the field of anatomical sciences. "The study was accepted after thorough expert review, establishing its scientific reliability. This discovery will directly benefit patients. A better understanding of this region of the nose and throat will enable safer and more precise head and neck surgeries. It will also assist in cancer treatment planning and radiotherapy," it said. On this achievement, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Bhopal, Madhabananda Kar, congratulated the research team and said that such studies reflect the institute's excellence and multidisciplinary research capability. He asserted that this discovery will help improve the accuracy and safety of head and neck surgeries, cancer treatment planning, radiotherapy, and disease detection through medical imaging, directly benefiting patients. "This achievement proves that even in parts of the human body that have been studied for a long time, new and important information can still emerge. This discovery marks a significant and inspiring step forward in the field of medical science," Kar said. Kochi, Feb 27 : The Kerala government on Friday moved the Kerala High Court challenging the recent verdict of the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court that acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep in the 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case, while convicting six other accused. In December 2025, Sessions Court Judge Honey M. Varghese acquitted Dileep of all charges but found six men guilty. The court sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, the minimum punishment prescribed under Section 376D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The verdict drew sharp criticism, with Law Minister P. Rajeev announcing on December 8, the day of the judgment, that the State would challenge the decision and stand with the survivor. In its appeal, the government has sought the conviction of Dileep and three others who were acquitted --Charlie Thomas, Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and Sarath G. Nair. The State has also sought enhancement of the sentence awarded to the six convicted persons: Sunil N. S. alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B., Vijeesh V. P., Salim H. alias Vadival Salim, and Pradeep. The survivor was abducted and sexually assaulted in February 2017 while travelling to a film shoot in Kochi. The assault was filmed inside the moving vehicle. Martin Antony, the driver, was arrested the next day, followed by Pulsar Suni, who was named the first accused, within a week. Four others were arrested later that month. In July 2017, Dileep was arrested on allegations of conspiring to orchestrate the assault as an act of revenge. The trial court, however, found insufficient evidence to convict him. After spending almost three months in jail, he was granted bail. The six convicted men were found guilty under various IPC provisions, including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, use of force, gang rape, and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act relating to the recording and transmission of sexually explicit material. Only Pulsar Suni was directly convicted under the IT Act provisions. Several of the convicts have since approached the High Court seeking suspension of their sentence, setting the stage for a renewed legal battle in one of Keralaas most closely watched criminal cases. Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko The Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center has appealed to the Prosecutor Generals Office demanding a criminal investigation of Veterans Affairs Minister Natalia Kalmykova and National War Memorial Cemetery director Yaroslav Proniutkin for failing to enforce court rulings on the cemetery's land plot. KECC director Volodymyr Boreiko said at a news conference Friday that the organization is asking prosecutors to enter the information into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations and open criminal proceedings for offenses under Article 382 (failure to enforce a court decision), Article 252 (intentional destruction or damage to state-protected territories) and Article 367 (official negligence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to Boreiko, the case involves a 258.7-hectare plot (cadastral number 3222481200:05:002:0457), regarding which paragraphs 2-5 of Kyiv Regional Military Administration Order No. 275 of March 14, 2024, were declared unlawful and revoked by court rulings. According to the KECC, with the cancellation of the relevant order provisions, the legal basis for using the specified land plot has lapsed. "Despite the Supreme Court canceling the right to use the land plot and restoring its environmental protection designation, the Ministry of Veterans continues work. How do they explain continuing work despite the court ruling? They explain it this way: the court decision doesn't explicitly prohibit us from conducting work. It only states that the court decision canceled the right to use the land plot and its designated purpose," KECC lawyer Oleksandr Diadiuk said. The Prosecutor Generals Office told Interfax-Ukraine that the appeal has been received and forwarded to the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office to decide whether grounds exist to open such proceedings. Meanwhile, Veterans Affairs Minister Natalia Kalmykova told Interfax-Ukraine that the Kyiv District Administrative Court ruling contains no obligations for the National War Memorial Cemetery or the Veterans Ministry to halt or restrict implementation of the memorial cemetery. "The cemetery operates on legal grounds. On May 19, 2025, the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning issued a certificate of readiness for the first startup complex of the first construction phase, which was officially put into operation. All necessary infrastructure has been built burial sectors, columbarium walls, utility networks, access roads, treatment facilities and more. The site has been assigned an address, and the state's property rights have been registered as required," the minister said. She added that under the Law on Burials and Funeral Services, the NWMC is state property, not subject to privatization or lease, and its land plot has a valid right of permanent use. "For the state, this is not just a legal matter it's a matter of values. The memory of Ukraine's defenders is sacred. Honoring with dignity those who gave their lives for independence is our duty and a demonstration of respect for the ultimate sacrifice. Any attempts to block the project's implementation do not change its legal status and cannot call into question the main point: defenders are an unconditional value for the Ukrainian state and society, and their memory is the foundation of our dignity and national resilience," Kalmykova emphasized. As reported, on August 29, 2025, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance, a military burial ceremony for unknown soldiers was held at the NWMC with military honors for fallen heroes whose names have not yet been established the first burial at the memorial site. At that time, Veterans Affairs Minister Natalia Kalmykova rejected claims about the illegality of conducting burials at the NWMC. Bhopal, Feb 27 : The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an interesting order and instructed all divisional commissioners to supervise registration of "Holika Dahan" programmes. Bhopal, Feb 27 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an interesting order and instructed all divisional commissioners to supervise registration of "Holika Dahan" programmes. The order has also asked the responsible officers to collect phone numbers, a brief about the organisation, list of office bearers of the organisers of such events. The order has also asked its responsible officers to urge and encourage such organisations to replace traditional wood with cow dung sticks (goukasht) and uplas (cow dung patties) to reduce deforestation and foster sustainability. The Madhya Pradesh government has issued directives to promote eco-friendly celebrations of the upcoming Holi festival, emphasising the use of cow dung-based materials for Holika Dahan, the order issued in Hindi said. In recognition, the order said, state-level honour ceremonies will be held at district headquarters, where participating organisations and their leaders will receive commendation certificates from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for environmental protection efforts. All divisional commissioners and district collectors have been instructed to encourage public participation in "clean and healthy Holi" practices. Collectors will compile lists of such eco-friendly initiatives. The government also promises future incentives or support for these groups on a priority basis. It highlights the importance of brotherhood, social unity, and joy while minimising environmental harm. Key recommendations include using natural and herbal colours to save water, avoiding colours on animals and birds, and steering clear of rowdy behaviour to ensure harmonious festivities. To promote goukasht-based Holika Dahan, the government outlines a structured action plan. Districts must facilitate free registration of public Holika Dahan events at tehsil, panchayat, and urban body levels, with widespread publicity through media and local institutions. Organisers' details, such as office bearers and contact numbers, will be collected during registration. On the day of Holika Dahan, field staff will visit these events to encourage the use of "goukasht" over firewood or timber. Within two to three days post-event, local officials in urban and rural areas must certify compliance and submit reports to district collectors. This initiative aligns with the "Abhyuday Madhya Pradesh" campaign, aiming to amplify local awareness and implementation. Divisional commissioners are tasked with overseeing compliance, while collectors ensure the "Swachh aur Swasth Holi" drive's success across the state. The directive copies relevant departments, including Environment, Urban Development, and Panchayat and Rural Development, for coordinated action. Tel Aviv, Feb 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel this week - marked by his historic address to the Knesset, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister - was a watershed moment in Israeli-Indian relations, reflecting unprecedented public support in Israel for closer ties with India. Writing for the 'Times of Israel', J S Weiss, the founder and President of the Society of Jewish Scholars, said that Israelis are highly optimistic about India-Israel ties, while across the political spectrum, all Zionist parties in Israel support a robust alliance with India. Israeli-Indian trade relations are poised to grow further and there are major opportunities for collaboration going forward even as both countries continue to deal with major strategic threats, wrote Weiss. He mentioned that a major focus of Indian-Israeli relations should be rebuilding Israeli-Indian trade in the post-October 7 world and advancing towards IMEC a" the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor a" is a major way to do so considering that Israel is the natural link in a chain between India and Europe. IMEC, he said, would further empower the trade deals discussed. On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu discussed IMEC during their discussions in Jerusalem, expressing their intent to advance cooperation to promote regional connectivity, stability and shared prosperity through the initiative and explore Israel's role within its frameworks. According to Weiss, IMEC also shows that the Israel-India relationship need not be limited to the two countries. "Israeli-Indian relations can play a role in helping heal the tension in US-India relations, which have increased over the last year. Israel can serve as a mediating partner and opportunity for trilateral economic programmes. The previously established I2U2 partnership between Israel, India, the US, and the UAE already helps position the United States as the central linchpin in a web of economic relations a" a strong counter to China's Silk Road project," he wrote in the 'Times of Israel'. Weiss further said, "Both India and Israel see their growing alliance as chances for strategic diversification and mutual benefit in a chaotic world. For both countries, they also boost confidence they have a place in the new age as unique, ancient civilisations with powerful, modern states. These flourishing relations are good not only for themselves, but their allies and partners across the world, chief amongst them the United States." Shillong, Feb 27 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on Friday, highlighted Japan's expanding role as a key development partner of the state, saying that the engagement extends well beyond infrastructure to areas such as youth empowerment, agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. Addressing the inaugural session of the sixth Indiaa"Japan Intellectual Conclave 'Kizuna' here, Chief Minister Sangma said the relationship between India and Japan is anchored in shared democratic values, mutual respect and a common vision for sustainable development and economic cooperation. He added that the theme 'Kizuna', meaning a lasting bond, aptly captures the depth of the bilateral partnership. Referring to Meghalaya's growing engagement with Japan, the Chief Minister said the collaboration places equal emphasis on investing in people and physical assets. He noted that 47 nurses from the state have already been placed in Japan. Following Chief Minister Sangma's visit to Japan in April 2025, the Meghalaya government signed a memorandum of understanding with a Japanese company to train and recruit 500 youth this year, with a roadmap to scale the programme to 5,000 placements over the next five years. Another partnership has also been forged to facilitate skilled youth placements, while a Japanese language training centre has been established in Shillong to equip aspirants with language proficiency. In the agriculture sector, CM Sangma said India's first commercial production of shiitake mushroom blocks has commenced in Upper Shillong with technological and marketing support from a Japanese company. The facility, with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh inoculated blocks, is expected to benefit more than 1,000 farmers. The Chief Minister added that the state is also exploring the production of locally brewed sake using indigenous rice varieties in collaboration with a Japanese brewery. Highlighting long-standing cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), CM Sangma said the agency has made significant investments in infrastructure, forestry and tourism. Under the JICA-supported MegLIFE project, 22,500 hectares of forest are being restored across 500 villages in 11 districts. JICA is also supporting the renovation of the Umiam Hydropower Station, the Umiama"Umtru Stage III project, and the nearly 19-km river bridge linking Dhubri in Assam with Phulwari. Noting that 74 per cent of Meghalaya's population is below 35 years of age, the Chief Minister proposed the creation of a Meghalayaa"Japan Skill Corridor to align the state's youth potential with Japan's technological expertise. He also underscored growing cultural exchanges, citing the Japanese pavilion at the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival over the past two years. Kolkata, Feb 27 : After a prolonged tug-of-war, the West Bengal Police on Friday agreed to hand over the case diary in the recent Beldanga violence case in minority-dominated Murshidabad district to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the matter following clearances from the Calcutta High Court as well as the Supreme Court. The state police also informed a trial court in Kolkata of its decision to transfer the case diary to the NIA. The court subsequently remanded seven accused to seven days of NIA custody. The remaining 24 accused will remain in judicial custody during this period. On Friday, when the trial court directed the state police to hand over the case diary to the NIA, counsel for the state police offered to transfer the documents immediately within the courtroom. However, the NIAas counsel declined the offer and insisted that the formal protocol be followed, with the case diary being handed over at the NIA office in Kolkata. The state police later agreed to comply with the procedure. In January this year, tension and violence broke out in Beldanga following the circulation of alleged fake information about the murder of a migrant worker from the area in neighbouring Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Police later termed the death a case of suicide, citing the post-mortem report. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking an NIA probe into the violence. After the High Court permitted the NIA to investigate the case, the West Bengal government moved the Supreme Court seeking to quash the order for an NIA probe. The apex court, however, declined to interfere. Despite this, the impasse continued for some time, with the state police initially refusing to hand over the case diary to the central agency. Bengaluru, Feb 27 : Criticising the state government, former Union Minister and senior BJP leader A. Narayanaswamy said on Friday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had betrayed the Madiga community, which had struggled for 35 years for internal reservation. He alleged that not only the Madiga community but Dalits across the state had been deceived, and accused the government of misleading 101 castes on the issue of internal reservation. He also alleged that job-aspirant youth had been misled by the government. He said Tamil Nadu has provided 69 per cent reservation by including it under Article 9 and has strongly supported oppressed communities. He accused the Karnataka Congress-led government of lacking both interest and intent in effectively arguing the case for internal reservation in the High Court and Supreme Court. He questioned the government over spending public money on surveys and commission reports and asked whose interests such politics were serving. Narayanaswamy criticised the state government for failing to discuss internal reservation even one year after the Supreme Court verdict. He said the government had rejected the reports of Justice Sadashiva, Madhuswamy, and Justice Nagamohan Das, creating confusion over internal reservation. He noted that although a bill was passed in the Assembly and sent to the Governor, the issue remains unresolved. He demanded that the Chief Minister, Dalit ministers, and 54 MLAs elected from Scheduled Caste reserved constituencies resign if they truly have commitment and social concern towards Dalits. He said there are 54 MLAs from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and although there has been significant progress in education, these legislators have remained silent. He questioned why Dalit ministers are not raising their voice in cabinet meetings and asked why they continue to hold ministerial positions if they are not speaking up. He also announced that protests would be launched and urged the Chief Minister to resign. He said job aspirants had protested as around 2.8 lakh government posts remain vacant in the state. He alleged that the state government, in its recent cabinet meeting, decided to revert to the old reservation system to mislead Dalits and protesting youth. He said that if the government was truly committed to social justice, it could legally exceed the 50 per cent reservation limit, as stated in the Indra Sawhney case. He cited examples of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where reservation levels of 58 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively, were implemented, and said the Karnataka government had failed to present strong arguments in court. He said the Madiga community and its sub-castes, which have been among the most oppressed for decades, had been fighting for internal reservation, and recalled that the Congress had promised to implement internal reservation if voted to power. He accused the Chief Minister of misleading the people by repeatedly portraying himself as a champion of social justice. He also referred to the Supreme Courtas Constitution Bench judgment of August 1, 2024, which empowered governments to provide internal reservation and special measures for socially and economically disadvantaged communities, stating that such provisions are in line with the Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar. New Delhi, Feb 27 : India's Controller General of Accounts (CGA) T.C.A. Kalyani on Friday launched two major initiatives aimed at strengthening the governance and efficiency of banks handling government transactions-- the Government Bank Dashboard and the Government Bank Manual. New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) India's Controller General of Accounts (CGA) T.C.A. Kalyani on Friday launched two major initiatives aimed at strengthening the governance and efficiency of banks handling government transactions-- the Government Bank Dashboard and the Government Bank Manual. The Government Bank Manual provides a comprehensive and standardised framework for banks for handling government business. It clearly defines operational procedures, reporting obligations, reconciliation timelines, and compliance requirements. Its objective is straightforward: reduce ambiguity, mitigate operational risk, and strengthen accountability across all stakeholders. The Government Bank Dashboard introduces real-time, data-driven monitoring of critical banking functions with respect to government business. It tracks key performance indicators such as remittance timelines, scroll compliance, reconciliation status, transaction success rates, and adherence to service-level standards. This represents a significant shift from reactive, post-facto corrections to proactive oversight and performance management. Emphasising the broader vision behind these initiatives, Kalyani highlighted that the reforms institutionalise uniform procedures and objective benchmarks, while reinforcing shared responsibility in safeguarding public funds. The next phase of reforms will focus on deeper digital integration, strengthened cybersecurity safeguards, advanced analytics capabilities, and institutional capacity building a" further modernising the ecosystem of government banking operations. The duties and responsibilities of the CGA include general principles of government accounting relating to Union or state governments and forms of accounts, and framing or revision of rules and manuals relating thereto. CGA also looks into the reconciliation of the cash balance of the Union government with the Reserve Bank in general and, in particular, of Reserve Deposits pertaining to Civil Ministries or Departments, overseeing the maintenance of adequate standards of accounting by Central Civil Accounts Offices. Besides the consolidation of monthly accounts, preparation of review of trends of revenue realisation and significant features of expenditure, etc., and preparation of annual accounts (including Summary, Civil Appropriation Accounts) showing under the respective heads, the annual receipts and disbursements for the purpose of the Union Government also come under the CGAas purview. Jaipur, Feb 27 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma made several significant announcements in the Assembly on Friday while replying to the discussion on the Finance Bill. Among the key decisions was the renaming of three towns to reinforce their historical, cultural, and religious identity. The Chief Minister announced that Mount Abu will be renamed Aburaj, Jahazpur will be renamed Yagyapur, and Kaman will be renamed Kamvan. He stated that the move aims to preserve and promote the rich heritage associated with these places. To address rising traffic congestion in Jaipur, the Chief Minister also announced the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a 36-kilometre-long elevated road along the Dravyavati River. The proposed project is expected to significantly ease traffic pressure in the state capital and improve urban mobility. In a major boost to public transportation, Sharma announced the purchase of 300 new buses for the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC). He said the addition of new buses will strengthen connectivity between rural and urban areas while improving passenger comfort and accessibility. The government aims to modernise and expand transport services across the state. The Chief Minister also made a major announcement regarding government recruitment, stating that 1.25 lakh new government posts will be filled. A new recruitment calendar will soon be released. Under the VB-G-RAM-G employment scheme, workers will now receive weekly wage payments. Employment duration will be increased from 100 days to 125 days, and compensation will be provided in cases of delayed wage payments. The scheme will involve an estimated expenditure of Rs 4,000 crore from the state treasury, with the possibility of further allocation depending on demand. The development of a major Skill Development Centre in Pachpadra aimed at strengthening employment opportunities for youth in the region. The proposed centre will focus on providing industry-oriented training aligned with the needs of upcoming industrial projects in the Pachpadra and Barmer region, particularly in sectors such as petrochemicals, refining, and allied industries. The initiative aims to ensure that local youth are equipped with modern technical skills, thereby increasing their employability and participation in regional industrial growth. The Chief Minister emphasised that with rapid industrial expansion in the Pachpadra area, especially due to refinery and energy-related investments, there is a strong need for structured skill training infrastructure. The Skill Development Centre will bridge this gap by offering certified courses, practical training modules, and partnerships with industries. Jaipur, Feb 27 : Reacting to the discussion on the Finance and Appropriation Bill in the Rajasthan Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that the state's economy is progressing rapidly due to public welfare policies and major economic reforms undertaken by his government. He emphasised that the state government's approach is focused on solutions and development rather than confrontation. The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan is moving steadily toward becoming a developed state through innovation, reforms, and continuous efforts. He added that Rajasthan is playing a significant role as a growth engine in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047. Chief Minister Sharma said that Rajasthan's per capita income is projected to reach Rs 2,02,349 in 2026-27 -- crossing Rs 2 lakh for the first time -- marking an increase of nearly 21.15 per cent from Rs 1,67,027 in 2023-24. He added that progress is visible across industry, agriculture, and the service sector. The total state budget for 2026-27 stands at Rs 6,10,956 crore, about 41 per cent higher than that in 2023-24. The Chief Minister said the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated to reach Rs 21,52,100 crore in 2026-27, reflecting an increase of more than 41 per cent compared to 2023-24. He noted that while the previous Congress-led state government recorded a GSDP increase of Rs 6,10,544 crore over five years, the present BJP government in the state has projected an increase of more than Rs 6.3 lakh crore within just two years. The average growth rate has risen from 10.92 per cent under the previous Congress government to 12.25 per cent now under the current BJP government in Rajasthan, he said. "At constant prices, the growth rate has increased from 5.3 per cent to 8.7 per cent. Revenue receipts for 2026-27 are estimated at Rs 3,25,740 crore, reflecting a 14.08 per cent rise over last year and nearly 60 per cent higher than the final year of the previous Congress-led state government." Chief Minister Sharma highlighted that the state government recorded the highest-ever capital expenditure of Rs 30,700 crore in 2024-25. "For 2026-27, Rs 53,978 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure -- more than double the Rs 26,646 crore allocated in 2023-24. Total capital expenditure is expected to exceed Rs 1 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit for 2026-27 has been limited to 3.69 per cent, compared to 4.31 per cent in 2023-24," the Chief Minister said. "The three-year average fiscal deficit under the current BJP government stands at 3.94 per cent, lower than the previous Congress government's five-year average of 4.34 per cent. The debt-GSDP ratio is projected at 36.8 per cent, compared to the earlier average of 37.83 per cent. The agriculture budget for 2026-27 has been set at Rs 1,19,408 crore; 34 per cent higher than the Rs 89,190 crore allocation in 2023-24." The Chief Minister said that nearly Rs 11,000 crore has been transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts over the past two years under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi schemes. He claimed that compared to the previous Congress government's five-year tenure, more farmers have benefited in areas such as fencing, farm ponds, solar lamp installations, and shade nets. Chief Minister Sharma also said that the Ram Jal Setu Link Project is progressing under the Prime Minister's guidance and will significantly transform water availability in the Shekhawati region by linking with the Yamuna river system. Washington, Feb 27 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel from March 2-3, the State Department said on Friday shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his historic visit to the country. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel from March 2-3, 2026," Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, said, outlining the purpose of the trip. He added: "The US Secretary of State will discuss a range of regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza." The announcement came soon after Prime Minister Modi concluded his Tel Aviv visit, which drew wide attention in India, Israel, and the United States of America. While the US State Department statement did not link the two developments, the timing underscores active diplomatic engagement in the West Asian region. The Trump administration considers India a major player in the region, given its strong relationship with all the stakeholders. Rubio's discussions are expected to centre on Iran's regional role, the fragile situation in Lebanon, and diplomatic efforts related to Gaza. The reference to President Donald Trump's "20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza" indicates Washington is continuing to pursue a defined framework aimed at stabilising the enclave. The US has long been Israel's closest ally and remains deeply involved in West Asian diplomacy. Gaza has witnessed repeated rounds of conflict over the past decade, prompting sustained engagement by Washington and other international actors. India, Israel, and the US have joined hands with the UAE to form a new grouping I2U2 for ambitious collaboration and among these members aimed at peace in the region. Washington, Feb 27 : Amidst escalating tension in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department on Friday authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from Israel, even as it retained its Level 3 advisory urging Americans to "Reconsider Travel" to Israel and the West Bank. Washington, Feb 27 (IANS) Amidst escalating tension in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department on Friday authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from Israel, even as it retained its Level 3 advisory urging Americans to "Reconsider Travel" to Israel and the West Bank. In an updated Travel Advisory, the Department said it had "authorised the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks." It clarified there was "no change to the Travel Advisory level" and that the update replaces the previous advisory issued on July 13, 2025. The advisory warned that "the security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning." "Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza," it said. Gaza remains under a "Do Not Travel" warning due to terrorism and armed conflict." Northern Israel near the Lebanese and Syrian borders is also listed as "Do Not Travel" due to continued military presence and activity. Meanwhile, the State Department denied reports that it authorised the immediate evacuation of non-essential personnel from Iraq and Kuwait. "This is not true," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X in response to a post in this regard from an Israeli news channel. The United States routinely reviews its travel advisories based on security assessments. Israel and the Palestinian territories have faced recurring unrest in recent years, prompting sustained diplomatic and security engagement by Washington. The State Department also said it has taken the decision on Israel in response to security incidents, and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available. 50.5% of Ukrainians said they had not seen any improvements after the medical reforms (in particular, the introduction of the National Health Service), 24.7% reported improvements, and another 24.8% were undecided. At the same time, 64% of respondents said they had encountered unofficial payments in medical institutions, and 52.2% considered the medical system to be corrupt (another 44.3% considered it to be partially corrupt). This is according to the results of a survey conducted by the research company Active Group using the SunFlowerSociology online panel. Active Group Director Oleksandr Pozniy noted that against the backdrop of more critical assessments of the reform, people often separate their trust in a particular doctor from their trust in the system as a whole. "We can say that family doctors, especially those who have been specifically and consciously chosen, are trusted. It is quite a common situation when people may not trust the system, but trust a specific doctor they know. At the same time, reform exists when it changes everyday experience, and although some changes have taken place, there is still dissatisfaction with this reform," he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Friday. According to the study, Ukrainians most often assess the state of the healthcare system as average (54.6%), rather poor (18.7%), or very poor (7.2%); 2.9% said very good and 16.7% said rather good. At the same time, the level of trust in family doctors remains relatively high: 29.5% of respondents said they completely trust them, 61.9% said they partially trust them, and 8.6% said they do not trust them. The survey also identified problems with access to medical care and resources at the local level. In particular, 23.8% of respondents believe that it is very easy to get a consultation with a family doctor, 55.1% say it is easy, 18.1% say it is difficult, and 2.9% say it is very difficult. Only 10.1% responded that their local hospital has enough modern equipment and medicines, 45.8% said somewhat enough, and 32.4% said no. In addition, according to respondents, the wait time for an appointment with a specialist exceeds one month in 11.5% of cases, lasts 24 weeks in 19.8% of cases, 12 weeks in 28.4% of cases, and up to one week in 40.2% of cases. Active Group founder Andriy Yeremenko attributed some of the negative assessments to the scale of direct household expenses. "In fact, we see that more than 90% pay for treatment in one way or another, although medicine is formally free. If you don't have insurance, you still pay either for medicine or for procedures. Therefore, the issue of financial accessibility remains key for most families," he said. According to the survey results, in 20242025, 68.2% of respondents said they paid for medical services or medicines themselves on a regular basis, 25.1% said they did so occasionally, and 6.7% said they did not pay. At the same time, 20.9% reported spending more than 20% of their family budget on medicine, another 23.2% spent 11-20%, 39.8% spent 5-10%, and 16.1% spent less than 5%. Maksym Urakin, PhD in Economics and founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center, commenting on the survey data, said that high proportions of healthcare costs affect not only well-being but also economic stability. "As an economist, I want to emphasize that medicine is an integral part of a country's economic stability, and when healthcare costs erode family budgets, it affects consumption and people's ability to recover. In international monitoring methodology, it is considered catastrophic if a person spends more than 10% of their budget on medicines. And here we see a sign of a serious financial burden," he stressed. Separately, participants drew attention to the dynamics of medicine prices and the effectiveness of compensation mechanisms. Thus, 52.3% of respondents said that the prices of medicines they buy regularly had increased significantly, 43.9% said they had increased slightly, 3.6% said they had remained unchanged, and 0.2% said they had decreased. Regarding the state program for reimbursement of the cost of medicines, 13.1% of respondents said they use it, 70.6% said they do not use it, and another 16.3% said they have heard of it but have not used it. Among those who received medicines under the program, 24.7% said they received them free of charge, and 75.3% said they paid extra. Grigory Soloninka, a member of the board of the Kyiv Regional Organization VULT and professor at the Kyiv Medical University, believes that the pandemic and full-scale war have significantly influenced the perception of the reform, but there are also positive elements. To a certain extent, there are reforms: there are positive aspects and there are negative aspects. But this negativity was largely influenced, first of all, by the pandemic, then by the war that is, our reforms began, perhaps, at the wrong time. But there are positives from these reforms, and we see that there is a good program for people over 40, screening, he said. The survey also separately assessed the impact of the war on the availability of medical services: 48.1% of respondents reported that they felt access had deteriorated due to the war, 36.9% said no, and 15% were undecided. Respondents identified the outflow of medical personnel (60.3%) as the most acute problem in healthcare during wartime, followed by the destruction of infrastructure (22.7%) and a shortage of medicines (13.4%). The survey was conducted on February 1112, 2026, using a self-administered questionnaire, with a sample of 1,000 respondents aged 18 and older throughout Ukraine, excluding temporarily occupied territories. The theoretical statistical error is up to 3.1% with a 95% confidence level. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said the trial court's discharge of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case marked a significant setback to what he described as the Centre's "political misuse" of investigative agencies. New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said the trial court's discharge of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case marked a significant setback to what he described as the Centre's "political misuse" of investigative agencies. Vijayan, who is in Delhi to take part in the party politburo meeting due to his busy schedule, spoke to Kejriwal over the phone. In a statement issued on Friday night, Vijayan said the verdict exposed attempts by the BJP-led Union government to target political opponents by registering what he termed as false cases. "The judgment is not only a blow to the BJP but also to the Congress, which, with vested political interests, aided the BJP in this matter," he said. The Chief Minister contended that the court had effectively questioned efforts to destabilise non-BJP state governments by weaponising central agencies. He pointed to the court's reported criticism of the CBI for arraigning the accused without sufficient evidence as a key takeaway from the ruling. Vijayan alleged that investigative agencies were used as tools for political gain and claimed that a "political conspiracy" had been orchestrated in Delhi to undermine the Aam Aadmi Party government. He further accused the Congress of playing a pivotal role in initiating action against Kejriwal, noting that in June 2022, the then Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president had approached the Delhi Police under the Union Home Ministry, alleging corruption in the excise policy. He also recalled that when Sisodia was arrested by a central agency, the Congress had welcomed the move and demanded Kejriwal's arrest. Complaints by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit were, he alleged, used by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to target the AAP government. Describing the Congress as having acted as a "megaphone" for the BJP against the AAP, Vijayan said the verdict had political implications beyond Delhi. Agartala, Feb 27 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday asserted that democracy thrives on transparency, responsibility and accountability, stressing that elected representatives must remain answerable to the people and uphold the highest standards of public service. Addressing a seminar on the responsibility and accountability of public representatives to all sections of people, the Chief Minister said that accountability is one of the key pillars of democracy. He said that safeguarding people's dignity, maintaining personal decorum, standing by people in times of distress and ensuring complete accountability in work define a true public representative. The Chief Minister described the seminar, organised by the Tripura Assembly, as a historic milestone in efforts to make democracy more transparent, strong and people-centric. Noting that earning and honouring public trust is the highest commitment of an elected representative, he stressed that democracy flourishes on the foundations of ethics, transparency and accountability. Referring to India as the world's largest democracy, he said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's global stature has significantly increased. Protecting and strengthening this prestige is the responsibility of every public representative, he added. CM Saha also highlighted that representatives must remain accessible to people throughout the year, listen to their grievances and act promptly. "People observe and understand everything. The goal should not be merely electoral victory, but ensuring development of the marginalised and welfare of the weaker sections," he said, adding that integrity, self-assessment and a corruption-free approach are essential. Emphasising the importance of digital connectivity in the Digital India era, the Chief Minister said technology offers a major opportunity for direct engagement with citizens. Sharing information about development projects and welfare schemes through digital platforms enhances transparency and strengthens public trust, he said, and also elaborated on the functioning and objectives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), stressing the need for responsible roles by representatives in their respective constituencies. Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu said that the Constitution of the country is not merely a legal document but a guiding force that ensures justice, equality and freedom for every citizen. Addressing the seminar at Pragya Bhavan here, the Governor said that the foremost duty of elected representatives is to serve the people. He emphasised that accountability is not just a subject of discussion but a foundational pillar of a functional democracy. "Our goal is to ensure that the constitutional rights of justice are delivered to every citizen. We must strive for the empowerment of farmers, tribal communities, women and youth," the Governor said. Reddy Nallu noted that though they are elected from specific constituencies, their responsibility extends to the entire state and its people. He also underlined that ensuring the benefits of development reach the last person in society is a key responsibility. Expressing pride over Tripura being declared a fully literate state, he said that it is everyone's duty to build a quality education ecosystem. Highlighting women empowerment, he said that due to focused initiatives, many women in the state have become "Lakhpati Didis," and over one lakh women have emerged as entrepreneurs. The Governor further stated that nearly 70 per cent of the state's population depends on agriculture. He said the government has undertaken various initiatives for farmers' welfare and that public representatives must ensure that every eligible farmer benefits from schemes such as the PM-Kisan and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said the CPA, established in 1911, works to strengthen parliamentary democracy, good governance and the rule of law. Its primary aim is to enhance the capacity of public representatives and promote transparent governance systems, he said. Singh described the seminar as highly relevant and important for improving people's quality of life. He also noted that Tripura's rich cultural fabric, shaped by 19 tribal communities, reflects a vibrant and diverse heritage. Since 2014, following the formation of the government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been significant momentum in the development of the Northeast, including Tripura, the Deputy Chairman said. He referred to initiatives such as the Act East Policy and the vision of presenting the eight Northeastern states as "Ashtalakshmi". He also highlighted the glorious history of the Manikya dynasty of Tripura and called upon representatives to work collectively for the state's progress. Several Ministers, MPs, MLAs and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury also spoke in the event. --IANS sc/pgh Bhopal, Feb 27 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government on Friday announced that this year's Holi festival will be celebrated across the state with the message of "environmental protection and social harmony". Bhopal, Feb 27 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government on Friday announced that this year's Holi festival will be celebrated across the state with the message of "environmental protection and social harmony". The state government has appealed to citizens to celebrate Holi in a spirit of brotherhood, unity and joy, setting aside mutual differences. It has also urged the use of cow-dung logs (gau-kasth) instead of wood for Holika Dahan. As per the government's directions, efforts will be made through public cooperation and community participation to promote the use of cow-dung logs in place of wood for Holika Dahan ceremonies. Citizens will also be encouraged to use natural and herbal colours, conserve water and refrain from applying colours to animals and birds, the government said in a statement. "Free registration of public Holika Dahan events will be conducted at district headquarters, tehsil, urban local body and panchayat levels. During registration, brief details of the organising institution, along with the names and contact information of office-bearers, will be collected," the statement said. It added that urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions have been actively involved in the campaign. "On the day of Holika Dahan, field officials will inspect public events to encourage the use of cow-dung logs instead of wood," the statement said. Events that conduct Holika Dahan entirely using gau-kasth will be certified by the concerned authorities, and reports will be submitted to the district collectors. Subsequently, district-level felicitation ceremonies will be organised at the district headquarters, during which institutions and office-bearers conducting exemplary cow-dung log-based Holika Dahan will be honoured with commendation certificates. Meanwhile, the state administration has directed all district collectors to ensure effective implementation of the 'Clean and Healthy Holi' campaign, while divisional commissioners will oversee related activities. Holi is generally celebrated across the country with colours, gatherings and traditional rituals. People visit relatives and friends, exchange greetings and prepare festive food. The festival marks the arrival of spring and is observed with community events and Holika Dahan. Many also prefer using natural colours and limiting water use. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Fino Payments Bank on Friday said in an exchange filing that its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rishi Gupta, has been arrested under provisions of the CGST and SGST Acts. The exchange filing said that an "arrest has been made of Mr. Rishi Gupta, Managing Director (MD and CEO) of Fino Payments Bank Limited (Bank) under the provisions of section 132(1)(a) and 132(1) (i) of CGST and SGST Act, 2017, respectively on February 27, 2026." According to the filing, Gupta was arrested earlier in the day. The action has been taken under the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) laws. A special Board Meeting was convened wherein, Ketan Merchant, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank was appointed as a Head of the Organization by the Board to carry on and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Bank in absence of Rishi Gupta, until otherwise resolved by the Board or till Gupta resumes office, whichever is earlier, the filing further said. The bank clarified that the investigation relates to certain business partners of the bank. "Investigation is relating to business partner(s) of the Bank and not relating to the GST compliance of the Bank. The Bank is co-operating with the authorities to provide all the necessary information," it further said. "Presently there is no impact on the Bank. In case of any impact in the future, appropriate disclosure will be made to the stock exchanges," said the Bank, adding that "the said information has been disclosed to the RBI". The matter remains under review. Any further material development in this regard will be disclosed in due course, said the Bank. IANS na/ Shillong/Kohima, Feb 27 : Former BJP legislator from Nagaland and the party's erstwhile national spokesperson, Mmhonlumo Kikon, has been appointed General Secretary (Political) of the National People's Party (NPP) with immediate effect, party sources said on Friday. NPP sources in Shillong said the appointment was made by the party's National President and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. In his new role, Kikon has been entrusted with structured coordination and dialogue with various political parties and stakeholders across the Northeastern states. His mandate includes facilitating strategic alignment and consultations towards realising the vision of "One Northeast". According to an NPP statement, he will coordinate with all state presidents and office-bearers across the region to review political developments, assess electoral preparedness and address inter-state organisational matters. He will also hold regular consultations with the party's elected Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and other representatives to ensure policy coherence and political coordination. "He is also entrusted to design and supervise dedicated political programmes, consultations, conventions and outreach initiatives aimed at enhancing the presence and reach of the party. All state units and party functionaries are hereby directed to extend full cooperation to him," the statement said. Kikon, a former member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from the Bhandari constituency, was previously associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he served as a national spokesperson. He had also been appointed BJP prabhari (in-charge) for Mizoram before resigning from the party. A scholar, poet and social worker-turned-politician, Kikon resigned from the primary and active membership of the BJP on August 7, 2025. He was the only national spokesperson of the BJP from the Northeast at the time. Meanwhile, on November 4, 2025, the NPP and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), along with several other regional parties and leaders from the Northeastern states, announced after a summit in New Delhi their decision to form a new regional political front under a common banner. The proposed platform aims to articulate and advance the causes of indigenous people of the region. Chief Minister Sangma had then announced the constitution of a nine-member committee to work out the modalities of the proposed common platform within 45 days. NPP's National Working President J. M. Sangma was named convener of the committee, while Mmhonlumo Kikon was designated as its member secretary. Both the NPP and the TMP are allies of the BJP in Meghalaya and Tripura respectively. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 : Angul Police on Friday arrested a youth for allegedly murdering a 12-year-old girl from his village after sexually assaulting her in the NTPC police station area of the district in Odisha. Police arrested the 20-year-old accused, identified as Ashish Naik, within 24 hours of recovering the victimas body. According to police sources, based on the report lodged by the deceased minoras family, the police officials at the NTPC Police Station initially registered a missing case(44/26) under Section 137(2) BNS (Missing) on February 26 (Thursday). The family members stated in the complaint that the minor girl had gone to a field near her village on Thursday but did not return home. Upon receipt of the missing report, NTPC Police immediately registered an FIR and launched an intensive search operation. Angul Police constituted multiple search teams to intensify efforts to trace the missing minor girl. Fields, forest patches, and water bodies near the victimas village were thoroughly combed throughout the night. On Friday morning, the dead body was located, and the case was converted to the appropriate sections of BNS relating to rape and murder. The senior police officials, along with the scientific Team and K9 squad, immediately reached there and examined the crime scene. Police sources also claimed that evidence collection is underway as per forensic protocols. The district police also formed separate teams to apprehend the accused, and raids were conducted at multiple locations. Based on sustained technical and field investigation, the accused Naik, a neighbour of the victim minor, was arrested by the police within 24 hours of the recovery of the body. Angul police in an official press note stated that the case has been treated as a Special Report (SR) case, and the investigation has been entrusted to a DSP-rank officer for a thorough and time-bound probe. In another sensational case, the Jagatsinghpur police on Friday arrested two persons, including the boyfriend of the victim, in connection with the rape and murder of a woman in the Paradeep area of the district. Technology Instant launches the first AI Photo Studio built for eCommerce Instant, the AI Shopify store building app trusted by thousands of brands, has announced the release of Instant Studio, the first AI content studio built specifically for eCommerce. Instant Studio enables ecommerce merchants and marketers to generate studio-quality product photography, lifestyle images, and reusable AI avatars in minutes. While AI image tools like Google ImageFX, Midjourney, and Adobe Firefly have made visual generation widely accessible, they were not created with retail workflows in mind. Instant Studio aims to close that gap with models tested specifically for eCommerce use-cases. General image generators are powerful, but they werent built for product catalogs, said Coen van Hees, CEO of Instant, Brands dont need just a single beautiful image, they need dozens or hundreds of consistent, reusable visuals that match their brand and work across the full funnel. Instant Studio was designed for that exact workflow. Studio-quality images, without a photoshoot Instant Studio launches with two core capabilities: AI product shots: studio-style visuals with customizable product angles and backgrounds Lifestyle images: contextual scenes featuring customizable AI avatars These scenes feature custom backgrounds and models, with resolutions up to 4K. All generated images can be exported directly to Shopify or downloaded for use across any marketing channel. AI avatar builder One of Instant Studios distinct capabilities is the ability to create reusable AI avatars. Rather than creating one-off images, merchants can produce a consistent cast of on-brand models and use them repeatedly across lifestyle scenes. Avatars can be created from scratch, giving brands full control over their models' look and feel. Built for eCommerce workflows Instant Studio is designed to fit into eCommerce design workflows. Users can choose from curated styles, scene presets, or build their own, adjust aspect ratios, image quality, and AI model settings before generating. After the initial input, teams can continue prompting to refine results or create variants. A photo shoot can cost brands thousands of dollars, and take weeks of turnaround time, said van Hees. With Instant Studio, a brand can go from a basic product photo to a full library of on-brand visuals in the same afternoon. Availability Instant Studio is available today. Every paid Instant plan includes credits, with additional credits available for purchase. About Instant Instant is an AI-powered Shopify store-building app trusted by thousands of eCommerce brands. Its suite of AI tools helps merchants design, build, and optimize their online stores, and now, create the visual content to fill them. Instant Studio is the latest addition to the platform, bringing purpose-built AI image generation to the eCommerce workflow. Learn more at our website: https://instant.so/ Yoshinobu Nomas great-grandfather Seiji founded Kodansha in 1909. The publisher dominated the magazine market before WWII, at which point it began to publish books as well. In the 1960s, the company added weekly manga magazines to its roster. Today, according to Kodansha, digital sales account for 40% of revenue, with print books and magazines bringing in 30%, and the remaining 30% coming from licensing. Kodansha is evolving to meet ongoing issues facing the Japanese publishing industry. The peak of the Japanese publishing market was 1996, Noma says, noting population decline as one area of concern. A decreasing number of readers is further compounded by low price points. Due to 20 years of deflation, Japanese publishers were not able to raise prices. He sees potential in Southeast Asia, but in terms of international business, the U.S. and European markets remain Kodanshas priorities. Three years ago, Kodansha launched the K Manga platform in the U.S., publishing English translations of manga simultaneously with the Japanese originals. U.S. readers were clamoring to read Kodanshas manga at the same time as it was published in Japan, Noma says, so releasing these translations not only satisfies a key market but also limits fan translations and piracy. The platform is available in more than 40 countries, though only in English. On the home front, manga makes up the vast majority of the e-book market; Japanese fans, Noma points out, started reading online manga on flip phones. Kodansha is reconceiving the way it develops IP through its Creators Lab initiative, which awards up to 10 million ($65,000) to indie game and film creators. The gaming and movie industries are a great source of storytellers, Noma says. For young people who consume their media via smartphones, all media are interchangeable. Kodansha needs to cast its nets as widely as possible to recruit new talent who think about content in multiple media. Young creators can produce all kinds of media very cheaply and without expensive equipment. Contrary to conventional wisdom, he says, indie games are not particularly costly to produce, compared with supporting a new manga author over the three to five years needed to develop new content. This new generation of talent will be able to start from any mediumfor example, adapt a game into a novel, rather than follow the traditional manga to anime pipeline. After all, Noma notes, for young people, content is content. Return to main feature. British-Ukrainian private equity investor Kateryna Tarasova argues that wartime Ukraine has become a live laboratory for European capital adapting to long-term geopolitical instability. In her article for Kyiv Post, titled Private Equity in Ukraine: Why Structural Volatility Is the New Normal for European Capital, Tarasova writes that volatility is no longer cyclical but structural, reshaping private equity models across Europe. According to Tarasova, discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos increasingly reflected the idea that geopolitical instability has become the operating system of the global economy. If that is true, then Ukraine is not an exception. It is an early case study, she writes. Tarasova notes that traditional leveraged buyout models common in London and New York are difficult to implement in Ukraine due to limited access to affordable debt, extended exit timelines, and cautious strategic buyers. As a result, private equity transactions in Ukraine increasingly rely on equity-heavy capital structures, longer holding periods, operational value creation, governance strengthening, and active board-level involvement. When leverage is scarce, value cannot be engineered it must be built, Tarasova states. She further argues that rule of law and institutional predictability remain decisive factors in reducing risk premiums. Judicial independence, regulatory transparency and enforceability of shareholder rights directly influence discount rates and capital allocation decisions. Tarasova concludes that Ukraines reconstruction will require long-term private capital prepared to operate under uncertainty, suggesting that European investors must adapt to a decade of structurally higher volatility. A recent above the fold, front-page headline at the New York Times asserted that Reliance on Taiwan Chips Endangers U.S. Economy. The articles subhead added that Big Tech Has Done Little to Heed Warnings of Disaster if China Attacks Island. The author of the report, Tripp Mickle, could perhaps be convinced that the subhead discredits the headline. That's because the only closed economy is the world economy (HT: Robert Mundell). Mickles analysis implies that China would somehow benefit from economic implosion in the U.S., and that China could easily crush the U.S. economy by dropping bombs on Taiwan. Mickle is correct about the second part, but fails to take what hes correct about to its logical endpoint. To see why, what Mickle knows should be noted: so intricate are Taiwan Semiconductors (TSMC) fabrication plants that a bomb dropped anywhere in Taiwan, even if it shook the fabs in the most minute, undetectable of ways, would destabilize them. And what destabilizes TSMC would quickly slow the U.S. economy. Which leads to a question: if Chinas intent is to bring great harm to the U.S., why doesnt it just bomb Taiwan? Better yet, why not just bomb a remote, population free part of Taiwan to wreck the U.S. and its economy, but without expending any blood or treasure in the process? Assuming China were to do just this, its not just that a bombing of Taiwan would halt the operations of TSMC while throwing what Mickle indicates would be a disastrous wrench in the U.S. economy. It should be added that in bringing great harm to the U.S. economy, China would reduce the ability of U.S. military forces to hit back militarily. War is expensive, and with the U.S. economy sagging based on a TSMC-destabilizing strike in remote Taiwan, the U.S. would have reduced resources with which to fight back. Again, it all sounds so neat but for the fact that the only closed economy is the world economy. For China to crush U.S. output through a strike in Taiwan would be for China to crush its own economy. Easily forgotten is that U.S. producers are the worlds most voracious consumers, and Chinas economy is mighty precisely due to the previous truth. Even more important is a more easily forgotten truth: American finance powers Chinas economy, particularly its technology economy, to a substantial degree. Which is a long way of saying that a Chinese strike on Taiwan represents an enormous blow to Chinas economy exactly because it would be so damaging to the U.S.s. All of which suggests Americans should think more deeply about calls to limit the sale of advanced U.S. technology inside China. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has had to endure a lot of public shaming stateside for pushing back on governmental limits to sales in China. The critics should be cheering Huang. For the same reason that the location of TSMC protects Taiwan from military attack, the location of so much technological know-how for the rest of the world renders the U.S. safer by the day. Think about it. We hear all the time about the risks of Taiwan being attacked owing to TSMC, but what about the location of the worlds greatest technological companies that give so much sustenance to the global economy, including to TSMC inside Taiwan? Which is the point, or it should be. Trade is the greatest foreign policy mankind ever conceived precisely because it makes war so crushingly expensive. Contra Mickle, keep the U.S. reliant on Taiwan. Were all safer this way. The key event of the year in sustainable industrial development - the Annual Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) Conference in Ukraine 2026 - has officially commenced in Kyiv. This year, the focus is on supporting Ukraines green recovery by attracting financing for the development of EIPs. Participants include government officials, international partners, donor organizations, business representatives, industrial park operators, banks, investment institutions, and industry associations. Eco-industrial parks must become a key instrument for Ukraine's green reconstruction and its practical integration into the European economic space. This was stated by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, during his opening remarks. He emphasized that the theme of this year's conference has strategic importance, as Ukraine is simultaneously navigating multiple complex processes: defending the state against Russian aggression and undergoing a profound economic transformation. "Recovery cannot mean a return to the pre-war economic model. We are building a new industrial foundation - technological, competitive, and fully integrated into the European economic space, aligning with high standards and the principles of the global sustainable development goals," noted Taras Kachka. "In this context, eco-industrial parks are not just an infrastructural tool; they are a new model for organizing a truly modern domestic industry. They allow us to combine industrial modernization with decarbonization, resource efficiency, the circular economy, and compliance with EU ESG criteria." The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the negotiation process for Ukraine's accession to the European Union requires practical industrial integration. This specifically involves adaptation to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU financial taxonomy, sustainability reporting standards, and supply chain due diligence requirements. "This is a new economic reality. Eco-industrial parks create an environment where Ukrainian enterprises can meet these requirements systematically, rather than fragmentarily," he added. The EIP Conference in Ukraine 2026 is a flagship national event held within the framework of the "Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme II: Country level intervention in Ukraine" (GEIPP-II Ukraine). The program is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with financial support from Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The conference agenda features six panel discussions. Participants are exploring the formation of a favourable policy framework for park development, ESG principles as a tool for green recovery, and investment mobilization through financial institutions. Special attention is given to market opportunities, industrial symbiosis, and the benefits of EIPs for resident companies and service providers. "The growth dynamics of industrial parks in Ukraine is impressive: in the last year alone, the number of operational sites has nearly doubled. Now, our main task within the GEIPP-II program is to ensure their full financial and institutional readiness for green transformation. We are helping businesses prove in practice that environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and industrial symbiosis lead directly to lower operational costs and increased attractiveness for investors," stated Christian Susan, UNIDO Industrial Development Officer. An Industrial Parks Exhibition is operating alongside the Conference to showcase the best investment practices in Ukraine. The broadcast of the Conference is available on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/geippukraine/live_videos/ . YouTube: livestream in Ukrainian or livestream in English . Photos from the Conference download here . Background Information: An eco-industrial park is an innovative format for industrial parks where businesses utilize alternative energy sources, approach waste management rationally, and optimize water usage. EIPs are more competitive, attractive for investments, and resilient to risks. Ukraine has significant potential in establishing eco-industrial parks to support the green transition, post-war recovery, and alignment with European environmental standards. By the end of 2025, industrial parks in Ukraine demonstrated rapid development: the total number of registered facilities reached 118, with 27 appearing last year alone (mostly driven by private business initiatives). The most crucial indicator was the nearly twofold increase in the number of actively operating sites -from 21 to 37. The geographical leaders in the number of parks remain the Lviv, Kyiv (which ranked first in new registrations), and Zakarpattia regions. Currently, residents are actively expanding production: 22 enterprises are already operational within the parks, and another 15 are under construction, focusing on agricultural processing, the food and woodworking industries, and mechanical engineering. The GEIPP Ukraine project is part of the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP), implemented by UNIDO in seven countries and funded by the Government of Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The main beneficiary of the project is the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The University of Georgia is home to thousands of international students from more than 100 countries. While the unique transition that international students face can be difficult, some go on to establish permanent careers at the university. Scheduled to come into force from June 1, 2026, the move aims at shifting focus to faster movement of files while retaining technical scrutiny for later stages. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Key Points Testing is a mandatory prerequisite before approval and is conducted at four government laboratories These labs conduct tests as per submitted specifications and submit reports to CDSCO Applicants will be required to submit finalised regulatory specifications The Centre has allowed companies to begin lab testing immediately after filing applications instead of waiting for detailed scrutiny, in a move to expedite approvals for manufacture, or import of new drugs. In a circular dated February 23, the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) said that any No Objection Certificates (NOC) for testing of drug samples at designated government laboratories shall be issued immediately upon receipt of applications. Where these drug testings are done Testing is a mandatory prerequisite before approval and is conducted at four government laboratories, according to submitted specifications. These are Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Mumbais Central Drugs Testing Laboratory (CDTL), Central Drugs Laboratory at CRI Kasauli and the National Institute of Biologicals in Noida. These labs conduct tests as per submitted specifications and submit reports to CDSCO for consideration. Earlier, the regulator examined detailed specifications related to formulation types, dosage forms, product development reports and compliance with relevant pharmacopoeia monographs submitted by applicants before issuing permission for testing. Scheduled to come into force from June 1, 2026, the move aims at shifting focus to faster movement of files while retaining technical scrutiny for later stages. Applicants will be required to submit finalised regulatory specifications, basing them on the prevailing pharmacopoeia standards product-specific quality management system (QMS). In cases where specifications are revised or updated after review or comments by CDSCO, a fresh NOC for testing shall be issued for re-testing at the designated laboratory as per the revised specifications, the circular added. The move comes at a time when the government has made amendments to the NDCT Act to reduce regulatory burden and promote Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). The modifications pertained to manufacturing of small quantities of drugs intended for examination, research, or analysis purposes. These amendments are aimed at simplifying regulatory processes, reducing approval timelines, and enabling faster conduct of clinical research and pharmaceutical development in the country, said an official in the know. Amendments proposed by the ministry Earlier this month, the Union Health Ministry eliminated the requirement of a provisional registration certificate for ethics committees involved in biomedical and health research. The ministry also proposed amendments categorising the post-approval changes of new drugs, both imported and manufactured in the country, based on the impact of the changes on the quality of the drug. It also made changes in the rules to ease the process of approval for manufacturing of a new drug or investigational new drug for analytical and non-clinical testing, and to reduce the timeline for approval of manufacturing of a new drug or investigational new drugs for tests. In another step to expedite clinical research, the requirement of obtaining prior permission for certain categories of low-risk bioavailability/bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies has been dispensed with. Such studies may now be initiated on the basis of a simple online intimation to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), enabling faster commencement of studies, particularly for the generic pharmaceutical industry. The East India Company, once a symbol of British colonial power and later revived by Indian businessman Sanjiv Mehta, has ceased operations and entered liquidation, marking the end of an ambitious attempt to transform its historical legacy. IMAGE: Blowing Mutinous Sepoys From the Guns, September 8th, 1857, a steel engraving from London Printing and Publishing Co, 1858. By the beginning of June 1857, the Delhi, Meerut, Rohilkhand, Agra, Allahabad and Benares divisions had been placed under martial law. The British confronted the brutal rebellion with brutal tyranny. Photograph: Kind courtesy wikipedia.org/Creative Commons Key Points The East India Company, revived in 2010 by Sanjiv Mehta, has entered liquidation. Sanjiv Mehta acquired the rights to the East India Company name, aiming to transform its image from colonial exploitation to a modern brand. The East India Company's flagship store in London is now vacant and available for rent. The original East India Company was a powerful British trading company that once ruled parts of the world through its armies before being dissolved in 1874. The East India Company has once again ceased operations. The company, which was revived in 2010 by Indian businessman Sanjiv Mehta, has now gone into liquidation. When Mehta acquired the rights to the historic name, the move was widely seen as symbolic -- a reversal of colonial history. Headlines across the world highlighted the irony that a company once associated with British rule in India was now owned by an Indian entrepreneur. However, the modern incarnation of the company has now folded. According to a report in Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper, 'The East India Company Limited appointed liquidators in October 2025.' The company reportedly owed more than 600,000 (Rs 6.3 crore) to its parent group registered in the British Virgin Islands, 193,789 (Rs 2.03 crore) in taxes, and 163,105 (Rs 1.71 crore) to employees. The newspaper also reported that several related entities carrying the 'East India' name and linked to Sanjiv Mehta have been dissolved. The company's web site is no longer operational. Its flagship store at 97 New Bond Street in Mayfair, London, is reportedly vacant and being offered for rent. Another associated firm, East India Company Collections Limited, recently faced a winding-up petition from creditors. IMAGE: Sanjiv Mehta, chairman, The East India Company. Photograph: Kind courtesy Gales2221/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons Sanjiv Mehta and the East India Company Revival Sanjiv Mehta began the process of acquiring the East India Company name in the early 2000s from shareholders who had attempted to relaunch it as a wholesale business. In 2010, he opened a 2,000 square foot luxury retail store in London's Mayfair district. The store sold premium teas, chocolates, confectionery, spices and other high-end goods, positioning itself alongside iconic British retailers such as Fortnum & Mason. Mehta described his ownership as an effort to transform a symbol of colonial exploitation into a modern brand rooted in positive values. In a 2017 interview with Britain's The Guardian newspaper, he said: 'The fact that an Indian now owns the East India Company means that the negative has become a positive. The historic East India Company built itself on aggression, but today's East India Company is about compassion.' The Historical Significance of the East India Company East India Company was a British trading company formed in the year 1600. At its peak the East India Company was the largest company ruling different parts of the world through its armies. By 1800 some 200,000 soldiers were employed by the East India Company which was twice the membership of the English army at that time. The company used its army to subdue Indian states and principalities with which it had initially entered into trading agreements and eventually started ruling India by forceful means. Following the 1857 Indian Mutiny, control of the company's territories was transferred to the British government. In 1858, the British Crown formally took over administration from the East India Company marking the beginning of direct rule known as the British Raj. The East India Company was formally dissolved in 1874 by the East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act (1873). Base revisions are technical exercises, but history shows they can significantly reshape the narrative around India's growth performance. Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes. After a prolonged wait, the statistics ministry is slated to release a new gross domestic product (GDP) series on Friday, with 2022-2023 as the base year. Base revisions are technical exercises, but history shows they can significantly reshape the narrative around India's growth performance. Key Points New GDP series coming: Statistics ministry will release a new GDP series with 2022-2023 as base year. Past growth revised down: Earlier 9%+ growth (FY06FY08) was later reduced to around 8% in the revised series. Methodology changed: GDP calculation shifted from factor cost to market prices, changing growth estimates. Better data used: New series included MCA-21 corporate filings, expanding coverage of companies. Narrative impact: GDP revisions can reshape how Indias economic performance is viewed, even if actual activity doesnt change. Under the 2004-2005 series, India recorded three consecutive years of 9 per cent-plus growth -- 9.3 per cent in 2005-2006 (FY06), 9.3 per cent in FY07, and 9.8 per cent in FY08 -- all falling under the Manmohan Singh government 1.0. That three-year run remains unprecedented in India's economic history. No other period has seen such sustained near-double-digit expansion. The momentum culminated in 10.3 per cent growth in FY11 under the Singh government 2.0, marking the second time when India crossed the double-digit mark. For the first time the country achieved the feat by recording 10.2 per cent growth in FY89 under 1999-2000 series. FY22's 9.7 per cent print came closer, which was largely a rebound from the pandemic-induced contraction of FY21. GDP Base Year 2022-2023: What Changes But when the 2011-2012 base series was introduced, those headline numbers were revised downward for overlapping years. The three-year 9 per cent streak was recalibrated to 7.9 per cent, 8.1 per cent, and 7.7 per cent, respectively. The 10.3 per cent figure for FY11 was scaled back to 8.5 per cent. While still robust, the image of an economy flirting with double digits was moderated. India's 9 per cent Growth Years Under Review One can point the finger by accusing the statistics office of undermining the growth period of the Singh government, but the new series (2011-12) also lifted the GDP growth on the older base (2004-2005) of policy paralysis years of the same government -- FY13 and FY14. The size of the economy was also adjusted. For FY08, GDP was estimated at Rs 49.9 trillion under the 2004-05 base, compared with Rs 49 trillion under the 2011-2012 series. By FY14, the old series showed Rs 113.5 trillion while the revised one placed it at Rs 112.3 trillion. In dollar terms, FY11 GDP was pegged at $1.71 trillion under the 2004-2005 base, and $1.68 trillion under the 2011-2012 series. GDP Rebasing and Growth Revision Impact The changes stemmed from a substantial methodological overhaul. The 2004-05 series calculated GDP growth at factor cost by summing sectoral output. The 2011-12 series shifted to GDP at market prices. Factor cost excludes indirect taxes, whereas market price includes them. Shift from Factor Cost to Market Prices Data sources also changed materially. The 2004-2005 series relied heavily on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for industrial output. The 2011-2012 series expanded coverage by using corporate filings from the MCA-21 database and stock exchange disclosures, significantly widening the sample base, especially in manufacturing and services. The revision effectively diluted some of the sharp peaks seen during the Singh years, even though the period still stands out as one of India's strongest growth phases. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Indian stock markets faced a sharp downturn as Sensex and Nifty tumbled, driven by foreign fund outflows, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty surrounding US-Iran nuclear talks. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Sensex and Nifty50 Performance: Key Market Highlights Today Sensex and Nifty plunged over 1% due to foreign fund outflows and rising geopolitical risks. Uncertainty surrounding US-Iran nuclear talks contributed to market volatility and investor caution. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,465.99 crore. Global oil benchmark Brent Crude jumped 1.26% to $71.64 per barrel. Auto, FMCG, and pharma stocks experienced profit-booking after recent gains, further contributing to the market decline. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled over 1 per cent on Friday due to fresh foreign fund outflows and subdued global trends amid rising geopolitical risks. The lack of progress in USa Iran nuclear talks has intensified concerns of further escalation of Middle East tensions, experts said. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 961.42 points or 1.17 per cent to settle at 81,287.19. During the day, it dropped 1,089.46 points or 1.32 per cent to 81,159.15. The 50-share NSE Nifty tumbled 317.90 points or 1.25 per cent to end at 25,178.65. Sector Winners and Losers on Dalal Street From the Sensex pack, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, InterGlobe Aviation, Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti were among the major laggards. HCL Tech, Trent, Infosys and Eternal were the gainers. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,465.99 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), however, bought stocks worth Rs 5,031.57 crore. "Indian markets continued to consolidate amid weak global cues and rising geopolitical risks, with investor sentiment turning increasingly cautious. The lack of progress in US-Iran nuclear talks has intensified concerns of further escalation of Middle East tensions, while persistent AI-related uncertainty is also supporting safe-haven flows. "Domestically, a risk-off tone prevails as the earnings season winds down and global macro factors take precedence," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said. Global Market Influences In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi fell by 1 per cent. Japan's Nikkei 225, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended in positive territory. "Weak global cues and rising geopolitical uncertainty following inconclusive USa Iran talks weighed on investor confidence, triggering broad-based profit-booking across auto, FMCG and pharma stocks after recent advances. The absence of fresh domestic triggers further accelerated the downside momentum, especially during the final hour of trade," Hariprasad K, research analyst and founder, Livelong Wealth, said. Brent Crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 1.26 per cent to $71.64 per barrel. The delay in Natarajan Chandrasekaran's re-appointment as Tata Sons chairman highlights potential internal disagreements and raises questions about the future direction of the Tata Group. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Key Points Tata Sons deferred the re-appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as chairman, despite a prior unanimous resolution from Tata Trusts. Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts, reportedly raised concerns about losses in Air India and risks in semiconductor and battery ventures. Questions arise regarding the validity of the Tata Trusts' resolution and the influence of nominated directors on Tata Sons' decisions. Infighting within Tata Trusts reached the government, requiring intervention to resolve differences amicably. Appointment of Neville Tata to Sir Ratan Tata Trust faced hurdles, highlighting internal dynamics within the Tata Group. The deferral of Natarajan Chandrasekaran's re-appointment for a third term as Chairman of Tata Sons has raised questions over a unanimous resolution passed last year by trustees of Tata Trusts recommending an extension of his tenure, according to group observers. At a board meeting on Tuesday, Tata Sons deferred a decision on Chandrasekaran's continuation, signalling potential differences within the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate. Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata is learnt to have set several conditions for Chandrasekaran's re-appointment, leading to the postponement. He reportedly raised concerns over losses in certain group companies, including Air India, and flagged risks associated with heavy capital expenditure in semiconductor and battery ventures. He is also understood to have sought assurances that Tata Sons would not pursue a stock market listing. "It definitely raises questions on the validity of the unanimous resolution passed by the trustees of Tata Trusts last year recommending a third term for Chandrasekaran," a person familiar with the matter said, adding, "Can a nominated director of Tata Trusts go against the unanimous decision of the trustees?" Tata Trusts did not respond to queries on whether the resolution had been revoked or whether a nominee director on the Tata Sons board could unilaterally diverge from the trustees' decision. However, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said the resolution "clearly stands" and was taken unanimously after due deliberation. "What Noel Tata did was within his capacity as a director of Tata Sons and was not necessarily against the resolution of the trustees. The resolution will be implemented in due course," the source said. Tata Trusts collectively hold a majority 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons, which controls the over USD 180 billion Tata Group with interests spanning automobiles, steel, software, aviation and emerging sectors such as semiconductors. Government Intervention and Trust Dynamics Last year, infighting in Tata Trusts had reached the government with the top brass of the Tata group, including Noel Tata and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Subsequently, government told the trusts to resolve the issue amicably and not let their differences spill in the public, considering the significance of the Tata Group on India's economy. Neville Tata's Appointment Hurdles In January, a proposed board meeting of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), which was supposed to take up the appointment of Neville Tata, son of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, as a trustee was cancelled understood to be due to lack of quorum. The cancellation of the meeting came over two months after the failure of the first attempt to induct Neville Tata on the board of SRTT, which holds 23.6 per cent in Tata Sons, the promoter holding firm of the over USD 180 billion Tata Group. Last year in November, Neville Tata and former group company leader Bhaskar Bhat were appointed to the Sri Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), which owns 28 per cent in Tata Sons. However, they couldn't be appointed to the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), which holds 23.6 per cent in Tata Sons. Other Tata-affiliated trusts own 13.8 per cent in Tata Sons. Vertex Group's new 'Responsible AI Lab,' backed by a Rs 100 crore investment, aims to develop ethical and transparent artificial intelligence solutions for businesses worldwide, ensuring accountability and inclusivity in enterprise technology. Key Points Vertex Group launches 'Responsible AI Lab' with a Rs 100 crore investment to drive ethical and transparent AI solutions. The AI Lab will focus on research in multi-agent architectures, context-aware decisioning, and AI governance to ensure responsible AI deployment. Vertex Group aims to upskill over 8,000 AI professionals in India by 2028 to support the Lab's mission and accelerate AI adoption in key sectors. The Responsible AI Lab will build on Vertex Group's innovation, including the deployment of its 'VAssist tool', an in-house AI platform. Intelligent enterprise solutions firm Vertex Group has announced its 'Responsible AI Lab', backed by an investment blueprint of Rs 100 crore in research and development spread over the next three years. The new Lab in Gurgaon will support Vertex's strategy, drive global expansion and move the company closer to its digital growth vision, according to a release by the company. The Responsible AI Lab will serve as the company's innovation engine, setting new standards for trust, accountability, and inclusivity in enterprise technology, the release said. "As artificial intelligence becomes integral to how businesses operate, the imperative for responsible, ethical, and transparent AI has never been greater. From the risks of algorithmic bias to the urgent need for data privacy and explainability, enterprises worldwide face mounting pressure to ensure the technologies powering digital transformation truly serve people, not just profit," it said, emphasising the importance of embedding responsibility at the core of AI innovation. Focus on AI Innovation and Governance The Responsible AI Lab is designed to build on Vertex Group's innovation, which includes the deployment of its 'VAssist tool', an in-house AI platform. The Lab will take this foundation further, advancing research in multi-agent architectures, context-aware decisioning, and AI governance. These efforts will ensure that all Vertex solutions are built on transparency, security, and ethical stewardship, while enabling organisations to automate complex processes without sacrificing the human touch. "In its endeavour to strengthen the ecosystem, Vertex Group, a multinational tech giant and a global leader in intelligent enterprise solutions, announced the launch of its Responsible AI Lab. Backed by a Rs 100 crore investment in research and development over the next three years, the new Lab will power Vertex's ambitious Vertex 2.0 strategy, supercharging global expansion and moving the company closer to its vision of becoming a Rs 1,000 crore digital powerhouse," the release said. Upskilling AI Professionals Vertex Group's previously announced plan to upskill over 8,000 AI professionals in India by 2028 syncs well with the Lab's mission, creating a talent pipeline that will accelerate responsible AI deployment across sectors such as fintech, agritech, and healthtech, where AI is increasingly embedded directly into service delivery. Gagan Arora, Founder and President of Vertex Group, said AI is most powerful when it becomes a partner in progress, not a substitute for human ingenuity. "With the Responsible AI Lab at the heart of Vertex 2.0, we are doubling down on our mission to ensure technology uplifts people and enterprises alike. This investment is a testament to our belief that AI must be developed and deployed with the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability. We are committed to building solutions that empower businesses, safeguard data, and foster sustainable growth worldwide," Arora added. Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has made a groundbreaking discovery of rare earth elements and critical minerals in its Maharashtra mines, paving the way for diversification and a boost to India's strategic mineral resources. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters Key Points Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) discovered eight strategic minerals, including rare earth elements, in six Maharashtra mines. The minerals found include Potash, Tellurium, Titanium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Rhenium, Selenium, and Zirconium, which are crucial for various industries. WCL's discovery transforms mine waste into potential revenue, opening diversification opportunities beyond coal mining. Collaboration with NFTDC and CIL aims to develop technologies for mineral extraction and value addition. The findings position WCL as a strategic contributor to India's critical mineral ecosystem, ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability. Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), headquartered in Nagpur, has achieved a major breakthrough in exploration of rare earth elements and critical minerals after it found eight significant strategic minerals in its six mines in Maharashtra, an official said on Friday. Talking to PTI, a senior official said the WCL found these minerals in its six Open Cast (OC) mines -- Adasa UG (underground) to OC (open cast), Makardhokra-III, Durgapur OC, Gauri-Pauni, Mungoli-Nirguda, and Yekona I & II -- recently. The analysis found economically significant concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals of Potash (K), Tellurium (Te), Titanium (Ti), Lanthanum (La) and Cerium (Ce), Rhenium (Re), Selenium (Se) and Zirconium (Zr), he said. Potash (K) has strong potential for fertiliser and agro-chemical applications and Tellurium is essential for solar photovoltaic cells, semiconductors, and thermoelectric devices. Titanium has huge potential for aerospace, defence, pigments, and advanced alloy applications. Similarly, Lanthanum and Cerium is critical for EV motors, permanent magnets, catalysts, optics and electronics. Rhenium is valuable for superalloys, jet engines, and defence components, while Selenium which is used in glass manufacturing, electronics and renewable energy and Zirconium (Zr) is important for nuclear, ceramics, refractories and aerospace applications. Critical minerals are a subset of minerals considered crucial for the manufacturing and technological needs of industries, while REEs are a subset of critical minerals. Studies were conducted through accredited agencies, and reports have been shared with Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) in Hyderabad for further technical evaluation, the official said. These findings indicate that WCL's overburden (rock or soil layer) and mine rejects (waste material left over after mineral/coal extraction) contain high-value strategic minerals, transforming waste material into potential revenue-generating resources, he said. WCL's Diversification and Future Plans "The discovery of REEs and associated critical minerals opens multiple diversification pathways for WCL. Extraction of REEs offers the opportunity to a commercial mineral resource, improving mine economics and sustainability," he said. WCL can expand beyond coal into critical mineral mining, beneficiation and processing, downstream material supply for EVs, renewable energy, electronics and defence sectors, he said. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been executed between Coal India Ltd (CIL) and the NFTDC to develop applied R&D projects, pilot plants, and demonstration-scale commercial technologies for mineral extraction and value addition. In collaboration with NFTDC and CIL, the WCL can establish pilot extraction plants and commercial demonstration units, positioning itself as a technology leader in REE recovery. As coal demand moderates in the long term, REEs provide a future-ready alternative revenue stream, reducing dependence on thermal coal markets, he said. "With these strategic findings, WCL in its future roadmap will work on a detailed resource estimation and techno-economic feasibility studies, process development for REE extraction and beneficiation, establishment of pilot plants and commercial scale projects partnerships with PSUs, private industry, and technology providers," he added. The findings from WCL's multi-mine elemental analysis demonstrate strong technical and economic potential for REEs and critical minerals, positioning WCL to emerge as a strategic contributor in India's critical mineral ecosystem, the official said. He said that by leveraging existing mining infrastructure, PSU partnerships, R&D collaborations, and national policy support, WCL can transform REEs into a high-value diversified business vertical, ensuring long-term sustainability, profitability, and national strategic relevance. 'Islamabad feels it has no alternative, but to address the challenges from the Afghan-Taliban through an open war.' IMAGE: Taliban soldiers alongside an anti-aircraft gun look out for Pakistani fighter jets in Khost province, Afghanistan, February 27, 2026. Photograph: Reuters Key Points After months of clashes Pakistan declared 'open war' and carried military strikes in Afghanistan. 'Geopolitical realities have turned Afghanistan and Pakistan from friends to enemies.' 'Islamabad feels isolated and rattled by New Delhi's overtures towards Kabul.' "The challenges faced by Pakistan are homemade and homegrown," says Amalendu Misra, professor of International Politics, Lancaster University, UK. In an e-mail interview with Rediff's Archana Masih, Professor Misra discusses Pakistan's accusation that Afghanistan is 'a proxy of India', what caused the shift in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations from friends to enemies and the reasons behind Pakistan's military strikes in Afghanistan. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said 'Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war.' What does this portend in the days ahead in the escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan? Islamabad is prepared to engage in conventional war with Kabul. It feels it has no alternative, but to address the challenges from the Afghan-Taliban through an open war. This precedes months of tension between the countries, how is it going to impact the geo-politics of the region? Given that the international community -- especially, the US and Russia -- are engaged in their own wars or preparations for war elsewhere, they are unlikely to make a lot of protest against Islamabad's war positioning. This is definitely a challenging time for both Beijing and New Delhi as both share close relationship with the isolated Taliban regime. What do you see as the main reasons for the repeated clashes? Why are the two neighbours who started out as friends at war with each other? The clashes are as much political as they are ethnic in nature. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have unresolved border issues. The cross-border Pashtun ethnicity gives ammunition to Afghanistan to undermine Pakistan's power and position -- most notably its ability to govern the restive region bordering Afghanistan. IMAGE: Smoke rises following what Pakistani and Taliban officials say are Pakistani strikes in Kabul, Afghanistan, in this still image taken from video released February 27, 2026. Photograph: Pakistani security forces/Handout via Reuters Pakistan had recognised the first Taliban government 1996-2001, supported the Taliban and welcomed their coming to power in 2021. It was believed that the Taliban had better relations with Pakistan which was a concern for India because India did not recognise the Taliban. did the Pakistani establishment misread the Taliban? As someone has said, a day is a long time in politics. We are talking about a generational shift. The geopolitics of this age is different from what it was in the 1990s. Geopolitical realities, priorities, issues of national interest have all come to dominate the Afghanistan-Pakistan statecraft. Little wonder both Afghanistan and Pakistan consider each other enemies. IMAGE: Residents gather near a damaged house, following Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters Pakistan has blamed the Taliban's inability or refusal to control the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan from conducting acts of terror on Pakistani soil. Do you think the Taliban has the power to rein the TTP in view of their ideological kinship? There is a deep internal dissent in Pakistan against the Punjabi-led dominance of the army, economy and the governing structure. Tehrik-e-Taliban sought to break that mould in the past. The challenges faced by Pakistan are homemade and homegrown. Without Afghan support, the Tehrik-e-Taliban is still capable of fermenting terror within Pakistan as it plays on the dissent of a significant portion of Pakistanis. IMAGE: The gate at the border crossing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan in Chaman, Pakistan February 27, 2026. Photograph: Abdul Khaliq Achakzai/Reuters Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif also called Afghanistan 'a colony and a proxy of India' and accused it of 'supporting anti-Pakistan terrorists'. What is your assessment of that allegation? Why is India's engagement with the Taliban government a cause of rancour and heartburn for Pakistan? No surprise there. Islamabad feels isolated and rattled by New Delhi's recent overtures towards the regime in Kabul. Accusing India is a favourite past time of the Pakistani military and political establishment for their internal woes. What do you see as the reasons behind the turnaround in India-Taliban relations after having been at the receiving end of Taliban violence against its consulates and people in Afghanistan? The current regime in Afghanistan appreciates the critical support of India when its back is against the wall. Isolated, it needs as much help as it can get. India fits the bill. IMAGE: Taliban soldiers on guard near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khost province, Afghanistan, February 27, 2026. Photograph: Reuters How do you assess the evolution of India-Afghanistan relations? How does this impact Pakistan and China? China is likely to maintain a neutral stance on the issue of Afghan-Pakistan armed engagement. Beijing seeks good relations with both. So it will continue to speak for a peaceful solution to the problem. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'They are not abandoning their ideology. They now believe it is better to pursue their goals through the Constitution rather than from the barrel of a gun -- even if the ideology itself remains intact.' 'Maoists are beginning to grapple with the young population's understanding of our country that they can actually get things done through the democratic process, through constitutional means. That, for us, is the biggest win.' IMAGE: IPS officer B Sumathi heads the Telangana police's Special Intelligence Branch. Photograph: Kind courtesy @SumathiIPS/X Key Points 'In an intelligence operation the work should be done quietly; only the work should make the sound -- not the people. Never the people.' 'The first thing is the intellectual engagement -- the kind they expect and respect. Devuji is an intellectual.' 'It was not simply a police success that they could not regain their control over the people here.' When Thippiri Tirupati -- better known in Maoist circles as Devuji -- walked out of the forests last month, it was the kind of moment that intelligence officials rarely speak about publicly. Devuji was no ordinary cadre. As the military chief of the CPI (Maoist), he oversaw a movement that, at its height, drew on roughly 70,000 cadres spread across several Left Wing Extremism-affected states. His surrender came amid a wider, unmistakable pattern of attrition: Senior Maoists have been laying down arms with growing frequency across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha, as a combination of security pressure, targeted surrenders, and years of state-driven development has steadily hollowed out the movement's operational strength. It was Badugula Sumathi, chief of the Telangana police's Special Intelligence Branch, who quietly orchestrated Devuji's exit -- a process that, she says, took more than two years of careful, disciplined engagement. In this interview with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff, the Indian Police Service officer speaks about the reasons why one of the most ideologically committed Maoists surrendered. 'It has been a very, very difficult task' How long did it take to convince Devuji? How difficult was it, and how did you overcome the challenges? It is a statecraft -- an intelligence craft -- and the methods cannot be disclosed. But yes, it has been a very, very difficult task. That much I can say. Negotiations of this nature are long-term. How long was this in the works? More than two years. We had to understand his psyche -- what he was doing, how he was organising things, what kind of activities he had carried out. Only then could we move ahead. Negotiations of this nature require enormous patience. How did your team sustain trust and dialogue over such a prolonged period? The first thing is the intellectual engagement -- the kind they expect and respect. Devuji is an intellectual. He was also the military chief of a banned organisation with roughly 70,000 cadres spread across several states. And if you include the part-time cadres, the numbers go even further. He rose from the Radical Students Union (formed in the 1970s in the undivided Andhra Pradesh), and he is not the sort who keeps one foot outside the party. He was wholly inside it -- a deeply committed (Maoist) cadre. That is precisely what made this (surrender) so difficult. I cannot say more than that. His surrender has been described as historic. From your perspective, what does this moment signify for the Maoist movement in an ideological sense? They are not abandoning their ideology. That has to be understood clearly. He is not negating Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. What they have come to realise is that operating from deep forests, with weapons, has made them unable to engage with the communication revolution that is happening all around them. And that very communication revolution is what they would need if they want to propagate their ideology at all -- their old methods of secrecy and using the barrel of the gun cannot survive in a democratic country. More than that, they are beginning to grapple with this young population's understanding of our country -- they have perhaps realised that the aspirations of today's youth are so different (than the world view of the Maoists) that they can actually get things done through the democratic process, through constitutional means. That, for us, is the biggest win. They now believe it is better to pursue their goals through the Constitution rather than from the barrel of a gun -- even if the ideology itself remains intact. Who Is Badugula Sumathi? When Telangana Director General Of Police B Shivadhar Reddy publicly credited the Devuji surrender to Inspector General of Police B Sumathi, many in the room had not even registered who she was -- a sari-clad officer sitting quietly on the dais. That low profile, in many ways, defines Badugula Sumathi. A thorough professional, the 2001-batch deputy superintendent of police first posted in Warangal was conferred IPS rank in 2006 and built a career across intelligence, counter-intelligence, and women's protection. As inspector general heading the Special Intelligence Branch, she has overseen the surrender of 591 Maoist leaders and cadres over the past two years. Her philosophy is unyielding: "In an intelligence operation, only the work should make the sound -- not the people. Never the people." This discipline shaped her approach to Devuji's surrender -- more than two years of painstaking, ideologically-informed engagement with a man she describes as wholly consumed by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. Getting a leader of that stature out, she says, demands three things: Understanding the ideology, understanding the movement's philosophy, and knowing how to penetrate its leadership through tact. "All of that takes enormous professionalism. Nothing else." With Ganpati now the only major Maoist leader still underground, how do you see Devuji's surrender reshaping the psychological landscape of the movement? Denial -- that is the first effect. Devuji had been out of the party's inner circle for a long time. Technically, there was a period when he could have been declared general secretary, had he secured the support of three or four politburo members. He was the most prospective candidate. That this man has surrendered will cause significant disorientation within whatever remains of the leadership. 'Ideologically, these people are deeply committed' Did Devuji surrender because he was convinced about his personal safety -- that he would not be harmed in an encounter? No, no. He was ideologically prepared. That is what I am saying. Ideologically, these people are deeply committed. Physical fear alone cannot explain a surrender of this nature. It was a deeper reckoning than that. But I cannot speak to the specifics of the engagement. Operations like this are rarely the work of one person. How important was the collective effort -- your team, other institutions, perhaps even local communities? This I will say clearly. In an intelligence operation the work should be done quietly; only the work should make the sound -- not the people. Never the people. This state has had a very well-established, time-tested LWE policy since 1998. I am not a singular factor in this. I am one part of something much larger that has been built over decades. To get out a leader (with the ideological commitment of Devuji's to surrender) of this stature out requires a certain set of qualities. First, a deep understanding of the ideology (of the Maoist movement). Second, an understanding of the movement and its philosophy. Third, an appreciation of how this leadership rose through the ranks and file, what impact it had, and how you can penetrate that through tact. All of that takes enormous professionalism. Nothing else. 'He has committed to working as a citizen of India which means he will abide by the Constitution' Did Devuji and those who surrendered with him take an oath to the Constitution? Are they formally committing to joing the mainstream? He has committed to working through legal means as a citizen of India which means he will abide by the Constitution of India. He has also said he will not remain in isolation -- he intends to be politically active. As for intelligence agencies, they will continue to do their work. That is simply how it functions. There are reports from Maharashtra that Sonu may contest elections. Is Devuji considering something similar? I cannot speak on their behalf -- not for Devuji, not for anyone else. He will be free like any other citizen. Chandranna (Pulluri Prasad Rao, alias Chandranna, a top CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member and key logistics leader, surrendered to the Telangana police on October 28, 2025, after 45 years underground) lives freely at his own place. Intelligence agencies cannot keep physical tabs on everyone permanently; you have to find your own ways of understanding and monitoring. That is the nature of the work. You have overseen the surrender of more than 591 Maoists over the last two years. How has this experience shaped your understanding of conflict resolution and the human dimension behind a long-running insurgency like this -- one that now seems to be on its last legs? If you look at this movement in the context of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana -- from where I come -- it survived for two main reasons. One was the rise of an intellectual class that stood with people who had a questioning spirit. In this part of the country, the questioning spirit is very naturally embedded. When the peasantry raised its voice against various atrocities, educated people from here (the undivided Andhra Pradesh) stood beside them, understood these as social questions that demanded action, and adopted MLM (Marxism-Leninism-Maoism) as their framework for addressing them. Now, how did this conflict effectively end in Telangana by 2006 -- when it was largely dismantled and they could not regain a foothold? It was not simply a police success that they could not regain their control over the people here. That is important to say. Policing and intelligence played a role, but the bigger story was the saturation of development in these areas, understanding the rights of the people and political consciousness among the people here (undivided Andhra Pradesh). Sweeping reforms in Andhra Pradesh like reservation for women in panchayats, the tribal battalion, connecting every hamlet and village with roads -- even very small settlements were constituted as separate panchayats. Voting improved, women had power, and the political process genuinely began to function in places where it had never functioned before. When that happens -- when development reaches saturation -- the police State naturally recedes. We moved to the background and let the process work. It was a combination of political will, bureaucratic leadership, and a genuine socio-cultural understanding of the people of this region. That combination, if replicated in the remaining struggle areas, will do what force alone never could. For all these years it has been Telugu leadership going into those areas and trying to improve lives through a borrowed ideology. What you will see now -- and this is something I believe strongly -- is leadership emerging from within these communities, from the tribal communities themselves. Their own people in positions of political awareness and power will ultimately address their issues far better than any outsider ever could. South Africa launches first duty-free stone fruit exports to China, opening new chapter in agricultural trade 08:51, February 27, 2026 By Karabo Mohamme ( People's Daily Online A worker packs nectarines at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market in South Africa, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) South Africa has officially launched its first duty-free stone fruit exports to China, marking a major step forward in agricultural trade between the two countries and opening new opportunities for local growers to tap into one of the world's largest consumer markets. The milestone follows the signing of a bilateral trade agreement that grants South African produce duty-free access into China, a move expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of South Africa's fruit on the global stage and strengthen the country's long-term export strategy. The first shipment was prepared and dispatched from the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek, near Cape Town, where South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng jointly saw off the consignment. The send-off symbolized the official commencement of the stone fruit trade protocol, the result of months of negotiations aimed at expanding market access for South African farmers. The inaugural consignment included about 20,000 cartons of premium plums, mainly the African Delight and Ruby Star varieties, prized for their sweetness, color and export quality. Industry leaders say the shipment represents more than just a commercial transaction, describing it as the beginning of a potentially transformative chapter for South Africa's deciduous fruit sector. Speaking at the event, Steenhuisen emphasized the growing importance of China as a strategic trading partner. He noted that access to the Chinese market is not simply an opportunity but a necessity for building agricultural resilience and supporting economic growth, especially as exporters face shifting trade conditions and tariffs in other regions. South Africa currently accounts for just 0.4 percent of China's roughly $200 billion agricultural import market, leaving substantial room for expansion. Officials are aiming to double the country's export value to China over the next four years, with stone fruit expected to play a key role in driving that growth. Duty-free entry is likely to improve pricing competitiveness, boost volumes and create more jobs across farming, packing and logistics. Steenhuisen said local producers have both the quality standards and production capacity to meet the expectations of Chinese consumers, adding that the new protocol will help offset the impact of tariffs imposed by other trading partners, particularly on plums. He expressed confidence that shipments to China would increase rapidly as supply chains and relationships strengthen. The plum exports are only the first phase of a broader strategy to widen South Africa's fresh fruit footprint in China. Protocols for cherries are nearing completion, while blueberries are expected to follow later in the year, potentially opening additional high-value segments for growers. For farmers and exporters, the departure of the first cartons signals the start of a deeper commercial relationship between the two nations, one that could reshape the industry by providing stable demand, diversified markets and stronger returns. As the refrigerated containers leave the Western Cape bound for Asia, they carry not only fruit but also the hopes of a sector eager to expand its global reach. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Bengaluru police have arrested 16 individuals and seized 5.24 crore worth of drugs in a major drug bust, targeting drug peddling and illegal narcotics distribution in the city. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Bengaluru police arrested 16 people, including two women, for alleged drug peddling. Contraband worth 5.24 crore, including MDMA ecstasy pills, MDMA crystal, ganja, and hydro ganja, was seized. The accused confessed to procuring drugs from foreign nationals and local suppliers to sell to the public, including college students. Nine foreign nationals overstaying their visas and allegedly involved in drug peddling were taken into custody and sent to a Foreigners Detention Centre. Bengaluru City Police on Friday said 16 people, including two women were arrested allegedly for drug peddling and contraband worth Rs 5.24 crore have been seized. The arrests were made by the Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch, they said. A total of 3,000 MDMA ecstasy pills (1.93 kg), 230 grams of MDMA crystal, 48.75 kg ganja, and 306 grams of hydro ganja have been seized, police said, adding that its estimated market value is Rs 5.24 crore. During the operations, a total of 16 persons, including eight from other states and two women, were taken into custody on different dates, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said during a press conference here. "During interrogation, the accused, including the two women , confessed that they were procuring banned narcotic substances such as MDMA ecstasy pills, MDMA crystal, ganja, and hydro ganja at lower prices from foreign nationals, persons from other states, and local unidentified suppliers, with the intention of earning easy money, and were selling them to the public, including college students," he said. Efforts are ongoing to trace the foreign and out-of-state suppliers who were providing narcotic substances to the accused, police said, adding that further investigation is underway. Crackdown on Foreign Nationals Involved in Drug Peddling In a separate special drive, officers and staff of the CCB Narcotics Wing conducted operations in the limits of Bagalur, Whitefield, Parappana Agrahara, and Madanayakanahalli police stations against foreign nationals who were overstaying their visas and allegedly involved in drug peddling, police said. "Nine foreign nationals were taken into custody. As per the orders of the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer), the nine foreign nationals were sent to the Foreigners Detention Centre. Subsequently, two of them have been deported to their home country," he added. West Bengal's upcoming electoral roll publication is poised to ignite further political clashes as parties fiercely debate voter inclusion and the integrity of the electoral process before the crucial Assembly elections IMAGE: A Special Intensive Revision official during the house-to-house verification process to update voter list, the exercise to verify and update voter lists, in Kolkata, November 4, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The ruling TMC alleges the revision is a 'backdoor NRC' aimed at excluding genuine voters, while the BJP supports the exercise to ensure clean and transparent electoral rolls. Concerns have been raised about the impact of the revision on marginalized communities, particularly migrants and minorities, leading to fears of disenfranchisement. The Election Commission maintains the revision is a routine exercise to ensure accuracy, but political parties are dissecting every name to consolidate their core vote. The electoral roll publication is expected to trigger a sharper political duel between the TMC and BJP, framing the issue around Bengali identity versus national security. When West Bengal's post-SIR electoral rolls are published on Saturday, it will not only update a list of over seven crore voters, but also reflect months of political confrontation, courtroom battles, street protests and a climate of anxiety that have reshaped the narrative ahead of the high-stakes Assembly polls. The February 28 publication, classifying 7.08 crore electors as "approved", "deleted" or "under adjudication", marks a pivotal moment in an exercise that has travelled far beyond bureaucratic correction to become the central flashpoint before the polls. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the first statewide exercise since 2002, was conceived by the Election Commission as a statutory clean-up ahead of a major election. Draft rolls published on December 16 saw the electorate shrink from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore, with over 58 lakh names deleted due to death, migration, duplication or untraceability. The second phase covered hearings for 1.67 crore electors - 1.36 crore flagged for "logical discrepancies" and 31 lakh lacking mapping. Around 60 lakh voters remain under adjudication. The EC maintains the exercise is "routine and necessary to ensure accuracy". But in Bengal's politically charged environment, numbers have rarely remained just numbers. The ruling TMC has mounted fierce resistance, branding the SIR as "NRC through the backdoor". Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an unprecedented move, appeared in the Supreme Court "as a common citizen" seeking that the next Assembly election be conducted on the existing 2025 rolls. "Lakhs of genuine voters are at risk of exclusion. This is not revision, this is omission," Banerjee said, alleging that genuine names were "surreptitiously removed" under the pretext of discrepancies. The BJP has backed the revision unequivocally. "A clean and transparent rolls is the foundation of democracy. Infiltrators and duplicate voters cannot decide Bengal's mandate," a senior leader said, arguing that questionable entries had distorted past outcomes. The CPI(M) and the Congress have opposed the timing and manner of the exercise. "Transparency is welcome, but panic-inducing processes erode trust," CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said. Controversies and concerns surrounding electoral roll revision The most disturbing layer of the SIR saga has been the alleged deaths linked to fears of disenfranchisement. The TMC has claimed at least 120 deaths since the beginning of the exercise on November 4, including alleged suicides by voters and booth-level officers during the process. The BJP has dismissed attempts to link the alleged deaths directly to the revision, accusing the ruling party of "fear-mongering for political mileage". Yet on the ground, confusion among marginalised groups has been palpable. Among the most affected are sections of the Matua community, many migrants from Bangladesh decades ago, and Bengali-speaking Muslims in border districts. The insistence on linking entries to 2002 legacy data has triggered uncertainty among those lacking older documentation. While the BJP has mobilised around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act plank, the TMC has warned of exclusion and identity-based targeting. In minority-dominated belts, comparisons with NRC exercises elsewhere have amplified apprehensions. The EC has reiterated that the SIR is not a citizenship determination exercise and that aggrieved voters have avenues for redressal. Administratively, the scale has been staggering. BLOs tasked with physical verification have faced heavy workload pressures. Allegations of clerical errors, confusion over acceptable documents, and chaotic hearings surfaced across districts. Sporadic protests and tense stand-offs occurred outside some venues, though large-scale violence was avoided. Political apprehension has also been shaped by developments in Bihar, where a similar intensive revision reportedly saw over 40 lakh deletions. The BJP cites it as evidence of systemic cleansing; opponents see it as a cautionary template. "Bengal is not Bihar. The demography here is uniquely sensitive," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh has said. In an irony not lost on observers, SIR hearings briefly became arenas of convergence. Senior politicians cutting across party lines and eminent personalities queued up to resolve logical discrepancies. For a brief moment, Bengal's political class was reduced to what the rolls record them as first-voters. Crucially, those marked "under adjudication" will not be permitted to vote until cleared and included in supplementary rolls. Names tagged "deleted" will remain visible but ineligible unless reinstated. Supplementary lists will continue in phases. Saturday's publication may be only a procedural snapshot, but with the Assembly polls two months away, it is set to trigger a sharper TMC-BJP duel, each framing the SIR to consolidate its core vote- one invoking "Bengali identity and the poor", the other pitching "national security and clean rolls." At its core, the SIR has exposed the tightrope between electoral cleansing and social reassurance in a border state where citizenship and identity are deeply intertwined. As Bengal readies for the categorised rolls, parties will dissect every name with forensic zeal, turning what began as a routine revision into a high-stakes political duel that could shape not just the 2026 electorate, but public trust in the democratic process itself. The West Bengal government has handed over the investigation of real estate developer Safiq Khan's murder to the CID after the family raised concerns about the lack of progress in the case. Key Points The West Bengal government transferred the Safiq Khan murder case to the CID due to family concerns. Real estate developer Safiq Khan was shot dead in Pilkhana, Howrah. Prime suspects Harun Khan and Rafakat alias Rohit are still at large. Initial investigations suggest a business rivalry between the victim and one of the suspects, Harun Khan. The West Bengal government on Friday transferred the investigation into the murder of real estate developer Safiq Khan from the Howrah City Police to the state CID, an official said. The probe transfer followed an appeal from members of the victim's family, who expressed reservations about no arrests being made by the local Golabari police station in connection with the crime despite more than 48 hours having passed, he added. Shafiq was shot dead by assailants at point-blank range in full public view in the early hours of Wednesday in Pilkhana area of north Howrah. Details of the Crime Chilling visuals of the incident, which were caught on CCTV cameras, showed the victim having a verbal exchange in front of a tea stall with one of his attackers and then collapsing after being shot in the head and chest repeatedly by two assailants. Investigation and Suspects The prime suspects of the crime, Harun Khan, a suspected Afghan national and Rafakat alias Rohit, continue to remain at large after fleeing the crime scene, which is no more than a kilometre away from the local police station and a few kilometres from the commissionerate headquarters. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Safiq and Harun were friends who turned bitter business rivals and that both had a history of indulging in anti-social activities. In Bengaluru, an employee and his friend were arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 91.76 lakh from a private firm, highlighting the risks of internal theft and the importance of security measures. Key Points A Bengaluru employee and his friend were arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 91.76 lakh from the employee's workplace. Police recovered Rs 81.66 lakh from the arrested individuals. The employee, a cashier, reportedly informed his friend about the cash in the office, leading to the theft. The theft occurred at a private firm on BEL Road in Bengaluru. Police are currently searching for two other individuals involved in the crime. An employee and his friend were arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 91.76 lakh from a private firm here where the former worked as a cashier, police said on Friday. The cashier has been identified as Dhananjay (28), a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru. His friend Praveen (29) a native of Malavagoppa in Shivamogga district was also picked up, they said. With their arrests, police claimed to have recovered Rs 81.66 Lakh cash from them. The matter was reported at Sadashivanagar police station here on February 20, police said. According to police, the theft took place at a private firm on BEL Road in Bengaluru. In his complaint, the company's owner claimed that on the night of February 19, he left office after locking the main door. The next morning, staff of a neighbouring shop informed him over the phone that the glass of his office had been broken. Upon reaching the office and checking, he found that out of Rs 1.76 crore kept in the office drawer, an amount of Rs 91.76 lakh had been stolen by unknown persons, he alleged. Following investigation, one of the accused -- Praveen -- was secured in Shivamogga along with the car used for committing the offence, police said. Confession and Arrests "During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the crime and disclosed details about another individual who was working in the complainant's office and had facilitated the theft," a senior police officer said. Based on his information, Dhananjay, who worked at the complainant's office in Sadashivanagar was taken into custody, he said. "During questioning, he admitted that with the intention of making easy money, he had informed his friends about the cash kept in the office, which led to the theft," he added. Efforts are ongoing to trace two other absconding accused, police said, adding that further probe is underway. A tense standoff between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police unfolded over the arrest of Youth Congress activists involved in a protest, resulting in a nightlong deadlock and accusations of obstructing justice. IMAGE: Shimla Police release the Delhi Police convoy as they were stopped during their transit, leading to repeated confrontations between personnel, in Shimla on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Key Points Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police were involved in a dispute over the arrest of three Youth Congress activists in connection with a protest at the AI Impact Summit. The Delhi Police team was initially detained by Himachal Pradesh Police, leading to a nightlong deadlock at the Shoghi border near Shimla. The impasse was resolved after Delhi Police shared a copy of the seizure memo with Himachal Pradesh Police, detailing the evidence in their possession. Both police forces accused each other of obstructing the investigation, highlighting the tensions between them. The arrested Youth Congress activists were reportedly from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Would a cup of tea have eased the impasse any sooner between the Delhi Police and its Himachal Pradesh counterpart in Shimla last week? No one knows. But the drink was on an officer's mind before the team was allowed to return to the national capital with its arrests. "You obstructed our work, detained us for the whole night, could have asked us for a tea at least," were the last words of an officer to Himachal police before finally leaving for Delhi on the morning of Thursday from the Shoghi border, 15 km from Shimla. Hearing this, a journalist, present on the spot at the Shogi border, stepped forward and asked the officer for tea, to which he said: "Thank you, but we would leave now." The exchange came following a nightlong deadlock between the two forces in Shimla over the arrest of three people in connection with a 'shirtless protest' at AI Impact Summit. At length, the Delhi Police team was cleared to head back to the national capital along with the three Youth Congress activists. The impasse ended with the Delhi police sharing a copy of the seizure memo with its Himachal Pradesh counterpart. Although they did not share the digital evidence, the memo listed the evidence in their possession related to the case. Shimla police would need to submit a written request if they anything else, they added. "Once the credentials were checked after interception, the HP police should have let them go," a retired director general of police told PTI on Friday. The Delhi police should have also informed the local police station after the arrest was made, he added. How the face-off unfolded On Wednesday, a team of Delhi police arrested three activists of the Youth Congress from a hotel in Chirgaon in the Rohru area of Shimla district. However, it was intercepted by the local police and brought back to Shimla and taken to a local court. The same evening, when the team again tried to transport the accused to Delhi, they were again stopped at Shoghi and a case of abduction, concealment of property, wrongful confinement and unlawful assembly. The three Youth Congress activists, Saurabh Singh, Arbaz, and Siddharth, were reportedly from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Both the Shimla and Delhi police accused one another of obstructing the investigation. A couple in Greater Noida has been arrested for a sophisticated real estate fraud, accused of repeatedly selling the same mortgaged flat and swindling victims out of millions. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Key Points Naresh Kumar Sikri and Sharda Sikri were arrested for allegedly selling the same flat multiple times in a real estate fraud. The couple allegedly collected Rs 2-2.5 crore from victims by fraudulently selling a property already mortgaged to a bank. Sharda Sikri was previously declared a Proclaimed Offender after absconding from earlier cheating cases. Police investigation revealed Naresh Sikri, a loan agent, is suspected to be the mastermind behind the property fraud scheme. The couple was traced to a hideout in Greater Noida and arrested after evading arrest for previous fraud cases. A 57-year-old man and his wife have been apprehended from Greater Noida for allegedly cheating several people by selling the same flat multiple times, police said on Friday. The accused have been identified as Naresh Kumar Sikri and his wife Sharda Sikri (55), residents of Dwarka Sector-9, they said. During investigation, it emerged that the couple had allegedly cheated multiple persons by executing sale agreements for the same property, which had already been mortgaged to a bank. The police said the accused allegedly collected around Rs 2-2.5 crore from various persons through fraudulent means. Sharda had earlier been declared a Proclaimed Offender by a local court here in September 2025 after she remained absconding for a prolonged period, they said. According to police, two cases of cheating were registered against the couple in 2024 after complainants alleged that Sharda Sikri executed agreements to sell in respect of her flat and took substantial amounts of money but failed to complete the sale. The accused subsequently fled. Two cases on January 6, 2024 and July 14, 2024 under relevant sections of the IPC were registered at Dwarka South police station and investigation was taken up. "Despite sustained efforts, the couple managed to evade arrest. The anticipatory bail application of Sharda Sikri was dismissed by the trial court and later withdrawn before the Delhi High Court," a senior police officer said. Arrest and Investigation Acting on secret information and technical surveillance, the team traced the couple to a hideout in Greater Noida and arrested them. During interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the crime and disclosed that they had mortgaged the flat and devised the scheme to raise money to settle bank dues. Naresh Sikri, who works as a loan agent, is suspected to be the mastermind of the fraud, police said, adding that the flat was in his wife's name. Both accused have been produced before a court and sent to judicial custody, police said. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the involvement of the couple in other similar cases. A notorious criminal, Pawan alias Kallu, carrying a significant reward, was killed in a police encounter in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat organized crime in the region. Photograph: PTI Photo Key Points Pawan alias Kallu, a criminal with a Rs 50,000 reward, died in a police encounter in Agra. The deceased was a known shooter associated with the Randeep Bhati-Amit Kasana gang and had over 18 registered cases. Pawan was wanted in an extortion case and had connections with the Himanshu Bhau gang of Haryana. A 9 mm pistol, looted from a police constable in 2016, was recovered from the encounter site. A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 died following an encounter with a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (Noida unit) and the Agra Police in the Ekta area of Agra on Friday evening. Police said the criminal, identified as Pawan alias Kallu, was a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad. He was shifted to SN Medical College in Agra after being injured in the shootout, where he was later declared dead. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said in a statement that Pawan was a known shooter of the Randeep Bhati-Amit Kasana gang. He had more than 18 cases registered against him, including four murder cases and two instances of extortion. Criminal History and Gang Affiliations According to the additional DGP, Pawan was wanted in an extortion case registered at the Tajganj police station in Agra. In 2021, a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for his arrest in a murder case, for which he was jailed in Delhi. Police investigations revealed that while in jail, Pawan established contacts with the Himanshu Bhau gang of Haryana. Following his release in 2025, he started demanding large sums of money as extortion and was allegedly planning major crimes in Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with this gang, the additional DGP said. Weapon Recovery The police team recovered a 9 mm pistol and several cartridges from the spot. The weapon was looted in 2016 from a police constable in Gautam Buddha Nagar who was then posted as a personal security officer to an additional district judge, the senior officer added. Three individuals have been arrested in Shivamogga, Karnataka, for their alleged involvement in a massive Rs 82 crore cyber fraud operation spanning across India, prompting a deeper investigation into the financial crimes. Key Points Three individuals have been arrested in Shivamogga, Karnataka, for their involvement in a cyber fraud scheme. The cyber fraud operation involves over Rs 82 crore and 352 complaints registered across the country. The prime accused allegedly lured a complainant with commission promises to open a bank account, which was then used for fraudulent transfers. Police have frozen 15 bank accounts linked to the illegal fund transfers, recovering over Rs 14.71 crore. Authorities seized mobile phones, ATM cards, QR code scanners, and SIM cards from the accused, who are now in judicial custody. Three persons have been arrested in connection with cyber fraud cases involving more than Rs 82 crore and 352 complaints registered nationwide, police said here on Friday. The accused have been booked by the cybercrime police station under Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the BNS. Details of the Cyber Fraud Scheme According to Karnataka Police, the prime accused, 43-year-old Jagadish C, allegedly lured a complainant, Wilson, with a promise of commission and persuaded him to open a bank account. Jagadish later took control of the account and, by impersonating the complainant, fraudulently transferred large sums of money, police said. Jagadish, a resident of Sharadamma Compound in Sharavathi Nagar, Shivamogga, runs an electronics business, police said. The other two accused have been identified as Arshad (39), a fish trader from Shankarpura in Chikkamagaluru, and Ananth T (34), a marketing professional from Hosamane in Shivamogga. Investigation and Seizure Police said 15 bank accounts used for illegal fund transfers have been frozen. More than Rs 14.71 crore was routed through these accounts linked to over 352 fraud complaints registered nationwide. The total cheating amount stood at Rs 82 crore, police said. Two mobile phones, 11 ATM cards, nine QR code scanners and 15 Airtel SIM cards have been seized from the accused. The trio was produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody, police said, adding that efforts are on to trace other absconding suspects. A cyber fraudster has been arrested in Delhi for a KYC scam that defrauded a resident of Rs 6 lakh, highlighting the growing threat of online financial crimes and the importance of cybersecurity awareness. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police arrested Bimal Rabidas, a cyber fraudster from Jharkhand, for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of Rs 6 lakh. The fraud involved impersonating a bank employee and using KYC update pretext to gain access to the victim's bank account. Rabidas confessed to the crime, and police recovered a portion of the cheated amount along with mobile phones and incriminating documents. Investigation revealed Rabidas's alleged involvement in five similar cases registered in Delhi, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, highlighting a pattern of cyber fraud. Delhi Police has arrested a 30-year-old cyber fraudster, allegedly involved in multiple cases across states, for duping a city resident of Rs 6 lakh on the pretext of completing KYC formalities, officials said on Friday. Bimal Rabidas, a resident of Dhanbad in Jharkhand, was arrested in connection with an e-FIR registered earlier this month, they said. "The case was registered on February 11 after Govind Singh (53), a resident of Brij Puri in Delhi, complained that he received a call from a person impersonating a bank employee," a senior police officer said. On the pretext of updating his 'know your customer' (KYC) details, the caller allegedly obtained access to Singh's bank account information and availed an instant loan of Rs 5,99,996 in his name, the officer said. Rabidas confessed to the crime during interrogation, he added. Police seized Rs 9,500 of the cheated amount, three mobile phones and other incriminating documents from his possession. Investigation and Similar Cases Further investigation revealed that Rabidas was allegedly involved in five similar cases registered in Delhi, Jharkhand and West Bengal. A Delhi excise constable and his driver were allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed while investigating illegal liquor operations, prompting a police investigation into the shocking crime. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A Delhi excise constable and his driver were allegedly kidnapped and assaulted while investigating illegal liquor activities near the Delhi-Haryana border. The victims were reportedly thrashed, threatened at gunpoint, and robbed of their belongings by 10-12 unidentified men. The assailants allegedly recorded videos of the victims and threatened to circulate them on social media, warning them against interfering with liquor smuggling. An FIR has been registered, and police are investigating the incident, reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the accused. A Delhi excise department constable and his private driver were allegedly kidnapped, thrashed and threatened at gunpoint by 10 to 12 unidentified men, an official said on Friday. According to the FIR registered at Shalimar Bagh police station on February 23, the constable was allegedly taken to a liquor godown on Delhi-Haryana border where he was beaten and robbed of his belongings. The complainant, constable Naresh Chand Sharma (36), posted with the Delhi excise department and currently stationed at ITO, said he, along with his private driver Rahul, had gone to the area to collect intelligence regarding alleged illegal liquor activities. "Around 10-12 persons, some armed with sticks and a pistol, surrounded our vehicle, banged on the car windows and dragged us out. They (accused) assaulted us with sticks, punched and kicked us and threatened to kill us," the FIR read. The complainant further alleged that one of the assailants pointed a pistol at him while others beat up his driver. The accused allegedly snatched his wallet containing his identity card and Rs 8,000 in cash. They also snatched their vehicle keys and drove both victims in their own car towards Bahadurgarh in Haryana. The FIR states that the victims were taken to an isolated location, where they were again assaulted. The accused allegedly recorded videos of the victims and threatened to circulate them on social media. Sharma further alleged that the attackers warned them against stopping vehicles involved in liquor smuggling in future. "After some time, the accused dropped us back in Delhi. We informed the police and went for medical examination at Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital," the FIR read. A senior police officer said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused persons. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being scanned and further investigation is in progress. Slow train serves as "mobile market" for villagers in SW China Xinhua) 09:04, February 27, 2026 The train No. 5630 arrives at Tongzi Railway Station in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Wang Bo/Xinhua) A villager aboard the train No. 5630 is pictured on Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Wei/Xinhua) Railway staff members help villagers get off the train after the train No. 5630 arrived at Tongzi Railway Station in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Wang Bo/Xinhua) The chief conductor talks with villagers on the train No. 5630, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Wei/Xinhua) Railway staff members help villagers get off the train after the train No. 5630 arrived at Tongzi Railway Station in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Wei/Xinhua) Railway staff members help villagers unload vegetables after the train No. 5630 arrived at Tongzi Railway Station in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Guizhong/Xinhua) The chief conductor talks with villagers on the train No. 5630, Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Guizhong/Xinhua) Villagers communicate on the train No. 5630 on Feb. 25, 2026. The train No. 5629/5630 running through rugged mountains is a "slow train" linking Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, with southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Since its operation 33 years ago, it has not only facilitated the daily travel and agricultural product transportation of the local people along the line with its low fares and the principle of stopping at every station, but also set up special areas for farmers in the carriages, making it convenient for vegetable farmers to store and sell their goods. This train has become a "mobile market" for the local people, and has also helped local products reach wider markets. (Photo by Zhang Guizhong/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Delhi Police have arrested a 22-year-old woman for her alleged involvement in supplying mule bank accounts to a sophisticated cybercrime network facilitating online fraud and scams. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police arrested a woman for supplying mule bank accounts to a cybercrime network involved in online scams. The accused allegedly provided bank accounts used in fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and fraudulent online trading platforms. The investigation revealed a network routing defrauded money through multiple accounts to evade detection. Police recovered numerous ATM cards, cheque books, mobile phones, and laptops during the arrest. Authorities are actively pursuing the suspected kingpin of the cybercrime network. Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old woman suspected of arranging mule bank accounts for an alleged interstate cybercrime network, and recovered dozens of ATM cards, cheque books and electronic devices from her possession, an official said on Friday. The accused, identified as Rasmi, a resident of Greater Noida West, Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended from Greater Noida on February 6, he said. The action was taken in connection with a case registered on February 5 after multiple cyber fraud complaints were received on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). An amount of Rs 50,000 was fraudulently siphoned from a victim in Bengaluru and Rs 3.8 lakh from another victim in Telangana, the official said. "During scrutiny, it was found that two bank accounts in the name of one Aslam, a resident of Vijay Vihar, were allegedly used to receive cheated funds." Preliminary investigation indicated that the accounts were part of an organised cybercrime network involved in cheating and illegal siphoning of money, the officer added. Police conducted a detailed technical probe, examining suspicious bank account statements, login and logout IP logs of banking applications, and analysing call detail records (CDRs) and internet protocol detail records (IPDRs) of more than 50 mobile numbers. Through technical surveillance and local intelligence, the operational location of the accused was traced to Greater Noida. A raid was conducted and Rasmi was apprehended from a residential premises, police said. Accused Confesses to Supplying Mule Accounts During interrogation, she allegedly confessed that she procured and supplied mule bank accounts on a commission basis to cyber fraud operators. These accounts were allegedly used in fake cryptocurrency investment schemes, fraudulent online trading platforms and high-return investment scams, police said. The defrauded money was routed through multiple accounts to evade detection. Rasmi disclosed that the bank account kits were supplied by a co-accused, Chhaya, who was arrested earlier in the case. She also revealed the involvement of one Vivan, suspected to be the kingpin of the network. Efforts are underway to arrest him, police added. Recovery of Evidence A total of 32 ATM cards, 61 cheque books, 18 passbooks, eight mobile phones, six laptops, one POS swipe machine and one QR code scanner were recovered during the operation. Delhi Police successfully solved an iPhone robbery case, arresting five suspects after a week-long manhunt and recovering the stolen cash and iPhones, highlighting their commitment to tackling crime in the city. Photograph: Pixabay.com Key Points Delhi Police arrested five individuals for allegedly robbing a Jammu resident of cash and iPhones in Majnu ka Tila. The accused were apprehended after a week-long manhunt across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, involving treks through dense forests. Police recovered the entire amount of looted cash (Rs 15 lakh) and all 22 iPhones (worth Rs 30 lakh). The robbery involved a coordinated plan where women created a diversion while men stole the victim's bag. Investigations revealed that Parvez, still at large, tipped off the group about the victim carrying a large amount of cash and costly iPhones. Delhi Police arrested five persons, including three women, for allegedly robbing Rs 15 lakh in cash and 22 iPhones from a Jammu resident in north Delhi's Majnu ka Tila area, after a week-long manhunt in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Friday. Police claimed the accused were apprehended after strenuous treks through dense forests and hilly terrain, culminating in the recovery of the entire amount of looted cash and all the 22 iPhones, worth Rs 30 lakh. "The case was registered at Timarpur police station on February 17. The complainant, Ramesh Lal (39), works at a mobile shop in Jammu. On the intervening night of February 16-17, he boarded a private bus from Jammu to Delhi for trading of goods," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia said in a statement. The officer said he was carrying Rs 15 lakh in cash and 22 packed Apple iPhones worth Rs 30 lakh in a bag. He was also carrying a smaller bag containing his personal mobile phone. "On February 17 at around 7.15 am, Lal alighted from the bus at Majnu Ka Tila in north Delhi. Three unknown men and three women who had travelled in the same bus also got down. As he was boarding an auto-rickshaw, the six surrounded him and began levelling false allegations of molestation and manhandling," the DCP said. In the commotion, the male accused fled with his bag containing the cash and 22 iPhones. However, with the help of bystanders, the three women assailants were apprehended on the spot and brought to Timarpur police station. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras in the area, police said. The women were identified as Hashu Bibi (23), Juna Begum (31) and Maneeva Akhtar (24), all residents of Jammu. During interrogation, they disclosed that six people were involved in the crime and that one Parvez, a resident of Jammu, was the mastermind. They revealed that the three male accused had returned to Jammu as per the plan, the statement said. Extensive Manhunt and Arrests "A joint team was constituted and three separate teams were dispatched to Jammu to apprehend the absconding accused. Several raids were conducted at their houses and hideouts but they were found absconding. Technical surveillance was mounted and after analysis of call detail records, the movements of the accused were tracked," it added. On February 20, the location of accused Mohammad Faroog (28), was traced to Chandigarh. A team rushed there and apprehended him while he was going to meet an advocate to seek anticipatory bail as he was aware that police were tracking him. He disclosed that the looted property had been taken away by Parvez. Another team tracked one more accused Tariq Hussain (33). He owns two private buses plying between his native village and Udhampur. Traps were laid at the terminal points of the buses, but he could not be located. "The police team then moved through remote and inaccessible areas of Udhampur for five days, navigating dense forests and hilly terrain amid complete absence of roads in several stretches. Facing significant challenges in mobile surveillance due to the difficult terrain, the team covered around 25 km on foot in pitch darkness and stayed overnight in forest areas without civic facilities," the DCP said. Recovery of Stolen Goods After an eight-day hunt covering over 1,500 km across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, the team apprehended Tariq from a forest area near his native village. A search of his possessions led to recovery of Rs 2 lakh in cash. Initially, he withheld information about the remaining property, but during interrogation, he disclosed that Parvez had given him the looted property to hide. At his instance, the remaining Rs 13 lakh in cash and 21 iPhones were recovered from a place in his house where animals are kept with police boasting 100 per cent recovery of the looted cash and mobile phones. Modus Operandi "Investigations revealed that Parvez had tipped off the group about the complainant carrying large amount of cash and costly items. All six accused boarded the same bus from Jammu. As per the plan, the women created a scene by raising allegations of molestation after alighting in Delhi, enabling the men to flee with the bag. They then returned to Jammu with the loot," DCP Banthia said. Raids are underway to nab Parvez, who remains at large, he said. Maneeva is primary literate and had allegedly lured the other two women with the promise of easy money. Juna and Hashu are illiterate. Tariq has studied up to Class 10, while Faroog is a graduate and an SSC aspirant and also the nephew of Parvez. A massive GST fraud amounting to 593 crore has been unearthed in Karnataka, with authorities arresting the alleged mastermind behind the elaborate scheme involving fake invoices and shell entities. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Key Points The DGGI busted a 593 crore GST fraud involving fake input tax credit in Karnataka. A network issuing fake invoices without actual supply of goods or services was exposed. Mohammad Saifullah, a GST practitioner, was identified as the mastermind and arrested. The accused used shell entities and online accounting software to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims. An investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries and the full extent of the GST fraud. In a major crackdown on GST fraud, the Belagavi zonal unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has unearthed a fake input tax credit racket worth approximately Rs 593 crore, officials said. The action followed an investigation into a suspicious GST registration, which led to multiple searches on premises linked to Star Tax Consultant in Bengaluru, the DGGI said in a statement. "The searches exposed a well-organised network engaged in issuing fake invoices without any actual supply of goods or services, enabling wrongful availment and passing on of input tax credit (ITC) amounting to nearly Rs 235 crore," the statement said. Preliminary investigation revealed that numerous GST registrations were being operated by the accused solely for generating bogus invoices and e-way bills to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims by the ultimate beneficiaries. The accused systematically used online accounting software to record and monitor transactions routed through several shell entities with no genuine business activity. Mastermind Arrested in GST Fraud Case The statement said that Mohammad Saifullah, a registered GST practitioner identified as the mastermind of the operation, was found to be actively managing multiple non-existent and shell GSTINs and orchestrating the issuance of fake invoices and e-way bills in exchange for commission calculated as a percentage of invoice value. "On being confronted with incriminating evidence, he admitted to his role in the fraudulent scheme. Saifullah was arrested on February 24 in Bengaluru under Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017," the statement said. Saifullah was produced before a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru, which granted transit remand for his transfer to Belagavi. He was subsequently presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class-4 court in Belagavi, which remanded him to judicial custody. A probe is underway to identify the additional beneficiaries and quantify the full extent of the fraud, the DGGI said. A massive GST fraud worth 593 crore has been unearthed in Belagavi, India, with the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind the elaborate scheme involving fake invoices and input tax credits. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Key Points The DGGI uncovered a 593 crore GST fraud involving fake input tax credits in Belagavi. Investigations revealed a network issuing fake invoices without actual supply of goods or services. Mohammad Saifullah, a GST practitioner, was identified as the mastermind and arrested. The accused used shell entities and online accounting software to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims. A probe is underway to identify additional beneficiaries and quantify the full extent of the GST fraud. In a major crackdown on GST fraud, the Belagavi zonal unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has unearthed a fake input tax credit racket worth approximately Rs 593 crore, officials said. The action followed an investigation into a suspicious GST registration, which led to multiple searches on premises linked to Star Tax Consultant in Bengaluru, the DGGI said in a statement. "The searches exposed a well-organised network engaged in issuing fake invoices without any actual supply of goods or services, enabling wrongful availment and passing on of input tax credit (ITC) amounting to nearly Rs 235 crore," the statement said. Preliminary investigation revealed that numerous GST registrations were being operated by the accused solely for generating bogus invoices and e-way bills to facilitate fraudulent ITC claims by the ultimate beneficiaries. The accused systematically used online accounting software to record and monitor transactions routed through several shell entities with no genuine business activity. Arrest of the Mastermind The statement said that Mohammad Saifullah, a registered GST practitioner identified as the mastermind of the operation, was found to be actively managing multiple non-existent and shell GSTINs and orchestrating the issuance of fake invoices and e-way bills in exchange for commission calculated as a percentage of invoice value. "On being confronted with incriminating evidence, he admitted to his role in the fraudulent scheme. Saifullah was arrested on February 24 in Bengaluru under Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017," the statement said. Saifullah was produced before a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru, which granted transit remand for his transfer to Belagavi. He was subsequently presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class-4 court in Belagavi, which remanded him to judicial custody. A probe is underway to identify the additional beneficiaries and quantify the full extent of the fraud, the DGGI said. Following a suspected drone sighting near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, security forces have launched a search operation to ensure border security. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Security forces initiated a search operation in Poonch district following suspected drone activity near the Line of Control (LoC). The search operation focused on the forward areas of the Gulpur belt in Poonch. Troops fired rounds as a security measure during the suspected aerial movement. The suspected drone retreated back from the LoC after the security response. Security forces launched a search operation after a suspected drone movement was detected along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday, sources said. The search was carried out in the forward areas of the Gulpur belt. Troops fired several rounds as part of security measures during the suspected aerial movement, officials said, adding that the object later moved back from the LoC. Following a protest where Kerala's Health Minister was allegedly injured, the home of a KSU activist involved was attacked with an explosive, sparking accusations and political unrest. Key Points An explosive was hurled at the home of KSU activist Bithul Balan in Kerala, who was arrested after a protest where Health Minister Veena George was allegedly injured. Police suspect the explosive was a country-made bomb thrown by masked individuals, causing damage to the house. Congress leaders accuse CPI(M) of being behind the attack, alleging they provoked violence following the minister's injury. Congress MP Shafi Parambil claims the Health Minister should acknowledge the pain of victims of alleged medical negligence. Widespread violence was reported across Kerala after the incident involving the Health Minister, who has since been discharged from the hospital. Unidentified persons hurled an explosive at the residence of a KSU activist at Thodannur here on Friday, who was arrested after Health Minister Veena George was allegedly injured during a protest, police said. The attack took place at the residence of KSU district secretary Bithul Balan at around 2.45 am, causing damage to the sunshade, windows and window panes. KSU is the student organisation of Congress. Balan is currently remanded in judicial custody after George was injured during a KSU protest against her at Kannur Railway Station over incidents of alleged medical negligence in the state. Police officials said the explosive, suspected to be a country-made bomb, was hurled by two unidentified persons who arrived outside the house with their faces masked. At the time of the incident, Balan's parents were present in the house, police said. Vadakara police registered a case against unidentified persons under Section 3 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property) and Section 5 (making or possession of explosives) of the Explosive Substances Act. The Congress and UDF leaders visited the house of Balan and said that CPI(M) was behind the attack. Congress MP Shafi Parambil demanded that a case be registered against CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan for allegedly provoking violence over the alleged injury of the health minister. "It is Govindan Master and other CPI(M) leaders who are responsible for all this violence," he said. Parambil alleged that Govindan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had triggered a "climate of violence", which he claimed led to a bomb being hurled at the house of Balan. He said Health Minister George should respond to Thankam, the mother of Balan, regarding the explosive allegedly thrown in the room where she was sleeping. "Even the shadow of the protestors did not touch the minister, as revealed in video footage, including CCTV visuals from the railway station. The fake campaign was the reason behind the bomb being hurled at the house of a youngster who carried out a democratic protest," Parambil said. He also recalled the names of victims in alleged medical negligence incidents and said their pain should not be forgotten. "The minister should be ready to understand the pain of victims who have been suffering for several years," he said. Parambil further alleged that the CPI(M) and DYFI leaders in Kozhikode had posted advance condolence messages for Balan on social media. "Balan was threatened that he would be killed once he returned from jail for protesting against medical negligence," the Vadakara MP said. Following the incident in which the minister was injured, widespread violence was reported across Kerala. Meanwhile, George was discharged from Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur, where she had been admitted after complaining of neck and hand pain following the protest. Police officials in Kannur said she was discharged early in the morning and later moved to Thiruvananthapuram. A father and son were arrested in Gumla, Jharkhand, after police seized 48 kg of ganja worth Rs 40 lakh from their home, leading to charges under the NDPS Act. Key Points A father and son have been arrested in Gumla, Jharkhand for possession of a large quantity of ganja. Police seized 48 kg of ganja, estimated to be worth Rs 40 lakh, from their residence. The arrest was made following a tip-off about the ganja being stored at their home. An FIR has been registered under the NDPS Act, and the accused have been sent to judicial custody. Police arrested a man and his son with 48 kg of ganja worth Rs 40 lakh in Jharkhand's Gumla district. Police arrested both following a tip-off that they had stocked ganja at their Badaik Colony home within Gumla Sadar police station limits. Gumla Sadar OC Mahendra Karmalai said, "We arrested a man and his son during a raid and recovered 48 kg of ganja and Rs 39,280 in cash from their house." The estimated market value of the seized ganja is around Rs 40 lakh, another official said. An FIR has been registered in this regard under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and both have been sent to judicial custody. In the Gurdaspur police killings case, an accused individual is shifting blame to his accomplices, while the death of another suspect in a police encounter sparks controversy and demands for an independent investigation into the incident. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points An accused in the Gurdaspur police killings claims his accomplices were responsible for the deaths of the officers. Ranjit Singh, one of the accused, was killed in a police encounter, sparking controversy and demands for a judicial probe. Political leaders are calling for an independent investigation into the encounter and a fresh post-mortem examination. The family of the deceased suspect alleges he was taken into custody before being killed in the encounter, raising questions about the police's account. Conflicting accounts surrounding the death of Ranjit Singh have led to calls for a CBI investigation to ensure transparency and impartiality in the Gurdaspur police killings case. One of the three men arrested by police for the murder of police personnel in Gurdaspur laid the blame of the killings on the other two accused, one of whom was killed in a police encounter. Police have identified Ranjit Singh (19), Inderjit Singh (21), and Dilawar Singh (19) for their alleged involvement in killing the two police personnel on February 22, suspected to have been done at the behest of their Pakistan-based handlers backed by the spy agency ISI. While he was being taken to the Civil Hospital in Gurdaspur for medical examination on Friday, Dilawar told reporters that Ranjit and Inderjit allegedly fired at the two cops. The two men, he claimed, took him along for it. Assistant sub-inspector Gurnam Singh and home guard Ashok Kumar were found dead on Sunday with gunshot wounds inside a checkpost in Adhian village, about 2 km from the International Border with Pakistan. Ranjit, a resident of Adhian village here, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police on Wednesday after he fled from their custody. His family and political leaders have raised questions about the encounter, some calling for a judicial probe into the matter. Speaking to reporters in Gurdaspur on Friday, Dilawar also demanded a fresh post-mortem by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Controversy Surrounding Encounter Death Ranjit's family has refused to accept his body for cremation. His uncle Gurinder Singh demanded a CBI probe into the death. Ranjit's mother Sukhwinder Kaur had earlier said that her son was picked up by police on Tuesday for questioning but later she came to know that he was shot dead. The family had also alleged that the CCTV cameras were taken away by police from Ranjit's village. Political leaders continued to meet the family of Ranjit at his residence in Adhian village. Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met the family of Ranjit in Gurdaspur on Friday. After meeting the grieving family members, he said their version of events raises serious and disturbing questions that cannot be ignored in a democratic society governed by the rule of law. "The 50-km belt around the International Border fence falls under the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF), which is a joint responsibility of the Centre and the Punjab government. Therefore, accountability cannot be deflected or diluted," Bajwa said. He strongly backed the family's demand that the post-mortem examination be conducted either at PGI Chandigarh or AIIMS Delhi, as they have lost faith in the Punjab Police. "When a family expresses such deep mistrust in the state machinery, it reflects the gravity of the situation. I fully support their demand for an independent and credible post-mortem," he added. Bajwa further demanded that the investigation be handed over either to a sitting judge of the high court or to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency and impartiality. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting the conflicting accounts surrounding Ranjit's death. "I refer, in particular, to the sequence of events in which the Punjab Police have claimed that a 19-year-old youth allegedly connected with the crime was killed in an 'encounter', while his mother has publicly asserted that he had earlier been picked up from their home. "I do not wish to prejudge the facts; however, the existence of such sharply conflicting public versions has created a credibility deficit that the state police, acting alone, will find difficult to overcome. In matters with potential national security dimensions, the appearance of procedural opacity can be as damaging as the reality," he wrote. On Thursday, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira visited the family of Ranjit Singh. Punjab Police have successfully apprehended the third suspect, Inderjit Singh, in connection with the brutal Gurdaspur policemen murder case, which allegedly involves ISI-backed handlers from Pakistan. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Key Points Punjab Police arrested Inderjit Singh, the third accused in the murder of two policemen in Gurdaspur. The two policemen were found dead with gunshot wounds near the International Border with Pakistan. The accused are allegedly linked to Pakistan-based handlers backed by the ISI. One of the accused was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police after escaping custody. Punjab Police on Friday said it has arrested the third accused involved in the murder of two policemen found dead in Gurdaspur on February 22. Gurdaspur SSP Aditya said the accused, Inderjit Singh, was arrested in Amritsar. On February 22, ASI Gurnam Singh and home guard Ashok Kumar were found dead with gunshot wounds inside a checkpost at Adhian village, about 2 km from the International Border with Pakistan, in Gurdaspur district. Police later identified Ranjit Singh (19), Inderjit Singh (21) and Dilawar Singh (19) for their alleged involvement in the killings, allegedly at the behest of their Pakistan-based handlers backed by the spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). While Dilawar was arrested earlier, Ranjit was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police on Wednesday after he fled from their custody. The bodies of the two cops were discovered by Adhian village sarpanch Kamaljeet Singh around 8.15 am on February 22. The area where the bodies were found is a hotbed of heroin smuggling and arms drop-offs by drones from across the border. Police had then said that Dilawar and Ranjit were in touch with their ISI handlers, who assigned them the task to attack and kill policemen. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini strongly denies opposition claims of old-age pension cancellations, assuring citizens that the government is committed to providing benefits to eligible beneficiaries and improving welfare programs. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini denies allegations of old-age pension cancellations, calling them politically motivated. The Haryana government is verifying discrepancies in nearly 1.30 lakh pension cases to ensure eligibility, not discontinuing pensions. The number of elderly citizens receiving pensions in Haryana has increased, with over 20 lakh beneficiaries currently. Haryana CM highlights increased pension amounts under the BJP regime compared to previous governments. The Haryana government is addressing issues related to farmer compensation and discrepancies in the e-Kshatipurti portal. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday refuted the opposition's claims regarding the alleged cancellation of old-age pensions of several beneficiaries in the state, calling them baseless, misleading, and politically motivated. The opposition leaders have been spreading lies and confusion on the issue of elderly pensions in an attempt to gain cheap political mileage. They have been alleging that the government has stopped pensions and snatched away the rights of senior citizens, Saini said while trashing the allegations as baseless. "Is spreading lies your only agenda? Can you not see that we have introduced a transparent system and stopped the loot that prevailed during your tenure?" Saini told the opposition benches. Saini was replying to a debate on the motion of thanks to the governor's address in the state Assembly. The opposition Congress and INLD has alleged that the old age pension of a number of beneficiaries have been discontinued. Saini informed the House that in nearly 1.30 lakh cases, certain discrepancies related to age, income and other criteria were found. However, these pensions have not been discontinued. Instead, the discrepancies are being verified and examined to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive the pension, he said. Today, more than 20 lakh elderly citizens are receiving pensions in Haryana and the number of beneficiaries has gone up in recent years. If pensions had been cut, how would this number have increased, he asked. During the INLD regime, he said the old-age pension was Rs 200, and during the long Congress tenure, it saw an increase of only Rs 700, while it is Rs 3,200 per month now, under the BJP regime, he said. During the Congress regime, more than 50,000 ineligible persons were granted pensions. In 2011, an old-age pension scam came to light in which pensions were issued to individuals who were either ineligible or had already passed away, he said. Referring to a media report published on July 4, 2011, he said at that time, the government had decided to transfer pensions directly into bank accounts. In 16 districts, 15,98,126 persons were receiving social security pensions. However, when beneficiaries were asked to open bank accounts, only 11,44,098 accounts were opened, indicating that nearly 5 lakh pensions were allegedly being disbursed to fake beneficiaries, Saini added. This figure was only for 16 districts; considering all 21 districts at that time, the number would have been even higher, he said. We have fully streamlined and reformed the system, he said. No eligible elderly person will be deprived of pension benefits. But those who are misleading the public by spreading falsehoods will have to answer before the people, he added. Other Welfare Initiatives Responding to other issues raised by the opposition while participating in discussion on Governor's Address this week, Saini said that no BPL ration cards have been cut by the government. He further said that those citizens who are no longer on the BPL list have moved out due to improved living standards brought about by government welfare schemes. The CM emphasised that Haryana government's welfare programmes have helped families improve their income and quality of life, allowing them to naturally rise above the poverty line. No ration card was removed arbitrarily. Our focus has been on lifting people out of poverty, not penalizing them, he said. Saini further said that citizens who had underreported income in the Parivar Pehchan Patra (family id) scheme were requested to correct their details. Many voluntarily removed themselves from the BPL list. Additionally, fresh income verification was conducted, and households with annual incomes above Rs 1,80,000 were removed from the BPL category, he said. Farmers' Compensation On the farmers issue, Saini said that due to heavy rainfall in August-September 2025, several districts of Haryana witnessed flood-like conditions. He personally visited the affected areas to assess the ground situation. To compensate farmers for damage to Kharif-2025 crops caused by heavy rainfall and waterlogging, the government opened the e-Kshatipurti portal until September 15. He said that compensation amounting to Rs 116.15 crore has been released to 53,821 farmers. Responding to opposition claims that many farmers did not receive compensation, he said an inquiry was conducted. During the investigation, it was found that duplicate photographs of certain land parcels had been uploaded on the portal by patwaris (revenue officials), Saini added. Due to this technical discrepancy, compensation amounting to Rs 370.52 crore for 1,50,583 farmers could not be approved, he said. He described the matter as serious and said it is currently under government consideration. A final decision will be taken soon and appropriate action will be initiated regarding the remaining eligible farmers, the CM said. August 11, 2023, marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary party organized by DJ Kool Herc in the Bronx, considered the birthplace of hip hop. Coinciding with the anniversary, events, articles, threads on X, and Instagram posts followed, celebrating not only the legacy of one of the most important cultural expressions in history, but also confirming that hip hop in its musical, aesthetic, and even sociopolitical manifestations had become a near-hegemonic discourse, from the streets of Los Angeles to Paris fashion shows. That year, 2023, saw the release of wonderful albums by Killer Mike, Danny Brown, Slowthai, Billy Woods, Armand Hammer, Noname the genre continued riding a wave that, in the previous decade, had swept away any kind of competition for the throne of global cultural domination. Two and a half years have passed since that anniversary and hip hop has lost 24% of its sales share in the music industry, its share of the streaming pie has shrunk to 19%, and more than half of those streams come from older releases. A few weeks ago, the specialized media outlet Complex called for the arrival of a new savior, a leading figure to follow in the footsteps of Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar, who in 2024 with his global hit Not Like Us the climax of his highly publicized feud with Drake and his brilliant album GNX, had almost single-handedly sustained hip hops commercial and socially mainstream relevance. Last year, his Grand National Tour, alongside SZA, was a global event that grossed $360 million. But the day they stepped off the stage after their last show in Sydney on December 11, the comedown was absolute. And now what? Little. Little coherence. Little inventiveness. Few sales. Even Kendall Jenner, a great supporter of the genre in the circles of Caucasian glamour and kale salads, declared that it had been a long time since any rapper had excited her. The scene has become so self-absorbed that a few weeks ago the legendary 50 Cent warned that in New York there would soon be more podcasters covering hip-hop than rappers. A bit like journalism, where there seems to be three PR agencies for every media outlet. So, 2026 has begun with an eclectic lineup whose only similarity to recent eras of success is that everything emerging seems like a somewhat watered-down version of what we experienced during the past 15 years of glory. Hip hop today behaves like the man who turns 50 and decides hes going to go back to doing everything that made him happy when he had hair, his joints were well-oiled, and hangovers could be cured with a beer and an Alka-Seltzer. The problem is that wanting to re-experience what once made you happy is one thing, and actually achieving it is another. To kick off the year, J. Cole released The Fall-Off a few weeks ago, a double album defined by both ambition and futility. Curiously, both of these qualities are proposed by its creator, who has once again threatened to retire. Twelve years have passed since the magnificent 2014 Forest Hills Drive made him one of the most successful and interesting rappers (back then, it was still possible to be both) on the scene. His subsequent releases have received lukewarm reviews from critics. This new record comes marked by a near-beef with Kendrick Lamar, from which Cole wisely withdrew when he saw what the author of DAMN. was doing to Drake. Entrenched in his psyche, he has produced an album that, like almost all works of this magnitude, alternates the sublime with the translucent (see: the Sagrada Familia). He seems to want that vacant throne. He seems not to be taking it. Promotional portrait of A$AP Rocky. SONY MUSIC Another major figure of recent years, Denzel Curry, will release the first mixtape from The Scythe next week, a supergroup the Miami rapper has formed with A$AP Ferg, Bktherula, TiaCorine, and Key Nyata. The record picks up where Still in the Paint left off Currys collaboration with Bktherula from a couple of years ago and takes it to that unique blend of trap and punk that the artist behind Zuu has been building for years, making him one of the few truly special and combative voices left in the mainstream. Its unlikely to emulate the success of the other great supergroup of this century, Run The Jewels, but for now, March belongs to them. Mainly because, aside from J. Cole and Curry, the year so far has brought some rather uninspiring news, such as the umpteenth confirmation that A$AP Rocky has been and will continue to be a lightweight rapper with a hesitant stride. His attempts to achieve something resembling versatility on his new album, Dont Be Dumb, result in a nauseating eclecticism. His relevance remains confined to fashion weeks and Rihannas reels. Risky even in its journey through different styles and eras, but somewhat more successful is IDKs e.t.d.s., which, apart from being hell to type, is a mixtape that touches on everything from rap metal to the most autotuned trap, with notable collaborations from Black Thought or No ID and a story that narrates the sequence of events that led to him receiving a 15-year prison sentence for armed robbery. More innovative is By Storms My Ghosts Go Ghost, which is as close to experimental hip hop as it is to FKA Twigs or Anohni. It has its ideas and moments, but sometimes falls into the cliche of seeking originality by copying what has recently been hailed as original. That said, the best recent hip hop album was released on December 12, 2025. Its titled Light Years, took decades to complete, and is by two guys aged over 50 named Nas and DJ Premier. A wonderful album and a terrible omen. Any rock fan whos been here can confirm it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition India and the United Kingdom are set to deepen their security partnership, focusing on counter-terrorism efforts and combating organized crime, including addressing concerns related to pro-Khalistani extremism. Key Points India and the UK identified new areas for cooperation in counter-terrorism and organized crime. Concerns were raised by India regarding the security of Indian dignitaries and diplomatic missions in the UK. Both countries agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement for enhanced security cooperation. Discussions included addressing pro-Khalistani extremists and anti-India groups in the UK. Cooperation will extend to drug trafficking, migration, cyber security, and law enforcement. India and the United Kingdom on Friday identified new areas of mutual interests and synergies for proactive cooperation in counter terrorism and organised crime, including pro-Khalistani extremists in Britain. During the sixth India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) held here, India also raised its concerns over the breach of security of Indian dignitaries and diplomatic missions in the UK, according to an official statement. The Indian side was led by Dr Rajendra Kumar, Secretary (Border Management), while the UK delegation was led by Simon Ridley, Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office. Senior officials from both sides attended the discussions. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the existing level of cooperation and agreement to strengthen the bilateral engagement by maintaining the momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two nations. Areas of Enhanced Cooperation "During the meeting, both sides assessed the ongoing cooperation and identified further areas of mutual interests and synergies for proactive cooperation in counter terrorism and organised crimes, including Pro-Khalistani Extremists and the activities of anti-India groups in the UK, drug trafficking, migration, criminal justice and law enforcement cooperation, cyber security, among other issues," the statement said. Investigators suspect that funds allegedly collected for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections may have been diverted to finance the protest IMAGE: Indian Youth Congress workers stage a protest at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi, February 20, 2026. Photograph: Indian Youth Congress/ANI Video Grab Key Points The total number of arrests related to the AI Summit protest has reached 14. Delhi police are investigating the financial trail behind the protest, suspecting misuse of funds. Investigators are scrutinising bank accounts linked to the arrested individuals and the Indian Youth Congress. Funds allegedly collected for the Bihar assembly elections in 2025 may have been diverted to finance the AI Summit protest. The police arrested two more Indian Youth Congress workers from Delhi in connection with a 'shirtless' protest at the AI Summit, an officer said on Friday. The accused, identified as Girdhar and Kuber Meena, take the total number of arrests in the case to 14, the officer said. The Delhi police is also examining the financial trail behind the protest, which was staged during the high-profile summit earlier this week. Investigators suspect that funds allegedly collected for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections may have been diverted to finance the protest. A senior Delhi police officer said multiple bank accounts linked to the arrested accused are under scrutiny. The police suspect that funds originally collected for the 2025 Bihar assembly elections may have been diverted for the demonstration. One of the accused, Krishna Hari, secretary of Indian Youth Congress' (IYC) Bihar unit, allegedly received sums ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,00,000 on various occasions. "Questioning has indicated that the money may have been unused funds from the recent elections in Bihar. We are examining bank accounts and the possible money trail further to establish this," the officer said. Accounts associated with the IYC have also come under scrutiny as investigators track how and when the money was spent. According to the police, nearly Rs 35,000 was allegedly used for logistics, including printing T-shirts and placards. Printed umbrellas were also prepared but remained unused. Of the 14 people arrested so far, three were brought to Delhi from Himachal Pradesh on Thursday on transit remand following a standoff with the Shimla police. The protest, which involved participants removing their shirts inside the summit venue, allegedly caused heightened security concerns, prompting an investigation. An OP Jindal Global University professor faces suspension after allegedly comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Adolf Hitler, sparking a human rights complaint and university investigation. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Key Points An associate professor at OP Jindal Global University was suspended for allegedly comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Adolf Hitler. The suspension followed a complaint to the Haryana Human Rights Commission by a student's father, alleging harassment and discriminatory conduct. The complaint stated the student was allegedly harassed after writing an essay on 'URI: The Surgical Strike' that was not favored by the professor. The professor allegedly made politically derogatory remarks, comparing the Prime Minister to Adolf Hitler during a course on 'Politics of Representation'. The Haryana Human Rights Commission is investigating the matter and has sought reports from the Sonipat police commissioner and the university registrar. An associate professor of OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, has been suspended for one semester for allegedly comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Adolf Hitler. The faculty member was suspended after a student's father moved the Haryana Human Rights Commission, alleging that his son had been subjected to continuous harassment, humiliation and discriminatory conduct, affecting his mental well-being and academic performance. Vishav Bajaj, the father of student Vikhyaat Bajaj, a first-year undergraduate student, in his complaint last November, stated that his son, on October 31, wrote an essay on 'URI: The Surgical Strike' which was not liked by the teachers of the University. As a result, on November 3, his son was allegedly harassed during a class, Vishav Bajaj alleged. He alleged that on November 7, during a course titled 'Politics of Representation', taught by the associate professor, remarks were made that were "politically derogatory, inflammatory and deeply disturbing in nature." The remarks included "comparisons of the Prime Minister to Adolf Hitler, and characterisation of national security operations as mere gimmicks and branding exercises," he alleged. Since the son of the complainant had earlier praised the government of India, the prime minister, and the Indian Army, certain professors holding particular political views began deliberately targeting and victimising him. Vishav Bajaj said his son was, for his Uri essay, allegedly subjected to public humiliation in the classroom and failed in the subject. After his son wrote a written complaint to the university vice chancellor, an inquiry was conducted by the executive dean, who found that failing Vikhyaat Bajaj was unjustified. Consequently, the university revised the result and passed Vikhyaat Bajaj in the internal assessments. His father, in his complaint, claimed that the episode engendered resentment in some professors toward his son. He submitted that his son is presently suffering from mental and physical distress and is living under constant fear of retaliation, academic failure and institutional victimisation. University Response and Investigation Meanwhile, the university's chief communications officer, Anjoo Mohun, said, "As per the law, the matter is being heard by the HHRC and we are complying with their request. We are fully cooperating and complying with its directives as required." On January 16, the HHRC sought reports from the Sonipat police commissioner and the registrar of the university. The HHRC has directed the registrar to appear in person or to depute some other senior officer on May 13 in the matter. Kanpur Police's investigation into a robbery has unearthed a massive hawala network, exposing potential tax evasion and illegal financial activities involving crores of rupees. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Kanpur Police solved a robbery case and arrested six individuals, uncovering a significant hawala network. The investigation revealed suspected financial irregularities involving transactions worth crores of rupees. Police traced bank accounts and cash withdrawals suggesting potential tax evasion and illegal financial activities. The hawala network's connections extend to Delhi, Kashmir, and Nepal, indicating an interstate syndicate. Authorities plan to involve the Income Tax Department, GST authorities, Enforcement Directorate, and the Reserve Bank of India for further investigation. Kanpur Police has cracked an organised robbery case after the arrest of six people, two of them in an encounter, officials said on Friday. Interestingly, the probe has also unearthed an alleged hawala network running into crores of rupees. Officials said the arrests were made in relation to a robbery reported near the Shyam Nagar police outpost a fortnight ago. On February 15, Mohammad Wasid, a resident of Yashoda Nagar, and Arshad, a resident of Jajmau, were allegedly assaulted by motorcycle-borne assailants who fled with their bag containing Rs 8 lakh in cash. Following an investigation, police arrested four people -- Abdul Rehman, Shubhan Khan, Lareb Siddiqui and Mohammad Zeeshan -- in connection with the case on Thursday. A portion of the looted money was recovered from them. Two others -- Mohammad Yaseen and Mujahid, both residents of Beckonganj -- were arrested in an encounter later in the day, a police official said. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Satyajit Gupta, a police team was conducting routine vehicle checks at Ahirwan area late on Thursday night, when two men on a motorcycle attempted to flee when they were signalled to stop. "While trying to escape, the suspects -- Yaseen and Mujahid -- opened fire on the police. Police retaliated, injuring both of them in the leg. The duo was overpowered and arrested," Gupta said. The injured accused were admitted to Kanshiram hospital and will be produced before the court after treatment, Gupta said. Police have recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges and a motorcycle without a number plate from their possession, he added. According to police, members of the organised gang had conducted reconnaissance for several days before robbing Wasid and Arshad. Two gang members allegedly tracked the movement of cash and passed information to accomplices, who carried out the robbery. Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said Wasid and Arshad did not disclose the robbery initially and reported it as an accident involving the collision of two bikes. However, CCTV footage confirmed that a robbery had taken place, prompting the police to register an FIR and begin a parallel technical investigation. Hawala Network Uncovered In the course of this investigation, police uncovered suspected financial irregularities linked to a person identified as Mehfooz, a Jajmau resident who deals in scrap and leather business. The robbery victims were acting as carriers transporting cash for him, Lal told PTI. He said that nearly Rs 3.2 crore was withdrawn from a bank account on the day of the robbery, of which Wasid and Arshad were tasked to transport Rs 25 lakh. "We have traced 14 bank accounts linked to Mehfooz, with transactions worth around Rs 850 crore routed through a single bank over the last two-and-a-half years. Examination of 68 accounts across 12 banks has indicated cash withdrawals to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore, raising suspicion of tax evasion and illegal financial activity," Lal said. The movement of some suspects linked to this hawala network was traced to Delhi's Jama Masjid area, Kashmir and Nepal, suggesting an interstate syndicate, he said. "We have decided to alert the Income Tax Department, GST authorities, Enforcement Directorate and the Reserve Bank of India for further investigation into the suspected hawala operations," Lal asserted. He, however, clarified that the two men attacked during the robbery were only cash carriers and not part of the larger syndicate. The police commissioner has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the team that solved the case. Further investigation is underway. In a move to combat caste discrimination, the Karnataka government has opened a salon in Shingatalur village to ensure Dalits have equal access to haircutting services after facing denial from upper-caste residents. Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Karnataka government facilitates the opening of a salon in Shingatalur village after reports of caste-based discrimination against Dalits. Dalits in the village were allegedly denied haircuts by upper-caste residents, forcing them to seek services in neighboring villages. The salon was established through a joint effort by the Social Welfare Department, Taluk administration, Dalit organisations, and the Shivasharana Hadapada Appanna community. The initiative aims to promote social harmony and eradicate untouchability by ensuring equal access to basic services for all residents. A superstition related to Veerabhadreshwara Swamy was cited as the reason for denying haircutting services to Dalits during a specific time of the year. The Karnataka government has facilitated the opening of a salon at Shingatalur village in Gadag district after Dalits were allegedly denied hair-cutting services by upper-caste residents, sources in the Social Welfare Department said. According to department sources, Dalits in the village had been facing denial of tonsure services for several years during a particular time of the year, forcing them to travel to neighbouring villages for haircuts. Following representations from Dalit residents, the authorities intervened to address the issue. The barber shop has been set up jointly by the Social Welfare Department, the Taluk administration, the Taluk panchayat, a body of Dalit organisations and the Shivasharana Hadapada Appanna community. Basavaraj Hadapada from neighbouring Tippapur village has been allotted the shop to provide barber services in Shingatalur, the sources said. "The initiative has been taken under the untouchability eradication awareness and harmonious living programme to promote social harmony and ensure equal access to basic services," sources in the department said. Discrimination guided by superstition A belief reportedly prevailed in the village that Veerabhadreshwara Swamy visits the houses of the Hadapada community members during Mahanavami every year, and that cutting the hair of Dalits at that time would bring misfortune. "Citing this superstition, some individuals stopped offering services to Dalits," sources said. Following petitions submitted by the affected residents, officials stepped in and ensured that a permanent solution was put in place. The barber shop was formally opened in the presence of officials and villagers, sources in the Social Welfare Department said. Coming down heavily on the CBI, special judge Jitendra Singh refused to take cognisance of the CBI charge sheet against them. IMAGE: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Manish Sisodia. Photograph: @msisodiaX/ANI Photo Key Points A Delhi court discharged former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha, and 21 others in the liquor policy case. The court refused to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet, saying there was no 'overarching conspiracy or criminal intent' in the excise policy.. The judge criticised the CBI investigation, citing lack of cogent evidence, internal contradictions, misleading averments, and reliance on approver statements to build the case. Kejriwal termed the case the 'biggest political conspiracy' in Independent India; he had spent six months in jail, while Sisodia was jailed for two years. The CBI said it would immediately appeal the trial court's decision in the Delhi HC, arguing that several aspects of the probe were not adequately considered. A Delhi court on Friday discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically charged liquor policy case, pulling up the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by saying it found no 'overarching conspiracy or criminal intent' in the policy. Among the 21 people given a clean chit in the case is Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha. Coming down heavily on the CBI, special judge Jitendra Singh refused to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet against them. It also observed that the federal agency's case did not withstand judicial scrutiny, especially when the CBI sought to construct a narrative of conspiracy on mere conjecture. The CBI has been probing alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the erstwhile AAP government's now scrapped excise policy Judge finds faults with CBI chargesheet As news came in of the clean chit in the case that helped bring the Aam Aadmi Party government down, Kejriwal broke down and said the corruption case against him was the 'biggest political conspiracy' in the history of Independent India. "The court has proved that Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP are 'Kattar Imaandar'," the three-time chief minister said. While Kejriwal was in jail for six months in the case, Sisodia was behind bars for two years. The probe agency said it would immediately appeal in the Delhi high court against the trial court judgement. "Several aspects of probe have been either ignored or not considered adequately," a spokesperson said. Rapping the CBI for lapses in the investigation, the judge said there was no cogent evidence against Kejriwal and there was no prima facie case against Sisodia and the other accused. There was no "overarching conspiracy or criminal intent" in the excise policy, it said. Underscoring 'some misleading averments', the judge said in his strongly worded ruling that the voluminous chargesheet had several lacunas not corroborated by evidence or witnesses. "... The chargesheet suffers from internal contradictions, striking at the root of conspiracy theory," he said. He said that in the absence of any evidence, the allegations against Kejriwal could not be sustained and that the former chief minister was implicated without any evidence. This, the judge said, was inconsistent with the rule of law. On Sisodia, the judge said there was no material on record showing his involvement, nor was any recovery made from him. It also rapped the agency for building its case through approver statements. "If such conduct is allowed, it would be a grave violation of the Constitutional principles. The conduct where an accused is granted pardon and then made an approver, his statements used to fill the gaps in the investigation/narrative and make additional people accused is wrong," the court said. The other accused discharged are Kuldeep Singh, Narender Singh, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Mootha Goutam, Sameer Mahendru, Amandeep Singh Dhall, Arjun Pandey, Butchibabu Gornatla, Rakesh Joshi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Prince Kumar, Chanpreet Singh Rayat, Arvind Kumar Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Chadra Reddy. Idukki (Kerala), Feb 27 (PTI) A 25-year-old man has been sentenced by a Kerala court to a cumulative 30 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at a theatre in Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu in 2022 by luring her there on the promise of a job. Idukki Painav Fast Track Court Judge Nobel D S sentenced Muhammad Riyas, a native of Tiruppur, to a total of 30 years under various provisions of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on his, special public prosecutor (SPP) Shijomon Joseph said. The SPP said that the convict will have to serve only 15 years in jail as it was the highest punishment given to him and all the sentences have to be undergone concurrently. The court also recommended that the District Legal Service Authority provide adequate compensation to the girl, who lives near Marayoor here. Riyas and the girl met over the phone and started talking regularly, the prosecutor said, adding that the accused lured her to Tiruppur on the promise of a job. When she reached there by bus, he took her to a theatre which did not see many customers and sexually assaulted her there, the SPP said. Following a missing person complaint by the girl's father, she was traced to Tiruppur and both of them, including the accused, were brought to Kerala, the prosecutor said. It was during the recording of her statement that the crime was revealed, he said. The court examined 35 witnesses and perused 41 documents to find the accused guilty of sexually assaulting the girl, the prosecutor said. The Kerala High Court has cleared the path for the release of 'The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond' by overturning a prior stay order, emphasizing the censor board's role and the state's responsibility to maintain public order. IMAGE: A poster of the controversial movie, 'The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond'. Photograph: X Key Points The high court found the initial stay was based on limited evidence without viewing the entire film. The film's producer argued that the movie does not harm Kerala or any religious community and portrays a social evil. The High Court emphasized the state's duty to maintain public order if any issues arise from the film's release. The court acknowledged that the CBFC had already made insertions, excisions and modifications to the movie. The Kerala high court on Friday paved the way for the release of The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond film by staying the single judge order which had put on hold the movie's screening by 15 days. A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the interim order on the appeal moved by the film's producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah late Thursday night, hours after the movie's release was stayed. In its order the bench said that the single judge's finding that guidelines for certification have not been borne in mind by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) were "merely on the basis of a few clippings and without viewing the movie" and therefore, it "cannot be countenanced". "That apart, the fact that insertions, excisions and modifications, have been carried out by the appellant (Shah) in the movie as per the directions of the CBFC would only further reinforce the fact that there is an application of mind from the part of Board while granting the certificate," the bench said. It further said that once a certificate has been issued, there is, prima facie, a presumption that the authority concerned has taken into account all the guidelines, including public order. "... if, due to the release of the movie, any issue of public order arises, it is the duty of the state to maintain it," the bench said. The court also said that this presumption includes that the film has been judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impacts, by taking into consideration the principles enunciated in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the relevant guidelines. "In such circumstances, merely on the basis of a few clippings and without viewing the movie, the finding of the single judge that the guidelines for certification have not been borne in mind by the CBFC while granting certification, cannot be countenanced. "In the light of the afore discussions, we are of the view that the impugned order dated February 26, 2026 interdicting the release of the movie is only to be stayed and we do so. Ordered accordingly," the bench said. Shah in his appeal had claimed that the film does not harm or denigrate the state of Kerala or any religious community. "The film only portrays a social evil," his lawyers had told the court. He had also contended that if the film's release was put on hold, it would "financially finish" the producers as the movie is set to be screened in 1,500 theatres in India and over 300 abroad on February 27. The single judge had stayed the release of the film on the ground that prima facie there was a manifest non-application of mind to the requirement of law by the censor board, CBFC. The judge also said that "the possibility of communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie", its release without scrutiny by the higher authorities would be legally improper. The court had further said that the content of the film's teaser has "a prima facie potential to distort public perception and disturb communal harmony". A Kerala court sentenced a 41-year-old man to 53 years in prison under the POCSO Act for the aggravated sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, highlighting the severity of crimes against children. Photograph: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay Key Points A Kerala court sentenced Muhammed Reyhan to 53 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2023. The sentence was delivered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the IPC. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2.1 lakh on the convict. The sexual assault occurred in August 2023, and the crime was reported to the child line through the girl's school teacher. A Kerala court on Friday sentenced a 41-year-old man to a cumulative 53 years imprisonment for the aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl at her residence near Perambra here in 2023. Nadapuram Fast Track Special Court Judge Devan K Menon sentenced Muhammed Reyhan under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the IPC for a cumulative 53 years, special public prosecutor (SPP) Manoj Aroor said. As the sentences have to be served concurrently and the highest of the punishments was for 20 years of imprisonment, he will have to serve that, SPP Aroor said. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2.1 lakh on the convict, the SPP said. Details of the Crime The incidents of sexual assault occurred in August 2023 at the victim's residence and information about it was communicated to the child line through the girl's school teacher, the prosecutor said. The child line informed the police which recorded the girl's statement. The accused was a hotel worker and carried out the crime while he was undergoing treatment for an injury. Although he had applied for bail several times, Reyhan was denied the relief considering the seriousness of the case and the prosecution's arguments, the SPP said. Prosecution's Case During the trial, the prosecution examined 13 witnesses, presented 21 documents and produced 4 pieces of evidence to ensure the conviction, he said. Four Kerala police officials have been suspended after an inquiry confirmed allegations of custodial torture during the investigation of a motorcycle theft, highlighting concerns about police misconduct and human rights. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points Four Kerala police officials suspended after allegations of custodial torture during a motorcycle theft investigation. An inquiry revealed that the arrested suspects, Jinu and Unni, were allegedly assaulted while in police custody. Jinu suffered serious kidney dysfunction and is in critical condition after being remanded in judicial custody. The Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner ordered the suspension and a departmental probe after the inquiry confirmed custodial assault and procedural lapses. The incident raises concerns about police conduct and adherence to arrest procedures in Kerala. Four officials of the Fort Police Station here have been suspended in connection with an alleged custodial torture incident, police said on Friday. The suspended personnel are Grade Sub-Inspector Sreekumar and Civil Police Officers Siju, Sunil and Gireesh. Last week, Fort Police registered a case after a motorcycle was allegedly found stolen near a hotel here. During the investigation, police identified two Kottayam natives, Jinu and Unni, as suspects. Jinu was later taken into custody from Kochi, which led to the apprehension of Unni and a minor boy, officials said. After initial interrogation, the minor was released. However, family members of Jinu and Unni alleged that they were brutally assaulted while in custody. After being remanded in judicial custody, Jinu's condition reportedly worsened. He was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital and later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, officials said. Police officials said Jinu suffered serious kidney dysfunction and remains in critical condition. Unni was also admitted to the hospital with injuries, officials added. Inquiry and Suspension Following allegations of custodial torture, Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner K Karthick ordered an inquiry by an Assistant Commissioner to ascertain whether custodial assault had taken place. Police said the inquiry found that custodial assault had occurred and that arrest procedures were not properly followed. Based on the report, the City Police Commissioner ordered the suspension of the four officers and initiated a departmental probe against them, police said. The author of Satantango speaks in Barcelona about his country, the Shoah, his favorite authors and the filmmaker Bela Tarr: I dont offer hope, although I dont take it away either Haloed by the Nobel Prize in Literature and by the wisps of white hair that along with his gray beard and piercing blue eyes give him the air of an apostle or prophet, the Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai,72, greets us in the bar of the Alma Hotel after having indulged the day before in an unusual public appearance for an author as refined and demanding as he is at the Center for Contemporary Culture in Barcelona (CCCB). The author of Satantango and The Melancholy of Resistance is dressed entirely in black and looks surprisingly tanned; he is also in excellent spirits and appears approachable and affable, though his mood darkens when he speaks about the political situation in his country. Placing a copy of his book Spadework for a Palace, featuring a bookseller with the same name as Herman Melville, on the table serves to kick off the conversation by recalling a discussion we held in 2024 in Marrakech at the Formentor Literary Conversations about the meaning of the whale that appears in The Melancholy of Resistance. Question. You denied back then, up to three times, that the whale was a symbol of anything, not of Moby Dick, not of Stalinism, not of greed, not of chaos Answer. And I maintain that nothing in my work is symbolic; I dont like symbols in literature, nor parables, although I have a soft spot for French Symbolist poetry. I hold that book, Spadework, in high regard because it features Melville, Malcolm Lowry, who is one of my favorite authors, and the innovative and visionary American experimental architect Lebbeus Woods. Lebbeus is a biblical name, by the way. Q. So then, asking you if literature is a tango with the devil A. It is for the characters in Satantango. There are happier dances like flamenco, even though it also deals with passion and the devil is also present; you can feel the devils influence in flamenco. But in my novel, tango is simply the dance they do there while they wait for a miracle. Its that and nothing more. Q. Is it then just realism? A. Realism is a word associated with a certain era; its not what I do. What is realism? The truth is, there isnt exactly such a thing. If you think about it, even with something as objective as a car accident, witnesses will give different accounts. When you talk about sentimental or emotional relationships, as I do, you cant say whats real and what isnt. You cant present a situation from a single, correct point of view: what would it be? In fact, its a radical shift in the concept of reality, or rather, the disappearance of reality itself. Q. What are you trying to tell the reader? Some people are left somewhat bewildered by your books. A. First, I try to convince people not to read me, and I mean it, honestly. I dont offer hope, although I dont take it away either. Mine arent cookbooks, obviously. You cant cook a good meal with them. Theyre like a paella I made once. It turned out badly; I had all the ingredients for paella, but the combination just didnt work, and it even made me feel sick. But if someone, despite everything, decides to read my books, I advise them not to believe anything thats been said about them. The bit about them being difficult to read. Its true that I use unusually long sentences [in fact, he uses only one in 400 pages in Herscht 07769, about a character who wants to warn Angela Merkel about the end of the world while working as a graffiti cleaner for an amateur neo-Nazi orchestra conductor]. Its like when you keep a secret for a long time and suddenly blurt it out: How I love you, Lucia, and Ill always love you, and the whole avalanche that follows; you cant say it in short sentences. The fact that I usually write from that passion for storytelling makes it impossible to use a period. Anyway, it just occurred to me: does anyone care about all this? Who cares how a book is made? Wed be surprised if Samuel Beckett explained how Waiting for Godot came about. I dont think he had an idea; it just came out that way. Honestly, I cant say more. I have something in my head, I put it together, and I write it. And if the reader is having a bad day, they buy the book. Q. If you put it that way A. The important thing is for the reader to recognize themselves. How fragile their own dignity is. To realize that this dignity is the last thing that can be taken from them, but that it can be taken. Thats where my friend Bela Tarr and I differed. He believed that a person could not be stripped of their dignity. A scene from 'Werckmeister Harmonies' by Bela Tarr, about 'The Melancholy of Resistance.' Alamy Stock Photo Q. Do you feel an affinity with the Hungarian world? A. Hungarianness I was born Hungarian, my mother tongue is Hungarian. Hungarianness, I fight against it as much as possible. Why exchange being a citizen of the world for being only Hungarian? My relationship with being Hungarian is like the one you have with a stone on the riverbank. We dont know why its like that. Why wasnt I born Albanian or Slovak? Far be it from me to ideologize the fact of being from any nation, from Hungary specifically. There are always surges of populism, people who are proud of being Hungarian, of the homeland. Am I proud of the chair Im sitting in? Its very damaging how people talk about the homeland in relation to reality. Origin doesnt have much to do with anything. Certainly, those who speak like me are hated. I like the Hungarian language; I feel very fortunate that my mother tongue is capable of expressing such subtle nuances. But I respect other languages equally and understand that they are cared for, like the Catalan language, in which I have an editor. Q. Im getting a sense that you are not really into hussars, Esterhazys, Abadys, sabers A. [Laughs heartily] You can only laugh at all that. That is, until their supporters catch you in the street and beat you to a pulp. You ask me about the hussars, the homeland, and I keep talking about language. Its not a coincidence. My Hungary is the Hungary of language, not the Hungary of the hussars. Ive become so detached from the Hungarian world, from that concept of Hungarianness infected with stupidity. Horrible things happen in all states that are exposed to populism, but nothing equals, in intensity and brutality, what is happening in Hungary. That capacity for manipulation, a source of infection. Hungary is no longer a country; its a madhouse from which the doctors have already departed, and where the patients play at being doctors on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Q. History tells us that Hungary always seems to make mistakes at crucial moments. The Treaty of Trianon has weighed heavily. A. It always makes mistakes at historical crossroads, it always chooses the wrong path. When I said in an interview that I didnt understand why Hungarians are always so proud of their battles, which they always lose, I was attacked by the far right. Theres no point in arguing. Even people who seem very intelligent are prisoners of ideology. All of this takes us back to the animal world, when what we should really want is to elevate ourselves as human beings. Its not about accepting or rejecting traditions; few people are more conservative than I am in accepting them from an intellectual standpoint. But, as a Hungarian saying goes, we grind in two very different mills, and bread will never come from their flour. And that has built a sick society, these psychological wounds that could be healed in a different way. Q. Despite having Jewish roots, the Shoah, the Holocaust, does not appear in your literature. A. Its present. Anti-Semitism, racism, criminal stupidity... theyre in my books, in The Melancholy of Resistance, in Satantango... Petty-bourgeois Nazism... Q. But not explicitly. A. I havent written specifically about the Shoah because Imre Kertesz [his Hungarian predecessor in the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 2002], who was a very good friend of mine, already did that. I couldnt write about it any better. And its very dangerous to do so; there are so many kitsch works about the Shoah Laszlo Krasznahorkai, at the Alma Hotel. GIANLUCA BATTISTA Q. How was it to win the Nobel Prize? A. Very unexpected for me. I dont belong to the group of people who sit in front of the screen on the first Thursday of October, watching a closed door and waiting for it to open and a name to be announced. It was very difficult to accept being placed alongside so many names I admireFaulkner! I still dont know what to do with the Nobel Prize. Its something that lifts you to a height where theres no oxygen, and my lungs need it; its a great honor for me. It was courageous of them to choose me, because Ive always told a story of failures in my books. Q. Has Bela Tarrs cinema influenced the reading of your work? Has it somehow stolen your thunder? A. No, no, Bela never took anything from me, I gave him everything. Look, a book is a book, a novel is a novel, Bela and I worked together, we decided everything together. I helped him with everything he needed. I even convinced him to use things he didnt want to use. But on a ship theres a captain and then theres everyone else. Many writers dont tolerate that well, so they shouldnt go into filmmaking. Film has very cruel rules, and theyre necessary. Q. Kafka and Malcolm Lowry are special to you. A. There are many writers I admire; these arent the only ones by any means, but its true that without Kafka, without The Castle, I wouldnt be a writer. And I owe a great deal to Lowry as well. Its not a matter of choosing. I encourage everyone to open themselves up and read more authors. If we continue like this, were heading toward a world where individual survival strategies will play a decisive role. Q. In a way, you are also one of the big K writers. A. Hahaha, an L.K. Q. Allow me a frivolous question, are you familiar with that other Laszlo, Almasy, the real Hungarian explorer and the one from the novel and the film? A. Yes, although hes better known outside of Hungary. A very special and colorful fellow. It would be worthwhile for Hungarians to get to know him better, but Im afraid it wouldnt help either. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A 20-year-old man in Palghar, Maharashtra, faces charges for allegedly abetting the suicide of a college student after refusing to marry her when she became pregnant, highlighting the tragic consequences of broken promises and online relationships. Key Points A 20-year-old man in Palghar has been booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 19-year-old college student. The victim allegedly died by suicide after the accused refused to marry her and entered into another relationship. The accused and the victim reportedly met on an online gaming platform and established a physical relationship. The victim's mother filed a complaint alleging her daughter was pregnant and distressed after the accused refused marriage. A medical report confirmed the deceased was pregnant at the time of her death. A case has been registered against a 20-year-old man in connection with the suicide of a college student who had allegedly been in a relationship with him in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Friday. The 19-year-old woman died by suicide by jumping in front of a local train at Virar railway station on January 29, an official said. Based on a complaint lodged by the woman's mother, a case under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against the accused, a resident of Washim, he said. Details of the Case According to the police, the accused befriended the victim on an online gaming platform last year and allegedly established a physical relationship with her on the promise of marriage. The victim's mother, in her complaint, alleged that her daughter became pregnant and was distressed after the accused refused to marry her and entered into another relationship. The medical report confirmed that the deceased was pregnant at the time of her death, the official added. In a shocking incident in Andhra Pradesh, a newly married man was allegedly killed in an honor killing by his wife's brothers, highlighting the persistence of such crimes in certain regions. Key Points A newly married man in Dwarapudi village, Andhra Pradesh, was allegedly killed by his wife's brothers in a suspected honor killing. The victim, Surya Prakash, was attacked after marrying Sandhya, with whom he had a long-term relationship. The wife's brothers reportedly disapproved of the marriage due to the groom's unemployment and perceived trapping of their sister. Police have registered a case and are searching for the accused brothers who are currently at large. In a suspected case of honour killing, a newly married man was killed by his wife's brothers in Dwarapudi village of East Godavari district, a police official said on Friday. Rajamahendravaram East Zone Deputy Superintendent of Police B Vidhya said Surya Prakash was attacked late on Thursday where he had married Sandhya earlier in the day. "A newly married man was killed in what appears to be an honour killing after his wife's brothers attacked him with stones in Dwarapudi village on Thursday night," Vidhya told PTI. The couple, in their early 40s, belong to the BC community. They have both known each other since Class 10. The woman's brothers attacked Prakash, suspecting that their sister was trapped in marriage as he was unemployed and was helping in his father's business, Vidhya said. Sandhya works in the local Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) office in East Godavari district, she said. The families of the couple were not aware of the wedding until the pictures were shared, a police official said. The bride had shared her wedding pictures with her brothers in the afternoon and expected them to visit the groom's residence, Vidhya said. When the couple reached the groom's house in Dwarapudi village late at night, it was locked as his father, who runs a clothes business in the village, was not at home. While the couple were waiting outside, the woman's two brothers allegedly attacked Prakash with stones, leading to his death, police added. Police registered a case under BNS Section 103 (1) and initiated further investigation. The accused are at large and police have deployed special teams to trace and apprehend them, Vidhya said. A newly married man in Andhra Pradesh was tragically killed in a suspected honor killing, highlighting the persistence of such crimes rooted in family disapproval of marriage. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A man in Andhra Pradesh was allegedly killed by his wife's brothers in a suspected honor killing after marrying against their wishes. The victim, Surya Prakash, was attacked with stones by his wife's brothers in Dwarapudi village, East Godavari district. The woman's brothers disapproved of the marriage because the man was unemployed and they suspected he trapped their sister. Police have registered a case and are searching for the accused brothers who are currently at large. In a suspected case of honour killing, a newly married man was killed by his wife's brothers in Dwarapudi village of East Godavari district, a police official said on Friday. Rajamahendravaram East Zone Deputy Superintendent of Police B Divya said Surya Prakash was attacked late on Thursday where he had married Sandhya earlier in the day. "A newly married man was killed in what appears to be an honour killing after his wife's brothers attacked him with stones in Dwarapudi village on Thursday night," Divya told PTI. The couple, in their early 40s, belong to the BC community. They have both known each other since Class 10. The woman's brothers attacked Prakash, suspecting that their sister was trapped in marriage as he was unemployed and was helping in his father's business, Divya said. Sandhya works in the local Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) office in East Godavari district, she said. The families of the couple were not aware of the wedding until the pictures were shared, a police official said. The bride had shared her wedding pictures with her brothers in the afternoon and expected them to visit the groom's residence, Divya said. When the couple reached the groom's house in Dwarapudi village late at night, it was locked as his father, who runs a clothes business in the village, was not at home. While the couple were waiting outside, the woman's two brothers allegedly attacked Prakash with stones, leading to his death, police added. Police registered a case under BNS Section 103 (1) and initiated further investigation. The accused are at large and police have deployed special teams to trace and apprehend them, Divya said. Mumbai Police are investigating a stalking incident after a foreign YouTuber shared a disturbing video of two men persistently harassing her for photos, highlighting the importance of respecting personal boundaries and tourist safety. Key Points A foreign tourist, Ines Faria, posted a video on social media showing two men stalking her in Mumbai and repeatedly asking for photos. The Mumbai Police have registered a case of stalking against the two men under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The incident occurred in south Mumbai, and the police are currently trying to identify and trace the accused. The tourist reported feeling uncomfortable and overwhelmed by the men's persistent behavior, emphasizing that 'no' means no. Joint Commissioner of Police has assured that proper legal action will be taken against the accused. A woman traveller from a foreign country shared a disturbing experience on social media, posting a video of two men constantly following her on a Mumbai street and asking for photos with her despite her persistent refusal, prompting the police to file a case of stalking against the duo. The incident took place in south Mumbai during the day time, a police official said on Friday, without giving details of its exact time and place. The woman, identified as Ines Faria, is a YouTuber who has been travelling in India for the past two months. In the video she posted on Instagram, two men can be seen persistently going behind her and asking for photos with her. They continued to follow her for nearly 15 minutes even as she repeatedly declined. The police official said the two men followed her and kept asking for photographs with her despite her refusal. Although the faces of the two men have been captured in the video, their exact identity is yet to be ascertained, the police said. In a note posted along with the video on the Instagram page, Faria wrote, "This was the first time something like this happened to me in India, and I have been here for two months now. Most of my experience has been beautiful, kind and welcoming. But this day was different." "They kept following us, asking for photos even after I said no multiple times. I did not feel comfortable, and they were super pushy. They followed us around for over 15 minutes and it started to feel really overwhelming. At some point I had to physically push them away just to create space. Just a reminder that "no" is a full sentence," she said. The case against the duo was registered at the Agripada police station under sections o78 (1) (stalking) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and no arrest has been made so far. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chowdhary said the local police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) have launched an investigation. "They are already on the job. Proper legal action will be taken," he said. Police are currently trying to trace the accused. A judge in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, faced threats from two men immediately after sentencing them to life in prison for a murder conviction, prompting increased security measures. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pexels.com Key Points Two men in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly threatened a judge after receiving life sentences for a murder conviction. Jaideep and Pintu Chauhan were convicted of the murder of Pukhraj, who was killed in May 2024. The convicts threatened the judge, stating they knew his residence and would not spare him. Security has been increased for the judge following the threats. Two men allegedly threatened a judge with violence soon after being sentenced to life imprisonment here, officials said on Friday. On Thursday, Jaideep and Pintu Chauhan were convicted of the murder of Pukhraj, who was run over by a car on May 19, 2024, Assistant District Government Counsel Ajit Pawar said. Additional District and Sessions Judge (IV) Nijendra Kumar sentenced them to life imprisonment. Judge's security increased Soon after the sentence was pronounced, the convicts threatened the judge, saying they knew where he lived and would not spare him, Pawar said. Circle Officer Sangram Singh said security for the judge has been enhanced following the threat. Pukhraj was killed in Mataura Durg village under the Dhampur area. An NSUI leader's allegation of assault by a BJP MLA's aides near the Rajasthan Assembly has sparked outrage and an ongoing police investigation in Jaipur. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points NSUI leader Anil Saran alleges assault and threats by aides of BJP MLA Rewant Ram Danga near the Rajasthan Assembly. An FIR has been filed at the Jyoti Nagar police station, and an investigation is underway. The complaint alleges that 8-10 individuals abused, manhandled, and threatened Saran after summoning him. Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot condemned the alleged assault and urged the state government to take strict action. The incident raises concerns about the safety of individuals visiting MLA housing premises in Jaipur. An NSUI leader has lodged an FIR alleging that he was assaulted and threatened by the aides of a BJP legislator near the MLA residences close to the Rajasthan Assembly. According to the complaint filed by Anil Saran, the state general secretary of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, the incident occurred on Thursday when he went to meet a Congress leader in the MLA flats. Saran alleged that while he was present at the MLA flats, he received a call from a person claiming to be the social media in-charge of Khimsar BJP MLA Rewant Ram Danga, asking him to come downstairs. When he went down, 8-10 persons allegedly abused, manhandled and threatened Saran, the complaint claimed. Saran named Ravindra Danga, Surendra Danga and a driver among those present, alleging that they caught him by the collar, pushed him and threatened him with dire consequences. The FIR was registered at the Jyoti Nagar police station on Thursday night. Police said a probe has been launched into the complaint. Political Reactions to the Alleged Assault Condemning the alleged assault, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, "The supporters of a BJP MLA were involved in the incident. If such incidents occur within the MLA housing premises, common people going there to meet their elected representatives would feel insecure." The veteran leader also urged the state government to take immediate cognisance of the matter and ensure strict action against the accused. Following alleged border attacks, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq targeting Afghan Taliban positions, signaling a firm stance against cross-border aggression and a commitment to national security. IMAGE: Military vehicles move on a road in a location given as Nangarhar, Afghanistan, in this screengrab from a handout video released on February 26, 2026. Photograph: Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence/Handout via Reuters Key Points Pakistan initiated 'Operation Ghazab lil Haq' in response to alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, resulting in significant casualties. Pakistani officials report the destruction of numerous Afghan Taliban posts, headquarters, and military equipment in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar. Pakistani leaders, including President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif, assert the nation's commitment to defending its sovereignty and responding decisively to aggression. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accuses the Afghan Taliban of becoming a proxy for India and fostering terrorism after the withdrawal of NATO forces. Pakistan emphasises that its patience has run out and that it will not compromise on national security in the face of Afghan Taliban aggression. Pakistan on Friday said it was in an "open war" with Afghanistan after its forces killed more than 270 Taliban fighters and injured over 400 others in airstrikes in response to what Islamabad described as the cross-border attack by the Afghan Taliban. Afghanistan's Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and targeted what he described as "important military objectives" inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban attacked several check posts along the border late Thursday, apparently to avenge the air strikes carried out by Pakistan in Afghanistan's border areas on Sunday. Pakistan responded by hitting targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia under 'Operation Ghazab lil Haq' early Friday. The 2,611-km-long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is known as the Durand Line, which Kabul has not formally recognised. "Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war between us...Now it will be 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'. Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs," Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a post on X. 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar' refers to a spiritual song associated with the Sindhi sufi saint Lal Shehbaz Qalandar. The phrase literally means "every breath is ecstasy of Qalandar', but in common parlance, it refers to acting impulsively without considering the consequences. Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani forces "killed 274 Taliban personnel and khwarij, while another 400 were injured." Twelve Pakistani soldiers were killed, while 27 others injured, and one was missing in action, he added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where he was given a detailed briefing on the current situation, Chaudhry said. According to a handout by the PM Office, Shehbaz said that zero tolerance should be adopted against the nexus between the Afghan Taliban and 'Fitna al Khawarij' and its malicious actions. The term 'Fitna al Khawarij' is used for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "The Afghan Taliban, who are A master proxy, launched unprovoked attacks at 53 locations in 15 sectors along the border in coordination with terrorists," Chaudhry said, adding that Pakistan served an effective "brutal response" to the attacks. The spokesperson said Pakistan destroyed 73 Afghan posts along the border while capturing another 18 posts, which are "in our possession". He said that a conservative estimate showed that at least 115 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and artillery pieces were destroyed. He said the Afghan Taliban Corps Headquarters, Brigade Headquarters, Battalion Headquarters, and weapon depots were also destroyed in air attacks when jets hit targets at 22 places in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, and Laghman. Taliban government spokesman Mujahid said that the recent strikes were intended to send a clear message that "our hand can reach their collar," adding that any "malicious act" by Pakistan would be answered "in Islamabad." Mujahid said that during last night's retaliatory operations, 19 Pakistani military posts and two headquarters were seized. He claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured, Tolo News reported. "Afghan forces recovered weapons, ammunition, one tank and a military transport vehicle. 13 Islamic Emirate soldiers were killed and 22 others wounded in the fighting," he said. Mujahid reiterated that Afghanistan seeks peaceful relations with neighbouring countries, including Pakistan and India. "Our good relations with India are not directed against Pakistan," he said, emphasising that the Emirate "has never been under the control of any country." Chaudhry said that the Taliban came armed with quad-copters and small and big weapons, but the response by Pakistan was so effective that they were repulsed completely at all 53 places and "we gave effective response to target all 53 places". He said that the Afghan Taliban should choose between Pakistan and the terrorists. "You have been hearing this lie since last nightaAt no place was any civilian infrastructure targeted. These are all military targets," he said. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with his Turkish and Saudi counterparts and exchanged views on the current situation. During talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, "both leaders emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged on evolving developments," the Foreign Office said. Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan "reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged," it added. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year signed a joint defence agreement, pledging to come to the aid of each other in case of attacks by a third country. China and Russia also expressed concern over the escalation and called on both sides to resolve their differences through diplomatic means, and reach a ceasefire as soon as possible to avoid more suffering. "The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. They will have to face serious consequences. We will not allow our security to be compromised," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said. President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan would not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. "Our armed forces' response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response - and no one will be beyond reach," he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistani forces "are fully capable of crushing any aggressive ambitions." "There will be no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland and every aggression will be met with a befitting reply," he added. Defence Minister Asif said that following the withdrawal of NATO forces, there was an expectation of peace in Afghanistan, with the Taliban focusing on the development of the Afghan people and regional stability. "However, the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India. They gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism," he alleged, without providing any evidence in support of his claim. "They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women." Asif said that Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries, and it also engaged in full-fledged diplomacy, but the "Taliban became a proxy for India". "Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, our forces are giving a decisive response," he said. The Afghan Taliban has blamed the Pakistani army's aggressive actions, including airstrikes on Kabul, for the escalation of the conflict." Amid escalating tensions, Pakistan has declared an 'open war' with Afghanistan following airstrikes targeting Taliban fighters, raising concerns about regional stability and prompting international calls for de-escalation. Key Points Pakistan declares an 'open war' with Afghanistan after conducting airstrikes against Taliban targets in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. Pakistan's Defence Minister accuses the Afghan Taliban of acting as a proxy for India and harboring terrorists. Afghanistan claims its forces retaliated, inflicting casualties on Pakistani soldiers and capturing military posts. China and Russia express concern and urge both Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue. Pakistan alleges that over 130 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and significant military infrastructure was destroyed in the airstrikes. Pakistan on Friday said it considers itself in an "open war" with Afghanistan, as its forces killed more than 130 Taliban fighters in airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia in response to what Islamabad described as the cross-border attack by the Afghan Taliban. The 2,611-km-long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is known as the Durand Line, which Kabul has not formally recognised. "Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war between us...Now it will be 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'. Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs," Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a post on X. His comments came hours after Pakistani forces launched attacks on multiple locations in Afghanistan under 'Operation Ghazab lil Haq' late Thursday night in response to what it claimed was "unprovoked firing" from across the border. 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar' refers to a spiritual song associated with the Sindhi sufi saint Lal Shehbaz Qalandar. The phrase literally means "every breath is ecstasy of Qalandar', but in common parlance, it refers to acting impulsively without considering the consequences. Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence said in a statement that 55 soldiers of Pakistan's military regime were killed in the retaliatory operations by Afghan forces along the Durand Line, Tolo News reported. It added that during the operations, two headquarters and 19 check posts of the military regime were captured by Afghan forces. Diplomatic Efforts and International Response Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with his Turkish and Saudi counterparts to exchange views on the current situation. During talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Dar "underscored that Pakistan responded befittingly to unprovoked Afghan aggression," said the Foreign Office. "Both leaders emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged on evolving developments," the FO said. Dar discussed with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan the recent regional developments, including the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, it said. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the region and agreed to stay closely engaged, it added. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year signed a joint defence agreement, pledging to come to the aid of each other in case of attacks by a third country. China and Russia also expressed concern over the escalation and called on both sides to resolve their differences through diplomatic means. China, which maintains close ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan through a tripartite mechanism, called on both sides to exercise calm and restraint, properly resolve their differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and realise a ceasefire as soon as possible to avoid more suffering. Details of the Military Operation Providing an update on the operation, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 others injured. "Afghan Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties," he said, adding that at least 27 posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed, and nine other posts were captured. He claimed that two corps headquarters of the Afghan Taliban, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, and more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel vehicles had been destroyed. State broadcaster PTV News reported that the Pakistan Air Force targeted the Afghan Taliban's important military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Pakistan's armed forces had responded befittingly to the open aggression by the Afghan Taliban. "The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians," he was quoted as saying by the interior ministry. "The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. They will have to face serious consequences. We will not allow our security to be compromised," Naqvi added. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan would not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. "Our armed forces' response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response - and no one will be beyond reach," Zardari said. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistani forces "are fully capable of crushing any aggressive ambitions." "There will be no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland and every aggression will be met with a befitting reply," he added. "The Pakistani armed forces are equipped with professional capabilities, high training and effective defence strategies and are fully capable of dealing with any internal or external challenge," Shehbaz said.Pakistan's Justification for the Actions Defence Minister Asif said that following the withdrawal of NATO forces, there was an expectation of peace in Afghanistan, with the Taliban focusing on the development of the Afghan people and regional stability. "However, the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India. They gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism," he alleged, without providing any evidence in support of his claim. "They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women." Asif said that Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries, and it also engaged in full-fledged diplomacy, but the "Taliban became a proxy for India". "Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, our forces are giving a decisive response," he said. The Afghan Taliban has blamed the Pakistani army's aggressive actions, including airstrikes on Kabul, for the escalation of the conflict. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar is urging an impartial investigation into the death of an accused in the Gurdaspur policemen murder case, addressing concerns about the legitimacy of the police encounter and demanding transparency. Key Points Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar demands an impartial probe into the death of Ranjit Singh, an accused in the Gurdaspur policemen murder case, amid questions surrounding the police encounter. Jakhar emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability, stating that the police's version of events is creating doubts among the public and raising concerns about the government's credibility. The demand for an impartial inquiry stems from concerns about potential human rights violations and the history of alleged staged encounters in Punjab. Jakhar highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law, emphasizing that even if someone is guilty, the authority to punish lies with the courts, not the police. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Friday sought an impartial probe into the death of Ranjit Singh, one of the three accused in the murder of two policemen in Gurdaspur, in an encounter with police. His statement came amid questions raised by Ranjit's family over the encounter. To prove its credibility, the Punjab government should order a probe into the encounter, Jakhar said. He said the version being put forward by the police is creating doubts among the public and is raising serious questions about the credibility of the government and the police. "The government has lost the trust of the people, and citizens are no longer able to believe what it says. Therefore, to restore its lost credibility, it is essential for the government to come forward and order an impartial inquiry," Jakhar said here. Ranjit, a resident of Adhian village here, was one of the three accused in the murder of two policemen in Gurdaspur. He was shot dead during an exchange of fire with police on Wednesday, officials have said. Ranjit's mother had raised question over the police encounter, saying that her son was picked up by police on Tuesday for questioning but later she came to know that he was shot dead. Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and Home Guard Ashok Kumar were found dead on Sunday with gunshot wounds inside a checkpost in Adhian village, about 2 km from the international border with Pakistan. Police later identified Ranjit Singh (19), Inderjit Singh (21), and Dilawar Singh (19) as the accused involved in killing the two police personnel "at the behest of their Pakistan-based handlers backed by the spy agency ISI". Concerns Over Police Encounter Addressing a press conference here, Jakhar said the "staged encounters" are unacceptable in any civilised society. He termed them a "gross violation" of human rights and added that, in the context of Punjab, it becomes even more important to conduct a serious investigation in such cases because the state has endured a long and painful history of fake encounters during its dark phase. Jakhar clarified that he is neither saying who is guilty or innocent, nor is he claiming whether the encounter was fake or genuine. However, he said, the police narrative is not being accepted by the public. "The deceased's family and society at large are raising questions. It is astonishing that a young man escaped from police custody and, within a short time -- A late at night -- managed to obtain a motorcycle and a weapon, only to be killed in an encounter at the next checkpoint," Jakhar said. Answers to such questions, he said, can only emerge through an impartial investigation. He emphasised that even if someone is guilty, the authority to punish lies with the courts. "When the police themselves act as judges and deliver punishment, it poses one of the gravest challenges to democracy. Therefore, a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the encounter is necessary, with the inclusion of social activists as well, so that the questions being raised about the police's credibility can be addressed," he said. Even if the youth had indeed committed a crime, killing him in an encounter would be an even bigger crime, he said. Jakhar further said that the police versions given after every encounter show striking similarities. He said that even if the police account is true, the government must still come forward to order an impartial probe to prove its credibility. In a tragic incident in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, a man allegedly murdered his 13-year-old son before taking his own life, prompting a police investigation into the family tragedy. Key Points Radheshyam Vaishnav allegedly killed his 13-year-old son, Vansh Vaishnav, with a sickle in Bhilwara district. After killing his son, Radheshyam Vaishnav consumed poison and died during treatment at a hospital. Police received information from villagers and a team was dispatched to the scene for investigation. The victim was a Class 8 student, and his parents were living separately due to a domestic dispute. A forensic team was called to the scene, and a case has been registered for further investigation into the tragic incident. A man allegedly killed his 13-year-old son by slitting his throat with a sharp agricultural tool and later died by suicide after consuming poison in Bhilwara district on Friday, police said. Radheshyam Vaishnav, a resident of Badla village, allegedly hit his son Vansh Vaishnav with a sharp sickle and then consumed Sulphas tablets, Mandalgarh Circle Officer Babulal Bishnoi said. Villagers rushed him to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, where he died during treatment. Bishnoi said police received information from the villagers that Vaishnav had killed his 13-year-old son Vansh by slitting his throat. Victim's parents separated following dispute A team from the Badliyas police station immediately reached the spot. The boy was living with his father and studied in Class 8 at Kotdi. Radheshyam's wife was staying at her parental home following a domestic dispute, according to officials. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called to the spot. A post-mortem of both bodies was conducted by a medical board, and the bodies were handed over to the family. A case has been registered and further investigation is going on, he said. In September 2023, a notification arrived at the home of Luis Alberto Pino Sotos parents. Luis had been missing for four decades, ever since he disappeared at age 15 during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (19731990). The notice came from a court in Arica, in the far north of Chile, summoning him for failing to vote in the May elections for constitutional councilors, according to records from the Electoral Service (Servel). Under Chiles compulsory voting law, anyone who does not vote must provide a justification; otherwise, they face sanctions. The letter was not only chilling and a fresh source of pain for the family, which has carried an open wound since July 1, 1986, when they last saw Luis, but it also revealed, over time, an administrative error by the state that had persisted for years. When corrected, this mistake led to the teenager being officially recognized on Thursday as one of 1,469 disappeared persons in a ceremony in Arica. His name had not been included in the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, known as the Rettig Report, initiated by Patricio Aylwin, the first president of Chiles democratic transition, which identified victims of human rights violations. Luis was the second of four siblings. He disappeared at 1:45 p.m. on July 1, 1986, when he left his home in the Santa Rosa neighborhood to fetch a notebook from the house of a classmate from Liceo A-1 Octavio Palma Perez. That day, the atmosphere was tense, on the eve of a massive protest against Pinochet, called as part of a national strike on July 2 and 3 organized by the Assembly of Civil Society, which demanded the opening of electoral registers and free elections. The protest ended with brutal repression. As the hours passed and Luis did not return, his parents, Victor Pino and Maria Soto, began searching for him. That night, they went to the Carabineros de Chile (the Chilean national gendarmerie), which did not take the report because 48 hours had to pass before opening an investigation for a presumed disappearance. Two days later, the Investigations Police (PDI) accepted the case. Victor Pino and Maria Soto, parents of Luis Alberto Pino Soto, at the ceremony this Thursday. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) In the days that followed, the family received threats, harassment, and institutional silence, according to information from the Undersecretariat of Justice of the Gabriel Boric government. They explained that testimonies, which have not yet been judicially processed, reported the possible transfer of the student in a military truck. His disappearance has been under investigation since 2024 by Judge Sergio Troncoso, following a complaint filed by the family through Francisco Bustos, together with human rights attorney Nelson Caucoto. Luis Pinos case experienced serious state irregularities, which explain why he can only now be included in the official list, despite previous attempts by his parents, Victor and Maria, in 1990 and 1993. The commission initiated by Patricio Aylwin not only recognized as victims those persecuted for their political activism, but also accounted for the indiscriminate repression that occurred during the dictatorship, explains Bustos. There are people who may not have been politically active, but they can still be victims of the lack of judgment and of people who knew they were acting with impunity and had a license to kill. In terms of international law, this is a widespread attack on the civilian population, says Bustos. When the court notice arrived at the students parents home in 2023, the organization Women, Memory, and Human Rights group of Arica sent letters to several state agencies requesting that the summons be canceled, that the family receive an apology, and that measures be taken to ensure that a revictimizing situation like this would not happen again. That same year, the Electoral Service explained to Chlies national TV station TVN that Pino remained on the voter registry because, when Chile introduced automatic registration and voluntary voting in 2012 and restored compulsory voting in 2022 his name was added to the rolls. At the time, he was not officially recorded in the Civil Registry as either missing or deceased, unlike today. The case reached the National Plan for the Search of Detained-Disappeared Persons in 2024, a public policy initiative housed within the Ministry of Justice, led by Jaime Gajardo, and the Undersecretariat of Human Rights, headed by Daniela Quintanilla. The initiative was launched by Gabriel Boric on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the coup detat that occurred on September 11, 1973. The teams task is to reconstruct the trajectories of the 1,469 people who remain missing, from the moment of their detention to their final fate. In that work, researchers discovered that, in the commission that operated in 1990 and delivered its results in 1991, a human transcription error caused the secondary school student not to be included in the list of victims: his surname was written as Pinto instead of Pino. The National Plan for the Search of Detained-Disappeared Persons, while clarifying this students case and officially acknowledging the error through a resolution on August 30, 2025, also investigated another case: that of Bernarda Vera, listed in the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report as a detained-disappeared person. However, an investigation carried out between 2024 and 2025 revealed inconsistencies and contradictions between that official version and multiple testimonies indicating that Vera, who had been sentenced to death by the dictatorship, may have clandestinely crossed the Andes into Argentina and now resides in Miramar, in the province of Buenos Aires. Since October, these findings have been in the hands of Chilean human rights judge Alvaro Mesa, who has opened a confidential investigation. Carpetas de registro de personas desaparecidas. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) Victor Pino, padre de Luis Alberto, observa la carpeta de registro. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) La ceremonia fue encabezada por Gajardo y Quintanilla. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) Maria Soto, madre Luis Alberto Pino Soto, reacciona en el acto. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) El caso de Luis Alberto Pino Soto es parte de la larga lista de desapariciones durante la dictadura. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) La familia estuvo presente en el acto, en la Delegacion Presidencial, en Arica. Victor Hugo Munoz (Ministerio de Justicia de Chile) A four-decade odyssey Forty years after their sons disappearance, Victor Pino and Maria Soto took part on Thursday in the reparations ceremony in Arica, led by Jaime Gajardo and Daniela Quintanilla. The minister of justice emphasized that, at the time of his disappearance, Pino was practically a child. The state is correcting a profound mistake that was committed against Luis Alberto Pino Soto, his family, and the memory of the city of Arica, because although the relevant information had been submitted to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, an administrative error prevented him from being recognized as a victim of the military dictatorship, he said. During the ceremony, the family was also given, for the first time, Luiss case file, the folder with his victim designation, and the ruling issued on January 28 by the 19th Civil Court of Santiago, which ordered that he be included in the official list. Attorney Francisco Bustos, who traveled from Santiago to Arica, told EL PAIS that, finally, the family of Luis Pino Soto, who has lived through a true odyssey, has been given justice. The family recounts that the school principal hid class books and denied that Luis had been a student. There were also judges who refused to meet with them [Luiss parents] because they were associating with left-wing supporters in their search.So, if they suffered mistreatment and cruelty during the dictatorship, they were met with closed doors in the democratic era. That is why, even if belatedly, this act recognizes their persistence. According to the National Plan for the Search of Detained-Disappeared Persons, of the 1,469 people who remain missing in Chile, 219 were under the age of 21. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Following controversy surrounding Kerala Health Minister Veena George's alleged injury during a KSU protest, the Congress party is demanding an immediate end to the violence allegedly perpetrated by CPI(M) workers and calling the incident a 'shameless drama'. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters Key Points Congress leader V D Satheesan demands CPI(M) end violence related to Health Minister Veena George's alleged injury during a KSU protest. Satheesan alleges the ruling party is using a 'false claim' of an attack on the minister to divert attention from health sector issues. Congress leaders call for the withdrawal of charges against KSU activists and claim the alleged attack on the minister was 'fake'. Ramesh Chennithala criticizes the CPI(M) leadership, calling the incident a 'shameless drama' and questioning the minister's treatment. Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday demanded that the CPI(M) immediately put an end to the violence allegedly carried out by its workers in connection with the controversy over Health Minister Veena George's reported injury during a KSU protest at Kannur railway station. Addressing a press conference as part of his statewide rally here, Satheesan alleged that the ruling party and its affiliated organisations were unleashing violence based on a "false claim" that the minister was attacked by KSU activists. "Instead of finding remedies to the issues that have emerged in the health sector, this violence is part of a conspiracy to divert public attention. That attempt has now failed," he said. The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly alleged that CPI(M) leaders were still encouraging their supporters to engage in violent acts. "Don't play with fire. This should be stopped," he said, calling upon the ruling party to rein in its workers. Satheesan also demanded that the case registered against five KSU activists for allegedly injuring the minister be withdrawn. "The attempt to murder charge should be withdrawn. We will face the matter politically and legally. But the violence must end," he said. He claimed that people in Kerala had realised that the alleged attack was "fake". According to him, even after the Railway Protection Force examined CCTV footage, no evidence of an attack was found. He also referred to a recently released video, alleging that it too failed to establish any assault. Satheesan further alleged that after the KSU protest at the first platform of Kannur Railway Station, the minister moved to the third platform where she "dramatised" her pain. "People of Kerala have understood everything," he said. Chennithala's Criticism Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala took a swipe at the CPI(M) leadership over the controversy surrounding George's reported injury during the protest, alleging that the episode was a "shameless drama". Chennithala said CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan and the minister were competing for a "best actor award". "It should be examined whether there was any surgical lapse in the treatment given to the minister at the medical college. What a shameless drama is taking place here," he said. The Congress and its student wing KSU have been staging protests across the state against alleged medical negligence incidents. During one such protest at Kannur Railway Station, the minister had allegedly suffered injuries. Minister George, who was admitted to Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur, was discharged on Friday and later moved to Thiruvananthapuram. Nurse's Statement Meanwhile, a nurse at Pariyaram Medical College who had posted a selfie with the minister from the hospital faced criticism on social media. The nurse, Smitha PC, later issued a clarification on Facebook, stating that the minister had been suffering from severe neck pain and high blood pressure. She said the ICU staff had sought the minister's permission before taking the photograph and that it was meant as a gesture of support. Dismissing allegations that the minister was "acting", the nurse termed such claims inhuman and urged people to show compassion. The Supreme Court has granted bail to a doctor implicated in the Pune Porsche crash case, where a minor is accused of tampering with evidence after a fatal accident, raising questions about justice and accountability. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points The Supreme Court granted bail to Dr. Ajay Taware, accused of tampering with blood samples in the Pune Porsche crash case. The case involves a 17-year-old accused of fatally hitting two IT professionals while driving under the influence. The court cited parity, referencing previous bail granted to other accused individuals in the same case. Initial lenient bail conditions for the juvenile sparked public outrage, leading to a review and modification of the order. Several individuals, including the juvenile's parents and hospital staff, have been jailed in connection with the blood sample-swapping case. The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to a doctor arrested for allegedly tampering with the blood samples of a 17-year-old boy, accused of crashing a Porsche car into a motorcycle in Pune and killing two persons. The incident dates back to May 19, 2024, when the Porsche car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old under the influence of alcohol fatally knocked down two IT professionals in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to Sassoon General Hospital's former medical superintendent, Dr Ajay Taware, on the ground of parity. The court, on February 2, granted bail to three accused in the case, while observing that parents are to be blamed for such incidents involving juveniles as they donot have control over their children. Noting that the accused -- Amar Santish Gaikwad (an alleged middleman), Aditya Avinash Sood and Ashish Satish Mittal (the parents of two other juveniles in the car) -- were in custody for 18 months, the bench had granted bail to them. On January 23, the top court sought a response from the Maharashtra government on a plea filed by Gaikwad, seeking bail in the case. Earlier on January 7, the top court sought a response from the Maharashtra government on pleas filed by two other accused, seeking bail. Sood (52) and Mittal (37) were arrested on August 19 last year, as their blood samples were used for tests in connection with the two minors who were in the car along with the 17-year-old main accused at the time of the accident. The Bombay High Court, on December 16 last year, rejected the bail pleas of eight accused, including Gaikwad, Sood and Mittal, in the case. Public Outrage and Subsequent Actions The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) had granted bail to the minor accused on lenient terms, sparking nationwide outrage. The bail conditions included writing a 300-word essay on road safety. As bail to the accused juvenile triggered outrage, the Pune Police approached the JJB to review its decision. The board then modified the order and sent the juvenile to an observation home. The high court had subsequently ordered the release of the juvenile. While the juvenile involved in the case was released from an observation home, 10 accused, including his parents Vishal Agarwal and Shivani Agarwal, doctors Ajay Tawre and Shreehari Halnor, Sassoon Hospital's staffer Atul Ghatkamble, Sood, Mittal and Arun Kumar Singh, were sent to jail in the blood sample-swapping case. A security supervisor in Thane has been arrested for demanding and accepting bribes from security guards, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption. Key Points A security supervisor in Thane was arrested for allegedly demanding bribes from security guards. The supervisor demanded money to ensure smooth functioning of the guards' duties, including assigning duty points and clearing salaries. The supervisor threatened guards with transfers to inconvenient locations or job removal if they didn't pay the bribe. The Anti-Corruption Bureau laid a trap and caught the supervisor red-handed accepting the bribe. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway. A 46-year-old supervisor with Security Guard Board for Mumbai and Thane was arrested on Friday for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe, a senior Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) official said. Security supervisor Nilesh Tukaram Badhe was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,900 at the MSEB Colony in Vashi, said ACB Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharmaraj Sonke. "The complainant, a 36-year-old security guard, approached us stating that Badhe was demanding money to ensure smooth functioning of his duties. As a supervisor at MSEDCL Koparkhairane, Badhe was responsible for assigning duty points, recording attendance, and clearing monthly salaries," Sonke said. Badhe had been demanding a monthly pay out of Rs 100 from the guards, the Deputy SP said. "The total outstanding amount for the complainant and two of his colleagues came to Rs 1,900. Badhe allegedly threatened that if the money was not paid, the guards would be transferred to inconvenient locations or removed from their current jobs and put on waiting list," Sonke added. Reluctant to pay the bribe, the guard filed a formal complaint on February 27, following which a trap was laid after completion of verification, Sonke said. The ACB has seized the mobile phone of the accused for further examination and initiated a search of his residence in Shirwane Village, Nerul, he added. A case under Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at Vashi police station and Badhe was taken into custody, the official said. A 17-year-old student in Madhya Pradesh unexpectedly gave birth in a school washroom during her Class 10 exam, triggering a police investigation under the POCSO Act regarding an alleged sexual assault. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A 17-year-old student gave birth in a school washroom during her Class 10 board examination in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The incident occurred during a Mathematics exam, prompting a police investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The student claimed she was sexually assaulted by a boy she met during a dance program, leading to the pregnancy. The premature baby and the teen mother are reported to be in stable condition after being taken to a community health center. Police are investigating the alleged sexual assault and threats that led to the teen's silence about her pregnancy. A 17-year-old student gave birth to a premature baby boy in a school washroom during a Class 10 board examination in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, officials said on Friday. The incident occurred on Tuesday at a private school in Pithampur during a Mathematics paper. It has since triggered a police investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to probe an alleged case of sexual assault. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Parul Belapurkar said the teen complained of a severe stomachache two hours into the examination and sought permission to visit the washroom. When she did not return to the classroom for a long time, the invigilators checked the washroom and, to their dismay, heard the cries of a baby, an official said. Female staffers of the school rushed to the scene, and the girl and the infant were brought to a government community health centre in an 108 ambulance, community health physician Dr Prashant Kajave. Both the teen and the baby were found to be stable, he said. A preliminary probe revealed that the girl had been 34 weeks (eight months) pregnant, and the infant was premature, he said. Police Investigation and Allegations The ASP informed that a case was registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and transferred to the Betma police station. The teen, in her statement to the Betma police, alleged that she met a boy while participating in a dance programme, and he had sexually assaulted her, which resulted in the pregnancy. She also alleged that the boy had threatened her into silence and hence, she had not informed her parents about the assault, the official said, adding that a probe is underway. A 20-year-old student was tragically found dead in her Ranchi hostel room, prompting a police investigation into a possible suicide. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points A 20-year-old B.Com student, Sanjana Hembrom, was found dead in her hostel room in Ranchi. Police are investigating the death as a possible suicide, with no suicide note found. An unnatural death case has been lodged, and a post-mortem examination is being conducted. The student was a first-year B.Com student at a private college in Ranchi. A woman student of a private college here was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room, police said on Friday. The incident occurred within the Angara police station limits on Thursday night. The deceased has been identified as Sanjana Hembrom (20), a resident of Saraikela district, and she was a first year student of B.Com, they said. "Initial investigation suggests a case of suicide. So far, no suicide note has been recovered from her room. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)," said Gautam Kumar Rajwar, officer in-charge of Angara police station. The police have lodged an unnatural death case in the matter. Her parents have arrived in Ranchi, and further investigation into the matter is underway. Uttarakhand Police have arrested two members of the notorious Sunil Rathi gang for allegedly extorting businessmen in Haridwar and Dehradun, uncovering a network of crime and property fraud. Photograph: Pexels.com Key Points Two members of the Sunil Rathi gang were arrested for allegedly extorting businessmen in Haridwar and Dehradun. The arrested individuals, Bhanu Chaudhary and Paras Singh, were found with illegal pistols and live cartridges. Paras Singh, previously associated with Mukhtar Ansari's gang, was in contact with Sunil Rathi and extorting money on his behalf. The investigation revealed the gang was targeting high-value disputed lands in Haridwar and Dehradun. A controversial property dealer from Haridwar, previously jailed for murder, is also under investigation for connections to Sunil Rathi. Two members of the notorious Sunil Rathi gang who were allegedly involved in extorting businessmen in Haridwar and Dehradun have been arrested, police said on Friday. A joint team of Uttarakhand Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Dehradun Police caught the two men in car in the Rajpur area late Thursday night while they were acting on a tipoff received by their surveillance of active gangs and notorious criminals lodged in jails. STF Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh said Bhanu Chaudhary and Paras Singh, both from Uttar Pradesh, were present in the vehicle the police stopped. Two illegal pistols and seven live cartridges were recovered from their possession. A case has been registered against them at the Rajpur police station under Section 111(3) of BNS and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act. Extortion Activities and Gang Connections The SSP said during interrogation, they said that they were attempting to extort money from businessmen in Haridwar and Dehradun. Singh was formerly a key shooter for gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's gang and for his aide Sanjeev Jiva. But after Ansari and Jiva died, he joined their rival, the Sunil Rathi gang. The officer said that Singh's mobile phone records revealed that he was in constant contact with Rathi, who is lodged in Pauri jail, and that he was extorting money at his behest, targeting high-value disputed lands in Haridwar and Dehradun. It was also learned that Singh and Chaudhary had been visiting Rathi in Pauri jail. Criminal Records and Ongoing Investigation The SSP said Singh, a shooter for several gangsters, has eight serious cases registered against him in Muzaffarnagar and Dehradun, including murder, attempted murder, criminal intimidation, property fraud, and under the Gangsters Act. He said that during the investigation, the name of a controversial property dealer from Haridwar, who was in constant contact with Sunil Rathi, also surfaced. He added that this property dealer had previously been jailed in a murder case. The SSP said the two criminals were constantly harassing people, but no complainants were coming forward out of fear. In Jalna, Maharashtra, police seized a cache of swords from a cloth shop, leading to the arrest of the owner as authorities investigate the source and intended use of the weapons. Key Points Police seized 21 swords from a cloth shop in Jalna, Maharashtra. The shop owner, Manish Nilhani, has been arrested in connection with the seized swords. An investigation is underway to determine the origin and purpose of the swords. The raid was conducted based on a tip-off received by the police. Police have seized 21 small and large swords from a cloth shop in Maharashtra's Jalna city and arrested its owner, an official said on Friday. Based on a tip-off, a police team raided the premises in the Mahavir Chowk area around midnight and found the weapons, the official said. Investigation Underway The owner, Manish Nilhani (43), a resident of Ajanta Nagar, has been arrested, and a probe is underway to determine why and from where he had procured the swords, he said. A teacher in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested and charged under the POCSO Act for allegedly molesting three young female students, sparking outrage in the local community. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A teacher in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly molesting three girls aged 8-10. The teacher, Sanjeev Kumar Chaturvedi, is accused of inappropriate touching at the primary school in Dhori gram panchayat over a 20-day period. The girls confided in the school cook and an anganwadi worker, leading to a formal complaint by villagers. A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A teacher at a government primary school was arrested for allegedly molesting three girls in the 8-10 age group in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Friday. The girls have accused Sanjeev Kumar Chaturvedi, posted at the primary school in Dhori gram panchayat, of touching them inappropriately at school for the past 20 days, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Arun Soni told PTI. "They initially shared their ordeal with the school cook and an anganwadi worker, following which the news spread, leading to more than 150 villagers reaching the local police station to submit a written complaint," Soni said. A case was registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for molestation and other offences and Chaturvedi was arrested, the CSP added. Two individuals in Thane, Maharashtra, are facing charges for allegedly defrauding 12 people of 1.78 crore through a deceptive share market scheme promising high investment returns. Key Points Two men in Thane are accused of defrauding 12 people of 1.78 crore through a fake share market investment scheme. The accused allegedly lured investors with promises of high returns between 2021 and 2025. The case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act. The complainant invested 26 lakh in the fraudulent share market scheme. Police investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made yet in the Thane share market fraud case. A case has been registered against two men in Maharashtra's Thane city for allegedly duping 12 people of Rs 1.78 crore by luring them to invest in a bogus share market scheme promising them high returns, police said on Friday. Based on a complaint lodged by a woman from Bhandup in neighbouring Mumbai, the Thane police have registered a case against Sagar Subodh Karivadekar, a resident of Sindhudurg, and Sachin Balkrishna Rane of Thane, under sections 318(4) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act. Details of the Investment Fraud An official stated that the duo allegedly persuaded the complainant and 11 others to invest in a share market scheme they had floated between October 15, 2021, and December 30, 2025, promising lucrative returns. The complainant alone had invested Rs 26 lakh in the scheme, he said. However, the accused allegedly failed to return the invested sum, defrauding the complainant and others of Rs 1,78 crore over the last five years, the official said, adding that no arrests have been made so far. Three women in Varanasi are facing theft charges after allegedly stealing undergarments from a shop, sparking a police investigation and public attention. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pexels.com Key Points Three women in Varanasi are accused of stealing undergarments worth Rs 10,000 from a shop in Chetganj. The shop owner reported the theft after stock verification and provided CCTV footage to the police. One of the accused has been identified as a former president of a traders' association. A video of the alleged theft went viral, prompting one of the accused to issue a statement denying involvement. Police are investigating the incident and the accused have pledged full cooperation. Varanasi Police have booked three women for theft for allegedly stealing undergarments worth around Rs 10,000 from a shop in the Chetganj area, an officer said on Friday. Chetganj Station House Officer Vijay Kumar Shukla said, according to shop owner Sudeep Singh, the theft occurred on February 24 after three women came to his shop. "When the salesgirl went inside to bring items, the women allegedly stuffed undergarments worth about Rs 10,000 into their bags," he said, citing the complaint. "Singh detected the theft during stock verification and subsequently approached Chetganj police station to lodge a complaint," he said. The shopkeeper submitted CCTV footage of the incident. Former president of traders' association among accused Investigators have identified one of the accused women, who earlier served as president of a traders' association. After a purported video of the incident went viral, one of the accused, Sunita Soni, issued a statement in her defence. She said she had gone to the market and that the women accompanying her had come from Jaunpur. She claimed that certain items were unavailable at the shop and that she had left her mobile number there to collect them after a week. "I am not aware of what the women accompanying me may have taken from the shop. I will fully cooperate with the shop owner and the police administration," she said. The leftist president and the right-wing senator, who is the eldest child of the imprisoned ex-president, face enormous opposition seven months before the vote Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva resumed his national agenda on Thursday after an intense trip that took him to the other side of the world, to India and South Korea, with a stopover in the United Arab Emirates, in search of allies during these turbulent times. But an electoral survey released on Wednesday likely dampened his spirits. The AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll is the first to suggest a virtual tie in a simulated runoff of the October election between Lula and the right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the imprisoned ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. Just over seven months remain until Brazil holds presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections. The poll indicates that Lula would defeat any other candidate in the first round with 45%, followed by Bolsonaros son (39%), who is gradually closing the gap since his father handpicked him as a successor. The surprise comes in the projection for the second round of voting, where the poll concludes that Senator Bolsonaro would garner 46.3%, one-tenth of a point ahead of the 46.2% for the veteran leftist, who is seeking a fourth term. They both face a similar problem: extremely high disapproval ratings (48% for the president, 46% for the senator), meaning there are very few swing votes that could push either of them to victory. Flavio Bolsonaro celebrated the news of the virtual tie: The fight has just begun. We still have a long way to go to rescue Brazil, he tweeted. The presidential hopeful faces his first major test this Sunday, when he has called on Bolsonaro supporters to gather on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo. The turnout of followers and the array of right-wing politicians and family members accompanying him will be closely scrutinized. The speed with which his fathers electorate has embraced him has surprised many observers. On Thursday, Lula received another blow, this time from within his family. The personal bank accounts and tax returns of one of his five children, Fabio Luis, are going to be analyzed by a parliamentary committee investigating a multi-million dollar pension fraud scandal involving the National Social Security Institute. Lulas sons alleged connection to the scandal stems from a suspicious payment made by one of the ringleaders of the embezzlement scheme to a businesswoman who is a friend of his. When his sons name surfaced, the president immediately summoned him to Brasilia, according to Lula himself. I looked him in the eye and said, If you have something [irregular or illegal going on], you will pay the price. If you dont, defend yourself. Suspicions have also implicated the presidents older brother, a union leader. At the start of 2026, Lula has maintained a busy international schedule. First through phone calls, and then with his final major foreign tour before embarking on the election campaign. During his official visits to India and South Korea, the Brazilian president strengthened ties with Narendra Modi (a partner in the BRICS alliance) and with Lee Jae-myung (with whom he shares a past as a factory worker). With both, he finalized numerous agreements to boost bilateral trade, including in critical minerals and rare earth elements. Senator Bolsonaro has also been touring abroad this year, along with his brother Eduardo, to make himself known among the leaders of the far-right populist network. Several observers point to a decision related to Carnival, Brazils biggest event of the past month, as the origin of Lulas slide in the polls. Lula harmed himself by embarking on the catastrophic idea of associating himself with a fawning parade by a samba school that decided to pay tribute to him, writes Cesar Felicio this Thursday in the business daily Valor. The samba school that brought Lulas epic story to the Rio Sambadrome included figures that evangelicals might consider offensive cans with conservative families inside. The controversy was inevitable, as this social group is one of the most resistant to the founder of the Workers Party (PT). And to top it all off, the school finished last in the competition. The jokes and the criticism quickly poured in. Columnist Vera Magalhaes argues in the newspaper O Globo that, with Lula back in Brazil, his team believes its time to stop ignoring Bolsonaros son and treat him as an adversary, accelerating decision-making. One crucial decision is who will run with Lula as the vice-presidential candidate, and who will accept the challenge of running for governor of Sao Paulo, where victory seems a pipe dream against Bolsonaro supporter Tarcisio de Freitas. But securing a large number of votes in Sao Paulo is essential to reaching the presidency. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Rashid Naseem, a fugitive economic offender wanted for a massive investment fraud in Uttar Pradesh, has been apprehended in Dubai, paving the way for his extradition to India. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Key Points Rashid Naseem, wanted for investment fraud related to Shine City Group, has been arrested in Dubai. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) secured an Interpol Red Notice and filed an extradition request to bring Naseem back to India. Naseem allegedly collected 1,050 crore from investors through fraudulent schemes promising land and returns. A special court in Lucknow declared Naseem a fugitive economic offender, leading to the confiscation of assets. The ED has filed chargesheets, arrested multiple individuals, and attached assets worth hundreds of crores in connection with the case. Rashid Naseem, a fugitive economic offender wanted for an alleged investment fraud in Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested in Dubai, officials said on Friday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had secured an Interpol Red Notice to facilitate his provisional arrest pending extradition. Following this, the agency sent an extradition request through the Ministry of External Affairs between December 2025 and January this year, the officials said. In April last year, a special court in Lucknow, hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), declared Naseem, the promoter of Shine City Group, an outlaw under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA). The money laundering probe was initiated after the ED took cognisance of 606 cases registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police against Naseem and the Lucknow-based group. Naseem, who is in his late 40s, allegedly collected Rs 1,050 crore from numerous investors in the name of some schemes and "failed" to deliver the promised lands, plots, or returns. The ED described Naseem as the "mastermind" of the fraud, alleging that he diverted and utilised these funds to purchase immovable and movable properties, including land, residential flats, jewellery and luxury vehicles. The funds were also used to cover the expenses of high-end hotels and an extravagant lifestyle. According to the officials, authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrested Naseem in Dubai. In January 2026, the ED officials submitted a dossier to the UAE authorities, which included an extradition request, the Interpol Red Notice and the FEOA declaration, the officials told PTI. The ED is now making arrangements to bring him back to India, they added. The agency stated earlier that Naseem "deliberately" avoided the investigation and did not appear despite the issuance of a summons. He fled India through Nepal and has been living in Dubai. In December 2025, the Lucknow court ordered the confiscation of Naseem's assets worth Rs 127.98 crore as part of the FEOA proceedings. The ED has filed two chargesheets in this case and arrested eight people, including Naseem's brother, Arif Naseem. It has also attached assets worth Rs 267 crore. 'Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership.' IMAGE: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, left, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi, February 26, 2026. Photograph: Kind courtesy @PiyushGoyal/X US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday made a surprise visit to Delhi and held 'highly productive' discussions with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, days after the US supreme court overturned the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Key Points US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met Piyush Goyal in Delhi, holding highly productive trade partnership discussions. Visit came days after US Supreme Court overturned sweeping tariffs imposed earlier by President Donald Trump. US imposed steep 126 percent duty on Indian solar equipment imports, escalating ongoing trade tensions. India postponed Washington trade negotiations amid uncertainty over tariffs and interim trade deal legal framework. Trump said alternative legal provisions would allow US to maintain or re-impose tariffs if necessary. 'Hosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick & US Amb India Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership,' Goyal posted on X. US Ambassador Gor also made a similar post on X: 'A highly productive lunch with Howard Lutnick and Piyush Goyal. So many areas of cooperation for our two nations!' India-US Trade Talks Uncertainty An Indian official, requesting anonymity, said Lutnick is on a personal trip to India. Later in the day, news agency ANI put out a video of Lutnick arriving in Jodhpur. The visit came a day after the US department of commerce imposed a 126 per cent duty on imports of solar power equipment from India. Speaking at the Business Standard Manthan event on Tuesday, Goyal had said India would resume trade deal talks with the US as soon as there is "more clarity" regarding the tariff situation in Washington. A team headed by India's Chief Trade Negotiator for the US, Darpan Jain, earlier this week postponed its visit to Washington, DC, amid uncertainty over tariffs. The team was scheduled to travel on Sunday for three days of talks to finalise the legal text of the negotiated interim trade deal. US Solar Duty on India Starting February 24, Trump imposed a blanket 10 per cent surcharge on all countries for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act. He also ordered new investigations under other laws that could allow him to re-impose tariffs agreed under trade deals. In his State of the Union address on Wednesday, Trump said that despite the 'unfortunate' ruling by the Supreme Court, almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deals they had already made. 'Knowing that the legal power that I, as President, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them. 'And, therefore, they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court's unfortunate involvement,' he added. Trump said the tariffs would remain in place under fully approved and tested alternative legal statutes such as Section 301 and Section 232. 'They're a little more complex, but they're actually probably better, leading to a solution that will be even stronger than before,' he said. Trump Tariffs Supreme Court Impact US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, said he has been in constant contact with trading partners to help them understand how the 'replacement tools' align with the trade deals the US has made. 'Section 301 allows USTR to investigate unfair trade practices on a country-by-country basis. 'We have identified many such practices. These include the use of forced labour in supply chains, industrial excess capacity, discrimination against our digital tech companies, and subsidies for rice and seafood, among other issues,' he added. Interim Trade Deal Delayed Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff The Supreme Court has granted Vikas Yadav, convicted in the Nitish Katara murder case, a temporary furlough, allowing him to be released from prison to spend time with his family during Holi. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The Supreme Court granted Vikas Yadav furlough until March 7 to spend time with family during Holi, despite serving a 25-year sentence for the Nitish Katara murder. Yadav has already served 23 years of his sentence, influencing the Supreme Court's decision to grant the furlough. The Supreme Court rejected objections from the complainant's counsel, emphasizing the need to 'let things go' after such a long period. The Delhi High Court previously denied Yadav's furlough plea, citing the gravity of his offenses and ineligibility under Delhi Prison Rules. The Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea of Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term without remission for the murder of business executive Nitish Katara in 2002, seeking to be released from the prison on furlough. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has undergone 23 years of incarceration and granted him furlough till March 7 to spend time with his family during Holi. "Furlough is now sought on the ground that he wishes to spend time during Holi. Without going into the merits, we permit the petitioner to be released on furlough till March 7," the bench said. During the hearing, the apex court rejected the objections raised by the complainant's counsel against grant of furlough. "You want to hang him? Is it? What is the point of hearing you in this matter? After 23 years, you don't want to let things go. We need to let things go," the bench said. Justice Sundresh orally remarked that grant of such relief can sometimes help in the reformation of the convict. Background of the Case and Furlough Denial The Delhi High Court on February 11 had turned down Yadav's plea seeking to be released from the prison on furlough for 21 days. Dismissing his petition, the high court had said Yadav was convicted for committing "grave offences" and was "statutorily ineligible" for the relief of furlough under the Delhi Prison Rules (DPR), 2018. Furlough is a temporary release from prison, not a suspension or remission of the entire sentence, and is typically granted to long-term inmates who have served a portion of their sentences. Yadav had challenged the jail authorities' October 29, 2025, order rejecting his furlough application. The court said there was no arbitrariness, illegality or violation of constitutional rights in the decision of the jail authorities. Details of the Nitish Katara Murder Case Vikas Yadav is the son of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav. His cousin, Vishal Yadav, was also punished for the kidnapping and murder of Katara. The duo was against Katara's alleged affair with Bharti Yadav, the sister of Vikas Yadav, as they belonged to different castes. On October 3, 2016, the top court awarded a 25-year jail term, without the benefit of remission, to Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav for their role in the sensational kidnapping and killing of Katara. Co-convict Sukhdev Yadav was given a 20-year jail term. They were convicted and sentenced for kidnapping Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002, and then killing him for his alleged affair with Bharti Yadav. A man in Palghar, Maharashtra, was tragically stabbed to death following a heated argument over a WhatsApp display picture, highlighting the potential for real-world violence stemming from online disputes. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A 24-year-old man was fatally stabbed in Nalasopara, Palghar, due to an argument over a WhatsApp display picture. The victim, Aftab Sheikh, was stabbed in front of his wife by Mehndi Hassan Sheikh. The dispute reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the WhatsApp DP of Mehndi's son. The accused, Mehndi Hassan Sheikh, has been arrested and charged with murder by Nalasopara police. Authorities are investigating claims that the accused is a Bangladeshi national with a prior criminal record. A 24-year-old man was stabbed to death in front of his wife in Nalasopara East in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Friday reportedly due to a dispute over a WhatsApp display picture, a police official said. The incident took place at 4:30am in Hanuman Nagar locality, the official added. "Mehndi Hassan Sheikh (25) stabbed Aftab Sheikh in front of the latter's wife following an argument over the WhatsApp DP of Mehndi's son. Aftab died on the spot," he said. Residents of the area claimed Mehndi was a Bangladeshi national who has served a sentence for a serious crime earlier, though a police official said all these aspects are being probed at present. Mehndi was held shortly after the crime and has been charged with murder. the Nalasopara police station official added. Explore the intricate process behind NCERT textbook creation, from expert selection to multi-level reviews, amidst the recent controversy surrounding a banned class 8 textbook. Image only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points NCERT textbooks are developed through a rigorous multi-expert process, not by a single author. Curricular Area Groups (CAGs) identify and select experts for drafting textbook content. Textbook Development Committees (TDCs) comprising academicians, pedagogy experts, and industry professionals are formed for each subject. Draft chapters undergo multi-level internal review and consultation before approval by the CAG and NSTC. NCERT incorporates feedback and periodically reviews textbook content to ensure accuracy and age appropriateness. A class 8 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbook, which carried a chapter about 'judicial corruption', is at the centre of controversy with the Supreme Court imposing a 'complete blanket ban' on the book, saying it contains 'offending' contents. Here is an explainer on how the NCERT textbooks are prepared: Not a one-man job According to NCERT officials, a textbook is not prepared by a single author but passes through a rigorous process where multiple experts contribute to the content. For each subject, a Curricular Area Group is constituted, which is responsible for finding the right experts for drafting the textbook. The CAG analyses whose experience and academic wealth will be beneficial for the content being prepared for students. The CAG then sets up the Textbook Development Committee (TDC) for each subject, which comprises academicians, pedagogy and curriculum drafting experts, subject-specific experts and also industry experts. Multi-level review The draft chapters prepared by the TDCs typically undergo a multi-level internal review and consultation before approval. According to NCERT officials, the process of developing a textbook and its review is academically rigorous and consultative. Following the multi-level review, the full CAG and the National Syllabus and Teaching-Learning Material Committee (NSTC) give a go-ahead, keeping in mind the factual correctness and age appropriateness of the content. Some industry experts are part of each TDC to get an opinion on the knowledge requirements of a particular area. Government officials or authorities are at times consulted on certain portions wherever the need is felt, but it is not a mandatory part of the process. How is feedback incorporated? Whenever suggestions or substantial feedback are received about textbook content, the NCERT constitutes committees to examine and review the material. This established practice shows that textbook content is not static but subject to periodic scrutiny. The NCERT textbook, which is now banned, had listed over 60 contributors to the book. Officials, however, did not comment on who contributed to the specific portion. Frustrated by alleged government inaction in a land dispute, a woman in Lucknow attempted self-immolation, highlighting the urgent need for resolution and support for citizens facing property issues. Key Points A woman in Lucknow attempted self-immolation near Lok Bhawan due to alleged inaction regarding a land dispute. The woman claimed her neighbor encroached on her land and threatened her family. Despite multiple applications, the woman alleges that authorities failed to properly demarcate her property. Police intervened to prevent the act and are conducting an inquiry into the land dispute with the revenue department. Lucknow Police are providing counselling to the woman and emphasizing that self-harm is not a solution. A woman upset over alleged inaction by authorities in a land dispute attempted self-immolation near Lok Bhawan in Hazratganj area here on Friday afternoon, but police team present at the spot rescued her in time, an official said. The incident took place around 1 pm near a barricade at Sector-1 on Lok Bhawan Road, a high-security zone in the heart of the state capital. According to a statement issued by Lucknow Police, Sandhya Singh, a city resident, reached the spot and poured an alleged flammable substance on herself in a suspected attempt to set herself ablaze. Personnel deployed in the area acted with promptness, preventing her from carrying out the act. She was subsequently taken to Hazratganj police station for questioning, and further legal action is under way, the statement said. Land Dispute Details During preliminary inquiry, the woman alleged that her neighbour, identified as Iqbal Singh, had encroached upon her land and illegally occupied it. She claimed that when she protested, she and her family were allegedly threatened, making them fearful. She further said she had previously sought demarcation of the land and submitted multiple applications, but clear boundary marking of her property had not been carried out so far. Police later handed her over to a Manak Nagar police station team. Officials said the local police would coordinate with the revenue department to examine records and conduct an impartial inquiry into the land dispute, following due legal procedure. Lucknow Police reiterated that taking any extreme step such as self-harm is not a solution to disputes and said the woman is being provided counselling and necessary assistance. They added that the law and order situation in the area remains normal. A 26-year-old woman in Thane, India, tragically took her own life after struggling with repeated failures in police recruitment exams, highlighting the immense pressure and mental health challenges faced by aspiring candidates. Key Points Pratiksha Rane, a 26-year-old woman, committed suicide in Ambernath, Thane, due to depression. Rane had been repeatedly failing to clear police recruitment examinations, leading to her distress. She left a suicide note apologizing to her parents for her inability to secure a job and provide them a better life. Police have registered a case of accidental death and are conducting further investigations into the incident. A 26-year-old woman, identified as Pratiksha Rane, depressed over her repeated failure to clear police recruitment examinations, allegedly committed suicide at her residence in Ambernath in Thane district, an official said on Friday. The deceased, a resident of Swaminagar in Ambernath (West), was found dead on February 26. Rane had been preparing rigorously for the police force for several years, Ambernath West police station senior inspector Syed Shabbir said. "She harboured a deep-seated dream of joining the department to provide a better life for her parents. However, continuous setbacks in the recruitment process led her into a state of severe depression," he added. Suicide Note Reveals Despair In her suicide note, she apologised to her parents for not being able to "give you the life I wanted to give you after failing to secure a job". A case of accidental death has been registered and further probe is underway, Shabbir said. Assam Police successfully intercepted two smuggling operations, seizing Yaba tablets worth crores and illegal liquor, leading to the arrest of three individuals, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Assam Police arrested two individuals in Bagori for smuggling 80,000 Yaba tablets worth approximately Rs 4 crore. Yaba tablets, containing the banned substance methamphetamine, were found concealed in a secret compartment of a vehicle. In a separate operation in Cachar district, police seized 819 litres of illegal Indian Made Foreign Liquor from a hidden compartment in a vehicle, arresting one person. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the police for their successful operations against drug and liquor smuggling. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said three persons have been arrested for allegedly smuggling banned Yaba tablets worth around Rs 4 crore and liquor in two separate operations by the state police. He lauded the police personnel for the successful operations. "Hidden compartments in cars won't hide crime," Sarma said in a post on X on Thursday. He said 80,000 Yaba tablets, worth around Rs 4 crore, were recovered from a secret chamber of a vehicle in Bagori. Two persons were arrested in this connection, Sarma said. Yaba tablets are banned in India as they contain methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Liquor Seizure in Cachar District In another operation at Digorkhal in Cachar district, 81 cartons with bottles containing 819 litres of illegal Indian Made Foreign Liquor were "recovered from a hidden hold" of a vehicle, the CM said. One person was arrested along with the seized liquor bottles, he added. A young couple in Uttar Pradesh was tragically found dead, with authorities investigating a suspected suicide linked to a romantic relationship opposed by their families. Key Points A young couple, Haroon and Sheeba, were found dead, hanging from a tree in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Police suspect the deaths to be a suicide due to a romantic relationship facing family opposition. The couple had been reported missing from their homes a day prior to the discovery. Police are investigating all possible angles, including family disputes and other potential motives, awaiting the post-mortem report for the definitive cause of death. A young man and a woman were found hanging from a tree on the Hetmapur-Suratganj road here on Friday, with police suspecting the duo died by suicide, an official said. The deceased have been identified as Haroon (22), a resident of Dashwantpur village, and Sheeba (20), a resident of Lalpur. Villagers said the two shared a romantic relationship. Family members are allegedly opposed to their relation and were not in favour of marriage. Both were reported to be missing from home a day earlier. According to police, the bodies were found hanging from a guava tree by villagers under Mohammadpur Khala police station area on Friday morning. Upon receiving information, a police team arrived and inspected the scene, and collected necessary evidence. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. Police Investigation Underway Mohammadpur Khala Station House Officer Ashutosh Mishra said prima facie the case appears to be a suicide, but all aspects are being investigated. The SHO said the possibility of a family dispute, a love affair, and other probable angles are also being considered. The actual cause of death will be revealed only after the post-mortem report is received, he said, adding that police are questioning family members. A Colombian congresswoman who traveled to the United States to see firsthand the situation of her countrys migrants detained during the Trump administrations immigration crackdown was so shocked by the poor conditions and allegations of mistreatment that she has asked President Gustavo Petro to declare a state of emergency to expedite deportation proceedings. She is also seeking international support for the creation of a verification mission. Carmen Felisa Ramirez Boscan, a lawmaker representing Colombians abroad and currently campaigning for reelection in the March 8 legislative elections, recently visited a migrant detention center in Montgomery, Alabama. There, she spoke with 12 Colombian women, including one who is pregnant, who complained of urinary tract infections and inadequate medical care. One of the women, a 70-year-old, told her she had been transferred from another facility in chains, shackled by her neck, hands, and feet. Ramirez Boscan also spoke with 18 detained Colombians who complained of poor food, appalling conditions, and a lack of due process. I found an extremely serious situation. We are dealing with a humanitarian crisis of our fellow Colombians who are being illegally detained by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], and it is creating an even worse situation, deteriorating their physical and mental health, said the congresswoman, who is part of President Petros coalition, on Wednesday outside ICE offices in Miramar, north of Miami. They prefer to die in their own country. Many told me, Look, I dont care if I have to go back after coming here to seek asylum, knowing I have an open case, but I still want to go back. I dont care if they kill me, as long as they kill me in my own country, the legislator recalled before adding, We need to find alternatives to get the people who are there out of the conditions theyre in. Her visit comes amid the Trump administrations historic anti-immigrant offensive, which has generated diplomatic friction with Colombia. Early last year, Petro blocked U.S. military deportation flights, denouncing the fact that migrants were being transported in chains like criminals and accusing the Trump administration of treating them inhumanely. The confrontation escalated into a diplomatic clash and a brief tariff battle, until Petro agreed to continue receiving deportees, but on planes provided by Colombia. Last month, on the eve of a meeting with Trump at the White House, the Colombian government announced the official resumption of transfers on Colombian military aircraft, with 20 flights, one per week. Colombia has been one of the United States main allies and trading partners in the region for decades, but the situation has become strained since Petro came to power in 2022 with a left-leaning agenda. However, at the friendly reconciliation meeting earlier this month in Washington, common interests were found, and the central theme was the fight against drug trafficking, a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship for the past four decades. It is within this unstable bilateral context that Congresswoman Ramirez Boscan is touring the United States. She visited another detention center in Houston, Texas, to which she was denied access, and last Sunday she participated in the weekly interfaith vigil held in front of the infamous Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center in the Everglades. Based in Switzerland since 2011, the congresswoman is a leader of the Wayuu indigenous people of La Guajira, and has represented Colombians abroad for the ruling Historical Pact coalition since 2022. Using figures from the Colombian Foreign Ministry and the academic initiative Immigration Policy Tracking Project, she believes there are 34,000 Colombians with deportation orders in the United States. There are no exact figures on how many Colombians are being held by U.S. immigration authorities, but the Embassy estimates around 2,600, a number that Ramirez Boscan considers very conservative, since her office has received reports of detainees who do not appear in that database. A serious problem is that the flight frequency, one per week, is insufficient, the congresswoman pointed out. She has been identifying cases of people with serious health risks and informing the Colombian Foreign Ministry so that it can request ICE to prioritize them. Of the 30 Colombians I spoke with, only three wanted to stay. The rest have withdrawn their asylum applications and requested deportation, Ramirez Boscan said. They dont want to be detained indefinitely. According to the Colombian politician, her office receives dozens of requests every week asking them to intervene with the U.S. government. Declaring a state of emergency, she says, would allow Colombia to allocate additional funds so that more planes can be brought in and more Colombians can return within a maximum of 90 days. However, she notes, with an eye toward the elections, that the opposition in Colombia has rejected any state of emergency. For the congresswoman, its a challenge to make people understand that this is a priority issue. We want to raise awareness more broadly, inviting Latin American lawmakers who represent their diasporas from countries like Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina, as well as lawmakers from Europe, so that we can carry out a verification mission, she says. A verification mission is an international mechanism of observers who monitor compliance with agreements, such as the one that oversees the peace accords in Colombia. We want to see the true situation of our fellow citizens, she adds. The U.S. government isnt going to like this very much, but its something we have to do, because my hope, or rather our hope, is that through this collective effort, Latin American countries, as a bloc, will express a position on the immigration status of our citizens in the United States, based on respect for human rights and due process. Vigil in front of the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz, in Ochopee, Florida, in November 2025. Marco Bello U.S. authorities have blocked Democratic lawmakers from inspecting migrant detention centers, leading to lawsuits against the government. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused Democrats of using the visits as political shows and said that unannounced visits disrupt operations. The lawmakers argue that, under federal law, Congress has the right to conduct inspections, even without prior notice. A federal judge initially ruled in their favor in December, but the litigation continues. Human rights organizations have denounced the inhumane conditions at the detention centers and demanded their closure. The DHS maintains that the allegations are false and unfounded and that detainees rights are guaranteed. Thomas Kennedy, of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, says that it is shameful and illustrates the urgency of the situation at Alligator Alcatraz and other detention centers that a congresswoman from Colombia had to come to this country to advocate for their well-being. It is estimated that more than 1.7 million Colombians live in the U.S. with some estimates exceeding 2 million mostly residing in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Their arrivals across the southern border peaked at nearly 20,000 people in May 2023 and December 2024. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Molly Gray, a candidate for Lt. Governor of Vermont, sat down with Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter on Friday to discuss the needs of the town and its citizens. Rebecca Baruzzi, a former Coast Guard boatswain's mate in New York Harbor, is the new executive director of the United Way of Windham County. The opposition leader, who is close to Maria Corina Machado, maintains that a political transition is already underway and that Chavismo has lost its ability to impose conditions Juan Pablo Guanipa, one of the dissidents who has been most intensely persecuted by the Chavista regime, recounts that of the 260 days he spent in jail, the first 21 were particularly hellish. He was held in a 3x3 meter cell at the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Police in Mariperez, north of Caracas. He remembers it as a filthy prison: scorching hot by day, freezing cold by night, without a toilet or running water, and infested with mosquitoes. They gave him a uniform, and he went 21 days without bathing. After that period, he says, the prison director agreed to improve his conditions of confinement. He was allowed to receive food from his family, books, and go out to the yard to get some sun. In prison, Guanipa imposed a routine on himself to organize his time in every corner of his cell, with a schedule of tasks that led him to do anaerobic exercises for the first time in his life. A lawyer and graduate of the University of Zulia, the 61-year-old is a politician steeped in Christian humanism and currently one of the national leaders of Primero Justicia. He is often praised for his firmness and composure in the face of Chavismo. In recent years he has found common ground with Maria Corina Machado, and since 2022 has been one of her closest collaborators. Question. Do you feel that the country is moving towards a political transition or, once again, is the opposition counting its chickens before they hatch? Answer. I think we are in a transition process. Its happening in stages. Sometimes we dont see that certain preconditions must be met for this electoral process to take place. The United States, which has become a key player in domestic politics, has said so. Marco Rubio confirmed it in his meeting with the Caribbean countries: we are heading towards an electoral consultation. Juan Pablo Guanipa outside the Helicoide detention center, after being released from the Mariperez center, in Caracas, on February 8. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria (REUTERS) Q. Isnt the military world still too aligned with the objectives of Chavismo? A. Edmundo Gonzalez won in all the polling stations designated for police and military personnel in the July 2024 presidential elections. The desire for change is widespread across all sectors of the country. There is a High Command committed to the regime, thats true: they will have to go. I sense enormous weariness within the military regarding everything that has happened. The United States has economic and political priorities with respect to Venezuela. Up to this point, economic priorities may have carried more weight, as a stabilization mechanism. But we are undoubtedly moving toward a political agenda. Q. Did you ever imagine that you would spend many years in prison? A. Always. I thought a lot about my family. I have five children and a granddaughter. Weve been through some difficult times lately; my wife recently passed away from cancer. This year my twin sons, who are 16, graduated from school. I hadnt seen them in a while, and now theyre so grown up, I hardly recognized them. Before I was arrested, I spent 10 months in hiding, under very harsh conditions. In those kinds of situations, you never know when youre going to get out. Q. What is your opinion of the amnesty law and the political opening that Chavismo is attempting? A. If they had already released hundreds of people before passing the amnesty law, that means the law wasnt necessary to do so. Whats needed is political will, a willingness to act. They drafted a law that establishes limits and exceptions. There are civilians and military personnel who wont benefit. Nor will people in exile. Its an incomplete law. Protest for the release of Juan Pablo Guanipa, in Maracaibo (Venezuela), on February 9. Marco Bello (REUTERS) Q. What do you think of Donald Trumps invitation to Enrique Marquez to attend the State of the Union address? A. Trump needed to show the United States the scope and benefits of the incursion into Venezuela. To that end, he invited a political prisoner, an important figure who was a presidential candidate and even challenged Nicolas Maduro in the Supreme Court. Its logical that he did so, and I think its perfectly fine. Q. Some speculate that this is a message about how the United States is interpreting a political transition. A. I dont think so. We, the democratic parties, can lead this process. The procedure we must follow is the one outlined in the Constitution: the position is declared vacant and elections are called. In my opinion, the process that began on October 22, 2023, which led to the primary elections and resulted in Maria Corina Machados victory, has not yet concluded. It is perfectly legitimate for her to be the standard-bearer of the democratic movement. This will be resolved through elections. Marco Rubio has made that clear. Q. For Chavismo, the possibility of Maria Corina Machado being a presidential candidate is ruled out. A. They are no longer in a position to make demands. Things have changed. They oppressed this country and imposed their will by force, but now there are stronger actors than them. That is the reality. Q. Arent you worried that the countrys sovereignty will be trapped in this way by a foreign power? A. I see it as something temporary. The United States, which in my opinion took a risk by intervening in Venezuela and ousting Maduro, has something to say about this problem. They will leave when the situation stabilizes, and after the elections, we will have a normal and fluid relationship with them. Just as we should have with the West, which is Venezuelas natural cultural spacethe democratic West. Q. What is your opinion of the work of the opposition sectors that have decided to participate in elections organized by the regime? A. They havent shown the stature required by such a delicate moment. If we claim to be democrats and a massive citizen consultation is organized in 2023, in which Maria Corina Machado wins with 90% of the vote, why dont we abide by the popular will? Some say so openly: that its essential to stabilize the economy and postpone the elections until 2030. It seems they believe that, for their own survival, its better to keep Delcy Rodriguez in power. Juan Pablo Guanipa at his home in Maracaibo on February 24. Issac Urrutia (REUTERS) Q. Would you be willing to be part of a national reconciliation agenda? A. I am willing to reconcile with anyone, but only with the truth. Dont give me that line about both sides making mistakes and hurting each other equally. No, sir. Here we have a powerful, minority group entrenched in the State that has repressed an entire country and governs illegally. Q. Have you discussed these issues with your brother Tomas Guanipa, who is politically close to Henrique Capriles? A. No. We last saw each other the day my brother Pedro, who was also imprisoned, was released. Tomas and his wife brought me food and books in jail, they looked out for me, they were supportive. We have many political differences. Im not opposed to having talks: if we want to unite the country, we have to start by uniting the family. Q. Arent you afraid of being imprisoned again? A. The way they arrested me to take me to house arrest, after I had been released from prison, was humiliating and unacceptable. I thought I might die. Of course, it could happen again: they still control the police forces. I have been very clear in defending my rights. One has rights, and one has the right to defend them. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Pakistan has carried out its biggest-ever attacks on Afghanistan, including targeting two of the countrys largest cities, heightening fears of an all-out war between the two neighbors. Pakistani jets on February 27 bombed military targets in Afghan capital, Kabul, the southern city of Kandahar, home to the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, and in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Paktia, Paktika, and Laghman, the Pakistani Army said. In retaliation, Afghanistans Taliban government said it launched drone and rocket attacks targeting military installations and security forces in northwestern Pakistan. Pakistans strikes inside Afghanistan appear to be the most serious escalation since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, said Khalid Sultan, an Islamabad-based analyst. Unlike earlier, when there were more limited counterterrorism air strikes targeting militant hideouts, this round has been broader in scope, hitting major cities, and framed in much stronger state-to-state terms. The number of casualties from Pakistans air strikes and the Talibans retaliatory attacks were unclear, with both sides claiming to have killed dozens of fighters. Both sides reported civilian casualties. Islamabad launched the air strikes after the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistani border positions. The attacks by Afghan forces were a response to Pakistani air strikes along the border earlier in the week. 'Conventional Conflict' The attacks on February 27 mark the worst flare up since October 2025, when fierce fighting erupted between Taliban fighters and Pakistani security forces, leaving dozens dead and key border crossings closed. The border clashes occurred just days after Pakistan carried out unprecedented drone strikes in the center of Kabul as well as air strikes in the countrys east. Pakistans strikes last year targeted the leadership and hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) extremist group, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, inside Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering the TTP, an allegation it denies. What makes the latest strikes different is that Pakistan targeted the Taliban governments military infrastructure and hit security installations and arms depots in Afghanistan, said Amir Rana, the head of the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think tank. This is the first conventional conflict between the two sides, said Rana. Previous air strikes were meant to caution the Taliban. Now, this is a war-like situation. Underscoring the shift, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja M Asif, declared "open war" on the Afghan Taliban, in a strongly worded post on X. Allies Turned Foes Pakistans relations with the Afghan Taliban, a close ally for decades, have deteriorated sharply in recent years. Islamabad had supported the Taliban since the group first emerged in the 1990s, including allegedly during the groups 20-year insurgency against the US-backed Afghan government. The strategy, experts say, was to install a pliant government in Kabul that would secure Pakistani interests. But that strategy appears to have backfired. Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the TTP has waged an increasingly deadly insurgency against Islamabad. The extremist group has killed hundreds of Pakistani security personnel in recent years. In November, the TTP claimed responsibility for bombing a courthouse in Islamabad that killed around a dozen people. Mohammad Naeem Ghayur, an Afghan defense analyst, said Islamabad has demanded that the Afghan Taliban expel the TTP from Afghanistan and cut logistical and military support to the group. But that is unlikely, experts say, given the close ideological, organizational, and tribal ties between the TTP and Afghan Taliban. Moreover, there are factions within the Afghan Taliban that oppose Pakistan, said Ghayur. RFE/RLs Radio Azadi contributed to this report As Iranian and US diplomats concluded a third round of talks in Geneva on February 26 -- described by mediators as a significant step toward technical review -- the imminent arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in Israel a day later underscored the military brinkmanship shaping the standoff between Washington and Tehran. The deployment, a massive show of force, serves as a counterweight to the optimistic language surrounding the negotiations. The juxtaposition of diplomacy and military pressure appears deliberate. According to Mohammad Ghaedi, a lecturer at George Washington University who spoke to RFE/RLs Radio Farda, US President Donald Trump's administration views the threat of force not as an alternative to diplomacy, but as a mechanism to drive it. Even if [these talks] are a last-ditch effort, the United States will not announce it publicly, Ghaedi said. That preserves the element of surprise in the event of an attack. He added that regardless of whether negotiations collapse, Washington is unlikely to formally declare their end before any potential military action, describing the current naval buildup as a key leverage point. Ghaedi expressed skepticism about the prospects for a comprehensive breakthrough. While discussions on general principles appear to be advancing, he said a significant gap remains over nonnegotiable details, particularly uranium enrichment levels. Speaking on February 27, Trump said he was "not happy" with Iran but added that he hadn't yet made a decision on a possible military option, as more talks were expected. "Theyd be smart if they made a deal. No nuclear weapons -- we want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they're not saying those golden words," Trump said. Fueling speculation, on the same day the United States authorized the departure of nonemergency government personnel and family members from Israel as the carrier group approached. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that his department has designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention -- a newly created label that Tehran is the first ever to receive. "The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions," Rubio said in a statement. Speaking aboard Air Force Two, US Vice President JD Vance sought to shape expectations around the administrations deliberations. While confirming that potential strike action is under active consideration, Vance stressed that any conflict would be limited in scope. The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight -- there is no chance that will happen, Vance told reporters on February 26. He reiterated that the White House prefers a diplomatic outcome but said the final decision depends on Iranian concessions. Iranian media close to senior officials pushed back. Nour News, affiliated with Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, accused Vance of feeding misinformation to Congress about the possibility of a limited war in order to justify granting Trump broad authority in the event of a conflict. Citing recent remarks by Khamenei, the outlet warned that any attack on Iran -- contained or otherwise -- would trigger a broader regional conflict. It said Washington risks a dangerous miscalculation by underestimating Tehrans capacity to escalate, arguing that a surgical strike would not remain limited. Ghaedi said the use of force would not eliminate Irans nuclear expertise and would likely be intended to compel Tehran back to the negotiating table. Any military action must ultimately lead to a point where Iran accepts -- through negotiation and agreement -- to forgo high-level enrichment, he said. Roya Maleki of RFE/RLs Radio Farda contributed to this report. Europe Before World War I Vs Today When Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914, few could have known it would reverberate for four years of brutal war, leading to the fall of three European empires and revolution in what would become the Soviet Union. The past 100 years have seen another world war and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, but much of present-day Europe is based on the lines drawn following the conflict sparked by Princip's bullet. 1914 2014 (Pull cursor to the right from 1914 to see 1914 map and to the left from 2014 to see the modern map) Many local wars between drug cartels are being fought in Mexico. At times, one of these battles overshadows others, which continue to rage in the background. The unexpected fall last weekend of Nemesio El Mencho Oseguera, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), shifted attention away from the drug war that has been raging in the neighboring state of Sinaloa. The conflict began more than 18 months ago, following the split between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, the two major factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. In this period, hundreds of people have been killed or disappeared, the local economy has collapsed, and entire families have moved to other states in an attempt to continue their lives. The fighting between Los Chapitos (the heirs of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman) and La Mayiza (the supporters of Ismael El Mayo Zambada) has become part of the everyday landscape in Sinaloa. Violence only grabs broader attention during particularly shocking events, such as the recent discovery of a mass grave, the disappearance of 10 workers from a multinational mining company, or the shooting of two deputies from the political party Movimiento Ciudadano (Citizens Movement). The fall of one or even several cartel leaders does little to slow down this cycle of death. This is the scenario that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will visit this weekend. On Friday, the president will lead a meeting of her Security Cabinet at a military zone in the port of Mazatlan. There, she will also hold her daily press conference. In the afternoon, she will attend a rally. On Saturday, she will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for a hospital in Culiacan, the state capital. Her presence in Sinaloa is an attempt to show that her government has not forgotten what is happening in the state, just days after the death of El Mencho. When Sheinbaum and her team travel outside Mexico City, it is common for the presidential press conference to focus on the results of the governments security strategy in the state they are visiting and on homicide statistics. A look at the numbers reveals the scale of the tragedy in Sinaloa. Since September 2024, there have been at least 2,400 murders and nearly 3,800 disappearances, according to figures from the State Attorney Generals Office obtained by EL PAIS. Last year was the most violent year for Sinaloa in a decade. The federal government has launched an unprecedented offensive against the two rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. The historically large amounts of drugs and weapons seized, along with the number of arrests including commanders, lieutenants, cell leaders, and hitmen bosses have led Omar Garcia Harfuch, head of the federal crusade against organized crime, to claim that the power of Los Chapitos and La Mayiza has waned. However, the official account clashes with recent violence in the state and raises questions about the real impact of removing through arrest or even elimination specific individuals in the cartels, from mid-level leaders to top bosses. The violence in Sinaloa is concentrated in the south, particularly in the municipalities of Escuinapa, Mazatlan, and Concordia, which have seen road blockades, drone attacks on military camps, and the disappearance of at least 10 workers from the Canadian company Vizsla Silver. Two other municipalities in the region also show high levels of violence: Elota and San Ignacio. In Elota, attacks by armed men have affected civilians, including Mayor Richard Millan, who was caught in crossfire on February 13 while leaving the Municipal Palace. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasnt directed at me, the official reflected. Insecurity in Elota has led to the closure of sport-fishing tourism projects at El Salto Dam, a site traditionally visited by U.S. and Canadian vacationers. At the same time, however, Elota has become a refuge for people displaced from towns in the neighboring municipality of San Ignacio. EL PAIS has documented that the towns of Acatitan, Aguacaliente de los Yuriar, Ejido Gabriel Leyva Velazquez, Paredon Colorado, El Salto Chico, and El Chirimole all located around El Salto Dam have been attacked by criminal groups, forcing mass displacement of residents. Most of them went to Elota. Some are receiving financial assistance from the city council there, says a representative of those families. Other displaced people have moved to Culiacan, or outside Sinaloa, to Durango and Mexico City. Added to this are self-imposed curfews starting at 6 p.m. as in the towns of La Labor, El Tule, and Los Mecates. They are left to Gods mercy. I tell them to leave, that this isnt a life, a resident of La Labor tells EL PAIS. The municipality of San Ignacio has long been plagued by violence, even before the conflict between La Mayiza and Los Chapitos erupted. Since 2022, residents of Rosendo Nieblas, El Patole, and Dimas have reported illegal mining activities in beach areas to the authorities, carried out by criminal groups. The excavations stretch nearly two miles in a protected natural area that serves as a nesting ground for sea turtles. The federal government now focused on curbing the internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel has not addressed these complaints, meaning illegal mining continues, according to residents interviewed by this newspaper. The infighting between the Sinaloa Cartel factions triggered by El Chapos sons alleged betrayal of El Mayo has required enormous efforts from the Sheinbaum administration, at a time when the United States is pressuring Mexico for results in the fight against drug trafficking. The major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel served as a reminder of the other fronts that remain open in Mexicos struggle to shake off organized crime, which has proven capable of taking root, surviving, and adapting. The 18 months since the start of the war in Sinaloa despite Mexicos massive offensive and the United States clampdown, which froze millions in cartel assets demonstrate just how resilient and entrenched these criminal networks are. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Cuban Revolution was more successful at exporting its epic narrative than any other tangible commodity. Not even sugarcane, tobacco or rum can compare. The face of Che Guevara transformed into left-wing merchandise, the stoic image of Fidel Castro with a cigar in his mouth defying the 600 assassination attempts orchestrated against him by the CIA, and the slogan that Cuban education and healthcare are the best in the world have been an important part of the global progressive ideation from 1959 to the present. Sartre, Beauvoir, Maradona, Guayasamin, and Garcia Marquez are just some of the renowned figures who succumbed to the heroic myth of an island that, along with its bearded leader, built a precarious but socialist and happy paradise right under the nose of the Yankee empire. Cubans (or most Cubans) also bought into (or for a time believed in) a Caribbean epic that resonated with them. From childhood, in schools, they have been taught that they must emulate the Guevara legend. We will be like Che is a slogan that every Cuban has shouted every day of their school years. And then there is the cult of Fidel Castro, who the islands official press insists did not die in 2016, speaking only of a physical disappearance, as if his spirit were still leading the country. For someone unfamiliar with Cuban reality, but informed enough to know that Castro himself declared atheism constitutional until 1992, this mysticism must seem strange. But it isnt: the only mysticism permitted by the Revolution has been that of the Revolution itself, one that naturally extends to its eternal leader. The Cuban writer (and staunch anti-Castro activist) Guillermo Cabrera Infante, writing from exile in his book Mea Cuba, stated: Castro is, like God in Cuba, everywhere. Other Cubans felt the same way. This gift of ubiquity helped Fidel Castro gain an almost divine reputation. The Comandante could be in every place at once to attend to the needs of his people, but also to watch over and punish them. He, who was also the Revolution incarnate, thus ensured that he was loved and feared in equal measure. However, that relationship between the leader and the masses was neither as subjective nor as romantic as the revolutionary myth portrays it. The birth and collapse of the myth of the Cuban revolutionary epic is one of the topics on which Alina Barbara Lopez Hernandez, 61, a graduate in Marxism and History with a PhD in Philosophical Sciences and a member of the Cuban Academy of History, has written most extensively. She is also the founder of CubaxCuba, a platform conceived as a laboratory of civic thought, where other Cuban intellectuals, mostly aligned with the democratic left, collaborate. However, for the Havana regime, Dr. Lopez Hernandez is yet another enemy, and for this reason, its repressive apparatus has harassed, detained, and even physically assaulted her repeatedly over the past five years. For Lopez Hernandez, the construction of the revolutionary epic was nothing more than a contractual process devised by Fidel Castro, through which citizens relinquished their civil, political, economic, and artistic freedoms in exchange for a state with social responsibility. The state gave the vast majority access to a free public health system and a social security system that, while not of the quality many believe, was nonetheless good. Furthermore, it successfully managed public safety and maintained control over crime, the Cuban intellectual explains in a phone call from her home in Matanzas, Cuba. However, Fidel Castros social pact had a problem: without economic freedoms, among others, it was impossible for Cuban-style socialism to produce enough to maintain its economic sovereignty and its ideological war against the United States. Reluctant to modify the pact, the bearded leader forced a change of course and restructured the economy so that it would always depend on some external ally. That ally was, first, the so-called Socialist Bloc of Eastern Europe, and later, Chavista Venezuela. Streets of Havana, February 17. ramon espinosa (AP) With the fall of real socialism and the disintegration of the USSR, the Cuban economy lost its foundation and collapsed. The first part of the 1990s, remembered in Cuba as the Special Period, was a difficult time for the revolutionary myth. The Castro regime, which until then had strived to distribute scarcity, now had to distribute misery. But even in the midst of that debacle, says Lopez Hernandez, the State maintained a certain degree of social responsibility. Fidel was an intelligent politician and knew that to demand total obedience, you had to give something in return. Perhaps nothing better illustrates the strength of the Revolutions social pact at that time than the popular protest of August 5, 1994, known as the Maleconazo. On that day, hundreds of people took to one of Havanas main thoroughfares to march, chanting anti-government slogans. It was the first time the regime had been challenged in this way since 1959. The repressive forces responded with violence, and some report at least a dozen citizens injured. However, the event lasted only as long as it took Fidel Castro to appear before the demonstrators and magically transform the protest into a march in support of him. The revolutionary epic was thus inextricably linked to the epic of its patriarch. Fidel Castro ensured this, which is why they died together. In 2008, with Fidel Castro ill and removed from power, and with his brother at the helm of the country, the contractual rules of the Revolution changed. Raul Castro is a military man accustomed to command and control, and he wasnt interested in maintaining Fidels approach. With him, the idea of the States social responsibility changed. The government began to disengage from social security, many subsidies were cut, workers cafeterias were closed, and several almost neoliberal measures were taken that dealt a severe blow to the poorest families, says the Cuban intellectual. Raul Castro promised reforms that were supposed to translate into economic freedoms. However, he was only able to implement a few (such as the recognition of private property) and not without considerable obstacles and subsequent setbacks. What the younger Castro did achieve was to turn the countrys economy, a portfolio he himself had managed for almost half a century, into the property of the military. To this end, he consolidated the power of GAESA, a military-corporate conglomerate headed by his son-in-law, General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja (who died in 2022). According to estimates by the Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies, between 2016 and 2022 GAESA went from controlling 22.6% of the strategic sectors of the Cuban economy to managing 70%, including almost everything related to tourism, and from controlling 8% of the islands finances to dominating 95%. With Fidel Castros death, the epic narrative was emptied of reality. Since then, the Revolution has done nothing but appeal to a supposedly glorious past of social equality while, in reality, it has been committed to social cuts, the monopolization of the economy by the military elite, and political repression. The Cuban system has accumulated blunders and flagrant violations of civil and political rights. This has caused a clear fracture in the consensus surrounding the romanticized view of the Revolution, notes Julio Antonio Fernandez Estrada, a prominent jurist and historian who also works as a journalist for the independent Cuban media outlet El Toque, from his exile in Madrid. He explains that the accumulation of these blunders dates back to the first decade of the Revolution. One of the most remembered was the case of censorship and repression against the poet Heberto Padilla, which marked the beginning of a veritable witch hunt against artists and intellectuals not fully aligned with the regimes interests, a period known as El Quinquenio Gris (the Gray Five-Year Period). The Padilla case caused a huge schism within the international left-wing intelligentsia that supported Castro, but it wasnt the only one. Many people on the left have been getting off the bandwagon of the Revolution, metaphorically speaking. This also happened with the Mariel boatlift in the 1980s, the 1994 Cuban Rafter Crisis, and the summary execution of three young men who hijacked a boat in 2003 to emigrate to the United States, Fernandez Estrada elaborates. With the pact broken, there was no reason for citizens to continue accepting the absence of civil, economic, and political rights. This, coupled with a precarious situation that has only worsened under Miguel Diaz-Canels government, spurred civil society to increasingly challenge the regime. In response, the Revolution intensified and hardened its repressive mechanisms. The popular protests of July 11, 2021, which resulted in over a thousand political prisoners, dozens of injuries, and at least one death at the hands of the police, clearly illustrate the current decline of the post-Castro Cuban regime. But some of that revolutionary romanticism remains, at least on the part of a sector of the international left. That left remains loyal to the Cuban government, not to the people, and continues to justify everything with the U.S. embargo, which is now becoming more real, Fernandez Estrada says, alluding to the tariffs that the Trump Administration threatened to impose on January 30 on anyone who supplies crude oil to the island. This situation has once again created a shield around the Cuban Revolution. Many people have revived that special regard because all they see now is a starving population in need of help, but they dont realize that the humanitarian crisis in Cuba is much older, more sustained, and more structural than anything a month-old oil blockade could cause. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Michael Bolton The number of homeless people in Ireland has exceeded 17,000 for the first time. There were 17,112 people in emergency accommodation in January: 11,793 adults and 5,319 children. The figure includes 2,555 families, of which 1,442 are single-parent families. It comes after the monthly numbers dipped slightly in the previous month, which usually happens at Christmas. The Simon Communities of Ireland says this increase at the start of another year, compounded by a worrying rise in the number of single adults experiencing homelessness across Ireland, is deepening this national crisis. Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: With the 2030 target to end homelessness in plain sight, it is unacceptable that this crisis is deepening, particularly among single adults who now make up nearly three-quarters of all households experiencing homelessness. The Governments current plan is failing this largest cohort in emergency beds, with potentially long-term impacts on their mental and physical wellbeing. "This is a key concern for all the Simon Communities across Ireland. While the new Housing Plan has a welcome focus on children and family homelessness, we simply cannot allow for single adults to be forgotten about and by-passed when investing in solutions. Everyone has a right to a safe home and the dignity that comes with it. There needs to be a sustained focus on single adults as part of the wider plan. We urgently need a dedicated single-adult homelessness strategy and a rapid supply of one-bed units. The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has said it is deeply concerned that over 2,000 young people aged 1824 are currently living in emergency accommodation, representing 17.4 per cent of adults in homelessness. Grace McManus, NYCI Campaigns Manager, said:These figures represent a profound failure to protect young people at a critical stage in their lives. No young person should be forced into homelessness because they cannot afford rent or access the supports they need. "This situation is not inevitable, and it can be addressed through a rapid policy response and action from Government that tackles the unique causes and challenges facing young people. The Governments three-year youth homelessness strategy covering 2023 to 2025 has now ended. Out of a total of 27 actions, only eight have been officially marked as complete. Missed actions must be reviewed and updated, and successes such as the Supported Housing for Youth programme must be expanded. A successor plan must now be committed to and developed, with more ambitious targets and actions to drastically reduce youth homelessness levels. Its unacceptable that youth homelessness is becoming normalised. We are urging the Minister and Government to significantly increase attention and action on youth homelessness, alongside all other cohorts of people experiencing homelessness today. Castlerea Musical Society has got planning approval to build a storage unit for equipment at a local business park. Roscommon County Council has granted permission for the construction of the storage unit at Castlerea Business Park in the Demesne. It will have a gross floor space of c.197.4m and a height of 6.2m. The unit will have a nap plaster finish with insulated sheeting on the roof. There is an existing storage shed located directly to the rear of the planned new unit, which features similar exterior materials. By David Young, Press Association Police in Belfast have appealed for witnesses after a statue of Queen Victoria was vandalised. The statue sits in the grounds of the Belfast hospital complex named after the late monarch. Republican group Lasair Dhearg posted a picture on social media on Friday afternoon appearing to show one of its supporters pouring red paint over the statue. In an accompanying post, the group said Belfast activists had paid a visit to the Famine Queen a reference to the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century. Whatever views individuals may hold about history or heritage, there is absolutely zero justification for targeting a healthcare facility in this manner Alan Chambers, UUP health spokesman British monarch Victoria oversaw the Great Hunger and the decimation of the Irish population as millions perished and emigrated, it stated. In a socialist republic all the symbols of Empire will be stripped from the land; street names, statues, institutions and those that will stand against the people organising for a better future. Only the fight for a socialist republic can bring about the end of occupation and imperialism in Ireland. In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it received a report of criminal damage on the Grosvenor Road site in west Belfast on Friday afternoon. It was reported that paint was thrown over a statue in the area, the PSNI said. Inquiries are at an early stage and police would appeal to any witnesses, or anyone who might have any information which could assist us, to get in touch. Work was under way on Friday evening to remove the paint. In a statement, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: Belfast Trust is aware of an incident in which the statue of Queen Victoria, on the Royal Group of Hospitals site, was daubed with red paint. Trust staff are working to have this paint removed as quickly as possible. Police have been informed of the incident. DUP Assembly member Phillip Brett said the vandalism was an utter disgrace. He said those responsible wanted to intimidate and also erase British identity from Northern Ireland. This wasnt activism, he said. The statue of Queen Victoria that was vandalised by an Irish Republican group. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. It was an attack on shared space, on heritage and on basic respect. If they truly cared about working-class communities, they would be campaigning to improve public services, not defacing public property and intimidating others. We must be clear. Criminal damage is criminal damage. It should be condemned, investigated and those responsible held accountable before the courts without delay. And let me be clear to those who think they can erase British identity from Northern Ireland, we are not going anywhere. Ulster Unionist Assembly member Alan Chambers, who is the partys health spokesman, also condemned the incident. The disgraceful defacing of the statue at the Royal Victoria Hospital was a completely senseless and unacceptable act of vandalism, he said. Whatever views individuals may hold about history or heritage, there is absolutely zero justification for targeting a healthcare facility in this manner. The Royal Victoria Hospital exists to provide care and treatment to some of the sickest people in Northern Ireland and at the most vulnerable moments in their lives. It is a place dedicated to saving lives and supporting families it should never be seen as an opportunity for idiotic political protest or criminal damage. Every pound that now has to be spent repairing this damage is a pound taken away from the health service. At a time when our health service is already under immense pressure, with budgets stretched, it is utterly irresponsible that scarce resources will now have to be diverted to clean up this mess. Those responsible have shown a clear disregard not just for our shared public spaces, but for the patients and staff who rely on the Royal Victoria Hospital every day. That is why I hope they will be identified and held fully accountable. I urge anyone with information about this despicable incident to come forward. Biggest Victory of Truth and Honesty; Court's Verdict a Slap to Dictatorial Forces: Harjot Bains File Photo. Transforming government schools and building world-class hospitals were the real crimes for which attempts were made to punish them. Biggest Victory of Truth and Honesty; Court's Verdict a Slap to Dictatorial Forces: Harjot Bains Chandigarh, 27 February 2026: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the acquittal of the partys National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by the court will be recorded as the biggest victory of truth and honesty in the history of Indian democracy. Advertisement Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Minister Bains said that the acquittal of AAP leaders proves that the investigating agencies had no solid basis for the case. He said the opposition created noise over a fake a100 crore scam, but on the ground not even a single penny was recovered. It has now become clear that the entire case was a cheap political conspiracy woven solely to stop the rising popularity of Arvind Kejriwal. Investigating agencies were used as political weapons, and today that attempt has failed miserably. Taking a strong swipe at the functioning of the BJP-led central government, Bains said that Manish Sisodia was kept behind bars for two years and Arvind Kejriwal for six months. He said they did not even consider that Manish Sisodias wife was battling a serious illness and Arvind Kejriwal is a diabetic patient. Politics is one thing, he said, but the opposition crossed all limits of inhumanity. Today, the courts verdict has delivered a resounding slap to these dictatorial forces. Bains said the entire country now understands that Arvind Kejriwals politics is the politics of work. Transforming government schools and building world-class hospitals were the real crimes for which attempts were made to punish them. However, by the grace of Guru Sahib, truth has prevailed. Advertisement Warning the opposition regarding upcoming elections, Harjot Bains said that this verdict is a positive signal for the future. In the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, we will shatter our own 2022 record. The people will respond to every act of oppression by the opposition through the power of their vote. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora inaugurates Cargill's largest South Asia facility of animal feed manufacturing at Wazirabad, Mandi Gobindgarh File Photo. The Cargill plant has an annual production capacity of 4.5 lakh metric tonnes and is the largest dairy feed plant in South Asia. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora inaugurates Cargill's largest South Asia facility of animal feed manufacturing at Wazirabad, Mandi Gobindgarh CHANDIGARH, 26th February 2026: Reaffirming the Bhagwant Mann Governments firm commitment to industrial growth and investor facilitation, Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government Sanjeev Arora on Thursday inaugurated the newly established dairy feed plant of Cargill Private Limited at the Industrial Park, Wazirabad in Mandi Gobindgarh. The state-of-the-art unit has been set up with an investment of a300 crore. Advertisement Addressing the gathering, Sanjeev Arora said, Under the visionary leadership of Honble National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Honble Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is witnessing substantial industrial investments through the Invest Punjab initiative. These investments are generating employment opportunities for the youth and accelerating Punjabs overall economic development. The Minister added, Growing investor confidence clearly reflects that Punjab is emerging as a preferred destination for investments, particularly in the agriculture and food processing sectors. The Punjab Government remains fully committed to providing every possible support and ensuring a business-friendly ecosystem through progressive policies and a peaceful industrial environment. Spread over 15 acres, the Cargill plant has an annual production capacity of 4.5 lakh metric tonnes and is the largest dairy feed plant in South Asia. After Bathinda, this marks Cargills second major unit in Punjab, further strengthening the agro-industrial value chain of Punjab. The management of Cargill Private Limited commended Sanjeev Arora for his consistent efforts in facilitating the establishment of the plant. Advertisement Highlighting the direct benefits to farmers, Minister Sanjeev Arora said, This plant will greatly benefit dairy farmers by ensuring the local availability of high-quality cattle feed, thereby improving milk yield, quality and farmers income. The scientifically developed feed will enhance animal health and productivity, helping Punjabs dairy sector scale new heights. Expressing confidence in the future of the dairy sector, he said, Just as Punjab is known as the food bowl of India, it will soon emerge as a leading supplier of milk to other states as well. Interacting with the media, Minister Sanjeev Arora informed, The upcoming Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026, scheduled from March 13 to 15 at Mohali, is expected to attract large participation from national and international investors. The Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to position Punjab among the top industrial states of India. Industry in Punjab is steadily progressing and industrialists have expressed satisfaction with the proactive policies of the Punjab Government. Advertisement Earlier, local MLA Lakhbir Singh Rai said, The establishment of the Cargill plant will generate employment opportunities for nearly 1,000 youth in the region. The availability of superior-quality feed will significantly improve animal health and milk quality in the area. On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sona Thind, Additional Deputy Commissioner Pooja Syal Grewal, David Webster, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, Rishi Verma, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, Chair of Asia Pacific region, Adriano Marcon, President, Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, and Ravinder Balain, Senior Managing Director, Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, India and President, Cargill India were also present. High-resolution image of two ants seen under a microscope. They are part of a colony of ten individuals trapped in Baltic amber tens of millions of years ago. Although there are many amber stones containing a single creature, there are fewer that include two or more, as is the case with a pair of mosquitoes trapped in amber 130 million years ago which tell us that, back then, males also sucked blood. Even more extraordinary is when several organisms can be seen interacting, either eating the other, acting as a parasite, or cooperating. The new edition of the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution examines not one, but six of these stones in which scenes of life millions of years ago have been frozen in time. Amber is an organic stone that began as a vegetable resin. Many trees, such as conifers, produce it to heal their wounds, such as tears in their trunks and branches. As its pours down the trunk, it drags with it twigs, leaves and even flowers. The largest flower, for example, has been trapped in one of these stones for 38 million years. Small living beings are also trapped by this sticky substance. In 2020, a dinosaur no bigger than a hummingbird was found in one of these honey-colored traps. Usually, it is smaller beings such as arthropods, snails, worms. When the substance falls into a water tank or is buried, a polymerization process begins that turns it into copal, an aromatic substance, that is more translucent, and that over hundreds of thousands of years ends up mineralizing completely. It is used not only in art and jewelry, but also for the study of fossil ecosystems thanks to the organisms trapped during the formation of amber that can last a million years, explains Jose de la Fuente, a research professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)s Institute for Research in Game Resources and co-author of the study. The multiple beings contained in amber represent the coexistence between different organisms with the possible interaction between them, he adds. In this image of a Baltic amber from Kaliningrad, Russia, dating back to the Eocene (35-48 million years ago), a plant fragment, an extinct winged male ant and a nematode (Mermis nigrescens) known as the grasshopper nematode were identified. Jose de la Fuente Because of their 3D preservation, details that conventional fossils the animals and plants turned to stone cannot preserve, can be seen and paleontologists can not only define the species but also try to rebuild the relationship they maintained. The so-called case 2 is a good example of an ecological relationship that still exists. It is a Burmite that is, Burmese or Myanmar amber that is among the oldest, with some pieces going back more than 100 million years. It is also the one that has proved the most exciting. A study led by the paleontologist of the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME), Enrique Penalver, discovered a few years ago that dinosaurs already had ticks 99 million years ago. And the tick was attached to a feather of the dinosaur on which it fed. It is one of the examples of interaction, in this case parasitic, preserved in amber. The biological relationship examined in case 2 from the new study is called myrmecomorphic or myrmecomorphic, an evolutionary strategy in which a creature impersonates or mimics ants. In this case, a spider appears in the amber that would have mimicked an ant (myrmex, in Greek). Detail of a Baltic amber stone, with a winged ant of the species Lasius Schiefferdeckeri, now extinct, trapped in the amber stone at least 35 million years ago. Jose de la Fuente The spider mixes with the ants in an empathetic way, introduces itself and becomes an ecological ally, explains de la Fuente. It is a kind of collaboration: Both attract or capture food that serves both. In this case, it could also happen that the waste of one serves as possible food for the other. In de la Fuentes collection, there is also an amber stone that he considers unique; inside there are ants from groups that have long since become extinct, a mosquito, a snail, a milliped, plant remains and moss. Some species of ants have a mutually beneficial relationship with moss. It provides shelter for them and their offspring, while the fungus it contains serves as a food source for the bryophyte. The six time capsules analyzed have ants as their main protagonists. The previous studies I have carried out were on fossil ticks, because I have worked for many years on the development of vaccines for tick control, explains de la Fuente. They are much rarer to find in amber, he adds. Ants are very diverse, easier to find in amber than ticks or other insects, and you find them in all periods, from the Cretaceous to the Neogene. They have a very important role in life, they are key in different periods and ecosystems, he explains. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Bear Orphanage In the Romanian folk tradition, the Carpathian bear is a frequent presence in the folk calendar. Bears on Transfagarasan (Photo: Mariana Chirita/RRI) Ana-Maria Cononovici, 27.02.2026, 14:00 In the Romanian folk tradition, the Carpathian bear is a frequent presence in the folk calendar. Like the wolf, the two wild animals have holiday cycles dedicated to them, days that mark important moments in the reproductive cycle of these animals and their periods of maximum activity. In the folk calendar, there are numerous days dedicated to the bear: Macavei (August 1), Martinii de Toamna (Autumn Bears) (November 12-14), Martinii de Iarna (Winter Bears) (February 1-3), Bear Day (February 2) and Bear Saturday (a week before Palm Sunday). February is a month in which the bear is celebrated twice worldwide. February 2 is the day of the brown bear and of the marmot, and February 27 is the day of the polar bear. On this occasion, we present to you the situation of orphaned bears in our country. In Romania there is the Center for the Rehabilitation of Orphaned Bears, the only place in Europe where bear cubs, who, for various reasons, are left without a mother, have the chance for a normal life in the wild after they have developed sufficiently. Cristian Remus Papp, National Manager of the Wildlife and Protected Areas Department, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Romania, explained the situation to us: The problem of orphaned bears is a real one and unfortunately the authorities do not have a solution for them. It is important to know that every year several bear cubs lose their mother, mainly due to poaching. And most of them, especially if they are a few weeks or months old, have little chance of surviving without human help in this case. And this is where the orphanage comes into play. In Romania there is only one such orphanage, near Balan, in Harghita County, and in Europe there is only one more, namely in Greece, but below the capacity of our orphanage. The orphanage near Balan has the role of educating bear cubs given the absence of their mother, of developing skills that will help them survive in nature later and here human interaction with these bears is almost non-existent, during a year and a half, while they are at the orphanage. A single person feeds them, through a system of pulleys and cables, or with the help of a drone, to place the food in various places. And at the end of the rehabilitation program they are released into the wild, being monitored with GPS collars to track the success of this program. In our country there is also a well-known Sanctuary in Zarnesti, but bears are no longer released into the wild from there. Basically, the bears that arrive there remain in that Sanctuary until the end of their lives. Without the help the little bears receive in this Orphanage, they would have a cruel life in illegal pens, could end up in zoos, or could even die. We asked Cristian Remus Papp, National Manager of the Wildlife and Protected Areas Department, WWF Romania, if it is not an exaggeration to care about orphaned bears in a situation where it seems that our country has a problem with the large number of bears that threaten the lives of people in mountain towns: Regarding the large number of bears that Romania has, I would say that we have formed a perception in this sense because of the habitual bears that we can see in many places in the country and the fact that they are constantly present and visible gives the impression that we are a country invaded by bears. Certainly, the numbers are large, but there is a fairly big difference between perception and reality. And if we managed to manage these problematic bears, for example, in four or five years there should no longer be other habitual bears to take their place, conflicts would decrease drastically and the image of the bear population would be different over time. This is the reason why we must care about orphaned bears: to basically give them a chance to become bears that live in wild areas, away from humans. We can basically give them that dignity that regular bears no longer benefit from. The bear orphanage exists because nature needs time to heal and animals need people who protect, not disturb. Every gesture of support means food, care, space, safety and the chance for a life as close to the wild as possible until the cubs are ready to face life on their own. Cristian Remus Papp told us how we can support the Bear Orphanage: People can help and contribute to the operation of this orphanage through donations and every year approximately 20 bears become part of this rehabilitation program. This is the capacity of the orphanage. And we need human capacity, veterinary assistance, especially when receiving orphaned cubs that in most cases are weakened. And this also includes the supply of food, which is vital, as well as of the equipment for monitoring the cubs, during and after their release into the wild. The bear orphanage also has a significant name: Bear Again, transmitting a message that refers to a process of rehabilitation of the bear cubs, who end up back into the wild as true individuals of their species. (LS) The Romanian prime minister travels to Brussels Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan travelled to Brussels on Thursday to convince the European Commission that Romania has achieved the milestones set out in its National Recovery and Resilience Plan and should receive the funds provided for in the programme. Romanian PM Ilie Bolojan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Facebook.com/guv.ro Sorin Iordan, 27.02.2026, 14:00 Romania does have a chance of receiving some of the remaining payment for the 3rd tranche of its National Recovery and Resilience Plan, said Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. During a trip to Brussels, he tried to convince European decision-makers that Romania has fulfilled its commitments and should receive the 231 million euros conditional on the implementation of the magistrates pensions reform. The Prime Minister met, among others, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Commissioner for economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, telling them that his government did fulfil its task in time, but that the reform was blocked in court. Romanias president Nicusor Dan did in fact signed into law the bill on the reform of magistrates pensions, after the Constitutional Court the previous day published in the Official Gazette the reasons for its ruling that the bill complies with the Constitution. The reform of magistrates pensions is a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and due to the delay in its implementation, Romania only received 1.3 billion out of the approximately 2.2 billion euros it was entitled to under the 3rd payment. Ilie Bolojan: As for the funding pertaining to this milestone, from the discussion I had with the Commission president, I am optimistic, but there are some aspects that depend on how you look at them. However I believe that this great effort made to put into practice our commitment as a country, to correct an injustice, entitled us to hope that the European Commission, noting what has been done, will seek to adopt the best solution that it can put into practice for Romania. Romania is also awaiting the payment of the 4th tranche under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, worth approximately 2.6 billion euros. The European Commission is assessing the stage of implementation of the reforms, the deadline being the end of August. One of the milestones, however, is decarbonisation, a problematic aspect for Romania, given that eliminating coal from energy production is a long-term process. The discussions in Brussels also focused on the European SAFE defence program and Romanias budget deficit. European officials praised Bucharests compliance with its obligations, the decrease of its budget deficit to 6% of GDP this year, and the pace of development of defence investment plans. Defence was, in fact, a key point of the visit. The Romanian Prime Minister attended the launch of the EastInvest financing platform, a financial mechanism worth around 28 billion euros dedicated exclusively to investments in European states bordering Ukraine, including Romania. The funds can be attracted by both authorities and private companies. However, the programme operates on a first come, first served basis, so Romania must hurry up and propose viable projects to attract as much funding as possible. Meta will soon begin notifying parents if their teen repeatedly searches for suicide or self-harm-related content on Instagram. This marks the first time the company has proactively informed parents about this type of activity, rather than just blocking the content. Starting next week in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada, parents enrolled in Instagram's Teen Accounts supervision tools will receive alerts if their child repeatedly searches for suicide or self-harm content within a short time frame, or if Meta's systems detect a sudden shift in search behavior linked to harmful topics. These notifications may arrive via email, text message, WhatsApp, or in-app alerts, and will include expert-backed resources to help parents navigate difficult conversations. Meta says the system will "err on the side of caution," meaning some alerts may be triggered even when there is no immediate cause for concern. This move has been sharply criticized by suicide prevention charities, who argue the alerts could do more harm than good by leaving parents "panicked and ill-prepared." Critics also suggest Meta should focus more on preventing harmful content from appearing in the first place, rather than notifying parents after the fact. In response, Meta says the new alerts build on existing protections that block searches for harmful terms, hide suicide and self-harm content, and redirect users to support resources. The company disputes claims that Instagram actively recommends this type of content to vulnerable teens and says it is committed to improving safety tools. In the coming months, Instagram may also extend similar alerts to cases where teens discuss self-harm or suicide with its AI chatbot. This announcement comes amid increasing global scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on young users. Australia has banned social media for under-16s, while the UK, France, and Spain are considering stricter youth protections. U.S. courts are also examining whether Meta targeted younger users. The effectiveness of Meta's new alerts will likely depend on how responsibly the company handles prevention, accuracy, and follow-up support. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Whirlpool Corporation is facing criticism from workers at its Amana, Iowa plant over job cuts, even as the company continues to publicly support President Donald Trump's tariff policies. The company is eliminating 341 jobs effective March 9 at the Amana plant, which produces refrigerators under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and Amana brands. This follows 250 job cuts in July 2025, and union officials say more reductions are planned later this year. Staffing has dropped from nearly 3,000 employees a few years ago to around 1,300 today. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) says production lines have gradually been moved to a new Whirlpool facility opened in Mexico in August 2025, while the company continues to advocate for tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing. Whirlpool disclosed that tariffs cost the company $300 million in 2025, and the conservative Heritage Foundation estimated that washing machine tariffs raised consumer costs by about $1.5 billion annually. The U.S. has reportedly lost 83,000 factory jobs since January 2025. Union leaders argue the Iowa layoffs contradict the spirit of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the company's pro-tariff messaging. IAM officials described the cuts as "a deliberate pattern of corporate abandonment," noting that Iowa has reduced unemployment benefits to 16 weeks, leaving laid-off workers with limited safety nets and no severance. Whirlpool says the cuts are part of a multi-year modernization plan to transform the Amana facility, and that 80 percent of its U.S. sales are produced domestically, with around 20,000 U.S. employees, including 14,000 in manufacturing. The company remains confident that current and new tariff measures will ultimately benefit U.S. manufacturers. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Thursday announced that it has declined to raise its take over offer for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD). The company said it had earlier received notice from Warner Bros. that its Board of Directors has determined Paramount Skydance's (PSKY) latest proposal constitutes a "Superior Proposal" under the terms of its existing merger deal with Netflix. In response, Netflix stated, "The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid.... We believe we would have been strong stewards of Warner Bros.' iconic brands, and that our deal would have strengthened the industry and preserved and created more production jobs in the U.S. But this transaction was always a 'nice to have' at the right price, not a 'must have' at any price." Netflix added that its is strong and growing organically, and that it plans to invest around $20 billion in quality films and series. The firm also aims to expand its entertaining offering, and to resume share repurchase program. In the overnight trading, Netflix shares were gaining around 9.4 percent to trade at $92.53 after closing Thursday's regular trading 2.3 percent higher. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil prices edged higher on Friday after diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran aimed at easing tensions over Tehran's nuclear program concluded on Thursday without an agreement. Benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 0.9 percent to $71.44 a barrel while WTI crude futures were up nearly 1 percent at $65.86. Following meetings in Switzerland, an Omani mediator involved in the negotiations said the talks led to understanding on some issues and that the next round of talks will take place next week in Vienna. The stakes have never been higher, but traders waited to see if a diplomatic breakthrough can avert a potential military conflict in the Middle East. According to the Wall Street Journal, Iran rejected major U.S. proposals, including transferring enriched uranium abroad, halting enrichment, and dismantling certain nuclear sites. Elsewhere, Pakistan has declared an open war against Afghanistan, launching Operation Ghazab Lil Haq with extensive airstrikes against Taliban targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia amid fierce border clashes. Meanwhile, Venezuela's oil ministry has suspended 19 oil production-sharing contracts with private companies signed under the administration of ?President Nicolas Maduro, Reuters reported citing sources with knowledge of the move. It was said the suspension has had no impact on the country's oil and gas output so far. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis OpenAI introduced a limited rollout of ChatGPT's 'Health' feature in January, positioning it as a tool that allows users to securely link medical records and wellness apps to receive personalized guidance. Several reports revealed that more than 40 million people turn to ChatGPT daily for health-related queries. However, the first independent safety review of ChatGPT Health, published in Nature Medicine, found that the system underestimated the urgency of more than half the medical scenarios it was given. Lead researcher Dr. Ashwin Ramaswamy said the study aimed to address a fundamental safety concern- whether someone facing a real medical emergency would be advised to seek immediate care if they consulted ChatGPT Health. The study, titled ChatGPT Health performance in a structured test of triage recommendations, evaluated how well the system could determine the seriousness of medical situations. Researchers used 60 clinician-written case scenarios covering 21 medical fields and tested them under 16 varying conditions, resulting in 960 responses. The system was asked to guide multiple versions of each case, for example, by altering the patient's gender, adding lab results, or including input from relatives, producing nearly 1,000 responses overall. These recommendations were then compared with assessments made by doctors. While ChatGPT Health showed strong performance in clear-cut emergencies such as stroke and severe allergic reactions, it was less reliable in more nuanced cases. In one asthma-related scenario, for instance, it is recommended to wait instead of seeking urgent care, despite recognizing early signs of respiratory distress. In over half of the situations where immediate hospital care was necessary, the platform advised users to remain at home or arrange a routine appointment. Alex Ruani, a doctoral researcher specializing in health misinformation at University College London, described such outcomes as highly concerning. In one simulated case, the system directed a woman struggling to breathe toward a future appointment in 84% of responses, Ruani noted. At the same time, nearly 65% of individuals who were not in danger were told to seek urgent care. The findings also showed that the system was significantly more likely to downplay symptoms when the scenario included reassurance from a 'friend', suggesting the issue was not serious. Responding to the study, OpenAI said it welcomes independent evaluations but emphasized that the research may not fully represent real-world use. The company added that its models are continually updated and improved. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News While Honda has currently listed the CBR400R E-Clutch as a concept model, the bike has a high chance of making it to production Honda first introduced its pioneering E-Clutch system with the 2024 CBR650R and CB650R. Since then, other Honda bikes such as the 2026 Rebel 300 and CL250 have also been upgraded with the E-Clutch package. The next Honda bike to receive the E-Clutch could be the CBR400R. Honda CBR400R E-Clutch will be showcased as a concept at the upcoming Osaka/Tokyo/Nagoya motorcycle shows in Japan. Lets check out the details. E-Clutch for Honda CBR400R In the official images released by Honda, the E-Clutch setup can be seen installed on the clutch cover. This is the same format as used with other Honda bikes with E-Clutch. The E-Clutch is designed to integrate seamlessly, ensuring there are no major changes or protrusions on the bike. Only on closer inspection, one can notice the additional components that are part of the E-Clutch setup. It also comes with Honda E-Clutch lettering on the cover. Instead of using complex systems, Honda has designed its E-Clutch setup as an affordable upgrade. It is also designed to be compatible with a wide variety of Honda models. The E-Clutch can be installed in existing bikes without requiring any major tweaks. At the time of launching the E-Clutch versions of the CB650R and CBR650R, Honda had stated that the E-Clutch will be introduced with various other bikes. For the CBR400R, the E-Clutch can be quite useful in practical scenarios. For example, it can significantly reduce rider fatigue while negotiating stop-and-go traffic in cities. Hondas E-Clutch, which is offered on multiple models, has gained popularity among both new and experienced riders. One of the key reasons users like the E-Clutch is because it does not force them to do something new or use the bike in a specific way. By default, the E-Clutch works in automatic mode. While starting, stopping or shifting gears, users are not required to use the clutch. However, the physical clutch setup is fully operational and can be engaged anytime the rider wants. Users can seamlessly shift from auto to manual and vice versa anytime, without the need to select any modes or press any buttons. Just pressing the physical clutch lever disengages the automatic system and releasing the clutch lever reactivates it. Specs to be revealed soon It is expected that Honda will reveal the performance numbers and other details about the CBR400R E-Clutch model at the Osaka Motorcycle Show. This event is scheduled to be held on March 20-22. The CBR400R E-Clutch model will also be showcased at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show (March 27-29) and Nagoya Motorcycle Show (April 10-12). As seen with other Honda bikes with E-Clutch, there are unlikely to be any major changes to the performance of CBR400R E-Clutch model. The existing CBR400R is powered by a 399cc, parallel twin-cylinder DOHC, liquid-cooled engine. It generates 46 PS and 38.25 Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed transmission. In Japan, the Honda CBR400R is offered at JPY 863,500 (Rs 5.02 lakh). The E-Clutch version will be offered at a higher price, although the benefits far outweigh the increased cost. Honda CBR400R E-Clutch will rival the likes of Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R. India launch is not certain, although the sub-500cc segment has good potential for future growth. Resistance to Donald Trumps immigration policies continues. The mayor of Denver, Colorado, Democrat Mike Johnston, has signed an executive order prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from operating on municipal property and authorizing local police to protect peaceful protesters and even to detain federal agents in cases of excessive use of force. The order states that ICE agents may not use municipal facilities including parking lots, parks, and other public spaces to coordinate immigration operations without a court order or other valid legal warrant. It also instructs the Denver Police Department and the sheriff to intervene if they witness actions that could result in serious injury or death to a person during an immigration operation. If we see any ICE agent using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation, Johnston said during a press conference. The mayor said the city will hold federal agents to the same standard it applies to its own officers. The decision comes after months of tension over the Trump administrations intensified immigration policy and following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during a federal operation, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Those events sparked protests and intensified criticism from civil rights advocates, who denounce violations of due process and freedom of expression. Local police chief Ron Thomas said the priority will be to avoid confrontation. We are not looking to create hostility or to create conflict, he said, although he noted that all officers including federal agents have a legal obligation to intervene in cases of illegal or excessive use of force. Thomas explained that the department has developed simulation scenarios to prevent clashes. The order also reaffirms local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Municipal agencies will not share databases or enter into technological agreements with the Department of Homeland Security unless explicitly required by law. Likewise, the ban on immigration raids in schools, churches, hospitals, libraries, and stadiums remains in place, and racial profiling is prohibited. The city council is also considering an ordinance that would prohibit federal agents from wearing masks and require them to display their name and badge number, with exceptions for undercover operations or special tactics. The political context adds weight to the measure. During the 2024 campaign, Trump falsely claimed that Aurora, a city neighboring Denver, had been taken over by Venezuelan gangs and promised an intervention that he said would be a bloody story. Although the metropolitan area has not experienced a deployment of that magnitude, immigration arrests in the Denver region have increased by more than 200% during the presidents second term, according to researchers at the University of Colorado. Denver has already faced federal lawsuits for alleged interference in the enforcement of immigration laws. However, Johnston defended his citys continued welcoming stance, while insisting that he cannot prevent federal authorities from acting within their jurisdiction when they have legal backing. In previous hearings on Capitol Hill, the mayor had adopted a more moderate tone and recalled that Denver has cooperated with ICE in the past. For Johnston, the goal is to send a clear message to residents, especially the Latino and East African communities that have expressed fear of possible mass raids. We want to be the ones policing our own city, said the mayor. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The justice system had protected them from being expelled, but two of them were sent back to their country of origin, and the rest remain detained in a foreign country, in appalling conditions One of the Trump administrations strategies to increase migrant deportations has been to seek out third countries to which people who cannot return to their country of origin can be transferred. The flights have been conducted in secret, and the destinations are unpredictable, mostly in African countries where human rights are not respected. The latest destination chosen was Cameroon, although the United States has not publicly announced any agreement with that country to accept deported migrants. Some 17 migrants were sent there between January and February. All of them had legal protections preventing them from being deported to their countries of origin, where they would face persecution. Two of the migrants transferred to Cameroon in January have ended up back where they fled from: Morocco. They suffered physical and psychological abuse in their home country for being homosexual and now have to hide. One of them, a 21-year-old, was interviewed and is now overwhelmed by the media attention shes received and is afraid, so she prefers not to speak further. I think she feels a bit regretful because shes seeing it all over social media, and shes very worried that people will find out who she is, explains Alma David, an immigration lawyer who is in contact with her and assists the rest of the group sent to Cameroon from the United States. The young Moroccan woman embarked on a journey she believed would be a one-way trip to the United States, but her asylum application was denied. She was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and a judge recognized that her life would be in danger if she returned to Morocco. But that is where she ended up after a stop in Cameroon. The Trump administration is taking advantage of the fact that they can deport people to third countries, and they are doing so in a way that violates various laws, such as those prohibiting deportation to countries where they may be tortured, says David. Judge declares third-country deportations illegal U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy of Massachusetts ruled Wednesday, for the second time, that the governments deportations to third countries are illegal and must be halted, though he suspended his ruling for 15 days to allow for an appeal. Murphy said migrants have the right to meaningful notice and the opportunity to object before being sent to a third country. The deportees were expelled without due process, and the U.S. government disclaims responsibility for what happens to them once they are outside its territory. Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States, January 16. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria (REUTERS) The two Moroccan women were part of a group of nine migrants of various nationalities who were sent to Cameroon from the ICE detention center in Alexandria, Louisiana, in mid-January. At least eight more migrants were sent to Cameroon a month later. This group included citizens from several African countries: Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Angola, and Zimbabwe. They are now being held in Cameroons capital, Yaounde, and have no idea of what awaits them. The women who returned to Morocco had no contact with a lawyer and were only given the option of going back to their country or going to another country where they had legal residence that is, none. According to David, they were not offered any other options, such as applying for asylum. In a phone conversation with EL PAIS, the lawyer for the other deportees, Joseph Awah Fru, says that although they do not wish to remain in a foreign country where their rights are not guaranteed, they are willing to apply for asylum in order to avoid being deported to their home countries. He does not, however, trust the intentions of the Cameroon government: I think they are doing everything possible to break them psychologically and make the situation so unbearable that they say they want to return to their countries, even knowing that their lives are in danger if they do. The detainees have different backgrounds, but they are not the dangerous criminals that the administration of Donald Trump claims it is deporting. A 20-year-old student from Ghana, and a nurse from Zimbabwe who has lived for 15 years in the United States, are among the people in the group. There is also a man from Angola who, after living for 30 years in the United States, is stateless, since the Angolan government does not recognize him. All of them sought refuge in the United States because they are persecuted in their respective countries for their gender, their race, or their political beliefs. Some were detained as soon as they entered the United States, and several had spent a year locked up in ICE detention centers. This is the case of a 26-year-old woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who fled her country because her appearance as a Rwandan put her in danger. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have maintained armed conflicts, and the young woman was attacked because she was mistaken for someone from the rival country. After being raped by the police and abused by her compatriots, she decided to flee. When she arrived in the United States, her asylum request was denied, and she was detained. A judge granted her protection so that she would not be deported. But without any notice, after spending a year in detention, she was put on a plane to Cameroon. Treated as criminals The deportees, who prefer to remain anonymous to avoid reprisals, say they were treated like criminals by U.S. immigration agents, who transferred them in handcuffs and shackles on their feet. Upon arrival in Cameroon, they were detained. Although there are no charges against them in that country, they are being deprived of their liberty and denounce the conditions in which they are being held at the detention center. They say its not a prison, but its only different in name. They arent allowed to leave. They have no documentation. And the three daily meals arent guaranteed. There are days when they dont receive any, says Fru. The detainees have complained that there have been days when they havent received any food until late in the afternoon. Their situation is dire, and their morale is falling with each passing day. Traffic in the city of Yaounde, Cameroon, in September 2025. Welba Yamo Pascal (AP) Fru visited the group that arrived in January daily, but has had little contact with the second group, which landed in Yaounde on February 16. Last Wednesday, he was notified that he was barred from visiting and that he would have to request visits through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is in charge of them. I havent seen them in a week. So, if theyre talking to them without a lawyer, I think theyre forcing them to voluntarily return to their countries. If that were the case, the United States should have done it, Fru says. Journalists arrested The Cameroonian government is trying to withhold information about the detainees. On February 17, just as the second group of deportees had arrived, two journalists and two photographers who went to the detention center to interview them were arrested for a few hours. Their phones and equipment were confiscated and were only returned after a week of arduous efforts. One of the journalists, Randy Joe Saah, a contributor to the BBC, had gone to the center with Fru and was listening to Frus explanations to the new arrivals about the possibility of requesting deportation to their country of origin or applying for asylum. The other journalists were covering the story for the Associated Press. When the administrator of the center realized that they had taken photos, he confiscated their phones and equipment and alerted the police. They were taken to a police station, where they were questioned. Saah was detained for five hours and only this Tuesday recovered his laptop and phone. I havent opened my computer yet because I want to be cautious. I want to find out first if they planted any of these viruses before I can start using it, he tells EL PAIS by phone. Saah estimates that the older detainee was over 70 years old. He looked frail. He was lost in thought, he says. The journalist adds that he has experienced worse detentions in the course of his reporting, but what worried him most was that the authorities might discover sensitive information on his computer and accuse us of something else, not of what we were actually covering. Migrants deported from El Salvador, in July 2025. Ariana Cubillos (AP) Their belongings were only returned to them on the condition that they would not use the material they had gathered during their visit. Cameroonian authorities must stop harassing journalists for doing their job and respect the publics right to be informed, said Angela Quintal, the Africa program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. For years, parts of Cameroon have been wracked by violence and armed conflict, the government has cracked down on opposition and the media, and armed groups and government forces have committed widespread abuses, including torture in detention, said Lauren Seibert, an analyst at Human Rights Watch, in a recent article. In 2022, we documented how Cameroonian asylum seekers deported by the U.S. experienced harms in Cameroon after their return. There is no official information on whether the U.S. government has reached a financial agreement with Cameroon to deport migrants of other nationalities. However, a recent report by the United States Senate revealed that it has paid at least $32 million to third countries including those with records of corruption, human rights abuses and human trafficking in order for them to receive migrants. The possibility of remaining in Cameroon, a country unknown to the deportees and in a critical situation, is not very encouraging, but even that has become a better option than returning to their home countries. Its clear that they dont want to be here, because no one asked their opinion. But its better than going back to the country where they face persecution, says Fru. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The State Department has confirmed that one of the six injured is also from the United States Two U.S. citizens were among the 10 people aboard the boat from Florida that was captured by the Cuban Coast Guard in a shootout that left four dead and six wounded, the U.S. State Department confirmed. Another person on board held a K-1 visa, which is granted to foreigners who are going to marry U.S. citizens. Others may be legal permanent residents, the spokesperson added. One of the U.S. citizens was killed, and the second was injured, a department spokesperson confirmed. According to the official, the boat was reported stolen in Florida. The eight-meter-long vessel had been docked at a pier in the Florida Keys, and its owner noticed its absence around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the day the incident took place, according to the complaint filed at the time with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. The family that owns the vessel states that the fishing boat, a Carolina Skiff, was stolen by an employee of their construction company and that they only learned of their vessels role in the incident when the Cuban government released the news. The circumstances of the incident are still very unclear. The United States has indicated that it wants to conduct its own investigation: We are going to verify that information independently and reach our own conclusions, promised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is participating in the annual summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St. Kitts and Nevis. Once Washington has a clear understanding of exactly what happened, it will respond appropriately, added the U.S. Secretary of State, who also expressed his governments interest in speaking with the survivors to learn precisely what occurred. Rubio denied any involvement by Washington in the incident. According to the Cuban government, the Coast Guard detected an illegal vessel with Florida registration in Cuban territorial waters near Falcones Cay, in the center of the island. When the Coast Guard approached, the occupants of the vessel opened fire, and the Cuban military personnel returned fire. One of them, the units commander, was also wounded. Following the shootout, the Coast Guard confiscated firearms, ammunition, homemade explosives, and other military equipment. The Cuban government has identified the dead as Pavel Alling Pena, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara, and Hector Duani Cruz Correa. The survivors, who are being held in custody, are Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, and Roberto Alvarez Avila. Cubas Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said that they were all Cuban residents in the United States, and argued that it was a terrorist attempt because they were armed. Representative from the Cuban government also said the United States cooperating to clarifying the incident, which comes at a particularly delicate time for both countries: the United States has tightened its embargo on the island and threatened sanctions against countries that supply it with oil, while U.S. President Donald Trump maintains that bilateral talks, with Rubio leading the Washington side, are underway regarding the islands future. Trump has demanded dramatic changes very soon and has repeatedly expressed his opinion that the regime is ready to fall given the fuel shortage, which has led the island to experience its worst economic crisis in decades. From the outset, Cuban authorities have maintained communication regarding this terrorist attempt with their U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and the Coast Guard, Fernandez de Cossio noted. He also expressed his governments willingness to exchange information with the U.S. Specifically, Havana is interested in data about the crew members and the vessel itself. U.S. governemnt authorities have expressed their willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events, the high-ranking official stated. The deputy minister also maintained that Cuba had previously warned the United States about an increase in terrorist plots against Cuba by individuals and groups based in the United States, but Washington had refused to intervene. According to Havana, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Cruz Gomez already had criminal records and appeared on a list of suspected terrorists compiled by the U.S. government. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The U.S. government was slow to react. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in the Caribbean when, in those same waters, the Cuban Coast Guard fired on a civilian boat carrying 10 people that had arrived from Florida. The Cuban-American, who had traveled to the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevis to defend Washingtons agenda at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders summit, had to pause before reporters eager to hear his reaction to the incident in Cuban waters, which left four dead, including a U.S. citizen. Im not going to opine on what I dont yet know, he said. But were going to find out exactly what happened here, and then well respond accordingly. It was a muted response, far removed from the visceral outbursts that have characterized other officials reactions during sudden crises. This restraint contrasted with Rubios usually hard-line position toward Havana, but it has extended across both the U.S. and Cuban government. The U.S. president himself, Donald Trump, who since the arrest of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela has frequently lashed out at the regime in Havana, refrained from posting any incendiary messages on social media. And Cuba has also sought to highlight the fact that Washington is cooperating to help clarify what happened, instead of resorting to its usual invective. The restraint shown on the U.S. side was all the more striking given that one of the four people killed, and one of the injured, are U.S. citizens something that, under other circumstances, might have constituted a casus belli. Now, at a highly delicate moment in bilateral relations, that does not appear to be the case. In St. Kitts and Nevis, journalists wanted to know more and pressed Rubio on whether he was in contact with the Cuban side, whether it was a plan by the Donald Trump administration, or if, should any U.S. citizens be involved, his government would take any kind of retaliation. Rubio handled the questions prudently, in a remarkably subdued tone for a politician who dreams of bringing down the Castro regime. In each of his answers, he spoke of the Cuban government with a level of respect unusual for him, the son of island emigrants raised in Miamis conservative anti-Castro environment. He said he knew only what the Cuban Interior Ministry had already reported about the incident, that the border guard was in constant contact with the U.S. Coast Guard; he denied that it was an attack ordered by his administration, and said that, despite historical precedents, it was highly unusual to see shootouts on open sea. Its not something that happens every day. he added. In each of his responses, he spoke of the Cuban government with a respect uncharacteristic of him, the son of immigrants from the island and raised in the conservative anti-Castro circles of Miami. He said he knew about the incident just as the Castro regimes Interior Ministry had reported: that the border patrol was in constant contact with his Coast Guard. He denied that it was an attack by his administration and asserted, despite historical precedents, that it seemed extremely unusual to see shootings like that on the open sea. The Secretary of State chose to say that this is not something that happens every day. Boats at a dock in Havana on Thursday. Ernesto Mastrascusa (EFE) The attack on the civilian boat on Wednesday has shocked Cubans everywhere. The attempted landing stirred memories for exiles of events such as the downing of two planes belonging to the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue 30 years ago, or the sinking in 2022 of a vessel in Bahia Honda, where four adults and a two-year-old girl died. But that shock has not been reflected by the U.S. government. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, from Florida, was one of the first to notice the the silence from the Trump administration on this deadly incident. Cuban authorities have also handled the episode cautiously, especially given that it comes amid the national emergency the United States declared over the island. Like their U.S. counterparts, they have adopted a more tactful tone. A statement from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented to the press by Deputy Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, said that Cuban authorities have maintained communication with their U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and the Coast Guard. It insisted not only that . The Cuban government is willing to exchange information with the United States on this matter, but also that U.S. government authorities have expressed their willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events. This mutual restraint highlights how delicate the moment is in relations between the two longstanding adversaries. Nearly two months after the intervention in Venezuela, Trumps repeated declarations that the Castro regimes days are numbered, and the tightening of the oil blockade, Washingtons plans for Havana remain unclear. There has been much speculation: first, that Washington was talking with Alejandro Castro Espin, son of the nonagenarian Raul Castro; then, that it was talking with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, alias El Cangrejo (The Crab), bodyguard and favorite grandson of the former Cuban president. But there has so far been no explicit confirmation, beyond Trumps claim that contacts exist and that Marco Rubio is leading them. Washingtons subdued response to the boat incident is seen as another sign that dialogue may be underway between the two governments, even though Havana continues to deny any talks. The Miami Herald has reported that U.S. officials met with Raul Rodriguez Castro during the summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Marco Rubio, in front of the screen, during the CARICOM session, in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, on February 25. Jonathan Ernst (AP) The pervasive Cold War-style rhetoric seems to have eased for now, and that may be because both sides are at the negotiating table. Even Washington has eased its recent economic embargo, opening the possibility of selling oil to the private sector. From Havana, Rafael Hernandez, an analyst at the Juan Marinello Center for Cuban Cultural Research, offers his own opinion on the incident in Cuban waters, where the regime claims that the boats crew were the first to open fire. He wonders if the boats trip was intended to try to force the Trump administration into a very difficult position, regarding the use of force and responding with force to what has been a clear provocation. No one yet knows what might happen next after an incident that opens up many possible paths in the middle of ongoing negotiations and pressure with Cuba. Those who have demanded a strict and immediate stance are the Cuban-American members of Congress, Republicans from Florida, who once again seem out of step with the policy Washington is pursuing with Cuba. While the lawmakers continue with their hardline discourse against the regime, the administration is betting that change in Cuba should be economic first, then political. It is not what they expected, but it is what seems to be coming. Cuba needs to change, Rubio said in Saint Kitts and Nevis. And it doesnt have to change all at once. It doesnt have to change from one day to the next. Everyone is mature and realistic here. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) communicates with Ola Kaellenius (L), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, and Cao Xudong, CEO of Chinese tech firm Momenta, after experiencing an urban and highway pilot driver-assist system, co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) HANGZHOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a test ride in Beijing on Thursday morning, experiencing the intelligent assisted driving system during his official visit to China. "This is amazing. I think it's one of the future technologies for mobility," Merz said after the experience, commending the close cooperation between German manufacturers and Chinese technology. Mercedes-Benz has established a comprehensive local footprint and cooperation network spanning its entire industrial chain in China, the company said in a press release on Thursday. Its Chinese R&D team is playing an increasingly crucial role within Mercedes-Benz's global R&D network, the statement notes. Merz's official visit to China took place on Feb. 25 and 26. Visiting companies from both countries and promoting practical cooperation were key items on his Thursday agenda. Merz arrived in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Thursday noon. At Unitree Robotics, he watched humanoid robots performing different tasks and was impressed by their agile movements. Merz's visit reflects Germany's strong interest in China's technological innovation, said Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Unitree, who noted the vast potential of the German market and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in the robotics sector. Merz also visited Siemens High Voltage Circuit Breaker Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, where he learned about the development of German-funded enterprises in China. Executives from approximately 30 leading German companies in sectors such as automotives, chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, machinery and the circular economy accompanied Merz on his visit. More than ten commercial agreements were reached, sending a clear signal of deepening pragmatic cooperation. As his trip concluded, Merz said he was leaving China with deep impressions of the country, and noted that Germany and China enjoy good cooperation and also face challenges that they need to address together. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pictured during a test ride on a new generation S-Class vehicle of Mercedes Benz to experience an urban and highway pilot driver-assist system, co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Chinese tech firm Momenta, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on an official visit to China, learns about the development of Siemens Energy in China after arriving in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on an official visit to China, watches a humanoid robot of Unitree Robotics writing the Chinese character "Fu", meaning "good fortune", in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) The ancestors of todays malaria-spreading mosquitoes in the Anopheles leucosphyrus (Leucosphyrus) group may have shifted to feeding on humans around 1.8 million years ago, coinciding with the arrival of Homo erectus in Southeast Asia. A preference for feeding on humans is uncommon among the 3,500 known mosquito species, yet this feeding preference is the main factor influencing the potential of mosquitoes to spread disease-causing pathogens. Mosquito-borne diseases present a significant burden on human health, said studys lead author Upasana Shyamsunder Singh and colleagues. The propensity of mosquitoes of a particular species to feed on humans (anthropophily) is the primary factor influencing their potential to spread pathogens that cause disease. Although mosquitoes can be opportunistic in their host selection (e.g many species display varying degrees of host specificity), understanding the evolutionary origins of anthropophily and the circumstances that triggered its development can provide critical insights into mitigating the impacts of novel diseases due to mosquito-borne pathogens. For their research, the authors sequenced the DNA of 38 mosquitoes from 11 species in the Leucosphyrus group, which were obtained between 1992 and 2020 from Southeast Asia. They used these sequences, computer models, and estimates of DNA mutation rates to reconstruct the evolutionary history of these species. They estimate that the preference for feeding on humans evolved once within Leucosphyrus between 2.9 and 1.6 million years ago in a region known as Sundaland, which includes the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Prior to this, ancestors of Leucosphyrus mosquitoes fed on non-human primates. This overlaps with the earliest proposed date for the arrival of the hominin species Homo erectus in the region around 1.8 million years ago and predates the arrival of modern humans between 76,000 and 63,000 years ago. It also predates previously published estimates of the evolution of a preference for feeding on humans among the mosquito lineage that gave rise to the major African malaria carriers Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii between 509,00 and 61,000 years ago. Previous research has suggested that changes in mosquito feeding preferences require multiple changes in genes that encode receptors used to detect body odor. The researchers propose that the evolution of a preference for human body odor among Leucosphyrus may have required Homo erectus to be present in substantial numbers in Sundaland around 1.8 million years ago. Our findings suggest that anthropophily in the Leucosphyrus group emerged in Sundaland in the Early Pleistocene in response to the arrival of early hominins who must have not only been present in this region by this time but must have been in substantial numbers to drive adaptation to human host preference, they said. This supports the hypothesis that early hominins were present and abundant in Sundaland 1.8 million years ago, prior to their dispersal via land bridges to Java. Middle Pleistocene fossils of Homo erectus indicate their prolonged occupation on the exposed Sundaland landmass, likely associated with extensive river systems. In the context of the very fragmentary nature of the fossil record in tropical Southeast Asia our findings contribute an important piece of evidence to the broader puzzle of the colonization of hominins in insular Southeast Asia. The teams findings were published today in the journal Scientific Reports. _____ U.S. Singh et al. 2026. Early hominin arrival in Southeast Asia triggered the evolution of major human malaria vectors. Sci Rep 16, 6973; doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35456-y Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 21st session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of China's 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 21st session on Thursday in Beijing. At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to remove Wang Xiangxi from the post of minister of emergency management. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order on Wang's removal. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the closing meeting, which also approved a deputy qualification report and other personnel-related bills. The lawmakers approved in principle the draft work report of the NPC Standing Committee. The Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee suggested entrusting Zhao Leji to deliver the report to the upcoming fourth session of the 14th NPC. The legislators adopted the draft agenda of the NPC session and the draft list of the session's presidium and secretary-general, and decided to submit the drafts to the preparatory meeting of the NPC session for deliberation. They also adopted the list of the members invited to sit in on the session as non-voting participants, among other documents. Addressing the closing meeting, Zhao emphasized that the upcoming annual NPC session will review and approve the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), deliberate the draft environmental code, the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and the draft law on national development planning, among other documents. He called on the NPC Standing Committee to focus on the central tasks of the Party and the country, and fulfill its statutory duties with a strong sense of responsibility. Zhao also urged the NPC Standing Committee to be open to suggestions from deputies and welcome supervision to ensure the upcoming annual NPC session is held in an efficient and pragmatic manner. Zhao chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons before the closing meeting and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting. KABUL/ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's air force has carried out coordinated airstrikes targeting multiple Pakistani military installations, the country's Ministry of National Defense confirmed Friday. At about 11:00 a.m. local time, Afghan forces targeted a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military base in Nowshera, military positions in Jamrud, and additional locations in Abbottabad, according to a ministry statement. The aerial operation successfully targeted key Pakistani military bases, command centers, and strategic facilities, the statement said. Afghan officials described the strikes as a direct response to Pakistani aerial incursions conducted overnight in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces. Earlier on Friday morning, Pakistani security sources told Xinhua that Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghan Taliban facilities, destroying key targets including a major ammunition depot, three Afghan battalions, and a sector headquarters in different areas of Afghanistan. According to the source, Pakistan conducted the air strikes as part of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (The Wrath of Justice), which was launched after the Afghan Taliban started attacks on Pakistani posts. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday morning that the country's armed forces possess the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions and any act of belligerence will be responded to decisively, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Japanese scholars, opposition politicians and commentators voiced concern on Thursday over an increasingly right-leaning political trajectory under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, warning that the current direction is dangerous and merits broad public scrutiny. South Dakota Mines students will take the stage this weekend to showcase their engineering excellence and musical talent during the Black Hills Symphony concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased here. The symphonys performance, Bright Horizons: Celebrating 150 Years of Rapid City, honors the citys rich history, a legacy in which the university has played a significant role. Founded as Dakota School of Mines in 1885, four years before South Dakota became a state, the university has been a cornerstone of the community since. The conductor reached out and shared that when he reflects on Rapid Citys history, one of the first things that comes to mind is South Dakota Mines, said Haley Armstrong, D.M.A., associate professor and director of bands at Mines. Since Mines is a STEM-focused university, Armstrong is combining both students engineering and musical talents to showcase the university's art and engineering initiative. In 2023, Armstrong asked student organizations across campus to craft percussion instruments for an upcoming performance. The students created 3D printed wood blocks, hand-welded triangles and casted bells, as well as programming a drone to fly over and drop marbles on a cymbal on cue. The instrument project is now part of the metallurgical engineering junior design course taught by Katrina Donovan, Ph.D., senior lecturer of materials and metallurgical engineering. The students work in groups, each assigned a different method including casting, forging, glass blowing and ceramics, and are presented with a few musical pieces to match. Theyve come up with some really good projects, and Ive incorporated them all into our performances, Armstrong said. Five student percussionists will play a variety of these instruments during the symphonys production of Arabian Nights by Brian Balmages. The five students performing with the Symphony include Cindy Eng, sophomore geology major; Baker Mitchell, senior industrial engineering and engineering management major; Corrigan Johnke, senior mechanical engineering major; Eric Poole, sophomore mechanical engineering major; and Jace Ruud, mechanical engineering graduate student. Prior to the performance of Arabian Nights, a video featuring Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D., will play, describing the universitys art and engineering program. Gooch & Housego reported strong order book growth at the start of its new financial year on Friday, driven by rising demand from defence customers, as the board reiterated its full-year expectations. In a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting, the AIM-traded photonics specialist said its order book had increased to 168.3m since 1 October, up from 142.3m on 30 September. The uplift reflected further growth in demand from aerospace and defence customers in the US and Europe for precision optics, optical systems and advanced imaging solutions for military platforms. Recently-acquired businesses Global Photonics and Phoenix Optical also saw strong demand. Demand in the groups industrial markets has improved since the start of the year, with encouraging signs of a recovery in semiconductor manufacturing. Gooch & Housego said it continued to expect a sustained recovery in industrial laser and semiconductor markets in the second half of 2026. In life sciences, supply chain challenges previously highlighted in connection with last time buy orders for Pockels cells had now been resolved. The company said it expected production to ramp up in the second half of the 2026 financial year, resulting in a greater second-half weighting to results than in 2025. Net debt excluding lease liabilities reduced to 28m at the end of January from 29.9m at the end of September, reflecting lower working capital, partly offset by capital expenditure and deferred consideration payments. The strong order book growth since the start of the new financial year increases our confidence in the group's full year out-turn, said chief executive Charlie Peppiatt. He added that the strategic acquisitions of Global Photonics and Phoenix Optical in 2025 have delivered strong customer demand, such that capacity at both sites is being increased. Despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and potential supply chain constraints, the board said its expectations for the current year remained unchanged, underpinned by the order book, self-help measures and a growing pipeline of potentially large, multi-year contracts. The group said it was still targeting mid-teen returns on sales in the medium term. At 1239 GMT, shares in Gooch & Housego were up 8.2% at 818p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the Spring Statement next Tuesday and the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish new forecasts for the economy and public finances. Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, noted that in contrast to the months of speculation surrounding last Novembers Budget, there has been no fevered speculation about tax and spend changes. "This is to be expected; Chancellor Rachel Reeves had made clear that she wants only one fiscal update a year and the spring statement is a formality rather than a political and economic event," she said. Brooks said the OBRs updated forecasts for growth and public finances are expected to be mixed. "The unemployment rate is expected to be revised higher. In its previous forecast, the OBR expected the unemployment rate to hover around 5% through to 2027. However, the unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in the final quarter of last year, and the UKs youth unemployment rate surged above the EUs level for the first time, it now stands at 15.3%," she said. Brooks also said that expectations are growing that the OBR will downgrade last years growth forecast to 1.1% from 1.3%, after a sluggish second half of the year. On the corporate front, results are due from Greggs, Admiral, Taylor Wimpey, Smith & Nephew, Fresnillo, Vistry, Reckitt Benckiser, Taylor Wimpey and ITV, among others. Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that Greggs - famous for its sausage rolls - had a strong finish to 2025, with sales growth accelerating in the final quarter to 2.9% as it scooped up market share. "That was driven by improved menus, later opening hours, and 121 net new shop openings over the year - although the latter was a touch lower than originally planned. Despite this, full-year pre-tax profit guidance remains intact, expected to land at around 173 million, down 9% on the prior year," he said. "With this already baked into expectations, investors are keen to hear how 2026 is shaping up in the early months," Chiekrie said. "While the picture on the cost front is beginning to look more favourable, Greggs has plenty of other challenges still to wrestle with. Unhelpful changes to tax rules and minimum wages, slowing UK economic growth, and cost-conscious consumers are all weighing on the outlook. As a result, the groups expected to say that underlying profits will flatline in 2026 when it reports next week." As far as Admiral is concerned, HL senior equity analyst Matt Britzman said the insurer goes into next week's results under a bit of pressure. "2025 profits are expected to grow 11%, but insurance is a slow business, and that largely reflects trends from 2024 and early 2025," he said. "The outlook is more important, and the insurance market is expected to be soft in 2026, as stalled pricing at the back end of last year starts to work through, putting pressure on margins. Analysts will be watching closely for any indication that the pricing environment is improving, a trend which will likely flow through over the year, paving the way for improved conditions over the back half and into 2027. "Admiral has also found itself under pressure as fears around AI-driven distribution disruption and autonomous vehicles (AVs) have grown. While both themes will reshape insurance over time, the pace is slow, the net impact is manageable, and incumbent insurers are likely beneficiaries, not victims. The fears are probably overstated." In the US, department store chain Macys, Costco and Kroger are among those slated to report. Monday March 02 INTERIMS Craneware, Gelion, Tristel QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE JpMorgan China Growth & Income , JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, JPMorgan India Growth & Income INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Construction Spending (US) (15:00) ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00) ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00) PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55) PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00) PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45) Retail Sales (GER) (07:00) Q4 Smith & Nephew GMS CEPS, Genflow Biosciences FINALS Bunzl, Oxford Nanopore Technologies , RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Senior, Senior, Smith & Nephew EGMS Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI), Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited Gdr (Each Repr 5 A Shs Rmb1) (Reg S), SDIC Power Holdings Co.,Ltd GDR (Reg S) AGMS Amigo Holdings, Gresham House Income & Growth 2 VCT , Gresham House Income & Growth VCT UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS BRC Shop Price Index (00:01) Consumer Credit (09:30) M4 Money Supply (09:30) Mortgage Approvals (09:30) Nationwide House Price Index (07:00) PMI Manufacturing (09:30) Tuesday March 03 INTERIMS Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, Kier Group, PCI-PAL Q4 Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI) FINALS Abrdn , Fresnillo, Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI), Greggs, Inchcape, International Workplace Group, Intertek Group, Johnson Service Group, Keller Group, Morgan Advanced Materials , Reach, Synectics, XP Power Ltd. (DI) AGMS BSF Enterprise , Gana Media Group, NCC Group, Nuformix Wednesday March 04 INTERIMS Galliford Try INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30) Factory Orders (US) (15:00) ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00) ISM Services (US) (15:00) MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00) PMI Composite (EU) (09:00) PMI Composite (GER) (08:55) PMI Composite (US) (14:45) PMI Services (EU) (09:00) PMI Services (GER) (08:55) PMI Services (US) (14:45) Producer Price Index (EU) (09:00) Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00) FINALS Beazley, Cairn Homes (CDI), Metro Bank Holdings , Netcall, Quilter, SIG, Vistry Group , Weir Group ANNUAL REPORT Haydale AGMS Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, GS Chain, GS Chain, Paragon Banking Group, Residential Secure Income UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS PMI Composite (09:30) PMI Services (09:30) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Victorian Plumbing Group Thursday March 05 INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), City of London Investment Group, Dr. Martens , Foresight Ventures Vct, Genus, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, MJ Gleeson , PZ Cussons, Renishaw, South32 Limited (DI) , Sylvania Platinum Ltd (DI), Trifast QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE Energean , HICL Infrastructure INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Balance of Trade (US) (13:30) Continuing Claims (US) (13:30) Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30) Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30) Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00) Retail Sales (EU) (10:00) Q4 Endeavour Mining, Lancashire Holdings Limited GMS Games Workshop Group FINALS Admiral Group, Aviva, CAB Payments Holdings, Coats Group, Elementis, Endeavour Mining, Entain, Foxtons Group , Funding Circle Holdings , Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Greencoat Renewables (CDI), Harbour Energy , Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. GDR (Reg S), Hunting, Ibstock , ITV, Lancashire Holdings Limited, OSB Group , Pagegroup, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Rentokil Initial, RM, Serco Group, Spire Healthcare Group, Taylor Wimpey SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Unicorn AIM VCT SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE B.P. Marsh & Partners, Foresight Ventures Vct AGMS Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Ct Uk Capital and Income Investment Trust , Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust , Impax Asset Management Group, Impax Environmental Markets UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS PMI Construction (09:30) FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE Rights & Issues Investment Trust , Rio Tinto, S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. A1 Friday March 06 INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Mountview Estates QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE BlackRock American Income Trust, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE CRH (CDI) INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Consumer Credit (US) (20:00) Factory Orders (GER) (07:00) Gross Domestic Product (EU) (10:00) Industrial Production (GER) (07:00) Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30) Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30) FINALS IMI AGMS Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Halifax House Price Index (07:00) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Avon Technologies , Gooch & Housego, Paragon Banking Group Shares in Hays fell sharply in morning trading on Friday, as the recruiter flagged a weaker jobs market, slashed the dividend and announced a change in leadership. The FTSE 250 firm said Dirk Hahn, who has been with Hays for nearly 30 years, was stepping down with immediate effect for personal reasons. Hahn, 57, took a brief period of medical leave following surgery in November 2025 before returning in January. Chief digital and technology officer Mark Dearnley will replace him on an interim basis while a search for a permanent successor is undertaken. The announcement came as Hays posted a slide in net fees and profits for the six months to 31 December, after economic and political uncertainty weighed heavily on jobs markets worldwide. Net fees fell 9% to 453.3m on a like-for-like basis, with temporary and contracting fees down 7% and permanent slumping 14%. As a result, pre-tax profits before one-off items fell 25% to 20.1m and the dividend was cut by 84% to 15p per share. As at 1015 GMT, the stock had tumbled 11% at 39.9p. Hays said the reduced payment was consistent with its revised capital allocation framework and dividend policy, which it first announced at the 2025 full-year results. James Hilton, chief financial officer, said: "Net fees declined against a backdrop of continued macroeconomic and political uncertainty. "However, we have executed our strategy well and our decisive actions delivered strong, sector-leading growth in net fee productivity, a structurally-improved cost base and improved profit performances in our UK and Ireland and Australia and New Zealand businesses." Looking to the second half, Hays said temp and contracting had been "solid overall". But permanent job flow and activity levels remained "challenging", especially in France and Germany. "We continue to see slower client and candidate decision-making, leading to a longer time to hire," Hays noted. Michael Findlay, chair, said of Hahns departure: "During his tenure, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, notably in building our German business and resetting Hays strategy. I wish him every success in the future." Stock tanks despite 21% profit jump on global tensions, military spending Shares in Melrose Industries tanked on Friday as investors were unimpressed with weaker-than-expected revenue guidance, despite a 21% jump in profits last year as global tensions and conflicts sparked a significant increase in military spending. The company aerospace parts supplier said it anticipated revenue of 3.75bn - 3.95 billion versus estimates of 4bn. It also targeted 2026 earnings of 700m 750m. Shares in the firm were down 10% as a result. Adjusted pre-tax profit came for the year to December 31 came in at 515m from 438m a year earlier. Melrose also turned free cash flow positive to 125m a turnaround of 199m and unveiled a 175m share buyback. On a reported basis, Melrose swung to a pre-tax profit 468m from a 106m loss a year earlier. Group revenue rose 8% to 3.59bn with 15% growth in its engines unit and 3% at its airframes division. Governments are ramping up arms spending to meet the growing threat from an aggressive Russia as the UK pivots away from its European military and security commitments. In June, NATO members announced a commitment to increase their defence spending target to 3.5% of gross domestic product from 2%. European states are mobilising 800bn in defence spending by 2029 while the European Union also set up a 150bn loan fund for joint procurement of military equipment. In the US President Donald Trump announced a proposal to hike the 2027 defence budget by 50% to $1.5trln. Melrose chief executive Peter Dilnot said profit growth was driven by increased demand across its aircraft engines and defence operations and forecast substantial further increases in cash generation. We have positive momentum and are well-positioned to benefit from expected production ramp-ups and ongoing aftermarket expansion, he added. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Labour pushed into third behind hard-right Reform The pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer intensified on Friday after the Green Party won an unexpected victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election. His ruling Labour Party saw its 13,000 vote majority overturned by Hannah Spencer - a local plumber and Green party councillor - and pushed into third place, 5,616 votes behind the Greens on 14,980 votes. "Its a very disappointing result. Incumbent governments quite often get results like that mid-term. But I do understand that voters are frustrated, theyre impatient for change," Starmer said on Friday. It is the first time in almost 100 years that the Gorton area of Manchester has not been represented by a Labour member of parliament. The far-right anti-immigrant Reform UK came second with 10,578 votes. Labours share of the vote fell 25% from the 2024 General Election. In a major embarrassment, the main opposition Conservatives lost their deposit, as did the Liberal Democrats after they polled fewer than 5% of votes, with both winning less than 2%. Starmer, who now faces calls from within his party to stand down amid disastrous poll ratings, now has to deal with voters turning to the Greens in order to keep out Reform. Financial markets were largely unmoved by the result, with the pound and bonds, known as gilts in the UK, steady. "Earlier this month, speculation that Starmer could be usurped by someone within his party did cause some volatility in the gilt market, however, this was quickly resolved after members of the UK cabinet stepped in to support Starmer," said XTB research director Kathleen Brooks. "While there are likely to be calls for Starmer to go from within his own party, we do not expect the Labour bigwigs, or the cabinet to join them. Who would want to depose Starmer and then face the Spring Statement next week?" "Already this morning, cabinet members have said that this result should not be overinterpreted, which is a sign that Starmer could be safe for now." Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com TAIPEI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A book recording Taiwan's historical landscape following the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in 1945 has been launched in Taipei, enabling readers to better understand the shared historical destiny across the Taiwan Strait. The book, titled "Taiwan's restoration: revisited moments of awakening and renewal around 1945," is edited by local media professional Chang Chun-kai, and adapted from a documentary on Taiwan's restoration. Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as Taiwan's restoration to China. Chang said that one of the purposes of the book is to rectify a distorted historical narrative promoted by the island's current authorities. About 50 representatives from Taiwan's education and media sectors participated in the launch event. They noted that it is particularly important to recover the historical truth of Taiwan's restoration amid a trend of distorting history and weakening national identity in Taiwan society. Kuan Chung-ming, former president of Taiwan University, called for greater efforts to faithfully present history. Kuan said he is confident that the history of victory in the war of resistance and Taiwan's restoration will ultimately be remembered and passed on. Lin Kuang-hui, descendant of a family known for their resistance against Japanese aggression, pointed out that Taiwan's restoration had ended 50 years of Japanese colonial rule. Reviewing history, Lin said, compatriots in Taiwan should carry forward the patriotic tradition and jointly pursue a bright future of national rejuvenation. Taiwan scholar Chen Chao-ying noted that, around 1945, many families in Taiwan named their children "Guangfu," meaning restoration, reflecting the genuine and heartfelt sentiment among the people at the time. She expressed the hope that cross-Strait cooperation will yield further results in research on the history of Taiwan's restoration. Last year, China's national legislature designated Oct. 25 as the official commemorative day of Taiwan's restoration. In 1894, Japan initiated a war against China and later occupied Taiwan. On Oct. 25, 1945, a ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. From that point on, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands returned to China's sovereign jurisdiction. Peter Mandelson is facing an inquiry by the EUs anti-fraud agency after the European Commission requested the body look into his activities during his time as trade commissioner in Brussels. The commission said it referred the peer, 72, to the European Anti-Fraud Office, known as Olaf, last week after the US Department of Justice released documents allegedly showing he shared sensitive government information with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Guardian Ministers will take another step towards banning social media for under-16s next week as they launch a consultation on the policy, with government insiders increasingly certain Keir Starmer will back the idea. Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, will publish the terms of reference for the consultation, which is expected to explore options including an age limit and less hardline action such as curbs on infinite scrolling. Guardian The publisher of the Mirror and Express newspapers has suffered a plunge in online readership across its regional titles as it reels from Googles algorithm changes. Reach, which owns dozens of local news titles across the UK, saw sharp drops in both page views and visitor numbers last month. Page views of Surrey Live, one of its properties, tumbled almost 85pc to 4.3 million in January, down from 28.2 million at the same time last year, according to figures from Ipsos. Telegraph Britains biggest bank is to stop opening accounts for customers at its branches and instead force them to go online. Lloyds Banks staff will no longer open joint, premium or student accounts in branches or switch customers from another lender a move that critics warned signalled the death of branch banking. Telegraph Barclays and Jefferies, the American bank, are reportedly among lenders with multimillion pound exposures to a UK mortgage provider that has collapsed amid allegations of fraud. The FTSE 100 bank is said to have an exposure of 600 million to Market Financial Solutions, which entered administration after a High Court judge said very serious allegations of fraud needed to be investigated, prompting the latest source of alarm about the private credit industry. Jefferies has a reported exposure of 100 million. The Times Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire investor who clinched the audacious takeover of Royal Mails owner last year, has been called to give evidence to MPs over significant concerns about its postal services performance. The business and trade select committee has asked for Kretinsky, the chairman of International Distribution Services (IDS), the parent company, and Alistair Cochrane, the Royal Mail chief executive, to attend amid increasing scrutiny from ministers and Ofcom, the regulator, of its failure to hit delivery targets. The Times photo: Ayelet Tsabari Janie Chang is a Globe and Mail bestselling author of historical fiction. Born in Taiwan, Chang has lived in the Philippines, Iran, Thailand, New Zealand, and Canada. She is the author of Three Souls, Dragon Springs Road, The Library of Legends, and The Porcelain Moon; and co-author with Kate Quinn of the USA Today bestseller The Phoenix Crown. The Fourth Princess (Morrow) is a gothic novel set in Old Shanghai and centered on two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand mansion. Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less: A Shanghai gothic novel. A young Chinese woman finds work with an American heiress. Both have secrets, and so does the mansion where they live. Favorite book when you were a child: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I didn't know what science fiction was back then; in fact, it took a while before I realized there were genres in fiction. It was just a really good story about travel between dimensions, good and evil, familial love. There were godlike beings but in the end, it was the children who had to save themselves. Your top five authors: Iain M. Banks: If anyone says that science fiction can't be literary, they haven't read the Culture series by Banks. Emily Bronte: I read Wuthering Heights at a very young age and have been fascinated by the lives of the Brontes ever since. Two years ago, I went to Yorkshire, and I made what can only be called a pilgrimage to the parsonage at Haworth, now a museum. The museum gift shop had a very good day. Timothy Findley: Imagination, storytelling, wonderful writing. I've enjoyed all his books including one called Inside Memory, which is about the craft of writing but also about his life in the arts. Guy Gavriel Kay: When his first book of poetry came out, it explained his exquisite prose. He's a poet who tells stories. Claire North: Brilliant and imaginative. She can write anything, it seems, from urban fantasy to speculative fiction, to myths, and her latest novel is a space opera. Book you've faked reading: The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. It was so intimidatingly thick that I kept postponing, and now it's metaphorically at the bottom of my TBR stack. Books you're an evangelist for: Anything by Claire North but especially the trilogy of Ithaca, House of Odysseus, and The Last Song of Penelope. At first reading, it's a feminist retelling of the story of Penelope and how she managed while Odysseus and the men of Ithaca were off fighting the Trojan War and adventuring their way back. How she managed as in: on an island emptied of able-bodied men, who kept the economy going? The fishing, the farming, trade with other nations? How to feed the suitors who lounged around the palace, waiting for Penelope to choose one to marry? Read a bit deeper and there's a geopolitical dilemma: Who could she marry without starting another war or endangering her son? Book you've bought for the cover: The Ghost Brush by Katherine Govier. It's rare to see Japanese art on the cover of a book by a non-Asian author, and the image was so intriguing--stylized and unmistakably Japanese, a woman holding a brush and book, her lamplit skin as white as the cherry blossoms in the background. This remains one of my favorite books, the imagined life of Oei, daughter of the famous artist Hokusai of The Great Wave. She's rebellious and irascible in a time and culture that rewards obedience. There is evidence that it was Oei who created works attributed to Hokusai during his final years. Book you hid from your parents: Nope. They really didn't pay attention. They were just happy that I liked to read but they did worry that excessive reading would damage my eyesight. Book that changed your life: Dune by Frank Herbert. I was perhaps 12 when I first read this book, and while I had read other works of science fiction (Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein), none of them pulled me into the world of the story like this one. Even at that age, I sensed that there were layers of subtext in the story, politics and religion, the notion of playing the long game, and themes of our own history. It was unbelievably immersive and alien, while at the same time familiar enough to grasp quickly. Later, I would understand this was known as "worldbuilding." All I knew then was that the landscapes, people, and technology were so vivid that scenes unfurled in my mind as I read. I felt the heat of the sand dunes, the parched air of Arrakis, and understood for the first time the power of words beyond mere storytelling. Favorite line from a book: "My mother is a mystery to me. Between us is a barrier of language and disposition." --Birds Art Life by Kyo Maclear. This book is a meditation on loss, a beautiful memoir that I've bought as a gift many times over for friends in grief. Maclear is part Japanese and this rather rueful quote resonates with me because it describes so concisely the interactions I had with my own mother. Five books you'll never part with: The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis (so actually seven). When my original box set of paperbacks fell apart, I bought a hardcover set. The illustrations by Pauline Baynes are part of the appeal for me because she spent her childhood in India and some of the background botanical elements of her drawings echo those of Indian and Persian miniatures, familiar to me from the years our family lived in Iran. Book you most want to read again for the first time: Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findley. The story of Noah's Ark but not the way you think. Irreverent, imaginative, astonishing. The characters mirror the best and worst of humanity without once resorting to cliche. Not easy to read, emotionally, which is why I wish I could read it again without knowing what's to come. We must adjust plans in response to shifting business priorities and leverage data for strategic decisions. By merging multiple CRM platforms into a single Salesforce system, we established a standardized process for managing pipelines, opportunities, and customer quotations. Customers now benefit from real-time interactions and a unified experience, eliminating the need to navigate various platforms or make multiple phone calls.Internally, we unified numerous service management platforms used by our 26,000 employees. By consolidating these into a single service platform, we implemented standard approval processes, simplifying operations across the company and resulting in significant efficiency improvements.Cyber-security is our priority, especially in hybrid work environments where new threats emerge daily. We have implemented a comprehensive and layered security approach to safeguard endpoints and data against breaches.The transition to the cloud has intensified these concerns, necessitating continuous monitoring to protect networks and data centers while adhering to international regulations like GDPR, China's data laws, Californias privacy regulations and export controls. This shift requires effective management of changes across people, processes and technology.Our dedicated IT and business teams have adopted agile methodologies and DevOps practices to enhance operational efficiency and drive growth. This approach helps us optimize costs, create value through economies of scale and balance corporate and regional needs effectively.Integrating companies with different operational models like federated and centralized structures presents significant challenges during mergers and acquisitions. The integration isn't just about merging systems but enabling standardization from business and IT perspectives to become part of a global company and develop strong team relationships.As CIO, I harmonized diverse systems and aligned business processes. Unifying IT operations required shifting locally operated units to a functional model and streamlining IT operations, enterprise applications, business intelligence, data management, IT service management and cyber-security, significantly enhancing team efficiency.We believe in continuous improvement and staying ahead of trends. Just three years ago, ideas like generative AI and data-driven automation were not on most people's radar. However, we have started focusing on smaller pilot projects to test and scale innovations. We can demonstrate their value before a broader rollout by beginning with these manageable pilots and building our own digital platforms.The development of our employees is also a top priority. In today's dynamic tech sphere, fostering a culture of continuous learning is essential to consistently improve our teams skills. By promoting a collaborative work culture, we blend the experience of seasoned professionals with the fresh ideas of young minds to boost overall performance and drive innovation.The IT industry should prioritize a long-term vision aligned with business goals to foster a culture of innovation, especially during mergers or integrations. Key strategies include delivering projects on time and within budget, maintaining flexibility in planning to adapt to changing priorities and enabling effective data utilization for decision-making. Proactive cyber-security measures are crucial for compliance and security, while continuous team development and strong partnerships with business functions enhance overall support and success. CAIRO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Egypt expressed deep concern over escalating tensions and border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan that have resulted in military confrontations and casualties, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. In a statement, Egypt urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and stressed the need for intensified diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis and prevent further escalation. It also underscored the importance of prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions to safeguard regional security and stability. As part of efforts to monitor developments and help contain tensions, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Dar briefed Abdelatty on the situation and recent developments, according to the Egyptian statement. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's concern and called for de-escalation and restraint to prevent further instability in the region. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesChildcare Commercial childcare operators fight to survive as parents head for exits after scandal Colin Kruger February 28, 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 Last years childcare sex abuse scandal dropped a bomb on Australias for-profit operators, which found themselves at the core of the tragedy, and for good reason. Their high staff turnover and lax standards have been described as fertile ground for predators. Several months on, the shockwaves havent stopped. The latest financial results from G8 Education, the nations largest for-profit childcare provider, show an alarming exodus from its centres so far this year. At the same time, the company is getting hit with soaring regulatory and compliance costs in response to the scandal. The crisis has not receded for the commercial childcare operators at the core of the sex abuse scandal. Monique Westermann The for-profit operators are on notice to demonstrate that they are not putting dollars before child safety a claim they deny while being squeezed by rising competition and falling birth rates, which raise the survival stakes. Advertisement G8 warned of trouble ahead earlier this month when it announced plans to write down the value of its centres in its financial books by $350 million based on their projected future occupancy and current and expected supply and demand levels. It also announced plans to conserve its cash. But the market was still shocked to hear this week that its occupancy levels this year had plunged below those during the pandemic. Related Article Melbourne childcare crisis Shocking new charges in case of accused childcare paedophile Joshua Brown Investment bank RBC Capital pointed to occupancy declines so far this year of more than 7 per cent compared to the same time last year. Occupancy levels reached a low of 54 per cent across G8s centres. Accused paedophile Joshua Browns arrest in the second half of last year had a noted impact on childcare centres occupancy levels, and RBC expressed concern that G8s dismal performance might be a continuation of that trend rather than a seasonal demand issue. Advertisement Brown, who had worked at 23 centres across Victoria including operations run by G8, faces 150 charges for alleged sexual abuse of children in his care. To underscore the scale of the challenges being faced by G8 right now, we note even through the COVID period, G8s occupancy remained above 60 per cent and never saw a half-year occupancy decline more than 4.5 percentage points, RBC says. It does not appear to be an industry-wide affliction. Attendance at not-for-profit giant Goodstart has been only marginally softer than usual. G8s share price, which had halved since February last year, has halved again this month to below 34. Its a low not seen in 16 years a stark contrast to its high above $5 in August 2014. Joshua Brown has been charged with sex offences in Victoria over his time working as a childcare worker. Marija Ercegovac Advertisement G8 blamed a number of factors, including Australias declining fertility rate, increased childcare supply and cost-of-living issues for its financial woes. G8 chief executive Pejman Okhovat appeared before the Victorian inquiry into the early childhood education and care sector this week over the sex abuse scandal that ignited last year when charges were announced against Brown. Most of the charges relate to incidents at centres operated by G8 and fellow for-profit provider Affinity. Okhovats appearance was preceded by another shocking blight, when the Victorian regulator laid criminal charges against the company for allegedly putting a childs safety at risk at one of its centres. In the alleged incident, a child with diagnosed disabilities exited one of its centres and was later found by two members of the public in the middle of a busy road where there was fast-moving traffic. Were absolutely committed to ensuring that we learn from that isolated incident in that centre, and continue to improve, Okhovat told the inquiry. But clearly, worried parents are voting with their feet. Advertisement Georgie Dent, head of parent advocacy group The Parenthood, cited research by the Mindaroo Foundation that shows one in 10 families has withdrawn a child from childcare in recent months, while many more reduced their childcare hours. That reflects anxiety about safety, not a shift away from the need for childcare, she said. G8 Education CEO Pejman Okhovat. Glenn Campbell The numbers destroy any complacency that commercial operators dont have to worry too much about quality as parents dont have much of a choice. With their high fixed-cost base, the difference between a child care operator making money and losing it hand over fist can swing dramatically over a few percentage points of occupancy levels. Add to this the rising capital needed to remedy the massive safety holes that the scandal revealed, including the deployment of security cameras, and the financial pressure becomes real. Goodstart head of advocacy John Cherry says some providers in the industry impacted by low occupancy may struggle to generate enough revenue to support quality and safety, and be impacted by increased churn of children and employees. Advertisement The cost of regulation is also set to soar. This week, Australias education ministers said NSW and Victoria will increase annual service fees by up to tenfold for services owned by large for-profit providers, fivefold for small for-profit providers and threefold for not-for-profit providers; to reflect increases in the volume, risk and complexity of regulatory activities. Then there is market cannibalisation. The Victorian inquiry heard how the for-profit operators were responsible for most of the 500 new centres that opened in Australia last year, but few of them in areas where extra childcare was needed. Loading Over the past five years, the supply of licensed places has increased by around 29 per cent, against a backdrop of a declining number of children, G8 rival Nido Education said earlier this month. In this challenging market, we have seen services open in some oversupplied areas, which has diluted demand and led to lower than expected occupancy across local catchments, causing services in the area to trade at reduced occupancy levels. Advertisement Industry insiders say one of the issues is that developing new childcare centres appears to be a more lucrative business than running them. Commercial landlords are also said to be making a killing. Related Article Education Childcare giant says Joshua Brown ticked companys hiring boxes In a submission to the Victorian inquiry, the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research estimated that the childcare sector spent as much as $2.7 billion on rent each year. According to CICTAR, one local agent described childcare real estate as one of the hottest asset classes. One centre leased to G8 in Melbourne sold for $17.5 million in 2024. With the sector in strife, it may be a sign of things to come that some big investors in commercial childcare operators themselves are also now voting with their feet. Advertisement This week, super funds Host Plus and Australian Retirement Trust both sold down their stakes in G8 and they probably rue the fact they did not follow the drastic action taken by Vision Super last year. Vision sold out of G8 Education entirely and in an indication of just how toxic the commercial childcare providers brand has become, it put the company on its excluded investments list, alongside tobacco companies and weapons manufacturers. The media coverage of the incidents at G8 Education has been deeply disturbing, the super funds chief investment officer, Michael Wyrsch, said in a statement at the time. Our decision to sell the shares reflects the sectors poor long-term performance, concerns over the implications of the abuse, and heightened regulatory risk. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Scrolling through Netflix or Binge sometimes feels like homework. With thousands of titles spanning different genres, decision paralysis can quickly set in. So, we turn to the recommendations strap, powered entirely by an algorithm, which results in more of the same. In contrast, scrolling through niche streamers the likes of Mubi, Shudder, Crunchyroll can feel like youve travelled back in time to a Blockbuster, where the person behind the counter is laying out super personalised recommendations. There may not be as much on offer, but youre probably more likely to find something you really want to watch pretty quickly too. Theres a niche streamer for every taste these days. Compiled by Matt Willis. Ramon Lobato, a scholar of media and cultural industries at Swinburne, says niche streamers may be an antidote to our collective subscription fatigue. They avoid the supermarket feel of Amazon Prime or Disney+ by offering smaller, more focused catalogues for people who wish to explore a specific genre. These days, there are niche services to suit every taste. Some are genre-specific, such as Hayu, which exclusively offers reality TV, and others like Tubi cater to broader preferences without slapping on a hefty price-tag. Whether these platforms are growing in Australia is difficult to say with certainty because most dont release subscriber numbers for national markets. However, Lobato says there will always be room around the edges for small players, especially as goodwill grows for new services offering something unique. Some users really miss the feeling of thoughtful, intentional curation, he says. So, theres definitely a trend towards less is more and towards themed, thoughtful curation by human experts. Advertisement Related Article Streaming Its local audiences first: Australias new Netflix content boss unveils vision for the streamer Lecturer in cinema and screen studies at Swinburne Dr Andrew Lynch says the smaller number of titles available means niche streamers are usually cheaper than mainstream services. Theyre also more likely to offer titles that arent available anywhere else, creating a more exclusive feel. For example, David Lynchs Eraserhead has long been missing from mainstream services, but public library members can watch it for free on Kanopy. Not only do they include rarer options, but subscribers are actually more likely to find them. Lynch says their smaller, carefully curated catalogues mean lesser-known titles are highlighted, leading more users to discover diamonds in the rough, as well as long-forgotten classics or films from a broader diversity of filmmakers and experimental studios. However some heavy-hitters are already eating into some of these smaller platforms territories, Lynch says. Netflix, for instance, has doubled down on anime content, potentially steering some fans away from anime streamer Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll used to be the holy grail of anime content. But now, Netflix is giving it a run for its money. However, Lynch is confident there is still space for second-tier or niche services, especially as the broader streaming market continues to consolidate around Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. If these small players can continue to offer a point of difference that audiences feel is valuable at a complementary price point if they can continue to offer something that the major streamers dont they could survive, if not thrive. Advertisement So, for those sick of doom-scrolling Netflix, here are some of the most popular alternative streamers available in Australia. Fancy a scare? Try Shudder. From horror series like The Creep Tapes to sci-fi thrillers like Ash, this platform offers something from every horror sub-genre. Since launching globally in 2016, Shudders popularity has ballooned. It set new viewership records in 2024, doubling the total hours watched over the previous five years. Unlike platforms like Netflix, Shudder (which is owned by the AMC Network) isnt run by an algorithm its selection is primarily curated by a team of horror enthusiasts, who also create carefully themed collections. As the worlds largest anime streaming service, Crunchyroll offers a range of anime, manga and simulcasts (episodes that air shortly after Japan), all of which are subtitled and dubbed. Despite competition from Netflix, Crunchyrolls popularity has skyrocketed alongside the growing global interest in anime. According to Statista, it tripled its number of paying subscribers between mid-2021 and the beginning of 2024, surpassing 15 million subscribers. Advertisement This streamer offers a range of documentaries, current affairs and non-fiction content, most of which centre on politics, science, history, social affairs and crime. If youre partial to drama, Hayu is for you. Its dedicated to reality television, from the Real Housewives franchise to Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Unlike platforms such as Binge, which often only get licensing for specific seasons, Hayu focuses on delivering entire box sets. Owned by BBC Studios, BritBox features the largest collection of British content, including dramas, comedies, mysteries, soaps and documentaries. Though nowhere near as popular as mainstream platforms, it still boasted over 4 million subscribers internationally as of early 2025. What about Aussie content lovers? If youre more keen on Australian content, Brollie is Umbrella Entertainments free, ad-supported streaming service that focuses heavily on Australian movies, TV series and cult classics, along with international independent cinema. Youll be able to find all sorts of local indie hits, as well as First Nations productions and classic Ozploitation genre titles. Advertisement JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The international community must take a united and firm stand in support of the Palestinian people and uphold international law amid escalating tensions between Palestine and Israel, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Thursday. Speaking to Xinhua on the sidelines of an emergency open-ended meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the level of foreign ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Shahin said the international community has a responsibility to stand alongside the Palestinian people against what she characterized as Israeli violations. "Today, Israel must see a unified and resolute international community -- one that respects international law," she said, noting that Israel has failed to comply with previous international resolutions. "Numerous resolutions have been adopted in the past, yet Israel has adhered to none of them." Commenting on recent remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested that Israel has the right to claim control over the entire Middle East, Shahin described the statements as "deeply concerning and entirely unacceptable." "We are in the 21st century. No country has the right to claim that extending its control over neighboring territories is acceptable," she said. "Such remarks are rejected outright." On China's role in the Palestinian issue, Shahin said China has consistently supported the just cause of the Palestinian people and backed the two-state solution on international platforms. "China is a very important country. We see China maintaining this position in all international forums," she said. "We expect China to continue supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people until the establishment of a Palestinian state on its own land." Advertisement EnvironmentWeatherWater Fires and floods, fires and floods: Australias summer of extremes Bianca Hall February 27, 2026 11:42am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Australia has endured an extreme summer of fires and floods followed by more bushfires, and more floods as the countrys arid red centre braces for record flooding and south-eastern states brace for increased bushfire risks between March and May. Flash flooding hit Sydney overnight on Thursday, and some regions in the red centre recorded more rain in 24 hours than would usually be recorded in a year. Central Australian flooding as seen from the air in October. Arid Air/Facebook Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said 169 millimetres was recorded at Nappa Merrie in central west Queensland in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday. This is exceptionally heavy rain for these parts of Australia, he said. Advertisement For example, Nappa Merrie is in a part of Queensland that usually receives about 100 to 200 millimetres of rain in an average year. On Tuesday night this week, they picked up 97 millimetres in just six hours. More than 100 millimetres of rain fell in Sydneys CBD and south-west on Thursday night, triggering 42 rescues and a dozen evacuations as homes and businesses were inundated. Flooding on Vine Street, Fairfield on Thursday. SES Media Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Dr Simon Grainger said this summer had been marked by severe heatwaves in December and January in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and much of Western Australia. More than 60 sites across the country recorded their highest ever temperatures in the last week of January. But in the north of Australia, weve seen below-average temperatures across much of northern western Queensland and into the Northern Territory, and thats been a region this summer thats had very much above-average rainfall thats rainfall in the top 10 per cent of all years since 1900, Grainger said. Advertisement Related Article Weather Sinkhole in Sydney CBD forces school to close Australias summer has been marked by repeated floods, and bushfires that turned deadly. In Victoria, more than 400,000 hectares was destroyed, including about 120,000 hectares in the Walwa-Mount Lawson state park. Communities along the Great Ocean Road were threatened by bushfires, then flash flooding, and then bushfires again, while in Western Australia an estimated 2500 lightning strikes sparked 20 bushfires. The national council for fire and emergency services has predicted increased risk of bushfires in Victoria, NSW and WA this autumn. AFAC The Bureau of Meteorology issued a long-range forecast for autumn on Thursday night, predicting unusually dry conditions for southern Australia, and a wetter than usual autumn in the Northern Territory and the Cape York Peninsula. Advertisement Autumn will bring increased risks of bushfires across most of Victoria, including Melbourne. Only the states east and north-west are forecast to face average fire risks. The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, the body comprising national fire chiefs and agencies, issued a statement on Thursday saying that long-term rainfall deficiencies continued to persist across Victoria, parts of NSW, and agricultural areas in South Australia. More than 400,000 hectares were burnt in Victoria during this summers bushfires. Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images In NSW, parts of the southern, central and eastern areas in the state are forecast to be at higher risk of bushfires over the next three months. In WA, there will be increased bushfire risks between Margaret River and Albany, and the region around Esperance. Above-average daytime and night-time temperatures are expected from March to May for most of Australia, while rainfall is expected to be lower than average for southern parts of Australia. Advertisement The increased bushfire risk potential is driven in part by long-term drought throughout Victoria and SA, along with increased dryness in NSW and persistent soil moisture deficits in parts of WA, the south-east mainland and Tasmania, the chiefs said in a statement. In the arid centre of Australia, however, roads have closed in a number of towns as intense rainfall creates widespread flash and riverine flooding. Lake Eyre is flooding for the second time in two years, a rare event. Flood watches are in place for parts of NSW, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Across the vast Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, which is Australias largest salt lake and which has filled to capacity only three times in the past 160 years, flooding is taking place for the second time in two years. Advertisement Advertisement Its definitely going to be a big flood event, bigger than last year, van Wegen said. Theyre talking another big rain event in early March. So itll be well into July, August, before we see exactly what the total amount is. Get to the heart of whats happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter. Saigon Things in Strathfield has quickly become a destination for people seeking broken rice with crunchy pork fat croutons, slabs of taro-misu and Saigon street classics that push through the banh xeo barrier. While its far from the only restaurant in town offering com tam (Tam Broken Rice and Hai Au Lang Nuong, both in Canley Vale, serve top-tier versions, too), Saigon Things modern, brightly lit dining room has quickly become a go-to destination for Vietnamese families and young expats. Theres a fair chance youll be waiting for a table on weekends. Over a fact-checking phone call, co-founders Duc Le and Tina Hoang tell me they arent trying to be the next cool kid on the block, though: the couples primary goal is to preserve their culture by showcasing flavours as close as possible to those theyve experienced in Vietnam. Vietnams com tam, or broken rice, is traditionally made with lowly grains fractured during the milling process. It was a staple of farmers and labourers who couldnt afford better-quality rice but, these days, all social classes seek comfort in the small and slightly sticky grains that absorb fats and sauces better than the regular stuff. In Sydney, you can find broken-rice solace at Saigon Things, which opened on The Boulevarde in Strathfield in September. The dac biet (special combination) com tam headlines the menus broken-rice section, and you would be hard-pressed to cram more textures on one plate. Fluffed-up rice thats not too chewy, not too soft, flavour-boosted with spring onion oil and a sweet nuoc cham; a sticky, grilled pork chop glossed in a reduction of its marinade; one gooey-yolked fried egg; translucent strands of shredded pork skin and collar; julienned pickled carrot and daikon; fresh tomato and cucumber; steamed pork-and-egg meatloaf; and the MVPP (most valuable pig-based product), crunchy pork fat croutons. It would have been easy for Le and Hoang to make com tam the thing at Saigon Things and let the rest of the menu fall around it: some pho, a few rice-paper rolls, sizzling steak. But theyve pushed through the banh xeo barrier with Saigon street classics, such as sweetcorn in a salted, egg-yolk sauce powered by the funk of dried shrimp. Its the kind of goopy, buttery thing that might have you asking if theres any riesling (there isnt, only Saigon Dry lager for $8), but the best drink-match, really, is a cold can of Sa Xi, Vietnams answer to Dr Pepper. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Chicken wings are fried in a super crisp batter and you can have them seasoned with chilli shrimp salt (more Sa Xi, please), while sweet potato fries come powdered in salted plum. A slab of taro-misu with taro mascarpone, taro paste, taro sponge and a rubble of chocolate on top is so massive I need to ask for a takeaway container, and it still takes two days to finish at home. Crab tapioca noodle soup. Jennifer Soo The pho is made on a clean, balanced broth of knuckle and brisket bones thats simmered overnight, while the special-combination dac biet sporting brisket, topside, tendon, squishy beef balls, bible tripe and roasted marrow on a bisected bone is a formidable bowl, even for the enthusiastic eater. I have a more leisurely time getting to the bottom of the banh canh cua, a full-bodied, shrimp paste-thrumming pork and crab broth with chubby tapioca noodles. Each spoonful is a lucky dip that could win you a crab ball, fish ball, quail egg or sliced pork. Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsRoyal family Opinion Fergies the loose cannon the royal family should really fear Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist February 27, 2026 11:00am February 27, 2026 11:00am 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 Behind closed doors, what do you reckon Charles and William are hashing over? I wouldnt have thought its what to do with Uncle Andrews teddy bear collection or even what to do with said Andrew, now hes off their hands and in those of the law. In my mind, theyre huddled over tumblers of Glenfiddich, terrifying each other with the famous line from that old horror movie: The call is coming from inside the house. Sarah Fergie Ferguson could be a danger for the royal family. AP And whos on the blower? Sarah Ferguson. Former Duchess of York. Current undetonated bomb. Fergies the loose cannon who could blow a serious hole in The Firms frantic desire to rehabilitate the narrative that they sheltered a relative who consorted with a dead paedophile, and was last week arrested for misconduct in public office. Advertisement They tried for business as usual, with the Waleses gamely gussying up for the BAFTAs, their first big jazzy event since Andrew was carted to the cop shop. But theres only so much that glossy hair and a velvet jacket can do to distract public attention and allay their own private reality. Which is that Sarah Ferguson was once a royal insider who was close to the late Queen. She truly knows where the bodies are. Everythings fine, really: Prince William and Princess Catherine put on a brave face at the BAFTA awards on Sunday. Getty Images She has a great untold access-all-areas story. She has no shame, she has nothing to lose and shes broke. The question for senior royals now: Is Fergie potentially more dangerous than Andrew to the Windsors reputation, image and future? Weve already seen the photo of a delighted Andrew on all fours over a frozen woman. Weve seen his arm around teenage Virginia Giuffre. Weve heard allegations of trade envoy deeds. Even if the former prince ends up in prison, theres perhaps limited shock value to be found here. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Royal family Fergies moving into Princess Beatrices cowshed? I want in Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist But nobody has heard Fergies story. And I bet my secret hot fudge sauce recipe and maybe even my 1980s Covers dress with silver rickrack trim that shes dying to write and sell it. The only thing stopping her might be that her daughters would be irrevocably again drawn into her muck. Would she be a mother first and keep mum, or throw Beatrice and Eugenie to the wolves and cash in? You be the judge. I know what I think. A month or so ago, Fergie made headlines and made me jealous for reportedly moving to a converted cowshed at Princess Beatrices country place to lie low. But after all the fawning, grasping emails she sent to Jeffrey Epstein were released, shes gone even further off the grid. That move is the best judgment shes shown in years. Because the emails are repulsive. Sarah asks for work, asks for money, asks Epstein to marry her, asks for a bed in New York for her pretty goddaughter. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor From his wild eyes to his tented hands, you can see the penny has finally dropped for Andrew Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist In a 2010 exchange, she wrote, Just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a shagging weekend! Yes. You are not mistaken. A mum shared details of her teenage daughters sex life with a man who had been convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution. Many of us would crawl under a rock to have this shamelessness aired. Not Fergie. Shes reportedly most recently hit up the United Arab Emirates and French Alps, after spending almost all of January at a $17,000-a-night Swiss wellness centre. All so on brand for her character. After decades of singing her exs praises, leveraging his titles and connections, living with him, shes done a bunk. He faces the music, she slips out the stage door. Thanks for everything, see ya. Now, how can I grift more luxury? If the travel stories are true, Id love to know whos bankrolling it. Maybe people still owe Fergie freebies (again, shes seen a lot) or maybe shes already signed a fat publishing deal. Advertisement Or cue agent provocateur conspiracy theory could someone super rich, like, say, a royal, be paying her to stay away and shut up? Because if you were sitting atop a vault of first-hand secrets and humiliations about The Firm, your silence would be worth buying. And right now, Fergies might be the most valuable silence in the world. Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Advertisement NationalAustralian economy Opinion Australia, dont demonise immigrants. Just thank them Aruna Sathanapally Grattan Institute CEO February 27, 2026 3:30pm February 27, 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 Worried about Australias future prosperity? Our ability to continue to provide high living standards to our children and those who come after us? Me too. More than ever, with the return of the toxic game of blaming migrants for whatever is wrong this week. This is a game that apparently wins polling numbers, and certainly wins media airtime, but pity the losers who are all of us. Even those who are ardently anti-immigration. The world that you are being sold where migrants are shut out, or theyre here but treated badly will be a poorer, harder world for you, too. Illustration Matt Davidson Lets go back to some basics. Economic growth per person has slowed across the developed world, with a drop in dynamism that has many theorised reasons and one unavoidable one. In Australia, we are rich and ageing. That means high demand and higher expectations for labour-intensive services most notably healthcare, where usage escalates dramatically the older people are. That means less dynamism in the economy fewer new ideas and fewer new businesses. And that means fewer people of traditional working age relative to those who have aged out of the workforce. Advertisement Advertisement This isnt a speculative economic strategy. One of the major drivers of the United States economic dynamism in the 20th century was its place particularly its universities as a magnet for motivated and talented people from all over the world to come together. Related Article Updated Extremism Tim Wilson sold his house after election campaign safety fears But this isnt only or mainly about economics. The contribution of migration to this country is not just positive, it is formative. Migrants are who we are. It has enabled us to be a country that while we have our problems is more peaceful, affluent and less unequal than many of our peers and neighbours. It is the fabric of our society and our values, with strong majorities of Australians approving of the role of immigration in our economy and culture. More than half of Australians today were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. We live in an integrated way in one of the most urbanised populations on the planet. We go to school together, we work in diverse workplaces, we fall in love, we have children with blended backgrounds. We eat each others traditional food, enjoy each others festivals. Migrants contribute to communities across this country in myriad, unpaid ways. Central to this success story have been two things. First, our migration policy is non-discriminatory that is, we do not apply bigoted notions of superior races, nor do we judge religious belief or lack thereof. Second, Australia was not a guest-worker country, unlike many of our peers in Europe. Migrants to Australia were seen as new Australians, with access to the same protections and services. This avoided a two-tier society and it protected wages and working conditions for everyone. Advertisement Both of these features are under strain today. Migrants find themselves more likely to be working below their skill level, waiting years for their qualifications to be recognised, facing a longer, more expensive road to achieve permanency, and therefore citizenship, and even then an extended waiting period for access to a safety net. Related Article Letters Letters Australia is better for its migrant success stories Our migration system should be improved to produce better outcomes from the limited number of places: simplifying the points test to select the highest-skilled migrants, focusing on medium-term needs, fixing duplicative and cumbersome skills recognition, broadening access to settlement services, and restoring permanency to the centre of the migration program. Instead, extreme voices cynically target minority ethnic groups as inferior, and more mainstream voices are happy to flirt with global far-right language of mass migration or uncontrolled migration (both demonstrably untrue of Australia), or peddle the falsehood that big cuts to migration will make Australia better off. A note of caution before we let this rank opportunism get any more air: the children of migrants of all colours and creeds are as Australian as anyone else. In schools across this country there are children whose parents moved to Australia before or soon after their birth, and who know no other country as home. Advertisement When political opportunists come for migrants, it is these kids who bear the scars, who are told they are not Australian, or that their value is to be measured by some yardstick, while their peers of different backgrounds matter more, deserve more. Our leaders would be wise to think of these kids when choosing their words for it is here they will leave a lasting legacy. Dr Aruna Sathanapally is chief executive of the Grattan Institute. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. 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 NationalNSWCrime Police commissioner rejects critical findings into womans bashing death Amber Schultz and Jessica McSweeney Updated February 27, 2026 3:27pm ,first published 11:26am 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 Legal counsel for NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has pre-emptively rejected a watchdogs critique of the police response to a womans fatal bashing, arguing officers were subject to unfair public attack. Lindy Lucena was killed by her partner, Robert Huber, less than 600 metres from a police station in Ballina on January 3, 2023. It took police nearly an hour to respond to the Triple Zero call stating a man was bashing the hell out of his woman. Lindy Lucena died in Ballina in January 2023 following a fatal bashing. Aresna Villanueva The call was incorrectly categorised as a concern for welfare report rather than the higher category of assault, and was broadcast only three times in half an hour, instead of in 60 seconds as required. When officers arrived, they did not exit their vehicles, driving past Lucena as she lay dead or dying. Police in the region were stretched thin on a busy night with inadequate staffing levels. Advertisement Her body was discovered five hours later, after Huber handed himself in to police. He has since been convicted of manslaughter. The police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, investigated the case following a complaint from Greens MP Sue Higginson. Hearings concluded in December. Mal Lanyon, NSW Police Commissioner. Steven Siewert In a submission to the watchdog on behalf of Lanyon ahead of the commissions final report, barrister Tim Smartt argued the commission should vindicate police. He argued that officers did their best under trying circumstances and should not be publicly maligned. Advertisement There is no public interest in the community being misled about the conduct of police, he wrote. Related Article NSW Police misconduct The Triple Zero call came at 7.03pm. Lindys body wasnt found until after midnight Smartts submission also said the watchdog should be more careful in its language to avoid giving the impression Lucenas life could have been saved had police acted differently. At Hubers manslaughter trial, one expert said Lucena probably died at 7.20pm, about half an hour before police reached the scene, while another testified she died about 9.30pm. [The watchdog] should avoid language like a missed opportunity to describe the result of the search that was done, he wrote. Advertisement Smartts submission dismissed the watchdogs proposed reforms, arguing police were already aware of resourcing issues; that the incident was already addressed in existing reviews, and there was no value in extra training, guideline revision, database modification or voluntary information for an incident as idiosyncratic as this one. The cost of implementing the recommendations outweighs any benefit, he wrote. Finally, Smartts submission argued against a critical incident finding, claiming that because such a ruling increases the watchdogs own powers, it creates an appearance of a conflict of interest. A critical incident declaration triggers an independent police investigation. In a NSW budget estimates hearing on Friday, Higginson questioned police on the engagement of Smartts services, describing the submissions as recklessly indifferent, so cold and so bizarre. She said the same barrister had legally represented neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant against accusations he performed the Nazi salute, controversial right-wing American influencer Candace Owens in her fight to be granted an Australian visa, and One Nations Pauline Hanson in a racial discrimination case. Advertisement The actions or alleged actions of a client should not be used to impugn the character of the barrister representing them, NSW Bar Association President Dominic Toomey, SC, said. Barristers are subject to important professional conduct rules, including the cab rank rule, which requires barristers to accept briefs from solicitors in certain circumstances, Toomey said. This is because legal representation should be available to all, regardless of the individual or the personal views of the barrister. Lanyon said he had not read Smartts submission but would endeavour to. I am unaware of the circumstances about that engagement, but those submissions would have been made with our Office of General Counsel, and as a barrister and a competent legal provider, he was probably appropriate to make those I can only assume that this has come through a panel arrangement through Office of General Counsel, Lanyon said. Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. Advertisement 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 NationalNSWWeather Sinkhole in Sydney CBD forces school to close Daniel Lo Surdo February 27, 2026 12:47pm 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 large hole has opened on a busy CBD street, forcing the closure of a nearby school and cutting water supply to nearby businesses. It comes after the city was hit by flash flooding on Thursday night, triggering dozens of rescues across the metropolitan area. A burst water pipe is thought to have created the hole at the intersection of Prince Albert Road and St Marys Road, next to St Marys Cathedral and Hyde Park. It prompted Sydney Water to cut off water supply, blocking water access for toilets and other essential services for nearby buildings. A Coles truck is stuck in a hole that has formed outside St Marys Cathedral in the Sydney CBD. Richard Campanaro The front wheels of a Coles delivery truck fell into the hole on Friday morning at about 7am, prompting an urgent rescue effort from at least two towing trucks. Advertisement Council and Sydney Water workers have closed entry to St Marys Road from Prince Albert Road, as they plug the large hole. A small excavator dug mud and asphalt from the hole, blocked by several traffic cones. Buses have been diverted from the area. St Marys Cathedral College, the K-12 co-education school adjoining the church, sent its high school students home on Friday morning after consulting Sydney Catholic Schools. Principal Kerrie McDiarmid asked parents of primary school students to collect their children as soon as possible, though they would continue to be supervised until 3pm. Flooding on Vine Street, Fairfield, on Thursday. SES Media We have just been informed that a sinkhole has developed in our local area, and as such Sydney Water will be shutting off water supply to the affected area which includes the College, she wrote to parents shortly before 11.30am on Friday. Advertisement Flooding on Vine Street, Fairfield, on Thursday night. SES Media We apologise for this inconvenience, however this is something that is out of our control. Wet roads have made driving treacherous, with westbound travellers on Anzac Bridge facing delays after a collision early on Friday afternoon. The crash on Anzac Bridge on Friday. Sam Mooy The multi-vehicle collision took place just after 1pm, but three blocked lanes were cleared and traffic moving again by about 1.55pm, a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said. Advertisement The incident followed a period of flash flooding on Thursday night, during which more than 100 millimetres of rain fell across Sydneys city and south-west in three hours, triggering 42 urgent rescues and 560 calls for assistance across the metropolitan area. Swimmers do laps at the Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool despite the rain on Friday morning. Kate Geraghty Umbrellas came out of storage on Friday morning. Audrey Richardson NSW State Emergency Service Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said the most-affected suburbs included Strathfield, Greenacre, Fairfield East, Yagoona and Chester Hill. The NSW SES and our emergency service partners completed more than 40 flood rescues, mostly across South West Sydney, including vehicles trapped in floodwaters along major transport routes, Assistant Commissioner Kearns said. Advertisement The Sydney CBD recorded 83 millimetres of rain on Thursday night, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, as the city braces for further showers on Friday afternoon. Related Article Updated Weather Flash flooding hits Sydney as heavy rain lashes the city Meteorologist Jonathan How said the thunderstorms dumped lots of rain across Sydney, including up to 122 millimetres at Lidcombe, but was fairly localised, hitting some suburbs far harder than others. If you were right under the storm, you got smashed, but if you were away from the storm you didnt see as much rainfall ... it was a compact but very powerful storm, How said. While rain showers would probably persist through Friday afternoon and evening, they would be relatively light, the Bureau said. Advertisement Emergency services responded to 34 calls in Strathfield, 21 in Greenacre and 13 in Fairfield East. Significant rainfall forced residents in Spring Street, Fairfield, to be evacuated as their properties were inundated, while six people were rescued at a park in nearby Vine Street, after they became stranded by rising floodwaters. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. CORRECTION This story has been updated to correct a photo caption which incorrectly referred to the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool as the Arthur (Boy) Charlton Pool. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Save this article for later Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. The parents of a three-year-old boy who died in a police station following a car crash at the Gold Coast last year have been charged. Caden Case, 3, was brought to the Beenleigh Police Station with head injuries after a vehicle he was travelling in crashed into bushland about 5am on October 25. He was in the car with his father Samuel Ian Paterson, mother Aneshia Daisy Case, and a one-year-old boy when it crashed. Caden Case, 3, died in the foyer of Beenleigh Police Station following a car crash. Nine A witness took Caden and his mother, then 22, to the police station where officers attempted CPR, but he died in the foyer. Advertisement NationalMenopause Testosterone saved Claires sex life, but women still pay more for it than men Wendy Tuohy February 27, 2026 11:18am 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 There was no issue with the sex life in Claire Atkins long marriage until a few years after she went into early menopause, aged 46. Sex up until then had been great, she says. It was happening all the time, our boys had grown up and left home, and we were having lots of noisy sex again. Claire Atkins says being prescribed testosterone for low libido after menopause has restored the fulfilling sex life in her marriage. Natalie Grono But by the age of 51, her libido had sunk low enough to be distressing. The bottom dropped out of it, she says. I didnt even think about sex any more. I thought, is this what Ive got to look forward to? Advertisement Atkins had other issues her GP said were likely linked with menopause: joint pain which stopped her long-distance running, insomnia and low motivation to do things that usually gave her joy. Related Article Women's health Women over 40 should lift weights to stop their muscles falling off a cliff A few months after Atkins started menopause hormone therapy, her GP suggested that because her lost sex drive was also troubling her, she would be a candidate for the only testosterone treatment approved for women, AndroFeme 1. The Australian product is available on private script, only to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder HSDD in post-menopausal women. It costs $107 to $140 a tube, which lasts three to four months. Patient advocates are angry that it was rejected late last year for subsidy by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee because many women cannot afford it, and womens health specialists say the decision is sexist given the government supports men with eight similar products. Advertisement The manufacturer, the small Perth pharmaceuticals company Lawley, has announced it will challenge the decision in the Federal Court based, in part, on its argument that women have inequitable access to a medication for sexual dysfunction compared with men. Related Article Women's health Grown kids, ageing parents, demanding careers: Why midlife collision is buffeting women World-leading Australian research suggests about 60 per cent of menopausal women with HSDD are helped by testosterone, usually moderately, and those who respond well may see a big improvement as Atkins did. It wasnt just about wanting to have sex all the time, it was making me feel juicy about life and about myself [even though] I was no sexier than I was a couple of weeks before, Atkins said. She said she feels fortunate to afford it but wonders why women pay so much more. Michael Buckley, a pharmacist and founder and chief executive of Lawley, said the committees decision was an astounding rejection of the physical, mental and sexual needs of post-menopausal women. Advertisement It means women will pay between 14 to 16 times more for treatment than their male counterparts pay for the treatment of similar sexual dysfunction conditions, Buckley said. AndroFeme 1 was registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for HSDD in November 2020, and is approved in the UK, New Zealand and South Africa. If it was funded in Australia, the government would pay $1.07 a day for women on the product compared with $2.60 a day for men on Testogel. Atkins says she cant understand why women have to pay significantly more, on private script, for a hormone available to men on the PBS. Natalie Grono A Health Department spokesman said the committee acknowledged the impact of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Dysfunction on postmenopausal women but had concerns regarding the strength of clinical evidence, potential safety risks if misused and whether the proposed price offered value for money. A large Australian study published in The Lancet last year by Professor Susan Davis, a Monash University menopause researcher and clinician, found that almost half of Australian women experience poor sexual wellbeing in midlife. But Davis found sexual dysfunction causing distress in many womens 40s did not correspond with a decline in blood levels of testosterone. Advertisement Intense public demand for womens testosterone, fuelled by non-evidence based claims about it being a missing link hormone that can do wonders generally for midlife women, may have slowed the progress of AndroFeme 1, expert observers say. Doctors who are social media influencers have promoted womens testosterone as being able to treat or prevent many age-related conditions. Susan Davis, a professor in womens health, found 60 per cent of post-menopausal women with HSDD benefit from using testosterone. Penny Stephens But global expert researchers, including Davis, have stressed that there is no evidence for any therapeutic benefit other than for post-menopausal women with HSDD. She is studying if it has potential to impact leading morbidities in older women including heart failure, loss of muscle mass and function, and cognitive decline. Dr John Eden, director of the Sydney Menopause Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women and an associate professor of reproductive endocrinology at UNSW, said some claims escalating demand were wrong. Where some of these YouTube celebrities have gone too far is theyre saying every woman needs estrogen, progesterone and testosterone and that is just not true, he said. Advertisement It was useful for many women with HSDD, he said, and for a significant minority its a game-changer; when it works its dramatic. There is plenty of published data to show if you have someone who loves their partner and is not depressed, and their menopause symptoms are controlled well, and theyre not having a lot of hot flushes and you give them an appropriate dose of testosterone, over four to five months you get an improvement in sexual function, Eden said. Testosterone is not a panacea and not something all women need, Eden said, but rejecting a female product from the PBS looks sexist, it looks terrible. Professor Rod Baber, head of the Menopause and Menstrual disorders clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney and a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Sydney, said he had prescribed AndroFeme 1 for HSDD since it was registered by the TGA in 2020, and it had helped patients who responded well. Advertisement Baber was a lead author on a 2019 global consensus position statement by international menopause experts on the use of testosterone for women, which declared treatment to have a moderate therapeutic effect, but only for HSDD. Related Article Women's health Testosterone is trending as missing link cure-all for women, prompting warnings The evidence-based statement had been accepted by most appropriate colleges or societies interested in this area of womens health in the world. In my experience, and the literature reflects this, two out of three women get a clinical response, Baber said. Womens testosterone was a useful tool for HSDD, he said, though data suggested it still produced only an average of one satisfying sexual event per month, and side effects could include acne and increased facial or body hair. The outburst of over-enthusiastic [off label] testosterone treatments which lack any evidence and efficacy, all the fuss and bother on the social media scene may have given the committee cause for concern, Baber said. Advertisement Davis has also conducted world-leading research which found that 60 per cent of post-menopausal women with HSDD who are in good relationships and have no other significant health issues benefit from using testosterone. Related Article Sexual health Almost half of women experience poor sexual wellbeing in middle age but dont blame testosterone Twenty per cent experience no change in desire or responsiveness, and symptoms worsened for 20 per cent. Davis has said that women who its really working for could experience four more satisfying sexual events per month. Eden said his clinical practice supported the products effectiveness. We know that for a substantial number of women with low sexual desire who are menopausal, an appropriate female dose works and is safe, he said. Theres no doubt about that statement, but that seems to be the statement the PBAC is arguing against. Advertisement The Health Department spokesman said more information about the committees consideration would be available in a public summary document for AndroFeme 1 in March. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. The News in Brief Friday, February 27, 2026 Four out of five members of the supervisory board of broadcaster Imedi TV resigned on February 25, one day after the United Kingdom announced sanctions against the channel over "Russian disinformation."Those who stepped down included former owner Irakli Rukhadze, along with Giorgi Bakhtadze, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and Davit Shonia. The four requested expedited approval of their resignations on February 25, citing an earlier change in ownership. Georgia's public registry approved the requests later the same day.The resignations left Mariam Lomidze, as the only remaining member of the supervisory board. She also serves as the channel's director.Lomidze became a shareholder earlier in February, when Rukhadze said he had sold his shares to be split evenly between Imedi's partner company Prime Media Global and the channel's management. It later emerged that the shares were sold for a symbolic price of 1,000 Georgian lari, or about 370 US dollars.The United Kingdom announced sanctions on February 24 against Imedi TV and POSTVfor spreading "deliberately misleading information" about Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine that "destabilizes" Ukraine or "undermines or threatens" the country's territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence.The sanctions include an asset freeze, trust services sanctions, and director disqualification sanctions.Israel's Ambassador to Georgia, Walid Abu Hayam, said the lighting of Mtatsminda Tower in the colors of the Iranian flag was an incorrect gesture, especially given recent events in Iran."I do not know and it is not of interest to me who made the decision and why. In my eyes, it was an incorrect gesture, especially this year, after what we have seen in Iran," Abu Hayam said..He said the move should be seen as a gesture toward Iran's ruling system rather than its people."My protest concerned the action itself. It was the marking of the 47th anniversary of this terrorist regime that sits in Iran and fights us everywhere," he said.Abu Hayam stressed that he was not interfering in Georgia's foreign policy."I know that Georgia and Iran have diplomatic relations. I do not interfere in Georgia's bilateral relations," he said, adding that as Israel's ambassador he felt compelled to express protest.On February 11, Tbilisi's tower was illuminated in the colors of the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. BRAZZAVILLE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's zero-tariff policy will bring new opportunities for Congo's agricultural and industrial development, said Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, minister of international cooperation of the Republic of the Congo, hoping the measure will benefit the Congolese people. A China-Congo trade promotion and signing ceremony themed "Zero Tariff New Opportunities" was held on Thursday in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo. Christel, together with Chinese Ambassador for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Affairs Liu Yuxi, and Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo An Qing, attended the event. In an interview with Xinhua, Christel expressed hope that the zero-tariff policy will help enhance the added value of Congolese agricultural and industrial products, boost youth employment, and effectively improve local living standards. For his part, Liu said that the zero-tariff policy is a hallmark of China-Africa cooperation in the new era and an important step taken by China to expand unilateral opening-up. During the event, more than 10 enterprises from the two countries signed letters of intent for cooperation. Products from the Republic of the Congo, including poria cocos, peanuts and potassium salt, will be exported to China under the zero-tariff arrangement. China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China starting from May 1, 2026. At the same time, China will continue to push forward the negotiation and signing of the agreements on economic partnership for shared development, and further expand access for African exports to China by upgrading the "green channel" and other measures. Advertisement NationalVictoriaLocal council Retirees lost this long-standing discount. Theyre fighting to get it back Gemma Grant February 27, 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 The Mornington Peninsula Shire is facing pressure to permanently restore a rates discount for local retirees after it was quietly axed last year, leaving residents almost $200 worse off. The council previously offered a 20 per cent discount to individuals living in retirement villages, but the reduction was removed in early 2025 when the state governments valuing services were centralised across all local government areas with the Valuer-General Victoria. Mornington Peninsula retirement village residents Nancy Taylor, Dianne Hurley, John Bridge and Vicki Meagher. Simon Schluter However, in July last year, the council voted to introduce an equal rebate temporarily for the 2025-26 financial year. Deciding what to do next is part of a wider strategy review to be finalised in March. Nancy Taylor, who is chair of the Mornington Peninsula Retirement Village Alliance (MPRVA) and lives in a retirement village in Capel Sound, says the discount needs to be reinstated permanently. Advertisement The peninsula is an area with a large ageing population. We feel as if retirement villages support the Shire in providing affordable housing, Taylor said. To date, about 2600 residents have joined the MPRVA, which is urging the council to restore the discount. Two separate petitions on the topic with more than 350 combined signatures were received by council at its February 17 meeting. Nancy Taylor at her retirement village in Capel Sound. Simon Schluter Across the Mornington Peninsula there are 15 retirement villages with 2515 units, according to council documents. Like other residents, people in retirement villages pay rates that go towards waste collection, roads and footpaths, environment planning and recreation activities. Advertisement Related Article Local council This is how much your council rates will go up next year But village residents also have access to private facilities such as paths, pools, gyms, clubhouses and recreational spaces, which generally require a separate service fee to maintain. Taylor says this means these residents dont utilise many of the councils services, aside from weekly bin collection. The proposed 20 per cent discount would result in an average rate reduction of $181 for retirement village properties, and an average increase of $4 for general residential properties. We feel as if were paying twice People out in the street dont realise exactly the situation inside a retirement village, she said. Sandra Jeffree, 77, lives at Beleura Village Mornington and is chair of village management. She said her community are pushing for the council to not only reinstate the 20 per cent rate but increase it to 30 per cent. Advertisement Residents were shocked after the sudden removal of their discount last year, she said. It was very upsetting ... A lot of people are simply on the age pension. The fact weve moved into a smaller [retirement village] doesnt mean we have lots of money, Jeffree said. The Mornington Peninsula Shire will consider the discount at its March 17 council meeting. Simon Schluter The state government released ministerial guidelines for applying differential ratings in 2013 that identify retirement villages as land eligible to receive differential rates, and say that local governments must consider a reduction. But it comes at a time when councils are under increasing cost pressures, with a plan floated this week to amalgamate three inner Melbourne municipalities into one mega-council and Glen Eira voting to seek a rare rate cap exemption to avert a cash crisis. Advertisement The majority of councils do not apply the lower rate, noting residents can still access community facilities. However, councils neighbouring Mornington including Frankston City Council, Melton City Council and Knox City Council all offer discounts. Related Article Exclusive Local council New rules ban snowballing council rates interest amid debt crisis Differential rates for retirement villages are separate to pension or concession card discounts, which are a state government rebate only available to eligible pensioners. According to Mornington City Council, 62 per cent of peninsula retirement village units currently receive pension discounts. Retirement Living Council executive director Daniel Gannon said that retirement village residents shouldnt pay the same rates as regular households because many also fund private amenities. This isnt about retirement village residents avoiding rates its about recognising their unique situation, where they already self-fund many services that councils would otherwise provide, Gannon said. Advertisement Most residents are on fixed low incomes, and big rate hikes dont just sting they force brutal choices between groceries, medication, transport and healthcare. For Taylor, who presented to council in favour of the permanent discount last Thursday, reinstating it is the only fair way forward. [Retired] residents are vulnerable in this cost of living crisis that were having because were on either fixed incomes or age pension, she said. We really feel as if were self-sufficient and not a burden on councils. We feel as if were contributing quite highly towards the whole area. 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 NationalVictoriaDevelopment Speculative surge: The $260m fight over western Melbournes AI boom Daniella White February 28, 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 multibillion-dollar surge in data centre proposals across Melbournes north-west has triggered a high-stakes stand-off over the bill for the expected power grid overhaul required to run the energy-hungry developments. Jemena, which own the areas poles and wires infrastructure, is locked in a $260 million tug-of-war with the federal regulator over how much it can spend, and then recoup from customers, to upgrade the network so it can cope with the extra demand. There are fears data centre growth has been overstated. iStock Jemena had argued it should have approval to collect about $2 billion in revenue, in todays dollars, from customers over the five years to 2031 as it handled an expected doubling in demand, the highest growth of any Victorian distribution company. This was a 25 per cent increase on the amount it was allowed to take in the current period, which it said would be funded by the burgeoning growth in data centres and residential customers switching from gas to electricity. Advertisement But in its draft determination, the Australian Energy Regulator suggested it needed only $1.7 billion in revenue after casting doubts on staggering predictions of data centre growth in the area. The regulators draft decision, backed by an independent review from consultants Baringa, characterised Jemenas demand forecasts for 2026-31 as overstated, subjective and lacking in transparency. It is concerned that residents could foot the bill for unnecessary works if the predicted data centres never come to fruition. Even as the Allan government publicly and aggressively courts data centres, including through fast-tracked approvals that resulted in a $1 billion centre approved in 75 days, Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio has sided with the regulator. Advertisement Our focus is on making energy affordable for Victorians, and we support the AER in scrutinising expenditure plans made by private energy companies to ensure they deliver value for households and businesses across the state, she said. Related Article Exclusive Property development Not possible: Data centre frenzy threatens to overwhelm Victorias power grid The stoush could also be replicated in other parts of Victoria as operators of the grid, already juggling a difficult transition from fossil fuels, attempt to cope with a major new disruption. The regulator has already made similar decisions citing speculative assumptions for electricity providers servicing other parts of the state, reducing expenditure on data centres for AusNet, Powercor and CitiPower. Jemena, which services 380,000 customers in Melbournes north-western corridor, claims that electricity demand will double by 2031, driven by a 4.1-gigawatt pipeline of data centre inquiries a figure which represents half of the entire states peak energy demand. Advertisement The boom is transforming the citys north-west, with abandoned industrial sites in West Footscray, Brooklyn, Tullamarine and Truganina now the focus of multibillions of dollars worth of proposals, many of which remain confidential but are included in electricity companies plans. Jemena warned that if the regulator did not approve its revised spending plans, it could have real impacts on customers, risking more frequent and longer outages. We do not agree with several aspects of the AERs decision and believe the regulatory allowance provided is insufficient for operating and investing in the electricity distribution network to meet the expectations of our customers, it told the regulator in January. Photo: Matt Golding It also risks delays to connections (which may need to wait until sufficient capacity is installed and available) risking economic development and housing supply in our network area. Advertisement Distribution networks like Jemena operate under a revenue cap, meaning they are legally entitled to recover a set amount of profit from their customer base regardless of how much energy is actually delivered. Stakeholders have highlighted the degree of uncertainty and risk around the demand forecasts proposed by Jemena, noting that if actual energy delivered ... is less than forecast, distribution network tariffs and consumer bills would be higher, all else being equal, the regulator said in its decision. Related Article Exclusive Data centres $1b data centre given planning tick in just 75 days as state gets cosy with big tech This means if the AI boom predicted by Jemena, and the other power companies, fizzles out and the predicted data centres are never delivered, everyday consumers could be left to pick up the tab to ensure the energy giant hits its government-approved profit targets. Jemena noted that its current in-flight connections projects with signed contracts already total 1393 megawatts, a figure it says is significant compared to the total capacity installed in Sydney and Melbourne over the past decade. Advertisement After revising its methodology to include only committed or highly likely data centre requests in its updated proposal, Jemena said there would still be more than 3.2 gigawatts more than a third of the states current peak demand and enough electricity to power millions of homes. Often described as the physical factories of the internet, data centres are industrial warehouses containing thousands of high-powered computers that store and process the data behind everything from video streaming, cloud storage to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Victoria is aggressively courting them as a cornerstone of the states future digital economy. DAmbrosio told the regulator the government also had concerns about the distribution companies predictions on data centre growth that translated to broader concerns around the accuracy of their demand forecasts and risks of over-estimating demand growth. Victoria Energy Policy Centre director Bruce Mountain said infrastructure upgrades should be green-lit only when projects were committed, and that data centres should be held financially responsible if they failed to meet their forecasts for electricity demand. Advertisement Jemena maintains that the sheer volume of new industrial customers could actually lower costs for everyone by spreading fixed costs across more users. Our revised proposal includes a $94 reduction in Jemenas distribution charges for a typical residential customer, subject to the proposal being endorsed by the AER, spokesperson Michael Pintabona said. The regulator is due to make a final decision on Jemenas revised proposal in April, and a spokesperson said it aimed to ensure consumers paid no more than necessary for safe and reliable energy while supporting an evolving energy market. Data centres must pay the costs associated with connecting to the distribution network. This includes both the direct cost of connection that is only used by the data centre and some portion of the shared distribution network costs, they said. As there is considerable uncertainty around how many data centres will connect to networks in future, which determines the required investment in the shared network, we asked Jemena to provide more information to support the number of data centres it proposes to connect to its network. Advertisement Data Centres Australia chief executive Belinda Dennett said the industry required more reliable data on the development pipeline, noting that the lobby groups own projections for energy usage were significantly more conservative than current government estimates. Our credible data, sourced from a top independent analyst, shows Melbourne will grow from its current 0.4 gigawatts to nearly 1.2 gigawatts by 2030, Dennett said. However, she warned there was a bottleneck of energy connections in Melbournes north-west the citys primary data centre hub and called for substation upgrades to be fast-tracked to keep pace with demand. 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 Opinion NationalVictoriaEditorial State cant wish away the financial problems of local councils The Age's View February 27, 2026 7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A When the Kennett government moved to amalgamate Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda councils into a single City of Port Phillip, one of the steps taken was to transfer Fishermans Bend to the City of Melbourne, almost halving Port Melbournes rate base and rendering it unsustainable on the remainder. That 1993 statewide process that reduced 210 councils to just 79 sparked fierce resistance. At the Port Melbourne protests, one sign read BIG IS NOT BETTER. Loading Our reporting this week that the mayors of Port Phillip and Yarra have raised the prospect of a fresh round of amalgamations in response to acute budget pressures revived memories of those days. For Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly and his Port Phillip counterpart Alex Makin, rates are again an issue, but these days it is a decade-long cap on increases under the state governments Fair Go Rates legislation, that is in their sights as the demand for and cost of services continue to rise. Advertisement The federal government is running an inquiry looking at how funding arrangements, including indexation freezing, influence the financial sustainability, service delivery capacity and infrastructure investment of local governments. In its submission to that inquiry, the Victorian Local Government Grants Commission said the average gap between Victorian councils expenditure needs and their revenue-raising capacity has widened by 20 per cent. Even Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, with his $390.3 million rate base in the citys commercial heart, argues that the current arrangements with the state government and its rates cap is unfair and unsustainable. Conscious that rate caps have been popular with voters, council leaders have focused their ire on cost-shifting by the state government, with Jolly identifying $10.5 million that used to come from state coffers and is now being drawn from Yarras purse. The City of Hume told the federal inquiry that traditionally, cost-shifting has impacted areas like libraries and the school crossing supervision program. However, it is now encroaching into critical areas such as maternal and child health and building enforcement. Advertisement As recent polling we commissioned has shown, Australians often have an ambivalent relationship with their councils, acknowledging their performance but also seeing them as the most dispensable tier of government. Faced with these challenges, would bigger councils be better? Related Article City life Mega merger not the answer to funding shortfall, councils say There are those, such as democracy researcher Travis Jordan, who argue bigger councils paying full-time salaries would attract more talented candidates and ensure more competitive elections, making local government more democratic and representative. Still, Jordan isnt convinced that merged councils would lead to fiscal savings. Former Glen Eira mayor Jim Magee has said that while mergers also risk diluting local identity and representation, he believes larger councils could streamline planning processes, align infrastructure priorities, and achieve economies of scale, with larger rate bases and millions of dollars saved by reducing the number of managers and councillors. Its no surprise to find Jeff Kennett is in this camp, banging the drum for a Greater City of Melbourne and reducing Melbournes 31 councils to five. This would require enormous changes in the regions too where the financial pressures on councils are even greater. Advertisement Marcus Spiller of SGS Economics & Planning told our reporter Rachael Dexter that a better option than simple mergers would be a metropolitan authority to sit above councils and below state, much like the former Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. Yet convincing ratepayers that an additional level of bureaucracy is the answer will always be a tough sell. As Moonee Valley Mayor Rose Iser reminded our reporter Adam Carey, the amalgamations of the 1990s aroused strong emotions and consultation over similar moves would be crucial. Jolly has made it clear that such a step is not his first choice he would rather the state government coughed up. It is clear from The Ages coverage that the strains on council finances will continue to grow and that the viability of councils in Melbourne and across the state will come under increasing scrutiny, especially as public expectations regarding service delivery and the cost of living grow. Premier Jacinta Allans response to the floating of the amalgamations was disappointingly glib, dismissing the talk as kite flying and pointing to budget surpluses as if to suggest there is no strain. This walks straight past not just the pleas from the council but last years Auditor General assessment that financial risks in the sector are growing, and key sustainability indicators are declining as expenses generally outstrip income driving down surplus cash. Advertisement Editor's pick Updated Local council Council moves to sell aged care home, double rate hike to avoid $57m budget black hole It noted that councils - Glen Eira being a subsequent exception - do not like to ask for permission to breach the default rate increase cap because of the political blowback. So nothing moves. The Allan government, under its own financial duress, clearly would prefer not to debate cost-shifting or the consequent question of mergers. Yes, councils should live within their means but to simply cast local government as masters of their own financial destinies is as disingenuous as ignoring their struggles is irresponsible. This problem, like many others, will not go away just because the Premier would prefer it to. Advertisement NationalVictoriaPlanning Super-sized CBD or soaring suburbs: The competing visions to reshape Melbourne Daniella White and Patrick Hatch February 27, 2026 7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A When Opposition Leader Jess Wilson toppled crime-focused Brad Battin as Liberal leader late last year, she sought to make housing affordability a key plank of the partys re-election pitch. Now, with less than nine months until the November election, the Coalition has finally unveiled its first major housing policy, which focuses on its high-density push in inner-Melbourne Labor and Greens seats. The Coalition has pledged to expand the CBD. Joe Armao It marks a direct challenge to the Labor government, which has staked much of its third term on a pledge to deliver homes for Millennials and spread its high-density agenda across Melbourne suburbs. Premier Jacinta Allan routinely ridicules the Liberals as a party of blockers standing in the way of young Victorians while crusading against NIMBYs. Labors housing policy has been controversial stripping objection rights away from local communities and councils in favour of fast-tracking planning applications. But the Liberals counter policy which protects inner and middle ring suburbs from intensive development has failed to win the backing of many prominent economists and urban planners. Advertisement What are the plans? The centrepiece of the Liberal plan is an expansion of the Capital City Zone. Under the proposal, the high-density zoning currently reserved for the CBD would be extended to swallow Southbank, Parkville, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Fishermans Bend. The policy would allow higher towers in these suburbs, including heritage areas, to rejuvenate the city centre following the pandemic. Wilson said the plan would feature scaled-down development as it moves towards established residential streets, but details on specific height limits and house-completion targets remain limited. Its a direct counter to Labors activity centre policy, which aims to rezone 60 suburban hubs near public transport including many in the middle ring for towers of up to 20 storeys to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2051. Advertisement Labors plan includes 60 activity centres, surrounding train stations Victorian government The Coalition also pledged to break a bottleneck in Melbournes sprawling urban fringe by imposing a two-year limit on the approval of 27 Precinct Structure Plans. Wilson argues the current system is broken, with some timelines stretching into the 2030s. Labors 10-year plan currently aims to approve 27 new or updated structure plans to deliver 180,000 homes in greenfield areas. The Liberal plan to protect middle-ring suburbs from high density has failed to win the backing of several prominent urban experts. Stephen Glackin, a senior research fellow at Swinburne University, said the policy ignores the fact that Melbourne is becoming a city of urban villages, where people stayed close to where they live. To ignore the amenity that the middle suburbs has is nonsense. These are well-serviced areas and if they get more dwellings there, they will only get more vibrant, he said. The state is looking at the city as a whole, and rightly so. Advertisement Grattan Institute economic policy program director Brendan Coates said the oppositions plan to expand the CBD was very back to the future. Its really just doubling down on the thing Victoria is already doing well, he said. He said Victoria already built many homes on the urban fringe, which was a key reason for the relative affordability compared to other states. But Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Linda Allison welcomed the greenfield plan, saying costly delays were hurting affordability in Melbournes newest suburbs where the majority of new homes are built. Labors plans also face significant hurdles. Glackin noted that activity centre developments might take 20 to 30 years to materialise due to slow building rates and the difficulty of developing on small subdivisions. Advertisement Data from the Grattan Institute shows that of the 600,000 homes possible in Labors activity centres, only about 110,000 roughly 18 per cent are currently economically feasible to build. Related Article Exclusive Planning The 20-storey divide: Melbournes high-density push stalled by numbers that dont stack up Critics and local councils have also slammed Labors program as a top-down planning takeover that erodes community appeal rights. David Hayward, emeritus professor of public policy at RMIT, has questioned the core logic of both parties plans, arguing they rely on unproven assumptions about housing shortages while ignoring deeper market dysfunction. He has called for greater government intervention in the housing market instead of the market-driven approach. Hayward said the Liberal plan was firmly focused on the election as it shielded inner and middle-ring suburbs the party wanted to win or retain, and shifted high-density development into safe Labor and Greens seats. He noted there was already a surplus of unsold apartments in the CBD. Advertisement What do Millennials want? 25-year-old Mohi Gholamy recently purchased an apartment. Simon Schluter When 25-year-old Mohi Gholamy, who works in the property industry, was deciding where to buy, she was torn between buying an apartment somewhere she wanted to live or buying a house in the outer suburbs that would have a better capital return. Ultimately, she decided to buy a $700,000 two-bedroom apartment in the inner-eastern suburb of Balwyn, a seven-minute drive away from the home she grew up in. Some of my work mentors suggested buying in an outer ring suburb for investment growth, but I didnt want to be that far away from work. It was more of a lifestyle choice, she said. Gholamy sees the apartment as a place to live, not to make money off, and intends to buy an investment property later. Advertisement She said that when buying an apartment she prioritised spacious properties with lots of natural light, a central location near shops and transport, and a lack of defects. Im really happy with the decision. Ive never had to use my car so little, Gholamy said. This preference for staying local mirrors the premiers own pitch to younger voters: that Labors activity centre program will help make sure Millennials arent priced out of the suburbs they want to live in. Were making sure more Victorians can live in the suburbs they grew up in with more homes close to trains and trams, Allan said earlier this month. The missing middle Advertisement The Coalitions policy was notable for its silence on the missing middle medium-density townhouses and low-rise apartments. In early 2025, the Labor government introduced a statewide Townhouse Code, setting uniform standards for low-rise developments. Under these deemed to comply rules, if a project meets the code, councils must approve it without the risk of a VCAT challenge. Related Article Analysis Housing crisis How Melbourne beats Sydney on housing crisis solutions The Coalition opposed the code at the time, arguing it strips power from local communities. While Liberal leaders in NSW have since called for the state to copy Allans reforms, the Victorian Coalition under Wilson is yet to state its position on the code. However, in a speech to the Property Council last year, Wilson said she would prioritise medium-density housing, such as townhouses and small apartment blocks. Coates said the Townhouse Code was currently the governments strongest policy for supply. He said the code unlocked capacity for nearly 1 million extra homes, of which 400,000 can be profitably built today far exceeding the viable output of the activity centres. Advertisement Parts of the code, as well as other planning reforms that stripped away third-party consultation, faced strong criticism from community groups and the Municipal Association of Victoria, which said councils were being unfairly blamed for housing shortages and stripped away communities consultation and objections rights. The MAV declined to comment on the Liberals new housing policy. Planning Institute Victoria president Patrick Fensham said the Coalitions proposal would result in more apartments in the inner city, and detached housing in the outer ring, but it missed the opportunity for a greater diversity of housing in middle-ring suburbs. But in reality, he said, the potential for new housing around activity centres was already baked in, and it was unlikely the Coalition could roll it back. Fensham said that proposed expansion of the CBD into surrounding neighbourhoods would be limited by the availability of sites big enough for large apartment buildings. Advertisement Collingwood and Fitzroy are places that are fine-grain subdivisions. It might seem like a good idea to get higher density in areas with good access to the city, but there is a structural barrier to achieving that, he said. Fensham said there was already potential for higher-density living in the existing CBD zone but it was being held back by a soft development market. Industry figures warn that planning reform alone will not solve the crisis. Beau Arfi, a property investor and chief executive of Maple Property Group, said high taxes and construction costs remain the primary barriers to new supply. If tax settings discourage investment and development, projects simply wont proceed, regardless of planning approvals, he said. Victoria needs both planning reform and tax reform. In its election platform, Urban Development Institute of Australia called for urgent tax reform, saying windfall gains tax and additional surcharges on foreign investors should be removed to boost supply. 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 NationalWAPolice Man arrested over alleged white supremacist ideology terrorist plot Holly Thompson and Michael Philipps Updated February 27, 2026 10:03pm ,first published 7:41pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A man allegedly motivated by racist ideology planned a mass casualty terror attack targeting public buildings and Muslim places of worship, authorities say. Jayson Joseph Michaels, from the town of Bindoon north of Perth, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, facing five charges, including acting in preparation for a terrorist act. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch. Hamish Hastie The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team charged Michaels following an investigation into his online activities and the execution of a search warrant at his home. At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Premier Roger Cook provided further details of the alleged terrorist plot. Advertisement Police released images of the weapons they seized as part of their investigation into the alleged terror plot. WA Police Force Police allege the man was planning a mass casualty event on a range of public buildings across Perth, including the WA Police Headquarters, WA Parliament House and Muslim faith places of worship, Cook said. It will be alleged this person was motivated by a white supremacist ideology. Cook said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been briefed by Australian Federal Police, while other political and religious leaders were also being made aware of the incident. Ive been advised that there is no ongoing threat to the community, the Premier said. Advertisement Police have released images of two long guns they seized as part of the investigation. WA Police Force WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said police received intelligence about communications on an encrypted communications platform in January and February that led to the arrest of the man. Blanch alleged the communications contained white supremacy ideology, anti-Muslim ideology, antisemitism and conversations about minority groups he called abhorrent. Australian Federal Police superintendent Peter Hatch alleged Michaels had written a manifesto-style document outlining plans for an ideologically motivated attack of violent extremism involving mass casualties. The accused 20-year-old was refused bail in court on Friday afternoon. Advertisement It is understood to be the first time an individual has been charged with this offence in WA. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the arrest of the WA man as deeply shocking. Dozens of rounds of ammunition, around 30 blades and several handguns were also seized as part of the operation. WA Police Force I have been briefed on this case by AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett. I thank the WA police for their swift action to keep the community safe, he said. Allegations the man was planning to target the Muslim community through attacks on mosques - as well as attacks on the WA police and parliament - are particularly distressing. He should face the full force of the law. Advertisement Australians, no matter who they are, have a right to safety. There is no place in our country for any kind of racially or religiously-motivated prejudice or hate. As Ive said many times we need to take the temperature down. Political leaders have a particular responsibility not to fan the flames of bigotry. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said every Australian, no matter who they are, has a right to be safe and feel safe. For some time, our security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been warning that we are entering a new security environment, he said. There are many different ideologies that can give rise to extremism. People can radicalise fast through a variety and sometimes through mixed ideologies. Advertisement White supremacist ideologies cover a wide variety of bigotry, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. The Australian Muslim community has been experiencing increased levels of Islamophobia. Every Australian Muslim, just like every other Australian, has a right to be safe and feel safe. The charges against the 20-year-old come just weeks after another man, accused of throwing a homemade bomb into a crowd of Invasion Day protesters, was charged with committing a terrorist act the first in WA history. Related Article Updated Courts Accused Invasion Day rally terrorist identified after suppression order lifted Liam Alexander Hall, 32, is accused of making and throwing the device which had allegedly been designed to detonate from a terrace balcony into a crowd in Forrest Place as they marched to protest the date of Australia Day. Advertisement Had the bomb exploded, WA Police and the state government believe it could have caused a mass casualty event. Halls identity was initially suppressed by the court due to concerns for his safety behind bars at Hakea Prison, and based on the fact he was experiencing mental health issues. However, federal prosecutors and WA Police opposed the suppression order continuing, arguing Halls safety had been managed well behind bars. Premier Roger Cook, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas and Nationals leader Shane Love have also spoken on a motion put to parliament condemning the alleged attack. Im so grateful for whatever it was that stopped that [alleged] bomb detonation, grateful that I can stand here with the immense privilege of reflection, rather than the devastation of mourning, despite the world around us, Cook said. Advertisement Jayson Joseph Michaels has also been charged with using a carriage service to menace or harass, possessing a prohibited weapon and two firearms offences. He was remanded in custody to reappear in the same court on March 23. With AAP Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email. Advertisement February 27, 2026 4:48pm 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 Sussan Ley has bowed out of federal politics with more dignity than was afforded her by parliamentary colleagues as she attempted to redeem the trust they had frittered away in the Liberal heartland. Those same scheming MPs now face their own moment of truth in her old seat of Farrer, that, despite being a Liberal/Nationals fiefdom since 1949, is no lay down misere with Pauline Hansons One Nation breathing down their necks. Sussan Ley during a press conference after losing the Liberal Party leadership to Angus Taylor. Dominic Lorrimer Officially resigning from parliament on Friday, Ley made a veiled reference to her replacement, Angus Taylor, adopting her policies while pointedly paying tribute to women who put themselves last. It will be for commentators and historians to measure the period of my leadership, but I am proud that we were instrumental in establishing a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and that we set clear directions on several key policy areas in tax, industrial relations, energy, national security, and families, she said. I welcome the Coalitions immediate re-adoption of many of these directions and policies in recent days and weeks. Advertisement Ley spent 25 years as an MP but, unlike many colleagues, she was not a political staffer but had a life outside parliament: inspired by Australias first female commercial pilot, Deborah Lawrie, in 1980, aged 19, she tried for a pilots licence, then went to university at 30 and studied part-time for a decade while raising three children, before cutting her political teeth in Tony Abbotts blokey cabinet, eventually coming to the aid of her party after the catastrophic leaderships of Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton. Related Article Letters New Liberal leader sure to feel resistance from stale, pale males Facing similar electoral devastation, Labor sometimes turned to the White Lady Funerals option, electing Julia Gillard, Kristina Keneally, Carmen Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Anna Bligh and Jacinta Allen to resuscitate support. But in choosing Ley to lead them out of the wilderness, the Liberals attempted to modernise and convince women who had fled to the teals, Labor and the Greens to come home. The Liberals lost so many moderates that, although Ley defeated the highly conservative Taylor, her close 29-25 vote victory meant she was always looking over her shoulder and never really got clear air to halt the partys collapsing popularity. Advertisement As a result, Ley suffered the fate of many women political and business leaders: double-guessing everything they do in terms of how it will be judged by their colleagues and the wider community. She copped criticism for failing to outline coherent policies while Liberal headquarters sat on an internal review of what went wrong in last years federal election. And the increasingly assertive National Partys lurching further to the right to keep One Nation at bay did not help. The Coalition junior partners constant undermining was disloyal and demeaning, but Ley did herself no favours politicising the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. In the end, she was a hugely competent politician whose ability to cut through was betrayed by unremitting leadership speculation. Yet her arrival as leader saw Liberals rush to endorse women opposition leaders across Australia. That is Leys true legacy. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsWAAustralian economy Why this economist says WA cant build its way out of housing crisis Hamish Hastie Updated February 28, 2026 10:51am ,first published 10:16am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Western Australia will not be able to build itself out of a housing crisis and should reconsider a sovereign wealth fund with which to guard itself from economic shock in resource downturns. These are the messages former Citibank trader and the peoples economist Gary Stevenson will relay to a Perth crowd on Monday night as part of the West Australian leg of his Down Under tour on March 2. Former Citibank trader and popular YouTube economist Gary Stevenson. Youtube/GarysEconomics Stevensons Youtube channel has amassed more than 200 million views and 1.5 million subscribers since the start of the pandemic for his simplified and sometimes blunt explanations of economic trends, particularly the explosion in global inequality since COVID-19, driven by stimulus packages. WAtoday put questions about WAs economy, particularly the states housing crisis, to Stevenson, who became a multi-millionaire while working for Citibank, ahead of his show on Monday. Advertisement Stevenson said WAs housing affordability issues were not unique to this state and were the result of a global asset price boom. Every single person in the entire world thinks the global asset price crisis, including the gold price, including the price of stocks, is caused by their local mayor, he said. The context is important, because what you have is clearly a global macroeconomic problem, and everybody is trying to fix it by tinkering around with the rules around housing. This is what drives me a little bit mad here. We could talk about negative gearing, which is obviously not going to help, we could talk about 5 per cent mortgages, which is obviously not going to help. But at the end of the day, somebody has to step back and say, why are the prices of all assets going up? Stevenson pins that on trillions in global stimulus packages, including packages like jobseeker here in Australia, trickling through the economy until eventually ending up in the accounts of the wealthy who then sought to invest that cash in assets. Advertisement He said that unless global asset prices came down somewhere, Perth would not be able to build enough houses to escape the problem. He warned that continued building of homes on the urban fringe would turn Perth into a slum. Uk economist Gary Stevenson. Every country that has tried to build its way out of housing crises without dealing with the underlying problem of inequality and distribution has built a slum, he said. The whole world is filled with these places that have had no restrictions on housing, and they built a massive shanty town outside of their city. Advertisement And you think that cant happen in a country like Australia. I grew up in Ilford, which is a poor suburb of East London...it was a poor suburb for working-class families, and it is now a slum. Its as simple as that. All respect to the people that live there, is a place of desperate poverty, and those family homes are now expanded backwards, expanded upwards, and rented out by the room. Australia is a bit behind on this, but youre going in the same direction. You will build a super luxury centre surrounded by extremely low-quality slums. On WAs resources endowments Stevenson revised the age-old argument that WA should follow the lead of Norway and its sovereign wealth fund, which holds nearly AUD $3 trillion in assets. That natural resource wealth, it doesnt last forever and thats your inheritance, he said. Advertisement I understand that wages have been good for a lot of people in Perth and in Western Australia because of the mining boom. Once thats gone, thats gone. Are you giving up your inheritance for 10, 15, 20 years of good living, and do you have a plan for what happens afterwards? You would not be the first country in the world to squander a great natural resource fortune and not have it benefit the people in the long run. Stevenson will be on stage at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco on Monday night. Advertisement PoliticsWAWA Parliament Labor MPs Roe 8 protest pictures would be caught up by post and boast laws Hamish Hastie February 27, 2026 3:27pm 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 Had Western Australias so-called post and boast laws been in place during the 2017 campaign against the Roe 8 highway extension, Labors own federal Fremantle MP Josh Wilson could have faced charges. The WA governments admission came during a debate in the upper house this week, as crossbench and Greens MPs peppered Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General Dan Caddy with scenarios in which people documenting and uploading protests on social media could be charged. Federal Labor MP Josh Wilsons Instagram post at the height of the Roe 8 protests. Instagram On Thursday, WA Greens leader Brad Pettitt raised a photo Wilson took of Pettitts sister up a tree while trespassing on the Roe 8 construction site in 2017, with the caption: supporting the tree-dwelling protectors this morning as we try to slow down the damage. Of course, [Wilson] was not breaking the law in 2017 because these frankly horrific laws were not in place then. But if the Honorable Josh Wilson were to do exactly this next year, could he be charged and jailed for two years? Pettitt asked Caddy. Advertisement Caddy conceded Wilson could face charges if the photo documented trespassing and met other elements in the legislation. Related Article Exclusive Crime Four children charged after Kununurra dam crash as youth crime returns to spotlight If all the elements were met I have not seen the photo my very good friend Josh Wilson could be charged. It does not mean he will be; it means he could be, Caddy said. The legislation was introduced to WA parliament last year in response to a growing number of crimfluencers on social media posting videos and photographs of crimes to gain followers and notoriety. The laws aimed to stamp the practice out, but opponents warn it is a risk to protest and democracy, given the inclusion of offences like trespassing and breaching the peace. Advertisement A Labor-chaired parliamentary inquiry recommended the Cook government remove trespass, breaching of the peace and unlawful assembly from the post and boast laws but so far the government has only removed unlawful assembly. During the exchange on Thursday, Caddy added a caveat that prosecution of the laws would be at the discretion of the director of public prosecutions, and every criminal offence had a degree of prosecutorial discretion. A really good way of demonstrating this to everyone in the chamber is that if I walk past you in the street and I hit you on the shoulder because I have known you for some years Hi, Brad you could seek to charge me with assault. That probably would not go anywhere, Caddy said. Pettitt maintained the law was too wide-ranging. I suspect the Barnett government would have a very different view of Joshs post if it had had post and boast [laws], he said. Advertisement Wilson said he was proud to be part of that protest action and would always support that form of protest. That kind of concerted, peaceful, community activism is a vital and precious part of our democracy that I will always support, heart and soul, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. We did ask [for the ride], but Chad won on it the other day and hes retained the ride, so good luck to him, and well just try and find ways of seeing if she has any kinks in her armour. In the Verry Elleegant, Williams is on a better chance with Sir Delius ($6.50) but faces arguably the toughest challenge in Australian racing, the unbeaten Autumn Glow ($1.30), which will strive for a 10th victory and second group 1. Trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Craig Williams after Sir Delius won the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Credit: Getty Images Sir Delius is seen as the main threat, although co-trainer Adrian Bott has indicated the import will need the first-up run en route to 2000m targets the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The Frankel five-year-old surged late for a close second first-up over the mile in the Chelmsford Stakes last spring before Williams got aboard, and they won the group 1 Underwood (1800m) and Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in Melbourne. Sir Delius was then sensationally ruled out of the Melbourne carnival after failing mandatory scans. Williams has travelled up three times to trial Sir Delius and he was encouraged by the prospect of a rain-affected track on Saturday. He won in France and first-up at Doomben on heavy going. Randwick was a soft 7 on Friday with more rain forecast. Hes an easy horse to want to be associated with, Williams said. Ive had two race rides on him for two group 1 wins, and the calibre of horses he beat in those were not going to backtrack on it, but we thought we had the right horse for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup last year, but we were unable to show everyone how good he was going. Obviously, hes a very competitive horse with great ability, hes always presented well by Gai [Waterhouse] and Adrian. They know him really well, and they think hes got more to come, which his form suggests, but hes such a great warrior and his performances in Australia have been outstanding. Bott said Sir Delius would enjoy a bit of cut out of the ground but he still expected good improvement to come after Saturday. He ran a good race [last time first-up] but he was still beaten, Bott said. He was going in there off a different prep, off a Queensland prep, so it was a short turnaround into the spring, so he probably had a bit more residual fitness. Going into this carnival, hes finished the campaign earlier than we expected last time, hes had a longer break, and maybe even a shorter time frame to get to this point off a longer break, just given time we had, with the imaging hes had. Crunch time for Golden Slipper hopes Adrian Bott believes the addition of blinkers will help Knightsbridge push his claims in the Skyline Stakes as the stable looks to build its Golden Slipper team. Shiki, fourth in the prizemoney order, is the only Waterhouse-Bott hope safely in the March 21 Slipper but they have four with chances to book a spot at Randwick on Saturday. Knightsbridge (26th), a winner at Randwick then fifth in the Magic Millions Classic, and Plagiarism (22nd), which was third in the Golden Gift then sixth in the Inglis Millennium, run in the group 2 Skyline needing at least a prizemoney boost. Knightsbridge ran a good race in the Magic Millions, Bott said. He probably got further back than I thought. Blinkers go on, which I think will just help switch him on. Plagiarism was excellent in his first-up run in the Millennium. He just didnt have much luck in running, was caught three wide and tired late. Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaScience Australian hypersonic plane completes first test flight at five times speed of sound Michael Koziol Updated February 28, 2026 4:59pm ,first published February 28, 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 An Australian-made hypersonic aircraft successfully completed its first flight from a NASA facility in the US, reaching five times the speed of sound in a test that scientists say will help forge the future of air travel. The aircraft, called the DART AE, was developed by Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems, led by former NASA research scientist Michael Smart and a team of University of Queensland engineers. Loading The DART was launched by a booster rocket from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, on Friday evening (US time). It travelled through the upper atmosphere for about 800 kilometres at a max speed of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Thats more than 6000km/h. And its not just a tube being shot into the air. The 3.5-metre-long vehicle powered by a 3D-printed, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet engine that compresses incoming air using high-speed shockwaves can be manoeuvred. It is, for all intents and purposes, an aircraft. Advertisement Most hypersonic craft are rockets. Rockets cant manoeuvre. You just point and shoot them, Smart said. The manoeuvrability is an absolutely critical new characteristic Anything you think an aircraft does, we can do. Organisers were tight-lipped about the flight plan before the launch, other than to say they were aiming to conduct the longest hypersonic flight ever staged by a hydrogen-powered vehicle. They said it could travel up to 800 kilometres, with the aircrafts metallic skin heating up to 800 degrees. The DART will travel at speeds of about Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound more than 6000km/h. This was the first launch mission for Hypersonix, founded at the end of 2019 by Smart, who for 15 years was a professor of hypersonic propulsion at UQ. The growing firm was selected as a partner by the US Defence Innovation Unit part of what is now the Department of War from a field of more than 60 applicants. Just to get in the air is a big deal for this company, and its a big deal for Australia, Smart says. Advertisement Testing this kind of technology is vital for the future of hypersonic flight, which, beyond its scientific applications, will eventually transform the way people travel. Hypersonix chief executive Matt Hill, who is in Virginia with Smart and a team of 10 for the mission, says this type of engine could power an aircraft that will fly from Sydney to London in two hours. Its not pie-in-the-sky stuff, either he says it could be technologically possible in 10 or so years, though the logistics of flying people long distances make it challenging. The team includes nearly 60 staff in Australia, including 10 who have travelled to Virginia to assist with the launch. The Photo Pitch When people fly, they expect air and champagne and movies all those things and thats really the more complex thing, Hill says. Its still a way off. But were building the core technology that would enable that type of flight. The DART separated from the rocket at 45 kilometres above Earth. Space company Rocket Lab, which conducted the launch, broadcast it live on social media and said the mission was 100 per cent successful. The launch was delayed several times throughout the week due to bad weather and external circumstances. Advertisement Hill said the successful launch confirmed an Australian company could design, build and operate technology in what he called one of the most demanding flight regimes on Earth. It is an important step toward delivering hypersonic systems that are operationally relevant for Australia and its allies. Hypersonix chief executive Matt Hill and co-founder Michael Smart. The Photo Pitch Related Video Video icon 2:01 Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named 2026 Australian of the Year Hypersonix has 58 staff in Australia, most aged under 30, while UQ ranks as one of the worlds top universities in hypersonic research. The DART was assembled in Brisbane and transported to the US with great difficulty. The engine used in this flight is the fastest scramjet engine in the world today, Smart says, with the potential to power a vehicle to 12 times the speed of sound. Advertisement Where Australia falls down, Smart says, is in the commercialisation of its research and development. Thats what were really trying to do here. 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. by Xinhua writers Li Ang and Yang Kai KABUL/ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over the past week, Afghanistan and Pakistan, both observing the holy month of Ramadan, have seen no peace. What began as scattered exchanges of fire along the border escalated into intensive fighting and, ultimately, Pakistani airstrikes on military targets in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. On Friday, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Pakistan had entered an "open war" with Afghanistan. Why did the current round of fighting erupt? Why did it escalate so rapidly? And is there room for de-escalation? ESCALATING CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM Analysts believe the core issue behind the latest fighting remains cross-border militancy. On Feb. 22, Pakistani authorities said a series of recent suicide bombings inside Pakistan, including an explosion at a mosque in Islamabad and blasts in Bajaur and Bannu, were carried out by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Pakistan has long insisted that members of the TTP operate from Afghan territory. From Islamabad's perspective, as long as such groups and individuals continue to exist, border conflicts are almost inevitable. Kabul, however, views Pakistan's actions as violations of Afghan sovereignty. Secondly, long-standing historical issues surrounding the Afghan-Pakistani border remain unresolved and are repeatedly reignited. The border, known as the Durand Line, was drawn by British colonial authorities and stretches over 2,000 km. Afghanistan's current government does not recognize it. As a result, minor clashes are often imbued with symbolic meaning, fueling nationalist sentiment on both sides. Once conflicts escalate to the use of artillery and airpower, public opinion in both countries becomes even harder to manage. In addition, there is a widespread perception within Pakistan that hostile forces are exploiting the prolonged Afghan-Pakistani tensions to stir up trouble. COMPETING NARRATIVES The latest clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan from Sunday to Friday can be divided into three stages: sporadic border skirmishes, intensive mutual attacks along the border, and Pakistani airstrikes deep into Afghan territory, including the capital Kabul. In the early hours of Sunday, Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on social media that the Pakistani military had launched airstrikes, precisely targeting seven terrorist camps and hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistani military sources later told Xinhua that more than 80 militants were killed in the strikes. Afghanistan, however, said the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including women and children. On Tuesday, Pakistani military sources said that forces from both sides exchanged fire at multiple locations along the border overnight. On Thursday evening, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on social media that Afghan forces had struck Pakistani military facilities in border areas in response to what he called Pakistani "provocations." Starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense launched a new round of military operations along the border, claiming that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that two military bases and 19 outposts had been captured. In the early hours of Friday, Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes on key military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar province and Paktia province. Pakistani military sources said that after the strikes on Kabul, Afghan forces requested a ceasefire, but Pakistan decided to continue air operations until its objectives were fully achieved. By midday on Friday local time, Kabul gradually returned to calm, with both sides appearing to enter a brief lull in fighting. CALL FOR DE-ESCALATION Military clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have increased over the past six months. Last year, under mediation by Qatar and Turkiye, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire and subsequently held several rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh on ensuring its sustainability, but without tangible results. As the current conflict unfolded, the United Nations and neighboring countries issued calls for a diplomatic and peaceful resolution. On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general urges the parties to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy. On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing that China is closely monitoring related developments. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to manage and resolve their differences through dialogue within the framework of good neighborly relations. Afghan media also reported that Qatar has contacted Afghanistan and proposed facilitating efforts to ease the growing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Analysts believe that, in practical terms, neither side intends to allow the conflict to spiral out of control. Mujahid said on Friday during a press conference on border tensions that the Afghan government has consistently emphasized peaceful solutions and continues to advocate for a constructive, non-violent approach to resolving the situation. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal said he had received a phone call from Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two discussed regional developments and ways to reduce tensions to preserve regional security and stability. "What we are witnessing is the result of accumulated distrust and unresolved security concerns," said Dr. Tughral Yamin, a Pakistani defense analyst and retired brigadier. "A fragile peace is better than open war, and sustained peace is the only path to progress," he said, noting that the region is already burdened by poverty and underdevelopment. "Military confrontation will only deepen misery; dialogue, verification mechanisms and responsible statecraft are the way forward," he added. Philipsburg/Marigot:--- On February 26, the Department of Communication of the Government of Sint Maarten paid a working visit to their French side counterparts of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin, Communication Department, which includes the protocol section. The working visit was to get a deeper understanding of how the French side Department of Communication functions within the Collectivite, to exchange mutual operational information and ideas, and to continue fostering the working relationship. In their Marigot offices, the head/director of the French side Department of Communication Nathalie Longato gave a short presentation and shared an overview of the work and responsibilities. After doing so, the two departments made informative exchanges of ideas, policies, and procedures. Following the discussions, the staff of DCOMM was given a tour of the operational section, where demonstrations of what and how takes place with respect to equipment, photo and video tapings, programs, and further discussions about their graphic designs, internet, social media products and operations. Head of the Communication Department Maurice Lake said, "Our visit to the communications department of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin was an invaluable exercise in synergy and professional exchange. It provided a unique platform to align our operational protocols and compare logistical setups, ensuring that both departments are working toward a unified standard of excellence. Beyond the technical discussions on infrastructure and communication workflows, the meeting allowed us to build the interpersonal rapport necessary for seamless cross-border collaboration. We left with a deeper understanding of our shared challenges and a strengthened commitment to streamlining our information-sharing processes for the benefit of all our communities." Both departments exchanged tokens of appreciation. DCOMM head has extended an invitation to the French side Communication Department for a visit in the near future. SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Queensland have arrested 25 people and charged them with hundreds of offenses after disrupting an alleged major drug trafficking syndicate. In a statement released on Friday, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) said that 25 people were arrested following a nine-month operation that targeted a long-standing drug supply syndicate operating in and around the city of Gladstone, over 400 km north of Brisbane. During extensive searches at two residential properties and adjacent bushland, police officers allegedly located and seized over 160 kg of cannabis, 7.5 kg of methamphetamine and 300 grams of cocaine. The QPS said that the seized drugs had a combined value exceeding 3 million Australian dollars (about 2.13 million U.S. dollars). In addition to the drugs, police allegedly seized over 1 million AUD in cash, multiple vehicles and other assets. The 25 people were charged with a combined 235 offenses, including 11 people who were charged with trafficking dangerous drugs. Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Richard, the officer in charge of the Gladstone Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), said that police are confident that the nine-month operation has successfully dismantled a deeply entrenched drug syndicate. 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 We have already reduced phone snatching by 40% compared to last year, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal from proactive patrols to complex financial investigations to drive that figure down even further. This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2026 shows the scene of a national meeting on Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development in 2025 and plans for the coming years held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua) BISHKEK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's economy has almost tripled over the past five years, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said here on Friday. In 2020, the country's gross domestic product stood at about 8.3 billion U.S. dollars, and by the end of 2025, it is expected to exceed 22.6 billion dollars. "Therefore, we can confidently call this a significant achievement and notable growth," Japarov said at a national meeting on Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development in 2025 and plans for the coming years. He said that over the past five years, tax revenues have increased approximately fourfold, customs duties sixfold, and non-tax revenues nearly ninefold. The consolidated budget in 2025 grew 3.5 times compared to that of 2021. The president also said that over the past four years, the country's average annual real economic growth rate reached 10.2 percent, while international reserves exceeded 10 billion dollars for the first time in Kyrgyzstan's history. Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan must become a strong, competitive and socially sustainable state in the coming years. "By 2030, we have set specific goals: to increase GDP per capita to 4,500 dollars and ensure total economic output of at least 30 billion dollars," he said. This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2026 shows the scene of a national meeting on Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development in 2025 and plans for the coming years held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua) Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov speaks at a national meeting on Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development in 2025 and plans for the coming years held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua) Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov speaks at a national meeting on Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development in 2025 and plans for the coming years held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua) This means that Police will be able to disperse any gathering of youths in any area in the borough, to prevent crime and disorder. It will be in place until 10pm Friday, February 27. You will see an increase in police presence across the borough, working with council wardens and partners throughout the day, to tackle any incidents that may occur. Not only does it mark the first time the party has won a by-election for a seat in the House of Commons, it also gives the Greens their first-ever parliamentary seat in the north of England. He also said that once the Home Office had made its decision in January, the legal claim should have been discontinued, and he could form no real understanding as to why it was not done. 'You're right to worry about your bills and jobs,' Starmer tells UK as oil tops $110 a barrel in Trump war You're right to worry about bills, says PM as oil at $110 in Trump war Marley Malenfant is a 10-year multimedia journalist whos worked in print, digital, and broadcast. His prior work includes working in West Texas as a TV reporter for KTXS. During his time there, he covered education, sports, features, and breaking News. Hes skilled in front of the camera as well as behind it. He was a freelance writer, published in D Magazine, Dallas Morning News, SB Nation, Dallas Observer, and was a personality for The Coach Brothers sports radio show. Outside of journalism, he was an educator in the Dallas area. He was a 2012 Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference grant recipient. In 2021, he was part of the NABJ student multimedia project. He graduated with a paralegal degree from El Centro in 2023. Currently, hes a trending news reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, covering breaking News, sports, music, and legal trends. Advancements in ballistics analysis and cutting-edge DNA testing, combined with investigative genetic genealogy, were key to the breakthroughs, leading investigators across the country in their search for the serial killer and rapist. 'Crime I did not commit': 4 men declared innocent in Austin yogurt shop murders PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is expected to receive 8 million air passengers in 2026, up from 6.98 million last year, Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), said on Friday. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the SSCA's two-day annual conference, Havannall said the Southeast Asian country also predicted a rise in air cargo this year to 112,000 tons from 93,889 tons last year. "Air transportation has played a crucial role in promoting tourism, business, trade, investment, and socio-cultural connectivity," he said. Cambodia has three international airports in operation, and 36 international and domestic airlines have operated flights to Cambodia and connect the kingdom's air routes with eight fellow ASEAN member states, as well as with China, South Korea, Japan, Qatar, India, among others, according to the minister. Julianna Duennes Russ is a breaking and trending news reporter at the Austin American-Statesman. She covered business as a Dow Jones intern for the San Antonio Express-News and has bylines with the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She holds Bachelors degrees in journalism, international affairs and comparative literature from the University of Georgia, where she also earned a certificate in sports media. When shes not writing, you can find Julianna strolling Zilker Park or cuddling with her orange cat, Colby. Reach out to her at julianna.russ@statesman.com with news or notes. Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax listens at a city council meeting Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin leaders have taken the first formal step in deciding how and whether to scale back millions of dollars in city-funded social services, approving a resolution that will shape what survives in the next budget. The City Council voted to direct City Manager T.C. Broadnax to develop a standardized rubric to evaluate social service contracts as the city works to absorb $17 million in identified cuts needed to balance the upcoming budget. The framework is intended to bring consistency and political clarity to decisions that could affect everything from homelessness outreach to violence prevention and food access programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under the resolution, Broadnax must also identify more sustainable funding streams for social services and establish regular opportunities for community feedback as the rubric is developed and applied. The move comes as Austin confronts mounting financial pressure. In recent budget cycles, city officials have warned about structural imbalances, rising public safety costs and the limits of relying on property taxes the citys largest revenue source to fund expanding programs. Earlier this month, staff told council members that Austin relies far more heavily than peer cities on its general fund to pay for social service contracts, leaving those programs especially vulnerable when revenue tightens. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source That finding alarmed some council members, who said the lack of diversified funding exposes core safety-net services to recurring political fights each budget season. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The proposal to create evaluation guidelines originated in the councils Public Health Committee and was forwarded to the full council at the beginning of the month. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes successfully amended the resolution to broaden its scope. Her changes require the city to evaluate whether providers are reaching residents in all parts of Austin, ensure that if eliminating a service would create public safety risks another department is identified to absorb it, present projected impacts of proposed cuts to council in June, and guarantee annual community engagement is accessible. Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes speaks about a new city budget at City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. The Austin City Council is set to vote on a budget that includes millions of dollars in spending cuts after voters rejected Proposition Q in November, a ballot measure that would have raised property taxes and generated $110 million in new revenue. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The amendment reflects concerns raised in recent years by advocates who argue that abrupt reductions in social service contracts can ripple through neighborhoods, particularly in fast-growing areas with limited nonprofit infrastructure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Broadnax said the city is reviewing more than $200 million in social service spending across multiple funding sources. Staff are analyzing what each contract delivers and how it aligns with council priorities. We will be taking a look at all of those types of services and contracts and run them through this rubric as we come back to talk with the council, Broadnax said. The rubric is expected to play a central role in shaping the upcoming budget proposal, signaling a more formal and potentially more transparent process for determining which services Austin continues to fund and which it scales back as fiscal pressures mount. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old college student at Babson College, was detained by ICE while trying to make a surprise trip to see her family in Austin. Within about 48 hours of her arrest, the agency deported her to Honduras. Courtesy of Todd Pomerleau Deported Austin college student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza did not board a court-ordered flight back to the United States on Friday after her attorneys said the federal government planned to detain and deport her again upon her arrival. Friday marked the deadline set two weeks ago by a federal district court judge for the federal government to return Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old Honduran national whom U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested at a Boston airport and promptly deported during Thanksgiving week despite a federal court order pausing her removal. News of her deportation drew national attention, underscoring the reach of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An ICE agent contacted Lopez Belloza on Thursday morning to offer her a 1 p.m. Friday flight to Harlingen in South Texas from San Pedro Sula, where she has been living with her grandparents since her deportation to Honduras, according to court documents obtained by the American-Statesman. The agent told Lopez Belloza that she would most likely be allowed to go free upon her arrival, she said from Honduras during a Friday video news conference. During the news conference and in a Friday afternoon court filing, Lopez Bellozas legal team and advocates said they believe the government is attempting to entrap Lopez Belloza upon her return, keeping her in immigration custody as it moves to deport her again. In all likelihood, they're going to land a plane, hide her from us again, not even let her make a phone call and then just treat this like a turnstile and send her back to Honduras, her principal attorney, Todd Pomerleau, said during the news conference. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to the Statesmans requests for comment Friday. The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement, said that it had attempted to set up a flight for Lopez Belloza but that she had "failed to appear." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Homeland Security did not directly respond to the Statesman's question about whether it planned to detain Lopez Belloza if she returned to the United States. "For operational security purposes, ICE does not disclose future law enforcement operations," the statement said. Pomerleau pointed to the governments Thursday court filing a motion to dismiss the case as evidence that federal officials intend to remove Lopez Belloza upon her return. In that filing, government lawyers told the court that while returning her would satisfy the judges order to restore the status quo, the government could still seek to deport her based on what it says is an existing removal order from 2017, when she was 11. Her mother brought her to the United States when she was 8 years old, and the family eventually settled in Austin. Lopez Bellozas team has challenged the argument that the judges order would allow her to be detained upon her return. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That anybody could sit here and say that is the sort of [thing] that the judge is ordering is simply false, said Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group that has been helping Lopez Belloza and her family. Pomerleau has emphasized that his client would only return to the United States if she can live outside of detention and continue her schooling at Babson College while immigration proceedings play out. He has said that Lopez Belloza has begun a new case for legal status through her mother. Lopez Belloza called the past two days a "roller coaster that has toyed with her emotions, raising her sense of hope only for it to be pulled back down again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Calling the United States her home, Lopez Belloza said she was committed to continuing to fight to return. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old college student at Babson College, was detained by ICE while trying to make a surprise trip to see her family in Austin. Within about 48 hours of her arrest, the agency deported her to Honduras. Courtesy of Todd Pomerleau A U.S. District Court judge ordered the federal government to return deported Austin college student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza by Friday but officials said Thursday they would do so only to immediately detain and deport her again. The American-Statesman obtained a copy of the Thursday afternoon court filing outlining the governments position, which was submitted a day before the judges deadline for Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman college student at Babson College, to be returned from her native Honduras. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Lopez Belloza during Thanksgiving week last year as she attempted to board a flight at Bostons Logan International Airport to surprise her Austin-based parents. The agency then quickly deported her, moving her to Texas and then out of the country in two days, despite a federal judge in Massachusetts pausing her removal. Government lawyers have since argued that because she was moved to Texas so quickly, the Massachusetts court where Lopez Bellozas case has played out lacks jurisdiction over the proceedings. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns, who is presiding over the case, has previously agreed with the government that his court lacks jurisdiction over the habeas corpus motion that Lopez Bellozas attorney filed to have her released from ICE custody. But he has ruled that the court can review the case for contempt of court and to seek a remedy for Lopez Belloza. The governments Thursday filing sought to dismiss the initial habeas corpus motion and to vacate her return order. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source If Petitioner was returned to the United States to the status quo that existed prior to her removal, Petitioner still would be subject to a final order of removal and ICE would be authorized to detain and remove Petitioner pursuant to such order, the filing said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez Bellozas attorney, Todd Pomerleau, expressed anger Thursday afternoon over the governments decision. Theyre playing games, Pomerleau told the Statesman by text. We will vigorously oppose this motion. Pomerleau said that his client would not board a plane to return to the United States if the government moved to immediately detain her. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat from Austin, also condemned the governments filing. Unacceptable. Outrageous," Casar said. Any should be allowed to return to school in Boston immediately. Well keep fighting until shes home. The Department of Justice declined to comment. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez Bellozas mother brought her to the United States when she was 8 years old. The family Lopez Belloza, her father, mother and two U.S.-born younger siblings eventually settled in Austin, where she lived until she left for college. Here's how to watch President Donald Trump's Friday remarks at Corpus Christi stop. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump is heading to the Lone Star State today, making a stop in Corpus Christi to tout claims that Texans are better off economically since he took office here's how to watch the address. Trump's planned remarks, set to begin at 3:30 p.m. CT, will take place at the city's port and are expected to cover his administration's economic policies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Friday appearance comes just days after Trump's record-breaking State of the Union address, during which he touted his tariff plan despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down a portion of the administration's tariff agenda. Trumps visit to the port also comes as the facility reports a roughly 1.5% decline in activity in 2025 compared with 2024, though it still handled 203.4 million tons of goods through the ship channel. "President Trump looks forward to returning to the great state of Texas tomorrow to discuss the economy and tout his 'Drill Baby Drill agenda,'" White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Thursday. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Friday's trip marks the second time Trump has visited Texas since starting his second term in office. His most recent visit was to Kerrville after the catastrophic July 4 Texas Hill Country floods. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How to watch Trump's speech in Texas Here is a list of TV stations and social media channels that will broadcast the president's Friday speech. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Voters wait in line at the Converse Senior Center, Monday October 24 to cast their ballots in the midterm election. Monday was the first day of early voting in Texas. Votes can vote early through November 4. Election Day is November 8. Jessica Phelps Texas Democrats are on pace to shatter the record for early voting turnout in a midterm primary and will likely surpass the total number of votes cast in the 2024 presidential primary, according to data crunched by a nonpartisan national analytical company and by one of the state's premier voting analysts. While Republicans are also experiencing robust early voting, Democrats in some of the state's largest counties had doubled the early turnout of 2022 by Wednesday with two more days still to go. The same is true in several Republican-leaning counties in the suburbs and even in rural Texas, which has been a graveyard for Democratic candidates for decades. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tuesday's primary will decide who faces off in the November midterms, with high-stakes contests for U.S. Senate, redrawn congressional seats and rare statewide office openings. Beto O'Rourke, the Democrats' 2018 candidate for U.S. Senate who now runs a grassroots voter-registration operation for his party, said the Senate primary between Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico of Austin is driving the surge. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source And just as President Donald Trump super-charged Democrats in the 2018 midterms, O'Rourke said another anti-Trump wave appears to be taking shape. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I think it's a real thing," O'Rourke said of the Democratic turnout so far. "I think a lot of this, frankly, has to do with Trump and just how frustrated and disappointed people are in his leadership." GOP operative Andy Hogue said Republican voters historically wait until the day of the election to cast ballots, and predicted that is what will happen on Tuesday. But Hogue did agree that Democrats this cycle are more enthusiastic than normal. "They are pissed off about ICE. They're still mad at Trump," Hogue said. "But quite honestly, I don't think they have much much else to cling on to besides that." Monique Alcala, a Democratic operative and a former executive director of the state Democratic Party, also credited the rare competitive Senate primary for fueling the early turnout. But she cautioned against reading into the numbers to forecast a winner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Because Texas has been firmly in the Republican camp since the early 2000s, Democrats have been consistently outvoted in the primaries. The size of the turnout and the influx of new voters have made polling more challenging. "I think objectively true is that both of them are relatively well funded, highly competitive, very online campaigners," said Alcala, who is neutral in the race. "I don't think Texas has seen a truly competitive U.S. senatorial primary for a long, long time." According to VoteHub, which has been tracking Texas turnout county by county since early voting began Feb. 17, nearly 870,000 people have voted in the Democratic primary through Wednesday. That is 121% the total number of early votes cast in the 2022 midterms. On the Republican side, 732,000 votes were cast. That's ahead of the 2022 pace, but only about 70% of the 2022 total. Derek Ryan, an Republican analyst who takes deep dives into early voting data, said it's too soon to say whether Democrats who might ordinarily wait until election day to vote are getting the chore out of the way early this cycle. But if given the pace so far, he saidthe party might surpass the total primary turnout of 2.8 million it saw in 2008 when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were still battling for that year's presidential nomination. Plus, he said the final two days of early voting are typically the busiest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ryan said his data has found that about one in four early-voting Democrats have not voted in a previous party primary. About one in 10 had some history of crossing back and forth from one party's primary to the other. READ MORE: Greg Abbott spending millions of dollars to boost these Republican candidates in the primary Luke Twombley, a veteran Republican strategist, said the surge in Democratic voting could be an illusion and he is not worried that Texas Republicans are defecting in great numbers. He predicted that once all of the primary votes are counted after the polls close on Tuesday, more Republicans will have cast ballots than Democrats. "Democrats are cannibalizing their own vote from election day turnout," Twombley. "I don't think you are seeing any mass conversion or abandoning of the Trump movement on the Republican side. I don't think there are going to be a lot of surprising on the midterms in Texas. Democrats have excitement, but they don't have the numbers." Advertisement Article continues below this ad O'Rourke, who lost the 2018 Senate race to Republican Ted Cruz by 2.6 percentage points, disagreed. He said his effort at organizing Democrats, especially in rural and suburban Texas, is beginning to pay dividends that will carry forward once the primary ends. Men pray at Masjid Bilal mosque in Houston. For those who follow Sharia law, there is no secret agenda, no desire to change Texas or Texans, Rayan Rafay writes. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer I live north of Houston. I am a Cubmaster for my local Cub Scout pack. I am an entrepreneur and an employer. I am a Texan. I am a proud American. I am a proud Muslim. None of those identities contradict one another. Lately, though, one part of who I am has been turned into a political talking point. Sharia law has become the new bogeyman in Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Chip Roy recently chaired a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing titled, Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. Gov. Greg Abbott last fall signed House Bill 4211, which his office described as banning Sharia compounds in Texas. State Sen. Charles Schwertner has run ads declaring, We follow the Constitution, not Sharia law. Yet few are explaining what Sharia actually means to most Muslims. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I am a proud follower of Sharia law. When politicians say they are banning Sharia law, this is what they are talking about in my life: Praying to God as we are commanded to do (for Muslims, five daily prayers). Giving charity and ensuring the poor receive their due a mandatory annual payment of 2.5% of ones accumulated wealth. Treating parents, orphans, spouses, travelers and the needy with dignity and giving them their rights. Honoring your neighbor and helping them if they are in need. Being fair in business measuring accurately and refusing to deceive. Avoiding sins such as intoxicants, gambling, theft, deception and adultery. Believing that Jesus (peace be upon him) is the Messiah. I have freedom of conscience, and I believe these things with all my heart. I believe in and live under the U.S. Constitution, and nothing in my faith contradicts it. SIGN UP FOR THE AUSTIN ANGLE and get Statesman commentaries in your inbox Advertisement Article continues below this ad So what exactly does the government intend to do here? How would it police my thoughts and actions? Will the state stop a woman from wearing a headscarf? What about a man wearing a kippah or a turban? Will I be told I cannot wear a beard? As the Quran says: There is no compulsion in religion. (Chapter 2, Verse 256) The Quran also says: If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given each of you. (Chapter 5, Verse 48) There is no secret agenda. There is no desire to persecute women my wife is a senior executive, a CPA and smarter than I am. There is certainly no desire to change Texas or Texans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I wasn't aware of Taqiyya supposedly lying about your faith until a Christian friend mentioned it to me. I was never taught about it in Islamic school. The idea that millions of Muslims are coordinating a generations-long deception is not just wrong it is absurd. Anyone who believes that is welcome to attend one of my family reunions. (And thats just one family.) Our existing Texas and U.S. laws are sufficient to catch and prosecute criminals. Our immigration system is sufficient to deport those who are enemies of the United States and its citizens. There is no legitimate justification for unprompted attacks against Muslims. If someone breaks the law, prosecute that individual not an entire community. Guilt must be proven and assigned to the guilty. My children attend public school, and I live in a diverse neighborhood that I love. I do not want to live in a Muslim enclave. But if anyone is attempting to violate zoning laws or other regulations, enforce the laws we already have. And if they are not breaking the law, then the core of the American system is tolerating those with whom you disagree. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Let me and my children live in peace without worrying that our mosque might be burned, as happened in 2017 in Victoria. President Lyndon B. Johnson is shown in December 1963 speaking at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin, where he made his first address after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Johnson called on Americans to work in brotherhood to put down hate and oppression. American-Statesman File/Austin American-Statesman On a December evening in 1963, just weeks after President John F. Kennedys assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson returned to Texas to speak at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin as it dedicated a new building on Bull Creek Road. Johnson had agreed to speak as vice president; now he arrived as president, delivering his first address since Dallas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We cannot always do Gods purpose, he declared that night, but we can always do His will. He called on Americans to work in brotherhood to put down hate and oppression. The evening was not only a brush with presidential history. It was also something more ordinary and more local: a night when Austins civic and religious life met under one roof, and when the dedication of a synagogue was treated as a matter of public concern. In the 1880s, when Beth Israel, Austins first Jewish congregation, was still young, local notices described our Christian friends being invited to Shabbat services and many Christians attending Kol Nidre, finding the prayers novel and interesting. Jewish life was not obscured; Austinites were curious to witness it. By 1931, when Agudas Achim dedicated an earlier synagogue at 10th and San Jacinto, the citys mayor, Paul W. McFadden, joined the congregation. Newspaper headlines noted that the public was invited. The opening of a Jewish house of worship in Austin was not a parochial milestone; it was an event to which the wider community was welcome. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FROM THE ARCHIVES: A joyous return for Austin's oldest synagogue two years after arson attack Johnsons 1963 appearance at Agudas Achim carried that story forward. Texas Secretary of State Crawford Martin and Mayor Lester Palmer attended alongside Johnson and his longtime friend Jim Novy, who chaired the building committee. The presidents words about resisting hate and working with mercy and compassion among the afflicted were delivered not in an abstract forum, but in a sanctuary that had just been dedicated as a spiritual home for a minority community. Today, the way synagogues enter the news often looks very different. Earlier this year, after an antisemitic arson at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, national coverage framed the story as proof of Southern hatred. Less visible were the quieter facts: churches offering their sanctuaries so Beth Israel could keep meeting, and a long history of Christians joining Jewish neighbors at moments of dedication and rebuilding. That pattern is not unique to Jackson. Across North America, Jewish communities carry a double inheritance: the reality of antisemitism, and the presence of neighbors who have rejected it. When only the violence is remembered, the second inheritance the history of cooperation and civic friendship can fade from view. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin has its own strand of that story. SIGN UP FOR THE AUSTIN ANGLE and get Statesman commentaries in your inbox Austin, like the rest of the country, has seen prejudice and exclusion. Remembering evenings when our Christian friends filled the seats at Beth Israel, or when a sitting president spoke at a synagogue about putting down hate, does not erase those harder histories. But it does give Austinites another part of their inheritance to work with. At a time when antisemitic incidents are rising nationally and when some Jews are questioning their belonging, it matters that this city has long known such gatherings. For more than a century, synagogue dedications here have functioned as civic events: mayors offering remarks, neighbors joined in pews, invitations issued to the general public. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The question for Austin now is not whether the city has ever practiced that kind of belonging. It has. The question is whether, in the face of todays fears, we are willing to remember it and to live as if those earlier choices still have something to teach. The light from those dedications has not disappeared. It is an inheritance we can choose again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Donald Trump speaks at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News CORPUS CHRISTI - President Donald Trump continued his efforts to reframe the discussion around the American economy, insisting prices are coming down and scoffing at the idea that affordability is an issue in the midterm elections. The price of almost everything is down, Trump said to thousands of supporters at the Port of Corpus Christi Friday. And we inherited a mess one year ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sandy Moore, left, and Martha Ruiz wait for President Donald Trump to arrive at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News President Donald Trump speaks at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News An attendee waits for President Donald Trump to arrive at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Port of Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke/Associated Press Trump jabbed at former President Joe Biden, reminding the crowd that inflation was running rampant during the Democrat's four years in office. We went from the highest inflation ever to low inflation, Trump said. READ MORE: US stocks sink and oil prices rise as worries about AI, inflation and possible war hit Wall Street 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 He specifically talked about the price of gas being down to around $2.30 a gallon in Texas, which he said is helping drive down the price of everything in the economy, from chicken and butter to hotels and automobiles. "We are witnessing a historic American energy boom like weve never seen, and this port is right at the center of the action," he said in front of a docked tanker ship that he said had Venezuelan oil that is going to U.S. refineries. He said he's fighting to drive down prescription drug and home prices. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This is the golden age of America," he said. With warships amassing around Iran, Trump only briefly mentioned the situation, offering no additional details about whether he will order an attack on the country. He told the crowd he had a "big decision to make," but didn't give a time table. He's said he's trying to make a "meaningful deal" with Iran and wanted to do it "the peaceful way." While the focus was mostly on the U.S. economy and oil, missing from Trumps speech was how Texas has seen a decline of operational oil rigs over the last year as the price of a barrel has dropped. The state has about 50 fewer rigs operating than a year ago, according to the latest Baker Hughes count. That has contributed to the thousands of layoffs in the oil sector in Texas in 2025. In response to the speech, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said Trump has broken his promise to lower costs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "In Texas, electricity, rent, and food prices have never been higher," he said in a statement. "While Donald Trump and Texas Republicans continue to make life more expensive for hardworking families, Democrats in Texas and across the country wont stop fighting to lower costs and protect health care. Trumps speech in Texas follows similar visits to Michigan, Iowa and Georgia earlier this year, where he has focused on how important tariffs have been to his economic program. He made a similar case during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, praising the tariffs for helping him negotiate trade deals around the world and generate income for the U.S. government. "As time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love," Trump said on Tuesday night. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court delivered a major setback to Trump's agenda when it struck down the policy. Trump announced later he would reimpose global tariffs at 15%, though they took effect Tuesday at 10%. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump's visit also coincided with the last day of early voting for the state's March 3 primary election. But Trump made little mention of the biggest GOP races. Trump has for months refused to pick a favorite in the U.S. Senate race, calling U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton "both great people," and later praising U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. He continued with that neutrality on Friday as all three were in the crowd, along with dozens of other statewide and congressional candidates. Fridays trip is Trumps second to Texas since starting his second term in office. His last visit was to Kerrville after the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump made 18 visits to Texas during his first term, including traveling to Corpus Christi when Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. In 2022, he held a rally outside of Corpus Christi as he began building his re-election campaign after President Joe Biden took office. A dry, breezy cold front moved across Texas on Thursday, bringing minimal cooling for the weekend. National Weather Service Although the calendar still says February, Mother Nature is throwing us a curve ball and, across much of Texas, it feels more like early summer. Even after a cold front moved through Thursday, the change in temperatures has been minimal. Afternoon temps will continue to soar well into the 80s statewide, with the only cooler pocket found along the Red River and into the Texas Panhandle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Temperatures will be above seasonably normal levels across the Lone Star State with afternoon temperatures mainly in the 80s. National Weather Service Peak daytime temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 70s in Amarillo, around 80 degrees in Dallas, and the lower to mid-80s from San Angelo to Austin and east toward Houston. Farther south, from San Antonio down to Brownsville, temperatures will climb into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees. As we close out the month, Austin temperatures will remain about 15 degrees above the late-February average of 69 degrees. Austins forecast high of 86 degrees would mark the 12th 80-degree day this month. That would not only tie the 2017 record for the most 80-degree days ever recorded in February but also for any month in meteorological winter (December, January and February). Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin temperatures will remain above normal with highs in the 80s through the first week of March. National Weather Service Sunshine will prevail both Friday and Saturday with light northeast winds on Friday and breezy southeast winds on Saturday. The wildfire threat will remain moderate to high across Central Texas with low dew point temperatures (indicating low atmospheric moisture) and somewhat gusty winds. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Southerly air flow off the Gulf of Mexico will introduce higher moisture and humidity levels, along with increased cloudiness as we begin a new month on Sunday, and the start of meteorological spring (March, April and May). Advertisement Article continues below this ad Breezy south wind on Saturday will lead to a moderate to high wildfire threat across Central Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service Meteorological spring gives forecasters a consistent three-month period for record-keeping and seasonal comparisons. This differs from astronomical spring, which is based on the Earths position around the sun and begins March 20 with the vernal equinox. With that in mind, Sunday will start mostly cloudy with morning temperatures near 60 degrees before skies turn sunny and breezy in the afternoon. Highs will climb into the middle to upper 80s. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rain chances next week will increase on Wednesday and Thursday with rainfall totals of up to a half-inch. Pivotal The pattern of morning clouds followed by afternoon sunshine will stick around for the first couple of days of March. After that, a shift in the weather pattern is expected, including a solid chance at rain and thunderstorms by midweek. The best opportunity for rainfall looks to be Wednesday into Thursday, with totals between a quarter-inch and a half-inch by the end of the day Thursday. Above-normal temperatures favored for nearly the entire United States except Alaska and Maine during early-mid March. https://t.co/OmuELOiqSU pic.twitter.com/wBQzTl3kUG NWS Climate Prediction Center (@NWSCPC) February 24, 2026 Unseasonably high temperatures that are well above the climate average, will continue through the first half of March not just in Texas, but across much of the contiguous United States. TEHRAN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call and discussed the latest round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington held in Geneva, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Friday. The two sides reviewed developments in the Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations and broader regional issues. Araghchi briefed Abdelatty on progress in the talks, specifically Thursday's third round, and underscored Tehran's commitment to diplomacy. Araghchi said success depends on "seriousness and realism" from the U.S. and warned against "miscalculations or excessive demands." The renewed diplomatic efforts, which included earlier rounds in Muscat and Geneva this month, come amid heightened regional tensions and a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. In a post on the social media platform X early Friday, Araghchi described the third round as the "most intense" to date, saying "further progress" has been made. He said both sides agreed to continue detailed discussions on key issues, including sanctions relief and nuclear steps. Separately, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said on Friday Abdelatty held phone talks separately with Araghchi and Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. During the talks, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for diplomatic efforts and stressed the need for compromise to avoid further military escalation. Also on Friday, Araghchi urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue following border clashes Thursday. In a post on X, he expressed Iran's readiness to assist in mediation efforts to promote cooperation between its eastern neighbors. SUVA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen people charged over the Vatia drug seizure appeared before the High Court of Fiji sitting in Ba, western Fiji, on Friday. The Vatia drug raid resulted in the seizure of 2,630 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.64 tonnes, with an estimated street value of about 1.2 billion Fijian dollars (around 527 million U.S. dollars), making it one of Fiji's largest cocaine seizures. Local media reported that the Vatia operation forms part of a broader crackdown by the Fiji Police Force amid growing concern over drug trafficking and organized crime. Recent large-scale raids across the Western Division have led to multiple arrests and significant drug seizures, prompting officials to describe the situation as a serious national concern. Investigations into the Vatia case are ongoing. COPENHAGEN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Denmark will hold a parliamentary election on March 24, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced on Thursday. In the Folketing, Danish Parliament, Frederiksen said that voters would decide "what direction Denmark will take over the next four years." The vote will determine the makeup of the 179-member parliament, which includes seats representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Under Denmark's rules on election posters, campaign posters may be put up starting from noon on the fourth Saturday before election day, meaning parties can begin hanging posters from noon on this Saturday for the election. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy governed under a parliamentary system. The Folketing has 179 seats, including two each for Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Frederiksen's center-left bloc won the last general election in November 2022. The Coast Guard's newest fast-response cutter, the USCGC Vincent Danz, moors in Key West, Fla., Feb. 26, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard) The Coast Guards newest fast-response cutter, named for a reserve petty officer who died on 9/11, is expected to join three others on Guam this summer, the service announced Friday. The 62nd Sentinel-class cutter, the USCGC Vincent Danz, was delivered to the Coast Guard on Thursday in Key West, Fla., according to a news release from Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. The date the Vincent Danz is scheduled to arrive on Guam will be announced later, Sector Guam spokeswoman Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sara Muir said by email Friday. The Coast Guard is also expecting a fifth cutter, USCGC Jeffrey Palazzo, on Guam later this year, and a sixth was included in the Coast Guards budget request but has not yet been funded, Muir wrote. This growth significantly expands the Coast Guards ability to project presence and respond to emergencies across one of the worlds most expansive maritime regions that remains vitally relevant to the nation, she said. On Guam, the Vincent Danz will join the Myrtle Hazard, Oliver Henry and Frederick Hatch, which were commissioned in 2021. A Coast Guard chaplain blesses a piece of World Trade Center steel dedicated to Vincent Danz in a ceremony at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La., March 27, 2025. (Cheyenne Basurto/U.S. Coast Guard) The new cutters delivery demonstrates the Coast Guards enduring commitment to the security of our Nation, the Pacific, and our partners throughout Oceania, Capt. Jessica Worst, commander of Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, said in the release. The Sentinel-class cutters are replacing the Coast Guards fleet of aging Island-class, 110-foot patrol boats, according to a Coast Guard fact sheet. The 154-foot-long cutters have a minimum top speed of 28 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles. They are armed with a stabilized 25 mm machine gun mount and four .50-caliber machine guns, according to the fact sheet. The service will eventually have 77 of the cutters. The new cutter is named for New York City police officer, Marine Corps veteran and Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Specialist 2nd Class Vincent Danz, who was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, while responding to the World Trade Center attacks. Two pieces of steel recovered from the World Trade Center site were incorporated into the Vincent Danz and the Jeffrey Palazzo, according to a March 27, 2025, news release from Bolinger Shipyards, which built both vessels. Each fast-response cutter costs about $65 million to build, according to a 2023 report by the Congressional Research Service. This cutter will honor his legacy by protecting lives, combating illicit activity, and ensuring maritime security of our coasts, across Micronesia and beyond, Worst said in the release. Since 2021, the Guam cutters have responded to rescue missions, provided humanitarian relief and patrolled the Western Pacific. The Myrtle Hazard was the first to carry out joint patrols with Papua New Guinea in 2023, Muir wrote. The Oliver Henry saved mariners in the Federated States of Micronesia, delivered humanitarian assistance during the ongoing Yap drought, and rescued 11 people after towing the 500-ton yacht Black Pearl to Palau in 2024. The Frederick Hatch conducted bilateral patrols with Palau and was the first fast-response cutter to visit Tacloban, Philippines, for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Muir said. A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion, or LCAC, carries ground vehicles toward Hat Yao beach in Chonburi, Thailand, as part of an amphibious assault drill for Cobra Gold on Feb. 26, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) HAT YAO, Thailand Dozens of amphibious vehicles, ship-to-shore vessels and other landing craft swarmed a remote beach in Thailand on Thursday, the first major drill of the 45th Cobra Gold multinational military exercise. As amphibious vehicles approached the shore, pre-set pyrotechnics exploded, while other waterborne vehicles deployed smoke screens, simulating battlefield conditions. Once ashore, swarms of U.S. Marines along with their Thai, Singaporean and South Korean counterparts stormed the beach. The amphibious landing was the first large-scale drill of this years Cobra Gold, which officially kicked off Tuesday with an opening ceremony in nearby Rayong province. South Korean marines gather on Hat Yao beach in Chonburi, Thailand, following an amphibious assault drill for Cobra Gold on Feb. 26, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Two Thai armored wheeled amphibious vehicles approach Hat Yao beach in Chonburi, Thailand, as part of an amphibious assault drill for Cobra Gold on Feb. 26, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) The annual exercise, led by the U.S. and Thailand, brings together approximately 8,000 troops from 30 countries, according to a Wednesday news release from U.S. Army Pacific. Other major participants include Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia. Our nations share a commitment to stability, prosperity and a peaceful region where all nations can thrive, said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, I Corps commander, in the release. This exercise is a testament to that commitment. It shows the world that we stand together. Among this years highlights are new levels of cyber warfare training, Gen. Ukris Boontanondha, Thailands defense forces chief, said in the release. Though not immediately obvious to onlookers at Hat Yao beach, new technologies were also deployed during Thursdays amphibious landing, a staple event for Cobra Gold. The assault included the first integration of a U.S. Army multi-domain task force space system, deployable tech used to monitor communications signals throughout the approximately six-hour event, said Andrew Emslie, space integrator for Pacific Multi-Domain Training Experimentation Capability, or PMTEC. When you talk about electromagnetic warfare, an adversary would be looking to deny our capabilities our ability to talk, communicate, all that kind of stuff, he told Stars and Stripes from Camp Red Horse after the event. U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters land on Hat Yao beach in Chondori, Thailand, during a Cobra Gold amphibious assault exericse on Feb. 26, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Amphibious armored personnel carriers from the United States, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea deployed smoke before landing on Hat Yao beach in Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 26, 2026. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) The system detects interference and helps determine whether its friend or foe, allowing users to then tackle the situation appropriately either asking an ally to cut communication or identifying the source of an enemy signal Emslie said. Cobra Gold began in 1982 as a maritime exercise by the U.S. and Thailand. Since then, its evolved to cover nearly all aspects of warfare and is considered the longest-running international military exercise in the world, according to U.S. Army Pacific. Thailand is one of our oldest allies in the Indo-Pacific, McFarlane said in the release. Cobra Gold remains a powerful symbol of that enduring friendship. A U.S. Marine poses with a retractable measuring tape used for body composition assessment at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Feb. 6, 2026. (Claudia Nix/U.S. Marine Corps) WASHINGTON The Marine Corps is shifting from height and weight tables and replacing them with a waist-to-height ratio methodology, the service announced Thursday. The Marines waist-to-height standard for body composition shall be less than or equal to 0.52, slimmer than the Pentagons requirement of 0.55. The ratio is determined by dividing waist measurement by height. The Marine Corps remains committed to upholding our warrior ethos, which requires being physically fit, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said in a statement. This change to [the] body composition program will help us balance the health and performance of our Marines. Marines who score 285 points or higher on the Physical Fitness Test and Combat Fitness Test will receive an allowance that caps at 26% for men and 36% for women, according to the service announcement. Marines exceeding these body fat percentages will be processed for the Body Composition Program, regardless of their test scores. The existing additional 1% body fat allowance for Marines scoring 250 points or higher on both exams remains in effect, the service said. The Pentagon shifted from height and weight tables and replaced them with a waist-to-height ratio methodology that took effect on Jan. 1, according to a Dec. 18 memo from undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness Anthony J. Tata. The new body-fat standards are between 18% and 26% for men and between 26% and 36% for women, the previous memo stated. The Marines are planning a comprehensive body composition study this year to continue to assess and refine physical standards and evaluations, according to the statement. During a speech to the top military brass on Sept. 30 at Quantico, Va., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 10 initiatives would arrive in their inboxes including for height and weight requirements. In a memo, the secretary wrote the military would adopt the waist-to-height methodology to promote consistency and fairness across the Joint Force, and all service members would be evaluated twice per year. Since Tatas December memo, the Navy has implemented waist-to-height standards as part of its physical readiness program, according to the services body-composition assessment published last month. The Air Force and and Space Force updated fitness standards in January, which included the waist-to-height requirements as part of its process. The Army is still working on the implementation of the waist-to-height methodology, an official said. Stakeholders, engineers, and construction crew members pose for a group photo in front of the new Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department facility at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., Jan. 29, 2026. The group gathered to celebrate a topping out ceremony, marking a major construction milestone for the project. (Yan Kennon/U.S. Navy) The Navy shifted final authority over billions of dollars of shore projects to local installation commanders under a policy announced this week. Final decisions on many projects previously run by the Navy Facilities Command will now be the responsibility of installation commanding officers. Destiny Sibert, spokeswoman for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), said the shift will allow for a more agile response to cutting bureaucracy at the local level. Making the ICO the single point of accountability for installation performance ensures that public works functions are laser-focused on the primary mission of supporting the warfighter, and problems are resolved more quickly because the authority to fix them resides where they occur, Sibert said. Some major projects involving multiple locations or commands would not have local commanding officers as the final word, Sibert said. Some of those major projects requiring multiple approvals would include: A $145 million electrical upgrade at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., that will enable the homeporting in 2029 of the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy at the adjacent Naval Base Kitsap. A new $136 million Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department Facility is being built at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. Pump house renovation and construction at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will total $60 million. NAVFAC projects are spread across the Southeast under a $1.99 Billion Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC). Sibert said she didnt immediately have additional information on the impacts of the new policy on ongoing projects. Installation commanders at Naval Base Kitsap, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett, all in Washington, referred inquiries requesting comment to the Navy Northwest Office or back to the CNIC headquarters in Washington, D.C. Liane Nakahara, a public affairs specialist for Navy Region Northwest, which covers several bases in the Puget Sound, Wash., area, said regional NAVFAC personnel have worked closely with Northwest Navy installations on projects. The same personnel will continue to do the work, she said, with the main change being at the top of the process with installation commanders making decisions. This internal, administrative realignment doesnt change the fact that these personnel remain vital members of our northwest Navy installation teams, and they will continue to work in support of our Navy installations, Nakahara said. Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Installations Command, said in a statement Thursday that the change of authority would streamline decision-making. This move creates a single line of support for the warfighter, Gray said. Whether its a ship captain needing reliable shore power or a squadron leader with an urgent hangar repair, they now have one installation commander who is fully accountable for delivering that support. It removes ambiguity and aligns the entire Shore Enterprise behind a single goal of enabling the fleet. Sailors man the rails as the USS Nimitz returns to its homeport at Naval Base Kitsap near Seattle on a foggy, rainy and cold afternoon on Dec. 16, 2025. The ship made a final deployment to the western Pacific in 2025. (Gary Warner/Stars and Stripes) BREMERTON, Wash. The USS Nimitz sits in Sinclair Inlet, west of Seattle, its flight deck empty of aircraft and its hull showing scrapes and rust from its last official deployment across the Pacific that ended in December. The first of its kind, launched mere days after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the namesake of the 10 Nimitz-class carriers is slated to retire this spring after more than 50 years with the fleet. But military demands, delayed new carrier construction, protracted deployments and a congressional mandate to keep a minimum of 11 active carriers have cast doubt on whether the Nimitz is really going away. Sticking to the Navys timeline would create what critics call a rolling Nimitz Gap as the carrier retires in 2026 up to a year before its replacement, the second Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, is scheduled for commissioning in 2027. The Kennedy would need additional shake-out cruises, meaning it likely wouldnt be ready for its first deployment until 2029. The Navy would drop to 10 carriers at a time when demand around the world from the Middle East to South America to the Indo-Pacific is on the rise. Two carriers, the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln, are currently supporting Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran that began Feb. 28. The numbers problem would persist as other older Nimitz class carriers reach their expected 50-year lifespan before their replacements can be built, delivered and ready for deployment. The carriers being constructed after the Kennedy a new USS Enterprise and USS Doris Miller are also suffering delays, pushing their delivery back by years. Taking the Nimitz off the Navys rolls would also, at least technically, mean breaking federal law. Congress in 2007 approved Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 8062(b), which explicitly says the naval combat forces of the Navy shall include not less than 11 operational aircraft carriers. The Navy would need to request a waiver from Congress to retire the Nimitz before the Kennedy joins the fleet. When it sought a similar waiver to retire the USS Enterprise in 2009 before its replacement, the Ford, was delivered, Congress said no. The future USS John F. Kennedy, the second of the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, underway during sea trials off the coast of Virginia Jan. 30, 2026. The carrier is slated to replace the USS Nimitz in the Navy fleet but isnt expected to be commissioned until March 2027, nearly a year after the scheduled beginning of decommissioning of the Nimitz. (Kaitlin Young/U.S. Navy) Still, the Nimitzs retirement appears to be a go. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is currently homeported at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, and is preparing for an upcoming homeport shift to Naval Station Norfolk, U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters in Hawaii said in a Feb. 24 statement. Losing a carrier, even for a year, means one less platform that on average carries up to 90 aircraft including F/A-18 Hornet and F-35C Lightning II attack-fighter jets, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, as well as E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, C-2 Greyhound transport/reconnaissance aircraft and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. Carriers have also operated U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Its a problematic situation made all the more difficult by the additional realities of simultaneous military operations around the globe and a slow carrier development program that isnt likely to catch up as more Nimitz-class carriers age past the target retirement age of 50. The Navy announced in 2023 that it planned to retire the Nimitz in 2025 and the second-oldest carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 2027. The Navy said last year that the Ike, commissioned in 1977, will operate into the 2030s. Mark Cancian, a former Marine officer who is now an analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the Navy and Congress will be forced to bow to the twin realities of multiple international commitments and a domestic shipbuilding program that is chronically behind schedule. The Navy needs to extend all of the Nimitz class carriers at least one more deployment, if not more, Cancian said. Trying to speed up production of Ford class carriers wont have any result for many years, even if such an acceleration were feasible. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and the oiler USNS John Lenthall conduct a vertical replenishment in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 15, 2026. George H.W. Bush is the last Nimitz-class carrier, commissioned in 2009. (Mitchell Mason/U.S. Navy) Cancian and others have pointed to President Donald Trumps deployment of carriers to the Middle East to put pressure on Iran, and to the waters off Venezuela for the operations that led to the extraction of President Nicolas Maduro. The carrier gap is concerning because we just got an example of its real-world effects, Cancian said. When the administration sent the Ford to the Caribbean, there was no carrier in Europe/Middle East. Then, when Iran erupted and the president said help is on the way. The United States didnt have the forces, particularly a carrier, to make that threat real. Now there are two carriers in the region, but no carrier at sea in the western Pacific. Not even the 10 carriers take into account the reality of maintaining the carrier force. One carrier is almost always in the middle of a multiyear RCOH (Refueling and Complex Overhaul, a midlife maintenance process) that prepares the ships for the second half of their life span. Ships also go through prolonged intermediate maintenance periods. The USS Ronald Reagan, for example, entered a 17-month overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in August 2025. Bryan Clark, an analyst with the Hudson Institute, said the presence of two aircraft carriers in U.S. Central Commands area of responsibility in the Middle East created a shortage. With two carriers in CENTCOM, there is already a gap in Indo-Pacific carrier presence, Clark said. An F/A-18E Super Hornet and an E/A-18G Growler fly over the USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on Oct. 27, 2025. The deployment was officially the last for the 50-year-old Nimitz, which is scheduled to arrive at Norfolk Naval Station this spring to begin decommissioning. (Matthew C. Wolf/U.S. Navy) Clark said the only carrier in the western Pacific is the USS George Washington, which is forward deployed at Yokosuka, Japan, and is unavailable to deploy. George Washington is in its annual maintenance period, Clark said. Clark said that if and when the Navy goes down to 10 carriers, it will not be able to maintain more than two carriers deployed in a single area on a sustained basis. Which will mean future operations like this one or in Venezuela will take carriers away from traditional deterrence and security cooperation missions, Clark said. However, the new national defense strategy suggests the administration intends this more fluid posture to be the norm. The Navy announced last year that the Nimitz would arrive in Norfolk no later than April 16 to begin the lengthy decommissioning process. No date for the Nimitz departure from Kitsap or any other details were available due to operational security, the Navy said. Because the Nimitz is too large to fit through the Panama Canal, it would have to sail around the tip of South America to get to Norfolk on the Atlantic coast. Under the Navys earlier announcement, the Nimitz would start decommissioning in May, and its reusable equipment and parts would be offloaded. The ship would then be sent to HII Newport News Shipbuilding to have its nuclear fuel removed and the reactor removed, followed by a lengthy dismantling process. The Nimitz would be the second nuclear carrier to be retired after the USS Enterprise, decommissioned in 2017, the year the Gerald R. Ford entered Navy service. The Navy has delayed the beginning of dismantling the one-of-a-kind Enterprise, which used eight nuclear reactors. All Nimitz-class carriers have a pair of nuclear reactors. The process that will be developed for the Nimitzs dismantling is expected to serve as a template for its nine sister ships as they retire in the coming decades. ISLAMABAD/KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's military said on Friday that 274 Afghan militants were killed and more than 400 were injured in cross-border clashes since Thursday. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, told a news briefing that Afghan militants opened fire and launched physical attacks in 53 locations across 15 sectors along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He said Pakistan security forces "effectively repulsed" the attacks and launched calibrated counterstrikes. According to the spokesperson, Pakistani air strikes targeted 22 locations across Afghanistan, including in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika provinces. He said the strikes hit military headquarters, brigade and battalion facilities, ammunition depots, logistics bases and hideouts allegedly used by militants. He said 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed, 27 injured and one remains missing in action. Chaudhry accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of supporting militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, including members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, said on Friday during a press conference on border tensions that during the retaliatory operations, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured. According to Mujahid, Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft are still operating within Afghanistan's airspace, and if Pakistan persists in its aggression, the forces of the Islamic Emirate possess the capability to respond with decisive action. Mujahid said that the Afghan government has consistently emphasized peaceful solutions and continues to advocate for a constructive, non-violent approach to resolving the situation. Tensions between the two neighboring countries have risen in recent days amid a surge in militant violence in border regions. American and Japanese students take part in a cultural exchange at the National Abacus Federation in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 23, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes) YOKOHAMA, Japan Students from Defense Department schools at Yokosuka Naval Base watched in amazement as their Japanese counterparts rapidly calculated nine-digit numbers using a traditional Japanese abacus during a recent cultural exchange. The exchange brought together 45 students from Ikego and Sullivans elementary schools and Yokosuka Middle School with nine Japanese students on Feb. 23 at the National Abacus Federation. The Japanese abacus, known as soroban, is a hand-operated calculating tool that uses beads on rods to represent numbers one through nine and allows users to perform rapid addition and subtraction. The method is taught in Japanese schools. The soroban traces its origin to the Chinese suanpan, which uses a different bead configuration. As an educational tool, it helps improve mental calculation, concentration and memory, according to an informational video shown at the event. I dont have many opportunities to interact with foreign people, so I felt it was a great experience, said Ai Toyonaga, a sixth-grade student at Kanagawa Zensoku Regular Member Guidance School. I felt a little nervous, but it was fun. An American student practices using a soroban during a cultural exchange at the National Abacus Federation in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 23, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes) American and Japanese students take part in a cultural exchange at the National Abacus Federation in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 23, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes) The event was organized by the National Abacus Federation in collaboration with Defense Department schools. Students assembled their own sorobans, learned about the tools history and practiced using it. Since numbers are universal, Id be happy if both children from other countries and Japanese children can enjoy using the abacus together through numbers, said Kaori Hioki, a federation member and instructor. The federation has hosted similar exchanges since 1996. Originally known as the Japan-U.S. Culture Exchange Association, the program was renamed the Japan-U.S. Elementary School Abacus Contest in 2000. The contest format ran for 17 years before being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. A student practices using a soroban during a cultural exchange at the National Abacus Federation in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 23, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes) Before COVID, we used to have a competition, but it was a little bit of pressure for students, said Makoto Kinjo, Japanese Cultural and Language Program Director of Defense Department schools in the Pacific. With this event, the students will learn Japanese culture and the Japanese students will learn American culture. The revised format appeared to create a relaxed atmosphere. Students laughed and smiled as they built and practiced with their sorobans. It was a very exciting time, said Rachel Chang, a fifth-grade student at Yokosuka Middle School. Once you start using it, you start getting comfortable with it. A soldier with the 25th Infantry Division prepares to send a fires mission as part of experimentation to integrate next-generation command-and-control systems at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on Feb. 24, 2026. (Hayden Howell/U.S. Army) Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii are testing a prototype command-and-control system designed to speed how the Army detects threats, makes decisions and strikes targets on the battlefield. Command and control refers to how commanders collect information, communicate with units and direct operations. The Armys Next Generation Command and Control system, or NGC2, is intended to integrate artillery, intelligence and logistics and connect sensors, commanders and shooters faster and more flexibly than current systems. The Tropic Lightning division is one of two Army units selected to experiment with NGC2. The other is the 4th Infantry Division based in Colorado. The 4th ID began advancing the prototype last year through rapid tests known as Ivy Spring. The 25th ID launched its own sprint series, Lightning Surge, last month, with the second week-long iteration ending Friday. Its a fundamentally new approach to how we will deliver [command and control] and networking capabilities through the Army, Brig. Gen. Shane Taylor, capability program executive for the Capability Program Executive Command and Control Information Network, said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday at the divisions headquarters on Schofield Barracks. Taylor was joined by Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, commander of 25th ID and U.S. Army Hawaii. The Army is moving away from stovepipe warfighting systems that force commanders to manually integrate multiple platforms and data streams, Taylor said. With NGC2, the Army is starting from scratch, setting aside legacy systems and building a network based on modern technologies already available, he said. So, what youre seeing from that concept is whats being executed today in 25th and the 4th Infantry Divisions, he said. Its prototyping at scale. Industry partners are embedded with soldiers during Lightning Surge to rapidly adjust systems, rather than following traditional development timelines that can take years, Taylor said. About 17 vendors are participating in Lightning Surge 2, living day-to-day with soldiers collecting feedback on these new technologies, he said. A central principle of the effort is commercial first, prioritizing existing industry solutions over custom development, Taylor said. We want to do development as a last resort, he said. The prototype approach also abandons fixed acquisition milestones, reflecting a system designed to evolve continuously, Taylor said. For many years, we tried to put a square peg in a round hole by making all the formations use the same kit with an acknowledgment that the divisions fight very differently, he said. In December, the 4th ID was assigned to I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., making it a sister division to the 25th, Bartholomees said. Despite that connection, the divisions have sharply different missions, he said. They are a Stryker mechanized division and completely mounted, whereas I am a light-fighting transformed division that relies upon the ability to move a light footprint through dense jungle terrain, he said. Each division is shaping how it moves data from sensors to shooters based on its operational needs, Bartholomees said. Lightning Surge 3 is planned for Operation Pathways in the Philippines in April, he said. The middle school will merge with the high school starting with the 2026-27 school year at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan. (Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes) MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan Department of Defense Education Activity officials are moving ahead with a plan that will alter school leadership, staffing and facilities at this base south of Hiroshima. Iwakuni Middle School and Matthew C. Perry High School will merge to become M.C. Perry Middle/High School at the start of the 2026-27 school year, according to the department news release. Both schools will occupy the existing high school campus. Combining the middle and high schools will broaden academic opportunities by allowing middle school students to begin advanced coursework earlier and giving older students more efficient access to both enrichment and targeted support, DODEA spokeswoman Miranda Ferguson said by email Friday. The unified campus will also expand extracurricular options for all students in grades 612. The middle school building will be returned to MCAS Iwakuni by the end of June, according to a DODEA news release announcing the merger. It did not specify how the building will be used. While we cannot comment specifically on its potential future use, repurposing the Iwakuni Middle School will provide MCAS Iwakuni much-needed flexibility in the form of more office space for either installation or tenant command use, air station spokesman Maj. Mason Englehart said by email Thursday. The grades six-through-12 model is already in place at E. J. King Middle High School at Sasebo Naval Base and at Zama Middle High School at Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan. DODEA-Pacific will host Q&A sessions and offer voluntary work group opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders on shaping the future of M.C. Perry Middle/High School, according to the release. DODEA has kept the Iwakuni community well-informed throughout the process, Ferguson said. The response from installation leadership and the community has been overwhelmingly positive. The merger will mean a change from two principals to one, Ferguson added. The number of school principals is based on enrollment. Based on that projection, there will be one principal at M.C. Perry Middle High School following the reconfiguration, she wrote. The number of remaining faculty and staff will also adjust based on the merger, Ferguson said. The majority of impacted educators were placed in Iwakuni schools, with the remaining placed at other schools within the Pacific East District, she wrote. DODEA operates 161 schools around the world for more than 65,000 children of U.S. service members and DOD civilians, according to its website. A Swedish fast assault craft operates in the Norwegian Sea on March 12, 2024. Swedish forces used electronic countermeasures to jam a suspected Russian-linked drone operating near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Oresund Strait during its port visit to Malmo, Sweden. (Danielle Serocki/U.S. Navy) A suspected Russian drone spotted near a nuclear-powered French aircraft carrier docked in Sweden was taken down with anti-drone technology, Swedish officials said this week. Frances nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is taking part in military drills in the Arctic region and was on a stop at the port of Malmo when the incident occurred. It comes as NATO is beefing up its presence around the High North. Major military drills involving thousands of U.S. and allied forces are set to begin in the coming weeks across the region. In March, Norway will host Cold Response, a territorial defense drill involving about 3,000 U.S. Marines and roughly 25,000 personnel from about a dozen countries. A HANX U.S. Marine Corps 3D-printed drone conducts a test flight on Feb. 12, 2026. Swedish officials are investigating a drone incursion near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Malmo ahead of NATO drills. (Makayla Elizalde/U.S. Marine Corps) The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle sails in the Red Sea on April 15, 2019. Swedish officials think Russia is behind a drone incursion near the carrier, which was in Malmo ahead of NATO drills. (Joshua Leonard/U.S. Navy) The drone activity was likely connected to a Russian ship in the vicinity of Swedish territorial waters, Defense Minister Pal Jonson told the local SVT news network on Thursday. From all appearances, there is a strong connection between the Russian military ship and this drone, he said, adding that Swedish forces acted quickly and resolutely to disrupt the drone. The military exercises are happening alongside a new NATO mission dubbed Arctic Sentry, which calls for a larger allied presence in the Arctic to carry out broader surveillance operations. Drone intrusions near sensitive military locations have become a growing concern. In December 2024, Ramstein Air Base officials and German police confirmed that there had been a series of unauthorized drone flights over the Air Forces largest installation in Europe. Drones also were repeatedly spotted in the United Kingdom in the vicinity of RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Fairford and RAF Feltwell around the same time. The military never publicly identified who was responsible for the unauthorized flights. People gather at a lookout to look for the possible arrival of the US Navy's aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Haifa, northern Israel, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Leo Correa/AP) TEL AVIV, Israel U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday hes not happy with the latest talks over Irans nuclear program but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East. He spoke a day after U.S. envoys held another inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. As American forces gather in the region, Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal on its nuclear program, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. Im not happy with the fact that theyre not willing to give us what we have to have. Im not thrilled with that. Well see what happens. Were talking later, Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. Were not exactly happy with the way theyre negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons. Despite Trumps negative assessment, one of the mediators of the talks later Friday appeared to issue a public plea to let the negotiations continue. Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, said on CBSs Face the Nation that he felt a deal was within reach if the process could play out. If I was President Trump, my only advice is just to give those negotiators enough room, enough space to really close these remaining areas that we need to discuss and agree upon, he said. Trump sounded more pessimistic, telling reporters as he visited Texas on Friday that Iranian negotiators dont want to quite go far enough. Its too bad. He reiterated that he did not want to see Iran allowed to enrich any amount of uranium and said the oil-rich nation should not need to enrich uranium for an energy program. When asked by a reporter how close he was to deciding on whether to launch a military strike, he said, Id rather not tell you. Earlier in the day, he was asked at the White House about the risks of the U.S. getting involved in a drawn-out conflict if it strikes Iran. I guess you could say theres always a risk, Trump replied. You know, when theres war, theres a risk of anything, both good and bad. Rubio heads to Israel U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said. The U.S. Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signaling that U.S. military action might be imminent. The announcement of Rubios visit and Trumps latest remarks could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike. The State Department said Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to discuss a range of regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trumps 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza. It offered no other details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long urged tougher U.S. action against Iran, and has warned that Israel will respond to any Iranian attack. Before his trip, Rubio declared Iran to be a state sponsor of wrongful detention, and the State Department may invalidate U.S. passports for travel to Iran. He said the move was due to the countrys continued arrests and imprisonment of innocent Americans and citizens of other countries for use as political leverage. The move does not automatically carry any penalties, but Rubio said that if Iran doesnt stop, he could make it illegal to use a U.S. passport for travel to or from Iran. That restriction currently only applies to North Korea. A confidential report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog meanwhile confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed during the 12-day war launched by Israel last June. As a result, it said it could not confirm Irans claims that it stopped uranium enrichment after the U.S. and Israeli strikes. The report was circulated to member countries and seen by the Associated Press. Those wishing to leave should do so TODAY The announcement of Rubios visit came just hours after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem implemented authorized departure status for nonessential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense. In an email, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to focus on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington. Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY, Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for authorized departure. While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be, he added. The email was recounted to the AP by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasnt authorized to share details. On a town-hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying. Vance meets with mediator Iran and the United States on Thursday walked away from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without a deal. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side, without offering specifics. Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear program. Before his interview on CBS News, al-Busaidi met Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance to discuss the negotiations. I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days, al-Busaidi posted on X. Peace is within our reach. In his interview after briefing Vance, al-Busaidi, said there had been significant breakthroughs in the talks, that Iran had expressed that it was willing to give up its enriched uranium, not accumulate more and allow for comprehensive outside inspections. The White House, Vances office and the Iranian mission to the U.N. did not immediately response to a request for comment. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, meanwhile met with Christopher Yeaw, a U.S. arms control official. Grossi posted on X that the two men had a timely exchange on current non-proliferation issues, including in Iran and other areas of common interest. The U.N. chief urged Iran and the U.S. to focus on the diplomatic track. Were seeing both positive messages coming out of the diplomatic tracks, which were continuing to encourage, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Were also seeing very worrying military movements throughout the region, which is extremely concerning as well. Flights suspended as people are urged to leave The U.S. has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and another heading to the region. Iran says it will respond to any U.S. attack by targeting American forces in the region, potentially including those stationed in U.S. bases in allied Arab countries. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Avivs Ben-Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries. Britains Foreign Office said that due to the security situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. It said the embassy was operating remotely. In Israel, the U.K. said Friday it moved some diplomatic staff and their families from Tel Aviv to another, unspecified location in Israel as a precautionary measure. In an update to its travel advice, the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Israel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday the U.K. was focused on supporting the political process between Washington and Tehran. Germanys Foreign Ministry meanwhile advised urgently against travel to Israel. Australia on Wednesday directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. China, India and several European countries with missions in Iran have advised citizens to avoid travel to the country. Chinas Foreign Ministry also advised its citizens already in Iran to leave, according to a statement reported by Chinese state media. Price and Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank; Seung Min Kim in Washington; Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna; Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations; Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; and Pangiotis Pylas in London contributed to this report. The State Department issued a notice on Friday stating that non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families are authorized to leave Israel due to safety risks. The authorization comes amid a buildup of U.S. military force in the region and languishing negotiations over Irans nuclear capabilities. (State Department) The State Department has authorized the departure of some American personnel from Israel amid a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East and languishing negotiations over Irans nuclear capabilities. The department issued the notice Friday saying nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their families are authorized to leave Israel due to safety risks. The notice did not mention any specific threat but noted ongoing concerns about terrorism and civil unrest. The embassy may also further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain parts of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank, the notice said. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available, the State Department said. U.S. Central Command declined to answer questions about whether the advisory affects active-duty service members or civilian Defense Department employees in Israel. The U.S. maintains a small force posture in the country. Last year, following the cease-fire agreement in the Israel-Hamas war, the Pentagon deployed about 150 troops to assist in directing humanitarian aid. Notice to leave Israel comes amid a buildup of U.S. military force in the region as bilateral talks over Irans nuclear program continue without a clear resolution in sight. President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Irans nuclear program, but leaders in Tehran say they have a right to enrich uranium, according to The Associated Press. The U.S. has sent an armada of warships, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, and dozens of military aircraft to the region in recent weeks. Trump said Tuesday in his State of the Union address that he prefers to solve the problem with diplomacy, but he has repeatedly said he is willing to use force if a deal with Iran is not reached. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut was also partially evacuated last week amid concerns about Iran, the BBC reported. Mark R. Ditlevson, nominated to be assistant secretary for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, testifies during a Senate Armed Services confirmation committee hearing on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON A Department of Defense nominee for a top homeland defense policy position declined to say Thursday if it would be appropriate to station troops next to polling stations as senators raised concerns of National Guard deployments around the midterm elections. Mark Ditlevson, the Pentagons nominee for assistant secretary for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, said he did not want to speculate about what threat levels may exist during an election cycle but told the Senate Armed Services Committee that any deployment of the National Guard would be done to ensure public safety. Im aware of the statute that governs the deployment of troops next to polling stations and I want to emphasize that our focus is always to protect American citizens, he said. For any deployment of the National Guard, no matter what that may be, that is always going to be our No. 1 objective. The federal code, which prohibits troop deployments to polling locations unless necessary to repel armed enemies of the U.S., became a central focus of Ditlevsons confirmation hearing as Democrats raised fears that President Donald Trump will seek to use the military to subvert elections in November. Trump in January told The New York Times that he regretted not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines after his loss in the 2020 election, though he doubted that the Guard was sophisticated enough in the ways of crooked Democrats, and the way they cheat, to figure that out. He has also called for the federal government to get involved in elections in certain places despite the Constitution granting states primary authority over election administration. Ditlevson, a former Navy officer, acknowledged Thursday that the legal bar for sending service members to polls is extremely high and said his office would work with Pentagon lawyers to provide the most robust analysis and best advice to the defense secretary on the issue. He noted, however, that the National Guard is sometimes called on to provide logistics support in certain situations, such as during the mass vaccination effort during the pandemic. That would be a situation that wouldnt qualify under the code, he said. Ditlevson currently serves as a deputy in the homeland defense office, which has overseen Pentagon policy and planning for boat strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific as well as the deployment of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and blue states over the objections of Democratic governors. The Supreme Court ruled in December that the Trump administration did not have broad discretion to deploy the military in U.S. cities, citing a 1878 law that bans the use of the military for domestic policing. Ditlevson, in an appearance before the Senate panel last year, defended the deployment of the National Guard to help carry out Trumps immigration agenda and argued the mission was not having a negative effect on military readiness. Several Democrats on the committee told Ditlevson on Thursday that they had concerns about his nomination, pointing to his leading role in implementing the deployments and dissatisfaction with Ditlevsons answers about the potential stationing of troops near polling stations. I have to say, if youre not willing, just to say, No, it is not appropriate, then I have real concerns about you in this job, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Pages from the Anthropic website and the company's logos are displayed on a computer screen in New York on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Patrick Sison/AP) WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Friday ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropics artificial intelligence technology and imposed other major penalties, culminating an unusually public clash between the government and the company over AI safeguards. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a move that could prevent U.S. military vendors from working with the company. Hegseths remarks, delivered in a social media post, came shortly after the Pentagons deadline for Anthropic to allow unrestricted military use of its AI technology or face consequences and nearly 24 hours after CEO Dario Amodei said his company cannot in good conscience accede to the Defense Departments demands. Calling the company Leftwing nut jobs, President Donald Trump said Anthropic made a mistake trying to strong-arm the Pentagon. Trump wrote on Truth Social that most agencies must immediately stop using Anthropics AI but gave the Pentagon a six-month period to phase out the technology that is already embedded in military platforms. At issue in the defense contract was a clash over AIs role in national security. Anthropic had said it sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that Claude wont be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. But after months of private talks exploded into public debate, it said in a Thursday statement that new contract language framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will. Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude, could afford to lose the contract. But an ultimatum this week from Hegseth posed broader risks at the peak of the companys meteoric rise from a little-known computer science research lab in San Francisco to one of the worlds most valuable startups. Military officials had warned Anthropic earlier in the week they could deem it a supply chain risk, a designation typically stamped on foreign adversaries that could derail the companys critical partnerships with other businesses. Trump also said Anthropic could face major civil and criminal consequences if its not helpful in the phase-out period. Anthropic didnt immediately reply to a request for comment on the new developments. The presidents decision was preceded by hours of top Trump appointees from the Pentagon and the State Department taking to social media to criticize Anthropic and slam their reluctance to acquiesce to the administrations demands. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the penalties on Anthropic combined with inflammatory rhetoric attacking that company, raises serious concerns about whether national security decisions are being driven by careful analysis or political considerations. The dispute stunned AI developers in Silicon Valley, where a growing number of workers from Anthropics top rivals, OpenAI and Google, voiced support for Amodeis stand in open letters and other forums. The move is likely to benefit Elon Musks competing chatbot, Grok, which the Pentagon plans to give access to classified military networks, and could serve as a warning to two other competitors, Google and OpenAI, that also have contracts to supply their AI tools to the military. Musk sided with Trumps administration on Friday, saying on his social media platform X that Anthropic hates Western Civilization. But one of Amodeis fiercest rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, sided with Anthropic and questioned the Pentagons threatening move in a CNBC interview, suggesting that OpenAI and most of the AI field share the same red lines. Amodei once worked for OpenAI before he and other OpenAI leaders quit to form Anthropic in 2021. For all the differences I have with Anthropic, I mostly trust them as a company, and I think they really do care about safety, Altman told CNBC. Retired Air Force Gen. Jack Shanahan wrote on a social media that painting a bullseye on Anthropic garners spicy headlines, but everyone loses in the end. Shanahan said Claude is already being widely used across the government, including in classified settings, and Anthropics red lines are reasonable. He said the AI large language models that power chatbots like Claude are also not ready for prime time in national security settings, particularly not for fully autonomous weapons. Theyre not trying to play cute here, he wrote Thursday on LinkedIn. OBrien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. A composite image featuring three soldiers who will receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump on Monday: Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, who died in 1985; then-Staff Sgt. Terry P. Richardson, who is retired and now ranked command sergeant major; Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, who died in 2013. (Krista Hoffler/U.S. Army) President Donald Trump on Monday will award the Medal of Honor to three soldiers who each fought in a different era, two of whom are being recognized posthumously. The medal is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, who died in 1985, will receive the medal for shielding Jewish prisoners of war from Nazi guards in 1944. Edmonds was ordered to line up more than 1,200 American troops in the camp and have Jewish soldiers to fall out separately, but he ordered all POWs to stand together, telling the guard We are all Jews. Edmonds held firm despite being threatened by the guard, who eventually gave up. Then-Staff Sgt. Terry P. Richardson, who is retired and holds the rank command sergeant major, will receive the honor for his actions in the Vietnam War in 1968. Richardson is credited with saving the lives of 85 fellow soldiers, according to an Army news release. He first rescued three severely wounded soldiers under heavy machine gun fire, and then upon returning to his unit and realizing they were surrounded, he again braved enemy fire to get to a vantage point from which he could direct airstrikes. He continued to do this for hours, despite being wounded by an enemy sniper, the release said. The medal will also be given to Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, who died in combat in Afghanistan in 2013. Ollis was serving with the 10th Mountain Division when his outpost in Ghazni came under attack by insurgents. During the battle, the 24-year-old Staten Island native stepped in front of wounded Polish Lt. Karol Cierpika to protect him from a suicide bomber. His actions were credited with saving several other lives. Robert Ollis, father of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, touches the embossed lettering of his sons name on a memorial plaque at a ceremony Oct. 27, 2023. The dining facility at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, was named after Michael Ollis at the ceremony. (Karen Sampson/U.S. Army) Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for protecting about 200 Jewish American prisoners of war and daring a German officer to shoot him. (Chris Edmonds) The recognitions come after several service members were recognized during the presidents State of the Union address on Tuesday. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least one U.S. citizen was killed and another injured following Wednesday's "highly unusual" shooting at a U.S.-registered speedboat by Cuba's coast guard, multiple U.S. media outlets reported Thursday, citing U.S. officials. The injured is now receiving care in Cuba. The speedboat's owner reported that the 24-foot vessel had been stolen by an employee in Florida, U.S. officials told Axios. Four people were killed and six injured in the incident. WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Dalton, Nebraska native Hannah Vath, a student in the University of Central Missouri Theatre program, earned one of the top honors at the Region V American College Theatre Festival, held Jan. 1824 in Rochester, Minnesota. Vath was named a Region V recipient of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, one of the most prestigious awards presented at the festival. Nearly 300 student actors from a seven-state region competed, with only a select number chosen as regional scholarship winners. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship recognizes outstanding collegiate performers and provides financial support for continued professional training. Each regional festival awards eight $500 scholarships, with recipients advancing to the national competition, where one student is selected for a national scholarship and additional professional opportunities. To earn the award, Vath prepared and performed a four-minute acting package consisting of a monologue and a partnered scene. Performances were evaluated by theatre professionals from across the country through multiple rounds of competition, with judges assessing technique, emotional connection, storytelling and stage presence. The festival is part of the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, which is designed to identify and promote excellence in collegiate theatre. Each year, the program brings together thousands of students for adjudicated performances, workshops, auditions and professional development opportunities. With her regional win, Vath advances to the national competition later this spring, placing her among the top collegiate theatre performers in the country. SIDNEY - While the Sidney City Council opted to table discussion on whether the Sidney Library Board should remain a governing body or transition to an advisory role, questions surrounding the board's future remain unresolved. The issue was raised during the regular City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, when Interim City Manager Josh Hanson introduced the topic, citing potential ordinance changes he and library leadership had been discussing. "Through these conversations," Hanson said, "it did become apparent that there are differing interpretations as far as what we have within our ordinance and what's written in the actual statute." Hanson emphasized that the discussion was not prompted by any actions taken by the Library Board, but rather by his responsibility to present the council with all available options. "This is not an opportunity for me to take over the board," Hanson said. "Or to change the board whatsoever." During the meeting, council members discussed three possible paths forward. The first would keep the Library Board as a governing body. The second would convert it to an advisory board. The third option would involve negotiating a new interlocal agreement to create a hybrid board structure. The Sidney Public Library has operated under a governing Library Board since its establishment in 1958. As a governing body, the board holds authority over staffing, has exclusive control over expenditures of all funds collected or donated to the library, and is responsible for adopting bylaws, rules and regulations governing library policy, among other duties. Those powers would be significantly reduced if the board were converted to an advisory role. According to the Nebraska Library Board Manual, an advisory board serves primarily as a liaison between the library and the community. In that capacity, the board may offer recommendations but lacks authority to enact change. Hanson said Nebraska Statute 16 allows first-class cities such as Sidney to adopt either a governing or advisory library board. Sidney Public Library Director Jimie Ridnour disagreed with that interpretation, stating that Statute 16 establishes libraries but does not authorize the removal or reassignment of board powers. She cited Nebraska Statute 51 and Sidney's city code as the governing authorities, noting that the city code formally establishes the Library Board and that Statute 51 governs library operations. Vice Mayor Brett Kerkman raised the possibility of a hybrid board, citing concerns related to budget oversight. Hanson responded that such a change would require a new interlocal agreement. City Council member Burke Radcliffe added that, under a hypothetical scenario in which the library requested a substantially increased budget, the council should retain the ability to deny that request. The Sidney Sun-Telegraph contacted Finance Director Kegan Carwin for clarification on the likelihood of such a scenario, but calls were not returned. Ridnour said such a situation was unlikely, adding that the only recent budget-related issue occurred during the current fiscal year, when Library Board President Tanya Lewis addressed the council in October, stating the board had not been consulted during the budgeting process. Ridnour's position was supported by Ethan Nelson, director of the Western Library System, one of four regional library systems in Nebraska that provide support through training, promotion and consultation. Speaking during public comment, Nelson urged the council not to change the board's governing status. "I believe it would be beneficial for the city of Sidney, the community, and the Sidney Public Library for the Library Board to remain a governing body," Nelson said. "Any transition from a governing board to an advisory board would represent a major restructuring of the library's operations, not simply an adjustment of policies. This kind of restructuring would have negative impacts on the library and the community the library serves." Nelson questioned whether there was an underlying purpose behind the proposed change, which Hanson later denied. Nelson went on to argue that a governing Library Board serves as an asset to both the library and the city by managing a wide range of responsibilities. Among those responsibilities, Nelson said, are evaluating library policy, addressing patron behavior and overseeing staff management. He noted that shifting the board to an advisory role would transfer many of those duties to the city. "A trained, certified governing library board is best equipped to understand and act on the unique issues involved in library governance," Nelson said. "A governing board gives the community a sense that the library is being guided by a representative group of citizens whose sole focus is the library." Nelson concluded by stating that restructuring an effective, certified governing board with a well-functioning staff would likely create instability without a clear benefit. Ultimately, the council tabled the discussion while seeking legal guidance on the matter. CUTLINES 93499351 PHOTO BY ADRIENNE LABAY, SIDNEY SUN-TELEGRAPH Ethan Nelson, director of the Western Library System, addresses the Sidney City Council during public comment, urging members not to change the Sidney Library Board's governing status. 9357 PHOTO BY ADRIENNE LABAY, SIDNEY SUN-TELEGRAPH Sidney Public Library Director Jimie Ridnour distributes a memorandum to City Council members during discussion of the Library Board agenda item. 93589359 PHOTO BY ADRIENNE LABAY, SIDNEY SUN-TELEGRAPH Sidney Public Library Director Jimie Ridnour addresses the City Council regarding whether the Sidney Library Board should remain a governing body or transition to an advisory role. The increasingly visible alignment between Israel and India is often framed as a meeting of like-minded nationalist leaders in Benjamin Netanyahu and Narendra Modi. But beneath the symbolism lies a harder strategic reality. Even reports framed in global media headlines as signs of personal affinity and special sympathy have begun to multiply by the day. While some interpret this as merely an emotional dimension of diplomacy, it is becoming increasingly evident that what lies beneath is a shifting geopolitical and geostrategic balance rather than sentiment alone. As Delhi and Tel Aviv draw closer, the regional consequences are most sharply felt in Islamabad and Tehran. For Pakistan, the IsraelIndia relationship touches directly on its core security doctrine. India remains Pakistans primary strategic concern, and any enhancement of Indian military capability is obviously viewed through that lens. Moreover, Israel has emerged as one of Indias most significant defence suppliers, providing drones, missile defence systems, surveillance platforms and advanced munitions. This is not merely transactional. Israeli technology has played a role in Indias border management, including along the Line of Control with Pakistan. In Islamabad, the concern is not simply about hardware but about qualitative military edge. Israeli systems act as force multipliers for Indias existing platforms. By integrating advanced technology into established infrastructure, India enhances capability without overhauling its entire arsenal. A clear example is Indias A 50 Phalcon, a quintessential hybrid that uses a Russian IL 76 airframe fitted with the Israeli EL W 2090 radar. This configuration allows India to see deep into Pakistani airspace without crossing the border. Pakistans security establishment calculates power in terms of deterrence balance. Advanced Israeli systems embedded within Indias military architecture alter that balance incrementally but meaningfully. The shift may be gradual, but in a region where strategic equilibrium is fragile, even incremental changes carry weight. There is also a symbolic dimension. Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has historically positioned itself as a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. The warmth between Delhi and Tel Aviv reinforces Islamabads perception of diplomatic encirclement, particularly as India deepens ties with Gulf Arab states as well. The old assumption that Arab solidarity would restrain Indias overtures toward Israel no longer holds. Nevertheless, Pakistans response remains constrained, and any confrontation with Israel is unlikely. Instead, Islamabad quietly strengthens ties with China and maintains a strategic partnership with Turkiye, while preserving cautious engagement with Iran. The IsraelIndia convergence adds another layer to an already complex security environment rather than creating a wholly new one. As regards Irans case, the calculus is more layered. Tehrans rivalry with Israel is apparently direct and ideological. India, by contrast, has long been a pragmatic partner. Despite American pressure, India continued purchasing Iranian oil until sanctions tightened. The two share civilisational ties and economic interests, notably the development of Irans Chabahar port, which gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. In the meantime, while the Chabahar port remains a symbol of Indo-Iranian cooperation, the emergence of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) introduces a new structural reality. By linking India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli port of Haifa, Delhi is building a trade architecture that potentially bypasses the transit relevance of both Islamabad and Tehran, further anchoring India into a new Western-aligned regional order. For 75 years, Pakistans primary strategic asset was its geography. Because India is essentially a peninsula blocked to the north by the Himalayas and to the west by a hostile Pakistan, India had no overland way to reach Central Asia, the Middle East, or Europe. Previously, India had to ask for transit rights through Pakistan or rely on the Suez Canal. While Chabahar is a tactical win, it has been plagued by US sanctions and Iranian political volatility. However, Indias expanding defence and intelligence cooperation with Israel introduces strategic ambiguity for Tehran. Iran must ask whether sensitive regional dynamics could be influenced by Israeli technological integration within Indian systems. While there is no public evidence of intelligence sharing targeting Iran through Indian channels, suspicion is a structural feature of Middle Eastern geopolitics. The dilemma for Tehran is that India is too important to alienate. However, as Western pressure intensifies and sanctions remain a persistent constraint, Iran requires diversified economic partnerships. Here, India represents a vast market and a potential geopolitical counterweight to total isolation, particularly in Irans case. Severing or downgrading ties with Delhi would be strategically self-defeating. Instead, Iran appears to compartmentalise. It criticises Israel rhetorically while maintaining working relations with India. Tehrans foreign policy tradition, often described as multi-vector, allows it to pursue parallel tracks even when those tracks intersect awkwardly. When viewed from a different time frame, at a broader level, the IsraelIndia alignment reflects the fragmentation of traditional blocs. During the Cold War and its aftermath, alignments were more predictable. India leaned toward the Non-Aligned Movement and maintained distance from Israel. Iran, before 1979, had covert ties with Israel. However, after the revolution, it became one of its most vocal adversaries. Today, these older certainties are diluted. India balances Israel and Iran simultaneously. Gulf states normalise relations with Israel while retaining dialogue with Tehran. Russia cooperates with Iran while maintaining relations with Israel. Strategic pragmatism increasingly overrides ideological rigidity. In our days, for Pakistan and Iran, the best option for challenging is adaptation rather than confrontation. This also coerces Islamabad to contend with a technologically advancing India whose partnerships extend beyond traditional Western suppliers. And with no other alternatives, it forces Tehran to navigate a regional order in which even long-standing partners engage with its principal adversary. Besides, when looking through several news headlines, the notion of an axis between Israel and India may be overstated. In fact, their partnership is driven less by grand ideological design and more by converging security interests, defence economics and technological exchange. However, it is undeniable that its ripple effects seem more than real. For Pakistan, it reinforces the centrality of military modernisation and external balancing, particularly through China. For Iran, it underscores the urgency of maintaining economic corridors and diversified partnerships in a region where isolation is a constant risk. The Israel-India relationship is therefore not simply about two leaders embracing on camera. It is part of a wider reconfiguration of Asian and Middle Eastern geopolitics, one in which middle powers pursue overlapping partnerships without exclusive loyalties. In that fluid landscape, both Pakistan and Iran find themselves recalculating rather than reacting. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday rejected allegations that it had used the UNESCO-listed Temple of Preah Vihear as a military base during recent border conflicts. In a statement, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said the Temple of Preah Vihear is a sacred cultural and religious monument of outstanding universal value. "It has never been designated, developed, or used as a military base," the statement said. "As a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, Cambodia is fully committed to protecting cultural property and ensuring that this World Heritage Site is preserved solely for peaceful, cultural, and religious purposes," it added. It said Cambodia is obliged under international law to protect the Temple of Preah Vihear. "Administration of the temple remains under civilian heritage authorities, and any security presence is strictly limited to protection." The statement said the Temple of Preah Vihear is, and will remain, a monument of peace, culture, and shared human heritage. Robert Bobby Lopez, age 72, of Sterling, CO, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 02, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. with a Rosary being held prior to mass at 10:00 A.M. at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Sidney, NE with Father C.P. Varghese officiating. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery. Following services will be lunch provided at the St. Patricks Parish Hall. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website. Friends may stop by the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to leave their condolences for the family. You may view Bobbys Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos, and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Bobbys care and funeral arrangements. Bobby was born on August 5, 1953, in Sidney, Nebraska, to Joaquin and Zenaida Lopez. Bobby graduated from Sidney High School and briefly attended Kearney State College before beginning a life that would take him to many places and connect him with many people. Bobby moved to Denver with his first wife, where he welcomed his son, Erik. He later returned to western Nebraska, settling in Alliance and working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. His path eventually led him to San Diego, California, where he remarried and welcomed his daughter, Kelly, in 1987. During this time, Bobby worked as an outside salesman for Ewing Landscape Irrigation Supply, a role well suited to his charismatic and outgoing personality. His natural charm and ability to connect with others helped him succeed and left a lasting impression on colleagues and customers alike. After moving back to Denver, Bobby continued his career with Ewing and later welcomed his second daughter, Jamie. Bobby changed careers and began working at Safeway. He stayed in that line of work until retirement. In retirement, Bobby settled in Sterling, Colorado, where he enjoyed spending time with friends, cooking and watching his beloved Denver Broncos. He had an appreciation for classic John Wayne movies, was rarely seen without his favorite boots, and took great pride in his plants, tending to them with a true green thumb. He is survived by his mother, Zenaida Lopez; his brother, Valentino Lopez; his son, Erik and wife Michele Holscher; his daughters, Kelly and husband Dan McCormick and Jamie Lopez; eight grandchildren: Ashlynne Polk, Austin and wife Trinity Holscher, Andrew Holscher, Jaiden Lindley, Ava Lopez, Alaina Lopez, Aaron McCormick, Joshua McCormick; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joaquin Lopez, and his brothers, Joaquin Lopez Jr. and Luis Lopez. Jose Maria Aguilera Friday, 27 February 2026, 11:51 Share The impact of the recent storms on the Matalascanas beach and its immediate surroundings is the topic under discussion at a meeting of the sustainable development working group, part of the committee for the Donana Natural Area. This meeting is considered crucial for outlining plans for the immediate future and, above all, for the medium and long term. Experts insist that structural measures must be implemented alongside temporary solutions if the problem is to be tackled properly and not postponed, thereby passing the burden on to future generations. The winter storms , especially the one in the first days of 2026 (Storm Francis), devastated the municipality's beachfront, causing serious damage to the promenade and some beachfront properties. The mayor of Almonte, Paco Bella, the municipality to which this popular beach location belongs, once again complained of institutional neglect and the Spanish government's inaction, which has failed to provide the necessary sand to prevent such destruction. He reiterated the need for both sand replenishment operations and financial support for infrastructure repairs. However, the rather bold statements coming from Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Moran, present a new outlook on the recurring problem. He believes that the real solution lies in 'retranqueo': demolishing the current beach bars and beachfront properties and moving that boundary back a few metres to build a new promenade further from the shoreline. This is a complex and drastic measure that requires a lot of investment and sacrifice. It would also face resistance from the owners of these seafront properties. However, continuing to ship in more sand every season "is a sticking-plaster" over what is really needed: significant investment. To ignore it just postpones the conflict. The Matalascanas dilemma Annual sand replenishment or pushback? This is the central question to be debated at the meeting. Participants also stress that the issue not only affects Matalascanas, but the entire Huelva coast. Studies indicate that the Andalusian coast will suffer this type of pushback, losing between five and 35 metres of beach, depending on the area, due to coastal erosion. In addition to rising sea levels, increasingly aggressive storms due to climate change, the lack of natural sand replenishment, the impacts of infrastructure and the frontline encroachment on natural coastal areas have all contributed to the current state of play. All levels of government are involved in this issue: some are responsible for land-use planning and the environment (regional government of Andalucia and various ministries within), others for urban planning (municipal councils) and others for coastal management (central government). "Long-term plans will have to be implemented, which in many cases will be controversial, but they are the solution," stresses Juanjo Carmona of WWF (World Wildlife Fund). "It's not enough to postpone these issues from one year to the next, it's not enough to think that we can simply dump sand on the beaches every year and it's not enough to think that a stone wall will protect against the erosion that is happening." For the time being, emergency measures and compensation have been prioritised, but "it's unrealistic to think that we can financially sustain this every year. It's completely illogical and not only a waste of resources, but totally unsustainable", concluded Carmona. The Andalusian anthem will be performed by municipal bands all over the region on Saturday. Tony Bryant Friday, 27 February 2026, 11:21 Share Every 28 February Andalucia celebrates the anniversary of the referendum which granted full autonomy to the region in 1980. The referendum followed the large pro-autonomy demonstrations of 4 December 1977, events that led to the Andalusian Flag Day being celebrated for the first time in 2022. The day is now a public holiday throughout the region and in many towns and cities balconies are decorated with the Andalusian flag, first presented by Blas Infante (known as the father of the Andalusian homeland) in 1932. Politicians and officials traditionally pay tribute to Infante, and, along with the regional government, most town halls hold flag-raising ceremonies and various acts that serve as a tribute to his legacy and his contributions to Andalusian autonomy and culture. These contributions not only include helping to adopt the green and white flag; Infante also wrote the lyrics to the Himno de Andalucia (Andalusian anthem), which is sung in schools, institutes and public squares on and around 28 February. The green and white flag The song La Bandera Blanca y Verde (The Green and White Flag) was brought to the attention of Jose del Castillo Diaz, the director of the municipal band of Seville, by Infante in 1933, and became the region's official national anthem in 1982. Known as Maestro Castillo, the Seville composer adapted and harmonised the song's traditional melody. The lyrics appeal to the Andalusians to mobilise and demand land and freedom by way of agrarian reform and a statute of autonomy within Spain - "Arise, o Andalusians, demand land and freedom for a free Andalucia, Spain and mankind." The music drew inspiration from Santo Dios, a well-known devotional song traditionally sung during harvest time by peasants and day labourers in the region. A leaflet was published in 1933 with the lyrics and sheet music of the anthem, which was performed for the first time in public by Seville's municipal band on 10 July 1936. Under the direction of Castillo, the performance took place in Alameda de Hercules, just one week before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The original music scores were destroyed during the three-year conflict and only a manuscript for piano was conserved. Dismissal and imprisonment Blas Infante's political stance led to his execution by firing squad by nationalist supporters at the start of the conflic. Castillo was ostracised by the authorities and dismissed from his position with the municipal band of Seville for political reasons at the end of the war. Castillo also headed the music section of the Seville Athenaeum and was pianist for the Mozart quintet of the same institution, until he was eventually imprisoned in Burgos, although he was later released. On his return to Seville in 1942, he opened a music and singing academy in the heart of the city (Calle Feria). Castillo, a Freemason, died of cancer, an illness that was said to have been exacerbated by the many misfortunes he endured under the dictatorship. Along with being responsible for orchestrating and harmonising the Andalusian anthem, he composed several other works, most of which were also destroyed - due to his affiliation with Freemasonry - by the Franco regime. In March 1977, the newspaper El Correo de Andalucia published for the first time the anthem and the Andalusian coat of arms. In October 1979, the Seville municipal band played it again, this time at the city's Lope de Vega theatre, where standing ovations led to it being performed three times. The anthem has since been recorded and performed by countless renowned Spanish artists, including Rocio Jurado, Nina Pastori, David Bisbal and Pastora Soler. Article 6.2 of the 1981 statute of autonomy of Andalucia stated that "Andalucia has its own anthem and coat of arms, which will be definitively approved by Law of the Andalusian parliament, taking into account the agreements reached on these matters by the Ronda assembly of 1918." According to Blas Infante, it was at this regionalist assembly that "the symbols of Andalucia" - the flag and the coat of arms - were agreed upon. Sixty-five years would pass before the anthem was officially adopted, and this Saturday it will be sung with pride across the region. Jose Antonio Sau Malaga. Friday, 27 February 2026, 13:18 Share Benin is a small country in West Africa, between Togo and Nigeria, but today it is a little closer to Malaga, after the Materno Infantil Hospital saved the life of little Ethan, a baby of just 20 months who underwent heart surgery in the city. After spending anxious and uncertain days in the paediatric intensive care unit, and following a journey that has touched the hearts of all those involved, he has now returned to Cotonou, the capital of Benin, his home. It is a happy ending to a story that, at several points along the way, could easily have gone very differently. According to a statement from the Tierra de Hombres foundation, Ethan "has finally returned to his home country" from Malaga, a city where he arrived "with a sick heart that today, thanks to the excellence of the Cardiology team, beats with renewed strength". It was not a straightforward road. The weeks spent in Malaga were filled with moments of tension and uncertainty, with medical staff working tirelessly to give this tiny boy the best possible chance at a healthy life. Their efforts paid off, and Ethan is now heading home with a future that looked very different just a short time ago. For the doctors and nurses who cared for him, his recovery represents one of the most rewarding outcomes their work can produce. The success of the operation, says Tierra de Hombres, "means much more than a medical milestone: it represents the opportunity for a child not yet two years old to grow, play and live with the same opportunities as any other child". For a foundation dedicated to giving vulnerable children access to life-saving medical care that would otherwise be out of their reach, Ethan's story is exactly the kind of outcome that makes their work worthwhile. It is a powerful reminder that when the right people, institutions and resources come together with a shared purpose, extraordinary things can happen for those who need it most. During his stay in Spain, Ethan was supported by Marina, his foster mother, who "played an outstanding role despite it being her first experience" in the Journey to Life programme. Ethan arrived in Malaga as a sick baby with an uncertain future. He is leaving as a child with a repaired heart and a real chance at a normal childhood This initiative is sustained by the commitment of volunteers and foster families who open their homes and hearts to children travelling abroad for medical treatment they cannot access in their home countries. Marina was "unconditionally supported by her parents, who devotedly took on the role of foster grandparents", creating a warm, loving and stable family environment far from Ethan's homeland. She was responsible for providing "the stability and affection needed for the child's recovery", a role she carried out with remarkable care and dedication throughout his time in Malaga. For someone undertaking this kind of experience for the first time, her commitment has been described as nothing short of exemplary. Although the moment of departure was the ultimate goal of the programme, it "left a deep emotional mark on a family that gave everything with exemplary dedication". Saying goodbye to a child you have cared for over weeks of illness, uncertainty and gradual recovery is never easy, even when that goodbye represents the best possible outcome. The bond formed between Ethan and his foster family in Malaga is one that will not be easily forgotten by any of those involved. In many ways, that emotional weight is a testament to just how fully Marina and her family embraced their role and welcomed Ethan into their lives. The work of the foundation is made possible thanks to institutions and sponsoring companies such as Reale Seguros, Dental Company, the Cordoba Provincial Government, Obra Social La Caixa, and the A Coruna Provincial Government and town hall. "Thanks to this combination of institutional and private efforts, stories like Ethan's stop being a dream and become a reality of life and hope that will always hold a piece of this little one's laughter in the lands of Malaga," explains the foundation. It is a network of support that stretches across Spain, linking together organisations and individuals united by a shared commitment to giving children like Ethan a fighting chance at a healthy life. The return journey to the capital of Benin was coordinated by David Quintana, an experienced collaborator who ensured that the trip was safe, calm and well-managed until the child was placed back into the hands of his biological parents. "This accompanying work, backed by years of experience and the empathy of the professionals at Aviation Without Borders (ASF), is the final link in a complex logistical chain where the human factor is always the priority," states the foundation. Getting a 20-month-old child safely across continents and back to his family requires not just careful organisation, but genuine compassion and expertise - qualities that ASF and the wider network around Ethan have demonstrated at every stage of this process. Ethan arrived in Malaga as a sick baby with an uncertain future. He is leaving as a child with a repaired heart, a real chance at a normal childhood, and a city - and a foster family - that will always hold a very special place in his story. Anya Soares Friday, 27 February 2026, 14:11 | Updated 15:37h. Share For visitors, southeastern Poland may appear to be quietly unassuming. Although perhaps after a weekend in bustling Krakow, and only a three-hour train ride away, Lublin province offers a respite. Engulfed by evergreen forest - that is the Unesco protected Balowieza forest - and many ancient stone castles, this region is nothing short of a fairytale. Like many tales of old, Lublin is folkloric, where legends are embedded into the fabric of the city. For instance, there are bronze billy goat statues dotted around the old town, counting 1 in total. These are curious creatures: one character reads a book; another plays the trumpet. Lublin stand out for its distinct architectural style, differing from other European cities Goats Legend has it that during the Tartars brutal invasion of Poland in 1241, a handful of children managed to flee by taking refuge in a ravine, and only survived through drinking the milk of a goat. Once Lublin was liberated, the story spread far and wide, and the ruler at the time, King Ladislaus I (nicknamed King Ladislaus the Short) enjoyed the tale so much that he granted Lublin municipal rights, and the goat was placed on its coat of arms. As well as its goats, Lublin stands out for its distinct architectural style, differing from other European cities, where the European gothic and baroque styles predominate. Zoom The Great Fire Notably, this innovation only came as a result of the 'Great Fire' of 1575, when a blaze spread throughout the city and decimated many of its monuments and religious buildings, which were originally made from wood. The story goes that the fire can be blamed on one resident. In preparation for the feast of St Stanislaus (the patron saint of Poland), a citizen called Jadwiga was frying pancakes, and then she promptly fell asleep. What started as a small fire in her kitchen quickly spread, and resulted in the majority of the city being burned down. Lublin's renaissance During Lublin's reconstruction in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Lublin Renaissance architectural style rose to prominence. The city's status as a powerful trading hub that connected Eastern and Western Europe (as well as being the seat of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth) meant that the city experienced relative economic prosperity. Reconstruction was bolstered by a wave of Italian masons and architects who emigrated to Poland and then redesigned the city with stylistic influence from the Italian Renaissance movement, but used local materials. This, in turn, gave birth to the Lublin Renaissance movement. Furthermore, there are many examples of buildings in this style in Lublin's old town, which isn't just home to cosy pubs selling Perla beer (a local beer brewed in Lublin), but also beautiful sites that were reinvented centuries ago, such as the Church of St John the Baptist or Lublin Cathedral. The latter is markedly part of the Lublin Reinaissance movement, characterised by its single nave, frescoes on the ceilings depicting scenes from the Bible, and a rich baroque interior that managed to survive the Great Fire, dating back to the 14th century. Zoom The Jewish quarter However, despite the number of Catholic churches in Lublin, it would be wrong to assume that the inhabitants of the city were Catholics. Due to its position as a strategic trading hub, the city saw waves of immigrants from all over Europe - from the Tartars to Ashkenazi Jews - emigrate to Lublin. Much like Prague, Lublin had a sizeable Jewish population; in the early 20th century, 42,000 out of the city's 120,000 were Jewish. However, once Poland was occupied by the Nazis in 1939, all traces of the Jewish Quarter - including the synagogue complex and hospitals - were destroyed. An estimated 30,000 people were deported to concentration camps across Europe. Madjanek is one of six concentration camps still left in Poland, found on the outskirts of Lublin, and is a site that not only tourists visit, but also Jewish people who choose to honour their ancestors by remembering the darkest parts of their history. Unlike the city's beautiful religious buildings, or its well preserved Old Town - Jewish life could never be rebuilt, only commemorated. For instance, Grodzka gate is one of the archway entrances to the Old Town, and it used to bridge the now erased Jewish Quarter with the rest of the city, facilitating a cultural blend between Catholics, Orthodox Christians and the Jewish population of Lublin. Today, Grodzka gate hosts a permanent exhibition called Lublin. Memory of the Place (2009), which features a photographic archive of Jewish historical life pre-WW2, and an artistic installation devoted to the memory of what once was. Although Lublin may appeal to passersby for its cobblestone streets and pastry shops selling 'cebularz' (a tasty traditional onion-filled pastry), it's easy to overlook its history - one of beauty, sadness and folklore. Machines working to stabilise the slope which has cut the rail in Alora. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Friday, 27 February 2026, 10:27 Share Spains rail infrastructure manager, Adif, has finally committed to a 24-hour work schedule to repair the landslide in Alora that has severed Malagas high-speed rail connection. While Adif maintains that round-the-clock shifts were impossible until now due to "unsafe working conditions," anonymous engineers have told SUR that a "shortage of material resources and personnel" in Malaga caused an unjustifiable delay. According to sources, the pressure from hoteliers, who this week warned that there will be grave losses in tourism during Easter Week due to the lack of trains, has played a key role in pushing authorities to speed up the recovery of the rail. Anonymous criticism from rail experts Engineers have been critical of the slow pace of rail repair in these first weeks. In a conversation with SUR, they stated that Adif is not efficient enough in re-establishing the connection with Madrid. 10,000 passengers arrived by train in Malaga last Friday of Sorrows, which was one of the busiest days of the year These experts described a state of "paralysis" during the first 20 days after the landslide collapsed in Alora on 5 February. According to them, the state prioritises Catalonia to recover the local Rodalies line. Adif's response In response to criticism, the state rail manager said advancing in Alora has not been safe for the workers on the ground until now. Adif cited the possibility of more landslides as the reason for the delay. Now that the ground is stable, work can progress 24 hours a day. The state company denies that Malaga has received a "different treatment". "We have approved an emergency project, as in many other places," Adif sources said. "Adif is not going to spare a single euro in human and technical resources, because reopening the line as soon as possible is as much in its interest as in anybody else's," they added. According to Adif, critics are underestimating the extent of the damage in Alora. "It's not that just a little bit of earth has fallen on the track (...) There has been a brutal landslide that requires a lot of work," the company said. "It has to be done from above, eating away at the slope. For safety reasons workers cannot access the rail because there is a high risk of a new landslide," Adif said to explain how it is planning this "complex and slow" recovery. Among other things, the process includes the partial demolition of a concrete wall anchored to the ground and the relocation of a high-voltage power line. Easter Week losses Unofficial estimates set the number of arrivals on high-speed trains at the Maria Zambrano station in Malaga on Friday of Sorrows (the first day of the Easter holiday) last year at around 10,000 people: an average of 400 people on 25 trains. In addition, there is a loss of "hundreds of thousands of euros" that Adif is not collecting from train operators. Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 27 February 2026, 14:03 Share Velez-Malaga town hall gave its final approval to the construction of the first private hospital in the Axarquia area of Malaga province during a full council meeting on Thursday 26 February. The project, which will be developed by the HM Hospitales group on a 363,000-square-metre site located in the Camino de Torrox area, is expected to get under way in the second half of 2026, with a view to opening in 2027. The future complex will occupy some 55,000 square metres within that plot and will involve an estimated investment of around 20 million euros. It will have between 50 and 60 rooms and various medical specialities, including maternity and gynaecology. Mayor of Velez-Malaga, Jesus Lupianez, said it was "a day to celebrate and feel proud" and considers the project as "key step forward in the future of healthcare in Velez-Malaga and the Axarquia". The chosen location, on the Camino de Torrox, is considered strategic due to its connection with the different areas of the municipality and the recent improvement of the road. The town hall says that the hospital will strengthen the region's healthcare provision and complement the public Axarquia regional hospital, especially during periods of high demand. Interior of the new stage in Velez-Malaga, with a capacity of more than 900 seats. Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 27 February 2026, 15:49 Share The curtain of the historic Lope de Vega theatre in Velez-Malaga on the eastern Costa del Sol will go up once again on 20 March after 40 years of closure. It will not only be the reopening of a refurbished building, but the return of a symbol that for decades was the cultural heart of Velez-Malaga. The following day, on 21 March, the theatre will host the official presentation of Semana Santa (Holy week) in Velez-Malaga which will also be attended by this year's poster designer, the artist Israel Cornejo. But if there is one detail that sums up the spirit of this new stage, it is the logo chosen for the theatre, which young Velez designer Nacho Herrera Conde has created based on the sound wave of a real applause recorded at the Lope de Vega before its closure four decades ago The applause, captured in graphic form, will now become a permanent symbol of the space. The Lope de Vega is not just a theatre: it is a place associated with family memories, with first school performances, with zarzuela, flamenco or cinema evenings, with encounters that marked generations. For decades it was the great cultural reference point for the Axarquia before its closure. The second with the second largest capacity in Malaga province The comprehensive refurbishment, completed after an investment of more than 6.7 million euros, co-financed with European funds, has restored the building', adapting it to current requirements without erasing its identity. The theatre now has 908 seats and six seats for people with reduced mobility, making it the second largest in the province after the Cervantes Theatre in Malaga city. The Lope de Vega was acquired by the town hall in 2014 and has gone through years of paperwork, projects, delays and unforeseen technical problems before reaching this moment. When the curtains go up on 20 March, it will not only be an official inauguration. For many, it will be the return of a part of their own history. The reopening of the Lope de Vega comes at a time of ongoing uncertainty about the failed San Francisco foodie market, located next to the theatre and which was presented years ago as a pioneering project to revitalise the historic centre but was forced to close at around the time of the COVID 19 pandemic, having never been as successful as the town hall had hoped. Friday, 27 February 2026, 14:50 Share The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), in collaboration with the Italian police, dismantled a drug criminal network on 10 February, with 17 detainees in various parts of Italy, Catalonia, Zaragoza and Malaga. The investigations identified two different fractions of the criminal network. The one in Catalonia was in charge of transporting hashish from Morocco and setting up logistics centres to store it. The second group would receive the drugs and coordinate their transport to the north of Italy for distribution. The two groups did not operate under a rigid pyramid structure, but functioned as a network with various interconnected fractions, each with a certain degree of autonomy but with functional dependence on each other. This ensured a constant flow of drugs from the source to the end market. On the day of the operation, members of the Italian police participated in several entries and searches in Marbella. At the same time, members of the Catalan police went to Tauste (Zaragoza) for the same reason. They carried out a total of 14 raids and seized more than 40 kilos of hashish, two high-end vehicles, two firearms (one real and one simulated) and more than 60,000 euros in cash. Since the start of the operation in 2024, the police have seized more than 500 kilograms of hashish and ten kilograms of marijuana, with an estimated market value of three million euros. According to the investigation, the network could have transported more than 400 additional kilograms of hashish that were not seized, which confirms the "high level of logistical sophistication" of the group. The flat in the Palma-Palmilla district in Malaga after the shooting. Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 27 February 2026, 12:43 Share Police have arrested a seventh suspect in operation 'Trampa', which has been investigating a deadly fake-drug sale that took place in a flat in Malaga city on 1 March 2025. The arrest happened in Valencia on 24 February this year, when the police intercepted an Audi A4 identified in a robbery with violence in Madrid. During the search of the car, they found that the suspect had been using several false identities. With the previous six arrests, the police have practically closed the case. A total of eight people had met for the drug sale and one of them is dead. The investigation started after the police went to the crime scene in March last year, after receiving alerts about a shooting inside a flat in the Palma-Palmilla district. They found the body of a 39-year-old man on the fourth floor. He had collapsed there, but the trail of blood led to the 12th floor, where the shooting had taken place. Later that day, the police located the inhabitant of the flat, who had gone to the hospital due to a gunshot wound. According to the investigation, the shooting started when the suspects - some of them drug suppliers, the others buyers and intermediaries - realised that each side had brought either fake cocaine or fake cash. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) communicates with Ola Kaellenius (L), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, and Cao Xudong, CEO of Chinese tech firm Momenta, after experiencing an urban and highway pilot driver-assist system, co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) HANGZHOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a test ride in Beijing on Thursday morning, experiencing the intelligent assisted driving system during his official visit to China. "This is amazing. I think it's one of the future technologies for mobility," Merz said after the experience, commending the close cooperation between German manufacturers and Chinese technology. Mercedes-Benz has established a comprehensive local footprint and cooperation network spanning its entire industrial chain in China, the company said in a press release on Thursday. Its Chinese R&D team is playing an increasingly crucial role within Mercedes-Benz's global R&D network, the statement notes. Merz's official visit to China took place on Feb. 25 and 26. Visiting companies from both countries and promoting practical cooperation were key items on his Thursday agenda. Merz arrived in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Thursday noon. At Unitree Robotics, he watched humanoid robots performing different tasks and was impressed by their agile movements. Merz's visit reflects Germany's strong interest in China's technological innovation, said Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Unitree, who noted the vast potential of the German market and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in the robotics sector. Merz also visited Siemens High Voltage Circuit Breaker Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, where he learned about the development of German-funded enterprises in China. Executives from approximately 30 leading German companies in sectors such as automotives, chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, machinery and the circular economy accompanied Merz on his visit. More than ten commercial agreements were reached, sending a clear signal of deepening pragmatic cooperation. As his trip concluded, Merz said he was leaving China with deep impressions of the country, and noted that Germany and China enjoy good cooperation and also face challenges that they need to address together. Paul de las Heras Friday, 27 February 2026, 11:16 Share The government declassified a batch of secret documents on Wednesday this week relating to the 1981 attempted military coup. By coincidence, it happened on the same day that one of the main instigators, Antonio Tejero, died. The pre-announced move was designed to end 45 years of government silence on what is known in Spain as the 23-F uprising, when gunmen held the Spanish parliament hostage. The prime minister defended the release in parliament as a vital step for Spanish democracy, asking the opposition: Why does transparency bother you? There has been speculation and conspiracy theories over the years. Government officials said the release finally clarifies the roles of key participants during the hours Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero held the young democracy in check. In total, 167 documents comprising 1,228 pages have been published online. These include conversations, confidential communications and summaries which have revealed the tough message King Juan Carlos sent to Milans del Bosch, one of the ringleaders, in the early hours of the coup. Around half of the documents come from the CNI, Spains intelligence service, while many others are from the archives of the ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of defence. They show that the reason government troops did not attempt to end the hostage situation in the parliament building by force that day was fear of a bloodbath of MPs in the debating chamber. In the end, the authorities opted for the negotiated release and surrender that history remembers. Also released were the instructions given to the troops acting under orders from those loyal to the coup when they took over the main building of national broadcaster RTVE. They were ordered to shoot to kill, according to one paper in the file. The first shot in the air and the second to hit. With magazines inserted and no safety catches or anything, a soldier at the scene explained. One of the documents records a conversation that King Juan Carlos had with Lieutenant General Jaime Milans del Bosch in the early hours of the 24th, minutes after the Kings famous televised message against the coup was broadcast. In it, the former monarch told the officer that any coup detat could not hide behind the King and would be against the King. I order you to withdraw all the units you have deployed, Juan Carlos said. The land border controls into Gibraltar could soon be a thing of the past. SUR MALAGA. Friday, 27 February 2026, 10:45 Share The full, legal text of the draft treaty between Britain and the EU that will remove Gibraltar's land border controls was published on Thursday this week. With it came further details of the timetable for rolling out the historic agreement announced last year. However, the precise practical arrangements for how Spain and Gibraltar will share passport control at the Rock's airport, among other new measures, have yet to be fully set out. The treaty document must be approved by Euro MPs and by the Spanish cabinet, as well as passing a vote by British MPs. The latter vote is expected to be controversial, amid accusations from right-wing MPs in the UK of a sellout on Gibraltar's sovereignty. Starting provisionally Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said he is confident that the agreement on Gibraltar can be ratified by the EU and the UK before the summer. However, this will not prevent the agreement from starting provisionally from 10 April, as the EU indicated days ago. From that date, the EU's new EES electronic entry system is due to apply, and without provisional implementation it would require stricter entry and exit controls for Gibraltar. The president of the Andalusian regional government, Juanma Moreno, acknowledged that the agreement represents "an improvement in the quality of life of residents in the Campo de Gibraltar", referring to the towns in Spain just across the border from the Rock from where around 15,000 people cross into Gibraltar every day for work. Local mayors in those towns have repeatedly complained they had not seen the text of the agreement until now. "All the points of that agreement are known," foreign minister Albares stressed in response to the criticism. One local mayor - from San Roque - said on Thursday it would be a challenge to get things ready for 10 April. Schengen area Gibraltar will in practice be part of the EU's Schengen common travel area and customs union. One of the elements in Spain's favour is that Madrid will have the right of veto over the granting of residence permits in Gibraltar, to prevent third-country nationals, for example Russians or Chinese citizens, from using the Rock as a gateway into the EU. The UK, for its part, has protected its military base. British and Nato military personnel will be exempt from Schengen passport and visa controls at the port and airport, the full text shows. The new arrangements in the draft do not alter Britain's sovereignty over Gibraltar. According to a statement from Spain's foreign ministry, the deal "removes the border fence, guarantees the free movement of people and goods, and establishes a framework for tax, environmental and social cooperation." Comply with EU rules The treaty regulates the movement of goods through a system of harmonised controls. Spain will carry out customs checks on goods entering Gibraltar at the port or airport, and luggage checks will comply with EU rules. The agreement also includes measures for convergence in indirect taxation on goods. Gibraltar will apply an indirect tax equivalent to VAT, starting at 15% from the start of the treaty and completing convergence within three years. In addition, specific arrangements will be made to bring cigarette duty in line with European regulations. These measures are intended to avoid the widespread contraband tobacco entering Spain from Gibraltar. The government of Gibraltar has been fully involved in the drafting of the treaty although it is the UK government that will sign the final text with the EU once ratified. BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has decided not to impose additional tariffs on certain imports from Canada from March 1 to Dec. 31, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. Such tariffs were previously imposed following an anti-discrimination probe. According to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, the additional tariffs that were previously imposed -- 100 percent on oil cakes and peas, and 25 percent on lobsters and crabs from Canada -- will be suspended during this period. The ministry said that to implement the important consensus reached between the two countries' leaders, China and Canada have made specific arrangements to address economic and trade issues properly in such areas as electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products, and agricultural and aquatic products. It noted that the Canadian government has recently announced partial adjustments to its additional tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products, which meets the conditions for China to adjust its corresponding countermeasures. China is willing to work with Canada to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the ministry said. China initiated an anti-discrimination probe into Canada's restrictive measures in September 2024 and announced its ruling on March 8, 2025, deciding to implement countermeasures in the form of additional tariffs on certain Canadian goods. From March 20, 2025, an additional 100 percent tariff was imposed on imported rapeseed oil, oil cakes and peas originating from Canada, and aquatic products and pork were subject to an additional 25 percent tariff. Anthropic has rejected the Pentagon's latest attempt to revise a major artificial intelligence contract, saying the proposed changes would weaken protections against using its technology for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, even as the company faces criticism for loosening its own core AI safety rules. Anthropic Turns Down Pentagon Offer Anthropic is declining the Pentagon's new offer to amend a roughly 200 million dollar contract covering Claude, its AI system deployed on the US military's classified network. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that unless the company agreed to let Claude be used "for all lawful purposes," the Defense Department would terminate the deal and label Anthropic a "supply chain risk," a designation usually reserved for firms tied to foreign adversaries, according to CNN. The revised language from the Pentagon was presented as a compromise meant to address Anthropic's concerns, but the company says the text was filled with legal caveats that could be used to override safeguards. In a statement, Anthropic said it could not accept terms that might open the door to widescale surveillance of civilians or to AI systems controlling weapons without human oversight. Amodei stressed that the company would not change its position under pressure from the US government. He said the Pentagon's threats "do not" alter Anthropic's stance and that the firm cannot "in good conscience" agree to the department's request. Fight Over "All Lawful Purposes" and AI Red Lines At the heart of the dispute is how far military users can go with Anthropic's technology. The Pentagon wants the flexibility to use Claude across a broad range of classified operations, as long as they are lawful under US and international rules. Anthropic, however, has drawn red lines around using its AI for targeting, autonomous weapons control, and largescale monitoring of Americans, arguing current systems are not reliable enough and existing law does not clearly regulate AIdriven surveillance. People familiar with the talks say these red lines have been a sticking point for months, and the latest breakdown could lead to Anthropic losing both the contract and future Pentagon work. The dispute has also highlighted broader questions about how tech companies can set ethical limits while doing business with national security agencies, TechPolicy reported. Anthropic's Safety Policy Shift Raises Questions The contract fight is unfolding just as Anthropic revises its own internal safety framework, a move that critics say undercuts its public stance. The company recently replaced its twoyearold Responsible Scaling Policy, which had required Anthropic to pause training more powerful models if their capabilities surpassed the company's ability to control them safely. That explicit pause requirement has now been removed. Anthropic argues that stopping development while less cautious rivals push ahead could actually make the world "less safe," by allowing more reckless actors to dominate the market. Instead of fixed rules that force a halt, the new policy is described as a flexible, nonbinding framework that can change as AI advances. A company spokesperson told CNN the updated rules are meant to increase transparency and accountability. Anthropic has pledged to publish regular, detailed reports on riskmitigation plans and on the threat models and capabilities of all of its systems, saying fastmoving AI research requires frequent revisions to its safety approach. Debate Over AI Safety and Power The timing of the policy change, coming days after Hegseth warned Anthropic to loosen its safety limits or risk blacklisting, has fueled criticism from advocacy groups and industry observers. Some watchdogs say dropping the hard commitment to pause dangerous models shows why voluntary safeguards are not enough and why governments should write AI safety rules into law. Anthropic maintains that its clash with the Pentagon proves it is willing to walk away from lucrative government work to preserve core safety principles on weapons and surveillance. But the company's new, more flexible internal policy has left many asking how firmly those principles will hold as competition for AI dominance intensifies, as per KVIA. NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday told U.S. House lawmakers that she had no idea about Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes. "I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that," Clinton said in a statement posted on social media. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jonathan Ross has suggested Graham Norton gets bigger chat show guests than he does because he is more willing to compromise with Hollywood stars demands. The presenter used to host a series in Nortons slot, starting in 2001, but he jumped to ITV after being dropped by the BBC in 2010. Since then, The Graham Norton Show, which premiered on BBC Two in 2007, has gone from strength to strength, becoming a favourite stop-off for the most globally recognisable faces, including Julia Roberts and Harrison Ford and even earning him an invite to Taylor Swifts wedding. Ross, whose ITV chat show has aired on Saturday nights since 2011, has expressed confusion over why Norton books all the A-listers from overseas while his sofa is typically filled with British talent. He gets American names and I am not quite sure why that is, he told The Times when asked if Norton gets more famous guests. I think they have a better relationship with the studios, and by better, I mean more conciliatory. However, the presenter, who appeared on BBCs Celebrity Traitors in 2025, said he doesnt think his show is any weaker because of the lower calibre of celebrity guests. We put a lot of thought into the mix of people we get on. I try not to have all actors. I try not to have all comedians. I try to have a variety of ages and, obviously, sexes. He also acknowledged that Nortons overnight viewing figures are slightly better, but said on catch-up, we are about the same. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Ross continued: Last week, for example, our show beat the BBC until the news came on. So its a healthy show. I dont think his figures are much better than mine. The Independent has contacted the BBC and Norton for comment. open image in gallery Jonathan Ross has reflected on his chat show rivalry with Graham Norton ( BBC ) Norton presented his first chat show, So Graham Norton, on Channel 4 from 1998 to 2003. Two years later, he began hosting a myriad of shows for the BBC, including several Andrew Lloyd Webber reality shows searching for new leads for West End productions. The success of these led to Norton being given his own 30-minute chat show on BBC Two in 2007, which was promoted to an hour-long slot on BBC One in 2009. In 2025, Nortons show, now onto its 33rd series and averaging 2.9 million viewers per episode, was renewed for another three runs, ensuring the host would remain on the air until at least 2028. At its height, Rosss former BBC show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross averaged 3.1 million weekly viewers. The show, which ended permanently in 2010, was initially pulled in 2008 after the presenter and Russell Brand prank-called Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs during Brands BBC Radio 2 show. The pair made several calls to Sachs, and Brand left a voice message saying hed had sex with Sachss granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. They were both suspended by the BBC without pay and, while it was reported he decided against a new contract with the corporation, he has since said he got kicked out. open image in gallery Jonathan Ross has hosted his ITV chat show since 2011 ( ITV ) At the time, Ross said: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused. I have not issued a statement previously because it was my intention and desire to offer an apology to all those offended on my Friday night programme. However, it was a stupid error of judgement on my part, and I offer a full apology." In the new interview, Ross said he didnt want to talk about the subject as he wants to avoid the issue as it has an impact on the lives of those who should never have been dragged into something like that in the first place. At its height, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross averaged 3.1 million weekly viewers. In March, Traitors and former Strictly host Claudia Winkleman will launch her own Friday night show on the BBC. open image in gallery Claudia Winkleman is set to launch her own BBC chat show in March ( BBC ) Clarifying where his show fits in this new landscape, Norton told ITV morning show Lorraine: When I finish at the end of February, I used to come back and do kind of April, May series, so I stopped doing that a few years ago and this idea came up that Claudia could come and do it." He continued: "It's a very kind of stand alone show. She stood in for me last year and she had an amazing job. I thought she was very Claudia and this is going to be even more Claudia because, you know, it's her own set, her own everything." Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Savannah Guthrie intends to return to her hosting gig on NBCs Today, sources close to the network have revealed. Savannah, 54, has stepped away from the popular morning show amid the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie. The 84-year-old was last seen January 31 at her home near Tucson, Arizona. Speculation has swirled around Savannahs extended absence from Today as to whether she will resume her hosting duties alongside Craig Melvin. But a new report from CNN indicates that Savannah is planning to return eventually. One source close to the network told CNN that her Today family will welcome her back with open arms on her timeline. The Independent has approached NBC and representatives for Savannah for comment. open image in gallery Sources close to the network have revealed more about Savannahs potential return to Today amid the disappearance of her mother, Nancy (right) ( NBC/Today ) The search for Nancy Guthrie has entered a fourth week as authorities continue to investigate her alleged kidnapping. A series of ransom notes, sent to various news outlets, which contained demands for millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for Nancys return, are also being investigated. Savannah and her siblings have released several videos in response, telling the alleged kidnappers that they are willing to pay. The family has since offered $1 million to anyone who provides information leading to Nancys return, although Savannah acknowledged in a recent video that her mother may already be gone. The identity of the alleged kidnappers remains unknown. In Guthries absence, her former Today co-host Hoda Kotb has stepped in, returning to the show after her January 2025 departure. While filling in, Kotb expressed how much she wanted to help Savannah in her time of need. open image in gallery Savannah and her siblings have told their mothers alleged kidnappers that they are willing to pay for her release ( Instagram/@savannahguthrie ) I think theres this helpless feeling. Were all so close with her, and we all want to help her, she said on her first day filling in for Guthrie. They say love is patient, love is kind. Put prayers up, thats all we can do. Kotb has also opened up about the messages of support shes received from viewers hoping for a positive outcome for Savannahs mother. During a recent episode of Today, Kotb shared that while traveling back to New York, she was stopped by multiple people sharing well wishes for Guthrie. The number of people who came up and said, one thing they kept repeating, which just struck me, is, Shes like all of our moms. Shes like all of our moms. Tell her were praying. Tell her were here, Kotb said. And I think thats so important. Its touched everybody. 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 Bijou Phillips has said her life is hanging by a thread as she continues the urgent search for a kidney donor. Earlier this month, the model and actor, 45, issued an online plea to find a kidney donor after being hospitalized due to complications with her first transplant. Phillips revealed in a new interview with US Weekly that following her social media post, 1,300 people have come forward wanting to get tested to see if they were a match. Out of those, I think we have like 50 or 60 that could possibly be a match, she said. The outlet noted that Phillips blood type is O negative. Currently, the Almost Famous star is on dialysis, a life-sustaining treatment that acts as a stand-in kidney, filtering waste and toxins from the bloodstream, according to the Cleveland Clinic. I could make it on dialysis for a couple years, or I could get an infection in my line tomorrow and be gone in a few days. Im really hopeful, [but] its an extremely urgent situation, Phillips said, adding that she has needed a transplant for a year. Im sort of hanging on by a thread. open image in gallery Bijou Phillips said she could be gone in a few days if she doesnt receive a transplant immediately ( Getty Images ) The Bully actor continued: I was possibly going to be able to get a kidney from my brother [Aron Wilson], but he wasnt a match. Hes maybe going to be able to get into the kidney exchange, but theyre not sure. Theyve already denied him once, so hes gonna try again. A kidney exchange, as described by UC Davis Health, is a program in which two or more incompatible donor-recipient pairs are matched to give a kidney to a compatible recipient in another pair, essentially exchanging donors. If he gives his kidney, it would put me higher on the list, Phillips shared. So then I would get the next kidney thats a match for me. I have antibodies [that make kidney rejection more likely], so it makes it complicated. Phillips was born with underdeveloped kidneys. She received her first kidney transplant, which was donated by a friend, in 2017. open image in gallery Phillips launched an urgent search for a kidney donor earlier this month ( Getty ) open image in gallery Phillips was married to That '70s Show' star Danny Masterson (left) from 2011 up until his rape conviction in 2023 ( WireImage for Kari Feinstein PR ) Ive been immunosuppressed for so long, Phillips said. Now a single mother to 12-year-old daughter, Fianna, whom she shares with her ex-husband, That 70s Show star Danny Masterson, Phillips said shes fighting for her life so she can be there for her daughter. Things are different. I want to be here for her, and I have to be here for her. The fight is back. That had been gone for a long time. Im it. Im all shes got, she said. Phillips and Masterson were married from 2011 until she filed for divorce in 2023, two weeks after Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in a California prison for the rape of two women at his Los Angeles home in 2003. BANGKOK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand recorded robust growth in its aviation sector during this year's Spring Festival holiday, with international passenger volume, flight movements, and cargo transport all surpassing pre-pandemic figures, official data showed on Friday. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, total passenger traffic during the Chinese New Year travel period from Feb. 13 to 22 reached 4,889,321, representing an increase of more than 170,000 travelers over the same period in 2019 and a clear year-on-year growth from last year. In a statement, the authority said total flight movements rose to 28,340, outperforming both the pre-COVID-19 baseline and the previous year. Air cargo volumes similarly saw continued expansion, reaching 42,280 tons, reflecting a stable recovery and expansion of the aviation sector, the statement added. 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 The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter, Colt Gray, has taken the stand in the latest case of parents being put on trial after their children are accused of killing classmates. Shortly after presenting their case Friday morning, defense lawyers called Colin Gray to testify. Prosecutors believe Colin Gray should be held accountable for giving his son a gun the weapon used in the mass shooting for Christmas despite alleged threats and warning signs that the then-14-year-old was mentally unstable. Colin Gray faces 55 counts, including murder in the deaths of four people and 25 counts of aggravated assault. Hes accused of carefully planning the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at his High School that left two teachers and two students dead and several others wounded at the school in Winder, northeast of Atlanta. The father faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. open image in gallery Colin Gray faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter Killed in the shooting were teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Colin Gray wrote step-by-step plans for the assault in a notebook, including diagrams and potential body counts, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified at a hearing the month after the shooting. With a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, he boarded the school bus, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said. open image in gallery Colin Gray faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter ( 2026 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ) The trial of Colin Gray, now ending its second week, has included testimony from the boy's mother, Marcee Gray, who testified that she urged her husband to lock up the guns so that Colt could not access them. The parents were separated for much of the time leading up to the shooting, and Marcee Gray was not charged with any crimes. This is one of several cases around the nation where prosecutors are trying to hold parents responsible after their children are accused in fatal shootings. 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 Even with the release of many of the Epstein files, a mystery endures: Who was behind a series of posts on the internet forum 4chan announcing Epsteins death in 2019 nearly 40 minutes before the story broke in the national news? Dont ask me how I know, but Epstein died an hour ago from hanging, cardiac arrest, a 4chan user wrote on the morning of August 10. It would be another 38 minutes before an ABC News journalist posted on social media about the sex offenders death, which occurred as Epstein was awaiting trial in Manhattans Metropolitan Correctional Center. The post marked the first public sign Epstein was dead, Buzzfeed reported. Over the years, the Justice Department sought to uncover more information about who was behind the post as it investigated Epsteins death, deemed a suicide by officials. open image in gallery Federal officials were unable to determine who was behind a 2019 post on 4chan that seemed to have early knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins death ( Getty Images / New York State Sex Offender Registry / 4chan ) In August of 2019, it subpoenaed 4chan. Business Insider first reported about federal officials describing their search for the 4chan poster. Records released by the Justice Department show that the forum returned records on a series of four 2019 posts tied to two IP addresses, including a deleted post featuring an early Epstein conspiracy theory claiming the financier was wheeled out of prison and switched with another person against prison rules. Still, the hunt for the individuals identity proved illusive. Prosecutors even subpoenaed AT&T using the IP addresses 4Chan provided, but it still did not return positive results. "AT&T is unable to provide any information in response to the Legal Demand because AT&T does not maintain records in the normal course of business that associate individual accounts or devices with wireless dynamic IP addresses," the telecom company told federal investigators. By 2020, investigators said the effort had been a bust. open image in gallery Investigators continue to examine the Epstein ring, and this week lawmakers deposed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of a House investigation ( AFP/Getty ) As part of the case, later settled in a deal with prosecutors, against the guards who were tasked with monitoring Epstein the night of his death, a federal prosecutor told their lawyers in July 2020 that the government had been unable to find identity of the 4chan poster. The Government has produced all records we have obtained regarding the 4Chan post, the official wrote. The poster used a dynamic IP, and therefore the records obtained did not disclose the author of the post. The Independent has contacted the FBI and DOJ for comment. open image in gallery Epsteins brother continues to insist he was murdered in prison, rather than dying by suicide, the conclusion of investigators ( US Department of Justice ) Epsteins death in prison continues to generate intrigue. Multiple reviews have concluded Epstein died by suicide, though his brother Mark Epstein insists new autopsy details will prove the death was a murder. Jeffrey was murdered, and more autopsy facts will be coming out in February that prove it, Mark Epstein told NewsNation last month. Investigators continue to comb through Epstein materials, and lawmakers deposed both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton this week as part of a congressional probe. 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 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office has dropped assault charges against a New York City influencer who was accused of hurling snowballs at the NYPD. Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was arrested yesterday at his home in The Bronx in connection with the now-infamous snowball fight that unfolded earlier this week. The fight took place in the citys Washington Square Park, with videos of the incident quickly spreading across social media. In the footage, New Yorkers can be seen pelting police officers with snowballs and larger chunks of snow after officers were drafted in to control crowds. However, in court, prosecutors said that they were unable to prove that Coulibaly had caused an officer to sustain a physical injury, leading to the assault charge being dropped. open image in gallery Assault charges against Gusmane Coulibaly have been dropped following a snowball fight, which unfolded in Washington Square Park ( NYPD ) Prosecutors did maintain, though, that Officer Nicholas Johnson had developed redness in his eye and pain in his head and neck from the snowball fight, according to The Associated Press. Now, Coulibaly faces a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government administration, as well as a harassment violation. According to the NYPD, he had already been arrested less than three weeks ago in connection with an unrelated attempted robbery in the transit system. The snowball fight in Greenwich Village has caused an early headache for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdanis administration, though. Following Coulibalys release, Mayor Mamdanis spokesperson, Dora Pekec, agreed that the influencer should not face criminal charges. As the mayor has said, police officers deserve to be treated with respect, Pekec told reporters at The New York Times. The videos he saw showed a snowball fight that got out of hand. He does not believe this situation rises to the level of criminal charges. On the other hand, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the events at the snowball fight as criminal and disgraceful in a social media statement. Tisch has been supported by police unions, with several uniformed officers even sitting in on Coulibalys arraignment last night, according to The Gothamist. This was a blatant attack on the uniform that they wear so proudly every day, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry told reporters last night, referring to Coulibaly. open image in gallery Snowball fights took place across New York City on Monday, with the one in Washington Square Park allegedly being organized by influencers ( Getty ) Coulibalys attorney, George Vomvolakis, rejected that characterization. It didnt look like an attack to me, he replied, according to The Gothamist. Mamdani also downplayed the severity of the snowball fight, which had been organized by social media content creators. From the videos that I've seen, it looked like kids at a snowball fight," he told reporters earlier this week. Police are still searching for three other people in connection with the incident. Coulibaly, an influencer who posts under the moniker Diaper Man, is currently on supervised release with his next court appearance set for April 9. His attorney, Vomvolakis, said that the content creator is known for making elaborate videos. One such video showed him approaching a stranger on a Bronx subway and asking for money, while acting as if they had met before. That was the incident that led to Coulibalys previous arrest, which also landed him with a charge of attempted robbery. Vomvolakis told reporters, though, that he feels confident that this charge will be dismissed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 man accused of setting multiple fires in his Pennsylvania home in an apparent attempt to kill spiders was subsequently arrested in New York City after fleeing a hit-and-run crash. The events began Monday evening in Pocono Pines, when Pocono Mountain Regional Police responded to flames at 36-year-old Sean McDermotts townhome on Uncus Lane, Chief Chris Wagner told WPVI. The fire quickly spread, damaging three neighboring units. Investigators say the blaze started inside McDermotts townhouse after he reportedly lit small fires throughout the day, telling a friend and witnesses that he was trying to kill spiders inside the residence. Police say McDermott, of East Moriches, New York, ignited a fire on the floor and then stacked a loveseat on top of it. Despite a friends repeated efforts to put out the flames, McDermott continued to relight them, the man told authorities. Both men left the home at one point, only to return and find the structure fully engulfed in flames. open image in gallery Sean McDermott, 36, is accused of persistently reigniting fires in his home, defying his friends repeated attempts to extinguish them ( Pocono Mountain Regional Police ) Volunteer firefighters battled the blaze for roughly eight hours amid freezing temperatures and icy conditions before finally bringing it under control, Wagner said. After the fire, McDermott fled the scene in a UHaul truck, police said. Nearly 100 miles later, New York Police Department officers responded Wednesday night to a hitandrun collision involving that truck in midtown Manhattan. The man, later identified as McDermott, abandoned the truck and took off running, but was taken into custody. At the time of McDermotts arrest, NYPDs Emergency Services Unit and bomb squad were called to the scene, and officers found nitrous oxide canisters, better known as laughing gas, and a liquid accelerant in the truck, Wagner said. McDermott was charged in New York with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession or sale of noxious material. He has four prior arrests in New York City, including an assault charge from 2019, WPVI reports. After appearing before a judge in the city, McDermott is expected to be extradited to Pennsylvania to face additional charges, including arson, for the Pennsylvania fire. 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 Investigators in the search for Nancy Guthrie are actively reviewing new Ring doorbell camera footage from a neighbor that captures vehicles traveling near her Tucson-area home on the night she was abducted. The development comes as the Pima County Sheriffs Office confirmed Friday that a man arrested for DUI outside the 84-year-olds home Thursday night is not connected to Guthries disappearance. The FBI continues to sift through up to 10,000 hours of surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation. One clip, obtained Thursday by Fox News Digital, shows a car driving down a nearby street around 2:30 a.m. on the night Guthrie went missing - a timeframe that aligns with when investigators believe the abduction occurred. The street in the footage is about two-and-a-half miles from Guthries home, just outside the initial two-mile radius where authorities had asked residents to review their security cameras and submit relevant video. Investigators are actively reviewing surveillance video of vehicles traveling in the Catalina Foothills area, including areas farther from the Guthrie residence, a Pima County Sheriffs Office spokesperson said Friday, urging homeowners in surrounding neighborhoods to provide any footage they have not yet submitted. open image in gallery The FBI is reviewing thousands of hours of footage as the search for Nancy Guthrie continues. Sources say her daughter, Savannah, eventually plans to return to her role on the Today show ( NBC/Today via Reuters ) open image in gallery A nearby neighbors Ring doorbell footage released Thursday shows cars driving near Nancy Guthries home around 2:30 a.m., matching the suspected time of her abduction ( Fox News Digital ) TMZ reported earlier Friday that a source connected to the investigation indicated the FBI has reviewed the footage and determined it does not yield any useful leads. The Pima County Sheriffs Office referred earlier inquiries from The Independent about the FBI's dismissal of the video to federal authorities. The Independent has contacted the FBI for comment. Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Catalina Foothills home February 1. This week, officials confirmed that all of her family members have been cleared as suspects. FBI officials said Thursday that the agency is moving the investigation command post from Tucson to Phoenix, though some agents will stay in Tucson to assist the Pima County Sheriffs Department. On Friday, the sheriffs department also identified 34-year-old Antonio De Jesus Pena-Campos as the man arrested Thursday night outside Guthries home on misdemeanor DUI charges. Pena-Campos arrest is unrelated to the Guthrie investigation, PSCD officials confirmed. A new report also revealed that Nancy Guthries daughter, Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, intends to return to work. Two NBC sources told CNN Thursday that she plans to come back at some point, though the timing will be entirely up to her. open image in gallery A man has been arrested for a DUI after driving past Nancy Guthrie's home '50 to 100 times' according to a NewsNation correspondent ( TikTok/@BrianEntin ) Earlier this week, the TV star announced that her family had raised the reward for her mothers return to $1 million. "We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone," Savannah Guthrie said. "She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven with her mom and her dad and with her beloved brother Pierce and with our daddy." The sheriffs department assured the public Friday that the investigation into Nancy Guthries disappearance remains active and will continue until she is located or all leads have been exhausted. The Pima County Sheriffs Department is refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case. As leads are developed and resolved, resource allocation may fluctuate. PCSD will maintain a patrol presence in the Guthrie neighborhood, a spokesperson said. 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 woman on probation for stowing away on an international flight has reportedly been arrested again. Svetlana Dali, convicted in 2025 for flying to Paris without a passport or ticket, was taken into custody Thursday at Milans Malpensa Airport, an official told The Associated Press. She allegedly snuck onto a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Milan, Italy. FBI spokesperson Emily Molinari said the agencys Newark office was aware of the alleged stowaway, but didn't immediately disclose additional information. The FBI is working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark Liberty International Airport, and the Transportation Security Administration on this open investigation, Molinari said. Before this latest incident, Dali was still on one year supervised release after being sentenced to time served last July ( Niagara County Sheriff's Office ) United Airlines, which operated the flight, said it is investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities. Michael K. Schneider, Dalis federal defender who was also handling her appeal of the prior charges, declined to comment Thursday. He also declined to comment on whether Dali had a mental health evaluation as the terms of her supervised release required. I cant comment on what shes done since her release. My office is handling the appeal, which is still pending, Schneider said. Dali had been convicted in May 2025 on a stowaway charge for slipping past security and airline gate agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York sneaking onto a flight from New York to Paris. Surveillance video showed Dali, a Russian citizen with U.S. residency, slip in with a group of ticketed passengers to walk by Delta Air Lines staff unnoticed. In court, Dali said she walked onto the plane without being asked for a boarding pass. On the plane, prosecutors say she hid in a bathroom for several hours and wasnt discovered until the plane was nearing Paris. After being flown back to New York, she told an FBI agent she had to the leave the U.S. because she believed people who were poisoning her, according to court documents. Before this latest incident, Dali was still on one year supervised release after being sentenced to time served last July. Among the standard conditions of probation listed is that she can't knowingly leave the federal judicial district where she was authorized to reside without first getting permission from the court or the probation officer. She was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and participate in treatment if deemed necessary. Prosecutors have said Dali evaded security measures at two other airports before the JFK incident, and they believe she may have stowed away on another flight. Two days before she sneaked on the Paris flight, she was able to get through TSA checkpoints at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, by hiding among other passengers. Authorities said she unsuccessfully tried to get on a plane and then left the airport. In February 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents discovered Dali hiding in a bathroom at Miami International Airport, prosecutors said. Dali was escorted out of the airport after the agents couldnt confirm her story that she had just arrived on an Air France flight, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said federal agents did not make any findings that Dali had illegally traveled as a stowaway to Miami, but her statements to law enforcement after her arrest in Paris appeared to indicate that she had flown into Miami illegally. ACCRA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A combined team of the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, and local fishermen on Thursday rescued 71 fishermen who became stranded on the high seas after coming under severe armed attack by suspected sea bandits, a press release has said. The statement by the Ghana Armed Forces said that the rescue operation launched in the early hours of Thursday, about 35 nautical miles off Ghana's coast, came to a successful end with the rescue of all 71 stranded fishermen. "The fishermen became stranded after they were attacked by robbers who dispossessed them of their outboard motors and personal belongings," the armed forces said. The rescue team deployed a special boat squadron with swift interceptors, supported by other naval vessels and the Ghana Air Force. The statement said the Ghana Navy continues to patrol the West African country's exclusive economic zone, urging fishermen and maritime users to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity as the current incident is being investigated. A rescue vehicle carries a person injured in a gas explosion at a cafe in Shchuchinsk, Akmola, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 27, 2026. Seven people were killed and 19 others injured in a powerful gas explosion that ripped through a cafe in the resort town of Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan, local media reported Friday. (Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout via Xinhua) ASTANA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 19 others injured in a powerful gas explosion that ripped through a cafe in the resort town of Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan, local media reported Friday. According to the reports, a gas-air mixture is believed to have ignited in the cafe, causing the blast that occurred overnight between Feb. 26 and 27. The explosion was followed by a fire in the one-story cafe attached to a residential building in Burabay district of Akmola region. The fire has been fully extinguished, the regional emergency department said. According to regional authorities, five of the dead were killed at the scene, and the other two succumbed to their injuries when treated in the intensive care unit. Among the dead was a 16-year-old girl. Thirteen of the injured people remain hospitalized. Most victims suffered burns of varying severity, including several serious cases. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the blast, authorities said. Rescuers carry a person injured in a gas explosion at a cafe in Shchuchinsk, Akmola, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 27, 2026. Seven people were killed and 19 others injured in a powerful gas explosion that ripped through a cafe in the resort town of Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan, local media reported Friday. (Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout via Xinhua) Rescuers carry a person injured in a gas explosion at a cafe in Shchuchinsk, Akmola, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 27, 2026. Seven people were killed and 19 others injured in a powerful gas explosion that ripped through a cafe in the resort town of Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan, local media reported Friday. (Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout via Xinhua) Rescuers carry a person injured in a gas explosion at a cafe in Shchuchinsk, Akmola, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 27, 2026. Seven people were killed and 19 others injured in a powerful gas explosion that ripped through a cafe in the resort town of Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan, local media reported Friday. (Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations/Handout via Xinhua) Advertisement Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Dateline expands US rare earths push with new project Brought to you by Bulls N Bears Doug Bright February 27, 2026 3:26pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Dateline Resources has taken a slice of a US company with a grab bag of US critical minerals projects and picked up 100 per cent of a highgrade rare earths project south of its existing Colosseum project in California known as Music Valley. The new project is showing early signs of the more lucrative heavy rare earths yttrium and dysprosium and also contains sought-after light rare earths in the form of neodymium, among others. Dateline Resources new Music Valley rare earths project in California has a mining history, accessible terrain and lies near established infrastructure including major highways and power. The Music Valley project comprises a 57claim land package covering 1140 acres in Riverside County, 110km south of MP Minerals revered Mountain Pass rare earths mine in California, the only operating rare earths mine in the US. The ground sits within a welldocumented United States Geological Survey (USGS)-recognised rare earths district with an interesting style of geology comprising a gneissic host rock considered fertile for heavy rare earths mineralisation. Advertisement This transaction enhances Datelines exposure to gold, uranium, light and heavy rare earths within the United States. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi Previous evaluation by the USGS points to heavy rare earths mineralisation hosted in xenotime within the biotiterich Pinto Gneiss, which carries a fractionated heavy rare earth signature. Xenotime is a rare phosphate mineral that may occur as a primary ore for yttrium and other heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium and ytterbium. It is typically found in granitic pegmatites and metamorphic rocks and may be accompanied by other rare earths-hosting phosphate minerals like monazite. A fractionated signature in this context is a distinct geochemical pattern commonly found in specific geological environments where heavy rare earth elements are significantly enriched relative to light rare earth elements. Historical rock chip sampling by the USGS at Music Valley has reported eyecatching total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades ranging between 6.69 per cent and a whopping 15.04 per cent TREO. Advertisement The results include elevated levels of critical magnet metals such as yttrium and the heavy rare earth elements dysprosium, terbium and ytterbium. Notably, MP Materials operates its Mountain Pass rare earths mine in the neighbourhood at a very significant 6 per cent TREO, giving some strength to the thought that the surface rock chip grades at Music Valley may continue at depth. Those heavy rare earths are a vital ingredient in highperformance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, advanced electronics and defence systems. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said: Music Valley gives Dateline direct exposure to heavy rare earth mineralisation in California with historically reported high-grade TREO results and strong heavy rare earth enrichment. Our US$1 million investment in Fermi provides additional leverage to a substantial U.S. uranium and rare earth portfolio, including drill-permitted projects in Wyoming and Colorado. With global rare earths supply chains still heavily concentrated outside the United States, domestic projects are attracting increasing strategic interest. The companys initial evaluation of the ground will focus on heavy rare earths enrichment identified by the USGS, favourable alkaline and altered host rocks and structural controls, while also keeping an eye open for nearsurface mineralisation. Advertisement It is also assessing historic gold occurrences across the project area as a possible valueadd. Dateline plans to hit the ground running at Music Valley, rolling out detailed geological mapping, confirmatory rock-chip and soil sampling, geophysical surveys and a comprehensive review of historical USGS datasets to generate drill targets. Importantly, Datelines Music Valley acquisition comes with a broader pipeline kicker. As part of the deal, the company has completed a US$1 (A$1.41) million strategic equity investment in USfocused explorer Fermi Critical Minerals. That investment saw 100 per cent of Music Valley transferred to Dateline and the company will also own about 9 per cent of Fermi after it completes a US$4 (A$5.63) million capital raise. On completion, Dateline will end up with four million shares in Fermi out of a total of Fermis near-45 million shares on issue. Fermi holds eight uranium and rare earth projects across the US including drillpermitted assets in Wyoming and Colorado and it intends to use the funds raised to accelerate exploration across its U.S. mining portfolio. Advertisement The combined transaction gives Dateline exposure to gold, uranium, light and heavy rare earths across multiple US projects at a time when domestic supply chains are firmly in the spotlight. Funding for Datelines initial Music Valley exploration program will be drawn from Datelines sizeable cash balance of more than $53 million, leaving the company wellplaced to advance exploration on several fronts. With its flagship Colosseum goldrare earths project to the north of Music Valley sitting 10km north of MP Materials worldclass Mountain Pass rare earths mine in California, Dateline is quietly building a diversified critical minerals footprint in one of the most geopolitically important mineral jurisdictions on the planet. For now Colosseum is mostly about gold it boasts a 1.1m ounce resource going 1.26 g/t gold however its proximity to Mountain Pass and its geological setting screams rare earths upside. Music Valley and Datelines strategic investment in Fermi and its critical minerals plays gives Dateline multiple additional shots at goal outside its rapidly advancing gold project. Advertisement For Dateline, Music Valley looks like a smart play with serious strategic appeal. The market seemed to like the news too, marking its stock upwards from 35c to 41.5c at one point. With plenty of cash in the bank and multiple US catalysts lining up, Datelines US pipeline is starting to look lucrative and with gold, rare earths and uranium all in the grab bag, it would appear to be in the right commodities at the right time. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Its called the Netflix Megaphone. It occurs when streamings most popular platform licenses a show thats previously debuted elsewhere and successfully introduces it to their audience. The right series can get a huge second wind, especially if Netflix is tapping into a younger generation previously unaware of the title. Its the digital-age rerun. It happened with Suits in 2023, and now the Los Angeles crime drama The Rookie has found a whole new audience on Netflix. The 2010s science-fiction crime drama Person of Interest will also likely make converts when it appears on March 1. Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall in Vladimir. In terms of new shows debuting, March is an exciting month. The number of new releases is growing as the northern hemisphere summer fades, and I have big wraps for the likes of HBO Maxs black comedy DTF St Louis and ABC iviews British crime drama Frauds. Plus Amazon Primes Deadloch, a wildly unique Australian crime-comedy, is thankfully back for a second season. Netflix My top Netflix recommendation is Vladimir (March 5). Rachel Weisz is making the most of her opportunities in streaming. The British actress played unhinged twins in Amazon Prime Videos jaw-dropping Dead Ringers, and now The Favourite star headlines this delicious black comedy about an unnamed 50-something English professor who feels like shes become invisible to her husband (John Slattery, Mad Men), colleagues, and students. When a young author, Vladimir Vladinski (Leo Woodall, The White Lotus), joins the faculty, she becomes obsessed with him. Author Julia May Jonas has adapted her acclaimed 2022 novel of the same name, with Weisz flitting between reality and fantasy as she directly addresses the audience. This one goes places. Advertisement Related Article Review Yep, Scrubs is back. But is nostalgia enough to keep this old favourite alive? Also on Netflix: Ol blue eyes is back. Now an Academy Award winner for Oppenheimer, Irish actor Cillian Murphy reclaims his signature television role. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (March 20) is the feature film continuation of a show that ran for six bloody seasons. Creator Steven Knight has written the script, which brings the historic crime drama into 1940 and World War II, an event major enough to bring Murphys once ruthless Tommy Shelby out of his self-imposed exile. Joining Murphy are Rebecca Ferguson (Dune), Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin), and Stephen Graham (Adolescence). February highlights: The new season of Regency romance epic Bridgerton delivered, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast was a class Irish comedy, Take That offered a new perspective on the boy band, and the subject had full control in the Being Gordon Ramsay documentary. Steve Carell in Rooster. HBO Max My top HBO Max recommendation is Rooster (March 9). Steve Carell has wisely never tried to duplicate his buffoonish role as Michael Scott in The Office, but that doesnt mean he cant nail a great comedy. In this droll farce he plays Greg Russo, a successful crime novelist who comes to the American university campus where his academic daughter, Katy (Charly Clive, Pure), is enduring a very public divorce, and never leaves. Theres a bittersweet emotional current alongside the quips and embarrassment, which makes sense given that the show was created by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso) and Matt Tarses (Bad Monkey). Note: Scrubs veteran John C. McGinley, as the universitys president, walks off with every scene hes in. Advertisement Related Article Review This lo-fi sci-fi series is The Truman Show for our times and all the more disturbing Also on HBO Max: DTF St Louis (March 2) has an outrageously good cast for a black comedy Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit, Ozark), Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me), and David Harbour (Stranger Things). It starts with the suspicious death of Floyd (Harbour), who delivers sign language translation on-air alongside his best friend, television weatherman Clark (Bateman), and becomes complicated with the addition of Floyds wife, Carol (Cardellini). Creator Steven Conrad has previously made some series that lean into the unlikely and absurd, such as Amazon Prime Videos Patriot, but this limited series might be his most accessible, and also saddest, show. It gets to where you might expect, but the route is not conventional. February highlights: A comedy legend revealed a rich life in Mel Brooks: The 99-Yar-Old-Man! Nicole Kidman in Scarpetta. Amazon Prime Video My top Amazon Prime recommendation is Scarpetta (March 11). Lets tape off the crime scene. Since debuting in 1990, Patricia Cornwells novels about dedicated American medical examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta have been one of crime fictions most successful franchises. With about 120 million books sold, the character was destined for streaming, and its Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies, The Perfect Couple) who now takes on the role. Creator Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost) has crafted a then-and-now plot, with a new series of murders connecting Scarpetta to a case from when she was starting out (Rosy McEwen plays the younger Kay). There are cop roles for Simon Baker (The Mentalist) and Bobby Cannavale (Homecoming), but Scarpettas ultimate foil is her older sister, Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear). Advertisement Related Article Australian TV It could have been our Jerry Springer. But this current affairs show is much more radical Also on Amazon Prime Video: Moving from a rural Tasmanian arts festival to the croc-infested Northern Territory, Deadloch (March 20) returns for a second season. The blackly comic murder-mystery from Get Krack!n firebrands Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney was one of 2023s best shows, introducing the full expletive-laden range of the Australian vernacular to a global audience. Mismatched police investigators Dulcie Collins (Kate Box, Wentworth) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami, The Breaker Upperers) now have two new cases to crack, which opens them up to the full spectrum of Top End types. Exhibit A: Luke Hemsworth (Westworld) as an outrageous animal park operator. February highlights: How does a couple go from meet cute to murder investigation in eight weeks? Erotic thriller 56 Days had the answer. Eve Myles and David Morrissey in Gone. Stan* My top Stan recommendation is Gone (March 8). The prolific British creator George Kay (Lupin, Hijack) returns with a six-part psychological thriller about the tarnished legacy of elite institutions. When a woman suddenly disappears, suspicion turns to her husband, Michael Polly (David Morrissey, Sherwood), who is the respected principal of a prestigious Bristol private school. Its up to dogged police detective Annie Cassidy (Eve Myles, The Hack) to crack the case, setting up a cat-and-mouse game between the pair. The leads make for prime adversaries, especially in the hands of Kay, who has been known to craft some almighty cliffhangers. Advertisement Related Article Streaming Yerin Ha didnt change for Bridgerton, the show changed for her Also on Stan: Arrow star Stephen Amell headlines The Borderline (March 13), a Canadian crime thriller set in a small Ontario town whose proximity to the US border makes it an ideal way-station for illegal shipments south. With shades of Ozark, the show follows the recriminations when a dead body is dumped and a cocaine shipment falls into inexperienced hands. Local police officer Henry Roland (Amell) is soon compromised, as his best friend Hamza Haq (Tommy Hawley, Transplant) is already in too deep. Exerting pressure and looking impeccable while tasking thugs? Minnie Driver (Run Away) as the narcotics despatcher looking to retrieve her product. February highlights: Now was the right time for a new adaptation of The Lord of the Flies. Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington in Imperfect Women. Apple TV My top Apple TV recommendation is Imperfect Women (March 18). Its a juicy pitch: when one of a trio of female best friends dies under suspicious circumstances, grief gives way to doubt for the other two, who discover she had a secret life that casts doubt on their own foundations. Making this heated mystery matter is creator Annie Weisman, whose last Apple TV series was the jagged Rose Byrne comedy Physical, plus stars Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Kerry Washington (Scandal), and in the illuminating flashbacks involving her character Kate Mara (House of Cards). Playing husbands who may have secrets of their own are Corey Stoll (Billions) and Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind). Advertisement NationalHealthcare They dont work: Subsidies to be slashed for expensive spinal implants linked to severe injuries Liam Mannix February 27, 2026 7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Private health insurance rebates for spinal cord stimulators are set to go under the knife after the federal Health Department found there was not enough evidence to support use of the expensive, controversial devices. The proposed changes would cut the subsidy by up to $6182 for the devices, and by $6450 for the electrical leads that wire them into the spine. The changes affect how much device manufacturers receive per surgery; by law, the extra expense cannot be passed onto the consumer. Marcus Barlow, in a photo taken in 2025 before the stimulator was removed. Simon Schluter As of now, insurers are required to pay up to $23,465 for a device and up to $11,011 for a lead. The expected cuts are the latest response to a wide-ranging review of the devices triggered by this mastheads investigation in 2022, which revealed hundreds of people had been injured by them, with some left incontinent or unable to walk. Advertisement In 2024, several stimulators had their Australian registration cancelled, and earlier this month, the government proposed a further step: cutting the benefits private health insurers pay for devices by thousands of dollars. Editor's pick Science Away from the headlines, microplastics field grapples with tricky questions Marcus Barlow received a stimulator to treat chronic back pain in 2019. It did not help with the pain, and the bulky metal package wired into his spine digs into him whenever he tries to move or sleep. After years of discomfort, Barlow finally had the device removed earlier this year. I dont think these devices should be allowed in anyone. I dont think this should be a therapy. Its not proven, he said this week. Spinal cord stimulators are sold to treat complex pain, typically from the back or pelvis. They link a small battery pack, implanted beneath the skin, via leads to nerves in the spine. Advertisement In theory, electrical pulses from the device interfere with pain signals coming from the nerves. On average, private insurers pay nearly $56,000 per device, including hospital and surgery costs with some cases rising to half a million dollars. However, recent studies have demonstrated almost a quarter of Australian patients will need a surgical revision within 18 months, and that the stimulators are likely not helpful for chronic or back pain. But because the government would still require private health insurers to cover the devices, even though the coverage would be reduced, potential patients would still be encouraged to believe the government endorsed their effectiveness and safety, said Professor Chris Maher, director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health at the University of Sydney. I think it misses the point entirely. Its like trying to solve the problem of pelvic mesh by reducing the price, he said. Advertisement I cant see anything of value coming from this change. The University of Sydneys Dr Caitlin Jones, who has published papers on the safety of spinal cord stimulators, called the proposed changes confusing for patients. They are still approved, theyll still be reimbursed, she said. The real message Id like patients to see is: we know they dont work, they are incredibly expensive, and can be really dangerous too. I would like the department to cancel the listing, Jones said. That call was backed by Private Healthcare Australia, which welcomed the mooted changes but also said they did not go far enough. Advertisement Continuing to fund devices that may cause harm, at enormous cost to patients, taxpayers and health fund members, undermines that confidence, said CEO Dr Rachel David. Related Article Menopause Testosterone saved Claires sex life, but women still pay more for it than men Nathan Taylor, president of the Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand the peak professional body for stimulators, slammed the proposed changes. NSANZ has no interest in medical device company profits our concern is patient safety and access to care. Any changes that compromise post-implant support for a proven, safe, and effective therapy risks directly harming people living with severe, disabling neuropathic pain, Taylor said. Painaustralia, a consumer group that has received funding in the past from NSANZ, also criticised the proposed changes. Advertisement A stimulator, can in some cases and some patients, provide meaningful relief, said CEO Monika Boogs. This could restrict access to consumers who may need an SCS. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said it would make the final decision on rebates later this year. Disclosure: Liam Mannix is named as a co-author on a published paper on spinal cord stimulators with Dr Caitlin Jones and Professor Chris Maher. Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsSex & relationships Putting the sexy back in sex: Whats the solution to rising youth STIs? Lauren Ironmonger February 27, 2026 4:25pm 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 For all the talk about Gen Z and celibacy, theres not much attention given to the many young people who actually are having sex. Research suggests STI rates are rising among younger cohorts (although they are also climbing among midlife and older adults), and that safe sex practices like using condoms, regular testing and contraception, may be declining. But whats driving this? What do young people want when it comes to sexual health, and what actually makes a difference? Grace Toombs, founder of June, Australias first at-home cervical screening test kit. Jessica Hromas STI rates rising The latest surveillance report from The Kirby Institute (UNSW Sydney) provides a comprehensive look at HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Australia. Advertisement Chlamydia is the most common STI, with 70 per cent coming from those aged 15 to 29, although rates have remained stable. HIV diagnoses continue to decline. Meanwhile, over the past decade, infectious syphilis diagnoses have doubled, while gonorrhea diagnoses have surged 211 per cent. Editor's pick Exclusive Sexual health Drug-resistant gonorrhoea superbugs are spreading across Sydney So, whats behind the surge? Unfortunately, theres not one single answer, says Denton Callander, an associate professor in the Sexual Health Program at Kirby. But he says declining condom use, particularly with casual partners, may be one reason. Another may be the natural peaks and troughs that characterise infectious outbreaks. Right now were still on the upswing, but hopefully because research teams and our clinical partners are paying attention to this we can start to combat things in the next few years, he says. Advertisement While notification data only captures confirmed cases, Callander says data shows young people are not getting tested as frequently as they probably should. Priority populations, including Indigenous and transgender people, tend to test at even lower rates, partly because of the stigma and discrimination they can face within health settings, he adds. Decline in contraception use and safe sex practice Several recent studies suggest most young Australians arent using condoms. Researchers propose several reasons for this, including viewing them as just contraception, rather than STI prevention; thinking unprotected sex is normal; and viewing condoms as uncomfortable or disruptive. Advertisement A 2024 report from The World Health Organisation revealed an alarming decline in condom use among sexually active adolescents in Europe, with almost a third reporting using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill at last intercourse. Editor's pick Opinion Women's health Wellness crazies are telling women to ditch the pill. Its lunacy Jenna Price Columnist Jennifer Power, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University, says, a lot of the conversations and education that happened about condom use, particularly related to STIs, came from the urgency of HIV. As the spectre of the HIV/AIDs epidemic fades from the public consciousness particularly the heterosexual population STI prevention may feel less urgent. Matthew Vaughan, population health division director at ACON, says this is less true of the queer community, which fosters strong cultures of care due to this history and because LGBT youth are often excluded from relationships and sex education in schools. Advertisement When it comes to contraception, Professor Deborah Bateson from The University of Sydneys medical school says there has been an increasing move away from hormonal methods by young women in Australia, partly due to aversion to side effects that can come with hormonal contraception, as well as growing popularity of natural contraception, often spruiked by social media influencers. Despite this growing disenchantment, Bateson points out hormonal methods have never been more accessible, with newer technologies like the progesterone-only pill and a novel oestrogen pill available, alongside new subsidies for reproductive health treatments. She is also researching new, non-hormonal methods to give women more choices. Australias first at-home cervical test Proud Euahlayi/Kooma woman Grace Toombs, 24, founded June, Australias first at-home cervical screening test, after her own frustrations with the health system. Having spent most of her teenage years with severe menstrual pain that was dismissed or ignored by medical professionals, it wasnt until she started studying medicine in Sydney that she was finally diagnosed with stage three endometriosis. Advertisement The diagnosis also led to her gynaecologist discovering high-grade abnormalities (precancerous cells) in her cervix through a pap smear. Editor's pick Graphic content Sex & relationships What women want: How pleasure toys went mainstream In that moment, I thought, far out. I live in a major city, Im 21, so I wasnt even supposed to get screened [The National Screening Program covers those 25 and up]. Imagine what other women are going through who live rurally or dont have access to healthcare or the high health literacy I do, she says. June, which launched last year, allows patients to self-swab at home after completing an online questionnaire. Results are sent to 4Cyte Pathology and reviewed by a GP. Their cervical test screens for all strains of human papilloma virus (HPV), a common STI that usually has no symptoms and clears on its own, but can cause serious illness (its the most common cause of cervical cancer). Advertisement June also offers a separate at-home STI test. Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035, which Bateson puts down to Australias HPV vaccination program and relatively high screening rates, the latter of which has been aided by the introduction of self-testing swabs in 2022 (as opposed to the speculum). I wanted it to feel like self-care, and so we are really shifting the narrative culturally around how women think and feel about their sexual and reproductive health. Grace Toombs, founder of Australias first at-home cervical screening test For Toombs, offering an at-home test is about providing an alternative to the clinic experience, which remains daunting for many young people. Its giving women the autonomy to do their test at home and to have it show up in a beautiful box that feels like youve ordered something from Mecca. Advertisement Flipping the script on condoms Nikhil Daftary, founder of condom brand Moments. Simon Schluter Nikhil Daftary started condom brand Moments after his wife admitted she felt shy and ashamed buying condoms. Thats when I looked at the condom shelves at supermarkets and pharmacies and realised most condom packaging revolves around men, he says. Moments is part of a generation of new condom brands putting pleasure front and centre, with features like flavours, textures and extra lubrication. Most of them target women, with bright, stylish packaging, and adopt the language of female empowerment and sexual wellness. Advertisement Daftary says he wanted the brand to more closely resemble beauty products, and be something people would be comfortable keeping on their bedside table. Editor's pick Sexual health Almost half of women experience poor sexual wellbeing in middle age but dont blame testosterone Of course, other options like dental dams and the internal condom exist, although Bateson says education around these remains limited. Doxy-PEP, an oral antibiotic taken within 72 hours of having sex and recently available Australia-wide from GPs, has been shown to be effective in preventing STIs, particularly syphilis and chlamydia. While Vaughan says data on its uptake is still in its nascency (and there are concerns about anti-microbial resistance), it can be effective for those prone to STIs. Advertisement Who bears responsibility for safe sex? The growing sexual wellness category mainly counts women and the queer community as its audience which makes sense given these cohorts have typically been excluded from conventional narratives about sex. But does this leave men behind? Editor's pick STIs This common infection can cause female infertility. It turns out men are the missing link in transmission Earlier this month, Senator Jane Hume questioned why condoms were only available in the womens change rooms at the Parliament House gym, but not the mens. Heterosexual women tend to bear the burden for contraception and can feel pressured into unprotected sex, while one in three women and one in five men have been victims of stealthing, the practice of removing or tampering with a condom without a sexual partners consent. Advertisement We know that men want to take responsibility, and thats why we just need more products they can use, says Bateson, who would like to see greater investment from government and the private sector into technology young people of all genders actually want to use. Lets talk about (safe) sex For Power, talking to young people about sexual health is about having open conversations that go beyond clinical, individual outcomes. Given most kids turn to the internet for sexual health information, this may look like parents or schools equipping them with the critical tools to understand and assess what they see even if this includes unrealistic pornography or extreme online content. One of the most memorable advertisements to come out of Australias response to AIDs was the infamous Grim Reaper campaign, which only aired for three weeks due to concerns it stigmatised gay men. Advertisement On the other hand, campaigns led by the gay community leant away from this fear-based tone towards a sex-positive one. The infamous 1987 Grim Reaper advertisement by the National Advisory Committee on AIDS relied on fear-based messaging. But experts say focusing on pleasure and fun is a far more effective public health strategy. This has been credited with having a significant effect in reducing the transmission of HIV among gay and bisexual men, and many public health campaigns since have taken a similar approach. If we try to frame it as this is the thing that you must do to protect yourself from scary gonorrhea, thats not very sexy. Its about putting the sexy back in sex, says Callander. Most people really enjoy sex in one way or another, and if we frame discussions about health in more positive lights, less about risk and more about how to make sex excellent for you and your partner, this is a more realistic and helpful approach. Advertisement Teen killed after being hit by two cars in Perth A school student, 13, has been killed after being hit by two cars while getting off a bus in Perth. SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Authorities rescued more than 40 people on Thursday night after intense rainfall swept across Sydney, causing flash flooding and power outages. The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) said that it conducted 42 flood rescue operations in central and western Sydney on Thursday night into Friday morning. The SES said it received 495 calls for assistance in metropolitan Sydney after some suburbs recorded over 100 millimeters of rainfall over a three-hour period. The flash flooding triggered major road closures and power outages that affected thousands of properties. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecast that thunderstorms would continue across Sydney for most of Friday, bringing up to 70 mm of rainfall. The al-Roj camp in Syria, where several Australian children have spent most of their lives. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Sami Sheebo fears the return of Australias so-called ISIS brides. He does not trust that seven years in a Syrian camp has cured them of the bloodthirsty Islamist ideology they travelled into and lived under. Sheebo is a leader of the Yazidi community in Australia. He escaped Iraq after IS fighters invaded his home village in 2014, where eight mass graves were required to bury the thousands killed. More than 6000 Yazidi women were kidnapped and put through the appalling horror of sexual and domestic slavery. My community are very concerned that if returned [the IS-related families] might attack them again, Sheebo says simply. Yazidi community leader and ISIS survivor Sami Sheebo. They work and build as a group. On a Friday, they gather, talking, trying to get people to join them. From a small group they become a big group. Others will join them and they control a whole suburb. They will be a danger to Australian society. Youel Zaya and Ismail Ismail feel the same way. They escaped Syria after their Assyrian Christian village was overrun by IS fighters, who desecrated and destroyed their churches. Zaya, Ismail and their families were ordered to convert to Islam or leave. Among 200,000 others, they fled. More than a thousand who stayed behind were killed. Advertisement I ask if they have any sympathy with the Australian children of IS-associated women. Zaya replies: These children are raised there, and theyve been raised with this ISIS, so what are they thinking? Whats in their minds? We really dont know. These fears are specific to the experiences of these groups, but they reflect the broader political debate over the IS women and children. Assyrians Youel Zaya and Ismail Ismail were held captive by IS and told to convert to Islam. Sitthixay Ditthavong On the political left, the call is for the government to bring them home. The women were duped or forced to travel by their husbands, people say. The children have done nothing. On the other side of politics, these 11 women and 23 children plus one young man are said to be so dangerous that they should be denied the right to enjoy their citizenship of Australia. As Sheebo puts it: They are responsible for their life they made that decision by themselves and they have to accept that. This debate prompts many questions. How and why did these people get to Syria and what did they do in the so-called caliphate? Did they commit crimes while there, and have they genuinely repudiated ISs ideology? Its reasonable to ask if we are to repatriate them whether there are programs to reintegrate and deradicalise them and whether those programs are up to scratch. Advertisement Josh Roose, for one, is sceptical of some of the womens claims that they were duped, or bullied by their husbands into going to Syria. The associate professor at Deakin University and an expert on violent extremism says from the early days of IS in 2014, it was clear its ideology was violent. It was also wildly attractive to some. Based on the idea that Muslims had been crushed and persecuted globally, IS invited people particularly marginalised second- and third-generation young Muslim men to become warriors and heroes and knights of the caliphate. Women would start a new society, breeding lion cubs for a new utopia. Iraqi Yazidi women mourn during the exhumation of a mass grave in Iraq's north-western region of Sinjar. AP Says Roose, 200 or 300 Australians were attracted by this narrative, one of the largest cohorts proportionate to population in the world. Advertisement Once there, says Roose, some Western women had become highly active in recruiting, and visual propaganda and they were active in policing behaviour of women, enacting rules and laws, and enslavement of women and girls. However, of the cohort seeking to return now, he says little is known about their activities in Syria and Iraq. Analyst Rodger Shanahan has unpicked some of it. In a recent story in The Australian, he wrote that one of the women, Hodan Abby, said it would be great to be martyred for the sake of Allah. She wanted to raise lions who will be thorns in the hearts of their enemies. Melbourne-based Kirsty Rosse-Emile posted after coalition airstrikes, May Allah destroy them all destroy these filthy kafirs and protect our brothers and sisters. The ABC reported recently that Rosse-Emile was groomed by a much older man, married at 14 and was taken by him to Syria. Kirsty Rosse-Emile, pictured with son Yahya in 2019. Kate Geraghty Kawsar Abbas travelled to Syria with her adult daughters Zahra and Zeinab to join her husband, their father Muhammad Ahmed. They insist their enterprise was charitable. But, writes Shanahan, Kawsars brother Roger Abbas and two of her sons, Ahmed and Omar, were killed in Syria, and two of the daughters married men who were also killed in 2016. Neither the government nor the Australian Federal Police has revealed what criminal charges, if any, might be laid against these women on their return. One temporary exclusion order has been issued, but authorities will not say against whom, or why. Advertisement ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said in 2022 that the agency had conducted risk assessments involving face-to-face interviews with the entire cohort of Australians in the camps. Their possible return had been factored into the agencys risk assessment that year, in which the threat of a terror attack was dropped from probable to possible. Related Article Islamic State Who are the IS brides trying to get home? Hakamia Ibrahim, the camp director in Syria where they have been living for the past few years, told a local journalist the Australian women unlike others in the camp were well-behaved. They did not have any problems and in the camp they did not cause problems or behave in an aggressive way. Says Roose, Unless there is an extraordinary claim against them, well probably have to let them back in. However, there should be every effort made to establish their culpability for their crimes overseas as a starting point. This will be difficult. Eyewitnesses have probably died or melted back to their villages and specific crimes must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. Much would rely on foreign intelligence, he said. Kamalle Dabboussy in 2022. Flavio Brancaleone Advertisement Advertisement PoliticsQueenslandALP Dangerously low bar: Labor says hate speech laws a gag on freedom of speech Julius Dennis February 27, 2026 6:46pm 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 Queensland opposition has aired reservations about supporting proposed hate speech laws and accused the Crisafulli government of playing politics in the aftermath of a national tragedy. The omnibus bill introduced in response to the terror attack at Bondi Beach includes the criminalisation of phrases associated with the pro-Palestinian movement: from the river to the sea and globalise the intifada. The laws would also give the attorney-general of the day the power to ban any phrase they see fit, and allow police to conduct warrantless searches of anyone suspected of committing the offence. The phrase from the river to the sea would be banned under the laws. William Davis In a submission to the relevant parliamentary committee, the Labor opposition labelled those powers given to the attorney-general a dangerously low bar. Advertisement Related Article Queensland government Attack on freedom of speech: Labor faces grassroots push to reject Qld hate laws While it is noted this is the same process for the banning of symbols in Queensland there is often clear identification of a symbols meaning, representation or intent, the opposition wrote. They noted other states were considering similar laws, but only through legislated changes, not regulation that would give one person the choice. The attorney-general can just quietly release a new regulation one day and then that is banned, without any public consultation or active publication and notification from the government of the day, they said. Currently, only the two phrases both commonly heard at pro-Palestine rallies are on the planned ban list. Advertisement This section of the bill is largely viewed as a gag on the freedom of speech afforded to Queenslanders, Labor said. Related Article Queensland government Queensland rejects key Wieambilla recommendation in new gun reforms The party said it would support gun reform and urged the government to add mandatory mental health checks for gun license holders and to align their laws with other states. We continue to hold reservations about the effectiveness of these elements to prevent another Wieambilla or Bondi shootings, they said. However, there are strong new offences relating to religious worship and places of worship, which the Queensland Labor opposition supports with no hesitation. Advertisement Speaking in Cairns on Friday, Premier David Crisafulli said the laws addressed antisemitism and would stop terrorists and criminals accessing guns. The legislation is very specific, the regulations are very specific, in response to antisemitism, which is what we said we were going to do, he said. He said the two phrases were calling for the elimination of a race of people, and needed to be banned. An opposition spokesman said the partyroom would settle on a position at caucus on Monday before the legislation returns to parliament next week. Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Some construction firms are heeding the warnings about corruption. Will Jacinta Allan? The latest CFMEU ructions have left the Premier and her government with an important decision to make. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A When Victorias Labour Hire Authority called an industry-wide meeting late last year, nearly half of the company owners under investigation by the regulator turned up. Among them were some of the most colourful characters in the states construction, security and agriculture sectors, who were told they were unlikely to pass Victorias new definition of a fit and proper person. This would be easily provable, the authoritys commissioner Steve Dargavel said, because the authority had new search powers that would be used once the definition took effect later this year. Dargavels audience was paying attention. Soon afterwards, the authority received a swathe of notifications from companies pre-emptively cancelling their licences. On top of this, 147 licences have been cancelled in the sector and 47 have been refused. The meeting is illustrative of the increased efforts to clean up the corruption that has ravaged the industry and been exposed in detail by The Ages Building Bad investigation since it kicked off in July 2024. It also highlights the scale and complexity of that battle, responsibility for which ultimately falls to Premier Jacinta Allan. Between the CFMEU ructions and the need to respond to the Bondi terror attack, she now faces a decision that could reshape Victorias anti-corruption regime. As Dargavel tells The Age, there is still much to be done. Ultimately, we need to be in a better place, and we need to enlist peoples participation in getting into a better place, he says. Advertisement Its good to be transparent with everyone, including people youre dealing with at the tougher end of your regulatory stick. This is what it looks like, this is what your future looks like. Its a lot easier to treat people respectfully. This weekend, Allan will consider whether her government needs to use the forthcoming parliamentary sitting week to try and neutralise a saga that has bruised her government at the start of an election year. Just months after bolstering the Labour Hire Authoritys powers, she is considering how to reach a face-saving solution to demands from Coalition, Greens and crossbench MPs to empower Victorias corruption watchdog to follow taxpayer dollars to subcontractors and labour hire companies, where much of the wrongdoing is concentrated. Loading Her decision will dictate the tone of the sitting week, influence separate policies such as key anti-vilification legislation, and determine whether damaging caucus leaks can be put to bed. The Age has spoken to a dozen MPs, staffers and officials each on the condition of anonymity to detail internal deliberations who have given a picture of where the premiers thought process may land. Advertisement The immediate issue for Allan is how to respond to an amendment with majority backing in the upper house that would give the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) follow-the-money powers, enable greater access to public hearings and change the definition of corruption. The first two of these reforms were recommended by the parliaments integrity and oversight committee in a December report which the government has until the middle of the year to respond to. The amendment was attached to a broad-ranging omnibus bill, which included laws about bestiality while also removing the requirement for the Office of Public Prosecutions to approve criminal anti-vilification charges a reform promised by Allan after the Bondi terror attack. It appeared set to pass the upper house in the last sitting week, which forced the government to delay a vote on the bill rather than opposing the IBAC overhaul which may now come to a head again next week. Related Article Building Bad Labor MPs raise concerns about Allans handling of CFMEU crisis As recently as Monday, multiple Labor MPs believed Allan was unlikely to budge on her plans to respond to the committee recommendations in June, arguing that integrity reforms had significant consequences that could not be rushed through parliament. We need to consider that report appropriately because these are serious matters, she said on Tuesday. Advertisement This could mean delaying the omnibus bill again an option neither Labor nor the Coalition are fond of following the Bondi massacre. But as the week wore on, signs emerged that the government was open to a compromise. Multiple sources said the government was canvassing ways to introduce follow-the-money powers while pledging to consider further reforms down the track. One minister said increased public hearings were discussed, but unlikely, while retooling the definition of corruption could be referred for more policy work because it would have the broadest consequences. This would mean that even with increased powers, IBAC would only be able to use them for investigations which reached a high bar such as suspected criminality. Related Article Exclusive Building Bad $15b poured into criminals hands: Bombshell findings CFMEU tried to hide In theory you wouldnt see a massive change to IBACs investigations, but whether that is true is at the heart of whether we make any changes next week or not, the minister said. The Coalition has pledged to introduce its own bill if necessary, but has committed to work with the government if they will agree to act on these powers quickly. A Labor MP told The Age that politicians on both sides of the aisle were deeply concerned about IBAC being weaponised for political purposes if reforms were not done properly. One of their colleagues agreed, but acknowledged there was an element of self-interest at play in keeping the watchdogs powers limited. Advertisement Two Labor MPs said they now believed the government would make some sort of announcement to stem the political damage from the issue well before the governments initial June deadline. However, they said ministers would probably have to wait until cabinet meets on Monday to know where Allan and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny had landed. Negotiations with upper house MPs were being handled by the premiers inner circle. The Allan governments response to the latest damning allegations about corruption on taxpayer-funded projects, detailed in Geoffrey Watsons report for the CFMEU administrator, has become a significant burden for the government and the premiers own standing. Most Labor MPs who spoke to The Age said they were even more concerned about leaks from caucus in an election year, including reports from the ABC that some ministers were supportive of a royal commission. Even the few MPs who think a royal commission would be helpful do not believe the government will ever call one. MPs accepted the government had a shocking week because of the CFMEU scandal and were frustrated by the recalcitrant response to Watsons report. But they rejected any assertion Allans leadership was under threat. You can be unhappy with the response and still back the premier 100 per cent, one said. Advertisement Australian dies in Thailand after alleged assault An Australian man has died in Thailand after he was allegedly assaulted by another foreigner in Phuket. Advertisement WorldEuropeRoyalty Denmarks Queen Mary on a mission in latest visit to Australia David Crowe February 28, 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 Copenhagen: Mary Donaldson won over Denmark. Now, in her first official visit to Australia since becoming queen, she is on a mission to win big business for both countries. King Frederik and Queen Mary will be joined by dozens of Danish leaders on a state visit to Australia that aims to boost $2 billion in annual business. The visit is likely to begin at Uluru to show respect for Indigenous Australians, and it will include a strong focus on the environment during visits to Melbourne and Canberra. King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark will start their tour with a visit to Uluru. AP It will also take Queen Mary back to Tasmania. While officials will not confirm the details, the agenda is expected to leave time for her to catch up with family and friends in her home state during the visit from March 14 to 19. Advertisement There will be a state banquet in Canberra, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and a reception in Melbourne, so the visitors can host a social event in reply. Behind it all will be the strategic goal of bringing Australia and Denmark closer together on defence and expanding two-way trade worth about $2 billion a year in goods and services. Denmark is also an important supporter of the free trade deal between Australia and the European Union, at a time when objections from farmers in France and Ireland can jeopardise the outcome. King Frederik and Queen Mary were officially proclaimed the new monarchs of Denmark in January 2024. Getty Images In a show of strength from Danish industry, more than 55 business chiefs have signed up to a delegation that will run alongside the formal state visit, with a large number from clean energy companies. Advertisement There will be talk about exporting more Danish wind turbines a key alternative to China and investing more Danish money in renewable energy projects such as offshore wind. There will also be attention on Australian exports. The newest will be three electric ferries from Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat to take passengers across Denmarks internal waterways. The ferries are now being built at the companys Hobart shipyard and will be 100 per cent battery electric, and capable of carrying up to 1483 passengers and 500 cars Although the ferries will not be finished and supplied until 2027 and 2028, it seems obvious who should launch the first vessel. Queen Mary is unlikely to be at corporate events, but the state visit and the business delegation will connect at key functions, including the state dinner. It is not foreign territory for the queen, given she has a business background from the years before she met Frederik at the Slip Inn near Darling Harbour during the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Advertisement She has degrees in commerce and law, further qualifications in marketing and was an account director at an advertising firm before they met. Loading The visit is seen as so important in Denmark that it will go ahead despite the overlap with the election campaign for the national parliament, which will be held on March 24. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the early election in a statement to parliament on Thursday, local time. There is likely to be an impact from the campaign, however, because the Danish government initially planned to send two of its most senior ministers: Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen. This will be challenging when both will be campaigning. Convention suggests that a minister from the government will accompany the state visit, but the full membership of the delegation has not been finalised or announced. The Australian ambassador to Denmark, Dave Vosen, is working behind the scenes to add more business chiefs to the list. Advertisement Danish Industry senior vice president Troels Ranis, who will be part of the delegation, says both countries have a common interest in clean energy. Were both changing our energy systems, he told this masthead in Copenhagen. Its a really big, transformative task, both in Denmark as well as it will be in Australia. You are a much larger country than Denmark, and the task is also much larger than it is in Denmark. Frederik and Mary have made three visits to Australia since they were married in 2004. They have taken their four children to Bondi Beach, jogged in Sydney, visited Tasmania for Christmas, demonstrated Danish cooking in Melbourne and flown to Broken Hill to see the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This is their first visit, however, since they became king and queen in January 2024 when Frederiks mother, Queen Margrethe II, chose to abdicate after 52 years on the throne. Advertisement Margrethe, now 85, lives outside Copenhagen and continues doing set and costume design for Danish theatre, the work she has done for much of her adult life. Frederik and Mary have made state visits to Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia since the inauguration two years ago. Frederik and Mary have made three visits to Australia since they were married in 2004. Julian Andrews The journey to Australia is a much bigger undertaking because of the distance and the business delegation, which is one of the largest of its kind. The children are not expected to join them on this trip. The familys connection to Australia was a key reason for the timing of the visit relatively early in the kings reign, according to an official in Copenhagen involved in the preparations. Advertisement And it will be their first and last state visit to Australia. By convention, heads of state make one state visit to a country. The last Danish state visit to Australia was in 1987 by Queen Margrethe. So, this is a rare event. Frederik and Mary have put a priority on Australia. Their supporters will count that as a win. 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 Analysis WorldEuropeUK politics How a firebrand plumber triumphed for the Greens and infuriated the UK right David Crowe February 28, 2026 3:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A London: A simple message about the cost of living has shown why Hannah Spencer, a plumber who left school at 16, triumphed for the Greens at a byelection that has rocked British politics. Spencer, 34, spoke for struggling families in a victory speech that tapped into the deep frustration that Britain is broken, but she did it with an appeal from the left rather than a lunge to the right. Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer gives her victory speech. Getty Images I didnt grow up wanting to be a politician, she said. Im a plumber, and two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified as a plasterer because even in chaos, even under pressure, I get things done. I am no different to every single person here in this constituency: I work hard, that is what we do, except things have changed a lot over the last few decades. Advertisement Because working hard used to get you something. It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere. But now, working hard, what does that get you? Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you the people who work hard cant put food on the table, cant get their kids school uniforms, cant put their heating on, cant live off the pension they worked hard to save for, cant even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever, because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, were working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry. And I dont think its extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. Hannah Spencer (right) visits Green Party volunteers at a polling booth. Getty Images That is how she trounced the Labour government, led by the bland and embattled Keir Starmer, and infuriated the right-wing Reform UK party, led by the talkative but untested Nigel Farage. Advertisement Reform UK were so angry at being beaten that Farage blamed dirty tactics for the defeat. The argument centres on claims of family voting in which husbands tell wives how to vote an illegal but often unprovable practice. This argument took off in the hours after the polls closed, especially among conservatives who linked family voting to ethnic communities. This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating, said Farage. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage earlier this week. Getty Images In fact, the result simply showed that Farage is yet to convince enough voters to swing hard enough to the right to put him in power. Reform UK has strong showings in the national opinion polls, but it could not win a local campaign when it counted. The territory at this byelection was a disadvantaged part of Greater Manchester where 57 per cent of the population is white and 27 per cent is Asian, with 9 per cent black. The electorate, Gorton and Denton, is the face of a changing Britain. Advertisement The community is 39 per cent Christian and 28 per cent Muslim, according to the Office of National Statistics. By ONS standards, a daunting 61.5 per cent are considered deprived in some way, such as income or housing. Spencer campaigned on the need to fix basic services, lift wages, act on social problems with the drug trade and invest in the National Health Service their iconic precursor to Medicare. She also walked through communities each day with a big smile, bright clothes and her four greyhounds. She was an antidote to the anodyne political class: she dismissed the posh boys who go from Oxford and Cambridge into parliament in Westminster. Hannah Spencer on the campaign trail with her rescued greyhounds. Getty Images When right-wing critics challenged her working-class credentials, she shot back in an interview with The New Statesman: Ive been a plumber for nearly 20 years. What do they want, to see a toilet Ive fixed? Advertisement The Greens knew voters were aware of their stance on climate and Gaza, so they campaigned on the cost of living. In an area with conservative social views, Spencer made sure voters knew she did not want to legalise drugs. Were really clear that we want to regulate drugs, she said in The Manchester Evening News. This drug law thats been in place for 60 years isnt working. People can already buy Class A drugs on the street. Children can already access these things. Were saying we want to make it harder for people to access it, and we want to remove the criminal networks that have their greasy mitts in our communities. New Green Party MP Hannah Spencer stops to order lunch at Sues takeaway in Manchester. Getty Images Labour was the biggest loser in Gorton and Denton, an area it has held for decades. It got only 25.4 per cent of vote on Thursday, down from 50.8 per cent at the general election in 2024, which was down from the previous election. Advertisement The Greens leapt ahead to gain 40.7 per cent, compared to 13.2 per cent less than two years ago. The disaffection with the government is palpable. Reform increased its support, but not enough. It gained 28.7 per cent: more than Labour, but well behind the Greens. The British media has gone into convulsions over the result. The swing against the government is dramatic as happens in byelections in the UK, just as it does in Australia. Conservatives declare that Starmer is doomed, but he was already seen as a dead man walking by many observers. His big chance to save his leadership comes at the elections in Scotland and Wales in early May, which will be a much bigger test of Labours support. There is no way to extrapolate these results to the country as a whole. Only 47.6 per cent of voters turned out to cast a ballot. Advertisement A big problem for Farage was that his candidate, Matt Goodwin, was a cardboard cut-out from Reform central: busy attacking the woke agenda, active on X and always available for right-wing television channels. But he did not come from the Manchester area he was raised by a single mother in Hertfordshire and lacked a personal story that voters could relate to. He was a professor of politics at Kent University before shifting to conservative TV and then Reform. Related Article Trump's White House Losing control: Trump makes UK prime minister the target over island fiasco Labour struggled even when it chose a local councillor, Angeliki Stogia, as its candidate. Stogia talked about standing up for ordinary workers, but she did not cut through. Everyone knew she was only chosen because Starmer and his allies blocked the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, from running. So the Labour campaign had a permanent weakness. It highlighted the fear in the Starmer camp about Burnham, a potential leadership challenger, returning to parliament and standing up to the prime minister. Voters, of course, usually want an MP who will stand up to a prime minister. With Hannah Spencers victory, it looks like they just chose one. 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 AmericaWorld politics A stolen boat, a deadly gunfight and a supposed plot against Cuba Frances Robles and Patricia Mazzei February 27, 2026 3:19pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Key West: The men arrived in Cuban waters aboard a speedboat that apparently had been stolen the night before in the Florida Keys. The Cuban government said 10 Cubans had left from the United States on a Florida-registered vessel armed with assault rifles, handguns, improvised explosive devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms. Their goal when they arrived on Wednesday (Cuban time) was, the government said, to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes. They opened fire on the Cuban coast guard, the government claimed. Four of the men died and six more were wounded in the gunfight. Cuban coast guard ships docked at Havana Bay. AP A day later, few details have emerged about the deadly shoot-out, raising questions about who the men were and how and why they sailed to Cubas shores. Were they freelance militants with a poorly laid out plan? Part of a carefully set trap by the Cuban government at a time of increased tensions with the United States? Advertisement The episode was the latest in a decades-long, often bellicose history between Cubas government and militant exiles determined to take it down. For years, Cuban exiles have tried to infiltrate Cuba; planted bombs in Havana; and even plotted to assassinate Fidel Castro. Related Article Updated World politics Cuba shoots four people dead on US-based speedboat One of the survivors was initially erroneously reported to be Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, a 31-year-old activist who fled Cuba in 2017 and was home in Miami this week, fielding calls from reporters. The inclusion of Azcorras name among the list of the detained raised questions about what the Cuban government knew about the plot. Having his name, even though he was not on the boat, suggested that government agents could have known about the operation in advance, experts said. In 1996, after the Cuban government shot down two planes belonging to the exile organisation Brothers to the Rescue, it quickly emerged that a Cuban intelligence agent had infiltrated the organisation and knew about the planned attack. Advertisement Supposedly, I am jailed, detained and injured, Azcorra said in an interview on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted a statement admitting the error. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel took to social media to reaffirm Cubas sovereignty. Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist and mercenary aggression that seeks to affect its sovereignty and national stability, he said. Azcorra described himself as an activist determined to topple the 67-year-old communist government by methods that went beyond picket signs and slogans, but he said he could not discuss it further without first getting a lawyer. He would not say whether he knew the men, but he acknowledged that the Cuban government must have had his name because it expected him to be on board the doomed vessel. Azcorra said the inclusion of his name was not a mistake. Advertisement They know exactly who I am, he said. They either confused me with someone else, or they thought I was going to be there. Cuban authorities identified the other survivors aboard the Florida-registered speedboat as Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Leordan Cruz Gomez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Roberto Alvarez Avila and Christian Acosta Guevara. Another man, Duniel Hernandez Santos, arrived in Cuba in advance of the confrontation, the government said. Loading Four more men died. They have been identified as Pavel Alling Pena, Michel Ortega Casanova, Hector Cruz Correa and Ledian Padron Guevara. At least two of the men, including one who died, were US citizens. One was on a fiance visa, and the others were believed to be legal permanent residents, according to a US official. Advertisement They are brave men, Azcorra said. Public records indicate that most of the men appear to have lived in Florida, though Acosta is identified as residing in Texas. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel took to social media to reaffirm Cubas sovereignty. AP US court records show some of the men had committed minor traffic or vehicle-related offences. Cuban officials have said several of the men had criminal histories, but they did not release documentation to support those claims. One of the men who died, Ortega, was a truck driver who had lived in the United States for a long time, according to his brother-in-law. Advertisement A 7.3 metre boat they travelled on was reported stolen on Wednesday out of Big Pine Key, in the Lower Florida Keys, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. On Thursday, sheriffs deputies and agents from the Department of Homeland Security were at the property where the boat owner kept the vessel. The owner told the police he first noticed the boat missing on Wednesday morning, and saw a white Chevy truck belonging to one of his employees, a tile worker, parked at the property, according to the police report. He assumed his employee had taken the boat without permission. The owner went back later in the day after news reports emerged with the boats registration number. He then went to the police. Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades. Getty Images The Monroe County Sheriffs Office identified the owner of the truck as Hector Cruz Correa, 42, and named him a suspect in the theft of the boat. Cuban authorities later named Cruz Correa, who has two children in Cuba, as one of the men who died. Galindo, 58, a delivery van driver, was among those injured, according to the Cuban government. According to his wife, Ana Segui, he left his home in Miami around noon on Sunday and never returned. Advertisement He told me he was going to work, she said. When he did not come back, she tried calling but his phone seemed to be turned off. Then, on Wednesday, she heard the Cuban government name her husband as one of the men on the boat who had been captured. Related Article Analysis Venezuela crisis Five scenarios for a post-Maduro Venezuela and what they could signal to the wider region Galindo, who is from Camaguey, left Cuba in 2016 after being imprisoned on the island for eight years, she said. He never went back. Standing on the front stoop of their modest home in Miami, Segui looked exhausted and distraught. She said she could not know if the Cuban governments account was true and she was waiting to learn more. No US authorities had come to see her, she said. Advertisement I dont know how this came about, she said, adding that Galindo did not own weapons and nor did he have an interest in them. Guns, what guns? she said. Her husband had at least twice been a guest on a radio program called Voices that Inspire on the US-financed Radio Marti. Galindo was introduced as a former political prisoner who had served time with a well-known activist, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, known as Antunez, who interviewed him on the show. Galindo told Garcia that only clandestine activities would work to topple the government. Cubas Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, says the US has shown a willingness to help Cuba clarify the matter. AP Sanchez Gonzalez, another person the Cuban government said had been detained, has been accused in the past of inciting violence in Cuba from Florida, according to news reports at the time. In 2022, Cuban authorities said a detainee in Cuba had purportedly confessed to his crimes, saying Sanchez reached out to him on social media and put him up to it, according to a news report. Both Sanchez and Cruz Gomez were wanted in Cuba, and their names had been provided to US authorities in 2023 and 2025, yet they enjoyed impunity, Fernandez de Cossio said. Advertisement Marcell Felipe, a prominent leader in the Cuban exile community in Miami, said the boat gunfight reminded him of prior episodes in which the Cuban government accused Miami exiles of plotting terrorism on the island. Related Article Courts Former US ambassador, a double agent for Cuba, jailed for 15 years What I do know is that its not the first time that the Cuban regime does an operation orchestrated by Cuban intelligence, Felipe said. These operations are never done exclusively by agents of the regime. They are done by agents of the regime who recruit willing participants and send them to their deaths, he said. Wednesdays episode came amid an extraordinarily tense moment between the two nations. The Trump administration has cut off fuel imports to Cuba, with the aim of crippling the government. Advertisement The country is going through its worst economic crisis in decades. The United States had shown a willingness to help Cuba clarify the matter, Fernandez de Cossio said on Thursday. An investigation is under way to clarify the facts with the utmost rigour, he said. Cuba has a duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. 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 AmericaEpstein fallout DoJ reviews whether Epstein files with Trump allegations were wrongly withheld Perry Stein February 27, 2026 12:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Washington: The US Justice Department is examining whether it wrongly withheld FBI files that contained allegations against President Donald Trump in its release of millions of pages from the investigatory files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Three summaries of interviews the FBI conducted in 2019 with a woman who had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her are missing from the files, multiple news outlets have reported. The woman had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her decades earlier while she was a minor. No evidence has emerged publicly to corroborate that accusation. The existence of the summaries known as 302s in law enforcement parlance was noted in an index that the Justice Department included in the massive cache of files released over the past three months in response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The index suggested that law enforcement agents interviewed the woman on four occasions, writing up a summary in each instance. Only one of the four summaries was included in the release. Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 1997. Getty Images The summaries were among the materials that prosecutors gave to defence attorneys as part of the discovery process leading up to the trial of Epsteins accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on sex-trafficking charges. Advertisement Independent journalist Roger Sollenberger first reported on the apparent missing files. The woman who accused Trump also said Epstein assaulted her when she was a minor in the 1980s. In an account that was included in the files, federal officials wrote that the woman had said that Epstein introduced her to Trump and that Trump assaulted her. Related Article Epstein fallout Epstein files missing records about woman who made claim against Trump FBI agents frequently fill out 302s in cases that never lead to charges, and the accusations in them are generally considered unproven allegations. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein. Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing, the Justice Department said in a statement. Advertisement As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production. Should any document be found to have been improperly tagged in the review process and is responsive to the act, the department will, of course, publish it, consistent with the law. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two charges of soliciting prostitution, including one involving a minor. He was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and died in federal custody later that year. His death was ruled a suicide. Judges and lawmakers say that over decades, he abused, trafficked and molested scores of girls, many of whom have come forward in court and in other public forums. Loading Trump had a long-standing friendship with Epstein. He has said that he knew Epstein socially in Palm Beach, Florida, and that they had a falling out in the mid-2000s. Trump has maintained that he did not know about Epsteins criminal behaviour. The missing summaries have given Democrats an opportunity to reassert their claim that the Justice Department has improperly withheld documents to shield Trump. Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer on Thursday (US time) accused US Attorney-General Pam Bondi of covering up potential wrongdoing. He and other Senate Democrats planned to review an unredacted version of the files, which the Justice Department had allowed them to do, he said. Related Article Epstein fallout Trump had nothing to do with removal of photo from Epstein file, lawyer says Theyre abusing redactions to hide the truth, Schumer said. Were going to reveal this massive cover-up well pull on every thread. Justice Department officials have said that they did not withhold any information to protect powerful individuals, including Trump. Trump is mentioned more than 1000 times throughout the released files. Being mentioned in a mass trove of investigatory documents does not demonstrate criminal wrongdoing. Congress passed the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, and Trump signed it into law, setting a December 19 deadline for the Justice Department to release the files. The department struggled to get its arms around the massive project and find an orderly way to make the files available to the public. Advertisement The department released an initial tranche of documents on December 19. On January 30, officials released 3 million additional pages of the Epstein files, which was expected to be the final release. The law mandates the release of all files related to Epstein, with exceptions for materials that might compromise a continuing investigation, disclose the identity of a victim or constitute child sexual abuse material. Chuck Schumer and other Democrats are pushing for more accountability from the US Justice Department on the release of the Epstein files. AP In a letter accompanying the latest release of the files, US Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche said the department had withheld or redacted about 200,000 pages that it decided were covered by legal privileges, including some related to internal Justice Department debates. The department has also withheld a large number of documents that it said were duplicates of those that were released. The released documents provide an extensive look at the evidence the department gathered in its effort to prosecute Epstein, a politically connected financier. Advertisement To vet the millions of pages, officials dispatched hundreds of lawyers from across the Justice Department to spend weeks reviewing the files and redact any information that might identify victims. The effort required significant time and personnel resources from the department, pulling top prosecutors from Washington, Florida and New York. Related Article Epstein fallout Trump told police everyone knew about Epstein, called Maxwell evil But in many instances, officials did not redact identifying information about victims, and seemingly deleted or withheld files that should have been released. The Justice Department has said it set up an email account for people who spot victim information or deleted information to report it so that department officials can review it and make changes when necessary. It is through this process that officials are reviewing the potentially missing interviews about Trump. The Washington Post Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). 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. MACAO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government said Friday it will establish a government orientation fund to channel capital into key industries and promote appropriate economic diversification. An initial injection of 11 billion patacas (about 1.36 billion U.S. dollars) from accumulated returns on fiscal reserves, together with the first batch of social capital, is expected to bring the fund's total size to 20 billion patacas, as noted at a press conference. Tai Kin Ip, the Macao SAR government's secretary for economy and finance, said the fund will support emerging industries, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of local sectors, create more quality and diversified job opportunities, and attract more enterprises and talent to Macao, Hengqin, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- German enterprises are seeking to take the pulse of the Chinese market and ride the waves of its innovation momentum, with some making business trips right after the Spring Festival holiday and others doubling down on their deep-rooted presence in the country. On Wednesday and Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz led a high-level economic delegation of 30 business representatives on a visit to China, where enterprises from both countries inked over 10 business agreements spanning industries including automotive, machinery, energy, logistics and finance sectors. Merz took the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a test ride in Beijing on Thursday morning, experiencing its intelligent assisted driving system. "This is amazing. I think it's one of the future technologies for mobility," Merz said after the experience, commending the close cooperation between German manufacturers and Chinese technology. Mercedes-Benz has established a comprehensive local footprint and cooperation network spanning its entire industrial chain in China, the company said in a press release on Thursday. Its Chinese R&D team is playing an increasingly crucial role within Mercedes-Benz's global R&D network, the statement noted. "The development of electrification and intelligent transformation in China's automotive market is remarkable," said Ola Kallenius, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, who was among the German delegation. "Mercedes-Benz has been deeply involved in the growth of China's automotive market, and the country's strong innovation network is also key for us in staying competitive for the future," he added. Mercedes-Benz was not the only German heavyweight seeking to gain deeper insights into the latest developments in the Chinese market during the recent visit, and was also not alone in deepening innovation cooperation with China. "Over the past decades, China has become a global innovation hub with impressive technological capabilities," said Carsten Knobel, CEO of German chemical and consumer goods giant Henkel, adding that the company will continue to invest and innovate in the Chinese market. Knobel believes that by aligning Germany's industrial expertise with China's market dynamism and innovation strengths, the company can better address both industrial and consumer needs. Bill Anderson, chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, remarked that the company is deeply impressed by technological progress in China. Also, the company believes that it has spotted huge opportunities in fields such as digital healthcare, AI-driven drug development and modern breeding technologies in the country's latest policy blueprint. These recent comments reflect a broader trend: German companies are ramping up their investment in the Chinese market, which is increasingly seen as an innovation hub rather than just a sales market. Data from the German Economic Institute showed that new German direct investment in China had amounted to around 7 billion euros (about 8.26 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, well above the roughly 4.5 billion euros a year earlier. Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, attributed this trend to China's comprehensive industrial ecosystem and stable policy environment, which allow companies to plan further ahead and operate with greater certainty. Schumann's assessment is echoed by the experience of many German companies in Taicang. This county-level city in east China's Jiangsu Province hosts more than 560 German enterprises with a total investment value exceeding 6 billion U.S. dollars, while many of them are now localizing R&D and production. About three decades ago, Schaeffler, headquartered in Germany's Bavaria, began its China journey in Taicang with a modest workshop of just 30 employees. By the end of 2025, Schaeffler had expanded to 19,000 employees across China, operating six R&D centers and 17 factories. Today, more than 95 percent of the supply chain for Schaeffler's automotive business in China is localized. "It reflects trust in China's manufacturing and research capabilities," said Lou Junfeng, head of a factory at Schaeffler's Taicang manufacturing base. According to Zhang Luoyin, deputy director of the Administrative Office of the China-Germany (Taicang) SME Cooperation Demonstration Zone, more than 600 Chinese firms have entered the supply chains of German companies in Taicang, while over 800 institutions collaborate with German enterprises in R&D, talent development and capital partnership. "For precision, high-quality manufacturing, you need top suppliers, skilled talent and the right equipment -- and here, it's all in place," said Christopher Praetzas, a German engineer who chose Taicang to start his business, which develops intelligent chassis components for automobiles. When Praetzas decided to establish his business in Taicang three years ago, local government staff showed him around the industrial park and took him through the registration process the next day. "Taicang is an ideal place where you can focus on your work and enjoy a good life. Chinese partners are genuinely open to new technologies," he said. More than 20 service organizations offering legal, financial and lifestyle support have established operations in the city to assist German businesses, said Zhang. The Taicang story reflects how China's efforts to expand high-standard opening up have created a supportive environment for German and other foreign businesses, enabling them to thrive. Earlier this month, China's Ministry of Commerce held a roundtable discussion for German enterprises, where Chinese government representatives responded actively to the concerns of German companies regarding government procurement, intellectual property protection and business environment optimization. With vast potential for cooperation in innovation, green development and the digital economy, China hopes German companies will increase their exports of high-quality products and technologies to China, and scale up their investment in China, said Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji. In February 2020, the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta published sensational material about the events in Sumgayit that took place in 1988. The article, which contains the documented truth about the real organizers and perpetrators of the bloody action, blew up the information space and set in motion all the circles interested in continuing to conceal the realities. NG couldn't resist and deleted the material, while dismissing two deputy editors-in-chief. The Diaspora, one might say, won then, shaking up the lobby and even government structures with mass hysteria. The latter were also scared. And it was from what. Because the riots in Sumgayit were a well-planned action organized and carried out by Armenian nationalists in cooperation with the KGB and the central authorities in Moscow. Foreign circles also had a role in the dirty scenario. This is evidenced by the fact that on the eve of the events, not only central television operators with appropriate equipment arrived in Sumgayit, but also correspondents of French publications. Everything was ready and everyone was ready. Everyone except Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijanis needed the riots in Sumgayit. The Diaspora needed him to put pressure on the territorial issue - the world had to make sure that Armenians simply could not live next to such "beasts". Moscow needed him to increase pressure on Baku in order to fulfill Gorbachev's promises to the Armenians. The Armenian nationalists needed Sumgayit to justify all the atrocities they were preparing against the Azerbaijanis of Armenia. However, the atrocities were already underway at that time and the Azerbaijanis were already being driven out of Armenia. Ethnic cleansing began back in November 1987, and in January, a freight train arrived at the Baku railway station, bringing scantily clad frostbitten people from Armenia, as well as dozens of disfigured corpses of our compatriots. The world, of course, did not find out about this, and those who knew remained silent. The Azerbaijanis did not want to voluntarily leave the lands of their ancestors, so a precedent was needed to justify mass violence against the indigenous population of present-day Armenia. A number of cities were considered as a venue for playing out the bloody scenario, and in the end, Sumgayit was chosen. There can be no doubt that the events were clearly organized and planned. Armenians who were forced to leave Azerbaijan during the conflict told later that the Sumgayit provocation was blessed by the then Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen. When asked, "What about the fact that some Armenians will die in this process?", he replied, "Well, let them be a sacrifice for the great Armenian people." As I told you earlier in an interview with Day.Rizvan Huseynov, director of the Center for the History of the Caucasus, said that in February 1988, an old favorite technique of Armenian nationalists was used in Sumgait - to provoke Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes and bloodshed, in order to have the "moral right" to start an open war against Azerbaijan. "There is a lot of evidence that this was an organized provocation. I remember well that back in mid-February, our friend, who worked for republican television, told us that he was leaving for Sumgayit soon with his equipment, and that some cameramen and cameramen had been ordered from above, that is, from Moscow, to go to Sumgayit and set up cameras in certain places - on roofs and intersections. He said that something very important was planned. He probably didn't even know what it was. But even then it was clear that something very serious was expected. Although, of course, no one expected what happened. It is interesting that after these events, our familiar cameraman, either horrified by what he saw, or under pressure from the special services, which undoubtedly could not help but deal with him, left Azerbaijan and went to Israel," said Rizvan Huseynov. Reports of what happened in Sumgayit instantly spread around the world. Photos and video footage were distributed, and a couple of days later there was already a monument in Yerevan. Amid the uproar, mass ethnic cleansing unfolded in Armenia. Armenians vandalized Azerbaijani cemeteries, forcibly expelled Azerbaijanis from their homes, and carried out massacres involving law enforcement agencies and local party authorities. The task was set not to leave a single Azerbaijani in Armenia by the beginning of the military aggression against Azerbaijan. It is not so easy to expel more than 200,000 people, but this was not the first deportation of Azerbaijanis, and the Armenians had already accumulated sufficient experience to carry out such a task. The monstrous plan was carried out ahead of schedule, and by 1990 there were no indigenous people left in the Armenian SSR. In March 1989, at the unveiling of the monument to Nzhdeh in Gafan, the first secretary of the local district party committee Mkrtchyan joyfully announced: "You have worked hard, but you have not been able to purge the republic of Azerbaijanis. Your grandchildren have fulfilled your big dream." The lives of 32 Sumgayit people, 9 of whom were Azerbaijanis, were sacrificed on the altar of the "age-old Armenian dream." The organizers' calculation turned out to be accurate. The Sumgayit provocation really helped the Armenians a lot, becoming in the eyes of the "civilized" world an excuse for all their subsequent actions. The revenge action organized in February 1988 by Etchmiadzin, the KGB of the USSR and the Diaspora against fellow tribesmen who did not contribute to extremist Armenian funds served as an excuse for the outrageous atrocities of Armenians in Khojaly, Garadaghli and other cities and villages of Azerbaijan. Whenever the Azerbaijani side talked about the million refugees and internally displaced persons, about the thousands of civilians killed and tortured, our neighbors jumped up from their seats shouting "And Sumgayit?". And the "civilized" world wiped away their tears, remaining indifferent to the grief and losses of the Azerbaijani people. A few years ago, an interview with Vladmir Kalinichenko, a former senior investigator for particularly important cases under the Prosecutor General of the USSR, who was charged with conducting the investigation into the Sumgayit events, took place in the media. Quoting the investigator, the media wrote: "As for Sumgayit, I personally participated in the investigation of those events. During interrogations of a number of witnesses and rioters, he tried to identify the signs of those who led the riots. I had already begun to follow the trail, and detailed descriptions of the organizers and leaders of the mass riots began to appear, when suddenly I received instructions to transfer the materials of my investigation to the investigators of the KGB of the USSR. I gave them all the materials. But none of the organizers of the riots in Sumgayit was brought to justice. Some time later, my comrades and friends reported that Bobkov, deputy chairman of the KGB of the USSR, had categorically instructed them not to engage in organizing riots. This suggests a logical conclusion - the KGB forces were involved in the events in Sumgayit, since this structure did not identify the instigators." And this, to be honest, is not surprising at all. By grabbing the hand of the main character of the events, Eduard Grigoryan, the investigation would have to name other names and authorities involved in the crime. Grigoryan would have been followed by a train of names. These were not names that could be named and whose bearers could be condemned. Armenian loudmouths deliberately ignore Grigoryan's figure, because his Armenian surname completely breaks the thesis about the "continuation of the genocide of 1915." Although, if you open the archives, there is no doubt that the same Grigoryans will also be the organizers and performers of events in the Ottoman Empire. It was the Armenian Grigoryan who led the gang of rioters (which included several other Armenians, including Grigoryan's two brothers). He led the crowd to addresses belonging to Armenians who refused to pay contributions to separatist funds. He personally killed and raped his fellow tribesmen. During the investigation, many victims pointed to him. The cases of the participants in the events were not considered in Azerbaijan, which was expected, given who was behind this action. They were considered in Armenia and Russia. Eduard Grigoryan, despite the fact that his guilt was fully proven, was sentenced not to capital punishment, but to only 12 years. But he did not serve them either. For some reason, Grigoryan was sent to Armenia to serve his sentence, where he was later successfully released, after which he left for Russia, where he still lives. Anyway, according to the information for 2022, the bastard was alive and well. After his miraculous release, he lived in the city of Sergiev Posad in the Moscow region, and a few years ago he appeared in the Kochubeyevsky district of the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation. Those who do not believe the Azerbaijani side can find out what really happened in Sumgayit by going to Russia. I don't think you'll have to ask passersby - the criminal's residential address is probably well known in local law enforcement agencies. Grigoryan is on a "well-deserved" pension and is not afraid of anyone. Although he is wanted by Azerbaijan, he is not in danger of being extradited to Baku. He knows too much, and the KGB heirs don't give up their own. He is not afraid of the revenge of his tribesmen either, because he carried out their task in Sumgayit. No one will take revenge on him for the murdered and raped Armenian women - when it comes to territorial appetites, one can sacrifice honor. After all, as Catholicos Vazgen said about the inevitable victims, parting words to the organizers of the Sumgayit events: never mind, "let them be a sacrifice for the great Armenian people." MANILA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday it is sharpening its focus on oil palm, confident that expanded plantations in Mindanao in the southern Philippines can curb imports, raise farm incomes, and strengthen the country's edible oil supply. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government plans to significantly increase funding for the emerging sector in 2027 after this year's proposed 1 billion pesos (about 17 million U.S. dollars) allocation was trimmed to just 79 million pesos (1.4 million dollars). The DA is now targeting a 1.2 billion-peso (about 20.8 million dollars) budget next year to support fertilizer assistance, accelerate area expansion, and enhance farm productivity, highlighting a renewed push to scale up oil palm production. Oil palm plantations currently span about 100,000 hectares nationwide, with the majority located in Mindanao, the DA said. Despite rising local output, the Philippines continues to import substantial volumes of palm oil, leaving a supply gap that the DA aims to narrow. Adityanath, Nagasaki vow to boost ties LUCKNOW : UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday held discussions withYamanashi Prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki to further strengthen UP-Yamanashi cooperation. In a postonX, Adityanath said, InYamanashi Prefecture Japan, held meaningful deliberations with Kotaro Nagasaki,Governor, to further strengthen Uttar Pradesh-Yamanashi cooperation and advance our growing strategic partnership. An MoU was signed to deepen collaboration in industry, tourism and vocational education,witha strong focuson green hydrogen, clean energy innovation, and technology exchange, the post said. Uttar Pradesh is actively developing IIT Kanpur as a Centre of Excellence in Green Hydrogen to enhance energy self reliance and advance Prime Minister Shri@narendramodi Jis vision for a sustainable future, the post added. I welcome the Hon. Governors proposal to lead adelegation of 200 CEOs toUttar Pradesh in August, which will further accelerate industrial partnerships and investment momentum, the post said. During the UP Investment Road Show in Yamanashi, Adityanath presented the States new development policies and investment potential to the global industrial community. In his address, he said UP has transformed its governance approach fromre active to proactive and this transformation has become the foundation of the states rapid economic progress. During the programme, he said that a historic MoU has been signed between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi on green hydrogen technology. CBI files case against Anil Ambani, THE CBI has registered a fresh case against industrialist Anil Ambani and Reliance Communications (RCOM) for allegedly cheating the Bank of Baroda during 2013-17 causing a wrongful loss of more than Rs 2,220 crore to the bank, officials said Thursday. The case stems from a complaint received from the bank on Tuesday, they said. After registration of this case, the Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted searches at the residence of Anil Ambani and registered offices of Reliance Communication Ltd. Various documents connected with this loan transactions have been recovered, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. The allegations in the FIR are that Bank of Baroda has suffered a loss of more than Rs 2,220 crore due to the loans availed by Reliance Communications which were allegedly diverted and misutilised by creating fictitious transactions with related parties, the spokesperson said. Anil Ambani appears before ED in money laundering case: Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate here for a second round of questioning in connection with an alleged bank fraud-linked money laundering case. The 66-year-old businessman entered the federal probe agencys office in central Delhi. Officials said they have recorded his statement under the provisions of the PMLA. After the questioning for nearly 9 hours, he was asked to appear before agency on Friday again. ImmverseAIs BharatiyaGPT lauded by PM, 20 global leaders at India AI Impact Summit 2026 Raman Ramakrishnan, CEO of ImmverseAI, interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders during the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Staff Reporter : After resounding success at India AI Impact Summit, BharatiyaGPT also features in Mann Ki Baat In a significant endorsement of Indias culturally rooted Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations, BharatiyaGPT, which has been developed by ImmverseAI, received appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and more than 20 global leaders during the recently concluded India AI Impact Summit 2026. With this, the region has a reason to cheer as BharatiyaGPT has its key development and operations based in Nagpur. The platform is led by Raman Ramakrishnan, CEO, and Priti Ramakrishnan, COO/Co-founder. International leaders including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, President of Switzerland Guy Parmelin, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and other leaders hailed BharatiyaGPT during the summit. The summit, among the largest international gatherings focused on artificial intelligence, brought together heads of States, policymakers, technology leaders, innovators and members of the global start-up ecosystem to deliberate on the future of AI-driven transformation. During their visit to Bharat Mandapam, the Prime Minister and international heads of State were introduced to BharatiyaGPT, the worlds first large-scale language model built on Indic manuscript heritage. The platform presented a pioneering Manuscripts to Conversational AI framework, illustrating how ancient textual knowledge can be transformed into interactive, multilingual conversational intelligence using advanced AI technologies. Global leaders expressed keen interest in Indias approach to leveraging advanced AI technologies for preserving civilisational wisdom while making it relevant to contemporary generations. The demonstration highlighted a distinctive innovation model where tradition and technology converge to create socially meaningful technological solutions. The Global AI Impact Summit reinforced Indias growing leadership in responsible and culturally aligned AI development. For ImmverseAI, recognition from the Prime Minister and world leaders marks a significant validation of its mission to transform Bharats manuscript heritage into living, conversational intelligence for the world. The entire demonstration was led by R Ramakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of ImmverseAI. The Global AI Impact Summit reinforced Indias growing leadership in responsible and culturally aligned AI development. BharatiyaGPT in Mann Ki Baat BaratiyaGPT received national attention when the Prime Minister presented the AI technology during the 131st episode of Mann Ki Baat, where he highlighted the breakthrough innovation showcased at the summit. He noted that the high-tech innovation was rooted deeply in Indias knowledge traditions illustrated how Artificial Intelligence could be used to preserve and modernize ancient civilizational heritage. Referring to ImmverseAIs BharatiyaGPT, the Prime Minister described a multi-stage technological pipeline demonstrated using the classical medical text like Sushruta Samhita. The first stage involved AI-driven imaging to enhance and restore fragile manuscript pages. This was followed by advanced Indic OCR and Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) systems that converted the restored images into structured, machine-readable text. The knowledge was then delivered through an AI-powered avatar interface enabling interactive engagement with the original source, supported by multilingual translation capabilities to make the content accessible across Indian and global audiences. Through this the Prime Minister emphasised Indias vision of using modern technology to safeguard and scale its civilisational knowledge. BharatiyaGPT, Modi noted, represents how innovation can bridge heritage and the future, ensuring Bharat's ancient timeless wisdom remains accessible to humanity. India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic part INDIA and Israel on Thursday elevated their time-tested relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to fast-track a long-awaited free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict. In his media statement after holding wide-ranging talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi said Indias security interests are directly linked to peace and stability in the Middle East and that New Delhi has been pitching for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Gaza. Following meeting between the two Prime Ministers, India and Israel inked a total of 17 agreements and documents that will provide for deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence, trade, investment, education, manufacturing, culture, maritime heritage, agriculture and a plethora of other areas. The two sides also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies. The US-Iran stand-off and other issues in the region figured in the talks and PM Modi mentioned Indias firm belief in the value of dialogue and reiterated New Delhis readiness to offer support, if required, toward achieving a peaceful solution, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The Prime Minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel, he said. Our economic cooperation remains an engine of growth, innovation, and shared prosperity. Last year, we signed a bilateral investment agreement to promote mutual investment. We will also soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Modi said. The Prime Minister also talked about the joint resolve of India and Israel in combating terrorism. A joint statement issued after talks between Modi and Netanyahu said the two leaders called for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. Later on Thursday Modi left for India. Organic green, brown cotton variety revived in Ngp distt By Rohit Pawar : ICAR-CIRCOT has developed technology to spin good quality yarn of green and brown cotton, now apparels on cards; Dyeing may get eliminated with availability of coloured yarn In a significant push towards sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly textiles, Nagpur district is emerging as the hub for cultivation and research of naturally coloured cotton, particularly green and brown varieties, further the market may soon see introduction of staple made from them. Scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR-CICR), Nagpur, have come up with new varieties of brown and green coloured cotton. The Institute is in talks with group of farmers in Vidarbha for introduction of the new varieties so that they can start growing the crops commercially. Speaking to The Hitavada, Dr V N Waghmare, Director, ICAR-CICR said, Commonly cotton lint is white but some cotton varieties bear colours. Naturally Coloured Cotton (NCC) is a naturally pigmented fibre that grows in shades of brown, green, tan, blue, black etc. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, successfully developed technology to spin good quality yarn, though the cotton grown has short staple length. Dr Waghmare also added that various products from this fabric such as jackets, handkerchiefs and infant wears have been developed using NCC spun yarn by ICAR-CIRCOT; that makes these products 100 per cent chemical free with very high wash durability (due to inherent colour) and are also soft to feel and skin friendly. As per the information, based on available genetic resources, experiments on additional natural colours may be possible in the future. If desirable traits are present within the germplasm or developed through mutation techniques new shades of naturally pigmented cotton could emerge. According to the officials, registered cotton varieties, particularly cotton, are often not directly patented in India, as the Indian Patent Act (Section 3j) prohibits patenting plants and seeds. Instead, they are protected under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001. Researchers have identified two distinct shades in brown cotton - light brown and dark brown. Once the cotton boll bursts open, the effect of sunlight becomes clearly visible. Brown cotton tends to grow darker with increased exposure to sunlight, enhancing its richness of shade. Green cotton, although successfully developed, has yet to achieve colour stability. Its shade appears deep at the time of boll opening but gradually fades under continuous sunlight. Scientists are presently working to stabilise the green pigment while also improving fibre strength and staple length. A major milestone has been the development of the brown cotton variety Vaidehi Van, created using wild cotton species. The variety took nearly 25 years of sustained research and selective breeding. Notably, its colour does not fade even after repeated washing, a characteristic considered essential for textile applications. Importantly, all coloured cotton varieties developed, so far, are straight, non-hybrid types. This means farmers will not need to purchase new seeds every year. Once procured, seeds can be reused for several seasons and even shared with other cultivators, significantly reducing input costs and dependency on seed companies. Experts believe coloured cotton could bring transformative change to the textile industry. At present, cotton undergoes a lengthy process from fibre to yarn, yarn to fabric, and finally chemical dyeing which increases both time and cost. Naturally pigmented cotton could reduce or even eliminate the dyeing stage, lowering production expenses and offering consumers comparatively affordable garments. Conventional white cotton fabrics require chemical dyes that consume large quantities of water and release pollutants into soil and water bodies. Dyeing is also an expensive stage in textile manufacturing. By minimising the need for synthetic colouring, naturally coloured cotton could reduce industrial pollution and operational costs. While the research remains in its early stages, scientists describe the possibilities as extensive. For now, particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening and lengthening the fibre of green cotton to enhance its durability and commercial acceptance. SC to constitute expert panel to define Aravalli region NEW DELHI : THE Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Environment Ministry and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for the panel which would define the Aravalli hills and ranges, and observed that only lawful mining would be allowed in the region. The top court, on December 29, took note of the outcry over the new definition of the Aravallis and kept in abeyance its November 20 directions that accepted a uniform definition of these hills and ranges. It had also stalled all mining activities. It remarked that there was a need to resolve critical ambiguities, including whether the criteria of 100-metre elevation and the 500-metre gap between hills would strip a significant portion of the range of environmental protection. On Thursday, a top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi extended its earlier stay order for the time being. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for a litigant, said the company has a valid mining license, and it had won the right to mine after a protracted battle, and now, because of the order of this court, the same has been stalled. We will allow lawful mining only... Let the experts tell us (the definition). We will cross all bridges and reach the right destination, the CJI said. The bench also asked lawyer Jay Cheema to assist it in the hearing of the case. Senior advocate K Parmeswar is already assisting the bench as an amicus curiae. We request the ministry (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to suggest a panel of domain experts along with their profiles. Senior counsels are also requested to give profiles of some eminent domain experts for the purpose of constituting the committee, as was observed by this court, the bench said. he bench said it was conscious of the fact that all activities, especially mining by licensed firms, have also come to a halt. However, such a status quo will have to be maintained for the time being till some preliminary issues are answered in a phased manner. Post this matter for the constitution of the committee, the CJI said. The top court bench also asked the stakeholders to submit their written notes by March 10 after the amicus curiae submitted his suggestions to the bench on the aspect of definitions of the Aravalli hills and ranges. The bench said it will set up the panel of experts and frame issues to be decided on the next date of hearing. Earlier, the bench said it seemed prima facie that the earlier report of a committee and the verdict had omitted to expressly clarify certain critical issues and there is a dire need to further probe to prevent any regulatory gaps that might undermine the ecological integrity of the Aravalli region. It had also directed that, as set out in the order dated May 9, 2024, until further orders, no permission shall be granted for mining in the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, as defined in the August 25, 2010, FSI report, without its prior permission. There has been a significant outcry among environmentalists, who have expressed profound concern about the potential for misinterpretation and improper implementation of the newly adopted definition and this courts directions, the bench had said. The top court had on November 20, 2025, accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and banned the grant of fresh mining leases inside its areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat until experts reports are out. It had accepted the recommendations of a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges to protect the worlds oldest mountain system. The committee had recommended that Aravalli Hill be defined as any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief, and an Aravalli Range will be a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. Sharad Pawar hospitalised forfollow-up care in Mumbai MUMBAI : NATIONALIST Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar has been admitted to a leading private hospital in Mumbai for follow-up medical care, a close aide informed on Thursday. The 85- y ear-old R a jya Sabha MP, who was discharged from Pune s Ruby Hall Clinic on Wednesday morning,was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai hours later, he said. Pawar came to Breach Candy Hospital immediately on arrival from Pune and was admitted for follow-up medical care, said the aide. The former Union Minister underwent treatment for mild dehydration at Ruby Hall Clinic. Earlier this month, the veteran politician was admitted to the same hospital in Pune following a chest infection. A nurse (L) and nursing assistant (R) help an inpatient with post-surgery rehabilitation exercises at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026. China's hospitals are piloting "companion-free" care services to ease the heavy burden of daily care-giving on the inpatients' families. The new mode of operation requires hosting hospitals to directly employ trained nursing assistants to provide 24-hour non-medical care for inpatients with particular needs. Such services used to rely solely on family members of the inpatients or private caregivers they hire.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) A nursing assistant feeds an inpatient at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) A family member of an inpatient learns about the "companion-free" care services at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) A nurse (R) explains the "companion-free" care services to a family member of an inpatient at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) A sign for "companion-free" care services is displayed on an inpatient status screen at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Medical workers share information on status of inpatients at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) A nursing assistant helps an inpatient walk at a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) THE UNIFIER THE historic address of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in the Israeli Parliament holds a golden value in taking ahead the Indo-Israel iron alliance. By becoming the first Indian premier to address the Knesset, Mr. Modi has opened a new pathway to further merge the Indian thinking of global peace through punishing evil with Israels right to ward off radicalism by force. Mr. Modis words that India stands firmly with the Jewish State in confronting Islamist terrorism will keep resonating in Israel for the spiritual strength of the pledge. The Indian PMs visit is set to take the partnership between the two traditional and close allies to a new level notwithstanding the moments of discomfort caused by geopolitical pressures. From the welcome accorded by Israel Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara to the address in the Knesset, Israel displayed the value it attaches to its ties with India, especially with Mr. Modi. The personal chemistry between the two premiers is already well documented. With an address in the Knesset where Mr. Modi hailed Israels right to self-defence against radical Islamist forces, the bond has travelled beyond the political and diplomatic relationship contours. It is an iron-clad clasp of two nations who share the pain of losing innocent lives to Islamist terrorism for years. Asserting Indias support to Israel with full conviction and condemning the massacre of October 7, 2023 by Hamas militants, Mr. Modi has told the world that India would never compromise on its firm belief against terrorism in all forms despite pressures of geopolitical maneuvers to choose a stand of convenience on certain matters. India has always backed Israels right to self-defence on international platforms while convincing the Islamic nations about the logic behind it. The neutral position New Delhi takes on certain issues pertaining to Israel and Palestine also has its roots in the ancient Indian thinking of looking at the world as one family. This visit by Mr. Modi and his historic address in the Israeli Parliament was the public acknowledgement of Indias neutrality by the Jewish State. India has always dealt with the Israel-Palestine conflict with a balanced approach. It is a vocal propagator of two-State solution seeking a peaceful coexistence of the State of Israel and a State of Palestine (whenever it will be created). This stand has never changed despite change in regimes in New Delhi. Under Mr. Modi, India has further moved to dehyphenate Israel and Palestine with separate visits to both regions. The stand was never questioned in Tel Aviv nor by the Palestine supporters because it was borne out of larger human good. With the same principle, India has gone ahead in making deep friendship with the Arab nations around Israel and the Muslim world in other parts of the world. The address in Knesset was hailing of Indias role as a unifier in this world fragmented far too often on religious lines. Another significant outcome of Mr. Modis visit to Israel is the acceptance of Indias position on the Board of Peace designed by United States President Mr. Donald Trump. India has not officially joined the initiative but attended its first meeting as an observer. The stand was again derived from the time-tested policy of neutrality before getting total grasp of the issue. India views the Board of Peace as Mr. Trumps attempt to replace the United Nations. It cannot allow demeaning of an international institution which can still be a great platform after reforms. Indias position has been well understood by Israel as it chose to respect New Delhis strategic autonomy. At the same time, India has done well to back the Gaza peace initiative for establishing peace in the enclave. The support is for the plan to weed out Hamas militants through demilitarisation and monitoring of the Gaza Strip with the help of International Stabilisation Force. That both stands taken by New Delhi have earned respect in Tel Aviv is another confirmation of Indias global standing. By Xinhua writer Xia Xiao DUBAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- High-performance computing (HPC) has evolved from a specialized tool into a core pillar of national scientific capability in the era of artificial intelligence and big data, Turing Award laureate Jack Dongarra said. "I see high-performance computing as part of a nation's scientific 'instrumentation,' alongside telescopes, light sources and accelerators," Dongarra said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "It's how we turn theory, data and experiments into predictive capability." As computing becomes strategic infrastructure, building national HPC capacity involves more than acquiring powerful machines, he said. "The hardest part is building a capability that delivers time-to-science," Dongarra said, referring to the ability to translate computing power into timely scientific results. That requires clear mission focus -- whether for large-scale simulation, AI training, data analytics or digital twins -- as well as reliable power, cooling and operational capacity at scale. Dongarra said the boundary between HPC and AI is rapidly blurring. "AI and HPC aren't two separate worlds anymore," he said, noting that AI techniques are increasingly embedded in scientific applications, while HPC systems underpin large-scale AI training and inference. He said the most significant integration will come in AI-for-science, where physics-based models, data and machine learning reinforce one another. Success, he added, depends on linking models to real-world data and validating results at scale. As countries treat computing as strategic infrastructure, geopolitical factors are reshaping technology supply chains. "A country needs enough autonomy to ensure resilience, especially for critical workloads, but it also needs openness to stay at the scientific frontier," Dongarra said. "If you close everything, you slow down. If you open everything without policy, you invite risk." Asked about China's recent progress in HPC, Dongarra gave a positive assessment. He said China has treated HPC as a strategic national capability "systematically and at scale," supported by sustained long-term investment, close alignment between national priorities and computing, and a focus on domestic supply chains and ecosystem development. He also highlighted China's efforts to build full technology stacks, including hardware, systems integration and increasingly software. "The trajectory has been clear: sustained effort, growing maturity and expanding impact," he said. Chinese researchers have made strong contributions in system design, parallel algorithms, numerical methods, large-scale AI and domain-specific applications, he added. Despite geopolitical tensions, Dongarra said China could play a constructive role in global scientific collaboration, particularly in areas of shared benefit such as climate, energy systems, public health and sustainable computing. "China should be at the table in global discussions on sustainable computing," he said. "The scale of deployment -- anywhere in the world -- will shape supply chains, standards and the environmental footprint of our field. If we can align incentives toward efficiency and reproducibility, everybody benefits." LOreal SA (OTCMKTS:LRLCY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $95.48 and last traded at $95.16, with a volume of 60348 shares. The stock had previously closed at $93.71. Analyst Ratings Changes LRLCY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of LOreal from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of LOreal in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded shares of LOreal from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of LOreal in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded LOreal to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, LOreal has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get L'Oreal alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on LRLCY LOreal Stock Down 0.3% About LOreal The companys 50 day moving average price is $89.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $88.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.19. (Get Free Report) LOreal SA is a global beauty and personal care company, founded in 1909 by Eugene Schueller and headquartered in Clichy, France. The company develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of consumer and professional products across cosmetics, skin care, hair care, hair color, and fragrances. LOreal serves customers around the world through a combination of direct retail, salons, pharmacies, department stores and e-commerce, operating in numerous countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Operations are organized around several business divisions that target distinct channels and consumer segments, including Consumer Products, LOreal Luxe, Professional Products and Active Cosmetics. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for L'Oreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for L'Oreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adore Beauty Group (ASX:ABY) reported a strong start to FY26, with management pointing to improving profitability, accelerating new customer growth, and early traction from its expanding omnichannel strategy during the 26 weeks ended 28 December 2025. Get alerts: Record underlying EBITDA and revenue growth CEO Sacha Laing said the group delivered record underlying profit despite what she described as a challenging retail environment, attributing the result to operating leverage, disciplined cost management, and growth in owned brands. Revenue of AUD 111.9 million , up 8.7% versus the prior corresponding period , up 8.7% versus the prior corresponding period Record underlying EBITDA of AUD 4.1 million on a pre-AASB 16 basis, up 14.5% year-over-year, at a 3.7% margin on a basis, up 14.5% year-over-year, at a 3.7% margin Statutory EBITDA of AUD 4.9 million Gross margin of 35% , following what management described as a strong Black Friday and NovemberDecember trading period , following what management described as a strong Black Friday and NovemberDecember trading period New customer growth of 21.8% compared with the prior year For the half, Adore Beauty reported: New CFO Marcus Crowe said profit growth was driven by higher revenue, increased contribution from margin-accretive own brands and retail media, and cost control, with marketing efficiency a notable contributor. EBITDA reporting change tied to retail footprint Crowe said the company has changed how it reports profit, commencing reporting EBITDA on an underlying and pre-AASB 16 basis due to the growing retail footprint and the requirements of AASB 16. He said the measure takes account of rental costs and best reflects the underlying performance of an omnichannel business. Laing noted the 3.7% EBITDA margin on this basis was equivalent to 5.5% under the previous reporting methodology, and management said the result was in line with guidance. Marketing efficiency, loyalty, and app adoption Management emphasized improved marketing efficiency and growth in its loyalty ecosystem. Laing said customer acquisition costs more than halved, with new customers growing at the fastest rate in more than four years. Crowe added marketing costs fell by almost 30%, with marketing as a percentage of sales down 520 basis points to 8.6%. The company also highlighted rising loyalty participation. Laing said Adore Rewards loyalty members contributed 78% of sales in the half, up from 65% in the prior year. Later in the presentation, she said members contributed 77% of sales and that the loyalty program grew to 509,000 members. Adore Beautys active customer base increased 4.7% year-over-year to 850,000, while the contactable database rose more than 14% to 1.35 million. Laing said this database supports more cost-effective targeting and marketing efficiency, and referenced a FY27 target of more than 1.25 million active customers. App adoption also increased. Laing said the app represented 35% of online sales in the half, up from 25% in the prior year. Store rollout and omnichannel strategy The company said it stepped up its retail rollout in the half. Laing stated Adore Beauty opened 10 retail stores across the group in the first half (and said an additional store opened in early January), bringing the national store network to 18 across the Adore Beauty and EQ brands. Management said two more stores are expected to open in the second half of FY26, with sites secured for a further four stores later in calendar 2026, and reiterated a target network of 25+ stores by the end of FY27. Laing said the retail channel is performing with higher conversion than e-commerce at 11.1%, just under the companys longer-term 12% target, and that new customers accounted for almost 30% of in-store transactions. She also said more than 670,000 customers have visited stores so far, describing stores as a way to introduce the brand to a broader customer base and improve quality of earnings, as in-store customers are typically less promotionally driven. The company also discussed an emerging cohort of customers shopping across both channels, saying omnichannel customers contributed more than 5% of revenue in the half and have a lifetime value around 20% higher than single-channel customers. On store performance, Laing said Western Australia has outperformed due to lower prior online penetration, aligning with the strategy of bringing the brand to customers who have not previously experienced it. Infrastructure investments and FY26 outlook Management outlined several investments aimed at improving operational efficiency. Laing said the company secured a long-term lease for a new semi-automated national fulfillment center, expected to roll out in Q1 FY27, and expects its ERP replacement to go live in Q4. She also said the group is developing a custom AI platform for customer experience and internal analysis, with in-house AI being integrated into customer support, workflows, and business analysis. On the fulfillment center, Laing said the 6,300 square meter Broadmeadows facility is expected to include automated picking and replenishment. She said the initial capital outlay is approximately AUD 8 million, predominantly funded by a CBA-backed project-based facility, with expected payback in under four years. Crowe said the company ended the half with a closing cash balance of AUD 8.2 million and generated operating cash flows of AUD 2.4 million. He attributed higher inventory partly to typical Christmas supply closures and in-store stock, and said the company is exploring funding options to support its growth strategy. Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its FY26 expectations, including: Underlying group EBITDA margin of 3%4% on a pre-AASB 16 basis (equivalent to 5%6% under the prior methodology) on a pre-AASB 16 basis (equivalent to 5%6% under the prior methodology) Owned brands representing more than 6% of group revenue in FY26 representing more than in FY26 Continued loyalty member and app growth to offset reduced promotional intensity to offset reduced promotional intensity A national retail network of 20 stores by the end of the half During Q&A, Laing said there is no equivalent promotional spike like Black Friday in the second half, and that the company intends to remove unprofitable promotions while leaning on loyalty, app adoption, and the largely full-price store channel to support margin outcomes. She also said the company did not provide a trading update for January and February, consistent with its approach over the last two years. Asked about market share, Laing said the companys 8.7% growth compared with an industry category growth rate of around 4% implied meaningful share gains during the half. About Adore Beauty Group (ASX:ABY) Adore Beauty Group Limited operates an integrated content, marketing, and e-commerce retail platform in Australia and New Zealand. The company retails beauty and personal care products, including skin, hair, make up, accessories, and others, as well as wellness and fragrance products under various brands. It also offers Beauty IQ, an editorial content platform that offers beauty news, reviews, tips, and expert how-to articles to educate the customers on purchasing decisions. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Northcote, Australia. See Also Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $12.43 and last traded at $12.70, with a volume of 151382 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.75. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently weighed in on BCSF. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Bain Capital Specialty Finance from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $16.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $14.00 target price on shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.00. Get Bain Capital Specialty Finance alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Bain Capital Specialty Finance Bain Capital Specialty Finance Price Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average of $13.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.17. The stock has a market cap of $849.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.03 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. Bain Capital Specialty Finance (NYSE:BCSF Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.01. Bain Capital Specialty Finance had a return on equity of 11.03% and a net margin of 33.45%.The company had revenue of $68.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.48 million. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current year. Bain Capital Specialty Finance Increases Dividend The business 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 dividend of $0.42 per share. This is an increase from Bain Capital Specialty Finances previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. Bain Capital Specialty Finances payout ratio is presently 116.67%. Institutional Trading of Bain Capital Specialty Finance Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCSF. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its position in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 1.4% during the second quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 51,245 shares of the companys stock worth $771,000 after acquiring an additional 723 shares during the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 38.8% during the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 2,682 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. CFO4Life Group LLC raised its position in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. CFO4Life Group LLC now owns 30,908 shares of the companys stock worth $465,000 after purchasing an additional 836 shares during the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 23,143 shares of the companys stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 1,193 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC lifted its stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC now owns 27,375 shares of the companys stock valued at $412,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. About Bain Capital Specialty Finance (Get 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. See Also 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. A damaged vehicle is pictured following an airstrike in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Mosharraf Zaidi, the prime minister's spokesperson, said in a statement that 72 Afghan militants were killed, more than 120 were injured, 16 posts were destroyed, and seven Afghan posts were captured in retaliatory attacks by Pakistani forces. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan launched airstrikes on Taliban facilities in Afghanistan, destroying key targets including an ammunition depot in Nangarhar province, a security source told Xinhua on Friday morning. According to the source, Pakistan conducted the airstrikes as part of the Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (Wrath of Justice), which was launched after Afghan Taliban started attacks on Pakistani posts at the border on Thursday evening. "One major ammunition depot, three Afghan battalions, and a sector headquarters were completely destroyed," said the source, adding that more than 36 tanks, artillery guns, and armored personnel carriers were also destroyed. Mosharraf Zaidi, the prime minister's spokesperson, said in a statement that 72 Afghan militants were killed, more than 120 were injured, 16 posts were destroyed, and seven Afghan posts were captured in retaliatory attacks by Pakistani forces. Earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said in a statement that at least two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three others injured after Afghan Taliban opened fire on Pakistani posts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The minister said that security forces had launched an immediate and effective response and the country would take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and safeguard the safety and security of its citizens. Local sources told Xinhua that at least one woman was killed and five others were injured after mortar shells fired from the Afghanistan side fell in the residential area in the Lagharai area of the Bajaur district in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Erste Asset Management GmbH grew its stake in shares of Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI Free Report) by 20.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,519,591 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 419,219 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbHs holdings in Bath & Body Works were worth $65,660,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in shares of Bath & Body Works during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Bath & Body Works by 217.7% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,169 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 801 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in Bath & Body Works by 24.6% during the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,842 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 364 shares in the last quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Bath & Body Works during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, Westfuller Advisors LLC bought a new position in Bath & Body Works during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.14% of the companys stock. Get Bath & Body Works alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BBWI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Bath & Body Works from $26.00 to $15.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Bath & Body Works from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $21.00 to $25.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Bath & Body Works from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America set a $26.00 price target on shares of Bath & Body Works in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lowered shares of Bath & Body Works from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $38.00 to $17.00 in a report on Friday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bath & Body Works presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $23.29. Bath & Body Works Price Performance Shares of BBWI opened at $23.32 on Friday. Bath & Body Works, Inc. has a 12 month low of $14.27 and a 12 month high of $38.28. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $22.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.79. The company has a market cap of $4.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.18, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.54. Bath & Body Works Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Bath & Body Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 24.62%. Bath & Body Works Profile (Free Report) Bath & Body Works, Inc is a leading specialty retailer focused on personal care, home fragrance and complementary products. Through its flagship Bath & Body Works brand, the company offers a diverse assortment of shower gels, lotions, fragrance mists, candles and home fragrance items. Its product portfolio also includes the White Barn Candle Co range of premium scented candles and diffusers. Bath & Body Works serves consumers through a combination of brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms, delivering seasonal collections, limited-edition releases and signature scent lines. Founded in 1990 as part of Limited Brands (now L Brands), Bath & Body Works opened its first store in New Albany, Ohio, and quickly expanded across the United States. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BBWI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bath & Body Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bath & Body Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Celsius, Canadian Natural Resources, Canadian National Railway, Bank Of Montreal, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and TC Energy are the seven Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are shares of ownership in companies incorporated in Canada or primarily listed on Canadian exchanges (such as the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange). To investors they provide exposure to the Canadian economy, major sectors like natural resources and financials, and the Canadian dollar, while carrying the same market and company-specific risks as equities elsewhere. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Celsius (CELH) Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Read Our Latest Research Report on CNQ Canadian National Railway (CNI) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Read Our Latest Research Report on CNI Bank Of Montreal (BMO) Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The companys personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products. Read Our Latest Research Report on BMO Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers. Read Our Latest Research Report on CP Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Read Our Latest Research Report on CM TC Energy (TRP) TC Energy Corporation operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. It operates through five segments: Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines; U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines; Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines; Liquids Pipelines; and Power and Energy Solutions. The company builds and operates a network of 93,600 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, which transports natural gas from supply basins to local distribution companies, power generation plants, industrial facilities, interconnecting pipelines, LNG export terminals, and other businesses. Read Our Latest Research Report on TRP Featured Stories Cars.com (NYSE:CARS Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.12), FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $183.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $183.44 million. Cars.com had a net margin of 4.16% and a return on equity of 18.32%. The firms revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.49 EPS. Here are the key takeaways from Cars.coms conference call: Get Cars.com alerts: New CEO Toby Hartmann is refocusing Cars.com on an integrated marketplace flywheel prioritizing product integration, process and cost optimization, and organizational changes to lift growth above low single digits in the short-to-medium term. New CEO Toby Hartmann is refocusing Cars.com on an integrated prioritizing product integration, process and cost optimization, and organizational changes to lift growth above low single digits in the short-to-medium term. Full-year 2025 revenue was $723 million (up 1%) with Q4 revenue of $183.9 million (+2%), Adjusted EBITDA margin around 29.2%, and free cash flow of $125.7 million ; the company repurchased $86 million of shares (9% of float) in 2025. Full-year 2025 revenue was (up 1%) with Q4 revenue of (+2%), Adjusted EBITDA margin around 29.2%, and free cash flow of ; the company repurchased $86 million of shares (9% of float) in 2025. Dealer-facing products showed traction: dealer count rose to 19,544 (+338 YoY) with Marketplace adding 100+ dealers sequentially for the third straight quarter, Premium+ subscribers more than doubled, and AccuTrade adoption (1,180 customers) plus the new AccuTrade IMS and AI features (Carson, VIN videos) drove higher engagement. Dealer-facing products showed traction: dealer count rose to 19,544 (+338 YoY) with Marketplace adding 100+ dealers sequentially for the third straight quarter, Premium+ subscribers more than doubled, and AccuTrade adoption (1,180 customers) plus the new and AI features (Carson, VIN videos) drove higher engagement. OEM and national advertising remained soft (roughly a $1.5M YoY decline in Q4), and Cars.com guided 2026 revenue to be flat to +2% with Q1 revenue flat to +1% and Q1 Adjusted EBITDA margin pressured to 2627% partly due to DealerClub-related losses. OEM and national advertising remained soft (roughly a $1.5M YoY decline in Q4), and Cars.com guided 2026 revenue to be flat to +2% with Q1 revenue flat to +1% and Q1 Adjusted EBITDA margin pressured to 2627% partly due to DealerClub-related losses. Management expects to free up cost savings to reinvest in marketplace initiatives while maintaining capital returnstargeting at least $60 million of share buybacks in 2026 and beginning to pay down revolver debt from a net leverage of ~1.9x and liquidity of $351M. Cars.com Stock Down 4.9% Shares of NYSE:CARS traded down $0.45 on Friday, reaching $8.64. The company had a trading volume of 1,550,007 shares, compared to its average volume of 812,260. Cars.com has a twelve month low of $8.29 and a twelve month high of $13.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $516.46 million, a P/E ratio of 18.79 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $11.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.95. Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Trading of Cars.com In other news, CFO Sonia Jain sold 11,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.45, for a total value of $153,330.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 243,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,276,984.90. The trade was a 4.47% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, insider Matthew B. Crawford sold 27,358 shares of Cars.com stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.03, for a total transaction of $329,116.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 71,103 shares of the companys stock, valued at $855,369.09. This trade represents a 27.79% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . 2.39% of the stock is owned by insiders. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in shares of Cars.com by 30.0% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 7,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 1,623 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Cars.com by 436.0% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 7,960 shares of the companys stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 6,475 shares during the last quarter. Virtus Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cars.com during the third quarter worth approximately $100,000. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in shares of Cars.com during the second quarter valued at approximately $115,000. Finally, AXA S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Cars.com in the second quarter valued at approximately $126,000. Institutional investors own 89.15% of the companys stock. Cars.com News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Cars.com this week: Positive Sentiment: Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $25 price target, signaling a large upside thesis from that shop. Benzinga TickerReport Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $25 price target, signaling a large upside thesis from that shop. Positive Sentiment: BTIG cut its price target from $17 to $13 but maintained a buy rating, indicating some confidence in Cars.coms multiquarter recovery potential despite a lower nearterm valuation. Benzinga TickerReport BTIG cut its price target from $17 to $13 but maintained a buy rating, indicating some confidence in Cars.coms multiquarter recovery potential despite a lower nearterm valuation. Positive Sentiment: Cars.com reported record fullyear revenue, expanded its dealer customer base, generated strong operating cash flow ($152M annual) and repurchased ~7.1M shares ($86M), which support longerterm shareholder value. PR Newswire Cars.com reported record fullyear revenue, expanded its dealer customer base, generated strong operating cash flow ($152M annual) and repurchased ~7.1M shares ($86M), which support longerterm shareholder value. Neutral Sentiment: Company highlighted marketplace integration and plans to advance AIpowered solutions and expects dealer revenue growth in 2026 a positive strategic roadmap but with benefits that may unfold over multiple quarters. MSN Article Company highlighted marketplace integration and plans to advance AIpowered solutions and expects dealer revenue growth in 2026 a positive strategic roadmap but with benefits that may unfold over multiple quarters. Neutral Sentiment: Full Q4 earnings call transcript and analyst writeups provide additional detail on margin trends, product initiatives and cadence of dealer revenue useful for investors doing deeper due diligence. SA Transcript Zacks Full Q4 earnings call transcript and analyst writeups provide additional detail on margin trends, product initiatives and cadence of dealer revenue useful for investors doing deeper due diligence. Negative Sentiment: Cars.com missed Q4 EPS (reported $0.44 vs. $0.56 consensus) and EPS fell yearoveryear, which is the primary catalyst for the intraday weakness. Zacks Miss Cars.com missed Q4 EPS (reported $0.44 vs. $0.56 consensus) and EPS fell yearoveryear, which is the primary catalyst for the intraday weakness. Negative Sentiment: The company issued Q1 and FY2026 revenue guidance below consensus (Q1: ~$179.0M$180.8M vs. ~$183.4M consensus; FY: $723.2M$737.7M vs. $735.1M consensus), which disappointed investors and pressured the stock. Press Release / Slides The company issued Q1 and FY2026 revenue guidance below consensus (Q1: ~$179.0M$180.8M vs. ~$183.4M consensus; FY: $723.2M$737.7M vs. $735.1M consensus), which disappointed investors and pressured the stock. Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan reiterated a neutral rating but cut its price target from $16 to $10, signaling more cautious nearterm expectations from a major sellside firm. Benzinga Finviz Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Cars.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Cars.com from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and issued a $13.50 price target on shares of Cars.com in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Cars.com in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, BTIG Research dropped their price objective on Cars.com from $17.00 to $13.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $16.08. View Our Latest Research Report on CARS Cars.com Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cars.com operates as a leading online automotive marketplace in the United States, connecting car shoppers with new and used vehicle listings from dealerships and private sellers. The platform enables consumers to research makes and models, compare prices, read expert and user reviews, and access tools such as TrueCost to estimate ownership expenses over time. Through its website and mobile applications, Cars.com aims to simplify the car-buying process by aggregating detailed vehicle data, payment calculators, and dealership ratings into a single user-friendly experience. On the dealer side, Cars.com provides a suite of marketing and lead-generation services designed to help automotive retailers reach potential buyers and manage their online presence. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Cars.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cars.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Chinook Tyee Industry Ltd (CVE:XCX Get Free Report) were up 21.6% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$0.53 and last traded at C$0.45. Approximately 203,469 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 356% from the average daily volume of 44,615 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.37. Chinook Tyee Industry Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.15, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market cap of C$9.10 million and a PE ratio of -2.60. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$0.45. About Chinook Tyee Industry (Get Free Report) Chinook Tyee Industry Limited operates as a financial service company in Canada. The company was formerly known as Global Railway Industries Ltd. and changed its name to Chinook Tyee Industry Limited in August 2013. Chinook Tyee Industry Limited is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chinook Tyee Industry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chinook Tyee Industry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clipper Realty Inc. (NYSE:CLPR Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.095 per share on Thursday, March 19th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 12th. Clipper Realty Stock Performance Shares of CLPR traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $3.33. 11,518 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 61,835. The company has a market cap of $53.70 million, a PE ratio of -2.97 and a beta of 0.98. The firms 50 day moving average is $3.54 and its 200-day moving average is $3.80. Clipper Realty has a 52 week low of $3.27 and a 52 week high of $4.74. Get Clipper Realty alerts: Clipper Realty (NYSE:CLPR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.30) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by ($0.41). The company had revenue of $37.07 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $38.10 million. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Clipper Realty will post 0.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, Director Sam Levinson purchased 33,494 shares of Clipper Realty stock in a transaction on Monday, December 29th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $3.71 per share, with a total value of $124,262.74. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 57,099 shares in the company, valued at approximately $211,837.29. This trade represents a 141.89% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 58,263 shares of company stock worth $216,184. 53.01% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Clipper Realty during the second quarter worth about $955,000. Focus Partners Wealth bought a new stake in shares of Clipper Realty in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $335,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Clipper Realty during the 4th quarter worth approximately $202,000. Jane Street Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Clipper Realty by 56.4% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 142,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $545,000 after purchasing an additional 51,231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Clipper Realty in the first quarter valued at $193,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 37.57% of the companys stock. About Clipper Realty (Get Free Report) Clipper Realty Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and manages multifamily residential and mixeduse properties in the Greater New York metropolitan area. Since its initial public offering in early 2017, the company has focused on strategically sourcing apartment buildings and retail space in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with an emphasis on valueadd opportunities that can benefit from inhouse leasing, renovation and operational efficiencies. The companys primary activities include property acquisition, selective repositioning and asset management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Clipper Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clipper Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2027 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 2.900-2.900 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 2.960. The company issued revenue guidance of $34.7 billion-$35.7 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $31.8 billion. Dell Technologies also updated its FY 2027 guidance to 12.900-12.900 EPS. Dell Technologies Price Performance DELL stock traded down $1.96 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $121.52. 14,177,681 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,720,305. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $120.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.03. Dell Technologies has a one year low of $66.25 and a one year high of $168.08. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The technology company reported $3.89 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.53 by $0.36. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 5.01% and a negative return on equity of 234.84%. The business had revenue of $33.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.68 EPS. Dell Technologiess quarterly revenue was up 39.5% on a year-over-year basis. Dell Technologies has set its Q1 2027 guidance at 2.900-2.900 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 12.900-12.900 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Dell Technologies will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Dell Technologies Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 20th were given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 20th. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.00%. A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $165.00 to $160.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Dell Technologies from $111.00 to $101.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Dell Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. They set a buy rating and a $165.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded Dell Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, Mizuho raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $158.53. View Our Latest Stock Report on Dell Technologies Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Egon Durban sold 71,000 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.12, for a total value of $9,806,520.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,172,428 shares in the company, valued at $161,935,755.36. This trade represents a 5.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 42.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Key Dell Technologies News Here are the key news stories impacting Dell Technologies this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat Dell reported quarterly EPS of $3.89, well above consensus, marking a strong sequential and yearoveryear improvement. Read More. Q4 earnings beat Dell reported quarterly EPS of $3.89, well above consensus, marking a strong sequential and yearoveryear improvement. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Revenue topped expectations the company reported roughly $33B in quarterly revenue, comfortably above Street estimates and reflecting doubledigit YoY growth. Read More. Revenue topped expectations the company reported roughly $33B in quarterly revenue, comfortably above Street estimates and reflecting doubledigit YoY growth. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Very strong FY2027 guidance Dell raised fiscal 2027 EPS guidance to $12.90 and set revenue guidance of $138B$142B, well above consensus, signaling managements confidence in sustained AI server demand. Read More. Very strong FY2027 guidance Dell raised fiscal 2027 EPS guidance to $12.90 and set revenue guidance of $138B$142B, well above consensus, signaling managements confidence in sustained AI server demand. Read More. Positive Sentiment: AI server demand is the growth driver multiple reports cite a record backlog for AIoptimized PowerEdge servers as the core reason for the revenue surge and the upbeat outlook. Read More. AI server demand is the growth driver multiple reports cite a record backlog for AIoptimized PowerEdge servers as the core reason for the revenue surge and the upbeat outlook. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Market reaction shares jumped in extended trading after the results and guidance, reflecting investor enthusiasm for Dells AI positioning. Read More. Market reaction shares jumped in extended trading after the results and guidance, reflecting investor enthusiasm for Dells AI positioning. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Q1 guide mixed management issued Q1 EPS guidance of $2.90 (slightly below consensus) while giving Q1 revenue guidance above estimates; watch nextquarter execution for confirmation. Read More. Q1 guide mixed management issued Q1 EPS guidance of $2.90 (slightly below consensus) while giving Q1 revenue guidance above estimates; watch nextquarter execution for confirmation. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst positioning some firms trimmed price targets ahead of earnings but kept bullish ratings, so analyst sentiment is constructive but pricing has been adjusted. Read More. Analyst positioning some firms trimmed price targets ahead of earnings but kept bullish ratings, so analyst sentiment is constructive but pricing has been adjusted. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Intraday weakness and broader market noise Dell traded down during the regular session amid techwide weakness (Nvidia volatility), which tempered gains before the afterhours rally. Read More. Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ancora Advisors LLC increased its stake in Dell Technologies by 18.6% in the third quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 556 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $79,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT increased its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 2,843 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $358,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership now owns 300 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its position in Dell Technologies by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 668 shares of the technology companys stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in Dell Technologies by 0.8% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 12,638 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,549,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock. Dell Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dell Technologies Inc is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures and sells a broad range of information technology products, solutions and services. Its offerings span client computing devices (consumer and commercial laptops and desktops), enterprise infrastructure (servers, storage systems and networking equipment), software and cloud infrastructure, and a variety of professional services such as IT consulting, deployment, managed services and financing solutions. The company serves organizations of all sizes as well as individual consumers, with products and services aimed at enabling digital transformation and modern IT environments. Founded by Michael Dell in 1984, the company grew from a direct-to-consumer PC business into a diversified IT provider through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Enerflex Ltd. (NYSE:EFXT Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $19.95 and last traded at $19.96, with a volume of 247237 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $19.31. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently weighed in on EFXT. Zacks Research cut shares of Enerflex from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Raymond James Financial downgraded Enerflex from a strong-buy rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Enerflex from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Enerflex in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price objective on shares of Enerflex in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $14.63. Get Enerflex alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Enerflex Enerflex Price Performance Enerflex Dividend Announcement The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market cap of $2.83 billion, a PE ratio of 18.06 and a beta of 1.95. The companys fifty day moving average is $17.13 and its 200 day moving average is $13.72. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.0425 per share. This represents a $0.17 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th. Enerflexs payout ratio is currently 10.91%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Enerflex by 351.0% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,131,144 shares of the companys stock worth $8,747,000 after acquiring an additional 880,358 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Enerflex by 984.3% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 22,791 shares of the companys stock valued at $176,000 after acquiring an additional 20,689 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Enerflex by 51.9% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,203,297 shares of the companys stock worth $17,031,000 after buying an additional 752,893 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Enerflex by 26.7% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 141,524 shares of the companys stock worth $1,117,000 after acquiring an additional 29,821 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd grew its position in Enerflex by 314.8% in the 2nd quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 162,696 shares of the companys stock worth $1,284,000 after purchasing an additional 123,476 shares during the last quarter. 46.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Enerflex (Get Free Report) Enerflex Ltd is a Calgaryheadquartered energy infrastructure company specializing in the design, fabrication, installation and aftermarket support of natural gas compression, processing, refrigeration and treatment equipment. Its product portfolio includes reciprocating and centrifugal compression systems, gas treating and refrigeration packages, fuel gas conditioning and liquid separation solutions. In addition to equipment sales, Enerflex delivers field services such as commissioning, maintenance, monitoring and parts supply to optimize asset performance throughout the lifecycle. The company supports upstream, midstream and downstream energy customers through an integrated offering that spans engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) as well as modular fabrication. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Enerflex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enerflex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE:DNA Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($1.42) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($1.80) by $0.38, FiscalAI reports. Ginkgo Bioworks had a negative return on equity of 51.15% and a negative net margin of 188.00%.The business had revenue of $33.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $37.57 million. Here are the key takeaways from Ginkgo Bioworks conference call: Get Ginkgo Bioworks alerts: Strategic refocus on autonomous labs Ginkgo plans to divest its biosecurity unit to concentrate capital and management on building and commercializing large autonomous labs, while retaining a minority stake in the spunoff business. Ginkgo plans to divest its biosecurity unit to concentrate capital and management on building and commercializing large autonomous labs, while retaining a minority stake in the spunoff business. Commercial traction and scale-up The company is expanding its Boston Nebula system from ~50 to ~100 racks and announced a $47 million DOE/PNNL contract to build a 97robot autonomous lab, demonstrating institutional demand and a pathway to system sales. The company is expanding its Boston Nebula system from ~50 to ~100 racks and announced a $47 million DOE/PNNL contract to build a 97robot autonomous lab, demonstrating institutional demand and a pathway to system sales. Sharper cash profile with explicit burn target After a 55% reduction in cash burn to $171M in 2025, Ginkgo is guiding 2026 cash burn of $125M$150M while reinvesting in AI, robotics and its frontier lab. After a 55% reduction in cash burn to $171M in 2025, Ginkgo is guiding 2026 cash burn of $125M$150M while reinvesting in AI, robotics and its frontier lab. Revenue softness and limited topline visibility Cell engineering revenue declined (Q4 down ~26%; fullyear down yearoveryear) and management declined to provide 2026 revenue guidance, prioritizing cashburn metrics instead. Ginkgo Bioworks Price Performance Shares of DNA traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $9.66. The stock had a trading volume of 871,590 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,071,139. Ginkgo Bioworks has a 52 week low of $5.00 and a 52 week high of $17.58. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $9.17 and a 200 day moving average of $10.61. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DNA has been the topic of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Ginkgo Bioworks in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Ginkgo Bioworks from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Ginkgo Bioworks from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ginkgo Bioworks currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $10.50. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on DNA Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ginkgo Bioworks A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DNA. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ginkgo Bioworks by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,480,504 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,166,000 after purchasing an additional 99,379 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its stake in shares of Ginkgo Bioworks by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 1,608,923 shares of the companys stock worth $23,458,000 after acquiring an additional 118,402 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in Ginkgo Bioworks by 113.1% in the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,427,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,137,000 after acquiring an additional 757,535 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Ginkgo Bioworks by 38.4% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,292,071 shares of the companys stock worth $10,737,000 after buying an additional 358,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Ginkgo Bioworks by 23.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 999,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,309,000 after buying an additional 191,240 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock. Ginkgo Bioworks Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc is a synthetic biology company that designs custom microbes for customers across a range of industries. Utilizing a proprietary organism foundry platform, the company engineers cells to produce high-value chemicals, enzymes, and other biological materials. By integrating automation, data analytics and machine learning, Ginkgo Bioworks seeks to accelerate the development of biologically derived solutions at industrial scale. The companys services span the entire development cycle, from genetic design and strain optimization to fermentation and downstream processing. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ginkgo Bioworks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ginkgo Bioworks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT Get Free Report) is one of 90 public companies in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Medical Properties Trust to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Volatility & Risk Medical Properties Trust has a beta of 1.43, indicating that its share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Medical Properties Trusts peers have a beta of 1.15, indicating that their average share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Medical Properties Trust alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Medical Properties Trust and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Medical Properties Trust $972.02 million -$277.05 million -12.59 Medical Properties Trust Competitors $463.71 million $16.35 million 26.59 Profitability Medical Properties Trust has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Medical Properties Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. This table compares Medical Properties Trust and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Medical Properties Trust -28.50% -5.83% -1.85% Medical Properties Trust Competitors -34.14% -18.20% -0.23% Dividends Medical Properties Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.2%. Medical Properties Trust pays out -78.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies pay a dividend yield of 4.0% and pay out 102.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Medical Properties Trust is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Institutional & Insider Ownership 71.8% of Medical Properties Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.7% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Medical Properties Trust shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 7.9% of shares of all Real Estate Investment Trusts companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Medical Properties Trust and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Medical Properties Trust 1 0 1 0 2.00 Medical Properties Trust Competitors 2346 4059 2396 22 2.01 Medical Properties Trust currently has a consensus target price of $8.00, suggesting a potential upside of 38.17%. As a group, Real Estate Investment Trusts companies have a potential upside of 16.74%. Given Medical Properties Trusts higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Medical Properties Trust is more favorable than its peers. Summary Medical Properties Trust beats its peers on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Medical Properties Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed to capitalize on the changing trends in healthcare delivery by acquiring and developing net-leased healthcare facilities. MPTs financing model allows hospitals and other healthcare facilities to unlock the value of their underlying real estate in order to fund facility improvements, technology upgrades, staff additions and new construction. Facilities include acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and other medical and surgical facilities. Receive News & Ratings for Medical Properties Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medical Properties Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC boosted its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Free Report) by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 78,897 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,502 shares during the quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLCs holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF were worth $9,524,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 1.0% in the third quarter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. now owns 12,205 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,473,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 5.3% during the third quarter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC now owns 15,471 shares of the companys stock worth $1,868,000 after buying an additional 775 shares in the last quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 17.8% during the third quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC now owns 3,002 shares of the companys stock worth $362,000 after buying an additional 454 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC raised its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 31,619 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,817,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT lifted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 16,698 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,016,000 after acquiring an additional 492 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF alerts: iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Price Performance IVW opened at $120.69 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $64.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.33 and a beta of 1.11. The firms fifty day moving average price is $122.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $121.07. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $79.31 and a 1 year high of $126.61. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Profile iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. The Growth Index is a subset of the S&P 500 and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Security personnel inspect vehicles at a temporary checkpoint following airstrikes in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2026. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan government, posted on his X account early Friday that the Pakistani military conducted airstrikes in parts of Kabul, southern Kandahar, and eastern Paktia province. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL/ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, said on Friday during a press conference on border tensions that the government has consistently emphasized peaceful solutions and continues to advocate for a constructive, non-violent approach to resolving the situation. According to Mujahid, Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft are still operating within Afghanistan's airspace, and if Pakistan persists in its aggression, the forces of the Islamic Emirate possess the capability to respond with decisive action. Earlier this morning, Pakistani aircraft conducted airstrikes in various areas of several Afghan provinces, resulting in civilian casualties, the official said. Mujahid reported that during the retaliatory operations, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured. In the clashes, 13 Afghan security personnel lost their lives, while 22 others were wounded. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday morning that the country's armed forces possess the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions and any act of belligerence will be responded to decisively, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Security personnel stand guard at a road junction following airstrikes in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2026. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan government, posted on his X account early Friday that the Pakistani military conducted airstrikes in parts of Kabul, southern Kandahar, and eastern Paktia province. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2026 shows a television broadcasting Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, addressing a press conference. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, said on Friday during a press conference on border tensions that the government has consistently emphasized peaceful solutions and continues to advocate for a constructive, non-violent approach to resolving the situation. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2026 shows a television broadcasting Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, addressing a press conference. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, said on Friday during a press conference on border tensions that the government has consistently emphasized peaceful solutions and continues to advocate for a constructive, non-violent approach to resolving the situation. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Shares of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSE:IVN Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$17.80. A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Ivanhoe Mines from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from C$18.00 to C$16.00 in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$18.50 to C$20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Ivanhoe Mines from C$28.00 to C$22.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group cut Ivanhoe Mines from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the stock from C$18.00 to C$15.00 in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Get Ivanhoe Mines alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Ivanhoe Mines Insider Activity Ivanhoe Mines Stock Performance In other news, Director Peter Meredith sold 13,459 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$16.43, for a total value of C$221,131.37. Following the sale, the director owned 841,256 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$13,821,836.08. This trade represents a 1.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider Citic Metal Africa Investments Limited sold 350,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$15.71, for a total transaction of C$5,498,500.00. Over the last three months, insiders sold 566,849 shares of company stock valued at $8,458,448. 44.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders. IVN opened at C$15.63 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a quick ratio of 20.86 and a current ratio of 1.36. The company has a market cap of C$22.19 billion, a PE ratio of 71.05 and a beta of 1.91. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$16.48 and a 200-day moving average of C$14.48. Ivanhoe Mines has a 52-week low of C$8.76 and a 52-week high of C$20.34. Ivanhoe Mines (TSE:IVN Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported C$0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$183.99 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ivanhoe Mines will post 1.0136483 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Ivanhoe Mines (Get Free Report) Ivanhoe Mines Ltd is a mineral exploration and development company. The company, together with its subsidiaries, explores, develops, and recovers minerals and precious gems from its property interests located in Africa. The group explores platinum, nickel, copper, gold, silver, cobalt, iron, vanadium, and chrome. It operates in four segments: Platreef property, Kamoa Holding joint venture, Kipushi properties, and the Companys treasury offices. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ivanhoe Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ivanhoe Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI Get Free Report) CEO Kurt James Wolf sold 150,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.30, for a total value of $1,545,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 571,137 shares in the company, valued at $5,882,711.10. This trade represents a 20.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Pitney Bowes Stock Up 1.8% Shares of PBI opened at $10.85 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.41. Pitney Bowes Inc. has a 52-week low of $7.39 and a 52-week high of $13.11. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $10.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.73. Get Pitney Bowes alerts: Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The technology company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $477.63 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $482.47 million. Pitney Bowes had a net margin of 7.65% and a negative return on equity of 36.91%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. Pitney Bowes has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.400-1.600 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Pitney Bowes Inc. will post 1.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pitney Bowes Announces Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Pitney Bowess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.37%. Several research analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Pitney Bowes in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $11.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Pitney Bowes from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Citizens Jmp reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $13.00 price target on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. They set an outperform rating for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on PBI Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pitney Bowes Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Pitney Bowes by 133.1% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 52,958 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $478,000 after buying an additional 30,238 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Pitney Bowes by 5.6% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 97,424 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $882,000 after acquiring an additional 5,149 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in shares of Pitney Bowes during the first quarter worth about $96,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in Pitney Bowes by 18.2% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 470,488 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,258,000 after purchasing an additional 72,437 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Pitney Bowes by 15.5% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 195,309 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,768,000 after purchasing an additional 26,260 shares in the last quarter. 67.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. 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. Shares of Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC Get Free Report) (TSE:MFC) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 10,891,205 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 426% from the previous sessions volume of 2,071,174 shares.The stock last traded at $35.8250 and had previously closed at $35.92. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MFC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley set a $51.00 price objective on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce raised Manulife Financial from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded Manulife Financial from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Manulife Financial currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $51.50. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MFC Manulife Financial Stock Up 1.3% The companys fifty day moving average price is $36.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $34.05. The company has a market capitalization of $60.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.15 and a beta of 0.83. Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC Get Free Report) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.04. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 16.43% and a net margin of 9.18%.The business had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.03 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Manulife Financial Corp will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be given a $0.485 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. This is an increase from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.4%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.31%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Manulife Financial A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Manulife Financial during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Manulife Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial in the second quarter worth $27,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Sfam LLC acquired a new stake in Manulife Financial during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 52.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Manulife Financial (Get Free Report) Manulife Financial Corporation is a multinational insurance and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in the late 19th century as The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, Manulife provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life and health insurance, retirement and pension solutions, wealth and asset management, and group benefits. In wealth and asset management, Manulife operates through Manulife Investment Management and offers mutual funds, segregated funds, institutional asset management, and retirement plan solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Minera Alamos Inc. (CVE:MAI Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$7.00 and last traded at C$6.94, with a volume of 171849 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$6.69. Minera Alamos Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of C$754.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.12 and a beta of 1.47. The companys 50 day moving average is C$5.67 and its 200 day moving average is C$4.53. The company has a quick ratio of 3.89, a current ratio of 4.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.24. Get Minera Alamos alerts: Insider Activity In other Minera Alamos news, insider David Rodger Stewart bought 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$4.40 per share, for a total transaction of C$52,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 44,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$195,800. This trade represents a 36.92% increase in their position. 5.11% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Minera Alamos Minera Alamos Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Santana project consists of 9 mining claims covering an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; the Cerro de Oro project that includes an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and the La Fortuna project covering an area of approximately 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico, as well as the Los Verdes property located in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Minera Alamos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Minera Alamos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nanosonics (ASX:NAN) management said the company delivered another really good and positive half in the first half of FY26, pointing to disciplined revenue growth, operating leverage, and progress on commercialization plans for its endoscope cleaning device, CORIS. Get alerts: Financial performance: revenue growth and operating leverage CEO and President Michael Kavanagh said first-half revenue rose 9% versus the prior corresponding period (8% in constant currency), supported by momentum in both recurring and capital revenue. Reported revenue for the half was AUD 102 million. Gross margin moderated to, which management attributed to U.S. tariffs, increased air freight, and product mix effects as capital salesparticularly upgradesbecame a larger component. Kavanagh said these impacts were anticipated and managed within the companys broader financial framework. Operating expenses increased 4% to AUD 69.5 million, which management said reflected cost discipline while continuing to invest in R&D and growth priorities. Operating profit reached AUD 8.5 million, and consolidated EBIT was AUD 8.4 million, down 3% on a reported basis but up 15% in constant currency. CFO Jason Burris said foreign exchange was a key driver of the reported EBIT decline. He cited a AUD 0.7 million FX loss in the half (versus a AUD 1.3 million gain in the prior period), tied primarily to revaluation of non-Australian dollar asset balances as the Australian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar to 0.67 at the balance date. Installed base and recurring revenue trends Burris said the global installed base ended the half at 38,080 devices, up 6% year over year, which management said supports protection of approximately 29 million patients annually. Recurring revenue increased 9% versus the prior period, with management highlighting growth in consumables and services. Core consumables grew in line with the installed base (management referenced ~9% growth in Q&A). grew in line with the installed base (management referenced ~9% growth in Q&A). Ecosystem consumables increased (management cited ~6% growth in Q&A), including items such as wipes and clean probe covers. increased (management cited ~6% growth in Q&A), including items such as wipes and clean probe covers. Service and repairs grew 24% , which management attributed to deeper customer engagement and maturity of the fleet. grew , which management attributed to deeper customer engagement and maturity of the fleet. Spare parts declined 23%, which management linked to customer inventory dynamics and lower replacement requirements as more customers upgrade to newer-generation systems. Capital sales: upgrades drive volume, pressure ASP Management emphasized that upgrades are becoming a more meaningful contributor to growth. Total installations increased 20% to 2,070 devices in the half, reflecting continued new placements and a record level of upgrades in North America. Capital revenue increased 9% to AUD 26.5 million. Burris said the result included several large-scale upgrade agreements and reflected volume-based pricing that lowered the average selling price for Trophon units. Kavanagh added that the majority of upgrades in the half were to Trophon2, noting that Trophon3 launched midway through the period and many customer budget approvals were already well advanced for Trophon2. Management argued that while this mix moderated near-term average selling prices, Trophon2 placements still expand the recurring revenue base and support software-led value capture over time via Trophon2 Plus, a software upgrade that brings many of Trophon3s benefits to Trophon2 users. In Q&A, Kavanagh said the company expects the Trophon2/Trophon3 mix to shift toward Trophon3 over time, with the pace influenced by hospital budget approval cycles. He also highlighted the opportunity to offer software upgrades to an installed base of over 25,000+ Trophon2 units. CORIS: regulatory progress and controlled market release On CORIS, Kavanagh said commercialization is progressing as planned. During the half, Nanosonics secured regulatory registrations across Australia, Europe, and the UK, and submitted its first 510(k) application for expanded scope indications in the U.S., which is currently under FDA review. Management also highlighted the start of a controlled market release (CMR) in the UK, announced after the half, calling it an important milestone. Looking ahead, Kavanagh said additional FDA submissions for broader indications are planned, further CMRs will start in Australia and Europe, and U.S. CMR timing will follow the first 510(k) and initial learnings from early CMR sites. As previously indicated, management said it expects broader commercialization to start in FY27 on a region-by-region basis. Cash, buyback, and reaffirmed FY26 guidance Burris said cash flow was a modest AUD 1.4 million outflow in the half, reflecting planned inventory investment for CORIS, continued CORIS-related investment, the commencement of a share buyback, and receivables timing that he said had already improved in January. The company executed around AUD 4 million of the buyback and expects to resume following the blackout period. Nanosonics ended the half debt-free with a cash balance of AUD 159.8 million. Management reaffirmed FY26 guidance on a constant currency basis, calling for: Revenue growth of 8%12% for the year for the year Gross margin of 75%77% , assuming tariff rates remain at first-half levels , assuming tariff rates remain at first-half levels Continued operating expense discipline while maintaining investments in CORIS and other growth projects Kavanagh noted that average selling prices in capital could remain similar in the second half depending on the Trophon2/Trophon3 mix and the size of upgrade deals. He also said that if the revenue range were recast using an average AUD/USD exchange rate of approximately 0.70 for the second half, then, after considering hedging, the revenue range would be approximately 3% lower. In response to questions about FX sensitivity, Burris said that if the Australian dollar remains around current levels, the potential impact on unrealized FX balances in the second half could be more than likely 22.5 times the first-half FX impact, based on the magnitude of currency movement. About Nanosonics (ASX:NAN) Nanosonics Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an infection prevention company in Australia and internationally. The company manufactures and distributes the trophon ultrasound probe disinfector, and its related consumables and accessories, as well as research, develops, and commercialize of infection control and decontamination products and related technologies. Its product portfolio includes trophon2 that provides protection across various level disinfection HLD cycle; Nanosonics AuditPro, an infection control workflow compliance management; Trophon EPR for mitigating the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals; and CORIS, an instrument reprocessing product platform. Featured Stories Shares of Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSE:SEA Get Free Report) (NYSE:SA) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$52.48 and last traded at C$52.05, with a volume of 8355 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$51.29. Seabridge Gold Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of C$5.64 billion, a PE ratio of -96.16 and a beta of 1.84. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$44.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$36.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 58.83, a quick ratio of 3.34 and a current ratio of 2.28. Get Seabridge Gold alerts: Insider Transactions at Seabridge Gold In other Seabridge Gold news, insider Elizabeth K. Fillatre Miller sold 1,648 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The shares were 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 C$1,334,914.81. The trade was a 4.76% decrease in their position. 2.78% of the stock is owned by company insiders. 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. Read More 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. SGS SA (OTCMKTS:SGSOY Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 32,212 shares, a drop of 49.2% from the January 29th total of 63,427 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 197,356 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 197,356 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. SGS Trading Up 1.4% OTCMKTS SGSOY opened at $12.39 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $11.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.83, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.13. SGS has a 1 year low of $8.42 and a 1 year high of $12.58. Get SGS alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently commented on SGSOY shares. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of SGS from an equal weight rating to a cautious rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of SGS in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, SGS currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. About SGS (Get Free Report) SGS SA is a Switzerland-based multinational company that provides inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Established in the late 19th century, SGS has grown into a global provider of conformity assessment services that help businesses manage risk, ensure quality and meet regulatory requirements across product lifecycles and supply chains. The companys services are designed to verify that products, systems and processes meet specified standards and customer expectations. Core activities include laboratory testing, on-site inspections, certification of management systems and product conformity, supply chain audits and technical verification. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SGS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SGS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Standard Motor Products (NYSE:SMP Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The auto parts company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.11, Zacks reports. Standard Motor Products had a return on equity of 13.15% and a net margin of 1.79%.The company had revenue of $385.09 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $385.91 million. Here are the key takeaways from Standard Motor Products conference call: Get Standard Motor Products alerts: Company delivered strong top-line and margin performance, with consolidated Q4 sales up 12.2% and full-year sales up 22.4% (organic growth ~4% excluding Nissens), and adjusted EBITDA expanding to 9.7% of net sales in Q4. and full-year sales up (organic growth ~4% excluding Nissens), and adjusted EBITDA expanding to in Q4. The Nissens acquisition is performing wellcontributing $64M in Q4 and $305M for the yearwith mid-single-digit local-currency growth and management expecting cross-selling and cost synergies (targeting a $8M$12M run rate by end-2026, and saying theyre ahead of plan). acquisition is performing wellcontributing in Q4 and for the yearwith mid-single-digit local-currency growth and management expecting cross-selling and cost synergies (targeting a run rate by end-2026, and saying theyre ahead of plan). Management disclosed a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting at Nissens related to IT controls; remediation (technical fixes and compensating controls) is underway, and auditors found no financial misstatements. in internal controls over financial reporting at Nissens related to IT controls; remediation (technical fixes and compensating controls) is underway, and auditors found no financial misstatements. Operating cash flow fell to $57.4M (down $19.3M) due to inventory build and tariff-driven cost increases, leaving net debt at $546.7M with leverage of 2.7x (management targets 2.0x by end-2026); 2026 guidance is modest (low- to mid-single-digit sales growth and adjusted EBITDA margin of 11%12%), highlighting continued near-term execution and tariff risks. Standard Motor Products Trading Down 8.6% NYSE SMP traded down $3.71 on Thursday, reaching $39.39. The company had a trading volume of 302,273 shares, compared to its average volume of 128,249. Standard Motor Products has a 52 week low of $21.38 and a 52 week high of $46.00. The stocks 50 day moving average is $40.48 and its 200-day moving average is $39.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The stock has a market cap of $866.54 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.14 and a beta of 0.76. Standard Motor Products Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, February 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. This is a boost from Standard Motor Productss previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Standard Motor Productss payout ratio is presently 94.29%. A number of brokerages have commented on SMP. Zacks Research lowered shares of Standard Motor Products from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 1st. Roth Mkm reissued a buy rating and set a $49.00 price target on shares of Standard Motor Products in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Standard Motor Products in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.00. Get Our Latest Analysis on SMP Insider Activity In other news, VP Ray Nicholas sold 9,093 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.01, for a total value of $345,624.93. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 40,609 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,543,548.09. This represents a 18.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 5.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Standard Motor Products by 368.2% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 221,147 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $6,794,000 after purchasing an additional 173,912 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Standard Motor Products by 83.4% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 296,792 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $10,937,000 after buying an additional 134,936 shares during the period. Manatuck Hill Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Standard Motor Products in the 3rd quarter valued at $5,102,000. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Standard Motor Products during the 3rd quarter worth $2,936,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Standard Motor Products by 482.1% during the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 69,063 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $2,819,000 after buying an additional 57,198 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.26% of the companys stock. Key Stories Impacting Standard Motor Products Here are the key news stories impacting Standard Motor Products this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat and margin improvement SMP reported $0.56 EPS vs. consensus $0.45 and highlighted adjusted EBITDA margin expansion in Q4 and for the full year, showing profit leverage after the Nissens deal. This beat supports the companys earnings quality. Read More. Q4 earnings beat and margin improvement SMP reported $0.56 EPS vs. consensus $0.45 and highlighted adjusted EBITDA margin expansion in Q4 and for the full year, showing profit leverage after the Nissens deal. This beat supports the companys earnings quality. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Guidance and Nissens integration progress Management issued 2026 guidance for low- to mid-single-digit sales growth and an 11%12% adjusted EBITDA margin, and noted active progress integrating Nissens, which supports longer-term revenue and margin upside if execution continues. Read More. Guidance and Nissens integration progress Management issued 2026 guidance for low- to mid-single-digit sales growth and an 11%12% adjusted EBITDA margin, and noted active progress integrating Nissens, which supports longer-term revenue and margin upside if execution continues. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Revenue roughly in line with estimates Q4 sales were $385.09M vs. the ~$385.9M consensus (a de minimis miss), indicating top-line growth was modest after adjusting for the recent acquisition. That keeps focus on margin recovery and integration rather than a major sales surprise. Read More. Revenue roughly in line with estimates Q4 sales were $385.09M vs. the ~$385.9M consensus (a de minimis miss), indicating top-line growth was modest after adjusting for the recent acquisition. That keeps focus on margin recovery and integration rather than a major sales surprise. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Management detail and materials available Full earnings call transcripts, slide deck and presentation were released for investors to review execution details and forward cadence. Use these to judge cadence of margin and integration commentary. Read More. Management detail and materials available Full earnings call transcripts, slide deck and presentation were released for investors to review execution details and forward cadence. Use these to judge cadence of margin and integration commentary. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Rising short interest Short interest rose ~19% in February to ~858k shares (about 4.1% of the float) with a ~7-day short interest ratio, adding potential downward pressure and volatility if sellers remain active. Rising short interest Short interest rose ~19% in February to ~858k shares (about 4.1% of the float) with a ~7-day short interest ratio, adding potential downward pressure and volatility if sellers remain active. Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and technicals Despite the EPS beat, the stock is trading lower on heavier-than-normal volume, likely reflecting investor caution on modest guidance and integration execution risk; the price is near its 200-day average and below the 50-day average, which can amplify short-term selling. About Standard Motor Products (Get Free Report) Standard Motor Products, Inc, headquartered in Long Island City, New York, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket and original equipment automotive parts. Since its founding in 1919, the company has focused on engineering, testing, and supplying ignition and temperature management products for passenger cars and light trucks. Its product lineup includes ignition coils, spark plug wires, sensors, switches, heating and air conditioning controls, and related electronic components. The company operates through two primary segments: Engine Management and Temperature Control. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Standard Motor Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Standard Motor Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Free Report) (TSE:ELD) had its price objective cut by TD Cowen from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock. A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on EGO. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded shares of Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Bank of America increased their price objective on Eldorado Gold from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Scotiabank upgraded Eldorado Gold from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce downgraded Eldorado Gold from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $54.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $43.71. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on EGO Eldorado Gold Trading Up 2.7% Shares of Eldorado Gold stock opened at $45.58 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $9.05 billion, a PE ratio of 18.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.51. Eldorado Gold has a 1 year low of $13.30 and a 1 year high of $51.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $41.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $32.47. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Free Report) (TSE:ELD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The basic materials company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.64 by ($0.01). Eldorado Gold had a net margin of 27.89% and a return on equity of 8.63%. The company had revenue of $575.14 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $500.42 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that Eldorado Gold will post 1.5 EPS for the current year. Eldorado Gold Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ruffer LLP boosted its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 29.2% in the 3rd quarter. Ruffer LLP now owns 1,412,740 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,814,000 after purchasing an additional 319,187 shares during the period. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. raised its position in shares of Eldorado Gold by 41.1% in the third quarter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. now owns 356,975 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $10,311,000 after buying an additional 103,975 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Eldorado Gold by 8.4% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,146,359 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $23,332,000 after buying an additional 88,752 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Eldorado Gold during the third quarter valued at $506,000. Finally, TT International Asset Management LTD purchased a new position in Eldorado Gold during the third quarter worth about $1,186,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.58% of the companys stock. About Eldorado Gold (Get Free Report) Eldorado Gold Corporation is a Canadabased gold producer engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties. The companys core focus is on gold, silver and select base metals, with an emphasis on advancing projects through feasibility and into production. Eldorado Gold maintains a diversified portfolio of both producing mines and advancedstage development projects. Operationally, Eldorado Gold manages multiple gold mining operations across Turkey, Canada and Greece. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Erste Asset Management GmbH decreased its holdings in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 35.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 443,826 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 241,635 shares during the quarter. Visa makes up approximately 1.5% of Erste Asset Management GmbHs holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Erste Asset Management GmbHs holdings in Visa were worth $150,883,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in V. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Visa in the second quarter valued at about $7,034,939,000. TCI Fund Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Visa by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter. TCI Fund Management Ltd. now owns 19,067,558 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $6,769,936,000 after acquiring an additional 2,429,996 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Visa by 110.4% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,954,937 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $1,396,930,000 after acquiring an additional 2,075,289 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Visa by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 162,544,006 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $57,711,249,000 after acquiring an additional 1,461,575 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Visa by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 43,096,802 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $15,253,245,000 after acquiring an additional 1,067,631 shares during the last quarter. 82.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Visa alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 10,485 shares of the companys 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 9,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,282,641.18. This represents a 52.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $395.00 price target on shares of Visa in a report on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Visa in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Freedom Capital raised Visa from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 16th. Piper Sandler set a $160.00 price objective on Visa in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Macquarie Infrastructure restated an outperform rating and set a $410.00 target price on shares of Visa in a report on Friday, January 30th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Visa has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $391.43. View Our Latest Stock Report on Visa Visa Trading Up 1.2% NYSE V opened at $316.65 on Friday. Visa Inc. has a 52 week low of $299.00 and a 52 week high of $375.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $333.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $338.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $574.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.70, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.79. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The company had revenue of $10.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.69 billion. Visa had a net margin of 50.23% and a return on equity of 61.74%. The firms revenue was up 14.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.75 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Visa Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be given a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Visas payout ratio is currently 25.14%. Visa 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. BRUSSELS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some European countries on Friday urged their citizens to leave or avoid travel to Iran and several other Middle East regions due to escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. The British government said it has temporarily withdrawn staff from Iran, with its embassy continuing to operate remotely, and advised against all travel to the country. The French Foreign Ministry issued a security advisory for French nationals against travel to Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank, citing possible regional repercussions from the situation involving Iran. It warned of potential flight cancellations or delays and urged citizens in affected areas to remain vigilant and avoid gatherings. Italy also urged its citizens to leave Iran and advised extreme caution across the Middle East. "Italians in (Iran) for tourism or whose presence is not strictly necessary are urged to depart," the foreign ministry said in a statement, strongly discouraging travel to Iraq and Lebanon as well. Germany updated its travel guidance to discourage travel to all of Israel, expanding earlier advice that had applied only to certain parts of the country. Poland's Foreign Ministry called on its citizens to leave Iran, Israel and Lebanon immediately, warning that the security situation in the Middle East is unstable and that potential closures of civilian airspace could make flights impossible or severely disrupted. The Dutch Foreign Ministry raised its travel advisory to red for the border areas between Israel and Gaza, Lebanon and Egypt, citing rising tensions in the Middle East. "Due to the current tensions in the Middle East, the security situation in Israel is uncertain," the ministry said in a statement, adding, "Whatever your situation, do not travel there. It is too dangerous." Many European countries have issued travel warnings even earlier. The Finnish foreign ministry advised citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and immediately leave Yemen and Libya in travel advisories updated in February. The Serbian Foreign Ministry has told its nationals in Iran to leave as soon as possible. The Swedish Foreign Ministry said in February that people who decided to stay in Iran should not expect any government-sponsored evacuation, updating its January advisory that its citizens should avoid all travel to Iran and leave the country immediately. Despite rounds of diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva, Switzerland, tensions have been escalating in recent days as senior U.S. officials have repeatedly warned of possible military intervention against Iran. The United States has amassed two aircraft carrier strike groups, over 150 combat aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighters, and has reinforced its bases in Jordan and Israel. Washington has evacuated non-essential staff from its embassy in Beirut. Meanwhile, Iran has said it will retaliate against U.S. military facilities in the region if attacked. According to the Dutch government's official statement, an escalation in the region could result in flight cancellations and prolonged airspace closures. The risk of drone and missile attacks also remains. The situation could deteriorate rapidly. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "I can tell you that the Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations," Dujarric told a daily briefing. The UN chief reiterated his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy, the spokesperson added. On the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Dujarric said according to UN humanitarians, years of conflict, poverty and natural disasters, such as drought and earthquakes, have left nearly half the country's population in need of humanitarian aid. "This number will only increase if the fighting goes on or escalates," he said. "We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law; in particular, to ensure that civilians are protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure," Dujarric said. CAIRO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off Israel's coast on Friday, raising concerns that Washington and Tehran may be moving closer to direct military confrontation. The deployment comes as analysts and regional officials warned that tensions are escalating faster than diplomatic efforts to contain them. The nuclear-powered carrier reached waters near Haifa in northern Israel, Israeli media reported, joining an expanded U.S. naval presence. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in the Arabian Sea since late January, monitoring Iranian activity. Washington has surged military assets into the Middle East in recent weeks, including advanced fighter squadrons and two carrier strike groups. The Pentagon has not detailed potential operations, but officials said options under consideration range from limited strikes to a broader campaign targeting Iranian infrastructure. Despite the buildup, the White House has maintained a dual-track approach. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that diplomacy remains his "preferred course," though he issued a stern warning that he would not allow Tehran to cross the threshold of obtaining a nuclear weapon. He later told reporters on Friday when leaving the White House that although he is "not happy" with the way Tehran is negotiating, he will "see what happens" as both sides "are talking later." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to "discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran," has echoed that position, even as officials prepare for the possibility that negotiations could fail. On Friday, the U.S. State Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families from Israel. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged staff wishing to leave to do so "today," according to U.S. media reports. The U.S. embassy said it may further restrict travel by government personnel and their families to certain areas of Israel, as well as the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank, citing security concerns and warning that measures could be imposed without advance notice. Concerns have spread beyond the region. Britain said it has temporarily withdrawn diplomatic staff from Iran and shifted to remote operations. Canada and India also issued similar advisories, with Ottawa warning that hostilities could erupt with little or no warning. Italy has told its nationals in Iran to depart immediately amid threats of new military activity, and has advised its citizens against travelling to Iraq and Lebanon. France and Germany have recommended their citizens not to travel to Israel. The escalation follows a third round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva that ended without a breakthrough. U.S. officials have said Trump is considering an initial strike to increase leverage over Tehran, a move Iranian officials have vowed to confront. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran's armed forces, described the U.S. naval presence as "psychological warfare," but warned that any provocation would draw a "decisive and crushing response," according to Iran's Mehr news agency. "We are not warmongers, but we are not afraid of war," he said, adding that Iranian forces are closely monitoring U.S. and Israeli movements. According to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Seyed Ahmad Khatami, Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader, said Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment, calling such a step a "humiliation." Regional armed groups have also signaled readiness to escalation. In Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah militia ordered fighters to prepare for a "prolonged conflict," indicating that any confrontation between the United States and Iran could expand across multiple fronts in the Middle East. Elephants are pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) An elephant is pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) A keeper feeds an elephant at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) A keeper feeds an elephant at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) A keeper feeds elephants at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) Elephants are pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) Elephants are pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) Elephants are pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) Visitors interact with elephants at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) An elephant is pictured at the Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 26, 2026. The orphanage, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, treats and rescues elephant "orphans" in various nature reserves in Kenya. Through treatment and training, it gradually restores the ability of the elephants that were affected by natural and human factors to help them regain wildness and survive independently. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning) Delimitation : Draw the lines on land, not on people | Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh The delimitation debate begins in Manipur; here is a fact that tends to get lost in the argument. The Constituency boundaries of the State have not changed since 1973. When Manipurs current Assembly map was drawn, the States total population was hardly 11 lakh. Today it is approximately 33 lakh. The State had 9 districts when those Constituency boundaries were fixed. Now it has 16. There is widespread misconception that Manipurs Constituency map was last revised through a 2007 notification. In fact, the De- limitation Commission constituted in 2002 did not undertake any work in Manipur. By a Presidential Order dated 8th February 2008, the entire delimitation exercise for Manipur was deferred under Section 10A of the Delimitation Act, citing security reasons. The 1973 delimitationbased on the 1971 Census continues till date. India made a deliberate political choice in 1976, during the Emergency, to freeze the total number of Assembly and Parliamentary seats in each State based on the 1971 Census. The reasoning was sound at that time; States with high population growth should not automatically gain more Parliamentary seats. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act froze the seat numbers, and later the 48th Amendment Act of 2002 extended the freeze by another 25 years. Indias 16th National Census was formally notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 16th June 2025, with population enumeration scheduled for March 2027. Manipur, like most Indian States, delimitation process will start after the census. The 128th Constitutional Amendment of 2023 the Women's Reservation Act adds another layer of urgency. It mandates that one-third of all Assembly and Parliamentary seats be reserved for women (may be on notation basis). It must be in conformity with first delimitation exercise following the Census 2027. Manipur valley covers roughly 10 percent of Manipurs land area and has 40 Assembly seats. The hills cover 90 percent of the land and have 20 seats. This was a ratio calibrated on 1971 population figures. Since then, hill district populations have in several areas grown at rates significantly exceeding valley demographic growth (needs to examine the issues of migration and artificial demographic growth seriously). Meanwhile, Mani- purs district map has been completely transformed. From 9 districts in 1973, the State now has 16 with new districts carved precisely to address adminis- trative gaps and demographic realities that the old map could not accommodate. But the Constituency map has not changed. Census 2027 will do something no census since 1931 has done: it will count every caste and community in India. In Manipur, this means that the precise population of every Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste in every district will be known at the local or village level. Today, decisions about which Constituencies to be reserved for SC/ST will rest on the majority criteria in each natural habitation. Population enumeration begins in March 2027. Primary Census Abstracts at the village level should be available by late 2027 or early 2028. A focused and well-prepared Delimitation Commission could complete its work for Manipur by 2029. The window is real. The Constitutional mandate is clear. The only question is whether the political will and institutional preparations are in place to seize it. History gives Manipur both a warning and an opportunity. The warning is that delimitation, conducted carelessly or under political pressure, can jeopardize democratic paradigm of the State. The ethnic tensions that have periodically torn Manipurs social fabric are in part instigated by an electoral geography and co- mmunity geography. The opportunity is to break that cycle. The natural landscape principle of delimitation offers exactly that possibility. Instead of drawing Constituency boundaries along the line of who lives where, draw them along the lines of where rivers flow and ridges rise. Manipurs natural geography suggests five broad landscape zones that could serve as the building blocks of a new constituency map. The Manipur Valley the alluvial plain surrounding the Imphal River and Loktak Lake forms a natural first zone. The hill quadrants northern (the Barail Range and Barak headwaters), eastern (the Naga Hills and Chind-win tributaries), south- eas- tern (the Tengnoupal hills and border ranges), and southern (the Chura-chand-pur plateau and the Tuivai basin) form the remaining four. These are Manipurs permanent, natural, community-blind geo- graphical settings. With this approach, Manipurs Assembly seats could expand from 60 to 72 seats, proportionate to its population growth since 2001. Reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes would be allocated based on the precise enumeration data of the Census 2027 distributed across all landscape zones, not connected to a single area or to a specific community. This is not idealism. It is the application of an established global principle of electoral geography to a state whose experience of community- based delimitation has been seriously contested. Geography does not take sides. That is its democratic virtue. Three safeguards must accompany this process. First, all maps, population data and draft boundaries must be published openly in a digital format so that all citizens can see. Second, public hearings must be conducted in local languages. Third, and most importantly, the Delimitation Commission must formally declare that it will not entertain any objection or proposal that seeks to change a natural boundary on grounds of ethnic composition and community identity. Natural habitation and geography must be the only legitimate grounds for delimitation. Manipur has waited more than fifty years for a delimitation which can actually reflect true demography and geography. The constitutional machinery is now in motion. Census 2027 is some months away. Just after the Census, the Delimi- tation Commissions work may start in 2028 and conclude by 2029. What is required now is clarity of purpose and honesty of process. The Census 2027 must be the valid demographic foundation. Na- tural geographical setting and not community settlement patterns should be the valid boundary methodology. The electoral chaos of the past fifty years, must be corrected by pure data and actual geography rather than by political calculation. Manipurs hills and valley deserve an electoral map drawn in the twenty-first century, not the one inherited from 1973. Every election held under the old map sounds unfair today. A genuine census followed by a fair delimitation will do justice to the next generation. It must be done right on the land, not on the people. Boong set for second release | IMPHAL, Feb 27 : After becoming the first Indian film to win a BAFTA Award, Lakshmipriya Devi's Manipuri language film "Boong" is set for a second release in cinemas across India on March 6. Producer Farhan Akhtar made the announcement on "X" today. The second release comes amid huge public demand and lack of avenues for people to watch the film, which is currently not available on any streaming platforms or theatres. On February 22, Boong made history by winning the BAFTA Award for Best Children's & Family Film. Gangluan village authority condemns 'mob violence, seeks investigation | IMPHAL, Feb 27 : The Gangluan Village Authority has claimed that a mob of nearly 100 men and women vandalised the residence of the village chairman, along with several houses belonging to his relatives. The village authority, in a press note, urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate legal action. The alleged incident occurred yesterday at around 10 am at Gangluan-II, located under the Khoupum Sub-Division in Noney District and the attack, according to the village authority, resulted in the destruction of property valued at approximately Rs 5 crore. Additionally, it claimed that several pets and domestic animals were killed during the violent incident. Claiming that the mob not only targeted the chairmans residence but also vandalized ten residential houses and two pucca buildings belonging to his extended family, leaving them beyond repair, the village authority condemned such acts of violence, emphasizing that they are completely unacceptable. It further stated that attacking families and destroying property undermines the social fabric of the village. Asserting that the perpetrators must be held accountable, it urged law enforcement agencies to take necessary actions to ensure justice. Germanys decision to develop its next-generation fighter aircraft with France rather than the United Kingdom has been described as a strategic error by former Airbus chief executive Tom Enders. As reported by AzerNEWS, Enders openly criticized the Paris-Berlin cooperation under the Future Combat Air System (SCAF/FCAS) program, Europes flagship next-generation combat aircraft initiative. He characterized the choice as politically driven and strategically flawed, suggesting that Germany would have been better off partnering with the United Kingdom or Swedens defense company Saab instead. In an article published by the German media outlet Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Enders, who served as CEO of Airbus from 2005 to 2019 argued that the 2017 decision, taken in the aftermath of Brexit, was motivated more by political considerations than by military necessity. While noting that Germany is technically capable of developing a fighter jet independently, Enders stressed that pursuing such a path would be impractical and economically inefficient. His remarks come at a time of growing industrial and political tensions surrounding the SCAF program, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressing open doubts about the projects direction. ANTANANARIVO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Mauritius has suspended all diplomatic relations with the Republic of Maldives with immediate effect, according to a communique issued Friday by the Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. According to the communique, the decision follows a recent stand taken by the Maldivian government, "whereby it no longer recognizes the sovereignty of the Republic of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, its territorial integrity and is now objecting to the Agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom." The communique said that the decision reflects the commitment of Mauritius to safeguard its national interest and uphold the principles of sovereignty and respect of the UN Charter, international law, peace and stability in the region. 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. COLOMBO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A crime kingpin wanted over multiple criminal cases was repatriated to Sri Lanka from India by the Sri Lankan police on Friday, the police announced. According to the police, a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) escorted Janith Madushanka de Silva, also known as "Podi Lassi," to Sri Lanka after traveling to India for the handover. Authorities consider the suspect a high-profile alleged drug trafficker linked to several offenses, including murder, drug trafficking and extortion, according to the police, adding they handed the suspect over to the Galle District Crimes Division for further investigations. The suspect fled the country in 2024 when he was granted bail, despite a court-imposed overseas travel ban, said the police, adding that he was apprehended by Indian authorities in Mumbai on Jan. 16, 2025, on charges related to illegal entry into India. Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police had recently made a formal request to India for his return, the police noted. A number of wanted Sri Lankan criminals live in other countries. In early February, a police spokesperson told the media that Sri Lanka Police had issued Interpol red notices to secure the return of 103 criminal suspects believed to be overseas. Indian stock markets opened lower on Friday morning, dragged down by weak global cues, fresh foreign fund selling and jitters over stalled USIran nuclear talks that could spark Middle East tensions. The BSE Sensex fell as much as 575 points to 81,673.38, while the NSE Nifty slipped a little over 204 points to 25,292.40 in early trade, erasing much of Thursdays flat close. FIIs sell 3,466 crore, IT bucks the trend Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,465.99 crore on Thursday, extending their selling streak amid valuation concerns and global uncertainty, exchange data showed. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) countered with net buying of Rs 5,031.57 crore, providing some support to the market. From the Sensex pack, heavyweight losers included UltraTech Cement. Maruti Suzuki, Indigo, Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Unilever, and Mahindra & Mahindra. Except for eight, the rest plunged. reflecting broad-based selling in autos, telecoms, FMCG and banking. IT stocks bucked the downtrend, with Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech and Eternal posting gainshelped by a US tech rebound and hopes for AI-driven earnings recovery. Global tensions and the USIran shadow Asian markets set a negative tone, with South Koreas Kospi, Japans Nikkei 225 and Shanghais SSE Composite in the red, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng bucked the trend. US indices ended mostly lower on Thursday after USIran negotiations on Irans nuclear programme ended without a deal, raising fears of a potential US strike and wider conflict, analysts said. Analysts are of the opinion that rising uncertainty over US policy on Iran, combined with no fresh domestic triggers, was keeping investors cautious and selective ahead of Indias GDP data later today. The Nifty and Sensex have shed 0.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent this week so far, after a volatile February. The tale of Prithviraj Chauhan, who ruled Delhi and Ajmer in the 12th century, is a stellar example to show that in war, strategy and cunning manoeuvres are more important than strength and valour. In the history of India, there have been few warriors who could pose a challenge to this Rajput king in terms of personal courage, battle bravery and martial prowess. However, his reluctance to formulate strategic plans with diplomatic finesse and care, and a hesitation to craft tactics with cunningness, are widely regarded as key factors that led to his eventual downfall. ALSO READ: Operation Meghdoot: A German's map, a Pak blunder, and the Indian 'Bull' who secured the world's highest battlefield Learning lessons from past battles was a common practice among commanders worldwide. However, with the exception of a few unique geniuses like Shivaji, there is hardly any evidence to suggest that Indian kings followed this practice. Likewise, refraining from repeating a previously tried-out battle formation was a principle commonly upheld by military commanders. Prithviraj does not seem to have followed this either. When Prithviraj clashed the second time with the Afghan invader Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad ibn Sam, also known as Muhammad of Ghor or Muhammad Ghori, on the battlefield of Tarain (in modern-day Haryana), he deployed his army in the same pattern as he had in the previous battle. In other words, he presented his phalanxes before the enemy in the manner the enemy expected him to do. Prithvirajs first mistake was that he had alienated several fellow Rajput kings, and many of them had turned against him. It is said that his father-in-law, Raja Jaichand, himself was among his worst enemies, after Prithviraj had abducted his daughter Samyukta in brave young Lochinwar style. Suffice it to say, he had few allies to aid him when the Afghan warlord threatened his kingdom. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India Lets examine what exactly happened in his two battles with Ghori. Ghori made his first attempt to capture Delhi in 1191. The Afghan and the Rajput armies clashed at Tarain, and Prithviraj emerged victorious. Ghori was wounded and felled from his horse, but a fast-riding Afghan cavalryman lifted him onto a horse and carried him to safety. Despite the rout, Ghori, a veteran of many battles, made a thorough study of the Rajput army's battle order. He learnt that Prithviraj, like most Rajput kings, liked to deploy his army in large formations, giving prominence to the elephant corps, which was placed at the centre, and positioned the cavalry on the flanks and at the rear. Ghori had seen this in his 1191 battle. When Ghori returned a year later to face Prithviraj in the same battlefield of Tarain, he saw that Prithviraj had repeated the same pattern of deployment. Accordingly, Ghori completely changed his own battle formation. He divided his cavalry-dominant army into smaller units and deployed them on the flanks, with his main cavalry and infantry in the centre. The two armies stood facing each other again on the plains of Tarain. In the night, Ghori sent out a few horsemen to launch minor attacks on the Chauhan army so as to weary them out. Then in the morning, the Afghan launched his main assault. First, he sent a small cavalry unit to shower arrows on one flank of the Chauhan army. As soon as Prithviraj's cavalry moved to counter them, the Afghans retreated and attacked the opposite flank. When Prithviraj's army moved to counter this, they retreated again. As Ghori repeated this manoeuvre four times, the Chauhan army was confused. As they shifted back and forth from left to right, a gap opened up in their centre. Seizing that opportunity, Ghori sent his large cavalry force, followed by the infantry, into this gap, while the smaller cavalry units attacked simultaneously from both flanks. With this, Prithviraj's army was split apart. It is said that between 50,000 and 70,000 Rajput soldiers fell on that battlefield. There are differing accounts among historians as to whether Prithviraj was killed in the battle or was captured and executed. There is also a legend that he was taken prisoner to Kabul, where the blinded hero slew Ghori with a single arrow shot. Anyway, the fact is that this brave warrior could have carried the day and the history of India would have been different if he had shown a little more tact and battle cunning, along with his unparalleled personal courage and fighting prowess. What a great time to be a fan of the samurai/jidageki genre. After "Shogun" (FX), "Blue Eye Samurai" (Netflix), and "Last Samurai Standing" (Netflix), we are getting one from HBO, based on a popular manga series. The streamer announced that it has acquired "Song of the Samurai", an adaptation of Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem. Filming already complete, the show is jointly backed by Japan's foremost media companies Tokyo Broadcasting System, streaming platform U-NEXT, and production house THE SEVEN (Alice in Borderland, Yu Yu Hakusho). "Song of the Samurai" was created by Shinya Umemura, who is also known for the anime series Record of Ragnarok. Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem has been on a great long run: 36 volumes in 13 years, with illustrations by Eiji Hashimoto. Principal cast members include Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go and Kento Nakajima. According to the official logline, the show is set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period. The story depicts the "intense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi - the iconic samurai force that defended Kyoto in the final years of Japans shogunate - through spectacular action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts. The story follows street brawler Toshizo Hijikata (Yuki Yamada), who finds a new kind of family in Isami Kondo and Soji Okita. Hijikata and his comrades in the Shinsengumi forge a bond of loyalty - tested by betrayal, illness, and war - as they fight not only their enemies but their own ideals. " In an official statement, actor Yuki Yamada said: In mid-19th-century Japan, the Shinsengumi were among the so-called last samurai warriors who upheld the way of the sword during a time of profound change. To me, the samurai spirit is the wish to protect someone; a universal feeling shared across borders. I hope audiences can enjoy the action, while also feeling the emotion carried within each blade. Slated for premiere on HBO Max on May 9, the live-action series adaptation of "Song of the Samurai" is written by Masaaki Sakai, directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, and produced by Akira Morii, Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura. In a dramatic turnaround, the Kerala High court on Friday stayed its Thursday stay order on the release of the controversial film, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan passed the ruling after an urgent hearing of the writ appeals at 7:30 PM on Thursday night, just hours after the first stay order. This has paved the way for the sequel to The Kerala Story to release on Friday (February 27). Notably, the writ appeals hearing on Thursday were also followed by a promotion for Justice Dharmadhikari, who will now take charge as the new Chief Justice of the Madras High Court from March 6 onwards. Why was the film's release stayed earlier? On Thursday afternoon, a single-judge bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had stayed the release of the film, arguing that it was evident there was a manifest "non-application of mind" to the requirement of law by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Justice Thomas's common order had put the film's release on hold for 15 days, saying that due to "the possibility of communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie", its release without further scrutiny by higher authorities would be legally improper, as per an NDTV report. Justice Thomas's earlier stay order was taken based on two petitions. The first petition was filed by a Sreedev Namboodiri, who alleged that the sequel film's titleas well as other promotional material like the trailer and posterscontained themes and dialogues capable of inciting violence and that they unfairly targeted the state of Kerala and its people. He also pointed out that the line "ab sahenge nahin ladenge" (we will not tolerate it anymore, but will fight) in the trailer was particularly incendiary. The second one was filed by a Freddie V. Francis, who sought a ban on the film's release altogether, alleging that although the film had characters from other states, there was a "marketing of hate" behind the use of 'Kerala' in the film's title. I am fine. You are not fine. With this stark line, activist Akkai Padmashali turned the lens back on society, on families, institutions and systems that refuse to accept transgender identities during her address on sexuality and social exclusion at the 'Mpowering Minds: Women's Mental Health Summit at Bengaluru by Mpower'. Beginning her talk by addressing the unspoken issues of sexuality, Akkai located her journey within a deeply restrictive social framework. Your social construct, your economic construct, your tradition, your culture, everything is bound for you to accept and behave the way they want, she said. Born male into what she described as a ministerial family, she grew up feeling effeminate in an environment that valued social prestige over personal truth. My father was concerned about his dignity and position, she recalled. When I was born male, I was feeling effeminate. My family did not accept. Akkais early ambition was to become a Supreme Court advocate. Instead, rejection pushed her to the margins. I was introduced to the profession of sex work and begging. Being on the streets as a sex worker and beggar is not easy, she said, bluntly describing the economic vulnerability faced by many transgender persons. For years, she tried to conform. You are born a male, you have to behave like a man, walk like a man, speak like a man, act like a man. I did so. One month, one year, five years, ten years. Continuing the same for the rest of my life was so difficult. The psychological conflict between assigned sex and lived identity became unbearable. Akkai revealed that she attempted suicide twice. When I put my head in the rope, in a fraction of a second, I crushed the rope, she said. I am fine. You are not fine my family, my system, my teachers, the so-called society. Everybody is so judgmental. I am not just sharing Akkais story, she asserted. Akkai is a movement across the country. Referring to the 2014 Supreme Court NALSA judgment, which legally recognised transgender persons as equal citizens, she reminded the audience that rights were not granted out of benevolence but through sustained agitation. Because of our constant fight against social exclusion, the Supreme Court recognised transgender persons as equal citizens before the Constitution of India. Yet legal recognition has not translated into social acceptance. Akkai pointed out that a significant portion of the transgender population continues to survive on the streets. She also spoke about her role as a petitioner in the 2018 challenge to Section 377. How can a system of justice be so reluctant to accept one identity? she asked, recalling Justice Indu Malhotras historic apology to the LGBTQIA+ community. Before the verdict, she said, any sex outside procreation was considered against the order of nature, effectively criminalising millions. I am not a criminal. I am a dignified woman, she declared to applause. Perhaps the most forceful part of her speech was her challenge to biological essentialism. You may say, you dont have a vagina, you dont have breasts But I challenge the notion of a woman. A woman is not about four boxes. A woman is beyond everything. For Akkai, gender is not confined to anatomy. It is lived experience, identity and autonomy. She framed rights in unequivocal terms: Right to marriage is my haqq. Right to adoption is my haqq. Right to inheritance is my haqq. Right to mobility is my haqq. Right to divorce is also my haqq. Her own life reflects that assertion. Akkai married, later sought divorce citing violence, and today identifies first and foremost as a mother to her adopted child, Avin. People ask me, ' What is your childs sex and gender? As a mother, I dont want to decide. Let my child decide. I will accept whatever my child says. In that statement, she reversed the very imposition she endured refusing to assign rigid gender expectations to the next generation. Akkai also spoke about her organisation, which brings together movements across child rights, womens rights, caste and class struggles, and sexual minorities. We want to build a movement to stand in support of the most marginalised sections of society, she said. While welcoming the Karnataka governments decision to include transgender persons under five welfare schemes after sustained demands, she made it clear that inclusion cannot stop at policy announcements. Does five schemes justify everything? No. We want to enjoy the liberty and dignity of constitutional morality as a community. She ended with a direct appeal to institutions, urging them to extend support beyond English-speaking, urban queer circles to working-class, non-English speaking, poorest of the poor sexual minorities who remain invisible. I should not be judged. And you dont have the right to judge my identity, she concluded. Several students, including members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), were detained after clashes erupted during a march by students to the Union Ministry of Education, demanding that Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit resign for her allegedly casteist remarks. The protesting students are upset over the remarks made by Pandit on a podcast regarding the implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, the rustication of JNUSU office bearers, and the proposed Rohith Act. Police and JNU students were injured in the clashes. The police said that they were assaulted, but the protesters alleged that the cops used excessive force against them. Saying protesters pelted sticks and shoes and resorted to physical assault, injuring several cops, some of whom were even "bitten" during the altercation, police lodged an FIR against the students. Police said around 25 police personnel, including ACP Ved Prakash, ACP Sanghamitra, SHO Atul Tyagi, and SHO Ajai Yadav, were injured. "Yesterday, they (students) were told and authorities tried to reason with them that they should conduct any protests inside the campus, not outside, as they have not been granted any permission. However, they were also informed today that if they wanted to take a delegation, they could be facilitated. However, they ignored all these requests, gathered four to five hundred people, broke the gate, and came out around 3.00 pm, insisting that they would march outside for a protest. They were then requested again, repeatedly, not to take the law into their own hands and to return inside... But they refused to listen and even attacked the police. Many of our staff members were injured there, and the protestors tried to go out by breaking the barricades," DCP South West district, Amit Goel, was quoted as saying. "During that time, in self-defence and to stop them from moving forward, our staff detained some of their protesters, of whom around 51 were detained," he added. JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aditi Mishra and former president Nitish Kumar were among the 51 protesters detained. The march was part of the ongoing protests over X. The protesters also alleged that excessive force was used against them, as a result of which many students were injured. Some of the protesters were taken to "unconfirmed locations" by the police, claimed the university's teachers' body. The JNUSU also alleged that a portrait of B.R. Ambedkar was damaged during the police action. Purported videos of the clash surfaced online, including one showing an Ambedkar photo being snatched from the protesters. "Yesterday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) gave a call for a long march from Sabarmati T-Point to the Ministry of Education. The police had put up heavy barricading nearly five layers of barricades were installed. The police detained the protesters using force and took around 51 people to the police station at night..." a student leader was quoted as saying by news agency IANS. According to police, the JNU administration had informed the protesting students that no permission had been granted for any protest outside the campus and advised them to restrict their demonstration within university premises. Despite this, around 400500 students gathered on campus and began a protest march, they said. Around 3.20 pm, the protesters moved out through the main gate and attempted to proceed towards the ministry, reported news agency PTI. "Barricades placed outside the campus were damaged as the situation escalated. The protesters pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and resorted to physical assault. Some police personnel were bitten during the scuffle, resulting in injuries to several officers deployed at the spot," a senior police officer said. Police personnel stopped the protesters at the North Gate of the JNU campus and gradually pushed them back inside the university premises. "We have detained some of the protestors. Some protestors are levelling allegations that police manhandled them, which are completely baseless. Every single officer deputed there was maintaining law and order," the officer told PTI. In a statement issued, the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) condemned what it said was the "brutal use of force" by police. It alleged that several students, including women, were injured and expressed concern over the well-being of those detained, claiming some were taken to "unconfirmed locations." JNUTA also alleged that the police action was aimed at preventing students from exercising their democratic right to march and demanded the immediate release of all detained students. The JNUSU issued an urgent appeal asking supporters to gather at the JNU main gate in the evening as many students had been detained by the police. The university, in an official statement, said, "JNUSU protestors are demanding UGC regulations to be implemented. This is in violation of the Honourable Supreme Court, which has issued a stay on the regulations. The JNU Vice Chancellor or Registrar has no powers over the regulations." It added that as per the university administration, JNUSU has "refused to address the core issue of students who were rusticated for "vandalism and violence" unleashed inside the campus." "The students involved were held responsible and rusticated, following a proctorial inquiry," read the statement. "JNU is a public university, hence accountable to the government, the Parliament, and the Indian taxpayers. It is deplorable that a woman OBC Vice Chancellor is instead attacked on false allegations, only to divert from the issue of violence and vandalism of public property," the university said in its statement. Three-time chief minister and expelled AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam and his supporters on Friday joined the DMK in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the DMK headquarters in Chennai. Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, is likely to contest from his fiefdom, Bodinayakkanaur in Theni district, in the upcoming election, while his supporters are also likely to contest from a few constituencies in south Tamil Nadu. People of Tamil Nadu want M.K. Stalin to win the election, OPS told the media after joining the DMK. The 75-year-old leader chose to join the DMK following his legal battles in court and before the Election Commission of India (ECI), after his unsuccessful attempt to return to the AIADMK. The BJPwhich once mediated a truce between former CM OPS and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS)also left him in the lurch. OPS, in fact, acted as per the instructions of the BJP and chose to remain silent even when EPS refused to accommodate him back into the party. He contested from Ramanathapuram in an independent symbol in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, by being part of the NDA. But, OPSs efforts to regain control of the AIADMK or even a mere return to the party turned unsuccessful. In August, Panneerselvam withdrew from the NDA, saying that he was insulted by the BJP camp. However, he called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the end of 2025 to convey his interest to get back into the NDA fold. The BJP, which worked out a strategy to take back TTV Dhinakarans AMMK into the alliance, could not convince EPS to accommodate OPS. Amit Shah told me that the DMK alliance is strong enough to win the election. I pleaded with him to reunite the AIADMK and bring the warring groups back together. He said he tried to persuade, but EPS did not listen to him, OPS told the reporters from his hometown, Theni, on Sunday. OPS, who had been sending feelers to the DMK for months, called on Stalin at his residence recently and also met him during a morning walk. Sources suggest these informal meetings were the first steps toward OPS joining the DMKthe very party he had spent his entire political career opposing. OPSs supporters R. Vaithilingam and Paul Manoj Pandian resigned their MLA posts and joined the DMK a few months ago. But for OPS, the decision wasnt an easy one, as he was a staunch loyalist of Jayalalithaa and served as the chief minister of the state whenever she had to step aside due to legal troubles. Jayalalithaa, in fact, once called him the loyalist, and he climbed up to be the party treasurer. Sources close to him say that some of his relatives in the Theni district were not comfortable about OPS joining the DMK. But the decision came as OPSs political future had hit a roadblock. This decision will ensure a political future for him and also for his sons. But the AIADMK has lost its face in the south, one of his family members told THE WEEK. UN nuclear watchdog IAEA has for the first time revealed that Iran stored highly enriched uranium in an underground facility at its Isfahan nuclear site, according to a report. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the uranium was enriched up to 60 per cent purity. This is just a short, technical step away from achieving 90 per cent purity required for building nuclear bombs. IAEA guidelines says highly enriched nuclear material should be verified every month. During the 12-day war in June 2025, the US struck the entrance to the tunnel complex in Isfahan. However, a report by Reuters has claimed that the underground facility seem to have been unaffected by the strikes. IAEA also stated that it could not confirm whether Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful as it lost access to four declared enrichment sites. It also could not verify Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. "[We] cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran," read a confidential report by the watchdog, later accessed by news agencies. This comes as the UK has temporarily withdrawn staff from its Tehran embassy amid tensions between Iran and the US. The US embassy in Israel told some non-emergency staff to leave the country. According to New York Times, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised staff wishing to leave to "do so TODAY". Over 100 employees at Google have signed a letter urging the tech company to steer clear of military engagements. The letter, addressed to Jeff Dean, Chief Scientist of the companys AI division DeepMind, demanded that Google distance itself from potential military entanglements. Please do everything in your power to stop any deal which crosses these basic red lines, the employees wrote. We love working at Google and want to be proud of our work, the New York Times reported. In another public letter published by about 300 employees, 236 from Google and 65 from OpenAI, said that the Pentagon is negotiating with Google and OpenAI to try to get them to agree to what Anthropic has refused. They're trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in. That strategy only works if none of us knows where the others stand. This letter serves to create shared understanding and solidarity in the face of this pressure from the Department of War, the letter read. The letters have come amid a showdown between Anthropic and the Trump administration. Anthropic, an AI startup behind the Claude model, has been under intense pressure from the Pentagon to loosen its restrictions on military use of its tech. The Pentagon already has a $200 million contract with the company. Now it is asking for freedom to apply its technology to US defence. US Defense Secratary Pete Hegseth had given Anthropic until Friday, 5:01 pm to either give the military unrestricted access or face penalties which would involve being forced to hand over the technology anyway. Hegseth had also told Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that it would invoke the Defense Production Act to force the company to tailor its AI model to the military's needs. About 24 hours before the deadline set by US military officials to bend its ethical policies Amodei refused bend to the pressure. In a recent statement, Anthropic said it will not alter core safeguards to accommodate use cases that could endanger human rights or violate international norms. Military officials warned that if Amodei doesn't make a move, they would pull Anthropics contract but also deem them a supply chain risk, a designation given to foreign adversaries, which would then derail the companys critical partnerships with other businesses. If Anthropic gives in to the militarys pressure, the company would lose trust in the booming AI industry. Googles employees have warned against the potential use of its Gemini AI for the military. They fear that its models could be used for mass surveillance and for the use of autonomous weapons, which would have no human oversight. Dean, Google's AI chief annd of its most influential software engineers has supported the concerns and expressed solidarity with Anthropic. Mass surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment and has a chilling effect on freedom of expression, he wrote in a social media post. Surveillance systems are prone to misuse for political or discriminatory purposes. An evening before Hegseth met with Anthropic's CEO, the Pentagon confirmed that it signed an agreement with Elon Musk's xAI's model Grok to use it in classified systems. VIENTIANE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Laos is intensifying preparations to host the third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, underscoring its commitment to tackling unexploded ordnance (UXO) as a national priority while advancing international efforts toward the elimination of cluster munitions. The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday held a launching ceremony to officially announce Laos' chairmanship of the conference, aiming to raise awareness and understanding across all sectors of society about the convention and the country's role in addressing cluster munitions at the international level. The conference will take place here from Sept. 14 to 18 and is expected to welcome delegates from more than 150 countries and regions to advance global efforts toward a world free of cluster munitions. Between 1964 and 1973, more than 580,000 bombing missions were carried out over Laos -- an average of one flight every eight minutes. During that period, over 2 million tons of ordnance, including approximately 270 million cluster submunitions, were dropped, making Laos the most heavily bombed country in the world on a per capita basis. In a massive military offensive against Islamabad, the Afghan forces on Thursday targeted security installations in Pakistan. The attack comes in retaliation for Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan on February 22. The heavy fighting along the Durand Line in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has inflicted heavy losses in Pakistan's military checkpoints on the border. In response to repeated insurrections and insurrections by Pakistans military circles, extensive offensive operations were launched on Pakistani army centres and military facilities along the Durand Line," Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a video on X. On February 22, Pakistani military carried out strikes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan, claiming that it killed at least 70 militants. However, Afghanistan dismissed the claim, saying the attack killed dozens of women and children. Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarh and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children," said Zabihullah. The UN mission in Afghanistan said the Pakistani airstrikes killed at least 13 civilians. On Tuesday Pakistani government official Mosharraf Zaidi accused Afghan forces of unprovoked firing near Torkham border. Pakistans security forces responded immediately and effectively silencing the Taliban aggression, Zaidi posted on X. Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourly principles during the holy month of Ramadan. In a post on X, he said that Iran would be ready to support and provide any assistance in facilitating dialogue and strengthening understanding and cooperation between the two countries. ALSO READ | 'Open war' between Pakistan and Afghanistan? 130 Taliban fighters killed; Pak defence minister makes an India connect Saudi Arabia has also stepped in to mediate. The countrys foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar about the developments in the region and about ways to "ways to reduce tensions", the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement posted hours earlier on X. Ishaq Dar is currently in Saudi Arabia for an official visit. Early on Friday Pakistan's forces carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika close to the country's long 2,600 kilometre long border with Afghanistan. Pakistan media reports claimed that about 130 Taliban fighters were killed in the attack. The Taliban has however denied that there were casualties in the attacks. Analysts say that the Taliban is unlikely to fight a conventional war with Pakistan due to a significant military disparity in military capability, according to analysts who spoke to the BBC. Taliban's weapons, meanwhile, come from the former Afghan army, from foreign forces and the black market. Pakistan, which is a nuclear-armed country ranked in the world's top 15 in military strength. The Afghan Taliban lacked the same resources. During past border clashes the Taliban mostly used light weaponry against Pakistani forces. However they are trained in guerilla warfare experts say. Pakistan's federal minister for information, Attaullah Tarar, said that the Taliban regime initiated hostilities and is now posting misinformation about the clashes. Afghanistan is reportedly resorting to deflect attention' through false and baseless propaganda on social media after the latest strikes by Pakistan on its borders. These rumours have no connection with reality, he said. He added that such narratives were being used to cover up the regimes embarrassment after they faced set backs. Pakistans security forces also reiterated the same claim, saying that the false claims and fake videos were being circulated on social media by the regime. Local officials of the Taliban government have alleged that Pakistani rockets were fired at a refugee camp in Nangarhar, which housed Afghan citizens who arrived in the country from Pakistan, the BBC reported. At least nine people, seven women and two men, were reportedly injured in the attack. The Qatar-mediated fragile ceasefire of October 2025 appears to have made little impact on the increasing hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan. Pakistan media reports claimed that the country's forces carried out air strikesOperation Ghazab lil Haq targeting major military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia in Afghanistan, destroying two brigade headquarters in Kabul and one brigade headquarters and one corps headquarters in Kandahar. Over 130 Taliban fighters were reportedly killed in the attack, Pakistan media reports claimed. According to Pakistan TV, the country's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Pakistans Air Force carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, destroying Taliban posts, brigade headquarters, and ammunition depots. A Dawn report quoted Tarar as saying that as many as 133 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 200 were injured in the attacks. Twenty-seven posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed, nine posts were captured, the minister claimed. Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in a social media post, declared "open war" on the Afghan Taliban government, saying, "Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy." "Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you," he wrote, reports CNN-IBN. Asif further alleged that the Taliban made Afghanistan a colony of India and said, "They gathered terrorists from all over the world in Afghanistan and started exporting terrorism." Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari warned that the response of his country's armed forces had been "comprehensive and decisive." "Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response and no one will be beyond reach, he was quoted as saying. Afghanistan said its military launched its attack across the border into Pakistan late Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday, and claimed to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies had been taken into Afghanistan, while several others were captured alive. It added that 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases were destroyed, and that the fighting had ended at midnight. Tarar, however, said only two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three others were injured. In the past few months, tension has been high between the two neighbors, with deadly border clashes in October leading to the death of several soldiers, civilians, and suspected militants. While the ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, the two sides have occasionally traded fire across the border. Several rounds of peace talks in November failed to produce a formal agreement. On Sunday, Pakistans military launched strikes along the Afghanistan border, stating that at least 70 militants were killed in the operation. Afghanistan denied the claim, asserting that dozens of civilians, including women and children, had died in the attack. The defense ministry said the attacks hit various civilian areas in eastern Afghanistan, including a religious madrassa and multiple homes, and described the strikes as a breach of Afghanistans airspace and sovereignty. Arvind Kejriwal has survived another battle, and this one could be a defining one. Just a year after his humiliating defeat in Delhi, a CBI court has discharged him in the infamous liquor case. Since losing Delhi, Kejriwal appeared to be in self-imposed exile, as he had made party-ruled Punjab his second home, staying close to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accompanying him at official functions and inaugurating projects. Many saw him as a de facto chief minister in the border state. Though the CBI is likely to challenge the sessions court order, running into 598 pages, in the Delhi High Court, the 13-year-old party is ecstatic, as two of its founders, including Manish Sisodia, have been discharged. The discharge in the liquor case has now provided him with an opportunity to return to Delhis politics and to the national conversation. Now, all eyes will be on his return. And if he does return, Kejriwal will pose a direct challenge to his successor, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who is still finding her feet in the capital. The vintage Kejriwal, known for his persistent attacks, is likely to prove a headache for the BJP, which had jailed him, pinned corruption charges on him, and used the Sheesh Mahal controversy against him before defeating him at the polls. But more than the BJP, it is the Congress that should be more worried about his return. Kejriwal's rise has closely tracked the decline of the Congress in several states beginning with Delhi, then Punjab, and then Gujarat. When the Congress chose to stay out of an alliance with the AAP in Delhi and Haryana, the BJP returned to power with bigger margins. Both the AAP and the Congress draw from largely the same voter base. The difference is that the AAP under Kejriwal is far more agile. It deploys its organisation with greater commitment and maintains a visible street presence, allowing it to capture the opposition space quickly. In both Delhi and Punjab, the AAP won by decimating the Congress, offering voters the promise of clean governance and a break from established parties. In Delhi, the AAP eventually became the establishment. It grew comfortable with power and was increasingly seen as far removed from the movement that created it. A party founded on anti-corruption and simple living could not have imagined an opulent official residence for its chief minister. The irony is that, had the Congress or the BJP built the same residence, it would barely have raised an eyebrow. It was Kejriwals own image the muffler man in sandals, the activist who emerged from a movement that made it so damaging. This April marks 15 years since the anti-corruption movement that gave birth to the AAP. It may also be a moment for Kejriwal to pause and reorient. The discharge in the case has given him that opening. He has shown before that he keeps his ear to the ground and can reinvent himself when needed. Indian politics has often rewarded leaders who went to jail and walked out with their reputations intact. Being based in Delhi and remaining ideologically flexible gives Kejriwal the room to attract fresh attention. Those opposed to the BJP, whether at the centre or in the states, may once again find him an appealing option. But his resurgence will also mean further fragmentation of the opposition, unless they find reason to set aside their differences for a larger cause. Will Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal shake hands? Nihon Kohden Corporation (OTCMKTS:NHNKY Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $10.67, but opened at $11.75. Nihon Kohden shares last traded at $11.8250, with a volume of 4,795 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, UBS Group upgraded shares of Nihon Kohden from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Strong Buy. Get Nihon Kohden alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Nihon Kohden Nihon Kohden Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $1.89 billion, a PE ratio of 21.64 and a beta of 0.37. The companys fifty day moving average is $11.26 and its 200-day moving average is $11.35. Nihon Kohden (OTCMKTS:NHNKY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $362.86 million during the quarter. Nihon Kohden had a net margin of 5.32% and a return on equity of 7.25%. Nihon Kohden Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nihon Kohden Corporation is a Tokyo-based manufacturer of medical electronic equipment, founded in 1951. The company has built a reputation for innovation in patient monitoring and diagnostic systems, developing one of Japans earliest electrocardiogram (ECG) machines and pioneering transistor-based oscilloscopes for clinical use. Over the decades, Nihon Kohden has expanded its product portfolio to address a wide range of healthcare needs, from emergency response to intensive care and neurology. The companys core offerings include patient monitors, ECG and electroencephalograph (EEG) devices, defibrillators, infusion pumps, and neuromonitoring systems. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nihon Kohden Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nihon Kohden and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin FTSE Germany ETF (NYSEARCA:FLGR Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 2,271 shares, a decrease of 81.5% from the January 29th total of 12,245 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,557 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days. Currently, 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Currently, 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 4,557 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin FTSE Germany ETF A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FLGR. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Franklin FTSE Germany ETF by 10.0% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 14,403 shares of the companys stock worth $483,000 after acquiring an additional 1,313 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc purchased a new stake in Franklin FTSE Germany ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $686,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in Franklin FTSE Germany ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $793,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in Franklin FTSE Germany ETF by 8.1% during the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 44,747 shares of the companys stock worth $1,475,000 after purchasing an additional 3,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new position in Franklin FTSE Germany ETF during the third quarter worth $2,022,000. Get Franklin FTSE Germany ETF alerts: Franklin FTSE Germany ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:FLGR traded up $0.23 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.18. 5,056 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,038. The stock has a market cap of $45.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.93 and a beta of 1.04. Franklin FTSE Germany ETF has a fifty-two week low of $25.87 and a fifty-two week high of $35.18. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $34.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $33.25. About Franklin FTSE Germany ETF The Franklin FTSE Germany ETF (FLGR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Germany RIC Capped index. The fund offers market cap-based exposure to large- and mid-cap German equities. FLGR was launched on Nov 2, 2017 and is managed by Franklin Templeton. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Franklin FTSE Germany ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin FTSE Germany ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rubicon Water (ASX:RWL) executives told investors its first-half performance was held back by a stronger Australian dollar and a freeze in U.S. government project funding, but said the company has seen improving conditions entering the second half, including stronger order intake, new international wins, and early momentum in corporate-funded water stewardship projects. Get alerts: Management highlighted currency and U.S. funding as key drags Chief Executive Officer Bruce Sutton said full-year FY2025 revenue of AUD 29 million was down about 9% from the prior year, with the first half of the current year inordinately impacted by currency movements. Sutton explained that several contracts were signed last year with costs and revenue recognized earlier, but cash was received this year, and the gap coincided with an appreciation in the Australian dollar. He said that impact flowed through to both reported revenue and the bottom line. Financial results showed lower revenue and margin pressure Sutton said the larger issue for the period was the U.S. government shutdown and related funding freeze, which delayed progress on projects that had already been approved. He said four U.S. projects approved under the prior administration remain approved, but have not yet received funding allocations needed to issue notices to proceed. Sutton said the company was hearing positive news heading into the new U.S. fiscal year that allocations were starting to be released, and management was hopeful the approved projects would move forward. Chief Financial Officer Andrew Bendall said revenue for the half fell AUD 3 million compared with the prior corresponding period. He attributed AUD 1.7 million of the shortfall to the stronger Australian dollar translating offshore revenue, particularly against the U.S. dollar and Indian rupee. The remaining AUD 1.3 million reflected lower volumes in the U.S. and Australia, partially offset by Europe. Bendall said gross margin percentage declined 6.7 percentage points year-over-year. He attributed 4.8 percentage points of the gap to the revenue shortfall, including an FX translation impact and volume effects. Bendall also cited a further 1% impact from the lack of new price contracts in the U.S. during the half, which limited the companys ability to fully absorb tariffs. Operating expenses rose AUD 1.2 million, driven mainly by higher employee costs. Bendall said the company also incurred additional legal expenses while resolving issues associated with exiting an old China joint venture and establishing a new one. Underlying EBITDA was AUD 4.2 million lower than the prior corresponding period, and the stronger Australian dollar also created an adverse unrealized FX impact of AUD 2.1 million related to intercompany loan revaluation versus the first half of FY2025. The company reported a bottom-line loss of AUD 6.4 million, which Bendall noted was AUD 5 million less than the previous corresponding period. Cash flow and balance sheet reflected the weaker half Bendall said operating cash flow was an outflow of AUD 2.9 million despite reduced receivables and solid collections, including the final portion of debt from the Indian NLBC project. He attributed the cash outflow to lower sales and the negative profit result. Bendall said the company maintained investment in its next-generation software platform, NeuroFlo. On the balance sheet, Bendall said cash and receivables decreased while stock and contract assets were stable, contributing to a AUD 6.4 million reduction in current assets since June 30. He said non-current assets increased due to higher deferred tax assets from the loss, and net debt rose by AUD 5.2 million to AUD 19.5 million as a result of operating and investing cash outflows. International wins and pipeline movement supported the outlook Sutton said the company offset some U.S. funding-related delays with new project wins in Chile, Costa Rica, and Italy totaling AUD 11.9 million in the first half. He also pointed to tender activity of more than AUD 30 million that management expects could contribute materially to FY2026 results if won in time, noting some tenders were due to close in March. He added that the company saw an unusually strong start to the second half, with AUD 9.3 million in new contracts signed since January 1, compared with AUD 3.9 million in the prior comparable period. Sutton emphasized that January and February are typically slower order months for the business. Bendall said the companys close pipeline category expanded to AUD 61 million from AUD 42 million since the AGM update, reflecting the inclusion of the Chilean project and expanded scope in Italys Villarosi project, as well as multiple priority projects entering tender. Overall, Bendall said Rubicon was tracking 18 priority projects totaling AUD 189 million. Corporate-funded water stewardship emerged as a new channel Sutton said Rubicon had secured its first direct contract funded by a corporate entity seeking audited water savings tied to ESG goals. He said the corporate-funded project involved Glen-Colusa Irrigation District and included delivering audited water savings results for 10 years, with Rubicon contracted directlyan approach Sutton said corporates preferred for efficiency. He also referenced two other corporate-funded projects where funding flowed to irrigation districts that then contracted Rubicon, citing Gila River Farms in Arizona and Bear River in Utah. Sutton said Rubicon was engaged with several of the top 30 U.S. companies by market capitalization on water stewardship initiatives, including a request from a sustainability leader at a large company for a summary of projects where Rubicons technology could drive material water savings across the Colorado River Basin by the end of March. In Q&A, management reiterated that growth remained the core strategy and said it expected higher volumes in the second half. Bendall said the company was also taking operating cost measures to reduce costs in the second half. Sutton said Rubicons unique end-to-end value proposition provided pricing flexibility, though he noted pricing changes can lag because projects are often scoped and priced months or years before execution. Management also discussed regional updates, saying it remained very bullish on India and expected the region to become a material contributor to near-term revenue, while Egypt remained a longer-dated opportunity after a significant pipeline project was pushed back due to a partner change. On FX risk, Bendall said the company was reviewing options, while noting the challenge of hedging translation impacts and emphasizing pricing over time as a primary lever. Sutton closed by acknowledging the first-half result was below expectations, but said the company remained confident in the outlook for the second half of FY2026 and beyond, citing improving market conditions, a strong near-term tender pipeline, and expanding corporate and government funding avenues. About Rubicon Water (ASX:RWL) Rubicon Water Limited designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains irrigation automation software and hardware in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and internationally. The company offers network control solutions, such as total channel control, low energy pipeline, site management, and water and energy efficiency solutions; flow, water level, and climate measurement solutions; and operations software solutions. It also provides surface irrigation, irrigation automation, and precise irrigation scheduling solutions. Further Reading Abacus Group (ASX:ABG) reported its half-year 2026 results with management emphasizing operational discipline, portfolio simplification, and efforts to narrow the gap between the companys security price and net tangible assets (NTA). The group said its diversified commercial REIT portfoliooffice and retail assets alongside a 19.7% stake in Abacus Storage King (ASK)was valued at AUD 2.6 billion as of 31 December 2025, with a weighted average capitalization rate of 6.81%. Get alerts: Portfolio performance and earnings mix Management said office remained the largest contributor to operating earnings, accounting for more than half of the total, with the remainder coming from retail, self-storage investment returns, and investment management fees. For the half, total operating earnings were AUD 80.4 million, down 2% versus HY25. Chief Financial Officer Evan Goodridge attributed the decline primarily to lower one-off surrender fees in office (AUD 0.3 million in HY26 versus AUD 2.4 million in HY25) and the prior period divestment of non-core retail assets. On an underlying basis, the group highlighted: Office operating earnings up 5.8% year-on-year when excluding surrender fees; reported office earnings rose 0.6%. year-on-year when excluding surrender fees; reported office earnings rose 0.6%. Retail like-for-like growth of 4.5% when excluding surrender fees, supported by leasing fundamentals and performance at Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. when excluding surrender fees, supported by leasing fundamentals and performance at Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Administrative and other expenses down 8.1% to AUD 15.8 million, which management linked to reduced headcount, streamlined systems, and improved operating efficiency. Leasing and operating metrics General Manager, Commercial and Fund Manager Kevin George said the office portfolio remained resilient, citing SME demand, a flight to value theme, and demand for flexible fitted space. The office portfolio delivered 2.3% like-for-like rent growth at the half, driven by 7.2% leasing spreads and 3.6% average rent reviews, partially offset by lower physical occupancy. Office occupancy was 89.5%, slightly down from FY25 due to surrendered space at 99 Walker Street (850 square meters) and 324 Queen Street (3,500 square meters). George said around 80% of the surrendered space at 324 Queen Street was re-leased during the half. At 99 Walker Street, the surrendered floor was subdivided into three suites, with work completed in December; marketing is underway and three of the four suites were said to be at heads of agreement. Abacus completed 28 leasing deals covering 15,000 square meters in the half (excluding Virginia Park), with an average deal size of 520 square meters in the investment portfolio. Weighted average lease expiry was 3.4 years, which management said aligns with the portfolios approximately 60% SME customer base. Incentives on new deals remained elevated, particularly for larger spaces. New deal incentives averaged 37% versus 14% for renewals; excluding a retail renewal at 324 Queen Street, renewal incentives were 26%, down from 31% in HY25. George said Abacus expects incentives to moderate in Sydney and Brisbane as prime CBD vacancy tightens and new supply remains limited. One-third of total vacancy was linked to 710 Collins Street in Melbourne following the departure of two Victorian government departments (6,400 and 3,900 square meters). George said a leasing campaign is progressing and further fit-out enhancements are scheduled to commence. Entering the second half, management said approximately 25%30% of current vacancy was at heads of agreement or in advanced negotiations, and that 83% of vacant spaces were spec fitted or fitted with recycled fit-outs, which could help minimize downtime. Retail, self-storage contribution, and ASK discussions Retail represented 16% of the balance sheet at 31 December, with Abacus pointing to two high quality assetsMyer Melbourne and Oasis on the Gold Coastshowing average occupancy of 97.1%. At Oasis, management cited strong tourism and event activity across Broadbeach and the wider Gold Coast as supportive of demand and noted a 25 basis point cap rate tightening in HY26. At Myer Melbourne, Abacus said it benefits from fixed 4% annual rent reviews, 100% occupancy, and a six-year WALE, and reiterated a favorable view of the assets triple net lease. Self-storage earnings from the 19.7% stake in ASK were AUD 8 million, down 7% on HY25. Goodridge said ASK has increased investment in stabilizing and development assets, weighing on current period returns while supporting medium-term growth. Investment management and other income totaled AUD 13.1 million, with the vast majority of fees derived from ASK management. Abacus said it was forecasting higher development management fees in the second half of approximately AUD 3 million as several larger self-storage projects are anticipated to reach completion. Management also addressed its 4 February announcement that Abacus has commenced discussions with ASK regarding a potential internalization of ASKs management functions. The company said discussions remain at an early stage with no certainty a transaction will occur. In Q&A, management added that the two independent boards were scheduled to meet within the next week to 10 days, but provided no further details. Capital management, asset sales, and valuation backdrop Abacus declared a distribution of AUD 0.0425 per security for the half, in line with HY25. Funds from operations were AUD 0.0449 per security, with the distribution 50% fully franked. Management said it was at the top end of its 85%95% FFO payout range for HY26 and was forecasting a similar payout ratio for FY26, subject to leasing progress and no material deterioration in business conditions (including ASK management). Gearing was 34.5%, which management said is within its target range and below a 40% ceiling. Goodridge said the group had acquisition capacity of over AUD 200 million, hedge cover of 81%, and no near-term refinancing requirements. The average cost of debt for HY26 was 4.5%, down from 5.1% in HY25, and the company forecast an all-in cost of debt over the next 12 months of 4.5%. On portfolio curation, Abacus said it continued to progress non-core asset sales, exchanging contracts during the period for 241 Adelaide Street in Brisbane and the Camellia site in Parramatta for total consideration of approximately AUD 75 million. Abacus said 241 Adelaide settled after the balance date, while Camellia is expected to settle in the third quarter of the calendar year; once settled, management said the transactions should reduce gearing by almost 2% assuming proceeds go to debt reduction. In Q&A, management said 241 Adelaide was sold at book value versus its 30 June valuation, while Camellia was sold below its prior carrying value (reduced from about AUD 60 million to AUD 55 million). Valuations were described as broadly flat for the half, with a 4 basis point expansion in cap rates partially offset by solid income growth. Management noted that since pre-COVID, office values have reduced by around 30%, while adding that leasing activity has improved and indicators suggest stabilization. In response to an analyst question about reinvestment opportunities, management said it would be more inclined to invest in Queensland and New South Wales, citing medium- to long-term growth prospects and leasing demand, and said it would not be an active investor in Victoria at present. On transaction conditions, management said it was seeing signs of increased interest in office assetsparticularly in Queensland and New South Walesat current cap rate levels, with interest from institutional capital, syndicates, and private capital players. Guidance reaffirmed Chief Executive Officer Steven (Stephen) said Abacus was pleased to affirm FY26 distribution guidance of AUD 0.085 per security. Management said this guidance assumes no material decline in current business conditions and continued progress on re-leasing across the portfolio. About Abacus Group (ASX:ABG) Abacus Property Group (ASX:ABP), is a diversified Australian REIT with an investment portfolio concentrated in the Commercial property and Self Storage sectors. We invest capital in real estate opportunities to deliver superior long term returns and maximise securityholder value. Abacus is a strong asset backed, annuity style business model where capital is directed towards assets that provide potential for enhanced income growth and ultimately create value. Our people, market insight and repositioning capability together with strategic partnering are the key enablers of our strategy. Further Reading Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NYSE:NCDL Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of 0.36 per share on Tuesday, April 28th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Trading Down 1.1% Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending stock traded down $0.15 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $13.36. The stock had a trading volume of 360,668 shares, compared to its average volume of 286,901. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.37. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending has a 52 week low of $12.95 and a 52 week high of $17.78. The stock has a market cap of $659.85 million, a PE ratio of 6.82 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.65. Get Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending alerts: Institutional Trading of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 190.2% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,400 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,573 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 33.0% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,511 shares of the companys stock worth $73,000 after purchasing an additional 1,118 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $80,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $85,000. About Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns through a diversified portfolio of direct lending instruments. Established in early 2022, NCDL focuses on privately negotiated debt investments in middle-market companies, primarily within the United States. The fund offers investors access to a segment of the credit markets that has historically been less correlated with public debt markets, aiming to capture yield premiums associated with private lending. The funds investment strategy centers on senior secured loans, unitranche financings and selectively structured mezzanine debt. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- "Here are ten red envelopes, each holding a secret Spring Festival tradition. Take your pick and let's see which one you get!" During a Chinese language class at Moscow City University (MCU), 10 red envelopes appeared on the screen. As a student clicked to reveal phrases such as lion dance, dumpling making and family reunion dinner, classmates joined in discussing the cultural meanings behind them. The Spring Festival has made its way into classrooms at multiple Russian universities, where young students are exploring the cultural charm of the ancient festival through diverse lenses. LEARNING LANGUAGE, LIVING CULTURE "With crackers' cracking noise the old year passed away, the vernal breeze brings us warm wine and warm spring day." In another classroom at MCU, Polina Ryzhenkova, a teaching assistant from the Chinese Department, recited these lines of a classical poem about the Spring Festival by Song Dynasty poet Wang Anshi. Her first-year students repeated the lines with expression, following their teacher's lead. Oksana Malykh, head of the Chinese Department at the Institute of Foreign Languages, MCU, said all instructors strive to bring the aura of the Spring Festival into their lessons. Junior students learn basic Spring Festival-related vocabulary, while senior students compare Chinese and Russian traditions and discuss cross-cultural differences. "For those learning Chinese, or any foreign language, what matters most is culture," Malykh said. "While modern tools allow us to transmit the linguistic code itself, no translator or artificial intelligence can yet fully capture its cultural dimensions." The universal longing for renewal and the arrival of spring embedded in the festival is what teachers aim to convey to their students. For Elena, a fourth-year student, the Chinese New Year is a fascinating holiday associated with home, happiness, the start of a new natural cycle and the coming of spring. Beyond textbooks, students take part in workshops to make paper lanterns and write the Chinese character "Fu," meaning blessing or good fortune. During the workshop, students explained traditional practices, such as hanging the character upside down to symbolize the arrival of good fortune, drawing on similarities in pronunciation in Chinese. UNIQUE ROOTS, UNIVERSAL RESONANCE The festival has also been the focus of academic lectures at Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). "Spring Festival customs such as welcoming spring, honoring ancestors and driving away bad luck are essentially not just traditions, but an ancient worldview embedded in daily life, including belief in the magic of words and actions," Konstantin Baraboshkin, head of the Department of Chinese Philology at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, MSU, explained to second-year students during his lecture. In Baraboshkin's view, mythology is closely connected to cyclical time, lunar and solar rhythms, and holds the key to understanding the roots of the Spring Festival. "It seems natural to me to place the story of the Spring Festival within the context of Chinese mythology and trace its development from ancient times to the present," he said. "I realized that through this festival, China expresses its love for traditions and its commitment to preserving them. This is what has always fascinated me about China: its respectful attitude toward antiquity and its continuous effort to pass on its myths, traditions and customs. It unites people and brings joy," Yasya, a second-year student, told Xinhua after Baraboshkin's lecture. For Baraboshkin, the essence of the Spring Festival is unity. "The Spring Festival is built around unity at every level: from the family gathered around one table to the village, the province and the country as a whole. It is in these values that the festival derives its true unifying power," he said. "For Russians, the Spring Festival is often perceived as something exotic, yet people recognize the shared human values that underpin it. It is precisely through these shared values that the festival gains universal significance," he added. NEW FORMS, SAME REUNION Class discussions have also addressed how the festival is evolving in contemporary China. At MSU, students noted the growing use of social media platforms to exchange greetings and send digital red envelopes. They also discussed the trend of parents traveling to cities where their children work to celebrate together, reflecting changing lifestyles while maintaining the tradition of reunion. Yu Jie, a senior lecturer at MSU, said that although forms of celebration have changed, the importance attached to family has remained constant. Outside the classroom, the festivities spread into the city streets. At Manezhnaya Square in the heart of Moscow, large-scale celebrations were held to mark the Chinese New Year. Themed venues hosted workshops, concerts and tastings of Chinese cuisine, offering visitors a glimpse into China's rich traditions and customs. People stopped to watch, took photos to share the joy on social media, and warm greetings of "Happy New Year" filled the air, creating a scene of sincere warmth. "The Spring Festival is one of the most important festivals in China. It was fascinating to learn not only about its history and traditions, but also about the new forms it takes today," said Alexander, a fourth-year student majoring in Chinese history. Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 19th will be given a dividend of 0.6575 per share by the utilities provider on Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This is a 1.9% increase from Sempra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Sempra Energy has increased its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 22 consecutive years. Sempra Energy has a dividend payout ratio of 51.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Sempra Energy to earn $5.14 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.58 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 50.2%. Get Sempra Energy alerts: Sempra Energy Stock Up 0.8% Shares of Sempra Energy stock traded up $0.75 during trading on Thursday, reaching $95.25. The stock had a trading volume of 4,950,866 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,079,609. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The company has a market capitalization of $62.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $89.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $88.58. Sempra Energy has a 52 week low of $61.90 and a 52 week high of $97.45. Key Headlines Impacting Sempra Energy Sempra Energy ( NYSE:SRE Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 8.67% and a net margin of 15.63%.The business had revenue of $3.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.50 EPS. Sempra Energys revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Here are the key news stories impacting Sempra Energy this week: Sempra Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sempra Energy is a San Diegobased energy infrastructure company that develops, owns and operates businesses delivering electricity and natural gas. Its operations include regulated utility services that provide electric and gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as non?regulated infrastructure businesses that develop and manage large-scale energy assets. The companys product and service portfolio spans electricity and natural gas delivery, transmission and storage, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, power generation and electric transmission projects. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of 0.17 per share by the shipping company on Tuesday, March 24th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 12.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 10th. This is a 30.8% increase from Nordic American Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Nordic American Tankers has increased its dividend by an average of 0.3%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 1 years. Nordic American Tankers has a dividend payout ratio of 148.6% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect Nordic American Tankers to earn $0.26 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $0.52 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 200.0%. Get Nordic American Tankers alerts: Nordic American Tankers Stock Performance NAT traded up $0.37 on Thursday, hitting $5.41. 14,379,114 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,842,211. The company has a current ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. Nordic American Tankers has a twelve month low of $2.13 and a twelve month high of $5.43. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $4.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.61. The firm has a market cap of $1.15 billion, a PE ratio of 270.64 and a beta of -0.43. About Nordic American Tankers Nordic American Tankers ( NYSE:NAT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The shipping company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.03). Nordic American Tankers had a return on equity of 0.39% and a net margin of 1.12%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Nordic American Tankers will post 0.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get Free Report) Nordic American Tankers Limited is a Bermuda-based shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of Suezmax crude oil tankers. The companys fleet is employed on the spot and period charter markets, transporting crude oil across major global trade routes. By focusing on commercially flexible employment strategies, Nordic American Tankers seeks to optimize vessel utilization and generate stable income for shareholders. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, Nordic American Tankers maintains technical and commercial management arrangements through established ship-management partners. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nordic American Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordic American Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. T1 Energy Inc (NYSE:TE Get Free Report)s share price shot up 10.8% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $6.98 and last traded at $6.97. 10,275,876 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the average session volume of 21,939,605 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.29. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Alliance Global Partners reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of T1 Energy in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Zacks Research raised shares of T1 Energy to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. iA Financial set a $8.50 target price on shares of T1 Energy in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating on shares of T1 Energy in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Johnson Rice upgraded shares of T1 Energy to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, T1 Energy presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $7.50. Get T1 Energy alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on TE T1 Energy Stock Performance Institutional Investors Weigh In On T1 Energy The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.13. The company has a market cap of $1.55 billion, a PE ratio of -1.93 and a beta of 1.60. The companys 50 day moving average price is $7.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.59. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strs Ohio bought a new position in T1 Energy during the first quarter worth about $26,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of T1 Energy in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey purchased a new stake in shares of T1 Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in T1 Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, First PREMIER Bank purchased a new position in T1 Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 52.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About T1 Energy (Get Free Report) T1 Energy Inc is an energy solutions provider building an integrated supply chain for solar and batteries. T1 Energy Inc , formerly known as FREYR Battery, is based in NEW YORK. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for T1 Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for T1 Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFSI Get Free Report) insider Derek Stark sold 1,903 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.50, for a total transaction of $174,124.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 22,477 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,056,645.50. The trade was a 7.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. PennyMac Financial Services Trading Up 0.2% PennyMac Financial Services stock traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $92.94. 790,870 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,401,997. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $122.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $122.44. PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $85.74 and a twelve month high of $160.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.83 billion, a PE ratio of 9.99, a PEG ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.54. Get PennyMac Financial Services alerts: PennyMac Financial Services (NYSE:PFSI Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.23 by ($1.26). PennyMac Financial Services had a net margin of 24.48% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The business had revenue of $538.01 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $639.81 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.95 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. will post 13.77 earnings per share for the current year. PennyMac Financial Services Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of PennyMac Financial Services The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. PennyMac Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.90%. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of PennyMac Financial Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in PennyMac Financial Services in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in PennyMac Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 97.3% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 288 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services by 26.3% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 504 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. 57.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of PennyMac Financial Services from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on PennyMac Financial Services in a research note on Friday, December 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $160.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings lowered PennyMac Financial Services from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on PennyMac Financial Services from $150.00 to $135.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a buy rating on shares of PennyMac Financial Services in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PennyMac Financial Services has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $139.71. Read Our Latest Research Report on PennyMac Financial Services About PennyMac Financial Services (Get Free Report) PennyMac Financial Services, Inc (NYSE: PFSI) is a leading mortgage banking company based in Westlake Village, California. The firm operates through two primary business segments: Production and Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR). In its Production segment, PennyMac originates residential mortgage loans through retail, wholesale and correspondent channels, focusing on both purchase and refinance transactions. The MSR segment involves the acquisition and servicing of mortgage loans, whereby the company earns fees for managing loan portfolios on behalf of investors. Since its founding in 2008, PennyMac has grown through a combination of organic origination and strategic acquisition of servicing rights, positioning itself as one of the largest residential mortgage loan servicers in the United States. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for PennyMac Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PennyMac Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shine Justice (ASX:SHJ) reported a return to profitability for the first half of FY26, highlighting revenue growth in its core personal injury business, progress in class actions settlements that are expected to convert to cash in the second half, and early momentum in its developing International Mass Torts (IMT) strategy. Get alerts: Profitability returns as revenue and margins improve Group CEO Carolyn Barker said the company delivered net profit after tax (NPAT) of AUD 6.7 million for the half, compared with a loss of AUD 1.7 million in the prior corresponding period (FY25). CFO Marc Devine attributed the improved result to underlying business performance and productivity improvements. Revenue of AUD 108.8 million , up 8% from AUD 100.7 million , up 8% from AUD 100.7 million EBITDA of AUD 21.1 million , up 77% from AUD 9.2 million , up 77% from AUD 9.2 million Earnings per share (EPS) of AUD 0.0455, up from negative AUD 0.0101 For the half, Shine reported: Devine said the EBITDA margin improved to 19% from 11% a year earlier. He noted employee expenses rose only 1.5% despite wage pressure, which he said was largely offset by lower headcount compared with the prior period. Overheads were described as flat, while recoverability improved across most regions versus the prior year. Interim dividend declared; buyback remains available Management declared a AUD 0.015 fully franked interim dividend, payable on 24 April. Devine also said an on-market buyback remains in place, with 380,000 shares bought back during the half. He added the company has not been active in the buyback in the last 6 to 9 months, but said it would consider further buybacks when capital management allows. Cash flow hit by class actions timing; receipts expected in H2 Operating cash flow for the half was -AUD 6.3 million, which Devine said was mainly due to class action settlement receipts slipping from the first half into the second half. He quantified the delayed receipts at AUD 17.6 million, citing timing issues including court orders deferred from late December into the new year. Devine said the risk of not receiving the cash was very minimal and the issue was more just the timing, adding the company expected the remaining balance to be received in March after having already received AUD 8.5 million in January and February. He also noted personal injury cash receipts were affected late in the calendar year by delays in processing settlement clearances through a government agency, but said the blockage has eased up. Shine presented a normalized view of operating cash flow, showing that if the class action receipts had been received by 31 December, group operating cash flow would have been AUD 11.3 million for the half. On the balance sheet, Devine said the company used its overdraft facility due to the receipt delays, with cash and bank balances moving from AUD 18.1 million at June to AUD 1.1 million at December. He said there was plenty of headroom in facilities. He also cited net debt of AUD 39.9 million, a debt-to-equity ratio less than 31%, and an average cost of debt around 8%. Personal injury gains and class actions pipeline Barker said Shine remains a leading player in Australian personal injury (PI), describing a market where three major competitors account for roughly 30% of the market and the remaining 70% is fragmented among smaller firms. She said Shine currently has 43 PI offices and about 540 PI staff, and holds just under 10% market share. In the first half, Barker said Shine resolved over 2,000 PI cases securing AUD 376 million in damages. She also pointed to technology investments supporting faster response times and improved conversion, citing the integration of Salesforce-based CRM tools and work underway on cloud and AI-enabled workflows. Barker emphasized that cash receipts in PI can be lumpy due to matter duration and timing, even when revenue is recognized over reporting periods. In addition, management said it acquired 168 quality files in the first half as part of a file acquisition strategy. In response to an analyst question, Devine cautioned that file acquisitions are likely to be a bit lumpy from period to period and did not commit to a repeat of the first-half volume in the second half. In class actions, Barker said Shine reached four in-principle settlement agreements in the first half totaling AUD 232 million in gross client quantum, with cash expected to flow in the second half. She also described a continuing pipeline of 27 class actions under investigation and 27 filed actions, and said the firms portfolio mix spans areas including financial services, First Nations, shareholder and consumer matters, employment, and medical matters to help balance risk. During Q&A, Devine said Shine had about AUD 7.8 million locked up in class action investigations, and suggested that just over half of that was nearing the point where funding would be needed to convert those investigations into active matters, which would enable revenue recognition. He said the company expected to provide more financial detail on international mass torts by the end of the financial year. International Mass Torts expansion and funding developments Managing Director and Head of IMT Simon Morrison said the international mass torts strategy is designed to source and fund large-scale US-originated cases that can be litigated in countries where Shine has a class actions presence. He described a hub-and-spoke structure, with a US hub and operating spokes in Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Morrison said Shine has filed three large class actions in Australia on a protected basis: Johnson & Johnson talc litigation Proton Pump Inhibitors class action 3M Combat Earplugs class action He said Shine expects to file its first mass tort class action in New Zealand within the next 90 days or so, and has established an operation in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with a Bangkok-headquartered litigation firm, with the Johnson & Johnson talc matter described as the first case to be filed there. On funding, Morrison said Shine secured a funding facility from an international litigation funder of up to AUD 40 million for a single large mass tort case to be litigated in Australia. He described it as the companys first such facility and, in his words, the largest funding secured for a single case in Australian class action history. He added Shine is also negotiating a portfolio funding facility to litigate multiple class actions and said discussions are at a very mature stage. Morrison also discussed regulatory progress in the US, saying Shine applied for and received an operating license from the Arizona Supreme Court, describing Shine as the first international law firm to secure an ABS license in the United States. He said Shine acquired a small personal injury practice in Tempe, Arizona, and described the license as strategically important for opportunities connected to mass torts. In response to a question on partner involvement, Morrison said Shine works with US law firms that have already litigated, or are currently litigating, the cases Shine is contemplating filing. He said those partners assist with evidence development, litigation strategy, expert selection, and discovery approach, while noting there are restrictions on what can be shared in certain circumstances such as when US cases have settled. Barker closed by noting that calendar 2026 marks Shines 50th year of operations, and reiterated the companys dual engine approach spanning personal injury and class actions alongside investments in technology and international expansion. About Shine Justice (ASX:SHJ) Shine Justice Ltd, through its subsidiaries, provides damages-based plaintiff litigation legal and insurance recovery consulting services in Australia and New Zealand. It operates through two segments, Personal Injury and New Practice Areas. The Personal Injury segment provides services related to public liability, workers' compensation, abuse law, and motor vehicle accidents. The New Practice Areas segment offers disability insurance and superannuation claims, asbestos and dust disease, medical law, head trauma, class actions, commercial disputes, employment, private client services, family law, and catastrophic injuries. See Also Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) reported fiscal first-quarter 2026 results that management said exceeded the high end of its guidance range, driven by broad-based demand across segments and regions. On the companys earnings call, executives pointed to multiple secular tailwindsincluding AI-driven infrastructure buildouts, next-generation connectivity, rising semiconductor complexity, and defense modernizationas factors supporting accelerated growth. Get alerts: First-quarter results and segment performance Executive Vice President and CFO Neil Dougherty said Keysight delivered record results in the quarter. Total revenue was $1.6 billion, up 23% year over year on a reported basis. Acquisitions contributed eight percentage points and currency added one point; on a core basis, revenue grew 14%. Orders were $1.645 billion, up 30% reported and up 22% on a core basis. Gross margin was 66.7%, up 90 basis points, which Dougherty attributed to favorable product mix and higher gross margin revenue from recent acquisitions. Operating margin was 27.4%, up 20 basis points, with operating expenses of $628 million as the company continued investing in next-generation R&D. Net income was $376 million and earnings per share were $2.17, both up 19%. Dougherty also highlighted 41% core operating leverage and said core operating margin was 28.9%, up 170 basis points year over year. By segment: Communication Solutions Group (CSG): Revenue of $1.124 billion, up 27% reported and up 16% core. CSG gross margin was 68.5% and operating margin was 27.5%. Within CSG, commercial communications revenue was $758 million, up 33%, while aerospace, defense, and government (ADG) revenue was $366 million, up 18%. Revenue of $1.124 billion, up 27% reported and up 16% core. CSG gross margin was 68.5% and operating margin was 27.5%. Within CSG, commercial communications revenue was $758 million, up 33%, while aerospace, defense, and government (ADG) revenue was $366 million, up 18%. Electronic Industrial Solutions Group (EISG): Revenue of $476 million, up 15%, with growth across general electronics, semiconductors, and automotive/energy. EISG gross margin was 62.4% and operating margin was 27.2%. Software and services represented about 40% of quarterly revenue, and annual recurring revenue was 29% of total mix. Dougherty added that software specifically was above 25%, around 26% to 27%. AI and wireline momentum, plus wireless and 6G activity CEO Satish Dhanasekaran said CSG saw robust order growth, with orders outpacing CSG revenue growth of 27% in the quarter, driven by both commercial communications and ADG markets. He noted wireline delivered record orders and surpassing wireless for the first time, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of wireline growth. Dhanasekaran outlined four demand drivers he expects to shape wireline activity: Rapid scaling of AI infrastructure, increasing the need for end-to-end validation across the stack. Higher speeds and a shift to Ethernet-based AI networking (including 800G and 1.6T optics and development toward 3.2T). Increasing importance of optical interconnects, alongside emerging architectures such as co-packaged optics, optical circuit switching, and silicon photonics. Greater focus on system-level validation and benchmarking, including workload emulation. In Q&A, Dhanasekaran said the company previously sized its AI exposure at about 10% of total revenue run rate, and that AI-related orders in the quarter grew significantly above the companys average order growth of 30%. He also said Keysight has doubled the number of customers contributing to that demand and emphasized that its top two customers remain non-AI customers, which he said reflects broader demand. On wireless, management described healthy growth driven by non-terrestrial networks (NTN), 6G research, AI at-the-edge applications, and stability in 5G. Dhanasekaran said Keysight achieved a live NR NTN connection with Samsung in a 3GPP-defined satellite band. He also said early 6G R&D engagements expanded as the industry prepares for large-scale technology demos at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, with commercialization viewed by 2030. The company also cited multiple wins for its newly launched RaceSIM AI RAN offering. Aerospace and defense: record orders and expanding scope Dhanasekaran said ADG posted record first-quarter orders and growth across all regions, driven by deterrence and defense modernization priorities. He cited orders tied to program expansions, production automation, and new deployments across spectrum operations, space/satellite, and radar. Management highlighted several examples, including wins in North America for high-performance threat emulators, selection of digital transceiver module payload testing by a Canadian prime contractor, and broader activity in Europe supported by rising defense budgets. Dhanasekaran said the newly acquired PNT portfolio had a solid quarter as defense organizations test anti-jam and anti-spoof avionics in contested environments. EISG: record revenue, semiconductor and automotive/energy updates Dhanasekaran said EISG revenue was a record and orders grew for the third consecutive quarter, with double-digit growth in general electronics, semiconductors, and automotive/energy. He attributed general electronics strength to AI-related innovation and infrastructure investments and said rising PCB complexity is driving higher test intensity. He also noted digital health grew again, with wins spanning medical device manufacturing, R&D, and biomedical research. In education and advanced research, he said lower U.S. funding was offset by strength in Asia, supported by sovereign programs investing in semiconductor research and workforce development. In semiconductors, Dhanasekaran said investment accelerated, citing high-bandwidth memory and broader AI-driven capacity expansion driving demand for wafer-level test and characterization. He said silicon photonics programs and production timelines across major foundry customers are picking up speed and intensity, and that customers technology roadmaps and capacity plans improved sequentially. In automotive and energy, he described a stable environment with a mixed end market, citing healthy annual renewals in the ESI simulation portfolio and wins with EV and robotaxi customers in software-defined vehicle-related manufacturing. He also said Keysight introduced two new megawatt charging solutions aimed at helping customers meet global and local standards. Guidance, cash flow, buybacks, and acquisition integration For fiscal second-quarter 2026, Keysight guided for revenue of $1.69 billion to $1.71 billion and earnings per share of $2.27 to $2.33. Dougherty said the guidance does not contemplate any impact from a recently announced Supreme Court decision regarding tariffs, which the company is still assessing. Dougherty said integrations are on track and reiterated expectations for $375 million in acquisition-related revenue for fiscal 2026. He also reaffirmed a synergy target of more than $100 million in run-rate cost synergies and operational efficiencies, with realization heavily weighted to late 2026 due to ERP migration timing. In Q&A, he added the acquisitions were operating at lower margins initially and are currently dilutive, but are expected to become accretive once synergies are realized. For the full year, Dougherty said Keysights base case increased, and the company now expects total annual revenue and earnings growth just above 20% on an all-in basis. He said Keysight typically has strong visibility one quarter out, decent visibility two quarters out, and less clarity beyond that, while noting potential upside if momentum continues. Keysight ended the quarter with about $2.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Operating cash flow was $441 million and free cash flow was $407 million. The company repurchased about 420,000 shares for $87 million at an average price of about $207 per share, and Dougherty said the board has authorized $1.5 billion for share repurchases. About Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) Keysight Technologies is a global provider of electronic design, test, measurement and optimization solutions for communications, electronics and related industries. The company was formed as a corporate spin-off from Agilent Technologies in 2014; its origins trace back to the electronic measurement business that was part of Hewlett?Packard before Agilent. Keysight develops hardware and software used throughout the product development lifecycle, from design and simulation to prototype validation and manufacturing test. Keysights product portfolio includes electronic test and measurement instruments such as oscilloscopes, network and spectrum analyzers, signal generators, vector network analyzers and modular PXI-based systems, together with software platforms for simulation, automated test and data analysis. See Also Shares of iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Australia ETF (NYSEARCA:HAUD Get Free Report) traded up 0% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $24.36 and last traded at $24.36. 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 847 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.35. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Australia ETF Trading Up 0.0% The companys 50-day moving average price is $24.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $24.36. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Australia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Australia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hagerty (NYSE:HGTY Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.04, Zacks reports. Hagerty had a return on equity of 16.85% and a net margin of 5.85%.The firm had revenue of $388.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $323.93 million. Here are the key takeaways from Hagertys conference call: Get Hagerty alerts: Hagerty delivered a strong 2025 revenue +17% , net income +91% to $149 million , record 371,000 new members , and operating cash flow of $219 million (a $21 million reserve reduction also helped earnings). , , record , and operating cash flow of $219 million (a $21 million reserve reduction also helped earnings). The company implemented a strategic Markel fronting arrangement (retaining 100% of U.S. premium starting Jan 1, 2026), which management says increases potential underwriting profitability and investment income and captures full economics of the core book. (retaining starting Jan 1, 2026), which management says increases potential underwriting profitability and investment income and captures full economics of the core book. The fronting change creates significant 2026 GAAP noise elimination of commission revenue will lower reported revenue to ~$1.281.30B and a remaining ~ $190 million of previously paid ceding commission will be amortized through 2026, driving a guided net loss of -$41M to -$51M despite healthy underlying performance. of previously paid ceding commission will be amortized through 2026, driving a guided despite healthy underlying performance. Management expects continued growth in 2026 with written premium +15%16% , driven by State Farm conversions, expansion of Enthusiast Plus, B2B/distribution initiatives, claims investments, and technology migration (Duck Creek) as part of a plan to reach 3 million policies by 2030. , driven by State Farm conversions, expansion of Enthusiast Plus, B2B/distribution initiatives, claims investments, and technology migration (Duck Creek) as part of a plan to reach 3 million policies by 2030. Marketplace and Broad Arrow are high-growth engines Marketplace revenue more than doubled (to $119M for 2025), total vehicle transactions reached $624M, Broad Arrow expanded into Europe and is now a top global auction player, though that revenue stream remains lumpier than insurance. Hagerty Stock Up 3.8% Shares of HGTY traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $12.06. The company had a trading volume of 268,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 79,851. Hagerty has a 52 week low of $8.03 and a 52 week high of $14.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.00. The company has a market capitalization of $4.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.07 and a beta of 0.89. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $12.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.28. Insider Activity Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hagerty In related news, insider Kenneth Ahn sold 164,870 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.79, for a total transaction of $2,108,687.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders sold 351,350 shares of company stock worth $4,474,572 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 16.70% of the companys stock. Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in Hagerty by 2,374.5% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 4,949 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 4,749 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of Hagerty by 165.3% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 5,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 3,197 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in Hagerty by 46.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,571 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 2,726 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hagerty during the 4th quarter worth approximately $98,000. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hagerty during the third quarter worth $155,000. Institutional investors own 20.51% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about Hagerty Here are the key news stories impacting Hagerty this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently issued reports on HGTY. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Hagerty from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Hagerty from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Hagerty from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Hagerty in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $14.00. Get Our Latest Report on HGTY Hagerty Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hagerty is a specialized automotive lifestyle and insurance company that caters primarily to collectible car enthusiasts. Its core business centers on offering classic vehicle insurance policies designed to protect antique, vintage and specialty automobiles, motorcycles and boats. These policies typically feature agreed-value coverage, flexible usage options and access to restoration services, aligning with the unique needs of collectors and hobbyists. Beyond insurance, Hagerty operates a comprehensive suite of community and content services under its automotive lifestyle brand. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hagerty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hagerty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Applied Materials, Thomson Reuters, Fabrinet, and Phillips 66 are the five Manufacturing stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Manufacturing stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is producing physical goods through industrial processesexamples include automakers, machinery and equipment makers, chemical producers, and electronics manufacturers. For investors, these stocks are typically cyclical and sensitive to economic growth, commodity prices, supply-chain disruptions, and trade policy, and they often require significant capital investment. Investors use manufacturing stocks to gain exposure to industrial demand and productivity trends, balancing potential growth with risks tied to cycles and capital intensity. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Manufacturing stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others. Applied Materials (AMAT) Applied Materials, Inc. engages in the provision of manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets. The Semiconductor Systems segment develops, manufactures, and sells various manufacturing equipment that is used to fabricate semiconductor chips or integrated circuits. Read Our Latest Research Report on AMAT Thomson Reuters (TRI) Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. Read Our Latest Research Report on TRI Fabrinet (FN) Fabrinet provides optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services in North America, the Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The company offers a range of advanced optical and electro-mechanical capabilities in the manufacturing process, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, printed circuit board assembly, advanced packaging, integration, final assembly, and testing. Read Our Latest Research Report on FN Phillips 66 (PSX) Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. Read Our Latest Research Report on PSX Recommended Stories Tempus AI, Hut 8, SoundHound AI, Fermi, and BigBear.ai are the five Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of companies whose business models are materially driven by AIincluding firms that develop AI algorithms, software platforms, cloud services, or specialized hardware (like GPUs), as well as companies that use AI strategically to transform their products and operations. For investors, these stocks are evaluated based on their degree of AI-related revenue, intellectual property, talent and partnerships, and typically carry higher growth potential and volatility due to technological, competitive, and regulatory uncertainties. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Tempus AI (TEM) Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics. Hut 8 (HUT) Hut 8 Corp., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, builds, manages, and operates data centers for digital assets mining, computing, and artificial intelligence in the United States. It operates in four segments: Digital Assets Mining, Managed Services, High Performance Computing Colocation and Cloud, and Other. Read Our Latest Research Report on HUT SoundHound AI (SOUN) SoundHound AI, Inc. develops independent voice artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enables businesses across automotive, TV, and IoT, and to customer service industries to deliver high-quality conversational experiences to their customers. Its products include Houndify platform that offers a suite of Houndify tools to help brands build conversational voice assistants, such as Application Programming Interfaces (API) for text and voice queries, support for custom commands, extensive library of content domains, inclusive software development kit platforms, collaboration capabilities, diagnostic tools, and built-in analytics; SoundHound Chat AI that integrates with knowledge domains, pulling real-time data like weather, sports, stocks, flight status, and restaurants; and SoundHound Smart Answering is built to offer customer establishments custom AI-powered voice assistant. Read Our Latest Research Report on SOUN Fermi (FRMI) Fermis mission is to power the artificial intelligence (AI) needs of tomorrow. We are an advanced energy and hyperscaler development company purpose-built for the AI era. Our mission is to deliver up to 11 gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon, HyperRedundant, and on-demand power directly to the worlds most compute-intensive businesses with 1.1 GW of power projected to be online by the end of 2026. Read Our Latest Research Report on FRMI BigBear.ai (BBAI) BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services. Read Our Latest Research Report on BBAI Read More LONDON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Britain's vehicle production fell sharply in January amid weak global demand, industry data showed on Friday. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), total output declined 13.6 percent year on year to 67,415 units -- 65,249 cars and 2,166 commercial vehicles. Car production dropped 8.2 percent from a year ago, while commercial vehicle (CV) output plunged 68.6 percent, marking the 10th consecutive month of decline following major plant restructuring. Exports were the main drag on performance. Production for overseas markets accounted for 77.8 percent of total output, with the European Union (EU) remaining the top destination, SMMT said. The United States was the second-largest importer of British-built cars, accounting for 14.1 percent of exports, followed by Japan and China. While exports to the EU rose 7.8 percent, shipments to other major markets recorded double-digit declines. Electrified vehicle production, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models, fell 10.6 percent to 26,854 units in January, but still accounted for 41.2 percent of total car output. Despite the weak start, the industry expects volumes to recover later this year as next-generation electric vehicle models enter production. The latest independent outlook cited by SMMT forecasts overall car production to rise by more than 10 percent to around 790,000 units in 2026, with combined car and light CV output projected to reach about 824,000 units. Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, described the start to the year as disappointing for the British automotive sector. "It underscores the importance of a forward-looking trade agenda that preserves existing preferential market access -- particularly with the EU amid 'Made in Europe' proposals -- while expanding trade opportunities globally," he said. He added that this should be accompanied by more competitive conditions for British manufacturing, including lower energy costs, a resilient domestic market and stronger support for its supply chain. Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:MNARF Get Free Report)s stock price fell 0.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $13.77 and last traded at $13.77. 5,038 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 65% from the average session volume of 3,049 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.8185. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts recently commented on MNARF shares. TD Securities restated a buy rating on shares of Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust to a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust alerts: Get Our Latest Report on MNARF Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Stock Down 0.4% About Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust The firms 50 day moving average price is $13.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.99. (Get Free Report) Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS: MNARF) is an open-ended real estate investment trust that owns and operates a diversified portfolio of multi-residential rental properties. Through its sponsor, Morguard Corporation, the trust focuses on acquiring, developing and managing apartment communities in key North American markets. Its asset mix spans mid-rise and high-rise buildings as well as purpose-built rental communities designed to serve a broad tenant base, from young professionals to families and seniors. The trust leverages the property management and leasing capabilities of Morguards in-house team, providing services that include marketing, maintenance and tenant relations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Charlies Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:CHUCD Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 0.7% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $0.3176 and last traded at $0.28. 9,589 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 96% from the average session volume of 250,570 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.2780. Charlies Stock Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $0.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.26. Charlies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Charlie's Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, formulates, markets, and distributes e-cigarette liquids and vaping systems in the United States and internationally. The company also offers energy drink under the Bazi brand name. It sells its products through distributors, specialty retailers, and third-party online resellers to approximately 80 countries, primarily, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Australia, Sweden, and Canada. The company was formerly known as True Drinks Holdings, Inc and changed its name to Charlie's Holdings, Inc Charlie's Holdings, Inc was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Charlie's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charlie's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is C$135.40. A number of brokerages have commented on CM. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$134.00 to C$142.00 in a report on Monday, February 9th. Raymond James Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$122.00 to C$135.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Desjardins increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$135.00 to C$139.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$130.00 to C$135.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$123.00 to C$127.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Up 2.9% Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce stock opened at C$141.84 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of C$131.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.26. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$128.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$119.21. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a twelve month low of C$76.17 and a twelve month high of C$143.80. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$2.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$8.40 billion for the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 12.61% and a net margin of 27.87%. Equities analysts expect that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.4127341 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 28th were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 29th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.97. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is currently 45.27%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce news, insider Frank Guse sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$127.16, for a total value of C$635,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 1,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$172,810.44. This trade represents a 78.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. About Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Get Free Report) CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 15 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Further Reading 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. Shares of Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the six analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and five have assigned a hold recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $12.60. FLO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Flowers Foods in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research raised shares of Flowers Foods from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Stephens set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Flowers Foods in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $11.00 target price on shares of Flowers Foods in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Flowers Foods from $15.00 to $10.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Get Flowers Foods alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Flowers Foods Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, CEO Ryals Mcmullian sold 209,000 shares of Flowers Foods stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.87, for a total transaction of $2,271,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,022,380 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,113,270.60. This trade represents a 16.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Insiders own 11.57% of the companys stock. Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Flowers Foods during the second quarter worth $28,000. Private Trust Co. NA grew its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 103.8% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,932 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 984 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC bought a new position in Flowers Foods during the third quarter worth about $30,000. WealthCollab LLC raised its stake in Flowers Foods by 1,623.7% in the 4th quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 2,327 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 2,192 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its holdings in Flowers Foods by 225.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 2,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,663 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.45% of the companys stock. Flowers Foods Stock Up 2.7% Flowers Foods stock opened at $9.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The companys 50-day moving average is $10.83 and its 200-day moving average is $12.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.09 billion, a PE ratio of 24.78 and a beta of 0.33. Flowers Foods has a fifty-two week low of $9.44 and a fifty-two week high of $20.23. Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.06. Flowers Foods had a return on equity of 16.61% and a net margin of 1.59%.Flowers Foodss quarterly revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.22 earnings per share. Flowers Foods has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.800-0.900 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Flowers Foods will post 1.18 earnings per share for the current year. Flowers Foods Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $0.2475 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.0%. Flowers Foodss dividend payout ratio is presently 247.50%. Flowers Foods Company Profile (Get Free Report) Flowers Foods, Inc is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, offering a variety of fresh bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes and tortillas. Headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, the company operates an extensive network of bakeries and distribution centers that serve retail grocery chains, convenience stores, mass merchandisers and foodservice customers nationwide. Flowers Foods markets its products under well-known brands such as Natures Own, Wonder, Daves Killer Bread, Mrs. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Flowers Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flowers Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strathcona Resources Ltd. (TSE:SCR Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$32.43. SCR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of Strathcona Resources from C$40.00 to C$33.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Strathcona Resources from C$29.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Strathcona Resources from C$40.00 to C$35.00 and set a moderate buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. National Bank Financial upgraded Strathcona Resources from a hold rating to an outperform rating and reduced their price objective for the company from C$36.00 to C$32.00 in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, ATB Cormark Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Strathcona Resources from C$42.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Get Strathcona Resources alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Strathcona Resources Strathcona Resources Trading Down 0.4% Strathcona Resources Dividend Announcement Shares of Strathcona Resources stock opened at C$28.87 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 11.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.06. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$28.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$34.96. The stock has a market cap of C$6.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.64, a PEG ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 2.61. Strathcona Resources has a 12-month low of C$22.75 and a 12-month high of C$45.09. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. Strathcona Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 21.68%. Strathcona Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Strathcona Resources Ltd. is a Canada-based oil and gas producers with operations focused on thermal oil, enhanced oil recovery and liquids-rich natural gas. The Company has three operations, including Lloydminster Heavy Oil, Cold Lake Thermal Oil and Montney. The Lloydminster Heavy Oil segment has multiple large oil-in-place reservoirs with existing and expanding enhanced oil recovery (EOR) opportunities primarily located in southwest Saskatchewan. Its Saskatchewan thermal properties rely on the same steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processes as its Cold Lake Thermal properties. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Strathcona Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Strathcona Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Erste Asset Management GmbH decreased its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 134,979 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 18,124 shares during the quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbHs holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $23,061,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AEM. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines during the second quarter valued at approximately $938,644,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 38.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 8,296,796 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $987,398,000 after purchasing an additional 2,319,131 shares during the period. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 48.3% during the 2nd quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,528,022 shares of the mining companys stock worth $538,506,000 after buying an additional 1,474,385 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 53.1% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,164,046 shares of the mining companys stock worth $495,230,000 after buying an additional 1,444,746 shares during the period. Finally, Picton Mahoney Asset Management acquired a new stake in Agnico Eagle Mines in the second quarter worth $134,059,000. Institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AEM. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating and set a $280.00 price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $198.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $248.00 to $235.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $225.00 price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agnico Eagle Mines currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $234.91. Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Up 2.5% AEM stock opened at $246.52 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $200.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $173.82. The company has a market capitalization of $123.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.63. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 52 week low of $92.11 and a 52 week high of $246.78. The company has a current ratio of 2.02, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The mining company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.13. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 37.47% and a return on equity of 18.09%. The business had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.26 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 60.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Agnico Eagle Mines Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a boost from Agnico Eagle Miness previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.02%. 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. Recommended Stories 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. Banco Santander S.A. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 1,326.5% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 80,682 shares of the railroad operators stock after buying an additional 75,026 shares during the quarter. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $19,071,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Union Pacific alerts: Union Pacific Stock Performance Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $265.25 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $241.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.17. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $267.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $157.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.98. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.91 EPS. Union Pacifics quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%. Analyst Ratings Changes UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $267.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $260.14. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Union Pacific About Union Pacific (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 two?thirds of the United States. See Also 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. Close Asset Management Ltd lessened its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 63,819 shares of the companys stock after selling 27,299 shares during the quarter. Close Asset Management Ltds holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $11,832,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Clayton Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Johnson & Johnson during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 55.0% during the second quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 203 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Financial Services Inc grew its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Insider Transactions at Johnson & Johnson In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 26,769 shares of the companys stock, valued at $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 is available through this link. 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 transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at $5,598,700.17. This represents a 21.22% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 30,142 shares of company stock valued at $7,360,528 over the last 90 days. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In JNJ has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $180.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $232.70. View Our Latest Stock Report on JNJ Johnson & Johnson Price Performance Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $243.47 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $223.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $201.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.03. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $141.50 and a 1 year high of $247.25. The company has a market capitalization of $586.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.35. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $24.28 billion during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 28.46% and a return on equity of 33.04%. As a group, equities research analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be paid 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 yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio is presently 47.06%. Johnson & Johnson News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: About Johnson & Johnson (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. Featured 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. Tavistock Investments Plc (LON:TAVI 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 GBX 4.36 and traded as low as GBX 3.80. Tavistock Investments shares last traded at GBX 4, with a volume of 290,600 shares trading hands. Tavistock Investments Price Performance The firm has a market cap of 17.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 0.02. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 3.82 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 4.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.56, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 3.89. Get Tavistock Investments alerts: Tavistock Investments (LON:TAVI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 23rd. The company reported GBX (0.33) earnings per share for the quarter. Tavistock Investments had a negative net margin of 3.23% and a negative return on equity of 3.14%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Tavistock Investments Plc will post 0.1312566 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Tavistock Investments Company Profile Tavistock Investments Plc provides investment management and advisory support services to a network of financial advisers in the United Kingdom. The company offers investment planning, financial planning, pension and retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, protection and insurance, will writing, bereavement notification, employee benefits, protects families from financial difficulty, finance for homes and mortgages, financial management, financial planning, and tax saving services. Tavistock Investments Plc was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Ascot, the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tavistock Investments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tavistock Investments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV Free Report) by 91.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,085 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,900 shares during the period. RWA Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Dover were worth $1,015,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of DOV. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Dover by 717.4% in the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,716,256 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $314,470,000 after buying an additional 1,506,288 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Dover in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $274,135,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Dover by 912.9% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 789,409 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $144,572,000 after acquiring an additional 711,471 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in shares of Dover by 133.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 656,349 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $109,499,000 after purchasing an additional 375,333 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its position in shares of Dover by 46.8% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 901,460 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $165,158,000 after purchasing an additional 287,362 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.46% of the companys stock. Get Dover alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have issued reports on DOV shares. Barclays set a $206.00 price objective on Dover in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley set a $210.00 price target on shares of Dover in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Dover from $199.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on shares of Dover in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. They set a neutral rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $224.00 target price on shares of Dover in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Dover has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $224.00. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Girish Juneja sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.77, for a total value of $346,155.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Richard J. Tobin sold 76,997 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $50,723,713.30. The trade was a 26.10% 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 85,127 shares of company stock valued at $19,698,081. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Dover Stock Performance Shares of DOV stock opened at $227.30 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $30.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.79. Dover Corporation has a one year low of $143.04 and a one year high of $237.54. The companys 50-day moving average is $211.53 and its 200 day moving average is $189.75. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 the consensus estimate of $2.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.20 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Dover Corporation will post 9.45 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dover Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Dovers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.20%. 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. Featured Articles 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. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least one U.S. national was killed and another injured following Wednesday's "highly unusual" shooting by Cuba's border guards at a U.S.-registered speedboat, multiple U.S. media outlets reported Thursday, citing U.S. officials. The injured U.S. national is now receiving care in Cuba. The speedboat's owner reported that the 24-foot vessel had been stolen by an employee in Florida, U.S. officials told Axios, a U.S. news website. Four people were killed and six injured in the shooting. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially asked Cuba for access to the six injured people, a U.S. official told Axios. Some of those aboard the boat sailing from the Florida state have criminal records, according to the Axios report. At least one person aboard has a current U.S. K-1 visa, a non-immigrant visa allowing a foreigner to enter the United States to get married to a U.S. citizen, said the report. Others who were aboard the boat are believed to be legal permanent residents of the United States, the report added. Rubio said on Wednesday that the administration of President Donald Trump is probing the deadly shooting, and confirmed the shooting did not involve U.S. government personnel or operations. "As we gather more information, we'll be prepared to respond accordingly," said Rubio. The shooting came amid rising tensions between the United States and Cuba as the island country in the Caribbean is facing rapidly worsening conditions driven by severe fuel shortages, prolonged blackouts and growing barriers to accessing food and healthcare. TD Asset Management Inc cut its holdings in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report) by 11.2% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 193,166 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 24,387 shares during the quarter. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $66,886,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SHW. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 73.6% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,545 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $525,000 after buying an additional 655 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 11.2% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,236 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,178,000 after acquiring an additional 626 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its position in Sherwin-Williams by 27.1% during the second quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 1,818 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $624,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 15.2% in the second quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,340 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,147,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund increased its position in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 25,483 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $8,750,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.67% of the companys stock. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on SHW shares. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Sherwin-Williams in a report on Monday, January 19th. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $400.00 to $410.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $390.00 price objective on shares of Sherwin-Williams and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group set a $420.00 target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Vertical Research upgraded shares of Sherwin-Williams from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $371.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Sherwin-Williams currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $387.67. Insider Activity In related news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,513 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $364.47, for a total transaction of $915,913.11. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 10,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,661,101.15. This trade represents a 20.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Colin M. Davie sold 2,976 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $359.50, for a total transaction of $1,069,872.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 5,365 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,928,717.50. This represents a 35.68% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock. Sherwin-Williams Price Performance Shares of SHW opened at $360.39 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $349.47 and its 200-day moving average is $346.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.30 billion, a PE ratio of 35.09, a PEG ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 1.25. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a fifty-two week low of $308.84 and a fifty-two week high of $379.65. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.57 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 65.26% and a net margin of 10.90%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.09 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 12 EPS for the current year. Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This is a boost from Sherwin-Williamss previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.16%. Sherwin-Williams Company Profile (Free Report) Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a global manufacturer and distributor of paints, coatings and related products. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company supplies a broad range of coatings for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Its product offering includes architectural paints and stains, industrial and protective coatings, automotive finishes, and a variety of sundry products such as primers, sealants and specialty treatments used by professionals and consumers. The company sells through multiple channels, including a large network of company-operated retail paint stores that serve professional contractors and do-it-yourself consumers, as well as through distributors and mass retailers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MLI Free Report) by 19.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 104,867 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 17,276 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Mueller Industries worth $10,603,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MLI. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Mueller Industries by 121.1% in the third quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 252 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in Mueller Industries by 228.7% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 309 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Mueller Industries in the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas purchased a new stake in shares of Mueller Industries during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Mueller Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. 94.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Mueller Industries alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets MLI has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded Mueller Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Mueller Industries in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Mueller Industries Stock Performance Shares of MLI stock opened at $120.41 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $122.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $109.58. Mueller Industries, Inc. has a twelve month low of $66.84 and a twelve month high of $139.29. The company has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.53 and a beta of 1.03. Mueller Industries Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from Mueller Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Mueller Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 14.56%. Insider Buying and Selling at Mueller Industries In related news, Director John B. Hansen sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.71, for a total value of $116,710.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 90,664 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,581,395.44. This trade represents a 1.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Scott Jay Goldman sold 4,430 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.97, for a total transaction of $527,037.10. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 41,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,954,505.65. This represents a 9.61% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 2.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Mueller Industries Profile (Free Report) Mueller Industries, Inc is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of copper, brass, aluminum and plastic products. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company serves a wide range of markets including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), refrigeration, plumbing, industrial gas, automotive and agricultural sectors. Its product portfolio encompasses copper and plastic tubing, brass fittings, valves and related components designed for fluid handling and temperature control applications. The company operates through multiple business segments, including the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment, which supplies copper and plastic tubing, fittings and valves for residential and commercial construction markets; the Industrial Metals & Mining segment, which provides aluminum shapes and specialty brass products for industrial applications; and the Climate segment, which focuses on copper tubing and components for air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Primecap Management Co. CA trimmed its holdings in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK Free Report) by 4.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,459,409 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 175,011 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA owned 3.00% of Alaska Air Group worth $172,209,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cozad Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 8.1% in the third quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 39,760 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,979,000 after purchasing an additional 2,965 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 24.5% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,834 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $141,000 after purchasing an additional 558 shares during the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,008,000. Rothschild Investment LLC lifted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 15,957.9% in the 3rd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 3,051 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $152,000 after buying an additional 3,032 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 29.1% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 206,172 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $10,263,000 after buying an additional 46,445 shares during the last quarter. 81.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Alaska Air Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on ALK shares. Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Alaska Air Group in a report on Friday, December 19th. UBS Group set a $77.00 target price on shares of Alaska Air Group and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a $70.00 target price (up from $60.00) on shares of Alaska Air Group in a report on Monday, January 12th. Zacks Research raised shares of Alaska Air Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $52.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Alaska Air Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $71.40. Alaska Air Group Stock Up 1.7% Shares of NYSE:ALK opened at $55.27 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $52.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $51.12. The company has a current ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $37.63 and a 12-month high of $73.89. The firm has a market cap of $6.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.53, a PEG ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.21. Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.32. The company had revenue of $3.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.64 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 0.70% and a return on equity of 7.22%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.97 EPS. Alaska Air Group has set its Q1 2026 guidance at -1.5000.500 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 3.500-6.500 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Alaska Air Group news, CFO Shane R. Tackett sold 24,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.15, for a total transaction of $1,371,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 43,377 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,478,995.55. This trade represents a 35.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 14,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total transaction of $794,745.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 20,195 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,106,887.95. This represents a 41.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 56,945 shares of company stock valued at $3,204,569. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. About Alaska Air Group (Free Report) Alaska Air Group is a publicly traded holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that operates two main airlinesAlaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Through these carriers, the company offers scheduled passenger and cargo services across a network spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its core business activities include domestic and international air transportation, loyalty program management under the Mileage Plan brand, and ancillary revenue streams such as baggage fees, in-flight sales and code-share partnerships with other global airlines. The roots of Alaska Air Group trace back to the foundation of its flagship carrier, Alaska Airlines, in 1932. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) by 5.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 220,193 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 11,558 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC owned 0.06% of Edison International worth $12,172,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EIX. Activest Wealth Management lifted its stake in Edison International by 677.8% during the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 560 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 488 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC raised its holdings in shares of Edison International by 113.7% during the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 577 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Edison International by 5,064.3% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 723 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 709 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Edison International in the third quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Edison International in the second quarter worth approximately $38,000. 88.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Edison International alerts: Edison International Trading Down 1.2% Shares of NYSE:EIX opened at $74.32 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $63.84 and a 200 day moving average of $58.96. The company has a market cap of $28.60 billion, a PE ratio of 6.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.82. Edison International has a 12-month low of $47.73 and a 12-month high of $75.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92. Edison International Dividend Announcement Edison International ( NYSE:EIX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $1.87 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $5.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.29 billion. Edison International had a net margin of 24.34% and a return on equity of 14.87%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.05 EPS. Edison International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.900-6.200 EPS and its FY 2027 guidance at 6.250-6.650 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Edison International will post 4.95 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 7th will be given a $0.8775 dividend. This represents a $3.51 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 7th. Edison Internationals payout ratio is presently 30.36%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on EIX shares. Wall Street Zen cut Edison International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Mizuho set a $79.00 target price on Edison International in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Barclays boosted their price target on Edison International from $67.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of Edison International in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on shares of Edison International from $52.50 to $55.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Four 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 data from MarketBeat, Edison International has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.70. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on EIX Edison International Profile (Free Report) Edison International is a publicly traded utility holding company based in Rosemead, California, whose principal subsidiary is Southern California Edison (SCE). As an electric utility holding company, Edison International oversees the delivery of electricity through SCEs integrated network of generation procurement, transmission and distribution infrastructure, serving millions of customers across central, coastal and southern California. The companys operations focus on reliable energy delivery, customer service, regulatory compliance and long-term infrastructure planning for a complex and high-demand service territory. The companys activities include procuring and managing a diverse resource mix, maintaining and upgrading transmission and distribution systems, and implementing grid modernization projects. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EIX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edison International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edison International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Primecap Management Co. CA decreased its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 11.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 163,830 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 21,710 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA owned 0.05% of The Goldman Sachs Group worth $130,466,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of GS. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.9% during the third quarter. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX now owns 13,996 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $11,146,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares during the period. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,613 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,285,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Hurley Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 87.7% in the 3rd quarter. Hurley Capital LLC now owns 122 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $97,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 77.1% during the third quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC now owns 5,121 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,078,000 after buying an additional 2,230 shares during the period. Finally, Fox Run Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the third quarter worth about $236,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.21% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Up 0.8% Shares of GS stock opened at $928.87 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $278.60 billion, a PE ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.34. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $439.38 and a 52-week high of $984.70. The businesss fifty day moving average is $924.95 and its 200 day moving average is $835.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.13. The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The investment management company reported $13.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $11.52 by $2.03. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 15.19% and a net margin of 13.73%.The business had revenue of $15.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.30 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $11.95 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $4.50 dividend. This is an increase from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $4.00. This represents a $18.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is 31.20%. More The Goldman Sachs Group News Here are the key news stories impacting The Goldman Sachs Group this week: Insider Buying and Selling at The Goldman Sachs Group In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, EVP John F.W. Rogers sold 13,151 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $959.03, for a total value of $12,612,203.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 39,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at $37,408,883.21. The trade was a 25.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO David M. Solomon sold 272 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $938.92, for a total transaction of $255,386.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 125,527 shares in the company, valued at $117,859,810.84. The trade was a 0.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 117,283 shares of company stock valued at $112,016,033 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on GS shares. Argus increased their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $863.00 to $1,066.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $898.00 to $1,087.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $750.00 to $775.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Dbs Bank increased their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $800.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Friday, January 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $916.86. View Our Latest Report on GS The Goldman Sachs Group Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc is a global investment banking and financial services firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1869 as a commercial paper business, the company has grown into a diversified financial institution that provides a broad range of services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. The firm is led by Chief Executive Officer David M. Solomon and operates across major financial centers worldwide. Goldman Sachs core businesses include investment banking, global markets, asset and wealth management, and consumer banking. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (CVE:SEB Get Free Report)s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$0.30 and traded as low as C$0.30. Smart Employee Benefits shares last traded at C$0.30, with a volume of 11,100 shares trading hands. Smart Employee Benefits Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,180.39. The company has a market cap of C$52.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.00 and a beta of 1.66. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$0.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.30. Smart Employee Benefits Company Profile (Get Free Report) Smart Employee Benefits Inc, a technology company, provides business process automation and software solutions, and professional services in Canada and internationally. It operates through Benefits and Technology segments. The Benefits segment offers software solutions, services, and products that focuses on managing group benefit and wellness plans for corporate and government clients. The Technology segment provides solutions in the areas of supply chain management, integration, and energy, as well as resource provisioning; and technical infrastructure support services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Smart Employee Benefits Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smart Employee Benefits and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA Free Report) by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,986 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 14,451 shares during the period. Hohimer Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $5,181,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Primecap Management Co. CA grew its position in Alibaba Group by 0.7% in the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 20,764,276 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $2,354,877,000 after acquiring an additional 140,579 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,267,441 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $597,381,000 after purchasing an additional 390,883 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $527,243,000. Discerene Group LP grew its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Discerene Group LP now owns 2,985,487 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $338,584,000 after purchasing an additional 18,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 10.7% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,539,055 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $287,954,000 after purchasing an additional 245,970 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.47% of the companys stock. Get Alibaba Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes BABA has been the topic 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 on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Macquarie Infrastructure reissued an outperform rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Loop Capital set a $140.00 price objective on Alibaba Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Alibaba Group from $231.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued 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 $195.17. Alibaba Group Stock Down 2.8% Shares of BABA opened at $148.05 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $159.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $157.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $353.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.45, a PEG ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.39. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 52 week low of $95.73 and a 52 week high of $192.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 1.46. Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The specialty retailer reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.66 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $34.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $41.80 billion. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 12.38% and a return on equity of 10.51%. The companys revenue was up 9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.15 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current year. More Alibaba Group News Here are the key news stories impacting Alibaba Group this week: Alibaba Group Company Profile (Free Report) Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of co?founders. The company built its business around internet-based commerce and related services and has grown into one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. Alibaba completed a high?profile initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. The company operates a portfolio of online marketplaces and platforms serving different customer segments: Alibaba.com for global and domestic B2B trade, Taobao for consumer-to-consumer shopping, and Tmall for brand and retailer storefronts targeted at Chinese consumers. 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. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 18.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,986 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 1,156 shares during the quarter. BlackRock accounts for approximately 0.8% of Hohimer Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Hohimer Wealth Management LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $5,813,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its position in BlackRock by 450.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 22 shares of the asset managers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 1,000.0% during the third quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 22 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Traub Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Creekmur Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of BlackRock by 87.5% in the second quarter. Creekmur Asset Management LLC now owns 30 shares of the asset managers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the period. Finally, Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 80.69% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Trending Headlines about BlackRock Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week: Positive Sentiment: Large operational partnership BlackRock tapped Citi to provide middle?office services for roughly $4.0T of U.S. iShares ETFs on Aladdin, which should improve ETF processing, distribution efficiency and could support future inflows. Read More. Large operational partnership BlackRock tapped Citi to provide middle?office services for roughly $4.0T of U.S. iShares ETFs on Aladdin, which should improve ETF processing, distribution efficiency and could support future inflows. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Crypto ETF momentum US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a large daily inflow (~$258M) with BlackRock among leaders; sustained flows into IBIT/crypto ETFs would lift fee revenue and reinforce BlackRocks ETF franchise. Read More. Crypto ETF momentum US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a large daily inflow (~$258M) with BlackRock among leaders; sustained flows into IBIT/crypto ETFs would lift fee revenue and reinforce BlackRocks ETF franchise. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Strategic investments BlackRock is active in DeFi and AI ecosystems (stake activity with DeFi infrastructure deals and participation in AI chip funding), underscoring diversification into growth themes beyond core asset management. Read More. Strategic investments BlackRock is active in DeFi and AI ecosystems (stake activity with DeFi infrastructure deals and participation in AI chip funding), underscoring diversification into growth themes beyond core asset management. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Corporate actions and holdings updates BlackRock marginally reduced its stake in BAWAG Group; smaller?company trusts announced a merger to cut costs and boost scale (operative for subsidiaries/closed?end trusts, not BLKs core P&L). Read More. Corporate actions and holdings updates BlackRock marginally reduced its stake in BAWAG Group; smaller?company trusts announced a merger to cut costs and boost scale (operative for subsidiaries/closed?end trusts, not BLKs core P&L). Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary Analysts dispute claims that a single trading firm (Jane Street) systematically moves Bitcoin via IBIT-related flows; markets view BTC moves as broader risk repricing rather than firm manipulation. Read More. Market commentary Analysts dispute claims that a single trading firm (Jane Street) systematically moves Bitcoin via IBIT-related flows; markets view BTC moves as broader risk repricing rather than firm manipulation. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Profitability and cash?flow pressure Q4 showed revenue growth (~23%) but sharp declines in operating profit, net income and EPS and weaker operating cash flow, increasing near?term margin concerns. Read More. Profitability and cash?flow pressure Q4 showed revenue growth (~23%) but sharp declines in operating profit, net income and EPS and weaker operating cash flow, increasing near?term margin concerns. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Operational/reputational risk Reporting that BlackRock was duped into a $430M telecom loan involving alleged fake invoices raises questions about credit underwriting and controls. Read More. Operational/reputational risk Reporting that BlackRock was duped into a $430M telecom loan involving alleged fake invoices raises questions about credit underwriting and controls. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling Multiple senior BlackRock executives and directors (recent Form 4 filings) have sold shares in the past days/weeks; continued insider sales can pressure sentiment even if motivated by routine liquidity. Read More. Read More. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BLK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane raised their price target on shares of BlackRock from $1,290.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on BlackRock from $1,244.00 to $1,267.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Bank of America upped their price target on BlackRock from $1,456.00 to $1,464.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on BlackRock from $1,296.00 to $1,380.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, CICC Research boosted their target price on BlackRock from $1,000.00 to $1,250.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,311.11. Get Our Latest Report on BLK Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock In other BlackRock news, CFO Martin Small sold 27,047 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,171.14, for a total transaction of $31,675,823.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 10,557 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,363,724.98. This trade represents a 71.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Stephen Cohen sold 2,179 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,073.87, for a total transaction of $2,339,962.73. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,543 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,026,331.41. The trade was a 24.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 112,577 shares of company stock valued at $125,311,821 in the last quarter. 1.98% of the stock is owned by insiders. BlackRock Trading Down 0.4% BLK opened at $1,089.89 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $169.10 billion, a PE ratio of 30.77, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The business has a 50 day moving average of $1,094.81 and a 200-day moving average of $1,104.00. BlackRock has a 52 week low of $773.74 and a 52 week high of $1,219.94. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $12.55 by $0.61. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.14% and a net margin of 22.93%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 23.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $11.93 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that BlackRock will post 47.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $5.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $22.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is a boost from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. BlackRocks payout ratio is currently 58.84%. BlackRock Profile (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors. In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR Free Report) (TSE:QSR) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 12,177 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $781,000. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Intact Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Restaurant Brands International by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 759,391 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $48,722,000 after acquiring an additional 72,800 shares during the period. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Restaurant Brands International by 23,154.1% in the third quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 39,532 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $2,535,000 after purchasing an additional 39,362 shares during the last quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. purchased a new stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,214,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 51.4% during the third quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 196,100 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $12,578,000 after purchasing an additional 66,600 shares during the period. Finally, Fiera Capital Corp grew its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 17.2% in the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 4,946,163 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $317,191,000 after purchasing an additional 724,540 shares during the last quarter. 82.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Restaurant Brands International alerts: Restaurant Brands International Price Performance QSR stock opened at $69.92 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.62, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Restaurant Brands International Inc. has a 1 year low of $58.71 and a 1 year high of $73.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $68.56 and a 200 day moving average of $67.47. The company has a market cap of $24.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.63, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.58. Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend Restaurant Brands International ( NYSE:QSR Get Free Report ) (TSE:QSR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The restaurant operator reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.03. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.51% and a net margin of 8.23%.The firm had revenue of $2.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.81 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Restaurant Brands International Inc. will post 3.72 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 19th will be issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. This is a positive change from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 19th. Restaurant Brands Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 110.17%. Insider Buying and Selling at Restaurant Brands International In related news, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 25,472 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.91, for a total transaction of $1,806,219.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 961,282 shares of the companys stock, valued at $68,164,506.62. This trade represents a 2.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Duncan Fulton sold 10,308 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.51, for a total transaction of $695,893.08. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 49,677 shares in the company, valued at $3,353,694.27. The trade was a 17.18% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 186,401 shares of company stock valued at $12,857,069. Company insiders own 1.25% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently commented on QSR shares. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $82.00 price target on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $74.00 to $71.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $68.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Restaurant Brands International from $83.00 to $81.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Restaurant Brands International currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $76.65. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Restaurant Brands International Restaurant Brands International Profile (Free Report) Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE: QSR) is a global quick-service restaurant company formed through the combination of established brands. The companys principal holdings include Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, each of which operates under its own brand identity and menu. Restaurant Brands Internationals business is centered on developing and expanding these franchised restaurant systems, supporting franchisees with brand management, supply chain coordination, and marketing programs. RBIs restaurants offer a range of quick-service food and beverage products: Burger King is known for its flame-grilled hamburgers and sandwiches, Tim Hortons for coffee, baked goods and breakfast items, and Popeyes for Louisiana-style fried chicken and seafood. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QSR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR Free Report) (TSE:QSR). Receive News & Ratings for Restaurant Brands International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Restaurant Brands International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kaizen Financial Strategies raised its position in Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHI Free Report) by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 335,016 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 21,712 shares during the quarter. Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF comprises about 3.5% of Kaizen Financial Strategies portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Kaizen Financial Strategies owned about 0.08% of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF worth $7,699,000 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. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new position in shares of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $36,000. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF by 78.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,570 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Godsey & Gibb Inc. lifted its position in shares of Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF by 53.8% during the 3rd quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 1,633 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 571 shares during the last quarter. Get Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF alerts: Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.1% Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF stock opened at $23.22 on Friday. Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $21.59 and a 12-month high of $23.28. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $23.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $23.03. Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF Increases Dividend Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 6th. Investors of record on Monday, February 2nd were given a dividend of $0.1014 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.2%. This is a positive change from Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.09. (Free Report) The Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of USD-denominated investment-grade corporate bonds with intermediate maturities of 5-10 years. SCHI was launched on Oct 10, 2019 and is managed by Charles Schwab. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Investors certainly gravitate toward companies that are able to increase their sales figures at a brisk pace each year. This means that there's something exciting happening. And the business in question might have serious long-term potential that can benefit one's portfolio. Here's one growth stock that could supercharge your returns over the next five years and beyond. 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. Growing the right way Any business can drive growth by opening new locations. Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) stands out because it has posted consistent same-store sales growth to the tune of 5.6% in 2025. This was supported by 3.2% more transactions. That's an encouraging trend that contributed to overall revenue rising 27.9% last year. This isn't to say that management isn't focused on aggressive expansion. After opening 154 new coffee shops last year, there are now 1,136 Dutch Bros locations in total. The plan is to reach 2,029 stores in 2029. And the total market opportunity is a whopping 7,000 shops, up from a previous target estimate of 4,000. It's easy to be bullish. With more scale comes an improving bottom line. Net income increased 76% year over year to $117.3 million in 2025. The sell-side analyst community forecasts 27.4% compound annual growth for earnings per share over the next three years, a faster gain than the top line. Is there staying power? Because Dutch Bros is so early on its growth trajectory, there are valid concerns that its success won't last. This is why investors must pay attention to same-store sales trends going forward. It would be discouraging to see Dutch Bros' energizing gains crash and the business start to report falling same-store figures. As the company gets bigger, though, it should start to develop durable competitive advantages. Starbucks is a good comparison. It has a cost advantage, as its massive revenue and store base enable efficiencies that a smaller chain doesn't have. Starbucks also has a globally recognized brand that supports its premium pricing. Should Dutch Bros' success continue, it's not unreasonable to think it could build these favorable characteristics. Energizing portfolio performance Dutch Bros shares trade 45% below their record (as of Feb. 23). Volatility has been extreme over the past couple of years. However, investors who can handle the ups and downs and have patience to buy and hold for several years are in a good position to profit. The stock's price-to-earnings and price-to-sales ratios have both come down significantly in the past year, presenting an attractive entry point. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report) by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 203,287 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 5,749 shares during the period. iShares Gold Trust accounts for about 0.3% of Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $14,793,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,875 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $646,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Axecap Investments LLC increased its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 1.0% in the third quarter. Axecap Investments LLC now owns 14,316 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,042,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Aspiriant LLC increased its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 1.8% in the third quarter. Aspiriant LLC now owns 7,854 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $572,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Sincerus Advisory LLC lifted its position in iShares Gold Trust by 2.8% during the third quarter. Sincerus Advisory LLC now owns 5,184 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $377,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the period. Finally, First National Trust Co boosted its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. First National Trust Co now owns 15,541 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,131,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.67% of the companys stock. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: Key Headlines Impacting iShares Gold Trust Here are the key news stories impacting iShares Gold Trust this week: iShares Gold Trust Price Performance iShares Gold Trust Profile IAU opened at $97.79 on Friday. iShares Gold Trust has a 12 month low of $53.44 and a 12 month high of $104.40. The business has a 50-day moving average of $89.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $79.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.09. (Free Report) iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. The sponsor of the Trust is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor), which is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the Trustee) and the custodian of the Trust is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the Custodian). Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gemsstock Ltd. cut its holdings in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Free Report) by 52.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 490,166 shares of the banks stock after selling 536,587 shares during the quarter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft comprises 4.5% of Gemsstock Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Gemsstock Ltd.s holdings in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft were worth $17,236,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Amundi raised its stake in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 15.3% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 40,664,519 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,182,931,000 after purchasing an additional 5,403,011 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 35.0% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 25,471,401 shares of the banks stock valued at $745,803,000 after buying an additional 6,605,750 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in the second quarter valued at about $719,395,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its position in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 6.4% during the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 13,209,491 shares of the banks stock worth $390,188,000 after buying an additional 794,674 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 90.6% during the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 9,837,047 shares of the banks stock valued at $290,601,000 after acquiring an additional 4,674,860 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.90% of the companys stock. Get Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft alerts: Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Trading Up 1.6% DB opened at $36.72 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $38.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.65. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has a twelve month low of $18.89 and a twelve month high of $40.43. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Increases Dividend Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft ( NYSE:DB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The bank reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $8.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.71 billion. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft had a net margin of 10.02% and a return on equity of 7.49%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft will post 2.93 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, June 1st will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. This is a boost from Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts previous annual dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 1st. This represents a yield of 251.0%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have commented on DB shares. Zacks Research downgraded Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a sell rating on shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold. View Our Latest Analysis on DB About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Free Report) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. Founded in 1870 to support German foreign trade, the firm has grown into a full-service bank offering a wide range of banking, advisory and transaction services to corporate, institutional, and private clients. Over its history the bank has expanded internationally and developed capabilities across capital markets, investment banking, retail and commercial banking, and wealth management. The banks core business activities include corporate and investment bankingcovering financing, advisory, sales and trading, and capital markets servicesalong with private & commercial banking for individual and small-to-medium enterprise clients. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forge First Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Skeena Resources Limited (NYSE:SKE Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 400,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,370,000. Skeena Resources comprises approximately 3.4% of Forge First Asset Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Forge First Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.33% of Skeena Resources at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Skeena Resources by 28.8% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 985,495 shares of the companys stock worth $15,689,000 after purchasing an additional 220,334 shares in the last quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Skeena Resources in the third quarter valued at about $1,597,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Skeena Resources by 24.7% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 757,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,938,000 after buying an additional 150,000 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its position in Skeena Resources by 43.4% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 2,258,524 shares of the companys stock worth $35,640,000 after buying an additional 683,524 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its holdings in Skeena Resources by 941.8% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 106,114 shares of the companys stock worth $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 95,928 shares during the last quarter. 45.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Skeena Resources alerts: Skeena Resources Price Performance Shares of NYSE:SKE opened at $37.44 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $4.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -51.29 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a 50 day moving average of $29.27 and a 200-day moving average of $22.06. Skeena Resources Limited has a one year low of $8.53 and a one year high of $37.53. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Skeena Resources in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Skeena Resources from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 25th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce restated an outperform rating on shares of Skeena Resources in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Skeena Resources in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. View Our Latest Stock Report on SKE Skeena Resources Company Profile (Free Report) Skeena Resources Limited explores for and develops mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, and other precious metal deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine comprising one mining lease and nine mineral tenures that covers an area of approximately 4,724 hectares; and the Eskay Creek gold mine that consists of eight mineral leases, two surface leases, and various unpatented mining claims comprising 7,666 hectares located in British Columbia, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Skeena Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skeena Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 28.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 11,384 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,530 shares during the quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $3,212,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 0.4% during the third quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 9,359 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,878,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. KPP Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in International Business Machines by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. KPP Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,069 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $584,000 after buying an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Marco Investment Management LLC boosted its position in International Business Machines by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Marco Investment Management LLC now owns 10,774 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,040,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. MA Private Wealth grew its stake in International Business Machines by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. MA Private Wealth now owns 2,242 shares of the technology companys stock worth $633,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC increased its position in shares of International Business Machines by 0.8% during the third quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC now owns 4,300 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,213,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock. Get International Business Machines alerts: International Business Machines News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have weighed in on IBM shares. Bank of America upped their target price on International Business Machines from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. 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. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $304.00 to $247.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group upgraded shares of International Business Machines from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $236.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Argus set a $360.00 price objective on shares of International Business Machines in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $320.87. View Our Latest Research Report on International Business Machines Insider Buying and Selling at International Business Machines In other news, Director David N. Farr bought 1,000 shares of International Business Machines stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 30th. The stock was bought at an average price of $304.00 per share, for a total transaction of $304,000.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 9,258 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,814,432. The trade was a 12.11% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael Miebach purchased 434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $233.33 per share, for a total transaction of $101,265.22. Following the purchase, the director owned 434 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,265.22. The trade was a ? increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have bought 1,484 shares of company stock valued at $417,157 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. International Business Machines Trading Up 1.9% International Business Machines stock opened at $242.05 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market cap of $227.05 billion, a PE ratio of 21.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.69. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $288.39 and a two-hundred day moving average of $283.56. International Business Machines Corporation has a one year low of $214.50 and a one year high of $324.90. International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 firm 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 company posted $3.92 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. International Business Machines Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be paid a dividend of $1.68 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 10th. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is presently 60.27%. International Business Machines Company Profile (Free Report) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM. IBMs principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development. Recommended Stories 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. Luvu Brands (OTCMKTS:LUVU Get Free Report) and Ceconomy (OTCMKTS:MTTRY Get Free Report) are both small-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and earnings. Volatility and Risk Luvu Brands has a beta of 1.55, meaning that its share price is 55% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ceconomy has a beta of 1.32, meaning that its share price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Luvu Brands alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Luvu Brands and Ceconomy, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Luvu Brands 0 0 0 0 0.00 Ceconomy 0 0 0 1 4.00 Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Luvu Brands $24.69 million 0.08 -$450,000.00 ($0.02) -1.30 Ceconomy $25.51 billion 0.10 -$38.73 million $0.08 13.25 This table compares Luvu Brands and Ceconomys revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Luvu Brands has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Ceconomy. Luvu Brands is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ceconomy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Luvu Brands and Ceconomys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Luvu Brands -5.42% -58.93% -14.04% Ceconomy 0.71% 46.82% 2.53% Summary Ceconomy beats Luvu Brands on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Luvu Brands (Get Free Report) Luvu Brands, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets various consumer lifestyle products worldwide. The company offers sensuality and intimacy products under the Liberator brand; and bed therapy products, which assistive in relieving medical conditions associated with acid reflux, surgery recovery, and chronic pain under the Avana brand. It also provides daybeds, sofas, and beanbags made from virgin and re-purposed polyurethane foam under the Jaxx brand. In addition, the company is involved in the purchase and resale of products to e-merchants, retailers, and e-commerce sites, as well as provision of contract manufacturing and fulfillment services. It markets its products through various websites comprising liberator.com, jaxxliving.com, and avanacomfort.com, as well as through distributors, retailers, and e-tailers across various channels of adult, mass market, drug, and specialty accounts. The company was formerly known as Liberator, Inc. and changed its name to Luvu Brands, Inc. in November 2015. Luvu Brands, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Luvu Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Luvu Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF Free Report) by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,686,749 shares of the apparel retailers stock after selling 97,670 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 0.10% of Abercrombie & Fitch worth $400,951,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 15.9% during the 3rd quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 50,588 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $4,328,000 after purchasing an additional 6,932 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 4.8% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 27,596 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $2,361,000 after buying an additional 1,272 shares during the period. Wesbanco Bank Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch during the third quarter valued at $984,000. Alps Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in the 3rd quarter valued at $446,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch by 268.0% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 666 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Get Abercrombie & Fitch alerts: Insider Transactions at Abercrombie & Fitch In other Abercrombie & Fitch news, CEO Fran Horowitz sold 103,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.53, for a total value of $10,168,296.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 605,303 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,640,504.59. This trade represents a 14.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 350,000 shares of company stock worth $34,661,358 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.29% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Abercrombie & Fitch from $78.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $125.00 target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, February 15th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a $145.00 price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $160.00 to $149.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Abercrombie & Fitch has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $120.90. Get Our Latest Report on Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Stock Performance ANF opened at $99.21 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $106.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $93.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 1.19. Abercrombie & Fitch Company has a fifty-two week low of $65.40 and a fifty-two week high of $133.11. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The apparel retailer reported $2.36 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.22. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 38.01% and a net margin of 10.07%.The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.28 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.50 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Abercrombie & Fitch Company will post 10.62 earnings per share for the current year. Abercrombie & Fitch Profile (Free Report) Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items. The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ANF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abercrombie & Fitch Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abercrombie & Fitch and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC Free Report) by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,783,919 shares of the companys stock after selling 68,916 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.11% of Warrior Met Coal worth $368,089,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BTC Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Warrior Met Coal by 110.0% in the third quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,486 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,304,000 after purchasing an additional 10,733 shares in the last quarter. Affinity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Warrior Met Coal in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,167,000. Hi Line Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Warrior Met Coal by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hi Line Capital Management LLC now owns 74,531 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,743,000 after buying an additional 2,205 shares in the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its holdings in Warrior Met Coal by 1,235.0% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 2,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $153,000 after buying an additional 2,223 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mraz Amerine & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Warrior Met Coal during the third quarter worth $200,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.28% of the companys stock. Get Warrior Met Coal alerts: Insider Activity at Warrior Met Coal In other Warrior Met Coal news, insider Kelli K. Gant sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 70,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,058,000. This trade represents a 12.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Walter J. Scheller sold 100,000 shares of Warrior Met Coal stock in a transaction on Monday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.31, for a total transaction of $10,031,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 294,183 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,509,496.73. This trade represents a 25.37% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on HCC. B. Riley Financial reissued a buy rating on shares of Warrior Met Coal in a report on Friday, February 13th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Warrior Met Coal from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. UBS Group set a $108.00 target price on shares of Warrior Met Coal and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Zacks Research cut shares of Warrior Met Coal from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Warrior Met Coal from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, February 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.00. View Our Latest Research Report on HCC Warrior Met Coal Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HCC opened at $84.70 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 77.71 and a beta of 0.65. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $91.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.26. Warrior Met Coal has a 52 week low of $38.00 and a 52 week high of $105.35. The company has a quick ratio of 2.27, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by ($0.18). The business had revenue of $383.99 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $381.72 million. Warrior Met Coal had a return on equity of 2.71% and a net margin of 4.35%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 29.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.15 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Warrior Met Coal will post 4.86 EPS for the current year. Warrior Met Coal Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Warrior Met Coals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.36%. Warrior Met Coal Profile (Free Report) Warrior Met Coal (NYSE: HCC) is a leading producer of premium metallurgical coal, operating deep underground mining complexes in Central Alabamas Blue Creek and Brookwood mining districts. The company focuses exclusively on the extraction and sale of high-grade hard coking coal, a critical raw material used in steel production. Its mining operations harness longwall mining technology and rigorous safety protocols to deliver consistent coal quality to customers worldwide. Warrior Met Coals product portfolio centers on premium hard coking coal, semisoft coking coal, and pulverized coal injection (PCI) products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Warrior Met Coal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Warrior Met Coal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MGB Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 87.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,411 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 1,124 shares during the period. MGB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $1,203,000 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 stock. Tableaux LLC boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 34,231.4% in the 2nd quarter. Tableaux LLC now owns 623,115 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $288,589,000 after buying an additional 621,300 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 169.3% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 572,272 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $265,030,000 after purchasing an additional 359,748 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,697,527 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $10,048,993,000 after buying an additional 214,565 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Lockheed Martin in the second quarter valued at approximately $92,628,000. Finally, Natixis grew its stake in Lockheed Martin by 1,478.6% during the 2nd quarter. Natixis now owns 203,859 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $94,415,000 after buying an additional 190,945 shares during the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Lockheed Martin Stock Down 0.9% LMT opened at $641.47 on Friday. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 52 week low of $410.11 and a 52 week high of $669.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $578.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $508.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05. The company has a market cap of $147.59 billion, a PE ratio of 29.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.23. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend 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). Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 6.69% and a return on equity of 108.53%. The company had revenue of $20.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $7.67 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $3.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $13.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is presently 64.22%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have issued reports on LMT shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $515.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $600.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on Lockheed Martin from $592.00 to $673.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $605.00 to $695.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Lockheed Martin from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lockheed Martin currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $612.50. Read Our Latest Report on Lockheed Martin About Lockheed Martin (Free Report) Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world. Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report). 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. TD Asset Management Inc trimmed its position in Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) by 1.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 240,081 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,323 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $51,036,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Capital One Financial by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,537,167 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $12,018,671,000 after acquiring an additional 156,254 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 63.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,780,128 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,910,500,000 after purchasing an additional 10,776,843 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Capital One Financial by 64.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,008,841 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,970,628,000 after purchasing an additional 5,474,328 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Capital One Financial in the second quarter worth $1,701,511,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Capital One Financial by 41.3% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 7,011,073 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,491,676,000 after purchasing an additional 2,050,010 shares during the last quarter. 89.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Capital One Financial alerts: Capital One Financial Stock Up 1.3% COF stock opened at $208.43 on Friday. Capital One Financial Corporation has a 1-year low of $143.22 and a 1-year high of $259.64. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $228.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $223.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $129.63 billion, a PE ratio of 70.42, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.14. Capital One Financial Announces Dividend Capital One Financial ( NYSE:COF Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $3.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.14 by ($0.28). Capital One Financial had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 3.54%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.67 EPS. Capital One Financials revenue was up 53.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, February 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. 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 payout ratio is presently 108.11%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on COF. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. BTIG Research decreased their price objective on Capital One Financial from $308.00 to $270.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Barclays dropped their target price on Capital One Financial from $294.00 to $287.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Capital One Financial in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $274.70. Get Our Latest Stock Report on COF Insiders Place Their Bets In other Capital One Financial news, insider Neal Blinde sold 38,135 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.51, for a total value of $7,265,098.85. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 33,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,391,801.01. This represents a 53.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Celia Karam sold 2,936 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.15, for a total transaction of $640,488.40. Following the sale, the insider owned 63,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,837,908.95. This trade represents a 4.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 76,138 shares of company stock worth $16,160,598 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock. Capital One Financial Company Profile (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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF Free Report). 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. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. bought a new position in Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF (BATS:GLOV Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 9,798 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $558,000. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. purchased a new position in Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its stake in shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF by 89.0% in the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 705 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF by 52.2% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. Founders Financial Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF during the third quarter valued at $80,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA boosted its position in shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF by 809.7% during the third quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,911 shares of the companys stock valued at $166,000 after buying an additional 2,591 shares during the last quarter. Get Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF alerts: Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF Stock Performance GLOV opened at $59.32 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $58.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.52 and a beta of 0.74. Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF has a 52-week low of $46.01 and a 52-week high of $55.58. Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF Company Profile The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta(R) World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF (GLOV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund selects large- and mid-cap stocks in developed markets based on four factors: value, momentum, quality and an emphasis on low volatility. GLOV was launched on Mar 15, 2022 and is managed by Goldman Sachs. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF (BATS:GLOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cindy Rose, who took over WPP in September, is seeking to turn company around after a period of declining sales and client losses - Jason Alden/Bloomberg WPP plans to cut 500m in costs as the rise of AI threatens to upend the role of traditional agencies. The London-listed media group said it aimed to achieve the savings target by 2028 by selling some of its businesses and consolidating its sprawling operations into four key pillars. The savings will be reinvested in high-growth areas such as AI. The company previously said it would invest around 300m each year in WPP Open, an AI marketing tool that allows clients to create their own campaigns. WPP and its rivals face an serious threat from the rise of the new technology, which could allow clients to sidestep traditional media companies altogether. A number of high-profile brands including Coca-Cola and Heinz have already incorporated AI into their campaigns. The technology still has the potential to misfire. Gucci has come under fire for using AI to generate images promoting its Milan Fashion Week show, with critics dismissing the results as slop. However, the rapidly improving technology poses a significant threat and major advertising groups are scrambling to adapt to the new technology. As part of the restructuring, WPP will restructure hundreds of ad agencies into four units: creative, media, production and the newly formed enterprise solutions. WPP, which owns agencies including Ogilvy and Grey, did not say what impact the overhaul would have on staff numbers. The company has already been reducing headcount, with employee numbers dropping by almost 10,000 last year to 98,655. Cindy Rose, the former Microsoft executive who became chief executive at WPP in September, is seeking to turn the advertising group around after a difficult period of declining sales and major client losses. WPPs shares have slumped 65pc in the last year to their lowest level since 1998, while the company has lost its crown as the worlds largest advertising company by revenue to French rival Publicis. Ms Rose said WPP was an extraordinary company but admitted its performance was just not where it needs to be. She added: Our recent underperformance has been driven by excessive organisational complexity, a lack of an integrated operating model and inconsistent strategic execution. While disappointing, I see huge potential as these issues are all within our power to fix and were already making great progress. WPPs revenue excluding pass-through costs fell by 5.4pc last year to 11.4bn, with headline operating profit falling by more than a fifth to 1.3bn. Ms Rose hailed an improvement in winning new business but said revenue will continue to shrink in the first half of this year. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 2,448 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $753,000. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 4.1% in the third quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 960 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Harfst & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 0.6% during the third quarter. Harfst & Associates Inc. now owns 6,416 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,974,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 5,470 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,683,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Bollard Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bollard Group LLC now owns 819 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $214,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighPoint Advisor Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,523 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $776,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the companys stock. Get Vulcan Materials alerts: Vulcan Materials Stock Up 1.1% VMC opened at $308.95 on Friday. Vulcan Materials Company has a 52 week low of $215.08 and a 52 week high of $331.09. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $304.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $297.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a market cap of $40.34 billion, a PE ratio of 38.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.07. Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.11 by ($0.41). Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 13.56% and a return on equity of 12.56%. The company had revenue of $1.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.95 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.17 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This is an increase from Vulcan Materialss previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Vulcan Materialss payout ratio is currently 24.14%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. B. Riley Financial assumed coverage on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. They set a buy rating and a $345.00 price target on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut Vulcan Materials from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, February 21st. Truist Financial upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $320.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $327.00 price objective on Vulcan Materials in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson decreased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $330.00 to $320.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $323.64. Read Our Latest Report on Vulcan Materials Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 7,135 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.81, for a total transaction of $2,146,279.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Melissa H. Anderson sold 1,137 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $303.72, for a total transaction of $345,329.64. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 8,937 shares of company stock worth $2,687,784. 0.62% of the stock is owned by insiders. Vulcan Materials Company Profile (Free Report) Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) is a U.S.-based producer of construction materials that supplies the building and infrastructure markets. The companys primary products include construction aggregates such as crushed stone, sand and gravel, as well as asphalt mixes and ready-mixed concrete. These materials are used in a wide range of projects including highways, commercial and residential construction, and public infrastructure. Vulcan operates an integrated network of quarries, asphalt plants and concrete facilities to produce and deliver materials to contractors, municipalities and private developers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vulcan Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vulcan Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. US Bancorp DE trimmed its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 1.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 669,331 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,599 shares during the quarter. US Bancorp DEs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $108,566,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 490,590 shares of the companys stock worth $89,354,000 after buying an additional 5,681 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 549,481 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,922,000 after acquiring an additional 51,399 shares in the last quarter. Dynasty Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 53.0% in the third quarter. Dynasty Wealth Management LLC now owns 27,772 shares of the companys stock worth $4,505,000 after acquiring an additional 9,622 shares during the last quarter. Trajan Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 31.2% during the third quarter. Trajan Wealth LLC now owns 132,295 shares of the companys stock worth $21,458,000 after purchasing an additional 31,490 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westwood Holdings Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 295.8% during the second quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 67,717 shares of the companys stock worth $12,333,000 after purchasing an additional 50,610 shares in the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Philip Morris International In other news, CEO Jacek Olczak sold 80,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.18, for a total value of $14,574,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 632,344 shares of the companys stock, valued at $115,200,429.92. The trade was a 11.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Emmanuel Babeau sold 33,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $181.61, for a total transaction of $6,138,418.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 164,463 shares in the company, valued at $29,868,125.43. This trade represents a 17.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a $205.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $181.50 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $220.00 to $180.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $196.83. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Trading Down 1.2% Shares of PM opened at $187.44 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $291.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.39. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $142.11 and a 1 year high of $191.30. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $173.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $163.67. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.70. The business had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.40 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 12.09% and a negative return on equity of 130.95%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.55 EPS. Philip Morris International has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.800-1.850 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 8.380-8.530 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a dividend of $1.47 per share. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.88%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE: PM) is a global tobacco company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, other nicotine-containing products and a growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives for adult smokers. The firm traces its corporate roots to the 19th century Philip Morris enterprise and was established as an independent, publicly traded company following a 2008 separation from what is now Altria. Since the spin-off, the company has focused on serving international markets outside the United States. PMIs product mix includes traditional combustible cigarettes as well as smoke-free offerings such as heated tobacco systems and other reduced-risk products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP purchased a new stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 63,932 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,310,000. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in KR. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Kroger by 67.5% in the 3rd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 378,000 shares of the companys stock worth $25,481,000 after purchasing an additional 152,338 shares during the period. Hager Investment Management Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 13.5% during the third quarter. Hager Investment Management Services LLC now owns 14,309 shares of the companys stock worth $965,000 after buying an additional 1,700 shares during the period. MAI Capital Management boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 79.7% during the third quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 89,934 shares of the companys stock worth $6,062,000 after buying an additional 39,888 shares during the period. RWA Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kroger by 1.8% during the third quarter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC now owns 16,252 shares of the companys stock worth $1,096,000 after buying an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in Kroger by 19.8% in the 3rd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 265,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,877,000 after acquiring an additional 43,902 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the companys stock. Get Kroger alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades KR has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating and set a $68.00 target price (down from $74.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Kroger from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, December 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.93. Key Stories Impacting Kroger Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week: Kroger Stock Down 0.7% Kroger stock opened at $67.14 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The companys 50-day moving average is $64.48 and its 200-day moving average is $65.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.49 billion, a PE ratio of 62.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.62. The Kroger Co. has a fifty-two week low of $58.60 and a fifty-two week high of $74.90. Kroger (NYSE:KR Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $33.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.27 billion. Kroger had a net margin of 0.54% and a return on equity of 38.06%. Krogers revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.98 EPS. Kroger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.750-4.800 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current year. Kroger Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Krogers payout ratio is presently 129.63%. Kroger Company Profile (Free Report) The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest supermarket operators in the United States, offering a wide range of retail grocery and related services. Founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger, the company operates a portfolio of supermarket and multi-department store banners and provides customers with fresh foods, packaged groceries, deli and bakery items, meat and seafood, produce, and prepared foods. Krogers stores commonly include pharmacy services and fuel centers, positioning the company as a broad-based neighborhood retail destination for everyday needs. In addition to traditional in-store retailing, Kroger manufactures and distributes a variety of private-label brands and operates its own food production and supply-chain facilities. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kroger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kroger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 4,669 shares of the retailers stock, valued at approximately $419,000. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Target by 32.3% in the second quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 401 shares of the retailers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp raised its position in shares of Target by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp now owns 17,618 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,738,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc boosted its stake in shares of Target by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 1,013 shares of the retailers stock valued at $100,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. IFG Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of Target by 1.4% during the second quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 7,387 shares of the retailers stock worth $729,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC grew its position in shares of Target by 0.7% during the second quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 16,271 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,605,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. 79.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Target alerts: Target Stock Down 1.4% NYSE:TGT opened at $114.77 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $107.43 and a 200-day moving average of $97.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.97 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 11.80 and a beta of 1.14. Target Corporation has a 52 week low of $83.44 and a 52 week high of $127.06. Target Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 11th will be paid a $1.14 dividend. This represents a $4.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 11th. Targets dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.34%. TGT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Target in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Zacks Research raised shares of Target from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Argus decreased their price target on Target from $135.00 to $125.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 1st. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Target in a report on Monday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $108.00 target price on Target in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twenty have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Target presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $105.93. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TGT Target Company Profile (Free Report) Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is a U.S.-based general merchandise retailer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates a network of full-line and small-format stores across the United States alongside a national e-commerce platform and mobile app. Targets retail assortment spans apparel, home goods, electronics, groceries and household essentials, plus beauty, baby and pet categories. The firm complements national brands with a portfolio of owned and exclusive labels and partnerships that help differentiate its merchandise assortment. Target traces its roots to the Dayton Company, founded by George Dayton in 1902; the Target discount chain was launched in 1962 and the parent company later adopted the Target Corporation name. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Target Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Target and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TIAA Trust National Association lessened its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 6.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 623,576 shares of the companys stock after selling 44,686 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Association owned 0.53% of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF worth $71,013,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Charter Research & Investment Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 19.4% during the third quarter. Charter Research & Investment Group Inc. now owns 2,597 shares of the companys stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 422 shares in the last quarter. GGM Financials LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 6.1% in the third quarter. GGM Financials LLC now owns 6,867 shares of the companys stock valued at $782,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 3.1% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 318,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,318,000 after purchasing an additional 9,546 shares during the last quarter. Compound Planning Inc. grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 26,264 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,991,000 after purchasing an additional 3,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,963 shares of the companys stock valued at $451,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Trading Down 0.1% EFG stock opened at $123.29 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $118.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $115.50. The company has a market capitalization of $14.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 0.96. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $88.66 and a twelve month high of $123.63. About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. The Fund invests in sectors, such as consumer staples, industrials, consumer discretionary, materials, healthcare, financials, information technology, energy, telecommunication services and utilities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xponance Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 215,429 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,733 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up approximately 1.0% of Xponance Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Xponance Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $122,538,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vulcan Value Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 6.5% in the third quarter. Vulcan Value Partners LLC now owns 466,222 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $265,233,000 after purchasing an additional 28,331 shares in the last quarter. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 153.6% in the 3rd quarter. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 2,856 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,625,000 after buying an additional 1,730 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its stake in Mastercard by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 309,192 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $175,872,000 after buying an additional 4,700 shares in the last quarter. Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 88.9% during the third quarter. Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. now owns 15,335 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $8,723,000 after acquiring an additional 7,215 shares during the period. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 3,694.7% during the third quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 9,297 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $5,288,000 after acquiring an additional 9,052 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on MA shares. Tigress Financial upped their price objective on Mastercard from $685.00 to $730.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Mastercard to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Mastercard from $685.00 to $655.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $690.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $665.00 to $678.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $669.27. Mastercard Trading Up 1.0% Shares of MA stock opened at $514.55 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $458.88 billion, a PE ratio of 31.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.83. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $465.59 and a 1 year high of $601.77. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $546.14 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $559.97. 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 released its quarterly earnings results 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. The company had revenue of $8.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.80 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 203.92% and a net margin of 45.65%.Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.82 EPS. Research analysts predict 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 issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date 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. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 659,247 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after acquiring an additional 12,610 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE owned 0.06% of TJX Companies worth $95,290,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of TJX. Norges Bank purchased a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter worth about $1,808,774,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 12,417.0% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,057,273 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $501,033,000 after buying an additional 4,024,859 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in TJX Companies by 120.7% in the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,016,792 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $620,406,000 after acquiring an additional 2,743,676 shares during the last quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. purchased a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter worth approximately $244,687,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its stake in TJX Companies by 26.3% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 5,952,367 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $735,058,000 after acquiring an additional 1,238,124 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: TJX Companies Trading Up 1.8% NYSE:TJX opened at $158.61 on Friday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $112.10 and a 1 year high of $162.68. The stock has a market cap of $176.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $154.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of $147.41. TJX Companies Dividend Announcement TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $17.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.36 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 57.70% and a net margin of 9.10%.The firms revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. TJX Companies has set its FY 2027 guidance at 4.930-5.020 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.970-0.990 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued 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 is presently 37.53%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on TJX. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $162.00 price target (up from $159.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, November 20th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $154.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday. Guggenheim raised shares of TJX Companies to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b+) rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, TJX Companies has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $167.55. Get Our Latest Report on TJX TJX Companies News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting TJX Companies this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat consensus: adjusted EPS of $1.43 and revenue of $17.74B topped estimates; comps grew ~5% and margins improved, signaling continued strength in off?price apparel and home. TJX Q4 tops expectations as profit and sales climb Q4 results beat consensus: adjusted EPS of $1.43 and revenue of $17.74B topped estimates; comps grew ~5% and margins improved, signaling continued strength in off?price apparel and home. Positive Sentiment: Material capital returns announced a 13% dividend increase and a $2.5$2.75B buyback authorization which supports EPS and signals management confidence. Company press release Material capital returns announced a 13% dividend increase and a $2.5$2.75B buyback authorization which supports EPS and signals management confidence. Positive Sentiment: Wall Street responded with upgrades/price?target raises and bullish commentary (multiple firms raised targets and reiterated buy/overweight views), supporting near?term demand for the shares. Were boosting our price target on TJX Wall Street responded with upgrades/price?target raises and bullish commentary (multiple firms raised targets and reiterated buy/overweight views), supporting near?term demand for the shares. Neutral Sentiment: Positive press and analyst writeups highlight TJXs long track record, strong cash flow and market share gains in off?price retail a constructive backdrop for longer?term holders. Positive press and analyst writeups highlight TJXs long track record, strong cash flow and market share gains in off?price retail a constructive backdrop for longer?term holders. Negative Sentiment: Cautious guidance weighed on sentiment: TJXs FY?2027 and Q1 EPS guidance came in below some Street expectations (Q1 guide notably softer), and management flagged muted annual sales/profit as consumers pull back. TJX Cos forecasts muted annual sales and profit Cautious guidance weighed on sentiment: TJXs FY?2027 and Q1 EPS guidance came in below some Street expectations (Q1 guide notably softer), and management flagged muted annual sales/profit as consumers pull back. Negative Sentiment: Short?term volatility after the print: some coverage noted the stock dipped earlier on guidance disappointment despite the beat, underscoring sensitivity to forward estimates and consumer spending trends. Why TJX Companies Stock Sank Today TJX Companies Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Iberdrola (OTCMKTS:IBDRY Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by ($0.03), Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $13.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.76 billion. Iberdrola had a net margin of 13.74% and a return on equity of 10.38%. Iberdrola Stock Performance OTCMKTS IBDRY opened at $95.08 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $89.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.49. Iberdrola has a one year low of $57.08 and a one year high of $96.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market cap of $158.81 billion, a PE ratio of 22.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.71. Get Iberdrola alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Iberdrola from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Iberdrola from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Iberdrola in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Iberdrola presently has an average rating of Hold. About Iberdrola (Get Free Report) Iberdrola, SA is a Spanish multinational electric utility headquartered in Bilbao that develops, produces and supplies electricity and related energy services. The companys core activities span electricity generation across a diverse mix of assets, transmission and distribution network ownership and operation, and retail supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Iberdrola also offers energy management and digital solutions aimed at improving efficiency and integrating distributed and renewable resources. Renewable energy is a central focus of Iberdrolas business strategy, with significant investments in wind (onshore and offshore), hydroelectric and solar power and in the modernization of grids to accommodate increasing shares of intermittent generation. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Iberdrola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Iberdrola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Agricole SA (OTCMKTS:CRARY Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $11.1265 and last traded at $11.10, with a volume of 59886 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $10.97. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Credit Agricole in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Oddo Bhf upgraded Credit Agricole from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Zacks Research cut shares of Credit Agricole from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Credit Agricole from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold. Get Credit Agricole alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Credit Agricole Credit Agricole Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $67.84 billion, a PE ratio of 9.42 and a beta of 0.65. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $10.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.88. Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.10). Credit Agricole had a net margin of 24.65% and a return on equity of 37.56%. The firm had revenue of $8.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.98 billion. About Credit Agricole (Get Free Report) Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY) is a major French banking group that provides a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. Headquartered in France, the group combines a large domestic retail banking franchise with international wholesale banking, asset management, insurance and specialized financial services. Its operations are organized through a network of regional cooperative banks together with a centrally managed listed entity that coordinates group strategy and capital markets activities. The companys core businesses include retail and commercial banking products such as current accounts, savings, mortgages, consumer loans and payment services delivered through its regional bank network and retail subsidiaries. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Credit Agricole Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Agricole and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hermes International SA Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:HESAY Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 15,531 shares, a growth of 125.3% from the January 29th total of 6,893 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 106,556 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Based on an average trading volume of 106,556 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Hermes International Trading Up 0.4% Shares of HESAY stock opened at $244.33 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $248.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $247.56. The company has a quick ratio of 3.65, a current ratio of 4.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Hermes International has a 1-year low of $232.01 and a 1-year high of $294.72. Get Hermes International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on HESAY shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Hermes International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Barclays cut Hermes International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Hermes International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hermes International is a French luxury goods company renowned for its high-end leather goods, scarves, ready-to-wear apparel, watches, jewelry, fragrances and home accessories. Founded in 1837 as a harness and bridle workshop, the firm has evolved into one of the worlds most recognizable luxury maisons, known for artisanal craftsmanship, quality materials and a focus on timeless design. The company is headquartered in Paris and maintains a strong heritage identity that influences its product development and brand positioning. Key product categories include leather goods and iconic handbags, silk scarves and ties, fashion and accessories, timepieces and fine jewelry, as well as fragrances and selected home collections. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hermes International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hermes International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Padraig McDonnell: Thanks, Tejas, and welcome, everyone. It was a solid start to the year with the Agilent Technologies, Inc. team executing well in a generally improving albeit dynamic market environment. For the first quarter, Agilent Technologies, Inc. reported $1.8 billion in revenue, growing 4.4% on a core basis within our November guidance range. End-market conditions were largely consistent with our expectations. Top-line results were affected by the winter storm in the U.S. during January. The storm drove roughly a $10 million revenue impact with the majority recovered in February. The impact primarily came from our logistics providers not being able to ship products from our main American logistics center in Memphis, Tennessee for three days. Agilent Technologies, Inc. assumes no obligation to update them. Please refer to the company's recent SEC filings for a more detailed discussion of the risks and other factors that could cause performance to differ from these forward-looking statements. I will now turn the call over to Padraig. You will find the most directly comparable GAAP financial metrics and reconciliations in the press release and on our website. Unless otherwise noted, all references to increases or decreases in financial metrics are year over year, and references to revenue growth are on a core basis. All references to profitability metrics are on a non-GAAP basis. Core revenue growth is adjusted for the impact of currency exchange rates, and any acquisitions and divestitures completed within the past 12 months. Guidance is based on forecasted exchange rates. During this call, we will make forward-looking statements about the financial performance of the company. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are only valid as of today. Tejas Savant: Thank you, and welcome, everyone, to Agilent Technologies, Inc.'s conference call for 2026. With me on the line are CEO, Padraig McDonnell, and CFO, Adam Alanoff. Joining for the Q&A will be Simon May, President of the Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets Group, Angelica Riemann, President of the Agilent CrossLab Group, and Mike Zhang, President of the Applied Markets Group. This presentation is being webcast live. The press release for our first quarter financial results, investor presentation, and information to supplement today's discussion along with a recording of this webcast are available on our website at investor.agilent.com. Today's comments will refer to non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for GAAP results. Story Continues This is typically the busiest shipping week of the quarter. Despite the weather, operating margins of 24.6% were in line with our expectations, setting a solid jumping-off point for the remainder of the fiscal year. Moving forward, we anticipate benefiting from leverage on increasing volumes, and we expect to see tariff headwinds continuing to decrease, as well as incremental benefits from our Ignite operating system that together will drive sequential margin improvements throughout the rest of the year. First quarter EPS of $1.36 also was within expectations. Adjusted for the impact of the storm, our first quarter revenue, operating margin, and EPS all would have been above the midpoint of our November guidance ranges, a healthy underlying outcome. Throughout the quarter, the Agilent Technologies, Inc. team remained, as always, committed to delivering for our customers. Before getting into the specifics of our first quarter results, I want to share my thoughts on three key business initiatives that are fueling our growth. These include our highly differentiated service organization that reinforces our customer intimacy, a theme you have heard me talk about frequently, an update on recent innovations, and finally, how the Ignite operating system continues to drive Agilent Technologies, Inc.'s transformation. I want to start by talking about our differentiated customer intimacy. Last quarter, I highlighted our field service engineers' outsized contribution to our deal funnel and conversion rates. This time, I want to focus on our enterprise services business, where we had several marquee customer wins with major pharma accounts. Our enterprise services offerings allow us to cement our extraordinary customer intimacy and is a key strategic differentiator for Agilent Technologies, Inc. that unlocks significant downstream value. This business represents roughly 10% of our total services revenue today and has grown nicely at a low double-digit CAGR. Beyond the direct revenue contribution, the relationships we build with our customers create tremendous long-term value for Agilent Technologies, Inc., uniquely positioning us to gain wallet share over time. The offering includes embedding our expert on-site support technicians in customer sites and leveraging digital capabilities through CrossLab Connect that provide monitoring, alerting, and performance analytics. This allows us to gain unique insights and visibility into lab operations, and critically, deliver improved efficiency and economics for our customer labs. Successful outcomes position us as a trusted partner, one customers can count on to provide critical data and insights that inform their future technology needs and instrument purchasing decisions. We have agreements with nearly all of the top 20 biopharma companies. In addition, we have won 18 competitive displacements across our end markets over the past three years. Early customer feedback from a recent marquee win reinforces the value of having our specialists on-site, including faster response times, improved parts availability, and better advice in consumables and system usage. The insights that we gain from our leading services team are a key success factor in driving customer-focused innovation that underpins durable long-term growth at above-market rates. I want to highlight several recent examples that are resonating particularly well with our customers. Starting with our Altura Ultra Inert Column Portfolio, in October, we launched our first Altura column to support biopharma workflows, including GLP-1s. Already, 50% of the top 20 biopharma companies have ordered these columns since we launched, and Altura has more than doubled our bio column growth to over 30%, a testament to Altura's compelling performance. Just last month, we launched our next column in the Altura family, focused on improving PFAS workflows. These columns are specifically developed to solve key workflow challenges and address new EU regulations, plus they double throughput for customers by enabling separation of both short- and long-chain PFAS in a single workflow. The launch is off to an excellent start with strong demand out of the gates and extremely positive customer feedback versus competitor offerings. You can expect continued expansion of the Altura family for new use cases later this year and beyond. Next, I want to highlight the Pro IQ LCMS, which continues to build momentum since its mid-summer launch. We are seeing a robust uptake, with growth of our single quad family exceeding 40% in the quarter. The value proposition of an advanced single-quad LCMS with expanded mass range is resonating and is particularly compelling for pharma customers who are transitioning from small molecule to biologics and monoclonal antibodies. Our cancer diagnostics business also is innovating to meet customer needs. Last quarter, I talked about the expansion of our most advanced automated platform, Omnis, to a broader set of customers. This launch is off to a very strong start, offering medium-throughput labs access to the latest technology with attractive economics. Also, in cancer diagnostics is our new S540MD slide scanner system, which we announced in late January as part of our continued effort to enable the latest digital tools for our cancer diagnostic customers. Finally, early in the quarter, our market-leading spectroscopy business announced the release of our Raman Insight BRT Series alarm resolution system. The new system offers next-generation throughput and sensitivity to enhance safety and streamline operations at airport security checkpoints. This new instrument helped secure a $9 million TSA contract during the quarter, and we are confident that we are well positioned to win larger aviation security tenders in the coming years. The last topic I want to focus on is our Ignite operating system. As you know, we launched Ignite in 2025 to drive execution excellence, accelerate decision-making, and unlock the full value of Agilent Technologies, Inc. as an integrated enterprise. Over the past year, Ignite has evolved into our enterprise operating system, a core differentiator that aligns strategy, resources, and accountability to drive sustainable growth, margin expansion, and long-term shareholder value. Ignite has already delivered clear financial results in its first 12 months, including doubling our price realization, generating substantial procurement savings, simplifying our organizational structure, and launching our tariff mitigation program. Also, Ignite demonstrated its effectiveness in M&A execution through the successful BioVectra integration, establishing a repeatable playbook to accelerate value capture in future transactions. In this first quarter alone, Ignite delivered nearly 200 basis points of pricing, continued tariff expense reductions, and a very successful launch of our new agilent.com website that helped drive growth in digital orders at more than two times our overall order book. Looking ahead to the remainder of FY 2026, we are expanding Ignite into new value creation work streams and leveraging a portion of savings to reinvest in the business. These workstreams include increasing returns on innovation investments by improving speed to market, advancing digital and e-commerce capability to enhance commercial productivity, and deploying targeted artificial intelligence initiatives with clear ROI to enhance customer insights, automate routine work, and compress manufacturing cycle times. We are also accelerating software development and enhancing our supply chain capabilities by executing no-regret investments that improve efficiency, resilience, and proximity to customers in an evolving geopolitical environment. Now let me share some additional details about our Q1 results, starting with our end markets. The improvement that we saw in our end markets across last year was generally maintained throughout the first quarter. Overall, we are seeing underlying momentum in our markets. Importantly, secular trends in our largest end markets remain on a strong footing. That includes reshoring of pharma and semiconductor manufacturing, GLP-1 uptake, and LC and GC instrument replacement cycles. Pharma growth was 7%, in line with our expectations, with double-digit growth in the biotech space supported by increased funding and M&A activity late in the calendar year. Mid-single-digit small molecule growth was also solid, showing continued momentum from 2025. The quarter saw a modest benefit from continued normalization in calendar year-end budget flush, in line with our expectations. We delivered excellent GLP-1 growth of 50%, with healthy contributions coming from our specialty CDMO as well as our analytical lab business. Our specialty CDMO business grew low double digits during the quarter; we continue to expect mid-teens growth for the year. We saw continued strength in chemicals and advanced materials (CAM). The 9% growth in CAM was above our expectations, with exceptional strength on the materials side of the business, which grew more than 20%. This strong result in advanced materials demonstrates our leadership in providing solutions for the top semiconductor manufacturers globally. The current shortage of memory chips and the global effort to achieve semiconductor supply chain independence has driven investment by these firms in our leading atomic spectroscopy tools. With support from the recent Omnis family launch, diagnostics and clinical business continued to perform well, growing at 7% again this quarter. Environmental and forensics was flat, with continued softness in government funding in the U.S. and China, offset by growth in the rest of Asia and Europe. In Q1, the food business declined 4%, which outperformed our expectations, with strong low double-digit growth ex-China. As a reminder, the food market was the primary beneficiary of the large China stimulus that boosted growth in 2025. And finally, academia and government, our smallest market, was down 8%, more than expected in the quarter. Academia and government conditions in the U.S. continue to be soft, with customers using available funding to keep their labs running as opposed to investing in new capital equipment. Excluding academia and government, our instruments grew at a healthy mid-single-digit rate. Our instrument book-to-bill has now been at or above 1 for the eighth consecutive quarter. The Infinity 3 HPLC continues to delight our customers. The LC instrument replacement cycle momentum built by our differentiated Infinity 3 system during FY 2025 continued through 2026, and with LC growth in the high single digits, we are gaining share globally versus our competition. On the GC side of the replacement cycle, we saw low single-digit growth, a strong result considering the tough year-over-year compare from significant volumes associated with last year's Chinese stimulus. Ex-China, GC instrument growth was mid-single digits, in line with our expectations of around 100 basis points of lift during the GC replacement cycle. And even with the strong results, the upside from pharma reshoring has yet to impact our numbers. We are seeing increased activity in U.S.-based pharmaceutical manufacturing as companies rethink resilience and capacity. Based on announced investments and recent customer activity, we estimate this will represent a $1 billion addressable market opportunity through 2030. We continue to expect the first orders from reshoring to book late this year and the revenue impact from those orders to bolster top-line growth in FY 2027 and beyond. As we look to the rest of the year, our priorities remain unchanged: advance our Ignite operating system, further enhance commercial execution, and capture opportunities from improving end markets, innovative new products, and a multipronged replacement cycle. With a solid start to the year and the outlook for end markets broadly consistent with our original expectations, we are maintaining our expected core growth range of 4% to 6% for the full year. We now expect between $5.90 and $6.04 of earnings per share in FY 2026, with a $0.04 increase due to favorable currency impact. For Q2, early trends are encouraging, and we are expecting core growth of approximately 4% to 5.5%, which includes a majority of the $10 million storm impact from late in the first quarter. EPS is expected to be between $1.39 and $1.42, representing 7% growth at the midpoint of our range. We remain highly disciplined around capital deployment, investing for organic growth through innovation and capacity expansion. Simultaneously, we are focused on M&A targets that are both a strategic fit and financially attractive. I will now hand it over to Adam who will provide details on the quarter and our financial outlook. Adam Alanoff: Thanks, Padraig, and good afternoon, everyone. In my comments today, I will provide additional details on revenue in the quarter as well as walk through the income statement and cover other key financial metrics. I will then cover our updated full year and second quarter guidance. Revenue was $1.8 billion. On a core basis, we posted growth of 4.4%, while reported growth was 7%. Currency had a favorable impact of 2.6%, in line with our November guidance. At a business segment level, ACG grew 6%, in line with expectations, driven by strong consumables growth in the high single digits, solid performance in services, and balanced growth globally with all regions growing mid-single digits or better. AMG grew 4%, ahead of expectations. Growth was led by double-digit performance in spectroscopy, fueled by the excellent results in the semiconductor space that Padraig mentioned earlier. LDG grew 3%, a bit below expectations. In addition to the weather impact, we saw softness in academia and government that challenged our cell analysis and genomics results. On a geographic basis, we saw our strongest growth in Asia, with China growing 6% and the rest of Asia growing a robust 13%. Europe was a bit slower than expected with 4% growth, as transient discussions around higher tariffs caused some customers to slow purchasing decisions late in the quarter. Americas growth of 1% was directly impacted by the weather, as well as pockets of softness in our smaller end markets. Q1 gross margins were 53.7%. On a year-over-year basis, they were down by 100 basis points, primarily due to tariff headwinds. Operating margin was 24.6%, in line with our expectations and down 50 basis points year over year on increased tariff expenses and normalized performance-based pay in the current year. Now moving below the line, we had $10 million of other income while our tax rate was 14.5% as expected. Finally, we had 284 million diluted shares outstanding in the quarter, slightly better than expected with some incremental share repurchases during the quarter. Putting it all together, Q1 earnings per share were $1.36 and grew 4%. Adjusted for the weather, we would have been above the midpoint of our first quarter guidance range. We are confident we will see improved earnings growth through the remainder of the year, driven by improving volumes and easier tariff and performance-based pay compares. Let me turn to cash flow and balance sheet. Operating cash flow was $268 million in the quarter, and we invested $93 million in capital expenditures. We purchased $152 million in shares and paid $72 million in dividends during the quarter, and we ended the quarter with a net leverage ratio of 0.8 turns, maintaining our strong balance sheet. Now let me share some additional details on the updated outlook for the year and the guidance for our second quarter. Because of changes in FX, we now expect fiscal year 2026 revenue to be in the range of $7.3 to $7.5 billion on a reported basis. This continues to represent growth of 4% to 6% on a core basis, as currency is now expected to be a 1.5% tailwind during the year. This revenue guidance embeds full-year business segment, end market, and geographic growth assumptions that are consistent with what we shared in November. Our largest end marketspharma, CAM, and diagnostics and clinicalare all off to a strong start. Across our smaller end markets, we saw some pockets of softness relative to our expectations in the first quarter, especially in our cell analysis business where academic customer budgets are most heavily indexed to government funding. Going forward, we continue to expect low-single-digit full-year decline in academia and government, flat performance in food, and low-single-digit growth in environmental and forensics, partially helped by easier comps for the remainder of the year. Moving down the P&L, we continue to expect to deliver 75 basis points of operating margin expansion at the midpoint. And while we continue to evaluate the evolving tariff situation in light of recent developments, this guide does not incorporate material changes in tariff rates relative to our view at the start of the year. While we still await the details, we do not expect a meaningful change to our outlook based on the high-level proposals that have been discussed. Our expected tax rate for fiscal year 2026 is unchanged at 14.5%. We also expect $22 million of other income and 283 million diluted shares outstanding for the year. Fiscal year non-GAAP earnings per share are now expected to be between $5.90 and $6.04, representing earnings growth of 5.5% to 8%, with the $0.04 increase due to a favorable currency outlook versus our original guide. For your modeling, let me share some additional expectations we have incorporated into our guidance for the year. We continue to expect pricing growth of at least 100 basis points supported by Ignite. Although the tariff situation is evolving, we expect to fully offset tariff impact over the course of the year through a combination of cost-saving and pricing actions. The tariff dynamics will drive a modestly more-than-typical sequential improvement in operating margin over the course of the year. As we have said before, this translates into a slight second-half weighting on operating profit and EPS versus what we typically see. There is no change to our operating cash flow range of $1.6 to $1.7 billion, and we are still expecting to invest approximately $500 million in capital expenditures. Now moving to the second quarter, we expect our reported revenue to be in the range of $1.79 to $1.82 billion. This represents growth of roughly 4% to 5.5% on a core basis, while currency is expected to be approximately a 3% tailwind. This outlook includes weather-delayed revenue from Q1. It also assumes our academia and government end market declines in the mid-single digits. We expect our operating margin to improve by approximately 100 basis points in Q2 relative to the first quarter. Our guide assumes 283 million diluted shares outstanding in the second quarter. Second quarter EPS guidance is $1.39 to $1.42, representing growth of 6% to 8%. Tejas Savant: With that, I will turn the call back over to Padraig for closing comments. Padraig McDonnell: Thanks, Adam. As you have heard, FY 2026 is off to a good start. Our unique growth drivers, including superior customer intimacy developed by our best-in-class services team, a healthy innovation pipeline to deliver products that solve real-world customer problems, and the Ignite operating system that brings together our best attributes for the benefit of all stakeholders, combine to drive growth and operating leverage that fuels our success. As the year unfolds, we are well positioned to benefit from the instrument replacement cycle and continuing recovery across our largest end markets to win share and deliver resilient above-peer growth and margin performance over the long term. I also wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Agilent Technologies, Inc. team for their exceptional efforts throughout the quarter. I especially want to recognize our global operations and logistics colleagues who worked tirelessly to meet the challenges presented by the weather and deliver for our customers. Thank you for your attention. I will turn it back over to Tejas for Q&A. Tejas? Tejas Savant: Thanks, Padraig. Nicole, can you please share the instructions for the Q&A? Operator: We will now begin the question and answer session. Please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you would like to ask a question, please raise your hand now. If you have dialed into today's call, please press 9 to raise your hand and 6 to unmute. Operator: Your first question comes from the line of Tycho Peterson with Jefferies. Your line is open. Please go ahead. A reminder to please unmute yourself by pressing 6. Jack Meehan: Hi. This is Jack on for Tycho. Thanks for the question. Just wanted to walk through the impact of the snowstorm and expectations for catch-up there. I appreciate you said $10 million of revenues. Just curious if that is already in hand for Q2 or something that is still being recouped? And then any color on margin impact that would have had in the quartergross margins and operatingif it would have been without the snowstorm? Thanks. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. I will start off and I will hand it over to Adam. First of all, a really solid finish overall with 4.4% growth and high single digits in our three markets. But, Adam, can you give some color around the weather impact? Adam Alanoff: Yes. Thanks. And I would first like to say, I did not think I would be on this call talking about the weather, so it is always fun to do that. When you think about the impact of the weather, we said it was about $10 million. We have already seen that come back, or the majority of it. There are some pieces of it that will take a little longer, and that is really related to services and things like that do not happen instantly. So we have already recovered the vast majority of it. Then to your second question related to margin, it would have been a very modest impact to margin. So what we delivered in the quarter was a reasonable proxy for the actual performance. Jack Meehan: Okay. That is helpful. And then sticking on margin, I appreciate you are still guiding the 75 bps for the year. Just give a little bit more color on the cadence from here and the bridge to that improvement after being down a little bit in Q1. I think you said slight second-half weighting. I guess, what is baked in for Q2 versus the second half? And then what do you see as the biggest swing factors to that step-up? Thanks. Adam Alanoff: Yes. I will take this one. From a year-over-year basis, we expect the second quarter to be a 50 basis point improvement, and that is really driven by pricing, volume, and then Ignite savings, and then that is offset by performance-based pay and, once again, the tariffs. As you know, as we have talked about, the tariffs are fully mitigated by the second half of the year. When you move through the rest of the year, that is where you start to see the acceleration in our margin, and then that is driven by continued volume leverage, pricing, and Ignite, and then slightly offset by some of the people costs and growth investments that we are making through the year. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Vijay Kumar with Evercore ISI. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Vijay Kumar: Hey, guys. Thank you for taking my question. Maybe, Padraig, my first one, high level. When I look at this cadence for the year, first half versus back half, your guidance for first half implies slightly less than 5% and in the back half, to hit the midpoint, it needs to be above 5%. Can you just talk about what drives the back-half step-up to get there? Is this some new product cycles, or is this something else that is going on in the business that gives us this back-half visibility? Padraig McDonnell: Yes. The underlyingyou will see really strong underlying momentum in our businesses and our key biggest markets. You can see that in pharma, driven by GLP-1s, but also the replacement cycle going extremely well. You see our Infinity 3 number growing in double digits, and we are seeing from our latest market share report that we are taking oversized share in that area. Then, of course, you can go down through our CAM markets as well where you can see a lot of secular drivers. We grew 20% in advanced materials from the semiconductor onshoring and so on. So underlying momentum in the markets, we have very good visibility in funnels, we are seeing very strong win-loss rates, and, of course, we are going to watch that as we go forward. But we see that continued momentum to improve. Adam Alanoff: Then I would just jump in. The step-up between the first half and the second half is not that big. It is really 49% in the first half and then 51% in the second half on revenue. Vijay Kumar: Understood. And maybe one on tariffs. Just given the Supreme Court ruling, how are you thinking about the tariff assumptions? Are you assuming now the global minimum of 15%? And how does that change versus your prior assumptions? Padraig McDonnell: Adam, I will give this one to you. Adam Alanoff: Sure. The first thing is, one, the situation continues to be dynamic, and we do not know that much information about what the 15% would look like and exactly how it is going to play out. But if you assume that the 15% is, on the surface, what it says across all different markets, what I would say is we would not change our guide on it. It really comes down to a couple of things. One, we made a series of no-regret moves, and that was really about leveraging our supply chain, bringing our manufacturing close to the customer, so that would not change. The second is we have been utilizing pricing and surcharges, really as appropriate, and been very thoughtful about that, so that also helps us. The third piece I would add is, in any dynamic market, as you see and we are living in, what gives me confidence is I look at how the Ignite operating system has been able to allow us to react and be resilient as things change. So right now, we would not change any of our guide based on what we know. That said, we are ready to react, and we are ready to respond as things evolve. Padraig McDonnell: I would just close it off by saying the actions we have taken to bring manufacturing close to our customers and strengthen supply chains are no-regrets moves. We have had that plan for a long time now, and outside of surcharges, we would not expect to reverse them in any way. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Doug Schenkel with Wolfe Research. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Doug Schenkel: Good afternoon, guys, and thank you for taking my questions. Two topics I wanted to address. One is the capital equipment environment, and then the second is M&A. On the first topic, how would you describe demand month by month going back to, say, November and December and through the beginning of the calendar year? I ask because some of your peers have suggested that demand may have slowed a bit over the past several weeks, and I am just trying to get at whether or not this is just kind of normal typical seasonality or if there is anything you are seeing from an environmental standpoint, meaning uncertainty related to things from a policy dynamics that are flaring up again and slowing things down, or whether this is just normally what you would see going from calendar Q4 to calendar Q1. The second topic is really on M&A and, simply put, how would you describe the environment, your readiness, and your appetite to do a multibillion-dollar deal? Thank you. Padraig McDonnell: Thanks, Doug. I will take the first one, and Adam can take the second one. If you look at a proxy of pharma and you look at our replacement cycle, we had a very strong quarter. Biotech led that business, and, of course, we saw a reasonable budget flush. It was not over the top, but a reasonable budget flush in December. In January, you sawwe talked about some of the disruption we saw intra-quarter in Europe, for example, and the weather impact. But I would say it has been very, very steady. We have seen our funnels continue to be steady, in a lot of cases growing. Why is that? I think CapEx conditions continue to improve with the MFN deals reducing the tariff uncertainty. That has been very big for our pharma customers. You see the strong GLP-1 growth and our CDMOthe base in CDMOgrowing extremely well. We are very pleased to see how the trajectory of orders continues to go on the CapEx side. Of course, we are watching our funnels as we go forward on it, so I would not say we see any deterioration in terms of CapEx. On the capital allocation, which is a big questionI am sure we will get it a few times todayI am going to get Adam to answer that one. Adam Alanoff: Thanks for the question. I think it is important that we always start with our capital allocation priorities, which are not changing. One, we are prioritizing investments in growth, and that is through internal innovation. Second is M&A, and the third is investments in strategic capacity expansion. At the same time, we are going to continue to return excess capital to shareholders, and that is through a growing dividend and share repurchases. The next thing I want to say as context is we like our organic business, and we like our plan. We do not need to do any transformative deals or any transformative transactions to achieve those growth ambitions. We do not have any arbitrary size filter on our deal funnel, but I want to be very deliberate about this. The bar is very high for a transformative deal, and there are not that many of those out there. We are really focused on making sure that any deal that we do is aligned to our enterprise pillars, that we are focused on opportunities where we have a right to win, we are able to integrate whatever asset we are buying, and that we pay the right price for it so that we are generating cash-on-cash returns above our hurdle rate. We think the market out therethere are some nice opportunitiesand we are continuing to evaluate those, but we are looking at them against the filter that I just said. Once again, we like our organic business, so we do not need to do any kind of transformative transaction to achieve our ambitions. Doug Schenkel: Thank you again. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Patrick Donnelly with Citi. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Patrick Donnelly: Hey, guys. Thank you for taking the questions. Padraig, I wanted to focus on the LDG segment. I understand the weather impact. It did come in light even backing that out. It sounds like it is around the cell analysis and genomics piece, maybe some softer purchasing in Europe. It does sound like LCMS and the CDMO overall held in well. Can you just expand on what you saw there? And then also, staying in the LDG segment, just the profitability probably for Adamwhat drove the softness there? Is that just mix with the cell analysis? I want to get a little more color there. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. Thanks, Patrick. LDG grew 3% in the quarter. It was a bit below our mid- to high-single-digit expectations. In addition to the weather impact, we saw softness in academia and government that challenged our cell analysis and genomics business. But our larger end marketspharma, biotech, and diagnosticsgrew high single digits. Simon, do you want to give us some more color on LDG, what you saw in the quarter, particularly on those businesses? Simon May: Yes. Thanks, Padraig. As Padraig already mentioned, we were challenged by the weather situation and also the ongoing softness that we are seeing in academic research markets, most notably in the U.S. In our cell analysis portfolio as well, we have a relatively lower portion of recurring revenue mix than we have elsewhere in our portfolio, and we have a bit more exposure on the smaller capital equipment side there. As we think about the macro situation going forward, the exposure to academia and government is always going to be there, and we still see a lot of cautious spending. But we also think we have reasons to believe we are at or near the bottom. U.S. academic science budgets appear to be plateauing. Europe is more stable. We are anticipating some modest incremental improvement in academia and government in Europe. Also, the feedback I have been getting from the teams as I have been seeing customers and attending the sales meetings over the past few weeks is that there is a sense of optimism in the field. We have a strong portfolio. We have very strong conviction in the portfolio on a medium- to long-term basis, and I think we will see that improvement begin to unfold as time passes. Adam Alanoff: The only thing I would add on margin is beyond the weather and the academia and government softness, there is the CDMO batch cadence that also impacts the margin in the first quarter. With CDMO, obviously, a batch is not a batch is not a batch. They are all a little bit different and have different revenue profiles and different timing. Just given the cadence we had in Q1, that also impacted the margin. Patrick Donnelly: Okay. That is helpful. And then, Adam, I want to pick up right there in terms of CDMO. Can you guys just talk about NASD, BioVectra, what you saw in the quarter? It sounded like overall it was low double-digit growth for specialty CDMO. Can you just give a bit more color? And again, it sounds like the mid-teens still very much on the table. So just the visibility and pacing of those businesses as we work our way forward. Thank you, guys. Adam Alanoff: Yes. I will start off, and then I will pass it over to Simon if he has anything to add. Absolutely, we saw low double-digit growth in the first quarter as expected. Once again, it really is about the batch cadence, and it is normal quarter-over-quarter revenue variance that you would expect. We continue to expect mid-teens growth for the full year, and that is based on our production schedules and the demand dynamics we are currently seeing in the market. The only other thing I would add that may be helpful for you is our mix of business in NASD continues to skew toward larger commercial batches, with 60% coming from commercial programs. On the other hand, commercial programs represent about only one third of the BioVectra revenue, so they have a little bit different profile. We expect, based on what we have now, that it will continue to ramp through the year. Simon May: I think Adam covered most of it there. Just to add a couple of points, we did see strong year-over-year order intake in the first quarter. As Adam said, NASD continues to skew favorably towards commercial programs. As we look to the rest of the year, we have good visibility to the pipeline, and we see revenue ramp in the second half of the year. Patrick Donnelly: Great. Thank you, guys. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Dan Brennan with TD Cowen. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Dan Brennan: Great. Thank you. Maybe just to start off, I understand if you back out the $10 million, the growth would have been right in line with the 5%. You kind of walked through all the puts and takes. But just stepping back, you guys have been on a pretty consistent pace of coming in ahead of guidance. Five percent growth is still solid in this environment. Just wondering how we might think about the rest of your guidance in terms of what would drive you to the higher end or lower end, given that trend of consistently beating numbers, and now it looks more in line this quarter. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. I will talk at a high level. We are really set up for success, Dan. You look at the innovative products really going extremely wellInfinity 3 and the replacement cycles, Pro IQyou know, the strong commercial team, good connection with customers and our enterprise service capabilities that I talked about in my prepared remarks. This was a solid Q1 and excellent growth despite the weather. On the top line, we are confirming it. I think it is prudent, but appropriate given the macro uncertainty that is around as always. The operating profit growth of 10% and 75 bps margin expansion at the midpoint is really solid. We have had a number of sales kickoffs around the globe in the last months. Funnels are very robust. We have seen almost our best market share report to date. Everything is moving in the right direction, so that gives us positivity as we go through the year. Dan Brennan: Got it. Thank you. Oh, go ahead. Sorry. Adam Alanoff: Sure. I can just give you a little bit more detail on what would push us to the upside versus push us to the downside of the guide if that is helpful. It is really around three things. One is a pickup in the small- and mid-cap biotech sector. All of the green shoots are still there, but then there is that time lag between how the incremental investment, IPOs, and M&A convert into actual spending and investment. The second is academia and governmentif we start to see more stability there, that can push us to the upside. The third, while China remains stable, and we believe it will be stable at about that $300 million per quarter run rate, if there was a stimulus, a bigger stimulus toward the end of the year, that would be an upside. What I will say is there was a small stimulus in the first quarter, which we did very well in. That would give us confidence if there was a second SAMR stimulus that happened later in the year, we would perform well on that. That is what would push us to the upside. The downside is just the oppositeif small and mid-cap remain muted, academia and government continues to get worse, and then China sees a decline in the low-single-digit range versus our flat assumption. Dan Brennan: Alright. And maybe a second one just on CAM. Obviously, super important business, really strong quarter. You gave some color, but just a little bit more there in terms of why it came in better. I know you addressed it in the prepared remarks. Maybe a little bit more color on how you are thinking about that going forward for the rest of the year. Thank you. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. It is sometimes an underappreciated part of our business. It is our core businessour heritage is in the applied marketsand in CAM we delivered 9% growth. The advanced materials subsegment grew at 20%. We saw really robust demand because of our leading position around semiconductor. There is a lot of reshoring going on. Our spectroscopy and our GCMS tools are critical in that manufacturing supply chain and for chemical plants that are around supporting that. The ongoing reshoring really helps in that space. Increased clarity on tariff policies, easing U.S.-China tensions, and strong demand for memory chips are supportive. We are number one by a long way in the CAM market. Our leadership positions and our market shares are unmatched there. Put it all together, it is a very important secular driver for us, and we could see that continuing throughout the year. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Dan Leonard with UBS. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Dan, a reminder to kindly unmute yourself. Dan Leonard: Sorry about that. Thank you for taking the question. I will pick up right where you left off, Padraig. You talked about atomic spectroscopy upside in the quarter due to the memory shortagethis is not something you talk about a lot. How are you framing that opportunity? Padraig McDonnell: Yes. It is not just the memory shortage; it is the reshoring of fabs that you see globally. You even see it in India where fabs are being set up, also in Asia and the Americas. It has been really a mix of all that together, and a lot of demand on that side. Also, on the chemical side, you have downstream processes that are needed for AI that support that in terms of it, and that really bolsters a lot of demand. Just to give a bit of color, our chemical business is about two thirds, advanced materials is about one third of the CAM business. We expect that to continue to grow. The energy business where we are working on the battery side is naturally hedged against oil volatility as well. We continue to see good strength in that. So it is a mix of all of the above. Dan Leonard: Thank you. And just a follow-up on what you are seeing in pharma. You mentioned mid-single-digit growth in small molecule. Is that all GLP-1s? And can you talk about the situation in pharma outside of GLP-1s? Padraig McDonnell: Yes. Biotech grew low double digit for us. That is really around our specialized CDMO core growth of low double digits. What we see as the U.S. biotech recovery is starting in well-funded large caps. We see that continuing. For small and big caps, the improved funding backdrop is really helping. Breaking it down, if you look at our small molecule business, which is very solid at mid-single-digit growth, Asia is leading the way in small molecules with low double-digit growth. We see that continuing, and we are very well hedged on the GLP-1 sideboth from our CDMO side, but also our analytical side. We are testing both on the orals and on the injectable side. GLP-1 grew at 50% in the quarter; that was 7% for the analytical labs and, on the CDMO side, 120% growth. Underpin all of that with the market conditions, then look at our replacement cycle moving forward40% growth in our single quad, which is right at the sweet spot of QA/QC. It is really strong momentum in that market and we see that continuing for the rest of the year. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Jack Meehan with Nephron Research. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Jack Meehan: Thank you. Good afternoon. Padraig McDonnell: Sorry, Jack. I think we dropped off there. On mute. Tejas Savant: Operator, can we go to the next question? We will circle back to Jack once he is back on. Operator: Absolutely. Your next question comes from the line of Michael Ryskin with Bank of America. Your line is open. Michael Ryskin: Hey, guys. Thanks for the question. Hope you can hear me. I want to follow up on what I think Patrick was asking about earlier about some of the moving pieces in the quarter, especially with the $10 million weather shift. I want to make sure I am understanding the dynamics correctly. My read of it is it sounds like you have had a slightly slower start to the year than you anticipated in select markets like cell analysis, like A&G specifically, maybe a little bit on food. I just want to make sure I am understanding that correctly. Again, I do not want to blow it out of proportion, especially with $10 million shipped. I just want to make sure we got that. And then a follow-up to that is, obviously, you are maintaining your full-year core guide. Is there something that is offsetting that where you talked about GLP-1s, you talked about CAM. Is the strength there offsetting it? Is this just sort of like you had buffer in the model built in and you are absorbing some of these hits, you expect to recoup it later in the year? Maybe an easier way to ask all of this is, you are going to give us an end-market breakout for the year in terms of core growthif you could run through that compared to where you were a quarter ago, that might be helpful. Thanks. Padraig McDonnell: Adam, do you want to take this one, and I will take the second part of that question? Adam Alanoff: Yes. In the dynamics of the quarter, there were minor differences in our smaller markets, but our key markets actually performed quite well. If you think about pharma, CAM, and then our diagnostics business, they all performed very well. Then we had small pockets of slight differences from where we guided. Overall, we are actually doing quite well. Then, unfortunately, the storm hit in the last three days of the quarter, which are our biggest days of the quarter. We were not able to recognize the revenue, which we have since recognized the following Monday. I will pass it over to Padraig. Padraig McDonnell: If you are looking at the academia and government side, it is the smallest part of our business. NIH is 1% of our funding, so it is slightly less than what we expected, but it is really the smallest part of our business. I described the real momentum we have in the key marketscontinued improvement in pharma, we are seeing spend in biotechs, GLP-1 business continues to be extremely strong, CDMO continues to move forward, and CAM strength. Put that all together with the funnels that we are seeing and our growth on our Infinity 3if you look at that compared to our peers, we are almost 2x in terms of the quarterand that is driving the replacement cycle. All of those things moving together, we are very positive about the rest of the year. Adam Alanoff: I would just remind you that for the full year, we are maintaining our end-market guides. We expect them to land in roughly the same place. Michael Ryskin: Okay. Alright. Appreciate it. I will leave it there. Thanks. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Jack Meehan with Nephron Research. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Jack Meehan: Thank you. Hopefully, you can hear me now. Yes. I want to follow up on the M&A question because this is the number one debate we have been fielding. You talked a lot about how Ignite has improved your capabilities around M&A execution. Just wondering if you could elaborate on that, as number one. And then number two is, just from a product area, I was curious your take on diagnostic assets. You have a unique position with Dako that seems to be doing pretty well. Where does the IVD market stack up on your pecking order as an industry of interest? Padraig McDonnell: Yes. Adam, maybe you can talk about Ignite and what we are seeing on the integration capability side, and I will take the second one. Adam Alanoff: Sure. There are a couple pieces to why Ignite gives us the confidence that we would be able to integrate an asset effectively. If you look at what the Ignite program is, it is really about a management system and how you bring a bunch of different functions together to execute on a project in an efficient way. That is exactly what an integration is. Managing tariffs is a cross-functional activity where you need people moving in coordination to achieve an outcome. That is what an integration is. The first point I would make is, just running through the Ignite program and using the Ignite system that we have now implemented gives us confidence we can execute an integration. The other piece I would point out is BioVectrawe have leveraged that capability to integrate BioVectra into our network, and that is another proof point to our readiness to integrate the right asset. Padraig McDonnell: I think Adam talked about our capital allocation philosophy, so I will not go back over that one. We are focused on increasing our service and recurring revenue. I think we have been very clear on thatyou will see software and automation, also content on systems, etc. We have many high-growth adjacent markets where we would have examples in all of that. Specifically about diagnostics, it is one of our businesses. That is not excluded, of course, but it is a very durable market. We had 7% growth in Q1, and pathology is a mid-single-digit grower as we have seen over time with a lot of long-term growth drivers. It is an area where we will continue to look in all those spaces, but againwhere do we have a right to win, does it link with the strategy within that segment, does it increase our recurring revenuethat is very important to us as we go forward. And, of course, we have the Ignite operating system to allow us to integrate it very, very quickly as well. Adam Alanoff: Thank you, guys. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Puneet Souda with Leerink Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Puneet Souda: Yes. Hi, Padraig and Adam and team. Thanks for taking my question. First one, again, GLP-1 growth there is strong, but my question is more on the utilization on the oligo side on the NASD side. Any update on the full utilization of Train C, which I think is anticipated in 2027? The question is really around the margin impact in light of this utilization, where it stands today, how it ramps up, and how should we think about the commercial batches versus the early-stage pipeline work that you are seeing? Padraig McDonnell: Yes. I would start off and I will hand it over to Adam for some more color. We have a very strong order backlog, and we are confident in the FY 2026 outlook continuing to ramp. Of course, you have month-to-month variances, but we have Train C and D coming online. I have to say we are delighted to have that capacity coming online where it is because we are booked out for 2026, and now we are booking into 2027 with larger commercial batches. So it is at the right time. Adam, do you want to give more color on the cadence? Adam Alanoff: Yes. Thanks for the question. At steady state, the specialty CDMO business will return an operating margin above the corporate operating margin, so it is a good business to be in. Specific to 2027, Train C and Train D will be ramping through the year, and so there will be a negative margin impact; however, we will offset that with other activities within the business. Puneet Souda: Got it. Okay. Namely through Ignite. I see. Okay. That is helpful. And then just to follow up on theyou made a comment about the small biotech capital raises and capitalization driving growth. As you see that across the business, just wondering if you can double-click on where you are seeing that. Is that more on the LC instrumentation side, cell analysis, or is it more on the CDMO side of the business where you are seeing the uptick from the emerging and small biotechs? Adam Alanoff: So let meI think I just need to clarify because the comment was made in the context of what would be the upsides to the forecast. It was really set around, if we see a meaningful uptick in the small- and mid-cap biotech, then we would start to see upside to our forecast. While we have seen the capital market profile change improving, we have yet to see a meaningful uptick in the small- and mid-cap investments. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. If you look at small and medium-sized biotech, we have a relatively small exposure, but we are actually encouraged by the improving biotech funding and increased M&A. You see that a lot. If you look at the macros, in January total biopharma financing rose about $11 billion. That is a two-year high. We watch that. You have the patent cliff that is looming, of course, with heightened biopharma focus and M&A. I think 2025 was one of the strongest years in M&A for pharma, which, of course, was about $240 billion. But I think it is too early to call an inflection for us, and there is a lag between improving funding environment and customer spending. We are extremely well placed with our toolsPro IQ LCMS, Infinity 3and, of course, we will see a recovery in our cell analysis business for those tools as we go forward. That is the way I would say it. It is a relatively smaller exposure for us, but we are really encouraged by the improvement in the funding environment. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Brandon Couillard with Wells Fargo. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Brandon Couillard: Hey. Thanks, guys. Good afternoon. The 6% growth in Chinawas that all stimulus-related? And it would be helpful if you just touch on a couple of the end markets there. Curious if you are seeing any of them turn more positively or if it is really just still status quo. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. We were very pleased with our 6% growthbetter than expected and, compared to peers, also better than expected. There was a slight bit of more spending before Lunar New Year, but not too much. Last year, we saw a very strong GACC stimulus business. We saw a small one this year. We won about 30% of that. As we go through the year, we expect it to be a $300 million-per-quarter business. Overall, we are under-indexed to DX and pharma and over-indexed to the applied markets. We see continued strength on that side. We expect China to grow mid- to high-single digits over the long termnot the double-digit rates we saw ten years agomid- to high-single digits. Our track recordhow we are able to do manufacturing in China and our commercial teams being very, very close to the customersis really important. Adam talked about the larger stimulus that is looming towards the end of the year. We are not counting that in our guide, but if that comes in, it is going to be significantly more than the GACC stimulus, and we expect an outsized win in it. We are optimistic about China. We have the largest installed base. Look at the pace of innovation in life science and the applied marketsit supports strong demand for instruments and our solutions. If you look at the China five-year plan, whether it is rapid application of AI, healthcare, green sustainable developments, and new regulations for pollutants like PFAS, we are right in the sweet spot in terms of those priorities, so we feel very good about China. Brandon Couillard: That is helpful. And then, Adam, it would be great to get some color on the AMG markets by region. I think Simon said Europe was pretty solid. Just curious where you are seeing the weaknessis it all in the Americas? Any color would be helpful by region. Thanks. Adam Alanoff: Yes. The softness we have been seeing is really primarily in the Americas. There is reason to be optimisticthe NIH budget came in line, flat to slightly up. The 15% cap on overhead research costs was blocked. That said, it goes back to what Simon talked about, which is we are still seeing a little bit of hesitancy in our customers to make bigger investments as they are really focused on operating their labs. Simon May: And just to clarify the Europe comment, that was a forward-looking comment that we envision more stability in Europe than in the Americas with academic and government, and cautious optimism around incremental improvement. That was a forward-looking statement. Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Casey Woodring with JPMorgan. Your line is open. Please go ahead. Casey Woodring: Great. Thanks for fitting me in. I will ask my two upfront. The first is just on LC and LCMS pacing over the course of the year. LC grew high singles in Q1. Can you just talk about what LCMS grew in the quarter and walk through the growth phasing for LC and LCMS over the course of the year? And then secondly, Padraig, you called out the three enterprise service wins in ACG, and you talked a little bit about it in your script. Can you maybe just elaborate on what the financial impact could look like from those contracts and how we should think about the impact to the model and how those ramp over time? Thank you. Padraig McDonnell: Yes. Let me talk about the enterprise services, and I will comment then on the LCMS. On the enterprise services side, it is a really important flywheel for the future because we are fully working with customers on their lab management and productivity. You can imagine the insights we get on replacement cycle through that and how we move forward on it. It is not just about the services; it is about the consumables and it is about the instrument replacements that we can drive going forward. We have had significant replacements in competitive accounts. We are kind of unique in how we are doing that in the market, and we are seeing that as a flywheel to continue going forward. In accounts where we do have enterprise service agreements, we have a higher consumables attach rate, we have a higher services attach rate, and we have an early warning system around replacement cycles that we have early conversations about. On the LC side of things, it has been a steady pace and a really good quarter. On the LCMS side, Simon, do you want to add any color? Simon May: Yes. To reiterate on LC, we saw high single-digit growth in the quarter, with particular strength in China and APAC. As we have mentioned already, very strong performance in Infinity 3customers continue to love itand I still think we are relatively early to mid in the replacement cycle there. Win-loss rates continue to be positive, with notable share gains based on the industry data. We are now seeing additional tailwind there with the Altura columns. On the LCMS side, we were in line with our expectations in the first quarter, coming off a tough sequential and year-over-year compare, it has to be said. We were very pleased with Pro IQ, with 40% growthreally exceptional adoption there. In LCMS, similar story with respect to win-loss rates and the industry data, which signifies some notable share gains. Beyond the Pro IQ, which is off to a very strong start, we are also very encouraged by our broader LCMS innovation pipeline. Padraig McDonnell: Just going back to the enterprise services, I want to bring in Angelica because she has been very close to some of these marquee wins and the growth trajectory of what we are seeing with the customer. Angelica Riemann: Thanks, Padraig, and thanks for the question, Casey. We are very excited about the enterprise business and the opportunity that it unlocks. When you think about it, it allows us to really embed our service into the accounts, and they are looking at managing assets across the laboratory. Not only does it give us the opportunity to help customers with their lab operations and keep their labs up and running and producing those scientific results, it gives us visibility and access more broadly in these laboratory environments so that we are not only looking at our own replacement cycle but we are also looking at competitive displacement opportunities and incremental wallet share opportunities. Over the course of time, the relationships that we are building compound. They compound from a growth perspective, but they also compound from the insights that we get from customers and how we bring that back into the innovation muscle that we have here at Agilent Technologies, Inc., and how we can continually grow, evolve, and continue to serve our customers on all different levels, whether it is lab operations, scientific outcomes, or ongoing value over time. In closing Operator: Your final question comes from the line of Evie Kozlowski with Goldman Sachs. Evie, please limit yourself to one question. Your line is open. Please go ahead. A reminder to please unmute yourself by pressing star 6. Tejas Savant: Operator, Evie is not there. I think we can leave it there. That is all the time we have for this afternoon, and thank you to everyone for joining us. We look forward to speaking with you soon. This concludes today's call. Operator: Thank you for attending. You may now disconnect. Should you buy stock in Agilent Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Agilent Technologies, 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 Agilent Technologies 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 $420,864!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,182,210!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 903% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% 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 25, 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. Agilent (A) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool TIAA Trust National Association cut its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 7.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 75,970 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,331 shares during the period. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $57,960,000 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. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 88.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. now owns 66 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.9% during the third quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 462 shares of the companys stock worth $353,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 28.5% in the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 111,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,897,000 after acquiring an additional 24,654 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 27.0% in the third quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 38,468 shares of the companys stock worth $29,351,000 after acquiring an additional 8,188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Buska Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the third quarter worth about $201,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently issued reports on LLY. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. UBS Group restated a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $1,300.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,234.00 to $1,296.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,229.59. Key Eli Lilly and Company News Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY stock opened at $1,022.16 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $1,053.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $925.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market cap of $964.26 billion, a PE ratio of 44.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.39. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $1,133.95. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released 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. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The business had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.32 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 42.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $1.73 dividend. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.15%. 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. Further Reading 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. TIAA Trust National Association boosted its holdings in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 151,530 shares of the aircraft producers stock after buying an additional 6,568 shares during the quarter. TIAA Trust National Associations holdings in Boeing were worth $32,705,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Davis Capital Management bought a new position in Boeing in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Boeing in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in shares of Boeing in the second quarter worth about $35,000. Centerpoint Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Boeing by 62.4% during the 3rd quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 164 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Boeing during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 64.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Boeing alerts: Boeing Price Performance Shares of Boeing stock opened at $229.33 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $180.10 billion, a PE ratio of 114.10 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $234.48 and a 200 day moving average of $220.02. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.37. The Boeing Company has a 12 month low of $128.88 and a 12 month high of $254.35. Key Headlines Impacting Boeing Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The aircraft producer reported $9.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.40) by $10.32. The firm had revenue of $23.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.41 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned ($5.90) earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 57.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Here are the key news stories impacting Boeing this week: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have commented on BA. New Street Research set a $257.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. TD Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. BNP Paribas Exane set a $150.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Loop Capital set a $223.00 price target on Boeing in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $280.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell 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 $246.14. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Boeing Insider Buying and Selling at Boeing In related news, SVP Ann M. Schmidt sold 6,281 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.37, for a total value of $1,528,606.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,978 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,401,825.86. This trade represents a 31.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 10,497 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $233.99, for a total value of $2,456,193.03. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 14,692 shares in the company, valued at $3,437,781.08. The trade was a 41.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 21,012 shares of company stock worth $4,980,687 over the last 90 days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders. Boeing Company 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. Read More 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. JBT Marel Corporation (NYSE:JBTM Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a dividend of 0.10 per share on Monday, March 23rd. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. JBT Marel Stock Down 1.8% Shares of JBT Marel stock traded down $2.78 during trading on Friday, reaching $154.85. 15,675 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 518,172. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.05 billion, a PE ratio of -153.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.01. JBT Marel has a 1-year low of $90.08 and a 1-year high of $170.19. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $158.62 and a 200-day moving average price of $146.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Get JBT Marel alerts: JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter. JBT Marel had a negative net margin of 1.33% and a positive return on equity of 7.68%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 115.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.70 earnings per share. JBT Marel has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.000-8.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that JBT Marel will post 5.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About JBT Marel JBT Marel Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market. See Also Receive News & Ratings for JBT Marel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JBT Marel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont, First Majestic Silver, Barrick Mining, Hecla Mining, Agnico Eagle Mines, and AngloGold Ashanti are the seven Gold stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Gold stocks are shares of companies whose primary businesses involve finding, mining, processing, or financing gold this includes miners, explorers, and royalty/streaming firms. Their share prices are influenced by the market price of gold as well as company-specific factors like production costs, reserve size, and geopolitical or operational risks, so they behave differently from owning physical gold. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Gold stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Newmont (NEM) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana. Read Our Latest Research Report on NEM First Majestic Silver (AG) First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. Its projects include the San Dimas mine covering an area of approximately 71,867 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico; the Santa Elena that covers an area of approximately 102,244 hectares located in Sonora State, Mexico; and the La Encantada covering an area of approximately 4,076 hectares located in Coahuila State, Mexico. Read Our Latest Research Report on AG Barrick Mining (B) Barrick Gold Corporation is a sector-leading gold and copper producer. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX. In January 2019 Barrick merged with Randgold Resources and in July that year it combined its gold mines in Nevada, USA, with those of Newmont Corporation in a joint venture, Nevada Gold Mines, which is majority-owned and operated by Barrick. Read Our Latest Research Report on B Hecla Mining (HL) Hecla Mining Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides precious and base metal properties in the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and China. The company mines for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates, as well as carbon material containing silver and gold for custom smelters, metal traders, and third-party processors; and dore containing silver and gold. Read Our Latest Research Report on HL Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. It explores for gold. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Read Our Latest Research Report on AEM AngloGold Ashanti (AU) AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania. Read Our Latest Research Report on AU Featured Stories OUTFRONT Media (NYSE:OUT Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by ($0.16), Zacks reports. OUTFRONT Media had a net margin of 8.03% and a return on equity of 26.68%. The business had revenue of $513.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $511.61 million. Here are the key takeaways from OUTFRONT Medias conference call: Get OUTFRONT Media alerts: Consolidated Q4 results showed continued momentum with revenues up 4.1% , adjusted OIBDA up 12% to $174M, and AFFO up 8% to $130M, driven by strong transit performance and digital growth. , adjusted OIBDA up 12% to $174M, and AFFO up 8% to $130M, driven by strong transit performance and digital growth. New York MTA was a major growth driver (MTA up ~20% in the year and transit digital +37% in Q4); management says incremental MTA revenue is highly accretive even as franchise expense steps up ~3% to ~$161M (includes an $11.7M deferred payment). was a major growth driver (MTA up ~20% in the year and transit digital +37% in Q4); management says incremental MTA revenue is highly accretive even as franchise expense steps up ~3% to ~$161M (includes an $11.7M deferred payment). Company is pursuing a technology-led modernization sales reorganization plus investments in Salesforce, AWS, and an exclusive commercial arrangement with AdQuick intended to simplify planning/buying and unlock SMB/mid?market and enterprise demand. intended to simplify planning/buying and unlock SMB/mid?market and enterprise demand. OUTFRONT exited two large, marginally profitable billboard contracts (NY and L.A.), which pressured comparable billboard revenue but helped margins (billboard adjusted OIBDA margin rose ~120 bps to 41.5%); a separate Q1 condemnation will add about $10M of one?time billboard revenue. 2026 outlook is constructive management expects Q1 revenue acceleration (reported high?single digits) and AFFO growth comfortably in the double?digit range, with ~ $90M CapEx ( $30M$35M maintenance), net leverage at ~4.7x, and the dividend maintained at $0.30. OUTFRONT Media Stock Up 0.4% NYSE OUT traded up $0.13 during trading on Friday, reaching $28.65. 220,730 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,335,031. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $24.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.79 billion, a PE ratio of 35.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.56. OUTFRONT Media has a fifty-two week low of $12.95 and a fifty-two week high of $28.74. OUTFRONT Media Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. OUTFRONT Medias dividend payout ratio is currently 150.00%. Several equities research analysts recently commented on OUT shares. Zacks Research raised OUTFRONT Media from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of OUTFRONT Media from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $20.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and set a $21.00 price objective on shares of OUTFRONT Media in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and issued a $23.00 target price (up from $20.00) on shares of OUTFRONT Media in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of OUTFRONT Media from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $19.00 to $25.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have issued a Buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $25.71. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on OUT Insider Transactions at OUTFRONT Media In other OUTFRONT Media news, Director Manuel A. Diaz sold 11,271 shares of OUTFRONT Media stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.49, for a total transaction of $276,026.79. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 47,515 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,163,642.35. This trade represents a 19.17% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On OUTFRONT Media Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in OUTFRONT Media by 9.3% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 130,411 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,105,000 after acquiring an additional 11,073 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in OUTFRONT Media by 2.1% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 85,971 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,388,000 after purchasing an additional 1,739 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in OUTFRONT Media by 9.9% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,980,994 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $80,393,000 after purchasing an additional 448,993 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of OUTFRONT Media by 12.4% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 21,399 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 2,357 shares during the period. Finally, Woodline Partners LP lifted its stake in shares of OUTFRONT Media by 45.6% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 36,888 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $595,000 after buying an additional 11,559 shares during the last quarter. Trending Headlines about OUTFRONT Media Here are the key news stories impacting OUTFRONT Media this week: Positive Sentiment: Company topped Q4 AFFO estimates, reported expanding margins and said transit revenue jumped 15.7%; management guided to double?digit AFFO growth in 2026 a direct bullish signal for a REIT priced on cash flow. Article Title Company topped Q4 AFFO estimates, reported expanding margins and said transit revenue jumped 15.7%; management guided to double?digit AFFO growth in 2026 a direct bullish signal for a REIT priced on cash flow. Positive Sentiment: Analysts and outlets highlight managements expectation of double?digit AFFO growth in 2026 with high?teens transit revenue expansion supports a re?rating if execution continues. Article Title Analysts and outlets highlight managements expectation of double?digit AFFO growth in 2026 with high?teens transit revenue expansion supports a re?rating if execution continues. Positive Sentiment: OUTFRONT struck an exclusive multi?year commercial partnership with AdQuick and will invest up to $20M expands programmatic/OoH sales capabilities and could accelerate digital monetization. Article Title OUTFRONT struck an exclusive multi?year commercial partnership with AdQuick and will invest up to $20M expands programmatic/OoH sales capabilities and could accelerate digital monetization. Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target to $32 and reiterated a buy rating, injecting near?term buying interest from institutional investors. Article Title TD Cowen raised its price target to $32 and reiterated a buy rating, injecting near?term buying interest from institutional investors. Positive Sentiment: Board declared a $0.30 quarterly dividend (4.2% yield), which supports income investors and reduces downside from volatility. Article Title Board declared a $0.30 quarterly dividend (4.2% yield), which supports income investors and reduces downside from volatility. Neutral Sentiment: Media and earnings snapshots provide additional color on the quarter and strategy but add no new catalyst beyond the AFFO/guidance message. Article Title Media and earnings snapshots provide additional color on the quarter and strategy but add no new catalyst beyond the AFFO/guidance message. Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call transcript and analyst note coverage are available for deeper diligence; useful for confirming cadence and cadence of revenue/margin drivers. Article Title Full earnings call transcript and analyst note coverage are available for deeper diligence; useful for confirming cadence and cadence of revenue/margin drivers. Negative Sentiment: GAAP EPS missed expectations ($0.55 vs. $0.71 consensus), which can pressure short?term sentiment despite AFFO strength; watch guidance cadence and margin execution. Article Title About OUTFRONT Media (Get Free Report) OUTFRONT Media Inc is a leading out-of-home (OOH) advertising company offering a broad range of billboard, transit and digital display solutions across major urban markets in the United States and Canada. Its portfolio encompasses traditional static billboards, high-resolution digital signage, transit media on buses, trains and taxis, as well as street furniture placements such as bus shelters, kiosks and urban panels. The company partners with brand marketers to deliver high-impact campaigns that engage consumers outside the home environment. Through an extensive network of assets in key metropolitan areas, OUTFRONT provides advertisers with premium visibility along highways, city streets and transit corridors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for OUTFRONT Media Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for OUTFRONT Media and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cembra Money Bank AG (OTCMKTS:CMBNF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 12,371 shares, an increase of 113.3% from the January 29th total of 5,801 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently ? days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently ? days. Cembra Money Bank Stock Performance Shares of CMBNF stock remained flat at C$125.55 on Friday. Cembra Money Bank has a 12-month low of C$91.31 and a 12-month high of C$125.55. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$108.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$97.25. Get Cembra Money Bank alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Cembra Money Bank in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold. About Cembra Money Bank (Get Free Report) Cembra Money Bank AG is a Swiss consumer finance provider headquartered in Zurich, offering a range of credit and savings solutions to private individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises. The companys core business activities include the origination and servicing of personal loans, leasing products, credit cards and savings deposits. Through its subsidiaries and digital platforms, Cembra delivers financing options for new and used vehicles as well as unsecured personal lines of credit, complemented by a suite of savings accounts designed to attract retail deposits. The institution traces its roots to the consumer finance arm of Swiss Life, which was acquired by GE Capital in the early 2000s and subsequently rebranded. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cembra Money Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cembra Money Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The First National Bank of Groton (OTC:FIGR Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $28.00 and last traded at $28.42, with a volume of 4072761 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $34.04. First National Bank of Groton Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $4.71 billion and a P/E ratio of 78.59. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $48.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $116.04. About First National Bank of Groton (Get Free Report) The First National Bank of Groton offers various banking products and services in New York. The company provides personal checking accounts and personal saving accounts; and business checking, savings, and money market accounts. It also offers personal loans, which includes home mortgage and equity, auto, recreational vehicle, mobile home, and personal home loans. In addition, it provides business loans, including commercial real estate, equipment, business term, and small business administration loans. See Also Receive News & Ratings for First National Bank of Groton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First National Bank of Groton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:JTKWY Get Free Report)s share price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $4.31, but opened at $4.6290. Just Eat Takeaway.com shares last traded at $4.6290, with a volume of 1,110 shares trading hands. Just Eat Takeaway.com Stock Performance The stocks fifty day moving average price is $4.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Get Just Eat Takeaway.com alerts: About Just Eat Takeaway.com (Get Free Report) Just Eat Takeaway.com NV, trading under OTCMKTS:JTKWY, is a leading global online food delivery marketplace that connects consumers with local and international restaurants through its digital platforms. Formed in early 2020 from the merger of Just Eat and Takeaway.com, the company has established a presence across Europe, North America and other key regions. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with significant operational offices in London and Chicago, Just Eat Takeaway.com facilitates millions of daily orders through its suite of websites and mobile applications. The companys core offerings comprise branded marketplaces including Just Eat in the United Kingdom, Grubhub in the United States, Takeaway.com in the Netherlands and Germany, plus localized platforms such as Menulog in Australia and SkipTheDishes in Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Just Eat Takeaway.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Just Eat Takeaway.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adobe, DoubleVerify, and Ziff Davis are the three Digital Media stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Digital media stocks are shares of companies whose primary businesses involve creating, distributing, monetizing, or enabling digital content and services for example streaming platforms, social networks, online publishers, digital advertising and ad-tech firms, gaming and interactive media companies. Investors typically evaluate these stocks based on user growth and engagement, advertising and subscription revenue models, content costs and monetization pathways, as well as risks from intense competition, platform and regulatory changes, and technological shifts. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Digital Media stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Adobe (ADBE) Adobe Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified software company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Digital Media, Digital Experience, and Publishing and Advertising. The Digital Media segment offers products, services, and solutions that enable individuals, teams, and enterprises to create, publish, and promote content; and Document Cloud, a unified cloud-based document services platform. DoubleVerify (DV) DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. provides a software platform for digital media measurement, and data analytics in the United States and internationally. The company provides solutions to advertisers that enable advertisers to increase the effectiveness and quality and return on their digital advertising investments. Read Our Latest Research Report on DV Ziff Davis (ZD) Ziff Davis, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media and internet company in the United States and internationally. The company offers PCMag, an online resource for laboratory-based product reviews, technology news, buying guides, and research papers; Mashable for publishing technology and culture content; Spiceworks Ziff Davis provides digital content of IT products and services; retailMeNot, a savings destination platform; Offers.com, a coupon and deals website; and event-based properties, including BlackFriday.com, TheBlackFriday.com, BestBlackFriday.com, and DealsofAmerica.com. Read Our Latest Research Report on ZD See Also Shares of Carrefour SA (OTCMKTS:CRRFY Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 600,217 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 173% from the previous sessions volume of 219,826 shares.The stock last traded at $3.78 and had previously closed at $3.76. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently commented on CRRFY. Jefferies Financial Group cut Carrefour from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Carrefour in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Carrefour alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Carrefour Carrefour Price Performance About Carrefour The business has a 50 day moving average of $3.45 and a 200 day moving average of $3.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.90. (Get Free Report) Carrefour is a French multinational retail corporation established in 1959 and headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. As one of the worlds largest retail chains, the company pioneered the hypermarket concept in Europe, combining a supermarket and department store under one roof. Over the decades, Carrefour has expanded its footprint to encompass a variety of store formats, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, cash & carry outlets, convenience stores and e-commerce platforms, catering to a wide range of consumer needs. Carrefours core business activities revolve around food retailing, non-food products and services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Carrefour Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carrefour and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Takeaways Nvidia is set to release quarterly results after the closing bell, and the report is expected to show continued massive revenue growth for the chipmaker at the heart of the AI boom. Climbing expectations heading into the report could make it more difficult for Nvidia to impress investors, analysts warn. AI chip leader Nvidia is set to report earnings after the closing bell Wednesday, in what could be a defining moment for markets. Widely seen as a bellwether for the AI trade, the chipmaker's results stand to influence sentiment around a wide range of stocks exposed to the industry. More from Yahoo Scout How might Nvidia's results impact the broader AI trade? Why could high expectations make it harder for Nvidia to impress? What are Wall Street's expectations for Nvidia's quarterly results? What has driven Nvidia's stock performance this year? Many, along with Nvidia (NVDA), have been pressured lately amid broader uncertainty about the impact AI could have on everything from individual jobs to broader markets and the economy. Nvidia shares, which were up 2% in recent trading, are up about 5% year-to-date after lingering in negative territory for much of 2026 so far. Why This Matters to Investors Nvidia's earnings report and the ensuing market reaction could send strong signals about AI demand and how confident investors are feeling about the AI trade. With no signs of slowing spending on AI hardware by many of Nvidia's Big Tech clients, several Wall Street analysts are forecasting another record quarter from the chipmaker. However, climbing expectations heading into the report could also make it more difficult for Nvidia to impress, they warned. Nvidia is projected to report adjusted earnings per share of $1.53 on a 68% year-over-year jump in revenue to a record $66.2 billion for the quarter, according to estimates collected by Visible Alpha. Though they've been held back in recent weeks, Nvidia shares have still added nearly half their value over the past 12 months. This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent analyst estimates. Read the original article on Investopedia DSV (OTCMKTS:DSDVY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 8,650 shares, a drop of 57.3% from the January 29th total of 20,250 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 230,436 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 230,436 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. DSV Price Performance OTCMKTS DSDVY traded down $0.11 during trading on Friday, reaching $128.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 30,685 shares, compared to its average volume of 65,501. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $134.52 and a 200 day moving average of $118.43. DSV has a one year low of $77.78 and a one year high of $151.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.96 billion, a PE ratio of 43.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Get DSV alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on DSDVY. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of DSV in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of DSV in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating on shares of DSV in a report on Thursday, January 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy. About DSV (Get Free Report) DSV A/S (OTCMKTS:DSDVY) is a Danish global transport and logistics company that provides end-to-end supply chain solutions to businesses across a wide range of industries. The firms core services include road transport, air freight, ocean freight, freight forwarding, contract logistics and warehousing, together with customs clearance, distribution and value?added services designed to support complex international supply chains. Founded in the mid-1970s in Denmark, DSV has grown through a mix of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, notably strengthening its global freight and forwarding capabilities through transactions such as the acquisitions of UTi Worldwide and Panalpina. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for DSV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DSV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by stock analysts at Canaccord Genuity Group from $60.00 to $25.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Groups price objective indicates a potential upside of 94.95% from the companys previous close. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of NuScale Power from $45.00 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $20.00 target price on shares of NuScale Power in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. TD Cowen cut NuScale Power from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of NuScale Power in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their target price on shares of NuScale Power from $55.00 to $20.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $24.42. Get NuScale Power alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SMR NuScale Power Price Performance Shares of SMR traded down $0.51 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $12.82. 15,911,235 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,665,088. NuScale Power has a one year low of $11.08 and a one year high of $57.42. The firm has a market cap of $3.83 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.48 and a beta of 2.14. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $16.85 and a 200-day moving average of $27.30. NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.80) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.10) by ($0.70). The firm had revenue of $1.81 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.76 million. NuScale Power had a negative net margin of 594.63% and a negative return on equity of 51.27%. Sell-side analysts forecast that NuScale Power will post -0.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In other NuScale Power news, CFO Robert Ramsey Hamady sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.17, for a total value of $886,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 46,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,026,094.11. The trade was a 46.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On NuScale Power Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in NuScale Power by 72.3% in the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 91,362 shares of the companys stock worth $3,614,000 after acquiring an additional 38,347 shares during the period. Black Swift Group LLC bought a new position in NuScale Power in the 2nd quarter worth $585,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH purchased a new stake in shares of NuScale Power in the 3rd quarter worth about $14,347,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its stake in shares of NuScale Power by 686.9% during the 3rd quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 184,609 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,646,000 after purchasing an additional 161,149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of NuScale Power by 25.2% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,854,664 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,944,000 after buying an additional 574,295 shares during the period. 78.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Key Stories Impacting NuScale Power Here are the key news stories impacting NuScale Power this week: Positive Sentiment: NuScale outlined a plan for up to 6 GW of U.S. nuclear deployment tied to ENTRA1 and said it will enter 2026 with about $1.3B of liquidity a positive for execution and funding of future projects. NuScale outlines 6 GW U.S. nuclear deployment NuScale outlined a plan for up to 6 GW of U.S. nuclear deployment tied to ENTRA1 and said it will enter 2026 with about $1.3B of liquidity a positive for execution and funding of future projects. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Northland Securities moved SMR from market perform to outperform with a $21 price target, signaling some buy?side conviction on upside vs. current levels. Finviz analyst upgrade Analyst upgrade: Northland Securities moved SMR from market perform to outperform with a $21 price target, signaling some buy?side conviction on upside vs. current levels. Positive Sentiment: Partnerships & innovation: NuScale continues to publicize strategic partnerships (e.g., Oak Ridge National Lab for AI work) and project wins such as Romanias coal?to?SMR conversion reaching FID items that support long?term commercialization hopes. NuScale advances energy innovation through partnerships Partnerships & innovation: NuScale continues to publicize strategic partnerships (e.g., Oak Ridge National Lab for AI work) and project wins such as Romanias coal?to?SMR conversion reaching FID items that support long?term commercialization hopes. Neutral Sentiment: Company materials: Q4 2025 earnings call transcript and slide deck are available useful for digging into guidance, project timelines and cash runway; investors should review management commentary for execution milestones and funding plans. Earnings call transcript Company materials: Q4 2025 earnings call transcript and slide deck are available useful for digging into guidance, project timelines and cash runway; investors should review management commentary for execution milestones and funding plans. Negative Sentiment: Q4 financial miss: NuScale reported a large Q4 EPS loss (?$0.80 vs. consensus ?$0.10) and revenue well below estimates (~$1.8M vs. ~$8.8M). Weak near?term commercial traction and wide losses are driving investor concern about timing of revenue recognition and cash burn. Q4 loss and revenue miss Q4 financial miss: NuScale reported a large Q4 EPS loss (?$0.80 vs. consensus ?$0.10) and revenue well below estimates (~$1.8M vs. ~$8.8M). Weak near?term commercial traction and wide losses are driving investor concern about timing of revenue recognition and cash burn. Negative Sentiment: Widespread securities?fraud litigation notices: Multiple law firms have filed or are soliciting lead?plaintiff motions in a class action tied to ENTRA1/commercialization disclosures, with an April 20, 2026 deadline increased legal risk and overhang on the stock. Class action lawsuit filed Widespread securities?fraud litigation notices: Multiple law firms have filed or are soliciting lead?plaintiff motions in a class action tied to ENTRA1/commercialization disclosures, with an April 20, 2026 deadline increased legal risk and overhang on the stock. Negative Sentiment: Elevated short interest: Short interest rose noticeably in February (now ~15% of float), which can amplify downward moves on negative headlines and increases volatility. (Market data cited in recent reports.) NuScale Power Company Profile (Get Free Report) NuScale Power Corporation, trading on the NYSE American under the ticker SMR, is a pioneering developer of small modular nuclear reactors. Established in 2007 as a spinout from Oregon State University, the company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. NuScales mission is to deliver zero-carbon baseload power through scalable modular reactor technology, aiming to transform traditional nuclear energy deployment. At the core of NuScales offering is the VOYGR small modular reactor design, featuring 77-megawatt electric (MWe) modules with passive safety systems. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NuScale Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NuScale Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Boerse AG (OTCMKTS:DBOEY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 99,595 shares, an increase of 684.2% from the January 29th total of 12,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,487,243 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 1,487,243 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on DBOEY shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Deutsche Boerse in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Deutsche Boerse from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets cut shares of Deutsche Boerse from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Deutsche Boerse alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on DBOEY Deutsche Boerse Stock Up 2.1% Shares of OTCMKTS DBOEY traded up $0.55 during trading on Friday, reaching $27.24. 211,758 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 454,911. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.25. Deutsche Boerse has a 52-week low of $23.25 and a 52-week high of $33.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.06 billion, a PE ratio of 22.33, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.52. Deutsche Boerse (OTCMKTS:DBOEY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.01. Deutsche Boerse had a net margin of 32.32% and a return on equity of 19.23%. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Deutsche Boerse will post 1.12 EPS for the current year. About Deutsche Boerse (Get Free Report) Deutsche Borse AG is a Germany?based provider of marketplace infrastructure, trading technology and post?trade services to the global financial industry. The company operates electronic trading platforms and derivatives markets, offers clearing and settlement services, and supplies market data, analytics and index products to investment banks, brokers, asset managers and listed companies. Key businesses within the group include electronic equity trading via the Xetra trading system, derivatives trading through the Eurex exchange, and post?trade and custody services provided by Clearstream. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Boerse Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Boerse and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Free Report) (NYSE:TD) had its price target hoisted by research analysts at Scotiabank from C$132.00 to C$142.00 in a research note issued on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Scotiabanks price objective indicates a potential upside of 7.11% from the stocks previous close. TD has been the topic of a number of other reports. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$141.00 to C$147.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. Raymond James Financial raised their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$122.00 to C$138.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$130.00 to C$132.00 in a research note on Friday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$135.00 to C$144.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$122.00 to C$126.00 in a report on Monday, December 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$139.50. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on TD Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Down 1.9% TD traded down C$2.57 during trading on Friday, hitting C$132.57. 2,044,466 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,765,620. The stock has a market capitalization of C$222.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.47, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.00. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$130.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$118.18. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12-month low of C$78.06 and a 12-month high of C$136.49. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Free Report) (NYSE:TD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$2.44 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$16.63 billion during the quarter. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 15.80% and a return on equity of 7.84%. On average, equities analysts expect that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 7.2160149 EPS for the current year. Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Toronto-Dominion is one of Canadas two largest banks and operates three business segments: Canadian retail banking, U.S. retail banking, and wholesale banking. The banks U.S. operations span from Maine to Florida, with a strong presence in the Northeast. It also has a 13% ownership stake in Charles Schwab. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quebecor (TSE:QBR.B Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$57.00 to C$61.00 in a report released on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces target price suggests a potential upside of 7.83% from the companys previous close. Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on QBR.B. National Bank Financial upped their price objective on Quebecor from C$54.00 to C$57.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday. TD Securities upped their price target on shares of Quebecor from C$49.00 to C$52.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Desjardins lifted their price objective on shares of Quebecor from C$54.00 to C$61.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Quebecor from C$47.00 to C$53.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a C$56.00 price target on shares of Quebecor and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$58.08. Get Quebecor alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on QBR.B Quebecor Price Performance QBR.B stock traded up C$2.77 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$56.57. The company had a trading volume of 1,554,196 shares, compared to its average volume of 755,688. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$51.26 and a 200 day moving average price of C$47.61. Quebecor has a 12-month low of C$32.57 and a 12-month high of C$57.77. The company has a market capitalization of C$12.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 363.97. Quebecor (TSE:QBR.B Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported C$0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Quebecor had a return on equity of 37.44% and a net margin of 12.99%.The firm had revenue of C$1.55 billion for the quarter. Quebecor Company Profile (Get Free Report) Quebecor primarily provides mobile and fixed-line telecom services in Quebec where it is the leading telecom provider. With more than 1.8 million internet subscribers Quebecor provides internet service to more than 60% of the homes its network passes. It also has about 1.6 million mobile subscribers representing more than 20% wireless market share in Quebec. In addition to the quadruple-play services Quebecor offers a French-language subscription video on demand service and has a media segment that owns and operates television stations publishes newspapers and magazines and produces and distributes films and television shows. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Quebecor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quebecor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Altona Rare Earths Plc (LON:REE Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 4.07 and last traded at GBX 3.96, with a volume of 45824492 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3.05. Altona Rare Earths Stock Up 29.8% The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 1.66. The stock has a market cap of 12.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.71 and a beta of -0.15. Get Altona Rare Earths alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Cedric Simonet acquired 711,712 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 2 per share, for a total transaction of 14,234.24. Also, insider Louise Adrian bought 546,701 shares of Altona Rare Earths stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 2 per share, with a total value of 10,934.02. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 1,400,677 shares of company stock valued at $2,801,354. 15.42% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Altona Rare Earths Altona Rare Earth (LSE: REE) is a resource exploration and development company, specializing in Critical Raw Materials exploration and development in Africa. The Company is currently involved in copper and silver exploration at the Sesana project in the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana, in rare earths exploration at the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique, and is also assessing the possibility to rapidly develop a fluorspar mining operation, also at Monte Muambe. Monte Muambe, a significant REE mining project, is a carbonatite-hosted REE deposit. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altona Rare Earths Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altona Rare Earths 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 $10.9950, but opened at $10.0425. Kunlun Energy shares last traded at $10.0425, with a volume of 477 shares trading hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Zacks Research raised shares of Kunlun Energy to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Kunlun Energy alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on KLYCY Kunlun Energy Stock Down 1.1% About Kunlun Energy The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. (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. Further Reading 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. Canadian Utilities (TSE:CU Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by stock analysts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces price objective indicates a potential downside of 1.43% from the stocks current price. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Canadian Utilities from C$43.00 to C$49.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday. National Bank Financial boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$43.00 to C$45.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday. TD Securities raised their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$40.00 to C$41.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$40.00 to C$43.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Canadian Utilities from C$42.00 to C$44.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$44.83. Get Canadian Utilities alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Canadian Utilities Canadian Utilities Stock Up 1.9% Canadian Utilities Company Profile Shares of CU traded up C$0.91 during midday trading on Friday, hitting C$47.68. 698,538 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 557,869. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 158.34. The stock has a market capitalization of C$12.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.61. Canadian Utilities has a 1 year low of C$34.10 and a 1 year high of C$48.36. The firms fifty day moving average is C$44.08 and its 200-day moving average is C$41.22. (Get Free Report) Canadian Utilities Ltd, a subsidiary of holding company Atco, offers gas and electricity services. The companys main divisions include electricity (generation, transmission, and distribution), pipelines & liquid (natural gas and water), and Retail Energy. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the firm mainly operates in Canada and Australia, along with some operations in the United States and Mexico. Canadian Utilities launched a large venture called Atco Energy, which provides low-cost and sustainable energy solutions for Alberta. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) were up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $27.67 and last traded at $27.6070. Approximately 41,613,281 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 14% from the average daily volume of 48,346,676 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.10. Key Headlines Impacting Pfizer Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: Get Pfizer alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently weighed in on PFE shares. UBS Group started coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. They set a neutral rating and a $25.00 target price for the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. They set a neutral rating and a $26.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research set a $24.00 price target on shares of Pfizer and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 price target for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $27.70. Pfizer Stock Up 1.9% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $156.97 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day moving average of $26.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of $25.39. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $17.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.93 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.25% and a net margin of 12.42%.The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.63 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. Pfizers payout ratio is 126.47%. Institutional Trading of Pfizer Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in PFE. Fiduciary Alliance LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 46.4% in the third quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 145,263 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,701,000 after purchasing an additional 46,043 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,019,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp grew its stake in Pfizer by 29.9% in the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 248,251 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $6,325,000 after acquiring an additional 57,188 shares during the period. Vista Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 236.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 69,613 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,774,000 after acquiring an additional 48,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. raised its position in Pfizer by 76.4% during the third quarter. Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. now owns 109,269 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,784,000 after acquiring an additional 47,319 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. Pfizer Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The energy company reported $2.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Zacks reports. Natural Resource Partners had a net margin of 64.78% and a return on equity of 25.31%. Here are the key takeaways from Natural Resource Partners conference call: Get Natural Resource Partners alerts: NRP generated $169 million of free cash flow in 2025, repaid $109 million of debt and finished the year with only $33 million outstanding, leaving the partnership materially de?levered. of free cash flow in 2025, repaid of debt and finished the year with only $33 million outstanding, leaving the partnership materially de?levered. Management said metallurgical coal, thermal coal, and soda ash prices are at cyclical or generational lows with no near?term catalysts, and expects prolonged weakness (soda ash rebalancing could take several years). with no near?term catalysts, and expects prolonged weakness (soda ash rebalancing could take several years). NRP elected to contribute $39 million to the Sisecam Wyoming soda ash JV, has received no JV distributions since Q2 2025, and the JV still carries $50+ million of debt, so near?term distributions from that investment are unlikely. to the Sisecam Wyoming soda ash JV, has received no JV distributions since Q2 2025, and the JV still carries $50+ million of debt, so near?term distributions from that investment are unlikely. The partnership remains committed to retiring all remaining debt and materially increasing distributions, but the planned distribution uplift was pushed from August to November and could slip further if commodity bear markets continue. Leasing interest for underground carbon sequestration is weak and NRPs geothermal/solar/lithium efforts have produced only small?scale progress to date, with no material projects to report. Natural Resource Partners Stock Down 2.1% Shares of NRP stock traded down $2.56 on Friday, reaching $120.95. 184,635 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 49,962. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 2.14. The company has a 50-day moving average of $114.97 and a 200-day moving average of $107.79. The company has a market cap of $1.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.08 and a beta of 0.22. Natural Resource Partners has a one year low of $86.83 and a one year high of $128.60. Natural Resource Partners Dividend Announcement Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Natural Resource Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 27.47%. Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Natural Resource Partners in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy. View Our Latest Analysis on Natural Resource Partners Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 62.8% in the 4th quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 15,507 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,619,000 after buying an additional 5,981 shares during the last quarter. Rangeley Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Natural Resource Partners during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,156,000. First Foundation Advisors lifted its holdings in Natural Resource Partners by 3.2% during the third quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 7,941 shares of the energy companys stock worth $834,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Natural Resource Partners by 72.7% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,922 shares of the energy companys stock worth $517,000 after purchasing an additional 2,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC grew its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 47.2% in the 4th quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 4,678 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $488,000 after purchasing an additional 1,501 shares during the period. 31.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Natural Resource Partners Company Profile (Get Free Report) Natural Resource Partners LP (NYSE: NRP) is a master limited partnership that acquires and manages royalty and other mineral interests in coal and other natural resources across North America and Australia. The partnership was formed in 2010 as a spin-out from a major U.S. coal producer and is headquartered in Fairmont, West Virginia. Its core business model centers on owning gross proceeds interests, gross royalty proceeds interests and fee minerals, which provide the right to receive a portion of revenues from mining and mineral production without operating the mines directly. NRPs U.S. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Natural Resource Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Natural Resource Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Free trains and buses carry migrants back to work 09:34, February 27, 2026 By Liu Boqian, Qin Feng ( China Daily Migrant workers receive gifts before entering Xingyi South Railway Station in the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, Guizhou province, on Sunday as the prefecture launched a Spring Festival return-to-work campaign. LIU CHAOFU/FOR CHINA DAILY Free trains and dedicated buses are helping a large number of migrant workers return to jobs after the Spring Festival holiday, especially those traveling from China's central and western regions to the eastern seaboard. On Tuesday, a traveler surnamed Yang boarded a special train free of charge at Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou province and arrived in Foshan, Guangdong province, in South China. The prefecture's human resources department provided about 500 seats for migrant workers such as her. More free trains will depart from the prefecture through Feb 28 to destinations including cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Guangzhou in Guangdong province. Roughly 500 free seats per service are reserved exclusively for locals who work outside their hometown. Each year after the Chinese New Year holiday, firms resume operations and many workers who spent the break at home must return to their posts. That produces a short surge in travel and makes securing tickets the top priority for many. Yang told China Daily that she scanned a QR code to register after her village issued the notice, and she received a confirmation message the next day. She posted about securing the free ride online and replied to fellow villagers' queries about how to apply. Another beneficiary, Yang Ying from Huangping county in Qiandongnan, said past returns required multiple transfers and a day or more of exhausting travel while carrying heavy luggage. "I have worked in Hangzhou for more than three years. Every year, the hardest task after the holiday is getting tickets. When I saw the free train notice, I scanned, applied and received confirmation within a few days. I felt relieved," she said. Wang Wanmin, director of the prefecture's human resources and social security bureau, said they will continue to operate special trains and buses to transport 20,000 fellow townspeople to jobs, further stabilizing employment and boosting incomes. Railway authorities said the China Railway Chengdu Group plans to run 32 post-festival special trains for workers, which are expected to carry about 18,000 passengers through March 6. The group manages lines serving provinces such as Sichuan and Guizhou, regions that are major sources of migrant labor. Similar targeted services operate nationwide. Also on Tuesday, a special train for workers from Xi'an in Shaanxi province departed for Suzhou, Jiangsu province, delivering employees directly to contracted employers in Suzhou and nearby Taicang city. Officials said the transported workers had been prematched with positions in high-end intelligent manufacturing, electronic information, auto parts and precision machinery industries. Roles include technical operators, quality control staff, warehousing personnel and support service staff. After the workers arrived at Suzhou North Railway Station, local human resources departments provided dedicated shuttle vehicles to take them directly to factory dormitories. More flexible, targeted transport has also been added. Guangdong province has introduced bus routes from labor-exporting areas to provide point-to-point service. Between Feb 19 and Feb 25, passengers could scan a code to find buses from provinces including Hunan, Jiangxi and Hubei bound for Guangzhou city, and register their return-to-work transport needs online, local media reported. Huizhou city in Guangdong province will also set up return-to-work shuttle services at major transport hubs to provide last-mile connections for arriving migrant workers. The program is expected to serve more than 3,000 returning workers. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) An official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali on February 27, AzerNEWS reports. A guard of honor was arranged for the Ethiopian Prime Minister in the square decorated with the national flags of both countries. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali and First Lady Zinash Tayachew. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The national anthems of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. The guard of honor marched in front of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali to the accompaniment of a military march. Both leaders posed for official photographs. Google is moving further into physical AI by bringing a familiar robotics software platform under its wing. Alphabet-owned Intrinsic, which builds AI models and software designed to make industrial robots more accessible, is joining Google, the companies announced on Wednesday. Intrinsic will remain a distinct entity within Google but will work closely with Google DeepMind and will tap into Googles Gemini AI models and cloud services. Alphabet declined to share information regarding funding or purchase price. Intrinsic graduated into an independent Alphabet-owned company in 2021 after five years of development within Alphabets X, the companys moonshot research division. Other companies that have graduated from X include robotaxi company Waymo and drone delivery company Wing. Wendy Tan White has served as Intrinsics CEO since its spinout in 2021. The company hit the ground running. A few months after announcing its independence, Intrinsic acquired Vicarious, a fellow robotics software company, in April 2022. While the purchase price wasnt disclosed, Vicarious had raised about $250 million from VCs and tech bigwigs like Jeff Bezos. A few months later, Intrinsic acquired several for-profit divisions of Open Robotics, a nonprofit organization that builds hardware and software platforms for the robotics industry. Despite this rapid expansion, Intrinsic laid off 20% of its workforce in January 2023. The company announced its first product, Flowstate, just a few months later. Flowstate is a software platform for developing robotics workflows aimed at developers that dont have deep robotics experience aligning with the companys mission to make robotics more accessible. Since then, the company has fine-tuned the technology, improved its simulation capabilities, and released its Intrinsic Vision AI model in late 2025. Intrinsic announced a joint venture with electronics manufacturer Foxconn in October 2025 that entails the two companies working together on general-purpose intelligent robots to transform how electronics are manufactured, with the goal of full factory automation. Now, the company is working toward those goals with closer collaboration with Googles AI prowess. Combined with Googles incredible AI and infrastructure, were going to unlock the promise of physical AI for a much broader set of manufacturing businesses and developers. This will fundamentally shift production, from its economics to operations, and enable truly advanced manufacturing, Tan White wrote in the companys blog post. This move makes a lot of sense for Google, as many tech leaders, including Nvidias Jensen Huang and Qualcomms Cristiano Amon, see physical AI as the next natural step in the monetization and advancement of AI models and technology. Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL Get Free Report) shares traded up 1.5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $25.01 and last traded at $24.9040. 23,995,127 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 12% from the average session volume of 27,162,684 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.54. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on HL shares. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Hecla Mining from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Hecla Mining from $15.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $26.50 price target on shares of Hecla Mining in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Hecla Mining from $16.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Hecla Mining in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $21.63. Get Hecla Mining alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Hecla Mining Hecla Mining Stock Up 1.5% Hecla Mining Announces Dividend The stock has a market capitalization of $16.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.82 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 2.22, a current ratio of 2.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $23.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.32. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a dividend of $0.0038 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $0.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. Hecla Minings payout ratio is presently 2.04%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Hecla Mining news, VP David C. Sienko sold 207,553 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.42, for a total value of $4,030,679.26. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 906,370 shares in the company, valued at $17,601,705.40. The trade was a 18.63% 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, VP Kurt Allen sold 52,219 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.91, for a total value of $1,144,118.29. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 216,641 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,746,604.31. This trade represents a 19.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.62% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in Hecla Mining by 32.4% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 49,881,495 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $603,566,000 after purchasing an additional 12,197,740 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Hecla Mining by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 71,349,059 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $863,324,000 after buying an additional 8,452,401 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in Hecla Mining by 38.0% in the 3rd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 23,524,912 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $284,651,000 after buying an additional 6,472,566 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Hecla Mining by 86.7% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,715,100 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $244,003,000 after acquiring an additional 5,906,313 shares during the period. Finally, Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Hecla Mining during the 4th quarter worth $88,417,000. 63.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Hecla Mining (Get Free Report) Hecla Mining Company, founded in 1891 and headquartered in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, is one of the oldest publicly traded precious metals companies in the United States. Originally established to develop the rich silver deposits of the Coeur dAlene district, Hecla has evolved into a diversified mining enterprise focused on the exploration, development and production of silver and gold, with by-product credits from lead and zinc. The companys principal operations are located in North America and Latin America. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hecla Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hecla Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nordic American Tankers (NYSE:NAT Get Free Report) and Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:ECO Get Free Report) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings for Nordic American Tankers and Okeanis Eco Tankers, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Nordic American Tankers alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nordic American Tankers 0 3 0 0 2.00 Okeanis Eco Tankers 0 2 3 1 2.83 Nordic American Tankers presently has a consensus price target of $3.25, indicating a potential downside of 43.03%. Okeanis Eco Tankers has a consensus price target of $43.35, indicating a potential downside of 19.51%. Given Okeanis Eco Tankers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Okeanis Eco Tankers is more favorable than Nordic American Tankers. Risk & Volatility Dividends Nordic American Tankers has a beta of -0.43, suggesting that its share price is 143% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Okeanis Eco Tankers has a beta of 0.04, suggesting that its share price is 96% less volatile than the S&P 500. Nordic American Tankers pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 9.1%. Okeanis Eco Tankers pays an annual dividend of $6.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.5%. Nordic American Tankers pays out 2,600.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Okeanis Eco Tankers pays out 165.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Nordic American Tankers has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Okeanis Eco Tankers is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Profitability This table compares Nordic American Tankers and Okeanis Eco Tankers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nordic American Tankers 1.12% 0.39% 0.21% Okeanis Eco Tankers 31.40% 26.63% 11.10% Insider and Institutional Ownership 44.3% of Nordic American Tankers shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.9% of Nordic American Tankers shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Nordic American Tankers and Okeanis Eco Tankerss gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nordic American Tankers $225.10 million 5.37 $46.64 million $0.02 285.25 Okeanis Eco Tankers $391.55 million 4.43 $122.95 million $3.74 14.40 Okeanis Eco Tankers has higher revenue and earnings than Nordic American Tankers. Okeanis Eco Tankers is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nordic American Tankers, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Okeanis Eco Tankers beats Nordic American Tankers on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks. About Nordic American Tankers (Get Free Report) Nordic American Tankers Limited, a tanker company, acquires and charters double-hull tankers in Bermuda and internationally. It operates a fleet of 20 Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. About Okeanis Eco Tankers (Get Free Report) Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp., a shipping company, owns and operates tanker vessels worldwide. It operates a fleet of 14 tanker vessels comprising six modern Suezmax tankers and eight modern VLCC tankers focusing on the transportation of crude oil. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Neo Faliro, Greece. Receive News & Ratings for Nordic American Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordic American Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report) SVP Keith Emery sold 899 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $382.53, for a total value of $343,894.47. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Murphy USA Trading Up 1.1% Shares of NYSE MUSA traded up $4.08 on Friday, reaching $390.27. 357,704 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 338,918. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a PE ratio of 16.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.38. Murphy USA Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $345.23 and a fifty-two week high of $523.09. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.47. The company has a 50 day moving average of $411.98 and a 200 day moving average of $392.72. Get Murphy USA alerts: Murphy USA (NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The specialty retailer reported $7.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.67 by $0.86. Murphy USA had a net margin of 2.43% and a return on equity of 75.75%. The business had revenue of $4.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.88 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.96 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Murphy USA Inc. will post 26.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Murphy USA Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 23rd. Murphy USAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.38%. Several brokerages have commented on MUSA. KeyCorp set a $500.00 price target on Murphy USA in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Murphy USA in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research raised shares of Murphy USA from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Murphy USA from $467.00 to $445.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Murphy USA from $410.00 to $400.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Murphy USA currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $457.50. Read Our Latest Research Report on MUSA More Murphy USA News Here are the key news stories impacting Murphy USA this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its Q2 2027 estimate sharply to $7.21 from $5.97, and nudged Q1 2026 to $2.86 from $2.81 a sign of stronger expected results in those periods that could support short?term earnings momentum. Zacks raised its Q2 2027 estimate sharply to $7.21 from $5.97, and nudged Q1 2026 to $2.86 from $2.81 a sign of stronger expected results in those periods that could support short?term earnings momentum. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks maintained a Hold rating on MUSA and left the consensus full?year EPS context largely intact (Market consensus ~ $26.45), so analysts are cautious rather than bullish or bearish overall. Zacks maintained a Hold rating on MUSA and left the consensus full?year EPS context largely intact (Market consensus ~ $26.45), so analysts are cautious rather than bullish or bearish overall. Neutral Sentiment: Insider transaction: Renee Bacon sold 2,844 shares of MUSA. The sale is small relative to market cap and not flagged as company guidanceworth noting but not necessarily a material negative. Renee Bacon Sells 2,844 Shares of Murphy USA (NYSE:MUSA) Stock Insider transaction: Renee Bacon sold 2,844 shares of MUSA. The sale is small relative to market cap and not flagged as company guidanceworth noting but not necessarily a material negative. Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed several near?term and medium?term EPS forecasts: Q1 2027 cut sharply to $5.75 (from $7.01); Q3 2027 to $6.71 (from $6.91); Q4 2027 to $6.98 (from $7.25 previously on a related note); Q4 2026 to $6.97 (from $7.11); Q3 2026 to $6.82 (from $6.97); Q2 2026 to $7.31 (from $7.41); and lowered FY2026 and FY2027 (FY2027 to $26.64 from $27.14). These downward revisions signal weaker near?term earnings expectations that could weigh on the stock if the companys operations or macro pressures persist. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in Murphy USA by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,685 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $792,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Murphy USA by 15.2% during the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,841 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,376,000 after buying an additional 771 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Murphy USA by 3.1% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 128,237 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $52,167,000 after buying an additional 3,820 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC raised its holdings in Murphy USA by 14.6% in the second quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC now owns 1,157 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $471,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in Murphy USA by 2,283.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 69,797 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $28,393,000 after acquiring an additional 66,869 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.81% of the companys stock. About Murphy USA (Get Free Report) Murphy USA is a leading downstream marketer of gasoline, diesel and convenience store products in the United States. Headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas, the company was originally established as part of Murphy Oil Corporation and was spun off as an independent public entity in 2013. Since its separation, Murphy USA has focused on retail fueling services and convenience offerings designed to deliver value and convenience to consumers. The companys primary operations center on two retail formats. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Murphy USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Murphy USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (NYSEARCA:ALAI Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 32,657 shares, a decline of 60.1% from the January 29th total of 81,937 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 94,519 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Approximately 0.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 94,519 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF during the third quarter worth about $47,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF by 198.4% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,283 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $227,000. Finally, Brookwood Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $225,000. Get Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF alerts: Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA ALAI traded down $0.67 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $34.21. 74,775 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 84,433. The company has a market capitalization of $281.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.71 and a beta of 1.95. The companys 50-day moving average is $35.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.14. Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF has a one year low of $20.03 and a one year high of $39.26. Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Dividend Announcement About Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, December 18th were issued a dividend of $0.5411 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 151.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 18th. (Get Free Report) The Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (ALAI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund is actively managed, investing in firms benefiting from developing, integrating or enabling artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The fund seeks long-term capital growth through fundamental research ALAI was launched on Apr 4, 2024 and is issued by Alger. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Apple is reportedly holding discussions with Indian banks and international card networks to launch its payment service in the country. ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank are among the lenders involved in the talks, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the report, the iPhone maker is targeting the launch of Apple Pay around the middle of 2026. The schedule may change, but the talks indicate preparations are underway. Apple is also in conversations with Mastercard and Visa, the people told the publication. Apple refused to comment on the report. Representatives for the banks and the payment networks also did not immediately respond to Bloombergs queries. Apple Pay in India is expected to support Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) alongside card-based payments. UPI is widely used across India for real-time transfers and merchant transactions. Indias digital payments market includes a mix of global and local providers. Alphabets Google Pay, Walmart-controlled PhonePe and Amazon.com dominate payments services in the country, alongside domestic players such as Paytm. It is one of the worlds fastest-growing digital payments markets, supported by a large base of smartphone users, low-cost mobile data and public digital infrastructure. Digital payments in India relies largely on one-time passwords via text message or PIN to authenticate transactions. However, Indias central bank introduced rules late last year that allow biometric authentication for digital payments, including fingerprint and facial recognition. Apple Pay is expected to benefit from this as it uses Face ID or Touch ID to approve payments for in-store tap-to-pay transactions, as well as for purchases on websites and in apps. Recently, Visa recently enabled support for Chinese cardholders to pay using Apple Pay. The update allows eligible customers to add Visa cards from participating banks and make payments at overseas merchants that accept Visa. "Apple may debut payment service in India this year- report" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. Award-winning Irish actress Jessie Buckley has said she loved giving the Bride of Frankenstein a voice after the character was largely silenced in the original film. The 36-year-old stars alongside Christian Bale in Maggie Gyllenhaals horror film The Bride!, which follows Frankenstein (Bale) as he travels back to 1930s Chicago to ask scientist Dr Euphronious to create a companion by reviving a murdered young woman, The Bride (Buckley). The upcoming film is inspired by the 1935 original The Bride Of Frankenstein which starred Elsa Lanchester. Speaking at the films world premiere in London, Buckley told the Press Association: Elsa Lanchester is on screen for about three minutes in the 1935 version, and she makes such an impact. Still people dress up at Halloween as her, but she doesnt say anything. Shes on the precipice of it, she wants to say something. And I think that was Maggies first curiosity what if this woman has something to say? To be able to give voice to that what if and to really find all the colours of that curiosity and self-discovery and voice, and let the things that maybe have been silenced or we didnt give ourselves permission to say at the time. You can only imagine, I loved it. Buckley recently picked up the leading actress Bafta award for her portrayal of Agnes in Chloe Zhaos film adaptation of Hamnet. The Bride! was written and directed by Gyllenhaal, who emphasised the need for new voices to take the reins behind the camera in order for new stories to be told. She told PA: Someone told me recently that only 7% of the movies made last year were made by women, but so many of the movies we are talking about this year are those 7%. I think that people are interested in a new voice and a new perspective and a new language, and when you let different people behind the camera, you will get something new. Everyone says they want something new, well, then different people have to make the movies. Gyllenhaal was behind the film adaptation of Elena Ferrantes The Lost Daughter, which also starred Buckley along with Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Paul Mescal. The Bride!, which also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penelope Cruz, will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from March 6. A number of people who were students during the Covid-19 pandemic are seeking compensation after missing out on the "best days" of their lives. In the UK and Northern Ireland, some students have received up to 5,000 in compensation from universities. Megan Byrne from Phoenix Law, which is representing some of the students, spoke to Newstalk about what exactly is happening. She explained how a lot of students did not receieve the degree or the education that they had initially signed up for when paying to go to university. "Some were really, really emotionally distressed by the fact that they weren't getting the degree they signed up for and they ended up exiting university before the end of their (course), but still have put themselves in significant debt," Megan said. READ NEXT: 'If you didn't laugh, you cry': Woman one of 320,000 people struggling to pay electricity bills When asked whether universities are covered by 'Acts of God', which are unforeseeable uncontrollable natural disasters, Megan replied to say she doesn't believe they are. At the time of the pandemic, the educational institutions were told that they may not be able to rely on certain clauses in contracts because Covid was an ongoing issue. "This isn't going tomorrow to try and get a flight when a storm impacts the flight and you don't get to go on your holiday. this is something that lasted two, nearly three years," Megan explained. It's not known what kind of compensation, if any, students being represented by Phoenix Law will receive, but the firm has sent letters to both of the universities in the North on behalf of the students. Phoenix Law believes that there is a claim for a breach of contract as well as a violation of consumer rights against the Consumer Rights Act of 2015. Students may be able to claim for damages due to a loss of educational experience. "As a student myself during Covid, university is supposed to be some of the best days of people's lives and that ultimately wasn't the case for so many people," Megan highlighted. The universities have not yet replied to the letters, so the future of the situation is currently unknown. Potential options include the students receiving compensation from the universities or bringing them to court. Two major health insurance companies have announced price hikes of up to 11%, which will take effect from April or a customer's next renewal date. Irish Life Health and Level Health are the companies in question, with the Health Insurance Authority breaking the news. An average premium charge of 5.9% across all plans will be implemented at Irish Life Health, while Level Health's Plans B, C, and D will rise by 48 from April 3rd, according to Breakingnews.ie The change at Irish Life Health will take effect from April 1st or from the date of their customer's next renewal. "We recognise that these changes can cause uncertainty for consumers, particularly during a time when households are mindful of rising costs. Our role is to make sure consumers have clear, impartial information so they can make confident, informed decisions about their cover. We encourage all policyholders to take a moment at renewal to review their options," Brian Lee, Health Insurance Authority Chief Executive, said. READ NEXT: Covid's college students seeking compensation for missing out on 'best days' of their life Customers will receive the details on any plan changes from their health insurer. It's estimated that on average, customers will face costs of between 75 and 238 on a mid-level or higher plan. That figure is for one adult, with the family plan average typically looking at an extra 180 to 330 per year. Some plans may not increase at all, while others will face an increase of up to 11%. SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASEAN Foundation organized the regional programme "CALM MRI Fear to Confidence: Learning through Play with LEGO MRI Kits Programme", implemented across Indonesia and Singapore. The initiative serves as a platform to present the programme's outcomes, which aim to help children better understand Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures through a play-based learning approach. Designed to reduce anxiety and build familiarity, CALM MRI introduces children to the MRI process using specially designed LEGO MRI kits. By transforming a complex medical procedure into an interactive and child-friendly experience, the programme supports young patients in approaching hospital examinations with greater confidence and emotional preparedness. In one session, a young boy stood a few steps away from the demonstration table, quietly observing the miniature MRI model built from LEGO bricks. The shape was instantly recognizable to him the white tunnel, the narrow bed, the enclosed space. For many children, an MRI machine can feel overwhelming due to its confined structure and unfamiliar sounds. Instead of pressure, the facilitators offered patience. A volunteer gently invited him to try sliding the small model bed into the LEGO MRI tunnel, replicating what typically happens during a hospital scan. Hesitant at first, he slowly stepped forward. He touched the model, pushed the bed inward, and then pulled it back out this time in a setting that felt safe, controlled, and understandable. Moments like this reflect the core objective of CALM MRI: shifting children's perception of MRI procedures from fear to familiarity. Through guided play, clear explanations, and hands-on interaction, the programme enables children not only to recognize the equipment they may encounter but to regain a sense of agency in situations that often feel intimidating. By combining education, healthcare awareness, and experiential learning, the ASEAN Foundation continues to demonstrate how regional collaboration can deliver practical, human-centered solutions that improve children's healthcare experiences across Southeast Asia. A Program That Transformed Children's Relationships with MRI Machines This experience occurred during one of the CALM MRI Fear to Confidence: Learning through Play with LEGO MRI Scanners Program sessions, run in Singapore by the ASEAN Youth Organization as the local implementing partner. This program, part of a regional initiative led by the ASEAN Foundation with support from LEGO Group and United Way Worldwide, aims to help children understand MRI procedures through a play-based educational approach. Lots of things to roundup that are worth at look but maybe not a feature as we check police action, court cases and community outreach. Check TKC news gathering . . . Woman charged, accused of threatening to 'shoot up' Kansas City area schools A Lee's Summit woman is facing a terrorist threat charge after making a series of threats to schools in the Kansas City area. 'Aggressive and Deceptive': Excelsior Springs company accused of scamming elderly residents An Excelsior Springs company has been accused of scamming elderly residents in Kansas. ICE arresting 19-year-old citizen in Olathe triggers U.S. Attorney review A teen arrested by federal agents in Olathe was not charged with interfering with an ICE operation, the Kansas U.S. Attorney said. 'He didn't have a choice': Family seeks justice in unsolved downtown mass shooting in Kansas City Kane Taddese's family seeks justice in an unsolved downtown mass shooting in Kansas City, outraged by misdemeanor assault charges against those tied to a fight before his death. Council Members Address Parental Concerns Regarding Detention Center Site - Northeast News Dorri PartainManaging Editor Parents and Frontier Charter School staff gathered for a question and answer session on Tuesday, Feb. 17, as two city council members provided information to clarify concerns regarding the proposed construction of a new Municipal Detention Center less than a mile away. Kansas City mayor proposes using city fund to pay police lawsuit settlements A new proposal from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas would change how settlements are paid for police department lawsuits. Court document says a man shot into his parents' house in Shawnee before standoff with Overland Park police A man charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling fired the gunshots into his parents' home in Shawnee, according to an affidavit filed in the case. GAGE Center owner Al Fong responds after USA Gymnastics terminates facility's membership Gage Center owner Al Fong responded after USA Gymnastics announced it had terminated GAGE Center's membership, effective immediately, following ongoing allegations from the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Deadly crash closes I-35, near I-435 in the Northland Northbound I-35 is currently closed at I-435 Thursday night in the Northland following a deadly crash involving a pedestrian. Man charged with murder after Kansas City tenant kills accomplice during home invasion A man has been charged with murder after a Kansas City tenant killed his accomplice during a home invasion. Man charged with first-degree murder in 2000 killing of Columbia woman after cold case review A man has been arrested and charged in a 26-year-old cold case involving the 2000 killing of a woman in Columbia, Missouri. Kansas City man charged after stealing bus, running from police Preston Reiff was charged after allegedly stealing a bus and leading Kansas City police on a chase Amid questions about felony, Lee's Summit School Board candidate says he's withdrawing The Lee's Summit man, whose charge was dismissed after he went through diversion, said he was dropping out to support like-minded candidates. Missouri Blue Alert suspect had lengthy criminal past, including battery of Kansas City-area deputy A Missouri man who died after a manhunt and shootout with authorities, killing two deputies in the process, had a lengthy criminal history. Kansas City man pleads guilty to COVID-19 fraud, faces up to 30 years in prison A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty to COVID-19 fraud and faces up to 30 years in prison for it. 'It's reality': Kansas family loses $20K in crypto ATM scam as regulators step in Kansas regulators are examining the role of banks and cryptocurrency ATMs in a growing number of fraud cases, after a Linn County family lost $20,000 in a scam that began with a single message on a tablet. Second annual Graham Hoffman memorial ride honors fallen Kansas City firefighter-paramedic Community members across the Kansas City metro are planning a second annual Graham Hoffman Memorial Ride to honor a Kansas City Fire Department firefighter-paramedic who was stabbed to death in the line of duty while transporting a patient in the Northland. Developing . . . Expect this to ramp up . . . Here's the opening salvo from our prog blogger friends . . . The Kansas Department of Revenue this week sent a letter to Kansans affected by a new law, which took effect Thursday, that requires the gender marker on a drivers license to match a persons sex at birth. The letter informs trans Kansans that because the Legislature didnt include a grace period for updating credentials, they are invalid immediately, and you may be subject to additional penalties if you are operating a vehicle without a valid credential. A spokesman for the agency said the law invalidated about 1,700 licenses. The letter directed trans Kansans to surrender their drivers license to the state before they can receive a new one, which will cost them $8. We apologize for the inconvenience this causes you, the unsigned letter said. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Or . . . Because both progressives and conservatives often agree about this issue . . . Here's one more sign that this dude is NEVER gonna be president . . . Legislation in the U.S. Senate would ban large investment companies from buying up single family homes en masse. The proposal is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri. We need to stop Wall Street banks and funds from coming in and buying up single-family homes, and this is what theyre doing more and more, Hawley told Missourinet. Do you know the number of people who own homes is decreasing? The number of banks and hedge funds, investment funds that own them is skyrocketing. It ought to be just the reverse. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . MissouriNet: Missouri Sen. Hawley co-sponsors bill to ban Wall Street from buying up single family homes across the country BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. On February 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Trend reports. Welcoming the guests, President Ilham Aliyev said: Mr. Prime Minister, dear guests, welcome to Azerbaijan. I'm very glad that you are visiting us. We just had a very good conversation with Mr. Prime Minister and covered many important areas of our partnership. I expressed gratitude to Mr. Prime Minister for his hospitality in hosting my daughter, Leyla, who recently visited Ethiopia, and she was very impressed. By the way, this is the first time she has participated in any meeting of delegations, and this gives her a special feeling toward your country and your people. I'd like to congratulate you on all your achievements. Under your leadership, Ethiopia is developing successfully, is an important member of the international community, and has a growing economy. Of course, we are very interested in strengthening our bilateral ties in the political, economic, energy, agriculture, and cultural areas. So I'm sure that this visit will be an important factor for our future successful cooperation and will bring very good results to our countries and peoples. Once again, welcome. x x x Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said: Mr. President, my dear brother. I'm so privileged and honored to be in this beautiful country. Baku is much more than I expected clean and beautiful. It shows the dedication, devotion, and vision of your leadership. I'm very happy about it. I'd also like to congratulate you for making all your friends proud and for giving us the opportunity to learn something great from you. Our relationship with your great country, as you have said, is just beginning, but we will make it structural, practical, and with clear outcomes. There are many common interests between our countries, and there is also alignment between the two of us. I hope we are just starting, but in the next few years, there will be critical areas in which we will invest together and make a difference for both our countries. Regarding Leyla, I would like to congratulate you for having such a seasoned and great daughter, who can communicate with friends and build relationships on a strong foundation. On the next visit, I'm sure she will see more parts of our country, and I will also send my team and my family to learn more about Azerbaijan and strengthen our relationship. There are plenty of areas that we are going to discuss. We have had a very fruitful discussion with you, and some points we might continue to discuss here. In general, I'm so happy to have had the time to visit your beautiful country. I'm already thrilled. Im already excited to know more, learn more, and to work with you in many areas. Thank you very much, Mr. President. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. x x x During the meeting, both sides hailed the development of political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Ethiopia and discussed cooperation within international organizations. They also exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in joint personnel training in agriculture, mining, energy, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, as well as collaboration in tourism, culture, education, and student exchange programs. The discussion further highlighted the successful operation of centers in Ethiopia based on the ASAN Khidmet concept, as well as the application of the DOST model. x x x Following the meeting, in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedion Timothewos signed the Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the Field of Defense and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Organization of the Thirty-Second Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP32) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additionally, during the Ethiopian Prime Ministers visit to Azerbaijan, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and the Memorandum of Understanding between Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC and the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation were also signed. Zakir Ibrahimov, Chairman of the Executive Board of AzerGold CJSC, met with a delegation led by Malcolm Forbes-Cable, Vice President of the international consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. Z.Ibrahimov noted that thanks to economic reforms, favourable investment climate, and state support for the mining industry in our country, the CJSC has achieved significant accomplishments and gained extensive experience in its fields of activity. During the meeting, AzerGolds strategic development priorities, production increases, and plans for accessing international markets were discussed. It was mentioned that the commissioning of new deposits in the coming years and the start of a new production phase from 2028 are planned. Strengthening human capital and the application of international experience are among the main goals. It was stated that the company considers international expansion a priority in the long-term perspective and is showing interest in foreign projects, particularly gold and potentially copper deposits. Preference is given to countries that are stable from an investment standpoint with clear legal frameworks, as well as "brownfield" projects that possess existing infrastructure and production bases. Central Asian countriesUzbekistan and Kazakhstan were mentioned as potential directions for cooperation. Although it was reported that initial discussions had been held in African countries, the existence of political and institutional risks in some regions was emphasized. Malcolm Forbes-Cable spoke about the global experience of Wood Mackenzie in the fields of the mining industry, energy, oil and gas, and investment strategies. Information was provided regarding projects on improving legislation in the mining sector and increasing investment attractiveness in different countries. An exchange of views took place during the meeting regarding the application of international experience in Azerbaijan's mining sector, the use of benchmarking tools, and the enhancement of competitiveness. The parties reached an agreement to continue discussions on directions of mutual interest. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.27. Capital markets support Azerbaijan's economic transformation by turning savings into long-term investment for businesses and infrastructure, said Enrico Pinali, Regional Head, Private Sector Development, ADB Central and West Asia, Trend reports. When companies can raise funding through bonds and capital markets, they rely less on short-term bank financing and can invest in growth, innovation, and sustainability. ADB supports capital market development by helping create market activity. We work with companies and financial institutions to bring new bonds issues to the market, act as an actor investor to attract other investors, and introduce instruments like green and sustainable bonds, he said in a message on social network. ADB invested $5.46 million in Azerbaijan as part of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first nine months of 2025, representing a decline of $14.3 million, or 3.6 times, compared to the previous year ($19.8 million). The banks contribution accounted for just 0.1% of the total FDI in Azerbaijan during this period. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Eric Groff, Director of the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, spoke at the opening ceremony of the first Popeyes restaurant in Crescent Mall in Baku, highlighting the dynamic development of bilateral economic cooperation, Trend reports. In his speech, he noted that this event has personal significance for him. According to him, upon his arrival in the country, he could not have imagined the high results that would be achieved in partnership with Azerbaijani colleagues in the economic sphere. If someone had told me back then about everything we would achieve together with our Azerbaijani partners, I would not have believed it. And today's event is another important step in this process, Eric Groff emphasized. He also expressed his gratitude to partners and companies supporting American brands in Azerbaijan. I would like to thank our friends and partners for their excellent cooperation, support for American companies and brands, and support for talented and dynamic young entrepreneurs implementing their projects in Azerbaijan, Eric Groff noted. In conclusion, the representative of the U.S. Embassy expressed confidence that this event would mark the beginning of even more such initiatives in the future. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The British Embassy in Baku has issued a statement in response to numerous enquiries regarding this weeks parliamentary hearing in the UK House of Commons, reaffirming its support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity, Trend reports via the embassy. We have received a number of enquiries regarding this week's parliamentary hearing in the House of Commons. We understand there is significant interest in this matter, and we want to be clear about how the UK system works, the statement said. The Embassy emphasized that it represents the government and communicates its foreign policy positions, but does not speak on behalf of the UK Parliament, which functions as a separate and independent branch of the countrys constitutional system. Parliament operates independently of the Government, and its hearings, debates, and inquiries reflect the views of individual Members of Parliament or parliamentary committees, not the policy of His Majestys Government, the statement noted. The diplomatic mission added that it would not be appropriate for the Embassy to comment on the content or conduct of parliamentary proceedings, stressing that all related enquiries should be directed to the UK Parliament through its official website. At the same time, the Embassy reaffirmed that the UK Governments position on the South Caucasus remains clear and unchanged. We recognise Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we support the ongoing normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as the path to a lasting and peaceful settlement, the statement reads. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. An official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali on February 27, Trend reports. A guard of honor was arranged for the Ethiopian Prime Minister in the square decorated with the national flags of both countries. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali and First Lady Zinash Tayachew. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The national anthems of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. The guard of honor marched in front of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali to the accompaniment of a military march. Both leaders posed for official photographs. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. On February 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a one-on-one meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Trend reports. SYDNEY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Australia's Appen, a big supplier of human assessment of artificial intelligence systems, said rising technology protectionism would boost demand in the United States and China for its services that use real people to train and test models. The outlook offers a counterintuitive glimpse of AIera winners. While automation drives mass layoffs at some businesses such as WiseTech and Block, demand is rising for companies that supply the human input needed to develop and refine AI. Tech protectionism, which has already prompted Washington to restrict Nvidia AI chip exports to China, could give rise to trade barriers in data, model sourcing and verification, forcing companies to develop these locally, Appen's CEO said. "There will be some protectionism going in place, which will create more demand for data, which kind of puts Appen in a good spot because we get to play on both sides," Chief Executive Ryan Kolln said in an interview. "It helps ... that we're Australia. It's a little bit of the Switzerland approach where we're not strongly aligned to the U.S. or China. The divisions are, but we aren't as a business," Kolln added, referring to the European country's neutral status. Appen this week said underlying pre-tax profit for the year to December more than tripled due to a surge in contracts from China and new generative AI projects for its global unit - which includes the U.S. The company said it expected sales to grow up to 30% in 2026. Appen uses a vast global network of casual workers to provide human verification of synthetic data, but Kolln said as AI products became advanced the qualifications for workers became more specific. "We've been asked to find people who ... competed in Math Olympiad and won a gold medal," he said. "They're easy to find because you can search it, but how do you get them to want to work for you?" (Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. During his official visit to Azerbaijan, Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, visited the Alley of Honors in Baku to pay tribute to National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, and laid a wreath at his grave, Trend reports. He placed flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva. The Ethiopian Prime Minister also laid flowers at the graves of distinguished statesman Aziz Aliyev, and gifted doctor Tamerlan Aliyev. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. On February 25, Fariz Ismailzade, Deputy Chairman of the Science and Education Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, and Head of the Working Group on Interparliamentary Relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, sent a letter to members of the United Kingdom Parliament, Baroness Helen Kennedy, Brendan O'Hare, and Jessica Morden on behalf of the group he heads, the parliamentary press service told Trend. The letter noted that members of the UK Inter-Parliamentary Relations Working Group had expressed serious concern and disappointment about the ongoing initiative in the British Parliament to investigate the activities of the former criminal and separatist regime that existed in the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan. It was noted that such an initiative could seriously undermine the peace process currently underway between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is also actively supported by the UK government. According to the letter, members of the working group view the ongoing initiative in the UK Parliament with serious concern and disappointment, warning that such a move could undermine the peace process currently advancing between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is supported at a high level by the UK government. It states that after more than three decades of Armenias illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the displacement of nearly one million Azerbaijanis, the two countries are now making tangible progress in peace talks with the backing of the United States and European partners. The letter argues that potential hearings on the now-defunct separatist regime would rely on misleading and biased information disseminated by radical diaspora groups and lobbying circles opposed to peace. Ismayilzade stressed that there is no place for revanchism in the South Caucasus and emphasized that all parties should work jointly to consolidate peace and prevent a return to policies of war. The appeal concludes with a call on the UK Parliament to cancel the proposed inquiry initiative, expressing confidence that British parliamentarians will support efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and contribute positively to the peace process in the South Caucasus. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been established, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. According to the decree, the following composition of the council should be approved: Chairman of the council First Vice President of Azerbaijan Members of the council: Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Economic Issues and Innovative Development Policy Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Economic Policy and Industrial Issues Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on Socio-Economic Issues Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Executive Director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan. In order to organize the activities of the council, the secretariat of the council shall be established, and the implementation of the Secretariat function shall be entrusted to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. The council may involve local and foreign experts, specialists, international organizations, scientific institutions, and organizations in order to perform the duties stipulated in Part 5 of this decree, as well as establish working groups in separate areas consisting of representatives of relevant state bodies (institutions) and other interested parties. In the field of digital development, the council must: - ensure control over the implementation of measures envisaged in state programs and coordination of policies between state bodies (institutions); - Exercise control over ensuring the compliance of projects implemented by state bodies (institutions) with existing strategic goals in this area; - Take measures to improve regulatory legal acts, taking into account the proposals of state bodies (institutions) and recommendations of international organizations. - Report on the activities of the council to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan once a year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development for 2026-2028 has been approved in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree. Under the decree, the Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 20262028 (hereinafter the Action Plan) is formally endorsed, with its implementation to be financed through the state budget and other sources stipulated by law. The Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan is tasked with coordinating and overseeing the execution of measures outlined in the Action Plan. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan is required to report to the President on the progress of implementation every quarter. The ministry must also submit proposals to the Ministry of Finance regarding the allocation of necessary funds during the annual state budget drafting process, the distribution of these funds, their potential reallocation during the fiscal year, and the implications of unspent funds by year-end. The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan should ensure the financing of measures envisaged under the Action Plan by allocating the required financial resources as a separate line item in the state budget each year, following the conduct of a comprehensive financial assessment. In coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, it shall also implement the measures stipulated in paragraph 4.2 of this decree. The Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the measures outlined in the Action Plan, acting upon the instructions of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. Central and local executive authorities, state-owned legal entities, public legal entities established on behalf of the state, and other budget organizations have been instructed, while the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor Generals Office, the Central Bank, the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson), the Chamber of Accounts, the Judicial Legal Council, and the Commission on Combating Corruption have been recommended, to ensure the timely and full implementation of the measures envisaged in the Action Plan and to submit monthly reports on progress by the 10th day of each following month to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Footage of President Ilham Aliyev's meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, was posted on his social media accounts, Trend reports. The post reads: "President Ilham Aliyev met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan." BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, received a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Ahmet Gurbanov, to discuss prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, Trend reports via the ministry. The sides expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of political dialogue aimed at further reinforcing the traditional ties of friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. The importance of high-level visits and contacts was emphasized, including last years visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Turkmenistan and the visit of Chairman of the Peoples Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Azerbaijan. In line with the strategic partnership between the two countries, the parties reviewed opportunities to expand cooperation in trade and economic sectors, energy, transport and logistics, collaboration in the Caspian Sea, as well as humanitarian and cultural fields. The important role of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation in Economic and Humanitarian Areas in advancing bilateral relations was highlighted. The organization of Turkmen Culture Days in Azerbaijan last year and Azerbaijani Culture Days in Turkmenistan this year was noted, along with the significance of promoting shared cultural values such as carpet weaving and horse breeding. The sides also exchanged views on pressing regional and international issues and underscored the importance of further strengthening cooperation within multilateral platforms. Both parties reaffirmed their confidence that the historically rooted friendship and brotherhood between their peoples will continue to develop based on a strategic partnership. On the same day, the next round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan was held, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov on the Azerbaijani side and Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov on the Turkmen side. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. On February 27, Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Gedion Timothewos Hessebon, Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and designated President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), Trend reports. During the meeting, Nuriyev highlighted discussions held earlier between President Ilham Aliyev and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on the exchange of experiences in UN climate conferences (COP), emphasizing that Azerbaijan is fully prepared for cooperation with Ethiopia in this field under the Presidents directives. Nuriyev also outlined Azerbaijans contributions to COP29, noting the countrys organizational, logistical, substantive, and communication efforts, as well as the adoption of several historic decisions during the conference. Hessebon praised Azerbaijan for the high-level organization and legacy of COP29, expressed Ethiopias interest in collaboration under COP32, and commended Azerbaijans planned organizational, logistical, and substantive support. The sides underscored the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for organizing COP32, signed between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Ethiopia during Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Alis visit to Azerbaijan. The meeting also included discussions on the upcoming 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) to be held in Azerbaijan in 2026. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The next group of former internally displaced persons returning to their homeland has arrived in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar city, Trends Karabakh bureau reports. At this stage, keys to apartments were handed over to 27 families, comprising 118 individuals, as part of this phase of the relocation. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar district, as well as officials from the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Families relocated for permanent residence in Kalbajar city were provided with apartments in newly constructed buildings. 07:15 The next group of former internally displaced persons is returning to the city of Kalbajar, the city of Khojavend and the village of Horovlu in the Jabrayil district, Trend reports. At this stage, 27 families (118 people) are returning to the city of Kalbajar, 41 families (138 people) to the city of Khojavend, and 40 families (196 people) to the village of Horovlu in the Jabrayil district. The former IDPs returning to the native lands thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. KHOJAVEND, Azerbaijan, February 27. A media tour to the Khojavend district has been organized in accordance with the instructions of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The media representatives first met with residents relocated to the Khojavend village. Detailed information was provided on the infrastructure created in the village, the conditions provided for residents, and the projects planned for implementation in the near future. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Azerbaijan's state entities are finalizing information security diagnosis criteria, Head of the Department of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, Nadir Novruzov, told reporters on the sidelines of the event on "Information security risks and their management", Trend reports. "It's planned to conduct an information security diagnosis in state institutions in 2026. Currently, the diagnostic criteria have been developed and are in the process of being agreed upon with the relevant state institutions," he explained. The official noted that after the criteria's approval, an assessment of the information security status of state institutions will be carried out. "Regarding threats and risk registers, both internal and external threats are taken into account here. Threats can originate from employees of a state institution, companies it cooperates with, or foreign actors," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock has lost about 18% in the past month, at the time of writing, Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 25, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 index (SPY) is up about 0.4% in the same period. The stock crashed following its Q4 earnings report on February 3. It closed at $242.11, and the following day it closed at $200.19, losing about 17% in a single day. I covered the earnings in my article "Bank of America resets AMD stock price target as shares plunge." The main culprit behind the crash was disappointing guidance. However, while the stock hasn't been performing well in the recent period, the situation is very different when viewed over a longer time frame. The stock has gained a whopping 104% in the past year, while SPY is up only 16%. The company has a very competitive product in its Helios rack scale system, developed in partnership with Meta through the Open Compute Project. It can compete with Nvidia's Vera Rubin, at least when it comes to specifications. I wrote about Helios in my article "Analysts revamp AMD stock price after key conference." Getting companies to buy non-Nvidia AI accelerators is very difficult, thanks to its "CUDA moat." However, AMD has devised creative incentives to attract buyers, as seen in its recent deal with Meta. The partnership copies an unusual strategy AMD used to score a deal with OpenAI. Read the article Analyst offers 3-word verdict on AMD, OpenAI deal by TheStreet's Moz Farooque to explore the deal with OpenAI in more depth. Meta now expects to be a "lead customer" for next-gen AMD EPYC Venice CPU.Photo by VCG on Getty Images Photo by VCG on Getty Images AMD and Meta expand partnership to deploy 6GW of AMD GPUs AMD and Meta (META) revealed on Feb. 24 that they are expanding their partnership. AMD has agreed to power Metas AI infrastructure with up to 6 gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPUs, paired with AMD EPYC CPUs. We are proud to expand our strategic partnership with Meta as they push the boundaries of AI at unprecedented scale, stated AMD CEO Lisa Su. Related: What Nvidia didnt show at CES, and whether AMD should care This multi-year, multi-generation collaboration across Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs, and rack-scale AI systems aligns our roadmaps to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient infrastructure optimized for Metas workloads, accelerating one of the industrys largest AI deployments and placing AMD at the center of the global AI buildout. As with the OpenAI deal, AMD has issued Meta a performance-based warrant for up to 160 million shares of AMD common stock, structured to vest as specific milestones associated with Instinct GPU shipments are achieved. KHOJAVEND, Azerbaijan, February 27. Restoration work has been accelerated in Khojavend, and the return of residents continues, Fidan Mammadli, the employee of the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend, told reporters during the media tour in Khojavend district today, Trend reports. Mammadli highlighted that life in the district is gradually returning to normal, with large-scale infrastructure projects underway in the namesake village. According to her, the village consists of 278 private houses. Of these, 128 were deemed unfit for habitation, while 150 were partially habitable. Twenty of the partially habitable houses have already been renovated, with an additional 130 houses scheduled for repair this year. She further emphasized that the resettlement process in Khojavend is progressing in phases as part of the "Great Return" program. In February alone, 20 families, totaling 94 individuals, returned to the village. Between March and December, plans are in place to resettle an additional 130 families, comprising 533 people. Significant progress has been made on infrastructure development, including the installation of a five-kilometer gas supply line, the restoration of 1,500 meters of the existing network, and the rehabilitation of 2,100 meters of 0.4 kV power lines, along with two transformer stations. Internal roads have been paved, pedestrian paths constructed, and ongoing work continues on various other projects. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel KHOJAVEND, Azerbaijan, February 27. A total of 792 private houses will be overhauled in Khojavend town this year, Fidan Mammadli, the employee of the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, told Trend's Karabakh bureau. She said that the Khojavend district covers 1,510 square kilometers and has a population of 12,500, comprising one town, two settlements, and 80 villages. According to her, after the district's liberation, reconstruction and restoration work are continuing intensively in the area. Mammadli noted that in total, the town has 980 individual houses. Of them, 133 are unfit for use, while 847 are partially usable. Currently, 55 of the partially usable houses are ready for occupancy, and 792 additional houses are scheduled for repair this year. The official recalled that according to the Great Return program, relocation to the district began in September last year, and so far, the return of the population to five settlements, including the town, has been ensured. As many as 50 families (194 people) returned to Khojavend town, 142 families (604 people) to Girmizi Bazar settlement, 85 families (360 people) to Sos village, 58 families (233 people) to Hadrut settlement, and 20 families (94 people) to Khojavend village. Khojavend town was occupied by Armenian forces in 1992 and was liberated by Azerbaijans Armed Forces during the anti-terror measures in September 2023. KHOJAVEND, Azerbaijan, February 27. Today, the families arriving in Azerbaijan's Khojavend city with the latest migration caravan received the keys to their new homes, Trends Karabakh bureau reports. After welcoming the relocated families, employees of the State Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) provided guidance on the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, advising residents to avoid unfamiliar objects and immediately report any suspicious items to the relevant authorities. The key handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend regions, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, and other officials. 13:38 The next resettlement convoy dispatched on February 27 has arrived in Azerbaijan's Khojavend city, Trends Karabakh bureau reports. At this stage, keys to apartments were handed over to 41 families comprising 138 people Representatives of the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the districts of Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend, as well as officials from the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, attended the ceremony. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Human Rights Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament convened on February 27 to review the 2025 annual report of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan, the parliamentary press service told Trend. Zahid Oruj, chair of the committee, noted that the report was the sole item on the agenda. The Ombudspersons report highlights key national and international developments over the past year. It marks significant milestones, including the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijans victory in the Patriotic War, which were commemorated as the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty," underlining the strengthening of state traditions, the advancement of legal statehood, and the enhancement of Azerbaijans international prestige. The report also emphasizes the humanist principles behind the amnesty initiative implemented by the President, which benefited more than 20,000 individuals. It provides detailed information on the Ombudsperson's activities in protecting citizens rights, including handling 42,685 citizen appeals and 14,718 calls to the Ombudsperson's hotline. Moreover, the report addresses civil rights issues, including housing and property transactions, and highlights efforts to repatriate Azerbaijani citizens held in detention camps in Syria. It further examines access to healthcare for vulnerable populations, children, and persons with disabilities, with regional medical service availability assessed using data from the State Statistics Committee. Issues related to the rise in drug and substance abuse were also discussed. In the discussions on the issue, contributions were made by Deputy Chairman of the Committee Arzukhan Ali-zadeh; members Azer Allahveranov, Hikmat Mammadov, Razi Nurullayev, Behruz Maharramov, Vugar Rahimzadeh, Mubariz Gurbanli, Nagif Hamzayev, Elman Nasirov, and Sayyad Aran; Mehriban Zeynalova, Chair of the "Clean World" Women's Assistance Public Union; Rauf Zeyni, Chair of the "Baku Non-Governmental Organizations Resource and Training Center" Public Union; Alimammad Nuriyev, President of the "Constitution" Research Foundation; Chingiz Ganizadeh, Chair of the Democracy and Human Rights Committee; Sahib Mammadov, Chair of the League for the Protection of Citizens' Labor Rights; Ramil Isgandarli, Chair of the Board of the National NGO Forum; Mahira Amirhuseynova, Chair of the "Women of the 21st Century" Public Union; Eyyub Huseynov, Chair of the "Free Consumers" Public Union; Mirvari Gahramanova, Chair of the "Organization for the Protection of the Rights of Netizens" Public Union; Umud Mirzayev, Chair of the International Eurasian Press Fund; and Sarvan Sadigov, Head of the Human Rights Legislation Sector of the State-Building, Administrative, and Military Legislation Department of the Parliamentary Office. Each shared their perspectives and insights on the matters discussed. The report includes updates on the return of citizens to Western Azerbaijan and details the Ombudsperson's international cooperation activities. Committee members and representatives of civil society organizations praised the Ombudsperson's work in labor and employment rights, social protection, education, healthcare, public participation, legal awareness, and countering disinformation. Ombudsperson Office head Aydin Safikhanli responded to feedback, clarifying outstanding issues. Out of 94 recommendations included in the report, 67 were new, and 27 remained relevant from previous years. Special attention was given to the protection of the rights of Western Azerbaijanis and facilitating their return. Mobile receptions were held in regions to address citizens concerns on the spot. The report also covered the enforcement of court decisions, including alimony-related issues, and highlighted the need to establish an Alimony Fund and improve legal aid services. The 2025 annual report of the Human Rights Commissioner was deemed satisfactory and recommended for discussion at the plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament. The meeting was attended by Tural Ganjaliyev, Sevil Mikayilova, Mirjalil Gasimli, representatives of civil society institutions, and other officials. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Electronic Security Service (CERT) has detected and prevented a cyberattack attempt on Azerbaijan orchestrated by a group known as "Narketing163," the CERT told Trend. According to the service, technical analysis and correlation of threat indicators confirmed that similar attacks had previously targeted the country. During the attack, emails sent to various state and private institutions imitated the names, logos, and official correspondence style of well-known companies and organizations. The goal was to build trust among users and prompt them to open malicious attachments. A notable aspect of the cyberattack was the distribution of part of the malicious code through a resource hosted in the .az domain zone. This method relied on social engineering, focusing on psychological manipulation rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. Following its investigation, the CERT identified the relevant resource within the .az domain, took prompt action, and prevented the spread of the malicious file across the country. Information and additional indicators related to the incident have been shared on the CERTs "Incident Information Exchange Platform" (https://misp.cert.az). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Zakir Ibrahimov, Chairman of the Board of the "AzerGold" Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC), held a final meeting with the winners of the 4th "Yukselish" competition, Aslan Hasanli and Rufat Mammadkhanli, dedicated to the concluding results of the program within the framework of the Mentorship Program. At the meeting held on the results of the Mentorship Program covering one year, Zakir Ibrahimov highly appreciated the activity demonstrated by the winners over the past period and the achievements they have made in their personal development plans. The Chairman emphasized that the Yukselish competition, established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, plays an exceptional role in the training of a new generation of managers in our country who have mastered the principles of modern management. During the meeting, an exchange of views took place regarding the practical application of topics discussed throughout the program, including public administration methods, strategic decision-making, corporate governance, and effective communication in the winners' future professional endeavors. Congratulating the winners on the conclusion of the mentorship period, Zakir Ibrahimov wished them success in their careers and their future contributions to the development of the state. Aslan Hasanli and Rufat Mammadkhanli, the winners of the "Yukselish" competition, expressed their profound gratitude to their mentor, Zakir Ibrahimov, for the attention provided over the past year, the environment created for their personal and professional growth, and for sharing his extensive management expertise with them. The winners noted that the knowledge and skills gained during this period played a pivotal role in shaping their leadership qualities. At the end of the meeting, Zakir Ibrahimov presented a Certificate of Merit to both winners of the competition who successfully completed the Mentoring Program. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The next group of former internally displaced persons returning to their homeland has arrived in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar city, Trends Karabakh bureau reports. At this stage, keys to apartments were handed over to 27 families, comprising 118 individuals, as part of this phase of the relocation. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar district, as well as officials from the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Families relocated for permanent residence in Kalbajar city were provided with apartments in newly constructed buildings. 07:15 The next group of former internally displaced persons is returning to the city of Kalbajar, the city of Khojavend and the village of Horovlu in the Jabrayil district, Trend reports. At this stage, 27 families (118 people) are returning to the city of Kalbajar, 41 families (138 people) to the city of Khojavend, and 40 families (196 people) to the village of Horovlu in the Jabrayil district. The former IDPs returning to the native lands thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Documents related to the establishment of special tourism zones in Azerbaijans liberated territories, particularly the creation of a tourism zone in Kalbajar, have been submitted to the Presidential Administration, said Azada Huseynova, Deputy Chair of the State Tourism Agency, Trend reports. Speaking during a public hearing at the parliamentary Committee on Labor and Social Policy on the topic Current State and Development Prospects of Tourism in Azerbaijan, Huseynova noted that assessments are also being carried out in Lachin and other areas. She added that proposals have been submitted to the Ministry of Health regarding the certification of sanatoriums and medical treatment centers, and that concept documents have been prepared to launch the initial phase of certification. 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. Nvidia (NVDA) reported its Q4 earnings on Feb. 25 after the bell. Despite the earnings smasher, the stock is trading 5.6% lower at the time of writing, Thursday, Feb. 26, according to Yahoo Finance. The stock's crash after earnings, no matter how strong the report, has seemingly become the norm for Nvidia. So how can stock slide after reporting record quarterly revenue of $68.1 billion, up 20% sequentially, and up 73% year over year? Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explained this phenomenon at the all-hands meeting after the Q3 earnings. If we delivered a bad quarter, it is evidence theres an AI bubble. If we delivered a great quarter, we are fueling the AI bubble, he said, as reported by Business Insider. It is important to note that Huang doesnt believe AI is a bubble. Nvidia also delivered very strong guidance for Q1 2027: Revenue of $78.0 billion, plus or minus 2%. GAAP gross margin of 74.9%, plus or minus 50 basis points GAAP operating expenses of approximately $7.7 billion Source: Nvidia The company stated that it is not assuming any Data Center compute revenue from China in its outlook. While small amounts of H200 products for China-based customers were approved by the U.S. government, we have yet to generate any revenue, and we do not know whether any imports will be allowed into China, said CFO Colette Kress during the earnings call. The statement about no China Data Center sales and what the CFO said might seem like a possible reason for disappointment, but only if you have very unrealistic expectations. I wrote an in-depth analysis of why it will be extremely difficult for Nvidia to get back on track for making revenue from China Data Centers in my article What the White House decision really means for Nvidia. So we are left with the conclusion that AI bubble fears are hurting the stock. I explained how the AI bubble works through OpenAI in my article AMZN, MSFT, NVDA, SFTBY setting $100 billion on fire. Bank of America raised its Nvidia non-GAAP EPS estimate for 2027 to $8.11.Shutterstock Shutterstock Bank of America raises Nvidia stock price target Following the reports release, Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya and his team updated their view on Nvidia stock. The team said Nvidia more than delivered, with topline growth accelerating to 77% YoY in Q1 guidance. More Tech Stocks: Analysts raised their fiscal year 2027/2028/2029 non-GAAP EPS estimates by 5%/10%/13% to $8.11/$10.72/$13.18, respectively, and noted that they now include stock compensation expenses and embed a higher tax rate. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The recent visit of Turkmenistan's Chairperson of the Mejlis (Parliament), Dunyagozel Gulmanova, to Georgia represents a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. During her visit on February 24, Gulmanova engaged in discussions with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and President Mikheil Kavelashvili. The talks centered on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as transport, energy, and communications, both bilaterally and within the framework of international organizations. One of the major outcomes of the visit was the signing of a parliamentary cooperation agreement between the two countries. The agreement, formalized with the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, outlines provisions for the exchange of expertise, the establishment of joint committees, and greater coordination on regional matters. Kobakhidze emphasized the potential for a strategic partnership, while Gulmanova reaffirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to furthering diplomatic dialogue. This visit continues a series of bilateral engagements, including 2025 ministerial discussions on transport corridors, and marks a rare instance of active diplomacy from Ashgabat, which has maintained a policy of neutrality since 1995. Historically, Turkmenistan has traditionally focused on internal affairs, while Georgia - on EU integration. However, geographic proximity - the countries are separated only by the Caspian Sea - creates a foundation for cooperation. Notably, local features such as the vast Karakum Desert, which occupies 70% of Turkmenistans territory, complement Georgias strategic Black Sea ports, including Poti and Batumi. This geographical synergy creates opportunities for resource exports and positions Tbilisi and Ashgabat as prospective partners in the broader integration of Eurasian spaces. Both countries actively engage in regional cooperation platforms. A prime example of this is the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, launched in 2017, which connects Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye. This corridor links the Afghan city of Herat to Turkmenbashi, crosses the Caspian Sea to Baku, Tbilisi, and Poti, and ultimately reaches Istanbul, significantly reducing transit times and costs while enhancing regional connectivity. The countries are also involved in TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia), which brings together 14 states to develop multimodal links, as well as the Middle Corridor, integrated into Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Turkmenistan is not a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) but participates in CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation) as an observer. In 2026, an agreement between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Turkmenistan on the Caspian-Black Sea route strengthened integration in energy and logistics. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance (UKEF), signed a memo to support priority infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek foreign minister wrote on his X page, Trend reports. We discussed Uzbekistans ongoing economic reforms aimed at further improving the investment climate and strengthening the role of the private sector in driving sustainable growth, Saidov stated. He added that the signed memorandum will enable the parties to leverage UKEFs financial instruments for the implementation of priority infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan. UK Export Finance is the United Kingdoms export credit agency, providing government-backed loans, guarantees, and insurance to support British companies in international markets and facilitate overseas infrastructure and industrial projects. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov met with members of bps Management Board, led by Ariel Flores, Senior Vice President for Subsurface, to discuss progress on the Ustyurt project and broader energy cooperation, the Uzbek foreign minister wrote on his X page, Trend reports. We discussed Uzbekistans ongoing energy sector reforms, efforts to further improve the investment climate, and prospects for advancing major joint projects, Saidov stated. He noted that particular attention was paid to progress on the Ustyurt project, the exploration of additional oil and gas opportunities, as well as the expansion of cooperation in renewable energy and advanced technologies. Meanwhile, Bakhtiyor Saidov is in London to participate in the first ministerial meeting of the Central AsiaUnited Kingdom format. During the visit, he also held meetings with senior officials from the UK Foreign Office and representatives of leading British business circles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is the next strategic platform for Azerbaijan to present its experiences, Deputy National Coordinator of WUF13, Deputy Head of Staff of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, Gulshan Rzayeva, said at a press conference on the preparation process for the WUF13 in Baku today, Trend reports. "Global challenges in the field of urban planning, countries' experiences, and practical solutions will be presented. Currently, in the era of increasing urbanization, housing security is at the center. According to UN forecasts, three billion people in the world suffer from housing shortages. WUF13 is the next strategic platform for Azerbaijan. Thanks to this platform, we will have the opportunity to present our country's experiences that can serve as models. An invitation has been sent to UN member states. At the same time, local participation in this forum is also important," she explained. Rzayeva also expressed her views on the strategic importance of WUF13 for Azerbaijan and the declaration of 2026 as the "Year of Urban Planning and Architecture", expectations from WUF13 and international impact, and preparations for the event at the national level. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper signed a package of memoranda of understanding aimed at advancing joint projects, the Uzbek foreign minister wrote on his X page, Trend reports. The talks focused on strengthening comprehensive bilateral cooperation across priority areas, including trade and investment, sustainable infrastructure development, energy partnership, and regional connectivity, he stated. According to Saidov, the signed memoranda are designed to accelerate practical, results-oriented collaboration through the implementation of joint initiatives, the effective use of green finance instruments, and the expansion of educational and academic exchanges between the two countries. Meanwhile, Bakhtiyor Saidov is in London to participate in the first ministerial meeting of the Central AsiaUnited Kingdom format. During the visit, he also held meetings with senior officials from the UK Foreign Office and representatives of leading British business circles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has formally recognized several villages in Azerbaijan under the FAO Villages Recognition Initiative, reaffirming the countrys strong commitment to sustainable rural development, biodiversity conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage, Trend reports via the organization. The recognition follows the official launch of the Initiative by the Director-General of FAO in Cairo in December 2025. The FAO Villages Recognition Initiative aims to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity, safeguard traditional food systems, strengthen the links between rural culture and education, hospitality and tourism, and promote innovative and digital approaches for rural development During the first phase of implementation, the villages of Aghali, Lekit, Oryet, Saribash and Siyov were recognized for their dedication to the principles of sustainable and inclusive rural development The recognition highlights Azerbaijans growing role in global efforts to acknowledge and support outstanding rural communities. It reflects the countrys commitment to strengthening agrifood systems, preserving natural ecosystems, and enhancing the resilience and livelihoods of rural populations. The next phase of the Initiative will focus on enhancing the online presence of the recognized villages, including updates to the FAO MuNe (Mountain and Rural Network) platform and the publication of concise information cards for each community. These efforts will further promote visibility, knowledge exchange and sustainable rural tourism opportunities. FAO looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Azerbaijan, particularly with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, to advance sustainable agriculture and responsible natural resource management across the country. This milestone underscores the shared commitment of FAO and Azerbaijan to strengthening rural communities, protecting biodiversity, and promoting innovative, climate-resilient development pathways in line with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistan and Paraguay discussed the establishment of an Intergovernmental Commission and the development of an Industrial Cooperation Program for 20262027, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. The matter was reviewed during meetings in Asuncion between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Paraguays ministers responsible for industry and commerce, livestock, and geology, as well as the President of the National Electricity Administration (ANDE). The sides explored avenues for gradually expanding reciprocal market access, increasing bilateral trade turnover, and strengthening cooperation in agro-industry, energy, mining, chemicals, and textiles, alongside building an institutional framework for long-term partnership. Particular focus was placed on arranging regular supplies of meat products, expanding exports of Uzbek fertilizers and textiles, and launching joint projects under the Maquila regime to facilitate access to MERCOSUR markets. In addition, a roundtable with executives of leading Paraguayan companies was held to discuss concrete investment initiatives and move toward the practical implementation of the agreements reached. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan is interested in strengthening practical economic cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK), including the attraction of long-term capital for major infrastructure and energy projects, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA. The statement was made by Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov took during his joint meeting on February 26 with Chief Executive Officer of the London Stock Exchange Julia Hoggett and UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds. The Turkmen side highlighted the importance of London as one of the worlds leading financial centers shaping global investment flows. Interest was voiced in expanding engagement with British partners and in increasing the inflow of long-term investment to support infrastructure and energy initiatives. The sides also noted the positive dynamics of bilateral trade and economic ties, emphasizing the role of the Turkmen-British Trade and Industry Council as a key coordination mechanism for cooperation. In conclusion, the Turkmen side expressed interest in broadening interaction in sustainable finance, the banking sector, audit, insurance and digital solutions. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistan will begin coal extraction at several new deposits in the Surkhandarya region as part of a broader plan to expand mining capacity and accelerate industrial development, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Uzbekistan. The announcement was made during a meeting on the comprehensive development of Surkhandarya region chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Despite holding estimated coal reserves of around 100 million tons in the region, Uzbekistan currently extracts only about 1 percent of that volume annually. It was announced that coal production will begin this year at the Sanjar deposit in Baysun and the Oksuv deposit in Altynsay, while extraction at the Fangart field is scheduled to start next year. South Africas Sasol has expressed interest in producing polypropylene, polyethylene, and synthetic rubber from coal. Chinese investors have also signaled readiness to invest $1 billion in the development of the Korakon, Jemsonit, Chukur, and Bayram-1 deposits in the Sariosiyo district. Overall, these reserves constitute a significant raw material base for electricity generation, construction materials, the chemical industry, metallurgy, and automotive manufacturing. Authorities have been instructed to conduct feasibility studies on the placement of industrial facilities around the deposits and to prepare project proposals worth at least $200 million. Meanwhile, more than 8,000 projects worth a combined $5 billion have been implemented in the region to date. Additional investment and trade agreements totaling $10 billion have been reached with partners from China, the United States, Russia, India, Austria, Hungary, and other countries. By Rocky Swift TOKYO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Binance co-CEO Richard Teng on Thursday said Greece's labour force and security profile gave it the edge over larger financial centres when the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange was selecting a regulatory home in Europe. Binance, which holds about $44 billion worth of bitcoin in its customer wallets, last month applied in Greece to operate in the European Union under the trading bloc's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) scheme. Crypto companies must obtain a MiCA license by July 2026 to continue operating in the market. More from Yahoo Scout Why did Binance choose Greece over other European financial centers? What regulatory challenges is Binance facing under MiCA requirements? What impact has bitcoin's price decline had on Binance operations? How is Binance addressing past compliance and legal issues? Greece has yet to issue a MiCA license, compared with 45 in Germany and 22 in the Netherlands, based on regulator data, making it an unconventional choice for the crypto giant, which has some 300 million users and has a global regulatory home in Abu Dhabi. "The license is pretty standard throughout Europe, so we have to think through many other factors, whether it's social, whether it's talent pool, safety and security issues," Teng said on the sidelines of the GFTN Forum in Tokyo. "Greece is where we think will be a good base for us to expand in Europe." Teng, a former regulator in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, said he would leave it to the EU to determine if Binance gets its license by the July deadline. Since taking the helm in November 2023, he has sought to make Binance the "most regulated" crypto exchange in the world. His predecessor and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, pleaded guilty to violating U.S. money-laundering laws, resulting in a nearly four-month prison sentence and a $4.3 billion fine. Teng said Zhao, who was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump last year, remained active as a shareholder and the founder would have to answer questions about a potential return to the company. Questions about the company resurfaced recently when The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Binance investigators found evidence of $1.7 billion in crypto transfers with Iranian and Russian actors, prompting an inquiry from Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat. Teng said the reports were misleading and the Binance investigators cited in the reports were terminated for breaching data-handling policies, not for uncovering suspect transfers. "We do not serve residents of sanctioned countries," he said, acknowledging that it was impossible to totally eliminate suspicious transactions made through the blockchain. In December, Binance named Yi He, a co-founder and long-time romantic partner of Zhao, as the exchange's co-CEO. Teng said the move was a "natural progression" as the company grows and that he shares "complementary strengths" with Yi He. Azerbaijan raises bar on volume of AZIPS-processed transactions in January 2026 In January, the Azerbaijan Interbank Payment System (AZIPS) saw significant growth in both transaction volume and number. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan reported a notable increase compared to the same month last year. This marks a continued expansion of the systems activity. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom (UK) discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, regional issues, and international topics, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA. The talks took place at Lancaster House, London, and were attended by Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and UK Foreign Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper. UK Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty also participated in the meeting. Economic partnership was discussed, including cooperation in green technologies, digitalization, and transport, as well as the expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties. The ministers also confirmed interest in further strengthening Turkmen-UK partnership and discussed prospects for high-level visits. The meeting concluded with the signing of several bilateral documents. Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov is in the UK as part of the first ministerial-level dialogue between Central Asian countries and the UK, held in the Central Asia-UK format. The initiative, hosted at Lancaster House on February 26, 2026, aims to deepen political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation in priority sectors such as energy, green technologies, digitalization, professional services, transport, also to expand cultural and humanitarian ties. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The membership of Azerbaijan's National Depository Center (NDC) in the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) as a nominal custodian was discussed, Trend reports via the NDC. The Chairman of the Board of the NDC, Elchin Alizade, held a meeting with the BNY Mellon officials who are visiting Azerbaijan. The meeting briefed on the role and development strategy of the NDC in the Azerbaijani capital market ecosystem. The parties discussed the role of BNY Mellon in the rollout of new products in the domestic market, the prospects for the admission of the bank as a nominal custodian of the NDC, and the opening of an account. The NDC's development strategy covering 2024-2026 attaches particular importance to the establishment and development of relations with international financial institutions and depositories in terms of expanding its areas of activity. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 27. Uzbekistan is set to introduce new international flight routes connecting Termez with Istanbul and Dubai, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Uzbekistan. This announcement was made during a meeting focused on the comprehensive development of the Surkhandarya region, which was chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Additionally, it was highlighted at the meeting that two years ago, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, a $183 million initiative was undertaken to upgrade the 111-kilometer BaysunDenov road, which will be converted to cement-concrete pavement. Upon completion, the renovated section is projected to double cargo traffic and reduce travel time from three hours to 1.5 hours. ''The 178-kilometer highway that connects Uzbekistan with Afghanistan and Tajikistan has not received significant repairs for nearly three decades. Officials have been instructed to commence reconstruction efforts within the next three months,'' the president noted. Furthermore, he articulated that, at present, passenger trains operating on the Tashkent-Termez route take more than 14 hours. An agreement has been reached with Korean partners to provide modern high-speed trains. The authorities have been tasked with initiating a project this year to prepare the ToshguzorBaysunKumkurgan segment for high-speed rail services and to begin electrifying the 103-kilometer KumkurganKudukli railway stretch. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan is interested in strengthening cooperation with European partners in digital transformation, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov wrote on his social media account, Trend reports. He made the statement during the inaugural session of the expert series "The Talk," which convened heads of diplomatic missions, representatives from European institutions, and prominent business leaders. The discussions centered on the themes of digitalization, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, and the necessity of aligning national legislation with technological progress. Particular emphasis was placed on data protection, cybersecurity, and the establishment of frameworks for the safe integration of AI technologies. Palvanov highlighted Turkmenistan's ongoing efforts to modernize its legal framework in the realm of digital technologies, the expansion of e-government services, and the country's commitment to adopting cutting-edge international practices. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan aims to transform the strategic interregional cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union into a catalyst for strengthening bilateral ties among the member states, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov wrote on his social media account, Trend reports. The statement was delivered during a meeting with Belgian Member of the European Parliament, Pascal Arimont, which was attended by ambassadors from Central Asia and Mongolia." The discussions centered on advancing interregional cooperation, with a particular emphasis on enhancing parliamentary dialogue, improving transport connectivity, addressing energy and climate issues, and securing access to strategically vital raw materials. Ambassador Palvanov underscored that the activation of parliamentary contacts bolsters the durability of agreements, facilitates the establishment of a long-term legal and political framework for collaboration, and ensures that strategic interregional cooperation is reflected in the ongoing development of bilateral relations. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. The European direction is among the key priorities of Turkmenistans foreign policy for 2026, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov said, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Brussels. Ambassador Palvanov made this statement during a meeting with Jan Dusik, Deputy Director-General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Climate Action. The discussions emphasized climate and energy as pivotal areas for bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Palvanov highlighted Turkmenistan's role as a significant energy producer and its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. This includes Turkmenistans recent accession to the Global Methane Pledge, announced at COP28, and its active participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. These initiatives provide a robust political framework for enhancing cooperation with the EU on methane emission reduction, climate adaptation, and environmental modernization. Further discussions centered on the EUs Green Turkmenistan: Political Dialogue and Climate Action 2024-2028 program, which is being implemented with European and German support. Ambassador Palvanov underscored the programs practical approach and the tangible outcomes achieved thus far, including the introduction of emission monitoring mechanisms and efforts to increase environmental awareness. The sides agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation through joint projects, expert exchanges, and the existing EU-Central Asia regional frameworks. They reaffirmed that climate policy remains a strategic priority for the EU, with a particular focus on long-term emission reduction targets and carbon removal initiatives. Furthermore, Ambassador Palvanov addressed regional priorities, including water resource management, climate adaptation, Caspian Sea level issues, and the exchange of modern environmental technologies. In this context, he introduced Turkmenistans proposal to establish a Regional Center for Environmental Technologies in Central Asia. The prospects for the development of solar energy and cross-border energy infrastructure were also discussed. The European side positively assessed Turkmenistan's potential in the context of growing demand for environmentally friendly electricity. The interlocutors confirmed that the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the EU and Central Asia should be accompanied by the expansion of specific bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Track your investments for FREE with Simply Wall St, the portfolio command center trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) is pursuing expansion opportunities in India, aligned with ongoing airport infrastructure upgrades and a growing business jet market. The company has entered a long term fleet agreement with Vista Global for Challenger 3500 business jets. Bombardier plans to open a new manufacturing centre in Dorval, supported by government backing. Bombardier focuses on designing, manufacturing and servicing business jets. Its portfolio includes the Challenger 3500. Indias airport upgrades and increasing business aviation demand create a larger addressable market for aircraft makers and service providers. For investors, this combination of infrastructure build out and fleet agreements gives more context for how TSX:BBD.B is positioning its core programs. The Vista Global agreement and Dorval manufacturing investment indicate that Bombardier is working to align long term production capacity with expected demand for its aircraft. For readers tracking TSX:BBD.B, these developments may be useful markers for assessing how the company is building its order book, production footprint and exposure to regions such as India. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Bombardier by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Bombardier. TSX:BBD.B Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026 4 things going right for Bombardier that this headline doesn't cover. For Bombardier, the India opportunity, the Vista Global fleet deal, and the Dorval manufacturing plan all point to a tighter link between commercial strategy and industrial capacity. The 40 firm Challenger 3500 orders, plus 120 options, give clearer visibility on future production needs, which can help justify the planned Dorval investment. At the same time, Indias airport expansion speaks to potential demand growth for business jets in a region where Bombardier is looking to deepen its presence. Against this expansion, the recent redemption of US$500 million of 6.000% Senior Notes due 2028 using balance sheet cash shows management is still prioritizing debt reduction. For you as an investor, that mix of long dated commitments and ongoing deleveraging raises a key execution question: whether Bombardier can scale its manufacturing and service footprint while keeping its financial profile in check, especially in a market where it competes with players like Gulfstream, Dassault and Textron for corporate and charter customers. Photo: The press service of the Kazakh President ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. Kazakhstan and Serbia signed 10 bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of healthcare, justice, digital development, culture, education, and investment, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President. The documents were signed during an expanded meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana on February 27. The agreements include: - Memorandum on cooperation in healthcare between the Ministries of Health of Kazakhstan and Serbia. - Memorandum on partnership between the General Prosecutors Office of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Justice of Serbia. - Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications of Serbia. - Memorandum of Understanding on digitalization and e-government cooperation between Kazakhstans Ministry of AI and Serbias Directorate for IT and e-Government. - Memorandum on veterinary cooperation between the Ministries of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and Serbia. - Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan and Serbia. - Memorandum on cinema cooperation between Kazakhstans Ministry of Culture and Information and Serbias Ministry of Culture. - Memorandum on protecting intangible cultural heritage between the Ministries of Culture of both countries. - Memorandum of Understanding between JSC Kazakh Invest and the Serbian Development Agency. - Memorandum of cooperation between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan and Serbias Diplomatic Academy. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan has identified the development of the Trans-Caspian corridor as a central priority in its evolving relations with the European Union, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov said, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Brussels. Palvanov made the statement during his meeting with Maia Bakran Marchich, Deputy Director-General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. The discussions primarily centered around enhancing transport connectivity, advancing logistics infrastructure, and preparing for potential outcomes ahead of a forthcoming visit by the President of Turkmenistan to Brussels. The Ambassador emphasized the completion of the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat highway, the ongoing modernization of the national road network, and the pivotal role of the Turkmenbashi seaport, positioning it as a crucial hub along the Caspian route. Special attention was also directed toward customs coordination with neighboring countries and the promotion of regionally aligned strategies. Both sides acknowledged the increasing strategic significance of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, recognizing its potential as a vital link between Europe and Asia. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan and the European Union engaged in discussions regarding potential cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the transport infrastructure sector, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Belgium. The discussions took place between Turkmenistans Ambassador to Brussels, Sapar Palvanov, and Deputy Director-General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, Maia Bakran Marchich. In addition to transport infrastructure, the talks also explored broader opportunities for collaboration with international financial institutions and development banks to support transport projects, enhance regional connectivity, and strengthen logistics and transport corridors linking Central Asia to Europe. Earlier, Turkmenistan and the European Investment Bank exchanged views on cooperation in digitalization, development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, and financing of priority sectors of the economy. The talks were held in Ashgabat between the representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Turkmenistan and a delegation led by Edvardas Bumsteinas, Head of the EIBs Department for Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan and the European Union discussed sustainable tourism and related mobility issues, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Belgium. The issues were raised during a meeting between Turkmenistans Ambassador to Belgium, Sapar Palvanov, and Maja Bakran Marchich, Deputy Director-General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. The European side briefed Turkmenistan on the preparation of an EU-wide strategy for sustainable tourism and emphasized the importance of transport accessibility for unlocking regional tourism potential. Ambassador Sapar Palvanov noted the growing interest in tourism in Turkmenistan, the planned transition to an e-visa system, and the countrys readiness to implement digital enhancements in visa procedures. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is modernizing its traditionally strict travel policies by introducing an electronic visa (e-visa) system to boost tourism and ease entry for foreign nationals. Implemented in 2025, the new system allows travelers to apply online via the State Migration Service without needing a formal invitation letter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The regular meeting of the Economic Council of Azerbaijan was held under the leadership of Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council Ali Asadov, Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers. The meeting agenda included the discussion of the draft "Socio-economic development strategy of Azerbaijan for 2027-2030" and main targets, the draft "2nd State Program on the Great Return to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan", as well as the current situation in the areas of economic growth in 2025, its main factors and activities, the situation and policy directions in the field of macroeconomic and financial stability by the end of 2025, as well as other current issues. Deputy Prime Ministers Samir Sharifov and Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, and Governor of the Central Bank Taleh Kazimov made speeches on the issues on the agenda. The council members expressed their opinions and suggestions on the issues presented at the meeting. Following the meeting, relevant instructions were given on the draft "Socio-economic development strategy of Azerbaijan for 20272030" and other issues. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, February 27. A mediatour to the Khojaly district has been organized for the media representatives after the Khojavend district, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. During the mediatour, Sona Gati, a representative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, provided detailed information about the memorial to the media representatives. She noted that the memorial was established pursuant to the Order signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in February 2025, to eternally commemorate the memory of the victims of the Khojaly tragedy, conveying historical truths to future generations, and preserving national memory. The project was implemented based on the concept prepared by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The monolithic structure surrounding the Memorial on four sides is designed in the form of symbolic hands protecting the Khojaly residents from genocide. As a sign of respect for the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide, almond trees, which bloom at the end of winter and herald spring, have been planted in the courtyard of the memorial. Over the years, the almond blossom has been chosen as the symbol of the Justice for Khojaly! campaign, and this is no coincidence. The almond blossom reflects the demand for justice regarding the genocide committed in Khojaly in February 1992. The memorial consists of four sections. The first two sections feature an exhibition hall preserving the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide. The exhibition greets visitors with the Face of the Tragedy installation. Authored by Rashad Alakbarov and Azer Rustamov, the installation depicts the victims of the genocide that occurred on the night of February 25-26, 1992 innocent civilians killed and families destroyed. Models of doves flying along the ceiling of the Memorial are a tribute to the memory of the innocent residents of Khojaly who were killed during the tragedy, while wishing peace to the whole world. The exhibition dedicated to the Khojaly genocide one of the most horrific crimes against humanity in the 20th century presents the historical roots of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the policy of occupation, and the consequences of Armenian terrorism on Azerbaijani lands based on documents, maps, and facts. Exhibitions titled Khojaly Traces of Ancient Civilization, Khojaly Genocide is a Crime Against Humanity, and Do Not Forget Khojaly! provide information about Khojaly's history, the geography of the occupation, the chronology of the conflict, violations of international law norms, the Khojaly genocide as one of the bloodiest crimes against humanity, and the political and legal assessment given by National Leader Heydar Aliyev. In the exhibition hall, information about the horrors experienced on the day of the tragedy is presented interactively via a Khojaly model. In the second exhibition hall, Sarkhan Hajiyev's installation Houses Silenced in One Night and the fates of eight families completely destroyed during the tragedy lives interrupted in one night, unfulfilled dreams, silenced children's laughter as a result of the crime against humanity are presented through an AI-generated video. The exhibition hall reflects President Ilham Aliyev's consistent policy to promote Khojaly truths at the international level, the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the initiative and leadership of its President Mehriban Aliyeva to preserve the memory of Khojaly genocide victims and establish justice, publications and informational materials in various languages, as well as the work carried out within the framework of the international Justice for Khojaly! campaign initiated by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and her active participation in related events. Models of monuments erected in several countries in memory of the genocide victims within the Justice for Khojaly! international campaign are also displayed here. The exhibition concludes with information on the 44-day Second Karabakh War and the restoration of state sovereignty, embodying the ideas of the Great Return and Devastated Khojaly will revive again. Another section of the Memorial features an assembly hall intended for official events and commemoration ceremonies. The Khojaly Genocide Memorial serves as a space dedicated to preserving national memory in architectural and conceptual terms. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan and Belarus reviewed prospects for cooperation across business, cultural, parliamentary, and inter-ministerial sectors, Trend reports via the Belarusian Embassy in Ashgabat. The discussions took place between Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Ahmet Gurbanov and Belarusian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Stanislav Chepurnoy. The sides highlighted mutual participation of business circles in major congresses and exhibitions as well as strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. Earlier, in January, Belarusian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Stanislav Chepurnoy and Chairman of the Turkmen Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mergen Gurdov reviewed the results of bilateral business cooperation in 2025 and explored prospects for joint participation of enterprises from both countries in major trade fairs in 2026. The sides also explored prospects for joint participation of enterprises from both countries in major trade fairs in 2026. The Turkmen side expressed interest in sending specialized business missions to Belarus to explore opportunities for cooperation, including in transport, IT, and light industry sectors. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan and South Korea discussed opportunities for collaboration in the migration sector, Trend reports via the Turkmen State Migration service. The talks were held during a meeting between representatives of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Turkmenistan. The sides exchanged views on the current state of cooperation and discussed potential future initiatives in the migration field. Earlier in February, Turkmen officials engaged in discussions regarding migration-related matters with representatives from United Kingdom, Thailand and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In January, talks focused on enhancing the legislative framework for migration were held between Turkmenistans State Migration Service and Ahmet Demirok, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkiye. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. Turkmenistan has launched the Regional Project Combatting Marine Litter and Plastics - A Systemic Approach in the Caspian, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government. The project is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Caspian Sea Convention Secretariat, and the Turkmen Ministry of Environmental Protection. Financially supported by the Russian Federation and covering Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, the project will run until October 2027. It focuses on reducing marine pollution from land-based sources, improving waste management legislation, developing monitoring systems, and strengthening regional cooperation under the framework of the Tehran Convention. Meanwhile, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar Palvanov held a meeting with Deputy Director-General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Climate Action, Jan Dusik, during which they discussed Caspian Sea level issues, water resource management, climate adaptation, and the exchange of modern environmental technologies. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the UAE's Masdar have engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing green energy initiatives in Azerbaijan, Trend reports via SOCAR. The meeting, which took place between SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, underscored the success of the collaborative efforts between both entities in advancing renewable energy projects. Key developments in the wind and solar power plant projects currently underway in Azerbaijan, driven by the partnership, were reviewed and celebrated. The discussions also encompassed the future potential for expanded collaboration in areas such as equitable energy transitions and decarbonization, highlighting their mutual commitment to these critical issues. Both parties emphasized the importance of continuing their dialogue and deepening cooperation in these domains. Several joint green energy projects are already in progress between Azerbaijan and Masdar, including the development of the 445-megawatt Bilasuvar Solar Power Plant, the 315-megawatt Neftchala Solar Power Plant, and an onshore wind energy project in the Absheron-Garadagh region. These projects are currently under construction, further demonstrating the growing momentum of Azerbaijans renewable energy sector. Boston Beer Co. has said its depletions and shipments could decline again this year. The Samuel Adams brewer yesterday (24 February) warned investors both sales metrics could fall in 2026 after they decreased last year. Boston Beers forecasts came in below Wall Street forecasts. Analysts at Bernstein said the guidance both surprises and disappoints, although they described the company's projection for gross margins "a positive surprise". The US drinks group has projected its depletions and shipments in 2026 will range from flat year-on-year to down mid-single digits. In 2025, depletions fell 4% and shipments dropped 4.7%. We were pleased to deliver on our financial commitments in 2025 while maintaining market share in a challenging operating environment, Boston Beer chairman, founder and CEO Jim Koch said. Looking ahead, we are highly focused on operational excellence, including investing in our portfolio of iconic brands, developing a strong innovation pipeline and continuing to execute on our multi-year productivity initiatives. We believe this disciplined focus positions us to improve performance over time and create long-term value for shareholders. Koch, Boston Beers CEO from 1984 to 2001, returned to the chief executive role in August after Michael Spillane stood down to focus on important personal matters, Boston Beer said at the time. In the 12 months to 27 December, the Twisted Tea owners net revenue decreased 2.4% to $1.97bn. The decline in shipments was primarily due to decreases in Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer and Samuel Adams brands, Boston Beer said. It added shipments of Sun Cruiser, Angry Orchard and Dogfish Head grew. Operating income jumped from just under $76m in the companys 2024 financial year to $144.9m. Boston Beers cost of goods sold declined year on year while it also lapped higher impairment charges. Annual net income stood at $108.5m versus $59.7m a year earlier. Excluding the impact of non-cash brand impairment and contract settlement charges in the 2024 financial year, Boston Beers net income decreased 2.5%. 2025 was a year of continued progress for Boston Beer, highlighted by meaningful gross margin improvement and strong cash generation, while significantly increasing advertising support behind our brands, CFO Diego Reynoso said. In 2026, we expect continued progress on our multi-year supply chain initiatives which will be reinvested to support our brands. In a note to clients, Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat said the consensus forecast among Wall Street analysts was for Boston Beers depletions and shipments to be flat in 2026. Bernstein had been projecting a 1.4% decline. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 27. The European Union has presented Kyrgyzstan with specific proposals for further technical cooperation aimed at removing Kyrgyz banks from the sanctions list and preventing future financial risks, Trend reports, citing the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. This was stated by the EU Sanctions Envoy, David OSullivan, who visited Kyrgyzstan on a working trip during an expanded meeting with First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev. During the meeting, the parties continued exchanging views on sanctions-related issues. In this context, Daniyar Amangeldiev emphasized that Kyrgyzstan follows a pragmatic and professional approach to risk management and is consistently strengthening compliance measures, financial monitoring, and transparency of foreign economic operations. The Kyrgyz side also noted that the effectiveness of export and financial controls requires shared responsibility among all participants in the foreign economic chain, including European exporters. At the same time, the meeting emphasized the importance of European suppliers diligent compliance with their own export control requirements, conducting proper due diligence on counterparties, accurately documenting transactions, and providing a complete set of supporting materials necessary to verify the end user and the intended use of goods. Special attention was paid to the work of the financial sector. The Kyrgyz side informed about practical steps to strengthen control mechanisms in commercial banks, including comprehensive transaction checks and the blocking of operations that pose compliance risks. Additionally, the Kyrgyz side stressed the need to establish clear and transparent mechanisms, including unified risk assessment criteria, agreed procedures, and timely feedback, as well as the importance of using reliable, verified, and up-to-date information as the basis for decision-making and coordinated actions. The meeting also noted the necessity of preparing a joint action plan and defining the further format of technical cooperation aimed at the phased resolution of issues related to restrictive measures concerning certain commercial banks. In turn, David OSullivan, noting the high level of openness of the Kyrgyz authorities and their willingness to engage in direct dialogue on the most sensitive issues, emphasized that the transparency demonstrated is a key factor in building trust with European institutions and the international community. The Special Representative stressed that the European Union expects further progress in strengthening export and financial control mechanisms. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to continue practical dialogue and maintain ongoing working-level contacts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. The share of the tourism sector in the economy of Azerbaijan rose to 5.3%, the highest in history, the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, Fuad Naghiyev, said at the public discussions on the topic "Current state and development prospects of tourism in Azerbaijan," Trend reports. According to him, despite regional geopolitical events in recent times affecting the tourism statistics in our country, the analysis of official data shows that tourism is developing with a positive dynamic. The chairman noted that from 2021 through 2025, during the post-pandemic period, the production of GDP in the fields of tourist accommodation and public catering increased by an average of 24.5% per year, reaching 3.6 billion manat ($2.1 billion). "This is 23.2% higher than the level before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to preliminary results, the total added value created in the tourism sector reached 6.9 billion manat (around $4 billion) in 2025. As a result, in 2025, the share of the tourism sector in the economy rose to 5.3%," he explained. Naghiyev emphasized that the rapid growth dynamics have also supported trends in the creation of new jobs in this sector. "In the post-pandemic period, 58,000 new paid jobs were created in the tourist accommodation and public catering sectors, with 21,000 of these jobs expected in 2025. As a result, the share of the sector in the paid labor market has increased from 1.5% to 4.6% over the past five years. Over the past five years, total tourist expenditures increased by 7.7 billion manat ($4.5 billion), reaching nine billion manat ($5.3 billion) in 2025, which is 39% higher than the pre-pandemic level. Additionally, compared to 2019, per capita tourism expenditures in inbound tourism are expected to rise by 74% in 2025. Thus, in the past five years, hotel revenues have increased by 536 million manat ($314 million), and turnover in catering establishments has grown by more than two billion manat ($1.2 billion). Also, in January 2026, the number of foreign citizens visiting Azerbaijan is expected to rise by 5% compared to 2025," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Azerbaijan is holding talks with dozens of countries to simplify the visa regime, Head of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emil Safarov, said at a public hearing on the topic "Current state and development prospects of tourism in Azerbaijan" in the Parliament's Labor and Social Policy Committee, Trend reports. According to him, based on the proposal put forward by the State Tourism Agency, a project to introduce a unilateral visa-free regime is being implemented, and as of February 15, a temporary unilateral visa-free regime has come into force for four countries. These countries are mainly Arab states. The official noted that the project is planned to be continued, and work is underway to add new countries to this list in the near future. "The main goal is to introduce a visa-free or simplified regime in Azerbaijan's relations with friendly and strategic partner countries, to increase the flow of tourists without the risk of migration, and at the same time to ensure mutual interests". Safarov recalled that recently the visa regime has been simplified with several countries. "In this context, we can especially mention the mechanisms applied with the UAE, Qatar, China, Serbia, and Morocco. Negotiations are currently ongoing with dozens of countries. This process is carried out only with friendly and partner states, and both domestic and foreign policy interests, national security, and migration issues are taken into account here," the official explained. Moreover, he recalled that within the framework of the simplified mechanism applied during the COP29, more than 36,000 people visited the country only for a specific international event. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. KazMunayGas (KMG) Chairman Askhat Khassenov and Chen Huailong, President of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company (CNODC), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), discussed key areas of cooperation, Trend reports via KMG. The parties reviewed the progress of joint strategic projects. In particular, they discussed plans to expand the production capacity of the Shymkent Oil Refinery from the current 6 million tons to 12 million tons per year. The investment project is of strategic importance amid growing domestic demand for petroleum products in Kazakhstan. A feasibility study for the expansion is currently under development. The head of KMG stressed the importance of adhering to the projects implementation schedule. The sides also discussed the construction of a gas chemical complex in the Aktobe region, designed to produce up to 880,000 tons of urea and up to 80,000 tons of methanol annually. The urea project is expected to play a significant role in advancing agriculture and strengthening the countrys food security. Total investment is estimated at $1.25 billion. The parties are finalizing procedures to establish a joint venture, after which they will proceed to Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). A feasibility study for the project has already been completed. The Shymkent oil refinery, built in 1985, is the most recent refinery in Kazakhstan. On January 27, 2005, the refinery was officially registered as a legal entity under the name PetroKazakhstan Oil Products. In October of the same year, CNPC International Ltd. (CNPCI), a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), acquired PetroKazakhstan Inc. In 2007, the Shymkent refinery gained a new shareholder, with the national company KazMunayGas acquiring a 50% ownership stake. The refinery accounts for approximately 30% of the country's total oil products, produced across three refineries. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. QazaqGaz Chairman Alibek Zhamauov and Chen Huailong, President of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company (CNODC), reviewed ongoing joint projects and confirm plans to expand cooperation in geological exploration, Trend reports via QazaqGaz. According to the company, currently, the flagship joint initiative between the two companies is the North-1 exploration block in the Aktobe region. Foundational agreements defining cooperation terms and the distribution of obligations have already been signed. QazaqGaz says that successful implementation of the project is expected to create a platform for expanding joint activities and moving toward larger-scale initiatives. The national company faces a strategic task to significantly increase the gas resource base. In the near term, we plan to expand our exploration project portfolio, Zhamauov told partners. During the meeting, the sides emphasized that CNODC is regarded as one of the key strategic partners in the development of gas projects in Kazakhstan, highlighting the importance of long-term cooperation in strengthening the countrys energy security and resource potential. CNODC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). CNPC entered Kazakhstan in 1997, engaging in operations such as upstream oil and gas investments, downstream refining, construction and operation of oil and gas pipelines, oil product distribution, and engineering and technical services at oil and gas fields. In June 2025, QazaqGaz and CNPC-Aktobemunaygaz, a subsidiary of CNPC, had previously agreed on joint geological exploration at the Northern-1 site. The Northern-1 gas field is regarded as one of Kazakhstans most promising regions for natural gas reserves. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic invited President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to pay a visit to Serbia, Trend reports via the Kazakh presidents press service. Vucic made the invitation during narrow-format talks with Tokayev in Astana, emphasizing that the two countries are bound by truly strategic relations. I am confident that our friendship will reach a new level through stronger cooperation in artificial intelligence, information technology, and energy. I would be pleased to welcome you to Serbia in the near future, he said. Tokayev, in turn, noted that Kazakhstan considers Serbia a very important strategic partner in Europe. We have done much to strengthen our cooperation in many areas, primarily in the economy, as well as in the humanitarian and cultural spheres. A direct flight between Astana and Belgrade has been launched, and our trade relations are developing very successfully. More than 60 Serbian companies operate productively in Kazakhstan. We share common approaches to key international issues, Tokayev said. He added that a solid and effective foundation for bilateral cooperation has been created and expressed confidence that Vucics visit would provide additional momentum to the friendly relations between the two nations. Tokayev previously visited Belgrade on his first official visit on November 18-19, 2024. Serbia's presidents have visited Kazakhstan four times, three of which were official state visits. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. Serbia is interested in expanding the participation of Kazakh companies in joint projects, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said during an expanded meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. President Tokayev welcomed the Serbian delegation, highlighting the special symbolism of the visit on the eve of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Serbia. Serbia is an important partner for us in Europe. We are sincerely committed to further strengthening our relations and developing mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres. Today, we discussed in detail how to give additional momentum to this interaction. I assure you that we will make every effort to further strengthen the partnership between our countries, Tokayev said. The Kazakh president emphasized that Astana and Belgrade maintain constructive political dialogue, strengthen interparliamentary ties, and consistently expand cooperation between state bodies and business circles. More than 60 Serbian companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan. Tokayev noted the effective work of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation and welcomed the participation of a representative Serbian business delegation. He noted that a Kazakhstan-Serbia Business Council meeting held the day before is expected to contribute to the expansion of trade and investment ties. The president also expressed gratitude to the Serbian side for supporting several of Kazakhstans international initiatives. President Vucic confirmed Belgrades readiness to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Astana. In particular, he expressed interest in expanding the participation of Kazakh companies in joint projects, primarily in construction. We are ready to implement several projects proposed by Kazakhstan, which can become flagship initiatives not only for Serbia but for the entire region in this part of Europe. At the same time, the issue of granting fifth freedom air traffic rights for Kazakh airline SCAT remains unresolved. I am confident we can resolve this together. We would be glad to see reliable construction companies and investors from your country, which will not only enhance Serbias investment attractiveness but also promote mutual cultural and tourism ties. We will also make every effort to support Serbian entrepreneurs seeking to invest in your countrys economy, Vucic said. He emphasized significant potential for increasing cooperation in the defense industry, artificial intelligence, and data centers. Vucic also highly appreciated Kazakhstans achievements in socio-economic development. The talks covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade and investment, transport and logistics, agriculture, critical minerals, digitalization and AI, construction, and tourism. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. Kazakhstan and Serbia discussed opportunities for the effective use of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, President of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. He made the announcement during a media briefing following talks with President Aleksandar Vucic. Tokayev noted that Vucics delegation included major Serbian business representatives who took part in a meeting of the KazakhstanSerbia Business Council. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the business communities of the two countries and reaffirmed Kazakhstans readiness to create favorable conditions for Serbian entrepreneurs. The president highlighted the discussion on the expansion of transport and logistics links, recalling that a direct air connection between Astana and Belgrade was launched last year, marking an important step toward deepening bilateral cooperation. ''Infrastructure cooperation was another key topic of the talks. We agreed to join efforts in the extraction and deep processing of critical raw materials to support the development of high-tech industries, Tokayev said. He added that special attention was given to the exchange of experience in nuclear energy, as well as the strategic importance of the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence and modern digital technologies, confirming readiness for joint work in these areas. By Sam Tabahriti LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Brookfield Asset Management's new AI infrastructure company Radiant has been valued at $1.3 billion after merging with London-based cloud computing firm Ori Industries, according to three people with knowledge of the matter and a document seen by Reuters. Radiant, a new company the Canadian asset manager created to provide on-demand access to artificial intelligence chips, said it had combined with Ori in a deal announced on Tuesday without disclosing any financial terms. All of Ori's existing investors have rolled their stakes into Radiant, the sources said, adding that Brookfield injected fresh capital into the new company. Reuters could not determine how much of the valuation reflected Ori's contribution. The valuation was established earlier this month, according to the document and one of the people. Reuters could not determine if it had changed since then. Brookfield and Ori declined to comment. The sources declined to be identified because the terms were not made public. RACE TO BUILD AI INFRASTRUCTURE Companies House filings show that Ori had 42.5 million pounds ($57.2 million) in total assets less current liabilities at the end of 2024. Total debt was 11.3 million pounds from 4.4 million pounds a year earlier, according to its filed accounts. The deal comes as investors race to build the data-centre, power and chip infrastructure needed for advanced AI, amid a shortage of high-performance compute capacity. Mahdi Yahya, the founder of Ori, a startup backed by Saudi Aramco's venture arm, will now be president of Radiant. "For more than seven years we have been designing software to support AI infrastructure at scale, and it was clear Brookfield was the right partner," he said in a statement on Tuesday. "Through Radiant we can help address the supply-demand imbalance that has defined AI since 2023." Vishal Padiyar, executive chair of Radiant, said the company blends infrastructure and software to support governments and major enterprises, aiming to lower computing costs and improve performance at scale. Radiant is one of the first projects backed by Brookfield's AI infrastructure fund, which is seeking $10 billion in investor commitments and aims to scale to as much as $100 billion through co-investment and financing. The fund includes up to $5 billion earmarked for Bloom Energy to install up to 1 gigawatt of behind-the-meter power solutions for data centres and AI factories, while chipmaker Nvidia contributed to the fund's initial capital and will supply chips to Radiant. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan has advised its citizens presently residing in Iran to depart the country, Trend reports via the ministry. Citizens of Kazakhstan who are currently in Iran are advised to leave the country, as well as to observe heightened safety measures, remain vigilant and cautious, follow the news, and strictly adhere to the recommendations of local authorities, the statement says. The ministry also advises Kazakh citizens to temporarily refrain from visiting Iran until the situation stabilizes. Additionally, Kazakhstan urged its citizens to carefully consider travel plans to Middle Eastern countries, taking into account the current situation and the possibility of its sudden escalation. Kazakh diplomatic missions in Iran are operating normally. For additional and timely information, hotlines are open for Kazakh citizens in Iran and their relatives in Kazakhstan, the statement adds. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 27. President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stuafft discussed the implementation of key agreements in trade, economic, and investment spheres, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. President Tokayev welcomed the strong momentum in Kazakh-U.S. high-level political dialogue, which has contributed to strengthening multifaceted cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally. The sides emphasized the need for continued close coordination between relevant ministries to achieve practical results. The meeting also included an exchange of views on further collaboration within the Board of Peace framework. Ambassador Stafft expressed deep appreciation for Kazakhstans active engagement and efforts in advancing the Organizations objectives. The Board of Peace was launched at the initiative of President Trump. Kazakhstan joined the body as a founding member in January this year during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. At least 133 Afghan servicemen were killed and more than 200 were injured in a border clash with Pakistan, Pakistans Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar wrote on his page on X, Trend reports. According to him, Pakistani forces destroyed 27 Afghan army checkpoints and took control of nine more. In addition, more than 80 units of military equipment, including tanks, artillery systems, and armored personnel carriers, were put out of action. The minister also noted that strikes were carried out on defensive positions of the Afghan Taliban in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar, and a further increase in the number of dead and wounded cannot be ruled out. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has discussed Iran's nuclear program with the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State Christopher Yeaw, Rafael Grossi wrote on his X page, Trend reports. "Welcomed the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State Christopher Yeaw to the the International Atomic Energy Agency today for a timely exchange on current non-proliferation issues, including in Iran and other areas of common interest. Grateful to the United States for its strong support to the Agency across the board," he wrote. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27. President of the United States Donald Trump commented on the ongoing negotiations with Iran, stating that no final decision has yet been made, Trend reports. We havent made a final decision. We are not exactly happy with the way they are negotiating, Trump said. He reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and expressed dissatisfaction with the current course of talks. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and we are not thrilled with the way they are negotiating, he stressed. Trump added that while a peaceful resolution would be preferable, other options remain on the table. Itd be nice if we could do it without the military, but sometimes you have to do it with it, he noted. Akbar Novruz The British Embassy Baku has issued a statement in response to numerous enquiries regarding this weeks parliamentary hearing in the UK House of Commons, reaffirming its support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity, AzerNEWS reports via the embassy. We have received a number of enquiries regarding this week's parliamentary hearing in the House of Commons. We understand there is significant interest in this matter, and we want to be clear about how the UK system works, the statement said. The Embassy emphasized that it represents the government and communicates its foreign policy positions, but does not speak on behalf of the UK Parliament, which functions as a separate and independent branch of the countrys constitutional system. Parliament operates independently of the Government, and its hearings, debates, and inquiries reflect the views of individual Members of Parliament or parliamentary committees, not the policy of His Majestys Government, the statement noted. The diplomatic mission added that it would not be appropriate for the Embassy to comment on the content or conduct of parliamentary proceedings, stressing that all related enquiries should be directed to the UK Parliament through its official website. At the same time, the Embassy reaffirmed that the UK Governments position on the South Caucasus remains clear and unchanged. We recognise Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we support the ongoing normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as the path to a lasting and peaceful settlement, the statement reads. Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) is one of the 12 Best Beaten Down Technology Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts. BTIG Cautious on Guidewire Software (GWRE) Amid Software Sector Headwinds Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) recently faced a cautious near-term outlook from Wall Street despite securing a strategic global expansion. On February 18, 2026, Allan Verkhovski, a BTIG analyst, maintained a Buy rating on Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) and reduced the price target from $225 to $175 as part of a sector research note that revealed the application software Q4 results. According to the analyst, it is still challenging to predict how the companies that are being covered will be able to shake off the AI disruption overhang. On the same day, Sompo Group revealed a long-term agreement that will facilitate its worldwide implementation of Guidewire Cloud Platform tools and applications. Through the agreement, Sompo will be able to move its current Guidewire applications, such as PolicyCenter and ClaimCenter, from on-premises settings to the Guidewire Cloud Platform, starting with its global commercial operations. PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, Jutro Digital Platform, and Data Studio were chosen as new core systems by Sompo Direct Insurance in Japan. In 2024, Sompo Direct deployed ClaimCenter on the Guidewire Cloud Platform. Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) is a San Mateo, California-based technology platform provider for property and casualty insurers. It combines digital, analytics, and artificial intelligence applications with core systems of record. While we acknowledge the potential of GWRE 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: 14 Oversold Value Stocks to Invest in Right Now and Cathie Woods 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. In this first episode, art historian James Fox explores the art of the ancient world to reveal the story of our earliest relationships with nature. From the art of prehistoric hunters and the advent of agriculture and our first cities to the arrival the great faiths, including Hinduism and Christianity, James shows how we began to wrestle with our place in nature and tried to control the great forces that shape our world. Along the way, we journey from Arctic Norway to the jungles of Guatemala and the holy city of Varanasi in India. Beginning with cave paintings of animals and a fascinating 12,000-year-old carving of a reindeer, James shows how we were once much closer to nature. We meet Nils Peder, a contemporary Sami Reindeer Herder in northern Norway. His way of life is still influenced by a belief in nature's spiritual energy and power. But then as James studies an ancient Egyptian model of cattle, we reach a dramatic turning point in our relationship with nature the advent of agriculture. At this point, humans collaborated with nature but ultimately took 'control'. James takes this a step further with the extraordinary lion hunt carvings from the Assyrian palace of Nineveh. He demonstrates how it was at this time that humans began to set out to conquer nature. James then turns his attention to ways in which religion helped us make sense of the great shifts in our relationship with nature. We see the first human personifications of natural forces: the river Ganga in India and the ancient Greek god of the sky, Zeus. And we see how, in Christian art, nature becomes the backdrop for the very human-focused story of the crucifixion. In this first great phase in human history, James reveals how we moved from caves to farms, to the emergence of the first civilisations and to global faiths. And through it all, he shows how we struggled to control nature and began to move away from it, no longer living as just one part of the natural world. (Senderinfo) Marten visits are a glimpse into mystery Photo by Tim Walker A marten visits the Fairbanks home of Tim Walker. Walker has seen the animal several times. A trapper fresh out of the Cosna River country in Interior Alaska said he cant believe how many martens he had caught in a small area so far this winter. Friends are talking about the house-cat size creatures visiting their wood piles and porches. Could this be a boom in the number of these handsome woodland creatures? Probably, said wildlife education specialist Mike Taras of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks. When I was out in the (White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks) a couple of weeks ago, I saw marten tracks everywhere, he said. My friend had a hare bound close towards him while he was out near Wolf Run cabin and then a marten came loping after the hare hot on its trail. Photo by Ned Rozell Ken Geiser of Fairbanks points to a live marten he saw clinging to the top of a birch tree off the Elliot Highway in December 2024. The biologist and tracking expert doesnt even have to leave home to see signs of marten this spring. I currently have a marten coming by my place at the edge of (Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge) about once a week. It is great to see her tracks though it could be a juvenile male. I have noticed more marten tracks out on Creamers refuge in the past few years as well. The Cosna River area trapper, Steve OBrien, said he thought more mice were a possible reason for marten abundance this year. Taras suspected the same. Research shows that the number one driver of marten populations is vole numbers, Taras said. But I dont think there is concrete evidence of high vole numbers this year. But Taras has seen some circumstantial evidence recently. I have noticed multitudes of ventilation tunnel holes on top of the snow after these recent snowstorms, Taras said. That many holes on top of the snow shortly after the snow makes me think that there are a lot of voles out there. Whatever the cause for increased marten numbers, now is perhaps a good time to see these predators of the northern woods. One trapper aptly described them as walking stomachs, Tom Paragi, a retired wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks, told me 26 years ago. Theyre one of the easier animals to trap. Photo by Zane Nicholson This marten visits a home on Ester Dome west of Fairbanks. Its feet are more than twice as large as an equal-size minks. Those big furry feet are possibly an adaptation for deep snow. Like other members of the weasel family, marten hunt and kill small animals, most often voles, though they sometimes eat snowshoe hares, young birds and blueberries. Marten feed on red squirrels in other parts of North America, but in Alaska biologists have seen marten sharing squirrels underground network of winter tunnels without killing them. Marten arent afraid to tackle animals their own size, Paragi said. He once pieced together a marten drama evident by tracks left behind in the snow. He observed where a marten paused during its wandering after seeing a goshawk perched on a low tree limb. Photo by Mike Taras Mice-like voles have pushed up vent holes that connect to their subnivean worlds here at Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. He could tell by blood and other marks that the marten killed the goshawk, making a meal of a raptor that could have had the marten for lunch. They are fairly fearless, Paragi said. Marten are loners, roaming forests solo except for a few weeks during the breeding season. They seem to prefer mature conifer forests for birthing and raising young, and use hollow logs for dens. The marten is one of a few mammals able to delay part of its reproductive cycle. Marten mate in mid-summer when food is plentiful, but fertilized eggs within females dont implant into the uterus wall until springtime, a phenomenon triggered by longer days. Marten kits are born in late March to mid-April. In August, the youngsters go their own ways, beginning solitary lives that can last up to 14 years. 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. Portions of this story appeared in 2000. The issue of returning Ukrainian men of conscription age who are under temporary protection is currently not on the EU agenda, and no changes to the relevant provisions are expected this year. European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert stated this at a briefing in Brussels on Friday, Ukrinforms correspondent reports. Responding to a question from a Luxembourg correspondent about whether debates are ongoing at the EU level regarding the possible withdrawal of temporary protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age, particularly in light of a recent call by Luxembourg officials, the spokesperson said: "I am not aware of debates in Luxembourg. I can say that temporary protection is something that we have decided, at EU level, at member state level until 27." Read also: European Commission has not yet decided whether to send its experts to inspect damage to Druzhba pipeline He explained that for this reason the relevant rules will remain in force until March 2027. According to Luxembourg Times, the countrys Defence Minister Yuriko Backes expressed qualified support for Interior Minister Leon Gloden, who said that Ukrainian men in Luxembourg who are fit for military service should return home. "In the beginning, there were a lot of women and children," Backes said. "In recent weeks and months, weve seen that more men are also coming. And I think thats effectively a bit of a problem if, on the one hand, we provide military support so that the Ukrainians can defend themselves. And then at the same time we have young men coming to Luxembourg. I also see that as a problem," the defence minister added. Luxembourg has spent more than EUR 400 million in aid to Ukraine and is investing another EUR 100 million this year. The country also leads the IT coalition within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group together with Estonia and coordinates assistance in communications and information technology. Since March 2022, the EU has offered shelter to more than 4 million displaced Ukrainians. Displaced persons from Ukraine will benefit from temporary protection in the EU until March 4, 2027. Last September, the EU Council agreed on a common framework for displaced Ukrainians to ensure their sustainable return and reintegration into Ukraine when conditions allow, as well as a gradual transition to other residence statuses for those eligible. Photo: Ken Murk/ERR In Kazakhstan, 25-year-old local resident Yevgeny Luft was sentenced to six years in prison for taking part in an armed conflict on the territory of a foreign state namely, in Russia's war against Ukraine on the side of the Russian army. KazTAG stated this in an article, citing case materials, Ukrinform reports. The decision was issued by the Kyzylzhar District Court of the North Kazakhstan Region. It is noted that in February 2025, the 25-year-old Luft left the city of Petropavlovsk in Kazakhstan for the Russian Federation. He subsequently signed a one-year contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and served in the combat zone. According to the case materials, from February to April 2025, the man took part in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In April, he sustained a mine-blast injury, underwent treatment, after which he left his military unit without authorization and returned to Kazakhstan, where he was detained. In court, the defendant did not admit guilt, stating that he considered himself a citizen of the Russian Federation. However, according to the verdict, he received Russian citizenship only on June 27, 2025 that is, after participating in the conflict. As Ukrinform previously reported, Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) launched a review regarding stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov over a possible violation of the article on "mercenarism," which provides liability for financing participation in war. The departure of Kazakh citizens abroad to take part in hostilities is prosecuted under the country's national legislation. Kazakhstan's Criminal Code contains two relevant articles "Mercenarism" and "Participation in Foreign Armed Conflicts." The first provides for imprisonment from seven to 20 years and deprivation of Kazakh citizenship, while the second provides a prison term of five to nine years. Photo: pexels.com The first batch of food, weighing 2,618.15 tons, has arrived in Kenya as part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's humanitarian initiative, Food from Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this. It is noted that the total volume of the food shipment is over 3,600 tons. The cargo was delivered in coordination with the UN World Food Programme, which will ensure its further distribution to the most vulnerable groups, in particular refugees in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps. The project was implemented with the assistance of Slovenia and Austria. The official handover ceremony took place at the port of Mombasa with the participation of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Kenya, Yurii Tokar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Kristina Radej (concurrently accredited to Kenya), and representatives of the WFP in Kenya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Ukraine continues to implement the Food from Ukraine initiative in cooperation with international partners and relevant UN agencies. As reported, the Grain from Ukraine initiative was launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022 to strengthen Ukraine's role in combating the global food crisis. Its main goal is to provide food kits to countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions on the brink of famine. In 2025, Food from Ukraine became a new stage of this initiative. Illustrative photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation Assistance to Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression is critically important from the standpoint of defending Europes fundamental values. This view was expressed by Colonel Otakar Foltyn, Deputy Chief of the Military Office of the President of the Czech Republic, in a comment to Ukrinform. Helping Ukraine is necessary not only in terms of stopping the Russians. How we help Ukraine also concerns our own self-respect and our understanding of fundamental values, because freedom, dignity, justice, and compassion are values shared by Ukrainians, Czechs, Estonians, Germans, and Britons alike. That is what makes us human good people. If we are unable to help Ukraine more than we do now, it means we still do not fully understand these values. Ukrainians clearly understand them very well, and in this sense, they are greater Europeans than we are, Foltyn said. He believes that everyone should help Ukrainians in any way they can and do the maximum possible. The colonel expressed regret that, in terms of assistance to Ukraine, the Czech Republic as a state ranks among the lowest, while Czech civil society and individual citizens collect some of the largest amounts of aid and donations in Europe at least relative to the countrys population. We truly give a lot as citizens, but very little as a state, the officer noted. Foltyn said he is convinced that this is a war of a mafia-style Russian regime against freedom, against Ukrainians, who are now the barrier between Vladimir Putins empire and the free world. He added that, as a professional military officer, he feels ashamed that he is not currently alongside the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukraine. As reported earlier, a mass rally in support of Ukraine took place in the center of Prague last Saturday. Earlier this week, several events were held in the Czech capital to mark the fourth anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including events at the Office of the President of the Czech Republic and in the Senate. The government and the lower house of parliament did not hold any such events. Ukraine is open to cooperation with Botswana concerning the possible recruitment of its citizens by Russia for the war. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha stated this on X, Ukrinform reports. "Ukraine has taken note of the statement issued by the Ministry of International Relations of the Republic of Botswana on February 26th on reports regarding Batswana nationals recruited into Russia's war against Ukraine. We welcome the efforts of Botswana's government to engage with relevant authorities. Ukraine remains open to bilateral dialogue on this matter," Sybiha noted. Sybiha invited Botswana's Ministry of International Relations to officially raise this issue with the Ukrainian authorities in line with Botswana's longstanding practice of consultations with all relevant parties. For his part, the Ukrainian foreign minister assured readiness to provide available information and assessments based on Ukrainian intelligence data that may complement information obtained from other sources. "Ukraine's position remains consistent: participation of foreign citizens in Russia's war of aggression carries serious and often fatal consequences. Moreover, participation of Batswana citizens in foreign armed conflicts as mercenaries is prohibited under Botswana's national legislation," he warned. As Ukrinform previously reported, on February 26, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during a visit to Ukraine, spoke with two Ghanaian citizens who had fought on the side of Russian occupying forces and were captured by Ukrainian troops. Ukrinform photos available for purchase here The European Commission welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's readiness to accept the results of an inspection of the damaged Druzhba pipeline by a relevant mission initiated by Hungary and Slovakia, but the format of such a mission has not yet been determined. European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stated this at a briefing in Brussels, Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Prime Minister Orban expressed Hungary's support to the idea of such a fact finding mission to verify the status of the damaged pipeline and his readiness to accept the findings of such a mission. We consider this a welcome step. We are now in contact with the Ukrainian authorities on this matter and continue to work with our member states to ensure security of supply," she said. At the same time, the European Commission expects "all EU leaders to honor their commitments made at the EUCO," she stressed, referring to the political agreement of all 27 EU member state leaders to open a loan facility for Ukraine to finance its needs in 20262027. She also emphasized the importance of recalling that it was a Russian strike that damaged a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline on January 27, leading to a disruption of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, and that the European Commission strongly condemns the Russian attack. Itkonen noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to Kyiv on February 24, asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "accelerate the repairs of the pipeline." At the same time, the European Commission acknowledges the difficulties of carrying out such repairs "under constant threats of further Russian attacks." She said that the EU has not yet received information on the repair schedule for the pipeline. When asked whether a European Commission expert would be part of the damage assessment team if it is deployed in Ukraine, she replied that there is no information at this stage. "We welcome the willingness of Prime Minister Orban to have such mission and to accept its findings. Now we need to take the next steps to see what shape and form this fact-finding mission will take, and then we will keep you informed," Itkonen said. As previously reported, Viktor Orban, following a phone conversation with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, stated that their countries would establish an investigative commission to assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline. Earlier, Orban wrote an open letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing him of actions allegedly contrary to Hungary's interests. President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that Ukraine would in the coming days assess how much time is needed to repair the pipeline damaged by Russia. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs twice summoned Hungary's charge d'affaires over what it described as Hungary's misrepresentation of Ukraine's position on the Druzhba oil pipeline and false accusations against Ukraine. On January 27, Russia struck energy infrastructure in the Lviv region. A drone may have hit a section of the pipeline through which Russian oil is supplied to Hungary and Slovakia. Naftogaz confirmed the strike but did not specify the exact location, noting only that it was the 15th attack on its facilities in a month. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reminded Hungary that problems with the transit of Russian oil are caused by Russia's aggression and its strikes on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure, to which Budapest has not publicly responded. Hungary has suspended diesel exports to Ukraine until oil transit is restored. Budapest has also stated that it is considering the possibility of halting electricity and gas exports to Ukraine if Kyiv does not resume the supply of Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline. Photo: eumetsat.int Even beyond the AI industry, Nvidia (NVDA) has become a bellwether for the market itself in recent times. Based in Santa Clara, California, both the chip major's every move and every statement from management become analyzed by hawk-eyed market participants looking to get an inkling of the health of the overall market as well as where it is headed next. As Nvidia gets ready to host its upcoming flagship GPU Technology Conference (GTC), the excitement is unsurprisingly palpable. Expectations, speculations, and opinions are widespread as the date of the event approaches. One such opinion comes from Jeff Pu of Chinese brokerage firm GF Securities. More News from Barchart What Does Analyst Jeff Pu Think About Nvidia? Sounding optimistic about Nvidia and its next conference, Pu noted to clients that the NVDA share price has underperformed [the PHLX Semiconductor Index ($SOX)] since Nov-2025. Nevertheless, we stay long on the stock, driven by strong near-term quarters, intact Rubin/VR200 progress and improving financial outlook for non-tier-1 CSPs such as OpenAI." The analyst continued, "Additionally, we expect NVDA to launch [an] LPU (language processing unit) in the coming GTC event to strengthen its product portfolio in inferencing and also CPO for scale-out switches and scale-up (50/50 chance). We expect a continued strong demand for Blackwell, resilient H200 and a small volume of Rubin," Pu commented further. "We expect Nvidia to hold Apr-Q [gross margin] of mid-70s, backed by the pass-through of higher memory cost. Pu reiterated a Buy rating on NVDA stock, while raising his price target to $295. That target indicates potential upside of 50% from current levels. Still, shares of the world's most valuable company in terms of market capitalization ($4.68 trillion) are up a mere 5% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. That's a far cry from Nvidia's multibagger days when doubling of the stock was a somewhat normal phenomenon. www.barchart.com Can Nvidia regain its mojo, and will the next GTC be a primary driver? Let's take a closer look. A Look at the Next GTC Before delving into what the upcoming event may have in store, a glance at Nvidia's last GTC may better set up the context. Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka has said that Kyiv and Budapest share many pragmatic goals in energy, transport, logistics, and agriculture that could be realized through Ukraines accession to the European Union. Speaking on TV, Kachka commented on whether all EU member states support Ukraines EU bid, Ukrinform reports. As for Hungary, it is far too early to say that they are agreeing to anything, because they are currently in the middle of an election campaign. As you understand, during an election campaign what politicians say is always part of campaigning, so we are hearing these statements and positions from Hungary. What is being said now is very difficult to take seriously. We will see what happens after April 12. Whoever wins, once the elections are over, routine work will begin, Kachka said. He added that Ukraine would ultimately be able to reach agreements with Hungary. I believe that one way or another we will come to an understanding with Hungary, because we have many shared pragmatic goals particularly in energy, transport, logistics, and even agricultural policy, he noted. Kachka also said that Slovakia is interested in Ukraines accession to the EU. This is the foundation of their economic policy. Prime Minister Robert Fico has spoken about this repeatedly, so there are no real questions here, he said. At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that more concerns may arise among older EU member states, particularly Germany and France. According to him, those countries view EU enlargement as a long-term process that concludes only after decades of checks to ensure that reforms are implemented and function irreversibly, especially in the area of the rule of law. But there is also an answer to this concern. The European Commission itself says it wants to introduce a safeguard mechanism that, during the first seven to ten years, would allow responses to any potential discrepancies that may emerge, Kachka said. Read also: Mathernova says reforms in Ukraine have slowed down over past six months As previously reported by Ukrinform, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha stated that by blocking Ukraines EU membership, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is acting in line with the wishes of Russias leader. According to Sybiha, Orban is obstructing the restoration of peace in Europe and turning Hungary into an accomplice of the Kremlin regime. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home China, Saudi Arabia urge restraint as Pakistan, Afghanistan go to open war China, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries along with the United Nation (UN) have urged restraint as Pakistan and Afghanistan went into, what the two countries are calling, open war China, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries along with the United Nation (UN) have urged restraint as Pakistan and Afghanistan went into, what the two countries are calling, open war. Tension over border dispute and cross-border terrorism between the two countries has a long history. The tense situation escalated into open hostilities in late February 2026, marking a sharp break from years of border skirmishes, proxy accusations, and a fragile 2025 ceasefire. On Friday Feb 27, 2026, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, "Righteous Fury", and declared open war after Afghanistan's Taliban forces unleashed what they described as "large-scale offensive/retaliatory operations" against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line border in multiple sectors. According to the reports, Afghanistan capital Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and other borders were hit in the Pakistani retaliatory military strikes. The Pakistan Army has claimed more than 130 Taliban fighters have been killed in the operation. The Afghan army has neither confirmed nor denied these claims. Hectic diplomatic efforts on Amid the rising tension, China said it is mediating between the two countries whereas Saudi Foreign Minister called his Pakistani counterpart to ease the tension. In a statement, Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said had a phone call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and the two discussed recent regional developments, including the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a statement, Chinas Foreign Ministry said it is deeply concerned over escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Beijing has been mediating the conflict through its own channels, Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a news conference, adding that China was willing to play a constructive role in cooling the situation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also discussed the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan in separate calls on Friday with counterparts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, a Turkish diplomatic source was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, Russia too has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to immediately halt cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomacy, and said it would consider offering mediation if both sides requested it, according to remarks cited by RIA news agency. In Geneva, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely monitoring the situation and is deeply concerned by the recent tensions, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. Dujarric said Guterres stressed that both countries must strictly fulfil their obligations under international law and underscored the urgent need to prioritise the protection of civilians. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed concern over the Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and said he regretted the loss of life on both sides. He urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to show maximum restraint and immediately stop military operations, while saying Pakistans legitimate security concerns should be addressed and Afghanistans sovereignty and territorial integrity respected. "Reconciliation is only possible at the negotiating table", he said. [With inputs from AFP, Reuters and other agencies] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic TORONTO (AP) Canadas minister for U.S. trade said Thursday the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement could be subject to annual review and that uncertainty could be the objective of the Trump administration. Dominic LeBlanc told a business audience in Toronto that he will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer late next week in Washington ahead of the mandatory review of the USMCA in July. If theres no consensus in the review the agreement continues. Then theres an annual review that starts and if uncertainty is one of the objectives from one of our (USMCA) partners you can imagine scenarios of how this might go, LeBlanc said. LeBlanc said the current uncertainty about the future of the free trade deal is causing a break in investment decisions in Canada. Net business investment is down, LeBlanc said. Therein lies one of the big challenges. We have to control what we can control. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, saying American tariffs are causing a chill in investment. Carney recently made a trade deal with China and is in India this week. U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated the USMCA in his first term and included a clause to review the deal in 2026. Trump has talked about getting the U.S. automakers to close factories in Canada and move them to the U.S. and Greer has talked about reshoring industrial production. LeBlanc said hes not pessimistic about the future of the trade deal because the U.S. maintained an exemption for Canada and Mexico under the deal when Trump announced new tariffs recently. So, theyre doing that because its in the American economic interest to do that, he said. Most of Canadas exports to the U.S. are currently exempted by USMCA. But tariffs are taking a toll on certain sectors of Canadas economy, particularly aluminum, steel, auto and lumber. LeBlanc said he felt Canada was close to getting a deal on sectoral tariffs in the fall, before Trump abruptly ended talks in response to an antitariff TV ad produced by the Ontario government. LeBlanc said Trump administration officials have been engaged in a political argument about trade in public but insisted thats not the case behind closed doors. There is a public prosecution of the argument, the political argument in the United States, and there are the private government-to-government-to-government conversations, which are not discouraging, LeBlanc said. By Maria Cheng OTTAWA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in Mumbai on Friday on his first official visit to India, hoping to reset the sometimes fractious relationship with the world's most populous country as he seeks new global alliances. Carney will meet business leaders in Mumbai and start talks on a comprehensive trade agreement, which is expected to be completed by November, his foreign minister told Reuters. He is scheduled to travel on to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More from Yahoo Scout Why is Canada seeking to reduce US dependence? What trade agreements is Canada negotiating with India? What caused the diplomatic tensions between Canada and India? How is Carney's India approach different from Trudeau's? Carney has sought closer ties with China and Middle Eastern countries as well as India, as he tries to reduce Canada's dependence on the United States and forge a new global trading order led by what he calls middle-power countries. Relations between Canada and India soured several years ago after explosive allegations by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government was linked to the assassination of a Canadian citizen who was also a prominent Sikh separatist. India has repeatedly denied any such links. Unlike several previous Canadian leaders, including Trudeau, Carney will not make a stop in India's Punjab region, a major origin of Indian migration to Canada. Sikh separatists have pushed for an independent state in the Punjab and a visit there risks irking Carney's Indian hosts. Analysts say the move signals a more pragmatic foreign policy that aims to wean Canada away from the United States, spurred by President Donald Trump's tariff war and annexation threats. "The Prime Minister has a laser-beam focus on attracting capital to Canada, not playing to the Indian diaspora back home," said Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada. "This is a business trip aimed at growing the economy to give Canadians more economic sovereignty," he said, calling the approach a significant shift from the Trudeau era. Last month, the European Union and India reached a landmark trade deal to cut tariffs on most goods, raising expectations that India might soon sign a similar deal with Canada. India's high commissioner to Canada told Reuters in January that Carney will likely sign a 10-year, C$2.8 billion ($2.05 billion) uranium supply deal and smaller agreements on oil and gas, the environment, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, education and culture. NO BHANGRA DANCING Trudeau was mocked for wearing overly elaborate Indian outfits during a 2018 visit and was publicly criticized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing "anti-India activities," a reference to vocal Sikh separatists living in Canada. Ramesh Sivanpillai, an instructional professor in the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center and UW School of Computing, recently received the Estes Memorial Teaching Award from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. He was honored during the recent GeoWeek 2026 Conference in Denver. (Caroline Hubert Photo) A University of Wyoming faculty member was recently bestowed a top teaching honor from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Ramesh Sivanpillai, an instructional professor in the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center and UW School of Computing, recently received the Estes Memorial Teaching Award from the organization. The award was inaugurated in 2003 in honor of Professor John Jack Estes, a teacher, mentor, scientist and friend of ASPRS. The purpose of the award is to recognize individual achievement in the promotion of remote sensing and geographic information systems technology and applications through educational efforts. Sivanpillai was honored Feb. 17 during the GeoWeek 2026 Conference at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Receiving this award was both a proud and humble experience. Im so happy that my method of teaching aimed at increasing student engagement in classrooms was recognized by the ASPRS, Sivanpillai says. I thank everyone who nominated and selected me for this award. Most importantly, I want to thank all my students who took me up on my offer and worked on these remote sensing projects to make them a success. Remote sensing is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance, typically from satellite or aircraft. Rather than seek out students to work on various remote sensing projects, Sivanpillai says his approach has been to let students recruit him to work on their projects. After students reach out for assistance, he will ask the students whether they come from a farming and/or ranching background; have ties to the U.S. Forest Service; or worked previously with federal or state agencies on fighting wildfires. If they said yes, and are interested in working, I would ask the students to collect pertinent information, such as location, cropping or management details, he says. Then, I download the satellite pictures needed for their study. I have been using this approach since 2004. Since that time, Sivanpillai says he has counted 230 unique projects in which students recruited him for his assistance. Of those, 87 dealt with crops; 60 focused on range mapping; 27 were about wildfires; 18 involved water issues; and 14 concentrated on forest projects. These projects were completed in 23 U.S. states and seven countries: Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Mexico and Nepal. Throughout this process, as I repeatedly told my students, Im the one who learned the most, Sivanpillai says. I learned about cropping, range management, forest health, wildfires and flooding patterns in so many U.S. states and regions. This is the second major award Sivanpillai has received from the ASPRS. The organization selected him as a Fellow in 2021. ASPRS members are individuals from private industry, the government and academia. They are analysts, specialists, educators, engineers, managers, administrators, manufacturers, product developers, operators, technicians, trainees, marketers, scientists and researchers. Employed in the disciplines of the mapping sciences, its members work in the fields of agriculture, soils, archaeology, biology, cartography, ecology, environment, forestry, range geodesy, geography, geology, hydrology, water, resources, land appraisal, real estate, medicine, transportation, and urban planning and development. Founded in 1934, the ASPRS is a scientific association serving more than 7,000 professional members around the world. Its mission is to advance knowledge and improve understanding of mapping sciences to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies. 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. With a market cap of $169.4 billion, The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) is a savings and loan holding company that provides a broad range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. It delivers its services through an extensive network of branch offices alongside integrated web and mobile platforms. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally considered "large-cap" stocks, and Charles Schwab fits this criterion perfectly. Operating through two segments: Investor Services and Advisor Services, it offers brokerage and trading solutions, advisory and portfolio management services, banking products, retirement and equity compensation plan services, and advanced digital trading and research platforms. More News from Barchart Shares of the online stockbroker have slipped 10.6% from its 52-week high of $107.50. Shares of Charles Schwab have risen 3.5% over the past three months, exceeding the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLF) 1.9% dip over the same time frame. www.barchart.com SCHW stock is down 4.9% on a YTD basis, a less pronounced decline than XLF's 5.2% drop. Longer term, shares of Charles Schwab have increased 20.7% over the past 52 weeks, outpacing XLFs 2.2% return over the same time frame. Despite recent fluctuations, the stock has been trading above its 200-day moving average since mid-April. www.barchart.com Shares of Charles Schwab recovered marginally on Jan. 21 after the company reported strong Q4 2025 results, including record quarterly net revenues of $6.3 billion, up 19% year-over-year, and adjusted EPS of $1.39, reflecting 38% growth. Investor sentiment was further supported by record 4Q core net new assets of $163.9 billion, contributing to $519 billion in full-year net new assets and lifting total client assets to an all-time high of $11.90 trillion. In contrast, its rival, Bank of America Corporation (BAC), has seen its stock fall 4.7% on a YTD basis, a less pronounced decline than SCHW stock. However, over the past year, BAC shares have gained 19.3%, lagging behind the performance of SCHW stock. Despite the stock's outperformance over the past year, analysts are cautiously optimistic about its prospects. The stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall from the 22 analysts covering the stock, and the mean price target of $121.37 represents a premium of 26.3% to current levels. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Carl John C. John Hanson, age 88, of Parkers Prairie, died on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at St. Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie under the care of Hospice of Douglas County. Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Translate Salt Lake, Kolkata (76.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging : The heavy sofa weighing around 15 kg. that I sat on was shaking violently, the big main door was shaking and making noise. The heavy marble mandir weighung around 40 kg. shook. The quake was not only felt. It was visible. I felt scared. | 4 users found this interesting. Kolkata howrah 12/12 baje shibpur 2nd by lane (85.1 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Yes our bed table door fans were violently shaking and our neighbours were freaking out no one was hurt and we don't need medical attention or any police or authority interference Just for awareness Thank you | 3 users found this interesting. shyampur, jurain Dhaka south city corporation. (194.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : I was in my desktop, and suddenly my pc start shaking. I saw the jug water also start waving.and then I left my room. | 3 users found this interesting. Khulna (58.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : I was laying on the couch and felt like someone was yanking me back then I saw the whole building shaking. | 2 users found this interesting. Tarakeswar (131.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was on my bed and suddenly I felt that my bed is vibrating , but I saw the fan which was slightly moving | 2 users found this interesting. Kharagpur, West Midnapore, West Bengal (190.9 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s : I was sitting next to the wall and I was sitting in the ground, I suddenly felt a vibration and at that time I was in a call with my friend I said I felt a vibration and she said she felt it too, she stays nearly 4 km away from my location. | 2 users found this interesting. Kanchrapara, Nadia, West Bengal (89.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s : Suddenly I felt vibration and not only I the people around my area they all came outside their houses | 2 users found this interesting. Sodpur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (80.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : It was quite a strong shake but nothing too serious felt between 5 to 6 | 3 users found this interesting. Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal (92.6 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : we are sitting on our bed and suddenly the window and bed was started tremble or vibrate for a moment i thought its palpitition or something of my own body after 2 minutes i move outside and ask nebours and they also experienced same i am from iti more kalyani i mean near iti more | One user found this interesting. Baruipur (73.2 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I was in my room , doing my works and saw everything was vibrating, my ceiling fan was also going to and fro. An earthquake of magnitude 5 it was. | One user found this interesting. Rajpur Sonarpur, South Twenty Four Parganas, West Bengal (73.6 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s : I was sleeping when suddenly I saw the fan above my head turning and the bed shaking slightly. A little while later I got an update from here that there really was an earthquake almost near my location. | One user found this interesting. Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal (92.2 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : It was very well not much affective but Some how mirrors and beds were shaking too much but the bed is very heavy | One user found this interesting. Karimpur, Nadia, West Bengal (178.6 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I am just watching my phone and suddenly I felt that my bed is shaking and I look around and see everyone thing is shaking. | One user found this interesting. Kalyani west bengal (93.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe : I was currently sitting on the floor and suddenly it started to shake my tv my cupboard and after 10 15 secs it stopped | One user found this interesting. RA-489 nabapally (75.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Ground floor apartment, sitting in my chair. There was a noticeable shaking, but not strong enough to damage anything. | One user found this interesting. Malda, West Bengal (300.7 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was sitting in a field and suddenly it shook and animals started running around. | 2 users found this interesting. Krishnanagar, Nadia, West Bengal (124.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : The fan were moving swaying little and the water in glasses were also the same for a few seconds. | 2 users found this interesting. (131.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : , | 2 users found this interesting. Kolkata (77.9 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : Sitting in bed when everything swayed very heavily | 2 users found this interesting. Dhaka (190.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I felt it from dhaka. | One user found this interesting. Anandapur, Kolkata (75.9 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s : I felt the ground below me subside and then rise up, as if riding a wave. | One user found this interesting. Kolkata / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : The building swayed from side to side. I was on the sixth floor | One user found this interesting. Dumdum (80.6 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : It felt rattling. | One user found this interesting. Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (74.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / very short : We were indoors, the Fan was shaking and we felt dizzy | One user found this interesting. Dumka (378.5 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : Bed was shaking | One user found this interesting. Kolkata (78.1 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) : Iam so feared | One user found this interesting. Kolkata (216.2 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s : Just sitting on bed | One user found this interesting. Rairangpur (303.6 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Shaking was there | One user found this interesting. Inside house. (84.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / vibration and rolling / very short : Very Strong earthquake felt | One user found this interesting. Bankra, Howrah, West Bengal (88.7 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Even while laying i felt the shake ! | One user found this interesting. Mayapur, India / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Light shaking. Im on ground floor | One user found this interesting. According to a statement [1] issued by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on February 24, 2026, London and Paris are considering secretly transferring a nuclear warhead, the small French TN75 used in M51 missiles deployed on submarines, to Ukraine in order to make it appear as though Ukraine has nuclear capabilities. Germany is said to have prudently refused to participate in this operation. Both London and Paris are trying hard to derail the peace negotiations with Russia. To do this, they are ready to violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). If Ukraine were a nuclear state, Russia would have to halt its special military operation and accept less favorable peace terms. On April 9, 2022, then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came to Kyiv to deter Ukrainians from signing a peace agreement with Russia [2]. This information is published just as President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin warned [3] of possible Ukrainian terrorist acts against Russian gas pipelines (TurkStream and Blue Stream) in the Black Sea while speaking on 24 February 2026 at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. On February 26, the Russian Duma adopted an appeal to France, the United Kingdom, and Germany: "Given the critical danger of the transfer of nuclear weapons, their components, and their delivery systems, and the imminent defeat of the anti-people and criminal regime in Kiev, the deputies of the State Duma call on the parliaments of France and the United Kingdom, the European Parliament, and the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to take extraordinary measures to prevent such a scenario from unfolding." [4] Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world. Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense. EDITORIAL 4874 London and Paris are reportedly considering arming Kiev with a nuclear bomb AMERICAS 4875 Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court and Tariffs 4876 JPMorgan Chase sued for "political discrimination" 4877 General Dan Caine strongly advises against war with Iran 4878 xAI to partially replace Anthropic for the Pentagon 4879 Immigration Court Saturation 4880 Steve Witkoff and JD Vance accuse Iran of planning to build an atomic bomb 4881 In the US, illegal immigrants can be given weapons by the police 4882 CIA Cancels Obama-Era Woke Reports 4883 Donald Trump calls for Susan Rices exclusion from Netflix 4884 Joe Bidens FBI had wiretapped Kash Patel and Susie Wiles 4885 Elimination of El Mencho 4886 Panama regains control of the canals two Chinese ports 4887 Who wanted to attack Cuba? 4888 General amnesty in Venezuela EUROPE 4889 Arrest of Lord Mandelson for "misconduct" 4890 E5 Summit on European Military Cooperation 4891 Greenland does not want the US health care system 4892 Hungary blocks both Ukraines support loan and EUs 20th sanctions package against Russia 4893 Nine States call for a reduction in the European Commissions draft operating budget 4894 Downsizing of the Russian Embassy to the EU 4895 The EU could appoint a person in charge in each of its delegations to combat the manipulation of information 4896 The "War Museum" in Kiev 4897 Ukraine-Baltic States Summit (NB8) 4898 Ukraine needs $588 billion for reconstruction 4999 Instead of banning children, Michael OFlaherty calls for internet platforms to respect human rights 4900 Mikhail Galuzin Interview with TASS AFRICA 4901 Senegal tightens its laws against homosexuals 4902 Africans caught up, against their will, in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict ASIA 4903 Netanyahus New Alliance Strategy 4904 Mike Huckabees Provocative Interview 4905 Israel bans Palestinian media from Jerusalem 4906 Israel would like to place Lebanon in its zone of influence 4907 Israel threatens to bomb Beirut if Hezbollah intervenes in U.S.-Iran war 4908 Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States declare Lebanon a risk area 4909 Pentagon evacuates Qasrak military base 4910 Chevron to operate West Qurna 2 4911 Turkiye agrees to repatriate its Daesh nationals 4912 Abbas Araghchi guest of "Face the Nation" 4913 Iranian Government Warns Students Against Crossing Red Lines 4914 Iran Could Buy Chinese Supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles 4915 Narendra Modi in Israel 4916 Towards a Trump-Kim Summit 4917 Kim Yo-jong Advancement 4918 China restricts trade with Japan 4919 Measures taken during the China-Japan Crisis 4920 China expects Germany to commit itself to international peace INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 4921 UN General Assembly, without the United States, adopts a resolution on peace in Ukraine I have the honour to write to you to bring to the Councils urgent attention a grave violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and territorial integrity and a serious breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. On 21 and 22 February 2026, during the holy month of Ramadan, the Pakistani Air Force conducted multiple air strikes across several provinces in eastern and south-eastern Afghanistan, including Paktika and Nangarhar. These strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 17 civilians, including women and children, and have caused injuries to numerous others. The attacks targeted residential areas in the districts of Barmal and Urgun in Paktika Province, as well as the Khogyani, Bihsud and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar Province. These air strikes constitute a flagrant violation of: (a) Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State; (b) The fundamental principle of State sovereignty under international law; (c) International humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack, which require parties to distinguish between civilians and combatants and to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize civilian harm; (d) The principles of good neighbourly relations and peaceful settlement of disputes enshrined in the Charter. This is not an isolated incident. Similar Pakistani air strikes occurred from 9 to 17 October 2025 across multiple Afghan provinces, resulting in at least 37 civilian deaths and 425 injuries, as documented by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Further air strikes on 25 November 2025 in Khost, Kunar and Paktika Provinces killed nine children and one woman. Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Turkiye on 19 October 2025, violations have continued, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for Afghanistans sovereignty and civilian protection. The Afghan people have endured more than four decades of conflict and instability. They have been victims of terrorism and have suffered immensely from the devastating consequences of terrorist networks and their supporters. Afghans should not bear the consequences of others failures to confront terrorism consistently, responsibly and without distinction. The latest attacks during Ramadan, a sacred time of peace, reflection and compassion, represent a particularly egregious disregard for human life, Islamic values and international norms. Afghanistan condemns all forms of terrorism without exception and categorically rejects any justification for unilateral military actions on its territory. Counter-terrorism efforts, while necessary, must be conducted in full compliance with international law and with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Unilateral military operations undermine the principles upon which the international order is based and set a dangerous precedent that threatens regional and global peace and security. Pakistan, as a member of the Security Council, has not sought authorization from the Security Council for these attacks, nor has it invoked the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter in a manner consistent with international law. These actions cannot be justified under any interpretation of international law and represent a serious threat to peace and security in the region. Afghanistan calls on the Government of Pakistan to address any legitimate security concerns through peaceful means, including bilateral dialogue, regional cooperation mechanisms and engagement within the framework of the United Nations. However, such dialogue cannot proceed constructively while Afghanistans sovereignty continues to be violated and its civilian population subjected to deadly attacks. In light of the foregoing, the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan respectfully requests that: (a) The Security Council urgently address this serious violation of the Charter and international law; (b) The Security Council call upon Pakistan to immediately cease all military operations within Afghan territory and to respect Afghanistans sovereignty and territorial integrity; (c) The Security Council condemn these attacks and the loss of civilian life, including women and children; (d) The Security Council call for an independent and impartial investigation into these air strikes and their impact on civilians; (e) The Security Council reaffirm the fundamental principles of the Charter, including the prohibition on the use of force and respect for territorial integrity; (f) The Security Council encourage all parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and in accordance with international law and the principles of good neighbourly relations. Afghanistan has consistently emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan and the wider region require joint efforts to support the establishment of a legitimate, accountable and inclusive Government that reflects the aspirations and will of the Afghan people and is committed to fulfilling its national and international obligations. The Permanent Mission of Afghanistan remains committed to working with the Security Council and the broader international community to promote peace, stability and respect for international law in Afghanistan and our region. We stand ready to engage constructively in any dialogue aimed at addressing regional security concerns through lawful and peaceful means. I would highly appreciate it if you could circulate the present letter to the members of the Security Council as a document of the Council. Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) has signed a multi decade LNG sale and purchase agreement with CPC Corporation of Taiwan, extending contracted revenues through 2050. The company reports record LNG exports in 2025, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of its first U.S. LNG cargo. Cheniere has filed an application for a Stage 4 expansion at Corpus Christi that would take total capacity potential to 49 million tons per annum and is advancing additional growth projects at Sabine Pass. Cheniere Energy, a major U.S. LNG exporter, is tying new long term contracts to physical growth projects at its Gulf Coast terminals. For you as an investor, that link between LNG sale agreements and liquefaction capacity helps frame how the company seeks to match future supply with contracted demand from buyers such as CPC in Taiwan. The latest contract, export milestones and expansion filings together highlight a company planning around long dated LNG demand and energy security themes that remain important for importers. As more details emerge on the timing, size and terms of the Corpus Christi Stage 4 and Sabine Pass projects, you will be able to assess how these commitments fit with your view on LNG market risks and opportunities. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Cheniere Energy by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Cheniere Energy. NYSE:LNG Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026 Beyond the headline: 2 risks and 3 things going right for Cheniere Energy that every investor should see. For Cheniere Energy, this news ties together three important threads: infrastructure build-out, contract coverage, and current profitability. Record 2025 LNG exports and a 64% rise in full-year net income to US$5.33b show that the existing terminals are already being used heavily. At the same time, the long-term sale and purchase agreement with CPC in Taiwan, running from 2026 through 2050, adds decades of visibility for a slice of future volumes. The proposed Stage 4 expansion at Corpus Christi and further projects at Sabine Pass would increase Chenieres scale in a market that also includes large players such as QatarEnergy, Shell and TotalEnergies. That bigger footprint could help with unit costs and commercial flexibility, but it also comes with execution risk and exposure to views that the LNG market may see a supply surplus. The mixed reaction from banks, including at least one downgrade on supply glut concerns, underlines that you need to weigh contract-backed cash flows against the risk that future projects do not earn the returns you might be hoping for. Chinese judiciary chiefs want to give courts new powers to fight financial and crypto-related crime as Beijing steps up its crackdown on Bitcoin and other private digital assets. The Supreme Peoples Court, the countrys highest judicial body, said it wants to fight insider trading and market manipulation. We must conduct research and strengthen our responses to new types of financial crime, in sectors such as supply chain finance, internet finance, and cryptocurrencies, said Wang Chuang, director of the courts Second Civil Division. The Supreme Courts comments come just weeks after the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported Chinese-language money laundering networks are responsible for processing 20% of illicit crypto funds over the past five years. Chinese-speaking money launderers processed over $16 billion in 2025, or around $44 million per day, the firm said. Courts new powers The Chinese judiciary wants to create a series of comprehensive laws to help prosecutors and courts issue stricter punishments for crypto and financial crimes, Ma Hongwei, a senior partner at Beijing Dacheng Law Firm, told Chinese media outlet Shanghai Securities News. This will mean judges will no longer have to rely chiefly on legal precedent in crypto- and price manipulation-related cases, Ma said. Chinese courts handled more than 2.7 million financial cases last year, including many crypto-related cases, Wang said. That represents a rise of 2% from 2024. Wang said the judiciary must move fast to formulate a response to new financial cases such as those involving cryptocurrencies. The Supreme Court said it was aware of the rise of crypto-related crime and is aiming to unify judicial standards on the matter. The court called crypto a new financial field that needs to be studied as it formulates new regulatory and judicial responses. The financial sector is the backbone of the national economy and a key component of Chinas core competitiveness, said Wang. We must support the development of a sound financial system. Beijing has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on crypto in recent months. In December, the central Peoples Bank of China, or PBoC, said it was stepping up efforts to combat crypto speculation and trading. The bank said it would continue to uphold bans on crypto trading and crack down on illegal financial activities related to virtual currencies, and protect the safety of the public. Earlier this month, the bank and Chinas securities regulators banned most forms of yuan-pegged stablecoins and real-world asset-related projects. Wanted in Rome is a monthly magazine in English for expatriates in Rome established in 1985. The magazine covers Rome news stories that may be of interest to English and Italian speaking residents, and tourists as well. The publication also offers classifieds, photos, information on events, museums, churches, galleries, exhibits, fashion, food, and local travel. Incident raises concerns about Italy's precious cultural heritage in public spaces. Rome preservation experts have completed a delicate restoration on the Elephant and Obelisk sculpture, designed by Italian Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Technicians from the capitoline superintendency re-attached the marble tip of the right tusk of the 17th-century "elefantino" after it was snapped off last week. The 11-centimetre fragment of tusk was found at the base of the sculpture in the central Piazza della Minerva, near the Pantheon, on the night of 16 February. Investigators have been studying video surveillance footage to determine whether the breakage was the result of vandalism or structural fatigue, however the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Restoration process Technical assessments confirmed that the fractured fragment was not part of Bernini's original 1667 marble but was a resin-and-marble-dust addition from a 1977 restoration. This same section had previously been broken in 2016 and subsequently reattached. The restoration process involved securing the recovered fragment with specialised structural adhesives and finishing the surface with a lime-based mortar to ensure aesthetic continuity. Debate Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII, the monument features an Egyptian obelisk from the 6th century BC mounted on the back of a marble elephant. Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli condemned the breakage as an "absurd act of barbarity," occurring just days after a major Bernini exhibition opened at Palazzo Barberini. The incident has reignited debate about the precarious balance between free access to art and the need to protect fragile works in public spaces. Photo Wanted in Rome By Zaheer Kachwala Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares of CoreWeave slumped around 15% on Friday, after the company's plans to double capital expenditure this year stoked investor concerns about margin pressure and effective returns from its artificial intelligence push. If current losses hold, CoreWeave is set to shed more than $8 billion from its market value. More from Yahoo Scout What financial risks do neoclouds face versus Big Tech? How does CoreWeave's business model work in AI services? Why did CoreWeave's stock drop 15% Friday? How much is CoreWeave planning to spend on infrastructure? The cloud infrastructure company has committed significant capital toward the construction of large data centers filled with top-of-the-line Nvidia chips to capitalize on the booming demand for AI services. CoreWeave has budgeted $30 billion to $35 billion in capital expenditure this year, more than double the $14.9 billion it spent in 2025. The increased spending will put some "short-term pressure on the margins," the company said. "The share price reaction suggests that while markets understand CoreWeave's plan to accelerate spending, and prioritize speed to, and share of, market, they are concerned about the long-term economics and how the company plans to fund the investment," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. The company's ballooning spending mirrors that of hyperscale cloud providers such as Alphabet's Google and Amazon , which have collectively committed more than $600 billion this year for AI infrastructure buildouts. However, unlike these Big Tech companies, neoclouds such as CoreWeave and peer Nebius lack the massive cash reserves, exposing them to significant market downturns. CoreWeave had $3.13 billion in cash and its equivalents, compared with Microsoft's $24.3 billion and Amazon's $86.8 billion, according to their most recent earnings reports. Amsterdam-based Nebius earlier this month reported a sharp rise in capital spending to $2.1 billion in the December quarter from just $416 million in the prior year period. Neoclouds offer hardware and cloud capacity as services to other tech firms, usually by providing access to high-quality processors and cloud infrastructure. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo) Age Friendly Waterford, in partnership with the Waterford Older Peoples Council, announced the publication of the Age Friendly Waterford Walkability Audit Report for Dungarvan Town Centre during a recent collaborative Public Realm Workshop. The workshop was hosted by Age Friendly Ireland and OHerlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC), on Wednesday, February 25th, at the Civic Offices, Dungarvan. A spokesperson for Waterford City & County Council said the audit engaged local residents, disability advocates, older people, community organisations and service providers in a practical assessment of Dungarvans town centre, using the Universal Design Walkability Audit Tool developed by the National Transport Authority. The process gathered lived experiences from participants representing a wide range of ages and abilities, ensuring that findings reflected real everyday use of the towns streets and public spaces. Speaking about the publication, Claire Flavin, Age Friendly Waterford, said: Dungarvans participation in this process represents a significant opportunity to ensure that the lived experiences of local people directly inform national Age Friendly public realm guidance." "The insights gathered through the walkability audit demonstrate the value of community engagement in identifying practical, achievable improvements that support independence, dignity and inclusion," she said. "Being part of the development of national guidelines positions Dungarvan as a leader in inclusive town planning," she added. Ms Flavin also said being included in the guidelines development "ensures that the challenges and opportunities identified locally will help shape future public realm design across Ireland, ultimately benefiting communities far beyond our county". Read More HSE gives 50 million towards completion of UHW Surgical Hub The report highlighted Dungarvans many strengths as a compact, vibrant and attractive market town with strong community spirit and well-maintained public spaces. It also identified barriers affecting accessibility, safety and independence, including uneven surfaces, street clutter, crossing timings, insufficient accessible parking and the absence of a centrally located public toilet with changing places facilities. The Council spokesperson said the audit set out practical, achievable recommendations aimed at improving walkability and supporting inclusive participation in town life for residents and visitors, regardless of age or ability. "The findings provide a strong evidence base to inform future planning, public realm improvements and local decision-making," noted the spokesperson. The public realm workshop, led by Age Friendly Ireland and OHAC, brought together audit participants to prioritise key barriers and co-design solutions. Facilitated by OHAC consultants, the workshop outcomes will contribute to a forthcoming national Age Friendly Public Realm publication, meaning the findings from Dungarvan will inform policy and practice at national level. Age Friendly Waterford expressed gratitude to all the participants and partner organisations whose collaboration and lived experience were central to the success of the audit. The Council spokesperson also said the publication of the report marks an important milestone in advancing Dungarvans ambition to become a fully inclusive, accessible and welcoming town for residents and visitors alike. The report is available at https://bit.ly/walkabilityreportdungarvan. For further information please call 058-22035 or email agefriendly@waterfordcouncil.ie The number of adults who accessed emergency accommodation in Waterford in the last week of January increased from the last week in December. This is according to a homelessness report published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In December 2025, 109 adults accessed emergency accommodation over one week. In January 2026, that number went up to 111. Waterford had the highest rate of adults accessing emergency accommodation in the South East region. The lowest in the South East was Kilkenny at 45 people. Overall, Dublin had the highest rate of 8,267, and Leitrim had the lowest at 16. Read More New reports show increase in rent prices and waiting times for social housing in Waterford In the South-East region, the majority of adults in emergency accommodation were aged between 25 and 44. Victor Sullivan, CEO of Waterford Helping the Homeless, told the Waterford News & Star that his organisation has seen at least three new people access their services per week since November. "It just keeps getting worse," he said. Mr Sullivan believes that the figure would be much higher if it included the number of people living in their car or on a friend's couch. A final walk with the "most walked dog in Naas" was remembered at the funeral Mass of Waterford natives, Brian Frisby and Grace Elliott, who were tragically killed on the main Tramore road, on Saturday, February 21, as the adored couple were laid to rest in their adopted Naas on Friday afternoon last, February 27. An overflowing congregation inside the Church of Our Lady and St. David in Naas heard how the devoted husband and wife had walked along the Tramore beach with their beloved dog Frodo, had a coffee, and then left to attend a family funeral, when tragedy struck. Amid a sea of heartbreak, the two oak coffins of Brian and Grace were carried shoulder high to the altar of the church to the Christy Moore song The Voyage, sung by soloist Bernard Hennessy, where they were placed side by side in front of the heartbroken Elliott and Frisby families. The Mass was concelebrated by chief-celebrant Fr. Liam Morgan, PP Church of Our Lady and St. David, Fr. Eamonn Aylward, family relative, Fr. Brian Kavanagh of Newbridge, and Fr. Robert Petrisor CC Church of Our Lady and St. David, with only standing room inside. Three symbols representing the lives of Brian and Grace were brought to the altar: a family photo of the couple with their two sons, Theo and Fionn, in their Waterford jerseys; a hurley and sliotar symbolising their love of Gaelic Games; and shells and sand representing their final walk together. NO EXPLAINING IT A poignant tribute to their mother and father, penned by their youngest son, Fionn, was read by their uncle Michael, which read: Mam and Dad, you know theres no explaining it, but the bit that stands out for me was how you were both taking good care of yourselves. Two unreal, loving people out taking our family dog for a walk the most-walked dog in Naas, as a few have mentioned. But along with the dog, it was us, Theo and me. We never put into words what it was like to have you as a Dad who would understand us as much, whether on the pitch or in school. Its only in the past few days that I've heard stories of you when you were younger, and realised that you were 10 times more trouble than Theo and me!" Fionn added: I was only thinking as I was putting pen to paper of how you would know, if Dad was the same age as me now, that wed be serious friends. Mam was by the book... Saying the word honesty wouldn't even do you justice. She was just a true human being. The mother she was is hard to put into words. There was one thing that she wouldnt be honest about, and thats if any of us were to play poorly in a hurling match. She was always unbelievable. "Well remember your home-cooked dinners and how you told us there was no need to stop off. You were dead right. You were two gems of this world and always will be. We love ye. DEVASTATING LOSS In a heartfelt homily, full of emotion and meaning, Fr. Morgan said: We gather with very heavy hearts, and yet, it is so important that we are here, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Elliott and Frisby families, in this hour of greatest need. Sometimes in this life, there is a loss that is so devastating, a grief so overwhelming, and we wonder why the human heart can contain such sorrow and loss. This is a grief beyond words, and we are rendered silent. Extending our deepest sympathy to the parents of Grace and Brian, their brothers and sisters, however, it is Theo and Fionn who are first and foremost in our thoughts and prayers. Were just so sorry, Theo and Fionn, that unbearable loss and pain have befallen your still young lives. To me, you're only chaps. It is a cruel hand of fate that youve both been dealt. The unthinkable happened on Saturday, which is a reminder that our whole life is very fragile. In life, there are no certainties, no guarantees, and we never know the day or the hour." A TRUE BOND Fr Morgan added, We cling to hope, love, and human connection. Theres no doubt that Grace and Brian were wonderful parents. They adored the very ground that Theo and Fionn walked upon. To their two boys, they gave everything. The blessing of love, the feeling of security and belonging, and a place to call home. An education, opportunities, family moments, a love of sport and GAA, and as two young lads, you did return the gratitude. You did so every day in the honest effort in school, attaining a university place, your activities, and never bringing trouble to the door of your parents' home. They loved you beyond words. I acknowledge that it's not easy to be here today, seated in the front row of the church, with two coffins standing side by side. It would be inconceivable to me if the love of two parents, your mom and dad, could somehow end." He concluded: I trust that their love, trust, guidance, and strength will continue to inspire and influence you both as life unfolds. Over this past week, youve been surrounded by people who love and care about you deeply, all standing with you, shoulder to shoulder, there for you. As we try to support you, we cant fill this void as your mom and dad are simply irreplaceable. I suppose, in truth, its just the two of you blood brothers, and as life unfolds, and it will, may this experience of immeasurable loss forge within you a tighter and closer bond. May life be kind to you, as it's everything you both deserve. PROUD PARENTS In a tribute to her sister, Laura Elliott said: The support that weve received over the last few days has been amazing. As a family, we truly appreciate all your visits, help and messages. At a time like this, I would normally turn to Grace for advice as she always knew the right thing to say or do when it came to anything family orientated. Asking CHAT-GPT what to say in a eulogy just wasnt the same as having her. We know Grace as a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, but most of all as a mother to Theo and Fionn. She was inspired by her grandmother, Maisie, who had seven boys, and Grace wanted boys of her own, just not seven of them. Dedicated to her boys from the day that they were born, she loved seeing Theo go to college and being so happy there, and Fionn working towards college. She was proud of the great sportsmen they are and was so embedded in this beautiful community. SPECIAL GIFTS Laura added: Grace has a few special gifts, and one of those is with children. We were also so grateful to have Brian in our family. He brought the family values Grace loved, and they were the best couple for a night out. Grace had a special place in her heart for Brians mam, Mary, and she treasured those special times. None of us wants to say goodbye today to Grace and Brian, but well treasure memories, great nights out, endless laughs, Graces fry-ups, her coffees, talking about coffees, her lasagnes, and her loud, infectious laugh that will stay with us always. To the Bomb and the Duck, we love you and rest in peace. Brians brother Michael also paid tribute to the happy couple, who he remembers staying with shortly after they were married in 2003. I want to thank my own GAA club, Mount Sion, Eadestown, and Naas GAA clubs for their guard of honour and their support, especially Conal Bohan, who is a great support to both our families at this difficult time. In the early 2000s, they met each other in a place in Waterford called Fat Sam's, out having a few drinks, but where relationships really flourished was on the train going up to Dublin. After a few years, Brian consulted with Dad, his best friend, about asking Grace to marry him. They were married in West Cork back in 2003, and it was the best craic because the band never turned up, but we still had a great night with a singsong. It was the best night I ever had. The newlyweds went back to Terenure then, and I actually moved in with them just like every newlywed couple wanted." ADORED BY ALL Michael added: Theo arrived in 2005, and fast forward three years, and Fionn arrived. The Frisby family was now complete. They adored you both, and you both adored them. Although you were in Kildare, Waterford was in your thoughts. Brian travelled a lot to watch Mount Sion games and spent many weekends in Waterford. They were Mam and Dads best friends. Since Theo and Fionn were born, Christmas has always been a very special time in Newports Square as they spent it with us. Grace was exceptional at making personalised gifts and homemade goods. She always had a kind word, a personalised touch, and warmth that you would be instantly drawn to her. Ill never forget her smile. She loved her nieces and nephews. Brian, on the other hand, looked like Grant Mitchell from EastEnders, but he was the softest and gentlest soul. He loved his family first and then hurling. As a family, we are broken. We love you both, rest in peace. Liam Hennessy, chairman of Naas hurling club, also paid tribute to Brian and Grace, before their coffins were carried from the church to the David Gray song, This Years Love, before they were laid to rest at St. Corbans Cemetery in Naas. Brian is predeceased by his sister, Maria, and his grandparents, while Grace is predeceased by her nephew, Ciaran, and her grandparents. Brian and Grace are survived by their sons, Theo and Fionn, their heartbroken parents, Seanie and Mary Elliott and Bernard and Mary Frisby. Brian is also survived by his brothers Richard and Michael, sister Susan, brother-in-law Derek and John, sisters-in-law Debbie and Lorna, nephews and nieces Aoife, Emily, Niamh, Jack, Tadhg, Sean, Michael, Pauric, Amelie, Leila, Elle and Mila and grand-niece Annie. Grace is also survived by her brother Stephen, sisters Denise and Laura, brother-in-law Gerry, sister-in-law Sile, nieces Sarah, Rebecca, Alannah, Romy, Jasmine and Sasha and grand-niece Averie, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. May they rest in peace. Advertisement BusinessConsumer affairsAviation How to make the most of Qantas new loyalty rules Chris Zappone February 27, 2026 2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Qantas Frequent Flyer members looking to take advantage of the revamp of its status credit scheme can now roll over some of their excess credits from one year to the next, accelerating the pace at which they can move up status tiers and access more perks. Qantas on Thursday unveiled a major change to its loyalty program, allowing members to earn status credits by spending on things such as food and petrol. Unlike regular Qantas Frequent Flyer points, which have long been available from the airlines branded credit cards through on-the-ground spending, status credits have come largely from flying and brought perks such as more generous baggage allowance and lounge access. Qantas loyalty boss Andrew Glance, chief executive Vanessa Hudson and chief financial officer Rob Marcolina on Thursday. Renee Nowytarger Steve Hui of IFlyFlat said the announcement is Qantas acknowledging what is already true in its customers behaviour: Loyalty isnt about flying any more: its about financial behaviour. Advertisement For people flying or buying their way to a higher tier of status credit, Hui said they will be able to roll over up to 50 per cent of unused status credits into the next year. Hui gives the example of a member who can fly enough each year to accrue around 600 to 650 status credits but cannot get to gold status, at 700 credits. If you can generate even 80-140 status credits through normal business behaviour not extra flights that gap can disappear, he said. But there are caps on the amount that can be rolled over from one year to the next, too. Silver tier holders can only roll over 100 credits, for gold 350 credits, and platinum holders 500. Under the changes, Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn up to 140 status credits per year from their spending on the ground, while a customer needs 300 status credits to earn silver, 700 to earn gold, for example. Adele Eliseo of The Champagne Mile said the new 140 status credits available on the ground can help, but they wont move you into a meaningful tier on their own. Advertisement If youre new to status and weighing up a push, gold remains the level where lounge access and priority benefits materially change the travel experience, she said, noting that 140 status credits represent only one-fifth of gold, and an even smaller proportion of platinum. Qantas typically runs only one or two double status-credit promotions which allow people to earn more status credits each year, she said. One of those promotions, Points Club, is ceasing with these changes. Qantas Frequent Flyers members who hold Points Club status are likely to have a final opportunity to earn double status credits on reward-seat bookings under the current promotion, she said. If you already have Points Club, this could be your last chance to maximise that combination before it disappears, she said. At the top end, its possible to receive up to 126 status credits, or 252 during a double status-credit promotion, on a single sector. Thats more than a third of the way to gold tier in just one flight. Advertisement The changes were announced in tandem with Qantas half-year results. The airline posted a $1.46 billion pre-tax half-year profit, helped by strong demand, including from its loyalty division which posted pre-tax earnings of $286 million, a rise of 12 per cent. Qantas loyalty division chief Andrew Glance said of the changes: Ultimately its a fantastic way to be recognised for everyday behaviour, be it shopping at Woolworths, filling up your car at BP, or taking out a credit card. Its nice to know that through that journey youre being recognised and importantly rewarded for it. It is very much part of the DNA within the Australian culture, and its something that we [at Qantas] certainly dont take for granted, Glance said. Thats why we invest a lot of time in understanding what our members want from us. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement BusinessWorkplaceHiring Employers to jobseekers: Your AI resume isnt fooling anyone Danielle Abril February 28, 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 As part of a job search, outsourcing and offshoring company Oceans asked candidates to make a video answering one question: what is your most controversial personal conviction about the workplace? The company received more than 300 responses and most of them were eerily similar. It was abundantly clear it was [artificial intelligence], Matt Wallaert, Oceans chief experience officer, said of the repeated answers, which also followed the same structure. It was like you did the laziest possible you failed the basic task of sharing your personal beliefs. Its easy to spot when candidates over-rely on AI, employers say, yet jobseekers arent holding back on using the technology. iStock The situation left Wallaert and the hiring team bewildered on how to evaluate the candidates, as even some of the most qualified blended together. Jobseekers are turning to AI to help them land jobs more quickly in a tough labor market. With a plethora of AI tools, some employers may be screening applicants resumes, deprioritising them as candidates. Advertisement Employers say thats having an unintended consequence: many applications are looking and sounding the same. AI has complicated the process for both employers and jobseekers, leaving both sides at odds over how to get what they want. Its easy to spot when candidates over-rely on AI, some employers said. Often, executive summaries will look eerily similar to each other, odd phrases that people wouldnt normally use in conversation creep into descriptions, fancy vocabulary appears, and someone with entry-level experience uses language that indicates they are much more senior, they added. Candidates should write it themselves, express their own ideas and personalities, and take the time to manually submit their applications. Its worse when they use auto-apply AI tools, which will find jobs, fill out applications and submit resumes on the candidates behalf, some employers said. Those tend to misinterpret some of the application questions and fill in the wrong information in inappropriate spots. If these applications were evaluated alone, employers say theyd have a harder time identifying AI usage. But when hundreds of applications all have the same issue, they said, AIs role in it becomes obvious. Advertisement Joseph Eitner, chief human resources officer for New York-based investment firm Eaton Capital Management, said he has no issue with candidates turning to AI to add some keywords, clean up their grammar, or even help them think through a question on the application. But ultimately, he said, candidates should do the writing themselves, express their own ideas and personalities, and take the time to manually submit their applications. Editor's pick Opinion Hiring Bland, boring: AI can ruin your chance of getting a new job Tim Duggan Work columnist If thats how you apply and how you work, I dont want to hire you, he said. AI auto-apply services are snake oil. Its a disservice to yourself and to the people youre applying to. Not all employers rely heavily on AI to screen applicants, according to Ron Sharon, chief information security officer in Denver at financial advisory firm PTMA Financial Solutions, and some only use it to help them prioritise people with the necessary experience. Sharon said he uses an AI tool that assigns percentages to candidates based on their qualifications. Anyone who hits a 75 per cent or above will be considered for the job, he said, but AI never automatically rejects a candidate. Advertisement I use AI as a tool to help me augment what I do, he said. Jobseekers should use it to help them augment what they do. They shouldnt use AI for the complete process. But some jobseekers say the ways that employers started using the technology to rank candidates prompted them to adopt it. Stephen Harris, a 37-year-old in San Antonio whos seeking a job as a tech support specialist, said hell stop using AI to write his resume once recruiters stop using AI to evaluate it. Youre saying, You shouldnt be doing this when I know a good chunk of them do this, Harris said. Employers are often focusing too hard on finding the perfect candidate and losing some of the most adaptable ones in the process, he said. And while he still tries to stand out by sending his resume via mail, he says using AI to quickly tailor his resume makes it easier to be among some of the earlier applicants. Jobseekers say one of the benefits of AI is it can help people make ideas flow better, punch up their words and fill in blanks they may struggle with. But some employers say theyd much rather see the person as they are. Advertisement Editor's pick Opinion Hiring An insiders guide on the best ways to impress a recruiter Prateek Singh, founder and CEO of the start-up LearnApp in New Delhi, said when candidates use AI for applications, it doesnt allow him to evaluate what excites them about the job and what theyre less interested in. In their cover letters, candidates are asking him to chat over coffee a phrase he said isnt common in India. This is the best time for you to stand out based on all of your flaws and eccentricity, he said. If 100 applicants come to us with AI, and you are authentic, you stand out. The advice rings true to applicants such as Sneha Sharma, who said when she stopped using AI for her resume, she started to gain more traction in her job search. In the course of about six months she had applied to up to 300 jobs, using AI tools such as ChatGPT and some that helped her find leads. She briefly tried an AI application that auto-applied to jobs for her but gave up on that in a couple of weeks. But she couldnt land any interviews. Advertisement After taking a break, she adopted a new approach: She stopped using AI, built a couple of resumes from scratch, adding a little personality such as including details about her move to the United States, cold calling and emailing recruiters. Within two weeks she landed seven interviews, and in less than two months, she had a job. Dont be blinded by the internet and that ChatGPT will do everything, she said. Use your brain, keep changing and experimenting. Wallaert, the Oceans executive, said the company planned to reach back out to qualified candidates who used AI to tell them to try again. The company also intends to update the applications instructions to ask that candidates not use AI for their video response. Wallaert has faith that eventually the problem will solve itself, but in the meantime, he feels badly for candidates who may lose out because of relying too much on AI. This gap will close over time but at what cost? he said. Thats the bummer. - Washington Post Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you. Sign up for our weekly Thank God its Monday newsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Hiring Insight host Kumi Taguchi (left) on the screens in the SBS control room, where multiple camera angles can be seen concurrently while the episode is being recorded. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A On paper, Insight should be the Jerry Springer of Australian television. Divisive topics death, divorce, racism, menopause, guilt, sex and more are covered, family secrets are revealed and unpopular and controversial opinions are shared. Heck, they even had a guest last year whose wild story about a crocodile attack went viral. But instead of chairs being thrown, as was popular on the US chat show whenever anyone disagreed about something, on Insight, everyone just nods their head and does the most radical thing of all: they listen. You can actually ask questions that are uncomfortable, and thats OK, says Kumi Taguchi, who has hosted the show for the past five of its 30 years. Youre not a bad person. Kumi Taguchi talks to audience members before recording begins. Wolter Peeters Taguchi is talking the day after she recorded an episode titled Death of Debate? Its particularly timely given that Sydney was rocked just days earlier by protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzogs visit. And this was just after Adelaide Writers Week organisers cancelled their festival after authors vowed to boycott it when the festival cancelled a talk by Palestinian-Australian academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. The temperature has been hot, to say the least. But in this age of outrage, Insight has quietly carved a path through the noise. It debates topics that annoy the left, right and the middle, which is remarkable given how discourse has become so polarised. How do they do it? And without any chairs being thrown? Trust, is the short answer. Advertisement Related Article Documentaries This new SBS doco is great. But to one filmmaker, its oddly familiar Everyone in the room has a real motivation for being there, says Taguchi. They understand why theyre there, and they understand what were doing. Nothings hidden, theres no kind of, Lets ask that person that question, and therell be a bit of tension and controversy. We want every guest to come out of that room feeling that they were looked after, they were valued, they werent blindsided by anything. The secret sauce, I really think, is the trust in that brand of Insight and what we do, but also the amount of work the producers do with the talent leading up [to each show]. Theres nothing thats not discussed. Every person can say, Look, I dont want to talk about that bit, but I do want to talk about that. We will help them talk about difficult things. Kumi Taguchi runs through the script for the Death of Debate? episode. Wolter Peeters The presenter checks the script. Wolter Peeters For the Death of Debate? episode, the idea evolved out of a news story from South Australia, where a year 9 debating competition became embroiled in controversy when it asked students to debate the merits of being a trad-wife. Advertisement The trad-wife topic is a bit controversial at the moment, right? says Ross Scheepers, who has been executive producer on the show since late 2018. We workshopped doing an entire show on trad-wives, but its incredibly difficult to find trad-wives in Australia to come on and talk because theres a lot of backlash around people who promote themselves as living that lifestyle. So we actually werent able to find a cast to do the show. But when I heard about the backlash against the topic that the schoolgirls [debating team] faced, I just thought with online outrage, its become incredibly difficult to do things that push boundaries or make people think outside of the box. Connor Webster, producer on Death of Debate?, said: Its something topical, that the really quick, 24-hour news cycle cant cover. Its something that we can delve into for six weeks and get to the core of what Australia thinks, like a bit of a Petri dish of the Australian psyche. Final hair and make-up touch-ups before recording begins. Wolter Peeters A quiet moment before recording. Wolter Peeters Once a topic is settled on, each episode takes about six weeks to put together. Producers raid their contact books, scour news stories and social media groups for people who might be interested in taking part. We do Facebook-specific shout-outs, says Webster. Well post a question, and that can get a little bit wild, but we use a whole bunch of different online methods. Theres casting agent groups and theres Reddit. Theres no stone unturned, really, in terms of finding the people who think like our audience is going to think, and will share their views, that people are going to go, I do that. Advertisement For the Death of Debate?, the wide range of guests include the year 9 debating team who had to argue the trad-wife topic, aspiring Labor politician Jack Ayoub, who was attacked last year after writing an opinion piece in The Australian that was headlined Gay men have little in common with the trans movement, philosopher Nicole Vincent, who was accused of being a TERF over a lecture she delivered at Melbourne University in 2019; and artist Sergio Redegalli, who infamously painted a ban the burqa mural in Sydneys inner west in 2010. Kumi Taguchi on the set of Insight. The debate forum on SBS encourages listening over argument. Wolter Peeters Also in the audience is a woman, with the support of her adult son, happily narking on her husband for not sharing her political views. He watches Fox News, she says. (That woman, says Webster, was found in a northern beaches mums group on Facebook. These people come back and say, Ill talk about my husband on television, he says, laughing.) On any other show, that combination and variety of guests would be a febrile mix, but because each guest has been thoroughly prepped before going on air, the producers and Taguchi generally have a good idea of what the guests answers will be. Editor's pick Australian TV I cant touch Jonathans legacy: David Genat on hosting Survivor and LaPaglias sacking That speaks to the trust that we build with these people in our six weeks [of prep], says Webster. Thats the beauty of that cycle we get the opportunity to have several conversations, to get to know these people, so that by the time theyre actually coming to the studio, I say things like, Im actually going to get to see you in person now, which is very strange. Weve had a phone or online relationship for more than a month. Were very transparent about how theyre going to be presented and the questions theyre going to be facing. So they know theyre just sharing their story and theyre doing it in a moderated, respectful environment where ideas can be thrown around. Advertisement About 10 to 15 guests appear on each episode, with producers having sometimes spoken up to 75 people to find the right person who is happy to share their story, which can sometimes be quite traumatic. Its one thing to tell a producer over the phone, quite another to do it under lights in a studio with five cameras moving around. Sometimes we might get to a point where theyre just not comfortable sharing a certain amount, and then there wouldnt be space for them on the show, says Scheepers. Because wed want them to talk about that. Its just that rapport, that genuineness, that level of trust. In the SBS control room during the Death of Debate? recording. Wolter Peeters Kumi Taguchi talks to guests in the studio as they arrive. Wolter Peeters Once the guests are locked in, they arrive at SBSs studios in Artarmon in Sydneys inner north for a Wednesday night record. Each episode takes up to 80 minutes to shoot, and content is edited to about 52 minutes for broadcast. On the evening I visit, Taguchi is running through the choreography of the show practising her line delivery and positioning to basically make sure the flow of movement between each guest is seamless. Its a big turn, says one of the camera operators, so Taguchi changes her footing. Thought is also put into where each guest sits sometimes to create connection, sometimes to maximise tension. Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outDenmark On the mark: This 100-year-old watering hole keeps the country pub dream alive Following the appointment of an experienced new executive chef, this pubs future is looking and tasting even brighter. Max Veenhuyzen February 28, 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 1 / 6 Sri Lankan pork curry. Max Veenhuyzen 2 / 6 The Thai-inspired green paw paw salad. Max Veenhuyzen 3 / 6 The Denmark Hotel menu features fun throwbacks like this prawn cocktail. Max Veenhuyzen 4 / 6 The sprawling chicken parmy. Max Veenhuyzen 5 / 6 Fish and chips made with south-coast shark. Max Veenhuyzen 6 / 6 The chocolate sundae is another joyful retro throwback. Max Veenhuyzen Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Australian$$$$ For somewhere that turned 100 this year, The Denmark Hotel looks great for its age. The hotel is also, I should stress, a different beast to the one that was built in 1926 for original publican, Jack Clark. (Earlier iterations of the building were so unremarkable that, according to the governments heritage council website, the hotel was not even considered in the first round of heritage place nominations by the Denmark community in 1999.) Advertisement The Denmark Hotels dining room. The Denmark Hotel Thankfully, something shifted public opinion. Or should that be, some things. Motel accommodation, a pergola, the drive-through bottle shop plus the cumulative goodwill generated by all these piecemeal upgrades will do wonders for any pubs reputation. Ditto being purchased in late 2023 by go-getting property developers, Belingbak. While previous owners added to and occasionally subtracted from the space, team Belingbaks contribution is best described as tying it all together. Advertisement Theyve spent big on fresh paint, blond timber furnishings and woven things to give the motel rooms a real Kinfolk magazine glow-up. The drive-through is now Denmark Drops: an independent bottle shop stocked with interesting, predominantly local booze managed by winemaker Andries Mostert of Brave New Wine infamy. Pleasingly, management have also smoothed out and modernised the hotels once-patchy food offering. Although the public bar has, post ownership change, retained its yesteryear charm the carpet! Darts! A help-yourself water and cutlery station! A big TV! the standalone bistro uses concrete flooring, bistro chairs and Slow Living set dressing to conjure a more contemporary dining space better suited to date-night meals and lunchtime get-togethers. Related Article Exclusive One of Margaret Rivers most accomplished chefs adds a second Dunsborough address Advertisement Regardless of the time of day or where youre sitting, youre still ordering from the same menu that, like the hotel itself, artfully blends the old and new. The counter meal set is well represented by a sprawling breaded chicken breast parmy (ham; sugo; lots of cheese; chunky chips underneath because I suspect asking cheery staff to carry plates big enough to accommodate chips on the side would be an OHS liability) and an XL plate of fish and chips starring two pleasingly crisp torpedoes of beer-battered south coast shark, a great tartare sauce plus more of the good stuff. Your burger options include beef, chicken and eggplant supplemented by a steak sandwich. Denmark Drops manager Andries Mostert. The Denmark Hotel While many of the dishes on the current menu are the same ones that opening head chef Ali Osborne the founder of Denmarks legendary Mrs Jones cafe and, as of late 2025, the hotels general manager started with, recently appointed executive chef Scott Brannigan has brought some fun new things to the party too. As regulars at Bread in Common and Coogee Common will attest, Brannigan has a gift for making vegetables dazzle. Advertisement But if you didnt know, a pert salad unifying buckwheat, quinoa, spiced pumpkin seeds and broccolini should bring you up to speed, as will a limey, som tum-adjacent jumble of green papaya and carrot. (If you wanted a not-so-virtuous vegetarian meal, its all about that gutsy pan-fried ricotta gnocchi in a deep mushroom ragout.) In his new role a FIFO-like gig in which Brannigan flies to Denmark to work alongside head chef and former apprentice Ned Osbourne he also gets to cook delicious, meaty things that might not have worked at his previous workplaces. Fried chicken wings are doused in dark barbecue goodness; a zippy earworm of a sauce sweet with sugar, vinegar and spice. Pork shoulder and belly are the stars of a mild, gingery Sri Lankan curry. Related Article Exclusive Fremantles standard bearer for luxe-nostalgic dining and wining to close in March Theres also an opportunity for our man to revisit some different classics, too. Advertisement Corn and potato croquettes with chilli jam are a fun throwback to the tapas era while prawn cocktail and a joyous sundae marshmallows, candied popcorn, chocolate bits and all see the Tardis travel (successfully) further back in time. While all this speaks to the Belingbak crews sensitive and successful relaunch of the Denmark Hotel not since Cogsworth, Lumiere and co gussied up the grand ballroom for Belle and the Beasts big date has there been a makeover this noteworthy Id also like to mention that independent pubs in WA, to me, feel like an at-risk species thats slowly moving towards endangered status. Pubs in regional towns close their doors with little fanfare or tribute. Giant national conglomerates quietly buy up venues and homogenise them. But despite the lay of the land, the Denmark Hotel is proof that there still is room for personable, singular establishments that still have a sense of place. Related Article 14 / 20 Review The unlikely dining room bringing modern Asian cooking to suburban Perth (again) Advertisement To be fair, team Belingbak are far from a mom-and-pop operation did you hear that theyve just entered the final leg of another cool regional hotel project? but being well-resourced is one thing. Having the nous to use these resources well and to bring aboard good local people for a project is another. But if this first year and a bit of the Denmark Hotels newest chapter is anything to go by, the road ahead is looking promising. Not just for locals and visitors to Denmark, but pub-goers as a whole. If a 100-year-old pub can grow and evolve, surely others can too. The low-down Atmosphere: a centenarian watering hole keeping the dream of the independent (country) pub alive. Go-to dishes: fish and chips ($35), prawn cocktail ($20), ice cream sundae ($16). Drinks: a terrific round-up of booze from big and small producers with a focus on Great Southern names. Cost: about $80 for two people, excluding drinks. Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsBody image Stacey spent eight hours a day looking in the mirror. Now her condition is trending on TikTok Courtney Thompson February 27, 2026 2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A It was a friend who first mentioned the disorder to Stacey Anderson. We worked together, and she noticed I went to the bathroom a lot, Anderson, now 41, says. Shed noticed that I talked about my appearance quite often, but in a way that sought constant reassurance. And that I also spent a lot of money on skincare. In isolation, none of these things would seem particularly weird. But when Anderson was going to the bathroom, it was to look at herself in the mirror, which would continue almost constantly throughout the day. Stacey Anderson was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder when she was 28. Simon Schluter It wouldnt just have to be the toilet: it could be the mirror in my car, or the camera on my phone, says Anderson, who admits its difficult to put an exact number on how many times a day she was checking her own reflection, or picking at her skin or looking at skincare products online that might help what she saw in the mirror. Advertisement But I think it was eight hours a day, she says. Andersons friend told her she might have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and a few months later, at age 28, she was officially diagnosed. What is facial dysmorphia? Distinct from eating disorders or body image concerns, under the DSM-5 (the standard tool used by clinicians and researchers to classify and diagnose mental disorders), BDD is a mental health condition that sits in the class of obsessive compulsive disorder, describing a preoccupation or obsession with a perceived defect or flaw in physical appearance that may be only slight to others, or may not even be observable. Facial dysmorphia is an unofficial offshoot of BDD. Advertisement Facial concerns are often the focus of the concern in BDD, says Professor Gemma Sharp from the School of Psychology at Adelaide University. Because thats our window to the soul, isnt it? Related Article Exclusive Body image It took a toll: Body dysmorphia hurts more than self-esteem Sharp says the key distinction between those who have standard body image issues and people with BDD is that for the latter, their condition makes participating in everyday life almost impossible. One of Sharps patients refused to leave their bedroom or be seen by their family. From looking at them, it would be impossible to determine if someone has BDD, but thats what makes this a mental disorder its really not about what they actually look like at all. They will become obsessed with a particular element of their appearance and be able to think of little else; it could be the back of their knees, or the asymmetry of their face. Says 33-year-old model and creative consultant Mahalia Handley, who was diagnosed with BDD four years ago: Its like having a record on in the back of your head constantly thats telling you to focus on one thing, and its never really the things that people think youre going to focus on. Advertisement For Anderson, BDD manifested as a fixation on looking in the mirror. I would just be in a trance-like state, and I could be there, it would feel like minutes, but it would be much, much longer, she says. Things reached breaking point when the fixation compromised her relationship at the time. Facial dysmorphia describes the unsettling feeling that what you see in photos doesnt match the image you have of yourself in your head. Tom Compagnoni The influence of social media We encounter opportunities to look at ourselves many times a day, whether its at the gym or during a video call while working from home. And social media has compounded this obsession with ourselves by encouraging self-documentation. On TikTok, there are now thousands of videos with the hashtags #facedysmorphia and #facialdysmorphia showing people lament the disconnect between what they think they look like, and what they see in photos or their reflection. This isnt shocking considering 40 per cent of Australians report being dissatisfied with their appearance. But its important to make the distinction between not liking what you see in photos which is a common body image concern and having diagnosed BDD. Advertisement Its hard to say how many people making social media videos about their so-called facial dysmorphia actually have the condition, but for Handley, its an inevitable consequence of our image-based culture. When theres so much saturation of who we are and what were supposed to look like online, and thats constantly changing due to trends, I think its natural wed start to lose our understanding of self, she says. Its a problem probably exacerbated by filters such as the inverted face, which are allegedly designed to show you what you really look like. A few years ago, a similar phenomenon was given the name Snapchat dysmorphia to describe the effect beauty filters were having on our distorted sense of self, and in 2021 a study into the Zoom Effect, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, found more than a third of the 335 participants identified new image concerns while on video calls. Advertisement AI isnt helping, either. Dr Toni Pikoos, a co-author of the Zoom Effect study and a psychologist who has been researching BDD for more than a decade, says its become a big problem for her clients. Theyll upload pictures of themselves to AI and ask it, Rate my appearance. What do I need to fix about myself? Show me how I could change if I get this surgery, Pikoos says. Cosmetic surgery as a solution The tricky thing about a condition like BDD is that people confuse it with being an issue of vanity. Particularly because treatment is often sought at the cosmetic clinic, Sharp, of Adelaide University, says. In a 2023 review into the prevalence of BDD in different settings, researchers found that in cosmetic or dermatology settings, 20 per cent of people had the condition. Thats an increase on an oft-cited 1998 study that estimated 7 per cent to 15 per cent of aesthetic patients displayed BDD symptoms. Mahalia Handley says that at one point her BDD led her to consider getting surgery that would elongate her legs. They smash the bones of your legs perfectly and then they elongate it by inserting metal. I was that fixated on my knees and my legs that I was close to going in and doing it, she says. Advertisement Model Mahalia Handley believes the obsession online with self-documentation is exacerbating the problem. Mahalia Handley In July 2023, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia made it a requirement for cosmetic surgeons to use a validated psychological screening tool to assess patients for BDD and suitability for treatment. But many doctors, including cosmetic and vascular physician Dr Keturah Hoffman, believe its ineffectual. Its not going to help anybody know anything, says Hoffman. The first question is, Are you unhappy with your appearance? If you answer no to that, what are you doing in my office? She believes BDD patients who are determined to get work done will find a way to go undetected by the screening questions. Clever people with BDD can get around them, she points out, saying that in order for cosmetic practitioners to be able to properly identify someone with BDD, the most important thing is that they have a relationship with them that can assist in reaching a proper diagnosis. The current law has started down the right path, but it needs to be further developed, Hoffman says. Even if they are successful in getting work they want done, its common for BDD patients to be dissatisfied with the outcome, or theyll find another part of themselves to fixate on. Advertisement That focus of the appearance flaw can move around the body and sometimes [getting work done] makes people feel worse rather than better, Sharp says. Related Article Pregnancy Tidal wave of pressure: Has the Ozempic boom made it harder for new mums? Handley says her own obsessions have never stayed static. There were points when my face was just ripped up from picking at it so badly, I felt like I couldnt go outside. And other times, all I could concentrate on was fixing my neck, which, Im like, theres literally nothing wrong with my neck, she says. Pikoos notes that in treating her BDD clients, she finds it useful to frame the condition as a disorder of attention. The more attention we pay to the way that we look, the more we look at ourselves in the mirror, the more time we spend trying to fix or perfect ourselves, the more worried we become, she says. So a lot of the time with treatment, the goal is to reduce the amount of time you spend taking photos, reduce the amount of time you spend looking in the mirror. Exposure therapy is a big part of it as well. Advertisement Stacey Anderson thinks more awareness is needed around the disorder and that the effect of diagnosis and therapy is immense. I really wish I could have done something like this many, many years ago because my life could have been a lot different. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday. By Heekyong Yang SEOUL, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Investors in South Korea's e-commerce giant Coupang will be scrutinising the company's financial results on Thursday for fallout from a massive data breach, as rivals lure shoppers away from its platform. The company also faces headwinds from a proposed regulatory change that could increase competition in the ultra-fast overnight deliveries that have been a cornerstone of its market dominance. Coupang's position has come under threat after it reported a data leak in November that affected some 34 million users, exposing names, phone numbers and shipping addresses but not payment details or login credentials. A government-led investigation is ongoing, but in an update this month the Science Ministry blamed management failure at Coupang rather than a sophisticated cyberattack. Coupang said in a statement that it would "take all necessary steps to prevent further harm and continue strengthening safeguards to prevent a recurrence". "Consumer trust in Coupang has been shaken," said Lee Kwang-lim, an executive director at the Korea Chainstores Association, which represents large retailers like E-mart and Lotte Mart. Coupang's monthly active users on mobile phones fell by 3.5% in January from November, whereas rival platform Naver reported a 23% jump during the same period, according to data firm WISEAPP. It also saw average daily consumer spending fall 6.3% to around 139.2 billion won ($97 million) in January from November, according to IGAWorks Mobile Index's data. Analysts have trimmed their average fourth-quarter revenue estimate for Coupang by 2.2% from the prior quarter, while the estimate for core earnings was cut by 6.7%, according to LSEG data. New York-listed Coupang's shares have fallen around 34% since the breach disclosure, while shares of traditional retailers and logistics firms have rallied. The reputational damage comes at a time when a proposed regulatory change may also weaken Coupang's position, which was built on its "Rocket Delivery" service, which allows customers to order by midnight for delivery before dawn. For more than a decade, South Korea has restricted large brick-and-mortar retailers from operating overnight, a policy aimed at protecting small neighbourhood stores. But because the rule did not apply to e-commerce platforms such as Coupang, which was founded in 2010 by Harvard graduate Bom Kim, it nurtured their rapid expansion. The government said earlier this month it plans to ease late-night restrictions for hypermarkets, which will pave the way for more competition in delivery services. Anthony Albanese wears his love of high-speed on his sleeve, but acknowledges he will not be prime minister by the time it becomes reality. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Australians have been waiting a long time for a high-speed train to glide into their local station. Since the mid-1980s, when a $2.5 billion very fast train linking Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne was first proposed, supporters of an east coast network of speeding locomotives have dreamt. And been disappointed. Yet, the release this week of a business case for a high-speed line between Sydney and Newcastle, and a commitment of $660 million towards planning the project, has brought the concept so close you can almost hear the conductors call of all aboard. But immense engineering and financial challenges lie ahead for a project that critics warn will inevitably cost far more than expected, take far longer to build than hoped, and fail to deliver the economic benefits spruiked by proponents. A render of a high-speed train station. Australian government Unlike past proposals, the scope of the initial plan unveiled this week is relatively modest. Australias first high-speed trains would run on a specially built 194-kilometre track with stations at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast and central Sydney. It would then extend to Parramatta before ending at the soon-to-be-opened Western Sydney Airport. Almost 60 per cent of the line would need to be built underground, including a 65-kilometre stretch that would extend further than the Gotthard Base Tunnel under the Swiss Alps for now the worlds longest rail tunnel at 57 kilometres. Advertisement If completed, a Newcastle-Sydney trip that takes more than 2 hours today would be sliced to 60 minutes as trains race along at 320km/h. The best that could be said for previous attempts to build high-speed rail is that they attracted modest federal political support. Not this one. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wears his love of high-speed rail on his sleeve, declaring this week that it absolutely makes sense, citing the role it would play in economic development along its route while taking pressure off existing infrastructure such as the M1 motorway. He argues it will unlock housing, deliver thousands of jobs and generate tens of billions of dollars in economic activity. While a final decision on the project has yet to be made, the prime ministers mind appears to be made up. I accept that I will not be the prime minister when high-speed rail is finished. But I am determined to be the prime minister who starts it, he declared on Wednesday. Not only does the country have a high-speed rail nerd as its leader, but his emphatic 2025 election victory gives him a generational chance to get the project under way to a point that a future government would find it politically impossible to undo. Advertisement Albanese this week revealed he has raised the line, estimated at this stage to cost $93 billion, with the private sector, noting that Japanese companies are very interested in playing a role. He is unlikely to be prime minister when the final bill for the project is known. The recent financial history of high-speed rail in other parts of the world suggests it could be horrendous. Britains 225-kilometre HS2, linking London to Birmingham, is years behind schedule despite the scope of the project being scaled back to deal with a cost overrun of at least 100 per cent. The latest expected price tag is about $200 billion. A render of a standard-class cabin on the proposed high-speed trains. Australian government In California, a combination of terrible planning, construction through properties held by some of the most litigious people in the world, and Donald Trumps hostility towards the states governor mean a high-speed rail line linking San Francisco and Los Angeles is even further behind schedule and more over budget than HS2. There is a global industry around mega-projects and their cost blowouts. Alexander Budzier, who heads Oxford Global Projects in Britain, says the business case for the Sydney-Newcastle link appears wildly optimistic. Australia would have to defy worldwide experience if it were to come in on time and on budget. Advertisement We have studied more than 20,000 projects globally including high-speed and conventional rail, he said. We see in our data that three out four HSR projects have a cost overrun between final investment decision and actual start of operations. For most of them, costs go up by about 30 per cent. But there is a worst-case scenario where we see that one in 10 projects more than double the cost. And that is measured from the full and final business case; early project ideas have an even higher risk of overruns. One has to only look at California High-Speed Rail or HS2 to see what this means and how these projects, if they are not set up correctly, can turn into a large burden to the taxpayer. The British and American problems have clearly influenced the team behind the Sydney-Newcastle proposal. Their business case warns that a project of the scale and complexity they are considering carries inherent cost overrun risks. What a cost overrun might mean was included in this weeks report. In a worst-case scenario, under which benefits are overestimated and costs underestimated by 20 per cent, the project is a net loss to the nation of between $20.8 billion and $32.8 billion. High Speed Rail Authority chief executive Tim Parker readily accepts there is a track record of mega-projects, including those in Sydney and Melbourne, blowing their budgets. Advertisement Were taking quite a considered approach to actually get it right before we say to the government, actually its going to cost you this much. Part of this is no surprises, he says. Parker, a former senior bureaucrat at the agency overseeing Sydneys metro rail projects, says modern building methods such as boosting off-site construction will significantly reduce the risk of cost blowouts. Im a great reader of the Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner book about how big stuff gets built. And its very simple: plan slowly, deliver fast, he says. A new high-speed station in Gosford would be one of six along the 194-kilometre line between Sydney and Newcastle. Steven Siewert Giving the time to really get the contractors to be engaged and involved in the process, rather than give them a fait accompli after you have a reference design, will actually give us real benefits in delivery and hopefully mitigate the risk of cost blowout. Lessons to be learnt from the UKs high-speed rail project include not over-specifying the lines performance, Parker says, citing HS2s incredibly high 400km/h design speed for trains. Contracts there were also awarded before designs were agreed, removing incentives for contractors to optimise outcomes. While its Coalition predecessors showed enthusiasm for high-speed rail before shelving plans in 2022, the state Labor government has been lukewarm. Advertisement Water is an issue that provokes farmers and the communities that flourish or flail based on their success. Many feel betrayed by long-running government interventions: it started when water became a tradable commodity under John Howard, continued with the Murray Darling Basin plan under leaders of all stripes, and escalated with buybacks under Labor. For farmers such as Flanagan, the list of resentments includes labour shortages, penalty rates and unreliable energy. In town, it is a shortage of childcare, health services and housing. And in this irrigation district, north of the Murray River, theres another flashpoint: water management. Nick Flanagan, next to the Mulwala Canal near his property outside of Finley. He defected to One Nation, maybe two or three months ago. Hes a registered member now. Flanagan mentions one of the men in his WhatsApp chat a second-generation farmer, like himself. His father and him were both big Nationals followers. If you wanted an argument in the pub, hed be the first one to step up, Flanagan says. The father of three runs a dairy farm outside Finley a small town in the nations food bowl, about 660 kilometres south-west of Sydney and 280 kilometres north of Melbourne. Here, in the federal electorate of Farrer, frustration has been brewing for a long time. Like many Australians, dairy farmer Nick Flanagan finds his WhatsApp group chat is a good barometer of what people are thinking about politics. The sprawling electorate, at 126,563 square kilometres, fills out the south-western corner of NSW. Its largest population centre, Albury, is increasingly like inner suburban Sydney and Melbourne. But as you follow the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers inland, sheep and wheat properties give way to irrigation. The areas around Griffith and Deniliquin produce vast quantities of rice, fruit, wine grapes and almonds that feed the eastern seaboard. Head further west, and small communities give way to desert. The seat of Farrer has had four representatives in 77 years: three Liberals and one National, former deputy leader Tim Fischer. Ley won it when Fischer retired in 2001. This disillusionment runs far deeper than the past nine months, although recent Coalition chaos in Canberra has certainly compounded it. Theyre like: these guys have got no direction. Theyve got no leadership. What the hell are they doing? Lets try Pauline [Hanson]. Thats pretty as cut and dry, as I see it. The majority of guys that I talk to would be like: Yeah, f--- the Nationals, theyve lost us. And thats from being ineffective. Twenty-five years of nothing, Flanagan says. This has traditionally always been a Liberal-Nationals seat, and people have just lost any confidence in them. Through all this, Sussan Ley has been repeatedly elected as Farrers representative for the Liberals in Canberra. Now that her resignation is forcing a byelection , a switch has flicked. Its not what Nationals leader David Littleproud or new Liberal leader Angus Taylor want to see. But with the Coalition polling at historic lows , the byelection will be a test of their relevance. The battle is morphing into a four or five-cornered contest that threatens to relegate major parties further down the pile with a messy exchange of preferences. As incumbents, the Liberals should be frontrunners, although party sources concede it will be challenging. The Nationals also know people are fed up, and will pitch themselves as the strongest alternative to lone wolves in city centric parties claiming they can do anything for us, says Gabrielle Coupland, the partys acting chair in Farrer. How this manifests at the ballot box, however, wont be so simple. In usual circumstances, the byelection would be a rare showdown between the Coalition partners with the seat vacant, they can compete against each other. Almost half the electorate lives in the city of Albury, where all booths were won by an independent at the last election. But the politics of Farrer shift with its geography and the battle outside Albury could shape the result. They feel betrayed and neglected, that nobody has listened to them. The way they deliver this message oscillates between exasperation, frustration and fury, but it is broadly consistent: the region has been ignored and its time for something different. Yet the second-generation farmer, the young doctor working in Albury and the migrant business owner in Griffith all say the same thing, as we drive around the electorate to ask about the byelection. The politics of Farrer change with geography. The Liberals have typically dominated Albury, where about half the electorate lives. The rural and farming lands of the electorate the other half have been considered Nationals strongholds, although its been seven years since the party has even represented them at a state level. For the 124,000 people casting a ballot, however, the contest will be fought over local issues, shaped by local candidates, and a rare chance to send their message to the broader nation. Australians watching preferences flow in Farrer for the first time will try to decode what they say about this country and the status of conservative and centre-right politics, and Taylor, Littleproud and Hanson will be graded on the results. Campaigns will now spring into action Ley announced her resignation on Friday and a date will be set for the byelection. The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation will move quickly to announce their candidates, and Dalton will make her decision. Who, from all those, comes out on top when preferences are counted? Independent state MP Helen Dalton, who holds an overlapping NSW seat she won from the Nationals, is also toying with running a wildcard that would make the race even more complex. The question is whether the Liberals will prevail in Albury against Michelle Milthorpe, a Climate 200-backed independent who has already started campaigning and if the Nationals can pull ahead in the west while One Nation is ascending. She was out the door within hours of Ley saying she would resign two weeks ago , vowing to fight again. Her volunteers stayed in touch, expecting Ley might not last the term. Theyve activated quickly: reopening a shopfront on Alburys main street, now decorated with the orange bunting theyve kept since May. So have Climate 200 and the Regional Voices Fund, which donated $60,000 to kickstart the campaign. Its a strong starting point for Milthorpe, who is backed by the Climate 200 fundraising vehicle that has helped send climate-minded independents to Canberra. Michelle Milthorpes campaign has been the first out the door, starting ahead in what will be a messy contest. Milthorpe came second, helping force Ley to preferences for the first time in 25 years, and cutting her lead to 6.2 per cent. More importantly, she beat Ley in every voting booth in Albury and its suburbs, which have a population of about 60,000. These were common sights just nine months ago, when the teacher and advocate against child sex abuse ran as an independent in last years federal election. Volunteers in Milthorpe shirts are already handing out flyers in Alburys city centre. Cardboard cut-outs of orange emus are appearing around town. The issue that propelled Milthorpes success in Albury last time was the cash-strapped local hospital jointly funded by Victoria and NSW, it reports to Victoria, and the federal government has kept out. Its supposed to cater to 300,000 people, but bed shortages, surgery waitlists and staff burnout have hampered its capacity. Stories of charity funds spent on artwork, whistleblower complaints and exits of high-profile doctors have fuelled a sense of scandal. The hospital is being redeveloped, but Milthorpe says its not enough: she wants a new hospital on a new site. Dr Lachlan McKeeman, a GP who has protested the redevelopment, has seen two families lose loved ones from cardiac arrest because they couldnt get help in time; certain services dont operate outside business hours. One was lost on the way to Wagga, one was lost on the way to Melbourne, he says. McKeeman thinks federal leaders are letting the states get away with absolutely appalling behaviour. A campaign barbecue for Michelle Milthorpe campaigners, who are mobilising in Albury. Alex Ellinghausen He is preparing to volunteer in his orange Milthorpe shirt, although he wont vote in the byelection he lives in Wodonga. The campaign is drawing in plenty of Victorians who are vested in the border towns shared interests. On the southern side of the Murray, which becomes the federal seat of Indi, community independents are a mainstay: Cathy McGowan pioneered the movement when she beat the Liberals in 2013. Its now held by independent Helen Haines, who endorsed Milthorpe with independent ACT senator David Pocock on Friday. For the Milthorpe campaign, Indi is a blueprint. An independent understands the community aspect of it, McKeeman says. To steal the Indi phrase, its politics done differently. But Milthorpe will need to pull votes outside Albury to seize the seat. Her next focus is the town of Deniliquin a southern irrigation hub, population about 7000 where she was setting up a new office last week. As in much of the electorates west, these have traditionally been Liberal voters. Ley commanded between 60 and 70 per cent of the two-party vote against Labor in Deniliquin in 2022, although this dipped into the 50s against Milthorpe last year. Thats because of people like Rob Brown, a family business consultant. Brown loves the town hes lived in since he was six months old the gums that line the Edward, taking a dinghy up the river but says the community is being challenged by the standard mix of regional service shortages: healthcare, childcare and housing. All those things double up, or triple up. We have a lot of young people and professionals who want to come back to Deni, but if you cant get housing or you cant get childcare, you cant come back, Brown says. I dont think many people would be convinced that weve had the advocacy we need that would be across a lot of rural communities. But the water stuff is another layer again. Rob Brown, a family business consultant, once handed out how-to-votes for Sussan Ley. Alex Ellinghausen These complex concerns about water management, flooding and food security arent just held by farmers farming benefits flow into local economies and communities, bringing commerce, schools, health services and government funding into the area. Browns frustration, like many others, has been mounting. He once handed out how-to-votes for Ley, but at the last election sent his vote elsewhere to send a message to major parties he feels are point scoring rather than pursuing serious change. I think the Liberals are looking like an old boys club with policies that disregard science and evidence, he says. Milthorpes the only one, at this point. Because its her second hit, shes more likely to be heard, [especially] if she can work out how to craft her water policy to say we just need to breathe, stop these buybacks, and do a rigorous assessment of what works. Milthorpe has strengthened her message on water since last year. Weve got farming communities that are pretty much on their knees, she tells this masthead. Theyre being screwed with water policy, and weve got generational farmers who are thinking about selling their farms I will definitely be calling for a royal commission. This message still needs to reach, and convince, the likes of Louise Burge a well-known farmer around Deniliquin whos campaigned in the community and Canberra for decades. At one point, she was a senior official with the NSW Farmers Association an organisation whose members have historically overlapped with the Nationals. Aged 67, Burge sees the optimism of her parents generation dissipating. She thinks the city and country have become more distant as Australia urbanises, resulting in regional health failures and a problematic renewable energy fallout. What makes her tear up, though, is recalling memories of lost crops or 1200 dead sheep because of flooding she links to water mismanagement in Canberra. Deniliquin farmer Louise Burge, who has represented farmers for decades, says they are feeling broken. Alex Ellinghausen Theres not a lot of understanding within the political fields, and also the bureaucratic fields, about what policy means when its applied to a regional area. That has bred the discontent that is now evident in Farrer, she says. Burge thinks the Liberal vote has held for 25 years because theres been no alternative. This is a conservative electorate, they are terrified of Labor and the Greens absolutely terrified, she says. But with the byelection bringing new candidates and national attention, Burge anticipates a protest vote. I will be a swing voter. I was a conservative voter going back years, but what Ive seen throughout this long period of time is symptomatic of a bigger problem in Australia, Burge says. When we interview Burge at a Deniliquin hotel on Tuesday evening, there is, coincidentally, a Milthorpe meet-and-greet happening in the next room. She stays to hear what the candidate has to say. Burge meets Milthorpe at a meet-and-greet, as she contemplates how to vote at the upcoming byelection. Alex Ellinghausen Over in Griffith, a growing city of 27,000 people, Rob Dowton is not giving Milthorpe any thought. Im not a fan, he says, behind the counter of the gun shop where he works. Shes probably a nice person, but shes sitting on the wrong side of the fence shes a teal. We dont need any more of them, trying to control the country. Its a label Milthorpe is trying hard to shake. Im not a teal and I cant relate to that, because they cant relate to our context, she says of inner-city independents. She likens herself to Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie. But theres another option for these sceptical voters. One Nation has been surging in opinion polls since the May election, and is now usurping the Coalition in most surveys. After the South Australian election, Farrers byelection will be the first indication of whether this converts at the ballot box. The party has narrowed its candidate list from 81 to four, sources said. Last years One Nation result in Farrer was roughly on par with the national average, at 6.6 per cent of the primary vote, although it ran higher in some western booths. Whether Hanson brings in new voters on election day will determine whether the minor party makes inroads into federal parliament. Dowton, who lives in nearby Leeton, could be one of them. I was a Sussan Ley fan, but from what has come out in the last three or four months, we need to find someone thats going to stand up for the electorate. New gun laws are one push factor but its not just the firearms issue. Its water policies, its roads, everything, he says. We need a shake up from what weve been dealt for the last 20 years. I think a bit of fresh blood, if its One Nation, would be good for the country. Were stale, and too many people are too comfortable with whats been happening, election after election ... I dont know if its just Labor. I think its what came before that, as well. Rob Dowton says the region is ready for a shake-up, and hes confident Barnaby Joyce understands the region. Alex Ellinghausen He sees the Coalition has been trying to turn things around in the last few weeks, but hes not buying it. And the defection of Barnaby Joyce to One Nation adds credibility, in Dowtons mind. Hes a cocky himself, a cattle farmer up in the New England region, so he gets it, he says. All these politicians in central Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong area I dont think they understand whats actually happening out here. And I dont think they care, to an extent. City areas are where theyre going to get majority. Weve been left behind out in regional NSW. Norm Carl, a publican in Gerogery, outside of Albury, heard that sentiment when One Nation had an event at his pub two weeks ago. About 300 people showed up. He describes them as real country, normal, elderly people whod had enough. At least half were over 60, and the same proportion were farmers. They could have been here to watch a tractor display. Norm Carl says his customers from young people to generational farmers talk about feeling stressed and uncertain about the future. Alex Ellinghausen Carl thinks many voters will be scared to pull the trigger on something new because people are weary of change himself included, particularly when it comes to independents. Although he suspects that could be where things are headed, as independents consolidate their hold on neighbouring seats at a state level. Country people like country people. Country people also like no bullshit. I think its extremely important to people in the country that they know and trust the candidate, he says. Helen Dalton, the independent state MP, comes up often in conversations about good candidates. One Nation has been sounding her out. The farmer from Yenda, just outside Griffith, has since 2019 represented the NSW seat of Murray an electorate whose 110,000 square kilometres largely overlap the 126,000 square kilometres of Farrer; almost the entire electorate outside of Albury. The rise of One Nation is culminating because people are incredibly unhappy with the direction in which our country is going, Dalton tells this masthead. People are discontented with both Labor and the Coalition, theyre looking for someone whos going to speak their mind, and [Hansons] unscripted. Thats what they say: Well, at least Paulines having a go. Dalton will shake up the race if she runs, but shes keeping her cards close to her chest until after Ley resigns. She hasnt ruled anything in or out including whether she will stand for One Nation, or on her own. Helen Dalton has boosted her margin as an independent at the state level. Alex Ellinghausen However, she knows the chaos of minor parties. Dalton was a Nationals member, until they knocked her back for preselection. Then she ran for Murray under the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers banner, and snatched the seat from the Nationals in 2019. That ended in tears, she says, referring to her becoming an independent in 2022. Obviously, Im not a great party person, because I cant follow a stupid policy and thats it. Dalton boosted her result as an independent at the 2023 state election, winning 50.2 per cent of first preferences. In a two-candidate race with the Nationals, it came to 66-34. If this held up in a federal contest, it would put Dalton in strong contention. Her profile is smaller around Albury, which is held safely at a state level by Liberal MP Justin Clancy. She can, however, campaign with runs on the board from her time in NSW parliament. After achieving parliamentary support for a royal commission into water, and greater transparency laws around water ownership, Dalton wants both these things at federal level. She also mentions the need for new dams, better water treatment plants, fully staffed hospitals, and reliable digital connectivity. People are coming into my office begging me to run for One Nation, she says. Mind you, I get quite the opposite view from others as well I think theres a lot of hype [for One Nation], but I think if theres another good candidate somewhere, people will be voting for them. One of Hansons messages that wont gel everywhere in Farrer is her hardline stance on zero immigration. Its particularly jarring in Griffith, one of the most culturally diverse cities in regional Australia. Both Griffith and nearby Leeton were purpose-built horticultural and agricultural towns that brought in Italian settlers. These days, theyre home to many Indian and Pacific migrants, as well as refugees. Manjit Lally, who owns the local newsagent and sat on the council, is on the lookout for good policy. He doesnt think the major parties are serving it up but nor is One Nation. They blame immigration for everything, he says. But particularly in Griffith, we have 59 migrant communities living here, who have never had an issue. Myself, Ive been living here 26 years ... We are the food bowl of Australia, we need workers. Nobody comes this way from the cities, everyones going to unis and the big institutions, not the farms. Who else can do the work? Business owner Manjit Lilly is unimpressed by One Nation, particularly given how central immigration has been to Griffiths economy for decades. Alex Ellinghausen Its a conundrum that also faces Flanagan, the farmer from Finley, as he contemplates his vote. Workers from Kenya, Indonesia and Malaysia keep his business viable. The migrant freezing stuff I think is a little bit too heavy-handed and its a bit like Trump and his tariffs, he says. I think if Pauline looked into it, or One Nation looked into it, theyd understand that we need this skilled labour. We need these people in our rural areas to support the businesses. Flanagan will probably vote for Dalton if she runs; he says she understands what farmers are facing. Shes built the trust among a lot of people in the area, he says. But whoever he chooses, its unlikely to be the Liberals or Nationals. The generation older than me were probably more rusted on to the Nats, but people my age are more open, he says. And once you change its like changing tractors you dont go back. If the tide turns against the Coalition at the Farrer byelection, Nick Flanagan doesnt think voters will go back. Alex Ellinghausen Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Several major Asian banks are preparing to submit offers for HSBCs retail banking business in Indonesia, reported Bloomberg. The group of interested parties includes Singapores DBS Group, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC), United Overseas Bank (UOB), Malaysias CIMB Group, and Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG). Formal bids are expected by mid-March. The value of HSBCs Indonesian retail operations is estimated to exceed $200m. HSBC has been consulting advisers as it considers divesting its consumer banking division in Indonesia. HSBC is conducting reviews of its retail operations in Australia, Indonesia, and Egypt, though no conclusions have been reached, the news publication added. The review also includes HSBC Life Singapore. Since Georges Elhedery took on the role of CEO in 2024, HSBC has introduced substantial organisational changes, including reducing its workforce and streamlining management, as well as exiting some former core activities. When contacted, representatives for DBS, UOB, OCBC, CIMB and SMFG did not provide comment. HSBC also declined to elaborate on the status of the review regarding its Indonesian operations. Foreign banks have shown growing interest in Indonesia amid robust economic growth, and recent years have seen global lenders such as HSBC and Citigroup move away from certain non-core assets in the region. ANZ Group Holdings has been among those weighing the sale of stakes in local banking ventures. HSBC has operated in Indonesia since 1884 and expanded its presence through the acquisition of PT Bank Ekonomi Raharja, which became PT Bank HSBC Indonesia in 2016. The bank currently employs about 2,300 people across 28 branches serving both commercial and personal banking clients. Earlier, HSBC has considered a public listing for its Indonesian unit. Last year, HSBC agreed to sell its retail banking operations in Sri Lanka to Nations Trust Bank. "DBS, SMFG others vie for HSBC Indonesia retail unit report" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) Louisville Metro Police are investigating after a man and a dog were found dead Thursday in Old Louisville. Officers were called to the 500 block of West Ormsby Avenue, near South 6th Street, at 3:30 p.m. "on an investigation," according to LMPD Spokesperson Adam Sears. Once on scene, police found a man inside a residence who was "obviously deceased." Police arrested Charles Gerlach shortly after the investigation. According to his arrest citation, police were called after Gerlach jumped out of a fourth story apartment window trying to commit suicide. Once inside the apartment, police said they found a man's body inside a closet stuffed behind a mattress and a dead dog in the bathroom sink. Gerlach admitted to stabbing and killing the victim and the dog, the citation said. He is charged with murder, torture of a dog or cat, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. Anyone with information in this or any other case is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's Crime Tip Portal by clicking here. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) The family of a crew member killed in UPS Flight 2976 near Louisville's airport sued three companies for wrongful death and negligence. The family of Capt. Dana Diamond, who was the international relief officer on the plane, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Jefferson Circuit Court against Boeing, General Electric and VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc. the company that did maintenance on the plane. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane, built in 1991, went down around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 4 after its left wing caught fire. The plane was fully loaded with fuel for the nine-hour flight to Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Fifteen people, including three pilots, died in the crash. The NTSB's preliminary report said the plane's left engine caught fire and detached during takeoff. In that report, the agency's investigation revealed the part that secured the engine showed "fatigue cracks" and overstress failure across much of the bearing race inside the area that attached the plane's left engine to its wing. Investigators say the UPS plane got only 30 feet into the air before it crashed and burst into flames, hitting several businesses just south of the airport. NTSB Preliminary report | Victims identified | What's next "When an engine separates from a wing seconds after takeoff, that's not an accident," said Mark Lanier, the attorney representing Diamond's widow, Donna Diamond, in a news release. "That's a failure by the companies responsible for building and maintaining that aircraft." The lawsuit claims wrongful death, negligence, loss of consortium and related damages "for the multiple failures of the defendants that contributed to the engine separation and resulting crash." It requests punitive damages and a trial by a jury. The UPS cargo plane was nearly airborne when a bell sounded in the cockpit, Inman said. For the next 25 seconds, the bell rang and the pilots tried to control the aircraft as it barely lifted off the runway, its left wing ablaze and missing an engine, and then plowed into the ground in a spectacular fireball. Flight records suggest the 34-year-old plane underwent maintenance while it was on the ground in San Antonio for more than a month, from September through mid-October. The Associated Press reported it wasn't clear what work was done. But according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the plane needed a critical fuel tank repair. The report cited FAA maintenance records that show the jet needed a permanent repair to fix a crack in the fuel tank before it returned to service. WDRB is working to independently obtain those maintenance records from the FAA. The federal investigation into the plane crash showed one of the key defects found on the plane's failed engine was a known issue among Boeing's service team, albeit one Boeing didn't believe would lead to a "safety of flight condition." NTSB investigators then went back into Boeing service data and confirmed the design of the bearing assembly was consistent with the original design of that part. However, a Boeing Service Letter dated Feb. 7, 2011, told operators the company was aware of four previous bearing race failures on three different airplanes. Boeing had seen the fractures of the bearing race, with the parts splitting in two and moving out of place. However, Boeing told operators its review of the bearing failure "would not result in a safety of flight condition." Boeing said further regular inspection of MD-11 airplanes would include a look at this bearing assembly, something scheduled for 60-month service intervals. And while Boeing used that service letter to discuss a new bearing assembly configuration, the installation of the original parts "was not prohibited." Days after the crash, UPS and FedEx said they grounded their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11s "out of an abundance of caution." And the Federal Aviation Administration's directive the following day sidelined the planes until inspection and correction of any problems. In January, UPS announced that its fleet of the cargo plans are now officially retired. Several other lawsuits against UPS, General Electric and Boeing are all pending. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. On February 27, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, held an expanded meeting with the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, AzerNEWS reports. Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares of Dell Technologies jumped 17.5% on Friday after the company forecast revenue from its AI server business will double in fiscal 2027, underscoring surging demand for infrastructure catering to artificial intelligence. Investors also cheered the PC maker's plans for a 20% hike to cash dividends and an additional $10 billion share repurchase program. More from Yahoo Scout What drove Dell's AI server revenue forecast to double? Why did Dell announce increased dividends and share buybacks? Why are analysts raising Dell's price targets significantly? How did analysts respond to Dell's latest earnings forecast? Dell's shares surged to a three-month high. Trading at $142.31, it was on track to mark its biggest one-day jump in nearly two years. Data center equipment makers such as Dell have benefited from the rapid expansion in AI investors, with sector leaders expected to spend at least $630 billion this year. Dell said it expects AI server revenue to grow 103% to about $50 billion in fiscal 2027. At least seven Wall Street brokerages raised price targets on the stock, with J.P.Morgan expecting it to rally at least 36%, from Thursday's close, in the next one year to $165. Dell's ability to navigate cyclical challenges stems from its leadership position in AI compute for Tier 2 Cloud and Enterprises, where the significant revenue inflection is able to provide the company a lot more flexibility in managing operating margin and earnings outcomes, analysts led by Samik Chatterjee at J.P.Morgan wrote in a note. Dell's other big business, PC manufacturing, is navigating higher memory chip costs, as companies shift resources to building AI data centers. However, the company has been able to deal with rising prices better than rivals such as HP Inc and China's Lenovo Group. The surging costs could hit Dell's gaming PC business as memory processors are essential to videogame systems, enabling quick load times, smooth frame rates and overall performance. Market researcher TrendForce upwardly revised its first-quarter 2026 Dynamic Random Access Memory price growth rate to 90% to 95% from the previous quarter. Dell's shares have starkly outperformed those of HP and Lenovo over the past one year. (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Kentucky and four other states for refusing to provide detailed information about registered voters. The lawsuits bring the total number of states being sued by the DOJ to 29 plus the District of Columbia. The DOJ is asking for full registration lists and information such as voters addresses and drivers license numbers. The agency claims it's necessary to get the information from states to prevent fraud. "Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a news release. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said he provided the DOJ with basic information required by law, but no more. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division said, "state election officials are choosing to fight them rather than show their work." The lawsuits claim Bondi is "uniquely charged by Congress with broad authority to request election records under the Civil Rights Act of 1960," which "allows her to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of statewide voter registration lists that can be cross-checked effectively for improper registrations." Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) Nearly one in four students in the United States struggle to pay for period supplies. And one Kentucky lawmaker hopes to get free pads and tampons into schools across the commonwealth. Melia Collins, a 10th grader at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence in Louisville, was among dozens of girls who rallied Thursday at the Kentucky Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass House Bill 95. "You can get bullied if you don't have that type of stuff," Collins said. "It can be very emotionally distressing." HB 95 would require each public school in Kentucky that includes students in grades 6-12 to: Provide free menstrual products to students Require each local board of education to adopt policies for the distribution of free menstrual products Define "menstrual products" Appropriate to the Learning and Results Services budget unit within the Department of Education $2 million in each fiscal year from 2026-28 to provide menstrual products to students "These students deserve more," said Rosalind Jones, an 8th grader at Francis Parker School of Louisville. "People can die from infections caused by a lack of period supplies." A few all-girl schools in the state, including Grace James, already provide menstrual supplies to their students. Some teens said it's "been a godsend." "This is not a luxury," Rosalind said. "This is a bare necessity, like toilet paper or soap." Students who don't have access to pads and tampons can often miss work and class. One middle school student argued lawmakers should back HB 95 because "we should value girls' education." "And when they don't want to come to school, what? They're not learning," Collins said. "That's bad for our future." If passed, Kentuckians would foot the bill. HB 95 requests $2 million a year. That money would come from the state's General Fund. Kentucky is one of more than a dozen states with a "pink tax." That's a 6% state sales tax on menstrual products. One in 5 women and girls between the age of 12 and 44 in Kentucky live below the Federal Poverty Level. Assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP benefits don't cover period supplies, which bill advocates said is "inhumane" and "degrading." "Folks are regularly considering if they're going to buy diapers or food or if they're going to buy period products," said Candice Crawford, founder of For Lady's Sake. State Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, said this issue extends beyond the bathroom. She said it's about health and education. However, HB 95 hasn't moved this legislative session. "Here are students telling us what they need," she said. "The fact that we're not even having these conversations is extremely frustrating." Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Monfort Companies, a Denver-based investment management firm that got into convenience retailing in 2013, has sold the last of its c-stores and its petroleum marketing business, according to an announcement from advisory firm Matrix Capital Markets, which coordinated the divestitures. Monfort, which at its peak operated 80 c-stores, has quietly been divesting locations since 2023, according to the announcement. It sold its last 20 stores earlier this month to New Mexico-based retailer Diamond Jubilee Oil, a spokesperson from Matrix confirmed to C-Store Dive. Although Monforts business model differs from a standard c-store company, its exit marks yet another example of a smaller convenience retailer selling its assets as the industrys profitability troubles persist in a difficult operating environment. Dive Insight: Although its been around since 1930, Monfort entered the c-store industry 13 years ago by acquiring a set of c-stores in Denver. The company grew its footprint through the next decade, operating sites under numerous banners, such as 7-Eleven, Murphy USA, Speedway and Dino Stop across Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Some of its locations included car washes, lubricant shops, QSRs and full-service restaurants. Its last notable acquisition was the 19-location Chisholm Corner c-store chain in Oklahoma. In a statement to C-Store Dive, a Monfort spokesperson said that after conducting a long-term strategic evaluation of its business, the company has decided to focus on real estate, private investments and experiential assets instead of c-stores. These non-retail assets have become the companys greatest competitive advantages over time, the spokesperson said. The convenience store platform was successfully built and strengthened during our ownership, and the transition reflects a thoughtful evolution of our portfolio, not a short-term decision, Monforts spokesperson said. By reallocating capital and leadership focus toward sectors that align most closely with our operating expertise and long-term vision, we are positioning the firm for sustained growth and durable value creation. Besides Diamond Jubilee, other buyers of Monforts c-store assets since 2023 have included 7-Eleven and Kent Companies, which each bought 10 stores, and regional player Azan Petro, which acquired 20 locations, according to Matrixs spokesperson. Monforts exit from the industry continues the wave of smaller convenience retailers many with less than 100 locations selling their assets amid a difficult operating environment. Industry experts have said they expect this trend to continue in 2026, with customer visits dropping and transaction counts inside c-stores in recent years mostly flat. Performance in 2025 was driven by a deliberate shift toward lateral length optimization and sustainable efficiency gains, resulting in a 7% reduction in well costs. The Delaware Basin development strategy was adjusted to include additional landing zones that now meet stringent return hurdles due to significantly improved cost structures. Management attributes peer-leading price realizations to a differentiated marketing strategy and strategic infrastructure investments, such as the Janus gas processing plant. The Encino acquisition in the Utica has been integrated ahead of schedule, achieving $150 million in synergies by leveraging EOG's scale and purchasing power. Dorado has been elevated to 'foundational asset' status, characterized by high returns, significant running room, and the ability to generate self-sustaining free cash flow. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Observer Seeks Community Memories to Honor Beloved Teacher Bernie Walker. In the wake of the loss of longtime Kimball Public Schools educator Bernie Walker, the Western Nebraska Observer is inviting community members to help honor his remarkable legacy. Walker, who dedicated 41 years to teaching in Kimball, touched countless lives in the classroom and beyond. In speaking with the Kimball Public Schools Board of Education president Travis Cook, it is clear the impact he made on students, families, and colleagues will be felt for generations. To ensure his story is told through the voices of those who knew him best, the Observer welcomes submissions from community members who would like to share memories, reflections, or photographs that capture Walkers influence and spirit. Families, former students, coworkers, and friends are encouraged to participate as the newspaper prepares a memorial feature celebrating Walkers decades of service and the difference, he made in the Kimball community. Submissions may be sent via Facebook direct message to Alecia Heidemann or by email to [email protected]. Vern A. Nelson, age 75 of Potter, NE entered the presence of our Lord on Monday, February 16, 2025, away at the Sidney Regional Medical Center in Sidney with his loved ones present. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Evangelical Free Church in Sidney with Pastor Kyle Larson Officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website. in lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions for Vern to the Sidney Evangelical Free Church AWANA Ministry, The Potter Volunteer Fire Department, or the Potter Community Hall Building Fund. Friends may stop by the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Monday, March 9th from 1:00-6:00 P.M. to leave their condolences for the family. Family present from 4:00-6:00 P.M You may view Verns Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Verns care and funeral arrangements. Vern was born on December 29, 1950, in Sidney, NE to Virgil A. and Katheryn M. Nelson. He grew up on the farm northeast of Potter. He attended school and graduated from Potter High School in 1969. He went on to attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy. After graduation he returned home to farm and ranch. He met the love of his life Peggy Nickels in Sidney, Nebraska in 1978, and they were married on June 30, 1979, in Lincoln, NE. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children, Vaughn Aric, Dennis Wayne, and Casey Jane. Vern loved to serve others and belonged to a variety of organizations, boards, and committees in Potter and the surrounding area over the years. His faith was very important to him. While in college, he gave his heart to Jesus and made a commitment to live his life for Him. Vern pursued growing in his relationship with Jesus by studying Gods Word and using his time and talents to serve others. Vern and Peggy became members of the Sidney Evangelical Free Church in 1991. Vern made a public profession of his faith in 1997 by choosing to be baptized. He was involved in various positions of volunteering and leadership in the church over the last three and a half decades. Vern is survived by his wife of 46 years, Peggy of Potter, NE, son Aric and his wife Sara of Sidney, NE, son Dennis and his wife Raechel and their daughters Paisley and Rebecca of Livermore, CO, and daughter Casey Brechtel and her husband Mike and their children Cormac, Kaden, Collin, and McKaley of Casper, WY. Vern is also survived by his siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces and nephews, several dear cousins, extended family, and honorary family members including his grandson Kadens living kidney donor Haley. He is preceded in death by his parents, an unborn child, grandparents, father and mother-in-law, his beloved aunts and uncles, several dear cousins, and unborn grandchildren. Verns family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the excellent doctors, nurses, and staff at the Sidney Regional Medical Center as well as the dedicated and compassionate volunteers of the Potter Rescue Unit. This story was originally published on ESG Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily ESG Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The European Council approved the simplification of the European Unions corporate sustainability reporting laws on Tuesday, greenlighting changes the blocs co-legislators agreed to in December. In addition to changing the scope and requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the Council will give member states additional time to incorporate the CSDDDs changes into their national regulatory framework. The first wave of companies will have to comply with the due diligence law in 2029, according to a Feb. 24 press release. The new employee and revenue thresholds are expected to remove 90% of companies from the scope of the CSRD and 70% of companies from the CSDDDs scope, law firm Ropes & Gray estimated after legislators reached an agreement. The European Parliament approved the package of changes in December. Dive Insight: The Councils approval signals the conclusion of a simplification process at least for these two laws that began nearly a year ago, when the European Commission proposed altering the scope of the CSRD and other sustainability reporting requirements for the bloc in an omnibus package. Last spring, the blocs co-legislators delayed the reporting timelines for the CSRD and CSDDD while changes were worked out. The next wave of CSRD companies will have until 2028 to comply, while Tuesdays approval further delays CSDDD reporting until 2029. Under the adopted changes, the CSRD will apply to companies with over 1,000 employees and 450 million ($531 million) in revenue. Non-EU companies with a parent entity that has over 450 million in EU revenue and EU-based subsidiaries with over 200 million ($236 million) in revenue will also have to comply. The CSDDD scope was changed to apply to EU companies with over 5,000 employees and 1.5 billion ($1.77 billion) in revenue. Non-EU entities with over 1.5 billion in EU revenue will also have to report under the CSDDD. The modified CSDDD also removes the requirement for companies to adopt and share a transition plan. Marilena Raouna, the deputy minister of European affairs for Cyprus which holds the Councils rotating presidency said in the release that the adopted package reduces unnecessary and disproportionate burdens on our businesses, with simpler, more targeted and more proportionate rules, both for [EU] companies and [EU] citizens. PARIS Alexandra Winokur has been named deputy chief executive officer of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuittons North American division. The executive, who was president of Christian Dior Couture Americas since 2023, will take up her new post on Monday, reporting to Michael Burke, chairman and CEO of LVMH Americas, the group said in an internal memo seen by WWD. More from WWD She succeeds Anish Melwani, who is leaving the group to pursue new professional opportunities, according to LVMH. He will remain until April following a transition period with Winokur. A retail specialist who has held senior roles at companies including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Marc Jacobs, she brings a wealth of experience of brands within the group and is expected to work hand-in-hand with Burke to drive growth in the U.S., the leading market for French luxury goods. Winokur began her career in 2000 as a financial analyst for Goldman, Sachs & Co., before becoming associate at the Guggenheim investment and advisory firm in 2003, spearheading the launch of Tory Burch LLC on behalf of the companys founders. From 2005 to 2008, Winokur was director, retail and web, and vice president, boutiques at Tory Burch. She will strengthen the community of local brand presidents, providing direction on key topics such as client experience, retail and digital innovation to foster and accelerate the groups local ambitions, LVMH said. French brands operating in the market are dealing with the impact of tariffs, distribution challenges and falling prices. Nonetheless, it was the best-performing region for LVMH in 2025, with full-year sales in the U.S. remaining flat even as overall group revenues declined 1 percent in organic terms. As of the end of last year, LVMH operated 1,232 stores in the U.S. and counted nearly 42,000 employees. Melwani, who held the title of chairman and CEO of LVMH Inc., leaves the post after a decade, having significantly grown LVMHs North American business and attractiveness, coordinated regional operations and launched several global initiatives, the group noted. Anish Melwani During that time, LVMH grew its retail and manufacturing presence significantly, including the opening of a Louis Vuitton leather goods workshop in Texas in 2019 that was inaugurated by U.S. President Donald Trump. North America is of paramount strategic importance to LVMH and the enduring desirability of our maisons. I am pleased to welcome Alexandra, who will undoubtedly help us further grow our presence and uphold our uncompromising standards of excellence throughout our operations, Burke said. MILFORD TWP., Pa. The Quakertown Community School Board spent over two hours Thursday night listening to angry community members demanding accountability from the board and the administration in the wake of student arrests during a student protest on Feb. 20. The student-led, anti-ICE demonstration along Fifth and Broad streets turned violent when protestors from Quakertown Community High School clashed with responding police. Videos from the protest in downtown Quakertown showed students and law enforcement get into a brawl that ended with five teenagers and one adult arrested. Of the five students, four of them have since been released and are on house arrest. Speaking to an overflow crowd of more than 100 people, school board President David ODonnell attempted to diffuse the anger in the room by reading some statements which attempted to explain the districts actions. For context, Quakertown followed the same format used by most regional school districts in the days leading up to the walkout, ODonnell read. Administrators met with student organizers on February 13th and February 18th to review their plans and discuss alternative ways to demonstrate the right to free speech that wouldn't disrupt the school day. To be clear, it is our practice not to endorse or facilitate a student walkout during the school day for any reason, he continued. However, we also know it is our responsibility and duty to provide reasonable safety and security support for students and staff members who enter and exit our schools. When students said they were planning to hold a walkout that extended off school property something the district as a public school system has no legal authority to stop them from doing the administration and student organizers discussed and agreed to a route that would confine the walkout to an area in front of the high school to make it more manageable for safety and security, ODonnell said. He continued to read from a statement which explained that at 9 p.m. on Feb. 19, the district received what was deemed as a new and concerning threat of violence. After consulting with local law enforcement, the district issued a notice before the start of school on Friday that because of safety concerns, students should not continue with the protest. This was in no way an attempt to silence students," O'Donnell stated. We met with the student organizers on February 20th at 7:15 a.m. to reiterate our concerns about threats to safety, ODonnell read. Around 11:25 a.m. on February 20th, just before the walkout was originally scheduled to begin, our administrative team assembled in front of the school and prepared for the possibility that students would proceed with their walkout despite the safety concerns shared with them. Approximately 35 students left the high school building and continued off campus, which was not part of any previous discussed route, he said. ODonnell said it was the districts position that once the students left the school grounds without authorization and walked into the town, they were no longer under the districts custodial control or supervision and had no legal authority to regulate their behavior. ODonnell said the administrative team and many staff members have been inundated with hateful messages and physical threats. This is simply inexcusable, he read. We have and will continue to report these threats to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Aiden Myers, a junior and a student representative on the board, called for unity within the community. While the incident left me and many others concerned and disappointed, my hope is that we come here tonight and look for ways to reestablish our shared sense of community, Myers said. We cannot do this by finger-pointing and screaming at each other; we gather here tonight to discuss a very complex issue. I'm asking all of us students, parents, educators and community members to speak with respect, to listen with patience and to honor each other's opinions. That request was not honored as many of the speakers hurled passionate accusations at the board and blamed it for the outcome of the protest. Parents and community members made their voices heard after videos of the protest went viral, showing students and law enforcement getting physical, along with the Quakertown police chief in civilian clothes using force on a female student. Many blamed the incident on racism and homophobia within the community and some comments quickly turned to shouting insults at the board. One parent said the students had every right to protest and added, "I am asking that we collectively acknowledge that there are people in this community that hate people like me and people with any shade of brown skin. Some speakers said they had knowledge that the threat the district received was that a gun was being brought to the protest. "The threat that was given was that a gun was going to be present at the walkout," said one concerned father. Those community members blamed the district for not communicating that fact and for not contacting parents when the students walked off the district property. Quakertown resident Laura Foster, who identified herself as an organizer for Upper Bucks United, said that over the last week, the organization had people from across the nation reach out to us, asking what happened in Quakertown. This is your time to provide information and clarity with a tone of respect and love for these students, Foster said. Everyone up here needs to look at this with a place of love in your heart for all of the students, including the students who were being put in chokeholds, who were being pushed on the ground and thrown into planters. The tone of what was communicated out was tone deaf: the messaging of thanking the students for staying in school, while ignoring your students who were out there getting brutally attacked by the police, Foster added. It's no longer a time of placating with platitudes and making statements about concern about your own safety, concerns about threats to your staff, with children in detention centers to this day. This community has an opportunity to come together and to be able to show that we are doing the right thing, Foster said. You need to start tonight doing the right thing. Quakertown resident Amalia Ritter said the high school principal made an agreement with minors that they could cut class and engage in a protest during instructional time. This school does not practice its own beliefs, Ritter said. The school website lists a shared belief which states we believe we are responsible for preparing all students for life after graduation. How can our children be our future if you don't work alongside parents? Just last week, I had to complete two parent permission forms to allow my child to participate in activities to excuse them from instructional time, Ritter said. Where was the parent involvement in this case for parents to decide? Instead, you took it upon yourself to dismiss my parental rights. Parents also blamed the district for not anticipating that students would still walk out, even after the district attempted to cancel the event. Quakertown resident Lucia Simonelli told the board rebuilding trust with the community will take time. It feels to us right now that the institutional response has been imbalanced, punishing the most vulnerable and protecting those with more power, Simonelli said. We recognize that much of this (arresting students) falls outside of your jurisdiction, but there remain many unanswered questions about the decisions of the school district and the sequence of events leading up to Friday. Right now, there is a lot of fear and uncertainty. Justice can be uncomfortable for those in power, but it is the only way to heal this community. The timeline of what unfolded and how is unclear at this time," O'Donnell concluded. We want people to know that our intentions going into planning this protest were not to cause any harm," said one community member as she read a text from a group chat of student protestors who felt unsafe coming to the meeting. ODonnell told the community that the emotions among the board members are also very raw at this time. No matter how you look at it, this was not anything anybody here would ever want, and there is no one up here or out there that I believe would celebrate violence against children, ODonnell said. It breaks my heart to see it, and I acknowledge that we probably have a lot to learn from how we handled the situation. And I think there's a lot that we can do internally to possibly prevent something like this from happening again. And I hope that the community is listening to folks like Aiden in his commonsense comments. We need to get back to a point where we can disagree civilly, he added. We don't need to tolerate hate and we don't need to attack each other. I think the most measured approach to our response is going to require some distance and some time from the event and then self-reflection on how we all do better. The situation is currently under investigation by Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan. Because of the large number of speakers Thursday night, the board agreed to move all non-essential items on the boards agenda to a special meeting on Tuesday, March 3. Housing is the gateway for commerce, says former American Express CEO Ken Chenault, who is now chairman and managing director of venture capital firm General Catalyst and chair of Bilts board. He credits Jain with creating a robust infrastructure around home payments and local commerce that can now be replicated across different geographies and partners. What Bilt has been able to do is have housing become the anchor. No one has been able to establish this anchor at scale, and its frictionless. You go into a building, and the only way you pay for rent is on the Bilt platform. Youre not having to change your behavior at all. Bilt is competing in a battleground of commerce that few have yet to master but many want to own: the home. The behemoth in the smart home market is Amazon , which is on track to displace Walmart as the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500. Earlier this month, Amazon announced that its making Alexa+ available to everyone in the U.S., a revamped version of the voice-activated device that can handle multiple queries and act as an agent for users to buy from multiple vendors. Earlier versions of Alexa failed to drive much purchasing, in part because it encouraged users to buy from Amazon. Everybody talks about agents and AI, but no one can take actions for you, says Jain. Because were integrated into your building, the restaurants, the gym, the grocery store, the car service, and more, we can let customers wake up and say, Hey, can you pay my rent for me, have eggs delivered to my apartment, and make a reservation for dinner? Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain compares the service to a hotel concierge that connects the home to the neighborhood around it. Our brand has been the home, says Jain, who earlier this year partnered with Verifone to integrate Bilts technology into its payment terminals, enabling millions of merchants to recognize and reward Bilt members at the point of sale. We won the home. Now we can turn the home into the hub for everything you doand buyaround it. Bilt, the loyalty and payments platform that now powers rental payments in 25% of U.S. apartment buildings, today launched an AI-powered concierge service that lets members seamlessly interact with the growing network of local merchants and partners that have integrated into its ecosystem. With Bilt Neighborhood Concierge, Bilts 5.5 million members will ultimately be able to prompt the app to pay their rent, book amenities, reserve and pay for restaurants or fitness classes, order prescription deliveries, schedule rides, book flights, and cash loyalty points without leaving the platform. Story Continues What motivated Chenault to become an investor and mentor to Jain was the vision to connect local communities at scale. If this was just a co-branded card, I would have had zero interest, he says. I saw that this was a neighborhood commerce platform. Credit card woes It took a while to get there. Jain founded Bilt in 2019 as a system for renters to earn rewards on their largest monthly expense. Although hed founded a global nonprofit community of student entrepreneurs called Kairos Society while studying economics at Wharton and sold his first company Humin to Tinder in 2016, Jain was not well known in the clubby world of real estate. He spent the first few years persuading major property owners like Related, Blackstone, Starwood, Greystar, GID, and AvalonBay to let him run rent payments on their properties through the platformin part by letting some have an equity stake in it. Bilt Rewards launched in 2021. A key driver in recruiting members was the launch of a co-branded credit card with Wells Fargo in 2022. Not only did it let renters earn loyalty points on rent payments through the card, but it didnt charge a fee, which proved popular with members and expensive for the bank. Although the high-profile deal was meant to run through 2029, the partnership ended last year. Offered new plans with less lucrative terms, cardholders whod grown used to earning generous points and a sweet deal took to Reddit to complain vociferously about Bilt. Jain has since partnered with Cardless, launching three new tiers of cards earlier this month. But, he says, the intention was never to be a credit card company, noting that more than 80% of members pay rent through bank transfers on the app, not a credit card. They join to get loyalty points. Once there, Jain hopes theyll stay to get rewarded for buying other stuff in their neighborhood. Along with signing up more buildings, his goal is to create a digital village green connecting into the reservation and POS systems of brands like OpenTable, Resy, Toast, Walgreens, Bed Bath & Beyond, SoulCycle, Equinox, and more. The companys software also helps landlords manage vendor access to a building and allows members to plug into the same ecosystem when they move. For landlords, Jain says, the payoff is lower turnover, higher satisfaction, and a 30% increase in on-time payments. For merchants, its more customers and repeat business. For consumers, the promise is less friction and more rewards from spending money in your neighborhood. And Bilt, of course, gets data, revenue, and a loyal customer base that it hopes to scale. When you move, you are resetting your habitswhere you shop, where you fill your prescriptions, what gym you use, what restaurants you go to, says Jain. We own that moment. Its not unlike the philosophy that Chenault deployed in building out American Express. Unlike Visa and Mastercard, where the network is separate from the banks, Amex primarily has a closed-loop system where it issues the card, signs the merchant, and runs the network, giving it richer data and more control over the customer and merchant experience. People would say American Express was a card company, Chenault says. I would say, Were not just in the payments business. Were a service platform, and the card is a form factor to deliver services. I could say that 1,000 times, and people would still say, Card company. The same could be said of Bilt, which many still see as a loyalty program tied to a co-branded credit card. As the platforms concierge service rolls out in beta today, Jain has chance to testand enhancethe strength of its connected network and the appetite of members to navigate life around the home. You stay at a hotel, you go downstairs, and somebody can help you get things done, he says. Now, we can create that from your home. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil ministry has suspended 19 oil production-sharing contracts with private companies signed under the administration of President Nicolas Maduro, four sources with knowledge of the move told Reuters. The suspension has had no impact on the country's oil and gas output so far, the sources said. State oil giant PDVSA is selling the crude produced under the contracts while they are suspended, they added. Caracas and Washington would review the contracts and may recommend revoking some of them, the sources said. The Venezuelan and U.S. governments are reviewing the credentials of the companies that signed them, the sources added. Some of the companies are little-known and the deals were signed while Venezuela was under U.S. sanctions. The United States captured Maduro in January and took control of Venezuela's oil exports and sales. Since then, the U.S. Treasury Department has issued licenses that allow some companies to trade Venezuela's oil and to operate in the country's oil and gas sectors. Venezuela's National Assembly passed a reform to the country's hydrocarbon law in late January to facilitate foreign investment in the dilapidated oil industry. Under the reformed law, the government has six months to review existing contracts. Venezuela's oil ministry and the White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston, Erin Banco in New York and Reuters staff; Editing by Simon Webb and Nia Williams) Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is included among the 14 Best LNG Stocks to Buy Now. Exxon Mobil's Uaru and Whiptail Projects Progressing Ahead of Schedule Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) revealed on February 18 that its Uaru and Whiptail projects in Guyana are progressing ahead of schedule and under budget. The two projects are the oil behemoths fifth and sixth in the South American country, and will each produce 250,000 barrels per day. Exxon expects Uaru to begin oil production this year, while Whiptail is projected to start in 2027. Upon their completion, Guyanas overall output will grow to 1.4 million bpd. The Guyanese government has also been pressing Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) to design and build natural gas projects, as the country looks to diversify into petrochemical plants and possible data centers. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) reported during its Q4 2025 earnings call that its output from advantaged assets, such as the Permian, Guyana, and LNG, continues to grow, with the company projecting these assets to make up roughly 65% of its total production mix by 2030. While we acknowledge the potential of XOM 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: 12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy as Tensions Rise and 10 Best American Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Achieved 76% year-over-year growth in Aerospace Products EBITDA, driven by the increasing market adoption of fixed-price engine exchanges as a cost-efficient alternative to traditional shop visits. Successfully committed $5.3 billion of the $6 billion target for SCI I through 276 aircraft under LOI, leveraging an asset-light model to secure a captive maintenance pipeline of approximately 700 engines. Capitalized on historically low aircraft retirement rates and a shift toward heavier maintenance overhauls, which signals a longer economic useful life for CFM56 and V2500 platforms. Strengthened the competitive moat through a multiyear materials agreement with CFM, ensuring OEM part supply resilience and supporting the scaling of the module remanufacturing platform. Expanded global MRO footprint by doubling the workforce in Rome and integrating the ATOPS acquisition to create a major logistics and production hub in Miami and Portugal. WMSURE researchers to return to Barbados in summer 26 William & Mary Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) faculty and students will travel to Barbados this June to continue work on the Linguistic Atlas of the Caribbean a project started by WMSURE co-Director Iyabo Osiapem in collaboration with Jason F. Siegel, a lexicography research fellow and director of the Richard & Jeannette Allsopp Centre for Caribbean Lexicography at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill. There has not been an atlas that covered the entire Caribbean. There just isnt, Osiapem said. So, ours, hopefully, when we get there, will cover the entire Caribbean. In addition to conducting fieldwork and linguistic research, Osiapem sees the research trip as an opportunity for students to connect with one another and community members through conversation, which she said reflects linguistic lessons as well. Osiapem, teaching professor of Africana studies and linguistics, led an inaugural research trip to Barbados last summer that included 15 undergraduates who had taken her Caribbean Language & Identity course. Students transcribed oral interviews of Barbadian citizens conducted by UWI students and documented language targets a word or phrase which will appear in ArcGIS, an interactive web map linked to each speakers place of origin. Once completed, the project will allow users, including researchers, to listen to audio clips of each language use. What I enjoyed most last summer was listening to W&M students share and observe, you say this, you say that thats the type of stuff I find really interesting, because I cant teach that, she explained. I can teach you about the history of a place, we can study the structure, the grammar, read articles, but its interactions that convey the most meaningful information. Anthony AJ Joseph, WMSURE assistant director, coordinated last summer's experience, which sought enrichment opportunities that enhanced students research and intercultural communication skills. Study abroad allows for a moment of self-discovery in a different environment where you can reflect on who you are and how you intersect with the rest of the world, Joseph said. Brennan Strong 28, chemistry and government double major, had just completed his first year at W&M when he joined last years research trip. I got to make a little tutorial video for the future lexicographers who work on the project, Strong said, citing previous audio editing experience that allowed him to support the project with these skills. Sarah Morolari 28, an intended economics and finance double major, said the trip was eye opening. "My trip to Barbados was a great sneak-peak of what a full semester of study abroad would be like. It was only two weeks, but that was more than enough time to experience some of the challenges of study abroad, such as finding food and transportation. Having to overcome these, really made me more confident in my ability to travel independently, Morolari said. Kristina Savage 28, a public policy major, said the Barbados research experience was a surprising opportunity. I wasnt expecting to be able to have the opportunity to go abroad and do research as a freshman. Im so glad that I was able to, and it helped me expand my perspective especially when traveling. It also helped me gain more confidence in my ability to support myself when Im not in the U.S., especially in terms of problem-solving and navigation. WMSURE student fellow Parah Shaw 27, an Africana studies major and marketing minor, was eager to take part in both Osiapems Caribbean Language & Identity course and the practical application of the coursework and academic methodologies through hands-on research in the field. There were a lot of firsts for me attached to Barbados, Shaw said. I'm grateful that I had that first experience with a program, with WMSURE, she said, I felt like I was taken care of, which felt really good for me and my first time doing something like that. The nurturing experience in Barbados last summer served as a springboard for Shaw, leading her to study abroad in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand last month through the Winter W&M Mason Business School in Southeast Asia program. According to Joseph, experiences like Shaws illustrate a central goal of WMSURE's research abroad experience. It is important for us to provide opportunities that aid our students in maximizing their college experience, he said. Siegel, of UWI, also pointed to the transformational impact of such experiences on undergraduate students. Its important to have people involved in research early, to identify whether its a talent of theirs, he said. Osiapem first met Siegel in 2018, when she took her students to UWI's lexicography center. This visit set the stage for the multiyear collaborative effort to create the Linguistic Atlas of the Caribbean. UWI students provide lived language expertise to the interview transcription process while collaborating with W&M students on related research. Ive never experienced anything like that before, said Maleigha Roach, a second-year UWI student studying microbiology. This was Roachs first undergraduate research experience, and she is eager to continue the collaborative work with the next WMSURE cohort this June. 'It's been in place for years, and currently, it's under attack': Mayfield nonprofit raises concerns about Medicaid bill French insurer AXA has reported growth in 2025 earnings, driven by broad-based growth across core business lines. Underlying earnings for the year reached 8.4bn, a 6% increase over the same period of 2024. Excluding the contribution from AXAs investment management division, which was sold to BNP Paribas Cardif for around 5.1bn in July, underlying earnings growth reached 9% year-on-year. Underlying earnings per share were up 8% to 3.86. Operational efficiency also improved, with the combined ratio falling by 0.3 points to 90.6%, largely due to a reduction in the current year loss ratio excluding natural catastrophe losses. The companys total gross written premiums (GWP) and other revenues climbed 6% to 116bn, supported by gains in property and casualty (P&C) as well as life and health (L&H) operations. P&C GWP and revenue increased by 5% to 58bn, showing improvement in both commercial and personal lines. Commercial premiums rose by 4%, with AXA XL Insurance contributing through increased volumes and pricing. Personal lines increased by 7% to 19.7bn, driven by pricing and growth, particularly in France, Europe, Asia, and Europe and Middle East-Latin America (EME-LATAM) regions. AXA XL Reinsurance also recorded an 8% rise to 2.6bn, supported mainly by alternative capital. L&H GWP and revenue were up by 8%, reaching 56.5bn. In the Life segment, revenue reached 37.5bn, up 9%, mainly through a 13% increase in unit-linked products and growth in protection products through targeted sales activities. Health business grew by 5% to 19bn due to price rises across several markets, although this was partly offset by lower volumes. In a statement to Life Insurance International, Moodys Ratings VP-senior credit officer Christian Badorff said: On Thursday 26 February, AXA reported a very strong set of results for 2025, with both P&C and L&H delivering robust revenue growth and earnings. In P&C the pricing momentum in retail lines remains supportive, while rates in some commercial lines remain under pressure, albeit at still very healthy rate adequacy levels. "In L&H, net flows continue to strengthen thanks to both better sales and lower lapses. While the earnings outlook for 2026 remains positive, AXA has taken targeted measures to support future profitability, notably by increasing prudence in P&C reserves. AXAs balance sheet remains very strong, as reflected in a stable Solvency II ratio well in excess of 200%. AXAs board has authorised an annual share buyback programme of up to 1.25bn, subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming general meeting. Shares repurchased under this initiative are intended for cancellation. A prominent right-wing political commentator in New Zealand, David Farrar, earlier this month published an op-ed in the Post calling for New Zealand to take up the 125-year-old invitation to become a state of Australia. His proposal, while it was publicly opposed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and other political leaders, does not emerge from nowhere. It reflects mounting discussions in ruling circles over how best to position New Zealand in the far-advanced US plans for war against China. David Farrar [Photo: David Farrar] Farrar is well-connected: he runs the widely-read Kiwiblog, which is aligned with the National Party-led coalition government, and owns Curia Market Research, a polling company used by the party. He stated that the change in the world order over the last decade meant New Zealand could no longer survive as an independent country. We do not have, and never will have, the economic or military might to defend our interests, he added. Farrar pointed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys comments at the World Economic Forum where he said there had been a rupture of the world order, in which rules had given way to a brutal reality where geopolitics among the great powers is not subject to any constraints the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must. Carney called for middle powers like Canada to act together, because if were not at the table, were on the menu. The speech followed Donald Trumps threats to annex Greenland, which called into question the stability of the NATO military alliance. Trump has also previously suggested that the US should annex Canada itself. US imperialism is responding to its long-term economic decline by violently asserting its hegemony over the entire western hemisphere. The attacks on Venezuela and Iran are also bound up with cutting off Chinas access to resources, oil in particular, in preparation for war. There is growing nervousness in New Zealands ruling elite that Trumps economic warfare and military interventions will have severe economic consequences, given that China is the countrys main trading partner. Farrar said global agreements and institutions like the World Trade Organisation allowed New Zealand to prosper, and develop strong economic and political relationships with competing powers such as the US and China, but the resurgence of nationalism meant this was no longer possible. Nine of the 12 largest countries in Europe either have nationalist governments, or have nationalist parties leading in the polls, he noted. Farrar expressed outrage over Trumps threats against Greenland, writing on Kiwiblog, The US is now more of a threat to NATO than Russia! But he supports New Zealands long-standing military and intelligence alliance with the US. He backed New Zealands participation in the criminal US-led wars against Afghanistan and Iraq and has defended the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza. Farrar also endorsed the US attack and kidnapping of Venezuelas president Nicolas Maduro. His proposal to merge with Australia reflects the needs of the ruling class in both countries, minor imperialist powers in the Pacific, to build a larger war machine in order to secure a seat at the table alongside the US in the violent redivision of the world. Farrar told the far-right Platform podcast that impoverished island nations in the Pacific could also join a NZ-Australia federationplacing them under direct colonial control. A combined NZ-Australia, Farrar wrote, would be the worlds 12th largest economy, larger than Spain, South Korea and Turkey. Its combined defence force would have 70,000 active personnel and 35,000 reserves, with a military budget of $35 billion ($NZ58 billion)the 11th largest in the worldlarger than Canada, Poland and Israel. Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Farrar challenged politicians: If you dont think the answer is becoming a state of Australia, which is admittedly radical, whats your solution? Is it just: hope no one notices us? In fact, the government is taking major steps to put the country on a war footing. Its 2025 Defence Capability Plan will nearly double military spending from just over 1 percent to 2 percent of GDP over eight years, involving $NZ9 billion in new spending over four years alone. Luxon has declared this figure is the floor, not the ceiling, of funding for our defence force. The Defence Force is also discussing how it can quickly ramp up recruitment. Military ties with Australia have also been significantly strengthened in recent years, with the stated aim of creating a fully-integrated Anzac forcereferring to the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps created during World War I. Luxon also supports the AUKUS military pactthe aggressive trilateral alliance between Australia, the US and Britainwhich is accelerating Australias transformation into a frontline base for the US-led military build-up. This is the real content of Farrars proposal. It has nothing to do with protecting people or improving living standards in New Zealand or Australia. Its aim is to create a more powerful military entity to police the Pacific in an alliance with US imperialism and to join a devastating war against China. The opposition to Farrar from the media and the political establishment, however, is equally reactionary, rooted not in concern for democratic and social rights but in the defence of New Zealands own imperialist prerogatives. A spokesperson for Luxons office declared that unity with Australia wont be happening because New Zealanders value our unique national identity and our sovereignty. The leaders of the far-right ACT Party, as well as Labour and the Greens, also voiced opposition. All these parties, steeped in nationalism, support a strong alliance with Australia and the US and a dramatic increase in military spending. The bourgeoisie fears that its own imperialist interestsincluding New Zealands colonial domination over countries like Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islandsmay be compromised by unity with Australia. Moreover, despite NZs close ties with Australia, national identity and sovereignty serve important ideological functions for the capitalist classnamely, to keep workers divided from their class brothers and sisters across the Tasman Sea. Anti-Australian sentiments are routinely stoked by the NZ media, politicians and the union bureaucracy in order to deflect anger over worsening social inequality, poverty and the cost of living. An example of this is the pro-Labour Party Daily Blog, which denounced Farrar as a disloyal coward quisling. Its editor Martyn Bradbury absurdly declared that we are already a colony of Australia, based on the leading position of Australian-owned banks in New Zealand. The false implication of such statements is that New Zealand capitalists are less ruthless than their Australian counterparts. The Daily Blogs intense xenophobia was viciously expressed in its response to devastating bushfires in Australia in 2020. It demanded anti-immigrant measures to stop Australians fleeing climate change from moving to New Zealand. Bradbury agreed with Farrar that we need to increase what we spend on the military, while falsely claiming this is for defensive purposes. The Daily Blog has also called for the reintroduction of compulsory military service. It has repeated Washingtons anti-China war propaganda while denouncing the Socialist Equality Group as traitors for opposing imperialist war. Why New Zealand did not join Australia New Zealand nationalism has always had an extremely reactionary and militarist character. After conquering Maori tribal lands in a series of brutal wars during the nineteenth century, the NZ bourgeoisiewhich had become fabulously wealthymade a deliberate decision not to join the federation of Australia in 1901. This served two basic purposes: to maintain a separate apparatus for the exploitation of the New Zealand working class, splitting the trans-Tasman workers movement, and to pursue NZs independent imperialist interests in the Pacific. A ten-member Royal Commission, established in 1900 by Premier Richard Seddon, unanimously rejected becoming a state of Australia. Its report expressed racist fears that non-white immigration to Australia would spill over into New Zealand and sully the purity of the British race. Australian and New Zealand governmentsincluding the Labour Parties of both countriessupported laws barring Asian immigration, out of fear that this would create a dangerous class, that is, a proletariat with ties to the oppressed masses of Asia. Many who gave evidence to the commission, including trade union officials, expressed the chauvinist view that New Zealanders were superior to Australians because the latter were largely descended from convicts. For example, William Hood, president of the Workers Political Committee in Dunedin (one of the precursors to the Labour Party), told the royal commission that the origin of the people meant that even now the moral tone in Australia is lower than among the New Zealanders. Most importantly, Seddon feared that joining Australia would frustrate his ambition to build a Greater New Zealand in the Pacific. His government annexed the Cook Islands and Niue in 1901 and wanted to gain control over Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and even Hawaii. Samoa was seized from Germany by New Zealand in World War I and the islands were ruled by a brutal colonial regime for nearly 50 years. The division of the Australasian working class into separate national frameworks became a priority for the ruling elite, particularly after the powerful trans-Tasman unity displayed in the 1890 maritime and related strikes, which lasted three months before being defeated. The national barrier erected between Australia and New Zealand assisted in the isolation and defeat of New Zealands 1913 great strike. Australian Labor leader Billy Hughes (later prime minister) played a key role in quashing demands from workers for support strikes and definitively splitting the trans-Tasman union movement in the name of industrial peace in Australia. National divisions also prevented a unified working class movement against World War I, in which 62,000 Australians and 18,500 New Zealanders were slaughtered, with tens of thousands more injured. In Australia, the revolutionary syndicalist Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) played a leading role in the powerful working class movement against the Labor governments participation in WWI. An attempt to introduce conscription was defeated in a referendum. In New Zealand, however, the IWW was suppressed following the outbreak of war and conscription was imposed in 1916. The NZ Labour Party purported to oppose conscription but openly supported participation in the imperialist war and urged young men to enlist. For the international unity of the working class More than a century later, the deep integration of the Australian and New Zealand economies and populations makes a mockery of the nationalist frameworks promoted by all sections of the political establishment in both countries. A study by the Australian National University last year estimated the total New Zealand diaspora in Australia at more than 1.2 million people, encompassing NZ citizens, NZ-born individuals and their children. This is equivalent to more than one-fifth of the New Zealand-resident population. Moreover, workers in both countries are exploited by the same transnational corporations and are facing the same attacks on wages, conditions and public services. Workers must reject Farrars proposal for New Zealand to merge with Australiaa plan aimed at building a more powerful war economy and strengthening the state apparatus to suppress growing working-class opposition to austerity and war. Equally reactionary, however, is the nationalism of Farrars opponents, who seek to bind New Zealand workers to their own ruling class. The borders artificially drawn between Australia and New Zealandand across Asia and the Pacifichave for more than a century served to divide workers, weaken their struggles, and entrench capitalist and imperialist domination. The famous declaration by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in the Communist Manifesto that the workers have no country, and their call for the workers of all nations to unite, resonate today more powerfully than ever before. The contradiction between the globalised world economy and its division into rival nation-states is propelling the imperialist powersled by the United Statestoward a third world war, one that will be fought with nuclear weapons. If they are not stopped, human civilisation confronts a catastrophe of unprecedented scale. The struggle against imperialism is inseparable from the fight against all forms of nationalism, racism and anti-immigrant chauvinism, which are fostered by every capitalist party and organisation, including the union bureaucracy. In Australia, New Zealand, and across the world, the decisive task is to build a socialist leadership capable of uniting workers internationally on the basis of their common class interests, to overthrow capitalism and establish a socialist society. This means fighting for the abolition of national borders and the unification of Australia and New Zealand within an international socialist federation. The strongest allies of Australian and New Zealand workers in the struggle against war are their class brothers and sisters in China, across Asia and the Pacific, and throughout the world. This is the perspective advanced by the Socialist Equality Party in Australia, as part of the International Committee of the Fourth International, and by the Socialist Equality Group, which is fighting to establish a section of the ICFI in New Zealand. Demonstrators gather on the UCLA campus after nighttime attacks by organized Zionists against pro-Palestinian groups, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Ryan Sun] On the day of President Trumps fascistic State of the Union address, the Department of Justice officially filed an 81-page federal lawsuit against the University of California system, focusing on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The suit alleges that UCLA violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination by failing to prevent and correct an antisemitic hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff in light of the campus protests over Israels genocidal war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The complaint claims that the spring 2024 encampment protesting the slaughter in Gaza functioned as a Jew Exclusion Zone. It alleges that UCLA ignored complaints of antisemitism from Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff, permitted harassment and ostracism and failed to prevent assaults, vandalism including swastikas, and the blocking of campus access. According to the DOJ, some employees took leave or resigned as a result. The lawsuit seeks court-ordered policy changes and monetary damages. Also on Wednesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the headquarters of Los Angeles Unified School District and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, an outspoken critic of Trump and ICE raids. Together, they constitute an extraordinary and coordinated intervention by Trump, aimed at intimidating opposition and reasserting state authority amid a rapidly intensifying class struggle. Last year, Los Angeles became an early training ground for Trumps military operations, followed by operations in Washington D.C., Minneapolis and other major cities. Los Angeles and the state of California are becoming a flashpoint of the class struggle. A four week strike by 31,000 Kaiser Permanente workers was ended this week without a contract, only through unilateral action by the union bureaucracy. Around 40,000 graduate students in the University of California system have voted for strike action; in 2024, the same workers struck against police assaults against student Gaza protests. In LAUSD, some 65,000 workers, including teachers and support staff, have authorized potential strike action. The UCLA lawsuit represents the latest stage in a protracted offensive. By the summer of 2025, federal authorities had escalated from investigation to open financial punishment. Roughly $584 million in UCLA research grants, nearly 800 awards from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, were frozen. This financial strangulation also affected other campuses, most prominently Columbia University, as part of a nationwide campaign to discipline universities deemed insufficiently aggressive in policing pro-Palestinian speech. Last August, Trump demanded $1.172 billion from the University of California, including a $1 billion fine and a $172 million compensation fund. The move was pure coercion. Federal Judge Rita Lin later issued injunctions restricting the governments use of grant freezes as leverage, underscoring the legally dubious character of the administrations tactics. Separately, UCLA reached a $6 million settlement with several Jewish students and a professor who alleged discrimination during the protests. The new DOJ lawsuit insists that this was inadequate and that broader judicial enforcement is required. The narrative advanced by the federal government inverts reality. The defining event at UCLA in spring 2024 was a violent attack on the April encampment by a far-right mob, not the alleged creation of a Jew Exclusion Zone. On the night of April 30May 1, pro-Israel vigilantes, some armed and masked, assaulted participants with wooden planks, metal bars, chemical irritants and incendiary devices, causing fractures, burns, lacerations and alleged sexual violence. The attack unfolded in full view of campus security and law enforcement, which failed to intervene. When the mob withdrew, police targeted the encampment, using flashbangs, less-lethal projectiles and mass arrests, while no attackers were detained. Injured students and faculty later filed legal action, citing UCLAs failure to protect them. The lawsuit is a brazen attack on political dissent. It rests on the premise that sharp criticism of Israel, Zionism or US foreign policy can be treated as unlawful discrimination. The protests at UCLA were part of a broader wave of opposition to the US-backed Israeli assault on Gaza. Students demanded divestment from organizations tied to the war and there is mounting opposition to the bipartisan military budget exceeding $1 trillion, passed while social programs face cuts and inequality reaches historic highs. The Trump administration, representing a financial oligarchy enriched by decades of war and austerity, is seeking to criminalize this opposition. The message is that no criticism of US imperialism and its alliances will be tolerated in academic spaces. A $1 billion fine would devastate an already strained university system. Public higher education in California has been subjected to years of underfunding, tuition hikes, privatization and the erosion of working conditions. Under Democratic administrations, the University of California has imposed austerity on staff and students. In fact, California Democrats have played a central role in preparing the ideological and administrative groundwork for this attack. For years, leading Democratic politicians and university administrators have conflated anti-Zionism and criticism of Israeli state policy with antisemitism. Under the banner of combating bias, they have expanded bureaucratic oversight, created task forces and adopted vague definitions that blur the line between genuine antisemitism and political speech. The unanimous passage and signing of Californias AB 715 exemplifies this trend. Framed as antisemitism prevention, the law establishes new state offices and broad standards empowering investigations and sanctions for supposed bias. In reality, such measures erect an apparatus for monitoring and policing political expression. Within the UC system, administrators adopted zero tolerance protest policies, restricted encampments and tightened conduct rules. These measures were often justified as necessary to curb antisemitism, normalizing the idea that political protest constitutes a civil rights violation. Democrats also legitimized the use of civil rights complaints and disciplinary investigations to target critics of Israeli policy. Universities developed bureaucratic internal investigations, event restrictions, expanded policing and more, that the federal government now exploits on a far larger scale. The trade union apparatuses have functioned as accomplices in this process. The UAW bureaucracy, representing many academic workers, repeatedly stalled and limited action. Strike authorization votes were announced only after intense rank-and-file pressure. At UCLA, union officials who claimed to support the encampment were present as police prepared to clear it. Video and eyewitness accounts indicated that union representatives permitted police access through barricades, facilitating the sweep. Other unions representing campus and public sector workers, including affiliates of the AFT, NTEU, AFSCME and SEIU, discouraged coordinated strike action and sought to channel opposition into safe, procedural avenues. By isolating struggles and subordinating them to the Democratic Party, these organizations have helped create the conditions in which the federal government can intervene with sweeping repressive measures. The defense of democratic rights and public education cannot be entrusted to the courts, university administrators or the Democratic Party. Nor can it be left in the hands of union bureaucracies that have demonstrated their willingness to contain and dissipate mass opposition. As inequality deepens and social conflict intensifies, the ruling class is moving to curtail democratic forms of rule. Academic freedom, free speech and the right to strike are increasingly incompatible with a social order dominated by oligarchic wealth and permanent war. The defense of these rights requires the independent mobilization of the working class, uniting university workers, students, healthcare workers and educators in a common struggle. Only through such a movement, directed against the subordination of society to profit and militarism, can public education and democratic freedoms be secured. A ballpoint pen lies on an application to open insolvency proceedings. Soaring energy and food prices are pushing more German consumers into insolvency, with 107,816 personal bankruptcies registered in 2025, according to data published on Friday by information service provider CRIF. Jonas Walzberg/dpa Soaring energy and food prices are pushing more German consumers into insolvency, with 107,816 personal bankruptcies registered in 2025, according to data published on Friday by information service provider CRIF. This represents a 7.8% increase over 2024, and the numbers are expected to rise further. Despite a generally higher willingness to save, many households no longer have sufficient reserves to absorb rising costs, said Frank Schlein, CRIF's managing director in Germany. The average debt per insolvent household was around 15,000 ($17,718). CRIF currently projects 110,000 personal bankruptcies in Germany in 2026, which would exceed the 2021 level of just over 109,000 cases. That spike was partly due to a change in the law shortening the discharge period from six to three years, leading some households to delay filings. The main drivers of personal insolvency remain unemployment, failed self-employment, separation or divorce and health problems. The fastest-growing groups in 2025 were 18- to 20-year-olds, up 52.6%, and 21- to 30-year-olds, up 28.6%. CRIF said impulsive installment purchases, including "buy now pay later" (BNPL) services, are partly responsible. Consumer advocates warn that such schemes can encourage people to overestimate their financial capacity and take on more debt than they can afford. New York City nurses protest outside the New York State Nurses Association, February 11, 2026 Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan began returning to work Thursday after a lengthy six-week strike. They face not only a new contract that fails to satisfy their demands, but also a new round of attacks and harassment from management, according to nurses who spoke to the World Socialist Web Site. Their names have been changed to protect their anonymity. In recent days, the hospital held return-to-work sessions to allow the nurses to vent after the strike and to connect them with psychological support services. A bad atmosphere hung over the sessions, said Samantha, an experienced nurse. They stopped the two-hour meeting after one hour because people were so upset. It was awful. The nurses are furious, she added, because having struck for six weeks without strike pay, many nurses are in financial difficulty. Older nurses expressed their frustrations during the session, while many younger nurses remained silent, she said. When we come back, theyre going to be strict on time, Samantha continued. Theyre going to start retaliating against people who dont show up on time, have wrinkled uniforms, or dont have white sneakers. Through these and other disciplinary measures, management will seek to punish nurses for having exercised their right to strike. The return-to-work session was insulting and patronizing, said Alexis, another nurse. NewYork-Presbyterian brought in consultants to discuss how to move forward with some awful video by one of the vice presidents and a reminder of the NewYork-Presbyterian credoas if we were the ones who needed to be reminded! Nurses also expressed their unhappiness with the new contract. This contract is not revolutionary, said Alexis. It does not reflect the value of our work as nurses. The contract does, however, reflect a few sad realities such as the devaluation of the working class [and] corporate greed backed by our so-called elected officials, she said. The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) leadership claims that the new contract increases the number of nurses to improve patient care. The contract commits the hospital to adding 65 full-time equivalents (FTEs) over three years. It is not immediately clear if this actually means hiring 65 new nurses, however. In human resources, one FTE is equivalent to one person working a full-time week for a year, usually 40 hours a week. It measures total labor-time, not headcount. For example, two FTEs could equal either two people working straight time or one person working double time. Even leaving this aside, it is little more than half the 120 new nurses that NYSNA had originally demanded. But even that demand didnt account for the many nurses who plan to retire, said Samantha. Less experienced nurses also may leave. A unit assistant predicted that younger nurses would go back to school, said Samantha. They dont want to deal with bedside nursing. Its too much. Its more than what they thought it would be. The new hires will be assigned to crappy units where nobody wants to work because of poor staffing or poor management, Samantha continued. The new contract wont resolve safe staffing, she said. Its going to take a real tragedy for things to improve. NYSNA bureaucrats also stated that the new agreement includes a safeguard against artificial intelligence. Although the contract allows nurses who disagree with recommendations given by AI to use their clinical judgment, it does not prevent AI from eliminating nurses jobs. It merely holds that in the event that artificial intelligence technology directly causes a diminishment in the current levels of employees, then management and NYSNA will meet and discuss, in good faith, methods to avoid such impacts. The NYSNA apparatus also claims that the contract will protect nurses from workplace violence, which is a major concern. But union leaders and hospital management will not meet to review current violence-prevention processes until 90 days after ratification, according to the contract, indicating that the topic is a low priority for both parties. Measures such as panic buttons and weapon screening will be discussed but are not mandated. The agreement creates a Hospital Workplace Violence Committee but says nothing about the frequency of its meetings. Furthermore, a new Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention Task Force will only meet after each incident of violence. Other language in the contract gives significant discretion to management. The threat of workplace violence will get worse, not better, said Samantha. People are mentally exhausted with the everyday stresses of work and family life, she added. Nurses understand that violence against them results from understaffing and from the larger social crisis. Many patients are angry because they have waited for hours for care or because they have lost access to their medications. Understaffing deprives patients of proper care, which causes some of them to become confused or lash out. The new contract falls far short of providing adequate staffing and obviously does not address worsening social conditions. The fact of the matter is that we were out on strike for 40 days to gain assurances for things the hospital could have handed over with their eyes closed, said Alexis. The strike had the potential to spark a national movement, she added. But the NYSNA leadership acted systematically to prevent even a united movement of its own members. After contracts for 15 hospitals in New York City and Long Island expired on December 31, the union bureaucracy kept the nurses divided by facility. At one hospital after another, it withdrew strike notices, often without even having reached tentative agreements. Nevertheless, the strike went ahead with four hospitals. But five weeks in, NYSNA leaders concluded agreements with three of the hospitals and left the NewYork-Presbyterian nurses on their own. Ignoring the recommendation of its own executive committee, the NYSNA leadership broke the unions bylaws and forced nurses to vote on an utterly inadequate tentative agreement. Out of approximately 4,200 nurses, 3,099 voted to reject the deal. This was a stinging rebuke of the union leadership for what nurses correctly described as a betrayal. Bitter feelings toward President Nancy Hagans and other NYSNA officials linger among the nurses. People are getting rather disgusted, said Samantha. Theyre collecting a lot of money, and then when people get into trouble, they dont want to provide them with any type of legal assistance, she said, referring to the leadership. She described a veteran nurse who was unfairly blamed for a patients fall and fired last year in an act of retaliation. Instead of defending the nurse, NYSNA kept postponing her hearing, according to Samantha. They didnt support her. Theyre still not supporting her. As the NewYork-Presbyterian nurses return to work, they will confront the same problems that inspired their strike. The new contract has not resolved any of the issues over which they fought so persistently. Their struggle will continue, but it must be carried out with a new strategy and under new leadership. The strike has demonstrated that the NYSNA leadership actively works to contain and sabotage the nurses struggles. Hagans and company collaborate not only with hospital management but also with the Democratic Party, which is no less a party of Wall Street billionaires than the Republican Party. To forge ahead, the nurses must take the power into their own hands by forming a rank-and-file committee that is independent of the union leadership and of both capitalist parties. This committee will be the means through which the nurses can identify their nonnegotiable demands and formulate a strategy for winning them. This strategy must include joining forces with nurses and other healthcare workers at all of New Yorks hospitals. The potential for a national struggle of healthcare workers for safe staffing and workers rights can only be realized if the workers themselves seize the initiative. Casey Means takes her seat at the start of a Senate Health, Education Labor and Pension Committee confirmation hearing for U.S. Surgeon General on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. [AP Photo/Tom Brenner] On Tuesday, Casey Meansa wellness influencer with no active medical licenseappeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for her confirmation hearing as Donald Trumps nominee for Surgeon General. Over more than two hours, Means systematically refused to recommend measles or flu vaccination to parents, declined to rule out a vaccine-autism link despite decades of refuting scientific evidence, and defended past statements attacking hormonal birth controlall while insisting, in a formula repeated like an incantation, that she believes vaccines save lives. The hearing took place against the backdrop of a national measles emergency982 confirmed cases in 2026 as of late February, with tracking data indicating the total had surpassed 1,000, on pace to far exceed 2025s three-decade record of 2,281and the most sustained assault on public health infrastructure in American history, waged over the past year by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. If confirmed on a party-line Republican vote, Means would become the first surgeon general in US history without an active medical licensethe nominal head of the nations public health at the very moment public health is being systematically destroyed. The spectacle of Democratic senators posing tough questions to a nominee they are powerless to stop epitomizes the bankruptcy of bourgeois politics. The hearing was not an exercise in democratic accountability. It was theater, staged amid the ruins of a public health infrastructure that both parties, over decades, have starved of funding and subordinated to corporate interests. When pressed by committee chairman Sen. Bill Cassidyhimself a physicianon whether she accepted the overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, Means replied: I do accept that evidence. I also think that science is never settled. She added: We do not know as a medical community what causes autism. We should not leave any stones unturned. This is the classic formulation of the anti-vaccine movement, superficially accepting science while leaving the door wide open to conspiracy. Speaking on the right-wing Joe Rogan Experience podcast in October 2024, Means was far less circumspect, stating, One vaccine probably isnt causing autism... What about the 20 that theyre getting before 18 months? The pattern of evasion was relentless. Asked whether she would encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles amid an active outbreak with children dying, Means would say only: I do believe that each patient, mother, parent needs to have a conversation with their pediatrician. The formulation transparently expresses general support for vaccines while refusing to recommend any specific vaccine to any specific person. Means evasions extended to reproductive health. She has previously called birth control pills a disrespect for life with horrifying health risks, urging women to stop overusing birth control pills en masse for illogical reasons. At Wednesdays hearing, Means claimed her statements were taken out of context. Her book Good Energy contains a chapter titled Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor and describes science as a weird new mind-control term. At the hearing, she falsely claimed: Anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been a part of my message. The contradiction between her published record and her hearing testimony is deliberate. She tells the Senate what it needs to hear while signaling to the anti-vaccine base that she remains one of them. Born in 1987 to a politically connected Washington family, Means graduated from Stanford Medical School and began a surgical residency at Oregon Health and Science University before quitting. She has since built a career as a wellness influencer, with 845,000 Instagram followers, co-founding a health app called Levels and holding equity in Truemed, a company owned by her brother Calley Means, a senior adviser at HHS on food and nutrition policy. According to a Public Citizen report filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on February 4, Casey Means failed to disclose financial relationships in 79 out of 140 instances (56 percent) of promoting affiliated products on social media, an obvious conflict of interest violation. The Means nomination is only the latest episode in the most far-reaching assault on public health in modern American history. Since Kennedys confirmation as HHS Secretary on February 13, 2025, the Trump administration has waged a systematic war on American public health. On June 9, 2025, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing them with anti-vaccine figures including Dr. Robert Malone and Great Barrington Declaration co-author Dr. Martin Kulldorff. On January 5, 2026, he unilaterally slashed the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 universally recommended vaccines, bypassing career CDC scientists entirely. HHS has proposed a 26 percent budget cut, including a proposed 54 percent cut to the CDC and a proposed 40 percent cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over 20,000 scientists and public health workers have been fired. Ninety percent of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff have been terminated. Jay Bhattacharyaco-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated mass infection at the height of the COVID-19 pandemicnow simultaneously heads both the NIH and the CDC. The consequences are measured in childrens lives. The United States recorded 2,281 measles cases in 2025the highest since 1991with three deaths: two children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico. These figures are set to be dwarfed in 2026, with over 1,000 measles cases already tracked. National kindergarten MMR vaccination coverage has fallen to 92.5 percent, below the threshold for herd immunity, with 39 states failing to meet the standard. In November 2025, the Pan American Health Organization declared the Americas had lost measles elimination status. The largest ongoing outbreak, in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has devastated a working-class community with more than 900 confirmed cases. A second outbreak tore through the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, where detained immigrant children were held in conditions that guaranteed the spread of a vaccine-preventable disease. The World Socialist Web Site warned in July 2025 that the Trump-Kennedy attacks will kill millions globally, with USAID cuts projected to cause 14 million additional deaths through 2030 and the Gavi withdrawal threatening 75 million unvaccinated children. The Democratic senators opposition was pure political posturing. It will do nothing, as Means is on track for confirmation on a party-line vote. Similarly, the Democrats voted unanimously against Kennedys confirmation a year ago, and then did nothing to oppose his retrograde policies. They have mounted no campaign to mobilize opposition to the gutting of the CDC, the ACIP purge, the slashing of the vaccine schedule, or the mass firing of scientists. As ranking member Bernie Sanders stated: Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration continue to spread dangerous conspiracy theories about vaccines, making it harder for Americans to protect their children from deadly diseases. It is an accurate description of the crisis and an inadvertent indictment of his own impotence. The bipartisan character of this catastrophe did not begin with Trump. For decades, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, public health has been starved of funding and subordinated to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. These processes have only accelerated since the start of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 1.5 million Americans and over 30 million people worldwide, while debilitating hundreds of millions more with Long COVID globally. The defense of science and public healththe defense of the lives of the working class against a ruling class that treats mass infection and death as acceptable policyis inseparable from the fight for socialism. This requires the independent mobilization of the working class, through rank-and-file safety committees, in opposition to both capitalist parties. Zohran Mamdani met with Donald Trump at the White House for the second time on Thursday, deepening the collaboration between the democratic socialist mayor of New York City and the fascist president of the United States. The two had previously met in November of last year, a disgusting spectacle of mutual affection in which Mamdani pledged to establish a partnership with Trump on affordability. Unlike Mamdanis first visit with Trump, this one was not announced in advance and was only confirmed by Mamdani after it was leaked to the press. Mamdani traveled to Washington on Thursday, supposedly to pitch the real estate swindler in the White House a housing proposal for New York. Demonstrating his contempt for the population of New York, Mamdani did not publicly disclose the proposal that he made to Trump behind closed doors. His communications director, however, said Trumps response was very enthusiastic. Mamdani, renowned for his social media stunts, had his team put together a photo-op of the two with Trump holding a mock New York Daily News front page with the headline, Trump to City: Lets Build, a spoof of the 1975 issue referencing Gerald Fords refusal to provide aid during the citys financial crisis. Zohran Mamdani with Donald Trump at the White House, February 26, 2026. [Photo: Zohran Mamdani] Mamdani also reportedly raised the ICE abduction early Thursday of Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva. Trumps immigration Gestapo, lacking a warrant, lied to gain access to the visa holders dorm and kidnapped her. Aghayeva was released from custody on Thursday afternoon. To the extent that Mamdani played a role in her release, it was achieved by giving Trump cover to do far worse. Aghayeva is but one of the more than 3,000 people arrested by ICE in New York City since last year. Mamdanis meeting with Trump took place less than 48 hours after Trumps State of the Union address, a nearly two-hour-long tirade packed with lies, racist filth and imperialist thuggery. Trump outlined plans for dictatorship, including undermining the midterm elections in November, if they are even held, by asserting that the Democrats are preparing to rig the vote. Trump also boasted about massive cuts to social programs during his speech, including cutting 2.4 million Americans off of food stamps, effective between March and June this year. Somewhere around 200,000 New York City residents may be affected, a staggering number under conditions in which the cost-of-living crisis, including grocery prices, drove Mamdanis victory. At another point during the State of the Union address, Trump denounced the entire slate of Democratic senators and representatives as crazy for refusing to give him a standing ovation for his xenophobic comments. Overnight, Trump posted on Truth Social calls for the deportation of Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. Trump also referred specifically to Mamdani during his remarks, calling him a communist but adding, hes a nice guy, actually. Speak to him a lot. Its not an exaggeration to say that Mamdani, thanks to the services he is providing to Trump, has become the fascist presidents favorite Democrat. At least for the moment. Mamdanis trip to the White House occurs as he prepares the citys response to a $5.4 billion budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, exacerbated in no small part by Trumps policies. The city is facing shortfalls in education, housing assistance and Medicaid funding, among others, all areas targeted by the Trump administration for major cuts. Billions of dollars in federal aid for transportation projects, including the Second Ave Subway and Gateway Tunnel, have also been frozen or delayed in recent weeks. In response to the budget crisis, Mamdani has centered his rhetoric on modestly increasing taxes on millionaires and corporations, calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to pass a 2 percent income tax increase on the wealthiest residents. Hochul has steadfastly rejected any tax increases, despite the number of millionaires in the state ballooning by 13 percent over the last decade as the stock market inflated. As a back-up plan, Mamdani said that the city would impose a regressive property tax increase, amounting to a 9.5 percent tax on over 3 million homeowners with a median income of $122,000. The emptiness of Mamdanis verbal appeals to tax the rich was reinforced by the mayors endorsement earlier this month of Hochul for reelection, despite her intransigent opposition to tax increases. Mamdanis endorsement dealt a fatal blow to the primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who selected India Walton, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), as his running mate. Delgado dropped out days after Mamdani endorsed Hochul. Mamdani also boycotted a rally on Wednesday in Albany intended to pressure state lawmakers to raise taxes on the wealthy. The rally was planned for months by Mamdanis own DSA and Our Time, an organization formed directly out of Mamdanis mayoral campaign. Mamdani refused to attend to avoid antagonizing his ally, Hochul. In the end, no major political figures participated, and attendance fell well short of expectations. Mamdanis undermining of his own campaign promises on taxing the wealthy follows a pattern: He courted billionaires after his primary win, reappointed Jessica Tisch as police commissioner, aligned himself with Governor Hochul as she authorized strikebreakers to weaken the six-week-long nurses strike, and deployed NYPD officers to arrest anti-ICE protesters and striking nursesand his administration is not even two months in. But collaboration with Trump is perhaps the most putrid political development. Trump is deeply hated and confronts a mounting political crisis. His deployment of ICE thugs to occupy cities and brutalize immigrants has sparked widespread opposition, raising the prospects of mass working class opposition, including calls for a general strike. Trumps reckless foreign policy, including the latest threats of war against Iran, is deeply unpopular. It is under these conditions that Mamdani is throwing Trump a lifeline, glad-handing with the would-be dictator and putting forward the conception that a man whom he has correctly characterized as a fascist is an ally. Even more than the mainstream Democrats like Hochul, Mamdanis orientation is to the fascist right. His embrace of Trump is not simply political expediency. It reflects a class outlook and serves definite class purposes. Mamdani and the DSA represent an upper-middle class layer that is more afraid of revolutionary struggle by the working class than they are of fascist dictatorship. Mamdanis alliance with Trump, a Red-Brown coalition in action, exposes him as an unprincipled fraud who is attempting to politically disorient and undermine the developing opposition to Trumps dictatorship. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier and a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, conduct joint exercises in the Arabian Sea. [AP Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Wilbur] Having amassed vast military power in the Middle East, spearheaded by two aircraft carrier strike groups and scores of F-35, F-22 and F-16 warplanes, US imperialism is locked and loaded to unleash a criminal war on Iran in the coming days, if not hours. Such a war would have catastrophic consequences for the beleaguered people of Iran, and quickly set the entire region ablaze. In off-the-record briefings, Trump administration and Pentagon officials say they are preparing for a months-long bombardment of Iran. This would dwarf the 12-day unprovoked war that the US and Israel waged on Iran last June, which killed more than a thousand Iranians, most of them civilians. With Trump continuing to amplify his threats of an impending attack, Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Geneva Thursday with the designated negotiators of Americas would-be dictator presidenthis business crony, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The so-called negotiations are a sham. They resemble nothing so much as a mafia shakedown or, to be more precise, the ultimatums that Hitler issued as he rampaged across Europe in the run-up to and initial stages of World War II. Unless it submits to a series of sweeping demands, Iranan historically oppressed country that has already been subject to years of punishing economic sanctions, themselves tantamount to waris threatened with imminent attack by the largest deployment of US imperialist firepower since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. To underscore the point, as the Geneva talks began, the Pentagon ordered the worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to leave Crete, where it has been docked since Monday, to move closer to Israel and Iran. Israeli forces have been on high alert in anticipation of a US strike on Iran for weeks. They are only awaiting Washingtons greenlight to join an attack. With Omans foreign minister serving as the go-between, Iranian and US negotiators, sitting in separate rooms, exchanged proposals and comments on Thursday. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mariano Grossi also joined the talks for a time. After an initial session lasting some four hours, the two sides took a lengthy break, reportedly to consult with their respective governments. Following a second, shorter session, Araghchi said good progress was made, with the two sides entering into a serious examination of the elements of an agreement. In recent interactions with the press, Iranian officials have repeatedly claimed that a win-win deal is within reach, if the negotiations are restricted to Irans nuclear program and sanctions relief. Tehran has let it be known that as a part of any deal with Washington it is ready to make sweeping economic concessions to the US, including ceding rights to American companies to develop oil and gas and critical minerals projects. One unnamed official said they constituted a bonanza of investment opportunities. It is not known whether Tehran formally presented these proposals at Thursdays talks. At their conclusion, Omans Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said they would resume next week, first with technical level discussions and later further high-level talks. Even some western media reports expressed skepticism that this would come to pass, adding that the brevity of the second session and the failure of the US side to say anything about the negotiations was ominous. The two sides have repeatedly clashed over what has been said in the three rounds of negotiations held since Feb 6. Iranian officials have claimed that Washington has agreed Iran should be able to retain at least a token civil nuclear program, enriching small amounts of low level uranium for medical purposes, thereby asserting its sovereign right to have a civil nuclear program as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Witkoff has flatly denied this. He has reasserted Trumps demand that Irans entire civil nuclear program be dismantled, and Tehran barred from having any civil nuclear program in perpetuity. US sources have also indicated that even if the two sides do come to an agreement on the nuclear issue, until other US demands are met any sanctions relief would be strictly limited to the release of money belonging to Iran currently frozen overseas . These demands include Iran ceasing support to Hamas, Hezbollah and the other members of its Mideast Axis of Resistance, and surrendering its intermediate ballistic missile capabilities. Iran refusesrefusesto talk about the ballistic missiles, to us or to anyone and thats a big problem, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Wednesday. Were Irans Shia-clergy-led bourgeois nationalist regime to accept Washingtons demands, Iran would be rendered effectively defenceless in the face of US or Israeli aggression. Their imposition would constitute de facto imperialist-imposed regime change, regardless of who remained at the helm of the Islamic Republic and its leading institutions. In his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, Trump spewed a series of lies about Iran, aimed at concocting a casus belli for war. These include that Iran has refused to state that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes and that it is working to build missiles that will soon reach the USA. All of this turns reality on its head. Not only has Iran long forsworn nuclear weapons, it was Trump who in 2018 blew up the UN-backed Iran nuclear accord under which Tehran had been compelled to dismantle much of its nuclear program and submit to the most intrusive IAEA inspections regime ever designed. Shortly thereafter Trump imposed sweeping worldwide economic sanctions on Iran, with the avowed aim of crashing its economy and precipitating regime change. These sanctions were further expanded under the Biden administration, provoking a wrenching economic crisis that has plunged much of the Iranian population into dire poverty. Moreover, it is US imperialism that is engineering a new nuclear arms race, involving a massive build-up of both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Earlier this month, Trump let the last nuclear-arms control treaty with Russia lapse, with the express aim of pursuing a huge increase in Americas intermediate range nuclear arsenal to menace China as part of its Air-Sea Battle and Island Chain strategies for war with Beijing. As for the claim Iran is seeking intercontinental missile capability, even Carl Bildt, the former Swedish Prime Minister and co-chair of the pro-NATO Council of European Foreign Relations, had to concede, Its beginning to sound like 2003in a reference to George W. Bush and Tony Blairs lies concerning Iraqs weapons of mass destruction. American imperialism has never reconciled itself to the 1979 Iranian revolution, which overthrew the tyrannical, CIA-installed, monarchical-dictatorship of the Shah. For decades the Pentagon has been planning to wage war on Iran. In 2003 and again in 2007-8, the George W. Bush administration actively considered attacking Iran. Obama repeatedly insisted all options were on the table as he used the nuclear issue to bully Iran, and sought to reassert Washingtons dominance over the Middle East after the Iraq war debacle and the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. The current war drive against Iran arises directly out of the post-October 2023 US-Israeli drive to impose a final solution to the Palestinian question as part of the assertion of unbridled US imperialist hegemony over the Middle East through war, regime change and, in Gaza, outright genocide. In recent days, major media outlets with close connection to the US military-intelligence apparatus have reported that senior Pentagon officials have cautioned Trump that Iran has significant military capabilities and that any conflict with Iran will be protracted and could result in major US reversals and casualties. Tehran, for its part, has vowed to strike US military bases and warships across the region and warned that a war will quickly engulf the region. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the other Gulf States are claiming they will not allow the US to use its bases in their countries and airspace to attack Iran. This is partly in hopes of averting Iranian retaliation, but no less importantly because they fear the reaction among their restive populations to their complicity in an unprovoked and illegal US-led, Israeli-backed assault on Iran. The warnings from sections of the Pentagon top brass are rooted in their recognition that, in trying to subjugate a country almost three times as populous and four times larger than Iraq, US imperialism risks reaping the whirlwind. But their true purpose may be to prevail on Trump to adhere to the Pentagons long-developed plans for a war with Iran. These call for a massive and continuing assault, aimed at eliminating as much of Irans retaliatory capacity, including electricity and other vital public infrastructure from the get-go. Trump, US media outlets claim, is thinking of ordering a limited initial strike on Iran, targeting nuclear and ballistic missile sites or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard command, to try to extort greater concessions from Iran, before committing to an all-out war. However it starts, a war on Iran will be a war of aggression, the supreme international crime as defined at the Nuremberg trials, waged by a criminal regime, that on behalf of Americas capitalist oligarchy is intent on imposing unfettered US domination over the world and dictatorship at home. The entire Democratic Party is complicit in this. They recycle all the White Houses lying arguments for a regime change warfrom the need to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon to the claim that the Islamic Republic is uniquely oppressive. The Democrats only complaint is that Trump hasnt properly prepared the political terrain for war by explaining its aims to the American people. The Wall Street Journal made much the same point in an editorial Wednesday exhorting Trump to attack Iran now. If (Trump) asks for support in advance from Congress and the public, he will have more allies if the war doesnt go exactly as planned, which it rarely does, it wrote. The working class in the United States and around the world must mobilize against the impending attack on Iran. It will have untold consequences for the people of Iran, and the world. From the standpoint of the strategists of US imperialism effecting regime change in Iran and establishing domination over the Middle Eastthe worlds most important oil exporting region and the strategic hinge between three continentsis only a stepping stone toward war with China. Protests and strikes must be organized demanding Hands off Iran, the withdrawal of all US and other imperialist forces from the Middle East, an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the lifting of all sanctions against Iran. Such action must be animated by the fight to link opposition to imperialist war with the growing struggles of the international working class against the evisceration of its social and democratic rights, and infused with a revolutionary socialist program and perspective to put an end to capitalismthe source of war, dictatorship and oligarchy. An investigation by Drop Site News published last week revealed that the Israeli government installed and maintained a security and surveillance system inside a Manhattan apartment building effectively controlled by Jeffrey Epstein. The system was installed after Epsteins 2008 conviction and maintained for years. Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 [Photo: US DOJ] Emails released in the last batch of Epstein files by the Department of Justice show that Israeli officials began installing security equipment in early 2016 at 301 East 66th Street. The building contains 200 units and has been home for years to young models, girlfriends, pilots and lawyers associated with Epstein, Business Insider reported on August 5, 2019, just days before Epsteins life ended inside New Yorks Metropolitan Correctional Center. The building itself was technically owned by a company tied to Epsteins brother, Mark Epstein, but court filings and property records show that Jeffrey Epstein exercised effective control over multiple units in the building. As previously reported by Business Insider and documented in sworn depositions, apartments at 301 East 66th Street were used to house underage girls, associates and employees connected to Epsteins sex trafficking operation. The building was also where former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak frequently stayed while visiting Epstein. The emails uncovered by Drop Site show that officials from Israels permanent mission to the United Nations coordinated directly with Epsteins staff to install alarms, window sensors and remote access controls at what was referred to in the emails as Ehuds apartment. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak during a lecture at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. [AP Photo/Charles Krupa] The emails show that Rafi Shlomo, then director of protective services at the Israeli mission to the United Nations and head of Baraks security detail, personally controlled access to the apartment. Shlomo even conducted background checks on cleaners at the building and coordinated the installation of security equipment. Emails released by the DOJ show that Epstein personally approved the installation of the Israeli security system. Jeffrey says he does not mind holes in the walls and this is all just fine! one assistant wrote during the coordination process. The implications of the Drop Site reporting are profound. By 2016, Jeffrey Epstein was not an obscure financier. He was a registered sex offender in Florida following his sweetheart federal non-prosecution agreement. Court filings, sworn depositions and police reports had already linked apartments at the 66th Street building to underage girls and individuals accused of facilitating Epsteins sex trafficking operation. Business Insider documented that multiple units in the building were used to house young women, including foreign minors recruited through Jean-Luc Brunels MC2 Models. Brunel, who also had an apartment inside the building, died in jail in France in February 2022, while awaiting trial on charges of rape of a minor over 15 and trafficking. Records show that several women later named as co-conspirators shared the address as well. Jean Luc Brunel in the Caribbean. During this same period, Israeli state security officials were installing and managing surveillance equipment inside the building. Police were frequently present outside the property during certain visits. The building itself traces back to billionaire Les Wexner, Epsteins only publicly acknowledged client for decades, who transferred significant New York real estate assets to Mark Epstein in the early 1990s. Wexner famously granted Jeffrey Epstein sweeping power of attorney over his finances. Wexner has maintained that his relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. However, photographs and public records show a longstanding and close association, including joint appearances at social events. Jeffrey Epstein, left, an unknown woman partially hidden by Epstein and turned away from the photographer, and Abigail and Les Wexner at an event. As of this writing, neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post nor the major broadcast networks have reported on the Israeli governments installation of a state security system inside a building linked to Epsteins sex trafficking operations, even though Al Jazeera and other international outlets have picked up the story based on Drop Sites investigation. This absence is part of a broader pattern in which corporate media has either dismissed or actively defended limits on transparency in the Epstein case. The corporate press has moved rapidly from dismissing scrutiny of the Epstein files as conspiracy theory to openly arguing that the public should never have seen the material at all. In a February 23 guest essay, the New York Times declared that the Epstein files should never have been released, warning that those who want to preserve the Justice Departments coercive information-gathering tools should regret the dump of the Epstein files. Transparency is dangerous not because the material is false, but because it weakens public confidence in the capitalist state and its justice system. The concern is not the exposure of ruling class networks surrounding Epstein but the potential erosion of public trust in the police and the intelligence agencies that facilitated Epsteins operations. The attempt by the corporate press to squash the files comes as Trumps Justice Department continues to obscure and remove images and documents that damage the administration. Files that were previously accessible through the Department of Justices Epstein Transparency Act portal are now returning Page not found errors. The independent archivists at Jmail discovered one such file, listed in Dataset 9 as EFTA01230639. The image shows Jeffrey Epstein and at least three other men at an outdoor location, one of whom bears a striking resemblance to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Jeffrey Epstein and a man believed to be Howard Lutnick (blue shirt). The Department of Justice has offered no explanation for the removal of this file or others like it from its publicly searchable archive. Will Lehman In an open letter to members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), rank-and-file autoworker Will Lehman has called for the formation of an insurgent slate of delegates to the UAWs Constitutional Convention, scheduled for June 15-18 in Detroit. Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker in Macungie, Pennsylvania, is running for UAW president for the second time. In his letter, he warns that a decisive stage of the election is already underwayin delegate nominations and elections at the local level that most UAW members do not know about. Many members may not yet be aware that a new election is taking place this year for UAW president and other national offices, Lehman wrote. But it begins nowthrough delegate nominations and elections in every local. If the rank and file doesnt organize to win those delegate elections, the bureaucracy will control the Constitutional Convention in June and make sure only those loyal to the apparatus can run for top officer positions. The UAW Constitutional Convention will nominate candidates for national office. Without control over that process, Lehman argues, rank-and-file opposition candidates can be blocked, leaving the broader membership without any meaningful opportunity to vote. Thats why Im urging workers to form an insurgent slate of rank-and-file delegates and to demand a real, democratic delegate process in every local, he states. The only way one member, one vote, will have any meaning is if workersnot the corrupt bureaucracycan democratically choose who to vote for. In NovemberDecember 2021, UAW members and retirees voted by 63.7 percent in a court-ordered referendum to replace the unions delegate system of choosing national officers with direct electionswidely known as one member, one vote. The vote followed a sweeping federal corruption investigation that exposed a network of bribery, embezzlement and labor-management collusion at the highest levels of the union. Under the old system, delegateslargely loyal to the apparatuswere elected at the local level and then voted for approved candidates at the Constitutional Convention. This tightly controlled mechanism led to the installation of former UAW presidents Dennis Williams and Gary Jones, along with former Vice Presidents Joseph Ashton and Norwood Jewellall of whom were later convicted on corruption-related charges tied to corporate bribes and the misuse of union dues. The referendum was widely understood by rank-and-file workers as a mandate to break the grip of this entrenched bureaucracy and establish genuine democratic control. But the 202223 election, the first direct membership vote in UAW history, was marred by what Lehman showed in lawsuits were widespread violations by the UAW apparatus of the right to vote. In the last UAW election, there was systematic voter suppression, Lehman wrote in the letter. Many members never received ballots, information was withheld, and the process was dominated by an apparatus that does not represent us. In lawsuits filed during the election, Lehman documented how large sections of the membership were effectively disenfranchised. The UAW apparatus failed to adequately inform workers that an election was taking place. Mailing addresses were not updated, leading to a significant number of ballots being returned as undeliverable. Certain categories of workers, including part-time temporary employees, were falsely told they were not eligible to vote. The result was an election with historically low participation. Only 9 percent of eligible members cast ballots in the first roundone of the lowest turnouts in any major union election in the United States. Out of this process emerged Shawn Fain, a longtime official in the UAW International and former assistant to Norwood Jewell in the UAW-Chrysler Departmentidentified by federal prosecutors as the center of a culture of corruption within the union. Lehman argues that Fains administration has preserved the fundamental structures of apparatus control. Shawn Faina long-time functionary in the UAW Internationalcame to power promising change and the democratization of the UAW, Lehman wrote. Instead, he presided over backroom deals with employers, phony stand-up strikes that kept workers on the job, continued corruption and ongoing betrayals. In other words, he is just the figurehead leading the same old bureaucracy. The current nomination procedures are tightly controlled. Locals hold meetings often with little or no notice to the members, where candidates for delegates are nominated. Then in a matter of weeks, the nominations are closed. With little or no notice to the members, snap elections are held. This structure virtually guarantees that those already integrated into the local apparatus are elected as delegates. Lehman cites the example of UAW Local 2209 at the GM Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana, where he says nominations began on February 12 and were closed February 17 in a process that few workers knew about. The plants roughly 4,000 workers account for nearly 10 percent of the active UAW membership at GM. If we leave this election in the hands of the bureaucracy, they will use the same methods as before to block genuine opposition and keep control, Lehman warned. He called on workers to demand well-publicized meetings, full notice to the membership, clear rules and an end to what he describes as backroom maneuvers. This is a practical and urgent task, he writes. If we elect rank-and-file delegates, we can begin transforming the election into a movement of workers ourselves. Lehman emphasized that his campaign is not a bid for personal advancement. This campaign is not about getting me into some cushy office at Solidarity HouseIm not going to be moving there. I will stay on the shop floor, he wrote, referring to the UAWs Detroit headquarters. The aim of this campaign is not to replace one official with another, but to abolish a pro-corporate bureaucracy that has enforced concessions, isolated workers, and protected its own privileges while conditions in the plants and workplaces get worse. The open letter outlines a program centered on reversing decades of concessions and dismantling labor-management collaboration, abolishing tiers, winning major wage increases, ending layoffs and plant closures and establishing workers control over safety, staffing and line speed. Lehman also demands secure healthcare for active workers and guaranteed, fully funded retiree benefits, including protection of pensions and cost-of-living increases. The letter links the struggle within the UAW to broader political questions. The same corporate-state forces attacking living standards are escalating repression at home and war abroad, Lehman writes. He calls for mobilizing the social power of workersthrough independent organization and united actionto defend democratic rights, oppose militarism, and put human needs ahead of profit. Lehman concludes his letter with a direct appeal to workers to get involved by supporting or running as part of a delegate slate. The rank and file must take power out of the hands of the entrenched apparatus and put it where it belongs: in the hands of workers on the shop floor, he wrote. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Cuban Border Patrol ship [Photo: Ministerio del Interior de Cuba] An armed clash off Cubas northern coast Wednesday, in which border guards repelled a USflagged speedboat loaded with weapons, explosives and heavily armed exiles is a serious warning that Washingtons campaign to starve the island into submission is entering an even more dangerous and provocative phase. According to Cubas Interior Ministry, a patrol craft moved to identify a Floridaregistered vessel, FL7726SH, operating roughly one nautical mile off the coast of the province of Villa Clarafar from any plausible navigation errorwhen the boats occupants opened fire, wounding the Cuban commander. Guards returned fire, killing four men and injuring six others. Authorities reported seizing assault rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails and other handmade explosives, ballistic vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms, equipment consistent with an attempted infiltration with terrorist objectives. Most of those identified so far are Cuban nationals residing in the United States, some already on Cubas national list of individuals wanted for past terrorist activities. One of the dead was an American citizen, according to CBS News, which quoted a White House source. One of the wounded has also been identified as a US citizen, according to news reports. The boat was reported as stolen. A seventh detained suspect has reportedly confessed that he was sent from the US to make advance preparations for the armed group to stage attacks in Cuba. No amount of spin from Washington can change the basic character of this operation. It is the product of decadesold networks of Cuban exile terrorists and USbased paramilitaries cultivated and funded by the CIA and other agencies since the 1960s. These networks are now being activated under conditions in which the Trump administration has openly moved to strangle Cubas economy, declare the island a national emergency for the United States and threaten any country that sells it oil with punitive tariffs. Whether or not the White House directly ordered this particular mission, it is inconceivable that the heavily armed gang trained on a farm in South Florida, recruited members through TikTokas relatives and friends of the attackers boasted to Univision journalist Javier Diazlaunched from Florida and entered Cuban waters without coming to the attention of US intelligence and law enforcement. At the very least, the provocation received a green light from US authorities. The hypocrisy of US officials is staggering. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has spent months championing the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and the tightening of the fuel blockade against Cuba, now declares that we are going to have our own information before drawing conclusions. Floridas attorney general, James Uthmeier, snarls that you cant trust the Cuban government and vows to hold these communists accountable, while Senator Rick Scott demands that the Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable. The aggressors are presented as victims, those fending off an armed attack as the real criminals. Is there any doubt what the response of the US national security apparatus would be to a boatload of heavily armed foreign gunmen entering US waters to carry out terrorist attacks? Rubio had the audacity to state that it is highly unusual to see shootouts on open sea like that. This from a government that has openly gloated over bombing boats of fishermen in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 151 civilians in what amount to acts of premeditated murder. The same ruling class that invoked the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana to justify war to take Spains colonies in 1898, and that organized the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 by CIAarmed Cuban exiles, is now laying the groundwork for new provocations in the Caribbean to secure its perennial aim of hegemony. The timing of the incident underscores its political purpose. It occurred as Rubio traveled to Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, for a Caribbean Community (Caricom) summit where Washington faced criticism over the kidnapping of Maduro and the fuel blockade against Cuba. Caribbean governments have long-standing trade and political ties with both Venezuela and Cuba. Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, a doctor trained in Cuba, warned bluntly: A destabilized Cuba will destabilize all of us. Caribbean leaders also raised grievances over US demands that they accept deportees from third countries expelled from the US, reject Cuban medical missions, cool relations with China and accept that Trump has torn up even limited commitments on climate change as rising seas and storms devastate their islands. Confronted with this discontent, Rubio adopted a defensive tone on Venezuela. Irrespective of how some of you may have individually felt about our operations and our policy towards Venezuela, he said, Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago. He dangled the prospect of Caracas becoming an extraordinary partner for regional energy. At the same time, the US Treasury theatrically announced that it would support the Cuban people by allowing limited gas and other oil products, including Venezuelan fuel, to be exported to private Cuban entities and individuals, explicitly excluding the Cuban state. As Mexicos La Jornada notes, these restrictions in practice, exclude any Cuban entity with the capacity to coordinate and receive the shipments. US Cuba expert William LeoGrande told the Washington Post that, in any case, private actors will not import enough oil to really make a significant dent in the humanitarian crisis. The real aim is apparent: to further cultivate a layer of capitalists and middleclass business people as Washingtons favored social base for regime change, while the broader population is starved and blackmailed. It is a textbook regimechange operation under the Monroe Doctrinetoday openly invoked in practice as the Trump Doctrine. If Washington gets its way it will mean placing in power a comprador elite presiding over even more extreme inequality and cheap-labor enclaves controlled by US corporations and banks. This operation, which would return Cuba to the colonial status that was imposed under the infamous Platt Amendment, forms part of the wider US drive to impose its unfettered domination over all of Latin America and the Caribbean and to prepare for world war against China, Iran, Russia and other rivals. Since 1959, Cuba has been the target of countless CIAbacked operations: bombings, assassination attempts against Fidel Castro, economic sabotage, the arming and funding of exile terrorist groups and the Bay of Pigs invasion. The men killed and captured Wednesday fit squarely within this history: longtime residents of the United States, with known records of violent opposition to the Cuban government, training on US soil and organizing openly (in this case on social media) in the name of liberating the island through paramilitary action. This terrorist provocation unfolded as the Cuban people were confronting an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe engineered by Washington. Trumps January 29 edict has imposed a US blockade, an act of war, to stop all energy supplies to the island. Fuel shortages have brought blackouts of 20-30 hours to many areas, decimated public transport and food distribution, and wrecked refrigeration and water systems. Medicines are scarce, malnutrition is growing and children go to bed hungry. This is a calculated attempt to starve the remaining 8 million people in Cuba into accepting a USdictated political settlement. It must be said clearly: the primary responsibility for this disaster lies with US imperialism. But it does not follow that the Cuban regime represents socialism or an alternative to capitalism. From the outset of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro was a bourgeois nationalist who sought an accommodation with US capitalism. Four months after coming to power, he declared: I have stated in a clear and definite manner that we are not communists. The doors are open to private investments that contribute to the development of industry in Cuba. It is absolutely impossible for us to make progress if we do not reach an understanding with the United States. Only when Washington rejected even limited reforms did Castro turn to nationalizations and approach the Moscow Stalinist bureaucracy for aid, in exchange for tying Cuba to the Kremlins foreign policy and suppressing independent working class politics on the island. After the dissolution of the USSR, the Cuban leadership responded by opening ever more widely to foreign capital. The severe crisis created by the US embargo is seen by sections of this elite not so much as a threat, but as an opportunity to push through fullscale shock therapy and integrate themselves as competitive partners in a USdominated order. The World Socialist Web Site unconditionally opposes and condemns all acts of US aggression against Cuba, from the murderous embargo to terrorist infiltration and the current campaign of starvation. But we do so from the standpoint of the international working class, not the defense of the Cuban capitalist state. Any attempt by the Havana regime to exploit this provocation to intensify repression against workers and youth must also be opposed. The defense of Cuba against imperialism, the fight against capitalist exploitation and the mobilization of the working class independently of the Castroite authorities are inseparable tasks. The way forward lies in uniting the struggles of workers in Cuba with those in the United States, the Caribbean and worldwide. In a recent interview published by the WSWS, a Cuban worker and single mother in Matanzas described life amid hunger and fear and appealed for action from American workers against the embargo. That perspective must be made a conscious program: dockworkers, transport workers, oil workers and others in the US and internationally can use their position at the levers of production and distribution to break the siege, refusing to enforce the embargo and organizing shipments of fuel, food and medicine. At the same time, American workers must recognize that the regime that kidnaps presidents, bombs fishermen and starves millions abroad is the same one that wages war on their jobs, wages and democratic rights at home. The fight against war and imperialism is inseparable from the struggle against social inequality, war, fascism and capitalist exploitation in the United States itself. A group of right-wing election denialists has drafted a 17-page executive order under which President Donald Trump would declare a national emergency and assert federal control over the 2026 midterm elections, in which the Republican Party is currently expected to suffer heavy losses. According to a report published Thursday by the Washington Post, a leader of the group, Florida attorney Peter Ticktin, said the draft order would claim that China interfered in the 2020 election and use this as a pretext to override the Constitutions clear provision that statesnot the federal governmentadminister elections. Under the Constitution, its the legislatures and states that really control how a state conducts its elections, and the president doesnt have any power to do that, Ticktin told the Post. But here we have a situation where the president is aware that there are foreign interests that are interfering in our election processes. That causes a national emergency where the president has to be able to deal with it. On February 13, Trump declared that he had the authority to take control of the 2026 elections, writing on social media that he had searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject and would soon present an irrefutable case. He added later, I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order. This appears to refer to Ticktins document. Ticktin has ties to Trump going back more than 65 years, when they were students at the New York Military Academy, a boys secondary school. According to the Post, Ticktin did legal work for Trump, part of his legal team that filed an unsuccessful 2022 lawsuit accusing Democrats of conspiring to damage him with allegations that his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. Ticktin also contacted Trump last year on behalf of Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk imprisoned for giving Trump campaign aides unauthorized access to voting machines after the 2020 election in an attempt to manufacture evidence of fraud. They found nothing. Trump then issued a so-called pardon for Peters, which had no legal effect because she was convicted under state and not federal law. While Ticktin told the Post he has had certain coordination with White House officials, it is likely that the draft executive order also involves Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii has been spearheading efforts to promote allegations of foreign interference in the 2020 election and recently attended an FBI raid on an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, which seized ballots, tabulation tapes and other documents from the 2020 vote. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] Trumps efforts to rig the 2026 midterm elections are proceeding on several tracks. In his State of the Union address, he called on the Republican-controlled Senate to pass the Save America Act, which has already cleared the House. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID at the polls. It would also restrict voting by mail to invalids, soldiers deployed overseas and those traveling for business on election day. The purpose of such measures is not to combat fraudfor which there is no evidencebut to suppress voting among those layers least likely to have passports, birth certificates and drivers licenses. This includes the very poor, racial minorities and the elderly, but the impact could be even broader: Only about half the population has a passport, and many married women have birth certificates in their maiden names, not the names under which they would register and vote. The legislation is expected to fail in the Senate where it faces a Democratic filibuster. But Trump has called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to change Senate rules to end the filibuster, an appeal he repeated in his State of the Union speech, appealing to John by name to assure passage of the Save America Act. Trump has threatened that if Democrats block passage of the bill, he will impose the same measures by executive order, despite the Constitutions clear language reserving the administration of elections to the states, under the supervision of Congress, with no role for the executive branch. According to the Post, the draft executive order cites a Trump executive order from his first term that declared a national emergency based on allegations of foreign attempts to interfere with election infrastructure. Democrat Joe Biden extended that emergency, and in 2024 the Biden administration used the order to impose economic sanctions on Iranian and Russian entities, the Post said. In other words, Trump is making use of the bogus claims of Russian interference, which the Democrats concocted to explain Hillary Clintons defeat in the 2016 elections, but turning the accusation around, suggesting that China interfered in 2020 on behalf of the Biden campaign. There is not a shred of evidence that either Russian or Chinese interference had any effect on any US election. The two capitalist parties have resorted to such allegations as part of their sordid struggle over which gang of reactionaries will hold the reins of power and carry out the instructions of the financial oligarchy. Another right-wing conspirator interviewed by the Post is Jerome Corsi, responsible for conspiracy theories that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, a lie promoted aggressively by Trump in 2011. The stage is largely being set by the revelations coming out of foreign powers being involved in influencing the 2020 election, Corsi told the Post. If there was a provable foreign intrusion, that would be a national security emergency and the order could be issued under his powers as commander in chief, he added. The Post reviewed an earlier draft of the executive order, describing it as follows: The measures listed in the 2025 draft of the proposed executive order include requiring hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots, requiring voters to register anew for the 2026 midterms with proof of citizenship, and restricting mail ballots to limited circumstances. The draft also proposes authorizing the Justice Department, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the Social Security Administration and the Postal Service to have a role in identifying ineligible voters. In his State of the Union speech, Trump gave a preview of his efforts to rig the 2026 election, claiming that the Democrats were opposed to the Save America Act because they could only win elections through vote fraud. He bellowed, They wanna cheat. They have cheated. And their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat. And were gonna stop it. The substance of this declaration was that Trump will not accept any outcome of the midterm elections in which his supporters are defeated. This is in the face of opinion polls showing his approval rating at below 40 percent. Democrats are heavily favored to win control of the House of Representatives (where the Republicans have only a three-seat margin), and Republican control of the Senate is also in danger. Given the likelihood that Republican standing in the polls will slip even further, as Trump escalates his attacks on the working class and his program of worldwide military aggression, these statements would lead logically to a White House effort to cancel the elections entirely, something which Trump has already begun to suggest. Footage that has been shared widely on social media shows police officers confiscating a placard opposing the genocide in Gaza at the Ramadan night market in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Lakemba. The confiscation of the placard was a particularly graphic display of a far-broader assault on democratic rights, being overseen by the New South Wales (NSW) Labor administration, in collaboration with its federal counterpart. Behind endless claims of combatting hate speech and ensuring social cohesion, the Labor governments are carrying out a police-state crackdown on mass hostility to the genocide, with far broader implications for anti-war and other political opposition. The Lakemba night market has been running for over a decade. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of people visit it, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, to break fasts, sample foods, explore cultures and engage in discussion. Lakemba has the largest per capita Muslim population in the country and is where Australias largest mosque is located. Under conditions where opposition to the Israeli war crimes is almost universal in Lakemba, and the broader southwest working class suburbs, the confiscation had the character of a provocation and a warning against any, however muted, expression of widespread anger. The placard was apparently being carried around by two activists at the market on Sunday night. It featured an image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the word Wanted. That is entirely factual. Since November, 2024, Netanyahu has been evading an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the prosecution of the onslaught against Gaza. The video shows police officers accosting the two activists. Responding to questions, the activists explained that they were using the placard to begin conversations with people at the night market about the Gaza genocide and to conduct interviews of them. The police officers repeatedly attempt to draw the activists away from a broader crowd. One of the officers says that With the whole climate thats been happening, its probably not the best thing. Eventually, when confiscating the placard, an officer says that its content goes against the aim of the night market, which is to bring people together. There is no indication in the video as to the legal power cited by the officers in confiscating the placard. That suggests the police simply stole the placard, harassed and menaced the activists without legal cause, all the while prattling on about unity and the climate. The officers would only have done that if they had instructions from above. The night market is partially funded by NSW government grants. The state government of Premier Chris Minns has led the charge in vilifying pro-Palestinian activists as a threat to public order and in implementing a host of anti-protest measures directed against them. The market is also in the seat of federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. As a senior leader of the federal Labor government, Burke is directly involved in Australias ongoing support for the militarist Israeli regime, including through the export of weapons components. Burkes Home Affairs portfolio overseas the Australian Federal Police and the domestic spy agency ASIO, institutions that have been central to the crackdown on opposition throughout the genocide. Social media posts indicate that Burke visited the night market the day before the placard was stolen, along with leading state government minister Jihad Dib. Whatever the precise chain of command in ordering the censorship, this is part of a broader pattern. A similar incident occurred earlier this month, when Australian Capital Territory Police declared a bar in Canberra to be a crime scene and confiscated anti-fascist posters, depicting Trump, Netanyahu and other reactionary figures. The owner, having been threatened over entirely legitimate political speech, has since been told that no further action will be taken. This is also not the first time an attempt has been made to suppress opposition to the genocide at the night market. In 2024, a group of people chanted Free Palestine and Free Gaza at the night market. After footage of the chants was posted to social media, the virulently Zionist Australian Jewish Association orchestrated a series of complaints. The Labor governments Multicultural NSW agency, which part funds the market, extraordinarily reported those who had made the chants to the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit of NSW Police. A week later, Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaigners were blocked from handing out leaflets opposing the Gaza genocide by representatives of the Labor-controlled Bankstown-Canterbury Council. Only after the SEP exposed this blatant censorship did the council representatives desist from further attacks on its democratic rights. The seizure of the placard points to the dangers posed by the NSW governments announcement, several days after that censorship, that it is establishing a permanent NSW Police unit to target hate-related threats in Sydney. NSW Labor Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley declared that the new unit, of approximately 250 officers, would be out in our suburbs constantly roving around 24/7. They would particularly target protests, she stated, along with places of worship and large public gatherings. Most ominously, the new unit is under the Armed Response Command. Some of its officers will be equipped with high-powered rifles, which is unprecedented for regular police forces across Australia. That makes permanent the NSW Labor governments decision to equip some officers with long-arms in the wake of the December 14 Bondi terrorist attack. The new unit was announced only weeks after NSW Police went on a rampage against peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters earlier this month in Sydney. The demonstrators, opposing the red carpet welcome accorded to Israeli president and war criminal Isaac Herzog, were kettled, indiscriminately targeted with pepper spray and numbers were subjected to violent and unprovoked assaults by riot cops. It is legitimate to ask: had the new unit been present, with its rifles, would they have opened fire on the crowd? The police riot against the Sydney protest was overseen by the Labor government, which had activated multiple powers to ban a march opposing Herzog. One of those was rushed through by Labor in the wake of the Bondi attack, providing the NSW Police Commissioner with the authority to effectively prohibit public protests for up to three months in the wake of terrorism designation. That power is subject to a court challenge by the Palestine Action Group and several other activist organisations. In initial hearings on Thursday David Hume SC, acting on behalf of the plaintiffs, likened the power to the fox guarding the henhouse. Hume noted that The executive gets to decide whether there can be a protest against the executive. Hume stated that far from their purported aim of enhancing social cohesion, the laws undermine the objectives of protecting the community and enhancing social cohesion. They can be used to target protests irrespective of the purported dangers posed by those protests. But of course social cohesion has never been the objective. That Orwellian term is being used by the Labor governments to describe any social and political opposition, in the first instance to the genocide, but more broadly to their program of militarism, austerity and authoritarianism. That underscores the urgent need to build an independent political movement of the working class, directed against Labor and the entire capitalist political establishment, as the only means of defending basic democratic rights. Founded in 1869, New York-based The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) is a financial institution that provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals in the Americas and internationally. Valued at a market cap of $270.6 billion, the company operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. Companies with a market cap of $200 billion or more are typically referred to as "mega-cap stocks." GS firmly belongs in that league. With a market cap comfortably above this mark, GS stands as a powerhouse in the capital markets industry, ranking among the top companies in its respective sector. More News from Barchart However, the stock has retreated 8.4% from its 52-week high of $984.70 touched on Jan. 16. Shares of GS have grown 14.1% over the past three months, outperforming the State Street SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETFs (KCE) 2.2% climb over the same time frame. www.barchart.com Goldman Sachs stock has grown 2.7% on a YTD basis, outperforming KCEs 3.8% decrease. Moreover, shares of GS surged 44.1% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming KCEs 4.8% returns over the same period. GS has been trading above its 200-day moving average since last year and below its 50-day moving average since late February. www.barchart.com On Jan. 15, GS shares rose 4.6% following the release of its mixed Q4 2025 earnings. The companys revenue declined 3% year-over-year to $13.5 billion, falling short of Wall Street estimates. Moreover, its adjusted EPS for the quarter amounted to $14.01, which also beat the Streets expectations. Its peer, Morgan Stanley (MS), has declined 4.9% in 2026, lagging behind GS and has surged about 29.9% over the past year, once again underperforming GS during this time frame. Among the 26 analysts covering the GS stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Its mean price target of $968.45 suggests a 7.3% upside potential from current price levels. On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherjee 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 Feb 26 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META) has signed a multi-billion dollar deal to rent artificial intelligence chips from Google (GOOG, GOOGL) to develop new AI models, The Information reported on Thursday, citing a person involved in the talks. The report of the multi-year deal comes as companies pour billions into chips and AI infrastructure to meet demand for artificial intelligence. Meta and Google declined Reuters' request for comment. Earlier this week, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said it would sell up to $60 billion in AI chips to Meta. The Facebook owner earlier this month also signed a deal with Nvidia (NVDA) to buy its current and future AI chips. Reuters reported in December that Google was pushing to make its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) a viable alternative to Nvidia's market-leading GPUs. TPU sales have become a crucial growth engine of Google's cloud revenue as it seeks to prove to investors that its AI investments are generating returns. The Information reported Thursday that Meta is also in talks with Google to buy the TPUs for its data centers as early as next year, though the status of those discussions could not be determined. Google has also signed an agreement with an unidentified large investment firm to fund a joint venture that would lease TPUs to other customers, the report added. (Reporting by Fabiola Aramburo in Mexico City; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Google won conditional approval from South Korea to offer high-precision maps in the country after a nearly two-decade battle, securing a major concession in a sign that Seoul is ready to temper national security concerns with growing tech ambitions. Google Maps has long offered limited functionality in South Korea because of restrictions on exporting detailed geographic data, a policy rooted in security concerns. In recent years, the issue has become a flash point in broader trade talks with Washington, which has accused Seoul of discriminating against US tech companies. Most Read from Bloomberg In a landmark decision Friday, the government said in a statement that it would allow Alphabet Inc.s Google to export 1:5,000-scale digital map data, paving the way for improved navigation and location-based services, while maintaining oversight of sensitive information. Seoul said it would attach strict security conditions to the deal, especially in connection to military bases and other sensitive facilities. Google hailed the move as a significant step forward and said it would work closely with the government to develop specific service implementation plans. We welcome todays decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea, said, Cris Turner, the companys vice president of government affairs and public policy, knowledge and information products. The move signals a recalibration under President Lee Jae Myung administration as it seeks to balance security priorities with goals to position South Korea as a digital and artificial intelligence hub. The country is home to two of the worlds top chipmakers, Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. The issue has been contentious for nearly two decades. Google first made a formal request in 2007, and South Korea has repeatedly rejected it on national security grounds. South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Under existing rules, foreign companies are required to store detailed map data on servers located in South Korea. That policy has limited Google Maps precision compared with local rivals such as Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp., which can provide more detailed navigation services under domestic regulations. Singapore-based Guardforce AI has extended a smart retail solutions partnership with a global sportswear brands Thailand unit. The company did not disclose the sportswear brands identity and said additional store deployments are scheduled through 2027. The extension positions Guardforce AI as a technology partner in the clients nationwide store refurbishment programme. An initial request covers the deployment of the companys systems at five additional outlets in 2026, followed by another installation planned for 2027. Earlier work between the two parties included the implementation of comparable solutions at two stores and the installation of AI-enabled camera systems across 13 additional locations in 2025, after a proof-of-concept phase was completed in mid-2025. Guardforce AIs smart retail platform combines AI-based CCTV analytics with RFID inventory tracking. The integrated system is intended to support retailers in overseeing shop floor operations, stock management and customer movement patterns. It is designed to improve loss prevention, minimise stock discrepancies and manual processes, and link footfall data with sales results across store networks. Guardforce AI chairwoman and CEO Lei (Olivia) Wang said: At Guardforce AI, we are dedicated to providing the best services to our clients. This partnership extension demonstrates our ability to market sophisticated AI-driven smart solutions to leading retail brands. We believe these smart solutions can be further deployed across many of the 5,000 retail stores we currently serve via our legacy secured logistics business a pathway that could generate substantial revenue for our company and drive exponential growth compared to 2025. The partnership comes after another recent collaboration in the retail technology sector. Earlier this month, supermarket group SPAR International renewed its preferred supplier agreement with South Koreas SOLUM. The extension confirmed Solums position as a global provider of electronic shelf labels and digital signage to Spar-licensed organisations worldwide. "Guardforce AI extends Thailand retail tech rollout with sportswear brand" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. LEXINGTON Silas House, one of Kentuckys most celebrated contemporary writers, has been named a 2026 inductee into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. A native of Laurel County, House is originally from the Lily community and has built a national reputation for fiction rooted in Appalachian life, culture and identity. He previously served as Kentuckys poet laureate and is a New York Times best-selling novelist whose work has been widely praised for its literary craft and social relevance. In addition to his well-known novels, House has recently expanded into new literary territory with the release of two books in genres new to his career a collection of poetry and a mystery novel further showcasing his range as a writer. Advertisement Advertisement House will be formally inducted during a public ceremony set for 7 p.m. March 30 at the historic Kentucky Theatre in downtown Lexington. He is among four living writers to be honored in the 2026 class which also includes Debbie Dadey, Lowell Harrison, Marcia Thornton Jones, Frederick Smock and Jeff Worley. The event is free and open to the public. Matthew Lillard might be best known for playing psychotic killer Stu Macher in Scream, voicing Shaggy Rogers in every Scooby-Doo project for the past two decades, or terrifying a new generation as William Afton in Five Nights at Freddy'sbut the 56-year-old actor's real-life love story is the polar opposite of his unhinged characters. Lillard has been married to realtor Heather Helm since August 26, 2000 and their relationship is basically the gold standard for Hollywood marriages. "24 years of marriage. In Hollywood that's equivalent to, like 47 human years," Lillard joked on Instagram in 2024. "I am as lucky as it gets. I adore you madly Heather Lillard. True story." And he's not just saying that for the 'gramthe couple's devotion to each other is evident in everything from their social media posts to the way they've raised their three childrenall while keeping their family life refreshingly private. Heathera Southern California native who's built her own successful career in luxury real estatehas been Matthew's partner through every career high and low, from indie films to blockbusters to his highly-anticipated return in Scream 7. Their meet-cute is straight out of a rom-comfitting, since Matthew starred in She's All Thatand their marriage has lasted longer than most Hollywood relationships combined. Let's meet the woman who captured the heart of this beloved actor. Here's everything you need to know about Heather Helm! Who Is Matthew Lillard's Wife? Heather Helm was born on July 17, 1971, in Pasadena, Californiamaking her about 18 months younger than her husband (Matthew's birthday is January 24, 1970). A true Southern California native, Heather grew up in the Glendale/La Canada area and attended La Canada High School, graduating in 1989. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in English Literature from UCLA in 1993. What Does Matthew Lillard's Wife Do for a Living? Heather Helm is a powerhouse in the luxury real estate world, but her career path didn't start there. After graduating from UCLA, she landed her first major role as Director of Special Event Marketing at The Walt Disney Company, where she managed blockbuster movie debuts and multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns. Talk about pressure! Advertisement Advertisement However, Heather's true passion lay elsewhere. She'd always loved interior design and architecturePasadena's breathtaking buildings had captivated her since childhoodso in 2009, she made the leap to real estate full-time. And she absolutely crushed it. Heather works at Compass (a major real estate company) with Ted Clark, where she manages an estate section. Her specialty? Luxury properties, though she works across all price ranges. Heather has built her business primarily through referrals and word-of-mouth, thanks to her reputation for honesty, empathy and positive energy. She treats clients with genuine caremany of her clients have become friends and vice versa. In August 2023, she even posted about selling a home for friends, writing, "When you sell your friends/neighbors/clients beautiful home We will miss you but can't wait to see the amazing new place in Atlanta!" Her success speaks for itself: She is frequently ranked among top-producing agents in the Pasadena area. Not too shabby for someone who pivoted careers in her late 30s! Beyond real estate, Heather is deeply involved in philanthropic work. She's a Founder's member of Circle of Friends, a longtime member of The Pasadena Children's Guild, and a supporting member of Huntington Hospital. She clearly believes in giving back to the community that raised her. How Did Matthew Lillard and Heather Helm Meet? Okay, this story is actually adorable. Matthew and Heather met at a party in the late 1990s (most sources point to 1998). Matthew was immediately smittenlike, completely head-over-heels, love-at-first-sight smitten. But here's where it gets romcom-level cute: During their brief conversation, Heather mentioned that she'd be attending a friend's wedding. Advertisement Advertisement And what did Matthew do? He literally invited himself to the wedding so he could spend more time with her. Some sources say the wedding was in Italy, while others say it was just a general wedding event, but either wayMatthew showed up specifically to see Heather again. Bold move? Absolutely. Did it work? You better believe it. "In ten minutes, I saw her and I knew," he shared in an interview. "At the end of the trip, I thought, 'Oh my God. This is the woman I'm going to marry.'" Apparently, Heather felt the same connection, because the two began dating shortly thereafter. They made their relationship Instagram-official (before Instagram was even a thing!) in 1998, appearing together at industry events. After about two years of dating, they decided to make it forever. Matthew and Heather tied the knot on August 26, 2000 in a ceremony thatwhile specific details remain privatewas attended by close family, friends and some fellow celebrities. The newlyweds were so committed to nurturing their relationship that Matthew actually took a break from his busy film career to spend quality time with his new wife. How sweet is that? Related: Scream Icon Matthew Lillard Reveals His Favorite Horror Film That Changed His Life Do Matthew Lillard and Heather Helm Have Kids? Yes! Matthew and Heather have three children together: daughters Addison Grace and Macey Lyn, plus son Liam. And in true Matthew Lillard fashion, even the timing of their first child's birth was cinematic. Advertisement Advertisement Their eldest daughterAddison Grace Lillardwas born on June 13, 2002the exact same day Scooby-Doo premiered in theaters. "I was literally holding my newborn child, and the head of the studio called to [say] congratulations," Matthew recalled. "And I said, 'Yeah, she's beautiful. I can't believe it.' He's like, 'No, we just greenlit the second movie.'" Imagine juggling fatherhood and a major franchise greenlight on the same day! Related: Scooby-Doo is Coming to Netflix in a Live-Action Series: See Whos Playing Daphne! As of February 2026, Addison is 23 years old. She's followed in her parents' footsteps by studying drama and visual arts at UCLA (her mom's alma mater!). Heather has described Addison as an "incredible human," artist, activist, and "everyone's ray of sunshine." Two years after Addison arrived, the Lillards welcomed their second daughterMacey Lyn Lillardon October 19, 2004. Maceyaffectionately nicknamed "Ace" by her familyis now 21 years old. She made her first major public appearance when she joined her dad at the premiere of He's All That in Hollywood. In June 2023, she graduated from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, a private all-girls Catholic high school in La Canada Flintridge. Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the couple welcomed their only sonLiam Lillardin April 2008. As of February 2026, Liam is 17 years old and, like his older sisters, has been raised largely out of the public eye. Matthew and Heather are extremely protective of their children's privacy. While they occasionally share glimpses of family life on social media, they've made a conscious effort to let their kids grow up as normally as possible despite having a famous father. The family of five lives in the Los Angeles area, where they enjoy what Matthew describes as a "boring suburban" lifestyleand he means that as the ultimate compliment. The Lillard family attends a movie premiere in 2016.Photo by Barry King on Getty Images (Photo by Barry King on Getty Images) What's the Secret to Their 25-Year Marriage? In an exclusive interview with People, Matthew revealed the one rule that's kept his marriage strong for a quarter-century: "We don't go to bed angry," he explained. "I mean, we've been married 25 years, which is over a hundred years in Hollywood. And then, I mean, 'don't go to bed angry' is pretty pure." But beyond that? Matthew doesn't really believe in a rulebook. "But what are the other rules? I don't really have rules," he admitted. Instead, he and Heather have built something even better: a genuine partnership based on balance and mutual respect. Advertisement Advertisement "I've been married 24 years in a crazy business," the Scream star told E! News. "We never had a difficult time. We're good yin-yang. I am very carefree, like, I will jump off a cliff a million times. And my wife has the ability to balance that with a sense of diligence, and she's very prudent." He added that Heather has been "incredible to parent with and a real gift to partner." Excuse us while we go cry into our popcorn. Next up: Scream Star Makes Hilarious Confession About Series Biggest Mystery: We Never Even Discussed It This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. While it may not be adorned in rhinestones and diamonds, Dolly Partons name is now etched over the doors of the former East Tennessee Childrens Hospital in Knoxville, which this week announced it would be named after the legendary country music star. Parton, who hails from Locust Ridge, Tennessee, has worked for decades on behalf of kids and families in her home state and far beyond. The nonprofit pediatric facility, which has served the region for roughly 90 years, is entering a new partnership with Parton that hospital leaders say will deepen its mission to treat every child as one of our own. For Parton, whose philanthropy has long focused on childrens health, education, and opportunity, the renaming serves as a symbol of commitment that started at her own kitchen table growing up, watching her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write. Advertisement Advertisement Partons philanthropic work largely focuses on childrens needs; shes donated millions of books to children locally and across the United States. For her immense philanthropic commitment, Parton earned the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022, and recalled the inspiration behind it all. This actually started because my father could not read and write and I saw how crippling that could be, Parton said during her Carnegie Medal acceptance speech. My dad was a very smart man. And I often wondered what he could have done had he been able to read and write. So that is the inspiration. What started as a local literacy experiment has grown into a global literacy engine. The Imagination Library now operates in thousands of communities across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia, gifting more than 3 million books every month and having mailed more than 270 million in total as of 2025. The program recently marked a milestone of 200 million books donated, with Parton (who is worth an estimated $450 million by Forbes) calling the chance to help plant the seeds of childrens dreams in books one of my greatest gifts in life. Every book is free to families, no matter their income, a deliberate choice rooted in her desire to erase the stigma she saw shadowing her father. Advertisement Advertisement Daddy was a very smart manbut he was ashamed that he couldnt read or write, Parton told Oprah Winfrey in 2020. That bothered him. He felt like he couldnt learn after he was grown. I remember thinking, I need to do something. Dolly Partons decades-long philanthropic career That ultimately launched her near-four-decade philanthropic giving timeline, which started in 1988 when she founded The Dollywood Foundation. She launched the foundation in her home county with the hope to decrease the number of high school dropouts, giving away $500 to every seventh and eigth grader who finished high school. Over the years, The Dollywood Foundation grew to include an Imagination Library, which started sending one book per month to each enrolled child in her home county from birth until their first year of schoolanother endeavor inspired by her father. The Dollywood Foundation also in the early 2000s started a $15,000 college scholarship for high school seniors have a dream they wish to pursue and who can successfully communicate their plan and commitment to realize their dreams. Then, 2007 marked when Parton began working with local health care organizations. She hosted a benefit concert that raised $500,000, and both Dollywood and Partons Dixie Stampede dinner pledged an additional $250,000 each, bringing the total for that one event to $1 million. The LeConte Medical Center opened in 2010 and includes a 30,000-square-foot Dolly Parton Center for Womens Services. Advertisement Advertisement In the subsequent several years, Parton also dedicated some of her philanthropic giving to wildfire relief efforts, launching the People Fund, which provided $1,000 a month for six months to families whose homes were completely destroyed. Parton also hosted a telethon that raised more than $13 million for wildfire victims in 2016, and donated another $8.9 million to those in need. Parton has also continued to dole out large donations to Imagination Library participants, and donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University in 2020 for coronavirus research. She continued her disaster relief work in 2021, raising $700,000 for local flooding victims. Parton made a subsequent $1 million donation to Vanderbilt in 2022 toward pediatric infectious disease research. The country music star also gives back to the people working for her. The Dollywood Co. announced in February 2022 it would cover 100% of tuition, fees, and books for any of its 11,000 employees advancing their education. But even people who dont work for Parton can at least benefit from her generosity and get a kickstart on their educationand broadening your worldview. Advertisement Advertisement The only thing I ever saw growing up was poor people in overalls and brogan shoes and ragged clothes, Parton told Tennessee-based literacy publication Chapter 16. But in my books, I would read about kings and queens with their velvet clothes and big diamond rings. Thats how I knew there was a world outside the Smoky Mountains. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Elvis Presley's confidence on and off stage was actually hiding his insecurity, claims EPiC director, Baz Luhrmann. Luhrmann, who spent years researching the King of Rock and Roll for his films Elvis and EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, shared his findings in a new interview shared via the official Presley Instagram page. He claims that the entertainer was "insecure" due to his upbringing. Despite his on-stage swagger, he was reportedly hiding his true feelings throughout his career. Advertisement Advertisement Luhrmann revealed, "When I first did the movie, it was more of an academic thing. I was studying Elvis. I had an office in Graceland." Parade Daily SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox He continued, "But when you look at these hours and hours of footage, the overwhelming thing apart from that he would actually create the music so organically with his body, is just he's funny. His goofiness and his humanity." "I think you realize that he does that because inside he's this insecure little boy who's dirt poor. Was humiliated by his dad [Vernon Presley] going to jail." RELATED: Elvis Presleys EPiC Makes a Spectacular Debut at Graceland Luhrmann concluded, "He grows into this physical god. Kind of what makes him great also destroys him because he's so enigmatic. So it's such a weird combo of humility and kindness." Advertisement Advertisement The official Graceland website echoes the director's sentiments. They have a page dedicated to Presley's charitable acts within his community and worldwide. RELATED: The One Elvis Presley Item That Still Wows Gracelands Archives VP (Exclusive) It reads, "He donated thousands to charities, nonprofits, and those who needed a helping hand. Elvis started giving back as soon as his career began, and this was a trend that continued throughout the rest of his life." Among some of his more notable charitable contributions was raising $65K to build the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. In 1973, Presley donated the proceeds from his worldwide televised concert, Aloha from Hawaii, to the Kui Lee cancer fund. His daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, shared her thoughts about her father's generosity as shared on the Graceland Giving Back page. "I only remember him giving to people, she began. I remember people going to him saying, I just got a bum deal, and bang, there was a check. I never saw him not doing something for somebody, ever. That was probably the one thing that kept him sane, was his ability to give back. Advertisement Advertisement Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977. He was 42. Baz Luhrmann's EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is in theaters now. This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. With the arrest of the former prince Andrew, theres been a lot of speculation about what comes next and who else will be affected by the fallout. And the person who stands to lose the most is Andrews ex, Sarah Ferguson, who was also close to Epstein herself. But has she been questioned about the Andrew investigation? And where is she these days? Reports indicated that Ferguson had checked into a luxury wellness clinic in Switzerland early in January. Now, however, is reportedly Donegal, Ireland at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa, according to the Daily Mail. More from StyleCaster Advertisement Advertisement Related: Heres what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth Ferguson and Andrew were forced to vacate their home at Royal Lodge and saw their titles stripped when the first reports of how deep their ties to Epstein ran were revealed this year. Since then, though, things have gone from bad to worse, with People reporting that she plans to spend a few months overseas. But does that mean shell be arrested? Simarjot Singh Judge, managing partner at Judge Law, told Fox News that there was no reason to believe she could not return to the UK. If there is no arrest warrant, bail condition, or active requirement to attend an interview, the most likely first thing is simply that nothing happens at the border beyond standard entry checks, he explained. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told the outlet that authorities will be interested in speaking with Ferguson. While Im not a lawyer, most legal analysts believe upon her return to the U.K., it would be highly likely shed be contacted and interviewed as a key relevant witness by either prosecutors or police, but currently there isnt any arrest warrant and to date she has not been referred to as a suspect, Fordwich said. This though, as we saw with both Andrew and Mandelson, could change at any minute. Advertisement Advertisement Days after Andrews arrest, former U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office regarding information shared with Jeffrey Epstein. She is not a working royal, doesnt have HRH status or indeed any formal royal role, Fordwich said. She doesnt have sovereign immunity or any institutional cover. The family has already distanced themselves from her, likewise her former friends and charities, she added. Mere association with her currently is viewed as totally unacceptable. Some people believe theres no way she can avoid the same fate that befell Andrew and Mandelson. A source told Rob Shuters Naughty But Nice Substack that Fergie is effectively hiding at this point. She has gone into the fire, the insider said. This isnt a holiday. Its survival. She will be arrested next if she returns to the UK. The source continued, Its only a matter of time its inevitable. Advertisement Advertisement Andrew was arrested on February 19 and police have conducted searches in multiple properties related to him. He is being investigated for misconduct in public office for his correspondence with Epstein, who he reportedly provided with classified information. Best of StyleCaster Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Gist Gwyneth Paltrow rewore her iconic icy-white Shakespeare in Love premiere look 27 years later. The Goop founder jetted off to Vail, Colorado, for an apres-ski trip with Meiomi. She pulled a vintage Ralph Lauren strapless gown from her archives. There are no winter woes for Gwyneth Paltrow because she is off enjoying some apres-ski activities in Vail, Colorado. The actress made her snowy getaway a stylish one by drawing inspiration from none other than herself. Gwyneth Paltrow celebrates the first-ever Meiomi Club Noir. Credit: Andrea Sabugo Paltrow's icy-white look at the 1999 London premiere of Shakespeare in Love was so nice, she had to do it twice27 years later. The Goop founder jetted off to celebrate the opening of Meiomi Club Noir this week, and for the grand occasion, she reached into her archives to pull out her vintage Ralph Lauren maxidress. She styled the timeless, floor-sweeping gown with a matching white wool coat (mostly buttoned) and two rings. Gwyneth Paltrow celebrates the first-ever Meiomi Club Noir. Credit: Andrea Sabugo As for beauty, Paltrow styled her signature golden-blonde tresses down in their long natural waves with a middle part. She glammed up with glowy makeup, complete with luminous skin, sun-kissed cheeks, fluttery eyelashes, and glossy lips. Advertisement Advertisement Paltrow commemorated the trip on her Instagram with a carousel of photos, captioned, "Apres ski with @meiomiwines #ad21+." The event saw the actress enjoying glasses of red wine, custom ice sculptures, gourmet bites, and music courtesy of DJ Pamela Tick. I'm bringing a little bit of my coastal California vibe to apres-ski. Meiomi Pinot Noir is the perfect smooth finish after a day on the slopes to share with friends," she told the brand. Gwyneth Paltrow attends the 1999 London premiere of 'Shakespeare in Love.' Credit: Getty Images The Iron Man actress looked every inch like the vision she was in the late '90s. Then, she styled the strapless gown slightly differently, opting for an un-buttoned white wool coat, layers of white beaded choker necklaces, and black heels. Paltrow also rocked a shiny lob at the time, which she styled down and sleek with an off-center part. She completed her look with rosy makeup, glamming up with radiant skin, flushed cheeks, and berry-red lips. Read the original article on InStyle Income-focused investors are also getting a solid stream of cash. AES offers an annual dividend yield of about 4.33% on a $0.70 per-share payout, with the most recent quarterly dividend at $0.176 on Jan. 30, 2026. The forward payout ratio is a relatively low 33.60%, and the company has raised its dividend for 12 straight years, paying quarterly and topping the sectors average 3.75% yield, which gives room to keep growing both the business and the payout. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock is up about 47%, and year to date (YTD) it has gained roughly 12%, showing how quickly investors are reevaluating its data center and renewables pipeline. BloombergNEF recently ranked AES as the top seller of clean energy to U.S. corporations, with Google as its largest corporate buyer in 2025. The company also stands out for income-focused investors, pairing a forward dividend yield of about 4.3% with a growing line-up of data centerlinked power projects, which places it among the higher-yielding utilities. Texas is on track to capture nearly 30% of the U.S. data center market share by 2028, as access to power increasingly decides where developers put their next sites. The state has turned into a focal point for new data center projects, with large tech companies racing to secure long-term energy deals. Just weeks ago, TotalEnergies (TTE) signed what it called its largest-ever U.S. renewable PPA for 1 GW of solar capacity over 15 years to support Googles (GOOG) (GOOGL) data centers in Texas. And on Feb. 24, AES Corporation (AES) announced its own landmark deal with Google: 20-year Power Purchase Agreements for co-located power generation at a new data center campus in Wilbarger County, Texas. Under the agreement, AES will build and run the power assets and handle retail service, cost optimization, and energy management for Googles facility. Story Continues Third-quarter 2025 results back up that story. GAAP net income came in at $517 million, up from $215 million a year earlier, with net income attributable to AES rising to $639 million from $504 million. Diluted EPS improved to $0.94 from $0.72, while adjusted EBITDA increased to $830 million from $698 million, and adjusted EBITDA, including tax attributes, reached $1.256 billion versus $1.174 billion. Adjusted EPS moved up to $0.75 from $0.71, showing that the growth investors are now pricing into the stock is already flowing through earnings and cash generation. Whats Powering AESs Next Leg of Growth AESs next leg of growth is already visible in its signed contracts. It has finished building Bellefield 1, a 1,000 MW solar-plus-storage project under a 15-year contract with Amazon (AMZN), the first half of a planned 2,000 MW complex that is set to be the largest solar-plus-storage facility in the United States when fully complete. With 500 MW of solar and 500 MW of four-hour battery storage in each phase, the project is built around the constant, around-the-clock power needs of large cloud and AI workloads. At the same time, AES has secured long-term demand from another major data center customer, Meta (META). It has signed PPAs for 650 MW of solar capacity in the SPP market to support Metas data centers, with projects in Texas and Kansas that also create construction jobs and generate millions in long-term tax revenue for local communities. This is part of a broader buildout rather than a single push. In its third-quarter 2025 update, AES said it is on track to bring 3.2 GW of new projects online in 2025, with 2.9 GW already finished, and has signed or been awarded 2.2 GW of new long-term renewable PPAs so far this year, including 1.6 GW tied directly to data centers. That pipeline is now feeding into headline projects such as the February 2026 landmark agreements with Google to place new clean generation alongside a large data center campus in Wilbarger County, Texas, under 20-year PPAs and an energy management agreement that keeps AES closely involved in the sites operations over the long term. What Wall Street Sees Ahead For AES Stock Management is reaffirming 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2.65 billion to $2.85 billion, along with 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.10 to $2.26. The Street is expecting EPS of $0.62 for the December 2025 quarter, up from $0.54 a year earlier, and $0.30 for March 2026 versus $0.27 in the same quarter last year, which works out to year-over-year (YoY) growth of 14.81% and 11.11%. Argus Researchs John Eade has taken a clearer stance on that setup. On Dec. 5, 2025, he upgraded AES from Hold to Buy, pointing to accelerating renewables-driven earnings growth and setting an $18 price target based on expected portfolio growth through 2027, including large data-center-linked projects like the new Google campus in Texas. Looking across the full analyst group, all 12 covering the stock rate it a consensus Moderate Buy, with an average target of $16.05. With AES recently trading around $16.06, the shares sit almost exactly on par with that mean target, which suggests that Street estimates are lagging the pace at which the market is adjusting its view of AES as a high-yield, data-center-focused utility. www.barchart.com Conclusion For dividend investors who want direct exposure to the data center buildout, AES looks like a legitimate contender rather than a hype play. Youre getting a near midsingledigit yield, a long runway of contracted, hyperscaler-backed growth, and earnings that are already inflecting in the right direction. The valuation still prices in more caution than enthusiasm, which leaves room for total returns if management keeps hitting its numbers and converting its pipeline. In the near term, the stock probably grinds rather than spikes, but over the next few years, the bias most likely moves toward higher prices as the Googlestyle deals show up in cash flow. On the date of publication, Ebube Jones 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 Chicago comedian is speaking out about a daring rescue that left him in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan, and saving an infant from drowning. Six days before his February 24 birthday, on a bright winter afternoon along Chicagos Lake Michigan waterfront, Lio Cundiff had a thought that now reads like a setup to a joke. I was on the phone with my friend, looking at the water, and I was like, Man, that looks so beautiful. I just want to jump in, he told The Advocate in an interview on Friday. Little did he know. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Cundiff, 31, had arrived early for work on February 18 near Belmont Harbor and wandered down to the water, as he often does. He loves the lake. He loves floating in it in the summer ideally, he says, with a beer. He had been taking phone calls, sitting on a bench, vibing, he said. Then he heard screaming. I just look up, and Im like, Oh my God. I just saw a stroller headed straight to the lake, just blown by the wind, he recalled. Related: Transgender Chicago man hospitalized after saving baby from drowning in Lake Michigan Related: These two Black transgender women are shining beacons leading Chicago through anti-trans backlash Advertisement Advertisement In that instant, the punchline vanished. There was no bit to craft, no self-deprecating aside about his baby face or his anxiety about sending emails, both staples of his stand-up. There was only motion. He threw down his jacket and phone and ran. I was like, I guess Im going in. And I jumped in and just tried to keep us afloat as much as possible, he said. Early media reports suggested that Cundiff did not know how to swim. He bristles at that characterization. I can swim, he said, explaining that in the hospital he told a reporter he wasnt the strongest swimmer and preferred to float with a beer in my hand. They ran with, I cant swim, he said. I can swim. I just prefer not to, he said through a chuckle. Advertisement Advertisement The baby, eight months old, was zipped inside the stroller. Cundiff had to keep the entire frame buoyant while treading freezing cold water. At one point, both of their heads went under. He describes the memory in fragments, as though replaying a film whose ending he already knows but still cannot quite believe. There were a few minutes where I didnt know if we were going to be able to keep afloat, he said. I grabbed her hand for a second. Her tiny little fingers. I rubbed them for two seconds, and I was like, Okay. All right, we got to keep going. A bystander named Lou dropped a jacket; later, a life buoy arrived. They were about thirty feet from a ladder. Cundiffs muscles were tightening. When they finally reached it, and the baby began to cry, he felt something like release. As long as shes crying, when she gets out, thats all I needed, he said. Advertisement Advertisement In the days that followed, Cundiff became something he does not quite know how to inhabit: a hero. Its weird, he said. I just did something that I would think anyone would do. What do you mean you would watch a stroller and a baby just sink? The shock of the cold didnt fully register until afterward. After emerging from the lake, an ambulance transported him to the emergency room. At the hospital, doctors monitored him after his cardiac enzymes spiked to more than thirteen times the normal level, a marker sometimes associated with heart distress. He stayed about twenty-eight hours. He was not allowed to eat, in case doctors needed to perform a heart catheterization. I was so sad, he said. I love to eat. When he was discharged, he went straight to Redhot Ranch for the cheeseburger hed been craving. I just experienced some trauma. I wanted this cheeseburger, he said. The line could easily land in a set. Advertisement Advertisement Cundiff has been doing stand-up in Chicago for nearly eight years, on and off, grinding through open mics and building a thirty-plus-minute set. Born in Russia and adopted by American parents, Cundiff grew up in Kansas before moving to the Windy City to pursue comedy. It was there or New York City, which he said is more for seasoned comics. His comedy is personal and observational, edged with sarcasm. I definitely talk about being trans probably the most and also having a baby face and stuff like that, he said. He transitioned during the pandemic, first identifying as nonbinary before recognizing, with a clarity that now sounds almost comic in its simplicity, Im definitely a man. Its pretty obvious. Im a boy, Im a dude. Asked which comedians he most admires, Cundiff doesnt hesitate. Tig Notaro is my absolute favorite comedian of all time, he said, also naming River Butcher, a transgender comic whose work has helped shape a generation of queer performers. There is something disarming about him: the soft features, the quick smile, the way he drifts between sincerity and punchline. He is open about his anxiety, particularly about self-promotion. For some reason, its scarier to send an email than jump in the lake right now, he said Advertisement Advertisement The rescue has, inevitably, altered his set. He has already been working it into open mics. Oh yeah. Im kind of addicted to it, he said about immediately returning to perform for audiences. In the current American climate, in which transgender people are relentlessly legislated against, debated, caricatured, Cundiffs story is something else. He resists that framing, even as he understands it. Me being trans has nothing to do with me jumping in a lake and saving someone who cant save themselves, he said. If anything, take away the fact that Im a human being who did a human act, and my gender has nothing to do with it. Advertisement Advertisement Then, unable to resist a sharper note, he added, How many cis people can say they saved a baby? The little girls father has since reached out, Cundiff said.. They have met. They plan to remain in contact. He was just like, Were family. Were in each others lives. Cundiff hopes to watch the child grow up. For now, he is back to doing what he was doing before the lake, performing, thrifting, watching sports, hanging out with his girlfriend and their Bernedoodle, and trying to manage the flood of attention that still feels, to him, disproportionate. He insists that the story is not about bravery. Not really. The headlines, the donations, and the applause are noise to him. Advertisement Advertisement For someone reluctant to be called a hero, the aftermath has been surreal in other ways, too. Cundiff doesnt have health insurance. A friend and his girlfriend launched a GoFundMe page while he was still hospitalized, noting that Cundiff lives paycheck to paycheck. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its original goal, drawing thousands of small donations and several large anonymous gifts. Cundiff has described the outpouring as insane and overwhelming, emphasizing that he never expected such attention for what he considers a human act. As of publication, a fundraiser started by Cundiffs best friend has raised almost $73,000. Cundiff is almost embarrassed by the amount raised and said he had thought his friend set it to stop accepting donations. But somewhere in Chicago, a comedian who once joked about floating lazily on the lake with a beer now has new material: about cold water, tiny fingers, and about how quickly an ordinary afternoon can change. Advertisement Advertisement The most important part of this entire story is that the baby is okay, Cundiff said. Watch Lio Cundiff perform at Laugh Factory Chicago below. - YouTube www.youtube.com This article originally appeared on Advocate: Heroic Chicago trans comedian recalls saving infant from ice-cold Lake Michigan: I guess Im going in RELATED The public apology published in the Wall Street Journal for his years of antisemetic comments issued in January by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and his explanation that it was the result of a brain injury and subsequent bipolar disorder are now being scrutinized after his attorneys repeated in a legal filing this week that similar references he made in the workplace were part of his creative process and therefore protected as artistic expression. The rappers attorney, Andrew and Katie Cherkasky, filed in the California Court of Appeals seeking to halt a workplace harassment lawsuit filed by a former Yeezy marketing staffer from moving forward after it cleared an initial hurdle in a lower court. In the suit, the ex-staffer claims that while she worked at his lifestyle company promoting his Vultures 1 album in 2024, Ye compared himself to Hitler, sent her pornographic material and texted calling her a bitch. An attorney for the former Yeezy marketing staffer, who is Jewish, said when the suit was filed last year that the rap mogul waged a relentless and deliberate campaign of antisemitism and misogyny against my client. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Such antisemitic and misogynistic language from the rapper and star producer has burst into public view several times over the past few years, most notably on his X feed, where last year he wrote missives like, I LOVE HITLER NOW WHAT BITCHES, IM A NAZI and Hitler was sooooo fresh. But in late January, the mercurial rapper placed a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal, taking back some of his antisemitic statements and attributing his hateful rants to a brain injury from a car accident that occurred over 20 years ago; the right frontal lobe of his brain was injured in a car accident, he said, adding that it wasnt properly diagnosed until 2023, when he was told he has bipolar disorder. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people. I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state and am committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change, Ye wrote. His letter received a largely optimistic but cautious reaction regarding his potential future words and actions. However, this weeks filing in the workplace harassment case, which his attorneys issued just a month after his splashy mea culpa made headlines, seems to skirt accountability for any hateful language used toward the ex-staff member in favor of a unique interpretation of First Amendment rights. The communications she challenges creative directives, conceptual drafts, provocative imagery, marketing strategy and staffing decisions shaping a public-facing message were not collateral to Yes art; they were part of its development, the filing states. It echoes the prior motion filed in the case to strike her complaint down under Californias anti-SLAPP statute. When the case was before the lower court, the attorneys made the First Amendment argument that Ye is not merely a creator; he is art. Yes public and private personas form a continuous, provocative performance that challenges societal taboos surrounding race, religion, gender, power, politics and censorship. Advertisement Advertisement The judge overseeing this case didnt seem to appreciate the filing and its premise, calling it rife with defects, specious arguments, and misstatements of law and indicating that his witness declarations were totally lacking in personal knowledge or proper foundation upon which to base their asserted opinions. West was left on the hook for the ex-staffers attorneys fees for the time he spent trying to kill the lawsuit, to the tune of $79,000; shed sought around $20,000 more than that. Yes artistic expression his life being the art, the argument states being used as a legal shield raises plenty of questions about parameters and legal limitations. His legal team is doubling down on the notion that this gives the rap mogul carte blanche to use hate speech at will, even to allegedly degrade the staff at his companies. The plaintiff in the case argues that the First Amendment, and the freedoms it affords, dont include workplace harassment. The Court of Appeals in Los Angeles will be the decider; if the appeal fails, the lawsuit moves to the discovery phase. In addition to this case, Ye is in court this week in a case over the California home he purchased for $57.3 million in 2021, which was subsequently destroyed and possibly led to the bodily harm of a man who claims Ye forced him to live there around the clock. Both Ye and his wife, Bianca Censori, are expected to testify at the jury trial. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The reports about me being behind on rent are false, Bravo star Kenya Moore wrote following of her hair salons risk of eviction. Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kenya Moore is speaking out against recent reports that her hair spa is facing financial troubles. The reports about me being behind on rent are false, Moore wrote on Instagram. Earlier this week, a judge reportedly ordered the Bravo stars company, Moore Vision Media, to either pay approximately $88,000 in unpaid bills, including rent and utilities, or to vacate the property, per TMZ. Moores landlord filed the lawsuit in October 2025, after the RHOA alum allegedly stopped paying rent in December 2024. When Moore reportedly failed to meet previous court-ordered payment deadlines, the landlord filed a new request with the Georgia courts, requesting sole possession of the property. Advertisement Advertisement However, Moore, who launched the Kenya Moore Hair Spa in June 2024, says her landlord failed to pay her $80,000 she was reportedly owed. As I have stated before, my company is in an active lawsuit against my salon landlord for failing to pay nearly $80,000 in tenant improvement allowance OWED TO ME, she continued in the post. I invested over $300,000 of my own money to build out my salon in a commercial space from a white box. When the landlord failed to reimburse contractual expenses, I withheld rent in an effort to reach a fair settlement and subsequently filed a countersuit for the amount they failed to reimburse. While this is an active case, court filings show that a judge previously ordered Moores company to pay $43,988 by the end of February 2026 and another $43,988.67 by late March 2026. In addition to the $87,976, Moore Vision Media was also ordered to pay $5,500 in rent, unless she vacates the property. Moore, who is also the founder of her eponymous haircare brand, opened the Georgia hair spa as a luxurious, safe place for one to relax and feel pampered, achieve hair goals, and make people feel good about their hair [and] the experience they have when visiting a hair salon. Advertisement Advertisement The RHOA alum will go live on YouTube this Sunday at 5 pm Eastern, where she says shell invite Team Twirl to submit questions, and provide updates on new projects, relationship status, and an encounter with BrittEady. More must-reads: Linda McMahon says a decades-long friendship with Donald Trump helped open the door to her serving as a member of his cabinet. McMahon was recently featured in an interview with Going Ringsides Scott Johnson. During the interview, which took place at a past rally in Florida, McMahon explained how her relationship with Donald Trump first began. It was almost 30 years ago now. We met and he was a big fan of WWE, Linda McMahon explained. He came in, he was in some of our storylines, some of the highest-rated storylines. We became friends, and weve friends ever since. I was honored; it was the honor of a lifetime to serve in his Cabinet. Linda McMahon says Donald Trump pitched a novel idea to her Johnson asked how Trump offered the position to McMahon in the first place. McMahon said he called from Trump Tower after he became the President-elect and pitched a novel idea about her running the Small Business Administration. Advertisement Advertisement [Trump told me] I actually want someone whos run a small business, knows what its like for business people who are starting up, what it is that impacts them positively and negatively. He said Id like you to consider doing it. McMahon was asked if politics is like pro wrestling at all. She implied theres a connection, joking that theres clearly no ring. Linda McMahon is the current United States Secretary of Education, a role she has held since 2025. McMahon previously served as the head of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. Read More: WWEs Chelsea Green Hasnt Heard A Storyline Shed Turn Down Yet The post Linda McMahon Reveals How Donald Trumps Link To WWE Led To White House Role appeared first on Wrestlezone. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Alamy Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are wrapping up their surprise trip to Jordan with the World Health Organization on February 26, and during a visit to an addiction rehabilitation center, Harry shared some meaningful advice. Spotlighting mental health issues is one of the goals of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs visit, and they stopped by the National Centre for Rehabilitation of Addicts on the final day of their trip. I want you guys to know there's no shame in having an addiction, it stems from something else which is an emotional pain you're very, very brave to come here into hospital, Prince Harry told patients at the facility (via People). Advertisement Advertisement He added, Now what you need to do is use this experience and go back into your communities and help other people who are in a similar situation. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke with men using gym equipment at the facility. | Credit: Alamy The center provides services such as counseling and medical withdrawal support for those overcoming addiction, with help available on both an outpatient and short-term residential basis. The couple chatted with patients taking part in activities, with Meghan observing a yoga class and Harry chatting with a man using a rowing machine. When you leave, will you continue exercising? the Duke of Sussex asked, and when the patient said yes, Harry replied: New habits, good habits rather than bad habitwe all have bad habits. Harry and Meghan both added sticky notes with messages of encouragement on a wall display, with Meghans reading: Congratulations on your dedication to your care. Wishing you continued healing and happiness.' Prince Harry wrote a message of support for patients. | Credit: Alamy Prince Harry penned: Its ok to not be ok. Trust each other. Congratulations on your recovery. Now share your courage and experience.' Along with their trip to the rehab center, the duke and duchess also visited World Central Kitchen and the King Hussein Cancer Centre on their final day in Jordan. Meghan and Harrywho worked with the World Central Kitchen during the Los Angeles wildfiresvisited its Amman regional headquarters, which coordinates humanitarian assistance into nearby Gaza. (NewsNation) Sarah Fergie Ferguson has finally been spotted amid her attempts to stay out of the spotlight due to her and former Prince Andrews ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ferguson is staying at Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow, Ireland, a source told me. The former duchess has reportedly left the UAE to check in at an Irish wellness retreat in Donegal, according to the Daily Mail. Advertisement Advertisement Anderson Cooper in trouble if Paramount buys CNN: Source The Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa is located near Powerscourt. She visited the spa in 2024, explaining that she went because life was sometimes overwhelming. Ferguson has been hiding since the latest batch of the Epstein files was released, and it was revealed that not only was she extremely close to Epstein but remained close with him years after she claimed she had cut off contact. Andrew was arrested on Feb. 19 following a weeks long investigations alleging he sent trade reports to Epstein in 2010, years after he claimed theyd severed all ties. Advertisement Advertisement Under U.K. law, misconduct in public office carries a potential life sentence. Sarah Ferguson visited Dubai Earlier this month, my friend Tom Sykes reported that Fergie had been spotted in Dubai. Sarah Ferguson has secretly met with her daughter Eugenie in the Middle East and is plotting a return to public life, Sykes said. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2019 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) FILE Sarah Ferguson waves the to the crowd was she attends the Easter Matins Service at St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, on April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File) The fallout from Fergusons association with Epstein has been swift. Earlier this month, a charity founded by Ferguson shut down following the release of emails showing the depth of her friendship with Epstein. Project Runway star Tim Gunn says cheating ex led to 43-year celibacy Last year, several charities dropped her affiliation after a 2011 email leaked, revealing that she called Epstein a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. Advertisement Advertisement In September, a childrens book she wrote, Flora and Fern: Kindness Along The Way, was pulled by the publisher. From Hollywood to the royal family, The Scoop delivers smart, insider revelations on celebrity news, scandals, style and culture with Paula Froelich. Subscribe to her newsletter 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 NewsNation. When Norah ODonnell thinks about America, she thinks about her grandmother stepping onto Ellis Island in 1930 with $20 in her pocket and grit in her bones. In her new book, We the Women, ODonnell traces that same spirit through 250 years of American history, illuminating the women who helped shape the nation and who were too often relegated to footnotes. From suffragists who commandeered the stage at Independence Hall to intellectual powerhouses like Mercy Otis Warren, she reframes the founding story we thought we knew and asks a pointed question: Who gets remembered, and who gets erased? A veteran journalist who has spent decades questioning presidents and covering wars, ODonnell brings both reporters rigor and a mothers urgency to this project. Writing for her daughters as much as for her readers, she argues that the stories we elevate shape what feels possible and that expanding the American narrative isnt about ideology, but accuracy. In this conversation, she reflects on hidden heroes, complicated legacies, and why reclaiming womens place in history is, at its core, a promise to the next generation. Katie Couric Media: You write about your grandmother arriving at Ellis Island and how that story shaped your understanding of America. How did becoming a mother influence the urgency or emotional core of this project for you? Norah ODonnell: My grandmother, Mary Teresa Monaghan, arrived at Ellis Island from Northern Ireland in 1930 with just twenty dollars to her name. She had started working at age 12 in a Belfast linen factory, traveling through barbed wire and barricades every day. She never made it past 8th grade, but she was smart enough to know she had to leave Northern Ireland and brave enough to cross the Atlantic alone. Advertisement Advertisement When she entered New York Harbor, she was greeted by a woman! Yes, the Statue of Liberty holding a torch! The poem on Lady Libertys pedestal was written by a young female poet, Emma Lazarus. My grandmother believed there would be opportunities for women in America not provided for her in Ireland. She was right. Becoming a mother and now watching my daughters navigate the world gave this project a profound urgency. I dedicated this book to my mother and my daughters, and to the women in history who remind us that nothing is impossible. That dedication isnt just a sentiment. Its a statement of purpose. I wrote this book because I wanted my daughters to grow up knowing that women have always been at the center of Americas story. I wanted them to know that when Mary McLeod Bethune was told as a 10-year-old girl, You cant read that put that down, she went home determined to prove that girl wrong. And with $1.50, she started a school that became Bethune-Cookman College. The bold spirit and bravery that brought my grandmother across the Atlantic lives inside every woman I profile in this book. I wanted my daughters to inherit that same spirit to know that the obstacles they face arent new, that women before them have overcome even greater challenges, and that their voices matter. Advertisement Advertisement As Oprah says, you have to look back to see how far youve come. This book is my way of helping my daughters and all young girls look back and see the long line of courageous women who paved the way for them. Its my way of saying: You come from strength. You come from resilience. You come from women who refused to be silenced. Nothing is impossible. You open the book with the 1876 suffragists storming the stage at Independence Hall a moment you say you didnt learn about in school. As a journalist, how did writing this book change the way you think about the stories we elevate and the ones we sideline? This is a dramatic scene that should be in an opening scene of a movie right?! Well I didnt learn about this extraordinary day in school or from the many history books Ive read. It took following my curiosity about Americas Independence Day through the years, and a lot of research, to uncover this story. That led me to wonder: Why is this moment a mere footnote to our countrys story rather than a centerpiece of our lessons? Writing this book fundamentally changed how I think about historical narratives. As a journalist for nearly three decades, Ive learned that the stories we tell shape our understanding of who we are and what we can become. Advertisement Advertisement The fact that I never learned about Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton storming the stage at Americas 100th birthday standing in front of Independence Hall, reading their own Declaration of Rights while thousands watched revealed how deliberately womens contributions have been sidelined. This wasnt an accident of history. The National Womens History Museum found that less than 15 percent of what is taught in Americas schools highlights the achievements and history of women. What strikes me most is how these omissions shape possibility. I wonder how my own sense of self, power, and courage might have been shaped differently if I had learned as a young girl that Mary Katherine Goddards name appears on the Declaration of Independence, or that Phillis Wheatleys poetry helped inspire the nations founding document, or that women werent just witnesses to historythey were at the center of every pivotal moment! The stories we elevate become the blueprint for what seems achievable. When we only celebrate men as founders, inventors, and leaders, we teach young girls that power is a masculine domain. But when we tell the full story that women have always been essential to Americas progress we expand what feels possible for the next generation. You describe these women as hidden heroes and acknowledge that many were complicated and imperfect. How did you balance admiration with accountability in telling their stories? I approached this book with the understanding that greatness and imperfection can coexist. These women were revolutionary in their thinking and actions, yet they were also products of their time which means some held views that are troubling today. Advertisement Advertisement For instance, some of the suffragists who fought brilliantly for womens rights failed to champion the rights of Black women and Indigenous women with the same fervor. Those failures are part of their story, too. My goal was to celebrate their courage and impact while being honest about where they fell short. Their stories remind us that progress is messy, that even our heroes had blind spots, and that the work of building a more just America is never finished each generation must push further than the last. Mercy Otis Warren went toe-to-toe intellectually with John Adams and paid a personal price for it. As a woman who has questioned presidents and power brokers on national television, did you feel a particular kinship with her story? Absolutely. Mercys story resonated with me deeply, both as a journalist and as a woman who has spent decades in rooms where I was often the only woman or one of very few. Mercy Otis Warren was called the most accomplished Lady in America by John Adams himself. She was the leading intellectual of the Revolution, the secret muse of the Bill of Rights, and someone who shaped the founding of this nation with her pen. Her 1788 pamphlet, Observations on the New Constitution, was so influential that 1,700 copies were distributed in New York alone compared to just 500 copies of The Federalist Papers. That's a big deal! Advertisement Advertisement But when she published her three-volume History of the American Revolution in 1805 and offered an honest assessment of John Adams describing him as having a partiality for monarchy and noting that his prejudices and passions were sometimes too strong for his sagacity and judgment Adams was furious. He felt stabbed in the back. His response? History is not the Province of the Ladies. That dismissal was particularly cruel because he knew better. He had been one of her greatest champions. But when she refused to back down, when she insisted on her right to tell the truth as she saw it, he tried to undermine her greatest achievement by suggesting women had no business writing history. Ive lived a version of that dynamic. As one of only three women to ever solo-anchor an evening news broadcast, I know what its like to ask tough questions and face backlash for it. Even in my own company, Ive also had to fight for equal pay and challenge misogyny. Advertisement Advertisement What I admire most about Mercy is that she stood by her convictions, even when it cost her a valued friendship. She demonstrated that the highest form of patriotism sometimes requires speaking uncomfortable truths to those in power even when theyre your friends. Thats journalism. Thats integrity. And yes, thats a price women often pay for refusing to be silent. Mercy proved definitively that history was, indeed, the province of this lady. And every woman who has dared to speak truth to power stands on her shoulders. Youve covered wars, elections, and constitutional crises. In researching 250 years of women's history, did you come away more optimistic or more sober about where the country stands now? Always optimistic about the future of America! No question. Why? Writing this book gave me a deeper understanding of just how long and hard-fought the battle for equality has been and how much progress weve made. The optimism comes from seeing the undeniable arc of progress. When this nation was founded, women couldnt vote, couldnt own property in their own names, couldnt serve on juries, couldnt practice law or medicine, couldnt control their own earnings. Today, Im one of only three women to have anchored a network evening news broadcast following in Katie's footsteps! Advertisement Advertisement Today, women make up almost 40 percent of federal judges. Women are the majority of medical school students and research shows patients are less likely to die when treated by female surgeons. Womens increased participation isnt just about equality; its saving lives. Im optimistic because Ive seen how each generation of women has built on the victories of the one before. Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was rejected from eleven medical schools before she was accepted as a joke. Mary McLeod Bethune started a school with $1.50 that became Bethune-Cookman College. Eleanor Roosevelt transformed personal pain into unstoppable political power, becoming the worlds foremost female political force. Each of these women faced rejection that could have crushed her. Each refused to shrink. Each opened doors that millions of women have walked through since. But Im also sober about the work that remains. Throughout this project, when I felt discouraged by challenges in my own life, these women filled me with a sense of grit and resilience. Advertisement Advertisement The women in this book teach us that progress requires persistence, that setbacks are temporary, and that each generation must pick up where the last left off. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Women have been essential to bending that arc. And as long as we keep fighting, keep telling our stories, and keep refusing to be silenced, I believe well continue bending it toward a more just and equal America. If you were to write another chapter for this book 25 years from now as America approaches its 275th birthday what progress would you hope to document? Twenty-five years from now, as America approaches its 275th birthday, I hope to document a chapter where the phrase the first woman to is no longer remarkable because womens leadership is no longer the exception, its the norm. I hope to write about a time when women hold at least half the seats in Congress, half the governorships, and when weve had multiple women serve as president. Advertisement Advertisement I hope to write that womens stories are no longer hidden heroes but are taught as central to American history. That every schoolchild learns about Mary Katherine Goddard printing the Declaration, Phillis Wheatley inspiring it, and the suffragists who stormed the stage in 1876. That young girls grow up knowing women have always been essential to Americas progress. I hope to write about a generation of girls who grew up seeing women in positions of power across every field so that when they dream about their futures, they dont have to imagine breaking barriers because the barriers have already been broken. Thats why we must keep telling these stories. Because our daughters futures depend on knowing the past. And because "We the People can no longer ignore, We the Women. Are you concerned that contributions by women and people of color are being marginalized in public spaces like national parks and Arlington National cemetery as part of an anti-woke agenda? Why is it important that these stories are not erased? It is vital that these histories are not erased, because public spaces are some of the most powerful classrooms we have: what we choose to commemorate determines what is remembered and that shapes our culture. This isnt about politics its about accuracy. When the stories of women are left out, were not just losing history, were negatively impacting the future. Ill end with this: When Susan B. Anthony and the suffragists stormed the stage at Independence Hall on July 4, 1876, they declared: We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever. Our daughters forever. Thats whats at stake. Telling womens stories is about keeping a promise to our daughters a promise that their voices matter, their contributions count, and their place in American history is secure. The post Why Norah O'Donnell Thinks We Should Rewrite Americas Origin Story appeared first on Katie Couric Media. EAU CLAIRE Blues musicians in the Chippewa Valley will soon get an opportunity to represent the area on a national stage. For the first time ever, the Chippewa Valley Blues Society will host its Road to Memphis Blues Challenge in April. The CVBS strives to bring blues talent to audiences in the area through a plethora of events throughout the year. The Chippewa Valley Blues Society has been around for around 20 years, and weve been putting on Tuesday Night Blues at Owen Park in Eau Claire for 14 weeks every year for 17 years, said the president of the CVBS, Cheryl Apfel Wise. And our crowds have gotten bigger and bigger and bigger and its a completely community-supported event. Everything we do is through volunteers and with the donations we receive from the audience as well as community sponsors. Advertisement Advertisement Weve been a member of the International Blues Foundation for a number of years, but we have never gone to having a competition, said Dan Callan, a member of the Societys board and coordinator for the groups Blues on the Chippewa summer concert event. We talked for years, but just never had the resources. But we finally decided: We have the right to do it, and theres only one other [blues competition] in the state, and thats down close to Milwaukee. So [the CVBS] is inviting all Wisconsin blues artists to compete. Winners of our local challenge will earn the right to represent the Chippewa Valley Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Those interested in the competition can sign up using the online form found at tinyurl.com/CVBSComp and can select either the option to enter as a band or as a solo/duo act. The form will ask for basic information, a way to contact the act, and for a short bio. Those wishing to compete must do so by Tuesday, March 31. Advertisement Advertisement From there, acts will enter a competition that will take place on Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at The 410, located at 410 Galloway St. in Eau Claire. There will be no charge for entry for audiences to watch the competing bands. Acts will perform a set of music which will then get judged by a panel made up of professional judges, following the same criteria that will be used in the contest in Memphis. Rules may be found at tinyurl.com/IBCRules. The two lucky acts one in the solo/duo category and one in the band category will get the honor of representing the Chippewa Valley Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge taking place in Memphis in January 2027. Though the CVBS can assist winners in raising funds to get to Memphis, the winning acts will not be provided funds in order to travel to the venue in Memphis. Apfel Wise stated her enthusiasm for the upcoming contest and the possibility that a winner on the national stage could be from right here in the Chippewa Valley. Its really exciting, said Apfel Wise. There have been some winners of categories in the contest in Memphis from over in Minnesota, so we are excited to showcase some of the blues talent from Wisconsin you know, its a big deal. Mount Westmore, the hip hop supergroup featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short, is currently locked in a messy two-way legal battle over a branding deal that reportedly left a $1.3 million advance in limbo. The drama centers on a 2022 agreement with Westside Merchandising that was supposed to fuel a massive 60-date international tour. Instead of a global takeover, the group performed exactly three shows before the whole thing went quiet. Now, a Los Angeles judge has ordered the rap legends to sit for in-person depositions, proving that even industry icons cant easily duck a subpoena when a million-dollar deal goes south. Screenshot from @beaniegee94, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary. The friction dates back to 2022, when the newly formed collective signed an exclusive deal with Los Angeles-based Westside Merchandising. According to court filings, the partnership was built on an ambitious 60-date run across America and Europe intended to move a mountain of branded gear. Advertisement Advertisement Westside claims it held up its end of the bargain by advancing more than $1.3 million to the artists to kickstart the campaign. However, the company alleges the group played only three concerts in 2022 and none in the years since. Beyond the missing tour dates, the company claims the artists ghosted them on required promotional videos and retail appearances. Superstars and the Deposition Deadline The legal heat turned up significantly in October 2025 when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge shut down an attempt by Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube to avoid testifying. The rappers' lawyer argued that the deposition demands were "harassing" and "burdensome," essentially claiming they had nothing new to say beyond what was already in the paperwork. The judge wasn't buying it, calling their "lack of knowledge" argument inadequate and pointing out that both Snoop and Cube were actual signatories to the contract. Advertisement Advertisement This means the icons cannot hide behind their busy schedules or massive brands to avoid being questioned under oath about why the tour evaporated. Westside is even chasing $11,000 in sanctions, accusing the defense of using delay tactics to stall the process. Screenshot from @mount_westmore, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary. While the "anchor" stars of the group are being held to the fire, the other half of the collective is trying a different escape route. E-40 and Too Short have argued in their responses that they were never actually parties to the underlying agreement, even though their names are all over the litigation. This creates a fascinating divide within Mount Westmore, as the members navigate their individual levels of liability for the unfulfilled 60-date tour. Westside attorney John Fowler has been blunt about the firm's position, telling TMZ that the case is simple because the other side allegedly defrauded his client. Fowler dismissed the group's recent legal maneuvers as a "distraction" that "reeks of desperation." The Accounting Audit and the Retail Trap In February 2026, the rappers officially flipped the script by filing their own fraud lawsuit against Westside Merchandising, their former business partner. This countersuit alleges that Westside misrepresented its actual retail reach just to lure the group away from a much larger merchandise firm. Advertisement Advertisement The artists claim that, while they did receive an advance, they are still owed "hundreds of thousands" in unpaid revenue from sales that actually occurred. Their filing includes internal accounting figures they say came from Westside, listing about $808,000 in concert merch sales, over $90,000 in retail store sales, and $13,000 in e-commerce sales. Despite those numbers, the rappers allege they haven't seen a proper accounting of their full share of the profits. Screenshot from @oonkasymeon, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary. This move is a classic strategic pivot: the defense is now using Westsides own financial reporting as a weapon. By highlighting the $808,000 earned during those few 2022 shows, the artists are trying to prove the brand was profitable and that the vendor is the one holding the bag. Their legal team has publicly accused Westside of refusing to cooperate or engage in good-faith discussions while calling the original fraud claims "entirely baseless and without merit." It has turned into a classic "he said, she said" scenario, with both parties claiming to be the victim of a bait-and-switch. Advertisement Advertisement The rappers are now seeking unspecified damages, claiming the alleged retail misrepresentations caused them major financial harm. Watching the Supergroup Legal Legacy The outcome of this battle will likely hinge on whether the court views the failed tour as a deliberate breach or just a consequence of a flawed partnership. Many fans and industry insiders are watching closely to see if those missing 57 tour dates were the result of simple scheduling conflicts or something more legally problematic. For now, both the original $1.3 million fraud suit and the new countersuit remain active in the Los Angeles court system with no final judgment in sight. Screenshot from @thereviewjunkie, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary. This saga is a giant flashing warning sign for the music industry. It highlights a growing tension between legacy artists looking to monetize their brands and the vendors chasing prestige clients. The message is clear: ambitious "360-style" deals only work if everyone has the bandwidth to actually show up. As the rappers prepare for their in-person depositions, the focus shifts from the music to the fine print. Whether this ends in a settlement or a full trial, the paper trail left by Mount Westmore will be a cautionary tale for any artist thinking about signing on the dotted line for a "super tour" that might never happen. A beloved longtime Iowa meteorologist revealed she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of ALS a career-ending illness for which she pursued testing after viewers accused her of being drunk on air. Jeriann Ritter, a popular weather forecaster at NBC affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines since 2004, opened up about her devastating battle with the incurable neurodegenerative disease during an emotional sit-down interview with the broadcaster Tuesday. I love talking about the weather, the 49-year-old told colleague Keith Murphy. Jeriann Ritter, a popular weather forecaster at NBC affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines since 2004, opened up about her devastating battle with the incurable neurodegenerative disease. Facebook/Meteorologist Jeriann Ritter I dont love talking about ALS. Thats what the doctors believe is causing my speech problems. Advertisement Advertisement Ritter said she first noticed a slight change in her speech in October and started receiving messages from concerned viewers the following month with some even asking, Are you drunk? after broadcasts. She initially went to the dentist, believing her slurred speech was caused by shifting teeth but doctors soon noticed possible stroke symptoms, triggering a whirlwind of medical visits that ended with a neurologist spotting something on her tongue and diagnosing her with bulbar ALS. I wasnt prepared to hear that, an emotional Ritter told Murphy, noting there is no treatment or cure. Ritter, 49, was diagnosed with bulbar ALS, a fast-progressing form of the disease that targets the muscles of the face, throat and neck instead of the limbs. Facebook/Meteorologist Jeriann Ritter The married mom of two said she is still hoping for a miracle as she battles her incurable illness. Facebook/Meteorologist Jeriann Ritter I really thought it was something little. Its a hard diagnosis. Right now, I pray every day that a miracle is going to happen. I keep thinking, It could be something else. It is killing me that something that came so easy is now so hard. My greatest joy is talking and its becoming hard to do, its kind of a bummer. Advertisement Advertisement Bulbar ALS is a fast-progressing form of the disease that attacks the muscles of the face, throat and neck instead of the limbs, causing severe difficulties with speech, swallowing, and breathing, according to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Ritter, a fixture at the news station for 22 years, said she has tried speech therapy to relax her muscles and improve her speech, but admitted she feels like shes getting worse but vowed to keep fighting. Ritter said she has tried speech therapy to relax her muscles and improve her speech, but admitted she feels like shes getting worse. Instagram/@jeriannritter Im probably done telling you about the weather, but I still have a lot to say, the married mom of two said. Im going to do what Ive always done, Im going to live and Im going to love. Thats what Im doing. I didnt forecast this storm hitting. Its raining right now and Im just trying to find the sunshine and focus on the little things, living in the moment. Im so wealthy because I have so much love. Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South Korean government and Jeonbuk State to invest Won9tn ($6.3bn) in Saemangeum industrial and energy projects. The planned investment will create an industrial innovation base covering robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), hydrogen energy and solar power, alongside development of an AI-enabled smart city. Hyundai said the Saemangeum site in Gunsan City was selected for its access to renewable energy and integrated transport links spanning rail, port and airport. Hyundai Motor Group vice chair Jaehoon Chang said: What we are building in Saemangeum will reshape not just a region, but Korea's industrial future. Hyundai Motor Group brings together the manufacturing excellence, AI capabilities, and hydrogen energy expertise needed to establish a truly advanced industrial ecosystem. This is how we translate our commitment to 'Progress for Humanity' into reality. The largest share of funding - Won5.8tn - will go towards an AI data centre. It is designed to process large-scale datasets for applications including autonomous driving, robotics, software-defined vehicles and smart factories. The facility is expected to be deployed in phases with graphics processing unit (GPU) capacity of up to 50,000 units. Hyundai also plans to allocate Won400bn to establish a robotics manufacturing cluster with annual capacity of about 30,000 robot units, including foundry and component supply capabilities. Clean energy investments include Won1tn for a 200MW-class polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser plant to produce hydrogen using renewable electricity. Another Won1.3tn will be allocated to solar power infrastructure to supply energy to the complex. A further Won400bn is earmarked for an AI hydrogen smart city integrating AI, robotics and hydrogen technologies. Construction of the AI data centre, solar installations and PEM plant is scheduled to start in 2027, with completion and initial operations targeted for 2029. The robotics manufacturing cluster is expected to be built between 2028 and 2029. Hyundai said it is in discussions with financing partners, including the Korea Development Bank, to structure project funding. The Saemangeum development forms part of Hyundai Motor Groups previously announced plan to invest Won125.2tn in South Korea between 2026 and 2030. The company said the Saemangeum investment is expected to generate about Won16tn in economic impact and create roughly 71,000 jobs across direct, indirect and induced employment in South Korea. Right now, America's food quality is back under the microscope. The issues of ultra-processed ingredients, artificial dyes, and the long ingredient lists that make cereal boxes read like chemistry textbooks have long been a talking point. Yet, some recipes and products of old would have had today's youngsters wondering what they had ever done to food to deserve such punishment. Thankfully, the free market worked its magic, casting some of these food monstrosities into the annals of food history. We dug through America's culinary attic to dust off obscure foods from decades past. Some deserve a second act. Others can remain lovingly retired. 1. Eel Pie Image Credit: Shutterstock. Across the Atlantic, jellied eels still exist in corners of East London, but eel pie has largely vanished from mainstream menus. There is an Eel Pie Island on the River Thames in West London, though finding an eel pie there is pointless, and rightly so once you see one. Advertisement Advertisement Eels' high gelatin content means the cooking liquor naturally sets into jelly: that sentence alone probably made you reach somewhat. Early American colonists inherited the tradition from Britain, where the River Thames was once teeming with eels. They soon learned. Pastry-encrusted eel jelly never really screamed "Victory," did it? Sorry, England. 2. Mug-O-Lunch Image Credit: Shutterstock. General Mills has never feared a bold idea. In 1976, that idea was the Betty Crocker Mug-O-Lunch: dehydrated pasta meals you rehydrated in a mug. One can only imagine the initial presentation meeting, in which the world's first meal in a coffee mug was hatched. "How about a meal in a mug?" The tagline was legendary yet explicit: "Hearty hot dishes you make in a mug." However, after much muted fanfare, the public response was a polite shrug. Betty Crocker's Mug-O-Lunch was discontinued in 1981. 3. Roasted Beaver Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Early American settlers trapped beavers for fur that would eventually make its way into top hats and frontier fashion for high society. Of course, all that fur came with meat, and in the late 17th century, meat didn't go to waste. Advertisement Advertisement Even Bear Grylls might not approve of the fare of our fur-trapping forebears. Roasted, peeled, and boiled, beaver was a practical protein. Culinary glamour it was not, and that is why we will never see it again lest we crash land in the Yukon Wilderness. It might even qualify as one of the Gruffalo's new favorite meals. 4. Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars Image Credit: Shutterstock. There was a moment in the '90s when Philadelphia Cream Cheese tried to dominate snack time with Cheesecake Bars. It almost worked, and nobody really knows why they were discontinued. Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars were biscuit-topped, strawberry-swirled, and aggressively nostalgic. If you were a child of the Clinton years, just reading this probably activated a taste memory. Copycat recipes, like this one from TheSqueakyCleaner, exist. Alas, the original remains frozen in time. 5. Ham Salad Image Credit: Shutterstock. Finely chopped ham mixed with mayonnaise and mystery ingredients sounds like something invented during a war. Yet, the Washington Post seems to find some harmony with this mayo-free version, labeled a "retro throwback." Advertisement Advertisement To be fair, you can defend it passionately, but other versions could divide opinion, depending on one's age group. Lauren's Latest has a recipe with pickles, onion, and celery, which could upset the sans-mayo crowd. 6. Hershey's Bites Image Credit: pimpampix at Shutterstock. Let's be honest: The Hershey Company is to chocolate what Velveeta is to haute cuisine. We know our bodies will hate us for it, but we somehow keep coming back. Yet, Hershey's Bites, discontinued in 2007 over choking concerns, weren't half bad. They were small, spherical, and easy to demolish by the handful. The irony? America has no shortage of chocolate spheres that actually taste like chocolate. Progress marches on. 7. Jell-O Pudding Pops Image Credit: Shutterstock. Launched in the 1970s, Jell-O Pudding Pops were frozen pudding on a stick: chocolate, vanilla, banana, and peanut butter with a crunchy ice coating. Those lucky enough to try them still miss them today; they disappeared in 2004. Advertisement Advertisement In any event, Jell-O would likely need to change direction on its advertising. The marketing campaign famously featured the controversial Bill Cosby. It's a campaign that aged about as well as you'd expect. The snack is gone. The nostalgia remains complicated, but boy, were they good. 8. Turtles Image Credit: Shutterstock. Dwight Schrute fans will remember a scene in The Office: An American Workplace, where a turtle becomes his wedding gift. Historically, Americans also made them a normal part of dining, and some in the Deep South still do. Roasted turtle and turtle soup were once high-end staples in cities across the country. Sarah Pruitt of the History Channel even claims Abraham Lincoln ate turtle soup at his final meal. Overhunting led to the rise of the Victorian favorite, "mock turtle soup," made from calf's head. 9. Robin Pie Image Credit: Shutterstock. Robin Pie sounds like a cannibal's dream, but alas, this one was literal. In the 19th century, small songbirds, including those poor robins, appeared on upscale menus. Cookbooks from the era detail recipes that would likely horrify modern backyard birdwatchers, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Advertisement Advertisement The baffling aspect to any robin pie discussion must surely be the meat-to-bone ratio; it would hardly seem worth the effort. Thankfully, the Americans of the late 19th century who partook worked this out a long time ago. Let's leave our red-chested winged friend to its pride of place on Christmas cards. 10. Ambrosia Salad Image Credit: Shutterstock. Ambrosia salad is one of those dishes that sounds harmless until you list the ingredients out loud. Canned fruit? Fine. Coconut? Acceptable. Whipped cream? We'll allow it. Add green Jell-O, and suddenly you're staring at something that looks like it glows in the dark. An NPR interview once described a holiday version as "electric green." Ambrosia salad could be considered less dessert, more science experiment. Verdict: approach cautiously or just not at all. 11. Baked Alaska Image Credit: Shutterstock. If you're over 40, you know exactly what Baked Alaska is. If you're under 20, you might assume it's a Discovery Channel documentary. This theatrical dessert is ice cream encased in torched meringue, and to Gen-Xers like me, it once felt like peak sophistication. Advertisement Advertisement Today, it mostly appears on cooking competition shows. Which is odd, because once you explain it to teenagers, they immediately want a slice. Ausrine Zygaityte of Mashed even boasts a mint-flavored variety of this once proud dessert contender. I decree that we should all be signing a petition for Baked Alaska's comeback tour. 12. Ham and Banana Hollandaise Image Credit: Shutterstock. You really need to double-take at least twice before making peace with the name of this recipe. To be fair, it wasn't a recipe that was ever going to take off. We can thank the 1973 McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection for bananas wrapped in ham, baked, and covered in white sauce. Somewhere between savory and dessert lies chaos in the form of ham and banana hollandaise. Yes, it still sounds wrong. The internet preserves photo evidence of this abomination: thanks, Food Republic. That's enough, now; we're good. Travel demand has surged worldwide in recent years, and many destinations now face a different kind of challenge: streets fill faster, housing markets tighten, and local infrastructure gets stretched hard during peak seasons. Governments and city councils are responding with tools meant to manage visitor flow while protecting daily life. Reservation systems, cruise caps, access fees, and zoning rules are now part of tourism policy in far more places than most travelers realize. None of these moves mean visitors are unwelcome. Most officials frame the changes as long-term planning rather than a shutdown. The goal is to spread arrivals, protect historic districts, and keep neighborhoods livable for residents who stay year-round. For travelers, the shift mostly means planning earlier, booking official slots, and paying closer attention to local rules. 1. Spain Image Credit: Shutterstock. Spain has become one of Europes most visible stages for crowd-management debates. Barcelona has tightened its approach to short-term rentals, while island authorities in the Balearics have pushed measures aimed at slowing the growth of tourist accommodation in areas where housing pressure and seasonal strain are politically explosive. In several hotspots, the discussion has moved from "How do we attract more visitors? to "How do we stop the center from becoming unlivable? Advertisement Advertisement That tension has also spilled into public demonstrations. Reuters reported on protests against overtourism in multiple southern European destinations, reflecting how quickly these issues can shift from policy memos into street-level politics. For travelers, Spain is still open and thriving, but the rules around housing, noise, and high-pressure zones are evolving fast. 2. Italy Image Credit: Shutterstock. Italy faces similar pressure across several iconic destinations, and Venice has become the headline example. AP covered Venices day-visitor entry-fee approach, which is designed to reduce peak congestion and support city services. For travelers, the important takeaway is practical: there are now specific days and processes that can apply to day trips, and the just show up habit is becoming less reliable. If youre planning Venice in peak season, its smart to check the citys official access-fee information before you lock in day-trip timing. Venice maintains an official portal for the access fee system here: Contributo di Accesso Venezia (FAQ). Elsewhere in Italy, other high-traffic areas rely on tickets, timed entry, or trail cards during busy periods, and those tools tend to expandnot shrinkonce theyre in place. 3. Netherlands Image Credit: Shutterstock. The Netherlands has openly discussed managing visitor impact in Amsterdam and nearby areas, especially where ultra-short party trips create outsized neighborhood friction. Euronews reported on cities debating cruise limits and overtourism pressure, with Amsterdam frequently cited in broader European efforts to reduce the downsides of high-volume arrivals. Advertisement Advertisement Amsterdams messaging has also become unusually direct about rules of the city and nuisance behavior. The city-backed Amsterdam Rules site is part of that shift in tone. The core message isnt dont come"; its come prepared, behave like a guest, and dont expect the center to function like an endless bachelor-party theme park. 4. Japan Image Credit: Shutterstock. Japan has experienced intense inbound demand in recent seasons, and the crowd pressure shows up most clearly in Kyoto and the Mount Fuji region. Local authorities have leaned on timed access, signage, and behavior-focused campaigns in areas where residents complained about blocked streets, noise, and unsafe roadside photo behavior. The policy direction is less about limiting tourism nationally and more about stopping a few specific zones from getting crushed daily. Mount Fuji is the clearest plan ahead example, because climbing seasons and access rules are now more structured than many travelers expect. For official, current guidance, Japans Mount Fuji climbing information is maintained here: Mount Fuji Climbing (official site). If youre building an itinerary around Fuji photos or a summit attempt, checking those official rules before booking saves a lot of stress. 5. Greece Image Credit: Shutterstock. Greeces island destinations face intense summer surges, particularly on Santorini and Mykonos, where cruise timing and day-trip volume can overwhelm small ports and narrow streets. In response, the conversation has shifted toward managing the timing and concentration of arrivals, especially when multiple ships stack into the same morning window. Measures and proposals have included cruise-flow management, visitor-fee discussions, and broader debates about carrying capacity tied to water, waste, and transport limits. Advertisement Advertisement Tourism officials generally stress that the aim is protection of infrastructure and resident quality of life rather than discouraging travel. For travelers, the practical advice is simple: shoulder season is your best friend, and any island visit in peak months now works better when you expect rules (and queues) to be part of the experience. 6. Croatia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Croatias Adriatic coast has seen rapid visitor growth, and Dubrovniks historic center is the clearest pressure point. City authorities have used cruise coordination, crowd monitoring, and old-town management tools to reduce the everything arrives at once problem that turns a beautiful place into a slow-moving gridlock corridor. The direction of travel is toward tighter scheduling and clearer systems, not looser ones. National tourism leaders also keep pushing dispersion: inland regions, smaller towns, and national parks that can absorb visitors without breaking. Croatia still welcomes tourists enthusiastically, but the most famous walled streets are no longer treated like infinite-capacity space. Read More Moving abroad sounds dreamy until real life shows up with rent, paperwork, transit, and the daily question of whether a place actually feels easy to live in. For this slideshow-style article, I built the shortlist around InterNations Expat Insider 2025, using its overall ranking plus the Personal Finance and Ease of Settling In results. This topic is about what expats report after living somewhere, not what a tourism brochure promises. InterNations says the 2025 edition includes feedback from more than 10,000 expats across 46 ranked destinations, which gives this list a useful evidence base. A quick reality check matters here. A quiet routine in one district can turn into a stressful grind in another, even inside the same country, and your outcome depends heavily on income source, language ability, neighborhood choice, healthcare needs, and visa status. Treat these six picks as a strong starting map, then verify current residency and tax rules before making any big move. 1. Panama Image Credit: Shutterstock. Panama earns the opening spot because it sits at No. 1 overall in InterNations Expat Insider 2025, and the report says all five major indices place in the top three. That is a rare pattern, and it helps explain why the survey records very high life-abroad satisfaction there. One respondent in Panama City described everyday life as relaxed and friendly, which fits the theme of this article almost too neatly. Advertisement Advertisement The appeal is not only the mood. InterNations highlights strong marks for travel opportunities, affordable public transportation, leisure options, and the natural environment. It also notes weaker points such as online government services, car infrastructure, and getting around on foot in some situations. In other words, Panama can feel smooth and comfortable for many newcomers, but it is still a real place with friction points, not a magic retirement ad. 2. Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Mexico remains one of the clearest examples of a country where expats often report an easier social landing. InterNations ranks it 1st in Ease of settling. In for 2025, and the country continues a long run near the very top of that index, with especially strong results for culture and welcome, finding friends, and local friendliness. A Dutch respondent in Merida specifically praised the slower pace of life, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes calmer feel grounded instead of vague. Mexico also shows up in the 2025 overall top three, with top-10 placements in Ease of Settling In, Expat Essentials, and Personal Finances. At the same time, InterNations flags weaker scores in safety and security, travel and transit, and air quality, so the experience can vary sharply by city and neighborhood. For many expats, the country works beautifully when location choice is deliberate rather than impulsive. 3. Colombia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Colombia ranks 2nd overall in the 2025 InterNations results, and money-related satisfaction is a major reason it performs so well. The report places it 2nd in personal finance, notes 1st place for expats satisfaction with their financial situation, and says 92% of respondents report enough disposable income to live comfortably. Another expat quote on the overall page mentions enjoying a slow pace of life in Bogota. which lines up with the simpler and calmer angle in a very direct way. Advertisement Advertisement Social integration is another strength. InterNations places Colombia 3rd for Ease of settling. It highlights a standout result for personal support networks, alongside strong local friendliness scores and a high share of respondents whose circles are mostly locals. The same report also warns about safety and security concerns and points out that getting by without Spanish can be difficult, so this is a case where warmth and affordability coexist with serious practical considerations. 4. Vietnam Image Credit: Shutterstock. Vietnam is the heavyweight in this lineup for pure budget efficiency. InterNations ranks it 1st in the 2025 Personal Finance Index for the fifth year in a row, with 89% of respondents pleased with the cost of living and 87% saying their disposable income is enough for a comfortable life. A Hanoi-based respondent put it plainly by saying they can live comfortably, save for the future, and travel frequently. What daily life feels like depends a lot on city selection. Large urban centers can be noisy and fast, while many foreign residents look toward coastal or smaller urban bases when they want a steadier rhythm and manageable monthly spending. The upside is clear in the survey data, but your version of calm will depend on traffic tolerance, climate preferences, and patience with local administration. 5. Thailand Image Credit: Shutterstock. Thailand stays in the conversation because it combines friendly social conditions with strong value. In InterNations 2025, it ranks 5th in Personal Finance and 9th in Ease of Settling In, which is a powerful mix for people trying to build a sustainable routine abroad instead of a short vacation fantasy. The Ease of Settling The report also places Thailand among the top Asian performers for local friendliness, even after a small drop in rank from the prior year. Advertisement Advertisement Another reason many expats gravitate there is practical momentum. Well-known hubs already have rental markets, services, and foreign communities that can reduce day-to-day friction once someone settles into the right area. Heat, seasonal air quality in some regions, and policy changes still require careful homework, so the smart move is a scouting stay before any long-term commitment. 6. Indonesia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Indonesia makes this list because the 2025 InterNations trend tables show a strong balance between affordability and social ease. The country ranks 6th in Personal Finance and 4th in Ease of Settling In, and the Ease report highlights Indonesia as part of an Asian trio with very high Local Friendliness results. For expats who want manageable costs without feeling socially isolated, that pairing is hard to ignore. There is also a useful qualitative clue from the prior years InterNations finance report. In the 2024 edition, a Canadian respondent in Indonesia praised the climate, safety, peacefulness, friendliness, and low cost of living, which helps explain why so many people keep testing longer stays there. The catch is regional variation: Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta, and smaller islands can produce completely different routines, so choosing the right base matters as much as choosing the country itself. Read More Planning a later-life move abroad gets a lot easier when the math works before the fantasy kicks in. This list focuses on places where a fixed income can often stretch into a comfortable routineregular dining out, the option for private medical visits, and a home in a pleasant areadepending on the city you pick and how you like to live. I also prioritized destinations with clear legal pathways that retirees commonly use, so these arent random cheap picks with murky residency rules. One reality check before anyone starts browsing ocean-view rentals: entry and residency decisions still sit with immigration authorities, and consular requirements can vary by office. Visas, resident cards, and final admission are often separate steps, so timing and paperwork matter. For living costs, I used Numbeos cost-of-living snapshots as directional benchmarks and treated them as starting points, not guarantees, because real monthly spending depends heavily on neighborhood, healthcare choices, and habits. 1. Panama Image Credit: Shutterstock. Panama keeps showing up in later-life relocation conversations because the pensioner route is unusually straightforward on paper and the economy is dollar-based. The Embassy of Panamas Pensionado overview spells out a minimum pension of US$1,000 per month, plus US$250 for each dependent, and notes that applications are filed in Panama through an immigration lawyer. If you want the official checklist format, the Servicio Nacional de Migracion requirements sheet (PDF) lays out the core documentation and the same income thresholds. Advertisement Advertisement Once the paperwork is handled, the lifestyle flexibility is the real draw. Some retirees base themselves in Panama City for hospitals, flights, and amenities, then escape to cooler highland towns when they want a slower pace. For a numbers first reality check, see Numbeos Panama country snapshot, and for entry/visa basics (which can change), the Embassys visa and entry guidance is a useful starting point. 2. Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. Mexico stays near the top for Americans because it pairs proximity with a huge menu of lifestyles, from colonial inland hubs to beach communities, and a healthcare system with plenty of private options in major cities. The Consulate of Mexico in Seattle visa guidance describes the temporary resident path for stays longer than 180 days and under four years, and it also frames permanent residence as the route commonly used by retirees planning a long-term move. The practical detail many people miss is the two-step rhythm: the visa is the entry document, and the resident card is typically finalized after arrival. Multiple Mexican consular pages explain that you must complete the exchange process with the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) once youre in Mexico (often within a set window), and this Mexican consular explainer on Temporary Resident Visas is a clear example of how that visa first, INM card next process works. For cost context, start with Numbeos Mexico snapshot, then sanity-check it against the specific city youre considering. 3. Ecuador Image Credit: Shutterstock. Ecuador earns its reputation through a mix of manageable day-to-day costs, compact geography, and a retiree-focused residency category thats spelled out on an official government portal. The Ecuador government guide for the visa de residencia temporal jubilado is a useful anchor because it shows the current fee structure (including the application and issuance fees) and notes a 50% exemption for seniors 65+. Advertisement Advertisement It also points applicants to the official online platform used for visa requests and payments, which matters because where you apply is often as important as what you qualify for. You can find that platform link directly on the government page, including serviciosciudadanos.cancilleria.gob.ec. For a living-cost baseline to compare cities like Cuenca versus Quito or coastal hubs, see Numbeos Ecuador snapshot. 4. Colombia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Colombia has become a serious contender for later-life relocation because it combines big-city medical infrastructure with a lively day-to-day culture and pricing that can feel dramatically lower than many North American metros. The Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry page for the Special Temporary Pensioners Visa lays out the category, including the pension requirement tied to a multiple of minimum wages and the listed study and visa fees, so youre not guessing at the basic math before you start gathering documents. This option can also work for couples and families, not only solo movers. The same official page explains beneficiary eligibility for close family members (with proof of relationship and dependence), which helps people plan the move as a household rather than a one-person experiment. For cost-of-living context, compare your target city to Numbeos Colombia snapshot. If you like seeing how expats rate destinations more broadly (useful, but not a legal source), you can also skim InterNations expat survey rankings as a vibes and experience supplement. 5. Thailand Image Credit: Shutterstock. Thailand remains a magnet for retirees chasing a comfortable routine with strong food culture, service density, and warm weatherespecially once you move beyond the most expensive tourist zones. The Royal Thai Consulate-General (Los Angeles) retirement visa guide lays out the major retirement-related pathways (Non-Immigrant O, O-A, and O-X), the age minimum (50+), and the no employment rule that many people dont fully process until after theyve daydreamed about a casual side gig. Advertisement Advertisement Its also unusually clear about financial evidence. For example, it lists options such as an 800,000 baht bank deposit or a monthly pension income threshold, depending on the category and supporting documents. If youre applying through the official system, the guide points to Thailands e-Visa portal for online applications. For cost context, start with Numbeos Thailand snapshot, then compare that baseline to the specific city youd actually live in (Bangkok math is not Chiang Mai math). 6. Costa Rica Image Credit: Shutterstock. Costa Rica isnt the cheapest pick in this lineup, yet it stays popular because many Americans value political stability, established expat networks, and relatively easy access from the U.S. The legal anchor is straightforward: Costa Rican law explicitly recognizes pensionados as a temporary residence subcategory, and it includes the minimum pension threshold. You can read the full text in the Ley General de Migracion y Extranjeria (Ley 8764), which includes the pension requirement and the structure around temporary residence validity and renewals. In real life, the comfort-versus-cost equation often comes down to geography. Premium beach enclaves can be priced like resort towns anywhere, while inland areas can feel far more reasonable for rent, services, and day-to-day living. For a baseline benchmark, you can compare against specific cities; see Numbeos Costa Rica snapshot. 7. Peru Image Credit: Shutterstock. Peru deserves more attention in U.S. retirement conversations because the official process for rentista residency is clearly published, and everyday costs can be very attractive outside the priciest districts. The government service page for solicitar calidad migratoria para rentista residente explains that foreigners with pension income or permanent rent can apply online through Migraciones, along with the core conditions and proof requirements. Advertisement Advertisement The same portal is refreshingly specific about logistics: it outlines the online workflow, lists a payment step (including the fee and code used for the process), and gives a stated processing timelinedetails that help organized planners build a realistic calendar instead of guessing. For cost-of-living context, start with Numbeos Peru snapshot, then drill into the district-level reality where youd actually live. If youre turning this into a publish-ready slideshow, the smartest editorial move is adding one line under each slide: requirements can change, so applicants should verify with the relevant consulate or migration authority before booking. That tiny sentence prevents a lot of future chaos, and chaos always charges extra. Read More NEED TO KNOW Newquay Zoo euthanized Johnson, the capybara, and Al the tapir on Feb. 20 The duo shared a close bond in the zoos South American enclosure The decision followed an age-related health decline in both animals Two longtime animal residents at an English zoo were euthanized on the same day, after zoo officials made what they described as a difficult but compassionate decision. In a statement from Newquay Zoo published on Friday, Feb. 20, the zoo announced that Johnson, a 9-year-old capybara, and Al, a 20-year-old Brazilian tapir, were humanely euthanized on Feb. 20 due to "age-related health decline." Al and Johnson at the Newquay Zoo Credit: Newquay Zoo "Following careful assessment and consultation between our veterinary and animal care teams, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise both animals," the zoo said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to PEOPLE, a zoo representative highlighted that while the original press release details the circumstances that led to the controversial decision, there was a very "human side" to the decision-making. "Our animal care teams work with the animals every day and naturally form strong bonds over many years. Saying goodbye is never easy. However, our responsibility is always first and foremost to the animals in our care, and the decision to proceed with humane euthanasia was made following careful veterinary assessment," said the rep for the U.K. Zoo. "Ensuring that each animal is spared unnecessary suffering is a fundamental part of compassionate zoo management. We are incredibly proud of the professionalism and dedication shown by our teams during such sensitive times." According to the press release, Johnson was born in 2016 at Chester Zoo before arriving at Newquay Zoo in 2017. Staff described him as a "cheeky yet gentle" animal who quickly became a favorite among both visitors and keepers. Al, born in 2005 at Gdansk Zoo, joined Newquay Zoo in 2014. The stoic tapir became known for his calm demeanor. He formed a particularly strong connection with his care team over his years at the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Johnson and Al both lived in the zoo's South American enclosure, where their bond grew steadily. The zoo noted, "Capybaras and tapirs are naturally calm, social species, and the two animals had developed a strong bond over the years." Both Johnson and Al experienced worsening health challenges that affected their quality of life, as the release explained. After weighing their options, zoo officials chose to euthanize them together, ensuring neither animal would experience isolation and loneliness following the loss of the other. 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. "This has been an incredibly difficult loss for those who cared for them daily," the statement read, adding that both animals were "much-loved members of our zoo community." Advertisement Advertisement The zoo thanked visitors for their understanding and support, noting that the South American enclosure will now undergo review as part of ongoing development plans and Brazilian tapir conservation recommendations. Read the original article on People (This story was updated to add new information.) One of the largest motorcycle festivals in the world is returning to Daytona Beach, Florida, for its 85th year. Daytona Bike Week 2026 officially begins Friday, Feb. 27 and ends Sunday, March 8, although bikers have already started rolling into town. Hundreds of thousands of attendees flock to the World's Most Famous Beach for all things Daytona Bike Week each year. Advertisement Advertisement There are so many different things going on during Bike Week, from bike shows to coleslaw wrestling, and even more things to know going into Bike Week. Here's a guide to everything attendees should know ahead of the annual 10-day festival. When is Bike Week 2026 in Daytona? What to know, calendar of events Bikes rule Main Street on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, March 7, 2021, as the 80th Bike Week gathering rolls on in Daytona Beach. Dtb Bike Week 3 Heres what to know about the annual 10-day event for motorcycle lovers and the calendar of events for Daytona Bike Week 2026. Bike Week to kick off with rain in the forecast for Daytona Beach Bikers ride over the Main Street bridge while heading to Main Street as storm clouds threaten, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. While not much can dampen the enthusiasm and excitement of Bike Weeks opening weekend, bikers will have to contend with some rain when the 85th annual event kicks off Friday, Feb. 27. Bike Week 2026 features free Daytona Beach concert with Kip Moore As the 85th annual Daytona Bike Week rolls into town, Indian Motorcycle is celebrating its 125th anniversary right here in Daytona Beach with a free concert featuring country music star Kip Moore. Bike Week 2026 events from Destination Daytona to Daytona Speedway Feb. 18: Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX From bike shows and discounted services to bikini washes and live music at Destination Daytona, Main Street, Daytona Speedway, and in the surrounding Daytona Beach area, there is no shortage of Bike Week 2026 events for motorcycle enthusiasts and fans to cruise around and enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Here's a lengthy schedule of Bike Week events, which runs from Friday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, March 8. Bike Week Daytona 2026 scenic drives, events to enjoy A couple on a motorcycle roll past one of the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail signs, as they head south through the loop on Old Dixie Highway, Tuesday April 1, 2025. Here are some scenic drives to enjoy, including two routes that previously earned a shoutout in WorldAtlas.com's "11 Most Scenic Drives in Florida. When is Daytona Bike Week? Iconic event isn't biggest nor oldest in US The annual 10-day event is one of the world's largest motorcycle events, but certainly not the largest nor the oldest. The history of Daytona Bike Week and how it's evolved over 85 years The event began as the Daytona 200, a motorcycle race on a course that ran partly on a public street and partly on the beach, south of Daytona Beach, according to a story from News-Journal reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean. The sand was banked for a turn. And the tide tables determined when to wave the green flag. In Daytona for Bike Week? Where to eat, drink, stay and gas up for cheap Liz Schmitz's "rat rod" style motorcycle was getting a lot of attention on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, during Daytona Beach Bike Week. From deciding on lodging, finding cheap food, gas prices and hotel rates, doing Bike Week with limited cash can be tough. Here are some tips. More Daytona Beach Police officers will be on patrol during Bike Week Bike Week advice from police includes things that are standard anytime, such as don't drink and drive, but also be aware there will be more traffic in the area so be patient. Betty Boop busted as Daytona Bike Week officially starts Barbara Spurlock, aka Sparky Betty Boop, 80, rides her motorcycle down Main Street in Daytona Beach on the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. The 80-year-old Spurlock was revving the engine on her Betty Boop-themed motorcycle on Main Street when a Daytona Beach Police officer stopped her and waved her off to a side road. Check out photos and videos for Daytona Beach Bike Week 2026 Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Iron Woman cruises through Main Street on the first day of Bike Week 2026 in Daytona Beach, Friday, Feb.27, 2026. Barbara Spurlock, known as Sparky, 80, rides her Betty Boop motorcycle down Main Street in Daytona Beach on the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Barbara Spurlock, known as Sparky, is stopped by Daytona Beach Police Department officers for revving her pipes on the first day of Bike Week on Main Street in Daytona Beach. Barbara Spurlock, known as Sparky, 80, rides her Betty Boop motorcycle down Main Street in Daytona Beach on the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. "Pretty Ricky" and dog Harley enjoy the scenes on Main Street in Daytona Beach, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Rain falls on the first day of Bike Week in Daytona Beach on Main Street, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Riders cruises along Atlantic Avenue, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. A rider cruises along Atlantic Avenue, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. A rider turns into Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week , Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers enjoy the scene on Main Street in Daytona Beach on the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. A rider cruises along Atlantic Avenue, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. A rider cruises along Atlantic Avenue, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. A rider rolls on Atlantic Avenue after a cruise down Main Street, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. Riders rolls on Atlantic Avenue after a cruise down Main Street, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. A rider rolls on Atlantic Avenue after a cruise down Main Street, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 A slingshot drives past Main Street along Atlantic Avenue, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. Custom designed motorcycles are on display as riders show off their bikes on the first day of Bike Week on Main Street in Daytona Beach, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 Bikes are not the only thing on Main Street, people ride one-wheels on the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 in Daytona Beach. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. A rider rolls on Atlantic Avenue after a cruise down Main Street, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 as Bike Week 2026 kicks off in Daytona Beach. Bike Week 2026 opens in Daytona Beach with sun and rain 1 of 31 Bikers cruise along Main Street in Daytona Beach during the first day of Bike Week, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Here's a visual look at Bike Week 2026 in Daytona Beach. Lots of motorcycles and some large dogs arrive for Daytona Bike Week Nick Matta brought his two Great Danes, Roman, (left) and Milkshake, to Daytona Beach Bike Week on Main Street on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement The second-official day of Daytona Beach Bike Week included hot bikes, cool weather and big dogs on Main Street. Daytona Bike Week Main Street live cam To watch the exciting Daytona Bike Week festivities down on Main Street, visit daytonabikeweek.com/live-cam or click here. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Bike Week 2026 main street live cam, events and concerts Houston Rodeo Parade 2026: Downtown route, start time, how to watch originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo downtown parade is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, February 28th. The parade will start at the intersection of Bagby and Walker streets. It will proceed along Travis Street, then Bell Street, and Louisiana Street, before turning onto Lamar Street and ending at the corner of Lamar and Bagby. The event is one of several activities leading up to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan will serve as grand marshal. Ruskan is a rescue swimmer who saved 165 children during the July 4 flash floods in the Texas Hill Country, earning national recognition. Advertisement Advertisement The parade has been a Houston-area tradition since 1938, celebrating Western heritage with decorative floats, thousands of horseback riders, and marching bands. What time does the Rodeo parade begin? The Rodeo Parade is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday Feburary 28th. Where to watch the Houston Rodeo downtown parade If you can't attend the Houston Rodeo downtown parade on Saturday morning, local CBS-affiliate KHOU will be broadcasting the parade live in it's entirerty, beginning at 10 am. TV Channel: KHOU-11 (CBS Houston Local) Stream: Fubo TV Houston Rodeo downtown parade: traffic implications and road closures Street closures begin at 2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, including the McKinney exit ramp from I-45 and Allen Parkway on- and off-ramps from the Gulf and North freeways. It is expected they will begin around 8:30 a.m. and reopen around 2 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement The Rodeo Run route which precedes the parade follows Walker Street at Bagby going east, south on Travis, west on Bell, north on Louisiana, west on Lamar, and south on Bagby, with additional closures along Allen Parkway. Houston Rodeo parade: best viewing spot locations While every position along the rodeo route will offer unique views, the best places to watch, according to the Rodeo, are Louisiana Street between Bell and Lamar, along Lamar, and from Louisiana to Smith. Bagby and Walker streets from Sabine Street to Bagby will be off limits for viewing. Where is the parking for the parade? Public parking garages in downtown Houston and the Theater District are available to parade viewers, with each garage charging its own fees. Recommended garages include Alley Theater Garage, One Market Square Garage, Lyric Center, 1100 Smith Garage, and Theater District Parking. Veteran rodeo-goers recommend utilizing the METRORail to avoid traffic. The parade is near the Main Street Square Station on the Red Line. MORE: Who is playing at the Houston Rodeo? Full-entertainer lineup revealed Key Takeaways Immigrant winemakers have transformed Californias Central Coast wine region, bringing global winemaking traditions from France, Greece, Mexico, Bosnia, and beyond. From Paso Robles to Santa Barbara, generations of newcomers have honored their cultural roots while embracing the freedom to innovate with grape varieties and blends beyond traditional appellation rules. Their personal journeys and community-driven approach highlight how cultural diversity continues to shape the identity and innovation of Central Coast winemaking. In the United States, wine has been shaped by immigration. In fact, wine itself is an immigrant. For centuries, it embodied migration to the New World. Religious missions established the roots of viticulture, which continued through colonization and newcomers who brought with them traditions of modern winemaking. Advertisement Advertisement Californias Central Coast is a descendant of the movement initiated by Franciscan Fathers in the 1700s, when Father Junipero Serra planted Mission grapes brought from Spain in San Gabriel and San Juan Capistrano. In Santa Barbara, the first Mission grape cuttings were planted in the Milpas District in 1782. Over centuries, winemaking has continued to reflect the inherited traditions and cultural influences that characterize many regions within the Central Coast AVA. Here, enthusiasts, winery workers, and winemakers have pursued their American dream from every corner of the world. They planted vines from their homelands and nurtured them to thrive. In Paso Robles, famous Polish concert pianist Ignace Paderewski planted Petite Sirah and Zinfandel on his Rancho San Ignacio vineyard during the early 1920s. Legendary enologist Andre Tchelistcheff, alongside Dr. Stanley Hoffman and Jack Foote, was among the first to see the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon in Paso Robles. He began to plant the variety there in the 1960s and 70s. Advertisement Advertisement Greek, French, Indian, Armenian, Italian, Mexican, and Bosnian winemakers have helped make the Central Coast one of the most diverse viticultural areas in the country. They created a culture of camaraderie and collaboration and passed it on to the new generation. Building a legacy close to ones roots while honoring the land For Stephan Asseo, a seasoned vigneron from Bordeaux, the Willow Creek District in Paso Robles was a place where he could experiment with different grapes, free of the famed French appellations strict regulations. After he left France and his Domaine de Courteillac in 1998, Asseo, along with his wife Beatrice and three children, scoured South Africa, Lebanon, Argentina, and Napa in search of a new beginning. Eventually, he chose California as the home for his new brand, LAventure, to produce blends using locally grown international varieties. Credit: Photo by Maxime Gregory Messaoudene for L'Aventure Winery I was always focusing on the potential of the terroir, the configuration of the soil, the interaction of the weather, he says. It was more important than the notoriety of the site. I can make the wine of my place, and I can express the interpretation of my place with that freedom, instead of making the wine of my appellation that some people in some offices in Paris decided that we should grow. Advertisement Advertisement Asseos new home not only granted the freedom to create, but it also offered true community support. During his first days in the region, he found it surprisingly easy to rely on his neighbors and colleagues. On the technical side, maybe I was more advanced than [they were], but when you start from scratch, as I did, I thought that I was very rich and poor at the same time, he says. I could borrow some equipment. Already established winemakers helped me find a distributor. Here, if you are successful, people are happy for you. I think that is the beauty of this country. In 2013, his daughter, Chloe Asseo, became general manager of LAventure. Chloe grew up with the winery. It shaped her childhood and set the standards by which she lives. Credit: Photo by Maxime Gregory Messaoudene for L'Aventure Winery Chloe has a clear vision. I dont see legacy as something frozen in time, she says. To honor it is to protect its essence the pursuit of excellence, the family spirit, the boldness while allowing it to evolve thoughtfully. My role is not to rewrite their story, but to continue it with the same conviction and care. Advertisement Advertisement In the rolling hills of the Los Olivos District, Alexis Zahoudanis, general manager of Demetria Estate, pours the 2023 Cuvee Papou to honor Demetrias founder, his late father, John Zahoudanis. My father's passion was always wine. He loved wine, says Zahoudanis. When he grew up, they had olives, citrus, and grapes. His father was a home winemaker. He would make the bathtub hooch. And I think that's where my father's passion started. And it was always one of his dreams. Ever since I was a young child, I can remember him wanting to buy a vineyard. I remember on a number of different occasions him trying to put that kind of deal together. Credit: Courtesy of Demetria Estate John ventured from one entrepreneurial pursuit to another, but he always stayed connected to his orchard and vineyard in Litochoro, Greece, which he left at age 13. In 2005, John realized his vision when he purchased Painted Hills vineyards in Los Olivos. He renamed the estate Demetria, both in honor of his daughter and of the Greek goddess of harvest (Demeter), and he cultivated Rhone varieties using biodynamic practices. Advertisement Advertisement John planted Assyrtiko grapes as an homage to his heritage, which he used in a blend with Grenache Blanc. Demetria became another way to stay involved with the local Greek community. Credit: Courtesy of Demetria Estate We were always active members of the St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, says Alexis. We would have our priests come out and bless the harvest. They still do it every year. My father really embraced his heritage because it brought community to him. And that was a big thing for him having his people, our people, as part of the winery. Defying the odds to craft the best glass of wine Samra Morris never thought that she would end up in Santa Rita Hills making wine at Alma Rosa Winery. She grew up in Bosnia in the early 1990s, a time when the world was rejecting communism, and then entered into a period of turbulence marked by lasting wars and conflicts. Samra studied food science and planned to pursue brewing. She was initially interested in the chemical aspect of winemaking. Her plans changed when she met her future husband, a chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force in Sarajevo. They moved to Napa for his next deployment, and Morris started to work at Hestan Vineyards with Thomas Rivers Brown. Advertisement Advertisement The first barrier that an immigrant can have in a new country is the language, she says. In the beginning of my career, I knew English, but still, during the harvest, they would tell me to do something, some technical words, and I would translate them into my language to understand. In 2019, Morris moved to Alma Rosa Winery as an assistant winemaker. When the winemaker suddenly left, she applied for the position with the proprietor, Bob Zorich. I went to him and told him that I wanted to be the winemaker. I knew I could do it, but I was scared since I didnt have the experience of a winemaker, says Morris. He told me, I know you survived war as a kid, you came to this country, you learned the language, and I think you can do it. Since then, Morris has made wines that reflect her passion, which have brought many accolades to the winery. Advertisement Advertisement Balkan people are very passionate and prideful, she says. So, I think my passion shows in my wines. I put 100% of myself into winemaking. I think the owner of Alma Rosa understands it as well. Morris organizes tours to Bosnia to introduce Americans to her homeland and its viticulture. Many remember Bosnia as a place shaped by war, so she wants to show another side of her country. There are a lot of immigrants, especially in the wine industry in this area. They are from everywhere, says Enrique Torres, founder of Diablo Paso Wines. I myself feel like a [Paso] Roblon. Credit: Courtesy of Diabolo Paso Wines Torres immigrated to the United States in 2001 from a small fishing village in Guerrero, Mexico. Since then, he has not missed a harvest, as hes worked in different wineries in Paso Robles. As the second boy in his family, he was expected to become a priest, encouraged by his mother and grandmother. However, he chose something closely tied to the church: wine. In the United States, Torres developed his love of Spanish varieties as he worked with winemaker Alan Kinne at Martin & Weyrich Winery. Since then, Diablo Paso Wines has produced Spanish wines made from Tempranillo, Albarino, and Garnacha grapes. Advertisement Advertisement Over the last 25 years, Torres has been able to raise a family, make wine, and become part of a supportive community formed by both longtime residents and newcomers from around the world. Torres continues to work with CaliPaso Winery, which took over Martin & Weyrich Winery in 2012. He also launched a second label under Diablo Paso Wines, Max and Nico, named after his two sons, that focuses on French and Italian varieties. In Paso, I feel like its still a friendly town, and I hope it stays that way with these immigrants. I appreciate that because were a big part of this community. We help each other. I love this town. Read the original article on Food & Wine Some cat owners, tired of scratched furniture (or scratched people), opt to have their cats' claws completely removed. It's a controversial choice. Many veterinarians and animal advocates consider declawing (or onychectomy) unnecessarily cruel and dangerous for the animal and say the procedure should only be used in medical emergencies rather than for the convenience of the owner. More than 40 countries ban the practice, as do six U.S. states and multiple large cities. What about Florida? Declawed cats must be kept indoors as they cannot climb to avoid predators. Is it legal to declaw cats in Florida? Yes. There are no state laws against declawing cats in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement However, Volusia County banned the practice in 2022 when the county commission overhauled Volusia's animal ordinances. Under the new rules, cats may only be declawed if its deemed necessary by a veterinarian for medical reasons. Violations carry a maximum civil penalty of $500. The county law applies in the unincorporated parts of Volusia County, but cities can adopt its provisions or contract with the county to have the ordinance enforced in their municipality. One Florida lawmaker previously sought to ban declawing statewide. In 2019, then-Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, introduced an Anti-Declaw Bill to make it illegal to declaw cats in Florida for non-therapeutic reasons. Under the bill, veterinarians performing the procedure would be subject to disciplinary action and non-vets who tried it would be fined up to $1,000 per violation. It died in committee. "The procedure is not only unnecessary and painful but leads to complications that increase the likelihood of cats being surrendered to animal shelters, Book said at the time. Floridas felines deserve better. Advertisement Advertisement Book tried again in 2023 as part of a larger animal welfare bill, which also died in committee. Your cat's claws are an integral part of their toe bones. Why is declawing cats bad? The primary reason you often hear is that without claws, outside cats are left defenseless to predators, as they can no longer climb to escape or fight back. But that's not the only reason. To remove a cat's claws, vets must remove amputate the last bone of the cat's toes, where the nail bed and claw are integrated into the bone. It's similar to severing a human finger at the last knuckle. Many vets will only remove the front claws, as removing all four sets is considered inhumane and unsafe. "The surgery involves the risk of anesthesia, excessive bleeding and surgical complications, including post-operative infection and pain," the ASPCA said in its position paper on the matter. "When damage is caused to tissue or bone fragments are left behind, the cat may experience chronic pain requiring ongoing medication and management." Advertisement Advertisement Cats that are declawed to cut down on scratching people may start biting more, experts say. And the cat owner's home life may not improve as much as they'd think. "In a considerable amount of cases, declawed cats end up soiling the house and furniture because they develop anxiety and chronic pain subsequent to the amputation of their third phalanges," Dr. Mitsie Vargas of the Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven told the Lakeland Ledger in 2019. Which states ban declawing cats? Currently, six states outright ban declawing cats, according to World Population Review: Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Eight more states (California, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin) make it partially legal or require certain conditions to be met. What can cat owners do besides declawing? Excessive or inappropriate scratching can certainly be destructive to a home and even dangerous to people. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has these suggestions instead of declawing: Advertisement Advertisement Provide appropriate scratching surfaces, such as dedicated posts and boards that are tall enough to encourage full stretching. Try different ones to see what your cat prefers, and consider scenting them with catnip. Trim your cat's nails frequently, every 1 to 2 weeks. Consider soft nail caps, replaced every 4 to 6 weeks. Use positive reinforcement training, beginning with kitten kindergarten if available. Try pheromone sprays and/or plug-ins, or discourage the use of inappropriate surfaces by attaching sticky tape or tinfoil to them. In some cases, cat owners have good reasons for wanting the procedure, often because someone in the household is allergic to cat scratches or from fear of Bartonella henselae infection, especially for people who have HIV, are undergoing cancer treatments, or are otherwise immunocompromised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still does not recommend declawing, but instead suggests keeping your cat indoors, avoiding cat scratches, bites, and licks and promptly washing the skin if they happen, and treating the cat with a flea control product. Or your house may simply not be the place to have a cat. Advertisement Advertisement C. A. Bridges 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. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Is cat declawing legal in Florida? What the law says LaWanna Jackson is "teacher goals" for many of her younger colleagues at Galaxy Elementary in Boynton Beach. She's got decades of experience but still retains enough enthusiasm and verve to connect with the young people she teaches. And she has the type of total classroom command one would expect of the Palm Beach County School District teacher of the year, which is precisely the honor she won on Jan. 29. Jackson, 44, had wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer when she was younger but decided on a different path after a student teaching project she had to complete as part of her biology pre-med/early education double major at Florida A&M University. Advertisement Advertisement Now, at a point in her career when educators with similar levels of experience are chafing at the endless expectations and underwhelming pay of the profession, Jackson is pushing on. Shes pushing on for the eager eyes and bright young faces she sees each morning in her fifth-grade math and science class. Shes pushing on for her 13-year old daughter, who sees in her mother a determined, professional Black woman who somehow got up after she got knocked down. And she pushes on for her cheerleader in heaven, the boy who was rounding the corner into manhood when he was lost to her. Come on, Mom. You got this, Mom. Sitting in her classroom talking about him, Jacksons voice wavered but did not break as she spoke of him. Hes in heaven, holding a spot for me. LaWanna Jackson displays photos on her desk at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. A students raises their hand during class in Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson's classroom at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson's classroom is filled with handwritten explanatory posters at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. A quote display in Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson's classroom at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson works with her students on a multi-discipline lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson works with her students on a multi-discipline lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson works with her students on a multi-discipline lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson works with her students on a multi-discipline lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. Galaxy E3 Elementary School teach earns top recognition 1 of 8 LaWanna Jackson displays photos on her desk at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. One blow after another Jackson's family had gathered to celebrate the life of her father, a Bahamian immigrant who had arrived in the United States with a dollar in his pocket and determination to make something of himself. He had, and, on Oct. 23, 2024, his wife and children, his grandchildren and other relatives had gotten together to honor him and solemnly note his death. Advertisement Advertisement But one person was missing: Jackson's 18-year old son, Jayson H. Brown, a Palm Beach State College student looking forward to making it to his mother's alma mater, Florida A&M University. Jayson was on his way back from a skating trip to Orlando he had taken with a friend. He never finished the drive. "I got the call no parent wants to get," Jackson said. Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year LaWanna Jackson works with her students on a multi-discipline lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. There had been a horrible car accident in Port St. Lucie. Jayson had been airlifted to a hospital in Miami, but, on June 3, he died. Jackson was shattered. Her father, who had found success in real estate after first working as a tailor and butler, had died. And then, as Jackson and her family had gathered to honor him on his birthday, she learned of her son's accident. Advertisement Advertisement "We didn't expect him to pass away," Jackson said of her son. "That knocked us off our feet. I thought I was going to die." But Jackson grinded her way through the searing pain of that loss, finding one reason after another not to give in to the despair. Her daughter. Her mother. Her sister. Her ancestors. "I am their wildest dreams," Jackson said of them. "It's not what happens to you. It's what you do about it." The words of her parents came to her when she needed them most. Hadn't she spoken at the funerals of some of her students? Hadn't she comforted other students who had lost loved ones and were trying to find their way forward? Jackson kept coming back to her students. Advertisement Advertisement "I know how to keep going," Jackson said. "I couldn't stay home and hide forever. My kids, my students, they're the reason why." Jackson has set up the Jayson H. Brown Legacy Foundation to promote car safety, how to address burns and cope with grief. She's writing a children's book, too, drawing on her experiences as both a teacher and a mother. 'I have high expectations' Jackson's fifth-grade math and science class was working on a project using paper plates and crayons to draw how Earth looks from outer space. LaWanna Jackson displays photos on her desk at Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Boynton Beach, Fla., on February 24, 2026. "Go ahead and color in the sun and the moon," she told the students, who remained focused on their work despite the presence of the school principal, Vonda Daniels, a district official and two journalists there to see how a Palm Beach County School District teacher of the year works. Advertisement Advertisement None of that mattered to Jackson's students. "Let me see that orange," one boy said to the other students at his table. Jackson walked around the class, pointing out good work from some students and asking questions of others. "I told you, you guys are scientists in your own right?" she told them. As the class neared its end, several students had not completed the assignment. "Whatever you don't finish, it's homework, right?" Jackson said to the head nods and sighs of her students. Jackson works with her students on a lesson of geography, astronomy, physics and art with a project about the Earth, Moon and the Sun. Soon, it was time to wrap things up and send the students to their next class. Jackson needed to get their attention. Advertisement Advertisement "Class, class," she said. "Yes, yes," her students answered. The students collected their work, with a few staying behind to clean desks with wipes. Daniels said Jackson's younger colleagues see her as an example of what they can do. "Her level of commitment and love for the kids is her strength," Daniels said. "She pushes past everything else to meet their needs. They see that, and they rise to the occasion." Even Daniels has relied on Jackson. "This past summer, I was injured and was out for two months," Daniels said. "She stepped up and said, 'I'm going to have your back.'" Advertisement Advertisement Jackson mentored colleagues and answered questions that would typically be addressed by the principal. "She's awesome," Daniels said. "She's the type of person who has a big voice, but people hear that big voice. People are drawn to her." Jackson has used that voice in the classroom and in community endeavors, including helping to coordinate a mentoring program with a Black fraternity and working with the Frances J. Bright Debutante Program, named in honor of the first teacher at what was the "colored school" in Delray Beach. More than 85% of Galaxy's students are Black, and Jackson said she takes special pride in being both an example for them and a loving prod insisting on excellence. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm very firm," Jackson said. "I have high expectations." Jackson said she has high expectations for herself, too. She wants to be named the statewide teacher of the year when that honor is announced in June or July. But Jackson said she doesn't just want that title to honor her own work. "I want kids from Boynton to look at me and say, 'Ms. Jackson did it. I can do it.'" Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education and Riviera Beach development for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: LaWanna Jackson is Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year The Illinois Commercial Auto Assigned Risk Plan has posted underwriting losses approaching levels typically associated with market distress, raising new questions about oversight, exposure verification and whether some trucking companies may be exploiting the system. Financial data obtained by FreightWaves shows that, across active policy years from 2014 through the second quarter of 2025, the Illinois commercial assigned risk pool recorded: $435.7 million in earned premium $625.3 million in incurred losses (including IBNR) $67.1 million in loss adjustment expenses $129.6 million in other underwriting expenses That translates to a combined ratio well above 150% over the period and roughly 191% as of the second quarter of 2025, meaning the program is paying out nearly $1.91 for every dollar it collects. Zach Meiborg, President of the Meiborg Companies, says these losses absolutely stem from the fraudulent reporting on carriers part and the historical lack of oversight in the state pool of insurance. This is a huge problem because we have quality insurance companies turning away from writing insurance in Illinois because theyre compelled by state law to participate in the state pool, when these insurance providers know theyre going to get hosed in the state pool, Meiborg said in an interview with FreightWaves. The problem has recently gotten better with the use of a technology such as GenLogs, but we have a long way to go. How the assigned risk pool works Illinois requires insurers writing commercial auto liability coverage in the state to participate in an assigned risk mechanism. The program was designed to ensure coverage remains available to businesses unable to obtain insurance in the voluntary market. Premiums in the assigned risk market are typically significantly higher than standard rates, reflecting elevated risk profiles. Meiborg said the numbers show the structure has possibly been abused. Some carriers allegedly underreport fleet size when applying for coverage, Meiborg said. He claims certain policies are issued on a fleet card or self-reported basis without vehicle-level verification, allowing operators to insure a fraction of their actual trucks. Where these fleets are filling out their application showing that they have 10 trucks, what they actually are running are closer to 100 or 200 trucks, Meiborg said. He contends that compliant carriers ultimately subsidize those allegedly gaming the system through higher premiums. According to data obtained by FreightWaves, the Illinois Commercial Auto Assigned Risk Plan is paying out nearly $1.91 for every dollar it collects. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Broker: They caught it and theyre working on it Chris Patrick, vice president at transportation insurance brokerage Cottingham & Butler, said the Illinois assigned risk pool financial results over the last decade are really bad from an underwriting standpoint, but cautioned against oversimplifying the cause. First Presbyterian Church has scheduled a rummage sale to benefit the International Center of Owensboro from 9 a.m. to noon on March 7 in the churchs Fellowship Hall, 1328 Griffith Ave. The entrance for the sale is off the parking lot behind the church off Clinton Place. Allison Bates, chairwoman of the churchs Mission Committee, said the committee selects different local nonprofits to support in different ways. Advertisement Advertisement Two years ago, the church hosted a book sale benefiting the Boulware Center. This year, members chose to organize a rummage sale, with the International Center selected as the recipient. All items for sale have been donated by church members and friends. Bates said First Presbyterian Church has a long-standing history of supporting the International Center and welcoming refugees to the Owensboro community. For years, church volunteers prepared apartments for refugee families prior to their arrival. After the International Center secured housing, volunteers collected donated furniture and household supplies from the Centers warehouse, delivered them to the apartments, unpacked items, made beds and ensured that everything was ready for the families first day in their new home. Advertisement Advertisement Setting up these apartments was a meaningful project for our church, Bates said. We had a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who worked hard to make families feel welcome. Church members donated toys and books for the children adding those special touches that helped make it feel like home. Church members have also assisted families after their arrival by providing transportation, helping with washer and dryer installation, donating televisions and other needed tasks. Bates said, As evidenced by the annual Multicultural Festival held at First Presbyterian Church, we celebrate and support diversity in our community. The International Center of Owensboro opened in 2009 as a satellite of the Kentucky International Center in Bowling Green. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, it has welcomed refugees from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, Thailand, Ukraine, Somalia and Cuba among others. Languages spoken there include English, Burmese Karen language, Swahil, Kinyarwanda, Dari (Afghanistan), Central Pashto, Columbian, Spanish, Burmese, Rohingyan kieli, Kirundi, Ukrainian and Somalia. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The seemingly endless sands of southern Algeria . | Credit: Henry Haselock Henry Haselock is a qualified expedition leader, adventurer and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He has led many expeditions across the world and completed a world-first crossing on foot of the Chalbi desert in Kenya. Theres more than one way to tackle the Sahara. For some, a day trip by minibus and camel is more than enough desert but the true adventurer will want to seek out the untrodden sands of southern Algeria. Advertisement Advertisement I found a real spirit of romance here. Algeria offered a place of solitude and calm, an escape from the noise and stress of urban life for the two weeks I spent trekking with the Tuareg, the true custodians of the desert. Getting to know the Tuareg The Tuareg people are an ancient nomadic group found across northern Africa. For centuries they have followed a traditional way of life, plying trade routes through Algeria, Mali, Libya, Niger and beyond. Their ability to survive in such extreme conditions is testament to their knowledge of the desert, which has been handed down through generations. Traditionally, they were trans-Saharan merchants, using caravans of camels to transport all sorts of goods, from salt and spices to gold. Their journeys could last weeks, sometimes months, as they passed through remote parts of the desert. Travelling this network of routes gave the Tuareg a unique understanding of the water sources that allowed them to thrive, ensuring their survival to this day. You can still find some of their descendants living a nomadic life, upholding their cultural traditions and crossing the desert to find new grazing for their livestock. The role of tourism Henry Haselock and a Tuareg guide in the Sahara Desert | Credit: Henry Haselock For a traveller looking for a more adventurous experience, spending time with the Tuareg offers a truly unique experience. There is no better way of seeing the desert than by learning about their traditions, skills and history. Guests are warmly welcomed by Tuareg communities, and by visiting them you will be supporting community-based tourism that contributes directly to the local people. Advertisement Advertisement They certainly need your support. The Tuareg are currently facing challenges due to climate change and political instability in some areas, which has cut the income they receive from tourism. Desertification, and the resulting loss of grazing land, has led many of them to switch to a semi-nomadic lifestyle while holding on to as much of their heritage as they can or even to move from the desert into towns. The trekking experience The best way to explore is on foot | Credit: Henry Haselock The best way to see the Sahara is on foot, which delivers a sense of connection to the desert that you wouldnt get in a 4x4. It is also more sustainable, and the slower pace provides more opportunity for getting to know the local culture, food and people. It does, however, require a good level of fitness. The terrain can be a mix of high dunes, loose rock and deep sand, all of which have to be crossed in the Saharan heat. My trek started from a small Saharan town called Djanet, from which we headed north, covering 10 to 13 miles a day for 12 days, during which we were completely cut off from civilisation. Each day started with a hearty breakfast to set us up for a days hiking through unbelievable scenery, accompanied by birds and occasionally snakes. Later, after sharing food, tea and stories around a campfire, we would hear the sound of wolves howling. The most extraordinary thing I came across was the rock art, carved and painted into the stone thousands of years ago, depicting the animals that wandered this land when it was green and rich with vegetation. Board and lodging You can stay in tents, but I preferred to sleep outside like the Tuareg, gazing up at the night sky. The temperature drops sharply in the evening, but as long as you have a good sleeping bag its not a problem. The Tuareg will also provide thick mattresses for sleeping outside. Advertisement Advertisement I ate well, with lots of fresh vegetables and salad. The bread is traditionally made, with dough mixed by hand, then heated by coals from the fire, buried in sand, covered with more coals and left for 30 minutes. Its fresh and very tasty. You will occasionally have meat some chicken and goat which is grilled on the campfire. Logistics The best time to be here is between September and January, when the temperatures are not at their highest. It is essential to have a good team with you when you embark on a desert adventure like this. There are a few UK-based adventure tour operators that can source trusted fixers to organise the expedition and select the right guides, cooks and translators. For most of the trip you will be many miles away from towns, so you will need desert-ready clothing, equipment and medical supplies. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Sailor Pino Vojkovic is late for our rendezvous at the harbour of Komiza village. Ill be five minutes, he promises, when I call. He arrives in 20. I cant pretend I mind. Its almost a decade since my last visit to Vis and Id forgotten how beautiful Komiza is. The island has recently acquired a cachet as a bohemian bolthole, its reputation bolstered as the filming location of 2018s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Why create movie sets that illustrate feel-good escapism when theyre ready-made on Vis? Despite the Hollywood kudos, Croatias most distant inhabited island, 34 miles from Split by direct ferry, remains pleasantly low-key. On Komizas charming green-shuttered square, villagers are as garrulous as starlings over morning coffee. Stone houses jostle along the shore and a stubby castle guards the harbour where fisherfolk in sun-faded overalls sort nets. Romantic, nicely scruffy, Vis feels touched by magic. Komiza's rich history in fishing can be experienced through the old stone fishing cottages on the island. Photograph by Mateja Vrckovic Time on this island feels elastic. It stretches. Unspools. Maybe thats why tour operator Intrepid named it among its annual not hot list of 10 overlooked destinations to visit in 2026. And although tourism on the island remains small scale, international developers have started to take note. Advertisement Advertisement Its my desire to slow down and learn more about the islands heritage thats led me to meet Pino founder of Alternatura tour company, which owns two of only four remaining falkusa sailing boats, the traditional wooden fishing vessels of Komiza. They were resurrected to run sailing trips for visitors, but also to rekindle an important facet of local history. When we meet beside them on the harbour, surrounded by modern boats, their swooping black hulls and sails swagged along varnished spars give the impression of something from The Odyssey. A falkusa is an endless poem, Pino tells me as he prepares for sea; tightening the ropes that support the mast and loosening sail-ties. For centuries, the eight-metre sardine boats were the pride of the Adriatic. While other Mediterranean fishermen hugged the coast, those of Komiza sailed across open sea to claim the richest fishing grounds. After the last falkusa sank in 1986 replaced by more modern motorised, fibreglass boats a replica was built by a Komiza research project, Cultural Association Ars Halieutica, for the 1998 World Fair in Lisbon. The reaction was astonishing. Within a year, Unesco had put the falkusa on its World Heritage List. Within 20 years, two more boats had been built. That singularity of Vis how it seems a separate world explains much of the islands appeal. Yet on an island tour earlier that day, history guide Marko Raduka had brought to life Viss pivotal role in the Adriatic. As we stood in front of a monastery, he explained how its curved rear wall was part of a Roman amphitheatre and told how ancient Greeks and Romans had crossed the Adriatic via Vis; Julius Caesar called it the most distinguished in the region. At a Georgian fort, Marko had restaged a British naval victory over Napoleon. And in tunnels that looked like a Bond villains lair, hed described how Vis was a partisan stronghold in the Second World War, before becoming a Yugoslav naval base off-limits to tourism until 1989. Stiniva beach on Vis is sheltered by towering cliffs, making it ideal for a private dip. Photograph by Cherrys Picks, Getty Images Freshly caught octopus is a common star in the traditional Dalmatian peka dish, found on Vis. Photograph by Mateja Vrckovi History continues to tug at me as we start to motor across Komiza harbour on our vessel. A man in a vest waves from his front door. A cliff wraps an arm around the bay ahead. Pino pauses off a shingle beach backed by a dated white hotel. This year, it will be transformed into a five-star luxury hotel. Its a beautiful spot: a scimitar of pine-scrubbed shingle that arcs before a sea that shades from turquoise to cobalt blue. Advertisement Advertisement Our sails go up beyond the harbour, opening up like spring flowers in a light breeze that pulls us towards the sea. Pino also runs popular speedboat trips to visit the Blue Cave at Bisevo island, but says sailing is his passion. When you sail, youre in the moment, youre in nature. Its magnificent. And a falkusa is real Komiza heritage. We move at around 4mph; the sea chuckling, the boats varnished wood like gold in the sunshine. Komiza blurs behind us, a smudge of ivory stone and terracotta roofs beneath scrubby mountains. Occasionally, a speedboat races past. It strikes me that in an age that prizes speed, theres something radical in travelling slowly. And its only made possibly thanks to Pinos passion to safeguard the islands falkusa heritage. Our wake is like an unfastening zip. The open sea ahead is a bolt of silk unrolled to the horizon. Published in the April 2026 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). One man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting at a Durham restaurant. It happened just after 4:45 p.m. at Randy's Pizza, 5311 S. Miami Blvd. Responding officers found a man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Durham Police said a man was taken into custody. DPD's Mobile Command Unit and other officers remain at the scene, which is in a strip shopping center. ABC11 spoke with the owner of Randy's Pizza, who said he was out of state and was just getting details about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement ALSO SEE | Authorities release new images, details in Durham shooting investigation A visibly distraught employee who was leaving the restaurant told ABC11 that he just "wanted to go home." ABC11 saw people leaving the restaurant shaken up, some hugging each other. Several people said they were anxious to get home after being cleared by police. Durham Police said the shooting happened at Randy's Pizza on S. Miami Boulevard. It remains unclear what led up to the shooting or whether the victim and suspect knew each other. ABC11 did learn from police radio that a caller reportedly said they heard a man yelling, "You just killed that guy." An officer said the victim was apparently in the kitchen of the restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the pizzeria has announced on social media that it is closed until further notice. Employees of Randy's did not comment and referred ABC11 to an attorney who said they would be sharing more information on Friday. Workers at some nearby restaurants said they didn't see anything and remained open -- allowing take-out food while the area was still blocked off. As midnight approached, only police cars remained in the parking lot as officers continued their investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Investigator M. Judy at (919) 560-4440 at ext. 29252 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves. ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Durham and in your neighborhood Download the ABC11 News app A 16-year-old student was arrested after a gun was found in an Ohio school building on Thursday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A student told school staff and school resource officers just before 9 a.m. that another student in an alternative high school program at the Willis Education Center in Delaware may have brought a gun, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: UPDATE: Delays reported after semi fire on I-75 in Miami County 1 dead after shooting in Springfield neighborhood Man accused of aiming laser at OSHP helicopter formally charged Advertisement Advertisement A school resource officer and a Delaware Police officer searched and found a gun, according to police and school officials. A student was charged with a count of illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance in a school safety zone. The student is being held by the Delaware County Juvenile Court, WBNS said. No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Marion County prosecutors have charged a 16-year-old as an adult after he's accused of shooting at IMPD officers before officers returned fire Saturday night on the city's far east side. Jamar Neil is facing charges of dangerous possession of a firearm and criminal recklessness. Neil's initial court hearing was held Thursday, Feb. 27. Under Indiana law, juveniles with a prior conviction in court for a dangerous possession of a firearm are charged as an adult if the offense occurs again as a Level 5 felony. Advertisement Advertisement According to IMPD, around 3 p.m. Feb. 21, officers reported to a shots-fired call in the 1400 block of North Webster Avenue, near North Arlington Avenue. When police got to the scene, they found 18-year-old De'Aundre C. Hart who had been shot, and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Officers on scene learned that several juvenile suspects were seen running from where the shooting happened. Around 10 p.m. that same day, the Violent Crimes Task Force and SWAT team were reportedly following a vehicle in the 10900 block of East 10th Street, near North German Church Road, believed to contain people involved in a "recent" shooting. A SWAT vehicle equipped with a grappler device attempted to stop the suspect vehicle along East 10th Street. That's when police say one of the people inside the suspect vehicle leaned out of the passenger side window and began shooting at officers. At least one IMPD officer reportedly returned fire. Police say the suspect vehicle then continued to flee until SWAT officers used a "vehicle containment technique" to bring the vehicle to a stop. Advertisement Advertisement After the suspect vehicle came to a stop, police reportedly took three juveniles into custody, but a fourth person allegedly fled on foot. Officers then "utilized less-lethal rounds and a Taser" to bring the fourth suspect into custody. Three juvenile males were hospitalized in stable condition, according to police. Two suffered gunshot injuries, while the third was injured by "less lethal rounds," police said. According to court documents, officers overheard Neil tell the nurse at the hospital that he shot back at them during the chase and said he did not know it was the police. The fourth suspect, identified as an adult male, was detained for further investigation after the chase, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Police say at least one IMPD vehicle sustained damage from gunfire. Meanwhile, officers reportedly recovered a rifle and a handgun from inside the suspect vehicle, and at least one juvenile was in possession of a machine gun conversion device when he was arrested. In an update Feb. 24, IMPD said detectives had obtained a search warrant for the suspect car, and a third gun was found inside. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspect vehicle. A third gun was found during the search. https://t.co/Ac1pInKANv pic.twitter.com/irHQ7ABIoc IMPD (@IMPDnews) February 24, 2026 Police say no officers were injured in the shooting and that no community members were involved in the incident. However, the area of East 10th Street between North German Church Road and Washington Pointe was closed during the investigation. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477). FOP responds Following the incident, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police released the following statement: Advertisement Advertisement This weekend another attack occurred upon our Police Officers within our Capital City this time on the far east side near the Hancock County line. IMPD Officers were fired upon while attempting to safely stop an occupied vehicle reportedly suspected in another shooting. Officers were forced to return fire in defense of their lives and others to stop the attack. As a result, two juveniles inside the suspect vehicle were shot and it was determined the vehicle from which the attack was launched was occupied by a total of three juveniles and one adult. This is another tragic reminder of the dangers faced by cops in Indy and beyond, especially as it relates to armed juveniles in vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Its unfortunate to hear some folks invoking perceptions of child-like innocence while kids are committing adult-like crimes. We need parents to fulfill their obligations: get a handle on your children, provide them expectations, discipline when needed, and ensure accountability. If you dont, we will. And they will quickly find themselves facing criminal court consequences and quite possibly charged as adults. It is clear juvenile offenders who are running around illegally possessing Crime Guns including semi automatic rifles and converted machine guns are NOT out playing Tiddlywinks. They are running and gunning, robbing people and businesses while threatening the safety and tranquility of our Capital City. Advertisement Advertisement Make no Mistake The law enforcement officers of Central Indiana will firmly stand the line between good and evil. And a heads-up to Carmel, Fishers, Greenfield, Greenwood, Mooresville, Plainfield, Avon, Zionsvilleits coming to a Neighborhood near you. And several recent examples in many of these communities prove it. If anyone does not think it is; youre fooling yourself and placing your head in the sand. Sadly these are the consequences of a soft on crime Marion County Prosecutor and a revolving door capital city criminal court system. Our neighbors are now seeing the regional ripple effects in real time. Advertisement Advertisement And unfortunately, we are all collectively feeling the fear and uncertainty around our Central Indiana metro area. May God continue to protect our officers. Pray for our Police. And parents step up and keep your kids from facing adult consequences. Enough is enough. A driver wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Rhode Island crashed his car in a Massachusetts town early Friday morning, killing a man and a woman, authorities said. Officers on patrol in the area of Route 6 in Swansea spotted a white 2013 Infinity G37 traveling west at a very high rate of speed just after 12:15 a.m., according to the Swansea Police Department. Moments later, police say the G37 crashed into the side of a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling south on Route 136. Advertisement Advertisement Both vehicles sustained catastrophic damage, and first responders attempted rescue efforts, officials said in a statement. The vehicle that was struck was fully engulfed in flames. First responders and bystanders attempted to extinguish the fire, but two people in the Ascent, a man and a woman, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names havent been released. The 28-year-old driver of the G37 was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police didnt immediately identify him. Swansea police say they had been alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle before the crash, noting that the driver wasnt being chased at the time. Details on the homicide investigation werent disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement The Massachusetts State Police and troopers assigned to the Bristol District Attorneys Office are assisting Swansea police with the crash investigation. 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 PANAMA CITY (AP) Two ports run for years by a Hong Kong-based company at either end of the Panama Canal have thrust Panama into a geopolitical tug-of-war between the United States and China. Even before taking office for his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump complained that China was running the Panama Canal, because of concerns over the Hong Kong-based parent of the company running the ports on either side. The Panamanian government, which operates the canal, strongly denied any Chinese control over the waterway. But in late January, Panamas Supreme Court ruled that the concession made to a local subsidiary of Hong Kongs CK Hutchison was unconstitutional. Panama has maintained it is acting only in accordance with the law, but China has alleged that the court case is a reaction to hegemonic pressure. Advertisement Advertisement This week, the Panamanian government occupied the two ports and designated two other companies to keep them running until the concession can be rebid. And on Thursday, investigators removed boxes of documents from Panama Ports Co. China is not happy and threatened consequences for Panama. President Jose Raul Mulino responded Thursday, telling China be careful, adding: They need us more than we need them. Here is a look at the ports that have the attention of two of the worlds superpowers: Two key ports Although Panama is not a big importer or exporter of goods, its canal has made the country of 4 million residents a critical international logistics hub. Advertisement Advertisement Massive cargo ships arrive daily from Asia, Europe and both coasts of the United States. Little of what they carry is for Panamanians, but they unload their containers in Balboa, Cristobal and other ports for onward shipping via smaller routes to their final destinations. The Balboa Port on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal and the Cristobal Port at the Atlantic end handle around 39% of all of Panamas container traffic. About 7,000 people work at the two ports. The two ports have been operated by Panama Ports Company, a local subsidiary of Hong Kongs CK Hutchison, since 1997. Trump administration calls port situation is unacceptable Panamas comptroller announced it was starting an audit of the Panama Ports Co. concession on Jan. 20, 2025 the day of Trumps inauguration. Two weeks later, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived and made clear that a Chinese company operating the ports was unacceptable to Washington. He suggested that China could obstruct canal traffic if it wanted to. On July 30, 2025, the comptroller said he was filing a complaint with the Supreme Court asking that the concession be found unconstitutional. The court announced its decision finding it was unconstitutional at the end of January 2026. The audit by Panamas comptroller alleged irregularities in the extension of the concession, including massive lost revenue to Panamas government. After the countrys Supreme Court ruled the concession was unconstitutional, authorities said they had a transition plan that would avoid any unnecessary interruptions to port operations. The ports are located at the entrances of the Panama Canal, but do not fall under the autonomous Panama Canal Authority that operates the waterway. Since the canal, in addition to cargo ships, also accommodates U.S. warships, the United States sees national security implications. The American-built canal was turned over to the Panamanians in 1999. Chinas reaction Panama Ports Company started arbitration proceedings against Panama after the courts decision. It said the Panamanian government had kept up a campaign against its concession for the past year causing serious harm to the company. It argues that its rights as an investor have been compromised and is demanding unspecified compensation. Panama Economy Minister Felipe Chapman said the company is seeking $1.5 billion. The companys concession to operate the two ports was just renewed in 2021 for 25 years. After the courts decision, Beijings office overseeing Hong Kong affairs criticized the ruling, saying it showed that Panamanian authorities were bowing down to hegemonic powers. Panamas authorities should recognize the situation and correct their course, it said. If they persist in their own way and refuse to see reason, they will pay a heavy price both politically and economically! The governments seizure of the ports this week set off another round of objections. Mulino said it was necessary to ensure their continuing operation and to determine their real value. The more than 7,000 jobs continue without changes, he said. On Friday, Panama Ports Co. confirmed that Panamanian authorities had seized documents. The states daily misinformation campaign is a mere distraction from the fact that its forced takeover of the ports of Balboa and Cristobal in Panama and occupation of the property of PPC has been a failure due to the illegal, nontransparent and poorly coordinated conduct of the state. Next steps Mulino has said that the courts decision is final and must be respected. The ports continue operating while the legal drama builds. Chapman, the economy minister, said that arbitration could take years. Meanwhile, the government is preparing to begin the process for a new operator of the ports. Two of the ten men shot by Cuban border guards Wednesday were U.S. citizens, U.S. officials confirmed, and the Florida-registered speedboat they used was reported stolen. One of the U.S. citizens was killed and the other injured, U.S. officials said. A third person was on a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. to marry a U.S. citizen. Others may be legal permanent residents. Cuban officials initially said all 10 men were Cuban nationals who had been residing in the U.S. and described them as having violent criminal pasts, with some of them appearing on a Cuban terrorist watch list. The immigration statuses of those involved was first reported by Axios. The boat, a 24-foot open watercraft registered in Florida, had been docked at a pier in Big Pine Key, about 30 miles east of Key West, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office incident report. The owner of the boat realized it was missing after reporters contacted him about the shooting on Wednesday morning, and he called the authorities, the report said. The man identified as the one who took the boat was apparently one of the men later shot and killed. Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier have called for investigations. The Cuban Embassy said in a statement Thursday that the Cuban government is willing to share information with the U.S. in exchange for details on the men involved. The incident comes at a time when there have been increased tensions between the U.S. and Cuba. Cuba is facing a fuel crisis made worse after the United States captured longtime Cuban ally Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and blocked oil shipments from the country. President Donald Trump announced in January plans for U.S. companies to control and sell Venezuela's oil instead and called for Cuba to make a deal. Here's what we know today. What happened in the Cuba shooting? According to Cuban officials, the crew of the U.S. speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters and fired on five members of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior when they approached the vessel for identification, injuring the commander of their vessel. Cuban troops returned fire. Advertisement Advertisement "As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured," the release said. "The injured individuals were evacuated and received medical assistance." Cuban authorities said when Border Guard Troops intercepted the boat, the men were armed with assault rifles, sniper rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, night vision equipment, combat rations, and other tactical military gear. "Cuba has a duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters. Our actions are consistent with international law, which applies to all countries, including the United States itself. It is also part of the Cuban state's national defense as an indispensable pillar for the protection of our sovereignty, the life, security, and well-being of Cubans," Cuban authorities said Thursday. People approach the entrance of the Provincial ClinicalSurgical Hospital "Arnaldo Milian Castro," where, according to local information, injured people were being treated after an armed incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat and a Cuban patrol, at a time of heightened tensions with the United States, in Santa Clara, Cuba, Feb. 25, 2026. Who was on the boat in the Cuba incident? The men who were wounded and detained, according to Cuban authorities, were: Advertisement Advertisement Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez Conrado Galindo Sariol Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara Roberto Azcorra Consuegra The four men killed by Cuban border guards were identified as: Pavel Alling Pena Michael Ortega Casanova Ledian Padron Guevara Hector Duani Cruz Correa Cuban shooting: Who were the 10 people in the deadly Cuba speedboat shootout? Cuba's Interior Ministry has accused all of the people involved of taking part in a terrorist plot, though officials in Washington have not corroborated that accusation. Two of them, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, were on a terrorist list, Cuban officials said, and were sought by Cuban authorities for "the promotion, planning, organization, financing support or commission" of terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Miami-Dade County court records show Sanchez Gonzalez was arrested in 2020 and charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, fleeing the scene of a crime, reckless driving and property damage. He spent over a year in jail and was back in two years later on charges of tampering with an electronic monitor, a felony offense. One of the men killed, Michel Ortega Casanova, was a truck driver and American citizen who lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years. His brother, Misael Ortega Casanova, told the Associated Press that his brother fell into an obsessive and diabolical quest for Cubas freedom, although he hoped his death might "justify that some day Cuba will be free." Cuban authorities said they also detained another Cuban national on the island, Duniel Hernandez Santos, who was sent ahead of the rest of the crew to receive the others. "He has confessed to his role," Cuban officials said. A Cuban official on Feb. 26 also corrected an initial report by his government that misstated the name of another suspect captured in Cuba, Rolando Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, who said he was in Miami at the time of the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, an exile group that opposes the Cuban regime, warned not to put too much credence into details of the incident emerging from the Cuban government. "They have a history of lying and committing crimes," Gutierrez-Boronat said. "Why should we believe anything they say, especially at a moment like now when there's real pressure on them?" Was the boat in the Cuban shooting registered in Florida? According to a release from the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, the vessel was registered in Florida under registration number FL7726SH. The 1981 "open motorboat" vessel is a 24-foot Pro-Line made of fiberglass and plastic, according to boathistoryreport.com. According to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office report retrieved by Axios, the owner of the boat, Angel Montera, discovered his boat was stolen after reporters started calling him about the registration. He went out to the boat dock to verify it was missing and then called the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement A witness told deputies she saw someone pull up in a white truck and take the boat on the afternoon of Feb. 24, corroborated by video surveillance. Montera identified the man as Hector Cruz Correa, someone he said did tile work for him but did not have permission to use the vessel, the report said. Cuban authorities identified Hector Duani Cruz Correa as one of the four men who were killed. Where was the Cuba shooting? The speedboat approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province, the release said. What have Florida politicians said about the Cuba shooting? Florida Lawmakers were quick to call for an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez, R-Florida, called the incident a "massacre" and demanded an investigation into "whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred." "The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity," Gimenez said. "We need a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation and to determine what happened," Sen. Rick Scott, R- Florida said in a statement. The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!" As of 8:30 a.m. Feb. 26, President Donald Trump has not publicly commented. Vice President JD Vance said that he had been briefed on the incident by Rubio. Advertisement Advertisement "We don't know a whole lot of details," Vance told reporters. "Hopefully it's not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can't say more, because we just don't know more." C. A. Bridges 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. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cuba boat shooting had 2 US citizens aboard stolen Florida vessel 2026 insurance satisfaction survey: How Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers compare Boomers are more likely to be impressed by their insurers range of policy offerings, especially with auto insurance (88%), while Millennials report the highest satisfaction with the digital experience (85% for both auto and home). Across all generations, satisfaction with ease of service was high, while fair rate increases over time received the lowest satisfaction scores. Here, Insurance.com broke down the results of its annual insurance customer survey by generation Gen Zers (30 and under), Millennials (31-45), Gen Xers (46-60), and Baby Boomers (61-79) to find out what each generation thinks their home and auto insurance companies are doing right and what theyre doing wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Key Takeaways: Ease of service has the highest satisfaction: Across generations, people feel their insurer is easy to deal with. Rate increases are a cross-generational pain point: Only Gen Z appears to feel rate increases are fair, especially with auto insurance, and satisfaction decreases with age. Satisfaction with policy offerings increases with age, from 73% among Gen Zers to 88% among Boomers. No generation is satisfied with discounts, especially when it comes to auto insurance. How does Gen Z feel about insurance companies? Key findings Gen Z (under 30) reported the highest satisfaction with auto insurance in the areas of ease of service, digital experience, and bundling: Advertisement Advertisement Ease of service: 83% Bundling: 82% Digital experience: 81% Its worth noting that other generations show higher satisfaction with both the ease of service and the digital experience, possibly indicating higher expectations from a tech-savvy generation. Gen Z expects to compare car insurance quotes online with ease. For home insurance, Gen Z reported the highest satisfaction with ease of service, exceptional standard coverages (90%), and claims handling: Ease of service: 92% Exceptional standard coverages: 90% Claims handling: 86% The score for exceptional standard coverages was well above that of any other generation, suggesting lower expectations for a newer generation of home insurance policyholders. Gen Zs pain points The lowest-satisfaction category among Gen Zers for auto insurance was for discounts, at 68%, followed closely by fair rate increases over time, at 70%. Advertisement Advertisement However, its notable that these were still the highest scores in each category across all generations. The discounts category was a pain point for Gen Z in the home insurance survey, but satisfaction was still higher than for any other generation at 78%. Gen Z expects a solid digital experience but is frustrated with the process of comparing insurance options. Im currently with State Farm, but Im moving soon and am looking for new auto insurance, says Natalie Schwartz, a Gen Z registered behavioral technician. Id love to find a company that offers discounts and uses an app with Face ID to make things easier. Ive been looking already, but I keep getting a lot of spam emails from putting in my email. Its so frustrating. Advertisement Advertisement Insight: Because younger people started paying for insurance more recently and came into an already expensive insurance market, theyre used to paying higher rates and havent seen rates rise over a long period of time. Gen Z: The takeaway Gen Z had generally high satisfaction with their insurers, even in areas where older generations were particularly displeased. Characteristics of the youngest generation in the insurance market could explain some of their reactions. Younger people have only recently started buying insurance and dont have as much experience with insurance companies to compare. Insurance rates have been rising steadily for several years, so rate increases dont appear as an anomaly. The digitization of insurance policy purchase and management is precisely what they expect, while older generations may have found it harder to adapt. How do Millennials feel about insurance companies? Key findings For Millennials (31-45), overall customer satisfaction, ease of service, and the digital experience are the most important. However, the category rankings vary for auto and home insurance. Advertisement Advertisement For auto insurance, categories with the highest satisfaction ratings are: Overall customer satisfaction: 87% Ease of service 86% Digital experience 85% Millennials reported higher overall customer satisfaction and a better digital experience than other generations, showing that easy-to-use digital platforms provide a better insurance experience. Millennials balance digital services with personal help. I have Progressive through a local agent, Cody Robinson, a millennial office manager from South Carolina, says. Im happy with the rates and how easy it is to deal with the company. I use the app for everything, and it works well. Ive only had them for a year, so Im not sure how rates will go up. Advertisement Advertisement Home insurance is slightly different, with the highest ratings for: Ease of service: 87% Digital experience: 85% Overall customer satisfaction: 83% As with auto insurance, millennials report higher satisfaction with the digital experience than other generations, suggesting that they are sufficiently tech-savvy to manage insurance needs online. Pain points for Millennials Millennials report the lowest satisfaction with auto insurance was fair rate increases over time, at 61%, followed by discounts, at 64%. Home insurance followed the same pattern, with 67% of rate increases over time being fair, followed by 71% for discounts. However, in both auto and home, these low satisfaction scores were higher than those offered by Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Advertisement Advertisement Insight: Millennials have faced a difficult economy, where high costs have made it harder to achieve goals like homeownership that were more readily attainable for previous generations. That makes them more likely to be frustrated with high insurance costs. Millennials: The Takeaway Millennials reported higher satisfaction with digital platforms than any other generation and were less satisfied than Gen Z with rate increases and discounts. Millennials were the first generation to grow up with easy access to computers, making them more comfortable with digital platforms. Millennials prefer to handle most insurance needs online or through an app, with the option to speak with a human if necessary. With high student loans and personal debt and the rising cost of homeownership, millennials seek the greatest value for their money. How does Gen X feel about insurance companies? Key findings Gen X (46-60) reports the highest satisfaction with ease of service, policy offerings, and overall customer satisfaction for both auto and home. Advertisement Advertisement Categories with the highest satisfaction scores for Gen X in auto insurance were: Ease of service: 87% Overall customer satisfaction: 84% Policy offerings: 81% Gen X reported higher satisfaction with ease of service and policy offerings than Gen Z and Millennials, but their overall customer satisfaction was lower than that of Millennials and Boomers, although car insurance rates for this age group are the cheapest. Gen X reported the highest satisfaction for home insurance in the same three categories as auto: Ease of service: 87% Overall customer satisfaction: 82% Policy offerings: 82% While Gen X reported the highest satisfaction with ease of service, it was lower than that of other generations, possibly indicating a less seamless transition to digital services than among younger generations. Personal service still matters when it comes to satisfaction. Advertisement Advertisement "I have State Farm, and I've been with them through a local agent for 20 years," says Candace Phillips, a Gen X office manager. "I've never had problems, and they are quick to answer questions and concerns. I have a home and car bundle, and the prices are very reasonable." Pain points for Gen X Gen X reports the lowest satisfaction with auto insurance cost, with fair rate increases over time at 55% and discounts at 60%. Home insurance saw similar findings, with 56% for fair rate increases and 60% for discounts. Only Baby Boomers showed less satisfaction in these categories. Gen X had the lowest satisfaction score of all generations with the digital experience in the auto insurance survey. Insight: High satisfaction with ease of service for Gen X, combined with lower scores for digital service, speaks to a generation that has seen the shift away from personal service and still appreciates being able to access it. Gen X: The Takeaway Gen X reported the highest satisfaction with service ease, but these numbers were lower than those of other generations. The lowest satisfaction for both home and auto was with fair rate increases over time. As Gen X approaches retirement, rising costs are causing frustration for a generation that already struggled to recover from the Great Recession of 2008. Many Gen X cohorts expect to bundle home and auto insurance and to take advantage of other discounts. Gen X didnt grow up online, but they are tech-savvy, blending online services with the human touch. How do Baby Boomers feel about insurance companies? Key findings Baby Boomers (61-79) report the highest satisfaction for ease of service, policy offerings, and overall customer satisfaction for both auto and home insurance. For auto insurance, the highest satisfaction categories are: Ease of service: 90% Policy offerings: 88% Overall customer satisfaction: 86% Boomers had the highest satisfaction ratings for ease of service and policy offerings compared to other generations, indicating that insurance companies are still providing good service despite the loss of the personal connection older generations were used to. When I started getting insurance, an agent would come to your house and suggest appropriate coverage after talking to you for a while, says Patricia Robinson, a Baby Boomer retiree from South Carolina. Now you do everything over the phone and online instead of having a personal connection. It can be more convenient, but it makes you feel unimportant. Results for home insurance were similar: Ease of service: 87% Policy offerings: 86% Overall customer satisfaction: 84% Baby Boomers reported higher satisfaction with policy offerings and overall customer satisfaction than other generations, indicating greater satisfaction with their insurers overall. Boomers pain points Baby Boomers reported the lowest satisfaction in auto insurance, with drivers with tickets at 48% and fair rate increases at 51%. Home insurance had the lowest satisfaction, with fair rate increases at 50% and exceptional standard coverages at 53%, likely reflecting higher expectations. In both auto and home insurance, Baby Boomers had the lowest satisfaction rates across these categories compared with other generations. Insight: Baby Boomers have been buying insurance for decades, have seen skyrocketing rates, and are the generation least likely to see those increases as fair. Baby Boomers: The takeaway Baby Boomers report the highest satisfaction with service ease and with policy offerings of any generation. They report the lowest satisfaction with fair rate increases among all generations. Boomers have had insurance the longest and have seen premiums rise exponentially. Baby Boomers are typically retired and on a fixed income, seeking affordable coverage. Baby Boomers want to develop a relationship with their agent and expect personalized service to meet their needs. Baby Boomers are more used to everything just being covered and wanting smaller deductibles, but several do not fall in that category. They have probably experienced a more drastic change than other age groups, says Zack Pope, agency manager at David Pope Insurance in Missouri. Cross-generational comparison: What drives insurance company satisfaction? While each generation has its own unique views on insurance, there are some commonalities: Across generations, people report the highest satisfaction with ease of service and the lowest satisfaction with the fairness of rate increases. Overall, customer satisfaction is high across generations, although Gen Z is less impressed when it comes to auto insurance. Satisfaction drops with each older generation in categories related to costs, including discounts, fair rate increases over time, and drivers with tickets. The tables below compare our survey results for auto and home insurance. You can see many similarities across insurance types and generational cohorts. Table showing auto insurance satisfaction by generation. - Insurance.com Table showing home insurance satisfaction by generation. - Insurance.com Final thoughts: Insurers should consider generational differences moving forward Recent generations have grown up with a greater digital presence and increasingly diverse values and expectations. Insurers cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to insurance and expect it to translate across multiple generations. While younger generations prioritize the insurer's user experience, older generations prioritize trust and are willing to maintain a more personal relationship with the insurer. To bridge the generation gap, insurers need a strong digital platform complemented by human support. Across all generations, frustration is only growing with ongoing rate increases, although younger generations are more likely to view those increases as fair. As this drives people to look for cheaper coverage, insurers will need to find new ways to keep customers loyal. I feel that age groups have less to deal with how people handle insurance than economic standing, density of population, or where the person lives, Pope says. However, generation is also interconnected with those factors, with younger generations more likely to face financial struggles and to gravitate toward urban centers, where amenities are accessible. Older generations tend to be more financially stable and purchase larger homes in suburban areas. They may be more concerned with finding the best home and auto insurance companies than with the cheapest. All of these things impact insurance needs, and what people value in an insurance company as they move through the stages of life, one thing is clear: Good service is not negotiable. Methodology In the fall of 2025, Insurance.com surveyed 2,000 insurance customers. The survey was conducted by independent market research service Dynata. Customers were asked to rate their insurance company on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating very unsatisfied and 5 indicating highly satisfied, across various categories for home and auto insurance. Responses of 4 or 5 were included to create an average for satisfied customers, and those averages were separated by generation into: Generation Z, represented by ages 30 and under Millennials (Generation Y), represented by ages 31-45 Generation X, represented by ages 46-60 Baby Boomers, represented by ages 61-79+ This story was produced by Insurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Talking about valuation, IonQ looks extremely expensive. Its market cap of about $11 billion as of early 2026 dwarfs the expected revenues of $110 million for 2025. That works out to a price/sales ratio north of 100. In fact, its price-to-sales is above 100, while typical cloud software or semiconductor firms trade in the low single digits to low teens on the same metric. In short, Wall Street is pricing in enormous future growth, far beyond todays hardware norms. Put another way, IonQs premium multiples imply expectations for breakthrough market share or technology wins. Todays price is down roughly 25% year-to-date (YTD), reflecting a serious pullback, but it can be a buying opportunity. However, the stock cooled in late 2025 and early 2026. Amid a tech selloff and a critical short-seller report, IONQ fell sharply, ending 2025 only slightly above its start. The Wolfpack Research report in early 2026 claimed much of IonQs revenue was tied to lapsed Pentagon earmarks, sending the stock 28% lower in February. IonQ called those claims false, misleading, and unsubstantiated. IONQ stock has been on a roller coaster. It soared to an all-time high of $84 by October, driven by blockbuster revenue growth and technical milestones. For example, CEO Niccolo de Masi touted the achievement of his 2025 tech goals, hitting #AQ64 and setting a 99.99% two-qubit fidelity record as validation of IonQs leadership. IonQ is an American quantum computing hardware and software company led by CEO Niccolo de Masi. It builds trapped-ion quantum computers and sells access to them via cloud partners like Amazon (AMZN) Braket, Microsoft (MSFT) Azure, etc. The company is considered a global leader in quantum computing, networking, and sensing, competing with fellow pure-plays like Rigetti and technology giants dabbling in quantum, IBM (IBM), and Google (GOOG) (GOOGL). IonQs mission is to scale up from tens of qubits to millions, projecting a 2 million-qubit machine by 2030, and achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing. This weeks headline has been grabbed by IonQ, which just announced it was selected to compete in the U.S. Missile Defense Agencys new SHIELD/Golden Dome program. Under this $151 billion indefinite-delivery IDIQ contract, IonQ can vie for future Pentagon task orders alongside 2,400 other companies. Investors see the move as a boost to IonQs defense credentials after a recent short-seller report. Quantum computing stocks have seen wild swings lately due to their volatile nature. Pure-play firms like IonQ (IONQ) and Rigetti (RGTI) have raced higher on breakthrough results and new contracts, then fallen back amid broader tech selloffs and scrutiny. Story Continues Some bulls argue this premium is partly justified by IonQs unprecedented growth rate and market positioning. Its Q3 revenue was growing at over 200% YoY, and the company is plowing cash into R&D and acquisitions, e.g., Oxford Ionics, Vector Atomic, and planned SkyWater fab, to cement its lead. But skeptics note such lofty multiples leave little margin for error; any hiccup could trigger significant downside. Golden Dome Contract Boosts IonQs Defense Role On Feb. 23, IonQ announced a win for the Missile Defense Agencys SHIELD program. This is the procurement framework underpinning the Golden Dome missile-defense initiative. The contract ceiling of $151 billion makes IonQ one of roughly 2,400 firms eligible to compete for future task orders. Notably, the award is for eligibility to bid, not a fixed dollar deal; any revenue will depend on winning specific project awards under the program. The broader impact is strategic; it highlights IonQs fit in U.S. defense/quantum initiatives. CEO de Masi emphasized IonQs broad set of quantum technologies and supporting capabilities spanning computing, networking, sensing, and security. In practice, IonQ and its subsidiaries already pitch into national-security projects, such as DARPA, the Air Force, Oak Ridge, etc. The Golden Dome eligibility reinforces that narrative and could help counter the Wolfpacks claims. The key question: will this lead to concrete contracts? If IonQ can turn eligibility into task awards for things like quantum satellite sensors or secure communications, it could meaningfully boost future revenue. IONQ Will Report Its Q4 Earnings Today IonQ is all set to report its Q4 earnings after the market closes today. Management expects growth to continue. IonQ reaffirmed guidance for Q4. It said Q4 revenue should exceed Q3 levels (seasonal slowdown). For the full year 2025, management raised revenue guidance to $106 to $110 million. It kept its adjusted EBITDA loss forecast around $206216M for 2025, signaling continued heavy investment. Analysts are tabulating 2026 figures too. Consensus estimates ahead of the Q4 report call for roughly $40.5 million in Q4 sales, about a 244% YoY increase, and EPS around a loss of $0.48. For the full year 2025, analysts see about 150% revenue growth YoY, but a widened GAAP loss of around -$5.08 per share, up from -$1.56 last year. Note these figures are 2025 estimates; for 2026, the Street will likely model continued revenue acceleration given IonQs expanding product line and big cash buffer, though official guidance for 2026 was not given. Overall, IonQs recent quarters have far exceeded sales expectations, which arguably justifies the upward guidance. But investors will closely watch guidance for 2026 and Q4 to confirm sustainability. Many analysts emphasize that guidance, credibility, and revenue breakdown, organic vs. from new subsidiaries, will be as important as the raw numbers. Analyst Views and Price Targets Wall Streets outlook on IonQ remains sharply divided, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the commercialization timeline for quantum computing. The consensus 12-month target currently sits at $75, which implies massive upside of 142% from recent trading levels Among the more optimistic voices, Rosenblatt Securities has maintained one of the highest expectations for the company. The firm reiterated its Buy rating and $100 price target in February 2026, citing IonQs growing exposure to defense contracts and commercial partnerships as key long-term catalysts. Similarly, Wedbush Securities upgraded its outlook after the company delivered multiple quarters of guidance beats, arguing that expanding quantum offerings justify a premium valuation. More cautious assessments have emerged from other firms. DA Davidson raised its price target to $55 but retained a Neutral stance, acknowledging improving fundamentals while remaining wary of near-term execution risks. Morgan Stanley adopted an Equal-Weight rating with a $35 target in February 2026 after lowering expectations tied to defense funding, noting that a portion of prior revenue stemmed from non-recurring government grants. Bottom Line on IONQ Stock Overall, the Golden Dome news is a positive signal on IonQs trajectory, but buying IONQ now comes down to risk tolerance. The stock is richly valued, and a lot hinges on execution and 2026 guidance. Cautious investors might wait for clear evidence of winning task orders or profitability trends, while more aggressive bulls may view the pullback and defense win as a buying opportunity. www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Nauman Khan 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 EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The City of El Pasos Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed four measles cases within the City of El Paso, the City of El Paso announced on Thursday, Feb. 26. The newly confirmed cases involve a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, and two women in their 30s with unknown vaccination statuses. City confirms 2 cases of tuberculosis at Camp East Montana Public health officials have initiated contact tracing to identify potential exposures and are coordinating with community partners to prevent further spread of the virus, and to ensure readiness and timely communication, the City said. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the cases confirmed within the City of El Paso, DPH is aware of 13 additional measles cases reported at the Camp East Montana migrant facility, which is outside the Citys jurisdiction. Case information for this facility is reported through federal authorities. The City is sharing this information for regional awareness and will continue coordinating with federal partners as appropriate, the City said. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, released a statement in response to the measles cases at Camp East Montana on Friday morning, Feb. 27. It should come as no surprise that there is a measles outbreak at Camp East Montana. This public health crisis is a direct result of the manner in which Acquisition Logistics operates the facility: an explicit effort to maximize profits at the expense of federal standards for services such as medical attention. Such an inexperienced, incompetent private prison corporation does not share our communitys interests or those of the detainees. For these reasons and more, I continue my calls for Camp East Montana to be shut down and Acquisition Logistics to be investigated. Advertisement Advertisement The City said its public health laboratory has provided testing support when requested and has supplied vaccines for administration by on-site health providers as part of prevention efforts. Although approximately 98 percent of El Paso County residents are vaccinated against measles, public health officials remain concerned about unvaccinated or under-vaccinated pockets within the community, the City said. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated remain at the highest risk of infection, the City said. Young adults were among the most affected during the previous measles outbreak in El Paso, and the current cases also involve young adults. Advertisement Advertisement DPH recommends that young adults review their vaccination status. If vaccination history is unknown, residents should receive one dose of MMR. If vaccination is incomplete, residents should complete the series. Two doses of MMR provide about 97 percent protection, the City said. Breakthrough infections are rare, and illness is typically milder with a lower risk of complications and transmission. Here is a chart outlying potential exposure locations. Anyone who visited these locations on the dates and times should verify their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms, the City said. Anyone who visited any of the locations listed above on the specified dates and times and develops a fever and rash should contact their health care provider immediately for evaluation and testing. ABOUT MEASLES Measles spreads through coughing and sneezing and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, the City said. Advertisement Advertisement The disease typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that spreads from the head down to the hands and feet, the City said. An infected person is contagious four days before and four days after the onset of the rash, with the rash onset date considered day 0. RISK FACTORS Individuals at higher risk for contracting measles include those who are unvaccinated, as well as people who have recently traveled internationally or to areas in the United States experiencing ongoing measles outbreaks. Immunocompromised individuals are also at increased risk, including pregnant women, people living with HIV, and those undergoing chemotherapy or receiving immunosuppressive treatments. MEASLES VACCINATION CLINICS To make vaccinations more accessible, DPH offers walk-in immunization services from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed from 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch) at the following locations: Advertisement Advertisement Lower Valley Community Clinic: 9341 Alameda Ave. Henderson Community Clinic: 721 S. Mesa St. Northeast Community Clinic: 9566 Railroad Dr. Westside Community Clinic: 7380 Remcon Cir. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling (915) 212-0200. For additional information on measles symptoms, vaccination, and potential exposure, the City of El Paso has activated a Measles Hotline at (915) 212-HELP (4357). Residents can also call 2-1-1 or visit EPHealth.com under the Vaccination & Immunizations tab. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Some 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said on Friday, promising a crackdown on illicit recruitment schemes luring citizens to Russia under false pretences. A growing number of African countries have in recent months begun to discover that their citizens have been duped into fighting for the Russian army, and either killed or captured on the battlefield. Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa travelled to Kyiv this week to discuss the fate of two Ghanaians taken prisoner on the frontline. Advertisement Advertisement His Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, told him that more than 1,780 Africans from 36 countries were fighting Ukraine as part of Russia's forces. Ablakwa said on Wednesday that his fellow countrymen were "victims of manipulation, misinformation of criminal trafficking networks". "We were informed that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into battle since 2022 for which an estimated 55 have been killed and two captured as prisoners of war," he wrote on X. "As a responsible government, we cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. These are not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation." Advertisement Advertisement The foreign minister said the government was "committed to tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction". "This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others," he added. - 'Directly entangled' - The All Eyes on Wagner monitoring project said in early February that the recruitment of African nationals was "the core of a deliberate and organised strategy" by Russia to bolster its dwindling military ranks as the war drags on. The biggest contingents come from Egypt (361 men) and Cameroon (335), then Ghana (234), the report said. All are recruited by "transnational networks that exploit persistent socio-economic vulnerabilities" in Africa. Advertisement Advertisement AFP reporters met prisoners of war from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon and Nigeria during a visit to detention centre in Ukraine late last year. Four Kenyans who made it home told AFP this month they had met dozens of Africans in training camps in Russia or on the front line, from Nigeria, Cameroon, Egpyt and South Africa. All said they were promised lucrative civilian jobs in Russia but were instead forced to sign contracts with the army and sent to fight against Ukraine with limited training. A key figure in a network that sent more than 1,000 Kenyans to fight for the Russian army was charged on Thursday with human trafficking, the state prosecutor said. Advertisement Advertisement President Cyril Rampaphosa this week expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" to Vladimir Putin for the return of South Africans lured into fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Eleven men returned home on Wednesday and four arrived back last week. Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances of their recruitment. Families have accused a daughter of South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, of involvement. She has since resigned her seat as a lawmaker. Uganda -- a Russian ally - has also discovered a network of forced recruitment sending its citizens to fight and die for Moscow, while Gambia and Nigeria have also expressed concern about their nationals involved in foreign conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement "The recruitment scandal makes clear that the Ukraine war is no longer a distant geopolitical issue for African governments," the International Crisis Group said in a new report published on Friday. "As their citizens become directly entangled in the conflict, leaders could face mounting domestic pressure that makes it more difficult to stick to principles of non-alignment." fvl/phz/rlp Pakistan launched strikes on the Afghan cities of Kabul and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday, according to Pakistani government officials. A spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban said on X that it had responded with renewed attacks against Pakistani troops along their shared border - though the post has now been deleted. Pakistani authorities said that their "counter strikes" on the Afghan cities were a response to "unprovoked Afghan attacks" - though the Afghan Taliban said those were in response to earlier Pakistani strikes. Advertisement Advertisement The two countries agreed a fragile ceasefire in October after deadly cross-border clashes, but fighting has flared once again in recent days. Residents in Kabul heard loud blasts across the city on Friday, AFP reported. Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses on each other during recent clashes. People in Pakistan's border regions told the BBC they had heard explosions and were asked to move to safety. Pakistan earlier said that two of its soldiers have been killed after the Afghan Taliban launched an operation against military positions along their shared border late on Thursday. Three others were injured as Pakistani forces responded to the "unprovoked fire", Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. Advertisement Advertisement The Afghan Taliban said it had launched the "large-scale" operation in response to strikes earlier this week, which it claimed had killed at least 18 people. Islamabad said it had targeted alleged militant camps and hideouts. Taliban military spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said the "retaliatory operation" had been launched at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday. The group's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the offensive had killed "numerous" Pakistani soldiers and captured others. This was denied by a spokesman for Pakistan's prime minister, who also contested Mujahid's claim that 15 military posts had been captured. Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi dismissed claims of damage on the Pakistani side and said all aggression would receive an "immediate and effective" response. Mujahid wrote on X that "in response to repeated border violations and insurgency by Pakistani military circles, large-scale preemptive operations were launched against Pakistani army centres and military installations" along the border. Pakistan's government said the Taliban had "miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" across the border in its north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had been met with an "immediate and effective response" by Islamabad's security forces. "Early reports confirm heavy casualties on [the] Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed," said a Ministry of Information & Broadcasting statement shared on X. Advertisement Advertisement "Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens." Residents reported hearing a heavy exchange of fire along the border. Those living near Pakistan's border town of Torkham were asked to vacate the area. Officials suspended the repatriation of deported Afghan nationals back over the border in the town due to the clashes. The crossing was also closed to Afghan refugees. Kabul had warned of retaliatory action "at the appropriate time" following the strikes overnight into Sunday. Islamabad had said it targeted seven alleged militant camps and hideouts near the border and that they had been launched after recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement Kabul meanwhile said civilian homes and a religious school had been targeted, with women and children among the dead. The exchange of fire comes despite the two countries agreeing a ceasefire in October. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 1,600-mile (2,574 km) mountainous border. The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned of huge concerns over data and pathogen-sharing between African countries and the US under new health deals being pursued by the Trump administration. Zimbabwe this week withdrew from talks with Washington for a $367 million bilateral health agreement, citing worries about sharing sensitive health data. The arrangement was asymmetrical, a Zimbabwe government spokesperson said. Zambia is also trying to renegotiate a $1 billion-plus deal with the US, saying that an earlier version did not align with the position and interests of the government of Zambia, without elaborating on the sticking points, Reuters reported. The Trump administration has radically overhauled its approach to global health, focusing on bilateral deals tied to its America First strategy after dramatically paring back international aid including shutting down the US Agency for International Development. More than a dozen nations on the continent have agreed to health pacts with Washington in recent months: On Thursday, DR Congo signed a $1.2 billion agreement with Washington. Under a co-investment structure, the US will provide three-quarters of the funding over the next five years and Kinshasa will make up the rest. A version of this article originally appeared in Quartzs Washington newsletter. Sign up here to get the latest business and economic news and insights from Washington straight to your inbox. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei drew unexpected attention last week at a global AI summit in India. Their body language spoke louder than words ever could. What was meant to be a photo-op demonstrating unity with hands held high ended with two of the most powerful chief executives in Big Tech clenching their fists instead. Now, the simmering feud between Altman and Amodei is extending to the 2026 campaign trail and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement OpenAI and Anthropic are raising enormous sums of campaign cash and mobilizing to leave a mark on the November midterm elections. Super PACs with ties to AI firms began sprouting last year as lawmakers showed interest in regulating the fast-evolving sector. Whats emerging lately is the AI industrys first true Washington spending war: rival labs, their investors, and aligned advocacy groups are beginning to treat AI regulation not just as a fight over policy but as an electoral battleground one where campaign dollars could shape which party controls Congress and how aggressively lawmakers move to police the technology. On Monday, Anthropics latest political move was putting its seal of approval on a moderate Democrat known for pro-business ties: Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a co-chair of the House Democratic Commission on AI. Like many Democratic lawmakers, Gottheimer has been curious but not overbearing towards AI regulation. He said last year he wanted appropriate carveouts for states to enact AI policies while not closing the door for Congress to act. Advertisement Advertisement The endorsement offers an early glimpse of how that spending war may play out at the Congressional district level. He can make sure A.I. serves us, not the other way around, the new 30-second ad from Public First Action, a political nonprofit running the super PAC operation, said. It urged New Jersey voters to contact Gottheimer to oppose legislation that would bar states from drafting rules protecting against AI scams. Anthropic is following OpenAIs path in deepening its political footprint. It announced earlier this month it was donating $20 million to support candidates who favor AI guardrails through Public First Action. We dont want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed, Anthropic said. Its not strictly a pro-Democratic group either: Public First Action is led by Brad Carson and Chris Stewart, a former Democratic and Republican lawmaker, respectively. Its already backing Republicans as well. The organization has been running ads for GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska. An early battleground in New York Anthropics New Jersey push is only one front in a broader contest for influence. Advertisement Advertisement OpenAI and Anthropic are facing off through their super PACs in New Yorks 12th Congressional District in whats fast becoming an early battleground between AI giants. New York Assembly member Alex Bores is caught in the middle of a contested primary to replace Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. Bores has been a staunch advocate for more guardrails on AI. He was also chief architect of a set of state AI regulatory laws. Public First Actions Democratic arm jumped into the race last week with $450,000 to back up Bores. Leading the Future has spent $1.1 million in TV ads and other messages attempting to defeat him so far. I think these Trump mega-donors who are attacking me are terrified of having someone in Congress that's already beaten them, Bores said last week in a CNN interview. Advertisement Advertisement Leading the Future a pro-AI super PAC backed by OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and investment firm Andreessen Horowitz has committed to spending more than $100 million in this years federal races. Brockman said last month he and his wife Anna wanted to ensure a constructive dialogue between the federal government and the tech sector. Being pro-AI does not mean being anti-regulation. It means being thoughtful, Brockman said. There are already signs of a scorched-earth campaign taking root. Leading the Future was quick to trash its rival super PAC after their endorsement of Gottheimer. This is Sam Bankman-Fried 2.0 with the same people, with the same funding, advancing the same self-serving agenda, the group wrote in a social media post, referring to the disgraced ex-crypto mogul serving 25 years in jail for fraud related to the FTX crypto firm collapse. Advertisement Advertisement AI firms, executives and entities with ties to the industry poured $83 million in federal elections last year, according to The New York Times. That figure could easily double this year. Leading the Future has already signaled its expecting at least $50 million more from the Brockmans and Andreessen Horowitz in the first quarter of this year. Their pro-AI efforts could cause some lawmakers to soften their AI stances in fear of inviting a flood of campaign spending against them. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio lost his 2024 re-election bid in part due to crypto interests mobilizing against him. The fear of being tagged with AI or tech attacks may deter some policymakers from taking stances that would be considered a regulatory burden to tech companies, Alex Jacquez, an ex-Biden aide who is now chief of policy at the left-leaning Groundwork Collaborative, told Quartz. If that dynamic takes hold, the fight over AI policy may be decided as much by campaign cash and political muscle as by the technologys risks or benefits. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A woman is remembering the frightening moment when a car plowed through her bedroom wall where she was asleep with her two-year-old son. The crash happened Monday morning near SW 54th St. and May Ave. New video security video from a nearby home shows the car speeding down the road, losing control, and then flipping into the corner of Haley Laubachs house. Every time I watch it. I just think, How? How am I alive? How is my son alive? How are we alive at all?' Laubach questioned. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Car crashes into home in SW Oklahoma City Laubach and her son were asleep in her bedroom when the car came crashing into their home. I felt that very hard shake, and then it was like I couldnt get up. I felt like something had almost like, knocked me out and then when I came to, maybe a minute or two later, I had like five or six bricks on my head, Laubach recounted. Although her son was asleep right next to her, he had no injuries. He came out with no scratch, not even anything, Laubach said. Laubach, however, had a large gash to her head from where the bricks fell on her. When Laubach woke up, she checked on her son, and despite her injuries, she knew she needed to call for help. Advertisement Advertisement I crawled over to the recliner, found a t-shirt, took it, tied my head up the best I could to try to keep pressure and crawled over to the couch where my purse was, she said. Oklahoma City Police arrested the suspect, Dina Calderon Santos, on complaints of driving without a license, obstructing an officer, and not having insurance. Santos is still in the hospital being treated for her injuries. Meanwhile, Laubach is healing from a concussion and facing a mountain of bills. Since it was a stolen vehicle, no medical coverage at all. So I will be pretty much liable for all of the bills, said Laubach. Advertisement Advertisement On top of it all, over the past four years, two other cars have come close to hitting her home. Its all been the same, vehicle was not theirs, they have no insurance, so weve always had to be the ones picking up the pieces, Laubach said. Now, the Laubachs are rebuilding their life but will never forget what happened. Its scary that it could happen again the next time. We might not be so lucky, she said. The Laubachs have created a GoFundMe to help with medical bills and other costs. You can donate 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Informing them that the charges brought against them carry a maximum sentence of decades in prison, Magisterial District Judge Brian Subich arraigned a group of defendants alleged to have held roles in an organization that trafficked drugs from Philadelphia to Johnstown. Along with the preliminary arraignments, Subich heard and denied requests for bail modifications for two of the defendants. The defendants, who appeared in Subichs Franklin Street courtroom Wednesday, were arraigned on charges brought by the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, assisted by the 54th Statewide Grand Jury. Advertisement Advertisement The report of the grand jury, provided by Subichs office, references telephone communication interceptions and witness testimony connecting the defendants as an organization that was bringing narcotics from Philadelphia to Johnstown from 2022 to 2025. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against 10 people Monday in Johnstown. Those arraigned Wednesday included the alleged leaders, 35-year-old Khalil Henderson and 43-year-old Hayes Kelly. Both men were transported from the Cambria County Prison to Subichs courtroom where they were arraigned on felony charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy and criminal use of communication facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Subich set bail for both men at 10% of $750,000, or $75,000, cash. Although preliminary hearings were scheduled to take place Wednesday, neither defendant was accompanied by an attorney, so Subich continued the hearings for a date to be determined. Alleged co-conspirators in the organization Kadeem Bracket, 36; Jason Dull, 53; and Janea Polk, 26, were also arraigned Wednesday. Subich set bail for each of them at 10% of $500,000, or $50,000, cash. Dulls defense attorney, Andrew Skala, asked Subich to lower the bail for Dull a local man and former coal miner on methadone treatment, Skala said. Skala said Dull has only one past criminal infraction for possession of an illegal substance in the 90s. Advertisement Advertisement Senior Deputy Attorney General Megan McGoron argued against reducing Dulls bail, saying he provided transportation for the organizations leaders to bring cocaine, meth, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs into Johnstown. McGoron said Dull acted as a driver for Henderson. Hed drive Henderson around to deliver drugs, spreading poison through the community, McGoron said. Balkis Awan, defense attorney for Polk, also requested a bail reduction for her client, who is not charged with the same type of illicit activity as the others. Polk is charged with receiving stolen property and criminal use of a communications facility. Advertisement Advertisement Awan said Polk is not a user of drugs and has lived in Johnstown for five years. Awan said Polk has has three children, ages 6, 5 and 3. However, McGoron said that while Polk was not charged with conspiracy, she was dating one of the leaders, Kelly, who called her to hide a firearm before police executed a search warrant. Thats why she is changed with criminal use of communications system, McGoron said. She hid the gun because police were coming to search the house. Receiving stolen property is a serious offense. Awan said theres no indication that her client believed the firearm to be stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Subich denied the bail modifications requested by the attorneys representing Dull and Polk. Subich said preliminary hearings for the defendants in the case would be scheduled for the same date. The preliminary hearing date is also to include other alleged co-conspirators Brayanne Lightfoot, 29, and Nasir Kelly, 26. In addition to those defendants, three others deemed lesser contributors to the ring Tracey Freeman, 57; Darrion Dixon, 45; and Susan Heider, 75, were mailed summons to appear in court 10 a.m. April 9 for preliminary arraignment before Subich. This harebrained assassination plot went up in smoke. An alleged Iran-backed terrorist who bizarrely thought he could put a bargain-priced hit out on Donald Trump by paying two men just $5,000 upfront acted out the wacky plot by placing a vape on a napkin to denote his target, new video released Thursday reveals. This is the target. How will it die? Asif Merchant said as he gestured to the creamsicle colored smoking device inside a hotel room filled with FBI secret cameras, the footage played for a Brooklyn jury shows. Advertisement Advertisement Merchant, a 47-year-old native of Pakistan, sketched out his plan to whack the then-frontrunner for the GOP nomination during a recorded June 4, 2024 meeting with a recruit whod been working with the feds. Asif Merchant described the assassination plot inside a Queens hotel room in an exchange caught on secret cameras. US Attorneys Office EDNY Look, to kill this one from here is very easy, Merchant said in the video, pointing to the left side of the vape, which he placed on an unfolded napkin inside a room at the Floral Park Motor Lodge in Queens. Iran has repeatedly targeted Trump in retaliation for the US drone strike that killed prominent Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in 2020, during Trumps first term, US officials say. Merchant believed hed get away with the hit and would then target more people who he said are hurting Pakistan and the world, the Muslim world, the video shows. The accused terrorist placed a creamsicle-colored vape on the table to denote his intended target. US Attorneys Office EDNY This is not a one-time job. The work will continue, he told his recruit-turned-snitch, who testified under the alias Nadeem Ali. Advertisement Advertisement But the FBI smoked out the scheme and arrested Merchant as he tried to leave the country that July after paying two purported contract killers who were actually undercover feds that Ali had connected him with each a $5,000 advance toward the planned hit, court papers say. Merchant wanted to stage a phony protest at the Trump rally in a half-baked ruse he claimed would allow the killers to escape, recordings played at the trial show. He also spoke to Ali about separate plans to steal government documents from buildings, the footage reveals. Merchant never named Trump himself, but court papers show that Trump was his intended target and that hed searched for locations of Trump rallies online. Ali, a self-described deliveryman who came to the US from Pakistan when he was 18 and was stationed in Afghanistan as a US Army linguist, first took the stand on Wednesday at Merchants Brooklyn federal court trial, where the accused plotter faces up to life in prison on murder-for-hire and terror charges. Advertisement Advertisement The FBI snitch said hed been introduced to Merchant by a friend in the Big Apples close-knit Pakistani community, and that Merchant had asked to work with him on a clothing business. Iranian agents have targeted Trump in retaliation for the 2020 killing of a military general, officials say. Getty Images But Ali got spooked and contacted law enforcement after noticing unmarked cars who he feared might be Taliban terrorists targeting him for his army work in the Middle East tailing him during several of his meetings with Merchant, he said. FBI agents revealed theyd been investigating Merchant, and asked if hed be willing to record their conversations. Ali testified that he agreed to work on the sting and was later paid $20,000 for his efforts. Merchant arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April 2024, court papers show. His defense lawyer said hed obtained a temporary visa and called him a visitor. here by permission of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement US officials have called Merchant an agent of the Iranian regime. He did not reveal to Ali who he was working for, but implied that his handler was politically connected in Iran and had helped his Iran-based wife with an immigration issue, according to a recording played at the trial on Thursday. The accused terrorist has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers have tried to paint him as a family man by bringing up that he has two separate families, with wives and kids, in both Pakistan and Iran, an unusual arrangement they called perfectly legal. Two Venezuelan nationals, alleged to be members of the violent transitional criminal organization Tren De Aragua, have been charged in connection with an ATM jackpotting conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Thursday. Both men, who are in the U.S. unlawfully, will make their appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement ATM jackpotting schemes typically involve a crew of individuals who travel to targeted ATMs and install malware directly to the ATMs software programming to force the ATM to dispense all its cash. According to court documents, there has been an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide conspiracy, believed to be coordinated and committed by members of Tren de Aragua to steal money from ATMs using malware -- a scheme referred to as ATM jackpotting. Tren De Aragua is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated in Venezuela in the mid-2000s, which has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere, with an established presence in the United States. According to court filings, Tren De Araguas criminal activities include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. Tren De Aragua has developed revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Jackpotting proceeds are typically distributed amongst Tren De Aragua members and associates to conceal their derivation, prosecutors said. Tren De Aragua members often are instructed to split the proceeds from a jackpot operation, with 50% earmarked and sent to Tren De Aragua leadership in Venezuela and 50% divided among subjects conducting ground operations. According to charging documents, on Feb. 5, 2026, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested in Augusta, Maine, after an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. Prosecutors said Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly connected to at least five additional ATM jackpotting robberies across New England, including robberies on Dec. 31, 2025, in Norwich, Conn; Jan. 20, 2026, in Braintree, Mass; and Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.; and attempted robberies on Jan. 14, 2026, in Coventry, R.I.; and on Jan. 19, 2026, in Stoneham, Mass. Guerrero is allegedly connected to at least one additional jackpotting robbery, with Martinez Gutierrez, on Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H. Advertisement Advertisement The charge of conspiring to commit bank theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Part of Amazons $12 billion data center investment announcement was the promise that utility bills would not increase for Caddo and Bossier parish customers. Bossier City businesses explore benefits of Amazon data center We have to have that assurance because we dont want our utility bills going through the roof. Theyre already high enough. But, Ive been assured by SWEPCO and Amazon, and I expect to hold them to that promise, says Foster Campbell, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner for District 5. Advertisement Advertisement SWEPCO representatives shared a statement that reads, SWEPCO intends to utilize a number of sources of existing SWEPCO and AEP-owned generation and power purchase agreements signed with third parties to meet the initial load requirements for this Amazon contract. We plan years ahead to make sure our grid has the capacity, resiliency, and flexibility to support major industrial loads while still delivering safe, reliable, affordable power to homes and small businesses. It continues to say, That includes strategic investments in generation, strengthening our transmission and distribution system, and using data and technology to manage demand. Whether youre a large employer or a family at home, our job is the same: to ensure you have the power you need, when you need it. Shreveport mayor urges residents to support new data centers Commissioner Campbell says he wants SWEPCO customers to not be too worried about the upcoming data center project, because of the potential economic benefits for the region. Advertisement Advertisement We need it. North Louisiana as you know, Louisiana is one of the poorest states in America. We dont like that. We want to move up. This is a good way to start, with one of the largest companies in the country and in the world coming to Louisiana, he says. 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. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and of Block, arrives on stage at a Bitcoin conference on June 4, 2021, in Miami. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Oakland-based Block, the Jack Dorsey-run tech giant behind Square and Cash App, is laying off almost half its sprawling workforce - and Dorsey delivered the news with a giant warning for the rest of tech's workers. The CEO announced in his annual letter to Block shareholders on Thursday that the company is cutting "nearly half" of its 10,000-plus employees, with more than 4,000 people being "asked to leave or entering into consultation." The drastic layoff, far larger than March 2025's 931-worker cut, comes despite Block turning a $1.3 billion profit over what Dorsey called a "strong year." Dorsey acknowledged this successful trajectory, then explained why he's throwing such a huge wrench into the company: the advent of artificial intelligence tools. "Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company," Dorsey wrote. "We're already seeing it internally. A significantly smaller team, using the tools we're building, can do more and do it better. And intelligence tool capabilities are compounding faster every week." Then he directly addressed the rest of the tech and business world, in a warning for workers with similarly minded executives. He said he doesn't think Block is "early" to the "realization" that AI tools are dramatically changing work. "I think most companies are late," he wrote. "Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes. I'd rather get there honestly and on our own terms than be forced into it reactively." Dorsey then explained his ambitions for pushing AI into more Block products and rattled off perceived benefits to the smaller size - more focus, faster releases, quicker learning. He wrapped up the letter with the declaration: "We believe Block will be significantly more valuable as a smaller, faster, intelligence-native company. Everything we do from here is in service of that." Block's share price jumped by around 23% in after-hours trading on the financial report and news of the layoffs. It's unclear where within the company or geographically the cuts will hit - as of Thursday at 2:30 p.m., it had not filed a WARN layoff notice with California officials or responded to SFGATE's request for comment. The broad, AI-driven layoffs reinforce a common fear for workers as the tools gain more capabilities and executives get a better sense of how to use them. The worries are particularly intense in software engineering, with products like Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex already automating code-writing across the industry. A Detroit police department decision to reverse course on firing two officers who allegedly violated local law by coordinating an arrest with federal immigration agents has ignited outrage and accusations that the chief caved to Republican demands. It has also played into a debate in the US around the role of local law enforcement amid the Trump administrations immigration crackdown as many police departments especially in large Democratic-run cities such as Detroit have a policy of not co-operating with federal immigration operations. The decision not to fire the officers who called Customs and Border Protection in part because the subjects did not speak English came after the Trump administration and Michigan Republican leadership publicly condemned the department on social media. Advertisement Advertisement The reversal drew accusations that the city initially did the right thing, then buckled in the face of political pressure. The about-face was surprising and troubling, said Chris Gilmer-Hill, a community organizer who is running for state house in a district that partially represents Detroit. It appears that leadership at the DPD listened to [GOP Michigan house speaker] Matt Hall rather than listening to Detroiters, Gilmer-Hill added. The majority of Detroiters we dont support what ICE is doing and we dont support what these officers did. So we need DPD to listen to what the people in Detroit want them to do. CBP has a larger presence in Detroit than Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in part because the city sits on a border, across the river from Windsor, Ontario. The controversy represents the latest flare-up in the broader battle over the Trump administrations draconian immigration crackdown. On 16 December, Detroit police called border officers on an immigrant who was the victim of the crime, and who is now in deportation proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Another incident on 9 February came to light when a local reporter caught the Detroit police officers and border agents standing together on a street in downtown Detroit. When the reporter approached and asked what they were doing, a Detroit police officer declined to comment before getting in her vehicle. The border agents got in their vehicle and drove off. Detroit police chief Todd Bettison announced the investigation days later, stating that a sergeant called Border Patrol to request translation services during a traffic stop. Border agents conducted their investigation determined that the individual was not a US citizen and took the person, who is now facing deportation, Bettison said in a statement several days after the incident. On 25 February, bodycam footage of the incident leaked to YouTube shows the officers stating that the man, who is Venezuelan, could be Pablo Escobar Jr. One officer says the man better start speaking English because hes going to jail, buddy. Advertisement Advertisement The translation justification is likely a pretext because Detroit offers translation services, and city ordinance is clear that officers are not supposed to call the federal agents, said Christine Suave, the policy, engagement, and communications manager with the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center. Detroit police officers know what will happen when they call border patrol, Suave said, and their actions have devastating consequences because they dramatically reduce trust in local police. Its disappointing that politics got in the way of good police policy, Suave said. The chief was taking the right steps, Suave added. The center has not discussed the issue with the department yet, Suave said, but it generally has been a good partner in addressing immigration groups concerns. In the days after the incident, police brass said they took the ordinance violation seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Were just not in the immigration business. We never have been. Never will be, assistant police chief Charles Fitzgerald told the Detroit city council on Tuesday. Its an extremely serious matter, and thats how we take it. So thats why, when the chief says what he says, hes completely within his right to do so. On 19 February, the Detroit police board of commissioners voted 10-0 to suspend the two officers for 30 days without pay. Soon after, Republican leaders expressed opposition to the moves. ICE responded on 20 February on social media, offering the officers jobs. We have a place for you, patriots, the agencys official X account posted posted. Advertisement Advertisement DHS later posted: Its absurd that two Detroit police officers would face punishment for alerting CBP about a criminal illegal alien they are American heroes who chose public safety first. Meanwhile, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox announced on X that he had set up a GoFundMe page that as of Wednesday had raised nearly $28,000. After decades of service to the people of Detroit, two respected police officers are now suspended without pay for 30 days, the page said. Not for misconduct, corruption, or neglect of duty, but for coordinating with federal law enforcement during routine police work. Amid the blowback and a lawsuit from one of the officers, a 27-year veteran, police chief Bettison announced he would not fire the officers. In a statement that day, Bettison said: I am satisfied with the [board of commissioners] decision, and I will not be pursuing termination of these two officers. Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit, the officer defended their vacation, claiming the person provided a fraudulent electronic Michigan drivers license, and the officer needed to verify the persons identity because shed been unable to do so with a department-issued fingerprint scanner, so she called border patrol. The leaked bodycam footage shows the officer stating that a lieutenant instructed her to call border patrol. The department had not said anything about the lieutenant. Detroit mayor Mary Sheffields spokesperson said in a statement after the reversal that the mayor supports the policy against officers calling immigration agents. When the policy is violated, the chief and the board of police commissioners are responsible for determining the appropriate level of discipline, and Mayor Sheffield fully respects that process, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Gilmer-Hill said the controversy highlights the need for stronger laws that spell out punishment for offending officers. Detroit thrives on its diversity and should be welcoming to everyone, Gilmer-Hill said. When theres a constant threat that for some people, if you have a simple interaction with DPD, then that could throw your whole life up in the air it is incredibly scary, but thats part of the intention. The United Launch Alliance's most recent mission with its Vulcan rocket may have ended in success, but an anomaly detected during the launch is throwing into question when it could get off the ground again. Reports suggest that one of the Colorado-based launch service provider's biggest customers may be hitting pause. A colonel with the U.S. Space Force suggested recently to reporters that the Pentagon is halting launches aboard the new rocket until the issue is resolved. The move would mark a significant setback for ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The company had sought to ratchet up the tempo of its Vulcan spaceflight missions in 2026, with ULA officials projecting 18 to 22 launches this year. Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander captures its shadow on the moon's surface after completing a successful landing March 2 near a volcanic feature on the moon called Mons Latreille. The vehicle became the first of two landers manufactured by a U.S. company to reach the moon is 2025 in crucial missions to lay the groundwork for NASA to return humans to the lunar surface in the years ahead. Athena, the lunar lander on Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, captured this image of the moon's surface with Earth seen in the distance ahead of a March 6 landing attempt. While the lander was the second U.S. vehicle to reach the moon within a week, it ultimately landed on its side, which hindered much of its mission. NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft March 18 following a return to Earth after a nine-month stay at the International Space Station. She and NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore crewed the Boeing Starliner, which had launched in June 2024 on a failed test flight that was meant to return them to Earth a few days later. Butch Wilmore reacts after he and Suni Williams and two other astronauts splashed down March 18 in a Crew Dragon space capsule following their return to earth from the International Space Station off the coast of Florida. The astronauts' extended stay at the orbital outpost dominated the news cycle for months. A SpaceX support team member is seen airborne while working to lift the SpaceX Dragon capsule that returned the Starliner astronauts and two others onto a recovery vehicle following its landing off the coast of Florida. This picture shows the crew of a privately-funded mission known as Fram2, from left to right, mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips, mission commander Chun Wang, pilot Rabea Rogge and vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen on March 19, 2025 in Hawthorne, California. Launched March 31 from Florida using a SpaceX Dragon capsule, the mission became t first ever human spaceflight over the Earth's polar regions. Pop musician Katy Perry emerges April 14 from Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule in West Texas following a brief flight to the edge of space. Perry was part of an all-women crew that also included broadcast journalist Gayle King that took the ride from Blue Origin's facility called Launch Site One. The high-profile launch attracted plenty of headlines and even drew some backlash from those who viewed the mission as a wasteful publicity stunt. Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket carrying astronauts Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Kerianne Flynn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, and Lauren Sanchez lifts off April 14 from Launch Site One near Van Horn, Texas. Blue Origin has since launched five more human spaceflights on the New Shepard in 2025. This photo depicts a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the latest batch of Amazon's broadband satellites on Dec. 16 to low-Earth orbit after launching from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Formerly called Project Kuiper, the venture has since been renamed Amazon Leo. Since its debut April launch, Amazon Leo has deployed 180 of 3,000 satellites planned for its first constellation, which could challenge SpaceX's Starlink. A group of Blue Origin employees with their friends and families gather on the beach in Cape Canaveral for the launch of Blue Origin's second New Glenn rocket in 2025. Following its January debut, the rocket launched for the second time Nov. 13 from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft on their trek to Mars. Darkness falls Nov. 9 as a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket is prepped for its second-ever launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Blue Origin is developing the towering rocket for heavy-lift missions that could see Jeff Bezos' company compete with Elon Musk and SpaceX. The SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits Oct. 12, 2025 atop the Super Heavy booster before sunrise as preparations continue for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas. A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off Oct. 13, 2025, on its 11th ever test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas. The launch was Starship's fifth of 2025, and second consecutive successful test flight following a year that was early on marked by explosive failures. SpaceX is developing the rocket for future missions that would help NASA astronauts land on the moon and also potentially transport the first humans to Mars. 2025 spaceflight in photos. See images of Blue Origin, SpaceX missions 1 of 13 Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander captures its shadow on the moon's surface after completing a successful landing March 2 near a volcanic feature on the moon called Mons Latreille. The vehicle became the first of two landers manufactured by a U.S. company to reach the moon is 2025 in crucial missions to lay the groundwork for NASA to return humans to the lunar surface in the years ahead. Here's everything to know about the Vulcan rocket, and what the Department of Defense's decision could mean. Did Space Force pause ULA's Vulcan launches? The U.S. Space Force had big plans for Vulcan in the years ahead assigning nearly two dozen national security launches to Vulcan rockets at both Cape Canaveral and the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California. Advertisement Advertisement But the Pentagon is now reportedly putting those missions on hold following an observed anomaly during the spacecraft's most recent flight until the issue is resolved. And that investigation could take months, Space Force Col. Eric Zarybnisky told reporters Wednesday, Feb. 25. Until this anomaly is solved we will not be launching ... missions on the Vulcan," Zarybnisky was quoted as saying. Zarybnisky's comments were made during a media roundtable at the Air and Space Forces Associations Air Warfare Symposium, according to multiple outlets, including Aviation Week and Breaking Defense. The USA TODAY Network left a message with the Space Force's media relations team Feb. 27 that was not immediately returned. In a previous statement, the Space Force acknowledged the anomaly and said it "will work closely with ULA" before the next national security mission. United Launch Alliance investigates booster anomaly after national security launch During Vulcan's most recent launch in February, sparks were observed coming off the rocket mid-flight in what the United Launch Alliance confirmed was indeed an anomaly. While the incident did not hinder the mission, it was was similar to what happened on Vulcan's second flight in October 2024, when sparks were seen inside the nozzle on the booster. Advertisement Advertisement A spokeswoman for the United Launch Alliance did not directly address the reports when reached Feb. 27 by the USA TODAY Network, instead referring to a previous company statement indicating ULA's plans to investigate the anomaly. Investigators were to begin reviewing flight data and available imagery, and send a recovery team to collect any debris. "Despite the observation, the Vulcan booster and Centaur performed nominally and delivered the payload to its precise geosynchronous orbit," the statement read. "We will conduct a thorough investigation, identify root cause, and implement any corrective action necessary before the next Vulcan mission." When was the Vulcan rocket launch? The statement is the same ULA put out Feb. 12 following Vulcan's latest national security launch hailing the mission as a success. Advertisement Advertisement The Vulcan rocket got off the ground at 4:22 a.m. ET Feb. 12 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a lengthy morning mission to deploy a spacecraft built by Virginia-based aerospace company Northrop Grumman. Built on behalf of Space Force, the technology is designed to help detect disturbances to space systems in a geosynchronous orbit, which matches Earth's 24-hour rotation. For the mission, known as USSF-87, the Vulcan was equipped with four solid rocket boosters mounted to the sides for extra liftoff power. Those boosters and the Vulcan's own main booster eventually separated from the upper-stage, known as Centaur V, which used its two engines to continue propelling the payload to about 22,000 miles high. What is the ULA Vulcan? The mission marked the fourth launch of the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral, and its second national security mission since August 2025. Ultimately, the United Launch Alliance is planning for the Vulcan to replace both its Atlas V and the now-retired Delta IV becoming the company's main workhorse for both commercial and national security missions. Vulcan stands at 202 feet tall when fully stacked and is designed to fly with anywhere from zero to six solid rocket boosters in addition to the main 109-foot-tall booster. Advertisement Advertisement What sets Vulcan apart from its ULA predecessors is its Centaur V upper stage. At more than 41 feet tall, Centaur V is equipped with two engines of its own providing 23,825 pounds of thrust, making more complex missions to extreme orbital heights possible. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vulcan rocket launch schedule on possible pause by Pentagon The Brief Forecast models show another potential winter storm targeting the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast early next week. Accumulating snow is possible for Philadelphia and parts of South Jersey. Confidence remains low, but some scenarios suggest measurable snowfall across the region. UPDATE: The forecast has changed. Here is the most recent weather forecast for the Philadelphia area. PHILADELPHIA - With snow piles still lining streets across the Delaware Valley after this weeks historic storm, attention is already shifting to the next potential round of winter weather for the Philadelphia area. Stay connected with FOX LOCAL. For 24/7 winter storm coverage Download Now . When is it going to snow? What we know The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring a developing system that could track from the Midwest into the Northeast early next week. FOX Weather updates Long-range guidance suggests the potential for accumulating snow across parts of eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the Philadelphia metro area. Some forecast models show several inches of snow are possible if the storm strengthens and cold air remains in place. Advertisement Advertisement FIND THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER FORECAST HERE What could determine snow totals Local perspective The storms track and temperature profile will play a key role in determining whether the region sees snow, a wintry mix or mainly rain. If the system tracks farther north and maintains colder air, measurable snow could fall across Philadelphia and surrounding counties. A warmer or more southern track could limit accumulations or bring mixed precipitation instead. The possible amount of snow in the north (FOX Weather) At this stage, forecasters stress that details, including timing and totals, are still uncertain and will likely change over the coming days. What about this week? Before the early March system, a weaker disturbance could bring light precipitation to parts of the region later this week. Any impacts currently appear minor compared to the potential early-week storm. What's next Forecast models will continue to refine the storms track and intensity over the next several days. Residents across the Philadelphia region and South Jersey should monitor updated forecasts as confidence increases. Advertisement Advertisement Stay ahead of the snow with FOX 29s expert meteorologists on FOX LOCAL. Get the latest on the forecast, snow potential, and preparation tips. Download FOX LOCAL for 24/7 weather coverage on your smart TV and mobile devices. The Source This article was written using forecast information from the FOX Forecast Center and FOX Weather. Anthropic has said it will not back down in a fight with the US Department of Defense (DoD) over how its artificial intelligence (AI) technology is used. The firm's chief executive Dario Amodei said on Thursday that his company would rather not work with the Pentagon than agree to uses of its tech that may "undermine, rather than defend, democratic values." His comments come two days after a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over demands that Anthropic accept "any lawful use" of its tools. It ended with a threat to remove Anthropic from the DoD's supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement "These threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request," Amodei said. At issue for Anthropic is the potential use of its AI tools like Claude for two purposes: "Mass domestic surveillance" and "Fully autonomous weapons." Amodei said "such use cases have never been included in our contracts with the Department of War, and we believe they should not be included now." The Department of War is a secondary name for the Defense Department under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in September. "Should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider," Amodei said. Advertisement Advertisement An Anthropic spokeswoman added on Thursday that while the company received updated wording from the DoD for its contract on Wednesday night, it represented "virtually no progress on preventing Claude's use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons." "New language framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will," she said. "Despite [the Department of War's] recent public statements, these narrow safeguards have been the crux of our negotiations for months." A representative of the Defense Department could not be reached for comment. Emil Michael, the US Undersecretary for Defense, personally attacked Amodei on Thursday night, writing on X that the executive "wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is ok putting our nation's safety at risk." Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with CBS News, Michael said: "At some level, you have to trust your military to do the right thing." The uses of AI that Anthropic is fearful of are already barred by the law and by Pentagon policies, he said. And asked why the Pentagon would not agree to contract language demanded by Anthropic, he said: "We do have to be prepared for what China is doing." A Pentagon official previously told the BBC that should Anthropic not comply, Hegseth would ensure the Defense Production Act was invoked on the company. The act essentially gives a US president the authority to deem a given company or its product so important that the government can require it to meet defence needs. Advertisement Advertisement But Hegseth also threatened to label Anthropic a "supply chain risk", meaning the company would be designated as not secure enough for government use. A former DoD official who asked not to be named told the BBC on Thursday that Hegseth's grounds for either measure were "extremely flimsy". A person familiar with the negotiations who asked not to be named said tensions between Anthropic and the Pentagon "go back several months," before it was publicly known that Claude was used as part of a US operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. While Amodei did not specify exactly how Anthropic could be or had been used by the DoD for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, he wrote in a company blog post that AI can be used to "assemble scattered, individually innocuous data into a comprehensive picture of any person's life - automatically and at massive scale." Advertisement Advertisement "We support the use of AI for lawful foreign intelligence and counterintelligence missions," Amodei said. "But using these systems for mass domestic surveillance is incompatible with democratic values." As for AI being used in weapons, Amodei said even today's most advanced and capable AI systems "are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons." "We will not knowingly provide a product that puts America's warfighters and civilians at risk," Amodei said. "Without proper oversight, fully autonomous weapons cannot be relied upon to exercise the critical judgment that our highly trained, professional troops exhibit every day. They need to be deployed with proper guardrails, which don't exist today." He added that Anthropic had "offered to work directly with the Department of War on R&D to improve the reliability of these systems, but they have not accepted this offer." Hegseth had demanded the Tuesday meeting with Amodei, a source previously told the BBC. The father of the suspected Apalachee High School shooter is taking the stand in his own defense Friday morning. You can watch the trial on the WSB-TV news apps 24/7 breaking news stream here. Colin Gray faces 29 charges in connection to the deadly crime his son, Colt, is accused of. The Barrow County District Attorneys Office accuses Gray of buying his son the gun used in the mass shooting. During opening statements on Monday, District Attorney Brad Smith told jurors Gray gave his son, Colt, access to the gun despite knowing he could harm others. Advertisement Advertisement Inside the home where Colt, the suspected shooter, lived with his father, jurors saw ammunition scattered throughout the home. Jurors saw evidence photos of an AR style rifle and shotgun unlocked in the father, Colin Grays, room. Crime scene investigators testified that no firearms in the home had locks on them. No guns or ammunition were secured in safes. In interrogation video, the father tells Deputy Jason Smith he allowed his son to keep the gun in his room sometimes. Ultimately, he admitted Colt was allowed to keep the gun in his room, Smith told the jury. Why didnt you do that last week? Smith asked. Advertisement Advertisement That was not on the radar, Gray responded. Youre saying its not on your radar, but something was on your radar, the deputy replied. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On the sons cell phone, there were pictures of the child posing with it, aiming it at the camera and putting it in his mouth. In the interrogation room, the dad admitted his sons anxiety was getting worse, he was having violent outbursts, deputies in another county had accused him of threatening to shoot up a school before and the teen cut himself. The dad said he could not afford a safe yet. However, he was considering giving the guns to someone else to store. Advertisement Advertisement Do you think if you had gotten rid of those guns wed be here right now? asked the deputy. Colin Gray responded, I dont know. He said he bought his son the AR-15, 223 Sig Sauer for Christmas because he wanted to get him into hunting and target shooting to bond. That was seven months after Jackson County Sheriffs Office accused the son of threatening to shoot up a school online. Before that, school counselors in Ben Hill said Colt Gray used a school computer to search how to kill your father online. Last week, prosecutors introduced evidence photos that show inside a computer room Colt used. On the wall, there were several photos displayed of Nicholas Cruz, the man convicted of carrying out the deadly shooting inside Parkland High School in Florida. Posted on the wall with the photos of Cruz were various news articles related to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Smith questioned the sons interest in school shootings inside the interrogation room. He showed the wall photos to Colin Gray. This is in his room? said Colin Gray. Yes, sir, said Smith. The dad responded, I tell you right now I never saw anything like that. Photos on Colt Grays cell phone show he put it there in April 2024. That same month, texts show the dad discussed the sons behavior becoming violent. The child would cut himself, hit his parents, damage furniture and walls. The father continued buying his son bullets and shooting accessories despite his son reaching out for help repeatedly for feelings of mania, anxiety and depression. Advertisement Advertisement May 2024 was the first time cell phone records suggest the father searched for a gun safe to purchase for the home. He never bought it. In August, Colt started school, but prosecutors said he did not want to go. I am restraining myself as for what I feel like doing, Colt Gray wrote his father in a text message. I have no control over what these things say and tell me to do. Eight days before the shooting, the dads phone shows another online search for gun safes. There was no purchase. Whenever something happens, just know the blood is on your hands, Colt Gray wrote his father. The week before the shooting, the father used his cell phone to search for mental health treatment centers for teens. Prosecutors said he was supposed to drop his son off at a facility in Athens the Saturday before the shooting. Instead, he took him to a guitar store where he bought the child a beanie. Advertisement Advertisement The child used the hat to help cover the top of the rifle to sneak it into the school days later. He wrapped the rifle with a Mothers Day poster board drawing he made for his mother while she was in rehab that past May. Minutes before the shooting started, the son sent texts to his father that said, Im sorry and Its not your fault. The father cried in court watching surveillance video that shows his son firing the gun through the school. He fires bullets into a classroom first, hitting seven students, Christian Angulo died. The six others hit survived. Video shows Colt continue down a hall, shooting three teachers: David Phenix, Cristina Irimie and Ricky Aspinwall. Irimie and Aspinwall did not survive. Advertisement Advertisement The teen then sees another student in the hallway. It was Mason Schermerhorn. He tries to run, but Colt shoots and kills him. He tried to lift the rifle take aim at another student, said Agent Lucas Beyer. At that point, school resources officers came down the hallway and were bale to get Colt to stop shooting. Beyer told jurors the rampage lasted 41 seconds. He got on his stomach, put his arms out like an airplane, turned his head away from us and didnt look, said Deputy Brandon King. It was like he knew what to do. Forty-two minutes before the shooting started, a teacher told then Assistant Principal Deigh Martin she thought a child had a gun in his backpack. Advertisement Advertisement She said it was awkward and heavy and had a poster board with a hat on top, said Martin. In an effort to point out any possible missteps before the shooting that did not involve the father, defense attorney Jim Berry pointed out Martin never asked the teacher for a suspect description, ended up pulling the wrong student out of class and spent time searching rooms and surveillance video with no luck. A school counselor, Lisa Butler, told jurors the students mom, Marcee, called her 21 minutes before the shooting. She warned her son has access to guns and is sending strange texts to family. She was concerned about him because he had access to multiple guns through his dad and that he had became obsessed with school shootings, said Butler. Advertisement Advertisement Butler said she hung up, called the head counselor, but no one answered the phone. She said she called the Assistant Principal, Deigh Martin, but no one answered that line either. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink says she left a 28-year diplomatic career and returned home to Michigan because she believes the country is entering the most dangerous moment of her lifetime, and that American democracy itself is on the line. Brink, who served under five presidents and most recently led the U.S. mission in Ukraine during Russias full-scale invasion, is now running for Congress in Michigans 7th Congressional District. The seat, centered in Ingham County and including the state capital of Lansing, is considered one of the most competitive in the country and could help determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives, currently held by Republicans. I am determined to win this race because I think so much is at stake, Brink told WLNS-TV political correspondent Brad LaPlante during this weeks episode of The Moment. Our very democracy is literally at stake right now. Advertisement Advertisement Brinks path to politics runs through some of the most volatile flashpoints of the post-Cold War era. She spent much of her career in Europe and the former communist bloc, first as the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia and later to Ukraine. She was appointed to the post in Slovakia in 2019 during Donald Trumps first term. She describes those years in Ukraine as a test of both American resolve and her own sense of duty: leading a civilian mission in an active war zone, overseeing efforts to help Kyiv defend itself and keep its economy functioning under bombardment. FILE U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink speaks during a news conference in Izmail, Ukraine, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko, File) For three years, together with a team of very brave public servants, we helped Ukraine get half of the territory back from Russia that had been seized at the beginning of the war, Brink said. We also helped keep the energy grid alive over three winters of Putins bombing and shelling. But Brink says her breaking point came when Trump returned to the White House last January, and, in her view, moved to make a deal with Putin and essentially appease the Russian leader. Advertisement Advertisement It was very clear to me that I could not in good conscience carry out that policy, she said. I had to resign and speak out and come home to Michigan to run for Congress. Brink, who noted she is the first woman to lead a civilian mission in a war zone, frames her campaign as an extension of that decision to walk away from a powerful post rather than support a foreign policy she viewed as dangerous. Ive done this before stood up to a president at great personal cost, she said. Ill do it again. Brink said her years of working with young democracies overseas make what shes now seeing in the U.S. feel eerily familiar. Advertisement Advertisement She points to political pressure on media, universities and businesses; what she calls the weaponization of the justice system against perceived political opponents; and the appearance of masked, out-of-control federal agents on our city streets, killing U.S. citizens on video. These are the foundations of democracy: free press, right to assemble, due process, independent judges, rule of law, human rights, she said. I never believed that these things could be at risk in our own country. But the fact of the matter is, our eyes dont lie. Trump has publicly floated the idea of nationalizing elections, which Brink argues would undermine a system that has been trusted precisely because it is decentralized and run by local officials. Our election process has not only been successful but also trusted because its decentralized, she said. It is not controlled by the federal government, nor do I believe that it should be. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink introduces U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to speak to staff and families at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool via AP) Asked about Michigan Republicans attacks on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and calls for federal oversight of the 2026 midterm elections, Brink said she is absolutely worried and sees those efforts as part of a broader pattern. Advertisement Advertisement I have full confidence in our local officials to stand up and fight for elections and to make sure that our elections are free and fair, she said. Thats how it needs to be, and it should not be changed. Brink is blunt about what she sees as the stakes of abandoning long-standing alliances in Europe and beyond. Its impossible for me to understand why our president and our government is turning its back on our allies and partners of decades, she said, citing NATO, the European Union and other democratic partners. Were rejecting all of those, and we are cozying up to Russia and dictators and countries that are our adversaries, she continued. It makes no sense to me, and I think it is not a way to make us powerful in the world. It will be a cold and lonely place for the United States if were going to go at everything alone. Advertisement Advertisement Brink ties that critique directly to economic issues in Michigan, especially tariffs imposed under Trump that she says are raising prices and hammering farmers and manufacturers. She wants Congress to reassert its authority over trade policy. We need Congress to stand up and do its job, including take back the power of putting tariffs in place and stopping these reckless, indiscriminate tariffs, she said. They are the things that are raising prices for all of us. The Moment with Brad LaPlante airs Fridays at 9 a.m. on WLNS+ available for Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. 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. Bayers radioligand therapy (RLT), Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride), has demonstrated its first-line, combinatory treatment potential in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with bone metastases in a pivotal Phase III trial. During the open-label, investigator-initiated PEACE-3 study (NCT02194842), a combination of Xofigo and Pfizer and Astellas Pharmas Xtandi (enzalutamide) reduced the risk of death by 24% compared with Xtandi alone. The combination also offered a significant overall survival (OS) benefit, with patients randomised to receive Xofigo-Xtandi experiencing a median OS of 38.2 months. This represents a 5.6-month increase over the 32.6-month median OS observed in the Xtandi monotherapy group. This result comes as global regulators increasingly require sponsors to demonstrate a drugs OS benefit reaffirming its role as the gold standard endpoint for cancer trials. Advertisement Advertisement The final OS figures follow on from the positive outcomes of a primary analysis on the PEACE-3 study, which revealed that a combination of Xofigo and Xtandi significantly improved radiological progression-free survival (rPFS) to 19.4 months versus the 16.4-month rPFS observed in the Xtandi-only cohort meeting the trials primary endpoint. While the treatment combination demonstrated efficacy, it did trigger an increase in serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), with 69% of patients experiencing events classed as Grade 3 or higher compared with 58% in the Xtandi monotherapy arm. However, no individual severe TEAE increased by more than 5% in patients given the combination compared with Xtandi alone. This trial was sponsored by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), a non-profit that aims to conduct international translational and clinical research to drive informed clinical decision-making. RLTs gain traction in oncology As cancer treatments continue to improve, several new and advanced modalities have emerged as disruptors in the oncology treatment paradigm, which once revolved heavily around chemotherapy. Advertisement Advertisement One of these drug classes is the radiopharmaceuticals, which have seen successful incorporation into the prostate cancer treatment paradigm through the US approvals of Novartis Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) in prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive mCRPC and Xofigo as a monotherapy in mCRPC with bone metastases. GlobalData, the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena, predicts that this modality within prostate cancer alone will generate $6.3bn in sales in 2030 an increase primarily driven by ballooning Pluvicto profits. As the uptake of RLTs increase within oncology, pharma companies are looking to grab a slice of the market, with big players like AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) all inking multi-billion dollar M&A deals with radiopharmaceutical-focused companies between 2023 and 2024. It appears that investors are also taking an increased interest in the RLT modality, as venture financing reached a record high of $408m in 2023, while undergoing a 330% surge in Q1 2024 compared with the same period in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement In conversation with Pharmaceutical Technology, sister publication to Clinical Trials Arena, experts noted that theranostics could represent the future of the radiopharmaceutical field, as the combination of diagnostic and therapeutic molecules could facilitate precise and image-driven treatment in oncology. "Bayers Xofigo plus Xtandi extends OS in mCRPC with bone metastases" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The Brief The Minnesota BCA identified the three officers involved in the deadly gunfire exchange with a double homicide suspect. Eddie Duncan was accused of killing two family members shortly after being released from jail, and later had an encounter with the Brooklyn Center police. The incident remains under investigation. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the three Brooklyn Center officers involved in a deadly gunfire exchange with a Minneapolis man who is suspected of killing two family members earlier that day. Advertisement Advertisement The man killed in the Feb. 23 officer-involved shooting was identified as 23-year-old Eddie Duncan of Minneapolis. Deadly shooting in Brooklyn Center The backstory Police previously reported that Duncan was a suspect in a double homicide in north Minneapolis hours before the Brooklyn Center encounter. According to authorities, Duncan had recently been released from jail after posting bail for a case involving gun possession and fleeing police. Just hours later, authorities said he went to a family members home and opened fire, killing two people, ages 13 and 23, who are believed to be his cousins. Later that afternoon, Brooklyn Center officers responded to reports of a man waving a handgun in the parking lot of a business along the 5600 block of Brooklyn Boulevard. Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived and approached Duncan, he reportedly fired toward them, striking a squad car. The three officers returned fire, striking Duncan. He ran a short distance before collapsing. Officers rendered medical aid and Duncan was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. No officers were injured during the incident. Officers involved identified Dig deeper The Minnesota BCA identified the three officers who discharged their firearms as: Officer Christian Lausen four years of experience Officer Francisco Martinez three years of experience Officer Wahid Gul five years of experience. All three officers have been placed on standard critical incident leave. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators recovered a handgun and spent casings from the scene. The BCA said body-worn cameras and in-car cameras captured portions of this incident. What's next The BCA is continuing its investigation into the use-of-force incident and will present its findings to the Hennepin County Attorneys Office for review. The Source This story uses previous FOX 9 reporting and information from a Feb. 26 Minnesota BCA press release. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Gibraltar was ceded by Spain to the UK in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. | Credit: Oliver J Davis Photography / Getty Images The UK, Gibraltar and the EU are set to end almost a decade of uncertainty for the British overseas territory since the Brexit referendum, said Londons The Standard. A draft treaty drawn up by the three governments aims to protect British sovereignty, UK military autonomy and secure Gibraltars economic future. Madrid will hope, however, that this deal drags the territory further towards Spanish control. What is in the treaty? Though not fully ratified, the draft treaty claims to tackle the last major unresolved issue from Brexit. Advertisement Advertisement Under the new rules, the UK will allow Spanish border guards to check passports for those entering territory by air or sea. This means that these arrivals will present their passports to both British and Spanish authorities in dual border control checks similar to those seen at Eurostar terminals at Londons St Pancras. In effect, this shifts the EUs external border from the between Spain and Gibraltar to the Rocks points of arrival, said The Times. Gibraltar will not become part of the EU, but residents will be able to pass into Spain freely, and vice versa. The barbed-wire fence separating Gibraltar from Spain is expected to be dismantled after more than a century to create a fluid border for people and goods. As a result, the Rock effectively becomes part of the EUs Schengen zone of passport-free movement, said The Telegraph. By removing the land border, the deal protects Gibraltar residents and Spaniards from post-Brexit rules, meaning they are no longer subject to the visa-free travel limit of 90 days every 180 days. In terms of customs, Gibraltar must now align with EU single market rules and be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. This means that cigarettes and alcohol will no longer be as cheap on the Rock. Gibraltar will keep its zero-VAT regime but a new transaction tax starting at 15% will apply to goods imported to the territory for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Crucially, the draft agreement does not affect sovereignty of the territory. According to the treaty, the UK will never enter into arrangements where sovereignty would pass to another state against the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the Gibraltarian people. Why now? Gibraltar was ceded by Spain to the UK in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht, and the resident population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory, said The Independent. The last time Gibraltar voted on the issue of sharing sovereignty with Spain, in 2002, almost 99% of Gibraltarians rejected the move. Spain had been due to apply the EUs new automated Entry/Exit border system from April, which would include biometric checks on the border with Gibraltar, said the BBC. If no agreement had been reached, there would have been mandatory passport checks at air, land and sea borders, which would devastate Gibraltars economy, lead to endless entry queues and cost hundreds of millions a year to UK taxpayers, according to the proposed treaty. Who will it affect? Around 15,000 people just under half of the territorys 35,000 population cross the border each day, mainly for work purposes. They will not need to have their passports checked and can pass through freely. What has the reaction been? The safe and secure proposals allow Gibraltar to look to the future with confidence, while protecting our British way of life and exploring new opportunities for growth and prosperity, said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. Advertisement Advertisement British and Spanish diplomats hope the treaty will improve bilateral relations, said The Standard. However, Spain wants to strengthen its legal claim on the Rock, leading the way for Madrid to wield greater influence over the territory. Some in the UK, meanwhile, may see the deal as an erosion of sovereignty. Any agreement that hands Spain new powers over entry, residency, infrastructure or enforcement must be examined line by line by Parliament before it takes effect, said shadow Foreign Office minister Wendy Morton. What will happen next? The treaty has been published in draft, so still needs to be reviewed by legal teams from all parties. Then it will have to be ratified by both the UK, Gibraltarian and European parliaments. Gibraltars government says it is hoping to provisionally apply the deal from 10 April, said the BBC. By Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan Feb 27 (Reuters) - Bill Clinton told lawmakers on Friday that he "saw nothing that gave me pause" when he spent time with Jeffrey Epstein, as the former president gave closed-door testimony about his relationship with the late sex offender. Clinton's closed-door appearance before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee marked the first time a current or former president has been compelled to testify before Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats on the panel said President Donald Trump should be subpoenaed as well, but the committee's Republican chairman, James Comer said that was not going to happen. Both men socialized with Epstein before his 2008 conviction of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Both have repeatedly said they did not see any evidence of sex trafficking, and neither have been accused by authorities of criminal activity related to the late financier, who entertained a long list of business and financial leaders at his lavish residences in New York, Florida and the Caribbean. In his testimony, Clinton told the committee that he would not have flown on the late financier's plane if he had known about his alleged sex trafficking of underage girls, and would have reported him if he did. "We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long," Clinton said, speaking near his main residence in Chappaqua, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Clinton flew on Epstein's plane several times in the early 2000s after he left office, and a tranche of millions of documents released by the Justice Department includes photos of Clinton with women whose faces are redacted. "I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong," Clinton said. Comer described the hearing as cordial and said Clinton was cooperative. "He's a charming individual, obviously," he said. Clinton said the committee should not have subpoenaed his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who told the panel on Thursday that she did not remember ever meeting Epstein and had nothing to share about his sex crimes. Advertisement Advertisement She said she was also asked about UFOs and a 2016-era conspiracy theory during the seven-hour session. Comer said some of Hillary Clinton's answers had been inconsistent and would be examined for possible perjury. He did not rule out the possibility of subpoenaing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who visited Epstein's Caribbean island after his 2008 conviction. "Stay tuned on that," he said. Democrats said the investigation would not be credible if it does not examine Trump's role. "President Clinton's presence here today under oath highlights the Donald Trump-sized gaping hole in Chairman Comer's investigation," said Democratic Representative James Walkinshaw of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are also accusing Trump's Justice Department of withholding records of a woman who accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was a minor. The Justice Department has said it is looking at the material and will publish it if appropriate, and has also warned that the material includes unfounded accusations about Trump. Trump's name appears frequently in the Epstein files. He socialized extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s and says he broke off ties before Epstein's 2008 conviction. Authorities have not accused him of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, but the association has dogged him for decades. At the White House, Trump expressed sympathy for Clinton, a Democrat. "I don't like seeing him deposed," Trump said. "But they certainly went after me more than that." Advertisement Advertisement The Clintons agreed to testify near their home in Chappaqua after the House threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate. Some Democrats supported the move. Both Clintons accuse Republicans of conducting a partisan exercise designed to protect Trump from scrutiny, noting that others in the inquiry were allowed to submit written statements rather than testify in person. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while facing federal sex-trafficking crimes. His death was ruled a suicide. (Reporting by Richard Cowan and Andy Sullivan; Additional reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Sergio Non and Alistair Bell) JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could significantly disrupt jobs and urged policymakers and companies to plan for workforce changes before large-scale displacement occurs. AI Deployment, Job Disruption Concerns On Tuesday, speaking at a company event, Dimon said businesses and governments should proactively prepare for potential job losses driven by AI, reported Fortune. He stressed that the issue should be addressed "now" rather than after disruption unfolds. "I'm not predicting [it] can be a problem. I'm simply saying now's the time to start thinking about what you do if it does," he said. Don't Miss: Dimon noted that JPMorgan is already deploying AI across its operations, with about 150,000 employees using a large language model weekly. He said automation may reduce staffing needs over the next five years but emphasized the company is focused on retraining and redeploying workers. "We have displaced people from AI, and we offer them other jobs. They are usually well-trained and highly talented, very good at things," he said. He pointed to autonomous vehicles as an example of technology that could eliminate millions of jobs if adopted overnight, questioning whether society could absorb such rapid change. Dimon suggested technological advances should be phased in to avoid economic shock and indicated support for policies that encourage workforce retraining. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company AI Leaders Warn Of Job Disruption As Automation Reshapes Workforce Earlier, Industry leaders warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping global labor markets and could significantly disrupt jobs across sectors. Boris Cherny of Anthropic predicted that AI agents capable of performing tasks on workplace tools could soon impact most computer-based roles and described the transition as potentially disruptive. He pointed to productivity gains from tools like Claude Code and suggested traditional job titles may evolve as automation expands. See Also: 1.5 Million Users Are Already Working Inside This AI Platform Investors Can Still Get In The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, described AI as a major force transforming work, saying it could replace or reshape a large share of jobs worldwide but also boost demand through higher wages and increased spending by AI-enhanced workers. Former President Bill Clinton told members of Congress on Friday that he did nothing wrong in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of Epsteins sexual abuse as he faced hours of grilling from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong, the former Democratic president said in an opening statement he shared on social media at the outset of the deposition. The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It came a day after Clintons wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Advertisement Advertisement Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing. Yet lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from their high-powered posts for maintaining their connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Men and women for that matter of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of heinous crimes and they havent been held accountable and they have not even had to answer questions, said Republican Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, before the deposition began Friday. Hillary Clinton told lawmakers Thursday that she had no knowledge of how Epstein had sexually abused underage girls and had no recollection of even meeting him. But Bill Clinton will have to answer questions on a well-documented relationship with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, even if it was from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, after testifying before U.S. House lawmakers as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Chappaqua, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Bill Clinton in his opening statement said that he would likely often tell the committee that he did not recall the specifics of events from more than 20 years ago. But he also expressed certainty that he had not witnessed signs of Epsteins abuse. Advertisement Advertisement During a break after two hours of questioning, Democratic lawmakers said that Bill Clinton had tried to answer every question and had not invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Still, Republicans were relishing the opportunity to scrutinize the former Democratic president under oath. No ones accusing anyone of any wrongdoing, but I think the American people have a lot of questions, Comer said. Republicans finally get a chance to question Bill Clinton Republicans have wanted to question Bill Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following Epsteins 2019 suicide in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year when several photos of the former president surfaced in the Department of Justices first release of case files on Epstein and Maxwell, a British socialite who was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 but maintains shes innocent. Bill Clinton was photographed on a plane seated alongside a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell in a pool with another person whose face was redacted. Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clintons presidency, and the pair later made several international trips together for their humanitarian work. Comer claimed the committee has collected evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epsteins airplane 27 times. FILE - Former President Bill Clinton speaks in the Cash Room of the Treasury Department during an event for the anniversary of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund,, Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Democratic lawmakers said they also posed tough questions to Bill Clinton about his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell. We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long, Bill Clinton said in his opening statement. And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him. Advertisement Advertisement Comer pledged extensive questioning of the former president. He claimed that Hillary Clinton had repeatedly deferred questions about Epstein to her husband. Bill Clinton went after Comer for calling his wife before the committee, telling him that including her was simply not right. The committee was working to quickly publish a transcript and video recording of her deposition. Has a precedent been set? Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Bill Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to President Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax, said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, on Friday. Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. Trump on Friday expressed remorse at Bill Clinton being forced to testify. I like Bill Clinton, and I dont like seeing him deposed, he told reporters as he departed the White House en route to Corpus Christi, Texas. Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick was a longtime neighbor of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epsteins home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife. Advertisement Advertisement The public release of case files showed that Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epsteins home, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island. He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee, Garcia said of Lutnick. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnicks relationship to Epstein during the deposition on Thursday. On Friday morning, Mace joined in calling for the commerce secretary to come before the committee. I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said. Advertisement Advertisement ___ Follow the APs coverage of Jeffrey Epstein at https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein. 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 BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Local caregivers have said a new bill could jeopardize funding for senior centers throughout West Virginia. Leadership Beckley gives members an inside look at local industry House Bill 5096 would eliminate certain requirements for personal care services. Requirements for agency Certificate of Need would be relaxed, which could have unintended local consequences at the local level. Interim Director with the Raleigh County Commission on Aging, Tammy Trent said the bill would make many local programs unsustainable. It would hurt other program areas such as our meal program, our transportation program, our adult daycare program, she said. Because we rely so much for funding on those that we dont always have. Providers have said the Certificate of Need process requires organizations to cite a demonstrated need before moving services into new communities. The loss of these safeguards could mean for-profit agencies from out of state would be motivated to enter the market. Providers expressed concerns that this could have harmful impacts locally. I dont want it to hurt services to seniors, Trent continued. What happens is it goes into the open market for people and were afraid if it goes into the open markets, it will take away from us here. Were here to provide services to our seniors. House Bill 5096 was moved forward by members of the House of Delegates and has been sent to the Health and Human Resources Committee for consideration. Members of the state senate will need to vote for passage of the bill before it can go to the desk of Governor Patrick Morrisey. 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 WVNS. Following high-profile reports of abuse, neglect, and untimely deaths, a bipartisan group of New Hampshire state senators have proposed legislation aimed at protecting people with disabilities in state care from future abuse and neglect. This is a very vulnerable community, some of the most vulnerable people that are living amongst us, Sen. David Rochefort, a Littleton Republican and sponsor of the bill, said at a legislative hearing last week. And its the states responsibility and duty to ensure that not only theyre getting care, but if that care is lacking, theres accountability for that. In New Hampshire, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are legally entitled to state-funded and -directed care services. To provide this care, the state contracts with a network of private agencies across the state. This is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Developmental Services and is funded by Medicaid and other public funding sources. Advertisement Advertisement In November, the Bulletin published a series of articles that uncovered rampant and systemic abuse and neglect committed by caretakers against people with disabilities within this system. State records obtained by the Bulletin revealed that there were 467 credible reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the system investigated by the state, and 119 deaths across the system from January 2023 through the first six months of 2025. If enacted, Senate Bill 670, would create a Developmental Services Oversight Commission made up of lawmakers, state officials, representatives of private providers, advocates, parents of people with disabilities, and people with disabilities themselves. The commission would be responsible for reviewing performance measures, satisfaction surveys, licensing and certification data, caretaker training guidelines and best practices, and suggesting ways to improve the system. The commission would provide feedback on proposed rule changes and laws related to the system, and release a quarterly report of its findings and recommendations. As part of a series titled A System of Harm, the Bulletin reported on the December 2022 death of Stephen Weidlich Jr., a young man with physical and developmental disabilities who was found dead behind the care home where he lived, and the July 2019 death of Christine Marie Bill, a woman with disabilities who was found dead after overheating in a hot, sealed car in Andover. In its reporting, the Bulletin discovered that the states Vulnerable Adult Review Fatality Committee a committee formed in 2008 to review concerning deaths of people with disabilities or otherwise vulnerable adults and provide recommendations to prevent future similar tragedies wasnt notified of either death. SB 670 also seeks to revamp this committee. The bill, if enacted, would redefine preventable death under state law as one in which a reasonable intervention, based on the conditions, circumstances, or resources available at the time, might have prevented the death. Lawmakers, in consultation with the Attorney Generals Office, have discussed amending this definition to be more targeted. The legislation would compel the states chief medical examiner and other pertinent state agencies to report preventable deaths to the committee. The bill would also specify who serves on the committee: the attorney general, the chief medical examiner, state officials overseeing the system, representatives of advocacy organizations, law enforcement officials, and others. Previously, the attorney general chose members at his or her discretion. Advertisement Advertisement Finally, SB 670 would also streamline data sharing so that officials can spot issues within the system more easily and respond to them with policy changes or other means. If enacted, the bill would require private providers to notify the Health and Human Services commissioner, the Bureau of Licensing and Certification, the attorney general, and the Disability Rights Center-NH of any deaths or serious injuries. The systems and policies that have been in place up until this point are evidently not enough to support people in the community and ensure their well being and their safety, Isadora Rodriguez-Legendre, executive director of the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities, said during the legislative hearing on the bill. She said its important to create a commission with more teeth and where legislators can serve and in real time talk about improving the laws and the system in place to make sure that vulnerable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are protected. Louis Esposito, executive director of the disability rights group ABLE NH, said it was important to rebuild trust between the state and the disability community. People died, Esposito said. When Im meeting with families, one of their biggest fears consistently is, Whats gonna happen to my son or daughter when I pass away? Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will vote on the bill in the coming weeks before it advances to a floor vote of the full Senate. SB 670 is one of several measures being taken in response to the Bulletins reporting. The Disability Rights Center-NH, a federally funded watchdog and advocacy organization, launched its own investigation into the system in late 2025. The Attorney Generals Office told the Bulletin in an email it is assisting DHHS in reviewing and improving oversight processes, and at the Governors direction, we are working to ensure that any potential criminal conduct is identified and addressed appropriately. And the states Systems Review Committee has launched a formal review of the system, which includes a series of public meetings across eight months. Rep. Blake Moore, one of the original co-chairs of the Better Boundaries redistricting commission, is now urging the group to drop its latest efforts to undermine a Republican campaign seeking to repeal the Proposition 4 anti-gerrymandering law. In a 2-minute video posted to social media on Thursday, Moore called on members of the Better Boundaries group to stop its attempt to remove signatures from the state Republicans petition to put Proposition 4 back on the ballot in November. Moore said the effort contradicts the groups original mission to ensure Utah voters get to choose their representation. This is a simple issue for me: blue states and red states should follow redistricting standards. I supported that then and I support it now, Moore said. The effort in our state was about strengthening the process not about guaranteeing a particular mapping outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Moore expressed his opposition to 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibsons decision last year establishing a new congressional map proposed by an outside group after ruling the map drawn by the Legislature failed to adhere to the states anti-gerrymandering law. State Republicans have since launched a petition to repeal Proposition 4 by putting it on the November ballot, prompting Better Boundaries to kick-start a counter-campaign pushing voters to remove their signatures. In 2018, I proudly supported Utahs Better Boundaries Initiative as a Republican co-chair. At the time, I believed and still believe that improving transparency in redistricting is a worthy goal. The proposal created standards and an independent commission to recommend maps Blake D. Moore (@ElectBlakeMoore) February 26, 2026 Republicans have since sued to block signatures from being removed from the petition. Utahns have once again engaged in the initiative process and it looks like theyve gathered enough signatures to reconsider Proposition 4. Whether one supports repeal or opposes it, the right response is the same: trust the people, Moore said. In 2018, Better Boundaries believed Utahns deserved a vote on this issue. Today, they and other groups are attempting to reverse participation by encouraging signature removals from the petition, Moore added. Theyve gone from trusting the process to fighting for a partisan outcome. I especially condemn any misleading efforts from any group on this issue. Advertisement Advertisement Moores comments come as the Utah Republican has faced online backlash claiming he is responsible for the new map because of his efforts to pass Proposition 4, with some voters saying he should run in the new heavily Democratic district because of that. Although Moore has not yet filed for reelection, he has already started to gather signatures for Utahs new 2nd District, which encompasses northern Utah and leans heavily Republican. So now the question is: Where will all the Utah House incumbents run now? None have officially announced, as they were waiting for this decision But the https://t.co/dDkzxCYT9O page shows Blake Moore (UT-01) has already started gathering signatures for the new 2nd District, https://t.co/4guGRsNBqf pic.twitter.com/HaXMoFR6LN Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) February 24, 2026 Moore was one of the original signatories on the application to put Proposition 4 on the ballot in 2018, which was later passed that year and established as the states anti-gerrymandering law. That law became the legal basis for a judges recent decision to throw out Utahs congressional map and redraw the lines before next years midterm elections. But in previous interviews with the Deseret News, Moore suggested the group no longer reflects its original goal. It was very much about a process, about a redistricting process in Utah. It was always an advisory commission, an advisory aspect of that work, that respected the Legislatures constitutional role to redistrict, Moore told the Deseret News in an interview last year. The petition appears to be on track to reach the required number of signatures needed to appear on the November ballot, once again placing the fate of the anti-gerrymandering law in the hands of Utah voters. The government of Botswana in southern Africa dramatically increased the universal old age pension for all citizens aged 65 and above from P830 (about US$63) to P1,400 (about US$106) per month in 2025. Headlines celebrated the near 70% rise in value. For many older citizens struggling with rising food and transport costs, it appeared to signal a new era of state recognition of elder care. But if you look closer, the story is less straightforward. A cash increase is something you can measure, and you can see who gets it. But it does not address the deeper question confronting ageing in Botswana: who provides care and under what conditions? Advertisement Advertisement To answer this question, The Wellcome Trust funded The Family Caregiving Programmes latest research report. It draws on interviews with 78 caregivers and 80 older people across 80 family units in four locations in the Greater Gaborone region, spanning two rural areas, one peri-urban settlement and one urban site. Approximately 20% of older people in Botswana live in these four areas. The Family Caregiving Programme is the first major research programme dedicated to understanding family care of older persons in southern Africa. As part of this programme, the research team examines how family care operates in practice and how it can be more effectively supported. The five-year programme seeks to deepen understanding of the lived experiences of family care across South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana. Our central finding is stark. Family care for older persons in Botswana is increasingly fragile. Caregivers, mainly adult daughters, face rising responsibilities amid resource scarcity (water, food, employment), shrinking support networks shaped by the long shadow of the HIV/Aids epidemic, and limited state assistance beyond pensions. In essence, caregivers are being asked to do more with fewer resources. Botswana continues to face a very high burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In 2021, adult prevalence was 21%, with implications for long-term care needs, household vulnerability, and pressure on health and care systems. Advertisement Advertisement As a dryland country, Botswana is highly exposed to climate change. The countrys heavy reliance on rainfall for water supply and agricultural production intensifies drought risk, placing growing pressure on elder-care systems as households and communities face rising care needs alongside constrained resources. In the aftermath of HIV/Aids, care responsibilities are often concentrated among one or two relatives. This concentration underscores both the fragility of family-based systems and the absence of formal long-term care alternatives. Alternative long-term care support structures could include expanding existing home-based care services, which are already in operation but remain limited in reach. They could also involve increasing financial support for community programmes and organisations that provide care and related assistance to older persons and their families. A higher cash transfer does not build community-based services, expand home-based care, fund respite support, or strengthen health and long-term care systems. Nor does it reduce the unpaid care that sustains frail older people. Botswana is ageing Botswanas population aged 60 and over now stands at approximately 279,111 (Census 2022). Approximately 8% of people in Botswana are 60 years or older. Sixty percent of older people are women. Around one older person in three is visually impaired, and one in five lives with leg impairments. Advertisement Advertisement Despite rising longevity, Botswana has no stand-alone national policy for older people or their family carers. Responsibility remains fragmented across ministries, and at the time of writing, the long-awaited Older Persons Policy was awaiting approval by cabinet. A pension increase is popular, necessary and politically powerful. However, it can also be used to signal progress while postponing the more complex and costly work of building care infrastructure. What our research reveals is the absence of a broader care strategy. Consider the disability allowance. Of the 80 older people in our sample, 32 had mobility limitations; seven were bedbound or used a wheelchair; 22 relied on walking aids and could not walk long distances. Thirty participants had poor vision and could not walk unassisted. Yet not a single person in our sample received the disability allowance. The findings reveal significant assessment challenges and complex application procedures related to the disability cash allowance. Nationally, only about 8% of older people access this allowance. Given that more than one-third of our sample could not perform at least one vital activity of daily living, the near absence of disability allowance receipt signals systemic failure, from assessment practices to administrative processes and frontline support. Water shortage Care needs extend well beyond clinical health. They include access to water, food, transport and medical services. Where infrastructure fails, care demands intensify. Advertisement Advertisement Building on our earlier report, Older Persons and Community Care in Botswana, which found that over 20% of older people rely on public taps or rivers for water and 18% have no toilet facilities, we documented how daily life is shaped by the relentless effort to secure water. Water scarcity increases not only health risks, but also the workload, financial pressure and emotional strain on caregivers. Households reported chronic shortages, frequent disconnections and unaffordable bills. Some spent as much as P800 (about US$60.50) per month buying water, between 5% and 13% of household budgets, particularly high in homes caring for frail or disabled people. Hygiene, hydration and additional washing are non-negotiable in care. As one participant told us: Without water, everything becomes difficult. Infrastructure, then, is not peripheral, it is in fact care policy. Water shortages are linked to ageing infrastructure, insufficient supply and environmental pressures. While upgrades are underway, they have yet to ease the daily load. The findings are clear: family care requires far more than income. Cash transfers matter. But they do not bathe a frail body, queue at a clinic, fetch water or sit through the night with someone in pain. The way forward If Botswana is serious about building a long-term care system, the starting points are practical: Advertisement Advertisement simpler access to the disability allowance, putting people who need high care first targeted food support programmes affordable, subsidised and reliable water supply community-based or subsidised transport to healthcare and essential services. Caregivers themselves require recognition: stipends, psychosocial support and respite care would reduce the financial, physical and emotional load thats invisible in policy. Home-based care services and day centres must be expanded to relieve pressure on households. Most importantly, ageing policy cannot sit in isolation. Health, social protection, water, housing and transport must be aligned. Otherwise families, and particularly women, will continue to subsidise the state through unpaid labour. Income is necessary. But care requires systems. 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: Elena Moore, University of Cape Town; Dolly Mogomotsi Ntseane, University of Botswana; Gwen Lesetedi, University of Botswana; Vayda Megannon, University of Cape Town, and Zeenat Samodien, University of Cape Town Read more: Elena Moore receives funding from Welcome Trust 225910/Z/22/Z and the International Development Research Centre, Grant No. 110536 - 001 Advertisement Advertisement Vayda Megannon is affiliated with The Universal Basic Income Coalition. Dolly Mogomotsi Ntseane, Gwen Lesetedi, and Zeenat Samodien do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Its no secret that Texas has had a massive impact in the career of President Donald Trump. Texas voters chose him all three times he ran for president the largest state to do so. Most recently, the president asked Texas lawmakers to redraw the states congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterms to help shore up his congressional majority. No Republican state lawmaker voted against the plan while Indiana, another Republican-controlled state, could not get everyone on board. On Friday, Trump is expected to visit Corpus Christi ahead of Texas March 3 primary election. It will be his second visit to the Lone Star State since starting his second term in office the first since touring the damage done by the Texas Hill Country floods last year. Heres a brief history of President Donald Trump and the Lone Star State. 2016 presidential primary Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump listens to a question from the media during a tour of the World Trade International Bridge at the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo, Texas, Thursday, July 23, 2015. (AP Photo/LM Otero) In 2015, Trump entered a crowded field of Republicans vying to earn the partys nomination. One of his opponents, Ted Cruz, still represents Texas in the U.S. Senate and beat Trump in the primary. But that doesnt mean Texas did not play a role in his nationwide primary victory. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps first notable trip to Texas as a candidate foreshadowed the main topic of his presidency immigration and the southern U.S. border. Trump visited Laredo on July 23, 2015, a little over a month after announcing his campaign. By that time, he had already made immigration his primary focus, and he used the trip to the border as a way to put added emphasis on the issue. There is nothing more important than what I am doing, Trump told the media in Laredo. And Im the one who brought up the problem of illegal immigration. His first large rally came two months later at the 20,000-seat American Airlines Center in Dallas. Reporting from the Texas Tribunes Patrick Svitek at the time said the stadium was well over half full by the time Trump took the stage. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles as he stands with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Exactly two months later, Trump spoke in front of a large crowd in Beaumont at the Ford Park Arena. The rally also took place two days after the Texas Politics Project first polled Trumps statewide approval rating, showing Trump held a 51% disapproval rating, with only 34% of respondents holding a positive view. His numbers looked better amongst Republicans, with 54% approving, however both numbers are far below any of their counterparts from after Trumps first term started. Advertisement Advertisement Trump took one final primary campaign stop at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Feb. 26, 2016, less than a week before Texas presidential primary. Despite getting a strong endorsement from then-Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie at the event, Texas Republicans wholeheartedly rejected Trump on March 1. He lost to Cruz by 17 points. However, Texans views towards Trump started to change once he secured the Republican nomination. 2016 general election While Trump became the official nominee at the Republican convention in July, he mathematically clinched the nomination on May 26, setting himself up for a showdown with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump only held a couple of rallies in Texas ahead of the 2016 general election likely a strategic move, as the Lone Star State hasnt voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Advertisement Advertisement His campaign strategy partially worked. Back-to-back June rallies in Dallas and The Woodlands drew smaller crowds than his rallies for the primary elections, and journalists at the time were not convinced of Trumps staying power. This is a campaign that is not headed in the right direction, and Republicans have only a month to change it or just go ahead and save the money for 2020, Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Bud Kennedy said in an opinion piece after Trumps stop in Dallas. After 12 months, the biggest disappointment about Trump is that he does not seem a year more mature. It didnt seem like many of the ticket holding audience members were that interested in hearing what Trump had to say, Diana Wray from the Houston Press said after his event in The Woodlands. That event did mark the public start of what has been a longstanding relationship for Trump that with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. FILE Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a campaign rally in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Donald Trump will be the change agent that youve been working for, hoping for, praying for your entire life, Patrick said at the event, after previously supporting Cruz in the primary. Since then, Patrick has been one of Trumps biggest supporters. In Sept. 2016, he was tapped to become the Trump campaigns Texas state chairman and was recently appointed to chair Trumps Religious Liberty Commission. Advertisement Advertisement While Trump ended up winning Texas, he underperformed compared to his Republican predecessors. His final margin of victory over Clinton was 9 points, the first time a Republican presidential candidate failed to win the Lone Star State by double digits since 1996. In the 2012 election, Republican Mitt Romney won Texas by nearly 16 points, despite performing worse than Trump nationally. Additionally, Trump became the first Republican since Richard Nixon to lose a member of the electoral college he won on election night, when two faithless electors decided to cast their electoral college votes for fellow Republicans John Kasich and Ron Paul leaving Trump with only 36 of Texas 38 electoral votes. Trumps first term (2017-2020) During his first term, Trump took 18 official visits to the Lone Star State. In his first year, all three trips were related to one of Texas worst natural disasters Hurricane Harvey. President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, holds up a Texas flag. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) On Aug. 29, 2017, a few days after the hurricane tore through Texas coastal gulf, Trump touched down in Corpus Christi, travelling to meet with first responders and Gov. Greg Abbott. The same day, he flew to Austin and spoke at the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center. Advertisement Advertisement Trump returned for his second official visit days later, this time heading to Houston and speaking at a church in Pearland. TEXAS: We are with you today, we are with you tomorrow, and we will be with you EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER, to restore, recover, and REBUILD!, Trump said in a Twitter post, along with a video of him getting off Air Force One in Harris County. According to CNNs Betsy Klein and Jeremy Diamond, Trumps second post-Harvey visit was a lot more hands-on. Trump stayed mostly indoors during his visit to the state on Tuesday, they wrote at the time. His visit Saturday was markedly different, showcasing a president eager to demonstrate a hands-on approach and check the boxes he wasnt able to during the initial trip. Advertisement Advertisement His final Harvey-related trip wasnt to the Gulf, but an Oct. 25, 2017, trip to Dallas. He received a hurricane recovery effort briefing at the Dallas Love Field airport before attending a fundraiser in Dallas later that day. In 2018, a midterm election year, Trumps three Texas visits were more political in nature. His first visit was to speak at the National Rifle Association convention in Dallas in May. At the end of the month, he flew to Santa Fe, Texas, to visit with survivors and first responders of the shooting at Santa Fe High School before travelling to Houston and Dallas for political events. By the end of May 2018, Trump had visited Texas five times as president after his predecessor Barack Obama only visited the state four times in his first term. His final event of 2018 was a rally for Abbott and Cruz at the Toyota Center in Houston on Oct. 22 where he made several Texas-specific references to the Alamo and Hurricane Harvey. Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, Trump visited the state a personal record seven times for a whole host of reasons. Two of those trips a February rally in El Paso and an Oct. 17 fundraising effort/rally in the Dallas-Fort Worth area- were mainly political. On Jan. 10, 2019, he visited McAllen with Cruz, Patrick and Sen. John Cornyn to push for further construction of the border wall in the middle of the then-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. On April 10, 2019, he visited Crosby for an executive order signing on oil and gas pipeline production sandwiched in between two fundraising events in San Antonio and Houston. Demonstrators place a sign to protest the visit of President Donald Trump to the border city after the Aug. 3 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) In August 2019, Trump traveled back to El Paso after a gunman opened fire in a Walmart and killed 23 people in a racially-motivated attack targeting Hispanics. According to reporting at the time from the El Paso Times, the Presidents visit was not well-received by many public officials, who felt his immigration rhetoric had inspired the gunman. Advertisement Advertisement His words had a big impact on the shooter. The shooting was motivated by Trumps consistent attack on immigrants, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, told the El Paso Times when explaining her decision to protest his visit. A month later, Trump took the stage with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston. The event marked his 11th trip to the Lone Star State before the third year of his presidency was up, equaling Obamas visits to Texas in his eight years in office. In his last official visit to Texas of 2019, Trump toured an Apple manufacturing plant in Austin with Apple CEO Tim Cook. The trip took place at the same time the president was undergoing his first impeachment trial with then-Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testifying about Trumps role in Ukraine policy. In 2020, Trump showed up to Texas two times to speak during his re-election campaign. First in Austin on Jan. 19, 2020, to the American Farm Bureau Federation, then in Dallas on June 11, 2020, in a roundtable at Gateway Church. Advertisement Advertisement His two policy-related trips took place later in the year, with Trump visiting the Double Eagle Energy oil rig in the Permian Basin on July 29, 2020, and visiting Orange, Texas, on Aug. 29 after Hurricane Laura. Out of office (2021-2024) President Donald Trump signs a plaque on a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Alamo, Texas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) In the dwindling days of his first term, Trump visited parts of the border wall he pushed for in Alamo, Texas on Jan. 12, 2021. The event was his first and only time he spoke publicly after the U.S. Capitol Riots on Jan. 6 of that year and before the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden. People thought that what I said was totally appropriate, Trump told the media, distancing his speech from the events at the U.S. Capitol. After he left office, Trump couldnt stay away from Texas for too long. On Jan. 29, 2022, he joined Texas Republicans at a rally in Conroe. There, he endorsed Abbott, who was facing a primary challenge from former State Sen. Don Huffines and former U.S. Rep. Allen West. Additionally, he endorsed Patrick, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. After the primary, he stumped for Texas Republicans one more time in Robstown on Oct. 22, less than two weeks prior to the 2022 midterms. Trumps first rally for the 2024 presidential election took place in Texas speaking at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023. It was his only stop in Texas before he showed up in Austin for a rally a little over a week before the election. During that visit, Trump sat down with Austin resident Joe Rogan for his podcast which has 61 million views on YouTube as of Thursday. Trumps second term Despite visiting Texas at least three times a year in his first term, Trump made a single appearance in Texas in 2025 touring the damage done by the July 4 Hill Country floods. Despite his sparse visitation to Texas in recent years, his impacts can be felt from Washington D.C.. According to Texas politics reporter Brad Johnson, Trump promised an endorsement to all Texas State House Republicans who supported the legislation that became the upstart Texas Education Freedom Accounts. The proposal to help families use tax dollars to subsidize public education was a big priority for Abbott after it stalled in the Texas House in 2023. Trump also put pressure on Texas to become the first state to engage in partisan mid-decade redistricting in 2025. Most recently, Republican candidates across the state have been vying for Trumps endorsement, which many believe can carry them through Tuesdays contested primary. One race Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in is the Texas Senate primary between Cornyn, Paxton and Houston-area U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. If he throws his support behind one of the three on Friday, it could dramatically reshape the race. 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 KXAN Austin. One of Vermont's most influential lawmakers plans to step away after this session though he's "absolutely ride or die until January" as legislators continue debating school consolidation and other issues. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, told colleagues Feb. 17 that he won't run for re-election after nearly 16 years in the Legislature and will retire next January at the end of his eighth term. He wants to devote more time to writing and his career as an English professor at the University of Vermont. Advertisement Advertisement "I was juggling these things for the last 20 years," Baruth, 64, told the Burlington Free Press. "At a certain point, juggling gets tiring." Baruth said he made his decision to retire after talking with family and friends over the holidays but admitted that he had "started looking at each election cycle much more closely" when he turned 60. With two terms as pro tem under his belt, Baruth said he finally felt ready to move forward. "I realized I could kick off a new phase of life with a feeling of a job well done," he said. The veteran senator told the Free Press he intends to spend the next nine months working on to the "many difficult decisions still ahead of us," such as moving the state's education transformation process "as far down as we can." Advertisement Advertisement Right now, the Legislature is struggling to agree on how to consolidate Vermont's 119 school districts and reduce skyrocketing property taxes. Baruth said he supports the state setting a "well-designed formula for how much each school district can spend." Baruth said he originally ran for office in 2010 to help ensure the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station remained closed he recalled getting arrested at the plant while a senator and make health care more affordable for Vermonters by extending benefits through the Affordable Care Act. The plant indeed stayed shuttered, but Baruth's health care objective has been much trickier to accomplish. "The new federal government is looking to restrict health care and force people off their health care," he said. "That's a never-ending battle that will go on long after I leave." Advertisement Advertisement One of his proudest accomplishments as a senator has been working on efforts aimed to improve gun safety in Vermont, he said. When he entered the Legislature, the gun violence prevention-focused Giffords Association, an organization that supports stronger gun control, had given Vermont an F grade for gun safety. Recently, Vermont earned a B- from the group. "As a professor, I'm not happy with a B-, but it's a hell of a lot better than an F," Baruth said. "We've made strides." He also said he was proud of the Legislature passing Act 76, which established universal child care, and creating Vermont State University through the consolidation of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College. Serving in the Legislature has been both the greatest honor of my life and the most fun Ive ever had, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Asked if he had any regrets during his time in office, Baruth said absolutely but declined to share specifics. Life contains regrets, and if you dont have them, youre dead, Baruth said. In this building, you either learn or end up getting moved to the side," he said. "Ive been humbled and tried to come back stronger. There are things I could have done differently or more effectively. In his Feb. 17 speech to fellow senators, Baruth said he chose to announce his retirement earlier than usual so constituents would have time to make an informed decision on who will fill his seat. About the next pro tem who typically runs the Senate in practice he said: "There are talented senators and candidates coming up behind me who deserve time to make their case." Advertisement Advertisement He added that he will not endorse anyone for his Senate seat nor for the pro tem position, but he will "offer confidential advice to anyone who asks for it." In addition to pro tem, Baruth served four years as Senate majority leader. Prior to his stint in the Senate, Baruth served two non-consecutive terms on the Burlington School Board, bringing his total time spent as a public servant to 20 years. He has taught at UVM since 1993, where he specializes in creative writing, postmodern American literature and culture, 18th-century British literature and Vermont literature. He was also an award-winning commentator for Vermont Public Radio and has written several books, including the first-ever biography on former Sen. Patrick Leahy. Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT Senate leader Phil Baruth to retire, reflects on 16 years in office SAN FRANCISCO The mysterious Californian behind two ballot measures to regulate artificial intelligence in the state said he was intimidated into scrapping them after OpenAI asked regulators to probe his identity. The initiatives were East Bay resident Alexander Oldhams first foray into the world of state ballot battles, where propositions can take off seemingly overnight, attracting big bucks and intense opposition. Oldham said he sent in the papers to withdraw them on Tuesday due to threats and intimidation from primarily OpenAI. Advertisement Advertisement I was naive, he told POLITICO in a rare interview. I dont want any more negative consequences because I was stupid enough to think that I could just put an idea out for people to look at in today's world. His proposals would have created new state agencies to enforce commitments that certain AI companies make to benefit the public good, address job displacement and ensure that advanced models are released safely. POLITICO first reported the withdrawals this week. Simply qualifying for the ballot in California typically requires millions of dollars to hire fleets of petition-carriers to gather signatures a process the state attorney general cleared Oldham to start in early February. But Oldham said his goal was only to draw attention to his causes, with no plan to mount a serious campaign and not enough personal money to try. I thought basically, it gets seen by people, and theyd like it, or it just wouldnt and itd just be whatever, he said. My main thing is, Im afraid that a big world of AI is a big world of zero accountability, pointing to recent examples like an AI-generated video posted by President Donald Trump that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Advertisement Advertisement The measures quickly drew attention, with Oldham saying he now gets calls literally nonstop. Part of the intrigue was his sparse public profile, lack of history with California campaigns and that not even advocates in the AI safety space appeared to have heard of him. Oldham also filed his paperwork for the proposal on the same day that another ballot campaign launched , with the explicit goal of reversing OpenAIs corporate restructuring. This week, OpenAI went on the attack. The AI company called Oldhams background into question by lodging a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission, Californias top campaign finance watchdog, the New York Post first reported . OpenAI lawyer Brian Hauck asked the agency to investigate Oldham while drawing connections between him, industry competitors and organizers of the other ballot campaign. By his own telling, Oldham says hes a nobody, having worked at his familys small boat chartering business for years. Before that, he aspired to be a filmmaker. Advertisement Advertisement He claimed to have written the proposals himself, ironically turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for help with the legal particulars. He has spoken about them with friends, he said, but not enlisted any lawyers, consultants, or professionals, describing his exposure to tech as that of a hobby enthusiast tinkering with computers, previously being an avid gamer, reading science fiction and living in the AI-obsessed Bay Area. Initially, Oldham repeatedly evaded interview requests from POLITICO and other media outlets, later explaining that he was unprepared for the surge of interest. His withdrawal has diminished the field of AI ballot campaigns for 2026. The one remaining is for a measure filed by Poornima Ramarao, the mother of a deceased OpenAI whistleblower who is fundraising for it with an anonymous group known as the Coalition for AI Nonprofit Integrity. Ahead of Oldhams withdrawal, OpenAI shelved its own kids chatbot safety measure with Common Sense this month. CANI has declined to comment on how much progress its made, and neither the group, nor Ramarao, nor Oldham has registered a committee to fundraise for their measures. In its sworn FPPC complaint against Oldham, OpenAI also accused CANI of failing to report likely contributions for its campaign. Advertisement Advertisement OpenAIs lawyer referenced prior reporting from the Post to back the companys suspicion that the two efforts were teaming up to single out the company from rivals in the AI industry. Recent reports questioning the personal ties and motivations of other AI ballot measure proponents are concerning, Hauck said in a statement for this story. Measures that cant be defended openly dont belong on the ballot. We respectfully ask the FPPC to encourage full candor and transparency so the public can evaluate these efforts on their merits. The complaint cited that Oldhams stepsister, Zoe Blumenfeld, is a senior employee at competitor Anthropic and that a court document previously described his mother as a friend and past investor of Guy Ravine, an entrepreneur who lost a legal trademark fight against OpenAI. Oldham disputed that the family connections had anything to do with his initiatives. He said he never heard of CANI, met Ravine a few times at least a decade ago, and has not been close with his stepsister since his stepfather died in 2006. He added he forgot Blumenfeld worked at Anthropic, having last seen her at Thanksgiving about two years before the story. Advertisement Advertisement I didnt even think of her, he said. It is just a pure coincidence that she works for Anthropic, like I honestly didnt even clock that. OpenAI did not address Oldhams claims of intimidation in the statement from Hauck. An Anthropic spokesperson said the company rejects what appears to be a personal attack on one of our employees and that it wasnt involved in Oldhams proposals but did not support either of them. Blumenfeld did not respond to an inquiry. Ravine also maintained that there was no coordination with Oldham, confirming they havent been in contact for about a decade and refuting the link to his mother as tenuous. Advertisement Advertisement Oldhams measures did not mention OpenAI, and he said his intention was to get more oversight for the entire sector, not target a particular company. As written and summarized by the attorney generals office, one of his initiatives applies to companies that develop or control advanced AI systems and meet other specified criteria, and the second covers all AI companies that were incorporated as public benefit corporations or nonprofits under California law. OpenAI may be the most notable example of the latter group, with the ChatGPT maker completing a high-profile conversion from a nonprofit to a hybrid public benefit model last fall. But Anthropic is also structured as a public benefit corporation, as was Elon Musks xAI until 2024 . While Ramaraos measure does not name OpenAI either, her separate campaign website states it is targeting the company. OpenAI has used aggressive tactics before to unmask and draw parallels between outside critics. Advertisement Advertisement It sent subpoenas to multiple groups that objected to its restructuring and initially tried getting the FPPC to investigate CANI last July. The agency dismissed the complaint that fall, as POLITICO first reported , responding that OpenAIs lawyers did not offer enough evidence to support the violations they had alleged. Ann OLeary, a former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawyer for OpenAI, met with FPPC staff afterwards about the decision, according to the complaint. If Oldham is to be believed, his experience shows the challenges that ordinary people run into with Californias initiative process which despite being designed as a tool of direct democracy, giving voters a power on par with the state legislature, is used most successfully by special interests. Oldhams situation also highlights a broader challenge in AI policymaking, where proposals developed in secrecy or by opaque actors often blur the line between genuine inexperience and hidden agendas. Many nonprofits can shield their anonymous donors and voluntarily choose whom to disclose, which companies like OpenAI argue makes it impossible to determine whether competitors are behind activities. The ChatGPT maker previously alleged that CANI propped up a New York-based LSAT tutor as a sham leader for its organization. Advertisement Advertisement The issue of anonymity has frustrated AI industry players and safety advocates alike. The pro-industry super PAC group, Leading the Future, which counts OpenAI President Greg Brockman among its donors, has also described its opponents as a dark money network working to advance one companys business and ideological agenda. The critique is a reference to Anthropic, which recently donated $20 million to a nonprofit countering the super PAC. When Oldhams proposals first emerged, some advocates of stronger AI regulations said they wouldnt evaluate his ideas however worthy they may be in principle due to uncertainty about his identity. In its past subpoenas and other legal filings, OpenAI has pointed to CANIs secrecy to question the identities of advocacy groups that have shared their donors and were concerned about the companys direction. Advertisement Advertisement Oldham said the probing pushed him to rethink the proposals. The collateral damage of me not withdrawing is higher than anticipated, he said over text. Its actively making other [people's] lives much more difficult and that wasnt the goal here. Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta is forecasting a deficit of C$9.4bn ($6.9bn; 5.1bn), citing the costs of a rising population coupled with low oil prices. The once debt-free province called the deficit "a tough pill to swallow", saying it will have to break its own fiscal restraint laws and that it cannot balance the budget for the next three years. The projection comes as the province prepares to put several referendum questions to voters later this year, including one that would restrict access to certain social services for some newcomers. Advertisement Advertisement Alberta is also grappling with a grassroot movement that is gathering signatures to force a separate referendum on secession from Canada. Delivering the economic outlook on Thursday, Alberta's finance minister Nate Horner said the province was dealing with a "dramatic" increase in its population at the same time as oil prices dip. Historically, the province's financial health has been tied to the boom and bust of the oil industry. Alberta is home to the world's third-largest oil reserve, and crude oil is its main commodity. Advertisement Advertisement Alberta projects the benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil price will average $60.50 per barrel in the upcoming year, down from $74.34 two years ago. It added that it would need prices to be between $74 to $77 per barrel in order to balance its budget. Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not charge its residents a sales tax. Finance minister Horner suggested that may have to change. "If Albertans want to give up some of that tax advantage to get off the roller-coaster, that's a conversation we can have," he told reporters on Thursday. As oil prices dip, Alberta's population has grown at a faster pace than any other Canadian province, though the rate has recently slowed as Canada tightens its immigration policies. Advertisement Advertisement Horner did not specify how much the growth has contributed to the province's deficit, but said he believed the influx had strained Alberta's public services and housing market. Premier Danielle Smith has blamed the financial squeeze on low oil prices and rapid population growth, asking Albertans to vote on if they want to limit immigration. [Getty Images] Last week, Alberta premier Danielle Smith announced in a televised address that she would put forward several referendum questions to limit immigration. Albertans would be asked to vote on nine questions in total, including one that proposes charging newcomers without permanent immigration status a fee to access healthcare and education services. The measure has been criticised by Naheed Nenshi, leader of the New Democratic Party opposition in Alberta, who accused Smith of "blaming and scapegoating" immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement "This exercise is simply about distraction after distraction after distraction to avoid talking about how bad the Conservatives are with money, how bad they are with the budget, how bad they are with economy," said Nenshi. Smith said that her government is attempting to take control of immigration which is regulated by Ottawa to give Alberta more autonomy over its matters, as some in the province look to separate from Canada altogether. Support for Alberta's independence movement remains low, but its proponents project they will be able to gather enough signatures to force a referendum. If successful, the separation question, along with the immigration questions posed by Smith, would be voted on 19 October. NEW DELHI (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday for his first official visit to India, seeking to reset relations and deepen trade cooperation with New Delhi after ties deteriorated in recent years under his predecessor. During his four-day trip, Carney is set to hold talks with business leaders and will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. Indias foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday that the meeting between the two leaders would offer an opportunity to reaffirm the positive momentum and shared vision for a forward-looking partnership. Talks between Modi and Carney are expected to cover cooperation in trade and investment, energy, critical minerals and technology, the ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Carney will also visit Australia and Japan next week, part of his effort to diversify trade away from the United States. Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, saying American tariffs are causing a chill in investment Canada and India moved last year to advance a trade deal after two years of strained relations. Ties deteriorated after Canadian authorities alleged that India was involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023. New Delhi vehemently denied the allegations and accused former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government of harboring Sikh extremists of the Khalistan movement. The movement, which aims to create an independent Sikh homeland, is banned in India. Relations improved last year in June when Carney invited Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta. Advertisement Advertisement Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an assassination on foreign soil. In 2023, U.S. federal prosecutors accused an Indian government official of overseeing a foiled attempt to assassinate another Sikh separatist figure in New York. A man from India admitted earlier this month that he conspired to hire a hitman to assassinate the Sikh separatist leader. Bloomberg Japans Rapidus Corp. secured investment totaling 267.6 billion ($1.7 billion) from the government and dozens of companies including Sony Group Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and SoftBank Corp. in a sign of growing hopefulness around the long-shot chip venture. Rapidus, which aims to begin mass production of 2-nanometer chips by March 2028, is in talks with more than 60 companies eager to design chips for artificial intelligence, robotics and the growing need to field compute on devices, Chief Executive Officer Atsuyoshi Koike said in a news conference Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg Since the start of the year, customers demands for cutting-edge chips have surged, Koike said, adding that the requests for 2nm technology in particular have intensified. We want to move quickly first with 2nm, and then on 1.4nm and 1nm technologies. The push behind Rapidus whose ambitious target has been widely dismissed in semiconductor manufacturing circles comes as geopolitical tensions and a surge in generative AI heighten the strategic importance of high-end silicon. Investment from 32 companies totaling 167.6 billion comes on top of 100 billion in government funding paid this fiscal year, with a further 150 billion of public money slated to come in the next business year starting in April. The government support is part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis pledge to boost domestic chipmaking and brings Japan closer to its goal of providing 3 trillion in support to Rapidus. The government will initially hold only about 10% of Rapiduss voting shares and own the majority of its stake in non-voting stock, according to Japans economy ministry. But the government retains the right to convert its stake into voting shares to seize majority control if Rapidus slides into financial distress. The government will also acquire golden shares, granting it the ultimate veto power over major corporate changes. The investment from the private sector above the targeted 130 billion is testament to the high hopes around the fledgling chip unit, said Ryosei Akazawa, Japans economy minister. While the majority of Rapidus prospective clients are located abroad, the foundry is also in talks about partnerships with its investors, Koike said. Denso Corp., NTT Inc., Canon Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Ushio Inc., Kioxia Holdings Corp., Kyocera Corp., JX Advanced Metals Corp., Seiko Epson Corp. and Dai Nippon Printing Co. were among those investing. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An empty lot on Highway 100 in Bellevue could soon be home to another car wash. Later tonight, developers and one Metro Councilmember will come together to hold a community meeting about the plan. CM Jason Spain (District 35) said developers are proposing a club car wash to go next to Harpeth Heights Baptist Church, though right now the lot is zoned for commercial uses more in line with a restaurant. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Advertisement Advertisement Tonight Spain will welcome neighbors to come out and share their concerns and opinions about the proposed rezoning required for the plan. Spain said having yet another car wash in the area isnt his first choice for the proposal. Varallos closing after 119 years in Nashville I dont know that its necessarily a bad fit, but I dont know that its the best fit either, Spain told News 2. Its a unique property. Its sort of long and skinny, with a pretty small entranceway there on Highway 100. Anyone who wants to attend the meeting is asked to come to the Bellevue YMCA at 6 p.m. to share their concerns. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. 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. A wind-swept blaze at an Ohio hog farm complex caused "catastrophic" damage and left thousands of pigs dead, fire officials said, marking another devastating barn inferno contributing to the deaths of millions of animals in recent years. The massive fire occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Fine Oak Farms in Union Township, Madison County, located west of Ohio's capital of Columbus, according to the Central Townships Joint Fire District. Fire crews received a report of a barn fire shortly before 12 p.m. local time. The incident was later upgraded to a commercial structure fire after Chief Brian Bennington observed a "large column of smoke visible from a distance" and requested additional resources. Multiple local fire departments, along with several other emergency agencies, were called to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement "What our crews encountered upon arrival was a very difficult and heartbreaking incident," Bennington said in a statement on Feb. 26. The fire chief described the facility as a large farm complex used for hog production consisting of five large agricultural buildings, including four that housed about 7,500 hogs. When crews arrived at the scene, they found two of the barns engulfed in flames, Bennington said. Crews were challenged by windy conditions that significantly impacted fire suppression efforts, according to Bennington. Three barns were destroyed in the fire, and about 6,000 hogs and pigs were killed. Firefighters saved one barn and about 1,500 hogs, the fire chief added. No injuries were reported in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Bennington highlighted the assistance of the farming community throughout Madison and Clark counties, as multiple farmers responded with water trucks to help with water supply efforts. "Rural Ohios agricultural community is tight-knit, and they truly step up when one of their own is in need," he said. The incident remains under investigation, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office will determine the fire's cause and origin. Bennington said there is no suspicion of arson and no ongoing threat to the public at this time. Florida wildfire: Blaze near 'Alligator Alcatraz' grows to nearly 25,000 acres 'Rapidly changing fire behavior conditions' Heavy smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, and Bennington said first-arriving units were met with fire conditions coming from the opposite side of the hog farm complex. Advertisement Advertisement The fire chief noted that the incident required extensive water-shuttle operations due to rural water-supply limitations in the area. Crews attempted to cut the fire off by deploying multiple handlines and using an aerial device, but "faced extremely challenging conditions throughout the incident," according to Bennington. Sustained winds of about 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph accelerated the fires spread, Bennington said. The high winds made it "extremely difficult" to contain forward fire progression and created "rapidly changing fire behavior conditions" across the agricultural complex, he added. After about four to five hours, the fire was contained by fire personnel from four different counties, according to the fire chief. "Unfortunately, the fire resulted in catastrophic damage to the business," Bennington said in an earlier statement on Feb. 25. "A significant portion of the agricultural structures were destroyed." Heavy smoke rising from a fire at an Ohio hog farm complex in Madison County, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Latest major fire to impact an Ohio hog farm The incident at Fine Oak Farms is the latest major fire to cause significant damage to an Ohio hog farm in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement In August 2024, about 1,100 pigs were killed in Versailles, a village about 50 miles northwest of Dayton, Ohio, according to data from the nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute. In March 2022, about 2,000 hogs died in a barn fire at Kenneth Scholl Hog Farm in Brown Township, just west of Columbus. Before the fire at Fine Oak Farms, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that other barn fires in Ohio this year killed 162 sheep, horses, cows, chickens, and other animals. This is how it happened: In Texas, nearly 18,000 cows died in a single barn fire. Hundreds of thousands of animals killed in barn fires each year Data from the Animal Welfare Institute shows that hundreds of thousands of animals are killed in barn fires across the country each year. Since 2013, over 9 million farm animals have been killed in barn fires, according to the organization. Advertisement Advertisement As of Feb. 26, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that 118,738 farm animals have died in U.S. barn fires this year, including the incident at Fine Oak Farms. The majority of farm animals killed were chickens in separate incidents in North Carolina and Georgia in January, and another incident in Missouri earlier this month. "Most fatal barn fires occurred in colder states, particularly the Upper Midwest and the Northeast. New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois had the highest number of barn fires, respectively," according to the organization. "The amount of cold weather a state experienced appeared to be a greater factor in the prevalence of barn fires than the intensity of a states animal agriculture production." In an updated report on farm animal deaths due to barn fires in 2025, the Animal Welfare Institute said more than 2.53 million farm animals were killed in barn fires from 2022 to 2024. The organization noted that the high death toll was "driven primarily" by fires at large operations that housed several thousand to over 1 million farm animals. The majority of deaths in these incidents during that period, over 98%, were farmed birds, such as chickens and turkeys, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. But in 2023, a massive fire at a west Texas dairy farm became the single deadliest event involving livestock in the state's history and the deadliest cattle fire in America in at least a decade. Advertisement Advertisement 18,000 head of cattle perished in the fire at the South Fork Dairy farm near Dimmitt, Texas. At the time, Roger Malone, who is the former mayor of Dimmitt, called the incident "mind-boggling." "I dont think it's ever happened before around here. It's a real tragedy," Malone said. Contributing: Rick Jervis, USA TODAY; Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Massive Ohio farm blaze kills 6,000 hogs and pigs: Fire officials COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Cava has confirmed that it is bringing at least three restaurants to central Ohio and revealed a timeline for when they may open. Last year, permits revealed that Cava was planning to open at 1370 Polaris Parkway in north Columbus and at 1790 Hilliard Rome Road in the northwest portion of the city near Hilliard. This month, Grove City also announced a Cava will open at 4120 Buckeye Parkway. While Cava confirmed its plans in July to enter the Columbus market, it has long declined to share any details about specific locations. Now, Cava Brand Communications Manager Emma Vogt confirmed with NBC4 that the Polaris, Hilliard-area and Grove City locations are in the works and stated that they will open within the first half of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Grove City posted on its Facebook page that the eatery is slated to open in the spring. However, further details about an opening date for the Hilliard-area and Polaris restaurants have not yet been released. Vogt said that Cava cannot share any other specifics or additional locations. There are currently no Cava restaurants in Ohio. In addition to its central Ohio expansion plans, the company has at least one Cincinnati location in the works. Cava offers customizable Mediterranean bowls and pita wraps, featuring a base of greens, rice or lentils. Protein options include chicken, falafel, grilled steak, lamb meatballs and more. A variety of vegetables, such as Persian cucumbers and fire-roasted corn, are also available, along with dips such as hummus, tzatziki and roasted eggplant. The restaurant also features premade options such as the falafel crunch bowl and Greek chicken wrap. (Courtesy Photo/Cava) (Courtesy Photo/Cava) (Courtesy Photo/Cava) (Courtesy Photo/Cava) Founded in Maryland in 2010, Cava has spread to more than 400 locations across 29 states, according to its website. Vogt encouraged central Ohio residents to check Cavas website for the most up-to-date information on openings. 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz said the federal judiciary is prepared to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt, which could include jail time, for continuing to violate court orders as they seek mass deportations. Schiltzs order filed on Thursday ratchets up the pressure on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Justice to comply with orders from Minnesotas increasingly impatient and irate federal judges, who have repeatedly threatened government officials with civil contempt for flouting their orders regarding illegally detained immigrants. The Court is not aware of another occasion in the history of the United States in which a federal court has had to threaten contempt again and again and again to force the United States government to comply with court orders, wrote Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee and one-time clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative icon. Advertisement Advertisement This Court will continue to do whatever is required to protect the rule of law, including, if necessary, moving to the use of criminal contempt. One way or another, ICE will comply with this Courts orders. The order was filed in a case regarding an Ecuadorian man who came to the United States as a minor in 1999 and was detained by immigration agents in early January. The government failed to meet court deadlines to respond and did not release the man until Schiltz ordered Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear in court and explain why the government should not be held in contempt for violating court orders. The man was released before the contempt hearing and Schiltz canceled it in an order filed Jan. 28 that still sharply rebuked the federal government for not complying with so many orders. The order included a list of 74 cases in which 96 court orders were violated, though with the caveat that it may contain mistakes because it was hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen responded by accusing the judges of wildly overstating how many orders were violated based on what he called a statistically strong sample of the first dozen cases listed. Assuming the statistical sample we chose is as representative of the whole as I believe it likely is, the information compiled by others for your order was far beyond the pale of accuracy for an order that would be wielded so publicly and so sharply, Rosen wrote. The lawyers in my civil division didnt deserve it. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office has seen a wave of departures of career prosecutors during Operation Metro Surge, some who have reportedly quit in protest over the Department of Justices handling of investigations into the killing of two Americans in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge. Federal judges have excoriated the Trump administration for directing immigration agents to carry out mass arrests and detention of immigrants without warrants under a new legal theory that contradicts decades of precedent. Judges have ruled again and again in hundreds of cases in Minnesota alone against that interpretation that immigrants can be detained indefinitely during immigration proceedings no matter how long theyve been in the country. What those attorneys didnt deserve, Schiltz wrote in response to Rosen, was the Administration sending 3,000 ICE agents to Minnesota to detain people without making any provision for handling the hundreds of lawsuits that were sure to follow. Advertisement Advertisement Schiltz also asked each judge to revisit the cases in which orders were violated and then had court clerks check its accuracy. The court found some mistakes in their original list, but the mistakes cut both ways. The court determined the federal government had violated 97 orders in 66 of the cases listed in the Jan. 28 order. What is more, judges tallied 113 additional court order violations in 77 cases since then. If anything is beyond the pale, it is ICEs continued violation of the orders of this court, Schiltz wrote. Schiltzs order came the same day U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ordered Rosen to appear before him in court on March 3 along with ICE officials to show cause for why federal officials should not be held in contempt for not returning the property of immigrants deemed to have been illegally detained in 28 cases. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud held the Trump administration in civil contempt for releasing a man in Texas without his belongings after a court ordered he not be transferred out of Minnesota, where he was arrested. Tostrud ordered the U.S. government to pay $568.29, the cost of his plane ticket back to Minnesota. Last week, U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino held Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isihara in civil contempt, imposing a $500 fine for each day the government did not return the identification documents of an immigrant arrested in Minnesota but released in Texas. The government swiftly returned the mans documents and no fines were imposed on the attorney. BEIJING, Feb 27 (Reuters) - China's military said on Friday it conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from February 23 to 26, and accused the Philippines of "disrupting" peace and stability by organising joint patrols with countries outside the region. The military's Southern Theatre Command will "resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability," spokesperson Zhai Shichen said in a statement. The navies of the Philippines, the U.S. and Japan trained alongside each other in the South China Sea this week to ramp up cooperation among the military allies, the Philippines' armed forces said on Friday. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) On paper, China's latest aircraft carrier looks awesome. The Fujian was commissioned on the 5th of November, 2025, and is the third and most powerful addition to China's carrier fleet. Its introduction saw it crowned as the world's largest non-nuclear powered warship. Which should be a distinct feather in the cap for the builders of China's first domestically designed aircraft carrier. And while its conventional power is a disadvantage when compared to American carriers like the Gerald R. Ford, the rest of the ship looks like a pretty serious upgrade for China's naval capabilities. For instance, other than the aforementioned Gerald R. Ford, the Fujian is the only carrier in the world boasting electromagnetic catapults. In theory, this system allows the carrier to launch heavier aircraft with greater fuel and weapons loads attributes that should greatly improve the carrier's potential reach and operational flexibility. But scratch just below the surface, and it appears that Beijing's latest carrier has at least one serious flaw. Advertisement Advertisement The nature of the problem was raised after military analysts questioned the efficiency of the ship's flight deck layout. Technical assessments of this design trait seem to point to a layout that can potentially create launch and recovery bottlenecks during combat operations. This is critical, as the flaw introduces constraints in the very area that ultimately defines a carrier's combat value just how quickly it can launch and recover aircraft. Read more: 10 Of The Largest Navies In The World, Ranked By Self-Reported Total Naval Assets A flight deck layout problem Head on image of The Fujian at sea - CCTV Video News Agency/YouTube Modern aircraft carriers are far removed from the early carriers that appeared almost as soon as aviation was a thing. However, regardless of the generation of carrier, one attribute has been critical throughout the type's history how quickly it can launch and recover aircraft. This tempo is referred to as sortie generation, and it depends heavily on flight deck geometry, hardware, and a carefully choreographed flight deck sequence. Advertisement Advertisement We already know a lot about China's newest aircraft carrier, but there are cracks appearing in its powerful facade. In interviews with CNN, former US Navy captain Carl Schuster and retired Lt. Cmdr. Keith Stewart pointed out aspects of the Fujian's deck configuration that could limit the sortie generation metric. After reviewing images of the carrier, they noted that the angled landing area crosses the deck at a narrower angle than on US carriers, reducing space between the recovery strip and the forward catapults. One of those catapults also appears to intrude into the landing area, which means it can't be used while the carrier is recovering aircraft. Speaking to CNN, Schuster said, "The Fujian's operational capability is only about 60% of that of the Nimitz class." Essentially, it appears that the carrier can't launch and recover aircraft simultaneously, something that is considered a prerequisite for carriers of this size. The ship's flaws were also noted in a documentary shown on Chinese TV. The broadcast featured a crew member explaining how landing aircraft cross two of the launching catapults before stopping in a maintenance area. A stepping stone toward something bigger Flight crew on the Fujian working on a jet fighter on the ship's deck - CCTV Video News Agency/YouTube This problem doesn't make the Fujian ineffective; the carrier still represents a significant leap forward for China's navy. The inclusion of an electromagnetic catapult system alone expands the types of aircraft it can launch and the payloads they can carry. As noted, the Gerald R. Ford is the only other operational ship boasting such a system. Although the John F. Kennedy has just completed a major milestone on its way to commissioning and will soon join this exclusive club. Advertisement Advertisement However, the propulsion systems remain a defining difference, and this has played a part beyond merely how the ships are powered and how long aircraft carriers can stay at sea without refueling. The Fujian's conventional power system is believed to have contributed to the design constraints with the elevators, island, and support areas beneath the flight deck. For comparison, nuclear propulsion frees more internal volume and allows designers more leeway when considering deck layouts and aircraft manipulation. This is why analysts now widely expect China's next carrier, often referred to as the Type 004, to be the first Chinese nuclear-powered sub, and to incorporate the lessons learned from the Fujian's layout. For now, despite its undoubted powerful look, the Fujian appears less like the finished object and more like a transitional design. A design that bridges China's move away from ski-jump carriers to a future where it potentially joins the US and France as the only countries to operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. The Colorado River currently supports 40 million people and $1.4 trillion in annual economic activity in seven U.S. states and Mexico but it was never intended to be stretched so thin. A century-old legal framework promises those users more water than there is to go around. The rivers flow has shrunk by about 20 percent over the last century as climate change has made the West more arid. As water has vanished, states have clashed over how to divide up what remains. The core dispute is between the sparsely inhabited mountainous states of the Upper Basin, where hay farmers and a few major cities like Denver draw water from the river and its tributaries, and the far more populous Lower Basin, which diverts water to support most of the nations winter vegetable farmers as well as megacities like Los Angeles and Phoenix. Now, as the region weathers its driest winter in recent history, a reckoning has arrived. By the end of September, the seven states need to agree on a new set of rules that will determine how to divvy up the rivers flow during dry years. Advertisement Advertisement Since the rivers reservoirs almost collapsed in 2022, however, the states lead negotiators have been arguing in boardrooms and on Zoom calls with little to show for it. They missed a negotiation deadline in November and another one in February, with each state publishing catty press releases blaming the other side for a breakdown in talks: Colorados representative said that the Upper Basin was being asked to solve a problem we didnt create with water we dont have, while Arizonas said that the Lower Basin had offered numerous, good-faith compromises and that virtually all of them have been rejected. Meanwhile, a nearly snow-free winter is pushing reservoirs toward record lows. The river could grow so dry this year that its massive Lake Powell reservoir will stop producing hydropower. Without a deal, the Trump administration will need to get involved. So far, Trumps Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has shown little willingness to impose the rivers first-ever unilateral water delivery cuts, which could bring the river into balance. But time is running out. The administration has said that, in the absence of a seven-state deal, it will distribute water on a strict priority basis, meaning those who have earlier historical claims to the river would be spared cuts. That would mean cutting off almost all water to the junior rightsholders in the Phoenix metro area with staggering consequences for the regions massive economy. That said, any federal intervention would almost certainly only be the first salvo in a legal war that would likely reach the Supreme Court. What happens after that is a mystery to all involved. The Biden administration confronted an earlier version of this crisis in 2022, when water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the Lower Basins other major reservoir, dropped to historic lows. The feds tried to broker an emergency deal between the Lower Basin states to keep the reservoirs from bottoming out. The combatants were California, the rivers largest user, and Arizona, which had junior rights to the river and stood to bear the brunt of the pain. Advertisement Advertisement Bidens Interior Department escaped a total collapse of the system in part thanks to a deus ex machina: Snowpack in early 2023 was sufficient to refill Lake Mead and Lake Powell to decent levels, and then-Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured billions of dollars in drought relief money that compensated California farmers for forgoing their water and leaving some fields unplanted. The terms of debate are very different this time. Now, the seven states need to cut their way through the present drought and agree on rules for sharing the river over the next two decades, when no one knows how much water will be available. Arizona and California are united in arguing that the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico need to commit to permanent reductions in their entitlement. The latter have rejected that argument at every opportunity, leading to a bitter breakdown in the talks. Brad Udall, a senior water and climate research scientist at Colorado State Universitys Colorado Water Center, said the disagreement boils down to what counts as a cut in water delivery. The disagreement really centers around whether the Upper Basin is willing to contribute to reductions in use, he said, and the Upper Basin says, Hey, we already contribute, through what are known as hydrologic shortages. Advertisement Advertisement These hydrologic shortages have become the third rail of the debate. The argument goes like this: The Upper Basins water comes from the natural flow of rain and snowmelt, which travel down the rivers tributaries on the way to Lake Powell. The farmers and cities who use this water siphon it out of the tributaries before it ever makes it to a major reservoir. When less snow arrives, theres less water in the rivers, so the farmers and cities end up using less by default. Thats very different from the Lower Basin, where the three states and Mexico take water from the central bank in Lake Mead. These states reduce their withdrawals during dry years according to a strict schedule of cuts which theyre able to do because they can easily measure their exact usage. The negotiators for these states have strenuously argued that a long-term solution to the rivers problems must involve the Upper Basin agreeing to mandatory usage reductions during dry years, rather than operating on the long-held assumption that theyre already automatically taking cuts just because less snowmelt happens to come their way. We have offered to do more, said Tom Buschatzke, Arizonas top water official, in a statement following the collapse of the seven-state talks. But we simply cannot take on the task of saving this precious river system on our own. An irrigation canal carries water from the Colorado River to irrigate a farm growing leaf lettuce and broccoli near Yuma, Arizona. (Jon G. Fuller / VWPics / Universal Images Group via Getty Images) The Upper Basin states insist that they already contribute by taking involuntary cuts during dry years. They want the Lower Basin to increase its projected cuts in order to resolve the rivers perennial deficit. Most experts believe this argument is disingenuous, or, as Udall says, a little deceitful. Studies show that the Upper Basin is using around 4.5 million acre-feet of water annually, a number that doesnt change all that much from year to year even during dry spells. (An acre-foot of water is around 326,000 gallons, or enough to supply about three households for a year.) Advertisement Advertisement But Upper Basin representatives dont see it that way. Steve Pope, the manager of the irrigation district that serves the Uncompahgre Valley in Colorado, says farmers in the valley have already struggled with water scarcity over the past few decades. He says growers take a huge financial hit when they get less water than they expect. We dont know what were going to get, said Pope. These [farmers], its tough for them. Theyve got a lot of money invested in certain types of crops, so they just have to fallow ground. Given that uncertainty, Pope says the idea of the district taking mandatory cuts is ridiculous. Trumps Interior Department suggested in January that it can only regulate the operations of the two main reservoirs, and that it has no authority to order Upper Basin farmers like Pope not to farm. [The federal government] is very timid about going out on a limb at all for things that might set a precedent, said Ted Cooke, the former manager of the Central Arizona Project, the canal that brings Colorado River water to the states population centers. This timidity really limits their effectiveness. (Cooke was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Reclamation last year, but his nomination was withdrawn over what he believes were politically-motivated concerns that he might be biased against the Upper Basin in adjudicating the river.) Advertisement Advertisement If Secretary Burgum sticks to his position that he cant resolve the debate between the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin, his only option for avoiding a collapse at Lake Powell will be to roll out unilateral cuts on the Lower Basin. This would likely trigger litigation between Arizona and the federal government. But if Burgum changed course and imposed unilateral cuts on the Upper Basin, a state such as Colorado would likely sue the feds instead. And even if Burgum did nothing at all, its likely that the Lower Basin would sue the Upper Basin. Inflows to Lake Powell may fall so low by the end of the year that the Upper Basin will be in default of its obligations under the 1922 river compact, which requires that the rivers flow be split half and half between the basins. This would allow Arizona to demand makeup water from its northern neighbors. Though litigation seems inevitable without a seven-state deal, no water user actually wants to go to court. Once water divisions are in the hands of a judge, no state can be sure that its interests will be protected. The idea that your state is going to come out a winner and youre confident of that makes no sense, said John Berggren, regional policy manager at the nonprofit Western Resource Advocates. What it does is it puts your water users at extreme risk. Even if Burgum plays it safe and only imposes cuts on the Lower Basin, these cuts will force him to choose between Californias priority rights and Arizonas arguably greater need. The Interior Department has already suggested it would feel bound to direct most of the pain to Arizona. The department said in January that absent new agreements it would distribute cuts according to legal priority, which would take away more than 1 million acre-feet of water from Phoenix and its suburbs. That would likely lead developers to abandon potential subdivisions, force farmers to rip up their fields, and could cause a resumption in the depletion of Phoenixs fragile groundwater aquifer. Advertisement Advertisement Arizona state leaders have already threatened litigation over this possibility, and a political advocacy group has begun airing local television ads that criticize the Interior Departments priority plan. Plus, even this draconian cut wouldnt necessarily prevent a collapse of the river, because it would cap the total amount of cuts at around 1.5 million acre-feet spread across Arizona, California, and Nevada. The federal governments own modeling found that this plan would only have a 25 percent chance of avoiding a hydropower shutdown at Lake Powell, and around a 58 percent chance of avoiding a similar minimum power pool at Lake Mead. A bleached 'bathtub ring' on the banks of Lake Mead near Echo Bay. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Not everyone thinks the seven-state deal is a dead letter. John Entsminger, the lead negotiator for Nevada, expressed optimism about at least a short-term deal as recently as the end of January. Last summer, the states rallied around the idea of measuring the river based on its natural flow, dividing up the three-year average of the rivers recent water volume as opposed to a static estimate of its theoretical contents. This plan has the benefit of being responsive to climate change, which has already contributed to a 20 percent decline in the Colorado Rivers annual flow over the past century. We would not be over-promising water, which has led us in past years to draw down our reservoir storage, explained Elizabeth Koebele, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, who studies the river. People get promises and they hold on to them very strongly, even if the water is not there. Despite Trumps declarations that climate change is a hoax, his Interior Department has given strong consideration to this climate-informed maximum operational flexibility plan. It modeled a version of the plan in January, but said it didnt have the authority to implement it without agreement from all seven states. The plan would see all states reduce water usage even during average years, as opposed to only in dry years under the current system. It would parcel out cuts more evenly between Arizona and California. It would also include some contributions from the Upper Basin in one potential breakdown, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming would reduce their usage by around 250,000 acre-feet when the Lower Basin had cut usage by more than 2 million. Advertisement Advertisement Although the coming year is likely to be chaotic, many of the basins biggest water users have been preparing for this era of permanent cuts for some time. Arizona has already announced its intention to start investing in coastal desalination plants in coordination with California and Mexico, which would free up more river water. The state has also stepped up its spending on water reuse projects. Las Vegas has paid residents to rip out their grass lawns. Utah has established a voluntary conservation program that pays farmers not to farm. But the long-term solution will likely involve a bigger reshuffling of water in order to forestall an economic crisis in the Phoenix metroplex. Arizona may look to California for salvation: The large urban water district that serves Los Angeles, the farming district in the Imperial Valley, and the winter vegetable farming district around Yuma all hold rights to more water than they need, and they might be willing to deal some of their water to central Arizona, albeit at a high price. There are also two tribes in Arizona, the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Gila River Indian Community, who each hold about half a million acre-feet of water. Even with all this rejiggering, cities like Phoenix will end up having to pay much more for water, said Cooke. The rush on water supplies will force difficult cuts in water usage for farms, lawns, swimming pools, and unbuilt homes. Were going to have less water and what we do have is going to be a lot more expensive, and that happens right now, in the next twelve months, he said. Even with all of these political and contractual disagreements, the surface water is just not there anymore. This story was originally published by Grist with the headline The Colorado River is nearing collapse. Its Trumps problem now. on Feb 27, 2026. US Department of Homeland Security officers took a Columbia University student into custody, sparking outrage as local officials claimed the federal agents posed as police officers complete with fake badges to gain entry to campus housing. The raid was launched at the elite schools Morningside Heights campus around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, with agents making misrepresentations to access the students apartment and take her into custody, Columbias acting president Claire Shipman said in a letter to the school community. We are working to gather more information, working to reach the family, and providing legal support. Elmina Aghayeva, of Columbia Universitys class of 2026, was arrested in her campus apartment by ICE Thursday morning. DHS says she was an illegal immigrant from Azerbaijan. Instagram / @ellharve The operation involved an unknown number of agents, who reportedly told campus security officers they were investigating a missing persons case involving a 5-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement The arrested student, Elmina Aghayeva, who is slated to graduate this year, wrote in a stunning post on Instagram, Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help captioned over what appears to be a POV-style photo of a womans thighs from the back of a car. ICE arrested Elmina Aghayeva, an illegal alien from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes, a DHS spokesperson said in statement to The Post. The building manager and her roommate let officers into the apartment. She has no pending appeals or applications with DHS, the statement concluded. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal claimed in a social media post that the agents impersonated NYPD officers and a phony missing persons bulletin for a five-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement They purposefully deceived campus housing/security to gain entry to the students apartment. The level of civil rights violations that took place is staggering, he fumed on X. Elmina Aghayeva has an active social media presence with more than 113,000 followers on TikTok. Instagram / @ellharve However, Hoyleman-Sigal later said in a modified follow-up post that it was unconfirmed whether ICE agents impersonated officers. DHS said the Homeland Security Investigators verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks in a statement. They did NOT and would not identify themselves as NYPD, the DHS spokesperson wrote. The incident echoes last years bust of anti-Israel activist and Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil, whom ICE arrested at his university-owned apartment in March 2025 in connection to riotous protests at Columbia and Barnard College. Advertisement Advertisement Khalil, who the government claims is a Hamas supporter, spent more than three months in a Louisiana ICE detention facility and is slated to be deported to Algeria after a yearlong legal saga. Shipman, whose controversial one-year tenure at the helm of the Ivy League school is winding down as Jennifer Mnookin is set to replace her July 1, wrote in her letter that any law enforcement agents looking to access certain parts of campus must follow procedure. Aghayeva posted about her detention in an Instagram post. Instagram / @ellharve If law enforcement agents seek entry to non-public areas of the University, ask the agents to wait to enter any non-public areas until contacting Public Safety. Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel to coordinate the Universitys response, she wrote. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena. Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Kathy Hochul also ripped DHS on social media, and said she had proposed a new piece of legislation in response. Lets be clear about what happened: ICE agents didnt have the proper warrant, so they lied to gain access to a students private residence, the governor wrote on X. Ive proposed a bill that would ban ICE from entering sensitive locations like schools and dorms. Lets get it passed now. A Hamden pastor faces five animal cruelty charges following her arrest last Friday, according to the towns police department. Lisa Levy, 48, was taken into custody after an investigation by Hamden police and Animal Control personnel in town found enough evidence to get an arrest warrant. It is alleged that numerous dogs under Levys care died after being poisoned by bleach or Drano. Court documents reveal that Levys charges stem from five alleged incidents occurring on Jan. 27, 2026; July 26, 2025; June 13, 2025; Feb. 11, 2025; and Dec. 5, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Levy was a pastor at Trinity on the Green Episcopal Church on the Green, a historic parish in New Haven. It is unclear if she still works there because her bio page on the churchs website now says it has been moved or deleted. Levy was also the churchs outreach coordinator and held the same role at Loaves & Fishes, the largest food pantry in the Greater New Haven area. She is a graduate of the Yale Divinity School, Syracuse University and Amherst College. RELATED: 4 puppies found dead in Groton animal cruelty investigation; man arrested Now, Levys future is uncertain, as prosecutors say several dogs in her care died under unusual circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Currently, Levy is released on a $15,000 bond while awaiting her March 6 appearance at Meriden Superior Court. Documents from court detail the most recent alleged offense. On Jan. 27, Hamden police were informed by a veterinarian in North Haven that Levy brought in another dog with horrendous burns. According to police, the veterinarian said Levy brought a total of three dogs to the clinic that were suffering from neurological problems and chemical burns. Two of the three dogs died, according to the court documents. After conducting interviews, investigators believe the dogs were poisoned by bleach or Drano, a chemical used to dissolve hair, grease and scum from sinks and pipes. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters: Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines Police say that Levy accused her boyfriend of hurting the animals. She said he was home alone with her dogs every time one of them became ill with neurological symptoms or burns to their skin and that up to five dogs had issues. Sadly, three of those dogs are now dead. Despite what Levy told investigators, court documents show they were informed by Levys boyfriend that she had repeated problems with her animals. Those documents go on to list a range of incidents, and deaths, regarding animals Levys care, going back several years. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: 2 Bridgeport men arrested for leaving dogs tethered in the frigid cold for hours In addition to chemical burns, these dogs are also said to have experienced raw skin lesions, seizures and paralysis. Hamden police considered the evidence to be enough to arrest Levy last week. Their investigation remains active, as they pursue a conviction. Prosecutors emphasize, however, that Levy is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. This is a developing story. FOX61 will provide an update regarding this case as soon as one is made available by Hamden police or the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Advertisement Advertisement ---- Dalton Zbierski is a story desk editor and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com. ---- Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com. ---- HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS Download the FOX61 News APP iTunes: Click here to download Google Play: Click here to download Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61. Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search FOX61 and click Get to download. FOLLOW US ON X, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is among the best stocks in each sector in 2026. On February 13, Shahriar Pourreza, an analyst at Wells Fargo, reaffirmed a Buy rating and a price target of $236 on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST). In line with the consensus estimate, the firms estimate reflects an upside potential of 40.64%. Three days earlier, Investing.com reported that UBS had updated its Top Picks list, adjusting its holdings in the industrials, energy, and utilities sectors. Overall, the firms strategy remains Attractive on U.S. equities. On the utilities front, the firm added Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares and offloaded NextEra Energy. William Appicelli, an analyst at UBS, maintained a Buy rating on the company, with a $233 price target, on February 5. What's Latest With Vistra Corp. (VST) Separately, on February 6, Goldman Sachs lifted the price target on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) to $205 from $200 and upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. The investment bank believes that the stocks 12% YTD decline and 35% drop from the record high present a buying opportunity. What further fuels optimism is the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is a Texas-based integrated retail electricity and power generation company. Founded in 1882, the company offers electricity and natural gas solutions to a range of customers, including residential, commercial, and industrial customers. While we acknowledge the potential of VST 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: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Words by ITV News Security Producer Dan Howells The cameras that captured USS Gerald R Ford, the biggest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the American fleet, as it left Crete yesterday, provided just the latest visual example of how much US military might there is in the Middle East. The build-up has been going on for weeks, and as the Ford heads into the eastern Mediterranean, another carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is already positioned on the other side of the Arabian peninsula, most recently spotted in satellite images off the coast of Oman on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement But its not just the aircraft carriers. US fighter jets have been landing at bases in Jordan and Israel too adding to what President Trump has called an armada", a vast concentration of American firepower assembled over several weeks. Taken together, this build-up has led many analysts to conclude that the United States is not just signalling strength, but positioning itself with the capability to launch significant strikes against the Iranian regime at short notice. This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Saturday. Credit: Planet Labs PBC via AP Analysts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimate that 10% of available US airpower is now in the region. Research fellow Sascha Bruchmann told ITV News: "So the Abraham Lincoln will bring in 50 to 60 fighter jets. The Gerald R. Ford probably a little bit more, maybe just closer to 60. There are many fighter jets currently parked in Jordan at an airbase. We've seen F35s, specialised planes like the EA18 Growler and electronic attack aircraft, F15s, F16s, so approximately another carrier worth of aeroplanes just in Jordan. And then there's some confirmation on satellite imagery that we also have F22s in southern Israel. Advertisement Advertisement "[That's] probably about 200 to 250 fighter jets, that tallies up between the carriers and the jets that have flown in...that's about just over 10% of their total fighters." On Thursday's ITV News at Ten programme, Security Editor Rohit Kachroo looked at what the US's options are But it's not only the fighter jets that analysts have been watching, as the US has been sending other aircraft that could play the key supporting roles - refuelling tankers, flying radar - to places well beyond the Middle East. "There's a significant amount of [refuelling] tankers between the continental US along the Atlantic," Bruchmann added. Advertisement Advertisement "There were pictures on the Azores of tankers, and there was traffic in Bulgaria and on Crete. So we see this conveyor belt across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean that points towards the Middle East. You not only then have fighter jets, but also very exquisite capabilities, signals intelligence, electronic intelligence, flying communications nodes and flying radars." In this satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is seen in Manama, Bahrain on Saturday. Credit: Planet Labs PBC via AP Bruchmann believes this level of US resources would support a campaign that could last "a few weeks", depending on the level of intensity. He said: "Last year, we saw two [US] operations in the Middle East. One was Midnight Hammer, which was a one-night strike operation, where really the fighter jets enabled a small bomber fleet, seven B2 bombers, that was one night. And the other operation was called Rough Rider, where two aircraft carriers sustained a small campaign against the Houthis for just under two months. I think we're looking at something that kind of merges those two operations." "Trump said it's a mighty armada. Yes, it's a formidable force that is there, but it is far from what the US could muster," he added. Advertisement Advertisement The American embassy in Israel on Friday announced it was allowing non-essential staff to leave the country "while commercial flights are available", perhaps pointing towards concerns of what an Iranian response to an attack might be. "I think primarily the retaliation will be guided towards Israel. It's just the enemy that the Iranians have chosen," Bruchmann said. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. While Iran still has a significant arsenal of cruise missiles and attack drones, its ballistic missiles pose the greatest threat. Advertisement Advertisement "Iran has a significant number of ballistic missiles," Bruchmann added. "On the one hand, Israel has formidable defences, but it's about this interceptor versus ballistic missile math. There can always be some that go through. "Last year, we saw intercept rates of 90%, which are phenomenal for missile defence systems. But that still means that 10% go through." Israel was able to strike some of Iran's ballistic missile stockpiles and launchers last year. But a lot is still not known about Iran's ability to have replenished its stockpiles. Bruchmann said: "We don't know for certain how many missiles have survived on the Iranian side. There's an Israeli estimate that says something like 1,500 medium-range ballistic missiles and about 100 to 200 launchers remain." Oman's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, right, holds a meeting with Steve Witkoff (middle) and Jared Kushner. Credit: AP But there are potential targets closer to Iran, within range of its shorter-range ballistic missiles. The US has a number of bases - as well as allies - on the other side of the Persian Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement "The short-range ballistic missiles are a headache," Bruchmann said. Even less is known about how many of these shorter-range missiles Iran has; they are harder to track and can be stored underground, though Bruchmann says Iran potentially has thousands. While their warheads are smaller than their longer-range counterparts and they do less damage, they may be harder to defend against over a large area like the Gulf. "The flight times are shorter, the [missile] profiles are lower, and Iran has more of these missiles and over a shorter distance they're also a bit more precise. So it's really the question of having more of these missiles, that can hit more precisely, against a limited [defensive] capacity. And that missile math worries me. Advertisement Advertisement "No, but you know, the problem is they are really much harder to track because they can store them underground, the solid fuel. You don't have to take them out, fuel them up, and shoot them like, you know, so it. Yeah, the short-range ballistic missiles are a headache." You can hear Talking Politics wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch every episode on YouTube and ITVX. Greenpeace must pay $345 million in damages to the operator of the US oil pipeline it protested, a North Dakota court ordered Friday. The decision finalizes this phase of the explosive, yearslong case that has pitted the environmental organization against the company Energy Transfer, opening the door to an appeals process in the closely watched legal saga. The Dallas-based energy conglomerate accused Greenpeace of orchestrating violence and defamation during the controversial construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement A jury last year took their side, awarding more than $660 million in damages across three Greenpeace entities, citing charges including trespass, nuisance, conspiracy and deprivation of property access. Judge James Gion of North Dakota cut those damages in half, determining some damages had been counted twice. But the sum remains staggering. Greenpeace categorically rejects the accusations, denouncing the proceedings as abusive and a means to silence dissent. Legal experts and advocacy groups alike have closely followed the case, given its potentially far-reaching implications for protest mobilization and advocacy movements. Advertisement Advertisement Greenpeace has indicated its intention to appeal and has repeatedly stated it cannot pay hundreds of millions of dollars. "This legal fight is far from over," Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International general counsel, said in a statement to AFP. Marco Simons, another Greenpeace legal official, said "speaking out against corporations that cause environmental harm should never be deemed unlawful." "This is a setback, but the movement to defend people and the planet has always faced setbacks and resistance, and Energy Transfer will fail in its goal of silencing its critics." Advertisement Advertisement Energy Transfer, meanwhile, has objected to the halving of its award. Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia Law School's climate change law center, told AFP the judgment was "devastating." "It is very bad not only for Greenpeace, but for the global environmental movement," he said. - Global impact - The case could have ripple effects worldwide. When the initial verdict dropped last year, environmental defenders rallied around Greenpeace, denouncing the verdict as a chilling attack on climate action around the globe. "Fossil fuel companies invest billions in new oil and gas while they spread misinformation, lobby against climate policies, and attempt to silence dissent against their destructive business model," Allie Rosenbluth, the US campaign manager of Oil Change International, said in a statement to AFP. Advertisement Advertisement "They must not be allowed to act with impunity." At the heart of the North Dakota court battle was the Dakota Access Pipeline, where from 2016 to 2017 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led one of the largest anti-fossil-fuel protests in US history. The demonstrations saw hundreds arrested and injured, drawing the attention of the United Nations, which raised concerns over potential violations of Indigenous sovereignty. Despite the protests, the pipeline -- designed to transport fracked crude oil to refineries and on to global markets -- became operational in 2017. Energy Transfer, however, continued its legal pursuit of Greenpeace. Advertisement Advertisement After its federal lawsuit was dismissed, it shifted its legal strategy to the state courts in North Dakota, one of the minority of US states without protections against so-called "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" or SLAPPs. Throughout the yearslong legal fight, Energy Transfer's billionaire CEO Kelcy Warren, a major donor to President Donald Trump, was open about his motivations. His "primary objective" in suing Greenpeace, he said in interviews, was not just financial compensation but to "send a message." Warren went so far as to say that activists "should be removed from the gene pool." Advertisement Advertisement Energy Transfer did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Greenpeace maintains that it played only a small and peaceful role in the movement, which was led by Native Americans. Greenpeace International in 2025 announced plans to counter-sue Energy Transfer in the Netherlands, where the NGO's international headquarters are, accusing the company of using nuisance lawsuits to suppress dissent. It is seeking compensation for the costs incurred in these legal battles. cha-mdo/nro FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Virginia court records confirm the man accused in a deadly stabbing at a Fairfax County bus stop this week has a long, violent criminal history. Prosecutors in the county are receiving backlash from former elected officials and organizations online, asking why the suspect, Abdul Jalloh, wasnt already behind bars. The Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorneys Office, led by Steve Descano, told DC News Now that Jalloh was no stranger to police or their office before his arrest this week. Advertisement Advertisement Man charged with stabbing, killing woman at bus stop: Fairfax County police Court records show Jalloh had been arrested more than two dozen times, with multiple previous charges for malicious wounding, though some of those serious charges against him were dropped before he allegedly escalated to murder in Hybla Valley on Monday. Officers found 41-year-old Stephanie Minter of Fredericksburg at a Richmond Highway bus stop shelter with multiple wounds Monday evening. Police said Jalloh got off the bus with her at that stop before stabbing her to death. Virginias former republican Attorney General Jason Miyares posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Friday about Jallohs case and history. Advertisement Advertisement 30 prior arrests and 5 prior felony malicious wounding charges since 2023 alone. Once again the innocent suffer when catch and release policies by leftwing prosecutors get in charge. This is 100% on Steve Descano, and why hes so despised by the [Fairfax County Police Department,] said Miyares on X. Descanos office responded to our request for comment in a statement, saying Jalloh had been convicted and spent time in jail for a 2023 malicious wounding charge, also saying they were aware of the risk he posed to the community. Unfortunately, the defendant in this case also had a history of selecting victims with no fixed address some of the most vulnerable members of our community. In multiple cases, we were unable to move forward with prosecution because victims could not be located or contacted, the statement read in part. Former Virginia prosecutor and current trial attorney John Fishwick spoke with DC News Now on Friday, breaking down what makes these kinds of cases challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Its very frustrating for law enforcement and to the prosecutors. Theyve probably got a very strong case but they need the victim to say what happened. Im sure law enforcement tried a lot of different things, but its a legitimate question of what efforts were made to bring these people to court. Clearly, This person should not have been on the streets, he said. The Commonwealths Attorneys Office said theyve tried to use police and law enforcement resources to track victims down in the past, and if they can find them, they can bring those dropped charges back again. Jalloh is currently behind bars. Hes due back in court on May 13 for a preliminary hearing. 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. FAIRFIELD - The southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Fairfield have reopened Friday morning after a car struck a pedestrian, the authorities said. Connecticut State Police said serious injuries were reported in the crash. "The scene is still active and the investigation is still ongoing," the agency's public information office said. The crash had caused officials to close the southbound side between exits 23 and 22 for hours Friday morning, causing a traffic snarl ahead of Exit 24 in Fairfield. The closure also caused traffic to spill over onto local roads in Fairfield. Advertisement Advertisement By around 8:55 a.m., traffic cameras on the state Department of Transportation's traffic monitoring site, CT Roads, showed the southbound lanes had reopened, with traffic flowing normally past Exit 24. State police said the crash first was reported at 2:20 a.m. by a 911 call. A brief description of the crash on CT Roads said it involved two vehicles. It did not mention a pedestrian's involvement. The northbound travel lanes remained open without any closures, state police said. Traffic cams in the area earlier showed a long line of cars and trucks detouring off the highway at Exit 24, and cars backed up as far as Exit 28 in Bridgeport. Advertisement Advertisement The DOT site earlier indicated traffic was also slowed getting back on the highway south of the crash at the King's Highway Cutoff entrance ramp. Fairfield police reported higher traffic volumes on major roads around I-95 Friday morning as "people look to navigate around the stretch of highway where the Connecticut State Police is conducting their investigation," Sgt. Jenna Wellington of the Fairfield police said. She said Fairfield police were aware of the situation and asked for patience from people traveling in the area. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. This article originally published at I-95 south reopens in Fairfield Friday morning after pedestrian struck, officials say. Firefighters battled a house fire in Ohio Township early Friday morning. The call for the fire in the 400 block of Nicholson Road came into 911 around 3:25 a.m. When our crews arrived at the scene, they saw heavy flames coming from the home. Upon arrival they did have fire showing on the exterior of the house and police were reporting the residents had been evacuated, said Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Justin Klingenberg. Klingenberg said the fire in the basement caused a least a portion of the first floor of the home to collapse, making it difficult for fire fighters to get inside the home to put out the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Our crews made a push in and started initial extinguishment and determined it was a basement fire, Klingenberg said. This fire did go to a second alarm. Nobody was hurt in the fire. The Salvation Army has responded to assist. The fire marshal is now investigating the cause. Klingenberg said he was thankful for the quick response by surrounding crews. We did have a bunch of fire companies here. Thanks for the help, we got everything taken care of. Traffic along the stretch of Nicholson Road was rerouted so crews could safely work in the area. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW NEED TO KNOW Four people were killed on a speedboat and six others wounded by Cuban border guards after an exchange of gunfire on Wednesday, Feb. 25 Authorities allegedly found assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosive devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms aboard the vessel Michel Ortega Casanova was identified as one of the men killed; his brother told the Associated Press that he'd fallen into an obsessive and diabolical pursuit for Cuban freedom After Cuban authorities killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-based speedboat they said was bound for the country, seven of the 10 aboard have been identified. The Interior Ministry of Cuba said in a statement that the boat was one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel when it was approached by a Cuban boat asking for identification on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Advertisement Advertisement The statement alleged that passengers on the speedboat opened fire at the Cuban authorities, injuring an officer in the exchange. Aboard the boat, authorities said they found assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosive devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms, per the statement. The ministry claimed the 10 armed men aboard the speedboat intended to infiltrate Cuba in order to commit terrorism. The Associated Press reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was gathering its own information and that it was trying to determine if the men, who were Cubans living in Florida, were American citizens or permanent residents. Advertisement Advertisement We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now, Rubio said, per the AP. Cuban authorities identified that Michel Ortega Casanova was one of the four men killed in the exchange. The other three have not yet been identified. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The AP spoke to his brother, Misael Ortega Casanova, who said Michel had fallen into an obsessive and diabolical pursuit toward Cuban freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Misael told the outlet his brother was a truck driver and American citizen who had lived in the U.S. for 20 years and that he was married with a daughter, who is pregnant. Two of the men wounded on the boat, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, were wanted by the Cuban government for alleged "involvement in promoting, planning, organizing, financing, supporting, or carrying out acts of terrorism within the national territory or in other countries," the ministry claimed. The other four wounded men were identified as Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Four people were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Feb. 25 on Highway 169 in Minnesota, officials said in a state patrol incident report Authorities said a passenger who survived the crash had life-threatening injuries A driver was killed in a crash on the same stretch of the highway one day earlier Four people were killed, and another was seriously injured after a head-on crash on a highway in Minnesota a day after another fatal crash on the same stretch of the roadway. According to an incident report by the Minnesota State Patrol, the incident occurred just before 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 25, on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County. Advertisement Advertisement State patrol stated that a 2004 Buick LeSabre sedan was traveling northbound on the highway when it crossed over the center line and struck a southbound 2005 Saab sedan. Authorities said the Buick driver, identified as Samantha Jean Ajax, 21, of Isle, Minn., was killed. Three people in the Saab driver Michelle Marie Rock, 53, of Minneapolis, and passengers Christopher Andrew Boswell, 41, of Onamia, Minn., and James Allen Ortley, 51, of Minneapolis, died in the crash as well. Jessica Faye Mitchell, 25, of Onamia, a passenger in the Saab, was listed with life-threatening injuries, officials said. At the time of the crash, none of the people in the Saab wore seatbelts, while it is unknown if the driver of the LeSabre wore theirs, authorities said in the report. Advertisement Advertisement The road condition at the time of the incident was dry, according to state police, who are also determining whether alcohol was a factor in the crash. A witness, Amy Christy, told CBS affiliate WCCO that she went to help a woman who turned out to be Mitchell, the sole survivor of the crash. "I held her hand the whole time trying to get her to say her name," she said. "I was just trying to keep her awake as long as, you know, as much as I could." Christy, who was present at the scene before first responders' arrival, also said that an off-duty firefighter told her husband it was the worst wreck he's seen in 19 years. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Snooks Boswell, Christopher's sister, shared with KARE that her brother was a caring and loving person. "He has three wonderful kids he left behind, Snooks added. He loves his kids very much. That's his world." 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. In an interview with NBC affiliate KARE, Christy described that particular stretch of road as dangerous, saying, "Its a sad thing thats happening and people need to slow down. Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday's crash was the second-deadliest crash that occurred on that part of the highway this week, radio station KAXE noted. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, Nicole Freeman, 50, died when she lost control of her 2003 Subaru Impreza on the icy highway and was T-boned by a 2016 Kia Sorento. The Kia driver, Leslie J. Gahbow, 42, survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Read the original article on People In early November, Chinese astronauts on board the countrys Tiangong space station made a terrifying discovery. According to state news reports at the time, they found tiny cracks in their Shenzhou return spacecrafts viewport window that were most likely the result of a collision with space debris. The alarming finding forced Chinas space agency to delay the affected crews return, triggering a convoluted game of musical chairs as the cracked spacecraft was deemed not safe enough for crewed flight. Fortunately, a replacement spacecraft that was sent to the station without a crew on board allowed the astronauts to safely return to the ground. Now, new details about the incident have emerged, revealing that the situation was even more serious than initially reported, with some cracks penetrating the spacecrafts window. Advertisement Advertisement My first thought was whether a small leaf had somehow stuck to the outside of the window, said Shenzhou-20 crew member Chen Dong during a recent interview aired by China Central Television (CCTV), as quoted by Space.com. But then I quickly realized that couldnt happen because we were in space. How could there possibly be a fallen leaf there? The team used a pen-shaped microscope connected to a tablet to have a closer look. We could see very clearly the small cracks [with the microscope], Chen recalled. Several were relatively long, and one was shorter. We could also see that some of the cracks had penetrated through. Fellow crew member Wang Jie, who worked as an aerospace technician before becoming an astronaut, said he wasnt really nervous, pointing out that the outermost layer of the viewport is a protective layer, and inside it there are two pressure-bearing layers, and we are safe as long as the cabin pressure doesnt change. Advertisement Advertisement To remedy the situation, the China National Space Administration said in a statement that it had launched a porthole crack repair device along with its emergency spacecraft. Astronauts installed it inside the Shenzhou-20 capsule, effectively improving the spacecrafts heat protection and sealing capabilities during reentry. The space capsule with the cracked window ultimately landed without a crew on board in Mongolia on January 19, concluding the incident. But even the landing wasnt exactly straightforward. Since no crew was able to separate the main parachute, teams on the ground were afraid the capsule would be dragged on the ground, so they had to act quickly, as officials explained during the recently televised interviews. Fortunately, the capsules exterior post-reentry was generally normal, according to a CNSA statement at the time. While no crew member appears to have been in any danger, the incident highlights how space junk continues to be a major problem for humanitys presence in space. Especially as companies build out plans for enormous megaconstellations of satellites, were launching cargo to orbit at an unprecedented rate which could risk cracking more than a viewport window in the near future as the Earths orbit is turned into a minefield. More on the situation: Chinese Astronauts Clamber Outside Space Station to Inspect Damaged Spacecraft Feb. 27 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1844, the Dominican Republic was granted independence from Haiti. In 1933, it was announced that President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt would use a 263-year-old tattered Dutch Bible that had been in the possession of his family since 1670 for his inauguration on March 4. In 1942, opening salvos were fired in the Battle of the Java Sea, during which 11 American-British-Dutch-Australian Command warships were sunk by the Japanese, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,400 sailors. The USS Houston (CA-30), which was sunk during the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942, was located in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, limiting presidents to two terms, was ratified. Wrecked vehicles are seen on a destroyed highway in Santiago, Chile, on February 28, 2010, after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country on February 27. File Photo by Ivan Lepe/UPI In 1973, members of the American Indian Movement began a 71-day occupation at Wounded Knee, S.D., to protest the federal government's failure to live up to its agreements with Indian nations. In 1974, the first issue of People magazine was published. Pope Benedict XVI speaks during his final general audience before his retirement in St. Peter square at the Vatican on February 27, 2013. File Photo by Stefano Spanziani/UPI In 1982, an Atlanta jury convicted Wayne Williams of killing two of 28 young African Americans whose deaths over a two-year period had shaken the city. Williams was sentenced to life in prison. In 1990, the Soviet Parliament approved the creation of a U.S.-style presidential system that gave Mikhail Gorbachev broad powers and established direct popular elections for the office. Vice President Richard Cheney leaves the stage after delivering remarks at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference 2007, in Washington on March 12, 2007. On February 27, 2007, a suicide bomber set off a device outside Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan that killed 23 people. Cheney, who was visiting the American military base and identified by the Taliban as the target of the attack, escaped injury. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI File Photo by Bruce Young/UPI Advertisement Advertisement In 1991, President George H.W. Bush ordered a halt to the allied military offensive against Iraqi military forces, saying: ''Our military objectives are met.'' Former President George H.W. Bush discusses his 50-year partnership with wife Barbara Bush during an appearance January 22, 1996, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. On February 27, 1991, the president ordered a halt to the allied military offensive against Iraqi military forces. UPI File Photo In 1999, Nigeria's transition to civilian rule was nearly completed with the election of Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military leader, as president. UPI File Photo In 2007, a suicide bomber set off a device outside Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan that killed 23 people. U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney, who was visiting the American military base and identified by the Taliban as the target of the attack, escaped injury. In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile, killing more than 500 people. The quake generated a tsunami, destroyed or heavily damaged nearly 500,000 homes and caused a massive electrical blackout. Chile's president declared a "state of catastrophe." Advertisement Advertisement In 2013, about 150,000 people gathered at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City for Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience. In 2015, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov died from a fatal gunshot wound. In the days before his death, Nemtsov expressed fears of being killed by the government, but the government prosecuted Chechen men for his death. In 2022, former President Donald Trump won an informal straw poll of whom attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference would support in a Republican presidential primary. We're approaching the moment when the sunlight lasts longer, but your sleep, at least for one night, gets shorter. Daylight saving time returns in less than a month, despite attempts by state lawmakers to axe it for good. The practice requires folks to move their clocks forward by one hour in the spring and then back again in the autumn, so it's less dark during the waking hours. It was originally intended to save energy, but it has been met with debate from our representatives over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know for 2026. When is daylight saving time? Daylight saving time will start at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, according to the US Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department. It also cuts into your slumber, prompting a rough adjustment for those counting on getting their eight hours. If someone you know is cracking the following morning, this may be the culprit. We'll also experience some dark mornings and brighter evenings for a while. As the days grow longer into the spring and summer months, it'll balance out again as we brace to turn our clocks back an hour in November. Why did Texas stop daylight saving time? The Lone Star State is not opting out this year for daylight saving time, however, the Texas Legislature did try to stop us from participating. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1393, which requires both the Central and Mountain Time zones within the state to observe daylight saving time year-round. The standard time in the state would be referred to as "Texas Time." Advertisement Advertisement However, the bill won't take effect unless the U.S. Congress passes a federal law allowing year-round daylight saving time. Other states have similar trigger laws in place, such as Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, and Florida. What US states do not observe daylight saving time? Much of the U.S. will. Hawaii and most of Arizona are the only ones that do not observe daylight saving time, opting out of the Uniform Time Act of 1966. What states are considering getting rid of Daylight Saving Time? You're not alone in wanting to never worry about switching your clocks again. Over the last decade, several places have taken measures to end the practice. Per ABC 10, these include: Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and, of course, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Is daylight saving time coming to an end permanently? As of now, no. Much of the nation is awaiting the U.S. Congress to pass a federal law allowing year-round daylight saving time. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to stay on Standard Time year-round or observe DST for a part of a given year, but not permanently. Texas has passed a "trigger law" to end DST, but it won't go into effect until Congress changes the federal mandate. During last year's legislative session, State Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, cited studies showing that standard time is healthier as it aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep-wake cycles, the Texas Tribune reports. When did daylight saving time start? Some have said Benjamin Franklin first came up with the idea for daylight saving time, while others believe it was adopted so farmers could have more hours of sunlight to work in the field. However, the University of Colorado Boulder cited its more complex than that. Advertisement Advertisement It was first introduced in Germany in 1916 during World War I as an energy-saving measure, according to CU Boulder sleep researcher Kenneth Wright. The U.S. followed suit, adopting it in 1918. Initially implemented as a wartime measure, it was repealed a year later. But, the practice was reinstituted in 1942 during World War I. States and localities then kept switching back and forth for years after. To put an end to the clock chaos, Congress finally passed the Uniform Time Act in 1996, according to Wright. This article originally published at Daylight saving time returns in 2026 despite previous Texas efforts to stop it. Compared to conventional media filtration, our system delivers stable and reliable water quality while enabling greater automation and operational efficiency. Its compact and modular design makes it particularly well-suited for retrofit installations where equipment room space is limitedan increasingly important consideration for operators upgrading aging infrastructure. The required number of system sales reflects growing customer acceptance and increasing confidence among both operators and distribution partners. We see clear momentum as facilities prioritize water quality, automation, and space efficiency, and ClariFlow is emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional filtration methods. Our commercial pool business was a standout performer in 2025 and delivered the strongest year in the company's history. We shipped 34 pool systems during the year, a new record for LiqTech. Of those, 24 systems were delivered in 2025, with the remaining 10 scheduled for delivery in early 2026. Pool system revenue totaled $2.6 million for the year and was the percentage driver of growth within our systems segment. All systems shipped during the year were based on our proprietary ClariFlow commercial pool filtration platform. ClariFlow is designed to meet the increasingly complex operational, regulatory, and space requirements facing modern aquatic facilities. The project is still under discussion, but as we have consistently communicated, the timing of large oil and gas projects is difficult to predict. That said, we understand that we cannot be unpredictable. Our focus needs to be, and is, on building a diversified systems portfolio with stronger visibility and an improved margin profile going forward. In many ways, this has been consistent with our approach since I took over as CEO: to focus on more predictable parts of our business, such as swimming pools, which will be a key driver going forward. We are certainly amplifying this approach in terms of how we allocate our resources. Fei Chen: Thank you, Robert, and good day to everyone on the call. 2025 represented a meaningful step forward for LiqTech International, Inc. For the whole year, revenue increased 13%, driven by a 49% increase in total systems and aftermarket revenue, and we made improvements to drive efficiencies across much of our business. That shift toward higher value system sales is central to our long-term strategy and reflects growing adoption of our silicon carbide membrane technology across multiple end markets. We were a few shy of our original revenue guidance. This was primarily due to continued delays with a large OEM in the gas order that remains active in our pipeline. Story Continues We have also made structural improvements to the pool system itself. Our newer modular design is standardized and cost efficient, which improves gross margins and simplifies installation. Unlike oil and gas systems, which often are highly customized to specific customer needs, pool systems are increasingly becoming repeatable, off-the-shelf solutions. This makes the market segment both more scalable and profitable. From a distribution standpoint, we recently expanded our relationship with Bandwidth in the UK into an exclusive distribution agreement, subject to minimal annual system volumes. In addition, we are seeing interest from US-based swimming pool companies. In these days, we are working on the final details for the first US swimming pool project. We see the potential opening of a very attractive growth market. All told, we have shipped pool systems in six different countries in 2025 and look to extend that this year. Based on the guidance we have provided, we expect pool revenue of approximately $5 million to $6 million in 2026, which compares to $2.6 million in 2025, reflecting continued mass adoption and delivery of systems already in backlog. Turning to water for energy. Oil and gas remains an opportunity, but it continues to present timing challenges. We are engaged with multiple providers, both large and small, and the delayed order that impacted 2025 guidance remains under discussion. As mentioned, these systems are typically highly customized, which not only makes timing unpredictable, but also impacts our margin profile. While we continue to pursue this segment and see potential opportunities with partner companies such as NASA in the Middle East, and ongoing trials through Razorback Direct in North America, we are going to be disciplined in how we allocate resources, and we are no longer basing our operating plan on difficult-to-predict customer timing, no matter how promising they may be. Where we are seeing encouraging and increasing tangible traction is within broader water-for-industry applications. The successful delivery and commissioning of our advanced membrane-based filtration system for oily wastewater at North Star BlueScope Steel has been a key proof point. The system was designed to resolve recurring filtration disruptions of polymer membranes caused by high oil content and variability in wastewater, which has given our customer costly and difficult experiences. Our system has demonstrated strong performance. This project has reinforced our belief that industrial wastewater treatment can become a larger and more stable contributor to our business. Industrial systems tend to be more standardized than oil and gas projects, which supports better margins and shorter sales cycles. We are seeing increased interest across multiple industry verticals, and to support this growth, we added dedicated sales resources to expand our industry presence in the US. In further support of our US growth strategy, we also opened a dedicated service center in Texas in partnership with Halo Systems this past November. This facility enhances our ability to support customers in the water-for-energy and water-for-industry segments by providing certified technicians, spare parts availability, remote and on-site technician support, and system maintenance and repairs. To scale in the US market, localized service is critical. The service center not only strengthens customer support but has already begun to contribute to new business development by increasing customer confidence in our long-term commitments to the region. Going ahead, we believe we will see strong contributions from the industrial side of the broader energy segment, with upside opportunities from the more specific oil and gas markets. In total, we are expecting water-for-energy and water-for-industry-related revenue of $5 million to $8 million. This compared to $4.1 million for this market segment in 2025. We are happy to see that our marine segment is building momentum, particularly through our joint venture in China. During 2025, we broke ground on a new marine-focused R&D center in Mentong and completed a regional spare parts warehouse to strengthen service capabilities for our growing marine customer base. These investments are designed to support the development and localization of marine silicon carbide membrane water treatment units for dual-fuel engine vessels, on-board water purification, and reuse. By increasing local assembly and sourcing within China, we are improving supply chain resilience and cost competitiveness in the market. We strongly believe that silicon carbide membrane technology will continue gaining adoption in new marine vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines, driven by its durability, chemical resistance, and energy efficiency. We ended the year with three marine orders for eight commercial vessels in backlog, scheduled for delivery throughout 2026. Marine revenue, including service sales, was approximately $1.5 million in 2025, and we are targeting approximately $4 million in 2026, reflecting good market adaptation of our membrane filtration technology. Looking at the broader systems business, including pool, water for energy, water for industry, and the marine side, our expectation is that we will generate revenue of $14 million to $18 million. This would be up from $8.2 million in systems revenue in 2025, showing growth of about 70% to 120%. This is a key reason why we are so excited about the future. Beyond our systems business, we also have our legacy DPF and membrane business and the plastics business, which remain stable contributors to our operations. Combined, this segment represented approximately $8 million in revenue in 2025. We expect this part of our business to remain reasonably stable in 2026, and in a cautious outlook, anticipating total revenue from the two groups combined to be slightly increased to $9 million in revenue. Looking at 2026, we expect revenue in the range of $23 million to $27 million and positive full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA in the middle to high range of the revenue guidance, assuming constant currency. Growth is expected to be driven primarily by continued expansion in pool systems, industry applications, and marine. The range in our revenue guidance largely reflects the continued unpredictability of oil and gas project timing. Our strategic focus remains clear: scale standardized, higher-margin system platforms. We are maintaining disciplined cost control and operational efficiency with the goal of near-term profitability. Let me now turn the call over to David to review the financials in more detail. I will then make a few closing comments and look to open the call for your questions. Robert Blum: David? David Kowalczyk: Thank you, Fei, and good day, everyone. Let me take some time diving into the financial results in a bit more detail and add some color to what was in the press release. Please note that I will keep my remarks focused primarily on the year-over-year changes. Let us start with revenue. Revenue for the year came in slightly above $16.5 million, up from $14.6 million a year ago. Broken down by verticals, sales for the year were as follows: systems and aftermarket sales of $8.2 million compared to CHF 5.5 million in the prior year; DPF and ceramic membrane sales were $4.0 million, down from $5.6 million in the prior year; and finally, plastic components revenue came in at $4.1 million compared to $3.4 million last year. The increase was mainly due to increased deliveries of systems to pool, energy, industry, and marine water treatment, and components plastics, partly offset by decreased sales of filters. The increase in deliveries of system was mainly driven by increased deliveries within pool filtration industry systems. The increase in components mainly within machine building for the food industry. The decrease in sales of filters was primarily driven by a refocusing of our strategy to capitalize on subsegments where we see increased future demand for DPF outside automotives. As Fei mentioned, the delta between our recent expectations for 2025 and actual results was primarily due to the delay in a larger oil and gas system, which remains in our pipeline that we have not yet received the purchase order for. Turning to gross margins, margins for the year were 7.6%, compared to 1.7% in 2024. As we continue to be below our optimal revenue level, we continue to have fixed production costs that are not being fully absorbed, and thus lower-than-normalized gross margins. A couple of key notes are that part of the increase in gross margins was due to the higher level of overall revenue, as our contribution margins are typically on average in the 40% area. We do have some fluctuations between market segments, as you know, however, this was offset by the investment of resources into deliveries of containerized oil and gas systems to the US, which contributed to lower-than-usual margins, reflecting a strategic decision aimed at demonstrating the validation of our value proposition associated with our technology and seeding the market for future growth. As we move forward, a key focus will be on leveraging our standardized systems, which inherently are higher margin. This means more focus on pools, industrial applications, marine applications, and membrane sales. Turning to OpEx. Total operating expenditures for the year were $9.6 million compared to 9.7 million last year. Breaking it down, selling expenses for the year were CHF 2.7 million compared to CHF 2.7 million last year. This development was partly driven by full-year effects of savings made in 2024, lower accounts receivable write-offs and provision needs. These effects were partly offset by costs associated with our newly formed joint venture in China, costs for outbound distribution including tariffs to the US, and expenditures related to external sales consultancy services, which also increased in 2025. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 2025 were $5.7 million compared to $5.7 million in 2024. Underlying development in local currencies, Danish kroner, was a 4% improvement compared to 2024. This development was due to savings made in 2024, partly balanced by filling the CFO position and other open positions. Research and development expenses for the year were $1.2 million compared to $1.4 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a more focused R&D strategy, with fewer ongoing projects and reduced average number of employees engaged in external research and development activities. For the year, adjusted EBITDA was negative $5.0 million compared to negative CHF 6.1 million last year. Turning to our guidance for 2026, we are expecting revenue to be in the range of $23 million to $27 million. As we break this down, we are anticipating that our broader water-for-energy and water-for-industry business will be between $5 million and $8 million. We believe our pool business will be in the range of $5 million to $6 million. Our marine business would be about $4 million, of which 60% will be from new systems and 40% from our recurring service business. And finally, our legacy DPF and plastics business will be about $9 million. We target a positive full-year 2026 EBITDA in the mid to high range of the revenue guidance, assuming constant currencies. And finally, from a cash perspective, we ended the quarter with 5.1 million in cash. Everything else was pretty much in line with our normal operating procedures from a balance sheet perspective. And with that, let me turn it back to Fei. Fei Chen: Thank you, David. To close things out before I turn over to questions, our silicon carbide filtration platform is central to how we address increasingly complex global water challenges. Built on advanced ceramic membrane technology, our solutions are designed to operate reliably in some of the harshest and most demanding treatment environments, from produced water in energy applications to commercial pool systems and heavy industry wastewater streams. As European customers meet strict environmental regulation while lowering water usage and energy intensity, we provide practical, high-performance solutions that support long-term sustainability goals. The momentum we generated in 2025, including record pool system sales, progress in produced water, marine system deployment, and industry installations such as our project with a major steel producer, demonstrates the expanding global recognition of our technology's value. As we look ahead, our direction is well defined. We are prioritizing growth in our most attractive verticals, particularly food industry applications and marine. We are remaining disciplined in execution across the organization. At the same time, we remain firmly focused on scaling the business to achieve profitability and positioning LiqTech International, Inc. for durable, profitable growth over the long term. Again, thank you everyone for your support. This week, as Robert said, we would be happy to take any questions. Robert Blum: All right. Thank you very much, Fei and David, for those prepared remarks. I want to remind everybody that is listening to the webcast player: to ask a question, simply type in your question through the Ask a Question feature in the player there. We will do our best to get to as many questions here as possible. There are a few already in the queue here, Fei and David. So the first one here is: when can we expect revenue from the large oil and gas order pushout to be booked? David Kowalczyk: That is a good question. And, of course, as we mentioned, it is a bit, you can say, in the hands of the customer. But we definitely would expect, you can say, the oil and gas project to materialize in this year, essentially, 2026. We do not know the precise timing, but ideally Q2 finalization. Robert Blum: Okay. Very good. The next question here is: do tariffs affect your US oil and gas business? Are your products competitively priced? Fei Chen: This is a very good question, and because the tariffs are a moving target, we really have our focus on that. Up to now, we have been able to have very good discussions with our customers, so we do not need to take all the tariffs on ourselves alone. Going forward, we are definitely looking at what is the best way for us to handle the tariffs and how we are able to keep our competitiveness. As we mentioned before, we are working very focused on the cost reduction of our product and also on standardization and efficiency, and that will somehow balance the tariff impact on our technology. Robert Blum: Okay. Very good. Again, a quick reminder to everyone: simply type your question into that Ask a Question feature in the webcast player if you do have any questions here. A couple of questions here pertaining to your need for capital here in 2026. Fei Chen: As you have heard today, we actually have laid out a very clear growth plan with a revenue guidance of $23 million to $27 million in 2026. So we are definitely evaluating how we are able to support this strong growth plan, and that means we are working at different financial options. Robert Blum: Okay. Very good. And it looks like this may be the final question, barring any last minute ones that may come in. And I think you have touched on this a few times, but to reiterate, what are the drivers of your 2026 revenue outlook of $23 million to $27 million? Fei Chen: This is a very good question also, as we used some time in our earnings call about this. What we really have to say to ourselves is we have to be really focused on a broader and diversified perspective and also work more on the verticals which have more risk visibility and higher predictability. So we are actually looking at growth in basically all our system segments. The pool system will have $5 million to $6 million coming this year, and the marine will grow from $1.5 million to $4 million. We said water for energy and water for industry will be $5 million to $8 million. There is a bigger range there because the oil and gas projects are more difficult to predict the timing. And the DPF and plastics plus the membrane area, we expect a slight increase from $8 million to $9 million. So, as you can hear now, the drivers are from the different verticals, and this gives us much more reliable, predictable revenue growth compared with before. Robert Blum: Okay. Very good. I am showing no further questions in the queue. So with that, I would like to turn the call back over to Fei Chen for closing remarks. Fei Chen: I would like to say thank you to all of you for being with us today. We look forward to communicating with you soon again. Thank you. Robert Blum: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending todays presentation. 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See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of February 27, 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. LiqTech (LIQT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool Freezes and seizures of cryptocurrency by the Scam Center Strike Force from Southeast Asian crime networks have topped $580 million, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In an announcement Thursday, Jeanine Pirro stated that the force had made significant progress in freezing, seizing and forfeiting crypto from scam networks operating in countries including Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. Pirro said that crypto seizures are one important part of the Scam Center Strike Forces work, adding that, Through the legal process, my Office will seek to forfeit these funds and return them to victims to the maximum extent possible. The Scam Center Strike Force Founded in November 2025, the Scam Center Strike Force coordinates across the DOJ, FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Treasury, and other government agencies, targeting transnational criminal networks that have made billions of dollars through so-called pig butchering scams. Advertisement Advertisement Pig butchering scams involve the use of social engineering to encourage victims to purchase cryptocurrency, before the scammers divert and seize control of the funds through fake investment domains and applications. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotbed of scam compounds, often relying on coerced labor, which Interpol last year elevated to a global threat. DOJ, FBI, Secret Service Unveil 'Strike Force' to Combat Crypto Scams Rooted in China In September 2025, the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 19 entities across Burma and Cambodia, dismantling scam operations that cost victims more than $10 billion in 2024. Last month, Amnesty International warned that mass escapes of workers from Cambodian scam compounds have created a "humanitarian crisis," as trafficked victims flee abuses including rape and torture. Deddy Lavid, CEO of blockchain analytics platform Cyvers, told Decrypt that while the $580 million in seizures announced Thursday is certainly operationally meaningful, in the wider context of global crypto fraud, it represents only a fraction of the total activity were observing. Advertisement Advertisement Lavid added that the company has identified some 27,000 active criminal groups worldwide, with some $27.5 billion in fraud exposure and detected illicit value flows. Exodus from Cambodian Scam Compounds Creates 'Humanitarian Crisis': Amnesty The China connection In Thursdays announcement, Pirro linked Southeast Asian scam networks to Chinese organized crime, operating through transnational criminal organizations. According to Lavid, the picture is more nuanced; while a meaningful share of Southeast Asian scam infrastructure shows operational, linguistic, financial, or routing ties to Chinese TCOs, the networks involved are increasingly decentralized and hybrid in nature. Advertisement Advertisement These hybrid networks, he added, frequently involve local operators, regional facilitators, and cross-border laundering hubs, with core orchestration layers built atop Chinese-language infrastructure and financial routing patterns, linked to regional execution hubs in locations such as Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos and distributed laundering and cash-out layers across multiple jurisdictions. The result, he said, is that Chinese TCOs appear to play a central coordination role in an increasingly multinational and operationally fragmented criminal ecosystem. This is a developing story and will be updated as details emerge. Two U.S. citizens were among the ten men in a high-seas shootout with Cuban coast guard agents, U.S. officials confirmed, and the boat they were in had been reported stolen. Cuban coast guard ships docked at the port of Havana on February 25, 2026. Cuba's coast guard said on February 25, 2026, it shot dead four people and wounded six others traveling in a US-registered speedboat during an exchange of fire near Cuba's shores that came amid heightened tensions with Washington. (Photo by Adalberto ROQUE / AFP via Getty Images) The revelation that two people aboard the boat were U.S. citizens raises the stakes in the Feb. 25 incident that has triggered investigations in Washington and Havana. Advertisement Advertisement One of the U.S. citizens was killed and the other injured, U.S. officials said. A third person was on a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. to marry a U.S. citizen. Others may be legal permanent residents. Some on the boat have criminal records, the officials said. The immigration statuses of those involved was first reported by Axios. The boat, a 24-foot open watercraft registered in Florida, had been docked at a pier in Big Pine Key, about 30 miles east of Key West, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office incident report. The owner of the boat, whose registration matches the one provided by Cuban authorities, noticed it missing at around 9:30 a.m. that day. When he saw news reports of the shooting near Cuba's coast, he realized his boat had been used and called police, the report said. Cuban authorities said that when the boat was intercepted in its territorial waters on Feb. 25 those aboard were carrying assault rifles, handguns, improvised explosive devices, bulletproof vests and other tactical military gear. Four were killed. Six were arrested. Another man was detained in Cuba accused of aiding the men on the boat. Advertisement Advertisement Cuba's Interior Ministry has accused all of the people involved of taking part in a terrorist plot, though officials in Washington have not corroborated that accusation. What do we know about the ten men involved in the latest escalation between two Cold war-era foes? US interventions in Latin America. What they say about Trumps Venezuela gambit Who were the people involved in the Cuba speedboat shooting? Among those detained, according to Cuban authorities, were: Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez Conrado Galindo Sariol Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara Roberto Alvarez Avila Those killed were identified by Cuban authorities as: Advertisement Advertisement Pavel Alling Pena Michael Ortega Casanova Ledian Padron Guevara Hector Duani Cruz Correa Cuba has said that the majority of the participants in the incident have a history of criminal and violent activity. There does appear to be some accuracy to that assertion. A Cuban official on Feb. 26 also corrected an initial report by his government that misstated the name of one of the suspects captured in Cuba and alleged to be assisting the men in the boat. That person, Rolando Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, says he was in Miami at the time of the shooting. Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, an exile group that opposes the Cuban regime, warned not to put too much credence into details of the incident emerging from the Cuban government. Advertisement Advertisement His name appears on the same Cuban terrorist list as Sanchez Gonzalez for allegedly starting an anti-Castro guerilla group that was actually created six years before he was born. "They have a history of lying and committing crimes," Gutierrez-Boronat said. "Why should we believe anything they say, especially at a moment like now when there's real pressure on them?" This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915. Officers at Jacmel, Haiti, during the U.S. occupation in 1915. A group of Cuban revolutionaries with Fidel Castro are seen with artillery after routing the U.S.-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Children cheer on the U.S. Marines following offensive in Vecca Monte west of Panama City, during "Operation Just Cause," the U.S. invasion to remove Manuel Noriega, which lasted from December 1989 through January 1990. A U.S. Marine corps crew takes up position on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, on May 2, 1965, during the Dominican Civil War. The U.S. Army Airborne troops drive down a street in Santo Domingo during the occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1965. U.S. troops in full combat gear run on the docks of Port-au-Prince harbor, on Sept. 19, 1994, after arriving on an assault helicopter. Thousands of U.S. soldiers arrived in Haiti on Sept. 19, 1994, as part of "Operation Uphold Democracy," to pave the way for the restoration of the elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Hundreds of local residents run towards the U.S. Chinook helicopters, on Sept. 24, 1994, as a detachment of over 100 U.S. troops arrive in this small southern coastal town, 120 km south of Port-au-Prince, as part of the "Operation Uphold Democracy." From Cuba to Panama: US interventions that shaped Latin America 1 of 8 This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915. Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez Sanchez Gonzalez, 47, was arrested in Miami-Dade County in 2020 and charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, fleeing the scene of a crime, reckless driving and property damage, according to public records. He spent over a year in jail. Two years later, he was back in jail on charges of tampering with an electronic monitor, a felony offense. He was also one the two men detained this week who Cuba's Ministry of Justice previously added to its "international most wanted" list, which also includes members of Miamis exile community dating back to 1999, according to a justice ministry "gazette" sent to USA TODAY by a Cuban official. Sanchez Gonzalez lives in a suburb of Miami-Dade County just south of Miami. Advertisement Advertisement In the justice ministry gazette, Sanchez Gonzalez was accused of inciting an act of sabotage against the Municipal People's Court of Central Havana in 2022. And in 2023, Cuban authorities said he smuggled firearms, ammunition and other supplies across the northern coast of Cuba's Matanzas Province "with the purpose of carrying out terrorist acts against military units. He was allegedly financed by supporters residing in the U.S. Separately, in a 2023 news bulletin from Cuban officials identifying alleged wanted terrorists, Sanchez Gonzalez was among those named. A translated report by government media at the time showed a photo of Sanchez Gonzalez that matches social media photos and videos promoting Cuban liberation found by USA TODAY. In one of those video posts, the man who appears to be Sanchez Gonzalez calls out President Donald Trump for speaking about taking over Cuba as president but doing nothing to make liberation happen. The man uses Spanish curse words to punctuate frustration and urgency for change. "We are going to fight for Cuba, he said multiple times in the post. Later, he said, "I have the balls to do what needs to be done now. He thanks America for welcoming him as a refugee and giving him a life back, including the opportunity to start a family. "But I want to die how real men die." Advertisement Advertisement US and Cuba: A contentious relationship through the years Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez Cruz Gomez, also 47, was the other man added to Cuba's "international most wanted list." Authorities opened up an investigation into him in 2025 for "sabotage activities" carried out in Villa Clara, Cuba, for which another Cuban citizen was arrested and prosecuted. A person with the same name as Cruz Gomez appears to have last resided at an address in Tampa, Fla., according to public records, which also associated that name with criminal activity, several arrests and the ownership of hunting and fishing licenses. It was not immediately clear if they were one and the same person. Advertisement Advertisement Neither Sanchez Gonzalez nor Cruz Gomez were available to comment on the allegations. Attempts to reach potential family members or representatives in Cuba and the U.S. were not immediately successful. A vintage car is parked outside the Provincial ClinicalSurgical Hospital "Arnaldo Milian Castro," where, according to local information, injured people on Feb. 26, 2026, were being treated after an armed incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat and a Cuban patrol vessel. Nicolas Maduro: Here are the charges against Venezuela's leader Conrado Galindo Sariol Posts on an Instagram account that appears to belong to Galindo Sorial alternate between videos of him offering deals on cars in a Miami used car lot and photos and interviews with prominent Cuban exiles advocating for a free Cuba. In a March 2025 interview on the Radio Marti podcast, a hardline Cuban exile advocacy show, Galindo Sorial described how his mother was a teacher and his father fought alongside Castros troops in the Sierra Maestra but later became disillusioned with the regime. Advertisement Advertisement Beginning around 1991, Galindo Sorial became involved with the opposition in Cuba, distributing anti-Castro pamphlets and writing underground articles against the regime, before landing in a prison in Camaguey. He later left for Miami. In the interview, Galindo Sorial said he dreams of a free Cuba, where all Cubans have equal rights and the ability to defend their homeland. Cuba is a jewel of the Americas, he said. Before I die, I would like to see her free. Roberto Azcorra Consuegra Cuban authorities retracted their accusation that Azcorra Consuegra aided the men in the boat on Feb. 26. In a television interview on Feb. 26 with a local NBC affiliate in Florida, a man who identified himself as Azcorra Consuegra said he was surprised to learn his name was on the list originally issued by Cuba's Interior Ministry because he was at that moment in South Florida and not on the island. He also denied knowledge of any plans to go to Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Asked why he believed the Cuban government would put his name on the list and accuse him of terrorism, Azcorra Consuegra said: "They know me. They know me well, they know it all." U.S. and Cuba: What now? Cuba's government has accused the 10 people aboard the speedboat it intercepted off its coast of planning "an armed infiltration with terrorist aims." The U.S. has said little about the incident, though its top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has said that Washington was investigating the "highly unusual" incident. Rubio said on Feb. 25 it was not a U.S. government operation and that he wasnt "going to speculate about whose boat it was, what they were doing, why they were there, what actually happened." The episode comes at a time of increased tension between the U.S. and Cuba, longtime adversaries. It also comes less than two months after American forces seized Cuba's close ally, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, in a raid that has had severe economic and humanitarian consequences for Cuba. Venezuela has supplied Cuba's oil for more than two decades. In the wake of the U.S. operation, Washington imposed an oil embargo on Cuba. However, in recent days it has moved to ease those restrictions as Cuba's Caribbean-nation neighbors have warned that the embargo could destabilize the entire region. Kim Hjelmgaard, Rick Jervis and Jayme Fraser are all reporters on the USA TODAY Investigations team. Francesca Chambers is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY covering foreign policy. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stolen Florida boat, US citizens linked to Cuban high-seas shootout whats at stake At the center of the feud between the Pentagon and Anthropic is a heated debate over whether there should be more constraints on the militarys use of artificial intelligence. Anthropic, which has a $200 million contract with the Defense Department, wants guarantees that the Pentagon wont use its technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants unfettered access to Anthropics Claude model, and has given the company until Friday to drop its demands for guardrails or risk losing out on its lucrative contract. The Pentagon has simultaneously threatened to use the Defense Production Act to compel the company to cooperate. Advertisement Advertisement These threats do not change our position: We cannot in good conscience accede to their request, Anthropic chief Dario Amodei said in a statement Thursday. whos making the case Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, argued that there should be more constraints around the use of AI by the military and domestic national security agencies: It has the potential to turn us into a police state. In Maine, for example, people were threatened by ICE who were just watching and they said, Oh, now youre going in the terrorist database. ICE denies there is such a thing, but this is what the agent said. And the potential for AI combined with access to all the governments data, taxes, Social Security, health care, combined with identification is very scary and something we do need to pay attention to. And Im afraid the Congress is sort of stymied by the complexity of it, and therefore not doing anything, and its going to be a real problem. What the company [Anthropic] is talking about is some limitations on the use that I think are common sense. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who was part of a bipartisan Senate working group on AI, said its too early to determine whether the technology should have more limitations placed on it: Were doing some research on it. Were still learning about it. Its a very serious issue but we want to make sure weve got the tools available for our young men and women in uniform. But I also recognize that each of these organizations has concerns that they just simply want to express. I get that. Where it ends up yet, I dont know. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a member of the Armed Services panel, said that the potential benefits associated with AI should outweigh any calls to restrict it: Its kind of like when we first came upon the internet, and nobody knew what to expect, and its turned out to be a good tool for everybody. AI is going to do the same at a more enhanced rate. I think AI is going to enhance the military, advance our manufacturing, but also enhance taking the fraud out of the big budget that the military has. Notable Half a year out, the field in the Democratic primary for governor is unusually large and remarkably bottom-heavy.It not only lacks an out-and-out frontrunner, but it lacks anyone with a sizable bloc of support, according to a new Marquette Law School poll taken Feb. 11-19. No Democrat in the August primary got more than 11% in the survey. Asked to choose from eight different candidates, 65% of Democratic voters said they didnt know how they planned to vote. Lubar Logo This is the 15th year Marquette has polled in Wisconsin, and weve never seen that many voters undecided in a contested primary for governor or U.S. Senate at this stage of the race. Advertisement Advertisement Ive been writing about Wisconsin politics for almost 40 years, and I cant think of another big, competitive multi-candidate primary where the leading candidates were starting from such a small base of support.What accounts for that? I can think of at least three possible explanations for how shapeless this contest looks right now. One is that the Democratic field is full of low-profile entrants. Many have experience in politics and public life, but not the kind that the average person knows about. Only one of the eight has a name ID higher than the mid-30s. The fact that Gov. Tony Evers declined to run again opened up the Democratic field. And its shaping up like a good year to run if youre a Democrat, because of President Donald Trumps unpopularity. But while its a big field, its not a field of big names. Advertisement Advertisement More: Marquette poll takeaways: Trump approval rating, data centers and more Another explanation is that the only Democrat with name ID above 50%, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, is facing doubts within his party about his electability and effectiveness as a candidate. In 2022, Barnes blew by his opponents to easily win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Then he lost by one point in November to a vulnerable Republican incumbent, Sen. Ron Johnson. More: The feat Mandela Barnes is attempting almost never happens in Wisconsin | Gilbert Depending on your point of view, Barnes fell just short of being the only candidate in America that year to beat an incumbent U.S. senator (nothing to be embarrassed about) or he blew a very winnable race. Advertisement Advertisement The new Marquette poll suggests Barnes is well-liked by Democratic voters: 55% view him favorably and just 9% view him unfavorably. But despite his positive image in the party and large edge in name ID, he got only 10% when the survey asked people how they planned to vote in the Democratic primary. (That question was asked of all self-identified Democrats and Democratic leaners in the survey, plus any independents who said they planned to vote in the Democratic primary a total sample of 394 registered voters). Getting similar backing in the poll (11%) was Madison state lawmaker Francesca Hong, followed by Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez at 6% and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley at 3%. At 2% were Joel Brennan, a former top cabinet official under Evers, and Missy Hughes, former head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. At 1% each were State Sen. Kelda Roys and Brett Hulsey, a former state lawmaker. A third and very plausible explanation for the flatness of the field and the large number of undecideds is that hardly anybody is paying much attention to the Wisconsin governors race right now, with Trumps breakneck second term sucking up all the public oxygen on a daily basis. Advertisement Advertisement In the poll, only 8% of registered voters in Wisconsin said they had heard or read a lot about the primaries for governor this year. Another 58% said theyd heard a little, and 35% said they had heard nothing at all. Even in the GOP primary for governor, where there is now only one major candidate, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, 63% of voters said theyre undecided. (Almost all the rest plan to vote for Tiffany). Thats almost two-thirds of voters in both primaries for governor saying they dont know how they will vote six months from now. As it happens, voters arent paying a lot of attention either to the April election for state Supreme Court, where the undecideds are also in the 60s. Wisconsin voters just havent tuned in to any of this years elections here in February, said Marquette pollster Charles Franklin. I should note here that you would probably get a lower number of undecideds if you narrowed your survey to a much smaller slice of highly engaged voters, the ones most likely to vote in a partisan August primary. But identifying likely primary voters is tricky. The Marquette poll gives us a broader measure of sentiment among voters within each party. Advertisement Advertisement And it also gives us a comparison point to past Marquette polls, including the last four big primaries for governor and Senate in Wisconsin. Level of undecided voters is higher than usual That comparison suggests that the number of undecided voters this time is higher than normal. At roughly this same point in the election cycle, 48% were undecided in the 2022 Democratic Senate primary, 54% were undecided in the 2022 GOP primary for governor, 44% were undecided in 2018 Democratic primary for governor, and 48% were undecided in the 2018 GOP Senate primary. In each of those races, the leading candidates at this stage were in the high teens, 20s or 30s not at 10% or 11%. All of this adds to the fascination factor of this years Democratic primary for governor. The field is big. The race is open-ended. The stakes are huge. The winner of the primary will either ride an expected Democratic tailwind into office or become the first Wisconsin Democrat in 36 years to lose a race for governor with a Republican in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement All kinds of questions about the mood and mindset of Democratic voters are at play here, as they are nationally.How will the anger, outrage and animus Democrats feel toward Trump shape their choices in this primary? Does it make those voters hungrier for a firebrand, or more concerned about electability? If its a firebrand they want, is it style and rhetoric these voters respond to, or policy? If its electability, does that mean they will be drawn to a more moderate Democrat, a more inspiring one, or one whose campaign and candidate skills signal competence and effectiveness? How do the lesser-known candidates in this large field go about separating themselves from each other and gaining political traction? That typically requires money, or organizational support, or a capacity to achieve some kind of viral celebrity or momentum. Which candidates will drop out before the votes are cast, and how will that affect how the voting pie is sliced up in the end? A large field often means a more fragmented vote, lowering the win number. Advertisement Advertisement What will the win number be in this race? Here are the lowest winning shares in contested primaries for governor and Senate in recent decades in Wisconsin: 34% for Tommy Thompson in a multi-candidate GOP primary for Senate in 2012; 38% for Jim Doyle in a multi-candidate Democratic primary for governor in 2002; 42% for Evers in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor; and 42% for Tim Michels in the 2004 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. If the 2026 Democratic field remains large, its certainly possibly the winning candidate will need less than Thompsons 34%. Finally, how many Wisconsinites will turn out for this Democratic contest? How much of the primary electorate will consist of base Democrats, Democratic leaners, or true independents? If the GOP primary turns out to be a foregone conclusion, will that lead a small number of moderate GOP voters to participate in the Democratic primary, which they can do in Wisconsin, a state with no registration by party? Competitive partisan primaries for Senate and governor in Wisconsin typically draw between 10% and 15% of the states voting-age adults on each side. Advertisement Advertisement Will the Democratic contest for governor this August be at the high end of that range? That would be about 700,000 votes, out of a voting-age population of more than 4.7 million, meaning it may take only 200,000 or 250,000 votes to win the nomination. That doesnt seem like a tall mountain to climb. But as the Marquette poll suggests, these candidates are all starting near the bottom. Craig Gilbert provides Wisconsin political analysis as a fellow with Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. Prior to the fellowship, Gilbert reported on politics for 35 years at the Journal Sentinel, the last 25 in its Washington Bureau. His column continues that independent reporting tradition and goes through the established Journal Sentinel editing process. Follow him on Twitter: @Wisvoter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democratic governor candidates face 'I don't know' voters | Gilbert The News Top Democrats are weighing how harshly they would go after corporations that have courted President Donald Trumps approval, if they retake the House in November. As businesses greet House Democrats rising midterm prospects with prep for a flurry of subpoenas and information requests, the partys lawmakers are already drawing CEOs a roadmap for their potential majority. Judiciary Committee Democrats have sent missives since last year to Paramount, Hewlett-Packard and Alphabet, and Oversight Committee Democrats have homed in on fundraising for the White Houses ballroom renovation. Rep. Robert Garcia, the Oversight panels top Democrat, told Semafor he would focus on alleged corruption in the Trump administration, Jeffrey Epstein, immigration enforcement, and even cost-of-living issues. He said his office has already contacted some corporations about a future investigative agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Theres opportunities to look at not just corporations that we think are enabling some of Trumps corruption, but certainly corporations that are not supporting American families and not really focusing on affordability, Garcia said. Its a departure from the traditional practice of minority parties in Congress to not get too far ahead of themselves planning for power they havent yet won. But Democrats bigger risk may be in failing to learn from history. The corporate investigations theyre eyeing could lead to a retread of 2019, when Democrats also swept into the House majority only to encounter deep internal divisions over how far to go in conducting oversight while also passing their own agenda. The shadow of Trumps first term will hang over Democrats decisions. Democratic leaders are loath to engage in discussions about impeaching him, particularly since they would lack the Senate votes to convict in even the rosiest midterm scenario. Advertisement Advertisement But the more they talk about future investigations, the closer Democrats come to an investigation that could open an impeachment Pandoras Box. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Judiciary Committee Democrat, said he was interested in potential violations of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which forbids the president from receiving gifts from foreign governments or US taxpayers. It was a major Democratic focus and a potential impeachment article during Trumps first term. The cardinal, original sin of Trump was to decide that he was going to use the presidency as a profit-making enterprise in his first term, and I would say that Congress should have impeached him for receiving millions and millions of dollars from foreign governments, Raskin said. Know More Trump is already warning, despite top Democrats clear disinterest in it, that his opponents would pursue impeachment if they can flip the House. Advertisement Advertisement Theyll find something to justify it, the president told podcaster Will Cain last month. So far, however, Democrats have clearly shown more interest in investigating high-profile mergers like the Hewlett-Packard takeover of Juniper Networks, and the ouster of former Trump Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater. Once we take power, whoever the president is, were going to break up your companies, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., told Semafor. So all the investment you did to create these mergers are going to be for naught. Your investors are going to be pissed at you, and youre likely going to end up getting fired as the CEO because you wasted so much money and corrupted yourself in the process. Republicans in the House are repeatedly amplifying the prospect of Trump-linked investigations, into corporations or the president himself, as a reason to deny Democrats control of a chamber that they would use to pursue grievances at the expense of policymaking. Advertisement Advertisement If we find wrongdoing, we will do our part in investigating. But right now, we just see a lot of smoke and mirrors and a lot of gamesmanship by the Democrats, said Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. Room for Disagreement While Garcia and Raskin addressed their future plans more openly, plenty of other Democrats are careful to avoid predicting the future with the midterms still months away and are quick to note their party will need to present its own agenda too. We have to do oversight and accountability, and we have to talk about the affordability agenda, how were going to make life better for people if we are given the opportunity to lead, and if were given the opportunity to govern, said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., the third-ranking House Democrat. Theyre also comfortable talking about impeaching at least one Trump official. House Democratic leaders have already said they want to go after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after federal immigration agents killed two US citizens. Nicholas Wus view Democrats may bite off more than they can chew by kicking off a host of investigations should they win the House back. Advertisement Advertisement They faced bruising internal battles over their Trump-focused probes in the leadup to his first impeachment in 2019, and theyll face difficult choices over where to train their investigative tools this time around, too. I dont think you can do like 100 [companies] but I think you can do three and start with that, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., of potential antimonopoly investigations. You cant do everything, but youve got to pick a few of the worst and focus there. Notable By Nate Raymond BOSTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Trump administration scheduled a Friday flight to bring a deported college student back from Honduras after a judge ordered her return, but she declined to board the plane after U.S. authorities said they may detain and deport her again. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a freshman at Babson College in Massachusetts, had been deported to a country she left when she was 8, after being detained at Boston's Logan International Airport while traveling to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement The 20-year-old was flown to Honduras on November 22 despite a Massachusetts judge's order the prior day barring her from being deported or transferred out of the state for 72 hours. A government lawyer later apologized for what he called a "mistake." Boston-based U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns on February 13 ordered President Donald Trump's administration to rectify the error it made during its immigration crackdown by Friday by facilitating her return. Lopez Belloza told reporters she had been excited to learn on Thursday the administration had arranged for a flight to take her home. "Hours later, that excitement turned into a nightmare," Lopez Belloza said. Advertisement Advertisement She said a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer misled her by repeatedly telling her on Thursday that if she boarded the plane, she would be released upon landing in the United States. "I believed him for a second," she said. "I pictured stepping off of the plane and finally being free." Yet in court filings on Thursday afternoon, the administration said it planned to move to deport her again once she arrived. It said it had the authority to detain her if she took the ICE flight from Honduras to Texas because she was already subject to a final order of removal, which was issued when she was 11. "I won't mince words," Lopez Belloza said during a virtual press conference. "I am angry. I am sad." Advertisement Advertisement Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza's lawyer, accused the administration of "gamesmanship" and vowed to continue her legal fight. "I'm not stopping until she's back here, but she's not coming back in handcuffs," he said. In a court filing later on Friday, the administration said Lopez Belloza failed to appear for a pre-arranged meeting to assist with her departure and did not board the scheduled flight after previously agreeing to come to an airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, whose office has been fighting Lopez Belloza's legal challenge, in a statement said the ICE-arranged flight was intended to restore the "status quo." Advertisement Advertisement "The status quo that existed prior to her removal was that she was subject to a final order of removal and as the government argued throughout this case, ICE has statutory authority to detain an individual to effectuate such removal," the spokesperson, Christina Sterling, said. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Ethan Smith) Feb. 26U.S. Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse multiple district court rulings preventing the termination of Temporary Protected Status to take effect for countries including Haiti, Syria, South Sudan and Burma. In a new legal filing, Noem has asked the Supreme Court to stay the lower court decisions so that the cancellation of TPS for these countries can proceed as lawsuits challenging the legality of Noem's determinations work their way through the courts. Noem's request is tied to a case in New York federal district court, Doe v. Noem, that challenges the secretary's decision to revoke TPS for Syria. A New York judge temporarily halted the revocation, and an appeals court denied the Trump administration's request to let that go into effect. Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court on two occasions reversed a California federal district judge's attempts to postpone the cancellation of TPS for Venezuela in a similar case. Following the court's orders, a California appellate court recently allowed TPS designations to end for a few other countries as well, while the lawsuits against the federal government over TPS move forward. The Trump administration claims Noem followed statutory protocol, consulted with the State Department and factored in a variety of considerations before she concluded that Haiti's and other countries' TPS designations were no longer appropriate. The government says her decisions should have been final and are not subject to judicial review by statute. In a decision that would impact more than 330,000 Haitian nationals, Noem determined that there are no "extraordinary and temporary conditions" preventing Haitian citizens from returning to their homeland. Haiti's designation for TPS in 2010 and 2021 were related to extraordinary and temporary conditions stemming first from an earthquake and later from political crisis and violence. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Haitians live in the Springfield area. Advertisement Advertisement Decision still pending in Haiti TPS case Washington D.C. district court Judge Ana Reyes paused Haiti's TPS revocation. Reyes said her order preserves the "status quo" as the legal challenge is considered and decided and the Trump administration presented no evidence to make her believe this pause would cause the government "irreparable harm." "The court asked the government to identify concrete examples of harm if the termination remains stayed pending litigation," Reyes wrote. "It could not name one." The Trump administration accused Reyes of substituting her own judgment for Noem's in assessing the conditions of Haiti. Noem continues to insist that revoking TPS for Haiti is in the national interest. Advertisement Advertisement In an opinion and order filed Monday, Reyes refuted some of the claims the federal government made in court filings that asked a District of Columbia appellate court to lift her pause. Reyes said the government accused her of demanding that Noem consult "some other (unnamed) 'appropriate' agency in addition to the State Department" before she made a determination. Reyes said she did not demand this the TPS statute that Congress approved has this requirement. Reyes also said the evidence suggests Noem did not even consult with the State Department before she decided to cancel TPS for Haiti. Haitians in Springfield and across the nation are still waiting for a decision from the District of Columbia circuit court of appeals about whether the court will affirm or reverse Judge Reyes' ruling postponing the Haiti's TPS elimination. This story will be updated. Feb. 26The Trump administration has made a request to the U.S. Supreme Court that some people believe if approved could effectively end Temporary Protected Status for multiple countries, including Haiti. In a new legal filing, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is asking the Supreme Court to vacate a lower court's ruling that suspended the termination of TPS for Syria. Plaintiffs have challenged the legality of that cancellation. But the application also requests the court to grant "certiorari before judgment" so as to inform all similar cases, such as the lawsuit Haitian TPS holders filed in the District of Columbia challenging Noem's decision to end TPS for Haiti. Advertisement Advertisement Secretary Noem insists that federal courts have no authority to review her TPS terminations, and the government has asked the Supreme Court to look at and weigh in on whether the TPS statute bars judicial scrutiny. The government claims the same arguments and allegations are featured in TPS-related lawsuits filed in federal district courts across the nation, and judges in those "indistinguishable" cases have repeatedly blocked TPS terminations from taking effect. Appellate courts in some cases sided with the lower courts and agreed that TPS terminations should not take effect while litigation challenging the determinations proceed. In other cases, the appeals courts vacated the district court's orders, pausing cancellations. "Given the pattern of lower-court rulings and the division of courts of appeals when considering TPS terminations in the stay posture, this court should grant review and provide guidance to lower courts on pressing and recurring issues at the core of important administration priorities," says the Trump administration's request for a stay. Advertisement Advertisement The government's request is tied to a case in New York federal district court, Doe v. Noem, that challenges the secretary's decision to revoke TPS for Syria. A New York judge temporarily halted the revocation, and an appeals court denied the Trump administration's request to let that go into effect. The Supreme Court on two occasions reversed a California federal district judge's attempts to postpone the cancellation of TPS for Venezuela in a similar case. Following the court's orders, a California appellate court recently allowed TPS designations to end for a few other countries as well, while the lawsuits against the federal government over TPS move forward. The Trump administration claims Noem followed statutory protocol, consulted with the State Department and factored in a variety of considerations before she concluded that Haiti's and other countries' TPS designations were no longer appropriate. The government says her decisions should have been final and are not subject to judicial review by statute. In a decision that would impact more than 330,000 Haitian nationals, Noem determined that there are no "extraordinary and temporary conditions" preventing Haitian citizens from returning to their homeland. Haiti's designation for TPS in 2010 and 2021 were related to extraordinary and temporary conditions stemming first from an earthquake and later from political crisis and violence. Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Haitians live in the Springfield area. Decision still pending in Haiti TPS case Washington D.C. district court Judge Ana Reyes paused Haiti's TPS revocation. Reyes said her order preserves the "status quo" as the legal challenge is considered and decided and the Trump administration presented no evidence to make her believe this pause would cause the government "irreparable harm." "The court asked the government to identify concrete examples of harm if the termination remains stayed pending litigation," Reyes wrote. "It could not name one." Advertisement Advertisement Haitians in Springfield and across the nation are still waiting for a decision from the District of Columbia circuit court of appeals about whether the court will affirm or reverse Judge Reyes' ruling postponing the Haiti's TPS elimination. The Trump administration accused Reyes of substituting her own judgment for Noem's in assessing the conditions of Haiti. Noem continues to insist that revoking TPS for Haiti is in the national interest. In an opinion and order filed on Feb 23, Reyes refuted some of the claims the federal government made in court filings that asked a District of Columbia appellate court to lift her pause. Reyes said the government accused her of demanding that Noem consult "some other (unnamed) 'appropriate' agency in addition to the State Department" before she made a determination. Reyes said she did not demand this the TPS statute that Congress approved has this requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Reyes also said the evidence suggests Noem did not consult with the State Department before she decided to cancel TPS for Haiti. The State Department currently advises Americans not to travel to Haiti "due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care," and on Feb. 18 issued a security alert warning of an increase in kidnappings. A judge recently passed sentence on a Georgia murder case which will soon be under the national spotlight. The hit 34-season-long show "Dateline" is about to air a new episode centered on the death of William "Jake" Embert in 2014. The sneak peak of the episode titled "Malice" says "Officials rule Jake Emberts death a suicide. Then his family hires a private investigator, who uncovers troubling details that suggest not everything is as it seems." Here's what we know: What channel is Dateline on? "Dateline" is on NBC and airs on local NBC stations. For those with cable, satellite, and other traditions forms of TV, that's channel 11 in Atlanta and Athens, channel 26 in Augusta, and channel 3 in Savannah. When is the new episode of Dateline? The new episode of "Dateline" will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27. How to stream Dateline "Dateline" is available to stream on Peacock the day after it airs on NBC. Peacock has three different plans, starting at about $8 per month or about $80 per year. A free trial is not available. There are also a couple of bundles with Apple TV available. Advertisement Advertisement Also, if you have a streaming service that mirrors traditional TV like Sling, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV, you should be able to stream Friday night's broadcast live. How did Jake Embert die? Spoilers ahead in case you want to go into Friday's new episode blind: Embert, 53, was a U.S. Army Veteran who worked at the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, GA. He was found dead at his home on June 28, 2014. It was initially ruled as a suicide, but after a private investigator gathered evidence, it was changed to a home. According to Valdosta Today, traces of insecticide, antifreeze, and arsenic were found in Embert's hair fibers. Prosecutors at the time said he was being poisoned, and had planned to go the doctor to see why he felt so bad, but then his killer shot him out of fear of the plan coming out. Who killed Jake Embert? Again, spoilers ahead: Embert was killed by his own wife, Susan Embert. The court battle that followed was a long and complicated one. According to Justia, Embert was arrested in 2015 on five counts, including malice murder and aggravated assault. She was found guilty in 2019, but then over three years later, it was discovered one of the jurors was a convicted felon, making him ineligible for jury service. Advertisement Advertisement Susan Embert moved for a new trial, which was granted, but then the case was dismissed in 2024 on constitutional speedy trial grounds, according to WALB in southwest Georgia. Then the Supreme Court of Georgia reversed the dismissal in June 2025 and set a retrial for December. A mistrial was declared without prejudice after an apparently unintentional comment from the coroner required a new jury. Finally, on Jan. 16, Susan Embert was found guilty on all charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and a firearms charge. She was sentenced to life without parole plus five years. Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: NBC's Dateline new episode on Feb. 27 about Jake Embert of GA death After an extended search for its new permanent leader, Des Moines Area Community College announced Friday it will bring four finalists to campus next week to speak with stakeholders and the board of directors. DMACC will host four finalists for its presidency March 2-5, according to a news release from the community college, with each candidate scheduled for open forums, tours of the Ankeny and Urban DMACC campuses, and closed-session meetings with the board of directors. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Finalist names and curriculum vitae will be released 24 hours ahead of their campus visit, the release stated. Separate forums will be held for DMACC students, leadership, and faculty and staff, according to the visit schedule, and they will each meet with interim DMACC President Liang Chee Wee. Rob Denson, the community colleges longest-serving president, retired at the end of 2025 after 22 years in the role. The search for his replacement began in the summer of 2025, aided by search consultant Larry Ebbers, and yielded three candidates two of whom removed themselves from consideration before their scheduled campus visits. The board of directors voted to extend the search after candidates dropped out, pushing back the time for a new president to start until summer 2026. Wee, a former leader of Northeast Iowa Community College and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, was selected by the board to act as interim president until June 30. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) continued to clash with the Defense Department after the artificial intelligence startup was notified that it was designated a "supply chain risk for national security" by the US government. In a blog post, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei vowed to fight the action, which is usually reserved for foreign adversaries, writing that Anthropic has "no choice but to challenge it in court." In the post, Amodei also said he resumed negotiations with the Defense Department to put a military contract back on the table. OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) reached a deal with the government last week, which elicited pushback from employees and users. Anthropic and OpenAI were also in focus after Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang's suggestion that the chipmaker's multibillion-dollar investments in the startups could be the last of their kind for a while. Nvidia has also reportedly halted production of China-bound H200 chips, the Financial Times reported, as regulatory efforts in Washington and Beijing have restricted imports to the Chinese market. And earlier this week, tech watchers were also treated to a slew of product announcements from Apple (AAPL). The product release list included a new low-cost MacBook Neo computer, an entry-level iPhone 17e smartphone, two new iPad Airs, and new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops with more powerful M5 chips. Follow along for the latest updates on the tech sector. LIVE 56 updates A 13-year-old Shih Tzu that was thrown from a second-floor balcony in Milford last weekend has made marked improvements, the towns animal control officer said Thursday, Feb. 26. The dog, named "Star," suffered serious injuries in the Feb. 21 incident and remains in medical care at Tufts Animal Hospital in Grafton, according to Milford Animal Control Officer Keith Haynes. Shes doing so much better, Haynes said. She was having a rough few days. Shes very sore and heavily medicated, but shes doing a lot better. Advertisement Advertisement The man who allegedly threw the dog from the balcony at the Oak Ridge Apartments on Pheasant Circle, Alex De Oliveira, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday in Milford District Court. More: Police charge Milford MA man with animal cruelty. Here's why Milford Police responded to the apartment complex at 2:39 a.m. after receiving reports of a man yelling. Police found the small dog in a snow bank outside the apartment, suffering from injuries and having trouble breathing. Police allege De Oliveira was watching the dog, got into an argument with the dogs owner on the phone, and then threw the dog off the second floor balcony in anger. De Oliveira, 25, is charged with animal cruelty, disorderly conduct and vandalizing property. What happened during suspect's arraignment? During Thursday's arraignment, Judge Richard Eustis released De Oliveira on personal recognizance. He previously posted $5,000 bail. The judge ordered De Oliveira to not possess any animals. Advertisement Advertisement De Oliveiras lawyer, Mark Helwig, could not immediately be reached for comment. De Oliveira is due back in court on April 23 for a pretrial conference. Meanwhile, Haynes said Star appears on track to a full recovery. Despite her injuries, she remains friendly, he said. Shes such a sweet little girl, he said. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerJournalist. This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Milford man pleads not guilty to charges he threw dog from balcony The extensive immigration policies implemented by Donald Trumps administration have been met with counteraction from a federal judge. In a recent ruling, a Massachusetts judge deemed the deportation of immigrants to third countries to which they have no connections whatsoever unlawful, emphasizing that it violated the basic rights of people in the US. Federal Judge calls Donald Trumps immigrant policy unlawful On Wednesday, February 25, US District Judge Brian E. Murphy not only condemned the Trump administrations deportation schemes but also provided a detailed explanation behind his decision. These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nations bedrock principle: that no person in this country may be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, Murphy declared, as per The Hindu. Advertisement Advertisement The federal judge also noted that migrants contesting the Department of Homeland Securitys policy have the right to receive a meaningful notice, along with a fair chance to voice their objection, before they are deported. In sharp contrast, Donald Trumps immigration policy extinguishes valid challenges to third-country removal by affecting removal before those challenges can be raised. Murphy also accused Trump and his administration of having bypassed his directions on multiple occasions. For instance, the Defence Department forced the permanent transfers of six class members to El Salvador and Mexico in March 2025, without adhering to the required process listed under the temporary restraining order sanctioned by Murphy. Additionally, the Massachusetts judge alleged that the Department of Homeland Security was specifically targeting individuals who had received protection under the fear that they would be harmed if deported back to their native countries. The simple reality is that nobody knows the merits of any individual class members claim because [administration officials] are withholding the predicate fact: the country of removal, Murphy added. Advertisement Advertisement Since issuing his ruling against Donald Trumps latest immigration policy, Murphy has agreed to suspend his judgment for a 15-day period in order to enable the government to challenge his decision. The post Donald Trump Administration Faces Rejection from Federal Judge appeared first on Mandatory. Texas can enforce its 2023 law restricting drag shows in front of children after a federal appeals court lifted a lower court order that had blocked the measure. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declined to revisit its earlier decision and removed the district courts order preventing enforcement of Senate Bill 12 (S.B. 12). The ruling came in The Woodlands Pride, Inc. v. Paxton, No. 23-20480. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Fifth Circuit ruled in November that most of the groups challenging the law did not have standing to sue and sent the case back to the lower court for further review. What Changed A federal trial judge had blocked the law from taking effect statewide. Advertisement Advertisement That block is now gone. The appeals court did not rule on whether the law is constitutional. Instead, it directed the lower court to reconsider the case under updated guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court. With the district courts order lifted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas) may enforce Section One of the law while the case continues. What The Law Covers Supporters describe S.B. 12 as a measure intended to prevent children from being exposed to certain performances they consider sexually explicit. The statute does not use the word drag. It regulates what it calls sexually oriented performances, defined as visual performances involving nudity or specified sexual conduct that appeal to a prurient interest in sex. Advertisement Advertisement The law allows the Attorney General to seek civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation against businesses that permit such performances in front of children. Opponents argue the law violates the First Amendment. The laws vague and sweeping provisions still create a harmful chilling effect for drag artists and those who support them, ACLU of Texas attorney Brian Klosterboer said in a statement. Abbott Responds Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) posted on X: Major victory for Texas kids Texas codified common sense when we banned drag shows in front of children. Today the federal court of appeals upheld that law. Protecting Texas children is incontrovertible. Advertisement Advertisement Abbott thanked state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and state Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) for sponsoring the legislation. What Happens Next The case returns to federal district court. The judge must reconsider whether the law violates the First Amendment or is written too vaguely. That decision will determine whether the statute ultimately stands. Jailed Deutsche Welle (DW) reporter Alican Uludag has been transferred to a single cell in Istanbuls high-security Marmara prison, his lawyer told dpa on Friday, as a dispute over the trial's jurisdiction continues. Uludag is in good morale and awaiting a response from the court after a formal objection was filed against his detention, lawyer Abbas Yalcn told dpa. Uludag was arrested in Istanbul on February 20 on charges of "insulting the president" in social media posts following a police raid on his Ankara home a day before. Advertisement Advertisement Despite his residence being in the capital, an Istanbul court ordered his pre-trial detention. While authorities initially indicated to his family that a transfer to Ankara was imminent, Uludag remained in Istanbul, Germany's international broadcaster DW separately reported on Friday. Lawyers cited criminal procedure rules they say require the Istanbul prosecutor to transfer the file to Ankara prosecutors, according to DW. Justice Minister Akn Gurlek defended the proceedings on Wednesday, stating the "independent judiciary" would resolve the dispute. The case has drawn scrutiny from press freedom advocates, who say the jurisdiction dispute adds to concerns over due process in prosecutions involving journalists. The German government, activists and the main Turkish opposition called for Uludag's release. Eastern Kentucky did not just power this commonwealth. It powered a nation. When America mobilized for World War I and again for World War II, coal from our mountains fed the furnaces that forged steel for ships, tanks and planes. It lit the factories that armed the Greatest Generation. When freedom stood in the balance, this country leaned on Appalachia. Those miners did not ask for applause. They answered a call of duty. They risked their lives each time they stepped underground. Advertisement Advertisement For decades afterward, affordable Kentucky coal gave this state a competitive edge. It powered manufacturing, strengthened industry and helped cities like Louisville and Lexington grow into economic engines. Businesses came here because they trusted our energy. Families built their futures because industry created opportunity. Eastern Kentucky carried its weight. Opinion: Appalachia's cultural shift is a forecast for US culture A misaligned system We supported statewide investments. We voted for major projects in our urban centers. We did not cast those votes because they benefited our counties. We cast them because we believe in a strong commonwealth. When Kentucky grows, we all grow. Advertisement Advertisement Our cities drive economic growth. They attract capital, talent and innovation. But those engines did not build themselves. Coal communities in eastern and western Kentucky powered that growth for generations. Strength requires balance. Today, families in parts of Eastern Kentucky receive utility bills that exceed their mortgage payments. Seniors living alone in modest homes pay more to heat their houses than some homeowners elsewhere pay for properties three times the size. At the same time our region faces out-migration, housing strain after repeated floods and infrastructure challenges that would test even wealthier counties. This is not resentment. It is reality. Advertisement Advertisement On the Senate floor I recently read a letter from a constituent in Breathitt County. She lives alone in a small home. Her electric bill totaled $711. She wrote, Please, please help me. I live by myself. My home is empty. Why is my bill so high? That is not a statistic. That is a Kentuckian asking her government to listen. Her worth equals that of any lawmaker, the governor, every judge and any citizen reading these words today. Coal remains essential to Kentuckys energy portfolio. It stabilizes the grid. It ensures reliability during extreme weather. It protects us from volatile markets. A pro-coal policy reflects economic strength and strategic sense. But if the communities that produce Kentuckys energy cannot afford it, the system is out of alignment. Advertisement Advertisement Eastern Kentucky does not ask for a handout. Our communities never have. We ask for a level playing field. We want policies that allow families to stay, businesses to invest and industry to compete. Opinion: Extreme weather, high electricity demand could lead to Kentucky power shortages Mountains that made America Ive heard a young man I know say, These are the mountains that made me. They are the mountains that made me, and many of you. But it is more than that. These are the mountains that made America. They forged the steel. They fueled the victories. They powered the factories that defended liberty around the world. The question before us is not whether we honor that history with speeches. The question is whether we honor it with policy. Advertisement Advertisement We must examine how utility rates are structured. We must ensure regulatory oversight protects rural ratepayers fairly. We must align energy policy so the communities that power Kentucky can afford to power their own homes.I am pursuing and supporting a state budget and road plan during the ongoing legislative budget session that supports these mountains, and as Senate Natural Resources and Energy chair, I am advocating for policies that address energy affordability concerns. The mountains carried this nation before. We should not ask them to carry the burden alone now. They deserve more than memory. They deserve a future equal to what they built. Agree or disagree? Submit your letter to the editor. Brandon Smith Sen. Brandon Smith represents Kentuckys 30th Senate District, encompassing the Eastern Kentucky counties of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell and Wolfe. His district is the largest geographical district in Kentucky. Smith serves as chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Eastern KY coal powered America, but policy neglects history | Opinion The Ecuadorian government has declared that it will significantly raise tariffs on imports from Colombia, increasing the rate from 30 percent to 50 percent starting March 1. The decision, announced on Thursday, represents a major escalation in the intensifying trade and security dispute between the two neighbouring Andean countries. Ecuadors right-wing president, Daniel Noboa, has been pressuring his left-wing counterpart in Colombia, Gustavo Petro, to crack down on border security. Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ecuador has seen a surge in violence linked to the expansion of organised crime in the country. Noboa, echoing President Donald Trump in the United States, has blamed Petro for not acting aggressively enough to combat narcotics trafficking. Colombia has, for many years, been the worlds largest source of cocaine. And like Trump, Noboa has increasingly relied on tariffs against Colombia to force adherence to Ecuadors national security strategy. His government has accused Petros of failing to cooperate with border security measures. The two countries both sit on the Pacific coast, and they share a land border that stretches roughly 586 kilometres, or 364 miles. Questions about electricity Thursdays announcement follows an initial 30 percent tariff imposed by Quito in early February. Advertisement Advertisement Ecuadorian officials have also justified the protectionist measures by citing a growing trade deficit. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a data analysis firm, nearly 4 percent of Colombian exports go to Ecuador, worth roughly $2.13bn. Ecuador imports significant quantities of medicines and pesticides from Colombia. Fewer exports go from Ecuador to Colombia, though. Roughly 2.3 percent of Ecuadors exports abroad go across the shared border, amounting to a value of $863m. Ecuadors trade deficit with Colombia sits at roughly $1.03bn through 2025, according to government data, excluding oil. Advertisement Advertisement But in spite of the anticipated tariff hike, it is unclear whether Ecuador will apply the new tariffs to Colombian electricity a critical resource for the country. In a retaliatory move following the initial tariffs, Colombia suspended all energy sales to its neighbour. That suspension risks fuelling tensions in Ecuador against Noboas government. Recent droughts have created disruptions to Ecuadors hydroelectric dams, which provide nearly 70 percent of the countrys power. Those disruptions have caused widespread power outages in recent years, which in turn have prompted antigovernment protests. In the past, Noboa has responded by buying electricity from Colombia. Pipeline standoff The transportation of fossil fuels has also become a flashpoint between Ecuador and Colombia in the aftermath of Februarys tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Noboas government has hiked fees for Colombian crude delivered through the Trans-Ecuadorian System Oil Pipeline (SOTE) by 900 percent. That raises the cost to approximately $30 per barrel. Colombia has responded by halting all oil shipments through the line. Despite high-level diplomatic efforts, tensions between the neighbouring countries remain at an impasse. Officials representing foreign policy and security held a meeting this month in Ecuador, but the gathering concluded without a breakthrough. In announcing the latest tariff hike, Ecuadors Ministry of Production and Foreign Trade levelled criticism at Colombia for failing to implement concrete and effective measures to curb drug trafficking along the border. Advertisement Advertisement Once considered a bastion of stability, Ecuador has seen a spike in homicide and other violent crimes. According to the Geneva-based Organized Crime Observatory, the Andean nation recorded a homicide rate of approximately one murder every hour last year. The federal probe into LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has swept up a Florida consultant who had a child with Bob Marleys legendary guitarist a son who later became a Hollywood actor. The woman is Debra Kerr, a Jamaica-born education consultant and former Miss Jamaica runner-up whose son, David Davo Kerr Jr., is a Los Angeles-based rapper and actor. Davos father is Junior Marvin, the legendary guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers. Davo appeared in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love, in which he portrayed his own father Marvin, the guitarist who joined Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1977 after famously turning down an offer to join Stevie Wonders band. Florida-based education consultant Debra Kerr praised LAUSDs Alberto Carvalho in past social media posts. X/@debzzy The film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, chronicled the reggae icons rise and the recording of the landmark album Exodus. Advertisement Advertisement Davo landed the role after reaching out directly to casting, later describing the experience as deeply personal. Kerrs LinkedIn profile describes her as CEO of LeadershipMax LLC, a Hollywood, Fla.based consulting firm she launched in 2017 after leaving corporate America. David Davo Kerr Jr., a rapper and actor, portrayed his father in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love. WireImage She bills herself as a highly accomplished Sales and Marketing Executive with focused expertise in the K-12 education industry and experience driving revenue growth and market development. Before striking out on her own, Kerr held senior roles at education publishing giant Pearson, where she rose to senior vice president for North America, and later served as head of sales at Age of Learning, the company behind ABCmouse, a subscription-based learning program for children ages 2 to 8. Davo appeared in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love, in which he portrayed his own father, Marvin, the guitarist who joined Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1977. WireImage Her resume highlights responsibility for managing regional sales teams, overseeing government relationships and growing K-12 market share across multiple states. Advertisement Advertisement Junior Marvin, born in Jamaica and raised in London, built a globe-spanning career before joining Bob Marley & The Wailers. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, whose San Pedro home and downtown office were searched by the FBI as part of a sealed federal investigation tied to the failed ed-tech firm AllHere. MediaNews Group via Getty Images As a child actor, he appeared in The Beatles 1965 film Help! and later honed his guitar chops in the US alongside blues legend T-Bone Walker and Ike and Tina Turner. Back in Britain, he performed with acts including the Keef Hartley Band and his own rock outfit Hanson before becoming a key member of Marleys band in 1977. Kerr publicly praised Carvalho in a LinkedIn post three years ago, sharing a photo of herself smiling alongside the superintendent at what she described as his Opening of Schools Address. LinkedIn/DebraKerr FBI agents on Wednesday executed search warrants at Carvalhos San Pedro home, his downtown LA office and a $1.4 million South Florida residence belonging to Kerr as part of a sealed federal investigation. Advertisement Advertisement The probe is tied to the failed AI education startup AllHere, which secured a contract worth up to $6 million with LAUSD to develop a chatbot known as Ed. The district ultimately spent roughly $3 million before shutting the project down. No arrests have been made as of Thursday morning. AllHeres founder and former CEO, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was arrested in 2024 and charged in Manhattan federal court with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors allege she fabricated revenue figures and misled investors about the companys financial health. AllHere later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Advertisement Advertisement Carvalho has denied personal involvement in the vendor selection process and previously said the allegations against Smith-Griffin, if true, represented a disturbing and disappointing house of cards. LAUSD has said it is cooperating with federal authorities. Junior Marvin, the Jamaican-born guitarist who joined Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1977 after turning down an offer to join Stevie Wonders band. He is the father of actor David Davo Kerr Jr. Getty Images Kerr, a Florida-based education consultant with ties to Carvalho dating back to his tenure leading Miami-Dade County Public Schools, worked with AllHere as a consultant. She has claimed in bankruptcy proceedings that the company owes her $630,000 in unpaid commissions tied to the LAUSD deal. Kerr publicly praised Carvalho in a LinkedIn post three years ago, sharing a photo of herself smiling alongside the superintendent at what she described as his Opening of Schools Address. Advertisement Advertisement In the image, Kerr stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Carvalho and other officials outside what appears to be a district event, captioning the post: Superintendents Opening of Schools Address was brilliant, followed by hashtags including #lausd and #leadershipmatters. Her son, Richard Kerr, was an AllHere account executive who told an education outlet that he pitched the companys services to LAUSD leaders. He has described his mother as playing a significant role in closing the contract. A security scare at the Australian prime minister's residence this week was sparked by a bomb threat against an anti-Beijing Chinese dance troupe, the act's hosts said Friday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to evacuate his official residence in Canberra, The Lodge, on Tuesday over an unspecified "alleged security incident". Police said at the time that they found nothing suspicious in their search and declared there was no threat to the public, without saying what sparked the incident. Advertisement Advertisement "We made the report to the national security agencies, including police," Lucy Zhao, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Australia and host to the Shen Yun dance group, told AFP. "We have to take it seriously." An email threat was sent two days earlier seeking to stop a performance in Australia by the New York-based dance group which is linked to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, also known as Falun Dafa. A copy of the Chinese-language email provided to AFP said "large quantities of nitroglycerin explosives" had been placed in the prime minister's residence. Advertisement Advertisement "If the Shen Yun performance proceeds anyway, the prime minister's residence will be blown into bloody ruins," the email warned. Zhao accused China's Communist Party of seeking to stop performances by Shen Yun internationally, including by sending threats. China banned Falun Gong, which it calls an "evil cult", in 1999 after 10,000 members peacefully demonstrated outside a government building in Beijing. In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters this week that it was not aware of the facts behind the security incident. "China has always opposed various acts of violence," the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement "It must be pointed out that the so-called Shen Yun performances are not any kind of normal cultural activity, but is a political tool used by the Falun Gong organisation to spread cult information and accumulate wealth." Founded in 1992, Falun Gong claims nearly 100 million followers and has been subject to "persistent persecution" in China, according to a January 2024 European Parliament resolution. Despite being banned in China, it has found a global audience with Shen Yun performances around the world generating revenues of US$46 million in 2022 alone, according to the ProPublica investigative news site. djw/oho/ane In a new twist to the Cody Roberts wolf whacking case that involved the Wyoming resident striking a juvenile predator with his snowmobile, he's apparently taken a plea deal to avoid jail time. Two years ago, the world got rightly angry with Wyoming resident Cody Roberts. The case involved Roberts striking a juvenile wolf with his snowmobile and, instead of putting the predator out of its pain, tapped its mouth shut, and dragged the injured animal into a local bar for patrons to snap photos with. He later dispatched the wolf behind the bar. And, obviously, he posted pictures of the incident online, as everyone can't go three seconds without telling the world what they're doing. As you can imagine, the proverbial excrement hit the fan, with animal rights groups, snowmobiling associations, hunting and fishing organizations, and pretty much everyone but a few select ranchers, called him out on his actions. The world quickly became aware of the practice called "wolf whacking," and almost no one was pleased. Roberts originally didn't face much of a punishment for his actions, as the most the Wyoming Department of Natural Resources could do was impose a small fine for the transport of a live, warm-blooded animal. Subsequent actions taken by the state's legislature also failed to hold him accountable, as ranchers lobbied to not change current statutes. Advertisement Advertisement But in recent months, the case took a turn, as prosecutors believed they had enough evidence to charge Roberts with a misdemeanor felony. And while Roberts appealed the courts with arguments left and right, ultimately, the man took a plea deal in order to avoid any potential jail time, seemingly bringing the case to its final close. Snowmobile's Aren't Weapons According to Wyofile, which has been following this story since the beginning and doing amazing reporting on it, "A signed plea agreement filed with the Sublette County District Court and obtained by WyoFile on Wednesday afternoon means that Roberts, 44, would likely no longer face trial. It had been set to begin March 9. Under the deal, Roberts will withdraw his earlier not guilty plea and plead guilty or no contest to felony cruelty to animals." The plea deal, which still needs to be approved by the judge overseeing the case, would mean that Roberts would avoid going to trial, which could result in him facing an 18-month to two-year prison sentence. Instead, he'll face 18 months of probation, a $1,000 fine, and won't be able to hunt, fish, or purchase or consume alcohol for the entirety of his 18-month probation. He'll also have to follow a "recommended addiction treatment" plan, though it's unclear what that'll be. Advertisement Advertisement My own personal take on the whole situation is that I had hoped the Wyoming legislature would've stepped up. Predator hunting and management is one thing, as hunting is wildlife management and it should be up to hunters to manage for healthy populations. Tossing that stewardship down the road hurts everyone in the long run. Likewise, tying Roberts' consequences to hunting by prohibiting him from hunting is a slap to the face of ethical hunters everywhere, as wolf whacking ain't hunting. It's not fair-chase, nor even relates to what real hunters do. It was animal cruelty, plain and simple. That said, it does seem like the case is finally close, and at least there were some consequences to his actions. That is really all we can ask for in the end, and push for better regulations in the future. WASHINGTON In late February 2016, Hillary Clinton cruised to an overwhelming victory in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary an unambiguous statement of the former first lady and secretary of state's dominance over her party as she sailed to a historic nomination many expected would make her the first female president. On the same week 10 years later, she confronted a very different reality. Sitting inside a performing arts center in Chappaqua, New York, the woman who was, not long ago, her party's unequivocal standard-bearer was forced in part by those within it to answer questions about her husband's ties to a dead alleged sex trafficker. As a group of younger congressional Democrats stood outside the building ahead of her deposition about Jeffrey Epstein, they underscored how though there was no evidence she even knew the disgraced financier, they wanted to send a message of political neutrality. Advertisement Advertisement "From day one, we have said that we want to talk to anyone, any person with information about Jeffrey Epstein," said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. "We will talk to any single person, whether that is a Democrat, a Republican, how much wealth they have, how powerful their position is. We want to talk to anyone. We're happy to be here." Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), joined by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, speaks to members of the media before a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. Both Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, agreed to participate in closed-door depositions on Feb. 26 and 27 in the oversight panel's Epstein investigation. Their testimony came after several Democrats on the committee voted in January to move forward with considering contempt of Congress charges against the former first couple. For weeks, a sizable number of Democrats seemed prepared to rebuke the pair in a broader vote in the House of Representatives. Read more: Bill, Hillary Clinton to face contempt vote in Congress over Epstein Even Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, Hillary Clintons running mate in the 2016 presidential campaign, wouldn't explicitly come to her defense as his House colleagues focused their political sights on her. In this 2016 photo, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton makes a concession speech as former President Bill Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine look on in New York on Nov. 9, 2016. "I've got a big enough job here," Kaine told USA TODAY at the time. "I just don't get into what the House does. They're going to do what they're going to do, and I don't stress out about it." Advertisement Advertisement Photos of Bill Clinton the former 42nd president from 1993 to 2001 with or near Epstein and unidentified women have circulated prominently since the Justice Department was mandated to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bill Clinton has repeatedly denied any knowledge of, or wrongdoing associated with, Epstein's alleged crimes. He's scheduled to testify before the committee on Friday, Feb. 27. In her testimony the prior day, Hillary said she'd never even had contact with Epstein. "I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein," she said in her opening statement. "I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that." The depositions underlined the changed dynamics of Congress since the Clintons were in the White House: Only about three dozen current Democratic lawmakers were on Capitol Hill back then (roughly a dozen sitting Democratic senators served in the Senate alongside Hillary). Advertisement Advertisement Even amid the lack of strong support for the Clintons in Washington, most Democrats remain more eager to criticize Trump's ties to Epstein than anything else. And many felt the continued focus on his longtime rivals has been a coordinated effort to distract from what they've said is a "cover-up" of allegations against the president in the Epstein files. "There is no indication, zero, zip, zilch, nada, that Secretary Clinton had any knowledge of Epstein's crimes," said Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Virginia, before the first deposition. "My fear is we're here today as part of a political exercise, part of a long-running fever dream, where Republicans want to lock up Secretary Clinton." Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clinton depositions on Epstein underline a changed Democratic Party Management described January renewals as a good outcome despite abundant market capacity and increased price competition. Munich Re reported a 2.5% risk-adjusted price decline across its portfolio, which Jurecka said was within expectations, while emphasizing that terms and conditions and structures were largely unchanged. For 2025, Munich Re proposed a 20% increase in the dividend to 24 per share and announced a larger share buyback program of 2.25 billion to run until the next annual general meeting. Jurecka said the company expects to return almost 90% of earnings to shareholders, aligning with its Ambition 2030 commitment, and noted that earnings contributions from Global Specialty Insurance (GSI), Life Re, and ERGO reduce reliance on the more cyclical P&C reinsurance business. Jurecka said Ambition 2025 concluded last year with Munich Re more than doubling net earnings over the five-year period and increasing return on equity to 18.3% . He emphasized that shareholder value creation was also reflected in dividend per share growth that outpaced earnings per share growth during the period. Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in Munchen (ETR:MUV2) reported full-year 2025 net earnings of 6.1 billion , up nearly 8% year over year, as management highlighted another record year that closed out its Ambition 2025 plan. Speaking on the companys annual results and January renewals call, CEO Christoph Jurecka and CFO Andrew Buchanan said disciplined underwriting, active investment management, and a diversified earnings mix supported the result, even as Munich Re deliberately strengthened reserves and repositioned parts of its investment portfolio. Management emphasized capital strength and prudence: a record P&C combined ratio of 73.5% , deliberate reserve strengthening for longtail manmade exposures (a few hundred million euros), a Solvency II ratio near 298% , and a fullyear investment return of 3.2% . January renewals reflected disciplined underwriting amid competitive markets with a 2.5% riskadjusted price decline and a nearly 8% reduction in renewed treaty volume as Munich Re selectively walked away from unattractive business while expanding in certain casualty and credit areas. Munich Re reported fullyear 2025 net earnings of 6.1 billion (up ~8%), closed Ambition 2025 with return on equity of 18.3% , and proposed a 20% dividend increase to 24 plus a 2.25 billion buyback, aiming to return almost 90% of earnings to shareholders. Story Continues SoundHounds New Sales Assist Agent Put Voice AI Back in the Spotlight Munich Re reduced renewed treaty volume by nearly 8% (cited as -7.8% in Q&A), with Jurecka noting that roughly three-quarters of the decline came from proportional business, which he said has limited impact on the bottom line. Management said it was willing to walk away from business that did not meet risk-return hurdles, and that selective growth in areas such as certain casualty markets and credit only partially offset the reductions. Pricing pressure was strongest in Property XL and natural catastrophe business, where Munich Re cited a 6% price decline, though management said margins remain attractive at levels similar to three to four years ago. In proportional business, the company said it reduced positions that no longer met its criteria while selectively expanding in areas including casualty in Europe and Latin America. Segment performance: GSI, Life & Health Reinsurance, and ERGO AVGO Earnings Are Just Around the CornerHere's What to Watch Jurecka said Munich Res specialty insurance operations benefit from being under one roof, supporting a diversified portfolio across specialty lines. GSI delivered what he called an excellent performance in 2025, helped in part by below-average major losses but driven more by strong underlying performance and prudent reserving. He reiterated an expected 5% to 9% compound annual growth rate outlook for GSI and clarified in Q&A that the growth target is organic and does not assume M&A. In Life and Health, management pointed to continued new business momentum and a contractual service margin (CSM) of above 15 billion, despite adverse currency effects, which Jurecka described as roughly a 40% increase since introduction at the end of 2022. He said Munich Re expects around a 7% annual CSM release to earnings, providing a predictable income stream. He also cited market evolution toward larger transactions and said large transactions since 2022 have pushed new business CSM and operating changes by more than 3 billion, with a healthy pipeline anticipated. ERGO again met guidance with strong net earnings, according to management. Jurecka said the German business delivered profitable growth, and that ERGOs P&C combined ratio was 89% as the company focused on technical improvements, including steps to improve motor profitability. He also noted that international operations are growing faster than Germany and now account for about 30% of ERGO revenue, a share he said continues to rise. Jurecka highlighted ERGOs acquisition of NEXT Insurance as a strategic expansion into the U.S. small and medium enterprises market and said the unit is developing exactly as expected. Reserving, investments, and capital position Buchanan said the 2025 result was supported by strong underlying performance across segments, with low major losses roughly offset by significant currency losses and a lower-than-planned top line mitigated by higher investment income. He said Munich Re used stronger-than-expected performance in Q4 to strengthen the balance sheet, including deliberate fixed income disposal losses to lift running yield and further enhancing claims reserve prudence. In P&C reinsurance, Buchanan said the companys annual reserve review confirmed a favorable trend, but management reinforced prudence in three areas: New business prudence: booked at the upper end of best estimate, adding roughly 1 percentage point above the usual prudence level. Lower reserve releases: prior-year basic loss reserve releases were 5.0% for the full year versus the approximately 6% typically expected. Higher man-made losses/outlier reserves: additional caution in several long-tail casualty lines; in Q&A, management referenced scenarios such as PFAS (forever chemicals), sexual abuse and molestation exposures, and asbestos, and characterized the reserve strengthening as a few hundred million euros. Munich Res P&C reinsurance headline combined ratio improved to an all-time low of 73.5% for 2025, which management attributed to very benign major losses, while the normalized combined ratio reflected the additional prudence described on the call. On investments, Buchanan reported a full-year return on investment of 3.2%, above guidance of at least 3%, with supportive capital markets fair value gains offset by deliberate disposal losses. Management said reinvestment yields declined to 3.8% at year-end 2025, partly due to reinvestment into shorter maturities at lower yields, but Buchanan indicated potential upside in running yields of roughly 10 basis points per year. Capitalization remained strong. Buchanan said the Solvency II ratio rose to 298% (described as almost 300%), reflecting strong operating performance and lower required capital, including FX effects. He also said the ratio already reflects the proposed dividend, while the announced buyback will be deducted in the first quarter. Under German GAAP (HGB), Munich Re reported improved results of 5.5 billion and disclosed a stock of distributable earnings of more than 10 billion, which Buchanan said supports forward-looking dividend stability. 2026 outlook and priorities under Ambition 2030 Management confirmed 2026 financial targets presented at its Capital Markets Day in December, including projected net income of 6.3 billion. Jurecka said expected earnings growth should be driven by less cyclical segmentsLife & Health Reinsurance, GSI, and ERGOwhile Munich Re anticipates a muted development in P&C reinsurance amid a more competitive environment. Munich Re also reiterated its emphasis on capital repatriation, with Buchanan noting the companys intention to pay out more than 80% of IFRS net earnings annually and pointing to the current years announced payout of 87% as evidence of flexibility when conditions allow. About Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in Munchen (ETR:MUV2) Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in Munchen engages in the insurance and reinsurance businesses worldwide. It also offers life and health reinsurance solutions, such as digital underwriting and advanced analytics solutions, health insurance management system, financial market risks, financing, portfolio risk management, digitalized investment-linked solution, MIRA digital suite, MIRA POS, MIRApply insured and physician, claims risk adjustment, CLARA plus, data analytics, underwriting and claims, medical research, capital management, and health market. The article "Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in Munchen Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. Epstein had a close relationship with Karim Wade, who he considered a powerful figure in Africa, and contacts with Nina Keita, who helped connect him to her uncle, according to emails, scheduled meetings, investment projects and loans interviewed by the French news agency AFP. The mention of a person's name in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing, and exchanges with Karim Wade show no link to sex trafficking crimes, but they do reveal a close personal connection and that the two men had business ties. Epstein files: Releasing documents in their raw state can be counterproductive 'Important player' Nicknamed the "Minister of Heaven and Earth" for the multiple portfolios he held including international cooperation, energy, and air transport, Karim Wade was a powerful figure in Senegal until April 2012, when his father's bid for a third term as president sparked deadly riots. Advertisement Advertisement Epstein described Wade as "one of the most important players in Africa". The two met in 2010 and quickly developed a rapport. After their first meeting in Paris, Epstein wrote to Wade on 15 November, 2010: "Thanks for coming. I think there are many things to consider... I feel confident that we will have fun." "Have a safe trip back to your paradise Island," Wade replied. Epstein put Wade in touch with close contacts, such as Ehud Barak, then Israel's defence minister. He also put him in touch with Chinese businessman Desmond Shum to discuss "offshore banking, and the two met in Beijing in May 2011, according to the documents the same month that Wade planned a tour for Epstein through Senegal, Mali and Gabon. Advertisement Advertisement The friendship continued even after Abdoulaye Wade left office. When Senegalese authorities started looking into the familys assets, Epstein proposed that Karim Wade use his house in Florida, writing: "You and your family are welcome to use my house in Palm Beach. Staff is there, pool etc. You will not suffer." Numerous files suggest Epstein became financially involved on Karim Wade's behalf after Wade was arrested in 2013, and sentenced to six years in prison for corruption in 2015. Other files suggest that Epstein covered at least $50,000 in fees for the US lobbying firm Nelson Mullins, which Wade's entourage hired to secure his release. 'Pretty girls' The documents show that Nina Keita was close to both Epstein and Karim Wade, and that she acted as a regular intermediary while Wade was in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Keita also helped put Epstein in contact with her uncle, the president of Cote dIvoire, and his team. When Epstein traveled to Abidjan and met Ouattara in 2012, Keita booked him what she called the "ministerial suite" of the luxury Hotel Ivoire. Ahead of the visit, Epstein had said he hoped to see "very pretty girls there, as well as interesting places". Keita, a former model, replied: "You will!" Emails show at least one instance when she sent Epstein photos and the phone number of a young woman who he met at the Ritz hotel in Paris in August 2011. After the meeting he asked for photos of the womans sister. I prefer under 25, he wrote to Keita. Advertisement Advertisement Now the deputy general director of an Ivorian petroleum stocks company, Keita appears in a February 2019 will in which Epstein requested that debts owed to him by a number of people be cancelled upon his death. Epstein was found hanged in his New York jail cell in August 2019, while he was awaiting trial on charges of abusing girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean. (with AFP) Jeffrey Epstein tried to buy a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco the day before his arrest in 2019, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice last month. Epstein had pursued acquiring Bin Ennakhil since 2011, but disputes with the seller over the price and purchase arrangement dragged on for years. The grand palace in the luxury Palmeraie neighbourhood of Marrakech has been described as an architectural masterpiece, built by 1,300 craftsmen and featuring ornate carvings and mosaics. Advertisement Advertisement Epstein signed a $14.95m (11m) wire transfer on 5 July 2019, the day before his arrest, following an agreement to buy the offshore company that owned the property for 18m (13.3m). Epstein had pursued acquiring Bin Ennakhil since 2011, but disputes over the price and purchase arrangement dragged on for years [Reuters] He signed a $14.95m wire transfer for the property on 5 July 2019, the day before his arrest [BBC] According to the released documents, the transfer was Epstein's last major financial transaction in the period before his arrest by US authorities on sex trafficking charges upon his return to New York. Three days after the arrest, Epstein's accountant Richard Kahn cancelled the wire transfer and the purchase was ultimately never completed. Morocco has no extradition treaty with the US and local media has speculated that one of Epstein's motivations to purchase the property may have been to retreat to the country to avoid arrest, if new charges were brought against him. Advertisement Advertisement However, a former associate of Epstein, who preferred not to be named, said the transaction showed Epstein "had no clue" about his imminent arrest. They added that "it would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king". The released files, however, contain no reference to Epstein discussing the country as a possible refuge from US authorities. It took 1,300 craftsmen three years to build the palace, according to a property brochure [US Department of Justice] Epstein's connections to Morocco go back to at least the early 2000s, with Virginia Giuffre, one of his most prominent accusers, recounting in her memoir of being flown to Tangier by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to inspect the interior design of a number of luxury properties. Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Epstein wanted to redesign parts of his island home in a Moroccan style. In 2002, Epstein attended the wedding of Moroccan King Mohammed with Maxwell, having been invited by former US President Bill Clinton. Epstein's connections Epstein was convicted in the United States of soliciting underage sex in 2008, and following his release from house arrest in 2010 his interest in Morocco seems to have grown. The released files appear to show that in the same year, Epstein asked former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to find him an assistant who could "fin[d] a house in Marrakesh" for him. In 2010 Epstein appeared to ask Peter Mandelson - pictured here following his arrest earlier this week - to find him an assistant who could "fin[d] a house in Marrakesh" for him [PA] The documents detail how Epstein made periodic visits to Morocco from 2012, staying in the exclusive Palmeraie district, home to a wealthy community of expatriates including Jabor al Thani of the Qatari royal family, a close associate whom he described as his "Arab brother". Advertisement Advertisement Being mentioned or pictured in the Epstein files is not, in itself, an indication of wrongdoing. Bin Ennakhil and 'Mr Kiss' Epstein's long-term girlfriend Karyna Shuliak began leading the search for a property in Marrakech, with numerous visits and negotiations documented in emails under her name. Marc Leon, a partner of Kensington Luxury Properties, told the BBC that Epstein's focus settled on their property Bin Ennakhil - Arabic for "between the palm trees" - as early as 2011. At that time, Epstein thought the palace, owned by German waste magnate Gunter Kiss, was overvalued at 55m and his initial offer was so low that Kiss was offended and refused to deal with Epstein again, the source who was close to Epstein told the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Subsequently, Epstein used his girlfriend Shuliak and his network of contacts in Morocco to conduct further inspections of the property. In 2018, Epstein himself visited the property before Shuliak made final bids on the property while pretending to be acting on behalf of Leon Black, a billionaire investor friend of Epstein. Ultimately, it became clear that Epstein was the real prospective buyer but the seller "Mr Kiss" - as he is known in the emails - agreed to continue the negotiations, according to the documents and the source close to Epstein. Inside the Moroccan palace that caught Epstein's eye: The files show that, at one stage, Kensington Luxury Properties proposed to Epstein a "sale and tax strategy", whereby the property would be registered with the Moroccan authorities as sold for 10m while a transaction of 20m would take place for the shares of an offshore company that owned the property. Advertisement Advertisement The arrangement would have allowed Epstein to register his name on the title deeds of the property while reducing the tax he would pay to Moroccan authorities. However, Kensington Luxury Properties denied to the BBC that there was an unethical or illegal attempt to minimise tax. "This transaction did not violate any tax regulations," Mr Leon told the BBC. "Mr Epstein wanted to pay registration fees in Morocco, even though he was under no obligation to do so in order to own the property in his own name." The property company was at the time the local real estate representative of the renowned UK-based auction house Christie's. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Epstein decided to purchase the property solely by paying for the shares of the offshore company and was in the process of determining how to register it in Morocco at the time of his 2019 arrest. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Ukraine and Moldova will not be separated in the EU accession process, but this could change if Ukraine slows down the implementation of the necessary reforms. Source: Marta Kos in an interview with European Pravda Details: Kos recalled that Ukraine and Moldova started their path toward EU membership together and remain together in this process for now. Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "But we will see what the time will bring when you will have to start delivering the reforms. As you know, EU accession is a merit-based process and it means that if you will deliver with the same speed as Moldova, you will stay together. If not, then your ways will separate." Details: When asked if Ukraine and Moldova will stay together under a new approach in the EU enlargement process, Kos stated that the European Commission and member states will make the decision. "In my personal opinion we have, as I always say, four frontrunners, which are Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova," she said, adding that these countries should remain together on their path toward membership. At the same time, Kos pointed out that Montenegro and Albania are much further ahead in the accession process than Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement "You are a bit back but no worries, you can also run fast," the commissioner said. Background: In the same interview, Kos said that the decision on Ukraine's possible fast-track accession to the EU will be made by the member states. She also said that a draft of the new rules governing the EU enlargement process will be presented in a few months. Watch the interview with Marta Kos on the European Pravda YouTube channel. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The free trade agreement between the European Union and four Latin American countries will be applied provisionally despite a pending review by the EU's top court, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday. The announcement comes after Uruguay and Argentina ratified the agreement on Thursday, paving the way for the deal's provisional application. "I've said before, when they are ready, we are ready," von der Leyen said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Brazil and Paraguay are yet to ratify the deal but are expected to do so soon, she said. The move allows companies in the EU, Uruguay and Argentina to benefit from new customs rules and other advantages before the agreement formally enters into force. The trade deal, which has been negotiated for over two decades, is however viewed critically by some in the EU, most notably by farmers who fear unfair competition. In January, the European Parliament decided by a narrow majority to have the agreement reviewed by the European Court of Justice before a final vote, delaying the deal's implementation. The European Commission announced Friday it will provisionally implement a mammoth trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur, prompting a public split between its two largest member states France and Germany. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the bloc would go forward with agreement pending the EU top court's ruling on its legality after Argentina and Uruguay ratified the agreement Thursday. "The commission will now proceed with provisional application," von der Leyen said in Brussels, recalling that member states had given the EU executive power to do so. Advertisement Advertisement "Provisional application is, by its nature, provisional," she added, saying: "The agreement can only be fully concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent." She hailed the ratification by the two South American countries as "good news". The deal still needs a green light from lawmakers in the European Parliament, which referred it to the EU's top court within days of being inked in January. France has led opposition to the deal and unsuccessfully attempted to block it over worries for its farmers, who fear being undercut by cheaper goods from Brazil and its neighbours. Advertisement Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron called the decision a "bad surprise" that ignored the European Parliament, but Germany and Spain welcomed the step. "Companies and people from both continents can finally benefit from more prosperity and growth," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. - EU 'empowered' to decide - Provisional application will begin on "the first day of the second month following the date on which the EU and Uruguay (as first Mercosur country to ratify) exchange notes verbales", EU trade spokesman Olof Gill later clarified. French agriculture minister Annie Genevard said the decision was "very damaging to the functioning of our institutions and, above all, to the spirit of our European institutions". Advertisement Advertisement But Gill said EU states had "empowered" the commission to take such a decision. The deal will provisionally apply to the Mercosur countries that have ratified it, Gill told reporters, adding the commission anticipated remaining members Brazil and Paraguay would do so "soon". Reacting to von der Leyen's announcement, French EU lawmaker Celine Imart accused the commission of "showing contempt" for farmers. "We will continue to fight with determination to ensure that this provisional application never becomes permanent," she told AFP. - Agriculture worries - Advertisement Advertisement The deal between the EU and the four founding members of the Mercosur bloc -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay -- was a quarter century in the making. The accord creates one of the world's biggest free trade zones and eliminates tariffs on more than 90 percent of trade between the two blocs, which together account for 30 percent of global GDP and over 700 million consumers. Farmers across Europe remain unconvinced and are up in arms, including in Spain where they staged a protest against the deal in Madrid earlier this month. The European Commission, however, insists it has fully addressed their concerns by approving a series of safeguards for its producers. Advertisement Advertisement Von der Leyen stressed the deal offered "countless opportunities". She added: "It allows our small and medium-sized businesses to access markets and scale they could only dream of before." Major exports from the South American grouping to the EU include agricultural products and minerals, while the 27-country bloc would export machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals with smaller levies. burs-ob-raz/rl President Trumps Justice Department is doubling down on its months-long crusade to access sensitive voter information from red and blue states across the country. As it currently stands, the DOJ is suing 30 states both Republican and Democrat alike who have refused to succumb to the departments unprecedented demands for voter roll data. On Thursday, the DOJ filed lawsuits against five more states, four of them red states, whose officials have refused to comply with the departments order. This most recent batch of lawsuits target New Jersey, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah and Kentucky. Despite these new legal challenges, state officials, by and large, are continuing to stand firm against the administrations demands. For months now, Trumps Justice Department has been demanding sensitive voter information, including drivers license and social security numbers, from at least 44 states and Washington, D.C. The majority of these states, including the five sued on Tuesday, have refused to comply with the demand and have called out the federal government for trying to seize information it is simply not entitled to. Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ is relying on provisions from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) as the basis for its lawsuits. None of these provisions, however, give the federal government the authority to demand this type of protected personal identifying information, as experts have told TPM. Its not clear why the DOJ is trying to access this information. Election experts have previously told TPM that the entire campaign appears to be an effort to sow seeds of doubt in states election systems and an attempt to exert control over election administration something the federal government does not have the constitutional authority to manage. The Trump DOJ has painted its requests for voter rolls as some sort of election integrity effort. It is just one layer of Trumps campaign to continue to spread lies about the countrys election security, as he threatens to somehow nationalize voting ahead of the midterms. Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on Thursday, addressing the five new lawsuits. This latest series of litigation underscores that This Department of Justice is fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country. Advertisement Advertisement In response, secretaries of state and state election officials have pushed back on these demands and the subsequent legal challenges. Kentuckys elections are a national success story, and the Department of Justice has repeatedly acknowledged in court our successful work to clean up the dirty voter rolls I inherited, Kentuckys Republican Secretary of State Michael Adam told TPM. Kentucky law protects voters personal information, and I will not voluntarily commit a data breach by providing Kentuckians personal data to the federal bureaucracy unless a court order tells me to. Republican Mike Queen, West Virginias deputy secretary of state, similarly said the state would not cave to Bondis demands. West Virginias Secretary of State Kris Warner is a Republican as well. The media reports that came out late Thursday afternoon are the first weve heard or seen of a lawsuit naming the state of West Virginia. We have not been served. Regardless, I think Secretary Warners earlier comments to the DOJ were pretty clear. The federal government is not going to get any personal information on West Virginia voters as long as Kris Warner is Secretary of State, he said. Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the DOJs lawsuit baseless in a statement to TPM. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our states residents, and we will defend against this lawsuit in court, Davenport added. And in a statement on X on Thursday, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson, emphasized that the DOJ is not entitled to the information it is demanding. Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens. Utahns can be assured that my office will always follow the Constitution and the law, protect voters rights, and administer free and fair elections. Although the DOJs campaign has faced pushback from both state election officials and, in some cases, the courts, the DOJ does not appear to be backing down. So far, federal courts have dismissed the departments lawsuits in Oregon, California, and Michigan. The DOJ has appealed these decisions. Does a viral image document Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney dining with Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite convicted of sex trafficking girls for Jeffrey Epstein? No, that's not true: The image displayed a watermark pointing to a generative AI tool. Several details in the picture, such as missing temples of a person's glasses or an earring incorrectly attached to an earlobe, strongly pointed to AI, too. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on X on February 25, 2026. It read: Explain your relationship. This is what the image attached to the post looked like on X at the time of writing: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of X. The post implied that the picture was an authentic photo of Carney (archived here) and Maxwell (archived here), but the tiny watermark in the bottom-right corner read "Grok," the name of a generative AI tool. Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of X. According to Google's "About this image" tab (archived here), the picture was at least 11 months old: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Google. Advertisement Advertisement The earliest example of this image found by Lead Stories came from a May 3, 2025, post (archived here, here and here) on Facebook. That version (archived here) also displayed the Grok watermark. Manual analysis revealed signs strongly pointing to AI, too. In the image in question, "Maxwell" wears the earrings that are not only different in design but also attach to her ears differently: One appears to have a normal earring clutch going through the piercing, while another one seems to have been glued to the woman's earlobe. Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of X. Additionally, the glasses on the man in the background lacked temples: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of X. AI detection tool Hive said it was 99.9% likely that the image was generated using AI: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of page at hivemoderation.com AI detection tool Sightengine concluded that the image was not authentic and said there was an 88% chance the image was AI-generated: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of page at sightengine.com Advertisement Advertisement This was not the first AI-generated image used to spread the narrative about the supposed ties between Carney and Epstein. Earlier, Lead Stories debunked another similar claim. Lead Stories couldn't find images of the two together. However, in January 2025, the Toronto Sun (archived here) republished an August 2013 photo showing Maxwell standing between Carney and his wife in a public setting. Mark Carney's name appears 69 times in the "Epstein library" on the Department of Justice website. However, many of those results were newsletters or notifications about Carney's public activities. Lead Stories didn't find evidence of him engaging in direct correspondence with Epstein. Feb 27 (Reuters) - Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an "open war" with its neighbour. As tensions persist, here is a look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan's military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. OVERVIEW Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan's armed forces benefit from good recruitment and retention, bolstered by equipment from its main defence partner China. Islamabad continues to invest in its military nuclear programmes and is also modernising its navy and air force. The capability of the Afghan Taliban's armed forces, meanwhile, is declining, with a fall in their ability to use foreign equipment that the Islamist group seized when it returned to power in the landlocked country in 2021. A lack of international recognition for the Taliban administration has also hurt military modernisation. PERSONNEL Pakistan has 660,000 active personnel in its defence forces, of whom 560,000 are in the army, 70,000 are in the air force, and 30,000 are in the navy. Advertisement Advertisement The strength of the Afghan Taliban's military is thinner, with only 172,000 active personnel. The group has, however, announced plans to expand its armed forces to 200,000 personnel. FIGHTING VEHICLES AND ARTILLERY Pakistan has more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles, and over 4,600 pieces of artillery. The Afghan forces also possess armoured fighting vehicles, including Soviet-era main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and autonomous underwater vehicles, but their exact number is unknown. The precise number of artillery they possess, which is of at least three different types, is similarly not known. Advertisement Advertisement AIR FORCE Pakistan has a fleet of 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters that include multi-role, attack and transport choppers. Afghanistan has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known to possess at least six aircraft - some of them dating back again to the Soviet era - and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition. NUCLEAR ARSENAL While Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country and has 170 warheads, Afghanistan does not have a nuclear arsenal. (Compiled by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh and Raju Gopalakrishnan) President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that non-citizen voting is a widespread and pressing issue in U.S. elections, a claim he has returned to in his recent push for stricter voter ID requirements. In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, the President urged lawmakers to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America, Act, a bill that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship and photo identification to cast ballots in all 50 states, among other changes. Perhaps most importantly, Im asking you to approve the SAVE America Act to stop illegal aliens and others who are unpermitted persons from voting in our sacred American elections, Trump said. That cheating is rampant in our elections. Its rampant. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Read Donald Trumps Full State of the Union Speech In the past, Trump has baselessly claimed that thousands, if not millions, of undocumented immigrants voted against him in his presidential bids. Following the 2016 election, Trump claimed that between 3 million and 5 million illegal votes caused him to lose the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. When he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden four years later, he alleged that Biden won in key states due to tens of thousands of non-citizen votes. Its already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal U.S. elections, however, and research and recent state investigations have shown that non-citizen registration and voting occurs only very rarely, accounting for just a sliver of registered voters and an even more miniscule fraction of ballots cast. Heres what to know. Vanishingly small numbers that grow smaller with thorough investigation The preliminary results of recent investigations into potential non-citizen voting that have been conducted in multiple states have yielded numbers that are a fraction of a fraction of those Trump has claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced in September that an ongoing investigation had found 390 non-citizens on the states voter rolls. That number represents roughly 0.01 percent of the 2.9 million registered voters in Louisiana. Of the 390 non-citizen registrants identified by the investigation, Landry said 79 had voted in at least one election. Utahs election office, meanwhile, said last month that it had not discovered any cases of non-citizens casting ballots in the state after months of investigating. We have not yet encountered anyone who voted illegally, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said about her offices review of the 2.1 million people on the states voter rolls. Henderson noted that 486 voters had registration information that was incomplete or inaccurate and that a third of that group registered decades ago, when the state did not have the same requirements. Advertisement Advertisement I anticipate that the vast majority of these 486 are in fact citizens and just need to update their information, Henderson said. Even if every one of those voters were found to be non-citizens, they would account for only 0.02 percent of voters registered in Utah. Analysis by the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR), a nonpartisan group that advises state and local election officials, has also found that the number of registered voters who are flagged as possible non-citizens in states cursory reviews of voting rollswhich some states publicly announce prior to more thorough investigationare often inflated. In a review of claims of non-citizen voting by states through Dec. 31, 2025, CEIRs analysis revealed that initial claims alleging large numbers of noncitizen registrants or voters are almost certain to be a misleading overestimation of the actual number of records with unconfirmed citizenship, the group said. Investigations into claims of large numbers of possible non-citizens registered to vote, CEIRS research shows, have typically demonstrated that at least some initial flags were based on outdated, incomplete, or improperly matched data that incorrectly labeled eligible citizens as possible noncitizens. Advertisement Advertisement But, the group found, the small numbers that follow from proper investigation generally receive far less public attention than the inflated earlier numbers. In one example pointed to by CEIR, the Iowa Secretary of States office announced in October 2024 that 2,176 voter registration records were potentially linked to non-citizens. That figure was already extremely small relative to the total number of registered voters in the state, accounting for roughly one-tenth of one percent. But the revised number, published in March 2025, was far smaller: 277 confirmed non-citizen ballots, or one-eighth of the earlier figure. Even when taken at face value, the largest claims never identify numbers of possible noncitizen registrants or voters that amount to more than a few tenths of one percent of the number of eligible voters in a state, CEIR states. The group noted that in a recent update to its research published this month, it paid particular attention to states that are using a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) program in their efforts to verify voter eligibility. USCIS announced it was making its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) programa tool intended to enable federal, state, and local governments to verify peoples citizenship and immigration statusavailable to be used in this way last spring. More than 20 states currently have agreements with the agency permitting them to do so; Landry, the Louisiana Secretary of State, highlighted that SAVE had been used in her states ongoing investigation. But CEIR found that the widespread use of SAVE by states has not changed this pattern of more thorough investigations finding that some early flags were caused by data shortcomings. Effective safeguards already in place CEIRs analysis has also found that safeguards and procedures states already have in place are effective in preventing non-citizens from registering and rooting out non-citizens who do make it onto voting rolls. Advertisement Advertisement In one example cited by the group, a Michigan Department of State audit that began in December 2024 compared 7.9 million active state driving records for people of voting age against the 7.2 million active registered voters in the state and identified only 15 instances of individuals who appeared to be noncitizens and who had cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. This number represents 0.00028% of the more than 5.7 million total ballots cast in Michigan in that election. Of those 15 cases, 13 were referred to the state Attorney General for potential prosecution. This is a serious issue, one we must address with a scalpel, not a sledgehammer, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a statement at the time. Our careful review confirms what we already knew that this illegal activity is very rare. While we take all violations of election law very seriously, this tiny fraction of potential cases in Michigan and at the national level do not justify recent efforts to pass laws we know would block tens of thousands of Michigan citizens from voting in future elections. The limited scope of even the most sweeping claims indicates that existing safeguards and procedures are broadly effective, CEIR states. The small number of noncitizens actually found underscores the robust checks already in place. Advertisement Advertisement The stricter requirements that would be introduced under the voter identification bill Trump is pushing lawmakers to pass, meanwhile, would likely prove challenging for many citizens to meet. A 2023 Brennan Center for Justice survey found that about 21.3 million voting-age American citizens, or 9.1 percent, do not have documents proving citizenship readily available, while roughly half of U.S. citizens do not have a passport. Contact us at letters@time.com. FALL RIVER Mayor Paul Coogan said Fall River was hit with a real big sucker punch with Mondays blizzard, which covered the region in about three feet of snow. Standing alongside members of the National Guard, staff from the Department of Transportation and Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in the citys Emergency Operations Center, Coogan said their help has been invaluable in getting city streets cleared. They picked us up off the mat and they gave us the support we needed, Coogan said. Advertisement Advertisement The devastating snowstorm on Monday left Fall Rivers 1,000-plus streets unpassable, leaving tens of thousands of residents stuck in their homes behind waist-deep snow. After focusing on main arteries on Tuesday, side streets were next in line. Which was worse? Is this worse than the Blizzard of '78? Depends how you measure it A plow works at clearing Claflin Street in Fall River as Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll talk to the press on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. By Thursday afternoon, using disaster aid from across the Northeast region, Fall River had made significant progress, with hundreds of streets fully cleared and more being plowed every hour. This was a great display of teamwork here, Healey said. And that will continue. It will continue until every road is clear, every resident is able to get to where they need to be, and all power is restored around the commonwealth. So we wont take our foot off the gas at all. Advertisement Advertisement United neighborhoods: Fall River area neighbors come together after being buried by blizzard Fall River dumping snow into Taunton River This was an unprecedented storm, Healey said. As a result, we did some unprecedented things. Members of the National Guard were out in uniform, cruising city streets in military vehicles, manning snow removal equipment like Bobcats and skid steers, digging out fire hydrants and more. Traffic is slow due to snow plowing on Pleasant Street in Fall River on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Jonathan Gulliver, undersecretary of transportation, said the city received special permission from Healey to dump excess snow into the Taunton River. Coogan said that while some snow has been trucked to the former Watuppa Heights, being used as a snow farm, water-dumping into the Taunton River has been ongoing via the State Pier. Advertisement Advertisement Excess snow plowed off streets is not typically dumped into public water supplies due to the high risk of environmental contamination. Thats a pretty unusual step that we would take with extraordinary storms like this, Gulliver said. We work with the environmental agencies to make sure that the receiving waters can take whatever were putting in. Workers clear Senator Thomas Norton Pier in Fall River on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Fall River getting help from multiple regions Though the blizzard ran up along the Eastern Seaboard and the coastal part of Massachusetts, Healey said this whole region was ground zero for the storm. Thats why we as a state tried to deploy assets early and continue to surge there with state resources as well as resources from other states, she said. National Guard trucks and transports are stationed at the former Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Healey said the city has received help from communities in Western Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Connecticut. She said National Grid has had crews on hand from as far away as Canada on the ground over the weekend before snow even hit. She said other departments in the state government have been pitching in, including the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which had plows and skid steers for use. Advertisement Advertisement The National Guard has done everything from running snowblowers to shoveling to transporting people who needed to be taken out of their homes who lost power, transporting medical and shelter staff, Healey said. Fall River Deputy Police Chief J.T. Hoar stands in the city's Emergency Operations Center before a monitor displaying a map of plowed and unplowed city streets, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Cleanup will continue, but progress has been made The storm is among the worst to ever hit the Fall River area, surpassing the Blizzard of 78 in snowfall count according to National Weather Service spotters, as much as 36 inches in nearby Somerset, 32 in Westport, and 37 in Dartmouth. The Blizzard of 78 remains worse in terms of other repercussions. While that storm is blamed for dozens of fatalities statewide and crippled the state for weeks, the Blizzard of 26 was largely free of power outages in the Fall River area except for scattered locations and deaths statewide have been tragic but few. A plow works at clearing Claflin Street in Fall River on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the city verified more than 420 streets were cleared, with a citizen-generated list of streets at frplowed.cc showing more than 530 had been cleared. Advertisement Advertisement Many city streets were down to asphalt after the sunny weather and relatively high temperatures of mid-30s to low 40s caused significant melting on streets that had seen a plow blade. The citys travel ban was lifted in the morning, but high piles on street corners and impassable sidewalks made driving and walking a challenge. Though a full cleanup is expected to still take weeks, officials were ready to celebrate what progress has been made. Its a beautiful day, Coogan said. Lets say we get back to normal as fast as we can. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Gov. Maura Healey sees progress in Fall River blizzard cleanup Nvidias quarterly earnings have been must-watch events ever since its stock began a dramatic ascent in 2023, following OpenAIs launch of ChatGPT and the start of the generative AI boom. Now that its the worlds most valuable public company, Nvidias results face intense scrutiny as investors seek reassurance that AI-driven capital spending remains justified. Todays after-the-bell announcement will come amid weeks of tech stock selloffs. But Nvidia stock edged higher this morning, as analysts predicted data center revenue, adjusted earnings per share, and gross profit margin would rise. Certainly, the companys bona fides have not changed amid the recent stock roller-coaster ride: Nvidia controls the vast majority of the market for GPUs, the chips used to train and run large AI models like ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude. Its CUDA software platform, which lets developers write code optimized specifically for Nvidia hardware, has become the industrys de facto standard, reinforcing that dominance. Meanwhile, the companys rapid cadence of new chip generationsfrom Hopper to Blackwell, with Rubin on decksignals no intention of slowing down. Still, investors will be watching closely for signs of strain. One key question is whether competitors are beginning to gain real traction. For example, days after committing to deploy millions of Nvidia GPUs, Meta this week announced a multibillion-dollar deal to buy chips from AMD. The agreement also gives Meta the option to take up to a 10% stake in AMD, echoing a similar investment AMD secured from OpenAI last October. Cloud giants are also working to reduce their dependence on Nvidiaeven as they remain among its largest customers. Amazon has begun deploying thousands of its own AI chips across a sprawling network of data centers in Indiana, where they are being used by Anthropic. Google, meanwhile, has struck a series of deals with Anthropic and is reportedly supplying chips for several of the startups new data centers in New York, Texas, and elsewhere. A growing field of startups focused on chips built specifically for inferencethe process of generating outputs from trained AI modelsalso poses a challenge. Nvidia has moved to hedge against that threat, entering a high-profile, nonexclusive licensing deal with one of the most well-known of these startups, Groq, that included bringing CEO Jonathan Ross and other staffers to Nvidia. But other startup chipmaking rivals continue to push forward. Cerebras Systems has reportedly filed confidentially for a U.S. IPO once again. SambaNova recently raised $350 million in a round that included Intel, and the Dutch-based Axelera just raised $250 million. And MatXfounded by former Google TPU engineershas secured $500 million in Series B funding co-led by Jane Street and Situational Awareness, claiming its processors could outperform Nvidias GPUs by as much as 10-fold for large language models and inference by 2027. The brother of an American citizen killed in a brazen boat clash with Cuban forces says his sibling was consumed by an "obsessive and diabolical" push to free the island and that "no one knew" what he was planning. American citizen Michel Ortega Casanova, who worked as a truck driver, was one of 10 passengers on a Florida-registered boat that allegedly opened fire on Cuban soldiers in an attempt to infiltrate the island. A Monroe County Sheriff's Office incident report obtained by Fox News noted the boat's owner reported it stolen Wednesday after hearing about the Cuba shootout on the news. Advertisement Advertisement The owner, who did not speak English, told deputies his 24-foot vessel went missing, and he suspected an employee named Hector who had two young daughters in Cuba may have taken it. CUBAN COAST GUARD KILLS 4 IN EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE WITH STOLEN SPEEDBOAT AS MINISTRY IDs CRIMINAL SUSPECTS U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed an incident involving Cuban forces and a speedboat Wednesday before returning to Washington, D.C., after meetings with Caribbean Community leaders at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Ortega Casanova, who lived in the U.S. for more than two decades, was one of four killed in the attempt. He is survived by his wife, mother, brother, two sisters, daughter and unborn grandchild. Read On The Fox News App Six other passengers, all Cubans living in the U.S., were injured. It is unclear if Hector was on board. Advertisement Advertisement Ortega Casanova's brother, Misael, told The Associated Press Wednesday that his brother had an "obsessive and diabolical" pursuit for Cubas freedom. "Only us Cubans who have lived over there understand [the great suffering]," Misael said. He said "no one knew" about his brother's plans to infiltrate the island, noting their mother is "devastated." "They became so obsessed that they didnt think about the consequences nor their own lives," Misael said. While Ortega Casanova's family did not recognize any of the other passengers, Misael said, "maybe [the attempt] will justify that some day Cuba will be free." Advertisement Advertisement Cuba Is Approaching Its Berlin Wall Moment America Must Help Them Break Through Cuban Coast Guard forces reported an exchange of gunfire with a U.S.-registered speedboat Wednesday. He refrained from labeling the group heroes, describing the idea as "ignorance." Cuban officials said many of the boat passengers, who were intercepted roughly a mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, off Cubas north coast, had a known history of criminal and violent activity. Passengers Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez were wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in the "promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism," according to the government. Advertisement Advertisement Cuban politician Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla posted to X after the incident, claiming a "rigorous investigation" is being conducted to clarify the facts. Cuba Identifies 32 Military Personnel Killed In Us Operation Against Maduro Regime In Venezuela "Cuba has had to face numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations originating from #EEUU since 1959, at a high cost in lives, injuries, and material damage," Rodriguez Parrilla wrote in a post. "The defense of Cuba's coasts, of the national territory, and of national security is an ineludible duty." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is working to determine whether the passengers were American citizens or permanent residents. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials said at least two of the people on the bat were U.S. citizens, and another was on a U.S. K-1 visa which is granted to fiancees of U.S. citizens for 90 days. "We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now," Rubio told reporters in Basseterre, St. Kitts. "Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. Its not something that happens every day. Its something, frankly, that hasnt happened with Cuba in a very long time." Cuban officials said the vessel's passengers were intercepted off the country's northern coast. Russia Warns Against 'Provocative Actions' Around Cuba After 4 Killed Onboard Us-registered Speedboat Advertisement Advertisement Rubio said the U.S. will verify the facts independently, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard are investigating. Vice President JD Vance said he was briefed on the incident, and the White House is monitoring the situation. "Hopefully its not as bad as we fear it could be," Vance said. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Floridas Attorney General James Uthmeier said prosecutors will work with federal, state and law enforcement partners to start an investigation. "The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable," Uthmeier wrote in a social media post. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Family member of American killed by Cuban forces in boat shootout says he was on 'diabolical' mission Her voice shaking and holding back tears, the wife of an FBI agent told a South Carolina federal judge on Thursday that the terror inflicted on her and her family by a deranged cyberstalker posing as a friend will last a lifetime. I never once suspected that behind my back, he was plotting to have me raped and tortured, the woman said, facing U.S. District Judge Joe Anderson in a courtroom crowded with FBI agents and staff to show support. He fantasized about having me trafficked with 10-year-old girls, said the woman, identified in court documents only as Victim 2. Beside her stood her husband, a former Richland County sheriffs deputy, who now works various criminal investigations with the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Im not just Victim Number 2. I am a mother. I am a wife. I am a daughter. The event, with its themes of torment and betrayal, was a sentencing hearing for Scott Robert Tardy , a 32-year-old former friend of the FBI agent and his wife. Unbeknownst to the agent and his wife, Tardy tried to hire contract killers on the internet to seek them out and do them in, prosecutor Elle Klein told the judge. He wanted a Molotov cocktail (a bottle of flammable liquid) thrown into their bedroom so they could cook to death, Klein said. Tardys plans were foiled only because in cyberspace, he inadvertently stumbled upon a law enforcement undercover agent trolling for criminals in internet chat rooms, Klein said. That set an investigation in motion that led to Tardy in February 2025, she told the judge. Advertisement Advertisement Its chilling to think what would have happened if it had landed with the wrong person, Klein said. Judge Anderson agreed, saying that if Tardy had contacted someone to do the dirty deed, (the FBI agent and his wife) might not be here today. Judge bumps up prison sentence The judge, clearly moved as the agents wife revealed shocking detail after detail of how the threat affected her, said he was so struck by her emotional damage that he said he would give Tardy 80 months a little more than 6 and a half years in prison. The emotional scars on the victims will be there the rest of their lives, the judge said. Andersons sentence was above the recommended range for Tardys crimes cyberstalking, obstruction of justice and making false statements to law officers which in his case was from 57 to 71 months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors had asked for 71 months. It is rare that judges go above a recommended range of prison time. Tardy had no criminal history, which made him eligible for a lighter sentence. One of his crimes obstruction of justice carried a 20-year maximum sentence. Tardy will also have to pay restitution of $5,738 and spend three years on supervised release after leaving prison. It was far less than the agents wife had wanted. I ask this court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law, not out of vengeance but out of justice, she told Anderson. Mental decompensation? Tardy, a former Marine and former Connecticut state corrections officer, had pleaded guilty to the crimes before Anderson last July. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, he has been allowed to be free on bond because he had taken serious steps including counseling and medication to deal with mental illness ailments, including PTSD and depression, disorders that Tardy claimed had caused him to become detached from reality. I ended up in a state of mental health decompensation, where my reality became distorted, and it felt like I was living in a clouded nightmare, he wrote in a letter to the judge. It is my true belief that I was also in spiritual warfare. I reached a breaking point mentally and the enemy took advantage of this and made me out to be a monster. I became the opposite of what I stand for and have strived to become. This point of my life was incredibly hazy, and it was dangerous, Tardy said in the letter, much of which he repeated in open court. Now, Tardy said, when he reads the threatening messages he posted on the internet, I cant read those things without throwing up. Advertisement Advertisement His church has been a great help in recent months, Tardy said, and the pastor and his wife are helping him, and he feels he is saved. I have done all I can to ensure this will never happen again, he said. Evidence Tardy did not send the threats directly to the FBI agents home or office, according to evidence in the case. The family learned about the threats during the investigation as FBI agents tried to find out who was using internet chat rooms to hire a killer and posting vile threats identifying the agent, his wife and their children, and where they lived. The threats included saying things like the FBI agents wife had a face made to be beaten and a body made to be used and tortured. Advertisement Advertisement Anderson said of Tardys postings, Its just the most revolting language. Evidence in the case showed that Tardy first joined an anti-law enforcement chat group on the Kik social media platform, where he posted messages saying the victims association with the FBI was a reason to target them. He then moved to Telegram because he thought it was more secure. On the Telegram platform, he discussed what a cartel would do to the agents family and shared the location of their home by posting a map with a pin drop on their street. He queried another user as to how long it would take them to get there, according to prosecution evidence. Effects on the agents wife The FBI agents wife told Anderson about how her faith in the goodness and value of life itself had been shaken by the monstrous nature of the threats against her and her family a faith supported by her husbands background as a U.S. Army Ranger combat veteran who should be able to deal with just about any kind of trouble. Advertisement Advertisement He has spent his life defending the safety and freedom of others, but he had to endure his family becoming prey, the woman said. Moreover, she comes from a family of police and law enforcement officers, people who put their lives on the line and the idea that Tardy or anyone would want to inflict such pain upon her and her family has been almost too much to bear, she said. Tardy attended her wedding, and photos of the marriage have him in them. I cant look at the pictures anymore, she said. My children live in a world where their mother cries behind closed doors. Her dreams are haunted by scenes of torture and once she woke with my body paralyzed by fear, she said. My body was collapsing under the weight of trauma. Advertisement Advertisement She lives in a state of fear, she said, checking to see if her doors are locked, scanning the faces of strangers in stores and making sure no one she doesnt know gets too close. According to a charging document in the case, Tardy used the social messaging platforms Kik and Telegram to seek out killers in cyberspace. Why did Tardy do it? Tardys court-appointed lawyer, public defender Katherine Evatt, told the judge that she had no answers for why he did what he did. But she said he had been severely traumatized as a child and was suffering from multiple mental illnesses in February 2025 when he began going online seeking a killer. Since being arrested, Tardy has done everything to figure out why he went to this dark place, Evatt said. Advertisement Advertisement Measures Tardy has taken to get back to normal include spending $200,000, mostly health insurance money, on treatment and spending weeks at an in-patient mental facility and joining a Christian church where he is welcomed, she said. I learned, and I know that mental illness is a hidden disease, Evatt told the judge. Men often find it difficult to ask for help, she said. In a court filing, Evatt told the judge the median sentence in cases like Tardys was a little less than four years. She asked for less than that. Klein argued for a stiff sentence, saying Tardy knew what he was doing, and he repeatedly lied to FBI agents investigating the crime. He also deleted incriminating information on his digital devices, she said. But evidence showed that Tardy controlled Kik and Telegram accounts related to his cyberstalking. Tardy had lived a different life from the FBI agent, who had a job with a legendary law enforcement agency, an attractive family, and they had just moved into a new house. In contrast, the unmarried Tardy was a lowly prison guard whose days were spent among societys worst. The judge remained mystified. There was no love triangle, this is not a case of a jilted lover, Anderson said. None of this makes any sense. Besides FBI agents and staff, those in Andersons courtroom Thursday were U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and several deputies. Federal prosecutor Elliott Daniels, who worked with Klein on the case, was also there. The FBI is scaling back its on-the-ground presence in Tucson, Arizona, and relocating the command post for the investigation into Nancy Guthries abduction to Phoenix, ABC News reported Thursday. Some agents will remain in Tucson to continue working alongside the Pima County Sheriff's Department, while many others are returning to Phoenix, home to the FBIs headquarters in Arizona, to continue coordinating the investigation. The operational shift on day 26 of the search does not signal the case is winding down or that the FBI is backing off the hunt for the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, a source told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in the Catalina foothills outside of Tucson on February 1, authorities have said. She was reported missing after she unexpectedly missed a church service. Authorities confirmed this week that all family members have been cleared as suspects. A Pima County Sheriff's spokesperson directed The Independent to the FBI for comment, who had yet to respond. Nancy Guthrie has been missing from her Tucson home since February 1 (NBC/Today) Authorities reportedly plan to return Guthries home to her family and no longer treat it as a sealed crime scene (Getty Images) Earlier Thursday, two federal law enforcement sources told NBC News that authorities plan to return Guthries home to her family and stop treating it as a sealed crime scene. Investigators said they no longer need to restrict access to the property, though multiple agents were seen Wednesday appearing to examine something on a sliding glass door at the home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department also announced plans to limit public parking on Guthries street beginning Thursday as the investigation continues. Advertisement Advertisement Days after Nancy Guthrie went missing, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had personally spoken with Savannah Guthrie and offered his full support in involving the FBI to secure her mothers safe return. I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's, and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. During a February 12 Fox News appearance, FBI Director Kash Patel said authorities had made substantial progress and identified persons of interest in the investigation of the 84-year-olds disappearance, though a man recently detained for questioning was quickly released. Law enforcement has been unable to identify the masked man captured in doorbell camera footage on the morning of Guthries disappearance (FBI) Savannah Guthrie announced Tuesday that her family is now offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her mothers return (Instagram/@savannahguthrie) Investigators say they have recovered mixed DNA from Guthries property, but the evidence has not yet led to the identification of a suspect. Authorities also released doorbell camera footage showing a man wearing a ski mask and backpack, with what appears to be a holstered gun, standing outside Guthries home shortly before she went missing, which has become central to the case. Advertisement Advertisement However, questions remain about the timing of those images. Two law enforcement sources told NBC News Monday that not all of the photos released by the FBI were taken on the morning of Guthries disappearance. The FBI declined the outlets request to comment on when the images were captured, while Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators have no evidence so far that any of the photos were taken earlier. The issue remains under review, he told NBC News. The FBI says it has received hundreds of additional tips since Savannah Guthrie announced Tuesday that her family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her mothers return. Despite the surge in leads, authorities say no suspect has been identified in Guthries disappearance. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel visited Kentucky on Friday. According to a Thursday news release, the director was set to visit Eastern Kentucky Universitys Manchester campus on Feb. 27. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement At 3:52 p.m. Friday, Patel shared images from a meeting at the FBI Louisville office. Our Louisville team is right on the frontlines of virtually every critical issue facing the FBI and our law enforcement todaycrushing violent crime, taking on narcotics traffickers, working with @CBP to defend against dangerous biosmuggling, key cyber innovation, taking down human traffickers, and much more, he said on X. Patel celebrated the Louisville branch, saying last year the team made 526 violent crime arrests. Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation Last year alone, this team delivered 526 violent crime arrestsa 93% increase from the year before, seized enough fentanyl to kill almost a million Americans, achieved a 53% increase in arrests for violent crimes against children, and took 8 different terrorists off the streetsamong the highest of our 56 field offices in the country. Thanks to the team for taking time to host us, Patel said. 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 FOX 56 News. A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that Tesla must face part of a lawsuit accusing the company of discriminating against American workers by favoring foreign nationals on H-1B visas, while dismissing other portions of the case. The lawsuit was filed in September by plaintiffs Scott Taub and Sofia Brander, who allege Tesla violated federal civil rights law by prioritizing visa holders over U.S. citizens. Taub claimed he was discouraged from applying for an engineering position after a recruiter told him the role was limited to H-1B visa candidates. Brander alleged she was not interviewed for two human resources positions because the company prefers hiring foreign nationals for certain roles. The complaint states Tesla hired approximately 1,355 skilled workers on H-1B visas in 2024 while laying off more than 6,000 U.S. employees. Both plaintiffs contend they were not hired because they did not require employment sponsorship. In an order issued this week, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that Taubs claims presented enough factual detail to move forward. The judge determined the allegations were sufficient to state a claim for discrimination, allowing that portion of the case to proceed. However, the court noted that the evidence cited by Taub, including email exchanges with a Tesla recruiter, was limited. The judge indicated the communication referenced in the complaint was brief and suggested the recruiters statement about the position being restricted to H-1B applicants may have been made in response to a question. Advertisement Advertisement The court dismissed Branders claims, finding it implausible based on the complaint that her citizenship was the reason she was not selected for HR roles. The judge pointed out that the lawsuit alleged Tesla uses H-1B visa holders primarily for specialized positions in engineering, research, and design. Brander has been given 14 days to amend her complaint if she intends to continue pursuing the case. Taubs claims will move forward as litigation continues in federal court. Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and connect with us on Facebook. With the Friday deadline looming for the federal government to return a deported Babson College student it admitted was sent to Honduras by mistake, federal officials said she would be placed in custody the moment she arrived and deported again. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a resident of Texas and a student at Babson College in Wellesley, was deported to Honduras after she was taken into custody at Boston Logan International Airport on Nov. 20, 2025, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Lopez Belloza was flown to Texas with agents the next day and that evening, a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered ICE not to remove her from the United States for at least 72 hours. Despite that order, on Nov. 22, 2025, Lopez Belloza was placed on a flight from Harlingen, Texas, to Honduras. Advertisement Advertisement When she was detained, the college student had been trying to surprise her parents in Texas during Thanksgiving break. Lopez Bellozas return to the U.S. by Feb. 27 was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns on Feb. 13. On Feb. 18, a filing was made requesting her passport by Adam Krzyzek, a supervisory detention and deportation officer for DHS, ICE and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Burlington. But on Thursday the date before Lopez Bellozas scheduled return the federal government filed to dismiss the initial habeas corpus motion and to vacate her return order, according to court filings. If Petitioner was returned to the United States to the status quo that existed prior to her removal, Petitioner still would be subject to a final order of removal and ICE would be authorized to detain and remove Petitioner pursuant to such order, the filing said, according to reports from the Austin-American Statesman and The Boston Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Lopez Bellozas attorney, Todd Pomerleau, told the Statesman the federal government was playing games and that his client would not board a plane to return to the U.S. if the government would immediately detain her. We will vigorously oppose this motion, he told the outlet. Lopez Belloza arrived in the U.S. with her mother when she was eight years old and is a Texas resident, where she lives with her father, mother and two younger siblings born in the U.S. Since she landed in Honduras and was left alone to locate her family there, Lopez Belloza has been living with her grandparents, whom she hadnt seen in 12 years and barely knows, said her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau. Advertisement Advertisement In January, during proceedings at the Boston federal courthouse before District Judge Richard G. Stearns, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter acknowledged that the courts order had been violated. Sauter blamed the violation on a mistake by an ICE officer who thought the order no longer applied and failed to properly flag it. On behalf of the government, we want to sincerely apologize, Sauter said in the courtroom, Reuters reported. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Residents of Kabul's District 6 were awakened abruptly on Thursday night by the sound of an explosion that shook their homes. They rushed out in the street and heard jets flying overhead. It was a night that saw a serious escalation in violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistan launching airstrikes in Afghanistan - including its capital city, Kabul. Other places struck were in Paktia and Kandahar provinces, the latter a stronghold and the birthplace of the Taliban movement. Hostilities between the two sides have been ongoing for months, yet the answer to who started the aggression depends on who you ask. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the night, Afghanistan's Taliban government said it had launched a major ground operation against Pakistani military positions near the border, claiming to have captured several posts, and also claiming to have captured and killed Pakistani soldiers. The Taliban government says they were "retaliatory operations" - a response after "Pakistani military elements carried out an incursion into Afghan territory, violated Afghan sovereignty, and caused the deaths of several civilians, including women and children". They were referring to an earlier round of Pakistani airstrikes carried out less than a week ago - on the night of 21 February - targeting the eastern Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. The United Nations has said it has credible reports that 13 Afghan civilians were killed in those strikes. This latest escalation comes days after Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan following suicide blasts on its soil (file photo) [AFP via Getty Images] Islamabad has a different view. It says its airstrikes have not targeted civilians but instead have targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan, specifically those of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban, which Pakistan's government refers to as Fitna al Khawarij. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan says it has "conclusive evidence" that TTP has been behind a series of attacks in the country, including the recent suicide bombing of a Shia mosque in Islamabad in which more than 30 people were killed. IS claimed to be behind the Islamabad attack, but Pakistan has said it has "conclusive evidence" the TTP is behind it. Pakistan also alleges the attacks are being carried out at the behest of the TTP's Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers, who are being supported by the Taliban government. The Taliban government repeatedly maintains that its territory is not being used to threaten the security of any country, and that Pakistan's actions in Afghanistan are "unprovoked". The last serious flare up between the two neighbours was in October 2025 with days of cross border strikes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Pakistan launching airstrikes in Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Qatar and Turkey mediated between the two sides, with talks held in Doha and Istanbul. A fragile ceasefire followed, but the negotiations failed to bring about a ceasing of hostilities between the two sides. Both countries blamed the other for not engaging seriously in diplomacy. Militarily, Pakistan has the upper hand by a long mile. It is a significant military power with hundreds of tanks and aircraft, and advanced defence technology. The Taliban do not have the upper hand militarily, but are experienced in guerrilla and unconventional warfare [Reuters] Afghanistan's Taliban government has military equipment left behind by the former Afghan and foreign forces. And despite sanctions, reports suggest it has been able to purchase some military equipment through the black market. Advertisement Advertisement So far, there's no evidence that it has the planes or the capability to launch airstrikes deep into Pakistan. But as a group, the Taliban sustained more than 20 years of war against the US and its Nato allies, so its capacity to carry out unconventional and guerrilla warfare is well evidenced. And in the latest stand-off, the Taliban government used drones to strike targets in Pakistan. Drones, which are cheap, small and easy to use, will undoubtedly alter the nature of this conflict like they have changed battlefields around the world. The difficulty with assessing how far the latest escalation might go, stems in part from the lack of verified information available from either side. Advertisement Advertisement The Taliban government does not allow easy access to foreign journalists, and verifying information, particularly from border areas, is even more challenging. In Pakistan too, gathering verified information from border areas independently is not easy. Trade between the two countries has been closed since October 2025, the longest in decades which is affecting small businesses in Afghanistan, and the availability of supplies, including crucial medicines. For ordinary Afghans, reeling under a severe crisis of hunger and poverty, and living under the Taliban government's stringent restrictions, the one positive since 2021 was that after four decades of war, they didn't have to worry about bombs falling on them and their families. Advertisement Advertisement That feeling of relative security has now been punctured by the violence of the past six months. Additional reporting by Usman Zahid and Mahfouz Zubaide Driver's licenses and birth certificates for more than 1,000 transgender Americans living in Kansas are now invalid, after a state law went into effect Feb. 26 banning the changes of sex markers on documents to align with gender identity and reversing previous changes. The law gives no defined grace period, which state officials have said means any trans person who previously legally changed the marker will immediately have invalid documents, opening them up to possible penalties for driving with an invalid license, for example. Senate Bill 244 was vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, but the veto was then overridden by Republican supermajorities in the Kansas legislature, allowing it to go into effect on Feb. 26, reported the Topeka Capital-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Advertisement Advertisement Kansas joins Texas, Florida and Tennessee in prohibiting the updating of gender markers on driver's licenses, according to a tracker by the nonprofit Movement Advancement Project, which tracks LGBTQ-related laws and policies. At least eight other states also ban changes to gender markers on birth certificates for transgender people. The new law makes Kansas the first state in the nation to retroactively invalidate such driver's licenses that were legally obtained, said Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBTQ & HIV Project. The newly enacted law also bans transgender people from using bathrooms, locker rooms and similar facilities in public or government buildings that align with their gender identity. It adds financial penalties for government entities, misdemeanor criminal charges against repeat offenders and creation of a civil cause of action for an individual to sue someone who used an opposite-sex bathroom. 'I nearly gave up' American traveler wins passport battle over gender marker Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said in a statement after the veto was overridden that the law is "one of the most sweeping and intrusive anti-trans bills in the nation." The ACLU plans to challenge the law in state court by the end of the week, Seldin said. "SB 244 is part of a trend of laws in Kansas and nationally that are targeting transgender people with the intent to push us out of civil society," Seldin told USA TODAY. "Laws like SB 244 are really a dangerous escalation in the state trying to tell people how to live their lives because of how the state sees gender and sex." State Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, said the override of Kelly's veto "restored sanity," and said the veto "would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings." Here's what the new law says The law that went into effect on Feb. 26 includes multiple provisions that have to do with identification documents and what spaces transgender people are allowed to enter. Here are the main parts: Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles must discontinue its practice of allowing gender marker changes for transgender people, and reverse changes made in the past. The state registrar must "correct any birth certificate records" issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Office of Vital Statistics in which the listed sex does not match the sex assigned at birth. Those certificates are now invalidated. "Multiple-occupancy private spaces in public buildings" may only be occupied by people of one sex. New criminal and civil penalties are enacted for violations, and a new cause of action for anyone "aggrieved" by a violation that invades their privacy is established. Previously: Kansas enacts transgender athletes ban as lawmakers override Gov. Laura Kelly veto Driver's licenses are immediately invalid, state official says Gender marker changes on driver's licenses had been allowed for 16 years before they were halted in summer 2023 amid litigation over the meaning of another bill, Senate Bill 180. The courts allowed such changes to resume in fall 2025 as the litigation continued. Attorney General Kris Kobach and the state legislature responded with SB 244. But the new law doesn't just ban gender marker changes going forward. It also requires the revenue department to revert changes that were made in the past. The law declares that any driver's license or other state-issued identification card where the gender marker does not match the sex assigned at birth is now invalid. Advertisement Advertisement It also requires the director of vehicles to "correct any driver's license records" where the gender marker doesn't match biological sex and "send written notice" to affected individuals notifying them that their "license is invalid and to surrender such license." When the license is surrendered, the state must issue a new driver's license "with the correct gender identification" and the individual will be expected to pay for it. The department of revenue spokesperson Zach Denney told the Capital-Journal on Feb. 25 that letters are being sent to an estimated 1,500 people impacted. "(P)lease note that the Legislature did not include a grace period for updating credentials. This means that once the law is officially enacted, your current credential will be invalid immediately, and you may be subject to additional penalties if you are operating a vehicle without a valid credential," the letter says. The ACLU plans to argue that the law violates the Kansas constitution's provisions for due process and equal treatment under the law, Seldin said, because it doesn't' give transgender Kansas any opportunity to comply with the law and it treats them differently based on their sex. Impacted people will have to request new birth certificates The law declares that any birth certificate where the listed sex does not match the sex assigned at birth is now invalid. The state registrar must "correct any birth certificate records" that conflict with the law. Jill Bronaugh, a Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesperson, said SB 244 directs the agency to "invalidate and reissue birth certificates that were amended due to sex identification." Over 1,800 certificates have had changes made to the sex field, Bronaugh said. Advertisement Advertisement "However, reasons for the changes to the sex field can range from correcting data entry errors to recognition of gender changes. KDHE's system doesn't currently track the cause of a change to the sex field just that there was a change. Each record will have to be manually reviewed to ascertain the cause of the change. An individual must request their birth certificate be reissued from (the Office of Vital Statistics), as we are unable to notify individuals if their birth certificate has been amended under SB 244," Bronaugh said. New penalties for violating bathroom rules The new rules on single-sex spaces applies to public, or government-owned or -leased, buildings, and requires that transgender people use the restroom or other similar facility corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. Repeat violators could face civil penalties of $1,000 or even criminal penalties for more than two infractions under the new law. Someone who is "aggrieved" by a person of the opposite sex entering a single-sex space can bring a cause of action against that person. More: How the bathroom became ground zero in Trump fight over gender identity Advertisement Advertisement There are some exceptions, like for moms escorting young boys in to the ladies room or dads taking young girls into the men's room. But that exception ends when the child turns 9 years old. Some exceptions are vaguely defined, opponents have argued. Not only will this bill keep brothers from visiting sisters dorms and husbands from wives shared hospital rooms, it will cost Kansas taxpayers millions of dollars to comply with this very vague legislation," Kelly, the governor, said in a statement after her veto was appealed. Supporters of the bill like Republican state Sen. Kellie Warren say Kelly's examples are "not the subject of the bill." Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: First-of-its-kind law revokes IDs and enacts bathroom rules in Kansas Four years ago, Mayra Flores was riding high after a special election upset that made her the face of Republican efforts to win over more Hispanic voters under President Donald Trump. We are all really proud of Mayra, Trump posted on social media after Flores flipped the 34th Congressional District. Great things to come!!! Two election losses later, Flores finds herself in a less advantageous position. Trump and other powerful Republicans are backing her main primary rival, former federal prosecutor Eric Flores, as she makes a third conservative bid to reclaim the seat she briefly held in South Texas. Advertisement Advertisement You cannot do something for a third time and expect a different result, Eric Flores said in an interview. You have a candidate who significantly lacks substance. His ads are more direct, branding Mayra Flores a loser. There is no love lost. I did it when it was hard. I ran so someone like him could walk, Mayra Flores said in an interview. When they think of a Flores, they dont think of him. They think of Mayra Flores. The stakes are high for Republicans, who redrew the district to be easier to flip this time and to cement their recent gains in predominantly Hispanic South Texas. Yet they are also confronting a battle-tested incumbent in Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who has beaten Flores twice now, as well as Trumps declining numbers with Hispanic voters. Advertisement Advertisement A University of Texas poll released Wednesday found Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot among Texas Hispanic voters, 50% to 31%. Nearly three-quarters of the new 34th Districts eligible voters are Hispanic. With little daylight between the candidates on issues, they have debated most intensely who is best positioned to flip the district and show the way forward for Hispanic Republicans in the Trump era. Yet it is Eric Flores who has gained the support of Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House GOP leaders. His supporters have hailed his law-and-order background, pointing to his time prosecuting crime along the Mexican border as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. The high-profile support for Eric Flores has left Mayra Flores banking on her higher name ID and deeper local relationships to beat the odds. Clearly Washington does not understand the meaning of loyalty, but the people of South Texas, of District 34, do, Mayra Flores said. Advertisement Advertisement There will be a bigger spotlight on the race Friday, when Trump is expected to visit Corpus Christi, which anchors the district to the north. The White House has not announced details of the trip yet, but the location and timing four days before Tuesdays primary suggest he could make a renewed display of support for Eric Flores. While Mayra Flores won the 2022 special election runoff for the 34th District, she lost the election for the full term months later, when she had to run in a redrawn version of the district that favored President Joe Biden by nearly 16 points. She lost by 9 points, a notable overperformance but not enough to hang on. Flores tried again in 2024, with another Trump endorsement, but lost by 3 percentage points as Trump carried the district by 5 points. Some of Eric Flores ads include a bar chart illustrating her deficit compared to Trump. Now, Mayra Flores is running in a 34th District that has been transformed yet again by the mid-decade redistricting plan that Texas Republicans passed at Trumps urging. The 34th District, one of five Democratic-held seats targeted by the map drawers, is now one that Trump would have won by 10 points in 2024, having been extended to the Corpus Christi area to fold in more conservative voters. Advertisement Advertisement Mayra Flores was originally running this cycle for the 28th District held by Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar before switching to the 34th District in August, days after the Texas Legislature approved the new map. The primary for the redrawn district was initially crowded, but after Trump backed Eric Flores in December, multiple candidates dropped out and coalesced behind him. Mayra Flores initially responded to Trumps decision by criticizing him for backing a candidate pretending to be MAGA. David Garza, a Brownsville lawyer who has supported Mayra Flores since her first race, said he counseled her to take the setback in stride. If she wasnt known, Id think [the Trump endorsement] could have an impact, Garza said. For people whove known her and supported her, I dont think that changed the needle. Advertisement Advertisement One of the contenders who suspended their campaigns after Trump intervened, Corpus Christi businessman Scott Mandel, said he did not have to think hard about backing Eric Flores over Mayra Flores. I think there is a lot of fatigue, and if she gets this spot, she loses to Vicente, Mandel said. Theres no question. Mayra Flores argued she has the political experience and battle scars to finally capture the district this time. She vowed that she would not take anything for granted as the nominee and run like it is still a Biden district, referring to the previous, Democratic-friendly version of the seat. Garza said it was apples and oranges to focus on her past two races because the district lines have since changed in significant ways. Advertisement Advertisement While Eric Flores has built momentum as a fresh face, some GOP operatives acknowledge that Mayra Flores remains a serious competitor, well-known after appearing on five ballots in the region since June 2022. That could make it hard for either candidate to secure the majority support needed for an outright win Tuesday. If both fall short of 50%, they will face off in a late May runoff, with 12 more weeks to extend their feud into even more bitter territory. The Floreses have been competitive with each other in fundraising. Each candidate had taken in roughly $1.3 million as of Feb. 11, the latest date covered by campaign financial disclosures, with Eric Flores receipts including nearly $500,000 in personal loans to his campaign. He also has at least three outside groups supporting him, including one super PAC, Operation Guardian Support PAC, that has received the bulk of its funding $200,000 from McAllen business owner Jaime Ramirez. That money has helped fund a barrage of attacks aimed at keeping the primary focused on Mayra Flores electoral history and the candidates loyalty to Trump. Eric Floress ads have attacked Mayra Flores as a failed career politician who has used her campaigns to enrich herself and her family. She has continued to pay herself a salary in her latest campaign, something the Federal Election Commission allows under certain conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Eric Flores has also highlighted Mayra Flores initial criticism of Trump for snubbing her. In the interview, Mayra Flores steered clear of repeating the criticism, instead blaming Trumps advisers for leading him astray. Since the snub, Mayra Flores has taken a $5,000 campaign donation from the leadership PAC of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, one of Trumps biggest GOP dissidents in Congress. Asked about the donation, she said she was grateful for everyones support in the race. Mayra Flores has focused her attacks on Eric Flores time as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, pillorying him for being part of the Biden DOJ. Eric Flores has emphasized he was a career prosecutor, not a political appointee picked by the former Democratic president. I think this just shows her lack of understanding of the government, Eric Flores said. If I in fact was Biden DOJ, President Donald J. Trump would not have endorsed me. Advertisement Advertisement Mayra Flores has also sought to tie Eric Flores to Biden by claiming Eric Flores voted for Biden, citing his primary voting history, and that he attended Bidens inauguration, citing a January 2021 Facebook post where Eric Flores said he was watching the ceremony and congratulated the incoming president. Eric Flores campaign denied that he voted for Biden and that he watched the inauguration in person, saying he was stationed in Victoria on the day of the inauguration as a member of the Texas Army National Guard. A fleeting shadow will swallow Earths only natural satellite early Tuesday, March 3 in a predawn showstopper that will dim its glowing brilliance to a coppery red. For states in the western part of the U.S., a total lunar eclipse in its entirety will be witnessed for Marchs full moon, which is nicknamed the worm moon for the thawing of soil that comes with spring. For the East Coast, including Florida, the universe has contrived a trickier viewing experience because the eclipse is happening near moon set. A partial eclipse begins at 4:50 a.m. but it is quickly chased away by the rising sun before the full blood moon drama can be seen. Why is a full lunar eclipse called a 'blood moon'? Full lunar eclipses are called blood moons because redder light travels a straighter path through the air and Earths atmosphere. Blue light, which has shorter wavelengths, is removed, leaving a rosy hue on the moons surface. Advertisement Advertisement Floridas far western Panhandle, which is on CST, will see the beginning of the eclipse at 3:50 a.m. There may be a bloom of red before the moon sets at 6:15 a.m. The website Time and Date notes that during the maximum eclipse when the moon will be closest to the center of Earths shadow, it will be so near the western horizon it will be very hard or impossible to see from the the east coast. The chances are slightly better in Pensacola, but its stressed that an unobstructed view west is necessary. The next total lunar eclipse viewable in the U.S. wont be until June 26, 2029. Where in the sky should you look to see the lunar eclipse in Florida? Florida Atlantic University astronomer Eric Vandernoot said people in Florida should be able to see the moon begin to turn reddish, but that it will be doing so as it is crosses the horizon line. Advertisement Advertisement You will need to get up high in the air to see it, Vandernoot said. People who are in high rises or have a very clear view to the west will have a better chance. But that doesnt dampen Vandernoots enthusiasm for the eclipse. He hopes people will watch near 5 a.m. when the curved leading edge of the Earths shadow will be visible on the moon. Twenty-five centuries ago, it was a pet project of philosopher Pythagoras to watch and observe lunar eclipses his entire life, and this is how he knew that we live on a sphere, Vandernoot said. The only object that always casts a round shadow is a sphere. Advertisement Advertisement Pythagoras is believed to be the first person to propose that the Earth was round near the year 500 B.C. Its great that it looks all reddish and like a giant juicy peach, but the curvature part is whats particularly cool, Vandernoot said. Marc B. Wiskoff, senior technical advisor at Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach, said he tries to temper eclipse hype when the solar system isnt going to perform as people hope. The farther west, the better for the March 3 eclipse, but that means Colorado not Tampa. Everyone is so intrigued for anything we can see out there, Wiskoff said. Its good because you dont need binoculars and telescopes to see the eclipse, but the sun is coming up, and the moon will set rather quickly. Advertisement Advertisement To see the moon rise full and plump above the horizon on March 3, which is a more guaranteed experience than the eclipse for people in Florida, watch to the east at 6:47 p.m. on the east coast of Florida. On the west coast of the state, the moon will rise at 6:57 p.m., and in the far western Panhandle, moonrise will be at 6:61 p.m. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. She covers weather, the environment and critters as the Embracing Florida reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at palmbeachpost.com/newsletters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Blood moon eclipse will be seen in West while Florida gets partial show FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) is among the 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now. Morgan Stanley Keeps an Overweight Rating on FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) is among the Best Utility Stocks. On February 20, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) price target to $53 from $50 while keeping an Overweight rating. Morgan Stanley raised its price projections for North American Regulated and Diversified Utilities and IPPs. The firm observed that utilities fell behind the S&P in January. Morgan Stanley's Q4 earnings preview predicts balanced debates about data center pipelines, taking into account affordability and political considerations. On February 18, 2026, Reuters reported that FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) disclosed a $36 billion capital expenditure plan for 2026-2030, including more than $19 billion for transmission. The announcement came after a 4.3% increase in full-year earnings due to rising energy rates. The corporation benefited from newly implemented Pennsylvania rates and increased distribution sales, which offset higher operating costs. The firm reported a 2025 profit of $1.02 billion, or $1.77 per share, up from $978 million, or $1.70 per share, the year before. Distribution division core earnings grew by $0.23 per share year on year. The company reiterated its 2026 EPS projection of $2.62 to $2.82 and announced $6 billion in 2026 investments. FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) generates, transmits, and distributes electricity, as well as provides energy management and other energy-related services. It operates in three business segments: regulated distribution, regulated transmission, and corporate or other. While we acknowledge the potential of FE 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: 20 Best Performing Stocks in 2025 and 12 Best Food Stocks to Buy in 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. A proposal in the Florida Senate is drawing sharp opposition from public sector labor unions, which warn it could dramatically weaken or even dismantle their ability to operate. The measure (SB 1296) by Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, would fundamentally change how union certification elections are decided. It's up before the last of only two committee hearings on March 2, after which it will be ready for the floor. It cleared the first panel on a 63 vote. Instead of requiring a simple majority of votes cast, the bill would mandate approval from 50% plus one of all workers in a bargaining unit, including those who do not vote. Advertisement Advertisement Labor advocates argue the shift creates a uniquely burdensome standard, effectively counting non-votes as no votes, making union certification significantly more difficult and potentially jeopardizing existing bargaining units. Critics also point to a staff analysis that raises potential constitutional concerns, adding legal uncertainty to what unions already describe as an existential threat. This is an election standard that doesnt exist in any union election, or democratic legislative or executive branch election in the entire country, said Jordan Scott of the Northwest Florida Federation of Labor. An eight-year push against unions Martin's tweak to 2023s SB 256 will deliver what Scott fears could be the knockout blow to labor in what has been an eight-year battle with Republicans over union certification. Advertisement Advertisement Public sector workers beat back two attempts to set a threshold of dues-paying members for certification in 2018s HB 25 and 2021s SB 78. But then, with the backing of Gov. Ron DeSantis, yet another measure (SB 256) requiring 60% of union members to pay dues to maintain certification was approved and signed into law. It resulted in the decertification of more than 120 local chapters representing more than 70,000 public sector workers, overwhelming the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) with recertification elections. It conducted 20 union elections in 2022 before SB 256 became law. That number ballooned to 250 in 2025 and forced an increase in the PERC budget from $3.69 million in 2023 to about $6 million today. DeSantis' budget request for PERC next year is nearly $7 million. Scott said Martins proposal will further disrupt unions representing nurses, teachers, maintenance, and office workers. The change to require 50%-plus-one of the entire bargaining unit to vote yes essentially means that any nonvote becomes a no vote, he said. Jordan Scott Opinion: Organized labor weighs in on local politics | Jordan Scott Advertisement Advertisement At a previous committee where Martin presented the bill, he drew nearly a full room and 73 signed statements from the public to testify (68 against, 5 for). Scott expects a similar turnout when the next committee meets to decide whether to advance the measure for consideration by the full Senate. 'Unconstitutional trainwreck'? During a tense 90-minute intense discussion by the Government Oversight Committee, Democrats focused on the staff analysis that found the measure conflicts with provisions of both the Florida and U.S. constitutions. The analysis flagged collective bargaining, single subject, freedom of speech, and equal protection concerns. Martin told the committee, Obviously we dont want any of our bills to be unconstitutional. But then he conceded that he had yet to speak to any constitutional lawyers about the bill, and no amendments to resolve any constitutional conflicts have been submitted. Opponents complained it is hypocritical for politicians elected on a simple majority of votes cast to mandate a 50%-plus-one requirement of the entire population on labor unions. Sen. Tina Polsky poses questions for Dr. Joseph Ladapo during a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Ethics and Elections CommitteeTuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. In an exchange about the 50%-plus-one requirement for approval, Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, asked Martin what percentage of his districts residents' vote he had received in 2022 (it was 27%). Chair Debbie Mayfield ruled the question out of order. Advertisement Advertisement In the United States, you have every right not to vote, Martin said, but when it comes to public sector employee unions, he added, you cant be agnostic. Still, after the discussion, Democratic state Sen. Lavon Bracy Davis called the bill an unconstitutional trainwreck. What the bill does The measure requires a majority of all workers in a bargaining unit to vote 'yes' in a certification election but exempts police, firefighters, and correctional officers. According to the Senate analysis, this would create two distinct classes of public employees and create a potential equal protection violation. Further, the analysis said it may also infringe on workers collective bargaining rights under the state Constitution. Martin did not explain why rules for police and firefighters whose unions often support Republicans should be different than those for teachers, bus drivers, nurses and maintenance workers. Sen. Jonathan Martin stands for the Pledge of Allegiance during opening day of session Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Theres a compelling government interest in making sure that our public sector unions are different than public safety unions, Martin said during a Feb. 11 hearing. Public safety being the first and foremost responsibility of the state, we want to make sure those public safety unions are represented in a manner that meets the demands and the unique nature of their job. Advertisement Advertisement Eddie Carter, a plumber and former senior project manager for Cape Coral, was among the 73 members of the public who signed up to speak on the measure. I may not be considered a first responder, but when the water goes out, Im the one you call to get it back on, Carter said in opposition. The measure has the backing of free market think tanks such as the James Madison Institute, Freedom Foundation, and Americans for Prosperity. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him X: @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida may soon dismantle public sector unions. Here's how Florida Republicans are repeating calls for regime change in Cuba in the wake of the Cuban coast guard killing four people and detaining others who were in a Florida-registered motorboat that Havana said crossed into Cuban territorial waters. The deadly confrontation adds another layer of volatility between Havana and Washington, amid President Trumps fuel blockade around the island. Trump imposed the blockade at the end of January to weaken the Cuban communist regime. Last year, Trump designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who was born in Cuba, said Trumps policies have brought the Cuban regime to the closest point of collapse in its 67 years. Advertisement Advertisement The regime is in its weakest position. We have the right president and we have the right secretary of State and the right policies in place in order to make it happen, Gimenez said on Fox News. Actually Ive been here for over 65 years. This is, you know, the closest weve been to seeing a free Cuba and for me it cant happen soon enough. Gimenez, who is also a member of the House Homeland Security and Armed Services committees, said he wants to know exactly what happened with the Cuban coast guard. On Wednesday, the Cuban coast guard said it confronted a Florida-registered speedboat and encountered armed individuals who opened fire, describing them as terrorists. Cuba said four people were killed and six others were detained. Advertisement Advertisement Gimenez demanded access to the individuals taken into custody. Gimenez described the individuals as Americans, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that its not yet clear if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Gimenez said Cuban officials view any Cuban diaspora as a Cuban national, regardless of other citizenship. He said the boat the Cuban coast guard confronted was a 24-foot open fisherman vessel with a 1,300 horsepower engine. The original story was they were transporting human smuggling and now theyre terrorists. They are changing their story and we need to get to the bottom of it, he said of Cuban officials. Gimenez raised the prospect that Cuba could use the six detained individuals as leverage in the standoff with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Other prominent Florida Republicans have called for regime change in Cuba. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is running for governor, posted on the social platform X that the Communist Cuban regime must go. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Cuban leader Raul Castro should be indicted in a U.S. court and put on trial for all the Americans he killed. Asked by The Hill if Trump should carry out an operation to capture Castro similar to the operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on a drug charges warrant, Scott deferred and predicted the Cuban people would eventually topple their government. Advertisement Advertisement I think ultimately the Cuban people are going to just rise up, because of how bad it is, he said. Trump has not laid out his demands for Cuba but said the fuel blockade could usher in regime collapse. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, is taking the lead on Trumps policy toward Havana. The Miami Herald reported Thursday that U.S. officials met on the sidelines of a conference in the Caribbean with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson and bodyguard to Raul Castro, considered the de facto leader in Havana. Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month that the U.S. would love to see the regime change, it doesnt mean were going to make a change. Advertisement Advertisement The secretary said that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard are carrying out an independent investigation into what happened with the Cuban coast guard. 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. LOS ANGELES - Armenias former president, Dr. Armen Sarkissian, brought a sweeping message about science, power and the future of nations to Los Angeles during a recent visit to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he attended a healthcare and longevity conference. In a wide-ranging conversation, Sarkissian reflected on what he calls his many lives. Trained as a physicist in Soviet Armenia, he later conducted research at Cambridge, helped establish Armenias first embassies in Europe after independence, served as prime minister and president, and built a parallel career in technology and business. He is also the bestselling author of The Small States Club and co-creator of the word-based video game Wordtris. Yet throughout the discussion, one theme dominated Sarkissian believes the world has fundamentally changed. From Classical Politics to a Quantum World "We are living in a new world," he said. "It is not classical anymore. It is quantum." Advertisement Advertisement Drawing on his background in physics, he argues that todays geopolitics no longer operates according to the assumptions that shaped the post-World War Two era. International institutions, he said, have lost much of their authority. Power is more diffuse, more technological and more unpredictable. "Instead of pretending the old system will save us, we have to adjust," he said. "Change, because otherwise the change will come, bypass us, and then we will suffer." For Sarkissian, this shift creates both danger and opportunity. In his book The Small States Club, he makes the case that size is no longer destiny. In an interconnected and technology-driven world, smaller nations can compete and even lead, if they are agile and intelligent. Why Small States Can Be Powerful If They Are Smart "Small is not only beautiful," he said. "Small is powerful, if it is smart." Advertisement Advertisement He points to countries such as Estonia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates as examples of how digital governance, long term vision and investment in innovation have propelled relatively small states onto the global stage. These nations, he argues, have embraced technology not as an accessory but as a foundation. Armenia, he believes, has similar potential, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence. But that future depends on education. Education as the Foundation of National Strength "Every child has a talent," he said. "Find it. Support it. Make them competitive." Education, in his view, is not simply about access but about excellence and competition. Growing up in the Soviet system, he saw many failures in politics and ideology, but he credits the education system with cultivating scientific rigor and discipline. That training shaped his career and mindset. Advertisement Advertisement His scientific background also carried over into entrepreneurship. In the early days of personal computing, Sarkissian registered a company in the United States and helped develop Wordtris, a word-based puzzle game built on mathematical modeling and logic. The title and related versions became global successes, selling hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. He views that chapter of his life as proof that strong foundations in mathematics and modeling can translate into global innovation. Technology, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power The conversation also turned to security and the future of warfare. Sarkissian said technological superiority will increasingly define geopolitical strength. Artificial intelligence, drones and data systems are reshaping the balance of power. "Who will win the future war?" he asked. "The country with a million soldiers or the country with a million drones run by artificial intelligence?" He believes nations that fail to adapt to this technological shift risk falling behind, regardless of their size or history. A Natural Partnership Between Armenia and California For California audiences, Sarkissian sees natural alignment. Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of startup culture and technological experimentation. Combined with a large Armenian diaspora rooted in Los Angeles, he believes collaboration between Armenia and California is more than symbolic. It is strategic. Advertisement Advertisement Armenia, he said, could serve as a hub that connects global Armenian talent, capital and ideas. But that requires clear vision, institutional reform and leadership willing to think beyond short term politics. Identity, Values and the Urgency to Adapt Ultimately, Sarkissians message extended beyond Armenia. He framed his argument in terms of identity and values as well as policy. Nations, he said, must understand who they are and what they stand for in order to navigate this new era. "It starts from education," he said. "You must know who you are, what your values are, and believe that you can change things." The full interview explores his journey from science to statecraft, his philosophy of small smart states and his warning that adapting to this new quantum era is not optional. It is essential for survival and success in a world that no longer plays by classical rules. Tal Dilian and his partner, Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, were sentenced to prison in Greece for illegal surveillance, including monitoring government officials and journalists with spyware. A Greek court sentenced former IDF intelligence officer and spyware CEO Tal Dilian and his partner, Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, to a prison sentence, N12 News reported on Thursday. The two Israelis were sentenced along with two Greek businessmen, for a total cumulative sentence of 126 years and eight months, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement However, they are expected to serve only eight years, as that is the typical upper limit for misdemeanours, a BBC report noted. The four were convicted for "violating the confidentiality of telephone communications, disrupting a personal data registration on a recurring basis, and illegal access to an information system or data," N12's report stated. The convicts were linked with the utilization of a surveillance software called Predator to monitor 87 people, including government ministers, senior military officials, and journalists, the BBC reported. INTELLEXA CO-CEO Tal Dilian at his Cyprus home. (credit: YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU/REUTERS) According to the BBC, the software can access a device's messages, camera, and microphone. Advertisement Advertisement Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who directly oversees the Greek intelligence service EYP, called the incident a "scandal." Biden administration sanctions Dilian, spyware company In March 2024, the then-Biden administration's State Department formally sanctioned Dilian and his Athens-based spyware firm Intellexa, as well as other related entities. This followed on from previous moves by that administration to blacklist Israeli cyber offense companies from doing business in the US, including a Commerce Department blacklist in 2021, to which Intellexa was added in July 2023. However, the March 2024 sanctions against Dilian, Hamou, and their entities were far more severe than the ramifications of the Commerce Department's blacklist. Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett isnt convinced the Iranian regime is sincere about ongoing talks with the United States about its nuclear program. "I think Iran is going to try and do what they always do, which is buy time until theyre out of the water," Bennett told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade Thursday on "Fox & Friends." Thursdays talks, mediated by Oman, were held in Geneva and centered around Irans nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement They came as the United States has built up a significant amount of military assets in the Middle East. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, President Donald Trump's special representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner meet ahead of the U.S.-Iran talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, Feb. 6, 2026. (Getty Images) Iran's Supreme Leader Runs 'State Within A State' Through Secret 4,000-Person Network, Report Says Omans foreign minister said after Thursdays meeting that "significant progress" was made and "discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna," according to reporting from Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump made the desired outcome of the talks clear during his State of the Union address, emphasizing that he "will never allow the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon." Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sits next to a senior military official in Iran. (Getty Images) Former Israeli Prime Minister Bennett believes the regime is set on its nuclear ambitions. Advertisement Advertisement "They are rebuilding nuclear capabilities as we speak," he said, pointing to recent observed activity near the Natanz facility, which was struck in June 2025 by Israeli and U.S. forces. "A nation that does not seek nuclear weapons doesnt need any enrichment within its country," he said. "The only reason a regime is doing it is because it wants nuclear weapons." Trumps Iran Ultimatum Enters Decisive Stretch After State Of The Union Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi declared Tuesday on X that "Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon," saying Iranians have the right to harness "peaceful nuclear technology for our people." Advertisement Advertisement Bennett does not believe those claims. "As of now, Iran is pursuing intercontinental ballistic missiles," he claimed, clarifying that "in simple English," they are missiles that could land in "New York or Tennessee or California." "The only reason a nation develops this sort of thing is for a nuclear war tip," he said. "This is the time to act." Israels 13th prime minister argued "there will be no point in history where Iran is at such a vulnerable point" after anti-government protests that left thousands dead. Bennett said the regime murdered "32,000 of its own citizens" and thousands of Americans and Israelis over the years through its proxies that he calls a "terror octopus." Advertisement Advertisement One of those octopus arms is on Israels northern border in the form of the Lebanese Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, which was crippled by Israeli strikes and the 2024 assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Click Here To Download The Fox News App "Do you believe Hezbollah wont get involved, or do you believe youre going to be attacked by whats left of Hamas and Hezbollah, should the shooting start?" Kilmeade asked Bennett. "I dont know. We have to be prepared one way or another," Bennett said. "The 10 million Israelis living here in Israel, we are the boots on the ground of the free world. Advertisement Advertisement "But we understand that its a price that we are willing to pay in order to remove this threat from the world." Original article source: Former Israeli prime minister argues Iran is trying to 'buy time' with Geneva talks This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com Former King County Sheriff and Congressman Dave Reichert is now helping lead a legal fight against state lawmakers over a controversial pension proposal. Reichert told KIRO Newsradio roughly 5,500 retired first responders have filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking House Bill 2034, which would redirect more than $550 million from the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Retirement System Plan 1, commonly known as LEOFF 1, to help address other state budget needs. Advertisement Advertisement My first reaction is, as a retired cop, its illegal, Reichert explained to KIRO Newsradio. What theyre doing now is prohibited by other laws, federal and state laws. So, and this is not a new thing. Theyve been trying to do this since about 24 or 25 years ago. They tried to do it last year. They tried to do it other years, and weve had to file lawsuits in the past. Democratic sponsors of House Bill 2034, including House Appropriations Chair Timm Ormsby, argued the pension plan is significantly overfunded and that the bill does not jeopardize benefits. Supporters also maintain that the proposal does not undermine the states obligations to retirees. Bill would redirect $569 million to state climate fund The bill would dissolve and then reinstate LEOFF 1, allowing surplus funds to be redirected, including $569 million to the states Climate Commitment Act account. The bill has already cleared the House and is now making its way through the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Theyre hoping that they pass the law, and then they go to the IRS, they have a state ruling, they go to court, and federal court decides that, you know, the law is good, much like they did with the capital gains tax, Reichert said. Advertisement Advertisement Republican lawmakers are also blasting the move. State Reps. Travis Couture, Jim Walsh, and Matt Marshall called it a money grab from retired police officers and firefighters. Walsh warned the maneuver was once considered a third rail in Olympia, arguing it signals a troubling shift in how the state treats public pensions. I know a lot of these LEOFF retirees. Theyre now anywhere from their mid-70s and older, Reichert said. These are cops and firefighters that have, for some for 50 years, and in my case, 33 years, sacrificed a lot of time with family and dealt with injuries. In my own case, a head-on car crash in my police car. I still have back injury problems, nerve damage issues collecting scores and scores of dead bodies over my career, thats emotional. We feel like weve dedicated our lives to protecting life and property, and theyve just taken advantage of about 5,500 retirees left in the system. Follow Luke Duecy on X. Read more of his stories here. A former Colorado State Senator who was convicted of four felonies earlier this year was sentenced to two years of probation Friday morning in Denver District Court. In late January, Sonya Jaquez Lewis of Longmont was convicted of all four felony charges against her, which include three counts of forgery and one count of attempt to influence a public servant. In January 2025, in the midst of an investigation by the Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics, Lewis forged several letters supposedly written by former aides to refute allegations that Lewis was mistreating her staff. Advertisement Advertisement Jaquez Lewis resigned shortly before the ethics committee determined that at least one letter of support submitted by a former aide was fabricated. The aide told senators she had not written the letter and had not talked to Jaquez Lewis in over a year. Legislative legal staff said Jaquez Lewis claimed the fabricated note was based on prior information and conversations with the staffer. The committee told her to turn over evidence that her other letters of support weren't fake. Rather than provide proof, Jaquez Lewis resigned. This case should send the message that elected officials will be held accountable when they break the law and violate the publics trust," said Denver District Attorney John Walsh. "Sonya Jaquez Lewis will now pay a price for behavior that simply cannot and will not be tolerated in our community. I want to thank the prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates and legal administrative assistants in my office, whose outstanding work brought about the successful resolution of this case. In addition to the two years of probation, Jaquez Lewis must perform 150 hours of community service. She was also fined $3,000, but if she completes an additional 100 hours of community service, then the fine will be waived. A United States citizen has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two teenage girls while working at the US embassy in Burkina Faso. The US Department of Justice said 41-year-old Fode Sitafa Mara, from Maryland, was sentenced on Wednesday following a two-week trial in October 2025 in the state's federal District Court. A jury found him guilty of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, as well as attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted obstruction of justice. Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Justice Department in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. Prosecutors said the offences took place in 2022 and 2023 in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, where Mara was employed by the United States embassy. According to evidence presented in court, the abuse occurred at a residence leased for US diplomatic personnel. Because the property was reserved for official use, it fell under US jurisdiction, allowing American authorities to prosecute the case. Reports say the two victims, who were aged 13 and 15 when the abuse began, came from a vulnerable background. Prosecutors said Mara exploited their circumstances over the course of about a year. Advertisement Advertisement "His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today's outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children domestically or abroad will face significant consequences in the American justice system,'' said Assistant Attorney General A Tysen Duva. He used the girls' mother's life-threatening illness as an opportunity to demand sex, telling them he could not help them without receiving something in return, said the Office of Public Affairs. Mara had provided the girls with phones so he could summon them while his wife was away at work, it added. He was also convicted of sending sexually explicit messages to one of the girls and attempting to persuade a housekeeper to mislead investigators. Advertisement Advertisement The case was investigated by the US authorities with assistance from Burkina Faso. "Our message is clear, those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price," said US attorney Kelly Hayes for the District of Maryland. In statements issued after sentencing, US officials said the life term reflected the seriousness of the crimes and underscored the government's commitment to prosecuting child sexual abuse, including offences committed abroad by American citizens. More about Burkina Faso from the BBC: [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 Following the questioning of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is testifying before a US Congressional committee in the Epstein case. The Republican chairman of the oversight committee, James Comer, said before the hearing began on Friday that the former president would be questioned about photos, emails and travel movements in connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. It is known that Epstein visited the White House several times during Clinton's presidency, which ran from January 1993 until January 2001, and that the former president repeatedly travelled on Epstein's plane. Advertisement Advertisement Comer said that during the questioning of Hillary Clinton on Thursday, she had referred to her husband in at least a dozen questions. This had further expanded the list of questions for the former president. There are also questions about Epstein's alleged role in the Clinton Foundation, a charitable foundation established by the couple, and their Clinton Global Initiative, which organizes international projects and partnerships. The questioning is taking place behind closed doors in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons live and is expected to last longer than the roughly six-hour hearing with the former secretary of state. Republicans have come under hefty criticism from Democrats and Epstein survivors for refusing to make the hearings public. Advertisement Advertisement But they announced that they would publish the full video recording of their questioning "as soon as possible." For all practical purposes, this is a "public hearing," Comer said. The recording of Bill Clinton's questioning is also to be published afterwards. A Frederick City Council committee heard a pitch this week for a distinctive system of voting in elections. Through approval voting, people cast a vote for as many candidates as they like. The candidate with the highest number of votes wins. The Government Operations Committee, consisting of Council Members Katie Nash, Peter Brehm, Joe Adkins and Libby Taylor, heard on Monday from advocates of the voting style. Advertisement Advertisement The committee meeting was the second in recent months on different kinds of voting. The first, in January, was on the more well known ranked-choice voting. In ranked-choice voting, people rank candidates on a ballot. "The votes are tabulated in rounds, with the lowest-ranked candidates eliminated in each round until there are only two candidates left," the website of the Maine Department of the Secretary of State says. Maine uses the voting style in its state elections. "We're taking a look at a range of things pertaining to elections," said Brehm, who is leading the effort to look at potential election changes in the city. Advertisement Advertisement "This session is part of the Government Operations Committees broader effort to understand alternative voting methods, explore whether they could be more inclusive and representative, and consider whether future Charter amendments may be appropriate," Brehm wrote in a summary provided for Monday's committee meeting. "This meeting, however, is strictly informational. No decisions or endorsements regarding any voting system will be made." On Monday, the committee heard from Allison Sardinas, the director of public affairs for the nonprofit Center For Election Science, a group promoting approval voting. The Center For Election Science, Sardinas said, was founded to look at best practices for elections. Sardinas said that when her group was founded, it looked at many types of voting to see which one to endorse. Advertisement Advertisement She said it landed on approval voting because it would be an improvement and had an easier path to being implemented. It is notably used in St. Louis' municipal elections. It was also used in Fargo, N.D., from 2018 until the state of North Dakota banned it in 2025. In a statement at the time, North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong said of the decision: Now more than ever, we need a consistent, efficient and easy-to-understand voter experience across our entire state to maintain trust in our election system, The Associated Press reported. Sardinas said approval voting seeks to elect candidate the most people agree on. Advertisement Advertisement It stops candidates with less mainstream support from winning elections when groups of voters split their votes among more mainstream candidates, she said. If people can vote for all of the candidates they like, she said, then split-vote situations never occur. Brehm asked Sardinas about the usage of "shotgun votes," in which people only vote for one candidate even though they can vote for more than one. The use of this practice takes away votes from other candidates, making the target of the "shotgun" votes more likely to win. Sardinas said that when approval voting is first implemented, only 30% of people vote for multiple candidates. But as the practice becomes more established, she said, people feel more comfortable voting for multiple candidates. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is among the 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now. Morgan Stanley Retains an Equal Rating on PG&E Corporation (PCG) PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is among the Best Utility Stocks. On February 20, 2026, Morgan Stanley increased its price objective for PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) from $21 to $23 while keeping an Equal Weight rating. Morgan Stanley updated its price goals for North American Regulated and Diversified Utilities and IPPs covered by it. The firm reported that utilities underperformed the S&P in January. In its Q4 earnings preview, Morgan Stanley anticipates balanced debates about data center pipelines in the face of affordability and political concerns. On February 20, 2026, UBS analyst Gregg Orrill boosted PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG)'s price goal to $20 from $18 while retaining a Neutral rating. On February 18, 2026, Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella upgraded PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG)'s price objective to $23 from $21. Barclays maintained an Overweight rating, citing recent outperformance and the company's strong fundamentals. On February 12, 2026, PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) reduced its full-year 2026 non-GAAP core EPS projection to $1.64-$1.66, from $1.62-$1.66. The company noted returns on customer capital expenditure, costs associated with unrecoverable debt expense, and other earnings variables. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) works as a holding company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity and natural gas to customers. It focuses on energy, utility, power, gas, electricity, solar, and sustainability. While we acknowledge the potential of PCG 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: 20 Best Performing Stocks in 2025 and 12 Best Food Stocks to Buy in 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. NEW ORLEANS Local activists announced Thursday the French Quarter Festival would no longer receive sponsorship from Chevron beginning in 2027. Chevron has been a title sponsor of the New Orleans festival for the last 13 years. The sponsorship change follows a monthslong pressure campaign from a coalition of organizations called Chevron Out of French Quarter Fest. The coalition is composed of local pro-Palestine groups and local chapters of national, left leaning organizations. Chevron Out accuses Chevron of being a contributor to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israel. The coalition also cited environmental concerns and workplace abuses by the company. Advertisement Advertisement We are a city that cares about human rights and environmental justice. We deserve a festival free of genocide and environmental injustice, where the spirit of our city can truly shine, said Chevron Out organizer Cypress Atlas in a press release. The free annual festival attracts thousands of locals and tourists to New Orleans French Quarter to watch hundreds of musical acts across a range of genres, and hosts dozens of food vendors. This years festival takes place from April 16-19. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Since November 2025, Chevron Out has been pressuring French Quarter Festival to cut ties with Chevron. Advertisement Advertisement Matt Banks, a Chevron Out organizer, said the company doesnt represent the values that French Quarter Festival claims to represent. For a long period of time, before Chevron was brought on as a sponsor, French Quarter Fest existed and had this stated ethos of being a festival for the people. Chevron as a company essentially flies in the face of that ethos, both stated and implied, Banks said. This year, French Quarter Fest removed Chevron as its title sponsor for this years event, while keeping the company as a sponsor in a lesser capacity. Festival organizers confirmed this years sponsorship change in an emailed statement to Verite News. This transition was not the result of any external influence. We are deeply grateful for Chevrons longstanding partnership and continued commitment to our mission, said Emily Madero, president and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. Advertisement Advertisement Chevron is listed as a Star Sponsor on the festivals website, along with seven other local and national businesses. This year the festival will have a Chevron Evening Concert Series and the company will benefit from standard sponsorship benefits, such as brand visibility. French Quarter Festival organizers did not provide comment on inquiries about Chevron being removed as a sponsor in 2027, and instead deferred to Chevron on the matter. A spokesperson for Chevron confirmed that the company is ending its partnership with the festival after this year. Chevron will support French Quarter Festival in 2026, though not as title sponsor. After more than a decade of working together, we have also made the decision to conclude our partnership after this years event. We thank the French Quarter Festival team for their great collaboration over the years and look forward to seeing everyone at the festivals Chevron Evening Concert series in April. Chevron Outs opposition to Chevron centers on the companys business with Israel. The group criticized Chevron for supplying natural gas to Israel, which the coalition says is enabling Israeli military operations in Gaza against Palestinian people. Advertisement Advertisement They also criticize Chevron for being found guilty of violating environmental regulations in Plaquemines Parish, which resulted in damage to coastal wetlands. Chevron is appealing the ruling. This company gets to wash its image using the culture and festival that is put on by the city just by throwing a few dollars at it, Banks said. Banks called it a tried and true tactic by companies like Chevron to sponsor events related to music and culture. It creates this sort of frictionless environment for Chevron to insert themselves into the awareness and cultural cache surrounding the event. Not just specifically at it, but in the minds of the participants and the attendants, Banks said. Advertisement Advertisement According to French Quarter Festival Inc.s 2023 tax filing, which is the most recent one available, the organization received more than $2 million from sponsorships. It earned more than $5 million in total revenue and had just under $5 million in expenses. This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. This story has been updated to include a statement from the White House as well as remarks from President Donald Trump from his State of the Union address. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock says President Trump has created "the pretext to interfere" in the midterm elections this year following the FBI raid of an elections facility in Fulton County. On Jan. 28, federal investigators swarmed the Fulton County Election Hub in Union City, just south of Atlanta, to retrieve materials related to the 2020 election. Trump has long contested the results of the election in Georgia, and it was once part of a sweeping indictment against the president and others that was ultimately dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Confusion was swirling inside the center as investigators arrived with an incorrect warrant before more than 600 boxes of ballots, ballot images and voter rolls were taken from county officials. In the month since, the president has doubled down on his accusations of election impropriety in Georgia, receiving support from some Republican candidates running in the midterms, as well as outrage from Fulton County officials and other Democratic leaders in the state. Now, during a spotlight hearing with Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory, Warnock said the raid was part of an effort to "rig the rules ahead of the 2026 midterm elections" and set the stage to interfere again. President Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of elections, and that includes totally accurate and up-to-date voter rolls free of errors and unlawfully registered non-citizen voters," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has supported the SAVE Act in Congress which would "establish a uniform standard of photo ID for voting" and "prohibit no-excuse mail-in voting," Jackson said. During Trump's State of the Union address, the president said cheating was "rampant" and reaffirmed his position on voter ID going into the midterms. "It's very simple, all voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote. And no more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military or travel, none. And this should be an easy one," Trump said. "And the reason they don't want to do it, why would anybody not want voter ID? One reason, because they (Democrats) want to cheat. There's only one reason." Commissioner was 'worried about the workers' During the hearing, Warnock, a Democrat, asked Ivory to recount her experience with the FBI raid. Advertisement Advertisement Ivory said she went straight to the elections hub when she got a text about the raid, saying she was "worried about the workers." "As soon as I got there, I was led inside and there were approximately anywhere from 40 to 50 FBI agents. They were standing around, sort of everybody was waiting," Ivory said. "The first warrant that they served was procedurally incorrect, so they had to go back and correct it, because it was served to our Director of Registration of Elections, and she is not in the chain of custody of the ballots. It is our Clerk of Superior Court. So, it took a few hours after that for that warrant to be corrected, and then they came back and they began the raid." Ivory went on to say that there was very little communication between the agents and election hub officials before they started grabbing materials. She also said they were not told where the ballots were being taken or what was being done with them. She also said there were no measures in place to ensure there was no tampering with the confiscated ballots. "The materials included were the actual ballots, recap sheets, results, tapes and absentee ballot envelopes that contained personally identifiable information," Ivory said. Advertisement Advertisement When Warnock asked Ivory if she was "concerned about what the administration will do with such sensitive data from Fulton County voters," she answered a clear "yes." "I mean, what we're seeing is a preview of what could happen nationally, which is attempted takeovers from multiple angles," Ivory testified. "I worry about the election workers, who are everyday people coming to work to support their families and feel intimidated just going to work every day." Voter rolls in exchange for ICE withdrawal During the hearing, Warnock referenced a letter he co-authored to Pam Bondi that demanded evidence and explanation for the raid. "So far, I have not heard back from her. She has not offered one, but we'll keep demanding answers, because if we don't stand up now, they won't stop with Fulton County," Warnock said. Advertisement Advertisement The senator went on to say voter rolls were used as a bargaining chip for ICE withdrawals in Minneapolis. "They literally said, 'You want ICE out of your community? Hand over your voter rolls.' If you want to end the occupation in your city and I call it that because there are 600 police officers, over 3000 federal agents. This is their project. They are literally trying to cast doubt on the 2026 elections," Warnock said. Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Todays Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Warnock says Trump will interfere with elections in hearing California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned in a new interview that Vice President JD Vance may be even more "dangerous" as a political operator than President Donald Trump. In the interview, recorded previously, MS NOW host Jen Psaki noted multiple candidates waiting on the sidelines to take up the mantle of GOP leadership, asking, "JD Vance is one of them. Marco Rubio is one of them. Do you think they can carry on the MAGA flame here?" "No. But Vance, for whatever reason, scares me," Newsom said. "Almost more than Trump. I dont know. Talk about a guy who put a mask on and his face grew into it." Advertisement Advertisement Newsom argued that Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio went from being some of Trumps most effective critics to being his closest allies. Vance Says America 'Cannot Give Power Back To Congressional Democrats' Following Their Behavior At Sotu California Gov. Gavin Newsom hammered multiple Trump allies, noting they were some of his fiercest critics in the past. "What frauds. What phonies," he said. "But JD is a unique fraud and phony, and hes a little more dangerous." Read On The Fox News App Newsom went on to argue that not just Vance, but his backers and allies have a sinister aura. "And the folks around him, these are not folks that believe. I mean, listen to some of the biggest funders, the way they talk. Theres a nihilism to the way they talk about the world," he said. "I know these guys. I literally know them, not figuratively know them." Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, he said that Trump would be slow to give up power, choosing until the last minute to appoint a successor rather than allow his allies to campaign for power in their own right. Trump Hails Vance And Rubio As Extraordinary Duo: Hammer And Velvet Glov E California Gov. Gavin Newsom voiced concern that Vice President JD Vance may be even more dangerous than President Trump in some ways. "So, again, I dont want to be overly hyperbolic about this, but, you know, its but that said, its going to be hard for Trump. Trumps still you know, you think this guy is going to sit there in the Oval Office waiting for you to ask him a question and say, Well, sir, Jens not here, shes in Iowa with the debate with Vance? Theres no damn way on Earth," Newsom argued. "So hes going to try to run this out until right after the end, until he can pick and choose who goes behind him." Fox News Digital reached out to Rubio and Vance but did not immediately receive a reply. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Vice President JD Vance is believed by many to be the default successor to President Donald Trump. Original article source: Gavin Newsom says he fears JD Vance may be a little more dangerous than Trump Protesters in red overalls targeted Pearson Engineering in February 2025 [CPS] A protester who attacked a factory over its alleged links to Israel's military action in Gaza felt her actions were "lawful" to stop war crimes, a court has heard. Two women scaled a roof at Pearson Engineering in Newcastle and staged an eight-hour stand off in February 2025, while a third tried to chain themselves to a truck, the city's crown court was told. Hollie Mildenhall, 25, and Georgia Coote, 28, both from Newcastle, and Summer Oxlade, 29, from Houghton-le-Spring, each deny criminal damage. Advertisement Advertisement Coote told jurors the "horrors upon horrors" she was seeing in Palestine were on-going and she thought disrupting the factory's production would hinder the "genocide" and save lives. The court has heard Pearson Engineering is owned by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, an Israeli-state owned weapons company, although a company representative previously told jurors none of its creations had been supplied to Israel. At about 05:20 GMT on 18 February 2025, Mildenhall and Coote climbed on to the roof of the factory's gatehouse while Oxlade dumped rubble from a flatbed truck in the entrance before trying to chain herself to the vehicle, the court has heard. The women on the roof sprayed red paint from fire extinguishers, cut through razor wire and smashed two illuminated panels of the firm's large sign, the court heard. Advertisement Advertisement Two men dressed all in black also sprayed red paint at the building before fleeing, jurors have been told. The protesters dumped rubble and sprayed red paint over the guardhouse and sign at Pearson Engineering, which is owned by an Israeli company [CPS] Under questioning by her barrister Rosalind Burgin, Coote said she saw "just horrors upon horrors" emerging "daily" from Palestine, with the "onslaught" and "carpet-bombing" by Israel "still happening now". She said it was a "genocide", which was an attempt to erase a whole group of people and the "destruction of culture". Coote said she did not think the situation in Gaza could "possibly get worse", but each day she would see more reports of "families being obliterated" and aid workers and children being killed. Advertisement Advertisement She said it was not just supplying weapons that was the issue as other machines, such as bulldozers, were also being used to attack Palestinians, with Pearson Engineering the "only manufacturing site" in the UK for Rafael. "I still believe things being built in that factory are making their way to Israel," Coote told the court, adding defence companies had "high complicity in genocide" which was "illegal". "It's aiding and abetting a genocide," Coote said, adding the parts were being "used to kill civilians and children". Hollie Mildenhall and Georgia Coote got on to the roof of the security building... [CPS] ...while Summer Oxlade dumped rubble outside the entrance [CPS] Coote said the "bare minimum" of their aims was to disrupt work at the factory, which she thought would delay "weapons" getting to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement "If one person is distracted from killing civilians in Palestine then that could be one less life lost," Cotte said. She sprayed red paint over the factory's sign and used a crowbar to smash some illuminated panels, the court heard. When asked by Burgin why she did that, Coote said: "The more damage is done, the more delays there are to the factory reopening." She said even if production was not stopped for long, staff would have to assess and repair the damage which would mean "less manpower" for the factory's "daily activities". Coote said she felt "quite pleased" that they stopped a day's worth of work. Advertisement Advertisement Burgin asked if Coote accepted causing intentional damage to the factory. "Yes," Coote said. "But I believe I had lawful reasoning to do so." When asked how she felt about her actions today, Coote replied: "I'm scared of the consequences but I'm still glad I did it." Fire extinguishers were used to spray red paint [CPS] The court heard she grew up in Norfolk and got a degree in civil engineering from Northumbria University before working as a bridge engineer in Bristol. But she left the job after learning the global company she worked for was on a UN watch-list for "connecting illegal settlements in the West Bank to Jerusalem", which was "considered a war crime". Advertisement Advertisement She joined a pro-Palestine group when she returned to Newcastle in 2024 to embark on a PhD, attending marches and rallies in the city centre and outside Pearson Engineering, the court heard. Coote said she wrote letters to MPs but got replies that it was not the politicians' remit, while questions she submitted to be asked at Newcastle City Council were rejected. She said she initially thought protests and blockades at the factory were "finally doing something to stop weapons being built for Israel", but as time went on it felt "performative" and more direct action was needed. The protesters had Palestine flags during their roof-top occupation [CPS] In cross-examination, prosecutor Michael Bunch said the women's eight-hour occupation of the gatehouse roof would have sufficed to cause disruption, the damage they caused was for "performance purposes only". Advertisement Advertisement Coote disagreed and said the examination of the damage and clean up would have caused further delays to the factory's reopening. "I believe there's lawful excuse for why we did what we did that day," Coote told jurors. The court heard the women on the roof also displayed banners, one saying "direct action gets the goods" and the other "this factory kills children", as well as having books, clothes and Palestine flags. Coote said there were two aims, firstly to "cause as much damage as you can" to disrupt the factory and secondly to make people aware of why they were doing it, adding: "The symbolism is important to make people understand." The women targeted Pearson Engineering at the Armstrong Works on Newcastle's Scotswood Road [CPS] Mildenhall told the court the news reports she saw from Gaza were "horrific", with Israel "indiscriminately bombing" civilians, including children, "every single day". Advertisement Advertisement Under questioning from her barrister Ife Thompson, Mildenhall said she attended protests but they were ineffective at getting UK politicians to "sanction" Israel over its "war crimes". She said Rafael advertised their products as "made in the UK" with Pearson Engineering the company's only manufacturing site in the country. Mildenhall said she had "tried everything non-arrestable" to get the factory to stop production to no avail, so decided to take "direct action". She said every hour the factory was closed was an hour that "weapons" were not being made to "murder families in Gaza". Advertisement Advertisement The court heard she had lived on the Isle of Wight until 2019, when she moved to Newcastle to study at Northumbria University, completing degrees in criminology and international relations. The trial continues. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links ATLANTA (AP) Georgia's child welfare system spiraled into crisis as the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services faced a whopping $85.7 million projected shortfall. With Candice Broce, commissioner of the Department of Human Services and director of the child welfare agency it oversees, taking a number of cost-saving measures in November, it's meant fewer visits between children and parents needed for family reunification, less time for aides to spend helping foster parents care for children with complex needs and juvenile court dates needing to be postponed when children have no transportation to get there. Im just stuck. Im stressed out. Emotionally, Im exhausted, said Pamela Bruce, who said her foster son cant grow in survival mode and is also terrified shell surrender him back to the state as services dwindle. Advertisement Advertisement Georgia lawmakers voted to backfill the budget gap, but families have already lost months of services and delays may last. Some lawmakers see the influx of cash as a Band-Aid and want an audit to determine why the system blew up. Although experts say the projected deficit was an outlier in size, Georgia's child welfare agency is not the only one struggling. One of the issues stressing Georgias system an unpredictable influx of children with acute behavioral challenges is a problem nationwide. Broce has been applauded for reducing the number of complex needs kids living in hotels, a troublesome practice many states use as a remedy. Finding places and people to care for children with such high needs is expensive. To try to manage the deficit, which observers say could have resulted from a plethora of causes, Broce, a longtime ally of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, has terminated contracts with service providers she said werent performing well and in November required contracted services to first get state approval. Providers, families, lawyers, lawmakers, placement agencies and others across the state say few service referrals are being made and describe a system that slowed drastically. Every day that a family or kid is not receiving the kinds of support that they need, the situation only compounds, said Ann Flagg, former director of the Office of Family Assistance for the Administration for Children and Families. Advertisement Advertisement Broce said in a statement to The Associated Press that requests for services are approved within hours unless we ask for more information. Contracted services include providers that offer transportation, counseling, assessments, behavior aides and more. The child welfare agency is a critical lifeline for children in crisis. Its part of larger state Department of Human services, which is budgeted to spend $1.06 billion in state money this year. Its tasked with finding ways to protect children, heal their families if possible and then find ways to reunify them. The state's Division of Family and Children Services employs about 7,500 staff. At a legislative hearing, she said the agency doesnt have enough resources to deal with the magnitude of behavior and mental health services needed for the kids that enter their care. To tighten the budget, she said she tried to only limit services that are duplicative, unnecessary or could be paid for by the state-federal Medicaid health insurance program. I am being forced to make decisions that nobody wants to make, Broce told lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Even after those cost-cutting moves, the projected deficit remained at just below $49 million. Services have slowed How in the world are we supposed to reunify the families if we dont have services in place? family attorney Jessica Hall said. Broce said in her statement that its possible requests are not being escalated to the State Office for review. Bruces foster son wrote to his case worker that he developed a brotherly relationship with his behavior aide, something the teenager never had before as he bounced around homes. That relationship ended after the behavior aide's services were no longer funded this past fall. Advertisement Advertisement Missing in-person school with his friends when he had no transportation put a toll on my mind, the son wrote. He also noticed the toll on Bruce she struggles to pay bills now that she covers Ubers for him to see family and stays home to care for him. Shes set on keeping him out of a group home. Broce said the agency tapers services such as behavior aides for potentially self-sufficient teenagers with judicial involvement. She also said she is trying to avoid cookie cutter case plans that arent tailored to individual family needs. Brittney Kleuger, CEO of Family Menders, which offers services such as transportation, counseling and behavior aides in northwest Georgia, said at a recent hearing that her agency received 80 to 100 referrals each week before the November process change. Now, they receive fewer than 10 each week. On a phone call with DFCS, providers questioned Broces claims that services are being approved quickly and asked whether DFCS will still contract with them. Kristen Toliver, the agency's director of delivered services, said the approval process will look different going forward but was loosened for some services. A web of causes The division has lost more than 800 beds to place children since 2019, and there is a dearth of available spots at psychiatric facilities, Broce has said. Transportation and behavior aides are expensive, she said. Broce has said shes also working to reduce how often the division pays for services Medicaid should cover. Advertisement Advertisement Broce has had longstanding conflict with judges, who she says often ask for unnecessary services or removals that drive up costs. Judge Nhan-Ai Simms, who testified to lawmakers in 2023 that Broce asked judges to violate state law by keeping some children with mental and behavioral problems inappropriately locked in juvenile detention centers, disagrees. The idea that courts are ordering above and beyond what DFCS has recommended, I think those cases are very few and far between, Simms said. Changes to federal law made it harder for Georgia and other states to use federal child welfare funds. The budget instability that we see here to me is just signaling this insufficient long-term fiscal strategy, said Melissa Carter, executive director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University, adding that the state should invest more in keeping families together to draw federal funds. Advertisement Advertisement Several lawmakers arent satisfied with Broces explanations. Ive been in the budget world a long time, and Ive never seen a deficit like this, said state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, a Democrat. I dont think we can blame the providers for that. I think thats a management issue." Juanita Stedman, former juvenile court judge and executive director of Together Georgia, disputes the idea that the shortfall is Broce's fault. Historically, we have not paid for the complexity of the kids, she said. Whatever the causes are, Bruce worries the deficit could explode again. She said she's never felt so unsupported by DFCS in her two and a half years fostering kids, but what really broke her heart was seeing her foster son miss seeing his family more often. Advertisement Advertisement My visits are very important to me because I really love my family, he wrote. - A previous version of this story said Ann Flagg worked for the National Association of Counties. The story has been updated to say that she is the former director of the Office of Family Assistance for the Administration for Children and Families. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Friday he is maintaining the observation of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party by the domestic intelligence service following a court decision on the classification. The ruling stating that the intelligence service may not classify the AfD as a "confirmed" right-wing extremist party clearly states that there are tendencies within the party directed against the free democratic basic order, though this is not characteristic of the party as a whole, the conservative politician said on the television channel Die Welt. "Therefore, it remains the case that the AfD is a case for observation," Dobrindt said. Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the question of what specific intelligence measures exist against the AfD, Dobrindt said he could not make any statements on this, as intelligence measures are, of course, secret. The deputy parliamentary group leader for the AfD, Markus Frohnmaier, had earlier called on the Interior Ministry on the same channel to "immediately cease all measures against the AfD." He said that the court's decision makes it clear that his party has been unjustly persecuted: "I believe this ruling shows that we have really been exonerated here." The Administrative Court of Cologne decided on Thursday that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as the domestic intelligence agency is officially known, may not classify and label the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist for the time being. According to the court, there is sufficient certainty that tendencies directed against the free democratic basic order are being developed within the AfD, but it is not characterized in such a way that a constitutional hostility can be established in the party's overall image, the court said. BERLIN Germany and Austria have agreed on a mutual aerial security treaty, completing a triangle of similar pacts among the three German-speaking nations bordering the Alps. Under a new law, both countries will be allowed to pursue non-military airspace violations or unknown threats across their shared border without requiring prior approval from the other capital. This includes all manned or unmanned aircraft suspected of acting illegally and of having breached either Austrian or German airspace without prior authorization. Additionally, Berlin and Vienna agreed to share day-to-day air surveillance reports. Advertisement Advertisement The Bundestag, Germanys lower chamber of parliament, ratified the treaty in Berlin late on Feb. 26. Negotiations for it had started in 2018, but its implementation was stalled by the Covid pandemic, shifting priorities and changes of power. Austrias equivalent to the Bundestag, the Nationalrat, had already ratified the treaty text in 2024 after German and Austrian officials had signed it in the border town of Berchtesgaden two years earlier. Per the treaty text, the use of weapons and most forms of threat and coercion are explicitly prohibited in the partner countrys airspace. The language mirrors existing treaties between Germany and Switzerland from 2007, as well as between Austria and Switzerland, agreed in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement The German-Austrian agreement completes the so-called Alpine triangle and addresses the risk of unidentified aircraft being unaccompanied when overflying complicated border regions between the three countries. The Alpine republics to Germanys south have longstanding traditions of military neutrality, which limit their ability to enter into military treaties. This likely played a role in the treaty texts singling out non-military threats. Unlike Germany, neither Austria nor Switzerland are NATO members. However, both of Germanys southern neighbors joined the Berlin-led European Sky Shield air defense initiative, formally announcing their intent to do so at a joint ceremony in 2023. The air security treaty between Berlin and Austria will enter into force three months after mutual notification of ratification, likely in May or June. Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The global cocaine market is the fastest-growing segment of the illicit drug trade, driven by rising production in South America and increasing demand in Africa and Asia, according to a United Nations report released this week. Ecuador, meanwhile, has become one of the countries most affected by violence and the expansion of drug trafficking routes, the report said. The findings appear in the 2025 report of the International Narcotics Control Board, the U.N. body responsible for monitoring compliance with international drug control treaties. It was published Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Global cocaine production exceeded 3,700 metric tons in 2023, a 34% increase compared with 2022, according to the control board. The expansion is largely attributed to Colombia, where both the area under illicit coca cultivation and the production capacity of clandestine laboratories increased. "The global cocaine market continues to expand and diversify," the board said, warning that trafficking routes now reach "all regions of the world." While Western and Central Europe and North America remain the main destination markets, the report highlights rising consumption and seizures in Africa and parts of Asia. Advertisement Advertisement In Africa, seizures rose 48% in 2023 compared with the previous year, which the report said reflects an expanding market rather than merely a transit region. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of cocaine users worldwide increased from 17 million to 25 million, according to U.N. data. Against this backdrop, Ecuador has emerged as a critical hub. "In South America, the impact of increased cocaine trafficking has been felt particularly in Ecuador, which in recent years has experienced a wave of lethal violence caused by both local and transnational criminal groups," the control board said. Ecuadorian authorities seized more than 290 metric tons of cocaine in 2024, an unprecedented figure and approximately 30% higher than in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement The surge in trafficking has coincided with a deterioration in security. The country recorded 6,964 violent deaths in 2024, with a homicide rate of 38.76 per 100,000 inhabitants, meaning the rate has quintupled over five years. The report notes that Ecuador has become a major maritime export hub for cocaine shipments bound for the European Union. In March 2025, Ecuadorian and European authorities dismantled an intercontinental criminal network that shipped tons of cocaine in maritime containers from South America to Europe. In that operation, 73 metric tons of cocaine were seized in Ecuador and several European Union countries. Authorities arrested 14 people in Germany and Spain and 36 in the port city of Guayaquil, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement The control board also warned that traffickers are using increasingly sophisticated concealment methods to evade controls, including chemically altering cocaine to hinder detection during routine inspections, embedding the drug in plastics and textiles and using double-bottom compartments in legitimate goods. Offshore deliveries coordinated through geolocation systems have also been seen. As an example, the report cited the 2024 seizure of 13 metric tons of cocaine at the port of Algeciras in Spain, hidden in a shipment of bananas from Ecuador and described as the largest cocaine seizure in the country's history. The report further warns that sustained increases in production and the diversification of routes reflect a structural transformation of the global cocaine market, with criminal networks operating in an increasingly transnational manner and with greater logistical capacity. The board stressed that the phenomenon is no longer limited to traditional production or consumption regions but now involves multiple continents at different stages of the drug trafficking chain. PARIS Europe will likely need until the early 2030s to develop some of the critical defense enablers needed to deter or defeat Russia without the United States, according to security researchers and experts surveyed by Defense News. Establishing robust air and missile defenses, a priority for both NATO and the European Union, may still take five to 10 years, according to the analysts. Europe is better positioned in areas such as strategic airlift and aerial refueling, where it has sufficient capability to stand alone or can close the gap within a few years, based on the assessments. The U.S., through NATO, provides high-end capabilities critical for effective combat operations, such as command and control (C2), satellite intelligence and deep strike, which European allies either lack or field only in a limited capacity. With American security guarantees seen uncertain amid deteriorating trans-Atlantic ties, Europe faces a multiyear effort to address its dependencies. Advertisement Advertisement There are areas in which the Europeans have zero meaningful capability, there are a few areas in which the Europeans own an arguably adequate capability today but for which the issue is one of replacement, and there some areas in which scale, not quality, is the issue, said Francois Heisbourg, special adviser at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research. Beyond transport and tanker aircraft, the areas where Europe is closest to having sufficient capability are military satellite communications, battlefield C2, unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and long-range strike, based on the assessment of 16 experts from European think tanks and institutions. Those capabilities can be in place within five years, a majority said. NATO's A330 Airbus Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) team performs during the 45th International Sanicole Airshow organized by Aeroclub Sanicole in Hechtel, Belgium, near the Dutch border, on Sept. 14, 2025. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images) With Western military leaders worrying Russia could seek to test NATO resolve in Europe within a matter of years, several analysts highlighted having long-range or deep strike as key to deterrence. After the end of the war in Ukraine, Russia could in a worst case need less than a year to build up enough capabilities for a military operation with limited geographical objectives, Dutch intelligence services said this month. That would probably not be aimed at militarily defeating NATO, but at dividing the alliance and forcing concessions with regard to the European security architecture. Advertisement Advertisement Russia is likely preparing for further conflict even as it continues to fight in Ukraine, Estonias Foreign Intelligence Service wrote this month, though it assessed that Russia has no intention to attack a NATO member state in the coming year. We need to invest, obviously, in our air defense capabilities and all that, but the notion that you can deter a country like Russia with only defensive capabilities strikes me as a bit naive, said Guntram Wolff, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank. So you really have to have offensive capabilities and that means, at the end of the day, deep strike capabilities. Its a view shared by countries including Denmark and Norway, with the former saying in September it needs long-range strike to bolster its deterrence posture, and the latter in January announcing the purchase of Hanwhas Chunmoo rocket artillery system, including munitions with a range of up to 500 kilometers. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom said in February some projects within their joint European Long-range Strike Approach, or ELSA, are at a high level of maturity, including an air-launched long-range strike capability. The U.K. and Germany announced in May last year they would work on a new long-range strike capability with a range of over 2,000 km. Visitors gather at the stand of MBDA during the Paris Air Show in Paris on June 16, 2025. (Stephane Mouchmouche/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) Europe doesnt have a lot of systems that can shoot beyond 500 kilometers, said Chris Kremidas-Courtney, a senior visiting fellow at the Brussels-based European Policy Center and NATO advisor. Central Moscow is around 585 kilometers from the eastern-most point of Latvia. Advertisement Advertisement If we cant reach out and touch Moscow, then theres not a lot to give Mr. Putin and his friends a lot of pause, said Kremidas-Courtney, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a multi-polar world, if you cant touch the other poles, youre not really a pole. The sooner we have our own deep strike capability, the better. Europe needs its own intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and has the know-how to produce them through French rocket maker ArianeGroup, according to Kremidas-Courtney. Theres not a lot of people making this stuff, at least no one that is friendly to us, the researcher said. Im pretty sure we could figure this out. Its just a gigantic price tag. The surveyed analysts were relatively optimistic about Europes long-range strike timeline, with six considering it will take less than two years to have adequate capability, while another six assess it will take between two and five years. Space-based ISR and integrated air and missile defense are the areas of greatest pessimism, with half of the survey respondents considering Europe will need more than five years to get those enablers in place at a sufficient level. Advertisement Advertisement European air-defense readiness depends on what were taking about, said Heloise Fayet, research fellow at the French Institute of International Relations and head of its deterrence and proliferation program. Full strategic integrated air and missile defense for the whole European territory would be totally impossible to put in place, she said. Whats unclear is whether the U.S. recalibrating its presence in Europe would mean withdrawing Aegis Ashore air-defense sites and other systems, according to Fayet. She noted recent progress on the French-Italian SAMP/T system, and said Europe could get more Patriot systems, at the cost of reinforcing dependency on the United States. Visitors leave the deck house of the Aegis Ashore Poland missile defense system on the occasion of an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Naval Support Facility in Redzikowo, Poland, in November 2024. (Mateusz Slodkowski/AFP via Getty Images) Europe will be able to field sufficient air-defense capability within two years to defeat threats such as cruise missiles and Russias hypersonic Kinzhal missile, but western systems for now are unable to stop ballistic missiles such as the Oreshnik, said Frederic Mauro, an associate research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs. European countries have started to address some of the air-defense gaps, ordering $18 billion worth of short- and very-short-range air defense systems since 2022, compared to $7.5 billion spent on all types of ground-based air defense in the preceding four years, the according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies published Feb. 24. Advertisement Advertisement For space-based ISR, the assessment is less stark than a year ago, when a clear majority of respondents expected sufficient capability to be more than five years away. In the latest survey, half of the analysts expect it will take less time. Im a little bit more positive than I was a year ago, said Wolff at Bruegel. People have moved, right? You see that investments in satellites are really picking up speed. The U.S. halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2025 brought home the risk to European allies of relying on American space data, prompting a flurry of investment in proprietary capabilities. Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany and France all announced plans to acquire satellite-based intelligence in the past year, much of it focused on space-based radar. Getting systems into orbit isnt enough, with Europe short of trained personnel with expertise in exploiting signals intelligence, according to Kremidas-Courtney. Advertisement Advertisement We have to train people in analysis and exploitation of this stuff to convert intelligence into targeting data, something you can make decisions with, Kremidas-Courtney said. Were still failing to recruit enough of the people we need to be trained to run all these things. Europe also needs to start coordinating in space-based intelligence if it wants to stop relying on the U.S., according to the EPC researcher. With space-based ISR among the most sovereign capabilities of member states, that will remain fragmented, but it doesnt mean we have to be blind. Several analysts noted battlefield command and control as another priority. The terms refers to the processes through which commanders coordinate and monitor resources and actions on the battlefield, with modern C2 systems relying on advanced technology to tie it all together. The European need to build up battlefield command and control depends on whether NATO operational structures stay once the U.S. is gone, or not willing to intervene, said Fayet at IFRI. France has some C2 capabilities when operating in small coalitions, but it might be difficult on a bigger scale. Advertisement Advertisement Without American command and control, Europe would struggle with things such as coordinated fires and distributed fires through distributed operations, according to Kremidas-Courtney. Between the French and the German systems, I think we could cobble together a system to conduct land warfare, defend European territory, Kremidas-Courtney said. We would eventually get it right, but from the beginning, it would be a struggle. The jury is out on airborne C2 and early warning, with some analysts estimating that NATOs existing pool of airborne warning and control systems, combined with deliveries of Saabs GlobalEye, means capacity is sufficient or can be built up rapidly. Others see that taking more than five years. Opinions also diverged on suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses, or SEAD/DEAD, with three analysts considering Europe may need more than 10 years to put that in place, and others saying it will take less than two years. Advertisement Advertisement After speaking with air force officers from several European countries, it appears that this is a domain Europeans have quite simply abandoned and must now rebuild from scratch, something that is particularly critical and concerning in the current context, said Alain de Neve, a researcher at Belgiums Royal Higher Institute for Defence. Missile early warning is another critical capability Europe lacks, according to Heisbourg at the FRS, who considers that will take two to five years to put in place. France and Germany are working on a project called Joint Early Warning for a European Lookout project, combining satellites to detect missile launches with ground-based radars to track ballistic and cruise missiles. The project is pitched as a European capability to complement U.S. assets, with an initial operating capability by the early 2030s. Some analysts leaned more optimistic about Europes ability to provide defense critical enablers without the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Im generally unsympathetic to scare stories about the scale or imminence of the Russian threat, said Nick Witney, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Ukraine has shown what you can achieve in months if you put your mind to it. That said, air and missile defense is a huge lacuna, and C2 and long-range strike need urgent attention, according to Witney, who estimates getting those to adequate levels will take less than two years. The rest is in place. We could defend or deter with what we have, if we had to. Below are the results of the survey asking how much time Europe will need to ensure an adequate capacity in ten critical defense enablers to deter or fight Russia without U.S. help. Satellite communications Provides secure voice and data links for military forces across large areas without relying on local infrastructure, connecting commanders with deployed units worldwide. The U.S. had 108 communication satellites for military use in 2025, according to IISS data. That compares with six for the U.K., five for France, three for Italy and two for both Germany and Spain. Space-based ISR Uses satellites to collect intelligence, conduct surveillance and perform reconnaissance, delivering critical information about enemy forces, terrain and activity to support military decision-making and operations. Europe had deployed 36 ISR and electronic/signals intelligence satellites as of 2025, compared with 14 in 2015, according to IISS data. Battlefield C2 The system and processes military commanders use to direct and coordinate forces during operations, enabling timely and synchronized execution of missions. Progress in battlefield C2 will depend on the speed and scope of U.S. withdrawal from Europe and how much it pushes Europeans to step up. Giuseppe Spatafora, research analyst at the EU Institute for Security Studies We need people, not only commanders, but staffs who are trained and exercise in high-intensity combat. If you want to defend Europe, we need to conduct multi-corps operations on the ground with air and maritime support and space. Kremidas-Courtney, EPC Airborne C2 Uses aircraft equipped with sensors and communication systems for a comprehensive view of a battle space, tracking aircraft, ships and other assets to enhance situational awareness and operational control. NATO operates a fleet of 14 E-3As from Geilenkirchen in Germany that represents Europes primary AWACS capacity. Sweden and France have ordered Saabs GlobalEye, with NATO, Germany and Denmark also interested in buying the aircraft. Aerial reconnaissance/unmanned ISR The use of manned and unmanned aircraft to gather visual, electronic or signals intelligence about enemy forces, terrain, and areas of interest. We have signals intelligent aircraft, we have balloons. So the things that are in the atmosphere, we could do a lot in the next two to three years. Kremidas-Courtney, EPC Integrated Air & Missile Defense The integrated network of sensors, interceptors, and command systems used to detect, track, and defeat air and missile threats against forces and populations. We dont have enough of it. We can protect some key places, but protecting Rotterdam and Rome and population centers, I think we would have a big problem with that. Kremidas-Courtney, EPC A lot of our effort has been at the lower altitudes, stopping swarms of drones and things like this. Were catching up there, we have some really good directed energy systems coming online. The reason I like directed energy and cheap missiles is because it returns the cost symmetry. Kremidas-Courtney, EPC SEAD/DEAD Operations to suppress or destroy enemy air-defense systems to create a safer operating environment for friendly aircraft and open the way for long-range munitions. MBDA is developing the high-supersonic maneuverable Status RS missile, whose roles will include taking on enemy air defenses, though that capability may not arrive until 2033. Long-range strike The use of stand-off, precision weapon systems to strike strategic or operational targets at extended range, for example to destroy critical infrastructure or high-value targets. The ELSA group of nations is working on areas including an air-launched long-range capability, a European multi-missile launcher and low-cost 500 km-plus capabilities based on one-way-attack effectors. MBDA last year presented a one-way effector dubbed Crossbow, with a range of more than 800 kilometers. Capabilities in the 500-1,000 kilometer range could be available within two years, but not on the scale that would be really useful to achieve an operational effect against Russia. Fayet at IFRI Some European countries already possess the necessary expertise and know-how, the question essentially comes down to determining how much time would be required to ensure a more substantial production. de Neve, Royal Higher Institute for Defence Aerial refueling Using tanker aircraft to provide fighter jets and other aircraft with fuel in flight, extending their range and loiter time, and allowing for long-duration missions such as keeping a persistent presence over an area. European countries operate 38 Airbus A330 Multi Role Transport Tankers, four more than a year ago, with another six on order, according to Airbus numbers at the end of December. The MRTT is a great tanker aircraft, just need to get more. Fayet, IFRI Airbus tankers are a lot better than the U.S.s, but need to scale up numbers in a busy industry. Heisbourg, FRS Strategic airlift Using transport aircraft for rapid and large-scale movement of personnel, equipment and supplies over long distances, supporting operations far from home bases. Europe operated 131 Airbus A400M heavy transport aircraft at the end of 2025, with 39 more ordered, according to Airbus. We have the capabilities, just need to get the mass. Fayet at IFRI BOSTON (WWLP) Maura Healey announced a new statewide partnership with Google on Tuesday that will provide Massachusetts residents free access to artificial intelligence training and career certificate programs aimed at boosting workforce skills. Burger King testing AI headsets to track if employees say please or thank you The initiative, offered through the companys Grow with Google platform, includes the new Google AI Professional Certificate as well as career certificate programs in fields such as IT support, cybersecurity, project management and digital marketing. Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the effort is designed to help residents and small businesses build skills needed to compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy. The training will be led by the Massachusetts AI Hub, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. This partnership creates an opportunity for us to support our workers, students and small business owners across Massachusetts, making sure they have the tools they need to compete and succeed in this rapidly evolving economy, Healey said. Under the management of the MA AI Hub and with the partnership of Google, this resource will strengthen our workforce, our companies and ensure that Massachusetts remains the global leader in AI-led innovation and breakthroughs. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said the program will help prepare workers for current job demands. This initiative gives Massachusetts residents the tools they need to harness AI, unlock new ideas and gain skills to strengthen the workforce regardless of age or income, she said. The MA AI Hub ensures we are preparing a talent pipeline to meet the skills required for the current digital economy. Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts is a global leader in technology and learning, and Google is proud to have been part of its community for over twenty years, said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google. By partnering with Governor Healey and the Massachusetts AI Hub to provide training like the Google AI Professional Certificate at no cost, were ensuring that every student, employee, and small business owner across the Commonwealth can thrive in the AI economy. State officials said more than one million people worldwide have completed Googles career certificate programs since 2017, with over 70% reporting a positive career outcome within six months. In Massachusetts alone, more than 250,000 residents have received digital skills training through collaborations with more than 150 local organizations. This initiative reflects Massachusetts strong commitment to investing in people and expanding access to the skills that power innovation, said Eric Paley, the states economic development secretary. By offering free AI training statewide, were helping residents across the Commonwealth participate in the next generation of breakthroughs, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones said the administration plans to expand access through partnerships with workforce agencies. Through this partnership, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, in collaboration with Google, will unlock resources to help jobseekers, workers, and students strengthen their skills to compete in our ever-evolving workforce, she said. Our goal is to increase access to AI-related skills training through MassHire and other collaborations as we attract, retain, and develop a more equitable, diverse, and vibrant workforce in all regions of the Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder said the effort stems from recommendations by the governors strategic AI task force. This platform advances the mission to democratize the AI skills and knowledge that are critical to our states continued success in applied AI, he said. MA AI Hub Director Sabrina Mansur said the training will help prepare workers for future demand. By equipping the workforce as a whole, we are preparing the Commonwealth to meet AI-driven demands within years not generations. 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. 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 WWLP. Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Netflix has decided to let go of its attempt to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its purchase offer. On Wednesday, Paramount raised its cash offer from $30 per share to $31 per share. On Thursday, WBD decided the offer was superior to Netflix's offer, prompting the drop out. "This transaction was always a 'nice to have' at the right price, not a 'must have' at any price," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters in a statement. With Netflix bowing out after Paramount raised its bid, Republicans in Congress canceled hearings about the streamer purchasing WBD as Democrats raised antitrust concerns about Paramount buying the legendary film studio and television company, NBC News reported. Netflix's bid was for $27.75 per share for the studios and streaming, while Paramount's bid is for the entirety of the company. Co-CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos is sworn-in during a Senate Judiciary hearing on the proposed Netflix-Warner Brothers merger on Feb. 3. Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI "We're super-disciplined buyers," The New York Times reported Sarandos said earlier this month. "I'm willing to walk away and let someone else overpay for things." Netflix and Paramount have been duking it out over WBD since October. They had a bidding war, and WBD accepted Netflix's offer on Dec. 5. Soon after, Paramount launched a hostile bid to buy WBD, but the board wasn't interested. Then, Paramount announced that billionaire Oracle creator Larry Ellison would back the deal with $40 billion in equity. On Jan. 20, Netflix changed its offer to all cash, then on Feb. 10, Paramount did the same and added some extras. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav arrives on the red carpet at the 2022 TIME100 Gala. Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Netflix granted WBD a seven-day pause on the deal to evaluate Paramount's offer, and during that time, Paramount raised the bid even more to $31 per share. If the deal doesn't pass federal regulatory scrutiny, Netflix could come back and try again. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison arrives on the red carpet for the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors in December. Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI In a statement on Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called the potential Paramount-WBD merger "an antitrust disaster threatening higher prices and fewer choices for American families." She also questioned a meeting that Sarandos had Thursday at the White House, before Netflix announced that it would not match Paramount's offer. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison stands in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in January 2025. Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance, backed by Ellison, raised its offer to $31 per share. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI Friday morning, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, canceled a March 4 hearing about antitrust and competition concerns that members of the Senate Judiciary Committee had about Netflix buying WBD. "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing," David Ellison, Paramount CEO, said in a statement Thursday. France's health ministry said Friday that administrative details and medical notes on more than 15 million people had been hacked. The announcement came only days after officials warned that the details of 1.2 million French bank accounts had been hacked using the credentials of an official. The France 2 television channel, which revealed the medical hack, said top politicians were among the millions affected and that the details were now visible online. Advertisement Advertisement It said that some of the information hacked and since seen online included details on whether a patient was homosexual or had AIDS. The health ministry said the hack, carried in late 2025, involved information from about 1,500 medical practices who had used software made by the Cegedim Sante company. The data breach primarily involved patients' names, phone numbers, and postal addresses, but for 169,000 patients there were doctors' notes "some of which may be sensitive data", the ministry said. It insisted however that no prescriptions or results of biological examinations had been involved. Advertisement Advertisement The ministry said the hack had been claimed but gave no details on the group. Cegedim Sante made a criminal complaint over the hack in October 2025. Cegedim said the breach involved about 1,500 doctors out of some 3,800 who used the software. Cegedim said it was "supporting its clients and their patients as much as possible" and would "fully cooperate with the authorities". The hack involved "15.8 million administrative files (...) among which 165,000 contain a personal annotation by the doctor relating to sensitive information", it said. Gerome Billois, a cybersecurity expert at the Wavestone consultancy, said the leak could be "the biggest in France" in the health sector and could have "irreparable consequences". Advertisement Advertisement "Once health information that says: 'You have AIDS' or 'You have such and such a disease' is released, you can never go back," Billois told AFP. The French finance ministry announced on February 18 that a hacker had gained access to a national bank database and consulted information on 1.2 million accounts. It said the hacker had used the stolen credentials of an official to access details including account numbers, name of the holder and address. bur/tw/jj A bipartisan pair of Ohio lawmakers defended their bill that would make hate crimes illegal, increasing penalties for assaulting or terrorizing someone based on their race, sex, and even political affiliation. Look, as a Black man in America, Ive been called the N-word a lot in my life more now that Im a politician thats Black as a Republican than Ive ever been in my life, state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, said. The Toledo-area lawmaker said he is taking his personal experience to try to make Ohio safer. Advertisement Advertisement He and state Rep. Dontavius Jarrells are cosponsoring Ohio House Bill 306. It would prohibit hate crimes and allow victims to take civil action against the perpetrators, potentially resulting in up to $25,000 in fines. The legislation also includes that a threat of violence could include making a false report, which could be in reference to swatting. The lawmakers say the bill makes sure to protect free speech, since someone can only be charged if a perpetrator makes a direct threat, acts in reckless disregard and has the apparent ability to carry out violence. The victim must also be afraid that they are in danger. House Bill 306 fundamentally is about closing loopholes which hateful individuals use to terrorize our communities based off their perceived identities, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Current Ohio law doesnt have a hate crime statute. The state does have ethnic intimidation, which elevates a crime like menacing from a misdemeanor to a felony if the suspect targets someone based on their race, color, religion, or national origin. H.B. 306 creates a new provision, protecting race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, familial status, military status, disability, the persons position in a labor dispute and political affiliation or position. This bill was a compromise, Jarrells said in an interview when the bill was introduced, but he believes that if someone commits a crime against a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it would fall under the sex protection. Advertisement Advertisement In his testimony, Williams acknowledged that the bill would apply to sexual orientation. Williams has another bill, H.B. 457, which would increase penalties for politically motivated crimes, including giving prosecutors the ability to seek the death penalty in homicide cases. In that legislation, the court must consider whether the suspect committed the crime based on the victims race, religion, elected or appointed position, political affiliation, political association or biological sex. Under current law, the court must also consider if it was motivated based on race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or religion. Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Eric Synenberg, D-Beachwood, questioned both bills. Why are we clearly considering every other group or identity, including our political identities now, but not gender expression, gender identity? Synenberg asked. Gender isnt applicable here, Williams responded. I dont believe someone that can change something about themselves on a whim, on a daily basis, is constitutionally protected, he said. He continued to claim, without data or evidence, that there is a large prevalence of transgender people committing violence against people because of their beliefs. He referenced the Nashville 2023 school shooter, a transgender man. Williams said he hasnt seen violence based on sexual identity. Advertisement Advertisement Synenberg mentioned that transgender people do face violence. Research from UCLA shows that transgender individuals face four times the amount of violence that cisgender people face. In a report done by the University of Pennsylvania, cisgender individuals make up 99.9% of all mass shooters. Despite Williams only wanting to protect identities that cant be changed each day, he supports political affiliations being a special class. Politics Last week, a man pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors arising from an alleged road rage incident involving U.S. Congressman Max Miller. The FBI charged a New Albany man in May for sending white powder and a bullet to Attorney General Dave Yost. Advertisement Advertisement Along with the threats to the states top cop, the suspect sent powder and violent messages to dozens of other public officials, like Sec. of State Frank LaRose and Treasurer Robert Sprague. A Dayton man was arrested in July for leaving a threatening voicemail to Congressman Jim Jordan. Over the past two years, Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Yost and several state lawmakers have been swatted, with individuals falsely reporting serious crimes occurring at their addresses. This hoax has the goal of sending a large police presence, or a SWAT team, to approach an unsuspecting victim. But when a man assassinated the Minnesota Speaker of the House and tried to kill other Democratic representatives in June, more troopers were deployed to monitor the Capitol Square area. Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, is pushing for additional protections, but is frustrated by the timing. Sometimes politicians are only empathetic or sympathetic when it affects them, right? Isaacsohn said. Weve seen it on issue after issue. State Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said he doesnt understand why motive is important in a violent crime. He gave the example of him and another colleague getting punched in the face, but the suspect only targeted him for being a Christian lawmaker and not the other representative thus, Stewarts assault would get more penalties. Why do we care? The offense is the same. Why should the penalty be any different? Stewart asked Williams. Advertisement Advertisement Williams responded that its important for everyone to have equal protection, giving the example that attorneys have privileges that the regular Ohioan doesnt. Im not gonna stand in front of my constituents as an attorney and say Im more protected when Im walking into court to defend murderers than you are walking into your church, Williams said. In the back-and-forth between the two men, Stewart said that they have been down this experiment with hate crimes legislation, and that things havent gotten better due to the laws. Doesnt that suggest that these laws do not have the deterrent effect that they are intended to have, and we have a pretty long track record to show that? Stewart asked. Advertisement Advertisement Williams said that he would push back against that and pointed out that hate crimes have long been unaddressed. There hasnt been someone on our side of the caucus that has been in that community to have violence perpetrated against them because of the color of their skin, and luckily, I actually represent that community now, Williams said, noting that some people dont like that he is a part of the GOP. I can tell you Ive seen it. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE COLUMBIA The head of the states land conservation agency will leave his role this summer, he announced Friday. Raleigh West has led the Conservation Bank, an agency of four full-time employees that coordinates land protection projects across the state, since 2019. After the fiscal year ends June 30, West plans to establish his own law firm specializing in conservation. West took over the agency, which distributes state grants to conservation projects, during a period of turmoil, as legislators threatened to repeal funding over money management questions. He was the first to head the Conservation Bank after legislators made the agency permanent, instead of allowing it to dissolve that year as the legislation that created it in 2002 required. Advertisement Advertisement During his time at the bank, West saw conservation grow on a massive scale, he told the Daily Gazette. When he started, the bank was processing about 20 grants each year. During recent years, that number has been closer to 150, he said. I think people understand that were growing at a massively fast clip, and theres general recognition from folks in the General Assembly to the average person that we have a limited time to save whats important, West said. Im glad to be part of that. Under Wests leadership, through grants and coordination, the agency has helped conserve around 135,000 acres of land about 30% of the total protected since its establishment, according to the bank. The agency aims to help protect any natural areas in the state from development or other harm, including forests, farmland, significant cultural sites and waterways. The agency has helped land major conservation projects. Among them was a $3.3 million grant to help open up public access to a portion of the largest conservation easement in state history. West also oversaw the creation of a program that bought development rights from farmers, protecting working farmlands. Advertisement Advertisement West put forth an inspiring conservation vision for our state, underpinned by solid, transparent administrative procedures, said Peter King, chairman of the 16-member board, in a statement. Raleigh is known and well-respected by landowners, land trusts, and the General Assembly for his candor, integrity, positive energy, and real estate acumen. West saw a need for attorneys to represent landowners, local governments and others in conservation deals and felt he could put his skills and his law degree to use. The banks work focuses on funding, not the easements themselves, so Wests work as an attorney wouldnt conflict with his old job. And the bank had grown enough to continue its work under another leader, he said. I think the bank is at a wonderful place, West said. Corrections and clarifications: This story was corrected to reflect the accurate party affiliation of Sen. Cyndi Carrasco. What started as a piece of legislation to modernize Marion County courts was "hijacked" in the Indiana Senate, critics say, and will now result in Gov. Mike Braun having more power to pick judges in Indianapolis while taking away voices from the community. House Bill 1033, approved 59-27 today and sent to Braun's desk for signature with no support from Democrats, will result in significant changes to Marion County's judicial selection and retention process changes that critics say will ultimately result in fewer Black judges in Marion County serving on the bench and eroding residents' trust in the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement The bill left the House with a Democratic co-sponsor in Fishers Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, a nearly unanimous approval, and was cheered by both sides of the aisle as a way to help put more tools in the toolbox for the judiciary to make the operation of the court more efficient and enhance communication between the courts and the local corrections community. "The goal really was to put some levers in place to strengthen the judiciary and provide some tools for administration of the court that can help make that court stronger," Rep. Danny Lopez, R-Carmel, said back in January. But in the Senate, drastic changes were made, including to take away the existing power of four Indianapolis organizations to appoint judges, giving two votes each instead to the governor and the Indiana Supreme Court's chief justice. The appointments from the Indianapolis and Marion County Bar associations, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and Defense Trial Counsel were removed. Advertisement Advertisement Leaving the Senate, the bill lost Democratic support and Garcia Wilburn asked to be removed as coauthor. The bill also contains changes to the judicial selection committee to determine that a judge is "suitable" to stay in office before a judge's retention appears before voters on the ballot, which is the only say Marion County voters now get in the selection of judges. Back in 2017, the state took away power from Marion County voters to be able to directly select their judges in favor of a judicial selection committee. Lawmakers have done the same in a few other areas of the state, including in Northwest Indiana. The governor's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Indianapolis Rep. Ed DeLaney said the bill was "hijacked" in the Senate and amounts to "overreach" by the governor. Sen. Cyndi Carrasco, R-Indianapolis, who proposed the change to the judicial selection process said she did so because she believes "there needs to be accountability on the people who are appointed to that judicial selection committee to folks other than the bar association because of the seriousness (of the role)." Democrats in the Senate also expressed concerns about the bill, saying it gives the governor too much power, considering the governor already gets to select from the panel of judges presented by the committee. "We want to give the governor two appointments to the commission and then the governor gets to choose the judge?" said State Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, who voted against the bill. Advertisement Advertisement The result of the changes, Democrats said, is that Marion County's judiciary will ultimately become less diverse and no longer represent the will of the people. DeLaney accused some lawyers of not liking having their cases heard before Black judges. "Yes, Marion County is a majority-minority community," said Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. "There's no peace in my heart today with this bill. No peace. Because there's no justice. This is a race-driven bill that's going forth today." Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, said she resents that Indianapolis is already treated differently than the rest of the state when it comes to judicial selection since most counties get to elect their judges. Lopez, the bill author, said he appreciated the passion from opponents but believed that the bill would still help modernize the court system and be a "gamechanger in a positive way" for Marion County's judicial system. Advertisement Advertisement "This wasn't our language," Lopez said. "We didn't ask for that." The changes to the bill were decried by both the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Marion County Bar Association, one of the only majority non-white bar associations in the state. "I am disappointed with the lack of public comments, input and discussion and last-minute amendments to HB 1033, resulting in our removal from the Marion County Judicial Section Committee," according to a statement from Pamela-Grant Taylor, the group's president. "The MCBA believes that maintaining diversity, independence and community-rooted representation in the Marion County judiciary is essential to gaining public trust and equitable justice to the citizens of Marion County." Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com or follow her on X @hayleighcolombo. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Democrats slam 'hijacked' bill that grows Braun's power to pick Indy judges Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton criticized her deposition in front of a congressional committee relating to the scandal surrounding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling it "very long" and "repetitive." Following Thursday's closed-door hearing before the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee, which lasted about six hours, Hillary Clinton said she "answered every one of their questions as fully as I could based on what I knew." The former secretary of state told reporters in Chappaqua, in the state of New York, that she had shared what she knew in her written opening statement. Advertisement Advertisement Clinton said it was "disappointing that they refused to hold a public hearing," meaning that she had to recount the content of her statements to the press instead. She also characterized her deposition as "very long" and "repetitive." "We returned to answer questions repetitively, literally over and over again. I don't know how many times I had to say 'I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices.' So, it's on the record numerous times," she told reporters. Clinton said that she also testified that she knew Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell "casually as an acquaintance." Advertisement Advertisement She went on to say that the questioning towards the end got "quite unusual because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile, bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet that was serving as the basis of a member's questions to me." Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democratic member of the House Oversight Committee, told broadcaster CNN that Clinton's deposition was a "political clown show" and that the committee should be "interviewing people who actually had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who knew the guy, or at least met the guy." Former US president Bill Clinton to testify on Friday Hillary Clinton's husband, former US president Bill Clinton, is scheduled to testify before the committee on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement The two Democrats refused for months to testify before the US Congress in the investigation into the Epstein case. They accused the Republican chairman of the committee, James Comer, of conducting a politically motivated process. After her deposition, the former secretary of state commended Comer "for raising a series of significant questions that I responded to about the nature of the investigation and the areas that I thought should be explored. So I appreciated that, I want to see the truth come out." According to US media reports, their agreement to testify in early February led to the Republicans cancelling a vote on a contempt of Congress procedure against the Clintons. Advertisement Advertisement Bill Clinton's name and pictures of him appear in documents related to the Epstein investigations. However, a mention in itself means nothing. The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with his acquaintance with Epstein. Epstein operated an abuse ring for years, victimizing dozens of young women and minors. The New York financier had excellent connections in US high society. He died in his prison cell in 2019, before a conviction could be reached. By Richard Cowan and Ryan Patrick Jones Feb 26 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a congressional committee on Thursday that she did not remember ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had no information to share about his criminal activities. "I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices," Clinton said in a statement, which she released as she delivered a closed-door deposition to the House of Representatives Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Following a seven-hour appearance before the panel, Clinton told reporters she repeatedly was asked the same questions throughout the day, but that she also offered some suggestions on conducting the investigation. She did not detail those ideas. Clinton said that late into the procedures "it got quite unusual because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories." She was referring to false, widely disseminated musings in 2016 that a Washington, D.C. pizzeria was a front for a child sex ring run by her and that New York City police had discovered a pedophilia ring linked to Democrats. In her prepared testimony, Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, also accused the Republican-led panel of trying to shift focus away from Trump's ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. She noted Trump's administration has "gutted" a State Department office focused on international sex trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters after Clinton's testimony, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dismissed the idea of having Trump appear before the panel. "President Trump has answered hundreds if not thousands of questions from you all about Epstein and I think he's been very transparent in releasing the documents," said Comer, a Kentucky Republican. Clinton and her husband, Democratic former President Bill Clinton, initially refused to testify before the committee, but relented when lawmakers moved to hold them in contempt of Congress. Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify to the committee on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Hillary Clinton told reporters that the former president will tell the committee that the "vast majority" of people who had contact with Epstein before his criminal pleas in 2008 "did not know" about the sex trafficking. "That is exactly what my husband will testify to tomorrow," she said. Before the hearing, Comer denied that the probe was a partisan effort, noting that several Democrats had pushed for the Clintons to testify. "No one is accusing at this moment the Clintons of any wrongdoing but we do have a lot of questions," Comer said. He said the committee would seek to find out about any interactions she might have had with Epstein, his involvement with the Clintons' charitable work, and any relationship she may have had with jailed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. He said transcripts and video of the Clintons' interviews will be made public. Advertisement Advertisement Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters that Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should also testify. Lutnick has admitted to visiting Epstein's private island years after he says he broke off ties. Comer said it was "possible" the committee might subpoena him. MISSING FILES Garcia and other Democrats are accusing Trump's Justice Department of selectively withholding material from 3 million Epstein-related documents it released to shield Trump from scrutiny. That includes records of a woman who accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, Garcia said. "Where are these files? Who removed them? These questions have to be answered," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department said it is reviewing whether any documents were improperly withheld and would publish them if appropriate. It has previously cautioned that the material it has released includes unfounded accusations and sensationalist claims about Trump. Law enforcement authorities have not accused Trump of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Trump socialized extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, before his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Comer said evidence gathered by the panel does not implicate Trump. Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's plane several times in the early 2000s after he left office. He has denied wrongdoing and expressed regret for his association. According to Comer, Epstein visited the White House 17 times while Clinton was in office. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department sought to draw attention to photos of Bill Clinton in its document dump, but they also have revealed Epstein's ties to a long list of business and political leaders, including Lutnick and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Overseas, they have prompted criminal investigations of Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, and other prominent figures. (Reporting by Richard Cowan, Ryan Patrick Jones, Doina Chiacu, Ismail Shakil and David Morgan; editing by Andy Sullivan, Alistair Bell and Sergio Non) CHAPPAQUA, New York - Its been more than 26 years since Bill and Hillary Clinton made their home in this wooded, affluent community about 35 miles north of Manhattan. The hamlet has served as a backdrop for the Clintons' life after the White House. It has also been the place from where Hillary Clinton launched a career in politics in her own right: U.S. Senator from New York. Secretary of State. Two-time presidential candidate. Hillary Clinton delivered her historic 2016 Democratic National Convention nomination acceptance speech via satellite from Chappaqua's Crabtree's Kittle House, a popular local restaurant and inn. The motorcade believed to be carrying former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes its way toward the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, as Clinton is scheduled for a deposition as part of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Chappaqua, New York, on Feb. 26, 2026. Members of the media gather outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center as members of the House Oversight Committee conduct a deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of the committee's investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Chappaqua, New York, on Feb. 26, 2026. Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Rep. James Comer (R-KY) steps out to speak to the media prior a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), joined by Republican members of the House Oversight Committee walks outside for a media appearance prior to a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Rep. James Comer (R-KY) joined by Republican members of the committee, speaks to members of the media while ahead of a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) speaks on the day of former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons appearance for a deposition in the House Oversight Committee investigation of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, New York, Feb. 26, 2026. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), joined by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, speaks to members of the media before a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. A police officer looks on as members of the media gather outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, ahead of a deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Chappaqua, New York, on Feb. 26, 2026. Television crews set up in front of The Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, New York on Feb. 26, 2026. House Oversight Committee deposes Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua, NY 1 of 9 The motorcade believed to be carrying former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes its way toward the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, as Clinton is scheduled for a deposition as part of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Chappaqua, New York, on Feb. 26, 2026. Two days after her crushing defeat by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, a picture taken by a supporter who ran into the Clintons in the Chappaqua woods behind their home went viral as a symbol of resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Over a decade later politics took the spotlight again on Feb. 26, when Hillary Clinton testified to lawmakers under subpoena and behind closed doors from the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center about the couples relationships with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attends a climate event in Mumbai, India, on Feb. 18, 2026. The arts center is located less than a mile away from their sprawling, white Dutch clapboard colonial home on Old House Lane and sits in the old Readers Digest campus, which has now been redeveloped as a retail-office-residential complex. On this quiet Thursday, with snow still on the ground, people went about their business, getting coffee, reporting to work and shopping at the Whole Foods in the plaza. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former President Bill Clinton march in the annual Town of New Castle Memorial Day Parade in Chappaqua, N.Y. May 27, 2019. While the national media had trained their eyes on Clintons arrival, there were no curious onlookers waiting to catch a glimpse of the former Secretary of State. After all, the Clintons have not made themselves scarce in the hamlet. They are often spotted walking their dogs, getting Starbucks and buying groceries at the Village Market. They also reliably march in every Memorial Day parade. Advertisement Advertisement But in this heavily Democratic town, opinions on the Clintons testimony, were plentiful. 'Secretary Clinton is used as a pawn' New Castle Town Councilwoman Jennifer Naparstek Klein said she was happy to have the town make accommodations for this forced process as convenient for Secretary Clinton to allow the deposition to occur close to home and in a familiar venue to the couple. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive ahead of the 60th inaugural ceremony on January 20, 2025, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. But I am frustrated by how Congress behaves in this deliberately dissembling way. It is an insult and assault on the integrity of women in our nation, said Klein, an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton. She said it was absurd that the attorney general has not gone after President Donald Trump. And instead, yet again, Secretary Clinton is used as a pawn to pull focus away from the misdeeds of Donald Trump, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and early 2000s before a falling out, but Trump has denied any involvement. The president also has repeatedly denied all allegations against him and has said he has been "exonerated." Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, who is leading the inquiry, said lawmakers wanted to learn more about how Epstein raised his money and how he accumulated a social network of rich and powerful men. He said lawmakers would ask why Epstein raised money for the Clinton family foundation and why his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, attended the Clintons' daughter's wedding. 'I think you want every bit of truth to come out' Bill Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, has said he was unaware of Epstein's alleged criminal activities while socializing with him. But Comer has said Epstein visited the White House 16 times while Bill Clinton was president. During her testimony, Hillary Clinton accused House lawmakers who subpoenaed her of going on a fishing expedition for information rather than questioning Justice Department officials who failed to prosecute the late financier. Advertisement Advertisement Steven Sabbagh, who stopped by at the Starbucks, said he was glad that Hillary Clinton was being forced to testify. I think you want every bit of truth to come out. I feel so sorry for the victims, he said. I am so proud and so happy that they pursued and they're persistent and they're getting somewhere because I really do believe there's so many powerful individuals that are trying to squash this. Sabbagh, who lives in nearby South Salem, New York, said he hopes everything comes out and people get punished for what they did. We are tired of people manipulating justice, he added. 'Everyone should be held accountable' The congressional inquiry following Justice Departments release of 3 million pages of documents from Epsteins criminal investigation. Millions more pages remain sealed. Advertisement Advertisement Heather Smith, a recent graduate from Cornell University who is applying to veterinary school, said as a woman who has been sexually assaulted, she didnt think it should be a politically polarizing topic. I think the biggest thing that will build back trust from the government, especially after COVID and everything that happened in miscommunication will be transparency, she said. And the only way that will happen is by Congress and other parts of the government holding people accountable. Whether that be Bill Clinton, whether that be Donald Trump, anyone who's involved or named in the Epstein files, I think personally, should really be held asked tough questions and held accountable. Tim Gomes, an IT professional, said he believes Hillary Clinton when she says she doesnt know much about it. But when it comes to Bill Clinton, who is slated to testify Feb. 27, he said hell be paying attention. So tomorrow's going to be the day, said the Mount Kisco resident, who described himself as an independent. I think weve got to get to the bottom of it. Everyone should be held accountable for that. Advertisement Advertisement Betty Cotton, who has known Hillary Clinton for decades, and who has been involved in fundraising effort from the time the former first lady ran for a Senate seat from New York, called Clinton a trooper. I think it's a farce if you really want to know. I just think it's ridiculous, she said. Shes just an unbelievable trooper to agree to do it. Will Trump do it? Contributing: Bart Jansen Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hillary Clinton neighbors sound off on her Epstein testimony State regulators are considering tweaking the default option for homeowners who have a dispute with their community association. A proposal before the Nevada Real Estate Divisions Common-Interest Communities Task Force would favor arbitration over mediation and a referee program, which some homeowner advocates say is the most beneficial option to homeowners, but the least lucrative for attorneys. Current law requires that homeowners who have a dispute involving HOA governing documents or assessments engage in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before filing a lawsuit. The purpose of ADR is to divert cases from congested court dockets, Commissioner Erin Truman, one of two ADR commissioners for Clark County District Court, told members of the task force on Wednesday. The task force is chaired by state Department of Business and Industry Director Kristopher Sanchez. Advertisement Advertisement The divisions goal, Administrator Sharath Chandra told members, is to promote a process that is convenient, cost effective, and quicker. The Nevada Real Estate Divisions consensus, he said, is to move it more towards an arbitration process, adding the trick here is always the cost. The arbitration process costs a little more, but were committed to figuring out a way to fund some of that, or subsidize it, like we do the mediation program. The Nevada Department of Real Estate, which oversees HOA regulation, administers three types of ADR a referee program, mediation, and arbitration. The referee program requires that both parties agree to participate. It allows both sides to make their case to an independent referee, who, after listening to argument and reviewing the evidence, makes a non-binding decision, and is authorized to grant monetary awards up to $7,500. Parties desiring to pursue the dispute can proceed to civil court. Mediation is the default form of resolution for HOA homeowners who do not agree to participate in the referee program. Parties provide a statement of the dispute, relevant documents, and a proposal for resolving the dispute. Together, the parties work with the mediator to resolve their issues and produce a written agreement. No one can be forced to accept a resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Should mediation fail, the parties can agree to proceed to arbitration instead of proceeding to civil court. Unlike mediation, in an arbitration proceeding, the arbitrator decides the outcome. Arbitration can be binding or non-binding. In non-binding arbitration, the parties can agree to accept the resolution or proceed to court. Arbitrators in the courts program charge $150 an hour, up to $2,000 per case, according to Truman. In addition, parties can pay thousands of dollars in attorneys fees, according to an exhibit presented to state lawmakers in 2011, that showed attorneys fees often exceeded $10,000, including one case in which lawyers charged an association $20,000. Those costs are passed through to homeowners in the form of larger assessments. The central issue is whether homeowners have access to an efficient and low-cost dispute resolution program, says Las Vegan Mike Kosor, a homeowner advocate. Owners should be able to challenge their association without fear of bankruptcy. About half the states homes are subject to homeowners associations. Wielding powers generally reserved for government tribunals, HOAs can assess fines, deny property rights, and even foreclose. Advertisement Advertisement But with the exception of seeking occasional architectural reviews, most homeowners are oblivious to the goings on in their HOAS and the complex laws that govern them. Kosor, however, is acutely aware of his HOAs activities and the rules and regulations that govern his community. Hes also a thorn in the side of regulators and Southern Highlands developer Garry Goett, who he has battled in court to the tune of half a million dollars in legal fees. Most Nevada homeowners who have disagreements with their HOA lack the deep pockets necessary to sustain a long legal battle. Kosor acknowledged during public comment Wednesday that while mediation and arbitration may reduce court congestion, the processes do not necessarily achieve what lawmakers have long sought neutral determination that reduces litigation. Advertisement Advertisement The referee program provides a decision-making process that is faster, less formal, and more consistent with administrative law, says Kosor. The programs design flaw, he adds, is that it requires both parties to willingly participate, allowing one party to veto the most effective resolution mechanism. The ability to opt out allows an association or other deep pocket to veto participation using the cost of litigation as a defense, Kosor adds. I fully support the referee program, Las Vegan Solomon Bradley told the task force during public comment, if the state can put teeth in it. Bradley, a former board member at Sky Las Vegas, a condominium tower on the Las Vegas Strip, says hes been through the ADR program, and calls it a waste of money. It wastes taxpayers money. It wastes the homeowners money. People go through the motions to negotiate in good faith, he said, but both sides dig in, and lawyers are the winners. They go home smiling. Kosor contends the answer is to make the referee program the default option, so it cannot be unilaterally blocked and so statutory rights can be enforced predictably and affordably. Owners and directors should have a neutral interpretation of CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions) and statutes before engaging in litigation. Resorting to courts is not only cumbersome and costly, but it is also risky, Susan French of the American Law Institute wrote in an authoritative legal publication. Governing documents for common interest communities typically provide that in suits between an owner and the association, the loser pays the winners attorney fees. Advertisement Advertisement HOA governance structure, which is based on the corporate model, lacks the checks and balances that typically constrain cities from abusing their residents, French wrote, noting the corporate model theoretically protects owners from abusive boards and management companies by giving them power to elect and remove the board of directors. However, individual owners who lack the political clout to mount a recall or successful run for the board have little recourse against board misconduct. In most states, if persuasion and politics fail, the owner can only resort to the courts. The first step in resolving a dispute, according to the HOA Alliance, a nonprofit organization specializing in community association matters, is to consult the associations governing documents, which will often spell out how to deal with disputes. In Nevada, the office of the Ombudsman for Common-Interest Communities can assist homeowners and board members make sense of their governing documents. The Ombudsman also investigates disputes and provides informal mediation. The task force took no action on the proposal to eliminate the referee program in favor of arbitration. By James Pomfret and Jessie Pang HONG KONG, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's fraud conviction and prison sentence were overturned by a Hong Kong court on Thursday, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge. Judges Jeremy Poon, Anthea Pang, and Derek Pang said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had "erred". Advertisement Advertisement "The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences," the judges wrote in a press summary of their judgement. Even with the quashing of the fraud conviction and sentence, Lai will still remain imprisoned for 20 years in a separate national security case over two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one for publishing seditious materials. That case has drawn global criticism from rights groups and countries including the U.S. and Britain and served as one of the most high-profile events in a years-long crackdown under a national security law imposed by Beijing after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Thursday's legal victory was a rare one for the prominent China critic who has faced multiple prosecutions in recent years, and described himself in court as a "political prisoner". Advertisement Advertisement His son Sebastien said, however, the ruling did not change anything for his 78-year-old father. "He still has a sentence of 20 years in prison and has spent the last half a decade in solitary confinement in maximum security. The right thing is to release him immediately before it is too late," Sebastien Lai told Reuters. Also on Thursday, a court sentenced the father of a wanted pro-democracy activist to eight months in prison under a homegrown national security law after he attempted to terminate her insurance policy and withdraw funds. 'THE JUDGE ERRED' Lai was sentenced in December 2022 to five years and nine months in jail after being found guilty of breaching the lease terms of Apple Dailys headquarters by concealing the operation of a private company, Dico Consultants Ltd, in the building. Advertisement Advertisement Another Next Digital executive, Wong Wai-keung, 61, was found guilty of fraud and jailed for 21 months. "In conclusion, we hold that Apple Daily Printing did not owe a duty to the Corporation to disclose its breach of the user restrictions or the non-alienation clauses occasioned by Dicos occupation and use of the said Premises. With respect, the Judge erred," the judgement read. "His reasoning in concluding that the applicants were liable for the concealment as the prosecution contended is unsupportable. He erred in making those findings." In the earlier ruling, Judge Stanley Chan wrote that Lai was aware of the need to apply for a license from the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation for Dico to operate at the headquarters and had "acted under the protective umbrella of a media organization". Advertisement Advertisement During the appeal hearing, Lais lawyer Derek Chan said that Dico, a company owned by Lai, supported the publishing and printing of the newspapers apart from handling the tycoons private affairs. He noted that at the start of the charge period on April 1, 1998, Dico held a 49% stake in Apple Daily and was linked to Next Animation, the studio that produced animations for the newspapers online news reports. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said the Department of Justice will study the judgement to consider whether to appeal the court's decision. DETERIORATING HEALTH Lai's son and daughter have warned he might die in prison given his deteriorating health from over five years in solitary confinement. Lai has suffered from retinal vein occlusion in his right eye, high blood pressure, heart palpitations and progressive hearing loss. Advertisement Advertisement Rights groups and numerous democratic countries have called for Lai's release. U.S. President Donald Trump raised the matter with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and is expected to follow up again in a closely anticipated visit to Beijing at the end of March. John Moolenaar, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' select committee on China, said in a statement that the overturned fraud charge was an "illusion." "The Chinese Communist Party wants the world to believe there is a fair and equal justice system in Hong Kong, but it's all controlled by Beijing," Moolenaar said. (Reporting by Jessie Pang and James Pomfret; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree, Jacqueline Wong and Saad Sayeed) Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are taking a closer look at US commerce secretary Howard Lutnicks connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after the justice departments website restored a photo showing him with the disgraced financier on his private island. In the picture, Epstein appears front and center and is surrounded by three other men. Lutnick, dressed in a blue shirt and white shorts, stands a few feet behind Epstein. It has not been confirmed when the photo was taken. Lutnick has denied wrongdoing, saying he has nothing to hide about his links to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement A letter addressed to Lutnick from Democratic US senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jeff Merkley of Oregon calls on him to testify before Congress about his relationship with Epstein. They are requesting that Lutnick produce all records of meetings, phone calls, and correspondence with Epstein or his associates, as well as a complete timeline of every interaction he has had with Epstein, including after Epsteins 2008 conviction for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. The senators are also calling on Lutnick to provide any information or evidence to support his former claim that Epstein is the greatest blackmailer ever as said in an October interview and for answers regarding the nanny that Lutnick employed. The American people and the survivors of Mr Epsteins crimes deserve a full accounting from every public official whose statements on this matter have proven incomplete, the letter states. If, as you say, you have nothing to hide, then producing these records should be a straightforward matter. The White House did not immediately respond to comment on the calls for Lutnick to testify. Advertisement Advertisement US House oversight committee chairperson James Comer, a Tennessee Republican, told reporters on Thursday that he is not ruling out the possibility that Lutnick would be issued a subpoena to testify. In a post on X Friday morning, US House member Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican who serves on the oversight committee, wrote that Howard Lutnick should take questions from the body. I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him, US House member Ro Khanna, a California Democrat and oversight committee member, said outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New York on Friday. Khannas remarks came shortly before Bill Clinton testified to the House committee about his ties to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Lutnick was a longtime next-door neighbor of Epstein in New York. He has previously claimed that he distanced himself from Epstein in 2005. However, the justice departments release of case files showed that Lutnick had two engagements with Epstein years past that. He attended a 2011 event at Epsteins home. And Lutnicks family had lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012 four years after Epstein was sentenced to 13 months in jail for procuring a minor for prostitution. Lutnick, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, admitted to the 2012 lunch during his 10 February testimony before the US Senate appropriations committee. I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation, Lutnick said. In that testimony, Lutnick also insisted that he barely had anything to do with Epstein. Im glad to be here to make it clear that I met Jeffrey Epstein when I moved to a house next door to him in New York, he testified. Advertisement Advertisement He added: Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall two times. So six years later, I met him, and then a year and a half after that, I met him, and never again. Deviating from the majority of his Republican colleagues, US House member Thomas Massie earlier in February called for the commerce secretary to resign over his ties to Epstein. During an appearance on CNNs Inside Politics, Massie said: Really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign. This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Newell Brands expects a total gross cash tariff impact of $130 million in 2026 after taking a $174 million hit last year, executives told investors on a Feb. 6 earnings call. The parent company of brands such as Rubbermaid and Yankee Candle is planning to use a tariff mitigation strategy similar to last year's to combat the impact, CFO Mark Erceg said on the call. Our mitigation approach remains focused on sourcing actions, productivity, capturing tariff advantage business wins and targeted pricing, the CFO said. Dive Insight: In July, President and CEO Christopher Peterson told investors the company was accelerating its production and supplier shift out of China to help avoid potential tariff increases. Today, Newells China exposure is at 10%, down from 35% a few years ago, Peterson told investors. The decision to proactively diversify our supply chain away from China before tariffs even presented themselves has materially strengthened the resilience of our supply chain, he said. Newell executed three rounds of price hikes in 2025 in response to tariffs, Peterson said. Competitors quickly followed and largely caught up on pricing, eliminating some of the price gaps Newell faced last year. In Q4 of last year, the company announced a global productivity plan as part of its mitigation strategy, Peterson said. The plan aimed to enhance competitiveness and simplify processes by increasing the use of automation, digitization and artificial intelligence. Additional productivity efforts include taking about 10 days out of production lead time over the last year, Peterson said. And that effectively allows us to respond much more in real time to consumer demand shifts without having to pre-stage extra working capital, he said. This story was first published in our Procurement Weekly newsletter. Sign up here. Recommended Reading NEED TO KNOW Human remains found earlier this year amid the search for Celine Cremer have been provisionally identified as belonging to the 31-year-old woman The remains found near Australia's Philosopher Falls have been provisionally identified as belonging to missing Belgian woman Celine Cremer," police said on Feb. 26 Cremer was last seen in June 2023 and there was no sign of her until December 2025, when her phone was found Human remains found amid the ongoing search for a tourist who disappeared nearly three years ago in the Tasmanian wilderness have been provisionally identified as belonging to the missing woman. Belgian tourist Celine Cremer, 31, was last seen in Waratah, a historic mining town on the border of the Tarkine rainforest. Then, officials believe she drove her car to Philosopher Falls, where she went for a short bushwalk" and disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Although there was no sign of her for years, everything began to change in Dec. 2025 when her phone was found. A short time later, human remains were found near Philosopher Falls and in the weeks to come, more remains and items belonging to Cremer were found. On Thursday, Feb. 26, Tasmania Police said in a release that the remains found near Philosopher Falls have been provisionally identified as belonging to missing Belgian woman Celine Cremer. Search efforts for Celine Cremer. Credit: Tasmania Police Facebook Commander Nathan Johnston of Tasmania Police said authorities received compelling evidence indicating the remains belong to Cremer. Tasmania Police extends its sincere condolences to Ms Cremers family and loved ones, Johnston said in a statement. While this provisional confirmation will not ease their loss, we hope the outcome will provide them with some measure of clarity and closure. Advertisement Advertisement Following the news, Amelie Cremer, the missing womans sister, said in a post on Facebook, translated from French, that the update has brought her family "immense relief" after nearly three years of endless waiting. After all this time, Celine can finally go home. She will be able to rest in peace, surrounded by love that never left her side, the sister said. Celine, we never forgot you, the sister continued. Not one day, not one second. Your absence has left a huge void, but your smile, your energy and all the love you gave us live on within us. Today we bring you near us. Search efforts for Celine Cremer. Credit: Tasmania Police Facebook Cremer was reported missing by friends nine days after she was last seen, but although her car was located near Philosopher Falls the next day, she was nowhere to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Search teams kept looking for her over the next two weeks, but then dangerous weather began to pose a threat to their efforts. The first new sign of Cremer came more than two years later on Dec. 13, 2025, when her phone was found by a private search team. Rob Parsons, an adventure filmmaker, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the discovery of Cremer's phone after all that time was an incredibly emotional moment. I don't think there was a dry eye in the area," Parsons said. Less than two months later, a hiker came across human remains near Philosopher Falls and immediately contacted police. Advertisement Advertisement A pathologist examined the remains and determined they are human, police shared in a statement at the time, although formal forensic analysis was required to determine whether the remains belonged to Cremer. Philosopher Falls. Credit: Getty Two days after the discovery, more remains and a polar fleece jacket were found in the same area, and were believed to be connected to what happened to Cremer due to the "location and nature" of the items. Then, on Feb. 10, the Tasmania police shared they'd found an additional five bones, two teeth and a Honda car key. Police have today formally verified that the car key belongs to Celine, Tasmania Police Commander Nathan Johnston said at the time. "The search undertaken over the past two days was thorough and methodical, and many of these items were located beneath debris, embedded in the riverbed itself. 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. Before officially identifying the remains, police said their primary goal at this point was to give Cremer's loved ones closure. Advertisement Advertisement Our priority is to recover as much as we can, to build a complete picture of what has occurred, and to help provide answers for Celines family, police said on Feb. 6. That remains at the heart of this operation. In the Thursday news release, Johnston thanked members of the community for their support and interest in Cremers case, and acknowledged the extensive efforts of search and rescue personnel, partner agencies and volunteers who dedicated significant time and resources during the many search phases. The local coroner will officially determine the identity of the remains, he added. Read the original article on People New Jerseys Democratic U.S. senators introduced sweeping legislation Thursday aiming to stop warehouses from being converted into immigration detention centers a move that comes after President Donald Trumps administration recently shelled out millions to open one in Morris County as part of a nationwide expansion. The federal government spent $129.3 million on a 470,000-square-foot warehouse in Roxbury that it plans to turn into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility. Thats according to deed records obtained by NJ.com on Thursday, showing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security closed on the sale Feb. 19. The seller is listed as DG Roxbury Property Owner, L.P. Dalfen Industrial, a large privately owned industrial real estate company based in Dallas, purchased the warehouse in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Dalfen told the Dallas Morning News this week the company and its majority partner sold the building to the federal government to avoid potential eminent domain proceedings. New York investment banking firm Goldman Sachs told NorthJersey.com in a statement Thursday the site was held in a real estate investment fund that it controlled. This property, which sat vacant for two years, was held in a real estate investment fund that we manage, Goldman said. We had a fiduciary obligation to investors in the fund to sell it. A spokesperson from Dalfen Industrial did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Now, one week after the sale, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both D-N.J., have proposed federal legislation in Congress that, if passed into law, could halt the controversial plans to turn the 470,000-square-foot warehouse on Route 46 into a detention center holding 1,500 immigrants. A joint bill from Booker and Kim, the End Warehouse Detention Act, would block Homeland Security from using taxpayer dollars under Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act to buy or repurpose warehouses as detention centers. This legislation will ensure that not one more taxpayer dollar is used to buy, contract, or convert warehouses into harmful, inhumane detention centers, Booker said in a statement. Republican-controlled Congress approved billions to fund ICEs operations last year under the One Big Beautiful Bill. That includes a $43 billion plan to add detention facilities across the U.S., Roxbury among them. Advertisement Advertisement Kim introduced two other related bills Thursday. The ICE Funding Accountability Act would prohibit DHS from using taxpayer money from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to hire or recruit more ICE and Border Protection agents. The Private Detention Accountability Act would require ICE and the U.S. Office of Detention Oversight to perform audits on new and existing ICE detention facilities and keep them from accepting new detainees until the findings are addressed. Roxbury would be the third ICE detention center to open in New Jersey, and Kim said the facilities do not belong in New Jersey or any corner of our country. Advertisement Advertisement Americans are sick of this administrations cruelty and lawlessness, and dont want another dime of their hard-earned money funding it, he said. Congress needs to step up, assert its authority, and use these bills to rein in this out-of-control administration. Because Republicans control Congress and the White House, all three bills face daunting odds of being signed into law. But this comes as Jerseys Democratic members of Congress and Republicans who lead Roxburys government are both opposed to the new detention center, for different reasons. Democrats have cited concerns about how ICE carries out Trumps immigration crackdown. Local leaders note the warehouse is located near a residential community, raising concerns among those who live there and in the surrounding community. There are worries about how it will affect infrastructure, such as water, sewer, traffic, and public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee said during a council meeting Tuesday night he is not against ICE or using detention centers to uphold our immigration laws but objects to opening this location. There was widespread confusion on Feb. 18 after a news report was published saying the warehouse was sold, citing a statement from ICE. The next morning, Roxbury mayor Shawn Potillo issued a statement disputing reports that ICE had purchased the building citing communications with both DHS and Dalfen Industrial. But by Feb. 20, local and federal officials confirmed the sale had been finalized. Town leaders have said using the facility as a detention center in a suburban community was an unapproved use and that the limitations on infrastructure should have been immediate and disqualifying considerations. Advertisement Advertisement The township stands to lose $1.8 million in annual tax revenue now that the property will be federally owned, according to a statement from the mayor and council last Friday. Officials offered a 10-year, $20 million tax abatement to Dalfen Industrial to hold onto the property and would have provided meaningful financial and political support to support redevelopment that aligned with the communitys interest, they said in the statement. The Roxbury Police Department has already dedicated about $20,000 of its budget to fund the demands such a facility would place on the townships 42-member department, according to the townships statement. These financial and infrastructure realities present serious and lasting consequences for our community, Roxbury officials said. Advertisement Advertisement The states two other immigrant detention centers are privately run. GEO Group operates Delaney Hall in Newark, which has 1,000 beds. The Elizabeth Detention Center, owned and operated by CoreCivic, is much smaller. ICE officials did not answer questions about whether a potential facility in Roxbury would be privately run. But New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill told NJ.com this week it will be. Besides detention centers, ICE expanded its footprint in New Jersey by leasing office space in Roseland to house about 40 attorneys and paralegals. ICE said in a statement last week the Roxbury site would undergo community impact studies and other due diligence to ensure the facility would not place a hardship on the local infrastructure and utilities. The agency also said that construction at the facility would create 1,300 jobs and generate $39.2 million in tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement These economic benefits dont even take into account that removing criminals from the streets makes communities safer for business owners and customers, Deputy Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis said. One New Jersey Republican, U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. whose legislative district includes Roxbury and who faces a tough re-election bid this year introduced his own bill Monday. It would offer federal grants administered by DHS to cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades and other expenditures for local townships associated with creating a detention center. Keans measure, called the Local Taxpayer Protection Act of 2026, followed stinging criticisms from Roxburys Republican mayor and council that the congressman did not do more to prevent the Trump administration from purchasing the warehouse. Throughout this process, Roxbury officials communicated our legitimate concerns to every level of government, Roxburys mayor and council said last week. Despite repeated outreach, our federal representative, Congressman Tom Kean Jr., did not engage to the level we had hoped to provide the advocacy our residents deserved. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Kean responded to the criticism in a statement posted on X, saying his office worked closely with officials in Roxbury and engaged directly with the highest levels of DHS on their behalf. The residents of Roxbury can be assured that I will not stop fighting for a workable solution," he added. Asked whether the governors office will get involved in the matter, Sherrill a Democrat, told NJ.com this week we are looking at our options right now. Sean Higgins, a spokesman for the governor, said the Trump administrations plans for an ICE detention facility in Roxbury will not make New Jersey safer and the governors office is working to gather more information as the Department of Homeland Security has failed to cooperate with local officials or provide any meaningful information about the facility. Sherrill and fellow Democrats in the state Legislature have aggressively moved to rein in ICEs tactics in recent months. That includes legislation that would limit the states cooperation with the federal agency and force ICE agents not to wear masks in public. In her first month in office, Sherrill signed executive orders limiting where ICE can operate on state property and establishing a database for the public to upload videos of interactions with ICE officials. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit challenging the first of those orders, saying it obstructs and endangers law enforcement. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Idaho Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch spoke up for his constituents passionate, unified support for public lands during the confirmation hearing for proposed Bureau of Land Management chief Steve Pearce on Wednesday. Risch questioned whether Pearce, a controversial pick for his past sentiments to sell public lands, understood the directors role. He also told Pearce, a former Republican congressman from New Mexico, that he is a one issue guy on Pearces appointment. President Donald Trump nominated Pearce for the Bureau of Land Management post in November. The agency manages 245 million acres across the country, including 12 million acres in Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Pearces nomination has drawn backlash from public lands, conservation and environmental advocates who scrutinize Pearces history of comments and support for legislation to dispense with public lands, particularly in the West. Pearce also has entanglements with oil and gas companies, which critics have said would be at odds with the BLM role, as the agency issues oil and gas leases. As Risch questioned Pearce, he emphasized that Bureau of Land Management policy is a job left to lawmakers, not the agency director. I want to stress for people watching this today that were talking about a job that youre appointed to manage the BLM, Risch said. And I stress manage the BLM. There is no authority for you, for that matter, the president, to sell off public land, Risch continued. Do you agree with that? Advertisement Advertisement Pearce said he agreed. Risch told the former congressman that he believes Pearce is very qualified to manage the millions of acres the bureau oversees, but reiterated that any sale of public lands would be impossible without the consent of Congress, which Risch called extremely unlikely at this point. The Idaho senator said public lands are an issue where 98% of constituents agree. Polling last month by Conservation Voters for Idaho, a local nonprofit that advocates for pro-conservation issues in politics, indicated that a majority of Idahoans disagreed with Pearces stated views on public lands. In all my decades of serving the state, I have never received such passionate, unified messages as I have on this particular topic, Risch said. Idahoans do not want their public lands sold. Period. Full stop. Public lands are really part of us and are sacred to us. Advertisement Advertisement Risch and fellow Idaho Republican Sen. Mike Crapo spoke out against the possible sale of public lands last year when the topic became a major issue as part of the federal budget reconciliation bill. Rep. Mike Simpson, also a Republican, spearheaded efforts in the House to thwart land sales. Pearce told Risch he would defer to state leaders, who know their land and constituents better than Washington, D.C., politicians, and promised to follow the law completely. But Pearce didnt completely change his tune from past comments on the topic. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, asked Pearce whether there is too much public land in the West now, as Pearce had previously indicated in a 2012 letter to then-Speaker of the House John Boehner over budget concerns. Im not so sure that Ive changed (my mind), Im not sure that I was not speaking out of sheer frustration, Pearce said. Advertisement Advertisement His confirmation hearing testimony earned more criticism from skeptics like the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy organization, which said the former lawmaker waffled on public lands. In contrast, Risch earned praise from a local conservation nonprofit for his questioning. Rob Mason, Idaho director for The Wilderness Society, said Idahoans can be proud of the leadership Sen. Risch showed during the hearing. He was clear and direct with the nominee that we dont want to see our public lands sold off, Mason said. However, Pearces statements during todays hearing did little to alleviate the central concern surrounding his nomination, which is his long record of advocating for the sale of Americas public lands, Mason added. If confirmed, Sen. Risch will need to hold Steve Pearce accountable for ensuring that public lands continue to remain in public hands. The Senate has not yet scheduled a date to vote on Pearces confirmation. The defense secretarys desperate ploy to make a top Pentagon contractor cave to his demands is raising red flags for experts. It doesnt make any sense, Dean Ball, a former AI adviser in the Trump administration who helped craft the presidents AI plans, told Politico about threats that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, 43, on Tuesday regarding contracts the AI company has with the agency. During the Tuesday meeting between Hegseth and Amodei, Hegseth, 45, gave the CEO of the AI safety and research company an ultimatum: give the military unfettered access to its AI model, or be considered a supply chain risk and have ties with the Pentagon cut. Dario Amodei's Anthropic is proving to be a Democratic island in the Republican-friendly AI sea. / Anadolu via Getty Images The meeting didnt begin under promising circumstances. Prior to its start, one defense official described it as a s--t-or-get-off-the-pot-meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths threatto label Anthropic a risk and cut ties with the company, or to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA), which would require the company to provide its technology on the Pentagons terms without its current ethical restrictionshas left experts on the matter scratching their heads. Youre telling everyone else who supplies to the DoD you cannot use Anthropics models, while also saying that the DoD must use Anthropics models, Ball said about Hegseths ultimatum to Anthropic, labeling the move as incoherent. Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor, has been criticized this month for posting workout videos with troops while tension with Iran escalates. / MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP via Getty Images Ball added that in presenting the two policies, it was a whole different level of insane to move up and say were going to do both of those things. Amodei has so far resisted the push from the defense secretary, who prefers to be called the secretary of war, to grant unrestricted, unconstrained access to Anthropics AI technology, specifically the large language model Claude. Advertisement Advertisement Tensions between Anthropic and Hegseth escalated amid reports that Claude was used by the Pentagon in the Trump administrations invasion of Venezuela earlier this month and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Axios reported that during the Tuesday meeting, Hegseth referenced the Pentagons claim that Anthropic had raised concerns with its partner Palantir over the use of Claude during the Venezuela missiona claim Amodei denied. Katie Sweeten, a technology lawyer and former Department of Justice official, told Politico that Hegseths threat is contradictory. I dont know how you can both use the DPA to take over this product and also at the same time say this product is a massive national security risk, Sweeten told Politico, warning that Hegseths very aggressive negotiating could be devastating for future partnerships with Silicon Valley. Hegseth's negotiating tactics could cause problems for future contracts between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley, experts warn. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images The feud with Hegseth risks breaking a $200 million Pentagon contract with Anthropic, signed in July to develop AI capabilities that advance U.S. national security. Advertisement Advertisement The only reason were still talking to these people is we need them and we need them now. The problem for these guys is they are that good, a Defense official told Axios about the AI company. The Daily Beast has contacted the Defense Department for comment. By Manoj Kumar and Kanjyik Ghosh Feb 27 (Reuters) - The European Union and India plan to grant each other Most Favoured Nation status after their trade deal takes effect, preventing either from offering better tariff terms to other partners for five years, a draft of the text showed on Friday. India and the European Union struck a longdelayed deal last month aiming to slash tariffs on most goods and boost twoway trade amid growing global trade tensions elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement The deal, likely to be effective in a year after legislative ratification, is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs on 96.6% of traded goods by value, and will lead to savings of 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) in duties for European companies, the EU has said. India and the EU have said agriculture-related items like soya, beef, sugar, rice and dairy have been left out of the purview of the trade deal. Both sides have agreed to lock in commitments not to impose new import or export restrictions beyond World Trade Organization rules and to deepen cooperation on digital trade under a proposed free-trade agreement, a draft text released by India's trade ministry showed. To ease trade flows, New Delhi and Brussels will align food safety and plant health measures with WTO standards and streamline certification and audit procedures. Advertisement Advertisement The text also envisages enhanced customs cooperation and faster clearance of goods, with commitments becoming binding after ratification. The two sides will begin exchanging annual import data one year after the pact takes effect to monitor implementation and the use of tariff preferences. They also agreed to ensure non-discriminatory and accessible appeal procedures for customs decisions affecting imports, exports or goods in transit. On digital trade, India and the EU committed to curbing unjustified barriers and promoting an open and secure online environment. The draft recognises privacy as a fundamental right while preserving both sides authority over personal data protection and cross-border transfer rules. Advertisement Advertisement It also promotes paperless trade and legal recognition of electronic contracts, signatures and authentication. Separately, the EU will mobilise finance and investment to support Indias efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the proposed pact, the draft showed. ($1 = 0.8461 euros) (Reporting by Manoj Kumar in New Delhi and Kanjyik Ghosh in Barcelona; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Hugh Lawson) Pakistan has accused Afghanistans Taliban of serving as a proxy for India, amid escalating hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul. Just hours after Pakistan bombed locations in Kabul early on Friday, Pakistans Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif wrote on X that after NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan in July 2021, it was expected that peace would prevail in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and regional stability. However, the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India, he wrote and accused the Taliban of exporting terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation stable. It carried out extensive diplomacy. However, the Taliban became a proxy of India, he alleged as he declared an open war with Afghanistan. This is not the first time that Asif has brought India into tensions with Afghanistan. Last October, he alleged: India wants to engage in a low-intensity war with Pakistan. To achieve this, they are using Kabul. So far, Asif has presented no evidence to back his claims and the Taliban has rejected accusations that it is being influenced by India. But India has condemned the Pakistani militarys recent actions in Afghanistan, adding to Islamabads growing discernment that its nuclear rival and the Taliban are edging closer. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, after the Pakistani military carried out air raids inside Afghanistan on Sunday, Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that New Delhi strongly condemns Pakistans airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. After Friday mornings flare-up between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal again said New Delhi strongly condemned Pakistans air strikes and also noted that they took place on a Friday during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures, Jaiswal said in a statement on X. Has Indias influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban and what is Indias endgame with Afghanistan? Advertisement Advertisement Heres what we know: How have relations between India and the Taliban evolved? When the Taliban first rose to power in Afghanistan in 1996, India adopted a hostile policy towards the group and did not recognise its assumption of power. India also shunned all diplomatic relations with the Taliban. At the time, New Delhi viewed the Taliban as a proxy for Pakistans intelligence agencies. Pakistan, together with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were the only three countries to have also recognised the Taliban administration at that point. Then, in 2001, India supported the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, which toppled the Taliban administration. India then reopened its embassy in Kabul and embraced the new government led by Hamid Karzai. The Taliban, in response, attacked Indian embassies and consulates in Afghanistan. In 2008, at least 58 people were killed when the Taliban bombed Indias embassy in Kabul. In 2021, after the Taliban returned to power, India closed its embassy in Afghanistan once again and also did not officially recognise the Taliban as the government of the country. Advertisement Advertisement But a year later, as relations between Pakistan and the Taliban deteriorated over armed groups which Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring, India began engaging with the Taliban. In 2022, India sent a team of technical experts to run its mission in Kabul and officially reopened its embassy in the Afghan capital last October. New Delhi also allowed the Taliban to operate Afghanistan consulates in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Hyderabad. Over the past two years, officials from New Delhi and Afghanistan have also held meetings abroad, in Kabul and in New Delhi. In January last year, the Taliban administrations Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Then, in October 2025, he visited New Delhi and met Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. After this meeting, Muttaqi told journalists that Kabul has always sought good relations with India and, in a joint statement, Afghanistan and India pledged to have close communication and continue regular engagement. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrives at Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary, in Deoband in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India [File: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters] Besides beefing up diplomatic ties, India has also offered humanitarian support to Afghanistan under the Talibans rule. After a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan in November last year, India shipped food, medicine and vaccines, and Jaishankar was also among the first foreign ministers to call Muttaqi and offer his support. Since last December, India has also approved and implemented several healthcare infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, according to a December 2025 report by the countrys press information bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Praveen Donthi, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that the costs of avoiding engagement with the Taliban in the past have compelled the Indian government to adopt strategic pragmatism towards the Afghan leadership this time. New Delhi does not want to disregard this relationship on ideological grounds or create strategic space for Indias main strategic rivals, Pakistan and China, in its neighbourhood, he said. Raghav Sharma, professor and director at the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at the OP Jindal Global University in India, added that the current engagement also stems from New Delhis pragmatic realisation that the Taliban is now in charge in Afghanistan and that there is no meaningful opposition. States engage in order to protect and further their interests. While there is little by way of ideological convergence, there are areas of strategic convergence, which is what has pushed India to engage with the Taliban, some of their unpalatable policies notwithstanding, he said. Is this a new stance towards Afghanistan? No. Indias growing influence and engagement with Afghanistan began well before the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Between December 2001 and September 2014, during the US presence in Afghanistan, New Delhi was a strong supporter of the Karzai government, and then of his successor, Ashraf Ghanis government, which was in power from September 2014 until August 2021, when the US withdrew from the country. In October 2011, under Karzai, India and Afghanistan renewed ties by signing an agreement to form a strategic partnership. New Delhi also pledged to support Afghanistan in the face of foreign troops in the nation as a part of this agreement. Under both Karzai and his successor, Ghani, India invested more than $3bn in humanitarian aid and reconstruction work in Afghanistan. This included reconstruction projects like schools and hospitals, and also a new National Assembly building in Kabul, which was inaugurated in December 2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Afghanistan for the first time. Indias Border Road Organisation (BRO) also assisted Afghanistan in the development of infrastructure projects like the 218km Zaranj-Delaram highway in 2009 under Karzais government. Advertisement Advertisement Under Ghani, New Delhi undertook building the Salma Dam project to help with irrigating Afghanistan. In June 2016, when Modi visited Afghanistan once again, he inaugurated this $290m dam project. In May 2016, Iran, India and Afghanistan also signed a trilateral trade and transit agreement on the Chabahar port. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani hold sweets as they inaugurate Afghanistans new parliament building in Kabul, Afghanistan [File: Stringer/Reuters] During this period 2001-2021 Pakistans unease with New Delhi and Kabuls new partnership grew. In October 2011, after signing a strategic agreement with India, Karzai had assured Islamabad that while India is a great friend, Pakistan is a twin brother. But Karzai was critical of Pakistans support for the Taliban. In his last speech as president of Afghanistan in Kabul in September 2014, he stated that he believed most of the Taliban leadership lived in Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement In a 2011 report by a Washington, DC-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Amer Latif, former director for South Asian affairs in the US Ofce of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, noted that Karzai was walking a fine line between criticising Pakistans activities while also referring to Pakistan as Afghanistans twin brother. It is in this context that Karzai appears to be looking to solidify long-term partnerships with countries that will aid his stabilisation efforts, he said, referring to Karzais visit to India and his efforts to improve relations with the subcontinent. When Ghani rose to power in September 2014, he tried to reset ties with Pakistan and also visited the country in November that year. But his efforts did not result in improved ties due to border disputes with Pakistan continuing until his administration was overthrown by the Taliban in August 2021. So why has India maintained ties with Afghanistan under the Taliban? Initially, when the Taliban returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US, political analysts largely expected Pakistan to lead the way in recognising the Taliban administration as the official government of Afghanistan, improving bilateral relations which had turned icy under Karzai and Ghani. But relations turned hostile, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing the Taliban of allowing anti-Pakistan armed groups like the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) to operate from Afghan soil. The Taliban denies this. Then, the deportation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees by Pakistan in recent years further strained ties between the two neighbours. India has ultimately taken a pragmatic approach to the Taliban in order to maintain the good relations it built with Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, and has somewhat leveraged poor relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to cement these. With Pakistans increasingly strained relations with Afghanistan, the logic of enemys enemy is acting as a glue between Kabul and New Delhi, International Crisis Groups Donthi said. He added that despite the fact that Indias Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government opposes Islamist organisations, the strategic necessity to counter Pakistan has led it to engage with the Taliban proactively. India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed rivals which engaged in a four-day conflict in May 2025 after armed rebels killed Indian tourists in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot in Indian-administered Kashmir, last April. New Delhi accused Pakistan of supporting rebel fighters, a charge Pakistan strongly denied. For its part, Afghanistan took the opportunity to strongly condemn the Pahalgam attack and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep appreciation to the Taliban for its strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam as well as for the sincere condolences. India has also condemned Pakistani military action in Afghanistan and has provided aid to thousands of Afghan refugees displaced from Pakistan. So what is Indias endgame in Afghanistan? Sharma, the OP Jindal Global University professor, said India wants to ensure that Pakistan and China, whose influence has grown in South Asia in recent years, do not have a free run, as there is a divergence of interest on Afghanistan with both Pakistan and its ally, China. There are security interests New Delhi is keen to further and protect for which engagement [with the Taliban] is the only option, he added. Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian diplomat, noted that while Afghanistan and Pakistan relations have their own dynamic, currently the Taliban leadership, even if not a monolith, refuses to play to the tunes of the Pakistan military and its intelligence agency. Hence they [Pakistan] accuse Indian complicity in Taliban actions in Pakistan, he said. But the Taliban, he said, understands and appreciates Indias intent, policies and [humanitarian] contributions, making its leaders keen to continue collaboration with New Delhi. More cuts to Indiana degree programs could be coming if Gov. Mike Braun signs a bill that passed out of the Indiana General Assembly on Feb. 27. It's just one provision of an otherwise uncontroversial bill, and it flew under the radar for several of its opponents on both sides of the aisle. They argued the pace of session and the multiple changes to the bill made it hard to flag. Senate Bill 199, which passed in a 62-32 vote in the House and a 34-14 vote in the Senate, would scrap degree programs whose graduates earn less than Hoosiers in a similar age group with only a high school diploma. The contentious provision could add to a series of cuts made last year after lawmakers slipped in language to eliminate programs where enrollment falls below a strict quota. Advertisement Advertisement Universities proactively slashed nearly a fifth of the state's programs in response to last year's effort. It's all part of a broader push, including by President Donald Trump's administration, to fill critical workforce needs and reduce ballooning student debt by squashing programs that don't provide a positive return on investment. But critics have described it as an intentional dismantling of the liberal arts, instead urging an approach that increases transparency around future earnings while keeping the programs intact. Lawmakers say they missed the provision When SB 199 was first up for a vote in the Senate in January, it earned support from every single Democrat in the chamber, despite containing the language about cutting college degrees. But the conversation surrounding the legislation was far more contentious as the bill moved through the House and returned to the Senate on Feb. 27, just one vote away from Gov. Mike Braun's desk. Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said the Senate didn't get the opportunity to properly vet all components of the bill earlier because of how all-consuming the conversations on social media restrictions were. Advertisement Advertisement But the bill, which at times housed language on those restrictions, didn't include the social media provision when it first passed the Senate. After its initial passage, Yoder said she got an influx of messages from concerned constituents. So I know, yes, that we voted on this...I just am concerned that we didnt have a true opportunity to argue and discuss and debate this value in this body," she said. For other Democrats, including Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, who heard the bill in the Senate education committee, it was another provision in the bill that would study paid leave for Indiana teachers that earned their vote. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the bill's impact on degrees was absent from the bill's digest when it first passed the Senate. Democrats weren't the only ones who missed it, either. "I didnt realize this language was in this bill until this morning," Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said on the Senate floor Feb. 27. She said she worried the bill could harm specialty degrees at Purdue, which was a concern she heard when the legislature passed a law to slash degrees in 2025. But bill author Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, said nothing was intentionally hidden. Its not a sinister plot to eliminate programs," he said. "Its a way to help move higher ed somewhat into a place of evaluating things from a different standpoint. How could Indiana colleges be impacted? The degrees that would be scrapped under the bill are not yet finalized, though Indiana leaders have provided hypothetical scenarios. Advertisement Advertisement Lets say its underwater basket weaving that 40 kids in Indiana have signed up for and theyre set to make $12,000 a year, and theyve paid $20,000 per year and are now, like the average child in Indiana, $30,000 in debt, Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said. But underwater basket weaving was not on a preliminary list of degrees that could be on the chopping block. The handful of degrees on the list the U.S. Department of Education released in January included a bachelor of music at Indiana University Bloomington, a bachelor of dance at Ball State University and computer software and media applications at Purdue Northwest, according to Chalkbeat Indiana. Proponents have said programs have a low bar to cross to survive. To be considered a low-earning degree, the median earnings of a program's cohort would have to earn less than their non-college educated peers, which for Indiana is around $33,500, for several years. A university could also appeal to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education if it wants to preserve the degree. Even if a particularly niche program was eliminated, it could have consequences for students in other programs, too. Advertisement Advertisement "If you eliminate the degree," Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, said on the House floor Feb. 17, "you eliminate the professors that teach those courses." Whether the bill is signed or not, Congress already passed a law limiting federal student aid for low earning programs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That means students could have a more difficult time obtaining a degree in certain programs regardless of what happens with state law. IndyStar reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed reporting. Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@gannett.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana approves bill scrapping degrees. It flew under the radar for some lawmakers The Indiana General Assembly gave final approval to a set of sweeping social media restrictions for minors, setting the stage for a potential legal battle if Gov. Mike Braun signs the bill into law. Lawmakers signaled their intent to crack down on addictive social media platforms going into the legislative session, but the death of a missing Fishers teen, Hailey Buzbee, earlier this year renewed momentum for the policy. Buzbee had met the man charged in connection with her case on social media, linking the online spaces with yet another tragedy as concern over impacts on attention, cognition and mental health grow. "There's a lot of research that would show the addictive power of this is very similar to the dopamine that's released (by) drugs," bill author Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said at a conference committee meeting Feb. 24. Advertisement Advertisement The social media language had a rocky path through the Indiana General Assembly. It began in Senate Bill 199, then was stripped out of the bill by its author before being added back in the House after the news of Buzbee's death. The House passed the bill, but the Senate determined the language was no longer relevant to the bill, so it was slotted in House Bill 1408 instead. On Feb. 26, the House unanimously approved the bill, and the Senate passed it in a 49-1 vote, sending HB 1408 to the governor. The bill would restrict minors under 16 from accessing social media sites that utilize algorithms and have addictive features like autoplay or continuous scrolling, with a few extra caveats: the company made $1 billion worldwide in at least one of the three years prior, the platform has a significant amount of active daily users younger than 16 and the site's primary function involves uploading and viewing content. The legislation is the Indiana General Assembly's "first bite at the apple" on the issue, and Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, promised to return to the issue in future legislative sessions. "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good," Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, said ahead of the bill's passage Feb. 27. "This vote is a vote to protect our children. Nothing more, it's that simple." Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear what specific apps would be impacted by the bill. Raatz said Feb. 26 that he purposely did not look up if certain companies would apply because he didn't want to know. But a few likely contenders are TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, which are some of the most commonly used platforms by teens and use many of the addictive features cited in the legislation. But the jury could be out on another major social media beloved by young people: Snapchat. When pressed by Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, Raatz said he couldn't confirm if the app was included. "Snapchat in my opinion is one of the most egregious platforms," Ford said. Some minors would still be able to use social media, so long as their parents approve access. From there, the app would be configured to limit direct communications from people the user doesn't follow and what accounts show up in searches. It would also prohibit companies from showing content or advertisements to the minor based on their previous interactions with the app and any other features deemed addictive. Advertisement Advertisement A previous version of the bill restricted minors under 17, but it was changed in a conference committee to only apply to people younger than 16. That alteration is likely because case law is clearer around the latter age, Raatz told IndyStar. While social media restrictions are gaining support among state lawmakers across the country, its legal ramifications have not been completely settled. Multiple states have been sued for limiting social media for minors, though at least one, Florida, has succeeded. Lawmakers spearheading the effort have said they've looked to the Sunshine State as a model. But avoiding litigation is far from guaranteed. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has called the efforts an "overbroad system" that could "chill protected speech for adults and minors alike." Others have pointed out that young teenagers have used social media to engage in political activity and express their views, such as by organizing school walkouts, and expressed concern that the bill could hamper young Hoosiers' speech. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm inclined to support this," Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis, said, "but only with an understanding that it's an experiment that's going to lead to a lot of litigation." The bill's proponents have acknowledged the potential for a lawsuit, but maintain the issue is too important to ignore. "We will probably be challenged in a court of law," Raatz said Feb. 27. "Is it worth it? Absolutely." IndyStar reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed to this story. Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@gannett.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana teens could soon lose access to social media under a bill sent to the governor JAKARTA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - An Indonesian court has jailed nine people in a major corruption case involving subsidiaries of state energy firm Pertamina, including two former chief executives of its units, which prosecutors say caused $17 billion in state losses. The case, which centres on alleged illegal leasing of a fuel terminal and illegal imports of crude oil, among other offences, is one of the biggest launched under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, who has vowed to eradicate corruption. The nine were sentenced by the Central Jakarta Court, with the reading of the verdicts starting on Thursday afternoon and continuing into the early hours of Friday. The defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine years to 15 years, after prosecutors had sought terms of 14 to 18 years. Advertisement Advertisement Yoki Firnandi, former chief executive of Pertamina International Shipping, and Riva Siahaan, former Pertamina Patra Niaga chief executive, each received a nine-year sentence from the panel of judges. Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, a beneficial owner of a fuel terminal leased by Pertamina, was jailed for 15 years for his involvement, less than the 18 years sought by prosecutors. Riza is the son of businessman Mohammad Riza Chalid, who has been named a suspect in the case and who the police said is now at large. The three men had each denied the charges against them and pleaded not guilty, local media reported during the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Riza's lawyer Patra Zen said on Friday his client rejected the ruling and would appeal. Outside the court on Friday, Firnandi said he was disappointed by a verdict that he called a farce, and said he would discuss with his counsel about appealing. Siahaan's lawyer Luhut Pangaribuan said he was saddened and disappointed by the verdict. Pertamina said it respects the court's ruling and reiterated it has "zero tolerance towards corruption," company spokesperson Muhammad Baron told Reuters. "We continue to make improvements and transform in carrying out business processes and operations," he said, adding that the company is ready to give legal assistance to the defendants until the court issues a legally binding ruling. (Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, and Bernadette Christina; Editing by John Mair, Martin Petty and Thomas Derpinghaus) Iran has urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to de-escalate rising tensions in the wake of overnight strikes, following months of deteriorating relations between the neighbouring countries. Tehran is "ready to provide any assistance to facilitate dialogue," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media platform X on Friday. "During the holy month of Ramadan, a month of restraint and strengthening solidarity in the Islamic world, it is appropriate for Afghanistan and Pakistan to manage and resolve existing differences within the framework of good neighbourliness and through dialogue," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian government maintains close contacts with Pakistan. Its relationship with the Taliban is considered tense but pragmatic. Tehran has not officially recognized the Islamists since they took power in 2021. Overnight, the long-simmering tensions between the Taliban government in Kabul and Pakistan escalated sharply, with Pakistani forces striking military targets inside Afghanistan in response to cross-border attacks by the Taliban. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan an allegation the Islamist Taliban deny. Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company has reported a slight increase in global sales to 272,782 vehicles in January 2026, including models sold under the Nissan and Infiniti brands, with sales in Japan falling by 11% to 35,287 units while overseas sales increased by 2.8% to 217,316 units. Sales in China rose by over 10% to 50,033 units last month, while sales in North America rose by 7.2% to 102,982 units, including a 5% rise in the US to 71,248 units and a 22% rise in Mexico to 24,804 units, while sales in Canada fell by 10% to 6,798 units. Deliveries in Europe dropped by 13% to 26,185 units and in other markets volumes were down by 4% to 38,116 units. Global production declined by 7.2% to 222,931 units in January, with output in Japan falling by 9.5% to 47,168 units while overseas volumes declined by 6.6% to 175,763 units. Output in the US rose by over 21% to 43,417 units, while UK output was up by 13% to 25,468 units. This was offset by a 31% drop in Mexico to 42,115 units, as the automaker restructured its regional production following the introduction US import tariffs last year, while output in other countries combined fell by over 8% to 20,322 units. Exports from Japan rose by 19% to 27,530 units, with shipments to North America rising by 26% to 14,318 units, while there were no shipments to Europe last month. Exports to other markets rose by over 26% to 13,212 units. "Nissans global sales up slightly in January" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Islamic militant groups have stepped up attacks and deepened their presence in border areas of Benin, Niger and Nigeria in West Africa over the past year, a crisis monitoring group said Thursday. From 2024 to 2025, the number of violent events involving jihadi groups in border areas of the three West African countries rose by around 80%, and deaths more than tripled to over 1,000, according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, or ACLED. The data show how violence in the region has entered a new phase, with Islamic militants not just expanding but also cementing their presence, said Heni Nsaibia, ACLEDs senior analyst for West Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Militant groups are taking advantage of long-standing vulnerabilities, exploiting governance gaps and weak regional military coordination, Nsaibia said. Over the past year, two jihadist groups the al-Qaida-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, and the Islamic State Sahel Province have rapidly expanded from the Sahel, an arid swath of land south of the Sahara, toward coastal nations along the Atlantic. In the small coastal nation of Benin, deadly cross-border raids against the military made 2025 the countrys deadliest year, according to the report. In Niger, the groups are consolidating control, including a deadly attack on an air base in Niamey last month. The country, which is ruled by a military junta who took power in a 2023 coup, has struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has battered parts of Africas Sahel region. Advertisement Advertisement Since seizing power, Nigers military rulers along with those in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have cut ties with France and other Western powers and turned to Russia for military support to fight insurgencies. In Nigeria, U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State in the northwest in December have coincided with rising attacks by multiple groups. Africas most populous country is battling a complex security crisis involving armed groups, including the jihadist group Boko Haram and criminal gangs often referred to as bandits. The United States has sent troops to Nigeria to advise its military in the fight against insecurity. According to the report, extremist groups in West Africa are increasingly publicizing their attacks in the borderlands, with JNIM claiming a series of strikes along the Benin-Nigeria border, including its first operations inside Nigeria, and ISSP claiming attacks near the Niger-Nigeria border. These public claims reflect growing competition between the groups as they vie for influence and control in the region, according to ACLED. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Friday she opposes changing the imperial family's male-only succession rules, as pressure mounts on lawmakers to address the issue of the monarchy's survival. Only the male offspring of the male side of the family can currently ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne. Since Emperor Naruhito, 66, only has one daughter, hopes for continuing the imperial family lie with Prince Hisahito, the teenage son of Crown Prince Akishino. Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Takaichi told parliament on Friday that a panel of experts in 2021 found it "appropriate to limit eligibility to those who are male-line male descendants belonging to the imperial lineage" and she respected their conclusion. "The government, and I, myself as well, respect this report," said Takaichi, the country's first woman prime minister. She previously warned that revising the imperial family's succession rules was "an urgent matter", although this would likely involve "adopting" new members. Even though tradition dictates only a man can carry on the imperial line -- which goes back 2,600 years according to legend -- opinion polls have shown high public support for a woman taking the throne. Advertisement Advertisement - 'Unbroken imperial line' - Japan has debated the royal succession rules for decades, with a key government panel in 2005 recommending that it pass to the oldest child regardless of sex. That appeared to pave the way for the emperor's daughter, Princess Aiko, to rise to the throne. But the birth of Prince Hisahito the following year silenced the debate. In 2021, a government-appointed expert panel advised the government to consider allowing the imperial family to "adopt" new male members -- distant relatives who could be brought back into the fold. But it is unclear if those men would be willing to give up their careers and freedom to continue the royal lineage. Advertisement Advertisement The panel also said royal daughters -- currently forced to leave the family after marriage -- could potentially continue their public duties after their nuptials. Traditionalists have asserted that the "unbroken imperial line" of male succession is the foundation of Japan, and major changes would divide the nation. Under the post-war constitution, the royal family holds no political power. Historically, women who wed royals have faced intense pressure to produce sons and some family members are regular subjects of online and media gossip. Empress Masako, a former high-flying diplomat, struggled for years with a stress-related illness after joining the household, which some have put down to the pressure to have a boy. Advertisement Advertisement Empress Emerita Michiko, Naruhito's mother, also suffered stress-induced illnesses. Hisahito's sister, Mako, married her university boyfriend, Kei Komuro. She faced intense tabloid reporting over claims that Kei's family had run into financial difficulties, leading the former princess to develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The couple left for the United States, where they had a baby. kh-aph/lb Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party has approved plans to beef up the country's intelligence capability, a party official said Friday, as the premier pushes ahead with a defence overhaul. Newly empowered after a landslide victory in snap elections this month, Takaichi has vowed to make Japan "strong and prosperous" through key policy changes including in defence and intelligence. The plans come as a months-long diplomatic row between Japan and China over comments Takaichi made on Taiwan rumbles on. Advertisement Advertisement The proposal, agreed by the intelligence strategy headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), includes establishing an upgraded intelligence bureau and strengthening "foreign intelligence collection capabilities", an LDP official told AFP. It calls for a mandatory registration system for foreign agents -- such as individuals and corporations lobbying within Japan on behalf of other governments -- as part of counterintelligence measures. The plan, which also includes a ban on the use of mobile phones in key government buildings, is expected to be submitted to Takaichi next week, the Asahi Shimbun and other local media reported. "One of the central pillars of the major policy shift (under Takaichi) is a fundamental strengthening of intelligence," the LDP's policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi said at the meeting Thursday where plans were approved. Advertisement Advertisement "Simply creating an organisation on paper is utterly meaningless; the question is how we can turn it into a truly living, functioning body," he said. Separately, the LDP on Wednesday proposed changes to Japan's stringent rules on exporting military equipment so as to enable exports of lethal weapons, local reports said. The LDP official could not immediately confirm the proposal. Takaichi has also said that she plans to revise three key national security policy documents this year to reflect the changing security environment. The premier, seen as a China hawk before becoming premier in October, suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. Advertisement Advertisement China, which regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it, was furious. It summoned Tokyo's ambassador, warned Chinese citizens against visiting Japan and in December J-15 jets from China's Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar on Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa, according to Japan. Takaichi has vowed that Japan will steadfastly protect its territory, territorial waters and airspace. Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi told the Munich Security Conference earlier this month that forces in Japan were seeking to "revive militarism". Advertisement Advertisement While she has said in parliament she will not change the rules, local media have reported that Takaichi is considering allowing US nuclear weapons into Japanese territory, a revision to the country's non-nuclear principles of not producing, possessing or permitting the introduction of the weapons into the country. kh/aph/ane Vice President JD Vance did not utter the word tariffs a single time during his upbeat speech at a Plover, Wisconsin, machining plant Thursday. The visit, aimed at shoring up vulnerable Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden ahead of the 2026 midterms, was part of a post-State of the Union victory lap Vance is taking to market the so-called Golden Age of prosperity President Donald Trump claims he and the Republicans have delivered to rural and blue-collar voters. Its a tough sell. The latest Marquette University Law School poll, released the day before Vance parachuted into Wisconsin, shows Trump hitting a second-term low with Wisconsin voters, with 44% saying they approve of the job hes doing and 54% saying they dont approve. Across partisan affiliations, the rising cost of living is voters No. 1 concern, while 55% of respondents told pollsters tariffs are hurting Wisconsin farmers. Manufacturers are not happy, either. Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you from my experience running our company, from everyone I talk to in my networks 95% of people in manufacturing 99% do not support the tariffs, said Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, a Wisconsin-based company with locations across the Midwest. Shivaram spoke on a press call with Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin ahead of Vances speech Thursday. Many business owners, he said, are afraid to publicly share their criticisms of the Trump administration. When he meets other leaders of manufacturing companies in boardrooms, he said, Its like, look, we cant say anything about how dumb the tariff policy is, because were going to be the next one whacked on X. But, he added, its costing all of them, all of us, a lot of money. Tariffs have caused chaos and uncertainty for businesses, agreed Kyle LaFond, owner and founder of American Provenance and Natural Contract Manufacturing, a small business that makes personal care products. Last year, when these tariffs were first instituted, I absorbed those costs as much as possible. I did that for about eight months, LaFond said. But that is not a sustainable business practice. Ultimately, he said, businesses have to pass along the cost to their customers: Tariffs are just attacks on the American consumer. Trump 's failure to deliver the economic miracle he advertised, along with devastating cuts to health care and the safety net, pose a looming problem for Republicans ahead of the midterms. The solution theyve hit on is a combination of bluster, bullying and straight up lies. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a reason slim majorities of Wisconsin voters chose Trump in 2016 and 2024. Vance put his finger on it in his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. When I was in the fourth grade, a career politician by the name of Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal that sent countless good jobs to Mexico. Wisconsin manufacturing workers and farmers suffered tremendously from global trade deals. Democrats and Republicans alike brushed aside their pain and tried to tell them that the booming stock market and increasing corporate profits were worth the crashing prices and job losses. Never mind the communities ruined and all the families that fell out of the middle class. Trump and Vance spoke to those voters. In his convention speech, Vance cleverly tied global trade deals supported by both political parties to immigration.Now, thanks to these policies that Biden and other out-of-touch politicians in Washington gave us, he said, our country was flooded with cheap Chinese goods, with cheap foreign labor. But the immigrants who make up 70% of the labor force on Wisconsin dairy farms did not drive the collapse of Wisconsins small-farm economy. They, too, were displaced by globalization that drove down prices and accelerated a get big or get out economy that has taken a heavy toll on working people on both sides of the border. The arrival of immigrants willing to work long hours for low pay on farms that were forced to expand rapidly to stay afloat was a blessing to farmers who simply couldnt find American workers to fill those jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Todays increasingly virulent, demagogic attacks on those hardworking immigrants should make everyone queasy. Alex Jacquez, a former White House economic official in the Biden administration who also worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, sees Vances rise as a big win for the populist right. Vances criticism of global trade deals that hollowed out American manufacturing, and his appeal to the forgotten American workers who have never recovered from outsourcing, struck a nerve with voters across the industrial Midwest. But I think the question is whether the actual policies put forward are having the outcomes that they intend here, Jacquez said in a phone interview Thursday. Trump s failure to deliver the economic miracle he advertised, along with devastating cuts to health care and the safety net, pose a looming problem for Republicans ahead of the midterms. The solution theyve hit on is a combination of bluster, bullying and straight up lies. Advertisement Advertisement In his Plover speech, Vance doubled down on Trumps scapegoating of immigrants and Democrats in the State of the Union. Following up on Trumps racist characterization of the entire Somali immigrant community in Minnesota as pirates responsible for plundering public aid, Vance blamed illegal aliens for fraud in public benefits programs and voting. He brought up Trumps lurid descriptions of crimes committed by immigrants and, like Trump, excoriated Democrats for not standing up and cheering as the president subjected grieving parents to a gory rehash of violent attacks on their children. The reason Democrats didnt stand up during Trumps speech, Vance suggested, is that they answer to people who have corrupted this country. They answer to people who opened the border. They answer to people who got rich off of illegal immigrant labor. We want American workers to get rich for working hard, not illegal aliens. Todays increasingly virulent, demagogic attacks on those hardworking immigrants should make everyone queasy. Sucker-punching Democrats on immigration was a goal of the State of the Union speech. And Republicans will keep on punching. Their sanctimonious horror at the very idea of their colleagues not standing up and cheering for the victims of violent criminals is a way of changing the subject away from the spectacle of masked federal immigration agents spreading murderous mayhem in Midwestern neighborhoods, and, of course, the fact that none of this is making American workers better off. Advertisement Advertisement As Jacquez pointed out, Certainly Trump has cracked down on immigration, but that doesnt seem to be redounding to the benefit of native-born workers. Weve seen the unemployment rate creep up even while fewer immigrants are working these days on the manufacturing side. We lost manufacturing jobs in every single month of 2025, he added. There has been no resurgence whatsoever in actual people getting jobs in manufacturing and, in fact, in many sectors, some of the trade policies that Trump has advanced have been actively harmful. At the end of his speech, Vance took questions from local media that reflected the immediate concerns of voters in western Wisconsin. What can his administration do to stop the closure of rural hospitals that are creating a health care desert in the district he was visiting? Advertisement Advertisement Vance blamed the problem on the Biden administration, although rural hospital closures did not begin under Biden and are severely exacerbated by Medicaid cuts under Trump. Vance also claimed the Trump administration is now turning things around with the rural hospital fund included in the Big Beautiful Bill Act $200 million of which was awarded to Wisconsin in December. Derrick Van Orden also pumped the rural hospital fund in remarks ahead of Vances speech, saying its just a lie that Democrats care about rural health care, because they didnt vote for the massive tax- and spending-cut bill that contained the rural health care fund. KFF projects the fund will only make up for about one-third of the Republicans cuts to Medicaid in rural areas. And that offset is temporary. The rural health fund expires in five years. In Wisconsin, meanwhile, 250,000 people are losing their health care coverage because of the Medicaid cuts and changes to the Affordable Care Act passed by Republicans. Those losses are concentrated in rural areas, and have a cascading effect on rural hospitals and entire rural economies. Van Orden, who has spent his whole political career calling for the elimination of the Affordable Care Act, reversed course and voted with Democrats to extend ACA subsidies last month right after voting to block the same measure when Democrats brought it up the day before. Advertisement Advertisement In answer to a question on the health care worker shortage and the aging population of rural Wisconsin, Vance took a swipe at college students who major in womens studies. The Trump administration which has focused on repealing a pandemic-era pause on student loan repayment, resumed garnishing the wages of student debtors and imposed less affordable repayment plans wants to make it easier for people to study to become doctors and nurses without getting layered up with debt, Vance declared. Will the Trump administration withhold Medicaid money from Wisconsin as it recently announced it will do to Minnesota, as punishment for the states refusal to hand over the sensitive, personal information of food assistance recipients and of voters? In answer to that question, Vance said it was outrageous that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Elections Commission have refused to hand over the data Trump is demanding, and left the open the option of withholding federal Medicaid money, saying Democrats like to cheat in voter rolls and welfare rolls. Asked about farmers facing wildly fluctuating commodity prices, Vance celebrated the administrations success in getting China to open up its market to U.S. soybeans. Thats a head-scratcher, since China was purchasing about half of all U.S. soybeans a year ago, before it stopped amid a trade war caused by Trumps tariffs. That was a big problem for Wisconsin farmers who were suddenly stuck sitting on a bumper soybean crop after losing their biggest buyer. Even with the new deal, those farmers will not be made whole, Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, told Wisconsin Public Radio, and China has now found new markets, setting up a long-term business loss. Advertisement Advertisement Among Vances many preposterous claims, perhaps the most incredible was the picture he tried to paint of a caring, empathetic Trump, who wakes up every morning asking what he can do to solve the problems of the American people. Do even Trumps supporters buy the idea that the man who made $4 billion off the presidency after just one year in office is driven by selfless concern for the needs of others? On one occasion, Vance said, during a discussion of the soaring stock market, Trump asked earnestly what could be done for people who dont own any stocks. The answer, he said, was Trumps brilliant plan to give low-income workers a $1,000 federal match for retirement. That idea was actually signed into law by Biden four years ago. Asked for his further ideas for investing in rural communities, Vance said his administration will mostly just listen to voters. He held up Van Orden as the administrations point man for keeping in touch with constituents in rural Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Van Orden is so notorious for avoiding in-person contact with voters, Democrats have made a regular practice of visiting his district to hold town halls from which he is reliably, notably absent. The claim that either he or the Trump administration is concerned about solving the problems of Wisconsin voters is the biggest lie of all. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX JD Vance drew mockery Thursday after embracing a fellow Trump officials description of him as the coolest U.S. vice president of all time. Introducing Vance at an event in Wisconsin, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler told the crowd: You all know the story of his humble beginnings, and now hes in the Oval Office as the second most powerful man in the world and probably the coolest vice president weve ever had. Loeffler: JD Vance is probably the coolest VP weve ever had pic.twitter.com/dJ7jW1pbO4 Acyn (@Acyn) February 26, 2026 When Vance later took the stage, he circled back to the remark. Advertisement Advertisement I will say I took special note of one thing that she said, though. Kelly said that Im the coolest vice president in American history. And I said: Kelly, that is a low standard. That is a very low bar. But I do think that I clear that bar. But I think that was a low standard she set me to. Vance: I am the coolest VP in American history. I do think I clear that bar pic.twitter.com/DBSo6FZGxU Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) February 26, 2026 The line drew laughter in the room, but mockery online. Some critics suggested that declaring yourself cool has the opposite effect. Others responded with meme images of Vance and clips of former President Joe Biden during his time as vice president to Barack Obama. Its kind of sad just how desperately he wants to be cool (and obviously is the farthest thing from it). Hes tried to reinvent himself so many times trying to get people to like him and think hes cool, butyeah. No. Not ever. wine-stained lens (@winestainedlens) February 26, 2026 Saying that shows how uncool he is. Cringeworthy. How embarrassing. thismomentonly (@thismomentonly) February 26, 2026 The man who strokes his own ego has a fan club of one. #JDVance#UshaVance Upstander4Good (@SaysThalia) February 26, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement JD embarrasses himself every time he speaks. Should be hidden from view BigDaddyZ (@zshroff) February 26, 2026 Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Calling JD Vance cool should be a jail-able offense https://t.co/ru0DzWkMKh TL (@tripp1L) February 27, 2026 if you have to be the one to say youre cool, youre not actually cool csb (@itsCSB__) February 26, 2026 Joe Biden was a way cooler VP than JD Vacation. Annalea (@citizengatsby) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement I think a fundamental requirement for that claim is being cool in the first place, so Earl Fando (@earlfando) February 26, 2026 Not even remotely close Vijay Gupta (@Veej_1) February 26, 2026 If you have to say it yourself, you aren't. Cool people don't talk about how cool they are. Jason Millett (@Jayce_M_grifter) February 26, 2026 Prima facie evidence of someone being uncool is for them to announce they think they are cool. Jim (@hansonji) February 26, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement That's one low bar. Liz (@4abbamom) February 26, 2026 JD Vance is most hated VP in the history of America. Kevin Muruta (@KevinMuruta) February 26, 2026 Related... Read the original on HuffPost By Jonathan Stempel Feb 27 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that aimed to protect children from being addicted to social media by requiring age verification and limiting use by those under 16 to one hour per day. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in Alexandria, Virginia, said the technology trade group NetChoice was likely to establish that the law unconstitutionally infringed the free speech rights of adults, children and its dozens of members, including Google, Meta Platforms, Netflix, Reddit and Elon Musk's X. Advertisement Advertisement The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the law known as Senate Bill 854, which had been signed last May by then-Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, and took effect on January 1, 2026. NetChoice has also challenged similar laws in states, including California. Virginia argued that the law was reasonably tailored to protect children from the "addictive features" of social media, and address a mental health crisis among youth. But the judge said that notwithstanding Virginia's interest in protecting children, the law was both overinclusive by requiring everyone, including adults, to verify their age, and underinclusive by exempting potentially addictive interactive gaming from coverage. Advertisement Advertisement She also said the law treats "functionally equivalent" speech differently by preventing children from watching, for example, science, history and church programming lasting more than an hour that they could watch elsewhere, including streaming platforms. "The court recognizes the Commonwealths compelling interest in protecting its youth from the harms associated with the addictive aspects of social media," wrote Giles, an appointee of former Democratic President Joe Biden. "However, it cannot infringe on First Amendment rights, including those of the same youth it aims to protect." Rae Pickett, a spokesperson for Virginia's Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones, said after the decision: "We look forward to continuing to enforce laws that empower parents to protect their children from the proven harms that can come through social media." Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, welcomed the decision. Advertisement Advertisement "This ruling reaffirms that the government cannot ration access to lawful speech - even if it has noble intentions," he said in a statement. "Fundamentally, parents must stay in the drivers seat when it comes to decisions about their families." (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Ethan Smith) A Court of Appeals judge has denied Matt Bevins request to keep his adopted son, Jonah, out of the former Kentucky governors divorce settlement case. Matt and Glenna Bevins divorce was finalized in March 2025, but a proposed settlement is pending while Jonah seeks to be a party, arguing he was neglected, deprived of an education and sent to an abusive child residential center in Jamaica at 17, the Lantern has reported. In January, the former governor asked the Court of Appeals to vacate Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnsons decision to let Jonah, 19, intervene in any settlement the Bevins reached. Advertisement Advertisement For the appeals court to grant Matt Bevins request for emergency relief, he would have to have experienced something of a ruinous nature, according to the Friday ruling. Court of Appeals Judge Christopher McNeill wrote that this high burden has not been met. Matthew asserts that he, and the Bevin family, will be irreparably harmed if the March 27, 2026, hearing is allowed to proceed because it will unduly delay the conclusion of his divorce, it will cause unwarranted public attention and scrutiny regarding private family issues, and any order awarding Jonah attorneys fees is not supported by Kentucky law, the latest ruling says. Bevin also asserts that Jonahs requests for his and Glennas financial disclosures and to schedule their depositions are nothing more than a fishing expedition, according to court documents. He is also concerned about depositions opening the door for interviews with no guardrails. These allegations concern Jonahs ability to conduct discovery, and at this juncture, are pure speculation, McNeills order says. The family court has not ruled on whether Matthew and Glenna must produce their unredacted financial disclosures, or whether they are required to sit for a deposition. Being concerned about danger, the ruling says, does not meet the legal definition of irreparable harm. Advertisement Advertisement As for Matthews concerns about the familys privacy, the records in all divorce actions are open and available to the public unless a family court determines there is a reason to seal the record. Thus, this injury would be no different than that of every married couple who files for divorce, McNeills order states. In a footnote, he added: Matthew did not cite to, nor is this Court aware of, an exception because Matthew is a public figure. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A federal judge has ruled a Trump administration policy that allows the Department of Homeland Security to deport migrants to "third countries" that are not their own, without first giving them notice or the opportunity to challenge the order, is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts ruled in favor of a group of noncitizens who filed a class-action lawsuit in Boston. They challenged DHS's process of deporting people to so-called "third countries" that were not previously designated in their removal orders. "This case is about whether the Government may, without notice, deport a person to the wrong country, or a country where he is likely to be persecuted, or tortured, thereby depriving that person of the opportunity to seek protections to which he would be undisputedly entitled," Murphy wrote in his ruling Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration argued that certain migrants living in the U.S. illegally are not entitled to due process. However, Murphy said the Fifth Amendment applies to all "persons" in the U.S., regardless of their immigration status. Murphy's new ruling does not take effect for 15 days, giving the Trump administration time to appeal. gov.uscourts.mad.282404.241.0Download Murphy previously ruled last year that the government's efforts to deport migrants to third-party countries without due process "unquestionably" violated the Constitution. However, in June, the Supreme Court paused that decision, granting an emergency appeal by the Trump administration without explaining why. Advertisement Advertisement The court's three liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan, all dissented. Related Links The Department of Justice has filed new lawsuits against five additional states as part of its ongoing request to obtain voter data from states nationwide that can be shared with the Trump administration. With this latest legal action, the agency has now sued over two dozen states to access voter files; most of the states are controlled by Democrats. Which states are now being sued by the DOJ? Local perspective The Justice Departments Civil Rights Division announced on Feb. 26 that it filed federal lawsuits against five states Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Four of the states in the lawsuit, Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky and West Virginia, supported President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024. RELATED: DOJ sues additional states for not handing over voter data What they're saying "Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement in a DOJ release. "This latest series of litigation underscores that This Department of Justice is fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country." Advertisement Advertisement FOX News reported that the agency claims that states are in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which states that the attorney general can request voter records from election officials, but state officials argued that the Department of Justice is seeking an escalation of the Trump administrations broader attempts to get involved in state election proceedings. Although access to election information is different in each state, election officials typically release redacted versions of their voter rolls to the public and government agencies, Politico reported. States respond to new Justice Department lawsuit The other side Several state officials have responded to the Justice Departments latest lawsuit with statements that were obtained by Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said in a statement to Politico "Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens. Utahns can be assured that my office will always follow the Constitution and the law, protect voters rights, and administer free and fair elections." Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams also criticized the lawsuit, saying in a statement to Politico that the states elections were "a national success story." RELATED: DOJ suing Oregon and Maine as it seeks voter data in multiple states "Kentucky law protects voters personal information, and I will not voluntarily commit a data breach by providing Kentuckians personal data to the federal bureaucracy unless a court order tells me to," Adams said in a statement to Politico. Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warners office said it had not yet been served with a lawsuit from the DOJ. "Regardless, I think Secretary Warners comments to the DOJ were pretty clear. Bring it on! The federal government is not going to get any personal information on West Virginia voters as long as Kris Warner is Secretary of State," spokesperson Mike Queen said in a statement to Politico. DOJ files lawsuits against states for voter data The backstory In 2025, the Department of Justice filed multiple lawsuits against states to obtain its voting data. On Sept. 18, 2025, the agency sued Oregon and Maine because the states failed to submit voter registration lists. Advertisement Advertisement And a week later, the DOJ filed lawsuits against California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania on Sept. 26, 2025, with agency officials accusing the states of not responding adequately to inquiries about how they maintain their voter data. A few months later, on Dec. 3, 2025, the Justice Department sued Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington State over their "failure" to provide statewide voter registration data. Last year, approximately 10 Democratic secretaries of state requested that the Trump administration provide more information about its attempts to gain statewide voter registration lists. The AP noted that the secretaries of state referenced worries that federal agencies allegedly misinformed them and could use the data to verify U.S. citizenship. Has the DOJ received voter data from other states? Why you should care Some states have spurned or objected to the voter registration data requests, citing their own state laws or the Justice Departments negligence to meet federal Privacy Act obligations. Federal officials have followed up by sending additional letters demanding the voter data on short deadlines. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, several states have sent redacted versions of their voter lists that are available to the public, but the DOJ has demanded copies that contain personal information like voter names, birth dates, addresses and drivers license numbers or partial Social Security numbers. The Source Information for this story was provided by a Department of Justice release, FOX News, Politico, which obtained statements from states about the lawsuits, and previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C. Editors note: Welcome to Double Take, a conversation from opinion writer David Mastio and editor Yvette Walker, tackling news with differing perspectives and respectful debate. Yvette Walker: I dont drink, but I dont mind if you do, and I do allow alcohol at gatherings at my home. I point this out because it might color what you think about my opinion of the upcoming retail alcohol impact ordinance that is on the Kansas City Council docket. I know my colleague, David Mastio, will disagree with me. Welcome back to DoubleTake, where David and I will tackle local issues from different perspectives. David and former Star columnist Melinda Henneberger previously launched this column. Readers told us they missed it, so were bringing it back. Advertisement Advertisement Today, well talk about whether its a good or bad idea to ban certain types of alcohol products sold at gas stations, convenience stores and liquor stores in five areas of Kansas City that have pervasive crime and drunkenness. What kinds of alcohol are we talking about? Small bottles, like the ones you might get on an airplane, malt liquor 40 ounces or less, half-pints, miniatures, nips, and shooters. I think the ban, or at least a pilot test, is a good idea. I think I know what youre going to say, David. This is taking away peoples rights to drink a legal substance. Calm down were not going back to Prohibition. Its not an outright alcohol ban. The ban wont apply to grocery stores, and at the stores that will be affected, alcohol can be sold in packages larger than single servings. Advertisement Advertisement Having seen some of the impact on crime and what is called nuisance behaviors in these areas where such booze is sold, its clear we have a problem. And if you think not many people consume these items, just look at the litter. David Mastio: You are right it is not a ban, but the myriad alcohol laws that micromanage where, when and what you can sell are the leftovers of the Prohibition failure of a century ago. They are not any better. If you dont like that analogy, try this one: What we have here is alcohol redlining. The nuisance behaviors of a certain kind of people are being targeted, while those of a lighter shade, perhaps suburban women drinking out of a pricey YETI tumbler while they drive can go about their business unmolested by the nannies of the City Council. If people drink and misbehave, we should quickly and efficiently arrest them for the crimes they commit, not ladle new restrictions on those who can buy a shooter or six without misusing them on the street, something people by the thousands manage to do every day across our great nation. Advertisement Advertisement Yvette: Youre right about alcohol redlining. If it were me, Id make this ban a citywide test. According to the ordinance, here are the area borders: 1. The Blue Ridge corridor, bounded by 83rd Street on the north, 119th Street on the south, Newton Avenue, Bennington Avenue and Hickman Mills Drive on the west, and James A. Reed Road, Eastern Avenue and Food Lane on the east, excluding any areas outside Kansas City. 2. The Central Business District Corridor, bounded by the Missouri River on the north, 18th Street on the south, Interstates 35, 29 and 70 and Bruce R Watkins Drive on the east and Broadway on the west. 3. The Independence Avenue Corridor, bounded by that portion of Scarritt Avenue east of Benton Boulevard, inclusive of that portion that is known as Gladstone Boulevard, and that portion of St. John Avenue west of Chestnut Trafficway on the north, East 18th Street on the south, Forest Avenue on the west and Interstate 435 on the east. Advertisement Advertisement 4. The Midtown Corridor, bounded by 27th Street on the north, 47th Street/Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard on the south, the city limits of Kansas City on the west and Troost Avenue on the east. 5. The Prospect Avenue-Southeast Corridor, bounded by 23rd Street on the north, Interstate 435 on the south, the portion of The Paseo and Lydia Avenue between 49th and 59th Street on the west and Jackson Avenue on the east. City officials report these areas have had significant problems with drunkenness and nuisance calls. As far as the thousands who manage to buy shooters without issue whos doing that? Whod buy a bunch of little bottles, that, when added up, cost more than a standard size bottle? Who buys one tiny bottle? Really, I want to know. It doesnt make sense to me. Advertisement Advertisement David: Theres a huge section of such bottles in the suburban Hy-Vee where I go to pick up a six-pack of a local brew and I frequently see people buying them. Men with a case of Bud. Ladies with some wine. Young people with some boozy seltzers. Fireball seems particularly popular. Thats not the only place I see it. The high-end wine and booze store in the same outdoor mall as the Hy-Vee (where I get my Sscotch) sells these little bottles, too. I often see people buying full size bottles of booze right along with the little ones. Nobody second-guesses the white people there when they do it. Yvette: Ouch, thats a hot take, David. Are you saying no Black and brown people are buying them, or that they dont shop in your Hy-Vee? And maybe its the second-guessing thats the real problem. I dont know that your shoppers arent getting into trouble with their purchases. In any case, grocery stores arent the target, and, at least for now, neither are suburbs. Advertisement Advertisement But the ordinance is not a sure thing. Ever since Director of Public Safety Lace Cline first discussed this at an Urban Summit meeting on Jan. 23, the topic has drawn some fire. What if this was a pilot with an opportunity to be reversed? The ordinance allows for a recheck every three years to evaluate the impact on public safety, public health and neighborhood stability. The review shall include an analysis of the current level of criminal activity in and surrounding each retail alcohol impact area. Sign Up for Star Opinion The Kansas City Stars Opinion team is hard at work sifting through all the news, both local and national. Get our weekly newsletter straight to your inbox to read our reactions to the biggest headlines in the KC area and beyond. David: Restriction and taxes, whether temporary or not, lead to lawbreaking and unintended consequences. Every time California or New York or Australia raise the price of smokes, they get more tax evasion and smuggling to dodge the levy. Cops waste time on harmful pastimes that used to come without crime. A Black man in New York died in a police chokehold over selling loosies (loose cigarettes). Some people remember his name: Eric Garner. Just like loosies, you can expect little bottles of vodka to turn up for sale on tabletops and alleys in Kansas City when they are illegal in places that might actually check ID. Kids will have their booze, legit businesses will have less money, and well turn regular people into criminals to crack down on nuisance calls. Seems like a bad deal to me. Advertisement Advertisement Yvette: Well see. The ordinance will be heard in the Finance, Governance and Public Safety committee next Tuesday. Residents who share your concerns, David, will have time to talk to their council member. Studies show the average proportion of shelf space devoted to single-serve containers was positively related to violent crime, and that if cities were to ban these items, violence in the surrounding areas would decline. Some cities have +voluntary iterations of alcohol impact plans, such as Milwaukee, and Chicagos drink restrictions on size and time of day. In Seattle, they tested two neighborhoods, and after two years saw increased neighborhood stability and stability in the non-ban surrounding neighborhoods. Cline and other leaders are hoping to see similar results in these areas in Kansas City. David: I am sure the intentions are good, but did you read this ordinance? Apparently nips of high-alcohol vodka in some places cause disorder, but the same product sold at a grocery is fine. First, that makes no sense, and second, now they are discriminating between businesses based on whether they like them or not. Thats not right. And it doesnt seem too bright either: Do we want to funnel Kansas City homeless alcoholics into the few grocery stores for their cheap buzz? Moreover, an enterprising liquor entrepreneur could get around these rules pretty easily. Sell 220 milliliter bottles and poof! You are legal. Or sell 50 proof alcohol instead of 60 and poof! Youre legal again. Those arent big changes. Advertisement Advertisement The City Council would be better off focusing on alcoholism and disorder by funding police and public health properly. Yvette: Wait, lets not blame the unhoused. Thats unfair and labels a group, when the truth is more complicated than that. But if consumers of these products in these particular areas are causing problems, the city has a right to step in to try to protect the neighborhoods. David: Whether you use a prefix (unhoused) to describe them or a suffix (homeless), substance-abusing and mentally ill people for whom there is no abode are a big part of the problem. In any case, peoples behavior is the issue, not legal products. If the behavior is a crime, arrest and charge them. If the behavior is a sickness like mental health or alcoholism, then help them. Thats the ugly expensive answer that wont change with this quick-fix ordinance. In a move that could signal further change in container shipping, Ocean Network Express announced founding Chief Executive Jeremy Nixon is stepping down in a planned leadership transition. Till Ole Barrelet, CEO of Emirates Shipping Line, will join Singapore-based ONE on May 1 as Chief Executive Officer-Designate. He will succeed Nixon as CEO on July 1, at which time Nixon will assume the role of senior advisor. Nixon led the historic consolidation of Japanese carriers K Line, MOL and NYK that established ONE in April 2018. Operating an iconic fleet of pink containers, the company is now the sixth-largest carrier, with 260 vessels and capacity of 2.1 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs), or 6% of the market. Jeremy Nixon (Photo: ONE) The 49-year old Barrelet has more than 20 years of maritime and logistics experience, having served as CEO of ESL since 2022, with deep expertise in ship owning, financing, container shipping, and trade development across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Emirates ranks 20th among global carriers, with capacity of 116,000 TEUs. To better position ONE for its next phase of growth, the company will transition to a new executive management team structure comprising the CEO and seven representatives from across all divisions. The team and six regional leaders will report to Barrelet. Til Ole Barrelet (Photo: ESL) This expanded leadership structure will facilitate closer collaboration across a global matrix structure at ONE, the company said, part of a planned leadership transition that will not impact customers and stakeholders. Jeremys contribution to Ocean Network Express has been extraordinary, said Jotaro Tamura, board chairman of Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd. As our founding CEO, Jeremy has helped build ONE from the ground up, establishing our corporate culture and market position. We are deeply grateful for his strong leadership and vision in creating a resilient, financially strong company. Nixon said, Leading ONE from Day One has been the defining chapter of my career. Together with an exceptional team, we have built something truly special. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished navigating unprecedented challenges, investing in sustainable technology, and building a culture of service excellence. Now is the right time for new leadership, and I am very confident in Tills ability to lead ONE forward. Said Barrelet, I am honored to lead Ocean Network Express at this pivotal time. Jeremy has built a formidable legacy with a strong culture, talented team, and solid operational foundation. ONE is well-positioned to navigate industry headwinds with an increasingly modern fleet, financial strength, and proven capabilities. Two transgender Kansans filed a lawsuit in state court to block a new law that invalidated their driver's licenses, making some ineligible to vote. The state's governor previously vetoed the legislation for being "poorly drafted" and potentially costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The law allegedly violates residents' personal autonomy, privacy and equal rights, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a release. The organization is representing the two transgender men, identified in the lawsuit only as Daniel Doe and Matthew Doe, who legally updated their birth certificates and state-issued IDs to reflect their gender. They are seeking a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction to halt the enforcement of the bill while litigation proceeds in court. According to a supplemental note filed on the legislation, the Kansas Department of Revenue estimated that 1,700 people would need new driver's licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Invalidating state-issued ID meant that some trans residents cannot vote in person until their records are updated, unless they have another proof of identification issued by either another state or the federal government. Kansas has required people to show a photo ID to vote since 2012, according to Douglas County Clerk records. In place of a state ID, a voter could use identification issued by another state, a handgun license, a U.S. passport, an employee ID from a government agency, military identification, student identification issued by a higher education institution located in Kansas or a government benefits ID. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states have laws requiring voters to provide proof of identification at polls. Lawmakers first passed the measure strictly along party lines on Jan. 28 in the state's Republican-controlled Legislature, but Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation for harm to more than just transgender Kansans. "If you feel you have to accompany your nine-year-old daughter to the restroom at a sporting event, as a father, you would have to either enter the women's restroom with her or let her use the restroom alone," she said in a Feb. 13 statement after issuing her veto. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans overrode her veto nearly a week later. The passage put Kansas as the fifth state to bar people from updating the gender marker on their documents, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ rights organization. Tennessee and Texas have laws that prevent people from changing their gender on documents. Both Florida's and Indiana's motor vehicle agencies have issued policies to make such a change. "Effective Feb. 12, 2026, the BMV will no longer provide customers with the option to change their gender on their Indiana credential by using a court ordered gender change or physician statement," according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Kansas state Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, said on X that the law is "common sense" and protects women and girls' private spaces from "biological men." House Speaker Daniel Hawkins, also a Republican, added that the bill is intended to affirm what sex is under state statute. Advertisement Advertisement "This isn't about scoring political points, but doing what's right for women and girls across our communities," Hawkins said in a statement shared on X. "Kansans expect clarity, not confusion. They expect leadership, not surrender to radical activists." An X user posted a letter they received from the state on Feb. 23 informing them that their state-issued IDs would be invalid on Feb. 26, and the Legislature didn't include a grace period for implementation. The person, whose username is NyanSox, said their driver's license and birth certificate were no longer valid. The law also carried an additional provision that barred trans people from using bathrooms in public buildings that aligned with their gender identity. It allowed people to face a misdemeanor charge and a civil lawsuit. Trans men say law threatens their livelihood Daniel and Matthew wrote in court papers that they both work jobs that require them to travel by car to various locations and use public restrooms. Advertisement Advertisement They said having their IDs and birth certificates invalidated would expose them to harm. "If Daniel is required to carry identification bearing a gender marker inconsistent with his gender identity, he will be compelled to disclose his transgender status each time he presents identification," according to the lawsuit. "This forced disclosure would strip Daniel of his hard-won privacy and expose him to stigma, discrimination, and potential hostility." The two said they've faced harassment and mental stress in the past when they had to use restrooms that aligned with their gender at birth. They said the law resurfaces those same fears, plus the added fear of criminal charges, as they either work or attend public universities in Kansas. "The invalidation of state-issued IDs threatens to out transgender people against their will every time they apply for a job, rent an apartment, or interact with police," Harper Seldin, senior counsel for the ACLU's LGBTQ and HIV rights project, said in a release. Related Links TOPEKA Kansas food program data shared with the federal government wont be given to foreign governments in an agreement reached this week by Gov. Laura Kelly. In 2025, Kellys administration refused to turn over personal data gathered through applications to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because the request violated state rules about how the data would be used. The U.S. Department of Agriculture requested the information from all states, and 29 turned over SNAP applicants personal information. Others, Kansas among them, filed lawsuits to reject the request based on how the USDA said the data would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Kelly said in a Friday news release that Kansas information wont be shared with foreign governments and the data sharing agreement complies with state and federal privacy laws regarding SNAP. The USDAs decision to adhere to the DCFs terms ensures that Kansans private, personal information, including full Social Security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments, Kelly said. Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same. The agreement ensures that after the data is shared, USDA will cancel its disallowance letter, ending USDAs efforts to retain the states SNAP funds, an issue widely cited by Kansas Republicans who wanted Kelly to release the information. Now that privacy and overreach concerns have been addressed, Kellys release said the state is comfortable sharing with USDA. Advertisement Advertisement Kellys refusal to comply with the request sparked controversy in the Statehouse, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins accusing the administration of trying to cover up fraud and abuse. In a Friday statement, Hawkins said Kelly was complying with what she was asked to do, and that she had cost the state taxpayer money and created political theater. However, Kellys administration from the beginning said there were legal concerns with USDA data usage, which was the primary holdup. Those have been resolved, the administrations release said. Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit to force Kelly to give the data to USDA, which Kelly called a sad political stunt. Advertisement Advertisement Kobachs filings indicated he believed the USDA had a right to the data. He and Republican leaders have incorrectly said the refusal costs the state millions of dollars. Although USDA officials threatened to hold back some of Kansas administrative SNAP funds, the state appealed that decision and no money was lost. That process brought about the agreement announced Friday. The Legislature also heard a proposal, Senate Bill 428, that would force the administration to hand over requested data. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A small town in south-central Kansas was without water on Friday due to a main break. The City of Argonia, which is about 20 miles west of Wellington, said shortly before 1 p.m. that the town of about 450 people had no water. A city official told KSN that workers putting up new power poles hit a major water main, and the towns water needed to be turned off. Boil water alert rescinded for northern Kansas town Advertisement Advertisement By 5:40 p.m., water service had been restored to most of Argonia, but it was still off in the northwest part of town. Service was restored to all residents as of 9:54 p.m. Now that water is flowing, residents will have to follow a boil water advisory issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The water main break caused a loss of pressure in the citys distribution system. Lower pressure can increase the risk of bacterial contamination by reducing chlorine in the water supply. People in Argonia should follow this guidance until further notice: Boil drinking or cooking water for one minute or use bottled water. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker. If your tap water appears dirty, let the water run until it clears. Immerse dishes for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. You generally dont need to boil water for bathing. But you should supervise children so they dont swallow the water. People with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their doctor. Advertisement Advertisement The city estimated that the advisory will last at least until Monday. Questions should be directed to the Argonia water system at 620-435-6553 or KDHE at 785-296-5514. 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. At Trinity Lutheran in Mequon, the church and school have become closely tied to the Karenni community. In 2009, the church began sponsoring a Karenni family, members of an ethnic minority who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and had been living in refugee camps in Thailand before resettling in the United States. The church wanted to help the family adjust to life in Milwaukee. But as Trinity became more of a resource to the wider Karenni community, its congregation and school grew, said Carl Lehenbauer, a discipleship pastor at Trinity. For the Rev. Daniel Reh and special education teacher Ku Mo, both Karenni who immigrated to Milwaukee in 2009, Trinity is a place to connect younger and older generations and to give back to their community through education and faith. Advertisement Advertisement Reh delivers sermons in both English and Karenni, helping to make religious services more accessible. Mo works with students and their families, often translating for parents and helping bridge cultural and language gaps between school and home. "It's very important to me to be in a position to share the gospel in a language that they understand," Reh said. "Before that, I was also an interpreter for different areas in the community, whether it was the courthouse or hospitals." The Rev. Daniel Reh, left, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mequon, and Trinity Lutheran School special education teacher Ku Mo, who are both Karenni, pose for a photo in the chapel at Trinity Lutheran Church, School & Childcare of Freistadt. The school has a long history of enrolling students from the Karenni community while Reh offers services in their language. Over the past decade and a half, Milwaukees Burmese population has grown into one of the largest in the country. Reliable local counts are difficult to find, especially for specific ethnic groups, but the U.S. Census reported about 7,000 Burmese residents in Milwaukee County in 2020. Many of them are Burmese Muslims known as Rohingya. Others are part of the Karen and Karenni ethnic groups. Many of the city's Burmese students attend Milwaukee Public Schools as well as private voucher schools like Trinity, Milwaukee Lutheran and Martin Luther High School. Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, Trinity joined the state's voucher program, which subsidizes the cost for lower-income students and students with disabilities to attend private schools using public funds. A year later, Trinity and Milwaukee Lutheran began busing more than 30 Burmese students from their homes on the south side of Milwaukee to the campuses in Mequon and on the citys northwest side. Reh was among the first group of students bused to Milwaukee Lutheran. He said the trips to and from school could take up to four hours each day. Inspired by the pastors there and his experience serving as an interpreter for Trinity and elsewhere in the community, Reh felt drawn to ministry and began pursuing theological education at Concordia University after graduating from high school in 2015. Mo also attended Milwaukee Lutheran. She said the high school encouraged her to study education at Concordia and helped her secure a scholarship. As a first-generation college student, she said her parents were unable to help her plan for higher education. Mo initially ruled out teaching English because she felt insecure about her own language skills. Staff at the university suggested special education. Advertisement Advertisement "I thought it was an education that's special," Mo said, laughing. "I didn't know anything about special needs." Still, Mo enjoyed the subject and learning about how to teach children with disabilities. In Myanmar and Thailand, she said, special education services are limited. "Students are treated differently, and parents don't know how to help them," she said. "Many of them don't have access to education because they are different. That inspired me to get into special education so there's something I can do to help my community." Trinity Lutheran School special education teacher Ku Mo, front left, and Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Daniel Reh,front center, who are both Karenni, are seen in the chapel at Trinity Lutheran Church, School & Childcare of Freistadt in Mequon. They are joined by senior pastor, the Rev. Nicholas Schram, front right, with, back row, from left, discipleship pastor, the Rev. Carl Lehenbauer, visitation pastor the Rev. Philip Hillenbrand, and executive director Sam Seefeld. The school has a long history of enrolling students from the Karenni community where Reh offers services in their language. Fifteen Karenni students currently attend Trinity Lutheran School, according to Executive Director Sam Seefeld. The number is down from previous years, with many of the school's former Karenni students graduating and going on to high school and others choosing schools closer to their homes on the south side. Advertisement Advertisement As immigrants who spent half their lives in Thailand and the other half in the U.S., Mo and Reh feel passionately about acting as liaisons in the small but close-knit community and narrowing gaps between the newer and older generations of Karenni. Now in her third year teaching at Trinity, Mo said she is especially proud of using her position to support the schools Karenni families. She translates at parent-teacher conferences and helps younger students born in the U.S. better understand their parents who grew up in Myanmar both culturally and linguistically. In one instance, when a teacher needed to relay a message home, Mo recorded a video in the Karenni language so the students parents could understand. Growing up, she said, her parents never attended her parent-teacher conferences because of the language barrier. Now, she makes sure other parents can stay involved in their children's education. Advertisement Advertisement "I take pride in my identity as a Karenni. To be able to become a resource and advocate for those families and those students makes me happy," Mo said. "This is something that I want to do so the current kids have someone to talk to and the parents have someone if something is going on in school." To Seefeld, Mos and Rehs work is evidence of Trinitys outreach with the Karenni paying off. "It's a testament to the church's mission," he said. "The fact that they're serving here it's outstanding to see things come full circle like that." Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @_kaylahuynh. Advertisement Advertisement Kayla's reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: JS Community Journalism) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Karenni teacher, pastor help build community at Trinity Lutheran School Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton deployed his daughter to vouch for him Thursday after a scathing attack ad released by Sen. John Cornyn in their increasingly contentious Republican Senate primary race. Paxtons campaign released a video from his daughter Mattie Hayworth in which she says: My dad is a really good guy. Loves God. He loves his family and he loves this country. She also wrote a column for the conservative publication Texas Scorecard published Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement My dad is not perfect; none of us are. But he is a man of deep faith, genuine love for his family, and an unrelenting commitment to doing right by the people of Texas, Hayworth writes. The family support comes as the contest between Paxton, Cornyn and Rep. Wesley Hunt has grown increasingly heated leading up to the March 3 primary. Its particularly notable given past claims that Paxton asked a campaign donor to hire someone with whom he was having an affair, allegations that were cited by the Texas House in impeaching Paxton in 2023. He was later acquitted by the Texas Senate. His wife, Angela Paxton a state senator and longtime political adviser accused him of adultery and filed for divorce last year on biblical grounds. A Paxton adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy, said the ad featuring Hayworth was filmed before Cornyn released an ad that has drawn wide attention, though Paxtons campaign intended for its video to respond to Cornyns. Advertisement Advertisement The Cornyn Lonestar Victory Fund, a joint effort between the Cornyn campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, leveled a series of attacks against Paxton. CNN could not verify all of the ads claims. Its voting time, so lets cut through the bulls**t, the ads narrator begins. Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. Shes divorcing him on biblical grounds. Now, think of the Paxton dirty deeds we dont know about yet, the narrator adds. In the op-ed published Thursday, Hayworth accused Paxtons opponents of ugly attacks on her father. When his opponent cant win on policy, he goes after character, Hayworth wrote. But anyone who has spent real time with my dad knows that the attacks bear no resemblance to the man they claim to describe. Advertisement Advertisement Paxton has survived a series of controversies throughout his time as the states attorney general, including a felony securities fraud investigation that was ultimately settled. We overcame them all, he told reporters last week. Cornyn and his allies have warned nominating Paxton to the top of the Republican ticket in November would endanger GOP chances in the traditionally red-voting state. We will have an election day massacre, Cornyn said earlier this month. If Ken Paxton is at the top of the ticket, we risk losing the Senate seat, losing the majority in the House of Representatives, and it will take a toll on everybody in the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Paxton said, Unlike John Cornyn, whos become a desperate shell of a man clinging to power, my campaign is not about attacking someone elses family. Its about protecting America. The three-way GOP field could result in a late May runoff between the top two finishers if no candidate is able to clear the 50% vote threshold next week. A University of Houston Hobby School poll conducted in late January found Paxton leading the field among likely voters. Paxton earned 38% support compared to 31% for Cornyn and Hunt at 17%. 12% of those polled said they were undecided. One of the biggest question marks in the race is whether President Donald Trump will decide to support a candidate. Trump, who is traveling to Corpus Christi on Friday, has so far withheld an endorsement. Advertisement Advertisement I just havent made a decision on that race yet. Its got a ways to go, Trump told reporters earlier this month. Theyve all supported me. Theyre all good, and youre supposed to pick one. So well see what happens. But I support all three involved. CNNs Sarah Ferris contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Kentucky would cut funding for tobacco cessation over the next two years under the state budget approved Thursday by the House, prompting public health advocates to urge the Senate to change course. Doug Hogan, the government relations director in Kentucky for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said the Senate should make tobacco prevention and cessation a priority now that House Bill 500, the budget bill, is in its court. He wants to see $4 million in cessation each year, which is more than double what the House has approved. Advertisement Advertisement Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Kentucky, including 37.2% of cancer deaths and Kentucky has the second-highest smoking-attributable cancer death rate in the country, Hogan said in a statement. The need for robust investments in tobacco prevention and cessation programs in the Commonwealth has never been greater. The House version of the budget which is still subject to edits on the Senate side allocates just shy of $1.8 million in the 2026-2027 fiscal year and about $1.6 million in the 2027-2028 year. The 2024 budget allocated nearly $1.9 million for 2024-2025 and $2 million in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Smoking costs Kentucky $6.3 billion every year in lost productivity and puts a $634 million dent in Medicaid, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which also reports about 37% of cancer deaths each year are from smoking. Advertisement Advertisement More than 8,000 minors try cigarettes for the first time each year, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. About 5% of high school students smoke while nearly 20% use e-cigarettes, according to that organizations data. Smoking also kills nearly 9,000 Kentuckians every year and costs the state billions in health care costs. This session, lawmakers have another opportunity to move e-cigarette settlement dollars away from the general fund and into a fund for prevention and cessation. Should they do that, Kentuckys cessation efforts could get a $6 million boost. The House approved its budget bill by a vote of 81-18. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX King Charles III met military families when he visited a West Sussex barracks and had a go at handling an air defence missile launcher. Troops at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island, West Sussex, said he would pass a test to use the machinery. The King also looked through the aiming unit of the launcher, when fired, would take about four seconds to destroy a target. Lt Col Maarten Magee said it was a privilege to give King Charles a "flavour of what we are facing". Advertisement Advertisement He added that the King was interested in how the forces were dealing with modern threats. King Charles, Capt Gen of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, also known as the Gunners, arrived by helicopter and was greeted by a 21-gun salute. One mother who spoke to the King dubbed him "really friendly" [PA Media] The King spoke to military service personnel based in Saudi Arabia, Estonia, Cyprus and the Falklands by video link in the Junior Ranks' Restaurant, which he officially opened on Thursday. Five-year-old Poppy, whose father Sgt Jack Harding is in the Falklands, gave the King a letter after he spoke to the overseas soldiers. Poppy's mother, Charley Harding, 28, said the children would love a reply. 'Really friendly' Meanwhile, King Charles spoke to Jade McGowan, whose husband Andrew McGowan is in Cyprus and does not yet have a date to come home. Advertisement Advertisement The King asked about her nearly eight-month-old twins, Hamish and Brodie, and about her husband being away. "It's hard, we are doing what we can," she said. After their meeting, the 36-year-old called the King "really friendly". Founded in 1716, it is believed the Gunners has served in every conflict the British Army has been in. The King became ceremonial chief of the Royal Artillery on 11 August 2023, in a role first taken by King George VI in 1947, followed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Related internet links Cubas forces fatally shot four people, one of whom was a US citizen, on a Florida-registered speedboat that was trying to enter Cuban waters Wednesday and infiltrate the island, authorities said. There were two US citizens among the 10 people aboard the speedboat, a US official told CNN Thursday. The second, who was wounded, was now receiving medical treatment in Cuba, the official said. The shootout comes amid rising tensions between Cuba and the United States, which have both opened investigations into the incident. Advertisement Advertisement As more details continue to emerge about the fatal shooting, heres what we know so far. What happened? Cuban border guard troops approached the boat after it entered the countrys territorial waters in Falcones Cay, Villa Clara province, just over 100 miles from Florida, Cubas Interior Ministry said in a statement. A passenger aboard the boat fired at the Cuban patrol vessel, wounding its commander and prompting Cuban forces to return fire, the statement said. Four people on the speedboat were killed and six others were wounded, it said. The survivors are in custody and receiving medical attention, the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement The ministry later said the passengers were Cuban residents of the US armed with assault rifles, handguns and molotov cocktails and that they had intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes. In addition, another individual, reportedly sent from the United States to help facilitate the operation, was arrested and has since confessed, according to the ministry. CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. The vessel, registered in the US as FL7726SH, according to Cuban authorities, is a 24-foot power boat manufactured in 1981, maritime database records show. The location of the shootout, near Falcones Cay, is known for shallow waters, sandbars and beaches. It has historically been a route for Cuban migrants attempting the perilous journey to Florida. Advertisement Advertisement A sheriffs report obtained by CNN on Thursday shows that the boat used in the shootout was reported stolen in the Florida Keys on Wednesday night. The owner told a sheriffs deputy that he had noticed the boat was missing Wednesday morning and assumed that Hector Correa, a Cuban man whom he employed to do tile work, took his boat to go fishing without permission. The boats owner told the deputy that he believed Correa had taken his boat because he had been trying to fix two different boats with little success, and his truck was parked next to the dock. It was only when reporters called the owner to inquire about his boats involvement in the shootout that he realized where Correa had taken it. A witness later told law enforcement that she had seen a man in a white truck board the craft and sail away the evening before. The sheriffs report states that the truck belonged to Correa. On Thursday afternoon, Cuban officials said that Correa was one of the four people killed in the incident. Who was involved? A policeman watches over the aftermath of a rare demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. - Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images In addition to the two US citizens, one of those aboard the speedboat had a K-1, or fiance, visa, while others may have been US legal permanent residents, according to the US official who spoke to CNN, though that has not yet been confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Two of the survivors had previously been wanted by Cuba for terrorism, according to the countrys interior ministry. One of those men appears to have previously shared what seems to be a declaration of an upcoming attack. In a Facebook post, an individual identifying himself as Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez reposted a document signed on January 31 by four anti-government groups that pledged to take imminent and decisive action. Earlier this month, the same individual posted a video saying that if he was injured in any action, he would likely die, noting that he was taking blood thinners. On Thursday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said that Cuba is still awaiting responses to its requests for information about the two men and the other individuals and organizations included on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Michael J. Bustamante, a professor of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, told CNN that the organizations allegedly connected to the incident may be known on certain corners of the Cuban diaspora/exile internet, but they are fringe groups that are unlikely to have direct connections to more mainstream Cuban-American political leaders. While Wednesdays incident did not appear to be well-planned, Bustamante said it recalls a long history of Cuban exile clandestine organizing and militancy dating to the 1960s and 70s both with and without US support, and sometimes in open defiance of the US government. One question will be whether US officials (like the FBI) were aware of this organization and its activities, he added. The Cuban government also identified Pavel Alling Pena, a writer from Camaguey who recently posted an Instagram video on annexationism and defending national sovereignty as an essential value. Another man, Conrado Galindo Sariol, was also identified as being on the boat. Advertisement Advertisement Galindos son, Norge Evelio Galindo, had been imprisoned in Cuba for his participation in July 11, 2021, anti-government protests and was released in February 2024, according to a post Galindo made on Facebook. Im proud of what my father just did, Norge told CNN on Thursday. I expected nothing less from him. Although I didnt know what he was doing, I always knew that if that opportunity presented itself, he wasnt going to let it pass him by, Norge added. Now living in Mexico, he said that he spoke to family back home in Cuba and his fathers wife in the US about his fathers actions. Everyone is baffled because they didnt expect this, he said, noting that his father had not been back to Cuba in 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, CNN also spoke with Galindo about his sons imprisonment. Galindos cousin told CNN on Thursday that Galindo, too, was previously imprisoned for not agreeing with that damned government and system. What I know about him is that he lives in Florida, and like almost every Cuban who emigrated to this great nation, we dont agree with the dictatorship thats in our country, Cuba, a dictatorship that has been in power for 67 years, oppressing the people and with a Cuba in misery and destruction, Leonardo Galindo said. But I didnt imagine he and other compatriots would be on that journey to Cuba, the cousin added. Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Cuba said in a statement that one of its members was among those killed, but distanced itself from the attack, saying it was not aware of his intentions. CNN has reached out to the party for comment. Advertisement Advertisement While some anti-government Cuban exiles living in the US might hail the groups allegedly involved in Wednesdays incident as heroes or martyrs, said Helen Yaffe, a professor of Latin American political economy at the University of Glasgow and Cuba expert, they are not well known or supported within Cuba. What has the US said? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the incident highly unusual, saying that the speedboat did not carry US government personnel and was not part of any official operation. Were going to find out exactly what happened here and then well respond accordingly, said Rubio, who was in the region on an official visit to Saint Kitts and Nevis. Rubio added that the US Embassy in Havana, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard are investigating the incident, stressing that authorities need to determine the facts before taking any action. Advertisement Advertisement In a press conference in Havana on Thursday, Cubas deputy foreign minister said the United States had shown a willingness to cooperate regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Florida officials, including Attorney General James Uthmeier and Republican lawmakers Carlos A. Gimenez and Rick Scott, called for accountability and a thorough investigation into the use of lethal force against individuals aboard a US-registered vessel. Why are tensions so high? The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Havana and Washington, which has imposed sanctions and restrictions on oil shipments from Venezuela, Cubas main supplier. Following the US capture in January of Venezuelan leader and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro an operation in which 32 Cuban personnel guarding Maduro were killed the administration of US President Donald Trump has set its sights on Cuba, blocking all oil deliveries to the island and talking of regime change. The blockade has brought Cubas economy to its knees, with the Caribbean nation experiencing its worst era of economic uncertainty in decades and the United Nations warning of a potential humanitarian collapse. The US slightly eased the embargo on Wednesday, saying it would grant licenses to private Cuban entities looking to resell oil from Venezuela. US President Donald Trump on Friday said Cuba was in a big deal of trouble, but was talking with the US, suggesting that a friendly takeover may be on the way. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba. After many, many years, Trump told reporters in Washington. Weve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba. Ive been hearing about Cuba since Im a little boy. A takeover of Cuba by the US is not without precedent. Under President William McKinley, whom Trump admires, the United States occupied the island from 1898 to 1902. In 1906, the US re-occupied the island for another three years under McKinleys successor, Theodore Roosevelt. Has this happened before? In 2022, the Interior Ministry in Havana said Cuba had intercepted 13 US speedboats with 23 crew members whom it accused of carrying out human trafficking operations by taking people from the island to the US. The fatal shooting also took place just one day after the 30th anniversary of the Cuban militarys downing of two planes belonging to the Cuban-American humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue over the waters north of Havana. Four people were killed in the incident. Jose Basulto, the leader of Brothers to the Rescue and one of the few survivors of the shootdown in 1996, told CNN that he did not know any of the men allegedly involved in Wednesdays incident, and was not aware of their organizations. Earlier this month, Trump extended a Clinton-era emergency measure enacted after Cuba shot down the planes, which allows US authorities to board any vessel that may be headed toward Cuba. CNNs Mauricio Torres, Hira Humayun, Lex Harvey, German Padinger, Jack Guy, Max Saltman, Patrick Oppmann and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Cuban governments accusations that several Floridians attempted to invade the island Wednesday on a speedboat carrying Molotov cocktails and sniper rifles has set off shockwaves across the Sunshine State. For now, its unclear whether the men Havana identified were actually on the boat and what they were doing. The federal government hasnt confirmed Cubas version of the event, with State Department Secretary Marco Rubio highlighting a need for a separate, U.S. investigation. And the Cuban government initially misidentified one of the men, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, who denied any involvement with the alleged plot during an interview with the Miami Herald. In fact, he said he was at his Miami-Dade home when the incident took place. He described himself as a political activist who fled Cuba in 2017, as soon as hed been discharged from mandatory military service. Advertisement Advertisement Im scared, he said. I dont know the regimes intentions for naming me as detained if Im here in Miami. Im afraid it could be some kind of retaliation against my family over there. I dont know if they made a mistake or released the wrong list, said Azcorra, 31. Havana said that four people had been killed when it intercepted the boat on Wednesday whose passengers had planned to carry out a terroristic infiltration. Cuban authorities provided an updated list of the men killed and captured on Thursday. It named Pavel Alling Pena, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara and Hector Duani Cruz Correa as the deceased. Meanwhile, officials identified Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, and Roberto Alvarez Avila as the men detained. This is not an isolated incident. Cuba has been the victim of attacks and countless terrorist acts for more than 60 years, most of which have been organized, financed, and carried out from the territory of the United States, said Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, in a statement Thursday. He added that aboard the boat had been insignia from counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement The incident has captured international attention, with questions about the men and their motivations, but details are still emerging. The situation has hit especially close to home for members of Floridas Cuban exile community, some of whom which knew the men who the Cuban authorities identified. Roberto Azcorra Consuegra in Miami. (El Toque/Facebook via screenshot) Azcorra told the Herald he recognizes some of the people included on the list, though mostly by their aliases or from photos. He said that he had socialized with some of the named individuals but claimed they never shared any plans to go to Cuba or carry out any actions on the island. Azcorra maintains he has had no involvement in any violent plot and remains uncertain why Cuban authorities would include his name. They never told me anything about a plan to go to Cuba or to free it, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Fernandez de Cossio later acknowledged their error in including Azcorra on the list. Firm in their convictions Rene Montes de Oca, vice president of anti-communist group Casa Cuba de Tampa, in an interview on Thursday told the Tampa Bay Times that he personally knew Ortega and Cruz Gomez through the organization. Ortega Casanova was a leader of the Republican Partys Tampa chapter and participated in meetings at Casa Cuba de Tampa, said Montes de Oca. Casa Cuba has declared a period of mourning and lowered its flags to half-mast. We knew Michel directly as an open person, a friendly man, someone who showed a lot of kindness and goodness, said Montes de Oca. He added that Cruz Gomez also went to Casa Cuba meetings, though not as often, and that he liked guns and hunting. Advertisement Advertisement Both (Ortega Casanova and Cruz Gomez) were always very firm in their convictions and believed that to bring down the Cuban government you had to fight with weapons, he said. Personally, I was one of those who warned them many times that it was dangerous and could be a suicide mission. The Cuban government had previously placed Cruz Gomez, 47, along with Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, also 47, on its most recent national terrorism list, updated in 2025 and published in the countrys official state-sponsored newspaper. The list, according to the Cuban regime, includes individuals and organizations that have been subject to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in acts of terrorism. The list also includes U.S.- and Miami-based Cuban activists, media personalities, and influencers who criticize the Cuban government. The list, which is in Spanish, alleges that Sanchez introduced firearms, ammunition and other supplies through the northern coast of Matanzas for the purpose of carrying out acts of terrorism in military units, among other plans of this nature and claimed the plans were organized, financed, and supported by people in the U.S. Cruz, who was born in Cienfuegos, was wanted for initiating sabotage activities in the province of Villa Clara, which led to detention and criminal charges, according to the list. Police report shows boat was stolen A police report from the Monroe County Sheriffs office obtained by the Herald showed that the boat had been reported stolen by its owner from the Florida Keys. Angel Montera, 65, told deputies that the boat is usually docked behind a home in Big Pine Key, whose owner lets him keep it there in exchange for construction work. When he saw the boats registration floating around on the media, he realized it matched his own vessel. Advertisement Advertisement One neighbor said she witnessed a pick-up truck pull into the house and leave on the vessel at around 6:30 p.m on Wednesday. Montera saw the truck the next day and identified it as belonging to Hector Cruz Correa, a contractor who does tile work for him and who has two daughters living in Cuba. Montera told law enforcement that Cruz Correa did not have permission to use the boat, the report said. Cruz Correa had been trying to fix his own twin-engined boat, Montera continued, and hed so far not been able to reach him. The Cuban government listed a man named Hector Duani Cruz Correa as among the deceased involved in the incident. The incident on waters near the Cuban province of what comes as diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States are at a sensitive point. The Trump administration has choked Cubas oil supply through tariff threats and maritime blockades, worsening a dire situation on the ground. Cuban authorities have stopped supplying jet fuel to international airlines and cancelled all scheduled surgeries. On Thursday, in the wake of the interception of the speedboat, Cuba said it would defend its territorial sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Cuba has a duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters, said Fernandez de Cossio, the deputy minister. Staff writers Sofia Saric, Nora Gamez Torres and Milena Malaver contributed to this story. Tampa Bay Times reporter Juan Carlos Chavez contributed reporting from Tampa. A Republican-backed bill opting Kentucky into a tax credit program promoted by the Trump administration to fund scholarships for K-12 students is now heading to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears desk. House Bill 1 passed in the Senate with a vote of 33-5 Friday morning after it was filed in the House last week. Sen. Keturah Herron, of Louisville, was the lone Democrat to vote in favor of the bill. HB 1 Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, R-Greensberg, presented the bill in the Senate and said he was excited about educational opportunities that could be funded with scholarships from donors. He pointed to federal guidance on how the scholarships can be used, including tuition for private schools, support services for students with disabilities, tutoring and more. Advertisement Advertisement Givens also made a direct appeal to Beshear during his floor speech asking him to sign or let the bill lay on his desk, which would let it become law without his signature. Your bully pulpit is powerful, and it would be a positive message to everyone, Givens said. And if you choose to veto, you know its going to be overridden. That is what it is. But Ill ask you to make your $1,700 contribution, governor, to a Kentucky SGO and help these kids. Its a rare opportunity. HB 1 would allow Kentucky K-12 students to receive scholarships for private school tuition and other education assistance funded by donations from people receiving the federal tax credit that will become available in 2027 under President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed by Congress last year. In addition to tuition, the scholarships may be used for tutoring services, books, internet access and more. Under the bill, Kentucky may identify eligible scholarship granting organizations (SGO) for students. An SGO can benefit not only private school students, but public school students as well. Advertisement Advertisement The Education Freedom Tax Credit is up to $1,700 per year for people who donate to SGOs, which would then give most of the money to eligible students through scholarships. The organizations would be able to use 10% of the money for administrative costs. Donors can receive the $1,700 credit even if they do not live in a state that has opted into the program. Kentuckys program would be overseen by the secretary of state, who is currently Republican Michael Adams. His office would report to the U.S. Treasury about the states participation in the federal tax credit. Adams praised the bill on X after the Senate passed it and called it a game-changer for education and that he looked forward to implementing it. Democrats have argued HB 1 is a way to support school choice options at the expense of public schools despite rejections of earlier proposals by Kentucky voters and the state Supreme Court. However, Republicans say the bill would allow K-12 students and their families to benefit from education assistance grants funded by a federal tax credit at no cost to the state and without the use of tax dollars. Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, of Lexington, argued that Democrats in Congress voted against the (OBBBA) because the tax credit takes out money that could otherwise go to Medicare benefits, Medicaid benefits, SNAP, defense, housing, transportation, you name it. Advertisement Advertisement Thomas added that he believes approval of HB 1 will create a have and haves not system among our public schools. He said schools in urban areas with more private and parochial schools are already set up to raise funds, and public schools in that area will also receive donations for resources. If you live in one of those counties where your primary workforce depends on the public school, you will be harmed and disadvantaged by that bill, Thomas said. And so what this bill will do will make sure that we have an uneven playing field among the schools here in this commonwealth, and thats not good for the people of Kentucky. Later while casting a vote in favor of HB 1, Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, pushed back at Thomas haves and haves not comment. I really dont understand, as a Black Kentuckian, why there is this need to continue to perpetuate the stereotype of a caste system here in our commonwealth. I heard earlier that the money is supposed to go to our public schools, Douglas said, saying that the Kentucky Constitution directs the General Assembly to provide for an efficient system of common schools. Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky Supreme Court recently interpreted that section of the Constitution to refer to public schools when striking down a 2022 charter school law as unconstitutional. Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, argued while explaining her no vote that HB 1 would allow tax dollars to be diverted from the federal government and to schools. What these guys are saying to you is that we have a way, because of what Trump did, to bypass the Constitution of Kentucky and to bypass the will of the voters in Kentucky to give your tax dollars to private schools, Berg said. We voted no in this state, our Constitution says no. To say, Well, its not state money, its federal money. Its your tax dollars. Senate Appropriations and Revenue Chair Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, said while voting in favor of the bill that it was a ridiculous narrative that this is limited to rich people. He argued that a married couple making roughly $100,000 a year would owe $7,200 in federal income taxes, and could benefit from a $1,700 tax credit. Advertisement Advertisement If we have 172 school districts in this state, there will be 172 scholarship granting organizations at a minimum that are set up, he said. If you are a young married couple, would you rather send your money to the federal government, or would you rather send it to the school district where your children are attending? In the House, two Democrats voted for the bill and one Republican voted against it. Ahead of the Senate vote, Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman shared two videos on X in which she called HB 1 a back door voucher bill. A former public school educator, she also advocated against Amendment 2 in 2024. Its important to know what it will do. It will redirect billions in federal tax revenue to private entities, and itll benefit middle to upper class families who are already attending private school, she said in one of the videos. Advertisement Advertisement Coleman also urged Kentuckians to contact lawmakers to vote against the bill. One Republican, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, of Smithfield, said in a post on X that constituents shouldnt call and called Colemans posts misinformation. Tichenor voted in favor of the bill Friday. Dont call us. Its going to pass and then well override the veto, Tichenor said. Why? Because we believe every student deserves a good education; public, private or at home. HB 1 is the second bill this session to pass both the House and Senate and head to the governors desk. Beshear said Thursday during his weekly press conference that he has been really clear that public dollars should only go to public schools. I dont comment on whether Im going to veto or not veto bills until they get to my desk, but Im a 100% pro-public education governor that believes that public dollars should only go to public schools, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, who have supermajorities in the House and Senate, easily have the votes to override Beshears vetoes. The U.S. Treasury and Department of Education said last month that 23 states had opted-in to the federal tax credit, including Kentucky neighbors Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Transitioned from a vertically integrated COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer to a lean, R&D-focused licensing organization centered on the Matrix-M adjuvant technology. Secured over $800 million in non-dilutive capital over 18 months through strategic milestones and upfront payments from Sanofi and Pfizer. Leveraged the Pfizer agreement to validate Matrix-M's utility across diverse disease areas, with potential for billions in long-term revenue through milestones and royalties. Optimized the operational model by divesting manufacturing facilities to AstraZeneca and Novo Nordisk, netting $260 million in cash and significant future savings. Attributed performance stability to the successful execution of existing partnerships, including Takeda's 12% market share in Japan and Serum Institute's malaria vaccine distribution. Focused R&D on 'Matrix-based' innovation to create a portfolio of tailored adjuvants for high-value markets like oncology and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. The father of slain nursing student Laken Riley has filed a civil lawsuit against the apartment complex where the convicted killer resided and against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The suit by Jason Riley, which seeks $1 million, is based on the assertions of negligent security on the University of Georgia campus, along with UGA's alleged failure to have adequate safety measures. Laken Riley was slain on Feb. 22, 2024, while she was jogging on a trail near Lake Herrick at the UGA intramural fields. Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University's Athens campus and resided near the fields. Law enforcement said the motive of the attack was a sexual assault. Riley, 22, was beaten in the head and asphyxiated. Advertisement Advertisement Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, was convicted in Clarke County Superior Court for Rileys murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Trespassing Alleged: Man with gun arrested at Classic Center, claimed to be movie scout Jason Riley's lawsuit was filed in Gwinnett County, where one of the apartment complex defendants has an agent. The apartment complex, referred to in the suit as Azulyk, was served through its manager, Omar Zavala, of Rabun Gap. Also named as a defendant are Argo Apartments, which had acquired the apartments in 2024. The suit alleges the apartment manager allowed Ibarra to live in the complex without regard to the legality of his status in the U.S. or his violent criminal history. Advertisement Advertisement The suit also notes that UGA failed to follow its own policies regarding screening employees, which resulted in Ibarras brother becoming employed on campus. The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Steven J. Estep and Darryl B. Cohen of Atlanta, states that the father has a right to bring the claim independently of Laken Rileys mother. UGA released a statement Friday stating, Out of respect for Laken and her family, we have no comment on the recently filed lawsuit. A spokesperson for the apartment complex stated to the press that it does not comment on pending litigation. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Laken Riley's father sues UGA, apartment complex for $1M LANSING The Michigan Princess, a 500-passenger riverboat that's given rides to more than half a million people on the Grand River since it debuted in 1991, is being dismantled. The boat was being taken apart on Friday, Feb. 27. The popular riverboat, which docks at Grand River Park, never recovered after sustaining damage in late 2024 and won't be rebuilt, owner Chris Chamberlain said. "The Michigan Princess is a part of history at this point," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The news comes more than a year after the riverboat gave its last ride in August of 2024 and was lifted out of the water for routine maintenance. When it was being returned to the water an airbag failed and the boat sustained structural damage, Chamberlain said. It's been out of commission since. "There was insurance, but it's not enough to put the boat back into service," he said. "I am heartbroken," Chamberlain said in a Facebook post on Feb. 27. "This boat was my childhood home away from home. I have so many fond memories growing up aboard her and too many unforgettable parties and celebrations to pick just one favorite to share." Chamberlain, in a Facebook post, said keeping the riverboat running had become an expensive proposition, even before it suffered damage. Advertisement Advertisement "Even before the damage, keeping the Princess afloat was a labor of love. Restarting after the pandemic was a challenge, and the requirements for older vessels have changed dramatically over the past 34 years since she was first built," he wrote. "The structural damage that occurred last year is simply too great to repair to the level of new State of Michigan maritime regulations." A riverboat business with humble beginnings A view of the Michigan Princess riverboat that is being demolished on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Grand River Park in Lansing. Making the decision to retire the riverboat was tough, Chamberlain said. His parents, John and Karla Chamberlain, launched the boat in 1991, 15 years after starting a canoe rental business at Potter Park in Lansing. "My dad just bought half a dozen canoes and started renting them out," Chamberlain said. "Half a dozen led to about 150." The couple moved from canoe rentals to purchasing an aging barge and building their first boat. The Spirit of Lansing traveled the river from Potter Park to Adado Riverfront Park. A larger boat that carried 110 people, the Princess Laura, debuted in 1984. Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan Princess was finished in 1991, Chamberlain said. "There was no galley on the boat," he said. "We did all the cooking off-site and catering and food service, but it was pretty popular." In 1997, after his parents went to the theater to see the movie "Titanic," John Chamberlain decided to expand the boat's size. "So, over the next year or so, we built another section for the boat and we made it a third larger and that increased its capacity to 500 people," Chamberlain said. "Most people are familiar with the boat from that point onward with the dance floor and the atrium and stairs." Over half a million rides Over the years, the Michigan Princess gave rides to more than 500,000 passengers, including notable local politicians, including former Gov. John Engler. Companies and families have hosted celebrations aboard. Advertisement Advertisement John Chamberlain, who died in 2013, was an entrepreneur, his son said. Today the business includes four other boats, including the Detroit Princess which travels the Detroit River, the Grand Princess in Grand Ledge, the Harbor Princess in Petoskey and the Little Traverse Bay Ferry on Little Traverse Bay. "It started 50 years ago with a canoe rental, and it just kind of kept going from there and it's a little bit the American dream, I suppose," Chamberlain said. "We're a family business so it's always some sort of adventure along the way." His family is proud of the Michigan Princess's history, he said. Advertisement Advertisement "Nothing lasts forever," Chamberlain said. "We're just happy, you know, that in the 30-plus years the boat ran, we took well over half a million people for boat rides on it. At this point, the Michigan Princess is just fading off into history." Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing's Michigan Princess riverboat is being dismantled The 2026 legislative session is coming to an end, and the Indiana Capital Chronicle team will bring you everything from the final day right here. Key Events Feb. 27, 2026 6:11 pm Cuts to state boards and commissions wins Legislatures OK Feb. 27, 2026 6:05 pm Last-minute attempt to revive hemp drug ban fails in final hours Feb. 27, 2026 5:19 pm Cost caps central to Medicaid long-term care bill clearing Indiana Legislature Feb. 27, 2026 4:58 pm Felonies, fines for improper CDLs advance to Indiana governors desk Feb. 27, 2026 4:48 pm Education deregulation measure heads to Indiana governor despite warnings it goes way too far Feb. 27, 2026 4:31 pm Coming to the end Feb. 27, 2026 3:30 pm Bill targeting low-earning college degrees clears Indiana Legislature Feb. 27, 2026 2:43 pm Military police proposal crosses legislative finish line Feb. 27, 2026 2:16 pm Indiana youth social media crackdown advances to governors desk Feb. 27, 2026 2:00 pm Voters will have say on Fort Wayne-area casino under plan backed by lawmakers Feb. 27, 2026 11:32 am Northeast Indiana casino clears House; one vote left to go Feb. 27, 2026 11:15 am Lawmakers eye executive order costs in bill on its way to governor Feb. 27, 2026 9:52 am Braun busy signing bills Feb. 26, 2026 5:45 pm All that remains Cuts to state boards and commissions wins Legislatures OK A few dozen of Indianas state boards and commissions face elimination as legislators on Friday endorsed a plan principally aimed at panels deemed unproductive. Advertisement Advertisement An initial version of House Bill 1003 targeted 63 boards, commissions, committees and councils for elimination or modification at the end of this year. The bill approved in House and Senate votes on Friday dialed that number back to about 40 and delayed most of the board eliminations until July 2027 to allow for possible changes during next years session. Republican legislators made the bill a top priority for this legislative session. Bill author Rep. Stephen Bartels, R-Eckerty, and other supporters argued that many of the states more than 250 boards and commissions were rarely meeting and some struggled with member attendance. Advertisement Advertisement The final bill retains the states Natural Resources Commission, which an earlier version wouldve scrapped. It did, however, remove a requirement that the governors citizen appointments be bipartisan. Another contentious action remained in the bill, however: elimination of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, with its building code responsibilities shifting to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Last-minute attempt to revive hemp drug ban fails in final hours ndianas prohibition on intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived drugs was dead for less than a week before it was resurrected and killed again this time, until at least next year. Indiana will go another year without a 21-plus age limit on intoxicating hemp products, bill author Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, bemoaned Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers have repeatedly tried to regulate potent delta-8, TCHA and other cannabinoid products, which have existed in a legal gray area for eight years. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana, which remains banned at the federal level and in the Hoosier State. Efforts in Indiana have consistently failed amid a House-Senate stalemate on how expansive or limiting the states approach should be. Freemans Senate Bill 250 struck a stricter tone, mirroring Congress recent closure of a so-called loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill. That law defined legal hemp as any part of the plant containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, sparking a booming industry for other intoxicating cannabinoids. Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, attends an interim committee meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A stopgap federal funding law enacted in November specifies that all forms of THC count. It also caps THC products to just 0.4 milligrams per container, and outright bans lab-made ones. It goes into effect this coming November. Advertisement Advertisement Freeman said lawmakers would end the legislative session having done nothing on hemp leaving state statute out of line with federal. The Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution declares that federal law wins out over conflicting state code, but Freeman was still concerned. Currently, right, marijuana is illegal, (but) tell that to however many states its legalized in. Dont tell that to California; they dont care, he said. So theyre saying were not following federal law. Now, I think that is a really dangerous precedent And by the way, Indiana is going to be in that category come November, which is all all shades of scary to me. The Indiana bill additionally laid out a regulatory scheme for any low-potency, field-grown products on the market notably, with the long-sought age requirement. Industry representatives previously testified customers would not want THC products that dont produce a high. The legislation wouldnt have affected CBD, which is not intoxicating. Advertisement Advertisement It cleared the committee stage and then passed the Senate in a 35-15 vote. The bill made it to the House floor but wasnt called for second reading before a key Monday deadline. Another example of why we should be a unicameral Legislature, he told the Capital Chronicle then. Lawmakers from all four caucuses met in conference committee Thursday to unveil their plans for stripping Senate Bill 144 of its provisions and inserting the Senate-passed version of Freemans bill. But it wasnt in the conference committee report released Friday afternoon. Rep. Elizabeth Rowray, R-Yorktown, said it was the third iteration of the CCR and acknowledged the hemp drug ban was added in and subsequently taken back out. Advertisement Advertisement Indiana is among just 10 states that dont allow either medicinal and recreational sales. The state has stubbornly resisted efforts even from Republicans to legalize marijuana. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December to speed up reclassification of marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, but that hasnt yet been completed. Last updated: 6:06 PM Cost caps central to Medicaid long-term care bill clearing Indiana Legislature A Medicaid bill reshaping parts of Indianas long-term care system cleared the legislature a final time Friday and now heads to Gov. Mike Braun. House Bill 1277 passed the House 96-0 and the Senate 46-4. Author Rep. Brad Barrett, R-Richmond, said the final version reflects months of negotiations over costs, services and the states rollout of its PathWays for Aging program. Advertisement Advertisement We were trying to, really, at the end of the day, do two things. One was to put a cap on services because weve seen that, sometimes, the expense of even keeping a patient at home could outspend institutionalization, Barrett said. And so this was a big compromise. Changes made on the final day of the session also rolled in language from other Medicaid measures and stripped out a provision added earlier in the process. Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, ultimately supported the measure but urged lawmakers to revisit one section next year that directs Indianas Family and Social Services Administration to seek federal approval for an individual cost cap tied to home- and community-based services under the states PathWays program. The specific provision directs the FSSA secretary to file an amendment with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish an individual cost cap for home and community-based services under the Pathways of Aging program not to exceed the institutional cost of nursing facility services. Advertisement Advertisement Yoder cautioned that the language could carry unintended consequences if not revisited. There is concern that this language is, in fact, not sunsetting the individual cost cap itself once it is federally approved, Yoder said. I hope that Indiana never becomes a state that moves backward, once again relying more heavily on institutions for people with disabilities. The bill drew scrutiny earlier in the session from long-term care providers and advocates who questioned whether the broader Medicaid changes including Indianas transition to the PathWays managed-care model would actually produce savings or risk limiting access to home- and community-based services. Lawmakers later delayed a key transition requirement and added a sunset to the individual cost cap as part of the compromise. Felonies, fines for improper CDLs advance to Indiana governors desk Lawmakers in both chambers approved legislation Friday that imposes felonies and fines on improperly credentialed truck drivers and tightens employer and trainingschool penalties. Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 1200 now heads to Gov. Mike Braun for final sign-off. The measure passed the House 92-3 and the Senate 49-1. Author Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, described the final draft as a broad enforcement push aimed at truck drivers operating with invalid or fraudulent credentials and the companies that put them on the road. Momentum for the proposal followed multiple fatal crashes involving semi-trucks in Indiana and a growing debate at the Statehouse this session over immigration enforcement and commercial driver licensing requirements. The bill now would make it a Level 6 felony for a driver to operate with bad, false or expired credentials and impose a $5,000 penalty on such drivers. Other provisions require Indianas Bureau of Motor Vehicles to periodically check nondomiciled CDL licenses meaning commercial licenses issued to drivers who are not permanent Indiana residents but are authorized to operate commercially in the United States through federal Homeland Security systems and to revoke licenses if they are no longer valid. The bill also creates new penalties of up to $50,000 for training schools that certify drivers without proper credentials. Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, raised concerns, however, that the measure did not explicitly block those on asylum or parole programs who under federal law can obtain work permits and CDLs without further vetting, and suggested the bill missed an opportunity to close what he views as remaining loopholes. I had an amendment the other day that dealt with a specific type of people that have never been vetted by any government, Young said. He warned that individuals who can legally obtain work permits and CDLs might still pose a danger if not appropriately screened. Young also pressed on duplicate definitions of fraud in the criminal code and questioned the bills ability to collect fines from companies without assets. Even so, he ultimately voted in favor of the bill. I hope we dont have somebody coming through the state of Indiana and killing our citizens because theyre a parolee who cant speak English, Young said. Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, defended the final language and said parolees must show legal documentation, like green cards, to secure CDLs and that the BMV felt existing vetting covered those concerns. No one filed a bill to address the things were talking about, Crider said. Rep. Pressel and I took it upon ourselves to amend the bill to include provisions that are going to keep people alive. Education deregulation measure heads to Indiana governor despite warnings it goes way too far A second-round education deregulation effort backed by House Republicans advanced to the governors desk Friday despite concerns from Democrats that the measure weakens educator protections and professional standards at a moment when Indiana schools are already struggling with teacher recruitment and retention. The House voted 66-29 to concur with Senate changes to House Bill 1004, capping a multi-year effort to strip unused, outdated and conflicting language from Indianas education code. The Senate approved the bill Wednesday in a 28-20 vote. Authored by Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, the bill is part of the House GOPs broader push to reduce regulatory requirements across state agencies and education systems. Behning has framed the effort as ongoing cleanup, following last years repeal of nearly 35,000 words of education statute. Behning said Friday that concerns raised earlier by school administrators over contract language had been addressed in the final version of the bill. There was collaboration between the principals association [and] school boards, he said. Behning also pointed to changes affecting school referendums and partnerships with outside providers. We're going to look back and we're going to regret what we did to public education, because every session we destroy a valuable portion of it. Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary There was some language taken out dealing with first class mailing specifically on referendums, Behning said, adding that the bill allows schools to contract with private, for-profit or nonprofit providers for after-school care or preschool services. But Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, held that the deregulation package goes too far. For several years, educators have been coming to us asking for deregulation, and I supported deregulation. However, this bill went way too far, Smith said. He zeroed in on provisions eliminating contract language specifying teacher work hours. When you take this provision out, what youre doing is youre allowing somebody who wants to be a dictator to force people to stay as long as they want them to stay, Smith said. Were having a problem already trying to attract people into the career of being a teacher. Teachers all over the state have responded saying that they are concerned about this provision, he continued. Were going to look back and were going to regret what we did to public education, because every session we destroy a valuable portion of it. Last updated: 4:48 PM Coming to the end The House and Senate only have a handful of bills left to act on, so I thought it would be a good time to show you some photos of life in the Statehouse during the last days of session. House Spearer Todd Huston discusses a point of order with other leaders in the Indiana House on Feb. 26, 2026. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A view from the Senate balcony on Feb. 26, 2026. (Photo by Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Reporters in the Senate write stories while listening to debate on Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Lobbyists bags line the halls as they work bills and lawmakers outside the House and Senate chambers on Feb. 26, 2026. (Photo by Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Last updated: 4:32 PM Bill targeting low-earning college degrees clears Indiana Legislature A last-day vote in the Indiana Legislature advanced a controversial provision allowing the state to scrutinize and potentially eliminate college degree programs tied to low earnings, despite warnings from some lawmakers that the policy risks undermining essential but often underpaid professions. Senate Bill 199 directs the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to review programs whose graduates earn median wages below the average earnings of a high school graduate in Indiana ranging roughly from $24,000 to $35,000 and determine whether those programs should continue, be restructured or be consolidated. The bill would operate alongside other ongoing higher education review efforts already underway in Indiana, including recent CHE crackdowns to cut or merge hundreds of low-enrollment or duplicative degree programs statewide. The Senate voted 34-14 to approve the final version; the House followed with a 62-32 vote. Supporters of the measure, including bill author Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, said the policy is intended to spark further review, not automatic cuts, and to ensure students and families understand the economic outcomes tied to degrees. Opponents, however, countered that the approach puts salaries over public value and risks destabilizing programs that still contribute to the states workforce. Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder said Friday the social media language that was previously housed in the bill sort of took the oxygen out of the room. She argued that lawmakers didnt really have an opportunity to vet the other portion of this bill dealing with college degrees. I agree that students and families should have that information, Yoder said. I think that is a worthy conversation to be having. But that is not the only reason why students study these areas. And I think that there is value to studying these areas. The final draft of the bill also directs school districts to report their paid-leave practices to the Indiana Department of Education. Separate language requires schools to maintain a 75% IREAD pass-average over a three-year period. Schools that fall short must participate in the states Literacy Cadre. The program pairs schools with instructional coaches to improve K3 reading proficiency using science-of-reading-aligned professional development. Raatz pushed back. There was nothing hidden from anybody, at all, he said. Nothing in this bill says anything is going to change. It says were going to review it. Its not a sinister plot. Last updated: 3:30 PM Military police proposal crosses legislative finish line Hoosier Gov. Mike Braun would be able to deploy an Indiana National Guard unit with police powers anywhere in the state for any reason under a finalized proposal heading to his desk. The conference committee report for House Bill 1343 passed largely by party line votes: 65-29 in the House and 37-11 in the Senate. GOP opponents included Rep. Daniel Lopez of Carmel and Sen. Vaneta Becker of Evansville. It allows the guards leader, Adjutant General Lawrence Muennich, to establish a military police force of members with police powers, like for arrests, searches, seizures and more. Bill author Rep. Steve Bartels, R-Eckerty, has said the Guard will merge six existing units under a new moniker, not form a new unit. Members would have to take army or air military police training, Indiana-specific law enforcement instruction and an oath of office. Theyd also need security clearances and clean records. Beginning July 1, Braun could authorize the force to exercise those policing powers throughout the state after providing reasonable notice to local law enforcement. Hed coordinate with them as circumstances permit. Democrats unsuccessfully advocated for a requirement that communities request the help before the governor deploys the force. They pushed back on the House floor Friday. The biggest problem is you havent the solved the possibility of this being abused, said Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington. Military police will be able to supplant your own law enforcement, because theyll be out enforcing civilian laws against civilians. Rep. Ed DeLaney called the move the biggest insult to our police and sheriffs. If you live a city or a county where you think the local law enforcement is not up to the job and could be shoved aside, then you might want to vote for this, he said. Bartels has previously said a governor can already deploy the guard at will but the proposal offers guardrails through the training and other mandates. The force would also have to coordinate with the Indiana State Police and use the National Incident Management System, a federal guide for all levels of government, the private sector and beyond to coordinate emergency responses. Bartels said NIMs is standard operating procedure already but that lawmakers wished to put that into Indiana Code. Lawmakers also inserted a version of a dead bill House Bill 1040, dealing with attacks against school and health care employees and a brand-new ISP recruitment provision. The Law Enforcement Training Board would be able to waive basic training requirements in Indiana for experienced out-of-state officers who meet certain requirements. The wide-ranging public safety matters bill also alters the military family relief fund, along with grants for veterans and guard members, and establishes a civilian cyber corp subdivision of the guards reserves, among other provisions. Indiana youth social media crackdown advances to governors desk A push to rein in youth social media renewed in part by recent high-profile online exploitation cases culminated on the last day of Indianas legislative session after lawmakers in both chambers agreed on final language and sent the bill to Gov. Mike Braun. A final bipartisan Friday vote in the Senate capped a monthslong scramble that spanned multiple bills, and social media language once declared dead was ultimately revived and folded into a broader education bill. The final draft of House Bill 1408, authored by Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, clears the way for parental-consent requirements, age-verification mandates and algorithm limits for certain social media platforms used by Hoosiers under 16. The social media provisions did not originate in that bill, however. Language was first introduced this session in Senate Bill 199, penned by Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, but was later stripped out by the Senate. Sens. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, left, and Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, right, debate a bill with new social media restrictions for certain Hoosier youth on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in the Indiana Senate. (Photos by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) After more back and forth, the restrictions finally landed in House Bill 1408 as part of a negotiated end-of-session compromise. This is an epidemic across our nation, Raatz said during the final Senate debate Friday. Everybody in this room, I dont think, can deny that thats exactly what is going on. The question is, what can we do? This is one of the things that we absolutely can do. This was lawmakers second consecutive attempt to regulate youth access to social media after a broader proposal failed to pass in 2025. This session, the General Assembly took a narrower approach focused on parental consent, age estimation and social media platform design features. Urgency was amplified this month following the death of Fishers teenager Hailey Buzbee, who authorities say was killed after being lured online by a predator. Braun and legislative leaders have repeatedly pointed to rising online exploitation cases as justification for tightening controls. Im asking you to help protect our young children, Raatz said. The most vulnerable are our kids under 16 years of age We have an obligation to protect those who are vulnerable the same way we do with drivers licenses, the same way we do with alcohol. To read the full story go here. Last updated: 2:16 PM Voters will have say on Fort Wayne-area casino under plan backed by lawmakers Voters in three Fort Wayne-area counties would decide whether a new casino could land there under a bill thats cleared the General Assembly. The Indiana House and Senate both endorsed a final bill version on Friday, sending it to the governors desk for action. A requirement for the voter referendums in Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties was only added to House Bill 1038 after the proposal narrowly cleared the Senate on Tuesday amid objections over the lack of those county votes. Bill author Rep. Craig Snow, R-Winona Lake, said he and the vast majority of House Republicans believed the referendums were necessary and that the bill wouldnt have won passage without them. If a casino is going to go somewhere, we want broad support, Snow told the Capital Chronicle after the House vote. At the end of the day, if the voters dont want it, they should be able to say that. Rep. Craig Snow, R-Winona Lake, signals his yes vote on the bill allowing a new Fort Wayne-area casino on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Each time since Indiana lawmakers first authorized casinos in the 1990s, local residents have voted in a referendum. The bill cleared the House 56-37 and the Senate by a 34-16 margin for what would be the states largest gambling expansion since 2019 when lawmakers approved the legalization of sports wagering and new casinos in Terre Haute and Gary. Gov. Mike Brauns office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the bills passage. The measure calls for this years November election ballot to include a casino referendum question in all three counties. The Indiana Gaming Commission could then only consider casino license requests for a county where voters supported the project and must select a bid no later than April 15, 2027. To read the full story go here. Last updated: 2:18 PM Northeast Indiana casino clears House; one vote left to go The sponsor of the bill allowing a new casino in the Fort Wayne area says a requirement for county voter referendums was necessary for it to win passage. The Indiana House voted 56-37 on Friday in favor of the bill that would allow three northeastern Indiana counties Allen, DeKalb and Steuben to pursue the casino project. House Bill 1038 still faces a final vote in the state Senate later Friday before the expected adjournment of this years legislative session. The Senate narrowly endorsed a previous bill version on Tuesday as several senators objected because it lacked local referendums on whether residents support such a project. Bill author Rep. Craig Snow, R-Winona Lake, said he and the vast majority of House Republicans believed the referendums were necessary. If a casino is going to go somewhere, we want broad support, Snow told the Capital Chronicle after the House vote. The bill calls for this years November election ballot to include a casino referendum question in all three counties. The Indiana Gaming Commission could then only consider casino license requests for a county where voters supported the project. Whichever company wins the license, the bill would require it to spend at least $500 million on the casino and related amenities within five years. Lawmakers eye executive order costs in bill on its way to governor The financial hit from each of an Indiana governors executive orders would be tallied up within a week under heavily edited legislation on its way to Gov. Mike Brauns desk. A conference committee report for Senate Bill 4 tasks the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency with analyzing the fiscal impacts to state and local government for all executive orders not just when a governor uses one to declare a disaster emergency. The analyses would be due within 7 days. Braun has issued more than 80 executive orders since taking office January last year. Both chambers unanimously approved the finalized proposal Friday morning, in a 91-0 vote in the House and a 50-0 vote in the Senate. Thats despite some resentment over the removal of more than 80 pages of provisions amended into the fiscal matters bill by members of the House. Their additions dealing with economic development reporting, tax credit reviews, public library budgets and more were ruled not germane by the Senate and largely moved to another bill. When the Senate told you these provisions from the House were non-germane, did it occur to you to explain to them that were an equal house in this General Assembly, and we dont particularly care what they think is germane? asked Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, in a Thursday evening rules committee meeting. A basket of legislative documents sits on the rostrum in the House chamber on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, as the Indiana General Assembly prepares to conclude its work. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) It seems to me like the House is just rolling over and caving in, Pierce added. We might want to have a more of a backbone over on this side of the of the capitol building, and perhaps see if we can get them under control a little bit. Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, justified the removals. As somebody who is well-known for calling germaneness violations throughout the session, I appreciate sticking to the letter of the law and trying to be as germane as possible, he said. The measure, now mostly returned to its Senate-passed form, also lowers the implementation and compliance cost threshold that must be noted in agency regulatory analyses. The current $1 million mark for impacts to local governments, businesses and individuals over any two-year period would be halved to $500,000. Brauns administration would also be authorized to pull from the financial responsibility and opportunity growth fund to boost the struggling Child Care and Development Fund program, which provides vouchers to low-income families. The lawmaker-dominated State Budget Committee would have to approve of any injections into the program. CCDF has been closed to new children for more than a year due to funding constraints, and isnt expected to reopen registration until next year. The waitlist for vouchers has topped 30,000. Braun busy signing bills While lawmakers are finishing up their work, 44 bills have already made it to Gov. Mike Brauns desk. And he has signed them all into law as of Thursday. The marquee bill so far has been the financial framework behind a possible Chicago Bears stadium deal. But there are some others already inked as well. He signed House Enrolled Act 1002 a move to try to address utility affordability in the state. It requires assistance programs for low-income customers as well as shutoff protection during hot temperatures. It also introduces a new multi-year ratemaking regime that includes performance metrics. Braun also approved Senate Enrolled Act 12 a ban on ranked choice voting even though ranked choice voting isnt used in Indiana. Senate Enrolled Act 3 provides the public question wording for a constitutional amendment to be on the ballot in November about bail for crimes other than treason and murder. The governor signed House Enrolled Act 1035, which protects parents from child abuse investigations simply for giving their children age-appropriate freedom. Think a kid walking to the park or staying home alone for short periods of time. The first bill signed of the session was a tax conformity measure to match Indianas tax code to changes made in the federal tax code for the current tax filing season. To follow along, go to Brauns bill watch page. Last updated: 9:53 AM All that remains This legislative session started back in December a novelty for Indiana with an ill-fated redistricting debate. Fast forward two months and lawmakers are set to wrap up a chaotic short session today. There are about a dozen higher-level bills waiting for final compromises. And both chambers must approve any of those negotiated agreements before Sine Die tonight. Here are a handful of items to watch: Northeast Indiana casino There is a last-minute maneuver to insert a binding referendum into House Bill 1038, after lawmakers from Allen and DeKalb counties said it was unfair their constituents wouldnt get to vote on a new casino when that has been the practice for other counties that welcomed gambling. Hemp products A bill cracking down on hemp-based THC products died earlier this week. But that language is now being moved into Senate Bill 144. The legislation is meant to close a loophole derived from the 2018 Farm Bill, which companies have claimed allows them to sell potent, intoxicating THC products, such as Delta-8. A similar measure died on the last day last year. Social media Lawmakers want to restrict the use of social media by kids. The language has been moved to House Bill 1408, which was passed by the House on Thursday but is still waiting for final Senate approval. Military police Gov. Mike Brauns administration seeks a specially-trained unit of the Indiana National Guard that can be deployed around the state for any reason. Opponents fear it could be used against the wishes of local mayors while supporters say Braun already has this ability and the bill increases training and oversight. House Bill 1343 is awaiting a compromise. CDLs Language inserted into House Bill 1200 targets commercial truck drivers who are not legally in Indiana. A spate of tragic crashes brought the issue to the forefront. Language is being considered that would require people to take and pass a skills exam in English to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Another provision would require the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to revoke a non-domiciled commercial drivers license if officials receive credible information from federal agencies that the driver lacks legal authorization or required immigration documents. Last updated: 9:02 AM Indianas prohibition on intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived drugs was dead for less than a week before it was resurrected and killed again this time, until at least next year. Indiana will go another year without a 21-plus age limit on intoxicating hemp products, bill author Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, bemoaned Friday. Lawmakers have repeatedly tried to regulate potent delta-8, TCHA and other cannabinoid products, which have existed in a legal gray area for eight years. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana, which remains banned at the federal level and in the Hoosier State. Advertisement Advertisement Efforts in Indiana have consistently failed amid a House-Senate stalemate on how expansive or limiting the states approach should be. Freemans Senate Bill 250 struck a stricter tone, mirroring Congress recent closure of a so-called loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill. That law defined legal hemp as any part of the plant containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, sparking a booming industry for other intoxicating cannabinoids. A stopgap federal funding law enacted in November specifies that all forms of THC count. It also caps THC products to just 0.4 milligrams per container, and outright bans lab-made ones. It goes into effect this coming November. Freeman said lawmakers would end the legislative session having done nothing on hemp leaving state statute out of line with federal. The Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution declares that federal law wins out over conflicting state code, but Freeman was still concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Currently, right, marijuana is illegal, (but) tell that to however many states its legalized in. Dont tell that to California; they dont care, he said. So theyre saying were not following federal law. Now, I think that is a really dangerous precedent And by the way, Indiana is going to be in that category come November, which is all all shades of scary to me. The Indiana bill additionally laid out a regulatory scheme for any low-potency, field-grown products on the market notably, with the long-sought age requirement. Industry representatives previously testified customers would not want THC products that dont produce a high. The legislation wouldnt have affected CBD, which is not intoxicating. It cleared the committee stage and then passed the Senate in a 35-15 vote. The bill made it to the House floor but wasnt called for second reading before a key Monday deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Another example of why we should be a unicameral Legislature, he told the Capital Chronicle then. Lawmakers from all four caucuses met in conference committee Thursday to unveil their plans for stripping Senate Bill 144 of its provisions and inserting the Senate-passed version of Freemans bill. But it wasnt in the conference committee report released Friday afternoon. Rep. Elizabeth Rowray, R-Yorktown, said it was the third iteration of the CCR and acknowledged the hemp drug ban was added in and subsequently taken back out. Indiana is among just 10 states that dont allow either medicinal and recreational sales. The state has stubbornly resisted efforts even from Republicans to legalize marijuana. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December to speed up reclassification of marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, but that hasnt yet been completed. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told U.S. House lawmakers on Thursday that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins or Ghislaine Maxwells crimes at the start of two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. The deposition was paused after Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert sent a photo of Hillary Clinton in the room to a conservative influencer who posted it on social media, violating the committees rules for depositions. The incident prompted the former secretary of state to repeat her longstanding demand that the deposition be made open to reporters. The closed-door questioning lasted over six hours Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement The Clintons agreed to testify after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the House Oversight panel, whose chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatened criminal contempt of Congress charges against them. Bill Clintons testimony will be the first time a former president has been forced to testify before Congress the latest sign that the demand for a reckoning over Epsteins abuse of underage girls has become a near-unstoppable force on Capitol Hill and beyond. Here's the latest: Trump huddles with GOP senators on midterm-year agenda Among the other meetings that the president had at the White House on Thursday was a strategy session with Senate GOP leaders and other close allies on the partys agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Among those who attended the afternoon meeting with Trump were Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, according to two people with knowledge of the discussion. The meeting was to discuss the partys broader agenda, said one of the people, both of whom were granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting. ___ By Seung Min Kim Hillary Clinton says she told lawmakers repeatedly she did not know Epstein The former told reporters as she exited after her deposition that she answered the same question again and again from lawmakers about whether she knew Jeffrey Epstein at all. I dont know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein, Hillary Clinton said. Advertisement Advertisement She also told reporters that her husband Bill Clinton had ended his relationship with Epstein before Epsteins sexual abuse came to light in 2008. Anthropic says it cant agree to Pentagon demands Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said Thursday that the artificial intelligence company cannot in good conscience accede to the Pentagons demands to allow wider use of its technology. The company said in a statement that its not walking away from negotiation but that new contract language received from the Defense Department made virtually no progress on preventing Claudes use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. Top Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said earlier that the military would use the technology in legal ways and not let Anthropic dictate any limits ahead of a Friday deadline to agree to its demands or face losing its contract. Advertisement Advertisement He said the Pentagon has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal) nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement. Hillary Clintons deposition in House Epstein investigation ends The closed-door questioning lasted over six hours Thursday. The former secretary of state told members of Congress she had no knowledge of Epsteins or Maxwells crimes. The depositions continuing Friday will also include former President Bill Clinton. US official says 1 American killed, another wounded in speedboat shooting near Cuba A U.S. official says at least one American citizen was killed and another wounded in an incident in which the crew of a Florida-registered speedboat exchanged fire with the Cuban military. Advertisement Advertisement The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation into Wednesdays firefight, said another member of the 10-person crew was in the U.S. on a visa and several others may have been green card holders. The official said the owner of the boat has alleged that it was stolen by one of his employees. ___ By Matthew Lee National Trust says decision on the White House ballroom project means the case can continue Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said the group was disappointed that the injunction it sought to halt work on the ballroom wasnt granted. But she said the group was pleased that the decision found that the National Trust has standing to bring this lawsuit, as we have asserted from the start. Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays ruling encouraged us to amend our complaint specifically, to assert that the president has acted beyond his statutory authority and we plan to do so promptly, Quillen said in a statement. She added that doing so would allow the case to continue. Denver mayor announces steps against ICE to keep every resident safe Mike Johnston, a Democrat, announced that federal immigration agents wouldnt be able to operate on city property and that the citys police would be authorized to intervene to prevent any illegal activity like brutality against suspects and protesters. Johnston said he was acting to reassure residents rather than because Denver had information about any upcoming increase in immigration operations. Advertisement Advertisement Denver becomes the latest Democrat-dominated city to announce new restrictions on immigration operations, joining Chicago, New York and Seattle. Democratic-led states have also pushed back. We will keep every resident safe, regardless of their status, Johnston said. Trump to award Medal of Honor to 3 Army veterans The White House said Trump will give the highest military decoration on March 2 to three U.S. Army veterans: Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds, Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, and Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson. The Medal of Honor is being awarded posthumously to Edmonds for thwarting efforts at a German prison camp during World War II to segregate Jewish-American prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement The Medal of Honor is being awarded posthumously to Ollis for his work to repel an enemy attack in 2013 of a base in Ghazni, Afghanistan that led to his death after an insurgent detonated his suicide vest. Richardson is receiving the Medal of Honor for his leadership in a reconnaissance mission in 1968 in Vietnam to occupy an enemy regiments base camp and direct airstrikes despite being wounded by an enemy sniper. Mamdani presents Trump with mock newspaper touting future big housing initiative New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani presented Trump with a mock newspaper front page during his visit to the White House on Thursday to show the president how a significant housing initiative might be received. Its a tactic designed to appeal to Trump, who is known to voraciously consume coverage in the local New York City publications. Advertisement Advertisement Anna Bahr, Mamdanis communications director, said the Democratic mayors team created the mock front page and its headlines for the Republican president to look at and demonstrate what kind of reaction that new federal housing investments could bring. The mock New York Daily News front page says Trump to City: Lets Build a riff on the famous 1975 cover that read Ford to City: Drop Dead, referring to Gerald Fords vow to veto financial assistance to the city. Mamdanis office declined to elaborate on the mayors housing proposal, but Bahr said Trump was very enthusiastic about it. Read more EPA union denounces layoff of environmental justice workers The 22 fired workers focused on poor and minority communities that are disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards and industrial pollution. The layoffs come as the Environmental Protection Agency has reduced its workforce by about 30% in Trumps second term. Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, said Thursday that the cuts have stretched remaining staff to the breaking point and weakened our ability to respond to mounting environmental and public health threats. There is no justification for further cuts. EPA spokesperson Brigit Hirsch said the layoffs are consistent with a notice to Congress last year and are part of EPAs broader effort to ensure that the agencys workforce is best positioned to meet its core mission. Columbia student detained by ICE to be released after Mamdani meeting with Trump The New York City mayor and the presidents surprise meeting at the White House was intended to be about housing. But during the meeting, Mamdani raised the issue of Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University student from Azerbaijan who was arrested earlier Thursday by federal immigration agents. The agents had accessed a campus residence by claiming they were searching for a missing person, according to Aghayevas attorneys and Columbias president. But in a social media post on X, Mamdani said he had received a call from Trump after his in-person meeting at the White House, and that the president informed me that she will be released imminently. Boebert says why not? send photo of Hillary Clinton in closed door deposition Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., was defiant in remarks to reporters as she left the closed-door deposition for Hillary Clinton. Boebert had violated committee protocol by sharing a photo of Clinton with a conservative influencer who posted it online. When asked why she had shared the photo, Boebert responded, Why not? Boebert also sarcastically said she admired Clintons blue suit and wanted to show it to everyone. All three Texas Senate GOP candidates to appear with Trump The president and Republican Party kingmaker has declined to endorse in Texass hotly-contested Senate primary. So when Trump appears in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday to talk about energy policies and the economy, all three candidates incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Rep. Wesley Hunt and state Attorney General Ken Paxton will be there, too. Their appearance at Trumps visit to the southern Texas town was confirmed by their campaigns and congressional offices. Cornyn, who is running for his fifth term, is fending off challenges in a primary battle that has gotten vicious and personal. A candidate must win 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary in order to win outright. If that doesnt happen, the race will go to a May 26 runoff with the top two vote-getters. Justice Thomas alludes to threats to explain his remote participation in DC law school conference Thomas said he changed his plans to appear in person on the American University law school campus because I wanted to make sure that I didnt endanger anyone by my mere presence. A couple dozen students who protested outside the conference said they were upset that the school provided no notice about or access to the private event. They also distributed a single sheet with excerpts of the testimony of law professor Anita Hill, whose allegations that Thomas sexually harassed her nearly derailed his nomination in 1991. Spokespeople for the Supreme Court and the school didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Thomas was honored with an award by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, made up mainly of members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Thomas spoke from the Washington office of Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Pennsylvania governor vows to block 2 planned ICE facilities Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro vowed Thursday to do whatever he can to block a pair of warehouses slated to become U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in his state as part of a massive expansion. The Democratic governor met privately for more than an hour with local government officials about plans for the facilities in Berks and Schuylkill counties. Shapiro said they voiced concerns about water and sewer capacity, the impact on roads, the demand for emergency fire and rescue response as well as medical care and other potential effects. Shapiro said he plans to flex his regulatory authority and legal powers to try to stop them. First lady Melania Trump to preside over UN Security Council in a historic first When the wife of President Donald Trump sits in the presidents seat to chair a meeting on Monday afternoon, it will be the first time a first lady, or first gentleman for that matter, has ever presided over a Security Council meeting, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday. The United States takes over the rotating presidency of the 15-member council for the month of March and the first ladys office said the meeting she will preside over on Monday will emphasize educations role in advancing tolerance and world peace. Asked the significance of Melania Trumps presiding role, Dujarric said: Obviously, its a sign of the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject. He said U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo will be briefing the Security Council at the meeting officially entitled Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Pentagon spokesman says they won't let AI company dictate limits The Pentagons top spokesman reiterated that the military wants to use Anthropics AI models in legal ways and wont let the company dictate any limits ahead of a Friday deadline to agree to the demands. Sean Parnell said Thursday on social media that the Pentagon has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal) nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement. Anthropics policies prevent their models from being used for those purposes. Its the last of its peers to not supply its technology to a new U.S. military internal network. Parnell says the Pentagon wants to use Anthropics model for all lawful purposes but didnt offer details and asserted that Anthropics resistance is jeopardizing critical military operations. After meeting Tuesday, the Pentagon told the company to open up its technology or risk losing its contract and be designated a supply chain risk. Mediator cites progress as indirect nuclear talks between the US and Iran wrap up Omans foreign minister said Thursday that talks between the United States and Iran had ended in Geneva but will resume soon. Badr al-Busaidi wrote on X that there had been significant progress in the negotiation without elaborating. He said technical-level talks would take place next week in Vienna, home to the International Atomic Energy Agency. There was no immediate comment from either American or Iranian officials. Analysts had been concerned that ending Thursdays talks without an immediate deal could spark U.S. military action against Iran. Read more Trump hails ruling on White House ballroom construction Great news for America, and our wonderful White House!, Trump posted on his social media site after a federal judge rejected a preservationist groups request to block continued construction of a ballroom that crews demolished the East Wing to build. Trump wrote that the project is ahead of schedule, and under budget and that the finished project will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America. Hillary Clinton deposition resumes After a pause, the House Oversight Committees deposition of the former secretary of state has restarted. It was put on hold after Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert shared a photo of Clinton at the closed-door proceeding with a conservative influence who posted it on social media. The photo violated committee rules for depositions, but Boebert posted on social media that the influencer did nothing wrong. Vance speaks in Wisconsin on affordability, fraud Vice President JD spoke on Thursday in Plover, Wisconsin, about affordability and reducing fraud, making the case for Republicans in the 2026 midterms. The question in November is do we give power to the people who fight for corruption, who fight for fraud, who fight for illegal aliens, or do we give the government to the American citizens for whom it was designed and for whom it was created? he asked during his address at Pointe Precision Inc., a machining facility. I think I know the answer. Lets vote for our people. Vance blamed Democrats for the current affordability crisis and called out alleged corruption in Minnesota, citing an example that involved money supposedly being taken away from autistic children. Democratic senator says Vance is visiting Wisconsin to help congressman Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin says that Vice President JD Vance is visiting Wisconsin to shore up a Republican congressman in a district targeted by Democrats. Vances trip to central Wisconsin on Thursday was touted by the White House as a chance to talk about President Donald Trumps successes in the wake of the State of the Union address. But Baldwin says the true purpose is to help Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who she says is in lock step with this administration. Van Orden planned to attend Vances event at a manufacturing business in Plover, Wisconsin. Baldwin says its good for Vance to come to Wisconsin so he can see exactly how this administrations policies are affecting and in many ways harming Wisconsinites. She says Van Orden has not been responsive to voters who oppose Trumps tariffs, cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies and reductions to federal food aid. Trump, Mamdani to meet at the White House The New York City mayor is planning on meeting with the president at the White House on Thursday. Thats according to a person with knowledge of the meeting, granted anonymity to discuss something that was not on Trumps public schedule. The meeting is expected to be in part about housing. Despite deriding Mamdani as he campaigned for mayor, Trump has taken a liking to him after their one-on-one meeting late last year. Judge rejects request to block Trump White House from building its $400 million ballroom project A federal judge on Thursday rejected a preservationist groups request to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that The National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its bid to temporarily halt President Donald Trumps project. Read more Hillary Clinton deposition paused over leaked photo The House Oversight Committees deposition of Hillary Clinton is being paused after Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert sent a photo of the closed-door proceeding to a conservative influencer. Benny Johnson, a right-wing Youtuber, posted a photo of Clinton at the deposition online and said Boebert had provided it. The deposition is being recorded on video, but Comer has said that will only be released after Clintons attorneys have a chance to review it. The committees rules do not allow outside press or photographers to take photos of the proceedings. GOP chair of House Oversight panel says its possible lawmakers will question Lutnick on Epstein ties Outside the House Oversight Committees deposition for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. James Comer told reporters that its very possible that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is called to testify in the House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Comer is seeking to cast the investigation as a bipartisan effort that is also willing to question Republicans. Lutnick was Epsteins neighbor in New York City. He had previously claimed that he cut all ties with Epstein after 2005, but the release of case files on Epstein showed that they had several interactions in the years after that. Noem says more than 250 DACA recipients arrested and dozens deported in 2025 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter to Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and other senators that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program provides just that, a deferral of removal for a period of time. Dubin and Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Ca., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., blasted the treatment of DACA recipients, known as Dreamers. News of DACA recipients being arrested and deported is deeply troubling, the senators said in a statement. The DACA program was created during the Obama administration to provide a way for young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country, so long as they register, undergo a background check and meet other requirements, such as attending school or working. Many have spent much of their lives in the U.S., and have since become adults with families of their own. From Jan. 1, 2025 to Nov. 19, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 had been removed from the country, according to Noems letter. It said of those arrested, 241 had criminal histories, but didnt provide further information, citing privacy issues. The senators demanded DHS provide more information on the rationale for arresting and deporting Dreamers. Hillary Clinton testifies she has no information on Epsteins criminal activities Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is telling U.S. House lawmakers she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins or Ghislaine Maxwells crimes. I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein, Hillary Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on social media. Her testimony starts off two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clintons deposition is getting underway The House Oversight Committees closed-door deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is getting underway in Chappaqua, New York, as lawmakers start two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton has previously told the committee she has no memory of ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who killed himself in 2019 while facing charges for sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls. There is no indication zero, zip, zilch, nada that Secretary Clinton had any knowledge of Epsteins crimes, Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat, said just before the deposition. Clinton did have connections to Epsteins former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, through the Clinton Foundation. Maxwell was also a guest at the 2010 wedding of their daughter Chelsea Clinton. Democrats call for Trump to answer questions in House Epstein investigation Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are arguing that former President Bill Clintons appearance for a deposition sets a precedent that should apply to President Donald Trump as well. Lets get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors, said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel. The Republican chair of the committee, Republican Rep. James Comer, has previously said the committee cant deposition Trump because hes a sitting president. Trump, however, has expressed regret that the Clintons are being forced to testify in the committees probe. Republicans relishing the chance to question the Clintons Its hardly the first time congressional Republicans have pressured the Clintons to answer their questions, but this time it comes as both former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are more than a decade removed from public office. None the less, the Clintons have emerged as a top target for Republicans in the House investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and they were successful in forcing them to appear for depositions in Chappaqua, New York, over the next two days. No ones accusing at this moment the Clintons of any wrongdoing, Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters just before the deposition for Hillary Clinton began. Comer added that Republicans were hoping to understand how Epstein accumulated his wealth and influence with high-powered men around the world. Republican chair pledges long days of depositions for the Clintons Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee, previewed lengthy interviews for both Hillary and Bill Clinton as lawmakers question them about Jeffrey Epstein. This is going to be a long deposition, Comer told reporters outside the convention center in Chappaqua, New York, where the depositions are being held. Hillary Clinton has said she doesnt remember ever meeting with Epstein, although she does have some connections to his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. House Democrats to force war powers vote on Iran House Democratic leaders say theyll force a vote next week on legislation requiring President Trump to terminate military force against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war from Congress. The U.S. has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East and the two nations are engaged in indirect talks to reach a deal on Tehrans nuclear program and potentially avert a war. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries was joined in the announcement by several Democrats who serve as the ranking member on committees with jurisdiction. Their news release says the Iranian regime is brutal and destabilizing, and cited the killing of thousands of protesters. However, undertaking a war of choice in the Middle East, without a full understanding of all the attendant risks to our servicemembers and to escalation, is reckless, the news release stated. We maintain that any such action would be unconstitutional without consultation with and authorization from Congress. Trump administration appeals to the Supreme Court in immigration case The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to end legal protections for migrants from Syria for now. Its the administrations latest emergency appeal to the nations highest court. The government wants the court to lift a New York judges ruling halting the Department of Homeland Securitys decision to end temporary protected status for Syrians. The justices have previously allowed immigration authorities to end legal protections for migrants from Venezuela while lawsuits continue to play out. The federal government argued the Syria case is similar. About 6,000 people from Syria have temporary legal status after fleeing armed conflict. Ending those protections could mean people lose work authorization and be exposed to possible deportation. Los Angeles Unified School District board members ended an hours-long closed session Thursday without a decision on the future of its superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, a day after the FBI served search warrants at his home and the district's headquarters. The board went into a closed session just after 4 p.m. and issued a statement in the evening saying it will reconvene at 12:30 p.m. Friday to continue deliberations. The meeting was open for public comment, but only a few addressed the FBI investigation directly. Advertisement Advertisement The district said in a statement Wednesday that it "is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time." AIR7 video on Wednesday morning showed agents in FBI shirts and jackets carrying items out of Carvalho's home in San Pedro. Neighbors said the school superintendent and his wife were handcuffed and detained during the search. Some of Carvalho's neighbors expressed concern that the raids may be a form of intimidation. "I hope that they're OK and I hope that he didn't do anything wrong and everything turns out OK," said San Pedro resident Pete Fabazzo. "He doesn't deserve this," neighbor John Schafer said. "If he did something wrong, there's a due process. And that's part of the problem -- everybody gets convicted before they do anything." Advertisement Advertisement Raul Claros, the director of the nonprofit California Rising, is calling for Carvalho to step down, at least temporarily. "It's a big cloud; it's an FBI cloud. Especially during this time right now, with this climate in politics coming from the federal level to Los Angeles, this is not what we need right now," Claros said. FBI search at Florida home tied to LAUSD case Federal authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the nation's second-largest school district. The FBI also searched a third location near Miami, where Carvalho previously led the public schools. The Miami Herald reported the Florida home belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere, an education technology company that had a contract with Los Angeles schools before it collapsed and its leader, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was indicted for fraud. The FBI raided the home and office of LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. An additional raid at a home in Florida is also tied to the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Kerr's home is in Southwest Ranches, about 25 miles north of Miami. Kerr describes herself on her LinkedIn page as a business and education consultant. She posted a photo with Carvalho on her LinkedIn page three years ago after what she referred to as a "brilliant" address by the superintendent. Bankruptcy filings show Kerr claims she is owed $630,000 from AllHere. AllHere collapsed two years ago after its owner was accused of fraud and using company funds to pay for a house and a wedding. That indictment happened after LAUSD paid AllHere nearly $3 million to develop a chatbot aimed at being a personal assistant for students and parents. Advertisement Advertisement ABC7 did try reaching out to both Kerr and Carvalho but has not heard back from either. Sources tell ABC News the federal investigation centers around an alleged white-collar crime. Carvalho's path from Miami to LAUSD Over the past five years in Los Angeles, Carvalho has been lauded for the district's improvements to academic performance. He won similar praise while overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida's largest school district, where the national superintendents association named him Superintendent of the Year in 2014. The FBI on Wednesday morning served search warrants at the Los Angeles Unified School District's headquarters and the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. Advertisement Advertisement Spain knighted the Portugal-born administrator in 2021 for his work in expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools. Months later, Carvalho took the job in California and became a harsh critic of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, especially following raids in Los Angeles last year. Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles at a critical moment, as the district found itself flush with funding from state and federal COVID-19 relief money but still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, including learning losses and declining enrollment. He previously sparred with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his order that schools not require masks during the pandemic. The Miami-Dade school system said in a statement that it was aware of the investigation involving Carvalho but did not have any comment at this time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "Don't fall for the call." That's the newest public awareness campaign by Leon County's Sheriff's Office as it works with a number of other law enforcement offices to warn Big Bend residents of the dangers of impersonation scams. LCSO held a press conference on Feb. 26 with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee Police Department, Big Bend Fraud Task Force and local financial institutions such as First Commerce Credit Union. An example of an Amazon impersonation scam via text message asking a consumer to contact them on the phone. Amazon suggests contacting them through their website or app. They reminded residents that government agencies and reputable financial institutions will never ask for money over the phone, through a wire transfer, through cryptocurrency or any other remote means. Advertisement Advertisement "These criminals are preying upon the fear of our citizens, the sense of urgency and a degree of trust that they try to build to steal money and impersonate the information of our citizens," Sheriff Walt McNeil said. "These scams impact our seniors, working families, college students and particularly small businesses." Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil (file photo) Since the beginning of 2025, LCSO received 106 reports of impersonation scams, and this month they've received reports of another 26, for a total of 132 calls. In one of the most severe cases, a victim lost $500,000 in gold, after being instructed by scammers to purchase gold and hand it over during a coordinated pickup. As Detective Mary Pilkanis said, "These schemes work so well because the voice on the phone sounds like it could be a neighbor, could be a nice guy." She said the most common way these scams go is the criminal will call with something to invoke urgency and panic, like the arrest of a family member, the threat of arrest warrants, news of a compromised bank account, and others. From there, they send you to the ATM or to the bank to take out as much money as you can and guide you to a cryptocurrency ATM to transfer the funds. Advertisement Advertisement Once transferred the money can be sent anywhere across the world, which means in some cases people can never recover the stolen funds, although many cryptocurrency sites can try to return some of the money if fraud is reported. Here locally, financial institutions are doing their part to protect members' assets, said Alan Burk, chairman of the Big Bend Fraud Task Force and Director of Risk Management at First Commerce Credit Union. "We are implementing cutting edge security technologies such as multi-factor authentications, around the clock account monitoring and fraud detection systems," he said. "Many institutions in our area also conduct regular phishing awareness campaigns aimed at sharing tips on how to identify and spot fraudulent text messages, emails and phone calls." FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass (file photo) Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said many victims may feel embarrassed for falling for a scam. But he said he urges folks to "make the call" to law enforcement, adding that he had a family member also targeted by a scam artist. Advertisement Advertisement "You don't even want to tell anybody, but you're losing your life savings and stuff you worked hard for," Glass said. "I encourage you to report if you got scammed, whether it was a year ago, two years ago, whatever, report to these detectives, report to your local law enforcement." Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Local, state authorities warn of rising impersonation scams Hillary Clinton appeared before a congressional committee investigating her supposed links to Jeffrey Epstein and accused its Republican members of targeting her in a bid to distract from Donald Trumps involvement with the convicted sex offender. Related: Hillary Clinton accuses Republicans of fishing expedition in Epstein testimony The former US secretary of state answered questions for hours during a closed-door session on Thursday, a day before her husband, the former US president Bill Clinton, was also due to appear. Advertisement Advertisement The US justice department has released millions of files related to Epstein in recent months, indicating that many high-profile figures, including the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, continued friendships with him after his conviction of child sex offences in 2008. Here are the key moments from Thursdays testimony. Who is being protected? Clinton heavily criticised the House of Representatives oversight committee and its Republican majority in her opening statement. The proceedings were not designed to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors of Epsteins crimes, she argued. I dont know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein, Clinton told reporters after her deposition. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices. Advertisement Advertisement If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done. What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up? she said. I started being asked about UFOs The questions were repetitive, according to Clinton. They asked literally the same questions over and over again, which didnt seem to me to be very productive. Late into the session, questions are said to have veered off course. It got quite unusual, Clinton told reporters, because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories. Clinton was referring to false, widely disseminated musings in 2016 that a Washington DC pizzeria was a front for a child sex ring run by her, and that New York City police had discovered a paedophilia ring linked to Democrats. Session briefly derailed by leaked photo The deposition of Clinton was interrupted when Lauren Boebert, a Republican member of the committee, leaked a photo from the room. Conservative influencer Benny Johnson published the image on social media platform X stating that Clinton does not look happy. Advertisement Advertisement The hearing was temporarily suspended at the request of Clintons legal team. It is against the rules for witnesses or lawmakers to take pictures during closed-door congressional hearings. We had agreed upon rules, based on the fact it was going to be a closed hearing, at their demand, Clinton said after the session. And one of the members violated that rule, which was very upsetting, because it suggested that they might violate other of our agreements. Clinton had pushed for Republicans to hold a public hearing. Ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters that Trump and his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, should testify over their ties with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Lutnick has admitted to visiting Epsteins private island years after he initially said that he had broken off ties. Trumps relationship with Epstein has proven to be a political landmine for the president, who has consistently denied wrongdoing. They were once friends, but Trump has claimed that he booted Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club because the late financier stole staffers. Clinton said: If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epsteins trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Oversight committee chair James Comer, a Republican, said it was possible the committee might subpoena Lutnick, but dismissed the idea of having Trump appear before the panel. President Trump has answered hundreds if not thousands of questions from you all about Epstein and I think hes been very transparent in releasing the documents, Comer told reporters. Clinton confident her husband knew nothing about Epsteins crimes Bill Clinton is due to be deposed by the committee on Friday, amid questions over his former relationship with Epstein. Clinton, like a bevy of other high-powered men, including Trump, had a well-documented social relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Asked by a reporter on Thursday if she was 100% confident her husband was unaware of Epsteins crimes when he spent time with him before the late sex offenders first arrest, Hillary Clinton responded: I am, and I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended years, several years before anything about Epsteins criminal activities came to light. While the Clintons are appearing in closed-door sessions, transcripts and video of both their sessions are expected to be made public. Reuters contributed reporting At least 55 Ghanaians have been killed fighting in the war in Ukraine, with two others currently held as prisoners of war, Ghana's foreign affairs minister says. On a trip to Kyiv, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said that about 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into the conflict since 2022, citing Ukrainian authorities. Ablakwa described the figures as "depressing and frightening," saying Ghana "cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics". Advertisement Advertisement He did not say whose side the Ghanaians had been fighting on but Ukraine's foreign minister said on Wednesday that more than 1,700 people from 36 countries in Africa had been recruited to fight for Russia. The 55 Ghanaians is the highest number of casualties from a single African country to have been officially confirmed in the Ukraine-Russia war. Local media in Cameroon have reported that 94 of its nationals have died in the conflict, but the authorities have not commented on these figures. Two South Africans and at least one Kenyan have died in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Ablakawa said the casualty figures were "not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation". He said the Ghanaian government was committed to "tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes" as well as launching intensive public awareness campaigns to prevent the country's youth from being drawn into the conflict. "This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others," he added. On Thursday, a Kenyan national was charged over accusations he had lured young men to Russia with job opportunities, only for them to end up fighting in Ukraine. Festus Arasa Omwamba denied the charges. Advertisement Advertisement A total of 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in its four-year war against Ukraine, said a report from Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS), released last week. Russia's embassy in Kenya has denied accusations that it was involved in recruiting people to fight in the war. However, it said that Russian law allowed foreign nationals who are legally in the country to voluntarily enlist in the armed forces. On Wednesday, Ghana's foreign minister urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to release two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured fighting for Russia. "They are victims of manipulation, of disinformation, misinformation, of criminal trafficking networks," he said. Advertisement Advertisement He thanked Ukraine for ensuring international law was respected in the handling of the detainees. "We have received reports that they are in good health," he said. "They have not been tortured. They have not suffered any inhumane treatment since they were captured." The family of one of the men said they were hopeful he would be freed soon. According to the AFP news agency, 35-year-old Joshua Nkrumah left his pregnant wife in Dubai in July 2024 and travelled to Russia, believing he had secured a private security job. He was captured by Ukrainian forces in September 2024 after surviving a drone strike. Nkrumah remains in detention, and his family has had no contact with him since. Advertisement Advertisement Joshua's father, Albert, told AFP that he sometimes wondered if his son was dead or alive. "As a father, I live every day with a silent weight on my chest. I wake up and the first thing I think about is my son - whether he has eaten, whether he is safe, whether he still has hope," he added. "I just want my son alive and back home. That is all a father asks." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said both sides discussed "frankly" about the possibility of returning the prisoners to Ghana. South Africa on Thursday said that two of its citizens had been killed in Ukraine, while another 15 had been repatriated over the past week. Two more remain in Russia getting treatment for "very severe" injuries, said Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola. Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia would be treated as an enemy combatant, and that the only safe route out was to surrender and be treated as a prisoner of war. Ukraine has also previously come in for criticism for trying to recruit foreign nationals, including Africans, to fight on its side. 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 Feb. 26A Lebanon man will spend a year in prison for falsifying signatures on a petition. Xezakia Rouse, 41, was sentenced Thursday by Warren County Common Pleas Judge Robert Peeler to a combined one year in prison after a jury on Jan. 6 convicted him of two dozen charges: 12 counts each of election falsification and forgery. In 2023 and 2024, Rouse was employed by Texas firm Advanced Micro Targeting to collect valid signatures from registered voters in Warren County. Advertisement Advertisement Rouse was tasked with obtaining valid signatures from registered voters in Warren County. However, in July 2024, a review of 226 signatures submitted by Rouse to the Warren County Board of Elections, determined that numerous signatures were forged. Warren County Elections Director Brian Sleeth said the petition was for the statewide redistricting issue rejected by Ohio voters in November 2024. In July 2024, a review of 226 signatures submitted by Rouse to the Warren County Board of Elections found that numerous signatures did not match those on file, and when contacted, the local voters said they did not sign the petition, Sleeth said. This led the agency to contact the Lebanon Police Department to investigate. "Election integrity matters at every stage of the process, not just on Election Day," Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell stated in a release following Rouse's conviction. "As the former chair of the Warren County Board of Elections, I take falsification of petition signatures very seriously because it is a direct attack on the democratic process and the public's trust in it." Chip giant and worlds most valuable company Nvidia reported record profits in its most recent quarter on Wednesday, as demand for AI compute continues to skyrocket. The demand for tokens in the world has gone completely exponential, CEO Jensen Huang said on a call with analysts following the results. I think were all seeing that, to the point where even our six-year-old GPUs in the cloud are completely consumed and the pricing is going up. The company reported $68 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter, up 73% from the prior year, with $62 billion of that revenue coming from the companys data center business. Notably, Nvidia divided the data center revenue into $51 billion in compute revenue (largely GPUs) and $11 billion in networking products like NVLink. The company reported $215 billion in revenue for the full year. As in previous quarters, the company did not report any revenue from chip exports to China, despite the recent lifting of export restrictions by the U.S. government. While small amounts of H200 products for China-based customers were approved by the U.S. government, they have yet to generate any revenue, and we do not know whether any imports will be allowed into China, Colette Kress, the companys chief financial officer, said. Our competitors in China, bolstered by recent IPOs, are making progress, she continued, in an apparent reference to Moore Threads IPO in December, and have the potential to disrupt the structure of the global AI industry over the long term. During the investor call, Huang also addressed the companys pending investment in OpenAI, which has been reported at $30 billion. We continue to work with OpenAI toward a partnership agreement. We believe we are close, Huang said. He also referenced partnerships with Anthropic, Meta, and Elon Musks xAI. However, statements Nvidia filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday emphasized that there was no assurance an investment would take place. Huang also addressed concerns about the sustainability of tech companies capex commitments, saying he believed the compute investments would soon bring revenue. In this new world of AI, compute is revenue. Without compute, theres no way to generate tokens. Without tokens, theres no way to grow revenues, Huang said. Weve reached the inflection point and were generating profitable tokens that are productive for customers and profitable for the cloud service providers When students return to classrooms at summers end, Utah public schools will most likely have a bell-to-bell default ban on cellphones, a top priority for Gov. Spencer Cox, who has been a vocal antagonist to social media companies. Ever since South Jordan Republican Sen. Lincoln Fillmore successfully ran legislation last year setting a statewide default policy banning phones during class time, Cox has raised an objection it didnt go far enough, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement To fix that, Fillmore expanded the policy with a proposal extending it throughout the full school day, including lunch periods, recess and transit time between classes. Senate Bill 69 takes that additional and very important step of setting the baseline for cellphone policy in the state to be cellphones are just not allowed during school unless a school district or a charter school proactively allows them, Fillmore told the Senate in January, citing better academic performance and behavior in schools with tight phone policies. Cellphones are rarely used as a tool to call people among students, Fillmore said. With social media and game apps turning more prevalent, the devices are distractions and an obstacle for children to develop good interpersonal skills. The House voted 46-21 on Wednesday to approve the bill and the Senate gave a final unanimous nod on Thursday. The legislation now goes to Coxs desk for his consideration, and if it is signed into law as expected, takes effect July 1. Advertisement Advertisement The bill maintains individual schools power to adopt their own phone policies rather than the default ban as they see fit, but still, some lawmakers in the House expressed concerns about what the proposal would mean for local control and students communication means during emergencies. For example, in emergencies like school shooting cases, a state-sponsored crisis line is activated, sending live notifications to students to help locate the perpetrator. Access to that technology is something the original bill allowed, Payson Republican Rep. Doug Welton, the legislations floor sponsor, said on Wednesday. That is why the bill doesnt prescribe locking devices in a certain way. I am not in favor of things like (magnetic) pouches that do make it difficult in case of emergency for a student to access (their phones). But I also recognize their local control, but that is an LEA decision as to how theyre used, Welton said. There is nothing in the bill that says they have to be locked up, or they have to go into cubbies or anything like that, so they would still have access to their phones. Advertisement Advertisement The Policy Project, a nonprofit in the state that has backed the cellphone ban effort, commended the full Legislatures approval of the bill, calling it a historic step toward more focused and connected learning environments for students. Bell-to-bell policies arent about restriction theyre about creating learning environments built for focus, connection, and success, Emily Bell McCormick, president of The Policy Project said in a statement. We see calmer classrooms, stronger engagement, and more meaningful learning when distractions are limited. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In Germany, the likelihood of being passed counterfeit money has decreased after the number of counterfeit notes fell again last year for the first time in three years, following a period of sometimes sharp increases. Police, retailers and banks seized 67,963 counterfeit euro banknotes in 2025, which is 6.1% less than in 2024, the Bundesbank reported on Friday. Statistically, this equates to eight counterfeit notes per 10,000 inhabitants. Across European payment transactions, a total of 444,000 fake euro notes appeared last year, 110,000 fewer than in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement In relation to Germany, however, it was still the second-largest amount of counterfeit money seized since 2017. Consumers should therefore remain vigilant, especially as counterfeiters focus on particularly common notes like the 20 and 50. These notes frequently change hands, and when someone receives a 20 note as change, they often do not check its authenticity very closely. Less damage from counterfeit euro notes Overall, counterfeiters in Germany caused around 4 million ($4.71 million) in damage with counterfeit euro notes last year, compared to 4.5 million in 2024. "The significantly lower damage sum is due to a noticeable decline in the counterfeiting of 100 and 200 banknotes," explained Bundesbank board member Burkhard Balz. Advertisement Advertisement Some businesses do not accept 100 or 200 notes at all, or scrutinize these denominations particularly closely. On a European level, the damage in 2025 was 22.2 million, below the previous year's figure of 26.2 million. Were following developments from the Trump administrations immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. Bring Me The News plans to provide daily updates until Operation Metro Surge is completed, with on-the-ground confirmation of the withdrawal of additional federal agents. 4:40 p.m. Renee Good's parents speak with Associated Press The parents of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, sat down for an interview with the Associated Press to discuss her life. Advertisement Advertisement "She had this way of making you feel special and loved that I didnt even understand that until we lost her," her mother, Donna Ganger, said. Tim Ganger, her father, remembers her as a person who was "slow to anger, quick to love, quick to care." He continued: "Our purpose through this whole tragic, difficult, unbelievable time, is to have something good come out of this... Otherwise the senselessness of this is overwhelming." Read the full interview here. 2:45 p.m. Planned protest in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday A group of activists has announced a planned protest outside Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Saturday, which is targeting a Target board member who is reportedly attending an event. Advertisement Advertisement Unidos Minnesota says protesters will "sing" outside the concert venue at around 6:15 p.m. "to demand Target stand up for our constitutional rights, accountability for ICE agents who harm civilians and to amplify the voices of children currently detained at a detention center in Dilley, Texas." Target, one of Minnesota's largest employers, has been criticized for not speaking out publicly against Operation Metro Surge. 2 p.m. Bondi confirms indictments in anti-ICE church protest Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed 30 more people have been indicted in connection to a protest at a St. Paul church where a local ICE director works as a pastor. Read more here. 12:25 p.m. Picture from earlier sighting As Council Member Elliott Payne's office said, ICE agents were sighted in Northeast Minneapolis earlier this morning, and a picture showing the agents on the 900 block of 26th Avenue Northeast has been uploaded to ICEOut.org. ICE agents in Northeast Minneapolis.ICEOut.org (ICEOut.org) 10:45 a.m. Council president's office reports arrest in St. Anthony, activity in Northeast The office of Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne is reporting one person was arrested by ICE in St. Anthony this morning, and there has also been a flurry of activity in Northeast Minneapolis so far today. 10 a.m. More arrests in Cities Church protest? Nekima Levy Armstrong, who is among those charged with federal crimes in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church where an ICE director is a pastor last month, claims federal authorities have made more arrests on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement We're waiting to hear more information from federal officials. 9:30 a.m. Council member indicates increased activity at Whipple Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez issued a call for observers this morning, indicating he is seeing "increased activity" at the Whipple Federal Building, the main staging facility for federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge. 8 a.m. Signs indicate imminent removal of Alex Pretti memorial at VA Hospital A sign placed outside the Minneapolis VA Hospital indicate that the makeshift memorial in honor of Alex Pretti, the VA nurse killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, will be removed over the weekend. The memorial will be removed on Sunday, the announcement reads, adding: "We understand the special meaning these items hold. At the request of Alex's family, memorial items will be sent directly to them as keepsakes. Advertisement Advertisement "Thank you for showing your support and for honoring Alex." This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NEW STORY: Officer identified in Parkway Village shooting *** UPDATE: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added Maxwell to the TN Most Wanted list Friday morning. There is a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest. He is described as 510, 180 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. Below is the police scanner traffic from Broadcastify moments after an officer-involved shooting on Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement *** MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis police officer was shot Thursday night, a city councilman confirmed, and a statewide search is on for the suspect. Danell Maxwell, 40, is wanted for attempted first-degree murder of a Memphis Police officer, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a Blue Alert sent out statewide around midnight. Maxwell is considered armed and dangerous. He was last seen wearing dark clothing and an orange and green reflective vest. Danell Maxwell (courtesy TBI) Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or the Memphis Police Department at 901-528-2274. Details were scarce on exactly what happened Thursday night, but Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. said on social media that an officer was shot. Advertisement Advertisement MPD has not released information on what happened, but said the officer is in critical but stable condition. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. An attack on one of our officers is an attack on the safety of our entire community. The men and women who wear the badge put their lives on the line every single day, even during routine, and this kind of violence cannot and will not be tolerated, said Smiley Jr. My prayers are with the officer, their family, and every member of the Memphis Police Department. We are praying for a full and speedy recovery. Advertisement Advertisement A large number of Memphis police officers gathered outside the Regional One Medical Center. Regional One Medical Center police scene Photo by Brooke Billions Regional One Medical Center police scene Photo by Brooke Billions Regional One Thursday WREGs Brooke Billions Another police presence was seen on S. Perkins Road and American Way in Parkway Village, along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Police scene South Perkins Road and American Way Photo by Chris Newell Police scene South Perkins Road and American Way Photo by Chris Newell Police scene South Perkins Road and American Way Photo by Chris Newell WREG is working to learn more about this situation, including the identity of the officer injured and any suspect information. Stay with WREG for the latest information on this developing story. 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 WREG.com. An elementary school in northern Montgomery County is closed on Friday due to illness. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, Jefferson Township Local School District Superintendent Rusty Clifford said Blairwood Elementary is closed on Friday due to an illness among teachers. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Data from the Ohio Department of Health show that the number of flu cases is on the rise. Approximately 659 people in Ohio were hospitalized with the flu last week, and 530 people were hospitalized the week prior. Jefferson Township Titus Thompson said his whole family just got over the flu. A couple of us, weve been real sick, head colds and a lot of wheezing, little stomach problems, you know, stuff like that, Thompson said. He was surprised to find out school had been canceled becuase the teachers were sick. That is shocking now that you say that, Thompson said. Its definitely been going around and hitting a lot of people. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, News Center 7s Malik Patterson spoke with Superintendent Clifford. He said the teachers were struggling all day. Everybodys running temperatures. Theyve got sore throats, you know, they feel terrible. They made it through today, and then its like, oh my goodness, theres no way I can get in tomorrow, Clifford said. He added that five of the seven teachers called in sick, and it just made sense to cancel school. Usually its kid-to-kid, you know, or the kids, a lot of kids are being sick, and then staff comes down a little bit this time. Its just, its just our teachers, Clifford said. Advertisement Advertisement However, the janitorial staff will be in the building on Friday. Well be sanitizing and cleaning everything again to get everything and, you know, taken care of, Clifford said. He plans to check in with the staff over the weekend to determine if school will be open on Monday. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Early voting is underway as Arkansans head to the polls to cast ballots for the March 3 primary election. Candidates on the Republican ballot include incumbent Senator Tom Cotton, challengers Micah Ashby, a minister, and Jeb Little, an Arkansas State police trooper. On the Democratic Ballot are Hallie Shoffner, a farmer, and Ethan Dunbar, a veteran and mayor of Lewisville. Whoever wins both primaries will go on to face Libertarian Jeff Wadlin in the general election. Advertisement Advertisement Early voting runs through March 2. Winners of each partys primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. 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 KARK. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to require standardized test scores for admission to the universitys Baton Rouge campus. The change was recommended by LSU Chancellor James Dalton and supported by LSU President Wade Rousse during the boards February meeting. Rousse said this decision is part of a bigger plan. It aims to boost LSUs academic standards and place the university among the top 50 research institutions in the country. He emphasized that raising expectations does not mean limiting opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Test scores dont define students, but standards absolutely define elite institutions, said President Rousse. Our vision is to build a system that does not differentiate between access and excellent. We can have both. Our institutions across the state have unique strengths and programs. Students wishing to pursue a two-year degree, a four-year degree, a graduate degree, a professional certification, or just simply finding a path to transfer to the flagship, should be able to find an LSU institution to meet their needs. That is a message we will amplify to every corner of this state, as we recruit Louisianans to join the LSU family. University leaders said the reinstated testing requirement aligns with what other schools are doing. They expect it will help attract students and improve their success. Rousse said LSU has a responsibility to help students improve their economic standing through higher education. As an institution with a unique relationship to the state, we must create avenues for all Louisiana students who want to advance their education and economic standing, stated Rousse. Actions taken today by the board position us well to do just that. A college education must not only elevate a students intellect, but also their station in life. Institutions that ignore this basic market fact will wither; those that embrace it will thrive. Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) Residents in Madison County said their utility issues have been a problem for too long. The Madison County Board of Supervisors held a community meeting on Thursday to allow residents the opportunity to voice their concerns and listen to future solutions. Partial shutdown impacting UMMC cyberattack response Ive lived up here all my life, so issues have always been a problem, especially in the northeastern part of Madison County. Lights go out for several days, and people dont have access again to lighting and heat, said Timmy Pickett, a Madison County resident. Advertisement Advertisement Representatives with Entergy said theres a plan in progress to provide more efficient methods in the area to stop the issues, but it will take some time. Madison County Supervisor Paul Griffin, District 5, said there will be a follow up meeting in seven months to discuss the improvements being made in the community. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Maine is expected to bring in even more over the next two years than previously anticipated, though the states longer term financial growth is bleaker. Over the next four years, Maines general fund, which is mostly made up of taxes and fees, is expected to see about $76 million less or a .3% reduction than earlier predictions, according to preliminary estimates from the Maine Revenue Forecasting Committee discussed Thursday. Ahead of their next forecast due March 1, the states nonpartisan budget forecasters previewed their revisions. Advertisement Advertisement They now expect the state to generate roughly $8.8 million more in revenue over the current biennium. While they revised down revenue estimates for the current fiscal year by $27.2 million, they increased their estimate for fiscal year 2027 by $36 million. They decreased their estimates for both 2028, by $19.2 million, and 2029, by $65.5 million. Part of that decrease has to do with uncertainty regarding how new sales taxes that began this year will impact the state over time. One of those changes was an increase to the cannabis sales tax. While forecasters expect thatll elevate growth in the current biennium, revenue from that tax has continued to slow more than expected, leading to uncertainty long-term. Revenue projections from other sales taxes have also dropped, notably auto sales, which are expected to decrease by $9 million this year and more than $10 million per year for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement These downward revisions partly reverse some of the rosier projections the committee had made in December. At that time, the forecasters said the state was expected to take in $248 million more than previously thought, crediting the increases to sales and income tax revenue as well as additional capital gains due to the stock markets strong performance. Theyre now predicting capital gains tax revenue generated from the sale of assets like stocks and bonds, which is heavily volatile to be flat, a more neutral position after previously expecting a downturn. Revisions to revenue predictions for the highway fund, which in Maine is separate from the general fund, are more broadly negative. Advertisement Advertisement The committee decreased its revenue projections for this fund in each of the next four years, because transfers from the taxes in the general fund it relies on are down. A few years back the state changed the highway fund from being reliant on the more stagnant gas tax to funding it through various sales taxes that had previously funneled into the general fund. Lawmakers have also attempted, though unsuccessfully, to combine the funds. The back and forth revisions this winter come after the committee made few revisions to its forecast last spring, citing several unknowns at the time, including changes to federal funding and the economy, specifically impacts from tariffs. At the time, Gov. Janet Mills and the Legislatures Democratic majority agreed to raise several sales taxes in order to cover an immediate MaineCare budget gap much to the frustration of Republicans who called for, and continue to call for, structural changes to the program. The year prior, in 2024, the Legislature heeded warnings of flattening revenue and backed some of Mills proposed savings. Conservatives and progressives both objected to Mills stocking away cash while refusing to touch Maines Budget Stabilization Fund, otherwise known as the rainy day fund, which has grown to its current statutory maximum of a billion dollars.However, Mills, who terms out after this year and is running for U.S. Senate, now wants to use that fund for affordability payments to individual Mainers, a housing initiative and unfunded mandates from the federal spending bill passed over the summer, among other things. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy is working on a proposal to undo a Biden-era plan for managing southern Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Maloy confirmed her plan to Politicos E&E News on Wednesday. The same day, Sen. Mike Lee kickstarted a process for lawmakers to consider her proposal by submitting a report on the monuments management plan to Congress. The moves alarmed conservation groups. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance called them an attack on the monument spanning 1.9 million acres. The protected land encompasses the ancestral homeland of the Southern Paiute Native American tribe and features arches, waterfalls and sweeping vistas. Advertisement Advertisement This wild landscape is quintessential southern Utah redrock country with its stunning geology, irreplaceable cultural resources, unique fossils, and wide-open spaces, said the alliances legal director, Steve Bloch. All of that is at risk if this attack succeeds and the monument management plan is undone. The monument was created by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, over the objections of Utah officials. Clinton used his power under the Antiquities Act, a century-old law giving presidents authority to declare monuments to protect places of cultural, historical and scientific significance. Lee, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said the law was designed to protect specific objects and to reserve only the smallest area compatible with their protection. But instead, he said in a statement to Utah News Dispatch, Grand Staircase has a sweeping land-use regime. The steps he and Maloy are taking would not shrink the monuments boundaries, but would roll back the current plans halt on mineral leasing, along with its limits on grazing and camping. Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, during his first term, President Donald Trump came to Utah and downsized the monument to 229,000 acres and similarly reduced nearby Bears Ears National Monument, which had been preserved by former President Barack Obama. Former President Joe Biden later restored both monuments to their original size. His administration finalized the Grand Staircase management plan prioritizing conservation in the last days of his presidency. Utahs congressional delegation condemned the conservation-focused plan as federal overreach, saying it limits grazing and recreation. They also called it bad for business in neighboring communities. Evening in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) Over the summer, Maloy asked the independent Government Accountability Office to determine whether the plan is subject to review by Congress. The office concluded that it is and released its report in January. Lee submitted those findings to the congressional record on Wednesday the first step in a process allowing lawmakers to overturn certain actions by federal agencies. Under the Congressional Review Act, Maloys proposal could be considered by the U.S. House and Senate in an expedited process and passed by simple majority votes. If the president signs it into law, conservation groups pointed out, federal land managers would be barred from issuing any future plans mirroring the Grand Staircase framework. Advertisement Advertisement Environmental advocates say theyll fight to keep that from happening. Well use every tool we have to fight this reckless effort and defend these beautiful lands, Taylor McKinnon with the Center for Biological Diversity wrote in an email. Maloy did not provide comment in response to a request from Utah News Dispatch on Thursday. Shes expected to present her proposal to the U.S. House next week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on GuruFocus. NVIDIA Corp (NVDA, Financials) chips will power a planned $2 billion artificial intelligence hub in India, as Mumbai-based Yotta Data Services ramps up infrastructure to meet surging AI demand. Yotta added that in India, there is more demand for graphics processing units than there is supply. This is because AI startups and global IT companies are growing in the nation. The corporation started buying Nvidia GPUs in 2023, and today it has about 60% to 70% of India's installed GPU capacity. Nomura says that India's total data center capacity will reach 1.93 gigawatts in 2025 and almost quadruple to around 4 gigawatts by 2028. Microsoft Corp and OpenAI, two of the world's biggest companies, are putting more money into infrastructure in the nation. Yotta wants to raise between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion before going public in a pre-IPO deal. It wants to go public within a year. For Nvidia, the growth shows that there is still a lot of demand for AI accelerators throughout the world as new markets set up their own data center ecosystems. LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. A man has been charged in Lawrence County after making threats toward a victim on Wednesday, Feb. 25. According to online court dockets, Dakota Kurth, born in 1997, of Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged with a felony of first-degree harassment and a misdemeanor of second-degree sexual misconduct. The probable cause statement says a Lawrence County deputy responded to a report from the victim around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday near Highway 97 in Pierce City, Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement After arriving on the scene, the victim told the deputy that Kurth had sent text messages threatening to rape her and tie her up, according to the statement. Kurth is also accused of making threats against a five-month-old infant in the messages. The victim showed law enforcement other messages from Kurth, including statements of threatening to push the victim in water and choking her, and planning to humiliate her in front of their friends. In the statement, the victim states that Kurth has put them into emotional distress with worry about the infant and their safety. A criminal summons has been issued for Kurth. 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. The man charged with murdering a father and son outside of their Southwest Side jewelry store in November is hospitalized, officials said in court on Friday. Authorities arrested Muhammad Thomas, 35, at a St. Louis hotel on Tuesday. He is charged with felony first-degree murder and felony armed robbery in connection with the killings. After being extradited to Chicago, Thomas was scheduled to appear for a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday, but ABC7 learned in court that he has been hospitalized for a medication issue and narcotics withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Under the SAFE-T Act, the judge cannot hold a formal pre-trial detention hearing until the suspect is present in court. Thomas is charged with fatally shooting 63-year-old Faustino Alamo Dominguez and 25-year-old Luis Alamo around 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Little Village neighborhood's 3800-block of 26th Street. SEE ALSO | 2 men shot, killed during Little Village jewelry store armed robbery, police say: EXCLUSIVE VIDEO People from the neighborhood say the men were trying to protect their business, Joyeria Angelos. Surveillance video from that evening still haunts loved ones. "We were begging, we were literally praying that justice needs to be served, because this is absolutely a devastating loss, like I said, for the entire community. My family members, my uncle and cousin, they were literally pillars of the community in Little Village," said Agustin Alamo, a nephew and cousin of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement In the video, a man in a mask and hoodie walked into the family-owned jewelry store. READ MORE | 2 suspects wanted in connection with Little Village double murder, jewelry store robbery: police About 30 seconds later, he came running out with stolen merchandise as the father and son chased after him. Then, the suspect pulled out a gun and fires shots. Prosecutors say one of the victims used their own legally licensed weapon to fire back at Thomas, but that's when, they said, a juvenile inside the getaway vehicle also shot one of the victims. Both the father and son died from the injuries they suffered in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said that juvenile has since been arrested for another crime and later helped identify Thomas in this case. RELATED | $10K reward offered in deadly shooting at Little Village jewelry store caught on camera Agustin told ABC7 that he feels a sense of relief that someone is behind bars for the killings, and he is grateful for the community's support over these very difficult months. "We just wanna say, 'Thank you,' from the bottom of our hearts. We want to say 'Thank you, thank you so much for all the love all the support, all the encouragement,' because again, these months haven't been easy for us as a family," he said. "And justice will be served." Advertisement Advertisement Thomas has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2007, including several other armed robberies and gun charges. He is also charged in connection with a shooting that seriously injured a 26-year-old man in 2023. So as long as Thomas is healthy enough to be released from the hospital in coming days, he will appear in front of a judge for his pre-trial detention hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on March 3. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood A man has died after being found shot inside his vehicle in Southwest Philadelphia. The incident occurred around 11:55 p.m. on Thursday on the 6700 block of Upland Street. Police say the 40-year-old victim was found in the driver's seat of a Nissan Altima, unresponsive and slumped over the steering wheel with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was rushed to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he later died. Advertisement Advertisement The victim's identity has not been released. Investigators did not find any spent shell casings at the scene, but did recover a 9mm round near the victim's vehicle. They are hoping surveillance cameras in the area can provide more details about what led up to this shooting. No arrests have been made. The incident remains under investigation. GREENFIELD, Iowa Authorities say a man was found dead Thursday after a home explosion just outside of Greenfield. The Adair County Sheriffs Office says its Communications Center was notified of an apparent home explosion around 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Deputies and fire crews responded to a home along the 2500 block of Marion Avenue, where they located the body of a deceased man. The sheriffs office identified the individual, 51-year-old John David Christensen, as the sole occupant of the residence. Authorities say Christensen has been transported to the State Medical Examiners Office. Advertisement Advertisement The ACSO says the cause of the house explosion is not yet known, and the assistance of the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division has been requested to investigate this incident. Adair County SO was assisted by the Fontanelle and Greenfield Fire Departments and the Adair County Ambulance. The Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) assisted with the incident. This is a developing story, stay tuned to www.who13.com for the latest. Iowa News: 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 who13.com. A jury has found a man not guilty of shooting and killing a Monessen man at a Washington County bar. Keaundre Crews was accused of killing Jaisen Irwin outside of Bobs Tavern in Finleyville in 2022. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Gunshot victim found dead in Washington County; victim identified Police say Irwin was shot seven times following an argument at the bar before his body was dumped in the middle of the road nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Crewss fiancee, Maurissa Spencer, is facing charges as an alleged accessory to the shooting. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Woman arrested for allegedly letting Finleyville shooting victim fall out of her car, driving away Its unclear when she will stand trial. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW When Roberto Azcorra Consuegras phone rang last night, relatives from Cienfuegos, Cuba, called with alarming news: his name had appeared on a list published by the Cuban regime accusing individuals of involvement in an alleged terrorist attack on the island. But thats impossible, he said. He was at his home in South Florida. Live updates: What to know about deadly showdown with Florida boat and Cuba Advertisement Advertisement Azcorra , 31, said in an interview with the Miami Herald that he left Cuba in 2017 and has never returned. He has since been granted political asylum in the United States. I left Cuba because of political persecution, he said. Since I was a child in school, I was against the regime. I left as soon as I was discharged from the mandatory military service. Carlos F. de Cossio, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, admitted on Thursday that they had mistakenly identified Azcorra as a member of the group. ....[A]lthough he is not, despite being known for his history of violent actions and intentions against Cuba, the Cuban Embassy in the U.S. said in a statement posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Azcorra said he still has his parents, grandparents and other relatives living in Cuba, and fears they could face retaliation. Im scared, he said. I dont know the regimes intentions for naming me as detained if Im here in Miami. Im afraid it could be some kind of retaliation against my family over there. I dont know if they made a mistake or released the wrong list. In a separate interview with journalist Mario J. Penton, Azcorra said he left Cuba by boat in 2016, first landing in the Bahamas, where he was detained for about a month before traveling to Bimini and eventually reaching the U.S. Cubas Interior Ministry said four men were killed and several others injured in an exchange of gunfire after authorities intercepted a Florida-registered speedboat they described as part of a planned terrorist infiltration. Among those killed was Michel Ortega Casanova, according to Cuban officials. Advertisement Advertisement But, Azcorra , denied any involvement. According to Azcorra , he recognizes some of the people included on the list, though mostly by their aliases or from photos circulating on social media. He said he has attended anti-regime protests in Miami, including demonstrations in Little Havana near Versailles Restaurant and along Calle Ocho, where many Cuban exiles gather. He said that he had socialized with some of the named individuals but claimed they never shared any plans to go to Cuba or carry out any actions on the island. They never told me anything about a plan to go to Cuba or to free it, he said. Azcorra maintains he has had no involvement in any violent plot and remains uncertain why Cuban authorities would include his name. Advertisement Advertisement The government said 10 armed people Cuban nationals living in the United States were aboard the vessel. Authorities reported that five officers on a Cuban coast guard boat approached the speedboat to request identification when men onboard opened fire, wounding the commander of the Cuban vessel. Cuban forces returned fire, resulting in four deaths. Officials said they seized assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms from the boat. Cuban officials have not released additional evidence beyond their account of the confrontation and the weapons allegedly seized. The incident adds to longstanding tensions between Havana and members of the Cuban exile community in the United States. Mickey Barreto booked a one-night stay at the New Yorker Hotel in 2018 for $200.57. He stayed and paid no rent for five years thanks to a local housing law. Police arrested him in 2024. In February 2026, he pled guilty and will spend six months in jail. A man who lived in the iconic New Yorker Hotel for half a decade without paying a single cent in rent has been sentenced to jail. Police arrested Mickey Barreto in February 2024 and charged him with filing fraudulent property records after he attempted to claim ownership of the hotel, the Manhattan district attorney's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Barreto skirted thousands of dollars worth of rent payments by exploiting a little-known local housing law, and then attempted to charge another tenant in the building rent. As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the Citys most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel, Alvin Bragg, Manhattan's district attorney, said in a statement in 2024. Barreto faced 24 charges, including 14 felony fraud counts, The New York Times reported. In February 2026, he pled guilty to a felony count of filing a false instrument and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of post-release probation. Barreto's residency at the renowned hotel which in its heyday hosted many dignitaries and celebrities, including Muhammad Ali and John F. Kennedy dates back to 2018 when he first learned about New York City's Rent Stabilization Code. This law grants tenants living in individual rooms in buildings built before 1969 the right to request a six-month lease. The entrance to the New Yorker Hotel. Kevin Webb/Business Insider In June 2018, Barreto checked into room 2565 with his partner, Matthew Hannan, for one night and was charged $200.57. Advertisement Advertisement The following day, Barreto requested a six-month lease from the hotel and was promptly evicted. Barreto a California transplant with a penchant for conspiracy theories who also claims to be the leader of a tribal community he founded in Brazil, according to The New York Times refused to take no for an answer. Barreto was eventually caught in a web of lies That July, he took the building's owner, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, to housing court, claiming he was illegally evicted. A representative for the church didn't show up, so the judge sided with Barreto, and the hotel had to give him the key. The two parties never agreed on lease terms, and because he couldn't be evicted, Barreto lived at the hotel rent-free. Advertisement Advertisement Soon, Barreto began portraying himself as the hotel's owner and eventually demanded rent from one of the building's tenants, the TickTock diner. The DA's office said that Barreto also registered the hotel under his name with the city's Department of Environmental Protection as part of an effort to gain control of the hotels bank accounts. The Unification Church, which bought the New Yorker in 1976, sued Barreto for representing himself as the hotel's owner on LinkedIn and uploading a forged deed to a city website. Barreto was ordered by a judge to stop asserting that he owned the building, but he continued to live there. The check-in desk at the New Yorker Hotel. Sharkshock In 2023, Barreto again filed papers with the city claiming to be the building's owner, and that's when the district attorney's office stepped in. Advertisement Advertisement Business Insider reached out to Barreto through his company, Mickey Barreto Missions, in 2024, but didn't receive a response before publication. I never intended to commit any fraud. I dont believe I ever committed any fraud, Barreto told The Associated Press. And I never made a penny out of this. When asked for a comment by Business Insider, the New York City Police Department directed questions to the district attorney's office. Correction: April 12, 2024 An earlier version of this story misstated details about the legal claims filed by Barreto and the building's owner. Barreto initially took the building owner to housing court for being illegally evicted, and a judge sided with him because a representative for the owner did not appear in court. That case did not go before the state Supreme Court and there was no appeal filed. The story has also been updated to clarify some details about the chronology of the legal disputes between the two parties. Read the original article on Business Insider BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 35-year-old man was sentenced Thursday for killing his exs new boyfriend, court records show. Christopher Tovar received life without parole plus 25 years to life, prosecutors said. He was found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Rudy Herrera, which occurred on the afternoon of Oct. 4, 2024. Tovar and friend Lacey Guerra learned Herrera was staying at the home of a friend in the 3000 block of Panama Street. They drove there and found him standing in the front yard. Advertisement Advertisement Tovar fired twice, missing as Herrera ran to the back of the house, prosecutors say. Minutes later, they returned and Tovar squeezed off two more rounds one striking Herrera in the heart and another his lower pelvis. Guerra, 41, pleaded no contest last year to voluntary manslaughter for an 11-year prison term. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A Panama City man could face criminal charges after fleeing the scene of a traffic crash on State Road 388 and State Road 77 on Thursday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, shortly before 6 a.m., a 39-year-old man was traveling west on State Road 388 when he passed another vehicle and returned to the travel lane. Troopers reported the man lost control of the vehicle and hit a ditch, causing the vehicle to become airborne and overturn. Advertisement Advertisement It was reported that the man then fled the scene and was picked up by a coworker before emergency crews arrived. He was brought to the hospital, where he was found to have serious injuries sustained from the crash. Troopers reported that charges are pending after he is released from the hospital 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. A Florida man who went missing on Valentine's Day was found alive this week, trapped in quicksand-like mud, according to authorities. Andrews Giddens, 36, of Jacksonville, was reported missing by his family after deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office located his vehicle on the side of the road. The sheriff's office said in a news release on Facebook that Giddens' last known contact was with his father on Feb. 14. On Wednesday, Feb. 25, deputies located the Giddens, whose family and friends initially told the sheriff's office that he had recently been depressed over a break-up. Advertisement Advertisement No charges are being considered at this time, the sheriff's office said, citing Giddens' mental health. "We hope that he is able to recover from his ordeal both physically and mentally," the sheriff's office said in its social media post. "We also want to encourage others that feel like there is no hope, that resources are available by calling 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. We also ask family members and friends to continue to check on loved ones, especially during times of high stress and anxiety." How did deputies find Giddens? A deputy who had a previous encounter with Giddens in 2023 after he allegedly trespassed on property owned by Vulcan Materials Company, a Birmingham, Alabama-based building materials supplier, recognized the car and the name on the registration, the sheriff's office said. The deputy then asked the company to search the property. Meanwhile, an aviation unit searched the air for the man but was unable to find him. Advertisement Advertisement Authorities then contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and requested a welfare check at Giddens' home, according to the sheriff's office. At the same time, Vulcan employees monitored the property for signs of Giddens. He was eventually located on the site, shoulder-deep in mud close to a borrow pit, the sheriff's office said. An employee managed to speak to Giddens but could not reach him because the ground surrounding him was unstable. Giddens had sunk below the level of the grass, making him appear camouflaged. How did emergency responders pull Giddens out of mud? The Putnam County Fire Rescue, Palatka Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department and Clay County Fire Rescue responded to the scene. The emergency responders originally tried to drag Giddens out using ropes, but because of the ground's instability, they advanced slowly to avoid sinking in, according to the sheriff's office. Advertisement Advertisement Ladders, backboards and pallets were used as a workspace to pull the man out. Rescuers saved Giddens from the mud around 8:30 p.m. local time. He was then taken by air ambulance to a trauma center, where he now remains in critical condition following the ordeal, the sheriff's office stated. It's unclear how long Giddens was in the mud; however, the sheriff's office said he's expected to recover from being outside without food or water for several days. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A man vanished on Valentine's Day. He was just found trapped in mud. Nvidia (NVDA) is gearing up to re-enter the consumer PC space with AI-centric laptop chips set to be launched this year in laptops from Dell Technologies (DELL), Lenovo (LNVGY), and other makers. Though the financial implications of this move will be minimal at the moment, it does reflect Nvidias intentions to further strengthen its position in the AI space beyond the datacenter and into the world of edge computing. The timing of this move also seems quite interesting, with Nvidia shares currently trading at around $197, just below their 52-week high of $212.19. Nvidia has seen a massive rally in recent times due to the AI boom. Wall Street will be keen to see whether the data center business will sustain its explosive growth. Nvidias move into AI-powered PCs will add to the strength of its overall strategy in the AI space. More News from Barchart About Nvidia Stock Operating in the Santa Clara, California area, Nvidia develops graphics processing units (GPUs), artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, and system-on-chip (SoC) products. Its products are used in the data center, gaming, and automotive markets. It has a market capitalization of around $4.69 trillion, as one of the largest companies in the world. In the last 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $86.62 and $212.19. It has risen substantially in the last year, growing much more than the S&P 500 Index ($SPX). Its recent gains are due to strong earnings and continued AI infrastructure spending. https://www.barchart.com Currently, the stock is trading at a forward price-earnings ratio of 27.24x. The stock has a trailing price-earnings ratio of 49.75x. The stock has a price-sales ratio of 25.33x. All these ratios are higher than the average ratios in the semiconductor industry due to the company having higher profitability ratios. For instance, the company has a profit margin of 55.85%. The return on equity stands at 99.24%. The gross margins are higher at over 73%. Nvidia pays a quarterly dividend of $0.01, with the last one being made on Dec. 26, 2025. The upcoming payment will take place on March 27. However, the companys income is not a major aspect in investment decisions. Nvidia Beats on Earnings On Nov. 19, the company announced a record third-quarter revenue of $57.0 billion, representing a 22% sequential gain as well as a 62% year-over-year (YOY) gain. The Data Center revenue stands at $51.2 billion, showing a 25% quarterly gain and a 66% YOY gain. In terms of earnings per diluted share, both GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share are $1.30, with the gross margins at 73.4% and 73.6%, respectively. These figures represent strong demand for AI infrastructure products. A man wanted for allegedly setting his Pennsylvania home on fire in an attempt to kill spiders, was arrested in New York City after getting into a hit-and-run crash and abandoning his U-Haul truck. The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Sean McDermott of East Moriches, New York. Authorities say McDermott had started a fire in his townhome in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania on Monday evening, in what he said was an attempt to kill spiders within the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Police say the flames damaged McDermott's home and three connected townhomes. RELATED: Pa. man set fires to kill spiders, igniting blaze that damaged homes: Police Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner told WABC-TV that hours earlier, McDermott was in the home with a friend who tried to stop the 36-year-old suspect. The friend told police "he kept putting the fires out and McDermott kept lighting them." The friend stated both he and McDermott left the home and went to different locations. They both arrived back to find the townhome engulfed in flames. Volunteer firefighters spent eight hours battling the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors could not believe the damage. Inside the home are huge icicles, and a large hole in the ceiling over the fireplace where a holiday stocking still hangs. McDermott then fled the scene in a U-Haul truck. Sean McDermott He made it nearly 100 miles east to New York City, where police say he was involved in a hit-and-run at East 23rd Street and Madison Avenue around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. McDermott took off running, but was taken into custody. NYPD officials say their Emergency Services Unit and the bomb squad both responded to the scene. Inside the truck, they say McDermott was in possession of nitrous oxide, AKA laughing gas, and some kind of liquid accelerant at the time of his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal criminal possession of a controlled substance, and unlawfully possessing or selling noxious materials. McDermott has four prior arrests in New York City, including one for assault in 2019. After facing a judge in the city, he will be extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges, including arson. A Manchester woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of an infant found in a New Hampshire pond. 26-year-old Hepay Juma was charged with second-degree murder for causing the death of her child, Baby Jane Grace Doe, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, authorities said. The incident occurred nearly one year ago back in March, when the body of the baby was found in the pond at Pine Island Park in Manchester. Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are still investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the babys death. 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 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday the American Embassy in Havana is working to gain access to survivors from a Florida-registered speedboat that Cuban forces say exchanged gunfire with border guards in Cuban waters, leaving four people dead. Rubio said US officials want to determine whether any of those aboard were American citizens or lawful permanent residents. Cuba Describes Gunfire Near Cayo Falcones Cuba's Interior Ministry said the boat was about one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino canal near Cayo Falcones on Wednesday morning when five Cuban border guards approached to identify the vessel. The people on the speedboat opened fire, the ministry said, wounding the commander of the Cuban patrol craft, after which Cuban forces returned fire. Don't Miss: Advertisement Advertisement Cuba said six people on the speedboat were injured and transferred for emergency care. The statement did not identify who was on the vessel, why it entered Cuban waters, or why it allegedly fired first. Rubio Calls Shootout Highly Unusual Rubio told reporters that no U.S. government personnel were involved. "It is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that, it's not something that happens every day, it's something frankly that hasn't happened with Cuba in a very long time," he said at a news conference. Were not going to base our conclusions on what theyve told us, and Im very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here, and we will know it soon. And then, you know, well respond appropriately based on what that information tells, Rubio added. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company Rubio also criticized Cuba's economic system, saying, "The reason why things are as bad as they are is because they have an economic model that does not exist," referencing the island's deepening crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), whose district includes Key West, called for an investigation to determine whether any victims were US citizens or legal residents. I represent the southernmost congressional district in the continental United States. We are only 90 miles away from #Cuba. What happens on the island has direct impact on my community & the people I represent. Cuba needs freedom and needs it now! Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) February 25, 2026 See Also: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors Learn More Straits Security And Rising U.S.-Cuba Tensions Cuba and the United States sit roughly 90 miles (145 kilometers) apart at their closest point, and the Florida Straits remain one of the region's most heavily monitored corridors after decades of migration and drug-trafficking attempts. The episode comes as US-Cuba ties have deteriorated sharply. In late January, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency tied to what he called Cuban "threats" and signed an order threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, escalating pressure as the island faces fuel shortages and blackouts. Read Next: Own a Stake in California's New Standard for Luxury Behavioral Health Photo Courtesy: Maxim Elramsisy on Shutterstock.com Advertisement Advertisement Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Marco Rubio Says US Will 'Respond Appropriately' After Probe On Cuban Troops Killing 4 On Florida Speedboat, Calls Incident 'Highly Unusual' originally appeared on Benzinga.com Congolese authorities and a civil society group have said that mass graves were found in a part of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the M23 rebel group has recently withdrawn from, as fighting in the region escalates despite a United States-mediated peace deal. The governor of South Kivu province, Jean-Jacques Purusi, told The Associated Press news agency on Thursday that authorities found two mass graves with at least 171 bodies in the Kiromoni and Kavimvira neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the eastern city of Uvira. At this stage, we have identified two sites: one mass grave containing approximately 30 bodies in Kiromoni, not far from the Burundian border on the Congolese side, and another in Kavimvira where 141 bodies were found, Purusi told AP over the phone. Advertisement Advertisement The Executive Secretariat of the Local Network for the Protection of Civilians, a civil society group in the region, said on Thursday it wanted to visit the mass graves but was prevented from doing so by the Congolese military. Information gathered so far indicates that the victims were killed by M23 rebels, said Yves Ramadhani, the groups vice president. The governor and the civil society group alleged that the rebels killed the individuals because they suspected them of belonging to the DRC army or a pro-government militia. Both the DRC military and M23 have been accused of extrajudicial killings and abuses by rights groups. Al Jazeera could not independently verify Purusis or the groups claims. Advertisement Advertisement The M23 is the most prominent of the more than 100 armed groups that are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern DRC, near the border with Rwanda. M23 has been in a tense and violent conflict with the DRC government for more than a decade. The first fighting began in 2012 but de-escalated the next year, only to resume in 2021. Then, in January 2025, the rebels gained ground, seizing Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, before taking Bukavu, the capital of neighbouring South Kivu, the following month. And in December, the group seized control of Uvira in an offensive that killed more than 1,500 people and forced about 300,000 to flee, according to regional authorities. Advertisement Advertisement The rebel group later announced it would withdraw from the city, in what it said was a unilateral trust-building measure requested by the US to facilitate the peace process. M23 claims it is fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi community, who it says has been marginalised by the state. The DRC government has condemned the rebels and neighbouring Rwanda, which it accuses of supporting them, for seizing land and resources. Last year, two separate peace negotiation processes took place one between DRC and M23 mediated by Qatar, and a separate one between Kinshasa and Kigali mediated by the US. Despite agreed ceasefires, fighting has continued in the east of the country. Advertisement Advertisement The conflict has created one of the worlds most significant humanitarian crises, with more than seven million people displaced, according to the UN agency for refugees, and thousands killed. More than 200 people were also killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern DRC last month. Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday afternoon to discuss building housing in New York City. The mayor went to the White House to pitch the president on a possible project in New York City that could be the biggest federal investment in housing in the last 50 years, the mayor's team told Eyewitness News. The project would deliver 12,000 units. "I've proposed working together to build more than 12,000 new homes in our city, which would be the single largest housing development the city has ever seen since 1973," Mamdani said during an event on Friday. "The president is interested in the idea, and I look forward to the ensuing conversations about how to build more housing in a city that doesn't have enough of it." Advertisement Advertisement The mayor's office mocked up newspaper front pages and gave them to Trump in the Oval Office. I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon. Im looking forward to building more housing in New York City. pic.twitter.com/XnPbt0KXYU Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026 The mayor also asked the president directly to release the Columbia University student detained on Thursday, as well as four additional students being detained by the administration. Shortly after departing the White House, Mamdani received a call from Trump, letting him know the student detained Thursday morning would be released. Just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently. https://t.co/rvmTWpq83r Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 26, 2026 Those were the two "major" issues discussed. The meeting was attended by the president, the mayor, and both of their chiefs of staff. The latest developments come after the president again praised the New York mayor as being a "nice guy" who he claimed to speak with "a lot" during his State of the Union address. Advertisement Advertisement "And even the new communist mayor of New York City, I think he's a nice guy, actually, speak to him a lot," Trump said of Mamdani on Tuesday, while promoting a policy of nationwide voter ID. Mamdani told reporters on Wednesday when asked about his conversations with Trump, "I'll keep the conversations that I have with the president private. I will tell you, however, that whenever they do happen, they always focus on how to better our city." Later, when asked how frequently he talks with Trump, he did not answer directly but said, "We have conversations that are always focused on how to keep the city moving forward." During their first meeting in November, the two talked about reforming the city's land use process to make building in New York City easier. Advertisement Advertisement ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New York City news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. A man was arrested after a viral incident between New Yorkers and NYPD officers during Monday's blizzard, which has snowballed into Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first test with the police brass after he appeared to downplay the issue. Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was arrested for "assaulting" police officers earlier this week in Washington Square Park, the New York City Police Department announced Thursday. "Coulibaly was previously arrested less than three weeks ago for an attempted robbery in the transit system," according to the NYPD. Advertisement Advertisement Coulibaly pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor harassment and obstruction charges. He was released following a brief arraignment. Yuki Iwamura/AP - PHOTO: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference in Morningside Heights in New York, Feb. 25, 2026. With Mamdani capturing attention on the national stage, the progressive mayor is threading the needle carefully to avoid repeating the mistakes some of his predecessors made to ensure he doesn't lose that critical police support, according to a political expert. Mamdani came under fire on Tuesday after the president of the Police Benevolent Association -- the union representing NYPD officers -- accused the mayor of downplaying the severity of an incident. The NYPD said people playing in the snow on Monday in Manhattan were "attacking" officers with snowballs. How historic blizzard that hit the Northeast compares to past storms Advertisement Advertisement "I've seen the videos of this snowball fight. I think that it was a snowball fight," the mayor said during a news conference when asked repeatedly if anyone should be charged for the incident. Mamdani echoed his sentiment on Wednesday at another news conference. "What I saw was a snowball fight that got out of hand and it should be treated accordingly," he said. The incident took place Monday afternoon in Washington Square Park when police were called in about parkgoers playing aggressively, according to the NYPD. Barry Williams/New York Daily News via TNS via Getty Images - PHOTO: People gather in Washington Square Park for a mass snowball fight on Feb. 23, 2026, in New York. Parkgoer Rahul Nag told WABC 7 that it started off as harmless fun but escalated when several young people began tossing snow from the roof of the park's restrooms. The officers were confronted after they arrived to investigate. Advertisement Advertisement "It wasn't supposed to be violent. It started out as a very fun thing to do, and then, you know, it just escalated, and there weren't any older kids or older people out here," he told the station. "It was just young kids having fun. And then it kind of became a back-and-forth thing between NYPD and those young kids," Nag added. Derek French/SOPA Images via Shutterstock - PHOTO: An NYPD vehicle speeds down West 4th Street, pelted by snowballs during Sidetalk's snowball fight in Washington Square Park, on Feb. 23, 2026, in New York. Police say the crowd began throwing snowballs at them and continued to pelt them and their vehicles with snowballs as they left the park. The mayor and NYPD said two officers were treated for minor injuries, including lacerations. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in an X post Tuesday night that the incident was being investigated. The NYPD also released images of the people who allegedly threw the snowballs at the officers. NYPD - PHOTO: The NYPD has released images of people they are looking to question after several NYPD officers were hit with snowballs and injured on Feb. 23, 2026. "The NYPD is aware of certain videos taken earlier today in Washington Square Park showing individuals attacking cops. I want to be very clear: The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal," Tisch said in her post. Advertisement Advertisement No arrests had been made as of Wednesday afternoon. Although Mamdani did not describe the incident as an attack, he repeatedly has condemned anyone who would antagonize the police, and praised their work during the snowstorms over the last two months. "I want to say that officers have been on the front line of helping our city respond to this blizzard. They have been keeping New Yorkers safe, and they have also been at the heart of our efforts of digging New Yorkers cars out of these kinds of conditions and ensuring that our ambulances, our MTA buses can keep functioning across this city" he told reporters during the Tuesday news conference. "They and our entire city workforce deserve to be treated with respect. The only person in our city's workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me," Mamdani added. Spencer Platt/Getty Images - PHOTO: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a news conference as the city braces for a blizzard on Sunday and into Monday , on Feb. 22, 2026, in New York. The mayor's remarks, however, did not sit well with the leaders of the Police Benevolent Association. The union's president, Patrick Hendry, released a statement Tuesday calling the mayor's response "a complete failure of leadership." Advertisement Advertisement "This was disgraceful. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't a game. It was a vicious attack," he said. Mamdani told reporters Wednesday that he and Tisch are in constant communication but declined to talk more about the investigation into the incident. Mamdani top of mind as New York governors race ramps up Christina Greer, an associate professor of political science at Fordham University, told ABC News it was inevitable that Mamdani and the police brass would butt heads, given the mayor's past criticism of the NYPD and the pushback by Republicans across the country against him and his progressive policies. Advertisement Advertisement "Mamdani is cognizant of that and trying to balance what some people felt was pretty innocuous and the NYPD saw it as a different way," she said. "He's also cognizant that there are groups that, frankly, do not want him to succeed." Greer noted that Mamdani is taking hard lessons from previous Democratic mayors, especially Bill de Blasio and David Dinkins, who had extremely strained relationships with the NYPD. Greer said that De Blasio's relationship with the police seemed to crystalize in 2014 when officers turned their back to him during the funeral for two slain officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. That came weeks after protests broke out over the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died after he was put in a chokehold during an arrest. "You never want to be in a position where the NYPD turns their back to you and you never regain their trust," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Greer noted that even though he is extremely early in his tenure, Mamdani has taken smart first steps to show not just the NYPD but also his critics that he cares about his officers. Those moves include apologizing for his previous criticisms and retaining Tisch as his commissioner after his predecessor Eric Adams' term ended. Even in his response to the snowball incident, where the mayor repeatedly said that snowballs should be thrown at him, indicated a sense of humility, according to Greer. She said Mamdani is willing to take on New Yorkers' frustrations, especially over the weather. NYC Mayor's Office - PHOTO: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference on Feb. 24, 2026, in New York. "It's putting the onus on him," she said. "I think it's brilliant because it says I'm the one in charge. The NYPD is not in charge, it's me. It's hard for people to wrap their heads around, but that's the truth and a brilliant way to articulate a very real fact." Greer said the snowball incident is unlikely to hamper Mamdani's status or alter his overall "report card" on the local or national level, given fast-paced nature of the city's politics. Advertisement Advertisement Zohran Mamdani's proposals for NYC build off city's progressive foundation: Experts However, she said that the mayor will need to continue to thread the needle with the NYPD for his entire tenure in City Hall, as he is seen as the star figure in the Democratic progressive movement. "The question behind all of this, really, is can he keep the city safe? That's not fair to make this situation a real assessment when we're talking about snowballs and not bullets," Greer said. Mississippi voters have the opportunity to cast their votes in the U.S. Senate primary on March 10. Six candidates are in the running, including Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who has held the seat since 2018. The state will also feature four House races for each of its Congressional districts. Republican primary candidates in Mississippi The most recognizable name in the race is that of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, the incumbent and long-time Mississippi political figure. Hyde-Smith was initially appointed to the Senate eight years ago when former Sen. Thad Cochran retired, and she cemented her place in a special election later that year, becoming the first woman from Mississippi to serve in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Hyde-Smith has touted her conservative values since she switched parties in 2010 and has been endorsed by federal and state Republican officials including Donald Trump and former Governor Phil Bryant. None of the bills she has sponsored since she entered the Senate in 2018 have become law, according to the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a nonpartisan government tracking initiative led by Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia. Hyde-Smith faces her first primary challenger since 2018 in Sarah Adlakha, a physician and small business owner who is campaigning on being a political outsider. Adlakha, a Chicago native who moved to the Gulf Coast more than a decade ago, has centered her campaign on not being a career politician. One of her main selling points, she wrote in a Facebook comment, is her "willingness to fight for Mississippi families, not the political class." Advertisement Advertisement Adlakha has cited fixing corruption as one of her biggest priorities, questioning Hyde-Smith's campaign finance reports and the amount of money Adlakha said her opponent has received from lobbyists. Adlakha has also committed to pushing for term limits for politicians holding federal office. Medical marijuana in MS: MS Senate committee approves one medical marijuana bill, rejects another Democratic primary candidates in Mississippi In the reliably Republican Mississippi, where voters last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1982, fewer eyes have looked to the Democratic primary. Three candidates are vying to advance from the primary to the general election in November. Scott Colom, the district attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District, would become the state's first Black senator in nearly 150 years if he were elected. From the start of his public service career, when he was appointed a justice court judge in Lowndes County in 2011, Colom has almost always been the first Black person to serve in the position he occupied. Advertisement Advertisement Colom has served as the district attorney for the southeastern district since 2015, when he beat out an incumbent who had held the office for nearly 30 years. His campaign has been informed by his work in the criminal justice system, he wrote on his website, and one of his top priorities is pushing for jobs and career opportunities to deter violent crime. Colom's main goals are to "lower costs for families" and protect vulnerable hospitals, his website states, and he wrote that he plans to work across party lines to bring meaningful change to Mississippians. Also pointing to health care as a campaign cornerstone is Priscilla Williams-Till, a distant cousin of lynching victim Emmett Till taking her first step into politics with the Senate primary. Williams-Till outlined three platform pillars on her website: expanding Medicaid, investing in early education and training and updating outdated water infrastructure. She stressed the importance of ensuring that all Mississippians have consistent access to clean water through utility accountability measures. Advertisement Advertisement Williams-Till, who emphasized as did Adlakha that she is not a career politician, wrote that she is "fighting to rebuild Mississippi from the ground up ensuring every family has access to healthcare, quality education, and clean water." Albert Littell, a Chicago native who retired to Mississippi in 2005, wrote on his website that affordable health care is also one of his campaign focuses. Littell spent 10 years in the Marine Corps before joining the maintenance division of the Chicago Transit Authority, where he worked until his retirement. The Senate seat would be his first political position. He would use the seat, he wrote, to bring to the state "fair wages that allow workers to live with dignity, not just scrape by." Mississippi doesn't have a state-mandated minimum wage, meaning it abides by the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, which Littell write that he would like to see increased to $15 an hour. He would work to fully fund public schools and raise teacher pay to "competitive levels," his website read, and make community colleges free so Mississippians could "pursue higher education without crushing debt." Independent primary candidate in Mississippi The lone Independent running for the Senate seat is Ty Pinkins, who is also the only candidate besides Hyde-Smith to have run for Senate previously. Pinkins, who ran against Sen. Roger Wicker in 2024 as a Democrat, left the party last year after becoming "frustrated with the lack of action from lawmakers on the issues facing people in Mississippi," his website read. Advertisement Advertisement Pinkins, who was born and raised in the Delta, grew up working on cotton fields before attending college and enlisting in the Army. When he saw that the inequality he had faced decades earlier still permeated the Delta, he wrote, he got a law degree and returned to Mississippi to represent low-income litigants in eviction and wage cases. Pinkins' priorities include tax cuts for middle-class families, expanded access to literacy and career education programs and comprehensive Medicare legislation. He stressed the importance of bipartisan collaboration to bringing about meaningful change for Mississippians. The primary election is on March 10. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters can find their nearest polling location on the Secretary of State website. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: US Senate candidates in 2026 election in Mississippi? State utility regulators rejected a request this week to investigate whether Metas decision to place its data center in Northeast Louisiana under new ownership could leave Entergy Louisiana customers footing the bill to power it. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, reached an arrangement in October with Blue Owl Capital to transfer an 80% share of its Richland Parish data center to Beignet Investor, a new company the private equity firm created. The remaining 20% is now the property of a separate real estate holding company Meta owns indirectly from which it will lease the Hyperion artificial intelligence data center. A recent Wall Street Journal report described the new data center ownership structure as Frankenstein financing. By relinquishing ownership of its $28 billion Hyperion data center, Meta moved billions in debt off its balance sheet. Its auditor, Ernst & Young, approved the arrangement while describing the maneuver as a critical audit matter that warrants investor attention. Advertisement Advertisement The complex transaction prompted the Alliance for Affordable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists to ask the Louisiana Public Service Commission to look into the deal. The groups are concerned that customers of Entergy Louisiana, which is building a new power plant to provide electricity for the Hyperion campus, wouldnt be protected if Meta decides to walk away from its data center Entergy Louisiana has an agreement with Laidley LLC, the real estate entity with a 20% share of the data center, to build three natural gas-powered turbines to provide electricity to the facility for 15 years without shifting costs to Entergys household and small-business customers. The utility also has a parent guarantee that makes Meta liable if Laidley doesnt hold up its end of the bargain. Susan Miller, an attorney representing the two groups, told Public Service Commission members at Wednesdays meeting they should at least investigate Metas unloading deal to ensure the ratepayers are still protected. She stressed that her clients motion was not an attempt to undo the commissions approval of Entergys new power plant. It has nothing to do with asking that the application be reversed or the data center not be constructed or anything like that, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Larry Hand, Entergy Louisianas vice president of regulatory affairs, said Metas financial reworking doesnt change the terms of the agreement the utility signed and regulators approved last year with Laidley and Meta. He called the contract irrevocable. But with Meta no longer the majority owner of the data center, Miller said the parent guarantee might no longer hold weight, allowing Meta to walk away from the deal in a few years without much exposure. To me, that is why Entergy is not concerned about this, she said. Entergy is the only entity that has no skin in this game Once Meta stops paying, all Entergy is gonna do is turn around and reach into the ratepayers wallets and get whats left. The Public Service Commission declined to vote on the groups request, following a recommendation of its staff that said there is no evidence to warrant the commission to take any action at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Nudging his colleagues to move on to other matters, Commissioner Jean Paul Coussan, R-Lafayette, said the agreements between Entergy and Meta have been discussed and vetted ad nauseam. Hand said there are contingencies if Meta were to walk away from the data center. The current contract requires cash payments at each incremental milestone during the construction process. Once the data center is complete, Meta must adhere to a new payment guarantee thats part of the 15-year power agreement, he said. If they dont deliver that guarantee on time, they dont get electricity, Hand said. I think they will deliver that guarantee on time; theyve delivered every other one thus far. Ryan Stohl, a former investment banker and finance and technology writer, offered a tongue-in-cheek dissection of Metas new data center financing structure in a Nov. 28 Substack piece before the Enrst & Young audit came out. He wrote that the restructuring is designed to keep risky debt off Metas balance sheet. Advertisement Advertisement This is described as standard practice, which is true in the same way that using eleven entities to rent buildings to yourself has become standard practice, Stohl wrote. Its a loop. Borrow money, earn interest, and use the interest to claim you provided equity. The kind of circle only finance can call a straight line. In a follow-up post on Feb. 12, Stohl said he wasnt surprised to see the auditor flag the accounting maneuvers. However, he and other analysts have focused primarily on the data centers construction and financing rather than the electricity deal struck between the data center and Entergy. While Entergy executives maintain that Metas internal dealings dont affect the contracts that have already been inked, Miller said the Public Service Commission should want to ensure that thats the case. Advertisement Advertisement By dismissing this motion, the PSC is giving the green light to more tech companies to use this kind of financial maneuvering to maximize profits while evading public accountability, Miller said later in a news release. In his testimony at the hearing, Hand, the Entergy executive, said the commission will still have regulatory oversight and authority to prevent Entergy from passing on costs to ratepayers if any deals go bad. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Anxious. Annoyed. Angry. Those are just a few of the emotions expressed by the steady stream of Black folks seen walking in and out of the magistrate case information office inside the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Tuesday as some desperately sought legal aid before appearing in court for pending eviction cases. Metro Atlanta native Brittani Sullivan, a 36-year-old single mom and resident at the GE Tower apartment complex in Mechanicsville for about 13 years, was facing eviction for unpaid rent. Advertisement Advertisement Cases like hers are increasingly common in metro Atlanta, which led the nation in the number of eviction cases filed last year, according to recent data unveiled by Eviction Lab. The analysis released earlier this month showed Black renters in the metro area are being disproportionately impacted. It revealed around half of the five-county regions 2025 eviction cases were filed on units located in majority-Black neighborhoods. About 71% of all eviction cases filed in the region last year were against Black people even though Black residents make up about 53% of all the metro areas renters, Eviction Lab found. White renters, in contrast, constituted just 15% of eviction cases in the area despite representing 31% of its renters. Sullivan, who works as a manager at Peppers Hotdogs and has a second, part-time job as a local bartender, told Capital B Atlanta she stopped paying her $786 monthly rent about four years ago because the property management team failed to address repairs after a water leak flooded her and her 8-year-old daughters two-bedroom apartment. My home was destroyed and nobody did a damn thing about it, Sullivan said. For the past four or five years, because of the lack of continuity and care, and because they continuously fired and hired different property management companies, my home was in disarray. Advertisement Advertisement Court records reviewed by Capital B Atlanta show Sullivans dispossession case was resolved Tuesday after she agreed to pay $2,743 in past-due rent. When your wage or your income pay is $1,200 or a little bit less after taxes, you cant afford a $1,700 one-bedroom home. The math is not math-ing. Cassandre Damas, managing attorney for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundations Housing Court Assistance Center. The five county region of Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, and DeKalb saw more than 144,000 eviction filings in 2025, according to Eviction Labs research. Thats more than cities like New York and the entire state of Virginia, according to Eviction Lab communication and policy manager Juan Pablo Garnham, who said Atlanta appears to have the highest level of housing instability in the nation despite having a much smaller population than other major cities. Advertisement Advertisement The amount of eviction activity that we see in Atlanta in these five counties we have data for is astonishing, Garnham said. Thats a huge and loud alarm that we should hear. Garnham said Atlantas eviction crisis began in 2023, after the citys COVID-19 moratorium on evictions was lifted. More than 155,000 eviction cases were filed in the region in 2023. That figure dropped to about 144,915 evictions in 2024 and remained steady last year. The elevated cost of rent after the pandemic combined with the shrinking stock of affordable housing and stagnant wages for disproportionately Black, low-income tenants are the root causes for metro Atlantas eviction epidemic, according to Garnham and Cassandre Damas, managing attorney for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundations Housing Court Assistance Center. Damas three-member staff has an office inside the Fulton County Courthouse that provides legal advice and counseling to tenants facing eviction and helps them resolve disputes with landlords. Cassandre Damas, managing attorney for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundations Housing Court Assistance Center, gives eviction-related legal advice and counseling to a male client Tuesday inside the Fulton County Courthouse. (Chauncey Alcorn/Capital B) The veteran attorney, who has been doing housing law in Atlanta since 2017, said low wages are the main cause of eviction cases she sees. She said the minimum wage in Georgia which is still $5.15 per hour and more than $2 less than the federal minimum wage doesnt pay enough for people to afford the average apartment in Atlanta. Advertisement Advertisement The general rule is that a person should only pay 30% of their income to housing, Damas told Capital B Atlanta on Tuesday. When your wage or your income pay is $1,200 or a little bit less after taxes, you cant afford a $1,700 one-bedroom home. The math is not math-ing. Damas said tenants who cant afford to rent apartments with suitable housing conditions often are forced to rent from landlords who decline to make repairs and are quick to file evictions. Payton Prokes, a future law student and volunteer with the lawyers foundation, said raising Georgias minimum wage could help solve the problem. The cost of everything housing, schooling, child care, health care has [risen] exponentially when compared to how wages have, Prokes said. If people have more money from the work that theyre doing, that would certainly be a start. Advertisement Advertisement Garnham recommended establishing a right to legal counsel in Atlanta, creating more public and private philanthropic rental assistance programs, and changing zoning laws to promote more affordable housing construction in the region. He said cities like New York and Philadelphia saw their eviction rates decline notably after implementing similar policies and programs. We want Atlanta and Black Atlantans to thrive, Garnham said. This is something we have to hear and we have to take action. Read More: The post Eviction Crisis in Metro Atlanta Disproportionately Impacts Black Residents appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. A couple were arrested following a shootout with New Mexico State Police and an ensuing manhunt this week in Eastern New Mexico, the agency said in a statement. Officers found 40-year-old Jovan Martinez and 26-year-old Makaela Johnson hiding in a shed Wednesday outside Fort Sumner, state police wrote in a statement. On Monday, a state police sergeant had pulled over the couple on U.S. 285 south of Vaughn in a Kia Sportage the agency said had been reported stolen. As the officer was handcuffing Johnson, police said, Martinez got out of the car with a rifle and fired at the officer. Johnson ran back to the Kia while the officer returned fire, state police said, and the couple took off in the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement About 20 miles away from the traffic stop, another couple told officers they had been carjacked at gunpoint, and officers found the Kia Sportage in a field nearby, the statement says. Martinez and Johnson were found in a shed outside Fort Sumner after a "48-hour intensive manhunt," state police said. State police officers planned to file numerous charges against the couple, including, for Martinez, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault against an officer, harboring a felon and aggravated fleeing from police. Officers planned to file three counts of conspiracy against Johnson, along with charges of harboring a felon, receiving or transferring motor vehicles, escape from custody and larceny. The couple were booked into jail, although criminal charges did not appear to have been filed against them Thursday. TENEJAPA, Mexico (AP) Mexicos Supreme Court held its first session outside its neoclassical building in Mexico City Thursday in a mountain town in the southern state of Chiapas, the start of its plan to bring the countrys highest court to far-flung corners of the country. Under a tent in the central square of Tenejapa, some 2,000 people listened to the courts deliberations. Under a constitutional reform, the courts justices were popularly elected last year for the first time. Its chief justice is Hugo Aguilar, an Indigenous lawyer from the neighboring state of Oaxaca. Advertisement Advertisement Often in our communities we only feel the effects of a decision taken far away, Aguilar said Thursday. Now, the goal is that you see how we deliberate, that you know what we say, how we consider and make a decision. Some of those present, Indigenous leaders and authorities, held signs that said right to self-determination. Others just came to listen and be part of a historic moment. It makes me happy that this new minister (Aguilar) comes out to the towns, to cities to carry out justice because we really need to listen to the people, said Maria de la Cruz Velasco, president of a foundation that helps victims of femicide. Among those present were members of the community La Candelaria, in the municipality of San Cristobal de las Casas, which has been demanding self-rule for years. The case made it to the Supreme Court and was one of the issues discussed Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement The courts sessions can often be tedious and difficult for anyone outside the legal profession to follow, but Indigenous people and victims of violence have traditionally had an ally in the court. It has usually defended human rights with a progressive perspective even though some of the sentences handed down have not always been carried out. Velasco recalled that when her daughter was killed, local courts did not want to classify the crime as a femicide, but the Supreme Court finally decided that it was not a normal homicide because it had a gender dimension. Today my daughters (killer) is serving 55 years in prison, she said. This court is the first elected by the people and the argument for doing so was in part to make it more responsive and accountable. The idea was widely criticized for politicizing Mexicos highest court. The turnout for the election was extremely low and the candidates tied to the governing party overwhelmingly won seats. But on Thursday in Tenejapa, nestled in the mountains of Chiapas, that controversy was not discussed. There was gratitude that the court had come to them. Malcolm McInytre quickly left court, along with nearly a dozen supporters, after being arraigned on Thursday afternoon. Raleigh Police said the 18-year-old student-athlete brought a gun, loaded with bullets, to Millbrook Magnet High School on Wednesday, and it led to a Code Red lockdown. McIntyre was released on a $100,000 bond. He showed up to court with about 11 people, but did not answer any of our questions after the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement The teenager is facing four charges, including a felony for having a gun on an educational property. A School Resource Officer (SRO) found the weapon. Thursday on campus, there was heightened security. The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) said it was made aware of another threat circulating in text messages and on social media. The principal said in a message to families, "We take any and all potential threats to our school seriously," and that law enforcement was "investigating to evaluate the credibility of the threat." The National Association of School Resource Officers said that nationwide, it is becoming more difficult for SROs to keep campuses safe in this country, and parents are being encouraged to take responsible cautions at home. Advertisement Advertisement "Whether it's a school shooter or it's a student bringing a firearm to school, more often than not comes from home where it's been unsecured," said NASRO Executive Director Mo Canady. It remains unclear how McIntyre got hold of a weapon or why he allegedly brought it to school. Police said the incident remains under investigation. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, center, presents homeowners Rashida Lowery, left, and Gregory Lowery, right, with a commemorative City of Milwaukee key in recognition of their achievement of homeownership through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gregory Lowery gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rashida Lowery, left, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of her new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A newly renovated first floor bathroom is seen inside the home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. A newly renovated second floor bedroom is seen inside the home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. A newly renovated second floor bedroom is seen inside the home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. Gregory Lowery, left, gives a tour to City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump, center, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gregory Lowery, left, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A newly renovated second floor bathroom is seen inside the home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. Gregory and Rashida Lowery, left, gives a tour to City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump, center, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of their new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gregory Lowery, left, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gregory Lowery, left, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rashida Lowery, right, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, center, of her new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The newly renovated home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. The newly renovated home of Gregory and Rashida Lowery, rehabilitated through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The property, once vacant, has been fully renovated with modern upgrades by TAS Solutions. Lowery family newly renovated Milwaukee home through Homes MKE Program 1 of 15 Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, center, presents homeowners Rashida Lowery, left, and Gregory Lowery, right, with a commemorative City of Milwaukee key in recognition of their achievement of homeownership through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rashida Lowery did what most first-time homebuyers do. She imagined where the furniture would go in her familys new house long before she got the keys. I was doing that on the phone, Lowery said, recalling how she scrolled through pictures of the house imagining where the couch would go, or turning the basement into a rec room. Lowery and her husband, Gregory, both 53, are buying their first home located in the Sherman Park neighborhood thanks to the citys Homes MKE initiative. Advertisement Advertisement It takes city property tax-foreclosed homes, often vacant and distressed, renovates them, and sells them. The couples five-bedroom home, in the 2800 block of North 34th Street, was one of those properties. It's been fully rehabbed with modern appliances, a gas fireplace, new cabinetry, and carpeting. Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Development Commissioner Lafayette Crump presented the Lowerys with a symbolic oversized key to their home during a Feb. 27 news conference. Johnson, who declared 2026 the Year of Housing in Milwaukee, touted the initiatives impact on reactivating vacant properties and creating pathways to generational wealth. Advertisement Advertisement Access to quality affordable homes for new buyers creates stronger neighborhoods, Johnson said. They care about the neighborhood, Johnson said. That creates stability and if you create more stabilitymore people want to move in, more people want to be a part of it." Gregory Lowery, left, gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) I spent a lot of time dreaming about what it feels like holding the key to my own home. But I never imagined I would be receiving it from the mayor, Gregory Lowery said. This isnt just about four walls and a roof. It is about peace of mind that comes with having a place truly to call my own, he said. Programs like this dont just build houses. It builds stability. It builds hope for people like me. Advertisement Advertisement The 2,300-square-foot house, a duplex converted into a single-family home, is exactly what the couple needed for their eight children seven girls, including a set of twins, and one boy. Top of Rashida Lowerys list was a home with two bathrooms. No more waiting for someone to get out of the bathroom, she said. Gregory Lowery gives a tour to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson of his new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) The longtime renters never thought about being homeowners until around three years ago as they faced rising rents. Bankruptcy put those dreams on hold until Gregory Lowery landed a job with Milwaukee County Transit System and their finances improved. The Department of City Development launched the Homes MKE program in 2023. It uses $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Advertisement Advertisement So far, 67 homes have been sold, with another 35 homes being renovated. Three are going to market in early March, according to city officials. Rising housing costs demonstrate the need for Homes MKE, Crump said. The program's average cost to rehab a home ranges from $100,000 to $150,000, he said. That often exceeds the house's market value. It cost a great deal to get them to look as gorgeous as this one looks, Crump said. The private marketplace would not have gotten this done. So now we have got this great home with a great family. Gregory and Rashida Lowery, left, gives a tour to City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump, center, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, of their new home through the City of Milwaukees Homes MKE program on Friday February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Homes MKE works with emerging developers many of whom are people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Once the home renovations are complete, developers can either sell them at affordable prices, provide a lease-to-own option, or rent them at affordable rates with income restrictions for the tenants. TAS Solutions rehabbed the Lowery home. Homes MKE has helped grow that business, said Kelton Buford, who operates the firm with his mom, Teresa Smith. Buford has rehabbed 20 homes under the Homes MKE initiative. He wants to move into new construction. This right here has prepared me for it, Buford said, but I am just happy for the family. Shakiah Lowery, 27, got a jump on her sister for one of the five bedrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Shakiah chose the first-floor bedroom because of its size. She plans to put her creative stamp on the room including a paint job with an astronomy motif. Shakiah and her siblings couldn't be prouder of their parents. "I am happy for them," Shakiah said, "because having eight kids, it wasn't easy. I feel like it is their time to own something." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Homes MKE program helps family buy first home NEED TO KNOW Kaipo Kaminanga, 15, vanished after the canoe he was in with two other boys capsized on a lake on Feb. 23 Three days later, authorities confirmed that his body had been recovered "The communitys reeling from whats happening, said Austin Roof, who set up a GoFundMe for Kaipo's family An Alaskan teenager who went missing after his canoe capsized on a lake earlier this week has been found dead, according to authorities. The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team announced that the body of Kaipo Kaminanga, 15, was recovered on Thursday, Feb. 26, around 5 p.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement We are glad we could bring closure to his family, friends and community, the team stated. Paul Mueller, the CEO of Eastern Aleutian Tribes, said that Kaipo was last seen face down in the water, local station KUCB reported. This is a deeply difficult moment for the family, the youth involved, and the entire Sand Point community, Mueller said in his statement. Please take a moment to keep the family in your prayers and hold them in your thoughts as they face an unimaginable loss. According to a GoFundMe set up by Austin Roof, a teacher with the Aleutians East Borough School District, Kaipo went missing at Red Cove Lake on Monday, Feb. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with NBC affiliate KTUU before the teen's body was found, Roof said that Kaipo and two other boys traveled from a trailhead to the lake in their ATVs and boarded the community-use canoe. Another friend stayed on shore while the three boys, including Kaipo, were in the water in their canoe when the vessel tipped over. The friend from the shore went into the frigid water and was able to reach the other two boys. They tried to help Kaipo, but they werent able to get to him, Roof told KTUU. Sadly, he went under the water, and that was the last time he was seen. Sand Point Police Chief Benjamin Allen said authorities tried to locate Kaipos phone by pinging, but were only able to access the last time he used his device because the island only had 2G service, according to KUCB. Advertisement Advertisement The communitys reeling from whats happening, Roof told KTUU. Small-knit communities like ours, everyones close to each other. Everyone cares for each other. This family in particular is really well-loved by everyone in the community, and ... Kaipo is just one of the most beloved boys in the school by everybody. 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. As of Friday, Feb. 27, the GoFundMe established to support Kaipo's family has raised over $65,000. The Sand Point Police Department and the Eastern Aleutian Tribes did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People Protections for religious expression in K-12 schools could also be expanded to guard ideological and political speech through a bill that passed Thursday in the Missouri House. State Rep. Darin Chappell, a Republican from Rogersville and the bills sponsor, said the legislation is intended to guard First Amendment rights. We dont want anyones political ideas to be squelched just because someone in authority has different ideas, Chappell said during a Tuesday debate. Advertisement Advertisement He doesnt want public schools to tell students what they can and cant think or say, he said, acknowledging some exceptions to the rule. The legislation passed on a 99-47 vote would allow schools to take action against expression that is substantially disruptive or prevents other students from equal access to educational opportunities. Speech not protected by the First Amendment, like obscenity, is also excluded. The legislation largely codifies protections already in place through federal law. State Rep. Ian Mackey, a St. Louis Democrat, said he is not sure the bill will change a darn thing in our schools but said it could have unintended consequences. Advertisement Advertisement A chief concern among Democrats was a provision that would bar public schools from discriminating against student clubs because of their views and certain leadership requirements. Last year, lawmakers passed a bill that codified these protections in the states public universities. State Rep. Wick Thomas, a Democrat from Kansas City, asked Chappell if the bill could protect Nazi student clubs, giving a hypothetical about a group of fourth graders. I am not sure how many Nazi fourth graders there are, Chappell replied. But sure. Mackey warned the House not to overlook the issue, pointing out that Affton High School was vandalized with racist graffiti, including a swastika, last year. Advertisement Advertisement To think that they wouldnt want to form a club, he said. Youre brushing off something that is a lot more serious. State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, a Democrat from St. Louis, also worried the legislation could open doors for hateful groups. Allowing them to have spaces like this is going to create more contention, she said. Chappell repeatedly said Tuesday that he believes the best remedy to bad speech is more speech, saying he dropped stupid ideas after his peers corrected him as an adolescent. This bill protects everyone equally, and I believe the First Amendment is for everybody, he told Bosley. And if somebody sounds like a moron, thats our opportunity to clue them in that theyre sounding like a moron. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats also worried about the cost of lawsuits that could arise from the bill, which empowers students to sue public schools who violate their free speech rights. The legislation waives the states immunity to be sued, which Chappell said was intended to remove school districts claims at sovereign immunity as political subdivisions of the state. The bill received broad support from House Republicans, who saw it as common sense. Political and ideological speech should be protected, said state Rep. John Simmons, a Republican from Washington. It is kind of shameful that we have to add it to existing language. A nearly identical bill was filed in the Senate, passing a Senate committee in a 5-2 vote last month. It has stalled since, not yet making it onto the Senates calendar for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Brief The new forecast from the Minnesota Department of Budget and Management shows an "improved" budget outlook. The 2026-2027 fiscal year balance is now projected at $3.7 billion, $1.3 billion higher than what was estimated in November 2025. DFL lawmakers say chaotic federal policies are leading to economic uncertainty, while GOP lawmakers praised the recent new policies of no taxes on tips or overtime. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota's February 2026 budget and economic forecast shows an improved projected balance than previous estimates. Advertisement Advertisement The full news conference can be viewed above. Minnesota budget and economic forecast By the numbers The 2026-2027 fiscal year balance is now projected at $3.7 billion, $1.3 billion higher than what was estimated in November. The summary also states "A slightly improved economic outlook drives a higher revenue forecast largely driven by more volatile sources of revenue. Spending growth outpaces revenue growth through projections for FY 2029." The report says the projected general fund balance for the 2028-2029 biennium is now $377 million, but adds that "a significant structural imbalance remains." State officials say the overall outlook is an improvement "amid significant near-term economic and fiscal uncertainty." Advertisement Advertisement The report also cites "Shifting policies at the federal level and missing or incomplete data due to recent federal government shutdowns" as factors of uncertainty in the projections. Minnesota House GOP response Local perspective House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) shared the following statement on the latest budget forecast: "Todays forecast gives us the chance to pass a bipartisan tax conformity bill that helps workers through common-sense policies, like no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, and helps our Main Street businesses continue to be the job creators that keep our state strong. Tax increases on Minnesota families and more government spending should be off the table, and our focus should remain on lowering costs on family budgets." Advertisement Advertisement House Republican Floor Leader Rep. Harry Niska (R-Ramsey) added the following statement: "This forecast demonstrates that pro-business economic policies and economic growth are the real solution to the fiscal disaster created by Minnesota Democrats. We need to reverse the policies that are holding our state economy back if were going to participate in the national economic rebound." Minnesota House DFL response The other side House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson shared the following statement: "This is not a normal forecast day. This forecast comes with the biggest asterisk ever. All of the improvement we see in the forecast today - in fact more than all of it - would be offset by just the cuts to Minnesotas Medicaid funding that were announced by the Trump Administration earlier this week, to say nothing of the other cuts Trump has promised. Advertisement Advertisement "Unless Donald Trumps retaliatory campaign against Minnesota is stopped, these surpluses are actually deficits. The chaos and uncertainty Trump has caused will make it very challenging for legislators to make budget decisions going forward, and real Minnesotans will be worse off because of it. "The people of Minnesota deserve better than that. DFLers will continue to stand up for Minnesotans, and well continue working to build a future where hard work is actually rewarded, families have a real chance to get ahead, and communities can thrive." House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long gave the following statement on the budget forecast: "Donald Trump and his Republican allies continue to be a disaster for our economy and for working families. Minnesotans were already struggling with high costs, and now the impacts of ICEs operation are reverberating across our economy with widespread workforce disruptions, difficulty for folks to pay rent or a mortgage, and a massive strain on small businesses. Now, a whopping $259 million Medicaid cut is set to come from the White House, which will not only blow a hole in our budget, but also do unthinkable harm to our most vulnerable people. Its completely irresponsible for the GOP to dismiss the damage coming from Trump and D.C., and DFLers will continue focusing on making life more affordable for the middle class." Minnesota Chamber of Commerce response What they're saying President and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Doug Loon shared the following statement on the budget forecast: Advertisement Advertisement "Todays forecast is a reminder that when our economy grows, the states budget outlook improves and creates more opportunities for all Minnesotans. Its concerning that spending growth continues to outpace revenue growth. Enacting policies that grow our economy can help eliminate this gap and reduce pressure on taxpayers." Governor Walz statement on budget forecast Dig deeper Minnesota Governor TIm Walz shared the following statement on the Minnesota Management and Budget forecast: "Minnesota is in a strong financial position. Our economy is one of the most resilient and diverse in the country and todays budget forecast reflects improvements in both the short and long term, despite the Trump Administrations tumultuous campaign of retribution. Advertisement Advertisement "Yet the implications of federal actions cannot be underestimated. Minnesota continues to weather economic blows from Operation Metro Surge and faces unprecedented threats to the federal funding we rely on, including potentially devastating cuts to Medicaid. "Our goal is to keep Minnesota on solid financial footing and ready to handle whatever comes our way. Together weve worked to make responsible cuts and scale growth in spending to put Minnesota in a strong spot for years to come. Our disciplined, responsible budgeting has helped protected Minnesotans and I look forward to releasing a thoughtful, measured supplemental budget to keep us on that path." The Source This story uses information shared by the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget. A family has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Lebanon School District of not doing anything about the repeated reports of their son getting bullied based on race and disability that led up to his suicide. The lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 25, on behalf of Yadriel Rivera Jusino, the administrator of her sons estate, also named school officials such as Nicholas Bullock and Daniel Rau, who are principal and assistant principal. Twelve-year-old Yadriel Rivera Jusino committed suicide on June 3, 2024, after years of physical and verbal bullying because of his race and dyslexia, the suit said. The family alleges the school administrators, who are also named in the lawsuit, knew about it and didnt investigate or intervene as school policy and federal laws require. The Lebanon Intermediate School is shown in this file photo. Lebanon School District Superintendent Nicole Malinoski shared a prepared comment that said the district is aware of the lawsuit, "strongly" denies the allegations and will not provide further comment because it is an active legal matter. Advertisement Advertisement The loss of a student is always heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with the students family, friends and all who were affected by this tragedy, the statement read, adding that a student's death has a profound impact on a school community. Jusinos attorney, Nathaniel Foote of Andreozzi & Foote, said there are laws in Pennsylvania about suicide prevention, which require school districts to have policies and procedures in place to prevent suicides. More: Father of of 1-year-old boy killed in Brandywine St. fire sentenced This is the third similar case his firm has worked on. One of the others involved Red Lion Area School District, where a mother accused the school district officials of being negligent in handling the anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, which resulted in her 15-year-old son, Zachary Kirchner, to commit suicide on April 20, 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Foote said its important for families in these circumstances to fight back because is there any story sadder than a teen or adolescent suicide? I mean, its hard to think of something more tragic. >> Please consider subscribing to support local journalism. Its also important, he said, to remember there is a family that lost their child. None of them, including Yadriels sister, will be the same. Although this case is really about Yadriel, at some level, the story is also about his sister, his parents and the rest of the people in his life, who lost their son and brother, he said. He said educators need to be aware of and react to this, as well as society, because youth mental health is worse than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, students have a right to be free of gender, racial and disability-based harassment at schools. Peers and administrators have to respond appropriately to reports of harassment, Foote said. Because if they dont, then this kind of thing happens, he said. He expects there to be more similar cases in the future. The lawsuit said Yadriel was born in Puerto Rico and primarily spoke Spanish. He started to attend the Lebanon School District in 2020 and received special education services for his dyslexia. The bullying and physical assaults began around 2022, which he reported to the school counselor, according to the complaint. It also included that both Yadriels sister and stepfather, the latter of whom worked for the school district, reported the bullying to school officials, but alleged there was no follow-up or investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Yadriels mother asked for a jury trial. To get help If you've experienced thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 in the United States. You can find more information at 988lifeline.org. Reach Meredith Willse at mwillse@ydr.com >> Want to stay up to date on the latest news? Sign up for our newsletters. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Student suicide: Lawsuit claims Lebanon PA schools ignored bullying Its been approximately a month since Nancy Guthrie was reported missing. On Friday, Today show host and daughter of the missing 84-year-old Arizona woman, Savannah Guthrie, issued another public plea. Someone out there knows something that can bring her home. Somebody knows, she said. We are begging you to please come forward now. Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing on Feb. 1. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, has publicly pleaded for her safe return and said that Nancy Guthries health has made her vulnerable. Guthrie familys calls for help Savannah Guthrie has drawn national attention for her video messages addressed to the public and the potential abductors in the Nancy Guthrie case. Advertisement Advertisement A source from NBC News told CNN that Savannah Guthries Today family will welcome her back with open arms on her timeline. The Guthrie family is offering a reward of up to $1 million for any information that could help in this case. The family is also donating $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which aids families coping with loss and actively looking for their lost loved ones. Photographers take images of sheriff's deputies outside the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. | Felicia Fonseca In one of the latest videos, Guthrie acknowledged the possibility that her mother might be gone. We still believe. We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home, Guthrie said. We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone. Advertisement Advertisement That statement was a turning point. Living in this uncertainty is agonizing, said Hoda Kotb, who hosted the Today show until January 2025 but came back during Savannah Guthries time off from the show. FBI moves investigation to Phoenix As per News Nations Brian Entin, the Pima County sheriff said the investigation remains active until either Guthrie is located or all the leads are exhausted. The Pima County Sheriffs Department is refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case. As leads are developed and resolved, resource allocation may fluctuate, said Sheriff Chris Nanos. Pima County Sheriff says Nancy Guthrie investigation remains active and will continue until she is located or all leads have been exhausted. The Pima County Sheriffs Department is refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case. As leads are developed and Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) February 27, 2026 Investigators went back to Nancy Guthries home, which has turned into a vigil with flowers and notes left around the property. A memorial grows outside the home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. | Felicia Fonseca Former FBI Special Agent Lance Leising said that its common for investigators to revisit a crime scene. Advertisement Advertisement Whether you are bringing new investigators back there, or maybe a new agency jumps in and needs to be briefed and wants to see it. Sometimes, you bring lab analysts back there to collect evidence and get a feel for it. Sometimes, prosecutors go to a crime scene later in the investigation. All these could be possible, he said, as Fox News reported. He noted that the investigators carried bags with them, which he called a little unusual. Id be very curious what those are and how much value they hold, Lance said. The report also stated that the FBI will turn the Guthrie home back over to the family in the coming weeks as they move the investigations operations to Phoenix. What do we know about the potential abductors? This combo from images provided by the FBI shows surveillance footage at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missing in Tucson, Ariz. | FBI via Associated Press Although the police havent identified a suspect or a person of interest, the FBI released photos and videos from a surveillance camera on the front porch of Nancy Guthries Tucson home. Advertisement Advertisement The person appears to be tampering with the camera in the video released by FBI Director Kash Patel. The individual wore a mask and gloves and appeared to have a firearm. The authorities conducted searches of several roadways in the Catalina Foothills area, where the Guthrie family lived, and took two black gloves discarded on the side of the road into evidence. The DNA found on the gloves and at the Guthrie home hasnt yet produced a match in the federal databases. Millions of people across the United States, including in Wisconsin, are expected to participate in a third wave of "No Kings" protests March 28 to demonstrate against President Donald Trump's administration. It's the latest round of demonstrations from the No Kings movement. Previous protests were held across Wisconsin in October and June. More than 1,000 protests were scheduled nationwide for the spring day of action as of Feb. 17, with "thousands more anticipated" as the date approaches, according to a press release. More than 30 protests are planned across Wisconsin as of Feb. 26, the protest locator map shows. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about the No Kings movement, including where and when Wisconsin protests are happening. What is the No Kings protest movement? The goal of the No Kings demonstrations is to show "this country does not belong to kings, dictators, or tyrants," organizers wrote on the No Kings website. "It belongs to We the People the people who care, who show up, and who fight for dignity, a life we can afford, and real opportunity," the website says. The first round of protests were held on June 14, which organizers said was a a "direct response" to Trump's birthday military parade. More: Kohl's, other Wisconsin companies suing for Trump tariff refunds When are the next No Kings protests in the U.S.? The next No Kings protests are scheduled for Saturday, March 28, according to the movement's website. How many No Kings protests are scheduled in Wisconsin on March 28? More than 30 protests are planned for Wisconsin on March 28. Advertisement Advertisement More: Marquette poll takeaways: Trump approval rating, data centers and more Where are No Kings protests in the Milwaukee area on March 28? In the Milwaukee area, three No Kings protests are planned in the following locations: Milwaukee : Noon to 3 p.m. at the Washington Park Bandshell, 4599 W. Lloyd St. Greenfield : 10 to 11:30 a.m. at South 76th Street and West Layton Avenue Shorewood: 2 to 3:30 p.m. The address is private and only available to people who RSVP. Maia Pandey contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about March 28 'No Kings' protests in Wisconsin Context: The above video initially aired on Sept. 15, 2025. RILEY COUNTY (KSNT) Federal workers are getting ready to kick off the next phase of an experimental dredging operation at a major reservoir in Kansas in an effort to clear it up of the buildup of sediment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gearing up for the second phase of its water injection dredging (WID) efforts at Tuttle Creek Reservoir in central Kansas. The USACE kicked off this operation in the fall last year, embarking on a first-of-its kind new method to save the reservoir from a buildup of sediment. Advertisement Advertisement Laura Totten, project manager for the WID operations at Tuttle Creek Reservoir, told 27 News that USACE engineers will begin the second phase in mid-March. Work will take place over the course of 10 days from March 17-27. The boat ramp and parking area will be shut down for several days, Totten said. We do not anticipate any other impacts to services/roadways. Totten said a third demonstration period will take place in the summer this year in June and July. She said that, following this period, the USACE will start to process data collected during the operation and publish its results in late 2026 or early 2027. Bills to go up by over $5 a month for 140,000 natural gas users in Kansas Advertisement Advertisement Tuttle Creek Reservoir, like all other reservoirs in Kansas, is slowly being filled with sediment. The USACE forecasted in 2024 that, if no corrective action is taken, Tuttle Creek will be 75% full of mud by 2049 and almost completely full by 2074, reducing its ability to provide flood control and water supply to nearby communities. The USACE is employing experimental methods such as WID to extend the lifespan of Kansas reservoirs. WID involves the use of a barge that has a special water jet on it to create low-pressure, high volumes of water to stir up sediment and push it out of the reservoirs dam outlet further downstream. A photo of the specialized dredge to be used on Tuttle Creek reservoir. Engineers hope this may fix the rising mud levels in the reservoir and extend its life. Engineers and researchers are testing other experimental approaches to saving the Sunflower States reservoirs from their muddy problems. At John Redmond Reservoir, for example, officials are considering the use of hydrosuction to clear away excess sediment. Lesser prairie chicken removed from federal threatened species list Advertisement Advertisement For more Kansas Outdoors news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf 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 KSNT 27 News. Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) is included among the 13 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks to Invest in Right Now. Oppenheimer Lifts Nutrien (NTR) Price Target Despite Lighter Results, Citing Long-Term Growth Drivers On February 26, Oppenheimer analyst Kristen Owen raised the price recommendation on Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) to $78 from $76. The analyst maintained an Outperform rating on the stock. The firm said recent results came in lighter than expected, but progress on portfolio actions continues to support the long-term investment case. Oppenheimer believes the company is entering a year with several potential catalysts. Improving farmer fundamentals, along with decisions related to its Phosphate business, Trinidad nitrogen operations, and Brazil Retail segment, are expected to improve earnings stability and strengthen free cash flow over time. Reuters reported on February 19 that Nutrien expects crop nutrient demand to increase in 2026. This outlook comes even as farmers reduce phosphate fertilizer use due to lower returns. During its fourth-quarter earnings call, the company said potash demand is likely to rise. This is tied to strong crop production in 2025, lower fertilizer application during the U.S. fall season, and the relatively lower cost of potash compared with other fertilizers. CEO Ken Seitz said North American potash sales will be driven by the need to replenish soil nutrients following a record crop and a shortened fall application window. He also noted that favorable weather in Australia is expected to support potash demand, as farmers prepare for upcoming planting seasons. Seitz added that retail farm product sales in Brazil remain under pressure due to weak farmer profitability. As a result, many growers are delaying purchases for as long as possible. Even so, he said potash demand is unlikely to decline. Its lower cost makes it a practical choice, especially after large crops in 2025 depleted soil nutrients. He explained that farmers facing tight margins or losses often focus on maximizing crop yields. Achieving that goal requires sufficient fertilizer use, which continues to support long-term demand. Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) operates as a global provider of crop inputs and agricultural services. The company runs a large network of production, distribution, and retail facilities, with operations across its Nutrien Ag Solutions, Potash, Nitrogen, and Phosphate segments. While we acknowledge the potential of NTR 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. New Jersey City University will lay off employees as it prepares to merge with Kean University this summer, both schools said Friday. Officials at the public universities said they could not confirm the number of employees who will lose their jobs or the impacted departments. But the Jersey City Times, a local news site, reported at least 151 New Jersey City University employees, including professors, are slated to lose their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Layoff notices went to 33 faculty members, including 24 tenured and nine non-tenured professors, the Jersey City Times reported, citing numbers provided to the campus faculty union. The layoffs would go into effect June 30. Kean University is set to merge with New Jersey City University in July. The Jersey City school will be renamed Kean Jersey City under the deal. The layoffs are necessary because of a projected $25 million budget gap, New Jersey City University spokesman Ira Thor told NJ.com. To address that gap, NJCU is taking the steps necessary to make the merger viable, including workforce reductions as part of a broader restructuring plan, Thor said. NJCU is making these decisions consistent with recommendations from the Universitys state monitor to better align expenses with revenues and strengthen the long-term outlook of the Jersey City campus. Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey City University is offering voluntary buyouts ahead of layoffs, and employees who could be impacted have been notified, Thor said. A final number of impacted employees is not yet available. Union representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There are no layoffs at Kean University, said Nicole Francisco, a university spokesperson. But Kean employees have been offered a voluntary separation program. She declined to say how many Kean employees were given the buyout offer. A state-appointed fiscal monitor advised New Jersey City University in 2024 to partner with a more financially stable institution, either by sharing services or pursuing a merger. Advertisement Advertisement The university also explored a merger with Montclair State before announcing in March 2025 that it was pursuing an agreement with Kean, whose main campus is about 14 miles away in Union. The governing boards at both institutions and their presidents signed off on a merger agreement last year. Moodys, one of the nations big three credit agencies, cited the proposed merger and other factors in upgrading New Jersey City Universitys financial outlook from stable to positive last spring. NJ.com staff writer Rob Jennings contributed to this report. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. North Korea's ruling party has elevated leader Kim Jong Un's powerful younger sister to a top position, state media said Tuesday, a sign of her far-reaching influence within the reclusive nation. Thousands of party elites have packed the capital Pyongyang for a once-in-five-years summit of the ruling Workers' Party, a gathering that directs state efforts on everything from diplomacy to war planning. Kim Yo Jong -- long considered one of her brother's closest lieutenants -- was promoted to department director within the party's apex central committee, the Korean Central News Agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Although it was not clear which department she would lead, she has previously held a senior role within the party's propaganda unit. Kim Yo Jong has in recent years emerged as one of the most powerful figures in North Korea, playing a highly visible role in diplomacy, nuclear negotiations and other matters of state. "Kim Yo Jong is one of the very few people Kim Jong Un can trust and rely on," said Ahn Chan-il, a researcher originally from North Korea. "She also served as a working-level official for Kim's summits with Trump in Singapore and Hanoi. She is experienced and seasoned," he told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Kim Yo Jong burst on to the international scene in 2018, when she was dispatched to Seoul as North Korea's envoy for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. With that trip, she became one of the first members of the ruling Kim dynasty to set foot in the South since the Korean War. Since then she has gained a reputation for her vitriolic denunciations of Washington and Seoul. She once derided the government of former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol as a "faithful dog" of the United States. Her tone has softened somewhat since South Korea's incumbent leader Lee Jae Myung -- who has sought to mend ties with the North -- took office last year. Advertisement Advertisement Kim Yo Jong's latest advancement "amounts to promotion to ministerial rank," said Lim Eul-chul from the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. - Rapid rise - Remarkably little is known about Kim Yo Jong given her prominent role in North Korea's dealings with the outside world. Born in 1988, according to the South Korean government, she is one of three children born to Kim's father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, and his third known partner, former dancer Ko Yong Hui. She was educated in Switzerland alongside her brother and rose rapidly up the ranks once he inherited power after their father's death in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Pyongyang has never officially disclosed any information about Kim Yo Jong's marital status or children. Rare footage released by state media last year showed her attending an art show with two young children. The Workers' Party congress offers a rare glimpse into the political workings of reclusive North Korea, and is widely seen as a forum for Kim to flex his grip on power. It is just the ninth time the gathering has been called to order under North Korea's decades-spanning Kim dynasty. There is keen interest in whether the congress might also promote leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae. Advertisement Advertisement Kim Ju Ae has emerged as a clear frontrunner to continue the family dynasty, according to South Korea's national intelligence service. US President Donald Trump stepped up his courtship of Kim Jong Un during a tour of Asia last year, saying he was "100 percent" open to a meeting. But the North Korean leader has so far largely shunned efforts to resume top-level diplomatic dialogue. cdl-sft/mtp The lack of evidence in the suspected kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie presents major challenges for law enforcement, but a digital forensics expert noted similarities between the case and the Idaho student murders. The police currently lack physical DNA leads from Guthries case because the suspect wore a ski mask and gloves. However, Heather Barnhart, a digital forensics expert with Cellebrite and the SANS Institute, claimed that the attackers attempts to hide their digital footprint will ultimately expose them. Nancy Guthrie kidnapping shares striking parallels with Idaho student killings, says expert Fox News reported that Heather Barnhart compared the lack of evidence in Nancy Guthries potential kidnapping to the Idaho student murders. The expert previously analyzed the digital devices of convicted Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger and told the outlet that perpetrators frequently underestimate modern tracking technology. Barnhart told Fox News, The loudest evidence can be the lack of evidence, noting how this exact pattern directed authorities in the Idaho investigation. In that, she explained, Kohberger literally created bookends around the crime by turning off his device. Advertisement Advertisement She said, In addition to all the clearing and other things that he prepped for to erase his digital footprint, the fact that right before the murder, his phone was turned off, and then within like 40 minutes or so after it was turned back on, kind of gave us that tunnel to look down here. Barnhart suggested that investigators will search for unusual cellular tower activity to map the suspects movements. The expert further explained that devices in airplane mode still record location data. Furthermore, a suspects phone can register on Guthries home Wi-Fi network without actively connecting to the internet router. Hence, in Barnharts opinion, authorities must now locate the digital error the suspect inevitably committed in the guise of hiding evidence in Guthries kidnapping. With that, she noted, We hope in Nancy Guthrie, that whoever has her made a mistake and that we can uncover that footprint. The post Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Echoes Idaho Murders Expert appeared first on Reality Tea. NASA on Friday announced a major overhaul to its Artemis moon program, a course correction that will add missions and increase the pace of launches ahead of a targeted lunar landing attempt in 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the changes will increase the programs safety, reduce delays and ultimately help achieve President Donald Trumps goal of returning astronauts to the moon and establishing a long-term presence on the lunar surface. Everybody agrees this is the only way forward, Isaacman said Friday in a news briefing. And Ill say, I had similar conversations with all our stakeholders in Congress, and theyre fully behind NASA in this approach. I know this is how NASA changed the world, and this is how NASA is going to do it again. Mobile launcher 1 containing the massive Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft rolls back to the Vehicle Assembly Building from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center at dusk in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Feb. 25, 2026. (Gregg Newton / AFP - Getty Images) (Gregg Newton) Isaacman announced that the Artemis III mission, which was set to land astronauts on the moon in 2028, will no longer shoot for the lunar surface. Instead, he said, NASA will attempt to launch Artemis III by mid-2027 to conduct key technology demonstrations in low-Earth orbit, including rendezvous and docking tests with one or both commercially built lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Advertisement Advertisement After that, Artemis IV will launch in 2028 to land on the moon. The new direction could inject much-needed momentum into the almost decade-old Artemis program, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays including most recently a monthlong delay for the Artemis II mission, which aims to send four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the moon. Isaacman said the changes to subsequent Artemis missions came from the realization that jumping from a flight around the moon with Artemis II to a landing mission in Artemis III is too big of a gap, particularly when the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft only launch once every three or more years. NASAs Artemis II SLS. (NASA) (NASA) Launching a rocket is important, and as complex as SLS is, every three years is not a path to success, he said. A component of that is, when you are launching every three years, your skills atrophy, you lose muscle memory. Advertisement Advertisement The administrator pointed to similar hydrogen and helium issues uncovered with both Artemis I an uncrewed test flight that launched around the moon in 2022 and Artemis II as evidence that perhaps the long turnaround times between missions arent allowing teams to pinpoint the root cause of the problems. Two commercial space companies, Elon Musks SpaceX and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, are competing to build moon landers for the Artemis program. In a statement on X, SpaceX said it shares the same goal as NASA of returning to the Moon with a permanent presence as expeditiously and safely as possible. Frequent human exploration flights help establish a sustainable presence for humans in space, the company said in the statement. Blue Origin also weighed in, expressing enthusiastic support for the changes. Lets go! Were all in! the company posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Among the mission changes, NASA also said it will standardize the manufacturing process for the Space Launch System rocket and aim to launch the booster roughly every 10 months, rather than once every three years. Other rocket configurations had been planned for later Artemis missions, but NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said those versions were needlessly complicated. There is too much learning left on the table and too much development and production risk in front of us, Kshatriya said in a statement. Instead, we want to keep testing like we fly and have flown. While the changes represent a major shift for NASA, Isaacman said they should not come as a surprise to the agency's contractors and other stakeholders in Congress and the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement President Trump loves space. President Trump created the Artemis program, he said. This is a priority for the administration. The overhaul comes on the heels of yet another delay for the Artemis II mission. Leaking hydrogen at the base of the Space Launch System rocket, uncovered during a key fueling test, forced NASA to forgo all available launch opportunities this month. A second fueling test last week went smoothly, but engineers subsequently uncovered a blockage in the flow of helium to part of the boosters upper stage, which ruled out launch attempts in March. NASA on Thursday rolled the rocket from the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida back to its hangar for repairs. Officials said if that work proceeds as planned, Artemis II could launch in early April. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - NASA added a new mission to its Artemis moon program involving a spacecraft docking test in Earth's orbit before landing its first astronauts on the moon in over half a century, overhauling the flagship U.S. moon effort amid competitive pressure from China. The new Artemis mission, planned for 2027, is one of many moon program changes the U.S. space agency announced on Friday as China inches closer to its own 2030 crewed moon landing goal, and U.S. safety experts warn more testing is needed before NASA makes its crewed attempt to land on the moon, now planned as Artemis IV in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement NASA also canceled an effort to upgrade its Space Launch System rocket to instead focus on increasing that rocket's production and flight rate, which has been slow relative to newer rockets. The move impacts Boeing's roughly $2 billion contract to build a more powerful SLS upper stage, current plans for which have been canceled. Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are each developing an astronaut lunar lander for the program, dueling to be the first to achieve the moon landing for NASA. Boeing and Northrop Grumman build SLS, which carries the Lockheed Martin-built Orion astronaut capsule that will taxi the astronauts to one of the lunar landers in space before landing on the moon. The new mission allows more practice for NASA before its more ambitious step of landing on the moon, which had long been planned for Artemis III. The agency launched an uncrewed test of SLS and Orion in 2022 and is targeting an April launch of Artemis II, taking four astronauts around the moon and back. The updated Artemis III mission will involve Orion, with astronauts aboard, demonstrating its ability to dock with one or both of the lunar landers in low-Earth orbit. The process is a crucial juncture in the agency's path to the moon. (Reporting by Joey Roulette, editing by Deepa Babington) Lauren Beth Crafton, the ex-wife of three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton, was arrested in Iredell County, North Carolina, around February 20, 2026, on a felony larceny charge. According to public booking records, she was taken into custody under North Carolina General Statute 14-72(a). Authorities set her bond at $2,500, and a booking photo was released as part of the public record. Under North Carolina law, felony larceny charges generally apply when the value of allegedly stolen property exceeds $1,000 or when certain aggravating factors are involved. The offense is classified as a Class H felony, which carries the potential for prison time upon conviction. Officials have not disclosed additional details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft, and no further information about the investigation has been released. The arrest quickly drew attention within motorsports circles, largely due to Craftons past connection to Matt Crafton, a longtime driver for ThorSport Racing and a prominent figure in the NASCAR Truck Series. The couple divorced in 2008. There has been no indication from authorities that the case has any connection to Matt Craftons racing career or current professional activities. Advertisement Advertisement Images of the booking record circulated online and were highlighted by several motorsports media outlets, contributing to wider public awareness of the case. As of now, no court dates or additional filings have been publicly detailed. Lauren Beth Craftons current status reflects release on bond as the legal process moves forward. The investigation remains ongoing, and further updates are expected as the case proceeds through the North Carolina court system. Source Four adults have been arrested in Nassau County after a 1-year-old child ingested methamphetamine. The incident occurred in a Callahan home leading to the child being hospitalized for a potential overdose, according to a Nassau County Sheriffs Office news release. The child drank from a sippy cup that had a bag at the bottom. A resident of the home confirmed to detectives that the bag contained methamphetamine, the news release states. Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Despite the discovery, the parents and other residents of the home did not immediately call 911. They monitored the toddler overnight until the child began vomiting, the news release states. The mother eventually transported the child to a nearby fire station before the toddler was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. A search warrant was executed at the residence where detectives located drug paraphernalia, including several glass pipes and containers with methamphetamine residue, the news release states. Arrested were Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison. They have each been charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison. They have each been charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison. They have each been charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison. They have each been charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison. They have each been charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm. Advertisement Advertisement [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. A new investigative documentary series on HBO Max highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples in Alaska, particularly Alaska Native women, through the case of serial killer Brian Steven Smith. The series examines how the Anchorage Police Department handled the case and considers lingering questions of justice for victims and families. The new three-part series Lost Women of Alaska focuses on the case dubbed the memory card murders. It gets its name because the killer was exposed when graphically violent images and videos were found on his phone and turned into the Anchorage Police Department in 2019. Smith, a South African national who married an Alaskan, was arrested and convicted of killing two Native women, Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk, in 2024 and is currently serving a 226 year sentence. Cassandra Boskofsky, seen in an undated photo. (Photo courtesy of the Boskofsky family) No human being should be taken from the world in that manner, said Heather Kalmakoff, an advocate for Alaska Native welfare, in the film. Advertisement Advertisement Henry and Abouchuk were reported missing in Anchorage, and the film details how they endured complex challenges clergy abuse, violence, addiction, and being displaced from rural communities that resulted in them being unhoused and vulnerable to being victimized by Smith. In the film, family and friends share their grief and describe how the women were beloved family members. Daughters, sisters, mothers, friends every woman taken has her story, says narrator Octavia Spencer, an Academy award-winning actress who is the executive producer of the series. The documentary chronicles how family, friends and advocates have questioned how the Anchorage Police Department handled the case. One year before Smiths arrest, a prior romantic partner, Alicia Youngblood, came forward reporting to police he had confessed to her that he had committed murder. But at the time, police said there was not enough evidence to make an arrest. After another woman, Valerie Casler stole Smiths phone and uncovered the violent images and videos, he was arrested in 2019 and later convicted. During sentencing, advocates found more graphic photos taken by Smith of another woman never publicized by Anchorage police in court documents that they published and immediately identified as a missing woman, Cassandra Boskofsky. Terrie Boskofksy, aunt of Cassandra Boskofsky, is calling for justice for her nieces death and further investigation. (Photo courtesy of Investigation Discovery) When we found out about the pictures, it hurt, said her aunt Terrie Boskofsky, tearfully. Shes our family, and we love and miss her very much. Advertisement Advertisement Boskofsky was a Native woman reported missing in Anchorage in 2019, but family and advocates say there was little effort on behalf of investigators to pursue her case. I feel outraged and angry, said Amber Morrison-Waters, a friend of Boskofsky, Henry and Abouchuk. Weve been looking for Cassandra for years, years, and shes been dead this whole time. Smith has denied killing her, and the case remains open. Her family and advocates held a presumptive death hearing where a jury ruled her death a homicide, but they are still looking for information about her death and want to find her remains. The Anchorage Police Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions about why Smith was not questioned or arrested in 2018, why the photos of Boskofsky were not released, and if any subsequent changes to department policy followed this case. A spokesperson said the department would have more information to share next week. Advertisement Advertisement MMIP advocates were honored for their work on the case and identifying Boskofsky with a First Amendment Award from the Alaska Press Club in 2025. No Humans Involved One of the MMIP advocates recognized for his work was Michael Livingston, a former Anchorage Police Department officer who had a 20 year career with the department, and is now an MMIP advocate. I think one of the biggest contributors to MMIP in Alaska is racism basic, ugly racism that says that Alaska Native people, particularly Alaska Native women, are inferior, he said in the film. In an interview Tuesday, Livingston said every Alaska police officer has sworn an oath to perform the duties of law enforcement without bias. What Alaska law enforcement officers have sworn to do is to treat everybody equally. And so in homicides, we should see parity. We should see homicides across the state treated equally, he said. We dont see that. Advertisement Advertisement Livingston compared the police response to Boskofskys case to a hypothetical case of a police officers daughter going missing. If the Anchorage Police Chief reported his daughter is missing, and if APD found pictures of the daughter of the Anchorage Police Chief on a cell phone of a suspected murderer, they would have immediately reached out to the chief of police and said, Is this your daughter? but APD didnt, he said. They sat on those pictures for over five years. In the film, Livingston describes his experience of an unspoken, secret policy within the Anchorage Police Department when responding to certain deaths or missing persons reports as NHI no human involved. Theres over 1,300 people reported as missing in Alaska theres, theres an inactive list of about 1,200 people. Theres an active list of about 100 people to this day, he said, as of Feb. 24, 2026. Cassandra Boskofsky is not on the active list. Advertisement Advertisement (With) how Cassandra Boskofskys death has been treated by the Anchorage Police Department over the years, I am concerned that NHI continues to exist and be practiced, he added. Even though it may not be mentioned and even though its existence may be denied. Im concerned that it continues to be practiced by Alaska law enforcement in Alaska. Advocates seek criminal penalties for failing to report violent crimes The documentary also chronicles how advocates have raised concern around other individuals who Smith may have confided in about his predatory behavior and killings, and failed to report. Amber Batts, a sex worker advocate with Communities United for Safety and Protection found the photos of Boskofsky in the sentencing documents. She was part of the group honored with the First Amendment Award by the Alaska Press Club in 2025. (Photo by Investigation Discovery) Text and Facebook messages revealed during Smiths trial show an exchange between him and a friend, Ian Calhoun, suggesting he may have known about Smiths actions. Advocates have held protests and circulated a petition, which has gathered over 6,400 signatures urging prosecution of Calhoun. Alaska MMIP activists have also pushed new legislation, House Bill 170, dubbed Kathleens Law to increase criminal penalties for failing to report a violent crime. The bill was introduced last year by Rep. Robyn Frier, D-Utgiavik, and must be reintroduced this year to be considered by lawmakers. Raising awareness around Alaskas persistent MMIP crisis Filmmaker Christina Douglas, who is another executive producer of the film, said by email Monday that the goal of the series is to raise awareness about Alaskas MMIP crisis. Advertisement Advertisement We hope it helps foster greater awareness and understanding of the MMIW crisis, and encourages audiences to see this case not as an isolated incident, but as part of a much larger conversation and to reflect on their own assumptions or biases, she wrote. Douglas said the goal was to highlight the women victims and those who reported, advocated and raised the alarm and shift away from what she called a hyperfocus on the perpetrator. We also wanted to highlight the civilian women who risked it all in their fight for justice and ultimately became the unlikely heroes in this story, Douglas wrote. This documentary is, in many ways, a story of women fighting for women which feels like a meaningful takeaway in the darkness of this crisis. Marcella Boskofsky-Grounds, cousin of Cassandra Boskofsky is calling for justice for her death and further investigation. She was one of the MMIP advocates honored with the First Amendment Award from the Alaska Press Club in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Investigation Discovery) Correction: A caption in this story has been corrected to identify Amber Batts as a sex worker advocate rather than an MMIP advocate. This story has been updated to clarify the docuseries is streaming on HBO Max. The story also previously misstated the time of Michael Livingstons career in the Anchorage Police Department. He was with APD for 20 years, and served 8 years in other police departments for a total of 28 years in Alaska law enforcement. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A nearly blind mans death in Buffalo, New York, was preventable, according to the citys mayor, who said he died after federal immigration authorities released him from custody and left him alone in the city. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents dropped Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old refugee from Burma, off at a Tim Hortons shop about 5 miles away from his home in Buffalo on February 19, following his release from an Erie County jail, city officials confirmed to the Investigative Post. His body was found outside in the city days later on Tuesday, February 24, according to officials, the Investigative Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Shah Alam had been considered missing by the Buffalo Police Department, which had been searching for him after his release from custody, the department said in a Facebook post. In a statement on Wednesday, February 25, Buffalo Mayor Sean M. Ryan said that Shah Alams death is deeply disturbing. A vulnerable man nearly blind and unable to speak English was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane, Ryan said, adding that the agency must answer for how and why this happened. 19-Year-Old Son Who Was the Only Survivor of His Utah Familys Murder-Suicide Dies Unexpectedly Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Shah Alam was detained in the Erie County Holding Center on February 16, 2025, after Buffalo police had arrested him, Erie County Sheriffs Office public information officer Christopher Horvatits confirmed to Us Weekly via email. Shah Alam had been charged with felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief in connection with his arrest on February 15, 2025, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said, according to The Buffalo News. District Attorney Michael J. Keane told the newspaper that he "exercised his prosecutorial discretion to offer Shah Alam a reduced plea in the interest of justice, resulting in Shah Alam pleading guilty on February 9 to two misdemeanor offenses. Shah Alam posted bond on February 19 and was released from the Erie County Jail, according to the sheriffs offices public information officer. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Border Patrol arrived at the Holding Center prior to the finalization of Mr. Shah Alam's release from Erie County Sheriff's Office custody, Horvatits said. In a statement shared with Us on Thursday, February 26, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said that on February 19, the Erie County Sheriffs Office alerted Border Patrol about a non-citizen in their custody. After Border Patrol agents confirmed that Shah Alam came to the U.S. as a refugee in December 2024 and that he was not eligible to be removed from the U.S. the spokesperson said the agents offered Mr. Alam a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station. He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement The Erie County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and found that Shah Alam died of health-related effects, the department told The Buffalo News. Montana Womans Body Was Found in Basement Freezer. A Man Is Now Charged With Her Murder Shah Alam was arrested on February 15, 2025, while he was walking in his neighborhood and using a curtain rod as a walking stick, his attorney Benjamin Macaluso, of the Legal Aid Bureau, told the Investigative Post. As a result of his vision impairment and not being able to speak English, he walked onto a womans front porch and she called police, according to Macaluso, the nonprofit news outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement After Shah Alam allegedly would not follow officers orders to let go of his curtain rod, Macaluso said he was forcibly arrested, according to the news outlet. Shah Alams son, Mohamad Faisal, told Reuters that after Shah Alam was released from law enforcement custody, Nobody told me or my family or attorney where my dad was dropped off. While speaking with Reuters, Faisal said his father wanted to be united with the rest of (his) family. The body of Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found four miles away from the doughnut shop where he was left behind by immigration agents days prior. Buffalo, New York, police are investigating the death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, formerly Burma, who was found dead five days after immigration agents left him at a Tim Hortons shop. Nurul Amin Shah Alam was 56 years old. The Erie County Medical Examiner has determined that Shah Alams death was health-related, per CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Shah Alam was a Rohingya refugee who arrived in Buffalo in 2024, according to Investigative Post. The UN began hearings on the Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar in January of this year. The country has been accused of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by Gambia. The US has declared the countrys military crackdown on the Rohingya people a genocide. The year after he came to Buffalo, Shah Alam was arrested by police and had an immigration detainer placed on him. On Feb. 15, 2025, he went for a walk using a curtain rod as a walking stick and stepped into a neighboring private property. Police beat and detained him despite his inability to communicate in Englishhe didnt heed their instructions to drop his rodand his nearly blind status. He spent a year at the Erie County Holding Center on weapons, assault, and trespassing charges. His family opted not to post bail out of fear of an ICE detention. On Feb. 19 of this year, after taking a plea deal in the case earlier in the month, bail was posted for Shah Alam, and because of the immigration detainer placed on him, he was released into Border Patrol custody. Border Patrol agents eventually realized that the immigration detainer Shah Alam was placed under was inaccurate due to his refugee status. According to Investigative Post, a Border Patrol spokesperson said that Shah Alam was then offered a courtesy ride by immigration agents to the Tim Hortons after it was determined that he should not be in their custody, and that the agents resolved that the location was safe, warm, and close to his last recorded address. Days later, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, he was found dead about four miles away from the coffee shop at 8:30 p.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance, a spokesperson for the agency said. The family of Shah Alam has said they were not informed of his release from jail. Mayor Sean Ryan is calling Shah Alams death preventable, as well as disturbing and a dereliction of duty in his statement reacting to the news. A vulnerable man nearly blind and unable to speak English was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must answer for how and why this happened. More must-reads: By Emily Green and Elida Moreno PANAMA CITY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Panamanian authorities searched the local ports unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, the subsidiary said on Friday, escalating a rift over control of two key ports near the globally strategic Panama Canal. The search, carried out on Thursday, comes amid a growing U.S.-China rivalry over global trade routes that has deepened tensions between Washington and Beijing. It has also embroiled CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company, which recently lost its contracts to operate two terminals on either end of the canal, which carries about 5% of global maritime trade. In a statement on Friday, PPC said the Panamanian state "acted in disregard for the rule of law, as shown by the latest steps to invade and take the property of PPC carried out yesterday by the State," adding the company and investors reserve all applicable rights related to the issue. Panamanian government officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment. PPC ALLEGES ILLEGAL TAKEOVER Panama's government last month annulled the deals that gave the company control of the two canal ports following a court ruling deeming the contracts unconstitutional. On Friday, PPC said it has repeatedly objected to what it calls the illegal takeover of its ports and the seizure of company property, including confidential and legally protected information. According to the company, authorities ignored requests for safeguards to protect sensitive corporate data and on Thursday entered a private storage site without notice and removed materials tied to ongoing legal cases. The company said this demonstrated "that the State has undermined due process as part of its takeover. "The Republic of Panama has demonstrated over the past year, and particularly during the past week, that foreign investors cannot rely on the legal or contractual framework of the Panamanian State," PPC said. Reuters reported the search on Thursday after a person familiar with the operation confirmed it. The source declined to be identified because the information had not been made public. The source said the raid on PPC did not relate to the government decision to annul the deals that gave the company control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports. "This is an independent investigation carried out exclusively by the Public Ministry of Panama in the exercise of its legal powers," the Panamanian government said in a statement on Thursday, without naming which company was targeted. Before the raid, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said he did not know what Beijing might do after CK Hutchison lost the ports. FRANKFORT The Kentucky House on Thursday approved a two-year state spending plan described by budget chair Jason Petrie as restrained and fulfilling needs, not wants. House Bill 500, approved on a mostly party line vote, allocates more than $30 billion in General Fund revenues and adds $617 million to the $3.7 billion already filling the Budget Reserve Trust Fund or rainy day fund. The minority of House Democrats and other critics said the budget underfunds education and Medicaid and should do more for Kentuckians struggling with the cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement This austerity is not a necessity. Its a choice, said Jason Bailey, the executive director of the progressive think tank Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. House budget committee chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, presents House Bill 500 Thursday. (LRC Public Information) Petrie, the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee chair, told his legislative colleagues that his House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, was a good first draft. The bill will now go to the Senate before a final version is hammered out in House-Senate negotiations. Petrie said the process of having stakeholders come before budget review subcommittees in past weeks has resulted in greater transparency. We did not feed the appetite of $10 billion of additional funding from the executive branchs requests, Petrie said, saying the House budget holds spending growth to a little under 2%. The House approved the budget by a vote of 81-18, with all Democrats opposing the bill except for Reps. Ashley Tackett-Laferty, D-Martin and Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville. Advertisement Advertisement The state budget funds a broad scope of government services and programs including schools, prisons, Medicaid health care benefits, and state cabinets regulating the environment and promoting economic development. The House budget targets specific categories of spending by the Beshear administration, including travel, referencing findings from Republican State Auditor Allison Ball. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear dismissed those spending reductions as unfounded and politically motivated. The supermajority of Republicans in the House praised the budget bill, saying it would ensure public safety and strengthen workforce training opportunities. Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, said the budget provides historic investments in education that must be matched with measurable academic progress. Advertisement Advertisement However, the House plan increases per-pupil funding through the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) formula, by less than 1% the first year of the biennium and 3.6% the second year, while giving schools no increase in transportation funding. Total funding for postsecondary education is cut by 16% over the biennium compared to the last budgets enacted appropriations, according to an analysis by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. The budget provides $190 million in bond funding for universities building maintenance and provides funding for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, though KCTCS funding would decrease by about 5% in the next fiscal year. A coalition of advocates argued the legislature has chronically underfunded education, among other state services. Bailey, the executive director of the progressive think tank, which is a part of that coalition, in a statement said the Republicans budget continues to underfund public education, Medicaid benefits and senior services, arguing lawmakers are holding down spending to meet fiscal triggers to be able to again lower the states income tax rate in the future. Advertisement Advertisement As the budget continues to move through the legislative process, lawmakers should continue listening to the people who advocated for, and won, improvements to HB 500, Bailey said. House Democrats unsuccessfully tried to add provisions to the budget bill, including a direct raise for school employees, expanding preschool access, adding $123 million for housing and a cost-of-living adjustment for government retirees. HB 500 was brought to the House floor less than 24 hours after clearing the committee on Wednesday. House rules require floor amendments be filed 24 hours before a bill is considered on the House floor, meaning it was impossible for Democrats to meet the 24-hour requirement for floor amendments. Democrats needed a majority of the chamber to vote to suspend the House rules to consider the floor amendments, which Republicans declined to do. Republicans turned away Democratic floor amendments in a similar fashion during the last budget cycle in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, while praising the legislatures nonpartisan staff and Petries work on the budget, criticized the process that excluded consideration of their floor amendments. Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, asked lawmakers what it would mean to allow Democrats to have a meaningful seat at the table. We represent constituents that you dont, and our constituents are no less important than yours, Burke said. Were doing a really hard job up here, because you might get a seat at the table when we dont, and thats just wrong. And as a result, this budget is just wrong. It fails to consider many of the things that Kentuckians across the state need and deserve. Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, the vice chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, pushed back, saying that he hasnt denied any meeting with a legislator among the over 3000 meetings hes had on the budget. Advertisement Advertisement We all want to see more taxpayer dollars spent in appropriate manners. We want to see more education funding. We want to see more money for our universities. We want to see more Medicaid funds, Bray said. But the fact of the matter is we have to live within our means. Bray in heated remarks referenced concerns shared by Ball, the state auditor, in a legislative committee over the executive branchs international travel among other expenditures. He also referenced a key priority of Beshear to provide universal preschool throughout the state, saying it sounds like a great idea. But he said hes still waiting for answers from the Beshear administration on the staffing and building requirements for the expansion, pointing to subpoenas that Republicans issued this week for information they say they need to pass the budget. A Beshear spokesperson had called the subpoenas a stunt with no merit. House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson said the House Republican budget falls short of helping low-income Kentuckians. (LRC Public Information) How about a little cooperation, or a little collaboration? Because thats what we need, Bray said. When we write a budget, theres a lot of stuff wed love to have in there, but there we can only fund so much. Advertisement Advertisement A Beshear spokesperson did not immediately provide a response on Brays criticism of the administration. House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, following Brays remarks said Democrats had submitted 92 budget requests and had been in conversations with a lot of people including the chairman of the budget request. The fact remains that health care and eating are not wants, they are needs. And for this body to suggest that only some people need it and others dont, is a problem, Stevenson said. We have chosen over and over and over and over and over and over again to deny the poor people, the working people of this state, what they need just to live as human beings. Theyre not asking for a trip to Paris. They just want to feed their children, Stevenson said. Correction: This story previously stated Rep. Ashley Tackett-Laferty, D-Martin was the only Democrat to vote for HB 500. Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, also voted for HB 500. When a victim of domestic abuse or sexual assault walks into a police station equipped with Stephanies Sanctuaries, the experience is intended to offer support and comfort. Its a soft approach to a very hard and ugly topic, said Maureen Spataro, project manager for Stephanies Sanctuaries. Domestic violence remains a persistent problem in New Jersey and nationwide, where incidents are reported every few minutes and millions of people each year experience rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner. Nearly onethird of adults experience such abuse in their lifetime including about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men yet only about half of cases are reported to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Children are present in nearly onethird of reported incidents, and advocates say limited shelter space and resources often leave victims without immediate help. As a result, the environment in which victims first seek assistance often a police station can be critically important. Stephanies Sanctuaries are dedicated rooms inside police departments across the state, renovated specifically for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The rooms we renovate are done from top to bottom, Spataro said. New paint, new flooring if needed, furniture, refrigeration, snacks, refreshments and clothing are provided. As supplies run low, the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation replenishes them to ensure each room remains stocked and maintained, Spataro said. She is herself a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Advertisement Advertisement Each sanctuary is fully funded by the foundation, which was established in memory of Stephanie Nicole Parze, who was killed in 2019. Parze, 25, was allegedly murdered by an ex-boyfriend after leaving a domestic violence relationship. Authorities said the former boyfriend broke into Parzes Freehold Township home and killed her. He later died by suicide while Parze was still considered missing. Her body was found three months later. A tribute to Stephanie Parze still stands outside her family's home Tuesday, October 27, 2020. It has been nearly a year since Stephanie disappeared and was later found dead. The idea for Stephanies Sanctuaries grew out of the foundations desire to create a sustainable and meaningful way to support victims. As a nonprofit organization, the foundation sought an initiative that would consistently put donations to use. They wanted to know where the money was going to go every year, no matter what, Spataro said. Advertisement Advertisement She recalled reading a brief article about a police officer in the Midwest who created a comfortable space for victims by repurposing furniture in her precinct. I thought it was a great idea, Spataro said. I told Ed Parze, Stephanies father and the founder of the foundation, and he said, Thats it. Thats what were going to do. Parze then asked Spataro what survivors would need most in those moments. He knew Im a survivor of sexual and domestic violence starting at the age of 6, she said. He asked, If you had to go into a police station after what happened to you, what would you need? I said the first thing you want is to change your clothes. You want to feel clean and human again. Advertisement Advertisement More: Women Aware always there for domestic violence victim-survivors From that conversation, Stephanies Sanctuaries was born. The foundation reached out to police departments, assessed available space and began renovations. If they have an extra room, well paint it, put down new flooring if needed and bring in comfortable seating, Spataro said. There are coloring books for children, snacks and refreshments. We want people to feel cared for and understood. Since 2025, the foundation has established sanctuaries in Freehold, Sayreville, Matawan, Manalapan and Woodbridge. Sayreville is the largest project to date. Additional locations planned for 2026 include Old Bridge, West Orange, South Orange, Newark and Ewing. Advertisement Advertisement Were actively seeking more police departments, said Spataro, who lives in Sayreville. Created by the Stephanie Nicole Parze Fundation, Stephanie's Sanctuaries are rooms in police departments throughout the state that are renovated and specifically for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. This room is located in the Sayreville Police Department. The foundation works with a paid contractor and partners with small businesses for donations. It provides paint, supplies and ongoing replenishment for each room. Sayreville ran out of clothing all at once after a large group came through, Spataro said. They contacted me, and I told them not to worry. We were there within two days. Volunteers are assigned to each sanctuary. Spataro personally oversees the Sayreville room with another volunteer, checking monthly for expired snacks and needed supplies. Its been an undertaking, but a wonderful one, she said. This stays with you as a survivor. Its not something people like to talk about, so I told Ed Id be the face of this. Ill listen. Ill encourage. If willingness is your superpower, you can get through it. Advertisement Advertisement Through her work, Spataro said she has learned how deeply people want to help. They just dont always know how, she said. Spataro said she was sexually abused from ages 6 to 15 and never told anyone at the time. When children dont get the right guidance, they often end up in abusive relationships later, she said. They think its something about them. To be able to tell someone, especially when theyre young, Its not you, can change everything. Her experience also included a nearfatal abusive relationship as an adult, years of therapy and writing a book, Press Pause: The Breakdown That Rebuilt My Life and Changed a Family Legacy. Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to take what I learned and share it, she said. Spataro knew the Parze family before Stephanies death. Her daughter and Parze attended the same high school in Freehold and played softball together. When Stephanie disappeared, it shook everyone, Spataro said. You think it cant happen here and then it does. After her book was published, Spataro reached out to Ed Parze and offered to help. He called me within 10 minutes, she said. He said, Youre exactly who Im looking for. That collaboration led to the foundations Wide Awake assembly program for high schools and colleges, with a middle school version recently launched. Advertisement Advertisement Its about taking a painful topic people want to avoid and saying its OK to talk about it, Spataro said. If kids understand the red flags early, theyll have the confidence to walk away. Spataro said the goal is to place Stephanies Sanctuaries in every New Jersey police department and eventually expand into New York and potentially hospitals. Many victims go straight to the hospital, she said. If we can meet them there, help them change clothes and feel human again, that matters. The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation is entering 2026 with momentum. Were going to keep going, Spataro said. This keeps Stephanies story alive. She was a young woman with dreams a family, a career, a future. Education cant prevent everything, but it can save lives. Advertisement Advertisement email: cmakin@gannettnj.com Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ police stations adding 'sanctuaries' for domestic violence victims Amid concerns of federal election interference in the upcoming midterms, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), along with state and county Democratic elections officials, offered assurances Friday about their efforts to protect New Mexico voters. At a roundtable event at the Santa Fe Community College, Heinrich and New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver reviewed examples of what they characterized as threats of federal interference, including President Donald Trumps push to nationalize elections; federal Republican legislation that would require voter ID in upcoming elections; and lawsuits against New Mexico and other states for voter rolls. I think they are working very hard to discourage turnout in the 2026 elections, Heinrich said of Republicans at the federal level. They have seen their poll numbers fall off a cliff in recent months, and theyre looking for every single place where they can get their thumb on the scale. And in New Mexico, were not going to have it. Advertisement Advertisement Heinrich said the state Legislatures recent passage of Senate Bill 264 serves as a first line of defense against federal interference, as it bars troops from being deployed to polling places and creates a fourth-degree felony for interference with voting. Making it a felony to post federal agents at polling locations in an effort to intimidate people, thats the kind of legislation we can use to protect our polls, he said. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams Communication Director Michael Coleman said Friday the office has not yet fully reviewed the bill and the governor therefore has not made a decision about whether she will sign it before the March 11 deadline Oriana Sandoval, the CEO for the Albuquerque-based nonprofit Center for Civic Policy, also sat on the panel Friday, and said her organization is concerned about federal threats to end mail voting. Doing so, she said, would have an outsized impact on older and more rural voters across the state. Advertisement Advertisement We need to maintain and keep elections and access to the ballot box as easy as possible for all of us, considering the challenges we have here in New Mexico, Sandoval said. Democratic county clerks for Dona Ana and Guadalupe counties noted that potential federal cuts for funding to upgrade their machines and enhance cyber security could hurt efforts from foreign actors or actually compromise election security. My county is smaller with only 4,200 voters, and we wont be able to manage an election without the assistance of the state funding alongside the use of federal assistance, said Guadalupe County Clerk Robert Bubba Serrano III. House Republicans proposed eliminating election funding from the federal budget last year, but it was maintained in the senate version. Advertisement Advertisement Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin also pushed back against debunked federal claims that undocumented immigrants are illegally voting in U.S. elections, saying that laws requiring voter ID attempt to create a solution for a problem that doesnt exist. The narrative has to stop, she said. Lopez Askin is running in the Democratic primary election to replace Toulouse Oliver, who is termed-out of the position. She faces Sonya Smith, a former veterans department secretary, and Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark in the June 2 primary. Additionally, Toulouse Oliver said she believes the state is in a position to defeat a pending court challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice, which is suing New Mexico for data beyond public voter rolls; including social security numbers, drivers license numbers and full dates of birth, which Toulouse Oliver said is a violation of privacy. Federal judges in Oregon And Michigan have rejected similar lawsuits from the DOJ against secretaries of state there. Advertisement Advertisement Were fighting potential federal interference that may come our way, Toulouse Oliver said. States run elections, the federal government doesnt, and so its really important for folks to know that were going to keep pushing back. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (WFRV) Authorities in Wisconsin say an investigation is underway after a non-verbal high school student was allegedly fed dog food by a staff member. According to a release from the Madison Police Department, the parents of the non-verbal student reported the incident to officers around 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, but the alleged incident occurred on February 13. Sheriffs Office: 2 Wisconsin residents dead, one hurt following crash in Illinois Advertisement Advertisement Detectives with the Special Victims Unit are said to be leading the investigation, and the Madison Police Department is working with administration from the Madison Metropolitan School District. The Madison Metropolitan School District is also said to have opened its own internal review into the incident. No other information is available at this time. 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. A 16-year-old boy in North Carolina was arrested after he allegedly killed a child and injured another minor by attacking them with a hammer and knife. Deputies in Wake County were called to a home near Fuquay-Varina on Monday, February 23, around 5:20 p.m. Upon their arrival, officials found a 12-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy who were seriously hurt after being attacked. Jackson Borrello was found nearby and taken into custody in connection to the crime, Us Weekly can confirm. Police confirmed that Borrello knew the two victims, while ABC 11 reported that the victims were his siblings. Advertisement Advertisement Both the boy and girl were transported to a hospital for treatment, where the girl later died from her injuries. The boy is currently still in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. 15-Year-Old Boy Charged With the Murder of 9-Year-Old Girl Aria Thorpe Weeks After Her Birthday Deputies said that more details will be released about the girls death once the Chief Medical Examiner finishes their report. Borrello has been accused of attacking the children with a knife and hammer, according to arrest records viewed by WBTV. The suspect was charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury one day after the attack on Tuesday, February 24. He is being charged as an adult for the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Borrello was initially denied bond after his arraignment hearing took place at a hospital on Wednesday, February 25. It is not currently clear if he has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman was asked why the arraignment did not take place at the Wake County Courthouse, though said she was not at liberty to discuss the reasoning publicly. "There are times, though, when somebody has to be hospitalized or for other reasons, an individual cannot actually come to court for first appearance, Freeman said, per ABC 11. In those situations, the law requires that we provide a first appearance and that will be done at a location with a judge and attorneys present." Advertisement Advertisement Freeman added that the case was concerning for all involved, as well as members of the Wake County community. "Like so many communities throughout the country, we have seen a real significant increase in violent crimes serious violent crime among our juvenile population," Freeman said. "This is something that is going to require just a really aggressive approach to handling. So many times in these situations, there are other underlying complicating issues, mental health issues, different things that might be going on." 15-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot by Teen Allegedly Waving Gun in Car on New Years Day in Texas Sheriff Willie Rowe also issued a statement about the attack. On behalf of the entire Wake County Sheriffs Office, we offer our deepest condolences to the victims loved ones, and we continue to keep them in our prayers, Rowe said in a statement obtained by Us. There are no words to fully express the heartbreaking impact of this tragedy. We are grateful to our community members for their patience and support as we continue to investigate. Advertisement Advertisement Fuquay-Varina Middle School where the 12-year-old was a student reflected on the tragic situation in a message that went out to staff and families. "Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends . . . We will continue to have staff available at the school to assist our students in coping with this loss," the principal said, per ABC 11. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education enacted a tenure policy requiring a masters or other advanced degree for professors to receive tenure. The new policy passed the board in a unanimous vote Thursday and will not affect current tenured positions in the North Dakota University System, applying only to future tenure appointments. From my perspective, I think we have tackled a mountain when it comes to tenure, said Kevin Black, chair of the State Board of Higher Education. I think we have addressed this in a way that assures accountability is part of every aspect of tenure moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Tenure in the North Dakota University System is generally awarded after six years of service for full-time faculty, in part to ensure academic freedom, providing some protection for teaching, writing or researching on controversial topics. Tenured faculty can still be removed for cause. The new policy would not prevent an institution from hiring a faculty member on a tenure-track position that does not have a masters degree or higher. Those faculty would need to meet the new requirements to become a tenured faculty member, said Chris Pieske, chief compliance officer for the University System Tenured faculty must complete a committee review within the first three years of receiving a tenured position and every five years thereafter, according to the policy. Lisa Johnson, deputy commissioner for academic and student affairs for the University System, said the new policy would affect some faculty in the states two-year colleges that may not have advanced degrees, such as welding, carpentry and culinary arts programs, among others. Advertisement Advertisement The policy also states colleges and universities may use special job titles for faculty members with special appointments that recognize faculty members longevity, work experience and/or expertise in their field of study. In the system today, at none of our community colleges are they utilizing the title of a professor of practice, Johnson said. They might implement something that sort of gives them sort of this non-tenure track designation. She said the titled position could come with multi-year contracts and avoid the post-tenure review process. Moving forward, the trades and the two-years are going to continue to be an area of movement for higher education, said Danita Bye, a member of the board, during the meeting. I appreciate the inclusion that institutions may use job titles for faculty with special appointments. Advertisement Advertisement The board also waived the second reading of the new policy and enacted it immediately instead of pushing the final vote to a future meeting. Johnson said this was done because the North Dakota Council of College Faculties, made up of faculty members across the 11 university system campuses, signed off on the new policy before it was brought to the full board. Theyve been meeting since this fall on who should be eligible for tenure, Johnson said. The definition largely came from them. Lisa Montplaisir, faculty advisor for the board and member of the Council of College Faculty, said the council vote to advance the tenure policy was not unanimous. She said believes the issue will continue to be revisited. Tenure isnt about job security, Montplaisir said. Its about the academic freedom for the faculty who are in those roles to be able to address what are sometimes referred to as controversial topics. Advertisement Advertisement She emphasized that tenured faculty are let go in North Dakota and across the country for cause and other reasons. The new tenure policy will meet a July 1 deadline imposed by the North Dakota Legislature with the passage of House Bill 1437 last year that required the University System to create a uniform tenure policy for all of its institutions. Any of the North Dakota University Systems 11 institutions may also set additional requirements for tenured positions, according to the policy. Pieske said the new tenure policy could affect other policies, such as membership to the standing Committee on Faculty Rights, which only allows tenured faculty to become members, and those changes would be made as needed. 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 West Northamptonshire Council has approved a 4.95% rise in council tax from April. Its 2026-27 budget, the first since Reform UK took control last May, was voted through at a full council meeting on Thursday. It will see the average charge for a band D property rise by 92.42 a year to 1,959.40. Cabinet member for finance John Slope said: "It is balanced, it is legal, and it protects the most vulnerable residents." But opposition councillors criticised the rise and warned people would question pre-election pledges. Advertisement Advertisement The issue of increases to parking charges in Northampton was also raised but remained in the budget. Conservative group leader Daniel Lister said: "[Reform UK's] first budget raised council tax to the maximum the law permits. "They then reduced it by 0.04% - that fools nobody. We would rather be straight with residents about what it costs to fund highways, support communities and protect the most vulnerable." Council leader Mark Arnull previously warned there was a "huge scale of financial pressures". Proposed amendments from Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups were all voted down. Advertisement Advertisement The budget passed by 38 votes to 31, with one abstention. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links This article was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat. From where the leaders of the Senate Education Committee sit, one thing seems clear: The Hawaii public school system is broken. Talk to the people that are on the ground, Sen. Samantha DeCorte told heads of the Board of Education and education department during a heated January briefing. According to my community, you guys are failing. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers have become increasingly critical of the DOE since Sen. Donna Kim took charge of the education committee this session. At the January hearing, lawmakers berated the school leaders for millions in school construction funding that remained unspent. In recent months, senators have grilled the department on poor student literacy rates and failure to properly report millions in travel expenses. The rising animosity between lawmakers and school leaders has drawn criticism from union leaders and taken some political observers by surprise. But lawmakers belief that schools arent meeting students needs seems to be striking a chord with their communities. An Instagram post by DeCorte asking Is DOE failing? sparked thousands of comments and gained more than 20,000 likes from frustrated teachers, parents and the general public. Now, lawmakers are proposing a dramatic but unlikely reform of the education department. Senate Bill 3334 aims to reshape the DOE by overhauling its current leadership structure and giving more power to school-level committees responsible for soliciting feedback from families and community members. The bill drew opposition from roughly 200 principals, education department administrators and union leaders earlier this month, who argued that cutting top superintendent positions would reduce support for schools and destabilize the department. Debate on the bill was punctuated by yells and boos outside the hearing room, which Kim later blamed on principals and described as mob-like tactics. Advertisement Advertisement The head of the Hawaii Government Employees Association the union representing 1,200 school workers, including principals has called the bill a political ploy allowing lawmakers to settle grudges with principals in their districts and push out school leaders with whom they disagree. Kim, meanwhile, acknowledges the bill may not pass in its current form. But she says the proposal comes from high community demand for educational reform and frustrations with DOEs leadership system, which has grown in size even as student enrollment shrinks. State leaders have debated the merits of a statewide school district for generations and have repeatedly argued department leadership is too centralized. But its been more than two decades since the last major shakeup to the state system, and some families and community members say change is long overdue. Theres real problems going on, Kim said. Until we face it straight on, were not going to be able to deal with it. Looking Back More than 20 years ago, lawmakers and school leaders were grappling with the same questions of how to reform public schools amid arguments that DOE leadership was too Oahu-centric and failing to serve its students and families. Advertisement Advertisement In her 2003 state of the state address, former Gov. Linda Lingle argued that the education department was losing families to private schools and called for the statewide school system to be replaced by multiple districts and school boards that would give communities more power at their local campuses. The public knows and we should not be afraid to say it, Lingle said, Hawaiis public school system is broken. While the state never went as far as creating multiple school districts, lawmakers passed a comprehensive bill the following year that promised to reform public education. Act 51 changed school funding models, gave principals more training and authority over their budgets and created community councils that gave families and staff a direct say in how local campuses were run. It took more than a year to write and finalize the bill, since lawmakers wanted the input and support of school staff, families and unions, said Roy Takumi, who sponsored Act 51 as former chair of the House Education Committee. While the bill gave schools more control over their budgets, lawmakers wanted to make sure principals and community members had enough support to successfully take on these new responsibilities, said Takumi, who currently serves as chair of the Board of Education. Former House Education Chair Roy Takumi said community input and support from teachers and principals was key to Act 51s passage in 2004. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017) Kim said her bill is strengthening some of the reforms introduced by Act 51 by giving more power to schools and making top administrators accountable to their communities. Advertisement Advertisement The bill would eliminate the departments complex area superintendents, who are in charge of overseeing schools and principals in 15 regions, and replace these positions with district-level leaders. The proposal would strengthen accountability for school leaders, Kim said, since district superintendents could report directly to Superintendent Keith Hayashi. The bill would also give more power to school community councils, which are supposed to give teachers, parents and community members a direct say in their schools operations. While the councils currently provide some input in the evaluation and hiring of principals, the bill would make their feedback account for half of the principal selection process. This is not just overnight, Kim said, adding that teachers and parents have repeatedly called her with concerns about their local schools and frustrations with top leadership. Those are the things that Im trying to be responsive of. Possible Disruptions But opponents of the bill say there are key differences between Kims bill and Act 51. The principals union and DOE administrators said they were not meaningfully consulted before Kim introduced the bill, and its unclear if the proposal will achieve its goal of empowering schools with a lack of buy-in from principals. Advertisement Advertisement At Mauka Lani Elementary School in Makakilo, Principal Neil Battad said complex area superintendents serve as principals first point of contact during emergencies and manage issues that affect multiple schools, such as redistricting plans and enrollment projections affected by new housing developments. Cutting these superintendent positions may require principals to take on more responsibilities than usual, he said, reducing their capacity to support their schools. Pauoa Elementary Principal Timothy Hosoda was one of several school administrators who testified against Senate Bill 3334 earlier this month. More principals lined the hallway of the Capitol to watch that hearing outside the packed conference room. (Screenshot/Hawaii State Legislature) The current version of the bill proposes replacing the 15 complex area superintendents with district and deputy district superintendents. While the bill doesnt specify how many districts would replace the current complex area structure, in the early 2000s, DOE had seven districts managed by 14 superintendents. If the bill returned the department to its original leadership structure, there would be few changes in the total number of top officials, but each superintendent would be in charge of more schools, Hayashi said. For example, the Leeward District superintendent could be in charge of more than 40 schools stretching from Kapolei to Waipahu to Waianae, he said, even though these campuses have unique needs and serve distinct communities. Advertisement Advertisement The current leadership structure and reforms established under Act 51 has worked for Hawaii schools, Hayashi said, pointing to the states improved ranking on national math and reading assessments over the past 20 years. While there is always room for improvement, he said, major leadership disruptions could impede schools progress. There have been gains over time, and I fully expect those gains will continue under the system that we have, Hayashi said. Superintendent Keith Hayashi said Act 51 created positive change in the department, including codifying the current leadership structure with complex area superintendents. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023) Following the strong opposition earlier this month, Kim said shes open to revising the bill to place a cap on the total number of school superintendents, rather than eliminating the 15 complex area leaders completely. While shes still not sure what the cap should be, Kim said, she doesnt want the education departments leadership ranks to continue to grow without explanation. Last spring, the department created a new assistant superintendent position to oversee school meals, transportation and campus security. In 2022, the department added two deputy superintendents to its leadership ranks, despite strong public pushback and concerns about the lack of transparency in the hiring process. Advertisement Advertisement The bill is scheduled for decision making in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. Already, the bill received more than 300 pages of testimony in advance of the hearing, with many principals writing in to oppose the measure. Support For Change In Kalihi, community member and grandparent Lynette Kumalae said she feels a growing sense of frustration from her children and neighbors who send their kids to public schools across the state. Families dont feel supported or seen by school administrators, she said, when long-standing problems like bullying in schools go unaddressed. The bills proposal to give school community councils a greater say in the hiring of principals is a good start, she said. Currently, councils may have limited input on campuses academic or financial plans, and requiring them to play a larger role in the principal selection process ensures that schools are hiring leaders who will have strong relationships with families, said Kumalae, who serves on Kaewai Elementary Schools council. But some educational advocates say shifting more responsibility to school community councils isnt the answer, although they support greater investments in community outreach and family support. Deborah Bond-Upson said families typically support their local schools and teachers, but frustrations emerge when theres poor communication between parents and the DOE. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025) Often, families are not aware of school community councils or how to participate, said Deborah Bond-Upson, president of Parents for Public Schools Hawaii. Some schools have no webpages with current council information, she said, while others havent posted their meeting minutes for years. Advertisement Advertisement Families have legitimate frustrations with the school system and the challenges of communicating with administrators and teachers, Bond-Upson said. But a bill to rework the education departments top leadership structure isnt addressing key needs in areas like mental health or support for students with disabilities, she said. It just seems like a real misuse of energy and funds, she said. The principals union has also opposed the bills proposal to give school community councils a greater say in the hiring process, arguing the change would need to go through negotiations with the union. With strong opposition mounting against the bill, it seems unlikely the proposal will pass, said Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii Manoa. But it could be a politically popular move for Kim to push for more community involvement in schools, he said, noting that the senator is up for re-election later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Even still, he said, it was unusual for Kim to rebuke principals on the Senate floor last week after they booed and cheered during the bills hearing. Principals are well-known community figures, he said, and publicly criticizing them sparked the ire of their union. What anyone is trying to accomplish with this is a little uncertain, Moore said. Often, bills dont pass on their first try, Kim said, but she hopes her proposal will spark more discussions and reflection from the DOE moving forward. Lawmakers will decide whether to advance Senate Bill 3334 during the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025) This is sort of to light a fire under them, to get them to recognize there are issues, there are concerns, she said. Parent Jessica Wright said she believes the department needs major reform to better support teachers and students. Before she pulled her son out of DOE schools in 2021, she said, she saw little outreach to families or opportunities to participate on the school community council. But the bill doesnt seem to address parents main concerns with the public education system, said Wright, who currently homeschools her son. Rather than restructuring top leadership positions in the department, Wright said, she would like to see more investments in mental health resources in schools or staff positions that specialize in community outreach and support for families. I feel like its just like anything that we do, we just put a band-aid on it, Wright said. We dont get to the root of the problem. This story was originally published by Civil Beat. Civil Beats education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The Grand Rapids Police Department is conducting training this week on grappling restraint techniques with officers visiting from across the Midwest. The seminar teaches methods designed to reduce the need for the use of additional force during an arrest. Learning grappling is becoming an even more important part of a police officers training with use of force under increased scrutiny. Quinton Bernard, a Wyoming police officer, said he has seen the benefits of learning the techniques firsthand. Advertisement Advertisement Ive started jujitsu about a year and a half ago at this point. A bunch of us from Wyoming got into it all together, Bernard said. Its quick, methodic body control. And getting somebody off balance and getting somebody in a position where they cant do much more. And you dont need to escalate it to these body kicks, the punches and all this other stuff, the striking. Its more methodical and its safer for us and its safer for the subject. GRPD Chief Winstrom: Vocal police haters helped drive him out Chad Teets, a lieutenant with the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, was helping with the training in Grand Rapids Thursday. We know how to deal with stress. Were more accustomed to fighting in a grappling sense. So when you get the exposure to grappling, you kind of free up brain power, right? Because now youve developed muscle memory, youve been here before, youve felt the sensation before, Teets said. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Police officers from multiple departments attend jiujitsu training hosted by the Grand Rapids Police Department on Jan. 26, 2026. Capt. David Siver, who runs the training and engagement division with GRPD, said the techniques, which the agency rolled out in 2022, are making a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Weve prevented seven officer-involved shootings in the last three years. That I can attest to because I review every use of force our agency has the 500 to 600 a year that those (seven) individuals were armed and were trying to access the firearm, Siver said. GRPD: Each amphitheater event will require entire shift of officers He it works better than other striking methods used to get compliance through pain. (Striking methods are) only about a 35% effective rate compared to jujitsu or capture and control is more like the 70% to 80% effective, Siver said. Officers going through the seminar hope more departments see the value of the training. Advertisement Advertisement Every place should have an embedded process of repetitions, practices, in-service trainings regarding defensive tactics and strategic support, Bernard 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 WOODTV.com. COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN)- Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel will be in the Valley on Friday, meeting with students in Columbiana County. Tressel will visit Crestview Elementary School and Columbiana Middle School. He will take part in assemblies focusing on the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge. The goal is to get kids moving more, eating better, and living better. The challenge is part of Governor Mike DeWines broader push to improve the overall health of Ohioans. 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 WKBN.com. By David Jeans, Jeffrey Dastin, Mike Stone and Deepa Seetharaman NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A feud between the Pentagon and top artificial intelligence lab Anthropic is set to come to a head by 5:01 p.m. (2201 GMT) on Friday over concerns about how the military could use AI at war. The dispute, barreling toward a deadline set by the Pentagon for resolution, is widely seen as a referendum on how powerful AI could be deployed by the military and how its risks are managed. The Pentagon wants any lawful use to be allowed and has threatened Anthropics business if the startup does not scrap additional guardrails. Its a shot across the bow about the future of artificial intelligence and its use on the battlefield, Chris Miller, the former acting secretary of defense, told Reuters. He added that the outcome will be an acid test for those companies that claim to want to use AI humanely. The months-long dispute has divided some industry leaders, military officials and lawmakers over whether AI should be wielded without constraints when its creator Anthropic said the technology was not yet reliable for fully autonomous weapons. Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin weighed in on Thursday: The average person does not think we should allow weapons systems to get into war and kill people without a human being overseeing that in some way. Speaking at a confirmation hearing for two assistant defense secretary nominees, Slotkin added: I certainly dont think any American, Democrat or Republican, wants mass surveillance on the American people. The Pentagon, which the Trump administration renamed the Department of War, has pushed back on the dilemma as a false choice peddled by leftists in the media. The Department of War has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal) nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement, Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell posted on X Thursday. NEGOTIATIONS FALTER The Pentagon has signed $200-million ceiling agreements with major AI labs in the past year, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google. It is pushing companies to agree to scrap their usage policies in favor of abiding by an all-lawful use clause. Anthropic, continuing these talks, has maintained red lines over the militarys use of its Claude AI models for autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance. Anthropic was first among these AI companies to work with classified information, through a supply deal via cloud provider Amazon. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, famous for quitting OpenAI in 2020 over concerns about AI technologys stewardship, has warned that AI has advanced faster than the law. Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on February 27, 2026 but a widely shared video supposedly depicting the air strikes is unrelated. The misrepresented clip is more than two decades old and shows the US-led bombardment of Baghdad during the start of the Iraq War in 2003. "BREAKING: Pakistani Air Force bombed Taliban headquarters in Kabul. The cross border fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan has also intensified," reads the caption of a Facebook video that racked up more than 27,000 views within hours of the crisis. The four-second clip, showing a large explosion illuminating a city skyline at night, was shared almost immediately after Islamabad's defence minister declared Pakistan and Afghanistan are at "open war" (archived link). Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on February 27, 2026, with a red X added by AFP AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported hearing explosions and fighter jets overhead as Pakistani forces struck targets linked to Taliban authorities. Advertisement Advertisement The latest escalation followed Afghan attacks on Pakistani border positions and months of deteriorating relations, including deadly clashes and failed ceasefire efforts. Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Other online posts written in Indonesian, Greek, Turkish, Spanish and Arabic similarly misrepresented the video. Baghdad strikes A reverse image search using keyframes led AFP to longer archived footage published by British broadcaster Independent Television News (ITN) on its Facebook page on March 22, 2023 (archived link). Advertisement Advertisement The caption says it shows air strikes on Baghdad on March 21, 2003, as part of the US-led campaign during the invasion of Iraq, when hundreds of cruise missiles targeted government sites in the Iraqi capital. The United States unleashed major air strikes on Iraq on March 20, 2003 claiming that Saddam Hussein's regime illegally possessed weapons of mass destruction, though none were ever found (archived link). Washington began its "shock and awe" campaign the following day, raining bombs on Baghdad, ahead of a US and British-led coalition ground invasion that ended Saddam's regime and led to a nearly nine-year war. AFP compared the circulating video with the ITN footage and identified matching visual elements, including the shape and position of the explosion and smoke plumes. Screenshot comparison between the virally shared video (left) and ITN's archived footage, with similarities highlighted by AFP Footage of bombing in Baghdad had been widely published by several news media including CNN and Getty Images (archived here and here). An AFP image captured by photographer Ramzi Haidar also shows the scene of the strikes. Smoke covers the presidential palace compound in Baghdad 21 March 2003 during a massive US-led air raid on the Iraqi capital. Smoke billowed from a number of targeted sites, including one of President Saddam Hussein's palaces, an AFP correspondent said. AFP PHOTO/Ramzi HAIDAR RAMZI HAIDAR AFP (RAMZI HAIDAR / AFP) AFP previously debunked similar footage that was falsely shared as an attack on Israel. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi has met with United States Vice President JD Vance, amid growing fears grow of a potential US attack on Iran. Al Busaidi, a key mediator in ongoing talks between the US and Iran, met with Vance in Washington, DC on Friday. He said the nuclear negotiations have so far achieved significant, important, and unprecedented progress, according to the Oman News Agency. The meeting focused on the indirect talks which are being mediated by Oman. American and Iranian officials held the latest round of negotiations in Geneva on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Since resuming talks last month, the US has said it wants Iran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure entirely, limit its arsenal of ballistic missiles and stop supporting regional allies. While Tehran has shown flexibility about discussing limitations on the enrichment of uranium for civilian use, it has so far treated missiles and proxies as non-negotiables. During his meeting with Vance, Al Busaidi said the negotiations had resulted in creative and constructive ideas and proposals. Middle East tensions Fridays meeting comes as concerns grow over a potential US military strike on Iran. US President Donald Trump has said he favours a diplomatic resolution to the standoff, but has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran if it does not accept a deal. The US has amassed its biggest military arsenal in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including the worlds biggest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, which arrived on Friday in the Israeli port city of Haifa, according to Israeli Channel 12. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has said that it was not going to initiate a war, but that it was ready to respond if attacked, threatening to strike bases used by US forces in the region. On Friday, the US authorised the departure of nonemergency embassy staff from Israel the same order Washington issued for the US mission in Lebanon earlier this week. China, Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy are amongst the growing number of countries that have urged their citizens to leave Iran in recent days. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held a phone call with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico and announced that the two countries will set up an investigative commission to examine the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline. Source: Orban on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to Orban, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and his team say resuming the oil pipeline is impossible due to technical obstacles a situation Orban says jeopardises energy security in both Hungary and Slovakia. Advertisement Advertisement "As far as Slovakia and Hungary know, this is not true there are no technical obstacles, the pipeline has been closed exclusively for political reasons. That is why Robert Fico and I have agreed to set up a joint investigative commission. The task of this investigative commission will be to visit the site and see the reality of the situation with our own eyes", Orban said. Orban urges Zelenskyy to allow this investigative commission to enter Ukraine and provide the necessary conditions for its work. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Pakistan and Afghanistan have had an on-and-off diplomatic relationship. | Credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images While the U.S. and Iran have been ratcheting up threats against each other, a simmering conflict in two neighboring countries just boiled over: Afghanistan and Pakistan devolved into armed conflict on Friday, with the latter declaring the countries in a state of open war. Tensions between the two sides have been increasing for months, and experts fear the fighting could represent a breaking point for the broader region. Taliban began the conflict The fighting started when the Taliban, the ruling government of Afghanistan, launched what it called retaliatory attacks on military installations in northwest Pakistan, said NBC News. As residents were forced to flee their homes, Pakistan hit back, announcing it had struck military targets in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, as well as Kandahar and Paktia provinces. A death toll has not been confirmed, but Pakistan said at least 70 people were killed while Afghan officials reported that dozens of civilians were killed, including women and children. Advertisement Advertisement In all, Pakistan bombed more than 20 locations in Afghanistan. Following the initial combat, Pakistan showed no willingness to stop the most expansive fighting in years, said The New York Times. Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal, directly and through friendly countries, said Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif in a translated post on X. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. This marks one of the biggest escalations in outright hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2021 and could be the start of more violence, said Time. The two countries had a shaky ceasefire deal since October 2025 and were historical allies. But tensions emerged over a border dispute; the Taliban does not consider the Durand Line, a boundary established by the colonial British, to be the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Pakistani officials do. Relations also devolved because the Taliban is getting closer to India, with which Pakistan has fought over the disputed region of Kashmir. Further escalation could compound instability When Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought before, other countries often enter via diplomacy, with mediation by foreign governments including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, said CNN. But while the fighting has typically only lasted several days, many fear that further escalation could compound instability. This comes as tensions in nearby Iran are also increasing. Experts believe the war this time could be worse. Any retaliation by the Afghans will be in Pakistans urban centers, said Abdul Basit, a senior associate fellow from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, to CNN. This is a recipe for chaos and chaos is what terrorist networks seek to flourish. But the Taliban has warfighting methods Pakistan may be unprepared for. The Afghan Taliban have drones, they have suicide bombers, they are innovative. Afghanistans retaliation could also come in the way of raids on border posts and more cross-border guerrilla attacks to target security forces, said Reuters. But there is also a wide mismatch between the military capabilities of the two sides. The Talibans reported fighting force of 172,000 is less than a third of Pakistan's personnel, and Pakistan is also known to possess nuclear weapons. The United Nations is urging both sides to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy, the organization said. Pakistan says it has killed hundreds of fighters in Afghanistan after declaring open war on the Taliban. On Friday, Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul and two other Afghan provinces, which it said targeted ammunition depots, Taliban military installations and militant hideouts. The barrage followed a cross-border attack by Afghanistan on Pakistan late on Thursday, which Kabul said was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani air strikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesman for Pakistans armed forces, claimed on Friday that at least 274 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 400 injured in the offensive, codenamed Operation Righteous Fury. The Afghan government confirmed that multiple locations across the country including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia had been struck. It was the first time Islamabad had attacked Taliban military facilities rather than the militants it says are backed by the group, and it represents a stark rupture in ties between the Islamic neighbours. Taliban security personnel stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan - Aimal Zahir/Getty Images The Taliban said it had launched what it described as retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military installations, but was ready to negotiate. Advertisement Advertisement After the Afghan attack on Thursday, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Pakistans defence minister, wrote on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister, warned Pakistan that it would pay a heavy price if Afghanistan were forced to declare a national uprising. Speaking at a mosque in Khost province, Mr Haqqani said Pakistan should not take actions that would compel the Taliban to announce a national uprising and jihad. Tensions have been rising between the two countries in recent months, fuelled by accusations that Afghanistan was harbouring elements of the Pakistani Taliban, something Kabul denies. An injured Pakistani girl receives treatment at a hospital in Bajaur, in the countrys north-west, on Friday after the cross-border clashes - Fazal Rahman/AFP A senior Taliban official in Kandahar told The Telegraph that Afghan armed forces were sending more artillery to the border and getting prepared for a long war. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, new rounds of Taliban attacks were reported on Friday evening. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, said 19 Pakistani military posts and two headquarters were seized during Thursday nights retaliatory operations. The initiator of the war is Pakistan, Mr Mujahid said, adding that Afghanistan had exercised its right to self-defence. He claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured. Afghan forces recovered weapons, ammunition, one tank and a military transport vehicle. Thirteen Islamic Emirate soldiers were martyred and 22 others wounded in the fighting, said Mr Mujahid. Taliban security stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday - AFP He added that Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft continued to fly over Afghan airspace, and accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating Afghanistans sovereignty. He said Afghan drone strikes had hit specific targets inside Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mujahid also claimed that Taliban forces had captured a Pakistani military outpost in the Anzar Sar area of Babrak Tana district in Khost province. Dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed or wounded, and a large quantity of weapons were seized, he said. There were no independently confirmed reports of casualties early on Friday morning. Mr Asif, Pakistans defence minister, accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a colony of India after it came to power following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021. They gathered terrorists from around the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism... Pakistan made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation stable, he said. Advertisement Advertisement It carried out extensive diplomacy. However, the Taliban became a proxy of India. People attend a funeral for those killed in Pakistani air strikes on Feb 22 - Samiullah Popal/Shutterstock Taliban security officials and local residents inspect the scene of a Pakistani air strike near the border in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, on Sunday - Samiullah Popal/Shutterstock Pakistani air strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday targeted alleged militant bases and killed more than a dozen civilians, according to the Taliban, which said the attacks struck homes. On Feb 6, a suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 169 at a Shia mosque in Islamabad in the deadliest attack on Pakistans capital in nearly two decades. The Pakistani government said it possessed conclusive evidence that the attacks were directed by terror leaders based in Afghanistan. An injured man is taken to a hospital following an explosion at a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Feb 6 that killed dozens of people - Aamir Qureshi/AFP Pakistan, which has sheltered millions of Afghan refugees for many decades, has faced a significant increase in attacks since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, straining relations between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan maintained ties with the group throughout the 20-year war in Afghanistan a relationship Washington protested about but never fully severed. The Taliban had safe houses in Quetta, Pakistan, where its leadership, known as the Quetta Shura, operated openly for years. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained tense since October, when deadly border clashes killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire and talks in Istanbul failed to produce a formal agreement. 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. Pakistan's defence minister has said the country is in "open war" with Afghanistan, after Islamabad launched airstrikes on Kabul as part of a wave of attacks across the country. "Our patience has now run out," said Khawaja Muhammad Asif following the attacks. The strikes came after the Afghan Taliban announced a major offensive against Pakistani military posts near the border on Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement The latest attacks follow months of clashes between the two neighbouring nations, despite agreeing to a fragile ceasefire in October. Last year's negotiations failed to reach a broader agreement for a complete end to hostilities, with both side blaming each other for not engaging seriously with talks. The Taliban said a "retaliatory operation" had been launched at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday. It said it had captured 19 Pakistani military posts and two bases, adding that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed. The BBC has not been able to verify these claims. Pakistan quickly retaliated, saying the Taliban had "miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" across the border in its north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had been met with an "immediate and effective response" by Islamabad's security forces. Advertisement Advertisement It then launched a series of bombing raids on Afghanistan in the early hours of Friday morning, striking targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika in response to what they called "unprovoked Afghan attacks". All three cities are close to the shared Pakistani-Afghan mountainous border that spans 2,600 km (1,615 miles). Pakistan's military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said it had hit 22 Afghan military targets and killed more that 200 Taliban fighters. At least 12 Pakistani soldiers had died, he added. But the Taliban's spokesman Mujahid said just 13 Taliban fighters had been killed and 22 others injured, while 13 civilians had been injured and an indeterminate number killed. Advertisement Advertisement The BBC has not been able to verify these numbers. During these hostilities, both sides have claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the other while suffering little damage to their own. In response to the strikes, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan Taliban spokesman, published - then subsequently deleted - a post on X that the group had launched strikes early on Friday on Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand, two provinces in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban has said it carried out air strikes on several targets within Pakistan, on Friday morning. Sources in the Taliban government told the BBC these were with drones launched from Afghanistan. Pakistan's Information Minister Atta Tarar said its military thwarted Afghan drones targeting Swabi, Nowshera and Abbottabad, which is a military garrison city housing the army's military academy. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country's forces had "the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions", vowing that there would be "no compromise" in defending their "beloved homeland". In Afghanistan, Taliban officials on Friday claimed Pakistani rockets hit a refugee camp in Nangarhar - housing Afghan citizens recently arrived from Pakistan - and injured at least nine people. The BBC has not been able to verify this. Residents and local officials in the Afghan cities hit told BBC Afghan the situation appeared to have calmed down since the attacks, although people on both sides of the border remained on high alert. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has spoken to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the ministry said, and "agreed to stay closely engaged on evolving developments" as they both stressed the "importance of peace and stability". Dar, who is in Saudi Arabia for an official visit, also held a similar conversation with the country's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Meanwhile, Iran has offered to "facilitate dialogue" between Pakistan and Afghanistan as it urged them to "resolve their differences through good neighbourliness and dialogue". UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also urged the two sides to re-engage in talks, take "immediate steps toward deescalation [and] avoid further harm to civilians". Advertisement Advertisement While a fragile ceasefire between the two countries was agreed in October, negotiations failed to reach a broader agreement for a complete end to hostilities, with both side blaming the other for not engaging seriously with talks. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of supporting "anti-Pakistan terrorists", who it blames for carrying out suicide attacks in the country, including at a mosque in the capital recently. Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Pakistan conducted airstrikes in areas of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia overnight, officials from both countries said, as Islamabad's defense minister early Friday declared Pakistan was in "open war" with Afghanistan. Pakistani warplanes struck areas of the Afghan capital Kabul and its second-largest city, Kandahar, and Paktia province, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, said in a statement, claiming there were no casualties -- which Pakistan disputes. Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesman for Pakistan's prime minister, said Afghan military targets were hit, and claimed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. The figures could not be independently verified. Advertisement Advertisement Twenty-seven Afghan military posts were destroyed and nine captured in the assaults, he said. "Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us," Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement. "Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs." The airstrikes were carried out after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border positions late Thursday, according to Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense, which said the assault was retaliatory for Pakistan's fatal strike on seven militant camps and hideouts last week. Advertisement Advertisement The latest explosion in violence follows months of escalating tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing Afghanistan of harboring terrorists, in particular the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an Islamist group seeking to overthrow the Islamabad government. Afghanistan has repeatedly denied the allegations Pakistan has leveled since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Pakistan blames TTP and other Afghan-based terrorists for a series of brutal attacks over the years, and has carried out repeated airstrikes in Afghanistan in response, including in October. Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border attacks overnight in a dramatic escalation of tensions that led Pakistans defense minister to say on Friday that the two countries are in a state of open war. Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan late Thursday, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, saying it targeted military installations. We have targeted important military targets in Pakistan, sending a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan, Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in televised comments from Kandahar Friday. Pakistan has never sought to resolve problems through dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement After the Afghan strikes, Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said in a post on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India, with which Pakistan has periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Indias ties with Afghanistan have improved recently, with offers of enhanced bilateral trade, to the annoyance of Islamabad. Tensions have been high for months, with border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistans Taliban government of harboring militant groups that then stage attacks across the border and also of allying with its archrival India. Advertisement Advertisement A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the fighting, although the two sides still occasionally trade fire. Several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a lasting agreement. Exporting terrorism Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning. The provinces information directorate said Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp which had been evacuated overnight. In response, Afghanistan was targeting Pakistani army posts across the border, it said. Asif accused Afghanistan of exporting terrorism. Islamabad frequently levies the allegation at its western neighbor as militant violence has surged in Pakistan, accusing Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch separatist groups. Taliban fighters man an armed pickup truck at the Afghan side of the Ghulam Khan crossing with Pakistan in Khost province, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Saifullah Zahir/AP) Pakistan accuses the TTP which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistans Taliban of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistans internal conflict is a purely domestic issue and is not a new one, Mujahid said Friday, noting the TTP had been active for nearly two decades. Pakistan has also frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. Retaliatory strikes Afghanistan said Thursdays cross-border attack was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Pakistans army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani air and ground operations killed at least 274 members of Afghan forces and affiliated militants and wounded more than 400, while 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 others were wounded. One Pakistani soldier was missing in action. Advertisement Advertisement Mujahid rejected the claims of the high number of Afghan casualties as false. He said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, with the bodies of 23 of them taken to Afghanistan. He also said many Pakistani soldiers were captured. Thirteen Afghan soldiers had been killed, he said, and another 22 wounded, while 13 civilians were also wounded. A religious school in Paktika province was bombed on Friday morning, he added, saying information on potential casualties there was not yet available. The casualty claims of either side could not be independently verified. Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistans anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the northwestern cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera Friday. Advertisement Advertisement He said the drones appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan. International calls for restraint Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides. On Friday, Mujahid, the Afghan government spokesman, said his country had always emphasized a peaceful solution, and we still want to resolve the problem through dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians as required under international law and to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency RIA Novosti. Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putins special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to RIA Novosti. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue. Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. In 2025, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. Pakistan's defence minister described the conflict with Afghanistan as "open war" on Friday, following deadly overnight clashes between their border forces that led Islamabad to strike targets in Afghanistan, including on Kabul and Kandahar. Clashes broke out overnight at several points along the two countries' more than 2,500-kilometre porous frontier, just days after Pakistan targeted Islamist militants blamed for deadly cross-border attacks from their Afghan hideouts. In response, Pakistani jets targeted a facility in Kabul, the Afghan capital of about 5.3 million residents, where the Taliban had reportedly stockpiled weapons and ammunition left behind by the US forces following their abrupt withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, an intelligence source told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Airstrikes also targeted the southern city of Kandahar, as well as several military installations and border areas, according to the Pakistani Air Force. Officials from both countries confirmed the strikes, which come after months of deteriorating relations and cross-border skirmishes, causing multiple civilian and military casualties on both sides, with figures from Islamabad and Kabul varying widely. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the Afghan Taliban leaders of harbouring "all sorts of terrorists" including those behind a deadly wave of cross-border attacks. "Our patience has run out. It's an open war now," Asif said in a post on X. Calls for de-escalation Regional allies have called on the neighbouring countries to implement an immediate ceasefire, with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran offering to mediate. Advertisement Advertisement Russia, a country with influence over both parties, also called for immediate talks to end the conflict and resolve the dispute through dialogue, according to a statement by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the countries to de-escalate. The parties should try to resolve all differences through diplomatic means, Guterres said through his spokesman. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan - an allegation the Afghan Taliban-led government denies. In Kandahar, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had never invaded Pakistani territory except in retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement He said the government seeks to resolve tensions with Pakistan through dialogue but warned it would continue military operations if confronted with further hostilities. In response to accusations from Islamabad that Kabul is harbouring terrorists from the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mujahid described the militant group as "Pakistan's internal security problem, which has existed for years and has nothing to do with Afghanistan." In October last year, several dozen soldiers and civilians were killed in a week of clashes before a ceasefire was brokered jointly by Qatar and Turkey. A recently published United Nations report states that the government in Kabul provides a permissive environment for various militant groups operating in the country and supports the Pakistani Taliban. Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have rejected the allegation. Pakistan has bombed Afghanistans capital Kabul and other cities, claiming to have killed hundreds of Afghan Taliban fighters, as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad would now be waging open war, while Afghanistan has also claimed to have inflicted substantial losses. In a major escalation of the simmering tensions into all-out conflict between the neighbours, Asif said on Friday that his countrys patience has run out with the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, following attacks by Afghan forces against Pakistani military positions along their shared border earlier. Asif framed the attack as one that his country had been forced to make, and that followed aggression from Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistans military later said its operation in Afghanistan was continuing on the directions of the prime minister. Reporting from Peshawar, Pakistan, Al Jazeeras Kamal Hyder said his team had been able to reach the town of Landi Kotal, near the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan, where they were able to observe ongoing clashes. We were able to see and hear outgoing fire from the Pakistani side that appears to be heavy artillery, he said. The AFP news agency reported that Afghan troops were seen heading towards the frontier early Friday. INTERACTIVE Significant claims of casualties Both sides have claimed they have inflicted serious losses on the other, while sustaining their own casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistans military says 274 Taliban fighters have been killed and more than 400 injured in attacks that hit 22 locations. It said 83 Taliban posts had been destroyed and 17 others captured. It said 12 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and 27 injured, while one was missing in action. Afghanistans Ministry of Defence claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in its attacks that ended about midnight on Friday, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that several others were captured alive. It said eight Afghan soldiers had been killed and 11 wounded. Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify the various claims of casualties inflicted by either side. Advertisement Advertisement Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the Pakistani military had struck targets in locations including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and Jalalabad. In a statement, he said the strikes had hit innocent citizens, children, and women, including the bombing of a farmers home in Jalalabad that killed most of his family, and an attack on a religious school for children in Paktika. In a news conference, he said his government wanted dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the ongoing fighting, adding that Pakistani reconnaissance planes were still flying over Afghan airspace. We have repeatedly emphasised a peaceful solution, and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue, Mujahid said. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistans Ministry of Information also said it was also targeting Afghan Taliban forces in several districts of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur. Afghanistan had successfully conducted air strikes using drones to hit military targets in Pakistan, its defence ministry and a government spokesperson said on Friday, as the clashes continued. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan Taliban fighters had tried to use drones against targets in Pakistan but they were brought down by anti-drone systems and there was no damage to life. pakistan afghanistan attacks map temp Earlier attacks Pakistans strikes came after Afghanistan said it had carried out large-scale offensive operations against Pakistani military positions and installations on the border shared by the two countries on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Along with the dozens of Pakistani soldiers it claimed to have killed in the attacks, it said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases. The ministry said the fighting ended about midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday. Pakistan claimed that its attacks on Sunday had killed at least 70 fighters, but Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying civilians had been killed. Taliban security personnel stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Nangarhar province [Aimal Zahir / AFP] Poor relations A statement from the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the whole country was united behind Pakistans armed forces. The people of Pakistan and its Armed Forces are fully prepared to safeguard the nations security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, the statement said. There will be no leniency in defending our beloved homeland, and any aggression will be met with a fitting response. Advertisement Advertisement Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which share a 2,611-kilometre-long (1,622-mile) border, have nose-dived since fighting in October killed more than 70 people on both sides of the border. The tension stems from Pakistani accusations that Kabul has allowed armed groups such as the Pakistan Taliban to use Afghanistan as a base and launch attacks on Pakistan. The Pakistan Taliban shares deep ideological ties with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but is a distinct movement. Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries, said Asif. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy. But the Taliban became a proxy for India. Advertisement Advertisement In the past, Pakistans role has been positive. It has hosted five million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, millions of Afghans are earning their livelihood on our soil. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you, Asif said. Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said on X that Afghans would defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage amid the attacks. Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings those problems it has created itself but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighbourliness, respect, and civilised relations with Afghanistan, he said. A wounded Afghan woman receives treatment at a hospital in Jalalabad after an overnight Pakistani mortar shell hit a camp for people returning from Pakistan during clashes bnear the Torkham border crossing [Aimal Zahir / AFP] Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, DC, said the latest clashes came as no surprise following months of frayed tensions between the neighbours. Advertisement Advertisement It is significant to the extent that it represents perhaps a shift in strategy, Threlkeld said, noting the more aggressive, kinetic attacks from Pakistan. Weve seen a couple of terrorist attacks within Pakistan that were quite significant, she said. Im not surprised that after those cumulative attacks, that tensions have frayed and things have again gone in this direction, unfortunately. Clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan in October killed dozens of soldiers, until a ceasefire brought an end to the fighting. Pakistan has been on high security alert since it launched air strikes earlier this week that Islamabad said targeted camps of Pakistani Taliban and ISIL (ISIS) fighters in eastern Afghanistan. Offers of mediation Russia, China, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia were trying to mediate, diplomats and news reports said, while Iran, which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan, has also offered to help. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, a former United States ambassador to Afghanistan, said earlier on Thursday that the tit-for-tat attacks over recent days were a terrible dynamic that must stop. A better option is a diplomatic agreement between the [two] countries that neither would allow its territory to be used by individuals and groups to threaten the security of the other, Khalilzad said. The implementation of the agreement should be monitored by a trusted [third] party, for example, Turkiye. This approach is a much wiser course than continuing with attacks and counterattacks. Q : Why hasn't PEXA upgraded its full-year guidance despite strong first-half results? A : Russell Cohen, CEO, explained that while they have upgraded from previous guidance, they expect normal seasonal revenue drops in the second half and an uptick in expenses due to the launch of PEXA Clear in Australia and new hires in the UK. They are trending towards the top end of their guidance range. The company has not provided specific guidance on the revenue impact of its new AML solution, PEXA CLEAR, creating uncertainty about its financial contribution. PEXA faces potential challenges in the UK market with the need for additional resources to meet lender demand. The company anticipates lower volumes and revenues in the second half of FY26, which may impact margins. The interoperability program in Australia remains paused with no implementable outcome, raising concerns about future regulatory changes. PEXA reduced its net debt to EBITDA ratio from two times to 1.4 times, enhancing financial flexibility. PEXA's UK operations are progressing well, with the NatWest implementation expected to be completed ahead of schedule. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript . Free Cash Flow Conversion: 49.9%, up from 32.2 million in the first half of 25. Core Net Profit After Tax: $20.8 million, up from $10.9 million in the first half of 2025. Story Continues Q: How should we think about the Australian margin and any costs related to AML? A: Russell Cohen stated that AML costs will be included in the Australian segment and won't be separated unless they become material. They expect a slowdown in transfer momentum and a seasonal revenue drop in the second half, but aim to maintain margins. Q: Can you provide insights on engagement with lenders outside of NatWest in the UK? A: Russell Cohen mentioned they are engaged with multiple lenders through workshops and explorations but are not sharing specifics until there is concrete news to report. Q: How might the interoperability reports influence the IPART pricing review in Australia? A: Russell Cohen noted that while interoperability is not a formal policy, the reports suggest the current platform is the best solution. IPART's review will consider ELNO pricing, and the landscape allows for other ELNOs to build their networks. Q: What are the expectations for UK costs and margins moving forward? A: Russell Cohen indicated that additional hires in the UK are to meet lender demand, and while costs may rise, the business is largely fixed-cost. The expansion of sale and purchase transactions in FY27 is expected to have a commensurate uplift in costs. Q: How is PEXA Clear expected to impact revenue next year? A: Russell Cohen stated that PEXA Clear has already launched, and customers need to be compliant by July 1. Revenue uplift is expected next year, but early sales and marketing costs will appear in the second half. Q: What progress has been made with conveyancers in the UK? A: Russell Cohen reported strong initial interest from conveyancers following roadshows. They are moving interested parties through a compliance-heavy funnel and aim to have a critical mass ready for sale and purchase transactions. Q: Are there any updates on the total addressable market (TAM) for PEXA in the UK? A: Russell Cohen did not provide an updated TAM, noting that it depends on the timing of lender and conveyancer onboarding. They will update when appropriate. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Panama City residents are benefiting from Floridas septic-to-sewer initiative. Earlier this week, commissioners accepted a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to expand sewer and water in the Kings Point and Pretty Bayou areas. Theyll kick off the third and final phase of the project in the next couple of months. Crews will install 16,000 feet of sewer line, more than 15,000 feet of water line, and 35 fire hydrants in the neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Its an intentional effort from Pensacola to Key West to get the septic tanks off of our coastal communities, off of our waterways, and rely, rather, on sewer lines that then take the wastewater out of homes and businesses and take it to the wastewater treatment plant, Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said. The total amount of DEP grants for this project is around $8.5 million. Residents impacted by the project will be able to ask questions during a public meeting next month. 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. Cases of measles in North Dakota nearly doubled this week to 21, including four people who needed to be hospitalized, according to the Department of Health and Human Services measles dashboard. The 10 new measles cases this week were reported in Pembina County, which increased its case total to 19 since early February. One case was reported the previous week in Walsh County, directly south of Pembina County, and the first measles case in North Dakota was reported on the opposite side of North Dakota in Williams County, involving a person believed to have contracted the disease out of state. Twenty-six measles exposure sites are listed on the departments measles dashboard and health officials encourage any unvaccinated person who was present at those sites during the times listed to quarantine for 21 days to prevent the spread of the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Of the states 21 cases, seven were contracted by children under age 5, eight in children or young adults between 5 to 19 years old and six cases involved adults. Fifteen of those cases involve people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status and six cases involved people who received at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Molly Howell, director of the HHS Disease Control and Forensic Pathology Section, said people who receive two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% protected against contracting measles. People who are vaccinated and exposed to measles are unlikely to develop the disease, Howell said in a statement. 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. Advertisement Advertisement MMR vaccination is critical to preventing the spread of measles in the community, and anyone who is eligible and not yet vaccinated is encouraged to contact a trusted health care provider, she said. People who suspect they may have contracted measles should contact a health care provider before seeking treatment at a medical clinic to ensure special precautions can be taken to prevent transmission to others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 154 new measles cases this week across 27 states, bringing the nationwide total to 1,136 cases in 2026. The weekly new case total more than doubled from the previous week when 72 new cases were reported. The federal 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Defense Department on Wednesday shot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone in southwest Texas, federal officials confirmed. A U.S. official said a laser weapon was used to down the drone, which occurred in the area of Fort Hancock, a small community located on the U.S.-Mexico border. "This reported engagement occurred when the Department of War employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace," the Defense Department, CBP and the FAA said in a joint statement late Thursday night. "The engagement took place far away from populated areas and there were no commercial aircraft in the vicinity," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of War is the White House's preferred term for the Defense Department. "These agencies will continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future," it added. In a previous statement provided to CBS News Thursday night, the FAA indicated that an incident had prompted it to expand a temporary flight restriction that was already in place around Fort Hancock. The temporary flight restriction was issued for "Special Security Reasons," the FAA said. The FAA said the flight restriction was not impacting commercial flights. Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Reps. Rick Larsen, Andre Carson and Bennie Thompson, all members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said in a joint statement, "Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system." They pointed to lack of coordination between the agencies. This marks the second time this month that the U.S. military's use of drones near the southern border in Texas has prompted airspace flight restrictions. On Feb. 11, the FAA sparked chaos when it briefly closed airspace around El Paso over a safety disagreement with the Pentagon regarding military drone tests near Fort Bliss, which is adjacent to the El Paso International Airport and located about 50 miles northwest of Fort Hancock. Sources at the time said the drone tests involved a high-energy laser. The FAA initially announced that it would shutter El Paso's commercial airspace for a period of 10 days, but then backtracked and reopened the airspace just hours later. White House officials told CBS News that the closure was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Marco Rubio addresses Cuba's statement that it killed 4 on Florida-registered boat Hillary Clinton posts opening statement for Epstein deposition Hillary Clinton's Epstein deposition paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert sent photo to commentator ELEUTHERA, Bahamas-On March 3, 1776 - 250 years ago next week - Commodore Esek Hopkins of the new U.S. Continental Navy sailed to the Bahamian island of New Providence, just 50 nautical miles due west of here in the Caribbean Sea. He commanded a small fleet, hastily assembled and sailing under the American flag. The target was the British garrison at the port of Nassau and the military supplies stored there. Nassau was only lightly defended, and Hopkins, with a force of roughly 200 American marines, captured 24 casks of gunpowder, 103 artillery pieces, and significant other war-making provisions - all without a single loss of American life. It was the first amphibious assault by the brand-new US Navy, and an auspicious birth to what would grow to become the mightiest naval power the world has ever known. Advertisement Advertisement Sailing with Hopkins were two men who would become maritime legends of the Revolution: Samuel Nicholas, the founder of the United States Marine Corps, and John Paul Jones, "the father of the U.S. Navy," who, even as the ship foundered beneath him, famously told the British, "I have not yet begun to fight." Both men will be honored during Americas 250th celebration, and rightfully so. But there is another group of revolutionary naval heroes who should also be remembered, who did more to win our nations independence than Nicholas and Jones combined. Their story is seldom told, perhaps because they never served in uniform, never obtained an officers rank, and never swore an oath of allegiance to the U.S. government. These were the men the British called "American pirates," even though the Crown knew better. More accurately, they were "privateers," manning ships licensed by the fledgling governments of the Eastern seaboard to attack British shipping. They sailed for coin as well as country, entitled to a share of anything they captured. It was an enticing proposition: Fortunes could be won if the wind was right, the captain brave, and the crew willing. An estimated 1,700 ships and boats joined this multifarious armada. They came in all sizes, ranging from the 100-foot-long Caesar, which hailed from Boston and carried a crew of 200 men, to the lightly manned 28-foot whaleboats that prowled Long Island Sound. The fleet came to dwarf the U.S. Navy, which outfitted a total of only 65 vessels over the entire course of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Despite their lack of command and control and their commercial motives (or maybe because of them), the roughly 20,000 men who sailed aboard American privateers ended up making an enormous contribution to the war effort. They denied British troops vital supplies, weapons, and ammunition. They drove up the cost of maritime insurance in London, increased the prices of imported goods, and thereby helped turn British public opinion against the war. They impressed into service British seamen and a few Americans as well (much to the displeasure of John Paul Jones, who, after taking command, soured on what he viewed as amateur involvement in naval affairs). But Benjamin Franklin was a fan; George Washington was an investor. In a letter to his wife, Abigail, in the spring of 1777, John Adams sounds practically giddy as he reports on the adventures of two famous American privateers: "Have you heard of the Success of the Rattlesnake of Philadelphia, and the Sturdy Beggar of MarylandThese two Privateers have taken Eleven Prizes, and sent them into the West India Islands." Advertisement Advertisement Forty years after the victory at Yorktown, Adam wrote that the colonial privateering acts passed by the Province of Massachusetts Bay were "one of the most important documents in history. The Declaration of Independence is brimborion in comparison to it." (Thats an archaic French word for "useless or valueless object.") With their swagger and independence, these revolutionary privateers might seem uniquely American, but they were in fact part of a long tradition. Ever since the Middle Ages, kings and queens of Europe had augmented the efforts of their official navies by issuing "letters of marque" to private vessels, thereby creating what have derisively called "pirates with papers." For ship owners, captains, and crews, privateering was lucrative and exciting work. And when peace occasionally broke out and government revoked their letters of marque, some refused to stand down and opted to continue their pillaging ways - crossing that thin line that has always delineated privateer from pirate. Privateering reached its height during Americas early colonial period. European empires were frequently at war, each seeking to carve its place in what (to them) was the New World. When Britain and Spain ceased their hostilities at the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1714, an unsettling number of Caribbean privateers went rogue. Advertisement Advertisement It ushered in the last chapter in what historians describe as the "Golden Age of Piracy," which lasted roughly from 1650 to 1725. In seaport towns from Maine to Jamaica, the pirates of this period are remembered to this day: Henry Morgan, "Black Bart" Roberts, "Calico Jack" Rackham, Anne Bonny, Charles Vane, and, of course, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach. These pirates played a role in Americas colonial life. Blackbeard established a cozy and mutually beneficial relationship with North Carolinas Gov. Charles Eden. Lower Manhattan crawled with pirates, including the notoriously successful "Captain Kidd," who owned a mansion on Pearl Street, as well as several other fine city properties. My own ancestors had to flee their farm on Fishers Island in Long Island Sound in the 1690s, escaping pirates who occupied nearby Block Island and, according to legend, buried treasure there. Kent Island on Marylands Eastern Shore, where I live today, was given its name by William Claiborne, an early 17th-century English sailor and trader. He was also the first pirate to ply the Chesapeake Bay, attacking settlers and shipping from the new colony of Maryland, which claimed Kent Island from the more established colony of Virginia. As one can imagine, the difference between a pirate and a privateer was mainly in the eyes of the beholder. Samuel Taylor Coleridge wryly observed, "No man is a pirate, unless his contemporaries agree to call him so." But the stakes for these perceptions could literally be the difference between life and death. Advertisement Advertisement Privateering was a capricious trade - especially when ones backers didnt stay loyal. Historian Richard Zacks makes a convincing case that Captain Kidd was really a privateer, not a pirate, but that his fate was sealed when he was double-crossed by powerful nobles in Britain whod hired him. Kidd was arrested and sent to London to stand trial, and met the fate of many pirates: He was hanged, tarred, and "gibbetted," which means his body was displayed in an iron cage at the mouth of the Thames as a discouragement to all would-be pirates. The temptation to cross the line from privateer to pirate was always strong. But Eric Jay Dolin, author of "Rebels At Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution," concludes that most American privateers did stay on the right side of the law and at wars end, returned to peaceful life and spurned the lure of piracy. Which isnt to say that there werent excesses. Dolin offers a provocative argument that if it werent for the gluttony of American privateers on the coast of what would later become Canada, the new nation forged after 1776 would likely have had at least one additional colony. In those days, the Maritimes seemed a natural part of the new United States. The British had largely expelled the French from Nova Scotia, and the Crown encouraged immigration from North America. Three-quarters of the islands population were transplanted New Englanders, largely sympathetic to the cause of independence. Advertisement Advertisement They made overtures to the Continental Congress about joining the revolution. But the American privateers so harassed their ports and shipping that public opinion turned, and Nova Scotians decided to remain British. As one islander wrote at the time, "Robbing poor innocent ones has been a great means to cool the affect of many well-wishers to the just proceedings of America!" (Donald Trump, take note.) The Founders nonetheless emerged from the war convinced that privateering was an essential tool to the survival of the American experiment. In fact, they wrote it into the Constitution: Article 1, Section 8 authorizes Congress to "grant letters of Marque and Reprisal." The French pirate Jean Laffite turned American privateer during the War of 1812 and helped General Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans. While President Lincoln didnt issue letters of marque during the Civil War, Jefferson Davis did on behalf of the Confederacy. To this day, privateering remains a legal option in the United States, which for more than two centuries has rejected international efforts to outlaw the practice. In this light, the geopolitics of Americas 250th year seem both strange and strangely familiar. A U.S. president talks lustily of invading Greenland, retaking the Panama Canal, and annexing Canada. Houthi "pirates" ply the Red Sea, attacking international shipping (although given our own history, we might more charitably view them as, ahem, "privateers" in service of Iran.) America gathers a fleet to remove the leader of Venezuela, which then steams off to pressure the Iranian mullahs. Gunboat diplomacy is back, but gunboats are few and far between: The U.S. Navy has shrunk to just 241 active ships, 163 of which are cargo or support vessels. Todays strategists debate whether America can continue to project enough naval power to keep the peace, let alone prevail if a global shooting war breaks out. Advertisement Advertisement Privateers, anyone? Andrew Walworth is chief content officer for RealClearPolitics, moderator of RCPs daily radio show on SiriusXM, and keyboardist for Good Talk Russ, the hottest band on Marylands Eastern Shore. WARSAW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Poland's parliament on Friday passed a law creating a mechanism to spend 43.7 billion euros ($51.6 billion) in European Union loans to boost the military, setting up a dilemma for the nationalist president, whose backers want him to veto it. Warsaw was the biggest beneficiary of the EU's 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative to boost the continent's armed forces, but the programme has been hotly debated in Poland as nationalists oppose Brussels getting involved in defence. The nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), which backs President Karol Nawrocki, says SAFE would limit arms purchases from Warsaw's most important ally, the U.S., and that it will come with conditions purportedly intended to allow German meddling in Polish affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government says the funds have no such strings attached and that the cheap financing provided by SAFE is essential to Poland's security in the face of what it says is a rising threat from Russia. "Without the SAFE programme, we have no other option to build an even stronger army and have better-equipped and safer soldiers in such a short time," Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told a press conference. The bill will enable the state development bank BGK to operate a fund that disburses the cash. The government says if Nawrocki vetoes the law, some workarounds are available, but it will not be able to use SAFE to its full potential. "The losses will be very significant," Tusk said on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki has declined to say what he will do. "This issue is so important to the Polish state and evokes so many emotions that I won't say what decision I'll make," he said on Thursday. "We'll make a decision when the time is right." ($1 = 0.8470 euros) (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Kevin Liffey) New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayottes approval rating has fallen to the lowest level in her time as governor, found a new poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. The poll, released Feb. 24, found that 47% of New Hampshire residents approve of Ayottes handling of her job and 47% disapprove. That makes Ayottes net approval rating +0, which is down from +5 in January and is the lowest it has been since she's been in office. Advertisement Advertisement Ayotte, a Republican, has faced some controversies in recent weeks, such as her handling of a proposed Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Merrimack. But Andy Smith, the director of the UNH Survey Center, said that her low approval rating is likely due to it being an election year. You see this pattern routinely, where our governors in the first year are generally pretty favorable, pretty passable," Smith said. "And then when you get closer to the election, those Democrats or independents, who kind of like the governor or don't dislike them, they remember that they're from the opposite party. In a statement Tuesday, Gov. Kelly Ayotte said, "Im pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security will not move forward with the proposed ICE facility in Merrimack." Here, Ayotte talks with reporters in October. The poll found that 88% of Republicans approve of Ayottes performance while only 9% of Democrats do, an all-time low. The poll surveyed 1,702 New Hampshire residents online between Feb. 12 16. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.4%. State issues: Weed, guns on college campuses The poll also surveyed Granite Staters on a variety of bills in the legislature this year. Advertisement Advertisement Allowing guns on college campuses: 35% support, 49% oppose This bill would prevent public colleges and universities from restricting the lawful possession of weapons, including guns, on their campuses. Support for the bill is divided on party lines. Open enrollment: 27% support, 39% oppose This legislation would allow New Hampshire residents to enroll students in any school district in the state, regardless of where they live. Most Granite staters have no strong opinion on this bill, the poll found, but Democrats are more likely to oppose it while Republicans are split. Eliminating vaccine requirements for school children: 20% support, 73% oppose Advertisement Advertisement This bill would have eliminated all vaccination requirements for public school children in New Hampshire. However, it was rejected by the legislature. All parties opposed this bill. Legalizing marijuana: 66% support, 23% oppose Several bills in the legislature would legalize recreational marijuana in the state. While all parties support marijuana legalization, bills have struggled to pass the legislature and Ayotte has said she would not sign one. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What is Gov. Kelly Ayotte's approval rating? See new poll NASHVILLE The lead federal prosecutor in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia took on an unusual role Thursday: Seated on the witness stand, Rob McGuire defended the federal government against allegations it was vindictively prosecuting a man whose high-profile fight against wrongful deportation embarrassed the Trump administration. For more than two hours, McGuire was questioned about emails, phone calls and meetings with a senior Justice Department official, who told McGuire that Abregos prosecution on human smuggling charges was a top priority for us. He also asked to review a draft of the indictment and at one point told McGuire to hold off on filing the charges until they received clearance to do so. But McGuire testified that he, alone, made the decision to prosecute the case, based on the evidence before him. Advertisement Advertisement Nobody gave me direction on anything to do with the indictment, McGuire said. Lawyers for Abrego, as he is referred to in court documents, are seeking to dismiss human smuggling charges brought against him in June, arguing the were only brought as retaliation for Abregos successful fight against deportation. The charges stem from a two-year-old Tennessee traffic stop federal prosecutors say was linked to a wider conspiracy to transport immigrants here illegally to destinations around the country, with Abrego acting as chauffeur. Abrego who lives in Maryland with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their three children has pleaded not guilty. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Robert McGuire in a file photo from Nov. 6, 2025, in Nashville. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Abrego was deported to El Salvador in March. In April, the Supreme Court ordered the federal government to facilitate his return from an El Salvador prison, where Abrego had been sent despite a 2019 immigration judges order barring his deportation to the country he fled as a teen, fearing gang violence. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Abrego sat between his attorney and an interpreter at the hearing. His wife also attended the hearing. Neither spoke publicly. The hearing, held in a downtown Nashville federal courtroom, featured just one other witness. Rana Saoud, the now-retired special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Nashville, testified she learned of Abregos traffic stop from an April 21 article in the Tennessee Star, a conservative online media outlet. Her office began to investigate. Saoud said no one at the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice directed her investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Aware of the publicity surrounding Abregos case at the time, she reached out to McGuire the following Sunday, she said. That same day, McGuire got an email about the case from Aakash Singh, associate deputy attorney general who acts as a liaison with federal prosecutors around the country. He was calling about a Texas prisoner who had come forward with smuggling allegations against Abrego, and trying to coordinate a meeting between McGuire and federal prosecutors in other districts with legal jurisdiction over the Texas prisoner. The call from Singh on the same day McGuire heard about Abregos 2022 Tennessee traffic stop from Saoud was a sign McGuire conceded that federal officials were taking an active interest in the nascent investigation. Over subsequent weeks, Singh and McGuire continued to communicate about the case. McGuire said it was not unusual for him to be in touch with the attorney generals office in high-profile cases. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Within his own office, however, McGuire met with resistance. Ben Schrader, then-criminal division chief, emailed a memo recommending against prosecution, McGuire testified. Schrader asked McGuire to please pass it along to relevant parties in D.C. as well. McGuire testified he did not know whether he ultimately forwarded Schraders memo, but did inform Singh that Schrader opposed bringing charges. Schrader resigned May 21, the same day a grand jury issued a sealed indictment against Abrego. He has declined to speak publicly about the Abrego case or his resignation. Advertisement Advertisement McGuire called communications with officials in D.C. a one-way street, noting he communicated with Singh to keep him apprised of developments in the high-profile case but did not take direction from him. I can tell you they never came back to say, Put that in there, or Say this, or Dont say that, he testified. At the end of the nearly four-hour hearing, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw said he would issue a ruling in the case after attorneys submitted additional post-hearing briefs. This article first appeared in the Tennessee Lookout, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvania State Police are still looking for answers after a man was found shot dead in his Lebanon County home years ago. Investigators said Friday they are still offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the 2021 homicide of 35-year-old Zachary Lauderman, of Bethel Township. Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in fraud scheme When Lauderman was found dead at his home at 31 Ulsh Lane in Bethel Township, he had two gunshot wounds to his head, according to State Police. Further details were not released surrounding the investigation into the homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Severe Weather Alerts Pennsylvania State Police at Jonestown is handling the investigation. Anyone who has information is asked to contact them at 717-865-2194 or PSP Tips at 1-800-472-8477. A tip can also be submitted online. 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. This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Overnight, hundreds of people across one red state have been suddenly left without legal identification. Politics: Trump Says He Brought 'Justice' To Iran. His War Boosts Fears The U.S. Has Gone Rogue. Transgender people living in Kansas began receiving letters this week notifying them that drivers licenses and birth certificates that did not match their *** assigned at birth would be invalid starting on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement The sudden revocation of legally obtained IDs was the result of a new anti-trans law that was enacted after state lawmakers overrode the Democratic governors veto lastweek. The measure went into effect almost immediately after it passed an unusual move in a state where new laws usually take effect on July 1 offering no chance for people to come into compliance with the law. The new law reportedly stripped approximately 1,500 transgender Kansans of their drivers licenses, and another 1,800 birth certificates are also affected. Theres a lot of fear, Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union National LGBTQ+ Project, told HuffPost. Its not clear from the letter what it means to have an invalid license. Illustration: HuffPost; Photos: Associated Press Illustration: HuffPost; Photos: Associated Press Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Advertisement Advertisement The vagueness and the novelty of the law mean that trans people in Kansas are scrambling to figure out what next steps they can take, and the long-term impacts of people suddenly losing their legal identification have yet to be realized. But the fact that Kansas legislators rushed to send the letters less than two weeks after overruling the governors veto makes it clear what lawmakers real goal is: chaos, confusion and panic. Its not immediately clear, for instance, what happens if a transgender Kansan gets pulled over by a police officer while driving. It puts folks in an impossible position, Seldin said. People who got this letter on Thursday still had to go to work on Friday. What are they supposed to do? He said some of the affected people have been checking government websites to see if their licenses are still valid. Not only are the affected trans people left without a legal way to drive, but this will also impact transgender peoples ability to do the myriad things that could require identification. Without a valid form of ID, trans people in Kansas could be barred from everyday activities like filling out employment paperwork, getting on a plane, buying a bottle of wine or opening a bank account. Then theres the fact that Kansas is one of the 36 states that require photo IDs to vote, potentially creating new barriers to voting in the months before the upcoming midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement This law is unnecessary and dangerous. When it comes to identification documents, transgender people use them for the same reasons as anyone else IDs allow us the freedom to travel, work, and drive. And just like everyone else, our IDs need to match who we are so that we can simply move through our lives without issue, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, the senior vice president of public engagement campaigns at the Trevor Project, a national LGBTQ+ youth support organization, said in a statement to HuffPost. Politics: U.S. And Israel Attack Iran, OpenAI Reaches Deal With Pentagon After Trump Bans Anthropic: Live Updates This law is meant to cause fear and confusion, but I want every transgender person in Kansas to know that there is a coalition of leaders, legal experts, and advocates fighting back. Kansas first-of-its-kind law represents the culmination of years of conservative lawmakers attacking transgender people and working to erase them from public life. SB 244 is a sweeping law that has the goal of pushing transgender people out of civil society by making it impossible for them to be themselves in public spaces, said Seldin. The ACLU filed a lawsuiton Friday against the state, asking for a halt to the policy. Advertisement Advertisement Not only does the law retroactively invalidate licenses and birth certificates that were obtained legally, but it also prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity in government buildings, with civil and criminal penalties for violations. The new measure can also be enforced by the general public, as it allows individuals to sue for alleged violations. The point of these laws is to make it impossible for trans people to be themselves and to know what to do to keep themselves safe, Seldin added. Politics: OOF: MAGA Senators Tweet Went So Wrong So Fast That He Had To Delete It The Republican Party is currently in the grip of a faux moral panic about trans people. A record-breaking 1,022 anti-trans bills were introduced around the country in 2025, with GOP-led states leading the pack. So far this year, a whopping 711 have already been brought to legislative floors in 41 different states. Advertisement Advertisement The attacks on the trans community are coming from the federal government as well. On his first day back in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that there are only two non-changeable sexes, and the State Department halted passport applications with the X gender marker. Republican lawmakers in Kansas see the policy as another culture war battle theyve won. After the legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kelly (D) to enact the law, Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson released a statement saying Kellys veto was dangerous and would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings. Kansas Democrats are for They/Them. I will continue to fight for you, and protect women and girls across our state. Republicans may be hoping they will only terrorize trans people with these policies for identification. Still, human rights advocates are warning that SB 244 will not only harm trans people but also other marginalized groups. Politics: Supreme Court Allows Trump To Enforce Passport Restrictions For Trans People Forcing people into the wrong bathrooms, stripping them of accurate IDs, and allowing government-sanctioned harassment doesnt make anyone safer, Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement after the law passed. It targets transgender Kansans for no reason and will undoubtedly impact many others who are targeted with animus whether or not they are transgender. Advertisement Advertisement Seldin said that pausing the laws enactment so that people have time to make sure their identification complies with the law would only solve the legal issue not the uncertainty and anxiety the law has caused. Even for folks who do bring themselves into compliance, it puts trans people in immense danger, he said. Trans people who have licenses that have a *** marker that doesnt match how they present because it matches their *** assigned at birth, that outs them as transgender immediately, he said. It subjects them to scrutiny, to violence, to harassment. Related... Read the original on HuffPost U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, shouted "murderer" at President Donald Trump as he addressed Congress and asked lawmakers to stand up if they agreed American citizens should come before undocumented immigrants. His comment was met with cheers from Republicans and jeers from Democrats, who did not stand. Omar remained seated. "The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens," Trump said during his Feb. 24 State of the Union address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Omar could be heard shouting, "You have killed Americans! You are the murderer!" Two Americans were killed in her Minneapolis district in January during a major immigration operation. Trump continued his criticism of illegal immigrants in his State of the Union address, saying without citing evidence that "millions" of migrants came to the United States from foreign mental institutions and that corruption is endemic in Somali and other immigrant communities in the United States. "The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception," Trump said. "Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings these problems right here to the USA and it's the American people who pay the price." Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) R) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MI) shout during U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. Trump announced Vice President JD Vance will lead an effort to identify government fraud, following an investigation into alleged fraud committed by members of the Somali community in Minneapolis. A large percentage of the people charged with fraud in Minnesota were of Somali heritage, but prosecutors accused a White American citizen, Aimee Bock, of being the "mastermind." Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota is the state with the largest population of people with Somali ancestry, according to the Census Bureau, estimated to be between 60,000 and 80,000. Many Somalis arrived under the United States' now sharply curtailed refugee program during Somalia's civil war and famine in the early 1990s and are now citizens. The fraud investigation was the reason the Trump administration cited for its controversial deployment of some 3,000 federal immigration agents and officers to Minneapolis an operation that met with significant resistance from residents and resulted in the deaths of two Americans. The killings by federal agents of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, turned many of Americans against ICE and the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, recent polling shows. In his address, Trump also shared dramatic, gory details of crimes committed by people who are in the country illegally, including the murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina by a Mexico-born man. He is serving two life sentences for his crime; Trump suggested he should be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year, the Trump administration has consistently highlighted its arrests of illegal immigrants with violent criminal records. However, the administration has been increasingly detaining illegal immigrants with no criminal record. The share of immigrants in detention with no criminal history swelled, from 6% of the detained population in January 2025 to 43% in February, according to ICE data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Contributed: Sarah D. Wire This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ilhan Omar interrupts Trump during State of the Union address Quick Read Avantis Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) returned 81.3% over five years versus 20.5% for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). AVUV beat Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) by 20 percentage points via its profitability filter. Fed rate cuts to 3.75% benefit AVUVs leveraged small-cap holdings as borrowing costs decline. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. Most small-cap funds give you size exposure. Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:AVUV) gives you something more targeted: a systematic bet that small, cheap, profitable companies outperform over time. That profitability filter separates it from a generic small-cap value index, and it's why factor investors treat it as a precision tool rather than a broad market replacement. 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WASHINGTON (AP) Election-year legislation to impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements on voting appears stalled in the Senate, for now, despite President Donald Trumps call in his State of the Union speech that Republicans in Congress pass the bill before anything else. Trumps push for the bill, backed by House conservatives and his most loyal supporters ahead of the midterm elections, has put new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune as he tries to navigate an effort from inside and outside Congress to bypass normal Senate procedure. Thune has said he supports the legislation and that his GOP conference is still discussing how to pass it. Senate Republicans arent unified on an approach, Thune said on Wednesday after Trump's speech. Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to get around Democratic opposition, Trump and others have pushed a so-called talking filibuster, which would bring the Senate back to the days of the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, when senators talked indefinitely to block legislation. Today, the Senate mostly skips the speeches and votes to end debate, which takes 60 votes in the Senate where Republicans have a 53-47 majority. Republicans wouldnt have to change the rules to force a talkathon. They could simply keep the Senate open and make Democrats deliver speeches for days or weeks to delay taking up the legislation. But Thune would still need enough support from his caucus to move forward with that approach, and he said this week that we arent there yet. The tension has put the affable, well-liked Thune in a tough spot with Trump and many of his voters who argue that the legislation is necessary for a GOP victory in the midterm elections. Trump has already made clear that he will blame Democrats, and potentially Thune, if they lose their majorities in Congress in November even though Republicans won control of Congress and the White House in 2024 without the bill's requirements. Democrats oppose the bill because they want to cheat, Trump claimed in his speech on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement We have to stop it, John, Trump said, calling out Thune by name. Complicated and risky maneuver Trump and his supporters, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, say the talking filibuster would allow them to pass the legislation called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act without any Democratic votes. But the maneuver could end up creating more problems for Republicans. Under a talking filibuster, Democrats would have to stay on the floor and give speeches for an indefinite amount of time to block the bill. Each senator is only allowed two speeches on a particular piece of legislation, so the idea is that Democrats would eventually run out of speeches or quit due to exhaustion, allowing Republicans to proceed with a simple majority vote. We wont pass the SAVE America Act unless we start by making filibustering senators speak, Lee said on social media. "This will take time and effort, but wed be crazy not to give it the effort it deserves. Advertisement Advertisement The reality on the floor would be more complicated. Democrats would be able to throw up procedural roadblocks, including restarting the clock for speeches if enough Republicans werent also present on the floor. That means nearly all 53 Republicans would need to remain close to the Senate during the filibuster, while only one Democrat would have to keep speaking. The process could last for weeks, given that there are 47 Democrats in the Senate. Even if Republicans managed to break the first filibuster, Democrats could then offer an unlimited number of amendments on anything they wish, forcing Republicans to take hard votes in an election year and potentially adding some of their own priorities to the legislation if they have some bipartisan support. Each amendment would bring a new round of speeches as well. Wed have to have 50 to defeat every amendment, Thune said. And thats not a where we are right now. Republican concerns As Thune has discussed the possibility with his conference in recent weeks, some Republicans have expressed worry that the process could lead to rules changes that could lead the Senate to go nuclear and eventually vote to erode the legislative filibuster. Advertisement Advertisement Most Senate Republicans have said they do not want to lower the 60-vote threshold for ending debate on legislation, even though it has been lowered for presidential and judicial nominations. I agree with the SAVE Act, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said after Trumps speech. But Im not going to nuke the filibuster. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said that the reason or method doesnt matter its breaking the filibuster. Other Republicans could also block the process. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she opposes the SAVE Act, and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former GOP majority leader, has opposed similar legislation in the past. Advertisement Advertisement GOP senators who support the maneuver were also realistic about the difficulty of the talking filibuster approach. Youd have to have a deep commitment among almost all of our members, said Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, who supports it. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called it hard but doable. GOP election strategy The voting bill would require Americans to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. It would also require a valid photo identification before voters can cast ballots, which some states already demand. The House approved it earlier this month on a mostly party-line vote, 218-213. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans said the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote. Voting experts have warned that more than 20 million U.S. citizens of voting age do not have proof of their citizenship readily available, and almost half of Americans do not have a U.S. passport. Critics also said the bills enactment could cause chaos in this years elections and confuse voters because some of it would take effect immediately. Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens, but theres no requirement to provide documentary proof when registering, though they do affirm under oath at the risk of prosecution that they are eligible. Experts said voter fraud is extremely rare, and very few noncitizens ever slip through the cracks. About one in 10 Americans doesnt have readily available paperwork proving they are citizens. The legislation also would require states to share their voter information with the Department of Homeland Security as a way to verify the citizenship of the names on the voter rolls. That has drawn pushback from elections officials, including some Republicans, as potentially intrusive on peoples privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said in his speech on Tuesday that the bill would be country-saving. Echoing his false claims of voter fraud when he lost the 2020 election, Trump said that Democrats want to cheat, they have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat. ___ Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report. The Integrated Technology Club at Holy Nativity Episcopal School in Panama City is heading to California to compete at the Western Edge International Invitational May 29-31. To qualify for cross-country STEM competition, the Robo-Bolts had to battle a field of 55 teams from Florida in St. Petersburg on Feb. 21. "We are so proud to represent our school, ITC, the Northwest Florida region and our state at this event, Jan Dykes, the dean of the Holy Nativity Upper School, said in an FSU Panama City news release. "Im now working to secure sponsorships and support to help meet the considerable cost of participating in this event." Advertisement Advertisement The $2,000 entry fee, combined with travel and lodging, will exceed the schools typical reserves, Dykes said. "(But) we are committed to having every student participate, regardless of financial circumstance. The Integrated Technology Club at Holy Nativity Episcopal School in Panama City is seen in this undated photo. They are headed to Long Beach, Calif., on May 29-31 to compete in an international STEM competition. (Photo provided by FSU Panama City) The Integrated Technology Club is part of FSU Panama Citys ASCENT program. ASCENT is a 10-year, $23 million project partially funded by Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. designed to strengthen Northwest Floridas regional workforce in cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Anyone interested in helping to support the team may reach Dykes at 850-896-1807. For more information about ASCENT, visit pc.fsu.edu/ascent. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Integrated Tech Club prepares for global STEM event, seeks donations Rock Hill Schools voted this week to name the welcome center at Northwestern High School after Samuel Foster, a 93-year-old educator who was the first Black principal of a fully integrated high school in South Carolina. Foster began his tenure when the York County school first opened in 1971. The naming of the welcome center is a rare exception for the district, which follows a long-standing policy against naming its facilities after individuals. School board members suspended the rule specifically to recognize Fosters legacy as a leader who guided the school through its first years of integration. Advertisement Advertisement Black History Month: Here is what to know about annual celebration The Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees finalized the decision to honor Foster during a meeting this week. While the district maintains a strict policy against naming its facilities after people, board members determined Fosters historical contributions warranted a rare exception. The district immediately reinstated the naming policy following the vote. Foster became the first Black principal of a fully integrated high school in South Carolina when Northwestern opened in 1971. He recalled that the integration process faced significant challenges from the local community at the time. When this school was built, there were a lot of people in the community who didnt want it, Foster said. Advertisement Advertisement Despite that resistance, Foster said he viewed his leadership as a way to help move the country toward its social ideals. I saw the opportunity of coming to Northwestern as an opportunity to do what the nation strives to be. Become a more perfect union, all right? Foster said. Foster explained that he felt it was necessary to take the position so that Black students would have a mentor to look up to during the transition. I ultimately chose to follow the route to Northwestern simply because I knew that if I not done so, some of our kids, perhaps all of our kids, making the transition wouldnt have anybody to look at, Foster said. He noted that students needed someone to encourage them and provide a sense of direction during the transition. Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on his career, Foster stated that he discovered students value safety and fairness above all else. He said that children care most about having a safe atmosphere and programs that help them succeed while allowing them to have fun. Foster expressed that he felt honored by the districts recognition of his work. VIDEO: CMPD Chief Patterson visits students celebrating Black History Month in west Charlotte Republican strategist Karl Rove said Thursday that he would bet on Texas state Rep. James Talarico to win the Democratic U.S. Senate primary over Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Texas), a race that is being closely watched by political observers. Polling in a primary is difficult, particularly in a state like Texas, because we dont have party registration. You can vote in any primary you want. So, its very difficult to go about so, if you look at the recent Dem polls, 43-47 Crockett over Talarico, 56-44 Crockett over Talarico, 38-37, Texas [Public] Opinion Research, Rove said on Fox Newss Americas Newsroom. Most of these polls were conducted before the [Stephen] Colbert incident, and hes now gotten a large number of views [because] of that. If I were a betting man, Id bet on Talarico, he added, referencing the Late Show host saying CBS told him not to air Talaricos appearance on his show. Advertisement Advertisement Crockett had a double-digit lead over Talarico in a recent University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll. The poll found Crockett ahead of Talarico, with 56 percent support to his 44 percent, among likely Democratic primary voters in Texas. Democrats have sought to score electoral wins in Texas in recent years but have come up short in many instances, including former Rep. Beto ORourkes (D-Texas) unsuccessful challenge against conservative stalwart Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2018. Both Talarico and Crockett are vying for Sen. John Cornyns (R-Texas) seat. On Monday, Cornyn said a Democrat taking his seat would be the first crack in the red wall. He said that either Talarico or Crockett absolutely has a shot of winning in the Lone Star State, especially if they were to face off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in November. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are currently dealing with issues such as affordability, files linked to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and backlash toward President Trumps immigration agenda heading into this years midterm elections. 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. Ukraine has detected a Russian FPV (first-person-view) drone that managed to reach Kharkiv via a fiber-optic cable the first such instance since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office said on Feb. 25. Fiber-optic drones, which are not affected by electronic warfare, were first deployed on the Ukrainian battlefield in 2024. Their use expanded significantly on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides the following year. FPV drones, which normally fly up to 10-20 kilometers (6-12 miles), can extend their range by tens of kilometers when linked to fiber-optic cables. Kharkiv, home to roughly 1.3 million people, lies just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian-occupied territories. Ukraines Kharkiv Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) The drone hit a tree around 3 p.m. local time in Kyivskyi district on Feb. 25, the regional prosecutor's office said. No casualties were reported. Advertisement Advertisement The regional prosecutor's office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the drone attack on Kharkiv. Countermeasures against fiber-optic drones remain limited, relying mostly on physical destruction or obstruction. In cities such as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the country's southeast and south, anti-drone netting has been installed above certain streets and key transport routes to protect vehicles and critical infrastructure from aerial attacks. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located roughly 30km (18.6 miles) from the Russian border, has been a frequent target of Russian missiles and drone attacks throughout the full-scale invasion. Read also: As Russias fiber optic drones flood the battlefield, Ukraine is racing to catch up Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia's state-owned nuclear power group said it will move forward with its power plant projects in foreign countries despite new sanctions from the UK government against Russian companies. The British government on February 24 announced its largest sanctions measures against Russia, four years after the latter's invasion of Ukraine. UK officials said Britain was issuing nearly 300 new sanctions as it continues to crack down on Russia's energy revenues, including its exports of oil. Industry analysts have said Russia's revenue from oil is at its lowest level since 2020, prior to the start of the war. British officials were in Kyiv, Ukraine, this week, announcing new support for Ukraine's effort to repel Russian forces. Rosatom, the Russian nuclear power company, on February 26 said it has obligations to continue its foreign nuclear projects. The UK's sanctions include three Rosatom subsidiaries that are part of those foreign power plant builds. The UK government said the subsidiaries were included because they are involved "in trying to secure contracts for new Russian nuclear installations overseas, opening up additional energy revenue streams to make up for plummeting oil revenues." Rosatom in a statement said, "Rosatom regards any unilateral restrictions as illegitimate under international law. In the field of peaceful nuclear energy, safety is the overriding priority. Measures of this kind undermine that foundation." Officials stressed that Rosatom itself is not part of the UK's sanctions. The Russian group has the world's largest number of foreign nuclear power plant projects, with Rosatom saying it is involved in nearly 40 outside of Russia, in addition to three within Russia. Rosatom is known to be building nuclear power stations in China, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Hungary, and Kazakhstan. The company has said it is involved with ongoing construction of 90% of the world's current nuclear power projects; it also is a global leader in development of nuclear fuels. Officials in Kazakhstan on Thursday said the UK's sanctions will not impact construction of that country's first major nuclear power plant project in nearly 30 years. Rosatom in June of last year was chosen to lead an international consortium in construction of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, a 2.4-GW facility located in the village of Ulken in the Almaty region, on the shore of Lake Balkhash. The Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency said the project has no contractual ties to a sanctioned entity. The agency said it will monitor any more moves by the UK or other countries that could involve Rosatom or other companies working on the project. The Balkhash plant will feature two Generation III+ pressurized water reactors, known as VVER-1200, that will be supplied by Russia. Kazakhstan officials said the country, which produces more than 40% of the world's uranium, will supply its own fuel for the project. Rosatom's Foreign Nuclear Builds Rosatom's other nuclear power plant construction projects include Rooppur NPP, in Bangladesh, that country's first nuclear power plant. The facility is located about 100 miles from Dhaka, on the eastern bank of the Ganges River in Pabna District. The project was started in late 2017; it features two VVER-1200 reactors, with 2.4 GW of total generation capacity. Rosatom's largest facility in China is Tianwan NPP. Phase 1 of that project came online in 2007; subsequent reactors have been added in the years since. Current construction is of two new Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors, which will be Units 7 and 8 at Tianwan. Rosatom also is building the Xudapu NPP, near Huludao in Liaoning Province in northeast China. Officials said the new power units "are built to AES-2006 design," which would be similar to the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant II in Russia that entered commercial operation in 2017. The plant's second unit came online in 2019; both units feature VVER-1200 reactors. [caption id="attachment_251784" align="alignnone" width="640"] Rosatom is leading construction of four new units at Kudankulam NPP in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, India. Units 3 and 4 are currently being built, and will feature two VVER-1000 reactors with 2,100 MW of total generation capacity. Source: Rosatom[/caption] Four VVER-1200 reactors are being built for the El Dabaa NPP in the Matrouh region on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt. Rosatom said it also will supply nuclear fuel "throughout the plant's entire lifetime." Rosatom also will train the plant's workforce. Rosatom said the contract is "based on Intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Egypt [signed on November 2015]." Rosatom said, "Dabaa will reference unit 1 of the Leningrad Phase II nuclear power plant in western Russia." The second stage of construction of the Paks II NPP is underway in Pass, in Tolna County, Hungary. The facility at present features four VVER-440 reactors. The second phase will add two VVER-1200 reactors. Rosatom is leading construction of four new units at the Kudankulam NPP in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, India. The power plant currently has two units, built as part of an agreement between Russia and India that was signed in November 1988. Units 3 and 4 are currently under construction, according to Rosatom, and will feature VVER-1000 reactors. The third stage of the project, Units 5 and 6, also will feature VVER-1000 technology. Turkey's first nuclear power plant is under construction in Mersin province in that country. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is expected to have 4.8 GW of generation capacity and feature four VVER-1200 reactors. Major construction began in March 2018. Russian officials had said the first unit was expected to come online in 2023, but supply chain issues have delayed commercial operation. Russia provided another $9 billion in funding for the project in December of last year, with officials saying they expect Unit 1 will enter service this year. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER. US President Donald Trump has said he would direct every federal agency to immediately stop using technology from AI developer Anthropic. "We don't need it, we don't want it, and will not do business with them again!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. Anthropic is mired in a row with the White House after refusing demands that it agree to give the US military unfettered access to its AI tools. The refusal led US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to say he's deemed Anthropic a "supply chain risk". Advertisement Advertisement The label would make Anthropic the first US company ever to publicly receive such treatment. The company said that it "will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court". Trump's directive came after days of back and forth, in public and private, between the company's CEO Dario Amodei and Hegseth. The company had grown concerned in recent months about the government potentially using its AI tools, like Claude, in what it described as "mass surveillance" and "fully autonomous weapons". Hegseth and the Pentagon have insisted that Anthropic agree to "any lawful use" of its tools and technology. Advertisement Advertisement Both Trump and Hegseth announced their decisions against Anthropic on social media, with the defence secretary saying on X that Anthropic would be "immediately" designated a supply chain risk, prohibiting any business working with the military from "any commercial activity with Anthropic". Anthropic said on Friday evening that it had yet to hear anything directly from the White House or the military "on the status of our negotiations". Nevertheless, the company said being designated a supply chain risk "would both be legally unsound and set a dangerous precedent for any American company that negotiates with the government". "No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons", the company added. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of War is a secondary name Trump has given to the defence department. Anthropic's tools will be phased out of all government work over the next six months, Trump said. As for Anthropic's other customers, the company said the only impact will be on companies that also contract with the military. Those companies may have to stop using Anthropic for work being done on behalf of the department. Prior to Trump's pronouncement, Anthropic had said that, if the US Department of Defense chose to stop using the company's tools, the company would "work to enable a smooth transition to another provider". Advertisement Advertisement Yet, Trump berated the company on his Truth Social platform, saying Anthropic "better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow". Anthropic has been in use by the US government and military since 2024 and was the first advanced AI company to have its tools deployed in government agencies doing classified work. Prior to Trump's decision on Friday, Anthropic received support in its stance against the government. Advertisement Advertisement OpenAI boss Sam Altman offered support to rival AI executive Amodei. He sent a note to staff stating that he had the same "red lines" when it came to the application of the firms' products. In the note seen by the BBC, Altman said any OpenAI contracts for the military would also reject uses that were "unlawful or unsuited to cloud deployments, such as domestic surveillance and autonomous offensive weapons". He later confirmed on X that OpenAI had reached a deal with the Department of War to use its AI models on classified cloud networks. Amodei is a long-time figure in tech, rising to prominence as an early employee of OpenAI. He and a handful of other OpenAI employees left the company to found Anthropic after disagreements with Altman. Advertisement Advertisement The two startups now compete directly for users and corporate customers with an evolving offer of AI chatbots, agents and other tools. "I do not fully understand how things got here; I do not know why Anthropic did their deal with the Pentagon and Palantir in the way they originally did it," Altman wrote in his company memo. "But regardless of how we got here, this is no longer just an issue between Anthropic and the [Department of War] DoW; this is an issue for the whole industry and it is important to clarify our stance." Hegseth on Tuesday called Amodei to Washington DC for a meeting amid growing tensions. It culminated in two contradictory ultimatums if Anthropic refused to grant the department free rein of its tools. Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said he would invoke the Defense Production Act, allowing the government to use Anthropic's products as it saw fit, and deem it a "supply chain risk". By Thursday, Amodei said he would rather stop working with the Pentagon than acquiesce to such threats. A former official with the DoD, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that Anthropic appeared to have the upper hand in the fight. "This is great PR for them and they simply do not need the money," the former official said. Anthropic's work with the Pentagon is part of a contract worth $200m (149m). The company's most recent valuation came earlier this month and put the company's worth at $380 billion, based on its current revenue and future expected earnings. Advertisement Advertisement The former official added that the defence department's basis for threatening Anthropic with invoking either the Defense Production Act and being labelled a supply chain risk was "extremely flimsy". [BBC] Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here. Editor's note: This story references suicide. If you or anyone you know could be struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to connect with trained counselors within the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network. Live chat services are also available at 988lifeline.org. Veterans can press 1 after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. Veterans can also text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255. The San Angelo Police Department released the name Wednesday of a man who died Jan. 12 in connection with a SWAT standoff related to a family violence situation. The SAPD said Jayme Boulware, 42, was the man who died. Advertisement Advertisement San Angelo police Chief Travis Griffith said in a Jan. 12 press conference that the name was not to be released as of yet due to the nature of the incident and the suspect's threats to household members and law enforcement. A San Angelo Police Department police car Feb. 26, 2025. On Jan. 12, the SAPD became aware of an incident in the 3500 block of Shady Hill Drive involving a domestic-related threat, according to a police news release. "The suspect had allegedly threatened to murder his spouse and then take his own life," the release stated. "The spouse was able to safely leave the residence without injury." Due to Boulwares history of escalating behavior and information obtained from related investigations, officers secured the area while an arrest warrant was obtained, the media release said. Advertisement Advertisement More: San Angelo fire marshal identifies man killed in RV fire More: Former Tom Green County deputy accused of aggravated assault An arrest warrant was issued, and the department's negotiations team began attempting to communicate with him, police said in the media release. "During negotiations, gunshots were heard inside the residence," the release stated. "The SWAT Team then made entry into the home, where the suspect was located suffering from self-inflicted injuries caused by a firearm." He was transported to Shannon Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased, the release stated. This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo police name man died in connection with Jan. 12 standoff SANFORD, Maine Local authorities executed a search warrant at 1328 Main Street on Feb. 26 as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of sex trafficking. According to Sanford Police Major Mark Dyer, officers searched unit 5 at the site at a little after 4 p.m. Sanford police executed a search warrant at 1328 Main Street as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of sex trafficking on Feb. 26. Dyer said there are no charges against anyone at this time. We were there to execute the search warrant and to collect evidence, Dyer said. As always, charges can come up later. Advertisement Advertisement The search went without incident, according to Dyer. Dyer declined to comment on the number of victims. The victims of trafficking were offered services, Dyer said in a press release. Due to the ongoing danger posed to these victims, we will not disclose their identity or the outcome of the services offered. Sanford detectives applied for a search warrant and had one authorized by York Judicial Center in Biddeford, according to Dyer. The search stemmed from corroborated information related to sex trafficking, he said. The York County Sheriffs Office and Homeland Security Investigations assisted the Sanford Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement These agencies had unique resources that allowed us to better serve the victims and prosecute the offenders, Dyer said. The next step is to look at the collected evidence, follow any leads that emerge, and execute more search warrants, if necessary, according to Dyer. Well continue to follow the evidence and see how big this is, Dyer said. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sanford police execute search warrant in sextrafficking probe; victims aided Subscribe to The Yall a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state. FORT STOCKTON There arent many elected officials Ruben Falcon can think of that he remembers fondly. A former mayor in this oil town, hes helped garner support for a revolving door of politicians. The West Texas Republican has learned to spot which ones are up for the task of caring for the expansive, largely rural West Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Tony Gonzales, Falcon said, is one of them. I do feel like Congressman Gonzales, himself being from a small town, understood the challenges of small-town life, he said. How hard it is to get resources just to reach out and say, you matter too. The roster of people who share that opinion appears to be thinner by the day for Gonzales, the San Antonio Republican who has been accused of having an affair with a staff member. That employee, Regina Santos-Aviles, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire. Gonzales has rejected calls for him to resign, even as illicit text messages between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales were shared by her husband this month. On this, several local political leaders across the political spectrum in West Texas agree: The prospects are slim for Gonzales retaining his vulnerable seat in Congressional District 23 that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. The fraught political tightrope the congressman walked from the moment he stepped into office in 2021 could finally snap, they said. The news of the affair that has consumed the news cycle has either overshadowed his track record or served as further evidence of his distance both physical and political from the community he represents. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, multiple interviews with West Texas residents, from grocery store owners and librarians to everyday people, tell another story. Most were either unaware of the controversy or declined to comment. In most instances, residents in Marfa, Alpine and Fort Stockton contacted by The Texas Tribune this week said they had nothing to add. You have to take the element of timing, said Falcon, who campaigned alongside Gonzales when he unsuccessfully ran for a Texas House seat in 2020. Falcons son, Jalen Falcon, also works as Gonzales deputy chief of staff. And (the alleged affair) is an extremely terrible situation. Gonzales campaign did not respond to interview requests from The Texas Tribune. The election for Gonzales, who faces YouTube phenomenon and rising right-wing celebrity Brandon Herrera in the upcoming primary election, is a test of how well the incumbent resonated with the people who call the sprawling 800 miles of oil fields and high desert that make up the congressional district home. Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for the U.S. House for Texas 23rd congressional district, speaks during a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar in San Antonio, on March 14, 2024. Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune The primary election on Tuesday is a rematch between Gonzales and Herrera. Gonzales narrowly won the 2024 primary runoff contest over Herrera with just a few hundred votes. Advertisement Advertisement Resentment toward Gonzales has simmered for years in the blood-red pockets of West Texas. And the few people who have been happy with his work are skeptical that he has a chance of winning the March 3rd primary election. The Navy Veteran and retired cryptologist won his seat in 2020 against Raul Reyes and replaced retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, who angered conservatives for opposing President Donald Trumps border wall. Gonzales, local political leaders said, was a fresh start and an opportunity to advance conservative values. But even before this scandal rocked his campaign, Gonzales struggled to earn voters confidence, said Tammie Smith, chair of the Upton County Republican Party. He couldnt work a room well, Smith said. But installing a conservative was paramount for rural Republicans. Rank-and-file members saw Gonzales as a potential champion of their values, even if she wasnt all that persuaded herself. Advertisement Advertisement Shes been disappointed at every turn. A year into his term, the congressman stopped communicating regularly with Smith, who had campaigned for him in several counties and cities. If he ever traveled to McCamey, where Smith lives with her husband, she wouldnt hear from him or be invited to closed-door events. Even worse, she said, is his voting record. Following the Uvalde mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in 2022 that left 19 elementary school students and two teachers dead, Gonzales supported former President Joe Bidens Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which strengthened gun safety laws. Gonzales, the lone Texas Republican to support the bill, has stood by his vote. Along with 47 Republicans, he broke party lines in 2022 to support federally recognizing same-sex marriages. For moderates, these votes may have made sense. For Smith, it was a betrayal that led to censure, further straining Gonzales relationship with rural Republicans. Tammie Smith poses for a portrait in McCamey on Feb. 24, 2026. Rikki Delgado for The Texas Tribune He voted for red flag laws, he voted for same-sex marriages, and those arent our values, Smith said. He doesnt vote for the values of his constituents When we elect somebody, we hope that that person will go to Congress and vote for what we believe in and represent our values. Were not getting that. Advertisement Advertisement And theres a big difference between San Antonio and West Texas, her husband, Finis Smith, added, suggesting he spent too much time in the metro area. How can you even represent all of CD-23 when youre stuck inside the larger cities? he said. The Smiths, who said Gonzales should resign, said the controversy gives his opponent, Herrera, an edge in the race. They said Herrera is more in line with their beliefs though his use of foul language makes her uncomfortable, she said. Democrats few and far between in West Texas saw Gonzales as a Republican they could work with. They now worry how a conservative firebrand may go about solving local problems. Just this month, residents in the Big Bend area were surprised to learn that the federal government had taken steps to extend the border wall along the wildlife-rich Big Bend National Park. The move has sparked outrage among the local communities, many of whose families have resided in the region for generations. Susan Hays poses for a photo in Marfa on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune Tony Gonzales might have been helpful in fighting that border wall, said Susan Hays, a Marfa Democrat running for a seat on the Presidio County Commissioners Court. Gonzales, she said, could have supported local opposition and perhaps taken measures to fend off construction at the national park. Advertisement Advertisement Now I dont even think hes going to win his primary, she said. Falcon, the former Fort Stockton mayor who now sits on the citys council, echoed Hays. Gonzales, he said, was an excellent problem solver who tackled the complicated task of balancing the needs of districts that were different in every respect size, resources and access to money. Gonzales helped secure nearly half a million dollars for the Fort Stockton Police Department, which helped them buy brand-new SUVs, Falcon said. Gonzales also helped direct $1 million in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services for a local health clinic. When he wasnt securing funds, Falcon added, Gonzaless office routinely asked them what they needed, sending letters and petitions. Advertisement Advertisement We know he has to be selective on what he chooses, and we know we cant be selected every year, Falcon said. He understood us, he understood small town, the needs of our government. You gotta keep so many little communities funded somehow. Its exhausting, Im sure, for them. Falcon said the news of the affair and subsequent death could severely injure Gonzales shot at another term. His biggest concern is teaching a new congressperson the ropes from the start, all over again. David Beebe poses for a photo in Marfa on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune David Beebe, who describes himself as a conservative Democrat and a former Presidio County Commissioner and candidate for county judge, agrees that Gonzales had done a decent job in Congress but is far less optimistic about the election. Like in Fort Stockton, Gonzales helped Presidio financially, sending $1.7 million to the countys health department. Gonzales was also, Beebee said, a Republican willing to work with Democrats on contentious national issues, including on measures to prevent the federal government from constructing a border wall along the hills of Big Bend. Gonzales has not commented publicly on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement He does not believe that Gonzales can overcome the news of the affair, particularly with his constituents in Presidio, one of the few counties that still elects Democrats in West Texas. What you see there are working-class families, people who work and go to church. Tight-knit, normal, nice people, people who like to help their neighbor, people who dont. Its not a wild town, Beebee said. This is a traditional place. Take the tourism out of here, and youve got a traditional place here, a place where people dont like that type of stuff. Especially when youre powerful. So I think Tonys really in trouble. The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) is included among the 13 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks to Invest in Right Now. RBC Capital Lowers Mosaic (MOS) Outlook Following Earnings Miss and Cash Flow Concerns On February 26, RBC Capital lowered its price recommendation on The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) to $28 from $29. It maintained a Sector Perform rating on the stock after the company reported weaker-than-expected Q4 earnings. The firm believes 2026 could remain a tough year. Phosphate margins are likely to stay under pressure, as high input costs continue to weigh on profitability. Challenges in Brazils agricultural market and increased capital spending are also expected to limit cash flow. During the companys Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Bruce Bodine acknowledged that the quarter did not meet expectations. He said weaker phosphate demand in the United States was the main reason behind the softer results. He also noted that conditions were starting to improve. Demand began to recover as farmers in North America prepared for the spring planting season. He added that global agricultural fundamentals remained supportive, which should help demand over time. Bodine pointed to the companys operational progress during the year. Mosaic stayed on track with its efforts to improve phosphate production performance and maintained steady potash output throughout 2025. He said the company made meaningful progress in controlling costs and improving efficiency. Management now expects to deliver additional cost savings in 2026. He also highlighted that North American sales volumes remained strong. This indicated that Mosaic was able to gain market share, even while operating in a challenging environment. At the same time, the company continued to reshape its portfolio. Mosaic divested noncore assets, including its Patos de Minas and Taquari operations, and is moving ahead with the planned sale of its Carlsbad facility. These steps reflect its focus on strengthening core operations. Looking ahead, Bodine said Mosaic expects phosphate production to reach at least 7 million tonnes in 2026. Potash production is projected to be around 9 million tonnes, even after factoring in the Carlsbad divestiture. The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Its operations are organized into three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. While we acknowledge the potential of MOS 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. A five-day expedition in Madagascars largest rainforest has rediscovered 21 of 30 targeted species, including a nearly 11-inch giant millipede that hadnt been documented by scientists since 1897. The results are turning heads in conservation circles and raising urgent questions about what else lives in forests that are shrinking before researchers can study them. The expedition, conducted by a conservation group funded by Colossal Biosciences, tested a new approach to finding species considered lost to science. Instead of searching for one or two animals at a time, the team hunted for 30 at once. The 70% success rate in under a week suggests this model could change how conservation fieldwork operates. What 'lost to science' means Re:wild, the organization behind the effort, draws a specific line. A lost species isnt extinct. Local communities may still encounter these creatures. But no scientist has formally identified or documented them in a study for an extended period, according to a July 17 news release from Re:wild. Advertisement Advertisement These animals occupy a strange limbo: alive in the wild, potentially seen by people who share their habitat, but invisible to the scientific community that tracks biodiversity and shapes conservation policy. Punch the Monkey Was Once Abandoned. Now the Internet Loves Him The scale of the problem is staggering. According to Re:wilds Christina Biggs, 4,300 species worldwide havent been documented in a decade or more. A new search model, tested in Makira Previous lost-species searches typically targeted one or two animals per expedition. This time, the team tried something different in Makira, the largest rainforest in Madagascar, located in the island nations northeastern region. Madagascar sits off the east coast of Mozambique. Advertisement Advertisement In the past the Search for Lost Species has primarily looked for one or two species on each expedition, but there are now 4,300 species that we know of around the world that have not been documented in a decade or more, Biggs, a Re:wild officer, said. Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot and Makira is an underexplored area within the country, so we decided to pilot a new model for lost species searches there. We convened a group of scientists to search for as many species as possible, and it proved successful. Researchers, entomologists and trail guides spent five days searching trees, ground and rivers for 30 species across multiple categories: three mammals, three fish, seven reptiles, 12 insects and five spiders, according to the release. Courtesy of Re:wild Local guides knew where to look One of the expeditions most telling details: local guides and fishers helped identify all three targeted fish species. Guides walked to nearby communities and returned with a Makira rainbow fish. They also brought back photos of another fish described in the release as having iridescent scales and red highlights. Scientists hadnt formally documented these species in years, but the people living alongside them knew exactly where to find them. Advertisement Advertisement That collaboration between trained researchers and community members with deep local knowledge appears to have driven much of the expeditions success. The 126-year gap The team rediscovered multiple insect species, including some that werent even on the original target list. The standout: the giant millipede Spirostreptus sculptus. Entomologist Dmitry Telnov described his reaction: I personally was most surprised and pleased by the fact that the giant millipede Spirostreptus sculptus, not uncommon in Makira Forest, appeared to be another lost species known only from the type specimen described in 1897, Telnov said. The longest specimen of this species we observed in Makia was a really gigantic female measuring (10.8 inches) long. Advertisement Advertisement The millipede measured nearly 11 inches and had gone undocumented for more than a century. That it turned out to be not uncommon in Makira raises an obvious question: how many other species are thriving in understudied habitats while remaining absent from the scientific literature? She Found Healing Through Yoga Then Added Pigs for Pure Joy Nine species still missing Nine of the 30 targeted species were not confirmed during the expedition, and some of those gaps are troubling. The Masoala fork-marked lemur, undocumented since 2004, was not found. A large chameleon species missing since 2006 was also absent. The dusky tetraka, a bird rediscovered on a separate expedition in December 2022, was not located in Makira either, according to the release. Whether these species have moved to different ranges, declined in population or simply evaded detection during a five-day window remains unclear. Makiras forests are shrinking The expedition results carry an uncomfortable tension. Makira harbors species that science is only now rediscovering, but the forest itself is under threat. Advertisement Advertisement Though Makira is the largest forest in Madagascar, it is still facing pressure from agriculture, Re:wild said. The expedition team worries that species in the underexplored forest could face steep population declines before scientists have an opportunity to study them. That pressure gives the new search model its urgency. The team found 21 species in five days that science had lost track of for years in some cases, for more than a century. But the habitat those species depend on faces ongoing threats, and the window for documenting what lives there could narrow before researchers return. The combination of scientific expertise, local community knowledge and a willingness to search for dozens of species simultaneously produced results that exceeded what single-species searches have typically delivered. For a five-day proof of concept in northeastern Madagascar, the numbers speak for themselves: 30 targeted, 21 found. This Woman Turned Yoga and Rescue Pigs Into a Joy-Filled Healing Experience for Anxious Hearts A Galaxy That Looks Like a Jellyfish Is Helping Scientists See 8.5 Billion Years Into the Past A Faint Glow in Space Led to a Ghost Galaxy Discovery No One Knew Was There A research team traveled to South Africas Umzimkhulu River in 2017 with a specific mission: find surviving pockets of the Maluti redfin minnow, a species declared extinct after introduced trout wiped it out through predation and competition. They pulled a dozen minnows from the water that looked like the lost species. But years of analysis revealed something no one expected the fish belonged to a species never before documented by science. A Catch That Sparked Years of Debate The dozen minnows triggered what the researchers described as a long-standing debate over the fishes identity. The answer came in a study published January 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution, which confirmed the catch was a new species altogether: Pseudobarbus kubhekai, now commonly called the Umzimkhulu redfin minnow. Advertisement Advertisement Punch the Monkey Was Once Abandoned. Now the Internet Loves Him The research team which included Fatah Zarei, Xiluva Mathebula and Albert Chakona used DNA analysis, physical examination and detailed comparison with related species to crack the case. They found at least 6% genetic divergence between the mystery fish and its closest relatives. That gap, combined with differences in scale pattern, coloring and skeleton, made the case for a distinct species. The 6% figure means these fish arent a quirky variant of something already cataloged. They sit on their own branch of the evolutionary tree. Small Fish, Distinctive Look Umzimkhulu redfin minnows can grow to more than 3 inches long, according to the study. The study describes them as having large heads with blunt snouts, large eyes and sickle-shaped mouths. Their moderately elongate bodies are covered with numerous small bumps. The coloring stands out: an olive-brown base with bright orange-red spots near the fins. For a river minnow living in shallow, rocky streams, theyre unexpectedly vivid. Advertisement Advertisement Much of the species biology and lifestyle remains unknown, according to the researchers. The fish live in the Umzimkhulu River, and thats about where current knowledge drops off. Zoosystematics and Evolution The Story Behind the Name The species name kubhekai honors Skhumbuzo Kubheka, a wildlife researcher who helped discover the fish through extensive sampling efforts, according to the study. The common name ties directly to the Umzimkhulu River in eastern South Africa, approximately 400 miles southeast of Johannesburg. So far, that river is the only known location where the species has been found. Critically Endangered on Arrival Researchers described the Umzimkhulu redfin minnow as a critically endangered species in the same study that announced its existence. The team withheld the fishs exact location due to conservation sensitivities, according to the study, and urged conservationists and government officials to take action to protect the species from extinction. Advertisement Advertisement Thats a detail worth sitting with: a species formally introduced to science and immediately flagged as at risk of disappearing. New Jellyfish Galaxy Discovered With Star-Forming Tentacles The researchers who found it had gone to the Umzimkhulu River looking for a different fish that had already been lost. The Maluti redfin minnow had been abundant in a nearby area during the early 1900s before introduced trout drove it to extinction. The team had hoped populations might have survived undetected. They didnt find survivors of the old species. They found something entirely new, living in the same ecosystem that had already claimed one species of redfin minnow. Zoosystematics and Evolution What This Discovery Tells Us About Earths Blank Pages The Umzimkhulu redfin minnow shows that the catalog of life on Earth still has gaps. Researchers set out with one hypothesis and stumbled onto a species hiding in plain sight, one that had likely been swimming in those rocky streams for generations without being formally identified. Advertisement Advertisement The discovery sits at the intersection of two patterns worth watching: the ongoing identification of new species in under-surveyed freshwater habitats, and the race to protect those species before they vanish. The researchers decision to keep the exact location confidential speaks to how precarious the situation is for small, range-limited fish like this one. The full study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution and includes the morphological details, genetic analysis and taxonomic rationale behind the classification. A dozen small, large-headed fish caught in a South African river in 2017 turned out to be something the world had never seen. Now the question is whether theyll survive long enough for us to learn what else we dont know about them. Krill Oil vs. Fish Oil: Which Omega-3 Supplement Is Right for You? This Woman Turned Yoga and Rescue Pigs Into a Joy-Filled Healing Experience for Anxious Hearts Punch the Monkey Was Abandoned and BulliedThen an IKEA Toy Changed Everything Former Gaza hostage Matan Angrest told Channel 12's 'Uvda' about his captivity, including Hamas torture, the loss of his tank crew, bonding with fellow hostage Gali Berman, and his eventual release. Content warning: This article contains disturbing imagery, including torture and abuse. Former Gaza hostage Matan Angrest told Channel 12's 'Uvda' that he was tortured, including by electrocution, during his time in Hamas's terror captivity, in an interview broadcast on Thursday evening. Angrest, who was serving in a specialized tank unit with classified equipment under the 7th Armored Brigade near Nahal Oz during the October 7 massacre, was the only member of his tank crew who survived the terror attack. His crewmates, Capt. Daniel Perez, St.-Sgt. Itay Chen, and Sgt. Tomer Leibovitz, were all murdered, with their remains taken by terrorists into the Gaza Strip. Things that fall under 'die and don't tell' during torture, interrogations "I woke up in Gaza in some house, and could not open my eyes or move my hand - my hand was burned," Angrest said, describing the first moments he recalls following the massacre. Advertisement Advertisement "I opened my eyes, and eight people were sitting in front of me. They started asking things like 'Where were you kidnapped from? Where do you serve [in the IDF]?' but they talked to me in Arabic, and I could not understand," he continued. "Someone came to me with two wires and put them on my wounds. I felt like I was being electrocuted. I screamed in pain, and then he did it to me again," he told the interviewer. According to the report, the terrorists already knew that Angrest was part of a tank crew containing classified systems equipment, and knew that he, as the only survivor, would be able to tell them information that could help future terror acts succeed. "In the really hard interrogations, they kept asking things that were classified. Things like 'Can the driver kill? Does he have a weapon?' and I kept telling them that the driver is like a regular driver," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Angrest's ability to move improved over time, but Hamas terrorists kept increasing the pressure. "They tortured me to the extreme. Electric shocks - trauma that will stay with me. The longest interrogation was about eight hours continuously, where they made me tell things in the 'die and don't tell' category," he recalled. Angrest also noted that he found out via terrorist radio chatter that his three tank crewmates were murdered on October 7. "I locked myself in a room alone [after finding out], you understand that it's over. I just thought about them and all of our experiences." Angrest recounts meeting Gali Berman, no longer being alone Angrest was held alone for weeks, in locations both above ground and within the underground terror tunnels, Channel 12 noted. Then, he was joined by fellow hostage Gali Berman. "I was with Gali for a long time, and connected with him a lot," he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement But he was separated from the other hostages and continued to be interrogated. "I would say to Gali: 'I'm scared. I don't know what they'll do to me. How will I sleep at night?'" "He tried to comfort me, [but I knew that] if they find out more things about me, it'll be the end for me," Angrest added. Angrest recalls Oct. 7 massacre During the interview, Angrest recalled how, during the massacre, he jumped into his tank and saw a white Toyota with a green-white license plate. "I rubbed my eyes. How did it get in? Suddenly, we heard gunshots, and asked ourselves, 'Did they infiltrate into the country?'" Perez commanded his tank to mobilize out of the Nahal Oz outpost, running over terrorists moving towards it, moving towards a firing position overlooking Shejaia. "Not long after, we were told over the radio to return to the outpost, as there was an incident. I passed by the place where I sleep - where I played backgammon with Tomer (Leibovitz) the day before," he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement He noted coming across the scene of the fight between terrorists and Golani Brigade company commander, Maj. Shilo Har-Even and his five soldiers, who were all massacred at the outpost. Perez told the tank crew to "shut off their emotions," Angrest said. "'Our goal is that there will be no kidnapping,' I don't know how he said that - how he predicted the future," Angrest added, citing what Perez said to the crew at the time. "Matan, you need to be sharp. They'll try to take whoever is in the operations room and kidnap them," Perez warned, according to Angrest. Angrest then noted how just after 8:30 a.m., the tank returned to the breached border fence and discovered another wave of terrorist infiltrators. Advertisement Advertisement "I told Perez, 'Look, they're entering the country, they're coming towards us," he told the interviewer. They were faced with a dilemma of whether to risk the tank to the possibility of anti-tank missile fire by closing in, or attempting, and likely failing, to stop the wave of infiltrators with long-distance fire, he noted. Angrest, the tank's driver, was instructed by Perez to "reverse quickly" and towards the terrorists. "As a team, we began to understand, it's either them or us. After the shell Itay [Chen] fired, I could see terrorists flying into the air from the blast, 50 meters away from me. While I was seeing this, I continued driving, thinking, 'How do I destroy them all? it's... an insane amount. I knew that things could end for us at any moment," he recounted. Advertisement Advertisement Angrest still struggles to recall everything that happened, but black box recordings fill in some gaps, Channel 12 noted. The last few moments of the recordings included someone crying, "Did someone get hit? Perez! Perez! Perez!" Angrest recalls finding out he was being released Angrest was released from captivity in October of 2025, after 738 days of being held by Hamas terrorists within the Gaza Strip. It came as a surprise, he said. "They took Gili [Berman] and me somewhere while blindfolded. They removed them, and suddenly we saw [fellow hostages] Alon Ohel and Guy Gilboa-Dalal." "One of the senior terrorists pointed at us and said, 'You four - you leave tomorrow. Life changed [after being released]. You wake up in the morning and look for the next step. For everyone, it seems like the struggle is over, and you go back to living normally. It goes from zero to one hundred in some ways, but in others from one hundred to zero. The scars will always remain," he said. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Landslides and flooding in Brazils Minas Gerais that have been state triggered by days of heavy rains have claimed the lives of 64 people, authorities say. Downpours that started late Monday have wreaked havoc across parts of the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. Throughout the week, rescuers have been assisting victims and recovering bodies. Minas Geraiss fire department said five people are missing, while more than 5,500 people have been forced to leave their homes. Advertisement Advertisement President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit the devastated region on Saturday to meet with local leaders, according to a statement from the presidential palace. The federal government has authorized the release of around 3.4 million reais ($660,000) for reconstruction efforts and humanitarian assistance. Nearly a quarter of Juiz de Foras population around 540,000 people live in places that have been identified as being at risk of natural hazards related to land and water, according to a 2023 report by Cemaden, a Brazilian government agency that monitors natural disasters. Brazils meteorology institute, Inmet, has warned of a great danger of more bad weather in parts of Minas Gerais as well as other Brazilian states, including Rio and Sao Paulo. Those areas are all at risk of landslides, river overflows and major flooding, forecasters said. Advertisement Advertisement Footage from Thursday evening showed torrents of brown water flowing through tourist hot spot and old colonial town Paraty, also in southeastern Brazil. Authorities told residents to avoid flooded areas and hillsides and to avoid sheltering under trees due to a risk of lightning strikes. Scientists say extreme weather is happening more frequently due to human-caused climate change. Major flooding in Brazils southern Rio Grande do Sul state in May 2024 led to the deaths of at least 185 people and ravaged nearly everything needed for economic activity, from shops to factories, farms and ranches. Financial losses were above 10 billion reais ($1.9 billion). Greenpeace Brazil on Instagram Friday called for actions that prepare cities for climate change and ensure protection for vulnerable populations. Advertisement Advertisement Avoiding tragedies like the ones currently happening in cities in Minas Gerais and other states needs to be a priority, the nonprofit said. Disasters are also the result of political choices. Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america WASHINGTON President Donald Trump says he's looking for an off-ramp from a potential conflict with Iran but he hasn't heard the "secret words" from the adversarial nation with whom the United States is involved in tense nuclear negotiations. Trump in his State of the Union address on Feb. 24 said he wants Iran to declare that it "will never have a nuclear weapon." Even after a U.S. operation last summer badly damaged or destroyed Iran's nuclear sites, Trump said the country is pursuing "sinister ambitions." U.S. fighter jets and aircraft carriers have been deployed to the region as Trump has threatened to attack. He warned Feb. 19 that really bad things will happen if Iran does not make a deal in 10 to 15 days to permanently end its nuclear program. 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. "Look, it'd be wonderful if they'd negotiate, really in good conscience, good faith and conscience, but they are not getting there. So far... they are not getting there," Trump told reporters on Feb. 27, as he departed the White House on a trip to Texas. Advertisement Advertisement The president said that he was not happy with the way Iran has been negotiating but had not made a final decision about whether to conduct a military strike, which may or may not lead to Iran's supreme leader being toppled, and U.S. allies in the region fear could escalate into a wider war. That begs the question: What does the United States want from Iran? "It's a war of choice right now," said Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. negotiator and adviser to Republican and Democratic secretaries of state. "The president has not laid out any clear set of objectives." More: Trump's Israel ambassador eyes staff exodus amid Iran war fears No nukes Diplomatic talks are set to resume next week between the United States and Iran amid growing signs of a military confrontation between the two countries that analysts warn could spread and engulf the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. State Department said Feb. 27 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Israel early next week to discuss Iran and other regional issues. Negotiators for both countries are also expected to meet again next week after a third round of indirect talks ended Feb. 26 without a deal that could avert potential U.S. strikes. Oman, acting as mediator, said progress had been made, but heading into the weekend, there were no signs of an immediate breakthrough. "The administration is clearly pursuing both options and very much, of course, is keeping military on the table and may indeed be pursuing imminent strikes, but is also signaling a desire to find a diplomatic solution if they can," said Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on Feb. 26, 2026. Irans nuclear program has been at the center of the discussions. Trump says Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran says it's not and is enriching uranium for civilian purposes. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and Israel, which for decades have accused Iran of secretly trying to develop a nuclear weapon, bombed three Iranian nuclear sites last June. Trump said at the time that the attacks obliterated Irans key nuclear enrichment facilities, but a later U.S. assessment determined that only one of the three sites was destroyed. US wants permanent deal In the current negotiations, the U.S. has demanded that Iran end its uranium enrichment program. The demand has been a key point of contention, with Iran saying it has a right to enrich uranium on its own soil for non-weaponry use such as energy production. Trump insists Iran should not be allowed to enrich any uranium at all. I say no enrichment," he said during a stop at a Texas oil refinery on Feb. 27. "Not 20%, 30% they always want 20%, 30%. They want it for civil. I think its uncivil. Advertisement Advertisement Miller said he thinks that Trump is looking for Iran to agree to inspections by an independent entity, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, and constraints that would make it impossible for the Iranians to enrich enough uranium, in a transparent way, to produce enough fissile material to make a nuclear weapon. But, he said, "It appears as if, even as they've committed themselves to negotiations next week, including technical talks with the IAEA, that in his own mind, he needs to send them a message or to make sure that the world understands that he's not joking, that he's serious." More: Will the US attack Iran? Trump weighs options, floats limited strike The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. is demanding Iran destroy its the three main nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan and deliver all of its remaining enriched uranium to the United States. Iranian officials have objected to these demands. Advertisement Advertisement The United States is also insisting that any nuclear deal between the two countries remain permanent instead of including a future ending date, or sunset clause. The Trump administration argues that would make an agreement more ironclad than the deal negotiated a decade ago under then-President Barack Obama that Trump withdrew from during his first term. That deal, which required Iran to limit its nuclear program by, among other things, cutting enrichment levels and reducing centrifuges, took effect in 2016 and was due to expire 10 years after it was adopted. Protesters call on President Donald Trump to support regime change in Iran during a rally held Jan. 13, 2026, near his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Ballistic missiles The United States is also demanding that Iran restricts its ballistic missile program. Trump warned in his State of the Union address on Feb. 24 that Iran would soon be capable of building a missile that could strike the United States. Experts have cast doubt on this argument, and it is not backed up by U.S. intelligence reports, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Three sources familiar with the assessments told the news agency that Trumps claims appear to be exaggerated, casting doubt on part of his case for a possible attack on Iran. "It's not so easy to build a ballistic missile that's going to reach the United States, when we've done so much damage to their program until now," said Daniel Kurtzer, who was the U.S. ambassador to Israel during George W. Bush's administration. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt under former President Bill Clinton. Iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East, and its missiles are able to strike Israel, U.S. bases in the region and parts of Europe. It also has developed so-called space-launch vehicles that have put satellites into orbit and that experts say could be modified into intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. More: US airstrikes on Iran are 'on the table,' Trump White House says End support for proxy groups The Trump administration has said it wants Tehran ends its support for proxy regional groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, and pledge not to use violence against protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has built a network of the groups that it uses to wield influence across the Middle East. Though the groups operate with some autonomy, Iran has provided them with financial support, weaponry such as drones, missiles, and training and intelligence. The groups have essentially become a shadow army for Iran, carrying out attacks on Israel, U.S. troops serving in the Middle East and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The United States has designated many of them as terrorist organizations. But since the Israeli attacks last summer, Kurtzer, the former ambassador, said proxy activity had died down. "It would be nice to get some kind of a declaration or commitment," he said. "But in practical terms, the proxies are not so significant anymore." Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Reuters Michael Collins writes about the intersection of politics and culture. A veteran reporter, he has covered the White House and Congress. Follow him on X: @mcollinsNEWS Francesca Chambers is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY covering foreign policy. Follow her on X: fran_chambers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does US want from Iran as fears of war loom? Republicans on the Iowa Senate Appropriations Committee said Thursday a measure to provide continuing appropriations would prevent government shutdowns similar to those in Washington D.C. Democrats said the proposal would give Republicans the ability to avoid compromising with a potential Democratic governor in future years. Senate File 2461, approved by the committee along party lines, would establish a continuing appropriation in years when the Legislature fails to pass a budget before July 1, when the next fiscal year begins. This funding would be based on appropriations from the previous fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement The measure was amended to address how appropriations currently work in Iowa Code, Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said. Under current law, if the General Assembly were to pass three budget bills, which were approved through the governor, but did not pass the other remaining appropriations bill by the start of the next fiscal year, all of those budgets would automatically go to zero. In order to provide funding for a limited period of time outside of the annual appropriations process, lawmakers would need to pass a continuing resolution, similar to whats happening now with our federal government, Kraayenbrink said. Basically, what this provides is a continuing resolution for any of the bills that we have not enacted for the following fiscal year that were supposed to be acting on right now, Kraayenbrink said. So, if there is a bill that does not get enacted, on appropriations, they automatically revert to the status quo budget of the previous fiscal year, so that we will not have a shutdown, so to speak, or a partial shutdown or any of those complex things that could be happening. Republican senators have said the measure is a means to prevent full and partial government shutdowns in Iowa, similar to the shutdowns seen in this year and in 2025 at the federal level. These federal shutdowns were brought in part by Democrats aiming to pressure President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, who control both chambers, to act on issues like the the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits or federal immigration enforcement restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Kraayenbrink said there are many Iowans who rely on state government funds, and that the measure would make sure they know when they get up that morning, if we did not agree on a budget, that theyre still going to get a paycheck. Democrats said the proposal would mean state lawmakers do not have to accomplish their most important duty passing a budget. Sen. Matt Blake, D-Urbandale, said the General Assembly has one constitutional duty, and it is to pass a budget. This is saying we dont have to do the one thing were supposed to do, Blake said. He and other Democrats have also said this bill alongside other measures being discussed that could limit the power of governor are coming because Republicans fear that a Democrat could win the 2026 gubernatorial election. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is currently the frontrunner to become the Democratic candidate for governor. Advertisement Advertisement It is circumspect, it is odd, the timing of where this bill is coming forward, Blake said. So lets just be straightforward, maybe a little bit, when it comes to this: this is meant to make sure that you may not have to deal with a certain person thats elected next year. Thats what this bill is. So, I implore everybody to vote no to make sure that we show Iowans that we can do our job, get along, and pass a budget for this state. Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, denied this argument, saying the measure is meant to give legal certainty to Iowans about how state government will continue to operate in the event that a budget agreement is not reached by the new fiscal year. What this does is gives Iowans the reliable, predictable answer that is in law, codified, as to how the budget will be handled, and how state government can continue to operate, in the unlikely event that a budget isnt passed and agreed to, Bousselot said. I think it is not politics to give that certainty to Iowans. It is about the people. House Speaker Pat Grassley said during a news conference earlier in February he believes the Iowa state government has shown regardless if we had split control or the trifecta, that weve generally been able to get a budget done. On Thursday, Grassley said he had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh about the proposal, and while he said there was not a resolution reached, he understood why the proposal was brought forward We just dont want to look like Washington, D.C., if there would ever be a situation where we get down to the last minute, Grassley said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (This story was updated to add new information and a photo.) A former Sheppard Air Force Base airman who traveled to Colorado to kidnap and sexually abuse a child was sentenced to life in federal prison, federal and military officials said. Travis Robert Larson, 24, was sentenced on Friday by federal Chief District Judge Reed O'Conner, a press release from U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said last week. Advertisement Advertisement He had been indicted in August and pleaded guilty in November to one count of enticement of a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor, according to the release. On May 4, a father notified the Colorado Springs, Colorado, Police Department that his 14-year-old daughter was missing, according to court documents. Larson The father told authorities that he had located the childs phone and found messages indicating that Larson had been communicating with the child and had discussed driving to Colorado to pick her up and bring her back to Texas, court records show. Court records show that Larson was an active member of the Air Force and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls at the time of the crimes. Advertisement Advertisement On May 5, the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Squadron recovered the child near Larsons dorm room and, she revealed that Larson began communicating with her online when she was just 10 or 11 years old, a media release from Raybould said. According to court documents, the child told investigators that Larson had traveled twice to Colorado Springs to meet her for sex. More: Texas AG says Forward Wichita Falls, a nonprofit organization, must release public information More: Wichita Falls City Council to weigh devoting money to new tennis center The media release said Larson sexually abused the child multiple times inside his SAFB dormitory before she was recovered by law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement A Sheppard AFB news release Monday said Larson was a former airman. "Investigations by the Colorado Springs Police, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, and FBIs Wichita Falls Resident Agency led to Larson's arrest and prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allyson Monte and Stephen Rancourt," SAFB officials said in the media release. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Sheppard Air Force Base ex-airman gets life for child sex abuse PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) We had a special guest for this weeks episode of Shootin the Breeze. Extreme Meteorologist and Storm Chaser Reed Timmer sits down with Your Local Weather Authority as he heads to Bloomington for Dominate the Storm. Reed Timmer is hosting Dominate the Storm at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27. We talked with him about storm chasing and the data he collects while hes out in the field. Speaking of Reeds time with tornadoes, our weather history talks about a February tornado outbreak in central and northern Illinois back in 2017. Two EF-3 tornadoes touched down in late February, with one resulting in the death of two people. Advertisement Advertisement Were now heading into March with some more interesting weather on the horizon including snow and rain chances. We could see some much-needed relief from the current drought as we go through the month. This story offers a look at this weeks episode. The full episode of Shootin the Breeze streams for free on WMBD+. WMBD+ is free to download on Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV devices. To learn more about streaming exclusive Central Illinois programming, visit CIProud.com. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. A 181-home development won final approval to move forward in one of San Luis Obispo Countys smallest communities. But one notable hurdle must be cleared before the project can be fully built out. Applicant David Crabtree, a Templeton-based Realtor, gained the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commissions unanimous approval to build the development in San Miguel, despite some pushback from residents concerned with the projects potential impact on water. Advertisement Advertisement The project would represent a significant expansion to the housing inventory in the tiny North County town, which currently is home to 813 units, according to the U.S. Census. The new development would amount to an increase of more than 20% on top of the current housing stock. Several residents of the area and agricultural professionals voiced concerns that the project would overtax San Miguels water supply. Also, the projects construction timeline will be contingent on upgrades to the San Miguel Wastewater Treatment Plant slated for completion in 2028. That project itself is contingent on a set of grant applications to pay for its $44 million price tag, according to San Miguel Community Services District general manager Kelly Dodd. Applicant David Crabtree is looking to construct a 181-residential parcel housing development in San Miguel. (Courtesy of San Luis Obispo County) Dodd said the existing wastewater treatment system can accommodate the first phase of homes planned in the development, but the next phases cant move forward without the wastewater plant expansion. Advertisement Advertisement But residents including ranch owner Greg Grewal and Templeton resident Murray Powell said the development would overtax the already-limited water supply to San Miguel, which is part of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. However, county staff dismissed these claims as misinterpretations of previous lawsuits and regulatory decisions, and said the project was compliant with water use regulations in the area. Commissioner Anne Wyatt said balancing water use between the development and agricultural uses is an ongoing struggle, but she said the upsides of the project outweighed her concerns. On the water, I do understand the communitys concerns, Wyatt said. I do understand that the basin is in overdraft, and there are some issues that will have to get reconciled down the line. The San Miguel waste water treatment facility as seen on April 18, 2025. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) What will San Miguel project look like? According to the staff report, the project is consistent with the San Miguel Community Plan. Advertisement Advertisement Sitting on a 43-acre parcel, the project would be developed in a series of four phases that would move through the 190 total lots. Of those lots, 181 would be for single-family residential housing, while the other nine would consist of 3.8 acres of commercial development, a pair of utility parcels and around 13 acres of parks and open space, according to the staff report. By building 10% of the units as deed-restricted affordable housing for moderate-income households, the project was able to qualify for the state density bonus program, which allows developers to request concessions to a municipalitys building code. Applicant David Crabtree is looking to construct a 181-residential parcel housing development in San Miguel. (Courtesy of San Luis Obispo County) All 18 of the affordable homes would be constructed in the first 88-unit phase of the project, according to the staff report. The second phase would consist of 42 residential parcels, followed by a third phase of 45 residential parcels and six small-lot residential parcels, with the fourth phase dedicated to commercial use. Advertisement Advertisement In this projects case, the concession was a request to reduce the amount of open space required in the development from 40% to 29%, allowing the developer to pack more units onto the parcel than normal. While the project checks all boxes legally and was considered consistent with the San Miguel Community Plan, it was only narrowly approved by the San Miguel Advisory Council in a 4-3 vote prior to coming to the Planning Commission. To make the project work, significant infrastructure and site grading will need to be done, such as bringing water and sewer connections across the bridge on North River Road and flattening out a nearly vertical hillside on the eastern end of the property. Applicant David Crabtree is looking to construct a 181-residential parcel housing development in San Miguel. (Courtesy of San Luis Obispo County) Pam Jardini, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the developer made several changes to the design since the projects previous appearance before the Planning Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Indian Valley Road will be widened, requiring design changes that reduced some of the pocket village lots in the first and third phases to add slightly more open space, according to the staff report. Jardini said that because the project will be reliant on the completion of the wastewater plant expansion, it wont be completed and connected until late 2028 at the earliest. Saturdays departing cold front will pair up with additional energy to our south early Sunday. Southern New England has the best chance for accumulating snow, including southern Vermont and New Hampshire in our own coverage area. Heres the latest! Timing: Early Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon Travel Impacts: If you have any Sunday morning travel plans such as going to church or running errands, youll want to take it extra easy south and east of the Champlain Valley. Minor travel impacts are expected from the Northeast Kingdom to southern Vermont and New Hampshire. Minor to moderate travel impacts are likely across southern New England. Expected Snowfall: Most of the snow will accumulate south and east of the Champlain Valley. Areas farther north will add up a dusting to 2 inches. The closer you are to southern Vermont and New Hampshire, the better chance you have for 2 to 4 inches of fresh powder. The larger totals will be located across southern New England with an average of 4 to 8 inches. 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. Quick Read Trump proposed a government-backed 401(k) with up to $1,000 annual matches for 56 million workers lacking employer benefits. 57% of Americans say they are behind on retirement savings while only 15% feel ahead. Fidelity benchmarks recommend 1x salary saved by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 10x by 67. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. Earlier this week, President Trump called for the creation of a government-backed 401(k) program for folks who dont receive employer matches. At the moment, that includes about 56 million people, according to Newsweek. To help, Trump said, My administration will give these oft-forgotten American workers, great people, the people that built our country, access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker. We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year. That could certainly help those who qualify. Unfortunately, its not the only issue plaguing those with some hope of retirement. About 57% of Americans say theyre behind on their retirement savings, as noted by Bankrates Retirement Savings Survey. About 35% say theyre significantly behind. Only 15 percent of workers feel ahead of where they should be, including 9 percent who feel slightly ahead and 6 percent who feel significantly ahead. Another 22 percent feel theyre right on track with retirement savings, they added. But that doesnt have to be your experience. As most of you know, saving for retirement is important. Ideally, you want to start as early as possible. Even just a small amount invested in your 20s can add up to a substantial amount of money by the time you reach your 60s. Even if you got a late start on saving, its never too late to start putting away money for your retirement. Here are just a few ways to ensure you can retire. No. 1: The rule of thumb is 10%. If you can, set aside 10% of your salary into a dont touch retirement account. According to Fidelity, by the age of 30, have at least a years worth of salary saved. So, if you earn $80,000 by the age of 30, you should have at least $80,000 saved. By 40, have three times your salary saved. By 50, six times, by 60, eight times. By the age of 67, if youre thinking of finally retiring, have at least 10 times your salary saved. No. 2: Contribute to Individual Retirement Accounts. An IRA allows you to save for retirement with tax-free growth or on a tax-deferred basis. You can invest in a traditional IRA, for example. While its best to check with your financial advisor, many times you can deduct contributions on your tax return. Plus, earnings can potentially grow tax-deferred until you withdraw funds in retirement. Indonesia is preparing to send 1,000 soldiers to Gaza within weeks, the first contingent of some 8,000 personnel that Jakarta has pledged to deploy to the Palestinian territory as part of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) under United States President Donald Trumps Board of Peace. Indonesian army spokesperson Brigadier General Donny Pramono told news media the first troops are preparing to reach the enclave by April, and the majority will be on the ground in Gaza by June. But as the hasty deployment approaches, some Indonesians are questioning what role their armed forces will play in the mission amid Israels genocidal war on the Palestinian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia is a seasoned participant in United Nations-led peacekeeping missions, but critics fear that without oversight by the UN, Indonesian forces could be used as pawns by the US Israels foremost ally to control Palestinians in Gaza and formalise the occupation of the enclave. We are afraid that Indonesia will be used as the buffer to control the Palestinians, Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad, an associate professor at the University of Indonesia, told Al Jazeera. Indonesia has built a reputation in Palestine as one of the most active partners on the ground. It would be very painful for both Palestinians and Indonesians if they see the Indonesian army becoming an instrument of the occupation, Shofwan said. The worry is that Indonesia will only be a shock absorber, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia will only be an actor which is used to establish legitimacy [for Israels occupation], and worse. Complicating matters further is the fact that Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel owing to its long support for the Palestinian cause. Indonesia needs to make clear that it will not be in the sectors which risk confrontation with Palestinian factions, [and] it will also not be in the Israeli-controlled areas because that will require operational coordination with the Israeli army, which means practical recognition of Israel, Shofwan said. Indonesian protesters hold up posters during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 12, 2025 [Tatan Syuflana/AP Photo] Palestinians are seen as objects Indonesia with the worlds largest Muslim population was the first among members of the Board of Peace to commit a specific number of soldiers to the ISF. Advertisement Advertisement Jakartas pledge of peacekeepers was then followed by Kosovo, Morocco, Albania, and Kazakhstan, although they have not said their troops strength in the enclave. Officials in Jakarta have stressed the country will play a balancing role on the Board of Peace alongside other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. But, as a longstanding supporter of a two-state solution and an independent Palestine, observers worry that Indonesias stance will be compromised by its involvement in the Gaza operation. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto could also soon face difficult questions about the work of the Board of Peace and its plans for the reconstruction of Gaza and the future of the territorys Palestinian population, analysts say. Advertisement Advertisement University of Indonesias Shofwan said the Board of Peace and its approach to Gaza is fundamentally colonial. It is designed to achieve negative peace without putting the rights and voices of Palestinians at the centre, and Palestinians are seen as objects, he said. They are seen to be something that needs to be controlled. There are no restraints towards Israel at all, so the design is very colonial, Shofwan added. The boards executive committee comprises Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East; Marc Rowen, CEO of Apollo Global Management; World Bank President Ajay Banga; former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair; and Robert Gabriel Jr, US deputy national security adviser. Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian participation in the board has been siloed into a transitional committee of apolitical technocrats led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority (PA) deputy minister. Earlier this month, shortly after Prabowo signed on to the Board of Peace, representatives from some 40 civil society and religious groups in Indonesia met the president to discuss the Gaza mission, Indonesias state news agency Antara reported at the time. Prabowo told the groups he was prepared to withdraw from the Board of Peace if it fails to advance the goal of an independent Palestine, Antara reported, citing Muhammad Cholil Nafis, vice chairman of Indonesias top Islamic advisory body. Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also emphasised that the countrys troops will be in Gaza solely to support Palestines recovery and its fight for independence and sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to deploying troops to Gaza, Indonesia will also focus on humanitarian assistance and send several hospital ships. But observers told Al Jazeera that Prabowos decision to join the Board of Peace reflected more his personalised style of leadership and his desire to be seen as a global player than a direct concern with the question of Palestine. We participated with peacekeepers in Lebanon and [the Democratic Republic of the] Congo, but now the new president wants to make Indonesia diplomatically stronger on the global level, said Yon Machmudi, an expert in Indonesian politics and international relations, also at the University of Indonesia. This is also part of the motivation of the president to be involved in any kind of negotiations with the peace process, he said. Advertisement Advertisement I think Prabowo truly wants to leave a significant legacy, remembered as a president active in global peace, not only in the Middle East but also in other regions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Machmudi said. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, centre, attends the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace with other world leaders in Washington, DC, on February 19, 2026 [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] Its about maintaining optics Prabowo, a former military general once banned from entering the US, has found himself in the global spotlight since being elected president in 2024, starting with his decision to visit China on his first international trip. He has since visited Russia twice, skipping a Group of Seven meeting in June to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, director of the Indonesia-MENA desk at the Centre for Economic and Law Studies in Jakarta, told Al Jazeera that he believes Prabowo has been trying to get Trumps attention. Advertisement Advertisement The US president has a track record of responding to assertive and transactional leadership, and once said he gets along better with world leaders the tougher and meaner they are. Courting China and Russia was one step towards Prabowo getting US attention, while signing on to the Board of Peace and deploying Indonesian troops to Gaza was another, Rakhmat said. In the mix of motivations for joining the board, Prabowo may also have been hoping for a better trade deal with the US after Trump unleashed trade tariffs last year. The White House initially planned to levy a reciprocal tariff of 32 percent on Indonesian exports, which was later cut down to 19 percent. The Indonesian president late last week signed a formal trade deal with Trump on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, DC. The deal kept tariff rates at 19 percent, while Indonesia agreed to cut tariffs on 99 percent of its US imports. It is still unclear how the deal will be impacted by a landmark ruling on Friday from the US Supreme Court striking down the legal basis for many of Trumps tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Rakhmat fears Prabowos ambition makes it less likely that he will push back if something goes wrong in the Gaza operation and Palestinians are negatively impacted. He told Al Jazeera that Prabowo will likely condemn any operational drift in the Gaza plan, rather than withdraw completely from the Board of Peace. People will expect more, but looking at his past behaviours, it is unlikely he will do something extraordinary, Rakhmat said. The Indonesian president wants to have a good image among major powers. Its about maintaining optics, he said. A United Nations investigative body has warned that South Sudan risks a return to full-scale war unless it can urgently put an end to entrenched impunity and widespread abuses amid escalating violence in the worlds youngest country. The report by the UNs Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS), released on Friday at the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, found that civilians were enduring severe abuses including killings and systematic sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced displacement and deprivation amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in one of the worlds most impoverished countries. It said escalating atrocity risks and the collapse of political safeguards in the country made urgent preventive action imperative, calling on regional and international actors to engage with diplomatic pressure, sanctions and enforcing the UN arms embargo until concrete improvements in human rights and accountability are achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Preventing further mass atrocity crimes, institutional collapse, and the destruction of South Sudans fragile transition requires urgent coordinated national, regional and international re-engagement, the report said. The report, drawing on a year of investigations and testimony, blamed the actions of political and military elites in detaining opposition leaders, eroding power sharing and attempting to change the terms of a 2018 peace agreement for placing a peace framework in the country under major strain and increasing instability. It noted that the arrest and removal from office of First Vice President Riek Machar last year, and his prosecution for murder, treason and crimes against humanity, had undermined the core power-sharing guarantees of the peace agreement, and triggered political uncertainty and armed clashes on a scale not witnessed for a decade. Machar, an ethnic Nuer, was suspended last year as South Sudans number two after opposition Nuer White Army fighters overran a military garrison in the town of Nasir. Advertisement Advertisement Civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, two years after gaining independence from Sudan, when President Salva Kiir, a member of the Dinka ethnic group, the countrys largest, first dismissed Machar as vice president, accusing him of plotting a coup. The report also noted that intensifying military operations had been marked by a dangerous shift in tactics, including air strikes on civilian-populated areas. It said that the deployment of forces from neighbouring Uganda, a guarantor of the 2018 peace agreement, had materially strengthened government forces militarily and raised credible concerns of violations of a UN arms embargo. The CHRSS report noted that joint aerial bombardments by the Ugandan and South Sudan armies had targeted civilian areas, predominantly affecting [ethnic] Nuer communities in opposition-affiliated areas. Sexual violence widespread, systematic Conflict-related sexual violence remained a defining and persistent feature of the crisis, the report found, with survivor testimonies over the past decade showing widespread and systematic patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated by all armed forces and groups. Advertisement Advertisement Most women and girls lived at constant risk of sexual violence, it said, adding that last year, the threat of such abuse had again functioned as a strategic instrument of conflict deployed to terrorise civilian populations, drive displacement, and fracture social cohesion. The report said that impunity was entrenched, with senior commanders and political actors rarely held accountable for serious abuses perpetrated on their behalf. The report also noted a sharp deterioration in civic space, with journalists, activists and opposition figures facing harassment, surveillance and arbitrary detention, undermining prospects for inclusive political participation and long-term stability. The commission urged the government to immediately halt violations by its forces, release those arbitrarily detained and guarantee freedoms of expression, assembly and association. Advertisement Advertisement It also called for the urgent establishment of long-delayed transitional justice mechanisms to investigate and prosecute war crimes committed since 2013. Renewed conflict An estimated 400,000 people were killed in the five years of a war waged largely along ethnic lines, before calm was restored with a peace deal in 2018. But escalating fighting in recent months has brought renewed fears of a return to civil war. Beginning in December, a coalition of opposition forces some loyal to Machar, leader of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/IO) seized a string of government outposts in Jonglei state, an opposition stronghold northeast of the capital, Juba that is the homeland of the Nuer ethnic group. Advertisement Advertisement Following the territorial losses, South Sudans army announced a major military operation against opposition forces in late January, ordering civilians and aid groups to leave areas of Jonglei state, a move that the International Crisis Group said showed the country had returned to war. Millions affected The United Nations said earlier this month that an estimated 280,000 people have been displaced by the fighting and air attacks since late December, including more than 235,000 across Jonglei alone, while UNICEF warned last week that more than 450,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition due to mass displacement and the halting of critical medical services in Jonglei. Nearly 10 million people need life-saving humanitarian assistance across South Sudan, while humanitarian operations have been crippled by attacks and looting, with observers saying both sides in the conflict have prevented assistance from reaching areas where they believe civilians support their opponents. The CHRSS report said that civilians had borne the overwhelming human brunt of the crisis as conflict, violence, displacement and sexual violence had intensified an already-dire humanitarian situation. Last year, it said, displacement had risen by nearly 40 percent to 3.2 million people, while declining international assistance was disproportionately affecting women and children. CLEVELAND (WJW) After more than a decade at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Spirit Airlines has reportedly made the decision to stop all of their flights going in and out of the city. The change is taking place on April 15, an airport spokesperson confirmed to FOX 8 Thursday. Dont ignore the signs: Cardiologist warns subtle symptoms can signal heart disease CLE remains focused on sustaining strong airline partnerships and advancing air service growth to support the regions connectivity, the spokesperson said in a statement. FILE A Spirit Airlines 319 Airbus approaches Manchester Boston Regional Airport for a landing, Friday, June 2, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) The move comes after the airline continues to restructure its route network. Advertisement Advertisement Those who have upcoming Spirit flights should reach out to the airline to learn about other flight options/refunds, as the airport reportedly cannot make any of those changes for customers. Cottage cheese sold at Walmart recalled: FDA The airport did not say if any jobs would be impacted by this change. Earlier this week, the company said it expected to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy later this year. Spirit Airlines released the following statement to FOX 8 regarding the change: We continue to optimize our network as part of our ongoing restructuring to focus on our strongest routes. In line with this process, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue service at Managua, Nicaragua (MGA), effective April 14, 2026, and Cleveland (CLE), effective April 15, 2026. Additionally, we are transitioning to winter seasonal service at Key West (EYW), effective May 5, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reach out to Guests with affected travel plans to notify them of their options. As we move forward, we will continue to align our network and capacity to routes and periods of strongest consumer demand. Spirit Airlines offered a nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale from Cleveland (other stops were ended last year). 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 8 Cleveland WJW. Critics are calling out President Donald Trump and his administration after what appears to have been a massive screw-up in the airspace around El Paso, Texas, for the second time in less than a month. The U.S. military on Thursday reportedly used a laser weapon to shoot down a drone near the U.S.-Mexico border. It turned out the drone was operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, The Associated Press reported. Earlier this month, the FAA shut down the El Paso airport and surrounding airspace after CBP used a laser to shoot down party balloons that it had mistakenly believed to be Mexican drug cartel drones. CBS News reported that the closure was also related to military tests of the laser weapon, as well as a dispute with the FAA over how to handle them. Politics: Trump Anoints Himself Judge, Jury And Executioner Of Alleged Drug Smugglers In the latest case, the FAA closed off airspace, but not the airport. The move did not impact commercial flights, AP reported. Advertisement Advertisement Cartel drones have been spotted with increased frequency near the border. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that they tend to be crudely adapted off-the-shelf models and are used for both surveillance and to drop drug packages. However, critics slammed the Trump administration for deploying experimental weapons without even correctly identifying the target: They got Star Wars tech but can't tell friend from foe. What a time to be alive. Thomas Shelby (@getmesomewhisky) February 27, 2026 Bc ofc they ******* did. The incompetence is staggering. https://t.co/kFP3phZC4l Geez Louise (@LouiseMont) February 27, 2026 Oh. It doesn't appear DEI was a problem after all. Can we please put competent people back in these positions???? https://t.co/xwOyoyqMcL Laurie (@TherapyDogsRock) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement I had to read this headline multiple times for the stupid to truly sink in. We shot down OUR OWN drone. The ******* incompetence is staggering https://t.co/R9EGb0KwlR Ally (@OhMyItsAlly) February 27, 2026 I really thought theyd be more careful with the super laser after they were forced to shut down El Pasos airspace for impetuously shooting down a Mylar balloon that they mistook for an enemy drone and they couldnt even make it to the next calendar month lol https://t.co/W7afkEujYH Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) February 27, 2026 At least someone is fighting CBP https://t.co/ttJrWJBsDj Entitled Cyclist (@EntitledCycling) February 27, 2026 So the US government is literally shooting down their own drones.You cant make this **** up https://t.co/10wlGYqNRN JMireles (@JMireles7) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement The ineptitude of the current administration is astounding. https://t.co/6A2kpEqWF5 A.J. Perez (@byajperez) February 27, 2026 How is this possible? https://t.co/RFA2liC4ap Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 27, 2026 Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Can we please have DEI back? They were at least qualified and not Larry, Mo & Curly or the Keystone Cops. .@GoguenHarveyhttps://t.co/RFEmdj4D8W Jodi K (@jodikyman) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement I hope the USA wins this war against the USA. Paul H (@EagleHawkins) February 27, 2026 So we're shooting our own drones down? pic.twitter.com/7sATwWvzLZ Whistleblower (@Whistleblr) February 27, 2026 We are attacking ourselves again More Ls for the Trump Administration HarlemJ11@bsky.social (@HarlemJ11) February 27, 2026 Would be nice to get this Three Stooges situation figured out with deconfliction in the same airspace where civilian airliners fly. https://t.co/TzVvVq1Ibd John Jackson (@hissgoescobra) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement This administration is a total joke. https://t.co/oSyatLgbRY Michele (@UnimpressedTX) February 27, 2026 Nothing to see here. Everyone just move on. https://t.co/Nie0XJzpL1 Roy Drones Jr (@chiweethedog) February 27, 2026 this is the dumbest timeline but sort of hilarious https://t.co/bvkNoS2wsb Chili Dog (@RobertJMolnar) February 27, 2026 How much did this cost we tax payers? Robert (@Giants55) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement This, in a nutshell, is what happens when you have a talk show host in charge. Kaycee Nightfire (@KcNightfire) February 27, 2026 We are literally the most embarrassing civilization to ever exist. Sunshine Daydream (@karma_daydream) February 27, 2026 Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost Sir Keir Starmers leadership has been plunged into further crisis after the Green Party swept to victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Labour was defending a commanding 13,413 majority in what should have been an easy defence in one of its safest seats. But in a tight three-way race between Labour, Reform and the Greens, Hannah Spencer secured a comfortable victory with 14,980 votes, a majority of 4,402. Ms Spencer, a Manchester plumber, becomes the Green Partys fifth MP. Advertisement Advertisement On a disastrous night for Sir Keirs party, Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia was beaten into third place by Reform. Matthew Goodwin, Reforms candidate, won 10,578 votes, while Ms Stogia won 9,364 votes, 25.4 per cent of the vote, down from 50.8 per cent at the 2024 general election. The result shows how Labour has haemorrhaged votes to both the populist Left and Right since its landslide victory less than two years ago. Sir Keirs personal unpopularity, his stance on Gaza, and his controversial decision to block Andy Burnham, Labours popular Greater Manchester Mayor, from standing are likely to be blamed for the swing to the Greens in a seat with a large Muslim population. The loss will raise fresh questions about how long the Prime Minister can cling on in Downing Street. If Labour suffers a wipeout in the local elections on May 7, Sir Keir may face a challenge to his leadership that could bring his crisis-ridden premiership to an end. Advertisement Advertisement The result is also likely to be the subject of a significant row after election observers claimed there had been concerningly high levels of family voting, an illegal practice that can involve husbands telling their wives how to vote. Democracy Volunteers said the group attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of them. Democracy Volunteers is run by Dr John Ault, a former Liberal Democrat politician who has observed elections in countries including Britain, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, said allegations of family voting raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. Advertisement Advertisement After the vote, he said the election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party. Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) February 27, 2026 In her victory speech, Ms Spencer criticised politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. She claimed that the country was being bled dry by billionaires and vowed to stand up for white working-class and Muslim constituents. People in their thousands told me on the doorsteps and at the ballot box that what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on, that we are sick of our hard work making other people rich, Ms Spencer said. In her victory speech Ms Spencer said that the country was being bled dry by billionaires - Jon Super/AP Mr Goodwin claimed he did not win because a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives came together to dominate the constituency. Advertisement Advertisement Warning of a dangerous Muslim sectarianism, he said: We are losing our country. We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get, Mr Goodwin added. Lucy Powell, Labours deputy leader, said that the Greens had won the argument that they were the party best placed to beat Reform, while downplaying suggestions that Mr Burnham would have won the by-election for Labour. Greens accused of peddling blatant sectarianism On Monday, Sir Keir had visited the constituency to warn that only a vote for Labour could stop Reform. The key campaign message was designed to stop Labour haemorrhaging progressive votes to the Greens in an election battle where Left-leaning and Muslim voters were encouraged to punish Labour for Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Labour was accused of a dirty tricks campaign on the eve of polling when a party leaflet was published which appeared to carry the endorsement of a fake tactical voting company. It said: The Tactical Choice says Vote Labour. Lucy Powell, Labours deputy leader, had effectively conceded defeat before the count was announced - Asadour Guzelian In a letter to Ms Powell, Green Party leader Zack Polanski accused Labour of openly lying to voters and called on her to apologise. The Greens, who came third in Gorton and Denton in the 2024 general election with a 13.2 per cent share of the vote, were heavily criticised by both Labour and Reform for running a divisive campaign and cynically trading on sectarian politics by pushing a pro-Palestine agenda. This week the party sent out campaign leaflets featuring Ms Spencer wearing a keffiyeh scarf associated with support for Palestine standing in front of a mosque. The leaflets, written in Urdu, urged Gortons substantial Muslim population to punish Labour for Gaza. The leaflet The Greens also circulated a video in Urdu which claimed that a win for Reform would fuel the flames of Islamophobia. In response, Mr Goodwin accused them of peddling blatant sectarianism. Advertisement Advertisement On the eve of polling, Sir Keir had told Gorton and Denton voters the by-election was a battle for the soul of the nation. He described the race as a fight between people like me who want to fix Britains problems and bring communities together. And between people like Nigel Farage who only want to spread hate and grievance. The Greens victory is a major boost to Mr Polanski, under whose leadership the party has significantly outflanked Labour on the Left by demanding a range of wealth taxes and accusing Israel of committing genocide during the war in Gaza. The Green Party won 40.7 per cent of the vote in what had been a safe Labour seat - Adam Vaughan/Shutterstock The Muslim Vote a pressure group set up to support election candidates who oppose the Conservative and Labour leadership stances on the Gaza war endorsed the Greens to win the Greater Manchester seat. Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir is now expected to face pressure from his own backbenchers to shift further to the Left on areas such as welfare and the Governments support for Israel. The run-up to the by-election was overshadowed by Labour infighting after the partys ruling body, the National Executive Committee, barred Mr Burnham from contesting the seat. Matthew Goodwin criticised a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives for dominating in Gorton and Denton - Paul Ellis/AFP The mayors allies suggested the move showed weakness from the Prime Minister who feared a potential leadership rival returning to Westminster. An opinion poll conducted in Gorton and Denton before the by-election suggested Labour would lose the seat unless Mr Burnham was the candidate. Advertisement Advertisement The Gorton and Denton constituency was created in 2024 after a boundary review of all seats. However, both Manchester Gorton and Denton and Reddish the two seats it was created from had been safe Labour seats for decades. The loss comes against the backdrop of a disastrous start to the year for the Prime Minister. The release of the Epstein files exposed the depths of Lord Mandelsons friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and raised fresh doubts about the Prime Ministers political judgment in appointing the peer as ambassador to the US. Amid mounting anger over the scandal, Sir Keir was this month forced to admit that he knew about Lord Mandelsons friendship with the paedophile at the time of his appointment. Advertisement Advertisement The crisis led to the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keirs chief of staff, and Tim Allan, his director of communications, also quit after just a few months in the post. It also led to calls from Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, for the Prime Minister to resign. Sir Keir managed to salvage his political future after ordering his Cabinet ministers to publicly declare support for him. 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. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) According to Chittenden County States Attorney Sarah George, the 13 people cited in a sit-in protest against ICE in Williston do not have to appear in court. 11 arrested, 2 cited in protest at Williston ICE offices Our office has declined to charge the 13 individuals who were arrested, George wrote to ABC22/FOX44. The group were all cited for trespassing on February 9 after they showed up at the ICE facility in Williston and reportedly refused to leave when given the opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement 50501 Vermont, a group organizing protests against ICE, wrote that the 13 were just a part of a group of more than 20 people who showed up, all with the goal to motivate the owner of the White Cap Business Park to terminate its lease agreement with ICE. Most of those arrested were residents of Vermont and over 70 years old. Trespassing is punishable by up to 3 months in prison or an up to $500 fine in Vermont. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. A civil rights marker honoring the 1960 Woolworths lunch counter sit-in was unveiled Thursday in Statesville. The Statesville Historical Collection has a replica of the counter made famous in 1960 when four Black college students from Greensboro sat there to oppose segregation. They refused to leave after being denied service. ALSO READ >> Rock Hill names welcome center after first Black principal of fully integrated high school Advertisement Advertisement The marker is part of a statewide initiative to identify and physically mark sites critical to the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina. I remember as a child we had to come in the back door of the theater, go up the flights of stairways and then we had to sit in the back, Statesville City Councilmember Doris Allison said. The towns inclusion recognizes the local impact of the sit-in movement and affirms the citys place within North Carolinas broader civil rights story. VIDEO >> Jesse Jackson: World reacts to death of civil rights activist Tennessee leaders are ignoring a news report detailing the actions of state troopers and ICE agents who used slurs and competed to arrest immigrants, even marking on their arms, during a May 2025 dragnet in south Nashville. Safety Commissioner Jeff Long said this week he was unaware of the report by the Nashville Banner, which was based on footage from troopers body cameras obtained through a public records request. Long told the Lookout this week he knew about the lawsuit by immigrant and refugee advocates over public records stemming from a partnership between Tennessee Highway Patrol officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who conducted the roundup. Advertisement Advertisement I dont know about that other, he said when asked about teams of troopers and ICE personnel hunting for suspects and marking them to show who made the most arrests during the week-long operation. The news report also found that officers profiled immigrants in traffic stops, referred to them as wets, a derogatory term, and inflated arrest numbers. The article notes that state troopers were typically more concerned with what they said to people they stopped in a section of Nashville heavily populated by immigrants. When questioned about a news report detailing how state troopers behaved abusively toward immigrants during a May dragnet in coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Gov. Bill Lee said, Were proud of the work (Tennessee Highway Patrol) has done. We have a serious need to find criminals that are on our streets, (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Yet the THP ordered them to participate in the enforcement action in which ICE agents reportedly used a black Sharpie to put what they called the mark of the beast on detainees to keep track of which team made the arrest. The law enforcement agency graduated 18 new officers on Thursday. After the ceremony, Gov. Bill Lee said he didnt know the details of the Banner report. Were very proud of the work THP has done. We have a serious need to find criminals that are on our streets, illegal immigrants and legals, who are committing crimes. Public safetys of utmost importance. Advertisement Advertisement Lee pointed out that ICE ran the operation but said the state is partners with the agency. The Banner report determined that the 600 stops made during the operation turned up only three serious criminals. But Lee felt it was worthwhile. I suspect that the families that have been the victims of those three serious criminals are really grateful for the work that the Highway Patrols doing, and I am too, he said. Tennessee Highway Patrol Col. Matt Perry was a bit more forthcoming this week when he testified before lawmakers. But not much. He denied there was any competition between officers to arrest the most people, saying ICE cant make traffic stops, only troopers. In addition, Perry said nine troopers made probable cause stops for traffic violations during the operation but he didnt know anything about an arrest competition or the marking of skin. He also said the department receives complaints regularly about troopers statewide using poor language, which are investigated and followed up with discipline, if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement As for troopers making crude remarks or their cameras picking up ICE agents comments, we will handle that and address that. We expect higher of our people, he said. While the governor and the Highway Patrols top brass downplayed the report, Democrats blasted them. Gov. Lee should be absolutely ashamed hes facilitating this type of conduct in our communities. So this is just as much on him as anybody, said Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons of Nashville. Clemmons contends White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller is driving the presidents immigration agenda, which was purportedly to remove the worst of the worst but is rounding up all undocumented immigrants. Gov. Lee should be absolutely ashamed hes facilitating this type of conduct in our communities, said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, right, while Sen. Jeff Yarbro, left, called treatment of immigrants arrested by Tennessee High Patrol officers sickening. Both are Nashville Democrats. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro, who has been representing the Nolensville Pike corridor for a decade, said the news analysis, which involved looking at 50 hours of footage, should be sickening to every Tennessean, to every American. Advertisement Advertisement The report has less to do with immigration, Yarbro said, than it does with whether people think their government should be truthful, law enforcement should act with professionalism and whether human beings should be treated like human beings. He called the references to hunting people and tagging them with Sharpies to keep score of arrests vile and disturbing. And the fact that the Tennessee Highway Patrol participated in that is an embarrassment and shame on the state, on the Highway Patrol and on all of us, Yarbro said. The possibility that Commissioner Long and Gov. Lee werent briefed on the report is troubling, as well. In this techno-age, government flacks usually receive alerts when the people and departments they work for are mentioned online. Advertisement Advertisement Even if they cant say much because of the pending public records litigation, stuff like this should be nipped in the bud. Tennessees state troopers are too valuable to be turned into ICE agents, who appear to be able to do whatever they want with no consequences. ICE love affair on the rocks Lee told reporters Thursday he knows of no other plans for ICE detention centers to be built in Tennessee after the agency pulled back on a proposal for a massive facility in Lebanon (not Pennsylvania). That shouldnt be much of a relief to Tennesseans because state officials acted as if they knew nothing about a 16,000-person prison to be built off Highway 109 in Wilson County. State Sen. Mark Pody went as far as to say misinformation was being put out about such a project because he couldnt find any local or state officials who knew about a property sale. I think that its very important that the right steps and the right strategies and the right plans be taken to make sure that we do what is incredibly important work that the American people want done . . . Theres a lot of steps to that, and it was determined by the Department of Homeland Security that this step was not the right one, so I agree with them. Gov. Bill Lee The Lookout initially published a report about ICE buying property in Lebanon for a large detention center where undocumented immigrants would be held as part of the Trump administrations enforcement policy. ICE reneged on confirming the information, but then the Wilson County and Lebanon mayors said they found out it was to happen. Advertisement Advertisement The following uproar by Republican leaders who said it just wouldnt work in Lebanon was a bit odd considering their support for all things ICE. Lee stayed away from criticizing the federal agencys missteps. I think that its very important that the right steps and the right strategies and the right plans be taken to make sure that we do what is incredibly important work that the American people want done, which is to make certain that our communities are safer and that illegal criminals that are in our country are found, Lee said. Theres a lot of steps to that, and it was determined by the Department of Homeland Security that this step was not the right one, so I agree with them. As ICE identifies other locales, since Lebanon doesnt have the utilities to support a 16,000-person prison, well be interested to see which Tennessee county is just dying to put thousands of undocumented folks and probably some who are documented in cages. After all, its more than just immigration enforcement. Its an economic development tool, the kind every mayor wants well nearly every mayor. This aint over Sen. John Stevens told the Lookout this week he intends to resurrect a bill that would force anyone who sues the state to prove theyve suffered serious damage in order to keep the case going. Advertisement Advertisement The Huntingdon Republican said he plans to bring back Senate Bill 1958 after it failed to advance out of the Judiciary Committee last week after it fell short of the necessary five votes. If he pushes it, the panels rules require it to be scheduled last on the final calendar of the year. You can always sue, Stevens said. The question is: Can you win? Stevens, who also passed a bill this week giving the state automatic right to challenge a trial courts decisions on rulings such as injunctions and motions to dismiss a case, acknowledged the committee vote was a setback but said he is working on amendments to make it more palatable. Sen. John Stevens plans to reboot a bill that failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and was labeled tyranny by groups including the Tennessee Firearms Association. (Flyer: Tennessee Firearms Association) He contends the measure returns the process to pre-2018 when plaintiffs challenging the state had to show injury rather than simply opposing the legislatures action. Advertisement Advertisement The Tennessee Firearms Association urged Senate Judiciary members last week to vote against the bill, asking them to Stop the tyranny in an email. Additionally, Beacon Impact, Americans for Prosperity, the Goldwater Institute, the Institute for Justice and Pacific Legal Foundation sent a letter to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti opposing the bill that would repeal the states Private Cause of Action statute. Such a move would undermine Tennesseans ability to safeguard their constitutional and legal rights and to hold the government accountable when it acts unlawfully or unconstitutionally, the letter says. Before it took effect, Tennesseans seeking an injunction against state action had to wade through an expensive bureaucracy and procedural hurdles before reaching a courtroom, the letter says. Advertisement Advertisement Asked about that opposition, Stevens said, based on the emails hes received, people dont know what the bill is doing. Ouch, that sounds like it could elicit some sort of response in a committee hearing from Beacon attorneys. Waiting is the hardest part House Education Committee Chairman Mark White says he will wait until mid-March to finish pushing passage of a bill designed to give the state authority over Memphis Shelby County Schools. Rep. Mark White attributed flaws in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools revealed in a recent audit to decades of bureaucracy. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) The East Memphis Republican told the Lookout this week hes waiting for the first seven months of the states forensic audit of the school district to show why the state should appoint a new board to oversee the Memphis school board. The audits cost is edging toward $7 million. The Senate and House passed different bills last year setting up the oversight board, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the tougher House version will be passed in what he calls a takeover. White said lawmakers received a preliminary report on the audit three weeks ago showing a new direction is needed. No fault on any school board or any superintendent. Its decades of bureaucracy and where the system management of funding and contracts has not been managed appropriately, so its going to need some outside intervention, White said. Democrats who oppose the takeover are quick to point out the states Achievement School District, which was designed mainly to point Memphis schools in a new direction, did very little over a decade except spend roughly a billion dollars. Smaller government? Besides creating a publicly-funded private school district, preparing to take over Memphis schools and setting up the East Bank Authority in Nashville, Republican lawmakers are ready to form an 11-member board and spend $5 million to oversee the Boring Companys proposed 13-mile tunnel from downtown Nashville to the Metro airport. The newest authority would have statewide control over all underground utilities or subterranean transportation infrastructure. Thats a necessity, because, otherwise, the state could be sued again for violating the Home Rule Amendment that requires it to get local approval for actions that affect only one or two cities or counties. Boring, which is owned by Elon Musk, said it could complete the tunnel in two years and start ferrying riders back and forth in Teslas, also owned by Musk. Yet they started digging into Las Vegas sandstone more than six years ago and still have only about 2.1 miles of tunnel. Questions abound. But the biggest one is whether theyll be filtering country music into the tunnel if it ever comes to fruition or maybe something like this. Keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes / You dont need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows * *Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Web Summit Qatar 2026 returned to Doha as the country accelerates its push to become a global technology and innovation hub. Opening with the announcement of an additional $2 billion for Qatars Fund of Funds and a new 10-year residency programme for entrepreneurs, the summit highlighted how policy, capital and talent are converging. With more than 30,000 attendees from 127 countries, the event showcased Qatars expanding startup ecosystem through initiatives such as Startup Qatar. Administered by Qatar Development Bank, the programme has already attracted thousands of applications and invested tens of millions of dollars into emerging companies. Global players like Microsoft and Qatar National Bank outlined how digital transformation is reshaping industries, while regional success stories including Talabat and Snoonu demonstrated the scale startups from the region can achieve. From fintech to robotics and physical AI, Web Summit Qatar positions Doha as a testing ground for the technologies shaping the future. Some 17 NGOs and the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) sought an urgent suspension of the ban in a petition to the High Court of Justice. Israel's Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked the government from shuttering the Gaza operations of dozens of aid organizations, which petitioned the court in a dispute over new Israeli rules requiring them to name Palestinian staff. Israel in December ordered 37 international organizations, including medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Norwegian Refugee Council, to halt work in Gaza and the West Bank within 60 days unless they agreed to the new rules. Advertisement Advertisement Some 17 NGOs and the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) sought an urgent suspension of the decision in a petition to the Israeli High Court of Justice on Sunday, warning of devastating humanitarian consequences. Israel's Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction allowing the NGOs to continue most of their activities while it considers their petition. View of humanitarian supplies for Gaza, with the logos of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and World Health Organization, stored at the Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses storing aid, in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, Egypt, April 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool/File Photo) Aid groups claim sharing information a safety risk The aid groups say sharing staff information could pose a safety risk given that hundreds of aid workers have been killed or injured during the war in Gaza. Israel has said the registrations were meant to prevent diversions of aid by Palestinian armed groups. Aid agencies dispute that substantial aid has been diverted. Athena Rayburn, AIDA's executive director, said they were "still waiting to see how the injunction will be interpreted by the state and whether or not this will mean an increase in our ability to operate," adding that the situation inside Gaza remained "catastrophic." Spokespeople for Israel's government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. -/Kremlin Press Office/dpa Russia's budget problems have reached the country's provinces. The total deficit of Russia's regions rose to more than 16 billion ($18 billion) by the end of 2025, a record high since observations began, Moscow daily Kommersant reported, citing an analysis of financial data it commissioned. The analysis was based on Finance Ministry data and showed 74 regions ended the year with a deficit, compared to only 50 in 2024. The largest deficits were in Moscow, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The situation is similar for the national budget. Russia's war on Ukraine,launched four years ago, is proving expensive. Some 180 billion is earmarked for the military, armaments, national security and police forces, almost 40% of total expenditure. The arms industry has boomed in recent years thanks to state subsidies and large orders, but other sectors have long shown indications of crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that oil and gas revenues are falling but said that the decline would be partially offset by an increase in other revenues, referring to information provided by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Mishustin recently stated that he had spent "many, many hours" discussing solutions to Russia's budget deficit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina and members of the government. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov also announced plans to tighten budget rules. Murder charges have been filed against the suspect in a South Side shooting that may have involved two co-workers. Bobby Martin, 26, was arrested after the gunfire Tuesday at 94th and Ashland, Chicago police said. Employees from a nearby business told ABC7 Martin and the victim both worked for a security company. The victim died after he was shot in a South Side parking lot this week, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was taken into in custody after the victim was shot Tuesday afternoon, Chicago police said. Police said the shooting happened in the Brainerd neighborhood's 9400-block of South Ashland Avenue around 3:30 p.m. A known person approached a 32-year-old man, took out a handgun and fired shots, police said. The victim, shot in the stomach, was transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition. He later died, officials said. On Wednesday, the Cook County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 32-year-old Antoine Alexander. He died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and his death was being investigate as a homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators were staged near a Page Security parking lot on Tuesday. Employees from a nearby business say the shooting happened after an altercation between two Page Security employees. One of the employees told ABC7 they ran for cover after they witnessed the shooting. They said the shooter ran away. Police recovered a gun from the scene. CPD later confirmed that one person was taken into custody. Area detectives are investigating. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood Police officers from the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, South Korea didnt adhere to crypto custody guidelines, leading to the loss of more than $1.4 million in Bitcoin at todays prices, per a new report from local media outlet Dong-A Ilbo. Now two suspects have been arrested in relation to the swiped Bitcoin. After confiscating 22 Bitcoin from a company that was hacked in 2021, police were supposed to securely custody the crypto in an offline or cold wallet that they controlled. Instead, they allowed the funds to sit in a wallet managed by a third-party and didnt even have the seed phrase to access the funds, the report said. "When seizing virtual assets, it is appropriate to transfer them to the investigative agency's hard wallet and store them in a separately installed safe, the seized asset guidelines from the National Police Agency recommended, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Without control of the wallet, the police lost the funds in 2022 when the firm with the seed phrase borrowed Bitcoin from an individual identified as Jeong, who was also given the wallets secret phrase. The funds were only discovered to be missing this year after a review by the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office found a different case of 320 Bitcoin that were missingaround $21 million worth. South Korean Man Faces Murder Charge Over Bitcoin Bet Gone Bad Now in connection to the 22 BTC missing from the Gangnam Police Station, two individuals have been arrested by the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency, which is conducting an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement We are currently investigating the specific circumstances, including how the Bitcoin was leaked out, a police official said, according to Chosun Daily. While the investigation is ongoing, it is known that a member of the original hacking investigation team was indicted on bribery charges last year, and the third-party firm in question reportedly offered bribes in exchange for ensuring the investigation proceeded in their favor, Dong-A Ilbos report says. South Korean Lawmakers Slam Regulators Over Bithumb's $43 Billion Bitcoin Blunder The ordeal follows increased scrutiny on South Korean financial regulators after they failed to find an internal system flaw which led to $43 billion in erroneous Bitcoin distributions on crypto exchange Bithumb earlier this month. Instead of sending 2,000 South Korean won (around $1.40) to users as part of a promotion, the exchange accidentally sent as much as 2,000 BTCabout $135 million at todays pricesto hundreds of users. A Myrtle Beach-area charity is preparing for its popular annual festival even as it remains suspended by the South Carolina Secretary of State (SCSOS). As the Socastee Heritage Festivals April 11 date approaches, the non-profit organization behind the event is out of legal compliance, according to the SCSOS, and recovering from violations of the Foundations bylaws and other internal matters, according to the foundation itself. On Feb. 18, the Socastee Heritage Foundation maintained it was in full compliance with all federal and state regulations as a 501(c) organization. But according to the SCSOS, the charity was suspended on Jan. 2 for failure to pay a fine for a delinquent annual financial report for the June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Until they are actively registered, they cant solicit contributions, said SCSOS general counsel and public information director Shannon Wiley. Right now, they have one open violation. Despite the suspension, on Feb. 11 the Socastee Heritage Foundation took to Facebook to solicit sponsors for the April festival. Become a Sponsor for the Socastee Heritage Festival, the post says. We have several levels to fit your budget. Sponsorships start at $100 & go up to $2000. The report hadnt been submitted as of Feb. 19, Wiley said, but the Socastee Heritage Foundation had been in communication with the SCSOS about getting back in compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a late financial that they have a violation for, and then theres a second one they will need to file with a registration and a fine reduction request, Wiley said. Once the Socastee Heritage Foundation is back in compliance, it will be able to solicit donations, but as recently as Feb. 24, the charity appeared on the SCSOSs list of suspended charities. Other issues at Socastee Heritage Foundation The charity also seems to have had more issues brewing behind the scenes. In a vague statement shared to social media, the foundation alludes to problems with a member of leadership. In April 2025, the Board made the difficult decision to remove a board member due to violations of the Foundations bylaws and other internal matters, which we will not discuss publicly, said the post, which limits others ability to comment. The post said, it has become clear that we must respond to false information has been circulating about the Socastee Heritage Foundation and the Socastee Heritage Festival, but no further details were shared about the apparent violations, and the foundation did not return The Sun Newss messages. The charity did say that three new members were brought on the board, including one to oversee the festival. According to the statement, there are now six board members in total, although their names arent listed on the Socastee Heritage Foundation website. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The family and friends of Michel Ortega Casanova said he was one of four men killed in an armed confrontation off the Cuban Coast. The Cuban government claims 10 men were on a boat registered in Florida that tried to invade their coast. The Cubans said they intercepted the boat and a shootout resulted. Four men on the boat were killed while six others were wounded and taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Cuban American, said the U.S. government is conducting their own investigation into the incident because it does not trust the Cuban version of events. Thursday, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior identified the individuals as: Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara Conrado Galindo Serrior Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello Leordan Cruz Gomez of Tampa Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez Roberto Alvarez Avila Pavel Alling Pena Michael Ortega Casanova of Tampa Ledian Padron Guevara Hector Duani Cruz Correa The last four people on the list were said to be deceased. The others are in Cuban custody. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Cuban government, weapons were found on the boat, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, multiple assault equipment including night vision equipment, bulletproof vests, assault bayonets, camouflage clothing, ammunition of various calibers, food for combat use, means of communication, and a large number of monograms of counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations. The statement continued: Right from the start, Cuban authorities have been in touch with their U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and the Coast Guard, about this terrorist attempt. An investigation is underway to clarify the facts with the utmost rigor. The Cuban government is willing to exchange information with the US government on this matter. Among other requirements, we will request information on those involved, the means used, and other details from the US authorities through the mechanisms in place between the two countries. The U.S. government is not confirming any of this information. Advertisement Advertisement Angela Chaviano with Casa Cuba in Tampa said Michel Ortega Casanova was a member of their organization and visited just last week. Michel is a great friend, great, is like a brother, and it was very painful for me to know that he was one of the ones deceased, Chaviano said. According to The Associated Press, Michels brother, Misael Ortega Casanova, said his brother had fallen into an obsessive and diabolical quest to overthrow the Cuban government. He lived in the U.S. for over 20 years and became a citizen. Misael Ortega Casanova said his brother worked as a trucker and is survived by his wife, his mother, two sisters, and a daughter who is pregnant. Advertisement Advertisement No one knew, Misael Ortega Casanova said. My mother is devastated. They became so obsessed that they didnt think about the consequences nor their own lives, he added. Chaviano said Michel Ortega Casanova hoped to overthrow the Cuban Government and tried to recruit others to join him. I know that he was always saying that the only way to make a change was through arms, was through force and not just by talking, Chaviano said. She said Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez was also on the boat from Florida and was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Tampa attorney Ralph Fernandez has long fought for Cuban political prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Tampa is deeply penetrated with Cuban intelligence, meaning they have actual intelligence officers in the network and agents in place in the network, Fernandez said. He said the Cuban government knew when and where to expect Michel Ortega Casanovas boat and that they were armed. Theyll be able to determine why there was a Cuban gunboat waiting for them in a region where they dont service that coastline, Fernandez said. They dont have the fuel or the manpower to service that coastline. According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, the boat was reported stolen by a resident who said he saw his boats registration numbers being reported by Cuban media. 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. Amid the apparent movement of U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft from an airbase in Qatar, the United States has urged its citizens to leave Israel immediately as the threat of a strike on Iran looms ever larger. U.S. President Donald Trump has assembled two carrier strike groups in the region as part of a significant military build-up and has continued to express doubt that Iran is serious about ending its nuclear program. You can get a good sense of the state of play and the possible questions surrounding possible military action in our previous story here. Available satellite imagery from yesterday indicates that the aerial refueling aircraft formerly present at Al Udeid, the major U.S. Air Force hub in Qatar, have been moved. In previous days, imagery had revealed between seven and 15 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at the base. However, C-17A Globemaster III transports can still be seen at the base, which would be consistent with supplies flowing in ahead of a contingency. C-130 Hercules-series transports also seen on the tarmac are likely part of the special operations presence at the airbase. Moving assets out of Al Udeid, which would be among the highest-priority targets for Iran if hostilities break out, would be expected ahead of a major U.S. operation against Tehran, as was the case last year. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to provide TWZ with any more information on movements at Al Udeid. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, dozens of KC-46 Pegasus and KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft are now stationed across Europe and the Middle East, including at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. At least nine American refueling tankers arrived at Israels Ben Gurion Airport overnight as part of the United Statess massive buildup of military forces in the Middle East. In all, 14 US refuelers arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in the past week. pic.twitter.com/POICMrC8DT Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) February 27, 2026 135 . : pic.twitter.com/KuSzWwSUEh Or Heller (@OrHeller) February 26, 2026 U.S. Air Force activity at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia 16 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft remain deployed 6 KC-46A Pegasus tankers are still in place 3 E-11A BACN aircraft were visible in yesterdays imagery, with one observed on the runway 6 E-3 Sentry https://t.co/WI2P0qwgUJpic.twitter.com/kuXuFGCeW3 Egypt's Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) February 27, 2026 U.S. citizens should consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available, the U.S. Department of State said in an advisory message. On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks. In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. pic.twitter.com/aWzX6Gk36x U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, sent a message to non-essential embassy staff in the country, saying that those who wanted to leave should do so TODAY. Huckabee sent the email to embassy staff at 12:04 a.m. local time, urging them to book flights for themselves and their families anywhere they could. This will likely result in high demand for airline seats today, Huckabee wrote. Focus on getting a seat to any place from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of the country. It is also worth noting that a similar evacuation was ordered eight days before Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22, 2025. Other countries have also issued similar warnings to their officials in the region, including the withdrawal of staff from the U.K. Embassy in Iran. #Iran: Information on regional risks and that due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely.https://t.co/ESEQSp0yhi pic.twitter.com/3y5BSb5GiP FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) February 27, 2026 The official warnings came after the end of discussions between the United States and Iran over the future of Tehrans nuclear program. These took place in Geneva yesterday but proved inconclusive. The key U.S. negotiators, Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner, did not issue a statement after the talks. Advertisement Advertisement There is now a possibility that further discussions could be held next week. Speaking today, Trump said that, while he doesnt want to use force, such measures are sometimes necessary. He added that he was yet to make a decision on the Iran issue, but said he wasnt happy with their negotiating. He adds that he doesn't want to use force, but sometimes you have to. Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) February 27, 2026 In the meantime, the foreign minister of Oman, Badr Albusaidi, who has been the main mediator in the U.S.-Iran talks, has flown to Washington. This appears to be a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Trump administration to hold back from military action against Iran. The speed with which Albusaidi departed Geneva for Washington would also seem to indicate just how close a potential U.S. military operation might be. Omans Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi who mediated US-Iran talks in Geneva yesterday, is now en route to Washington to meet Vice President JD Vance. Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) February 27, 2026 Albusaidi was expected to brief U.S. Vice-President JD Vance on the progress that has been made in the talks so far. Vance has apparently been identified as the most senior member of the U.S. administration to harbor significant doubts about launching a military campaign against Iran. Speaking to The Washington Post, Vance said: The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight there is no chance that will happen. Oman's Foreign Minister is meeting today with Vice President JD Vance after saying that "significant progress" was made during nuclear talks on Thursday. While diplomatic efforts unfold, additional U.S. military assets are deploying to the Middle East, and the State Department pic.twitter.com/nt4QMBfm7L Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) February 27, 2026 A key sticking point between the two sides in the talks has been Irans refusal to yield to specific U.S. demands. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has refused to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile and has said its unwilling to completely terminate its right to enrich uranium domestically. Last year, Tehran said it would no longer cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that inspectors would only be allowed to return to the country if its right to enrich was recognized. Also under discussion is the fate of Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium, amounting to around 900 pounds. One option would be to downblend it so that its no longer suitable for weapons production. Reports indicate that the Iranian nuclear program has made little progress since the U.S. airstrikes on its key nuclear facilities last year. Despite White House warnings that Iran could produce weapons-grade nuclear material within days, nuclear experts and UN officials say Irans nuclear program has largely stalled since U.S. and Israeli strikes on key facilities last June. Satellite imagery and international pic.twitter.com/zaQVH7lpx2 Clash Report (@clashreport) February 26, 2026 Meanwhile, U.S. military assets continue to flow into the wider region. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, together with its carrier strike group, is due to arrive near the coast of Israel in the coming hours. The USS Abraham Lincoln is already sailing in waters south of Iran. The naval force in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean is the largest in the region since five carrier battle groups assembled at the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, according to Washington-based think-tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "The current naval deployment marks a new apex of ships in and around the Middle East since the beginning of the regional war in 2023," writes @CSISDefense. Learn more about the military buildup: https://t.co/uRLXdVbrKB pic.twitter.com/5zJGbalV44 CSIS (@CSIS) February 26, 2026 In terms of U.S. Air Force fighters, F-35A stealth jets and F-15E Strike Eagles arrived at RAF Lakenheath in England yesterday, after making transatlantic flights. From here, the fighters are well positioned to stage forward to the Middle East. The arrival at Lakenheath of 12 F-35s from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was confirmed by open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters. They were joined there by 12 F-15Es from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Black Widows TREND 32, 33 and 35 of the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base touch down at RAF Lakenheath. A total of twelve F-35As arrived from Hill AFB today.#usaf#hillafb#lockheedmartin#canon#lakenheathpic.twitter.com/FQs7OTDYcz Havoc Aviation (@havoc_aviation) February 26, 2026 If these assets move to the Middle East, they would follow the 11 F-22A Raptor jets that are now at the Israeli Air Force base of Ovda, in the south of that country, according to satellite imagery. At least six more F-22s also arrived at Lakenheath earlier this week, while one of the jets from the first package was forced to turn back from its trip to Israel, apparently due to a maintenance issue. The Raptors have been deployed from Joint Base Langley Eustis, Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Chinese high-resolution satellite imagery shows 11 x U.S. Air Force F-22 jets deployed at Ovda Air Base in Israel. Source: MizarVision pic.twitter.com/WCLiGPyOsp Clash Report (@clashreport) February 26, 2026 Also already in the Middle East are approximately 30 F-35As from Lakenheaths 48th Fighter Wing and the Vermont Air National Guards 158th Fighter Wing, deployed to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Other Air Force assets in the region include two more squadrons of F-15Es, as well as F-16 fighters and A-10 attack jets. Additional aircraft are deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, multiple F-16s are currently deployed to Diego Garcia, satellite images show. These would be key assets in defending the island from a possible Iranian attack. As we reported last week, the United Kingdom has apparently said it would not allow the use of the island for strikes on Iran, although this position may well change. There is also significant transport activity on the island, which could indicate a larger deployment, likely of bombers, is imminent. In the past days, U.S. military forces in the region have grown to the highest levels seen since the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but it remains the case that there are not enough assets in place for an extended, multi-week air campaign. The full inclusion of the Israeli Air Force could and likely would change this calculus. Nevertheless, with Ford now in the Eastern Mediterranean and additional assets trickling into the region, the window for a major air operation is now cracked open. Update: 4:41 PM Eastern Rubio designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. Advertisement Advertisement For decades the Iranian regime has cruelly detained innocent Americans and citizens of other nations to use as political leverage, he announced on X. Iran must end this abhorrent practice and immediately free all unjustly detained Americans. Today I designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. For decades the Iranian regime has cruelly detained innocent Americans and citizens of other nations to use as political leverage. Iran must end this abhorrent practice and immediately free all unjustly detained Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 27, 2026 Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran have made substantial progress toward a deal to curb Irans nuclear program, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi told CBS News on Friday. Albusaidi who has mediated several rounds of U.S.-Iran talks over the last month told Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan that a peace deal is within our reach. He said Iran has agreed that it will never, ever have nuclear material that will create a bomb, which he called a big achievement. The countrys existing stockpiles of enriched uranium would be blended to the lowest level possible and converted into fuel, and that fuel will be irreversible, according to Albusaidi. Advertisement Advertisement And Iran is willing to grant inspectors from the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency full access to its nuclear sites in order to verify the terms of the deal, said Albusaidi. There would be zero accumulation, zero stockpiling, and full verification, he said. Albusaidi said that if there is a fair and endurable deal in place, he is quite confident that even American inspectors will have access at some point in the process. Asked if he believes enough progress has been made to avert U.S. strikes on Iran, Albusaidi responded: I hope so. But he said we need a little bit more time to iron out some details. Technical talks are scheduled for Monday in Vienna, and Albusaidi said he hopes that he can meet with Witkoff and Kushner a few days afterward. WATCH: After meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Omans Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi a key mediator in the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks tells @margbrennan "the peace deal is within our reach. He also said, I don't think any alternative to diplomacy is going to solve this pic.twitter.com/zOuSPxLy5j Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 27, 2026 Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed displeasure with Iran. Advertisement Advertisement They dont want to say the key words, Were not going to have a nuclear weapon, and they just cant get there So Im not happy with the negotiation, Trump proclaimed. "They don't want to say the key words, 'We're not going to have a nuclear weapon,' and they just can't get there So I'm not happy with the negotiation," says @POTUS on Iran. pic.twitter.com/XN0S4ObS2x Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2026 Trump insisted that Iran not enrich any uranium. Trump on Iran: I say no enrichment not 20%, 30%. They always want 20%, 30%. They want it for civil; I think it is uncivil. I am not happy. pic.twitter.com/24ga9tOi9V Clash Report (@clashreport) February 27, 2026 Asked if there is a risk that an attack on Iran could turn into a long conflict in the Middle East, the president said When theres war, there is a risk in anything, both good and bad. Ive had tremendous luck myself. Doocy: Is there a risk that a strike could turn into a long, drawn out conflict in the Middle East? Trump: When there's war, there is a risk in anything, both good and bad. Ive had tremendous luck myself. pic.twitter.com/XGBNvG55D1 Acyn (@Acyn) February 27, 2026 More countries cancelled flights to Israel and Iran. #BREAKING: Flights from Istanbul airport to Tehran were canceled Friday night amid an escalating military buildup by the United States around Iran Statement pic.twitter.com/GOZoODBEkw Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 27, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Air India will cancel all flights to Israel starting on Sunday, according to N12 News. The flights will be cancelled for 1 week before reassessing the situation Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) February 27, 2026 Meanwhile, FCDO is advising against all but essential travel to Israel. Travel Advice Update FCDO travel advice has changed and now advises against all but essential travel to Israel. Full details https://t.co/n9MSwGiTzn UK in Israel (@ukinisrael) February 27, 2026 Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Parents and community members packed into a Quakertown Community School District building Tuesday night as emotions ran high during the first board meeting since last week's anti-ICE protest. Speakers sharply criticized how district officials handled the student-led walkout and the events leading up to it. The protest, held Friday by about 35 Quakertown High School students despite warnings from administrators, ended in a clash with police that resulted in five teens being arrested. Attorneys and family members say some of the students are now facing aggravated assault charges. READ MORE | Quakertown students facing aggravated assault charges following clash with police chief Quakertown students facing aggravated assault charges following clash with police chief Advertisement Advertisement Video of the confrontation shows Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree - not wearing a uniform at the time - struggling with the teens and appearing to put a 15-year-old in a chokehold. Calls for his resignation have grown in the days following the incident. Quakertown police initially said some students engaged in "disruptive behavior" during the walkout, including hitting and kicking cars and blocking traffic. Students have countered that some of the altercations stemmed from harassment by drivers in trucks. Because of the anticipated turnout, Tuesday's public comment session was moved to the top of the agenda. Administrators addressed the crowd first, citing a threat as the reason they attempted to cancel the protest. "At 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, the district received what was deemed as a new and concerning threat of violence," one administrator said. RELATED | Calls grow for Quakertown police chief's resignation after protest confrontation The district did not provide additional information about the nature of the threat. Another speaker at the meeting claimed it involved a gun. Advertisement Advertisement "The threat that was given was that a gun was going to be present at the walkout," the speaker said. "None of y'all know that, but I do. I want that canceled. I want safety in the district." Board members did not comment when multiple speakers raised the rumored reason for canceling the protest. Many parents said they were hearing about the alleged threat for the first time and questioned why a safer alternative to the walkout was not offered. "There needs to be communication and transparency," one speaker said. "Has an investigation been launched about the potential safety concern? Is that person being held accountable?" another speaker asked. "We need transparency." Advertisement Advertisement Before the meeting, parents and advocacy groups rallied in support of the students, while a separate group gathered to show support for the police. Public comment stretched on for hours. Though most speakers were adults, at least one student addressed the board. "How can I sit here knowing 35 students are fighting for my life and their rights?" the student said. "I can't stand here and pretend nothing is happening." Several speakers noted that none of the student protesters were in attendance because they felt unsafe. "I want to note that none of the student protesters are in the room," one speaker said. "Do you want to know why? They do not feel safe." As of late Tuesday, one student remained detained. The police department, borough council and district attorney's office have declined to comment further until the investigation is complete. Oakland educators will not strike after the teachers' union and the school district struck a tentative agreement early Friday morning. It marks the end of a nearly yearlong negotiation for higher wages and improved working conditions. The California Teachers Association announced that a deal was reached at 3 a.m. Friday, after an 18-hour negotiation. It came after the union members voted to strike. "Just really very proud of our team and all of our members," said Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, President of Oakland Education Association. Advertisement Advertisement The Oakland Education Association said that the tentative agreement is a two-year agreement that includes a wage increase. They also said it includes commitments to fill vacancies, improve special education programming and a renewed commitment to community schools and Black thriving schools. "Those are the kinds of wins that support our working conditions, but more importantly, really help to shift students' learning conditions," said Taiz-Rancifer. Looking more specifically at the wage increases, they include a 13% wage increase over two years for educators at the top step, and an 11% increase over two years for all other educators. There are also salary enhancements to retain credentialed teachers in early education and special education programs. Advertisement Advertisement Critics say the board delayed dealing with the issues for months, leaving them to make last-minute choices. "There are, right now, 250 vacancies in the district. Every year, over 400 educators leave the district. So it is puzzling to have the kinds of layoffs that they're talking about," said Taiz-Rancifer. Though no budget has been passed yet for next year, the union said its deal can be funded if the district prioritizes spending, pulling money from other resources like contractors. "We need to fund the people who are doing the work with our students," said Taiz-Rancifer. The tentative agreement will now go to both OEA members and the OUSD school board for ratification. Hundreds of layoffs amid massive budget deficit Despite averting a strike, Oakland will still cut jobs at schools. This tentative agreement is coming as the Oakland Unified School Board is trying to close a $100 million gap and has approved hundreds of layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement The district said declining enrollment and rising costs have pushed them into the decisions. RELATED: Oakland Unified school board approves hundreds of layoffs amid $100M budget deficit On Wednesday night, the School Board voted 4 to 3 to cut 400 jobs. Their decision aligns with a state-mandated March 15th deadline to issue pink slips. Some board members say the proposed cuts came days before the meeting, but that timeline did not phase OUSD School Board President Jennifer Brouhard. "I don't think they were hastily made decisions, and I think that's why we got them late," Brouhard said. "Our department heads, our talent division really went through and looked at those jobs and making sure those were the right jobs." Advertisement Advertisement Now, the board is one step closer to tackling the $100 million budget deficit. However, the teacher's union considers the cuts to be short-sighted with long-term impacts that could destabilize schools. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live For many enthusiasts, handing over a beloved classic to a restoration shop requires a leap of faith. In Galveston County, Texas, that trust turned into a years-long nightmare for dozens of car owners. Richard Thomas Finley, the former operator of Classic American Street Rods in the San LeonBacliff area, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of felony theft exceeding $300,000. Prosecutors say Finley defrauded at least 72 victims between 2018 and 2023, collecting large upfront payments for engine swaps that were never completed. According to the Galveston County District Attorneys Office, the total amount stolen exceeded $498,000. Promised Upgrades, Delivered Delays Finley reportedly marketed his business as a solution for classic car owners looking to modernize their vehicles. He offered engine swaps designed to replace aging powerplants with newer, more reliable, and less maintenance-intensive options. Advertisement Advertisement Customers were required to pay significant deposits before work would begin. What followed, prosecutors said, was a pattern of prolonged delays, vague updates, and shifting explanations. Months stretched into years. In many cases, owners never saw meaningful progress on their vehicles. When clients pressed for answers, authorities say Finley provided false status updates about parts, timelines, or work being performed. Evidence presented during trial indicated that not only were the promised upgrades not completed, but parts were allegedly removed from customer vehicles and sold elsewhere. Victims testified that the engine swaps they paid for were never performed. Nearly Half a Million Dollars in Losses Investigators from the Galveston County Sheriffs Office and the countys Auto Crimes Task Force began examining complaints and uncovered what prosecutors described as a systematic operation. Advertisement Advertisement More than $498,000 was taken from victims over a five-year span, according to court findings. Authorities recovered more than 20 classic vehicles during the investigation and were able to return them to their rightful owners. While the total dollar figure may not rival some high-profile corporate fraud cases, the human impact was significant. Many of the vehicles involved were long-term projects or deeply personal investments, and owners were left without their cars or the money they paid. Finley was found guilty in December and received a 60-year prison sentence. A Pattern in the Restoration World This case adds to a growing list of restoration-shop fraud convictions across the country. Advertisement Advertisement In November, a New York restoration shop owner was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of misrepresenting work performed and falsely claiming acquisitions in order to secure payments from customers. In that case, prosecutors said more than $2.5 million was obtained fraudulently. The difference in sentencing highlights how courts may weigh factors beyond dollar amounts alone. In the Texas case, the number of victims was significantly higher 72 individuals compared to three in the New York matter. Federal authorities in previous cases have warned that restoration fraud can be especially difficult for customers to detect. Classic car builds often take years, creating a gray area where delays can seem normal. Customers frequently rely on progress updates and assurances rather than regular in-person inspections. That dynamic can create opportunity for abuse. Why Restoration Fraud Persists Restoring or modifying a classic vehicle is rarely inexpensive. Engine swaps, fabrication work, paint, and drivetrain upgrades can quickly climb into five-figure territory. Shops often request large deposits to cover parts and labor commitments. Advertisement Advertisement When legitimate, the model works. When abused, the financial damage compounds quickly. The Texas case demonstrates how repeated upfront payments, extended timelines, and lack of transparency can allow misconduct to continue for years before enforcement intervenes. For enthusiasts, it serves as a reminder that due diligence matters written contracts, milestone-based payments, regular documentation, and verified progress can reduce risk. A Harsh Sentence With a Message A 60-year prison term is an unusually severe outcome in automotive fraud cases. While parole eligibility and other legal factors may affect actual time served, the sentence itself sends a strong message about how seriously local authorities treated the case. Advertisement Advertisement Classic car culture is built on trust between builders and owners, buyers and sellers, collectors and craftsmen. When that trust is exploited, the consequences can be lasting. In this case, the courts decision makes clear that restoration fraud involving dozens of victims will not be viewed as a minor business dispute. It will be treated as a major criminal offense. For collectors and hobbyists alike, it is another cautionary tale about what can happen when passion meets misplaced trust. Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and connect with us on Facebook. Area veterans stirred together literary conversations and chili beans in effort to raise money for an HVAC system at Betty J. Wood AmVets Post 11. AmVets Post OK-11 Post Commander Gayla Laufenberg said Matthew Sims, three-time Purple Heart awardee, attended the fundraiser to sign copies his latest book, Why My Heart Is Purple Saturday night. While the chili cook-off brought 12 crockpots of chili for attendees to vote on, Laufenberg said the Post is down to needing $6,625 to pay off its new HVAC system. Advertisement Advertisement The chili cook-off victor who claimed first place was Dan Gatewood, second place was Tina Sims and third place was Susan Mitchell. The winner of the 50/50 Raffle was Ray Smith. Sims, who served 23 years in the United States Army as a combat medic and wrote Why My Heart Is Purple, signed copies during the fundraiser. Sims said he was wounded three times during his last tour in Iraq. I took a sniper around to the front of the helmet and broke my neck and fractured my skull, he said. Later in that tour, I was hit with a roadside bomb and it collapsed in my right lung and then later on in that same tour, I was hit with the mortar shrapnel from another bomb that almost blew off my left leg. Advertisement Advertisement Sims said the beginning part of the book is about his experiences in combat as a combat medic, as well as getting wounded three times. He said the next part of the book is where he wanted to honor all the medical personnel who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. I researched all the medical folks that died and wrote a story to honor each one of them to keep their memories alive, he said. Sims said serving as combat medic was an honor. You get to go out and you get to not just serve your country, but you also get to save lives, he said. I mean, there's nothing better than treating a fellow service member and having that ability to go in there, get to calm the situation down and save a life. Advertisement Advertisement One of Sims favorite stories he wrote in his book was getting to deliver a baby in Iraq. An Iraqi woman was in line to vote, he said. It was the first time that women were ever allowed to vote in that country. Sims said the woman was nine months pregnant and she got in line to vote with her husband. She went into labor while she was in line to vote and my military unit was there to pull security, Sims said. So they brought her over to me and we put her in the back of my military ambulance and I delivered the baby right there in the back of my military ambulance in the middle of a war zone. Advertisement Advertisement Sims said this is one of his proudest moments. Originally from St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, Sims said he resides in Elgin with his wife and he was wounded in one tour to Iraq in 2005-2006. Sims said hes been in the Oklahoma area for around 10 years. I came here as an active duty service member at Fort Sill, he said. I retired six years ago and loved the area so much and we decided to stay. Sims said he belongs to the Purple Heart Post in Lawton and works at the Reynolds Army Health Clinic at Fort Sill. To purchase Why my Heart is Purple, visit the publisher, Masthof Press, online at bookstore.masthof.com/products/why-my-heart-is-purple, or find the book at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon. To contact Sims, email matthew.w.sims@gmail.com. Advertisement Advertisement In effort to assist veterans in a variety of ways, Laufenberg said AmVets Post 11 not only assists with claims assistance, but also helps with veterans earned benefits. She said the Post is also about the camaraderie. Laufenberg said the Post hosts coffee and conversations from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday and Friday. Veterans can come in and they can meet and greet each other and have their lifetime of friendships going on, she said. AmVets is more than just a post, its a way of life for a lot of veterans. For more information, contact Post 11 at 580-786-4865 or email amvetspost11@outlook.com. Betty J. Wood AmVets Post 11 is located at 126th S. 10th St. in Duncan. A lawsuit over a 2023 Senate Bill that sought to ban TikTok in Montana has been jointly dismissed in federal court. The Trump Administration, the Chinese government and TikTok reached an agreement in late January to sell American operations of the company to a joint consortium of companies that include Larry Ellisons tech giant, Oracle, and Silver Lake, a venture capital firm. As part of the deal, ByteDance, which owns Tiktok, retains a 19.9% stake in the company, and its CEO will be on the American companys board. Questions had been raised about ByteDances connections to Beijing and what data was being collected by the Chinese government on Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has been vocal in his criticisms of TikTok, and the app was banned on state devices. The state legislature passed a law in 2023 banning the video social media app, which was quickly challenged. TikTok has said it was not storing American data in China. Some small business owners in the state expressed frustration with the ban, saying it was harming their marketing. Violations of the right to free speech were also discussed in conjunction with the lawsuit. There was a stipulation in the bill that if TikTok was sold, it would void the bill. All parties agree that SB 419 is void because Section 4 has been triggered as a result of the transaction described in President (Donald) Trumps Executive Order 14352, Saving TikTok While Protecting National Security, court documents said. In a statement, Knudsen said that China was spying on Montanans and that the U.S. Congress agreed with the Montana Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement President Trump, with his years of business and negotiation experience, worked diligently and succeeded in finding the right American company to purchase TikTok and make sure that Montanans and Americans will no longer be spied on by a foreign adversary, Knudsen said in a release. Todays dismissal ends years of litigation, brought on by TikTok, and will stop wasting taxpayers money. But more social media legislation could be on the way, which was spearheaded last session by Rep. Amy Regier, a Republican representing Kalispell. She sponsored House Bill 408, which would have added a filter on electronic devices. The bill stalled in the Senates judiciary committee after passing the House 82-19, but similar legislation is expected to be introduced in 2027. Gov. Greg Gianforte has mentioned protecting children from social media twice this month once at a state GOP kickoff event and a second time at Mountain States Policy Center event. The other thing thats been a great concern to us is the impact of social media on our minors, young people. Weve seen increased suicide, weve seen depression, weve seen addiction, Gianforte said on Feb. 24 at the event. So were working to get some protections for minors on social media. BASF employees protested at plans to cut jobs in Berlin (John MACDOUGALL) John MACDOUGALL/AFP/AFP Waving placards reading "Broken Agreements, Sacrificed Futures", hundreds of workers from chemical titan BASF protested in Berlin Friday over plans to axe jobs in Germany and shift them to Asia. The looming cuts at a major office employing some 3,000 administrative staff in the capital are the latest sign of the huge pressures facing Germany's traditional industries. They are part of a cost-cutting drive by the world's biggest chemical company, which has been battered by high energy costs in Germany, weak demand and massive overcapacity on global markets. "What BASF is doing is not right," Jesus Pinate, who works in BASF's HR division, told AFP at the protest. "They are taking away important jobs, a bunch of people are going to be unemployed," added the 33-year-old, as some 300 protesters waved the red and white flags of the IGBCE chemical workers union. They also brandished placards emblazoned with various messages playing on the company's name, such as "Berliners Axed, Shareholders Flourishing" and "Budget Above Staff Futures?" Berlin mayor Kai Wegner addressed the protesters outside the BASF offices in Berlin, telling them that we "are fighting together for this site" "We are fighting together for your jobs with the works council, with the union, and with the Berlin legislature -- I am sure that we will achieve something here". Outlining the plans Friday as it unveiled downbeat financial results, BASF said that back-office jobs would be reduced including at the Berlin office -- the European hub of the global business services division -- although it did not give a figure. A whole range of administrative tasks will in future be carried out at a new site to be established in India, as well as at an existing centre in Malaysia, the group said. - 'Uncertain future' - "We will adapt our existing location structures and achieve significant cost savings as a result," BASF chief financial officer Dirk Elvermann told reporters. He offered assurances that the Berlin hub would not be closed completely but conceded that it "will be smaller in terms of staffing than it is today". Union representatives however slammed the plans to "relocate large parts" of the Berlin operation to India, and accused management of breaching existing agreements. Europe's biggest economy has faced a storm of problems in recent years, from a manufacturing slump and fierce competition from China to weak demand in key export markets and high energy prices. The family of the woman who drowned in an ATV crash at a Burning Man-style party in San Luis Obispo County sued the Hollywood stuntman who allegedly hosted the event but a settlement agreement brought closure before the case went to trial. Jonathan Spano, a stunt pilot who worked on the 2022 movie Top Gun: Maverick, hosted a party in 2020 near Harmony at which guests were allowed to operate a Can Am ATV under the influence of drugs and alcohol provided at the party in an effort to put on a version of the Burning Man Festival during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lawsuit alleged. Late into the night, party-goer Maria Arayza-Alvarez was driving the ATV while intoxicated when the vehicle plummeted off an ocean cliff and into the water, killing its passenger, 34-year-old Paso Robles resident Tanya Hendry, court records allege. Advertisement Advertisement Trapped inside the ATV, Hendry died a horrific and excruciating death by drowning in the ensuing minutes, the lawsuit said. Her parents, Anita and Michael Hendry, filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Spano and Harmony Bluffs LLC the property owner of the location where the party was held on March 8, 2022. Spano is listed as the manager of Harmony Bluffs LLC, according to two online business profiles, Bizapedia and Bizprofile . A family photo of Michael Hendry, left, and his daughter, Tanya, and wife, Anita. Tanya drowned in an ATV crash after the vehicle was driven off a cliff on Dec. 21, 2020. (SLO County court records) They accused Spano and the property owner of having negligently and recklessly leased, controlled and operated a recreational vehicle under circumstances so dangerous that they ultimately killed a member of their party. After years of litigation, a jury was selected and the parties were set to head to trial on Feb. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Instead, that day the court announced a settlement agreement was reached between the families, amounting to the total available insurance limit plus a personal contribution from Spano to the Hendrys. Court records from November state Spanos insurer as Scottsdale Insurance with a $5 million policy limit. Arayza-Alvarez also a named defendant in the lawsuit previously settled with the family. In 2020, The Tribune reported she was charged with driving under the influence, causing injury or death to another and gross vehicular manslaughter. Court records show she was involved in criminal proceedings and served four months in jail for her sentence. Nicholas Rowley, the Hendrys lawyer, said that Arayza-Alvarez pled guilty to manslaughter and served five months. Advertisement Advertisement The morning of the settlement announcement, Anita and Michael Hendry emerged from a closed-door chambers conference with Spano and their lawyers overcome with emotion at the conclusion of the case, which took over years of their life. The courtroom fell quiet as Michael broke down in sobs in the arms of his wife, his son Conar and his legal team. This is a good thing, Anita could be heard saying. The exact amount of the settlement agreement was kept confidential, but Spanos personal contribution was something that the family appreciates, Rowley told The Tribune. In life, we all make mistakes, he said. What defines us is what we do with our mistakes and whether or not we accept responsibility and how and when we accept responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement I see this as the defense accepting responsibility, and thats all the family wanted, He said. This case was never about money for them it was about getting answers. Anita later told The Tribune that after years of fighting for justice for her daughter, she was just pleased that were done. Hendry was an artist and bartender at The Hatch Rotisserie and Bar in Paso Robles, according to her Instagram. Michael said he misses his little girl every day. The bike her parents bought her as a high school graduation gift, nicknamed Dirty Shirley, is on display at The Rodeo Bar in Paso Robles, keeping her memory alive, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Though closure can never be final for the Hendrys, the amicable settlement has helped close this chapter of their lives and honor Tanyas memory, they said. Theres been a knot in me Ive never been able to let go, Michael said. Michael Hendry, left, his wife, Anita, and their son, Conar, outside the Paso Robles courthouse on Feb. 17, 2026. Michael and Anita sued stuntman Jonathan Spano after their daughter, Tanya Hendry, died in an ATV crash at a Burning Man style party he hosted in 2020. (Chloe Shrager/cshrager@thetribunenews.com) ATV driver allegedly took drugs before fatal crash Planned for the course of three days including the night of Dec. 20, 2020, the party was hosted by Spano at 4010 Alapay Way, right next to Harmony Headlands State Park, according to court records. The event was held in the style of the annual Burning Man Project , an arts and culture festival held in the Nevada desert. The infamous festival had been canceled that year due to the pandemic, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Spanos party allegedly acted as a substitute for festival-goers that year, attracting the same plethora of drug use the Nevada event typically does and complete with a wooden-built man that was lit on fire, according to court records. It was during the early morning hours of Dec. 21 that Arayza-Alvarez got behind the wheel of the ATV allegedly after consuming both drugs and alcohol. Spano and Harmony Bluffs LLC not only sanctioned and ratified this activity, but actively encouraged, aided and abetted it, the lawsuit alleged. A collection of drugs were allegedly taken by guests that night, including cocaine, ketamine, LSD, marijuana and Adderall, according to a news release from Rowleys law firm Trial Lawyers for Justice. Advertisement Advertisement According to Rowley, Spano had a history of hosting drug parties and a prior relationship with cocaine. Conar Hendry testified that Spano customarily provided his high-grade cocaine to his guests, and that he had seen him do so on four separate occasions, according to court records. According to the lawsuit, Arayza-Alvarez was encouraged to drive the ATV despite being under the influence, having no experience driving high-performance recreational vehicles and the fact that it was dark out and the party was located near a sheer cliff. The lawsuit further argues that Spano and Harmony Bluffs LLC provided no warnings, no signage, no reflective tape, and no barriers to prevent people from falling off or driving off the ocean cliff. Tanya Hendry, 34, drowned in an ATV crash after the vehicle was driven off a cliff on Dec. 21, 2020. (SLO County court records) The ATV was leased to Spano by Khaled Azar, who, by doing so, also encouraged, aided and abetted the dangerous activity, the lawsuit argued. He, too, settled with the Hendry family. Advertisement Advertisement Spano and Arayza-Alvarezs lawyers did not respond to The Tribunes request for comment. Azars lawyer, Chad Slack, declined to comment. Rowley called the whole event a recipe for disaster and the perfect storm. I think that this was a really tragic but absolutely preventable event, he told The Tribune. When were having parties with illegal drugs on the edge of ocean cliffs, a landowner and host of the party and ring leader should not allow people to drive ATVs theyve never driven before at 2 to 3 a.m. Mr. Spano is in the safety industry, he said. We need to make sure we remember those things when were off duty. Perhaps hundreds of Indianas roughly 1,000 township governments could face consolidation under a bill on its way to Gov. Mike Brauns desk. State senators voted 34-15 on Thursday in favor of the bill that supporters say is aimed at improving local government efficiency. Provisions of Senate Bill 270, which the House approved on Tuesday, would require townships with poor performance scores to merge with other townships or some cities. Advertisement Advertisement Bill author Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said while about 325 townships could face mergers, the legislation was meant to preserve township government. This isnt an assault on township government, he said during the Senate debate. Indianas township officials have long argued for the importance of the services they provide. That work includes providing emergency aid for expenses such as utilities and housing to low-income residents, with some townships also operating fire departments or parks and maintaining old cemeteries. Critics believe the township system dating to the 1800s is inefficient and that those functions could be better operated by cities or counties. But numerous attempts over the past two decades in the Legislature for major reorganization of Indianas townships have failed. Advertisement Advertisement The bill specifies that townships would accumulate points based upon factors such as whether it provides emergency aid, operates a fire department or emergency medical services agency, files financial reports on a timely basis and has had candidates in recent township trustee elections. Some senators said they worried about the impact the merger process would have on services in rural areas, including volunteer fire departments. I think theres too many unanswered questions, said Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg. Were moving too fast, and I dont see any reason why we couldnt wait for another year to make sure that all those unanswered questions are resolved. This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. The Trump administration is imposing a six-month moratorium on Medicare enrollment for certain suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, or DMEPOS, as part of a broader plan to combat fraud in healthcare. The administration said Wednesday that the nationwide halt on enrollment would give the government time to consider more actions to further mitigate longstanding instances of fraud, waste, and abuse perpetrated by certain DMEPOS companies. Advertisement Advertisement The temporary freeze applies to all applications for initial enrollment and changes in majority ownership for medical supply companies. Durable medical equipment includes items such as walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, hospital beds, continuous positive airway pressure machines and blood sugar monitors. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last year stopped more than $1.5 billion in suspected fraudulent billing by medical supply companies, and the moratorium would build on that work, according to the announcement. For decades, Medicare fraud has drained billions from American taxpayers that ends now, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. We are replacing the old pay and chase model with a real-time detect and deploy strategy, using advanced AI tools to identify fraud instantly and stop improper payments before they go out the door. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past decade, fraud in the DMEPOS program has been the focus of several reports by the HHS Office of Inspector General, which found Medicare overpaid suppliers by $34 million from 2015 to 2017. The 2018 OIG audit found Medicare could have saved more than $223 million since 2008 if the billing system had been designed properly. A follow-up audit said subsequent fixes to the system decreased overpayments, but the agency still overpaid suppliers by $4.5 million from 2020 to 2024. The Medicare enrollment moratorium was unveiled alongside a plan to withhold more than $259 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota due to concerns about potentially fraudulent claims to the program. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, called the move by the Trump administration politically motivated. Hungary is beefing up security at its energy sites as Prime Minister Viktor Orban accuses Ukraine of threatening his country's energy supply. Orban a vocal ally of President Donald Trump published a scathing open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which he accused Kyiv of pursing an "anti-Hungarian policy." "In recent days, you have blocked the Friendship oil pipeline, which is critical to Hungarys energy supply," Orban's open letter, which he published on X, read. "Your actions are against Hungarys interests and endanger the secure and affordable energy supply of Hungarian families. I therefore call on you to change your anti-Hungarian policy!" On Wednesday, Orban ordered increased security at critical energy infrastructure sites, The Associated Press reported. The prime minister's order came as Budapest accused Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil is delivered to Hungary, but it crosses Kyiv's territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, according to the AP, saying that the pipeline was hit in a Russian drone attack. Advertisement Advertisement Hungary Threatens To Block Eu Loan To Ukraine Unless Russian Oil Shipments Resume Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of blocking his country's oil supply. (Reuters) In a video posted on social media, Orban claimed Ukraine was using an "oil blockade" to pressure Hungary and that Hungarian national security services showed Ukraine was "preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungarys energy system," the AP reported. "We will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities," Orban said, according to the AP. "The police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centers." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement The accusations lobbed against Ukraine also come as Orban faces an upcoming election. As the election nears, Hungary has seen billboards across the country showing AI-generated images of Zelenskyy holding out his hand as if asking for money while surrounded by European officials, according to the AP. The Druzhba oil pipeline between Hungary and Russia is seen at the Hungarian MOL Group's Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, May 18, 2022. Ukraine's Zelenskyy: Russia Trying 'To Play' Game With Trump, Stall Peace Talks Hungary recently threatened to block a proposed 90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine worth roughly $106 billion over the blockade of the Druzhba pipeline. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday that "Ukraine is blackmailing" his country and that Kyiv was coordinating with Belgium and the Hungarian opposition to "push fuel prices higher before the elections." Advertisement Advertisement "By blocking oil transit to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, breaching its commitments to the European Union. We will not give in to this blackmail," Szijjarto added. Orban also accused Ukraine, the Hungarian opposition and Belgium of coordinating to exert pressure on Budapest. Delaying, Stalling And Blaming: Russia Shows Little Sign Of Compromise As War Enters Fifth Year, Expert Says In the letter released Thursday, Orban, who has a close relationship with the Kremlin, also said Ukraine had refused "to accept the position of the sovereign Hungarian government and the Hungarian people regarding the RussiaUkraine war." Additionally, he accused Ukraine of trying to "force Hungary" into the war with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement "We, the Hungarian people, are not responsible for the situation in which Ukraine finds itself. We sympathize with the Ukrainian people, but we do not wish to participate in the war. We do not want to finance the war effort, and we do not want to pay more for energy," Orban wrote. The Hungarian prime minister ended his letter with demands that Ukraine reopen the oil pipeline and "refrain from any further attacks on Hungary's energy security," as well as a demand for "more respect for Hungary." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Neither Zelenskyy's office nor the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump ally Orban issues scathing letter demanding Zelenskyy change Ukraine's 'anti-Hungarian policy' The Trump administration is drafting a diplomatic memo that would warn countries against adopting a carbon tax on shipping pollution and other climate measures, escalating its high-profile efforts to subvert international action on global warming. The State Department cable, reviewed by POLITICOs E&E News, says the U.S. is strongly opposed to a fee on ships climate pollution, and will not tolerate the creation of a fund that uses carbon revenue for programs aimed at lowering the industrys emissions. Its the latest twist in a yearslong saga by the U.N. International Maritime Organization to curb emissions from shipping, which accounts for roughly 3 percent of global climate pollution. Negotiators from dozens of countries were poised to vote on the carbon tax last fall, until it was derailed when the Trump administration threatened to slap tariffs on nations that supported it. Advertisement Advertisement The vote was delayed for a year, after which two of President Donald Trumps Cabinet secretaries described the attempt to block the tax as an "all hands on deck effort. Now administration officials are trying to kill the measure permanently. Theyre also taking aim at other initiatives that are linked to the tax in a package called the Net-Zero Framework, or NZF. "The most appropriate path forward is to end consideration of the NZF prior to moving to a new discussion," says the draft cable, which was written by the State Department in coordination with the Department of Energy and other agencies, according to a person who was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Its expected to be sent to member nations of the IMOs Marine Environment Protection Committee before its next meeting April 27. The administrations expanding demands have raised the profile of a specialized U.N. agency that regulates the shipping industry, with an emblem featuring two anchors. The IMO has become one of the administrations favorite targets as the president tries to buckle the knees of international action on climate change. Delaying the carbon tax vote in October marked a clear victory in the White Houses efforts to undermine steps toward addressing rising temperatures. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on diplomatic discussions but acknowledged that the administration is strongly opposed to the IMO proposal. Advertisement Advertisement We will fight hard to protect the American people and their economic interests, the spokesperson said. The Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment. The White House declined to comment. The cable known as a demarche indicates that it will be accompanied by a related document from the State Department outlining the U.S. position opposing any alternatives to the NZF that rely on rigid mandates and economic burdens. Such plans must not include a financial penalty, carbon tax or multilateral fund, says the document, also reviewed by E&E News. It demands that the IMO not set an arbitrary target to reverse-engineer compliance. It appears that the administration was referring to the IMOs 2023 emission reduction strategy, which includes a goal of net zero by 2050, something Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called "a crazy bad idea." Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, at a shipping summit in Greece, Marco Sylvester, deputy assistant secretary of State for transportation affairs, urged the IMO to kill what he referred to as the Net Zombie Framework, according to reporting by Lloyds List. The NZF, a draft of which countries approved last April, would incentivize the use of cleaner shipping fuels in a bid to zero out the industrys climate pollution by 2050. The framework would have set a carbon-intensity standard that would become stricter over time, encouraging industry to switch from fossil fuels to lower-emission alternatives. Ships that dont meet the standard would need to pay a fee, which would help fund the shift to greener fuels and support developing countries. After thwarting the October vote, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that should this initiative or any other similar one emerge from the U.N. bureaucracy again, our coalition against it will be ready and larger. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. position paper, which could still change, according to the person whos familiar with the internal deliberations, also calls on the IMO to eliminate penalties on liquefied natural gas, and not place limits or penalties on fuel types. The IMO framework would not ban LNG or biofuels, but ships that run purely on LNG would eventually have to pay a penalty. "Rather than pursuing a global emissions scheme that would restrict energy types, the IMO should look to create an environment of energy abundance," the document says. It also argues that regional initiatives to reduce shipping pollution, such as the European Unions Emissions Trading System, which covers carbon pollution from large ships, would have to be terminated. That could prove challenging for the EU, which could only amend how its emissions trading system addresses shipping if a future IMO measure matches or exceeds the strength of the EU system, according to Agathe Peigney, a shipping policy officer at Transport and Environment, a European group that advocates for clean transportation. The EU stressed its commitment to zeroing out shipping emissions after the carbon tax was delayed. Advertisement Advertisement Some countries are considering other approaches. An alternative proposal submitted to the IMO by Liberia calls for no direct carbon fee and says emissions reductions should be judged against market uptake of low-carbon marine fuels. Thats significant because it would mean basing a fuel transition on what is available in the market, rather than relying on incentives for fuel switching. Liberia argued in its paper, dated Feb. 20 and reviewed by E&E News, that the fuel standard in the current proposal is overly restrictive and reduces operators flexibility. Its proposal is co-sponsored by Argentina and Panama. Both Panama and Liberia are major registries for ships and voted with the U.S. to delay the NZF. This appears crafted to ensure no one can plausibly call it a carbon tax, and while it likely succeeds on that front, it does so by stripping out most of the frameworks original demand-creation logic, said Evelyne Williams, a former State Department negotiator. Even in this attenuated form, I doubt it will satisfy an administration predisposed to reject anything climate-oriented on principle. Advertisement Advertisement A separate February submission from Brazil argues for retaining the NZF, which it says is sound and realistic and intended to minimize its impacts on peoples lives. The framework, it added, was not created in haste, nor imposed by any single party. The IMO has worked with countries since 2023 to find agreement on the NZF. Last month, the IMOs secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, told reporters that the U.S. was in part concerned about the proposed fund to disburse money raised via the carbon tax. He left open the possibility of getting rid of it as part of a compromise. Industry analysts and climate advocates say the framework could avoid creating a patchwork of regulations that increase costs and uncertainty for the shipping industry. Advertisement Advertisement James Lightbourn, founder of Cavalier Shipping, a maritime industry consultancy, said there were legitimate questions about how a U.N. body would collect the fee on emissions. But he added that uncertainty around the regulation slows down the implementation of incentives that could encourage shipping companies to order new vessels that would be in operation for decades. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced it had filed federal lawsuits against Utah and four other states Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey for failure to produce their full voter registration lists upon request. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court against Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson accuses her of violating the Civil Rights Act by refusing to provide the demanded federal election records. It asks the federal court to force Henderson to produce to the Attorney General the current electronic copy of Utahs computerized statewide voter registration list, with all fields, including each voters full name, date of birth, residential address, and either their state drivers license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number within five days of a court order. For months, President Donald Trumps administration has demanded that states provide copies of their voter lists, calling the information necessary for election integrity efforts. While some states have turned over lists that withhold sensitive personal data, most have declined to offer all the information on their lists while citing state and federal privacy laws that protect Americans personal data. Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Justice Department filed lawsuits against 24 states and Washington, D.C., seeking court orders to force states to comply. Of those 24 suits, the federal courts have dismissed claims in four states: California, Georgia, Oregon and Michigan, according to the University of Wisconsin Law School. In the red state of Utah, Henderson said she is among those fighting to protect Utah voters protected information. Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens, Henderson said in a statement posted on X in response to the suit on Thursday. Utahns can be assured that my office will always follow the Constitution and the law, protect voters rights, and administer free and fair elections. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued more than half the states for the private data (Social Security number, driver license number, date of birth) of their voters. The Justice Department has declined our previous offer to share publicly available voter lists with them. As pic.twitter.com/nz4kYt7SZP Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson (@LGHendersonUtah) February 26, 2026 Henderson also said in that post that the Justice Department has declined our previous offer to share publicly available voter lists with them. She said the lawsuit against Utah and several other Republican states came as expected. Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to states asking for information related to their voter list maintenance under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. Several of those letters also requested state voter registration lists, prompting concern among some Democrats and voting rights activists about how the department, under the control of President Donald Trump, plans to use the data. At the time, Lt. Gov. Deidre Hendersons office shared its letter to the Department of Justice in response to the request, which says the state has provided its publicly available voter registration list. Hendersons office also pushed back on the departments claim that Utah has the lowest rate in the nation for voter registration records removed from the voter registration rolls. Utah remains one of the most proactive states for maintaining current and accurate voter registration rolls, Hendersons office wrote, explaining that the department was relying on the limited reporting available from Utahs 25-year-old system, which is being replaced. Utah is in the process of implementing a modern system with enhanced reporting capabilities that will be in place at the beginning of 2027. Advertisement Advertisement The departments focus on elections comes after Trump directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March 2025 to seek information about suspected election crimes from state election officials and empowered her to potentially withhold grants and other funds from uncooperative states, Stateline reported. Hendersons response in July, however, didnt satisfy the Trump administration. The Justice Department will continue to fulfill its oversight role dutifully, neutrally, and transparently wherever Americans vote in federal elections, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Departments civil rights division, said in a statement issued Thursday. Many state election officials, however, are choosing to fight us in court rather than show their work. We will not be deterred, regardless of party affiliation, from carrying out critical election integrity legal duties. The Justice Department has said it needs voters detailed information to ensure ineligible people are kept off state voter rolls and that only citizens are voting. Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Hendersons office released findings that more than 99.9% of Utahs 2 million registered voters are U.S. citizens. After that review her office said it removed one additional noncitizen from voter rolls after finding four earlier last year. The review also found that a fraction of Utahs more than 2 million voters (486) had incomplete information that election officials werent able to immediately verify. Henderson released those findings after the Trump administrations demands for records, and as some Republican Utah lawmakers push for stricter voting laws, including tougher enforcement of a prohibition on noncitizen voting in state and federal elections and efforts to further restrict mail-in voting. Another Utah bill that won support from a House committee Wednesday night would require most Utahns to personally return their mail-in ballots at a staffed drop box or voting center while showing a form of identification. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, supported a version of that bill last year, but after the Senate weighed in, the 2025 Utah Legislature ultimately passed a watered down version that required Utah voters to write four digits of their state identification number on their by-mail ballots return envelopes while slowly phasing out the states automatic vote-by-mail system. Advertisement Advertisement This year, Schultz and the bills sponsor Rep. Jefferson Burton, R-Provo, are trying again to require in-person voter ID requirements. But it remains to be seen whether that effort will survive the Senate. In response to Thursdays lawsuit, Utah Democratic Party Chair Brian King issued a statement calling the suit a blatant overreach and a threat to both Utah voters and our election process. The federal government demanding unfettered access to the states voter rolls including sensitive personal data is not about election integrity. Its about control and interfering with the midterm election in November, King said. We will continue to stand up to abuse of power and support efforts to maintain Utahs constitutional right to run its own elections free from federal interference. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NASHVILLE, TENNESSEEThe Trump DOJ has spent the last several months constructing a narrowly focused narrative that then-acting U.S. Attorney Robert McGuire of Nashville was the sole decider in seeking a human smuggling indictment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia last May while he was still confined in El Salvador, a victim of a wrongful deportation in violation of a immigration judges order. So it was no surprise that McGuire was the governments own key witness today in defense of Abrego Garcias vindictive prosecution claim. And if you focused only on what was illuminated by the spotlight the government shone on McGuire, he was a compelling witness. He seemed earnest, well-intended, professional, and without guile. He was candid, didnt get defensive, and was consistent throughout his testimony. But the Trump DOJ, as hard as it tried, couldnt keep some uncomfortable facts from sneaking into the glare of its spotlight on McGuire. And for anyone who knows the case well, the trick to seeing it clearly is to pan out from the administrations narrow focus to see the broader context. Advertisement Advertisement Within days of his wrongful removal to El Salvador in March 2025, the Trump administration, including the White House itself, launched a blistering smear campaign against Abrego Garcia, the thrust of which was to make a public case that he was a bad person who deserved his fate. As Abrego Garcia began winning in court first in Maryland federal court, then at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and finally at the Supreme Court the governments smear campaign against him intensified. It was during this time that DHS dredged up information about a 2022 traffic stop, featuring it in its effort to defend its mishandling of his deportation. The timeline is striking: March 15, 2025: Abrego Garcia is deported to El Salvador April 1, 2025: Homeland Security Investigations closes human trafficking investigation on Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement April 4, 2025: Maryland federal judge orders the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return April 7, 2025: Appeals court upholds the decision April 10, 2025: Supreme Court upholds the decision April 17, 2025: HSI reopens its investigation May 21, 2025: Abrego Garcia is indicted For the Trump DOJ, the most uncomfortable fact to intrude on its narrative in todays testimony in front of U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. of Nashville was that Associate Deputy Attorney General Aakash Singh already knew more about the criminal investigation of Abrego Garcia than McGuire did when they first discussed the case. Advertisement Advertisement McGuire recounted getting a unusual Sunday afternoon or evening phone call last April 27 from Rana Saoud, the special agent in charge of the Nashville HSI office, alerting him to the late 2022 I-40 traffic stop of Abrego Garcia, years before he became a poster boy for the arbitrary, capricious, and inept nature of Trump mass deportation operation. Within a few hours of that call, McGuire received an email from Singh. I knew instantly what the email was about, McGuire testified. The subject line of the email referred to a man who would become a chief witness against Abrego Garcia and as allegedly involved in the human smuggling operation with him; the SUV that Abrego Garcia was driving when he was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol was registered to him. In addition to McGuire, the other recipients of the email were the U.S. attorney in Alabama where the man was imprisoned and the U.S. attorney in Texas where he had been convicted. Advertisement Advertisement On cross examination, McGuire was pressed on the fact that Singh knew about this witness before he did. Lots of people knew about this witness before I knew about this witness, McGuire conceded. Singhs email, which arranged for a call the following day with him and the three U.S. attorneys, showed that Singh was already on the case and coordinating the investigation that McGuire, who had just learned of the traffic stop, would ostensibly lead. McGuire testified that he would come to learn that a second witness had emerged shortly before he got involved in the case, a woman who claimed to have been involved in the human smuggling operation in 2018-19 and could place Abrego Garcia in it. Much of McGuires testimony was focused on walking through various email exchanges involving him and Singh and other investigators from late April up until the May 21 indictment that were largely unhelpful to the government. Woodwards task was to detonate these grenades on direct before Abrego Garcias attorneys could do damage with them on cross examination. They included emails from Singh saying things like Keep me posted, How close are we to charging? and Do we have a sense of potential charges? McGuire cast those emails as normal oversight from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, noting his own responsibility as outlined in the DOJs Justice Manual to keep the deputy attorney general informed. One email from Singh right before the indictment directed McGuire and other recipients, Lets keep a close hold until we get clearance. Abrego Garcias lawyers would zero in on who was giving approval to proceed with the indictment. McGuire testified that he wasnt sure what Singh meant by that because we werent asking for permission. Advertisement Advertisement Saoud, who has since retired from HSI, was the only other government witness in todays hearing. She testified that she first learned of the 2022 traffic stop from the Tennessee Star, a conservative news outlet which posted about it on April 16. She couldnt remember who showed the article to her, testifying that it was either a friend or co-worker. After learning of the traffic stop, Saoud first called the Tennessee Highway Patrol and then McGuire directly because of the high-profile nature of the case, Saoud testified. Then, she said, she called her direct supervisor, at HSI headquarters in DC, and told him she was looking into it given the notoriety of the individual involved. She cast it as a bureaucratic heads up. Were not swayed by public attention or political considerations in deciding whether to investigate, she said. Yet, the notoriety of Abrego Garcia was a recurring theme in the testimony of Saoud and McGuire. Over and over, they confirmed that Abrego Garcias case was handled differently because he had such a high public profile. In bureaucratic terms, it makes sense. No one wants to be blindsided by a controversial case. But it wasnt helpful to the government case that Abrego Garcia was treated differently. McGuire decided to handle the case personally rather than delegate it to someone in his office. I knew it was going to be controversial, he testified. Id rather it be me than someone else. Advertisement Advertisement He even anticipated that he would be in court one day defending a vindictive prosecution claim, like he was today, and didnt want to put that burden on an underling. The traffic stop was more than two years old, so the question would be Why now? McGuire testified. I acted on it as soon as I learned about it, but I couldnt change when I learned about it. This goes to a core dynamic of the case: Abrego Garcia wasnt notorious because of the crimes hed been accused of. He was notorious for being a victim of the Trump administration, which refused to admit its mistake in deporting him and tried to save face by continually upping the ante and defying court orders in a confrontation with the judiciary. The subtext of McGuires testimony was that everyone involved at every level of government knew the implications of a criminal prosecution of Abrego Garcia. Everyone knew what side the administration was on. They didnt have to be told explicitly what to do or be given direct orders. Abrego Garcia was a thorn in the side of the Trump administration, and everyone knew that. McGuires defense, which is fair as far as it goes, is that he would never have brought the criminal case against Abrego Garcia if the facts didnt support it. He also convincingly testified that he would have refused to prosecute if the facts didnt support it. I wasnt going to charge something I didnt believe in, he said. But that largely sidesteps the larger point that HSI raced to reopen the investigation, senior leaders like Saoud and McGuire quickly moved to investigate, and an indictment was swiftly returned. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump DOJs unusual handling of the case was further betrayed by who served as its lead lawyer defending the vindictive prosecution claim: Associate Attorney General Stan Woodward, the No. 3 at DOJ, who personally handled McGuires direct testimony today. Woodward started by cutting straight to the chase, securing testimony from McGuire that he and he alone made the decision to seek an indictment and was not directed, instructed, or pressured to do so by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche or anyone else at DOJ, DHS, or the White House. McGuire was all alone in Woodwards spotlight. Yet, in one internal DOJ email, McGuire wrote that hed learned that Blanche and then-principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove wanted Abrego Garcia charged sooner than later. On the stand, McGuire couldnt recall who had told him that. The burden was on the Trump DOJ today. Their task was to shift it back to Abrego Garcia. If they failed, Abrego Garcia wins. If they succeeded, Judge Crenshaw has said hell consider whether to let Abrego Garcia conduct more discovery and call senior DOJ leaders, including Blanche and Singh, to testify At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Crenshaw asked for more briefing from the two sides and suggested he might want oral arguments as well. Crenshaw asked a few questions of witnesses but he didnt tip his hand. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump who has long seemed like he just cant seem to choose among friends in the Texas Senate Republican primary says he's pretty much decided whom to endorse in the critical March 3 contest. But as the showman president is wont to do, he left the public and the candidates themselves hanging, as he declined on Friday to name who he'll actually support. Instead, during his remarks in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trump made sure to acknowledge each of the three Republicans fighting for the nomination. We have a great attorney general, Ken Paxton. Where's Ken? Hi, Ken, Trump said. He continued, And we have a great senator, John Cornyn. Hi, John. Advertisement Advertisement Noting that they're in a little bit of a race, Trump added: Its going to be an interesting one, right? They're both great people. Trump mentioned the third candidate, Rep. Wesley Hunt, after running through the long list of Texas lawmakers present: Another friend of mine who is doing very well, Wesley Hunt. Wesley Hunt, what a good job. During his visit Friday, which marked his first out-of-Washington trip since Tuesday's State of the Union, Trump reiterated the highlights from that address about America's economic prosperity and bolstered national security. He boasted of increased oil production and lowered gas prices at the Port of Corpus Christi while diverging into asides about GLP-1s, mockery of Democrats and unsubstantiated claims about voting. Ahead of Trumps visit, Energy Secretary Chris Wright authorized a 12% expansion in liquefied natural gas exports at Cheniere Energys Corpus Christi terminal making it the second largest LNG export project in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement We brought the country back. We dont want to lose the midterm. We've got to win the midterms, Trump implored the crowd, saying his tenure in office marked a return to the golden age for the U.S. We've got to get out. You've got to get out, and we've got to vote. And well keep it all going better even than it is now, as good as it is. As affordability and the economy remain top priorities for the broader electorate, Democrats are seizing on the cost of things like electricity, housing and food to attack Republicans for failing to adequately address voters' concerns. As Donald Trump calls affordability a fake word and hoax and spends his time building gilded ballrooms, Texas families are seeing costs rise, health care get more expensive, and jobs disappear at one of the highest rates in the country, Ken Martin, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said after Trump's Corpus Christi remarks. Cornyn is battling for his fifth term and is being challenged by Paxton and Hunt in a primary fight that has become viciously personal. All three men have been trying to highlight their ties to Trump as they ramp up their campaigning ahead of Tuesdays vote. Cornyn got a head start on Friday, when he flew on Air Force One for the Texas trip and posted multiple photos of his ride on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps hesitation to publicly wade into the Texas Senate primary speaks to the tricky dynamics of the race. Cornyn is unpopular with a segment of Texas GOP base, in part for his early dismissiveness of Trumps 2024 comeback campaign and for his role in authoring tougher restrictions on guns after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. But Senate GOP leadership and allied groups see Cornyn as the stronger general election candidate, in light of a series of troubles that have shadowed Paxton. Paxtonbeat impeachment on fraud charges in 2023 and has faced allegations of marital infidelity by his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have urged Trump to endorse Cornyn. They and allied campaign groups argue that the seat would cost the party hundreds of millions more to defend with Paxton as the candidate. Advertisement Advertisement It is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee, Scott told Fox News on Wednesday. Hunt, a second-term Houston-area representative, was a late entry to the race, but claims a kinship with Trump, having endorsed him early in the 2024 race. Hunt campaigned regularly for Trump and earned a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. If no candidate reaches 50% in Tuesdays primary, the top two finishers will advance to a May 26 runoff. Cornyns campaign and a half-dozen allied groups have poured more than $63 million into the race since last fall, chiefly trying to slow Paxton but recently attacking Hunt in an effort to keep him from making it to the runoff. Advertisement Advertisement The veteran senator has been airing ads since last year touting his support for Trump's agenda, even though his relationship with the president has been cool at times. Paxton and Hunt both have ads airing now featuring them standing with Trump, who has repeatedly said he likes all three men and is friends with them. The GOP battle comes as Democrats have a contested primary of their own in Texas between state Rep. James Talarico, a self-described policy wonk who regularly quotes the Bible, and progressive favorite U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Trump hasnt been shy about wading into other contested Republican primaries in the state. Parts of Corpus Christi fall within Texas 34th congressional district, where former Rep. Mayra Flores is fighting to reclaim her seat against the Trump-endorsed Eric Flores. (The two are not related.) The winner of the primary will face off against Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, long a target of the GOP, whose district was redrawn to make it easier for a Republican to win. Eric Flores attended Friday's Trump event at the Port of Corpus Christi, which technically is located in a neighboring district. Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the state, the president has also endorsed Rep. Tony Gonzales, who is fighting calls from his own party to resign from Congress after reports of an alleged affair with a former staffer who later died after she set herself on fire. Gonzales is refusing to step down and has said that there will be opportunities for all of the details and facts to come out and that the stories about the situation do not represent all the facts. Congressman Tony Gonzales is here, Trump said, noting his presence at his Corpus Christi remarks. Tony, congratulations. It was unclear what Trump was congratulating him for. Gonzales is facing a primary challenge from Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and gun rights influencer, whom Gonzales defeated by fewer than 400 votes in their 2024 runoff. After the speech, Trump made a stop by a local Whataburger, where he picked up food for Air Force One and insinuated to the gathered patrons that he would buy food for everyone in the restaurant. Can you handle it? Hamburgers for all! he announced. ___ Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report. President Trump is looming large over Texas as the Lone Star States GOP gears up for competitive primaries next week. The president is set to stop in Corpus Christi on Friday, just days after his State of the Union address and as Texas voters cast their ballots in a high-stakes, three-way Republican primary race for Sen. John Cornyns (R-Texas) seat in the Senate. While Trump is visiting the state in an official capacity, observers are eager to see if the president has anything to say about the closely watched primary, with Texas Democrats feeling increasingly optimistic about their chances in November. Advertisement Advertisement Trump told reporters earlier this month that he was taking a serious look at endorsing in the Texas Senate race. Two weeks later, he said he was still undecided, even as he issued support for several other candidates in the state. I like all three of them, actually. Those are the toughest races. Theyve all supported me. Theyre all good, Trump said on Feb. 17. Youre supposed to pick one, so well see what happens. But I support all three, the president said of the primarys leading candidates. Cornyn, seeking a fifth term in the Senate, is locked in a competitive race with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) all three of whom have flexed their conservative bona fides and underscored their alignment with the president. When you have a 24-year incumbent U.S. senator and you dont endorse him, thats a pretty big tell to the electorate, especially a Texas ruby red primary electorate, one Republican strategist, referring to Cornyn, told The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Its not an endorsement against Cornyn, the strategist added. But when you have the president and your fellow junior senator [Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)] not willing to endorse you in the primary, people get that and primary voters get that. All three contenders are slated to attend Trumps Friday remarks in Corpus Christi, with Paxtons campaign reportedly rescheduling a planned event so the Texass attorney general can see the president ahead of the March 3 contest. Paxton boasts a 1-point lead over Cornyn 34 percent to 33 percent according to Decision Desk HQs polling aggregate. But neither appears poised to secure the support they need to win the primary outright. Hunt, whose bid has been seen as a long shot, is pulling in roughly 20 percent support. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday, the race will head to a May 26 runoff between the top two vote-getters. Advertisement Advertisement Around the primary, the No. 1 issue appears to be: who can differentiate themselves as the closest to the president? Josh Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, told The Hill last week. If they have an endorsement, thats the best-case scenario, he continued. But outside of that, youre seeing a lot of advertisements that show, in one way or another, that candidates closeness to the president, or even just the presidents orbit. A Trump endorsement could be a game changer in the close race, though experts say the possibility of one coming before the primary is increasingly unlikely as Tuesday nears. Texans have already started to vote, and an endorsement may be more likely after the primary, especially if it tips into the expected runoff. Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats are outpacing Republicans in early vote turnout, GOP turnout is higher than in past years. According to CNN, early turnout on the GOP side is 15 percent higher than it was at this point in 2022. These are pretty high number for Republicans too, which conceivably could help Cornyn, but when you get to a runoff in Texas, its a much more constricted, more redder, much more conservative voting bloc, the GOP strategist said. If Trump weighed in, it absolutely would affect Republican primary voters choices, James Dickey, a former Texas GOP chair, said. Advertisement Advertisement Blank, though, suggested that Trumps backing may not hold as much weight in the Senate race as in other Texas contests, since GOP voters are largely engaged in the race and both leading candidates, who have won statewide elections, have their own faithful bases. And, although Trump has long been a kingmaker in Republican primaries, he had a notable slipup in the state earlier this month. The president endorsed the Republican candidate in a special election runoff for Texass Senate District 9 but the Democrat contender overperformed, winning the seat by roughly 14 points. Cornyn, who told NBC News that he spoke to Trump about a possible endorsement last month, has warned of a massacre for the GOP in Texas if Paxton gets the nod, pointing to controversy around the state attorney general. Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 on corruption charges, then later acquitted by the state Senate. Republicans national Senate campaign arm has made a similar case. In a February memo, it argued that Cornyn is the only Republican candidate who reliably wins a general election matchup. Advertisement Advertisement And Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Semafor earlier this month that hes cautioned Trump many times on consequences for the party if Cornyn isnt the Texas Senate GOP nominee. The warnings come as Republicans have raised concerns over their support among Hispanic voters, including in Texas. According to VoteHub data cited in the Texas Tribune earlier this month, 79 percent of Hispanic voters backed the Democrat in the state Senate District 9 special election this month. Paxtons team, however, has emphasized his double-digit wins in past elections, as well as his lead over Cornyn in the polls. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Hunts team last week blasted national Republicans misguided investment in a 24-year incumbent. Advertisement Advertisement Fridays trip is Trumps first public event since delivering his State of the Union address on Tuesday, when he acknowledged the devastating flooding that tore through the state last year as part of a wide-ranging speech on his administrations accomplishments. President Trump looks forward to returning to the great State of Texas this week to discuss the economy and tout his Drill Baby Drill agenda, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to The Hill. Even if an endorsement in the Senate race doesnt come before Tuesdays primary, Trumps presence will be closely watched as Texas kicks off the midterm cycle with primaries up and down the ballot. Im never one to try to [predict] what the President will or will not do, but he will be in Corpus Christi [on Friday], Texas Republican consultant Vinny Minchillo told The Hill via email. Does he endorse? And who? If its Cornyn I dont believe it will be enough to help him avoid a runoff. 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. Officials across the Trump administration are scrambling to devise legal strategies that would allow the government to keep billions of dollars in tariff revenue the Supreme Court said was illegally collected. Early ideas include policies to discourage companies from claiming their refunds, prevent the government from paying the money back or otherwise preserve at least some of the tariff revenue, according to five people familiar with the conversations, granted anonymity to discuss them. One of the ideas, according to two of the people, is to claim the tariff payments, which were collected over the last year, are legal under a revamped set of duties that the administration is now preparing under different legal authorities. Another would allow companies to jump to the front of what is expected to be a lengthy queue for refunds if they agree to forfeit some of the money to the government, according to one of the people familiar. Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court justices left the question of how the refunds for the rest of companies should be handled to a lower court, something even Trump himself appeared baffled over during a press conference with reporters on Friday. They take months and months to write an opinion and they dont even discuss that point, Trump told reporters at the White House shortly after the decision. I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years. But trade lawyers and others say that President Donald Trump has far more agency than hes claiming. Trumps Justice Department, after all, promised in court filings last year that it would pay back tariff fees, plus interest, to the businesses who brought the suit if the government lost the case. Trump is trying to paint a blurry picture that the courts haven't decided what to do with the money, one of the people said, adding that the normal refund process takes about two-and-a-half years. That gives the administration two years before theres real question marks that theyre being insincere in returning that money. Advertisement Advertisement The White House, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, U.S. Trade Representatives Office and the Department of Homeland Security, which collects tariffs through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, didnt respond to requests for comment. It is almost certain that any strategy the Trump administration puts forward to slow walk the refunds would be challenged in court and face political attacks from Democrats, who are already looking to score points on the issue. Nevertheless, the discussions underscore that the Supreme Courts bruising 6-3 decision last week reining in the presidents tariff authority is unlikely to be the final word on a matter near to Trumps heart. The conversations also highlight the difficult balance between preserving the more than $133 billion in duties collected from importers, potentially shielding the federal balance sheet from a sudden fiscal hit, and reassuring a business community that has repeatedly bristled at his trade moves. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, major business groups from a variety of sectors demanded Trump promptly repay the tariffs struck down by the court. On Monday, FedEx became the first major company following the decision to file a lawsuit seeking a full refund of the tariffs it paid. Trade lawyers and customs experts are skeptical that any mechanism the administration devises would hold up in court. And the maneuvering could prove politically and legally delicate, as judges at the Court of International Trade, who have been tasked with mapping out the refund pathway, are likely to scrutinize any effort that appears designed to sidestep repayment. Advertisement Advertisement Obviously courts will not like it if the government not only doesn't honor its word, but then makes everybody file a lawsuit to get the refund, Jeffrey Schwab, a lawyer for VOS Selections, one of the companies that sued the Trump administration over the tariffs. The private conversations come as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer suggested over the weekend that the issue would likely fall to the lower courts and signaling the administration would follow whatever process judges lay out. But in a sign of their commitment to the tariff principle, administration officials have also moved quickly to reinstate the tariffs and voiced skepticism that the refunds will be good for the American people. Bessent, in a Fox News interview on Friday, described tariff refunds as the ultimate corporate welfare. And asked about the refunds while speaking at the Economic Club of Dallas shortly after the ruling, Bessent remarked: I got a feeling the American people wont see it. Tariff revenue played a major role in Trumps economic policy over the past year. Not only did Trump float using the money to provide direct payments to some Americans, the White House used the prospect of $4 trillion in tariff revenue over the next ten years to help convince fiscal hawks to support a massive tax package that Republicans passed last July. Without the tariff revenue, the tax cuts are projected to add $3.4 trillion to the national debt, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. Advertisement Advertisement The president, during his State of the Union, painted a vision of tariffs as a permanent economic foundation for government options, saying that he hoped they would one day replace the income tax, though doing so would require a much higher tariff rate than exists now. The Court of International Trade is now poised to sort through more than 1,000 refund-related cases that have been filed, as importers not involved in the suit press their claims and the Justice Department weighs how to defend the administrations trade agenda. If courts conclude the tariffs were unlawfully imposed, importers would generally be entitled to refunds processed by Customs a potentially complex and costly undertaking that administration officials warn would have consequences for the federal governments finances. The administration retains tools, however, that could slow or complicate the refund process. Customs has roughly 10 months after goods enter the country to finalize duties and transfer the funds it receives from importers into the U.S. Treasury. Once that process is complete, it becomes much more onerous for importers to receive refunds. If the government wanted to make the refund process easier, it could extend that deadline; leaving the existing one in place makes it more burdensome for companies. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department could also influence the pace of repayments through its litigation strategy challenging claims shipment by shipment or appealing unfavorable rulings, even if courts ultimately determine the tariffs were unlawful. Companies are already bracing for a drawn-out fight. Trade lawyers have advised clients to quickly file lawsuits to claim their tariff refunds, anticipating a complicated process. "Nobody is expecting a quick answer to the refunds, said Tami Overby, a partner at DGA Government Relations, an advisory firm. Trump said he expected lawsuits for years and, to me, that means the government's not going to make it easy." Ari Hawkins and Doug Palmer contributed to this report. Europes smartphone market did not grow in 2025. But market power did. And it reshaped the shares enjoyed by the different market players. That implies big headline numbers for the largest players, Samsung (SSNLF) and Apple (AAPL), and speaks volumes regarding their rivalry. Shipments across Europe (excluding Russia) slipped 1% to 134.2 million units, the newest data from Omdia reveals. The peak for the region came way back in 2021, with more than 150 million units picked up from shelves. The latest figures underscore the market is stable, but its not yet fully recovered. Its not my first rodeo, particularly when it comes to Europe. Ive covered Europes handset cycles for years, and what stands out is the sharp decline recently. However, another pattern emerging is one of further entrenchment. When growth stalls, leaders typically hold on and widen the market share. Thats exactly what happened here: Europes five largest smartphone vendors continued to gain combined share, reflecting the importance of scale for long-term success in the region. In practical terms: Larger vendors increased their aggregate market share Smaller vendors struggled for visibility Channel leverage consolidated further That dynamic almost never reverses. That is exactly why we need to break down the latest report on one of the most prosperous regions in the world. Samsung is looking to defend its market as Apples record run continues.Photo by EThamPhoto on Getty Images Photo by EThamPhoto on Getty Images Samsung defends its Europe crown as rivals struggle to close the gap Samsung, in total, shipped 46.6 million smartphones in Europe in 2025. More Tech Stocks: It represents roughly 35% of total regional volume. Related: Samsungs update screen is sending wrong message after Google patch Now you might be thinking all of this translates into a very solid year for Samsung. Well, not quite. The absence of the Galaxy A0x lineup weighed on early shipments and this is an area where Samsung will look to improve this year. However, in the second half of the year things got much better. Recovery drivers included: Discounted Galaxy A16 Robust Galaxy A56 demand Better carrier channel execution The Galaxy A56 ultimately finished the year as Europes top-shipping model. However, the way I see it, the real advantage isnt just volume; its flexibility. The company spans: Entry-tier price points Mass mid-range Premium flagships Foldables Having a large portfolio is a huge advantage in a fragmented market such as Europe. Thats because consumer incomes vary. Youve got high-income nations, including Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, and Denmark. For them, features matter more than the price point. On the other end of the spectrum are regions such as Southern Europe and Ukraine. President Donald Trump is heading to Texas today to make the case that the U.S. economy is doing far better than he's being given credit for. Trump is expected to fly to Corpus Christi to visit the city's port and tout his economic policies, like he did in stops in Georgia and Iowa earlier this year. "America is back," Trump said last week after touring a Georgia steel plant. "Our economy is roaring." Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: President Donald Trump plans stop in Texas ahead of March 3 primary election Trump's visit comes just days after Tuesday's State of the Union Speech, where he praised the tariffs for helping him negotiate trade deals around the world and generate income for the U.S. government. "As time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love," Trump said on Tuesday night. But the visit also comes one week after the Supreme Court delivered a major setback to Trump's agenda when it struck down his sweeping tariffs. Trump announced later he would reimpose global tariffs at 15%, though they took effect Tuesday at 10%. Advertisement Advertisement The trip to Corpus Christi comes as the port has experienced a small decline in activity in 2025 compared to 2024. Port officials there reported 203.4 million tons of goods moved through the ship channel in 2025, a decline of 1.5% from 2024. Still, the White House made clear he'll point to recent economic data that they say show Texans are better off since Trump took office. "President Trump looks forward to returning to the great State of Texas tomorrow to discuss the economy and tout his Drill Baby Drill' agenda," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday. That includes touting the price of gas, which the White House says is 10 cents cheaper than at this time last year in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement But the drop in the price of oil has had an impact in Texas. The state has about 50 fewer rigs operating than a year ago, according to the latest Baker Hughes count. That contributed to the thousands of layoffs in the oil sector in Texas in 2025. Friday's trip will be Trump's second to Texas since starting his second term in office. His last visit was to Kerrville after the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. Trump made 18 visits to Texas during his first term, including traveling to Corpus Christi Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. In 2022, he held a rally outside of Corpus Christi as he began building his re-election campaign after President Joe Biden took office. Corpus Christ is Texas's 8th largest city and its port is a major hub for oil, gas and manufacturing shipments. This article originally published at President Donald Trump returns to Texas on Friday. Here's what to know.. There were fresh indications on Friday that US military action in Iran could be imminent, as ITV News' International Editor Emma Murphy reports US President Donald Trump has said he's "not happy" with the way Iran is negotiating in the nuclear talks, but indicated he would give them more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East. Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after their latest talks in Geneva on Thursday failed to reach a breakthrough, and as American forces gather in the region. Advertisement Advertisement The US has spent the last month amassing a fleet of aircraft and warships near Iran - the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on Friday, Trump said: "Im not happy with the fact that theyre not willing to give us what we have to have. Im not thrilled with that. Well see what happens. Were talking later." He added that the Middle Eastern country "cannot have nuclear weapons". Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, met Friday with US Vice President JD Vance to discuss the negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement He told CBS's Face the Nation: I don't think any alternative to diplomacy is going to solve this problem.He also said Iran had agreed to never stockpile enriched uranium, making "the enrichment argument less relevant". UK withdraws staff from Iran amid threat of US strikes 'Conveyor belt' of airpower: Analyst warns of US military build-up near Iran Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal to constrain its nuclear programme. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon, and has in turn threatened to attack Israel, raising the risk that military action could trigger another regional war. Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the risks of the US getting involved in a drawn-out conflict in the Middle East if it launches strikes on Iran, Trump said: I guess you could say theres always a risk. You know, when theres war, theres a risk of anything, both good and bad. Later Friday, as he visited Texas, Trump sounded more pessimistic, telling reporters that Iranian negotiators "dont want to quite go far enough. Its too bad. He reiterated that he did not want to see Iran allowed to enrich any amount of uranium and said the oil-rich nation should not need to enrich uranium for an energy program. When asked by a reporter how close he was to deciding on whether to launch a military strike, he said, Id rather not tell you. Advertisement Advertisement Trump later told a crowd of supporters in a speech in Corpus Christi, Texas, that he would rather handle Iran the peaceful way and that he discussed the issue aboard Air Force One with Texas's two Republican senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Earlier on Friday, the US State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make a quick trip to Israel early next week. The US Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signalling that US military action might be imminent. Advertisement Advertisement The announcement of Rubio's visit could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike. The Foreign Office announced it had "temporarily" withdrawn its staff from Iran in response to the threat of US strikes against the country. It also said it had moved some staff from Tel Aviv to another location within Israel and advised against all but essential travel to the country. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was focused on supporting the political process between Washington and Tehran. The UK is reported to have blocked a request from Trump to use the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands in the event that he decides to launch a military campaign against Iran, due to concerns it would breach international law. You can hear Talking Politics wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch every episode on YouTube and ITVX. Donald Trump ignited a standoff between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with a phone call. Trump contacted UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed last November regarding what he said was a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to impose sanctions on the UAE. Trump said Salman made the request earlier that month, citing the UAEs support for the Rapid Support Forces, a mercenary group fighting in Sudans civil war. After the call, The New York Times reports, tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia boiled over. Senior UAE officials felt betrayed by the Saudis, and by the next month, things had gotten so bad that Saudi Arabia bombed a shipment from the UAE to Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Saudis, that wasnt the request at allthey wanted additional sanctions on the RSF to cut off its outside support, not sanctions on the UAE directly. They hoped that targeting the RSF in this manner would cause the UAE to back down and that the war in Sudan would end sooner. An official in the Trump administration also told the Times that MBS never asked Trump to sanction the UAE. But the damage was done, and now two key U.S. allies are not getting along with each other. The UAEs leader is convinced that MBS asked Trump for direct sanctions against his country. According to Emirati officials, Trump told Zayed that his friends the Saudis were out to get him, but that the U.S. stands behind him. At best, Trump misunderstood Salmans request, and at worst, he bungled a very sensitive matter. In either case, two powerful Arab countries are at odds, and its not only playing out in Sudan but also in Yemen, where a shipment was bombed after a UAE-backed faction advanced close to the Saudi border. The Saudis accused the UAE of sending weapons to Yemen, which they denied, and then subsequently ended their support for the faction. The Saudis and UAE each have extensive business ties with Trump, his family, and other administration officials. One wonders if and how Trump plans to settle this rift. He said on February 16, We can get it settled very easily. Thats an easy one to settle. Will he manage not to mess things up again? Amid tensions between Cuba and the United States, US President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of what he termed a "peaceful takeover" of Cuba. Havana is currently negotiating with Washington, Trump said in the US capital on Friday, but added: "We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba." It was not clear from Trump's brief remark whether he was referring to a possible annexation by the United States or whether other countries would also be involved. He did not mention a timeframe either. Advertisement Advertisement Trump emphasized that Cuba was "in big trouble." Cubans were doing "very badly, they're failing," Trump asserted. The US President expressed confidence that the US could achieve something "very positive" for the people of the Caribbean island nation. Washington has been exerting considerable pressure on Cuba's communist government for weeks. Since December, the country has not received any oil from Venezuela, as Trump ordered a complete blockade on sanctioned oil tankers carrying supplies from the South American brother state. Trump then threatened to impose tariffs on Cuba's oil suppliers. Certain sanctions are now to be relaxed. Diplomatic relations have been further strained by an exchange of fire between Cuban border guards and the crew of a US-registered speedboat, in which four people died. President Donald Trump has suggested the United States could take over Cuba, but on amicable terms. The statement on Friday came as Trump was preparing to board his presidential helicopter, Marine One, on the White House lawn en route to Texas. Approaching the media scrum, Trump took questions about the tense relations the US has with countries like Iran and Cuba, two countries where he has suggested he would like to see new governments. Advertisement Advertisement In Cubas case, Trump suggested a transition that would be very positive for the people who were expelled or worse. The Cuban government is talking with us, and theyre in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money. They have no anything right now, but theyre talking with us, Trump told reporters. And maybe well have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba. Trump has been pushing for regime change on the communist-led Caribbean island over the last two months, using economic and diplomatic pressure. In Fridays remarks, Trump reiterated his stance that Cuba is a failing nation teetering on collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Since Im a little boy, Ive been hearing about Cuba, and everybody wanted to change, and I can see that happening, Trump said. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban American known for his hawkish stance, is leading the initiative. Marco Rubio is dealing on it and at a very high level, and you know, they have no money. They have no oil, they have no food, Trump said. Its really right now a nation in deep trouble. And they want our help. Increasing pressure on Cuba The US has long had strained relations with Cuba, an island just 145 kilometres, or 90 miles, from its shores. Since the 1960s, the US has imposed a full trade embargo on the island, weakening its economy. Advertisement Advertisement But tensions have accelerated since January 3, when Trump authorised a military operation to abduct and imprison Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Cuba. An estimated 32 Cuban soldiers were killed in the attack, alongside Venezuelan military personnel. In the aftermath, Trump ratcheted up pressure against the island, publicly speculating that its government is ready to fall. On January 11, he announced that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to Cuba. Then, on January 29, he issued an executive order threatening tariffs on any country that supplies oil directly or indirectly to the island. Advertisement Advertisement Cubas energy grid largely relies on fossil fuels to generate electricity, and the United Nations has warned of the potential for an imminent humanitarian collapse on the island if supplies are not restored. A panel of UN human rights experts also cast doubt this month on Trumps stated rationale that Cuba constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to US national security, due to its relations with China, Russia and other US rivals. The fuel blockade, they explained, served primarily as an extreme form of unilateral economic coercion that violated international law. There is no right under international law to impose economic penalties on third States for engaging in lawful trade with another sovereign country, they wrote in a statement. Trumps vision for a growing nation The Trump administration, however, has made little secret of its desire to spread US influence, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement In his inaugural speech in 2025, Trump pledged that the US will once again consider itself a growing nation, including through the expansion of its territory. Since delivering that address, Trump has proposed to own Gaza and run Venezuela, while pressuring countries like Greenland, Canada and Panama to cede sovereignty over their lands. He has repeatedly referenced 19th-century expansionist policies like manifest destiny and the Monroe Doctrine to justify some of these efforts. He even married his personal brand to the latter, calling his plans for the Western Hemisphere the Donroe Doctrine. During his State of the Union address this week, he touted his military action in Venezuela as a success and announced that more than 80 million barrels of Venezuelan oil had been transferred into the US governments possession. Advertisement Advertisement Were also restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere, Trump told the crowd. The Cuban government, however, has repeatedly denounced Trumps campaign against the island as evidence of US imperialism. On January 30, for instance, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused Trump of attempting to strangle the Cuban economy with the fuel blockade. This new measure reveals the fascist, criminal, and genocidal nature of a cabal that has hijacked the interests of the American people for purely personal gain, he wrote on social media. Just this week, Diaz-Canels government announced there had been a deadly shootout with a Florida-tagged speedboat close to its shores. Advertisement Advertisement The US government has denied responsibility. But Cuba has described the boat as part of an infiltration for terrorist purposes. Loosening restrictions? Already, there have been signs that the US might seek to ease some of the pressure on Cuba, while maintaining its stiff opposition to the islands communist government. Earlier in February, the Trump administration announced $6m in humanitarian aid to the island, to be distributed through proxies like the Catholic Church, not the local government. And on Wednesday, the US Department of the Treasury revealed it would implement a favorable licensing policy for the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, barring any transaction with the Cuban government or its military and intelligence services. Advertisement Advertisement Critics have argued that a humanitarian crisis in Cuba could trigger consequences for Trump, who has campaigned on cracking down on immigration and slashing government spending. Cuba has seen multiple waves of migration to the US, the most recent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when nearly 2 million people fled the island due to economic instability and political repression. Diaz-Canel, meanwhile, repeated on Friday that his government would defend itself from any outside threat. Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist or mercenary aggression that seeks to undermine its sovereignty and national stability, he said. The Brief President Donald Trump will be in Corpus Christi on Friday to speak about his economic and energy policies. The visit is the president's first post-State of the Union trip. Trump's visit comes on the final day of early voting in the Texas primaries. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - President Donald Trump headed to Texas on Friday on his first trip since the State of the Union. The president spoke at the Port of Corpus Christi about his energy and economic policies. Trump delivers speech in Texas Trump reinforced his message from Tuesday's address, where he declared a return to economic prosperity and a return to a more secure America. Advertisement Advertisement Trump reiterated his claim that America is "the hottest country anywhere in the world" touting increased production of oil and natural gas and an improving economy. The president named many Republican lawmakers on the sidelines, including those in the heated U.S. Senate race, though he still withheld an endorsement. Several guest speakers took the stage, including energy workers, border agents, and actor Dennis Quaid. FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 13: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to the Fort Bragg U.S. Army base on February 13, 2026 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Trump visited the base to honor special forces involved in the military operation in Venezuela in early 2026. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) The other side Ahead of Trump's visit to Texas, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued a statement refuting the president's claims. Advertisement Advertisement "If Donald Trump wants to remind South Texans how terrible the economy is, he can be our guest," DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said. "No amount of lies will change the fact that home building has ground to a halt because of his recklessness, his chaotic tariffs are devastating the domestic oil industry, and hes abandoned Texas farmers and ranchers to cut a deal with Argentina. We wont stop the Floreses from fighting over who gets to hitch their wagon to that failing agenda." The "Floreses" is a reference to congressional candidates Maya Flores and Eric Flores, who are battling in the Republican primary in Texas' 34th Congressional District. Eric Flores has Trump's endorsement. Trump's visit comes on the final day of early voting in the Texas primaries. Eyes on the Texas Senate race Both Republicans and Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate in November have been locked in an expensive campaign for their party's nomination. The campaigns have spent more than $110 million on advertising in an effort to sway voters to their cause. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has yet to endorse any of the three Republican candidates seeking the nomination: incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. All three attended Friday's event. Last week, Trump declined to make an endorsement when asked about the Senate race. On Friday, the president sent out a flurry of endorsements in Texas races ahead of the visit. The senate candidates remain without an endorsement. Trump allows endorsement of Rep. Tony Gonzales to stand Another Texas primary being watched is in San Antonio, where Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing a challenge from gun manufacturer Brandon Herrera. Gonzales is at the center of a sexting scandal with an ex-staffer who later died. Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Republican Party have called on Gonzales to resign, while Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier this week that he'd had a conversation with the congressman and said that he would not ask Gonzales to resign until the investigation played out. Gonzales was endorsed by Trump earlier this year. In his Friday speech, Trump said hello to Gonzales from the stage, but said nothing else about the congressman or his current scandal. The Source Information in this article comes from previous FOX reporting. Comments made by the DCCC come from a statement made on Friday. As President Donald Trump travels to Texas on Friday, all three Republican frontrunners in the state's hotly contested GOP Senate primary will be vying for his coveted personal endorsement, something he's held off making so far. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt plan to attend Trump's speech in Corpus Christi, their respective campaigns told ABC News, with some changing campaign arrangements in order to be there. Just days until the high-stakes primary election on Tuesday, the candidates remain neck-and-neck in the battle for the Republican nomination, with each trying to align himself closely with the president. Kent Nishimura/Reuters | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images | Julio Cortez/AP - PHOTO: Sen. John Cornyn arrives for a press conference, Feb. 10, 2026. | Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives for the State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. | Rep. Wesley Hunt arrives at an event, Feb. 16, 2026, in Dallas. The president's visit to the Lone Star state coincides with the final day of early voting, although his remarks are expected to focus on energy and the economy, according to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement MORE: GOP stays competitive in midterms despite Trump's negative ratings: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll "President Trump looks forward to returning to the great State of Texas this week to discuss the economy and tout his 'Drill Baby Drill' agenda," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The Republican Senate campaigns did not clarify whether the candidates were invited to the event, and the White House did not comment on invitations or attendees. Kenny Holston, Pool via EPA via Shutterstock - PHOTO: President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24, 2026. For months, Trump has declined to weigh in on the Texas Senate race. Despite endorsing Cornyn in 2020, the president has notably remained on the sidelines this time around, instead expressing his support for all three Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement "I just haven't made a decision on that race yet," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this month. "I like all three of them. Actually, I like all three. Those are the toughest races. They've all supported me. They're all good, and you're supposed to pick one, so we'll see what happens." MORE: Texas Republican faces allegations of affair with staffer who died by suicide In lieu of a formal endorsement, all three candidates have instead emphasized their closeness with the president and their commitment to furthering his agenda. With tight polls, and without any one candidate being able to boast about the president's endorsement, the three Republicans have tried to boost their candidacies by resorting to scathing personal attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn has repeatedly argued that a Paxton primary victory would destroy the Republican Party, calling him the "kiss of death" and saying his nomination would result in an "Election Day massacre." Paxton has been quick to strike back, repeatedly slamming Cornyn for not supporting Trump enough and criticizing what he called Cornyn's "selfishness and historic unpopularity." Hunt, too, has railed against Cornyn, though he has been less vocal in his attacks of Paxton -- criticizing him for being a "career politician" but choosing not to pounce on his controversial past. Alberto Silva Fernandez/Getty Images | Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images - PHOTO: Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico speaks to members of the media on Feb. 21, 2026, in El Paso, Texas. | Rep. Jasmine Crockett participates in a public forum on Capitol Hill, on Feb. 3, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Whoever clinches the Republican nomination in next week's primary election will later face off against Texas state Rep. James Talarico or Rep. Jasmine Crockett, two Democrats considered to be rising stars in the party. Advertisement Advertisement Although the Texas Senate seat has been been reliably red for decades, the Republican infighting has also centered on determining who is best suited to take on the Democratic ticket. If no GOP candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to a runoff, scheduled for May 26. MORE: Trump's 'golden age' State of the Union vision faces midterm test: ANALYSIS Despite staying out of the state's most high-profile race, Trump has been tuned in to Texas politics, endorsing almost every incumbent House Republican ahead of next week's primary. GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, running for his fourth term with Trump's endorsement, also will be attending the president's event Friday, the Abbott campaign confirmed to ABC News. Abbott has not made an endorsement in the Texas Senate race. The United States is discussing a friendly takeover of Cuba, Donald Trump has said. The US president said Washington was pursuing an amicable form of regime change in Havana, as sanctions continue to cripple the communist-run island. Tensions between the US and Cuba have risen since Mr Trump imposed an oil siege on the island following the capture of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, a key ally and oil supplier of Cuba, in January. He has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that exports oil to Cuba. Havana has so far resisted the United States efforts at regime change. But the presidents ban on oil reaching the island means Cuba is now facing economic ruin, forcing it to negotiate with the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Trump said Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, was dealing with the proposal at a very high level. Miguel Diaz-Canel, the president of Cuba, says his country is willing to engage in dialogue with the US - Handout/Cuba TV/AFP via Getty Images The Cuban government is talking with us, and theyre in a big deal of trouble, he said. They have no money. They have nothing right now, but theyre talking with us, and maybe well have a friendly takeover of Cuba. The shortage of fuel has caused daily life on the island to grind to a halt, with rubbish piling up on the streets as bin lorries are unable to operate at full capacity. Soldiers tackle the rubbish piling up on the streets of Havana as bin lorries are unable to operate normally - Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo The US has had an oil embargo on Cuba since 1960. It was briefly eased under Barack Obama, but was restored when Mr Trump returned to the White House last year. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration views turning Cuba away from communist rule as a key part of its effort to reshape the Western hemisphere and rid Americas backyard of foreign influence. Mr Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has played a key role in the Trump administrations efforts to block oil shipments to the island, which has caused a humanitarian crisis there. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and the son of Cuban immigrants to the US, is playing a key role in negotiations - Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters On Wednesday, the secretary of state attended a closed-door meeting of Caricom, the Caribbean group that comprises 15 member states and five associated members. He told those present to cooperate with the US to tackle international crime and drug trafficking through the region. We recognise that many of these groups are buying weaponry from the United States, and we are committed and continue to work very hard with our law enforcement agencies to shut that down, he said. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Cuban border guard troops opened fire on a US-registered speedboat, killing four of the 10 people on board. Havana said the people on the boat, which was stolen from Florida, were anti-government Cubans carrying Molotov cocktails and other weapons, and were trying to infiltrate Cuban waters for the purposes of terrorism. Mr Rubio said the US would investigate the incident and respond accordingly. 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. BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A Brattleboro man and a Connecticut native were arrested following a multi-month investigation into fentanyl and cocaine distribution, says state authorities. Both Mark Kriskov, 63, of Brattleboro and Justin Nation, 33, of East Hartford, CT were taken into custody Monday, February 23. The investigation was specifically focused on distribution from an apartment on Fairground Road in Brattleboro. Authorities say they found about 885 bags of suspected fentanyl, each weighing about 22 grams, 111 grams of crack cocaine and a firearm over two separate searches there. Advertisement Advertisement Evidence of manufacturing cocaine base was also reportedly found. Justin Nation, 33, of Hartford, Connecticut. Mark Kriskov, 63, of Brattleboro, Vermont. (Courtesy: VSP) Confidential informants also reportedly purchased cocaine from Kriskov four times. Informants bought from Nation once, and he was found in possession of currency plus crack cocaine during his arrest. Additional firearms were also located by Hartford, CT officers at Nations residence, VSP reports. He appeared in Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro Monday, and was jailed at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. His bail was set at $50,000. FDA cracks down on kratom related products Kriskov will appear in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division in Brattleboro during April. Advertisement Advertisement Both face charges for possessing fentanyl, possessing fentanyl, selling cocaine, conspiracy and more. 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. At least two of the men involved in a recent shootout with the Cuban coast guard off the countrys coast are on Cubas wanted list for terrorism. Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, 47, and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, 47, were two of the people on board a Florida-registered speedboat involved in a deadly clash with Cubas coast guard off the northern coast of Villa Clara. Cuban authorities have described the situation as a terrorist infiltration and said that four people were killed during an exchange of gunfire. Six others, including Gonzalez and Gomez, were detained. Both Sanchez and Cruz, who were born in Cuba and live in the U.S., were already known to the Cuban government. Their names appear on the regimes most recent national terrorism list, which was updated last year and published in the countrys official state-sponsored newspaper. The list, according to the Cuban regime, includes individuals and organizations that have been subject to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in acts of terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement The list, which is in Spanish, alleges that Sanchez introduced firearms, ammunition and other supplies through the northern coast of Matanzas for the purpose of carrying out acts of terrorism in military units, among other plans of this nature and claimed the plans were organized, financed, and supported by people in the U.S. Cruz, who was born in Cienfuegos, was wanted for initiating sabotage activities in the province of Villa Clara, which led to detention and criminal charges, according to the list. Cuban authorities have published their list of people and organizations they consider wanted terrorists for allegedly promoting, planning, financing or committing acts related to terrorism in Cuba and abroad since 2023. Many of the people on the list live in the United States and include well known Miami-based Cuban activists, media personalities and influencers who criticize the government. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in response to Wednesdays shootout, said the U.S. is gathering its own information to determine what happened and that it was not a U.S. government operation. Saudi Arabias Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, working with the Ministry of Tourism, has issued a new decision that affects private tourism and hotel businesses. The new rule means that certain jobs in hotels and travel companies must be filled by Saudi citizens. This policy is part of the countrys ongoing Saudisation programme, which aims to increase job opportunities for Saudi nationals in the private sector. Changes will happen in three stages The new rules will be introduced gradually: First stage: 22 April 2026 Second stage: 3 January 2027 Third stage: 2 January 2028 Businesses will need to meet specific targets for hiring Saudi nationals in the listed roles by these deadlines. The Ministry has published a detailed guide explaining: Which jobs are affected How companies should calculate their required number of Saudi employees What penalties apply if companies do not follow the rules This guide is meant to help private businesses understand what they must do. Which jobs are affected? The policy focuses on important hotel and tourism roles, including both managers and customer-facing staff. Some of the key positions include: Hotel manager Hotel operations manager Travel agency manager Planning and development manager Tourism development specialists Tourism guides Procurement and sales specialists Hotel receptionists These roles are considered essential to running hotels and tourism businesses. Why is Saudi Arabia doing this? The decision supports the countrys long-term development plan, Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to grow the economy and create more career opportunities for Saudi citizens especially as the tourism industry expands. Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in tourism, building new hotels, resorts, and attractions. As the sector grows, the government wants more Saudi nationals to work in leadership and specialist positions. What this means for hotels and tourism companies Hotels and travel companies operating in Saudi Arabia will need to: Review their current workforce Adjust hiring plans Invest in training Saudi employees Make sure they meet the required hiring percentages Human resources teams will need to carefully follow the governments guidance to avoid penalties. The bigger picture Experts say this move is part of a broader effort to: Strengthen the Saudi workforce Create long-term career paths in hospitality Support the countrys growing tourism economy As tourism becomes a bigger part of Saudi Arabias economy, the government wants Saudi citizens to play a larger role in managing and running the industry. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Homeland Security drone on Thursday evening, which led to the abrupt closure of airspace over Fort Hancock, Texas, lawmakers said. At 6:30 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration closed the airspace, citing special security reasons. The FAAs official notice of the closure currently says the closure will remain in effect until June 24. Advertisement Advertisement As it turns out, the special security reasons involved a friendly fire incident in which the U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a laser-based anti-drone system. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), the top Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, and other Democratic lawmakers on the panel said they were informed of the incident through official channels. Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system, Larsen and the other Democrats said in a statement. We said months ago that the White Houses decision to sidestep a bipartisan, tri-committee bill to appropriately train C-UAS operators and address the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS and the FAA was a short-sighted idea. Now, were seeing the result of its incompetence. The FAA noted that some airspace over Fort Hancock was already closed, and that the no-fly area was expanded after the military shot down the DHS drone. Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 11, the Federal Aviation Administration cryptically and suddenly announced the immediate closure of airspace over El Paso for, again, special security reasons. An anonymous Trump administration official told NBC News that Mexican cartel drones had breached U.S. airspace. However, CBS News reported that the closure was due to disagreements over drone-related tests. The post U.S. Military Reportedly Shoots Down DHS Drone in Texas: Our Heads Are Exploding first appeared on Mediaite. A U.S. District Court judge ordered the federal government to return deported Austin college student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza by Friday but officials said Thursday they would do so only to immediately detain and deport her again. The American-Statesman obtained a copy of the Thursday afternoon court filing outlining the governments position, which was submitted a day before the judges deadline for Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman college student at Babson College, to be returned from her native Honduras. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Lopez Belloza during Thanksgiving week last year as she attempted to board a flight at Bostons Logan International Airport to surprise her Austin-based parents. The agency then quickly deported her, moving her to Texas and then out of the country in two days, despite a federal judge in Massachusetts pausing her removal. Government lawyers have since argued that because she was moved to Texas so quickly, the Massachusetts court where Lopez Bellozas case has played out lacks jurisdiction over the proceedings. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns, who is presiding over the case, has previously agreed with the government that his court lacks jurisdiction over the habeas corpus motion that Lopez Bellozas attorney filed to have her released from ICE custody. But he has ruled that the court can review the case for contempt of court and to seek a remedy for Lopez Belloza. The governments Thursday filing sought to dismiss the initial habeas corpus motion and to vacate her return order. If Petitioner was returned to the United States to the status quo that existed prior to her removal, Petitioner still would be subject to a final order of removal and ICE would be authorized to detain and remove Petitioner pursuant to such order, the filing said. Advertisement Advertisement Related: ICE agents attempt to arrest Austin father of deported student, lawyer says Lopez Bellozas attorney, Todd Pomerleau, expressed anger Thursday afternoon over the governments decision. Theyre playing games, Pomerleau told the Statesman by text. We will vigorously oppose this motion. Pomerleau said that his client would not board a plane to return to the United States if the government moved to immediately detain her. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat from Austin, also condemned the governments filing. Unacceptable. Outrageous," Casar said. Any should be allowed to return to school in Boston immediately. Well keep fighting until shes home. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice declined to comment. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lopez Bellozas mother brought her to the United States when she was 8 years old. The family Lopez Belloza, her father, mother and two U.S.-born younger siblings eventually settled in Austin, where she lived until she left for college. The Department of Homeland Security has said it acted on a 2017 removal order for Lopez Belloza and has denied that it acted improperly when it removed her despite the pause issued by a federal judge. However, government lawyers said in federal court last month that ICE agents made a mistake by not following the courts pause on the deportation, a statement that prompted Stearns to order the government to return Lopez Belloza to the United States to make amends. An instructor at the University of Georgia has fled the country after being accused of inappropriately texting with a minor, according to university officials. "The individual involved in this incident has been terminated from employment by the University of Georgia and barred from campus," according to an email sent by administrators to UGA students, faculty, and staff. The allegations first surfaced on social media on Tuesday, prompting swift action from the University of Georgia. In a campus-wide email, officials said the former instructor left the United States late Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Here's everything to know. What happened? The allegations surfaced after a social media user confronted the instructor on camera and later posted the footage online. The videos online confirm a confrontation with instructor Antonio Alfieri, alleging text message exchanges with someone whom he allegedly believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The video quickly circulated across multiple platforms, drawing attention from students and others in the Athens community. The video was posted by Street Sweeperz Unit, a viral social media account that attempts to catch pedophiles. The University of Georgia said a teacher who is accused of predatory texting with a minor has fled the country. The male instructor, who has not been identified, was on a limited-term contract with the school. A spokesperson said in a statement that he had left the U.S. late Tuesday. The individual involved in this incident has been terminated from employment by the University of Georgia and barred from campus, UGA said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement UGA Police said they remains committed to investigating the case and are moving forward with a criminal investigation. They executed a search warrant Wednesday at the individuals Athens residence and recovered additional evidence. Anyone with information about the allegations is encouraged to contact UGA PD at 706-542-2200. Concerns can also be shared via the CyberTipline, a national reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation. Reports may be made 24/7 online at CyberTipline or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes reported Thursday on Channel 2 Action News at 5:00 p.m. that class was canceled the day people confronted the professor in front of his class. Advertisement Advertisement Footage of the confrontation was caught on camera. Channel 2 Action News blurred his face, since hes not currently facing any charges for what folks with an organization called Street Sweeperz say the professor did. They claim he was sending inappropriate messages to what he thought was a 14-year-old boy, and they say he planned to meet the minor in Athens. The confrontation was on UGAs campus, outside the professors classroom full of students. I made a mistake, I made a mistake, he is heard saying. Angelus Pereira of Street Sweeperz was part of the confrontation. So he had texted one of our decoy accounts on a sex dating app. They got very inappropriate, very graphic. He sent a video of himself and sent pictures, Pereira said. Advertisement Advertisement Students say if police determine the professor was in fact trying to meet a minor, UGA should fire him, and he should face charges. Its just surprising to see it here, of all places, student Noah Weiner said. UGA says the safety of the campus community is their top priority. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The University of Indianapolis is launching a new graduate program that aims to address a growing need for trained school psychologists in Indiana. On Thursday, the school said they've created new curriculum for master of arts and education specialist degrees in school psychology. It comes in the wake of surveys that revealed many school districts have had trouble filling open positions for such professionals and caseloads in some schools described as "extremely high." Superintendents consistently tell us there is a real shortage of trained and qualified school psychologists, said John Kuykendall, dean in the School of Education. This new program is a direct response to that need. As the only school psychology program in Indianapolis, UIndy is uniquely positioned to prepare highly qualified professionals who will truly make a difference in childrens lives as well as in the school communities they serve. Advertisement Advertisement The new programming is designed to allow people currently working in schools or behavior health jobs to continue to work while pursuing an advanced degree. The programs require participants to have a minimum of 18 credit hours in education and psychology prerequisites. RELATED: Butler launching deaf education master's program I am very excited about what this program means for children who need a little extra help and the dedicated adults who want to help them thrive, said Rachel Feldwisch, licensed school counselor, counseling psychologist and the associate dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. By combining asynchronous and synchronous coursework with monthly Saturday intensives and a small cohort model, we are creating a pathway for working adults to gain the specialized training they need without stepping away from the students and communities they serve. UIndy says admissions are reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline is June 1. Click here for more information, including instructions on how to apply. Key developments on Feb. 27 Zelensky sees 'window' for peace deal before US midterms Flamingo threat triggers unprecedented missile alert across Russia, 1 claimed shot down From Starlink to 'digital officers,' Fedorov on first month as Ukraine's new Defense Minister Russia, Ukraine, agree to 'local truce' at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to repair key backup power line Ukraine has a chance to end the war with Russia before the U.S. midterm elections in November, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News published on Feb. 27. Advertisement Advertisement "Now I think that we have a chance... it depends on these months, if we will have a chance to finish the war before autumn," the president said. "Before elections, important, influential, elections in the United States. If it will be possible to achieve a peace... now we have this window." The comments come amid ongoing U.S.-mediated efforts to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow, which have yet to achieve a breakthrough on ceasefire and territorial issues. Zelensky previously signaled that Washington will likely pressure both Ukraine and Russia to conclude a deal by summer, linking this to domestic political dynamics in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Zelensky sees window for peace deal before US midterms From Starlink to 'digital officers,' Fedorov on first month as Ukraine's new Defense Minister Ukraine's Defense Ministry is restructuring and transforming its work according to a new strategic vision and data-driven plan to implement it, recently-appointed minister Mykhailo Fedorov has told journalists. 35-year-old Fedorov, who gained frame in the years before the full-scale invasion for world-leading digitalization reforms as Digital Transformation Minister, and later pioneered Ukraine's wartime drone procurement and distribution system, was appointed Defense Minister on Jan. 14. The ministry's work, Fedorov said, is being driven by an updated war strategy, rather than the passive carrying out of bureaucratic duties. Advertisement Advertisement "Our team came in with a vision not simply to act as procurement officers or policymakers, but to take real responsibility for the strategic direction of the war," he said. Among other areas, the first month of the ministry's renewed team was focussed on improving Ukraine's air defense capabilities, particularly against mass Russian use of Shahed-type long-range attack drones. According to the minister, a new After Action Review system much like that used in NATO militaries has been put in place to analyze every mass Russian attack, studying where, how, and why Russian drones and missiles were successfully intercepted. Read also: From Starlink to digital officers, Fedorov on first month as Ukraines new Defense Minister Flamingo threat triggers unprecedented missile alert across Russia, 1 claimed shot down Russia has claimed to shoot down a Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo missile, amid an unprecedentedly large alert announced across Russia, Russian media and officials reported on Feb. 27. Advertisement Advertisement The reported Flamingo attack comes just a week after the much-hyped missiles were used to strike the Votkinsk missile factory in Russia's Udmurtia Republic, suggesting a much-awaited expansion of their use by Kyiv. A total of 13 Russian regions issued alerts in the afternoon, including Orenburg Oblast in the southern Ural Mountains, more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory. For eight of the regions, it was the first time such a missile threat was announced. Authorities in the Chuvash Republic reported that one Flamingo missile was shot down over the region, while another lost its course. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Flamingo threat triggers unprecedented missile alert across Russia, 1 claimed shot down Russia, Ukraine, agree to 'local truce' at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to repair key backup power line A "local truce" has been agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine in the area of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant while an important backup power supply is being restored, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Feb. 27. The facility Europe's largest nuclear power plant was occupied by Russia in the first weeks of the full-scale war, and has since been shut down, though still needing external power to remain stable. The agreement to cease fire while repair work on the 330-kilovolt backup line is finished was reached through the IAEA's mediation, according to the website of the Russia's proxy plant administration, part of state nuclear energy agency Rosatom. Advertisement Advertisement "Demining activities are ongoing to ensure safe access for the repair teams," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, as cited by the agency on X. Read also: Russia, Ukraine, agree to local truce at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to repair key backup power line Watch our latest video explainer on the Battle of the Donbas on our YouTube Channel: Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The leaders of Ukraine and Slovakia agreed on Friday to hold a face-to-face meeting as they wrangle over a blocked pipeline that takes Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, officials said. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban have accused Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky of using "blackmail" over the pipeline through Ukrainian territory. Ukraine said the Druzhba pipeline was damaged in Russian air strikes on January 27. Slovakia and Hungary have since insisted that it has been repaired again. Orban has blocked an EU emergency loan to Ukraine as the dispute escalates. Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky and Fico held a telephone call on the dispute, the Ukrainian leader's office said. "The president is inviting him to Ukraine to discuss all the existing issues." Fico later said in a statement that he had "accepted this invitation", but would prefer a meeting in the European Union. He did not give a date for the visit. The Slovak leader also said that during the call, "I had the distinct impression that Ukraine has no interest in restoring oil transit through its territory." Slovakia and Hungary have maintained close ties with the Kremlin since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and still rely on Russian oil. Both have threatened Ukraine with reprisals over the halt in supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, Zelensky has urged Orban to appeal directly with Russia's President Vladimir Putin over the strikes on the oil facilities. Orban said on Facebook on Friday that he had set up a joint commission with Fico to "clarify the condition of the Druzhba pipeline". "I call on President Zelensky to allow Hungarian and Slovak inspectors to enter and to restart the Druzhba oil pipeline," he added. Fico complained of "President Zelensky's rejection of that sort of inspection", following "a negative opinion from the Ukrainian secret services". Orban has been stalling a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) EU loan to the war-torn country and a new round of sanctions on Russia, demanding that Kyiv re-open the pipeline first. Advertisement Advertisement The European Union said this week that neither Hungary nor Slovakia run the risk of a shortage of oil despite the interruption. In response to a question from AFP on the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion on Tuesday, Zelensky said repair crews working on the pipeline were threatened by further Russian attacks. bur-jbr/jc/tw/sbk At least one of the four people the Cuban government said it killed in an open-water shootout Wednesday is an American citizen, the U.S. State Department confirmed Thursday evening. Another citizen was injured, a third person involved in the incident was on a visa for fiances of U.S. citizens and others may be legal permanent residents, a spokesperson told the Miami Herald. The news comes more than a day after the Cuban government said it had killed four people and detained six on a Florida-registered boat after a shootout. Advertisement Advertisement The killing of an American could raise the stakes of an incident that occurred on the backdrop of an escalating humanitarian crisis in Cuba after the U.S. cut off its supply of oil from Venezuela. Rubios team has also been having secret talks with Raul Castros grandson including in Saint Kitts and Nevis on the day of the alleged shoot out. If in reality the Cuban regime shot at these American residents or U.S. citizens without any type of legal justification, the Cuban regime is in an even more dire, complicated situation than it is right now, Republican Miami Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar told the Miami Herald Thursday. The Trump administration is not going to allow this to go unpunished if the Cuban regime did what they usually do, which is shoot first, ask questions later. President Donald Trump, however, stayed silent on the matter throughout the day Thursday and the State Department revealed little in the 24 hours after the Cuban governments announcement leaving the Cuban governments narrative as the only public information about the shoot-out, even as U.S. officials say theyre notoriously unreliable. How does the president not comment on an international incident like that that happened in the waters between Cuba and the U.S., especially given that there are ongoing negotiations? Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Broward County Democrat, said in an interview. I dont understand why theyre leaving the regimes side of the story in the public sphere. Advertisement Advertisement In the absence of information about the shootout from U.S. officials, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior issued detailed statements Wednesday and Thursday alleging those aboard intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes, and said they seized including assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosives and body armor from the boat. The revelations that at least one of those killed was an American is one of the few pieces of information the State Department has publicly revealed since Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday evening, We will know quickly many more facts about this incident than we know right now. The Cuban government identified Michel Ortega Casanova as one of the people killed on Wednesday. His brother told the Associated Press that Casanova was a citizen who had lived in the U.S. for more than two decades. President Trump has said he is not happy with Iran in the wake of the latest talks on its nuclear programme, but said he had not yet decided whether to attack the country. "I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. So I'm not thrilled," Trump said in his first comments on negotiations in Geneva that broke up on Thursday without a deal. The US president stressed that he did not want to use military force against Iran, but said sometimes "you have to". Advertisement Advertisement Concern over the prospect of US strikes against Iran led a number of countries to issue warnings to their citizens in the region on Friday. The UK temporarily withdrew staff from its embassy in Tehran and updated its travel guidance to advise against "all but essential travel" to Israel. Countries including China, India and Canada urged their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible due to the prospect of hostilities. Germany advised "urgently" against travel to Israel while France reiterated its advice not to do so. Meanwhile, the US urged its citizens in Iran to leave "immediately". Its embassy in Israel also told some non-emergency staff and their families they could leave the country, advising that they may wish to do so "while commercial flights are available". Advertisement Advertisement Trump has threatened military action against Tehran if it does not reach a deal about its nuclear ambitions. He has ordered the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, while Iran has vowed to respond to an attack with force. Washington and its allies suspect Iran is moving towards developing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has always denied. It claims its programme is intended for peaceful, civilian purposes despite having enriched uranium up to near weapons-grade level. The president told reporters on Friday: "I say no enrichment... I think it's uncivil." Advertisement Advertisement It came as Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the talks, said Tehran had agreed never to stockpile enriched uranium, making "the enrichment argument less relevant". "If you cannot stockpile material that is enriched then there is no way you can actually create a bomb," Albusaidi told CBS News. The UK Foreign Office said the decision to temporarily withdraw its embassy staff from Tehran was a 'precautionary measure' (file photo) [EPA] He had said on Thursday that US and Iranian officials made "significant progress" in the high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva, but the chances of a deal that could avert a war remain unclear. Albusaidi said the two sides planned to resume negotiations "soon" after consultations in their capitals, and technical-level discussions would take place next week in Vienna. Advertisement Advertisement Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led his country's delegation, said "good progress" had been made but while there had been agreement on some issues, differences remained on others. He said more negotiations would happen in a less than a week. President Trump's comments on Friday were the first official reaction from the US. [BBC] Meanwhile, the State Department announced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Israel on Monday, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss "a range of regional priorities", including Iran. Rubio also said on Friday he had designated Iran a "state sponsor of wrongful detention". It marked the first use of a power created in September under which the US can sanction or take other measures against countries unjustly detaining its citizens. Advertisement Advertisement "We reiterate our call for Americans who are currently in Iran to leave immediately," he said in his statement announcing the move. Earlier, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised embassy staff who wished to leave Israel to "do so TODAY", the New York Times reported. He reportedly said in email there was "no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it's important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later". A statement on the embassy's website said they "may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available". Advertisement Advertisement It came days after the US government ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, following a security review. Vice-President JD Vance had told the Washington Post on Thursday that strikes remained under consideration - but there was "no chance" of the US becoming involved in a drawn-out war. "I think we all prefer the diplomatic option," Vance said. "But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say." Advertisement Advertisement The US has sent thousands of troops and what Trump has described as an "armada" to the region in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers along with other warships, as well as fighter jets and refuelling aircraft. He said on 19 February that the world would find out within 10 days whether the US would reach a deal with Iran, or take military action. "We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen," Trump said at the time. Iran claims its enrichment activity stopped after the US bombed three of its nuclear sites in June, joining Tehran's conflict with Israel. Trump said at the time they had "obliterated" the facilities. Advertisement Advertisement The UN's nuclear watchdog said on Friday that it had been refused access to the uranium enrichment sites ever since, calling it a cause of growing concern. In a confidential report to its member states, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was critical that its staff inspect the nuclear sites without delay. (NewsNation) U.S. and Iranian officials met in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday for a third round of high-stakes talks in a critical moment that could determine whether the two sides avert military conflict and reach a nuclear deal. Badr al-Busaidi, the Omani foreign minister who has been playing a mediating role in discussions, posted on X after the negotiations concluded, writing that significant progress had been made. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed that sentiment in a conversation with Iranian state television following the meeting. Discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna, al-Busaidi added. Advertisement Advertisement Special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Araghchi in an effort to press Tehran to halt its enrichment of uranium, a key step to building a nuclear bomb, and curtail its production of long-range missiles. President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was also present. Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to allow an end to legal protections for Syrian migrants The talks follow a new wave of U.S. sanctions targeting individuals and companies accused of enabling Irans ballistic missile program, drone production and illicit oil sales. Deal is within reach: Iranian foreign minister Trump has maintained that military strikes remain possible if no nuclear deal is reached. While his administration says diplomacy remains the goal, they also continue to warn Iran is trying to rebuild elements of its nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement Iran poses a very great threat to the United States and has for a very long time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday during a trip to St. Kitts and Nevis. After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are. You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it, he continued. Theyre not enriching right now, but theyre trying to get to the point where they ultimately can. Trump wants peaceful deal with Iran at any cost: Amb. Mike Huckabee Ahead of Thursdays meeting, Araghchi wrote on social media that Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon, adding that a deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority. USS Gerald Ford heads toward Middle East Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, left a base in Greece on Thursday morning en route to the Middle East, as the United States builds out its forces in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Major Glenn Ignazio, a retired Air Force special operations commander, told NewsNation that he believes the U.S. is getting close to operations in Iran. He explained that with the military forces deployed to the region currently, the U.S. could strike Iran at any time. Ukraine says Russia launched a major aerial attack ahead of US talks Iran has warned that American military bases could become targets if the U.S. conducts strikes, which Ignazio points out would cause several Middle Eastern countries that host American military bases to get involved. Iran will try to drag this out James Jeffrey, former deputy national security adviser to President George W. Bush, said hes skeptical Thursdays talks will end in a deal. He told Morning in America on Thursday that Tehran believes U.S. naval forces will remain in the region indefinitely a factor he argues limits the presidents leverage to apply additional pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Im not confident at all. Iran has a long history they will try to drag this out, he said. They assume that the American ships remain in the region indefinitely, which is true, and thats a limit on the presidents ability to exert pressure. Theyre putting out steps to add something that the Trump administration might find acceptable. Cubas shooting of speedboat comes under scrutiny by Congress Lawmakers split on potential Iran strikes Lawmakers remain divided over the possibility of military action. Republicans largely support the push to contain Irans nuclear program, while Democrats express concerns about a large-scale military operation. I dont want Iran to be a problem for my children or grandchildren, especially if they develop a nuclear weapon, so Im fully 100% behind the president, said Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., cautioned threats alone may not deter Iran. The same people who are saying Oh, we dont need to worry, this is about scaring Iran It doesnt scare Iran unless were willing to take that military action, and based on the presidents past performance, I have no doubt that he might decide tomorrow to take that without any congressional approval, she said. Congressional leaders were briefed by the Trump administration on Iran earlier this week. Afterward, Democrats said Trump needed to make a stronger case before pursuing military strikes. 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. By Yousef Saba DUBAI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The shale revolution that made the United States the world's top oil producer is taking shape in the Arabian Desert. Deep in the sands southeast of Saudi Arabia's giant Ghawar oilfield, state oil company Aramco is pushing ahead with a natural gas megaproject that could boost the kingdoms revenues by billions of dollars in the coming years. It has brought in U.S. and Chinese firms like Halliburton and Sinopec to deploy advanced machinery - including 'walking rigs', towering structures capable of moving short distances without dismantling and reassembling - to speed up drilling and well completions at the Jafurah basin. While the kingdom has scaled back its futuristic giga-projects and reversed plans to lift oil capacity, Aramco - the world's biggest oil exporter - has raised its gas production targets with this $100 billion bet at the centre, as it seeks to become a major global natural gas player. Jafurah, estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion barrels of condensate, is potentially the biggest shale gas development outside the U.S. For decades, Saudi Arabia has burned a portion of its most valuable asset crude oil to power its grid. Now, with fewer than five years left to fulfil Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the oil-reliant economy, the pressure is on to replace those liquid fuels with gas. "Jafurah is not just a large gas field: it is a strategic platform that supports the Kingdom's broader growth ambitions across key sectors, including energy, artificial intelligence, and major industries like petrochemicals," Aramco said in a statement in response to Reuters questions. NEW SHALE FRONTIER On Thursday, Aramco officially announced the start of production at Jafurah, a milestone for a project that underwent years of incubation mirroring the early years of the U.S. shale boom. It said output began in December 2025, a disclosure that Reuters reported that month after it was included in the Saudi finance ministry budget statement. "The excellent progress at Jafurah is a testament to a decade of relentless innovation and focus on value creation," Aramcos Upstream President Nasir Al-Naimi told Reuters. Early well performance has been outstanding, validating our high-tech approach and reaffirming the significance of this flagship project to our gas growth strategy. The maths is simple: Saudi Arabia uses more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude and fuel oil for domestic power generation. Aramco aims to replace 500,000 bpd of that by 2030 with gas, freeing up the crude for export. At current prices of around $70 a barrel, 500,000 bpd of crude would generate nearly $12.8 billion in revenue a year. For the first time, the United States has stationed combat aircraft in Israel for a possible wartime mission against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reports that advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighters arrived at an Israeli air base this week. Twelve F-22s reportedly landed Tuesday, adding to U.S. forces assembling in the region. The Journal said the F-22s strengthen defenses for Israeli territory and U.S. forces against Iranian retaliation and can support offensive operations if President Donald Trump orders strikes on Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Although U.S. Central Command has not officially confirmed the deployment, videos of the fighters landing surfaced online in recent days. Shift in US-Israel military posture The move marks a major step in deeper U.S.-Israeli military cooperation. For decades, the Journal notes, the Pentagon carefully separated its Middle Eastern operations from Israel to avoid upsetting Arab allies - even going so far as to repaint Israeli equipment with American markings during the 1991 Gulf War. Yilmaz Yucel/Anadolu via Getty Images However, Washington's options have narrowed significantly due to regional restrictions. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have explicitly banned the U.S. from using their airspace or territory to launch strikes against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement By staging aircraft in Israel, military planners avoid bottlenecking their airpower at a limited number of cooperative sites, such as Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, where a large portion of the U.S. fleet is currently gathered. Former U.S. official Dennis Ross told the Journal that operating U.S. aircraft from Israeli bases "is a first." Conflicting narratives on nuclear progress The military buildup runs parallel to high-stakes diplomacy and conflicting reports regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. In his State of the Union address, Trump asserted that American bombings last summer "obliterated" Iran's nuclear weapons program. Trump cautioned that Tehran is rebuilding and pursuing the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Washington Post reports that international monitors offer a different assessment. Intelligence indicates that while U.S. strikes successfully collapsed the access tunnels to Iran's subterranean nuclear facilities, the underground labs themselves survived the bombardment. Further, the International Atomic Energy Agency maintains there is no evidence of an active Iranian weapons program, even as inspectors raise alarms over the country's growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Geneva talks and a new draft proposal Against this tense backdrop, a third round of indirect negotiations has kicked off in Geneva. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Switzerland, where they coordinated with Oman's foreign minister, who is mediating the talks. Advertisement Advertisement The diplomatic channel is already seeing movement. According to Iranian state media, Tehran's delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has officially submitted a draft proposal to the U.S. team through Omani intermediaries. Araghchi characterized the proposal as a test of Washington's true intentions, telling reporters his delegation is determined to reach a "fair and equitable deal" swiftly. While the draft's details haven't been disclosed, reporting says Iran is pushing for a deal centered on a verifiable pledge that Iran will not produce nuclear weapons in exchange for U.S. sanctions relief, while preserving limited "token enrichment" for medical purposes and research. Conversely, some U.S. administration officials are demanding a maximalist agreement. This would require Tehran to completely abandon its enrichment capabilities, hand over its near-weapons-grade stockpile, severely restrict its ballistic missile development, and cut off funding for regional proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah. Threat worries, low trust As U.S.-Iran nuclear talks move into another round in Geneva, a new AP-NORC survey reveals a conflicted American public. While a large portion considers Tehran's nuclear ambitions a direct danger, there is widespread skepticism regarding President Trump's capacity to manage foreign military action responsibly. Advertisement Advertisement The polling data shows approximately 50% of Americans remain highly alarmed by Iran's nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, 30% expressed moderate worry, and just 20% indicated little to no concern over the issue. The survey was conducted Feb. 1923, as tensions rose and the administration headed toward a third round of talks. A divided Washington Back in Washington, lawmakers remain deeply divided on the administration's approach. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, praised the massive military buildup as a necessary tool, calling it "diplomacy backed up by force." Other lawmakers are urging extreme caution. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., told The Post the White House has failed to justify the need for another war in the Middle East, insisting that any offensive action requires formal congressional approval. Meanwhile, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said foreign leaders have raised concerns about what follows regime change, including the possibility of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps takeover or all-out civil war. Related Links Virginia lawmakers are raising concerns as tensions with Iran escalate and a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier remains on extended deployment. The U.S. has increased its military presence in the Middle East amid stalled diplomatic efforts over Irans nuclear program. Indirect talks between the two countries have been described as a critical opportunity to avoid further escalation, but no agreement has been reached. As part of that buildup, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which deployed from Norfolk earlier this year, is continuing operations after being repositioned in the Mediterranean and now moving in support of U.S. efforts tied to rising tensions with Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine say they are closely monitoring the situation following recent briefings from the State Department. Warner emphasized the need for transparency from the White House if the U.S. moves closer to military conflict, saying the president must clearly explain any potential long-term involvement to the American public. Kaine also raised concerns on the Senate floor about conditions aboard the Ford during what has become an extended deployment. Many of the toilets are inoperable. These things happen during a deployment... thats why you limit it. The Ford is in tough shape and needs to come back to port. Quality of life and morale [are] in dramatic decline, Kaine said. Reports cited by national outlets indicate ongoing maintenance issues, including problems with onboard bathroom systems, that have affected daily life for sailors. Advertisement Advertisement Kaine also said the deployment is expected to be the longest of any U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. Lawmakers say those issues, combined with the length of the deployment and evolving mission, could impact crew morale. The situation comes as the U.S. continues to weigh diplomatic and military options in response to Iran, with officials warning that the coming weeks could be pivotal in determining whether tensions escalate further. The Colorado River states are still stuck in a stalemate over future water allocations, and the Utah River Commission is growing frustrated. In a press conference on Thursday, Utah River Commissioner Gene Shawcroft said the Lower Basin states, and particularly Arizona, have been untruthful about the ongoing negotiations. Recent broadcasts from Arizona claim Upper Basin states, including Utah, have been unwilling to share in major cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Shawcroft reaffirmed that the Upper Basin states (Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico) presented a framework to the Lower Basin states (California, Nevada and Arizona) about a month before their last deadline on Feb. 14. They were not interested, even really, in understanding the complexities or the details of what we put on the table, Shawcroft said. The framework was extremely generous to Lake Mead, frankly at the risk of Lake Powell, and the Upper Basin put significant conservation activities on the table. He continued, When we see and hear press indicating that the Upper Basin states were unwilling to do anything, thats simply not true. ... The Upper Basin did have a plan. We put that plan on the table, and it was not accepted. It wasnt countered. It just simply wasnt accepted. Animosity from Arizona really stems from the 1960s and the determination that California had the senior Colorado River right in the Lower Basin, Amy Haas, the executive director of Utahs Colorado River Authority, told the press. Arizona, meanwhile, got the junior rights. So their water could be cut to zero before California has to give a drop. Utahs Legislature is preparing for litigation Leadership across all seven basin states have said theyd rather come to an agreement than leave it up to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement However, Tom Buschatzke, Arizonas lead negotiator, has said hes unsure how the states could break their stalemate, and Arizona stands ready for litigation. Utah has similarly positioned itself for the worst case scenario of litigation, Shawcroft said. Haas added, Weve got potential appropriations of up to $6 million for litigation support, though not all of the money is allocated for the Colorado River. New state legislation also prepares Utah for potential lawsuits. For example, HB473 gives the Colorado River Authority a direct role in Colorado River litigation. It also requires that we coordinate with the Utah Attorney Generals office to prepare the state for potential litigation, Haas said. Advertisement Advertisement Shawcroft added that while hes hopeful the negotiations dont end up in the courts, there are those that believe the best solution the only solution they have is litigation." I think litigation creates an enormous amount of uncertainty for an unknown period of time. ... Im optimistic that people will recognize that once they pull that litigation trigger, uncertainty will rule for probably decades on the river. And I dont think anybody wants to see that, he said. Whats next? The federal Bureau of Reclamation released alternative plans to manage Colorado River allocations in mid-January, and the states have until March 2 to submit comments. Shawcroft said he believes if the states presented a consensus plan by July 1, the Bureau of Reclamation would accept it. But if nothing is submitted by then, the federal government will choose how the allocations will fall. I dont think (the federal government) is going to spend a lot of time trying to get us to the table based on the energy thats taken thus far and the results weve had, Shawcroft said. President Debbie L. Sydow and her team at Richard Bland College had operated for years without a governing board until last year, when the school gained independence from its parent university, William & Mary. So when state legislators recently rejected all nine governing board nominations at Richard Bland, Sydow assured the public that the institution remains on solid footing with an experienced leadership team. While the General Assemblys recent decision regarding the prior slate of Board of Visitors appointees creates a temporary gap in formal governance, our daytoday operations, strategic initiatives, and studentcentered mission continue without interruption, said Sydow in a statement to the Mercury. Advertisement Advertisement She said the institution is optimistic and encouraged over Gov. Abigail Spanbergers forthcoming appointments, individuals we expect will bring a strong commitment to higher education, diverse experience, and a shared belief in the vital role Richard Bland College plays in the Tri-Cities region and the commonwealth. Last year, the state legislature passed a measure that triggered the development of Richard Blands first governing board. In total, lawmakers rejected 14 nominations by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin at three institutions in the commonwealth this month: Richard Bland College, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Old Dominion University. None of the rejections at VCU and Old Dominion prevented their respective boards from maintaining a quorum. Spanberger backfilled significant vacancies at George Mason University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute, appointing 27 in January. Advertisement Advertisement Virginia governors are responsible for nominating members, but their decisions must be confirmed or rejected by the General Assembly. Over the past year, the process was called into question after the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee rejected 22 nominations made by Youngkin, whose administration unsuccessfully challenged the decision. Outside of the nominations for Virginia colleges, lawmakers over the current session have rejected 89 nominees to Virginias boards and commissions, including two for the Board of Education. Others were blocked from the State Air Pollution Control Board and the Boards of Juvenile Justice and Fair Housing, as well as the African-American and Asian Advisory Boards. Potential changes The nomination process for governing boards at Virginias colleges and universities remains under review by state lawmakers and Spanbergers administration, a process which started immediately upon the governor taking office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers are now considering two bills that would revise membership and governance requirements for governing boards of public higher education institutions. They appear to be on track to clear the legislature. Senate Bill 494, carried by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, would increase each members terms from four years to six, prohibit consecutive terms and require a two-year gap, and add nonvoting advisory members from faculty, staff and student bodies. The bill also clarifies the terms quorum, executive committee, primary duties and restrictions of governing boards. Boards would also be required to adopt policies for shared governance, which a work group created by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will develop, fostering more voices in decision-making. SCHEV will also be responsible for creating a work group and recommending processes for Attorney General reviews of legal representation for institutions and recusal policies for board members with conflicts of interest. Advertisement Advertisement According to the bills fiscal impact statement, the cost of the proposed changes are expected to be absorbed within existing resources by both institutions and SCHEV. Del. Lily Franklin, D-Montgomery, is carrying similar legislation in the House of Delegates, which includes proposals from Democratic Dels. Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer, representing Albemarle. On Jan. 17, Spanberger issued an executive order directing her cabinet members to prepare a report detailing the procedures for board nominations at Virginias public higher education institutions, including member term lengths, reappointments, term start dates for new members, and the evaluation process used by the Virginia Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments. Whats next Sydow said shes confident Richard Blands governing board will be in place by the next April 22 board meeting, based on conversations with the governors office and elected representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander will replace Sydow in May when she steps down after 14 years at Richard Bland. Alexander has served as vice chancellor for strategic partnerships of the Virginia Community College System and as executive director of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. Lawmakers will have until the weekend of March 14 to advance or kill any legislation before it heads to Spanberger for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Yanis Varoufakis is probably the only Greek parliamentarian with a background in the videogame industry, having been the economist-in-residence at Valve before he was elected in 2015 and then made finance minister. Nowadays he's general secretary of MeRA25, the European Realistic Disobedience Front, a political party he founded as part of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025. And now, per Reuters, he'll have to stand trial on a charge of promoting drug use for mentioning on a podcast that he took ecstasy once, at a Kylie Minogue concert in Australia, in 1989. Advertisement Advertisement In his own video response, Varoufakis explained the comment was made in response to a direct question about whether he ever took drugs, and in a context that made it clear he does not promote them. "Determined not to do a Bill Clinton," he said, "remember that laughable 'I didn't inhale' quip? I said I had. Apart from pot, I told them I had one experience 36 years ago in Sydney of taking ecstasy. It was pleasant. I danced for 16 hours non-stop effortlessly. But then, I added, it gave me such a migraine for a week that I never used again. That was my introduction to making the point that no matter how pleasant drug-taking may seem there is a price to pay." The original conversation may be almost entirely in Greek, but it's worth checking out for the framing. Called 3026: Human Algorithm, it's set up as an interview 1,000 years in the future, with the hosts dressed as characters from B-grade sci-fi, asking questions about the past on behalf of a supercomputer. It's clearly aimed at a younger audience, and Varoufakis telling a story about a wild night he had while he was in Sydney for Mardi Gras is presented as a tale of misspent youth. It's followed by the hosts asking why people in the 21st century didn't talk about their drug use, which Varoufakis answers by explaining the dated concept of "hypocrisy". While the whole brouhaha may seem ridiculous, the MeRA25 party is taking it seriously, saying in a statement, "Although the Greek justice system's stance on this case has provided a lot of laughter in Greek society, even to those who are not supporters of MeRA25 and its secretary, this story is still dangerous. The idea of putting the head of a political party on trial for mentioning his experience with drugs many decades ago is not a random and innocent blunder. It is a message of a justice system that turns a blind eye to power and hunts down anyone who does not kneel before it." Steam sale dates: When's the next event? Epic Store free games: What's free right now? Free PC games: The best freebies you can grab 2026 games: This year's upcoming releases Free Steam games: No purchase necessary PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) To end February, the Virginia Department of Health reports an uptick in Norovirus-like outbreaks. VDHs latest numbers show that across the state of Virginia, 13 outbreaks have occurred. Gastrointestinal Illnesses caused visits to Emergency Departments were above the 10.5% threshold for the week of Feb. 15-21. Specifically in the Eastern region of the Commonwealth, 12% of ED and urgent care visits were because of GI illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement During that same time frame, the Eastern region saw two Norovirus-like outbreaks. An outbreak means that it has been associated with the same source, said Dr. Nancy Welch, Chesapeake Health District director. A lot of times, where that is occurring is living facilities, schools, and nursing homes. Thats where youre going to get more of the ones that would be reported. In Virginia, it is not required to report specific case levels, but the VDH tracks outbreaks that trace back to a common source. Its a trend seen around much of Virginia; the Northwest region has seen four outbreaks, while the Southwest region has reported three outbreaks. Advertisement Advertisement Norovirus is commonly called the stomach flu, though its not related to influenza. Symptoms show in the first 12 hours, and you can suffer from the symptoms for one to three days. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. You may also experience a low-grade fever or chills. People need to understand that its highly contagious, Welch said. If they dont wash their hands well, and they go and prepare a salad or cut things that wont be cooked, if they go out, they are potentially spreading it. Health officials say there isnt a specific treatment for Norovirus, but it is important to rehydrate to replenish the loss of fluids. Advertisement Advertisement They need to replace what they are losing, Welch said. There is no doubt that a big part of the people who go to the emergency room, its not only because of vomiting and they feel bad, but because they are lethargic and have symptoms of dehydration. When it comes to prevention, hygiene is key. Washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds, cleaning surfaces while preparing food, and washing foods like fruit or vegetables can help prevent you from getting sick. Welch said that for parents, making hand washing a game can help their kids keep up with good hygiene. Standing there with the kid and singing while you wash their hands, in between the fingers, and doing all that, it makes it kind of a fun thing, so they dont feel like its something they have to do, but its something they want to do. Advertisement Advertisement VDH encourages anyone who may have the virus to isolate. Its considered the most contagious food-borne illness, and an infected person can spread Norovirus even after their symptoms go away. If you believe you are suffering from Norovirus, contact your health provider. You can also find your local health department for more information. 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. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelan politician Enrique Marquez, who spent more than a year in prison after challenging the 2024 presidential election results, on Friday called on the country's political opposition and the ruling party to take advantage of the circumstances forced by the ouster of former President Nicolas Maduro and work together for the country's recovery. Marquez's plea to lock up egos in a drawer followed his surprise appearance during U.S. President Donald Trumps State of the Union address earlier this week. Marquez was released from prison in the days after the U.S. military captured Maduro in Venezuelas capital and took him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. We have been killing each other in a relentless political war, Marquez said during a news conference that at times seemed like the kick-off of a campaign. If we dont break the rearview mirror and look ahead, we wont find our way. Advertisement Advertisement Marquez ran for president in the 2024 contest, where the ruling party-loyal National Electoral Council declared Maduro winner despite ample credible evidence that he had lost to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. Marquez challenged the councils decision, asking the countrys high court to nullify the results it presented. Marquez, a former member of the National Electoral Council, was detained in January 2025. He told reporters Friday that he spent his first seven days in detention handcuffed and was interrogated around the clock. He remained incommunicado for 10 months, three of which he was kept from getting sunlight. Authorities detained him on charges of terrorism, hatred and treason. He said he never faced trial for the trumped up charges, eventually receiving amnesty after acting President Delcy Rodriguez earlier this month signed into law a measure allowing it. Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president following Maduros capture on Jan. 3. Marquez lauded her decision to push for an amnesty law and an overhaul of Venezuela's oil industry since assuming her new role. He also acknowledged he has not spoken with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado since he was released from a prison were human rights watchdogs have extensively documented torture and other abuses against detainees. Advertisement Advertisement He sidestepped questions over whether he would run for president again but said he does not see an election taking place soon. My intention is to become a unifying force, he said of potentially being a bridge between the opposition and the ruling party. The role I want to play, and hope to be able to play, is that of a builder, helping to build the future. ___ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america Virginia Beach police are investigating a reported shooting in the 4800 block of Columbus Street Thursday night. Emergency Communications and Citizen Services received the report of a gunshot wound at 9:24 p.m. Officers responded to the scene. Virginia Beach police told 13News Now that the incident is currently under active investigation. This is a developing story. Check13newsnow.com for updates. By Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis/WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Senior Trump administration officials on Wednesday made the case that Iran poses a major threat to the United States ahead of Thursday negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. U.S. and Iranian negotiators are due to meet in Geneva on Thursday, the third round of nuclear talks this year, as the U.S. has built up one of its biggest military deployments in the Middle East ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic. Advertisement Advertisement In his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, President Donald Trump accused Iran of restarting its nuclear program, working to build missiles that "soon" would be capable of reaching the United States and of being responsible for roadside bombings that have killed U.S. service members and civilians. He has also warned that it will be a "very bad day" for Iran if no deal is reached to solve a longstanding dispute over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran has threatened to strike American bases in the region if it is attacked. RUBIO SAYS IRAN TRYING TO REBUILD NUCLEAR PROGRAM Speaking to reporters during a trip to St. Kitts and Nevis, Rubio echoed Trump's comments. Advertisement Advertisement "After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are," Rubio said. "You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it. They're not enriching right now, but they're trying to get to the point where they ultimately can." Trump ordered strikes on Iran last year, claiming in July that they had "obliterated" the country's nuclear facilities. His aides have claimed more recently that Iran is very close to having the ability to make nuclear bombs. Rubio said Iran also possessed a very large number of ballistic missiles that threaten U.S. interests in the region and that it was trying to develop weapons that can reach the continental United States. "Beyond just the nuclear program, they possess these conventional weapons that are solely designed to attack America and attack Americans if they so choose to do so...They already possess weapons that can reach much of Europe already now, as we speak," Rubio said. Advertisement Advertisement Tehran's insistence on not discussing the topic of ballistic missiles in the Geneva talks was a "big problem", Rubio said, adding that he did not want to characterize the Thursday talks anything other than "the next opportunity to talk" even as he hoped for progress. "Hopefully they're productive but eventually we'll have to have conversations more than just the nuclear program." Iran has the largest stockpile of ballistic missiles in the Middle East, according to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Iranian missiles have a self-imposed range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), which officials in the past said was enough to protect the country since it covers the distance to Israel. 'IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON' Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, Vice President JD Vance said U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be meeting an Iranian delegation in Geneva on Thursday to assess whether an agreement can be reached. "The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Vance told reporters. On Tuesday, Trump also faulted the government in Tehran for the deaths of thousands of protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, although the specific figure he cited - that 32,000 people had been killed - is much higher than most public estimates. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met mediator Badr al-Busaidi, Omans foreign minister, following his arrival in Geneva on Wednesday ahead of Thursdays talks, Irans Press TV reported. Araqchi raised with his Omani counterpart "Iran's points and considerations regarding the nuclear issue and the lifting of the U.S.' illegal and unilateral sanctions," the report said. (Reporting by Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Andrea Shalal, Steve Holland and Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by Hatem Maher in Cairo; Writing by Jan Wolfe and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Chris Reese, Bill Berkrot and Lincoln Feast.) Loved ones are remembering a husband and wife killed in a fiery crash near Gold Bar two weeks ago while on their way to a Valentines Day ski trip. James Khezri and Elham Javadi were killed in a head-on crash on State Route 2 on February 12, heading to Stevens Pass for a couples ski weekend. Friends tell KIRO 7 the two had been together since they were teenagers and immigrated from Iran with their kids to build a life in Washington. Both were doctors who touched countless lives across the Seattle area. Dr. Khezri worked at Allure Esthetic in Kirkland, and Dr. Javadi was a periodontics practitioner in Edmonds. Advertisement Advertisement The other couples didnt know what had happened, said Dr. Javad Sajan, a close friend and coworker. So they were in traffic, sitting, waiting, then they started calling Dr. Khezri. They couldnt get ahold of him. Two weeks later, their deaths are still hard to process. We couldnt understand it. We couldnt fathom it. We didnt believe it, Sajan said. Dr. Sajan worked alongside Dr. Khezri daily. Friends describe the couple as smart, adventurous, and deeply caring both inside and outside of work. Above all, they say, the two were devoted to their sons. Just a person full of life, full of energy, Sajan said. He was the kind of guy who always wanted to do more and be more for others. Advertisement Advertisement He describes Dr. Javadi as equally warm. Really kind, giving person, very sweet, he said. Together, the two dedicated their lives to helping people. Above all, they were devoted to their boys. Very loving people, very kind, said Dr. Sajan. They did everything they could for their children. They came to America, leaving a very difficult situation, but also leaving behind all their family and friends because they wanted a brighter future for their kids and they wanted their children to have opportunity. Their two sons are now left without parents and without any other family nearby in the United States. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the boys, if youd like to help. One of the most common criticisms of Ethereum, and crypto in general, is that it lacks a clear valuation framework. Unlike traditional businesses, it does not produce cash flows or generate revenue, leaving investors to question how its native asset should be priced. During a recent interview with TheStreet Roundtable, Sharplink's CEO Joseph Chalom argued that the question of valuation comes only after a more fundamental one: why Ethereum should exist as a multi-decade investment at all. Related: 'Black Swan' author warns investors to brace for bankruptcies What is driving growth for Ethereum? The first thing is to take a step back and ask what the thesis is, Chalom said. Why do I believe theres going to be a multi decade long Ethereum opportunity? Chalom outlined three forces he believes are converging on Ethereum. The first is stablecoins. Roughly $300 billion in stablecoins are currently in circulation, largely denominated in U.S. dollars, and global competition is accelerating their expansion. Every country has a strategic imperative to launch a local stablecoin, he said, pointing to demand for Korean won, Japanese yen, and Hong Kong dollar based tokens. Around 65% of stablecoins are issued and transacted within the Ethereum ecosystem. The second driver is tokenization. Chalom pointed to growing interest from large financial institutions in moving stocks, funds, and commodities onto blockchains. Theyll trade 24 7, theyll be programmable, and theyll settle instantly, he said. He referenced public comments from firms such as Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan, and BlackRock about tokenizing trillions of dollars in assets. The third pillar is decentralized finance. Chalom said institutional participation in DeFi is expanding beyond experimentation into real usage. Were seeing more institutions go to DeFi to borrow, to lend, to swap, he said. More news: Taken together, Chalom argued these trends position Ethereum as the dominant settlement layer for high-value financial activity. If you believe most of this happens on Ethereum, he said, then you want to own Ether. Related: Ethereum treasury company SharpLink gaming surges 45% as ETH leads rally This story was originally published by TheStreet on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Pakistans jets struck Kabul and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday in the most significant escalation between the two countries in years. Khawaja Asif, Islamabads defence minister, said the countries were now in a state of open war with Pakistan now bombing the Taliban it spent decades supporting. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesman for Pakistans armed forces, claimed at least 274 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 400 injured since the Pakistani armed forces launched Operation Righteous Fury. Advertisement Advertisement A dozen Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 wounded when the Taliban struck back, he said, though the Taliban claim those figures are higher. A senior Taliban official in Kandahar told The Telegraph that Afghan armed forces are sending more artillery to the border and getting prepared for a long war. Why did Pakistan declare open war on Afghanistan? Pakistan and Afghanistan have a long, difficult history, but the most recent conflict was sparked by a suicide bomber killing 31 worshippers at a mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers, wounding 170 more, on Feb 6. Advertisement Advertisement ISKP, the Islamic States Khorasan affiliate, claimed responsibility. Days later, a car bomb attack on a security checkpoint in Bajaur killed 11 soldiers and a child. The attacker was identified as an Afghan national. On Feb 22, Pakistan launched strikes on what Islamabad called camps and hideouts linked to militant groups. The UN confirmed at least 13 civilians were killed in those strikes. Afghanistans defence ministry said the bombs hit a religious school and residential homes in Nangarhar and Paktika, killing women and children. The Taliban said dozens of innocent civilians were killed and injured and warned of a timely, appropriate and calculated response against the airstrikes. Advertisement Advertisement The Taliban launched a military offensive on Pakistani border positions late on Thursday night, framing it as a retaliation. However, in the early hours of Friday, Pakistan launched Operation Righteous Fury Ghazab Lil Haqq striking Taliban military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. One Kabul resident told The Telegraph: It reminded me of the days when America started bombing. There were massive explosions for around an hour. What targets did Pakistan hit? Pakistan says it struck Taliban military posts, headquarters, and ammunition depots across multiple locations on the 1,622 mile border. By Friday morning, Islamabad claimed 274 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 400 wounded, 74 posts destroyed and 18 captured, along with more than 80 tanks and armoured vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement The Taliban reported killing 55 Pakistani fighters and seizing 19 posts, though Pakistan says fewer men and positions have been lost. In Pakistans Bajaur district, a Taliban mortar shell struck a home, wounding five people. Drone attacks were intercepted in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera, with Pakistan claiming there was no loss of life. Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Afghan armed forces, addressed Pakistans military, saying that if Islamabad violates any part of Afghanistans territory, it will receive an even stronger and more decisive response. What is the history? Pakistan has been one of the Afghan Talibans primary backers since the 1990s. After Nato drove the Taliban from power in 2001, Pakistani territory became their main sanctuary. Advertisement Advertisement The ISI, Pakistans intelligence agency, maintained ties with the group throughout the US occupation a relationship Washington protested but never fully severed. The ISI trained, funded, and provided sanctuary to the Taliban through the 1990s, the post-2001 insurgency and the 20 years of British and American soldiers dying in a war Islamabad was quietly prolonging from the other side of the border. The Talibans safe houses were in Quetta. Their leadership council the Quetta Shura operated openly on Pakistani soil for years. Washington knew. Islamabad denied it. Afghan men, women and children died for it. Now Pakistan is striking the country it helped destabilise and calling it self-defence. Advertisement Advertisement The civilians of Kabul and Nangarhar, woken by Pakistani jets in the early hours of Friday, are not incidental casualties of a border dispute. They are the latest victims of a choice Pakistan made a generation ago and has never truly been held to account for. When the Taliban retook Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan welcomed their return. But the relationship quickly soured. Taliban security personnel guard the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan - Aimal Zahir/AFP Pakistan faced a sharp rise in attacks from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a distinct but ideologically linked group. Kabul has denied harbouring the TTP. The tensions erupted into open border fighting in October 2025. Qatar and Turkey brokered a ceasefire in Doha after dozens were killed on both sides. That ceasefire has now collapsed. How do the two militaries compare? Pakistan holds a commanding conventional advantage. It has around 660,000 active-duty troops across its army, navy, air force and marines, backed by nearly 300,000 paramilitary personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Its arsenal includes US-made F-16s, French Mirage jets, and the coveted Chinese-Pakistani JF-17. It is a nuclear power. Its military is the countrys most powerful institution. Although corrupt, it has staged multiple coups and reshaped the constitution. The Afghan Taliban has fewer than 200,000 fighters. They have no functioning air force only ageing Soviet-era helicopters, equipment left by the US in 2021, and quad copter drones. Their most potent weapons are often suicide bombers. But on-paper disadvantage has not stopped them before. Over two decades of warfare against Nato forces, the Taliban not only still stands, but is in power in Afghanistan. What are other countries saying? China said it was deeply concerned and confirmed it had been mediating privately. Beijing signalled willingness to play a constructive role in de-escalation. Advertisement Advertisement Turkey and Qatar, who brokered Octobers ceasefire, are again seen as the most credible mediators. Iran condemned Pakistan. India has a controversial position. Its growing ties with the Taliban have sharpened tensions with Pakistan. In October 2025, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban foreign minister, made his first official visit to New Delhi since the group returned to power. After Fridays strikes, India condemned Pakistans airstrikes as another attempt to externalise its internal failures. A foreign ministry spokesman said: India reiterates its support for Afghanistans sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. What happens next? Previous flare-ups have been settled within days under regional pressure and that may happen again. Advertisement Advertisement Afghanistan lacks the conventional capacity to sustain a prolonged offensive against Pakistan. Nominally, both governments want stability. A boy in Pakistan looks through a damaged house following the overnight cross-border fighting - Fazal Rahman/AFP Pakistan has made clear it will act again if the Taliban fails to move against TTP commanders on Afghan soil. But the conditions feeding the conflict are unchanged. Pakistan cannot contain its domestic insurgency. Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees deported from Pakistan add a further layer of grievance. And Indias deepening relationship with Kabul leaves Islamabad more isolated than at any point in recent history. Whether this becomes another managed crisis or something more uncontained depends on whether outside powers can move quickly enough and whether either government has the political space to step back. 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. (NewsNation) Nearly a month into the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the identity and motive of the individual spotted on her home security system earlier this month remain unknown. The footage, taken from residual data in the backend systems of Guthries Google Nest camera, shows someone wearing a full face mask, gloves and a backpack walking up to the home. Ask Brian Entin questions on the Nancy Guthrie mystery Advertisement Advertisement The suspect appears to have a flashlight in their mouth and a gun in a front holster. Theyre seen placing a gloved hand over the camera lens, then using a nearby shrub to further conceal the device. The FBI released the videos and photos on Feb. 10, nine days after Guthrie was reported missing. Police believe Guthrie, the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was taken against her will. Multiple ransom notes have surfaced since her disappearance, Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect photos A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (Photo by Pima County Sheriffs Department/Anadolu via Getty Images) A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (Photo by Pima County Sheriffs Department/Anadolu via Getty Images) A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (FBI) A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (FBI) A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (FBI) A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthries front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona on Feb. 12, 2026. (FBI) This combo from images provided by the FBI shows surveillance footage at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missing in Tucson, Ariz. (FBI via AP) (NewsNation) 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. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) on Thursday defended his missed votes in the House by pointing to Senate votes missed by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Vice President Vance when he represented Ohio. Hunt was questioned about his voting record in an appearance on The Will Cain Show on Fox News. Host Will Cain said Hunt was the most absent member of Congress and did not attend the State of the Union. Hunt said in his defense that he has been running his campaign for a Senate seat all across Texas. Do you know how many votes JD Vance missed when he was campaigning to be vice president? All of them, Hunt said. Do you know how many votes Tim Scott missed when he was running for president? The third-most in the history of the Senate, over 150. Advertisement Advertisement So again, this is a moot point, he continued. Everybody knows that when youre running for higher office, its important to get your face in front of the people. Hunt added that when on flights, he voted for consequential pieces of legislation. Between November and February, Hunt has missed 69 out of 158 votes, according to the nonpartisan Congress-tracking website GovTrack. Vance missed 111 votes in the Senate after he was picked to be President Trumps running mate in July 2024, GovTrack data shows. Scott missed 110 votes in the Senate between April 2023 and December 2023, though he ran for president from May to November of that year. In December, Bloomberg reported that the senator with the third-most missed votes in 2025 was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who missed 58 of 659 votes. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) ranked at No. 2, with Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in the top spot. Advertisement Advertisement Hunt was third in the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll of the states Republican Senate primary behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Hunt trailed at 26 percent, with Paxton and Cornyn at 36 percent and 34 percent, respectively. All three will face one another in the upcoming primary election on March 3. 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. Detectives with the Pima County Sheriff's Department were reviewing "hundreds of hours of surveillance footage" shortly after media outlets shared video from a house near Guthrie's neighborhood that showed roughly a dozen cars passing by in the early morning hours of the night in which she disappeared. The department is also "refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case," according to department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo in a Feb. 27 update. "As leads are developed and resolved, resource allocation may fluctuate," Carrillo added. Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriff's Department didn't elaborate on how it would reallocate resources or what impacts that might have on the investigation. Deputies also arrested a man shortly before 8 p.m. on Feb. 26 on misdemeanor DUI charges in front of Nancy Guthrie's house, though Carrillo said the arrest was unrelated to the investigation into her disappearance. The update from the Sheriff's Department comes as Savannah Guthrie posted a second video Feb. 27 about the family's $1 million reward for information leading to the return of her missing mother, saying, "Somebody knows. And we are begging you to please come forward now." The "Today" show co-host initially announced the reward on Feb. 24. Advertisement Advertisement "We need to know where she is. We need her to come home," Guthrie said in the video. "You can call the 800 tip line (1-800-CALL-FBI). You can be anonymous if you want. Someone out there knows something that can bring her home." Guthrie also posted a clip from the "Today" show explaining how the tipster could remain anonymous and collect the reward. On a sunny February morning, the blue-green flats of Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve are calm, clear and shimmering with light, waters like stained glass encircling a small island that locals call Paradise. From above, the island is a splotch of green brush and white sand just south of Interstate 275. From ground level, its a world of its own. Tiny crabs skitter the shoreline. Oysters dangle on mangrove roots. Seabirds dive shallow waters inhabited by fish and sea turtles. Advertisement Advertisement Despite its proximity to the highway, this pocket of Tampa Bay has a quiet calm that makes it feel removed from urban Florida an atmosphere that attracts wildlife and nature-seekers. But some worry that could soon change. Two companies, SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC, are proposing to build a new cruise terminal on this untouched landscape to accommodate megaships incapable of passing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The companies have pitched the preservation of Rattlesnake Key, which SSA Marine now owns, as a conservation tradeoff ahead of their plans to develop the Knott-Cowen Tract into a central hub of cruise port activity. Advertisement Advertisement While details are so far slim, their plans also show Paradise Island and Skeet Key within the footprint of the project, which would require significant dredging and development in the area. The owner of nearby Eds Key also recently proposed developing a resort there to complement the cruise port. But many locals want to see the entire area including its islands, wetlands and shallow bay flats left untouched. Just offshore Paradise Island, a recently placed sign reflects that sentiment, reading simply: NO CRUISE PORT. What could a cruise port change? Heres a closer look at the area as it exists today. A sign that reads No cruise port stands offshore Paradise Island, near where Tampa Bay meets the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. The island lies within sight of the Knott-Cowen Tract, a coastal property southeast of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge where two companies propose to build a new cruise port terminal. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Paradise Island near Rattlesnake Key on Feb. 9, 2026. The shallow waters of Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve would require extensive dredging to allow cruise ships to navigate the area. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) The Knott-Cowen tract on Feb. 9, 2026. SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC say they want to create a docking place here for some of the worlds largest cruise ships, creating the first port of its kind on Floridas Gulf Coast. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Looking south from Paradise Island towards Skeet Key on Feb. 9, 2026. State agencies and local experts say that the undeveloped area is a haven for a bounty of wildlife, including rare, endangered and commercially important species. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Advertisement Advertisement Paradise Island with Knott-Cowen beyond on Feb. 9, 2026. This coastal area of Manatee County is a popular spot for fishing, boating, kayaking and wildlife watching. Local anglers, conservationists and outdoors enthusiasts are among those concerned about how a cruise port could disturb the area. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Paradise Island on Feb. 9, 2026. Experts say that the dredging required for a cruise port could impact water clarity and tidal flow in the area, potentially lowering water quality. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Small shells found in the sand of Paradise Island on Feb. 9, 2026. The Terra Ceia area is a hotspot for fossils and archaeological research. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) From Paradise Island towards the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Feb. 9, 2026. A proposed cruise port terminal would bring passengers ashore just south of Interstate 275 on the Manatee County side of the bridge, according to plans filed by Slip Knott LLC. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Advertisement Advertisement From Paradise Island looking toward Skeet Key on Feb. 9, 2026. Mangroves, which provide forage for manatees, shelter for fish and coastal storm resiliency benefits, are a dominant species in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Looking south towards Skeet Key, Eds Key and Rattlesnake Key on Feb. 9, 2026. SSA Marine has promised to conserve Rattlesnake Key, but wants to develop other parts of the area to create a new cruise port. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Knott Cowen tract on left on Feb. 9, 2026. State lawmakers who represent Manatee County are among those who have criticized the cruise port plans, and a bill recently passed in the Florida Senate aims to block dredging in the area. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Paradise Island near Rattlesnake Key on Feb. 9, 2026. Slip Knott LLC filed paperwork with Manatee County Government to build a cruise port on its land adjacent to Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. (Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com) Advertisement Advertisement Not long after President Donald Trump announced on social media he was imposing a 15 percent global tariff, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was on the phone with his British counterpart. The U.K.s top negotiator, Peter Kyle, had a plea for Greer and an offer. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court had just blown a hole through Trumps trade regime, Kyle indicated Britain was prepared to adhere to the trade deal it reached with Trump in May. But Kyle stressed that the U.S. also needed to honor the U.K.-U.S. deal that set duties at 10 percent, according to a Downing Street spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Translation: If you want to keep the agreement in place, back off that higher tariff rate. Days later, Trumps new tariff went into effect, but at a 10 percent level rather than the higher rate he had declared was effective immediately. The conversation between Greer and Kyle and the reduced global tariff rate that followed was just part of the damage control Trump administration officials launched after their Feb. 20 defeat at the Supreme Court, part of an effort to preserve trade pacts forged using tariffs that the court had invalidated. For all Trumps threats and public bluster, a number of key advisers and U.S. envoys are privately taking a more conciliatory approach in the hope of averting further setbacks to Trumps trade agenda. Advertisement Advertisement The United States expects all of our trading partners to uphold existing agreements that restore reciprocity in our trade relationships, benefiting American workers and producers, said a White House official, granted anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes conversations. The Commerce Department and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond to requests for comment. In addition to the U.K., Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke with trade officials in the EU, India and Canada in the days after the Supreme Court ruling, which ruled the president did not have authority to levy his "reciprocal" tariffs and others under a national emergency law. French trade minister Nicolas Forissier said in an interview that he also convened a virtual call with Greer and other G7 trade ministers on Monday. My discourse, which was very well received by the ambassador, was extremely calm and constructive, Forissier said. Advertisement Advertisement Thats a far cry from Trumps tone on Truth Social Monday, warning, "Any Country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have 'Ripped Off' the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse." The president had wielded the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to make similar tariff threats last year ultimately reaching tentative agreements with most of the United States top trading partners. In exchange for lower tariffs, the EU, Japan, South Korea, India and others pledged new market access and hundreds of billions in investment in the U.S. private sector. The Supreme Court ruling and the White Houses subsequent announcement of a new, replacement set of global tariffs sparked uncertainty in those countries about the future of their deals. After Trumps Saturday post announcing his new duty would go up to 15 percent, the European Parliament froze key legislation to implement its side of the deal. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, however, urged members Tuesday to approve the deal, noting he had received assurances from his U.S. counterparts that they planned to honor the Turnberry accord. Those assurances arent the only reason countries are opting to stick to the existing agreements the White House has also made clear it can use other U.S. trade laws to raise duties on imports from countries if they renege. Advertisement Advertisement Like the EU, India delayed planned trade meetings this week on the deal it inked with the Trump administration last month. But both sides still expect their deal to move forward, according to someone who has spoken with the Indian government, granted anonymity to share private conversations. The South Korean legislature still plans to hold a vote to authorize its $350 billion investment account in early March, Korean media reported. Japan, which has pledged $550 billion to invest in U.S. projects of President Donald Trumps choosing, has indicated that it plans to continue implementing the agreement we made with the United States last year," according to its embassy. The good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the [trade] deal that they already made, Trump said in his State of the Union Address Tuesday night. Knowing that the legal power that I, as president, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them, and, therefore, they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Courts unfortunate involvement. Advertisement Advertisement As the president noted, the administration has plenty of other legal authorities it can and has used to impose burdensome tariffs on foreign countries. One of the most powerful is a statute allowing the president to set duties on certain industries on national security grounds. Trump has used that power to raise tariffs on products like automobiles, steel, aluminum, copper and lumber and has threatened to impose more. The 25 percent tariffs on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum were major factors pushing the EU, Japan and South Korea to complete deals with Trump in which they pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investment. The Koreans are very aware that even though he lost the IEEPA case, part of what they got out of it was on the sectorial tariffs on autos dropping from 25 percent to 15, which brought them in line with Japan and the EU and is absolutely essential to Korea to be competitive, said Tami Overby, a partner at DGA Government Relations, which focuses on South Korea. So I think the deal with Korea is pretty solid. Greer and Commerce Department officials have also said they plan to launch new national security and country-specific trade investigations in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, which could result in new tariffs later this year. That could include an investigation into unfair trading practices when it comes to digital services a mechanism that could be used against trading partners that have passed or are considering strict digital regulations, including South Korea, Brazil and the EU. Advertisement Advertisement The administration has also conducted a national security investigation into pharmaceutical imports, but thus far held off on imposing new tariffs. Just the threat of high duties on the countrys pharmaceutical industry is part of what brought India to the table to hammer out a deal over the past year. The ability to compel implementation of these deals is weakened a little bit [by the Supreme Court ruling], but not significantly, said Peter Harrell, a former Biden official. I think that there is kind of enough other tariff threat, enough other non-tariff threat, and also, frankly, enough inducement in these deals that by and large, the governments that have agreed to the deals will continue to honor them. For Japan, one of the first major trading partners to strike a deal, the decision to stick to the trade agreement isnt just about tariffs though higher auto tariffs would be punishing for its economy. Its also about national security. China has continued to ramp up pressure on the country, through both military and diplomatic channels, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she would activate the countrys self-defense force if China attacked Taiwan. It wasnt just purely a trade deal, said William Chou, the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute, a right-leaning think tank, when asked whats keeping Japan in its agreement. It was a political deal. Advertisement Advertisement Not every country faces the same threat from national security tariffs. Bangladesh, which is a major textile exporter to the U.S., struck an agreement with the Trump administration earlier this month. But its legislative body is reconsidering whether to move forward with the deal, given that the recently struck-down tariffs were the primary motivation for reaching an agreement. The Supreme Courts ruling has also emboldened domestic critics of the deals in some countries. In Taiwan, the main opposition party has already threatened to stall approval of Taiwans agreement with the Trump administration, which set tariff rates on most Taiwanese goods at 15 percent, higher than the global 10 percent duty now in effect. And it seized on the decision as a reason to go back to the drawing board with the U.S. The court decision completely overturned the agreements legal basis and requires the government to report to the legislature immediately and consider reopening negotiations, Fu Kun-chi, legislative caucus convener for the KMT Party, said Monday, per the South China Morning Post. Still, most major trading partners are well aware that backing away from existing agreements risks drawing Trumps wrath. And although the Supreme Court ruling took away his ability to slap tariffs on imports at a moments notice, his administration can still target goods from specific countries after a USTR investigation. That sort of 301 investigation is how Trump justified tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Its now up to the Americans to clarify things, to calm things down, said Forissier, the French trade minister. I dont think its in the United States interest to take a stance of high tariffs, toughening measures. Ben Lefebvre, Zi-Ann Lum and Phelim Kine contributed to this report. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair vowed on Thursday to take a "new interest" in the U.S. aviation industry after he and his wife experienced issues with separate American Airlines flights. "Today, American Airlines delays me 2.5 hours because someone failed to notice empty hydraulic fluid before it was time to go down the runway. Yesterday, they apparently forgot to BOOK A PILOT for my wifes flight," Blair said on X. "Im going to take a new interest in the airline industry." Advertisement Advertisement The White House and American Airlines did not immediately comment. American Airlines' performance has been under scrutiny since a late-January winter storm led to widespread flight cancellations that tested its recovery system. Data from aviation analytics firm OAG shows American Airlines' reliability lagged key rivals in January, trailing Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines in on-time performance and posted the highest cancellation rate among those airlines. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVERSES BIDEN-ERA PROPOSALS Since President Donald Trump began his second term last year, his administration has taken a series of steps to reverse aviation consumer proposals by the administration of former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement In December, the Transportation Department moved to reverse some penalties imposed on airlines during the Biden administration, including waiving $16.7 million in fines imposed on American Airlines in 2024 as part of a settlement over the carrier's treatment of disabled passengers. The department also waived the remaining $11 million of a fine imposed on Southwest as part of a $140 million settlement over operational problems that stranded more than 2 million passengers during the busy holiday travel period in December 2022. In November, the department withdrew a proposal issued under Biden that sought to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when carriers are responsible for U.S. flight disruptions. Last month, the Transportation Department proposed revising its guidance to deemphasize imposing civil fines on airlines that violate consumer protection rules and to drop Biden-era policies that toughened enforcement. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jamie Freed) The federal judiciary has stiffened its resolve toward the Trump administration. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 last week against the authority that President Donald Trump asserted in imposing tariffs. The decision drew Trumps condemnation on social media. During the State of the Union address, the justices did not look comfy while sitting front and center in the House chambers. Also, a federal judge held a lawyer for the Justice Department in contempt of court for the first time during Trumps second term. The New York Times found at least 34 other instances in which federal judges issued orders requiring the government to explain why it should not be similarly punished for violating court orders. Advertisement Advertisement Even so, a different recent decision caught my eye. Since last fall, I have been tracking the Trump administrations brazen attempts to change what visitors learn at places managed by the National Park Service. A nationwide review of national park signage signaled that some of these displays, posters, signs and exhibits would be eliminated. At the time, I wondered who would have leverage to prevent these acts of civic censorship. Even more, I couldnt imagine who would have sufficient legal standing to sue let alone win. Who could sue to prevent the whitewashing of national parks, if it happened? As if in response to my question, I heard the bad news and the good news this week. Advertisement Advertisement The bad news came in the form of brutish attempts by the National Park Service to alter the history of George Washington by removing references to his enslavement of people at his home in Philadelphia, a location that is now a national monument. The changes to the Presidents House Site happened in January, but headlines reemerged this week. Those headlines trumpeted the good news: a federal judge, appointed by George W. Bush, ordered that the history be restored to tell the truth about Washington. Indeed, our first president was not only a slave owner, but he also strategically moved enslaved people from state to state so they would never gain freedom. In Washingtons time, an enslaved person was considered free after spending six months in Pennsylvania. The website for Washingtons home, Mount Vernon, explains that to evade the statute, Washington sent the enslaved cook, waiters, and maids out of state every six months, instructing his secretary to move the slaves in a way that will deceive both them and the public. It seems perverse to be grateful that Mount Vernon isnt a National Park but in this case, it likely shields the site from censorship. Advertisement Advertisement In her opinion about Washingtons home in Philadelphia, Judge Cynthia Rufe blasted the whitewashing of presidential and national history by invoking the altered history created by the omnipotent government in George Orwells 1984. She wrote: Each person who visits the Presidents House and does not learn of the realities of founding-era slavery, receives a false account of this countrys history. (Its easy to imagine a censorship case about one of the national parks in Kansas arriving in a nearby courtroom, if history is erased at one of the six sites. Lets hope that the three Kansans nominated last week to the U.S. District Court will show similar mettle as Rufe, if they decide such a case.) We are rightfully concerned about histories that are changed and erased because of the impact on what we learn about the past. Advertisement Advertisement With gratitude to Rufe, I want to take her argument further. By editing the embarrassing, amoral and ignorant acts of the past, our federal government provides cover for a broad spectrum of todays misdeeds. How does the administrations historical whitewashing affect the actions of Trumps emissaries today? His appointees, including Doug Burgum, who has overseen the national parks censorship, have created a shameful resume of thuggery that could guide future generations. For instance, deleting the truth about climate change from a plaque emboldens a government worker to further shred environmental protections. Forgiving a past president for his subjugation of slaves signals acceptance of racism. Waving away the 1940s internment of Japanese Americans provides psychic cover for suburban Kansas City warehouses to be converted into immigration detainment centers. Advertisement Advertisement The administrations censorship of history has become a dog whistle if not a rallying cry to Trumps acolytes. You have our permission, they hear the dog whistle chirp. Your moral failings will likely be forgotten, just like those of President Washington! Future generations will never know our cruelty. Overlay the administrations stated policy goals with the content being censored at national parks and you can see uncomfortable overlap. Save Our Signs, a guerrilla effort to document park signs before they vanish, provides a growing spreadsheet of alterations reported in the press. (Note that 12 of the 16 items have appeared since the start of 2026.) Advertisement Advertisement The administrations hostility toward climate change happens by dismantling the power of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but also through the signage at Muir Woods National Monument and Glacier National Park. Removing signage that references womens rights and liberty at the Gateway National Recreation Area aligns conveniently with the scaling back of affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion programs that benefitted women. Changing the available history of Native Americans at national parks tracks with last years cuts to grant funding that helped tribes. Eliminating the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument extends Trumps animosity toward folks in the LGBTQ+ community. Seen like this, the administrations animus rhetorical, historical, political and administrative appears comprehensive. If Rufes order doesnt seem like enough to reverse this tide, have faith. Citizens have rhetorical and political power too: power to tell our true histories. Advertisement Advertisement We can each counter the whitewashed history of national parks as we tell more complete accounts in our homes, our classrooms or our faith communities. Even more urgent is accurately describing what is happening around us each day remaining in the Trump administration writing the first draft of history as completely and courageously as we can. This does not mean that citizens should shovel out overheated rhetoric that blindly brands every federal action as racist, sexist, violent or corrupt. This degrades history as effectively as Trumps efforts, just from the opposite extreme. Avoid being polemic simply for the sake of scoring points. Instead, each one of us has a role to play by describing the administrations actions as they are, remaining rooted in facts. Advertisement Advertisement After all, thats what we expect from our history: a full recounting, regardless of its inconvenient truths. Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. As the Trump administration surrounds Iran with warships at a level not seen since the Iraq invasion, many in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, sought to avoid a vote on a war powers resolution the type of bill constitutionally required for the president to legally wage war. According to strategists, the opposition to the vote is a symptom of a body of lawmakers who support the war, but who dont want to be on the record, for fear of accountability. As President Donald Trump moved U.S. forces into position around Iran, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced the resolution, which, if passed, would empower the president to wage war against Iran. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to start wars, though it has not voted for a war since 1942. Despite warmaking being in the purview of Congress, and the passage of the resolution theoretically being necessary before Trump might act on Iran, a bipartisan group of representatives almost immediately came out against voting on the resolution, citing concerns over flexibility and saying that voting on the resolution is signaling weakness at a dangerous moment. Advertisement Advertisement We respect and defend Congresss constitutional role in matters of war. Oversight and debate are absolutely vital. However, this resolution would restrict the flexibility needed to respond to real and evolving threats and risks, signaling weakness at a dangerous moment, Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said in a joint statement. Congress should be briefed on any planned military action in compliance with the War Powers Act. It is also essential that the appropriate committees are fully and promptly briefed. Congress must not limit our ability to protect Americans and our allies. Corbin Trent, a Democratic strategist and former campaign aide for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told Salon that the movement to prevent a vote on the resolution is because the Democratic Party that exists now in Congress is very much a party thats aligned with the war machine, and has been for decades. This has been a thing that the core, the corporate Democratic Party, which is the one thats in charge right now, has been sort of fully in lockstep with the Republican Party there, Trent said. Thats one of the places where these two parties have been merged for quite some time. Similarly, journalist Aida Chavez reported that Democratic leadership was working to either delay or sideline the resolution, with one senior Democratic staffer saying Leadership rarely comes out and says they oppose these votes outright, because they know the underlying issue is popular with the base. Advertisement Advertisement Instead, you see process concerns, timing objections, and caucus-unity arguments used to slow things down or keep members off the record. Weve seen the same approach on past war powers votes and foreign policy amendments that clash with the national security elite consensus, the staffer said. Therefore, the opposition to the vote seems to be more about how members of Congress who are supportive of a war with Iran dont want their support to be in the congressional record. In my experience, the same way that America runs on Duncan, Congress runs on fear, Trent said. Theyre afraid of making the wrong choice, so therefore theyd rather make no choices, Trent said. Another strategist, Saikat Chakrabarti, who co-founded the Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress and is now running for Congress himself, told Salon that members learned from the Iraq war that it was better for their political futures to cede their constitutional power to the president than to take a vote on a war that they support. Advertisement Advertisement They dont want to go on the record supporting a war with Iran because they saw what happened to pretty much everyone who went on the record supporting a war with Iraq, Chakrabarti said. The support for a war in Iraq is what cost Hillary Clinton an election. It was what cost Jeb Bush an election. Chakrabarti pointed to the coalition of Democrats who voted for the current defense budget 149 in the House alone as a proxy for the members of the party who likely support a war with Iran. He added that two highly influential groups, the pro-Israel lobby and defense contractors, also support a potential war and can stand to either help or hinder politicians from getting elected. Members of Congress are not, however, the only people who might have a personal interest in supporting a war with Iran, Chakrabarti said. Its interesting to me that every single time the Epstein file starts to have a risk of getting any attention in the media, Trump decides to run to war with some other country. I mean, thats literally the throw at the same time with his operation with [Nicolas] Maduro, Chakrabarti said, referring to the capture of Venezuelas president during a military operation on Jan. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Democratic leaders in both chambers of Congress ostensibly leading the opposition to Trump have yet to articulate an opposition to a war with Iran. Instead, theyre asking that the administration justify its endorsement for war. Look, this is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday, after a briefing on the situation. House minority leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has likewise asked that Trump explain why this conflict is necessary, seeing as Trump claimed that his previous bombing campaign in Iran last summer (also not authorized by Congress), obliterated Irans nuclear capacity. Part of the concern that Ive articulated, and will continue to do so, is that the president made the representation that Irans nuclear program was completely and totally obliterated last year as a result of actions that the administration has taken, Jeffries said. And so if that, in fact, was true, what is the urgency as of this moment? Thats an open question, and the American people need a real explanation. The post Why Congress tried to dodge a vote on war with Iran appeared first on Salon.com. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday to honor trailblazing civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Feb. 17 at the age of 84. Beshear had previously ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on March 7 when the private service was scheduled to be held in Chicago, but Jacksons casket is expected to travel through Kentucky on Saturday while en route to his home state of South Carolina. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement A ceremony at the South Carolina Statehouse honoring Jackson is scheduled for Monday, March 2. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations, and government agencies to join in this tribute. Additional flag status information is available 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 56 News. As some of the biggest U.S. companies sue the Trump administration to obtain tariff refunds, one small company is already giving money back to consumers. Alexandra Fine, CEO of Dame Products, a sexual health and wellness company, said she is giving consumers automatic refunds for costs they incurred from import tariffs President Trump imposed last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court ruled last week that the emergency tariffs were illegal. "We are giving that money back to the people because if somebody charges you something and it's unlawful, they should give you your money back," she told CBS News. Dame, which last year implemented a $5 "Trump tariff surcharge" on customer purchases, in 2025 paid a total of $70,000 in tariffs stemming from IEEPA. Fine also said she hopes the federal government, as well as other businesses, will follow suit and provide customers with tariff refunds. "Just clicking a button" "We have all the information. We can see every customer that had this surcharge tacked on, so we are just clicking a button and sending them their money back," Fine, who co-founded Dame in 2014, told CBS News. Alexandra Fine, the founder and CEO of sexual wellness company Dame, said she is reimbursing customers for tariff costs on their purchases. / Credit: Aurielle Sayeh Consumers and businesses last year paid nearly 90% of U.S. tariffs in the form of higher costs, according to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, although other analyses have found somewhat lower "pass-through" rates to shoppers. The Trump administration, which claims that foreign governments and exporters absorb most tariff costs, vehemently disputes the New York Fed's findings. Businesses could be owed up to $165 billion in refunds of IEEPA tariffs they paid in 2025 and early 2026, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan research initiative focused on public policy analysis. Fine introduced her business' tariff surcharge in April 2025, after Mr. Trump announced country-based tariffs on dozens of U.S. trade partners. Tariffs on China, where Dame manufactures its products, ultimately settled at 20%. Today, Dame now faces 15% tariff on imports from China after Mr. Trump, responding to the high court's ruling against his use of IEEPA, last week invoked another trade law to impose a temporary, across-the-board duty on U.S. imports. Fine said Dame paid a total of roughly $100,000 in tariffs last year, about $70,000 of which stemmed from IEEPA duties. She has already processed some customer refunds and expects to deliver rebates on thousands of additional product orders within a few weeks. NEED TO KNOW On Feb. 25, representatives for the widow of a pilot who died in the UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky last fall filed a wrongful death lawsuit The complaint was filed against three companies associated with the aircraft "Safety is our first priority, and we are supporting the NTSBs investigation," GE Aerospace tells PEOPLE in a statement The widow of one of the three pilots who died in the UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky last November has filed a suit against companies affiliated with the Boeing MD-11F aircraft. On Wednesday, Feb. 25, lawyers representing Donna Diamond, the wife of the late Capt. Dana Diamond, filed a complaint against the Boeing Company, the maker of the plane, General Electric Company, the manufacturer of the engine, and VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc., which serviced the plane in the weeks before the crash in Louisville, Ky., according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement The complaint, which was filed with the Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky, makes claims for wrongful death, negligence, loss of consortium and associated damages against the three companies after Dana, a 62-year-old pilot, died in the apocalyptic crash. On Nov. 4, 2025, UPS Flight 2976 was rising into the sky at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when its left engine and pylon separated from the wing as fire erupted. The plane careened back toward the ground and crashed in a massive explosion, killing Dana, who was serving as an international relief officer on the flight, and the other two crew members on board, Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 57, and First Officer Lee Truitt, 45. In total, 12 bystanders in the area died of their injuries, PEOPLE previously reported. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the 34-year-old aircraft never made it higher than 30 feet above the ground and also determined that the plane had several "fatigue cracks" and "fractures." Advertisement Advertisement "When an engine separates from a wing seconds after takeoff, that's not an accident, Mark Lanier, a lead attorney from the Lanier Law Firm who is representing Donna, said in a statement obtained by POEPLE. That's a failure by the companies responsible for building and maintaining that aircraft." In a statement from GE Aerospace, the company expressed its condolences to the families of the victims. We are deeply saddened by the loss of UPS Flight 2976, the company tells PEOPLE in a statement. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those impacted. Safety is our first priority, and we are supporting the NTSBs investigation. In a separate statement, a Boeing spokesperson also extend their "deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this accident." Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc. did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Smoke billowed into the air following the plane crash in Kentucky last November. Credit: Stephen Cohen/Getty In the suit, the Diamonds, who were married for 10 years, are described as a happily married couple before the deadly crash on Nov. 4. Tragically, Donna would never see her husband alive after that day, the complaint reads. Even more tragic, Defendants could have prevented Danas suffering and death with simple honesty and a little bit of care. But they didnt. Dana and Donna Diamond. Credit: Donna Diamond Dana first joined UPS in 1988, and by October 2025, he was the most senior pilot of MD-11s for the company. He was in a leadership role in the Independent Pilots Association for years, as well as served as commissioner and chief of Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1. Dana later trained more than 1,000 aircraft rescue firefighters, loved ones previously told PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement He was a champion for safety, Capt. Jess Grigg, a former chairman of the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) committee of the IPA, previously told PEOPLE. The couple with their grandchildren. Credit: Donna Diamond Flying was the center of Danas world, as was the life he built with Donna at their 132-acre ranch in Caldwell, Texas. I loved it that my dream was his dream, Donna told PEOPLE of the man who quickly became known as Papaw to their seven grandchildren in their blended family. A tribute for Capt. Dana Diamond following the fatal crash. Credit: Donna Diamond The trip to Honolulu that November was supposed to be a short one. Just minutes before the crash that took his life, Dana texted Donna: "I love you." 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. Later that day, when Donna saw news coverage of the crash, she fell to the floor, screaming. Advertisement Advertisement For Donna, who is now a widow twice over, there is no filling the jagged space that Danas death has left in her life. I didn't think I could ever love like I did before, she told PEOPLE, but Dana is the one. Read the original article on People Looking out at the blue and yellow cranes towering over the Black Sea horizon, Viktor Berestenko worries about the relentless Russian bombardment of Odesa, Ukraine's southern port city. "It's war, every night," the head of the Inter Trans logistics company told AFP. The main gateway to the Black Sea and beyond, Odesa is a key logistics hub for Ukraine, one of the world's top agricultural exporters. Advertisement Advertisement Russia has intensified its attacks on the region -- tripling the number of missile and drone strikes over the last year in what officials call an attempt to cut Ukraine off from the sea. "Without ports, Ukraine will be destroyed," said Berestenko. The escalation comes four years into Russia's invasion, in which Ukraine's maritime infrastructure has been a target for Moscow. The attacks are accepted as part of daily life for the city of around one million people, dotted with ornate 19th-century architecture and where luxury cars pass mobile air defence units along the bustling seaside. Advertisement Advertisement Russia's army occupies much of Ukraine's southern coast, including key port cities of Mariupol and Berdiansk further to the east. And in 2023 Moscow walked away from a deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey, that facilitated the safe passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports across the Black Sea. In response, Kyiv set up an alternative route with vessels hugging the sea's western coastline from Odesa, along Romania, Bulgaria and through the Bosphorus into the Mediterranean. Ukraine touts it as a success, with more than 170 million tonnes of cargo transported through the route, including grain to some 55 countries, mostly in Africa. Advertisement Advertisement The sales provide a vital source of income for the economy, decimated by the Russian invasion. But the surge in strikes is taking a toll. Volumes were down 15 percent last year, when some 57 ships and 336 pieces of port equipment were damaged, according to Mykola Kravchuk, head of the state-run Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority in the city. There were more than 800 air raid alerts in Odesa in 2025 -- "this amounts to more than a month of operational time lost over the course of the year," Kravchuk told AFP. The vast majority of Ukraine's grain exports go through Odesa. - Two-minute warning - Advertisement Advertisement Incoming ballistic missiles can hit Odesa within two minutes of being launched from Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. It takes some 45 seconds for a crane operator to climb down, let alone reach a shelter, Berestenko said. He scrolled through photos on his phone of burned-out trucks and warehouses damaged by strikes. "It's scary, to put it briefly," said Iryna, who works at the port's container terminal. "When the alarm sounds, we go down... we put our trust in God," the 41-year-old said. "Sometimes alerts can last for three hours, and we sit there." Several strikes have killed port employees or ship crew members. Advertisement Advertisement In December, a ballistic missile attack killed eight people. The strikes also have an environmental toll. Last year an attack on the nearby port of Pivdennyi hit a sunflower oil storage tank, polluting the Black Sea coast. Thousands of birds and seahorses were killed as a result, ecologist Vladyslav Belinsky said. Ukraine classifies its ports as strategically important infrastructure, limiting access to them. Kravchuk said the port industry's top two priorities are protecting people, "specifically our employees" and making sure the ports stay open. After an overnight attack on Friday Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba repeated that the maritime corridor was still operational despite another massive attack on Ukraine's port facilities. Advertisement Advertisement But the surge in the attacks has many in the industry and the city on edge. "What will be the next steps?" asked logistics chief Berestenko. "To occupy Odesa? To cut Ukraine from the sea?" cf-ant-jc/jbr/rh The woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of raping her two decades ago walked free from a North Carolina prison on Friday after serving time for the slaying of her boyfriend. Crystal Mangum, a 47-year-old former exotic dancer, wore a gray sweatshirt and khaki pants as she left the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh at about 9:49 a.m. ET. She was led into a white North Carolina Department of Adult Correction car and a parole officer then drove her to Durham, where Mangum will be living with a friend, agency spokesperson Brad Deen said. Advertisement Advertisement Shell be living under terms of her parole for nine months, Deen added. Shed been serving time on second-degree murder conviction for the 2011 slaying of boyfriend Reginald Daye. Mangum was thrust into the national spotlight when she and another dancer performed at party thrown by Duke lacrosse players on March 13, 2006, and then accused three of the athletes of assaulting her. The allegations against the three players touched off a national conversation on hot-button topics such as sex work, race, gender and class. Duke lacrosse players wear practice jerseys with the numbers of the three accused before their opening game in 2007. (Sara D. Davis / AP file4) (Sara D. Davis) Mangum later admitted to making false allegations, but those lies had done their damage. Advertisement Advertisement I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didnt, and that was wrong, she told podcaster Katerena DePasquales Lets Talk with Kat in a December 2024 interview. I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasnt true because I wanted validation from people and not from God, and that was wrong when God already loved me for who I was, she said. Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong was found to have withheld evidence from defense lawyers that could have cleared the men much earlier. The prosecutor was disbarred in 2007. Mangum was convicted in 2013 for second-degree murder in the stabbing of her boyfriend Daye to death in April 2011. She was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In a General Assembly room cramped with electrical workers from across the commonwealth, a group of bipartisan lawmakers on Thursday marched in one by one to tell them that they support the data center industry and the construction jobs that come along with them. It was hours before the House passed its proposed budget and the Senate advanced its spending plan, which would repeal the sales and use tax exemption for data centers starting in the next calendar year. I love the jobs that they create, and I love Virginias economy to do well, Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said. So its not just that I love data centers, I love the fact the jobs they produce. We have to be realistic about what were producing good union jobs. IBEW members speak to Speaker Don Scott to retain sales and use tax exemption for data centers. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) The electrical workers, part of varying chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, traveled to Richmond to plead with legislators to not go forward with the Senates budget plan. Advertisement Advertisement The union members said the data center boom has allowed many of them to significantly increase their wages. They are concerned that removing the incentive will cause the companies to leave Virginia for the dozens of other states who have similar incentives in place, they told legislators. This is a coveted industry around the country, and its very important to us here in Virginia, so we aint got to pack our bags and go travel to do this work were doing right now, said Jason Parker, Vice President of IBEW LU 1340. Lawmakers said this week the state misses out on an estimated $1-2 billion dollars annually by allowing the data center industry to bypass the 5.3% state sales tax on the equipment and software used inside the warehouse-style facilities. Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, has led the move to repeal the exemption, saying it would ensure the data center industry is paying their fair share of costs to operate in the state. Advertisement Advertisement I want (the money) to go towards hard working families. Weve got people who are struggling to put food on the table, to put a roof over their heads, pay for their car payment, their kids school. I want that money to go back to them, Lucas said. Conversely, the Data Center Coalition highlighted over $100 billion the industry has invested into the state over the last three years and the jobs it has created. The 2024 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report on data centers found that the majority of jobs the industry created are construction roles and there are far fewer permanent jobs at the centers once they are built. Data centers reported to state authorities that theyd created 1,197 net new jobs during fiscal year 2024, an investment equaling about $32 billion. Roughly $21.7 billion of that covered equipment or software that was exempt from state sales tax. Advertisement Advertisement In fiscal year 2025, they reported 1,610 net new jobs and an investment of approximately $48.6 billion, $33.2 billion of which they said was exempt from sales tax. The state exempted over $3.2 billion in fiscal years 24 and 25 of the total $80 billion in industry investments over those two years. Senate Democrats have framed the proposed end of data centers tax exemption as a way to ease financial strain on cash-strapped Virginians and an extension of their affordability agenda. But Sen. Ryan McDougal, R-Hanover, diverged, telling the union members that the General Assembly should honor the commitment the state made to the industry. We made a deal. We can say in the future, were not gonna make the same deal, we want a different deal in the future, McDougal said. But you dont change the deal on people while youre in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Members of the House from both sides of the aisle, including Scott, are concerned that getting rid of the exemption would curb data center development here. The chambers spending plan keeps the exemption through 2035 but adds environmental and energy investment requirements data centers would have to meet to keep the carveout. We cant continue business as usual. It has some other concerns were dealing with, Scott said before the union members. Theres a lot of different things that I wanted to do in exchange for getting the extension. Thats where I am. So I would love this industry to continue to grow. I dont want to kill the golden goose. Mixed reactions during floor debate Senators debate budget amendments in the General Assembly. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) On the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, the budget received bipartisan support, but also a fair amount of criticism. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, called the repeal of the sales and use tax exemption economic destruction. Advertisement Advertisement To say that across Virginia, counties that are struggling to be able to afford basic infrastructure, to be able to afford basic services that you cant enjoy some of the benefits that some of the counties have enjoyed, is simply wrong, Obenshain said. Several Democrats and Republicans stood to speak in favor of the repeal, citing growing concerns from their constituents about data centers water use, land supply, and increased energy demands that are projected to add costs to utility bills. Sen. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, identified data centers as a top priority for her constituents who live in Northern Virginia, where most of the facilities are concentrated. Weve got to do something about this, Roem said. This is the do-something moment. Advertisement Advertisement The budget negotiations will continue for the next few weeks. Now that each version has passed their respective chambers, they will have to be consolidated and hashed out in closed door conference committee meetings. Gov. Abigail Spanberger will then have the chance to make changes to the budget after the legislature presents it to her before signing it into law next month. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pakistan has said it is now in open war with Afghanistans Taliban government as explosions were reported in Kabul and fighting continues in other locations along the border. Pakistan says it has also attacked Kandahar and Paktika inside Afghanistan. The declaration on Friday comes hours after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan was carrying out large-scale offensive operations against the Pakistani military along the Durand Line, which separates the two countries. The Taliban said its attack was in response to a separate round of Pakistani air strikes earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Here is how countries and institutions are reacting: Pakistan In addition to blaming the Taliban for terrorism and instability within the country, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says Islamabad made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation stable. It carried out extensive diplomacy. Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God our armed forces are giving a decisive response, he said on X. Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war. Now there will be decisive action. Afghanistan Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai says the country will defend its beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage amid Pakistans attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings those problems it has created itself but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighbourliness, respect, and civilised relations with Afghanistan, he said on X. United Nations UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely monitoring the situation, expressing deep concern over the surge in violence. In a statement delivered by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres urged both nations to adhere strictly to their obligations under international law, with a specific emphasis on international humanitarian law. Guterres underscored the urgent need for both parties to prioritise the protection of civilians as confrontations continue. Iran Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has been involved in intensive talks with the United States to avert conflict engulfing his own nation, has urged the two countries to resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourly principles, as he highlighted the significance of the holy month of Ramadan as a time for self-restraint and Islamic solidarity. Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X early Friday, Araghchi reaffirmed Irans readiness to support the process, stating his country is prepared to provide any necessary assistance to facilitate constructive dialogue, deepen mutual understanding and promote cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad. Russia Russia has urged the warring parties to halt cross-border attacks immediately and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russia has also offered to mediate if both sides agree. India The countrys Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India strongly condemns Pakistans air strikes, noting that they took place during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures, Jaiswal said in a statement on X. Our response to media queries about Pakistans airstrikes on Afghanistan https://t.co/gUXTbNQjVg pic.twitter.com/A6W4wxXBpV Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 22, 2026 India has strengthened ties with the Taliban recently, and Islamabad accuses New Delhi of funding groups in Afghanistan and in Pakistan itself to undermine Pakistans security, which India denies. Turkiye A Turkish diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency that Hakan Fidan, Turkiyes top diplomat, held discussions on the ongoing conflict in separate calls with foreign ministers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Qatari minister of state at the foreign ministry, held a phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar. A statement by the Qatari foreign ministry said that the sides discussed the ways to deescalate tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in a manner that enhances security and stability in the region. China Beijing is deeply concerned over the escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. China has been mediating the conflict through its own channels, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular news conference. China is willing to play a constructive role in cooling the situation, she added. United States Allison Hooker, US under secretary of state for political affairs, said Washington supported Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistans right to defend itself against Taliban attacks, she wrote on X after talks with a Pakistani counterpart. United Kingdom Britains Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper posted on X that, The UK is deeply concerned by the significant escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We urge both sides to take immediate steps toward deescalation, avoid further harm to civilians, and reengage in mediated dialogue. International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the ICRC, called for restraint and de-escalation, saying the upsurge in violence was harming people in a region that had already endured decades of conflict, displacement and loss. Advertisement Advertisement Humanitarian assistance must reach all those affected (and) hospitals must be able to operate and access to essential services must be guaranteed, she said in a statement. These are not privileges, she insisted. They are obligations under international humanitarian law. Gen Li Qiaoming led military drills aimed at honing the invasion of Taiwan - Alexey Ivanov The head of Chinas ground forces has been sacked in a military purge that experts say is beginning to weaken the countrys defence capabilities. Gen Li Qiaoming was responsible for land warfare and had led troops in annual training drills held in a coastal Chinese province that lies across the water from Taiwan. He is one of nine military officials fired in the latest round of a purge that saw the removal of Chinas top general earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement The purges are officially part of an anti-corruption drive but experts speculate they are also part of a power consolidation by Xi Jinping, Chinas president. Experts say the crackdown has removed the militarys most experienced commanders, potentially undermining its ability to go to war including invading Taiwan, an independent and democratic territory that Beijing claims as its own. Xi Jinping, with behind him Zhang Youxia, his highest-ranking general, and party vice-chairman He Weidong, who have also been purged - Xinhua/Li Gang/Alamy The ousting of Gen Li comes as a surprise because he had been steadily rising through the ranks, with two major promotions over the past seven years. China rarely reveals much about its senior military officials, though it appears Gen Li made at least two foreign visits in 2024 to Russia and Pakistan. He was, however, absent from a key military ceremony last December, prompting rumours that he had fallen out of favour with Mr Xi. Such chatter was confirmed in an announcement carried in state media on Thursday as a key political body gathered to finalise details of the countrys annual rubber-stamp parliamentary meetings next week. Advertisement Advertisement No reason was given for why at least nine military officers, including Gen Li, have been pushed out. Others include Shen Jinlong and Qin Shengxiang, top navy commanders, well as the air forces Yu Zhongfu and the rocket forces Yang Guang. Rockets are fired in military drills on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan - Adek Berry/AFP via Getty An additional 10 government officials were dismissed, according to the notice in state media. More than 100 senior military officials are thought to have been ousted since 2022, though such expert estimates are limited by the trickle of information available in the public domain. Chinas political processes are extremely secretive and sit within a black box, making it near-impossible for outsiders to know the exact nature of ongoing political roulette and also whether more people were affected than listed. This comes just weeks after China placed top general Zhang Youxia, the second-highest figure in the armed forces after Mr Xi, under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang had been widely seen as Mr Xis closest military ally. Gaps in Chinas military leadership are likely to present a challenge for Mr Xi to meet ambitious military modernisation goals, as newly promoted officers will lack the necessary experience to undertake major operations and exercises. The purge also may have delayed Chinas ability to execute large-scale drills near Taiwan in 2025, noted CSIS in a report. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, China reacted within a few days to what it considered problematic behaviour from Taiwan. Then, in 2025, it took the Chinese military 19 days to launch a large-scale exercise in April and 12 days in December, according to CSIS research. In the near-term, given the significant vacancies, it would be incredibly difficult for China to launch large military campaigns against Taiwan, wrote Bonny Lin, the director of the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, in a recent report looking at how the purges have affected the military. Even below that threshold, there is evidence that the purges have negatively impacted Chinas exercises around Taiwan in 2025. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. A crew guided a York County barge equipped with a giant sea vacuum across the waters of Wells Harbor last week. One contractor nudged the so-called dredge in a tiny tugboat. Another manned the equipment, which sucked up sand from the seabed. Still more workers maneuvered a more than 2,000-foot tube to Wells Beach. There, the tube deposited great heaps of sand that a crew member in a bulldozer carefully molded with GPS-guided precision, restoring dunes that disastrous winter storms washed out two years ago. The equipment deposited sand right up to the seawalls of some residences. Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 7,600 cubic yards of dredged sand will be deposited in front of a long row of waterfront homes and businesses along Wells Beach altogether, a sight that York County emergency preparedness coordinator Chris McCall once doubted hed ever see. York County purchased the dredge in 2021 with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. After the 2024 storms caused the county roughly $40 million in public damage and wrecked more than 200 homes, county officials began plotting how to use the machine to rebuild dunes from Ogunquit to Old Orchard Beach. The initial plan was to restore the dunes to protect against a 100-year flood, which has a 1 percent chance of occurring any given year. But the Trump administrations cancellation of a popular federal resilience grant last year caused the county to pivot. dredge in the water aerial view of the dredge aerial closeup view of the dredge Instead it created a two-tiered plan: First is this $5.1-million stopgap measure, currently underway, to bolster dunes in Wells, Saco and Old Orchard Beach to protect against a five-year flood. Advertisement Advertisement The work is primarily funded by federal disaster relief money, which covers 75 percent of project costs, while a mix of state and municipal funds from the three towns pays for the rest. Second, the county wants to pursue a broader, $50-million project to restore the dunes to withstand a 100-year flood. pipe in the sand construction equipment on the beach aerial view of construction equipment on the beach A slew of federal permitting delays pushed the first phases start date back from November, and it wasnt until late last year that York County got the green light to begin. York County started by trucking sand onto two stretches of dunes at Old Orchard Beach in January. Then contractors with the Wisconsin-based construction company Michels Corporation began dredging in Wells Harbor a month later. Advertisement Advertisement Next a separate contractor will plant more than 100,000 dune grass seedlings along Wells Beach and deposit 6,200 yards of sand at the Camp Ellis beach in Saco. York County Emergency Management director Art Cleaves and emergency preparedness coordinator Chris McCall look over the reconstructed dune at Wells Beach where current restoration efforts aim to protect against smaller floods. Photo by Matt Billian. McCall watched the dredge in action on a blustery day, Feb. 19, relieved that the work was underway. Finally getting to this point is a big achievement, even though we know it's still the first step of many, McCall said. McCall and county emergency management director Arthur Cleaves have been sounding the alarm about York Countys vulnerability to future storms for two years. Cleaves said the 2024 storms during which Maine recorded its highest water level ever decimated the countys coastal defenses, leaving the landscape and homes exposed to future storms. Advertisement Advertisement Flooding destroyed 28 percent of dunes along four segments of southern Maine coastline, including in Saco and Kennebunkport, according to a study published by University of New England researchers last year in the research journal Geomorphica. Climate change makes powerful storms like those that rocked Maines coast that winter more likely, while rising sea levels put protective sand dunes at greater risk, the authors add. The dunes served their purpose. They were wiped out, Cleaves said last April, referring to the York County coastline. How much damage would have happened had they not been there before the storm? So the vulnerability is there now, and were gambling every day that we don't do something. closeup of a worker operating the dredge vacuuming with the dredge Surging tides have washed away the flagstone patio in front of Camp Ellis resident David Plavins beachfront home a few times since he moved there in 2017. Plavin, who is vice president of environmental nonprofit Save Our Shores Saco Bay, has long awaited restoration work in the dunes beyond his neighborhood's seawall. Advertisement Advertisement Theres optimism and hope that this will make a difference, Plavin said. This beach has lost two to three hundred feet of sand. High tide and a storm will flood the street. Scars from the January 2024 storms still linger in Camp Ellis. Plavin said the beach has receded significantly, and some homes that were breached by high winds or floodwaters are now raised up on stilts. After the dredge finishes in Wells, it will travel up the coast in early March and spread 1,200 cubic yards of sand from the Saco River along Camp Ellis Beach. In addition to this project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Saco is purchasing an additional 6,000 cubic yards of sand to further fortify the beach, according to city officials. homes by the water in cape ellis homes on stilts York County commissioner Justin Chenette said the areas beaches, like those at Camp Ellis, support the backbone of Maines economy, and the success of the dune restoration could be a rallying call for additional state and federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement This is a new venture for the county to really take a leadership role, Chenette said. I think when the project is completed it's going to spur momentum for other communities along the coast. The question remains how York County will scrounge up the additional $50 million needed to restore dunes to 100-year flood protection. Even Cleaves, a former official for FEMA, has had difficulty navigating the new terrain of gutted FEMA grants. The county will likely have to string together a combination of congressional allocations and smaller federal and state grants to cover the cost, but Cleaves said he isnt sure if that will be enough. Months of permitting delays caused York Countys emergency preparedness coordinator, Chris McCall, to doubt whether the restoration project would ever be completed. His boss, emergency management director, Art Cleaves, reassured him that it would. Photo by Matt Billian. Meanwhile, a $75 million state bond measure for coastal resilience projects proposed by state Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, awaits funding from the Maine Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Additional funding will help protect homes, businesses and our vital tourism industry, Bailey said in a statement. If the beaches are engineered to withstand a 100-year flood, theyll be eligible for future FEMA reimbursements after every federal disaster, Cleaves said. Until then, they'll remain relatively exposed, even with the current restoration projects. I worry because protection is not there for all these areas, Cleaves said. What day is the storm coming? State Rep. Scott Conklin will more than likely be unopposed in his primary election bid after his lone Democratic challenger dropped out of the race Thursday morning. Philipsburg resident Zach Womer announced his decision in a Facebook post, writing that hed reconsidered his candidacy in a high-stakes election year. Public service is never about one person. It is about doing the work and building the coalition needed to deliver for working people, Womer wrote. At the end of the day, this moment is bigger than any one of us. And if we stay focused and organized, I truly believe Pennsylvania Democrats can meet it. Advertisement Advertisement The withdrawal comes one day after Conklin secured enough signatures to appear on the ballot. Womer declined to comment beyond his Facebook post. Womers campaign was practically radio silent after he announced it in July. A spoof Womer campaign website that redirected to Conklins own campaign site made minor ripples in Centre Countys political community earlier this month (the site now displays an image of the candidates endorsed by the Centre County Democratic Party, including Conklin). The bid for Pennsylvanias 77th House District was Womers third for public office. He lost in a landslide against U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson in the 2024 election, then briefly ran for Philipsburg mayor. Womer also stood for election to a seat on the Philipsburg borough council last year, losing the tied race in a dice roll to Republican Brett Stewart. Conklin, of Rush Township, is running for his 11th term representing western Centre County in the state house. He also serves as treasurer of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Conklin did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Zachary man is set to serve 180 months in federal prison after being convicted on drug charges. According to the United States Department of Justice, Dewayne Hawkins, 45, was convicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. During the trial, DEA agents intercepted messages on Hawkins phone between June 2017 and August 2017. Agents learned that Hawkins conspired to get kilograms of cocaine and heroin from Houston, TX, and other areas to redistribute in Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement More evidence revealed that agents found four kilograms of cocaine, over 100 grams of heroin, six guns, and over 800 rounds of ammo at Hawkins Ethel, LA home. This investigation was part of a Homeland Security Task Force to eliminate criminal groups and drug and human trafficking operations in the U.S. Hawkins was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after completing his sentence. Latest News 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 Louisiana First News. Contact Alexander Banks by email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654. Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here. Couple asks Washington Department of Licensing for Spanish speaker and gets a recording in a Spanish accent instead Nathan Gonzales is Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor and president. He's also co-host of the Inside Elections Podcast and an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call. SEOUL, Feb 27 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Friday it had approved Google's request to export the country's high-precision map data to overseas servers, a major reversal after two decades of rejection that clears the way for the U.S. tech giant to enter a market dominated by local apps. South Korea is just one of a few countries where Google Maps does not function properly. Seoul had shot down Google's previous bids in 2007 and 2016 on national security grounds, citing risks that detailed map data could expose sensitive military and security facilities in a country that remains technically at war with North Korea. The decision comes amid pressure from the United States on South Korea to address what Washington views as discrimination against U.S. tech companies. (Reporting by Kyu-seok ShimEditing by Ed Davies) Soybeans are trading with Wednesday gains at midday, with meal leading the charge. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is up 6 1/2 cents at $10.81. Soymeal futures are $7.60 to $8.10 in the front months, with. Soy Oil futures down 7 to 12 points. The forecast for Argentina is looking a little drier as they look to finish out their growing season, likely adding to some meal strength at midday. USDAs Export Sales report showing business for the week of February 19 will be out on Thursday, with traders looking for between 0.4 to 1 MMT of soybeans sales. Soybean meal sales are pegged at 250,000 to 500,000 MT, with net reductions of 10,000 to sales of 16,000 MT for soybean oil. More News from Barchart With just 3 days left for price discovery for the spring base price for Crop Insurance, November soybeans have averaged $11.05 this month. That would be up 51 cents from 2025. Mar 26 Soybeans are at $11.46, up 6 1/2 cents, Nearby Cash is at $10.81, up 6 1/2 cents, May 26 Soybeans are at $11.62, up 6 3/4 cents, Jul 26 Soybeans are at $11.74 3/4, up 6 1/2 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 Soybeans were supported by strength in soybean meal on Wednesday, with contracts up 8 to 10 cents. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 10 cents at $10.85 1/2. Soymeal futures are $4.40 to $7.60 in the front months, with. Soy Oil futures up 7 to 23 points in the nearbys. The forecast for Argentina is looking a little drier as they look to finish out their growing season, likely adding to some meal strength at midday. The EPA is expected to send its 2026 biofuel mandates to the White House OMB this week. More News from Barchart With just 2 days left for price discovery for the spring base price for Crop Insurance, November soybeans have averaged $11.07 this month. That would be up 53 cents from 2025. USDAs Export Sales report showing business for the week of February 19 will be out on Thursday, with traders looking for between 0.4 to 1 MMT of soybeans sales. Soybean meal sales are pegged at 250,000 to 500,000 MT, with net reductions of 10,000 to sales of 16,000 MT for soybean oil. Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $11.48 1/4, up 8 3/4 cents, Nearby Cash was $10.85 1/2, up 10 cents, May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.65, up 9 3/4 cents, Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.77 1/2, up 9 1/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 Tim Franta will meet you in the future. The newly minted CEO of the recently public aerospace company Starfighters Space (FJET) scheduled that date when he rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. I did not know that for the bell ringing, you have to give a speech when you walk out, he said during the Feb. 25 edition of TheStreet Pros Stocks & Markets Podcast. So, I had a few minutes to think before I walked out. And I said Starfighters believes that space is the future. And we'll meet you there. Chris Versace, Stocks and Markets podcast host and TheStreet Pro's Portfolio manager, described Starfighters Space as the only commercial company in the world with the ability to fly payloads at sustained Mach 2+, which exceeds twice the speed of sound or roughly 1,534 mph for all you top gunners out there. Starfighters Space recently underwent a major leadership change. The companys founder, Rick Svetkoff, 72, resigned as CEO, president, chairman, and director, while his spouse, Brenda Svetkoff, stepped down as company secretary. Tim Franta, who was named the companys chief executive on Feb. 23, takes over during a dynamic period for the company. Starfighters Spaces capabilities include suborbital and orbital launches of experiments and small payloads. I cannot tell you how exciting this time is, Franta said. I lived on the Space Coast in Florida most of my life, and 14 years ago, we had 12 launches a year. We're going to have over 150 this year. Declaring that we're at a truly different age, Franta, former chief of staff for the Florida Space Authority, compared the industrys rapid expansion to the explosion of the app market in 2007, driven primarily by the first iPhone from Apple (AAPL). Getty Images Getty Images Starfighters Space CEO Tim Franta rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange. The space industry is 'taking off' Before 2007, apps did not exist, he said. No one knew what was going to happen with apps. They thought they knew. And some of them were 100% correct. But there were so many organic things that happened with apps and market-driven things for apps. The same thing is happening with space. Among those space-related events are NASAs upcoming Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip to fly around the Moon, and the anticipated initial public offering of SpaceX following its merger with Elon Musks xAI. More economic analysis: Home insurance rates may be going through the roof, but State Farm has some good news for its auto insurance customers. State Farm will issue $5 billion in auto insurance dividends to its customers this summer, with a one-time payment of about $100 per vehicle, the Bloomington-based insurance giant announced Thursday. The largest dividend in State Farms 103-year history was driven primarily by lower collision repair costs in 2025, the company said. The distributions cover more than 49 million vehicles insured by State Farm across the country, with the actual amount varying by state and premiums paid. State Farm did not project the average size of the checks Illinois customers can expect, but a spokesperson said there will be more information as the payout date gets closer. As a mutual company with a customer-first focus, State Farm Mutual is able to provide value directly to our customers while maintaining financial strength to keep our promises in the future, Jon Farney, State Farm Mutual President and CEO, said in a news release. That translated this year to lower auto rates and cash back in the form of a $5 billion policyholder dividend. State Farm said the dividend was enabled by a stronger than expected underwriting performance last year, according to the news release. The company also touted lowering auto insurance rates in 40 states in recent months by an average of 10%, amounting to a premium savings of $4.6 billion. Lower premiums were made possible by decreasing repair costs and fewer collisions in 2025, the company said. In Illinois, State Farms auto insurance rates decreased by 15% last year, a company spokesperson told the Tribune. But keeping the lid on home insurance rates continues to be a nationwide challenge for State Farm, the company said. As good as the story is on auto insurance, the story on homeowners insurance is a little bit different, Chris Schell, State Farms Chief Operating Officer, said during a media briefing. The combined dynamics of increasing frequency and severity of storms, particularly severe convective storms, has pushed the rising cost to repair and rebuild and the cost of reinsurance up significantly, and so weve had to react to that. Last year, State Farm paid $15 billion in claims to customers who suffered catastrophic losses, including about $5 billion to homeowners impacted by the devastating Southern California wildfires in January 2025, Schell said. By the time rebuilding is complete, State Farm expects the total will reach $7 billion across 13,000 claims. Illinois was not immune to weather-driven homeowners insurance issues. Stellantis is exploring an expansion of its joint venture with Zhejiang Leapmotor Technologies to deploy the Chinese partners electric-vehicle (EV) technology across several of its European mass-market brands. Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that the carmaker is considering expanding the scope of its alliance with Leapmotor to gain access to the companys battery and EV powertrain systems for brands including Fiat, Opel, and Peugeot. Stellantis already distributes Leapmotor vehicles such as the C10 SUV in Europe via its dealer network. The report said the talks remain preliminary, and any deal would need to address data-protection concerns tied to Chinese technology. It would also have to comply with US rules banning the import or sale of connected vehicles linked to China or Russia starting in 2027. The partners are targeting an agreement within the year, the report added. The potential move comes as Stellantis seeks to lower EV development costs and contend with Chinese competitors such as BYD and MG in Europe, as well as regional rivals Volkswagen and Renault. Net losses at the Jeep and Peugeot parent reached 22.33bn ($26.37bn), driven by 25.4bn in charges tied to what it described as a strategic reset. The company acquired a 20% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6bn in 2023, later reduced to 15%, and formed the Leapmotor International joint venture to sell the Chinese brands vehicles outside China. Leapmotor has since launched three models through Stellantis European distribution network and plans to start production at the groups Zaragoza plant in Spain this year. Just Auto has reached out to Stellantis for comment on the matter. "Stellantis weighs broader Leapmotor EV tech tie-up for Europe" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Performance in Q4 was driven by a recovery in the core Steve Madden footwear business and a strong contribution from the newly acquired Kurt Geiger brand. Management attributes the 2025 challenges primarily to disruption and negative impacts from new U.S. tariffs, which particularly affected price-sensitive segments. The Steve Madden brand returned to growth in Q4 following two quarters of decline, supported by a 10% year-over-year increase in online searches and robust demand across multiple silhouettes. Strategic elevation of quality and materials enabled higher average unit retails (AUR) while maintaining a competitive price-value proposition. The Kurt Geiger acquisition is meeting strategic goals of expanding international presence, accessories categories, and direct-to-consumer channels. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - AT&T has agreed to settle a lawsuit by four New York City public pension funds by letting shareholders vote on whether it should disclose the breakdown of its 133,000-person workforce by race, ethnicity and gender. New York City Comptroller Mark Levine announced the settlement on Wednesday, eight days after the funds sued to block AT&T from soliciting shareholder proxies that would have excluded their diversity proposal from consideration at its 2026 annual meeting. AT&T, based in Dallas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment after market hours. Hundreds of companies ask the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission each year for permission to leave shareholder proposals off ballots without fear of enforcement action, and have historically received permission about half the time. The New York City Employees' Retirement System, and funds representing police, teachers and other educational employees, said AT&T's prior opposition to their proposal followed a November policy change by the SEC letting companies claim a "reasonable basis" to exclude shareholder proposals. Todays settlement is a major win for investors amid ongoing attempts to undermine transparency and accountability," Levine said in a statement. "AT&T shareholders will now have the responsibility to vote on our proposal that requests disclosure of clear and detailed data to help investors better assess its efforts to advance equal opportunity. Many companies have deemphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a crackdown on such efforts one day after beginning his second White House term. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio) The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) is included among the 13 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks to Invest in Right Now. Telsey Advisory Raises TJX Outlook on Strength despite Ongoing Macro Pressures On February 26, Telsey Advisory raised its price target on The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) to $175 from $170. The firm kept an Outperform rating on the shares. The analyst said the company delivered another strong quarter and continues to perform well, even with ongoing macro uncertainty. TJX has managed to stay steady while many retailers are still facing uneven demand. During the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Ernie Herrman said the company closed the year on a high note. Sales, profitability, and earnings per share all came in ahead of expectations. Comparable sales increased 5% in the quarter, with solid performance across every division. This showed that demand remained broad-based and consistent. Herrman also noted that the company crossed an important threshold. TJX exceeded $60 billion in net sales for the full year for the first time. He described this as a major achievement. Full-year comparable sales rose 5%, profitability improved meaningfully, and earnings per share grew at a double-digit rate. All of this came in above the companys original expectations. He also spoke about the companys continued focus on growth. TJX invested in marketing, introduced new store formats, and continued remodeling stores to improve the shopping environment. These efforts are designed to keep stores fresh and maintain customer interest over time. Herrman said the company remains confident in the long-term strength of physical retail. He emphasized that in-store shopping continues to matter. TJXs treasure-hunt-style experience, where customers regularly find new and changing merchandise, remains central to its strategy and continues to draw shoppers. The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and international markets. Its business includes Marmaxx and HomeGoods in the U.S., along with TJX Canada and TJX International, which covers Europe and Australia. While we acknowledge the potential of TJX 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: 14 Best GARP Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 14 Best Affordable Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. . Japans Toyota Motor Corporation has reported a 4.8% year-on-year increase in global sales to 887,266 vehicles in January 2026, including its Daihatsu and Hino subsidiaries, with sales in Japan just slightly higher at 170,823 units while overseas sales increased by 5.9% to 716,443 units. Sales of Toyota- and Lexus-branded vehicles combined increased by 4.7% to a record 822,577 units for the month, with a 2.7% decline in Japan to 123,065 units more than offset by a 6.1% increase in overseas sales to 699,512 units. Sales in North America rose by 7.5% to 205,582 units, driven by an 8.1% rise in the US to 176,853 units, while deliveries in Latin America (excluding Mexico) fell by 7.2% to 33,511 units. In Asia, excluding Japan, sales rose by 8.3% to 268,164 units, driven by strong growth in India, Thailand and Vietnam, while in Europe volumes increased by over 11% to 104,727 units. Toyota and Lexus reported an 8.3% rise in global sales of electrified vehicles to 414,386 units in January, accounting for over 50% of total sales. Global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose by 87% to 22,306 units, almost all of which were sold overseas, while sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) rose by 6% to 365,499 units. Daihatsus global sales increased by 8.1% to 56,588 units in January, with sales in Japan growing by over 10% to 45,315 units, while overseas sales declined slightly to 11,273 units. The groups commercial vehicle unit, Hino Motors, reported a 7.6% decline in global sales to 8,101 units, with sales in Japan plunging by almost 16% to 2,443 units, while overseas sales declined by almost 3.6% to 5,658 units. "Toyotas global sales rise 5% in January" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Employees who dont get a 401(k) from their workplace may have a new retirement savings option in the future. The federal government may start offering 401(k)s to workers who dont have access to one through their employer, President Donald Trump said during his State of the Union speech Tuesday. Im announcing that next year my administration will give these oft-forgotten American workers, great people, the people that built our country, access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker, Trump said. We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year. But details about the plan are sparse. A Trump administration spokesperson later told CNN the plans would be universal and portable (meaning it goes from job to job with you, without requiring a rollover), which traditional 401(k)s dont offer. During his State of the Union speech Tuesday, President Donald Trump hinted that the federal government may offer 401(k)s to those who arent eligible for one through their employer (Getty Images) IRAs are a popular alternative for workers who arent eligible for a 401(k) through their employer, regardless of Trump launching his retirement plan program or not, said Chris Carosa, an investment expert with 20 years of experience in the financial industry. Workers have always had the option to place their retirement savings into their personal IRAs, Carosa told The Independent in an email. Relatively recent IRS restrictions have made it difficult to qualify to do this if you already have a 401(k) plan, but those without 401(k) plans have had no restrictions. Some 12 states have launched state-sponsored IRAs in some form, through which individuals can save up for retirement, according to payment processor Paychex: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. But, unlike 401(k)s, the state or employer doesnt match funds the employee puts into a state- or non-state-sponsored IRA account, in most cases. However, one advantage of an IRA is that its typically opened in the individuals name, giving them the freedom to keep it no matter how many times they switch jobs. In contrast, a 401(k) is typically run by the employer and requires paperwork and administration to move funds from one account to another if an employee changes companies. Portability - keeping a retirement plan no matter who you work for - is an alleged feature of the Trump retirement plans that Carosa appreciates, he said. A federally-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan could be available to part-time workers that dont have access to a 401(k) through their employer (Getty Images) This could be structured so that it is no different than current state-sponsored IRAs, he said. By making the [account] in the employee's name rather than the company's name, it wouldn't matter who the employee works for. Think of it as 'auto-portability.' On Feb. 23, Uber announced yet another acquisition, one that's set to ensure users keep coming to the app, even when they dont need a ride or food delivery. The latest in the series of partnership and expansion announcements keeping Uber busy is its acquisition of SpotHero, a leading North American parking reservation platform. The deal is monumental and underscores Ubers push to become an all-in-one transportation app. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition, once formalized, will give Uber users access to SpotHeros extensive parking network, which has expanded since its 2011 inception to include more than 13,000 garages, parking lots, and valets across 400 cities in the U.S. and Canada. The in-app reservation will be integrated into the Uber app; moreover, Uber One members will receive parking-related benefits as part of their membership. For Uber, this appears to be a natural progression, a move to fill the gap in areas where users choose to drive their own cars. Uber's stock is down 13% this quarter.Shutterstock Shutterstock Ubers expansion strategy Over the past year, Uber has accelerated deals to broaden its footprint across transportation and logistics, while exploring its more recent step into autonomous vehicles. In 2025, the ride-hailing company acquired Denmarks largest taxi operator, DanTaxi, and strengthened its European presence. More Travel: To expand its food and delivery reach in Turkey, it took a controlling stake in Trendyol Go in 2025 and then acquiredGetirs delivery portfolio earlier this month, bringing the two most commonly used delivery apps together. And let's not forget its intention to position itself well for a future in which autonomous vehicles become an integral part of the ride-hailing industry. Uber and SpotHero come together SpotHero, founded in 2011, has built an impressive presence, selling more than $2 billion in parking reservations. The core of its business model is locating parking spaces in crowded places, and today it assists millions of drivers, especially in congested new cities. Under Uber, the company stands to gain access to a global user base (according to its most recent filing, Uber has over 200 million monthly active users), and parking operators on SpotHero will benefit from increased visibility and demand. In its Q4 and full year 2025 earnings report, Khosrowshahi noted that the rideshare company is entering 2026 with a rapidly growing topline and significant cash flow. Uber's CFO seconded the sentiment. Uber has entered a partnership with Irish drone operator Manna to introduce airborne food deliveries in Europe, according to a report on The Irish Times. The agreement will mark Ubers first deployment of drone delivery services in the European market. As agreed, the service will be introduced to Uber Eats customers in Ireland before expanding to other European cities. Under the deal, Mannas autonomous drone systems will be integrated with Ubers international delivery platform and logistics operations. Manna chief executive Bobby Healy was quoted by The Irish Times as saying: Our focus has always been on building a delivery system that can scale sustainably across markets. Partnering with Uber allows us to integrate our technology into a global platform and expand into additional cities in a structured, responsible way over time. The collaboration will build on Mannas existing activities in Ireland, where its drones already serve certain neighbourhoods. It has already completed more than 250,000 drone deliveries across Europe. Ubers autonomous mobility and delivery president Sarfraz Maredia said: Autonomous technology is shaping the future of delivery, whether its on the streets or in the skies. Were proud to launch in Europe and excited to introduce this technology to more Uber Eats customers over time. The deal comes after Uber partnered with Flytrex in September 2025 to launch a drone delivery service in the US, its first investment in the sector. The move aimed to reduce delivery times and costs while cutting emissions compared with traditional delivery methods. "Uber partners with Manna to roll out drone deliveries in Europe" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. In its 2026 retirement survey, Clever found that 64% of retirees believe the U.S. is in a retirement crisis. The average retiree has $288,700 saved but claims you need $823,800 to retire comfortably. Why do so many see a retirement crisis? Also see five retirement shifts coming in 2026. Looming Social Security Insolvency The Social Security Administration currently forecasts insolvency by 2032. If that happens, retirees could face a 24% benefit cut across the board, as detailed by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. That fast-approaching deadline doesnt exactly reassure the average retiree. Check Out: Elon Musk Says You Dont Need To Worry About Saving for Retirement Explore More: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K per Month From Home High Housing Costs Since the start of 2020, the average home price has shot up over 46%, according to Zillow. Meanwhile, mortgage rates rose from under 3% to around 6% to 7% over the last few years. That has locked many retirees into homes that no longer fit their needs. Housing costs only get worse from there, according to financial strategist Shavon Roman of Heal Plan Invest. Even homeowners who own their homes free and clear often see their property taxes and insurance premiums jump 30-60% in a single year, Roman said. Healthcare Costs Medicare doesnt cover every medical cost, as too many retirees discover the hard way. From doctor visit copays to prescription drugs, Medicare supplemental insurance to dental and vision costs, healthcare costs add up quickly in retirement, Roman said. Long-Term Care Even one or two years in a nursing home or assisted living facility can drain your entire nest egg. The American Council on Aging reported the average shared room costs $119,340 a year, and private rooms average $136,948. With men spending 2.2 years in care and women averaging 3.7, we tell all of our clients that they are not ready for retirement until they have a plan for long-term care, said financial planner Jay Zigmont of Childfree Trust. Retirement Responsibility Shift Two generations ago, retirees largely relied on pensions and Social Security to fund their retirement. They didnt need to know much about asset allocations or safe withdrawal rates to retire comfortably. Today, workers shoulder the responsibility for planning and funding their own retirement through investments. The Federal Reserve graphed this shift over time, noting that only around 20% of workers now have access to a pension. The problem? Too many workers and retirees dont know the first thing about retirement planning. Americans must now navigate increasingly complex financial waters if they want a comfortable retirement, said Robert Johnson, finance professor at Creighton University. Whatever NIRS may say, retirement savings have never been higher, Biggs said in an email to Marketwatch (2). And since we indisputably dont have a retirement crisis today, theres very little reason to think well have one in the future. Others save through businesses or real estate investments, and not formal accounts While the data can seem alarming, some economists suggest the $955 headline number is misleading. Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that not all Americans need to be saving for retirement. Theres another challenge with Social Security being under strain. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund is projected to run short of funds by 2032, at which point benefits could be cut by about 20% unless Congress changes course. At the same time, workers are being squeezed by financial pressures, including housing costs, child care expenses, student loan debt, supporting aging parents and trying to save for retirement. People are being asked to save more, earlier, while paying more for everything else. Decades ago, many workers had guaranteed pensions. Today, most are on their own with 401(k)s, IRAs or nothing at all. Doonan pointed to a major shift in how Americans prepare for retirement. But there is still hope. Heres what Americans can do to play catch-up. Today, too many households are forced to choose between paying their bills and saving for tomorrow, Dan Doonan, executive director of NIRS, said in a statement (1). No matter which number you use, experts say its not nearly enough to support a retirement that could last 20 to 30 years, especially with rising health care and long-term care costs. When you look at workers with savings only, the median balance rises to $40,000. Breaking it down further, for those nearing retirement (ages 55 to 64), the median is about $30,000. Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people dont realize theyre actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast 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 Its the median amount workers have saved for retirement those with no savings included and it comes directly from a new report by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS). Theres a new number causing waves for Americans thinking about their financial future: $955 Story Continues Part of the confusion comes from the different data sources. Research from the Transamerica Institute shows that households earning under $50,000 have a median savings of $2,000, those with $50,000 to $99,000 have $33,000, those with $100,000 to $199,000 have $147,000, and those with $200,000 and above have $565,000. Meanwhile, Fidelity Investments reported the average 401(k) balance is $144,400 (4). In that case, the numbers only reflect people who have 401(k)s. What you can do to save more Regardless, many Americans need to save more earlier. Here are some more practical strategies to boost your retirement outlook in 2026: Max out your employer match If your job offers a 401(k) match, contribute the full amount. Otherwise, youre leaving free money on the table. Its a return on your money thats better than anything youll get in the stock market. According to Fidelity, workers who consistently match their companys cap can end up with tens of thousands more in retirement savings (5). 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) Know the 2026 contribution limits For 2026, the 401(k) contribution limit is $24,500, with an additional $8,000 catch-up allowed for workers aged 50 and over, bringing the total annual contribution to $32,500. And for IRAs, the annual contribution limit is $7,500, with a $1,100 catch-up contribution for those aged 50 and over (6). Open an IRA If your employer doesnt offer a retirement plan or if you want to save more on top of it, opening a traditional or Roth IRA is a good start. Brokerages allow you to open an IRA online, often with no minimums. The differences in IRAs: Traditional IRA: Contributions may be tax-deductible now; you pay taxes in retirement. Roth IRA: Contributions are after-tax; withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Roths can be effective for younger workers and those expecting to be in a higher tax bracket later on (7). Use an HSA as a retirement account If you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), a Health Savings Account (HSA) can function as a stealthy retirement strategy. HSAs offer a triple tax advantage: contributions are pre-tax, investments grow tax-free and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free (7). After age 65, you can also withdraw HSA funds for non-medical expenses; just keep in mind youll pay regular income tax, similar to a traditional IRA. Aim to replace 70%90% of income Trying to figure out how much youll need? A common rule of thumb is that between Social Security and savings, you should aim to replace 70% to 90% of your pre-retirement income. That advice comes from the Department of Labor, which assumes youll no longer be saving for retirement, have lower work-related costs and have no housing payments (8). It also doesnt factor in health care, long-term care and inflation. Review your budget You may not have to overhaul your lifestyle, but even the smallest tweaks can make a difference, including canceling any unused subscriptions, renegotiating your phone, insurance, and internet bills, investing raises, or bonuses directly into retirement and setting up automatic contribution increases each year (9). Check your investments If retirement is decades away, being too risk-averse could cost you. Younger investors typically benefit from heavier exposure to stocks. But those nearing retirement may want to shift toward stability. At the end of the day, $955 might be an arbitrary number, but it does raise the alarm that Americans are struggling to balance todays bills with tomorrows needs. While the exact number may be debatable, Doonan pointed to realism in his final comment, I dont think theres a disagreement about which way the wind is blowing just saying a numbers not perfect, so we just ignore it, doesnt make sense. Wherever you fall on the retirement savings spectrum, it's never too late to make choices today that can improve your retirement tomorrow. 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. National Institute on Retirement Security (1); Marketwatch (2, 3); Fidelity (4, 5, 7); IRS (6); Department of Labor (8); Consumer Finance (9). This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. As recently as last year, Maserati operated relatively independently, with its own public relations, financing, and corporate leadership - some of its products used shared Stellantis engineering, but the company structure was pretty siloed. Now, Stellantis is incorporating Masi into its own operations, which would be an odd (and expensive) tactic if the end goal was to unload the luxury brand to another party. Regardless, we have just under three months before we learn more about Maserati's future, and we'll be waiting to find out its fate with bated breath. That doesn't entirely jibe with our experience during the earnings call - Filosa could have easily squashed all rumors relating to Maserati sales. Nevertheless, the decision to rationalize the Maserati financials under a regional office indeed lines up with Stellantis strategy for its other brands. In that sense, it seems reasonable to guess that the Dutch-French-Italian-American conglomerate is actually drawing its luxury marque even closer to home. "Our Group CEO did not avoid the topic," stated the spokesperson. "He simply reiterated that the full narrative for all Stellantis brands - including Maserati - will be shared on May 21 during the Stellantis Investor Day. Maserati is not for sale and remains the only luxury brand within the Stellantis portfolio. Further details will be presented on May 21." However, CarBuzz reported that Maserati has subsequently stated that it will remain a part of Stellantis for the foreseeable future and rebuffed speculation from the outlet that Filosa had avoided answering the question of its sale. "The overall organizational strategy for Stellantis, starting from H2 of 2025, has been to increase the level of regionalization, since we strongly believe we are a strong global company with even stronger regional roots," Filosa explained during the earnings call. Officially, we know that Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa announced this week that the Italian carmaker would begin reporting its financials to regional offices. This has furthered speculation that Maserati is being positioned for sale or would perhaps be prepped for downsizing. Stellantis has confirmed that it will have news about the fate of Maserati during an investor call scheduled for May 21st. Despite being the automaker's flagship luxury marquee, Maserati has endured several years of profitability issues. While this has led many to assume that Stellantis would simply sell the brand, leadership has suggested that won't be the case. Story Continues what s going to happen with maserati These are tough times for a lot of luxury brands, especially those not at the tippy-top of the market. Many households can no longer afford basic transportation, let alone premium automobiles. But we've likewise heard claims that even quadrants of the ultra-wealthy are intentionally avoiding conspicuous vehicle purchases because they're concerned about "showing off" in a bad economy. From a strictly financial perspective, Maserati doesn't appear to be doing Stellantis any favors. The company is losing an estimated $25,000 per vehicle and has been experiencing declining global sales. While premium brands can often get away with low volumes, Maserati is clearly on a bad trajectory. The company doesn't even expect to crest 8,000 global deliveries for 2025 and noted a 48-percent drop in sales through the first three months of last year. But 2024 likewise saw sales slipping by 57 percent against 2023. what s going to happen with maserati The blame for this often goes to lackluster reliability. While Italian brands are rarely praised for peak dependability, Maserati is often ranked near the bottom in reliability studies. But there is also a sense that its products are similarly less refined, often trailing rivals in terms of technology features. Reviews of older models often noticed that some of the switchgear could be found on mainstream vehicles, resulting in accusations of the cars being the premium equivalent of a "parts-bin special." This is one reason we see Maserati vehicles deprecating more quickly than models from rival automakers. Ironically, attempting to address this seems to have worked counter to Stellantis' interests. Maserati seems to have pivoted to touch controls right at the moment when everyone decided they were chintzy and unintuitive. Some now mourn the loss of the comparatively straightforward and user-friendly interiors of older luxury models. what s going to happen with maserati Electrification efforts haven't gone over well either. The company's "Folgore" EVs are seeing some of the largest dealer discounts imaginable in a bid to attract customers. But the cars never really made much sense for the brand. For example, the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is an immensely fast and supremely attractive luxury grand tourer offering about 240 miles between charges. While the battery recharge times were also impressively quick, they required locating an accommodating fast charger. Meanwhile, achieving anything near its maximum (albeit still modest) range under spirited driving was totally impossible - undermining the entire point of owning a powerful grand tourer. what s going to happen with maserati Not only did customers lose the sumptuous exhaust soundtrack Maserati vehicles are known for, they were also forced to sacrifice the road-trip potential of what was being marketed as a GT model. Who could have possibly thought that was a good idea when the whole premise of grand tourers is to create an automobile that's great to drive at high speeds over long distances? The reality of the situation may simply be that the brand hasn't been issued the attention it deserves. Marketing for Maserati borders on nonexistent and new products haven't been getting the kind of support necessary to stay competitive. Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares was pretty clear about the former being a problem, despite the company having a rich automotive history to draw from. what s going to happen with maserati After all, Maserati has been around for over a century and has managed to produce some truly magnificent vehicles within that timeframe. Granted, we can probably gloss over certain eras - with the latter half of the 1980s being particularly bleak. But no company has a totally flawless record, especially those catering to a niche corner of the luxury market. Maserati seems to be suffering from the same issues as Chrysler. Nobody at the parent company seems to know what to do with either nameplate and hasn't yet decided to give them the kind of attention that could yield the kind of product or marketing offensive that turns things around. Both were likewise previously framed as would-be pioneers of electrification, only to see the relevant plans walked back several years later. what s going to happen with maserati What they need is a new identity or the restoration of their past personas. With Maserati EVs clearly not selling, the brand could market itself as a traditional, serious brand that's focused on customization - basically becoming the Italian Bentley with a stronger focus on performance and panache (which is a French word that really feels like it should be Italian). We've even seen the company leaning further in that direction after sales began to sour. Upholstery, paint, wheel and material options have gotten truly interesting, even if they come at a premium. But this doesn't necessarily have to be a core component of Maserati's official recipe. what s going to happen with maserati Frankly, any effort to solidify the brand's identity that coincides with a sound marketing push would be welcome. We just hope Stellantis steers clear of the same bold-but-empty advertising used by Jaguar as the business effectively suspended operations. Sadly, the brunt of the industry presently seems wholly fixated on finances and is incredibly risk averse. Electrification, despite being heavily subsidized, hasn't paid off for automakers and creeping regulations have resulted in staggering development costs. This has further encouraged just about everyone to take what's presumed to be the safest approach possible in terms of product design. But some of these brands absolutely need to take a few risks in order to rationalize their continued existence. Here's hoping that Stellantis confirms it's actually willing to roll the dice on Maserati on May 21st. what s going to happen with maserati [Images: Stellantis] Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter. As corporate America and Europe drag workers back to five days in the office and squeeze for ever more efficiency, Japan is quietly paying thousands of older employees to show up, sit down, and do almost nothing at all. Meet the madogiwazoku cohortolder, underperforming, or redundant employees who are assigned desks near the window with little to no work to do. These window workers are mostly Gen X and boomer men in their late fifties and sixties, who were hired on the promise of lifetime employment shushin koyo and a senioritybased pay system. Instead of leading teams or closing deals, they spend their days answering the occasional email, shuffling a few documents, and sorting paperworkkept on comfortable salaries but carefully steered away from any real responsibility. And while the phenomenon isnt anything new, its gaining interest online. As Western CEOs double down on productivity, five-day in-office mandates, and AI headcount cuts, more and more young people are looking to Japan for a calm alternativeeven vacationing there for a taste of a slower, more intentional way of life that feels worlds away from the corporate grind. Moved instead of sacked: Japans seniors are still clocking in long after retirement [While]Trump says, Youre fired, in Japan we dont say, Youre fired, a 74-year-old Japanese influencer who goes by @papafromjapan explained on TikTok. If someone is not doing a good job, we put him near the window, let them do paperwork. Those people we call madogiwazoku. A key distinction, he suggests, is that these workers arent office troublemakerstheyre often loyal, nonconfrontational workers whove simply been overtaken by changing technology or strategy. Rather than push them out, employers quietly move them aside. Theyre not aggressive people, so we just let them work, and they dont complain, and theyre happy with it, and they work for the company for a long time. Protecting older workers from redundancyeven when their roles shrinkhas had a measurable ripple effect on whos still turning up to work in Japan. The country now has one of the highest rates of senior employment in the developed world, with more than a quarter of people ages 65 and over still working in 2022, compared with less than one in five in the U.S., and barely one in 10 in the U.K. Surveys show roughly 80% of Japanese workers want to continue working after retirement, with around 70% preferring to stay with their current employer rather than start over somewhere new. To make that possible, the government pushed through a revised Law Concerning Stabilization of Employment of Older Persons and a raft of subsidies that nudge companies to secure employment opportunities for workers until the age of 70. The World Economic Forum noted that already some companies are introducing systems that allow employees to extend their retirement age, enabling them to work longer without sacrificing benefits. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) is among the best stocks in each sector in 2026. On February 9, Matt Larew, an analyst at William Blair, reiterated a Buy rating on Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO). Blair is among the 90% of analysts bullish on the stock, with the remaining 10% neutral. The 1-year median price target of $670 translates to an upside potential of 29.73%. On January 30, Stifel maintained its Buy rating and $700 price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO). This reaffirmation was attributed to the companys solid performance at the end of the past year. According to the firm, the company is one of the few companies in the healthcare sector that hadnt disclosed results in advance before delivering a solid beat for the last quarter. Why Analysts Are Closely Watching Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) Perhaps even more noteworthy is Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO)s exposure to the biopharma segment, which the firm believes could accelerate growth into the mid-single digits range. The segment accounts for nearly 60% of the giants revenues. Stifel is positive about the companys potential for high-single-digit EPS growth, with further upside expected from the Clario acquisition, once it completes. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) is a Massachusetts-based provider of a range of solutions, including life sciences, analytical instruments, and specialty diagnostics. Incorporated in 1956, the company offers its products and services through third-party distributors, electronic commerce, and a direct sales force. While we acknowledge the potential of TMO 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: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Software stocks like Salesforce have been hard hit. Deep value investor Lee Roach says he's looking at the sector for the first time in years. - Getty Images AI disruption fears have cooled some for now, but whether stocks can keep a grip on that calm lies heavily at the feet of Nvidia earnings later. It needs to dazzle, or at least not disappoint. Beaten-down software stocks are drawing the attention of one deep value investor, Lee Roach, who in our call of the day says there is much the market is not understanding here. Most Read from MarketWatch Roach writes The Value Road newsletter on Substack, and his typical hunting ground is for microcap stocks and companies that have emerged from bankruptcy. If it was cheap, unloved, and had a balance sheet I could get my arms around, I was interested, he writes in a Tuesday post. While software stocks were never his focus, due to absurd multiples and paying up to 60 times revenue for businesses that hadnt worked out how to make a profit, theyve now got his attention. The S&P 500 Software Index XX:SP500.451030 is down 22% so far this year, with big names like Salesforce CRM off 30%. - Roach acknowledges the markets caution, given large language models are now threatening to do what has been the bread and butter of those companies. But he says the selloff has compressed multiples at a pace rarely seen outside of the 2008 crisis. I have been doing this long enough to recognize the smell of maximum fear. It smells a lot like this, says Roach. To be sure, the competitive value of these stocks, or their moats, has been degraded and in some cases largely wiped away by AI, he says. But here is the critical distinction that the market is failing to make: a narrower moat does not mean zero terminal value, he says. He points to a string of industries and companies that went into structural decline, but still offered a long and profitable history. Investors who bought tobacco companies in the early 2000s still made massive returns for the next two decades. Print directories, legacy media and some traditional retail are other examples he cites. The pattern repeats itself over and over again in market history: when the market prices a business for death, and that business instead manages a slow decline, the returns can be remarkable, he says. Using price-to-free cash flow as a guide, Roach explains that a company trading at two or three times free cash flow and declining 5% a year has some ways to go before it hits zero. Heres one way to look at it. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF IGV has declined 21% over 52 weeks, but its free cash flow per share actually rose 11% last year, according to FactSet data. For generations, sticking with one employer was considered the safe bet: a steady climb, predictable raises and a retirement waiting at the end. But for one communications professional, that script didnt play out. After seven years of loyalty, Andie Mercer says she walked away with debt, no 401(k) and hard lessons about how todays workplace really works. Must Read I used to believe success was about checking all the right boxes: degree, promotion, title, loyalty, Mercer wrote in an essay for Business Insider (1). Now, I see it differently. Her story is a reminder that career stability isnt guaranteed and that even people who believe theyve done everything right can still find themselves financially exposed. She thought she did everything right In her essay for Business Insider, Mercer said she began her career at a boutique PR and communications firm in New Mexico, working her way up from intern to vice president while earning an MBA along the way. She believed loyalty and hard work would translate into long-term security for herself and her family. Instead, when she left in 2023, she says she discovered her retirement savings were effectively nonexistent. Mercer said she had enrolled in the companys 401(k) early on, contributing 3% to capture the employer match. But when she reviewed her accounts years later, she found the balance was still zero. The account existed, but no contributions had ever been deposited. She contacted the plan administrator but never got a clear explanation. At the same time, she was carrying about $12,000 in MBA-related debt and struggling to find stable work. A noncompete agreement she signed early in her career restricted her from working in her field within her state for two years, forcing her to rely on contract gigs and side work, including food delivery driving, while continuing her job search. Looking back, she believed she had followed the traditional playbook stay loyal, work hard, invest in education only to find that those choices didnt guarantee financial security. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is pause, ask questions and advocate for your future self, even when it feels uncomfortable, Mercer wrote. Investors have piled into growth stocks, particularly those involved in artificial intelligence (AI), over the past three years, and that's driven the S&P 500 higher -- in fact, the index increased 78% over that time period. These days, investors are still excited about AI, but they've hesitated, on occasion, to leap into these players. Why? AI stocks -- and the stock market as a whole -- have become expensive. And investors worry that any hiccup in the AI story could spark a sell-off. In fact, in recent weeks, we've seen this happen. Concerns about potential AI spending or even AI's impact on other industries have pushed certain stocks lower. This may be a temporary situation, as earnings reports from the world's biggest AI players, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Micro Devices, show that AI demand is going strong. 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 Still, if you're worried about a decline in stocks now or at some point down the road, there's a way to add safety and possibly million-dollar potential to your portfolio. This magnificent index fund could turn $300 per month into $1 million... Image source: Getty Images. What is ETF investing? I'm talking about the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500. Before finding out more about this fund, let's take a quick look at ETF investing. ETFs allow you to bet on a particular index or investment theme -- such as biotech or financial stocks -- and gain exposure to many top players with just one purchase. Buying or selling ETFs is easy, as they trade daily on the market just like stocks. So it's simple to incorporate them into your investing routine. The one thing that sets ETFs apart from stocks, though, is that they come with fees -- expressed as an expense ratio. You'll want to pick up ETFs with an expense ratio of less than 1% to maximize your potential for gains over the long run. Now, let's consider the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. You might wonder how this asset could help you -- after all, if the major index falls, so will this instrument that tracks it. That's true. But here's the important point: Over time, the S&P 500 has delivered an average annual return of 10%, meaning that if you invest in the index consistently year after year, you're likely to gain. Meanwhile, when you buy on the dip, you'll get in on this ETF at reasonable or even bargain levels. BEIJING, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaomi said on Friday that it will set up a committee of advisers to assess the safety of its cars, as it moves to combat rising criticism over a recent spate of accidents. The company also plans to hold regular meetings with car owners, media and experts to hear their suggestions regarding the safety of its vehicles, with the first session set for the first half of this year, Hou Jinglei, head of Xiaomi's EV safety department, said during a livestream at the company's EV factory in Beijing. The EV maker has a safety team of more than 3,500 people, including an internal investigation centre to review accidents. In a fatal crash in October involving a Xiaomi SU7 sedan, the car's doors became inoperable due to a power outage after a collision with another vehicle and the driver was burned to death, Chinese media Caixin reported this week, citing a forensic report. Chinese news provider Yicai, which also reported the forensic findings, ran a commentary on Friday urging Xiaomi to recall all first-generation SU7s to "completely eliminate door handle hazards." Xiaomi did not respond to a request for comment on the reports. An earlier crash involving an SU7 travelling in driving assistance mode and in which three people were killed remains under investigation. Official accounts of the two accidents have yet to be released. Xiaomi issued a software update for more than 115,000 SU7s over assisted driving issues in September. The company has discontinued production of the first-generation SU7 and is set to launch in April an upgraded version of its best-selling sedan with a backup power supply for the doors. Deliveries of the SU7, a rival to Tesla's Model 3, had exceeded 381,000 vehicles as of February. Widely reported accidents have led to tighter regulations on marketing and safety standards for assisted driving. Regulators have also decided to phase out hidden car door handles from 2027 and are considering EV acceleration limits. (Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Ju-min Park; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Dakotah Rice is stepping back into the founders seat. On Wednesday, he announced that his new company, the AI-native insurance brokerage Harper, has raised $46.8 million in a combined Series A and seed round. Previously, he founded the investment company Poolit, which closed in 2023. He spoke openly to TechCrunch about the collapse of that company, saying he never figured out how to make it profitable. My ego made it hard to accept the failure, he told TechCrunch. In hindsight, I should have shut it down a year earlier. For his next company, he went back to his roots. His family owned an insurance brokerage, and he remembered all the hassles that came when founders like himself walked through the doors, trying to insure their businesses. I hated insurance, he continued, swore Id never end up in it. But then he had an idea. At first, he and Tushar Nair, a longtime friend and former CTO of Poolit, thought about building AI tools for existing brokerages. Then they decided to just use that technology to build an AI-native insurance brokerage and call it Harper, after Rices mothers maiden name. Launched in 2024, Harper is part of a trend YC recently wrote about (Harper took part in the YC W25 batch). The YC blog wrote that the future of agencies will look more like software companies, with software margins. Thats exactly what Harper is an almost fully autonomous licensed commercial insurance agency. It matches small- to mid-sized businesses with more than 160 insurance carriers to assist with workers compensation, as well as general and professional liability. What often takes a traditional broker five to seven days, we can often do in one to two, Rice, the companys CEO, said. He said a typical sales team at a human-led brokerage handles 20 to 30 deals a month, but AI enables Harper to handle more than 1,000 customers a month. Harper has more than 5,000 customers to date, he continued. AI handles the operational weight. Submission routing, underwriter follow-ups, document collection, pipeline management, Rice continued. Investors in the company include YC and Peak XV Partners, and its Series A round was led by Emergence Capital. Rice thinks of nearly all brokerages as Harpers competition. He said that work remains very fragmented, with big players and everyone else running on email and spreadsheets. There are, of course, other AI-native brokerages in this space, like Gyde, as well as companies that use AI tools, like FurtherAI or Vantel (both of which are also YC alums). Rice said what makes Harper different is that it hopes to target middle America. The real-world businesses, he said, like daycares, manufacturers, car dealerships, local bars and restaurants. By Jaspreet Singh Feb 26 (Reuters) - Zscaler (ZS) on Thursday posted a wider net loss in the second quarter, citing higher spending on sales, marketing, and research and development in a competitive market, sending shares of the cloud security firm down roughly 9% in extended trading. The results come when IT budgets remain tight and clients spend cautiously on large deals amid economic uncertainty, even though cybersecurity budgets face less pressure than general capital outlays. Zscaler provides cloud-based zero trust security, which is designed to eliminate the need for legacy firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) by authenticating each connection rather than granting broader network access. Shares of cybersecurity companies, including CrowdStrike and Zscaler, have fallen in recent days as investors assessed the potential impact of AI startup Anthropic's Claude Code Security tool on the industry. Zscaler, which competes with Palo Alto Networks and Cloudflare, reported a net loss of $34.3 million in the quarter ended January 31, widening sharply from a net loss of $7.7 million a year earlier. Total operating expenses rose to $676.3 million in the second quarter, compared with $539.5 million in the year-ago period, driven by sales, marketing and research and development expenses. "While CIOs (chief information officers) care about the budget, but they're doing two things: they do want to embrace AI and they want to do it securely. So, AI is driving demand for security," Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhry said. Businesses spend on tools offered by companies such as Zscaler amid a wave of high-profile cyberattacks that has hit companies, including F5. Zscaler said its second-quarter revenue rose 26% to $815.8 million, beating analysts' average estimate of $798.8 million, according to LSEG-compiled data. Its adjusted profit per share of $1.01 exceeded estimate of 90 cents. The company forecast third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.00 to $1.01, above analysts' estimates of 95 cents, and revenue of $834 million to $836 million, topping expectations of $831.9 million. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Chinese representative sternly refutes unwarranted accusations by Japan Xinhua) 09:53, February 27, 2026 GENEVA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese representative on Wednesday sternly refuted the unwarranted accusations against China made by Japan and a handful of other countries at the high-level segment of the 61st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. The Chinese representative said that Japan and some other countries have spread disinformation on Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong to attack and discredit China. China strongly opposes and firmly rejects such an attempt. The Chinese representative pointed out that, at present, Xinjiang and Xizang enjoy economic development and social stability, with the rights of people of all ethnic groups being fully protected. Hong Kong has entered a new phase of stability and prosperity since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. The Chinese representative further emphasized that Japan's baseless comments on the human rights situation of other countries cannot obscure its own deplorable record. Japan has failed to take responsibility for historical issues such as "comfort women," disregarded concerns raised by UN human rights mechanisms, and attempted to create a "chilling effect" through retaliation and coercive pressure. Japan waged wars of aggression and committed serious war crimes but has shown no serious self-reflection, the representative noted, adding that China urges Japan to reflect deeply on its past and immediately cease these actions to avoid repeating historical mistakes. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Botswana's Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe speaks at the Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum held in Tlokweng, on the outskirts of Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 26, 2026. Gaolathe emphasized on Thursday the need for greater investment in the southern African country's agricultural sector to reposition it as a central driver of economic diversification. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) GABORONE, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe emphasized on Thursday the need for greater investment in the southern African country's agricultural sector to reposition it as a central driver of economic diversification. Speaking at the Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum held from Thursday to Friday in Tlokweng on the outskirts of Gaborone, the country's capital, Gaolathe said that expanding agricultural production is critical to reducing the national import bill and increasing export earnings through value-added products. He identified meat processing, crop production, and nutraceuticals as priority areas for developing competitive, export-ready products, while calling for investment in seed production, food processing, feed manufacturing, fruit tree plantations, controlled-environment agriculture, and freshwater fisheries. The Botswanan government has set a target to increase agriculture's contribution to gross domestic product from 2 percent to 6 percent as part of broader efforts to diversify the economy to reduce long-standing dependence on diamonds. Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti said the forum serves as a platform to mobilize investment, strengthen partnerships, and translate policy into bankable projects that will transform Botswana's agri-food sector. Carla Mucavi, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Botswana, said that through global initiatives like "One Country One Priority Product," the FAO aims to assist Botswana in building competitive and sustainable value chains. "These efforts will enable the country to access regional and international markets while creating jobs and increasing incomes locally," Mucavi said. Keletsositse Olebile, chief executive officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Center, noted that compliance with international export standards continues to constrain market access for local producers. He said greater support is needed to equip farmers with the technical knowledge, certification capacity, and production standards required to compete globally. Held under the theme "Catalyzing Investments in Agri-Food Systems for Inclusive Growth and Food Sovereignty," the forum brought together over 400 participants, including investors, farmers, policymakers, producers, and financiers. Botswana's Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe speaks at the Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum held in Tlokweng, on the outskirts of Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 26, 2026. Gaolathe emphasized on Thursday the need for greater investment in the southern African country's agricultural sector to reposition it as a central driver of economic diversification. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) Cricut (pronounced "cricket") has already been bringing creative ideas to reality with its rich ecosystem of cutting machines, heat presses, materials, and more, and today has announced the next generation of its Cricut Explore and Cricut Joy series. The machines bring a sleeker, modern design as well as a simplified, guided software experience to help people get started, sooner. As always, the machines include a set of tools and materials so you can begin right away. The new devices, the Cricut Joy 2 and the Cricut Explore 5, will be available from the 6th of March. The Cricut Joy 2 - available in a two-toned blue colourway - is Cricuts most compact cutting machine. Perfect for fast, fun, everyday creations like custom cards, labels, simple decals, and now, for the first time, full-colour stickers thanks to its all-new Print Then Cut sensor. Cricut Joy 2 offers portability without compromise, enabling creativity in any space in your home. From organising your home to making last-minute personalised gifts, Cricut Joy 2 is your DIY best friend. Meanwhile, the Cricut Explore 5 - available in neutral taupe colourway - is the newest evolution of the ever-popular Cricut Explore cutting machine and is now 30% more compact. This allows it to fit more easily in your creative space but with no compromise on performance or capability. The Explore 5 is Ideal for cutting vinyl decals, making custom clothing, full-colour stickers, cards, wedding and party decor, and specialty projects like magnets, Cricut Explore 5 is compatible with six tools* and features an improved writing and drawing experience with snap-in pen loading and a streamlined interface. Both of these new machines will be sold as an Essential Bundle that includes a range of must-have tools and accessories, as well as an assortment of popular materials. It's a perfect gift for others, or yourself, and for anyone who has ideas in their head they want to bring to life. The bundled items mean you can get going with the Cricut Joy 2 or Cricut Explore 5 right out-of-the-box. They're easier than ever to get going, and the Essentials Bundle has a great set of inclusions. Meanwhile, for those seeking more, Cricut's existing Cricut Maker and Cricut Venture range are also available in their current forms. The Maker brings a seriously powerful cutting engine, while the Venture helps you bring your largest ideas to life. Our users have consistently told us they want products that are easier to use and more affordable. We listened and simplified the entire experience end-to-end,said Cricut CEO Ashish Arora.From the moment they open the box, everything required to be successful is included. We guide them through a reimagined onboarding and design experience with intuitive, guided flows that take the guesswork out of making and make it easier than ever to go from idea to finished project with confidence. The machine is only part of the story; at the heart of the launch is a significantly enhanced Cricut Design Space platform. This is the Cricut software that is free to use, but with subscription options for more and more high quality templates, fonts, imagery, and all kinds of other things. Design Space is purpose built to assist creators and make them feel confident from the moment inspiration strikes. Inside Design Space, new "Guided Flows" are provided and come from the perspective of understanding a user's project intent. It digs into what you want to make, providing step-by-step guidance to move from the idea through to the finished product with ease. It's intuitive and contextual and surfaces only what's needed at each stage of the design process. It helps people understand exactly what materials, blanks, and tools are required for a successful outcome and helps build up your knowledge, skills, and confidence the more you use it. In these guided flows, the Canvas is auto-sized to reflect the selected project type, while a Project Preview helps you visualise your design where you want it to be - for example, on a T-shirt, or mug, or phone case. It all combines to help give confidence your project will turn out how you imagine, and is a great, thoughtful move from Cricut to ensure new (and experienced) Cricut creators achieve the best results, sooner, faster, and with fewer wasted resources. In addition, Cricut has introduced Create AI to turn your wildest prompts into custom, cut-ready, single-layer AI designs. It's not simply an image generator, it's specifically a Cricut-ready design generator. As there's a cost to Cricut to provide the computing grunt for AI facilities this feature is available within the paid subscription plans. As mentioned, the new devices will be available from 6th of March, and here is what you'll get with the machine. The Cricut Joy 2 Essential Bundle includes enough material for more than 35 projects, and the Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle provides enough for over 65 projects! Cricut Joy 2 Essential Bundle - $249 Cricut Joy 2 smart cutting machine 10 x Value Cardstock 8.5 x 11 sheets 6 x Smart Vinyl 5.5 x 8.5 sheets 6 x Transfer Tape 5.5 x 8.5 sheets, Standard Grip 4 x Smart Iron-On 5.5 x 8.5 sheets 2 x Insert Card Sets 4.25 x 5.5 3 x Printable Vinyl sheets, A4, White Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool and Scoring Tool Dual-Sided Marker, Black Light Grip Machine Mat 4.5" x 12" Card Mat 5.5" x 8.25" Paper Ruler, Weeder, Scraper, Spatula, and Trimmer 12 The Cricut Joy 2 includes a new "Print then Cut" sensor to recognise and precision cuts around inkjet-printed images for full-colour stickers and more. It works with popular materials, including vinyl, iron-on (HTV), cardstock, printables, and more. It works with Cricut pens and markers and scores and adds beautiful foil accents with the new Cricut Scoring Tool. It makes projects up to 4.2" / 10.6cm x 11.7" / 29.7 cm on a machine mat and up to 1.2m long. And it does all this in a 1.2kg size. Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle - $449 Cricut Explore 5 smart cutting machine 10 x Value Cardstock 8.5 x 11 sheets 6 x Smart Vinyl 13 x 9.5 sheets 6 x Transfer Tape 13 x 9.5 sheets, Standard Grip 4 x Smart Iron-On 13 x 9.5 sheets 2 x Insert Card Sets 4.25 x 5.5 3 x Printable Vinyl, A4, White Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool and Scoring Tool Dual-Sided Marker Light Grip Cutting Mat 12 x 12" 2x1 Card Mat Paper Ruler, Weeder, Scraper, Spatula, 13 Trimmer The Cricut Explore 5 is 30% more compact and lighter than the previous Explore model, with the same dependable 12" cutting performance. It works with Cricut Pens and Markers and adds beautiful foil accents. It precision cuts more than 100 material types including vinyl, iron-on (HTV), cardstock, printables, and more. With the optional deep cutting tool it also cuts thicker materials such as magnets. The Cricut Explore 5 also includes the new Print then Cut sensor, and makes projects up to 12" x 12" / 30.5cm x 30.5cm, on a machine mat up to 3.6m long. The Cricut Joy 2 Essential Bundle will retail at $249, and the Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle for $449. Largeshrimp tempura soba (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan) One of Japans most cherished year-end practices is eating toshikoshi soba (yearcrossing soba) because the thin, long noodles symbolize longevity and good fortune. Although New Year has passed, it is never a bad time to enjoy a steaming or chilly bowl of soba noodles. Sagami, a soba restaurant in Isehara City, their delicious noodles are made using spring water from the Tanzawa Mountain Range. Isehara is about a 30-minute drive from Camp Zama and NAF Atsugi area. (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan) When my family and I visited, we were seated at a low tatami table in the spacious, but cozy dining area. From the menu, my wife ordered largeshrimp tempura soba for 1,740 yen ($11), my daughter chose zaru soba for 1,100 yen, and I opted for a large portion of zaru soba for 1,340 yen. When the meals arrived, my wifes and daughters zaru soba were served in twotiered square bamboo baskets, along with a dipping broth with green onions and wasabi. My large portion came stacked in three tiers. We were overwhelmed by the generous servings. A large portion of zaru soba (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan) We enjoyed our soba noodles in a traditional way first tasting the noodles on their own, then with green onions and wasabi, and finally dipping them into the broth with the condiments. This method allows you to appreciate the quality of the noodles and the subtle changes in flavor and texture. I saw the darkgray soba had a wonderful aroma, and the sweetness of the buckwheat deepened with every bite. It was far more delicious than I had expected. According to the menu book, the restaurant uses buckwheat from Hokkaido Prefecture and mills it into powder everyday using a stone mill on site to prevent oxidation during storage. I agree with it saying that for delicious soba, the three essentials, freshly milled, freshly kneaded and freshly boiled noodles are indispensable. (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan) The dipping broth was perfectly balanced, not too sweet, salty, not too light and not bitter. The harmony of the flavors with every bite was excellent. The fried tempura my wife ordered included jumbo prawns, thickcut shiitake mushrooms, okra, lotus root, and pumpkin. I bit to sample some and saw the batter was slightly thick but remained crisp and tasty. The crunchy vegetables paired nicely with the thin, springy noodles. Although it came with a dipping broth, ginger and grated daikon, the delicious dish did not require any additional condiments. Sagami is a Nagoyabased washoku restaurant chain with 163 shops. In addition to soba, it offers many other popular washoku dishes, such as sushi, unagi, and sukiyaki. Other guests were ordering misonikomi udon, a popular Nagoya soul food, but were saving that for our next visit. Our delicious lunch at Sagami was wonderful and a reminder that soba is good to have no matter the time of year. Washoku restaurant Sagami (Photos courtesy of The Reggae Wave 2026) Reggae music legends The Wailers and Inner Circle, known for their hits like One Love and Sweat (A La La La La Long), will take the stage for Reggae Wave 2026. The music event will kick off in Osaka on March 24, then head to Naha in Okinawa on March 26, Tokyo on March 27, return to Osaka on March 29 before the final date on March 30 in Nagoya. Bob Marleys legendary band, The Wailers, continues to spread a message of Jah love and unity with Grammy-nominated albums One World and Evolution and will headline the Naha, Tokyo and March 29 Osaka dates. Grammy award-winning Inner Circle, known as The Bad Boys of Reggae, are known for their catchy rhythm and smooth melodies will co-headline or headline all dates except for the March 29 concert. The concert will feature other reggae acts like DJ Bonics and Esther Fortune. Music lovers will not want to miss this concert! Tickets are available now. THE REGGAE WAVE 2026 Dates: March 24, Namba Hatch (Osaka) March 26, Naha Cultural Arts Theater Nahart (Okinawa) March 27, Duo Music Exchange (Tokyo) March 29, Namba Hatch March 30, Diamond Hall (Nagoya) Time: Doors open at 4 p.m. For more info and ticket purchase, check out (https://thereggaewave.jp/). SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. So much for the notion that the Supreme Court, with its 6-3 majority of justices appointed by Republican presidents, was going to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump. That is a frequently voiced charge by partisan Democrats, and a fear of many ambivalent voters who find many of Trump's policies agreeable but worry about his overreach on policy and personnel. That's one political meme refuted by the court's Learning Resources v. Trump decision last Friday, announced after more than the expected delay for the drafting of concurring opinions. The court struck down Trump's beloved tariffs, with only one Republican-appointed justice taking the president's side while the majority consisted of three Republican-appointed and three Democratic-appointed justices. Such a result should not have surprised those with some appreciation of Supreme Court history. Franklin Roosevelt, after seeing several of his New Deal programs ruled unconstitutional, and after unsuccessfully urging Congress to pack the court with new justices, finally ended up filling eight of the court's nine seats. That didn't stop a bench of Democratic appointees from disapproving of Democratic President Harry Truman's seizure of the nation's steel plants during the Korean War, in a case, Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer, cited 15 times by the Learning Resources justices. Justices newly appointed in times when Supreme Court decisions are subjects of partisan disputes tend to agree on contemporary issues. But in time, new problems arise, to which they turn out to have differences. And even animosity: Some of the Roosevelt appointees even stopped speaking to each other. One such issue brought forward by Trump's election and reelection is the tariff. There's a strong argument that the president's view that trade deficits impoverish the country and tariffs enrich it is delusional. Alexander Hamilton backed tariffs not so much to foster infant industries but because they were the easiest tax to collect with the 18th-century technology. William McKinley, often cited by Trump as a tariff advocate, delivered a speech in September 1901, just days before he was shot, calling for reduced tariffs. He recognized the U.S. industry was no longer as infantile as the United States became the world's No. 1 steel producer. Later in the century, congressional Republicans kept backing tariff packages as a form of pork barrel patronage for local interests and to hold the party together. But Republican presidents, educated in free-market economics in elite colleges (Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Stanford), sought, with limited success, to hold rates down. Learning Resources doesn't prevent Trump from using other tariff laws, but they, as Chief Justice John Roberts' opinion of the court notes, "contain various combinations of procedural prerequisites, required agency determinations and limits." That means he wouldn't have, in the chief justice's evidently irritated phrasing, "the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration and scope." Such capricious policymaking, with enormous economic consequences, has few precedents except for what historian Amity Shlaes describes as Roosevelt's daily settings of gold prices during several months in 1933. Learning Resources, as anti-Trump conservative David French wrote in The New York Times, "may prove to be the most important Supreme Court case this century," because it fortifies the "major questions doctrine," celebrated in Justice Neil Gorsuch's extraordinary 46-page concurrence. The major questions doctrine is drawn from the constitutional architecture: Article I authorizes Congress to pass laws, Article II authorizes the president to take care that they be faithfully executed. It follows that a president can't rummage around in the statute books, searching for some language or, as in this case, two words separated by 16 words that somehow can be interpreted, though no one has interpreted them that way before, to authorize him to do what he wants to do. On major questions, it must be clear Congress has already done that. The Supreme Court, with majorities made up of Republican appointees, used the major questions doctrine to overturn major Biden administration policies cancellation of student loans (based on authorization to "waive or modify" them), eviction moratorium (based on preventing "transmission of communicable diseases") and vaccine mandate (based on "safety and healthy work conditions"). In a 46-page concurring opinion, Gorsuch argues that his three Democratic-appointed colleagues are wielding the major questions doctrine against the Trump tariffs, though they say they're not, and they were unwilling to use it against Biden policies. He argues the three dissenting Republican-appointed justices should have agreed that the major questions doctrine requires overturning the tariffs. He argues that Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who voted to overturn tariffs, should have relied more explicitly on the doctrine. Is this evidence of the kind of discord that divided the Roosevelt-appointed justices so many years ago? Maybe, and the justices don't seem as collegial now as they did before someone a liberal justice's law clerk? leaked a draft of Justice Samuel Alito's opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. But the thrust of Gorsuch's concurrence is that the justices are functionally in agreement with the major questions doctrine, even if they're uncomfortable saying so. Perhaps it was written to undercut arguments by the liberal law professoriate that the major questions doctrine is defunct. Or, as Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith puts it, Learning Resources "signals more clearly than ever that, going forward, this Court is going to view broad delegations of statutory authority to act, and/or extravagant presidential interpretations of authority to act, with skepticism." It's hard for Congress to set policy as explicitly as the major questions doctrine seems to require when the two parties have significant disagreements, are in close competition, and are disincentivized to accept compromise when they reasonably hope that the next presidential election will give them the White House and congressional majorities. That has been the situation for the last 30-some years, in which Democrats have won most presidential elections and Republicans have usually won majorities in the House of Representatives. It was also the case for the 30-some years after the Civil War, when policy differences and partisan bitterness were greater than they are today. But after three decades, new issues arose and new voter coalitions emerged. Sooner or later, that will happen again. Meanwhile, the Trump administration may search the statute books for verbiage it can use to justify some limited tariff authority, just as the Biden administration searched the statute books to find verbiage to justify some limited student loan forgiveness. But the Supreme Court, regardless of partisan labels, seems ready to use the major questions doctrine to limit the billions of dollars that can be raised or spent without some clear authorization in laws passed by Congress. And someday a president will figure out how to persuade Congress to pass laws authorizing all or some of what she or he wants. Megan Thee Stallion makes her Broadway debut as "Harold Zidler" in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical". The Grammy-winning rapper steps into the role from March 24 through May 17, 2026, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, performing all shows except the two on May 2. Megan Thee Stallion Takes on Moulin Rouge Zidler Role Megan Thee Stallion brings her H-Town energy to "Harold Zidler", the flamboyant nightclub owner who emcees the bohemian cabaret in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical". This marks her first Broadway gig, and she becomes the first female-identifying performer to play the part in any production worldwide. The role demands a commanding presence, guiding audiences through lavish scenes of love, art, and excess set in 1890s Paris. Bob the Drag Queen wraps up his run as Zidler on March 22, handing off to her. According to Broadway Buzz, Kelsie Watts joins the same night as Satine, succeeding Arianna Rosario, which refreshes the ensemble dynamic and sets up fresh chemistry onstage. Historic Broadway Debut for Megan Thee Stallion The multiplatinum artist earned her spot as the second female rapper to snag Best New Artist at the Grammys, following Lauryn Hill. Her screen debut came as Gloria in A24's "Dicks: The Musical", setting the stage for this theater leap. Fans have watched her dominate charts with hits like "Savage" and "HISS", and now she channels that charisma into live performance. Zidler originally went to Danny Burstein in the 2019 premiere. As Variety reports, Megan Thee Stallion's gender-flipped portrayal aligns with the show's bold casting history, blending her rap flair with the musical's pop mash-ups from artists like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Katy Perry. Moulin Rouge Cast and Production Details During her stint, Christian Douglas leads as Christian, the starry-eyed writer falling for Satine. Andre Ward plays Toulouse-Lautrec, David Harris takes on the Duke of Monroth, Ricky Rojas embodies Santiago, and Samantha Dodemaide shines as Nini. The cast powers Baz Luhrmann's pop-mash-up spectacle, turning the 2001 film into a Tony-winning hit. "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" closes on Broadway July 26, 2026, after a Tony-winning run since 2019. Her limited eight-week window amps up ticket demand in the final stretch, especially with the Al Hirschfeld Theatre hosting this extravaganza. Megan Thee Stallion's "classy, bougie... bohemian" vibe fits the lavish world perfectly. Broadway Buzz notes this debut during Women's History Month adds cultural spark to her transition from charts to stage lights, potentially drawing new crowds to the theater. Megan Thee Stallion's Zidler Run Essentials Her performances promise high-energy takes on Zidler's key numbers amid the show's glittering costumes and choreography. With the production winding down, this stint offers a prime chance to see a rap icon redefine Broadway norms before the final curtain. David Bowies daughter has said she does not blame her family after revealing she was forcibly removed from her home as a teenager and sent to multiple treatment centres. David Bowies daughter has said she does not blame her family after revealing she was forcibly removed from her home as a teenager and sent to multiple treatment centres Describing a period that meant she was absent during her fathers final days, Alexandria Lexi Jones, 25, who David had with his model wife Iman, 70, shared a statement on Instagram clarifying that her earlier account of being taken to a facility at 14 was not intended to assign fault. David died in January 2016 aged 69 from liver cancer, two days after releasing his final album Blackstar. In her latest post, Lexi said her intention was to open discussion about the teenage treatment system, not to create a narrative of family conflict. Lexi added: Ive seen a lot of interpretations of what I shared and I want to clarify something important. My story was never meant to place blame on my parents. I love my parents deeply and I dont hold resentment towards them. They were trying to help a child who was struggling in ways none of us fully understood at the time. I never shared this to create a narrative of family conflict. What I was trying to talk about was the experience of being a young person inside the teenage treatment system and how it feels while it is happening. Those feelings can exist at the same time as love for the people who were trying to help you. Both things can be true. I shared my experience because many people who have been through similar programs carry confusion and silence around it. Hearing from others who related has already shown me the message reached who it was meant to reach. Im not asking anyone to speculate about my family or assign fault to anyone in my life. My intention is conversation and understanding about a system, not judgement of individuals. I spoke about something that shaped me in hopes someone else might feel less alone in theirs. In a previous account, Lexi described being 14 when two men came to take her to a treatment facility. She recalled her father reading from a letter that ended with the line: Im sorry we have to do this. Lexi said: Then two men came through the door, and they were both well over six feet tall. They told me I could do this the easy way or the hard way. I chose the hard way. I resisted. I screamed. I held onto the table leg. They grabbed me, they put their hands on me, they pulled me away from everything I knew and I was screaming bloody murder. I was screaming for someone to help me, but no one did . I felt stripped of any right to stay in my own life. They got me back into a black SUV and shoved me inside. By the time the door shut, my parents were already gone. I was alone. She said she spent 91 days in a wilderness therapy programme before being transferred to a residential treatment centre in Utah for 13 months. It was there, she said, that she learned of Bowies death. Lexi added: I had the luxury of speaking to him two days before, on his birthday. I told him I loved him, and he said it back, and we both knew. Then I saw the post, the one that said something like, David Bowie passed away, surrounded by his whole family. It made me physically ill because, yeah, the whole family was there. Except for me. Trump responds to when he will end war with Iran > < 23:59 Officials who arrested Kejriwal should be put behind bars: Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday demanded that the officials who arrested former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers in the excise policy case should now themselves face imprisonment. He congratulates Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia who were discharged by a Delhi... Read more > 23:47 Ajit Pawar plane crash: Rohit Pawar writes to CM; seeks thorough probe Nationalist Congress Party-SP MLA Rohit Pawar on Friday wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking conversion of 'Devgiri', the official residence of Ajit Pawar for over two decades, into a memorial, while also demanding a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the January 28... Read more > 23:19 Cyber fraudster held for duping Delhi man of Rs 6 lakh The Delhi police has arrested a 30-year-old cyber fraudster, allegedly involved in multiple cases across states, for duping a city resident of Rs 6 lakh on the pretext of completing KYC formalities, officials said on Friday. Bimal Rabidas, a resident of Dhanbad in Jharkhand, was arrested in... Read more > 22:36 Delhi excise constable, driver assaulted, abducted at gunpoint A Delhi excise department constable and his private driver were allegedly kidnapped, thrashed and threatened at gunpoint by 10 to 12 unidentified men, an official said on Friday.According to the FIR registered at Shalimar Bagh police station on February 23, the constable was allegedly taken to a... Read more > 22:13 HC bail to man who posted pro-Pak slogan on Instagram The Allahabad high court has granted bail to a man who was arrested in May last year for allegedly posting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on his Instagram handle after the Pahalgam attack.Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal on Thursday passed the order on Faizan's bail plea and restrained him from posting any... Read more > 21:50 Raut meets Sharad Pawar, holds discussion amid RS candidate suspense Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Friday met NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar at a hospital in Mumbai amid the tussle in the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance over its candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.Pawar has been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital for a routine check-up.In a post on... Read more > 21:38 Woman booked for mutilating quack doctor's genitals in north Delhi A 22-year-old quack doctor's private part was mutilated by a woman in north Delhi's Wazirabad area after she came to know about his marriage, police said on Friday. The injured man, identified as Visarjeet, a resident of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh, was in a relationship with the... Read more > 21:33 HC paves way for release of 'The Kerala Story 2' film A scene from The Kerala Story 2. The Kerala high court on Friday paved the way for the release of The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond film by staying the single judge order which had put on hold the movie's screening by 15 days. A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the interim order... Read more > 21:16 Surat Passport Office receives bomb threat email; turns out to be hoax File image The Regional Passport Office at Surat on Friday received a bomb threat which turned out to be a hoax, but the e-mail was mistakenly forwarded to post offices across the state and caused panic, the police said.The Surat Passport Office received an e-mail at 5.55 am threatening that there would be... Read more > 20:54 Domestic help held for stealing employer's silver worth Rs 35 lakh in Bengaluru A domestic worker has been arrested for allegedly stealing 12.5 kg of silver articles worth around Rs 35 lakh from the house of her employer in Bengaluru, the police said on Friday.Chaitra has been arrested by the Jeevan Bima Nagar Police Station.She had been working for the past two-and-a-half... Read more > 20:08 India's forex reserves drop $2.119 bn to $723.608 bn India's forex reserves dropped by $2.119 billion to $723.608 billion during the week ended February 20, the RBI said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the overall reserves had jumped by $8.663 billion to a new all-time high of $725.727 billion. For the week ended February 20,... Read more > 19:43 Return banned textbook, delete online posts: NCERT File image The NCERT on Friday issued an advisory asking anyone with copies of the banned class 8 textbook that had a chapter on judicial corruption be returned to the council headquarters.In a strongly worded advisory, the the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) also called for... Read more > 19:19 Rupee falls 8 paise to settle at 90.99 against US dollar The rupee declined 8 paise to settle at 90.99 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday weighed down by a sharp rise in global crude oil prices amid geopolitical uncertainties. FII outflows and a fall in the domestic equity markets further pressured the local unit, according to forex... Read more > 19:01 BSE Sensex top losers today Benchmark Sensex tanked 961 points while the broader Nifty settled below 25,200 on Friday due to fresh foreign fund outflows and subdued global trends amid rising geopolitical risks. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 961.42 points or 1.17 percent to settle at 81,287.19. During the day, it... Read more > 18:42 SC grants bail to doctor in 2024 Pune Porsche accident case The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to a doctor arrested for allegedly tampering with the blood samples of a 17-year-old boy, accused of crashing a Porsche car into a motorcycle in Pune and killing two persons. The incident dates back to May 19, 2024, when the Porsche car allegedly... Read more > 18:36 TVK chief Vijays wife files for divorce, cites alleged affair TVK chief Vijay/File image In a shocking turn of events, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay's wife Sankgeetha has filed a petition for divorce against him in the Chengalpattu family court in Chennai.This comes amid reports that Sankgeetha has been living separately from her husband.As per the divorce... Read more > 18:25 Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church meets Modi Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II meets PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi./Courtesy Narendra Modi on X Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held a discussion with him on a wide range of issues.President of BJP's Kerala state unit, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, was also present during the meeting.Was honoured to... Read more > 17:42 Kerala files appeal against actor Dileep's acquittal in actress's assault case Malayalam cinema star Dileep The Kerala government on Friday moved an appeal in the Kerala high court challenging the acquittal of Malayalam cinema star Dileep and others in the sensational 2017 actress sexual assault case. In its appeal, the state is also seeking enhancement of the punishment awarded to the six people... Read more > 17:24 CBI moves HC against Kejriwal discharge in liquor case The CBI has filed an appeal in the Delhi high court, challenging a special court's order discharging former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and others in the liquor-policy case, officials said on Friday. Sources said the federal agency has flagged... Read more > 17:06 I challenge Modi to hold fresh polls in Delhi: Kejriwal Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging that they hatched a conspiracy to finish the Aam Aam Aadmi Party through a fake excise policy case. Earlier in the day, a city court discharged Kejriwal,... Read more > 16:34 Modi, Shah must apologise to country: Kejriwal on acquittal AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal arrives at the party office to address the media after his acquittal in the Delhi excise policy case.Today, the court in its 600-page order has said that there is not the slightest evidence to even have a case in this matter, Kejriwal says.Two people, PM Modi... Read more > 16:12 Indefinite jail based on allegations punitive: Court on Kejriwal Discharging former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and 21 others in the politically charged liquor policy case, the court on Friday observed that the judicial task was not to secure a convenient outcome or to endorse a dominant narrative, but to uphold the rule of law.It highlighted that a... Read more > 15:53 Canada PM Mark Carney arrives in Mumbaii Canadian PM Mark Carney arrives in Mumbai on an official visit to India from 27 February to 2 March 2026. This is Prime Minister Carney's first official visit to India. Read more > 15:42 Kejriwal already got political response from people: BJP The BJP said on Friday that though a court has acquitted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for lack of evidence in a case involving the Delhi excise policy, the people of the national capital have already given him a political response on political grounds and the probe agency will now decide its next... Read more > 15:11 'BJP supporters must be writhing in deep shame' An emotional Kejriwal greets supporters after the verdict Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday expressed strong support for former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, terming recent developments in the national capital a vindication of truth and justice.In a social media post, Yadav said, Today, in Delhi, both truth and justice stand... Read more > 15:06 Sebi Shifts Gold, Silver Valuation Norms For MFs The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has revised the valuation framework for physical gold and silver held by mutual fund schemes, directing funds to use polled spot prices published by recognised stock exchanges instead of international benchmarks.Under the new rules, effective... Read more > 14:55 'Tickets booked for Kerala Story 2 being refunded' The tickets booked during the day for 'The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond' were being refunded and the film has not been released, the lawyers for the petitioners who opposed the movie's screening said on Friday. Advocate Maitreyi Sachidananda Hegde, who represents one of the petitioners --... Read more > 14:28 Arvind Kejriwal's kattar imaandaari is before the nation: Atishi On Arvind Kejriwal's acquittal in excise policy case, AAP leader Atishi says, Arvind Kejriwal's 'kattar imaandaari' is before the entire nation today... On one side, it is the BJP's conspiracy, hunger for power and misuse of central agencies; on the other side is Arvind Kejriwal's and AAP's... Read more > 14:26 Earthquake hits Bangladesh, tremors felt in Kolkata Representational image Update: Tremors were felt in Kolkata and adjacent districts of West Bengal on Friday afternoon, after an earthquake of 5.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale jolted parts of Bangladesh, officials said. The quake was felt at around 1.22 pm, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said. It... Read more > 14:20 Info Edge Launches Growth-Stage Fund With Rs 250 Crore Corpus IMAGE: Info Edge Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani Info Edge on Thursday announced a commitment of Rs 250 crore to a newly-launched growth-stage fund as it looks to deepen its investment footprint in India's startup ecosystem.The company's board has approved a commitment to B8 Fund I, according to a stock exchange filing. 'This is to inform you... Read more > 14:17 The Lady Who Got A Dreaded Maoist To Surrender When Thippiri Tirupati -- better known in Maoist circles as Devuji -- walked out of the forests last month, it was the kind of moment that intelligence officials rarely speak about publicly. Devuji was no ordinary cadre.As the military chief of the CPI (Maoist), he oversaw a movement... Read more > 14:12 Strong earthquake tremors felt in Kolkata People rushed out on the road as the tremors shook Kolkata Strong earthquake tremors felt in Kolkata, adjacent West Bengal districts, cause panic among people. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter Scale hit South-West from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka in Bangladesh. We were sitting on our sofa when we suddenly felt the... Read more > 13:59 Big day for AAP; Sisodia, Atishi celebrate AAP leader Manish Sisodia shares a hug with Delhi LoP Atishi and shares laddoos with party leaders as he reaches his residence after acquittal in Delhi Liquor Policy case. Read more > 13:43 Class 10 student delivers baby during board exam Representational image A 17-year-old girl appearing for her Class 10 board examination gave birth to a pre-mature baby in the washroom of a private school in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, uncovering a case of sexual assault. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Parul Belapurkar on Friday said that the... Read more > 13:02 CBI to appeal 'immediately' against Kejriwal, Sisodia discharge The CBI will challenge the discharge of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case in Delhi High Court immediately, officials said on Friday.The agency feels that the appeal is necessary since several aspects of the... Read more > 12:53 Athlete Swapna Barman joins TMC Athlete Swapna Barman, who brought accolades to India at the international level in heptathlon, on Friday joined the Trinamool Congress at the party headquarters here.Barman, who belongs to the Rajbongshi community of north Bengal, was handed the Trinamool Congress flag by state ministers Bratya... Read more > 12:46 Satyamev Jayate: AAP leaders welcome court relief to Kejriwal, Sisodia Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Friday hailed the court discharge of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ex-deputy Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case as a victory of truth and the Constitution. Sisodia called the decision a reaffirmation of constitutional values. Despite... Read more > 12:33 Want to thank God: Kejriwal's wife Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, says, I would like to thank God today. Arvind ji has spent his life with honesty. But these people (BJP) sent Arvind ji and his associates to jail. I had faith that truth would prevail. I would like to thank all those who stood by us...Following his... Read more > 12:21 CBI to move HC challenging clean chit to Kejriwal, Sisodia The Central Bureau of Investigation will approach the Delhi High Court, challenging the Rouse Avenue Court judgment discharging Aam Admi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise policy case, sources in the probe agency said on Friday.The move comes after the Rouse... Read more > 12:10 President flies sortie in LCH Prachand near India-Pak border Clad in an olive-green flying suit and helmet, President Droupadi Murmu on Friday took a 25-minute sortie as co-pilot in Light Combat Helicopter 'Prachand' near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer district. According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the helicopter took off from the... Read more > 11:56 Chargesheet strikes at root of conspiracy theory: Court on Kejriwal, Sisodia clean chit Update: In a big relief to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, a court here on Friday discharged the former Delhi chief minister and his ex-deputy in the politically charged liquor policy case, as it refused to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet.Besides the two leaders, 21 more were... Read more > 11:32 Court said I am honest: Kejriwal weeps after clean chit Manish Sisodia comforts an emotional Arvind Kejriwal AAP national convener and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal breaks down after being discharged in the Delhi Excise policy case by Rouse Avenue Court.He says, I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest. Today, the court has discharged all accused in this case.... Read more > 11:21 Delhi court discharges Kejriwal, Sisodia in excise case A Delhi court on Friday discharged Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in an excise police-related corruption case, refusing to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet. Special Judge Jitendra Singh said that the chargesheet had several lacunae... Read more > 11:08 8 cheetahs from Africa to arrive at Kuno on Saturday Eight more cheetahs will be airlifted from Africa and brought to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning, an official said on Friday. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav will release the big... Read more > 11:02 'Fake outrage': Cong on PM's reaction to NCERT textbook Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of expressing fake outrage over the NCERT issue, calling it a damage control exercise.In an 'X' post, Ramesh further called the controversy not an accidental mistake but a part of systematic indoctrination campaign. He... Read more > 10:29 'Afghans will defend their beloved homeland' Hamid Karzai during a visit to India in 2006 Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday strongly condemned what he described as renewed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities, asserting that the Afghan people would respond to any aggression with unity and courage. In a post on X, he said, The Pakistani aircraft once again... Read more > 10:18 Expelled AIADMK leader, 3-time Chief Minister OPS joins DMK Three-time AIADMK Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was expelled from the party in 2022, on Friday joined the ruling DMK in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin. Panneerselvam, a trusted confidant of late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, after unsuccessfully struggling for over 3 years to... Read more > 10:02 Stock markets decline in early trade Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty drifted lower in early trade on Friday tracking a weak trend in global markets and fresh foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 364.62 points to 81,883.99 during initial trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 117.15 points to 25,379.40.... Read more > 09:59 Govt Mandates Sale Of Petrol With 20% Ethanol Blending The government has mandated the sale of petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 from April 1, according to a notification issued by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG).The decision comes against the backdrop of the recent... Read more > 09:26 Pakistan declares 'open war' with Afghanistan Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif Pakistan's defence minister says that there is now an 'open war' with Afghanistan after latest strikes.The entire nation stands by the Pakistani Armed Forces, Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif said according to a series of posts on the government's X account, reports BBC.The people and armed forces of... Read more > 09:13 Expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam likely to join DMK Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam is likely to join Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) on Friday ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu elections, sources said. This move follows recent praise by the OPS camp for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and... Read more > 08:30 Pakistan bombs Kabul, Kandahar; over 130 killed Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation in response to the alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, saying it has killed over 130 Taliban fighters.Operation Ghazab lil Haq commenced late Thursday night after the Afghan Taliban allegedly launched attacks on several border posts.Defence... Read more > 00:48 Court orders probe against Kerala BJP councillor over victim identity disclosure BJP councillor and former DGP R Sreelekha./ANI Photo A court Thiruvananthapuram has ordered the police to conduct a probe against BJP councillor and former DGP R Sreelekha for allegedly revealing the identity of victims in a sexual offence case through a video posted on a social media platform. Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class... Read more > 00:35 Goods train descends Khandala Ghat at excessive speed; probe ordered File image A goods train with around 50 wagons descended the 'Ghat' or hilly section at excessive speed between Palasdari and Karjat railway stations on Mumbai-Pune route on Thursday afternoon, prompting the Central Railway (CR) to order a probe into the major safety lapse. Videos of the speeding train... Read more > Shia LaBeouf has been ordered to enrol in substance abuse treatment and undergo drug testing following his recent arrest in New Orleans. Shia LaBeouf has been ordered to attend rehab The 39-year-old actor was arrested earlier this month following an altercation during the city's Mardi Gras celebrations, and LaBeouf has now been ordered to post a $100,000 bond as part of the conditions of his release. The Hollywood star - who has a history of legal troubles and addiction - was arrested on two counts of simple battery, and was released in the hours after he was taken into custody. On Thursday (26.02.26), Judge Simone Levine confirmed that allegations of LaBeouf using homophobic language were not reflected in the official court record when he was initially freed. The judge overturned LaBeouf's earlier release, imposing new conditions on the movie star, including a $100,000 bond and orders to enrol in substance abuse treatment. Police in New Orleans released a statement shortly after the actor was arrested. The police told People at the time: "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. "Multiple people attempted to hold him down - he was eventually let up in hopes that he would leave - but he reportedly again struck the same victim with closed fists to the victims upper body. LaBeouf then reportedly assaulted another person - punching him in the nose. "LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. Upon release, he was arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery." A proposal to simplify English spelling has cleared its second hurdle in parliament. After a second debate MPs in the House of Commons voted by 65 votes to 53 to approve the Simplified Spelling Bill for consideration by parliamentary committees. The private members bill was introduced by Labour MP Mont Follick earlier this month. It proposes setting up an investigation into the feasibility of introducing a simpler version of English to make reading easier for younger children. The children would switch to standard English as they got older. The new system would be tested in school experiments in England and Scotland paid for by the government. It is Mr Follicks second attempt to get parliamentary support for a new spelling system. A bill he introduced in 1949 was eventually defeated by just three votes in spite of opposition by the Labour government of Clement Attlee. The new bill has also attracted cross-party support it was seconded by a Conservative MP, James Pitman, whose grandfather devised the Pitman shorthand system. During a debate lasting four-and-a-half hours Mr Pitman said that around 150,000 of the 400,000 children who started school each year would leave without being able to read properly. Mr Pitman a member of the Simplified Spelling Society used large printed cards with words such as out and ought to display what he said were inconsistencies in the spelling and pronunciation of some English words. English is halfway between the alphabetic system of Spanish and picture-writing of Chinese, he told MPs. However, Labours MP for South Shields James Ede said the bill would only confuse the less intelligent by making them learn two ways of spelling. But Mont Follick said they had no intention of forcing children to learn two different systems. Spelling reform was also one of the passions of the writer George Bernard Shaw who died two years ago. His will set aside money for a national competition to devise a simplified version of English. Courtesy BBC News In context Mont Follick withdrew his bill after reaching a compromise with the government. The Ministry of Education backed a small-scale research project conducted under the aegis of the University of London. However, the idea was put on the back burner until James Pitman devised the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) a phonetics-based system made up of 44 characters. ITA was tested in a handful of schools in England during the early 1960s with mixed success for the children involved. It largely fell into disuse although James Pitman had some success in persuading schools in the USA and Australia to try out the system. ITA is among numerous alternatives to standard English spelling others include Spanglish and Cut Spelling. Like this: Like Loading... Bian Lixin was welcomed yesterday as the eighth commissioner of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in the Macao Special Administrative Region. The welcome ceremony, held in the Complex of Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, drew top officials including Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Edmund Ho, Macau Liaison Office director Zheng Xincong, former Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, deputy commander Dai Jingsong, Legislative Assembly president Andre Cheong, and Court of Final Appeal president Song Man Lei. Bian, who assumed the post on Jan. 23, 2026, replaced Liu Xianfa, whose term ended in late that month. In her address, Bian said: I am honored to be appointed as the eighth Commissioner of the Commissioners Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region. Since arriving less than a month ago, Bian stated that she has met friends from various sectors, toured the historic center, and joined Chinese New Year celebrations. She described Macau as a harmonious blend of East and West, where diverse ethnic groups thrive and patriotism flourishes under the One country, two systems principle. The official also pledged that Macau will continue to strengthen its role as a platform linking China with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. In her speech, Bian praised Chinas national progress, calling its journey magnificent and fruitful. She highlighted the economys GDP milestone of RMB140 trillion, contributing about 30% to global growth, and upgrades in new-quality productivity shifting from Made in China to Created in China, among other victories for the nation. The Chief Executive followed with remarks expressing the highest respect and heartfelt gratitude to Bian, her colleagues, and Liu Xianfa for advancing Macaus foreign ties. He welcomed her warmly to the role. Sam reviewed 2025, as the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, amid global volatility and domestic challenges. Under central leadership, China overcame obstacles through unity, he said. He highlighted that public administration reforms deepened, governance improved, and the economy diversified steadily in Macau. Progress also accelerated in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, strengthening integration, Sam said. Sam also recalled reporting to Beijing late last year, saying, At the end of last year, when I went to Beijing to report on my work, President Xi Jinping and the Central Government showed their warm concern and high praise for the development of Macau and the work of the SAR government over the past year. He noted, These achievements have not come easily and are inseparable from the hard work of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao and various central government agencies stationed in Macau. Like this: Like Loading... Generative systems, widely adopted without intellectual discipline, could erode the cognitive capacities education once labored to build knowledge, character and ethics psychologists, educators and neuroscientists argue. The issue is not that machines will outthink us. It is that we may gradually outsource the very effort that makes thinking possible. Psychologist Daniel Wegners theory of transactive memory helps frame the risk. He contends that humans naturally distribute knowledge across social networks: We remember who knows rather than what is known. Later studies showed that when people expect information to be digitally stored, they recall fewer details themselves, meaning that external memory alters internal memory. Generative AI extends this principle from facts to reasoning. Other scientists argue that deep learning requires effortful processing struggle is not incidental to understanding; it is the mechanism by which durable mental schemas form. When a system drafts essays, solves equations or synthesizes arguments instantly, it reduces cognitive load. For experts, that may increase productivity. For novices, it may short-circuit the formative stage in which mental architecture is built. Neural circuits strengthen through repeated activation, neuroscientists assert. If students routinely outsource composition, translation or analysis, those pathways will not disappear, but they may thin. Selective atrophy is plausible, particularly in working memory and sustained attention. Nicholas Carr argued in his seminal book The Shallows that digital environments fragment concentration and discourage deep reading. Generative AI intensifies that dynamic. It does not merely deliver information faster it performs structured thought. With fine irony, the temptation is not only to skim but to delegate. Technological pessimism has a poor track record. Calculators diminished mental arithmetic without destroying mathematics. Writing reduced memorization while expanding philosophy. Philosophers Andy Clark and David Chalmers extended mind thesis suggests that tools can become genuine components of cognition. The question is not whether minds extend into technology, but whether internal capacities are maintained alongside that extension. The deeper risk may be cultural rather than neurological. Renowned French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu described education as the transmission of cultural capital, the acquisition of taste and judgment. If learners rely on generated summaries rather than primary texts, they may acquire information without developing discernment. A society fluent in prompting yet weak in discrimination would not be unintelligent, but it might be intellectually thinner. Marshall McLuhan warned that media reshape habits of mind. Generative AI, as a medium of synthetic reasoning, may recalibrate expectations about effort itself. When friction disappears, mastery can appear inefficient and convenience becomes normative. Still, degeneration is not inevitable. Used deliberately, AI can function as a Socratic partner, offering feedback, challenging assumptions and expanding access to expertise. Under demanding institutional standards, it could elevate rather than diminish intellectual performance. The decisive variable is not the machine; it is the culture surrounding it. If education continues to require independent reasoning, defense under constraint and sustained engagement with difficulty, cognitive resilience will endure. If effort quietly becomes optional, dependency will deepen. Artificial intelligence will not hollow out the human brain on its own. But a civilization that abandons disciplined struggle may discover that intelligence, like muscle, weakens when it is no longer required. The same could be said about democracy which also weakens when citizens outsource judgment and abandon disciplined engagement. Like this: Like Loading... There are many things that China and Germany do not see eye-to-eye on notably Russias war in Ukraine but the leaders of the worlds second and third largest economies nonetheless pledged Wednesday to work to deepen ties in an era of global turbulence. Both countries have been buffeted by the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, who lauded his import tariffs in a State of the Union address delivered just hours before German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met separately with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. The more turbulent and complex the world becomes, the more China and Germany should strengthen strategic communication and enhance strategic mutual trust, Xi said at the governments Diaoyutai state guesthouse, a leafy and sprawling property dotted with grand buildings. He noted the year had not begun peacefully and said, as he has before, that the world is undergoing the most profound changes since the end of World War II. Merz replied that although the two countries have issues and challenges to discuss, they should emphasize the things we have in common and face the challenges we stand before together. Legitimate concerns of all sides Merz, on his first trip to China since taking office last May, has championed building a stronger Europe both economically and militarily to assert itself in the shifting new world order. Before departing for China on Tuesday, he stressed that for all the differences Europe has with China, the big global political problems can no longer be tackled today without involving Beijing. The chancellor told reporters after his talks that he asked the Chinese leaders to use their influence to end the war in Ukraine. We know that signals from Beijing are taken very seriously in Moscow that goes for words as well as deeds, he said. Many European governments have been frustrated that China hasnt done more to pressure Russia to end the fighting. It has maintained trade and close diplomatic ties with Russia and said its position on the conflict is impartial and objective. Xi told Merz that China supports a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine, but emphasized that it would have to address the legitimate concerns of all sides, and have equal participation of all parties, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported. Pushing against Trumps tariffs Merz is the latest in a parade of world leaders to visit Beijing as China seeks support from other nations to push back against Trumps use of tariffs to demand concessions from trading partners, and his challenges to the United Nations and the global order that has governed international and economic relations in the post-World War II era. Merz has also emphasized the importance of placing Germanys China policy in a European context, saying before his trip it was no coincidence that he is visiting not long after French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and ahead of a planned trip by Trump in early April. Our message from a European point of view is the same: We want a balanced, reliable, regulated and fair partnership with China, Merz said. This is our offer. At the same time, it is what we also hope for and expect from the Chinese side. Chinese export are threatening factory jobs in Europe. Germanys imports from China rose 8.8% to 170.6 billion euros ($201 billion) last year, while its exports to China fell 9.7% to 81.3 billion euros. European leaders want Chinese companies to build factories in their countries. They also want China to reduce manufacturing overcapacity that is driving down prices in industries such as electric vehicles and solar panels, and to remove barriers faced by foreign companies in what is the worlds second-largest economy. Protectionism and economic coercion Merz said late Wednesday after the meetings that he was satisfied with the talks, and underlined the potential for business deals citing a plan for China to order up to 120 planes from European manufacturer Airbus. However, he made clear that work still has to be done in further talks. He said Germanys trade deficit with China has quadrupled since 2020 this dynamic is not healthy, so we are addressing it and want to open ways to cut this trade deficit. Xinhua said in a commentary that the two countries have a shared responsibility as major economies to oppose protectionism and economic coercion. Merzs two-day visit will took him yesterday to the high-tech hub of Hangzhou, where he visited Unitree Robotics, one of Chinas leading developer of humanoid robots. His trip to China comes shortly before he makes his third visit to Washington as chancellor. KEN MORITSUGU & GEIR MOULSON, BEIJING, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Founded in 2007, French luxury acoustics engineering brand Devialet announces the grand opening of its first immersive pop-up store in partnership with The Opera de Paris in Wynn Palace, Macau. This new store marks a strategic leap for Devialets regional expansion, further solidifying our presence in Asia-Pacific and delivering state-of-the-art sound technology designed for those who seek the ultimate in sonic purity. It is a new milestone in the brands global journey, and an affirmation of our commitment to Macau, shared Mr. Martin Ku, Devialets General Manager for Asia-Pacific. Were thrilled to introduce our unique audio universe and valuable partnership with The Opera de Paris, not just to consumers in Macau, but also to visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong, and redefine the way they experience sound. The Opera de Paris | Devialet collection was born in 2017 from a partnership of excellence uniting two icons of French culture around shared values of passion, innovation, and deep roots in musical and historical heritage. Driven by a common ambition to amplify the voice of the Opera through uncompromising sound reproduction, this enduring collaboration celebrates emotion as the very essence of listening. Each creation is designed to transform sound into a vector of escape, power, and beauty, reflecting both the artistic excellence of the Opera de Paris and Devialets unique acoustic expertise. IS Like this: Like Loading... * Mid-way Lawmakers call for balanced approach to maternity leave expansion * Gaming | Galaxy posts 33% growth in full-year earnings * Taste of Edesia * Residents raise concerns over plastic bag and takeaway container fees, particularly among certain merchants * Bian Lixin welcomed as new Chinese foreign affairs commissioner in Macau * Diplomacy: Despite differences, President Xi and German Chancellor Merz seek to deepen ties in turbulent times DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, February 27, 2026 edition no. 4900 Like this: Like Loading... Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is testifying before U.S. House lawmakers in New York today [Macau time] as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, starting off two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. The closed-door depositions in the Clintons hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet north of New York City, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. It will be the first time that a former president has been forced to testify before Congress. Yet the demand for a reckoning over Epsteins abuse of underage girls has become a near-unstoppable force on Capitol Hill and beyond. President Donald Trump, a Republican who has expressed regret that the Clintons are being forced to testify, bowed last year to pressure to release case files on Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. The Clintons, too, agreed to testify after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the Oversight panel and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatened criminal contempt of Congress charges against them. We have a very clear record that weve been willing to talk about, Hillary Clinton said in an interview with the BBC earlier this month. She added that her husband had flown with Epstein for charitable trips and that she did not recall meeting Epstein but had interacted with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend and confidant, at conferences hosted by the Clinton Foundation. We are more than happy to say what we know, which is very limited and totally unrelated to their behavior or their crimes, and we want to do it in public, Hillary Clinton said. Bill Clinton, however, has emerged as a top target for Republicans amid the political struggle over who receives the most scrutiny for their ties to Epstein. Several photos of the former president were included in the first tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in January, including a number of him with women whose faces were redacted. Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. Comer has also pointed to Hillary Clintons work as secretary of state to address sex trafficking as another reason to insist on her deposition. The committees investigation has sought to understand why the Department of Justice under previous presidential administrations did not seek further charges against Epstein following a 2008 arrangement in which he pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl but avoided federal charges. Yet conspiracy theories, especially on the right, have swirled for years around the Clintons and their connections to Epstein and Maxwell, who argues she was wrongfully convicted. Republicans have long wanted to press the Clintons for answers. I mean if youre the wife of Bill Clinton, arent you going to have some questions about your husbands activities? said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a member of the House Oversight Committee. We only go where the facts take us. We didnt put the president and the secretary in this position. They put themselves in it. Democrats, now being led by a new generation of politicians, have prioritized transparency around Epstein over defending the former leaders of their party. Several Democratic lawmakers joined with Republicans on the Oversight panel to advance the contempt of Congress charges against the Clintons last month. Several said they had no relationship with the Clintons and owed no loyalty to them. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, said that both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed survivors in not getting more information out to the public. He also said he wanted to ask about Epsteins possible ties to foreign governments. Democrats are also coming off an effort this week to confront Trump about his administrations handling of the Epstein files by taking women who survived Epsteins abuse as their guests to Trumps State of the Union address. Even senior Democrats, such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, said it was appropriate for the committee to interview anyone, including the former president, who was connected to Epstein. We want to hear from everyone, Pelosi said, adding that she did not see why Hillary Clinton was being interviewed and that it was important to believe survivors. STEPHEN GROVES, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Lawmaker Kevin Ho said Macaus property market appears to have passed its lowest point, expressing cautious optimism about a gradual recovery while urging efforts to strengthen the local economy. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Legislative Assembly media spring luncheon yesterday, lawmaker and president of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Ho said the housing sector has begun to stabilize. He said the market has moved past its sluggish phase but has yet to enter a period of rapid growth, adding that residential rents have largely stabilized and are beginning to edge higher. Although the timing and strength of a rebound remain unclear, he projected that average home prices could record an increase of about 5% this year. Ho said commercial properties, including office units and street-level shops, continue to face pressure. Their performance, he added, will depend on the citys overall economic climate, including the effectiveness of government-led investment and industry funds in attracting new investors, as well as talent recruitment policies aimed at drawing skilled professionals and entrepreneurs to the city. Data from the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) showed that 384 residential property transactions were recorded in the first half of January, marking the highest level for the period since 2018. Market activity more than tripled compared with the same period last year. Market momentum was most evident on the Macau Peninsula, which accounted for the majority of transactions, with a total of 299 deals recorded in the area, a sharp increase from the 96 transactions registered in the same period a year earlier. The lawmaker also addressed community economic revitalization, noting that consumer vouchers alone cannot fully stimulate local districts, as spending often concentrates among a limited number of businesses. Speaking on the traditional post-holiday slow season before the May Day holiday, Ho said visitor arrivals remain steady, but policies should focus on distributing tourist flows across different neighborhoods. He also called for clearer coordination in district revitalization efforts, emphasizing long-term planning and differentiated development to build sustainable community economies. Like this: Like Loading... Lawmakers have called on the government to pursue a balanced and sustainable approach to expanding maternity and statutory leave benefits. Speaking to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the Legislative Assemblys media spring luncheon, Ella Lei said she supported the governments proposal to raise maternity leave and annual leave entitlements under the ongoing public consultation on amendments to the Labour Relations Law. The proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Law include increasing maternity leave from the current 70 days to 90 days and establishing a mechanism for granting additional leave days based on years of service. The policy direction reflects growing social consensus on improving employee welfare, particularly for working mothers, she said. Lei noted that extending maternity leave to 90 days has long been a shared social aspiration and aligns with the citys womens development targets, adding that the change would help improve childcare conditions and allow female employees sufficient recovery time after childbirth. The lawmaker also expressed support for government subsidy measures aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises manage the additional labor costs associated with extended maternity leave. She said financial assistance could help translate policy goals into practical workplace implementation. Echoing similar sentiments, Kevin Ho said that employers generally support policies that encourage childbirth but acknowledged that additional labor benefits could create operational pressure. The lawmaker backed the idea of government subsidies to offset part of the cost and stressed that labor-related reforms should be implemented gradually after consulting both employers and employees. Employers are cooperating with the SAR governments policy. However, if we are discussing how the increased maternity leave should be subsidized by the government for employers, I think that is entirely appropriate. Employers are cooperating with the SAR government to provide employees with more maternity leave, but the pressure on us is actually quite high, he said. On annual leave, Lei pointed out that the current minimum standard of six days, established decades ago, no longer reflects the citys social and economic development. Increasing statutory leave would strengthen workers right to rest and allow more time for family care, she said. She also suggested considering models where the starting number of annual leave days could be gradually increased before further increments based on seniority, a structure similar to arrangements in some neighboring regions. Meanwhile, Lei also called on the government to begin a comprehensive review of the Labour Relations Law this year. She said several areas require modernization, including mechanisms for recovering unpaid wages, which can be time-consuming for workers and costly for regulators, as well as improvements to work injury compensation and enforcement measures against illegal employment. Earlier this week, the Permanent Council for Social Dialogue approved its 2026 work plan, which includes reviews of severance pay caps, maternity and vacation leave rules, and workplace injury compensation limits. Like this: Like Loading... ANALYSIS From mid-February through Feb. 25, the Spring Festival travel rush Chunyun continued to drive record mobility across China, peaking in the GBAs transport hubs, intercity corridors and urban networks. Nationally, by Feb. 23, according to , railways had already sent 121 million passengers from Feb. 15 onward, with daily flows averaging 13.4 million and a record 18.7 million trips on Feb. 23 alone a historical high for a single day in the Spring Festival period. Within the Bay Area itself, GBA-based intercity rail corridors such as the (GuangzhouZhuhai Intercity Railway) have been running at extremely high utilization one report on Feb. 24 mentioned the rail ling carrying about 100,000 passengers in a single day, with trains fully booked and station dwell times compressed to under 2 minutes per stop in order to handle the crush of holiday traffic, as reported by SinaFinance. What this period says about GBA Mobility as integration: Movement flows are not only large they are structural, part of everyday life and economic circuits, not just holiday spikes. City networks, not discrete centers: Rail, metro and highway data show a persistent blending of urban and regional travel patterns, blurring administrative borders. Connectivity reinforces identity: The lived experience of travel within and between cities helps create a sense of the GBA as a shared social-economic space. These flows are layered on top of ongoing urban transit demand. Guangzhous metro system alone transported 45.96 million passengers during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday (Feb. 1523), averaging over 5.1 million riders per day numbers well above typical off-peak figures. All of this points to a Bay Area mobility system not just coping with peak demand, but operating near continuous peak capacity across multiple networks long-distance rail, intercity rail, and dense urban rapid transit, observers say. According to Xinhua, counts of tickets, trains and routes paint the picture: by Feb. 22, the national ticketing platform had already sold 325 million train tickets during the 2026 Spring Festival period, with dozens of thousands of extra passenger trains scheduled to manage the surge. While exact city-by-city breakdowns are not always published in real-time, these figures show that the Bay Areas rail system is a core driver of long-distance flows between provinces and within the Pearl River Delta, feeding into employment and family-reunion circuits that define peak Spring Festival mobility. Integration across mainland cities Behind the mobility headlines lies an ongoing narrative about regional integration namely how the nine mainland cities are increasingly functioning as a single economic and logistical organism rather than a loose collection of municipal units. Cited by GDToday, official planning documents and government work agendas released earlier in the year (such as the Guangdong government work report and Bay Area development plans) highlight this trend: from Qianhais financial and legal services expansion to Nanshas port and high-tech ambitions, the GBA strategy seeks to fold municipal strengths into a coordinated growth machine. One concrete element of this integration is the continued development of multi-modal rail and transit infrastructure. New and expanding corridors including multi-city intercity rail links between Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and beyond promise to shorten travel times and knit local economies closer together, according to infrastructure details from regional planning sources and network summaries. The GuangzhouZhuhai corridor, in particular, demonstrates this integration through mobility metrics: trains clocking substantial daily passenger counts, rapid station turnover, and formalized commuter-rail operations that blur the line between urban and regional transit. This structural side of Bay Area integration runs in parallel with daily spring rush dynamics. Mobility is not just a seasonal spike it is an ongoing mechanism that reproduces economic and social linkages across city borders throughout the year. Collective identity Beyond infrastructure build-outs, the holiday period also highlighted the lived experience of cross-city integration in day-to-day activity. Numbers tell the story 100,000+ passengers on regional intercity lines on peak days. 45.96 million metro riders in one core GBA city over nine holiday days. 121 million railway passengers nationwide between Feb. 1523, with rail networks in which GBA hubs play central roles. Guangzhous urban rail network recorded unusually high ridership throughout the Spring Festival, suggesting that mobility within city borders remains strong even amid a period typically marked by outbound travel, South China News has reported. People are moving not only between regions or to hometowns, but within economic corridors, linking employment centers, cultural venues, and service hubs across municipal boundaries. Mobility figures from intercity rail, rapid transit, and national rail suggest sustained multi-directional flows that bring workshop towns, port cities and industrial belts into a single rhythm. Its not just workers returning home or tourists visiting sights its the everyday connectivity of integrated cities, where a resident of Zhaoqing, Huizhou or Zhongshan might ride a train into Guangzhou in the morning and return the same day, even during a major holiday period. That such cross-network movements have stayed strong throughout the Spring Festival reflects what GBA planners have long argued: integration is material, not just aspirational. Times Writer Like this: Like Loading... Katie Couric has called Savannah Guthrie's ordeal "tragically unprecedented". Katie Couric has weighed in on Savannah Guthrie's ordeal Savannah, 54, has stepped away from her role on the Today show as the hunt continues for her missing mother Nancy Guthrie, 84, who disappeared from her Arizona home on February 1 and now the morning show's former host Katie has weighed in on how the "devastating" events have affected the team behind the scenes as they grapple with covering a story about their co-worker. Katie - who co-hosted the Today show between 1991 and 2006 - told Variety: "This situation is tragically unprecedented, and I think its really hard to compare anything else to what Savannah and her family are dealing with right now. "I do think morning shows are living, breathing organisms, and when something happens to a member of these very close-knit teams, it is devastating, I think, to everyone. "I think the Today show team is doing the best they possibly can, and it must be excruciating to try to carry on, but also to cover a story about a beloved colleague." Hoda Kotb - who stepped down from the programme full-time in January 2025 - returned as co-anchor alongside Craig Melvin on February 6 to stand in for Savannah and Katie, 69, admits TV bosses were lucky to have such a "familiar and beloved" presenter on standby. She added: "They are fortunate that Hoda, who is a familiar and beloved face, is able to step in so seamlessly under very difficult circumstances. I think they are trying to handle it as well as they possibly can." The Today show team has showed support for Savannah by decorating their Studio 1A set with yellow ribbons in flowers, taking their lead from residents in Nancy's Arizona neighbourhood, while on-screen talent have also worn yellow ribbons during appearances on the programme. Katie's comments come after Savannah and her family offered a $1 million reward for the "recovery" of their missing mother even though they have accepted it may already be too late to save her. In a video posted on Instagram, Savannah said: "It is day 24 since our mom was taken in the dark of night, from her bed and every hour and minute and second and every long night has been agony since then. Of worrying about her, fearing for her, aching for her and most of all just missing her. "We know that millions of you have been praying ... for her return and we feel those prayers. Please keep praying. "We still believe in a miracle, we still believe that she can come home - hope against hope ... We are blowing on the ambers of hope. "We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone, she may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven with her mom and her dad and her beloved brother Pierce and with our daddy." Savannah went on to add: "If this is what's to be then we will all accept it. But we need to know where she is. We need her to come home. "For that reason we are offering a family reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads us to her recovery ... You can call the ... tip line, you can be anonymous if you want. "Someone knows something that will bring her home and we are begging you to please come forward now ... " South Korea has relaunched a fact-finding commission into its past human rights violations, with a key focus on the extensive fraud and malfeasance that corrupted the nations historic foreign adoption program. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the third in the countrys history, began accepting new cases yesterday, months after the previous ones mandate ended in November with more than 2,100 complaints unresolved. The new commission will inherit those cases, including 311 submissions by Korean adoptees from the West that were either deferred or incompletely reviewed before the second commission halted a landmark investigation into adoptions in April last year, following internal disputes over which cases warranted recognition as problematic. Advocates say interest among adoptees is far higher this time, with hundreds already seeking investigations, including many from the United States, who were underrepresented in the previous inquiry even though American parents were by far the biggest recipients of Korean children over the past seven decades. But investigators who served on the previous commission said it could take months possibly until May or June for the new probes to actually get underway. The government has yet to appoint a chair to lead the commission, which has not formed investigative teams and will initially be run by civil servants assigned to receive and register cases. The new commission, established under a law passed in January expanding its investigative mandate, will also investigate other human rights abuses potentially attributable to the government, including civilian killings around the 1950-53 Korean War, repression during the military dictatorships of the 1960s to 1980s, and decades-long abuses of inmates at welfare facilities. Under the commissions three-year mandate, applications for investigation must be submitted until Feb. 25, 2028, although the commission has the power to extend the deadline and mandate for up to five years. Adoptees could also submit their applications with the South Korean embassies or consulates in the countries they live in. Seoul struggles to address systemic problems South Korea sent thousands of children annually to the West from the 1970s to the early 2000s, peaking at an average of more than 6,000 a year in the 1980s. The country was then ruled by a military government that saw population growth as a major threat to its economic goals and treated adoptions as a way to reduce the number of mouths to feed, contributing to whats now possibly the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees. The suspension of the prior adoption probe in 2025 followed a nearly three-year review of cases across Europe, the U.S. and Australia, during which the second commission confirmed human rights violations in just 56 of 367 complaints filed by adoptees. Still, the commission issued a significant interim report concluding that the government bears responsibility for a foreign adoption program riddled with fraud and abuse, driven by efforts to reduce welfare costs and carried out by private agencies that often manipulated childrens backgrounds and origins. The report, which challenged a longstanding narrative shared in South Korea and receiving nations in the West that adoptions were driven mainly by humanitarian concerns, broadly aligned with previous reporting by The Associated Press. The AP investigations, in collaboration with Frontline (PBS), drew from thousands of documents and dozens of interviews to show how South Koreas government, Western nations and adoption agencies worked in tandem to supply some 200,000 Korean children to parents overseas, despite years of evidence that many were being procured through corrupt or outright illegal means. During the height of adoptions in the 1970 and 80s, thousands of children were listed as abandoned to appear adoptable under Western laws, although records suggest most had known relatives. Adoption agencies paid hospitals and orphanages for newborns and other children, and in some cases switched childrens identities to keep adoptions moving when a child died, was too sick to travel, or was reclaimed by birth families. Prioritizing their domestic child demands, Western governments ignored the signs of rampant fraud and sometimes pressured the South Korean government to keep the kids coming. The previous commissions report, which also highlighted these problems, prompted a rare apology from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October. His government later announced plans to phase out the countrys dwindling foreign adoptions by 2029. The December announcement came as U.N. human rights investigators expressed serious concern over what they described as Seouls failure to ensure truth-finding and reparations for violations tied to past adoptions. South Korea approved overseas adoptions of just 24 children in 2025. Advocates anticipate wave of complaints Boonyoung Han, an adoptee activist and co-leader of the Danish Korean Rights Group, which led most adoptee applications to the previous commission, said the group submitted more than 300 cases to the newly launched commission yesterday. Once investigative teams are formed, the submissions will be reviewed before the commission decides whether to pursue investigations into those, along with the 311 cases carried over. Han said 118 of the new applications came from adoptees in Denmark while those in the United States accounted for the second-largest group with 73. Investigators from the previous commission say a broader review of the systemic problems would require closer scrutiny of adoptions to the United States, where citizenship gaps affecting adoptees have also drawn concern as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes aggressive deportations. U.S. adoptees accounted for just 45 of complaints received by the second commission, most of which were filed by adoptees in Europe. Some adoptees hope to use the commissions findings to file damages suits against the South Korean government or their adoption agencies, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean law places the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs in civil cases. KIM TONG-HYUNG, SEOULMDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Iran and the United States held hours of indirect talks yesterday in Geneva over Tehrans nuclear negotiations viewed as a last chance for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet of aircraft and warships to the Middle East to pressure Tehran into a deal. U.S. President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Irans nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests last month. Iran meanwhile has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its program sits in ruins, following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republics nuclear sites, part of a bruising 12-day war last year. If an American attack happens, Iran has said all U.S. military bases in the Mideast would be considered legitimate targets, putting at risk tens of thousands of American service members. Iran has also threatened to attack Israel, meaning a regional war again could erupt across the Middle East. There would be no victory for anybody it would be a devastating war, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told India Today in an interview filmed Wednesday just before he flew to Geneva. Since the Americans bases are scattered through different places in the region, then unfortunately perhaps the whole region would be engaged and be involved, so it is a very terrible scenario. Geneva talks are the third meeting since June Araghchi again is passing messages to Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer and friend of Trump who serves as a special Mideast envoy for the president. The two men held multiple rounds of talks last year that collapsed after Israel launched its war against Iran in June. These latest talks are again being mediated by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula thats long served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West. Araghchi met Omans Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi after arriving in Geneva on Wednesday night. The men reviewed the views and proposals that the Iranian side will present to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, based on the guiding principles agreed upon in the previous round of negotiations, a report from the state-run Oman News Agency said. Al-Busaidi will pass on Irans offer to American officials yesterday, it added. An Associated Press journalist saw al-Busaidi after he met with the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog. The Omani diplomat flashed a thumbs-up to a question about whether he was hopeful for the talks. Al-Busaidi returned yesterday to the Omani diplomatic residence on the shores of Lake Geneva . A convoy believed to be carrying American diplomats later arrived to the compound, followed by another believed to be carrying Iranian diplomats. Oman later published images of Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, meeting with al-Busaidi at the residence, signaling the start of the talks. The talks lasted some three hours before the American delegation left the site. Al-Busaidi wrote on X that United States and Iran will resume indirect nuclear talks today [Macau time]. Weve been exchanging creative and positive ideas in Geneva today, the Omani diplomat wrote. We hope to make more progress. In this round of negotiations after the June war, Trump has pushed to halt Irans enrichment of uranium entirely, as well as address Tehrans ballistic missile program and its support of regional militant forces. Iran has maintained the talks must remain focused only on nuclear issues. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that Iran is always trying to rebuild elements of its nuclear program. He said that Tehran is not enriching uranium right now, but theyre trying to get to the point where they ultimately can. Iran has said it hasnt enriched since June, but it has blocked IAEA inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press also has shown activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there. The West and the IAEA say Iran had a nuclear weapons program until 2003. Before the June attack, it had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to restart a weapons program, but has undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so. While insisting its program is peaceful, Iranian officials have threatened to pursue the bomb in recent years. The principles very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. Vance said Trump is sending those negotiators to try to address that problem and wants to address that problem diplomatically. But, of course, the president has other options as well, Vance added. Threat of military action sparks war fears If the talks fail, uncertainty hangs over the timing of any possible attack. If the aim of potential military action is to pressure Iran to make concessions in nuclear negotiations, its not clear whether limited strikes would work. If the goal is to remove Irans leaders, that will likely commit the U.S. to a larger, longer military campaign. There has been no public sign of planning for what would come next, including the potential for chaos in Iran. There is also uncertainty about what any military action could mean for the wider region. Tehran could retaliate against the American-allied nations of the Persian Gulf or Israel. Oil prices have risen in recent days in part due to those concerns, with benchmark Brent crude now about $70 a barrel. Iran in the last round of talks said it briefly halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes. Satellite photos shot Tuesday and Wednesday by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by the AP appeared to show that American vessels typically docked in Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, were all out at sea. The 5th Fleet referred questions to the U.S. militarys Central Command, which declined to comment. Before Irans attack on Qatar in June, the 5th Fleet similarly scattered its ships at sea to protect against a potential attack. JAMEY KEATEN, GENEVA, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Oxford Street in Londons West End, one of the worlds most famous shopping destinations, is getting a makeover with the creation of a new pedestrianized zone that the citys mayor hopes will revitalize its fortunes following struggles over recent decades. In a statement yesterday, Sadiq Khan said all forms of traffic, including cyclists, will be banned from a key 0.7-mile (1.1-km) stretch of the thoroughfare, between Oxford Circus in the middle and Marble Arch to the west. Works to pedestrianize this stretch of the 1.2-mile (1.9-km) street are expected to start in the summer, with the first traffic-free section introduced by the end of the year. I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events, Khan said. Oxford Street boasts around half a million visitors each day and is home to flagship stores of leading retailers Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, as well standalone destinations such as the Selfridges department store. But the area once a London must-visit for tourists like the Champs-Elysees in Paris has declined in popularity in recent years with the rise of online shopping and new large retail complexes in and around the capital. Rising business costs, particularly rents and business rates, havent helped. The mayors office said the plans to pedestrianize Oxford Street received extensive support from the business community during a consultation by Transport for London, the body that oversees the capitals public transport. The changes will be a challenge for those involved in rerouting buses and taxis that already go through Oxford Street or just traverse it. In densely developed and historic cities like London there will always be keen competition for the limited road space available, resulting in contentious political decisions as to who gets priority, said Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity at the RAC Foundation. Its been a long time coming for the Labour mayor Khan, who tried to pedestrianize part of Oxford Street in 2018. He was thwarted by the Conservative-run local authority. To succeed with his latest plan, he obtained permission from the Labour government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which provides planning powers, while TfL took over control of the road from the council. PAN PYLAS, LONDON Like this: Like Loading... The Green Party's victory in the Gorton & Denton by-election is yet another seismic shift in the landscape of British politics, and a sign of the polarisation and instability to come. We welcome this humiliating blow for Starmers Labour but the Greens' reformism offers no way out of the crisis. [Originally published at communist.red] George Galloways win in the Rochdale by-election. The victory of several pro-Palestine independent candidates in the 2024 general election. Last years local election results. Plaid Cymrus capture of Caerphilly in last Octobers Senedd by-election. For a number of years now, one shock after another has shaken and fragmented the landscape of British politics. Former Labour strongholds have come crumbling down. Previously safe seats have been seized by insurgent outfits. And, in turn, the two-party system that has dominated in Westminster for the last century has begun to collapse. The Green Partys victory in yesterdays by-election in Gorton & Denton the Greater Manchester constituency that has been held by Labour since 1931 can now be added to this list of political upsets. This win for Green leader Zack Polanski and his party marks a seismic moment in British politics, in the words of the Financial Times: yet another electoral tremor, heralding further political earthquakes and social explosions in the months and years ahead. Crushing defeat Above all, the result in Gorton & Denton represents a crushing defeat for Starmers Labour. The party had not lost an election in the area in almost 100 years. Yet Labour was relegated into third place in yesterdays by-election, behind the Greens and Reform UK. In 2024, Labour comfortably won the seat with over 50 percent of the vote. Yesterday, by contrast, Starmers loathsome party saw its support fall to around half this level. At the same time, the Greens beat even the most optimistic of polling predictions, gaining over 40 percent of the vote 12 percentage points ahead of second-placed Reform. This represents a mammoth 27 percent swing for the Green Party compared to their voter share in the same constituency at the last general election. Disenchantment on the doorstep Labours bruising defeat exposes what was already apparent to everyone: that Starmer and his government are rightly despised. The residents of Gorton & Denton made this clear with their rejection of Labour at the polls yesterday, as well as in conversations on the streets in the run-up to the vote. The struggle to make ends meet; a feeling of being left behind; a sense of neglect and betrayal; the genocide in Gaza; a burning anger towards the entire political establishment: all of this and more was cited by disenchanted voters as reasons for why they were thinking of choosing the Greens, Reform, or even none of the above over Labour in this contest. Indeed, with turnout at 48 percent, it is notable that over half of voters chose to stay at home, sceptical of all the political parties on offer in this by-election. Starmer out! Starmer has ignored all of this discontent and disillusionment since gaining the keys to Number 10, in his desperation to prove himself a reliable representative of the ruling class. But he has done so at his peril. All the chickens are now coming home to roost for Britains hapless and hated Prime Minister. Voters detest the Labour leader. Yet the capitalists do not fully trust him either and no doubt they will be weighing up their options in light of this latest blow to Starmer. A leadership struggle at the top of the Labour Party is unlikely to be launched in the short term, however. Labour MPs are fearful of opening up a Pandoras Box of political pandemonium, as this could precipitate an early general election. And if anything, the Greens victory in Gorton & Denton demonstrates how vulnerable these careerists are to losing their seats en masse. Many of them will therefore cling to the status quo for as long as possible, meaning no move against Starmer for the time being. In turn, however, disgruntled backbenchers will put increasing pressure on the Labour leaders to tack left, in order to avoid being routed by the Greens. This will make it even more difficult for Starmer and co. to carry out the cuts that the bosses and bankers are demanding. At a certain point the ruling class may decide that they have had enough of this political paralysis, and will turn on Starmer. Or Labour MPs may get in there first, with opportunists like Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting already manoeuvring themselves into position, ready to replace their partys beleaguered leader. Rather than being a spectator to this unfolding process, the left and the labour movement should organise and mobilise in order to put the working class in the driving seat, by launching a mass campaign of militant action, including coordinated strikes and protests. The call must be: Starmer out! Kick out all these capitalist cretins! Down with their whole rotten system! Lesser-evil Up until now, trade union leaders and influential left-wingers have brought up fears about Reform when it comes to justifying their support for Starmer and Labour. Yes, this Labour government is abhorrent: attacking welfare to pay for warfare; grovelling towards Trump; and appointing members of the Epstein class to the highest positions in the land. But better the devil you know, the argument goes. The left leaders effectively say to their supporters: Starmer and his ministers may be bastards, intent on outflanking Reform to the right on questions like migration or law and order. But at least theyre our bastards! Would you rather have Nigel Farage and his motley band of racists, reprobates, and Tory rejects in power?! The Greens victory in Gorton & Denton completely upends this apology for Starmers Labour, however. It has now been shown that workers and youth do not have to hold their noses and vote for Labour as the supposed lesser evil, in order to keep out Farages Reform. Instead, the Greens have firmly established themselves as a viable electoral option on the left, capable of defeating both Starmer and Farage: two equally undesirable prospects, as far as most workers and young people are concerned. Political polarisation This paves the way for further dramatic shifts in British politics. According to the latest polls, the Greens are now the first choice amongst voters under 65. For the youngest generation, those aged 18-24 years-old, support for Polanskis party rises to 46 percent. The Green Party is leading with the entire under 65 cohort. pic.twitter.com/V9XHBP3eex cez (@cezthesocialist) February 18, 2026 Due to the political calculus that comes with Britains first-past-the-post electoral system, however, growing backing for the Greens has not yet translated into major parliamentary gains. This could all now change quite rapidly. The Greens will no longer be seen as a wasted protest vote, but as the main political vehicle for left-wing demands; the best-placed challengers to Farage and Reform. Having suffered from tactical voting until now, then, the Green Party is set to benefit from it. This will give rise to a further political polarisation in Britain, and in turn to an acceleration in the collapse of the old centre ground; to the death of the Tory-Labour duopoly in Westminster; and to ever more uncertainty, instability, and turbulence. Class demands and divides The Greens win in Gorton & Denton shows not only that Starmers Labour and Farages Reform can be beaten, but also points the way forward as to how this can and should be replicated in the battles to come. The Green Party and its candidate, Hannah Spencer, were at their strongest when emphasising class politics and class demands: talking about the cost of living, and attacking the super-rich. We are working to line the pockets of billionaires, we are being bled dry, correctly asserted Spencer, a 34-year-old (now former) plumber, in her victory speech, for example. The partys campaign was weakest, meanwhile, when it retreated into woolly, liberal, moralistic platitudes about choosing hope not hate and valuing diversity. Far from winning over disillusioned working-class voters, such hollow rhetoric only plays into the culture war precisely at a time when workers and youth are seeing the reality of capitalisms class divide in all its grotesque horror with the global Epstein scandal. End of an era As with the election of Mamdani in New York, the surge in support for the Greens has simultaneously stunned the establishment, whilst injecting a new dose of optimism into the left in Britain. The more serious strategists of British capitalism are tearing their hair out at the thought of what lies ahead, with mavericks and populists on the right and left now on the rise. Those who want moderate, inclusive, economically sane politics [read: austerity and militarism] need at least one of the two major parties to get their act together and quickly, decried an editorial from the Financial Times, lamenting the demise of the ruling class traditional A and B teams. At the same time, the Greens victory is a rebuke to pessimists, cynics, and sceptics who declare that Britain is marching towards fascism and shifting to the right; that workers are apathetic, ignorant, and bigoted; that the left is dead. Instead, what we are seeing is a contradictory process: a breakdown in the old order; a polarisation to the right and the left; and a powerful radicalisation, particularly amongst the youth. Revolutionary answer This radical mood has been building up for years desperately searching for a political outlet or expression. And now it is beginning to find one, in the shape of self-proclaimed eco-populist Zack Polanski and his rejuvenated party (no doubt to the detriment of Corbyn and Sultanas Your Party). The Greens believe the chronic troubles we face can be solved by reforming and patching up capitalism, however, which is clearly not the case. For this reason, a growing layer, including of Green supporters, are going further and drawing revolutionary conclusions. It is increasingly evident that the entire system is bankrupt and broken, and needs to be overthrown. We, the Revolutionary Communist Party, welcome this humiliating blow for Starmers Labour, as well as the defeat for Farages Reform. At the same time, we must tell the truth: there is no way out of the crisis in society within the confines of capitalism. That is why we are fighting for a revolutionary answer to workers problems. And it is why we are building a revolutionary party a communist force that can put an end to the misery and barbarism of capitalism, once and for all. Kerry Katona has unfollowed Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews on social media after he reportedly came to blows with Kerry's boyfriend Paolo Margaglione. Kerry Katona no longer follows Katie Price's husband Lee Andrews on social media The pair are said to have been embroiled in an alleged 'punch up' as the quartet partied in Dubai on Katie and Lee's honeymoon and the former Atomic Kitten star, 45, "quietly unfollowed Lee" on social media in the wake of the apparent incident. It is claimed that the pair clashed when Lee had cross words with his wife, although Kerry is not thought to have been present when the row happened. A source said of Kerry who has a long friendship with Katie - to The Sun newspaper: "She is still upset about what happened when they were all in Dubai together, and at the end of the day, her loyalties are with Paolo, not Katie and her new man. "She is still on speaking terms with Katie and following her, but she doesn't want anything to do with Lee now." Katie had taken to Instagram to deny that the alleged bust-up had happened. The 47-year-old former glamour model who married Lee in Dubai last month after a whirlwind romance wrote on the social media platform: "Hey everyone. Oh, my God. There is so much speculation at the moment going around about me and Lee. "I don't know what the fascination is, but one thing I will clear up, there has not been any punch ups, punches thrown between Lee and Paolo. If anything, we had a really good day, and we celebrate with them, and that was it. "Had a great day. I don't know where these stories have come from. Lee has never, ever been aggressive, angry, or spoken to me in any sort of way. "We are so in love, and he is my absolute teddy bear. That's what I call him, my teddy bear. And we can't wait for when we get back to England to do a big wedding, when all our family, friends and obviously Kerry and Paolo would be our special guests." Katie previously defended her decision to marry Lee amid concerns about her spouse's background. She said in a YouTube video earlier this month: "I'm fully aware like everyone else, I see stuff, I get sent stuff. What I want everyone to know is, I'm a grown a*** woman. "I'm 48 this year, I'm not a young kid. I've learned a lot in the past few years, through therapy and learning to love myself. So I'm not stupid, I know what I'm doing and if I'm happy that's all that matters." Benins 2026 budget aims to keep the fiscal deficit within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) ceiling of 3 percent of GDP, according to IMF report on Wednesday. Authorities plan to anchor fiscal adjustments in the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy through sustained tax revenue mobilisation and streamlined public expenditure. Officials highlighted the importance of rebalancing the debt portfolio toward domestic sources over time, in line with the Medium-Term Debt Strategy. While Benin maintains a moderate risk of debt distress due to stronger debt-carrying capacity, the recent upward revision of central government debt underscores the need for heightened vigilance. Continued proactive debt management and closer monitoring of public enterprises liabilities are expected to mitigate external rollover risks. The Government is also urged to strengthen fiscal transparency by publishing revised debt and fiscal data in regular statistical bulletins. Enhanced governance and oversight of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public agencies remain a priority, given their growing role in the economy. Supervisory authorities are advised to maintain rigorous oversight of both public and private financial institutions to safeguard financial stability and limit contingent liability risks. Authorities are also encouraged to promote formalisation of the economy, support small and medium enterprises, update the social registry, and implement recommendations from the recently mapped social protection programs to improve targeting of vulnerable households. Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), Benin has adopted new climate-related public financial management regulations, improved climate-financial information systems, reformed water tariffs, implemented an agricultural insurance scheme, and strengthened social protection mechanisms. Going forward, continued reform momentum is expected to bolster balance of payments stability and further catalyse private-led climate finance initiatives. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has described Ethiopia as a pivotal partner in Africa following high-level discussions with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. In remarks shared after the meeting on Wednesday, Herzog characterised the talks as productive and reaffirmed the depth of longstanding diplomatic ties between the two nations. Herzog underscored that relations between Israel and Ethiopia are anchored in decades of cooperation and carry significant prospects for expansion. He reiterated Israels intention to broaden its diplomatic and economic footprint across Africa, identifying Ethiopia as central to that strategy. According to the president, the bilateral partnership holds substantial untapped potential. The leaders explored avenues for enhanced collaboration across innovation, science and technology, agriculture, food security, water management and energy. They also deliberated on advancing wider regional cooperation aimed at delivering mutual benefits. Herzog expressed hope that future engagement would be guided by principles of regional peace, solidarity and goodwill. During the visit, the Israeli president paid tribute at the Adwa Victory Memorial, honouring Ethiopias historic resilience. The trip comes amid a surge in high-level diplomatic activity in Addis Ababa, which has recently hosted leaders including Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Giorgia Meloni. The succession of visits reinforces the Ethiopian capitals growing stature as a continental diplomatic hub and the seat of the African Union. On a rare diplomatic mission to Kyiv on Wednesday, Ghanas Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, appealed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russia. Addressing a joint press conference alongside his Ukrainian counterpart, the minister expressed optimism that humanitarian considerations would guide a compassionate resolution. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine has drawn foreign fighters and mercenaries from multiple regions, including Africa. Ukrainian authorities disclosed that more than 1,780 individuals from 36 African countries among them Ghana had been identified within Russian ranks, with some taken into custody. Ablakwa described the detained Ghanaians as victims of manipulation, disinformation and criminal trafficking networks that lured them into the conflict. The Ghanaian minister commended Ukraine for adhering to international law in its treatment of the detainees, noting reports that the two nationals were in good health and had not been subjected to torture or inhumane conditions. He underscored Accras commitment to securing their safe return through diplomatic engagement. Ukraines Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, confirmed that discussions on repatriation had been conducted frankly. He also called on Ghana to intensify efforts to prevent recruitment of its citizens into Russias military campaign, arguing that such enlistments expose them to grave risk while undermining broader humanitarian considerations. South Sudan is hosting 613,710 refugees and asylum-seekers across 164,574 households in 29 locations nationwide as of January, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In its latest report released on Thursday in Juba, the agency said the total includes 610,268 registered refugees and 3,442 asylum-seekers. Sudanese nationals constitute the overwhelming majority, accounting for 94 per cent, or 576,672 individuals. They are followed by 14,677 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6,599 from Ethiopia, 5,605 from the Central African Republic, 5,165 from Eritrea, and 1,550 from other nationalities. The UNHCR noted that the South Sudanese government continues to grant prima facie refugee status to individuals fleeing the conflict in Sudan. Demographically, 49 per cent of the refugee population are females aged between 0 and 59, while women and children combined represent 75 per cent of the total caseload. Among asylum-seekers, Ethiopians and Eritreans each make up 37 per cent, forming the two largest groups, followed by Burundians at 9 per cent, Ugandans at 7 per cent, and other nationalities accounting for the remaining 9 per cent. Despite hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees, South Sudan remains central to one of the regions most significant displacement crises. More than 2.3 million South Sudanese are currently living as refugees in neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the agency said. Some octogenarians retain memory and recall abilities comparable to people decades younger, and scientists now think they understand why. Super-agers maintain new neuron growth and active gene networks, keeping memory sharp into later life A new study suggests super-agers- older adults whose memory matches that of a typical 50-year-old - continue to produce new brain cells at a remarkably high rate, particularly in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory. Researchers say the findings could inform future treatments for Alzheimers and other cognitive disorders. The team analysed nearly 356,000 brain cells from donated tissue, comparing young adults, healthy older adults, super-agers, and people at early and advanced stages of Alzheimers. They focused on the dentate gyrus, a sub-region of the hippocampus. Super-agers generated roughly double the new neurons of typical older adults, while neuron growth in Alzheimers patients was significantly reduced. Professor Orly Lazarov, University of Illinois Chicago, who co-led the study, told the Times: Something in their brains enables super-agers to maintain a superior memory. I believe hippocampal neurogenesis is the secret ingredient, and the data support that. The researchers also examined the mechanisms behind this regeneration. They found that chemical switches controlling gene activity remained active in super-agers, keeping memory circuits robust. By contrast, in Alzheimers patients, these switches gradually closed, often before any symptoms appeared. Super-agers also produced higher levels of proteins that protect and grow brain cells, and their master controller gene networks, which regulate multiple other genes , were more active. Researchers say drugs mimicking these processes could, in the future, help people maintain cognitive health. Ahmed Disouky, first author, concluded: Whats exciting is that this study shows the ageing brain is not doomed to decline. Understanding how some people naturally maintain neurogenesis opens the door to strategies that could help more adults preserve memory and cognitive health. SNAKE HUNTER SNARES 12-FT GIANT PYTHON TERRORISING NAVAL ISLAND SNAKE HUNTER SNARES 12-FT GIANT PYTHON TERRORISING NAVAL ISLAND The elusive serpent that was spotted at various SoBo locations Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Navy Nagar over the past five years, spreading panic among residents, has finally been caught. And the man who achieved what seemed to be the impossible is Murlidhar Shravan Jadhav, a Mumbai Police Head Constable and veteran snake rescuer who tracked the 12-foot Indian Rock Python over two weeks before finally snaring it on a nearby Navy-controlled island.Along with the python, Jadhav also rescued six cobras and three Russells vipers venomous and dangerous species from Ground Land Coastal Battery, the island that is located 1.5 km off the citys coastline.The operation was triggered after alarmed naval personnel reported multiple sightings of the huge reptile. Earlier, five to six snake rescuers had failed to track the python on the islands forested, rocky terrain.Acting on a request from the Navy, Jadhav attached to the Mumbai Police Headquarters in Kalina undertook a determined and methodical search mission. After completing his regular police duties during the day, he travelled to the island at night and conducted a systematic tracking operation alongside naval staff.Over the course of nearly 15 nights, Jadhav combed through rocky stretches and thick vegetation to capture the snakes. Officials noted that the operation required exceptional patience, expertise and caution, given the presence of multiple venomous species on the island.The python was secured without any harm to humans or the animal, effectively bringing closure to years of speculation and concern. Jadhavs efforts not only resolved a persistent urban wildlife mystery but also ensured the safety of South Mumbais residents and naval personnel. Speaking about the rescue, Jadhav said the presence of a python in such a marine environment was unusual. However, the island provided abundant prey, including rats, cats and seabirds, which likely sustained the reptile over an extended period. In recognition of his efforts, the Navy honoured Jadhav with a trophy for the successful operation, acknowledging his role in clearing the island of potentially dangerous snakes. Jadhavs journey as a snake rescuer is equally remarkable. He began his work at the age of 18 after surviving a near-fatal snakebite, defying medical odds. He was saved by noted rescuer Rajendra Thombre, who later became his mentor and inspired him to dedicate his life to wildlife rescue. Since then, Jadhav has rescued thousands of snakes across Mumbai and currently serves as an honorary Animal Welfare Officer. In 2025, he was awarded the prestigious DG Medal by Mumbai Police for his contribution. Police officials said the operation underscores how city policing can intersect with wildlife rescue, and how one officers perseverance ultimately brought an end to South Mumbais long-running python mystery. As a researcher, public health professional and practicing physician, Ive been watching the rise of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT with both cautious optimism and healthy skepticism. The public is rightly wary about this new technology in health care. Its misuse can have serious consequences for patients, for example, by inappropriately denying care, hallucinating incorrect information or overlooking pertinent patient information. Clear guardrails and direct patient contact with medical professionals is crucial. Invaluable support Still, for time-pressed doctors, a tool that both confirms judgments and broadens diagnostic thinking can be invaluable. When used properly, it can help combat the tunnel vision that often takes hold in busy clinics and hospitals. Much of the promise of AI in medicine is its ability to free doctors from paperwork, reduce mistakes and allow for more time with patients. All great benefits. But I wondered, could it actually help me be a better doctor? I decided to find out. During hospital rounds at the hospital where I work, I ran a small experiment. After each patient encounter, I entered a brief, de-identified summary into ChatGPT that included age, symptoms, labs and treatment plan. No names. No personal information. Then I asked: What else should I be considering? I expected ChatGPT to echo what I already knew about potential diagnoses and care options. Instead, it pushed me to think more broadly about what approaches to take. Take an elderly man with osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection in his foot. Bloodwork showed a staph infection, so our care teams plan was to prescribe antibiotics and surgically remove the infected bone. Straightforward enough. But ChatGPT suggested an echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the patients heart. It cited recommendations from the Infectious Diseases Society of America outlining how sometimes staph infections can also infect the heart valves, a complication with serious consequences. We ordered the test. Thankfully, the heart valves were clear. We may have ordered it eventually on our own, but on a busy day, it could easily have been missed. That prompt underscored the potential of AI to ensure critical interventions arent overlooked. Of course, AI can also hallucinate or suggest the wrong test, which is why judgment remains essential. In real time Another example involved a patient with a common drug rash. The hospital pharmacy didnt carry the treatment I usually prescribe, only an alternative I had never used. In less than a minute, ChatGPT produced a side-by-side comparison, including studies and outcomes, allowing me to prescribe with confidence. Other times it resolved debates in real time. One patients blood test raised the question of whether his respiratory acidosis, a condition where the lungs are not adequately able to clear carbon dioxide, was acute or chronic. In this patient, the evidence wasnt clear. ChatGPT laid out the physiology step by step, giving us a common framework and reference to think from. The team reached consensus and avoided a clinical misstep in diagnoses. In classrooms ChatGPT even changed how I teach. When an intern and I disagreed on the definition of unstable angina - a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart - we asked ChatGPT together. It pulled from reliable sources, laying out the definition from the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology. What could have been a top-down correction became an active learning moment. Know what to ask These experiences convinced me that future clinicians should be training on how to use AI effectively, including what information to enter, how to frame questions and how to filter outputs. My medical experience helps me know which questions to ask, which answers to trust and which suggestions to dismiss. We need to ensure that other clinicians - not just doctors but also nurses, pharmacists and community health workers who already carry so much of the clinical load - can do the same with AI tools. As these tools improve, they must be made trustworthy, safe and responsive to human needs. Privacy and security are paramount. Hallucinations - confident but wrong answers - can occur, and AI companies must do more to reduce them. Physicians, too, can take specific steps to minimise errors. My primary strategy is to ask ChatGPT for references for each of its recommendations. For any information that is consequential to my decision, I then look at the original source. This can be a bit tedious, but it dramatically reduces the likelihood of an AI-enabled error. Some people argue that ChatGPT will eventually replace physicians altogether. At some point in the future, maybe that will be true. But right now, what I know is ChatGPT did not replace my training or judgment. It undoubtedly enhanced both. Ashish K. Jha, the former dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, was White House covid-19 response coordinator from 2022 to 2023. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Cradling his newborn daughter in his lap in their Indianapolis home, JaKobi Burtons love for the new lady in his life is evident with each caress. The first-time dads commitment started months earlier. Burton attended every medical appointment and took classes with Dads to Doulas, a program created by the organization Dear Fathers that teaches Black fathers-to-be how to provide physical, mental and spiritual support up to and after childbirth. He and his wife, Crystal Wilmot-Burton, understood that the pregnancy came with immense risk, not just because they were in their 40s but also because they are Black. Federal health data shows Black women are almost 3.5 times more likely than white women to die around the time of childbirth. Health professionals and advocates hope that by giving Black fathers-to-be the tools to be more hands-on through government-funded programs and nonprofit center resources they can cut into those odds. Organizers say there has been a noticeable shift in the attitudes of some Black men who now openly discuss their pregnancy fears and insecurities. I want you to know that I was involved and that I was looking out for you from the very beginning, and Im always going to be your biggest protector, Burton tells his 1-month-old daughter. Thats what I did from the beginning of this experience, trying to learn as much as I could. Paternal involvement is directly correlated with better outcomes Health disparities, racism and equal access to prenatal care are among the contributing factors for the disparities in mortality rates among women of different races, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Two recent viral cellphone videos including one in Indiana show hospital staff dismissing the concerns of Black women in labor. The maternal mortality rate for Black women soars above that of other racial groups. They suffered 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. White women experienced 14.5. Hispanic and Asian women faced 12.4 and 10.7, respectively. The National Healthy Start Association, which was created in 1998 to help improve infant and maternal mortality rates, has fatherhood practitioners at its 116 project sites. They, along with case managers, offer men assistance including webinars, a texting service and even cooking lessons. Kenneth Scarborough, who has been the NHSAs fatherhood and mens health consultant for 10 years, has noticed a shift toward including male partners in the efforts to preserve the health of pregnant women. Theres more research that is being done to be able to change those narratives, without a shadow of a doubt, Scarborough said. The challenge with that is still getting these institutions to understand the value of making sure that Dad is there and he is at the table. Doctors still leave Black fathers on the fringes of the conversation while society often codifies them as scary and rough, said Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, founder and director of the Center of Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University. She said she has heard countless anecdotes of fathers being ignored in the exam room, even though paternal involvement is directly correlated with better outcomes. Mothers- and fathers-to-be face racism in medical institutions Black patients are frequently advised to seek out an OB-GYN who looks like them, and Wilmot-Burton did just that. I thought maybe she would be more caring, be more willing to listen to my issues, which she was, she said. But Black doctors make up a tiny share of OB-GYNs nationwide. Of the estimated 43,700 practicing OB-GYNs, 7.5% are Black women, according to 2023 data from the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Even fewer 2.3% are Black men. Deborah Frazier, the CEO of National Healthy Start, said medical organizations must let go of any stigma about paternal involvement. Black and brown fathers still face stereotypes of absenteeism. We have data and interviews with fathers, and those fathers have told us that they wanted to be there with their partners, and they wanted be present for their births, Frazier said. Charles Johnson IV founded 4Kira4Moms in 2017 after his wife, Kira, bled to death during a cesarean section at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. Johnson sued the hospital in 2022, saying she died because of a culture of racism. Fathers should be able to walk the line between assertive and aggressive while still being a force in the room, the groups executive director Gabrielle Albert said. What if you happen to be 6-foot-5 and 200-something pounds? If you speak up, whats gonna happen? Albert said. Lets role-play conversations. How do you push back against the doctor? From dad to doula In August two months before Wilmot-Burton gave birth Burton was one of a dozen prospective dads holding a Black baby doll at a Dads to Doulas workshop. Facilitator Kyra Betts Patton tells them studies show present fathers-to-be can lower the chances of premature births. The largest time frame for maternal mortality, youre looking at 43 to 100 days after youve had a baby. No ones there but the partner, Patton said. Burton said the classes gave him the courage to advocate throughout the pregnancy, and that he took a checklist of questions from the class to every appointment. I pushed hard prior to the delivery to make sure that our birth plan was followed, even though it wasnt completely. But she (Phoenix) still turned out great and was delivered successfully, said Burton. He also took classes with the Indiana Breastfeeding Coalition. Wilmot-Burton gives her husband credit for taking these workshops while also working and attending grad school. His presence was vital, especially when she felt unwell or was nervous. I would encourage other Black women to make sure their partners are on board to attend some classes or read books, she said, and definitely go to as many appointments as they can. ___ Tang reported from Phoenix. By TERRY TANG and OBED LAMY Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) An Oregon jury has ordered PacifiCorp to pay $305 million to 16 victims of the states devastating 2020 wildfires in the latest verdict in a class-action lawsuit against the utility that includes thousands of members. PacifiCorp has now been ordered by juries to pay over $1 billion in damages to members of the class following a 2023 trial in which it was found liable for negligently failing to cut power during a windstorm despite warnings from top fire officials. PacifiCorps appeal of the case is making its way through state court. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 class members have cases set for trial in 2026 and 2027. The 2020 Labor Day weekend fires were among the worst natural disasters in Oregons history. They killed 11 people, burned more than 1,560 square miles (4,040 square kilometers) and destroyed thousands of homes. The amounts awarded by a Multnomah County Circuit Court jury Wednesday were to 16 victims of the Santiam Canyon fire in northwest Oregon. This verdict is a meaningful acknowledgment of the devastation theyve endured and reaffirms the irreversible losses theyve suffered as a result of the fires, Shawn Rabin, who led the trial team representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. In an emailed statement, PacifiCorp said the verdict was an irresponsible outcome related to damages caused by a fire that PacifiCorp did not start or contribute to as determined by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This is why we have been and will continue to challenge these verdicts, the utility said. In a report released last year, the Oregon Department of Forestry found that 12 of 19 fires in Santiam Canyon in September 2020 were caused by embers from another fire. The other seven fires were caused by downed power lines but were determined not to have contributed to the spread of large fires in the canyon, and they were suppressed by residents or firefighters, according to the report. Plaintiffs attorneys have described the report as flawed and missing evidence. Separately, PacifiCorp has agreed to pay over $2 billion to settle claims stemming from a series of lawsuits it has faced over the 2020 blazes, including $575 million to the federal government for wildfire damages on federal land in Oregon and California. By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press HAVANA (AP) Cubas deputy foreign minister said Thursday that the islands government is communicating with U.S. officials following the fatal shooting of a U.S. boat in Cuban waters. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said the Cuban government is willing to exchange information with U.S. officials, adding that Cuba plans to ask them for information on the suspects involved and what means they used to organize the trip. The deputy foreign minister added that the U.S. government has shown willingness to cooperate in clarifying the facts. Cubas Ministry of the Interior said that on Wednesday morning, a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cubans from the U.S. opened fire on soldiers off the islands north coast, and that troops responded, killing four suspects and injuring six others. One Cuban official also was injured, the government said. A U.S. official said Thursday that at least one American citizen was killed and another wounded in the incident. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation into Wednesdays firefight, said another member of the 10-person crew was in the U.S. on a visa and several others may have been green card holders. Boat reported stolen The official said the owner of the boat has alleged that it was stolen by one of his employees. The 1981 Pro Line boat was reported stolen from the Florida Keys, according to a report from the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. It stated that the owner told authorities he lives in Miami-Dade County but keeps his boat at a Big Pine Key house, whose owner allows him to keep it in exchange for construction work. The report states that the man reported the boat stolen after receiving calls from reporters and said he had not seen his 24-foot boat docked at the property in more than a week. Cuba promises more details soon Cubas government has released a list with the names of the alleged suspects and accused them of planning to invade the island and unleash terrorism. Cossio said authorities found assault and sniper rifles, pistols, night vision equipment, bayonets, camouflage clothing, combat rations, communication equipment and a large number of insignia from counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations. He added: This information is still preliminary. More details will be provided in the coming days. On Wednesday evening, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident. The majority of the facts being publicly reported are those by the information provided by the Cubans. We will verify that independently as we gather more information, and well be prepared to respond accordingly, Rubio said. Cossio noted that Cuban authorities have regularly provided the U.S. with information on people he asserted have been involved in promoting, financing, and organizing violent and terrorist acts against Cuba. He noted that two of the boat passengers detained were on that list and enjoyed impunity within U.S. territory. The Cuban government is still awaiting responses to requests for information about them and the other individuals and organizations included in the list issued, Cossio said. He did not take questions from journalists at the press briefing. Havana abuzz with opinions on shooting Meanwhile, across Havana and beyond, the streets were abuzz with opinions over what had happened. What the hell, said 88-year-old street musician Efrain Scotland of the alleged attempt of 10 people to invade the island. No, my friend, no, thats not going to bring down a nation. Some, like 48-year-old construction worker Roberto Henry Figueredo, praised the way Cuba defended itself. That hail of bullets that we unleashed was good, he said, adding that if it were to happen again, Cubans would withstand the attack. If they fire at us, were going to eat those bullets. People in Cuba and beyond awaited more information about the motive behind the alleged attempted boat trip to the Caribbean island. Cuban political scientist Rafael M. Hernandez told reporters in an online briefing Thursday that many questions remain unanswered: What were they doing? What were they looking for? Were they starting a liberation movement in Cuba? Were they trying to sabotage the Cuban economy? He described the alleged operation as silly and counterproductive. However, some worried that the shooting could worsen an already frayed relationship between Cuba and the United States, which has tightened sanctions. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump also threatened to impose a tariff on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, which depended heavily on petroleum from Venezuela. But those shipments were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested its then-leader. Cuba has since imposed severe fuel-saving measures. I expect things to get more tense, said 54-year-old Havana resident Rosa Larrondo, who described Wednesdays shooting as a violation of the sovereignty of the Cuban people. ___ Coto reported from San Jose, Costa Rica. Associated Press diplomatic writer Matthew Lee in Washington, D.C. and reporter Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed. By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, MILEXSY DURAN AND DANICA COTO Associated Press The Berkeley City Council reluctantly signed off Monday night on two proposed high-rise developments that use a state housing law to sidestep local labor standards. Two labor groups had called for Berkeley leaders to approve the projects but reject their developers attempts to use Californias density bonus law to dodge a union-backed ordinance Berkeley adopted in 2023 mandating that builders of large projects provide health care coverage for workers and apprenticeship programs. The state law requires cities to give builders exemptions from certain local regulations if their projects include affordable housing. Developers Collab Home and Laconia Development say abiding by the ordinance would cost millions of dollars and mean they might never actually build the projects, a 20-story complex on Durant Avenue in the Southside neighborhood and a 23-story building on University Avenue in downtown Berkeley. Attorneys for the developers told the City Council that the state law grants them broad authority to bypass Berkeleys mandates, and the city doesnt have the power to block their use of it. Council members, some of whom voted to approve the health care and apprenticeship requirements, said they were sympathetic to the appeal from the labor groups. But several members agreed that the state law meant they couldnt force the developers to follow the requirements, and were wary the companies could take the city to court if they tried to do so. At a time when Berkeley faces a budget deficit estimated at $30 million, the council wasnt interested in picking that potentially costly fight. I dont think the legal justification is there to deny the concessions, Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani said. The city is not in a position to take on the cost of expensive litigation, when we know at the outset that we are likely to fail. Affordable housing lets developers dodge mandates The debate Monday night centered on a 169-unit project at 2425 Durant Ave. from Berkeley-based Collab Home, and a project at 2029 University Ave. from Laconia, a Walnut Creek firm that proposed two versions of the project. One would include 240 units and have more studio and one-bedroom apartments; the other, with larger apartments, would have 160 total units. A third project that also sought exemptions from the labor standards, at 2298 Durant Ave., was scheduled to be discussed Monday night but has been withdrawn by developer Valiance Capital, Mayor Adena Ishii said. Plans for the 2425 Durant Ave. project call for including 32 units that would have below market rate rents, while the University Avenue project would have either 24 or 36 affordable units depending on which version of it is built. Those affordable units allowed the projects to claim an array of deal-sweeteners under the density bonus law. Each requested exemptions from the health care and apprenticeship ordinance, known by the acronym HARD HATS, or Helping Achieve Responsible Development with Healthcare and Apprenticeship Training Standards. The Durant Avenue project also sought to disregard another requirement supported by construction unions that projects in the Southside neighborhood pay workers prevailing wage. And the University Avenue project claimed an exemption from a mandate to use glass that is designed to prevent birds from flying into windows. Laconia has said the requirements would add more than $5 million to the cost of its University Avenue project. And development consultant Mark Rhoades told the council Berkeleys mandates would add $16.6 million in costs to the Durant Avenue project, including nearly $13 million from the prevailing wage requirement alone. Union officials disputed those estimates, which they said inflated the true cost of the requirements. This is an extreme, up-front cost that is difficult impossible to commit to, Rhoades said. Each project was approved by Berkeleys Zoning Adjustments Board, but those decisions were appealed by the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County and the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council. The groups argued Laconia and Collab Home were abusing the density bonus law, which they said was meant to apply to physical limitations on development, not labor standards. Unions staged protests for weeks before vote In the weeks leading up to Mondays meeting, union members protested outside City Hall and the downtown offices of Rhoades firm, holding signs and handing out fliers accusing the developers of seeking to exploit workers. Union members and officials in work vests attended the meeting, telling the council that Berkeleys labor standards would ensure workers get quality training and have coverage if theyre injured on the job. I can afford to live in Berkeley, (which) I love, because Ive been given these opportunities through apprenticeships, through a living wage, through health care, carpenter Stephanie Lind said. The Durant and University projects are some of the first that would be subjected to the HARD HATS ordinance, which applies to projects submitted since 2024, and union leaders fear other developers will follow their strategy of using the state law to nullify Berkeleys mandate. The original legislative intent of the density bonus law was to allow developers to build more affordable units as a social good, attorney Jolene Kramer, who represented the Building and Construction Trades Council, said Monday. Allowing a developer to avoid a labor standards requirement will do the opposite. The developers attorneys said the density bonus was written with intentionally sweeping language that lets builders exempt themselves from costly mandates that would otherwise stifle housing production. Approval, in this instance, is mandatory, attorney Todd Williams told the council. Council calls for legislation to address loophole Even if they couldnt compel the developers to follow Berkeleys mandates, some council members said they still werent willing to vote in favor of the projects. We all have red lines, this is mine I cannot in good conscience support housing that will be built on the backs of the workforce, said Councilmember Igor Tregub. He and others said state lawmakers should pass new legislation to rein in how developers use the density bonus law and prevent future projects like the ones on Durant and University avenues. State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, who as mayor of Berkeley led the push to pass the HARD HATS ordinance and drew on support from unions in the building trades during his run for Sacramento, backed the effort to force the projects to comply with the ordinance. In a statement provided by a spokesperson Tuesday, Arreguin wrote that he was disappointed by the councils decision and is considering introducing legislation to amend the state density bonus law to close this loophole. The councils opposition to the projects proved only symbolic. The Durant Avenue project was approved with five votes in favor, from Ishii, Kesarwani, Brent Blackaby, Mark Humbert and Cecilia Lunaparra; Tregub joined Terry Taplin, Ben Bartlett and Shoshana OKeefe in abstaining from the vote. When the University Avenue project came up for a vote, five council members Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, OKeefe and Blackaby abstained, while Kesarwani, Lunaparra, Humbert and Ishii voted yes. Because the vote failed and the council officially took no action, the zoning boards decision to approve the project with the concessions stands, and the development can move forward. ___ This story was originally published by Berkeleyside and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. By NICO SAVIDGE/Berkeleyside Berkeleyside Bitter national angst over the federal governments immigration tactics has pushed Hawaii lawmakers in directions they werent willing to go last year. That has kept alive a collection of bills intended to protect immigrants and limit cooperation between state and local agencies and federal immigration authorities as the 2026 legislative session reaches its crucial midpoint. Its a signal change from last year, when no such legislation survived the session, with much of it dying early on. The difference, say advocates and lawmakers, is the ramped-up crackdown on immigrants. We had a year to see what this Trump administration was going to do, and it was clear that our more wait-and-see attitude wasnt really going to work, state Sen. Karl Rhoads said. We needed to be more aggressive if we were going to protect the rights of our citizens here in Hawaii. To increase the odds that something would reach the governor, advocates this year again pushed for multiple bills rather than an omnibus approach, with one or two bills carrying the weight of their hopes. This week, bills advanced that speak to the plethora of concerns raised across the country by critics of the administrations heavy-handed approach. One would generally prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks, another would bar police officers from stopping people to ask them about their immigration status and protect the right for the public to record police activities, and one would require state and county police agencies to advise people in custody of their rights before they are interviewed by federal immigration agents. We have a bill that is still alive, still moving through the process in every single category in our immigrant justice package, said Tina Sablan, community and policy advocate at The Legal Clinic in Honolulu, which serves the immigrant community. Lawmakers said views in the Legislature have been changed by the increasingly no-holds-barred immigration enforcement in places such as Chicago and Los Angeles as well as Minnesota, where in January federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens who were observing and protesting their actions. Minnesota was a pretty crystallizing event, said Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Last year, he introduced several immigration bills that went nowhere. By contrast, his committee passed three immigration bills Thursday, including one to prohibit local law enforcement officers from helping federal agents exceed their authority or suppress First Amendment activity, such as protesting during ICE sweeps. Done By Design Urged along by advocates, legislators this session introduced more than 25 bills related to immigrant rights and immigration enforcement. The idea was to have multiple vehicles moving so that as bills were amended or lost momentum, others could pick up some of the pieces that fell by the wayside. It was done in almost an a la carte way because we want to see all these moving forward, said Mandy Fernandes, policy director of ACLU of Hawaii. Strategically it does make sense. While about half the introduced bills have died, those that remain still carry the bulk of what advocates want: a bulwark against Hawaii getting pulled into immigration enforcement practices beyond what the law requires. For example, local officials and police officers cannot stop federal agents from making arrests that are supported by judicial warrants. But various proposed bills would prohibit them from participating in enforcing civil violations of immigration law, which they are not required by law or authorized to do. To that end, one bill, House Bill 1870, would prevent local officials from cooperating with most enforcement around state-funded facilities such as schools, social service agencies and health services. The Trump administration in January 2025 rescinded a similar federal policy covering so-called sensitive places. It had been in place nationwide since 2011 and limited ICEs ability to conduct actions in places such as schools, hospitals and churches. Like the sensitive places bill, several other measures that were dead by this midway stage last year are still hanging on. They include House Bill 1768, aimed at barring state or local law enforcement agencies from entering agreements with federal authorities that would allow them to join in immigration enforcement. Several other bills, including House Bill 1886, which advanced out of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on Wednesday, would restrict the ways local police departments could work with federal law enforcement agencies. That bill would prohibit police departments from joining task force operations that could result in civil immigration detention, removal, or deportation proceedings. Police departments in all four Hawaii counties have agreements under which their officers are enlisted in task forces at federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE, and the FBI. Officials at all the departments have said the agreements do not allow their officers to participate in immigration enforcement. Advocates say more safeguards are needed, in the form of state laws. It has become abundantly clear that the Department of Homeland Security is no longer an agency that abides by constitutional norms, said Liza Ryan Gill, co-coordinator of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights. If Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes with a judicial warrant, there is nothing we can pass or do that can stop them from executing that warrant, Gill said. This package of bills is meant to protect Hawaii from being dragged down into the unconstitutional actions of a rogue agency. Still On Fast Track? In January, following a rally and vigil for people who have died in ICE detention centers and the two slain Minnesota protestors Renee Good and Alex Pretti Gov. Josh Green said he hoped a package of immigration-related bills could be fast-tracked to his desk. Anything that states can do to make it clear that were standing up against this kind of violence and that were protecting people, is the right thing to do, Green told Civil Beat at the rally. On Thursday, the governors spokesperson, Makana McClellan, said that was still his position. In the state Senate, Rhoads said fast-tracking was underway, with one bill already having crossed over to the House. That bill, Senate Bill 2203, makes it a criminal offense for law enforcement officers to wear a facial covering except under certain circumstances, such as during undercover operations. The bill reads: Prohibiting the use of face masks unless certain conditions are met will improve public trust by drawing a sharp distinction between legitimate law enforcement and the perception of secret police tactics used by federal agents under the Trump administration. It was amended to allow masks during undercover operations after pushback from the Honolulu Police Department and the state Department of Law Enforcement. Similar legislation, often dubbed No Secret Police laws, has been passed or introduced around the country, including in California. There, the new law prohibited law enforcement officers, including federal officers, from wearing masks in most circumstances. That law, too, allows officers in undercover operations to wear masks. Fernandes said advocates are still hopeful legislation can reach the governor for his signature before the legislative session ends. We havent heard from any elected that theres a change in plans to fast-track these measures, Fernandes said. At the same time, Sablan, of The Legal Clinic, said they are taking into account that the Trump administration may well bring court challenges against any laws that oppose its aims. We want to have the strongest bills possible. And that does take deliberation and time, she said. If we can get really strong bills enacted into law sooner rather than later, that would be best. But if its mid-April as opposed to May, I think well just be happy to see these bills through to enactment. Rep. David Tarnas, chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, said he wants to get the bills right, more than speed them along. This is very complicated, and I want to make sure that we work closely with the Attorney Generals Office and with the immigration lawyers that we have in the state here to make sure the language is solid, Tarnas said. That it is protecting states rights and does not inappropriately limit federal agents in carrying out their assigned responsibilities. ___ Civil Beats reporting on the Hawaii State Legislature is supported in part by the Donald and Astrid Monson Education Fund and its reporting on economic inequality is supported by the Hawaii Community Foundation as part of its work to build equity for all through the CHANGE Framework; and by the Cooke Foundation. ___ This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. By JEREMY HAY/Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Civil Beat Margot Robbie's make-up in Wuthering Heights was inspired by the "pomegranate girl" TikTok trend. Margot Robbie's Wuthering Heights looks were inspired by a TikTok trend The movie's make-up artist Sian Miller has opened up about the influences she turned to when creating the actress' looks for her role as Cathy in Emerald Fennell's big screen reimagining of Emily Bronte's classic novel - and she's revealed pink blusher trends which emerged on social media played a big part. She told Allure magazine: "We wanted this weather-beaten look for the characters at Wuthering Heights. Jacob [Elordi who plays Heathcliff] had it, the younger versions [of Cathy and Heathcliff] had it. "With Cathy, I was inspired by the pomegranate girl TikTok trend of 2024; that clean, flushed look." Sian went on to reveal the products she used on set to create the looks on Margot revealing she turned to Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Hope and Happy, as well as Merit Flush Balm in Apes and Postmodern. She also used Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush and No.1 de Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in Berry Boost. Margot's lip looks were created using Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose and Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk. It comes after Wuthering Heights' costume designer - Oscar-winner designer Jacqueline Durran - opened up about the movie's lavish looks insisting the stunning outfits are an amalgamation of different fashion from across the centuries and aren't intended to be historically accurate. Referencing the German milkmaid-style dress Margot wears at the start of the film, Jacqueline told British Vogue: "As the film opens, were trying to lay out our intentions this is a stylised version of Wuthering Heights, and its difficult to nail this look because it has a nod to the period, a nod to contemporary fashion and also a nod to Old Hollywood. "It has all the themes that we want to bring in visually to the movie, so it was about meshing it all together. Its a costume and you know its a costume and its not necessarily realistic or unrealistic." Jacqueline - who has also worked on films including Barbie and Jay Kelly - went on to talk about the mood boards she create with Emerald which featured a huge variety of different influences. She said: "She had this massive range of references, which had a bit of everything the Tudor period, the 1950s, contemporary things sprinkled throughout. "On our mood boards, there were images Id received from Emerald, plus others we liked. There was some vintage Mugler and McQueen in there theres nothing in the costumes that are a recognisable homage to those designers, but they were definitely a big influence on my approach to the costume design. "Our references ranged from Elizabethan through to Georgian and Victorian, and from paintings and historical dress to contemporary fashion and representations of period costume in 20th-century films. "The challenge was to distill that into looks that told the story that Emerald wanted to tell." Emerald revealed eagle-eyed fashion fans will be able to spot some vintage Chanel jewellery in the film as the brand pulled some special pieces from the archives for the movie. She added: "Chanel are amazing. We needed jewellery for Cathy that was exquisite and bold it was great for us if you could see the historical origin in the designs, which were at the same time so exciting and modern. "I contacted Elsa Heizmann [at Chanel] and she went through their archives with a fine-tooth comb, uncovering the most wonderful vintage pieces. When the packages arrived we were beyond thrilled." TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is making his first trip to India this week in his latest effort to diversify trade away from the United States and restore relations with the worlds fourth-largest economy. Carney was set to arrive in Mumbai on Friday after his plane left Ottawa on Thursday. He will also visit Australia and Japan next week. U.S. President Donald Trump has been seen in Canada as a threat to the countrys economy and sovereignty, especially with his claims that Canada should be the 51st state. Donald Trumps rhetoric and policies are clearly pushing Canada to diversify its economic and trade relations, not only with other non-US Western countries but also countries like China and India, said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. India and Canada agreed to restore diplomatic services last year after Ottawa accused New Delhi in 2023 of alleged involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, which turned into a row that placed major strains on the relations between the two countries. Carneys predecessor, Justin Trudeau, shocked the world in September 2023 by announcing in Parliament that there were credible allegations about Indias link to the killing of Canadian Hareep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. New Delhi vehemently denied the allegations and accused Trudeaus government of harboring extremists. The Sikh independence advocate was a prominent member of the Khalistan movement, banned in India, to create an independent Sikh homeland. He was seen as a human rights activist by Sikh organizations. Relations between India and Canada reached another low point nearly 16 months ago when Trudeau and police officials went public with allegations that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada by sharing information about them with their government back home. They said top Indian officials were then passing that information along to Indian organized crime groups who were targeting the activists, who are Canadian citizens, with drive-by shootings, extortions and even murder. The whole episode led to a spectacular deterioration of Canada-India relations and Prime Minister Carneys visit to India is part of a broader strategy to improve the diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries, Beland said. Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an assassination on foreign soil. In 2023, U.S. prosecutors said an Indian government official directed a failed plot to assassinate another Sikh separatist leader in New York. A man from India admitted earlier this month that he conspired to hire a hitman to assassinate the Sikh separatist leader. Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said theres a lot more work to do to ensure agents of the Indian government are not coercing or intimidating people in Canada. However, political scientist Nelson Wiseman at the University of Toronto said that the attitudes of India and Canada toward one another have taken a 180-degree turn thanks to Carneys business orientation, an orientation quite unlike that of Justin Trudeaus. Sikh community representatives see Carneys approach as capitulation. We are deeply disappointed by this governments absolute capitulation and appeasement and unprincipled approach when it comes to ties with India, said Danish Singh, President of the World Sikh Organization of Canada. Activists are continuing to be harassed. We continue to see families get warnings for risks to their lives and yet we are supposed to believe this problem has been solved. We cannot accept that. Canada and India moved last year to advance a trade deal after years of mistrust. In 2024, India was Canadas seventh-largest trading partner. Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, saying American tariffs are causing a chill in investment Trump recently threatened to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada over that countrys proposed China trade deal, intensifying a feud with the longtime U.S. ally and Carney. In Davos at the World Economic Forum last month, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers on smaller countries. The prime minister received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging Trump at the gathering. Cordial relations with countries like India are at the heart of the Davos doctrine enunciated by Carney, said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto. India would at least be open to discussions given the effect of Trumps tariff warfare on that country. There is a mutual interest in stability in contrast to the whimsical, capricious and aggressive use of tariffs as a weapon to bend other countries to Trumps will. By ROB GILLIES Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border attacks overnight in a dramatic escalation of tensions that led Pakistans defense minister to say on Friday that the two countries are in a state of open war. Afghanistan launched an attack on Pakistan late Thursday, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, saying it targeted military installations. Tensions have been high for months. Border clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistans Taliban government of harboring militant groups that stage attacks against it and also of allying with its archrival India. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the intense fighting in October, but several rounds of peace talks in Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement. The two sides have occasionally traded fire since then. Qatar once again appears to be mediating. Its minister of state, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, spoke Friday with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan in an effort to de-escalate tensions, Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X. Cross-border attack Afghanistans attacks against Pakistani military targets was meant as a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan, Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said. Pakistan has never sought to resolve problems through dialogue, he said. After the Afghan strikes, Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif posted on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India a reference to recently improving ties between India and Afghanistan, including offers of enhanced bilateral trade. Pakistan and neighboring India, both nuclear armed powers, have periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Exporting terrorism Asif also accused Afghanistan of exporting terrorism, an allegation Pakistan frequently levies at its neighbor as militant violence in the country surges. Specifically, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, as well as outlawed Baloch separatist groups. Pakistan accuses the TTP, which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistans Taliban, of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge. Pakistans internal conflict is a purely domestic issue and is not a new one, Mujahid said Friday, noting the TTP had been active for nearly two decades. Pakistan has also frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. Retaliatory strikes Afghanistan said its attack Thursday was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Pakistans army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani air and ground operations killed at least 274 members of Afghan forces and affiliated militants and wounded more than 400, while 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 others were wounded. One Pakistani soldier was missing in action. Mujahid rejected the claims of the high number of Afghan casualties as false. He said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed with the bodies of 23 of them taken to Afghanistan. He also said many Pakistani soldiers were captured. Thirteen Afghan soldiers had been killed, he said, and another 22 wounded, while 13 civilians were also wounded. Later on Friday, the Afghan government said that 19 civilians were killed and 26 others injured when Pakistan struck the provinces of Khost and Paktika in southeastern Afghanistan. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat accused Pakistan of having deliberately targeted the residences of ordinary civilians and said most of the dead and wounded were women and children. The Afghan government had reported earlier that a religious school in Paktika province was bombed without providing details of casualties. The claims of either side could not be independently verified. Pakistans air force carried out airstrikes Friday night targeting military installations in Afghanistans Laghman province, two senior Pakistani security officials said. They said an arms depot and two key military installations were destroyed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record. Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistans anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the northwestern cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera Friday. He said they appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan. International calls for restraint Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides. On Friday, Mujahid said Afghanistan had always emphasized a peaceful solution, and we still want to resolve the problem through dialogue. In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to try to resolve their differences through diplomacy, and to protect civilians. Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency RIA Novosti. Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putins special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to RIA Novosti. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue. Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. In 2025, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. ___ Abdul Qahar Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, also contributed to this story. By MUNIR AHMED and ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN Associated Press PARIS (AP) They lurk in the oceans, a last resort to pulverize attackers with nuclear fire should Frances commander in chief ever make that terrible call. French President Emmanuel Macron, the person with the power to unleash Frances nuclear arsenal, will on Monday update French thinking on the potential use of warheads carried on submarines and planes, if it ever came to that. This in the context of concerns in Europe that Russian war-making could spread beyond Ukraine, and uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump s steadfastness as an ally. For decades, Europe has lived under a protective umbrella of U.S. nuclear weapons, stationed on the continent since the mid-1950s to deter the former Soviet Union and now Russia. Lately, however, some European politicians and defense analysts are questioning whether Washington can still be relied upon to use such force if needed. As the only nuclear-armed member of the 27-nation European Union, the questions are particularly pertinent for France. Possible revisions to Frances nuclear deterrence policy, sure to be carefully calibrated and scrutinized by allies and potential enemies alike, could be among the most consequential decisions that Macron makes in his remaining 14 months as president, before elections to choose his successor in 2027. That Macron feels a need to bare Frances nuclear teeth, in what will be the commander in chiefs second keynote speech laying out the countrys deterrence posture since his election in 2017, speaks to his concerns, voiced multiple times, about geopolitical and defense-technology shifts that threaten the security of France and its allies. Those voicing doubts about Washingtons reliability include Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish parliaments Defense Committee. If things got really serious, I very much doubt that Trump would risk American cities to protect European cities, he said in an interview with The Associated Press. We dont know but it seems very risky to rely on the American protection. He and others are turning to France for reassurance. In the longer term, Jarlov argues that other European nations also need to arm themselves with nuclear weapons an almost unfathomable prospect when U.S. protection seemed absolute in European minds. The Nordic countries have the capacity. We have uranium, we have nuclear scientists. We can develop nuclear weapons, he said. Realistically, it will take a lot of time. So in the short term, we are looking to France. Adjusting to geopolitical risks The world has changed dramatically since Macrons first policy-making nuclear speech in 2020, with new uncertainties shoving old certainties aside. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fifth year, brought war to the EUs door and repeated threats of possible nuclear use from Russian President Vladimir Putin. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. So, too, is North Koreas nuclear-armed military. In October, Trump spoke about U.S. intentions to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 1992, although U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright later said that such tests would not include nuclear explosions. Russia revised its deterrence policy in 2024, lowering its bar for possible retaliation with nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom has announced plans to buy nuclear-capable U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets, restoring a capacity to deliver nuclear airstrikes that it phased out in the 1990s, leaving it with just submarine-based nuclear missiles. The chosen site for Macrons speech on Monday the Ile Longue base for Frances four nuclear-armed submarines will drive home that French presidents also have nuclear muscle at their disposal in an increasingly unstable world. They each can carry 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple warheads. There are high expectations from the allies and partners, and maybe also the adversaries, about how the French nuclear doctrine could evolve, said Heloise Fayet, a nuclear deterrence specialist at the French Institute of International Relations, a Paris think tank. Speaking in an AP interview, Fayet said shes hoping for real changes. Maybe something about a greater and a clearer French commitment to the protection of allies, thanks to the French nuclear weapons, she said. Frances nuclear force Macron said in 2020 that France has fewer than 300 warheads a number that has remained stable since former President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a modest reduction to that level in 2008. Macron said the force is sufficient to inflict absolutely unacceptable damage on the political, economic, military nerve centers of any country that threatens the vital interests of France, whatever they may be. Nuclear specialists will be watching for any hint from Macron that he no longer considers the French stockpile to be sufficient and that it might need to grow. The language of deterrence is generally shrouded by deliberate ambiguity, to keep potential enemies guessing about the red lines that could trigger a nuclear response. Officials from Macrons office, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the nuclear policy changes that Macron might make, were extremely guarded in their wording, not least because deterrence is a strictly presidential prerogative. There will no doubt be some shifts, fairly substantial developments, one of the officials said. Protecting Europe Again with careful wording, Macron in 2020 said the vital interests that France could defend with nuclear force dont end at its borders but also have a European dimension. Some European nations have taken up an offer Macron made then to discuss Frances nuclear deterrence and even associate European partners in French nuclear exercises. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says hes had initial talks with Macron about nuclear deterrence and has publicly theorized about German Air Force planes possibly being used to carry French nuclear bombs. European nations engaging with France are seeking a second life insurance against any possibility of U.S. nuclear protection being withdrawn, says Etienne Marcuz, a French nuclear defense specialist at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank. The United States are unpredictable have become unpredictable because of the Trump 2 administration, he said. That has legitimately raised the question of whether the United States would truly be prepared to protect Europe, and above all, whether they would be willing to deploy their nuclear forces in defense of Europe. ___ Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed. By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press In a significant legal victory for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has extended interim orders preventing his removal as the secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The ruling effectively freezes a power shift within Kenyas largest opposition party, maintaining the status quo as a high-stakes legal battle unfolds. The tribunal ruled that the conservatory orders remain in force, warning the party against taking any action to enforce the contested leadership change. The matter now heads toward a decisive phase, with written submissions from both legal teams scheduled for March 12, 2026. The crisis erupted following a resolution by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) during a meeting in Mombasa on February 11, 2026. The NEC moved to replace Sifuna with Catherine Omayo in an acting capacity, citing alleged disciplinary issues and conduct unbecoming of a senior party official. Sifuna, however, moved swiftly to the tribunal, characterizing the move as an irregular purge that bypassed the partys own legal safeguards. He argues that the decision lacked transparency and violated fundamental legal principles. The process violated the principles of natural justice, including the right to be heard, and that the move undermines internal party democracy, Sifuna maintained in his submissions. Weighty Legal Questions The tribunal noted that the allegations and the defense raised weighty issues that require thorough judicial consideration. By maintaining the stay orders, the PPDT signaled that allowing Sifunas removal before a final determination could result in irreversible consequences for the partys governance and the integrity of the legal proceedings. The case centers on two primary legal questions: Scope of Authority: Does the NEC have the unilateral power to remove a secretary general without a formal disciplinary hearing? Due Process: Did the party adhere to the Fair Administrative Action Act and its own internal constitution? What Happens Next? The ODM party has filed a preliminary objection, arguing that Sifuna rushed to the tribunal without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms (IDRM). The tribunal will evaluate these arguments alongside Sifunas constitutional challenge when the hearing resumes in March. For now, Edwin Sifuna continues to hold the office and discharge the duties of the ODM secretary general. The party remains barred from gazetting his replacement or implementing any changes to its leadership register at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. In a quiet clinic in Nairobis Kawangware neighborhood, the future of HIV prevention in Kenya and Africa at large took a massive leap forward. At 8 a.m. sharp, 27-year-old Samson Mutua became the first Kenyan to receive Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that offers protection against HIV for six months with a single dose. Clinicians at the Riruta Health Centre administered two injections into Mutuas lower abdomen as Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale looked on. The event marks the official rollout of a game-changing tool in Kenyas public health arsenal. From Daily Pills to Twice-a-Year Protection For years, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) required users to maintain a strict daily pill regimen. Mutua, a part-time delivery rider and community health promoter, knows that struggle well. After years of consistent daily PrEP use and counseling, he stepped forward to volunteer for this breakthrough. To ensure immediate protection, Mutua swallowed two oral PrEP tablets right after his injection. He will take two more today, after which the lenacapavir takes over, shielding him from the virus for the next half-year. When I heard about the drug that was coming, I was glad to be a volunteer. I was anxious today; obviously, Im being pricked on live TV. I was anxious, plus its a new drug. But Im feeling so enthusiastic about it. Im feeling so good about it. And I feel protected, Mutua told reporters. Mutuas commitment to sexual health began nearly a decade ago following a wake-up call regarding his own lifestyle choices. My whole identification process began in 2017, when there was a case where you were supposed to donate blood; it was an emergency, but I couldnt because I used to engage in risky behavior. If you have unprotected sex with someone who has not been tested, that falls under risky behaviors, he shared. Now a father raising two boys, Mutua uses his platform as a community health promoter in Dagoreti South to educate his peers. While the injection provides a powerful shield against HIV, he remains vocal about the need for comprehensive health safety. I am also a CHP; Im a community health promoter for Dagoreti South. Im championing it amongst the youth because this is added protection. This doesnt mean that because youve been given an injection, you stop using other means of protecting yourself. You have to use other means of protecting yourself because there are still other diseases out there, he noted. Strategic Rollout Across High-Burden Counties Kenyas Ministry of Health has launched this first phase with 21,000 starter doses. The government is prioritizing 15 counties that face the highest HIV burdens to ensure the medication reaches those who need it most. The targeted regions include: Nairobi & Surroundings: Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado Western & Nyanza: Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Kakamega, Busia Coast & Rift Valley: Mombasa, Kilifi, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu Lenacapavir works by blocking the virus from establishing an infection in HIV-negative individuals. Following the national clinical guidelines, patients will return to health facilities every six months for a booster, eliminating the pill fatigue that often hinders long-term prevention efforts. Public transport giant Super Metro has confirmed it is working alongside law enforcement following a late-night tragedy in Kitengela that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man. The incident, which occurred on the night of February 24, 2026, has sparked intense public debate over passenger safety and the conduct of public service vehicle (PSV) crews. In an official statement released Tuesday, the operator acknowledged the gravity of the situation involving one of its buses. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and the National Transport and Safety Authority as they conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident. Currently the matter remains under investigation, the company stated. A Confrontation on the Highway The events unfolded around 11 p.m. as the bus, registration number KDK 060H, headed from Kitengela toward Nairobis Central Business District with 32 passengers on board. According to the company, a group of agitated boda boda riders intercepted the vehicle, alleging that the conductor had pushed a passenger out of the moving bus. The claims reportedly took those inside the vehicle by surprise. This came as a surprise to all on board. According to preliminary information, the incident resulted to a fatality, the company added. Currently, the bus remains impounded at the Athi River Police Station. Both the driver and the conductor are in police custody as detectives work to piece together the moments leading up to the young mans death. Family Demands Justice for Joseph Mureithi The deceased has been identified as Joseph Mureithi. His grieving family presents a harrowing account of the nights events, alleging that the bus crew deliberately ejected Mureithi from the vehicle. They further claim that the bus ran over him along the KitengelaNamanga Highway and sped off without stopping. Mureithi was rushed to Shalom Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead on arrival. His relatives describe him as a hardworking and devoted son who had recently started a new job to support his ailing mothers medical expenses. Beyond the police probe, Super Metro has initiated an internal review to scrutinize its own protocols. The firm stated that this process will identify if any internal policies were breached and determine how to bolster safety for its commuters. The company also expressed its sympathies to the victims family: As a company we are deeply saddened by the reported loss of life, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those who are affected. Safety of our passengers, employees, and communities is our major concern. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety of everyone who interacts with our services. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation at the Athi River Police Station. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appeared before the Senates Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Wednesday to protect the legality and intent of a landmark cooperation agreement between the city county and the national government. Facing intense scrutiny from senators over financial accountability and public participation, Sakaja framed the partnership not as a surrender of power but as a long-overdue necessity for Kenyas capital. A Modern Framework for a Global City Sakaja dismissed concerns that the agreement violates the law, describing it instead as a structured framework common in major metropolises worldwide. He argued that the unique status of Nairobi requires resources far beyond the standard county allocation. First, what we have as an agreement is not new internationally. Every first-world city has such an arrangement. This cooperation is long overdue. I have spoken about it even when I was the senator of Nairobi. We need more money. Nairobi is different; apart from being a county, it is the face of Kenya as the capital city, he explained. To illustrate the funding gap, the governor pointed to the French capital as a point of comparison for urban management. The allocation of the City of Nairobi as a county is hardly enough to put the city at an international level. Paris has a budget of 1.5 trillion shillings with two million people. Nairobi, with seven million people, has only about Sh45 billion. To be where Paris is, we need more money, he said. Collaboration vs. Transfer of Power A key point of contention during the session was whether the pact mirrored the previous Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) era. Sakaja clarified that this agreement does not constitute a formal transfer of functions under Article 187 of the Constitution, which would require a deed and a separate entity. Instead, he noted that the county remains in the drivers seat while the national government provides critical development muscle. This collaboration is already yielding results; the state recently released Sh1 billion for classroom construction, and a massive Sh50 billion project is underway to rehabilitate the Nairobi River and modernize the citys aging sewer infrastructure. As a Governor, why should we struggle with this budget when the law provides for cooperation? We embraced it, Sakaja said, adding that lighting is a security issue of the national government. This collaboration will sort that. Addressing the Public Participation Debate Senators raised red flags regarding the lack of public participation before the signing of the agreement between the county and President William Rutos administration. Sakaja countered by stating that the requirement for government levels to cooperate is already a sovereign will embedded in the Constitution. The Constitution uses the mandatory language shall cooperate under Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act. That directive already reflects the sovereign will of the people as captured in the Constitution. When the people have already spoken clearly through the Constitution, does every cooperation framework require fresh validation? he posed. While Sakaja stood by the legal foundation of the pact, the Nairobi City County Assembly has since launched its own public participation forums at Charter Hall and across all 17 sub-counties to ensure residents have a voice in the process. Who Watches the Money? With Sh80 billion on the line, senators questioned how the funds would be monitored. Sakaja assured the committee that existing constitutional safeguards remain active. He explained that the National Assembly will oversee funds under national structures, while the Senate continues its mandate to protect devolved interests. Oversight is a constitutional mandate of Parliament. Funds under national government structures are overseen by the National Assembly. Matters touching on devolution fall within the mandate of the Senate. So if any monies are lost, there is a clear way to address that, he explained. The Senate committee will now review the governors submissions before presenting final recommendations on the partnership that aims to transform Nairobi into a world-class city. The Kibera High Court has rejected an application by Sarah Wairimu to terminate her ongoing murder trial, firmly dismissing her request to have the proceedings declared a mistrial. Wairimu, who faces charges related to the death of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, sought to invalidate the current legal process and restart the case from scratch. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Diana Kavedza determined that the court lacks the legal authority to grant the specific orders Wairimu requested. If the applicant (Wairimu) believes that constitutional legal errors have occurred, the proper recourse lies in the appeal. Accordingly, this court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to grant the principal prayers seeking nullification of proceedings, rulings and expungement of evidence, Justice Kavedza ruled. The Defences Argument for a Fresh Start Wairimu filed the application on January 30, pushing for a total reset of the high-profile case. Her legal team aimed to overturn all prior rulings, remove specific documentary evidence from the record, and move the trial to a different judge. Her lawyer argued that procedural missteps and alleged constitutional breaches compromised the trials integrity. Central to the defenses claim was the prosecutions use of the courts digital platform. Wairimu maintained that the state improperly uploaded a significant committal bundle, which she argued reintroduced unrecognized documents and exposed the court to evidence prematurely, potentially prejudicing the case. Despite these claims, Wairimu noted she was not seeking the judges recusal due to a lack of faith in the individual but rather due to concerns over how the proceedings unfolded. The Prosecution Stands Firm The state strongly opposed the application, asserting that the trial has followed due process at every turn. Prosecutors argued that the defense was simply trying to relitigate matters the court had already decided. State Counsel Vincent Monda clarified that the mental assessment report and the order to escort Wairimu to Mbagathi Hospital were executed lawfully. Furthermore, the prosecution defended the use of the digital platform, explaining it serves as a legitimate tool for tracking filings alongside physical documents. The state maintained that asking the same court to declare its own conduct a mistrial is a legal approach the law does not recognize. A Question of Jurisdiction and Bias Justice Kavedza noted that while the application didnt formally ask her to step down, it raised issues typically associated with judicial bias. However, she found no evidence to support such claims. She clarified that a trial court cannot simply review and overturn its own previous rulings in the manner Wairimu proposed. The court viewed the petition as an attempt at an appellate-style review, something that belongs in a higher court, not the one currently hearing the evidence. Litigants have no right to select the judge who hears their matter. Recusal is a safeguard for fairness, not a tool for tactical manoeuvre, Justice Kavedza remarked, noting that every judge takes an oath to remain impartial. With the dismissal of this application, the Tob Cohen murder trial will proceed as scheduled. The High Court has set May 19 as the date for the hearing to resume. The public can expect a significant update then, as three prosecution witnesses are slated to take the stand to give their testimony. The political temperature in Kenya continues to rise as the United Opposition launches a fierce counter-offensive against President William Ruto. The move follows a series of public attacks by the head of state, who has repeatedly dismissed his rivals as having no tangible achievements to show the Kenyan electorate. Opposition leaders have now turned the spotlight back on the president, arguing that his own administration deserves the most intense scrutiny. They accuse the current government of presiding over a decline in state parastatals and, more gravely, overseeing extra-judicial killings during recent protests. That Is Your Record: Gachagua Leads the Charge Leading the rebuttal, Rigathi Gachagua, party leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), directly challenged the presidents legacy. Gachagua accused the administration of using excessive force against its own citizens and mismanaging national wealth. You are the only president since independence who has given orders for young people to be shot in the leg. That is your record. Selling public assets, that is your record, Gachagua stated. The oppositions criticism comes at a time when the president has intensified his rhetoric, dismissing any attempts to remove him from office. Ruto maintains that the opposition lacks both a credible development track record and the political muscle to mount a serious electoral threat. Rejection of Reckless Privatization A major flashpoint in this political tug-of-war is the governments plan to sell stakes in key Kenyan companies. The United Opposition has vowed to block what they describe as a reckless privatization agenda that threatens national sovereignty. Kalonzo Musyoka voiced strong opposition to the involvement of global entities in these deals, specifically mentioning international brands. We cannot accept Kenyan companies being sold carelessly. Even if it is Vodafone, a global brand, they must reconsider any relationship tied to President Ruto, Musyoka warned. Tension in the Gusii Region The war of words coincided with the conclusion of the oppositions three-day tour of the Gusii region. The tour focused heavily on consolidating support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi on his home turf. During the rallies, leaders took aim at Kisii Governor Simba Arati, accusing him of disrupting their gatherings. Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka both urged the governor to reconsider his political alignment. Na sasa sisi Arati tunamwambia arudi asalimu amri kwa Matiangi wafanye kazi pamoja, Wamalwa said, calling for unity between the governor and Matiangi. Matiangi himself steered the conversation toward service delivery, stating, Tufikirie mambo ya kuleta manufaa kwa watu wetu. Regional Development Grievances Rigathi Gachagua also extended his criticism to leaders within the Kipsigis community. He accused them of failing to hold President Ruto accountable for what he perceives as a lack of development in the Rift Valley. Hawa watu wa Kasongo, viongozi wa Kipsigis, wanalia kama panya imeshikwa na mtego, na mimi nimekuwa tu hapo dakika kumi pekee yake. Mimi nawaambia nyinyi, viongozi wa Kipsigis, mmeumiza hao sana; hawana maji, hawana barabara, Gachagua claimed. Starring Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Batman Begins), John Cleese (Faulty Towers, Monty Python), Sir Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, Last Tango in Halifax), Morgana Robinson (The Windsors, House of Fools), Fiona Glascott (Julia, Brooklyn), Stuart Townsend (Queen of the Damned, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and Jason London (Dazed and Confused, The Man in the Moon) Martini Shot Its time for action for the award-winning existential comedy drama The Martini Shot, that sees Hollywood mainstay Matthew Modine take to the other side of the camera, starring as an eccentric filmmaker with a terminal illness, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery while grappling with his impending death. From acclaimed writer-director Stephen Wallis (The Performance) the film features an all-star ensemble including Fiona Glascott, Stuart Townsend, Jason London, John Cleese, Sir Derek Jacobi and Morgana Robinson. Following its multi-award-winning run on the festival circuit, the film is set to arrive on UK digital 2 March, courtesy of Miracle Media. Knowing the end is in sight, director Steve (Modine) begins production on his parting magnum opus a transcendental film set to shoot across rural Ireland. Inspired by the belief that he is the only real element in his universe, Steve begins to blur the boundaries between the past and present, assembling a crackpot crew comprised of friends and colleagues both living and dead who all help in bringing the unconventional creatives ideas to life. Matthew Modine John Cleese As his health starts to decline, the auteur attempts to right his wrongs and use what little time he has left to discover the true meaning of life, mortality and ones profound impact on the world. But can he find what hes looking for before the universe decides thats a wrap? Combining surreal and supernatural influences, The Martini Shot is a joyous and philosophical journey into the unknown and a stark reminder to live life to the very fullest. On digital 2 March from Miracle Media by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk By downloading Emory news media, you agree to the following terms of use: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License By exercising the Licensed Rights (defined below), You accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License ("Public License"). To the extent this Public License may be interpreted as a contract, You are granted the Licensed Rights in consideration of Your acceptance of these terms and conditions, and the Licensor grants You such rights in consideration of benefits the Licensor receives from making the Licensed Material available under these terms and conditions. Section 1 Definitions. 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Except for the limited purpose of indicating that material is shared under a Creative Commons public license or as otherwise permitted by the Creative Commons policies published at creativecommons.org/policies, Creative Commons does not authorize the use of the trademark Creative Commons or any other trademark or logo of Creative Commons without its prior written consent including, without limitation, in connection with any unauthorized modifications to any of its public licenses or any other arrangements, understandings, or agreements concerning use of licensed material. For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph does not form part of the public licenses. WASHINGTON, D.C. Forty-one percent of Americans now say they sympathize more with the Palestinians in the Middle East situation, while 36% sympathize more with the Israelis. The five-percentage-point difference is not statistically significant, but it contrasts with a clear lead for the Israelis only a year ago (46% vs. 33%) and larger leads over the prior 24 years. From 2001 to 2025, Israelis consistently held double-digit leads in Americans Middle East sympathies, with the gap averaging 43 points between 2001 and 2018. However, public opinion began narrowing in 2019, several years before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The cumulative effect of gradual changes in U.S. attitudes since then has led to the Israelis no longer being viewed more sympathetically. ###Embeddable### As is typical for this trend, a large segment of Americans express no partiality toward the two sides in the Middle East conflict: 4% say they sympathize with both equally, 9% with neither, and 10% have no opinion. Since Gallups prior update of this measure in February 2025, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. The first phase of the ceasefire, contingent upon the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israel, was completed in January. The second phase is now focused on reconstruction and demilitarization in Gaza, though both sides have accused each other of repeated breaches of the truce. In terms of Americans' separate favorable ratings of the two countries, the latest poll also finds a new high of 37% viewing the Palestinian Territories favorably, although still trailing Israels 46%. The 57% of Americans in favor of an independent Palestinian state nearly matches a reading from 2003 as the highest Gallup has measured. Independents Sympathies Shift Toward Palestinians in Past Year Americans shifting sympathies in the Middle East situation this year are mostly driven by changes among political independents. By 41% to 30%, independents say they sympathize more with the Palestinians than the Israelis, whereas in all prior years, they were more sympathetic toward the Israelis, including by 42% to 34% last year. ###Embeddable### Democrats sympathies havent changed significantly over the past year, having already flipped strongly toward the Palestinians in 2025 after first tilting that way in 2023. Currently, 65% of Democrats say their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, while 17% say they sympathize more with the Israelis. ###Embeddable### Republicans continue to express greater sympathy for the Israelis than the Palestinians. Seven in 10 Republicans (70%) say they sympathize more with the Israelis, compared with 13% who sympathize more with the Palestinians. Although this remains a substantial gap, sympathy for the Israelis among Republicans has declined by 10 points since 2024 to its lowest level since 2004. ###Embeddable### Shift Toward Sympathy With Palestinians Seen Across All Age Groups Americans of all age groups have grown more sympathetic to the Palestinians in recent years. Among those aged 18 to 34, 53% say they sympathize more with the Palestinians, marking the first time a majority of this age group has expressed this view. Meanwhile, 23% of young adults say they sympathize more with the Israelis, a record low for the age group. Views among those aged 35 to 54 have also shifted decisively. In 2026, 46% say they sympathize more with the Palestinians, compared with 28% who sympathize more with the Israelis. This is a near reversal of opinion among this age group compared with 2025, when 45% gave more sympathy to the Israelis and 33% to the Palestinians. Among adults aged 55 and older, 49% sympathize more with the Israelis and 31% with the Palestinians, the first time since 2005 that less than half of older Americans have said they sympathize more with the Israelis. The 18-point lead for the Israelis also represents the narrowest gap in sympathies recorded for this age group. ###Embeddable### Israels Favorability Drops as Palestinian Territories Rises Additionally, Gallup measures Americans overall views of Israel and the Palestinian Territories as either favorable or unfavorable as part of its annual ratings of countries. In the past year, Americans favorability toward Israel has declined, while their view of the Palestinian Territories has improved. Still, Americans retain a more positive view of Israel, with 46% viewing it favorably, than of the Palestinian Territories, at 37%. Historically, Americans have rated Israel much more favorably than the Palestinian Territories (or the Palestinian Authority, as the item was worded from 2000 to 2024). Israels favorable rating has now declined to near its historical low (45%, measured in 1989), while ratings of the Palestinian Territories have improved to a new high point. ###Embeddable### For the first time on record, as many independents hold a very or mostly favorable view of the Palestinian Territories as they do of Israel (both 41%). Over the past year, independents favorability toward Israel has declined six points, while their favorability toward the Palestinian Territories has risen by 10. Looking at a longer time frame, however, the shift is more pronounced on the Israel side. Since February 2023 the last measurement before the Oct. 7 attacks independents favorability toward Israel has dropped 26 points, compared with a 12-point increase in their favorability toward the Palestinian Territories. Among Democrats, the Palestinian Territories have held an edge in favorability since 2025. This year, 48% of Democrats view the Palestinian Territories favorably, compared with 34% for Israel, broadly in line with last year. Republicans remain the most pro-Israel partisan group, with 69% holding a favorable view, though that figure has fallen 15 points from 2025 to its lowest level in over two decades. Meanwhile, a steady 18% of Republicans view the Palestinian Territories favorably, recovering from a record low of 5% in 2024. ###Embeddable### Support for Palestinian State Matches 23-Year High A 57% majority of U.S. adults say they favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel often referred to as a two-state solution while 28% oppose it and 15% do not have an opinion. Public opinion on this question has shifted less over recent years than sympathies or favorable ratings. The 57% who favor a two-state solution in 2026 is similar to the 55% recorded in both 2023 and 2025, and it nearly matches the record-high 58% of Americans who favored the creation of an independent Palestinian state in 2003. ###Embeddable### Support for a two-state solution is highest among Democrats, at 77%, and a majority of independents (57%) share that view. Both figures are generally in line with what Gallup has measured since 2023. Republican support has fluctuated notably in recent years. It declined from 43% before the Oct. 7 attacks to 26% afterward the largest single-year drop recorded for any party group on this measure. Support then increased to 41% in 2025 before declining again to 33% in 2026. With the exception of 2024, the current 44-point gap between Democrats and Republicans is the widest Gallup has recorded on this question. ###Embeddable### U.S. adults remain much more supportive of a two-state solution than Israelis or Palestinians themselves, as measured in Gallups World Poll. In 2025 polling, 27% of Israelis and 33% of Palestinians living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem said they would support such a proposal. Bottom Line U.S. public opinion toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shifted in the past 12 months, and for the first time in Gallups annual measurement since 2001, Americans sympathies no longer lie more with the Israelis than the Palestinians. This shift reflects substantial movement among independents, now joining Democrats in expressing more sympathy for the Palestinian people. At the same time, Americans still have a more favorable view of Israel, as a country, than of the Palestinian Territories, though views of Israel are among the least favorable Gallup has measured historically. Meanwhile, views of the Palestinian Territories are the most positive to date, albeit still negative overall. Stay up to date with the latest insights by following @Gallup on X and on Instagram. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download). ###Embeddable### $1 million of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to go toward the construction of a water treatment plant Mount St. Marys Universitys request for federal funding for the project, Mount St. Mary's Quality Drinking Water Project, was approved when the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Funding Bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump last week. $1 million of funds will be allotted to Mount St. Marys to construct a water treatment plant that will provide safer water for the Mount campus, Frederick Health Urgent Care, and the Town of Emmitsburg. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, both D-MD, worked together to secure this funding, along with the inclusion of investments for additional local and rural projects in the bill. U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney, D-MD, also championed the projects inclusion in the minibus. The Mounts funding comes thanks to the efforts of Grants Manager Nicole Patterson, who wrote the application, secured community letters of support, and coordinated with the coordinated offices of the senators and congresswoman. Our communities should be able to trust that the water coming out of their taps is clean and safe. Thats why we fought to secure $1,000,000 in direct federal funding for this much-needed water treatment planttensure that both Mount St. Marys and the Town of Emmitsburg have reliable, high-quality drinking water for years to come, said Senator Van Hollen. "I was proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen to secure $1 million for Mount St. Mary's University water treatment plant. As Maryland's senator, I will do whatever is needed to ensure every person in our state has access to clean, safe drinking water. The Mount St. Mary's University water treatment plant will provide safer water not just for its students but also for the Town of Emmitsburg," said Senator Alsobrooks. When I first took office, I traveled far and wide across Marylands 6th District, meeting with community leaders and advocates to identify local projects that could make the greatest impact on our communities with federal dollars, said Rep. McClain Delaney. Im proud to announce that seven of those projects have been signed into law, and I am eager to see firsthand how these funds will make life easier and safer for our families. (Above) The Six Triple Eight will be shown at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Student Center Auditorium. (Below) The Sister Circle is an ongoing initiative to support and empower Black women and students. Photos provided. SIU will recognize March as Womens History Month with a variety of events by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Leading with Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future is the theme for this years Womens History Month as Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates the achievements of women and looks to the future. A wide variety of special events are slated throughout the month. Most are free and open to the public. Womens History Month 2026 is dedicated to uplifting, encouraging and inspiring women to lead with confidence and courage, while intentionally creating a sustainable pathway forward for the next generation of leaders, said Renada Greer, executive director of the Student Multicultural Resource Center. Its a time to celebrate and to reflect on the past, present and future accomplishments and achievements of women through guest speakers, luncheons, research circles, movies and many other events. Weve seen women rise to some of the highest offices in the land, and we want to inspire the next generation to do likewise. Saluki women achieve worldwide One of the highlights of the month is Saluki Women Speak luncheon on Friday, March 6, in celebration of International Womens Day. The event is from noon to 1:30 p.m. in rooms 150/160 of the Student Services Building, will feature a panel discussion exploring the achievements of international women in higher education, as well as the challenges they face. The panelists will share their personal experiences. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony to recognize international women who advocate for and support other women in their academic pursuits and professional journeys. The luncheon is free, but pre-registration is required no later than Thursday, March 5. Sign up online. Movies that matter The SIU Womens Film Festival, hosted by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, is set for March 16-17 in Morris Librarys John C. Guyon Auditorium. The festival, free and open to the public, features films created by and about women. The films highlight diverse voices and lived experiences, while celebrating creativity, culture and community. Details about the exact schedule are coming soon. Then, you wont want to miss Reel Women, Real Stories featuring a special screening of The Six Triple Eight at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Student Center Auditorium. This film reveals the story of the historic 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, dubbed the Six Triple Eight, This remarkable group of women, the largest group of Black service women to serve overseas during World War II, shattered racial and gender barriers, playing a vital role in bolstering troop morale as they ensured millions of pieces of mail reached American soldiers stationed abroad. Dont miss this inspiring story of courage, leadership and perseverance illustrating the dedication and resilience these women displayed while leaving enduring marks on military and womens history. Womens impactful research Wrapping up the month will be Women in Research, a scholarly showcase for the work of SIU graduate and undergraduate students. Participants can present their research, scholarly projects and academic interests in a supportive, engaging environment. All academic disciplines are welcome to participate in the event fostering learning, meaningful dialogue and engagement that supports students and brings a deeper understanding of the diverse issues that impact women. Students must their submit poster presentations focused on research related to women and girls, including issues relevant to their challenges, achievements, and lived experiences no later than 4:30 p.m. March 20. Find more details and the registration form online. The showcase is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 30 in the Student Services Building. More information Numerous other events are scheduled in March as well, including the 2026 Illinois ACE Womens Network Conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at the Student Center. The theme is The Power Within Reclaim, Restore and Rise. Joyce Ester, seventh president of Governors State University, is the keynote speaker. The event will feature numerous sessions with national and state higher education experts and leaders. Costs vary and online registration is available. The Sister Circles, an initiative hosted monthly by the women of the Black Staff and Faculty Council, will meet again at 3:30 p.m. March 4 in rooms 150/160 of the Student Services Building. This unique program empowers, supports and guides Black women and Black college students through academic, personal and professional development by providing mentorship, leadership development, community and support as well as assistance with career and economic development. Learn more by contacting Jacari Henderson at jacari.henderson@siu.edu or Bethany Peppers at bpeppers@siu.edu. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institutes annual Women in Leadership, Public Service and Civic Engagement Day is March 25 in Springfield at the Illinois State Capitol and Illinois State Library. The annual initiative spotlights the contribution of women legislators and leaders in the public sector to foster womens leadership development and involvement in public service. For more information, contact Linda Baker, university professor at the institute, at lrbaker@siu.edu. Find the complete schedule of events online. 618-453-3740 for more information. Commentary: Threat of force only to deepen atrocities in Middle East Xinhua) 10:48, February 27, 2026 BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- As recent nuclear talks between the United States and Iran showed signs of progress and a new round is underway in Geneva, renewed hopes have emerged that dialogue, rather than force, could offer a way out of the long-standing disputes. Yet that fragile optimism rests on an uneasy foundation. While both Washington and Tehran have sent constructive signals, sharp rhetoric and the risk of military confrontation continue to cloud the atmosphere, leaving the prospect of a durable nuclear agreement uncertain. The reality is, when diplomats are meeting, U.S. military forces are mobilizing across the Middle East, piling immense pressure on Iran. If Washington strikes Iran, Tehran's retaliation could target U.S. military bases throughout the region. Israel could also be involved. Situations could easily spiral out of control, plunging the long-troubled region into another war whose scale and consequences no one can predict. The continued build-up of aircraft carriers and fighter jets by Washington in the region sends a deeply troubling signal. The threat or use of force does not create security; it magnifies mistrust, heightens tensions and worsens the volatility of the Middle East situation. In an already fragile environment, such military posturing risks ruining the ongoing diplomatic efforts. The Middle East has repeatedly borne the consequences of wars launched in the name of security or order. Time and again, military intervention has fractured societies, fueled extremism and left lasting humanitarian scars. History shows that once conflict is ignited, it rarely remains contained. Escalation can unfold rapidly, with civilians paying the highest price with flesh and blood. For a region still striving to recover from years of turmoil, another round of conflicts would only deepen cycles of insecurity and suffering, and is the last thing this region needs. If peace is truly the goal, it must be pursued through peaceful means, not via military coercion. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Delroy Lindo is set to take to the stage at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards. Delroy Lindo is set to take to the stage at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards The veteran Hollywood actor, 73, has been scheduled to present at the event on Sunday (01.03.26) a week after facing a controversial moment at the Baftas last week, which saw a racial slur involuntarily shouted from the audience by a Tourettes sufferer during his award presentation with fellow actor Michael B. Jordan. Delroy is among a star-studded roster of presenters confirmed to present at Sundays ceremony, according to Variety. Others include Gwyneth Paltrow and Jenna Ortega, with additional presenters set to include Odessa Azion, Viola Davis, Andy Garcia and SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin. The awards, hosted by Kristen Bell, will stream live on Netflix on 1 March at 8pm ET from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. Harrison Ford will receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award at the event. Ahead of the ceremony, Paige DeSorbo and Scott Evans will host the official pre-show. The confirmation of Delroys appearance follows last weeks Bafta ceremony, where he and Michael B. Jordan were confronted with the N-word shouted from the audience by John Davidson, a Tourettes syndrome campaigner and the subject of the Bafta-winning film I Swear. John, 54, who has coprolalia the rare symptom of Tourettes that causes involuntary outbursts of obscene or derogatory language later said he was deeply mortified by his outburst and apologised for any distress caused by his vocal tics. Despite the ceremony being aired on a two-hour delay, the BBC failed to edit out the slur from its broadcast. The corporation later apologised for what it called a serious mistake. Delroy later expressed frustration that while he and Michael did what we had to do to finish the presentation, no one from Bafta spoke to them to inform them a Tourettes sufferer was in the audience. Public figures including Jamie Foxx condemned the broadcast, with Jamie saying the use of the N-word was unacceptable under any circumstances. Meanwhile, at the upcoming Annual Actor Awards, Paul Thomas Andersons satirical counter-culture epic One Battle After Another is heading into the ceremony with a record-breaking seven nominations, including cast ensemble and five individual acting nominations for its stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor. Ryan Cooglers Sinners follows with five nominations, as the film competes for ensemble honours against hits Frankenstein, Hamnet and Marty Supreme. The Taliban-led Afghan government on Thursday (local time) said that its forces had seized 19 Pakistani military outposts and killed 55 Pakistani soldiers during a major border operation, calling it a response to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil. The 2,611 km (1,622 miles) border between the two countries, known as the Durand Line, has never been officially recognized by Afghanistan. Deputy Spokesperson of Afghanistan, Hamdullah Fitrat, said that heavy retaliatory operations have been launched along the Durand Line, with one headquarters and 19 outposts captured. He claimed that up to 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, 23 bodies recovered, and some soldiers taken alive, while dozens of weapons, a tank, and a harvester were seized. The operations reportedly continue across Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, and the Torkham Gate. In a post on X, Fitrat wrote, "Along the so-called Durand Line, heavy retaliatory offensive operations have been launched against the enemy by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan through the 203 Mansouri Corps and the 201 Khalid bin Walid Corps at various points in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, and at the Torkham Gate." https://x.com/FitratHamd/status/2027101988027302331?s=20 "To date, one headquarters and nineteen outposts have been captured; four outposts were abandoned and vacated, and the positions were completely set on fire. Up to fifty-five Pakistani soldiers have been killed, of whom twenty-three bodies and a number of others have been taken alive into the custody of the Mujahideen. Dozens of light and heavy weapons have been seized as spoils, one tank has been destroyed, and one International Harvester vehicle has also been captured. Retaliatory offensive operations remain ongoing," the post read. He said they have captured a major Pakistani military headquarters at Anzar Sar in the Alisher-Terezi district, claiming dozens of soldiers were killed or wounded and a large cache of weapons was seized. https://x.com/FitratHamd/status/2027100178235240747?s=20 "The major headquarters of the Pakistani regime located at Anzar Sar, under the Babrak post in the Alisher-Terezi district of Khost Province, has just been captured. Dozens of soldiers are killed and wounded, and a large quantity of weapons has fallen into the hands of the Afghan forces," he said, in another post. Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that extensive operations have been launched against Pakistani army posts and military facilities along the Durand Line in response to repeated attacks by Pakistani forces. https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/2027060065673388388?s=20 In a post on X, Mujahid said, "In response to the repeated instances of rebellion and assaults by Pakistani military circles, extensive offensive operations have begun against Pakistani army centers and military facilities along the Durand Line." https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/2027081281260114395?s=20 He also said that Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, is leading the major operation. (ANI) Jonathan Majors will make his movie comeback in a new action film. Jonathan Majors is making a movie return The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star who was dropped from several projects after being found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend Grace Jabbari in 2023 will shoot his first movie in four years as production gets underway on the untitled flick in South Carolina. The title, plot and other casting details are being kept under wraps for the time being but the story is said to be in the vein of '80s and '90s action movies such as Red Dawn and Toy Soldiers, both about groups of teenage boys who had to come together to defeat invading enemies. Kyle Rankin is directing the movie from his own screenplay, with Ben Shapiro and Dallas Sonnier producing for The Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend respectively. Majors has been trying to rebuild his career since his assault conviction and is also set to star in supernatural revenge thriller Merciless from director Martin Villeneuve which was first announced in 2024. The 36-year-old actor portrayed villain Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before being dropped after his conviction but suggested last year that he would be keen to reprise the role if the chance arose. In an interview with USA Today, Majors said: "Yeah, of course I say yes. Disney, Marvel Studios, I love them!" He then gushed about his Loki co-stars Tom Hiddleston and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, as well as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Paul Rudd, describing how he "loved working" with all three actors. Majors added: "Tom Hiddleston, loved working with that guy. Loved working with Paul Rudd. Loved working with Gugu Mbatha-Raw. I love the industry so much, and now Im in the place where I can feel the love from them and actually express my love for them." The Lovecraft Country star also felt that it was unfair that he had been shunned by Hollywood, when Robert Downey Jr who was previously arrested for possessing drugs and The Flash star Ezra Miller who was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment in 2022 were given second chances in the industry. Majors said: "I think its fair that Mr. Downey is being and has been greeted with patience and curiosity and love, and that Mr. Miller has gotten the same treatment. "And that theyre being allowed to work their art and be creative at that level I didnt really get that." Despite the heartbreak, the actor emphasised he would be open to reprising his role as Kang if given the chance. He said: "I love him. I love Kang. If thats what the fans want, if thats what Marvel wants, then lets roll. Hell yeah." Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a meeting with the Managing Director of Zurich Airport International Ltd, Daniel Bircher, and discussed ongoing and future investment plans, particularly regarding the Noida International Airport project. In a social media post, the minister said he was delighted to meet Daniel Bircher and deliberate on their ongoing and future investment plans, particularly concerning the Noida International Airport project. Goyal stated, "Delighted to meet Mr. Daniel Bircher, Managing Director, Zurich Airport International Ltd. Deliberated on their ongoing & future investment plans particularly regarding the Noida International Airport project. This partnership reflects India's growing aspirations for building world-class infrastructure and our journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047". Noida International Airport (NIA) is set to become a prime example of a world-class greenfield airport and is expected to provide a new direction for Delhi-NCR's global connectivity. The airport will be a state-of-the-art facility working towards net-zero emissions, showcasing a blend of Swiss efficiency and Indian hospitality. The project has been developed through a Public-Private Partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government and Zurich Airport International AG. The Jewar Airport is expected to spur real estate development and generate about one lakh direct and indirect jobs. With an initial annual capacity of 1.2 crore passengers, the airport is expected to serve as an economic hub. The first phase will feature a single runway and a terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, with the potential to expand to 70 million passengers across four phases. Located 75 km from Delhi, the airport will be the NCR's second international airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, boosting connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh. It is also expected to emerge as a strategic hub for cargo operations, thereby enhancing logistics and economic growth in the region. The airport is linked by six roads, rapid rail-cum-metro connectivity, and pod taxis. It will feature a CAT-III B Instrument Landing System to enable operations in low visibility conditions. Once operational, the airport will help relieve pressure on Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and further strengthen regional aviation connectivity, giving a significant boost to infrastructure development in the region. (ANI) PRNewswire New York [US]/ Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 27: HCLTech, (NSE: HCLTECH) (BSE: HCLTECH) a leading global technology company, will showcase how the next era of telecom, media and technology (TMT) is being built on AI-native architectures and industry convergence, at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026. HCLTech will bring together senior industry leaders, hyperscaler partners, academics and innovators to highlight how intelligence, scale and ecosystem collaboration are powering sustainable AI-driven growth for the TMT sector. Industry leaders from Microsoft, Nokia, Ericsson, AT&T, Verizon, PwC, Bain, Axiata, Singtel, MasOrange, Liberty Latin America and other global organizations will engage in these impactful conversations, focusing on strategic shifts that are enabling AI-native transformation, autonomous operations, platform-driven experiences and ecosystem-led innovation. HCLTech's presence at MWC will spotlight: * Executive panels and CXO conversations: High-level discussions framing the strategic shifts driving the converged TMT ecosystem--from embedding AI across core operations to unlocking platform-driven business models and autonomous infrastructure--alongside a flagship roundtable hosted in partnership with GSMA and moderated by Prof. Saikat Chaudhuri, Faculty Director of the Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology (M.E.T.) program at UC Berkeley. * Live demonstrations: Hands-on showcases of intelligent networks engineered for zero-failure environments, AI-powered media and digital platforms delivering real-time insights, and automation frameworks such as Agentic fraud management, AI-powered Operations Support Systems (OSS) Solutions for Telco, HCLTech's GenAI service transformation platform, AI Force, Agentic AI solutions, and AIOps to enhance operational efficiency, and agentic-powered Contact Center as a Service platform for smarter customer engagement. * Startup and partner innovation: Emerging companies advancing AI, digital marketplaces and cybersecurity analytics, alongside hyperscaler partnerships and co-innovation initiatives that accelerate transformation at scale. * Telecom industry survey on AI priorities: To be revealed following MWC, HCLTech will preview findings from a Mobile World Live survey on AI and technology priorities for telecom organizations, offering real-world insights into how executives are planning investments and strategy in the intelligence era. "It's an exciting moment for the industry as convergence and AI are redefining networks, platforms and business models," said Anil Ganjoo, Chief Growth Officer and Global Head of Telecom, Media and Technology at HCLTech. "By combining AI, cloud and digital engineering expertise with ecosystem partnerships, we are helping enterprises build resilient, scalable and intelligence-driven systems for sustainable growth." "HCLTech's leadership at MWC, bringing together enterprise, hyperscaler and academic voices, captures the strategic imperative of AI-native transformation," said Prof. Saikat Chaudhuri, Faculty Director of the Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology (M.E.T.) program at UC Berkeley. "Their approach to integrating AI across infrastructure, platforms and ecosystems is empowering sustainable AI-driven growth for the TMT sector." Attendees can explore these discussions, innovations and insights at Hall 2, Stand 2E19, during MWC Barcelona 2026, March 2-5. For more information, visit: https://www.hcltech.com/events/mwc-barcelona About HCLTech HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 226,300 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, High Tech, Semiconductor, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Mobility and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending December 2025 totaled $14.5 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com. For further details, please contact: Meredith Bucaro, Americasmeredith-bucaro@hcltech.com Elka Ghudial, EMEAelka.ghudial@hcltech.com James Galvin, APACjames.galvin@hcltech.com Nitin Shukla, Indianitin-shukla@hcltech.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2648325/HCLTech_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) Industry leaders and experts see "India's Semiconductor Mission" as a game-changer as the government aims to establish a strong semiconductor industry, boosting tech manufacturing and creating jobs across the country. Industry leaders speaking to ANI today emphasised that the initiative serves as the foundation for national electronics self-reliance, aiming to reduce a long-standing dependence on volatile global supply chains. By establishing domestic fabrication units in states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam, the mission seeks to secure the critical components necessary for telecommunications, digital governance, and the expanding 5G network. V. Srikanth, Director, Department of Telecommunications, Andhra Pradesh, stated that semiconductors are the base of any electronics and are essential to modern life. He noted that the mission is helpful across domains, including telecommunications, where items like routers, switches, and antennas depend entirely on these components. "Previously, we didn't have any fabrication labs. Now only we might be having in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and Assam also, the fabrication units. And also, we used to import a lot of them from other countries. Nokia companies like Nokia Ericsson, Huawei or Samsung from Korea. So if there is any disruption in the supply chain because of the global events which are not in our control, our rollout is also affected," Srikanth said. The push for domestic production is also tied to national security and the aggressive rollout of high-speed internet. Srikanth highlighted that the government plans to connect all Gram Panchayats through Bharatnet, requiring a massive volume of electronic devices. "If we don't have that base of the production in our country, we need to depend on imports, which is not safe, which is not good, and it may have the effects of the security may be having the issues," he said. He further mentioned that using the "Desi version" of the 4G stack developed by C-DOT and manufactured by Tejas Networks ensures that the ecosystem, from small components to end-to-end products, stays within India, providing opportunities for the nation's young engineers. "We need not depend on imports so that Atma Nirbaratha will be there, and also on the security side, we have our own products. So it will be expected to be more secure than what we are importing and also you might be aware that BSNL is using the entire 4G stack of Desi version only, our India version only which is developed by the C.DOT which is a government PSU and also the hardware components is produced by the Tejas networks which is managed manufacturing wholly in India," he added. Ramesh Udatha, Managing Director for RV Tech Solutions, pointed to the significant financial backing for this sector, noting the "40,000 crore fund" proposed in the Union Budget toward the semiconductor industry. He observed that India is already becoming a formidable competitor to markets like China, with Apple iPhones now being manufactured locally. "Apple itself, Apple iPhones are manufactured in India. So, where did this innovation and the product development come from? Lots of schemes like this, what this time the government is offering is 10 years back or 15 years back," Udatha said. He credited visionary leadership for laying the foundations for electronic manufacturing hubs that are now moving toward next-generation streams like quantum computing and AI. Dasari Ramakrishna, Former Chairman of CII and Head of the E-Technology Industry, noted that while the PLI schemes increase the capability to manufacture routine chips like memories, the next step is developing high-value solutions around these chips. "When you are able to build the solutions around the semiconductor technology, using the semiconductor technology and solving the problems of India. Indian problems are totally different from international problems because India is a very hard country. A lot of chips what is developed, the solutions in other parts of the world may not work in India because of the higher temperatures. So all hard countries need different solutions. So the majority of the developing nations are all cold countries. So the problem is India is not getting really required solutions. This is the one opportunity I feel India has to constantly improve so that we can even sell it," Ramakrishna concluded. (ANI) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 27: On the sacred occasion of the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, Nirvair Productions, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's 350th Shaheedi Shatabdi Committee, Maharashtra, has launched a special AI-visual music video tribute dedicated to the life, values, and supreme sacrifice of Guru Sahib Ji. The music video has been visually created using AI technology, while remaining deeply rooted in devotion, remembrance, and reverence. The tribute is being released ahead of the upcoming Shaheedi Shatabdi events in Navi Mumbai, scheduled for 28th February and 1st March, as part of the larger statewide commemorations marking 350 years of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji's Shaheedi. The music video is now live on the Nirvair Productions YouTube Channel. The song has been sung, written, and composed by Manna Mand, adding a powerful musical voice to the tribute. The launch follows earlier Shaheedi Shatabdi gatherings held in Nagpur and Nanded Sahib, which witnessed participation from over 10 lakh members of the Sangat, reflecting the scale and collective spirit of the commemorations across Maharashtra. Hardeep Singh Sandhu, Member of the Shaheedi Shatabdi Committee, Maharashtra, stated, "This project is our seva to Guru Sahib Ji on the 350th year of His martyrdom. While the visuals are created using AI, the emotion and intent behind this tribute are deeply human. The aim was to present His legacy in a form that connects with today's generation while maintaining its sanctity." Highlighting the broader significance of the initiative, Jaspal Singh Sidhu, President, Sikh Coordination Committee, Government of Maharashtra, added, "The Government of Maharashtra's involvement reflects a historic and inclusive approach to these commemorations. Initiatives like this bring communities together and reinforce the timeless values of courage, unity, and humanity that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji stood for." The AI-based music video stands as a confluence of tradition and technology, offering a contemporary medium to carry forward Guru Sahib Ji's eternal message, as Maharashtra prepares to host the upcoming Shaheedi Shatabdi events in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. (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.) PNN Kochi (Kerala) [India], February 27: Spark Capital Private Wealth Management (Spark Capital PWM), one of India's fastest-growing independent wealth management firms, today announced the opening of its expanded office in Kochi, Kerala, reinforcing its commitment to serving the evolving needs of Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) families, entrepreneurs, and the global NRI community. The expansion comes in response to strong demand from Kerala, which has driven significant growth in Spark Capital PWM's local team. The firm has moved into a larger office space in Kochi to accommodate this growth and strengthen its client engagement capabilities in the region. The Kochi office, along with one in Thiruvananthapuram and the firm's international office in DIFC, Dubai, will play a strategic role in meeting the wealth management needs of NRIs from Kerala and other southern states. Arpita Vinay, Senior Managing Director & CEO, Spark Capital PWM, said, "Kerala represents one of India's most vibrant and globally connected wealth markets. Our expansion in Kochi is a natural progression of Spark Capital PWM's growth journey, driven by deep client trust and increasing demand for institutional-quality advisory and multi-family office solutions. We are committed to building long-term partnerships with families across generations." Kishore Rijhwani, Managing Director -- Private Clients, Spark Capital PWM, added, "Kochi is a key wealth centre with a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and significant NRI influence. With this new office, we are further strengthening our ability to serve clients with a personalised, open-architecture advisory model, supported by Spark's investment expertise and a rapidly growing on-ground team." Geo Thomson, Deputy Managing Director & Head of Kerala, Spark Capital PWM, said, "Kerala's wealth landscape is unique--shaped by a thriving diaspora, a strong culture of entrepreneurship, and families who value long-term financial planning. Our expanded presence in Kochi allows us to deepen relationships with clients and offer them the proximity and personalised attention they deserve. We're excited to grow alongside the families and businesses we serve in this region." Spark Capital PWM continues its expansion strategy, scaling its presence across key wealth markets in India and internationally. The firm now operates across 12 Indian cities--Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram--as well as an overseas office in Dubai (DIFC). Spark Capital PWM's growth is driven by its distinctive Multi-Family Office proposition, which integrates comprehensive investment advisory services with governance, succession planning, philanthropy, and holistic lifestyle solutions. This approach directly addresses the complex and evolving needs of India's leading wealth creators, offering tailored, institution-grade solutions. About Spark Capital PWM Spark PWM Private Limited is a subsidiary of Spark Capital Advisors (India) Limited. The company extends the core DNA of Spark Capital--Knowledge, Integrity, Trust, and Transparency--to help affluent families, business owners, family offices, new-age entrepreneurs, and CXOs navigate a world of opportunities and risks. Spark Capital PWM offers products and services designed to help clients seamlessly create, preserve, and transition wealth across generations, supported by a robust Investment Policy Framework backed by research and superior execution. For important disclosures regarding Spark PWM Private Limited, visit: https://www.sparkcapital.in/who-we-are/regulatory-information (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) TP Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 27: Marking two decades of excellence, Aza Fashions proudly celebrates 20 years of redefining luxury fashion retail in India. Founded with a clear and uncompromising vision--to create a destination that celebrates the finest Indian designer fashion--Aza has, over the years, evolved into one of the country's most respected and leading luxury fashion platforms. Synonymous with exclusivity, elegance, and trust, Aza stands as a benchmark in curated luxury retail. Since inception, Aza has positioned itself not as a conventional retailer, but as a curator of luxury. Every designer association, collection edit, and in-store experience has been thoughtfully selected to reflect exceptional craftsmanship, refined aesthetics, and contemporary luxury sensibilities. This disciplined commitment to curation has shaped Aza into a trusted authority for couture, bridal, occasion wear, and premium pret, serving India's most discerning clientele. Devangi Nishar Parekh, Managing Director of Aza Fashions shares, "Our journey has always been guided by a singular vision--to create an elevated platform that honours craftsmanship, champions design excellence, and delivers deeply personalised luxury offerings. As India's luxury landscape continues to evolve, Aza will continue to partner with leading designers and celebrated personalities to curate inspiring fashion experiences that shape modern luxury and occasion dressing. To celebrate 20 years of Aza, we launched ROAR by Aza X Shilpa Shetty Kundra, an exclusive and versatile saree collection we personally designed with the celebrity using our customer and sales insights. We remain committed to setting new benchmarks in innovation, service and luxury retail excellence." A Luxury-First Expansion Story Aza's growth story has been driven by a luxury-first mindset. Over the past 20 years, the brand has expanded to establish 14 flagship luxury stores across India's most prominent fashion and lifestyle destinations--five in Mumbai, five in Delhi, and one each in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Kolkata. Each store has been conceptualised as an immersive luxury environment, blending architectural elegance with warm, personalised service. Complementing its physical presence is a strong omni-channel strategy, with a high-end digital interface through its website and app. This seamless integration of luxury retail and technology allows Aza to scale responsibly while preserving exclusivity and delivering personalised service to clients across geographies. A Distinct and Powerful Luxury Niche Within India's dynamic fashion ecosystem, Aza occupies a clearly defined and powerful niche. It serves as a bridge between iconic, established designers and promising emerging talent, offering a meticulously curated portfolio that spans couture, luxury bridal, occasion wear, and premium ready-to-wear. Aza's positioning is reinforced through refined visual merchandising, elegant store environments, bespoke styling services, and carefully edited seasonal collections. Clients turn to Aza not merely to shop, but to mark life's most significant milestones: weddings, celebrations, and special moments. This trust has cemented Aza's reputation as a destination for milestone dressing. Luxury Rooted in Relationships At Aza, luxury extends beyond product--it is embedded in relationships. The brand follows a high-touch, relationship-led engagement philosophy, prioritising personalised styling, private consultations, and curated experiences tailored to individual client journeys. Through exclusive trunk shows, designer previews, curated luxury events, and loyalty initiatives, Aza deepens emotional connections with its clientele. Backed by data-driven CRM strategies, the brand ensures refined, personalised communication that enhances long-term customer value while preserving the intimacy that defines true luxury service. This customer-centric approach has allowed Aza to build enduring relationships with generations of clients, reinforcing its position as a trusted luxury partner. Milestones that Define Excellence As it celebrates 20 years, Aza's journey is marked by significant milestones that underscore its leadership in luxury retail. The successful launch and sustained growth of 14 flagship stores across key fashion capitals stand testament to its strategic vision and operational excellence. Aza Fashions was honoured as Luxury Retail - Fashion Retailer of the Year at the IREC Awards 2025, a prestigious recognition of its excellence in luxury curation, customer experience, and retail innovation. This accolade further reinforces Aza's status as a benchmark-setter within the Indian luxury fashion landscape. Strategic Vision for the Future Looking ahead, Aza remains committed to strengthening its leadership within India's growing luxury market. The brand's strategic focus continues to centre on deepening designer partnerships, expanding curated luxury offerings, enhancing omni-channel capabilities, and delivering ever more immersive and personalised retail experiences. About Aza Fashions Aza is India's premier destination for luxury fashion, curating the finest in bridal, couture, and ready-to-wear collections for men and women. Founded by Dr. Alka Nishar and helmed by Devangi Nishar Parekh, Aza showcases leading designers like Anamika Khanna, Tarun Tahiliani, and Rimple & Harpreet Narula, Amit Aggarwal, and Seema Gujral, as well as trending labels and emerging talent discovered by Aza. With 14 boutiques across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Surat, as well as a global e-commerce website and App, Aza offers personalized styling, seamless service, and worldwide shipping to over 75 countries--bringing Indian craftsmanship to a global stage. In 2025, Aza expanded into fine lab-grown diamond jewellery, with the launch of the brand Araiya by Aza. For more information, visit: https://www.azafashions.com/ Media Contact Jacqueline Patel 9967040369 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by TP. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) VMPL New Delhi [India], February 27: Since Google began rolling out AI Overviews to hundreds of millions of search users, panic has quietly spread through marketing departments across India and beyond. Click-through rates on some queries have shifted. Zero-click results are more common. And in boardrooms, the question keeps coming up: is it still worth spending on SEO? Digital Markitors, a digital marketing and SEO agency based in Delhi, has a clear answer: yes, but only if you're doing it properly. The agency argues that the brands misreading this moment as the end of SEO are making a costly mistake. What AI-powered search has actually done, they say, is expose how much bad SEO was out there all along. "Businesses that built their visibility on thin content and shortcut tactics are feeling the heat right now, and they're blaming AI for it. But the problem isn't AI. The problem is that they were never as visible as they thought they were. AI just made the cracks impossible to ignore." Ram Swaroop Arora - Founder, Digital Markitors What AI Search Actually Rewards The mechanics of AI-driven search are different, but the underlying logic isn't. Google's systems, whether traditional or AI-enhanced, are trying to surface the most credible, relevant, and well-organized answer to a user's query. What's changed is that they're now considerably better at it. That means websites with clear architecture, properly implemented schema markup, fast load times, and content that genuinely addresses user intent are holding their ground or improving. Sites that were skating by on domain age or backlink volume without the substance to back it up are the ones losing visibility. Digital Markitors has been advocating structured search strategy for its clients, an approach that treats technical SEO, content depth, and user experience not as separate checklists but as one connected system. In an AI search environment, they argue, that joined-up thinking is no longer optional. The Brands Getting This Right According to Digital Markitors, the businesses adapting well to AI search share a few common traits. They treat content as an investment rather than a volume game. They've audited their site structure and fixed the technical issues that were quietly dragging performance down. And they've stopped chasing rankings in isolation and started focusing on whether users actually find what they need when they land on a page. Mobile responsiveness and page speed, long preached as best practice, now carry direct weight in how AI systems assess site quality. The agency points out that these aren't new concepts. Many businesses just never got around to properly implementing them, and it's only now that the consequences are showing up clearly in their analytics. AI as a Tool, Not a Threat Digital Markitors is candid about using AI tools in its own work. For keyword research, content gap analysis, and tracking shifts in search behavior, AI-powered platforms have made the agency faster and more precise. But the work that determines whether a strategy actually lands, understanding a client's audience, building topical authority over time, making editorial judgements about what to say and how, still comes down to experienced people. The agency's position is straightforward: AI is a capability, not a replacement. Marketers who treat it as a tool within a disciplined search strategy will gain an edge. Those who use it as a shortcut to produce more mediocre content faster will find themselves in a worse position than before. For businesses reassessing their search investment in light of AI, Digital Markitors' advice is simple. Don't cut the budget. Fix the fundamentals. The brands that stay consistent through this period of change are the ones that will come out with a stronger organic presence on the other side. About Digital Markitors Digital Markitors is a Delhi-based digital marketing and seo agency specializing in search engine optimisation, content strategy, and organic growth. The agency works with businesses across sectors to build search visibility that holds up over time, through algorithm changes and shifting market conditions alike. Website: https://www.digitalmarkitors.com (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.) Lior Raz, the creator of the critically acclaimed series 'Fauda', met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Israel on Friday. Calling it a "huge honour", Raz lauded Modi's support for acting, production and the arts while acknowledging the massive Indian audience for their shows. In an interview with ANI, 'Fauda' star Lior Raz recalled the Netflix premiere of 'Fauda' at the Goa Film Festival and expressed his wish to collaborate with India in future. "It was amazing, and it was a huge honour to meet the Prime Minister of India. Such a huge country, and we know that we have a lot of audience in India for our shows. To get this honour from your Prime Minister, for us, it is great to see how he supports acting, producing and art in your country. I think this is something that we should learn how to do in our country as well. We would love to collaborate again. My show Fauda's Netflix premiere was in Goa Film Festival, we would love to come back and do it again," said Lior Raz. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India on Friday after a historic two-day state visit to Israel, the first in nine years, during which both countries elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership. The visit culminated in the signing of 27 MoUs and agreements across diverse sectors, including innovation, cultural exchange, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, economic cooperation, diplomacy, and security. PM Modi also announced that India and Israel would soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also declared the establishment of a Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership to deepen collaboration in high-tech and innovation domains. (ANI) Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee is set to star in an Indo-American co-production movie 'Chheledhora', reported Variety. The thriller is written and directed by Shieladitya Moulik. The Indo-American co-production, starring Swastika Mukherjee, will film across locations in Itanagar and Ziro in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Moulik, whose previous work includes the 'Sweater' and 'Surjo,' centres the film on Brishti, a divorced woman, flawed, wounded, and largely misread by those around her, who impulsively "steals" her daughter for a birthday celebration, only to find the child genuinely abducted. An unexpected discovery sets off a volatile chain of events that sends Brishti on a life-altering journey. The film weaves together family drama, thriller elements and dark humour, with a morally complex female protagonist at its centre, and is aimed at the international festival circuit, according to Variety. "'Chheledhora' is a story about broken parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn't know they possessed. I'm deeply interested in flawed people who are still capable of love. This film may unfold like a road journey with unexpected twists and turns, but at its heart, it's about healing - about how children, often unknowingly, become the moral compass for adults. It's a very intimate story about second chances and rediscovering one's humanity," said Moulik as quoted by Variety. Swastika Mukherjee is known for her roles in series and films like 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' for Yash Raj Films, Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Telluride and Toronto title 'Janala,' Prime Video series 'Paatal Lok,' Netflix's 'Qala,' and, most recently, a gangster turn in 'Kaali Potka' "Brishti is not an easy woman to like, and that's what moved me," said Mukherjee. "She is impulsive, wounded and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is instinctive and fierce. I was drawn to the vulnerability in her - the way this unexpected journey forces her to confront herself. At its heart, this is a very tender story about motherhood, forgiveness and finding strength in the most fragile moments," as quoted by Variety. The film is co-produced by India's Handyyman and Sita22 Films, which operates across India and the U.S. Handyyman's previous credits include the streaming show "Hawa Badle Hassu" and the Indo-Italian-Swiss co-production "Interdependence." Sita22 Films is a new production company founded by Anindita (Ann) Mukherjee, who spent four decades as a corporate executive at global companies. Production is expected to run through the end of March, with additional casting still to be unveiled. (ANI) Vipul Amrutlal Shah has reacted strongly to comments made by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap regarding 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond', questioning the remarks he made about his film. 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' is directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Addressing the media, Shah said, "Look, I do not comment on Anurag ji personally. He has his own opinion." However, he added that "Mere jo digdarshak hai unhone ek bahut acha mudda rakha tha uska jawab abhi tak Anurag ji ke paas se aaya nahi"(My director had raised a very good point, but Anurag ji has not yet responded to it.) Earlier, Anurag Kashyap, while speaking to the media, slammed 'The Kerala Story 2' trailer, describing it as a "propaganda". Vipul Amrutlal Shah also pointed out that Kashyap made a film 'That Girl in Yellow Boots' in which there was a depiction of "pita aur putri ke anaitik sambandh"(unethical relationship between a father and a daughter). "Kya unki aesi kisi tipaddi ko gambhirta se lena chahiye" (So, should the comments of someone who has made a film on such a subject be taken seriously?) Shah mentioned that the question was publicly raised by the director Kamakhya Narayan Singh and expressed hope that Kashyap would address it openly. "I was hoping that Anurag would speak very openly. Perhaps his answer will come in the coming days," he said. Earlier, director Kamakhya Narayan Singh, in a strong-worded response to the ongoing controversies and criticism of the film, also called out filmmaker Anurag Kashyap for his remarks. Speaking to ANI, Kamakhya Singh emphasised that Kashyap has been "blind to the truth" about the society."Kai saalon se unki saari filmein flop hui hai...woh mansik roop se durbal ho chukka hai...unko sachai dikhta nahi hai. (His films have been flopping for many years. He become mentally weak. He isn't able to see the truth)", the director said. "If he has a problem with the truth shown in our film, it means he has a problem with the entire world. Every scene of our film is based on true incidents. We know that it is based on true incidents, so if Anurag ji wants, then we will send all the research materials to his house. But he has to find fault in everything. He has just become blind to the truth. He doesn't want to see it or understand it," he added. Vipul Amrutlal Shah also clarified that his film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' does not target the state of Kerala or its people, following the Kerala High Court Division Bench lifting the stay on the film's release. He also noted that the movie is a reflection of truth and was made with a lot of hard work. While speaking to the media, he said, "The Kerala High Court Division Bench has withdrawn the stay that we got yesterday. And they have cleared the way for the release of the film. Now our shows have already started opening. So I request the people that this is a true film made with a lot of hard work. And the biggest proof of the truth of our film is that the Kerala court has vacated the stay order. If our film was a lie, then the Kerala court would have seen it and the stay order would not have been vacated." "I am very thankful to the Kerala Court of Honourable Justice, on behalf of myself and my entire team. Because of the prayers of thousands and lakhs of victims, I feel that this film will go ahead and make a place in the hearts of people," he added, expressing gratitude to the Kerala High Court Division Bench. He urged the people of Kerala to view the film with an open mind. "Neither our film, nor I, nor any member of my team is against the state of Kerala or the people of Kerala. Kerala is a very beautiful place. It is God's own country. But if something wrong is happening in God's own country, then it is our effort to reach those people and rectify that mistake. And I promise you that if you watch the film, then you will understand that we have not said anything negative about Kerala or the people of Kerala in this film. This film exposes some criminals." 'The Kerala Story 2,' the sequel to the National Award-winning 'The Kerala Story', that came out in 2023, follows the lives of three young women who fall into what the film describes as deceptive marriages and face alleged forced religious conversions. Ever since the trailer for the sequel was released, the film has been drawing strong reactions from all corners, and several social media users have criticised it as "propaganda," while the filmmakers maintain that it is based on researched real-life incidents. Earlier, reports claimed that the teaser of the film was removed after court intervention.However, the makers denied these claims. The Kerala High Court Division Bench on Friday lifted the stay on the release of the film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond'.High Court Division Bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan stayed the interim order passed by Single Bench Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, which stayed the release for 15 days. On February 26, the Kerala High Court directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to re-watch and reconsider the clearance of 'The Kerala Story 2', following claims that the film contains hate-spreading content. (ANI) Stellan Skarsgard "fell in love" with his onscreen "daughters" while they were making Sentimental Value. Stellan Skarsgard bonded with his movie family on Sentimental Value The Dune star plays a film director trying to reconnect with his two adult daughters - played by Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - and the movie also features Elle Fanning as an actress hired to star in the character's latest film - and Stellan admits he bonded with his onscreen family during the shoot. The actor - who is dad to seven sons and one daughter in real life - told Deadline.com: "Its a great privilege to have three daughters. I only have one in real life. "Theyre so fantastic and so different personalities, all three of them, but I fell in love with all three ... You always use your own material in a way, not biographic material, but your own feelings, your own flaws and everything in acting. "But in this case, Ive never seen it so obvious that - without revealing yourself by making it biographical - you are totally exposed." Stellan went on to reveal he's thrilled the actresses all received Oscar nominations for their work on the film while he is also competing in the Best Supporting Actor. He added: "For me, it was relief and happiness because I didnt want anybody to be left behind. It would have been terrible. So, they accommodated us there." Sentimental Value is also nominated in the Best Picture category and Best Director for Joachim Trier as well as receiving nods for Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film and Best Film Editing. Director Joachim revealed he kept in touch with his cast when the nominations were announced, adding: "I had tears in my eyes from the word go. I was in LA and so was Elle. "Stellan was in Stockholm and everyone else was in Oslo, so wed set up a system so that we would be together. Everyone was kind of in there, communicating digitally or for real. "And the first two names out of the gate, of all nominations at the Academy Awards, were Elle and Inga. And as a director When actors get nominated and youre director, its the most lovely thing in the world. It makes me super-proud because Ive seen the work, Ive been in the trenches with them. "Ive seen how vulnerable they made themselves, how risky it is to do real work deeply from your own personality and all that stuff, taking those risks. "And also, of course, Olivier, our editor, and my dear friend Eskil as well. Its been very, very moving, and its never happened for a Norwegian film before. Weve barely been nominated at all as a country." Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttarakhand Qazi Muhammad Nizamuddin from Manglaur in Haridwar district has written a letter to the Director General of Police of Uttarakhand on Thursday, expressing concern over recent incidents of violence allegedly occurring based on religion in the state. He cited cases such as the mistreatment of a Muslim man offering prayers in a field and the assault of a truck driver in Haridwar. The Congress legislator emphasised that no one is above the law. In this context, he has urged the Uttarakhand DGP to ensure a fair investigation, strict action under relevant legal provisions, and the safety and protection of the victims. In his letter, the MLA stated that Uttarakhand's identity is rooted in peace, communal harmony, and the rule of law, and that these values must be upheld at all costs. The letter mentioned that," In recent days, incidents of communal violence and abuse have been continuously reported in the state of Uttarakhand, which are extremely worrying. In one case, an elderly Muslim man was assaulted and abused while offering namaz in a field. Similarly, an incident of a Muslim truck driver being beaten on the basis of religion has also come to light in Haridwar." Such Incidents not only pose a serious challenge to law and order but also adversely impact the state's social harmony, mutual trust, and constitutional values. Violence or harassment against any citizen based on their faith, identity, or community is completely unacceptable. The recurrence of these incidents is creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in society, which must be stopped promptly," stated in the letter. It is also mentioned that," The police must take serious cognisance of these incidents, ensure impartial and prompt investigations, register FIRs under stringent sections against the perpetrators, and take strict and exemplary legal action, and ensure the full protection and dignity of the victims. Furthermore, effective and concrete steps should be taken to prevent such incidents in the future so that the rule of law and social harmony remain intact in the state. I am confident that this matter will be given the highest priority, and necessary action will be taken." (ANI) The Delhi Police has accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student protestors of physically assaulting the security personnel during today's protest. The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained. "During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," Delhi Police said. The police further said that the JNUSU called the protest march from the campus to the Ministry of Education despite being denied permission by the University administration. The police said that around 500 students gathered in the protest and left the main gate of the university, though they were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. "A call for a Long March from JNU to the Ministry of Education was made by the JNU Student Union. The students were informed that such a protest outside the campus was not permitted by the JNU administration and were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. Despite talks and requests not to protest outside, around 400-500 students gathered and held a protest march. At approximately 3:20 PM, they left the main gate and marched outside," the police stated. On the other hand, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) )condemned the alleged police brutality on the student protestors marching towards the Ministry of Education, demanding the implementation of the Rohith Act and the Vice-Chancellor's resignation. JNUSU further alleged that the injured students have been denied medical assistance. "As soon as the students reached the main gate of the campus, the police and other paramilitary forces locked the main gate with chains and multiple layers of barricades. When the students, through collective effort, forced the police to open the main gate, they detained more than 50 students and sent them to several undisclosed locations. Multiple students have faced varying degrees of injuries. The police have denied medical assistance to the injured students," JNUSU stated. The developments come after student protestors of JNU, led by JNUSU were detained by Delhi Police after they took out a protest against Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit. After the police locked the university doors and prevented protestors from crossing the barricades, they met with a scuffle, following which the police detained several protestors. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, remembering his supreme sacrifice in India's struggle for Independence. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "On the martyrdom day of Chandrashekhar Azad, the valiant son of Mother India, my respectful homage to him. He sacrificed everything to free Mother India from the shackles of slavery, for which he will be remembered forever." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid rich tributes to freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, recalling his unparalleled contribution to India's independence movement and describing his life as a saga of courage, sacrifice and unwavering patriotism. In a post on X, Shah said, "Chandrashekhar Azad ji fought a valiant battle against the British Raj, singing 'Vande Mataram' until his last breath of life. Whether it was the Kakori Train Action, the formation of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), or the building of a strong organisation for revolutionaries, every moment of Chandrashekhar Azad ji's life was dedicated to the cause of independence. Recalling his saga of sacrifice still fills every fibre of our being with the spirit of patriotism today." Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari, famously known as Chandrasekhar Azad, hailed from the Unnao district in the erstwhile United Provinces under British rule. Chandrasekhar Azad was a revolutionary who formed and oversaw a group of young people involved in the freedom movement. Azad was instrumental in reorganising the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) following the deaths or imprisonments of the majority of its members. Azad had taken over the organisation after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, another freedom fighter who was hanged by the British in 1927. Known for his zeal to fight against the British government in India, Azad was the one who, in August 1925, pulled the emergency chain of the train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow and looted the cash that was being transported. He was famous for his new phases of revolutionary activism against the British authorities. Born in Madhya Pradesh on July 23, 1906, Azad was killed in Allahabad on February 27, 1931, in a police encounter. Chandrashekhar Azad was inspired to fight for the country from a very young age and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement at just 15 years old. He's famous for his slogan, "We will face the bullets of enemies. We were free, and we will remain free." (ANI) Amidst the ongoing criticism by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the Election Commission and Centre over Special Intensive Revision, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Friday said that the TMC supremo is "rattled" by SIR. Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said that the West Bengal CM opposed the SIR and approached High Court and Supreme Court to put up a "fight" against it. He further stated that Banerjee has agreed that duplicate names in electoral roll would touch 1.20 crore because they were included deliberately. "As soon as SIR was announced, she (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) was rattled. She still is. She approached High Court and Supreme Court and put up a fight. But she could not do anything...Today, she agreed that the numbers (of duplicate names) will touch 1.20 crore because those names were deliberately included," Dilip Ghosh told ANI. Earlier this week, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the ongoing SIR procedure, suggesting that around 1.20 crore names are projected to get deleted from the electoral roll. The CM called it a question of democratic rights, adding that the issue transcends party lines and religious identities. Earlier on Tuesday, the West Bengal government welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to permit the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to deploy additional civil judges with three years of experience and, if required, seek assistance from the Chief Justices of Jharkhand and Odisha for verifying objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls in the state. The directions were issued by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court flagged a shortage of officers to verify over 50 lakh objections under the 'Logical Discrepancy' category within the existing timeframe. The High Court had noted that even 250 judicial officers would require approximately 80 days to complete the verification. (ANI) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam is likely to join Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) on Friday ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu elections, sources said. This move follows recent praise by the OPS camp for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and prediction related to return of DMK government in the state. Earlier on Friday, Tamil Nadu MLA P Ayyappan, who is seen as part of former CM O Paneerselvam's camp, expressed his desire to see M. Stalin lead the state again following the next assembly polls.Ayyappan stated in the Assembly that M K Stalin must once again become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M. G. Ramachandran and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma J. Jayalalithaa, and with the good wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I extend my thanks. He further said, "The Breakfast Scheme was introduced with a visionary outlook. For small children's who come to primary schools, the Chief Minister provides hot meals like a mother." "Those who once raised slogans claiming that the Chief Minister had merely given Rs 5,000 are nowhere to be seen today. As long as Tamil Nadu exists, the Breakfast Scheme will continue to praise the Chief Minister. In the upcoming election, M.K. Stalin should once again win and return as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, and with the wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I express my gratitude at this moment," Ayyappan added. 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) BJP leader Prakash Reddy on Friday hit out at AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who linked the current Congress-led Telangana government's actions to those of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Speaking to ANI, Reddy labelled AIMIM as "the most communal party in the country," accusing Owaisi of viewing every administrative issue through a religious lens. "...This is totally a communal statement. He can't connect Congress Govt with the Yogi Govt - the BJP Govt of Uttar Pradesh...In every issue, Owaisi brings up a communal issue. He speaks only about Muslims. I can say that this is the most communal party in the country," said Reddy. He futher said that the BJP's stand on the Musi Riverfront development project is that no legally constructed houses should be demolished or residents displaced, asserting that the issue should be dealt with strictly on legal grounds and not linked to any other considerations. "As far as the BJP is concerned, in connection with the Musi Riverfront development project, the Govt of Telangana should not demolish any houses or displace anyone if the houses are legally constructed. So, legal issues are different from other issues. All legal constructions should be kept away from demolition...In connection with this, BJP never sees any religious issues like Akbaruddin Owaisi..." On Thursday, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi accused Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of systematically targeting the Muslim community, claiming "their enmity is with us Muslims". Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, Owaisi drew a comparison between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing them of indulging in "demolition" politics. "Yogi demolishes houses with bulldozers there, here Reddy is also demolishing houses and mosques... There is no difference between Yogi and this Reddy. There is no difference between the BJP and the Congress," Owaisi alleged. He alleged that the BJP and Congress unite specifically on issues concerning Muslims. "Their enmity is not with encroachments or lawlessness. Their enmity is with Muslims... No one is our own," he said. In Telangana, the Congress government's Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has initiated massive demolition drives aimed at removing unauthorised constructions in the last year. (ANI) In true bollywood style, a husband-wife team behind a multi-victim property scam have been nabbed by Dwarka South Police, officials said on Friday. The couple, identified as Naresh Kumar Sikri (57) and Sharda Sikri (55), residents of Dwarka Sector-9, allegedly "sold" the same apartment to multiple unsuspecting buyers, pocketing massive sums through fraudulent agreements. Following a period of sustained technical surveillance and acting on secret intelligence, police tracked the pair to Greater Noida, where they were successfully taken into custody. It is connected to two cases in 2024 of cheating that were registered at PS Dwarka South vide FIR No. 11/2024 and FIR No. 346/2024 after complainants alleged that the accused accepted money for the sale of their flat but failed to execute the sale deed and absconded. Investigation revealed that the property was mortgaged and the couple dishonestly sold it multiple times to arrange funds, allegedly collecting 2-2.5 crore. During proceedings, the accused wife was declared a Proclaimed Offender (PO) by the Dwarka Court. Both accused have now been arrested and sent to Judicial Custody. Further investigation is in progress. A similar case of husband-wife criminal duo was observed in 2024, where they were apprehended by the Delhi Police for allegedly snatching a mobile phone. The incident was reported to Jagat Puri Police Station via a PCR call. According to the complainant, the snatching occurred at 6 AM at Vijay Sariya Shop, Main Road, Chander Nagar. The caller stated that two individuals on a scooty had snatched their Infinix phone. Upon receiving the complaint, a case under Sections 356, 379, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at Jagat Puri Police Station, and an investigation was launched. A team from the station was directed to scrutinize the CCTV footage from the scene to trace the route taken by the perpetrators. The analysis revealed that the scooty involved had been reported stolen on May 4, 2024, under Section 379 IPC at PS Shakarpur. With the help of the footage and confidential information, the police identified the suspects as Maroof Khan and his wife, Shahida, also known as Soni.A raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of both suspects. The stolen Infinix mobile phone and the scooty used in the crime were recovered from their possession and subsequently seized. (ANI) In the JNU student protest case, the Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to all the accused students. The court directed that each of the accused furnish a bail bond of Rs. 25,000. The court has also ordered verification of the bail bonds. The developments come after student protestors of JNU on Thursday, led by JNUSU, were detained by Delhi Police after they took out a protest against Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit. After the police locked the university doors and prevented protestors from crossing the barricades, they met with a scuffle, following which the police detained several protestors. Earlier today, the Delhi Police accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student protestors of physically assaulting the security personnel. The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained. "During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," Delhi Police said. The police further said that the JNUSU called the protest march from the campus to the Ministry of Education despite being denied permission by the University administration. The police said that around 500 students gathered in the protest and left the main gate of the university, though they were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. "A call for a Long March from JNU to the Ministry of Education was made by the JNU Student Union. The students were informed that such a protest outside the campus was not permitted by the JNU administration and were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. Despite talks and requests not to protest outside, around 400-500 students gathered and held a protest march. At approximately 3:20 PM, they left the main gate and marched outside," the police stated. On the other hand, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) condemned the alleged police brutality on the student protestors marching towards the Ministry of Education, demanding the implementation of the Rohith Act and the Vice-Chancellor's resignation. JNUSU further alleged that the injured students have been denied medical assistance. (ANI) Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of expressing "fake outrage" over the NCERT issue, calling it a "damage control" exercise. In an 'X' post, Ramesh further called the controversy not an accidental mistake but a part of "systematic indoctrination campaign." He further accused the Prime Minister of leading a false network consisting of academically false people, which have damage by "grave damage" to textbooks with his brand of "ideological virus." "After demonstrating real moral cowardice in Israel, the Prime Minister is expressing fake outrage on the NCERT books issue. In an obviously damage control exercise, he is letting it be known that he is extremely unhappy with the critical references to the judiciary in NCERT textbooks. Over the past decade, he has presided over a network of academic-quacks who have done grave damage by infecting textbooks with their brand of ideological virus. These are not accidental oversights but part of a systematic indoctrination campaign," Ramesh wrote on 'X'. Taking an indirect jibe at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Ramesh asserted that PM Modi has guided and shaped the "Nagpur Communal Ecosystem" for rewriting textbooks and called it sheer hypocrisy to distance himself from the textbooks that have "rightly agitated the Supreme Court." "Mr. Modi has himself guided and shaped the Nagpur Communal Ecosystem for Rewriting of Textbooks--which is the real NCERT. It is sheer hypocrisy on his part to distance himself from the textbooks that have rightly agitated the Supreme Court. The next logical step for the Supreme Court to take is to institute a full-fledged investigation into how textbooks have come to be rewritten and how they have become instruments of polarisation and political score-settling," Jairam Ramesh added. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday supported the Supreme Court of India issuing show cause notices to senior officials of the Education Ministry and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) over a sub-chapter titled "Corruption in the judiciary" in a Class 8 Social Science textbook. Expressing "regret" on behalf of the government and the Education Ministry, Pradhan said that he directed the NCERT to withdraw and cancel all books. Speaking to ANI here, Pradhan said, "We respect the judiciary. Whatever happened is unfortunate. I express regret on behalf of the govt as well as on a personal level. As soon as I came to know 2 days back, I directed the NCERT to withdraw and cancel all books. We have no intention for contempt of our judicial system. Whatever the Supreme Court ordered will be followed. I have given responsibility to my department secretary that action be taken against whoever added such an irresponsible chapter in the NCERT book. We are taking this very seriously." The Supreme Court issued show cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and NCERT Director Dinesh Prashad Saklani, asking them to explain why action should not be taken under contempt or other laws for including a sub-chapter titled "Corruption in the judiciary" in the Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M Pancholi refused to halt suo motu proceedings despite NCERT's apology over the controversial inclusion and imposed a blanket ban on the textbook section. The court warned that any attempt to bypass the order would be considered direct interference with the administration of justice and could attract contempt of court. (ANI) The now-withdrawn Class 8 Social Science textbook was drafted by a committee of subject experts that included a lawyer, officials said, adding that there is no separate procedure requiring chapters to be vetted independently by members of the legal fraternity. The clarification comes amid reports claiming that the controversial chapter on the judiciary in now withdrawn book- Exploring Society: India and Beyond- was not reviewed by the legal fraternity. When asked whether it is mandatory for a chapter dealing with the judiciary to be vetted separately by members of the legal fraternity, the official said, "That is not how textbooks are written. There is no mandatory clause requiring such separate vetting. This is a misconception." The official said the committee comprised experts from relevant fields and that additional expertise can be invited where required. "There is a certain process for writing textbooks. The books are written by subject experts, reviewed extensively, and eventually vetted by the National Syllabus Learning Teaching Material Committee before publication. The book is read by many people within NCERT. There is usually a lot of debate and changes before it is finalised," the official said, explaining the process of preparing the book. However, the official acknowledged that "inappropriate textual material has crept into the textbook," calling it an error of judgment for which NCERT has already expressed regret and withdrawn the book. The Supreme Court has called for action against those responsible for drafting the controversial chapter, observing that there appeared to be a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" to defame the judiciary. The court imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 book and directed that all physical and digital copies be seized. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed dismay over the content and assured that accountability would be fixed. NCERT on Wednesday issued a public apology and halted the distribution of the textbook after acknowledging that inappropriate material had found its way into the chapter titled "The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society." The book, released on February 24, introduced a section discussing challenges faced by the judiciary, including corruption and case pendency. Meanwhile, NCERT, along with the Education Ministry, has initiated steps to rectify the error, officials added. Sources said NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani is examining the circumstances under which the content was included and will identify the persons or procedures responsible. The Education Ministry has also written to the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology, seeking immediate steps to halt the dissemination of the withdrawn textbook through digital and electronic platforms. (ANI) RAYE has channelled heartbreak into the powerful ballad Nightingale Lane., her first single since the smash hit Where Is My Husband!. RAYE has served up the powerful new song Nightingale Lane. The BRIT Award winner - who will perform at the ceremony in Manchester this Saturday (28.02.26) - has unveiled the newest preview of her upcoming album This Album May Contain Hope, on which she lays bare what she calls the greatest heartbreak Ive ever known. She belts: Somebody loved me once/ and someday somebody will again. Like the way you loved me/ on Nightingale Lane/ although we never made it/ stranger, you showed me its true/ Im capable of loving someone the way I loved you. RAYE described the new album as a "hug" for "that person who needs it". Speaking about the record, RAYE said in a statement: Music is medicine, Ive always said that. I guess Im in the process of making medicine for myself that I can share with the world. I want us all to say to ourselves that its going to be all right, and Im going to have faith in the seeds that Ive planted beneath the snow. I wanted to create something that is a hug, bed or soft place for that person who needs it. This Music May Contain Hope is scheduled to drop on March 27 - three years after the release of her 2023 debut album My 21st Century Blues, which scored her a number one on the UK Singles Chart with Escapism as well as six BRIT Awards. RAYE released the first single from the new album, Where Is My Husband!, in September and scored her second number one on the UK Singles Chart. It comes after RAYE previously admitted her second album could face delays because she lost her lyric books when her car was stolen. She made the revelation in a post on Instagram to mark her birthday in October 2024, writing: "Its my birthday and my car got stolen with all my song writing books in the boot so no second album any time soon love you bye." However, the motor and her notebooks were returned to her months later after police found the stolen car. Speaking on The EE Official Big Top 40 in October, she said: "It was a rollercoaster journey, but what I didnt tell everyone is the police called me maybe two or three months ago, and they were like, We found your car.' "Not only did I get it back, not one thing had been taken out of the car. All my songwriting books were there, untouched. Everything ended well. Never give up hope." A Congress worker, KP Bhagyaraj, in the Mysore District party Committee has written a letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to appoint Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as the Chief Minister of the state. In a letter addressed to Kharge, KP Bhagyaraj appealed to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership to consider Shivakumar's "sacrifice and contribution" to the party and elevate him to the top post in Karnataka. The letter stated, "...The future of the Congress party is in your hands. For this reason, for the future of the Congress party in the state and the survival of the workers, you should immediately make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister because you know what DK Shivakumar sacrificed for the survival of the Congress party and for the protection of the Congress party." The letter states that Shivakumar played a crucial role in safeguarding Congress governments during times of political instability in other states. "For example, when the Congress government of Vilas Rao Dehmukh in Maharashtra was on the verge of collapse, the Congress government in Maharashtra remained intact due to the handiwork of Honorable DK Shivakumar," the letter read. It also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was responsible for his imprisonment in Tihar Jail following investigations by central agencies. "In recent years, the BJP sent Honorable DK Shivakumar to Tihar Jail after thwarting the BJP's machinations to defeat Ahmed Patil of Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha elections. You also know that in such a situation, he sacrificed his life and stood in the defense of the Congress party," Bhagyaraj wrote in the letter. Bhagyaraj credited Shivakumar's tenure as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president for steadying the party's position in the state, stating that it was due to him that the party wa able secure a decisive mandate of 136 seats in the last Assembly elections. "I also know that his sacrifice, effort, resources accumulated for the party and the organisation around the state and the party in Karnataka, he was one of the reasons why the Congress got 136 seats in the last elections. You know this truth, the high command knows it, and the people of this state know it," the letter stated. He further added, "Therefore, what I am thinking about is that DK Shivakumar, who worked as the party president, should be made the Chief Minister as soon as possible. I hereby request you, as a Congress worker, to do my utmost to make him the Chief Minister." The current Karnataka Chief Minister is Siddaramaiah, while Shivakumar serves as the Deputy Chief Minister. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday overturned a decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had quashed disciplinary proceedings against IRS officer Sameer Danyadev Wankhede. The High Court's ruling allows the Union government and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to proceed with the departmental inquiry. A Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan held that the Tribunal should not have interfered at the stage when only a charge memorandum had been issued. The Court observed that a charge memo is merely the beginning of disciplinary proceedings and does not amount to a finding of guilt. Therefore, judicial intervention at such an early stage should be rare and limited to exceptional cases. The disciplinary action against Wankhede is linked to developments arising out of the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug seizure case, during his tenure as a Zonal Director with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The case had drawn nationwide attention after the arrest of Aryan Khan, the son of actor Shah Rukh Khan. After returning to his parent cadre under CBIC, Wankhede was issued a charge memorandum dated August 18, 2025. He approached the CAT, challenging the memo, arguing that the preliminary inquiry findings could not form the basis of disciplinary action and that the process adopted was unfair and biased. The Tribunal accepted his plea in January 2026, quashed the charge memo, and restrained the authorities from continuing the inquiry. It also made observations suggesting bias and malice on the part of the government. The Union government challenged this decision before the High Court, contending that the CAT exceeded its powers by stopping the proceedings at the threshold. The Centre argued that courts and tribunals generally do not interfere with a charge-sheet unless it is completely without jurisdiction or clearly illegal. It further submitted that the material relied upon, including a call transcript already placed on record in related proceedings before the Bombay High Court, required proper examination through a departmental process. Accepting the government's arguments, the High Court set aside the CAT's order and restored the disciplinary proceedings. The ruling reaffirms the principle that departmental inquiries should ordinarily be allowed to continue without judicial interruption at the initial stage, leaving questions of merit to be examined during the inquiry itself. (ANI) Kerala Health Minister Veena George was discharged from Kannur Government Medical College Hospital, Pariyaram, on Friday, after undergoing treatment for injuries allegedly sustained during a black flag protest by Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists at Kannur railway station earlier this week. According to sources, the Minister left Kannur around 4 a.m. in an official vehicle and returned to Thiruvananthapuram, where she will continue further treatment. Veena George had reportedly suffered injuries to her neck and hand during the KSU black flag protest held at the Kannur Railway Station on February 25. The protest by KSU, the student wing of the Congress party, was reportedly over alleged medical negligence in state government hospitals. While the ruling CPI(M) condemned the incident as a "heinous attack," the opposition Congress has dismissed the claims as "fabricated." Earlier on Thursday, Congress leader K Muraleedharan alleged that the alleged attack on Kerala Health Minister Veena George by Kerala Students Union (KSU) workers was a "cooked-up story," intensifying the political row surrounding the incident at Kannur Railway Station. "Yesterday's issue was a cooked-up story. Everybody had seen on the CCTV that only 5% demonstrated with the black flag, and the minister was very angry and she went to attack the KSU workers. The police then prevented her from doing so... Our request is for an expert medical team from the All India Medical Institute to come here and check the minister's issue... Then we would accept the report... They want to divert attention from the present issues... The story was cooked up by the chief minister," Muraleedharan told ANI. The controversy erupted after it was reported that Health Minister Veena George was allegedly attacked during a black-flag protest by KSU activists on Wednesday. She was initially admitted to Kannur District Hospital and later shifted to Kannur Government Medical College Hospital. A 13-member medical board reviewing her condition stated that she is undergoing treatment in the ICU for severe radicular pain caused by pressure on cervical nerve roots in her neck. The board clarified that no emergency surgery is required at present, though continuous monitoring is necessary. Meanwhile, BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan termed the episode politically motivated. "All these atrocities occurred at a time when the election was scheduled to commence within about 1-2 months. It is a planned affair... we need to examine it. There is a deliberate effort to divert the public's attention to a trivial matter. The government seeks this kind of attention on a trivial issue. It is also the aim of the Congress party. They need to overcome the confusion prevailing within the party. Both parties require some breathing space between the election preparations and the announcement date. This is a very calculated, planned effort by both parties to distract the public from the real issues," he said. Kalpetta MLA T Sideeq also reacted sharply, mocking the minister. "We are now going to announce the best actor award to Mrs. Veena George, the health minister of Kerala. Her acting was in a very extra official manner. She did her acting without having a single incident of any assault or attack on her body. She acted in a very good manner. Actually, Mohanlal and Mammootty has to follow Veena George actually," he remarked. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday criticised the Delhi Police over its action in Rohru, saying the agency should have informed the state police before taking any accused out of the state following the high-voltage late-night standoff between teams of Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police in Shimla on February 25. He also announced a major healthcare upgrade with the installation of a 3 Tesla MRI machine at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital. Speaking to mediapersons after a programme at IGMC in Shimla, the CM said respect for federal norms and coordination between police forces was essential, asserting that each state has constitutional powers and sovereignty that must not be undermined. Sukhu said that if Delhi Police intended to take individuals into custody from Himachal Pradesh, it should have followed Supreme Court-mandated procedures and informed the local police in advance. "Every state functions within its constitutional rights. If Delhi Police had to take someone from here, they should have informed Himachal Pradesh Police first and followed the standard operating procedure. Acting without information and in plain clothes is not appropriate," he said. He added that coordination between police agencies was necessary and that any forceful action without prior intimation creates confusion and undermines institutional functioning. The Chief Minister also maintained that if the Delhi Police had informed the state Director General of Police before entering, the situation could have been handled smoothly. Without directly commenting on opposition leaders, Sukhu said that law enforcement agencies from outside the state cannot pick up individuals without due process, stressing that such actions would render the role of Himachal Police meaningless. The remarks come days after a high-voltage standoff between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police following the detention of three Youth Congress workers from Rohru in Shimla district. The incident led to political sparring in the state, with the ruling Congress terming the action illegal and the BJP defending the Delhi Police operation. Himachal Police had intervened after receiving information about the detention, and the episode sparked a debate over jurisdiction, procedure and inter-state coordination among law enforcement agencies. Apart from the law-and-order remarks, the Chief Minister announced the installation of a high-end 3 Tesla MRI machine at IGMC Shimla, replacing a 20-year-old MRI system. "It gives me great satisfaction that we have installed a high-end MRI comparable to facilities at AIIMS. Our government's aim is to provide top-tier technology so patients do not need to be referred outside the state," Sukhu said. He said the government plans to equip IGMC Shimla and other medical colleges, including Tanda, Hamirpur, Chamba and Nerchowk and Super speciality hospital Chamyana with advanced digital and diagnostic technology within a year. Sukhu also criticised the previous BJP government, alleging that despite receiving substantial revenue deficit grants and GST compensation, healthcare infrastructure had not been adequately upgraded. (ANI) BJP leader NV Subhash on Friday condemned AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi's remarks related to targeting of Muslim community within the country, adding that the party respects him because he is an elected representative. Subhash also hailed Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, calling him "constructive", stating that he acts against criminals and illegal constructions. "The BJP condemns this kind of irresponsible statement and a learned man giving a statement like this. He is not an ordinary man. We give a lot of respect because he is an elected representative. But we see that, whether it is a selective outrage or a political positioning, when you compare with CM Yogi of Uttar Pradesh, he has been very constructive... He's against the criminals, against illegal constructions that take place," said NV Subhash. AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi on Thursday accused Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of systematically targeting the Muslim community, claiming "their enmity is with us Muslims". Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, Owaisi drew a comparison between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing them of indulging in "demolition" politics. "Yogi demolishes houses with bulldozers there, here Reddy is also demolishing houses and mosques... There is no difference between Yogi and this Reddy. There is no difference between the BJP and the Congress," Owaisi alleged. He alleged that the BJP and Congress unite specifically on issues concerning Muslims. "Their enmity is not with encroachments or lawlessness. Their enmity is with Muslims... No one is our own," he said. In Telangana, the Congress government's Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has initiated massive demolition drives aimed at removing unauthorised constructions in the last year. AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had also expressed similar concern over the "increasing number of communal incidents" in Telangana, and demanded immediate action from the authorities in connection with the recent violence in Banswada. Owaisi told ANI that he had spoken to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kamareddy and sought the immediate registration of an FIR and a proper investigation into the Banswada violence. "The increasing number of communal incidents in Telangana is very concerning. I spoke to the SP, Kamareddy, and demanded that an FIR be lodged and a proper investigation conducted into the Banswada violence," he told ANI. On Thursday, Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao, met with the residents of Madhu Park Ridge Apartments who have alleged that they are facing the threat of losing their homes due to the proposed Musi River Front project. In an interaction under the "Musi Gosa - BJP Bharosa", the residents expressed deep concern that the riverfront development could result in their displacement. Several families shared their grievances before the BJP leader, with some breaking down in tears while describing their uncertainty and distress. After hearing thier grievances, Rao assured them of support and slammed the state government, claiming that the Gandhi statue would lead to the demolition of these homes. He also noted that many ex-servicemen were among the residents, prompting him to call the situation "shameful". (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday clarified that the government is committed to ensuring that Marathi becomes not only a language of culture but also a language of economy and employment. In a special program titled 'Jave Vinodka Gaon' organised in the Legislative Assembly on the occasion of Marathi Language Gaurav Day, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mentioned concrete policy steps for the preservation of Marathi, such as creating an encyclopedia, organising literary conferences and increasing the use of Marathi in government affairs. The program was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, as well as Anna Bansode, Chandrakant Patil, Uday Samant, Ashutosh Kale and many ministers, MLAs and public representatives. The program was coordinated by Kedar Shinde, Hrishikesh Joshi, Prabhu Desai, Dhanashree Damle and their team. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde said that the Marathi language is a sacred stream carrying thousands of years of cultural tradition. Citing the lines "We are lucky, Marathi speaks to us", he saluted the poet Kusumagraj and gratefully greeted the saints, poets, writers, scholars, teachers and researchers. He stated that Marathi is the identity that flows through the veins of Maharashtra. Shinde thanked the central government, recalling that the state government has consistently pursued making Marathi a classical language. He said that a crown of respect has been placed on the crown of Marathi and that emphasis on education and study in the mother tongue is the need of the hour. He clarified that the government is trying to ensure that Marathi is used effectively in all sectors as a business language. He said that efforts are being made at the policy level to translate excellent literary works in Marathi into other languages, increase the use of Marathi in administration and make it a language of income generation. He appealed to everyone to contribute to creating an ocean of success through small efforts, and to create an ocean of Marathi. In the age of technology, Marathi has assimilated changes in line with the times, and various forms of Marathi are also visible on social media. Stating that the diversity of dialects is the strength of Marathi, he mentioned dialects like Khandeshi, Malvani, Konkani, Varhadi, etc. He appealed to increase the fame of Marathi by making effective use of available resources. He said that the government is updating the entries in the encyclopedia, creating a children's encyclopedia, a Kumar encyclopedia, an Olympic encyclopedia, and providing a platform for Marathi at the global level through the World Marathi Literature Conference. He also mentioned that the work of bringing Marathi brothers from all over the world is being done through this conference. Shinde said that the tradition of Marathi humour was highlighted through the program 'Java Vinodka Gaava' organised in the run-up to the Legislative Assembly session, and mentioned the humorous styles of Acharya Atre and P. L. Deshpande. He said that the Marathi man who finds humour even in times of crisis is his identity. Making an emotional exclamation, "Marathi in my blood, Marathi in my breath," Deputy Chief Minister Shinde expressed his resolve to carry forward the heritage of my Marathi with more vigour on Marathi Language Gaurav Day. Appealing to everyone to make united efforts to keep the flag of Marathi flying across the oceans, he wished the attendees a happy Marathi Language Gaurav Day. (ANI) The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Friday expressed its gravest outrage over the police action and mass detention of over 50 students during the "Long March" to the Ministry of Education (MoE). 14 students of JNU, including three JNUSU office bearers, were arrested as clashes occurred between the police and the students during the protest. The Patiala House Court has granted bail to all of the students, directing each of them to furnish a bail bond of Rs 25,000. JNUSU, in a statement, said that the "Long March" was organised to demand the implementation of the Rohith Act, the restoration of university funds, and the immediate removal of Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit for her alleged casteist remarks and "complicity in campus corruption". The protestors were demanding the Pandit's resignation over her alleged hateful remarks regarding Dalits and Blacks, which were made on a podcast on February 16. JNUSU said that Delhi Police intentionally locked the main gates with chains and erected multiple layers of heavy barricading to block the protesters within the campus. "When students collectively asserted their democratic right to move forward, the police responded with extreme violence. Around 50 students were forcibly bundled into buses and taken to various Police Stations. Numerous students, including women, sustained serious injuries. Despite these injuries, the police brazenly denied medical assistance. Further, in an act of profound disrespect, police personnel were seen breaking the portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar, further underscoring the casteist nature of this crackdown," JNUSU alleged. JNUSU held the university administration and the Ministry of Education directly responsible for this "police-raj" on campus. They demanded immediate and unconditional release of the 14 students sent to Tihar Jail and all other detained protesters. Resignation of the Vice-Chancellor for her alleged casteist rhetoric against Dalit and Bahujan communities, and her inability to protect students from state violence. They also demanded immediate suspension of the police personnel who desecrated the portrait of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the withdrawal of all FIRs and proctoral actions initiated to silence student activists. Meanwhile, the police said that the protesting students broke open the university's locked main gate and attempted to march by crossing the baricades they had erected, leading to a scuffle with the police in which several of their personnel were injured. "We tried to reason with them that they should conduct any protests inside the campus, not outside, as they have not been granted any permission. However, they were also explained today that if they wanted to take a delegation, they could be facilitated. However, they ignored all these requests, gathered four to five hundred people, broke the gate, and came out around 3.00 pm, insisting that they would march outside for a protest," DCP South West district Amit Goel said. Police also accused the student protestors of physically assaulting the security personnel during yesterday's protest. The Delhi Police claimed that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained. "During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," the Delhi police said. The controversy stems from Pandit's remarks on a podcast while discussing the UGC's proposed 2026 Equity (Anti-Discrimination) Regulations aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. In a purported clip circulating online of the podcast, she was heard saying that Dalits and Blacks "cannot progress by being permanently victims or playing the victim card," triggering sharp reactions from student groups. The VC has clarified that her comments were taken out of context and misrepresented for "political purposes" by certain groups. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reached the birthplace of freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad situated in Alirajpur district on Friday and paid floral tribute to his statue on his 95th death anniversary. CM Yadav visited Azad's Kutiya, 'Azad Smriti Mandir', located at Chandrashekhar Azad Nagar in the district and offered homage by garlanding his statue. He also took the stock of an exhibition displayed at the site showcasing the life and contributions of the freedom fighter. The Chief Minister also addressed a public gathering on the occasion and remembered Azad's sacrifice and described him as the proud son of Madhya Pradesh. "Today, I visited the birthplace of our freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad and remembered the virtues of the freedom fighters and his sacrifice. He was a brave revolutionary who made his identity across the world. I am happy that heroes of our tribal region fought against the britishers for the independence of the nation and their contribution is incomparable. I pay my tributes to them," CM Yadav told reporters. Chandrasekhar Azad was a revolutionary who formed and oversaw a group of young people involved in the freedom movement. Azad was instrumental in reorganising the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) following the deaths or imprisonments of the majority of its members. Azad had taken over the organisation after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, another freedom fighter who was hanged by the British in 1927. Known for his zeal to fight against the British government in India, Azad was the one who, in August 1925, pulled the emergency chain of the train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow and looted the cash that was being transported. He was famous for his new phases of revolutionary activism against the British authorities. Born in Madhya Pradesh on July 23, 1906, Azad died in Allahabad on February 27, 1931. Chandrashekhar Azad was inspired to fight for the country from a very young age and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement at just 15 years old. He's famous for his slogan, "We will face the bullets of enemies. We were free, and we will remain free." (ANI) Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Chaudhary, on Friday lauded a Delhi court's acquittal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Speaking to mediapersons here, Chaudhary congratulated Kejriwal and others and said that the judiciary has kept the faith of the citizens with its decision. "It is a day of celebrations, and congratulations are in order for the judiciary, Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia because people in this country have instilled a lot of faith in the judiciary. The judiciary has kept that faith, so this is a big decision," he said. He further asserted that elections should be contested on issues of national and local interests. Highlighting the diversity in the country, the Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Chaudhary stated that everyone should have the right to equality. He further said that today's verdict by the special court reaffirms that stance. "Whether it's us, Kejriwal or any other party, elections need to be contested based on the issues of national interest. We can get votes by misleading people, but that will not develop the nation. The beauty of this nation is 'unity in diversity'. Various communities live in our country, so all of them should get equal rights. So all parties should contest elections based on actual issues. Today's verdict reaffirms that when we distract from the main issues, it impacts our youth adversely," Chaudhary stated. This comes after the Rouse Avenue Court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others in the Delhi Excise Policy case, earlier today. The court refused to take cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charge sheet. Following his discharge by Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi Excise Policy case, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday broke down outside court as he emphasised that he was not corrupt, adding that the court had said that both he and Manish Sisodia were "honest". Addressing reporters, Kejriwal also accused PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of hatching the biggest political conspiracy of independent India. He also alleged that the BJP planned to finish the Aam Aadmi Party by putting its top five leaders while asserting that he has always said that the "truth emerges victorious." Manish Sisodia also hailed the Court's decision, saying that the truth has emerged victorious. "Satyamev Jayate. Today, once again, I feel proud of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Ji's visionary thinking and the Constitution he crafted. Despite all the attempts by Modi Ji's entire party and all their agencies to prove us dishonest, today it has been proven that Arvind Kejriwal - Manish Sisodia are staunchly honest," he said. (ANI) Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu of being a habitual deceiver with a long history of changing his stance to suit his personal and political interests. The opposition party stated that he has been using Hindutva and the name of Lord Venkateswara to level false allegations against political adversaries. Speaking to the media here, YSR Congress Party general secretary N Lakshmi Parvathi said Chandrababu Naidu dragged the name of God into controversy to cover up his own failures. She said, "He once declared himself an atheist and has repeatedly aligned with and distanced himself from the BJP for political convenience." She urged the national party to see through his political opportunism.Parvathi recalled that Naidu had joined hands with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, later took a U-turn, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Godhra incident, severed ties, and then aligned again - "all purely for political power". According to her, the Andhra Pradesh CM's repeated political shifts were aimed at gaining power, amassing wealth, and eventually handing over control to his son, who, she alleged, dismantled the education system carefully nurtured by YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Parvathi said, "Chandrababu's political career is marked by deception and undue glorification by friendly media." She alleged that similar tactics were used against NTR and herself, and are now being used to portray YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in a negative light. "These attacks intensified after Chandrababu's statements on the Tirupati laddu issue were proven wrong," she added. She further alleged that when his family's business links with firms that supplied ghee were exposed, he diverted attention by questioning the religious practices of former TTD Chairmen and their families, calling it highly inappropriate. "The propaganda stems from his inability to face YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's growing popularity," she added. Lakshmi Parvathi warned that the time is fast approaching for Chandrababu to answer for his alleged lies, deception, and relentless pursuit of power and wealth. She questioned how an ordinary individual with limited resources could accumulate such wealth without taking the wrong path. (ANI) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a surprise virtual appearance at the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a surprise virtual appearance at the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors Hours after concluding a two-day humanitarian visit to Jordan, Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 44, appeared onscreen during the ceremony to present the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award in a pre-recorded video message filmed in advance against a backdrop previously used in their joint appearances. Their event cameo aired on Thursday (26.02.26) the same day the couple wrapped international engagements focused on health, mental health and support for communities affected by conflict. During the Jordan visit, Harry and Meghan joined World Health Organization director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for meetings and site visits. The pair undertook similar philanthropic trips to Nigeria and Colombia in 2024. The NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, established in 2022 in partnership with the couples charitable organisation rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies last year recognises individuals advancing digital civil rights and technology equity. The 2026 honour was awarded to Dr Mary Anne Franks for her work with the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. The NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors event preceded the 57th NAACP Image Awards, scheduled for Saturday (28.02.26), celebrating achievements by people of colour across more than 80 creative categories spanning film, television, music, literature and podcasts. Harry and Meghan have longstanding ties to the NAACP. In 2022, they were presented with the Presidents Award in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service at the NAACP Image Awards. The honour came two years after the launch of their Archewell charity, which supported efforts to tackle the Covid pandemic, backed the Black Lives Matter movement and campaigned for racial justice. In 2024, Harry and Meghan personally informed Dr Joy Buolamwini she was the recipient of that years NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, recognising her advocacy and research addressing racist and sexist biases in artificial intelligence. Their appearance comes during one of the most fraught times in history for the royal family, which has seen the former Prince Andrew, 66, released under investigation after he was quizzed by police for nearly 12 hours last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office an allegation linked to claims he fed sensitive information to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a UK trade envoy. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived in Lohaghat on Friday to participate in the Kali Kumaon Holi Rang Mahotsav, where he was greeted by a large gathering of locals and party workers. The locals extended a grand welcome to the Chief Minister as celebrations for Holi commenced. On the occasion, CM said, "I greet everyone here today in Lohaghat at the Kali Kumaon Holi Rang Mahotsav. On this auspicious occasion, joining me on stage are our popular MP from Almora-Pithoragarh and Union Minister, Ajay Tamta; District President of the BJP, Govind Samant; Zila Panchayat Chairperson, Anand Singh Adhikari; and other senior leaders and local representatives." "I am delighted to see such a massive gathering today. My heart is filled with joy. I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes for the festival of colours, Holi. I pray that, like the colours of Holi, your lives remain filled with love, enthusiasm, and happiness," said Dhami. The Uttarakhand CM said that whether it is Khadi Holi or Baithki Holi, the festival holds a special significance. He also said, "Coming back to Lohaghat and being among you, receiving your blessings, is a matter of great fortune for me. The Kumaon region has a rich cultural heritage and traditions. Our Holi, whether it is Khadi Holi or Baithki Holi, holds a special significance. It is our responsibility to preserve this culture and pass it on to the next generation. I congratulate the organisers, including Jivan Mehta, for their tireless work in promoting this heritage." "Holi is not just a festival of colours; it is a festival of social unity and brotherhood. It is a time to forget our differences and embrace each other. I fondly remember my childhood, waiting for Holi, the Gujiyas, the folk songs, and the rhythm of the dhol-damau. My vision is that our traditions should remain as vibrant as ever throughout the year," he added. Dhami informed that he laid the foundation stones for 45 development projects worth over 162 crore for this district. "Today, I have inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 45 development projects worth over 162 crore for this district. No area, whether it is Lohaghat, Champawat, Devidhura, or Talla Desh, will be left behind in terms of development," he said. (ANI) As the first, fastest, and fiercest responder, the IAF highlighted 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 also provided 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 were 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 also featured 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. Vayushakti-26 further highlighted the success of Operation Sindoor, reaffirming the IAF's primacy in airspace dominance, long-range precision targeting, multi-domain operations, and its ability to deliver decisive effects using indigenous platforms guided by the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. Guided by the core values of "Achook, Abhedya aur Sateek," the exercise was aimed to reassure the nation by reaffirming the IAF's role as a key component of India's national security architecture. Through this demonstration, the IAF seeks to underline its readiness to safeguard the country's sovereignty, protect national interests, and maintain operational superiority across multiple domains in a rapidly evolving threat environment. Exercise Vayushakti-26 is expected to serve as a platform to validate the IAF's tactical and strategic capabilities, inspire confidence among citizens, and strengthen India's deterrence posture in the region, while showcasing the operational excellence and technological edge of its personnel and platforms. (ANI) In a satirical escalation of the ongoing political row in Kerala in connection with Kerala health minister Veena George, activists of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, on Friday held a mock ceremony to send her "protective gear" and "Best Actress" trophy. State General Secretary of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), Farhan Munderi, along with District Vice President Harikrishnan Palad and Prakeerth Munderi assembled in front of the Head Post Office in Kannur here with a trophy and a neck collar that they said will ensure her safety from "future air-borne injuries". They said the items will be sent via post to George's official residence in Thiruvananthapuram. The tongue-in-cheek initiative by the KSU followed Wednesday's incident at the Kannur Railway station, where she claimed to have been injured during a scuffle with KSU activists. Addressing mediapersons outside the post office, KSU General Secretary Munderi displayed the mock "Best Actress Award" and the neck brace that he said will be sent as "gifts" for the Minister. "KSU has come today to the District Head Post Office to send a gift to Kerala's beloved Health Minister. That gift is the 'First Prize' from KSU," Munderi said. "For the last three days, the people of Kannur and various other regions of the State have been discussing the 'drama' performed by Kerala's Health Minister. That drama began at the railway station when KSU activists went to show black flags. While the protestors were kept at a distance by the police and didn't even go near her, the Health Minister claimed she was injured by 'air' and got admitted to the hospital," Munderi said. Veena George was discharged from the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital, Pariyaram and according to sources, left Kannur around 4 am in an official vehicle and returned to Thiruvananthapuram, where she will continue further treatment. The protest by KSU, the student wing of the Congress party, was reportedly over alleged medical negligence in state government hospitals. While the ruling CPI(M) condemned the incident as a "heinous attack," the opposition Congress has dismissed the claims as "fabricated." KSU General Secretary said, "Today, at 4 am, without anyone knowing, she reportedly returned home. Therefore, KSU Kannur District Committee has decided to give her an award. This award is for the 'Best Acting' seen in this district in recent times." "Furthermore, we are worried that as she travels back to Thiruvananthapuram and if KSU activists protest again, she might claim more injuries. Since she is a Health Minister who gets 'injured by the air,' KSU is also gifting her this neck collar," Munderi said in Malayalam. Further, he claimed that the health sector in Kerala was on a 'ventilator' and in the ICU, yet the Minister was busy acting. He pointed out that CPM leaders like MV Govindan and others claimed that George had "sustained injuries to her throat and she was in pain." "We want to know how someone with such an injury suddenly travelled back home at 4 am? The distance between Kannur and the state capitalof Thiruvananthapuram is approximately 500 kilometres. "The CPM, SFI, and DYFI are trying to threaten our activists. They even threw bombs at our District Secretary's house. But let us tell you, this is Kannur. If you try to suppress our democratic protests with violence, we will respond in the same way," the KSU Secretary said. Further, he urged George to "tell the people of Kerala clearly" that she had enacted a "scripted play directed by Speaker Shamseer and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. "KSU is sending this trophy for 'Best Actress' and this neck collar to the Minister's official residence via post today", he said. Yesterday, Kalpetta MLA T Sideeq also reacted sharply, mocking the minister. "We are now going to announce the best actor award to Mrs. Veena George, the health minister of Kerala. Her acting was in a very extra official manner. She did her acting without having a single incident of any assault or attack on her body. She acted in a very good manner. Actually, Mohanlal and Mammootty has to follow Veena George actually," he said. The controversy erupted after it was reported that Health Minister Veena George was allegedly attacked during a black-flag protest by KSU activists on Wednesday. She was initially admitted to Kannur District Hospital and later shifted to Kannur Government Medical College Hospital. A 13-member medical board reviewing her condition stated that she is undergoing treatment in the ICU for severe radicular pain caused by pressure on cervical nerve roots in her neck. The board clarified that no emergency surgery is required at present, though continuous monitoring is necessary. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary MV Govindan on Wednesday condemned the recent attack on George, saying that it was a pre-planned, deliberate attempt to assault carried out under the leadership of Congress. "Attack on Health Minister Veena George was a brutal and deliberate assault. Never before has such an attack been carried out against a woman minister in Kerala. This was an organised, pre-planned attack, carried out with the full knowledge of the Congress leadership..." he said. Further, the CPI(M) State Secretary alleged that the protest was intended to harm and even kill the state Health Minister. He said that the violence was calculated and was conducted with complete awareness. He alleged that the Congress and the UDF have planned a coordinated and aggressive attack against the Health Minister and it had nothing to do with any personal issue of the Minister. Kerala's health sector is one that has gained national and global recognition....No other state in India matches Kerala in this regard. At the same time, there is a clear attempt to corporatise Kerala's health sector. Some of the top private hospitals in the state are now major points of interest for big multinational corporate families, including those in the United States. Keeping this in mind, there is a deliberate move to weaken Kerala's strong public health system," Govindan said yesterday. "...The incident happened in broad daylight. From the hospital, the Minister was taken to the medical college because of the situation that arose there. Just a few days ago, Youth Congress workers attacked the Minister's house and placed a wreath at the doorstep -- a symbolic death threat. Protests have happened in Kerala before, but they were always done discreetly. This time, they openly declared, 'We are placing the wreath,' which clearly means, 'We intend to kill.' Later, in Kannur, the Minister had five events, and protests were raised at all five venues. Protesting is not wrong, but a railway station is not such a venue. She was at the railway station only because she had to return by train. That is when the KSU and Youth Congress goons launched a violent attack. The people of Kerala will stand united and respond strongly to this kind of assault," the CPI(M) State Secretary said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the attack on George, terming it "organised hooliganism" and a threat to the State's peace. (ANI) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's state visit to Israel, alleging that "PM's love for Israel is only on the basis of ideology" and not national interest. Addressing a large gathering at the Jalsa-e-Youm-ul-Qur'an held at Masjid-e-Chowk here, Owaisi questioned India's stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of abandoning the country's traditional multi-alignment policy. "I am telling you, the Prime Minister's love for Israel is only on the basis of ideology. You have openly supported a genocidal regime. The ideology is the same, of Zionism and the RSS ideology. It is based on hatred. People ask what's your concern with Palestine? My brother, it is also the third largest religious place for Muslims, and it is a matter of justice," Owaisi said. In his address, Owaisi claimed, "The ideology of Zionism and RSS is the same. It is based on hatred," adding that it now drives India's foreign policy. "What is the national interest in this? The entire Global South is troubled today. They are worried about what the Prime Minister of India is doing. Where did our policy of multi-alignment go?" the AIMIM chief questioned. He alleged historical links between Israeli diplomats and leaders of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, referring to reports in sections of the media. "These people have an old relationship. A very old relationship," Owaisi said. Owaisi criticised the Prime Minister's past visit to Israel, saying, "You say you come from Gandhi's land, then you would have said something about Israeli terrorism." He referred to the 1994 Al-Khalil mosque massacre and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, alleging large-scale civilian casualties. "More than 70,000 Palestinians have died. Thousands of women and children have been killed. Yet the Prime Minister says India stands with Israel. Is October 7 the first incident? What about the Nakba of 1948?" he asked. "This oppressor, Benjamin Netanyahu, the evil, cannot go to Europe. If he goes, he has to be arrested," he added. He also referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against Israeli leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, and questioned India's diplomatic posture. "You condemn terrorism. Then condemn all forms of terrorism," he said, adding that justice for Palestinians is both a moral and humanitarian issue. The AIMIM chief also questioned India's arms purchase from Israel, claiming that weapons worth nearly 20 billion dollars were bought between 2020 and 2024. "Who gives weapons for free? Everyone sells weapons. That cannot be the basis of foreign policy," he said. Turning to domestic issues, Owaisi alleged a rise in hate crimes and mob violence against Muslims. He cited incidents in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, claiming that minorities were being targeted with impunity. He accused certain state governments of enacting laws that infringe upon personal freedoms, including recent amendments to marriage-related regulations in Gujarat. "In Uttarakhand, a Mohammed Feroz was killed in Rudrapur after asking for his name. They killed him and said, 'Raise the slogan of JSR.' Then, at the same time, you will see that on February 19, in Jabalpur, Sihora is a place, there was an attack in front of a mosque, houses were looted, and houses were burnt. And then on February 20, the carts were overturned. And in Gujarat, they brought a change in the marriage law. There is a law in Gujarat that, to stop 'Love Jihad', the bride and groom must bring their parents' consent. Then who is called an adult? Is getting married a crime? This is against the constitution, against the right to privacy, it's a violation of the fundamental right of Article 21," Owaisi said. The AIMIM chief further condemned the demolition of the Vemulawada Dargah in Telangana, calling it an attack on religious freedom. "PM Modi speaks of pluralism abroad but remains silent when minorities are targeted at home. Do not think we will be frightened. The more you oppress, the stronger our resolve will be," he said. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday said that Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal proved "Bharatiya Janata Party's game will not work" after a special court discharged him and 23 others in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Aaditya Thackeray hoped that the BJP would apologise to Arvind Kejriwal for implicating him in the case. "Whenever elections approach, they try to defame anyone from the opposition and win the elections. Today Kejriwal not only won the case but also proved that the BJP's game will not work every time. We are very proud of Arvind Kejriwal and the case he has fought along with Manish Sisodia... The hope is that the BJP will apologise to Arvind Kejriwal, and the independence of the institution now remains," he said. Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh said that the court has given that the Excise Policy case was not the only "corruption case" against him. "This was not the only corruption case against them. As per the CAC report, there was a scam in building roads, schools and hospitals; all these cases will be under trial," he said. Holding that the prosecution had failed to disclose "even the threshold of a prima facie suspicion, far less the grave suspicion" required for framing of charges, a Special Court in Delhi discharged all 23 accused in the CBI case relating to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. In a strongly worded order, Special Judge (PC Act) Jitender Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court ruled that the prosecution's case was "legally infirm, unsustainable, and unfit to proceed any further in law". The Court observed that when the material collected by the agency was tested on the touchstone of admissibility, relevance and probative value, "the appearance of a coherent conspiracy dissolves," exposing the allegations as being founded on inadmissible material and post-facto reconstruction. Among those discharged are Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others. Meanwhile, the CBI has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court's order. (ANI) With O Panneerselvam joining DMK on Friday, the photo of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was replaced with that of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in his car. Panneerselvam, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, joined Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) in the presence of Stalin in Chennai. Along with OPS, his son P Ravindhranath Kumar also joined DMK ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu polls. "I have joined the DMK. I will work and support the DMK as a cadre," Panneerselvam told reporters. OPS earlier noted that he had joined DMK to put a full stop to his "bitter experience". "The decision I've taken is my own, to put a fullstop to the bitter experience for me. I thank CM and DMK President Stalin for accepting me to join DMK. I have joined DMK with full joy. EPS is behaving as a dictator, and he has created a situation where AIADMK cannot get victory," Panneerselvam told media persons. Stalin described Panneerselvam as "dear brother" and praised his humility and virtues. "Former Chief Minister and dear brother Thiru. O. Panneerselvam has joined the mother organisation, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. I welcome him with open arms. He, who bears the name of the great leader of the Dravidian movement, has joined our great movement to safeguard the Dravidian movement's ideology," he posted on X. Stalin said the 2026 Assembly election is a democratic battle against the BJP, and various democratic forces are joining the DMK alliance. He described Panneerselvam as a humble and virtuous leader. "The 2026 Assembly election is a democratic battle between Tamil Nadu and the fascist BJP. It is with this realisation that various democratic forces are joining the DMK alliance. Our brother who has joined us, Thiru. O. Panneerselvam is a loving person, a virtuous person, a humble person! May his arrival be for the welfare! May Tamil Nadu triumph!" Stalin added. Panneerselvam was expelled from the AIADMK after a leadership tussle with Edappadi K Palaniswami back in 2022. (ANI) Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the grand Holi Milan ceremony held at Sanatan Dharamshala Ramlila Maidan, Khatima, on Friday. He extended heartfelt Holi greetings to the gathering. On the occasion, he joined in traditional Kumaoni Holi, classical Holi, and Tharu Holi singing, sharing the festive joy with the community. Addressing the event, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand's folk culture, traditions, and festivals form the strong foundation of the state's cultural identity. He noted that Holi is not just a festival of colours but also a symbol of social unity, harmony, inclusiveness, and brotherhood. In an emotional note, he said, "Khatima is my home and the people of Khatima are my family. It brings me immense happiness to be among my family members." The Chief Minister emphasised that such cultural events help preserve the state's rich heritage while serving as an effective medium to connect the younger generation with their roots. Saluting the power of women, he said that no task can be complete without women's participation. The state government, he added, is giving top priority to women's dignity and safety, and in this direction, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been implemented. He further stated that Khatima symbolises communal harmony and holds a unique identity as a "Mini India." People from different religions, communities, and organisations live here with love, unity, and mutual respect, celebrating all festivals together. Maintaining traditional culture amid modern surroundings, he said, is highly commendable. The Chief Minister called upon everyone to work collectively for the progress of Khatima, the state, and the nation, and to contribute towards realising the Prime Minister's vision of a Developed India. Appreciating the organising committee, he said that such festivals strengthen social cohesion and spread positive energy in society. During the program, the Chief Minister played Holi with local residents, deepening the festive spirit, and conveyed his wishes for a Holi filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity for all citizens of the state. (ANI) The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has welcomed the Government of India's decision to launch a free nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, terming it a transformative step in the fight against cervical cancer. The national rollout is scheduled for February 28, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to formally launch the initiative from Ajmer, Rajasthan. Dr Anil Kumar J Nayak, President of the IMA, lauded the move, highlighting the urgent need for preventive action against cervical cancer. "On 28th February, PM Modi will launch the national HPV vaccination campaign against cervical cancer from Ajmer, Rajasthan. Almost 77,000 women in villages lose their lives because of cervical cancer. In the coming decades, women will be free from cervical cancer. I congratulate the government," he told ANI. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the IMA, representing over four lakh doctors across the country, extended its heartfelt congratulations on the launch of the nationwide drive. The Association expressed appreciation for the government's decision to provide free HPV vaccination to adolescent girls aged 14 years across India, describing it as a visionary initiative that will safeguard the health and lives of millions of women. The IMA noted that it had earlier written to the Prime Minister on January 22, 2026, urging that HPV vaccination be highlighted in the "Mann Ki Baat" programme to generate mass awareness. It also wrote to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on January 23, proposing that the vaccine be made available free of cost to girls between 9 and 14 years of age, along with GST exemption, direct subsidy support, and financial assistance to NGOs facilitating vaccination. The Association underscored that, in collaboration with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), it has already trained more than 30,000 doctors for counselling and HPV vaccination initiatives nationwide. With over 1,800 local branches, the IMA has offered full support to assist the government in achieving maximum coverage under the pan-India drive. Reiterating its commitment, the IMA said, "It stands firmly with the government in the mission to eliminate cervical cancer among women in India." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a hard-hitting attack on Congress over IYC's "shirtless protest" during the AI Summit and said the opposition party "not only took off its clothes in front of foreign guests, but also exposed its ideological bankruptcy", and it has become "merely a toolkit for opposition in the name of ideology". Addressing the News18 Rising Bharat Summit here, PM Modi said that in a democracy, opposition does not mean mere opposing anything blindly but presenting an alternative vision. He said that as people were angry at the protest by the Indian Youth Congress, the Congress sought to invoke Mahatma Gandhi. "The AI Summit was a moment of pride for all of India. But unfortunately, the country's oldest party attempted to tarnish this national celebration. Congress not only took off its clothes in front of foreign guests, but also exposed its ideological bankruptcy. Clearly, this action has angered the nation. Therefore, they invoked Mahatma Gandhi to justify their sins," he said. "Congress does this every time. When it needs to hide its sins, it invokes Bapu, and when it needs to glorify itself, it gives all the credit to one family. Congress has now become merely a toolkit for opposition in the name of ideology," PM Modi said. The AI Impact Summit was hosted by India earlier this month and saw wide international participation. PM Modi said Congress has been losing the support of people over the decades. "In a democracy, opposition does not mean mere opposing anything blindly. It means presenting an alternative vision. That is why the people of this country have been teaching Congress a lesson. And this is not new. The people have been doing this for the past four decades," he said. "Congress is not being robbed of votes. Rather, the people of this nation no longer consider Congress worthy of their vote," he added. PM Modi said his government is laying thrust on giving a boost to manufacturing. "If we manufacture products in India, the coming generation will not speak of imports, but of exports. A nation's progress is not measured by today's convenience, but by preparation for tomorrow," he said. "Hard work guided by foresight is the foundation of an Atmanirbhar, empowered and prosperous Bharat by 2047. For this, no matter how much Congress tears its clothes in protest, we will continue to work relentlessly," he added. The Prime Minister also said that his government is making India a growth engine of the world and noted that developed nations are eager to sign trade deals with India because a confident country "is rising beyond doubt and despair". He said a new energy has flowed into the nation's consciousness in the last 11 years. "India hasn't been able to free itself from the mindset of slavery, and we're suffering its consequences. The most recent example of this is the ongoing discussions about trade deals. Some people are shocked, wondering, 'How did this happen? Why are developed countries so eager to strike trade deals with India?' The answer is a confident India emerging from despair and hopelessness," he said. "If the country were still in the same despair as before 2013, counted among the Fragile Five, and mired in policy paralysis, who would strike trade deals with us? No one would even look at us. But in the last eleven years, a new energy has come into the country's thinking," he added. He said India is determined to regain its rightful strength. PM Modi said that India's Digital Public Infrastructure has today become a subject of global discussion. "Today, every move India makes is closely watched and analysed across the world. The AI Summit is a clear example of this," he said. "So far, in every industrial revolution, India and the Global South have largely remained followers. But in this age of artificial intelligence, India is not only participating, it is also shaping it. Today, we have our own AI start-up ecosystem," he added. (ANI) The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recalled its Class 8 Social Science textbook, titled 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond', following a blanket ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India on its publication and dissemination. In a media advisory, NCERT requested that "any individual or organisation, who is in possession of the NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science Grade 8 Part 2, or any material related to it, may return it to the Head, Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS) or Publication Division, NCERT, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, at the earliest possible". The council also asked that any content related to the chapter "Role of Judiciary in Our Society", if shared on social media or digital platforms, be deleted at the earliest possible time. The recall follows an order by the Supreme Court of India dated February 26. As per paragraph 20 of the order, "a complete blanket ban is hereby imposed on any further publication re: printing or digital dissemination of the book titled 'Exploring Society, India and Beyond'." The order added that any attempt to circumvent the ban "through electronic media or alternative titles, containing the same contents, shall be treated as a direct interference, willful breach and defiance of the directions issued herein above". NCERT reiterated in its advisory that the textbook has been formally withdrawn in compliance with the court's directions. Earlier, on Thursday, the Supreme Court of India issued show cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and NCERT Director Dinesh Prashad Saklani, asking them to explain why action should not be taken under contempt or other laws for including a sub-chapter titled "Corruption in the judiciary" in the Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M Pancholi refused to halt suo motu proceedings despite NCERT's apology over the controversial inclusion and imposed a blanket ban on the textbook section. The court warned that any attempt to bypass the order would be considered direct interference with the administration of justice and could attract contempt of court. The Supreme Court also directed NCERT to submit detailed records of the Teaching-Learning Materials Committee that approved the chapter, including the names, qualifications, and credentials of all members of the development team. (ANI) Dame Prue Leith thinks Paul Hollywood is capable of judging The Great British Bake Off on his own. Dame Prue Leith announced her exit as a judge on The Great British Bake Off in January The 86-year-old food expert - who announced her exit as a critic on the Channel 4 show in January - believes he does not need a right-hand person casting their eye over the aspiring bakers with him as chef Paul, 59, can easily spot errors and successes. Prue - who replaced chef Dame Mary Berry, 90, as judge in 2017 when The Great British Bake Off's move from the BBC to Channel 4 - told the Daily Star newspaper: "Paul is lovely, and he really knows his stuff, especially on bread. "He's really good at his job, and he could, frankly, do the job without you. He doesn't really need a second judge because he knows it all and is excellent at it." Food writer Nigella Lawson, 66, replaced Prue as the second judge on The Great British Bake Off, and the latter said "she'll be very different". Prue added: "But she's a class act, she really knows what she's doing. "She knows her onions - people will expect her to know about cake, which she certainly does, but what they won't expect is how clever she is, how sharp, witty - she's really erudite. "She's a fantastically clever woman." Prue has no regrets about quitting The Great British Bake Off to enjoy some downtime. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine on Thursday (26.02.26), she said: "It's the right thing to do just because I'm getting on, and I don't have much time left. "And I suddenly realised I will never again have a summer holiday in Europe, I'll never be able to go to France or Italy, or Greece or Spain, because I'll be filming. You film all summer. "And I just thought I want to do that. And so, of course, I could have holidays in the winter if you go to South Africa, because I'm South African, so I love the sun. "But I wanted a European holiday, so this year, I'm going to take the whole family to France for a week, and I could never do that before." Prue added: "It was important to leave Bake Off while I still have enough energy to enjoy my life, and I must say, I do." Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered prayers at Maa Purnagiri Dham and sought blessings from the Goddess for the state's peace and prosperity. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the Maa Purnagiri Fair is a grand celebration of faith, tradition, and culture. He reiterated the government's commitment to preserving Sanatan culture and local traditions. The Chief Minister added that the government is continuously working on the restoration of temples and the development of pilgrimage sites in Kedarkhand and Manaskhand. He also stated that ensuring the safety and convenience of devotees visiting Purnagiri Dham remains the government's top priority. Earlier in the day, Dhami participated in the grand Holi Milan ceremony held at Sanatan Dharamshala Ramlila Maidan, Khatima, on Friday. He extended heartfelt Holi greetings to the gathering. On the occasion, he joined in traditional Kumaoni Holi, classical Holi, and Tharu Holi singing, sharing the festive joy with the community. Addressing the event, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand's folk culture, traditions, and festivals form the strong foundation of the state's cultural identity. He noted that Holi is not just a festival of colours but also a symbol of social unity, harmony, inclusiveness, and brotherhood. In an emotional note, he said, "Khatima is my home and the people of Khatima are my family. It brings me immense happiness to be among my family members." He further stated that Khatima symbolises communal harmony and holds a unique identity as a "Mini India." People from different religions, communities, and organisations live here with love, unity, and mutual respect, celebrating all festivals together. Maintaining traditional culture amid modern surroundings, he said, is highly commendable. During the program, the Chief Minister played Holi with local residents, deepening the festive spirit, and conveyed his wishes for a Holi filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity for all citizens of the state. (ANI) Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh on Friday said Vayu Shakti 2026 was not just a display of air power but a reminder of how the Indian Air Force executed Operation Sindoor with precision and resolve after the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to ANI, Singh said that Vayu Shakti 2026 will also remind Operation Sindoor, how the Indian Air Force avenged the lives of its innocent people by destroying the enemies. "This time in Vayu Shakti 2026, we showcased a small glimpse of the Air Force's motto, which is now 'Achook, Abhedya, aur Sateek' (Unerring, Impenetrable, and Precise). And in this, we demonstrated how we executed Operation Sindoor. How, after a trigger event - the Pahalgam attack in which our civilians were killed - we took action, dominated the escalation ladder, and forced the enemy to come to the negotiating table through our actions and precise targeting," he said. Singh added that the Indian Air Force taught the enemy a lesson in an unmistakable, controlled and accurate manner, and Pakistan knelt before India for a ceasefire. "There are 130 aircraft, which include fighters, transport helicopters, and some RPAs (Remotely Piloted Aircraft). It was shown that around 277 weapons will be fired, carrying a net explosive quotient of 12,000. It demonstrated right in front of you what kind of effect that will have on the ground," he added. Exercise 'Vayu Shakti' is working as a platform for the Indian Air Force, so that it can show the full potential of its very trendy and motivated air warriors to the entire country and senior leadership, as they operate a variety of state-of-the-art and legacy systems well. Vayu Shakti-2026 showed the Indian Air Force's ability to operate in a networked environment, showing the firepower and accuracy of its air and surface-based weapon systems and special forces. During the display, frontline fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters and surface-to-air missile systems showed their operational capabilities. In addition, the troops of the Garuda Force of the IAF showed their combat capability in the special operation. The organisation of today's exercise showed the IAF's ability to operate with the highest level of competence and accuracy, regardless of environmental conditions. It is very true that the air power showing the strength of the Indian Air Force is the Pokhran Field Firing Range instead of 2026. The range is near Jaisalmer and is closely linked to the country's strategic expectations, as it is a place for testing a wide range of weapons. However, several air-to-ground weapon firing ranges exist, where all of the IAF's airborne weapon platforms undergo heavy weapons delivery training. However, this large place in the dry desert of Rajasthan is more important because of its large size and safety zone, where some special weapons can be fired and tested only at this range. At least once a year, all IAF squadrons come to Pokhran to practice delivering their dangerous weapons. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to a doctor arrested for allegedly tampering with the blood samples of a 17-year-old boy accused of crashing a Porsche car into a motorcycle in Pune, killing two people. The incident dates back to May 19, 2024, when a Porsche car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old under the influence of alcohol fatally knocked down two IT professionals in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted relief to Sassoon General Hospital's former medical superintendent, Dr Ajay Taware, on the ground of parity with other accused who have already been granted bail. On February 2, the top court granted bail to three other accused in the blood sample swapping case, observing that parents are to be blamed for such incidents involving juveniles, as they do not have control over their children. With the grant of bail to Dr Ajay Taware, all four accused, Taware, Amar Santish Gaikwad (an alleged middleman), Aditya Avinash Sood and Ashish Satish Mittal, have now secured relief from the apex court. They are alleged to have helped the juvenile's family tamper with evidence by swapping blood samples. Among them, Sood and Mittal are the parents of two other juveniles who were in the car at the time of the accident, including one juvenile passenger seated in the rear seat of the Porsche. Gaikwad, Sood and Mittal had been in custody for 18 months before being granted bail by the bench. On January 23, the top court had sought a response from the Maharashtra government on a plea filed by Gaikwad seeking bail in the case. Earlier, on January 7, the court had also sought the Maharashtra government's response to bail pleas filed by Sood and Mittal. (ANI) The Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to five Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students arrested in connection with a protest on the university campus. The students were produced before the court following their fresh arrest earlier in the day. The case was registered at Vasant Kunj North Police Station. According to police, the protesting students allegedly broke barricades during the demonstration, and 27 police personnel sustained injuries in the incident. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar granted bail to the accused, Neha, Ranvijay, Varkay Parakkal and Abhishek Kumar, on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each, along with a surety of the same amount. The court made the bail subject to verification of their permanent addresses, noting that the accused were initially reluctant to disclose their residential details. However, as the bail bonds were not furnished immediately, the court remanded all the accused to 14 days of judicial custody until March 13. Advocate Deeksha Dwivedi, appearing for accused Ranvijay Singh, argued that there were no specific allegations against the students. She submitted that they are educated individuals and were peacefully protesting against the UGC Regulations and certain remarks made by the University's Vice Chancellor. She further contended that the students were confined inside the campus without any prohibitory orders in place and that the police had installed barricades at the university gates. According to the defence, no prior notices were served before their arrest, and the students had not engaged in any violence. Seeking judicial custody, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Vasant Kunj, opposed the bail plea. He told the court that the accused had previously participated in protests that led to the registration of four separate FIRs. He alleged that the students were not holding a peaceful protest and had attempted to march towards India Gate with a group of 300-350 people without permission. When police tried to explain the law and order concerns, they allegedly resorted to violence. While granting bail, the court observed that the allegations were serious, particularly the reported injuries to 27 police officials. "Assaulting police officials on duty is a serious concern which cannot be permitted in the garb of peaceful protest," magistrate Animesh Kumar noted. However, the court also considered that the offences carry a maximum punishment of five years, and the accused are students with no record of habitual offending. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the state-of-the-art headquarters of the 6th Commando Battalion at Ambikapur in Sadiya on Friday, marking a major boost to Assam's security preparedness. According to the press release, spread across 331 bighas and built at a cost of Rs 160 crore, the modern campus is set to accommodate 400 commandos with world-class infrastructure and operational readiness. Equipped with an advanced barrack, a three-storey command building, surveillance towers and specialised training facilities, including a parade ground, shooting range and drill shed, the complex is expected to become a force multiplier toward a safer Assam, said the release. The Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several important projects in Sadiya. Among the projects he inaugurated virtually are the new building of Sadiya Government Higher Secondary School at Chapakhowa, constructed at a cost of Rs 10.37 crore, and an RCC bridge connecting Hospital Chariali and Tupasingha Ghat, built at a cost of Rs 51.20 crore. As per the release, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for multiple projects, including a multi-purpose indoor stadium complex at Kakopathar constructed at a cost of Rs 25.49 crore, development of Bir Lachit Stadium complex at Chapakhowa with Rs 10.89 crore, construction of a statue and park of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika near Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, infrastructure development of Khing Khing Baitho Temple at Dangari in Tinsukia with a financial outlay of 25.21 crore, installation of an 11 KV power line in the border area of Tengapani (Rs 1.89 crore), upgradation of the road from the last portion of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge connecting road at Islamapur to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border outpost (Rs 50.43 crore), upgradation of the road from Kakopathar on National Highway 15 to Dangari on National Highway 115 via Borali Gaon under Asom Mala 3.0 (Rs 33.74 crore). Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that after the formation of the government in 2021, a decision was taken to establish five new commando battalions in the state. "Earlier, Assam had only one such battalion. Considering the importance of national security and Assam's geographical location, headquarters were planned at Damcherra (Hailakandi), Daldali (Karbi Anglong), Geleki (Sivasagar), Pabhoi (Biswanath), and Ambikapur (Tinsukia). The fifth battalion headquarters was inaugurated at Pabhoi on 4 October last year," he said. The newly inaugurated Sixth Assam Police Commando Battalion headquarters at Ambikapur has been constructed over 331 bighas of land at a cost of Rs 160 crore. Terming the formation of six commando battalions in a state like Assam a matter of pride, the Chief Minister said that the headquarters at Diphu is ready for inauguration, and construction work for three more battalion headquarters is progressing. He stated that the battalion at Sadiya will help create a secure environment along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and will also serve as a centre for advanced training of Assam Police personnel. The presence of the battalion is expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of Ambikapur. The Chief Minister further mentioned that vacant posts in the Assam Police are being filled annually. Recently, 5,000 appointments were made, and the recruitment process for another 5,000 posts is underway. He said that the establishment of the commando headquarters at Ambikapur would inspire local youth from Sadiya to join the Assam Police and that the government would prepare them for recruitment through this initiative. He stated that Assam Police has transformed into one of the leading police forces in the country. Over the past five years, registered cases in Assam have declined from 1.33 lakh to 37,000, and pending cases have reduced from 1.34 lakh to 11,000. Owing to its efficiency, states like Goa and Manipur are sending their police personnel to the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy for training. He expressed confidence that Assam Police would continue to uphold its reputation and ensure public safety while ensuring the speedy disposal of criminal cases. Highlighting various welfare measures implemented over the past five years, such as Orunodoi, MMUA, Nijut Moina, Nijut Babu, free rice distribution, essential commodities like pulses, sugar, and salt at subsidised rates, recruitment of 1.6 lakh youth into government jobs through transparent processes, development of roads and bridges, and land pattas for indigenous people, the Chief Minister said that development initiatives have touched every region and every village of Assam. He stated that collective efforts have made a developed Assam possible and expressed hope that the state would continue to grow into one of the leading states in the country. He also called for tree plantation in the vacant land within the battalion campus and suggested cultivating bamboo to supply to Numaligarh Refinery. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, MP Pradan Baruah, MLA Bolin Chetia, Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ajay Tiwari, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI) Top officials of Punjab, Additional Chief Secretary Punjab (Home) Alok Shekhar, DGP Gaurav Yadav and Police Commissioner Jalandhar Dhanpreet Kaur, appeared before the Committee of Privileges of the Delhi Assembly over the alleged remarks of former Delhi CM Atishi about Guru Tegh Bahadur. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said that the committee is examining the matter, and the report is still awaited. "When the committee prepares its report, it will be tabled in the House, and the House will consider the committee's recommendations, and the Chair will then render its decision," he said. Parduymn Rajput, BJP MLA and Chairman of the Committee of Privileges, Delhi Vidhan Sabha, shared with ANI that the committee discussed FIR filed by the Punjab Police in Jalandhar against BJP's Kapil Mishra over the alleged "doctored" video of Atishi. "We asked the three officers why they were so hasty in filing the FIR, as this was a matter of the Delhi Assembly. The committee will now decide what further action to take. The information received from them was not satisfactory," Parduymn Rajput said. Delhi Assembly Speaker said that incident is of disrespecting the Gurus, which happened on the floor of the House on January 6 of this year. "This case, in which the question of disrespecting the Gurus was raised, this unfortunate incident occurred on the floor of the House on January 6," he said. Gupta emphasised that there can be no compromise with the privileges of the House, its officials, and its members. "Every member has their own privileges. There is zero tolerance for any kind of violation of these privileges," he said. In January, two conflicting forensic reports emerged in January 2026. The Punjab FSL Report (AAP-led government) in Mohali concluded that the word "Guru" was never uttered by Atishi in the original audio. It found that captions were added maliciously to attribute words she did not speak. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta released a separate forensic report on January 17, 2026, claiming the video was authentic and untampered, and that it matched the Delhi Assembly proceedings "frame by frame." Jalandhar Police registered an FIR against Kapil Mishra and others under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting enmity and public mischief. In response, the Delhi Assembly initiated breach-of-privilege proceedings against Atishi for her alleged remarks. Meanwhile, AAP's chief whip sought privilege action against Kapil Mishra for sharing the controversial clip. (ANI) Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Friday praised the Rouse Avenue Court's decision to discharge former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others in the CBI's Delhi Excise Policy Case, saying that the discharge means that there is no case, hence no charges can be framed. "It's a very important judgment, and I'm happy that at various stages from 2021-22 up to date, both in the liquor matters, both in the civil matters, both in the bail matters, and in the ED matters, I was involved at different stages... discharge means that there is not even a case for which charges can be framed..." he said. Calling the judgement "bold and courageous," Singhvi said that it abides by the law and doesn't allow bifurcation into any alleyways. "This is a bold and courageous judgment which goes against the law. It doesn't get digressed and diverted into bylanes and alleyways... Third, it deals with the arguments we made at different times over the last 4 years or 3 years... This whole practice, the entire design of these proceedings, which has always been: catch people, keep them incarcerated, subject their relatives to intimidation and pressure... Then suddenly they go through some laundering machine and become approvers, and upon that they get bail and then start making allegations against the accused. This whole narrative has been condemned and castigated by the judgment..." he stated. The senior advocate hailed the decision, saying that it went through multiple layers of decision for almost a year, further underlining that the judgement is a testament to law and justice against the Vendetta politics. "The court remembers and reiterates the old principle that the worst form, the lowest form of evidence, is an approver's evidence... The institutional decision, par excellence, which is multi-layered over almost a year, went through 10-12 layers, including the LG's office... It's a 600-page judgment... It's a vindication of the law and of justice against Vendetta politics, which is then criminalised and weaponised, with agencies sometimes acting at the behest of the master puppeteers for ulterior motives..." he stated. In an X post, Singhvi said that the court's decision has ruptured the claims of "political masters" acting like master puppeteers." "Many thanks to former CM Arvind Kejriwal for remembering me in his opening remarks at his presser. The court has punctured the ridiculous claims of prosecuting agencies, egged on by micromanaging Political Masters who act as master puppeteers. Amidst such an ambience of fear and intimidation, for law and justice to emerge victorious is no mean achievement," he wrote. The case originated from allegations of corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The CBI had alleged that the policy was framed to benefit certain private liquor licensees by allegedly reducing licence fees and fixing profit margins, resulting in kickbacks and financial loss to the Delhi government. The FIR was registered by the CBI in August 2022 following a complaint by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. According to the agency, a criminal conspiracy was allegedly hatched at the stage of policy formulation, with deliberate loopholes introduced to favour select entities after the tender process. With the Special Court's order discharging all accused, the matter at the trial court stage has concluded for now. The legality of that order will now be examined by the Delhi High Court following the CBI's challenge. (ANI) Oren Marmorstein, Spokesperson of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hailed PM Modi's visit, saying that they were all moved by PM Modi's speech in the Knesset. Marmorstein, in a conversation with ANI, said that Israel stood with India during Operation Sindoor. "This was an historic visit, an amazing visit. We were all moved by Prime Minister Modi's speech yesterday in the Knesset. This is based on shared values, also shared history. Our bonds together, Israel, India, the people, go back more than 2,000 years ago," he said. He added that Israel and India also have the same threats and interests. "And shared interests and also shared threats. We have, unfortunately, shared threats that we need to struggle against. And Israel was there for India in Operation Sindoor. And India was there for Israel on October 7. And we're grateful for this," he said. He noted that the relations between both nations deepened by PM Modi's visit. "The relationship because of this visit has now went and we are now in a different level. We are now in a special strategic partnership. Already 16 agreements were signed. Huge success. And this is thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Ministry, India Foreign Ministry, we were able to bring this relationship to the next level," he said. When asked about the Free Trade Agreement between both nations, Marmorstein said that it was difficult to point a date, but there is a keen interest on both sides to push the relations forward. "So it's hard to pencil a date, but I think you've witnessed the desire, the keen interest of both countries, both leadership, Israel and India. To push this forward. And I think in terms of fields and areas of expertise, the sky is the limit. We're talking about cooperation already signed in the fields of AI, innovation, cyber. The future is for us together," he said. Marmorstein highlighted the untapped reservoir that Artificial intelligence has in combination with defence. "So obviously there are some details that we can go into when it comes to defence. But again, we are looking into doing amazing things together. In terms of defence, but not only defence. We're talking about, for example, trying to harness the potential of AI for the benefit of both of our countries. So it can go directly to the fields of defence," he said. He gave examples of potential of AI in agriculture and defence. "For example, think of drones being used and being upgraded by AI, but also AI can help us fully take the potential of agriculture to the next level. Because with drip irrigation and technologies based on AI, we can do amazing things together. And this is what we're talking about," he said. Marmorstein said that Israel was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. "So first, we are grateful for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support and friendship. And this was throughout the war, like I said, October 7. Prime Minister Modi was there showing support and being with Israel shoulder to shoulder," he said. Marmorstein lauded US President Donald Trump for his Gaza Peace Plan, saying that the plan makes sure that the Hamas is being disarmed. "And in terms of President Trump's peace plan, yes, Israel said yes to this visionary plan, and we're trying to push this forward. And the number one condition, the number one element that needs to be implemented in this plan is making sure that Hamas is being disarmed. Because if you maintain Hamas as a terror organization, with its weapon, with its power of destruction, no good can come out of this. So the number one condition, the number one element that the peace plan itself of President Trump is articulating is making sure that Hamas is being disarmed," he said. Marmorstein also added that PM Modi's visit was an honour for Israel, and that both countries are not just partners, but were friends. "Indeed, this was a huge honor that the state of Israel showed to the Prime Minister of India and I think in terms of the future the sky is the limit. Israel and India are close, not only partners, friends and the people of Israel and the people of India feel very much close together. We can do great things together and we're looking forward to the future," he said. Prime Minister Modi made a state visit to Israel from 25 to 26 February 2026 on the invitation of Netanyahu. (ANI) Reena Pushkarna, renowned Restaurateur and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Recipient, expressed her gratitude towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for mentioning her in his press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pushkarna, while talking to ANI, said that it was culinary diplomacy for her, and that her wish was granted as PM Modi thanked her. She said, "I thank our Prime Minister Bibi (Benjamin) Netanyahu that for him India and Indian cuisine hold a lot of importance... It is a very close relationship, and their whole family has been visiting me for the last 30 years... For me, it is culinary diplomacy... He (PM Modi) thanked me... My wish was granted." Her restaurant unknowingly played Cupid for Netanyahu. He said that he owed India a "great personal debt" as he revealed that prior to marrying his wife Sara they had both met and enjoyed the "unbelievable food" at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. "First of all, the food was unbelievable. Sara was introduced to it for the first time, it made for a great first date, not only was the food excellent, the date was excellent too. Obviously, I am indebted to you, as are my children," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu confessed that his wife chose an Indian restaurant as a venue for their date. The date eventually was excellent, and so was the food, he recalled. Adressing the India-Israel Exchange of MoUs and Press Statements with PM Modi, Netanyahu said, "I owe India a great personal debt. When I met Sara (his wife) for the first time, I think our first or second date was in an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. It was Reena Pushkarna. In 1991, Sara married Benjamin Netanyahu. They have two sons, Yair and Avner. Meanwhile, in a 2022 interview with ANI 'Tandoori Tel Aviv', Reena Pushkarna, the owner of the Indian restaurant in Israel's Tel Aviv said that Netanyahu had met Sara on their first date here. "The first date of PM Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu was on this, Table No 8." Reena Pushkarna, recalled. Netanyahu, she said loves Indian food and orders at least twice a week. He loves butter chicken and karahi chicken. (ANI) Cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply on Friday, with Islamabad declaring "open war" on Kabul after carrying out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, further intensifying tensions between the two neighbouring countries. In a post on X, Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, issued a strong statement declaring the "open war" against Afghanistan, stating that Islamabad has lost its patience and accusing the Taliban-led administration of harbouring militants. "After the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and peace in the region...They gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," his post read. "Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'. Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," the Pakistani Defence Minister added. Following the Pakistani strikes on Afghan soil, Afghanistan's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned the attack, calling the act by the Pakistani military "cowardly". "The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties," Mujahid said in a statement on X. The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul over cross-border security concerns along the Durand Line, the border drawn by the British in the 19th century, which has remained a topic of dispute between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. "A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read. "In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement added. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated the 'Ghazab Lil Haq' operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News. Spokesperson of Pakistani Prime Minister Mosharraf Zaidi alleged that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded, with 27 Taliban posts destroyed and nine captured. (ANI) Kacey Ainsworth's dog was in "tatters" after he got attacked by a badger. Kacey Ainsworth's dog Leonard / Instagram Jack Russell Leonard received a bandaged right paw and was forced to wear a wound-healing cone following the fight on February 13. EastEnders alum Kacey shared shots of her poorly pooch to Instagram on Thursday (26.02.26), and captioned the post: "On Feb 13th Little Leonard had a fight with a badger and lost. Poor wee man was in tatters. (sic)" The 57-year-old actress - who played Little Mo on the BBC soap from 2000 until 2006 - assured fans that Leonard's health is improving. Kacey added: "Hes all better and on the mend even if he has a bit of an attitude about badgers. (sic)" The Grantchester star went on to praise her neighbours for their help in rescuing Leonard from the badger. Kacey continued: "Thanks to my neighbours who helped in the rescue. Its a dogs life. (sic)" EastEnders star Harriet Thorpe (Elaine Peacock) wrote it was "wonderful he's OK and on the mend" in the upload's comments section. And fans also reacted, as one penned: "Awww bless him I hope he gets better soon Kacey. Keep well Leonard xx (sic)." A second person typed: "Oh mate! You don't wanna be picking fights with those beasts! Glad you're better Mr L (sic)." And a third supporter commented: "So glad he is on the mend, poor little one xxx (sic)." May 2026 marks 20 years since Little Mo - who had many hard-hitting storylines, such as abuse from her first husband, Trevor - last appeared on EastEnders. And Kacey - whose alter ego left Walford to start a new life for herself and her son, Freddie - has not ruled out a return to the soap. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine ahead of EastEnders' 40th anniversary in February 2025, the host asked Kacey if she would reprise her role as Little Mo - who has been mentioned off-screen, notably in 2023 when Freddie (Bobby Brazier) visited her. The actress replied: "She's not dead." After Lorraine Kelly, 66, asked what Little Mo is doing now, Kacey joked: "I think she's on the tube. She's just going round the Circle Line." Lorraine added: "Never say never." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai at 3:15 pm on Friday as part of the official visit to India, according to the official statement by the Prime Minister of Canada's office. Earlier on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney departed for India, marking the commencement of a high-profile state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and advancing strategic cooperation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), visiting from February 27 to March 2 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is Carney's first official visit to India after assuming office. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation between the two countries, it said. Carney's visit begins in Mumbai on February 27, where he will spend two days engaging with a diverse group of Indian and Canadian stakeholders, including interactions with CEOs, industry and financial experts, innovators, educators, and representatives from Canadian Pension Funds based in India, setting an economic tone for the mission before he transitions to the diplomatic core of the trip. On March 1, Prime Minister Carney will travel to New Delhi for the cornerstone of the visit: delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi scheduled for March 2 at Hyderabad House. This meeting serves as a critical follow-up to the leaders' previous discussions in Kananaskis in June 2025 and Johannesburg in November 2025, providing a formal platform to review the progress of the India-Canada Strategic Partnership. According to the MEA, these high-level discussions will span a wide array of sectors, including trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, and research. Beyond bilateral issues, the leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and global developments and will co-attend the India-Canada CEOs Forum to further align governmental policy with private sector growth. This diplomatic re-engagement comes at a vital juncture in the normalisation of relations, following a period of sharp deterioration. Ties had previously reached a low point after the June 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and the subsequent allegations by then Justin Trudeau government of Indian government involvement--claims New Delhi strongly denied--which led to the mutual expulsion of diplomats and a prolonged standoff. However, a significant shift in Ottawa's position has paved the way for this visit. Ahead of the trip, senior Canadian officials stated during a media briefing that the federal government now believes India is no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada. "I really don't think we'd be taking this trip if we thought these kinds of activities were continuing," one senior official remarked, signalling a move toward a more "pragmatic" foreign policy. This renewed confidence is underpinned by intensified security dialogue. India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Dinesh Patnaik, noted that recent extensive discussions between National Security Advisors--specifically during NSA Ajit Doval's visit to Canada--marked a turning point. Both nations have reportedly developed a comprehensive action plan to tackle transnational organised crime, violent extremism, and cyber threats. Ultimately, the visit is framed as an opportunity to reaffirm a shared vision for a forward-looking partnership. As High Commissioner Patnaik emphasised, both sides now understand that ensuring the safety of both Canada and India requires ongoing, real-time cooperation. This state visit stands as a testament to both leaders' commitment to a balanced relationship grounded in mutual respect and growing economic complementarities. (ANI) Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state made first visiting to Japan. Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state visits Japan aiming to expand industrial relation and human resource exchange. At Japan side, members of Japan-India Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange lead by Kotaro Nagasaki Governor of Yamanashi Pref. welcomed. 7 private companies attend and introduced their contribution and requirement to Uttar Pradesh state. Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister introduced charm and advantage of Uttar Pradesh state comprehensively and about detail points. It convinced Japanese company executives. "Uttar Pradesh state has maximum population 250million in India. In it 50 % are young and current labor power. It means infinite possibility of investment. Fulfilled infrastructure covers 55% high way of India, railway and metro operation, maximum number of airport 5th Noida Int. airport will launch. Among Meerut and Delhi, rapid transit railway connects only in 50 minutes, comparing previous transportation's 3 hours it was shortened." He emphasized advantage of logistic and transportation for various products. Regarding agriculture situation"11% of Indian agricultural land belong to Uttar Pradesh, its fertile land produce 21% of Indian grain. It is Indian Food Basket. Vast land is available to construct big industrial park." His introduction and concern covered wide field. "Big population needs effective waste treatment. Cosmetics, Pharmacy park, Dairy farm, Hydrogen energy have big possibility. Especially more than 20,000 startups including 10,000 ladies leaders are aggressive." Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki welcomed Yogi's first Japan visiting. "Yamanashi Pref. is in charge of gateway among Uttar Pradesh state with other 8 prefecture's governors. Japanese private companies have big interest. From now we wish to sprout new bud." From Japanese companies various concern and requirement are introduced. Kanadevia Corp. has the strong point in the field of electricity generation by garbage burning, bio gas, water treatment and hydrogen supply chain. Kanadevia's hydrogen and keep environment technology will contribute to establish clean society. KOSE Corp. is a representative cosmetic brand. Since 2013 it develops to Indian market by local skin care brand "Spawake". KOSE analyze Indian cosmetics and personal care market is huge and requires special treatment for OEM production and import of material from local company. KYOWA Leather Cloth Co. produces artificial leather for mobility. It keeps first place in Japan and globally second place. 2024 it established local subsidiary company and have the plan to construct production factory near by Noida ap. KYOWA prospect the production number of Indian car will increase dynamically and it will bring business opportunity. SHIMIZU Corp. established local subsidiary in 2011 and contributed to construct harbor, subway and production facility. Utilizing this opportunity SHIMIZU target business development to north area. Sumitomo Mitsui FGG has 1,000 bases for financial service. It targets Japanese company's development to India to expand financial service. SUNTORY HD has the base of spirits business and shipping Indian original brand "Oaksmith". SUNTORY requires to simplify registration procedure of new brand. TOMOE SHOKAI CO. has the Indian base to export and import of special gas. In it especially hydrogen gas field will contribute to energy change, industrial gas demand and semiconductor supply chain of Uttar Pradesh state. Development of connection among Uttar Pradesh state and Japan was encouraged Indian consultant Neerendra Upadhyaya. He evaluated quick progress of both sides. "Since 2024 December exchange of MOU, Uttar Pradesh state and Yamanashi Pref. made tremendous hard work to reach to new relation stage. It means strong and appropriate gateway. Cooperation of 9 prefectures' Governors is good combination for mutual benefit and create clear roadmap." Indian VIP's appearance and convincible statement encouraged Japan side. Japanese prefectures and private companies will respond to passionate message. It is the dawn of stronger and long lasting relationship of India and Japan. (ANI) Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday strongly condemned what he described as renewed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities, asserting that the Afghan people would respond to any aggression with unity and courage. In a post on X, he said," The Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. The Afghans will defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage. Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings--those problems it has created itself--but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan." https://x.com/KarzaiH/status/2027162488295600252 Karzai alleged that "the Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia," accusing Islamabad of continuing a pattern of military aggression. He said Afghans would defend their "beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances." The former President also criticised Pakistan's internal security policies, claiming that Islamabad could not free itself from the cycle of violence through cross-border strikes. "Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings--those problems it has created itself--but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan," he added. Earlier, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. The 2,611 km (1,622 miles) border between the two countries, known as the Durand Line, has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. "A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read. The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan. "In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement said. It further stated that the four-hour operation destroyed two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts. The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was captured. "During these operations, dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and military supplies were seized by Afghan forces," it said. The statement added that eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 others were injured during the operation. It also alleged that 13 civilians were injured in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar. "In this retaliatory operation, 8 of our Mujahideen achieved the high status of martyrdom, and 11 others were injured," the ministry said. Meanwhile, in retaliation, Pakistan initiated the 'Ghazab Lil Haq' operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News. Prime Minister's spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded. The operations have also destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine, as reported by Geo News. Pakistani security forces carried out retaliatory operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur districts, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts, ARY News reported. Moreover, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. In a post on X, Mujahid said, "The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties." (ANI) Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state, made first visit to Japan. Indian prominent statesman Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state is visiting Japan aiming to expand industrial relations and human resource exchange. At Japan side, members of the Japan-India Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange lead by Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Yamanashi, welcomed 7 private companies attending and introduced their contributions and requirements to Uttar Pradesh state. Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, introduced the charm and advantages of Uttar Pradesh state comprehensively and in detail. It convinced Japanese company executives. "Uttar Pradesh state has the maximum population 250million in India. In it, 50 % are young and current labour power. It means an infinite possibility of investment. Fulfilled infrastructure covers 55% high way of India, railway and metro operations, the maximum number of airports, including the 5th Noida International Airport, will launch. Among Meerut and Delhi, the rapid transit railway takes only 50 minutes, comparing previous transportation's 3 hours, it was shortened." He emphasized advantage of logistics and transportation for various products. Regarding agriculture situation, "11% of Indian agricultural land belongs to Uttar Pradesh, its fertile land produce 21% of Indian grain. It is an Indian Food Basket. Vast land is available to construct a big industrial park." His introduction and concern covered a wide field. "Big population needs effective waste treatment. Cosmetics, Pharmacy park, Dairy farm, Hydrogen energy have big possibility. Especially more than 20,000 startups, including 10,000 lady leaders, are aggressive." Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki welcomed Yogi's first Japan visiting. "Yamanashi Pref. is in charge of the gateway between Uttar Pradesh state with other 8 prefectures' governors. Japanese private companies have big interest. From now we wish to sprout new bud." From Japanese companies, various concerns and requirements are introduced. Kanadevia Corp. has a strong point in the field of electricity generation by garbage burning, biogas, water treatment and hydrogen supply chain. Kanadevia's hydrogen and keep environment technology will contribute to establish clean society. KOSE Corp. is a representative cosmetic brand. Since 2013, it develops to Indian market by the local skin care brand "Spawake". KOSE analyze Indian cosmetics and personal care market, which is huge and requires special treatment for OEM production and import of materials from local companies. KYOWA Leather Cloth Co. produces artificial leather for mobility. It keeps first place in Japan and second place globally. In 2024, it established a local subsidiary company and has the plan to construct a production factory near Noida. KYOWA prospect the production number of Indian cars will increase dynamically, and it will bring business opportunities. SHIMIZU Corp. established a local subsidiary in 2011 and contributed to the construction of the harbour, subway and production facility. Utilising this opportunity, SHIMIZU targets business development to north area. Sumitomo Mitsui FGG has 1,000 bases for financial services. It targets Japanese companies' development in India to expand financial services. SUNTORY HD has the base of the spirits business and shipping the Indian original brand "Oaksmith". SUNTORY requires simplifying the registration procedure of new brand. TOMOE SHOKAI CO has an Indian base to export and import of special gas. In it, especially the hydrogen gas field will contribute to energy change, industrial gas demand and the semiconductor supply chain of Uttar Pradesh state. The development of connection among Uttar Pradesh state and Japan was encouraged by Indian consultant Neerendra Upadhyaya. He evaluated the quick progress of both sides. "Since 2024 December exchange of MOU, Uttar Pradesh state and Yamanashi Pref. made tremendous hard work to reach a new relationship stage. It means a strong and appropriate gateway. Cooperation of 9 prefectures' Governors is a good combination for mutual benefit and create clear roadmap." Indian VIP's appearance and convincing statement encouraged Japan side. Japanese prefectures and private companies will respond to a passionate message. It is the dawn of a stronger and long-lasting relationship between India and Japan. (ANI) Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday denied having any knowledge of the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, telling the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that she had "nothing to add" beyond her previous sworn statement made on January 13. In a post on X on Thursday, she released her opening statement to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. https://x.com/HillaryClinton/status/2027053057100693779 In her opening statement to the committee dated February 26, 2026, Clinton said the panel had justified its subpoena based on the "assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell." "Let me be as clear as I can. I do not," she said. "As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that." Clinton delivered over six hours of closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee regarding her knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The deposition, held in Chappaqua, New York, followed months of legal sparring between the Clintons and the Republican-led committee. Clinton expressed outrage over the scope of Epstein's crimes, calling it "unfathomable that Mr. Epstein initially got a slap on the wrist in 2008, which allowed him to continue his predatory practices for another decade." She sharply criticised the committee's handling of the investigation, accusing it of partisanship and a lack of transparency. "Too often Congressional investigations are partisan political theatre, which is an abdication of duty and an insult to the American people," she said. Clinton noted that eight law enforcement officials were subpoenaed, but only one appeared before the committee, while others were allowed to submit brief statements. She also alleged that the committee had held "zero public hearings" and refused media access. "This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors, as well as the public who also want to get to the bottom of this matter," she said. "My heart breaks for the survivors. And I am furious on their behalf." Highlighting her record on combating human trafficking, Clinton said her work dated back to her time as First Lady, when she supported the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. As Secretary of State, she said, she appointed former federal prosecutor Lou CdeBaca to strengthen global anti-trafficking efforts and oversaw nearly 170 programs in 70 countries. "I insisted that the United States be included in the report for the first time ever in 2011. Because we must hold ourselves not just to the same standard as the rest of the world but to an even higher one. Sex trafficking and modern slavery should have no place in America. None," she said. Clinton also accused the Trump administration of weakening anti-trafficking efforts. "The message from the Trump Administration to the American people and the world could not be clearer: combating human trafficking is no longer an American priority under the Trump White House," she said. "That is a tragedy. It's a scandal. It deserves vigorous investigation and oversight." In her most pointed remarks, Clinton questioned why the committee had not directly subpoenaed President Donald Trump. "If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein's trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files," she said. She concluded her testimony, while challenging lawmakers to prioritise survivors over politics. "They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship. Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors of Epstein's crimes as well as the millions more who are victims of sex trafficking," she said. According to CBS News, in a sworn declaration submitted to the committee on January 13, Hillary Clinton denied any "personal knowledge" of crimes committed by Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell. She also said she "never had any responsibility for or involvement with" the Justice Department's investigations into and prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell during her two decades in public office or as a private citizen. (ANI) The Member of the Afghan Parliament in exile, Mariam Solaimankhil, on Friday stated that Pakistan has been profiting from the "business of terrorism" and creating proxy groups, including the Taliban, which have now turned against Islamabad amid escalating cross-border clashes between the two countries. In an interview with ANI amid escalated border clashes and strikes, Solaimankhil slammed Pakistan's recent airstrikes on Afghan soil, describing them as devastating for Afghan families while dismissing Islamabad's repeated claims of targeting terrorists. She noted that no evidence of the killing of any high-profile militants had been reported by Islamabad despite the attack. Solaimankhil further called out Pakistan and its authorities, describing them as "cancer" in the region for their close ties to terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as for harbouring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. "My own paternal village of Barmal, Paktika was attacked, and this is not the first time. Every time Pakistan does an airstrike, they claim that they're killing terrorists. I've yet to hear one person's name that they've actually killed. But they do sit with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders. They harboured Osama bin Laden. Khawaja Asif admitted he was used by the United States to harbour, train, and support the Taliban. They had the Quetta Shura and the Miramshah Shura," Solaimankhil said. "They created this proxy and made a business out of terrorism. The foundation of Pakistan as a state is based on destabilising the region. They're to blame for all of this. The foundation of Pakistan as a state is based off of destabilising the region. They're to blame for all of this. It's incredibly heartbreaking, but they're the problem in the area. They're the cancer in the region," she added. Solaimankhil further lashed out at Pakistan for the selective impact of the ongoing clashes, highlighting that Afghan Pashtuns and Baloch are bearing the brunt of the fighting, while Punjabis in Pakistan remain largely unaffected. She also described the ongoing conflict as financially beneficial to Pakistan, suggesting it could leverage the situation to request international financial aid. "I don't believe that full ISI is against the Taliban. I think that the roots are very deep. I do believe that, why isn't one Taliban dead? Please show me one leader of the Taliban that's gone. It's not. Where is the fighting happening? It's happening in Pashtun areas. Pashtuns and Baloch are dying. Do you see one Punjabi dying? No, God forbid. I'm not a proponent of war, but I only see the war happening in Afghan areas. So it's incredibly sad and I think the story is a lot more twisted than it seems," she said. "The Taliban was created by Pakistan and who's benefiting from this war financially? It's Pakistan. They're going to go beg for an IMF loan and go ask for more handouts because they started this skirmish. It's disgusting. It's incredibly sad," the exiled member added. Her comments come amid escalating tensions along the Durand Line, following airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia by Pakistan, with both countries reporting casualties and accusing each other of aggression. (ANI) India's High Commissioner G Balasubramanian called on the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to discuss ways to further strengthen the India-Maldives strategic partnership. In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army stated, "Shri G.Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives, called on #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS. They discussed ways and means of deepening the India-Maldives strategic partnership, reviewed the evolving regional security landscape and explored avenues to further strengthen defence and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations." According to the ADG PI, the meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation amid an evolving regional security landscape. During the interaction, both sides reviewed current security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region and explored avenues to enhance defence and diplomatic collaboration between the two countries. Earlier on Thursday, Maldives Minister of State for Tourism and Environment, Muaviyath Mohamed, said India and the Maldives share a long-standing and close relationship. He emphasised ongoing collaboration on sustainable development, market reforms, and global challenges to benefit both countries. Speaking to ANI, Mohamed said, "India and the Maldives have had very good relations from the very beginning. The fact of the matter is, we are the closest neighbours. That fact will remain as it is. We are working in a very close manner, respecting each other and collaborating for the benefit of both countries. We are working with market reforms and the foreign missions in India, and from our side, we are working very closely. Even here, with the Indian institutions, we have been collaborating." "This relationship is not new; it has been strong for a long time. Regarding global challenges, sustainable development, and meeting other requirements under these frameworks, we are working much closer than before. This will benefit and help achieve the framework targets for both India and the Maldives. We have been having excellent relations," he said. He also said India has been a reliable partner in environmental and sustainable development initiatives, providing technology, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building support to help the two countries address shared challenges. "Here I'll be meeting the Indian counterpart at other institutions as well. Because we are having similar issues in some areas... We have been working on environmental and sustainable development... We have to work together with our counterparts, countries, and organisations so that we can achieve our aims and goals. In that context, India and the Maldives have been working on similar projects for a long time," he said. "India has been a reliable partner. India has the technological advances, and for us, the capacity building, knowledge transfer, and technology transfer we could get from India. India is always helpful in looking for these opportunities so that we can get solutions to our issues," he said. On the navy side, on February 18, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti met the Maldives' Commandant of the Coast Guard, Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, to further reinforce the resolve to promote regional maritime security. The Indian Navy spokesperson said, "Underscoring the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region, VAdm Tarun Sobti, DCNS, engaged in a bilateral meeting with Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, Commandant Coast Guard, MNDF, Republic of Maldives." "The interaction highlighted the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and the Maldives, focusing on advancing cooperation and broadening professional exchanges. Continued engagements during MILAN 2026 further reinforced the shared resolve to promote regional maritime security and stability. The participation of the MNDF Coast Guard Ship Huravee reflected the Maldives' commitment to enhancing interoperability and deepening collaborative efforts at sea," the Indian Navy added on X. (ANI) Member of the Afghan Parliament in exile, Mariam Solaimankhil, on Friday urged India to take a decisive role in holding Pakistan accountable for its decades-long support for terrorism and its dangerous nuclear arsenal, noting that the country is "strong enough" to expose Islamabad's actions on international platforms and push for global sanctions. In an interview with ANI, Solaimankhil said India can demand accountability for the millions of lives affected by Pakistan's "terroristic deep state policies", while slamming the country for its dictatorial style of ruling. "India needs to bring this up on an international platform about how Pakistan is extremely dangerous because they have nuclear weapons. How can a country that harboured Osama bin Laden and created dozens of terrorist organisations and has admitted numerous times that they've done all this dirty work still have nuclear weapons? They should be sanctioned; they should be held responsible. They should be denuclearised immediately. And India is strong enough to do that," Solaimankhil said. She also slammed Pakistan's claims of being a victim of terrorism, calling out the country's "military dictatorship" and the generals in Rawalpindi who, according to her, "have made a business out of war." She further criticised Pakistan's attempts to manipulate media narratives and maintain a facade of legitimacy while continuing destabilising activities in the region. "The gig is up for Pakistan. I think the drapes are pulled, and we can see the full picture. I think everyone knows what they're capable of. What Pakistan likes to do is they like to create troll accounts online, they like to manipulate the media, they like to act as if they won, and they like to show big numbers which are not true. It's not a democracy in that country. It's a dictatorship, a military dictatorship, and we know exactly what it is. Now, some people have made a business out of war, and those people are the generals in Rawalpindi," she added. Solaimankhil also highlighted the historical role of Afghan women, noting that women in Afghanistan had rights to vote, own land, and participate in society long before many Western countries, rights that have been eroded due to decades of political manipulation and war. She expressed faith in the "women of the world, especially in India," as potential bridges for regional peace and stability. "Our women had so much, and due to politics and war, this dirty game, it's been ripped away. But I don't count on the UN, and I don't count on other countries, but I do count on the women of the world, especially in India, because I think we can be the bridges to peace," the exiled member said. Her comments come amid escalating tensions along the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan following airstrikes by Islamabad on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, with both countries reporting casualties and accusing each other of aggression. (ANI) Several countries on Friday called for restraint and an immediate ceasefire after fresh cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line. The calls for a ceasefire came after overnight strikes by both sides caused significant damage to military installations and civilian infrastructure, along with casualties on both ends of the border. Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence, earlier today, claimed it carried out coordinated airstrikes on Pakistani military targets in response to aerial incursions by Pakistani forces in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. In a post on X, Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense said that at approximately 11:00 AM (local time), its Air Force conducted coordinated airstrikes targeting a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military base in Nowshera, military positions in Jamrud, and additional locations in Abbottabad. "Today at approximately 11:00 AM, the Air Force of the Ministry of National Defense conducted coordinated airstrikes targeting a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military base in Nowshera, military positions in Jamrud, and additional locations in Abbottabad," the ministry said. "The aerial operation was successfully executed, targeting key Pakistani military bases, command centres, and strategic facilities. The strikes were carried out in response to the aerial incursions conducted last night by Pakistani forces in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia," it added. Amid the escalation, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the situation. In a note to correspondents, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General is following developments closely and urged all parties to comply with international law and ensure the protection of civilians, Xinhua reported. "The Secretary-General urges the parties to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy," Dujarric said, as quoted by Xinhua, commending mediation efforts by several Member States in recent months. China also voiced deep concern over the escalation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, speaking at a regular press briefing, called on both sides to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible following the clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, as reported by Xinhua. Russia echoed similar sentiments. In a post on X, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow is concerned over the sharp escalation of armed clashes and called on both countries to abandon confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve differences through political and diplomatic means. Meanwhile, diplomatic engagement continued in the region. According to the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud received a phone call from Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During the call, the two leaders discussed regional developments and ways to reduce tensions while safeguarding security and stability. The latest developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, raising fears of a broader confrontation, even as the international community presses for immediate de-escalation and dialogue. (ANI) Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourliness, offering Tehran's support to facilitate talks between the two countries. In a post on X, he said the ongoing holy month of Ramadan with its focus on spiritual reflection, provided an opportunity to ease tensions and "promote unity across the Islamic world". He said, "It is fitting, on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan--which is a month for self-discipline and the promotion of unity in the Islamic world--that Afghanistan and Pakistan resolve their differences through good neighborliness and dialogue," he said. https://x.com/araghchi/status/2027229341487083577 Araghchi added that the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to assist in efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to provide every possible assistance to facilitate dialogue and promote mutual cooperation," he stated. His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan following recent cross-border incidents. Iran shares borders with both countries and has previously emphasised the importance of regional stability and diplomatic engagements to address disputes. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier. "A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read. "In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement read. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated the 'Ghazab Lil Haq' operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News. The spokesperson of Pakistani Prime Minister Mosharraf Zaidi alleged that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded, with 27 Taliban posts destroyed and nine captured. Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. In a post on X, Mujahid said, "The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties." (ANI) Richard Osman has announced a second instalment in his We Solve Murders series. Richard Osman has announced a second instalment in his We Solve Murders series Confirming fans can expect the new novel in September 2026, the former Pointless co-host, 55, revealed the follow-up, titled We Chase Shadows, will be released next year and is now available for pre-order. His new book follows the publication of We Solve Murders, which was published in September 2024, and marks the latest project from the bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club novels the first of which was recently adapted for the big screen. In a video shared on his social media channels, Richard confirmed the news directly to readers, saying: I have great news for fans of We Solve Murders: We Solve Murders 2 is on its way. He added: To celebrate I have got a perfect facsimile of Trouble the Cat on my lap. Steve, Amy and Rosie DAntonio are back. We Chase Shadows, which Richard has teased will feature lots of thrills, lots of laughs, and lots of murders, continues the story of private security officer Amy Wheeler and her father-in-law Steve Wheeler, an ex-policeman turned reluctant private investigator. The first novel in the series followed the pair as they solved murders while dodging death at every turn. Speaking to Radio Times at the time of the first books release, Richard described the tone of the series. He said: Its a bit more airport thriller-y than The Thursday Murder Club. I knew I wanted to set myself a new challenge, but this book absolutely has the same sensibility, the same warmth and humour based in characters. I get to go around the world with it, which is nice, but Steve has no interest in that. I thought a fun character to send on a cat-and-mouse chase around the world would be somebody whos thinking, I hope we get this done by Tuesday because I want to get back for the pub quiz. In a separate interview, also with Radio Times, Richard confirmed a television series adaptation of We Solve Murders is in development, though he did not provide further details. The official synopsis for We Chase Shadows states: In the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a private villa at sunrise. Our mis-matched detective trio Amy, Rose and Steve return, in pursuit of an elusive and ruthless killer. Between Italy and Palm Springs, via Barcelona and Steves sleepy village pub, they uncover an impossible case where it seems that everyone is hiding something... . A United Nations investigative body has issued a stern warning that South Sudan is on the brink of a "return to full-scale war." The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) emphasised that the world's youngest nation must immediately address entrenched impunity and widespread abuses to prevent further escalation. Released during a Human Rights Council session, the findings paint a grim picture of civilians enduring killings, "systematic" sexual violence, and forced displacement amid an intensifying humanitarian disaster. The report highlights that "escalating atrocity risks" and the breakdown of political protections have made "urgent preventive action imperative." It calls for international and regional stakeholders to apply diplomatic pressure and sanctions while strictly enforcing the UN arms embargo. According to Al Jazeera, the commission warned that preventing "institutional collapse" and the destruction of the country's "fragile transition" requires a coordinated global re-engagement to stop further mass atrocities. Investigators attributed the rising instability to the actions of political and military elites who have eroded power-sharing agreements. Al Jazeera reports that the arrest and prosecution of First Vice President Riek Machar for murder and treason has severely undermined the "core power-sharing guarantees" of the 2018 peace deal. Machar, an ethnic Nuer, was suspended following clashes in Nasir, a move that has triggered political turmoil and armed conflict on a magnitude not seen in a decade. The crisis originally stems from the 2013 civil war, which began when President Salva Kiir, from the Dinka ethnic group, accused Machar of a coup attempt. The current investigation noted a "dangerous shift in tactics," including aerial bombardments of civilian areas. Al Jazeera points out that the involvement of Ugandan forces has "materially strengthened" the government's military position, raising serious concerns regarding violations of the UN arms embargo, particularly as joint air strikes have "predominantly affected [ethnic] Nuer communities." Sexual violence remains a "defining and persistent feature" of the ongoing conflict. The commission found that rape has been utilised as a "strategic instrument of conflict" to fracture social cohesion and terrorise populations. Al Jazeera notes that while the 2018 peace deal previously ended a war that claimed 400,000 lives, the recent seizure of government outposts in Jonglei state by opposition forces loyal to the SPLM/IO has reignited fears of a total collapse. The humanitarian impact is staggering, with the UN reporting that 280,000 people have been displaced since December. UNICEF has further warned that over 450,000 children are facing acute malnutrition. Al Jazeera reports that nearly 10 million people are in need of life-saving aid, yet humanitarian efforts are being crippled by attacks and the deliberate blocking of assistance. The CHRSS reported that civilians continue to bear the "overwhelming human brunt" of a crisis where displacement has surged by nearly 40 per cent. (ANI) Highlighting the expanding partnership between the two nations, Yaniv Revach, the Consul General of Israel to Mumbai, hailed the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel as a landmark event in bilateral diplomacy. Speaking to ANI, Revach characterised the trip as highly productive, noting that it served to further solidify the bond between the two countries. "It was a very successful visit by the Prime Minister to Israel. This was his third visit, and this time he came to deepen the ties between Israel and India," he stated. The Consul General emphasised the strong personal relationship between the heads of government, remarking, "He is a very close friend, and there is a special connection between the two prime ministers." He further revealed the tangible outcomes of the diplomatic mission, adding, "During the visit, they signed more than 17 agreements across various sectors to strengthen the relationship between the two countries." Reflecting on the public perception of India within Israel, Revach noted a deep-seated respect for India's recent developmental trajectory. "People in Israel greatly admire India and your Prime Minister. We have all witnessed the remarkable changes in India over the last decade and the significant impact of the BJP government led by PM Modi," he observed. Revach also underscored the strategic necessity of the visit within the current global landscape, noting, "This visit was particularly important at this crucial time to build alliances with Israel, countries under the Abraham Accords, African nations, and other Middle Eastern states." This diplomatic momentum culminated as Prime Minister Narendra Modi finished his two-day official visit to Israel on Thursday, concluding a trip that has significantly deepened the diplomatic landscape between the two nations. During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, PM Modi announced that India and Israel have resolved to elevate their bilateral relationship to the status of a "Special Strategic partnership." He highlighted that the deliberations were "focussed on giving a new direction and speed to the ties" between the two countries. PM Modi expressed his gratitude to PM Netanyahu for the hospitable reception provided to him and his accompanying delegation. While discussing being honoured with the "Speaker of the Knesset Medal," PM Modi stated that he "dedicates the honour to 140 crore Indians and to the enduring friendship between India and Israel." This elevated partnership was put into immediate action on Thursday, as the two countries formalised several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning various sectors. These pacts, signed in the presence of both leaders, underscore a "growing strategic, technological, and economic partnership." The collaborative agreements encompass a wide range of fields, including "innovation, agriculture, geophysical exploration, maritime heritage, fisheries, aquaculture, artificial intelligence, education, commerce, and cybersecurity." Ultimately, this broad cooperation reflects a mutual commitment to advancing technological and economic goals through shared expertise. (ANI) A high-level side event, titled "Blasphemy Laws and the Persecution of Minorities in Asia: Human Rights Implications and Paths Forward", was convened at the Palais des Nations during the 61st United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session on Friday. Organised by Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), the session addressed the increasing use of blasphemy provisions to target religious, ethnic, and belief-based minorities across Asia. The event highlighted that while international law protects freedom of thought and expression, blasphemy provisions frequently contradict these guarantees, often carrying penalties as severe as the death sentence. Key communities identified as particularly affected include Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis in Pakistan, the Baha'i community in Iran, and women and girls in Afghanistan. Speaking at the session, Dina Perla Portnaar, Author, Speaker, and Humanist, shared insights from her long-time research on these legal frameworks. Acknowledging the importance of addressing these issues, Portnaar stated, "I truly value this initiative; it has been, among many depressing developments in use, one of the good things for people." She expressed her gratitude to the council, saying, "I would really like to thank the National Human Rights Council for this opportunity." Portnaar emphasised the need to scrutinise the entire legislative lifecycle, asking, "When do you question the approach, meaning the process from design to implementation and so on?" Addressing the global nature of the crisis, she noted, "This is also what needs research from other countries; this involves everyone." Discussing the mechanics of support, she asked, "What is this initiative?" and defined it as a "means of providing survivors accessible information about mechanisms, processes, and rehabilitation." Portnaar further advocated for "inclusive channels" to empower victims, stressing the need for platforms "for them to provide input without raising unrealistic expectations." The event concluded with a call for UN engagement and state-level reforms to align religious laws with international human rights standards. (ANI) Upon his arrival in the financial capital, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accompanied by his wife Diana Fox Carney, highlighted the immense economic potential of the host nation, noting its position as a global leader in growth. Taking to the social media platform X to mark the start of his inaugural official visit to India, PM Carney emphasised the strategic importance of the trip for Canada's economic future. https://x.com/MarkJCarney/status/2027380237118402790?s=20 "India is the world's fastest-growing major economy," he posted. The Canadian leader, joined by a high-level delegation, outlined his immediate agenda in Mumbai, which focuses on deepening commercial ties. "We just arrived in Mumbai to meet with business leaders -- and forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses," he added. Upon their arrival at the airport on Friday, the delegation was received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. Taking to X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." He further noted that the partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors. This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement mentioned, "The leaders will focus on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence, talent and culture, and defence. He will also meet with business leaders to identify investment opportunities in Canada and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations." While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO noted that in 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at USD 30.8 billion. This synergy builds upon previous dialogue at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, where PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of USD 50 billion by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of USD 50 billion by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." He added that there is immense potential for the two countries to enhance their investment and trade connections. This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference. A Canadian government release noted that this marked their fifth meeting since September 2025, reflecting building momentum. Minister Anand "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers." Both nations reiterated their commitment to broadening trade in support of economic resilience and stability. (ANI) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with his wife Diana Fox Carney, landed in Mumbai on Friday, commencing his inaugural official tour of India. Upon their arrival at the airport, they were received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival of the Canadian leader represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. Taking to X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2027362012544852308?s=20 He further noted, "He was received by Minister of Protocol and Marketing, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Jayakumar Rawal, at the airport. The India-Canada partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors." This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai. Following these engagements, he will head to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement issued on Monday mentioned, "The leaders will focus on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence, talent and culture, and defence. He will also meet with business leaders to identify investment opportunities in Canada and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations." While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO described India as a global leader in technology and commerce, noting its status as the fastest-growing major economy. In 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $30.8 billion. PM Modi previously interacted with PM Carney during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November. At that time, PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of 50 billion USD by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of 50 billion USD by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." He added that there is immense potential for the two countries to enhance their investment and trade connections. This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference in Germany. A Canadian government release noted, "This marks the fifth meeting between the ministers since September 2025, reflecting the growing momentum in the Canada-India relationship, building on more than 75 years of diplomatic relations and strong people-to-people ties. The ministers discussed deepening cooperation in several areas, including energy, technology and trade." Minister Anand remarked on the significance of the partnership, given India's role as a dynamic global economy. The ministers "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers." Both nations highlighted the advancements made on their bilateral roadmap and expressed a firm commitment to broadening trade to ensure economic stability and resilience. (ANI) Highlighting the significant growth potential of the Indian aviation sector, Mark Masluch, Senior Director of Communications at Bombardier, stated that the development of infrastructure is crucial for establishing a robust business aviation ecosystem in the country. Speaking to ANI, Masluch noted that while Bombardier currently has 60 jets in India, the expansion of airports is directly tied to the growth of the industry. "So we see a lot of positive signs in terms of infrastructure development. Infrastructure development brings the business case for business aviation and business aviation-related jobs to a place where it can develop. So the more places that planes can fly, the more people will use business jets," he said. He further explained that business jets support a large ecosystem of employment, ranging from pilots to maintenance and ground staff. Masluch emphasised that as airports develop, a real ecosystem can establish itself, noting, "That's something that we're already working with Indian customers who operate our planes, but we're also interested in partnering with the industry and local schools to make sure that the support infrastructure, in terms of the workforce, also grows with the airports themselves." Describing India as "one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world," Masluch highlighted that Bombardier's Challenger and Global products are well-positioned for the market's requirements. "So when you look at Bombardier Challenger and Global products, these are aircraft that can connect India with North America, with Australia, with Europe, the Middle East, and also from a government perspective, we have a very flexible offering," he said. Beyond commercial aviation, Masluch expressed a keen interest in collaborating with the government on specialised needs, stating that the company is "very keen to work with requirements from air forces and other branches of government who require very tailored solutions from a defence perspective." When asked about the possibility of expanding Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities in India, he indicated that the company remains attentive to customer needs, evaluating service levels on an annual basis. This corporate optimism aligns with the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the financial capital. Accompanied by his wife, Diana Fox Carney, the Prime Minister highlighted the immense economic potential of the host nation, noting its position as a global leader in growth. Taking to X to mark the start of his inaugural official visit to India, PM Carney emphasised the strategic importance of the trip for Canada's economic future, posting: "India is the world's fastest-growing major economy." The Canadian leader, joined by a high-level delegation, outlined his immediate agenda in Mumbai, which focuses on deepening commercial ties. "We just arrived in Mumbai to meet with business leaders -- and forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses," he added. Upon their arrival at the airport on Friday, the delegation was received by Jaykumar Rawal, the Maharashtra Minister of Protocol and Marketing. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted that the arrival represents a major milestone in bolstering the relationship between the two nations. In a post on X, Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he arrives in Mumbai on his first official visit to India. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India-Canada ties." He further noted that the partnership is anchored in shared democratic values and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors. This visit is the first by a Canadian head of government since the tenure of the previous administration under Justin Trudeau, during which bilateral relations faced challenges. The current trip indicates a renewed effort to find common ground and enhance both diplomatic and financial ties. According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, PM Carney is scheduled to hold meetings with prominent corporate leaders in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi on March 2 for significant talks with PM Narendra Modi. The official statement mentioned that the leaders will focus on elevating the Canada-India relationship with ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology, and artificial intelligence. While in the capital, PM Carney will also participate in the India-Canada CEOs' Forum. The Canadian PMO noted that in 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at USD 30.8 billion. This synergy builds upon previous dialogue at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, where PM Modi emphasised that India intends to achieve a bilateral trade milestone of USD 50 billion by the year 2030. Following that meeting, PM Modi shared on X, "We have set a target of USD 50 billion by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian pension funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies." This diplomatic momentum follows a recent meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference. Minister Anand "affirmed the shared technological benefits and significant partnership opportunities for both countries' businesses, industries and workers," as both nations reiterated their commitment to broadening trade in support of economic resilience and stability. (ANI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with a delegation from Luxembourg, including Finance Minister Roth Gilles and other officials, in New Delhi on Thursday. In a post on X, the Official Account of the Ministry of Finance shared, "Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman met with a delegation led by Mr. @RothGilles, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, along with Mr. Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg to India; Mr. Luc Feller, Senior Government Advisor, Mr. Claude Marx, Director General, CSSF and Mr. Simon Gorbutt, Deputy CEO, Luxembourg for Finance, in New Delhi, today." https://x.com/FinMinIndia/status/2027407575130779823?s=20 Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel received the Finance Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Gillis Roth, along with his delegation, in Gandhinagar. Roth highlighted Luxembourg's robust financial sector, which comprises 115 banks, an investment portfolio of 8 trillion euros in asset management, and a presence in investment and financial services across around 80 countries. In this context, he expressed his eagerness to further strengthen financial relations with India, particularly with Gujarat. Patel said during the discussions of this meeting that Gujarat is a state with prudent financial management under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not only this, he discussed and deliberated on the benefit of Luxembourg's expertise in the field of green bonds and green financing in this context. He also requested to explore the possibilities of mutual cooperation to realise the idea of green growth with an environment-friendly lifestyle through renewable-green energy and Mission Life, which was given by the Prime Minister, through municipal green bonds and long-term infrastructure and sustainable development. Roth said that the MoU signed between IFSCA and Luxembourg's CSSF in GIFT City has strengthened the financial cooperation between India and Luxembourg and has also increased the global financial connectivity of Gujarat. Shri Gilles Roth expressed Luxembourg's eagerness for more investments in the international financing sector in GIFT City. (ANI) Aomori, Feb 27 (News On Japan) - The Japan Tourism Agency announced in its accommodation travel statistics survey that both the number of guests and total overnight stays at lodging facilities across Japan increased in 2025, with some prefectures posting striking gains driven by unexpected promotional efforts. Among them, Aomori Prefecture recorded the largest increase in overnight stays by Japanese travelers. According to preliminary 2025 data released by the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of overnight stays by Japanese guests rose 12.3 percent year on year in Aomori, followed by Mie at 10.2 percent and Nara at 9.4 percent. Regarding the factors behind the surge, aviation and travel analyst Kotaro Toriumi pointed to the impact of East Japan Railway. In 2025, JR East introduced a limited-time weekday unlimited ride pass priced at 10,000 yen per day and also stepped up the frequency of early booking discount campaigns. Toriumi suggested that many travelers from the Kanto region may have chosen to journey as far as Aomorithe northernmost destination within JR Easts service areato maximize the sense of value offered by such discount passes. In the town of Owani in Aomori, another initiative has also drawn attention: the Snack Mama Card. Created to revitalize the local hot spring district, the trading cards feature the proprietresses of local snack bars. The first edition proved highly popular, and a second series launched on January 30th. Some of the so-called rare cards even feature photos of the mamas from their younger days. Visitors can obtain a card by going to the snack bar they are interested in and asking, Mama, can I have a card?though customers are reminded not to forget to order food or drinks as well. According to a town official, some visitors from outside the prefecture have stayed for two nights and already collected cards from all 14 participating establishments. Each card includes sections such as What the Shop Is Proud Of and Recent Worries. For example, the mama of Snack Kurohime lists, under shop pride, All appetizers are handmade, and under recent worries, Ive gotten shorter. On the back of the card is a pentagon-shaped Mama Analysis chart. While Kurohimes mama scores highly in Talk and Stamina, she appears slightly less confident in Vision. Her parameters for Alcohol and Appetite are maxed out, sparking curiosity among would-be visitors. An official from Owanis planning and tourism division said the project highlights snack bars that have existed in the town for nearly 150 years as part of efforts to promote the good old Tsugaru atmosphere. If people go to snack bars, that leads to overnight stays, the official noted. The phenomenon is not limited to snack bar mamas. Across Japan, various regions have launched their own local trading cards. In Kyoto, for example, there are sento bathhouse trading cards, while Aomori offers fisherman cards. Ibaraki has Okami innkeeper cards, and Aichi features Toyohashi hand-held fireworks cards, each reflecting local culture in creative ways. The mama of Snack Flora in Owani, known as Fumichan, said tourist numbers have risen since introducing the cards. After the second edition began, some people saw it on social media and came by Shinkansen from the Kanto area, she said, adding with a smile, I tell them, Please visit at least five snack bars. There is also a system in which visitors who collect five cards can receive a local specialty gift on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraging travelers to aim for at least five stops. Meanwhile, among foreign visitors, Tottori Prefecture recorded the highest growth in overnight stays. Preliminary 2025 figures from the Japan Tourism Agency show that foreign guest overnight stays rose 68.0 percent year on year in Tottori, followed by Niigata at 55.3 percent and Mie at 54.3 percent. The increase in Tottori is attributed in part to expanded international flights and the popularity of the anime GeGeGe no Kitaro, which has strong ties to the prefecture. According to the prefectural international tourism division, flights between Yonago Airport and Seoul increased from three times a week to five times a week starting in March 2025, and became daily services in December. In addition, flights between Yonago Airport and Taipei began operating twice weekly from May 2025. Approximately 40 percent of foreign visitors in 2025 came from South Korea and Taiwan. The influence of GeGeGe no Kitaro has also been significant. Following the films overseas release in 2024, the number of people staying in Sakaiminatohome to the Mizuki Shigeru Road dedicated to the seriesrose to roughly 2.8 times the previous year, according to analysis data from Navitime Japan comparing June to August in 2024 and 2025. The data underscores the growing power of content such as anime and film in shaping travel trends. As one commentator noted, rather than large-scale amusement facilities, more travelers appear to be seeking trips that allow them to enjoy nostalgic Showa-era streetscapes and everyday scenery rooted in local life. Source: TBS TOKYO, Feb 27 (News On Japan) - A bearded American man was arrested after allegedly stealing a truck in central Tokyo on February 14th and repeatedly fleeing crash scenes, with one victim saying the driver appeared to be laughing as he sped away. Police identified the suspect as Arthur Parker Molinari, 41, who was seen at Tokyos Komatsugawa Police Station, and believe he stole the truck in the Marunouchi area before causing a hit-and-run near the Imperial Palace and then another near Tokyo Metros Korakuen Station. Video from the Korakuen area shows the truck turning unnaturally sideways, apparently intruding into the oncoming lane as it moved through the roadway. Victim: "The truck suddenly backed up with the accelerator floored and slammed into me, and he was smiling when he ran." Investigators say Molinari then continued a string of hit-and-run incidents, running red lights and driving the wrong way for about 18 kilometers, triggering eight crashes in total and involving 12 cars and motorcycles. He is suspected of injuring a motorcyclist after a collision, and told investigators that when the accidents happened it felt as if he was inside a video game, adding that he was sorry for causing trouble to the vehicles he hit. Molinari has partially denied the allegations, telling police that when he passed the motorcycle he heard a sound but believed there were no injuries because he did not see the rider fall. The Metropolitan Police Department said it will carefully examine the circumstances of the crashes and also investigate whether Molinari had criminal responsibility at the time of the incidents. Source: FNN Jo Whiley's sister has "developed a kind of Tourette's" syndrome. Jo Whiley and her sister Frances Frances has cri du chat syndrome - a rare genetic disorder that can cause severe learning disabilities - and lives in residential care, and now BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo said her sibling has recently displayed tics similar to those caused by Tourette's. On the latest episode of the Dig It podcast, Jo, 60, told her 55-year-old co-host, broadcaster Zoe Ball: "My sister has developed a kind of Tourette's which has really taken us by surprise. "She doesn't swear, although occasionally she has said the odd thing. But she started snorting, and it was so alien to what we were used to with Frances. "She does these really, really loud snorts. When it first happens, and you're out in public, it really takes you back. You're like, 'Oh, God, that's embarrassing.' "And you kind of think, 'Oh, should I be apologising?' And then you realise that she can't help herself. She started spitting as well, which is really anti-social, and it's just not like her. It's just not the way we were brought up." Jo noted that Frances tries to stop herself from spitting. The broadcaster continued: "But then you look at her, and it's not something that she can stop. And she is trying. She's not in control of it. She's got learning disabilities. "So, it's a very complex situation because what she does, she will go to spit and then she'll go, 'No, no.' She is trying to stop herself." Jo's revelation about Frances comes days after Tourette's campaigner John Davidson - whose life inspired the film I Swear - attended the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards and shouted the N-word as Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the Best Special Visual Effects gong on stage. Days after the awards ceremony - held at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 22 - John, 54, told Variety he "felt a wave of shame and embarrassment" because of his tics, which are involuntary and do not represent his personal views. He added: "When my coprolalia tics came out, my stomach just dropped. As always, I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment hit me all at once. "You want the floor to swallow you up. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to hide - just get away from all the eyes." John also pointed out other times where his tics - caused by the neurological condition - took over during the ceremony. He said: "For example, when the chair of BAFTA started speaking on Sunday, I shouted, 'Boring.' "On Sunday, Alan Cumming joked about his own sexuality and, when referencing Paddington Bear, said, 'Maybe you would like to come home with me, Paddington. It wouldnt be the first time I have taken a hairy Peruvian bear home with me.' "This resulted in homophobic tics from me and led to a shout of 'paedophile' that was likely triggered because Paddington Bear is a childrens character." John noted he "ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards", rather than "one single slur". He said: "Tourettes can make my body or voice do things I dont mean, and sometimes those tics land on the worst possible words. "I want to be really clear that the intent behind them is zero. What youre hearing is a symptom - not my character, not my thought, not my belief." BAFTA takes "full responsibility" after John shouted the racial slur at Michael, 39, and 73-year-old Delroy - whom the latter told Vanity Fair at one of the official after-parties that he wished someone from BAFTA spoke to us (himself and Michael) afterwards. It added in a statement: "Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. "We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism. "During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him." The BBC - which aired the BAFTAs on BBC One with a two-hour delay - apologised for airing the racial slur and later removed the ceremony from iPlayer. The United States and Burkina Faso have signed a five-year health cooperation agreement designed to strengthen regional health security in the Sahel and boost Burkina Fasos ability to manage infectious disease threats, the US Department of State said in a statement. According to the State Department, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forms part of the Trump Administrations America First Global Health Strategy and focuses on building resilient, locally led health systems abroad. Under the agreement, the State Department said it intends to provide up to $147 million over the next five years to support Burkina Fasos efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, while improving disease surveillance and outbreak-response capacity. Burkina Faso has committed to increasing domestic health spending by $107 million, including $12 million targeted at community-health programs, digital reporting upgrades and expanded laboratory capacity. The State Department said the MOU aims to strengthen the regions ability to detect and respond to disease threats before they spread regionally or reach the United States. The agreement ties existing malaria and maternal-child health programs to enhanced community-health systems, with continued support for frontline health workers. By the end of the five-year period, Burkina Faso is expected to integrate US-funded community-health and laboratory personnel into its national health workforce, creating what the State Department described as a more resilient, country-owned system capable of protecting both Burkinabe and American populations. The State Department said the America First Global Health Strategy has generated more than $18.56 billion in new health funding to date, including over $11.33 billion in U.S. assistance and $7.23 billion in co-investment from partner countries. As of Feb. 25, the United States has signed 17 bilateral global-health MOUs with African countries including Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote dIvoire, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda. A high-level conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva placed long-term displacement in Africa at the centre of discussions, with speakers drawing particular attention to the dire humanitarian conditions in Algerias Tindouf camps. The event, held on the sidelines of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, was convened by several NGOs with consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council, in coordination with the Sovereign Order of Malta. Bringing together international experts and civil society representatives, the conference focused on Strengthening Sustainable Solutions: Resettlement, Humanitarian Assistance and Refugee Rights Protection in Africa. Among the participants were regional cooperation specialist Moaayen Mustafa, African human rights expert Moulay El Hassan Naji, MAAT President Ayman Okeil, and Safia Rekibi Idrissi of the African Centre for Human Rights. Representatives of the Order of Malta, Nigerien human rights networks, legal experts, and humanitarian actors from the Democratic Republic of Congo also contributed to the debate. Speakers noted that the Tindouf camps remain among the continents oldest unresolved displacement crises due to the intransigence of Algeria and its Polisario proxies to accept a political solution based on autonomy. They said the population held against their will in the Polisario-run camps remained dependent on humanitarian aid for decades and were facing restricted movement, limited job prospects and barriers to higher education. Several participants highlighted territorial development models as a means to stabilize vulnerable regions, pointing to infrastructure investment and improved living standards in Moroccos southern provinces as an example of resilience-focused planning. The conference also reviewed worsening displacement across the Sahel, driven by armed conflict and climate fragility, including the rising recruitment of children. Former French ambassador to Algeria Xavier Driencourt and Algerian journalist Daoud Imoulayen urged, in a tribune published in the Journal du Dimanche, France to implement a radical break in its relationship with Algeria in 2027, accusing Algiers of persistent hostility and Paris of maintaining an increasingly untenable posture of weakness. The authors sharply criticize the recent visit of Segolene Royal to Algiers, during which she attempted to whitewash an Algerian regime that made hostility to France its legitimation peg. Royal, now president of the FranceAlgeria association and who has no diplomatic mandate, offered to meet Algerian demands in the name of dialogue, reinforcing what the tribune authors describe as the image of a weak France facing an hostile and manipulative regime. The two argue that the bilateral relationship has deteriorated over the course of President Emmanuel Macrons two terms, culminating, they say, in total collapse. They accuse France of having lost its grip and of failing to respond to actions by the Algerian authorities, from the refusal to issue consular passes for undocumented nationals to the use of online influencers promoting anti-French narratives. They also point to the continued presence of Algerian elites in France, despite visa restrictions imposed in recent years, and accuse Paris of overlooking financial and real-estate networks that benefit high-ranking Algerian officials. The tribune highlights what its authors call a state-driven anti-French sentiment in Algeria, citing the progressive removal of the French language from official and educational spheres in favor of English, while thousands of Algerian students continue to remain in France thanks to the 1968 bilateral agreement on movement and residence. Algerias reaction to Frances recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is presented as further evidence, according to the authors, that Paris will never find grace in the eyes of the Algerian regime. Driencourt and Imoulayen also warn of what they describe as Algerian influence networks in France. They single out the Grand Mosque of Paris, calling it a relay of the Algerian state, and criticize what they see as insufficient government response after press investigations into alleged irregularities. They also describe segments of the Algerian diaspora, including current and former officials, as potential levers of political influence for Algiers in the run-up to the 2027 French presidential election. The authors call for a full reset of bilateral relations, adding that France no longer needs Algeria economically, energetically or in the field of security, and propose a detailed list of measures. These include targeting the assets of Algerian VIPs in France, conditioning visa issuance on the execution of deportation orders, and studying a U.S.-style visa bond system. The most significant recommendation is the termination of the 1968 agreement governing the mobility and residency of Algerians in France, along with revisiting the 1980 social-security agreement. They also urge the French state to reassert full control over the Grand Mosque of Paris. The tribune concludes by calling for a revolution in Frances approach to Algeria, warning that without such a shift, what the authors describe as the duplicity and bad faith of the Algerian regime will continue to shape the relationship in the coming years. Hungarys Retro Radio drew record audiences with a special live broadcast from the Moroccan Sahara, part of its morning show aired daily from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and followed by nearly 2 million listeners. The exceptional edition, transmitted from Dakhla, sparked unprecedented engagement on social media. The initiative coincided with the BudapestBamako Rally, which went across Morocco this year, offering the station an opportunity to showcase the natural and cultural heritage of the Moroccan Sahara. The broadcast served as a major spotlight for Dakhla and the wider region, providing Hungarian audiences with an immersive look at local landscapes and traditions. Before heading south, the Retro Radio crew made a stop in Casablanca, where they visited key landmarks including the Hassan II Mosque and the Habous district. Retro Radio is among Hungarys most popular and influential broadcasters, known for dynamic programming rooted in pop culture and attracting a nationwide daily audience. More than 3,000 civilians displaced from the town of Mustariha in North Darfur are living in dire conditions after attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a local medical group said on Thursday. In a statement, the Sudan Doctors Network said the assault forced families to flee without warning, abandoning their homes, belongings and sources of livelihood. Many reportedly spent the night in the open, lacking shelter, food and safe drinking water. According to the groups spokesperson, Dr Tasneem Al-Amin, most of the displaced are women, including pregnant women, now facing extremely severe health and humanitarian conditions. The appeal was posted on X. The organization warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe and urged international and humanitarian agencies to provide urgent support, including shelter, food, water and medical care. The RSF currently controls four of Darfurs five states in western Sudan, while parts of North Darfur remain under the authority of the Sudanese army. The military maintains control over most other states, including the capital, Khartoum. Darfur accounts for roughly one-fifth of Sudans territory, which spans more than 1.8 million square kilometers. However, the majority of the countrys estimated 50 million population resides in areas under army control. Fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army erupted in April 2023 over a dispute concerning the integration of the paramilitary force into the national military structure. The protracted conflict has since fueled famine conditions in what is widely regarded as one of the worlds gravest humanitarian crises, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Rwanda announced early on Thursday that 164 refugees and asylum seekers were transferred overnight from Libya to Rwanda under an emergency evacuation arrangement. According to the agency, the latest relocation brings the total number of evacuees moved from Libya to Rwanda since 2019 to 2,924. Of these, 2,585 individuals have since been resettled in third countries. Rwanda has hosted evacuees under a tripartite agreement signed in 2019 between the UNHCR, the African Union and the Rwandan government. The accord established an Emergency Transit Mechanism in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, offering temporary shelter, protection and essential support services while individuals are assessed for onward resettlement. The initiative, backed by the European Union, has been expanded twice, most recently in January 2024. The expansion increased the facilitys capacity to 700 people and extended the duration of its operations, reinforcing Rwandas role as a regional humanitarian partner in addressing displacement from Libya. Moroccos Secretariat of State for Maritime Fisheries has ordered an immediate closure of the southern fishing zone known as Stock C to all vessels authorized to harvest small pelagic species, effective through the end of June 2026. The measure targets the protection of juvenile sardine populations identified in concentrations at depths below 50 meters. The decision follows scientific monitoring conducted by the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), whose stock assessments revealed a marked dominance of juvenile sardines specifically Sardina pilchardus with a high proportion of individuals below the minimum size of sexual maturity. Field observations from vessels operating in the zone since the opening of the fishing season on February 16, 2026, confirmed the institutes findings. Authorities attribute the unusually high concentration of immature fish to hydroclimatic fluctuations, particularly temperature variations that have disrupted spawning and recruitment cycles. An acoustic survey conducted by INRH identified a zone occupied almost exclusively by juveniles, with their presence overwhelmingly recorded at bathymetric depths under 50 meters. The Secretariat of State warned that intensive exploitation under these conditions would carry severe risks, most critically a reduction in the stocks renewal potential a threat that could compromise not only near-term catch volumes but the long-term viability of the entire southern sardine fishery. The closure was enacted following consultation with fishing industry stakeholders, who were briefed on the state of the stock and the scientific rationale underpinning the emergency measures. Authorities stressed that the restrictions are designed to limit fishing pressure, support the growth and survival of immature individuals, and contribute to rebuilding biomass levels safeguarding both ecological sustainability and the economic interests of those who depend on the fishery over the medium and long term. Bill Gates has publicly apologized to staff at the Gates Foundation for his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, admitting his actions cast a shadow over the philanthropic organization while insisting he was never involved in Epstein's crimes. In a town hall on Tuesday, the Microsoft co-founder addressed foundation employees, acknowledging he made mistakes that affected the group's reputation. "It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein," Gates said. "I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made." He added, "I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit." According to CBS News, Gates first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. The billionaire admitted that he brought Gates Foundation executives to some meetings with Epstein in hopes of raising money for global health causes. "Epstein talked about the kind of intimate relationship he had with a lot of billionaires, particularly Wall Street billionaires," Gates said. "Because he had other prestigious people at these meetings, that made it easier for me to feel like this was a normalized situation." Bill Gates Apologizes to Foundation Staff over Epstein Ties, Claims He Did Nothing Illicit Bill is trying to do 'damage control' over his Epstein relationship, but I hope it backfires. It seems everything Bill is involved with has nefarious implications. Let's face it, pic.twitter.com/FGaUnC7E2W NWRain-Judi (@RYboating) February 25, 2026 Bill Gates Admits Affairs With Two Russian Women He also explained that his former wife and foundation co-founder, Melinda French Gates, was skeptical of Epstein from the start. "To give her credit, she was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing," he told staff. Gates continued meeting with Epstein until 2014, flying on a private jet and spending time with him in Germany, France, New York, and Washington, though he denied ever visiting Epstein's private island or staying overnight with him. Gates also admitted to personal failings, saying he had two affairs with Russian womenone a bridge player, the other a nuclear physicistthat Epstein later discovered. "I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities," he said. Gates stressed that none of these relationships involved Epstein's victims, FoxBusiness reported. The billionaire acknowledged that the association with Epstein and newly released Justice Department files had affected the foundation's work and public perception. "It definitely is the opposite of the values of the Foundation and the goals of the Foundation," he said. "And our work is very reputationally sensitive. People can choose to work with us or not work with us." A Gates Foundation spokesperson noted that Gates holds town halls twice a year and "spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions." Originally published on vcpost.com Central Asian states increasingly acknowledge a need to change the way they manage their rapidly dwindling water resources. But while all involved acknowledge that the current management framework is inadequate, Central Asian leaders are having trouble finding consensus on what needs to be done to match existing resources with economic development ambitions. Over the past year, Central Asian states have rolled out water-intensive economic development blueprints, outlining plans for the construction of nuclear power plants, data centers, IT hubs, and expanded mining and mineral processing operations. Such projects, along with explosive regional population growth, are expected to significantly heighten demand for water at a time when Central Asia is already confronting a growing water deficit. Strategically, there is a growing realization among Central Asian officials that closer cooperation offers the best chance of solving the regions water conundrum. Yet, regional states remain far apart on tactics to overcome the deficit. Kazakh officials presented a reform plan during a February 23 session of the Interstate Commission of Water Coordination (ICWC), a regional entity established to regulate water usage. Tacitly acknowledging that the commission and other existing water-management mechanisms have proven ineffective in addressing pressing challenges, the Kazakh plan calls for the creation of a new entity under a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Management. The new entity would be empowered with the means to enforce its decisions: existing entities lack such enforcement authority. I urge the parties to support this initiative, given its importance for strengthening regional coordination in the water sector, consolidating efforts to adapt to climate change, and promoting sustainable water resources management, Kazakh Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov told the participants at the ICWC meeting, held in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. Other states did not immediately respond to the Kazakh proposal. Underscoring the tactical paralysis of the ICWC, participants discussed the dangerously low water levels in major regional reservoirs and major rivers at present, but could not come up with a unified response aimed at easing looming shortages for irrigation during the summer growing season. When it comes to finding tactical agreement, a key stumbling block is the competing interests of upstream and downstream nations. The upstream states, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, hold most of the regions water resources, while the downstream states of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan consume the bulk of water for agricultural purposes. Water use is tied closely to electricity generation. Upstream states rely heavily on hydropower during the winter to generate heating and electricity. During the post-Soviet era, downstream states have occasionally supplied electricity to their upstream neighbors to help ensure adequate water supplies for the summer growing season. The existing low water levels, however, are exposing the inadequacy of ad hoc swap arrangements. Kazakhstan is not alone in calling for reform. A commentary published by Kyrgyzstans official Kabar news agency on February 9 echoed the need for substantive change, noting that almost half of Central Asias collective population (roughly 37 million people) live in areas of acute water deficit. It added that the water deficit threatens to throttle economic growth. While Kyrgyzstan may share Kazakhstans desire to overhaul the existing water-management framework, the commentary highlighted the difficulty of bridging the existing divide between upstream and downstream states. From the Kyrgyz perspective, the interests of upstream states have been shortchanged since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it is time to address this injustice. It is worth noting that Kyrgyzstan has withdrawn as a full member of the ICWC and now participates as an observer. It is very important that the activities of regional organizations on the issue of water use in Central Asia meet the interests of all countries, both downstream and upstream, the commentary states. If this principle is not observed, then it is necessary to reform the work of such organizations revising the regional legal framework, the provisions of which are outdated, have lost relevance or do not meet modern realities. Downstream states shoulder most of the responsibility for improving water-resource management, specifically by introducing water-saving technologies to reduce water demand for irrigation, the Kyrgyz commentary insists. It also calls on downstream states to minimize the cultivation of moisture-loving crops, including cotton. In a potential move sure to draw the ire of downstream states long-accustomed to the communist-era legacy of free access to water, some Kyrgyz MPs have started calling for Kyrgyzstan to start charging its neighbors for the water they use. The US pays Canada for water, and Germany pays Sweden. Why doesnt Kyrgyzstan receive payment for its water? Thats international law! MP Umbetaly Kydyraliev stated during a February 9 parliamentary committee meeting, referring to hydropower payments. By Eurasianet More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Thursday's pivotal event was the third round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, where U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, brokered by Oman. The tone was notably constructive. Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi declared significant progress, and Araqchi described the exchanges as the most serious Iran has had with the U.S. Both sides agreed to resume negotiations within the week, with technical discussions set for Vienna. The dominant theme all week was the diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Early in the week, crude was underpinned by a significant geopolitical risk premium as traders hedged against the possibility of a U.S. military strike. President Trump reinforced that concern Tuesday during his State of the Union address, stating he would not allow Iran, which he called the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism, to possess a nuclear weapon. WTI crude oil posted a volatile and ultimately lower week as a record U.S. inventory build collided with an evolving diplomatic effort between Washington and Tehran. The April contract touched a seven-month high of $67.28 on Monday before reversing sharply, finishing near $65.31 by Thursday night, down $1.17 or 1.76% on the week. WTI crude oil posted a volatile and ultimately lower week as a record U.S. inventory build collided with an evolving diplomatic effort between Washington and Tehran. The April contract touched a seven-month high of $67.28 on Monday before reversing sharply, finishing near $65.31 by Thursday night, down $1.17 or 1.76% on the week. Iran-U.S. Negotiations: From War Premium to Cautious Optimism The dominant theme all week was the diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Early in the week, crude was underpinned by a significant geopolitical risk premium as traders hedged against the possibility of a U.S. military strike. President Trump reinforced that concern Tuesday during his State of the Union address, stating he would not allow Iran, which he called the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism, to possess a nuclear weapon. Thursday's pivotal event was the third round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, where U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, brokered by Oman. The tone was notably constructive. Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi declared significant progress, and Araqchi described the exchanges as the most serious Iran has had with the U.S. Both sides agreed to resume negotiations within the week, with technical discussions set for Vienna. Key sticking points remain. Washington demands Iran halt uranium enrichment and surrender its 60%-enriched stockpile. Tehran insists on its right to enrich and wants sanctions lifted. Secretary of State Rubio called Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program a "big problem." Still, extending talks rather than reaching an impasse removed the immediate threat of military action. The crude market responded by giving back a meaningful portion of its war premium, with analysts estimating as much as $10 per barrel could unwind if a framework agreement emerges. EIA Inventories: A Record Build Wednesday's EIA report delivered a severe bearish shock. U.S. crude stockpiles surged 16 million barrels, the largest single-week build in three years and far above the 1.3 million barrel increase analysts had forecast. The build was driven by reduced refinery utilization and a spike in imports, and followed an already alarming API report Tuesday showing an 11.43 million barrel jump. The EIA's adjustment factor hit a record 2.7 million barrels per day, raising data reliability questions. By Thursday, the inventory glut combined with constructive Geneva headlines overwhelmed the bulls and drove prices sharply lower. OPEC+ and Saudi Arabia Eight OPEC+ nations meet March 1, and sources indicate the group is likely to approve a 137,000 barrel-per-day output increase for April, ending a three-month production pause. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has activated a contingency plan to surge output and exports should a U.S. strike on Iran disrupt regional supply. While stabilizing in intent, the disclosure reinforced market confidence that any Iranian supply gap could be quickly filled, further eroding the war premium. Tariffs Add Demand Uncertainty A temporary 10% global tariff on U.S. imports took effect Tuesday following a Supreme Court ruling, with Trump signaling the rate could rise to 15%. The evolving policy is stoking concerns over global growth and fuel demand, a headwind the market has been slow to price in given the louder geopolitical signals from the Iran situation. Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures Trend Indicator Analysis The main trend is up according to the weekly swing chart. The uptrend was reaffirmed this week when the market extended its rally to $67.28, just $0.03 higher than Fibonacci resistance at $67.25. Not only is it resistance, but its probably the trigger point for an acceleration to the upside. For a fifth week in a row, the market is testing a key retracement zone at $64.84 to $67.25. Even after this weeks volatile trade, I still believe that the near-term direction will be determined by trader reaction to this area. Another major support level is the long-term 50% price at $63.34. The best support is the price cluster at $60.95 to $60.62. The first is a 50% level, the second is the 52-week moving average at $60.62. Weekly Technical Forecast The direction of the weekly Light Crude Oil Futures market for the week-ending March 6 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the 50% level at $64.84 and the 61.8% level at $67.25. Bullish Scenario A sustained move above $67.25 will signal the buying is getting stronger. This move will put the market in a position to challenge the two main tops at $75.05 and $79.56. Bearish Scenario A sustained move below $64.84 will indicate active selling pressure or a major short-seller defending against a breakout to the upside. This could trigger a break into the long-term 50% level at $64.34. If the long-term pivot fails then momentum could shift to the downside, putting the 50% level at $60.95 and the 52-week moving average at $60.62 on the radar. Week Ahead Forecast: March 26 Three catalysts will drive price action next week. First, the Vienna technical nuclear talks and a confirmed fourth negotiating round are the most critical variables a constructive outcome keeps pressure on the $64.84-63.34 range, while a breakdown could send WTI surging back above $67.25 toward $75.05. Second, the March 1 OPEC+ decision on the April output hike will set the supply tone heading into the week. Third, Wednesday's EIA report will be watched closely to determine whether the 16-million-barrel build was an anomaly or the start of a sustained inventory accumulation cycle. The base case is a trading range of $60.62$67.25 with a modest downside bias, though the market remains one diplomatic headline away from a sharp reversal in either direction. Rolls-Royce has laid out plans to return billions to investors over the next two years after the blue-chip giants profit rocketed, leading to an upgrade of targets. The aerospace titan revealed plans for a 7bn to 9bn multi-year share buyback from 2026 to 2028, which comes as the firm wraps up a 1bn buyback from the last 12 months. Up to 2.5bn of the buyback is set to be delivered in 2026. The FTSE 100 darling also declared a final dividend of 5p a share, taking the total for the year to 9.5p, meaning around 32 per cent of post-tax profit was dished out to shareholders. It came after revenue jumped 14 per cent to 20bn for the last year, whilst operating profit surged nearly 40 per cent to 3.5bn. Growth boomed in the firms civil aerospace division, with an 8 per cent increase in large-engine flying hours, bringing it 111 per cent above pre-Covid levels in 2019. Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said: Our transformation continues with pace and intensity. We are consistently achieving outcomes that were not possible before our transformation. Rolls-Royces magic turnaround Rolls-Royce lifted its medium-term profit targets to 4.9bn to 5.2bn, whilst the firms operating profit margin, a financial ratio that measures the percentage of revenue remaining after covering the costs of production, is targeting 18 to 20 per cent. Mark Crouch, market analyst at eToro, said: This is Rolls-Royce in full afterburner mode. Whats most striking is not just the beat, but the confidence. Management has upgraded mid-term targets again and is guiding to as much as 4.2bn of operating profit in 2026. Thats a far cry from the restructuring story investors once bought into. The fresh round of returns marks a major boost in Rolls-Royces turnaround, with last years 1bn buyback the first since 2014 after the engineer generated a surplus from selling its energy business. Buybacks were halted in 2015 by former boss Warren East as concerns swelled about the stability of the firms balance sheet. The spectacular turnaround under Erginbilgic, former BP chief, has seen the companys value double to over 112bn. Since 2022, the aerospace chief has found 600m in savings through slashing costs. In the last year, free cash flow the funds a company generates from operations after accounting for capital expenditures hit 3.3bn, a major rise from 2.4bn last year. Shares in Rolls-Royce have risen more than 100 per cent in the last 12 months and climbed to a fresh high last week at 1,336.00p amid a rally in the defence sector. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Last year was an event-filled period for South Americas growing oil industry. The continents energy map is being rewritten by a few unexpected world-class oil booms, which makes the region a key source of non-OPEC production growth. There is also the potential for Venezuela to reemerge as a major petroleum producer after U.S. President Donald Trump launched Operation Southern Spear in August 2025, which culminated with President Nicolas Maduros capture in a daring night raid. Let us take a closer look at what lies ahead for South Americas five largest oil producers. Colombias oil industry is caught in a death spiral The last decade has been a tumultuous period for Colombias beaten-down oil industry. Rising violence and insecurity, coupled with tax hikes on extractive industries is severely impacting industry operations. Colombias first-ever leftist president, Gustavo Petro, on entering office in August 2022, chose to cease awarding new exploration and production contracts, placing further pressure on dwindling reserves and production. Falling foreign energy investment is harming Colombias economically crucial hydrocarbon sector. During December 2025, the Andean country lifted 747,171 barrels of crude oil per day, well below the 998,740 barrels daily reported for the same month a decade earlier. This occurred despite proven oil reserves remaining at over 2 million barrels for 2024, and national oil company Ecopetrols reserves rising 2.7% year over year to 1.944 million barrels at the end of 2025. The head of Colombias National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) believes proven reserves at the end of 2025 will increase, although final numbers have yet to be secured. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths Ecopetrols reserves were boosted due to the implementation of enhanced recovery at several major oilfields and increased operational efficiencies at the Rubiales and La CiraInfantas fields, rather than from new discoveries. This points to a lack of exploration success in Colombia, which is a decade-old problem that is weighing on petroleum reserves. Indeed, there have been no major oil discoveries in the Andean country for over two decades, and this is weighing on reserves' life, production, and the stability of domestic energy supplies. A sharp decline in natural gas reserves is threatening to spark a major energy crisis at a time when Bogota is facing a fiscal crisis, caused in part by dwindling hydrocarbon production. Over the last five years, domestic gas production has fallen sharply, with December 2025 gas output plummeting a massive 23% year over year to 693 million cubic feet per day and well below the one billion cubic feet per day recorded for the same month a decade earlier. As a result, costly liquified petroleum gas imports (LPG) are soaring, impacting finances, the cost of living and Colombias balance of trade. Argentinas shale boom is rewriting the energy map Crisis-torn Argentina is in the midst of Latin Americas largest shale oil and gas boom. In just over a decade, unconventional oil and gas production from the 8.6 million Vaca Muerta shale soared from negligible volumes to highs of 593,488 barrels and 4.6 billion cubic feet per day for December 2025. As a result, shale oil now accounts for 69% of Argentinas petroleum output and 65% of the natural gas production. This was responsible for Argentina overtaking Colombia to become South Americas fourth-largest oil producer. There is considerable strong production growth ahead as investment in the Vaca Muerta soars. Even infrastructure bottlenecks are failing to constrain production growth as many analysts predicted. Indeed, infrastructure operators are in a building frenzy, constructing new pipelines, storage, and processing facilities which are significantly bolstering takeaway capacity in the Vaca Muerta. This is supporting further strong production growth, with Argentina tipped to be pumping over 1 million barrels of crude oil per day by the end of the decade. The Vaca Muertas low-cost production is offsetting declining higher-cost petroleum output from Argentinas mature oilfields. This makes the formation particularly attractive for energy companies seeking to expand production in an operating environment weighed down by weaker prices. The shale formation has an estimated breakeven of $36 to $45 per barrel, making it profitable with the international Brent price at around $72 per barrel. The high productivity and long economic life of wells drilled in the Vaca Muerta make it attractive when compared to other shale plays. President Javier Mileis government recently predicted that 2026 energy investment will soar to $22 billion, with the vast majority destined for the Vaca Muerta. National oil company YPF, which was nationalized in 2012, plans to spend $5.6 billion this year, a 12% increase over 2025 with $4.5 billion or 870% of that capital expenditure directed to upstream operations. Indeed, YPFs CEO believes the Vaca Muerta is profitable at $40 to $45 per barrel. For these reasons, Argentina is one ranked as one of the top drivers of non-OPEC production growth for 2026. Guyana is among the worlds fastest-growing offshore oil plays The tiny South American country of Guyana has emerged as one of the worlds hottest oil plays. A swath of the world-class discoveries in the offshore Stabroek Block by energy supermajor ExxonMobil, which found at least 11 billion barrels of oil, makes Guyana a leading regional oil exporter. At the end of December 2025, Guyana was pumping 913,550 barrels per day, cementing the country of less than one million peoples place as South Americas third-largest oil producer. There is significant expansion ahead for Guyana, with the country, like Brazil and Argentina, ranked as one of the top non-OPEC contributors to oil production growth. Exxon, which is the operator of the Stabroek Block, and its partners, Chevron and CNOOC, are developing three additional projects, Uaru, Whiptail, and Hammerhead, which are expected to start production before the end of 2029. This will lift overall production to 1.55 million barrels per day, making Guyana South Americas second-largest oil producer after Brazil, unless there is an unexpected oil industry recovery in Venezuela. Exxon and its partners are currently planning the eighth project, Longtail, which is undergoing regulatory review with a final investment decision expected later this year. This facility differs from earlier projects because it is targeting the extraction of natural gas and condensate in the Stabroek Block. The project, if approved, will start production in 2030, adding 250,000 barrels of condensate and one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. This will boost Guyanas overall production to over 1.7 million barrels daily. This massive oil boom has delivered a tremendous economic windfall for Guyana. The former British colony is now the wealthiest in South America for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and ranked seventh globally. Washingtons intervention in Venezuela, which saw autocratic President Nicolas Maduro snatched by U.S. forces in early January 2026, has secured Guyanas oil boom. The dictatorial Maduro regime, for years, was threatening to annex the Essequibo, which comprises two-thirds of Guyanas territory and contains the prolific Stabroek Block. Venezuelas oil industry faces a pivotal moment Last year was monumental for the near-failed South American state of Venezuela. Washington embarked upon a campaign of gunboat diplomacy to topple the authoritarian Maduro regime. This maximum pressure campaign, initiated during August 2025, culminated with the capture of President Maduro by U.S. forces in a daring January 2026 nighttime raid. Since then, President Trump has aggressively pushed for U.S. oil majors to invest in Venezuelas heavily corroded hydrocarbon sector. As a result, former Maduro regime stalwart and now Venezuelas interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, overhauled oil industry regulations. The changes allow foreign energy companies to invest in Venezuela while gaining greater control of oil projects and slashing royalties payable to Caracas. While Houston-based Chevron and Spains Repsol have committed to lifting production at their existing facilities in Venezuela, other oil majors have been more reserved. Exxons CEO Darren Woods went as far as to call Venezuela uninvestable unless major reforms are undertaken. A significant headwind is the heavily corroded state of Venezuelas petroleum infrastructure. Two decades of endemic corruption, malfeasance, and a marked lack of investment in basic maintenance saw industry facilities collapse into ruin. This is not only responsible for a sharp decline in oil production but also for frequent spills and other hazardous events, which have caused tremendous harm to the environment in Venezuela. There are serious concerns it will cost billions of dollars to clean up sites across Venezuela, with Lake Maracaibo the worst affected. After Venezuelas oil production slumped to a multidecade low of 544,522 barrels per day during 2020, output only expanded because of the provision of technical assistance and supplies of naptha by Iran. OPEC data shows that for 2025, Venezuela pumped an average of just over one million barrels per day, which is almost double the multidecade low reported for 2020. This was only achieved through the provision of technical assistance and a regular supply of naptha by Iran. There were fears that as the U.S. blockade on Venezuela tightened, including the seizure of unauthorized oil shipments, hydrocarbon production would plummet. While that risk is negated by the capture of Maduro and the White Houses control of the interim government led by former regime stalwart Delcy Rodriguez, it is difficult to see how Venezuelas oil output can be significantly expanded. Even recent regulatory reforms aimed at promoting foreign energy investment by slashing royalties and granting greater control over hydrocarbon projects are not enough. You see, Venezuelas energy infrastructure is heavily corroded, requiring, according to notable industry expert Fancisco Monaldi, investment of $100 billion over a decade to rebuild. Even then, such a hefty sum may not be enough, with some sources claiming it could take as much as $250 billion to upgrade Venezuelas shattered oil infrastructure before production can expand to pre-1999 levels. Another risk is the monumental environmental crisis linked to Venezuelas dilapidated oil facilities, with damage so severe it may be permanent. At any rate, any clean-up will cost tens of billions of dollars, with at least $2.5 billion required for Lake Maracaibo. Brazils growing oil production will make it a top global player Brazil, which is Latin Americas largest economy, for at least a decade has been the regions top oil producer, particularly after the demise of Venezuelas heavily corroded oil industry over the last two decades. Government data shows that by January 2026, Brazil was pumping 3.95 million barrels of oil and 6.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, equating to a total hydrocarbon output of 5.2 million barrels of oil equivalent daily. This confirms Brazils position as South Americas top hydrocarbon producer and that the country is on track to become a major global producer. Nonetheless, those numbers are well below the all-time highs of 4 million barrels of crude oil, 6.9 billion cubic feet, and 5.3 million barrels of oil equivalent lifted during October 2025. That decline can primarily be attributed to routine field and facility maintenance, with production expected to soar higher over the course of 2026. Sharply weaker oil prices, with the Brent international benchmark averaging $62.54 per barrel during December 2026, saw drilling activity decrease as energy companies reigned in costs and suspended high-cost operations. It is Brazils prolific offshore pre-salt oilfields that are responsible for most of its hydrocarbon reserves and production. By the end of 2024, Brazil had proven reserves of 16.3 billion barrels of crude oil, which is 84 comprised of pre-salt reserves totaling 13.7 billion barrels. This represents a 5.8% increase in proven reserves compared to 2023, with proven pre-salt reserves, which is a notable 9% greater than a year earlier. While Brazils leading oil industry association, the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute, known by its Portuguese initials as the IBP, is concerned by weaker reserve replacement, the countrys proven reserves will have risen during 2026. Final numbers are yet to be collated by the regulator, the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), but recent results announced by national oil company Petrobras point to a solid increase being reported. You see, Petrobras, which is Brazils largest hydrocarbon producer, responsible for 67% of petroleum output, reported a 6% year over year increase in proven reserves to 12.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent weighted 84% to crude oil. Around 80% of Brazils oil production is comprised of petroleum lifted from pre-salt fields. This crude oil is particularly popular globally because it is light and sweet with an API gravity of around 30 degrees, along with a low sulfur content of 0.3% with few contaminants like vanadium. Brazils pre-salt oil also has an industry-low carbon footprint, producing around 10 kilograms of carbon per barrel produced, which is significantly lower than the estimated global average of 18 kilograms. For those reasons, along with a low average breakeven price of less than $40 per barrel, Brazils pre-salt oil basins are attracting considerable interest from domestic and foreign energy companies. Petrobras, which believes pre-salt breakeven prices could fall to as low as $28 per barrel, intends to invest $91 billion between 2026 and 2030. Most of the $69 billion to be spent on upstream assets will be directed to the national oil companys pre-salt petroleum acreage. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is counting on a future trilateral meeting with the United States and Russia to take place in early March after Ukrainian and US negotiating teams wrapped up the latest round of peace talks in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said in a video address on Telegram after the February 26 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, that "there is more readiness for the next trilateral format. "Most likely, the next meeting will be in the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi," he said. Urging the finalization of what Ukrainian and US negotiators had "achieved" in drafting security guarantees for Ukraine -- widely seen as a key issue in ending the fighting sparked by Russia's four-year-old invasion of its neighbor -- Zelenskyy also called for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Such a format can resolve a lot. The leaders decide on the key issues," he said. A day earlier, after a call with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said Trump supported a "sequence of steps" in negotiations that included such a meeting. Kyiv has long characterized a direct leaders' summit as the best way to resolve the most complex issues and end the war. The Kremlin has not publicly supported the idea, instead saying Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wanted to talk with Putin, something the Ukrainian leader has refused, instead saying it should be on neutral territory. While there was no comment from Russia on the latest round of negotiations between Ukraine and the United States, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has also held talks with the US officials in Geneva. According to RIA, Dmitriev refused to comment on the results. The talks on February 26 came hours after Russian forces rained down drones and missiles on multiple Ukrainian regions, and also after Moscow sent Kyiv bodies of people apparently killed in the now four-year long war. Earlier, Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed that, in addition to economic issues, the latest negotiations included the "humanitarian track" and the possibility of further exchanges. Russia and Ukraine have held numerous exchanges of prisoners and remains of killed soldiers during the conflict. On February 26, officials from the two countries said Moscow had returned what it said were the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainians. The authorities in Kyiv said they "may belong to Ukrainian defenders" and that work would begin to identify them. Vladimir Medinsky, a key aide to Putin who had previously led Russian delegations in Istanbul and Geneva, said Ukraine had returned the bodies of 35 Russian soldiers in exchange. Alongside the diplomacy and the exchange, the brutal reality of the war continued. "Dozens of people are known to have been injured as a result of this attack, including children," Zelenskyy wrote on social media after an overnight barrage that he said included 420 drones and 39 missiles. Targets included housing blocks, gas infrastructure, and electrical substations, he added. Prior to the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who was not in attendance at the Geneva meeting -- said that only Washington could drive negotiations to end the war. "The United Nations isn't going to do it. France isn't going to do it. The EU isn't going to do it. The Russians won't even speak to them. So we don't want to walk away from -- we know that, at the end, that war in Ukraine does not have a military solution," he said. "If we forfeit that role, no one else can do it," he added. The meeting in Geneva came two days after somber ceremonies across Ukraine marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion and follows trilateral Russia-Ukraine-US talks on February 17-18. Little substantive information has emerged from previous meetings, beyond vague descriptions of them being "difficult" in some areas while achieving "progress" in others. After four years of full-scale war, estimates of overall casualty figures vary. But one recent report put the number of killed, wounded, and missing at 1.2 million Russians and 500,000-600,000 Ukrainians. The World Bank said on February 23 that reconstructing the Ukrainian economy would cost an estimated $588 billion over a decade. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Alberta will end fiscal 2025/26 with a deficit and will run a deficit for the next three fiscal years as well, the provinces finance minister has said. The deficit for fiscal 2025/26 is calculated at C$4.1 billion ($3 billion), set to swell to C$9.4 billion ($6.9 billion) next fiscal year and then moderate to C$7.6 billion ($5.56 billion) in fiscal 2027/28 and further to C$6.9 billion ($5.05 billion) for fiscal 2028/29, minister Nate Horner said, as quoted by CTV News. There are three levers here for government and for Alberta: its revenue, its expenses, and its deficits. Im sure itll bring forward a lot of conversations about where we go from here, the finance minister said. The deficit is related to lower income from Albertas oil industry, while the provincial government plans to increase spending in key areas such as healthcare and education, as well as infrastructure. However, four years of deficit go counter to a provincial rule adopted three years ago that places limits on the number of years that the government can budget a deficit to three, barring extraordinary circumstances, such as revenues falling by more than C$1 billion. Technically, were not breaking the rule until the third consecutive deficit actually shows up in that years annual report, but it shows the work isnt done, Horner told media, noting that oil prices have been trending lower for a while, harming Albertas oil-sensitive bottom line. According to the finance minister, every price decline of C$1 per barrel translates in a revenue decline of C$680 million. The government, however, expects prices to bottom out this year and start climbing from next year onwards. This, if it happens, should help Alberta tackle issues arising from its population growth. For this year, the provincial government has budgeted an average West Texas Intermediate price of $60.50 per barrel. WTI is currently trading above $65 per barrel. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The UK may be quietly inching toward an awkward admission: the windfall tax experiment on oil and gas has been a flop. The Treasury is holding talks with North Sea oil and gas producers about potentially scrapping the Energy Profits Levy before its scheduled 2030 expiry, according to people familiar with the discussions. After multiple extensions and rate hikes, the levy has pushed the sectors headline tax burden to 78% a level producers argue borders on confiscatory, and a level critics argue borders on ridiculosity. The EPL was introduced in 2022 after Russias invasion of Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring. Back then, it was framed as a temporary measure to capture extraordinary profits and ease pressure on households. But prices have since cooled, while the tax has lingered and grown. Under current rules, the levy can end early if six-month average oil and gas prices fall below preset thresholds of $78.65 per barrel and 61 pence per therm for 20262027. Otherwise, it runs through March 2030. There has been anticipated industry pushback. Offshore Energies UK has warned that the levy risks long-term damage to domestic production. Harbour Energy saw nearly all of its 2022 profits evaporate under the expanded tax regime, forcing it to cut jobs and shelve projects. BP and Shell have publicly reviewed UK investment plans. TotalEnergies trimmed spending. Politically, its a minefield. Labour must juggle climate goals with energy security, jobs, and the rising pressure from Nigel Farages Reform UK, which has pledged to scrap the levy outright. Meanwhile, the Greens want it made permanent, and the Scottish National Party argues that it threatens tens of thousands of North Sea jobs. Then comes the strategic backdrop. The UKs grid operator and the state-owned system operator have both warned that shrinking domestic production could increase reliance on imports and leave the country more exposed to supply shocks. For the UK Continental Shelf, some are left to wonder if the levy quietly accelerated decline in a basin already fighting gravity. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Croatia can ensure crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, which havent received Russian oil for a month following damage on the Druzhba oil pipeline, the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, has said. Croatia is here as a neighbor, partner and friend to ensure the energy security and smooth functioning of the economies of both Hungary and Slovakia, Croatian state media quoted Plenkovic as saying. Hungary and Slovakia are releasing oil from their strategic petroleum reserves after Russian crude flows via the Druzhba pipeline stopped at the end of last month. At the end of January, Druzhba, the pipeline that carries Russian crude to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was damaged in what Ukraine said was a Russian drone attack. Supplies of Russian oil to the last two remaining EU member states dependent on Russian crude flows via Druzhba have been halted since January 27. Croatia is now in talks with Hungary, Slovakia, and the European Commission on a plan to ensure crude supply to the two EU member states that have kept ties with Russia and Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Croatias pipeline operator JANAF has assured the market and public in recent days it has the capacity to provide non-Russian oil to meet Hungary and Slovakias needs. Last week, JANAF said in response to media reports that it considers partnership and reliability to be the Company's most important business values and its activities contribute to the fact that crude oil supply to Central European countries Hungary and Slovakia remains completely unthreatened. At this moment, a significant quantity of non-Russian crude oil is being transported via JANAFs pipeline for MOL Group, while three additional tankers carrying non-Russian oil, also for MOL Group, are on their way to the Omisalj Terminal, the company said on February 20, referring to Hungarys energy firm MOL. This week, JANAF said that one shipment for MOL is currently being unloaded at JANAFs Omisalj Terminal. By early April, seven additional tankers loaded with non-Russian origin oil are expected to arrive for the same user of JANAFs oil pipeline system, the Croatian company said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Germany plans to abolish fixed feed-in tariffs for small rooftop solar installations as of 2027, saying that falling costs have made the technology economically sound without subsidies, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a draft proposal for reforms it has seen. At present, rooftop solar installations of any kind are eligible for guaranteed tariffs. This could change in a few months, if the government approves the proposal of the German economy ministry to have subsidies abolished for projects of less than 25 kilowatts. The ministry argues that the small rooftop solar are now often viable on their own without incentives, thanks to the lower costs. To strengthen the cost efficiency of solar expansion, a stronger focus will in future be placed on cost-effective solar parks, the ministrys proposal reads, as carried by Bloomberg. The plans for a reform of the subsidies was first leaked by German media outlets. If the leaked draft is genuine, it would be yet another attack on renewable energy, following the grid package proposal, said Ursula Heinen-Esser, president of Germanys renewable energy association BEE. Abolishing support for rooftop solar would have disastrous consequences for the sector and would deprive homeowners from participating in the energy transition, Heinen-Esser added. The German Solar Association, BSW-Solar, also deplored the leaked draft proposal as a frontal attack on Germanys energy transition. Germany plans to boost onshore wind capacity to 115 gigawatts and solar capacity to 215 gigawatts by the end of the decadetargets which it will keep in the proposal for reforms. Europes biggest economy has a target to have renewables account for 80% of its electricity generation in 2030. In solar, Germany is halfway through reaching its 2030 solar power targets, BSW-Solar said in June last year. Germany saw the highest number of onshore wind turbines commissioned in the first half of 2025 for eight years, but the rebound in installations is still off track to reach the official targets, the German wind energy association, Bundesverband WindEnergie (BWE), said in the middle of 2025. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com As U.S.-Iran tensions climb and talk of a potential strike refuses to fade, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already behaving as if an oil supply disruption is a matter of when, not if. If they move more crude now, there is a chance there will be calm markets later. Abu Dhabi is set to export additional volumes of its flagship Murban crude in April, trade sources told Reuters on Friday. ADNOC has reportedly offered extra barrels to partners in its onshore concession, where companies including BP, TotalEnergies, CNPC, Inpex, Zhenhua Oil, and GS Energy are entitled to roughly 40% of output from a stream that runs near 2 million barrels per day. The exact bump isnt clear yet. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has been hiking production and exports as part of a contingency plan should a U.S. strike on Iran disrupt flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi shipments jumped to about 7.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first 24 days of February, the highest since April 2023. Riyadh has reportedly enough spare capacity for another 2.4 million bpd and can route crude through its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea if Gulf traffic is threatened. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Freight markets are already flashing red. VLCC rates on the Middle East-to-Asia route have surged past $200,000 per day, a six-year high, as traders rush to secure ships and front-load cargoes. Bahri, the Saudi national carrier, has chartered multiple supertankers to lock in liftings to Asia. The geopolitical risk premium has pushed oil above $72 per barrel, near the highest levels since July. OPEC+ meets Sunday and is expected to consider a modest 137,000 bpd increase for April after pausing hikes earlier this year. Global crude flows are also changing course. Saudi exports to India are surging as Russian exports to India decline under U.S. pressure. China, by contrast, is soaking up discounted Russian crude at record levels. What this amounts to is calibrated risk management. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have no interest in crushing the price rally both benefit from firmer crude. But they also have little incentive to see prices spike to triple digits on the back of a military escalation that could rattle demand, invite political blowback, or trigger emergency stock releases. Nudging oil exports higher now will allow the geopolitical premium to build without letting it spiral. Its a reminder that spare capacity is as much a pricing tool as it is a supply buffer and that the Gulfs top producers prefer controlled strength in the market over chaos. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com China condemns Philippines for disrupting peace, stability in South China Sea Xinhua) 14:44, February 27, 2026 BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Friday criticized the Philippines for disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea, as it co-opted countries outside the region to organize so-called "joint patrols." Zhai Shichen, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said the navy of the theater command conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Feb. 23 to 26. The theater command forces will resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, Zhai said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Delivery giant FedEx said Thursday it will return any tariff refunds it receives to shippers and customers who originally paid the charges, following the US Supreme Court's ruling that certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are illegal. The move comes after FedEx filed suit in the US Court of International Trade seeking reimbursement for tariffs it paid under policies set by former President Donald Trump. More than 1,000 companies, including Costco and Revlon, have also pursued legal action to recoup costs from the now-invalid tariffs, AP News reported. "If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges," the company said. "When that will happen and the exact process for requesting and issuing refunds will depend in part on future guidance from the government and the court." FedEx emphasized that the Supreme Court decision did not address how refunds would be implemented, leaving the logistics of returning payments to businesses and individuals uncertain. Legal experts say the process of issuing refunds could be lengthy. FedEx vows to pass any tariff refunds it gets from the U.S. on to customers. https://t.co/BxP4ZLFovj CBS News (@CBSNews) February 27, 2026 FedEx Promises Transparency Since the ruling, the libertarian-leaning Liberty Justice Center, along with co-counsel Neal Katyal, has filed motions in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Court of International Trade to establish a system for processing refunds. The government is expected to respond soon. FedEx stressed its commitment to transparency and communication as the process unfolds. "We are committed to transparency and will communicate clearly as additional direction becomes available from the US government and the court," the statement said. According to CBS News, the company filed its lawsuit just days after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, seeking a "full refund" of all payments it made under the policies. FedEx also noted that it had taken "necessary action to protect the company's rights as an importer of record to seek duty refunds from US Customs and Border Protection following the US Supreme Court's ruling that the tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful." Legal analysts warn that establishing a system for refunds could take months, if not years, to fully implement. Originally published on vcpost.com Economists and oil market analysts have hiked their oil price forecasts for 2026 amid rising geopolitical tensions and heightened war premium due to the U.S.-Iran standoff. Both crude oil benchmarks are now expected to average above $60 per barrel this year, with price forecasts higher by about $1.50 per barrel compared to a month ago, the monthly Reuters poll showed on Friday. Despite ongoing concerns about an oversupplied market, the 34 analysts and economists surveyed by Reuters in February raised their projections in view of uncertainties in how the Iran crisis would unfold in the coming weeks and months. In the February poll, Brent Crude prices are expected to average $63.85 per barrel in 2026. This months estimate is higher compared to the January forecast of $62.02. The analysts in the poll expect the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, to average above $60 per barrel this year, tooat $60.38 a barrel, up from $58.72 expected in January. Year to date, Brent price have averaged $70.48 per barrel and WTI $65.01 a barrel. Early on Friday, both benchmarks were trading 3% higher, with Brent near $73 and WTI at $67, after the United States and Iran adjourned the Thursday talks with plans for another round of negotiations next week. Omans Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the indirect talks in Geneva, said the parties had made significant progress in the nuclear talks. Next week, negotiations are set to be held in Vienna, Austria. It is the ongoing U.S.-Iran standoff that has been the main driver of oil analysts in the Reuters poll to raise their oil price forecasts for this year. Currently, the geopolitical risk premium already baked in the price of oil is about $4-$10 per barrel, analysts say. The war premium, the OPEC+ supply policy, and the fundamentals in supply-demand balances will steer the direction of oil prices this year, they note. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russias oil exports were essentially flat in 2025 compared to a year earlier, with most supplies a massive 80% -- going to China and India, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday. Last year, Russian oil exports were about 238 million tons, or around 4.8 million barrels per day (bpd), basically flat compared to the 240 million tons Russia exported in 2024, according to Russias top oil official representing Moscow at the OPEC+ meetings. Today, Russia exports around 80% of its oil to India and China, Novak was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency TASS. At the same time, oil exports to Europe have slumped. Russia sent 25 million tons to Europe last year, compared to 175 million tons per year previously, Novak said. Russia has re-directed its oil exports to Asian markets, especially the biggest Asian oil importers, China and India, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent bans, embargoes, and price caps on Russian oil in the EU, the U.S., and the UK. The U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil from October 2025 and the U.S.-India trade talks have also reduced Indias intake of Russian oil in recent weeks. Indias pivot away from Russian crude oil has been a major hit to Russias already limited export markets. Now China remains the only safe market for Moscow to rely on. Deepening discounts on Russias flagship crude grades amid competition from Iran for Chinas independent refiners have constrained Moscows budget income from oil and gas. Despite the recent rise in international benchmark prices, Russias crude is selling at significantly lower levels, as discounts have widened in recent weeks. Russian crude is offered at discounts of more than $11 per barrel below Brent quotes for shipments to China, which has remained the main market for Russias oil following the massive withdrawal of Indian refiners. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Federal regulators have officially reopened a door California politicians have spent years trying to weld shut. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Thursday announced it will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for potential oil and gas lease sales in the Northern, Central, and Southern California program areas, launching the first formal step required under NEPA. Translation: Californias offshore leasing conversation is no longer theoretical. The notice covers roughly 11,876 lease blocks spanning about 65 million acres of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf. The proposal stems from the draft 11th National OCS Leasing Program, which contemplates one sale in Northern California, two in Central California, and three in Southern California. The BOEM says the purpose is to provide access to blocks that may contain economically recoverable oil and gas. Acting Director Matt Giacona framed the move in pocketbook terms, citing Californias energy affordability crunch and national energy security goals. For the industry, the immediate impact is procedural. This is scoping, not spudding. Even under an aggressive timeline, any lease sale would be years away from first oil. Californias offshore output today is a rounding error compared to the Gulf of Mexico. But strategically, it matters. California currently imports the majority of its crude oil from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, and Brazil. If even a part of this offshore acreage proves viable, it could marginally offset imports and stabilize in-state refinery supply. It is unlikely, however, to move global benchmarks. It would not flip the U.S. export balance. But it could reduce dependence on long-haul foreign barrels feeding West Coast refiners. The BOEM is also weighing alternatives, including a no-sale option and a narrower sale limited to areas near existing Southern California infrastructure. Opposition from Sacramento is fierce and litigation is a near certainty. Still, the signal to markets is that federal energy policy is tilting toward supply. Whether Californias coastline actually sees new rigs is another story entirely. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Abu Dhabis national oil company, ADNOC, has offered additional barrels of Murban crude to its international minority partners in the onshore concession where the grade is being produced, sources with knowledge of the plan told Bloomberg on Friday. Some of the partners have already sold part of the additional barrels, of yet unknown volumes, on the spot market, according to Bloombergs sources. BP, TotalEnergies, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Zhenhua Oil, Inpex of Japan, and South Koreas GS Energy are partners of the UAEs state energy firm in ADNOC Onshore. These equity holders are entitled to receive about 40% of the Murban output, which is around 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd). Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here With additional Murban barrels, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of OPECs top producers, will sell more of its crude on global markets in April, adding to already robust supply from other producers in the Gulf. In recent weeks, Iran has tripled the rate of loading tankers as Tehran rushes to get its oil out of the Gulf ahead of potential further escalation of the tensions with the United States. Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and the worlds biggest crude oil exporter, is also boosting shipments due to strong demand in Asias key import markets, China and India, and to send out shipments ahead of potential U.S.-Iran escalation. Near-term demand for Saudi Arabias oil in China is soaring after the Kingdom early this month slashed its official selling prices (OSPs) for Asia to the lowest level versus regional benchmarks in more than five years. In addition, the OPEC+ group is widely expected to discuss and approve a resumption of its monthly production hikes after a pause in the first quarter. OPEC+ is said to be ready to consider at the March 1 meeting the idea to raise crude oil output by 137,000 barrels per day for April 2026, ending the three-month pause, as producers prepare for peak summer demand and navigate market share strategies. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with Argentina in a legal case of $18 billion relating to the 2012 nationalization of Argentinian oil company YPF. In 2012, the Argentine government took control of the countrys largest oil and gas company, YPF S.A. The legal fight stems from Argentinas 2012 expropriation of YPF shares from Spains Repsol without extending a mandatory tender offer to YPFs then minority shareholdersPetersen Energia and Eton Park Capital. After the renationalization of YPF in 2012 and the bankruptcy of the Petersen companies, UK fund Burford Capital and U.S. fund Eton Park acquired the claims against YPF and Argentina from companies that were minority shareholders of the oil company, including Petersen. Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here Backed by Burford Capital, those shareholders sued in the U.S. and have been awarded damages totaling $16.1 billion, and growing to an estimated $18 billion with interest post-litigation. In a March 2023 ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Preska held the Argentine Republic liable for claims by the two minority shareholders, for failing to offer to purchase shares from the other shareholders at the time of the expropriation in 2012. She reasoned that YPFs bylaws did not obligate the company to enforce the tender offer, and that it was the acquiring shareholder, Argentina, that was liable for failing to do so. The plaintiffs, however, have not collected the award as the case has been dragging on in U.S. courts. The plaintiffs now claim that Argentina has failed to turn in as evidence texts and emails from officials to former YPF shareholders. The DOJ this week urged a U.S. federal judge not to hold Argentina in contempt for allegedly failing to turn over these materials. Allowing burdensome and intrusive discovery on foreign officials could lead to reciprocal adverse treatment of the United States and its officials in foreign courts, the DOJ said in a court filing, as carried by Bloomberg. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Venezuelas government has suspended 19 production-sharing agreements with private oil companies, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed sources. The deals are for projects in Lake Maracaibo, the Orinoco Belt, and several mature fields. The companies operating under these production-sharing agreements include Chinese, U.S., South American, and Venezuelan players, the sources also said. The agreements would now be reviewed by the Venezuelan and U.S. governments, with some of them possibly ending canceled, the sources also told the publication. The suspension has had no effect on Venezuelas total oil output, they added. A month ago, Venezuelas parliament passed legislative changes to the countrys oil law seeking to attract more foreign investment. Per the new law, private companies will assume full management of the activities at its own expense, account, and risk, after demonstrating its financial and technical capacity through a business plan that will be subject to approval by the Venezuelan oil ministry. The ownership of the resources to be developed by private companies, however, will remain with the Venezuelan state. At the same time, these foreign operators would have control over the production and sales of Venezuelan crude, effectively meaning an end to the monopoly of state-owned major PDVSA. Venezuela could generate as much as $5 billion from oil sales over a few months, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier this month. Sales today are over a billion dollars, and in fact, we have sort of short-term agreements over the next few months that will bring in another $5 billion, he said during a visit to Venezuela. Secretary Wright also said Venezuelas crude oil and natural gas output could increase dramatically as soon as this year. The country currently produces around 1 million barrels of crude daily. Some of that is produced under those production-sharing agreements that are now being frozen and reviewed. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com View from cafe window (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) On a winter Sunday, one of my Okinawan friends and I visited a cafe, Hamabe no Chaya, in Nanjo City to fortify ourselves with breakfast before sightseeing in the south of Okinawa. Founded in 1994, the seaside cafe was the first of its kind and is now beloved by locals and tourists alike. Its centerpiece is the breathtaking view of the ocean that is visible from the interior of the cafe. Sign for cafe (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) Terrace (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) Unfortunately, when we entered the eatery, every counter seat offering a front row view of the ocean was filled. We were instead seated at a table and from there we could see the blue waters ahead framed by the six windows like a painting. Some customers were laid-back enjoying the scenery and others were taking photos of their meals with the blue ocean backdrop. I ordered limited plate (Set A) from their breakfast menu. From the four main options, I selected the pizza toast, and for the soup option, I selected the yushidofu Okinawan tofu soup. The set also included a small salad and fruit. My meal was light and well-balanced. I wish I could have breakfast like this every day. Hamabe no chaya interior (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) View from cafe window (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) Hamabe no chaya interior (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) Limited plate (set A) (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) The Hamabe no Chaya staff was polite and attentive and there were several foreign customers enjoying the restaurant as well. Time flew slowly and I never tired of the ocean view; I felt like I wanted to stay there forever. There were no signs indicating a time limit for staying in the cafe, but after we finished, we paid our bill and left. Down a staircase next to the entrance, we reached the beach. It was low tide and it was about another 100 meters to reach the water. According to the cafe staff, the sea can rise to the middle of the staircase during the high tide in the spring. I didnt want my shoes to get dirty so I removed them and explored the tide pools barefoot. I am confident that children would be overjoyed by this because even we as adults had fun. Beach (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa) While we were heading to the next destination, I recalled and enjoyed the beautiful scenery from the cafe and the walk in the mud. If you travel to the southern part of the island, this cafe is a must place to stop and enjoy the food, views and, if the tide is right, the beach, too. Things to know: (Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa) Many drivers in Okinawa have probably noticed that, since January, traffic has significantly increased on the Okinawa Expressway between Ishikawa Interchange near Camp Courtney and Kin Interchange near Camp Hansen. Traffic congestion is apparent on the northbound lanes during the morning commute and southbound during the post-work commute. According to the West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO-West), however, this congestion is due to construction work in progress for an elevated bridge in that section. Its been 51 years since the road was constructed in 1975, and maintenance and repair are needed for the aging infrastructure. Construction is expected to end mid-April, NEXCO-West said. Drivers are urged to take precautions and plan ahead to keep other drivers and construction workers safe while traveling in the area. Samsung's Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus line up as two of the most compelling Android flagships in 2026, sharing core hardware yet differing in size, battery, and use case. Both bring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (or Exynos 2600 in select regions), Android 16 with One UI 8.5, and seven years of updatesensuring long-term relevance. The Samsung Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus debate centers on whether a larger screen, bigger battery, and faster charging justify the roughly $100 price gap. While cameras remain unchanged and component shortages impact pricing, improvements in AI features and display sizes make each model competitive. This comparison breaks down design, performance, battery life, cameras, software, and real-world usage to help you decide which fits your priorities. Samsung Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus Display The Samsung Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus display comparison highlights distinct screen sizes and resolutions. The S26 features a 6.3-inch AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution and adaptive 1120Hz refresh, while the S26 Plus boasts a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ screen with higher pixel density and equally smooth 1120Hz performance. Both deliver peak brightness up to 2600 nits, excellent color accuracy, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection for daily durability. Ergonomics differ markedly: the S26's compact frame favors one-handed use and thumb reach, while the Plus emphasizes media consumption, multitasking with edge panels, and split-screen productivity. Dolby Vision support enhances video experiences on both models. Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, 2D face unlock, mask-compatible recognition, and IP68 dust/water resistance are standard, ensuring secure access and everyday resilience. Galaxy S26 Specs Comparison: Performance and Battery The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus deliver flagship performance with powerful chipsets, ample RAM, and fast storage. While both phones run smoothly for multitasking and AI features, the Plus emphasizes extended battery life and faster charging. This section breaks down performance, memory, storage, and battery distinctions in practical terms. RAM & Storage: Both devices include 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, with options of 256GB or 512GB; the 128GB base model is eliminated. Both devices include 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, with options of 256GB or 512GB; the 128GB base model is eliminated. Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (US/Asia) or Exynos 2600 (other regions) provides high-performance CPU/GPU and optimized multitasking. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (US/Asia) or Exynos 2600 (other regions) provides high-performance CPU/GPU and optimized multitasking. AI & On-Device Processing: Supports AI acceleration for messaging, generative features, and on-device privacy-focused tasks. Supports AI acceleration for messaging, generative features, and on-device privacy-focused tasks. Battery: S26 has a 4,300mAh battery (1012 hours SOT), while S26 Plus features a 4,900mAh battery (1315 hours SOT). S26 has a 4,300mAh battery (1012 hours SOT), while S26 Plus features a 4,900mAh battery (1315 hours SOT). Charging: Wired charging up to 25W (S26) and 45W (S26 Plus), with both supporting 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. Wired charging up to 25W (S26) and 45W (S26 Plus), with both supporting 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. Battery Management: Adaptive battery learning reduces standby drain, and thermal engineering maintains smooth performance during extended gaming sessions. Samsung Flagship Comparison Camera Software The camera systems on the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus remain largely consistent with previous generations but gain notable software improvements. AI-driven tools enhance editing, creative workflows, and video capture without relying on major hardware upgrades. This section highlights the sensors, software features, and video capabilities that make both devices competitive in 2026. Rear Cameras: 50MP main sensor with OIS and pixel binning, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto lens. 50MP main sensor with OIS and pixel binning, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto lens. Front Camera: 12MP selfie camera handles portrait and night shots with stable skin tones and reliable HDR. 12MP selfie camera handles portrait and night shots with stable skin tones and reliable HDR. AI & Editing Tools: Photo Assist allows text-prompt editing and step-by-step refinement, while Creative Studio enables generative image creation and sticker production. Photo Assist allows text-prompt editing and step-by-step refinement, while Creative Studio enables generative image creation and sticker production. Video Features: 8K 30fps capture, multi-lens Director's View, and gyro-EIS stabilization. 8K 30fps capture, multi-lens Director's View, and gyro-EIS stabilization. Software Enhancements: Object removal, sticker creation, and real-world editing workflows enhance creative control for everyday users. Object removal, sticker creation, and real-world editing workflows enhance creative control for everyday users. Hardware Status: Despite modest hardware upgrades, software improvements compensate, providing robust performance for photography and video. Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus: Software and AI Enhancements Samsung's software differentiators shine in the Samsung Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus software context. Android 16 with One UI 8.5 brings UI refinements, improved Always On Display options, and Good Lock modules for deep customization. One UI's Immersive View and spatial audio extend media experiences, while contextual widgets, Now Brief adaptive suggestions, and integrated AI nudges improve day-to-day interactions. Privacy enhancements include Knox Matrix and hardware-backed secure storage. Samsung's AI toolkit expands assistant abilities, from Audio Eraser in thirdparty apps to Natural Language processing in Bixby and Perplexity-enhanced search. Features like Circle to Search, scam detection, and integration with thirdparty apps hint at a more connected, anticipatory software experiencethough some features may appear on older models too. Samsung Galaxy S26 vs S26 Plus Pricing & Value Pricing is a key factor when deciding between the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus. Each model offers incremental improvements over the previous generation, with differences in size, battery, and charging speed shaping their value proposition. Starting Prices: S26 starts at $899 for the 256GB base model; S26 Plus begins around $999 for 256GB. S26 starts at $899 for the 256GB base model; S26 Plus begins around $999 for 256GB. Price Increase Factors: Component scarcity, the ongoing "RAM crisis," and chipset pricing pressures contribute to the $100 increase over the S25 series. Component scarcity, the ongoing "RAM crisis," and chipset pricing pressures contribute to the $100 increase over the S25 series. Value Proposition S26: Appeals to users seeking one-handed comfort, lighter weight, and strong everyday performance. Appeals to users seeking one-handed comfort, lighter weight, and strong everyday performance. Value Proposition S26 Plus: Suits those prioritizing larger display, longer battery life, and faster wired charging. Suits those prioritizing larger display, longer battery life, and faster wired charging. Design & Hardware: Both models maintain familiar designs and camera hardware from previous generations. Both models maintain familiar designs and camera hardware from previous generations. Software & Enhancements: Incremental improvements, AI features, and software enhancements keep both devices competitive in 2026. Which Should You Choose in 2026? Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus comes down to personal preferences and use cases. If you value pocket-friendly design, balanced performance, and dependable battery for everyday tasks, the S26 is compelling. If you prefer media consumption, productivity workflows, and extended screen time without compromise, the S26 Plus justifies its premium. Both retain strong Android foundations, long update support, and flagship-level hardware. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is the Galaxy S26 Plus worth the extra $100? The Galaxy S26 Plus offers a larger QHD+ display, bigger battery, and faster wired charging, which justify the premium for many users. Media consumption and multitasking feel more expansive on the Plus' 6.7-inch screen. However, if one-handed comfort and pocketability matter more, the base S26 is a better fit. Your personal priorities determine the best value for you. 2. How do the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus cameras compare? Both phones share the same triple camera setup: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto, plus a 12MP selfie camera. Image quality is similar, with AI processing and computational photography enhancing results. Video features like 8K capture and Director's View are consistent across both models. Neither model receives major hardware upgrades but software improvements aid creativity. 3. Do they support long-term Android updates? Yes, Samsung promises up to seven years of OS and security updates for the S26 lineup. This places them among the longest-supported Android devices in 2026. Frequent patching improves security and feature updates over time. With One UI refinements and Android evolution, both phones gain value longevity. 4. Is the performance difference between Snapdragon and Exynos noticeable? Performance may vary by region depending on whether your S26/S26 Plus uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600. Historically, Qualcomm chips have delivered stronger benchmarks, but Samsung's newer Exynos aims to close the gap. Real-world usage tends to be smooth on both variants. Final verdicts await region-specific performance tests and comparisons. Originally published on Tech Times By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com By ramming the gas tax election into the May Primary, it shortens the time for voters to issue voter pamphlet arguments on the ballot measure. This is especially true for citizens who wish to get their voter pamphlet arguments submitted through the free process by gathering 500 signatures for their voter argument. This is the sad impact of SB 1599, which is to swap the gas tax referendum for the popular General Election and stick it in the May Primary with low voter turnout. In an act of fairness, the Secretary of State, Tobias Read, set February 25th as the deadline for the State Legislature to put a ballot measure for the May Primary election. This, according to Read, gives the Election Office and voters more time to file voter arguments. The Legislature had the chance to pass the bill before the February 25th deadline but did not do so. This means the politicians are intentionally delaying the clock for voters just like Governor Kotek delayed the clock and limited the time citizens had to collect signatures for the referendum. Now there is pressure on the Secretary of State to surrender his stated principles and timeline to protect voters. People should call the Secretary of State and encourage him to stand behind his voter protections and not let the lawmakers steal away time for voters to submit voter pamphlet statements. Lets review how we got here: Last year, Kotek and the Democrat majority leadership blocked voters by rushing out a gas tax during the final days of session (it failed). Kotek called an emergency Special Session and blocked voters by rushing the tax through Labor Day weekend. Kotek delayed signing her own bill in order to cut in half the time referendum petitioners had to gather signatures. Kotek signed the bill on a Friday night after business hours to further conceal her efforts and block voters. Having failed to stop voters (the referendum gathered 250,000+ signatures), the lawmakers are moving the election date from November to May. By moving it to May not only lowers voter turnout but it handicaps voters ability to submit voter arguments on their own ballot measure they brought to the ballot. By delaying the move to May (happening right now), they further reduce time for voters to submit voter pamphlet arguments. Was this article helpful? If yes, please contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). Sarlahi,Nepal:The pursuit of a stable government career is a dream shared by thousands of young Nepalis, but in Sarlahi, this ambition recently took a dark and unthinkable turn. The murder of 36-year-old Sub-Engineer Pramod Kumar Yadav has sent shockwaves through the nation, revealing a chilling motive: professional envy within the competitive civil service. A Life Stolen in a Moment of Mourning Pramod Kumar Yadav, a permanent resident of Sukhipur, Siraha, was a man dedicated to both his family and his profession. On the evening of February 15 (Falgun 3), he had just returned to his rented quarters in Malangwa-10 after performing the final rites for his late father. While still in mourning, Yadav received a phone call from an unidentified individual asking him to step outside. Within moments of exiting his compound, the silence of the evening was shattered by gunfire. Yadav was shot in the chest at close range and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Provincial Hospital in Malangwa. He leaves behind his wife and a two-year-old daughter. The Chilling Motive: Competition Turned Deadly Following a week-long intensive investigation involving CCTV analysis and mobile tracking, the District Police Office, Sarlahi, arrested the alleged mastermind, Ganesh Mahato, along with his accomplice, Bijay Mahato. The investigation uncovered a motive that has stunned the community: The "Alternative" Trap: Both Yadav and Mahato were competitors in the Public Service Commission (Lok Sewa Aayog) examinations. Both Yadav and Mahato were competitors in the Public Service Commission (Lok Sewa Aayog) examinations. The Criminal Logic: While Yadav had secured his position, Mahato was listed as an "alternative" candidate. Driven by a cold, calculated belief that "removing" Yadav would vacate a slot and clear his own path to a permanent appointment, Mahato allegedly orchestrated the assassination. "We Compete to Build Lives, Not to Destroy Them" The tragedy has ignited widespread protests across Madhesh Province. Technical employees and various trade unions have launched "pen-down" strikes, halting government services to demand justice and better workplace security for civil servants. "Pramod earned his place through merit and hard work," said a colleague during a candlelit vigil in Kathmandu. "To think that an educated peer would resort to such a heinous act over a job position is a collective cry for a lost sense of humanity." A Somber Reminder As Ganesh Mahato and his accomplices remain in judicial custody facing charges of premeditated murder, the seat Pramod once held remains vacant. However, the void he leaves in the hearts of his family and the engineering community cannot be filled by any "alternative" candidate. This incident stands as a grim reminder of the toxic heights that competitive pressure can reach, serving as a call for a more ethical and healthy environment within the nations public service sectors. Military targets two Holbox buildings during drug and extortion search operation Holbox, Q.R. At least two buildings were the target of a military operation on the island of Holbox Thursday morning. Elements of the Mexican Army, Navy and State Police participated in the search for a criminal cell. The operation was headed by the State Attorney General (FGE) that resulted in at least two buildings being searched. Authorities were on the island in response to complaints of drug dealing and extortion. Scores of uniformed personnel were at the ferry crossing at daybreak Thursday. The deployment focused the execution of search warrants at various properties identified as logistics operation centers. Several island streets were closed to the public while authorities searched buildings reported as drug points of sale, known locally as narcotiendas or drug stores. At least two properties were the main focus of the FGE investigation. Both searched buildings were located within a few blocks of island schools. According to available information, police made the searches in response to resident complaints of the buildings being used to sell drugs, hide criminals and establish cells in the area. Army, Navy and State Police arrived at the Holbox ferry crossing Thursday to conduct an island operation. February 26, 2026. There have also been complaints by island businesses and street vendors of extortion and aggressive threats from these groups. There were no public notices of arrests made during the Thursday Holbox operation. Playa del Carmen police take 6 into custody for fires during nation-wide CJNG riot Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Six males have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in CJNG riot fires. All six are being investigated for their part in the fires that were set around Playa del Carmen Sunday. The State Attorney General (FGE) reported Thursday that police from the Interinstitutional Group arrested six male individuals for drug dealing. However, they are also allegedly involved in the burning of seven vehicles, registered on February 22 of this year, in Playa del Carmen. The detainees are identified as Miguel Angel N, alias El Negro, Jorge Luis N, alias Wacho, Walter Andres N, Rodrigo Yahir N, alias Manitas, Ricardo N, alias Gato and Camilo N, alias Chino. The suspects were found in possession of two 0.9 mm caliber firearms as well as two motorcycles and different quantities of suspected narcotics, police said. Several cars were set on fire around Playa del Carmen Sunday during the nation-wide cartel riot. The FGE reported that the number of detainees in Playa del Carmen for the Sunday cartel violence has risen to seven. Kim Gyu-ri, a South Korean actress, has publicly denied online rumors that a restaurant run by Lee Ha-neul and Jung Jae-yong will be closed for two months. She says she will give evidence to the authorities against people who make false comments. There was a lot of talk online about the business being told to stop operating for two months because of supposed violations of the Food Sanitation Act. The claims spread quickly on YouTube channels, online communities, and sites that host short videos. Naver says that Kim talked about the issue directly on her social media account on February 24. She wrote in a post that she shared with her followers, "I was so shocked by the article that I asked around. I was so shocked by the article that I contacted Lee Ha-neul myself." She went on in the same post,"Conclusion: They say business is going smoothly. There's no problem, but they're trying to create one." READ MORE: 'Original' Kim Gyu Ri Makes Comeback Kim also mentioned that they are considering legal action due to the dissemination of false information. She said, "(Lee Ha-neul and Jung Jae-yong's side) said they're going to sue the comment manipulation group that's going beyond obstructing business to personally attacking me, so I plan to hand over the information to those who visit my channel and leave malicious comments." "I support all self-employed business owners." she said. The problem started when Kim recently posted a video on her YouTube channel of a small fan meeting that took place at the restaurant. Some people who saw the video said they filed complaints with the district office, saying that the event may have broken food safety rules because people were dancing to music. Isplus said that the restaurant put out an official statement saying that the claims of a suspension were false. The restaurant said in its statement, "Recently, false information that we have been suspended from business for two months has been indiscriminately spread through some YouTube channels, online communities, and short-form platforms. We want to be clear: We have never received a single administrative action such as a suspension of business, and we are currently operating normally. The information circulating online about a 'suspension of business for two months' is completely false and clearly false." The restaurant was specific in their explanation of the seriousness of the allegations. It said, "The spread of groundless fake news and distorted information is a very serious matter that directly threatens the livelihoods of not only our customers who trust and visit our restaurant, but also our employees and partners who work diligently at the restaurant. We have determined that this matter cannot be taken lightly, and we have appointed a legal representative and have begun legal action against the spread of false information and defamation." The statement ended with, "We will use all means permitted by law to hold those responsible for the spread of unconfirmed false information and malicious slander accountable." READ MORE: 'Single's Inferno 3' Host Dex SLAMS Kim Gyu Ri, Ignites Uproar Among K-Netz 'Was he TOO HARSH? Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore should not be afraid to say 'no'. (PHOTO: Getty Images) (catchlights_sg via Getty Images) Singapore must preserve its ability to say no even if it comes at a cost in order to protect its independence and long-term interests, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on 27 Feb. Speaking during the debate on the Foreign Affairs Ministrys budget, he said Singapore will face more difficult choices in an increasingly unstable world. On some issues, the Republics interests may not align with those of major powers, middle powers or even its immediate neighbours. As external and domestic pressure to take sides grows, Singapore must stand firm when necessary, he said. Sometimes we will pay a price for staking out our position, he said. But...if we ever lose that ability to say no, then that is the day that Singapore loses its relevance, indeed our independence. Dr Balakrishnan stressed that Singapores approach is not about choosing sides, but about upholding principles and safeguarding its long-term national interests. He told Parliament that a new global equilibrium is unlikely to emerge in 2026, and warned that the world has become more dangerous for small states. The international order that once supported Singapores success has fractured, he said, describing the shift as not just a small tremor, (but a) geostrategic tectonic plate rupture. Even so, Singapore retains the agency, resilience and resources to chart its own path, he added. The Government will continue to articulate positions aligned with national interests, even if they are not always well received. Dr Balakrishnan acknowledged that Singaporeans may hold differing views on foreign policy matters. But we must agree that these are matters to be discussed and decided by Singaporeans alone, he said. For more on Vivian Balakrishnans remarks on Singapore saying no, read here. Beijing Daily: Its reported that the border clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday night inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. In the early hours of Friday, Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghanistans capital Kabul and other places. Tensions escalated rapidly between the two countries. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China is closely following the developments. Pakistan and Afghanistan are and will always be each others neighbors. Theyre both Chinas neighbors as well. As their neighbor and friend, China is deeply concerned over the escalation of the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict and is saddened by the casualties. The intensity of ongoing clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan has gone beyond previous levels. Any protraction or escalation will inflict harm and losses on both sides. China supports combating all forms of terrorism and calls on the two sides to remain calm, exercise restraint, properly resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation, end the fighting as soon as possible, and avoid more sufferings. Its in the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples and will help keep the region peaceful and stable. China has been mediating between the two sides via its own channels, and stands ready to continue playing a constructive role for deescalation and the improvement of relations between the two countries. Our Ministry and embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaging relevant sides in the two countries. China asks Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in the two countries. Reuters: Panama President Jose Mulino has said he does not anticipate China taking any countermeasures after CK Hutchisons exit from two Panamanian ports, adding that Panama would respond if China did take any measures. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this? Mao Ning: Chinas position on issues related to relevant Panamanian ports is clear. China will firmly defend the companys legitimate and lawful rights and interests. CCTV: Following three recent rounds of talks on the Ukraine crisis, Russia, the U.S. and Ukraine will hold a new round of talks in early March. On the afternoon of February 25, President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who was on an official visit to China. The two sides exchanged views on the crisis. Could you share more details? Mao Ning: In a meeting on February 25, President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi expounded on Chinas principled position, and pointed out that the key to finding a solution lies in consistent dialogue and negotiation. It is important to ensure the equal participation of all sides and strike a solid foundation for peace; accommodate the legitimate concerns of all sides and enhance the will for peace; and realize common security and build a lasting architecture of peace. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has stayed committed to promoting peace talks and a political settlement of the crisis. Though parties remain divided, they engaged in talks that are beginning to focus on substantive issues concerning the crisis. China welcomes this. Peace talks wont end the crisis overnight, but as long as dialogue is still on, there is hope for peace. We hope the three aspects of effort that should be ensured proposed by President Xi Jinping will offer useful inspirations to talks among relevant parties. China will continue to play a constructive role for peace in its own way, support all efforts for peace, and support all parties in continuing dialogue and negotiation, building consensus, reaching a fair, durable and binding peace agreement, and bringing about lasting peace and stability in Europe. RIA Novosti: I want to follow up on Pakistan and Afghanistan. I want to ask if China is considering the evacuation of its citizens and companies from those two countries or suspending flights? Mao Ning: We are closely following the developments and will provide necessary assistance to Chinese nationals in need. Hubei Media Group: According to recent data, China has become the worlds first country with over 5 million valid domestic invention patents. Its invention patent applications have ranked first globally for many consecutive years. China also holds about three-fifths of the worlds AI patents and two-thirds of robot-related patents. Some observers view these figures as evidence of Chinas commitment to intellectual property protection and the vitality of its scientific and technological innovation. What is your comment? Mao Ning: Speaking of scientific and technological innovation, during the Spring Festival, I was most impressed by the robots performance at the Spring Festival Gala and videos generated by Seedance 2.0 for new year greetings. Innovation is transforming our everyday life, making it easier and creating joyful surprises. Scientific and technological innovation provides a strong driving force for Chinas high-quality development and is an important pillar of Chinese modernization. The recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan vowed to raise Chinas innovation capacity across the board and set substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength as one of the major objectives for economic and social development. China believes that scientific and technological innovation must always be for the people, for good and for all and it should be about narrowing the technology gap. China will stay committed to openness and promoting international exchange and cooperation. We hope that more countries and people will benefit from the opportunities created by Chinas innovation. Bloomberg: The Pentagon plans to spend an additional US$ 12.6 billion to improve surveillance of Chinese military maneuvers, submarines and satellites, because they want to counter what it calls an unprecedented Chinese military buildup in Asia. This is from a U.S. budget document sent to Congress. Can you comment on that? Mao Ning: The U.S. uses the so-called China threat as a pretext to strengthen military deployment in the Asia Pacific. This is not conducive to regional peace and stability and is not in the interest of regional countries. RIA Novosti: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that any agreement on limiting nuclear weapons must involve the United States, Russia and China, adding that Washington will continue to press on Beijing because such an agreement would be good for the world. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China made clear its position on multiple occasions. Sitting on an enormous nuclear arsenal, the U.S. should fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament. This is the international consensus. Chinas nuclear strength is by no means at the same level with that of the U.S. and Russia. It is neither fair, reasonable nor realistic to ask China to join the nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage. On the afternoon of February 13, 2026, as the Spring Festival approaches, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council hosted a symposium at the Great Hall of the People and exchanged ideas with foreign experts who won the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award and other representatives of foreign experts working in China. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the symposium. Li Qiang extended best wishes and sincere greetings for the Spring Festival to the foreign experts, and thanked them for their long-term care and support for China's modernization efforts. He also listened to their opinions and suggestions on China's development and government work. Experts from countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Uganda, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Germany delivered speeches on topics such as scientific and technological innovation, agricultural development, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, talent cultivation, and investment cooperation. Li Qiang pointed out that the world today has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and the international order is severely impacted. However, science knows no borders, and art knows no borders. Upholding openness and cooperation is not only the common aspiration of the people but also the right way forward. China consistently pursues the basic state policy of opening up and continuously expands international cooperation across various fields. Li Qiang expressed the hope that foreign experts will remain committed to acting as bridges and bonds connecting China and the world, and playing a greater role in enhancing understanding and mutual trust, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning, and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. Last year, China's economy forged ahead with innovation-led and high-quality development despite mounting pressure, and its growth rate continued to rank among the highest of the world's major economies. At the same time, as an open and inclusive global market, a vibrant hub of innovation, and an active contributor to green development, China continues to contribute its capabilities to meet global needs. Foreign experts have rooted themselves in China to build their careers. Their innovative achievements and professional accomplishments generate significant spillover effects, benefiting both China and the world at large. The Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee have drawn a grand blueprint for China's development over the next five years. Li Qiang expressed the hope that foreign experts will seize the opportunities, continue to deepen their engagement in China, and jointly create a better future, while making greater contributions to the progress of human civilization. Li Qiang emphasized that foreign experts working in China are sincere friends of the Chinese people. The Chinese government will strive to create a better environment for their work and life, continue to safeguard peace and tranquility, enhance policy support for various innovation initiatives, and optimize services related to visas, social security, medical care, and children's education. These efforts aim to ensure that talent from various countries can feel more secure at work, more comfortable in daily life, and more satisfied with their development in China, enabling them to reap the fruitful results of career development while experiencing the warmth of home. Wu Zhenglong and Shen Yiqin attended the symposium. On the afternoon of February 25, 2026, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, together with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attended the symposium of the China-Germany Economic Advisory Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The gathering drew the attendance of over 60 representatives from Chinese and German enterprises. Li Qiang remarked that in the past period of time, the instability and uncertainty plaguing the global economy have been on an overall ascent. As two of the worlds major economies, China and Germany, through sustained and close collaboration, have not only expanded the horizons for their respective development but also injected robust momentum into the global economic landscape. Currently, the global economic arena remains fraught with substantial challenges, the ascendancy and even prevalence of unilateralism and protectionism in certain nations and regions have inflicted severe damage upon the international economic and trade order. It is precisely in such severe circumstances that China and Germany must fortify their cooperation. Cooperation stands as the optimal solution for mitigating risks, while development remains the imperative choice for safeguarding security. Li Qiang emphasized that at present, both the Chinese and German economies are exhibiting a robust upward trajectory and momentum. With the advent of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, bilateral economic and trade cooperation is poised to unlock even grander vistas. The fundamental paradigm wherein the Chinese and German economies and industries complement each others strengths remains unaltered, with cooperation vastly eclipsing competition. The two nations can adeptly harness this synergy by nurturing a constructive interplay of competition and cooperation, thereby propelling joint development to new heights. To achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes at an elevated level, both sides should concentrate their efforts on three pivotal domains. Firstly, the bedrock of traditional collaboration must be fortified. Enterprises from both nations should delve deeper into cooperative endeavors in sectors such as machinery, equipment, and chemicals, expediting business localization to bolster resilience and streamline efficiency. Secondly, new opportunities for future development should be seized. Support should be rendered to enterprises and research institutions from both countries to facilitate the bidirectional flow of innovation resources, engage in profound and collaborative technological exploration, jointly construct platforms and share the fruits of innovation in a mutually beneficial approach. Furthermore, both sides could embark on a joint venture to explore and tap into the vast potential of third-party markets. Thirdly, a conducive environment for investment and business endeavors should be cultivated. China remains resolute in its commitment to broadening high-caliber opening-up and proactively addressing the reasonable appeals of foreign-invested enterprises, including those from Germany. It is hoped that the German government will furnish an open, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment, enabling enterprises from both nations to engage in cooperation and competition guided by market principles. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Chinese and German entrepreneurs will assume a pivotal role, not only in propelling economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, but also in augmenting mutual communication and comprehension, thereby contributing to the stability of bilateral relations. Merz remarked that Germany and China stand as pivotal economic and trade collaborators. He noted that the bilateral economic and trade relations, replete with vitality, have consistently maintained a trajectory of high-level development over the years, thus serving as a potent catalyst for economic growth in both countries. Germany is dedicated to fostering reciprocal learning with China, intensifying mutually beneficial cooperation across diverse domains, including automotive, chemicals, machinery and equipment, renewable energy, and the digital economy. These collaborative endeavors are intended to catalyze shared prosperity and bolster the long-term, stable progression of Germany-China relations. The German side, affirming support for German enterprises to deepen their investment and expand their foothold in the Chinese market, expressed its willingness to continuously refine the business environment. The German side also extended a welcoming embrace to more Chinese enterprises to invest and establish operations in Germany, thereby generating employment opportunities and fortifying interconnectedness. Wu Zhenglong participated in the aforementioned activities. On January 4, 2026, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Mamady Doumbouya on his election as President of the Republic of Guinea. Xi Jinping noted that Guinea is the first sub-Saharan African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The two sides have long upheld mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, supported each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns, and carried out fruitful cooperation for common development. Xi Jinping said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Guinea relations and is ready to work with President Mamady Doumbouya to strive for greater development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and make greater contributions to improving the well-being of both peoples and promoting solidarity in the Global South. Each month, How to Do It columnists Jessica Stoya and Rich Juzwiak ask readers for their thoughts on the letters theyve received. In this edition, Jessica replies to readers comments and suggestions below. Hey How to Do It, Re The IUD Poke: The IUD poke is definitely real. My wife has had one for years, and I get poked from time to time. Also, she used to have a NuvaRing, and I could definitely feel that, but it wasnt painful and, in fact, was kind of pleasurable. It would occasionally get wrapped around me and come out, but it was no big dealwed just pop it back in. You can even make a game of it when it happens, if youre into that The IUD Poke Is Real Thank you for adding your experience of this prick-poking problem, especially the details about what the NuvaRing felt like. I do wish youd included a description of how inserting or repositioning the Nuva can turn into a game, but Im having plenty of fun imagining it regardless. Get sex advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit Hey How to Do It, Re Delulu in Honolulu: The writer might want to read up on the phenomenon of maladaptive daydreaming, on which theres starting to be a pretty strong literature as well as a lot of online forums for support, both informal and formal. Ive long struggled with similar issuesthough my daydreams can take both sexual and non-sexual formsand I generally find it manageable in daily life. Mostly. But every now and then, I plunge into a really distracting, immersive episode like the one the letter writer describes, where Im avoiding interactions and obligations in my real life to escape to my dream world instead. I find its often triggered by underlying loneliness, depression (I had one such episode during the first pandemic summer, for example), anxiety, or something like that, which indeed would be worth exploring with a therapist, though Ive never tried it myself. Could Help! Checking out while operating a piece of large machinery, like Delulu in Honolulu describes in regard to driving their car, has a chance of causing physical harm to the writer or innocent bystanders, which is significant enough to bear consideration with more weight than when it affects, say, being present in a conversation or following through on doing the dishes. Thanks for mentioning the language they can use to search for more information on this issueheres hoping it enables Honodelulu to connect more efficiently to resources that can help them get control of their thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey How to Do It, Re Trying to Be a Size Queen for Him: For the writer who is trying to be a size queen for Zack, if the issue is girth, using a dildo smaller than her partners member before insertion can help to get warmed up. Considering it takes 30 minutes to get there, using one or two props after an orgasm seems logical and could take 10 to 15 minutes instead. It can be very enjoyable to have a partner use a toy on you, which is a bit of a tease for the real thing. If the cervix is being bumped and the OhNut isnt working for him, sex pillows and using different angles can make a difference. Tricks for a Size Queen Yep, toys are another method people often use to loosen an orifice up. Hey How to Do It, Re Slip N Slide: At 71, I have always found that the problem of the overly wet woman can best be solved by keeping a supply of cotton hankies in the bedside stand to use to blot up some wetness. Every partner I have explained this to was happy with the solution. Just order a new dozen white ones as needed. Tissues will disintegrate if used. Always Carry a Clean Hankie Cotton hankies are, indeed, a specific type of appropriate object to wipe excess fluids on. Tissues are, too, though, at least in my experience. So I worry that yours might be disintegrating because youre using a scrubbing motionvulvas are too delicate to withstand scrubbing from any kind of fabric or paper goods. Advertisement Hey How to Do It, Re Going Down and Getting the Sickness: The man who has been having nasal issues when giving oral sex to his wife may have a runny nose (and sinus secretions?) as part of his arousal. My wife has gotten a runny nose at a certain level of arousal for many years. I thought I had a great case report for the medical literature, but I found it had been previously reported. Fascinating The research paper and VeryWell Health article I linked to both lay out a myriad of possibilities for what the writer is experiencing, and the latter mentions honeymoon rhinitis, which sounds close to what you describe. Bodies are so wild that Im sure even the two resources combined are not exhaustive. Advertisement As for that link between runny noses and arousal, the writer says he has sex about two to three times a month, but is offered (and takes) the opportunity to give his wife oral sex about once a month, and the sinus symptoms sound like theyre tied to giving oral but not to sex without giving oral. Id be curious to know whether our writer is more aroused when giving oral than having other types of sex. Also, whether theres a lot of nose-mashing involved with the way he gives and his wife receives. Both could be factors at play. Jessica More Advice From Slate Im a 33-year-old man. I realized/admitted to myself that I was bi after I first started dating my now-wife (also 33) seven years ago. We took a break early in our relationship for about a year because of unrelated life events, but because of the circumstances, I wasnt really able to explore my newly realized sexuality. I only hooked up with one guy during that period and it wasnt super great, honestly. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For all Americans worried over the future of the free press, quality TV programming, and great cinema, Thursdays announcement landed as an earthquake: Netflix was giving up. Paramount Skydance finally outbid the streamer this week by offering Warner Bros. Discovery $31 a share, at a total of $111 billion, for everything in its corporate portfolioand it would not get a financial counter from Netflix in turn. WBDs directors still have to formally accept this outcome, but Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, and his superwealthy father, Larry, have won. After successfully persuading the Trump administration to grant Davids Skydance Media control over Paramounts movie and TV studios, they would now also have oversight of top WBD properties such as CNN and HBO. The news should chill anybody who remembers those reports of Larry meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss axing the liberal CNN hosts they dislike. (Reportedly, those newsroom staffers are already freaking out.) To be clear, its not as though there was any best-case scenario in a Warner Bros. sale. Filmmakers and critics fretted, reasonably, that a Netflix acquisition would kill off the moviegoing experience for good, in light of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos professed antipathy toward theater-exclusive releases. Meanwhile, CNN and the rest of WBDs struggling cable properties would have been dumped into a spinoff company that assumed the heaping debt from the merger. There inevitably would have been major programming cuts. But the cold comfort was that the Ellisons wouldnt get to transform CNN into something resembling their overhaul of CBS News, which has become a lowly rated exercise in Trump appeasement. But with this deal on the table, the Ellisons could gain singular control over an unfathomably vast slice of American information and culture: a Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery megaconglomerate, all added to Larrys corporate ownership of American users TikTok data. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that this isnt yet a foregone conclusion by any meansand that there are multiple uphill slogs ahead for PSWBD. Are you sure about that, or is that just cope? Im serious! For one thing, PSWBD is a far more blatant and obvious antitrust violation than anything Netflix could have planned. The latter only wanted to take the bits of WBD it liked (e.g., Warner Bros. film and TV, HBO, Turner Classic Movies, DC Studios) while leaving the rest to stew in a spinoff firm. Paramount Skydance, however, is going for all of it, meaning that every sector from movie/TV production to distribution to broadcasting to streaming will be tightly rolled up and optimizedlocking out even more hopeful creatives from fair opportunities to break into those industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats how the Trump administration explicitly prefers things, but the deal will still have to clear the courts here, as well as other regulators abroad. Democratic state attorneys plan to sue to block this merger as soon as possible, and theyre likely to find sympathetic judges, since federal courts have warmed to trustbusting in recent years. A judge could file an injunction blocking the merger while determining whether any of this passes constitutional muster. They could also pass a summary judgment against Paramount if state Dems make an urgent, persuasive caseeven though Paramount would inevitably appeal that decision. However those suits go, the court process would play out for years. Meanwhile, regulators in Europe will also get a say, and theyll be listening to the local theater owners worried about the ever-shrinking number of buyers and distributors for global cinema. The Europeans will likewise scrutinize the billions of dollars of foreign cash pouring into this thing. Wait, whos providing that money? At least $24 billion is covered by the sovereign funds of some famously autocratic, propagandistic Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Those arrangements carry a slight whiff of corruption, as these funds carry investments from Trump inner-circle members like Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and presidential policy adviser Marc Rowan (CEO of Apollo Global Management, which is backing a chunk of this deal). Regulators will pay close attention to those relationships, while looking to make sure these censorship-happy nations dont exercise any undue influence over all this media. Advertisement Related From Slate Maybe You Should Be Rooting for Donald Trump to Kill Netflixs Deal to Buy Warner Bros. Read More Paramount Skydance is barely worth $11 billion. How does it have all this money to spend? To pull off the deal, the Ellisons are stacking debts on top of debts. Not only are they absorbing WBDs $33 billion debt load; theyre adding tens of billions more in borrowed money. Apollo, backed by the Gulf states and some major banks, is providing $57.5 billion in debt financing; another $45.7 billion is coming from a trust in Larry Ellisons name, backed by his (for now) highly valued Oracle stock. Paramount Skydance isnt putting up too much of its own cash, but holy God is it adding a lot to the $14 billion in debt already squirming on its balance sheet. Keep in mind, too, that outside of the $111 billion to pay out Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders, Paramount is covering nearly $20 billion of the loans and fees WBD incurred throughout this whole process. Advertisement Advertisement We may live in an era where tech firms toss about tens of billions of dollars like thats nothing, but even so, there is so much money involved here. Paramounts annual profits have never reached such heights, and while itll pursue some aggressive cost-cutting (reportedly up to $6 billion), the numbers still dont add up. Advertisement Advertisement So what youre saying is theres a chance this all falls apart? Im not sure about total implosion, but theres a not-insignificant chance the Ellisons will soon find themselves way, way over their heads, having overpaid drastically for a portfolio thats not gonna be anywhere as lucrative for them. Still, that will depend on lawmakers, regulators, and conscientious customers opposing this with all theyve got, and soon. American unions and theater owners are already lobbying the feds. Californias attorney general has launched an investigation into how PSWBD would affect Hollywood as a whole and is likely to lead a suit, having declared that this is not a done deal. Other top Dems in Congress are planning investigations of their own, especially with regard to Trumps role in the deal and his longtime vendetta against CNN. Veteran TV journalist Rick Ellis called on viewers in Europe to call representatives with their concerns; theres a chance we could also see a Paramount+ boycott of the kind that ensued after Stephen Colberts CBS show was ruthlessly canceled. However it starts, the fight to stop the Ellisons from monopolizing and reshaping Americas prized media institutions has to start now. PETA has condemned the conditions of Japan's viral baby monkey Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo, warning that his story shows the "cruelty" of keeping wild animals in captivity even as the IKEA stuffed orangutan he clings to sells out worldwide. Animal rights group PETA said scenes that many online users found "cute" or "heartwarming" actually show a young animal coping with "isolation and loss." Jason Baker, PETA Asia president, argued that "zoos are not sanctuaries" but places where animals are confined and denied complex environments and social lives they would have in the wild. He said Punch, a Japanese macaque, should be growing up in a tight-knit family group in a natural habitat instead of "seeking solace from a toy in a concrete pit," according to Quartz. PETA called on Ichikawa City Zoo to move Punch to a reputable sanctuary where he could live in a more natural setting, with space, privacy, and a chance to form proper social bonds. The group said facilities that treat animals as attractions guarantee that "animals like Punch will continue to suffer in captivity." Punch became a global sensation after a video showed an adult macaque dragging the small monkey around the enclosure, prompting outrage and concern from viewers. The zoo later said the adult was likely the mother of another baby Punch tried to approach, and described the behavior as a normal form of discipline in macaque groups, not a violent attack, People reported. Staff added that Punch has been "scolded" by other monkeys many times as he learns to socialize, but they have seen no serious aggression towards him. In the same clip, Punch runs to his stuffed orangutan immediately after the incident, hugs it, and then returns to interact with other macaques, which the zoo said matches his usual behavior. The zoo reported that he ate normally during feeding times that day and behaved as he does on other days. Punch's deep bond with his plush orangutan has helped turn the IKEA Djungelskog orangutan toy into a sellout hit. The toy, which sold for around 14.99 Canadian dollars, is now out of stock at IKEA stores in multiple countries, including Canada and Japan, with resellers listing it on sites like eBay for as much as 300 dollars. IKEA Japan representatives have visited the zoo and donated extra orangutan plushies so Punch will always have a "cuddly friend," while fans continue to buy up remaining stock and share his story online, as per the New York Post. Originally published on Science Times Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The official story of Charlie Kirks death is that the leader of the conservative group Turning Point USA was fatally shot in September during a campus event by Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Kirk out of loathing for his anti-trans views. This story is backed by text messages from Robinsons phone, a police investigation, and the fact that it happened on camera in front of thousands of people. Then theres the story of what happened that comes from Candace Owens, a highly influential voice on the far right whose podcast consistently pulls several million listeners. Owens story of Kirks death involves possible betrayal by Kirks own wife, Erika. It also involves a shadowy cabal of billionaires and government agencies and possibly even future-bending technology from ancient Sumeria. And, inevitably, nefarious involvement from Israel and the Jews. Owens story is backed by innuendo, exaggerations, outright falsehoods, and, in several instances, messages delivered through Owens own dreams. That story is front and center this week, after Owens released the first two episodes of her new series Bride of Charlie. The episodes suggest that Erika Kirk is not the sympathetic grieving widow she appears to beand that something sinister is going on with the new leader of Turning Point USA. The series two-minute trailer, released Monday, landed to outrage from much of the rest of the conservative pundit class, which balked at the idea of inflicting such pain on a grieving widow. Elsewhere on X, where so many of Owens supporters tend to operate, the documentary was hailed as a powerful strike against Zionist-controlled elements of the Republican Party and its affiliates. For the rest of America not versed in the internecine fights of the online right, this situation may seem bafflingor even trivial, given the ludicrous nature of Owens claims. But Candace Owens declaration of war against the rest of the mainstream right actually matters for all of us. Because ultimately, the OwensTPUSA rift is the story of an identity crisis that has brought the right to its current inflection point. It may very well have ramifications of that for the countrys future: for its relationship with Israel, for the future of the conservative movement, and for whether the modern GOP opts to work within the existing system or tries to blow it all up. To get to the biggest question: What is Owens claiming here? Well, only the first couple episodes of this series have come out, and she hinted in the show that she could do one to five more episodes. (To be clear, this investigation is not a slick documentary, as the trailer teased, but just special branding of her regular show, consisting of Owens talking to the camera.) In the first episode, she mostly discussed reasons she thinks Erika is a suspicious character: biographical details that, to Owens, dont seem to line up, such as Erikas claims about her fathers involvement in her life and her birth date on official documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That being said, the trailer teased the claims shes likely to make, rehashing arguments she has made in recent months. In episodes that followed Charlies assassination, Owens has implied that Erika Kirk conspired with other Turning Point USA leaders and even foreign governments to have Charlie killed. She suggested that this had to do with Erikas own personal ambitions, as well as larger geopolitical schemes to do with Charlies ideology. She also suggested that Erikas work with a charity in Romania was actually a cover for child sex trafficking. And she speculated that Erika groomed and sexually harassed a 15-year-old girl. Foreign governments? Betrayals? Grooming? What exactly is Owens getting at? Theres no tidy, unified theory here. Owens is maximalist in her approach, tossing out anything that to her seems funky or confusing or too coincidental, even when they lead to theories that contradict one another. It seems she thinks that she can retain her credibility by never stating things definitively but instead simply looking for answers. Advertisement She likely wont come out and state, point blank, that Erika had Charlie killed. Instead shell point out whats weird and doesnt add up about Erikas behavior. When people inevitably express outrage, shell respond by asking them why its so bad to raise questions. Dont they want to figure out the truth about what happened to Charlie? Isnt it fair to ask questions about Erika, given that shes now in charge of a massively powerful organization? Is there any kernel of truth to anything shes saying? Absolutely not. Any discrepancies in Erikas biography can be explained by the normal messiness of human life and memory, plus mundane bureaucratic issues. The Romanian claims are based on coincidences and tangential connectionsErikas (legitimately criticized) appearance alongside a pastor accused of enabling a missionary to traffick children in Romania, plus speculation about both figures operating in Romania. The grooming claims have to do with an uncharitable reading of social media posts that reflect a kind of millennial style of joking among women. And, most importantly, theres zero evidence Erika had anything to do with her husbands assassination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OK, but you mentioned time travel and ancient supertech? Where does that all come in? In case there was any question of how outlandish this all is, the first episode teased the theory that Erika is a time traveler or was trained from childhood to be an agent of the U.S. governments top-secret program to use ancient Sumerian technology to alter the course of history. This isnt new for her. In January, she spoke of a CIA-run Project Looking Glass in which the deep state stole a device produced by an ancient Sumerian civilization that allowed them to peer into the future and see different potential outcomes. Owens is pulling from an older conspiracy theory here, one that involves different branches of reality and justifies a feeling that our reality is somehow fundamentally wrong. In her version of the theory, Project Looking Glass agents had used the device to see that Charlie was significant in some way and had him marked, monitored, and followed since his youth in an effort to control the outcome. (Owens, too, had a government handler who followed her, she said.) Charlie told her he was a time traveler, she said. Streetlamps magically turned off when he walked by. It was clear to her that he was cosmically important and that when Charlie started to resist the path his handlers wantedwhen he started to reject Jewish money and influence, in other wordsthe agents panicked and had him killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this first Bride of Charlie episode, she expanded the theory. She revealed that Erika had attended a private Tesseract School in Arizona and that the school (which she said was run by Jews) had rented a building from a Jewish school with Looking Glass in the name. Owens was excited. Looking Glass like the secret CIA program! Tesseract like the bridge in space-time in the book A Wrinkle in Time! The proof was there all along! She didnt spell out what this all meant, but it seemed to imply that Erika was raised to be a Project Looking Glass agent assigned to handle Charlie. On the episode, which was titled A Wrinkle in Time, she was triumphant: The critics had laughed at her for talking about ancient magic technology and time travel, but they were actually deflecting rising panic, she said. Time travel? Is it possible shes trolling? She doesnt seem to be. She claims that she and Charlie often spoke not just of politics but of more intimate matters, including shared, shall we say, spiritual capabilitiesthird eye, astral projecting, that kind of thing. She has always treated supernatural matters seriously, and they routinely factor into a lot of her theories. She has a fixation with MKUltra, the CIAs mind control experimentation program, and she believes that the government continues to engage in mass mind control and human engineering experiments. (Where she can, she blames this on the work of Jewish mystics practicing the occult.) That being said, she may see timeline-altering technologies as no more or less plausible than governments having Charlie killed for straightforward political schemes. Shes just putting some theories out there! You can pick the ones you find most compelling. OK, lets back up. Whats Owens whole deal? Candace Owens entered politics as a content creator in 2017, after she was radicalized by an incident related to Gamergate, the politically charged harassment campaign against women in the video game industry that served as an early rallying point of the online misogynist far right. Before that, Owens had no interest in politics. She became an overnight success on social media, however, and Charlie Kirk hired her as communications director for Turning Point USA after seeing her speak. Owens is compelling as a communicator, speaking with absolute conviction. Its also, it has to be said, thrilling for a lot of conservatives to hear a Black woman reject complaints of white supremacy and police brutality. Plus, she has a trad wife thing going on, emphasizing her deference to her husbands decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owens pretty quickly carved out her space as being on the edgy, just-asking-questions end of the spectrum. In 2019, she had some kind of falling out with Charlie, had a stint hosting a show for PragerU, and joined the Daily Wire as a podcast host in 2020. At that point, she already seemed pretty fringe, and her relationship with Ben Shapiro and other Daily Wire personalities deteriorated over her antisemitic comments; she left in 2024 after liking a social media post about blood libel, a centuries-old antisemitic conspiracy theory. So there have long been signs of who she really is. But now on her independently produced show, she has truly gone off the rails. She claimed to have left the cult of science and called dinosaurs fake and gay. She dabbles in Holocaust denial. She defended Harvey Weinstein. She was sued by Brigitte Macron for running a multiepisode investigation proving the French first lady was secretly a man. She devotes a lot of air time to talking about Israel and the Jews control of American institutions. Critics tend to debate whether she is a vulture or just losing her grasp on reality, but theres no question shes hit on a successful formula. Every nonsensical or offensive thing she says seems to only strengthen her following. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the leading conservative voices werent concerned she made their movement look ridiculous? Thanks to the no enemies on the right mantra that has been drilled into this movement for years, few openly challenged her for most of her time in the spotlight. It didnt help that she had been praised by President Donald Trump and other major Republicans. It wasnt until recent weeks that people began really vocalizing their animosity. Even in December, during a Turning Point USA event after Owens was already deep in Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories, Erika Kirk reminded the audiences to be tolerant of views they disagreed within reference partly to Owens antisemitic, conspiracy theorypeddling allies. Has Owens always been a Charlie Kirk assassination truther? It did indeed take virtually no time for Owens to declare that the official narrative around Kirks assassination was wrong. Her own audience, primed to look for conspiracy theories in the wake of a high-profile murder, had been hungering for Owens to challenge the widely accepted version of events. It may seem strange that a conservative podcaster would seek to blame fellow conservative activists rather than a young man with a transgender partner, but this tactic made sense for her paranoid brand and for her need to create engaging content for her show. And audiences beyond her regular listeners were eager to hear her take: Owens seemed to have had a genuinely close friendship with Charlie, thanks to her time at TPUSA. Many saw her as speaking with real authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning, though, Owens expressed love and sympathy for Erika, describing her as a loving wife. Her initial suspicion was focused on other TPUSA figures. This ruffled feathers in a way none of her previous campaigns had, and the pushback she received only fed her beliefs about vast conspiracies. She doubled down. And as she continued to need more content as the weeks went on, the theories expanded to include foreign governments, the U.S. government, and, ultimately, Erika Kirk. What does she base her claims on? Speculation and minor discrepancies in stories about the incident or things that just seemed weird to her. Such as Erika mentioning Charlie putting his wedding ring on on the morning of his killing. (Does that mean they had a big fight the night before??) A lot of it has involved anonymous tips and other dubious sources claiming to have secret intel. Some had to do with general suspicion about Erikas behavior: her pained, tear-less facial expressions; the fireworks and glittering pantsuit at a Turning Point USA event; the strange video of her stroking Charlies arm in his coffin. Owens is one of those people who expects grief to look a certain way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for a full understanding of how far from legitimate inquiry Owens has strayed, you should know that she has based her beliefs partly on her dreams. Charlie told her, in a dream, that he had been betrayed. She saw the face of another TPUSA figure in that same dream. QED, that man helped kill Charlie. How does Israel fit into all this? Owens has repeatedly suggested that the Israeli government was somehow involved in Kirks death. And indeed, Charlie really did start to grow disillusioned with Israel in the last months of his life. For most of his life, Kirk was a standard pro-Israel Republican. But in October, Owens released leaked text messages showing Charlie had complained about Jewish donors playing into all the stereotypes and leaving him with no choice but to leave the pro-Israel cause. There was also a meeting of influencers in June in which Charlie expressed some frustration with Republican taboos against criticizing Israel. Owens has portrayed this June event as an intervention in which the billionaire Bill Ackman threatened and blackmailed Charlie to force him to support Israel publicly. (Ackman and others who were there denied this.) Advertisement Advertisement So, to Owens, it seemed plausible that Israel and Zionist Americans had Charlie Kirk assassinated to prevent him from voicing those doubts aloud. Owens has suggested two different ways to explain Erikas involvement in this plot. Its possible, Owens said, that Erika has always secretly been an agent of Zionist forces. Or, she has been so laser-focused on growing her own personal power and wealth that she agreed to turn against Charlie when he threatened their standing and risked losing revenue by speaking against the Zionists. Advertisement So this is just about her personal vendetta against Israel and American Jews? Well, Owens may have had something of a political motivation, as well. Owens is a major figure in the Israel-skeptic, conspiracy-theorizing antisemitic right that is growing in power in the party. Consider Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and countless internet trolls. This is creating a major rift in the party, with people such as Ben Shapiro fighting to maintain the conservative movements traditional pro-Israel views. The tensions bubbled up to the surface at a Turning Point USA event in December when Shapiro blasted Owens, Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon as frauds and grifters posing an existential threat to the conservative movement. After Kirk died, the two different camps scrambled to claim him for their side, given his gigantic symbolic stature. In this podcast, Owens is certainly making a play for Charlie on the anti-Jewish right. Advertisement But, in Owens reality, there were other governments mixed up in this, too? Yes, Owens does like to just throw out ideas and see what sticks. She has asserted that TPUSA had been courting a deal with a French donor and from there suggested the French Foreign Legion had been involved in Kirks assassination. She has also argued that Egyptian-owned airplanes that overlapped with Erikas locations at times had connections to Israel, pointing to Egypts involvement in the plot. Maybe, she argued, the French, Israeli, Egyptian, and American governments were all trying to do some sex trafficking together, in the vein of QAnon theories. And maybe Charlie threatened that by planning to speak out against the Zionist deep state. Alex Jones walked so Candace Owens could run. How has the rest of the right responded to all this? Mostly with disgust. Owens is considered enough of a powerhouse, though, that some tried to bring her back into the fold. Notably, Megyn Kelly tried to broker a kind of peace between her and Erika. On Dec. 15, Erika and Owens met for four and a half hours, but the meeting didnt do anything to sway Owens. She continued to make her outlandish claims, and Erika started publicly begging Owens to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erika clearly has the rights sympathy. She was invited to Tuesday nights State of the Union address as a special guest of the president. When the trailer for Bride of Charlie was released, conservative influencers called Owens demonic, the spawn of Satan, evil, and sick and twisted. Related From Slate Tucker Carlsons Latest Conspiracy Theory Takes Things to a Whole New Level Read More Owens, for her part, has said all these responses were coordinated and paid for. It was further proof that the Zionists saw her as a threat and were trying to shut her down. And some of her followers are trying to outdo Owens herself, claiming the show proves that Erika is actually a man. (This is based on some tomboyish photos in a yearbook from Erikas childhood that Owens shared.) Owens wont put a stop to thatto her mind, anything could be possible, and she wants her audience pushing the narrative forward, no matter how ridiculous. Will she get sued? Possibly! This sure does seem defamatory. TPUSA has already sent Owens a cease-and-desist letter. Owens seems to know this puts her in legal danger. But Owens has also survived a lawsuit from the Macrons. She doesnt seem afraid of any repercussions. Advertisement It seems like this whole episode just serves to make conservatives look stupid. You promised me that this had repercussions for all of us. Can we really not just laugh this off as a fun show of infighting on the too-online right? Advertisement Well, not really. Yes, Owens seems like a cartoonish character, but shes working hard to mainstream conspiracy theories about powerful Zionists. She has a huge and highly engaged following. Were not talking about QAnon deep-end weirdos who are spending all their time on internet forums. Were talking about millions of listeners, regular people with a general sense that the world is run by corrupt and morally bankrupt elites. With the recent revelations of Epsteins vast network of friends among the powerful and wealthy, thats a potent argument. And with her charisma and sense of righteous indignation, presented by a well-connected woman speaking through a highly professional operation, its easy to see how otherwise grounded people can start to question some pretty foundational ideas and find themselves open to some pretty wildand deeply unfoundedexplanations. Advertisement Advertisement Owens, like other far-right influencers, has succeeded in expanding what audiences consider legitimate discussion. Just a couple years ago, talk of the Jews could kill careers; antisemitism was the most dangerous taboo in political discourse. But when, for years, Owens faced no real consequences for spouting conspiracy theories about evil American Jews, other quiet antisemites were emboldened to emerge. Shapiro and other standard-bearers of the right now have no choice but to accept that their movement contains factions that make no secret of despising Jews. But Owens faction isnt just tearing apart the right; its wearing away at the foundations of our entire political system. If her followers cant believe basic facts of reality even when other conservatives support them, theres little hope of taking action to support any social or political problem. If every event is met with automatic suspicion and conspiracy theory, well spend all our time debunking nonsense, and nothing will ever get better. Sign up for Executive Dysfunction, a weekly newsletter that surfaces under-the-radar stories about what Trump is doing to the lawand how the law is pushing back. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed an extraordinary amicus brief on Thursday urging the Supreme Court to strike down President Donald Trumps executive order abolishing birthright citizenship for the children of many immigrants. The conference, which represents active Catholic bishops in the United States, frequently supports conservative positions at the court: In the past, it has argued against same-sex marriage, transgender rights, LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination laws, reproductive freedom, restrictions on school prayer, and medical aid in dying. But the conference is staunchly opposed to Trumps draconian immigration policies. And its brief in support of birthright citizenship is a searing, full-throated rebuke of the presidents executive order as an affront to the God-given equality of all people. On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the remarkable filing and its potential impact on the Supreme Court, which hears the challenge to Trumps order on April 1. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: This is a scorcher of a brief that holds nothing back. It says that the conferences opposition to stripping folks of birthright citizenship is motivated by their firmly held belief that each person is endowed by God with an inherent dignity that confers certain universal, inviolable, and inalienable rights. And then it goes on to say: The intended and unintended effects of the executive order are immoral and contrary to the Catholic Churchs fundamental beliefs and teachings regarding the life and dignity of human persons, the treatment of vulnerable people particularly migrants and childrenand family unity. This is a declaration that faith is not on the side of persecuting the most vulnerable communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Joseph Stern: Exactly right. The brief does walk through the legal and historical arguments in favor of birthright citizenship. But it is, first and foremost, making a faith-based claim. Let me just read you some of the headings to get a sense of how completely unsparing this is: To dismantle the principle of birthright citizenship would undermine both the legal and moral foundations of American society. Ending birthright citizenship denies the innate dignity and freedom of the person. Ending birthright citizenship weakens and threatens the family. And it declares that Trumps executive order is antithetical to the import of the Churchs teachings because it deprives people of the legal rights necessary to participate in the society of their birth. For those unfamiliar with Catholic teachings, the brief is applying a deeply entrenched idea that when a child is born into a community, they should be able to receive the full benefits of that community and participate in that society, including its civic life. And of course, by denying a child citizenshipand in some cases rendering them statelessthis executive order would exclude that person from our civil community forever because of something they had no control over: their parents immigration status. And that exclusion from the legal and political structures that govern his life is to the detriment of both the individual and the nation. Advertisement Related From Slate Trump Tried to Bully the Supreme Court on Tariffs. It Failed Spectacularly. Read More We had Joseph Margulies on the show a few weeks ago talking about the need to reconnect law and morality. The question doesnt always have to be: Is it lawful? Sometimes it can also be: Is it right? And I think the point here is that Trumps order is neither. Thats laid out in the conclusion: At its core, this case is not solely a question about citizenship status or the Fourteenth Amendment. It is a question of whether the law will affirm or deny the equal worth of those born within our common communitywhether the law will protect the human dignity of all Gods children. Are you surprised to see the conference go so hard against Trump? Advertisement Its not entirely surprising. The Conference of Catholic Bishops previously sued the Trump administration for illegally suspending a refugee program that it had long helped to implement. And it issued a near-unanimous special message in November condemning Trumps deportation policies, including racial profiling and vilification of immigrants. But this brief arguably takes it a step farther. Remember, a majority of the justices are Catholic, and surely familiar with the conference; I think there is a real chance this brief will carry a lot of weight. And it delivers a blunt message, warning that this executive order would inflict a grievous, possibly lethal moral harm on the nation. It would impose a lifelong punishment upon an entire group of people because of something they had no control over. And that punishment would, in turn, hurt the rest of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot in this brief about the sin of vilifying and excluding immigrants and their offspring. And the idea isnt just that it is bad for them; its that it is bad for all of us. It harms all Americans when we lose the participation of immigrants and their children in our democracy. It harms us when individuals who are born with equal dignity are cut out of our civic culture. Indeed, we, in turn, lose some of our dignity when those individuals are denied a seat at the table of democracy. This is a useful counterweight to some of the vile briefs filed in this case that depict immigrants as criminal degenerates whose children must be punished to preserve American values. This brief says thats entirely backward: To preserve American values, we must accept and embrace immigrants, and ensure that their offspring are fully American from the moment of birth. Im going to say something I dont say often on this show, but Ill say it loud and clear: Amen. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Thursday morning, the state of Kansas invalidated the personal identification documents of more than 1,000 residents. A new law that went into effect requires state-issued IDs to reflect each persons gender assigned at birth, instantly nullifying all drivers licenses held by trans Kansans whod gone through the process of changing the gender marker to reflect their identities. Affected Kansans were informed that their licenses would become meaningless pieces of plastic with letters that went out from the Kansas Division of Vehicles this week. Please note that the legislature did not include a grace period for updating credentials, it read. This means that once the law is officially enacted, your current credential will be invalid immediately. Its hard to overemphasize the chaos an abrupt revocation of identity documents can inflict on a persons life. Trans people who may have gotten their gender markers switched up to two decades ago, when Kansas first began allowing such changes, are suddenly unable to legally drive to work, school, medical appointments, or the grocery store. They cannot drive their kids where they need to go. Depending on what other identity documents they have and how strict ID takers decide to be, they may not be able to get into a bar, board an airplane, purchase alcohol, get a job, or apply for financial assistance until they get a new license. This new law, S.B. 244, is one piece of a broader anti-transgender agenda that is consuming the Republican Party. Determined to enforce a draconian gender hierarchy, the right seeks to punish people who expose the fragility and malleability of gender itself. GOP legislators are also well-aware that whipping up public outrage against a tiny minority is a tried-and-true political strategy for their party. As a result, trans people who are just trying to live in peace have found themselves in the crosshairs, with the full force of the state deployed to upend their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The swiftness of the laws rollout adds an additional layer of cruelty to a measure that was already set to destabilize trans peoples lives. With credentials that do not match their gender identities, many trans people will be outed when their IDs contradict the gender a cashier, bouncer, police officer, or other ID taker expects based on their appearance. In the best-case scenarios, this will be merely time-consuming or annoying. In other cases, it will cause public humiliation. In still others, it could put a trans persons safety at risk. Trans Kansans had little time to prepare for this new reality. The law was passed less than a month ago, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed it just last week. The Republican supermajority state Legislature overrode the veto with a two-thirds vote a couple of days later, leaving trans people one week to change their IDsif they were even aware that the law had passed. By giving Kansans barely any window to obtain a new drivers license, Republicans ensured the law would cause maximum stress for those impacted and maximum financial penalties for those left without a way to get to work. Advertisement Advertisement The letters that went out this week instructed recipients to surrender their current IDs to the Kansas Division of Vehicles, warning that drivers will be subject to additional penalties if they are caught operating a vehicle with their current ID. Individuals will need to go in person to a government office and pay up to $48 for a new license. The Kansas Division of Vehicles did not respond to a request for information on the replacement process, but according to the divisions website, it can take 45 days to receive a new credential, meaning that affected trans people may be prohibited from drivingand doing anything else that requires a valid IDuntil April. Advertisement The new law also invalidates birth certificates that bear a gender marker other than the one assigned at birth. This presents a potential challenge for trans Kansans who might have otherwise used their birth certificates as one of the two pieces of identification required to replace a drivers license. (Only 41 percent of Kansans have a passport.) The department responsible for issuing Kansas birth certificates estimated that more than 1,800 such documents were nullified this week. Advertisement And IDs make up just one part of the law, which poses sweeping restrictions on trans Kansans access to public spaces. As of Thursday, any multiple-occupancy private space must be segregated by gender assigned at birth, including restrooms, hospital rooms, dormitories, locker rooms, and more. The law will be enforced by bounty-hunter lawsuits: Anyone who believes they were in a bathroom with someone who was given a different gender at birth can sue for damages of at least $1,000. If a trans person runs afoul of the law multiple times, they may be criminally charged with a misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement explaining her veto, Kelly criticized the broad and vague way the law was written, noting that a husband would not be allowed to visit his wife in a shared room at a hospital, and a brother would be barred from entering his sisters dorm room. When the Legislature overrode her veto, Kelly wrote that it was nothing short of ridiculous to force the entire state, every city and town, every school district, every public university to spend taxpayer money on a manufactured problem. Advertisement Rep. Abi Boatman, the only transgender member of the Kansas Legislature, told me on Thursday that she has not yet received her own letter demanding the surrender of her ID, and the delay has her worried that trans people may be risking penalties for driving without a license without ever being notified that their IDs are void. The Democrat from Wichita tried to stop the bill last month, when it was brought up for debate on her 20th day in office. I have sat here for five and a half hours and listened to this entire room debate my humanity and my ability to participate in the most basic functions of society, she said on the floor of the House. From the bottom of my heart, I hope none of you have to ever sit through something like that. Advertisement Advertisement In an email, Boatman wrote me that she believes the law is unconstitutional and pointed out that Kansan taxpayers will be on the hook for all the money it will take for the state to defend this law in court. The ACLU is still in the midst of challenging a similar law that went into effect in 2023, but was paused in fall 2025, which stood to prevent Kansans from changing the gender markers on their IDs. Its not easy showing up to a workplace with a supermajority of co-workers bent on undermining the lives of trans Kansans, Boatman told me. But I would much rather participate in the process than be left helplessly ranting about it on social media, she wrote. I think its important for folks to actually see the Kansans whose lives they are making so difficult. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. If President Donald Trump rejects the deal that Iranians offered at their talks in Geneva, it can be for only one of two reasons: Either he doesnt want a dealor he doesnt want a deal that resembles President Barack Obamas 2014 accord, which Trump tore up in 2018 after calling it the worst deal ever. In Tuesdays State of the Union address, Trump said he would prefer to settle the current crisis through diplomacy, but only if Tehrans leaders said they will never have a nuclear weaponwords, Trump claimed, that we havent heard. Actually, they have spoken those words, many times, though of course its another matter whether we should trust them. Iran is also a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which makes the same pledge. What Iranians do refuse to say is that they will never enrich any uranium. This is one of the stumbling blocks in the negotiations, though it shouldnt be. In the latest round of talks through an Omani intermediary, Iran now says it is willing to suspend enrichment for the next three yearsthat is, for as long as Trump is president. After then, it would limit enrichment to purity levels of 1.5 percent and allow international inspectors to verify the pledge. The thing is this: The NPT allows signatories to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, such as electricity or medical research. In fact, Article IV of the treaty enshrines enrichment as an inalienable right. The nuclear deal that Iran signed with the United States and five other countries in 2014 limited this enrichment to purity levels of 3.5 percent. (It takes 90 percent enrichment for uranium to be weapons-grade.) By the time Trump tore up the deal, Iran was abiding by it, according to inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran had also dismantled much of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, after eight years of unconstrained activity, Iran has a large quantity of uranium enriched to 60 percent, meaning that, if its leaders wanted, they could have enough for an atom bomb in a matter of months. And yet, in the ongoing Geneva talks, Iran is offering to slash that down to the barest minimumto an even lower level than Obama allowed. Will Trump take the deal, or will he stick to his requirement that enrichment be banned, even though 190 other countries are permitted to enrich a little bit? (The only countries that have not signed the NPT, or that once signed it but later pulled out, are India, Pakistan, Israel, South Sudan, and North Korea.) In the early stages of the talks that led to the 2014 deal, Obama and others pressed Iran for an enrichment ban, but then realized that it was impractical, given the NPTs talk of an inalienable right to enrichand unnecessary, as long as inspectors could verify that Irans enrichment levels stayed low. Advertisement Trumps negotiators in the current talkshis son-in-law Jared Kushner and his real-estate friend Steve Witkoffhave hit an impasse over three other issues. Trump wants Iran to dismantle its arsenal of ballistic missiles, which have the range to hit allied territory and U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East. He wants Iran to stop supplying the regions terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Finally, he wants any deal struck to be permanent. Advertisement Iran resists the first two demands as violations of its sovereignty. It is true that its missiles pose a threat; hundreds were fired in the IranIsrael conflict last summer, inflicting considerable damage. However, Iran regards the missiles as a deterrent to an attack on its own landand notes that no other country has been barred from building a conventional arsenal. They make the same argument in defending its right to supply allies. Advertisement Advertisement Obama too tried to limit or outlaw ballistic missiles and aid to terrorist groups as part of the deal a decade ago, but after Irans resistance seemed clearly implacable, he decided that, whatever else Iran did with its armaments, it would be more dangerous with nuclear weapons than without. The demand for a permanent deal is a rebuke to the Obama-era deal, which set sunset clausesexpiration dates ranging from 10 to 25 years after the deals signingon some of its restrictions. Critics charged that, therefore, the deal only postponed the day when the Islamic Republic would get its hands on some A-bombs. There was some validity to this charge, but nearly all treaties have expiration dates or clauses allowing one country or another to withdraw from the deal. (President George W. Bush did that with the 1972 AntiBallistic Missile Treaty, and of course Trump did that with the Iran nuclear deal.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, it works both ways. In exchange for Irans dismantling its nuclear infrastructure, the 2014 deal required the United States and other nations to lift economic sanctions against Iran. So far, Trump has not offered Iran any rewards for giving up its nuclear potential in this round of talksexcept the reward of avoiding the onslaught of U.S. and Israeli air strikes, and Trump hasnt yet said that restraint would be permanent either. Related From Slate Why This Iran Comment From Trumps Top General Is a Big Deal Read More So these are some of the questions that Trump needs to address. How does he weigh the relative risks that Iran poses? Can he accept the persistent presence of its ballistic missiles and its continued supply to proxy militias (such as they are) in exchange for the decimation of its nuclear capabilities? And can he accept agreeing to a deal for many years, as opposed to forever (which treaties alone cant guarantee in any case)? Advertisement Advertisement He also has not yet addressed, at least not publicly, a bigger question: Whats the rush? Why has he mobilized two aircraft carriers, their full fleet of escort warships, and dozens of fighter jets to Irans flanks now? Just last June, he said that he obliterated Irans nuclear materials in the bomber raid called Midnight Hammer. But in his State of the Union address, he said he might need to attack Iran in order to keep the worlds largest supporter of terrorism from going nuclear. Clearly, Trumps claim that Midnight Hammer obliterated Irans enrichment sites was exaggerated (if his State of the Union address is to be believed, he was admitting as much), but intelligence analysts say the attack was devastating, perhaps setting the program back by years. Advertisement So, again, whats the rush? And if other issues justify U.S. military action, the question remains: Why now? Iran has deployed missiles and supported terrorists for many years, though no American presidentincluding Trumphas ever cited those facts as causes for war. This should be especially true now, as Irans arsenal is smaller and its allies weaker than they have been for many years. Advertisement Finally, how much is Trump willing to risk to achieve whatever aims he hopes this attack might accomplish? Vice President J.D. Vance said this week, in an interview with the Washington Post, that there is no chance the U.S. would get embroiled in a long, drawn-out war with Iran. Good to hear, except for two things. First, Vance doesnt necessarily know what Trump is thinking. (Its worth recalling that in the administrations early days, Vance said obviously the most violent protesters in the Jan. 6 riots shouldnt be pardonedright before Trump did just that.) Advertisement Second, as the old saying has it, the enemy gets a vote in shaping how a war unfolds. If Irans leaders think the attack could undermine their regime (and Trump has spoken in favor of regime change), they might unleash a massive attack against Israel and U.S. military bases, which could spur Trump to step up his attack, and onward and upward the violence spirals. Uncontrolled escalation is a particular danger when the leader starting a war hasnt thought through what he wants to gain from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday, with negotiators reporting significant progress and hoping they might resume next week, though they revealed few details and no suggestion that their differences had been resolved. Still, just as war is unpredictable once the first shots are fired, its not inevitable before that line is crossed. Trump still has a chance to set priorities and make choices. We have no way of knowing what they might be; its possible that he doesnt know either. Thats the cause of worry and, perhaps just a little bit, hope. N'Djamena, Chad (PANA) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Siobhan Mullally, has welcomed significant progress made by Chad in strengthening its legislative, institutional, and policy responses to trafficking in persons Trainer David Menary has a plan for Ervin Hanover, one that could make the 2025 Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winner even more of a threat in 2026. "He came back, he qualified well, and then he won the Camluck Classic. But early on in the year, it was so hot and he was doing a little bit of travelling...I think the heat was kind of getting to him," Menary told Standardbred Canada's John Rallis in reference to his award winner's 2025 season. "Once he got home for a little bit and regrouped he ended the year back off the year with a bang." Fulfilling the breakout season some anticipated after the conclusion of his four-year-old season in 2024, Ervin Hanover delivered for Menary and owner Pollack Racing LLC. The son of Captaintreacherous won 10 of 17 starts and more than $1.1 million during his five-year-old campaign in 2025, highlighted by victories in the $347,222 Dayton Pacing Derby at Dayton Raceway and the $347,222 Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs. His richest and most historic win was at Mohawk in the $822,000 Breeders Crown, where he paced the fastest mile in Canadian history in 1:46.2 a Canadian, track and stakes record. "The first time I trained him, I said this is the nicest horse I've been sent in 10 years," noted Menary. "He just goes so fast, so easy. And hopefully he's got some fast miles left in him." To watch the interview with Menary and Rallis, where they also discuss the change in Ervin Hanover's schedule for 2026, click the play button below. (Standardbred Canada) Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday signed a five-year bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that advances the America First Global Health Strategy while protecting Americans and Congolese from infectious disease threats A yellow, green and blue Apple logo on a white background with the words "You're invited" beneath it. (Apple) Next week, Apple is doing something. In mid-February, the company sent out invites to members of the US press for a special Apple Experience in New York. Its notable that Apple didnt call this an event and theres no mention of a livestream on the companys website both of which are indicators of larger keynotes and presentations. The experience will take place on March 4, but were pretty sure well hear announcements before that. Reports from the likes of Bloombergs Mark Gurman, as well as a tweet from Apple CEO Tim Cook confirm that products are definitely on the way and whats happening on Wednesday is likely a way for press to try out the new gadgets. Whats almost certain are new MacBooks, likely in the form of colorful, lower-cost machines that will represent a new category to join the MacBook Air and Pro models. Well probably also see new iPads and possibly even the entry-level iPhone 17e. A new affordable MacBook One of the most reliable Apple prognosticators, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, said earlier in February that were headed for a 2026 product blitz. That onslaught will reportedly start off with an all-new category of MacBook, in the form of a colorful budget laptop. The new machine will be geared towards students and organizations that need to buy a boatload of laptops for their workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Potential colors, Gurman suggests, will be yellow, green, pink and blue, along with the usual silver and dark grey found on other MacBooks. That color selection is reminiscent of the desktop iMac, which is currently offered in seven hues. It also makes one wonder whether the yellow, blue and green Apple logo from the events invitation a subtle hint towards these new machines. Most speculation puts the new laptops between $600 and $700. To hit that price point, the new MacBook will reportedly borrow an A-series chip from its iPhone cousins and have a sub-13-inch screen. It may also have fewer ports than a MacBook Air, but it should maintain the solid build quality Apple notebooks are known for. According to Gurman, a new manufacturing process will allow Apple producers to forge aluminum shells more cost-effectively that means buying a cheaper MacBook wont mean youre stuck with a plastic-cased laptop. Tech Radar has pointed out code leaks that indicate the storage will top out at 512GB, the keyboard wont be backlit and the screen will lack True Tone tech that senses ambient light and adjusts the displays intensity and colors accordingly. But a few compromises are to be expected with a MacBook that costs less than $700. Other expected MacBook announcements include 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros running on the latest M5 chip. The new processor is already inside the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro, but now well see it in the 16-inch model as well as in upgraded configurations. If the rumors prove true, power users will have the option of an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, which will replace the supercharged M4 options. The new MacBook Air models will also level up to the M5 chip, if Apple follows the pattern of its usual upgrade cycle. The iPad Pro was bumped up to the M5 chip when the new models were released back in October, so its not likely well see anything new there. But the base model iPad and the iPad Air were both updated a year ago, so we could see chip upgrades for both those models. Advertisement Advertisement Gurman reports that the iPad will get the A18 chip, which is a jump and a skip from last years A16 chip. Thats the same processor found in the iPhone 16, which was the first handset to support Apple Intelligence. The A16 iPad famously did not support Apple Intelligence, so this update could mean even the new, most affordable Apple slate will be able to generate emojis, offer writing suggestions, summarize notifications, suggest email responses, transcribe audio recordings and more. The iPad Air will get a new chip, too, namely the M4, but neither tablet will see any major design changes. The base iPad and the iPad Air will reportedly stick with their current LED screens, but if a new iPad mini is announced, its rumored that it will (finally) get a new OLED display. The entry-level iPhone 17e Last February, Apple debuted the iPhone 16e, a budget-friendly model that supported Apple Intelligence, but only had one camera and no MagSafe support. It was the first numbered entry-series phone, replacing the iPhone SE, which Apple last updated in 2022. The new iPhone 17e is rumored to come with the A19 chip (the same as the standard iPhone 17) and get MagSafe charging. Some leaks suggested the phone would get a Dynamic Island to replace the notch, but others refute that speculation. Most reports agree the 17e will still have just one camera and that the starting price will stay at $599, the same as the previous e phone. The new Siri, a Home Pod with a screen and a foldable iPhone Many people were expecting Apple to unveil a brand new Siri early this year. That would make up for what many see as a major lack for Apple by creating a more capable generative assistant to compete with Googles Gemini, Open AIs ChatGPT and others. Unfortunately, it doesnt look like well see anything about the new Siri on March 4 reportedly, the assistant update just isnt ready for release. But Apple confirmed to CNBC it was still on track to release the new Siri this year. Advertisement Advertisement As for smart home hardware, leaks and rumors suggest a brand new device is on the horizon, namely a smart home hub with a touchscreen, speaker, FaceID and software that supports family calendars and other productivity features. Of course, that will all hinge upon a more capable Siri. Since the assistant update has been delayed, its likely that the related smart home gear is similarly held up. A foldable iPhone is very likely imminent, but most signs point to a late 2026 launch, so dont expect to see that new hardware on Wednesday. But maybe well get a classic one more thing tease for the creaseless handset at the end of the event. When Ross Latta boarded a plane for Indonesia, he expected an academic experience. What he found instead was a week that reshaped how he understands culture, collaboration, and the future of his career. A May 2025 graduate in human resources management and now a human resource administrator for Dollar General, Latta traveled to Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, as part of the Cross-Cultural International Program, a partnership between the K-State College of Business and Universitas Tanjungpura, or UNTAN. The program brought students from both universities together to explore global business concepts while immersing themselves in a culture far removed from what Latta had known. From the moment he arrived, Pontianak felt different. Situated directly on the equator, the city moves to a rhythm shaped by climate, religion, and community. Moped-filled streets, river-centered daily life and the constant presence of faith marked a stark contrast to life in the United States. The climate was hot and humid, even more so than I had anticipated, he shared. Everyday life looked different too: many people bathed or washed clothes in the river, something I had never seen before. Traffic was another shock. What struck me most, though, was how religion shaped nearly every aspect of daily life, Latta continued. Unlike the United States, where work tends to structure our lives, in Indonesia, the rhythms of the day are guided by prayer and religious practice. Learning to see business differently Inside the classroom, the differences continued. Latta and his UNTAN counterparts compared academic structures and career expectations, quickly realizing how different the path from college to career can look across cultures. Indonesian students often focus entirely on coursework, without the internships or part-time jobs common among U.S. students. Their degree structure condenses the equivalent of multiple U.S. semesters into a single cycle, he explained. After graduation, they enter a very competitive job market, often without having had internships or work experience. Some of Lattas most meaningful lessons came during group projects. Accustomed to jumping quickly into tasks and timelines, he initially struggled with UNTAN students slower, relationship-first approach. Over time, he came to understand that what felt like hesitation was actually intentional. At first, I found this frustrating, but eventually I realized that they were building trust and cohesion, Ross said. Once I leaned into that process, I noticed how much smoother collaboration became. Beyond academics, Latta experienced Indonesia through its people, places, and food. He visited the Equator Monument, explored bustling markets, sampled street food along Gajamadah Street, and toured arts, textile and farm villages. In those villages, his blonde hair and blue eyes drew immediate attention, especially from children curious to meet someone from a place they had only heard about. They had never seen an American before, he said. They treated me like a celebrity. While it felt strange at first, I realized that my presence represented an opportunity for them to connect with someone from a world they might never visit themselves. Language added another layer of learning. While many UNTAN students spoke formal English, everyday conversation sometimes required patience and adjustment. Latta found himself slowing down, choosing simpler words and rephrasing ideas, small changes that made communication clearer and more meaningful. The connections he built with UNTAN students became the heart of the experience. Long conversations, shared meals and cultural comparisons created friendships that extended beyond the classroom. Some of those moments unfolded late into the evening along Gajamadah Street. Gajamadah Street, which we might compare to Aggieville in Manhattan, was a cool place where we spent time sharing street food and engaging in conversations that lingered long after the meal, fully experiencing the nightlife in Pontianak, Ross reflected. Bringing global insight home By the end of the week, Latta returned home with more than memories. The experience reshaped how he views global business, teamwork, and his future in human resources. For my future career in human resources, the lessons are clear, he shared. Supporting employees from diverse backgrounds requires cultural humility, patience, and the ability to adapt systems to fit people rather than the other way around. This trip reinforced the idea that business success is not one-size-fits-all. The U.S. approach may not be effective abroad, and vice versa, Latta continued. To lead effectively, I will need to respect and integrate cultural differences into everyday practices. CPP Investments and Equinix Have Provisionally Agreed a US$4.2 Billion Financing Package, Providing Growth Runway to Meet Strong AI, Hyperscale and Enterprise Demand REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, today announced that Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), and Equinix have entered into a joint agreement to acquire atNorth from Partners Group. The US$4 billion enterprise value transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The agreement between CPP Investments and Equinix will support atNorth, which will continue to operate under its own brand, in its continued rapid scaling through capturing opportunities created by rising demand for data center infrastructure. CPP Investments will own an approximate 60% controlling interest and Equinix will own an approximate 40% stake. As part of the transaction, CPP Investments and Equinix have provisionally agreed a US$4.2bn financing package, underwritten by a group of European and Canadian lenders. "This acquisition is a powerful validation of atNorth's journey and its market position as the leading Nordics data center platform," said Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth. "It further illustrates the strategic importance of the region as Europe's rising AI powerhouse. I'm extremely proud to announce the next step in our chapter, welcoming this investment from CPP Investments and Equinix, which will enable access to capital, global enterprise, and hyperscale relationships, and supply chain strength required to scale at pace. Our strategy remains firmly rooted in the Nordics, and we will continue to operate independently under the atNorth brand, preserving our dedication to the communities where we operate and the culture and values that have defined our success to date." atNorth's portfolio includes eight operational data centers alongside several sites under development across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and plans for further expansion with 1 GW of secured power and a considerable amount of additional future capacity planned. Designed to meet increasing demand for AI and high-performance computing, several of the company's facilities are liquid cooling-enabled to support high-density workloads. Across its portfolio, atNorth integrates renewable energy sourcing, heat reuse initiatives and efficient modular design to advance circular economy principles and minimize environmental impact. "This transaction builds on our long-standing and highly productive relationship with Equinix," said Maximilian Biagosch, Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Real Assets, CPP Investments. "It demonstrates our conviction and commitment to the data center sector, where demand continues to accelerate, fueled by continued strong enterprise demand as well as cloud and AI adoption. The Nordics are an attractive market for data center growth and the opportunity to partner with Equinix on this acquisition allows us to deploy capital at scale into a high-quality platform, helping us deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries." "The scalable sites of atNorth are very complementary to Equinix's connectivity services and global footprint. Combined with our joint focus on sustainability, this acquisition is expected to enhance our ability to help customers unlock the full potential of the Nordics' expanding digital landscape," explained Bruce Owen, President Equinix, EMEA. "For businesses looking to scale with resilience, Equinix offers a future-ready infrastructure for long-term success, maintaining the jurisdictional and data sovereignty of organizations operating in the region. We are delighted to partner with CPP Investments, whose long-term track record of investing in the sector is highly complementary to Equinix's connectivity services." There are multiple factors contributing to the Nordics burgeoning status as a critical hub for the next generation of digital growth. The Nordics region is widely recognized for its strong and resilient economy, supported by a long-standing emphasis on innovation, research and technical expertise. Renowned worldwide for its leadership in environmentally sustainable projects, the Nordics provide access to renewable energy sources, bolstered by the region's naturally cool climates. About atNorth atNorth is the leading Nordic data center company that offers cost-effective, scalable high-density colocation and built-to-suit services trusted by industry-leading organizations. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates eight data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, as well as a ninth under construction in Kouvola, Finland, a tenth site in lgod, Denmark and an eleventh campus in Stockholm, Sweden. The business has also announced a new mega-site development in the Solleftea Municipality in Sweden. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn. Press contact: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/cpp-investments-and-equinix-join-forces-to-acquire-atnorth-to-further-accelerate-growth-in-the-nordi,c4314064 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/18907/4314064/3955955.pdf ATN Press Release - Project Gemini - vF https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/eyjolfur-magnus-kristinsson---landscape-small,c3514618 Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson - landscape small https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/atn-fin02-metro-site,c3514620 ATN FIN02 metro site SOURCE atNorth The MV Admiral 11, the last of the Admiral ferries that offered what patrons said was safe and smooth sailing. Admiral Ferries Ltd. has officially announced that it has ceased all ferry operations as of 25 February 2026, bringing an end to the companys inter-island maritime services. The decision marks the conclusion of the companys years of operation as a key ferry provider between mainland St. Vincent and the Grenadines islands. All scheduled sailings have been discontinued from the stated date. The company has advised stakeholders with outstanding business matters, questions, or correspondence to use its official contact channels so that any remaining issues can be addressed appropriately. Earlier this month, on 4 February, the company posted a notice explaining that the MV Admiral II had temporarily halted operations due to heavy surging at the Kingstown wharf, which made docking unsafe. At the time, the company indicated that services would resume once sea conditions improved. Just days before the final shutdown announcement, Admiral Ferries had also shared an updated schedule set to take effect on Monday, 23 February 2026, along with revised fares, including a $100 return fare for vehicles and a $40 return fare for passengers from Monday to Saturday. The sudden cessation of operations has sparked disappointment among many citizens and regular travelers who rely on the ferry to commute between mainland St. Vincent and the Grenadines, particularly Bequia. Many expressed sadness at the loss of a service that played a vital role in inter-island transportation. Attempts by THE VINCENTIAN newspaper to contact the company for further clarification were unsuccessful. St. Clair Leacock, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, described the amnesty as a soft touch to what could be a hard and serious problem. Persons who turn over cocaine that they find floating at sea to the appropriate authorities will receive an amnesty from prosecution. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock made the announcement via radio on Monday following the recent uncovering of some 22 pounds of cocaine in the Lowmans Bay area, and after lawyer Grant Connell, representing one of the men in the Lowmans Bay drug haul, proposed an amnesty for people winning "the sea lotto the label now being attached to cocaine finds at sea. It is alleged that the cocaine was found at sea, something that is spoken of as being a frequent occurrence, and in this case was assumed to have been the residue from missile strikes by the US military in Vincentian waters on February 13 and 16. In support of this allegation, Minister Leacock said, " The minute we got the news of the ship being blown out to the waters and all the collateral damage to come thereto, simultaneously, I get a phone call from one of my best supporters: Major, I in trouble. I have a problem. I was fishing in the area I came into possession of so, so, so, and I took it away, and now Im being arrested. And in explaining the new amnesty, Minister Leacock likened it to the gun amnesty saying, ". Just like we had a gun amnesty, for example, where they bring in their gun and no question asked, we take your gun and go, if you came into possession of any of that coke on the high seas now and you wanted to call someone to help you do it, or you feel you could get into the police safely, theyre not going to pursue you. The Minister assured that the police is in full support of the cocaine at sea amnesty. "We run that by the police high command and theyre on board with that, The Minister said. Minister Leacock appealed to fishers or sea-bather who find cocaine at sea or along the islands shorelines to report it to the police. MP for East Kingstown Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble made it clear that the NDP was not about targeting individuals but about ensuring accountability and professionalism in the implementation of Government policies and programmes. Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, has issued a stern warning to public servants, stating that there will be consequences for actions that breach Public Service regulations or undermine the current administration. In simple language, Bramble stressed public officers who act against the interests of the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration will not be tolerated. His comments come amid ongoing concerns raised by NDP supporters who question why certain public service positions continue to be held by individuals believed to be aligned with the Unity Labour Party (ULP). Speaking at a community meeting in Dorsetshire Hill hosted by the Member of Parliament for West St. George on Saturday evening, Bramble said he takes seriously any instance in which a public servants political views interfere with their professional duties. He emphasized that the Public Service Orders clearly outline the responsibilities and expected conduct of public officers. According to Bramble, any deviation from these standards whether intentional or not would result in consequences. "The people elected us to conduct the business of the country, Bramble stated. "If any public servant acts outside of their professional responsibility in a way that undermines the government, there will be consequences. He also dismissed claims from opposition figures suggesting that ministers do not have the authority to hire or dismiss public servants under civil service regulations. Bramble maintained that the elected government must ensure that public officers carry out their duties in accordance with established rules. " If theres any public servant who is acting outside of their professional responsibility, whether intentional or not, to undermine the New Democratic Party government, they will not be there..,plain and simple. You cant be there. I know the Leader of the Opposition come and talk about, oh, civil service orders and ministers cant hire and fire and all this sort of stuff. The buck stops with us! The MP declared. Rejecting accusations of political victimization, Bramble said the administrations position is not about targeting individuals, but about ensuring accountability and adherence to professional standards within the public service. He concluded that public servants are expected to perform their duties impartially and in line with the regulations governing their roles. Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, addressing the opening of the 50th regular Meeting of the Conference of heads of Government of CARICOM, in St. Kitts and Nevis. (Source: caricom.org) Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, delivered his maiden address to a summit of Heads of States and Government of the regional bloc, CARICOM, last Wednesday in St. Kitts and Nevis. He told the meeting, the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, that while he supports the need for regional integration, he was concerned that the Bloc may just be dragging its feet in pursuit of this goal, and called for a "quickening of the pace in this regard. CARICOM has been characterized as "CARI-GONE not as CARICOM, Friday told the opening ceremony of the Summit. That said, Dr. Friday admitted that CARICOM was important to the region and in underscoring that importance urged that "making CARICOM relevant, especially to ordinary people, had to become the hallmark of the work of the Heads of Government, who represent all the people of the countries they lead. On a personal note, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister expressed his delight at being at the Summit. He told the gathering that the November 27 general elections in his country was the first time that Vincentians had elected a new government in almost 25 years, with a resounding majority of 14 seats to one. "So here I am as a new head of government, a new face at this conference. I may have much to learn about how things are done in this body and across the organs of CARICOM, and about how perennial issues have been addressed over the years and where they stand now, Friday said, adding: "But I hope being new on the stage, I am unfettered by the trials and the frustrations of the past, and might bring some small insight or added motivation that might help us to move forward. Returning to the business of the Summit, Dr. Friday suggested that the organization should highlight its accomplishments, no matter how small, and reminded his colleagues that "CARICOMs true strength lies in its people and that work must be done with them, not just for them. As for some issues to which CARICOM should give consideration and action he included: eliminating poverty and creating prosperity; removing obstacles to commerce, including those related to currency; closing the skills gap in the regional workforce; confronting climate change and securing resilience financing; promoting peace and security in Haiti and our region; addressing the emerging humanitarian crisis in Cuba and Cubas place within our Caribbean. "We remain ever hopeful that it will become more able to address our needs. We do this, not only because of the ties of common history and a shared culture, but fundamentally because we all recognise the inescapable fact that we must have CARICOM or something like it, Dr. Friday told his colleagues. In concluding he said, Friends, thank you for welcoming me so warmly in this Conference. I look forward to working with you. But, please let us quicken the pace. The road ahead may be arduous and full of obstacles, but it is a viable path, made even more certain when we decide to walk together. When we hold our neighbours hand now, we make the journey easier and safer for those who follow. Thank you and God bless. I pray we have a successful meeting. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has described Dr. Fridays presentation as "vacuous empty and of a high school type, and as having "no analysis. It was occasion of joy for Renson Sayers (left) when he collected his share of the Dec. 30, 2025 Super 6 draw from McGregor Sealey, General Manager/NLA. Brighton resident, Renson Sayers is the latest Super 6 winner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, albeit a joint winner. He shared in the EC$1.4 million purse following the December 30, 2025 draw. Three of the other winners are from St. Lucia and Grenada. Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have one winner each in this draw. This split makes it the first time that a single Super 6 jackpot has been shared among the four participating territories. Sayers took away EC$233,500 with the numbers 4, 7, 10, 19, 25 and 27. He collected his winnings on Wednesday at the National Lotteries Authority headquarters in Pauls Avenue. According to Sayers, it took him about three days to verify that the numbers on his ticket were in fact the winning combination. "Normally I always relax, never rush anything and when I realised that, it was just tears of joy, he said. Sayers also admitted that he does not favour being in the spotlight too much and knowing that he was going to have to face the media, he waited a while before contacting the National Lotteries Authority (NLA). In explaining how he came up with the winning numbers, Sayers said that he did an online search of the numbers that were called in December 2024. "And I wrote every single number down that was called in December 2024 and played them. I just had the feeling that a number that had called previously will come back, he said. Three days after the draw when he checked his ticket, he realised that not only did he win, but that the winning combination was the same as that called on December 14, 2024. Super 6 is played in the four Windward Islands. Those who choose to play select 5 numbers from 1 - 28 at EC$3 per bet, or a chance to win the jackpot that starts at EC$200,000. Draws are held every Tuesday and Friday. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, might just have scattered the CARICOM leadership with her strong views on a number of issues. If ever there was a rude-awakening at a Summit of the Heads of Government and States of the CARICOM bloc, it was delivered the 50th such regular meeting held in St. Kitts and Nevis, February 20-27, 2026. In an address delivered in a style and with gusto that challenged her normally sedate personality, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago, in an address at the opening ceremony of the Summit, raised eyebrows and caused uneasy movements in chairs especially those occupied by colleague Heads, when she unapologetically defended her support for US President Donald Trump and admonished members of the regional bloc for what she said was political interference and their dismal failure to support Guyana and her country against threats by Venezuela. She, however, amidst all the admonishment and defiance, pledged her countrys support for CARICOM. Support for US military presence In addressing the issue of her support for Trump, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister declared, "Who vex loss, aware that the presence and action of the US military in the Southern Caribbean had split opinions in the region. And with no water in her mouth, the Trinidadian leader said, "Thanks again to President Trump and thanks again to Secretary Marco Rubio. I thank them and the US military for the cooperation and what they shared with us for national security matters. Maybe in your islands, you dont have the kind of crime we have. I know (Jamaica) Prime Minister (Andrew) Holness, we tried to pass the ZOSO Bill (Zones of Special Operations) in Trinidad, we were not as fortunate as you in the Parliament. The US presence and military intervention had led to a 42 per cent decline in murders in Trinidad and Tobago, she shared. "Some of us, the crime is so bad, I cannot depend on just my military, my protective services and certainly from you in the CARICOM, many of you do not have military or large police services to help us down there. So again, I repeat, in Trinidad, theres a saying, who vex loss. But we gained, we gained from that military help and I will welcome them again. Venezuelas threats Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, in turning her attention to the ongoing threats Venezuela had made against Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, asked her colleague Heads why they did not stand up for Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago when they were being "threatened by Venezuela. All of this in the face of a St. Vincent and the Grenadines attempt to broker a "peace, i.e. to prevent any military action on the South Amercian land mass all of which proved nothing as Venezuela continued to flex its might. "So, how can it be when that regime was threatening violence to two CARICOM member states, there was no voice from the CARICOM, Persad-Bissessar questioned. Interference in regional elections Persad-Bissessar also claimed that CARICOM governments and their political parties had actively involved themselves in the domestic and political affairs of member states, to assist "sister or brother parties. "When, in the last election, you sent your missives, you sent your people from your party to openly campaign against another political party ... Im sorry I have to share this, but it hurt me a lot when I saw it transpired within the last set of elections in the CARICOM, she lamented. "if we are to hug up each other and cooperate, it cannot be that last week you sent your person down to St Vincent or to Jamaica or to wherever, Guyana. You sent your political persons, not technocrats, you sent them down to campaign. I dont think that is right because today I will have to face you, the lady Prime Minister posited. No support for dictatorship in Cuba But Persad-Bissessar was not done there. She then turned her attention to Cuba where the US government anticipates a regime change by year end. "There is global focus today on Cuba. Every leader here participated in democratic elections in our respective countries. Therefore, I ask, why do some Caricom governments and political parties believe that they and their political parties supporters should have the right to contest democratic elections to choose their leaders, but Cuban citizens should not have the right to do the same? You cannot advocate for others to live under communism and dictatorship but want to live under democracy and capitalism yourself. The Brent Thomas affair Thne there was the unsettling matter of Trinidadian businessman Brent Thomas which did not escape the discourse of PM Persad-Bissessar. Thomas it was, she reminded the Caribbean gathering, who in 2022 was arrested in a Barbados hotel and returned to Trinidad via a military aircraft, without formal extradition proceedings being initiated. She described the action as a "kidnapping coordinated by the then sitting government. "Our Supreme Court has ruled that he was kidnapped. He was placed in handcuffs, transported to the airport, and then back to Trinidad. I think an RSS plane was used to transport him. He was kidnapped, Persad-Bissessar asserted, and she criticised the CARICOM Secretariat for simply disregarding an "unsettling matter. A High Court judge later ruled this act an "unlawful abduction, and ruled that both nations must accept liability for constitutional breaches and the victim must receive abnd apology. Persad-Bissessar took her umbrage to further lengths by disclosing that she wrote to the CARICOM Secretariat as the Opposition Leader during that time, but received no response, implying that that "one ceases to be recognised by the Secretariat as a member citizen of CARICOM when not in government. The Prime Minister concluded her speech by again reaffirming this countrys commitment to Caricom and invited people in the Caribbean to enroll in the UWI South Campus in Debe upon the commencement of its academic year. While the Prime Minister spoke, there was noticeable discomfort from other regional leaders who sat in the front row. Many were seen shifting in their chairs, folding their arms or staring at their cellular phones. (TBTCO) - Nhung bien ong ia chinh tri tai Trung ong thoi gian gan ay tiep tuc khien thi truong nang luong the gioi oi mat voi nhieu rui ro. Gia dau diesel tang manh va kho du oan, tao ap luc lon oi voi cac nganh su dung nhieu nhien lieu, trong o co van tai hanh khach uong dai. Trong boi canh o, nhieu doanh nghiep van tai ang bat au tinh toan lai bai toan au tu phuong tien, huong toi cac giai phap giup giam chi phi van hanh va on inh hieu qua kinh doanh. Chac chan ho se chon hang xe nao chat luong tot, gia thanh ha va tiet kiem nhien lieu nhat. (TBTCO) - Chi so gia tieu dung (CPI) thang 2/2026 tang 1,14% so voi thang truoc, chu yeu do nhu cau tieu dung, i lai tang trong dip Tet Nguyen an. Tinh chung 2 thang au nam, CPI tang 2,94% so voi cung ky, cho thay ap luc lam phat ang co xu huong gia tang, oi hoi cong tac ieu hanh gia tiep tuc than trong va linh hoat e giu on inh mat bang gia. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website and archive of over 26,000 articles Exclusive monthly, members-only newsletter offering behind-the-scenes views from our contributing writers A guest, two-month subscription to share with a friend CPP Investments and Equinix Have Provisionally Agreed a US$4.2 Billion Financing Package, Providing Growth Runway to Meet Strong AI, Hyperscale and Enterprise Demand REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, today announced that Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), and Equinix have entered into a joint agreement to acquire atNorth from Partners Group. The US$4 billion enterprise value transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The agreement between CPP Investments and Equinix will support atNorth, which will continue to operate under its own brand, in its continued rapid scaling through capturing opportunities created by rising demand for data center infrastructure. CPP Investments will own an approximate 60% controlling interest and Equinix will own an approximate 40% stake. As part of the transaction, CPP Investments and Equinix have provisionally agreed a US$4.2bn financing package, underwritten by a group of European and Canadian lenders. "This acquisition is a powerful validation of atNorth's journey and its market position as the leading Nordics data center platform," said Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth. "It further illustrates the strategic importance of the region as Europe's rising AI powerhouse. I'm extremely proud to announce the next step in our chapter, welcoming this investment from CPP Investments and Equinix, which will enable access to capital, global enterprise, and hyperscale relationships, and supply chain strength required to scale at pace. Our strategy remains firmly rooted in the Nordics, and we will continue to operate independently under the atNorth brand, preserving our dedication to the communities where we operate and the culture and values that have defined our success to date." atNorth's portfolio includes eight operational data centers alongside several sites under development across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and plans for further expansion with 1 GW of secured power and a considerable amount of additional future capacity planned. Designed to meet increasing demand for AI and high-performance computing, several of the company's facilities are liquid cooling-enabled to support high-density workloads. Across its portfolio, atNorth integrates renewable energy sourcing, heat reuse initiatives and efficient modular design to advance circular economy principles and minimize environmental impact. "This transaction builds on our long-standing and highly productive relationship with Equinix," said Maximilian Biagosch, Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Real Assets, CPP Investments. "It demonstrates our conviction and commitment to the data center sector, where demand continues to accelerate, fueled by continued strong enterprise demand as well as cloud and AI adoption. The Nordics are an attractive market for data center growth and the opportunity to partner with Equinix on this acquisition allows us to deploy capital at scale into a high-quality platform, helping us deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries." "The scalable sites of atNorth are very complementary to Equinix's connectivity services and global footprint. Combined with our joint focus on sustainability, this acquisition is expected to enhance our ability to help customers unlock the full potential of the Nordics' expanding digital landscape," explained Bruce Owen, President Equinix, EMEA. "For businesses looking to scale with resilience, Equinix offers a future-ready infrastructure for long-term success, maintaining the jurisdictional and data sovereignty of organizations operating in the region. We are delighted to partner with CPP Investments, whose long-term track record of investing in the sector is highly complementary to Equinix's connectivity services." There are multiple factors contributing to the Nordics burgeoning status as a critical hub for the next generation of digital growth. The Nordics region is widely recognized for its strong and resilient economy, supported by a long-standing emphasis on innovation, research and technical expertise. Renowned worldwide for its leadership in environmentally sustainable projects, the Nordics provide access to renewable energy sources, bolstered by the region's naturally cool climates. About atNorth atNorth is the leading Nordic data center company that offers cost-effective, scalable high-density colocation and built-to-suit services trusted by industry-leading organizations. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates eight data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, as well as a ninth under construction in Kouvola, Finland, a tenth site in lgod, Denmark and an eleventh campus in Stockholm, Sweden. The business has also announced a new mega-site development in the Solleftea Municipality in Sweden. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn. Press contact: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/cpp-investments-and-equinix-join-forces-to-acquire-atnorth-to-further-accelerate-growth-in-the-nordi,c4314064 The following files are available for download: As Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar signed the country to a new US-lead anti-cartel coalition on Saturday, business leaders in Trinidad and Tobago largely welcomed the move as a stronger stance on tackling the issue of organised crime. But some cautioned that expanded military operations in the Caribbean should be carefully managed. Lori Sepich smoked for years and sometimes skipped taking her blood pressure medicine. But she never thought shed have a heart attack. The possibility just wasnt registering with me, said the 64-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, who suffered two of them 13 years apart. Shes far from alone. More than 60 million women in the US live with cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease as well as stroke, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. And despite the myth that heart attacks mostly strike men, women are vulnerable too. BOSTON, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm based in suburban Philadelphia, is investigating data privacy claims against Pyramid Advisors Limited Partnership d/b/a Pyramid Global Hospitality. Pyramid Global Hospitality learned of a data breach on or about August 14, 2025. If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, please click HERE. About Pyramid Global Hospitality Pyramid Global Hospitality is a hotel management company, operating in the US, the Caribbean, and Western Europe. With portfolio revenues exceeding $3 billion, Pyramid manages 220 hotels, resorts, and conference centers, both branded and independent. What happened? On or about August 14, 2025, Pyramid Global Hospitality discovered suspicious activity on its computer network. The company launched an investigation into the incident with the assistance of third-party consultants. The investigation determined that data on the company's servers was impacted by this event. The affected files may have contained personal information, including current and former employee names, addresses, driver's license numbers, financial account information, health insurance information, medical information, and Social Security numbers. Pyramid Global Hospitality has begun mailing notice letters to affected individuals. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification regarding Pyramid Global Hospitality, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. Such measures include regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Pyramid Global Hospitality data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: [email protected] Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach cases, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation involving allegations of securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP 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. After nine months detained at Eloy Detention Center, an elderly Cuban asylum seeker with dementia known among her fellow detainees as "la abuela," the grandmother is free, pending the outcome of her deportation case. Julia Benitez, 79, was released from Eloy Detention Center Thursday night. The release came 11 days after the Arizona Daily Star first reported that Julia was being detained and that her physical and cognitive health had deteriorated significantly over her nine months at Eloy. She was likely released on humanitarian parole as her removal case proceeds a discretionary decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But the details of her release are still unclear, said her daughter Dayana Cosme Benitez, a lawful permanent resident who lives in Miami with her two sons. Julia was to stay at the home of a Phoenix pastor on her first night out of Eloy, as her family determines the best way to get her to Miami, said Phoenix-based migrant-aid volunteers, speaking as they drove to pick her up from Eloy Thursday evening. "We're shocked, we're elated, we're so happy that this has finally happened," said Anna Keating, a volunteer with a Phoenix shelter that receives detainees from detention centers in Eloy and Florence, Arizona. Before crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in May 2025 and surrendering to Border Patrol agents, Julia was only having occasional memory lapses, her family said. But after nine months in an unfamiliar, institutional setting, Julia's dementia worsened to the point that she often didn't know where she was and sometimes thought her daughter was her mother during their phone conversation, Dayana told the Star. She's also had to start using a wheelchair, which she never needed before her time at Eloy, Dayana said. Julia has relied on the kindness of other detainees to help her get dressed, use the bathroom and move around the facility, which houses about 1,330 ICE detainees currently. She is subject to mandatory detention, since she recently entered the U.S. outside an official port of entry, and so she was denied a bond hearing before an immigration judge. But ICE always has the discretion to release detainees on parole, if they don't pose a public threat and aren't a flight risk, attorneys say. ICE did not respond to the Star's repeated requests for an explanation as to why the agency couldn't, or wouldn't, release Benitez on parole, despite her vulnerable state. On Tuesday, when Dayana first heard her mother could be released this week, she said she was overwhelmed with emotion, but trying to keep her excitement in check until her mother was actually free. "I feel an immense joy that I cannot express," she wrote in a Tuesday text message. "I don't want to rush things, I just want to keep praying to our Savior." Julia's asylum petition was denied last year due to insufficient evidence, and her Miami-based attorney is currently appealing that decision, Dayana said. U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Arizona, had said she would advocate for Julia's release on parole, after reading the Stars Feb. 15 investigation into the growing number of elderly and disabled immigrants in ICE detention facilities nationwide, including Julia. The Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team contributed analysis of ICE detention data to the Star's report. ICE has largely stopped using its discretion to release detainees on humanitarian parole since Trump took office in 2025, legal advocates say. In the first 11 months of 2025, ICE "discretionary releases" including release on humanitarian parole fell by 87%, according to a January report from the immigrant-rights group the American Immigration Council. ICEs "blanket denials" in response to requests for release on humanitarian parole are leaving vulnerable people in inhumane detention conditions for no good reason, Liz Casey, a social worker with Arizona legal-advocacy group the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, told the Star earlier this month. "Thats ICEs decision," Casey said. "ICE is not releasing anybody from detention, despite the increase in the number of deaths (in custody), despite mental health issues, despite medical issues, disabilities." Grijalva visited with Julia at Eloy Feb. 20, during the first-term congresswomans first visit to an ICE detention facility. After the visit, Grijalva fought back tears as she told reporters that Julia started crying when she realized she wasnt leaving Eloy with her visitors. Eloy detainees told the Star they also saw Julia in tears after the visit with Grijalva last week; some of them had also thought she was being released. That morning, ICE officials had asked detainees to "dress her nicely," because she was getting "an important visit," one detainee told the Star, in a written message from Eloy. "It warms my heart to know that soon, Julia will be able to hug her daughter and grandchildren," Grijalva said in a written statement Thursday night, after learning of Julia's release. "While I am pleased to learn about Julias release, her case begs the question: how many others like her are in federal detention? "This administration has the authority to exercise discretion and grant humanitarian parole on a case-by-case basis for the elderly and disabled. Instead, it is choosing a cruel and restrictive approach that is needlessly holding medically-vulnerable individuals in detention. I will continue to advocate for those who are being silenced because abuelas should be home with their families, not in federal detention." 60 Minutes: Mar 1 Amelia Adams reports on the Australian children removed by Italian authorities from their family living off the grid. On 60 Minutes Amelia Adams reports on the Australian children removed by Italian authorities from their family living off the grid. Catherine Birmingham and Nathan Trevallion want only the very best for their three children. For these loving parents that means bringing up their two young daughters and son without the stresses and distractions of modern life. A few years ago, the Australian family bought a tiny, crumbling house in the Italian countryside. It boasted no connected power, no running water, not even a flushing toilet. It was their idea of nirvana. And of course, for the kids, there was no formal schooling. However, bliss for this family was anything but for Italys welfare authorities, which last November decided to save the children from their parents, by taking them away, and placing them in a locked-up foster care facility. Now Catherine and Nathan are in a desperate battle to have their family reunited. As Amelia Adams reports from the beautiful Abruzzo region of Italy, this case has attracted widespread media attention as people all over the world debate whether the familys off-the-grid lifestyle is idyllic, or idiotic. Reporter: Amelia Adams Producers: Natalie Clancy, Nichola Younger 8:50pm Sunday on Nine. A $1 million matching gift from Dr. Jeff Heddles will double every donation, turning momentum from Matter of Time, the new Netflix documentary about Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), into accelerated research progress. NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EB Research Partnership (EBRP), the largest global nonprofit dedicated to funding research to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), just announced the Matter of Time $1 Million Match - a $1,000,000 matching gift from philanthropist Dr. Jeff Heddles to double all donations beginning Feb. 26, 2026, until the match is achieved. The match was first shared with the EB community during EBRP's Behind the Film: Matter of Time Town Hall and brings powerful momentum three weeks into the organization's Matter of Time documentary premiering on Netflix and in celebration of global Rare Disease Day (Feb. 28). Dr. Jeff Heddles joined EB Research Partnerships Chicago Matter of Time screening panel, sharing his philanthropic commitment to accelerating EB research. EBRP CEO Michael Hund (left), philanthropist Dr. Jeff Heddles (center), and Matter of Time director Matt Finlin (right) at the Toronto Matter of Time screening event, marking the final stop of the films theatrical run ahead of its Netflix premiere. EB is a rare, painful genetic disease that makes skin as fragile as butterfly wings. Nearly 95% of the 400 million people living with a rare disease still have no FDA-approved treatment, but EB is now among the small fraction of rare diseases with three or more FDA - approved therapies, showing what's possible when research is funded with urgency, accountability and an innovative business model. Inspired by Matter of Time and a Community Showing Up Worldwide Dr. Heddles began supporting EB Research Partnership (EBRP) in 2022 after attending a Pearl Jam concert brought EB to his attention, when he noticed a young boy onstage, joyfully playing tambourine, wrapped in bandages. After learning more about EB and doing his own due diligence into EBRP's model, he became a major donor and advocate, supporting the mission through philanthropy and leadership across the community. Since then, he has activated multiple matching campaigns to help accelerate progress. This is his largest match to date, inspired by EBRP's Chicago Matter of Time special screening and the film's global Netflix launch, introducing EB families and the fight to cure EB to audiences worldwide. "Matter of Time captures what I've come to believe deeply. Progress happens when people show up, again and again, by refusing to look away. And we can see that progress happening," said Dr. Jeff Heddles. "This match is my way of transforming a moment of attention into real momentum, fueling the research that can deliver a cure for EB and showing how EBRP's model can accelerate breakthroughs for thousands of other rare diseases. To every family living with EB, you are not alone. And to anyone who's been watching this movement from the sidelines, I hope this makes it clear. The work is real, the momentum is here, and together we can push it forward faster." Across the EB community, families, researchers, and advocates expressed deep gratitude for Dr. Heddles' continued leadership and generosity and for the momentum this match brings to the progress already underway. "As a father of a child with EB and a board member of EBRP, I want to thank Dr. Jeff Heddles for his incredible generosity with the Matter of Time $1 Million Match." said Nathan Burmeister, EBRP Board Member and father to Jacob, a young boy with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB). "After being moved by the outpouring of support for previous matches, he has stepped up in an even bigger way. Beyond that, Jeff has traveled the world to support EBRP, including visiting us here in Australia. His unwavering commitment to the EB community means more than words can express. We are deeply grateful for everything he's done to help bring us closer to treatments, and a cure, for EB." A Catalytic Match to Accelerate What's Next The Matter of Time $1 Million Match is designed to accelerate research and clinical progress at a moment of growing global momentum, giving supporters a direct way to turn awareness into tangible action for EB families who cannot afford to wait. The match reflects a deep belief in what's possible when urgency meets a proven model for impact, and invites more people to help push progress forward. "Dr. Heddles' leadership is exactly how breakthrough progress happens," said Michael Hund, CEO of EB Research Partnership. "This match is a bold invitation to the world. If you were moved by Matter of Time, now is the moment to turn that emotion into action. Every matched dollar helps us move faster, funding research and clinical progress with the urgency EB families live every day. On behalf of our entire community, a profound thank you to Jeff for his catalytic and transformational leadership" Momentum, Progress, and Measurable Traction The announcement comes amid global attention generated by Matter of Time, the Netflix documentary following Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and a determined community working to cure EB. The film spotlights EBRP's Venture Philanthropy approach, applying investing principles to research grants so that when a therapy succeeds, EBRP can share in that upside and reinvest it into new EB research, helping philanthropy compound over time. That leadership has drawn independent recognition from Harvard, Yale, MIT, Cambridge, Stanford, the Milken Institute, and Forbes. Since the organization's founding, EBRP has helped accelerate three FDA-approved EB treatments, funded 189+ research projects, and helped drive 50+ active EB clinical trials worldwide. In 2025 alone, EBRP invested more than $4.6 million across research and programs, and the organization has seen over 60% year-over-year revenue growth. Now, the match offers a clear next step for viewers and supporters to turn attention into research progress. How the Match Works Beginning Feb. 26, 2026, all donations to EB Research Partnership will be matched dollar-for-dollar - effectively doubling each gift until the $1,000,000 match is achieved. About EB Research Partnership (EBRP) Founded in 2010 by a dedicated group of parents, along with Jill and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, EB Research Partnership (EBRP) is the largest global nonprofit dedicated to funding research to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of devastating and life-threatening skin disorders that affect children from birth. EBRP utilizes an innovative, award-winning Venture Philanthropy model that is accelerating progress in EB and pioneering a path that can help other rare diseases move faster. To learn more or donate to the match, visit ebresearch.org . About Matter of Time Matter of Time is a feature documentary chronicling the fight to cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), weaving together patient stories, scientific breakthroughs, and the power of music, set against the backdrop of benefit concerts organized by Eddie Vedder. To learn more or watch, visit matteroftimefilm.com . Assets Teaser Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=De6AQFZtk4Y Press Kit (Clips, Stills, Artwork): tinyurl.com/mvffk389 Social: @MatterOfTimeFilm | @EBResearch For Media Inquiries, Please Contact: ID PR on behalf of Matter of Time [email protected] SOURCE EB Research Partnership Screen Australia appoints Rachel Perkins as Director of First Nations Strategy Respected writer, director, producer to lead the strategic direction for Screen Australias First Nations Dept. Screen Australia has appointed Rachel Perkins to the newly-created role of Director of First Nations Strategy. A proud Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman with German and Irish heritage, she has undertaken leadership roles across Screen Australia, AFTRS, SBS, ABC, the Australian Film Commission, NITV, Indigenous Screen Australia, the NSW Film and Television Office the National Indigenous Media Association of Australia and the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance. As co-founder of production company Blackfella Films, she has long driven and shaped First Nations storytelling in Australia with a strong focus on self-representation, told by and with Indigenous media practitioners. As director, writer and producer for drama and documentary projects her credits include Mystery Road, Total Control, The Australian Wars, Redfern Now, Bran Nue Dae, Radiance, Mabo and First Australians. At Screen Australia Perkins will lead the strategic direction for Screen Australias First Nations Department and the broader sector by shaping recommendations for future policy, guiding investment priorities and driving engagement with government, culture and screen industry stakeholders. Rachel Perkins said, Screen Australia has such an important role in our nations cultural ecosystem, so Im proud to play my part in ensuring all Australians continue to see themselves represented on screen. In particular, Im passionate about the opportunity to provide the strategic support for First Nations creators and businesses to be empowered, own their stories and thrive. The First Nations Department has a long legacy of incredible work. Im keen to continue championing our exceptional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners and forge a path for the next generation of talent delivering the kind of stories that will enrich and uplift the entirety of Australias innovative screen industry and audiences across the globe. Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said, Rachels appointment marks a bold new chapter, not just for the Screen Australias First Nations Department, but for the future of local storytelling as a whole. We created this new role because First Nations stories and contribution to our industry are more important than ever. Rachels deep experience across content, education, culture, advocacy and complex organisations makes her uniquely positioned to shape an exciting future for Screen Australia. No doubt shell continue to strengthen a vibrant screen industry that reflects the depth and diversity of Australian stories. Perkins begins on 2 March 2026, reporting directly to Brennan and will also work closely with recently appointed Head of First Nations Content, Gillian Moody-Ardler, who provides creative and operational direction for First Nations content investment. TVNZ looks to local version of Tipping Point Could Tipping Point take on The Chase across the ditch too? TVNZ is set to pilot a local version of Tipping Point, but it isnt yet clear if it will be a celebrity version, weekly or daily proposition with everyday Kiwis. A local version is set to start production in Auckland in April. TVNZ this week confirmed it was investing in an entirely new studio set at its Victoria St studios. A TVNZ spokeswoman told the NZ Herald, Tipping Point is a hugely popular format around the world, and after the incredible success of The Chase New Zealand with our audiences, it makes sense for us to try our hand at this one next. Tipping Point New Zealand will film in our TVNZ studios. Were undertaking an ambitious set build and will utilise our AR [augmented reality] graphics capabilities too. While a pilot season under producer John McDonald will screen in primetime it isnt clear if the show could regularly go head to head with The Chase which screens at 5pm. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the Governments February 2026 thematic meeting on lawmaking. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA On the morning of February 27, the Government convened its thematic law-building session for February 2026 to review and discuss five major items. At the meeting, Cabinet members listened to summary proposals and explanatory reports, and offered opinions on the draft revised Capital Law; the draft revised Law on Civil Status; the draft Law on Belief and Religion; the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Representative Missions Abroad; and a draft National Assembly resolution on coordination mechanisms and special policies to enhance the prevention and settlement of international investment disputes. Regarding the draft revised Capital Law, the Prime Minister and delegates contributed numerous proposals on special, breakthrough and stable mechanisms with a long-term vision, in line with the unique position and role of the capital city within the broader national development context and global trends. For the draft National Assembly resolution on coordination mechanisms and special policies to improve the effectiveness of preventing and resolving international investment disputes, Cabinet members proposed several preferential mechanisms for responsible individuals and agencies, as well as measures to strengthen inter-agency coordination. In discussing the draft revised Law on Civil Status, the Government focused on supplementing and amending provisions to enhance the effectiveness of state management, while promoting stronger decentralization and delegation of authority in line with the two-tier local government model in the field of civil status. As for the draft Law on Belief and Religion, delegates examined specific provisions on the right to belief and religion, ensuring full institutionalization of the Partys guidelines and policies, and fostering the strength of great national unity. To improve the performance of Vietnams representative missions abroad, Cabinet members stressed that the Law on Vietnamese Representative Missions Abroad must clearly define organizational structure, functions, tasks, powers and policies for remuneration and talent attraction. Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated that legal institutions are both a driving force and a resource for development. Institutions must lead the way, removing bottlenecks and practical obstacles, and turning the institutional framework into a national competitive advantage. Recent Party Congress resolutions have consistently identified institutional building and refinement as one of three strategic breakthroughs for rapid and sustainable national development. He requested that ministers and heads of ministerial-level and Government-affiliated agencies directly lead and participate in building both their sectoral institutions and the broader institutional framework under the Governments responsibility. During the law-making process, he stressed, it is essential to fully institutionalize Party policies, resolve real-world constraints, and implement thorough decentralization accompanied by appropriate resource allocation, enhanced enforcement capacity and effective inspection and supervision mechanisms. The Prime Minister emphasized that matters already clear and proven correct in practice should be codified into law, while issues not yet fully mature should be piloted, implemented gradually and expanded step by step without perfectionism or haste. Administrative procedures must be reviewed and cut to the maximum, reducing inconvenience and compliance costs. Laws should focus on fundamental principles, with detailed provisions delegated to implementing decrees. Policies, he said, must be expressed in a way that is easy to understand, easy to access, easy to implement, easy to inspect and easy to supervise. He directed drafting agencies to fully incorporate feedback from Cabinet members, while seeking additional opinions from experts, scientists, legal practitioners, affected stakeholders and relevant international experiences suited to Vietnam, in order to finalize the drafts for submission to competent authorities. In particular, ministries and agencies must coordinate closely with one another and with National Assembly bodies to build high consensus during appraisal, explanation, revision and finalization of draft laws in line with feedback from the National Assembly Standing Committee and deputies. Ministries were also urged to promptly draft and issue decrees and circulars guiding the implementation of newly effective laws. At the first session of the 16th National Assembly, the Government is expected to submit 34 dossiers and documents, including 15 draft laws and resolutions, many of which are complex and far-reaching. The Prime Minister therefore required ministries, especially ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies, to prioritize time and resources, directly oversee the completion of draft laws and resolutions already reviewed by the Government, ensuring both quality and timely submission for consideration at the first session. Reiterating the spirit of running while lining up, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed that completed dossiers, documents and reports be promptly sent to National Assembly bodies for appraisal and submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee. Ministries must also report to the Government and the Prime Minister on the incorporation and revision of draft laws in accordance with regulations, as well as any arising issues beyond their authority. For the draft laws and resolutions discussed at this session, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Ethnic and Religious Affairs to fully absorb feedback from Cabinet members and the meeting, and to urgently finalize the drafts in line with schedule and quality requirements. Deputy Prime Ministers were tasked with directly overseeing ministries and agencies in building and refining legal institutions within their respective areas of responsibility. For draft laws and resolutions included in the National Assemblys April 2026 session agenda but not yet submitted to the Government, ministries were instructed to urgently complete and submit the dossiers to ensure timely consideration. For draft laws and resolutions already approved by the Government, the Prime Minister directed ministries to swiftly incorporate feedback, finalize documentation and send it to National Assembly bodies for appraisal in accordance with regulations, while proactively coordinating with relevant agencies throughout the review and revision process. During the process of incorporating and refining draft laws and resolutions in line with opinions from the National Assembly and its Standing Committee, ministries and agencies must strictly comply with the 2025 Law on the Promulgation of Legal Normative Documents, ensuring the Governments full and consistent responsibility until the National Assembly considers and adopts the legislation. TTXVN Under the decisions, the four lieutenant generals, all members of the 13th Party Central Committee - Hoang Xuan Chien, Le Huy Vinh, Vo Minh Luong and Vu Hai San - will conclude their tenure as Deputy Ministers of National Defense and step down from their duties starting March 1. Currently serving Deputy Ministers of National Defense include General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army; Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Quang Ngoc; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau; and Senior Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai. The Prime Minister also decided that Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang, a member of the 13th Party Central Committee, will be relieved of his post as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army and retire from March 1. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien was born in 1961 and is from Hung Yen province. He was appointed Deputy Minister of National Defense in July 2020. Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, born in 1961 and from Hanoi, was appointed Deputy Minister of National Defense in October 2020. Senior Lieutenant General Vu Hai San was born in 1961 and hails from Ninh Binh province. He assumed the post of Deputy Minister of National Defense in July 2020. Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, born in 1963 and from Quang Tri province, was appointed Deputy Minister of National Defense in October 2020. Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang was born in 1965 and is from Vinh Long province. He has served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army since November 2020. Tran Thuong On Thursday morning, General Secretary To Lam met with voters in Constituency No. 1 of Hanois National Assembly delegation, alongside fellow candidates for the 16th National Assembly, at a voter engagement conference. The conference was held online from Hoan Kiem ward and connected to Ba Dinh, Ngoc Ha, Giang Vo, Cua Nam, Dong Da, Kim Lien, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, Lang, and O Cho Dua wards. Constituency No. 1 of Hanoi comprises five candidates: General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission; Vu Lan Phuong, an officer at the Peoples Council and Peoples Committee Office of Cua Nam ward; Major General Luu Nam Tien, Political Commissar of the Hanoi Capital Command; Nguyen Hoang Truong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Peoples Council of Cua Nam ward; and Truong Thi Kim Van, an officer of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Dong Da ward. Before the conference, General Secretary To Lam inspected preparations for the election at the headquarters of the Peoples Committee of Hoan Kiem ward. Voters listened to the candidates biographies and action programs and exchanged views with them. Responding to a voters question on the implementation of foreign policy, the General Secretary stressed that comprehensive diplomacy is the shared cause of the entire Party and people. It requires promoting the roles of all three pillars of diplomacy - Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy - while mobilizing the participation of the National Assemblys external relations, ministries, agencies, localities, and citizens. Vietnams external affairs must be conducted in the spirit of multilateralization and diversification of relations, being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community. Vietnamese diplomacy continues to evolve, absorbing the quintessence, knowledge, and methods of modern diplomacy while remaining imbued with President Ho Chi Minhs principle of unchanging in objectives, flexible in strategies. The Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress identifies foreign affairs and international integration as vital and regular tasks. This marks an important development in strategic thinking. Accordingly, diplomacy and integration are among the foremost priorities and must be carried out consistently, proactively, sensitively, promptly, and effectively. The General Secretary described Vietnams participation, as a founding member, in the recent Gaza Peace Conference held in Washington D.C. on February 19 as clear evidence of the countrys strategic proactiveness in foreign policy. Both domestic and international opinion have spoken highly of Vietnams role at the event, reflecting the growing stature and maturity of the Partys external relations. Vietnam supports concrete solutions aimed at ending the conflict, restoring peace and security, rebuilding, and ensuring the livelihoods of people in the Gaza Strip. He shared that when the US raised the proposal of participating in the Gaza Peace Council, Vietnam was among the first Asian countries to join. Regarding his meeting with US President Donald Trump, the General Secretary said the exchange provided an opportunity to advance Vietnam - US relations, with a focus on addressing reciprocal tariff issues. During the working visit, he and leaders of ministries and localities held more than 30 meetings and engagements. Looking ahead, he noted that Vietnam will host the APEC Leaders Week in 2027, underscoring the countrys continued commitment to international integration. Addressing voters concerns about fundamental and comprehensive education reform, the General Secretary reaffirmed that education and training are defined as a top national policy and a strategic breakthrough in human development, directly shaping the quality of the workforce and the nations future. It is a task of the entire political system and society. Throughout the revolutionary journey, Vietnams education sector has achieved significant accomplishments, contributing to raising public knowledge and training human resources for national construction and defense. However, he candidly acknowledged that education and training still face limitations and shortcomings and have yet to become a powerful driving force for rapid and sustainable development. General Secretary To Lam speaks at the conference. The Politburo, the Government, and relevant agencies have actively implemented a series of new policies, including building boarding primary and lower secondary schools in land border communes; providing lunch support for primary pupils; and developing STEM classrooms so that learning goes hand in hand with practice. These efforts have initially created positive changes in education and training. Hanois education sector, he said, must ensure that every student has access to school. The ultimate goal is genuine quality - teachers teaching with peace of mind, students learning better, families worrying less - thereby preparing a generation with the competence, ethics, and resilience to build Hanoi and the nation in a new era. He welcomed Hanois pioneering move to waive tuition fees and provide lunch support for students. Schools, he emphasized, are not merely places to acquire knowledge but to learn how to become a person. Students should study music, fine arts, and sports, and must complete grade 12 so that when they step into life, they possess sufficient knowledge to pursue vocational training or higher education. Looking toward 2045, when Vietnam aims to become a developed, high-income country, the generation born this year will be its future masters. Therefore, from now on, the country must invest in their nutrition, intellect, physical well-being, and civic values. On building and refining environmental protection policies and laws, the General Secretary noted that the 14th Congress documents clearly define environmental protection as a central task, on par with economic development and social welfare. General Secretary To Lam and four other candidates for the 16th National Assembly in Constituency No. 1 of Hanoi. Photos: Pham Hai The current approach, he said, is to shift decisively from reactive thinking to a proactive, preventive mindset from early and afar. He outlined three key priorities: continuing to improve environmental policies and laws in a direction that promotes green transition and circular economy while ensuring transparency so that people can supervise; and strengthening discipline and enforcement. Where serious and prolonged pollution occurs, the responsibility of the head must be clarified and strictly handled, with no exceptions. People must be placed at the center of environmental policy, as protecting the environment is, first and foremost, about protecting public health and livelihoods, especially those of vulnerable groups. Environmental protection, he stressed, is not solely the responsibility of the State but of every enterprise and citizen. When the environment is safeguarded and quality of life improves, that becomes the foundation for development. Protecting the environment today is protecting the future of our children. It is not only a policy commitment but a political commitment before the people and voters nationwide. Tran Thuong On February 26 in Hanoi, the Hanoi Innovation Center Joint Stock Company was officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the capitals strategy to develop its innovation ecosystem and reposition itself as a regional technology hub. Positioning Hanoi as a technology testbed also aims to place the city on the global map of capital flows, innovation networks, and investment. Illustrative photo. The new center, known as HIC, was introduced at a ceremony attended by public and private partners as well as domestic and international venture capital funds. It represents a new collaborative framework bringing together the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and CMC Corporation under a State - University - Enterprise model. The initiative comes as Vietnam enters a deeper phase of digital transformation. Hanoi faces typical metropolitan challenges, including traffic congestion, environmental pollution, infrastructure pressure and rising demands for governance capacity. At the same time, the city benefits from a young population, a large domestic market and growing openness to new technologies. Under its announced orientation, HIC is expected to act as a national engine for innovation design and execution, contributing to digital transformation goals, smart city development and the attraction of talent, capital, technology and international expertise. Positioning Hanoi as a testing ground for new technologies One of HICs three strategic priorities is to attract the global creative community and position Hanoi as a hub for piloting new technologies and business models. Rather than relying solely on domestic resources, the center seeks to open its doors to international experts, enterprises and founders to jointly address real-world urban challenges in the capital. Priority areas include artificial intelligence, big data and smart urban technologies applied to traffic management, environmental monitoring, infrastructure optimization and data governance. A controlled testing mechanism, or sandbox model, is expected to allow emerging technologies and business models to be deployed on a limited scale, with impact assessments conducted before wider rollout. This approach aims to reduce policy risks while fostering a flexible environment for experimentation. By branding itself as a destination for technology trials, Hanoi also seeks to place itself on the global map of investment flows and innovation networks, serving as a bridge between Vietnams market and major technology ecosystems worldwide. Attracting and repatriating talent The second strategic focus centers on attracting and bringing back talent, particularly Vietnamese technology entrepreneurs and founders operating overseas. According to HIC representatives, many Vietnamese-founded technology firms are headquartered in Singapore, the US or Europe due to business environment conditions, tax policies and access to capital. Creating favorable conditions for them to register operations and pay taxes in Hanoi is viewed as a more immediate and practical solution than long-term domestic training alone. When returning, these founders are expected to bring not only managerial expertise but also connections with international venture capital funds, technology partners and global markets. Such networks are seen as vital to elevating the domestic startup ecosystem. HIC also aims to attract young international founders to start businesses in Vietnam. Competitive operating costs, high-quality human resources and a dynamic, culturally rich living environment are considered key advantages. By encouraging interaction between domestic and international talent, Hanoi hopes to nurture globally competitive enterprises from an early stage. A new governance model for innovation The third strategic pillar focuses on leading domestic creative industries, especially as sectors such as e-commerce, social media and digital content face mounting competition from multinational platforms. HIC is designed not merely as a support body but as a substantive partner for innovative enterprises, offering policy support, capital connections, market access and even equity participation in promising startups. This model aims to ensure long-term alignment and sustainable development for emerging industries. At the launch event, Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology, presented certificates recognizing ecosystem partners including CMC, FPT, Elcom and Tecapro. From a governance perspective, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Truong Viet Dung described HIC as an institutional innovation built on the principle of State orientation - Enterprise operation - University co-creation. He emphasized that the establishment of HIC marks a shift from administrative allocation mechanisms to co-investment and risk-sharing models; from fragmented support to ecosystem coordination; and from a startup movement to a value chain structured, standardized and measured by outcomes. When innovation is embedded within a clear market structure with discipline and accountability, it can truly become a new productive force for the capital, he noted. For academia, Associate Professor Huynh Quyet Thang, Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said the partnership with the city and CMC opens a new pathway for scientific research. HIC is expected to shorten the distance from laboratory to market by aligning research, training and innovation activities directly with enterprise needs and urban development priorities. With its three strategic pillars, four-stage value chain model - from idea incubation and acceleration to commercialization and scaling - and coordinated support platforms, HIC is envisioned as a key link in Vietnams national innovation ecosystem. Beyond providing support, the center aspires to play a role in orchestration and leadership, helping transform Hanoi into a pioneering city for creative industries and advanced technologies in the region. Thai Khang During the recent Tet peak, illegal drone activity forced multiple flights at Da Nang International Airport to hold or divert. Illustrative photo: VNA A series of unauthorized drone sightings disrupted multiple flights at Da Nang International Airport during the peak travel period of Tet 2026, forcing aircraft to hold, delay departures, or divert to alternate airports. The Ministry of Construction has sent an official document to the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and Peoples Committees of provinces and cities with airports, requesting stronger measures to prevent unmanned aerial devices from threatening aviation security and safety. According to a report by the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, from September 2025 to February 2026, numerous drone incursions were recorded in areas adjacent to Da Nang International Airport. The devices were detected at distances of 3 to 12 nautical miles and at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 3,800 feet - overlapping with aircraft takeoff and landing paths. Their presence forced several flights to enter holding patterns, temporarily suspend operations, alter departure and landing procedures, or divert to alternate airports. The disruptions affected operational chains, caused economic losses, and posed potential collision risks, directly threatening civil aviation safety and security. The incidents notably surged during the Tet holiday. On February 17, the first day of the Lunar New Year, two drone incidents were recorded near the airport, resulting in 17 flights entering holding patterns, one flight diverting, and 15 departures being delayed. On February 22, the sixth day of Tet, unidentified flying objects suspected to be drones or balloons were again detected, causing 18 flights to hold, including four that diverted to alternate airports. The Ministry of Construction said the situation highlights shortcomings in controlling unmanned aerial devices near airport areas, posing ongoing risks to aviation safety and security. To proactively prevent further incidents, the ministry urged relevant authorities to intensify management, inspection, and monitoring of drone activities. Violations, it stressed, must be detected and handled strictly. In Da Nang, police and military forces have been requested to coordinate with aviation units to enhance surveillance, provide early warnings, and promptly address emerging situations. Vu Diep Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies, presents the decision and congratulates Nguyen Kim Son. Photo: PV On Friday afternoon, the Commission for Policies and Strategies held a conference to announce the Politburos decisions on personnel work. The Politburo decided to mobilize, assign and appoint Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son as Deputy Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies. The Politburo also decided to mobilize, assign and appoint Nguyen Sy Hiep, Deputy Minister-Chairman of the Government Office, as Deputy Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies. Nguyen Kim Son was born in 1966 and is originally from Hai Phong. He holds the academic titles of Associate Professor and Doctor of Philology. He is a member of the Party Central Committee in the 13th and 14th tenures and a deputy to the 15th National Assembly. Before being appointed Deputy Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies, Nguyen Kim Son served as Vice Director, Standing Vice Director and later Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Since April 2021, he has been Minister of Education and Training. Nguyen Sy Hiep was born in 1974 and is from Ninh Binh. He holds a masters degree in International Trade and Economic Integration. He is a member of the 14th Party Central Committee. Nguyen Sy Hiep previously served as assistant to the Prime Minister and Director General of the Secretariat-Editorial Department of the Government Office before becoming Deputy Minister-Chairman of the Government Office in September 2014. Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Thanh Nghi said that the presentation of the decisions to the two officials reflected the attention of the Politburo and the Secretariat to consolidating the commissions leadership in a period when it is undertaking many important tasks assigned by the Party Central Committee and the Politburo. He noted that both Nguyen Kim Son and Nguyen Sy Hiep possess firm political mettle, strong research capacity and extensive practical experience. The head of the commission expressed his hope that the newly appointed deputy heads would quickly familiarize themselves with their new responsibilities, bring into play their strengths and experience, and join the collective leadership, cadres, civil servants and public employees of the commission in fulfilling assigned tasks. In his remarks upon taking on the new role, Deputy Head Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that he would make every effort, remain ready to undertake assigned duties, quickly grasp the work and apply his experience and expertise to the job. He also expressed his gratitude to the collective leadership of the Ministry of Education and Training for their support over the past period and voiced his hope for continued guidance and assistance from the commissions leadership and staff in the time ahead. Deputy Head Nguyen Sy Hiep, for his part, said he would continue striving, remain open to learning and self-improvement, and rapidly approach his new responsibilities to meet the commissions increasingly demanding requirements. He expressed his wish to receive support from the commissions leadership as well as effective coordination from central and local agencies, and from the commissions cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers, in order to successfully fulfill both his assigned duties and the commissions overall mission. The Commission for Policies and Strategies is an advisory body assisting the Party Central Committee, directly and regularly the Politburo and the Secretariat, in leadership and direction of socio-economic development; in orienting the building and improvement of economic institutions; and in formulating major guidelines, policies, strategies and measures on socio-economic issues. The current Head of the Commission for Policies and Strategies is Nguyen Thanh Nghi. Its deputy heads are Thai Thanh Quy, Nguyen Kim Son, Nguyen Sy Hiep, Nguyen Hoang Anh, Nguyen Thuy Anh, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duy Hung, Nguyen The Manh, Nguyen Duc Hien and Nguyen Duc Trung. Tran Thuong In January, Thailand unexpectedly became the second-largest buyer of Vietnamese black gold, quadrupling its spending to import more than 1,200 tonnes of pepper. Vietnams pepper exports have risen sharply. Photo: Hachuco According to statistics from the Customs Department, by mid-February this year Vietnamese enterprises had exported nearly 31,200 tonnes of various types of pepper, earning US$203.3 million. Compared to the same period last year, exports of the commodity often referred to as Vietnams black gold surged 64.3 percent in volume and 58.1 percent in value. Regarding export markets, the US remained the largest customer in January, accounting for 24.5 percent of total pepper shipments. In just one month, exports to the US reached 5,308 tonnes, with an estimated value of US$38.9 million, soaring 89.3 percent in volume and 80.5 percent in value year on year. Last year, the US imported pepper from 54 markets. Among them, Vietnam was the largest supplier, accounting for 71.37 percent of total import volume and 72.77 percent of total import value. Notably, in January Thailand sharply increased its spending, paying nearly US$8.93 million to purchase 1,223 tonnes of Vietnamese pepper. This represented a surge of 354.6 percent in volume and 305.9 percent in value compared to the same period in 2025. As a result, Thailand rose from seventh position to become the second-largest buyer of Vietnamese pepper, accounting for 5.64 percent of total export volume, behind only the US. Exports to several other markets also recorded strong growth. Shipments to the United Arab Emirates rose 220.6 percent in volume and 175.5 percent in value; exports to Canada increased 174.6 percent and 146.1 percent respectively; and exports to Russia grew 98.3 percent in volume and 92.2 percent in value. Currently, domestic pepper prices range from VND149,000 to VND151,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, export prices for black pepper remain stable at US$6,400-6,600 per tonne for grades 500g/l and 550g/l. Tam An Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering W. Sherpa. Photo: Le Anh Dung At the meeting, Ambassador Tshering W. Sherpa affirmed that people-to-people exchanges have played a vital role in connecting and strengthening cooperation between India and Vietnam. The ambassador noted that Minister Dao Ngoc Dung and a delegation from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will soon attend the Festival of Indian Ethnic Groups in New Delhi. The visit by Minister Dao Ngoc Dung to India is a particularly important event. We therefore hope to ensure the best possible preparations, the ambassador emphasized. Speaking at the reception, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung expressed his pleasure at the steadily growing relationship between Vietnam and India. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972 and upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2016. On this occasion, the minister extended his appreciation to the Government and Prime Minister of India, as well as the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, for facilitating Vietnams reception of sacred relics of the Buddha during the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 celebrations. The event, he said, contributed significantly not only to the Vesak celebrations but also to fostering global connection, compassion, and the goodness inherent in humanity. Minister Dao Ngoc Dung highly valued the organization of the Festival of Indian Ethnic Groups, describing it as an important event not only for India but also for many other countries, including Vietnam. It offers an opportunity to reflect, assess, and strengthen coordination among ethnic communities, ensuring equality, solidarity, and shared progress. Minister Dao Ngoc Dung and the Indian delegation. Photo: Le Anh Dung He stressed that, like India, ethnic and religious affairs are strategic issues for Vietnam. The country regards unity among ethnic groups and religions as a strategic objective and a decisive factor in successfully building great national solidarity. We wish to visit India and attend the Festival of Indian Ethnic Groups to witness and learn from your experience, thereby drawing lessons to further improve our own ethnic and religious work in Vietnam, the minister said. Minister Dao Ngoc Dung added that the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will organize a working delegation led by its leadership to visit and work in India. He expressed his hope that, within the framework of the event, Vietnam and India would sign memoranda of understanding on cooperation in ethnic and religious affairs. He voiced confidence that with goodwill, mutual respect, and a strong sense of responsibility, activities aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries will become increasingly substantive and in-depth. Hoang Quy Australian businesses see opportunities for growth at 9th CIIE Xinhua) 15:16, February 27, 2026 SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Australian enterprises, organizations, and industry bodies have voiced their enthusiasm for participating in the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), highlighting the expo as a vital platform to deepen trade ties with China. The CIIE promotion activities held on Thursday and Friday in Sydney attracted nearly 100 businesses and organizations from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania, spanning sectors including agriculture, health, and resources. "We believe the CIIE is a premier platform for our engagement with the Chinese business community and will help us develop our trade," said Susan Kahwati, head of Green Economy and Agrifood at Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), adding that the Australian government is fully committed to supporting an even stronger presence at the event. "The CIIE is our largest investment in an event or an exhibition anywhere in the world, not just in dollars, but also in the effort that we put into going to this and making it worthwhile for our clients that are attending," said Anna Fedeles, general manager of International Operations at Trade and Investment Queensland. While a record number of 256 Australian businesses were represented at the eighth CIIE, Fedeles revealed that Queensland has also sent its largest ever delegation anywhere in the world, with over 110 representatives of more than 50 companies from the Australian state. "We took up about one third of Australia's national pavilion, and the results were really excellent," she said, adding that Queensland secured nearly half of the national total in deals during the six-day event. She attributed the success to their targeted strategy of leveraging e-commerce platforms, live streaming, and key opinion leaders, citing the example of the Australian firefighters who went viral online and drew huge crowds to their booth at CIIE 2025. "(This year,) I hope we have more companies that have never been to China because it's a really good way to test China's consumer interest," said Fedeles. Launched in 2018 as the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the CIIE was designed to expand China's opening up and turn its vast market into a shared opportunity for the world. Preparations for the ninth CIIE in Shanghai are now in full swing, with over 80,000 square meters of its designated business exhibition space already booked. "We are very much looking forward to such a huge trade opportunity to share our products," said Dale Williams, founder and chief distiller of Tasmanian Spirits Pty Ltd, which will make its debut at the upcoming CIIE. A baijiu lover himself, Williams noted that China has a long history of spirits but is still relatively new to whiskey -- an opportunity he sees to introduce something new as part of a cultural exchange. "The Chinese market is very attractive. China has a growing middle class. There is a lot of potential, which is very exciting," he added. Loris H Hassall, a Sydney-based hides and skins supplier, also hopes to find new customers and explore the Chinese market in its first CIIE journey. "Now we participate in many other trade shows in China, and the CIIE seems to be the biggest one," said Andrew Hassall, director of Loris H Hassall Trading Pty Ltd, "It's said to be like the 'Olympics of trade shows', so it could be important." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HELSINKI, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Elisa, a Finnish market leader in telecommunications and digital services, and its international software business Elisa Industriq, will have a robust presence at the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona on 25 March 2026. Now marking its 20th year in Barcelona, MWC is the world's largest and most influential international connectivity and mobile technology event. At MWC, Elisa and Elisa Industriq will showcase exclusive product and solution demos, innovations, collaborative partnerships, and keynotes. On the eve of MWC, Sunday, 1 March, Elisa's COO & EVP, Technology and Operations Sami Komulainen will join the discussion at Nokia's MWC26 press and analyst event. You can follow the event live on YouTube from 14:00 CET. Elisa and Google Cloud at the forefront of developing AI-driven networks Elisa and Google Cloud are accelerating the shift to AI-driven autonomous network operations. Building on Elisa's previous automation development, the collaboration enables Elisa's network to largely run itself, adapt to high-level business goals, and proactively detect and fix issues. Experience the future of autonomous networks, including Elisa's network digital twin and live AI agents, in Hall 2, stand 2H40, ground floor. Solutions for the battle against increasing scam calls Trust in phone numbers is fading at an alarming rate as the prevalence of scam calls rises. With its Fraud Call Prevention Solution, Elisa shows how operators can restore trust and turn security into a competitive advantage. The solution, deployed in Finland, recently won the European Crime Prevention Award. Learn more in Hall 5, 5J45, in the Finland Pavilion. Elisa's CEO Topi Manner will take part in the panel discussion Scam Wars: When AI Joins the Fight on Monday, 2 March at 15:00 CET. Manner will join other top experts in discussing intensifying cyber threats as AI drives automated attacks, generative scams, and convincing deepfakes. Join the session in Hall 6, Turing Stage, to learn how organizations can develop defensive strategies and navigate the ethical and regulatory dilemmas of the AI-driven cybersecurity landscape. Gridle demonstrates how AI-optimized telecom batteries boost revenue and resilience Elisa Industriq's energy optimization unit, Gridle, will showcase how its AI-powered optimization service, connected to RAN batteries, not only strengthens network resilience and operational continuity during blackouts but also unlocks new revenue streams and energy cost savings. Meet the Gridle team in a dedicated meeting room in Hall 3 to explore how energy storage assets can be made smarter and more profitable with Elisa Industriq's AIpowered energy flexibility optimization service. The optimization capabilities also cover industrial, residential and gridscale assets. Polystar helps operators transform their operations with AI and machine learning Elisa Industriq's Polystar is a global leader in smart, data-driven assurance and automation for telecommunications operators. At MWC, Polystar will showcase the latest AI-driven automated assurance innovations and demonstrate the benefits of data management and enhanced analytics through several new AI use cases. Meet the Polystar team in Hall 5, 5F35, and learn how the solutions unlock deeper insights, elevate customer experience, and boost operational efficiency. Further information and interview requests: Elisa's Mediadesk, [email protected], tel. +358 50 305 1605 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/elisa-oyj/r/elisa-and-elisa-industriq-join-mwc-barcelona-2026--showcasing-innovations-in-energy-optimization--au,c4314091 The journey of organ transplantation in Vietnam is a collective effort to extend life and rekindle hope for thousands of patients. From distant dream to proud achievement Doctors and medical staff read words of tribute and observe a moment of silence for the patient before organ retrieval. Photo: The Anh Though starting roughly two decades behind many developed countries, Vietnams transplant field is now achieving milestones that inspire pride within the medical community. More than 30 years after the countrys first kidney transplant in 1992, the specialty has entered a phase of strong growth in both technical mastery and nationwide coordination capacity. According to the National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation, nearly 10,000 organ transplants have been performed to date. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, more than 1,000 transplants were carried out annually at 31 hospitals, making Vietnam the leading country in Southeast Asia in terms of transplant volume. For three decades, from 1992 to 2021, Vietnam was not recorded on the international organ donation and transplant map. In 2022, it was officially included in global statistics for the first time, marking a pivotal transformation. Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, shared that few specialties evoke as much emotion and compassion as transplantation. For patients with end-stage kidney failure who depend on dialysis, the moment a newly transplanted kidney begins producing urine before the abdomen is even closed feels like a miracle. It is a fragile intersection where medicine touches the boundary between life and death. One particularly moving donation and transplant took place on the night of February 22, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. A young man suffered a ruptured cerebral vascular malformation, and in their grief, his family agreed to donate multiple organs. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co encourages the father of an organ donor at Bach Mai Hospital. Photo: The Anh The national coordination system was immediately activated, accessing the transplant waiting list to identify suitable recipients. Within hours, medical teams from Ho Chi Minh City and several other hospitals arrived at Bach Mai Hospital to carry out organ retrieval and transplantation procedures. The donated heart was urgently transported to Ho Chi Minh City amid heavy post-holiday traffic. Thanks to coordination with police and aviation authorities, six hours after leaving Hanoi, the heart began beating again in the chest of an 11-year-old child. That same night, hundreds of medical professionals from seven hospitals worked tirelessly. By the following morning, eight lives had been saved. A 64-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease received a lung transplant and could breathe freely again. The donated liver was split in two, saving a 23-month-old child and a patient with decompensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C who had waited more than a year. Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co reflected that two decades ago, when he was studying in the US, such achievements were only dreams. Today, Vietnamese surgeons not only perform heart, liver and lung transplants but also master advanced techniques such as liver splitting and are moving toward lung splitting - procedures that demand high-level expertise and flawless coordination. Accelerating in technique and coordination A heart transplant performed at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: BVCC. Associate Professor Dong Van He from the National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation said Vietnam has now mastered transplantation of six solid organs: kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and intestine. Kidney transplants account for the largest share, with nearly 9,000 cases performed. More than 750 liver transplants and over 120 heart transplants have been conducted, while lung and complex multi-organ transplants are increasing steadily. Post-transplant survival rates are high: 90-95 percent for kidney, 80-90 percent for liver and 85-90 percent for heart transplants. Many kidney recipients have gone on to conceive and give birth, and some transplanted organs have functioned for 25 to 30 years before requiring replacement. In 2025, Vietnam marked another historic milestone by successfully performing its first simultaneous heart-lung transplant, joining the limited number of countries capable of mastering such a complex procedure. These successes stem not only from surgical skill. According to Dr. Tran Cong Duy Long, Head of the Hepatobiliary Oncology and Liver Transplant Unit and Deputy Head of the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, transplantation represents the convergence of multiple specialties: surgery, anesthesia and resuscitation, intensive care, diagnostic imaging, laboratory medicine, infection control, pharmacy and rehabilitation, alongside the coordinated efforts of administrative departments. Doctors from the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City transport a donated heart from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: UMC. Whenever news of organ donation emerges, the entire system operates like a life-saving machine. Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co emphasized that Vietnam has built a closed-loop organ donation and transplantation chain, from brain death diagnosis and national coordination to organ preservation, transport, simultaneous transplantation at multiple centers and long-term post-transplant follow-up. Increasingly effective inter-hospital and inter-regional collaboration helps optimize donated organs and improve recipients quality of life. Recipients are randomly selected through the national system. Though entering the field two decades after many developed countries, Vietnams determination, synchronized legal framework and growing spirit of community compassion are helping narrow the gap and gradually affirm the nations position on the regional and international medical map. Looking ahead, Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co believes that expanding communication about the humanitarian meaning of organ donation will help dispel the notion that the body must remain intact after death. With a stable donor source, transplant medicine can save even more lives. Phuong Thuy Shrimp exports in 2025 hit a record of US$4.6 billion. Photo: Hoang Ha Despite a turbulent 2025, Vietnams shrimp exports reached a record US$4.6 billion, marking a robust 19 percent increase compared to the previous year. This is the highest level ever recorded by the countrys shrimp industry. Last year, China and the US remained Vietnams two largest shrimp import markets, with export turnover reaching US$1.23 billion, up 61 percent, and US$796 million, up 5 percent, respectively. Notably, Vietnamese shrimp has just received encouraging news from the US market. The US Department of Commerce announced the final results of the 19th administrative review, known as POR19, of the anti-dumping duty order on frozen warmwater shrimp imported from Vietnam, covering the period from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024. Under the final determination, two Vietnamese companies - Soc Trang Seafood Joint Stock Company (STAPIMEX) and Thong Thuan Company, including Thong Thuan Cam Ranh - are subject to an adverse facts available rate of 25.76 percent. The corresponding cash deposit rate, after deducting export subsidies, stands at 25.46 percent. This duty is applied directly to shrimp shipments exported by these companies to the US. For companies eligible for a separate rate but not selected for mandatory review, the Department of Commerce set a margin of 4.58 percent and a cash deposit rate of 4.28 percent. Compared to the preliminary results announced in June 2025, the final outcome represents a positive adjustment. In the preliminary findings, all 22 Vietnamese companies under review, including STAPIMEX, were subject to a proposed rate of up to 35.29 percent - the highest level in more than 19 years of administrative reviews in the anti-dumping case against Vietnamese shrimp. The downward revision of the final rates is seen as a constructive signal. It helps ease cost pressures on exporters and creates more favorable conditions for contract negotiations and the maintenance of supply to the US market. Beyond the US, Vietnams billion-dollar shrimp sector has also received good news from China. Vietnam has overtaken Canada to become the largest lobster supplier to the worlds most populous nation. According to data from Chinas General Administration of Customs, in 2025 Vietnam exported 24,067 tonnes of lobster to China, accounting for about 34.5 percent of total imports. Canada followed with 15,355 tonnes, or roughly 22 percent market share. In 2024, Canada ranked first with 44 percent of Chinas total lobster imports, while Vietnam held second place with about 18 percent. Data from the Vietnam Customs Department show that shrimp exports to China, including Hong Kong, reached US$1.23 billion. Of this, green lobster was the clear growth driver, generating US$840 million, up 131 percent compared to 2024. In January 2026 alone, Vietnams green lobster exports to this market reached approximately US$100.2 million, a 6 percent increase year on year. These figures suggest that demand momentum has remained solid at the start of 2026, even as competition intensifies. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), although lobster exports to China are maintaining a stable pace, the competitive landscape could shift quickly from March 2026 if Canadian lobster sees its 25 percent tariff officially removed. Canada would then have greater incentive to reclaim market share in high-end restaurant channels and the premium gift segment, while Australia continues to strengthen its presence following the restoration of trade. Amid increasingly segmented consumer demand in China, the premium segment still holds room for growth. However, Vietnamese enterprises seeking to sustain momentum will need to ensure consistent quality, standardize product specifications, optimize live and fresh logistics, and enhance direct connections with modern distribution networks. Statistics from the Vietnam Customs Department show that by February 15, the countrys seafood export turnover had reached nearly US$1.46 billion, placing seafood among the top three agricultural export categories at present. In 2026, total seafood output is targeted to exceed 10 million tonnes, including about 3.75 million tonnes from capture fisheries and an estimated 6.25 million tonnes from aquaculture. Seafood export turnover is expected to reach approximately US$11.5 billion. Tam An In recent days, although harvest time has arrived, dozens of hectares of watermelon in Ia Mo commune, Gia Lai, have remained exposed under the sun. Many fruits have ripened beyond use and deteriorated, leaving growers and local residents anxious. The situation is believed to stem from a purchasing dispute between traders and farmers. At the fields, under prolonged heat, most of the vines have withered, leaving hundreds of tonnes of watermelon scattered across the ground. A few still retain their green rind, but the majority have turned yellow, softened and begun to rot, rendering them unusable. Lam Van Sau, born in 1973 and residing in Tay Son commune, Gia Lai, said that in 2025 he and two other households rented 25 hectares of land in Ia Mo to cultivate watermelon. When the plants had just begun to flower, Bui Thi Thanh Thuy, residing in Phu Cat commune, Gia Lai, along with traders, came to negotiate the purchase of the entire area at VND17 million per 500 square meters, equivalent to VND340 million per hectare, approximately US$13,600. After reaching agreement, Thuys side transferred a total of VND7.3 billion (US$292,000), in two installments to Saus group, leaving about VND1.2 billion (US$48,000), unpaid under the original deal. According to Sau, when the watermelons ripened and he informed Thuy to proceed with harvesting, the traders instead proposed switching to a weight-based purchase at VND4,000 per kilogram. As this price was not accepted, harvesting was abandoned, resulting in hundreds of tonnes of spoiled fruit. Each crop lasts about 70 days, with total costs exceeding VND5 billion (US$200,000). Selling under the initial agreement would still bring profit. But at VND4,000 per kilogram, we would suffer heavy losses. How could we repay the bank? If prices fell, traders could have negotiated down to VND12 to 13 million per sao (500 square meters), and we might have considered it, Sau said. Regarding the contract, Sau explained that watermelon transactions have long been conducted through handwritten agreements without notarization. The document clearly stated an area of 500sq.m at VND17 million, with a clause that prices would not be renegotiated whether rising or falling. After signing, the buyer transferred the agreed deposit. Meanwhile, Ha Thi Le Thu, who provided the funds for the purchase, confirmed that her mother, Bui Thi Thanh Thuy, had agreed to buy the crop and transferred a total of VND7.5 billion (US$300,000), including VND7.3 billion actually paid and VND200 million from a previous debt. However, Thu said the watermelon yield and quality did not meet expectations and could not be exported. I bought the watermelon for export, not for domestic sale, so the quality requirements are high. As the fruit did not meet export standards, I proposed a purchase price of VND4,500 per kilogram and that we would bear harvesting costs, but Mr. Sau did not agree, Thu said. She added that while the two sides had discussed purchasing a certain area, discrepancies were found upon actual inspection compared to the initial understanding, and therefore a formal contract was never finalized. According to Thu, many nearby farmers also agreed to sell at VND17 million per 500 square meters and received deposits of VND16 million per 500 square meters. Yet due to unusual weather affecting quality, some households accepted revised prices of VND4,000 to VND4,200 per kilogram. Regarding the case, Tran Quyet Thang, Chairman of the Ia Mo commune Peoples Committee, said that at the traders request, local authorities organized a mediation session. However, the watermelon-growing households did not attend, and the session could not proceed. Thang added that given the large sums transferred under the agreement, the commune authorities have suggested that the parties may file a lawsuit in court to resolve the dispute in accordance with the law. Dozens of hectares of watermelons went unharvested and were left to rot, causing losses worth billions of dong. Photo: L.K When the plants had just begun to flower, traders came to negotiate the purchase of the entire area at VND17 million (approximately US$680) per 500 square meters, equivalent to VND340 million per hectare (approximately US$13,600). Photo: L.K Due to unusual weather that affected the quality of the watermelons, traders revised their purchasing plan, offering VND4,000 - 4,200 per kilogram (approximately US$0.16 - 0.17). Photo: L.K A handwritten agreement on the purchase and sale between traders and watermelon growers. Tran Hoan SHANGRAO, China, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), a global leader in clean energy technology, today announced that its majority-owned principal operating subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. ("Jiangxi Jinko"), published certain preliminary unaudited consolidated financial results as of and for the full year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results"), prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC GAAP"). For full year 2025, (i) the preliminary unaudited revenues of Jiangxi Jinko were RMB65.49 billion, a decrease of 29.18% year-on-year, (ii) the preliminary unaudited net loss attributable to shareholders of Jiangxi Jinko was RMB6.79 billion, compared to net profit attributable to the shareholders of Jiangxi Jinko of RMB98.9 million in 2024, and (iii) the preliminary unaudited net loss attributable to shareholders of Jiangxi Jinko, excluding non-recurring gains and losses, was RMB7.64 billion. These results were primarily attributable to a decline in the profitability of Jiangxi Jinko's main business due to a fall in the selling prices of its photovoltaic products. A summary of key financial data from the Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results is set forth below. As of December 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 Change (RMB) (RMB) ( %) (unaudited) (audited) Total assets 119,158,905,900 121,109,877,900 (1.61) Total equity attributable to parent company 25,461,709,900 32,309,559,900 (21.19) For the Full Year Ended December 31, 2025 For the Full Year Ended December 31, 2024 Change Compared to Full Year Ended December 31, 2024 (RMB) (RMB) ( %) (unaudited) (audited) Total operating revenue 65,491,917,400 92,471,327,200 (29.18) Operating profit/(loss) (9,105,563,400) 792,964,200 (1,248.29) Loss before income taxes (9,108,627,100) (77,056,600) N/A Net profit/(loss) attributable to owners of parent company (6,785,932,400) 98,927,600 (6,959.50) Net loss attributable to owners of parent company, excluding non- recurring gains and losses (7,643,186,700) (932,295,600) N/A Weighted average return on equity (%) (23.49) 0.30 Decreased by 23.79 Basic earnings/(loss) per share (RMB/share) (0.68) 0.01 (6,900.00) Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results are unaudited and are subject to change upon the completion of the audit process for full year 2025. Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results should not be viewed as a substitute for the full financial statements of Jiangxi Jinko prepared in accordance with PRC GAAP. Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results differ from JinkoSolar's consolidated financial results (the "Consolidated Financials"), due to (i) the consolidation scope of the Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results differing from that of the Consolidated Financials as the former are prepared solely for Jiangxi Jinko, whereas the Consolidated Financials also include financial statements from JinkoSolar and its other subsidiaries, and (ii) differences in accounting standards and principles used to prepare the Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results and the Consolidated Financials. Specifically, the Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results are prepared in accordance with PRC GAAP, whereas the Consolidated Financials are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. As such, investors in JinkoSolar should exercise caution when reviewing the Jiangxi Jinko Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results included in this press release and are advised not to base their investment decisions solely on such preliminary unaudited financial results. JinkoSolar currently owns approximately 55.59% equity interest in Jiangxi Jinko. About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar had over 10 productions facilities globally, over 20 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, and other countries, and a global sales network with sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Vietnam and India, as of September 30, 2025. To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com Safe-Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, " "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Ms. Stella Wang JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806 Email: [email protected] Mr. Christian Arnell Tel: +852 2117 0861 Email: [email protected] In the U.S.: Email: [email protected] SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. Inspired by Redbreast's historic ties with fortified wines, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is first matured in a selection of ex-American whiskey casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, followed by a final maturation period of 16 months in Malaga Moscatel casks. Bottled at 46% ABV, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is rich in Mediterranean expression, bringing a noticeably elegant and more citrus forward personality to the whiskey. Across several decades, McCabe and former Master Blender Billy Leighton have developed deep relationships with cask producers and winemakers throughout the Iberian Peninsula, inviting whiskey enthusiasts on a journey of discovery across this region. For this sun-soaked release, the team at Midleton Distillery partnered with Bodegas Quitapenas in Malaga, now led by fifthgeneration custodians Marta Suarez Prieto and Victor Suarez OnrubiaI. Under their careful watch, these curated hogsheads made from European Oak were seasoned with Moscatel wine for two years before being shipped to Midleton Distillery, where they were filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. With a complex flavor journey, the whiskey opens with notes of fresh, sweet tangerine and twisted orange peel, accompanied by delicate herbal notes of chamomile tea with dustings of nutmeg and cedarwood. The wine-seasoned oak imparts vanilla, with notes of floral honey and sugar glazed fruits, while the pot still spices add subtle notes of black peppercorn and clove in the background. "The launch of Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is a celebration of Redbreast's heritage, craftsmanship, and incredible legacy dating back to the late 1800s," said Master Blender, David McCabe. "The use of Spanish Moscatel-seasoned casks is a tribute to Redbreast's historic ties to sherry and fortified wines, and our appreciation for the incredible people across the region, including Marta and her family at Bodegas Quitapenas, which was founded in 1880. Their remarkable family heritage inspired the richness and depth of this expression." "It has been a great honor to work with David and his team at Midleton on the launch of Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition, which pays such a wonderful tribute to our rich family history," said Marta Suarez Prieto of Bodegas Quitapenas. "Along with my cousin Victor, we have taken great care to season the casks perfectly, to ensure the new expression is infused with wonderful flavor notes of sweet honey, dates and caramelized fruits alongside gentle herbal, floral and citrus tones." Crafted to be enjoyed neat or over ice, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is available at RedbreastWhiskey.com (SRP: $109.99). To learn more, follow @RedbreastUS #RedbreastWhiskey #QuiteTheFind #RedbreastMoscatel. *Based on the tasting results of eight global blind tasting competitions in 2025, including The Irish Whiskey Masters, International Wine & Spirit Competition, International Spirits Competition, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, World Whiskies Awards, Beverage Testing Institute, New York World Spirits Competition and Asia World Spirits Competition. About Irish Distillers Irish Distillers, a Pernod Ricard company, is a producer of some of the world's most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys and Ireland's leading supplier of spirits and wines. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the success of Irish whiskey globally. Jameson is the world's bestselling and most awarded Irish whiskey, a top 3 selling international whiskey brand and a top 10 international spirits brand, achieving +1% net sales growth globally in FY24. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets around the world. Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son, and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. In 2025, Midleton Distillery celebrated 200 years of distilling excellence by unveiling stories from the Irish Distillers archives and hosting a series of special whiskey launches and events. We employ over 800 people across our operations in Cork, Dublin and Northern Ireland. About Pernod Ricard USA Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila, Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Codigo 1530, Monkey 47 Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Lillet, Jefferson's Bourbon, TX Whiskey, Skrewball Whiskey, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Sainte Marguerite en Provence rose.; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne, Mumm Napa. Pernod Ricard USA is headquartered in New York, New York, and has more than 1,000 employees across the country. As creators of conviviality, we are committed to sustainable and responsible business practices in service of our customers, consumers, employees and the planet. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active program to promote responsible drinking. For more information, visit: www.pernod-ricard-usa.com . Media Contacts Pernod Ricard USA [email protected] Articulate [email protected] Correction: An earlier version of this release was updated to remove duplicated content. SOURCE Redbreast Irish Whiskey On February 26, the Hanoi Innovation Centre JSC was launched at the headquarters of Hanoi People's Committee. Positioned as a 'central brain' for innovation, the centre aims to address urban development challenges, support the national innovation ecosystem, advance the digital economy and society, improve quality of life, and foster creative industries linked to Hanoi's identity. Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of Hanoi Peoples Committee For the first time, Hanoi will be home to an innovation institution operating as a joint stock company with state capital, while adhering to modern corporate governance standards including financial transparency, risk control, and accountability to shareholders and the law. The 70 per cent state ownership is intended to safeguard development objectives rather than micromanage business operations. "This centre represents more than the creation of a new organisation," said Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee. "It embodies a state-guided, enterprise-operated model that shifts innovation governance from policy-driven support towards market-based mechanisms." Dung described the move as a structural transition: from administrative allocation to co-investment and risk-sharing; from fragmented support to ecosystem coordination; and from a startup movement to a standardised value chain measured by results. Within a clear and disciplined market framework, innovation can become a genuine productive force for the capital, he said. Hanoi Peoples Committee handing over certificates to partners of the new centre The centre outlined three core priorities. First, it aims to engage the global innovation community to tackle Hanois practical urban challenges, including traffic congestion, pollution and data governance. The city seeks to pilot advanced technologies and business models through controlled experimentation, ranging from AI and autonomous mobility to fintech, digital assets and creative industries rooted in local culture. Second, the centre will pursue an outward-facing strategy designed to encourage Vietnamese tech entrepreneurs and professionals with international experience to return, register operations and contribute to the local economy. Returning founders bring not only revenue and tax contributions but also global networks, venture capital connections and international management expertise. The centre also hopes to attract young foreign founders to build teams and launch start-ups in Vietnam, leveraging competitive labour costs and Hanois dynamic environment. Third, the centres domestic strategy emphasises coordination and support for local creative industries at a time when multinational platforms increasingly dominate segments of the digital economy. The goal is to foster a fair competitive environment grounded in innovation and practical support for start-ups. To implement these priorities, the centre introduced a four-stage innovation pipeline. The connection stage gathers development challenges from both public and private sectors in a common framework, mobilising talent from secondary schools, universities, research institutes, and the Vietnamese diaspora. The incubation stage transforms ideas into testable products, using AI as a 'co-founder' to accelerate development and market entry. The platform-building stage supports business registration, corporate structuring, intellectual property, cloud infrastructure, public-private partnerships and venture capital access through a shared digital platform. The scaling stage focuses on commercialisation and growth acceleration, supported by venture capital funds, including a leading role from Hanois insurance investment fund. Between 2026 and 2030, the city targets the incubation of more than 200 innovative start-ups and mobilisation of over VND500 billion ($20 million) in funding. With new governance reform, the centre acts as a bridge linking urban development challenges, such as smart transport, digital healthcare, education, environment and urban security, to research institutions and businesses through transparent competition and measurable socioeconomic outcomes. Tran Quang Hung, chairman of Hanoi Innovation Centre JSC At the event, Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung, director of Hanoi Public Security, stressed the importance of technology in ensuring urban security. With high population density and rapid urbanisation, the force handles thousands of cases daily, requiring faster response times and higher accuracy. Based on a digital mapping system transferred to the city in December, the police are collaborating with the centre to develop a digital public security management ecosystem. This includes real-time patrol coordination, AI-powered camera systems capable of recognising individuals and vehicles, behavioural analytics, and aerial monitoring using unmanned aerial vehicles. The integrated system will improve response efficiency, enhance incident handling and optimise budget resources, he said. Meanwhile, the centre proposed a citizen-focused super-app integrating navigation, ride-sharing, asset management, connectivity with national digital identity platforms and the iHanoi application. Initially targeting six million existing iHanoi users, the solution will be piloted in Hanoi before wider rollout. Tran Quang Hung, chairman of Hanoi Innovation Centre JSC, said, Innovation must translate into tangible benefits for residents, shaping daily experiences across transport, security, environment and public services. Closing the event, Dung called on technology firms, major corporations, investment funds, academic institutions and domestic and international partners to collaborate with the city. The centre as a shared innovation space where development challenges are openly presented, solutions responsibly tested, and public-private resources mobilised to generate new value, he said. With its institutional structure, modern governance model and clear strategic direction, the centre is expected to convert scientific and technological momentum into tangible economic outcomes, contributing to Hanois development in the years ahead. Innovation and ESG practices drive green transition in the digital era Innovation and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices are becoming critical enablers for businesses to access capital, particularly green credit and green bonds at preferential costs, while strengthening long-term competitiveness. NAB Innovation Centre underscores Vietnams appeal for tech investment Vietnam continues to attract high-quality foreign investment in technology and innovation, as global financial institutions expand their digital operations in the country. Kurz is a leading international company in thin-film technology and a market leader in the hot-stamping field. Kurz Vietnam was founded in 2021 and wholly invested by Kurz. The company is designated to become the third production and technology centre of the company in Asia. The milestone marks not just expansion, but a clear strategic step forward for the companys long-term development in Vietnam. Phase 2 covers an additional 1.4 hectares, increasing capacity by 25 million square metres of product per year. The total investment will increase by approximately VND830 billion ($31.85 million). The factory is scheduled to be put into operation by the end of 2028. Phase 2 is more than a new production hall. It is about scaling capabilities, enhancing efficiency, and preparing for the technologies of tomorrow while remaining fully committed to sustainability, safety, and responsible manufacturing. Once completed, the factory will create stable jobs for local workers, improve workforce quality, boost supporting industries, and make a positive contribution to the provinces overall growth. In Phase 1, with a capacity of 15 million sq.m of product per year, the plant has supplied high-quality decorative and surface protection products for the supply chains of the automotive and household electronics industries. In Phase 2, the project will increase the sci-tech and knowledge content across the companys entire value chain, supporting digital transformation and optimising operations. It will add key business lines such as programming services, software production services, computer consultancy, and IT infrastructure management. Germany's Schwalbe expands its export distribution centre in Vietnam German tyre brand Schwalbe is expanding its export distribution centre in Vietnam in collaboration with its long-standing logistics partner, Kuehne+Nagel. German strengths match Vietnamese aspirations German cooperation prospects in 2026 Vietnam and Germany are intensifying multifaceted ties fuelled by their strategic partnership. Helga Margarete Barth, German Ambassador to Vietnam, looks at how the relationship has been flourishing, with chances and prospects for economic, trade, and investment cooperation in 2026. Motorists are being warned of a police-escorted abnormal load travelling to the Posthouse Roundabout next week. North Wales Police say the load will travel from the port of Mostyn at midday on Monday, 2 March. It will travel along the A55 towards Junction 38 at the Posthouse Roundabout. Police say the route runs along the A548 and A5119. A spokesperson said: Please allow extra time for journeys and use alternative routes where necessary. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com February 26, 2026: Last year the Israeli military ordered the withdrawal of 700 Chinese-made automobiles from use by military officers and their families. The IDF/Israeli Defense Forces augments the pay of senior officers by supplying vehicles they can use to carry out their official duties as well as at home with their families. The cars were withdrawn from use because Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, believed that because the cars were equipped with cameras, microphones, sensors, and GPS operating within closed Chinese operating systems, they were a security risk. The information was transmitted, via the internet, to China where the automobile manufacturer used the data for quality control. It was believed that this information, along with the identities of the users, was shared with Chinese intelligence agencies. Israel has had problems with Chinese espionage within its borders before. The current situation is more high-tech than previous ones and the Chinese are not expected to halt their efforts to spy on Israel. Its not just Israel. Chinese espionage efforts are underway worldwide. A, if not the main target is the United States. China has been spying or collecting information about the United States since the early 1800s, when the first Chinese diplomatic mission was established. Since then, despite revolutions, civil war, and the establishment of two Chinas in 1949, there has been some Chinese espionage activity in America. Since World War II, the FBI, CIA, and State Department have been involved in monitoring and seeking to thwart Chinese espionage activities. These involve a long list of activities. For example, in 2019, the FBI arrested Zhongsan Liu, an employee of the Chinese government. His job was management at the New Jersey branch of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, or CAIEP. Since 2017, Liu was observed arranging illegal visas for Chinese recruiters who used CAIEP and Confucius Institutes at six American universities, where these recruiters sought suitable students or faculty for espionage operations. Liu had spent the last 26 years working for CAIEP and was believed to have been active in the Thousand Talents Plan since its inception in 2008. That was about the same time the Confucius Institute program began in 2004 as a means of cultural exchange and, it was later discovered, a means of observing and controlling Chinese students attending foreign universities. As time went by, it was discovered that the Confucius Institutes were more about intelligence work than cultural education. Many of the staff at the Confucius Institutes are Chinese with PhDs and J-1 research visas. As successful as this espionage effort was, most Chinese Americans approached by recruiters were not interested and politely declined. A growing number quietly reported their encounters to the FBI or to friends who could do it for them. The Chinese knew this was a risk and felt it was acceptable, given the amount of intellectual property that was being stolen and put to work back in China. Another calculated risk was the Confucius Institutes being exposed as extensions of Chinese espionage efforts and organizing Chinese students to protest against whatever the Chinese government wanted to protest. Many of the students agreed with their government and were not just following orders when they protested some American affront. But these Chinese students, usually in America for the first time, began to doubt some of the issues they were sent out to protest about. This was especially true with the Hong Kong protests, which had been massive. The Hong Kong Chinese want democracy, and the official Chinese Communist Party (CCP) line is that democracy is inefficient and not suitable for China or the Chinese. Many overseas Chinese, as in Taiwan, Singapore, and other Western countries, would disagree. The CCP considers these Chinese misled and in need of reeducation or perhaps the benefits of CCP rule. Over the last decade, the United States has been prosecuting and convicting a growing number of Chinese-born men, and a few women, for conspiring to commit or actually carrying out economic and other espionage in the United States. Some of these suspects were naturalized American citizens, but a growing number were Chinese citizens here on legitimate visas. As more suspects were identified, patterns began to appear, and these revealed the inner workings of known Chinese intellectual property espionage efforts. It was known that China had a state-sponsored program to make it easy for foreign-educated Chinese to return home and apply what they had learned in the West to start their own companies. China has made available over $20 billion in venture capital for this program. State-controlled media reported that the government had established nearly a hundred equity investment management operations to run 152 funds and seven debt financing service organizations. All this was to help the nearly 50,000 returning Chinese from the West establish their own companies using what they learned in the West. This program helped create thousands of new firms. Many of these companies were using stolen trade secrets and patents that were being laundered, that is, changed sufficiently to make it difficult for the owners of the stolen intellectual property to easily prove theft. The FBI and CIA again noted patterns. While many of the returning Chinese students were operating legally, a large number of those new Chinese firms were operating illegally with stolen intellectual property. There were other patterns as well. A lot of the stolen tech seemed to involve those associated with CAIEP, the Thousand Talents Plan, and the Thousand Talents Venture Capital Center. That eventually led to the hundreds of Confucius Institutes associated with Western universities, including a hundred in the United States. This, in turn, led to the arrest of Zhongsan Liu and his prosecution for massive visa fraud via Confucius Institute exchange programs. Many of the convictions are for conspiring to steal or actually stealing trade secrets. Many of the technologies involved are dual-use for commercial and military applications. Many of these investigations begin when American companies provide the FBI with documentation showing how the Chinese obtained and applied the trade secrets. What the American firms usually lacked was information about who was getting the information, often including detailed manufacturing techniques, to the Chinese. The U.S. is not the only victim here. Many other Western nations are experiencing the same losses. Even Chinese neighbor and ally Russia has suffered heavy losses due to this Chinese economic espionage. There have been many more court cases about this because Chinese firms have become bolder in how they exploit stolen software, trade secrets, and other technology. In the past, the Chinese were careful in their use of stolen tech when exporting their own military equipment copied from Russian designs. The Chinese had started doing this during the Cold War, which sometimes caused tense relations with the Russians. There were some deadly border skirmishes in the 1970s. This came about because China and Russia developed some territorial and ideological disputes that did not settle down until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. The Russians are still angry about continued Chinese theft of their tech, and growing Russian threats over this caused the Chinese to eventually sign agreements declaring that Chinese firms would stop stealing and reselling Russian tech. In practice, this only slowed the Chinese down, but it placated the Russians for a while. Currently, the Americans are starting to sound like the Russians in the 1990s, but the Americans have more legal and economic clout to deploy. By 2012, most American officials had come to openly admit that a great deal of American military and commercial technical data had been stolen via Chinese internet-based and conventional espionage efforts. Details of exactly all the evidence of this are unclear, but apparently, it was pretty convincing for many American politicians and senior officials who had previously been skeptical. These Chinese efforts have resulted in most major American weapons systems having tech details obtained by the Chinese, in addition to a lot of non-defense or dual-use technology. Its not just the United States that is being hit but most nations with anything worth stealing. Many of these nations are noticing that China is the source of most of this espionage, and few are content to remain silent any longer. Its no secret that Chinese intelligence collection efforts since the late 1990s have been spectacularly successful. As the rest of the world comes to realize the extent of this success, there is a building desire for retaliation. What form that payback will take remains to be seen. Collecting information, both military and commercial, often means breaking laws, and striking or hacking back at the suspected attackers will involve even more felonies. China has broken many laws. Technically, China has committed acts of war because of the degree to which it penetrated military networks and carried away copies of highly secret material. The U.S. and many other victims have been warning China there will be consequences. As the extent of Chinese espionage becomes known and understood, the call for consequences becomes louder. China has tried hard to conceal its espionage efforts, not just denying anything and everything connected to its hacking and conventional spying, but also taking precautions. But as their success continued year after year, some of the Chinese hackers became cocky and sloppy. At the same time, the victims became more adept at detecting Chinese efforts and tracing them back to specific Chinese government organizations or non-government hackers inside China. Undeterred, China has sought to keep its espionage effort going and has even expanded operations. For example, starting in 2008, China opened National Intelligence Colleges in many major universities. In effect, each of these is an Espionage Department where, each year, several hundred carefully selected applicants are accepted in each school to be trained as spies and intelligence operatives. China has found that espionage is an enormously profitable way to obtain military and commercial secrets, so now China trains and rewards those who have a talent for such things and make a career of it. The internet-based operations, however, are only one part of Chinas espionage efforts. While Chinese cyberwar operations in this area get a lot of publicity, the more conventional spying brings in a lot of material that is not reachable on the internet. One indicator of this effort is the fact that American counterintelligence efforts are snagging more Chinese spies. This is partly due to increased spying efforts by China, which puts more of their people out there to get caught, as well as more success by the FBI and CIA. All this espionage, in all its forms, has played a large part in turning China into one of the mightiest industrial and military powers on the planet. China is having a hard time hiding the source of the new technologies they are incorporating into their weapons and commercial products. Many of the victims initially had a hard time accepting the fact that the oh-so-eager-to-export Chinese were robbing their best customers of intellectual property on a grand scale. Now, Western firms are much more wary about dealing with the Chinese. China has been getting away with something the Soviet Union never accomplished: stealing Western technology and then using it to move ahead of the West. The Soviets lacked the many essential supporting industries found in the West. These firms were usually founded and run by entrepreneurs. This sort of thing was illegal in the Soviet Union. Because of that, the Russians were never able to acquire all the many pieces needed to match Western technical accomplishments. Soviet copies of American computers, for example, were crude, less reliable, and less powerful. It was the same situation with their jet fighters, tanks, and warships. China gets around this by making it seemingly profitable for Western firms to set up factories in China, where Chinese managers and workers can be taught how to make things correctly. At the same time, China allows thousands of its best students to go to the United States to study. While many of these students will stay in America, where there are better jobs and more opportunities, a growing number are coming back to China and bringing American business and technical skills with them. Finally, China energetically uses the Thousand Grains of Sand approach to espionage. This involves China trying to get all Chinese going overseas, and those of Chinese ancestry living outside the motherland, to spy for China, if only a tiny bit. This approach to espionage is nothing new. Other nations have used similar systems for centuries. What is unusual is the scale of the Chinese effort, and that makes a difference. Supporting it all is a Chinese intelligence bureaucracy back home that is huge, with nearly 100,000 people working just to keep track of the many Chinese overseas and what they could, or should, be trying to grab for the motherland. This is where many of the graduates of the National Intelligence College program will work. It begins when Chinese intelligence officials examine who is going overseas and for what purpose. Chinese citizens cannot legally leave the country without the state security organizations being notified. The intel people are not being asked to give permission. They are alerted in case they want to have a talk with students, tourists, or businesspeople before leaving the country. Interviews are often held when these people come back as well. Those who might come in contact with useful information are asked to remember what they saw or bring back souvenirs. Over 100,000 Chinese students go off to foreign universities each year. Even more go abroad as tourists or on business. Most of these people are not asked to actually act as spies but simply to share, with Chinese government officials, who are not always identified as intelligence personnel, whatever information they obtained. The more ambitious of these people are getting caught and prosecuted. But the majority are quite casual, individually bringing back relatively little and are almost impossible to catch, much less prosecute. Like the Russians, the Chinese are also employing traditional methods, using people with diplomatic immunity to recruit spies and offering cash, or whatever, to get people to sell them information. This is still effective, and when combined with the Thousand Grains of Sand methods, brings in a lot of secrets. The final ingredient is a shadowy venture capital operation, sometimes called Project 863, that offers money for Chinese entrepreneurs who will turn the stolen technology into something real. No questions asked. If you can get back to China with the secrets, you are home free and potentially very rich. This is the approach Chinese firms are often set up to do, and little else. While these firms are technically supposed to develop new technologies in China, the unofficial mandate is to steal as much as possible from other nations and not get caught. Not getting caught is becoming more important because that can lead to increasingly dangerous diplomatic and legal problems. When the Chinese steal some technology and produce something that the Western victims can prove was stolen, via patents and prior use of the technology, legal action can make it impossible, or very difficult, to sell anything using the stolen tech outside of China. For that reason, the Chinese long preferred stealing military technology and tried to avoid using stolen commercial tech in a way that made it easy to determine the source of stolen data. This meant keeping stolen commercial technology inside China. And in some cases, like manufacturing technology, theres an advantage to not selling it outside of China. Because China is still a communist dictatorship, the courts do as they are told, and they are rarely told to honor foreign patent claims when stolen tech is discovered in China by its foreign owners. But increasingly, Chinese firms are boldly using their stolen technology, daring foreign firms to try to use Chinese courts to get justice. Instead, the foreign firms are trying to muster support from their governments for lawsuits outside China. Naturally, the Chinese government will howl and insist that its all a plot to oppress China. This has worked for a long time, but many of the victims are now telling China that this conflict is being taken to a new and more dangerous level. A massive blaze spotted by a ski area camera left firefighters hurt and a home heavily damaged. Flames tore through a multi-story home in Meyers early Friday, sending two firefighters to the hospital and drawing a response from multiple agencies. According to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District in an online post, at 1:44 a.m. this morning, crews, along with South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado Unit, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, and CHP South Lake Tahoe personnel, responded to a structure fire on Ulmeca Street. When crews arrived, they found a large multi-story residential structure with a heavy amount of smoke and fire coming from the second floor, according to the district. The fire was so large that the Alert California Wildfire camera located at Heavenly Ski Area alerted to it. The home was undergoing renovation and sustained major damage. Two firefighters were injured while fighting the fire and were taken to a hospital for evaluation. Fire officials did not release details about the extent of their injuries. One person was staying in the home at the time of the fire but was able to escape without injury. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (The Lake Valley Fire Protection District contributed to this story.) A small Nevada town is set to become home to a first-of-its-kind tribute honoring WWII service members. The Town of Gardnerville has been selected as the preferred location for a national monument honoring World War II service members of Basque descent. The North American Basque Organization announced the decision during its February 13 meeting in San Francisco. The monument is planned for a prominent site at Heritage Park, chosen over competing locations in Idaho, California, and Nevada. Jean Flesher, president of N.A.B.O., said Gardnervilles strong Basque heritage and long-standing relationship with the Basque community made it an ideal choice. The towns historic ties to the regions sheep industry are reflected in its Basque heritage, especially in local restaurants. Gardnerville is also home to three highly decorated WWII service members of Basque descent, the Etchemendy brothers. The choice of Gardnerville is deeply meaningful, Flesher said. Its a place where Basque culture has thrived for generations, and where my own familys story began. Having the monument here connects our history, our service, and our families in a powerful way. Were proud that this tribute will stand in a town that continues to honor the contributions of the Basque people. To date, more than 2,150 WWII service members of Basque descent have been identified across 30 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Nevada accounts for 311 of them, trailing only California, 869, and Idaho 329. The National Basque WWII Veterans Memorial will be the first monument in the United States dedicated exclusively to honoring veterans of Basque ancestry who served during the war. Gardnervilles Basque roots remain active through the Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba. The club has about 300 members and hosts annual festivals that draw people from across the West. The group highlights Basque music, sports, food, and culture. Constructed in its current form in 2003, Heritage Park serves as a centerpiece for town events. The north side of the park includes a pavilion for public gatherings, while the south side is reserved for memorial installations. The planned monument will cover about 450 square feet and include the names of all identified Basque WWII service members. This memorial ensures that the legacy of these service members will never be forgotten, said Town Manager Erik Nilssen. For generations, Gardnerville has celebrated its Basque roots, and this monument adds another meaningful chapter to that history. The Town is honored to serve as the caretaker of such an important symbol of sacrifice and heritage, and we will treat it with the utmost respect and reverence. The Gardnerville Town Board is scheduled to review the monuments conceptual design and proposed placement during its April 7 meeting. N.A.B.O. plans to complete and dedicate the memorial by December 2026, marking the 85th anniversary of the United States entry into World War II. N.A.B.O. is seeking tax-deductible donations as it works toward its $500,000 fundraising goal. More information is available at nabasque.eus/wwii_memorial.html. MCLOUD, Okla. (AP) Tribal citizens whose Black ancestors were enslaved by citizens of several tribal nations in Oklahoma are starting to see more inclusive access to Native American health care, education and other social services, but barriers remain. Federal and tribal agencies have worked in recent years to clarify eligibility requirements and train on-the-ground staff. But a report released by the Government Accountability Office ahead of Black History Month shows there is more work to be done when it comes to the treatment of Freedmen descendants. The COVID-19 pandemic helped to lift the veil on what longtime activist Marilyn Vann called disparate treatment of the descendants. She pointed to high-profile cases in which people were denied vaccines and financial aid while the virus was surging. Certainly there are more doors open now, but that doesnt undo the harm, Vann said, adding that a chilling effect prevents many Freedmen descendants from seeking out services they're entitled to. The Cherokee, Seminole, Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations are among those whose citizens enslaved people in the 19th century. Following the Civil War, each signed treaties with the United States that abolished slavery and guaranteed tribal citizenship to Freedmen and their descendants. Today, only the Cherokee Nation extends full citizenship to Freedmen descendants equal to by blood citizens under tribal law. The Seminole Nation allows descendants to vote and sit on the general council but certain benefits of tribal citizenship are restricted. Freedmen descendants of the Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations currently are denied tribal citizenship altogether. The GAO report found that enrolled Cherokee and Seminole Freedmen descendants are sometimes asked for proof of Indian blood when seeking aid, and that the Seminole Nation has prevented the descendants from receiving federally funded housing, education and elder assistance. It's important to shine a bright light on this 21st century racism, Vann said. A chilling effect John Beecham, a Freedman descendant and Cherokee Nation citizen, knew he was eligible for a low-cost education at Haskell Indian Nations University. In 2020, he decided to apply when the school shifted to remote learning. A few weeks later, he received a letter from the federally run tribal college in Kansas asking for documents proving his degree of Indian blood. It felt wrong, like I was being treated unfairly, said Beecham, who had provided his enrollment card as proof of tribal citizenship. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin stepped in to verify Beechams citizenship and urged Haskell to consider his application. After months of delay, the school reversed course and said Beecham should reapply. I thought, If this is how they treat me during the application process, I might have a hard time going to school there, said Beecham, who chose not to reapply. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Education, which oversees Haskell and another tribal college, and dozens of K-12 tribal schools, issued a letter in 2024 clarifying that eligible Indian students include all citizens of federally recognized tribes and that tribal enrollment cards are enough to prove eligibility. A Bureau of Indian Education spokesperson said the agency can't confirm whether any Freedmen descendants have enrolled in its schools in recent years because it does not differentiate such descendants from other tribal citizens in its records. Beecham, who now works for a rail technology company in California, has made peace with the incident but said he would likely be making a higher salary if Haskell had admitted him to a bachelor's program. He hasn't sought any other services for tribal citizens since. Other descendants have been persistent. Mark McClain, a Cherokee Nation citizen and Freedmen descendant, conducted an informal audit of Indian Health Service clinics around Oklahoma. Between 2018 and 2020, he said, six clinics asked for proof of Indian blood before establishing him as a patient. When he pushed back, McClain said he was sometimes met with hostility from IHS staff. In 2021, after a review of its own policies, the agency clarified that Freedmen descendants need only prove their citizenship in a federally recognized tribe to receive IHS care. The agency also provided training to staff in its Oklahoma City service area on how to properly assess eligibility. As a result, McClain is served by the federally funded Kickapoo Tribal Health Center that once turned him away. Locked out of assistance The GAO review found that the Seminole Nation excludes Freedmen descendants from federally funded programs administered by the tribe on technicalities. For example, elder assistance, college scholarships and burial stipends are available through a fund accessible only to tribal citizens who have a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood and are descended from the Seminole Nation as it existed in 1823 before so-called Black Seminoles were recognized as citizens. The Seminole Nation distributes federal housing assistance using a points system that, according to the GAO, prioritizes by blood citizens of all tribes and awards Seminole Freedmen descendants zero points for priority consideration. Freedmen descendants already are disenfranchised by the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow segregation in Oklahoma, said LeEtta Osborne-Sampson, who represents one of two Seminole Freedmen bands on the tribe's general council. Our hope is that our own tribe can have a heart and recognize that were not going anywhere, Osborne-Sampson said, adding that many in her community live in poverty and struggle to afford safe housing while their tribe effectively locks them out of assistance. The Seminole Nation did not respond to emailed questions about eligibility for its federally funded social programs. The pursuit of recognition Freedmen descendants in the Choctaw and the Chickasaw nations currently are not recognized as tribal members and do not have access to tribal services like health care, education or housing. Last year, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court struck down a constitutional requirement adopted in the 1970s that required citizens to be Muscogee by blood, paving the way for Freedmen descendants to enroll in the tribe. The ruling, however, hasn't been enforced. In a status report provided to the court in December, Principal Chief David Hill said the tribe's national council will need to adopt new laws and consider amending the constitution before citizenship can be extended to Freedmen descendants. The Muscogee Nation did not respond to emailed questions about the timeline for the changes. Hoskin of the Cherokee Nation has called slavery a moral stain on his tribes history. He expressed optimism that other tribes eventually will recognize their Freedmen descendants. (Freedmen descendants) want to be seen and they want their story to be understood after its been suppressed for many generations Hoskin said. Thats going to take time. This story has been updated to correct the first name of Osborne-Sampson. It is LeEtta, not Loretta. Peters reported from Edgewood, New Mexico. NEW YORK (AP) A social media content creator was arrested Thursday after New York City police said he was one of a number of people who pelted officers with snow and ice during a massive snowball fight in Washington Square Park this week. Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was charged with obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor, and harassment, a non-criminal violation. He appeared in handcuffs and wearing an olive-green sweat suit during his arraignment Thursday evening in Manhattan criminal court. He wasn't asked to enter a plea, and was released, pending his next court date on April 9. Coulibaly didn't speak during the brief hearing, which was attended by at least a dozen uniformed police officers and police union officials. But George Vomvolakis, his attorney, told the judge that the circumstances surrounding his arrest have been politicized. He suggested Coulibaly was caught in the middle of a rift between the police department and City Hall. I dont want to minimize what happened to the officers, but I think the police department is using this because of their dislike or disdain for the mayor, Vomvolakis said. I think theyre taking it out on Mr. Coulibaly. They want to pick a fight with the mayor. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, played down the fracas earlier this week as a snowball fight that got out of hand and suggested he did not think criminal charges were warranted. Mondays snowball fight, which appeared to be organized by social media content producers, caused a chaotic scene as a large crowd amassed at the popular park to wing snowballs at each other during a winter storm. Prosecutors said in court that officers arrived at the park after a 911 call about a disorderly group, including people climbing on a roof. Video from the incident shows a large group of people following police officers, showering them with snowballs and jeering, as they retreat to their vehicles outside the park. Videos also showed officers shoving at least two people to the ground while getting hit from all directions by snowballs. The notion that this was a playful snowball fight obviously is not true, Patrick Hendry, a police union president, told reporters after the proceeding. This was an attack on the uniform that these police officers wear so proudly every day. They came after these police officers, pelting them with ice, rocks. Hendry said he was disappointed prosecutors didnt charge Coulibaly with assaulting an officer the felony offense police originally proposed. It sends a horrible message to these police officers right here that the mayor is not going to have our backs, he said, standing alongside other officers. Youre putting a target on these police officers backs. Vomvolakis maintained there was no evidence that rocks or ice were packed into the snowballs. What I saw in the video didnt look like an attack," Vomvolakis said. "Did it go a little past, you know, jokes and fun? Was it possibly a little disrespectful to the police? Yes. Assistant District Attorney Victoria Notaro said video showed Coulibaly throwing a snowball that struck Officer Nicholas Johnson in the face, but prosecutors did not find evidence showing that the officers injuries were caused directly by this defendants conduct. The officer sustained injuries including redness, tenderness and pain to his eye, head and neck, Notaro said. We will continue to investigate, she added. Vomvolakis said Coulibaly is a content creator who makes elaborate videos including a recent one in which he approached a stranger in a Bronx subway, acted as if he knew him and said he was owed money. That interaction got Coulibaly arrested for attempted robbery a charge that Vomvolakis said he was confident would be dismissed. Coulibaly has hundreds of thousands of followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and other social media platforms, where he posts under the moniker Diaper Man. The city's police department has released images of three other people it is seeking in connection with the snowball fight. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has called the treatment of officers at the fight disgraceful and criminal. Associated Press reporter Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border attacks overnight in a dramatic escalation of tensions that led Pakistans defense minister to say on Friday that the two countries are in a state of open war. Afghanistan launched an attack on Pakistan late Thursday, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, saying it targeted military installations. Tensions have been high for months. Border clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistans Taliban government of harboring militant groups that stage attacks against it and also of allying with its archrival India. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the intense fighting in October, but several rounds of peace talks in Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement. The two sides have occasionally traded fire since then. Qatar once again appears to be mediating. Its minister of state, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, spoke Friday with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan in an effort to de-escalate tensions, Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X. Cross-border attack Afghanistan's attacks against Pakistani military targets was meant as "a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan, Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said. Pakistan has never sought to resolve problems through dialogue, he said. After the Afghan strikes, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif posted on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India a reference to recently improving ties between India and Afghanistan, including offers of enhanced bilateral trade. Pakistan and neighboring India, both nuclear armed powers, have periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Exporting terrorism Asif also accused Afghanistan of exporting terrorism, an allegation Pakistan frequently levies at its neighbor as militant violence in the country surges. Specifically, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, as well as outlawed Baloch separatist groups. Pakistan accuses the TTP, which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistans Taliban, of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge. Pakistans internal conflict is a purely domestic issue and is not a new one, Mujahid said Friday, noting the TTP had been active for nearly two decades. Pakistan has also frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies. Retaliatory strikes Afghanistan said its attack Thursday was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Pakistans army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani air and ground operations killed at least 274 members of Afghan forces and affiliated militants and wounded more than 400, while 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 others were wounded. One Pakistani soldier was missing in action. Mujahid rejected the claims of the high number of Afghan casualties as false. He said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed with the bodies of 23 of them taken to Afghanistan. He also said many Pakistani soldiers were captured. Thirteen Afghan soldiers had been killed, he said, and another 22 wounded, while 13 civilians were also wounded. Later on Friday, the Afghan government said that 19 civilians were killed and 26 others injured when Pakistan struck the provinces of Khost and Paktika in southeastern Afghanistan. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat accused Pakistan of having deliberately targeted the residences of ordinary civilians and said most of the dead and wounded were women and children. The Afghan government had reported earlier that a religious school in Paktika province was bombed without providing details of casualties. The claims of either side could not be independently verified. Pakistans air force carried out airstrikes Friday night targeting military installations in Afghanistans Laghman province, two senior Pakistani security officials said. They said an arms depot and two key military installations were destroyed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistans anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the northwestern cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera Friday. He said they appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan. International calls for restraint Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides. On Friday, Mujahid said Afghanistan had always emphasized a peaceful solution, and we still want to resolve the problem through dialogue. In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to try to resolve their differences through diplomacy, and to protect civilians. Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency RIA Novosti. Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putins special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to RIA Novosti. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue. Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time. Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there. In 2025, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year. Abdul Qahar Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, also contributed to this story. An AI-powered robot monk named Buddharoid has begun offering round-the-clock spiritual guidance at a Kyoto temple, marking a new step in how Buddhism is practiced in modern Japan. Buddharoid was developed by researchers at Kyoto University to respond to a growing crisis in Japanese Buddhism, where many temples struggle with aging clergy, depopulation, and fewer young believers. The robot is powered by a generative AI system called BuddhaBot-Plus, which is based on ChatGPT and trained on Buddhist scriptures so it can answer personal questions in real time. At the Kyoto temple where it is being tested, Buddharoid can listen to visitors' concerns about issues such as anxiety or family problems and reply with advice drawn from Buddhist teachings, according to Tokyo Weekender. During a recent demonstration for journalists, Buddharoid appeared in a simple grey monk's robe, moving its head and arms while speaking in a calm voice about compassion and mindful reflection. When one reporter described feeling anxious, the robot suggested pausing to observe their thoughts instead of reacting immediately, echoing common meditation guidance. Developers say this kind of personalised interaction is meant to feel closer to a conversation with a human monk than to a pre-recorded sermon. Physically, the robot uses hardware from Chinese firm Unitree Robotics, allowing it to walk, bow, and perform the traditional gassho gesture with its palms pressed together. Its movements are intentionally slow and measured to resemble the calm gait of a monk walking through temple grounds. The aim is to make visitors feel at ease rather than overwhelmed by the technology, Euronews reported. Researchers and temple supporters argue that Buddharoid is a practical response to social change. Japan's population is shrinking and aging, and experts warn that nearly 30% of Buddhist temples could close by 2040, especially in rural areas where there may be no successor to the resident priest. By offering 24/7 guidance, the robot could help smaller temples remain active even when there is no full-time monk on site. The experiment also raises deeper questions about faith and authenticity. Some Buddhists worry that a machine cannot truly understand human suffering or embody spiritual wisdom, while others say Buddhism is ultimately about following the Dharma, not the personality of a single teacher. The Kyoto project follows earlier efforts such as Mindar, an android priest at Kodaiji Temple that recites the Heart Sutra, but Buddharoid goes further by engaging in open-ended conversation. For now, Buddharoid remains in a test phase, with engineers monitoring its answers and planning updates to improve its understanding of complex emotional situations. If the trial proves successful, Kyoto University researchers say similar AI monks could one day support Buddhist communities across Japan, keeping temple doors, and digital ears, open at all hours, as per Gadget Review. If you could take a bite of Tomales Bay, what would be the taste of its foggy mornings and coastal dunes, its briny waters, the exhalations of its wildlife? What would be the flavor of the dank, primeval aliveness of the redwoods at Nisene Marks State Park or Mount Lassens now-hushed, fire-seething volcanic landscape? For chef Julian Silvera, a New York kid who never even saw the forest for himself until he was in his 20s, they are singularly distinctiveedible snapshots that form the musculature of his work at the new fine dining restaurant Vicinity in Los Gatos. Tomales Bay Bloom and Fog with skate, ogo beurre blanc, fermented gooseberries, and caviar (Jesse Cudworth) Silveras been here since 2023, running the kitchen at Tasting House (368 Village Ln.), a wine bar and bistro tucked into the little town at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains . But there were others that came first (including New Yorks Alder, Jones Wood Foundry, and Luthun, and Orlandos Michelin-starred Knife & Spoon), shaping his point of view both as a chef and as an individual. The 13-course menu at Vicinity is an autobiography of that journey, each dish a literal and figurative representation of places and memories from both coasts. Santa Cruza pistil of abalone around which wrap petals of scallop cured in bay laurel oil, Indonesian sambal layered underneath like soilis served on a 45-lb. stone imprinted with the phantoms of fossilized sea creatures Silvera found while on a nine-mile hike. He was so taken with the rock, the way it encapsulated a region thats both ancient and ever-changing, he packed it out himself. Pacifica captures Silveras first crab fishing excursion, one that ended with a bite at whats got to be the most beautiful Taco Bell in the country. The crustacean-shaped tostada, stuffed with Dungeness crab and scallop mousseline and served on a tiny crab trap, is made with blue corn masa and dressed in Silveras rendition of a pico de gallo and yuzu kosho beer foam. NYC Delicatessen is served on a 3D-printed map of the neighborhood in which chef Silvera grew up. (Jesse Cudworth) Though their ingredients hail from the more than 30 local farms with which Vicinity works, these dishes arent exactly California cuisine. They are, instead, says Silvera, California through the lens of somebody from New York. That New York upbringing is presented in NYC Delicatessen, teeny-tiny everything bagels filled with Bodega Bay smoked salmon, perched on a 3D-printed representation of the neighborhood in which Silvera grew up, and served with pastrami floss. Accompanied by other New York ephemera (a deli check, a coffee cup), its arguably the most playful of the courses. Narratives like this one or Half Moon Bay a bite of uni, mussels, and calamari served with ice cream cone-and-anchovy sand and avocado-bergamot puree that arrives on a bespoke tray layered with a spiral of mussel shells found on Silveras first foraging expeditionbring main-character energy to Vicinitys elegant, lightly curated space. The 16-seat restaurant-within-a-restaurant (Jesse Cudworth) A restaurant hidden within a restaurant, guests enter the small, 16-seat room through the wine cellar. On one side is a stone wall where a sideboard stands topped with a brilliantly colored stuffed pheasant; on another is a crackling fireplace that casts a subtle glow on neutral cloth-draped tables and green chairs the color of vegetation. Along with the 13-course food menu ($195/per person), Vicinity offers two wine pairings, one from Northern and Central California purveyors ($120/per person), the other from international makers ($145/per person). Bottles and a full bar are also available, as well as supplemental a la carte courses. Silveras autobiographical journey ends in San Joses Japantown , with delicious, sweet-savory black sesame mochi donuts served with matcha ice cream, followed by Fare Thee Well, a wooden fortress crowned with an Earl Grey scone, an oolong salted caramel, an osmanthus jelly, and a moat of chamomile flan. Full of unexpected flavor combinations and stunning presentations, impeccable ingredients and laudable interpretations of place and time, Vicinity is an odyssey worth takingone thats likely to ultimately land executive chef Julian Silvera right at Michelins doorstep. // Vicinity is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm to 10pm; 368 Village Ln. (Los Gatos), vicinitycalifornia.com Government to hold Town Hall for retail and wholesale sector on Monday 2nd March at Inces Hall HM Government of Gibraltar will hold a Town Hall meeting for the retail and wholesale sector on Monday 2nd March at 6pm at Inces Hall. The meeting forms part of the Governments ongoing programme of engagement with the business community following the publication yesterday of the UKEU Treaty in respect of Gibraltar and of the FAQs which can be found on www.treaty.gov.gi and will focus specifically on matters affecting retailers during the implementation and transitional period. The Government intends to take the retail and wholesale sector through the next steps. It will also allow retailers and wholesalers to raise questions and highlight sector-specific concerns. The Chief Minister, the Minister for Health, Care and Business, and the Attorney General will be in attendance. Those wishing to attend are invited to register their interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, said: The sector which is most affected by the Transitional Arrangements is the retail and wholesale sector and it is therefore essential that we continue to engage with them directly and in detail. This Town Hall will allow us to focus specifically on the issues that matter most to the retail and wholesale sector, to explain the transitional arrangements in practical terms and to explain the next steps and address the concerns that businesses may have. AceShowbiz - Did Donald Trump really call C-SPAN posing as John Barron? A caller identifying as John Barron phoned into C-SPANs Washington Journal to criticize the recent Supreme Court ruling on tariffs. The name John Barron is famously linked to Donald Trump, who admitted using the pseudonym during the 1980s to communicate with journalists. The callers voice bore a strong resemblance to Donald Trump and the content of the call echoed his known frustrations. The man criticized the Supreme Courts 6-3 decision striking down Donald Trumps tariff policies, labeling it the worst decision you ever have in your life practically and disparaging Democratic leaders. C-SPAN confirmed that the caller was not Donald Trump. The network revealed the call originated from a Virginia phone number, and it took place while Donald Trump was publicly engaged in a meeting. Donald Trump has openly criticized the Supreme Court ruling through official channels, including press interactions and social media. The network also reminded viewers that they would have the chance to hear from Donald Trump during a future address. While the use of the John Barron pseudonym is a historical footnote in Donald Trumps media dealings, this incident shows how voices and names can overlap in todays media landscape. Ultimately, this episode highlights the challenge for news outlets and audiences in distinguishing authentic statements from impersonations. C-SPANs response helped maintain clarity and prevented a misleading narrative from gaining traction. AceShowbiz - The Bluff is transforming the pirate movie landscape with its fresh approach to the genre. Directed by Frank E. Flowers and co-written by Flowers and Joe Ballarini, this R-rated action thriller stars Karl Urban as Captain Connor, a pirate on a quest for vengeance against the one who betrayed him, Ercell Bodden, portrayed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In the film, Ercell is a former pirate now living a secluded life on a remote island. She is fiercely protective of her family and their way of life, willing to go to extreme lengths, including violence, to safeguard them. The story combines intense action with emotional depth, redefining what audiences expect from pirate films. At the recent premiere in Los Angeles, ScreenRant spoke with the cast about how the film is reshaping the pirate genre. Safia Oakley-Green, who plays Elizabeth Bodden, Ercells sister-in-law, highlighted the unique intensity of the films setting and tone. She described the blend of vast beaches, turbulent seas, passionate conflicts, and gritty, sometimes graphic scenes, along with romantic moments, as ingredients for a compelling pirate movie experience. I think its because they are enormous. Its like, beaches, its the sea everythings so intense. The weather is so intense. And everyones really passionate, because theyre fighting for something that they really believe in, and then its really gory, and its also really hot, cause everyones kissing and stuff, Oakley-Green explained, emphasizing how these elements come together to create a captivating story. She also expressed a desire for more pirate movies, especially those centered around women. Oakley-Green hopes for a sequel that would continue the journey of Ercell, Elizabeth, and other characters like Vedanten Naidoos, envisioning further adventures and character growth. Pirate movies with women at the center its something we need right now, so lets make more of them, she said. The films female-led narrative is balanced with hard-hitting action and emotional realism. Veteran actor Temuera Morrison, who plays Quartier-maitre Lee, praised Chopra Jonas for her physicality and determination on set. He noted that her gritty performance and undeniable presence gave her the X-factor necessary to embody Ercell authentically. I was also so impressed with Priyanka, just how gritty she was, because she was very physical, Morrison shared, highlighting the intense energy Chopra Jonas brought to the role. Overall, The Bluff offers a bold new take on pirate cinema by focusing on complex, driven female leads and combining traditional swashbuckling thrills with raw emotion and realism. As the film makes waves on Amazon Prime, it stands as a promising step forward for the genre, inviting audiences to experience pirate stories from a fresh perspective. AceShowbiz - Lisa Rinna and Andy Cohen experienced a turbulent feud that escalated dramatically before they eventually reconciled. The star of The Traitors season 4 reportedly burned Cohen's memoir in her fireplace during the height of their conflict. Once, the pair shared a close bond. In 2019, Rinna famously led a dance party featuring numerous Real Housewives stars at Cohen's baby shower. Their camaraderie extended to 2022, when she joined forces with Garcelle Beauvais, known as a rival on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, to celebrate Cohen's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in February of that year. However, this warm relationship took a sharp downturn after Rinna announced her departure from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in early 2023. Later, in an interview on the "That's a Gay Ass Podcast" in January 2025, she mockingly likened her former show to "the Titanic," signaling deep dissatisfaction. The feud reached a turning point in February 2026 when Cohen, the host of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, publicly apologized for revealing private text messages from Rinna in his 2023 memoir, The Daddy Diaries: The Year I Grew Up. This apology helped mend their fractured relationship. To understand how their relationship soured and then healed, its important to review the timeline of key events. In February 2023, Rinna announced her exit from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, ending an eight-season run that featured some of the franchises most memorable moments. She was involved in a dramatic Amsterdam altercation with Kim Richards and experienced a bitter fallout with her former close friend Denise Richards. By the twelfth season in 2022, Rinna had become a polarizing figure among fans, even facing boos during her appearance at Bravocon. Reflecting on this, she told Us Weekly in October 2022, "Well, I'd never been booed before. I kind of thought it was the greatest thing ever. It's like being a wrestler. I loved it." Just three months after that incident, Rinna shocked fans with her announcement that she was leaving the show. She expressed gratitude for her time on the series, calling it her longest job in a 35-year career and describing the experience as "fun" while expressing excitement for her future. The tension between Rinna and Cohen escalated due to his controversial decision to include two private text messages from her in his memoir. These texts revealed her stating she was leaving Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which added fuel to their dispute. Despite their falling out, the public apology from Cohen in 2026 marked a hopeful reconciliation. This gesture acknowledged the breach of trust caused by the leaked messages and paved the way for their relationship to improve once again. Throughout their friendship and feud, Rinna and Cohen exemplify the complex dynamics often found behind the scenes in reality television, where personal and professional boundaries can blur, leading to both conflict and eventual healing. By Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, Helene Galy, Willis Research Network Director, Omar Samhan,Technology and People Risks Analyst, WTW Businesses are becoming more concerned about these risks, yet awareness remains low. Understanding what gray-zone aggression is and how such events might unfold is essential. Willis Research Network partner Elisabeth Braw, shares key insights and three new scenarios to help risk leaders take action in 2026. Organizations must anticipate, adapt, and collaborate to strengthen their defenses and maintain continuity. In WTWs 2025 Political Risk Survey [1], 77 per cent of executives interviewed expressed concern about the threat of economic retaliation as the method of gray-zone aggression of greatest concern, while 64 per cent were focused on state-sponsored cyber and 44 per cent on attacks on infrastructure. Five years earlier, gray-zone threats barely registered on corporate radars.[2] Understanding gray-zone aggression To understand gray-zone aggression as an emerging driver of geopolitical risk, the Willis Research Network, have partnered with Elisabeth Braw since 2019 to explore the topic and identify what global businesses can do to manage these threats proactively. The findings from these discussions are shared in a report providing: An overview of gray-zone aggression, covering: what gray-zone aggression is, how the risk has evolved, why its so effective and why its so challenging to identify. Examples of suspected gray-zone aggression acts across key industries, highlighting why each industry is targeted, existing and potential methods and suspected precedent examples to inform executives as they challenge their risk and strategy plans; and Best practice guidance in five key areas to support executives navigate this growing threat, including challenge questions to test readiness. Gray-zone aggression is an enterprise-level risk that spans departmental responsibilities; if there are knowledge gaps in the answers to those diagnostic questions, risk and strategy will need to be aligned to act. Key findings for risk and insurance leaders 01 Elevate gray-zone aggression as an enterprise-level risk Review your risks register and strategy for gray-zone threats. Continuous geopolitical monitoring, scenario refresh cycles and intelligence dissemination are essential. 02 Stress-test supply-chain resilience through a geopolitical lens Complex interdependencies mean a single chokepoint disruption generates outsize ripple effects. Diversification, route alternatives and friendshoring considerations should be embedded into operational and financial planning. 03 Strengthen crisis management for ambiguous events Gray-zone incidents often resemble accidents until patterns emerge. Organizational resilience will be tested by decision-making under uncertainty. Where attribution is incomplete, public narratives diverge and regulatory environments shift at speed. 04 Integrate scenario thinking into strategic planning Scenarios challenge assumptions and reveal exposure asymmetries. They help leadership teams test investment choices, supply-chain dependencies, geopolitical footprints and insurance adequacy across a range of plausible futures. 05 Reevaluate insurance wordings, triggers and limits As geopolitical tensions rise, gaps can arise in the gray-zone between peace and war. Specialist review of policy language is critical to ensure coverage aligns with the emerging risk environment rather than legacy definitions of conflict. Hidden threats, real impacts: scenario pathways of gray-zone aggression Alongside this report, WTW clients can also request access to three new gray-zone aggression scenarios designed by Elisabeth Braw as part of the geopolitical risk research programme. The scenarios include: Shadow fleet grounds tankers in English Channel Three-pronged gray-zone aggression targets Poland Disinformation campaigns in Moldova These scenarios are not predictions, but structured what if exercises intended to provoke discussion, raise awareness and support proactive risk management in the face of emerging and interconnected threats. Footnotes Political Risk Survey Report 2025 Political Risk Index - Winter 2021 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRCs) large business directorate has doubled the amount of tax revenue collected or protected since 2021-22 using a hands-on approach to tax compliance for large businesses, a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. HMRC established the large business tax directorate to ensure the UKs largest business groups comply with the tax rules. Around two fifths of the UKs tax revenues come through large businesses, equivalent to 337 billion in 2024-25. This includes taxes that large businesses pay directly and those they pay on behalf of their employees and customers. HMRC takes a more hands-on approach than with other taxpayers due to the complex nature of large businesses and the scale of the revenue collected. The large business directorate has proven to be a success, with customer compliance managers assigned to each business establishing co-operative and effective relationships. The directorate has doubled compliance yield (tax revenue collected or protected that would otherwise be lost to the Exchequer) since 2021-22 to 15.8 billion in 2024-25. The return on investment on staff pay is four times more than what HMRC achieves across all taxpayers, with a 95 return on every 1 spent. The tax gap for large businesses (the difference between what they should have paid in tax and what they actually paid) has steadily decreased over the long term, from 7.5 billion in 2005-06 to 5.8 billion in 2023-24, and is now at less than 1% of possible liabilities from all taxpayers. However, HMRC does not have reliable data to estimate short-term changes to the tax gap. HMRCs estimate of the large-business tax gap increased by nearly 2 billion between 2020-21 and 2023-24, driven by a large spike in the tax gap for VAT, the data for which are particularly volatile. Since 2006, HMRC has put 70 large businesses through its High Risk Corporates Programme, designed to tackle its most complex or riskiest cases. This has brought in more than 32 billion in extra tax. Since 2016, HMRC has had the power to put businesses that consistently fail to comply into a special measures regime, though it has never used this power. The NAO found no evidence of HMRC reaching special deals with large businesses on how much tax they should pay. HMRCs own testing found that it correctly followed its governance processes in 98.1% of cases it examined in 2024-25. To help improve its efficiency further, the NAO has recommended that the large business directorate should now: Ensure it carries out detailed planning and analysis to inform its approach to potentially expanding cooperative compliance to more businesses.Explore any barriers to using available legislative powers, such as special measures, when it identifies that businesses are behaving poorly regarding their tax compliance.Improve the recording of data on IT systems to ensure better understanding of productivity, and continue with planning for improvements to these IT systems.Build on the areas of good practice identified in this NAO report, and share these learnings with other HMRC directorates. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: Through its large business directorate, HMRC has developed an efficient and effective approach to ensuring large businesses remain tax compliant. This has made a significant contribution to reducing the tax gap. HMRC should continue to explore whether this approach could usefully be extended to other complex and high-risk businesses. English News China's bag charm economy: small accessories, big cultural impact Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 21 Fevrier 2026 Products from HERE have reached nearly 20 countries and regions -- including North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East -- via distribution channels. Li Peng, Chairman of HERE, noted, "Breaking down cultural barriers through localized creation and building emotional bonds with global consumers are key to helping Chinese brands move beyond manufacturing and build greater brand value." By Lin Lili, Hong Qiuting, Qi Zhiming, People's Daily From plush vinyl dolls in diverse shapes and museum-inspired cultural creations to unique souvenirs from scenic areas -- an array of accessories now dangle from the backpacks of young people across China. Portable and lightweight, bag charms are gaining increasing popularity among Chinese consumers. The ever-evolving designs of these small ornaments have fueled a consumption boom, supported by robust industrial clusters, and are now advancing through coordinated efforts in global expansiontogether shaping the emerging "bag-charm economy." At a Beijing designer toy store, shoppers enthusiastically pose with Wakuku characters, sharing photos on social media. "Key features such as small size, affordability and emotional resonance align perfectly with young people's lifestyles," said Hong Yong, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce. He observes that emotion-driven consumption has shifted priorities: young buyers now prioritize products delivering joy, belonging, and self-expression over pure utility. As Chinese New Year approached, Nanjing resident Wu Wenjing purchased outfits not just for family, but for her Labubu charm. "I match charms to my mood and outfits," she explains. "Sometimes they feel like emotional codes -- shared recognition sparks instant connections." Liang Mei, president of the China Toy and Juvenile Products Association, observed that bag charms offer young people moments of everyday delight through a relatively relaxed consumption model. By fostering emotional connections, they help form interest-based communities with a shared sense of identity. At the same time, collaboration with well-known intellectual properties (IPs) and user participation in co-creation continue to inject vitality into the market. Manufacturing Innovation Dongguan, China's "designer toy capital," anchors the global industry with over 4,000 manufacturers and 1,500 supporting enterprises. Its complete industrial chain covers design, production, IP licensing, and sales. At the headquarters of a toy manufacturer in Chashan township, Dongguan, a team of 10 designers was discussing design drafts for a "Baku" series of bag charms. "This China-chic bag charm blends traditional Chinese colors and auspicious symbols with modern design. Inspired by the mythical 'Baku -- a creature said to devour nightmares and bring sweet dreams -- it carries the wish that all good dreams may come true in the coming year," explained Wu Qiaomei, brand marketing director involved in the project. She noted that from concept finalization to detail refinement, the initial design draft takes about 15 days to complete, with the sample workshop then needing another three to five days to produce the first plush prototype. "With in-house manufacturing capabilities, we maintain flexibility in production coordination and scheduling," Wu added. "From design confirmation to mass shipment, the entire process can be completed within about 30 days," With diverse styles and ever-changing market trends, bag charms call for agile production response. The consumer-end enthusiasm is fundamentally supported by a supply-side shift -- from mass manufacturing to flexible customization. The robust production capacity within the toy industry provides the essential foundation for the rapid adaptation and output of these accessories. In the past, producing a plastic toy required mold development costing tens of thousands of yuan, necessitating mass production runs of tens to hundreds of thousands of units to lower per-unit cost. Today, smart manufacturing and digital workshops have made small-batch production truly feasible -- minimum orders as low as 50 units or batch productions of merely 100 pieces are now readily achievable, with even single custom toys possible through 3D printing. Labubu has sparked a worldwide trend in collectible art toys. Following the success of the animated film Nobody, bag charms featuring its characters sold out repeatedly after going viral overnight. Meanwhile, charms shaped like traditional Chinese herbs -- such as goji berries, red dates, and red sage -- have captivated overseas consumers with their creative designs and distinctive Eastern aesthetic. Time magazine in the United States noted that China's new generation of trendy toys is reshaping the international image of "Made in China" by telling stories rooted in local IPs and showcasing distinctive aesthetics. In the first half of 2025, Chinese toy company Pop Mart recorded triple-digit growth in markets across Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas, with growth in the Americas exceeding tenfold. The company's global store count has now surpassed 570. Products from HERE have reached nearly 20 countries and regions -- including North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East -- via distribution channels. Li Peng, Chairman of HERE, noted, "Breaking down cultural barriers through localized creation and building emotional bonds with global consumers are key to helping Chinese brands move beyond manufacturing and build greater brand value." Looking ahead, as more Chinese flagship products and brands go global, these small charms, infused with Chinese creativity and emotion, are poised to tell ever more compelling Chinese stories on the world stage. 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 Intelligent manufacturing boosts efficiency for Chinese aerospace manufacturer Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 21 Fevrier 2026 For instance, aerospace manufacturing extensively involves extreme processing techniques and requirements for performance in extreme environments. Through close, collaborative development with domestic equipment suppliers, SEAM translates process needs directly into equipment parameters. This collaboration has enabled the joint breakthrough in key equipment such as friction stir welding systems, automated flexible final assembly platforms, and high-precision mirror milling machines. By Liu Wenxin, People's Daily, Sun Bing, Xie Wei, China Economic Weekly A single launch vehicle contains hundreds of thousands of components. Historically, compiling a complete set of quality documentation for an entire rocket requires quality engineers and process technicians to shuttle back and forth between vast quantities of paper records and fragmented information systems -- a process that typically takes about a week. At the smart factory of Shanghai Aerospace Equipments Manufacturer (SAEM), however, that same task now takes just five minutes. With a few clicks, staff can trace every data point back to its source -- from raw material testing and component machining to subassembly, final assembly, and full-vehicle testing. This dramatic increase in speed stems from a fundamental transformation of the production model. Here, every product -- whether a complete launch vehicle or a single screw -- is assigned a unique digital identity that follows it throughout its entire lifecycle. Data including raw material composition analysis ,heat-treatment temperature curves, real-time torque data from every tightening tool used during assembly, as well as all test records for each section, are automatically aggregated and dynamically linked to form a full-lifecycle quality data package that accompanies the product from start to finish. "When we deliver a product, we must also deliver its complete data package," said Cheng Hui, a researcher at SAEM. He explained that if a quality fluctuation is detected in a batch of materials, an integrated quality traceability system, enhanced by AI, can pinpoint the exact affected parts from tens of thousands of components. It can also determine their status -- whether in storage, production, or already installed on a specific rocket. "What was once a needle-in-a-haystack search through paper files is now resolved in seconds," Cheng added. Recently, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) unveiled the inaugural list of 15 flagship smart factories, with SAEM among them. These flagship facilities are considered to represent the pinnacle of intelligent manufacturing, both in China and globally. Fostering such model factories is a strategic initiative by China to capitalize on opportunities in industrial intelligence and build a competitive edge for the future of manufacturing. According to Ao Li, deputy head of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), the application of artificial intelligence technology was heavily weighted in the selection criteria for the first batch of flagship smart factories. Statistics indicate that among the 15 selected factories, the average penetration rate of AI applications exceeds 70 percent, with more than 6,000 AI models in use and over 1,700 key pieces of intelligent manufacturing equipment and industrial software solutions achieving practical breakthroughs. In the rocket final-assembly area, two rocket stages weighing dozens of tons were being joined together. The workshop lacked the noise typically associated with heavy industry; instead, the space was filled with the soft hum of electric motors. An integrated one-stop flexible automatic docking system, incorporating large-scale spatial pose measurement technology, enables the equipment to "see" and "feel." It can automatically capture position data, sense force conditions, adjust posture in real time, and seamlessly align multi-ton modulesmarking a complete departure from the traditional approach that relied on verbal coordination, visual estimation, and manual adjustment. Behind this transformation lies the factory's decision to move complex systems engineering into the digital realm. In this intelligent factory, critical and complex processes are first simulated and validated in a virtual environment before being executed on physical equipment, which significantly reduces rework and shortens production cycles. Leveraging the accumulated image data, the company has developed defect detection systems based on artificial neural networks, which enables the automated identification of assembly quality issues in rockets and solar arrays. Virtual reality technology has also been introduced into assembly procedures, allowing three-dimensional stitching of localized and layered assembly imagesaddressing challenges such as accurately reflecting pipeline routing and installation sequences that traditional photos cannot capture. Across SAEM, AI application continues to deepen. "The deep integration of AI with advanced manufacturing technologies now extends beyond typical scenarios such as production scheduling and online inspection," Ao noted. "It is expanding into higher-value segments of the industrial chain, including research and development, design, and operations and maintenance services. This integration is giving rise to a new generation of industrial intelligent agents capable of perception, decision-making, and execution, accelerating the evolution of intelligent manufacturing from automation toward autonomy." At the same time, SAEM is extending its "intelligent" capabilities throughout the entire industrial chain. For instance, aerospace manufacturing extensively involves extreme processing techniques and requirements for performance in extreme environments. Through close, collaborative development with domestic equipment suppliers, SEAM translates process needs directly into equipment parameters. This collaboration has enabled the joint breakthrough in key equipment such as friction stir welding systems, automated flexible final assembly platforms, and high-precision mirror milling machines. Through the development of its smart factory, SAEM has achieved a localization rate of over 80 percent for intelligent manufacturing equipment and increased production efficiency by 40 percent. 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 The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge: an engineering feat with ecological sensitivity Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 21 Fevrier 2026 "By prioritizing conservation over unchecked development, we have found a balance between ecological protection and economic development," said Wang Xihua, an executive with Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge Co., Ltd. under Hubei Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd. "Our goal is to achieve a genuine win-win between economic and ecological benefits." By Wu Jun, People's Daily The Yangtze River, China's longest river, flows through Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province in central China. Spanning its northern bank in the middle reaches, the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge connects Wuhan with neighboring Ezhou, strengthening regional integration. As Peng Xiaobin, the bridge's designer and deputy chief engineer of the Hubei Communications Planning and Design Institute, stood on the newly completed structure, he pointed skyward:"Look, that's a grey heron, and over there is an egret." His enthusiasm reflected the project's dual success: engineering excellence and ecological conservation. As Wuhan's 12th bridge across the Yangtze, the Shuangliu Bridge stretches 35.043 kilometers. Its route traverses the Zhangdu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve -- a critical habitat for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. In December 2025, experts at a conference organized by the China Highway and Transportation Society hailed the bridge as a benchmark for Chinese engineering and a model of ecological preservation. A key question emerged during planning: How could bridge construction protect the Yangtze's fragile ecosystem? The answer gleams under the winter sun -- a 400-meter-long, fully enclosed protective structure along the bridge's northern approach. "This sound barrier was specifically designed for the wetland birds," Peng explained. Standing 6.38 meters high and spanning 34 meters, this "shield for birds" represents a first in Yangtze River bridge engineering. The Zhangdu Lake Wetland lies along the East Asia-Australasia flywa, a vital migratory corridor. To minimize disruption, Peng's team prioritized ecological considerations from the outset. Collaborating with ornithologists and analyzing a decade of bird activity data, they conducted extensive field observations. "After numerous revisions, we added an extra curve to the northern approach," Peng noted, acknowledging the significant cost increase this entailed. To address noise generated after the bridge opens to traffic, Peng and his team decided to build a fully enclosed sound barrier on the bridge deck closest to the migratory route. The barrier was completed before the migration season. Today, noise levels outside the barrier are kept at 50 to 55 decibels during the day and 40 to 45 decibels at night, effectively fitting the wetland's birds with "noise-canceling headphones." From the main span of the bridge, the broad Yangtze shimmering in the sunlight. "You can even see finless porpoises playing here," said Chen Cheng, chief engineer of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge project at CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. About two kilometers downstream from the main bridge lies a river bend where finless porpoises are frequently seen. To avoid disrupting their habitat, the bridge was designed to cross the river in a single span. "The main bridge is a single-span steel box girder suspension bridge," Chen explained. "Not a single pile was driven into the river. Both the north and south approach bridges were built entirely on land, completely avoiding in-water construction." During construction, work schedules were adjusted to avoid peak activity periods of finless porpoises and other aquatic species. Temporary structures such as trestles were erected during the dry season, followed quickly by the completion of tower foundations and caps. All steel box girders were prefabricated in sections at a factory, transported by specialized vessels, and then hoisted into place using cable cranes. "In this way, workers only needed to weld the joints at height, and the entire girder installation process did not disturb the river," Chen said. Over the more than three years of construction, the bridge and the finless porpoises have "grown together." Surveys by the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that the finless porpoise population in the bridge section of the Yangtze River has increased from five or six individuals when construction began in 2022 to a stable group of about 20 today. On the main bridge deck, long drainage pipes can be seen on both sides, each connected to an intelligent flow monitoring system. The system automatically identifies discharged liquids. Rainwater mixed with oil residues is directed into oil-separation and sedimentation tanks before release, while leaked or polluted wastewater is diverted into emergency containment pools and handled by qualified hazardous waste treatment companies. The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge has now passed completion inspection. Once opened to traffic, travel time between Xinzhou in Wuhan and Ezhou will be reduced from 90 minutes to just five. "By prioritizing conservation over unchecked development, we have found a balance between ecological protection and economic development," said Wang Xihua, an executive with Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge Co., Ltd. under Hubei Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd. "Our goal is to achieve a genuine win-win between economic and ecological benefits." 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) by Charles Siegel Last week, on Presidents Day, President Trump lost in court. This is hardly news. The administration has already lost hundreds of cases in just a little over a year. And this isnt the first time it has lost on a day when courts arent even open. The ruling came in a case officially entitled City of Philadelphia v. Burgum. Of the many, many cases the administration has lost, this is not remotely the most important. The day before I submitted this column, for example, the Supreme Court ruled against Trump in the tariffs case. (Trump, naturally, immediately called the justices who ruled against him including three of the six conservatives on the court, two of whom he had appointed and all of whom had given him wide and unprecedented immunity fools and lapdogs and an embarrassment to their families.) And just the day before that, a federal judge in West Virginia granted a habeas corpus petition filed by an ICE detainee. He began his opinion as follows: Antiseptic judicial rhetoric cannot do justice to what is happening. Across the interior of the United States, agents of the federal governmentmasked, anonymous, armed with military weapons, operating from unmarked vehicles, acting without warrants of any kindare seizing persons for civil immigration violations and imprisoning them without any semblance of due process. The systematic character of this practice and its deliberate elimination of every structural feature that distinguishes constitutional authority from raw force place it beyond the reach of ordinary legal description. It is an assault on the constitutional order. It is what the Fourth Amendment was written to prevent. It is what the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment forbids. In our constitutional republic, governmental force derives its authority from the Constitution. But that authority is not unlimited. The Governments power is legitimate only because it is derived from the People and exercised through law by identifiable public officers answerable to the public and to the courts. The structure of the Constitution guarantees visibility. Both the officer and the force he employs are traceable to authority delegated by the People and subject to the limits imposed by law. When the Government uses force against the public, the citizen can recognize the officer as a lawful representative. The public can evaluate the act. The judiciary can later review it. Every stop, arrest, detention, and use of force can be tested against the Constitutions protections. Not so here. For these reasons and the reasons that follow, Petitioners Amended Verified Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is GRANTED. The court FINDS that both his Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures as well as his Fifth Amendment right to due process have been violated. Immediate release is the only relief sufficient to remedy Petitioners unlawful detention. This judicial fury is increasingly common. The administration loses seemingly every day in court now. But the Presidents Day ruling, while not as immediately consequential as rulings in other cases, does nicely encapsulate a lot of things: the viciousness, and at the same time the smallness, of Trumps actions; the continuing pitched resistance to them; and the resilience and indignation of the judiciary, including that of many conservative federal judges appointed by Republican presidents. City of Philadelphia v. Burgum concerns the Presidents House, which as the court described it is a component of Independence National Historic Park that commemorates the site of the first official presidential residence and the people who lived there, including people enslaved by President George Washington. The Park was established for the purpose of preserving for the benefit of the American people as a national historic park certain historical structures and properties of outstanding national significance located in Philadelphiaassociated with the American Revolution and the founding and growth of the United States. It includes such well-known sites as the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall. The Presidents House site is at Sixth and Market Streets. In the 1790s, before construction of the White House was completed, Presidents Washington and Adams lived there. The court described recent historical research as follows: At the turn of this century, historians identified the location of the first official residence of the President of the United States, where Presidents Washington and Adams lived during their terms. This historical research also identified information about nine enslaved Africans whom President Washington owned, brought to the official presidential residence, and rotated in and out of Pennsylvania, a practice which prevented enslaved individuals from petitioning for their freedom under Pennsylvania law. Etched into a wall within the Presidents House exhibit are the names of those nine enslaved individuals: Oney Judge, Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules Posey, Joe Richardson, Moll, Paris, and Richmond. Of those nine, Oney Judge escaped the house in 1796, eventually making her way to New Hampshire. Hercules also eventually escaped his enslavement after he was brought to Mount Vernon. This research led the House of Representatives, in 2003, to urge the National Park Service to appropriately commemorate the concerns raised regarding the recognition of the existence of the [residence] and the slaves who worked in it during the first years of our democracy. It is worth noting that Republicans controlled the House (and the Senate and the presidency) in 2003. In the same year, a new pavilion for the Liberty Bell exhibits opened adjacent to the eventual site of the Presidents House. This juxtaposition motivated the City, which jointly administers the Presidents House with the National Park Service, to collaborate with the Service to tell a fuller story because it was finally time to tell an honest story about American history and the founding of this country and the role that slavery and enslaved Africans hadas well as the free [African American] Philadelphians. The court went on to describe the planning and budgeting process that took the next several years. Finally, in 2017, while Trump was president, the Park Service issued a Foundation Document for Independence National Historical Park, setting out basic guidance for the Park, including its purpose, its reason for inclusion in the national park system, its significance, and its fundamental values and resources. The document noted the paradox of the Washingtons bringing their enslaved people to work and live there, and described this paradox as crucially significant to the Park as a whole. It further detailed interpretive themes for the park, including Liberty: The Promises and Paradoxes, explaining this paradox as follows: not only are they ideals to strive for but they are unfulfilled promises for people who struggle to be fully included as citizens of our nation. Donald Trump is an incredibly busy man. In his second term, he has, so he says, ended eight wars. He has reduced prices by 300, 400, even 500%, which is especially impressive since nothing can be reduced by more than 100%. He has renamed and then closed the Kennedy Center, destroyed a big chunk of the White House, and imposed tariffs on most of the countries on earth (even on the Heard and McDonald Islands, whose only inhabitants are penguins, who must be celebrating Fridays Supreme Court ruling). Somehow, though, in the midst of all this, he found time to issue Executive Order 14253, on March 27, 2025. The order states that over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nations history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light. It goes on to declare the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing. Museums in our Nations capital should be places where individuals go to learnnot to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history. Accordingly, the Secretary of the Interior is to ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interiors jurisdiction do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape. What does this mean? What can it possibly mean that a monument should not inappropriately disparage Americans past or living? What would Trump accept as appropriate disparagement? In the immediate aftermath of the order, most attention focused on major, longstanding institutions such as the Smithsonian Museum, and on historical displays in national parks. Then in January, the Park Service removed 34 educational panels from the Presidents House that referenced slavery, and further, deactivated video presentations that accompany these educational panels. The city filed suit the next day, seeking an injunction requiring the government to restore the exhibits in their entirety. Up until this point I have been referring to the court. But the court is actually Judge Cynthia Rufe, a 77-year old senior judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She was nominated to the federal bench by George W. Bush. This nomination came after she was recommended by the states two Republican senators at the time, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. Yes, the Rick Santorum who advocated teaching intelligent design in science class and said radical feminism had made it socially affirming to work outside the home. Any judge acceptable to Rick Santorum is hardly a liberal squish. Judge Rufe was a state court judge for eight years, and has been on the federal bench for 24 years now. Judge Rufe granted the Citys request for a temporary injunction. Her 40-page opinion is a meticulous rejection of the governments various technical arguments about standing and jurisdiction. And her ultimate conclusion that a temporary injunction is warranted because the City is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims is itself based on technical rulings. These include a holding that the Park Services actions were arbitrary and capricious and ultra vires, or unauthorized by any law. But in a few extraordinary passages, Judge Rufe excoriated the government for its attempt to whitewash history. These are worth quoting at some length: The government shrugs off NPSs action as within its power and discretion, but that action violates the expressed intention of the same EO the government claims motivated it. EO 14253 seeks to prevent revisionist attempts to replace[ ] objective facts with a distorted narrative. NPSs action did the opposite, by dismantling objective historical truths. It is not disputed that President Washington owned slaves. Some escaped to freedom, including Oney Judge. The Presidents House displays recognized Oney Judge and focused on how her struggle for freedom represented this countrys progress away from the horrors of slavery and into an era where the founding ideals of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness could be embodied for every American. And yet, in its argument, the government claims it alone has the power to erase, alter, remove and hide historical accounts on taxpayer and local government-funded monuments within its control. Its claims in this regard echo Big Brothers domain in Orwells 1984, where: The largest section of the [governments] Records Department consisted simply of persons whose duty it was to track down and collect all copies of books, newspapers, and other documents which had been superseded and were due for destruction. A number of the Times [a newspaper] which might, because of changes in political alignment, or mistaken prophesies uttered by Big Brother, have been rewritten a dozen times still stood on the files bearing its original date, and no other copy existed to contradict it. Books, also, were recalled and rewritten again and again, and were invariably reissued without any admission that any alteration had been made. The government here likewise asserts truth is no longer self-evident, but rather the property of the elected chief magistrate and his appointees and delegees, at his whim to be scraped clean, hidden, or overwritten. And why? Solely because, as Defendants state, it has the power. An agency, whether the Department of the Interior, NPS, or any other agency, cannot arbitrarily decide what is true, based on its own whims or the whims of the new leadership, regardless of the evidence before it. Accordingly, the City is likely to prevail on its claims that the removal was arbitrary and capricious. The City argues that it will incur various forms of irreparable harm if the displays are not restored and safeguarded. Among the harms the City alleges are a loss of access to historical truth, an undermining of the public trust, and an inability to recount its own story in preparation for the semiquincentennial. The harm at issue in this case must account for the significance of the slavery-related displays that NPS removed. As the federal government itself recognized, the Presidents House and its history is important and meaningful to many people for many reasons. The Presidents House has resulted from years of advocacy, engagement by the public, and cooperation between the City and the government. As the City argues, the removal of interpretive displays and exhibits constitutes erasure, undermines public trust, and compromises the integrity of public memory. The removed displays were not mere decorations to be taken down and redisplayed; rather, they were a memorial to men, women, and children of African descent who lived, worked, and died as enslaved people in the United States of America, a tribute to their struggle for freedom, and an enduring reminder of the inherent contradictions emanating from this countrys founding. Each person who visits the Presidents House and does not learn of the realities of founding-era slavery receives a false account of this countrys history. It is greatly reassuring when judges, especially conservative ones, speak plainly and forcefully like this. Judge Rufe actually began her opinion with another quote from 1984: All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary. In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done, to prove that any falsification had taken place. She then stated the issue before her, and her decision: As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwells 1984 now existed, with its motto Ignorance is Strength, this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims to dissemble and disassemble historical truths, when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not. The day after Judge Rufe issued her ruling, the Ministry of Truth appealed. At a recent Grammy Awards ceremony, Billie Eilish stated publicly that no one is illegal on stolen land. This statement implies that the United States was unlawfully created and, therefore, any national laws regarding the illegal entrance of aliens into the country are invalid. This is a very big issue. If the United States was unlawfully created (different from unfortunately created), a case could be made that the land that now comprises its sovereign borders should revert to the indigenous people then living within those boundaries, or in the alternative, be allowed to be claimed by majorities pouring into its undefended bordersa type of siege. Advertisement Was the United States lawfully created? It was lawfully created if one accepts the premises of Western Civilization, Christianity, and the notion of advances in civilization. It is thought that indigenous American tribes existed in the continental United States for thousands of years. Some scholars put that number at 23,000 years. This occupancy consisted of hundreds of tribes with spheres of influence over certain lands, but not individual ownership of parcels of land. These tribes mostly existed at a subsistence level, with advanced skills in survival crops and surface-level metallurgyespecially gold and copper. Advertisement Western Civilization grew out of Greek and Roman thought and practices, combined with the introduction and acceptance of Christianity, and incorporated the notion of advancement over subsistence, including the development of the person morally and intellectually. Christianity encouraged the curious, the industrious, and the innovative as discoverers of Gods creation. The Biblical notion of mans fallen nature shrouds Western thinking, a constant swimming upstream as advances are developed and then debauched. The word lawful includes this moral component. What may be legal must also be lawful in the Christian belief system. Advertisement How can what is the continental United States be legally discovered if peoples are already living on the land? The Age of Discovery (1400 AD1600 AD) grew out of the disruption Muslims caused to European and Asian trade routes across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and into China. These routes brought paper, gunpowder, and spices to Europe in return for wool, wine, and other commodities from Europe. When these routes became too dangerous or too highly taxed, other water and land routes were sought. Advertisement Theodor de Brys Christopher Columbus arrives in America (1594). Public domain. Advertisement Spain and Portugal led the way as they searched for another land/water route to China. And so, in rapid succession, we get Columbus, da Gama, Magellan, and othersbrave explorers trying to find new trade routes and instant wealth. The Old World eventually discovers the New. Perhaps, it was thought, this was even more significant than the routes themselves. This, then, is the initial story. Foundational philosophy, administration, and law from pagan Greeks and Romans; the Roman acceptance of Christianity; the rise of the Roman Catholic Church in governance and inquiry; the clash of Muslim/Christian cultures; the genius of Chinese innovation and its seepage into the West; and the insatiable nature of man to discover more and improve the already found. Advertisement Pope Alexander VI, in 1493 AD, declared it lawful to discover inhabited lands and declared an International Doctrine of Discovery for any Christian prince to ownership, with occupancy rights granted to the indigenous. This Catholic international law was validated by our Supreme Court in 1823, but was rescinded by Pope Francis in 2023. And now, the rest of the story. The rest of the story is part factual history and part mystery. Different societies handle experiential knowledge differently. Scholars theorize why this is so, but a definitive answer as to why? is not possible. How did the Chinese come up with the earliest technology in the smelting process that moved societies from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age? What compelled Monks in the 800s AD to the backbreaking reclamation of arable land from the wetlands of England and Belgium? What compels one group of people to curiosity and innovation and another to subsistence? Experiential knowledge is lived, understood, passed along, and improved over time. It took 1,000 years for the blast furnace technology of China to reach Sweden. By the time colonists reached American shores in Jamestown in 1607 and in Plymouth in 1620, colonists had working guns, pistols, fowlers, and tools that were traded to indigenous tribes for land and assistance. How the nearly-starving colonists in Virginia found bog ore and built the first iron works at Falling Waters in 1619 is a wonder. What the early Christian communes brought to tribal lands in America was not just advanced tools. They brought the notion of individual ownership and responsibility. Land was traded, purchased, and ceded by treaty, and the records of these transactions were recorded and housed. Descent and conveyance, as evidenced by wills, go back to the ancient Egyptians and were codified in England by Henry VIII in 1540. The idea of owning property and leaving that property to heirs to be improved meant that generation after generation, rather than sameness, there was the chance for advancement. If what Miss Eilish is saying at the Grammys can be translated as a reflection of mans fallen nature regarding the treatment of the indigenous, she has a point. America includes some conquered and some confiscated land. The whole notion of nation-states grew out of the religious wars of the 17th century in Europe. Native Americans did not have these notions. In addition, Americas overarching foundational philosophy is the development of the person, not the development of the group. And yet, as part of the mystery, in spite of some past practices, there is a sweetness of intention in the language in Article 3 of the Northwest Ordinance, passed by Congress under the Articles of Confederation in July 1787: The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them. Miss Eilish deserves a response: the words stolen land are not accurate. The concept that what is legal must also be lawful (moral), however, is the basis of American civilization. Abraham Lincoln is esteemed for preserving the Union and ending slavery. Yet somehow his role in abolition has been brought into question. Lets look at some criticisms and the actual history. Advertisement Historian Kelly Carter Jackson in her Lincoln gets way too much credit for freeing enslaved Black people argues that, Abraham Lincoln did not free the enslaved. The enslaved freed themselves and that it was abolitionist and national leader Frederick Douglass who convinced Lincoln to use freedom as a weapon. She also emphasizes the importance of slaves escaping to Union lines and serving in the Union Army. Very simply, Douglass is the real hero behind much of Lincolns success. Her emphasis on the roles played by black people and Frederick Douglass is valid. Subordinating the role of Lincoln, however, is another matter. Advertisement Then there is the ever-critical Dr. Howard Zinn: He (Lincoln) would keep the abolition of slavery not at the top of his list of priorities, but close enough to the top so it could be pushed there temporarily by abolitionist pressures and by practical political advantage. Citing Richard Hofstadter, the Emancipation Proclamation had all the moral grandeur of a bill of lading." Now for the record. Advertisement It was Lincoln who expanded the Union war goals to include emancipation. On July 13, 1862 he told Navy secretary Gideon Welles and Secretary of State William Seward of his intent to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. They were dumfounded. On July 22 he informed the thunderstruck cabinet about the Proclamation which he described as a war measure taken under his authority as commander-in-chief that would apply only to areas in active rebellion. Secretary of War Edward Stanton advised that the proclamation should be announced to the general public only after a Union victory. Union victories were hard to come by that summer of 1862. Advertisement In his famous public letter of August 22, 1862, Lincoln explained to Horace Greeley that, My paramount object... is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy Slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. While this letter seems to subordinate the issue of slavery to that of union, timing is critical. It came after the proclamation was known to the cabinet but not yet to the general public. Clearly, Lincoln was preparing the populace to accept abolition as a war goal along with the preservation of the union. Advertisement Finaly, on September 17, 1862, Lees army was turned back at Antietam. Lincoln declared, G-d had decided this question in favor of the slaves. On September 22, 1862, he released the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation to the general public with the understanding that it was to become official in areas under rebellion on January 1, 1863. To appreciate the true impact of the proclamation we must see it through the eyes of those who lived at that time. Advertisement On February 6, 1863, Frederick Douglass discussed the proclamation at Cooper Union. His praise was effusive: the greatest event of our nations history, if not the greatest event of the century it is difficult to grasp the full and complete significance of President Lincolns proclamation. The change in attitude of the Government is vast and startling; and we can scarcely conceive of a more complete revolution in the position of a nation. Fully aware of the proclamations limitations, Douglass explained, The world has never advanced a single inch in the right direction, when the movement could not be traced to some such small beginning. As the war continued Lincoln became increasingly committed to a constitutional amendment ending slavery. Thus was born the 13th Amendment, which passed in the Senate on April 8, 1864. In the House, however, the amendment failed twice. Lincoln became more directly involved. He insisted that support for passage become part of the Republican Party 1864 platform. (The Democrat platform called for peace negotiations to restore the union with slavery.) Then in December 1864, after his strong electoral victory, Lincoln asked the House to reconsider the amendment. He met with moderate Democrats and border state representatives, using all of his powers of persuasion and patronage to convince them to change their vote. Finally on January 31, 1865 the 13th Amendment passed the House of Representatives. Abraham Lincoln would not live to see the 13th Amendments final ratification on December 6, 1865 Critics like Kelly Carson Jackson are mistaken that Lincoln was following Frederick Douglass and that the slaves actually freed themselves. Lincoln and Douglas did not meet for the first time until August 10, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation had been in effect for more than seven months and the Black Brigades were already fighting in the field. At that meeting, Lincoln authorized Douglass to recruit in the South James McPherson firmly refutes this denigration of Lincolns role in ending slavery. The fate of the slaves and the union became firmly linked as the war raged on. Only Lincoln could have stood against all the forces backing secession and for the preservation of the union. Once he made emancipation a goal, he refused any attempt to change it. There have been men who proposed to me to return to slavery the black warriors who had fought for the Union. I should be damned in time & in eternity for so doing. The end of slavery required both Union victory and the passage of the 13th Amendment. It was Lincoln who achieved both by overcoming the enormous obstacles in his path. Nevertheless, Ms. Jacksons emphasis on those who did flee slavery and worked for or served in the Union Army is quite justified. They contributed to the struggle for freedom and wrote a noble chapter in our history. The role of Frederick Douglass and his evolving relationship with Abraham Lincon is also critically important as he was a powerful advocate for fair treatment and equal pay for black soldiers of the Union Army. As time went on their relationship evolved and took on a deeper and more personal dimension. At the White House reception following the Second Inaugural, Lincoln asked Douglas for his impression of his speech explaining there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours. He replied, Mr. Lincoln, that was a sacred effort. On the other hand, Howard Zinns denigration of Lincolns role in emancipation shows utter disregard for the historical record and is, frankly, obscene. The last word goes to Willliam Lloyd Garrison, a leading Boston Abolitionist and early on a severe critic of Lincoln. Regarding the 13th Amendment: And to whom is the country more immediately indebted for this vital and saving amendment of the Constitution than, perhaps to any other man? I believe I may confidently answer-to the humble railsplitter of Illinois -- to the Presidential chainbreaker for millions of the oppressed -- to Abraham Lincoln. Image: Francis Bicknell Carpenter Citizenship is not a technicality. It is not a loophole. It is not a prize slipped across a hospital bassinet because geography happened to cooperate. Citizenship is the highest legal bond between an individual and a sovereign nation. Advertisement If that bond means anything, it must mean allegiance. That is the principle at the center of President Donald J. Trumps Executive Order 14160, signed on Jan. 20, 2025, titled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. The order directs federal agencies not to recognize automatic citizenship for certain children born in the United States after Feb. 19, 2025. When the mother was unlawfully present, or present only temporarily, and the father was neither a citizen nor a lawful permanent resident, the child becomes ineligible for citizenship. Advertisement Its rationale is straightforward. The Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to those born in the U.S. and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. That final clause is not ornamental language. It is a constitutional requirement. Opponents moved quickly. Lawsuits were filed almost immediately. Advertisement Federal district courts issued preliminary injunctions, including a nationwide block from a Maryland judge on Feb. 5, halting enforcement before the policy could take effect. For a time, it appeared that the familiar pattern would repeat itself, executive action frozen by sweeping lower court orders. Then the Supreme Court intervened in a critical procedural dispute. Advertisement On June 27, in Trump v. CASA, the Court ruled 6 to 3 to limit the use of universal injunctions by lower courts, finding no broad historical basis for them in most cases. The justices did not resolve the merits of the birthright citizenship order, but they did something profoundly important. They reaffirmed that nationwide policy questions belong before the Supreme Court itself, not in the hands of a single district judge. That set the stage for the main event. Advertisement On Dec. 5, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Trump v. Barbara, agreeing to hear the constitutional challenge to Executive Order 14160 during its ongoing term, with oral arguments scheduled for April 1, 2026. The Court deserves enormous credit for taking the case. The country cannot function indefinitely on assumptions about citizenship that were never fully tested against the constitutional text. Advertisement The most powerful defense of the order appears in an amicus brief filed Jan. 27, 2026, in support of the petitioners in Supreme Court case No. 25-365. That brief does not rely on rhetoric. It relies on history, statutory development, Supreme Court precedent, and the framers own explanations. Its core argument is simple, yet powerful. The phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof has always meant complete political allegiance, not mere physical presence. English common law shaped that understanding. In Calvins Case in 1608, Lord Coke explained that subject status depended on ligeantia, meaning allegiance and obedience to the sovereign, not simply being born within territorial boundaries. Allegiance was reciprocal. Protection flowed from loyalty. That concept carried into American law. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared citizens to be those born in the U.S. and not subject to any foreign power. Sen. Jacob Howard later explained that the Fourteenth Amendments jurisdiction language would exclude foreigners, aliens, and the families of ambassadors. Sen. Lyman Trumbull defined jurisdiction as complete jurisdiction, meaning not owing allegiance to anybody else. These statements were not casual observations. They were explanations of what the Amendment was designed to accomplish. The post ratification record reinforces the same principle. In the Slaughter House Cases in 1872, the Supreme Court observed that the jurisdiction clause excludes children of ministers and citizens of foreign states born within the U.S. In Elk v. Wilkins in 1884, the Court held that birth within the U.S. was not enough where complete allegiance was lacking. Citizenship required full political subjection, not partial or divided loyalty. Opponents point to United States v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. But that case involved parents who were lawful permanent residents domiciled in the U.S. with the governments consent. The Court emphasized lawful residence and the sovereigns permission. It did not address children born to parents present in violation of federal law. Extending Wong Kim Ark to that context assumes what must be proven. Modern courts have read Wong Kim Ark carefully. In Tuaua v. United States, the D.C. Circuit stressed the importance of complete political jurisdiction and direct allegiance. The amicus brief argues that collapsing the distinction between lawful, consent-based presence and unlawful presence erases the constitutional requirement of allegiance. The practical stakes are real. Jennifer Pak reported that official Chinese estimates placed annual birth tourism numbers in the U.S. at approximately 50,000. Salvatore Babones has estimated figures as high as 100,000 per year. Peter Schweizer has argued that over a decade the number of children born through such practices could range between 750,000 and 1.5 million. China Daily has openly advertised automatic citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment as an incentive for expectant mothers. These numbers underscore a hard truth. If citizenship attaches automatically without regard to allegiance or lawful status, the incentive structure changes. The Constitution becomes a magnet rather than a covenant. The amicus brief contends that the Framers anticipated this danger and wrote the jurisdiction clause to prevent it. Textual analysis strengthens that case. The Fourteenth Amendment speaks of being subject to the jurisdiction thereof, not merely within the jurisdiction. That distinction appears elsewhere in the amendment. The difference in phrasing suggests a difference in scope. Total political allegiance is not the same as temporary subjection to local laws. The brief synthesizes English common law, the drafting history of 1866, early Supreme Court decisions, and modern precedent. It concludes that children born to those who remain under the political allegiance of another sovereign and who entered or stayed unlawfully are not fully subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. in the constitutional sense. That conclusion is not radical. It is anchored in text and history. It respects Congresss role in naturalization. It restores meaning to words too long treated as surplus. If the Supreme Court upholds Executive Order 14160, thereby clarifying the Fourteenth Amendment, the decision will resonate far beyond immigration policy. It will affirm that citizenship is defined by constitutional principle, not by gaming the system. It will elevate the value of American citizenship by tying it unmistakably to allegiance and consent. It will limit the ability of foreign interests and unlawful entrants to manufacture status through geography alone. Most importantly, it will return control over America herself to the proper American people and their Constitution. In an era when sovereignty is often treated as an inconvenience, such a ruling would declare that the bond of citizenship still matters, still carries weight, and still demands loyalty. That is not exclusion. That is self-government. If citizenship can be claimed without allegiance, then sovereignty becomes a suggestion and the Constitution a relic. This case forces a choice between sentiment and structure, between drift and definition. The amicus brief proves that the Fourteenth Amendment demands loyalty, not opportunism. Should the Court affirm that truth, it will not merely decide a policy dispute. It will decide whether U.S. citizenship is sacredly reserved for Americans themselves, or formalized as a valuable commodity for alien birth tourists. Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cotto's Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt. Image: Pixabay (cropped) / Pixabay Content License Prominent figures in the conservative legal movement -- Chief Judges Jeffrey Sutton and Debra Ann Livingston and Judge Timothy Tymkovich -- have all recently announced plans to take senior status. In doing so, each created an opening for a conservative successor to serve for decades. Relatedly, rumors continue to circulate that the great Justice Samuel Alito may retire from the Supreme Court. Simply put: Judges Sutton, Livingston, and Tymkovich are patriots. And Justice Alito should cement his monumental legacy by following their lead. Advertisement Consider the importance of the judiciary. A lifetime appointment to an Article III court is among the most consequential honors the Constitution can confer. Federal judges, especially at the appellate level, often define the boundaries of government power, individual liberties, and readily resolve some of the most difficult legal questions. No other office carries that combination of permanence and authority. Alexander Hamilton recognized as much in Federalist No. 78, calling the judiciary "an indispensable ingredient" of constitutional design and "the citadel of the public justice and the public security." Thus, the recent decisions to relinquish the active exercise of that office, on a principled timeline, reveal something important: a willingness to subordinate personal prestige to the long-term health of a conservative judiciary. In short, it reveals humility in its highest form. Advertisement Accordingly, all three of the aforementioned judges have demonstrated those commitments in full. Their decision to step aside -- while conditions favor strong conservative successors -- is an admirable act of selfless service to the Republic. However, not all judges or justices step down in time. The lesson of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs tenure should remain in the memory of conservative jurists. Justice Ginsburg failed to step down while conditions favored her potential successor, and then Justice Amy Coney Barrett filled her seat. Conservatives simply cannot make the same error -- we cannot have our Justice Ginsburg moment. This is precisely why Justice Alito should consider his own situation. Advertisement Stated plainly, Alito should retire. To be clear, Alito has built a legendary reputation through his service on the Court. There is little doubt that he is one of the great justices of the modern era. His opinion in Dobbs is one of the crowning achievements of the conservative legal movement. That said, because his legacy carries such weight, he should ensure it endures through a worthy successor. If Justice Alito steps down in a timely fashion, his successor can take the oath before the midterms inject uncertainty into the process. The bench of potential successors only strengthens the case. Advertisement Judges Andrew Oldham, James Ho, Amul Thapar, Kyle Duncan, and Emil Bove represent some of the finest talent on the federal appellate bench today. Any one of them would greatly honor and carry on Justice Alitos legacy. Justice Alito's retirement would be consequential on its own. However, the principle extends well beyond a single seat. Across the federal judiciary, many senior-eligible judges appointed by Republican presidents currently occupy seats that could be filled by younger conservative successors. Every one of those judges faces the same dilemma: step aside now, or gamble that favorable conditions will hold after the 2026 midterms. That is not a gamble worth taking. Judges Sutton, Livingston, and Tymkovich likely understood this, and acted accordingly. If Justice Alito follows their lead, he sets a powerful example to every senior-eligible judge on the federal bench. Advertisement The conservative legal movement did not reach this moment by accident, and it will not sustain itself through inaction. Every judge who delays creating a timely vacancy risks becoming the next cautionary tale. Most importantly, other judges and Justices contemplating this decision can place full confidence in the Trump administration's judicial selection process. Indeed, no administration in American history has compiled a stronger record on judicial appointments. Advertisement During the Presidents first term, Don McGahn and Professor Rob Luther built a pipeline of strong, originalist jurists that transformed the federal bench. As Luther has written: [W]e emphasized the quality of judicial fortitude in our nominees. [W]e were looking for leaders; judges who would not be intimidated by the press, their colleagues, or even some Stanford Law students. We were looking for candidates with fortitude. And, undoubtedly, the results speak for themselves. President Trumps second term has continued this legacy, with the Senate confirming over thirty conservative Article III judges, including conservative stalwarts such as Jennifer Mascott, Eric Tung, Josh Divine, and more. The administration has demonstrated, beyond any doubt, that it will deliver top-flight conservative jurists. In closing, the federal judiciary is the most permanent institution in American politics. Judges serve for life. That permanence is precisely why the decision to step aside matters so much. Choosing to create a vacancy while conditions favor a strong successor ensures longevity in the conservative legal movement, and faithful application of the law. Justice Alito, and other senior-eligible judges, have spent many years serving the Constitution. So, they should ensure that defense continues through a worthy successor -- while the opportunity still remains. Jimmy is a second-year law student at the University of Notre Dame. There, he serves as the Membership Coordinator for the Notre Dame Federalist Society. His commentary has been featured in outlets including the Washington Times, StarTribune, MinnPost and others. Advertisement From Wikimedia Commons: A French Ship and Barbary Pirates (Aert Anthoniszoon, circa 1615) Nazism and Bolshevismthe ideological world scourges of the twentieth century, threatening the complete destruction of Europemay be buried as historical phenomena. However, the world does not stand still. And the enemies of the open society, as described by Karl Raimund Popper, never rest for long; they are always on the move, plotting and calculating. Some of them are skilled at ingratiating themselves and pose as humanists, pretentiously speaking on behalf of the victims of the world, but they are impostors, to be sureand totalitarians at heart. Whatever the rhetoric, their ultimate goal is invariably to overthrow the West. Advertisement As a belligerent, triumphant, and unapologetic ally of modern Marxism (i.e., an opportunistically adapted offshoot of classical Marxism-Leninism), which has infiltrated Western universities and news media, occasionally referred to as wokeism and wrongly believed to be a benign revisionist trend, though secretly allied with black-clad stormtroopers, civilization is challenged by Islamic totalitarianism. When it comes to totalitarian ideologies that have threatened or continue to threaten Western civilization, the big three are National Socialism, Communism, and Islamism. The contemporary Western intellectual and cultural landscape fixates obsessively on the historical sins of Europe and its settler societies, particularly the triad of (a) racism, (b) colonialism, and (c) slavery. This preoccupation, relentlessly amplified in universities, media, and progressive discourse, typically frames Western civilization as uniquely culpable for systemic evils. Yet this narrative is not merely selective; it is also ideologically weaponized. And deeply flawed. Advertisement The assault on Western (Judeo-Christian) valuesindividual liberty, secular rationalism, and Enlightenment-derived universalismis spearheaded by a pragmatic alliance between Marxists and Islamists. Despite profound theological and philosophical incompatibilities, these forces converge in implacable hatred towards the West. Their common ground lies not in shared doctrine but in the simplified militaristic propaganda image of the West as an existential enemy and in the pursuit of totalitarian power: the Marxist dream of class dictatorship merges opportunistically with the Islamist vision of theocratic dominion, both demanding the erasure of Western ideals as prerequisites for their ascendancy. (As soon as the Western enemy is eliminated, as was the case after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the inevitable power struggle between the revolutionary forces, Marxist and Islamist, ensues.) Nowhere is the selective moral outrage of modern Marxists more evident than in the historiography and public pedagogy of slavery. Western academia and journalism have elevated the transatlantic slave trade to near-mythic status as the paradigmatic crime of modernity, with its approximately 12 million Africans forcibly transported to the Americas serving as Exhibit A in indictments of European guilt. Marxist scholars and associated activists, in particular, dissect this episode with forensic zeal, framing it as the foundational atrocity of capitalist imperialism. Advertisement Yet this emphasis on white guilt conveniently occludes a far vaster and longer-standing phenomenon: the Arab-Muslim slave trade, which historians estimate ensnared between 10 and 18 million Africans over thirteen centuries, from the seventh century until well into the twentieth. Unlike the transatlantic trade, which concentrated on adult males for plantation labor, the Arab trade disproportionately targeted women and children for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, with mortality rates during transit often approaching 50 percentfar exceeding those of the Middle Passage. Castration of male captives to produce eunuchs further inflated death tolls, rendering entire lineages extinct. As a counterbalance to the preferred Marxist (anti-Western) narrative, this erasure extends to the enslavement of Europeans themselves. Between 1530 and 1780, an estimated 1 to 1.25 million white Christiansprimarily from Mediterranean and Atlantic coastswere captured by Barbary corsairs from the North African regencies of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Sale, then sold in the slave markets of the Maghreb. Advertisement The coordinated slave raids struck deep into Europe: coastal villages in Italy, Spain, France, and beyond were depopulated; corsair vessels reached as far as Ireland (notably the 1631 sack of Baltimore, where over 100 villagers were abducted) and even Iceland (the 1627 Turkish Abductions, which seized around 400 people from remote settlements). Children were torn from families, women consigned to harems, men to galleys or quarries. European states, despite possessing formidable navies, repeatedly failed to suppress this predation, preferring tribute payments to decisive military actiona pattern of appeasement that prefigures modern reluctance to confront Islamic extremism, be it militant or civilian. The transatlantic trade, while indefensible, was ultimately abolished through internal Western moral and political pressure, culminating in British naval patrols and international treaties. In contrast, the Arab-Muslim trade persisted far longer, with vestiges enduring into the modern era. Slavery was only formally outlawed in Saudi Arabia (1962) and Mauritania (1981), yet contemporary forms thrive. In Mauritania, hereditary bondage continues among the Haratin population, with weak enforcement of abolition laws sustaining one of the worlds highest per capita rates of modern slavery. Across the Sahel and Horn of Africaincluding parts of Niger and Sudanforced labor, debt bondage, and child exploitation remain entrenched. Advertisement In the Gulf states, the kafala sponsorship system binds millions of migrant workers (predominantly from South Asia and the Philippines) to employers who control their visas, mobility, and wages. Confiscated passports, withheld salaries, physical abuse, and barriers to legal recourse render these arrangements functionally indistinguishable from slavery. Human rights organizations routinely describe kafala as enabling modern servitude, with workers enduring conditions of forced labor that trap them in debt peonage and exploitation. This double standard in historical memory and moral accounting is no accident. The Wests self-flagellation serves a dual purpose: it delegitimizes its own cultural inheritance while shielding non-Western perpetrators from scrutiny. Marxists exploit transatlantic slavery to indict capitalism; Islamists invoke it to deflect from their own civilizational record. Together they foster a narrative that portrays the West as eternally indebted, its achievements as stained by original sin, and any defense of its values as racist apologetics. The omission of Barbary white slavery, the scale of the Arab trade, and ongoing enslavement in Muslim-majority regions exposes this as intellectual dishonesty masquerading as justice. The historical irony is stark. When European powers proved unwilling or unable to extinguish Barbary piracy and its attendant slave trade, it fell to the young American republicfresh from independence and unburdened by centuries of tributeto act. In the Barbary Wars (18011805 and 1815), U.S. naval forces under Commodore Stephen Decatur bombarded Algiers, secured treaties ending tribute demands, and liberated captives without ransom. This intervention effectively curtailed the enslavement of Westerners by North African states, demonstrating that resolute force, not impotent negotiation, was required to defend civilized order against predatory totalitarianism. When it comes down to it, little has changed. Contemporary Europe, confronted by external threats to its liberal-democratic orderwhether through migration crises exploited by Islamist networks or ideological subversion by Marxist heirsoften recoils from decisive action. Appeasement prevails in the absence of civilizational self-preservation: cultural relativism excuses barbarism abroad, while self-loathing paralyzes resolve at home. Once again, when the civilized Christian-derived West proves deficient in will, it falls to American powerhowever imperfectto confront existential challenges. The pattern endures because the underlying pathology does: a refusal to acknowledge that not all civilizations are equally culpable, and that some threats demand, not dialogue but defeat. This applies in the inherited war against the Big Three. For the sake of civilization. At present, 33 countries and two territories allow birthright citizenship out of 194 nations on the planet, meaning, it's not exactly a common phenomenon by global standards. Advertisement This hasn't stopped the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and some NGO they're politically aligned with from wading into another policy argument, calling President Trump's executive order banning birthright citizenship to illegal aliens 'immoral,' speaking as a 'friend of the court' as the case on birthright citizenship goes to the Supreme Court. The document is here. According to Sahara Reporters: Advertisement The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched a legal offensive against President Donald J. Trumps executive move to terminate birthright citizenship, labelling the order "immoral" and a direct assault on "God-given human dignity." It's unseemly, not just because they shouldn't be wading into politics the same way greedy six-figure-salary NGOs lawyers focused on federal funding do. Advertisement It's obviously a cynical ploy to sway the Court through religion, given that the vast majority of Supreme Court justices are some variety of Catholic, both wokesters who don't practice the faith, as well as committed Catholics. This is obvious enough in their constant arguments that begin with 'Catholic teaching says,' as if the U.S. were a Catholic country. Compare and contrast that to what the likely author of the document, wokester Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who blessed the partisan Democrats at their convention but hid his pectoral cross to avoid annoying them. Was that 'Catholic teaching says,' too, to pretend to be not a Catholic? Advertisement The U.S. is not a Catholic country, but these bishops know there's a Catholic-majority Court, which they'd like to guilt-trip and sway, effectively suggesting that anyone on the Court who doesn't share their point of view on this very prudential matter (as Church teaching calls legitimate differences of opinion on policy) is somehow a bad Catholic. They sure as heck plan to influence the roundheeled Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic who's easily swayed to the left on most matters. Advertisement The argument itself is bad, too. Human dignity, contrary to their statement, is not derived from United States citizenship; it is inherent, no matter which citizenship a person has. They even contradicted their own argument claiming that lack of U.S. citizenship is against human dignity with this little passage in their brief: Advertisement The Church teaches that equal human dignity is inherent in the mere fact of personhood and does not depend on citizenship, immigration status, or parentage. So if human dignity is not dependent on citizenship, why is the U.S. obliged to provide it to the children of those who have broken our laws over all other children, particularly those of would-be immigrants patiently waiting in line? They already have their dignity, there's no add-on from the U.S. required. Their claim that anyone denied birthright citizenship owing to having parents who broke into our country illegally is stateless, is largely baseless, too -- given that nearly all illegal aliens hold the citizenship of their lawbreaking parents' country. To give them citizenship while denying it to those whose parents waited in line is obviously unfair as well as an incentive to immigrate illegally. For those few who really are stateless, well, whose fault is that -- the U.S.'s, or the lawbreaker's parents? Maybe the bishops should take it up with the parents, telling them not to victimize their kids like that. Or take it up with the lawbreakers' nations, who clearly should be handing it out based on the parents' loyalty to their countries. But more to the point, the 'human dignity' argument falls apart on its own merits, too. Trump's ending of birthright citizenship was a clear move to restore human dignity to U.S. citizenship, because illegals and other foreigners have grossly abused the U.S. citizenship process so badly, gaming the system through birth-tourism, baby farming, and anchor babies. How much dignity is there in being born on a baby farm, which the Chinese have been running around California -- dozens of kids born of the same father through surrogates, abused together without parents in a big mansion which is what happened near Los Angeles; or being born to a birth tourist and promptly spirited to China, bred to be indoctrinated into communist party doctrine in order to vote and sway U.S. elections China's way -- Peter Schweizer has documented about a million people who were 'produced' for this purpose. How much dignity is there in being born an anchor baby, solely to ensure one's parents can secure the right to stay in the U.S. for their own gratification? Speaking of 'human dignity,' this is commodification of human beings in the extreme and ending birthright citizenship will end a lot of this abuse. The bishops waxed poetic about immigrants contributing to U.S. society, conveniently ignoring the reality on the ground today -- that industrial-scale fraud and looting is going on by Somali migrants whose values are Somali values, not American values, and on a large scale have looked to plunder the U.S. through birthright citizenship. There are other immigrant groups with disproportionate criminality of other kinds, too, as anyone who looks at the rape rates in Europe would know. The whole phenomenon of the ungrateful migrant, brought on by handing out residence and citizenship like cheap party favors, is clearly the work of migrants valuing U.S. citizenship for exactly what they paid for it, which is zero. They even used a case from English law to justify birthright citizenship, a very old one, in their argument to the Court -- but omitted that the U.K. is one of the many nations that don't hand out birthright citizenship to foreigners. To say the U.S. must give out birthright citizenship and no other nation needs to is hypocrisy in the extreme. It's politics. And the more they engage in this, the less they stand to be listened to on things that matter in the salvation of souls. Image: Pixabay (cropped) // Pixabay Content License It's bad enough that Rep. Eric Swalwell, who's running for governor of California, doesn't live here, as court filings allege. Advertisement Now it's coming to light that he doesn't seem to have much loyalty to the country it's actually in. He's taken, and continuing to take, big campaign cash from a lawyer with abnormally strong ties to the Communist Party of China. Advertisement According to Fox News: Rep. Eric Swalwell's, D-Calif., gubernatorial campaign continues to be bankrolled by Keliang "Clay" Zhu despite concerns over his ties to China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Advertisement Zhu donated another $25,000 to Swalwell's campaign earlier this month after he had already donated $5,000 to Swalwells gubernatorial campaign in November and previously donated over $10,000 to his House campaigns. Zhu is a partner at DeHeng Law Offices PC, a top Beijing law firm that has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and has also donated thousands to Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign. The law firms website shows their lone "Silicon Valley Office," located in Pleasanton, Calif., appears to only have a single lawyer who works there Zhu, who has a history of fighting for Chinese interests in the U.S. Advertisement Sound like just the guy for the California governor's chair? We've already seen some gamy China activity from Minnesota's woke governor, Tim Walz. Swalwell would govern no differently. Advertisement He's already been caught sleeping with an identified spy from China, Christine Fang Fang, allowing her to pick his staff as he trundled off to Washington as a congressman. The FBI reportedly waved him away from her, without filing charges, presumably because he was led around by the little head instead of the big one, and the Chicoms understood this about him. It was obvious he was the target of a Chinese honeypot operation and influence operation to get him to vote China's way in Congress, and he went right along, either inexcusably naive for a supposed hard-bitten prosecutor he claimed to be, or else just China-loyal or Chinese-money loyal. Advertisement Just so were clear. Judy Chu is a CCP asset, who like her colleague Eric Swalwell, was compromised by Chinese spy Fang Fang. https://t.co/9x0Xikr5Pt pic.twitter.com/C4OxP2laWr Bad Hombre (@Badhombre) June 10, 2025 Then in 2013, Fox recently learned that he was hobnobbing with top Chinese communist officials around the same time Fang Fang was "servicing" him. A previously unreported 2013 Facebook post by China's San Francisco consulate shows then-freshman Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., touting "great potential" for U.S.-China cooperation during a meeting with a senior CCP diplomat, which came during the same time period when Swalwell was allegedly targeted by Chinese espionage efforts. So, in addition to Fang Fang flattering him on his, uh, attributes, the top Chicoms flattered him for his brains. During his affair with Chinese honey trap spy Fang Fang in 2013, Eric Swalwell met with Deputy Consul General of China Song. Swalwell said, "I will work actively to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and I'm looking forward to visiting China in the near future." pic.twitter.com/7OkuExCt1k Joel Gilbert (@JoelSGilbert) February 1, 2026 It must have been a bath of flattery where both sides mutually benefitted. And Swalwell has never adequately explained these continuous ties to China to the voters. In light of that scandal, and the fact that Swalwell got away without charges, you'd think Swalwell would be cautious in the extreme about contacts with Red Chinese-linked entities and personnel. But that's not what's happening, is it? He's still shamelessly at it, one hand washes the other with the communist Chinese officials, and the evidence grows that he's their useful idiot. With China actively recruiting our sailors, getting onto our military bases, stealing our Silicon Valley secrets, sending illegals to our beaches by speedboats, and running secret police stations and biological warfare labs on California soil, as well as harboring a top athlete who competes for China after being raised here in the U.S., the Chicoms are more dangerous than ever, and more inclined than ever to take control of various U.S. states. They've found the perfect catspaw in Swalwell, making one wonder how many compromising pictures they have on him, given his will to stay loyal. Now it's raining money for him. And you can bet there will be more China scandals around him like these because they aren't stopping. The whole picture should disqualify Swalwell from any public office, but especially the office of the California governor. The Chicoms would love to have that one in the bag and the outlines are already there that Swalwell has become their perfect puppet. Image: X screenshot McDonalds outlets in Germany have decided to ban the depiction of food in their daytime advertising during Ramadan, even though Muslims make up only about 5.5% of the German population. Advertisement Thats right, the American fast-food chain has made the decision to remove all food images from its outdoor advertising during daylight hours so as not to offend local Muslim populations. Perhaps Mickey D was spurred on to this decision by a Muslim man who recently entered a German grocery store and pulled food off the shelves and tossed it onto the floor, breaking jars and splattering foodstuffs far and wide. None of the stores patrons stepped in for an uncomfortably long time. Most just quietly observed. Advertisement Germany isnt what it once was. The German people twice took on the world, but now cant summon the courage to challenge a single deranged Muslim shopper. I have to believe most Germans know their country has been infiltrated and enervated, but, as in the late 1930s, they are too afraid to say or do anything to avoid their impending destruction. From Nazis to Muslims, an interesting progression. I guess the Jews are the common denominator. Advertisement England, too, has fallen. It is the perverse playground of Pakistani rape gangs. Somewhere between 70,000 and 100,000 of its young lasses have been sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. A huge number of its mayors are Muslim and more than one of its constabularies are majority Muslim. The U.K. has lost almost a third of its pubs in recent years. Sweden, once the safest country on Earth, is now a hotbed of rape and knife crime. Advertisement The mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Osama Siblani, recently told one of his citys citizens, who dared to complain about street signs honoring the rabidly pro-Palestine, anti-Israel publisher of The Arab American News, that he was not welcome here. That is in the USA. Image: Grok ai-generated illustration Advertisement Unlike practitioners of The Religion of Peace, Christians rarely react violently to those who dont share their beliefs. (It is almost like that is a core belief of theirs, in and of itself.) Maybe we infidels should give up bacon, music, dancing, beer and wine and our dogs in a gesture of friendship and cultural sensitivity. Advertisement Looking at it another way, however, perhaps Christians who make up a small percentage of a Muslim countrys population should demand that its citizens hide their Qurans and shuck off their burkas, niqabs, and hijabs during Lent. How would that go? And, by-the-way, Muhammed, we need you to put a liquor store, dance hall, and Honey-Baked Hams outlet right here in Riyadh. Capiche? This is a relief for those who dont trust Netflixs subliminal mind control and more overt woke programming: they just ditched their offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. Now they must ditch board member Susan Rice. The deeply disturbed political hack was reappointed to the Netflix board of directors in 2023. President Trump has firmly called on them to fire her. Heres why it is justifiable. Advertisement During a recent podcast, Rice brazenly warned that it is not going to end well for individuals and organizations who bent the knee to Trump. Her overt threats continued, saying: If these corporations think that Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to play by the old rules, and say, Never mind, we will forgive you for all the people you fired and all the policies and principles you violated, all the laws you skirted, I think they got another thing coming. Advertisement First, when did modern Dems ever play by the old rules? Maybe back when Tip ONeill and President Reagan were frenemies, but not recently. Regardless, its confounding that someone with a respectable IQ (not saying she has such) would publicly reveal such Machiavellian machinations. Its very disconcerting in light of recent revelations about Bidens FBI targeting operation against Trumps team. Special Council Jack Smiths Operation Arctic Frost should send shudders through anyone who values the Constitution and Bill of Rights which wouldnt include Rice. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is leading the congressional investigation into the sordid matter, described it as an unconstitutional abuse of power, the ramifications being much worse than Watergate. Advertisement Now, similar to the Arctic Frost disclosures, FBI subpoenas of Kash Patels and White House chief of staff Susie Wiless phone records have been uncovered. They were issued in 20222023, when both were private citizens, as part of a Bidenesque weaponization of federal law enforcement specifically, an outlandishly overreaching federal probe into former (at the time) President Trump. It sounds like Rice is determined, if given the chance, to employ similar unwarranted search and seize methods upon hapless private citizens who bent the knee to our overwhelmingly-elected president. During his magnificent SOTU address, President Trump exasperatingly called Dems crazy, but she is pure evil. Upon this recent subpoena discovery, Wiles confessed to being in shock. It is indeed shocking, but by now we shouldnt be surprised by the Dems scurrilous targeting of political opponents. We know that they contrive a crime first, then impose it on their usual suspects. And it sounds like Rice already has a mental list of the next victims to be persecuted for loving America, and its successful president. Shes not loyal opposition or an old rules frenemy; shes never-forgive evil. Advertisement Theres no way to misinterpret her recent comments her petty little mind is consumed with Arctic Frost-like vindictiveness. Unlike President Trump holding swampy ogres accountable in order to remedy and rectify past injustices (to seek karmic equilibrium, if you please), Rice is simply out for vengeance, not justice. She is proof that sometimes evil comes with a smiling face, though time has not been kind to it. Google has an unfulfilled corporate motto: dont be evil. Netflix needs to embrace a similar sentiment (more so, actually, because they often forget the dont part). They must purge the evil Rice from its board. Now! Pending her unlikely contrition and catharsis, it must not end well for her lest it end badly for the innocent American patriots. Advertisement Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. In the grand theater of American politics, respect used to be the unbreakable script. But under the Democrats direction, its been rewritten as a farce. President Trumps recent State of the Union address is a perfect example. Originally designed to unite the nation, the event exposed the raw contempt festering in the Democrat ranks. Dozens boycotted the event outright, rallying outside like protesters rather than statesmen. Nevertheless, the majority still bothered to show up, but they sat stone-faced, refusing to stand even for the victims of heinous crimes: both Americans and immigrants, slaughtered by the very criminals their progressive policies shield. Advertisement This wasnt just about snubbing Trump. It was a slap to the face of grieving families. Trump honored Anna Zarutska, whose daughter Iryna, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, who fled Putins war only to find horror here, was brutally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train. The killer? DeCarlos Brown Jr., a career criminal with a rap sheet longer than a welfare line, released time and again thanks to no-cash bail madness pushed by Democrat-run cities. Iryna was slashed in broad daylight, her life ended in seconds by a deranged monster who should have been locked up. As the chamber rose in applause for her memory, Democrats stayed glued to their seats. No respect for the dead. No acknowledgment of the failure. Just cold, calculated indifference. This spectacle isnt isolated. Its the symptom of a deeper rot: the total collapse of respect within the modern Democrat party. Respect for opponents? Forget it. Respect for law and order? A joke. Respect for human life? Only if it fits their narrative. Advertisement Look no further than the tragedy in Providence, Rhode Island. There, Stanislaw Kozav, 49, and his 75-year-old mother Irina froze to death in their car outside a hospital parking lot. These Ukrainian nationals had escaped the bombs in their homeland, seeking the American Dream. Instead, they met the nightmare of neglect. Homeless, living out of their vehicle amid a brutal cold snap, they perished from exposure possibly worsened by health issues, but undeniably ignored by a system that prioritizes everything but vulnerable whites like them. Why the silence? Because in Democrat eyes, these victims dont count. Their skin color doesnt align with the identity politics playbook. In that Blue bastion state, had they been Afro-American, Hispanic, or undocumented migrant, theyd get the red-carpet treatment: housing vouchers, legal aid, the works. But white refugees from Ukraine? Expendable. This is the equity they preach: a twisted hierarchy where respect is rationed by race and votes. Advertisement Respect isnt some optional virtue; its the bedrock of our republic. Without it, civilized debate crumbles into chaos. Mutual regard for supporters and foes alike is what keeps our democracy from self-destructing. Yet, everything coming from todays Democrats reeks of disdain. For dissenters who dare question their agenda. For public safety, trampled underfoot. Remember BLM? It could have been a noble push for justice, highlighting respect for black lives. But from day one, it morphed into a respectless rampage riots torching cities with many robbery cases, demonizing whites, and demanding defunded police that let predators roam free. The result? More victims like Iryna, more forgotten souls like the Kozavs. Advertisement And lets not ignore the elephant in the room: the Biden administrations insane policy that turned the U4U program into a catastrophe. Uniting for Ukraine sounded compassionate. But oversight? Nonexistent. Fraud risks galore, shoddy sponsor vetting, and a flood of unchecked arrivals. There is a direct connection between what terrible consequences we see now with Democrat-taken decisions years ago. These policies didnt just fail; they killed. Inhuman suffering, horrific deaths all because nobody in power cared enough to enforce the rules. Lack of control, thats typical Democrat style. America deserves better. Immigrants, who arrive to the U.S. legally, deserve better. We need statesmen, leaders who restore respect for our laws, our people, our values. Trumps address was a clarion call for that. The Democrats boycott? Just another nail in their coffin of contempt. If they wont stand for victims, why should we stand for them? Advertisement Mike Robertson is a contributor to American Thinker. Follow him on X at @Mike_for_MAGA. Advertisement Image from X. by Rafael Newman If she hadnt died in July 1987, at the age of 81, my maternal grandmother would be celebrating her 120th birthday this week. One-hundred-and-twenty is a proverbial age among Ashkenazi Jews, who recite the Yiddish formula Biz hundert un tsvantsik, or [You should live] to 120, on the anniversary of a birth. Thats a full 20% markup over their Goyish compatriots in the Old Country, who grant honorees a mere Sto Lat! 100 yearsin the traditional Polish song of birthday congratulations. I never once said Biz hundert un tsvantsik to my grandmother, however, on any of her birthdays, although not for want of wishing her well. This was because, despite her birth in the canton of Aargau, the traditional Swiss Pale of Settlement for Jewish residents until the late 19th century, and her own eventual close family ties with Jews, my Grossmutti was not herself Jewish. But neither was she in fact a Swiss citizen, despite the place of her birth. She was German. Eva Bertha Strassner was born on February 23, 1906, in Baden, Switzerland, to Johann Simon Emil Strassner and Maria Elisabeth Sander, immigrants from Lobelstein, which was, at the time of their births and until 1918, in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and is today a part of Bavaria. Eva Berthas father had come with his burgeoning family in search of employment as a handyman, which he found with a variety of enterprises in the industrialized regions of Switzerland at the turn of the 20th century. Over the next decades the family moved, in keeping with Johann Strassners fortunes and economic exigencies, from Baden in the canton of Aargau to nearby Wettingen, then to Toss, at the time a village in the canton of Zurich, now a district of Winterthur, the cantons second city, and from there, in the 1920s, to Schwerzenbach, on the edge of Zurichs Oberland, within shouting distance of Zurich itself, the cantonal capital and today Switzerlands largest city. By that time, however, my grandmother had left Switzerland: initially for Munich, where she studied philology at the university until, she claimed, she saw Hitler swaggering into a beer hall; and from there, by way of a brief stint in England, to Canada. Eva Bertha Strassner was young when she left Switzerlandin her early twentiesand her letters home suggest a continuing strong and nostalgic attachment, to her mother in particular, as well as to certain of her many siblings. But what she left behind in Switzerland was not only what we would now call a dysfunctional family, afflicted by poverty and a variety of psychological disorders, but also simply the discomfort of living as a German national among Swiss citizens. My friend Jurczok 1001, a poet and performer and himself the Swiss-born son of German immigrants, is fond of reciting an aphorism: There are three types of people in SwitzerlandSwiss people, foreigners, and Germans. To Swiss citizens, in other words, particularly those in the German-speaking cantons, foreign residents may be irritating, exotic, a welcome addition to the cultural landscape, or, depending on their generation, simply an inevitable part of modern Switzerlandbut German immigrants are uncanny: both overly familiar and disturbingly strange; marred by their violent national history but bearers of an august cultural tradition; refugees from urban deprivation who may nevertheless seem like arrogant pedants, merely because they are expert speakers of High German, the most widely spoken of Switzerlands three official languages, but a tongue many Germanic Swiss are inhibited about using, preferring instead their own distinctive (and often impenetrable) Alemannic dialects. So my grandmother left the land of her birth, where, as the child of immigrants, she had never felt quite at home, to produce such children herself in Canada: my mother and aunt, born to Eva Bertha and her husband Franz Kornpointner, a German immigrant to Canada himself. The war years and their aftermath were difficult for Germans in North America as well, of course, where they were at first suspected of being enemy aliens, and then, with the revelations of Nazi atrocities, became susceptible to guilt-by-association in the eyes of their Canadian compatriots. Thus, although their first language and the one spoken by their parents in private was German, my mother and aunt were cautioned against using it outside the home, lest they be identified by others as dirty Germans. Against such opprobrium my grandmother could deploy a defense to which my German-born and bred grandfather had no access. While ostentatiously celebrating the gifts of Teutonic cultureGoethe, Strauss, Thomas MannEva Bertha could also claim to be Swiss, and thus innocent of the mark of Cain. And although she could be as dismissive of the provincial Swiss as she was of the Canadian turnips among whom she had chosen to live, and made only occasional reference to Swiss culture, reciting with admiration a story by Gottfried Keller or a Swiss folksong, Eva Bertha used her birth in Switzerland as a shield against association with the Third Reich, and, in the postwar period, with the imperfectly denazified Federal Republic. Her politics intensified this distancing: having identified as a fellow traveler until the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939, she transformed her early Communist sympathies into a generalized progressive attitude in Canada, which included an allegiance to social democracy and solidarity with what was then known as the Third World. Meanwhile, back in Switzerland, as the 20th century progressed, the ethnic makeup of the Swiss population, whether citizens or not, was changing, along with the countrys economic fortunes. Foreigners began to settle in ever greater numbers in Switzerland as its wealth grew and its working-class citizens moved gradually into the middle class, and, as in much of the rest of Europe after the Second World War, labor had to be imported to fill the menial positions being vacated by native Swiss. In the case of Switzerland as in its neighbor to the north, these foreign laborers were considered Gastarbeiter or guest workers, a euphemism for restrictive permits that tightly controlled length of residence, forbade family unification, and fomented the xenophobia that came to a head in 1970 with a political initiative to cap foreign residence in Switzerland at ten percent. Another friend of mine here in Switzerland, Samir, a filmmaker who is the son of a Swiss native and an Iraqi immigrant, has recently created a remarkable testament to the period, and a warning against the current resurgence of anti-immigrant sentiment on the Swiss political scene. Die wundersame Verwandlung der Arbeiterklasse in Auslander (The Miraculous Transformation of the Working Class Into Foreigners, 2024) is a documentary feature that uses vintage footage, interviews with witnesses, participants, and experts, and animated recreations to evoke the enormous contributions made by immigrants to Switzerland, in the early postwar era particularly from Italy but increasingly from southern Europe and from other lands of the global majority, and to recount the hardships and resistance such immigrants faced from the Swiss forces of reaction. And indeed, my grandmothers last place of residence in Switzerland, the onetime white working-class town of Toss, has since become a suburb of Winterthur populated by immigrants from Turkey and the Balkanswhich has earned it the not entirely affectionate sobriquet of Tosstanbul. The neighborhood, which had once provided accommodation to itinerant German handymen like my great-grandfather, today boasts kebab restaurants and travel agencies specializing in package tours of Prishtina. Although Zentrum Toss shopping mall, which now serves as the district center, is a brutalist echo of Berlins notorious Kottbusser Tor, it cannot compete with the impression of a true Anatolian exclave evoked by the German version: for, given the restrictive realities of Swiss immigration policy, nowhere in Switzerland is there the density of foreign-born population necessary for the formation of a true ethnic quarter. Nevertheless, the immigrant flavor of the area is apparent, along with its typical first-world companion, the gradual influx of hipsters that signals a creeping gentrification. I was, however, delighted to see that the house we have identified as the one in which Eva Bertha Strassner lived with her family in the second decade of the 20th century is today a squat, emblazoned with progressive slogans: for improved immigrants rights, against the genocide in Gaza, in the name of anarchism. It seemed a fitting memorial to my grandmothers own early socialization as a rebel and champion of the underclasses: in Toss, on the site of a battle, in 1525, during the Peasants War; in a municipality that had voted overwhelmingly for the liberal constitution of 1831, which sponsored the creation of a working mans association in 1865, and which automatically became Winterthurs proletarian district when it was incorporated in 1922. Last week I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Clare ODea, an Irish author and long-time resident of Switzerland, at a reading from her most recent novel. (That marvelous book, Before the Leaves Fall, addresses, among other issues of relevance to contemporary Swiss society, the changing face of the countrys working class, regularly populated as it is these days by immigrants from Kosovo or Sri Lanka.) In our conversation before the event, Clare and I found that we were similarly averse to using the word expatriate to describe ourselves, since we agreed that expat is merely a prettified term for immigrant, one reserved for non-POC foreign residents, or those who have come from industrialized, dominant countries, and are presumed to enjoy the economic wherewithal and political freedom to return to their places of origin, if they choose. Since we were holding the launch at the James Joyce Foundation in Zurich, I was reminded of that earlier Irish authors own experience as an immigrant: or, as he himself might have put it, as an exile, long before the euphemistic term expat had entered into circulation, or could have made any sense for a citizen of what was at the time a profoundly repressive and low-income country, not yet the emancipated Celtic Tiger of recent years. And it occurred to me that, if ODea and I were clearly not exiles, neither were we expatriates; but that we could perhaps be termed ex-patriotsthat is, people who have chosen to live in a country other than that of their birth, who are committed to the political and economic life of that new country, who maintain a connection with their native land but are not reflexively patriotic about that identity, and who experience their new home with empathy and interest, as well as with the salutary distance of the settled nomad. People who have made up their elective, affective selves from pieces of various cultures, in other words. At any rate, I am for my part certainly an immigrant, like my grandmother and great-grandfather before me. In fact I insist on the appellation, in solidarity with all those being defamed by the venomous representatives of a renewed reaction: most recently by the loathsome Marco Rubio, at the 62nd Munich (!) Security Conference. * In February 2006 we gathered in Toronto, where my mother now lives and where my grandmother spent the final years of her life, to celebrate the centenary of her birth. All of Eva Berthas descendants were there, and when we had eaten a festive meal and reminisced about Grossmutti, we struck up the Internationale, in memory of her commitment to progressive politics and to a world without class, ethnic, or religious hierarchies. As a tribute to her own early experience of ex-patriotism, however, we sang the anthem of proletarian solidarity in a Swiss-German version written for the occasion by my elder daughter, who was born in Seattle, first schooled in Berlin, and raised in Zurich, and who has since lived, worked, or studied in Toronto, Venice, London, Sarajevo, and Basel. A member of the latest of four generations of immigrantsat least, and so far. With grateful acknowledgment of the City Archives of Baden, Winterthur, and Zurich The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, fought on February 27, 1776, stands as one of the most consequential early engagements of the American Revolution, despite lasting only a few minutes. Taking place in the coastal swamps and woods near Wilmington, NC, the battle was the first complete and total Patriot victory in the Southern theater of the American Revolution. Advertisement At the outset of 1776, British leaders believed the southern colonies were ripe for Loyalist resurgence. Large numbers of recent Scottish Highland immigrants had settled in the inner coastal region and retained strong allegiance to the Crown. British strategy depended on mobilizing these Loyalists to suppress Patriot resistance until regular British troops could arrive from overseas. A Loyalist force of roughly 1,600 men began marching from 90 miles inland toward the coast to join British forces expected near Wilmington. Patriot leadership realized they had their hands full. There was no Continental Army to speak of, so citizen soldiersfarmers, militiamen, and minutemenbegan to gather. The Patriot leadership knew the importance of terrain and timing. They skillfully delayed the Loyalist advance by destroying bridges and controlling river crossings, buying valuable time for Patriot forces to assemble. It also had the effect of funneling the Loyalist forces toward a vulnerable chokepoint, Moores Creek Bridge. Advertisement A thousand Patriots gathered to defend the bridge. They set up a deceptive camp on the west shore of this deep, fifty-foot-wide creek, while building a wide but short earthwork on the eastern shore of the creek. During the night, the Patriots moved to the east side of the bridge, removing the bridges planking and greasing the remaining timbers, transforming a simple crossing into a deadly trap. Patriot militia were positioned behind earthworks with cannon trained on the narrow approach, maximizing their defensive advantage. Advertisement Image by Craig Seibert. At dawn on February 27, an advance patrol of 50 Loyalists got across the bridge with much effort. Once across, unaware that they had stumbled onto a trap, they believed they were chasing the rearguard of the retreating Patriots and began a charge. They realized their mistake very quickly. A thousand Patriots with two cannon opened fire. Thirty Loyalists died instantly. The engagement ended within three minutes, resulting in a complete Patriot victory, with one injured and one who died from his wounds. Advertisement The consequences were profound. The news spread like wildfire, bolstering the resolve of the Patriot leaders and the public across all 13 colonies. Loyalist military strength in North Carolina collapsed. This battle, combined with the British loss in June 1776 at the Battle of Sullivans Island (which prevented them from capturing Charleston, South Carolina), dashed British hopes of instantly defeating the Southern colonies, which could have ended the revolution almost before it began. The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge had an immediate local effect, securing North Carolina as a Patriot stronghold, and just two months later, in April 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to instruct its delegates to vote for independence. Advertisement When I was at this battleground this week, I came away with two lessons that apply today: First, that God can use the small and unknown things to accomplish His plans. This little-known battle and victory were significant in the early days of the American Revolution, helping build hope and resolve. The Patriots could not have known that in advance. We need to remember, Duty is ours; results are Gods. Our individual acts of courage might tip the scales in ways we cannot foresee. Advertisement Second, local action can have a national impact. Moores Creek Bridge demonstrated the effectiveness of disciplined leadership, local knowledge, and coordinated action. We need to be active and attentive to what is going on in our local city councils, school boards, and state. Combine with others and take action for liberty today! You can find several 250th Anniversary trainings that Craig has filmed on location here. Craig Seibert is the director of www.DeclarationOfIndependence250.org, and www.ChristianCivicsTraining.org, where you will find an abundance of free resources. Craig is also a Coach Mentor for www.PatriotAcademy.com, and www.ServeGodDefendLiberty.com. Learn more about brand new free courses on Rebuilding Liberty Here. One of the big hits of the 1980s was Rockwells technopop Somebodys Watching Me. The relentless chorus endlessly repeated the phrase I always feel like somebodys watching me. This year, it could be the Republican theme song, because weve had two stories in as many days that Democrats spied on people near Trump. First, we learned that Jack Smith spied on Kash Patel and Susie Wiles. That was immediately followed by news that as-yet-unnamed DHS employees spied on Kristi Noem. Advertisement The first story, about Patel and Wiles, dates back to the Biden years, but its still mind-boggling. What made the Reuters headline was that Kash Patel has revealed that the FBI subpoenaed records of his and Wiless phone calls: It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records along with those of now White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight, Patel said in a statement to Reuters. Advertisement Patel is right. That is outrageous. But the truly outrageous part is what happened to Wiles, something Reuters buried 12 paragraphs deep in its report: In 2023, the FBI recorded a phone call between Wiles and her attorney, according to two FBI officials. Wiles attorney was aware that the call was being recorded, and consented to it, but Susie Wiles was not. Advertisement If youre wondering about that consent thing, different states have different rules for recording phone calls without a court order. Some states require that both parties consent to having the call recorded (two-party consent); other statesand Washington, D.C.require that only one-party consent. That means that, as long as one person says, You can record me, the other person may unwittingly find himself being recorded. Advertisement Image created using AI. Thats exactly what happened to Susie Wiles: Her lawyer said yes, and she had no say in the matter. Advertisement Whats really horrifying (to me, at least) is that her lawyer said yes. Your lawyer is supposed to be on your side. Thats what you pay him for, and thats his ethical obligation. If he cant be on your side, he needs to quit, not set you up for an FBI sting. Based on the bare-bones facts in the Reuters article, what that lawyer did violates every attorney-client ethical rule I can think of. Assuming the facts are true, I hope Wiles sues him into penury. The second story, believe it or not, is worse. Kristi Noem has revealed that, during her tenure as DHS secretary, DHS employees bugged her cell phone and her computer: Advertisement BREAKING: Sec. Kristi Noem just shockingly announced that Elon Musk helped her uncover SPYWARE installed by DHS STAFFERS onto her phone and computer TRAITORS MUST BE PROSECUTED! "@ElonMusk and his team were extremely helpful to me. They helped me identify that some of my own pic.twitter.com/NJxZz5y9xh Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 26, 2026 Picking up where the text cuts off: ...employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me to record our meetings. They had done that to several of the politicals. We ended up bringing in people. And that was something that if you didn't have those technology experts here in the department, looking at all of our laptops and our phones and recognizing that kind of software, it would still be happening today. So one of the things I need to do and continue to do is partner with technology companies and experts to bring them in and help us. The entire executive state edifice, every agency, is riddled with people completely loyal to the Democrat party, and they are willing to violate the law to win. The only way to defeat these embedded Democrat operatives is to prosecute them and, if theyre found guilty, send them to prison. But its that if theyre found guilty part thats a problem. Because their crimes are invariably committed in Democrat-controlled regions, and because crimes must be tried in the district in which they were committed, these Democrat activists get Democrat judges and Democrat juries. Therefore, they know that they are almost certainly immune to consequences. I hope that someone in the Trump administration has figured out a way to address this problem. I know that Trump has been trying to move agencies out of D.C., and this problem with the Judicial branch of government is a good reason to make that happen as quickly as possible. If federal employees know that partisan actions will get criminal consequences, that might be an incentive for them to stop. In the 3rd century BCE, at the height of the Hellenistic ages appetite for spectacle and scale, a ship was built so vast that even ancient writers struggled to describe it without awe. It was called the Tessarakonteres, or forty-rowed, and it was the largest and most ambitious naval constructions of antiquity. Credit: Wikimedia Commons The Tessarakonteres was commissioned by Ptolemy IV Philopator (reigned 221204 BCE), the Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt whose court in Alexandria was famed for extravagance. According to Callixenus of Rhodes, quoted later by Athenaeus of Naucratis in his Deipnosophistae, the ship was a forty, meaning it was arranged in a configuration of forty rowers on each vertical column of oars that propelled it. Ancient warships were classified both by the number of oar ranks and the number of rowers per vertical. The maximum practical number of oar ranks a ship could have logistically was three. Beyond three, the number in the type name did not refer to the number of ranks of oars any more but to the number of rowers per vertical section, with several men on each oar. A typical three-ranked galley with one man per oarcalled the trireme was the main Hellenistic warship up to and into the 4th century BC. The requirement for heavier ships led to the development of polyremes meaning many oars. Fours, fives and later up to tens were built and used in battles. Ptolemy II Philadelphus started building even larger polyremesa twenty and a thirtyand Ptolemy IV Philopator eventually built a forty, the Tessarakonteres. Possible arrangement of a "twelve" and a "sixteen". The upper boat is a trireme and the lower is a bireme. Credit: Lionel Casson However, just because a ship was designated with a larger type number did not mean it necessarily had or operated all three possible ranks. For example, a four may have been a trireme with one rower each on the bottom two ranks and two rowers on the top oar. It may also have been a bireme with two men on each oar, or it may just have had a single rank with four men on each single oar. The Tessarakonteres likely grouped rowers in complex arrangements, possibly with multiple men per oar. Classical archaeologist Lionel Casson believes the Tessarakonteres had three ranks. Designers of galleys in the 16th to 18th centuries noted that the maximum number of men that could operate a single oar efficiently was eight. If we consider that to be true, then that maximum size class of three-ranked galley was twenty-four. To accommodate forty rowers per rank, the deck of the ships must have been vast and combined with Callixenus's description of the ship having two prows and two sterns, Casson suggests that the "forty" must have been a catamaran made up of two three-ranked "twenties" joined by a deck. Each column or section of the ship would be composed of twenty rowers; perhaps eight rowers on each section's top rank, seven in the middle, and five on the bottom rank. Reconstruction of the Tessarakonteres showing possible rower configuration. Credit: Lionel Casson The ships dimensions were staggering. Athenaeus reports a length of about 280 cubits (roughly 128 meters or 420 feet) and a beam of 38 cubits (around 17 meters or 56 feet). It supposedly required 4,000 rowers, 400 officers and sailors, and nearly 3,000 marines. Its deck structures included shaded promenades supported by columns. It was less a practical warship than a demonstration of engineering prowess and royal wealth, a statement that Ptolemaic Egypt could rival or surpass any navy in the Mediterranean. Yet despite its fearsome classification, the Tessarakonteres probably never saw battle. Its size would have made manoeuvring in combat nearly impossible. Instead, it functioned as a ceremonial vessel or a floating palace. Credit: Wikimedia Commons The Republican and Democratic primaries for U.S. Sen. John Cornyns seat have broken spending records, topping $122 million before even the general election, a nationwide record for primaries for a single seat. But even though Republicans run the risk of losing a seat in one of the biggest states in the country, President Donald Trump is staying out of the race. The president will be in Corpus Christi on Friday, but has not made an endorsement, despite all three Republicans vying for the seat Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt all being there with him. AdImpact, which tracks spending on campaign advertisements, showed that the Senate primary in the Lone Star State hit $122 million. And $69 million of that money came from Cornyn and his allies as the four-term incumbent risks losing to the states ultra-MAGA AG Paxton. By comparison, pro-Paxton spending accounts for only $4.1 million. Paxton has become a darling of the MAGA right, partially for his legal challenges to the 2020 election results, his ardent opposition to abortion and his hawkish position on the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans have spent $69 million to save Texas Senator John Cornyn. (AFP via Getty Images) But Paxton carries significant baggage. In 2023, he was impeached by the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives, though the state Senate decided to acquit him. Last year, his wife, Angela, a state legislator herself, announced she would divorce Paxton on biblical grounds, a reference to his alleged affairs. Cornyn has sought to portray Paxton as a drag on the Republican ticket. This is also about trust, and the truth is, Texas can't trust Ken Paxton, he said. He's lied to his family. He's lied to Texas taxpayers. He's lied to his senior staff, the heroic whistleblower who turned him into the FBI for interfering in a federal investigation of one of his campaign donors. NEW AD: My kids know Im running for Senate because Im fighting for them and their children's future. Unlike John Cornyn, whos become a desperate shell of a man clinging to power, my campaign is not about attacking someone elses family. Its about protecting America. pic.twitter.com/vBBo0etzQd Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) February 26, 2026 Paxton for his part has sought to repair his image. One ad features his daughter Mattie and his grandchildren. Polling consistently shows Paxton leading against both Cornyn and Rep. Wesley Hunt, a two-term congressman who represents Houston. If no primary candidate receives a majority, the race will go into a runoff on May 26. Many Republicans consider Cornyn to be insufficiently supportive of Trump and expressed anger that after the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, he negotiated a gun control bill signed by Democrats. Part of the reason the race has become expensive is it is the first time both parties in Texas have competitive Senate primaries. On the Democratic side, state legislator James Talarico from the Austin area is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a two-term congresswoman from Dallas. Crockett jumped into the race on the last day possible to file, which led to former congressman Colin Allred to drop out. But Talarico and outside groups supporting him have significantly outpent Crockett. So far, Talarico and his allies have spent $22.1 million compared to just the $4.6 million spent by Crockett and her allies. Talarico received an unexpected boost when he was set to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but Colbert said that CBSs lawyers prohibited the show from featuring Talarico. After Colbert posted the video on the shows YouTube page, Talarico $2.5 million in 24 hours. Early voting began last week and so far, Democratic primary participation significantly outpaces Republican participation. According to VoteHub, which tracks elections, as of Thursday, 1,018,125 people voted in the Democratic primary compared to 872,006 in the Republican primary. Polls in Texas close on Tuesday. Ditching a significant other during a hike, also referred to as Alpine Divorce, is the latest eyebrow-raising dating trend with people pointing out the chilling dangers of that move. The phrase was mentioned in the comments of a TikTok video posted last week, where a woman with the username @EverAfterIya documented herself walking on an outdoor terrain, near rocky mountains. She could also be heard sobbing in the background, where she said she was having the worst Saturday of [her] life. POV: You go on a hike with him in the mountains, but he leaves you alone by yourself and you realize he never liked you to begin with, the text over the video, which has 19 million views, reads. In the caption, the TikTok user questions the connection she thought she had with this man, who allegedly left her alone during their hike. She also said the move felt like a way for him to end the relationship. This inner dialogue tends to fuel the feelings of despair, especially when the surrounding beauty draws attention to your loneliness, she wrote. While you could have spent this day in a more fulfilling, peaceful environment, instead, you are stuck wrestling with heartache in a breathtaking yet isolating setting. Women are sharing their experiences online with getting abandoned by their boyfriend on a hike, also known as Alpine Divorce (Getty Images) In the comments, multiple people have shared their jarring experiences of being abandoned by their partner during a hike, which they called an "Alpine Divorce. This is so common its actually referred to as an Alpine Divorce, one wrote, while another added: My boyfriend did this to me. I found another hiker to show me how to get back, then I went home and blocked his number. It happened to me many years ago. I met 2 girls on the mountain and told them what happened, and we walked down together, a third woman shared. They wouldn't let me go alone. I'll never forget them. Many X users were shocked to hear how many women have experienced Alpine Divorce. Theyre also criticizing men who have left their partners behind on a hike. Just saw a TikTok of a girl whose boyfriend abandoned her during a hike in the woods, a viral post on X reads. The comments were all about how this is a thing multiple men do. It's so common it's called Alpine Divorce, and there are support groups for it....All I can say is wtf is wrong with men??? Why would you ever consider abandoning someone that way? I'm mortified. That's truly awful. Abandoning someone like that? Incomprehensible male behavior, seriously, another wrote. Just saw a Tiktok of a girl whose boyfriend abandoned her during a hike in the woods. The comments were all about how this is a thing multiple men do. It's so common it's called Alpine Divorce and there are support groups for it....All I can say is wtf is wrong with men??? Why Maryam (@hell_line0) February 24, 2026 It turns out that the term originates from a sinister 1893 short story called An Alpine Divorce. In the story, written by Robert Barr, a man is planning to murder his wife during a visit to the Swiss Alps by pushing her off a cliff. The Alpine Divorce trend has also received traction after climber Thomas Plamberger was charged with manslaughter, after leaving his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, on Austrias highest mountain before she froze to death. Plamberger decided to leave her at 2 a.m. on January 19, 2025, and descend to the nearest mountain hut to seek help, only returning six and a half hours later in the morning to find her dead, according to the public prosecutor. Gurtner froze to death alone on the mountain after she was left in -8C temperatures, with winds of up to 45mph contributing to temperatures that feel as low as -20C. Prosecutors are arguing that Plamberger made nine key mistakes that led to his girlfriends death, from not planning the expedition properly to failing to make contact with search teams and police. Artificial Intelligence company Anthropic has refused to comply with the Pentagons request to lift safeguards on its model so it can be used in further military operations amid threats of being blacklisted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The model, named Claude, which was used earlier this year in the successful capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, is the only one currently running in the military's classified systems. However, Anthropic has refused to lift protections on Claude so it can be used for all legal purposes, prompting the department to ask major contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin to provide assessments of their reliance on the model. Such assessments are usually reserved for foreign tech companies and are the first step towards designation as a supply chain risk. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Thursday said the company cannot in good conscience agree to the move. It is the Departments prerogative to select contractors most aligned with their vision, Amodei wrote in a statement. But given the substantial value that Anthropics technology provides to our armed forces, we hope they reconsider. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin confirmed to Axios that the Pentagon contacted the company regarding its use and exposure to Anthropic ahead of "a potential supply chain risk declaration." Artificial Intelligence company Anthropic has refused to comply with the Pentagons request to lift safeguards on its model so it can be used in further military operations amid threats of being blacklisted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (AP) "We sought their partnership [previously] and ultimately could not come to an agreement. They were somewhat reluctant to work with the defense industry, a Boeing spokesperson told the outlet. A source told Axios that the Defense Department plans to reach out to all its major military contractors about their use of Claude. Anthropic has refused to lift its safeguards, in particular allowing Claude to be used for the mass surveillance of Americans or to develop weapons that fire without human involvement which Pentagon higher-ups have denied will happen. Following a tense meeting on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the company a deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday to decide whether to agree to their terms or risk the consequences. Pentagon AI Anthropic (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) As well as designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk, the government could also cancel its contract or invoke a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act to give the military more sweeping authority to use its products, even if the company doesnt approve. Top Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Thursday on X that the department wants to use Anthropics model for all lawful purposes but didnt offer details on what that entailed. He said opening up use of the technology would prevent the company from jeopardizing critical military operations. We will not let ANY company dictate the terms regarding how we make operational decisions, he said. The Independent has reached out to the Pentagon and Anthropic for comment. by Leanne Ogasawara 1. A man sits unsettled on a wintry Paris afternoon, when his mother offers him some teaalong with a small little cake, shaped like a shell. Perhaps it is the most famous cake in literary history, for the moment he tastes the madeleine, softened in the tea, he is, in that instant, transported across time and space, as the world of his childhood rises before him, whole and luminous. What begins as a simple sensation becomes a revelation: the past, long buried, is not gone at all, but waiting in the body, ready to return. Philosopher Paul Ricoeur might have said this was the perfect example of the way literature illuminates how human beings experience time. In his three-volume series, Time and Narrative, Ricur suggests that time becomes human only when it is articulated through narrative, because this is when lived duration is gathered and configured into meaning. A philosophy student undergraduate, I am now married to an astrophysicist so I guess it was no surprise that time was something I became completely obsessed with when I began studying the craft of fiction. Just think of how Prousts madeleine moment captures the way we really do experience time. Like a palimpsest, where one sensation can trigger an entire buried world, and we feel ourselves transported through a temporal aperture, like a worm hole, through the story of our lives. In a class on time and fiction I took several years ago, we looked at a story in The New Yorker by Weike Wang called Omakase. A kind of frame story, it begins when a couple goes out to dinner, and in almost every moment that happens in chronological time, a sip of tea or when the woman finds herself observing the man chat with the waitress, there is a shift of thought, an interior unfolding. Its like the multi-dimensional unfolding of a Sophon in the Three-Body Problem, her inner world unfolds in multi-dimensions. 2. Recently, in a workshop, a fellow writer was sharing her ambitious and wonderful manuscript, a story which took place over the course of the protagonists entire life, from childhood into old age. I dont read a lot of books like that anymore, as most of the literary fiction I come across covers little slips of time, sometimes a few years, but more often, just a few months or even weeks. It made me wonder whether contemporary American literary fiction prefers intensity over expanse, compression over sweep. Theres something so ambitious about writing a book that stretches through time like that. I am thinking of David Szalays Booker prize-winning book Flesh, which I absolutely loved and recommend to everyone. Starting when the protagonist is a high school student, it makes great jumps forward through time and space to pick up with the character again down the line in several pivotal scenes from the characters life. Time is not shown continuously but in selected flashes, as though the narrative were assembling a constellation of heightened choices and experiences rather than a straight line. But it is also a straight arrow of time too, since we do not move around randomly but chronologically. In another favorite novel, Bangkok Wakes to Rain, by Pitchaya Sudbanthad, we really do jump around in time not along an arrow, but more randomlyreturning over and over again to a certain house where people have come and gone over a century or more. Time flickers in and out. And isnt that what might happen when we are on our deathbeds, as our lives come rushing back to us? When a person looks back and takes stock. They might linger, out of order, on the big moments that heralded change. Well, maybe for some people its the big events but for others maybe meaning is found in the quiet moments. In Claire Messuds fantastic new novel, This Strange Eventful History, we follow a pied-noir man couple in colonial Algeria. The story is framed by their grand love. What is so unique about the novel is that rather than telling it as the drama unfolds during the war and then more significantly when the revolution occurs and the French leave North Africainstead, Messud chooses to focus on those times in-between, creating these wonderful leaps, where a chapter will abruptly end before the real drama takes place. So, we start new chapters finding the family again, a decade or so later, after the world has moved on and the world events are told in retrospect. I really enjoyed this a lot, because it suggests that the drama of history is often absorbed quietly into the texture of ordinary life, and that narrative time does not need spectacle to carry weight. 3. But then, this leads to Ricurs point about plot. Our lived time is uneven, he writes. Privately, we experience our lives as irregular and layered. Communally, we experienced time in rhythmshigh and low tides, feasts and ordinary time, sacred versus clock time. We dont experience our lives as neat chronology. We experience interruptions, returns, repetitions, gaps. And we remember our lives and understand time by making meaning through story. We do this privately and we do this communally. Ricur calls this plot configuration in French: mise en intrigue. E.M. Forster famously defined it like this: The king died and then the queen died is a story. The king died, and then the queen died of grief is a plot. My question has always been to wonder: is that true in all cultures? Is it true for all people, that plot needs causality? Here is a long quote from my another of my favorite novels, An Unnecessary Woman, by Rabih Alameddine: Alain Robbe-Grillet once wrote that the worst thing to happen to the novel was the arrival of psychology. You can assume he meant that now we all expect to understand the motivation behind each characters actions, as if thats possible, as if life works that way. Ive read so many recent novels, particularly those published in the Anglo world, that are dull and trite because Im always supposed to infer causality. For example, the reason a protagonist cant experience love is that she was physically abused, or the hero constantly searches for validation because his father paid little attention to him as a child. This, of course, ignores the fact that many others have experienced the same things but do not behave in the same manner, though thats a minor point compared to the real loss in fulfilling the desire for explanation: the loss of mystery. Causation extraction makes Jack a dull reader. Isnt that a great point? How many times have I experienced in a workshop someone saying that something my character did or said was completely unbelievable. I always want to point out that it might be unbelievable to them but it isnt to me since I actually did or said that! But something very interesting (and possibly scary) is that in the Western tradition, plot has always been viewed like this, as a dramatic arc. Thats what were taught. Theres a situation, and then it grows tense. It reaches a peak and subsides into a resolution. There are stakes, and if the propulsion is not good, authors are supposed to throw rocks at their characters. We need a ticking clock and conflict. In any workshop you will hear this again and again, whether time stretches for generations or the story takes place over the course of a few hours, motivation and conflict are what drives story. I think because we are so accustomed to reading literature through the lens of the three-act plot and the Freytags Pyramid and now by TVthat when we experience a story where conflict is not fueling plot, not pushing the character through time and space, we feel like the book is not propulsive. Alameddines novel, by the way has been described as being plot-less, which says it all, really. 3. Another recent novel I fell in love with has also been called plotless: Mai Ishizawas The Place of Shells, winner of the Akutagawa Prize and translated by Polly Barton. In the story, which I recommend to everyone!, a young Japanese woman is completing her PhD in medieval art history at a university in Gottingen, Germany. It is the summer of 2020. Europe is tentatively reopening after the first wave of the pandemic. She goes to the train station to meet an old friend from graduate school Nomiya, who died nine years earlier in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and who has, inexplicably, returned. What happens next defies the logic of Western plot. There is no confrontation, no revelation, no catharsis. Instead, the narrator walks with Nomiya through Gottingens Planetenweg which is a scale model of the solar system mapped across the city, each planet marked at its proportional distance from the sun. And it is here, in this strange, quiet promenade, that the novels true structure reveals itself. I walked a Planetenweg once, in Aspen. I moved from Mercury to Mars in minutes, but to reach Jupiter I needed a bicycle, and out to Pluto? I had no idea Germany had more than fifty of these. I had no idea that Germany had more than fifty of these. In the novel, like in Aspen, each planet is marked with a plaque and an explanation, which breaks up the journey the way a chapter break does in a novel. What struck me was the way the walk made me feel the solar system in my body in a way no diagram ever had. The distances became real. The emptiness between planets became real. This, I think, is exactly what Ishizawa is doing with time and grief. The dead friend is close. The earthquake is further. The pandemic is further still. And somewhere out at the edge, almost unreachably distant, is the ordinary life that existed before any of it. In this novel, time is not a dramatic arc it is proportion, distance, the long dark between one world and the next. Pluto, in the novel, keeps disappearing and reappearing. Of course it does. That is how grief works. That is how the dead return. The Place of Shells reminded me so much of Laszlo Krasznahorkais A Mountain to the North, a Lake to the South, Paths to the West, a River to the East in the way cartography quietly replaces plot as the structuring principle of time. Krasznahorkais title reads like a compass rose, orienting the reader through landscape rather than action; direction itself becomes destiny, not the characters personal psychology. I love Krasznahorkais book so much because I am walking through Kyoto in a novel that unfolds not in dramatic sequence but in spatial relationnorth of this, east of thatso that geography performs the work that emplotment traditionally would. Similarly, Ishizawas Gottingen, layered with the Planetenwegs planetary scale, becomes a temporal map one can walk. And there is this dog that keeps digging stuff up along the pathlike peeling back the layers of time, seeing the way our lives leave deposits. 4. For me, time has never felt like a straight arrow with a clear beginning, middle, and end. My life feels more like a map of forking paths where no single choice was ever fully made, where every direction remains faintly visible. A life not plotted so much as wandered. This may be why I am drawn to repetition in fiction, to long digressions, to novels that pause and circle back instead of racing forward. I distrust the neatness of climax. I prefer the unpredictable, the side road that refuses to resolve. I really do like to meander. But more importantly, I love when fiction is unpredictable because that is how I process my life. I love characters, like in a Rabih Alameddines novel, who reject psychological causation and action, instead the characters in his books, prefer reading. As do I. Did you notice that the authors I mentioned were born in countries with different storytelling traditions to our own? I havent made my way through Ricurs trilogy and I wonder how he handles what is not universal in storytelling. One last example. In W. G. Sebalds The Rings of Saturn, the narrator walks through East Anglia, but the walk becomes an atlas of memory, exile, silk production, colonial trade, personal melancholy. A coastline opens into centuries. A digression becomes the main road. Photographs interrupt the text like archival coordinates. The journey is nominally linear, but temporally it radiates outward. Reading Sebald, one never feels that one is progressing toward an ending; one feels instead that one is moving through layerslike sediment exposed by erosion. Time is not plotted; it is excavated. The recurrence of things, the endless return of the world? And maybe that is why I return again and again to fiction: not to find out what happens next, but to feel the strange, exhilarating sense that the path could turn anywhere. Notes: Injury scare: Bukayo Saka went off late in Arsenals derby thrashing of Tottenham (London Standard) Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has shaken off injury fears to face Chelsea this afternoon. The winger went off late in the win over Tottenham last weekend after being awkwardly caught in a challenge with Xavi Simons. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS CHELSEA LIVE! Saka was on the pitch at full-time to celebrate with his team-mates, and he avoided any significant problem. Mikel Arteta's big decision came at No10. Martin Odegaard was thought to be back from a knee injury after coming off the bench against Spurs, but Eberechi Eze keeps his place and Odegaard isnt involved at all. Eze scored twice in the north London derby and will be hoping to now kick on and maintain that form. Kai Havertz returns to the squad to face his former club, with Arteta confirming that the German would resume training on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres scored a superb brace against Spurs and leads the line again in an unchanged team. In defence, Piero Hincapie continues to impress and keeps his place over Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. Ben White is still out after missing the north London derby with a "niggle". Arteta said only lets see when asked for a new update on the defender on Friday. Max Dowman, meanwhile, played for the Under-21s as they were beaten by Ipswich on Friday night, as he continues his return from an ankle ligament injury. Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Saka, Eze, Trossard, Gyokeres Subs: Kepa, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Norgaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus, Havertz Injured: Merino, Odegaard, White Time and date: 4.30pm GMT on Sunday, March 1, 2026 Venue: Emirates Stadium, London How to watch: Sky Sports Young mothers are being warned about a grocery store parking-lot scam that drains thousands of dollars from peoples bank accounts. Authorities are telling residents of Charleston, South Carolina, not to listen to the people approaching them in parking lots claiming to be raising money for an urgent cause, such as a funeral or medical expenses, as they are actually scammers. Police say these scammers are particularly preying on young mothers with children, as they see them as emotionally vulnerable and therefore more open to making a donation when told theyd be giving to a good cause, according to a new report. Charleston police are warning people about a scam occurring in grocery store parking lots (Getty/iStock) In a warning sent out to the public, the Charleston Police Department (CPD) said: Scammers are approaching victims and asking for donations for funeral or medical expenses. They claim they cant accept cash and instead use a mobile card reader to process a tap to pay donation, in some cases withdrawing thousands of dollars from victims accounts. Sergeant Chris Stinson, CPD Public Information Officer told The Independent: "The investigation consists of three separate incidents that occurred in 3 different grocery store parking lots between February 19th and February 20th of this year. He said that CPD have heard reports about a similar incident that occurred in a nearby jurisdiction, and are still working on confirming the details. No arrests have been made at this time, said Stinson. We believe that the incidents perpetrated in Charleston were planned and organised by the same group. Stinsons advice to the public is to remain aware of your surroundings, and call police immediately to report suspicious activity. If something seems off, it probably is." Grocery store parking lots are an ideal location for scams such as this one, according to authorities, as they are chaotic places where people are less likely to take the time to see how much they are actually being charged before tapping their card to the reader. Additionally, people are trying to move on with their day and are willing to donate to end the encounter with the person asking for money. According to the police, victims have said they agreed to give small sums of money, but then ended up realising that up to tens of thousands of dollars were taken from their accounts without them noticing. It is unclear at this time what this money is actually going towards. The popularity of contactless payments has surged over the years (PA) CPD is now teaming up with local churches, neighbourhood associations, and civic groups to train people on how to avoid this and other scams. They have asked people to reach out to SpeakToCPD@charleston-sc.gov to schedule a session with the police at their local community hub to learn how to stay safe from these scammers. This is not the only store-based scam that has occurred recently in South Carolina. Social media users joked about the 12th arrest of South Carolina boutique store owner Pamela Brooke Schronce on Wednesday, after she was charged with obtaining property under false pretenses, valued at less than $2,000. She was previously accused by customers of taking money for orders and never delivering their goods. Social media users say they now have enough mugshots of Schronce to make a calendar. An executive at Barclays is to take over as the head of the UKs banking watchdog, in a move expected to underscore Government efforts to cut red tape in the sector. Katharine Braddick is to replace Sam Woods as the next chief executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of England when he leaves the role at the end of June. Ms Braddick is currently group head of strategic policy at banking firm Barclays and previously served as director of financial services at the Treasury. The appointment comes amid a backdrop of calls from the Chancellor to ease the regulatory burden on the UKs financial sector. Rachel Reeves said on Friday that the new watchdog boss will be expected to keep standards high while driving a competitive, growth-focused approach to regulation. The Chancellor added: Katharine Braddick is an accomplished pro-business leader with the experience to keep our financial system safe while backing the investment and lending that drives growth. She understands the City and regulation, and will help ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world to do business. Ms Braddick was also previously head of banking at the Financial Services Authority, including during the 2008 financial crisis, until the organisation was broken up. She will take over from Sam Woods (PA) (Leon Neal) The King and the Chancellor together confirmed her proposed appointment on Friday. She will take the role from July 1 for a five-year term. Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said: I am very happy to welcome Katharine Braddick back to the Bank as deputy governor for prudential regulation. Katharine has vast experience both in the public and private sectors, and I am confident that she will lead the PRA with great ambition and skill, maintaining strong regulatory foundations to underpin a growing financial sector and a thriving economy. I would like to thank Sam for his many years of hard work at the PRA, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. The award-winning BBC comedy Ghosts is to be made into a feature length film. Actors Lolly Adefope, Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe will all feature in the family adventure Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House. It has been written and created by the same team behind the hit BBC TV series, including Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond. They said in a joint statement: We thought we had said goodbye to Button House at the end of the final series. We never planned to come back. But when we had the idea for this story, we all got so excited that we couldnt resist returning to our haunted home for one more adventure. We cant wait to be together and to welcome some brilliant new faces to tell this soul-stirring tale of life and death. Ghosts ran for five series on BBC One, with the final episode watched by 7.2 million viewers. It was the most-watched comedy series of 2023 in the UK, and the US version of the series is currently in its fifth season, with local versions also produced in France, Germany, Australia and Greece. Filming will begin next month at West Horsley Place near Guildford in Surrey, and on location in the surrounding area. Eva Yates, director of BBC Film, said: We are overjoyed to be bringing our beloved Ghosts back once again, this time for a hilarious and cinematic adventure, for the enjoyment of audiences on big and small screen alike. Ghosts is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. A man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue in the centre of London early this morning (Getty) A man has been arrested after a statue of Sir Winston Churchill in central London was vandalised with pro-Palestine graffiti. Free Palestine, Zionist war criminal and Globalise the intifada were sprayed in red paint on the bronze sculpture in Parliament Square, Westminster. The words: Never again is now and Stop the genocide were also painted on the monument. The Met Police said a 38-year-old man seen spraying graffiti on the statue shortly after 4am on Friday is in custody after being arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. The statue has been cordoned off and was being cleaned on Friday morning. The statue has been a target for protesters over the years (PA) Downing Street condemned the completely abhorrent incident, with the prime ministers spokesperson calling it a disgrace. Churchill was a great Briton, and this government will always stand up for our values. The perpetrator must be held to account, they said. The sculpture has been a target for protesters in the past and was also vandalised during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and climbed on by trans activists during demonstrations last year. Last summer, it became a crime to climb on Churchills statue, as the government announced offenders could face up to three months in prison and fined 1,000 for desecrating the monument to the former prime minister. The statue was added to a list of protected monuments, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Royal Artillery Memorial. Last December, both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced anyone chanting the controversial slogan globalise the intifada would face arrest. The decision by the two police forces was made in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, and the terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on 2 October. Speaking on todays arrest, a Met Police spokesperson said: Shortly after 04:00hrs on Friday 27 February, a man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. Globalise the intifada was painted onto the statue (Getty) The first officers were on the scene within two minutes. The man who is 38 was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. He remains in custody. The 12ft statue of the Second World War leader was unveiled in Westminster Square in 1973 by his widow, Clementine, eight years after her husband had died. Both Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother attended the ceremony. Its understood that Churchill personally chose the spot where he wanted the statue when the redevelopment for Parliament Square was being approved in the 1950s. Colin Keane and Noel Meade will break new ground when they link up with The Mourne Rambler in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. The six-time Irish champion Flat jockey has been a regular ally to Meade on the level over the years, winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup together with Helvic Dream in 2021 and also teaming up for Group-level success with Layfayette. However, now the Castletown handler will give the Juddmonte number one the leg-up for the first time at National Hunts showpiece occasion believing he will be more than capable of holding his own in a race which is notorious for its rough-run nature. Meade said: Colin rides a lot for me on the Flat and he rides work for me once a week, so it looked a natural fit to have the best Flat jockey riding for you in a bumper. Colin will be hardy, he wouldnt be a Frankie Dettori. He comes from a National Hunt background, hed have been jumping and riding horses since hed been able to walk. Hed be hardier than a lot of the jockeys you would come across from the Flat. I was very pleased to be able to put him up on the horse, he rode him out the the other day and we are very happy with him. He rode him in work the other day so everything went well. Meade has gone close to winning the Champion Bumper in the past with the likes of Corskeagh Royale who chased home Cousin Vinney in 2008, with this years contender winning impressively on his rules debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period. The Mourne Rambler is a general 16-1 chance in the betting for this years event which is headed by Willie Mullins Love Sign dAunou, and Meade is optimistic of a bold show. Meade added: We never really tried him that hard before he went to Leopardstown he had a trail run about two weeks before and it went fair well so we were fairly confident going there. Everything, touch wood, has gone well ever since so I think hes a horse who should handle himself. Obviously its going to be a very good race, a lot of horses with chances, but we certainly have a fighting chance anyway. I think he handles the ground. He handled the soft ground at Leopardstown, I dont really care what the grounds like as long as it doesnt dry up too much. I wouldnt say hes a slow horse anyway. Hes not a huge, big horse either, but hes light-framed and I think for that reason, the ground shouldnt be a factor. Forget party politics the new issue dividing the nation is dog owners. Surveys show the UKs dog population has reached a record high of at least 13 million. And with a steady increase in Britains canine pets comes a gulf between the number of owners who believe they are responsible and the experience of everyone else. Dogs jumping up at people, as well as dog mess, were the top complaints (Getty Images) Research by pollster YouGov suggests an overwhelming majority of dog owners (96 per cent) say they are responsible yet 86 per cent of people have encountered issues including dog mess, dogs jumping up on them without permission and dogs off the lead. Now the Dogs Trust and RSPCA have launched a national consultation to gather the views of both owners and non-owners on what responsible dog ownership means. The YouGov research found 96 per cent of dog owners consider themselves to be responsible, saying the most important aspects were picking up their dogs waste in public, ensuring dogs are safe and taken care of, and proper training and socialisation. Esther Martin was killed by two XL bully dogs called Beauty and Bear (Essex Police/PA) (PA Media) But nearly as many people surveyed 86 per cent had come across irresponsible dog owners. A quarter said they had witnessed such cases at least once a week. Some 72 per cent of those reported having seen owners leave dog mess on the ground. Around one in three reported having seen owners letting their dogs jump up at people and the same proportion had seen owners with their pets off-lead in restricted areas. A quarter of those who had seen dog owners behaving irresponsibly reported seeing owners ignoring their dogs acting aggressively. Dog attacks on people, some fatal, are regularly reported, including by XL bullies, a breed banned in 2024 without an exemption certificate. Supporters of the XL Bully dog breed protested against the ban (AFP/Getty) Last year, figures obtained by The Independent showed there were at least 23,000 reported dog attacks in the first year of the ban. NHS data shows that the number of dog-related injuries in the UK is growing. Last week, Ashley Warren was found guilty of owning an XL bully dog that mauled Esther Martin, 68, to death. But many XL bully owners defended their pets. One, who herself had been attacked, said: It [dog attacks] is nothing to do with the dogs its 100 per cent owners who buy the breeds as status and mistreat them and then cant control them. If its not an XL bully, it will be another dog breed that irresponsible owners will be putting on treadmills to toughen up and turn into an aggressive animal, while all the responsible dog owners and the dogs suffer. Any dog can kill, even a chihuahua if it isnt looked after properly. Dogs Trust and RSPCA have created responsible dog ownership guidelines and want local government, police forces and other groups to take note of them. Samantha Gaines, RSPCA dog-welfare expert said: This consultation will be invaluable in building a shared understanding of what responsible ownership looks like - from devoted dog owners to those who regularly interact with dogs, and everyone in between - helping us make a positive difference to dog welfare and community safety. The closures are taking place at Charing Cross and Waterloo East to replace expired tracks (Network Rail) Two major railway stations in London will close for over three weeks this summer, affecting travel into the capital, as maintenance works are carried out. Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will be closed for a total of 22 days between 26 July and 16 August. Network Rail says trains will continue to run, and routes into London will remain open, but passengers can expect their journeys to be different and may take longer. Customers are encouraged to think ahead about how the changes might affect their travel. Southeastern services that normally run into Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street and London Blackfriars, with some trains terminating at London Bridge. Tickets will be accepted across all alternative rail routes, the London Underground and London buses. The stations are closing so engineers can replace 1,800m of life-expired track between Waterloo East and Charing Cross, among other upgrades. The track, last replaced in the early 1990s, has already caused more than a hundred hours of delays due to faults on approaches to Charing Cross. Waterloo East will also undergo drainage improvements, and Hungerford Bridge, which crosses the River Thames, will have structural repairs. Network Rail said a continuous 22-day closure, rather than over numerous weekends or bank holidays, was the best option as schools are off, commuter numbers are lower, and customers have more flexibility. Scott Brightwell, director of operations and safety at Southeastern Railway, said: We know closing Charing Cross and Waterloo East for 22 days is a significant change, and were sorry for the disruption it will cause. This is not a decision weve taken lightly. Weve looked long and hard at every possible option, and although none of them are without impact, a single summer closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work. This section of track is more than 35 years old and has caused thousands of minutes of delays for passengers in recent years. By replacing it now and combining that with platform, drainage and bridge works, were tackling the root causes of disruption in one go. This means fewer closures in the future and a more reliable railway for everyone who depends on these routes. Were working closely with transport partners, local businesses and communities to keep people moving with ticket acceptance on alternative rail routes, London Underground and London Buses. We are committed to ensuring customers are informed, supported and cared for throughout the 22-day closure. Read more: Can I get a railcard and will it save me money on train tickets? The Paso del Norte International Bridge at the US-Mexico border, between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, on 11 February 2026. Photograph: Christian Chavez/AP (Photograph: Christian Chavez/AP) Democratic members of Congress have expressed astonishment and anger at what they claim is the incompetence of the Trump administration after the US military used a laser on Thursday to shoot down what it thought was a threatening drone on the US-Mexico border in Texas but later turned out to belong to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The apparent confusion between two entities in the US government led to airspace being closed around Fort Hancock, right along the border. It was the second time in two weeks that air traffic was disrupted in the region as a result of a high-energy laser being deployed against drones. Earlier this month, chaos descended over El Paso, a city of about 700,000 roughly 50 miles (80km) from Fort Hancock, when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) abruptly ordered airspace to be shut down for 10 days only to lift the order eight hours later. The FAA cited special security reasons for the disruption, but it was later revealed that CBP had deployed a laser against what was thought to be a Mexican drug cartel drone but was in fact a party balloon. Related: Texas airspace closed after military reportedly downs US drone by accident The second incident in as many weeks occurred on Thursday when the military took action against what it said was a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace. The laser-based anti-drone system was activated, the Pentagon said, far away from populated areas and there was no commercial aircraft in the vicinity. But top Democratic members of Congress who were briefed on the incident were livid about what they said was an ongoing lack of coordination within the Trump administration. US representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson and Andre Carson said that our heads are exploding over the news. They accused the administration of sidestepping a bipartisan bill that would have improved training for drone operators and increased coordination between the FAA, the Pentagon and CBP. Now were seeing the results of its incompetence, the trio said. The ranking Democratic member on the Senate aviation subcommittee, Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, has called for an independent investigation into both recent anti-drone incidents. The Trump administrations incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies, the senator said. The airspace that has been closed is situated across the US-Mexico border from the valley of Juarez. The El Paso Times said that the area was renowned as a border smuggling corridor linked to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The new restrictions on airspace around Fort Hancock will remain in place until 24 June, the FAAs notice said. There appeared to be ongoing disagreements between government agencies about how to handle the use of anti-drone lasers. The systems deploy high-powered laser beams to disable the machines. The FAA is pressing for a safety review of the technology and wants all testing to be called off until that is completed. But Reuters is reporting that the Pentagon and CBP have indicated to congressional aides that they believe they can use the laser systems without having to consult the FAA in advance. Road to Budapest: The Champions League last-16 draw is on Friday (REUTERS) The latest Champions League draw is coming up today as the remaining teams discover their last-16 opponents. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are among the clubs who will also discover their potential routes through to Mays final in Budapest. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW LIVE! Here, Standard Sport explains how the draw works How does the Champions League last-16 draw work? The top eight teams from the league phase will meet the eight winners of the play-offs. There are four seeded pairs of clubs based on their positions at the end of the league phase. For example, teams who finished first and second are a pair, those who finished seventh and eighth are a pair. The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winners of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position is also determined by the knockout phase play-off draw. The draw will determine which side of the bracket each seeded team is placed on, starting with those ranked seventh/eighth and moving up the ranking from there. Taking, for example, the pairing of the teams in fifth and sixth place (Barcelona and Chelsea), one ball will be drawn and whichever of these teams is named inside is placed on the silver side of the bracket. The other is then placed on the blue side of the bracket. The procedure is repeated for each pairing of seeded teams. Which teams have qualified for the Champions League last 16? Top eight teams in league phase: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting, Manchester City Qualified via play-offs: Atletico Madrid, Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Atalanta Who will English clubs face in Champions League last 16? Top seeds Arsenal will face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta. Liverpool and Tottenham, who finished third and fourth respectively, will meet either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray. Chelsea will face one of Newcastle or Paris St-Germain. Manchester City will be drawn against either Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid. Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona. How are Champions League quarter-final and semi-final ties determined? The draw will also plot the fixtures for the remainder of the knockout stages, showing which side of the bracket clubs will be on and allowing them to map out a route to the final. The order of matches has already been determined by the position of the teams for the draws of the previous rounds. The round of 16 winners continue through their bracket until the final, with the team on the bottom row of each rounds match-up playing at home in the second leg. When is the Champions League draw? The Champions League draw takes place at 11am GMT today on Friday February 27, 2026. The draw is being held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Champions League knockout phase fixture dates Last 16: March 10/11 and March 17/18 Quarter-finals: April 7/8 and April 14/15 Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 Final: May 30 2026 in Budapest Jeffrey Epstein spent eight years negotiating to buy Bin Ennakhil, a 15-bedroom palace near Marrakech - AFP Jeffrey Epstein tried to buy a palace in Morocco a few weeks before his death. The financier signed a $14.95m (11m) wire transfer on July 5, 2019 for the purchase of Bin Ennakhil, a 15-bedroom luxury home on an 11-acre estate near Marrakech, files released by the US department of justice (DoJ) show. He also agreed to pay 18m (13.3m) to buy the offshore company that owned it. The American paedophile had a long-term interest in the architecture of Morocco and the country itself, which has no extradition treaty with the US. He first tried to buy Bin Ennakhil in 2011, but disputed the price and terms. Marc Leon, an estate agent in Marrakech, said: Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes [in 2008] and had served his sentence. There was therefore nothing to prevent him from attempting to purchase property in Morocco. We had no way of knowing that he had continued his terrible crimes. The palace in Morocco is hidden from public view in large grounds, and decorated with carvings and mosaics - Picasa The wire transfer was Epsteins last notable transaction before he was arrested on sex-trafficking charges, and he died in prison just over a month later, on Aug 10. Richard Kahn, his accountant, cancelled the transfer three days later. Mr Kahn is due to testify before Congress next month to answer questions about whether he helped to facilitate Epsteins crimes through his management of his financial affairs. Bin Ennakhil, which is Arabic for amid the palms, is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics and has been described as an architectural masterpiece. The palaces construction is said to have involved 1,300 craftsmen. A property listing in the Epstein files said it had 60 marble fountains and mosaic-tiled courtyards, more than 2,000 palm trees, hundreds of olive trees, a hammam steam spa and an outdoor pool. One of Epsteins former associates told the BBC that the fact he was trying to complete the purchase the day before he was arrested suggests he was unaware it was imminent. As well as featuring ornate interiors, the palace is surrounded by 11 acres of land with thousands of palm and olive trees The DoJ files have included references to him discussing Morocco as a refuge from justice. They do show that in 2008, the year he was released from house arrest for soliciting a minor for prostitution, he asked Lord Mandelson to find an assistant to fin[d] a house in Marrakesh. The late Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins accusers, spoke of being flown to Tangier by him and Ghislaine Maxwell to inspect the interior design of luxury properties. In 2002, Epstein and Maxwell attended the wedding of Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, after being invited by Bill Clinton. Ten days before the sex offenders final arrest, Charles Schwab wired about $27.7m (20m) on his behalf to an estate agent in Morocco because his own account had insufficient funds, Reuters said. Epstein turned to the financial services company in 2019, when Deutsche Bank was winding down accounts he held, amid increased scrutiny following his conviction. While his deal for Bin Ennakhil fell through, the palace is no longer vacant. Estate agent Mr Leon told Reuters: The property has since been sold to another buyer. The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter, Colt Gray, has taken the stand in the latest case of parents being put on trial after their children are accused of killing classmates. Shortly after presenting their case Friday morning, defense lawyers called Colin Gray to testify. Prosecutors believe Colin Gray should be held accountable for giving his son a gun the weapon used in the mass shooting for Christmas despite alleged threats and warning signs that the then-14-year-old was mentally unstable. Colin Gray faces 55 counts, including murder in the deaths of four people and 25 counts of aggravated assault. Hes accused of carefully planning the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at his High School that left two teachers and two students dead and several others wounded at the school in Winder, northeast of Atlanta. The father faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Colin Gray faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter Killed in the shooting were teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Colin Gray wrote step-by-step plans for the assault in a notebook, including diagrams and potential body counts, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified at a hearing the month after the shooting. With a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, he boarded the school bus, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said. Colin Gray faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter ( 2026 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) The trial of Colin Gray, now ending its second week, has included testimony from the boy's mother, Marcee Gray, who testified that she urged her husband to lock up the guns so that Colt could not access them. The parents were separated for much of the time leading up to the shooting, and Marcee Gray was not charged with any crimes. This is one of several cases around the nation where prosecutors are trying to hold parents responsible after their children are accused in fatal shootings. The Apprentice saw Vanessa Tetteh-Squire become the fifth candidate to be sent home in the 2026 BBC One series. Lord Sugar told the tech project manager from Enfield, London, Youre fired after she led her team to a loss in a flower-selling task for episode five. Tetteh-Squire had been hoping that Lord Sugar would make a 250,000 investment in her swimwear and resort wear brand, but said she was absolutely gutted to be culled from the process and that she didnt believe it was her time to go. Heres how episode fives firing played out. Who was fired in The Apprentice episode 5? Vanessa Tetteh-Squire was 'absolutely gutted' to be fired. (BBC) Vanessa Tetteh-Squire became the fifth unlucky candidate to hear the words Youre fired in the Thursday, 26 February episode. The swimwear entrepreneur had stepped up as team leader on a flower-selling task, but when her team lost the finger of blame, it was pointed at her. She said of her exit: I was gutted. Absolutely gutted. I don't believe it was my time to go. I kind of just feel like my fate was already decided from when I put myself up because nobody else wanted the job, and we know from Apprentice history that the PM will always get the blame should anything go wrong. Vanessa Tetteh-Squire said leading the flower challenge was a thankless task. (BBC) As project manager, she chose to bring Pascha Myhill and Lawrence Rosenberg back into the boardroom for a grilling, but admitted she couldnt choose between who most deserved to go instead of her. I was up against some notable candidates, she said. Honestly, I just believe it's one of those tasks where the odds were against us because we had one less person than the other team, and it was a task no one had any idea about. Anyone who put themselves up was quite literally up to be fired. Explaining why she had chosen to lead the tricky task, Tetteh-Squires said: I was getting tired of waiting around to prove that I am who I think I am. I could have done what other candidates do, which is coast and completely go under the radar, but I decided that I'll do something bold and if I win or lose, at least I've done it and I left on my own terms and not because someone else brought me back to the boardroom. Business was not blooming for Vanessa Tetteh-Squire, Priyesh Bathia and Dan Miller. (BBC) Tetteh-Squires unshakeable confidence made her a classic Apprentice candidate and she said of her time on the show: I have learnt that I am always right. I think the highlight for me so far, watching back the episodes, has been my strut, she added. My strut has gone down in history. It was something I was just doing to bring joy to myself, but it is now going down as a moment in history - the most ridiculous moment in Apprentice history. What happened in The Apprentice episode 5? The candidates were still in their pjs for the early task briefing. (BBC) A rude awakening Former candidates have spoken about the gruelling schedule on filming days, which can see them wake as early as 4am and have just 20 minutes to get ready.But this weeks start was even more of a shock to the system as the candidates opened the front door in their pyjamas to find Lord Sugar himself on the doorstep. Classic task gives a nod to series 1Lord Sugar embraced his market stall days in the episode five task, where teams had to sell flowers to the public and create floral installations for corporate clients.The task may have been a familiar one to avid Apprentice viewers, as it was actually the very first task ever set on the show when it began in 2005. This year, The Apprentice celebrates its 20th series and the repeated challenge served as a milestone for the show. The task brought back memories for aide and series one winner Tim Campbell. (BBC) Business is blooming - or is it?While the winning teams floral designs were in full bloom, bagging them a win and a celebration treat, Tetteh-Squires team failed to thrive.The team leader claimed she hadnt been fully briefed by sub-team leader Rosenberg on what the corporate client wanted. But in a boardroom battle between the pair and Myhill, Lord Sugar decided that Tetteh-Squires poor leadership, large financial losses, and badly-made bouquets were ultimately to blame. The Apprentice continues on BBC One at 9pm on Thursdays. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/the-apprentice-episode-5-fired-bbc-220100810.html Palestinians shop at the foot of a destroyed building in the Zawiya market, Gaza, on February 18, 2026, during the first days of the holy month of Ramadan. Israeli attacks killed five people in Gaza on Thursday, the territory's health officials said, and the Israeli military said it killed a militant who posed a threat to its forces in the south of the enclave. Medics said an Israeli air strike against a group of Palestinians in Gaza City's Tuffah neighbourhood in northern Gaza killed two people and wounded several others. Five people were killed and several others injured, some critically, in Israeli drone strikes on two police checkpoints in southern Gazas Khan Younis and in the Abu Hujair area northwest of the Bureij refugee camp later in the day, medics said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reports. Read moreWorld Central Kitchen urges international community not to forget Ukraine and Gaza Separately, the Israeli military said forces operating in the southern Gaza Strip killed a militant who posed an imminent threat to them after he crossed into an area still occupied by Israel inside the enclave. It described the incident as a violation of the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began last October. Gaza has been reduced to rubble in the war that was triggered by an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023 in which 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies. The Gaza health ministry says more than 72,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli fire since then. It also says that at least 600 people have been killed by Israeli fire since a ceasefire agreement came into effect last October. Israel has said four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza since the ceasefire began. Both sides have traded blame for violations of the truce. In January, the Gaza deal moved into a second phase in which Israel is expected to withdraw troops further from Gaza, and Hamas is due to yield control of the territory's administration. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters) A man who had been missing since Valentines Day was found and rescued after going days without food and water. Footage released by Putnam County Sheriff's Office shows officials on Feb 25 searching the Vulcan Sand Plant for Andrew Giddens, a 36-year-old from Jacksonville, who was the subject of a missing persons report after hed had no contact with family and friends since Valentines Day. His car was discovered on Feb 23. Crews from the Palatka Fire Department, Putnam County Fire Rescue, and the Melrose Fire Department spent hours working to rescue Giddens, who they discovered in shoulder-deep mud in freezing conditions. Due to the instability of the ground, responders had to progress slowly so they would not sink," the sheriff's office added. After he was freed, he was flown by air ambulance to a trauma center in critical condition. A bustling commuter gate at Reagan National Airport descended into further chaos on Friday as fog-laden Washington skies triggered an hour-long ground stop, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in American Airlines' Terminal D. Yet, amidst the frustration, an unexpected presence began to draw attention. The already packed area swelled as whispers spread through nearby gates: among the throngs of air travellers, only one individual was accompanied by a US Secret Service detail and uniformed local police officers former President Joe Biden. Rarely seen in public since leaving office last year, Mr Biden sat, much like his fellow passengers, awaiting a flight to Columbia, South Carolina, for an evening event with the South Carolina Democratic Party. Passengers exchanged glances, marvelling at the sight. Why would a man who once held the highest office in the free world find himself, like them, at the mercy of airport delays, despite being surrounded by his security detail? Biden sat in the third row of the small first-class cabin on the commuter jet (AP) For Biden, however, such a scenario might feel less unusual than for some other former presidents. Known for years as "Amtrak Joe", he famously prided himself on being the nations most ardent Amtrak supporter during his time as a senator, regularly opting for the train journey home to Delaware over residing in Washington. Even as a former president, he has been spotted riding the rails, engaging with fellow passengers and posing for selfies. On Friday, the familiar, approachable vibe continued. Biden, seated in the third row of the small first-class cabin on the commuter jet, boarded ahead of other passengers, his security detail discreetly positioned throughout the aircraft. "God bless you, sir," one woman offered as she filed past Biden, who sat in his window seat with a newspaper in his lap. Another man shook his hand, saying, "Thank you for your service." The woman who took the aisle seat next to him initially placed her coffee on their shared armrest and stowed her bag overhead, only to realise upon sitting down that her seatmate was the nation's 46th president. Biden sat in the third row of the small first-class cabin on the commuter jet (AP) Biden steadied her cup with his hand, then met her gaze with a friendly "hello" as she settled in. "I feel like I'm about to cry," the woman confessed, as they shook hands and chatted throughout the hour-long flight. While federal law guarantees lifelong Secret Service protection for former presidents and their spouses, it does not extend to providing the elite private travel arrangements that were a necessary feature of their time in office. The Green Party has snatched the formerly safe seat of Gorton and Denton away from Labour in a humiliating defeat for Sir Keir Starmer, which will fuel further questions over his leadership of the party. The result, which saw Labours Angeliki Stogia come in third, is a major blow to the prime ministers struggling authority, amid devastating approval ratings and mounting concern over the direction of government. Top pollster Professor Sir John Curtice described the result as seismic and means the future of British politics is now even more uncertain than it was already. Hannah Spencer a councillor and plumber received 14,980 votes, while Reform UKs Matt Goodwin came second with 10,578. Meanwhile, Labour slumped to third place with 9,364 votes, down from 18,555 in the 2024 general election, when the turnout was similarly high in the formerly safe seat. Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer secured a first-ever by-election victory for her party (Getty) Conservative candidate Charlotte Cadden received just 706 votes, with the Liberal Democrats getting 653. The victory is the Greens first ever win in a parliamentary by-election and comes despite Labour having won Gorton and Denton with more than half the vote just two years ago. It represents the sixth largest Labour majority to be overturned at a by-election since the Second World War. The final result came after the partys deputy leader Lucy Powell appeared to admit defeat in the early hours of the morning, saying Mr Polanski had won the argument that they were best placed to keep Reform out in the area. Labour has previously sought to pitch itself as the only option for anti-Reform voters, but the loss will now undermine that claim in future elections, instead boosting the Greens credibility and chipping away at Labours ailing support base. Sir Keirs decision to block potential leadership rival Andy Burnham from running in the contest which was triggered by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne standing down will also likely face renewed scrutiny. In an emotional victory speech, Ms Spencer said people were being bled dry and were sick of our hard work making other people rich. The 34-year-old, who becomes the Green Partys fifth MP, praised her partys hopeful campaign and said we have shown that we dont have to accept being turned against each other. Arguing that the Greens had defeated the parties of billionaire donors, she said: I wont accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. Hailing the swing of 27.5 per cent from Labour to the Greens, Mr Polanski said: If we see a swing like this at the next general election, there will be a tidal wave of new Green MPs. Labours chair Anna Turley said the result was clearly disappointing but attempted to play off the result as a typical challenge faced by governing parties. Spencer celebrating with Green Party leader Zack Polanski (Getty) By-elections are normally difficult for the party of government, and this election was no different, she said, adding: We have had thousands of conversations over the last few weeks and we know the majority of voters here did not want the poisonous politics of Nigel Farage and Reform. Labour MPs quickly pinned the blame on Sir Keir and his leadership after 20 months of pain in government. Leeds MP Richard Burgon told The Independent the result was absolutely terrible. He said: Blame for Labours defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to win, Andy Burnham. If Labour is to be the Stop Reform party, then the leadership must stop treating progressive voters with contempt and start appealing to them. Karl Turner told Times Radio that tonights result, which saw Sir Keirs party come in third behind the Green Party and Reform, is the worst result the Labour Party could have ever had. We are in a position where we cant out-left-wing the Greens, we tried to out-right-wing Reform on immigration, other such matters. My message to Keir, the prime minister, is this. Why dont we try to be Labour? he said. Labours candidate Angeliki Stogia with deputy leader Lucy Powell (Reuters) But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the election result was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. Posting on X, he added: Matt Goodwin was a great candidate for us. Roll on the elections on May 7th. It will be goodbye Starmer and goodbye to the Tory party. It came after a report by election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned of high levels of family voting in the by-election, claiming to have witnessed the practice in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored. Family voting where a voter is accompanied by another person near or in the booth with the intention to influence their vote was made illegal by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party, which came a distant fourth, said: Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labours safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader. Professor Curtice told the BBC that the result will raise questions about Sir Keirs continued leadership but had wider implications. Doubtless the result will raise fresh questions in Labour MPs minds as to whether Sir Keir Starmer should remain prime minister. Yet it would be a mistake to believe the result in Gorton and Denton simply reflects disappointment with the leadership he and his government have provided since the 2024 election. Rather the by-election confirmed the message of the 2024 election that two of the key foundations of Labours traditional electoral coalition have crumbled away. Labour could only pray for bad weather, hoping a wet Manchester would drive turnout down. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian (Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian) From the outset of the Gorton and Denton byelection, Labour strategists were desperate to say the party was on course to win, but the trouncing at the hands of the Greens has made this look laughable in hindsight. Hollie Ridley, Labours general secretary, sent a note to No 10 at the end of January saying it was clearly a two-horse race with Reform UK, and only 3% of voters were saying they would stick with the Greens. Later in the contest, cabinet ministers were dispatched to tell journalists things were looking good with the data and it was Labours biggest ever get out the vote operation to ensure victory. This misplaced optimism was mostly designed to make the voters of Gorton and Denton think that voting Labour was the best chance of defeating Reform UKs divisive candidate, Matt Goodwin. It was a strategy built after Labour felt burned by Plaid Cymru winning a Welsh parliament byelection in Caerphilly and it began to position itself as the pre-eminent stop-Reform party. But the polling and betting markets told a different story and reporting on the ground also revealed that voters were in no mood to give Labour a hearing. Time and again people cited disillusionment with the governments performance and Labours decision to block the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, from standing even above the overarching chaos of the Peter Mandelson scandal. Related: Labour MPs demand Starmer change direction after humiliating byelection loss Meanwhile, the Greens were playing a blinder. As Labour sought to portray them as extremists and soft on drugs, Zack Polanskis party picked Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, as its candidate, and her spirited campaign appeared to send a positive message of hope and change to voters. Signs of the Green partys confidence came just four hours after polls opened on Thursday when journalists were given extensive details of Spencers victory lap including mid-afternoon karaoke and marking iftar, the breaking of the fast, at a mosque. Labour, meanwhile, could only pray for bad weather. It was raining for hours and now its cleared up, moaned a Labour party councillor at 8pm. They hoped a wet Manchester would drive turnout down and prevent a surge for the Greens and Reform UK. The first public admission of despondency from Labour came at 10pm as the polls shut. Andrew Western, an MP and the partys political lead in the campaign, released a statement saying byelections were always difficult for incumbent governments, hitting out at the anger and easy answers of Reform and the Greens. In the end, the byelection billed as one of the most unpredictable in years wasnt even a close call with Labour coming third behind the Greens and Reform. By 1am, Labour was conceding defeat. A source said the party had been able to turn out support in a way they wouldnt be able to replicate at a general election. Circling the fringes of the hall where the count took place, a Green party spokesperson said: My on-the-record response to that is one word: desperate. In an arts centre across Manchester, the Greens were already celebrating. Mothin Ali, the partys deputy leader, was filmed crowd-surfing among jubilant activists three and a half hours before the result was declared. A Labour aide tried to drum up a round of applause for its candidate, Angeliki Stogia, when she arrived at the count arm in arm with the deputy leader, Lucy Powell, at 3.30am, though by that point it was impossible to disguise the gloom in the camp. Although Labour and the Greens had traded increasingly bad-tempered barbs, many in Starmers party had been quietly impressed by the Greens campaign in particular their focus on Hannah the plumber, the relatable 34-year-old tradesperson candidate. It had been almost impossible to avoid Spencers face in Gorton and Denton for the past four weeks. On billboards, social media and on the streets, she was everywhere and still found time to fit in a day a week at college for her plastering course. It was ridiculous to claim the Greens were extremists when their candidate appeared to be a normal and likable person. It made us look like even we didnt believe what we were saying, said one Labour MP, who disliked having to parrot attack lines about the Greens, pitching them as being as bad as Reform. That did not stop Starmer repeating those same talking points that had proved ineffective about the Greens wanting to weaken Nato and drug laws. When he appeared on television mid-morning, his clip infuriated Labour MPs still further by seeming to be tone deaf. One MP said Starmer isnt even close to getting it, unfortunately, while another said No 10 had not quite grappled with just how unpopular we are: our own people hate us. Reform, meanwhile, was claiming the byelection was always going to be a tough fight in such a mixed area that combined progressive students with traditional white working-class voters and a sizeable Muslim population. In light of that, the partys choice of candidate seemed to have been a mistake, after it picked Goodwin, an academic who refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds were not necessarily British. Goodwin arrived at the count at 3.50am and in a brief huddle told journalists: I think that what youve seen is the emergence of a dangerous sectarianism in British politics. The Greens are riding a very dangerous wave, he said. Im very concerned about the direction of the country, and I think many people are going to be watching this byelection and theyre going to be feeling the same things that I am, which is deep concern about where Britain is heading. default Nigel Farages party also wasted no time in claiming the election was affected by family voting where more than one person enters a voting booth, raising the risk of votes being influenced by pressure after observers raised concerns that this appeared to be happening more than usual. The party swiftly alleged electoral fraud, claiming it raised serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. Labour strategists are now left wondering how they will repair their fragmented coalition when votes are haemorrhaging on the left in seats such as Gorton, and on the right in areas such as Runcorn where Reform was victorious last year. MPs were also taking different messages from the results, with some wanting a swing to the left and a more Labour approach, plus a change of leader to Burnham or Angela Rayner. Mainstream Group, which is supportive of Burnham, said it wanted to see a fundamental reset, while Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the leftwing union Unite, had a blunt piece of advice: Stop listening to your rich mates and start listening to everyday people. Others were quick to say the problem was not switching left or right, but lack of action at dealing with the cost of living and promoting growth. Chris Curtis, a Labour MP from the partys growth group, said the result was a wake-up call that we as a party need to hear and that there was a broken system that rewarded the people gaming it and punishes the people grafting. One former No 10 aide said Labour still needed to look at the big picture of a national election, where it would be easier for Starmer to position his party as the only force to stop Reform, in contrast to a byelection where the stakes were lower. He said: Overall, Gorton and Caerphilly have proved there is a big constituency of people who want to prevent Farage gaining power at all costs. But another former Labour communications chief said it would be foolish to take any heart from the result: Reform will weaponise all the divisions and only benefit from splits on the left. Its nothing but grim. Global recruitment firm Hays revealed its profits have tumbled by a quarter as the jobs market remains challenging and employers take longer to hire. The London-listed company also said its boss Dirk Hahn has stepped down for personal reasons after 28 years at the firm, and it was kickstarting the search for a chief executive. For the second half of 2025, the groups operating profit before exceptional items came in at 20.1 million, down 25% when compared like for like with the same period last year. Fees collected by Hays dropped by 9% across the group, and also in the UK and Ireland, compared with the prior year. This was largely driven by a 14% drop in permanent hiring fees, which Hays said reflected weak confidence among employers and candidates leading to a below average placement of roles and a longer period of decision-making. Hays is among the biggest recruitment agencies in Europe, and its performance is closely tied to the strength of the jobs market for office-based roles in countries including the UK, Germany and France. It makes money by charging companies a fee to find and place candidates in jobs, but has been impacted by a wider slowdown in hiring across many global markets. The company said conditions were particularly challenging in Germany and France, with the former suffering a 19% decrease in fees from the automotive sector. But it highlighted an improvement in temporary job recruiting in the UK and Ireland, where it returned to a profit. Hays had 22% fewer consultants in the UK and Ireland at the end of the year, compared with the same point in 2024, as it continues to take decisive action to make its teams more efficient and bring in more income. Meanwhile, the company said its chief executive Mr Hahn was stepping down with immediate effect for personal reasons. The firms digital and technology chief, Mark Dearnley, will step into the role on an interim basis while the board searches for a permanent successor. James Hilton, Hays chief financial officer, said: Net fees declined by 9% in the first half against a backdrop of continued macroeconomic and political uncertainty. We are targeting the most in-demand sectors, roles and geographies, building stronger client relationships and increasing exposure to temporary and contracting recruitment, which will allow us to benefit from supportive long-term industry megatrends. Reform UKs Matt Goodwin, who came second in the by-election, with Nigel Farage, who has complained of cheating by Muslim voters - Adam Vaughan/Shutterstock Election monitors looking for illegal family voting have been ordered to show sensitivity to different cultures and customs. Electoral observers watch for rule-breaking such as family voting which can involve husbands telling their wives how to vote at polling stations. The Telegraph can reveal that these observers must agree to be conscious of peoples traditions when they sign up to the role. Police are assessing cheating claims concerning illegal family voting during the Gorton and Denton by-election. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, referred reports of the practice to the authorities on Friday amid concerns over the integrity of the ballot in predominantly Muslim areas. Mr Farage has accused Muslim voters of cheating to elect the Green Party in the constituency, which has a large British-Pakistani population, claiming the result was a victory for sectarian politics. The by-election saw the Greens win 40.7 per cent of the vote, ahead of Reform in second place and pushing Labour into third place in its former stronghold. In a statement on Friday, Mr Farage said: If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes. If action isnt taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election. The Reform leader has also urged the Electoral Commission to investigate the validity of the by-election result. A group of accredited poll observers said they had witnessed concerningly high levels of family voting in Thursdays by-election. The Telegraph can now reveal that electoral observers, who help keep elections transparent, accessible, impartial and secure, are instructed to respect the UKs cultures and customs. Rules on maintaining proper personal behaviour are part of a mandatory code of conduct published by the Electoral Commission, the UKs elections watchdog, in 2018. It states: Observers must maintain proper personal behaviour and respect others, including exhibiting sensitivity for United Kingdom cultures and customs, exercise sound judgment in personal interactions and observe the highest level of professional conduct at all times. Electoral observers are volunteers. They are accredited by the Electoral Commission and play a key part in the democratic process by observing the poll itself as well as the verification and counting of the votes. Observers, who are separate from the election officials employed by councils, can report any irregularities, fraud or significant problems to the polling stations staff but cannot intervene themselves. They must also ensure any reports are made in a non-obstructive manner so they do not disturb the election process. Party observers watch votes being counted in the Gorton and Denton constituency on Thursday evening - Peter Byrne/PA A new offence designed to tackle family voting, making it illegal for a person to accompany a voter to a polling booth or position themselves nearby with the intention of influencing their decision, was created in 2023. Presiding officers, employed by councils to uphold good standards at polling stations, have the power to remove people from the premises for interfering with another persons vote. However, Lord Hayward, the Tory peer and pollster who introduced the family voting law using a Private Members Bill, said the system had clearly gone wrong in a substantial way in Gorton and Denton. He said he felt very disappointed that the legislation was not utilised to prevent the reported instances of family voting, also warning that inaction from the Government, police and Electoral Commission could lead to similar failings at the local elections on May 7. The Tory peer said he would attempt to raise the issue in the House of Lords on Monday to ensure all parties involved in elections are absolutely clear of their roles. Democracy Volunteers, the poll observer group accredited by the Electoral Commission, said it witnessed 32 separate incidents of family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations it observed on Thursday, which it called an extremely high proportion. Mr Farage urged the Electoral Commission to liaise with Greater Manchester Police to ensure all 32 incidents were properly investigated with a view to prosecute where the evidence supports it. The Reform leader also called on the watchdog to assess whether the extent of the irregularities is such that the validity of the election result may be called into question and advise on any further remedial action required. He added: The principle of the secret ballot is the cornerstone of British democracy. When accredited observers document breaches on this scale, swift and transparent action by the regulator is essential to maintain trust in the entire electoral system. Greater Manchester Police later announced that it was investigating the allegations. A spokesman said: We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course. Widespread breaches of the secret ballot Mr Farage added that the Electoral Commission was both empowered and obliged to launch a review of the system in Gorton and Denton, with a focus on any systemic weaknesses that allowed such widespread breaches of the secret ballot to occur. The Conservatives also wrote to the watchdog to demand an inquiry into the alleged offences and the local councils handling of the situation. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said Sir Keir Starmers by-election loss was a consequence of previously harvesting the Muslim vote, claiming this tactic came back to bite them. Sir James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, said: Any cultural practice of husbands being allowed to instruct their wives how to vote is an insult to the hard-fought liberty of female suffrage. The rights of all British voters across class, colour and creed must be defended. The law must be applied equally and fairly to everyone. A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: We take allegations of family voting very seriously. It is a criminal offence to attempt to pressure someone to vote in a certain way. We encourage anyone who believes an offence has occurred to report it to the police. We are in close contact with the returning officer and Greater Manchester Police to speedily and carefully review the concerns that have been raised. We have received letters from Nigel Farage MP and Sir James Cleverly MP. We have replied, and will carefully consider the points raised. How bamboo is helping curb plastic pollution in China Xinhua) 15:18, February 27, 2026 GUIYANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- In a bustling factory in the city of Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, bamboo poles are transformed into eco-friendly tableware and medical swabs. "Our bamboo products, free of chemicals and fully biodegradable, are highly recognized by the market," said Wu Qiuhui, manager of the company. With vast bamboo forests, Chishui is home to over 200 bamboo enterprises producing a wide range of items. The local bamboo industry surpassed 10 billion yuan (about 1.44 billion U.S. dollars) in output in 2025, boosting incomes for 165,000 bamboo growers. With the world's richest bamboo resources, China is promoting the plant as a prime alternative to curb plastic pollution. The country launched an initiative in 2022 to use bamboo as a substitute for plastic, followed by a three-year action plan to accelerate its adoption. "Bamboo matures in three to five years, is highly durable, biodegradable, and its carbon sequestration rate is impressive," said Wang Ge, a researcher at the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. From daily items to industrial materials, China has developed tens of thousands of bamboo-based products. "International demand for these items is even higher than we expected," noted Wang Jianzhong, a manufacturer whose bamboo tableware is exported globally. Innovation is key to this green shift. Lenovo, for instance, has adopted bamboo-fiber packaging for its laptops since 2008. "This material is eco-friendly, meets global standards, and reduces shipping emissions," said Bai Yan, the company's packaging R&D director. It has been revealed that since 2016, the company has introduced lightweight, renewable bamboo fiber packaging, resulting in a reduction of 4,537 tonnes in packaging material usage. Research projects are expanding bamboo's use into high-tech fields like automotive interiors. One firm in east China's Jiangxi Province has successfully created bamboo keyboards and speakers, selling millions of units. The bamboo sector is now a significant economic force, supporting millions of jobs across China. At present, China has nearly 8 million hectares of bamboo forests, with an average annual bamboo production of 150 million tonnes. There are over 10,000 bamboo processing enterprises, and the entire industry chain employs more than 29 million people. The bamboo industry output exceeded 520 billion yuan in 2025, official figures showed. Experts view bamboo not only as a solution to plastic waste but also as a driver for rural revitalization, adding that with advancing technology and growing demand, China's bamboo industry is poised for a greener future. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Orbans strategy has been to ruin the reputation of Ukraine and Zelenskyy in the eyes of Hungarian voters, one analyst said. Photograph: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters (Photograph: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters) Paid for by its rightwing, populist government and generated using AI, the billboards showing Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU officials with their hands outstretched blanket Hungary. Our message to Brussels: We wont pay! the taxpayer-funded advert reads, echoing the messaging woven through spots on radio, television and social media. Its a nod to the election strategy that Viktor Orban, the EUs longest-serving leader, has unleashed as he lags in most polls before upcoming elections: convincing voters that the countrys greatest threat is not fraying social services, the rising cost of living or economic stagnation, but rather the neighbouring country of Ukraine. Effectively, Ukraine is portrayed as a main enemy, said Zsuzsanna Vegh, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund. This is not just about Ukraine per se, but it fits into the standard strategy of the governing party, of mobilising its electorate through generating fear in society. In 2018, when Orban was seeking a third consecutive term as prime minister, he and his Fidesz party sought to stoke fears about migration. In 2022, as voters headed to the ballot box five weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Orban peddled the baseless claim that the opposition would send Hungarian troops to fight in the war. This election, as Orban faces an unprecedented challenge from a former top member of his own party, Peter Magyar, the strategy has seemingly been kicked into high gear. We definitely see a significant escalation, said Vegh. Besides the rhetoric, AI is extensively used to portray false messages and images to strengthen the governments message. In recent days, the campaign has spilled out beyond the countrys borders as Orbans government refused to approve the latest EU sanctions package and a 90bn (79bn) loan to Ukraine, citing disruptions to its supplies of Russian oil that pass through Ukraine. The move prompted exasperation and anger among leaders across the EU. Polands foreign minister, Radosaw Sikorski, described Hungarys stance as shocking given that Budapest was itself invaded in the 20th century by Soviet troops. Swedens Europe minister, Jessica Rosencrantz, accused Orban of using Ukraine as a punching bag in comments made to various media outlets. With most independent polls suggesting that Magyars Tisza party has a wide lead over Orbans Fidesz, the government has stepped up its lambasting of Ukraine. This week Orban claimed, without providing evidence, that the war-torn country was plotting to disrupt Hungarys energy system and said he was dispatching troops to safeguard Hungarys infrastructure. The following day Orban posted an open letter to Zelenskyy on social media, accusing the Ukrainian leader of working to force Hungary into the war with Russia while also coordinating efforts to catapult a pro-Ukraine government into power in Hungary. For many in Hungary, Fideszs focus on Ukraine was laid bare after it released an AI-generated campaign video showing a little girl weeping at a window, intercut with scenes of her father being executed in war. Captions for the video read, in part: This is only a nightmare now, but Brussels is preparing to make it a reality Lets not take risks. Fidesz is the safe choice! Magyar condemned the video, describing it as sickening, unforgivable and deeply outrageous, in a statement. This is not politics, this is soulless manipulation. With about six weeks left until the vote, it remains to be seen whether voters will be swayed. On the streets of Budapest, Laszlo, 39, said he supported Orbans efforts to block EU support for Ukraine and would be voting for Fidesz. The EU is basically in a Schrodingers cat dilemma, the marketing specialist told the Guardian. It says that Russia poses a threat to its existence and at the same time says it can be defeated with sanctions. But I fear that Europe is not taking steps towards peace, at the expense of the Ukrainian peoples blood. Jozsef, 93, said he planned on voting for the far-right Our Homeland party but that he agreed with Orbans stance on Ukraine. What does all this have to do with us? Why should we care? This is not our business. The Russians have already said they want peace, but the EU and the UK just keep provoking them. Opposition supporters, however, expressed concerns about the consequences that Orbans electoral strategy could have for Hungary in the long term. It completely isolates Hungary from other European countries, and we will end up under Russian oppression again, said Monika, 60. Orbans focus on Ukraine had turned the election into a question of two competing narratives, said Andras Biro-Nagy, the director of Policy Solutions, a Budapest-based political research institute. On one side was Orban and his emphasis on the existential threat of the war, the threat of rising oil prices and the risk that Hungary would be dragged into the conflict. Magyar, in contrast, had focused his campaign on stemming the rising costs of living, improving social services and reining in corruption. The coming weeks would show which of these concerns motivate voters, said Biro-Nagy. Orban has a vast media empire and also endless resources with which he can push through his messages to the Hungarian people, he said. So, for this reason, I would not underestimate Orbans power to shape the political agenda. This influence had already helped to shift Hungarian opinion, said Biro-Nagy, citing research from his institute showing that in recent years, the majority of Hungarians had swung from approving the EUs financial support for Ukraine to opposing it. And Orban managed to turn Volodymyr Zelenskyy into one of the most unpopular global politicians in Hungary, he said. The result was that, for many in Hungary, Russias invasion of Ukraine had come to be seen as a war between two unpopular Slavic countries, creating space for Orban to try to drum up votes by doubling down on anti-Ukraine rhetoric, he said. What Orban has managed to do over the last four years is not to make Russia or [Vladimir] Putin popular in Hungary they are unpopular, he said. But what he managed to do is to ruin the reputation of Ukraine and Zelenskyy in the eyes of Hungarian voters. Columbia University neuroscience student Ellie Aghayeva after being detained by federal agents on February 26, 2026 in New York City. New York mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday said President Donald Trump agreed to the release of a Columbia University student detained by ICE after he raised the case with him in White House talks. The undergraduate student was arrested Thursday morning when five federal immigration agents entered a Columbia residential building without a warrant and under false pretences, the university's acting President Claire Shipman said. Mamdani said that he had shared his concerns "about Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning" during the unannounced meeting with Trump. "He has just informed me that she will be released imminently," he wrote on X. Aghayeva confirmed her release in a post on Instagram. "I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay," she wrote. Mamdani had earlier said he went to Washington to request federal money to help build affordable housing in the Queens borough of New York. A photo posted on X showed Mamdani standing next to a grinning Trump in the Oval Office. Shipman, in a video posted on X, said the agents had "gained entry by stating they were police searching for a missing child" to arrest Aghayeva. "Our security cameras captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of the alleged missing child," she said. "The agents took our student. This was a frightening and fast-moving situation, and utterly unacceptable for our students and staff." Read moreTrump praises New York mayor-elect Mamdani at warm White House meeting It was the second White House visit for Mamdani after a meeting in November when the erstwhile political foes emerged as effusive colleagues bent on mutual support. Washington watchers had been bracing for sparks to fly when the self-described Democratic socialist met the Republican leader, who had in turn branded the mayor-elect a "communist" and suggested the Ugandan-born New Yorker should be deported. Trump vowed after that meeting that his administration would work with Mamdani to improve life for residents of the US financial capital. "We're going to be helping him to make everybody's dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York," Trump said at the time. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) JD Vance has said there is no chance the United States will become embroiled in a full-scale war with Iran if Donald Trump decides to launch fresh strikes. The vice-president said aboard Air Force Two on Thursday that the president is still weighing his options, with indirect talks ongoing to try and curb Irans nuclear programme. His comments follow reports that Trumps advisers would prefer Israel strike Iran first, as Americans would react more favourably to the US supporting an ally than picking a fight with Tehran without clear provocation. Mr Vance told The Washington Post that the country would not be drawn into another long war in the desert, following unsuccessful US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea that were going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight there is no chance that will happen, he said, pointing to the US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January and the strikes on Iran last summer as operations that were very clearly defined. The USS Gerald R Ford, the worlds largest aircraft carrier, departs from Crete for Israel on Thursday (AP) The comments follow private criticism from General Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was reported this week to have cautioned Mr Trump that an attack on Iran could spiral into a protracted conflict. Gen Caine, behind US military planning, is said to have warned that Iranian retaliation which the regime has threatened could result in significant US casualties and turn into a cycle of violence. Mr Trump wrote on social media that the reports were incorrect, while admitting: General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. Echoing Mr Trumps recent rhetoric on the matter, Mr Vance said on Thursday: I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say. The US and Iran continued indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday, exactly one week after Trump set a deadline of 10 to 15 days for Tehran to agree to a deal to curb its nuclear programme or risk really bad things happening. JD Vance, pictured boarding Air Force Two on Thursday, ruled out the possibility of another protracted war in the desert (AFP/Getty) Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi insisted in the buildup that the talks would be approached with seriousness and flexibility, but said negotiations would only focus on nuclear topics and sanctions removal. Washington has pushed to expand talks to cover Irans missile stockpiles, support for armed groups and the treatment of their own people. Citing unnamed US officials, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that talks finished with both sides still far apart on key issues. People familiar with the talks said Iran had objected to the idea of ending enrichment, dismantling its nuclear facilities, and imposing permanent restrictions on its programme. Washington views nuclear enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons, and has been unequivocal that Iran cannot be allowed to have one. Omans foreign minister and a US official said they had made progress and would likely meet again. Technical experts are expected to hold talks in Vienna next week. A squadron conducts flight operations aboard USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea this week (US Centcom) With progress uncertain, Trump has continued to race military assets east in a show of force designed to pressure Iran into concessions. He has not ruled out force. The USS Gerald R Ford arrived in Israel on Friday, where the US has already sent a dozen F-22 fighter jets, according to a US official via Reuters. A dozen warships are otherwise operating in the northern Arabian Sea, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Award-winning Irish actress Jessie Buckley has said she loved giving the Bride of Frankenstein a voice after the character was largely silenced in the original film. The 36-year-old stars alongside Christian Bale in Maggie Gyllenhaals horror film The Bride!, which follows Frankenstein (Bale) as he travels back to 1930s Chicago to ask scientist Dr Euphronious to create a companion by reviving a murdered young woman, The Bride (Buckley). The upcoming film is inspired by the 1935 original The Bride Of Frankenstein which starred Elsa Lanchester. Speaking at the films world premiere in London, Buckley told the Press Association: Elsa Lanchester is on screen for about three minutes in the 1935 version, and she makes such an impact. Still people dress up at Halloween as her, but she doesnt say anything. Shes on the precipice of it, she wants to say something. And I think that was Maggies first curiosity what if this woman has something to say? Jessie Buckley at The Bride! world premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square, central London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) To be able to give voice to that what if and to really find all the colours of that curiosity and self-discovery and voice, and let the things that maybe have been silenced or we didnt give ourselves permission to say at the time. You can only imagine, I loved it. Buckley recently picked up the leading actress Bafta award for her portrayal of Agnes in Chloe Zhaos film adaptation of Hamnet. Director, writer and producer Maggie Gyllenhaal at The Bride! world premiere in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) The Bride! was written and directed by Gyllenhaal, who emphasised the need for new voices to take the reins behind the camera in order for new stories to be told. She told PA: Someone told me recently that only 7% of the movies made last year were made by women, but so many of the movies we are talking about this year are those 7%. I think that people are interested in a new voice and a new perspective and a new language, and when you let different people behind the camera, you will get something new. Christian Bale attends The Bride! world premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Everyone says they want something new, well, then different people have to make the movies. Gyllenhaal was behind the film adaptation of Elena Ferrantes The Lost Daughter, which also starred Buckley along with Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Paul Mescal. The Bride!, which also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penelope Cruz, will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from March 6. Instead of demolishing Battersea Power Station, Boris Johnson backed its redevelopment - Terry Roberts/Moment RF Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lobbied Boris Johnson to demolish Battersea Power Station, the former mayor of London has revealed. Mr Johnson said the disgraced former prince had described the Grade I listed building as an eyesore which should be demolished to free up lucrative land on the banks of the Thames. He also urged him to enlarge the VIP lounge at Heathrow Airport to attract billionaire investors, and rephase traffic lights to make it easier for people to leave London for weekends in the country. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Johnson said that when he was mayor of London, he was invited for tea in Buckingham Palace with the then UK trade envoy. The Duke of York had a series of ideas, perhaps gleaned from some of his international contacts, about how we could make London even more attractive to the worlds billionaire investors, he said. Look at Battersea Power Station, he said. It was an eyesore, a ruin. It was blocking development of a huge and potentially lucrative site at Vauxhall. Mr Johnson said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor told him: Why dont we just knock it down? The former prince was unconvinced by the argument that the power station was an architectural masterpiece that could be developed, saying: Itll never happen. Battersea Power Station was designed by George Gilbert Scott and construction began in 1929. It was decommissioned in 1983 and remained empty for years, declining into a near ruin. Redevelopment work began during Mr Johnsons time in City Hall and it reopened with shops, offices and flats in 2022. Mr Johnson thought Mr Mountbatten-Windsor should open a pub - Samir Hussein/WireImage Mr Mountbatten-Windsor went on to say his friends had complained of terrible queues at immigration in Heathrow, where not enough of them were allowed to use the VIP suite. They were utterly fed up with the traffic, which was damaging Londons reputation. What about rephasing the traffic lights so as to give more time on green for everyone heading off for the weekend? he asked the former mayor. He had visions of billionaires being waved through Heathrow and through a series of green and deferential traffic lights to look hungrily at building sites being cleared of pesky heritage buildings. Mr Johnson also revealed he had advised the former prince to be more humble and to open a country pub with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. He made the suggestion on a visit to Windsor when he was prime minister, where he also had to tell him he could not attend a major royal event to avoid embarrassing the Queen. He had to understand how people felt about things, ever since that disastrous interview on Newsnight, said the former PM. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor paradoxically intensified the dignity of the crown - Steve Parsons/Getty Images He needed to build back his reputation. Why not open a pub in the country, and run it with his ex-wife Fergie? She seemed to have the right sort of breezy personality. You could call it the Duke of York, I suggested. Mr Johnson said there was a case for arguing that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had done the country a service and was the best thing to have happened to the Royal family for years. He said his disgrace had not advanced the republican cause one inch and that his ghastly pratfalls may have intensified the public enthusiasm for the Royal family. By the sheer scale of his disgrace, he has paradoxically intensified the dignity of the crown, he wrote. Court of Appeal judges have rejected claims that the introduction of VAT to private school fees is incompatible with human rights law. Several schools, children who attend them, and their parents, had previously brought legal action against the Treasury, claiming the policy is incompatible with human rights law. Three judges had already dismissed the High Court challenge in June last year. In a decision on Friday morning, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal to that decision. In a 44-page judgment, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Singh and Lady Justice Falk said the government had provided reasonable grounds for not exempting low-cost private schools from VAT, including that it would have serious detrimental consequences. They continued: We acknowledge that the measure may have a serious impact on the group one claimants if they are unable to afford private education, which accords with their religious convictions, but it is important to bear in mind that they have the option of home schooling if free education in the state sector is not acceptable to them. The governments policy, which levies 20 per cent VAT on private school fees, came into effect on 1 January last year. At the appeal hearing in January, Bruno Quintavalle, from Emmanuel School in Derby, which educates children aged three to 11, alongside a group of Christian schools, claimed in their written submissions that: The court was wrong to hold that there was no interference with the rights of the schools to the enjoyment of possessions. Mr Quintavalle added: The court was wrong to view the introduction of VAT as simply diminishing the future income of the schools: the evidence before it was that this would render the schools unviable. He also claimed the court had wrongly found the introduction of the VAT measure did not impair the very essence of the right to an effective education. Eton College in Berkshire one of the most prominent private schools in the UK (Getty) He said: What matters for the present claim is that individual rights, not necessarily those of a larger group, whether termed 'Evangelical Christians' or otherwise, have been interfered with. Since the evidence before the court is that the individual appellants' convention rights have been interfered with, this is a complete answer to the group detriment arguments. However, Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Treasury, HMRC and the Department for Education, argued that even with the introduction of VAT on private schools, parents still had the choice to send their children to free state schools or to home-educate them. In written submissions, he said: A tax on an optional service that a consumer can elect not to use a fortiori where, as here, the state makes the same service available for free for all children does not interfere with the property rights of a person who may, or does wish to, purchase the service. He added: A tax is not unlawful or disproportionate merely because the taxpayer does not personally benefit from the service it pays for. Sir James also said the court correctly held that, in deciding whether the challenged measure was proportionate, should give Parliament a broad margin of discretion. Sir James said: That conclusion is unimpeachable. The Independent has contacted the government for comment. The Department of Justice appears to have briefly deleted a photo of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from its website, which was published last month as part of the Epstein files. The photo apparently depicts Lutnick alongside Jeffrey Epstein and three other men on Little Saint James the late sex offender's private island in the Caribbean, which Lutnick previously admitted to visiting in 2012. According to the Internet Archives Wayback Machine, the picture appeared on the DOJs website on January 31. It was also saved by Jmail, a browser-based tool that allows users to explore the Epstein files. But, on Thursday, Jmail and several news outlets reported that the link to the photo displayed a Page not found message, indicating it had been removed. When accessed by The Independent late on Thursday evening, the link appeared to be working again. A DOJ spokesperson did not deny that Lutnick a Wall Street billionaire turned influential administration official was in the photo. The Department of Justice has been accused of briefly removing a photo of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from the released Epstein files (Getty Images) This image was part of a batch of files that were flagged for nudity, a spokesperson told The Daily Beast. The batch of thousands of images was pulled for review and is being uploaded with necessary redactions on a rolling basis. No files are being deleted. The Independent has contacted the White House and the Department of Commerce for comment. In recent weeks, more information about Lutnicks alleged relationship with the convicted sex offender has come to light, prompting calls for further investigations. In a podcast interview last year, Lutnick claimed he cut ties with Epstein two decades ago. He recounted moving next door to Epstein in 2005, getting invited over for coffee, spotting a massage table and immediately ending contact. In the six or eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person again, Lutnick said at the time. But files released by the DOJ reveal that Lutnick and Epstein appear to have exchanged emails years after the billionaire sex offender pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008. Some of these emails discussed arranging meetings including at Little St. James. The photo appears to show Lutnick, Epstein and three other individuals on a cliffside overlooking the ocean (Department of Justice) One exchange showed that Lutnick, his wife and their children planned a visit to the private Caribbean island in 2012. During his congressional testimony earlier this month, the commerce secretary acknowledged he and his family briefly traveled to the island where victims have said they were abused. We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour," Lutnick told members of Congress. Then we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on family vacation. We were not apart. To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012I don't recall why we did it. But we did. He added that he had absolutely nothing to hide. During a congressional testimony earlier this month, Lutnick said he and his family had lunch on Epstein's island in 2012. During the hearing he said he had 'absolutely nothing' to hide (Getty Images) Being named in the Epstein files is not in and of itself evidence of wrongdoing and Lutnick has not been charged or accused of anything. Still, Lutnick has faced mounting scrutiny from lawmakers with some calling on him to resign. On Thursday, Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, wrote on X: Dear @howardlutnick: So how many times did you go to Epsteins rape island? Im sure theres a good reason for this, Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X, referencing the apparent deletion of the Lutnick photo. DOJ needs to tell Congress who pulled this file down so we can ask them. Also on Thursday, Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters it is very possible his panel will compel Lutnick to give evidence over his relationship with Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell as part of the committees long-running probe. At the same time, the DOJ has said it is currently reviewing documents that appear to be missing from the Epstein files that detail unverified allegations against President Donald Trump. Kinship carers in seven council areas will receive a financial allowance in line with that of foster carers for the first time under the trial. Photograph: Tom Merton/Getty Images (Photograph: Tom Merton/Getty Images) Grandparents who step in to provide full-time care for their grandchildren to prevent them being taken into care will be given guaranteed financial support under a government pilot scheme. Charities welcomed the trial as groundbreaking and said if fully rolled out across England it had the potential to transform the lives of tens of thousands of children looked after under kinship care arrangements. Kinship carers are grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings or close family friends who take on full parental responsibility when a child loses their birth parents as a result of death, a family court order, severe illness or imprisonment. Campaigners have fought for more than two decades to establish financial recognition of the role and personal sacrifices that kinship carers make. Some carers say they have felt ignored and exploited as a cheap option despite saving the state billions it would otherwise have had to spend on foster or residential care. About 132,000 children in England live under kinship arrangements, but most carers receive little or no state financial support to meet the extra costs of raising a child. Many say they gave up work to care for a child relative. Most are already on low incomes and at heightened risk of poverty. Under the trial launched on Friday, kinship carers in seven council areas will for the first time receive a financial allowance in line with that of foster carers, which is between 170 and 299 a week depending on where they live and the age of the child. This means a kinship carer living outside London and looking after a 15-year-old would receive an allowance of 13,832 a year from April. This is not means tested and will not affect universal credit or child benefit payments. Introducing the scheme on Friday, the childrens minister, Josh MacAlister, said: As a country we owe kinship carers our thanks and our support, and the new financial allowance which were piloting recognises the vital role they play ensuring families can stay together. We promised to introduce this scheme to support kinship carers who step up for the children they love and give every child the best possible start in life. In effect MacAlister is charged with implementing proposals he originally outlined in an independent review of childrens social care he authored for the previous Conservative government in 2022, two years before he became a Labour MP. Academic evidence suggests kinship care is not only far cheaper than foster or residential care, but also more likely to lead to better health and employment outcomes for the child. It helps them retain a strong sense of family, identity and culture. The chief executive of the charity Kinship, Lucy Peake, said the scheme could be life-changing but in its pilot form covered only 5,000 children. She urged ministers to rapidly extend the allowances to all kinship families across the country. Kinship carers hold our care system together, and the government must provide the right support to ensure they are not pushed into poverty for doing the right thing and keeping their family together, she said. The chief executive of the Family Rights Group, Cathy Ashley, welcomed the groundbreaking scheme but said it should be made universal as soon as possible. We urge national and local government to build the fair, effective support system that children and families need, she said. The seven council areas participating in the three-year trial are: Bexley in Greater London, Bolton, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East Lincolnshire, Medway in Kent, Thurrock in Essex, and Wiltshire. Hillary Clinton speaks in Chappaqua after testifying before US House lawmakers about Jeffrey Epstein. Photograph: Olga Fedorova/EPA (Photograph: Olga Fedorova/EPA) Hillary Clinton appeared before a congressional committee investigating her supposed links to Jeffrey Epstein and accused its Republican members of targeting her in a bid to distract from Donald Trumps involvement with the convicted sex offender. Related: Hillary Clinton accuses Republicans of fishing expedition in Epstein testimony The former US secretary of state answered questions for hours during a closed-door session on Thursday, a day before her husband, the former US president Bill Clinton, was also due to appear. The US justice department has released millions of files related to Epstein in recent months, indicating that many high-profile figures, including the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, continued friendships with him after his conviction of child sex offences in 2008. Here are the key moments from Thursdays testimony. Who is being protected? Clinton heavily criticised the House of Representatives oversight committee and its Republican majority in her opening statement. The proceedings were not designed to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors of Epsteins crimes, she argued. I dont know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein, Clinton told reporters after her deposition. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices. If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done. What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up? she said. I started being asked about UFOs The questions were repetitive, according to Clinton. They asked literally the same questions over and over again, which didnt seem to me to be very productive. Late into the session, questions are said to have veered off course. It got quite unusual, Clinton told reporters, because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories. Clinton was referring to false, widely disseminated musings in 2016 that a Washington DC pizzeria was a front for a child sex ring run by her, and that New York City police had discovered a paedophilia ring linked to Democrats. Session briefly derailed by leaked photo The deposition of Clinton was interrupted when Lauren Boebert, a Republican member of the committee, leaked a photo from the room. Conservative influencer Benny Johnson published the image on social media platform X stating that Clinton does not look happy. The hearing was temporarily suspended at the request of Clintons legal team. It is against the rules for witnesses or lawmakers to take pictures during closed-door congressional hearings. We had agreed upon rules, based on the fact it was going to be a closed hearing, at their demand, Clinton said after the session. And one of the members violated that rule, which was very upsetting, because it suggested that they might violate other of our agreements. Clinton had pushed for Republicans to hold a public hearing. Ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters that Trump and his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, should testify over their ties with Epstein. Lutnick has admitted to visiting Epsteins private island years after he initially said that he had broken off ties. Trumps relationship with Epstein has proven to be a political landmine for the president, who has consistently denied wrongdoing. They were once friends, but Trump has claimed that he booted Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club because the late financier stole staffers. Clinton said: If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epsteins trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files. Oversight committee chair James Comer, a Republican, said it was possible the committee might subpoena Lutnick, but dismissed the idea of having Trump appear before the panel. President Trump has answered hundreds if not thousands of questions from you all about Epstein and I think hes been very transparent in releasing the documents, Comer told reporters. Clinton confident her husband knew nothing about Epsteins crimes Bill Clinton is due to be deposed by the committee on Friday, amid questions over his former relationship with Epstein. Clinton, like a bevy of other high-powered men, including Trump, had a well-documented social relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Asked by a reporter on Thursday if she was 100% confident her husband was unaware of Epsteins crimes when he spent time with him before the late sex offenders first arrest, Hillary Clinton responded: I am, and I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended years, several years before anything about Epsteins criminal activities came to light. While the Clintons are appearing in closed-door sessions, transcripts and video of both their sessions are expected to be made public. Reuters contributed reporting Lil Jons sons cause of death confirmed three weeks after police found body in pond Lil Jons son, Nathan Smith, died from accidental drowning, an autopsy report from the Fulton County Medical Examiner revealed weeks after the body of the 27-year-old was pulled from a Georgia pond. Smith, who made music under the name DJ Young Slade, was found dead February 6 in a pond north of Atlanta, just three days after being reported missing. The report obtained by People listed his cause of death as drowning in the setting of psilocybin use. The report added that his blood tested positive for psilocybin, described as a naturally occurring hallucinogen produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms worldwide. It also stated that Smiths body was recovered from a retention pond and was found to have had water-immersion wrinkling in his hands. The Milton Police Department had initially issued a missing persons report for Smith after he ran out of his house. Lil Jon's only son, Nathan Smith, was found dead earlier this month. He was 27 (Getty) Subject left on foot and does not possess a phone, the MPDs report said. He may be disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety. They later released an update, saying: After being unable to locate Mr. Smith during that time, teams expanded the search to include a pond in Mayfield Park near Smiths Milton residence. On February 6, 2026, at approximately 11:53 a.m., divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located and recovered a body from the pond. The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office. Following the news, Lil Jon, real name Jonathan Smith, shared a statement with The Independent. I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated, the rapper said. Smith (left) was also a musician, who released music under the name DJ Slade (Getty) Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest. He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU, he added. We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together were comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him. Smith was the only child of the Grammy-winning Yeah! rapper and his estranged wife, Smith. The couple married in 2004 and Lil Jon announced their breakup in February 2024, saying that they had split nearly two years earlier. The rapper, 55, best known for early 2000s club hits like Get Low, Snap Yo Fingers, and, later, Turn Down For What, also has a daughter, Nahara, with his girlfriend Jamila Sozahdah. A young visitor sits underneath a reconstruction of a Russian cruise missile, intended to give a sense of how big it is when its flying towards you. Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images) Descending into the windowless basement of a second world war air-raid bunker built for civilians in central Berlin is arguably an eerie enough evocation of what it means to endure life in a conflict. But in a modern twist, before they have even walked into the first room of the citys new Ukraine Museum inside the bunker, visitors are targeted by a Russian drone just before its operator prepares to release the lethal shot, and see themselves in the firing line on the screen of the weapons camera. We want to show people something of the physical reality of the conflict, says Wieland Giebel, one of the museums curators. We hope to bring it home to them that this is a war going on here and now in Europe, and that we ignore it at our peril. The museum opened in the same week as the fourth anniversary of the Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It has been created from remnants of the war, and assembled with the help of the National Military History Museum in Kyiv and frontline troops from the 7th Rapid Response Corps in Pokrovsk. Alongside demolished equipment and images of the destruction and death, it chronicles the invasion, taking in its historical origins and weaving in accounts of the lives of those it has irrevocably affected. It also pays homage to Ukrainians and their resilience. People are in danger of getting tired of the war, Giebel says. This is a living, moving exhibition which aims to jolt them out of doing so. The only museum of its kind in the world outside Ukraine, and privately funded, it will remain for at least as long as the war lasts, he says. Every anniversary is one too many. Giebel and his fellow curator Enno Lenze founded the Berlin Story Bunker, which holds historical event exhibitions, in 2014. Built in 1942, it was so solidly constructed that it remains an indestructible part of the cityscape. The men travel regularly to Ukraine, delivering aid and equipment, including bullet-proof vests for children, and bring back new objects and pieces of information for the museum. One such item, placed at the centre of the museum, is a silver-grey Fiat Scudo with shattered windscreen, a large tear in its roof and blood-spattered seats. It had served as a social taxi evacuating elderly people in Kherson, and delivered children to hospitals before a Russian drone hit it in April 2025. Footage from the Russian drone recorded before the impact, which was traced on a Russian Telegram channel by Ukrainian intelligence, shows how the van was deliberately targeted, killing Oleg Salnyk, a 28-year-old aid worker. His bloodied face was used in the resulting Russian propaganda footage, marked with red lines. His friend and colleague Oleg Degusarov, who was also in the van, survived the attack, but has shrapnel lodged in his neck. Twenty Russian drones collected with the help of Ukraines military hang from the ceiling of the museum. They include the Molniya, the cheapest, built for about 100 (87) using common items such as duct tape, poles and a disposable camera, which have been used to drop grenades and kill civilians. The largest missile in the exhibition has been reconstructed in eight parts by a 3D printer as we were not allowed to import the original, Lenze says. He wanted to show just how big a cruise missile is when its flying towards you. It is flanked by a large photograph of the block of flats in Kyiv that was badly damaged by the original missile. The former TV anchor turned frontline reporter Roman Sukhan, who has contributed to the exhibition, explains that the missile killed a friend of his, a doctor who lived in the flats. The war is always very close, he says. He would like to think the exhibition will also bring home to Germans just what a threat Putin poses to everyone. Germany is one of Kyivs biggest suppliers of weapons, a key supporter diplomatically and hosts about 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees, but division over the extent to which the German taxpayer should continue to fund arms deliveries is rife. The curators admit they are not neutral in warning of jeopardy over the rise in support that Russia-friendly parties are receiving. Their exhibition also points unforgivingly to a range of Putin apologists amongst the political elite, highlighting the dangerous role they have played and continue to play in public debate by downplaying the threat posed by the Russian president. Help or be an arsehole is one of the slogans on the wall. Lenze and Giebel are not ones for subtle gestures. They were celebrated for persuading erstwhile reluctant authorities to let them place the wreck of a Russian T72 tank in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin on the first anniversary of the invasion in 2023, which had been towed from the outskirts of Kyiv. Hanna Maliar, a former Ukrainian deputy defence minister until 2023 who assisted the museum, said: My advice to Germany is whatever you do, dont get rid of your bunkers. The Lynx to Scotland charity coalition aims to build support among opponents such as farmers, gamekeepers and deer stalkers. Photograph: Peter Cairns/Northshots (Photograph: Peter Cairns/Northshots) Could lynx, the elusive wild cat driven to extinction in Britain more than 1,000 years ago, become the new Loch Ness monster? Whether Nessies there or not, she draws tourists, said Margaret Luckwell, a resident of Moray, Scotland. It would be the same with lynx. Id love to see a lynx in the wild. Luckwells view is a majority one among local people gathering at village halls across the Highlands, as a painstaking consultation slowly gathers momentum for the apex predators return to Scottish forests. A six-year effort by the Lynx to Scotland coalition of charities does not aim simply to create a supportive majority 61% of Scots are already in favour, according to a 2025 poll but to build acceptance among residents likely to remain opposed to lynx, including farmers, gamekeepers and deer stalkers. Trees for Life, Scotland: The Big Picture and The Lifescape Project will follow the 42 information sessions that have taken place over the past month with scores of one-to-one conversations with concerned farmers and other stakeholders this spring, in the hope that the charities can develop a bullet-proof application for a licence to return the animals to Scotland. The fascination with the shy, labrador-sized predator, which poses no risks to people, was striking at a consultation event that drew 70 people to the village of Fochabers on a bitterly cold day. Farmers, deer stalkers and foresters were surprised to find the information videos, banners and assembled wildlife charities so blunt about the livelihood complications caused by lynx. Were not saying they wont take sheep they absolutely will, Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, told two visitors. But their preferred prey is roe deer. My question is: can we get an animal like this back into the Scottish landscape and coexist with it, which weve forgotten how to do? The charities insist they are presenting facts and seeking to understand how to overcome the barriers to lynx reintroduction. Last year, a 50-hour consultation with 50 stakeholders, including farmers and gamekeepers, identified predation of sheep and game as the main challenges. Now the charities are working out how losses could be compensated for. Even so, a significant minority are implacably opposed. Why? asked Rob Green, a visitor to the Fochabers consultation. Are they going to reintroduce polar bears because polar bear teeth have been found in the north of Scotland? Are the lynx going to stay in the forest and be good creatures and chase the wild deer? Are they not going to come out and take the neighbours cat or my dog or a little lamb? Its people trying to make names for themselves Ive done this or Ive done that. When are people going to stop meddling? Others at the consultation disagreed. Its all meddling, said Jenny from Garmouth. The landscape we have in Scotland is not our natural landscape. Its been created by the introduction of sheep. Trees for Life has spent six years on lynx reintroduction in the Highlands. Weve almost run out of money, if Im honest, says Micklewright. They will fundraise to continue and Micklewright says any lynx reintroduction must be self-funding including providing compensation for at least five years so it is not a burden on government. Some rewilders criticise Lynx to Scotlands epic consultation for not making progress. But Micklewright says they have forged a clear pathway to reintroduction. Its a matter of when, not if, but the when could be quite a long time away, he says. The government has set us the challenge of being well supported and broadly accepted. The latter is crucial, says Micklewright: it means that opponents have the support they have requested in place and will grudgingly accept the lynx rather than persecute reintroduced animals. Four lynx were illegally released into the Cairngorms last year, with some speculation it was undertaken by rewilders frustrated by the glacial pace of reintroduction. As signatories to the Berne convention, the UK is obliged to consider restoring extinct native species. In England, two separate efforts to reintroduce lynx have been focused on Kielder Forest in Northumberland. The Lynx UK Trust this year launched legal action against the government in England for refusing to consider its application for a trial lynx reintroduction. The rogue Cairngorms release led the first minister, John Swinney, to rule out the legal reintroduction of lynx to Scotland. But Micklewright insists that politically its all to play for, with some MSPs from all parties and some Reform UK candidates supporting lynx reintroduction ahead of Holyrood elections this spring. Conservationists believe that even if a lynx licence application is rejected on political grounds by the Scottish government, that rejection could be challenged in the courts if the application is thorough enough. Lisa Chilton, chief executive of Scotland: The Big Picture, said: Theres a risk we consult people endlessly with no end-point because theres always a challenge, there will always be uncertainty and questions remaining about how [reintroducing lynx is] going to unfurl in Scotland. We could use that uncertainty as an excuse never to do anything, but thats not what we want from this. We all know the urgency of the situation with nature but if you dont bring society with you it cant possibly work. Is this great grassroots effort softening the lynx-sceptics? A deer stalker attending the Fochabers session said he was sure there would still be a job for him, because even if slow-reproducing lynx eventually expanded to 250 animals the carrying capacity in Highland forests, according to scientists they would barely dent Scotlands million-plus deer population. A forest manager said she had absolutely no issue with lynx but was concerned that future regulations governing their protection would create huge exclusion zones, preventing forestry operations such as the clear-felling of commercial timber. As a country that imports 85% of our timber, we cant be excluding the few areas where we produce timber, she said. Donald MacLellan used to farm Suffolk sheep and Aberdeen Angus cattle near Maud, Aberdeenshire. Compensation is very important and its important that it is acted upon quickly, he said. The animals are not just numbers. Losses are not just a sheep or a calf there can be human generations breeding these animals to get the best. That said, MacLellan was ready to accept the lynx. Are the majority of Scottish farmers? That I dont know, he said, but he cited 20mph speed limits and the smoking ban. Just do it, and people will accept it. Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump at a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Pool/Yuri Gripas - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock (Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Pool/Yuri Gripas - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock) In the hours after Zohran Mamdani met with Donald Trump for an undisclosed sit-down in the Oval Office on Thursday, a meme quickly circulated on X. It resembled the screen grab of a TikToker who doles out dubious financial advice, but instead had the mayors picture front and center. On the left it read I receive 12,000 homes and the release of a constituent kidnapped by ICE and on the right you receive fake newspaper cover. It was a neat summary of two unexpected wins the New York City mayor seemed to clinch in Washington for little in return, as part of an unexpectedly congenial relationship that continues to grow between city hall and the White House. Mamdanis office later confirmed the mayor pitched a proposal to secure $21bn in federal grants to make good on a central promise to create more citywide affordable housing. This would include the construction of a deck over the busy rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens, to build 12,000 housing units. The president appeared enthusiastic, according to the mayors chief spokesperson. Related: Mamdani meets with Trump in unannounced trip to Washington To sweeten things, Mamdani made sure to play to Trumps ego. For the former real-estate developer turned reality-TV star turned commander-in-chief, flattery might get you everywhere. The mayor presented the president with a pair of New York Daily News front pages. The first was the infamous 1975 relic from when Gerald Ford effectively told a bankrupt New York City to drop dead. The second was a custom mock-up bait for a president preoccupied with legacy building. The fake cover read: Trump Delivers 12,000+ Homes; Most Since 1973. On social media, Mamdani made sure to share the grainy image of himself, standing behind the Resolute desk as the president grins rabidly, holding up the facsimile. For Trump, a property obsessive who has shown a particular fondness for ensuring that architecture is the enduring manifestation of his time in office (see the ongoing construction of the presidents prized East Wing ballroom and slapping his name on the Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center), Mamdani has managed to strike a chord by focusing on the New York real estate market, something that stirs passion and frustration within Trump in equal measure. On Thursday, what seemed like a Trojan horse triumph unfolded at the White House. As Mamdani wooed the president with much property talk, he also secured the release of a Columbia University student from federal immigration detention after she was arrested that same morning. The mayor also asked Trump to consider dismissing the cases of four students which included Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil all of whom had been detained in New York City, according to Mamdanis chief spokesperson. Instead of engaging in a social media war with the administration and dealing with the presidents persistent threats and press conferences full of denunciations, the real art of the deal might have been soft power via Photoshop. Now, the question remains, has the mayors conciliatory behavior come at a cost? On the campaign trail last year, Mamdani wasted no time calling the president a despot. Now, after a landslide victory and firmly ensconced in Gracie mansion, he has avoided calling the president out publicly, and tried to escape his wrath when it comes to routine threats of withholding federal funding for sanctuary cities. An ire that other blue-city mayors, like Brandon Johnson of Chicago, have not been spared. In fact, since Mamdanis first, and shockingly amicable, meeting with Trump in November, he and the president have refrained from any public fallouts. Last year, as reporters and cameras braced for a public takedown of the newly elected mayor, it became clear that while Trump loves to malign his political opponents, he loves a winner more. He came out of nowhere, the president said of Mamdani. We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. During his record-breaking State of the Union address, where Trump wasted no time deriding Democrats, his references to Mamdani left the mayor relatively unscathed. I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy, the president said. At a time when the chasm between the two parties has never felt wider, Mamdani might be proving that theres truth in catching more flies with honey. But for a democratic socialist who staked his victory on being the presidents worst nightmare, his coziness with the president seems like weakness for some onlookers. Mamdani previously vowed to use his power to reject Donald Trumps fascism, but as he tries to curry goodwill to enact his mayoral agenda, some New York progressives are ready to call out any perceived hollowness especially if he cedes ground after the fighting words that defined his campaign. In recent weeks, hes already faced some local pushback for continuing homeless encampment sweeps in New York City this time led by a more appropriate agency despite pledging to end the practice while running for office. It is too early to herald these concessions Mamdani appears to have extracted from Trump as categoric victories. New Yorkers have yet to hear if the administration will push forward the funds needed for the housing project, and ultimately the mayor is dealing with a mercurial president who has few qualms jettisoning relationships at the first sign of strain. For now, Mamdani appears to be leaning in to get what he needs, just two guys from New York, yapping about real estate. Miami Magic booked his ticket to Aintree when casting a spell on his rivals in the OLBG Chasing Excellence Novices Chase at Newbury. Stuart Edmunds seven-year-old was placed in graded company over hurdles and showed his potential over fences when downing the likes of Regents Stroll and Califet En Vol at Cheltenham on New Years Day. He would go on to run respectably when third behind Sixmilebridge in the Scilly Isles at Sandown and back down in class but up in distance, he was sent off 8-11 favourite to prove his quality in this first try at three miles. Although briefly threatened by Nicky Hendersons Thats Nice in the home straight, Miami Magic came home an emphatic 15 lengths clear in the hands of Charlie Hammond, with Edmunds now eyeing a shot at the Grade One Mildmay Novices Chase during the Grand National Festival. Edmunds said: We decided not to go to Cheltenham and we thought we had blown our mark by winning there on New Years Day. We thought we would try him over three miles and he could potentially now go to Aintree for the Grade One there. Hes won round Cheltenham and you cant say an undulating track wouldnt suit him, but weve had good success previously missing Cheltenham and going to Aintree fresh so thats what we will do again. When you have speed to win over two miles, but the stamina to win over three you are looking at a horse with a fair bit of ammunition. There was no successful raid for Paul Nolan who saw his The Big Clubman fall short in the BetVictor Watch Weekend Winners National Hunt Novices Hurdle won impressively by Paul Nicholls 5-6 favourite Talk To The Man. Elsewhere on the card, Aamilah Aswat wasted little time adding to her historic success in the saddle at Kempton when once again proving successful aboard Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls Guchen (100-30 joint-favourite). That maiden victory made Aswat the first female black jockey to win a race over jumps in Britain and the 20-year-old excelled once again, guiding her mount to a 19-length victory in the opening West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Donald Trumps administration is trying to convince dozens of unaccompanied immigrant children to self-deport through misinformation, coercion, threats and fear, according to lawyers representing them. Last year, attorneys successfully blocked a middle-of-the-night operation to deport Guatemalan minors in government custody following a series of harrowing affidavits describing their fears of abruptly returning to their home countries. A federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from expelling targeted children, who are in government-supported foster programs and long-term shelters after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border alone. But attorneys are now asking a judge to hold administration officials in civil contempt of court for allegedly trying to get around the courts order blocking their removal. One child reported that a Customs and Border Protection agent shouted, cursed, and threatened [him] with a dog and a stun gun, according to lawyers. Lawyers for migrant children in government custody want a federal judge to hold administration officials in contempt after Border Patrol officers allegedly tried to coerce them to self-deport in violation of an order that blocks their removal (AFP via Getty Images) The indigenous Guatemalan boy at Compass Connections Harlingen in Texas says his father is disabled and his parents cannot support him in his home country. After threatening him, the agent told the boy he could accept a voluntary return or remain detained for an extended period of time, and the officer refused to let him speak with his family, according to lawyers. The child then signed the paperwork, but the officer said he was being sent to a shelter after officers appeared to be unable to remove him. The child said he believes his prayers were answered by being transferred to the shelter rather than returned to Guatemala, lawyers wrote. Another Guatemalan boy who speaks Kiche as his primary language was told to sign voluntary return paperwork or he would be detained for a long time, according to lawyers. He signed without knowing what the paperwork said and lawyers intervened to help him revoke his acceptance of expedited voluntary return, lawyers wrote. But the coercion tactics dont only apply to Guatemalan children, according to court filings. A child from a different country was handcuffed and interviewed by seven federal immigration officers without a parent or legal counsel present, lawyers said. When the child noticed that an agents written answers to questions did not match his response, the officer allegedly told him: I dont care. Staff with the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project say they have identified at least 13 children who were forced to sign voluntary return documents that required attorneys to intervene. The children described officers behaving aggressively shouting, insulting, cursing, grabbing, threatening, and handcuffing children, and leaving them scared and confused, according to attorneys. Customs and Border Protection officers are accused of shouting, insulting, cursing, grabbing, threatening and handcuffing children to encourage them to sign documents to allow their removal to countries they fled (REUTERS) After a fast-paced legal battle over Labor Day weekend last year, District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan raced to respond to reports that unaccompanied migrant children were being loaded onto planes to be imminently removed echoing Trumps secretive efforts to deport hundreds of Venezuelan men after invoking the Alien Enemies Act in March. Trump-appointed District Judge Timothy Kelly later extended the injunction. Lawyers for the children are now calling on Kelly to reprimand administration officials over alleged violations of their orders. In court filings last year, more than a dozen Guatemalan teenagers described overwhelming fears of returning to their home country. They described childhoods in neglect, threats of extortion and gang violence against them or their families, and returning to homes or government shelters where they were abused or trafficked. I am certain the people there who hurt me and threatened to kill me before will once again hurt me and will carry out threats to kill me, one 16-year-old wrote. A 16-year-old LGBT+ child who is seeking asylum in the United States said they fear rape and forced marriage if they were sent back. If I had to return to Guatemala, the teenager wrote in court documents, I would kill myself. The Independent has requested comment from CBP and Homeland Security. Arne Slot has insisted Mohamed Salah will soon start scoring again as he insisted he is not concerned by the longest Premier League goal drought of the Egyptians Liverpool career. Salah has not struck in his last nine top-flight appearances, with his most recent goal in the division coming on 1 November against Aston Villa. But Slot pointed to the 33-year-olds FA Cup penalty against Brighton to argue that statistic does not matter much and said talk about Salah is merely a consequence of his extraordinary goalscoring feats for Liverpool. Arne Slot has backed Mohamed Salah to rediscover his goalscoring habit in the Premier League (Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Slot said he is not worried by Salahs form, explaining: We are used to Mo scoring a lot of goals and at this moment in time that is maybe the biggest difference in his performance and game time. But we also know this has happened before. I dont know if it happened nine games in a row but I've had these questions earlier if didnt score for three or five but I know in the end he always starts scoring again. He set his own standards and those are so, so, so high and the moment he doesnt score for a few games people are immediately surprised - that is the biggest compliment he can get. With data you can use it to your advantage or disadvantage but not to use the FA Cup game - if we play a Premier League side you could argue if that is fair. But that's the way it works: if we want to highlight something really positive we try to forget one or two games and if we want to highlight something negative we can try to forget one or two games as well. Three games ago he had an assist and a goal against a very good Premier League team, Brighton, so that is the reality and then you can change data and say he did not score in nine Premier League games. Slot also feels that all of his forward line are short of goals, adding: The focus is totally on him because of everything he did for the club but Hugo [Ekitike] and Cody [Gakpo] havent scored that many goals recently as well. Salah has not scored in the Premier League since the win over Aston Villa on 1 November (Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool host West Ham on Saturday and are set to be without Florian Wirtz, who missed last weeks win at Nottingham Forest after suffering a back injury in the warm-up while Slot is not sure if he will be back in time to face Wolves on Tuesday. Slot added: I dont expect Florian to be available [against West Ham], so that is a disappointment and also something I didnt expect after last week, but sometimes that is how things can evolve, and this time not in a positive way. Right-back Jeremie Frimpong is back in contention after missing five games. He was injured in the 6-0 win over Qarabag. NASA announced an overhaul of its ambitious Artemis lunar program Friday morning, adding a new preparatory mission in 2027 that Administrator Jared Isaacman said was the only way forward. NASA is still planning its moon landing mission for 2028 - returning astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years - but now says there could be two landings in the beginning and end of that year. The space agency expects to launch the additional flight in mid 2027, carrying out tests of new commercial lunar landers in low-Earth orbit. The changes are aimed at getting the program back to basics, Isaacman said, including increasing the rate of launches. We didnt go right to Apollo 11, Isaacman said at a press conference at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. We had a whole Mercury Program, Gemini - lots of Apollo missions before we ultimately landed right. Now, our program is essentially set up with an Apollo 8 and then going right to the moon. That is, again, not a pathway to success, he added. The Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center at dusk in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 25, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Friday that the federal space agency still plans lunar landings in 2028 (AFP/Getty) Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, said that the revisions were needed to ensure the missions are safe and that the agencys timeline is credible. Its challenging, its ambitious, but with this course correction we are in a more stable foundation, a more realistic path to the milestones we have ahead, he said. NASA has been struggling to launch its Artemis II mission this year, which would send four astronauts on a trip around the moon. The astronauts include NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as the Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks during a press conference in Florida on Friday (AFP via Getty Images) The mission has been pushed to the beginning of April at the earliest following a helium issue with NASAs Space Launch System rocket. NASA is currently working on repairing the 322-foot rocket in Florida. The response of our team was exactly what we should be doing, Moon to Mars Program Manager Dr. Lori Glaze said Friday. Artemis I, the first phase of the Artemis program, successfully launched in November 2022, sending the mega moon rocket - without humans - around the moon and back. The Artemis program is the first part of NASAs Moon to Mars architecture, eventually aiming to send humans to the Red Planet for the first time. Nigel Farage has sparked controversy after claiming the Green Party winning the Gorton and Denton by-election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating. The Reform UK leader said his party had reported claims people forced family members to vote in a certain way during the contest to the Electoral Commission and police. Hannah Spencer, a councillor and plumper, won the poll in Manchester with 14,980 votes, with Reforms Matt Goodwin second on 10,578 votes and Labour's Angeliki Stogia trailing in third on 9,364 votes, dealing a bitter blow to Sir Keir Starmer. Election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed "concerningly high levels" of family voting - an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting. In a statement, Mr Farage said: Reform has today reported many cases of family voting to the electoral commission and the police. What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. Nigel Farage campaigning with Matt Goodwin (PA Wire) In an earlier post on X, Mr Farage had said: "This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating." The Green Party accused Mr Farage of making an attempt to undermine a democratic result in the by-election. A Greens spokesperson said: This is an attempt to undermine the democratic result and is straight out of the Trump playbook. We've just won a historic by-election by a comfortable margin. We've shown the country that Greens can beat Reform, despite their big business donations. Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Labour had been bitten by its own monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes. The Conservatives came a dismal fourth place in the by-election with just 1.9% of the vote. Ms Badenoch said: Labour created the monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes and yesterday that monster came back to bite them. As I have said many times before we are a multi-racial country, not a multicultural country. She added: If you stir up grievance politics between groups based on religion or race ... you start to unravel the culture of tolerance that makes Britain great. Democracy Volunteers said its members saw 32 cases of apparent collusion at polling stations the highest levels in its 10-year history. Hannah Spencer has become the first Green MP in the north of England after winning the Gorton & Denton by-election The organisation said in a statement: Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today's observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK. We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby we saw family voting in 12% of polling stations, affecting 1% of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68% of polling stations, affecting 12% of those voters observed. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed. The group said they observed a sample of 545 individuals casting their vote and saw 32 cases of family voting in total, including nine cases in one polling station. Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said the report was extremely worrying and concerning. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA Wire) But Manchester City Council hit back that no issues had been reported and said it was extremely disappointing that Democracy Volunteers waited until after the close of polls to make the claims. A spokesman for the Conservative Party, which came a distant fourth and saw the candidate lose their deposit after gaining just 1.9% of the vote, said: Keir Starmer has killed the Labour Party. In losing one of Labour's safest seats, in a constituency that has returned Labour MPs for almost a century, Starmer has shown he no longer commands the support of Labour voters and is now a lame duck leader. Polling expert Sir John Curtice said that nervousness will be heightened in Labour after the result but cast doubt on the prospect of Sir Keir facing a leadership challenge before the May local elections. He told BBC Breakfast: There are two big messages that come out of this. The first, of course, the most immediate, is that the nervousness that already existed inside the Labuor Party about Keir Starmer's ability to turn around his party's electoral fortunes, that nervousness is now going to be heightened. Not that there will be any move against the Prime Minister before May 7, but his chances of surviving after May 7 if the results are bad, have, I think, been diminished. The Democracy Volunteers team attended 22 of the 45 polling stations while polls were open, where they observed what they called family voting. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian (Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian) An election observer group has raised concerns over people appearing to collude on voting in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Democracy Volunteers, an organisation founded by Dr John Ault, and supported by the Conservative peer and psephologist Prof Robert Haywood, deployed four accredited election observers across the constituency. The team attended 22 of the 45 polling stations while polls were open, spending between 30 and 45 minutes in each, working in pairs. The organisation said its volunteers were looking at people appearing to collude on votes in breach of secret ballot rules, which it called family voting, as well as the impact of the requirement for voters to show ID before they were issued with a ballot paper. Manchester city council said its staff had been trained to look for evidence of voter interference and that no concerns had been reported or raised with them while polls were open. Related: What a Gorton byelection win would mean for Reform, Greens and Labour Democracy Volunteers said that while the enactment of the Ballot Secrecy Act in 2023 made family voting more clearly a breach of the secret ballot, signage to discourage the practice was only seen in 45% of the polling stations observed. The observing team said they saw family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed, reporting 32 cases in total, nine cases in one polling station alone. They observed a sample of 545 voters casting their votes, of which they said 12% either directed or were affected by family voting. Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, said: Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of todays observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK. He added: We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent byelections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary byelection in Runcorn and Helsby we saw family voting in 12% of polling stations, affecting 1% of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68% of polling stations, affecting 12% of those voters observed. Labour said the reports were extremely worrying and concerning. Anna Turley, the Labour party chair, told BBC Newsnight: Thats not what we want to see in our democracy. So obviously we need to see the evidence and the report, and then make due decision about what authorities should look into this. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, told the same programme he would back an investigation. I think its important that theres full transparency about the democratic process, and if the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps then yes Id support that, he said. The Reform UK chair, David Bull, said that electoral fraud is a stain on democracy. He added: We would support reporting it and making sure that its done in the spirit and fairness with the law. The volunteers also observed cases of voters being turned away, but they said in every case this was due to not being registered to vote in Westminster elections for example, if they had EU citizenship and were eligible to vote only in local elections. They also reported seeing voters taking photographs of their ballot papers, and one person being authorised to vote despite them already having been marked as voted earlier in the day. A spokesperson for the acting returning officer said: Polling station staff are trained to look out for any evidence of undue influence on voters. No such issues have been reported today. If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken. We have operated a central byelection hub which has been rapidly responding to reported issues during the day, in liaison with the police who had a presence at every polling station where necessary. It is extremely disappointing that Democracy Volunteers have waited until after polls have closed to make such claims. The producer who brought The Office to our screens has admitted there are some scenes in the show he wouldnt do now while shooting down claims theres a culture war in comedy. The Office rocketed Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to fame, while also setting Ash Atalla on the path to becoming one of the UKs most successful TV producers. Atalla, now 53, parted ways with the pair when the mockumentary came to an end, and went on to produce The IT Crowd, before founding his own production company. Roughcut TV, which he started in 2007, has delivered shows - including People Just Do Nothing for all of the UKs major broadcasters. Reflecting on some of his previous works, Atalla has admitted there are some scenes that he wouldnt include if the shows were being made now, adding that if his comedy has upset people, he would like to apologise and move on. The IT Crowd in particular has drawn scrutiny in recent years and in 2020, Channel 4 removed an episode from its streaming service after complaints about its depiction of a transgender woman. Ash Atalla (front centre) and 'The Office' cast at the 2004 Golden Globes (Getty Images) Atalla has now told The Telegraph: The question is: is it enough of a defence to say that it was of its time? And I think, yes it is. The world moves on, things move on. There are definitely a couple of bits of The Office that we wouldnt do now. The IT Crowd? Ninety-eight per cent of it is fine, and two per cent, yeah, we wouldnt do now. Im not interested in upsetting people with my comedy, he continued. And if we have done, I would apologise and move on. I dont want to be sitting in rooms arguing with people about politics or race or anything through my work. Thats not where I want my career to live. The Office aired for just two full seasons but became one of the countrys celebrated sitcoms (BBC) The IT Crowd isnt the only British comedy to be retrospectively censored. In 2020, Netflix sparked debate when it removed episodes of The Mighty Boosh and League of Gentlemen because of their use of blackface. The move was described as an "arbitrary gesture by comedian Jack Carroll, who wrote on X that it means they dont have to put any real work into combating actual instances of racial discrimination and comedy history is getting smashed in the process. The debate is also rumbling on over in the States, where Jerry Seinfeld said in 2023 that the extreme left and PC crap has ruined comedy a comment he then said he would like to officially take back a year later. Jerry Seinfeld has made - and backtracked on - comments about the extreme left ruining comedy (Getty Images) I dont even understand why he would think that, Atalla said of Seinfeld's original comment. Look at his work, one of the greatest sitcoms ever, where is the culture war in that? Seinfeld is mostly a bloke worrying about having too many pickles in his sandwich. Taliban security check a vehicle at a checkpoint in Kabul after clashes erupted along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Photograph: Samiullah Popal/EPA (Photograph: Samiullah Popal/EPA) Pakistan bombed Afghanistans capital of Kabul and two other provinces on Friday, hours after a cross-border attack, the latest escalation of deadly violence between the volatile neighbours who signed a Qatar-mediated ceasefire in 2025. Following months of tit-for-tat clashes, Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday night in what the Taliban government said was retaliation for earlier deadly airstrikes. Hours later, at least three explosions were heard in Kabul, with both sides making different claims about the number of casualties and sites hit. Pakistans federal minister for information and broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, claimed the strikes on Friday in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar killed 133 Afghan Taliban officials and wounded more than 200, with further possible casualties. Related: Pakistan strikes militant hideouts on Afghan border after surge in attacks Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that his countrys armed forces could crush aggressors, while the countrys defence minister has proclaimed open war. In a post on X Friday, defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had gathered militants from around the world and begun exporting terrorism. Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us, he said. Afghanistans defence ministry said that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in the border clashes on Thursday, with some bodies taken into Afghanistan, including several captured alive. It said eight Afghan soldiers were reported killed, with 11 others wounded. The ministry reported the destruction of 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, previously denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. The UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, urged both sides to protect civilians as required under international law and to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. Commenting on the Friday airstrikes, Pakistans interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said the strikes on Afghanistan were a befitting response. Afghanistan said its military launched its attack across the border into Pakistan late on Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. Efforts to produce a lasting agreement between the two nations has failed, with negotiations and an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October looking increasingly shaky. Related: More than 120 dead after multiple suicide and gun attacks in Pakistan, officials say Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,611km-long border known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognised. Afghan authorities were evacuating a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing after several refugees were wounded and 13 civilians, including women and children, killed, authorities said. On the Pakistani side of the border, local police said residents were also evacuating to safer areas, while some Afghan refugees who had been waiting to cross back into Afghanistan were also moved to secure locations. Tension has been high between the two neighbours for months, with deadly border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. The violence followed explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad, at the time, conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts. Pakistan says it has killed hundreds of fighters in Afghanistan after declaring open war on the Taliban. On Friday, Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul and two other Afghan provinces, which it said targeted ammunition depots, Taliban military installations and militant hideouts. The barrage followed a cross-border attack by Afghanistan on Pakistan late on Thursday, which Kabul said was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani air strikes on Afghan border areas on Sunday. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesman for Pakistans armed forces, claimed on Friday that at least 274 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 400 injured in the offensive, codenamed Operation Righteous Fury. The Afghan government confirmed that multiple locations across the country including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia had been struck. It was the first time Islamabad had attacked Taliban military facilities rather than the militants it says are backed by the group, and it represents a stark rupture in ties between the Islamic neighbours. Taliban security personnel stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan - Aimal Zahir/Getty Images The Taliban said it had launched what it described as retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military installations, but was ready to negotiate. After the Afghan attack on Thursday, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Pakistans defence minister, wrote on X: Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister, warned Pakistan that it would pay a heavy price if Afghanistan were forced to declare a national uprising. Speaking at a mosque in Khost province, Mr Haqqani said Pakistan should not take actions that would compel the Taliban to announce a national uprising and jihad. Tensions have been rising between the two countries in recent months, fuelled by accusations that Afghanistan was harbouring elements of the Pakistani Taliban, something Kabul denies. An injured Pakistani girl receives treatment at a hospital in Bajaur, in the countrys north-west, on Friday after the cross-border clashes - Fazal Rahman/AFP A senior Taliban official in Kandahar told The Telegraph that Afghan armed forces were sending more artillery to the border and getting prepared for a long war. Meanwhile, new rounds of Taliban attacks were reported on Friday evening. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, said 19 Pakistani military posts and two headquarters were seized during Thursday nights retaliatory operations. The initiator of the war is Pakistan, Mr Mujahid said, adding that Afghanistan had exercised its right to self-defence. He claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others captured. Afghan forces recovered weapons, ammunition, one tank and a military transport vehicle. Thirteen Islamic Emirate soldiers were martyred and 22 others wounded in the fighting, said Mr Mujahid. Taliban security stand guard near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday - AFP He added that Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft continued to fly over Afghan airspace, and accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating Afghanistans sovereignty. He said Afghan drone strikes had hit specific targets inside Pakistan. Mr Mujahid also claimed that Taliban forces had captured a Pakistani military outpost in the Anzar Sar area of Babrak Tana district in Khost province. Dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed or wounded, and a large quantity of weapons were seized, he said. There were no independently confirmed reports of casualties early on Friday morning. Mr Asif, Pakistans defence minister, accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a colony of India after it came to power following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021. They gathered terrorists from around the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism... Pakistan made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation stable, he said. It carried out extensive diplomacy. However, the Taliban became a proxy of India. People attend a funeral for those killed in Pakistani air strikes on Feb 22 - Samiullah Popal/Shutterstock Taliban security officials and local residents inspect the scene of a Pakistani air strike near the border in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, on Sunday - Samiullah Popal/Shutterstock Pakistani air strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday targeted alleged militant bases and killed more than a dozen civilians, according to the Taliban, which said the attacks struck homes. On Feb 6, a suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 169 at a Shia mosque in Islamabad in the deadliest attack on Pakistans capital in nearly two decades. The Pakistani government said it possessed conclusive evidence that the attacks were directed by terror leaders based in Afghanistan. An injured man is taken to a hospital following an explosion at a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Feb 6 that killed dozens of people - Aamir Qureshi/AFP Pakistan, which has sheltered millions of Afghan refugees for many decades, has faced a significant increase in attacks since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, straining relations between the two countries. Pakistan maintained ties with the group throughout the 20-year war in Afghanistan a relationship Washington protested about but never fully severed. The Taliban had safe houses in Quetta, Pakistan, where its leadership, known as the Quetta Shura, operated openly for years. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained tense since October, when deadly border clashes killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire and talks in Istanbul failed to produce a formal agreement. Pete Hegseth asked Anthropic to waive terms that prevent its AI from being unleashed in weapons without human oversight - Saul Martinez/Bloomberg Finance LP A senior Trump administration official has accused the boss of Anthropic of being a liar with a God complex after he blocked the US from using the companys AI for autonomous weapons. Emil Michael, the US undersecretary of war, claimed that Dario Amodei, the chief executive of Anthropic, was trying to defy democratically decided laws. Mr Amodei insisted on Thursday night that he could not in good conscience agree to US government demands that its technology be enabled for all lawful military means. The AI lab has insisted that its technology can never be used to operate autonomous weapons or for mass surveillance. It has claimed the change to its contract would leave the door open to uses that undermine, rather than defend, democratic values. Mr Michael responded on X: Its a shame that @DarioAmodei is a liar and has a God-complex. He wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is ok putting our nations safety at risk. An aggressive statement from a top DoD official on Anthropic - https://t.co/ADP8e4bUTs Konstantin Toropin (@KToropin) February 27, 2026 The row follows an ultimatum from the US government, demanding that Anthropic yield and allow the Pentagon full autonomy over how the technology is used. Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of war, has given Anthropic until 5pm ET (10pm GMT) on Friday to agree to the governments demands. US officials have threatened to declare Anthropic a supply chain risk if it does not, which would block its use by government contractors, or deploy emergency laws to requisition its AI tools. Anthropics Claude was, until this week, the only AI bot allowed to work on classified US government systems and had been put to work on missions, including during the US raid to seize Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president. Officials have insisted the government has no interest in using Anthropics AI for mass surveillance in America and that it does not want to use it for autonomous weapons. However, they have argued that without agreeing to new terms, Anthropic could risk jeopardising critical military operations and potentially putting our warfighters at risk. After Mr Amodei publicly said he would refuse the request, Anthropic staff members published their own messages of support. Hundreds of other AI researchers, ChatGPT developer OpenAI and Google signed a petition backing the stance. Anthropic, worth $380bn (280bn), has long been an advocate for safe AI technology and has warned of risks, including human extinction from rogue AI. However, Elon Musk said: Anthropic hates Western civilisation. This week, the US government approved xAI, Mr Musks company, for use on its sensitive systems. Mr Michael said: What we are talking about is allowing our warfighters to use AI without having to call Dario Amodei for permission to shoot down an enemy drone swarm that would kill Americans. He added that Anthropics corporate views were Americas worst nightmare. Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (Laws) are weapons that operate autonomously, selecting and engaging targets on and off the battlefield with the power of artificial intelligence. However, Mr Amodei said that Anthropics AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons. We will not knowingly provide a product that puts Americas warfighters and civilians at risk, he added. Dario Amodei said that AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons - Prakash Singh/Bloomberg Finance LP Anthropic also refused to remove safeguards preventing the technology from being used for mass domestic surveillance. AI-driven mass surveillance presents serious, novel risks to our fundamental liberties, Mr Amodei said. The chief executive added that Mr Hegseths threats do not change our position, but hoped the Pentagon would reconsider. Given the substantial value that Anthropics technology provides to our armed forces, we hope they reconsider, he said. Our strong preference is to continue to serve the department and our warfighters with our two requested safeguards in place. Mr Amodei has repeatedly described autonomous weapons as a red line that neither he nor the company he founded is willing to cross. Since launching its Claude AI bot, Anthropics technology has enjoyed rapid success. Until this week, it was the only major AI model that was cleared to undertake classified military work for the US government. Last year, it secured a $200m deal to work with the Pentagon. Until this week, Anthropic was the only major AI model cleared to undertake classified military work for the US government - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Prior to Mr Amodeis statement being released, Sean Parnell, the assistant to the secretary of war for public affairs, said the Pentagon had no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal), nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement. A plaque marking a visit by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Inverness has been removed from the citys Town House. The plaque, which dated to his visit to Inverness in 2018 to commemorate the completion of renovations to the building in the city centre, was removed on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Highland Council said that the plaque has since been placed in storage. Andrew was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as trade envoy. The former prince has denied any wrongdoing. A Highland Council spokesman said: The plaque was removed by the council on Wednesday, February 25. The plaque is in storage in the Town House. A spokesperson for Highland Council said that the plaque has since been placed in storage (Social media) The King announced last October that he would strip his brother Andrew of his titles, including that of Earl of Inverness. Elsewhere in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council said it is aware of a plaque in Castle Douglas marking a visit by the former prince. A council spokesperson said: The council is aware that Castle Douglas Primary School was opened by the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and that a plaque marking this visit is located at the school. No decision has been taken to remove the plaque. Current matters relating to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor are ongoing and it would be inappropriate for the council to prejudge the outcome of these. We will continue to monitor the situation and follow national guidance where relevant. We are not currently aware of any other council buildings with plaques connected to his previous visits. However, we are continuing to check our records. The BBC reported that Clackmannanshire Council is aware of a paving stone in Alloa marking a visit by the former prince and will consider the matter. Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as trade envoy (PA Wire) 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. 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. The red vs blue trend has swept across schools in London and Bristol (TikTok) Police and schools are on alert after posts appearing to incite children to fight using knives spread across social media. The school wars trend has seen the spread of posts on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat, which separate schools into red and blue teams and encourage pupils to fight using bladed weapons. At least a dozen accounts encouraging or threatening violence as part of the trend have been removed following police contact. A number of schools, mostly in London, are understood to have written to parents asking them to remain vigilant regarding the trend. In a letter seen by The Independent, one west London school warned the craze is causing serious concern and urged parents to check their childrens smartphones in order to keep our school safe. Graphics listing schools as red or blue are circulated on social media (TikTok) The posts divide schools into red and blue teams and urge children to jump anyone they see from an opposing team. In one, seen by The Independent, children are urged to be violent and use compass points to attack each other. Others suggest they will get video game-style points if they punch an opp (opponent) or stain an opp. A TikTok spokesperson said it had restricted searches relating to red vs blue and told The Independent the trend is found across many social media platforms. They added that the platforms community guidelines do not allow threats, glorifying violence or promoting crimes that could harm people or property. On Snapchat, most people are believed to use the app to chat with friends, and it doesnt have a feed of unvetted or unmoderated content. The trend, which appears to have started in London, now appears to have spread to other parts of the UK, including Bristol. Charities dedicated to stamping out knife crime have also issued statements about the trend. Charlies Promise, a charity founded in memory of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser, who died after he was stabbed in the chest three times at a party, warned: While some young people may view this as a game or online challenge, the risks are very real. The Metropolitan Police said they are aware of the posts and are in close contact with schools across the city to respond firmly to any reports of disorder. In a statement, Commander Neerav Patel said he wanted to remind young people of the serious consequences of carrying weapons and getting involved in violence. Schools are pitted against each other in the London wars on social media accounts (TikTok) He continued: Were aware of social media posts circulating and are in close contact with schools across several London boroughs to offer reassurance. Officers will maintain a strong, visible presence around schools, and will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder. We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have worked with platforms to request a dozen social media accounts to be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged. I would like to remind young people of the serious consequences of getting involved in matters like this. An arrest, charge and conviction for violence and carrying weapons could mean imprisonment with a significant long-term impact on future opportunities. Neighbourhood chief inspector Keith Smith from Avon and Somerset Police said they are monitoring the situation extremely closely and that there has been no evidence of incidents linked to the trend in the area. We have seen several posts linking this national trend to schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. While this will cause concern to our communities, we are monitoring the situation extremely closely. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest any incidents have occurred in the Avon and Somerset area which can be linked to this trend. We will have a heightened presence in several areas over the next few days, which will include reassurance patrols at schools listed on the social media posts, and contingency plans will also be in place should we need them. We are taking this matter incredibly seriously, are working with partners and other interested parties, while carrying out intelligence checks, and any incidents reported to us will be investigated accordingly. This trend is not linked to any ongoing investigations, but we would urge people with concerns to contact us promptly or call 999 if a crime is in progress. Alberto Carvalho holds a press conference at Jefferson high school in south LA in November 2024. Photograph: Sarah Reingewirtz/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images (Photograph: Sarah Reingewirtz/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) Two days after the FBI searched the headquarters of the Los Angeles unified school district and the home of its superintendent, the district board of education placed Alberto Carvalho on administrative leave. The board met in closed session meetings for several hours on Thursday and Friday to discuss Carvalhos employment with the nations second largest school district. The trustees unanimously voted Friday to place Carvalho on paid leave, and appointed another high ranking district official, Andres Chait, to serve as interim superintendent. Todays action is aimed at fulfilling our promise to students and families to provide an excellent public education without distraction, Scott M Schmerelson, the school board president, said in a statement. Andres Chait is a highly regarded leader and educator, and we are lucky to have him step in seamlessly to oversee our schools. Over the past several years, our educators and students have made enormous strides, and we expect that progress to continue unimpeded. The boards statement noted they cannot discuss why Carvalhos home and office were raided. On Wednesday, FBI agents raided the district office, Carvalhos home in the Los Angeles area and another location near Miami where the superintendent previously oversaw schools for more than a decade. A spokesperson for the US attorneys office in Los Angeles confirmed that a search took place pursuant to an under seal, court-authorized warrant, but did not provide further comment. Media outlets have indicated the investigation is connected to the now-defunct education technology company AllHere, which created a chatbot for the district as part of a multimillion-dollar contract in 2024. Carvalho was a proponent of the chatbot, attending events with the companys founder, and said it was unprecedented in American public education. The district paid the company some $3m. Just months later, the parties cut ties and AllHere collapsed, the Los Angeles Times reported. The company went into bankruptcy and its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, faced fraud charges. Amid the fallout from the collapse, Carvalho said he was not personally involved in hiring the company, and that he would establish a taskforce to investigate the matter, according to the Times. The Florida home searched as part of the investigation reportedly belonged to Debra Kerr, who had worked with AllHere, the Miami Herald reported. Kerr was said to have had ties to Carvalho, and the 74 reported that her son was an AllHere employee who pitched LAUSD on the technology. The raids on Wednesday sent shock waves through the district, where the board had recently voted to keep Carvalho on as superintendent for four more years. The development also fueled concerns that Carvalho may have been targeted for his stance on immigration operations. The superintendent has criticized enforcement activity near schools, and the district pledged to protect students and families attending graduations from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Associated Press contributed Globetrotting superstar Rebels Romance and his stablemate Talk Of New York, one of the leading fancies for this years 2000 Guineas, are just two of the big names in action on Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan. Having found only Ethical Diamond too strong when bidding for a third Breeders Cup Turf success in November, Rebels Romance will be widely expected to make a successful return to the UAE in the Group Two Dubai City Of Gold, a recognised trial for the Sheema Classic title he won two years ago. Rebels Romance returns to Dubai in great shape, Appleby said. He is eight now, but you couldnt knock his performances last season and he appears to have retained all his enthusiasm throughout the winter. Im hoping that he can show us once again what he can do and everyone can appreciate what a great racehorse he is. Rebels Romances rivals include Ed Walkers course winner Fort George and the James Owen-trained Burdett Road, who did little wrong when second on his Dubai debut in early January before finishing down the field in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh. It didnt go to plan at all in Saudi, but hes come out of the race well, said Owen. Hes been based in Dubai anyway, so he didnt have too far to travel. Ive been over here all week with him and he looks great and is training well. Rebels Romance will be very hard to beat, but were in the mix to get some prize-money. He ran very well on his first run out here so hopefully we can get him back to that sort of form. The first Group-race action of the night comes in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, which sees Simon and Ed Crisfords Cover Up test the water over six furlongs after dominating the Dubai Dash and the Blue Point Sprint already this winter over five. He finished off so well in his last race and he has run over six before, we just felt wed give it a go, said Ed Crisford. Hes in super form and it looks like hes in the right spot if he can see out that extra furlong. He loves this track and it will be interesting to see him over six. He wasnt stopping in the Blue Point, Im sure hell run his race and it looks a suitable spot for him to be in the mix anyway. The Crisford team are also represented in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes, with Quddwah stepping up to nine furlongs for the first time following a slightly disappointing effort in the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup. His rivals include Johnny Murtaghs Alakazi, the Karl Burke-trained Holloway Boy and the hat-trick-seeking Dividend, trained in partnership by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Crisford added: The extra furlong shouldnt be a problem for him his dam (Sajjhaa) won in Dubai over this trip and hes in super form. He didnt really get a clear run in Abu Dhabi. He was drawn badly and he was on the wing and he ran a nice race, but I just felt circumstances went against him. Hes in great order, he did well on this track in January and Im sure hell run a very solid race. The action concludes with the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, in which most eyes will be on Talk Of New York, who is disputing favouritism for the Guineas at Newmarket following his explosive debut at Kempton in October. Appleby, who also runs Pacific Avenue, said on the Godolphin website: There has been plenty of chat about Talk Of New York following his maiden win and we feel he is a nice horse in the making. He is the least experienced horse in the field and this will be another step in his education, as well as hopefully giving us a guide on what sort of horse we are dealing with when he heads back to Europe. He had a spin around Meydan, just to get used to the place, and we were very pleased with what we saw. Pacific Avenue didnt really get the rub of the green on his latest start in the Al Rayyan Mile, but it was still a solid performance, and he came out of the race well. He doesnt look out of place in this field and we are putting some cheekpieces on him to hopefully rekindle some of his better form. Ed Crisford is looking forward to running Title Role, who looked the part when winning the Jumeirah Guineas Trial over the course and distance. He said: Hes a really solid horse and hes just improved all winter long. Theres a couple of unexposed horses like Talk Of New York and you dont know what theyre going to end up being I think hes nearly favourite for the 2000 Guineas now but our horse is in super form and improving with each run and hes in a nice spot. Farage says he has reported family voting claims in Gorton and Denton by-election to police Reform UK has reported allegations of illegal family voting in the Gorton and Denton by-election to police, Nigel Farage has said. The Reform leader claimed there was sectarian voting and cheating in the election after his party came second to the Greens, who accused Reform of trying to undermine the result. It comes after the election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed concerningly high levels of the practice, in which two voters either confer, collude, or direct each other on voting, on Thursday. The Electoral Commission encouraged anyone who believes an offence has occurred to report it to the police. Ballot boxes begin arriving before votes are counted for the Gorton and Denton by-election at Manchester Central (PA Wire) Mr Farage said: Reform has today reported the many cases of family voting to the Electoral Commission and the police. What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes. Appearing to suggest his party would win the next election and be in government, he added: If action isn't taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election. The Electoral Commission later said it was working very closely with the returning officer, and the police, to review all the available information. Democracy Volunteers claimed to have witnessed family voting in 68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored in the vote that saw the Greens storm to victory, with Reform in second place on a humiliating night for Sir Keir Starmers Labour, which trailed in third in the historically safe red seat. Labour has called on the authorities to look into claims of the illegal practice, outlawed by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023, calling the findings very concerning. Labours chair Anna Turley said the reports were really concerning to hear. I hope the appropriate authorities will be looking at that, examining it and taking any reasonable steps. She said the issue was deeply serious because every vote should be personal, secret. Thats the cornerstone of our democracy. In a statement released just as polls closed at 10pm on Thursday night, Democracy Volunteers, which had four volunteers working at the by-election, said it had seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of todays observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK, it said. The organisation said it attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the seat, spending 30 to 45 minutes in each, and witnessed family voting in 15 of them. It added that from a sample of 545 individuals casting their vote, there were 32 cases of family voting, including nine cases in just one polling station. The Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer speaks after winning the Gorton and Denton by-election (Jon Super) Manchester City Council, which was overseeing the by-election, was critical of the group for not raising concerns with staff earlier, saying that no issues were reported from polling stations beforehand. Leading pollster Robert Hayward, who authored the legislation that outlawed family voting, said the report was concerning. He added: The Ballot Secrecy Act, which I introduced and steered through both houses into law, should have stopped such practices. I am very disappointed. Green Party leader Zack Polanski suggested he would back a probe into family voting. He told the BBCs Newsnight programme: If the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps, then yes Id support that. The 2023 elections bill followed an independent review into cases such as the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election, which was declared void due to corrupt and illegal practices. A spokesperson for the acting returning officer at Manchester City Council said: Polling station staff are trained to look out for any evidence of undue influence on voters. No such issues have been reported today. If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues, they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken. John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, said: We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, we saw family voting in 12 per cent of polling stations, affecting one per cent of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68 per cent of polling stations, affecting 12 per cent of those voters observed. Greater Manchester Police said: We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course. David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly hesitant to contact Brooklyn for his upcoming 27th birthday after their son called them out in a bombshell online statement. The former photographer will turn 27 on March 4 - six weeks after he accused his controlling parents of trying to endlessly ruin his marriage to Nicola Peltz and said he has no plans to reconcile with them. Brooklyn has also reportedly told his family to only contact him through his lawyers and recently removed a tattoo tribute to David. It is thought the budding cook will spend his 27th with Nicola, 31, and her billionaire family in Los Angeles. David and Victoria are said to be devastated at the thought of missing their eldest sons big day, but reluctant to reach out. David and Victoria are disappointed that they wont even be in contact with Brooklyn for his birthday this year, a source told Metro. They are reportedly hesitant to contact Brooklyn (PA Wire) The insider added: It feels so different to how they usually celebrate together as a family. They love doing big family dinners with all of the kids and showering them with love, not to mention the childhood photos and tributes they share on Instagram. Theres even a reluctance to reach out this year, which is devastating. Brooklyn made his feelings clear in his statement and it feels like its best to leave any thoughts of a reunion up to him for now. The Standard has contacted the couples representatives for comment. Brooklyn finally addressed his familys feud in a six-page statement on his Instagram Stories in January after months of speculation. Among the accusations, he claimed Victoria inappropriately danced on him at his 2022 wedding to Nicola. Brooklyn with his wife, US actress Nicola Peltz (Brooklyn Peltz Beckham via Instagram) In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead, he wrote. She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I've never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life. We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment. DJ Fat Tony, who performed at the wedding brunch, later backed up Brooklyns claims, saying Marc Anthony told Brooklyn to put his hands on Victorias hips and that the dance was really awkward. The former Spice Girl also wrapped her arms around Brooklyn and nuzzled into his neck, according to Page Six. Brooklyn also criticised his father, claiming that despite travelling to the UK for Sir Davids 50th birthday, repeated requests to meet beforehand were ignored. Brooklyn said he was eventually offered a meeting on the condition that Nicola was not invited. David appeared to fire back at Brooklyns claims hours later, by saying in a TV interview that children are allowed to make mistakes. Rishi Sunak has begun advising the Ukrainian government on economic renewal as Kyiv looks to rebuild its energy sector in time for next winter. Documents released on Friday by the independent adviser on ministerial standards revealed the former prime minister has taken up an unpaid role as part President Volodymyr Zelenskys International Advisory Council for the Economic Renewal of Ukraine. The advisory council is expected to provide a panel of experts to advise both Mr Zelensky and his economic adviser, former Canadian deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland. Mr Sunak said he had been honoured to support Ukraine as prime minister, and praised Mr Zelenskys leadership the Ukrainian people for showing such bravery, such strength, such ingenuity in their resistance in this war. He added: The West needs a strong Ukraine, and a strong Ukraine needs a strong economy. So I am delighted to join the international group advising President Zelensky on economic reconstruction. I am confident that Ukrainewith its human capital, its natural resources, and its culture of innovationcan become one of the most dynamic economies in Europe. We can help build a strong and secure Ukraine that will be a keystone of a safer and more prosperous Europe. Mr Sunak took part in the councils first meeting on Thursday alongside other international figures including World Bank president Ajay Banga and the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Odile Renaud-Basso. Rishi Sunak being welcomed by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv in 2024 (PA) (Stefan Rousseau) Representatives of businesses including Siemens, BlackRock, Citigroup and ArcelorMittal also took part. In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said the group had discussed strengthening Ukraines energy resilience ahead of next winter, along with broader opportunities for investment, including in the countrys defence industry. Russian attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure have proved a major problem over recent months, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of seeking to weaponise the cold in a country where temperatures routinely fall well below zero. Mr Zelensky said: Thank you to the representatives for supporting Ukraine throughout these years of full-scale Russian aggression. Even during the war, after such a winter, our country lives. We are open to partnership, to joint projects, to investments that will support our people and our security. Thank you to everyone who invests in Ukraines resilience. Thank you for your support! https://t.co/FE2jqE2ZFZ Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2026 Mr Sunaks role advising Ukraine is the latest in a string of post-premiership appointments. While he remains MP for Richmond and Northallerton, Mr Sunak has taken up jobs advising Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and AI company Anthropic. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in California, where he studied; holds unpaid roles at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum and the Blavatnik School of Government; writes a column in the Sunday Times; and runs a maths charity with his wife, Akshata Murty. Mr Sunak donates the bulk of his income from his non-parliamentary jobs to charity, according to his official register of interests. The Institute of Genomics and Global Health, in Ede, Nigeria. Countries are being compelled to share biological resources and data with the US as part of aid pacts. Photograph: Ajayi Oluwapelumi/AP (Photograph: Ajayi Oluwapelumi/AP) A series of bilateral health agreements being negotiated between African countries and the administration of President Donald Trump have been labelled clearly lop-sided and immoral amid growing outrage at US demands, including countries being forced to share biological resources and data. It emerged this week that Zimbabwe had halted negotiations with the US for $350m (258m) of health funding, saying the proposals risked undermining its sovereignty and independence. A letter sent by Albert Chimbindi, Zimbabwes secretary for foreign affairs and international trade, in December that was made public said the president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, directed that Zimbabwe must discontinue any negotiation, with the USA, on the clearly lop-sided MoU [memorandum of understanding] that blatantly compromises and undermines the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe as a country. Meanwhile, a deal with Zambia which has been linked to a separate agreement with the US on collaboration in the mining sector has yet to be finalised, with Asia Russell, director of the HIV advocacy organisation Health Gap, accusing the US of conditioning life-saving health services on plundering the mineral wealth of the country. Its shameless exploitation, which is immoral. At least 17 African countries have signed deals with the US, collectively securing $11.3bn in health aid but raising concerns over concessions made in return. Critics say there has been a lack of consultation with the community groups that provide a lot of the healthcare in African countries, and have raised concerns over data privacy the US requests patient record data as part of the deals and the prioritisation of faith-based healthcare providers. In Nigeria, US statements suggest the funding is contingent on authorities tackling what the Trump administration refers to as the persecution of Christians in the country. The Trump administration is negotiating the bilateral agreements with countries as part of its America First global health strategy. The new approach follows the US dismantling what had been the flagship aid body, USAID, and pulling back from large multilateral bodies such as the World Health Organization. The rapid push for deals is being seen as part of US manoeuvres to establish and entrench power on the continent. The deals also commit African nations to rely on US regulatory approval of new drugs and technologies before rolling them out. The US-Rwanda deal is explicit that it will bring increased US private sector involvement in the countrys health sector. A Zimbabwean government spokesperson said on Wednesday that the US had asked for sensitive health data, including pathogen samples, but without any corresponding guarantee of access to any resulting medical innovations. Zimbabwe was being asked to share its biological resources and data over an extended period, with no corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations such as vaccines, diagnostics or treatments that might result from that shared data, he said. In essence, our nation would provide the raw materials for scientific discovery without any assurance that the end products would be accessible to our people should a future health crisis emerge. He said Zimbabwe was also afraid bilateral agreements would undermine WHO systems designed to ensure fairness in any future pandemic response. Development aid should empower nations, not create dependencies or serve as a vehicle for strategic extraction, he said. When financial assistance is contingent upon concessions that touch upon national security, data sovereignty, or access to strategic resources, it fundamentally alters the nature of the relationship from one of partnership to one of unequal exchange. The US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, said on X she regretted the countrys decision. We believe this collaboration would have delivered extraordinary benefits for Zimbabwean communities especially the 1.2 million men, women and children currently receiving HIV treatment through US-supported programmes, she said. We will now turn to the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe. Most of the new US-African deals are not publicly available, although the Guardian has seen a draft template, and a handful of documents that appear to be final agreements are in circulation. The five-year deals commit African countries to gradually provide a greater amount of domestic funding, including for health-worker salaries and equipment replacing US investment which will decrease each year. If countries fail to meet those commitments, US funding may be withdrawn. US drafts also include requests for access to health data and information on new or emerging pathogens for up to 25 years, although many countries appear to have negotiated shorter commitments. In Kenya, the first country to sign a deal, a court case brought by campaigners over data sharing terms has put the agreement on hold. The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek), one of the groups bringing the case, said Kenya risked ceding strategic control of its health systems if pharmaceuticals for emerging diseases and digital infrastructure (including cloud-storage of raw data) are externally controlled. Ugandas attorney general, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, sought to downplay similar fears about his countrys deal in an interview hosted on X, saying it was not true that citizens health data and privacy was at risk. We have our data protection and privacy law, and the agreement is riddled with that, he said. One reproductive and gender justice campaigner in Uganda questioned whether the increased domestic funding targets were realistic, given African governments failure to meet the 2001 Abuja declarations 15% minimum national budget allocation to health. She said there had been no public participation in the negotiation process, and non-governmental organisations were expected to be further sidelined. Specialist clinics offering care to marginalised groups such as the LGBTQ+ community were unlikely to see funding trickle down to them, she said. In Nigeria, according to a US embassy statement, the agreement for $2.1bn of US funding places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers. Related: US adapt, shrink or die terms for $2bn aid pot will mean UN bowing down to Washington, say experts Fadekemi Akinfaderin of Fos Feminista wrote on Substack that singling out one religious group in a deeply plural country risks inflaming existing tensions and politicising health. She also warned that faith-based facilities are less likely to provide family planning services, STI prevention and some vaccinations, due to ideological beliefs, urging Nigerias health ministry to ensure coverage gaps did not result from the agreement. Rachel Bonnifield, director of global health policy and senior fellow at the Center for Global Development thinktank, said that despite the criticisms there were good reasons for countries to sign deals including very substantial amounts of funding in some cases equivalent to 50% or more of governments total domestic spending on health to support very basic and much needed health services. A shift to government control of health funds, rather than distribution through US NGOs, was also likely to be attractive, she said, with the deals seen as a chance to establish new, broader relationships with the US. Even transactional negotiations can be seen as treating African governments like peers and partners versus the recipients of American charity, said Bonnifield. US President Donald Trump on Friday voiced frustration with Iran's stance in nuclear negotiations but said he had not yet decided whether to carry out a threatened attack, as US staff were authorized to leave Israel due to heightened risks. Trump has ordered the biggest military build-up in decades in the Middle East, with the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, approaching the coast of Israel, as he demands Iran agree to sweeping concessions on concerns starting with its nuclear program. A day after the United States and Iran held talks in Geneva, Trump said that the cleric-run state was "not willing to give us what we have to have" but added on military force, "We haven't made a final decision." "We're not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and we're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating," Trump told reporters. "We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they're not saying those golden words." Trump added he did not want Iran to have any uranium enrichment at all, even for civilian purposes. "I say no enrichment," he told reporters ahead of an event in the Texas port city of Corpus Christi. "Not 20 percent, 30 percent, they always want 20 percent, 30 percent, they want it for civilian, you know, for civil. I think it's uncivil." Iran has said repeatedly that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and agreed to restrictions on enrichment in a 2015 deal that Trump ripped up during his first term in office. Trump in June had said that Iran's key nuclear sites had been "obliterated" after the United States joined a major Israeli bombing campaign. The renewed pressure comes weeks after Iranian authorities killed thousands of people as they crushed one of the biggest threats to the Islamic republic established after the 1979 revolution deposed the pro-Western shah. Trump said "nobody knows" if an attack would bring down the Iranian government. Rubio heads to Israel US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel for talks on Iran on Monday, the State Department announced. In a rare break from decades of precedent, the top US diplomat will travel without reporters on his plane. Rubio will head to Israel even after the US embassy announced it was allowing non-emergency US government personnel and family members to leave "due to safety risks." Read moreIs a diplomatic solution with Iran achievable? 'I doubt it,' says Israel's ambassador to France Americans "may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available," the embassy said on its website. Germany in a new advisory said it "urgently" discouraged travel to Israel. Britain said it was moving diplomatic staff out of Tel Aviv, Israel's economic hub where most countries maintain embassies, to another location in the country as a "precautionary measure." France on Friday reiterated its advice to nationals not to travel to Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank even for tourism or family visits as a result of the security situation in Iran. On its website, the ministry also recommended French citizens already there stay away from demonstrations and rallies and identify bomb shelters. China, a main partner of Tehran, called on its citizens to evacuate Iran "as soon as possible." The United States and European countries already have longstanding warnings on travel to Iran. Holding out hope for talks On February 19, Trump gave Iran 15 days to reach a deal. While Iran has insisted discussions focus solely on nuclear issues, Washington wants Tehran's missile programme and its support for militant groups curtailed. Oman, which brokered the negotiations in Iran that included Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and roving negotiator Steve Witkoff, has offered a positive take on the talks. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi met Friday in Washington with Vice President JD Vance. Busaidi wrote on X that he looked forward to "further and decisive progress in the coming days." "Peace is within our reach," he wrote. Iran has trumpeted what it calls progress during the negotiations. But Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also sounded a warning on Friday in talks with his Egyptian counterpart, saying that "success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands." The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that it would hold technical discussions with Iran on Monday. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Ryanair will operate three new routes from Alicante this summer (Getty Images) Ryanair has announced its 2026 summer schedule with six new flight routes from UK airports. The budget Irish airline will fly eight routes out of Glasgow airport, including two new journeys to London Stansted and Warsaw Modlin. Flights to Spanish hotspot Malaga and Krakow will also increase in frequency. Ryanairs director of communications, Jade Kirwan, said: Ryanair is pleased to launch our summer 2026 schedule at Glasgow, offering eight routes, including two exciting new routes to London Stansted and Warsaw Modlin. We will also operate extra frequencies on two other routes, including popular holiday hotspot Malaga, as well as a top city break destination Krakow. Ryanairs exciting new schedule at Glasgow offers our customers across Scotland even more low-fare choice and regular connections for their summer 2026 getaways. Leeds Bradford will also see two new summer flights to Agadir and Warsaw and increased frequencies on seven other routes, such as to Alicante and Faro. Leeds Bradfords aviation director, Declan Maguire, said: We are delighted to see the continuation of services to Warsaw and a new route to Agadir, which form part of the continued expansion of Ryanair services at Leeds Bradford Airport. A new Bari route will take off from Bristol alongside the 36 routes on its summer schedule. Bristol airports commercial director, Rupert Lawrie, said: Its great news for our customers that Ryanair are launching a new route to the Italian coastal town of Bari, which is sure to become a firm favourite with its beautiful promenade, historic centre and nearby beaches. The airline will operate a record summer schedule from Lublin, Poland, to six destinations, including Bergamo, Dublin, Gdansk, London and a new connection to Trapani-Marsala in Sicily. Ryanair services from Bournemouth will also fly a new connection to Trapani. In December, Ryanair scaled back its flight roster, slashing its schedule to Belgium as part of an aviation tax row. The Irish low-cost airline announced on 9 December that it was cutting one million seats, five aircraft and 20 routes from its winter 2026/2027 schedule to the country. According to Ryanair, the cuts represented a 22 per cent reduction in service. It estimated the aircraft withdrawal would lead to a loss of $500m (373m) in investments. Read more: Ryanair cuts flights to another popular European destination over airport fee row Sarah Ferguson demanded that her business-class flight to New York to visit Jeffrey Epstein following his release from prison be upgraded by the disgraced financier to first class, new emails have revealed. The former Duchess of York, who was facing bankruptcy at the time, even pushed for her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to move from economy to club class for the July 2009 visit, as they were due to accompany their mother on the trip, the emails suggest. Epstein had been released from prison in 2009 after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting prostitution and was placed on probation. Fergusons office contacted Epstein within hours of his release, asking him to graciously cover the cost of the trip, the Daily Mail reported. It uncovered the emails in the latest tranche of Epstein files. Epstein reportedly agreed with a simple ok, but Ferguson then demanded the upgrade to first class just hours before departure. Sarah Ferguson with her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (PA Wire) In one email titled The Duchess of York, Epsteins house manager Lesley Groff wrote to Epstein: "Amanda from the Duchess' office just called. She said that you graciously offered to pay for the Duchess to come and visit you. Amanda would like to speak to [redacted] about flights." The executive assistant was believed to be Amanda Lewis, then Fergusons aide. The following morning, Ms Groff updated Epstein again: "Amanda said the princesses would like to accompany the Duchess, and she is wondering if you might be willing to pay for them as well..." After Epstein agreed with a simple ok, Ms Groff began organising the trip. Ferguson seemingly requested a three-day stay in New York, with flights described as having crazy high price tags. Emails reveal Epsteins staff scrambling to meet Fergusons demands, including booking the most expensive British Airways flight using her frequent flyer number. Staff noted that her requestfirst-class tickets for herself and business-class for her daughterswould cost over $30,000, with no cheaper alternatives available for the return flight, The Mail reported. Just hours before the flights departure, Ms Groff informed Epstein that Ferguson was demanding to be upgraded from business class. On July 30, 2009, she wrote: The following is from Amanda the Duchess' assistant...would you like me to see if we can change the seats? I recall the plane being rather booked up! The Duchess has asked that she be in First and the girls in Club on the flight back from NYC to LHR apparently Jeffrey said that this would be ok please can you let me know if you can change this. Within minutes, Epstein replied: i said nothing,, do not respond. Ms Groff agreed not to respond. Ferguson and her daughters stayed with American businessman Philip Levine in Miami before visiting Jeffrey Epstein on July 27, 2009, using his car and driver. A representative for Ferguson declimed to comment. Portrait Of The Artist was painted by Vettriano in 1993 (Estate of the artist/PA) A self-portrait by the acclaimed Scottish artist Jack Vettriano is set to go on public display in Edinburgh, marking the first anniversary of his death. The self-taught painter, aged 73, was discovered deceased in his flat in Nice, France, on 1 March last year. Titled Portrait Of The Artist, the work will be exhibited at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait from Sunday, 1 March this year. This piece is the first of two self-portraits loaned by the artists estate, which will be showcased consecutively over a six-year period. Portrait Of The Artist will remain on display until early 2029, after which it will be replaced by the second work, Homage To Fontana?. Portrait Of The Artist has been loaned to the gallery by Jack Vettrianos estate (Paul Watt/PA)) Imogen Gibbon, head of portraiture and photography and chief curator at National Galleries Scotland, expressed her enthusiasm: "Were thrilled to be welcoming visitors to the Portrait gallery to come and see Portrait Of The Artist by Jack Vettriano. It feels particularly significant that we are able to showcase a self-portrait to celebrate Vettrianos contribution to Scottish culture on the anniversary of his death." She added that the works would join other contemporary portraits of influential Scots, extending thanks to the artists estate for their support. Carolyn Osborne, director of Jack Vettriano Publishing Limited, highlighted the artists connection with the public: "Jack was known as the Peoples Painter and its entirely fitting that the public will be able to see one of his paintings in such a beautiful setting within a mile of where it was painted." Vettriano, originally from Fife, left school at 15 to pursue a career as a mining engineer. His artistic journey began after receiving a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday. He honed his skills by studying the Old Masters, Impressionists, and Scottish artists, drawing inspiration from works he encountered at Kirkcaldy Galleries. The painting Homage To Fontana?, which features a man facing towards a window, with a canvas with slash marks on it to his left (Estate of the artist/PA) His breakthrough came in 1988 when two of his submissions to the Royal Scottish Academys annual exhibition sold on the opening day, paving the way for international success throughout the 1990s. Portrait Of The Artist, created in 1993, is an early self-portrait, painted a year after his renowned work, The Singing Butler. The later piece, Homage To Fontana?, painted in 1999, features slashes in the canvas, a direct reference to the Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana (18991968), whose pioneering works blurred the lines between two and three dimensions. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, visits a migrant returns centre in Denmark. She said the countrys policies were firm but fair. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA (Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA) Shabana Mahmood will press on with hardline immigration policies despite calls for a reversal from unions and left-leaning Labour MPs after the Green partys byelection victory. Senior Labour sources insisted that the home secretary would continue to roll out changes to asylum policy, dismissing as plain wrong claims that it would further alienate Muslim voters. Andrea Egan, the general secretary of Unison, the biggest Labour-affiliated union, called on Friday for the government to change course and defend migrants and refugees after the party came third behind Reform UK in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester. Diane Abbott, the independent MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, told the Guardian that Labour should turn to more progressive policies on issues such as immigration and asylum. But a party source said Mahmood would not learn the wrong lessons from the byelection. The idea that we are losing Muslim voters over immigration is plain wrong, a party source said. Mahmood insisted on Friday that Labour would push on with the changes: The levels of illegal migration are putting immense strain on our country, and our public services creating division within communities across the country. Illegal migration is undermining the contract between government and its citizens eroding support for the asylum system entirely. Related: What changes to the UK asylum system is Labour proposing? Mahmood will argue next week that migration policies including forcing people to wait 20 years before being able to claim leave to remain were entirely consistent with Labour values. In a speech delivered at a thinktank, she will warn Labour MPs that the future of the party will be in jeopardy unless it supports controls on the level of migration to limit pressure on local communities. She will also set out her vision for an asylum system to restore order at the border and bear down on illegal migration. Mahmood is expected to say that she supports neither the Green partys open borders policy or the nightmare offered by Nigel Farage. Labour sources have pointed to polling from More In Common showing that a majority of Labour and Green voters supported many of Mahmoods proposals. In November, MPs, peers and refugee organisations expressed deep concerns after she announced that refugee status was to become temporary, with those whose countries become safe being made to go home. Under a system introduced by the last Labour government in 2005, refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, providing access to benefits and public funds and a route to citizenship. Last week, Mahmood visited Denmark to see how its centre-left Social Democratic party had tackled migration using hardline policies. Before 2015, refugees in Denmark were allowed to stay for five to seven years, after which their residence permits would become permanent. But the rules changed when more than 1 million people arrived in Europe fleeing conflict and repression, largely from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea. Since then, temporary residence permits have been granted only for one or two years at a time and there is no longer any guarantee of a permanent visa. To gain permanent status, refugees have to be fluent in Danish and are required to have had a full-time job for several years. Mahmood said: Denmark shows us how to be firm but fair: removing the incentives that draw illegal migrants to their borders while providing refuge to those in genuine need. That is why we will follow the Danish model to restore order and control to our borders. Composite: Guardian Design; handout; subjug;claudiodivizia/Getty Images; ANL/Shutterstock (Composite: Guardian Design; handout; subjug;claudiodivizia/Getty Images; ANL/Shutterstock) default On 7 August 1985, five people were found dead at White House Farm in Essex, England: 28-year-old Sheila Caffell (familiarly known as Bambi); her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas; and her adoptive parents, June and Nevill Bamber. All five had been shot with a rifle. Caffells 24-year-old brother Jeremy Bamber, who was also adopted, had alerted Essex police to a disturbance inside the farmhouse he said his father had called to tell him and had been outside with the police for four hours before the bodies were discovered. Caffell, who had recently been hospitalised with schizophrenia and is said to have feared her children were going to be taken into foster care, was found with the rifle lying on her chest, pointing towards her neck. There were two gunshot wounds to her neck and chin, and a bloodied Bible by her side. The case was initially thought to be open and shut, a tragic murder-suicide committed by Caffell. But a month later, Jeremy Bamber was arrested. He has now been in prison for 41 years, and questions have always swirled regarding the safety of his conviction. These have grown recently. The proper body to examine this is the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), but it is in disarray; it has already taken the CCRC four years to consider less than half the evidence that Bamber has submitted to them. In a short series we are considering discrete pieces of evidence, with analysis from forensic experts. *** Essential to the case against Jeremy Bamber is the question of whether or not a silencer was used in the killings, then removed from the rifle and hidden. If so, it was argued in court, Sheila Caffell was clearly not the killer. It was three days after the murders that a silencer was found in a downstairs cupboard by Bambers relatives. This is, in itself, a mystery. Why wasnt this silencer discovered when Essex police searched the cupboard on the day of the killings? Also, if Bamber was a criminal genius who murdered five members of his family, escaped the house, called the police and thereby successfully framed his sister, why would he have carefully put the silencer back in the cupboard to be discovered, rather than get rid of it? The silencer became crucial in court. In 1986, Justice Maurice Drake told the jury at Essex Crown Court that if they believed it had been attached to the Anschutz 525 rifle used to kill Sheila Caffell, then Jeremy Bamber had killed all five members of the family. The jury had been out for about 10 hours when it sent a note asking for clarification. Was the blood found in the silencer a perfect match for Caffell, they asked. Yes, replied Justice Drake, it contained only Caffells blood and did not match anybody else in the family. Twenty-one minutes later, the jury returned with their verdict. They ruled, on a 10-2 majority, that Bamber was guilty of the murders. Now a distinguished British forensic physician has said he does not believe a silencer, also known as a moderator, was used when Caffell was shot dead. The Guardian commissioned Professor Jason Payne-James, a specialist in forensic and legal medicine, to examine the crime-scene photographs taken by Essex police. He has concluded that the bullet injuries are not consistent with a contact or close range injury caused by an Anschutz 525 rifle with a silencer attached. Payne-James, president of the European Council of Legal & Forensic Medicine, specialises in the medical recording and interpretation of injuries. He told the Guardian: The pattern imprint on the skin is not large enough to suggest that a silencer was used, either at very close range or in contact with her body. These are close-range bullet holes, and the nature of the moderator or silencer is such that youd expect some form of pattern imprint equivalent to the diameter of the silencer if it was used in contact or at very close range. Bamber and his legal team believe this is a gamechanger. Why is it so significant? Because at trial the closest thing to forensic evidence was contained in the silencer. The prosecution case was that Caffells blood had been found in there. The blood was backspatter, a forensic term referring to biological material ejected backward from a gunshot entrance wound, travelling in the opposite direction to the bullets flight path. It is a blow back effect created by the intense energy transfer and escaping muzzle gases during a close-range or contact shot. The blood found in the silencer did not, in itself, suggest Bamber was the killer. The prosecutions argument depended on accepting two separate elements. First, Caffells blood in the silencer showed it had been used in her shooting. Second, the prosecution argued, her arms were not long enough to reach the trigger and shoot herself in the neck with the silencer on. Then the obvious clincher. There is no way Caffell could have shot herself twice in the neck, removed the silencer, walked downstairs, placed the silencer in the cupboard, then returned upstairs to her parents bedroom to die. The only other explanation was that Bamber was the killer. *** Attention shifted away from the murder-suicide theory a month after the killings. That was when Bambers former girlfriend Julie Mugford changed her original statement, and told the police he had talked about murdering his family to inherit their considerable wealth. She said he had hired a hitman. When the alleged hitman proved to have a cast-iron alibi, Mugford again changed her story, saying Bamber, who had split up with her shortly after the murders, had told her he was going to kill his family himself. It later emerged that Mugford had agreed to sell the story of their relationship to the News of the World for 25,000 if Bamber was convicted. Essex police and Crown prosecutors had also agreed to drop charges against her for burglary, chequebook fraud, selling cannabis and robbery, because prosecuting her could jeopardise her availability or credibility as a key witness against Bamber. The Guardian has contacted Mugford for comment. Aside from the silencer, the evidence against Bamber was circumstantial. But this six- to seven-inch black cylindrical steel tube has had a controversial history. Bamber has argued that the fact the silencer was found by his late uncle Robert Boutflour and cousins David Boutflour and Ann Eaton is highly suspicious. In all his submissions to the CCRC, he has said they never liked him and hoped to inherit the Bambers wealth, which they did as a result of his conviction. Eaton, who now lives at White House Farm, and David Boutflour have repeatedly declined to talk to the Guardian, though they have always denied the suggestion that they set up Bamber. After the silencer was discovered, Robert Boutflour went to Essex police with a speculative theory about how Bamber had killed the family. Robert suggested that Bamber had ridden over fields from his cottage on his mothers bike in a wetsuit, crept into the house, shot the family, escaped through the kitchen window, and washed away his blood splashings in the nearby North Sea. In his diary, Robert Boutflour wrote that Bamber sprayed his parents with bullets to make it look like the work of a maniac. He postulated that Bamber then woke Sheila, led her into the master bedroom, past her dead mother, told her to lie down with the Bible and shot her. Although his hypothesis appeared far-fetched, much of it became the basis for the prosecution case. Most important of all was the silencer. It was Robert who told Essex police that there was blood inside the silencer and that this could be significant. When Justice Drake, who died in 2014, said the silencer only contained blood belonging to Caffell he misled the jury. The blood found between two of its baffle plates matched Caffells blood group. But the Forensic Science Service had already informed all interested parties this blood grouping is shared by 8% of the population, including Robert Boutflour, who regularly used the family guns for pest control and sport. It was claimed at trial that a considerable amount of Caffells blood was in the silencer, although only one small flake had been found that belonged to her blood group. There was also a second blood group found in the baffles that didnt match any of the deceaseds blood groups, or Bambers, although it was a potential match for David Boutflour. The jury were told none of these facts. On multiple occasions during his summing up, Justice Drake said that the blood in the silencer was a match for Sheila alone. Subsequently, DNA testing before Bambers 2002 appeal revealed that the moderator contained three mixed DNA profiles. This led to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice, referring the case back to the court of appeal. But the three appeal court judges ruled that while the original blood grouping evidence was now less certain, the fact that the DNA profiles could contain part of Caffells DNA, and the vast amount of other evidence including the testimony of Mugford meant the conviction remained safe. They noted that the silencer had been handled by many people since 1985, making the presence of other DNA explicable. They claimed that all of Caffells blood in the moderator could have been swabbed away in previous forensic tests. The more we examined the detail of the case, the more likely we thought it to be that the jury were right, the judges concluded in December 2002. But nothing quite made sense. In the 17 years that had passed since the killings, nobody had ever attempted to explain why Bamber would have replaced the key evidence in the downstairs cupboard where it was bound to be found. Barbara Wilson, the White House Farm secretary, had been summoned to the farm by the relatives shortly before they found the silencer. She told the New Yorker magazine that she believed the discovery had been staged for her benefit. I would say that theyd already found it, but they wanted someone to prove that theyd found it, she said. David Boutflour denied there had been a re-staging. Even with the silencer evidence, there was still no DNA linking Bamber to the crime. While the prosecution argued that there had been a fierce struggle between Bamber and his father, Nevill, it conceded that Bamber was unmarked. Over the decades, the mystery of the silencer has deepened. The Parker Hale sound moderator has become one of the leading characters in the crime, almost as infamous as Bamber himself. Is it a firearm accessory used to try to hush up a grotesque familicide, or does it hold the secret to one of Britains greatest miscarriages of justice? In 2011, more than 350,000 documents were disclosed to Bamber. Among them was evidence suggesting the police had examined at least two different silencers, although the jury had been told there was only one, and that it contained Caffells blood. Now it appeared that there were silencers with different exhibit numbers (SBJ1, DB/1 and DRB/1), different sizes (six and a half inches, and seven inches) and differing groove patterns (one knurled, one straight cut). Bambers team argued that the police had conflated forensic results from a moderator they had found on the day and the moderator the Boutflours had found. Essex police announced that they had found a heavily bloodstained silencer hours after the gruesome massacre at a press conference on 16 September 1985. This was reported in at least a dozen newspapers, including on the front page of the Daily Mirror. The police now claim they never said this. At the trial, David Boutflour said the police had not seized his silencer before the trial. But in the New Yorkers epic 2024 investigation into the Bamber case, he told journalist Heidi Blake that they had taken it away for months and months before the trial, supporting the claim that Essex police were in possession of more than one moderator before the 1986 trial, despite their 40 years of denials. When invited to comment about the silencers, Essex police said: In August 1985, the lives of five people, including two children, were needlessly, tragically and callously cut short when they were murdered in their own home by Jeremy Bamber. In the years that followed, this case has been the subject of several appeals and reviews by the court of appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission all of these processes have never found anything other than Bamber is the person responsible for killing his adoptive parents Nevill and June, sister Sheila Caffell and her two sons Nicholas and Daniel. In 2012, Bamber told the Guardians former prisons correspondent Eric Allison that he had always believed the silencer was a red herring, and in January that year he had received scientific evidence that backed him up. An eminent American pathologist, Dr David Fowler, the chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland, wrote a report concluding he believed the rifle was fired without a silencer. The report was peer-reviewed by two equally eminent American pathologists who agreed with him. Also in 2012, ballistics expert Philip Boyce conducted an experiment on the difference between a contact wound on pig skin shot with the Anschutz 525 and a contact wound with the silencer attached to the gun. It showed that the bullet wounds left by the rifle were clean, resembling the wounds found on Caffell. The wounds with a silencer were larger, with a halo effect. At the time, Boyce said: Based on my examination of the wounds, and the photographs, and the tests that Ive just done, I am of the opinion that the contact wound to Sheilas chin was actually contact without the silencer fitted. Bamber believed the silencer that had seen him jailed would now see him cleared. But it was another nine years before the significance of Dr Fowlers report could be assessed. In 2021, his team entered new submissions to the CCRC, consisting of 10 points. It took the commission four years to review the first four points, including the silencer evidence, and last June it said it would not be referring back to the court of appeal based on these, though it would continue to examine the remaining six points. The commission gave Dr Fowlers report short shrift. Bamber told me he was astonished that the CCRC had rejected it partly on facts that were known to be untrue at the trial 40 years ago, and partly on what appear to be semantics. The CCRC cited the fact that blood matching that of Sheila Caffell was found in the moderator, even though its own findings in 2002 contradicted this, and it is now accepted that Justice Drakes statement to the jury saying the blood was an exact match for Caffells rather than simply the same blood type was plain wrong. Five forensics experts have now said they do not believe that a silencer was attached to the gun that killed Caffell In its provisional statement of reasons, the CCRC said that it was also rejecting Dr Fowlers report suggesting no silencer had been used, because it did not align with the trial testimony. They claimed that Dr Fowler characterised the wounds to Caffell as resulting from firm contact with the skin, whereas the prosecutions firearms witness Malcolm Fletcher had said the lower wound may have been the result of a shot between one and three inches away. (However, at trial, pathologist Dr Peter Vanezis, who was called by the prosecution, described both wounds to Caffell as having been caused by a weapon lightly touching the skin, a description that is consistent with Dr Fowlers conclusions.) In conclusion, the CCRC state that there is no real possibility that evidence from Dr Fowler might lead the court of appeal to quash any of Mr Bambers convictions. Last year, the CCRCs chair Helen Pitcher and CEO Karen Kneller resigned after an independent review highlighted poor management, weak decision-making processes, and a culture resistant to challenging the court of appeal under their management. When Dame Vera Baird took over as interim chair in June 2025, she told Radios 4 Today programme that the CCRC look for reasons not to refer rather than to refer. Bamber believes the CCRCs rejection of Dr Fowlers evidence is yet another example of this. If the commission didnt trust his expertise, he asks, why didnt it hire its own expert to examine the wounds? A CCRC spokesperson says: It would be inappropriate for us to discuss the case or make any further comment while the application is being reviewed. But Professor Payne-Jamess new report for the Guardian negates the CCRCs objection, because he states that, irrespective of whether it was a contact or close-range injury, he does not believe a silencer was used. Im in agreement with Dr Fowler, he concluded in his report, after reviewing digitised crime scene photographs for the Guardian. In total, five forensics experts have now said they do not believe that a silencer was attached to the gun that killed Caffell. Philip Walker, a spokesperson for the Jeremy Bamber Innocence Campaign, says: The CCRC has spent well over a decade dismissing the report of the three senior US pathologists on totally spurious grounds. It has done this without further investigation, and without consulting any other experts. Thankfully the Guardian has done the work the CCRC should have been doing all this time, and asked a top forensic physician to examine the wounds, and this has confirmed Dr Fowler et als conclusions. Bamber believes that the CCRC has no choice but to refer his case back to the court of appeal now. Writing from Wakefield Prison, he says: I am very pleased that one of the UKs leading experts in forensic medicine has confirmed what we have known for years; namely that Sheila was shot without a moderator on the rifle. It completely removes the central plank of the prosecutions case, the blood evidence, which was manipulated to convince 10 of the 12 jurors of my guilt. Bamber believes that he would never have been convicted without the silencer. The narrative constructed around it led to his downfall, he insists. Now he hopes it will lead to his salvation. Without the silencer, he says, the whole case collapses. Long-term use of collagen supplements has been associated with improved skin elasticity and hydration, though experts caution against viewing them as an "anti-wrinkle quick fix". Researchers suggest these products are best positioned for individuals seeking "holistic" skin maintenance, considering them a "legitimate" additional treatment for ageing in post-menopausal women or those with UV-damaged skin. Beyond skin benefits, a new review encompassing over 100 clinical trials indicates collagen could also significantly reduce arthritis symptoms. Collagen, a protein naturally abundant in the body, plays a vital role in supporting and strengthening skin, nails, bones, and connective tissues. With age, collagen production starts to decline, leading to wrinkles and stiff joints. Supplements which can be taken as tablets, liquids or powder mixed into drinks claim to counteract this reduction. However, bold claims have been made about their anti-ageing benefits, according to researchers. The umbrella review by experts at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) included evidence from 16 reviews and 113 trials involving almost 8,000 patients around the world. It found taking collagen supplements over a long period was linked to improvements in skin elasticity and hydration. This supports the inside-out model of skin rejuvenation, researchers said, with supplements acting as agents of deeper tissue regeneration rather than superficial cosmetic aids. However, taking collagen did not significantly affect skin roughness, the review suggests. Collagen, a protein naturally abundant in the body, plays a vital role in supporting and strengthening skin, nails, bones, and connective tissues (Alamy/PA) From a public health perspective, this distinction matters; collagen may be best positioned not as an anti-wrinkle quick fix, but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance, researchers said. They added that collagen supplements should be considered a legitimate adjunct for skin ageing by clinicians, particularly among post-menopausal or photodamaged patients when usual treatments are not suitable or too costly. Meanwhile, taking collagen supplements was consistently linked to reducing the symptoms of arthritis, such as stiff and painful joints. It was also associated with improvements in muscle health, although there was no evidence that it helps improve soreness after exercise. Lee Smith, a professor of public health at ARU, said the study, published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, brings together the strongest evidence to date on collagen supplementation. He added: Bold claims have been made in relation to collagen supplementation and often by those marketing the product, for example, promises have been made by manufacturers that collagen supplementation results in significant, rapid, and full-body anti-aging. Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis. Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy ageing, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use. If we define anti-ageing as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters. For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful looking appearance. Researchers acknowledged a number of limitations in the review, and said more work is needed to explore factors such as the dose of collagen and how long it is taken, and if factors like body composition impact its effectiveness. Further studies should also explore different collagen sources, such as bovine and marine, as well as formats, such as liquids and powders. Prof Lee added: This study marks an important step towards more informed public guidance and better designed future research. We need more high-quality clinical trials, including research examining long term health outcomes, optimal dosing and differences between collagen sources. The Gorton and Denton by-election looks to be one of the more consequential contests of its kind since the Second World War. Seismic is how the triumphant Greens describe it. This was, after all, the first parliamentary by-election that they had ever won. It is therefore proof that, at least in these types of seats, with a younger and more diverse population, a vote for the Greens is no longer a wasted vote. Gorton and Denton, a constituency in Greater Manchester, is now the bridgehead the Greens have lacked in the north. During her campaign, the new MP, Hannah Spencer, was authentic and spoke to her voters in a language they could understand. She stood in sharp contrast to Reforms strident candidate Matt Goodwin, unwisely hand-picked by Nigel Farage, who was divisive and never gave the impression he liked the place. But more than that, it is an early win for the Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, who was only elected as leader last September. He may privately regret not running himself, given he was born in Salford (and retains the accent). At any rate, Ms Spencers 41 per cent of the vote exceeded expectations in what was widely considered to be a tight three-cornered race. Ms Spencer deserves her success. The passion she expressed in her victory speech at the count suggests she will make a fine constituency member. She also deserves considerable thanks for defeating the Farageistes. She has proved that Reform UK is far from invincible the woke Greens in fact trounced Nigel Farages self-styled patriots, just as Plaid Cymru did in Caerphilly in October. After the recent influx of deadbeat Tories and a mixed record in local government, Reform UK seems to be losing some momentum. Not the Greens, however. Like it or not, the party is now becoming a more established force in British politics, and it will be interesting to see if this landmark success boosts its national poll ratings. But they cannot, at least not yet, be considered a serious party of power, nor Mr Polanski the next prime minister. The electoral coalition they have constructed is a somewhat uneasy one. They seem to attract natural but disaffected moderate ex-Conservatives in seats such as Hereford, combined with a progressive, socialist and student vote in the cities, plus more traditional environmentalists, and, depending on local circumstances, many Muslims voters who feel taken for granted by Labour and who are appalled by the tragic events in Gaza. The Green Party does not yet suffer from the inherent tendency to schism that Jeremy Corbyns Your Party and its loose collection of Independent MPs suffer from. But the scope for division is clearly there on social and cultural issues as is the risk of a slide into antisemitism. The Greens electoral coalition of interests doesnt suit every seat, and if they end up fighting their Corbyn-Sultana/Independent group rivals for local and parliamentary seats, they will soon retreat to the fringes. Nor has Mr Polanskis team yet constructed a programme for government. There is much sneering and misinformation from its opponents about its liberal approach to drugs, plans to leave Nato, its economic policies and sectarianism, but it is fair to say that they will need to be more realistic and clearly practicable before the voters will treat the Green Party as anything more than a protest vote and, in some places, simply a convenient vehicle to stop Reform. As is obvious, a general election is about choosing a government and not a protest or an advocate for a constituency, however brilliant. Much the same, indeed, can be said for Mr Farage, whod be an unmitigated disaster in No 10, a realisation that grows with every fresh tinpot policy launch and predictable shock defection. The prime minister is undoubtedly beleaguered, and it is no great surprise that the leadership chatter has cranked up again after a dismal night. Once again, Sir Keir Starmer is being confronted with the challenge of fighting a perpetual electoral war on two fronts. He has to resist insurgent Greens to the left, in London and the larger cities; and Reform UK on his right flank, in towns and suburbs across much of the north and east of England, as well as the SNP and Plaid. Yet the worst thing his party could do now is to play the parlour game of where they should be positioning themselves, tacking this way or that, and probably with a new leader. There is no evidence that any of the candidates would transform Labours poll ratings or suddenly trigger an economic boom. Such delusions and distractions will only result in Labour spiralling further into ideological confusion in ever-decreasing circles. The answer to Labours problems is, and has been almost since its first day back in office, delivery, delivery, delivery on everything from the public finances to housing to immigration. None of that needs to be ideological. It is from such pragmatic politics and tangible achievements on the cost of living and the public services that a compelling narrative can be constructed. On that basis, Reform and the Greens can be pushed back as impractical extremists, and the government will rebuild its authority and electoral base. The Gorton and Denton by-election proved that much has changed in the political landscape, but not the need for Labour to stay united and, as Sir Keir puts it, laser-focused on governing. I Swear director says Tourettes activist John Davidson was let down on many levels in Baftas row The writer and director of I Swear has said Tourettes activist John Davidson was let down on many, many levels after the BBCs broadcast of the Baftas included him involuntarily shouting a racial slur. Mr Davidson whose life inspired the hit film was in attendance at Sunday (22 February) nights awards ceremony, where I Swear won two accolades, including Best Actor for Robert Aramayo, who played the campaigner. Prior to the ceremony, which airs on the BBC a few hours after it takes place, attendees at Londons Royal Festival Hall were told that they might hear some of his tics. While some of these could not be heard in the BBCs broadcast, fans tuning in realised Mr Davidson shouted the n-word while two Black actors, Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, were on stage. John Davidson has said he left the Baftas early, aware of the distress his tics were causing (Getty) The clip quickly circulated online and sparked a debate, with some making accusations of racism, while others questioned Baftas approach and why the BBC did not edit Mr Davidsons tic out. Kirk Jones, the writer and director of I Swear, has now weighed in, telling The Telegraph: I think John was let down on many, many levels. And I think the fact that that [tic] went out for broadcast was perhaps one of the worst ways in which he was let down on the night. He continued: If you just imagine for a second that that was not broadcast, then suddenly the problem was restricted to everyone in the room. And Bafta could write to everyone in the room, and they [could have] said, We wanted to apologise again, we understand, this, that and the other. They could have done that the next day to all the guests, and no one would have known that it happened You wouldnt have the clips. Davidson with I Swear director and writer Kirk Jones (Getty) At other points in the BBC broadcast, Mr Davidson could be heard shouting words such as boring and f***. The activist who also served as an executive producer on I Swear said in a statement issued on Monday (23 February) that he was deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning. He added that he chose to leave the ceremony early because he was aware of the distress my tics were causing and has since said he was assured his tics would be edited out of the Baftas broadcast. In a follow-up interview with Variety, Mr Davidson said he ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards, which included homophobic tics and another racial slur. Bafta has apologised to Sinners actors Jordan and Lindo who were on stage to present an award when the incident occurred in a statement issued earlier this week. Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo heard the racial slur while presenting an award (BBC) It added: We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy. The BBC has apologised for failing to edit the slur out. It removed the original Baftas broadcast from iPlayer on Monday and has since replaced it with a new version. Meanwhile, culture secretary Lisa Nandy has welcomed a full BBC investigation, which has been fast-tracked by the corporations executive complaints unit. Broadcasting a racial slur is completely unacceptable and harmful, she said earlier this week. The BBC must ensure that this never happens again. Boxes of cereal sit on shelves at a Target store on June 4 2025 in Austin, Texas. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images (Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The big-box US retailer Target announced on Friday that by 31 May it will only sell breakfast cereals made without certified synthetic food colors. The company is introducing the restriction amid increased pressure on the food industry from the Trump administration and the Make America healthy again (Maha) movement to stop using such ingredients, which they see as dangerous. Target has almost 2,000 stores across the US and employs about 400,000 people. We know consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthier lifestyles, and were moving quickly to evolve our offerings to meet their needs, Cara Sylvester, Targets executive vice-president and chief merchandising officer, said in a news release. Related: Anger as Trump FDA retreats from plan to ban artificial colors in food Food industry reform advocates, who are concerned about the link between such dyes and hyperactivity, cheered the move, which they say will protect children. When a major retailer like Target makes that kind of stance, it has impacts across the food industry, and it sends a signal that retailers are siding with consumers who want less artificial ingredients, said Vani Hari, the so-called Food Babe who is one of the leaders of Maha and has expressed support for the controversial US health and human services secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. The change could serve as a win for Kennedy, who has faced criticism from food reform advocates for backing Trumps executive order to boost production of Roundup weedkiller which Kennedy previously said causes cancer and for allegedly retreating on a pledge to regulate synthetic food dyes. Kennedy made a lot of promises about what he was going to do at the beginning. He is not keeping them, said Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition and food studies at New York University. Food industry reform advocates have for decades pushed for corporations to stop using dyes such as red 40 and yellow 5, which some studies have shown could exacerbate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children. Dyes are commonly used to make foods more appealing to consumers. The Target announcement does not stipulate what constitutes a certified synthetic color, but Hari said that means petroleum-based dyes such as red 40 and yellow 5. TThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not required the action. Kennedy and the FDA faced backlash after revising their request for food companies to rapidly remove such food dyes from their products by the end of this year. The agency announced new guidelines this month stating that it would allow food makers to claim no artificial colors as long as the dyes are not petroleum-based. Kennedy said that the agency was making it easier for companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors and adopt safer, naturally derived alternatives. But Thomas Galligan, principal scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which researches food dyes, said on Friday that the revision was frustrating, especially when the rhetoric suggests they are solving the problem, but in practice theyre just letting industry do whatever they want. Related: RFK Jr wants bright artificial dyes out of food. Are Americans ready to let go? Meanwhile, at least 25 states are considering legislation to restrict synthetic dyes from food. In March 2025, West Virginia became the first state to ban such ingredients. Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs for the non-profit Environmental Working Group, thinks that law affected Target. No company is going to make one version of their food for the 2 million people in West Virginia and another version of their food for the rest of us, Faber said. Targets announcement today is simply recognition that states are leading the way when it comes to protecting us from dangerous chemicals. Still, companies have pledged to stop using food dyes and then reversed course following consumer complaints and a drop in sales. Nothing is holding them to these promises, said Jensen Jose, regulatory counsel for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The federal government is just asking, Pretty please, can you stop using these dyes?. Key producers General Mills and Kraft Heinz plan to remove artificial colors from their products for the US market by next year. Trevor Whelan is likely to require further surgery to aid a complex recovery from injuries suffered in a fall at York in September. Whelan sustained several fractures during the accident, in which Jim Crowley was also hurt, and has already had his ankle reconstructed, with extensive physiotherapy and most probably further surgery required for him to regain use of the joint. A statement from the Professional Jockeys Association on X said: Trevor sustained multiple fractures to his right ankle following a high-speed fall at York racecourse in September 2025. This was a complex injury and, following initial local treatment, he was transferred to a specialist centre in London where a team of surgeons undertook an ankle reconstruction. The bone healing progressed well but, not unusually, he required a further operation to address extensive scarring around the joint. He has worked very hard with the IJF physios to regain the movement needed for race riding but this is still some time off. It is therefore highly likely he will need further surgery during 2026 which will significantly delay any return to riding. Trevor would like to thank the team at York, the medical professionals that treated him, the IJFs Oaksey House team and everyone else for their continued support. Oman's minister of foreign affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi (right) holds a meeting with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff (center) and Jared Kushner as part of the ongoing Iranian-American negotiations, in Geneva on 26 February. Photograph: AP (Photograph: AP) High-stakes talks between the US and Iran over the future of Tehrans nuclear programme ended on Thursday without a deal, as the White House weighs a military operation that would mark its largest intervention in the Middle East in decades. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, claimed good progress had been made at the talks and Omani mediators predicted negotiations would reconvene at a technical level next week in Vienna. Araghchi later confirmed that further contacts would take place in less than a week. But there was no immediate evidence to support suggestions that the two sides had drawn closer on the fundamental issues of Irans right to enrich uranium and the future of its highly enriched uranium stocks. The indirect talks in Geneva were held in two sessions, with reports that the US team led by Donald Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had been disappointed by the proposals put forward by Iran. The brevity of the second session of talks appeared ominous, observers said. US-Iran nuclear talks end without a deal as threat of war grows Nonetheless, the Iranian and Omani mediators sought to cast the talks in a hopeful light, likely seeking to avert a US threat to launch strikes from its fleet of aircraft and warships that have massed in the region. Read the full story Epstein files contain explicit but unsubstantiated claim that Trump abused minor Three memos that describe four interviews conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2019 contain explicit but unsubstantiated claims that Donald Trump sexually abused a woman when she was a minor in the early 1980s with the assistance of Jeffrey Epstein, according to a Guardian review of those documents. Read the full story Democrats in four states seek to bar ICE employees from future civil service jobs Supercharged by billions of dollars from Congress, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has hired thousands of new officers to carry out Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign in an effort it has likened to wartime recruitment. In several states, Democratic lawmakers want applicants to think twice about taking part. Read the full story Detained Columbia student released after Mamdani talks with Trump The Columbia University student arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday morning has been released, according to social media. The student, Elmina Aghayeva, confirmed her release on social media shortly after New York Citys mayor, Zohran Mamdani, confirmed that Donald Trump had agreed to release Aghayeva, following a previously unannounced meeting between the two leaders. Read the full story Hillary Clinton accuses Republicans of fishing expedition in Epstein testimony Hillary Clinton delivered a withering rebuke to a congressional committee investigating her supposed links to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, accusing its Republican members of embarking on a fishing expedition intended to cover up and deflect attention from the actions of Donald Trump. Read the full story Cuba vows to fight terrorist aggression after attack from US-registered boat Cuba has vowed to defend itself against any terrorist and mercenary aggression, a day after border guards said they had killed four exiles on a Florida-registered speedboat that opened fire on a patrol. Read the full story Extremely low IQ and cries like a child: Donald Trump renews attack on Robert De Niro Donald Trump has responded to a recent podcast appearance by Robert De Niro, in which he called the president an idiot. Speaking on Mondays episode of The Best People with Nicole Wallace, De Niro, who has long criticised the politics, morals and competence of Trump, said: Hes an idiot. We gotta get rid of him. Hes gonna ruin the country. Read the full story What else happened today: Catching up? Heres what happened on Wednesday 25 February. Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive officer of Anthropic. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Donald Trump said Friday he will direct all federal agencies to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic technology in the latest installment of a very public clash over AI safety. The Department of Defense and Anthropic hit an impasse with neither side backing down as a deadline for an agreement lapsed on Friday afternoon. The Pentagon had demanded the artificial intelligence company loosen ethical guidelines on its AI systems or face severe consequences. Trump weighed in just an hour before the deadline, saying on Truth Social: The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution. WE will decide the fate of our Country NOT some out-of-control, Radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about, Trump wrote. Hours after its competitor was punished, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on Friday night that his company had struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI to classified military networks, potentially filling a gap created by Anthropics ouster. However, Altman said the same red lines that were the sticking point in Anthropics dispute with the Pentagon were now enshrined in OpenAIs new partnership. Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems, Altman wrote, adding that the Pentagon agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement. Altman also said he hoped the Pentagon would offer these same terms to all AI companies as a way to de-escalate away from legal and governmental actions and toward reasonable agreements. Shortly after the Friday deadline passed, defense secretary Pete Hegseth said he was directing his department to classify Anthropic as a supply-chain risk to national security, claiming Anthropics stance is fundamentally incompatible with American principles. This type of designation is normally used for foreign adversaries and could endanger the companys partnerships with other businesses. Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic, Hegseth wrote on X. Americas warfighters will never be held hostage by the ideological whims of Big Tech. Hegseth said the Pentagon, which had a $200m, two-year agreement with Anthropic, will continue to use Anthropics AI services for a transition period of no more than six months. The government services administration followed Hegseths lead and said Friday evening that it too had terminated its contracts with Anthropic. Despite the force of the federal government coming down on Anthropic, its still possible that the AI firm and the Pentagon could reach some sort of agreement. Its also possible that other AI companies could take over Anthropics contracts. Anthropic responded late on Friday with a statement saying it hadnt received direct communications from the defense department or the White House regarding the status of the negotiations, but that it was deeply saddened by the unfurling of events that took place over the last 24 hours. We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court, Anthropic said, adding that designating the company as such was an unprecedented action never before publicly applied to an American company. The public showdown between the Department of Defense and Anthropic began earlier this week after they entered into discussions about the militarys use of the companys Claude AI system. But the talks broke down as both sides appeared to be unable to come to agreement over safety guardrails. Anthropic, which presents itself as the most safety-forward of the leading AI companies, has been mired in months of disagreement with the Pentagon even before the public discussions began this week. US defense officials have pushed for unfettered access to Claudes capabilities that they say can help protect the country, while Anthropic has resisted allowing its product to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems that can kill people without human input. No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, Anthropic said in its statement on Friday night. We have tried in good faith to reach an agreement with the Department of War, making clear that we support all lawful uses of AI for national security aside from the two narrow exceptions above, the company continued. To the best of our knowledge, these exceptions have not affected a single government mission to date. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Thursday the defense department has no interest in using AI for mass surveillance or to develop autonomous weapons. This narrative is fake and being peddled by leftists in the media, he said. In Silicon Valley, Anthropic has drawn support from its most fierce rivals. Top executives at AI companies have publicly sided with Anthropic, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who indicated in a CNBC interview on Friday that OpenAI shares the same red lines as Anthropic. Nearly 500 OpenAI and Google employees have also signed onto an open letter saying we will not be divided. Both OpenAI and Google also have contracts with the military. The Pentagon is negotiating with Google and OpenAI to try to get them to agree to what Anthropic has refused, reads the letter. Theyre trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in. Donald Trumps team of negotiators reportedly armed with a laundry list of demands was largely silent about the future of talks with Iran after emerging from a round of negotiations Thursday in Geneva. A senior U.S. official described the outcome of Thursdays talks as positive to Axios, while Irans foreign ministry described the two sides as making significant progress. But the extent to which the teams were able to overcome the real distance reported as the talks began was not known. But they began with a report from The Wall Street Journal outlining a steep list of demands set forth by the Trump administration for a diplomatic resolution to the issue of Irans nuclear weapons program. And the talks come just over a day after the president, in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, accused Iran of rebuilding the nuclear program that Trumps own White House claimed was completely annihilated in the summer of last year. This week, his top negotiator, Steve Witkoff, claimed once again that the Iranian government could be just a week away from developing the enriched nuclear material required for making a bomb. The demands cited by the Journal included the surrender of all Iranian enriched uranium to U.S. hands, zero enrichment capabilities for the foreseeable future, and the total destruction of the three Iranian nuclear development sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. Donald Trumps team of negotiators includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (AP) In exchange, the U.S. is promising future sanctions relief if Iran remains compliant with the deal. Negotiations are occurring under the looming pressure of the U.S. seemingly viewing them the last chance to stop U.S. military strikes against the country. Despite the Iranian team stressing that more talks would take place in Vienna next week, theres some signs that talks could break down before then. In particular, the reported disappointment of Witkoff and Kushner upon being presented with the Iranian offer, and a comment made by an Iranian official to an Al Jazeera reporter rejecting several of the U.S. demands out of hand. Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, predicted to The Independent that while the Iranian official claimed that Tehran would not accept permanent restrictions on enrichment or giving up enriched uranium, the heart of the issue remained the prospect of sanctions relief and the unwillingness of the Iranian side to trust members of the Trump administration who promise that loosening sanctions will ever occur if not done immediately. The problem is, the administration is not offering any real sanctions relief, and the Iranians need deep sanctions relief. Their only leverage for getting it is their nuclear program, so they're going to bargain very hard in order to make sure that they get the right level of sanctions relief for whatever parts of the program, they give up, said Parsi. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the negotiations for the Iranian side (Iranian Foreign Ministry) If we're offering them almost nothing, we're saying that, you know, a lot of it will come much later and there's zero trust between the two sides, then that's just not going to work. The Iranians believe, frankly, that they are better off with a war than a deal like that, said Parsi. Why should they? There was a deal they were supposed to get sanctions relief and Trump himself, this President, not someone else, walked out of that deal. Trump could be inclined to give them that war. Separately on Thursday, The New York Times reported that the administration is privately eyeing two strategies for armed conflict with Iran, in the event that talks do fail to satisfy the White Houses desire to put a permanent pin in Tehrans nuclear ambitions. One involves limited strikes, in the vein of the attacks last summer, aimed at further disruption of Irans nuclear facilities. Another is a much wider operation aimed at targeting key facilities and officials with the intention of forcing the Ayatollah Khamenei from power altogether. But U.S. officials who spoke to the outlet on background said that despite the U.S.s large military buildup in the Mediterranean and Arabian seas, American forces are not prepared currently for any sustained operations lasting longer than about 10 days. Public support for U.S. military intervention in Iran is very low, which the administration recognizes. Even as nearly 50 percent of Americans in an AP-NORC poll published Thursday viewed Irans nuclear weapons program as a serious threat, a higher percentage thought it unlikely that the president would make the right decision on Iran in the days ahead. 49% of Americans opposed initiating strikes on Iran in another recent poll. Donald Trump, during his State of the Union, maintained that Irans nuclear weapons program was still a threat after previously saying that he could launch military strikes aimed at aiding Iranian protesters (AP) Since the beginning of his second term the president has been torn between two prevailing schools of foreign policy thought in the GOP the isolationism and non-interventionism of Steve Bannon and America First conservatives, and the more traditional neoconservative view that Americas might should be asserted at all times. On the Hill, the latter view still finds much purchase among both establishment Republicans and some centrist Democrats. On the issue of support for Iranian protesters, targeting Irans nuclear weapons development and even potentially ousting the government, Trump has found support from centrist members of the opposition party. Support for Iranian civilians whove protested the government and faced brutal crackdowns in return remains broadly popular in Congress. An advocacy group of Iranian-Americans called the Coalition of Young Iranians also wrote to the White House this week and urged the president to impose further consequences on Tehran for the most recent crackdowns, which they say included security forces raiding hospitals and clinics to detain wounded protesters and preventing other clinics from treating those injured, sometimes severely, in the deadly clashes between police and protesters. "Mr. President, we urge you to direct the Departments of the Treasury and State to designate the officials and entities responsible for raiding hospitals and clinics, arresting patients and protesters from medical wards, intimidating or detaining clinicians for providing care, misusing ambulances for security operations, and coercing healthcare personnel to falsify medical records or disclose confidential patient data, read the letter, which was signed by members of the CYI Medical Committee including Dr. Azadeh Sami, a Virginia-based pediatrician and public health specialist. That bipartisan dynamic was evident this week as a handful of Democrats announced opposition to War Powers resolutions being sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine in the Senate and Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna in the House that aim to restrict the presidents ability to launch strikes on Iran. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have become cross-party allies in the House and are now seeking to block the Trump administrations potential war with Iran (Getty) The White House did not respond to a request for comment Thursday on whether the president believed he had legal authority to carry out such a strike. Parsi, in his interview, noted that one thing was clear as the White House made destruction of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan its top priority on the list of demands: The White Houses claim of having obliterated the Iranian nuclear weapons program and setting it back by years came in direct contradiction to its importance. It's admission that at the end of the day, the 60% [enriched] uranium that is there has not been verified as being destroyed. But if you destroy the sites, you essentially destroy or remove the 60% enriched uranium. And that is something that is an outstanding issue. It disproves the idea of obliteration, obviously, he said. But they're doing it in a way in which they don't have to admit that. Normal life in Cuba is grinding to a halt because of the loss of oil from Venezuela and Trumps sanctions threats to other potential suppliers - Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images The United States is discussing a friendly takeover of Cuba, Donald Trump has said. The US president said Washington was pursuing an amicable form of regime change in Havana, as sanctions continue to cripple the communist-run island. Tensions between the US and Cuba have risen since Mr Trump imposed an oil siege on the island following the capture of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, a key ally and oil supplier of Cuba, in January. He has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that exports oil to Cuba. Havana has so far resisted the United States efforts at regime change. But the presidents ban on oil reaching the island means Cuba is now facing economic ruin, forcing it to negotiate with the White House. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Trump said Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, was dealing with the proposal at a very high level. Miguel Diaz-Canel, the president of Cuba, says his country is willing to engage in dialogue with the US - Handout/Cuba TV/AFP via Getty Images The Cuban government is talking with us, and theyre in a big deal of trouble, he said. They have no money. They have nothing right now, but theyre talking with us, and maybe well have a friendly takeover of Cuba. The shortage of fuel has caused daily life on the island to grind to a halt, with rubbish piling up on the streets as bin lorries are unable to operate at full capacity. Soldiers tackle the rubbish piling up on the streets of Havana as bin lorries are unable to operate normally - Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo The US has had an oil embargo on Cuba since 1960. It was briefly eased under Barack Obama, but was restored when Mr Trump returned to the White House last year. The Trump administration views turning Cuba away from communist rule as a key part of its effort to reshape the Western hemisphere and rid Americas backyard of foreign influence. Mr Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has played a key role in the Trump administrations efforts to block oil shipments to the island, which has caused a humanitarian crisis there. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and the son of Cuban immigrants to the US, is playing a key role in negotiations - Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters On Wednesday, the secretary of state attended a closed-door meeting of Caricom, the Caribbean group that comprises 15 member states and five associated members. He told those present to cooperate with the US to tackle international crime and drug trafficking through the region. We recognise that many of these groups are buying weaponry from the United States, and we are committed and continue to work very hard with our law enforcement agencies to shut that down, he said. On Thursday, Cuban border guard troops opened fire on a US-registered speedboat, killing four of the 10 people on board. Havana said the people on the boat, which was stolen from Florida, were anti-government Cubans carrying Molotov cocktails and other weapons, and were trying to infiltrate Cuban waters for the purposes of terrorism. Mr Rubio said the US would investigate the incident and respond accordingly. John Healey has ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Jeffrey Epstein used Royal Air Force (RAF) bases to traffic women and girls into the UK. The defence secretary has told officials to search more than two decades of Ministry of Defence (MoD) records and give police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases, during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and former UK ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, were arrested and released on bail earlier this month over alleged links with the convicted sex offender. John Healey has ordered a review of military files related to Jeffrey Epsteins travel in the UK (Reuters) A MoD spokesperson said: The defence secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein's crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities. The MoD will support any civilian police investigations. Our thoughts are with all the victims of Epsteins vile crimes. It is reportedly not unusual for spare capacity at RAF airfields to be used for private jets, with private customers charged fees which cover all costs. Such use is only approved when it does not interfere with the security or smooth running of the airfield. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday dodged calls for a public inquiry into Epstein and his possible use of British airports, saying any police investigations should take their course first. Britain pulled its staff out of Iran on Friday amid mounting fears that the US is preparing imminent strikes. The foreign office said its ability to support British nationals was now extremely limited, as rising tensions over a stalled nuclear deal threatened to throw the region back into all-out conflict. Donald Trump has said he is not happy with how negotiations have gone with Iran, with more talks expected on Tehrans nuclear programme. Speaking to reporters on his way to Texas on Friday, Trump said: "I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We're talking later. We'll have some additional talks today." Trump briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, underlining that while he preferred a diplomatic solution, he would not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Donald Trump says diplomacy remains the preferred outcome, but refuses to rule out strikes if Iran does not make a deal (Getty) It comes as an International Atomic Energy Agency report said Iran stored highly enriched uranium at underground sites, close to weapons grade. Donald Trumps stated deadline for Iran to make a deal is on course to expire as soon as Sunday, with insiders warning that negotiators remain far apart on key issues as Washington refuses to rule out an attack. Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran, Britains foreign ministry said, adding that the embassy would continue to operate remotely. It also advised against all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine and said some diplomatic staff and their families had been moved from Tel Aviv to elsewhere in Israel. Earlier on Friday, the United States allowed non-essential government staff and family members to leave Israel due to looming safety risks, while French citizens in Israel were told to identify bomb shelters. The USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea (US Centcom) Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, told staff in an email that those wishing to leave should do so TODAY, according to The New York Times. There is no need to panic, Mr Huckabee said. But for those desiring to leave, its important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later. The US state department said secretary of state Marco Rubio would travel to Israel on Monday to discuss the burgeoning crisis and other regional priorities. The French foreign ministry also advised nationals not to travel to Israel, Jerusalem or the West Bank in light of the worsening security situation in Iran. French citizens were told to be vigilant, prudent and identify shelters. Separately, the Chinese embassy in Israel told its citizens to prepare themselves for an emergency, citing rising security risks in the Middle East, hours after telling nationals in Iran to evacuate as soon as possible. An Iranian gunboat fires a missile during drills earlier in February (Sepha News) While the Trump administration says it wants a diplomatic outcome to the crisis, it has refused to rule out limited strikes on Iran if a deal cannot be agreed. Such an attack could trigger retaliation against Israel, which has already been hit by Iranian missiles in the past year. Washingtons growing military presence in the Middle East was firmed up on Friday as the USS Gerald R Ford, the worlds largest warship, arrived off the coast of Israel, where the US has already reportedly sent a dozen F22 fighter jets. A dozen warships were also operating in the northern Arabian Sea, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Diplomats desperately worked to allay rising tensions with talks in Geneva earlier this week, but US officials told The Wall Street Journal that negotiations had failed to yield meaningful progress. People familiar with the talks said Iran had objected to the idea of ending enrichment, dismantling its nuclear facilities, and imposing permanent restrictions on its programme issues central to the dispute. The UN nuclear watchdog separately issued a confidential report on Friday, urging Iran to let it inspect all its nuclear sites, which it said it had not seen since the US bombed them last year. The International Atomic Energy Agency claimed that Iran had built a new enrichment plant at Isfahan and was stockpiling near-bomb-grade uranium there. A man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after a statue of Winston Churchill was defaced overnight. The monument in Parliament Square was covered with red paint and slogans reading Zionist war criminal. Phrases including stop the genocide now, globalise the intifada, and free Palestine were also sprayed onto the bronze statue. The words groetjes uit den Haag, which translate to greetings from The Hague in Dutch, were also scrawled on the monument. Cleaners were seen washing away the paint this morning, and the statue has been cordoned off from public access. A Met Police spokesperson said: Shortly after 04:00hrs on Friday, 27 February a man was seen spraying graffiti on the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. The first officers were on the scene within two minutes. The man who is 38 was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. He remains in custody. The force later said he had been further arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act. Dutch group Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the action on Friday morning, posting a video on its Instagram account appearing to show a man defacing the statue. The group defines itself as "family and friends" of the Palestine Action activists who were charged over a break-in at one of Israel-based defence firm Elbit's UK sites in 2024. The statue on Friday morning (David Hughes/PA Wire) Last December both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced anyone chanting the controversial slogan "globalise the intifada" would face arrest. The decision by the two police forces came in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, and the terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2. Downing Street called the vandalism of the statue a disgrace and completely abhorrent. A Number 10 spokesman said:"Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account. "We're glad the police have made an arrest." The defacement has also sparked outrage online, with people calling it awful and disgusting. No other western leader has done more for democracy than Sir Winston Churchill, including this Country. Absolutely shocking, plus its not the first or will be the last time, one person wrote. The former prime minister's statue has been vandalised several times in the past, including during protests. It was scrawled with graffiti accusing Sir Winston of being a racist in June 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US. Later that year, in October, an Extinction Rebellion activist was ordered to pay more than 1,500 after defacing the statue by painting "racist" on its plinth during a climate protest. The 12ft-tall monument, created by Ivor Roberts-Jones, was unveiled in 1973 by the former prime minister's wife Lady Clementine Churchill. It is one of 12 statues on or around Parliament Square, most of well-known statesmen such as Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. Venezuela's interim leader on Thursday asked US President Donald Trump to end punitive sanctions and other measures aimed at the South American country, calling the two nations "friends" following the US capture and ouster of Nicolas Maduro. In December, Trump ordered a "blockade" of sanctioned oil vessels heading to and from Venezuela. A raft of other sanctions has been applied to individuals and state entities in Caracas. Then on January 3, US special forces detained Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a daring raid, bringing them to the United States to stand trial on criminal charges. "Let the blockade and sanctions against Venezuela end now," interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said in a speech on state television. "President Trump, as friends, as partners, we are opening a new agenda of cooperation with the United States." Read moreVenezuela begins prisoner releases as Rodriguez promises return for exiles Since Maduro was removed from power, Rodriguez his onetime vice president has worked closely with the United States, and passed an amnesty law to help accelerate the thaw in Venezuela's ties with the broader West. She has received the new US chief of mission in Caracas, the head of the CIA and the chief of the US military command responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean. The US Treasury has eased a seven-year-old oil embargo on Venezuela, as part of Washington's bid to boost oil production in the country with the world's largest proven reserves of crude. In recent weeks, it has issued licenses allowing a handful of multinationals to operate in Venezuela under certain conditions. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump said the United States had received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, "our new friend and partner". Under pressure from Washington, Rodriguez pushed through a major reform of the country's hydrocarbon laws, opening up the sector to private and foreign investment. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Victims facing inhumane delays for justice as criminal cases take four years to go to trial Dozens of criminal trials will not take place for another four years, damning new figures reveal, as crime victims face inhumane delays for justice under Britains broken courts system. Spiralling backlogs mean a shocking 29 cases including violent crimes and drug offences have been scheduled to start as far away as 2030, with victims left waiting at least four years to have their day in court. In total, more than 2,600 Crown Court trials are not due to be heard until 2028, including 206 rape trials. A further 625 trials will not begin until 2029, including 14 for sexual offences four of which are for alleged rape. The Ministry of Justice figures, obtained via a freedom of information request, lay bare the full scale of the UKs ailing justice system, with critics pinning the blame on decades of underfunding. Britain's former top judge, Lord John Thomas, told The Independent the delays "simply deny justice". Victims commissioner Claire Waxman described the waits for victims as inhumane, adding there is evidence of court delays causing marriages to break down, people to lose their jobs or triggering the onset of stress-induced illness. The figures come as justice secretary David Lammy ploughs ahead with controversial plans to curb jury trials, despite fierce opposition from parts of the legal sector who argue the reforms go too far and will not tackle the delays. Ministers introduced legislation to parliament on Wednesday to overhaul the courts system to bring down the backlog of nearly 80,000 crown court cases by removing the right to jury trial for cases with a likely sentence of less than three years. The MoJ has warned the backlog could reach more than 200,000 by 2035, with justice minister Sarah Sackman KC admitting this week that the government needs to do nothing short of throwing the kitchen sink at the system in order to cut the backlog. She admitted things will get worse before they get better. Thousands of trials will not begin until 2028, figures show (PA) Unlimited court sitting days will also be funded and so-called Blitz courts set up to speed up the justice system, along with increased use of AI in courts. Responding to the latest data, Ms Waxman said the delays are not shocking or surprising. What concerns me is those that are listed as far away as 2028 and 29 I am not confident that they will start on those actual dates, she added. Behind every statistic and number is a victim who has experienced crime and will be suffering from trauma and maybe physical injuries and will have to have their life on hold for a number of years before they can get into court and access any type of justice and closure and start their recovery. Victims dont start their recovery until the justice system is complete. The four rape cases listed to come to trial in 2029 are likely to have already been in the system for at least a year or possibly two, meaning it might be at least five years before they get to court, Ms Waxman added. Although unlimited court sitting days will help, she insists it is not a silver bullet as too many cases are still adjourned on the day of trial. This is often due to logistics, like defendants in custody not being produced to court on time. The controversial government reforms to jury trials follow two reports on the crisis from Sir Brian Leveson, a former senior judge. Lord Thomas called for officials to tackle the backlog by implementing the changes from Sir Brians second report which made 135 recommendations to improve court efficiency before making any changes to jury trials. Lord Thomas, a crossbench peer who served as head of the judiciary as lord chief justice from 2013 to 2017, said: "These delays simply deny justice and are unacceptable. They ought to be tackled immediately. "And only then if they don't work should we implement changes to jury trials." He also believes any trials without juries should be heard by a judge and two magistrates, rather than by a judge alone. Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, said the figures showed that trial dates for sexual offences cases and rape cases are too far in the future but not as far back as the impression sometimes given. Substantial delays are at the pre-court stage, she said. Claire Waxman says delays are inhumane for victims of crime (BBC Newsnight) To be serious about tackling delays means that there must be a focus on the delays incurred before the case gets to court. The Bar Council has said it fundamentally disagrees with proposals to limit the right to a trial by jury, adding there is little evidence to show it will address the courts crisis. Juries have not caused this crisis, and we have seen no evidence which validates curtailing them, Ms Brimelaw said in a statement on Wednesday. That is why we fundamentally disagree with the restriction of jury trials. The objection is principled and pragmatic and the mantra of modernisation in relation to juries is a Trojan horse to hack at a deep-rooted constitutional principle. The Law Society has also slammed the move to restrict jury trials as wrong, arguing it goes too far and will grant single judges the power to determine guilt in life-changing cases. Responding to the latest figures, Law Society president Mark Evans said: These shocking figures are a consequence of decades of chronic underfunding of our justice system, which is a vital public service. The Leveson report highlights many measures that will help to address the crisis and confirms that UK government must provide sustained, substantial investment in all parts of the system. However, Ms Waxman cautioned parliamentarians against blocking the bill for blockings sake if they have not got another viable solution, adding: Then I would say they are preventing us getting on top of these wait lists, and they are potentially failing victims. David Lammy is ploughing ahead with plans to curb jury trials (PA) While it absolutely has to be scrutinised, as any bill does, I just hope that those scrutinising are doing it for the right reasons, she said. And if theyre saying justice needs juries and thats it, I think they need to open their mind a little bit more and accept that we have to modernise the criminal justice system. The 29 trials listed for 2030 include 12 for drug offences, four for offences of violence against the person, three for theft and three for possession of weapons. The 625 trials listed for 2029 include 14 for sexual offences, along with 133 for violence against the person and 190 drug offences. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: This government inherited a justice system in crisis. Only through these crucial reforms, the extra investment we will deliver, and our drive to increase efficiency in the system can we make sure brave victims and survivors of crime get the swifter justice they deserve. Combined, these measures will free up the space and time needed to prioritise the most serious cases including those that can and should have a jury trial. Why is Pakistan bombing Afghanistan and what will happen next? Pakistan has announced it is now in an open war with the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan as it carried out major airstrikes on Afghan cities overnight, escalating months of simmering border tensions between the Islamic neighbours. The air and ground strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted Taliban military posts, headquarters and ammunition depots in multiple sectors along the border, just hours after the Taliban launched an air attack on Pakistans border forces. Both sides have reported heavy losses in the fighting, with Pakistan saying it has killed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200, with 27 posts destroyed and nine captured, following months of tit-for-tat clashes. The Talibans chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized, while eight Taliban fighters were killed, 11 wounded and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province. Pakistani defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, confirmed the aerial raid and said: Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you [Afghanistan]. The Taliban government and Pakistan have been engaged in a diplomatic and military confrontation for months now, despite being in a ceasefire for several months. The tensions worsened over the weekend after Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, in which 13 civilians were killed, according to the UN data. Earlier, border clashes between the two countries killed dozens of soldiers in October until negotiations facilitated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia halted the hostilities and a fragile ceasefire was put in place. Pakistans military launched air raids inside Afghanistan in the early hours on 22 February, targeting what officials described as camps and hideouts linked to armed groups blamed for a recent wave of attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad. Pakistans ministry of information and broadcasting said the armed forces carried out intelligence-based, selective operations against seven sites associated with the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and its affiliates. The ministry added that the Isis affiliate in Khorasan province, which claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the capital earlier this month, was also targeted. Afghanistans ministry of defence condemned the strikes, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in the eastern border provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, causing dozens of deaths and injuries, including among women and children. Calling the raids a violation of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness, the Afghan defence ministry said it would respond. We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response, it said. The strikes risk undermining a tenuous ceasefire between the South Asian neighbours, brokered after deadly border clashes in October last year left dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected fighters dead. Pakistan said it has repeatedly called on Afghanistans Taliban authorities to curb armed groups operating from Afghan soil, but that Kabul has failed to undertake any substantive action. Residents gather at the site of Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, 22 February 2026 (Reuters) While asserting that Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, the statement stressed that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remains its foremost priority. In October, the two countries declared a ceasefire after several days of intense border fighting that left dozens dead on both sides and sharply escalated regional tensions. What sparked the latest clashes? Pakistans cross-border strikes followed a string of high-profile attacks at home. Just hours earlier, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel. Earlier, last week, another suicide attacker, supported by gunmen, drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the wall of a security post in nearby Bajaur. The assault killed 11 soldiers and a child. Officials later identified the bomber as an Afghan national. On 6 February, a suicide attacker set off explosives during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabads Tarlai Kalan neighbourhood, leaving at least 31 worshippers dead and 170 injured. Residents gather at the site of Pakistani airstrikes in the Bihsud district (Reuters) The Islamic State Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the Islamabad bombing. In Islamabad, security analyst Abdullah Khan suggested that the Pakistani strikes indicate that Qatari, Turkish, and even Saudi-led mediations have failed to resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. These strikes are likely to further escalate the situation, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Is Pakistan employing a new deterrence framework? Last year in October, analysts noted that Pakistan was finding it increasingly hard to overlook the rising fatalities caused by attacks that it claims are launched from Afghan soil. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, more than 2,400 members of Pakistans security forces had been killed in the first nine months of 2025 alone, putting the country on track for its deadliest year in a decade. Attacks had surged since the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan a few years ago. Khans administration had worked with the Taliban to negotiate a TTP ceasefire. While that truce collapsed during his tenure, the frequency of assaults remained comparatively lower. The Pakistan authorities said they targeted camps and hideouts in their strikes last week (AFP/Getty) Relations worsened further as Islamabad increasingly carried out airstrikes within Afghan territory, targeting locations it said were used by TTP fighters. Analysts point to the uptick in TTP attacks on Pakistani forces as the primary trigger for the recent border clashes. They believed that Islamabad was attempting to establish a new deterrence framework, signalling that any assault perceived to originate from Afghanistan, whether carried out by the TTP or other armed groups, will trigger consequences for Kabul. Any attack which emanates from Afghanistan will be responded [to] with [the] same ferocity on their territory, with Pakistan implying that [the] Afghan Taliban are facilitating such attacks in Pakistan, and thus are legitimate targets, Abdul Basit, a scholar at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera, at the time. Pakistans border regions have long been hotspots of conflict, dating back to 1979 when the country became a frontline state in the US-backed war against the then Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Pakistan said it launched multiple airstrikes last Sunday targeting militants in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the government reported children were among dozens of people killed and wounded (AFP/Getty) According to the defence analyst Abdullah Khan, who is also the managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the areas instability worsened after the 9/11 attacks. He told the Associated Press in October last year: After the September 11 attacks, Pakistans tribal belt descended into chaos as the Afghan Taliban, al-Qaeda and other groups operated from both sides of the border for attacks on Nato forces and Pakistani security forces. Tensions between the two neighbours are further compounded by Pakistans deportation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. Since the decades of conflict began, at least 3 million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, creating additional friction between the two neighbours. How have international leaders responded? In October, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes drew concern from regional powers, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to prevent escalation. Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all called for diplomacy to maintain regional stability and security. India did not comment, though Pakistan is wary of New Delhis engagement with the Taliban, some observers note. Saudi Arabias ministry of foreign affairs said in October: The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region. Afghan men search for victims after an overnight Pakistani airstrike hit a residential area in the Girdi Kas village of Bihsud district, Nangarhar province on 22 February 22 2026 (AFP/Getty) The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples, it added. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said at the time: Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint, and added that stability between the two countries contributes to regional stability. Qatars ministry of foreign affairs also urged both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability. China also called for safeguarding its citizens and investments, Russia urged both sides to exercise restraint, and US president Donald Trump suggested he could step in to help resolve the conflict. How is India involved? In October, the clashes coincided with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqis first visit to India since the group returned to power. Kabul-based analyst Ibraheem Bahiss of the International Crisis Group suggested that Muttaqis high-profile reception in India was probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan Army to escalate in the major way that we saw. A man inspects a damaged car at the site of a cross-border Pakistani army strike in the Behsud district of Nangarh (AP) Following the visit, The Hindu reported that Pakistan summoned the Afghan ambassador to express its strong reservations regarding the India-Afghanistan joint statement, in which both countries unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries. From the mid-1990s until recent years, India had regarded the Taliban as a proxy for Pakistans intelligence services, holding the group and its allies responsible for deadly assaults on Indian diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. However, following the Talibans return to power and amid growing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, India has pursued a series of diplomatic engagements with the new Afghan leadership, culminating in Mr Muttaqis visit. Pakistani media has been furious over Muttaqis visit to India, Afghan content creator Pathan Bhai said in a video, according to India Today. What were the official responses to the clashes? Afghanistans defence ministry denounced the attacks as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international law, stating that an appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry said it had summoned Pakistans ambassador over what it described as violations of Afghan airspace and the targeting of civilians, labelling the strikes a provocative act. What happens next? Although TTPs presence remains a key irritant for Pakistan, analysts believe the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes are unlikely to escalate into a larger conflict. Afghanistan lacks conventional military strength compared with Pakistan, and both sides appear focused on de-escalation at the moment. However, the border is expected to stay tense for the foreseeable future, as Pakistan has signalled it will continue taking action against militants it claims are crossing from Afghanistan to target its security forces. Pedestrians in New York City on 25 February. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images) For the millions of people across the United States who have spent the last month digging themselves out of above-average levels of snow and ice, this winter has felt especially long and harsh. But the typical winter is actually getting shorter in 80% of major US cities scrutinized by researchers, according to new data released by Climate Central, an independent climate science and communication group. Researchers found that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter today than they were from 1970 to 1997, as the climate crisis progresses. For the purposes of the study, analysts defined winter as the coldest 90 consecutive days of the year during the past period, 1970-1997, and then compared the frequency of winter-like temperatures during the most recent 28-year period, 1998-2025. Across the country, they found that winter-defining temperatures are arriving later and ending earlier than in the 20th century. Cities across the US south-east, north-east, upper midwest and south have experienced the largest average decrease in winter days, according to the research. Juneau and Anchorage in Alaska have seen winters shrink the most, by 62 and 49 days, respectively. Approximately 15% of the 295 cities analyzed saw winters lengthen, particularly along the California coast and in the Ohio valley. Ironically, the new data coincides with one of the most brutal winters in recent memory, including this weeks historic noreaster blizzard, which meteorologists have said is the strongest storm in a decade. More than 2ft (61cm) of snow was recorded in parts of the north-eastern US, with more than 3ft (91cm) falling in Rhode Island surpassing totals from the north-easts historic blizzard of 1978. A shorter winter doesnt mean no winter, Mathew Barlow, professor of climate science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, said on Friday. Another important piece of [research] is that we expect greater precipitation intensity as the climate warms. The storm caused power outages for hundreds of thousands of people and forced public officials to implement temporary travel bans in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware, among other states. Many climate change deniers have used the recent storms to try to prove that the planet is not heating, driven by human-caused emissions. In January, Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned and mocked established climate science, posted about the storms hitting the US in late January: Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING??? Related: Trump says the big US winter storm is proof of climate hoax heres why hes wrong However, Januarys storm was likely caused by the stretching of the polar vortex, a vast circular ribbon of planetary wind. Research published last year found that the stretching of the polar vortex in this way is contributing to extreme weather in the US and that global heating, counterintuitively, could be playing a role in accelerating this process. While speaking of Trumps ridiculous argument against global warming, Barlow said: If you wait for the cold day and you say: Oh, its cold and you ignore all the other warm days, thats not an honest attempt at assessing the data in any way, shape or form. Previous Guardian reporting acknowledged that a single winter storm in one region of one country tells us very little about longer-term, global climate trends. The world is not only undeniably heating up, but in countries like the US, winters are warming at a faster rate than other seasons. Even with evidence of the devastating impacts of global warming in plain sight, Trump has made dismantling environmental protections a key priority of his second administration. On 12 February, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked a core scientific determination, known as the endangerment finding, that gives the government the ability to regulate climate-heating pollution. Since 2009, this policy has allowed the EPA to limit heat-trapping pollution from vehicles, power plants and other industrial sources. More than a dozen health and environmental justice non-profits have sued the EPA over the move. Warmer, shorter winters have significant consequences for both humans and the environment, including reduced water supply, decreased summer crop yields and worsening allergy seasons. These are not just impacts that you see when you look out the window or affect if you are able to drive into work, Barlow said. These are also pretty substantial changes to ecosystems, the health of our natural community and our water resources. Shorter winters are also creating challenges for local economies. The multibillion-dollar winter recreation industry faces challenges from rising temperatures and reduced snow and ice cover. In certain parts of Colorado, ski resort visits are down 20% this year amid severe snow drought. Its important to keep in mind that extreme events, even extreme cold events, are still going to occur, even if theyre occurring less frequently, said Barlow. As winter gets warmer, we sort of lose the practice and lose the resources in place to deal with these extreme events. When we do still get substantial snow, there are just fewer people to plow. Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron form an unlikely couple in Long Shot. (TCD/Prod.DB, TCD/Prod.DB) Brits waste hundreds of hours every year scrolling through streaming services looking for something to watch. Each Friday, Yahoo wants to save you a scroll by recommending one movie around two hours long to watch over the coming week. Here's our one to watch for this week. Long Shot is a delightful Hollywood romcom which, while set in the political sphere, provides you with the tools to forget about the current political climate on both sides of the Atlantic for a few hours other than a few rather savage swipes at the state of things. Fortunately, UK audiences can watch the film for free on BBC iPlayer right now. What is Long Shot? The film has a novel romcom premise. Rogen's character, Fred, is a journalist who quits his job in a fit of fury when his newspaper is bought by a shady media mogul (Andy Serkis under heavy prosthetics). At a charity fundraiser, he bumps into Charlotte (Theron) a high-flying politician who, once upon a time, was the babysitter Fred was besotted by. She hires him as a speechwriter, and romantic sparks begin to fly. Rogen had been attached to the project for several years and had worked with screenwriter Dan Sterling on the controversial comedy The Interview. The director, meanwhile, was Jonathan Levine a Rogen collaborator on both the heartfelt comedy 50/50 and festive stoner movie The Night Before. The team brought in Liz Hannah who received a Golden Globe nomination for writing The Post to punch up the political side of the story and lend it authenticity. Need to know Movie: Long Shot (2019) Runtime: 113m Actors: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O'Shea Jackson Jr, Andy Serkis, Bob Odenkirk Genre: Comedy Similar to: When Harry Met Sally, The American President, Knocked Up Streaming service:BBC iPlayer Ratings:82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 3.2/5 on Letterboxd, 6.8/10 on IMDb In interviews to promote the movie, the creative team made a lot of comparisons to classic romantic comedies like Pretty Woman and When Harry Met Sally. They were also keen to emphasise its rarity in Hollywood as an original mid-budget movie for adults. As Rogen told the LA Times: I think its exactly the kind of movie we should be making in Hollywood, but its definitely the type of movie that people say doesnt get made a lot and it for sure gets made less than it used to." Levine told that same publication that the couple's apparently incongruous nature Theron's glamorous politician and Rogen's schlubby reporter gave the movie its considerable charm. He said: "It almost felt like a throwback to an old Hollywood kind of thing where you get these two different romantic personas and the strange juxtaposition of the two of them is actually what makes the thing work. The secret power of the movie is the fact that they are different." Why we love it Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron's comic chemistry is in full effect in Long Shot. (BFA) It feels as if Long Shot comes from a dying breed of romcoms. There's nothing meta or subversive about its storytelling, and it relies entirely on the chemistry between its stars. Fortunately, Rogen and Theron play off each other like they were born to do so. They both seem completely right for their individual roles, but they're baffling choices to exist within the same story and that's the genius of the casting. You can effectively tick off the standard beats of the romcom formula as you go along there's even a drug-taking sequence to satisfy the Rogen devotees but the strict adherence to genre tropes isn't a drawback here. In fact, it's refreshing to see a movie that lets its actors and its sharply written script take centre stage. Inevitably, given the fact that it takes place in the corridors of power, Long Shot isn't a completely apolitical endeavour. Made during the first Donald Trump presidency and with Bob Odenkirk playing a former TV star turning POTUS it contains clear swipes at the current world. Serkis's devilish character, meanwhile, has more than a touch of Rupert Murdoch about him. O'Shea Jackson Jr. plays the best pal of Seth Rogen's character in Long Shot. (TCD/Prod.DB, TCD/Prod.DB) Sterling and Hannah's script strikes an excellent balance between romance, politics, and straightforward, broad comedy. The language and content are very adult, though. It was rated 15 by the BBFC, who warned the film contains "strong language, sex references, sex, drug misuse". The differing skill sets of the two stars prove helpful for this as well, with Theron showing she's much better at bringing the laughs than some of her more acclaimed roles over the years might suggest. Rogen, meanwhile, has always had dramatic chops but definitely shines here in the serious segments. As joyous as it is from start to finish, the film is pure fantasy in just about every way, from the central romance to the eventual triumph of morality in politics. In fact, that last point might be the film's biggest fiction of all. Damn, it feels good though. Long Shot is now streaming in the UK via BBC iPlayer. An aerial view of new homes and levelled plots in Altadena, California, a neighbourhood destroyed by the Eaton fire in 2025. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty (Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty) Im worried about insurance. Some homes are becoming uninsurable due to the rapidly escalating impacts of the climate crisis. And that should worry you too, even if you think your home is safe enough. Lack of insurance doesnt just mean the foundation of a homeowners security can be wiped out in an instant by a flood, wildfire or hurricane. Insurance is also the invisible backbone of modern economies: without its support, loans fail and the financial system crumbles. That means that insurance is now one of the most vital fronts in the battle with global heating. As Felicity Alvey, of the University of Cambridges Institute for Sustainability Leadership, put it to me: Were seeing more frequent, more severe extreme weather events and that inevitably affects claims and affects pricing it cant not. And this is happening all over the globe. More, after this weeks most important reads. Essential reads In focus Accelerating climate risks are already driving up insurance premiums across the US, especially in the fiery west and hurricane-prone south-east. Commercial insurers are pulling out, leaving the state-backed insurers of last resort carrying the can, such as California Fair Plan (pdf), which has seen its exposure soar by 230% to $724bn since 2022. In Spain and Portugal, both hammered by extraordinary rains since the start of the year, governments have had to provide billions of euros in aid. The western UK has also been drenched since the new year: the poor souls of one Cornish village have had 50 straight days of rain. This has prompted warnings of the emergence of mortgage prisoners, people who cannot sell because their homes are too flood-prone to insure, and fears of banks facing rising defaults. And the climate crisis is just getting started. Scientists this week estimated that the number of people exposed to flood risk will rise by 25% on Chinas Pearl River delta by 2035, even if carbon emissions start to be cut: that region, which includes Hong Kong, is home to 86 million people. So, an insurance crisis is a crisis for both individuals and society. Insurance protects the things that people have worked incredibly hard for, Alvey told me. It provides financial stability in moments of shock that mean that people can carry on with their lives. At the biggest scale, one top insurer has warned that the climate crisis is on track to destroy capitalism itself, with the vast cost of extreme weather impacts leaving the financial sector unable to operate. Entire regions are becoming uninsurable, said Gunther Thallinger, an Allianz SE board member, last year. He is far from alone in his concern. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors, a group of regulators from across the globe, said in November: A reduction in the insurability of assets linked to bank lending could lead to systemic risk and financial instability. Alvey says there is a risk of a domino effect: insurance fails, banks suffer, investors pull out and the state is left to pick up the pieces if it can. A telling example came in south Wales earlier this month, when a local authority was forced to spend millions of pounds buying out the residents of 16 terraced homes that could no longer be defended from flooding. Even if you escape injury from flooding, the trauma of seeing your home inundated with filthy water is profound and long-lasting. I have spoken to flood victims who for years feel panic every time it rains. So what can be done? One solution has been pioneered in the UK. The scheme, called Flood Re, is a government and industry partnership that uses a small levy on everyones premiums to keep them affordable for those in flood risk areas. Without this, those premiums would run to thousands of pounds a year, with the excesses in the tens of thousands. More than 600,000 homes have benefited since Flood Re started in 2016. Tracey Garrett of the National Flood Forum, says: It was a real-life life-saver for a lot of people, but were concerned now because Flood Re will end in 2039 and most mortgages already go way past 2039. The idea was that a combination of new flood defences and better flood protection in houses would mean that insurance for these homes would be affordable by then. But this isnt happening fast enough. Flood Res boss said last July that the UKs flood resilience had actually deteriorated, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes at risk of becoming uninsurable in 2039. Were storing up a massive problem for people in the future, says Garrett. (Building 44,000 new homes in flood risk areas of England from 2022-2024 clearly doesnt help.) Kelly Ostler-Coyle, Flood Res director of corporate affairs, says the next five to 10 years are crucial: Were working hard to help the UK live better with water building resilience and making sure recovery after floods is quicker and less disruptive. That includes promoting protection, such as self-closing air bricks to keep water out and putting electrics higher on walls. Whether its government, insurers, households, Flood Re, local councils, or water companies, weve all got a role in facing up to the realities of living with water. We should also not forget that many people in the world have never been able to afford insurance, even as the climate crisis increases the need for it. The Insurance Development Forums programmes helped provide financial protection to 4 million people in 2025, but theres a very long way to go. A final thought: insurers are pre-eminent experts in risk it is their core skill, honed over many decades. So when their warnings that the climate crisis could make cover for ordinary people unaffordable start coming to pass, it really is time to act. Read more: To read the complete version of this newsletter subscribe to receive Down to Earth in your inbox every Thursday. Following Labours defeat at the Gorton and Denton by-election, Angela Rayner called on Keir Starmer to be braver - Phil Noble Angela Rayner has urged Sir Keir Starmer to listen and reflect after the Green Party swept to victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election. The former deputy prime minister championed by Labours soft-Left as a future leadership contender called for Sir Keir to change direction and be braver. Sir Keir insisted he would not quit after the party lost what had been a stronghold seat and saw its vote share halved as it slipped to third place behind Reform UK. In a social media post, Ms Rayner described the result as a wake-up call, while some Labour MPs and union leaders told Sir Keir to go. This result must be a wake up call. It's time to really listen - and to reflect. Voters want the change that we promised - and they voted for. If we want to unrig the system, if we want to make the change we were sent into Government to make, we have to be braver. A labour Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) February 27, 2026 Hannah Spencer became the Green Partys fifth MP, and its first in the north of England, on a 24.6 per cent swing to the Greens from Labour. In a letter to Labour MPs, the Prime Minister said the Green Party was extreme and posed a threat to Britain. He claimed its vote had been bolstered by supporters of George Galloways Workers Party, which did not field a candidate. Sir Keir said the party was no longer made up of harmless environmentalists, and promoted extreme policies like legalising all drugs and pulling out of Nato. Ministers also accused the Green Party of manipulating Gortons Muslim vote after it published leaflets in Urdu urging residents to punish Labour for Gaza. Hannah Spencer and Green Party leader Zack Polanski after her victory - Ryan Jenkinson The tight three-way race between the Greens, Labour and Reform was marred by claims of dirty tricks and allegations of high levels of cheating. Police are investigating concerningly high levels of family voting, an illegal practice that can involve husbands telling their wives how to vote. Democracy Volunteers, an election observer accredited to the Electoral Commission, attended 22 of the 45 polling stations and witnessed family voting in 15 of them. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, said allegations of family voting raised serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas and called the result a victory for sectarian politics and cheating. Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was investigating claims of cheating after receiving a complaint from Mr Farage. A spokesman said: We are in the process of reviewing this report, and will provide a further update in due course. Labours Muslim Network said claims of sectarianism were racist, and urged ministers to recognise when we have failed a community, when we have let Muslims down, rather than blaming the electorate for our own failings/ Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said: Labour created the monster of harvesting Muslim community bloc votes, and yesterday that monster came back to bite them. Labours defeat will fuel calls from within the Labour party for a radical change in direction. However, some ministers warned against a lurch to the Left, saying a socialist manifesto was not what people voted for at the 2024 general election. Jon Trickett, a Left-wing backbencher, urged Sir Keir to consider his position in light of the result, arguing: Quite a lot of time, his name does come up when youre speaking to voters. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, one of the Labour-affiliated unions, said the Prime Minister should resign and allow the party to pursue a more Left-wing agenda. Andy McDonald, a former Labour frontbencher, said any minister defending the result was being delusional, adding: Moving to the Left is our only option. The result shows how Labour has haemorrhaged votes to the populist Left and Right since its landslide general election victory. Ms Rayner with Andy Burnham, who was blocked from running for Labour in the by-election and candidate Angeliki Stogia, who finished third behind Reform UK Sir Keirs personal unpopularity, his stance on Gaza and his decision to block Andy Burnham, Labours popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, from standing have all been blamed for the loss of a former stronghold. Mainstream, a Labour faction that supports Mr Burnham, said the avoidable loss would not have happened had Sir Keirs allies not blocked the one candidate who could have won it for us. MPs and many senior Labour insiders expect that Sir Keir will face a leadership challenge after Mays local elections, when the party is expected to face more losses on English councils and in devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. Research from Electoral Calculus for The Telegraph revealed that if the Gorton result was replicated in a general election, all Cabinet ministers bar one Douglas Alexander, the Scotland Secretary would lose their seats. Anas Sarwar, Scotlands Labour leader who this month urged Sir Keir to quit told Labours Scottish conference on Friday that he understood peoples anger and frustration but promised new energy, new ideas and new leadership for Scotland. In her victory speech, Ms Spencer criticised politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society. She claimed that the country was being bled dry by billionaires and vowed to stand up for white working-class and Muslim constituents. People in their thousands told me on the doorsteps and at the ballot box that what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on, that we are sick of our hard work making other people rich, Ms Spencer said. Matthew Goodwin, the Reform candidate, claimed he did not win because a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives came together to dominate the constituency. Warning of a dangerous Muslim sectarianism, he said: We are losing our country. We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get. A diver examines a wooden chest from the wreck of the HMS Northumberland - Michael Pitts/History Hit/Historic England Police and the Coastguard are being armed with maps to catch treasure hunters pillaging precious shipwrecks beneath British waters. Charts showing the location of sunken ships and other historic maritime sites will be issued to the Coastguard, police and Border Force officials to make it easier to foil suspicious activity at sea. The maps are part of a crime-fighting manual compiled by Historic England in partnership with the University of Plymouths school of law, humanities and social sciences. It contains details of what powers law enforcement officials have to safeguard maritime heritage and what steps they can take to enforce protection laws. Heritage chiefs say the manual will enable a crackdown on criminals targeting wrecks, sea graves and archaeological ruins for valuable remains. A black market in such remains threatens Britains maritime heritage. In 2017, two shipwreck divers were jailed after stripping thousands of pounds worth of metal from First World War ship HMS Hermes, which was sunk by a German submarine in the Dover Strait in October 1914, causing the loss of 44 British lives. HMS Hermes was sunk by a German submarine in 1914 In another case, a commercial diver was jailed for two years in 2015 after stripping three cannon from a 17th-century shipwreck and selling them for 46,000. More than half of Englands 57 nationally important shipwrecks lie in remote locations not frequently visited or patrolled, resulting in offences often going unnoticed. Historic England said the new maps and guidance would enable increased vigilance at isolated sites. The new Common Enforcement Manual for Heritage Crime at Sea will also help coastguards and other officials to identify sites at risk from fishing techniques such as dredging, allowing them to intervene quickly when such activity is seen out at sea. In June last year, Devon and Cornwall police found fishing pots threatening damage to a 334-year-old shipwreck. The pots were discovered strewn across the site of HMS Coronation, which sank in 1691 with the loss of 600 sailors. Hefin Meara, Historic Englands maritime archaeologist, told The Telegraph: This guide will allow law enforcement agencies to keep an eye on all the maritime heritage sites on their patches and take swift action if they spot any suspicious activity. It gives them the expertise they need to protect our shared history. If youre a Border Force official or a police maritime unit and you see something that doesnt look quite right, you can check if its taking place at a sensitive site. It allows law enforcement to make decisions proactively on the ground to protect maritime heritage and crack down on pillaging at those sites. A copper cauldron preserved on the seabed in the wreckage of the 18th century HMS Northumberland, being inspected nine miles off the Kent coast - Pascoe Archaeology/Historic England Historic England said it was vital that heritage sites beneath the waters were protected and preserved for future generations, allowing research and even virtual exploration to continue. As well as the scrap value these items fetch, such as copper, there are unscrupulous collectors out there willing to buy our heritage on the black market, and it robs all of us, said Mr Meara. Sgt Julian Fry, the national lead for Operation Birdie the policing response to coastal, marine and maritime crime said: This is truly pioneering work, which brings together the knowledge, skills and experience of those involved with enforcement in the maritime heritage crime sector into one place for the first time. Nationally important shipwrecks in English waters are designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. They range from artefacts from the Bronze Age to the wrecks of wooden warships from the age of sail and rare submarines from the early 20th century. Russia Putin Kremlin issues chilling 9-word update on "escalating" Cuba tensions after 4 Americans were killed as Cuban troops killed four individuals and injured six others on a Florida-registered speedboat that had penetrated Cuban territorial waters and initiated gunfire against the troops. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS, "It is an aggressive US provocation, aimed at escalating the situation and triggering conflict." "We see that the situation around Cuba is escalating," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti. "The most important thing is the humanitarian component. Of course, the humanitarian issues of Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles," Peskov said. It comes after Putin's 'goddaughter' dropped a bombshell confession that could have horrible consequences. Cuba's authorities announced late Wednesday that the 10 individuals aboard a vessel that fired upon its military personnel were armed Cuban nationals residing in the U.S. who were attempting to enter the island to carry out terrorist acts. Cuban officials say that the people on the boat were U.S. nationals (Image: Getty) Cuba's authorities announced late Wednesday that the 10 individuals aboard a vessel that fired upon its military personnel were armed Cuban nationals residing in the U.S. who were attempting to enter the island to carry out terrorist acts. One Cuban officer was wounded in the onslaught. According to Cuba's government, most of the 10 occupants on the vessel "have a known history of criminal and violent activity." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed journalists earlier that he had been briefed on the situation and that the U.S. is currently collecting its own intelligence to establish whether the casualties were American citizens or permanent residents. Advertisement "We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now," Rubio said whilst at the airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where he was attending a regional summit with Caribbean leaders. DON'T MISS... Cuban officials named two of the boat's occupants as Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, who are sought by Cuban law enforcement "based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism." The government announced the arrest of Duniel Hernandez Santos, stating that he was "sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration, who at this time has confessed to his actions." The Associated Press could not immediately confirm this information independently. According to the Cuban government, they obtained passenger details from the suspects apprehended after the shootout. They identified seven out of the ten passengers, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. The government revealed that one of the four fatalities was Michel Ortega Casanova, whilst three others remain unidentified. "The investigation process continues until the facts are fully clarified," stated the ministry. It comes after Putin controversially welcomed a Russian who committed a sickening act against his own mother into his army. ]]> Joanelle Cobos, 38, has generously shared her insights with young people as a volunteer and now with adults as she looks for work. At 38, Joanelle Cobos has plenty of work experience. Sadly, a lot of it has involved layoffs. Four so far, most recently from Amazon in October. Her skills as a talented designer didnt save her (1). As she told Business Insider, what did save her was the $25,000 she stashed away in an emergency fund before she was let go (2). Cobos said knowing she had that financial cushion enough for six months of expenses softened the blow. I don't think this layoff affected me emotionally as much as it did some of my coworkers, Cobos told Business Insider. The idea of having so much free time ahead of me was exciting. With experience comes wisdom, as Cobos demonstrates. Just as shes shared that wisdom with young people as a Junior Achievement volunteer (3), shes sharing it with adults going through layoffs. Heres a look at just how tough the job market is right now and the kind of financial tactics that have worked for Cobos. Must Read The state of the job market in 2026 Cobos is an elder millennial, a demographic particularly hard-hit by layoffs. Last year, Business Insider reported on the growing number of large firms shedding middle managers many of whom happen to be older millennials like Cobos (4). In fact, there was a 400% increase in the number of elder millennial managers let go between 2022 and 2024 in a trend known as the Great Flattening. Of course, layoffs affect everyone at every age and in all sectors. Cobos was caught up in Amazons decision last fall to cut 14,000 jobs in order to boost spending on AI. Verizon followed in November, announcing it would eliminate 15,000 jobs. The bad news continued in January, as Meta announced it would lay off 10% of its workforce currently 78,000 employees. According to the AI-based startup Intellizense, there have already been 11 major layoffs this year from companies like Ericsson, Citi Group and Workday (5). This is happening even as many traditional indicators point to normalcy and growth a disconnect that is unparalleled, according to Jed Kolko, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. It's actually very hard to point to another moment in the last 25 years where you have the combination we see today, he told the BBC (6). Laura Ullrich, director of economic research at Indeed, told the New York Times the situation is due to economic uncertainty amid Trumps tariff policy and government cuts (7). Having a very low-hire, low-fire, low-quits environment in a period of economic growth can only last so long, she said. Advertisement But if youre in the pool of unemployed Americans right now, or worry about your job security, what can you do now? 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 to prepare financially for a potential layoff Today, it takes an average six months to find a job, and the share of people who report looking for work for at least that long has increased over 50% since 2023, according to Fast Company (8). Cobos was eligible for a fairly large severance package, so she felt justified in taking a few months off to clear her head. But now shes actively looking for work. While she projects she can make her savings and severance last about 10 to 12 months, she is feeling the pressure to find a new role soon in a market where success is a long road. As Cobos advises, its wise to try to prepare for a layoff before youre made redundant especially if youre a seasonal worker, self-employed or work in a volatile industry like Cobos. As Ramsey Solutions suggests, getting ready means building up at least six months worth of emergency savings (8). This cushion can buy time, flexibility, and dignity after a layoff keeping you from rushing into a new job that may pay less or be a step down the career ladder. To start, track your spending with a budgeting app and look for areas of spending you can cut to make a bigger contribution to your savings. The New York Times adds that taking out a personal loan or a low-interest credit card is a smart move while you still have a job, so that you can lock in a favorable rate and a larger line of credit, just in case you need debt to finance your period of unemployment. In the meantime, try to pay down as much high-interest debt as you can. You should also consider if there are any ways that you can make money part-time while you look for a new full-time role. Consider investing a little more in your side hustle, or looking for consulting work that can bridge the gap between your current job and your future one. Layoffs can impact your career in a number of ways, including feeling like your progression is stalled, disrupting your regular contributions to your retirement fund and plunging you into serious debt if youre unprepared. This disruption in financial stability can have lingering effects beyond the period where youre unemployed. Being prepared can make all the difference to how well you weather the emotional and financial storm. 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. Joanelle Cobos (1); Business Insider (2, 4); Junior of Achievement of Southern Nevada via YouTube (3); Intellizence (5); BBC (6); New York Times (7); Fast Company (8); Ramsey Solutions (9) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Elmina Aghayeva seen under a jacket being led away by agents A university student in New York was released from custody after federal immigration agents allegedly posing as local police arrested her. According to a local official, agents wore "fake badges" to disguise themselves as New York Police Department (NYPD) officers to access a student residence at Columbia University. Columbia student and online influencer Elmina Aghayeva was detained but later released after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a personal appeal to President Donald Trump, according to the mayor. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denies that agents misrepresented themselves as NYPD officers. The arrest on Thursday morning took place at a residence owned by Columbia University, according to university president Claire Shipman. "Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a 'missing person,'" Shipman wrote in an early letter to students. The university's statement did not identify the student arrested, but DHS confirmed that the raid targeted Aghayeva, who is originally from Azerbaijan and is accused of not having a valid US visa. "ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] arrested Elmina Aghayeva, an illegal alien from Azerbaijan, whose student visa was terminated in 2016 under the Obama administration for failing to attend classes," DHS said. The statement added that agents were let into the apartment by "the building manager and her roommate", and that she has no pending visa applications. "The Homeland Security Investigators verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks," the statement continued. "They did NOT and would not identify themselves as NYPD." The arrest took place as Mamdani was visiting the White House for a meeting with Trump, in part to discuss funding for housing. Advertisement Mamdani said the two men also talked about the arrest. After the meeting, Mamdani posted that he had just spoken on the phone with Trump, who "informed me that she will be released imminently". The BBC has contacted the White House for comment. Later Thursday, Aghayeva shared on Instagram that she was released from custody. "I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and okay," she wrote to her 107,000 followers. "I am in complete shock over what happened. I need a little bit of time to process everything." The arrest based on alleged deception sparked outrage among New York politicians. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal posted on X, accusing ICE agents who he said "impersonated NYPD with fake badges and a phony missing persons bulletin for a 5 year old girl". "They purposefully deceived campus housing/security to gain entry to the student's apartment," he wrote. New York Governor Kathy Hochul called on state lawmakers to pass a bill that would "ban ICE from entering sensitive locations like schools and dorms". The arrest comes amid a national federal crackdown on immigration, which has led to the detention of several university students. During the meeting at the White House, Mamdani gave Trump's team a list of the names of four other students who have been detained for participating in pro-Palestinian activism, according to the Associated Press, and asked for help with their legal cases. An illegal immigrant training to be a corrections officer in Pennsylvania was arrested on suspicion of rape and other sexual offenses, federal authorities said Friday. Ibrahim George Kallon, a citizen of Sierra Leone, obtained a visa that eventually expired in 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said. At the time of his Feb. 11 arrest by the Glenolden Police Department, Kallon was training to become a Delaware County Prison corrections officer, ICE said. Ice Nabs Iranian National With Rape, Sodomy Convictions After Virginia Democrats Move To Curb Cooperation Ibrahim George Kallon, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone whose visitor visa expired in 2024, was arrested while training to be a Delaware County Prison corrections officer, authorities said. (Fox News) Among the crimes Kallon was arrested for: involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, false imprisonment and indecent assault. "Delaware County Prison sent him back into the community despite an ICE immigration detainer, so ICE @EROPhiladelphia officers had to arrest him at-large," ICE wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Read On The Fox News App Schumer, Dems Again Block Dhs Funding, Force State Of The Union Showdown TSA officers, Coast Guard members and FEMA staff are working without pay as the DHS funding lapse drags on. "If the county wont protect its own residents, well do it for them," the post continued. Fox News Digital has reached out to the sheriff's office and district attorney's office. Click Here To Download The Fox News App In January, ICE detained Morris Brown, 45, a Liberian citizen accused of "masquerading as a U.S. citizen" and working as a Minnesota Department of Corrections prison guard, the Department of Homeland Security said at the time. Investigators looking into Brown also found evidence of marriage fraud prior instances where he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen in official documents, DHS said. Original article source: ICE arrests illegal immigrant training as Pennsylvania corrections officer suspected of rape Kansas has officially invalidated drivers licenses and birth certificates for transgender residents who changed their sex designation on government documents under a law that took effect Thursday. Roughly 1,700 individuals in Kansas will be required to obtain a new standard drivers license at a cost of $26, according to the House Substitute for Senate Bill 244. The states vehicle division informed residents that no grace period will be offered for those who need to update their IDs, according to The Kansas City Star. "Please note that the Legislature did not include a grace period for updating credentials. That means that once the law is officially enacted, your current credentials will be invalid immediately, and you may be subject to additional penalties if you are operating a vehicle without a valid credential," the Kansas Department of Revenues vehicle division said. Judge Orders Kansas To Stop Changing Trans People's Sex Listing On Their Driver's Licenses Trans rights activists take part in a protest April 20, 2024. (Getty Images) The law also establishes clear rules for shared private spaces in government buildings, restricting their use to a single sex. This applies to facilities such as restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms and shower rooms where individuals may be partially or fully undressed. Read On The Fox News App The bill further reinforced a strict definition of sex and gender as an "individuals biological sex, either male or female, at birth." Consequently, individuals or entities who violate the space restrictions may face significant civil penalties or potential criminal charges. Advertisement Kansas Judge Says Transgender Rights Not Violated By State's Refusal To Change Sex On Driver's Licenses A drone aerial view of downtown Wichita Individuals are also given the right to take legal action if someone of the opposite biological sex violates their privacy in these spaces. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, whose veto of the bill was ultimately overridden by the Republican-led Kansas Legislature Feb. 18, had previously called it a "poorly drafted bill with significant, far-reaching consequences." "It is nothing short of ridiculous that the Legislature is forcing the entire state, every city and town, every school district, every public university to spend taxpayer money on a manufactured problem," she said. "Kansans elected them to focus on education, job creation, housing and grocery costs." Supreme Court Conservatives Signal Support For State Transgender Sports Bans During Oral Arguments Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly previously tried to veto a bill that ultimately went into effect Feb. 26, 2026, restricting identification preferences for transgender state residents. Under the bill, entering a multiple-occupancy space designated for the opposite sex constitutes a violation. After a first warning, a second offense could result in a $1,000 civil penalty and a third or subsequent violation is treated as a class B misdemeanor. Anyone who believes their privacy has been violated in such a setting may bring a civil lawsuit against the violator and seek $1,000 in liquidated damages, according to the bill. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Government entities, such as state agencies or local districts, that fail to align with the new regulations are subject to steep fines. Entities face a $25,000 civil penalty for a first violation and $125,000 for each subsequent violation. The law provides specific exceptions for entering spaces designated for the opposite sex, including custodial or maintenance work, medical or emergency aid, law enforcement duties, assisting someone who needs help or children under 9 accompanied by a caregiver. Original article source: Kansas law invalidates transgender driver's licenses and birth certificates King Charles was greeted upon his arrival by a 21-gun salute King Charles III met military families when he visited a West Sussex barracks and had a go at handling an air defence missile launcher. Troops at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island, West Sussex, said he would pass a test to use the machinery. The King also looked through the aiming unit of the launcher, when fired, would take about four seconds to destroy a target. Lt Col Maarten Magee said it was a privilege to give King Charles a "flavour of what we are facing". He added that the King was interested in how the forces were dealing with modern threats. King Charles, Capt Gen of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, also known as the Gunners, arrived by helicopter and was greeted by a 21-gun salute. One mother who spoke to the King dubbed him "really friendly" The King spoke to military service personnel based in Saudi Arabia, Estonia, Cyprus and the Falklands by video link in the Junior Ranks' Restaurant, which he officially opened on Thursday. Advertisement Five-year-old Poppy, whose father Sgt Jack Harding is in the Falklands, gave the King a letter after he spoke to the overseas soldiers. Poppy's mother, Charley Harding, 28, said the children would love a reply. 'Really friendly' Meanwhile, King Charles spoke to Jade McGowan, whose husband Andrew McGowan is in Cyprus and does not yet have a date to come home. The King asked about her nearly eight-month-old twins, Hamish and Brodie, and about her husband being away. "It's hard, we are doing what we can," she said. After their meeting, the 36-year-old called the King "really friendly". Founded in 1716, it is believed the Gunners has served in every conflict the British Army has been in. The King became ceremonial chief of the Royal Artillery on 11 August 2023, in a role first taken by King George VI in 1947, followed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Related internet links EXCLUSIVE: TUCSON, Ariz. A resident in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood has a street-facing Ring camera that caught 12 cars passing by on the morning of Nancy Guthries suspected abduction. The recordings took place between midnight and 6 a.m. on Feb. 1, and some of the activity occurred near the 2:30 a.m. mark, which is around the time authorities said the 84-year-old Guthrie's pacemaker device last synced with her iPhone. The homeowners, Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas, told Fox News Digital that police had not canvassed their neighborhood in the 25 days since Guthrie is believed to have been taken from her bed in a home invasion kidnapping. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department have been alerted to the video. It was not immediately clear whether the video is of any use to the investigation or whether the vehicle had ever been on Guthrie's street. Guthrie is the mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, a Tucson native. Dna Found On Glove Near Nancy Guthrie's Home, Inside Residence, Yields No Match In Fbi Database: Sheriff The Stratigouleas house is on a back road that leads out of Guthries neighborhood, avoiding major intersections. And they live about 2.5 miles away from the crime scene, which is outside the 2-mile radius of neighbors who received a Ring alert asking for video taken from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2. Read On The Fox News App Their house is roughly a seven-minute drive from Guthrie's address, according to Google Maps. One of their videos was recorded at around 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 1, which is roughly eight minutes after Guthrie's pacemaker last synced with her iPhone, according to the sheriff's timeline. WATCH: Ring video shows vehicles on outskirts of Nancy Guthrie's neighborhood morning of abduction Danielle Stratigouleas said the number of cars passing that night was not unusual, but she and a friend found it "odd" that no one from law enforcement had visited her neighborhood. Nancy Guthrie Suspect's Digital 'Blackout' May Be Key To Case, Says Expert Who Probed Kohberger Phone A map details the neighborhood surrounding Nancy Guthrie's home on Camino Escalante in Tucson, Arizona, and a secondary route through the Catalina Foothills down Camino Real leading to East River Road. (Fox News) The FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department have been alerted to the video. It was not immediately clear whether it is of any use to the investigation. Retired NYPD detective and national security expert Pat Brosnan reviewed the video with his team. He tells Fox News Digital they believe the vehicle seen at 2:36 a.m. is a Kia Soul, based on its slanted roof, window design and rear-quarter glass. He also noted the vertical brake lights. The rewards are still outstanding, and anyone with information they think may be relevant is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The route itself had been flagged to Fox News Digital by another neighbor who said she also saw a suspicious man walking in the area on Feb. 2, around the corner from what appeared to be an abandoned car. The young mother asked not to be named due to concerns for her children's safety amid the unsolved kidnapping investigation. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X WATCH: Path out of Nancy Guthrie's neighborhood avoids major intersections She described him as about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, Hispanic, with a close-trimmed beard and wearing a silver bracelet. He was smoking a cigarette near the intersection of Camino Juan Paisano and Piedra Seca, which is between Camino Real and Guthrie's home. The Pima County Sheriffs Department did not return multiple phone calls and emails about the man or the vehicle, a dark red Honda SUV that the neighbor said was moved after three days. Sign Up To Get True Crime Newsletter Another unidentified man was spotted in mid-January, according to neighbor Aldine Meister. "He didnt have your typical walking gear on, and he had his hat pulled really far over his eyes," she told Fox News Digital. She said she saw the man walking in the neighborhood , near an intersection leading to Guthries home and hadn't encountered him before or after. Advertisement Deputies examine a flyer taped to Nancy Guthrie's mailbox on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. "He was kind of younger, and he just didnt look like he was going out for a walk," she added. She mentioned it to her husband but did not report it to investigators until after Guthrie's disappearance. Send Us A Tip Here FBI agents canvass homes near Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Danielle Stratigouleas told Fox News Digital that she did see deputies searching what locals call a wash, a common terrain feature in the region, near her office, which is on Skyline Drive, another main road that borders Guthrie's development. North Campbell, which was extensively searched by authorities and volunteers, connects to both main arteries. Camino Real connects only to East River Road. "I think it sounds smart, and if they even sort of knew the area or actually cased the area beforehand, that road behind Camino Real called Camino Escuela would be an even better idea," she told Fox News Digital. "Theres never anybody on it, and never a police car to be seen." Fox News Digital approached five other homes with street-facing cameras on Camino Real. Three of the homeowners said they had not been visited by law enforcement, either. No one answered the door at the other two. None said they had any notable video from Feb. 1. Campbell also runs past the University of Arizona and is a much busier road, she said. Like What You're Reading? Find More On The True Crime Hub "Its always buzzing even on a Saturday night," she added. "Camino La Brinca and Camino Piedra Seca also lead to Camino Real, and theyre a good way to get from Camino Zorella." The residents said they're hoping more people outside the radius will check their cameras and submit anything that could help the FBI. Guthrie is believed to have been forcibly abducted from her home on North Camino Escalante, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. In more than three weeks, police have not publicly identified any suspects, persons of interest or vehicles connected to the case. They briefly detained but later released several people and have towed multiple vehicles, including those belonging to family members and the detainees. No one has been charged with a crime as of Thursday morning, however. Exterior view of the front entrance of Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona, Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The FBI and Google teamed up to recover doorbell camera footage even though her Nest device is physically unaccounted for, and she did not have a cloud subscription. FBI Director Kash Patel released still images and video on Feb. 10. Click Here To Download The Fox News App The video shows a masked individual with gloves on, prowling on her front porch. These two images were released by the FBI, recovered from Nancy Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera. It's unclear whether they show the same person. According to two sources with knowledge of the investigation, one of the doorbell images was taken on a different date than the others. It shows an individual who may be the same masked intruder at Guthries doorstep, without an Ozark Trail backpack or holstered pistol. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has called the timeline surrounding the images speculation. Savannah Guthrie is asking anyone with information in the case to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact her directly. Original article source: Nancy Guthrie neighbors' Ring camera captures vehicles on possible route from crime scene Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who skipped President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to attend Democrat counter-programming, hailed a group of frog-clad protesters as "patriots," crediting them for defeating Trump's anti-crime efforts in Portland, Oregon. "Boy, the frogs are rocking this town," Wyden said Tuesday night. "I'm with the frogs, and I'm with all of you because political change starts at the grassroots. "For weeks, social media was flooded with these wonderful patriots. Videos of unicyclers, naked bike riders, the guy in the chicken suit and a whole lot of frogs. Bare-bottomed Bikers Roll Through Rain To Shout At Feds In Blue City's Latest Anti-ice Stunt Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and protesters wearing inflatable frog costumes standing in a congressional office (Getty Images) "When Donald Trump sent his agents to the streets of Portland, we took on authoritarianism, and we won!" The frogs, part of an organization called the Portland Frog Brigade, use "inflatable animal costumes to practice the proven art of peaceful, creative dissent, exercising our right to free expression in defense of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law," according to its website. Read On The Fox News App In September, as part of a crackdown on crime, the Trump administration announced it would send National Guard troops to Portland among other urban centers across the country. In Portland, the order sparked social unrest and protests, including backlash from local officials. "Portland is an American city, not a military target," Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said in a post on social media. "President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero." Almost immediately, the state launched a legal challenge to the deployment in the case of Oregon v. Trump, arguing that the administration lacked the legal authority to use federal troops to combat local crime. Advertisement Us Judge Extends Order Blocking Trump's National Guard Deployment In Portland President Donald Trump's State of the Union address included a handful of top moments, including awards to military veterans and Democrats' outbursts. As that legal battle raged inside the courtroom, the citys person-based crime such as homicides, kidnappings, sexual offenses and vehicular manslaughter has fallen marginally every month, according to data from Portlands Police Bureau. From October 2025 to January 2026, person-related crimes are down 18%. Total crime, including property and social crimes like drug offenses, is down 8%. But in December, Trump began winding down his deployment to Portland as its legal battle began to run into a series of losses. As recently as Feb. 17, the Trump administration ended its efforts to overturn a 9th Circuit order halting Trumps deployment of the guard to Portland. "Oregon National Guard members are currently in transit to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will demobilize, and the demobilization process will take approximately 7 to 14 days to complete," the court ruled on Jan. 8, 2026. Oregon Residents Sue Homeland Security After Tear Gas Used On Anti-ice Protesters Federal agents clash with anti-ICE protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Oct. 12, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Wyden celebrated the decision. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Wydens framing of the administrations drawdown of the National Guard from Portland. Original article source: WATCH: Dem senator who ditched Trump's SOTU caught praising naked bike riders, 'patriots' in frog suits At the Gharb Al Matta IDP site in Kassala, Sudan, a monthly World Food Program distribution provided some 13,000 people with sorghum, red lentils, and cooking oil, Jan. 24. 2025. Credit - Giles ClarkeUNOCHA/Getty Images Amidst the devastation of early twentieth century Europe, when capitalist decline and the failure of liberal democracy led to the rise of extremist ideologies, the Italian philosopher, Antonio Gramsci famously remarked, The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: Now is the time of Monsters. His warning seems no less compelling a century on. We inhabit a volatile geopolitical era where the 80-year-old global order is collapsing but no clear alternative has emerged. Concerted international cooperation to make the world a better and fairer place is fading and is being replaced by transactional foreign policies and a disregard for established global norms and principles. The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good. Simultaneously, the rise of populist, authoritarian leaders and the radical right is destabilizing democracies. While the liberal order led by the United States is unlikely to return due to profound disruptive forces, the shape of the future remains uncertain. We are drifting toward multipolarity, but the outcome is obscured by a haze of caveats. The current period of global flux has proved most dangerous and damaging for the formal humanitarian system, which was a bold experiment in internationalism that emerged from the urge to rebuild societies in the aftermath of World War II. The humanitarian system was builtand runson a singular impulse: the obligation to help others in distress. Long treated as a precondition of political peace and stability, that impulse has since grown into something far larger: a lens through which much of the world understands itself and its responsibilities. Now, international aid is fighting for its very survival. The humanitarian system isnt merely broke. It is broken. KASSALA, SUDAN. January 24, 2025. Bags of sorghum at the Gharb Al Matta IDP site in Kassala, Sudan. (Photo by Giles Clarke/UNOCHA via Getty Images) Getty ImagesGiles Clarke A broken aid system The post-war humanitarian system was never a singular thing. It was a welter of United Nations agencies mobilized for crisis response; the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement; a network of powerful, secular NGOs; and the institutional arms of religious missions. It was also a system that came into being less through grand design than through something closer to the force of gravityan almost inevitable accumulation of weight and momentum. The expansion of the humanitarian system was untidy and asymmetric, driven by the organizational self-interest of the bigger international NGOs and UN agencies involved in crisis response and their desire for greater market share. And yet, within quarter of a century, this ungainly apparatus had established itself as a vital pillar of global governance. One only needs to consider the ongoing humanitarian emergencies in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan to realize the consequences of giving up on our global responsibilities toward those who live with the extreme vulnerabilities that come with war. Lacking basic access to food, shelter and clean water, the 436 million people who by 2030 are predicted to reside in states affected by fragility, conflict and violence will continue to rely upon receiving lifesaving aid to survive. The humanitarian system has been hobbled by a growing number of governments aggressively exploiting and militarizing aid for political advantage. And there is a more troubling problem: at the very moment that governments are retreating from multilateralism, the global aid regimelong overdue for reformseems struggling, and perhaps unwilling, to confront the sweeping changes it so urgently requires. The aid regime is not only unraveling under pressure from external forces; it is suffering from its own internal failings. What is needed, then, is not a change in the system but a change of the system. The reckoning cannot stop with a change in donor behavior alone. The plethora of international agencies that deliver emergency relief and work to reduce poverty must now put their own houses in order. Advertisement Reimagining global aid Trying to reimagine a global aid system built by the Allied powers in 1945, and later reshaped by the post-1991 liberal order over which America has presided, requires taking its history seriously. The aid sector has long served as a global safety netand it is now approaching its own great re-ordering moment, in a geopolitical context that is colder, more chaotic and more complex than any it has navigated before. Virtually every challenge humanitarians face today has a deep historical context. The first challenge is austerity. The global aid system is confronting savage budget cutsfrom Washington above all, but also from other longtime donors. This is especially difficult because the aid system previously restructured itself for growth and developed the tools and habits needed to manage an expanding pool of resources. Its agencies know how to compete for more funding. What they do not know, and have never had to learn, is how to function with much less. The second is representation. The system has repeatedly failed to treat non-Western actors as equals, and is now widely condemned by emerging powers for reflecting a shrinking diversity of worldviews, even as it tries, belatedly, to bring the Global South meaningfully into its governance structures. The third is climate. Humanitarians have historically addressed extreme weather as a series of discrete, localized emergencies. They are only beginning to reckon with a world in which such events are not episodic but constant. The fourth is inclusion. The barriers to new entrants remain stubbornly high. Diaspora communities, for instance, remit an estimated $700 billion annually to their countries of origin nearly three times the total global Official Development Assistance and yet they remain largely outside the system's formal structures. The fifth, and perhaps most consequential, is power. For decades, the humanitarian world has loudly proclaimed its commitment to devolving authority to the people it servesensuring that aid recipients have a meaningful voice in setting priorities and defining purpose. That commitment remains, almost without exception, unfulfilled. Soldiers sitting on a USAID (United States Agency for International Development) vehicle in South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War, March 1962. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Getty Images Reckoning with the past The past sits in judgement as we enter a period of global backsliding on major international commitments. Assumptions about the influence and authority of major humanitarian organizations are contested across the board. The burden of history is ever keenly felt. Breaking the reform paradoxreform long overdue and yet whose prospects seem poor requires understanding why todays humanitarian system has evolved to resist systemic change and to be prone to fracture when under pressure to make changes of any magnitude. Without such understanding, international aid risks remaining trapped in its past and unable to move forward. History shows us that to change the world, humanitarians sometimes must change themselves. By returning to their postWorld War II roots and reassessing their failures, they will may rediscover a legacy of internationalist principles, powerful social movements, and collective remedies that remain ripe for revival in our equally troubled times. The dismantling of USAID by the Trump Administrationan institution created 60 years ago during the Vietnam War as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policyhas only amplified the current sense of rupture. An atmosphere of crisis pervades among the organizations responding to the mounting humanitarian challenges of the century. As Winston Churchill is reputed to have said, never waste a good crisis. And Milton Friedman believed that only a crisis, whether real or perceived, produced real change. A crisis can be as generative as it is destabilizing. The current crisis can yield the kind of far-reaching, lasting reform that has evaded the global aid regime since its inception. And reforming the global aid system now feels more urgent and perhaps more attainable than ever before. Contact us at letters@time.com. Cyber security vendor Cyble has chosen Wavelink to be its exclusive distributor in Australia, providing partners with advanced, intelligence-led cyber risk visibility solutions. As a result Wavelink can offer Cybles product suite from 27 February, according to Cyble Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) channel account manager Tim Smith. This includes external threat intelligence, dark web monitoring, attack surface management, and digital risk protection solutions. Wavelink COO Nick Touzeau said the partnership marks another step forward in reinforcing the distributors commitment to strengthening cyber security resilience of Australian organisations. Our agreement with Cyble reflects Wavelinks ongoing focus on bringing world-class global vendors into our channel ecosystem, he said. Cybles partner-centric model, innovation in threat intelligence, and rapid international growth make them a powerful addition to our portfolio. We are excited to collaborate closely with the Cyble team to unlock new growth opportunities for our partners and deliver greater value to customers across Australia through a more robust, intelligence-driven cybersecurity offering. Just as Indian Prime Minister Modi was visiting Israel, a report from the Jewish People Policy Institute highlights the growing hostility toward Jews in the media and universities of the People's Republic of China. It criticises the Netanyahu government for its lack of a coherent, long-term political strategy vis-a-vis Beijing. Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip to Israel has attracted considerable attention in recent days, both for its timing and its political significance, boosting the relationship between New Delhi and the Jewish state, cemented by trade and military agreements. Concurrently, a report was released recently in Israel that, for the first time, casts a cloud over relations with the other great Asian giant: China. At its core is a noteworthy allegation concerning the Jewish world, namely that Beijing is now one of the major centres for the propagation of antisemitism. The claim comes from the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), a think tank founded by the Jewish Agency, which oversees relations between Israel and diaspora communities. According to the report by Professor Shalom Salomon Wald, a historian specialising in relations between China and Israel, waves of antisemitism swept through Chinese official and social media after the Gaza conflicts of 2021 and 2023-2025. Wald argues that these campaigns were authorised, if not directly promoted, by the Chinese government in the pursuit of strategic political objectives and were based on traditional anti-Jewish stereotypes, something unprecedented in a context like China. This is ostensibly linked to the Chinese media's portrayal of the war between Israel and Hamas, fuelled by the tendency to confuse Israel, Jews, and Judaism as a single entity. Universities are also described as important incubators of antisemitism, like what happens in the West, along with social media platforms used by commentators and influencers. Hence, this raises the fear that China could become a new driver of antisemitism in the Global South and even in the West, negatively influencing the country's younger generations and future leaders, to the point of dampening the interest in Jews and Israel that, according to Wald, was present in the country. Among the main factors nurturing Chinese antisemitism are tensions with the United States, where Jews are believed to have an influential role; the search for alliances with Arab and Muslim countries, Iran, and Russia; the need to find scapegoats for internal problems; opposition to the Western global order; and the global spread of antisemitism as a cultural phenomenon. With this as the starting point, perhaps the most interesting insight the JPPIs study offers is a criticism of the Israeli government for failing to pay attention to the China factor and its lack of a coherent, long-term political strategy. Decisions, Ward argues, are made by the prime minister and the government only when the agenda allows, and this represents a limitation in dealing with a power like China, accustomed to planning on broad strategic horizons. The prevailing orientation is to avoid political friction and prioritise economic cooperation, also because the alliance with the United States inevitably limits Israel's room for manoeuvre. In this context, the study instead suggests reverting to a long-term vision, inspired by the approach of David Ben-Gurion, who, as early as the 1950s, called for building ties with the major Asian powers, despite political hostility. One priority identified is precisely the fight against antisemitism in Chinese media and universities. It proposes engaging Jewish communities around the world and organisations like Yad Vashem, as well as urging Western governments to express a clear position. It would also be crucial, Ward adds, to systematically monitor expressions of antisemitism and understand which sectors of the Chinese bureaucracy tolerate or promote them. The document also recommends integrating the issue into diplomatic dialogue with China and revitalising cultural and academic exchanges. While maintaining the One China policy, it recommends not abandoning cultural ties with Taiwan. More generally, for the JPPI, Israel should consider ways to boost its image of resilience and strategic relevance in the eyes of Chinas leadership, a prerequisite for building a more balanced and lasting relationship. The Afghan response to Pakistans bombings has escalated the never-ending conflict. Pakistan promises "decisive" action against the bases of "anti-Pakistan terrorists" in Afghanistan. Caught between the two, China calls for moderation. Meanwhile, 21 million Afghans already living in poverty risk paying the price of this never-ending conflict. Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified again today with a series of cross-border attacks and air strikes in Kabul and Kandahar, with Pakistan explicitly describing the situation as open war. After days of Pakistani raids against what Islamabad calls Taliban bases in Afghan territory, the Taliban-led Afghan government announced an overnight offensive against Pakistani military posts in the border areas, prompting a swift and harsh response from Islamabad. According to Taliban authorities, the operation affected several provinces in the east of the country, most notably Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika. Pakistan, for its part, has accused the Taliban of opening fire without provocation in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At dawn, Pakistan launched air strikes against the Afghan capital Kabul and the southern provinces of Kandahar and Paktika. Clashes were also reported near the Torkham crossing, a strategic point between Peshawar (Pakistan) and Jalalabad (Afghanistan). Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Afghanistans offensive had caused numerous casualties among enemy soldiers, a claim denied by the Pakistani government. On the Pakistani side, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani forces were able to "crush" the enemy, reporting 274 Afghan Taliban fighters killed at 73 different posts along the 2,600-kilometre border between the two countries. The conflict is rooted in months of mutual accusations. Pakistan claims that Afghanistan hosts and supports armed groups responsible for attacks on its territory, including suicide attacks in the capital, Islamabad. The Taliban deny this, accusing Pakistan of indiscriminately targeting civilians. The international community has expressed grave concern over the latest outbreak of violence, which comes just months after a fragile ceasefire was reached in October with the mediation of Qatar and Turkey. The United Nations has called for immediate de-escalation. China, often affected by the actions of the local Taliban in Pakistan but with friendly relations with the Afghan government, has also called for calm through foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, while Saudi Arabia has launched diplomatic consultations with Islamabad. The most significant aspect of this new phase is that Pakistani attacks have reportedly targeted Taliban government facilities for the first time, not just alleged terrorist targets. This move now risks turning a border crisis into a wider conflict, even though Afghanistan knows full well that it lacks the means to engage in an all-out clash with the Pakistani military. Pakistan's stance is also influenced by domestic politics. The Armed Forces under Field Marshal Asim Munir which managed to regain power after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was convicted and jailed finds itself facing the threat of homegrown Taliban, who are exploiting widespread dissatisfaction, especially in the country's peripheral areas. Those who risk paying the heaviest price right now are once again ordinary Afghans, still suffering almost five years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul. This new escalation of violence risks plunging the country back into the nightmare of war," said in a statement Dejan Panic, programme director for Emergency, an Italian NGO operating in Afghanistan with its medical centres since 1999. "Even in 2026, approximately 21 million Afghans are expected to require humanitarian aid due to the economic, food, and health crises. Another conflict would bring people to their knees, he warns. For this reason, We call for an immediate end to hostilities, the protection of civilians, and dialogue for a diplomatic resolution to a conflict that risks involving the entire region with unpredictable consequences. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 27 February 2026 13:41 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more At a time when peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are gaining momentum, recent signals of economic cooperation have drawn attention. Armenias economy minister announced that the two sides have already exchanged lists of goods that could be exported to one another. This development, though modest, reflects a new reality emerging after decades of hostility. The history of conflict between these two South Caucasus states stretches back before their independence in 1991. Beginning in 1988, irredentist claims from Armenia triggered a war that culminated in the First Karabakh War, which ended in 1994. As a result, roughly 20 percent of Azerbaijans territory was occupied. The consequences were devastating: more than a million refugees and internally displaced persons, destroyed towns and villages, and the collapse of local industry and agriculture. It is worth noting that the war brought suffering not only to Azerbaijan but to the entire South Caucasus region. For example, around 30,000 people from both sides lost their lives, and tens of thousands were wounded. The war also stunted the development of regional transit routes, limiting economic growth across the South Caucasus. The long conflict inflicted severe damage on Armenia itself. Its economy weakened, and migration soared. Over the past three decades, a significant portion of Armenias population left the country, contributing to its status as one of the poorest states in the region. The 44-day war in 2020 marked a turning point. Azerbaijan regained its territories in line with international law, and subsequent localized anti-terror operations restored full sovereignty. Although some political forces in Armenia attempted to revive a revanchist agenda, the countrys deep social and economic crisis undermined their efforts. Azerbaijan, with its strong military and stable economy, emerged in a position to push forward the peace process. Yet peace cannot be built overnight. The trauma of more than 30 years of war will not simply vanish. What can help, however, is economic cooperation. Integration offers a practical path to reducing tensions and preventing renewed conflict. In recent months, small but meaningful steps have been taken. Azerbaijan has begun exporting fuel to Armenia. While the volume is limited, the symbolism is powerful: a small move for Azerbaijan, but a significant step for peace. Additionally, reports suggest that Azerbaijani aircraft have been using Armenian airspace, another sign of growing trust. The preparation of export lists is a logical next step. Expanding trade ties will strengthen mutual confidence and reinforce the peace process. From a logistical perspective, cooperation with a neighboring state is more cost-effective than relying solely on distant markets. Azerbaijan, for instance, has a well-developed fruit and vegetable sector, with Russia as its primary market. Diversifying exports is a strategic goal, and Armenia could become an additional destination. Conversely, Armenias mountainous terrain makes livestock farming more prominent, and animal products could find a market in Azerbaijan. The list of goods that could be exported is already extensive. However, the real issue is not simply about the exchange of products. The South Caucasus is a small but strategically vital region. It connects Russia to the north, Iran to the south, and Turkiye and Europe to the west. Stability here would transform the region into a dynamic transit hub, accelerating economic and social development. Peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia have not yet produced a final agreement, but the steps toward economic cooperation are encouraging. Historical enmity and the scars of war cannot be erased instantly, yet economic interdependence can lay the foundation for lasting peace. The fact that both sides are now engaging not only at the diplomatic table but also in practical trade discussions suggests a genuine shift. If this process continues, the South Caucasus may enter a new era defined not by war but by cooperation. Globally, states are dismantling barbed-wire borders and replacing them with flows of goods, services, and people. In such a context, maintaining mined fields and trenches along borders is neither sustainable nor profitable. The hope is that Armenia will demonstrate political will and seriousness in its commitments, ensuring that peace is not just discussed but achieved. 27 February 2026 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The increasingly visible alignment between Israel and India is often framed as a meeting of like-minded nationalist leaders in Benjamin Netanyahu and Narendra Modi. But beneath the symbolism lies a harder strategic reality. Even reports framed in global media headlines as signs of personal affinity and special sympathy have begun to multiply by the day. While some interpret this as merely an emotional dimension of diplomacy, it is becoming increasingly evident that what lies beneath is a shifting geopolitical and geostrategic balance rather than sentiment alone. As Delhi and Tel Aviv draw closer, the regional consequences are most sharply felt in Islamabad and Tehran. For Pakistan, the IsraelIndia relationship touches directly on its core security doctrine. India remains Pakistans primary strategic concern, and any enhancement of Indian military capability is obviously viewed through that lens. Moreover, Israel has emerged as one of Indias most significant defence suppliers, providing drones, missile defence systems, surveillance platforms and advanced munitions. This is not merely transactional. Israeli technology has played a role in Indias border management, including along the Line of Control with Pakistan. In Islamabad, the concern is not simply about hardware but about qualitative military edge. Israeli systems act as force multipliers for Indias existing platforms. By integrating advanced technology into established infrastructure, India enhances capability without overhauling its entire arsenal. A clear example is Indias A 50 Phalcon, a quintessential hybrid that uses a Russian IL 76 airframe fitted with the Israeli EL W 2090 radar. This configuration allows India to see deep into Pakistani airspace without crossing the border. Pakistans security establishment calculates power in terms of deterrence balance. Advanced Israeli systems embedded within Indias military architecture alter that balance incrementally but meaningfully. The shift may be gradual, but in a region where strategic equilibrium is fragile, even incremental changes carry weight. There is also a symbolic dimension. Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has historically positioned itself as a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. The warmth between Delhi and Tel Aviv reinforces Islamabads perception of diplomatic encirclement, particularly as India deepens ties with Gulf Arab states as well. The old assumption that Arab solidarity would restrain Indias overtures toward Israel no longer holds. Nevertheless, Pakistans response remains constrained, and any confrontation with Israel is unlikely. Instead, Islamabad quietly strengthens ties with China and maintains a strategic partnership with Turkiye, while preserving cautious engagement with Iran. The IsraelIndia convergence adds another layer to an already complex security environment rather than creating a wholly new one. As regards Irans case, the calculus is more layered. Tehrans rivalry with Israel is apparently direct and ideological. India, by contrast, has long been a pragmatic partner. Despite American pressure, India continued purchasing Iranian oil until sanctions tightened. The two share civilisational ties and economic interests, notably the development of Irans Chabahar port, which gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. In the meantime, while the Chabahar port remains a symbol of Indo-Iranian cooperation, the emergence of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) introduces a new structural reality. By linking India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli port of Haifa, Delhi is building a trade architecture that potentially bypasses the transit relevance of both Islamabad and Tehran, further anchoring India into a new Western-aligned regional order. For 75 years, Pakistans primary strategic asset was its geography. Because India is essentially a peninsula blocked to the north by the Himalayas and to the west by a hostile Pakistan, India had no overland way to reach Central Asia, the Middle East, or Europe. Previously, India had to ask for transit rights through Pakistan or rely on the Suez Canal. While Chabahar is a tactical win, it has been plagued by US sanctions and Iranian political volatility. However, Indias expanding defence and intelligence cooperation with Israel introduces strategic ambiguity for Tehran. Iran must ask whether sensitive regional dynamics could be influenced by Israeli technological integration within Indian systems. While there is no public evidence of intelligence sharing targeting Iran through Indian channels, suspicion is a structural feature of Middle Eastern geopolitics. The dilemma for Tehran is that India is too important to alienate. However, as Western pressure intensifies and sanctions remain a persistent constraint, Iran requires diversified economic partnerships. Here, India represents a vast market and a potential geopolitical counterweight to total isolation, particularly in Irans case. Severing or downgrading ties with Delhi would be strategically self-defeating. Instead, Iran appears to compartmentalise. It criticises Israel rhetorically while maintaining working relations with India. Tehrans foreign policy tradition, often described as multi-vector, allows it to pursue parallel tracks even when those tracks intersect awkwardly. When viewed from a different time frame, at a broader level, the IsraelIndia alignment reflects the fragmentation of traditional blocs. During the Cold War and its aftermath, alignments were more predictable. India leaned toward the Non-Aligned Movement and maintained distance from Israel. Iran, before 1979, had covert ties with Israel. However, after the revolution, it became one of its most vocal adversaries. Today, these older certainties are diluted. India balances Israel and Iran simultaneously. Gulf states normalise relations with Israel while retaining dialogue with Tehran. Russia cooperates with Iran while maintaining relations with Israel. Strategic pragmatism increasingly overrides ideological rigidity. In our days, for Pakistan and Iran, the best option for challenging is adaptation rather than confrontation. This also coerces Islamabad to contend with a technologically advancing India whose partnerships extend beyond traditional Western suppliers. And with no other alternatives, it forces Tehran to navigate a regional order in which even long-standing partners engage with its principal adversary. Besides, when looking through several news headlines, the notion of an axis between Israel and India may be overstated. In fact, their partnership is driven less by grand ideological design and more by converging security interests, defence economics and technological exchange. However, it is undeniable that its ripple effects seem more than real. For Pakistan, it reinforces the centrality of military modernisation and external balancing, particularly through China. For Iran, it underscores the urgency of maintaining economic corridors and diversified partnerships in a region where isolation is a constant risk. The Israel-India relationship is therefore not simply about two leaders embracing on camera. It is part of a wider reconfiguration of Asian and Middle Eastern geopolitics, one in which middle powers pursue overlapping partnerships without exclusive loyalties. In that fluid landscape, both Pakistan and Iran find themselves recalculating rather than reacting. 27 February 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Brussels is prepared to embrace new actors in Europes energy market as the European Commission has given the green light for Azerbaijans state energy giant SOCAR to acquire Italiana Petroli, one of Italys largest integrated downstream energy platforms. The approval covers a 99.82% stake in the company, in a deal first signed in September 2025 but only recently cleared by EU regulators as having no competitive concerns. The acquisition, expected to be completed by early 2026, is a departure from SOCARs traditional role as a crude producer and exporter. For years, Azerbaijans economic strategy in energy resembled that of many resource exporters: extract hydrocarbons and sell them to Europe with limited participation in refining, distribution or retail. That model left the most lucrative parts of the value chain in the hands of Western companies. Italiana Petroli operates two refineries with a combined processing capacity of around 10 million tonnes per year, a nationwide network of over 4,500 fuel stations, and extensive logistics infrastructure. That means SOCAR will step into refining and retail, where profit margins are traditionally higher than upstream crude sales, and embed itself more deeply in the European energy economy. Italy has established itself as a pivotal consumer of Azerbaijani energy, consistently ranking among the largest buyers of oil and gas exported from Baku. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a central component of the Southern Gas Corridor, has played a crucial role in facilitating the flow of Azerbaijani gas into Italy and beyond. In its engagements with Azerbaijan, Italian officials have reiterated the critical importance of supply security, making it clear that any transaction would hinge on guarantees of fuel supply, an essential condition underscored during negotiations in the previous autumn. In political terms, this also underlines Azerbaijans emergence as more than a supplier of raw materials. The deal reinforces Bakus status as a strategic partner in European energy security, a mantle once held almost exclusively by Norway or North African exporters. With Russias gas role in Europe lowering and LNG markets fluctuating, new supply relationships are a welcome diversification for Brussels. European Commission approval did not find competition issues because SOCARs combined assets do not dominate Italys downstream market. But the strategic implications are broader: it allows an Azerbaijani state company to own and operate critical energy infrastructure inside the European Union, a rare instance of direct state-level foreign ownership in a tightly regulated sector. In opening the transaction to scrutiny under EU merger rules, Brussels insisted on transparency but raised no barriers, suggesting that SOCARs presence is not seen as a threat to market competition. Italian domestic debates, however, have focused on jobs and environmental stewardship: lawmakers have questioned how the transition will maintain refinery employment and comply with Italys climate commitments, concerns reflected in parliamentary hearings earlier this year. From SOCARs perspective, the Italian acquisition is more than a business expansion. It builds on the companys earlier experience abroad, notably in Georgia, where it modernised gas distribution and retail operations, but at a much larger scale. It sends a clear message that Baku is positioning itself as an integrated energy player capable of managing extraction, refining and distribution across borders, a vertical leap up the value chain. For Italy, the numbers tell a story of precarious reliance. In recent months, natural gas has hummed behind more than 60% of the nations power generation, leaving the country structurally exposed to the slightest tremor in global supply. Against this backdrop of fragility, Azerbaijans state energy giant, SOCAR, isnt just signing a contract; it is planting a flag. By acquiring a network that stretches from the oil field to the neighborhood petrol station, SOCAR has secured a foothold deep within the European energy machinery. It is a move that transforms a distant supplier into a local landlord. There is a distinct scent of "geopolitical realism" hanging over the deal. In an era where pipelines are viewed as levers of influence, Brussels has signaled a quiet "yes" to a non-EU, state-owned behemoth snapping up vital downstream assets. It is a decision born of necessity. As Europe pivots away from its traditional Atlantic anchors, it is embracing a messy, pragmatic diversification. The deal underscores a shifting map of power, where the EU is increasingly looking East to secure its lights-on future, even if it means handing the keys to players outside the bloc. If SOCAR can make this work, balancing the books while satisfying Romes green mandates, it may well have drafted the blueprint for how energy-rich nations buy their way into the heart of the global market. For now, the continent watches to see if this partnership is a bridge to stability or just another layer of dependency. 27 February 2026 17:37 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The 125th anniversary of the birth of People's Writer Ali Valiyev has been widely celebrated in Azerbaijan, honoring one of the nation's most influential literary figures, AzerNEWS reports. National Library has organized special exhibitions to mark the anniversary of the prominent writer, who left a distinctive mark on the development of 20th-century Azerbaijani prose. The virtual exhibition is titled "Prominent Writer, People's Writer Ali Valiyev." In addition, the library has presented the traditional book exhibition "People's Writer Ali Valiyev 125" to its visitors. The exhibitions feature the writer's short stories, novellas, novels, essays, fairy tales, and legends, as well as books he edited or wrote prefaces for. They also demonstrate materials on his life and creative work, memories of prominent figures about him, photographs, and press publications. Those interested in exploring the virtual exhibition can visit the following link: Ali Valiyev (1901 1983) was a prominent Azerbaijani prose writer, journalist, and cultural figure, whose work played a great role in the Azerbaijani literature. Valiyev began his literary career while studying at the Baku Central Party School, contributing as an active worker-peasant correspondent to newspapers such as "Kommunist", "Kndli", "Gnc Isci" and and "Yeni Fikir". His early stories were also published in journals including "Inqilab v Mdniyyt", "Hucum", "dbiyyat Cbhsind", establishing him as a notable voice in Soviet Azerbaijani literature. In 1930, he published his first books, "The Journey of God" and "My Grandmother's Wrath." Between 1937 and 1941, he continued to produce significant works such as "Snowy Mountains," "The Hero," "The Decorated Shepherd," and "Proof". During the Great Patriotic War (19411942), Valiyev served as a writer-journalist on the frontlines, documenting the heroism of soldiers and civilians in his collection "Frontline Stories". After the war, he published notable works including the novellas "Gulshan" and "The Spoiled One", and the novel "The Flowered", which earned him the prestigious M.F. Akhundov Prize in 1958. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he held editorial positions at "Kommunist" newspaper, the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, and "Azerbaijan" journal. The writer continued to expand his literary repertoire with historical and contemporary novels, short stories, essays, and children's literature. Among his significant later works are "Madar's Epic," "Friends of the Heart," "Memories of Budag," "The Road to Turajli", and the collections "Gifts for Children" and "A Pair of Stars". His writings were published in Azerbaijani, Russian, and Ukrainian, reflecting both local and broader Soviet literary currents. Beyond writing, Ali Valiyev was actively engaged in cultural administration, serving as executive secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union and editing leading literary journals. His editorial and organizational work significantly influenced Azerbaijani literature, nurturing younger writers and promoting national literary traditions. 27 February 2026 17:00 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Roya Aliyeva, laureate of national and international competitions, has been held her first solo concert in the Italian Hall of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, AzerNEWS reports. The performance featured a repertoire of classical and retro pieces. Born on February 25, 2005, in Baku, Roya Aliyeva began her musical journey at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, where she studied at the affiliated Art Gymnasium. During her school years, she participated in numerous concert programs, excelling in both violin and piano. She served as the first violinist in the Gymnasium's Chamber Orchestra and was an active member of the vocal and choral ensembles. Roya has earned top prizes, including Grand Prix and first-place awards, at prestigious national and international competitions in Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and Finland. Her performances have also graced official and cultural events hosted by foreign embassies in Azerbaijan. Since 2025, she has been studying vocal arts under Farid Aliyev at the vocal music school of Fidan Hajiyeva. That same year, at the initiative of Fidan Hajiyeva, Roya appeared as Telli in Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta "The Cloth Peddler" during the 2nd International Opera Festival, earning acclaim for her performance. Currently, Roya Aliyeva is a fourth-year student at the Baku Music Academy, majoring in instrumental performance (violin). Alongside her studies, she teaches violin at Fidan Hajiyeva's vocal music school in both Azerbaijani and English. 27 February 2026 18:15 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Khatai Arts Center will host the opening of the "Winter Tale" art competition project, AzerNEWS reports. The project is held under the motto "Touch Nature, Depict Its Mystery" and is organized for children, teenagers, and young people aged 8 to 21. More than 1,000 applications were received from various regions, and participants submitted over 1,500 artworks dedicated to winter themes. The submitted works reflect scenes of winter evenings, winter landscapes, the mood created by snowy weather, snow-covered scenery, the "winter sleep" of nature, and imaginative winter compositions. The selected artworks will be presented in turn at the Khatai Arts Center. The exhibition will be held on March 3, March 4, and March 5, with visiting hours at 12:00 and 16:00. Each participant whose work is exhibited will receive a certificate. In addition, the authors of the 30 best works will be awarded commemorative gifts. The artworks will not be returned; they will become part of the collection of the Khatai Children's Art Gallery and will be used for exhibitions and participation in cultural events. It is also noted that schoolchildren from Estonia are participating in the exhibition. Their works will be printed by the organizers, displayed as part of the exhibition, and the authors will receive certificates. The organizers express confidence that the "Winter Tale" exhibition will help foster a respectful attitude toward nature among the younger generation, draw attention to environmental protection issues, and reveal the creative potential of children and youth. The selected works and their authors can be viewed at the following link: https://online.fliphtml5.com/udgyq/uplk/ The organizers of the project are Azerbaijan Artists' Union, Azerbaijan State Art Gallery, Khatai Children's Arts Gallery and Khatai Arts Center. The event is supported by Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting, Khatai District Executive Power and Artists' Unionof the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az,Day.Az and Milli.Az. 27 February 2026 09:50 (UTC+04:00) On February 27, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, paid tribute to Azerbaijans National Leader and architect of the countrys modern independent state, Heydar Aliyev, by visiting his grave at the Alley of Honor in Baku. AzerNEWS reports that during the solemn ceremony, the Ethiopian Prime Minister laid a wreath at the grave of the late statesman, honoring his legacy and contributions to the formation and development of modern Azerbaijan. The delegation also commemorated the memory of prominent ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva, placing fresh flowers at her grave. As part of the visit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also paid respects at the graves of distinguished public and state figure Aziz Aliyev and talented physician Tamerlan Aliyev, laying bouquets in tribute to their contributions. The commemorative visit underscored the symbolic dimension of the Ethiopian Prime Ministers official trip, highlighting respect for Azerbaijans historical legacy and national figures. 27 February 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00) A delegation led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Victory Park in Baku on February 27 as part of the official program of his trip to Azerbaijan. AzerNEWS reports that a guard of honor was lined up at the park in tribute to the distinguished guest. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid a wreath at the Victory Monument, paying respect to the memory of those who lost their lives in Azerbaijans Patriotic War. During the visit, the Ethiopian leader was briefed in detail about the establishment of Victory Park, which was created to commemorate the unparalleled heroism demonstrated by the Azerbaijani people during the war and to immortalize the cherished memory of the countrys martyrs. The park stands as a symbol of Azerbaijans historic victory and national unity. 27 February 2026 20:40 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Pakistani minister claims Afghan government usurped basic rights of Afghans Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says the Afghan government is based on repression as he gives a news conference on the escalating tensions between the two countries, Dawn reported. [They] try to subdue women, minorities and children. And they have usurped the basic rights of the citizens of Afghanistan. And hence, I will term it an illegitimate regime, he said. Tarar went on to mention two attacks in Pakistan, including an attack on a Shia mosque, without specifically mentioning Afghan involvement. The minister added that the Afghan Taliban regime is totally aligned with terrorists and fully backing terrorists. ****17:31 'Hot pursuit was inevitable: Retired Marshal on Pakistans cross-border operation with Taliban Pakistan delivered a clear message to the Taliban, says retired Air Marshal Amir Masood to AzerNEWS Retired Air Marshal Amir Masood has described Pakistans recent cross-border military action inside Afghanistan as a final warning following what he said was a sustained surge in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory. In remarks on the ongoing tensions, Masood stated that the operation involved both ground forces and the air force and came after three years of repeated warnings by Islamabad regarding an increase in terrorist incidents across Pakistan. He said numerous civilians, including women and children, had been killed in attacks on mosques and other targets, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to Masood, many of the militants apprehended or killed during operations were Afghan nationals. Masood alleged that these groups were using weapons left behind by U.S. forces after their withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the cache as worth billions of dollars. He further claimed that militant outfits such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate as an extension of the Afghan Taliban, and linked their activities to broader regional networks that also include Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Islamic State (Daesh). The retired air marshal also alleged external backing for these groups, claiming that funding and logistical support were being provided by foreign intelligence services. He argued that the presence of multiple militant organizations operating freely inside Afghanistan had effectively created safe havens and training camps that threaten regional stability. Referring to recent strikes in Afghanistans Paktika province as well as in the Kabul and Kandahar areas, Masood described the actions as a hot pursuit conducted in a surgical manner to dismantle militant hideouts. He said Pakistan had conveyed its concerns not only to Afghan authorities but also through diplomatic channels involving regional and international actors, urging Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for attacks. Masood expressed hope that the message had been received clearly and that further escalation could be avoided through dialogue. I hope sanity will prevail, he said, emphasizing the need for negotiations and a peaceful solution to prevent broader regional instability. Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 ****16:55 During a press conference, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations of Pakistan Armed Forces (DGISPR) said the line between terrorism and the Afghan Taliban has become further blurred, alleging that elements within Afghanistan are linked to militant groups operating against Pakistan, AzerNEWS reports via the exclusive information obtained by DND News Agency. According to the military spokesperson, the Afghan Taliban are acting as mentors to global terrorist organizations, including Islamic State (Daesh), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The DGISPR also accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to fulfill commitments made under the Doha Agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, arguing that Afghanistan has become a threat to regional and global peace. Pakistan will continue to purge terrorists, the spokesperson stated, emphasizing that current military actions have targeted only military installations. However, he warned that in the event of further escalation, Pakistan reserves the right to strike not only operational sites but also locations where the designers and mentors of terrorist activities are based. ****16:03 Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of Pakistan militarys media wing, says 274 Taliban fighters have been killed and more than 400 injured by Pakistani attacks. He added that 115 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and artillery pieces were also destroyed. On the other hand, at least 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the latest cross-border fighting with Afghanistan, Pakistani army spokesperson has confirmed in a press conference. ****15:40 Afghanistan wants fighting to be resolved through dialogue Afghanistans government spokesman Mujahid says his government wants dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the ongoing fighting. We have repeatedly emphasised a peaceful solution, and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue, Mujahid said in a news conference. ****14:30 Which sites have been bombed? ****14:26 The Pakistan military spokesperson says 228 Taliban fighters have been killed and 314 injured in the attacks. The spokesperson added that 74 Taliban posts were destroyed and 18 captured. Meanwhile, 27 people were injured in Pakistan. Earlier, the Taliban government said eight of its fighters were killed and 11 wounded. ****13:35 Pakistans former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail says the government and Pakistani people have nothing against the proud and poor citizens of Afghanistan, AzerNEWS reports. But it is the Taliban (Afghanistan & Pakistan) who have forced Pakistan into this conflict, he said on X. For the sake of innocent civilians on both sides of the border, I hope the Taliban stop with incursions into and terrorism in Pakistan. ****12:13 The Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says Afghanistan carried out large-scale offensive operations against the Pakistani military along the Durand Line that separates the two countries, AzerNEWS reports. Afghanistans Defence Ministry said the clashes lasted about four hours, during which light and medium weapons were used. It added that the military operation was stopped at midnight local time by the order of the Afghan chief of staff who said the operations specified objectives were achieved. ****10:20 Pakistan launched strikes on the Afghan cities of Kabul and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday, according to Pakistani government officials, AzerNEWS reports via BBC. A spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban said on X that it had responded with renewed attacks against Pakistani troops along their shared border - though the post has now been deleted. Pakistani authorities said that their "counter strikes" on the Afghan cities were a response to "unprovoked Afghan attacks" - though the Afghan Taliban said those were in response to earlier Pakistani strikes. The two countries agreed a fragile ceasefire in October after deadly cross-border clashes, but fighting has flared once again in recent days. 133 Afghan soldiers were killed, 27 military posts were destroyed, and 9 posts were captured according to the Pakistan Ministry of Defense. In contrast, the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense reported that 15 Pakistani military posts were captured. Which areas have been targeted in the fighting? Reports on fighting and air strike locations have not been independently verified but government accounts from both sides have provided some information. A spokesperson for Pakistans PM says three main regions in Afghanistan have been targeted with air strikes: Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. A spokesperson for Afghanistans Taliban forces named the same locations in a post on X. Pakistans Ministry of Information also said it was also targeting Afghan Taliban forces in several districts of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province: Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur. Residents in Kabul heard loud blasts across the city on Friday, AFP reported. Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses on each other during recent clashes. People in Pakistan's border regions told the BBC they had heard explosions and were asked to move to safety. Pakistan earlier said that two of its soldiers have been killed after the Afghan Taliban launched an operation against military positions along their shared border late on Thursday. Three others were injured as Pakistani forces responded to the "unprovoked fire", Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. The Afghan Taliban said it had launched the "large-scale" operation in response to strikes earlier this week, which it claimed had killed at least 18 people. Islamabad said it had targeted alleged militant camps and hideouts. Taliban military spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said the "retaliatory operation" had been launched at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday. The group's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the offensive had killed "numerous" Pakistani soldiers and captured others. This was denied by a spokesman for Pakistan's prime minister, who also contested Mujahid's claim that 15 military posts had been captured. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi dismissed claims of damage on the Pakistani side and said all aggression would receive an "immediate and effective" response. Mujahid wrote on X that "in response to repeated border violations and insurgency by Pakistani military circles, large-scale preemptive operations were launched against Pakistani army centres and military installations" along the border. Pakistan's government said the Taliban had "miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" across the border in its north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had been met with an "immediate and effective response" by Islamabad's security forces. "Early reports confirm heavy casualties on [the] Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed," said a Ministry of Information & Broadcasting statement shared on X. "Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens." Residents reported hearing a heavy exchange of fire along the border. Those living near Pakistan's border town of Torkham were asked to vacate the area. Officials suspended the repatriation of deported Afghan nationals back over the border in the town due to the clashes. The crossing was also closed to Afghan refugees. Kabul had warned of retaliatory action "at the appropriate time" following the strikes overnight into Sunday. Islamabad had said it targeted seven alleged militant camps and hideouts near the border and that they had been launched after recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. Kabul meanwhile said civilian homes and a religious school had been targeted, with women and children among the dead. The exchange of fire comes despite the two countries agreeing a ceasefire in October. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 1,600-mile (2,574 km) mountainous border. Official footage published by the Pakistani Ministry of Defence; the videos have been obtained by DND News Agency: Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 27 February 2026 11:23 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The British Embassy Baku has issued a statement in response to numerous enquiries regarding this weeks parliamentary hearing in the UK House of Commons, reaffirming its support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity, AzerNEWS reports via the embassy. We have received a number of enquiries regarding this week's parliamentary hearing in the House of Commons. We understand there is significant interest in this matter, and we want to be clear about how the UK system works, the statement said. The Embassy emphasized that it represents the government and communicates its foreign policy positions, but does not speak on behalf of the UK Parliament, which functions as a separate and independent branch of the countrys constitutional system. Parliament operates independently of the Government, and its hearings, debates, and inquiries reflect the views of individual Members of Parliament or parliamentary committees, not the policy of His Majestys Government, the statement noted. The diplomatic mission added that it would not be appropriate for the Embassy to comment on the content or conduct of parliamentary proceedings, stressing that all related enquiries should be directed to the UK Parliament through its official website. At the same time, the Embassy reaffirmed that the UK Governments position on the South Caucasus remains clear and unchanged. We recognise Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we support the ongoing normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as the path to a lasting and peaceful settlement, the statement reads. 27 February 2026 10:33 (UTC+04:00) An official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali on February 27, AzerNEWS reports. A guard of honor was arranged for the Ethiopian Prime Minister in the square decorated with the national flags of both countries. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali and First Lady Zinash Tayachew. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The national anthems of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. The guard of honor marched in front of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali to the accompaniment of a military march. Both leaders posed for official photographs. 27 February 2026 12:03 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Eighteen Azerbaijani citizens including five women and 13 children were repatriated from Syria in 2025 as a result of measures taken by relevant state authorities, AzerNEWS reports, citing the annual report of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman). The announcement was made by Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Azerbaijans National Assembly, during a committee meeting dedicated to discussions of the Ombudsmans 2025 report. Zahid Oruj stated that the repatriations were carried out within the framework of coordinated state efforts over the reporting year. The committee chairman also noted that the Ombudsmans Office received 42,685 appeals in 2025. He emphasized that over the past 15 years, the number of appeals submitted to the Ombudsman has demonstrated notable statistical dynamics. According to the report, the increase recorded in the number of appeals a rise of 13,314 is equivalent to the total annual number of appeals filed during the 20112015 period. The figures, he suggested, reflect both growing public engagement with the institution and increasing awareness of legal rights and protections. 27 February 2026 11:12 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more An international scientific conference titled Founders and Lessons of the First Turkology Congress: History and Modernity is being held in Baku to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landmark First Turkology Congress. As reported by AzerNEWS, a century has passed since the historic First Turkology Congress convened in 1926 in the Azerbaijani capital - an event that played a pivotal role in the development of global Turkology studies. The conference is taking place in the Grand Assembly Hall of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences on Istiglaliyyat Street, the same venue where the original congress was held from February 26 to March 6, 1926, in what is now the Presidium building of the Academy. As noted in the official decree signed on October 22, 2025, by Ilham Aliyev on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress, Baku hosted the historic event in the early 20th century due to its distinguished intellectual environment and its recognition as one of the leading centers of global Turkology. The revival of the congress in Baku is seen as opening broad prospects for strengthening cooperation and expanding ties among Turkic peoples who share common historical roots and national-spiritual values. The conference has brought together representatives and scholars from Turkiye, Northern Cyprus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, highlighting the continued relevance of Turkic unity and academic collaboration. It is worth noting that the 80th and 90th anniversaries of the First Turkology Congress were also commemorated at a high level in accordance with presidential decrees. 27 February 2026 13:04 (UTC+04:00) On February 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, AzerNEWS reports. Following the meeting, in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedion Timothewos signed the Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the Field of Defense and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Organization of the Thirty-Second Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP32) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additionally, during the Ethiopian Prime Ministers visit to Azerbaijan, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and the Memorandum of Understanding between Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC and the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation were also signed. 27 February 2026 13:24 (UTC+04:00) On February 27, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, met with the First Lady of Ethiopia, Zinash Tayachew, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 27 February 2026 15:04 (UTC+04:00) The Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development for 2026-2028 has been approved in Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree. Under the decree, the Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 20262028 (hereinafter the Action Plan) is formally endorsed, with its implementation to be financed through the state budget and other sources stipulated by law. The Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan is tasked with coordinating and overseeing the execution of measures outlined in the Action Plan. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan is required to report to the President on the progress of implementation every quarter. The ministry must also submit proposals to the Ministry of Finance regarding the allocation of necessary funds during the annual state budget drafting process, the distribution of these funds, their potential reallocation during the fiscal year, and the implications of unspent funds by year-end. The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan should ensure the financing of measures envisaged under the Action Plan by allocating the required financial resources as a separate line item in the state budget each year, following the conduct of a comprehensive financial assessment. In coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, it shall also implement the measures stipulated in paragraph 4.2 of this decree. The Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the measures outlined in the Action Plan, acting upon the instructions of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. Central and local executive authorities, state-owned legal entities, public legal entities established on behalf of the state, and other budget organizations have been instructed, while the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor Generals Office, the Central Bank, the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson), the Chamber of Accounts, the Judicial Legal Council, and the Commission on Combating Corruption have been recommended, to ensure the timely and full implementation of the measures envisaged in the Action Plan and to submit monthly reports on progress by the 10th day of each following month to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. 27 February 2026 15:48 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more An attempt to violate the state border by four unidentified persons from Iran into Azerbaijan was prevented in the service area of the Goytepe border detachment of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS) Border Troops, AzerNEWS reports. The SBS reported that the border post was immediately alerted under the Weapon command and necessary measures were taken to prevent the breach of the state border. According to the statement, border guards issued a Stop command and pursued the violators, firing warning shots into the air. However, the individuals failed to comply and offered armed resistance, opening fire in an apparent attempt to kill the border guards. They reportedly threw away the packages they were carrying and fled back across the border, taking advantage of the darkness and the forested terrain. As a result of border search and e measures conducted jointly with officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, three packages belonging to the violators were discovered and seized in the area. The confiscated items included narcotics with a total weight of 33 kilograms and 900 grams, along with other material evidence. The opposite side was informed about the incident through border representation channels. Operational-investigative and search measures are currently ongoing. 27 February 2026 16:21 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, visited an ASAN Service Center as part of his official visit to Azerbaijan. As reported by AzerNEWS, the Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ulvi Mehdiyev, briefed the Prime Minister on the ASAN service centers established at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as on innovation-driven projects implemented by the Agency. During the visit, the guest was presented with various technological solutions applied in the operation of ASAN centers. It was noted that ASAN, Azerbaijans national brand, has been exported as an intellectual product, with agreements signed with more than 30 countries and international organizations. The concept has also been recognized by the United Nations as a best-practice model and is being promoted across four continents. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali also reviewed the activities of the Mobile ASAN service, which plays a key role in ensuring access to public services for citizens in remote and underserved areas. Praising the initiative, he stated that a similar model will soon be implemented in Ethiopia. The delegation was further informed about the activities of the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, the Bilim Baku Center, and ABAD Public Legal Entity. As a result of bilateral cooperation with the State Agency, the first MESOB public service center, based on Azerbaijans ASAN model, began operating in June 2025 in Addis Ababa. It is worth recalling that in May 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Agency and Ethiopias relevant institution on implementing the ASAN service experience in the country. Within the framework of the Memorandum, Azerbaijani specialists conducted training sessions for Ethiopian civil servants, established unified service standards, and prepared recommendation documents based on the technological solutions used in ASAN centers. 27 February 2026 11:45 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more An Azerbaijani student detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States has been released following a meeting between New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. President Donald Trump, AzerNEWS reports via The City. According to the publication, the issue was raised during a meeting at the White House, where the mayor asked the president to release a Columbia University student who had been detained by ICE agents in his dormitory on the morning of February 26. Mamdani said that the president gave an order for her release. Azerbaijani national Elmina Agayeva, an undergraduate student studying neurology and political science, later confirmed her release on Instagram. She wrote that ICE released her shortly before 4 a.m., and that she returned by taxi to the Morningside Heights campus. Im fine, Im fine. Im still in shock from what happened, she wrote on her Instagram story. According to the city administration, Mamdani also handed Trump the names of four other migrant students whom the administration reportedly intends to deport over criticism of Israel, and asked that deportation proceedings be halted. It remains unclear how the president responded to that appeal. Agayevas detention early Thursday sparked unrest on the Columbia campus. The universitys security service allowed officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into the dormitory without a warrant, prompting spontaneous protests by faculty members and students. Columbias acting president, Claire Shipman, stated that the agents did not properly identify themselves and allegedly claimed they were investigating a missing person case in order to gain entry. A DHS spokesperson denied the allegation, saying: The investigators identified themselves verbally, and their IDs were clearly visible around their necks. No further comment was issued by DHS following Agayevas release. Mamdanis spokesman, Joe Calvello, said Trump called him shortly after the mayor left the White House and indicated that the detained student would be released in the morning. The identities of the other students and whether they remain in custody were not disclosed. The City reported that one of the other detainees is Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil. Two others reportedly did not study at Columbia and were detained during campus protests in 2024. 27 February 2026 16:42 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The artificial intelligence startup Anthropic on Thursday rejected the Pentagons demand for unfettered access to its Claude AI model, suggesting it is willing to risk the serious penalties threatened by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, AzerNEWS reports via Politico. [T]hese threats do not change our position, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote in a blog post published on Thursday. He said the company cannot in good conscience accede to [the Pentagons] request. Anthropics defiance follows unprecedented pressure from the Pentagon to abandon its restrictions on the militarys use of Claude. In a Tuesday meeting with Hegseth, Amodei reiterated his red lines, a ban on the technologys use to surveil American citizens or to empower autonomous weapons. Hegseth had threatened to designate Anthropic a risk to the Pentagons supply chain if it failed to comply by 5:01 pm Friday. The label is almost always reserved for foreign firms with ties to U.S. adversaries, and could be used by the government to blacklist Anthropic and prevent it from working with other companies. The Pentagon was simultaneously planning to use the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to compel Anthropic to lift restrictions on the use of its model. The law allows the government to take control of critical private-sector assets in times of war or national emergency. In a statement, an Anthropic spokesperson, granted anonymity at the companys insistence, said they received contract language from the Pentagon overnight that made virtually no progress on preventing Claudes use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. The spokesperson said that despite being framed as a compromise, the new language was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will. On Thursday, CBS News reported that the contract language sent overnight to Anthropic represented the Pentagons final offer. But in his blog post, Amodei suggested a willingness to continue negotiations with the DOD. Our strong preference is to continue to serve the Department and our warfighters with our two requested safeguards in place, the Anthropic CEO wrote. The company spokesperson said Anthropic remain[s] ready to continue talks. It is still possible that a deal will materialize before Fridays deadline. It is not immediately clear whether or how the Pentagon will follow through on its threats. A DOD spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hegseths move to invoke the DPA suggests that the Pentagon sees Anthropics AI models as critically important to U.S. national defense a stance some lawyers and AI policymakers said was contradictory, given the Pentagons concurrent claim that the company may be a national security risk. The discrepancy was highlighted by Amodei in his blog post. These latter two threats are inherently contradictory, Amodei wrote. [O]ne labels us a security risk; the other labels Claude as essential to national security. 27 February 2026 15:16 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In Russia, the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft, Anton Chalyabov, has been detained on suspicion of accepting a large bribe. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing Interfax, citing an official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Irina Volk, law enforcement authorities have charged Chalyabov with accepting a bribe totalling approximately 30 million rubles (about $388,000). Law enforcement agencies have brought charges against the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft for accepting a bribe of around 30 million rubles. He has been detained, Volk stated. Police reports indicate that between 2021 and 2022, while serving as branch director of Gazprom Invest, Chalyabov allegedly received illegal payments on multiple occasions from executives of commercial organisations. An investigation into the case is ongoing. 27 February 2026 14:06 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Canada calls on any of its citizens in Iran to leave as soon as possible as tensions remain high in the region, AzerNEWS reports. Canadians in Iran: Due to ongoing tensions, hostilities in the region could resume with little or no warning. Leave Iran now if you can do so safely, the government says. Ensure travel documents are up-to-date and keep sufficient supplies in case you need to shelter in place. Earlier this week, Australia said it was instructing family members of its diplomats posted in Israel and Lebanon to leave, and that its citizens in either country should consider leaving before it is too late. Poland, Sweden, India and others have also called on their citizens to leave Iran as the region holds its breath for a potential escalation. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reportedly tells embassy staffers that if they want to leave Israel they must do so TODAY. If any staffers or family members want to depart, they should do so TODAY, Huckabee writes in the email sent this morning at 10:24 a.m. local time, according to The New York Times. The embassys call for non-emergency staff to depart will likely result in high demand for airline seats today, he writes. Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country. The NYTimes says the email was verified by three people. There is no need to panic, Huckabee reportedly wrote, but for those desiring to leave, its important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.